BANGALORE: India’s tour of Sri Lanka earlier this year followed the same pattern as Mike Tyson’s heavyweight title bout against Michael Spinks in June 1988. Just over a minute into the fight, a barrage of punches from Tyson made Spinks sink to the canvas on one knee. After the referee’s mandatory count, the two boxers moved toward the center of the ring.
Spinks tried to throw a punch and missed. Tyson lined up a left-right combination and didn’t. This time, as Spinks swayed to the floor, it was obvious he wouldn’t get up. The lasting image of the fight is of Spinks prone on the canvas, glassy-eyed, dazed and confused.
Cricket, sadly, doesn’t have the provision to call off such unequal contests. The tone for India’s rout was set on the opening day in Galle, when India piled up 399 for three before stumps. Shikhar Dhawan contributed 190 off just 168 balls, knocking the stuffing out of the Sri Lankan attack before tea. In their first innings in the three Tests, India would score 600, 622 for nine declared, and 487. Sri Lanka went past 300 just once. Three times in six innings they were bowled out for under 200. After winning the first Test by 304 runs, India won the next two by an innings. It wasn’t a contest, it was roadkill.
Those results went a long way to explaining the almost complete lack of interest in the return series, which began at Kolkata’s iconic Eden Gardens last week. Sri Lanka may have gone to the United Arab Emirates after that home drubbing and beaten Pakistan 2-0, but few gave them any hope against an Indian side that has lost one home Test in the past five years.
Sri Lanka’s record on India soil was also dismal, with 10 defeats and seven draws dating back to the first series in 1982. Even the great Muttiah Muralitharan struggled here. India survived his wiles in 2005 — when his tussle with Sachin Tendulkar in Delhi was one of the highlights — and then ruthlessly took him apart four years later. On both those tours, Sri Lanka had the better of drawn opening Tests before India stormed back to take the series 2-0.
In Kolkata, a game Sri Lanka dominated for long periods, it finished up with them hanging on to the edge of a cliff by their fingernails. Virat Kohli’s dazzling unbeaten 104 on the final day — the other batsmen on both sides managed 140 runs for the loss of 14 wickets — flipped the game on its head, allowing Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami to give Sri Lanka a real fright in the fading light.
There was still much for the visitors to savor. Suranga Lakmal bowled with impeccable control and skill in both innings. In the first, after Sri Lanka elected to bowl in overcast conditions on a green pitch, India couldn’t score off the first 46 balls he bowled. By then, he had accounted for KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli with both swing and subtle seam movement.
That India eventually got to 172 after being 50 for five was largely down to Cheteshwar Pujara’s defiant half-century, and the support for Lakmal — Lahiru Gamage and Dasun Shanaka — being fairly ordinary.
In an ideal scenario, neither man would have lined up against India. But such have been Sri Lanka’s pace-bowling woes over the past few years that selection has become a carousel ride. Nuwan Pradeep, who bowled superbly in the Galle loss to India, has been rested for this series, while Shaminda Eranga has battled both injury and the legality of his action. Dhammika Prasad, the best of the experienced lot, hasn’t played a Test in more than two years, and doubts persist as to whether he will ever complete the long road back from injury.
For the second Test in Nagpur, Sri Lanka could well bring in Vishwa Fernando, whose left-arm pace could provide a better foil for Lakmal. How Lakmal bounces back after his exertions at the sauna-like Eden Gardens also remains to be seen. India, having had their wake-up call, will be desperate to extend a frightening home record, at a venue where Dale Steyn bowled South Africa to an innings win in 2010.
The hosts will make two changes, with both Shikhar Dhawan and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who’s getting married, exiting the XI for personal reasons. Murali Vijay will open alongside Rahul, and the experienced Ishant Sharma will take Bhuvneshwar’s place. But after his heroics in Kolkata, all eyes will once again be on Kohli, India’s Captain Fantastic who is now serenaded in much the same way that Sachin Tendulkar once was.
Series with India offers Sri Lanka hope
Series with India offers Sri Lanka hope
Pakistan to face Zimbabwe in first T20I on Sunday
- The first T20 between Pakistan and Zimbabwe will start at 4pm Pakistan standard time
- Pakistan this week defeated Zimbabwe 2-1 in their three-match one-day international series
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will face Zimbabwe in the first of their three-match Twenty-20 International (T20I) series in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe on Sunday.
