ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board received an overwhelming response from millions of cricket-starved fans, even if it didn’t succeed in spotting a new fast bowler or unearth a new batting star in its inaugural professional Twenty20 league in the United Arab Emirates.
Islamabad United, led by Pakistan test captain Misbah-ul-Haq, defeated Quetta Gladiators by six wickets at a packed Dubai International Cricket Stadium late Tuesday to conclude a three-week Pakistan Super League.
Millions of fans stayed tuned in across Pakistan until after midnight throughout the tournament, which also featured teams including Pakistan Twenty20 captain Shahid Afridi’s Peshawar Zalmi, Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik-led Karachi Kings and Pakistan ODI captain Azhar Ali’s Lahore Qalandars.
“It’s our own league, I haven’t missed a single ball of it,” said Yousuf Mustafa, a 19-year-old college student in Islamabad. “PSL is more than a World Cup to me, I wished it could have been played in Pakistan.”
An attack on the Sri Lankan team’s bus in 2009 at Lahore shut the doors on test nations touring Pakistan before Zimbabwe broke the deadlock by playing a limited-overs series — also in Lahore — last year.
Convincing foreign players from other major cricket countries like Australia, England, New Zealand, West Indies and South Africa to tour Pakistan was almost impossible, so the PCB finally decided to host the PSL on neutral venue in the UAE.
Chris Gayle, Kevin Pietersen, Shane Watson, Luke Wright and Andre Russell were among the 29 foreign players who signed up for the five franchises. Cricket greats Viv Richards and Wasim Akram were associated as mentors for Gladiators and United respectively and played pivotal roles in guiding their teams to the final.
“Today it’s the victory of people of Pakistan — nobody has lost, its victory for everyone,” PSL chairman Najam Sethi said during the prize ceremony.
Sethi, who is also one of the PCB’s governing board members, initiated the idea of staging the PSL along similar lines to lucrative Indian Premier League, Big Bash in Australia and Bangladesh Premier League.
After twice postponing the PSL, late last year Sethi finally managed to kick off the league by selling the five franchises for $93 million over a period of 10 years.
“The league has been a success and there are good chances some of the franchises will go close to the break even after the first edition. The PCB is also very close to breaking even,” he said.
United was rewarded with three of its unheralded players — Mohammad Sami, Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif — were drafted into Pakistan’s squad for next month’s World Twenty20 in India. Gladiators’ uncapped left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz has also been labelled as one of the players to watch out on spin-friendly wickets in India.
“You can see lots of youngsters coming up ... they are getting more chances to harness their skills and handle the pressure. That’s what IPL did for India, that’s what BPL did for Bangladesh,” Misbah said.
Sethi said he had spoken with Pietersen about convincing player associations across the world to send cricketers to Pakistan for the second of the PSL.
“I promise you the way we have done the hard work, hopefully we will bring this league in Pakistan too,” Sethi said.
Misbah said foreign players got a mild taste of what it would be like to play in a Pakistan competition during their three-week stay in the United Arab Emirates, and hoped it will help bring international cricket back to Pakistan.
“This is one way you can build confidence of players coming from Australia, England, West Indies and Bangladesh,” he said. “When you get confidence and know from other players that Pakistan is a safer country, it will be possible for the Pakistan Cricket Board to bring back international cricket to Pakistan.”
PSL gets overwhelming response in cricket-starved Pakistan
PSL gets overwhelming response in cricket-starved Pakistan
Russian wrestlers reject Olympics invitation
The national federation said Saturday that 10 wrestlers who passed the eligibility checks would boycott the Games in protest at the IOC
MOSCOW: Russian wrestlers who were given permission to participate in this summer’s Olympic Games have rejected the invitation, the Russian Wrestling Federation said Saturday.
After initially being barred from the Games over Moscow’s military offensive on Ukraine, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has moved to allow a handful of Russian athletes to take part under a neutral flag if they meet strict conditions.
But the national federation said Saturday that 10 wrestlers who passed the eligibility checks would boycott the Games in protest at the IOC.
“We do not accept the unsportsmanlike selection principle that guided the International Olympic Committee when forming the list of eligible athletes, the purpose of which is to undermine the principle of unity of our team,” the federation said in a statement.
The federation’s executive committee, coaches and wrestlers “came to the unanimous decision to refuse to participate in the Olympic Games.”
Russian athletes hoping to compete in Paris must demonstrate they do not support Russia’s military offensive on Ukraine and have no links to the country’s armed forces.
Those admitted will have to compete under a neutral banner and will be excluded from any team events and also the opening ceremony.
Russian officials have repeatedly blasted the IOC policy.
