CRICKET | Page 4 NNHLHL | Page 6 Kumble says Pittsburgh he has moved Penguins on from DRS lose to Flames controversy in shootout Wednesday, March 15, 2017 Jumada II 16, 1438 AH FOOTBALL Conte feud with GULF TIMES ‘Judas’ Mourinho boils over SPORT Page 3 FOOTBALL CRICKET Pakistan suspends Mohamed Irfan in Tabata double spot-fi xing case as Rayyan win; Lekhwiya held Persepolis had taken a sixth minute lead through Mehdi Karimi on an assist from Mohsen Musalman, but the home side got their act together quickly AFP cricket.” Karachi Sharjeel Khan and Khalid La- tif, fellow members of the Islamabad United team that took part in the akistan yesterday charged tournament, were also provisionally and suspended giant fast suspended and charged last month bowler Mohamed Irfan over meeting a man suspected of be- over allegations of spot-fi x- ing linked to an international betting Ping during a recent Twenty20 league, syndicate. in a case that has so far ensnared three Former Pakistan opener Nasir Jam- other current or former national shed was also provisionally suspend- stars. ed on charges of being a “go between” The widening scandal threatens in the spot-fi xing incident. Jamshed to take some of the sheen off the re- and another unnamed person were cently completed Pakistan Super arrested in Britain last month but League (PSL), which was hailed as a were bailed until April. step towards restoring international The PCB, which has formed a cricket in the terror-hit country after three-member tribunal under re- the fi nal in Lahore passed without in- tired judge Asghar Haider to probe cident. the allegations, said the investigation A guilty verdict for the players would continue. Al Rayyan players acknowledge fans after their win over Persepolis in the Asian Champions League yesterday. At bottom: Tabata celebrates one of his goals. would prove disastrous for Pakistan Irfan, 34, appeared before the PICTURES: Noushad Thekkayil cricket, which was last rocked by a anti-corruption unit of the PCB on match-fi xing scandal in 2010 that Monday and confessed to being ap- Sports Reporter another UAE side, Al Hilal in the sec- deprived it of three top players in- proached by a bookmaker about fi x- Doha ond match of this year’s continental cluding paceman Mohamed Amir, ing matches in the past six months. competition. who has since made a comeback. He admitted he failed to report the Yesterday, they once again proved “The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) incidents because of the death of his ational team coach Jorge Fos- how formidable they can be on home in furtherance to its investigation is- father in September followed by his sati would have gained a few turf by dominating the Iranians despite sued a Notice of Charge and provi- mother’s passing in January. valuable insights into Ira- going down by an early goal. sionally suspended Irfan under the Irfan made headlines for his ex- nian football after Al Rayyan Tabata, of Japanese-Brazilian herit- PCB Anti-Corruption Code,” the traordinary height — seven feet and Nand Lekhwiya produced dazzling per- age and now a naturalised Qatari citi- body said in a statement. one inch or 216 centimetres — when formances against opposition from zen, put Al Rayyan back in the game It added: “Irfan has been charged he made his international debut in that country in the Asian Champions with a fi ne left-footed shot from close with two violations of the anti-cor- 2010 and stands as the tallest-ever League yesterday. after a pass from Sergio Garcia on the ruption code and now has 14 days player to feature in world cricket. While Al Rayyan, who were coached left fl ank. to respond to the Notice of Charge,” He has so far played four Tests and by Fossati before he was picked to head Al Rayyan, however had to wait un- without giving further details. 20 Twenty20 internationals, but has the national team, bounced back from til the 58th minute for the lead, Tabata “He has also been provisionally achieved most success in his 60 one- a goal down to beat Persepolis 3-1, Le- making no mistake from the penalty suspended with immediate eff ect day internationals where he has taken khwiya were unlucky to come away spot after Seyed Jalal Hosseini brought from participating in all forms of 83 wickets at an average of 30.71. down Sebastian Soria with a dangerous tackle. Results Former Barcelona player Garcia SPOTLIGHT completed Persepolis’ misery with a Group B late goal as the Iranians dropped to Esteghlal Khuzestan (IRN) 1 (Beytsaied 7, third. pen) Lekhwiya (QAT) 1 (Ismail Mohamed 11) Meanwhile Lekhwiya, the second World Cup