AHMEDABAD: Thousands of sleepless flag-waving fans sporting blue India jerseys clogged roads outside the world’s biggest cricket stadium early Sunday, too excited to sleep as excitement built ahead of the World Cup final.
Drivers honked at fans blocking roads, shouting slogans and bargaining with roadside hawkers hours before the Sunday afternoon finale between the cricket-crazy hosts and the game’s traditional powerhouse Australia.
The blockbuster conclusion of cricket’s showpiece tournament, with 48 matches over 46 days between 10 teams at 10 venues, wraps up Sunday at the grand 132,000-seat arena named after Prime Minister Narendra Modi in India’s western city of Ahmedabad.
With fans attending the game from distant parts of India and across the world, the city is packed, with some hotels charging 10 times regular rates.
Media reports said that many desperate fans had even approached some local religious institutions to stay overnight at their subsidised dormitories for devout pilgrims before the game.
Others lit candles, offering prayers for the success of their beloved team.
“This feels like a big Hindu festival... with families and friends out on the roads in a celebratory mood,” said Suresh Raval, 34, a local resident outside the stadium.
Confident that India, who are still unbeaten in the tournament, would trounce Australia, Raval said that he and his friend were “finding it hard to sleep” and felt “really lucky to get two tickets for the game.”
While he refused to reveal what he’d paid for the two “priceless tickets,” many fans have reportedly paid 10 to 20 times the cheapest ticket’s listed price to attend the title clash.
“All these expenses — from flights to hotels to the stadium tickets — wouldn’t pinch a bit if India performs well and win the title,” said Vijay Kumar, a fan from the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.
Kumar said that “it felt so good” to see fans also wearing blue India jerseys crowding his flight to Ahmedabad on Saturday.
“But this atmosphere outside the stadium already feels so much better,” he added outside the stadium’s main entry gate.
“We are still many hours away from the start of the match but it feels so festive. Everyone here shares the same hope and nervous excitement.”
Modi will be joined at the game by Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles.
Fans at the packed stadium will also witness an air force flypast, a light and laser show, and hundreds of dancers performing Bollywood hit songs between the two innings.
“All the song and dance is good, but we are here for the game — and happy as long as India keeps winning,” said Sahil Khanna, 48, a fan from New Delhi.
He came to the stadium on Saturday night, saying he couldn’t sleep because of the excitement about the game.
“I am glad I am here. It is festival-like, there are thousands of fans here already,” he said, surrounded by hawkers selling snacks and India T-shirts and caps. “Everyone’s discussing the game.”
Despite the country’s cricket riches, India are without a major international title since the 2013 Champions Trophy, and national expectations have reached fever pitch.
Amidst the festive excitement in the decked-out Ahmedabad — with colorful lights and large cutouts of cricket stars at many intersections — tens of thousands of security forces were also deployed.
Police formed a multi-layered security ring around the stadium, readying for not only 130,000 fans at the venue, but also tens of thousands more packing the streets if — as the fans dream — India wins.
Sleepless India fans ready for World Cup title clash
https://arab.news/yakkb
Sleepless India fans ready for World Cup title clash
- Drivers honked at fans blocking roads, shouting slogans and bargaining with roadside hawkers hours before the Sunday afternoon
- The blockbuster conclusion wraps up at the grand 132,000-seat arena named after Prime Minister Modi in India’s Ahmedabad city
King, Carty tons as West Indies thrash England
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: Brandon King and Keacy Carty blasted centuries as the West Indies scored a series-clinching eight-wicket victory over England in the third and final game of their One-Day International series at Kensington Oval on Wednesday.
Replying to the visitors’ total of 263 for eight, King and Carty featured in a second-wicket stand of 209, the duo making light of what could have been a daunting task following the early loss of Evin Lewis.
King fell for 102 with victory in sight but Carty finished on an unbeaten 128 after hitting the winning boundary as West Indies coasted home on 267 for two with seven overs to spare.
Carty’s maiden ODI century spanned 114 balls and was highlighted by 15 fours and two sixes.
King stroked 13 fours and one six off 117 balls.
“I’ve been getting a few starts without carrying on so I’m grateful that it all came together in such a crucial match,” said King. “It was a fantastic innings by Keacy. He started fluently and was batting better than me most times.”
Earlier, England were indebted to Phil Salt’s top-score of 74 as he averted a complete collapse after the tourists slumped to 24 for four after being put in.
