TAUNTON, England: Rashid Khan was rattled after ducking into a short ball from one of cricket’s genuine pacemen. So much so that he didn’t come out to bowl.
Afghanistan’s brightest cricket star failed an initial concussion test on Saturday after being hit on the helmet by Lockie Ferguson and took no further part in his team’s seven-wicket loss to New Zealand at the World Cup.
It was a major setback for the injury-depleted Afghan lineup, missing one of the most highly rated bowlers in short-form cricket as they tried to defend a small total of 172. The New Zealanders, runners-up at the last World Cup, cruised to victory with one-third of their allotted overs to spare.
It was a third consecutive loss for Afghanistan in the 10-team tournament, and came in the wake of influential batsman-wicketkeeper Mohammad Shahzad being ruled out of the tournament with an injured knee.
The International Cricket Council issued a statement saying Rashid was withdrawn from the game at Somerset’s County Ground as a precaution. And Afghanistan captain Gulbadin Naib later said his star spinner’s condition wasn’t as bad as it first seemed.
“He’s feeling much now better. So he’s fine,” Naib said, attributing Rashid’s absence to the fact he’d been stunned by a blow to the head from a ball traveling at 140 kph (87 mph) and the team doctor told him to rest. “That’s why he didn’t come to the ground.”
Rashid was bowled without scoring when he was hit by a delivery that jagged back, bounced sharply into him and deflected into the stumps.
He walked away from the crease with his head down, and was checked by team medical staff before he reached the boundary. He failed an initial test for concussion and the team’s doctor later decided it was safer not to send Rashid back onto the field.
After playing three games in eight days, Afghanistan now gets a week off before its next match against South Africa.
The International Cricket Council has concussion protocols that Rashid needs to clear before he can play again, but Naib is confident his bowling ace will be available after a week.
“He’s well,” he said, “Afghani people are strong.”
The 20-year-old legspinner is No. 1 in the Twenty20 cricket rankings and in the top three in the ODI format, but has been relatively subdued so far in the tournament with 1-52 against Australia and 2-17 against Sri Lanka in his first two games.
Afghani fast bowler Hamid Hassan said the whole squad would benefit from an extended break between games.
“We have to reset our mindset again for six matches,” he said. “At least we can try our best to win two or three matches.
“We have to always think and stay positive. Until the end of the last ball of the last game, we’ll keep the spirit high.”
Afghans: Rashid is OK after head knock against New Zealand
Afghans: Rashid is OK after head knock against New Zealand
- Injury-depleted Afghan lineup
- Afghanistan captain says his star spinner’s condition wasn’t as bad as it first seemed
World Cup was a milestone for cricket’s global ambitions
- More teams from emerging cricket nations were given opportunity to perform on global stage
- At least 35,000 fans packed New York stadium to catch India and Pakistan play each other last month
Bridgetown, Barbados: The T20 World Cup concluded with a classic thriller of a final, with India crowned champions on Saturday, but the tournament may also go down as a milestone for a game which is keen to expand its global footprint.
With the decision to increase the size of the tournament to 20 teams and to play part of the group stage in the USA, the International Cricket Council (ICC) saw this World Cup as a vehicle for expansion of the sport’s popularity.
More teams from emerging cricket nations were given a chance to perform on the global stage and Americans were offered the opportunity to engage with a sport far from their mainstream.
There were risks to such a strategy — the smaller associate nation teams needed to be competitive and not just cannon fodder and the very limited cricket facilities in the USA needed to be upgraded and in some cases created from scratch.
On both fronts, the tournament can be considered to have been a success, albeit a qualified one.
Certainly, the associate nations made their presence felt right from the opening game at Grand Prairie Stadium near Dallas where the USA beat Canada in a pulsating match.
It is hard to imagine any marketing and promotion campaign that could better the impact of the USA upsetting Pakistan, a result creating a completely new level of awareness of the sport in the country.
No-one who witnessed Nepal’s effervescent performances and their large and passionate fans could doubt they were a welcome presence on the big stage.
“I think it has had a huge impact on associate teams. We didn’t expect to see the USA in the Super Eights... that win over Pakistan... it showed they weren’t here just to make up numbers,” said former West Indies captain Chris Gayle, who was an ambassador for the tournament.
“You look at Nepal and Papua New Guinea and you see (a World Cup) can uplift a nation and help develop their cricket,” he added.
While Afghanistan have long left behind minnow-status, their run to the last four, including a memorable win over Australia, was a clear sign of where the pathway can lead for emerging teams.
Organizers made it clear before the tournament that they weren’t expecting to ‘break’ the US market and convert NFL fans into cricket lovers but had more modest and achievable goals.
The aim was simply to pique the curiosity in cricket among Americans and certainly the sport raised its profile while remaining very much a small niche sport in the bigger picture.