projects Al Fateh (KSA) 3 (Zaqan 12, 50, Juhaim 45+1) Qatari club in the competition, man- Al Jazira (UAE) 1 (Mabkhout 38) aged to secure a point after a 1-1 draw Group D with Iran’s Esteghlal Kouzestan in to conclude in 2020, Al Rayyan (QAT) 3 (Tabata 19, 58 pen, Garcia Group B. 88) Persepolis (IRN) 1 (Taremi 6) The draw helped Lekhwiya stay sec- Al Wahda (UAE) 2 (Tagliabue 45+1, Dzsudz- ond in the group with fi ve points from says al-Thawadi sak 54) Al Hilal (KSA) 2 (Abid 5, Khirbin 69) three matches, while Kouzestan have Group E seven. ports infrastructure projects fi rst venues to complete construction Kashima Antlers (JPN) 3 (Suzuki 43, Young with just a point following a 1-1 draw Al Rayyan jump to the top of Group D A foul by Ali Hassan Afi f on Has- related to the 2022 World Cup work, with other venues to be ready og 76, Endo 79) Brisbane Roar (AUS) 0 against Esteghlal Kouzestan in Ahwaz. with a 3-1 win over Persepolis. san Beit Saeid in the sixth minute saw are progressing according to between 2018 and 2020. Ulsan Hyundai FC (KOR) 0 Muangthong Several Lekhwiya and Al Rayyan Persepolis had taken a sixth minute Kouzestan win a penalty and Saeid schedule and will be complet- Al-Thawadi said the SC has so far United (THA) 0 players fi gure in the Qatar squad, and lead through Mehdi Karimi on an assist himself took the shot to put his team Sed by 2020, Hassan al-Thawadi, sec- announced the start of the design Group G their show against the Iranians, many from Mohsen Musalman, but the home ahead. retary general of the Supreme Com- process for fi ve venues, while two Eastern SC (HKG) 0 Suwon Bluewings (KOR) of who also play for their national side got their act together quickly to However, Ismail Mohamed’s fi ne mittee for Delivery and Legacy (SC), further venues had contracts awarded 1 (Johnathan 78) team, would certainly help Fossati dominate the remainder of the match. header just fi ve minutes later saw Le- said on Monday. to the main contractor. Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN) 1 (Alan 26) draw a plan for Qatar’s key World Cup Al Rayyan, who are now coached by khwiya draw level, but despite the Qa- Speaking on the sidelines of the The SC secretary general said work Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) 1 (Kobayashi pen qualifi er in Doha later this month. Real Madrid, Barcelona and Denmark tari side’s domination they couldn’t Tarsheed 22 competition for energy has already begun in fi ve to six current 90+5) It was captain Tabata who was the great Michael Laudrup, had accounted add to their tally and had to be content effi ciency, al-Thawadi said Kha- venues, adding that the remaining star yesterday as he struck twice to help for UAE’s Al Wahda 2-1 before losing to with one point. lifa International Stadium will be the ones will be announced soon. (QNA) Gulf Times 2 Wednesday, March 15, 2017 FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PREVIEW GOOD NEWS Torres returns as Griezmann keen to Atletico eye quarters end nearly man tag ‘Simeone is the one who has made me take the leap. In three years, Cholo has helped me take the leap to in 2016 be among the three best players in the world’ File picture of Atletico Madrid’s Fernando Torres during training. AFP ent show of Atletico’s confi dence Madrid that they already have one foot in the quarters, midfi elder Koke warned against complacency. ernando Torres is ex- “We have a great result from pected to return just two the fi rst leg, but we can’t be weeks after losing con- complacent. We need to give our sciousness in a sickening all again on Wednesday,” said the Fhead clash as Atletico Madrid Spanish international. look to seal their place in the Leverkusen travel to Spain un- Champions League quarter-fi - der new management as Tayfun nals today. Korkut replaced the sacked Roger Atletico are strong favour- Schmidt after the Germans fi rst ites to reach the last eight for a leg defeat was followed up by a fourth straight year as Torres was 6-2 thrashing at Borussia Dort- on target in a 4-2 fi rst leg win mund. against Beyer Leverkusen in Ger- Atletico have only lost one of many three weeks ago to give the 20 Champions League games at Spanish side a commanding lead. home under Simeone. Torres returned to full train- However, Leverkusen are hop- ing for the fi rst time on Mon- ing for a comeback of Barcelona day since losing consciousness proportions after the Spanish in a challenge with Deportivo la champions fought back from a Coruna’s Alex Bergantinos that 4-0 fi rst leg defeat to beat Paris provoked consternation among Saint-Germain 6-1 last week.