He finally got support from the lower order as Sam Curran contributed 40 while Dan Mousley stroked his way to 57 in successive 70-run partnerships with the pugnacious opener.
Salt’s innings off 108 balls (four fours, one six) was ended by the superb athleticism of King, who leapt high at the midwicket boundary to prevent a six and then relayed the ball to waiting teammate Alzarri Joseph before falling over the boundary rope.
Quickfire 30s from Jamie Overton and Jofra Archer led the plundering of 100 runs off the final ten overs with part-timer Sherfane Rutherford, brought on to complete the spell of the hobbled Romario Shepherd, suffering the most as 57 runs were plastered off his 3.5 overs.
In contrast, seamer Matthew Forde was the epitome of consistency and economy in claiming three for 35 from his ten overs while Joseph and Shepherd took two wickets each.
West Indies’ 2-1 series triumph over the English was a repeat of their success 11 months earlier in the Caribbean as the teams shared the first two matches in Antigua before the home side prevailed in the decider in Barbados.
Personnel adjustments to the two squads will now take place as they remain in Barbados for the first two T20 Internationals of a five-match series at the weekend.
Barcelona, Inter and upstart Brest win again in Champions League
- Paris Saint-Germain, in their first season without Kylian Mbappe, trail far behind in 25th after Atletico Madrid scored in stoppage time to seal a 2-1 win for the Spanish team
- Atalanta won 2-0 at Stuttgart to stay unbeaten on eight points and Salzburg got their first goals and points in a 3-1 win at Feyenoord
LONDON: Barcelona and Inter Milan won again in the Champions League on Wednesday though both former title holders are looking up in the standings toward upstart newcomer Brest.
Aston Villa started the week atop the 36-team table but their winning run ended after a bizarre penalty was awarded when defender Tyrone Mings picked up the ball in the area at Club Brugge, resulting in a 1-0 loss that sent the English club plummeting to eighth place.
Paris Saint-Germain, in their first season without Kylian Mbappe, trail far behind in 25th after Atletico Madrid scored in stoppage time to seal a 2-1 win for the Spanish team at Parc des Princes.
Barcelona’s blistering scoring form continued in a 5-2 win at Red Star Belgrade — a seventh straight win since the start of October at a rate of four goals per game. Robert Lewandowski scored twice and has 21 this season.
Inter Milan stifled Arsenal in a 1-0 win at San Siro sealed by Hakan Çalhanoglu’s penalty in first-half stoppage time.
Inter are unbeaten on 10 points and in fifth place, one below Brest who won 2-1 at Sparta Prague. The French debutant look sure to advance to the knockout phase starting in February.
Atalanta won 2-0 at Stuttgart to stay unbeaten on eight points and Salzburg got their first goals and points in a 3-1 win at Feyenoord.
Bayern Munich won 1-0 at home to Benfica in a game that was delayed 15 minutes by crowd congestion and then was played in a muted atmosphere because of a medical incident for a fan.
Shakhtar Donetsk playmaker Heorhiy Sudakov had a fine assist and an even better goal in a 2-1 win for the Ukrainian champion against Young Boys. Shakhtar’s No. 10 showed why he is expected to be the club’s next big-money sale.
Liverpool, who on Tuesday routed Bayer Leverkusen 4-0, lead the standings at the midway point of the eight-round program.
Liverpool are the only team with four straight wins, while five teams have four losses. They are Leipzig, Sturm Graz, Young Boys, Red Star and Slovan Bratislava.
Two Italian teams – Inter Milan and Atalanta – have yet to concede a goal in four games. Another Italian side, Bologna, is the only team with no goals scored.
Villa slide
Villa had led the standings in the new league-phase format after three straight wins without conceding a goal — and it took a bizarre incident before goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was eventually beaten.
Mings was punished for picking up the ball when Martinez seemed to restart play with a goal kick passed forward to his teammate. Mings walked a couple steps to gather the ball with his left hand and returned to place it in the six-yard box.
“It’s the biggest mistake I witnessed in my career,” Villa coach Unai Emery said. “It has only happened one time in all my life. Today.”
Brugge captain Hans Vanaken placed the 52nd-minute spot-kick to Martinez’s left as the World Cup-winning Argentina goalkeeper dived to his right.
Bayern and Dinamo
It was the standout result of the inaugural week of the new Champions League in September: Bayern Munich 9, Dinamo Zagreb 2.
