26 Established 1961 Sports Wednesday, May 15, 2019 Lehmann tips Smith and Warner to shine for Australia in World Cup Watson ‘gave blood’ for Chennai during IPL final MELBOURNE: Former Australia coach Darren then there’s Khawaja or Shaun Marsh at three I’d think Lehmann expects Steve Smith and David Warner to play and Smith at four - this is your top four.” a big role in their title defence on their return to interna- Meanwhile in Hyderabad, there were bloodstains on tional cricket at the World Cup. Smith and Warner have the leg of Shane Watson’s trousers during the IPL final returned from year-long bans following a ball-tampering as he scored a blistering 80 for Chennai Super Kings scandal in South Africa which also prompted Lehmann were revealed yesterday to be from a cut that needed six to step down as coach of the side in March last year. stitches when he finished. The top order duo made impressive return from The 37-year-old Australian batsman was on the losing elbow surgeries for their respective franchises at the side in the end, but teammate Harbhajan Singh hailed Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament and Watson’s courage in continuing to play despite suffering Lehmann was convinced they will shine at the World a gashed knee while diving for a catch. Cup in England and Wales. “Respect brother what a LEGEND @srwatson33 giv- “Smith at number three or four, he’d be exceptional en sweat, blood and everything for the team.. INSPIR- at the World Cup,” Lehmann told Macquarie Sports ING,” Singh wrote on Instagram. Radio. “People are worried about the break they’ve The Indian off-spinner posted a picture of Watson had with 12 months out, but you see them in the IPL with blood-stained yellow trousers while batting in the performing and making runs. Twenty20 final against the Mumbai Indians, and said the “David Warner is an excitement machine, at the top opener needed six stitches after the valiant innings. of the order, he can set it alight. “If he has a really “Can you guys see the blood on his knee.. He got 6 good tournament, he set us on the road to winning a stitches after the game,” Harbhajan wrote. “Got injured lot of games in the last World Cup. If he does it again while diving but continue to bat without telling anyone,” at the top of the order with Aaron Finch, they’ll be the bowler added. hard to stop.” Warner, who will never captain Australia Watson smashed 80 off 59 deliveries only to see his for his role in the scandal in South Africa, looked par- team lose by one run. Watson was run out going for an ticularly impressive at the IPL finishing as its leading unlikely second in the final over, and Mumbai paceman scorer with 692 runs from 12 innings that included nine Lasith Malinga denied Chennai the two runs needed off 50-plus scores. the last ball to win the game and a record fourth title. In his absence, Finch and Usman Khawaja have Watson’s return to the IPL next season remains HYDERABAD: In this file photo taken on May 12, 2019 Chennai Super Kings cricketer Shane Watson (L) plays a formed a steady opening partnership for Australia but uncertain. He has already bid farewell to Australia’s Big shot — with blood staining his uniform behind his pads on his left knee — during the 2019 Indian Premier Lehmann expected Warner to slot back at the top of the Bash T20 tournament, and Chennai captain M.S. Dhoni League (IPL) Twenty20 final cricket match between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings at the Rajiv Gandhi order. “Opening with Finch and Warner, I think that’s a indicated he would make changes to the batting lineup International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad. —AFP certainty,” the former Australia all-rounder said. “And for next year. — Agencies “Afridi is no better than a typical mid- International Afridi lambasted dle-aged average Pakistani guy, who wouldn’t mind hanging out with some- over sexist one else’s daughters but would balk if cricket gets his own did the same,” tweeted Salman Siddiq. first woman remarks in “His daughters, his decisions? Really?? So the girls’ voices and choices autobiography don’t matter? Not even when they’re match referee adults? Because #FatherHasSpoken,” KARACHI: Former Pakistani all-rounder added Asha Bedar on Twitter. Shahid Afridi batted away accusations of Pakistani author Bina Shah also roast- NEW DELHI: The International Cricket misogyny this week as critics lashed out ed Afridi, telling the BBC his decision Council yesterday named G.S. Lakshmi as the at the cricket star’s admission that he was an example of “Pakistani macho cul- first woman on the international