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Pakistan appoint Afridi, Masood new captains for T20I and Test formats

This combination of photos, created on November 15, 2023, shows Pakistani cricketers Shaheen Afridi (left) and Shan Masood (right). (AFP/File)
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Updated 15 November 2023
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Pakistan appoint Afridi, Masood new captains for T20I and Test formats

  • PCB says will announce new ODI captain ‘in due course’ after Azam stepped down as Pakistan’s all-format skipper
  • Pakistan’s cricket board changes portfolio of the entire coaching staff, including Team Director Mickey Arthur
Updated 15 November 2023
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday appointed batter Shan Masood and fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi as new captains of the Test and T20I formats respectively, shortly after Pakistan’s all-format captain Babar Azam stepped down following the green shirts’ dismal performance in the ongoing World Cup.
The decision takes place a day after PCB’s interim management committee chairman, Zaka Ashraf, held consultations with former cricketers Younis Khan, Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Hafeez and Wahab Riaz after Pakistan crashed out of the World Cup in India.
Pakistan won only five out of the nine matches it played in the 50-over tournament, losing to arch-rivals India and Afghanistan. Pakistan’s poor performance in the World Cup prompted former cricketers and fans to raise questions about Azam’s credentials as captain, with many calling on the board to sack him from the role.
In a statement, the PCB said Ashraf met Azam on Wednesday to discuss Pakistan’s recent performance in the World Cup. The star batter was “relieved” of his role as captain in the white-ball formats while he was asked to continue as Test captain, a statement of the board said. Azam decided to step down from all three formats after consulting his family, the PCB added.
“Shan and Shaheen were appointed captains after Babar Azam today stepped down from all three formats of the game,” the PCB said. “Pakistan’s captain in the ODI format will be announced in due course.”

Afridi, who debuted for Pakistan in April 2018, is considered one of the most lethal fast bowlers around the world. The left-arm pacer is captain of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Lahore Qalandars. He is the first captain in PSL history to lead a franchise to two successive PSL trophies.
The lanky pacer has 64 wickets from 52 T20Is at an impressive average of 22.73. During this year’s World Cup, Afridi climbed atop the ICC’s ODI Bowling Rankings briefly and became the fastest bowler to take 100 ODI wickets, achieving the feat in just 51 matches.
Masood, who has been asked to lead the Test side, last played for the national squad in July when Pakistan trounced Sri Lanka by an innings and 222 runs. He has played only 30 Test matches for Pakistan and scored 1,597 runs at an average of 28.51. The newly appointed Test captain has scored four centuries and seven fifties in his career so far.
The left-handed opening batter will have his hands full when Pakistan travel to Australia to take part in a three-match Test series in December/January 2024.
Meanwhile, the PCB also announced it had changed the portfolio of the entire coaching staff, including Team Director Mickey Arthur, who has been replaced with former Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Hafeez.

“All coaches will continue to work in National Cricket Academy while PCB will announce the new coaching staff in due course for the upcoming series in Australia and New Zealand,” the board said.

Topics: Pakistan cricket Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Babar Azam Shan Masood shaheen afridi

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Moves afoot for Saudi cricketers to host Sri Lanka’s stars

Updated 5 sec ago
Rashid Hassan
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Moves afoot for Saudi cricketers to host Sri Lanka’s stars

  • ‘We plan to bring our cricketers for a friendly match with Saudi team,’ Sri Lanka envoy says
Updated 5 sec ago
Rashid Hassan

RIYADH: With the popularity of cricket in Saudi Arabia growing by leaps and bounds, do not be surprized if you see Sri Lankan cricketers playing with the Saudi team in the near future.

The Sri Lankan ambassador in Riyadh, Omar Lebbe Ameer Ajwad, in an interview with Arab News on the 50 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries, said: “We have very cordial relations and, importantly, have taken initiatives to further elevate our bilateral ties in all areas of mutual interest, one of them is cricket.

“We are in touch with the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation. So we will work with them in the future, to organize bilateral matches, cricket matches between the two sides, the Sri Lankan team and the Saudi team,” the envoy told Arab News.

“We are planning to have the kind of bilateral ties in which the cricket team can visit. So we are working on that. We have initiated some talks. I met SACF Chairman Prince Saud bin Mishal Al-Saud,” Ajwad said.

The SACF chairman has also visited Sri Lanka for cooperation in cricket, he added.

“We will bring our cricket stars here, to start some kind of a friendly match. Maybe we can work on that to mark the occasion as we are celebrating 50 years of our diplomatic ties,” the ambassador said.

"All these projects are in our plan. Of course, we are having a list of items to celebrate this milestone in our bilateral relations,” he added.

Sri Lankan cricket star and former captain Kumar Sangakkara was in NEOM as part of the second season of the NEOM and Rajasthan Royals’ cricket program, he said.

Cricketing legends Rahul Dravid and Sri Lankan Kumar Sangakkara with the Tabuk Tigers during Neom Cricket Program. (Supplied/SACF)

“He was in NEOM. So in the future we will interact like this, bringing Sri Lankan cricketers to the Kingdom,” he added.