The ICC also wanted to engage directly with the South Asian immigrant communities who make up the active core of cricket lovers in the USA and offer them a rare chance to see the international game in person.
The sight of 35,000 packed into a temporary stadium near Long Island, New York, to watch rivals India and Pakistan, showed that was a worthwhile strategy.
But there were issues with playing elite cricket at such venues.
The wicket in New York, developed in Florida and ‘dropped in’ shortly before the tournament, received plenty of criticism for its uneven bounce and unpredictability which led to low-scoring games. Gayle called the transported surface “jet lagged.”
All but one game at Lauderhill was washed out by rain — not helped by drainage problems with part of the field while Ireland spent a week in South Florida without access to any practice facilities.
A tournament in the Caribbean is a logistical challenge in itself, with travel between the islands and nations difficult for fans, adding in three States in the USA and the idea of following team throughout the competition was prohibitively expensive for most supporters.
Gayle believes the tournament was a success overall but the co-hosting shouldn’t be repeated.
“I’d love it if the World Cup is going to be held in the Caribbean it should be the Caribbean only and if it is going to be in the USA it should be in the USA only,” he said.
For cricket in the USA the challenge is now to grow the seeds that have been planted and the hope is that the second season of the T20 franchise competition, Major League Cricket, can maintain the momentum.
The league gets under way on Friday with some new signings such as Australians Pat Cummins and Steve Smith joining South African captain Aiden Markram and batsman David Miller and Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan.
Siem takes Italian Open golf title in play-off
RAVENNA, Italy: German Marcel Siem claimed his sixth European Tour title with a play-off win at the Italian Open on Sunday.
Siem, 43, overcame a shaky back nine on his final round to hole a birdie putt on the 18th to tie him at 10-under with Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin, after having at one point held a three-shot lead over his closest competitor.
On the first play-off hole, McKibbin missed his birdie putt and Siem then made no mistake in sinking his as he claimed a win in just his fourth tournament back after hip surgery in February.
“I love this sport and these moments, I work really hard for them. When you get rewarded like this, it’s a very special moment,” said Siem.
“I think it’s the second oldest trophy on mainland Europe. So I’ve got the French Open and this one now, I’m so proud of that.”
However, the second-place finish does at least have a note of consolation for Northern Irishman McKibbin as it ensured his place at The Open Championship in July.
Spain beats Georgia 4-1 to reach Euro 2024 quarterfinals. It next plays host Germany
- Spain will play host nation Germany in the quarterfinals on Friday in Stuttgart
COLOGNE, Germany: Spain recovered from conceding an early own-goal to beat Georgia 4-1 for a spot in the Euro 2024 quarterfinals, ending one of the tournament’s most compelling underdog stories.
Goals from midfielders Rodri and Fabián Ruiz brought Spain back into the game after Robin Le Normand’s own-goal in the 18th minute had given Georgia a shock lead. Nico Williams and Dani OImo took the game out of Georgia’s reach with two more goals late in the game as heavy rain fell.
Spain will play host nation Germany in the quarterfinals on Friday in Stuttgart.
The loss ends Georgia’s first ever major tournament campaign, which included a 2-0 upset win over Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal.
Despite the lopsided score, Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili had another standout game with nine saves to prevent a rout.
Spain had beaten Georgia 7-1 in qualifying last year, but this game was a close contest until the last 20 minutes and testament to Georgia’s rapid improvement under coach Willy Sagnol.
Playing its fourth game of Euro 2024, Spain had yet to concede a goal all tournament.
That soon changed when Otar Kakabadze surged down the right flank for Georgia and crossed low. Le Normand chested the ball past his own goalkeeper, with the defender apparently distracted by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia arriving behind him to meet the cross.
Spain took its time to get back into the game, but Rodri — back from a one-game suspension — leveled the score in the 39th with a low shot from just outside the box.
Georgia remained a threat on the counter, including with an audacious shot from the halfway line by Kvaratskhelia, but Spain midfielder Ruiz made it 2-1 in the 51st when he rose unmarked to meet a cross from the 16-year-old Lamine Yamal.
Needing a goal, Georgia had to open up its compact defensive formation and conceded twice more as Williams scored in the 75th and substitute Olmo eight minutes later.
After the final whistle, Georgia’s players gathered in front of their fans for a slow-clap chant reminiscent of another European Championship underdog — Iceland — when it beat England in 2016.
Bellingham, Kane rescue England from shock Euro 2024 exit to Slovakia
- Three Lions looked set to go out with a whimper to Ivan Schranz’s 25th minute goal
GELSENKIRCHEN: England escaped an embarrassing last-16 exit at Euro 2024 thanks to Jude Bellingham’s overhead kick before Harry Kane struck in extra-time to grab a 2-1 win over Slovakia on Sunday.