panel of refuses to let his daughters play outdoor ture that says I am the father, I can say match referees, making her eligible to take sports. what my daughters are going to do and control of men’s games. The 51-year-old The remarks were just the latest con- not do, and there is not a thing that you Lakshmi, who first officiated as a match refer- troversy stemming from Afridi’s tell-all can do to stop me.” ee in domestic women’s cricket in 2008-09, autobiography-”Game Changer”- Others pointed to the examples set by has overseen three women’s one-day interna- released in Pakistan and India last week. other athletes on the issue, including tionals and three Twenty20s. G.S. Lakshmi “It’s for social and religious reasons Egyptian football star at Liverpool Her appointment came just after Australia’s that I’ve made this decision regarding Mohamed Salah who has advocated for Claire Polosak became the first woman my daughters not competing in public the equal treatment of women in the umpire in a men’s ODI last month. “To be “I hope to put my experience both as a body that provides umpires for all interna- sporting activities and their mother Islamic world. Salah made headlines selected in the international panel by the ICC player and as a match official to good use on tionals to eight. agrees with me,” wrote Afridi. over the weekend after a viral video is a huge honour for me as it opens up new the international circuit.” Meanwhile, Lauren Agenbag, Kim Cotton, Shivani “The feminists can say what they showed him proudly celebrating as his avenues,” Lakshmi said in an ICC statement. Australia’s Eloise Sheridan has joined Mishra, Sue Redfern, Mary Waldron and want; as a conservative Pakistani father, four-year-old daughter scored a goal “I have had a long career as a cricketer in Polosak on the ICC’s umpires development Jacqueline Williams are the other women on I’ve made my decision,” he added. In the ahead of Liverpool’s last game of the India and also as a match referee.” panel, taking the number of women on the the panel. — AFP book, the cricketer also unleashed with- season at Anfield. ering criticism against old teammates- But back in Pakistan, Afridi pushed Unless there’s a clear winner in the including erstwhile World Cup captain back at the criticism. “I don’t judge any- Lillard, Blazers duel of two of the NBA’s premier back- and current Prime Minister Imran Khan- one or meddle in people’s life,” Afridi courts, the series could turn into a battle Dutch F1 Grand and admitted to being slightly older than tweeted on Sunday. “I expect the same of attrition in the front court, where five previously reported, drawing accusa- too from others. May Allah bless my aim to give key players have different degrees of tions he was not the youngest player to daughters and daughters/women all injuries. Prix returns at set the record for scoring 100 runs in an over the world! Let people be. My Warriors a The only certainty among the five is international. daughters are very precious to me! My that Portland center Jusuf Nurkic, who ‘iconic’ Zandvoort However, his comments about his four life revolves around them.” suffered a broken leg in March, won’t daughters-who are aged between 10 Afridi retired from professional cricket battle play in the series. He contributed dou- next season and 20 years old-may have proven to be in 2016 but he continues to be a mainstay ble-doubles to two Portland wins over the most galling to the public with social on Pakistani television, frequently star- OAKLAND: Damian Lillard hopes to Golden State this season, and added a media users labeling the all-rounder a ring in commercials while also attending close down his hometown arena on his third in a December loss. PARIS: “misogynist” and “hypocrite”. high-profile sporting events. — AFP own terms when the Portland Trail The Dutch Grand Prix will return next Meanwhile, Nurkic’s counterpart, season at Zandvoort after a 35-year absence, Blazers take on the two-time defending DeMarcus Cousins, has expressed a Formula One organisers announced yesterday. A champion Golden State Warriors in the desire to return from a torn quad at deal to stage the race at the historic seaside Western Conference finals, a best-of- some point in the series for Golden resort circuit near Amsterdam has been signed From street cricket to world’s best seven series that tips off tonight in State. If Cousins could return and in for at least three years. Oakland, Calif. what capacity loom as two super-sized “I am pleased to see that Zandvoort will be spinner: Pakistan hails Sana Mir Lillard, who is rapidly ascending the question marks.