Indian cricket star and former captain Rahul Dravid, who is head coach of the Indian Premier League team Rajasthan Royals, also attended the NEOM cricket program.

The Red Sea city of Jeddah last month hosted the TATA IPL mega auction at the Abadi Al-Johar Arena that attracted a galaxy of international cricket stars and the celebrity owners of the IPL franchises.

The SACF described the TATA IPL mega auction as “a historic sporting achievement in Jeddah.”

On X, the IPL posted: “TATA IPL partners got to experience ‘TATAIPLAuction’ in Jeddah like never before,” describing the event as “a historic moment in the TATA IPL Auction.”

Pakistani cricketing legends including Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar also visited the Kingdom in the recent past and held meetings with the SACF chairman to discuss the development of cricket and ways to cooperate.

Topics: Cricket Saudi Arabia Sri Lanka Saudi cricket federation Cricket Saudi Sri Lanka cricket

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Game Changers Falcons crowned champions of World Tennis League season 3

Updated 23 December 2024
Arab News
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Game Changers Falcons crowned champions of World Tennis League season 3

  • Game Changers Falcons beat TSL Hawks 20-16
  • Coach John-Laffnie de Jager lauds team’s spirit
Updated 23 December 2024
Arab News

ABU DHABI: Game Changers Falcons clinched the World Tennis League season three title with a hard-fought 20-16 victory over the TSL Hawks at the Etihad Arena on Sunday.

Despite losing the first two sets — women’s doubles and singles — Game Changers Falcons staged a remarkable comeback, dominating the men’s doubles and singles to claim the title.

In a rematch of the season opener, Game Changers Falcons’ Elena Rybakina and Caroline Garcia began strongly, breaking the opening serve of the match against the TSL Hawks’ Aryna Sabalenka and Mirra Andreeva.

Despite their stellar performances in the league stage, Sabalenka and Andreeva looked unsettled early on. However, they mounted an impressive comeback as they recovered from a 0-5 deficit to level the score at 5-5.

Rybakina and Garcia then managed to break serve again to regain the lead, but a series of unforced errors allowed their opponents to force a tie-break.

In the tie-break, Sabalenka and Andreeva found themselves trailing once again but displayed remarkable composure to turn the tables and clinch the women’s doubles set 7-6.

Teenage sensation Andreeva carried her remarkable form into the women’s singles against Rybakina. She broke Rybakina’s second and third serves to gain the upper hand and comfortably close out the set 6-2, extending the TSL Hawks’ overall lead to 13-8 in the match.

In the men’s doubles, Game Changers Falcons’ Andrey Rublev and Denis Shapovalov dominated the entire set against the TSL Hawks’ Sumit Nagal and Jordan Thompson. They broke Nagal’s serve twice to maintain the lead and sealed the set 6-2. This win narrowed the overall game tally to 14-15, setting the stage for a thrilling men’s singles.

Rublev held his opening serve to level the overall game tally at 15-15 before winning three consecutive games to take an 18-15 lead. While Nagal managed to pull a game back, Rublev closed the men’s singles set 6-1 to help his team clinch the title 20-16.

“I’ve done team events for a while, and I’ve been very fortunate over the years to have really good people on the team,” Game Changers Falcons coach and captain, John-Laffnie de Jager, said at the post-match press conference.

“They get along well, they’re professional, they show up and at the end of the day, they perform. First time when we played against the Hawks, we were behind, we came back from that point to win it and the same happened tonight.

“So, the format is great, because you are never out and always have a chance to win it. It was an awesome campaign for us, and everybody enjoyed it.”

Game Changers Falcons’ Garcia said: “In tennis it’s not very often you have an opportunity to play in a team setup, and I really enjoyed it. I had a great time knowing a bit more about everyone in the team and looking forward for more fun next year.”

Topics: World Tennis League season 3

Australian tennis star Purcell provisionally suspended for doping

Updated 23 December 2024
AFP
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Australian tennis star Purcell provisionally suspended for doping

  • Tennis Australia stressed that the breach related to a prohibited method, rather than a prohibited substance
Updated 23 December 2024
AFP

SYDNEY: Two-time Grand Slam doubles champion Max Purcell has taken a voluntary suspension for breaking anti-doping rules, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) said Monday.
The Australian, who is ranked 12th in the world for doubles, admitted to a breach of the regulations relating to the use of a “prohibited method” and had “requested to enter into a provisional suspension on December 10.”
No other details were divulged.
“Time served under provisional suspension will be credited against any future sanction,” the ITIA said, with the ban coming into effect on December 12.
Under the suspension, the 26-year-old is prohibited from playing in, coaching at, or attending any tennis event authorized by any of the sport’s governing bodies or national associations.
It means he will currently not be able to play in the Australian Open at Melbourne Park in January.
Purcell won the 2022 Wimbledon doubles title alongside fellow Australian Matt Ebden and the US Open crown this year, partnered by Jordan Thompson.
Tennis Australia stressed that the breach related to a prohibited method, rather than a prohibited substance.
“The International Tennis Integrity Agency confirmed the breach relates to the use of a prohibited method, rather than the presence of a prohibited substance,” it said in a statement carried by Australian media.
“As the matter is currently under investigation, it is inappropriate to comment further at this time.”
The ITIA is the same organization that charged top-ranked Jannik Sinner and world number two Iga Swiatek over breaches of its anti-doping program.
Italy’s Sinner was exonerated after twice testing positive for traces of the steroid clostebol in March.
He is currently awaiting the outcome of a World Anti-Doping Agency appeal against the decision.
Swiatek tested positive for a banned heart medication in August.
But the ITIA accepted that the violation was not intentional and the Polish star escaped with a one-month sanction.
Both are expected to play at the Australian Open, which starts on January 12.

