DUBAI: Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bangalore suffered a crushing nine-wicket loss to Kolkata Knight Riders on Monday hours after he announced to step down as captain at the end of this Indian Premier League.
It remained an unforgettable evening for Kohli who fell for five in his 200th IPL match and Bangalore were skittled out for 92 with Kolkata spinner Varun Chakravarthy returning figures of 3-13 in Abu Dhabi.
The 32-year-old Kohli, who put out a video message of his captaincy exit on the opening day of the revived IPL on Sunday, is still searching for Bangalore’s first title win in the Twenty20 tournament.
“Sometimes it can take you a game, I hope not two, to get into the tournament, you have to stay with the eight-ball, if you’re not, the other teams will be all over you,” Kohli said after his team’s first match of the UAE leg.
Kohli, who last week announced his decision also to quit India’s T20 captaincy at the end of the T20 World Cup in October-November, has been under close scrutiny as a leader in recent months.
Kohli was made Bangalore’s captain in 2013, but despite his superstar status, the team’s best finish was losing in the 2016 final.
His record without a title is often compared to India’s vice-captain Rohit Sharma who has secured five IPL crowns for holders Mumbai Indians.
RCB were at the receiving end of an inspired Kolkata bowling performance with Chakravarthy and Andre Russell taking three wickets each to flatten the opposition batting.
Seam bowler Prasidh Krishna took down Kohli, trapped lbw after the skipper opened the batting with Devdutt Padikkal who top-scored with 22.
Bangalore lost regular wickets to Chakravarthy’s mystery spin that got key batsman including Australia’s Glenn Maxwell for 10 and Sri Lankan import Wanindu Hasaranga for nought.
“Pretty good from Varun, he’s going to be a key factor when he plays for India,” Kohli said of the spinner who is included in India’s World Cup squad.
“It’s great guys who’ve got the opportunity to play at the international level. He’s someone who is going to play in the near future for India, it’s a great sign.”
Shubman Gill, who made 48, and debutant Venkatesh Iyer, who hit an unbeaten 41 off 27 balls, then put on 82 for the first wicket as Kolkata chased down their target in just 10 overs.
The Eoin Morgan-led side need to win five of their remaining six matches to stay in the race for a play-off spot.
The tournament resumed Sunday after it was halted in May because of a devastating surge in pandemic deaths in India, prompting foreign players to rush home.
Many have not come back including England’s Ben Stokes (Rajasthan Royals) and Pat Cummins (Kolkata) of Australia.
Cricket superstar Virat Kohli crushed in 200th IPL match for Bangalore
https://arab.news/grqs5
Cricket superstar Virat Kohli crushed in 200th IPL match for Bangalore
- It remained an unforgettable evening for Kohli who fell for five in his 200th IPL match
Tuchel wants relentless energy in attack from England against Andorra
Tuchel said England are fully committed to the qualifier where he wants “a win that is never in danger”
BARCELONA: England go into their World Cup qualifier against Andorra as heavy favorites but the players will find it challenging to find the energy to attack relentlessly after a long and gruelling season, coach Thomas Tuchel said on Friday.
England are top of Group K after two games with a perfect record while Andorra are bottom with two losses ahead of Saturday’s game in Barcelona.
Tuchel said England are fully committed to the qualifier where he wants “a win that is never in danger” but also said fans should not “over-expect” them to go all guns blazing right from the start of the game.
“It will be on us to get going, it is on us to keep the tempo high, to bring the attacking energy to the pitch and to do this in a relentless way,” Tuchel told reporters.
“I can fully understand that this is not the easiest time of the season for an international break. The players come from a long and tiring season and then again accepting the role to be responsible for the majority of the game can be demanding.
“But at the same time, what I feel from the group is that they are happy to be here. We are quite new together, it is our second camp and I have trust and belief that we will do what is necessary to get the result that we want.”
Tuchel said England have embraced the tag as huge favorites, promising an attacking lineup that will dominate possession while he is not looking to experiment by using this match as an audition for new players.
“The focus will be on the attacking patterns, on our hunger for and the reaction after ball losses, for the counter-pressing,” he added.
“These will be the main topics for tomorrow and this will then guide and demand the tactics.
“My thoughts are not so much whom can we see and what do we try. It’s more about the game plan since two days and who trains well... After a long season, putting players together from which we feel they have a connection and then they can show.”
Tuchel has also done his homework on Andorra, describing the European minnows as a well-drilled and well-organized side in a 5-4-1 formation.
“They don’t allow a huge amount of big chances,” the German coach said.
“So we need a mix between being patient and at the same time speed the game up, bring the speed to the game and try to never lose the focus.”
Saudis resume preparation for their Australia clash of the World Cup Asian qualifiers
- Tuesday’s match is the final round of the third stage of the AFC qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
- Head coach Herve Renard limited the session to a recovery workout at the team’s health club
JEDDAH: The Saudi Arabian national football team resumed training on Friday at their Jeddah camp as they gear up for their AFC World Cup qualifier against Australia.
