Dressel scoops more gold on a dark day at swimming worlds PAGE 14 SUNDAY, JULY 28, 2019 Adel Abdulla closes in on the gap on series FORMULA ONE leaders in T3 at Baja Spain Aragon PAGE 15 FORMULA 1 GERMAN GRAND PRIX Qatar Cricket Assn gets ICC nod to host T10 league Afridi named Brand ents from these sub-continent nations allow their kids to play Ambassador; 4 to 6 cricket. They grow up watch- ing the sport so that has made teams likely to the game so big there. feature in the Star-studded “Right now, we can’t com- pare our standard with theirs first edition ‘The initial plan is to have but our senior team has been four to six teams in the playing well. They had an un- RAAJIV TRIPATHI first year. We’ll try to get fortunate loss against Singa- DOHA pore in the ICC T20 World Cup eight foreign players for Asia Regional Final but they WITH the International Crick- each team. They may not were able to beat Nepal, which et Council (ICC) stamping its be necessarily active, but was a remarkable effort. Nepal approval and former Pakistan known and experienced is ranked much higher than us star Shahid “Boom Boom” Af- players. There will also be but we were still able to beat ridi being the brand ambas- three local players who will them. Two matches are still sador, the Qatar Cricket As- left and we’ve a good chance to sociation (QCA) has planned play with and against qualify,” Kuwari said. to launch its T10 league by the these stars.’ The QCA head admitted that end of the year. there is a long and challenging Divulging details of the Cricket is one of the most way to go before the T10 league new venture, QCA President followed and played sport in is a reality here. “It was quite Yousef Jeham al Kuwari, said Qatar, Kuwari said. “There is a tough to get the ICC clearance hectic preparations have al- lot of talent available at different for our T10 plan. But Qatar has ready begun for the ambitious levels – senior, under-19 and a big reputation of hosting suc- T10 league. under-16. I feel the T10 league cessful international sporting “We’re delighted to an- would offer the sport a new fil- events. So that made it easy for nounce that QCA is going lip. I didn’t know that the expa- us to get the council’s nod. to host the professional T10 QCA President Yousef Jeham al Kuwari giving details of the T10 League in Doha. triates from India, Pakistan, Sri “But that was just one of league at the Asia Town Sta- Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal the challenges that we face dium in Industrial Area this year. We’ll try to get eight for- Talking about the dates, Qatar Olympic Committee Joaan bin Hamad al Thani. have such a huge passion for it. for our T10 league. There is a year. The ICC has given its rec- eign players for each team. he said, “We’re talking to dif- (QOC) but it has yet to get its “We have limited resources “It was amazing to see lot of work to do, especially in ognition to the league. I have They may not be necessarily ferent boards so that we can full backing. “Whatever we’re and have to use them to make them come out and play early the first year. We’re just work- had a meeting with Pakistan’s active, but known and experi- have a suitable window for our doing for sports in Qatar, it the T10 a big success. Not only morning even when they have ing hard to ensure its success. famous former international enced players. There will also league towards the end of the is eventually helping the na- that, we have to attract major just one off day. Whether they If we can host the league in a Shahid Afridi who has happily be three local players who will year. From time to time, we’ll tion get more recognition and sponsors and TV channels like are labourers or doctors, all big way in the first year, lot of agreed to be the brand ambas- play with and against these keep people informed about praise. We do have the bless- beIN and Alkass as well. We gather wherever they find things will be easy for next edi- sador for the league,” he said. stars. We hope this will help the progress,” he added. ings of the QOC but I’d look know that if we succeed, it will space and start playing. I re- tions. So it is very significant “The initial plan is to have us in general pushing cricket Kuwari said the QCA has forward to strong backing be watched by millions of fans,” ally appreciate their passion for us to leave a good impres- four to six teams in the first here to next level.” always had blessings of the from the QOC and HE Sheikh he added. and now I know why the par- sion,” Kuwari said. Hamilton on pole Qatar Goodwood Festival from Tuesday World famous “Congratulations