Russian wrestlers who were given permission to participate in this summer’s Olympic Games have rejected the invitation, the Russian Wrestling Federation said Saturday. (AFP/File)
Saudi Arabia’s Mostafa Nada looks to impress in front of home country crowd
RIYADH: When Saudi Arabia’s Mostafa Nada steps inside the PFL SmartCage in the main event of Professional Fighters League MENA 2 on July 12, he will have the support of a home country crowd behind him as he faces Algeria’s Abdel Rahmane Driai in a welterweight showcase main event.
It will not be Nada’s first trip into the SmartCage, as he is looking to build off the momentum of his first-round win against Korey Kuppe from last season.
While he will be the favorite, Nada admits that competing at home is going to be a different experience altogether.
“This fight will be different for me because it’ll be in my home country, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, but I’m ready for all the opportunities that I can get,” Nada said. “This fight in Saudi puts pressure on me in a different way because all eyes will be on me including my family, friends, and fans.”
While there is not a lot at stake compared to some of the night’s other fights, Nada is looking to prove himself and hopefully get a shot at next season’s PFL MENA tournament.
“I want to prove myself, and I pray for success, that I may be able to implement my game plan and what I trained for to achieve victory.”
Against Driai, Nada will be facing a bonafide finisher who has recorded eight of nine wins by way of stoppage.
Nada however, is confident in his own abilities.
“I’ve kept an eye on my opponent, I’ve studied him well. He has a strong wrestling game, and he has a dangerous right hand. He’s knocked out many of his opponents, but he won’t be able to do that to me,” he confidently claimed. “I’ve watched all his fights and I’ve learned his style. I can confidently say that his fight with me will be very different from all his other fights.
“I know my skills and my abilities, and I know that I can compete with the best fighters in the world,” Nada continued.
Nada is on a four-fight winning streak of his own, and will look to extend that in Riyadh on July 12.
Turkiye take on Dutch in politically charged Euros quarter-final, England face Swiss
- In the other quarter-final England aim to move a step closer to ending a 58-year wait to win a major tournament by beating Switzerland
BERLIN: Turkiye face the Netherlands in a Euro 2024 quarter-final on Saturday whose lead-up has been dominated by a diplomatic row between the Turks and Germany.
In the other quarter-final England aim to move a step closer to ending a 58-year wait to win a major tournament by beating Switzerland.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will attend the match at Berlin’s Olympiastadion amidst a diplomatic row between his country and host nation Germany over a two-match ban handed to Turkiye defender Merih Demiral.
The center-back, who scored both Turkiye’s goals in a 2-1 win over Austria in the last 16 on Tuesday, has been suspended by UEFA for celebrating with a gesture associated with Turkish right-wing extremist group Grey Wolves.
UEFA said in a statement it was banning Demiral “for violating the basic rules of decent conduct, for using sports events for manifestations of a non-sporting nature and for bringing the sport of football into disrepute.”
Germany’s Interior Minister Nancy Faeser warned “the symbols of Turkish right-wing extremists have no place in our stadiums.”
Turkiye then summoned the German ambassador on Wednesday over politicians’ reactions to Demiral’s celebration.
Turkiye’s Sports Minister Osman Askin Bak claimed the ban “has no legal basis and that we consider it to be purely political.”
Erdogan himself has said Demiral was just “showing his excitement” and several ministers and the spokesman of his ruling AKP party have condemned Faeser’s reaction.
Turkiye will be roared on by tens of thousands of fans who have turned all of their matches, in an unexpected run to the last eight, into a mass of red and white in stadiums around the country.
Germany is home to nearly three million people with Turkish roots.
Vincenzo Montella’s men will try to ride that support to reach the semifinals of a European Championship for just the second time.
The Dutch are the favorites to make the last four for the first time since Euro 2004.
Ronald Koeman’s side disappointed in the group stage as they only qualified thanks to being one of the best third-placed teams.
But they hit their stride in the last 16 with a 3-0 win over Romania and have the joint top goalscorer in the tournament in Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo.
The winner of the clash in Berlin will face either England or Switzerland in Wednesday’s semifinal in Dortmund.
England boss Gareth Southgate rounded on suggestions the Three Lions had been handed an easier path to the final as “entitlement” from the media in his homeland.
Despite reaching the quarter-finals for the fourth consecutive major tournament under Southgate, England have so far failed to live up to their hype as one of the favorites for the competition in a string of poor performances.
They needed a moment of Jude Bellingham brilliance in the dying seconds to sneak past Slovakia after extra-time in the last 16 and face a step up in class against the Swiss in Dusseldorf.
Bellingham has been cleared to play after the Real Madrid midfielder received just a 30,000 euro ($32,477) fine and one-match suspended ban for mimicking a crotch grab after scoring against Slovakia.