Tuesday’s match is the final round of the third stage of the AFC qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
On the field, head coach Herve Renard limited the session to a recovery workout at the team’s health club, involving all players following previous intensive training days.
Players Muhannad Al-Saad and Muhannad Al-Shanqeeti have started their individual rehabilitation programs under the supervision of the fitness coach working their way back to full strength.
Following the recovery session, Renard gave the squad a period of free time, with players scheduled to regroup at the team’s camp later on Friday evening.
The Green Falcons will continue their training on Saturday with a closed-door session set to take place at the reserve pitch of King Abdullah Sports City at 7:00 p.m.
On Thursday, Saudi Arabia beat Bahrain 2-0 in Riffa to tee up a showdown with Australia for the second automatic spot in AFC FIFA World Cup qualifying Group C.
Thursday’s win keeps Saudi third, three points behind Australia, although with a far inferior goal difference. The Socceroos stand at second place with 16 points from nine matches, having scored 14 goals and conceded 6.
The Green Falcons have so far bagged six goals and conceded the same with 13 points in third spot. They have to win 8-0 against Australia to climb up to second place and qualify directly, otherwise they move on to the next group phase.
Postecoglou sacked by Spurs despite ending trophy drought
- The Australian paid the price for Tottenham’s worst domestic season
- “The Club can announce that Ange Postecoglou has been relieved of his duties,” a statement said
LONDON: Ange Postecoglou was sacked as Tottenham manager on Friday, just 16 days after the Australian ended the club’s 17-year trophy drought by winning the Europa League.
Postecoglou led Tottenham to a 1-0 victory over Manchester United in Bilbao to clinch the north Londoners’ first European prize in 41 years and secure a place in next season’s Champions League.
But the Australian paid the price for Tottenham’s worst domestic season since they were relegated from the top flight in 1976-77.
“Following a review of performances and after significant reflection, the Club can announce that Ange Postecoglou has been relieved of his duties,” a statement on Tottenham’s official X account said.
Exactly two years after he was hired from Celtic, Postecoglou’s eventful spell in north London was brought to a end by chairman Daniel Levy.
Tottenham lost 22 of their 38 Premier League games to finish 17th in the table, above only relegated trio Leicester, Ipswich and Southampton.
“The Board has unanimously concluded that it is in the best interests of the club for a change to take place,” the statement said.
“Whilst winning the Europa League this season ranks as one of the club’s greatest moments, we
cannot base our decision on emotions aligned to this triumph.”
What the Trump travel ban means for the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympic Games
- There is significant uncertainty regarding visa policies for foreign visitors planning trips to the US for the two biggest events in sports.
- Iran is the only targeted country to qualify so far for the World Cup being co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico in one year’s time.
GENEVA: US President Donald Trump often says the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Los Angeles Olympics are among the events he is most excited about in his second term.
Yet there is significant uncertainty regarding visa policies for foreign visitors planning trips to the US for the two biggest events in sports.
Trump’s latest travel ban on citizens from 12 countries added new questions about the impact on the World Cup and the Summer Olympics, which depend on hosts opening their doors to the world.
Here’s a look at the potential effects of the travel ban on those events.
What is the travel ban policy?
When Sunday ticks over to Monday, citizens of 12 countries should be banned from entering the US
They are Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.
Tighter restrictions will apply to visitors from seven more: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.
Trump said some countries had “deficient” screening and vetting processes or have historically refused to take back their own citizens.
How does it affect the World Cup and Olympics?
Iran, a soccer power in Asia, is the only targeted country to qualify so far for the World Cup being co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico in one year’s time.
Cuba, Haiti and Sudan are in contention. Sierra Leone might stay involved through multiple playoff games. Burundi, Equatorial Guinea and Libya have very outside shots.
But all should be able to send teams to the World Cup if they qualify because the new policy makes exceptions for “any athlete or member of an athletic team, including coaches, persons performing a necessary support role, and immediate relatives, traveling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event as determined by the secretary of state.”
About 200 countries could send athletes to the Summer Games, including those targeted by the latest travel restrictions. The exceptions should apply to them as well if the ban is still in place in its current form.
What about fans?
The travel ban doesn’t mention any exceptions for fans from the targeted countries wishing to travel to the US for the World Cup or Olympics.
Even before the travel ban, fans of the Iran soccer team living in that country already had issues about getting a visa for a World Cup visit.
Still, national team supporters often profile differently to fans of club teams who go abroad for games in international competitions like the UEFA Champions League.
For many countries, fans traveling to the World Cup — an expensive travel plan with hiked flight and hotel prices — are often from the diaspora, wealthier, and could have different passport options.
A World Cup visitor is broadly higher-spending and lower-risk for host nation security planning.