Lewis – The Qatar Goodwood Festival is a Brit makes most you never stop amazing us,” world-famous five-day event and said Mercedes team chief Toto one of the highlights of flat of Ferrari double Wolff as the Briton drove his slow-down lap. “Thanks, Toto,” racing season. Over 100,000 disaster in he replied. “A great job guys – I people flock to the world’s most don’t know how we did that.” beautiful racecourse to enjoy top German GP Hamilton’s lap was the class racing and entertainment, only one in the 1:11’s all week- including four Group 1 races; AFP Starting Grid for Sunday end at the Hockenheimring, namely, the Qatar International HOCKENHEIM (GERMANY) where he last took pole in Stakes for pure Arabians, the 1st row: Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 2008, and gave his team a per- Qatar Goodwood Cup, the LEWIS Hamilton secured a Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull-Honda) fect cause for celebration on £1-million Qatar Sussex Stakes gift-wrapped record-extending 2nd row: Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) the anniversary of 125 years Pierre Gasly (FRA/Red Bull-Honda) and the Qatar Nassau Stakes. 87th pole position of his career 3rd row: Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Alfa Romeo Racing- of motorsport and their 200th on Saturday when he made the Ferrari); Romain Grosjean (FRA/Haas-Ferrari) Formula One race start. most of a double disaster for 4th row: Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/McLaren-Renault) “My first lap was spot-on Sergio Perez (MEX/Racing Point-Mercedes) Ferrari in qualifying at the Ger- 5th row: Nico Hülkenberg (GER/Renault) and the second lap was better in The Qatar Goodwood Festival will kick off in Sussex, England, on July 30 and continue till August 3. man Grand Prix. Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) places,” said Hamilton. The defending five-time 6th row: Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA/Alfa Romeo Racing- Verstappen said: “We could HE 2019 season of the Qatar Sussex Stakes (Gr1): world champion, who had Ferrari); Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas-Ferrari) have been closer, but went a QREC-sponsored Qa- John Gosden’s Too Darn Hot is 7th row: Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Renault) all set for the feature £1-million struggled for pace and consist- Daniil Kvyat (RUS/Toro Rosso-Honda) bit wide and bottomed out and Ttar Goodwood Festival ency in his Mercedes in prac- 8th row: Lance Stroll (CAN/Racing Point-Mercedes) I lost the rear end, but this is a will take place at the rolling G1 Qatar Sussex Stakes on tice, improved to clock a best Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren-Renault) good result.” Sussex countryside in Eng- Wednesday, July 31. The three- lap in one minute and 11.767 9th row: Alexander Albon (THA/Toro Rosso-Honda) Bottas said: “The weather land from July 30 (Tues- year-old registered his first victo- George Russell (GBR/Williams-Mercedes) and outpace Max Verstappen of 10th row: Robert Kubica (POL/Williams-Mercedes) could play a big part tomorrow. day) to August 3 (Saturday) ry of the campaign in the G1 Prix Red Bull by 0.346 seconds. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari). I’m a bit disappointed, especial- with Qatar’s generous sup- Jean Prat at Deauville on July 7. Hamilton’s Mercedes team- ly with the pace in Q3. Ferrari port of the week with prize- Aidan O’Brien’s Circus Maximus mate Valtteri Bottas was third Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton celebrates winning the had been very quick here... so money totalling over £5.5 has been supplemented for the ahead of Pierre Gasly in the qualifying session of the German Formula One Grand Prix at the we’re in a good place.” million. Here’s looking to the mile contest. The three-year- second Red Bull while Charles Hockenheim racing circuit in Germany on Saturday. (AFP) On an overcast day after action ahead. old Galileo colt took the G1 St Leclerc, who had been fast- heavy overnight rain, the Wil- James’s Palace Stakes at Royal est for Ferrari in final practice, luckless Ferrari team-mate Kimi Raikkonen was fifth for liams team were first on track Qatar International Stakes Ascot on June 18. failed to run in the Q3 top-10 Sebastian Vettel who was un- Alfa Romeo ahead of Romain for Q1, in front of an enthusias- (Gr1/PA): The entries for the shootout due to a fuel systems able to take part in qualify- Grosjean of Haas, Carlos Sainz tic crowd boosted by Verstap- Qatar International Stakes (Gr Qatar Nassau Stakes (Gr1): problem with his car.