Salah happy wherever career ends after inspiring Liverpool rout

Updated 23 December 2024
AFP
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Salah happy wherever career ends after inspiring Liverpool rout

Updated 23 December 2024
AFP
LONDON: Mohamed Salah dropped another hint that his future could lie away from Liverpool as the Egypt star said he would be happy “wherever I am going to end my career” after starring in Sunday’s 6-3 demolition of Tottenham.
Salah scored twice and provided two assists in the goal-spree in north London as Liverpool moved four points clear at the top of the Premier League.
The 32-year-old is the first Premier League player to bag at least 10 goals and 10 assists before Christmas, while his brace also took him into fourth place on Liverpool’s all-time list of scorers with 229 in all competitions.
Salah’s immense value to Arne Slot’s team is clear, but Liverpool have been unable to persuade the forward to sign a new contract as speculation mounts about his future.
With Salah’s current deal expiring at the end of this season, he will be free to sign a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club from January.
Having already made several comments earlier this season about this potentially being his last campaign with Liverpool, Salah once again made a cryptic reference to his future.
“It’s great to achieve that at such a big club, but the most important thing is that we won the game. Wherever I am going to end my career I am happy about it,” Salah told Sky Sports.
Salah added that there was “no update” on his contract situation, but Slot will surely be desperate to extend his talisman’s seven-year stay on Merseyside after he took his goal tally to 18 in all competitions this term.
With Salah to the fore, Liverpool have won 21 of their 25 games in all competitions since Slot replaced Jurgen Klopp as manager.
“I didn’t think about it before the game but I’m glad I have done it, something that makes me proud, I’ll keep working hard,” Salah said of reaching double figures in goals and assists this season.
Salah was less happy with Liverpool’s defending against Tottenham, adding: “We were quite good in front but I think we need to improve defensively as a team.
“Conceding three goals is quite hard. It’s quite good the result and hopefully we just keep going.”

Dortmund holds on with 10 men for 1st away win in Bundesliga

Updated 23 December 2024
AP
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Dortmund holds on with 10 men for 1st away win in Bundesliga

  • Dortmund climbed to sixth ahead of the league’s winter break, but it’s not where the club aspires to be after a shaky start to the league
Updated 23 December 2024
AP

BERLIN: Borussia Dortmund held on after Pascal Groß’ sending off to beat Wolfsburg 3-1 for its first Bundesliga away win of the season on Sunday.
Donyell Malen got the visitors off the mark with a volley to a corner in the 25th, three minutes before Julian Brandt played in Maximilian Beier to score Dortmund’s second goal. Beier, who scored with the outside of his boot in off the left post, celebrated with a throwing-dart gesture.
Beier returned the favor for Brandt to score Dortmund’s third two minutes after that.
Despite the commanding lead, the visitors were second-best for long periods thereafter as Wolfsburg improved dramatically.
Coach Ralph Hasenhüttl made two changes at the break, including sending on Lukas Nmecha to face his brother Felix Nmecha, who was playing for Dortmund.
Denis Vavro pulled one back in the 58th, four minutes before Groß was sent off for a foul on Lukas Nmecha when the Wolfsburg forward was through on goal.
The home team pushed hard but Dortmund managed to hold on to ease the pressure on coach Nuri Sahin.
“A 3-0 lead should mean you can get through the game with confidence,” said Brandt, who complained about his team’s drop in performance. “We’re to blame for that. It’s not good, we need to play more confidently, we need to grow up.”
Dortmund climbed to sixth ahead of the league’s winter break, but it’s not where the club aspires to be after a shaky start to the league.
“We’ll try a reset and to play better in the new year,” Beier said. “It can’t be our goal to be sixth.”
Bochum celebrates
Bottom club Bochum defeated relegation rival Heidenheim 2-0 for its first win of the season.
“When we play like we did today it means there are lots of possibilities for the next 19 games,” said Bochum coach Dieter Hecking. “From that point of view I’m also glad we won because I couldn’t have handled many more games without a win.”
It was the visitors’ seventh straight Bundesliga defeat, the culmination of a busy schedule after clinching European qualification from its league debut last season and the offseason loss of star players like Jan-Niklas Beste, Tim Kleindienst and Eren Dinkci.
“We’re at the end of another ‘English week’ (with midweek games) again,” Heidenheim coach Frank Schmidt said. “Everyone did their best, but we have to be honest – it wasn’t enough.”

Topics: Bundesliga Borussia Dortmund Wolfsburg

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