The first T20 between Pakistan and Zimbabwe will start at 4pm Pakistan standard time. Pakistan this week defeated Zimbabwe 2-1 in their three-match one-day international series.
“A 99-run win in the third ODI to wrap up a series victory,” the Pakistan Cricket Board remarked as Kamran Ghulam struck his maiden one-day international century to steer Pakistan to win.
“Onto the T20I action.”
Pakistan and Zimbabwe will play the second and third T20 matches on Dec. 3 and 5 at the same venue in Bulawayo.
The tourists then head to South Africa for an eight-match all-formats tour, including two Tests.
SAL Jeddah GT 2024 race continues at Jeddah Corniche Circuit
- Second qualifying session for Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe continues on Saturday
- Benjamin Lariche and Robert Consani from Team Speedcar crowned as winners of the first race
RIYADH: The SAL Jeddah GT 2024 is set for another entertaining day at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit on Saturday, with the second qualifying session for the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe, supported by AWS, starting at 11:45 a.m.
The session lasts one hour in preparation for the official six-hour, 1,000-km race starting at 5 p.m. Additionally, the second race of the European GT4 Series, supported by Club Raffa Racing, will begin at 2:15 p.m., lasting one hour.
Organized by the Saudi Auto and Motorcycle Federation, or SAMF, and the Saudi Motorsports Company under the supervision of the Saudi Ministry of Sports, the race began on Friday in the presence of Sports Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, who is also chairman of the Saudi Arabian Olympic and Paralympic Committee.
Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, chairman of the board of directors of SAMF and the Saudi Motorsports Company, crowned Benjamin Lariche and Robert Consani from Team Speedcar as winners of the first race.
They were followed by Alex Denning and Thomas Emson from Elite Motorsport in second place, just 3.472 seconds behind. Their teammates, Joshua Rattican and Thomas Lepinon, finished third, 2.117 seconds behind. Meanwhile, Team Spirit of Le Mans came fourth, and Les Places Biavenoy was ranked fifth.
In the Pro-Am category, AFR-Avatar clinched first place, ranking seventh overall, while Raison Moon secured second place, followed by Mirage in third. In the amateur category, Schumacher CLRT claimed first place, ranking 16th overall, followed by NM Racing in second (20th overall) and EV in third.
The gates for fans opened at 10 a.m., offering various entertainment zones, children’s play areas, interactive games and virtual reality experiences.
Saudi Arabia’s bid to host 2034 World Cup has received the highest-ever rating: FIFA
- Last October, a FIFA delegation arrived in the Kingdom to review details of the bid and inspect the facilities to be used for the event
- Games will be played in 15 stadiums distributed across Riyadh, Jeddah, Alkhobar, Abha and NEOM, plus ten other hosting sites
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the FIFA World Cup 2034 has received a rating of 419.8 out of 500, the highest technical rating ever given by the International Federation of Association Football to a file submitted to host the event, the federation has said.
FIFA’s announcement came ahead of the federation’s general assembly on Dec. 11 to decide which countries would host the 2030 and 2034 World Cups, the Saudi Press Agency reported early on Saturday.
On July 29, a Saudi delegation led by Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal, minister of sport and president of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, and Yasser Al-Misehal, Saudi Arabian Football Federation president, officially submitted the Kingdom’s bid book to FIFA to host the FIFA World Cup 2034 at a ceremony hosted in Paris, France.
Last October, a FIFA delegation arrived in the Kingdom to review the details of the bid. As proposed, 48 teams will be participating at venues in one country for the first time in history.
The delegation visited the cities proposed to host the tournament, inspected the sports projects and facilities included in the bid, and reviewed other preparations.
Commenting on the FIFA announcement, Sports Minister Prince Abdulaziz said that the attention, empowerment and support received from King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman contributed to the bid gaining the confidence of the international community.
SAFF President Yasser Al-Misehal said that “through the bid file, we are committed to providing an exceptional experience for all participants in the tournament, whether teams or participating delegations, and certainly for fans and football lovers around the world.”
Hammad Al-Balawi, head of the Bid File Unit, said: “The Kingdom’s bid file offers five host cities with diverse cultural and urban character that help fans and football lovers explore unique cultures and experiences in different regions of the Kingdom.”
In addition, he said, there were ten other hosting sites that “contribute to enhancing the experience of the participating teams through training camps and modern sports facilities, in addition to providing high accessibility between cities.”