Switzerland dumped out holders Italy 2-0 in the previous round and also held Germany 1-1 in the group stages.
Spain will face France in Tuesday’s semifinal in Munich after two dramatic quarter-finals on Friday.
The hosts suffered a heartbreaking defeat as Mikel Merino’s header in the final minute of extra-time handed Spain a 2-1 win over Germany.
France beat Portugal on penalties after a 0-0 draw that could bring the curtain down on Cristiano Ronaldo’s illustrious international career.
Saudi national team beats UAE to win Arab Diar Championship
- The Saudi team qualified for the final match after beating their Syrian counterpart 2-0
TAIF, Saudi Arabia: The Saudi national team won the Arab Diar Championship for West Asian U-19 teams, after defeating UAE 1-0 at the King Fahd Sports City Stadium in Taif Governorate on Friday night.
The team qualified for the final match after beating their Syrian counterpart 2-0, state news agency SPA reported.
Talal Haji scored the winning goal in the 43rd minute of the first half, bringing victory and gold medals to the team.
The UAE came in second and was awarded silver medals.
Canada stun Venezuela on penalties to reach Copa America semifinals
- Canada triumphed in the shootout to set up a last-four meeting with world champions Argentina
- Both teams failed to score from the spot twice in the shoot-out, leaving it at 3-3 after five penalties each
ARLINGTON, Texas: Canada reached the semifinals of the Copa America on Friday after beating Venezuela 4-3 on penalties after the 90-minute game finished 1-1.
Jacob Shaffelburg fired Canada into the lead in the 13th minute but Salomon Rondon equalized in the 64th, before Canada triumphed in the shootout to set up a last-four meeting with world champions Argentina.
The Canadians, under American coach Jesse Marsch, who only took over the team in mid-May, are playing in the Copa America for the first time and produced a relentless display of pressing in what was a frantic game.
Both teams failed to score from the spot twice in the shoot-out, leaving it at 3-3 after five penalties each and sending the contest into sudden death.
Canada keeper Max Crepeau, who had made a major error for Venezuela’s equalizer, made amends as he saved Wilker Angel’s kick.
That left Ismael Kone with the chance to win the game. He converted with an ice-cool penalty to set off the celebrations in front of a crowd of 51,080 mostly Venezuela supporting fans.
Canada played Argentina in the opening game of the group stage, losing 2-0 to the defending champions and will start as huge underdogs again in the semifinal.
But after a performance of remarkable energy and determination against a Venezuela team that won all three of their group stage games, Marsch will believe his team could pull off another upset and reach the final in Miami on July 14.
Canada roared out of the blocks, giving Venezuela no time on the ball and getting forward in numbers in the early stages.
“Vinotinto” keeper Rafael Romo had to race out of his area to stop Cyle Larin as he raced on to a ball over the top, but there was nothing he could do minutes later when the Canadians took the lead.
Jonathan David bustled in from the right and winger Shaffelburg arrived right on time to slot the ball into the bottom corner.
Shaffelburg, a speedy left-winger who plays in Major League Soccer for Nashville, then forced Romo into a diving save and then delivered a low cross which David was unable to finish.
Canada were going for the jugular and Richie Laryea zipped a ball across the face of the box but the stretching David was unable to reach it.
Larin wasted a big chance just after the interval when he found the ball in space in the box but leaned back and fired his shot well over the bar.
Marsch’s high-energy tactics were starting to take a toll on his players and as they tired Venezuela grew into the game.
Jose Martinez should have done better when a poor clearance landed at his feet in the box but he stabbed his shot wide.
But then a long ball forward was won by Rondon, who spotted Crepeau far off his line and from 35-yards out the veteran striker produced a perfect lob to beat the stranded keeper and make it 1-1.
There were late chances for Canada to win the game in regulation time, but neither Liam Millar nor Tani Oluwaseyi, both on as substitutes could provide a composed finish.
With no extra-time in Copa America, it was straight to penalties and after Rondon and David both converted, Yangel Herrera hit the post for Venezuela.
Millar then put his effort over the bar and after Tomas Rincon scored for Venezuela, Moise Bombito levelled for Canada.
But Jefferson Savarino hit the post and Canada’s Stephen Eustaquio saw his soft effort saved by Romo before both teams scored to make it 3-3.
Then in sudden death, Crepeau dived to deny Angel leaving Kone with the pressure shot to win which he handled with aplomb.
“Everybody needs to realize the respect this country deserves and these footballers deserve,” Crepeau told Fox Sports.
“Everybody says ‘these Canadians’, well these Canadians are in the semifinals of Copa America.”
