Along with the excitement, there were also a few murmurs of discontent.
After reaching the Indian Premier League (IPL) final in 2016, on the back of 973 runs from Virat Kohli’s bat, Royal Challengers Bangalore had a miserable time of it in 2017. On a re-laid pitch at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, they won just one of seven home games. Away from the field, KL Rahul, a Karnataka and India stalwart who had contributed handsomely to the 2016 run before missing the last season injured, was let go while Sarfaraz Khan had been retained at considerable cost.
As we waited in line for security check at the turnstile, the two boys in front of me could talk of little else. “Why Sarfaraz?” asked one. “Three Karnataka players in their [Kings XI Punjab] top order,” replied his friend, also name-checking Karun Nair and Mayank Agarwal. Nair made a Test triple-hundred against England in December 2016, while Agarwal enjoyed a stellar domestic season. But like Rahul, they can only get a game 2000km from home.
Sure enough, when Punjab were sent in to bat, it was Rahul and Agarwal that opened and the initial flurry of strokes had plenty of fans nursing mixed feelings. Some cheered openly as Rahul went after the bowling, while others found their voice only once Umesh Yadav, complete with man-bun, took three wickets in an over to derail the innings.
The signage everywhere at the stadium advised you to Play Bold, but there was more than a note of circumspection in the way Bangalore went about chasing a modest target. But the beauty of the IPL also lies in the regularity with which it throws up new stars, and one such moment encapsulated that.
Mujeeb Zadran, who was playing for the Afghanistan Under-19s a couple of months ago, produced a marvelous back-of-the-hand googly to flummox Virat Kohli. Dozens in the posh seats next to the press box rose as one, presumably to applaud the skill involved in the dismissal as much as to acknowledge their captain.
In one of the VIP enclosures next to the dressing rooms, Anushka Sharma, Kohli’s wife, watched glumly. The couple met while shooting for a shampoo commercial five years ago, and her mood certainly wouldn’t have improved if she’d known that Kohli’s dismissal prompted a new anti-dandruff ad on television. The trolls certainly didn’t miss it.
His exit, however, marked the resumption of one of the great IPL love affairs. AB de Villiers may have his roots in Pretoria, but into his eighth season in the red-and-black of Bangalore, he’s venerated as a local hero. Even as he started slowly, the fans didn’t panic. They just knew what was coming.
De Villiers, not a man known for making grand gestures, had already asked the fans to make the Chinnaswamy “our fortress” again. “I have grown to love the place … the atmosphere, the history and, more than anything, the supporters who fill the grandstands every time RCB take the field,” he wrote in a newspaper column. When he smacked two sixes off the hitherto impeccable Zadran to more or less seal the game, the roars that he had asked for duly arrived.
There was still time for one final twist. With de Villiers out, the 18-year-old Washington Sundar had the responsibility of seeing the team home. Sundar is a Chennai boy, and the dismal events that forced Chennai Super Kings to relocate their home matches to Pune have also forced the Indian board to reassess whether Bangalore can host its home game against Chennai.
So rabid are the fringe elements on either side that a flare-up is more than likely, but such nonsense was momentarily forgotten as Sundar, the calmest person on the ground, struck two fours to win the game. A stadium largely full of Bangaloreans rose to acclaim the Chennai boy, just to remind us that sport often has the power to surmount the petty barriers we erect between us. The serenading of an Afrikaner from Pretoria and a young man on the other side of the Cauvery-water divide was a pleasant distraction from the ugliness all around.
IPL shows its power to unite as Bangalore fete Chennai boy Washington Sundar
IPL shows its power to unite as Bangalore fete Chennai boy Washington Sundar
- The 18-year-old remained the calmest man on the field to win it with two boundaries
- AB De Villiers adds to his hero status with 57 off 40 balls
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.