As stated in the Kingdom’s bid, games will be played in 15 stadiums distributed across Riyadh, Jeddah, Alkhobar, Abha and NEOM, in addition to the ten other hosting sites across Saudi Arabia.
Saudi fighters shine as PFL MENA Championship delivers spectacular action in Riyadh
- Hattan Alsaif, Abdullah Al-Qahtani wow the crowd on electrifying night
RIYADH: The Saudi duo of MMA fighters, Hattan Alsaif and Abdullah Al-Qahtani, shone at the PFL MENA Championship on an electrifying night in Riyadh.
The PFL (Professional Fighters League) delivered an evening of spectacular MMA action which showcased local and international talent while solidifying Saudi Arabia’s place on the global MMA stage.
The event featured a mix of thrilling showcase bouts and championship matches, leaving fans captivated by the high-level competition.
Costello van Steenis began the night with an impressive first-round knockout victory over Joao Dantas, landing a head kick at just 48 seconds. The win improved his career record to 16-3 and marked his fourth career knockout, maintaining his strong form of four victories in his last five fights.
Asael Adjoudj impressed in the featherweight division, securing a third-round guillotine choke submission against Jose Perez. The victory extended his remarkable winning streak to nine, bringing his career record to 9-1. Adjoudj remains undefeated since his professional debut loss, highlighting his rapid rise in the division.
Gabriel Braga bounced back from his PFL playoff semifinal loss with a unanimous decision win over Jeremy Kennedy. With his career record now at 15-2, Braga demonstrated resilience and technical skill, reaffirming his status as a top featherweight contender.
Slim Trabelsi continued his undefeated run with a hard-fought split-decision victory in a clash of unbeaten heavyweights against Englishman Abraham Bably. Utilizing his powerful striking and determination, Trabelsi improved his record to 8-0, showcasing his potential to rise further in the division.
On the Saudi front, Hattan Alsaif delivered a highlight-reel moment with a stunning knockout win over Lilia Osmani, further establishing herself as a fighter to watch.
The night’s crowning achievements came with two championship bouts. Abdullah Al-Qahtani secured the PFL MENA Featherweight Championship in front of his hometown crowd with a dominant first-round TKO against Marouane Bellagouit. The 26-year-old Riyadh native improved his record to 10-2, adding his fourth career knockout and earning his place as a hometown hero.
Egypt’s Omar El Dafrawy claimed the PFL MENA Welterweight Championship with a second-round TKO over Mohammad Alaqraa. The victory not only extended El Dafrawy’s winning streak to seven but also avenged a previous loss to Alaqraa. Now boasting a 13-6 record with eight knockouts, El Dafrawy demonstrated his growth and determination, cementing his status as a dominant force in the division.
The PFL MENA Championship in Riyadh was a landmark event for MMA in Saudi Arabia, showcasing the region’s growing talent and passion for the sport. With electrifying performances and enthusiastic support from local fans, the event marked another milestone in Saudi Arabia’s journey as a key player in the global MMA landscape.
Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund takes a stake in Audi’s future F1 team
- the Qatar Investment Authority will be “a long-term investor and partner” in the Audi F1 team
LUSAIL, Qatar: The sovereign wealth fund of Qatar is acquiring a “significant minority stake” in what will become Audi’s works Formula 1 team from 2026, in a deal announced Friday at the Qatar Grand Prix.
A joint statement said the Qatar Investment Authority will be “a long-term investor and partner” and provide “a substantial capital injection” that will help the team expand its infrastructure.
The team is currently competing as Sauber and will be rebranded as the Audi works outfit for 2026 after it reached agreement for a full takeover earlier this year.
“This additional capital will accelerate the team’s growth and is yet another milestone on our long-term strategy,” Audi chief executive Gernot Döllner said in the joint statement.
Qatar is already an investor in the Volkswagen Group, of which Audi is a part.
“QIA believes that Formula 1 is a sport with significant untapped investment potential,” QIA chief executive Mohammed Saif Al-Sowaidi said.
“The increasing commercialization of professional sports as an entertainment offering globally, and the increasingly global popularity of Formula 1, has made for an exciting opportunity for our first major motorsports investment.”
Sauber is changing both of its drivers for 2025, when Nico Hülkenberg and rookie Gabriel Bortoleto arrive to replace Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu.
It is the only team yet to score a point this season. Bottas placed 13th and Zhou 19th in Friday’s qualifying for the Saturday sprint race, which was the first competitive session since the agreement was announced.