Visitors to an Olympics are often even higher-end clients, though tourism for a Summer Games is significantly less than at a World Cup, with fewer still from most of the 19 countries now targeted.
How is the US working with FIFA, Olympic officials?
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has publicly built close ties since 2018 to Trump — too close according to some. He has cited the need to ensure FIFA’s smooth operations at a tournament that will earn a big majority of the soccer body’s expected $13 billion revenue from 2023-26.
Infantino sat next to Trump at the White House task force meeting on May 6 which prominently included Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. FIFA’s top delegate on the task force is Infantino ally Carlos Cordeiro, a former Goldman Sachs partner whose two-year run as US Soccer Federation president ended in controversy in 2020.
Any visa and security issues FIFA faces — including at the 32-team Club World Cup that kicks off next week in Miami — can help LA Olympics organizers finesse their plans.
“It was very clear in the directive that the Olympics require special consideration and I actually want to thank the federal government for recognizing that,” LA28 chairman and president Casey Wasserman said Thursday in Los Angeles.
“It’s very clear that the federal government understands that that’s an environment that they will be accommodating and provide for,” he said. “We have great confidence that that will only continue. It has been the case to date and it will certainly be the case going forward through the games.”
In March, at an IOC meeting in Greece, Wasserman said he had two discreet meetings with Trump and noted the State Department has a “fully staffed desk” to help prepare for short-notice visa processing in the summer of 2028 — albeit with a focus on teams rather than fans.
IOC member Nicole Hoevertsz, who is chair of the Coordination Commission for LA28, expressed “every confidence” that the US government will cooperate, as it did in hosting previous Olympics.
“That is something that we will be definitely looking at and making sure that it is guaranteed as well,” she said. “We are very confident that this is going to be accomplished. I’m sure this is going to be executed well.”
FIFA didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment about the new Trump travel ban.
What have other host nations done?
The 2018 World Cup host Russia let fans enter the country with a game ticket doubling as their visa. So did Qatar four years later.
Both governments, however, also performed background checks on all visitors coming to the month-long soccer tournaments.
Governments have refused entry to unwelcome visitors. For the 2012 London Olympics, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko — who is still its authoritarian leader today — was denied a visa despite also leading its national Olympic body. The IOC also suspended him from the Tokyo Olympics held in 2021.
UAE President’s Cup returns with €100,000 purse on Sweden’s national day
- The race is a significant milestone in the UAE’s ongoing efforts to promote Arabian horse racing on the world stage
Abu Dhabi: The storied UAE President’s Cup series for purebred Arabian horses makes a landmark stop in Sweden today, bringing the richest Arabian horse race in Scandinavian history to the heart of Stockholm.
Held on Sweden’s National Day at the famous Gardet turf track, the sixth leg of the 32nd edition of the global series offers a €100,000 purse, drawing top talent from Europe and the Middle East.
The race, a 1,500-meter listed event for horses aged four and older, continues the cup’s international campaign under the patronage of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, vice president, deputy prime minister, and chairman of the presidential court of the UAE.
It is also a significant milestone in the UAE’s ongoing efforts to promote Arabian horse racing on the world stage.
A field of nine elite runners is set to compete, headlined by the returning Swedish fan favorite Rasmy Al-Khalediah, a two-time winner of this leg (2021, 2022), trained by Poland’s Janusz Kozłowski and ridden by Eduardo Pedroza.
The UAE is represented by the promising filly Hawlah, owned by Yas Horse Racing Management. Sired by Mehabb and out of Dahyah bint Munjiz, she is trained by France’s Elisabeth Bernard with Valentin Seguy in the saddle.
Another major threat is Fareedah B, the winner of the 2023 and 2024 Swedish legs and fresh off a victory in the Netherlands stage earlier this season. Owned and trained by Peter Deckers, she will again be ridden by experienced French jockey Fabrice Veron.
Also in the mix are Wasmey Al Khalediah, Mashho T, No Risk No Reward, Ayman, Gindor de Bozouls, and Cappuccino — each hoping to break through on one of the biggest stages in European Arabian racing.
The Sweden leg follows successful stops in Tunisia, Morocco, France, the United States, and Italy, with each race reinforcing the cup’s mission to promote the legacy and competitiveness of the Arabian breed worldwide.
Matar Suhail Al-Yabhouni Al-Dhaheri, chairman of the higher organizing committee, emphasized the strategic importance of this stop.
“Under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, the UAE President’s Cup continues to drive the modern Arabian horse racing industry forward. Our Sweden stop highlights the strategic expansion of our support for owners and breeders across Europe.
“This leg reinforces our global commitment to Arabian horse racing, showcasing the UAE’s vision under his highness’s leadership,” he added.
As the race today adds to Sweden’s national celebrations, all eyes will be on the track at Gardet for what promises to be a thrilling display of speed, heritage, and international rivalry at the highest level of Arabian flat racing.