The Three Lions have been hyped as one of the favorites as they bid to end a 58-year wait for major tournament glory but looked set to go out with a whimper to Ivan Schranz’s 25th minute goal.
However, Bellingham’s moment of inspiration five minutes into six added on in stoppage time breathed new life into Gareth Southgate’s reign as England boss.
Kane then headed in just a minute into extra-time to set up a quarter-final meeting with Switzerland on Saturday.
“That’s the desire and the attitude from the boys. It looked tough for a second there but you keep going,” said Kane. “Jude does what Jude does and what an unbelievable goal.”
Southgate looked set to fall on his sword after steadfastly refusing to make changes to a side that stumbled through as winners of Group C despite scoring just two goals in three games.
Kobbie Mainoo was introduced for his first competitive start in Southgate’s only change and he paid the price with another lacklustre display lacking in any speed or invention for long spells.
“We want to be better,” said Southgate. “I’m not going to hide from that but the spirit and character was there for everybody to see and we’re still in there fighting.”
The one saving grace of England’s performances in the group stage was that a makeshift defense had held up well, conceding just once in three games.
However, they were torn to pieces early on by a Slovakia side ranked 45th in the world.
England did not heed a couple of warnings as David Hancko and Lukas Haraslin were wasteful with big chances.
Slovakia finally punished their more illustrious opponents when David Strelec was given acres of room to turn and play in Schranz, who confidently stroked past Jordan Pickford for his third goal of the tournament.
The half-time whistle was met with a chorus of boos but Southgate still stuck to his guns and did not make a change until 25 minutes to go.
England did at least improve on a dismal first half and had the ball in the net within five minutes of the restart.
Phil Foden turned in Kieran Trippier’s cross but was caught offside after a VAR review.
Slovakia should have doubled their lead shortly afterwards when England gave away possession and Strelec saw Pickford well off his line but failed to hit the target from the halfway line.
Southgate’s hand was finally forced on 66 minutes by an injury to Trippier.
But England still struggled to create and looked down and out when Kane headed wide a golden opportunity and Declan Rice smashed the post with a long-range pot shot.
Southgate was even derided by the England support for bringing on Ivan Toney deep into stoppage time with chants of “you don’t know what you’re doing.”
However, there was an incredible twist as Bellingham acrobatically turned home Guehi’s flick-on from a throw-in the final moments of added-on time.
“It’s a feeling that is like no other,” said Bellingham.
“You’re 30 seconds from going home and having to listen to all the rubbish and feeling like you’ve let a nation of people down. In 30 seconds or one kick of the ball everything can change.”
Slovakia were suddenly rattled and Toney was to have a telling contribution.
The Brentford striker headed Eberechi Eze’s mishit shot back across goal for Kane to power home his second goal of the tournament.
Slovakia should still have taken the game to penalties when full-back Peter Pekarik failed to turn in a dangerous driven cross from point-blank range.
But England live to fight another day come the quarter-final against an impressive Switzerland, who comfortably knocked out holders Italy 2-0 on Saturday.
Saudi gamers express pride at representing Kingdom at Esports World Cup in Riyadh
- Tournament will feature world’s best clubs and players and a record-breaking tournament prize pool of $60 million
LONDON: Saudi Arabia’s star gamers have spoken of their pride at participating in the upcoming Esports World Cup in Riyadh.
The pinnacle of gaming and esports, featuring the world’s best clubs and players and a record-breaking tournament prize pool of $60 million, the tournament is being hosted at Boulevard Riyadh City from July 3 to August 25.
The inaugural Esports World Cup will feature a unique cross-game structure pitting 1,500 elite gamers from around the world head-to-head across 22 competitions in 21 leading games.
Ibrahem Alali, who will be representing Twisted Minds’ Overwatch 2 and was Overwatch World Cup 2023 champion, said representing the Kingdom was “one of the biggest honors” of his life, let alone his gaming career.
“I feel privileged that Saudi Arabia has such incredible ambitions for esports and gaming – it is amazing what is being done here. I truly feel I can achieve all my dreams as a professional esports athlete in Saudi Arabia,” he said.
“Of course, the Esports World Cup will be tough – but that’s what playing against the best in the world is all about. Every single one of us has been training so hard for this moment and will give our absolute best,” he added.
Rae’f Alturkistani, a Tekken 8 player who competes as Luminous Rage for the Dragons team, and the winner of the best FGC (fighting game community) player award in Saudi Arabia for 2023, echoed Alali’s sentiment.
“When I heard about the Esports World Cup, I can’t begin to tell you how happy and excited I was. This is where I’ve worked my entire life to be and where I’m determined to shine,” he said.
“There’s no fear from me or the team. We know what we have to do. Saudi Arabia’s support of esports athletes is excellent and only going to get bigger and better – it’s up to us now to get out there and be the best that we possibly can be,” he added.