It was the first time a team had scored nine times in a game in the 32-year Champions League era, and Dinamo fired its coach two days later.
Since then? Bayern lost twice, including a 4-1 rout at Barcelona, and Dinamo won twice. At the end of play Wednesday, Bayern were 17th on six points, one place below Dinamo on seven. If those placings hold until January, they meet again twice more in the knockout playoffs round.
Next up
The fifth round in three weeks’ time has perhaps the stellar attraction of 144 games in the league phase: Liverpool vs. Real Madrid.
That game on Nov. 27 is a rematch of the 2022 and 2018 finals, both won by Madrid, and the 1981 European Cup titl e match that Liverpool won.
There is another final rematch: Bayern Munich hosts PSG on Nov. 26 in a repeat of the pandemic-season final played in August 2020 without fans in Lisbon. Also, sixth-place Barcelona hosts Brest, a fixture which might have been overlooked when the draw was made in August yet the French team is currently fourth.
Only the top eight teams in January advance directly to the round of 16 in March.
Inter hand Arsenal first defeat in Champions League
MILAN, Italy: Inter Milan maintained their unbeaten start in the Champions League with a 1-0 win over Arsenal on Wednesday as the Gunners suffered their first defeat in the competition this season.
Hakan Calhanoglu scored a penalty in first-half stoppage time after a handball from Mikel Merino, leaving the Italian champions with 10 points from four matches and Arsenal on seven points.
Tickets for Oleksandr Usyk-Tyson Fury rematch in Riyadh now on sale
- ‘Usyk vs. Fury: Reignited’ is at the Kingdom Arena on Dec. 21, just 7 months after the former defeated the latter in a split decision at the same venue
- Other bouts include Serhii Bohachuk vs. Israil Madrimov, Johnny Fisher vs. David Allen, Dennis McCann vs. Peter McGrail, and Isaac Lowe vs. Lee McGregor
RIYADH: Tickets for “Usyk vs. Fury Reignited,” the much anticipated rematch between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, are now on sale through the Webook app, organizers said on Wednesday.
The heavyweight boxing contest will take place on Dec. 21 at the Kingdom Arena. In the main event, Ukrainian heavyweight champion Usyk will once again face off against British powerhouse Fury. The former emerged victorious in a split decision when the pair last did battle at the same venue on May 18, as part of Riyadh Season.
Known for his speed and agility, Usyk holds all major championship belts in the heavyweight division, making him the first boxer in 25 years to claim unified heavyweight titles. Fury, meanwhile, brings a wealth of experience and raw strength, and is celebrated for his knockout power and tactical prowess.
Also on on the card, Ukrainian Serhii Bohachuk will take on Israil Madrimov of Uzbekistan. Bohachuk has an impressive record of 24 wins, including 23 knockouts, while Madrimov has 10 wins to his name, seven of them by knockout.
Other matchups include what could be an electrifying bout between the unbeaten Johnny Fisher, who has a record of 12 wins and 11 knockouts, and British veteran David Allen, who has 31 bouts under his belt. Dennis McCann will battle fellow Brit Peter McGrail, with the former aiming to extend a flawless 16-win record while while the latter hopes to secure his 11th victory.
Englishman Isaac Lowe and Scotsman Lee McGregor will also go head-to-head in what promises to be an intense battle. Lowe brings with him experience gained from 30 fights, while McGregor boasts a strong record of 14 wins, including 11 knockouts, making this one of the most-anticipated bouts of the night.
Bizarre penalty sends Aston Villa to first Champions League loss at Brugge
- Villa had led the 36-team Champions League standings after three straight wins without conceding a goal
- The loss leaves Villa in fifth place in the standings now led by Liverpool
BRUGES, Belgium: A strange penalty for handball ended Aston Villa’s winning run in the Champions League on Wednesday as the English team lost 1-0 at Club Brugge.
In the other early game, Shakhtar Donetsk playmaker Heorhiy Sudakov had a fine assist and an even better goal in a 2-1 win for the Ukrainian champion against Young Boys.
Villa had led the 36-team Champions League standings after three straight wins without conceding a goal — and they took a bizarre incident before goalkeeper Emi Martínez was eventually beaten.
Villa defender Tyrone Mings was punished for picking up the ball when Martínez seemed to restart play with a goal kick passed short to his teammate.
Mings walked forward a couple steps to gather the ball with his left hand and returned to place it at the corner of the six-yard box.
The penalty kick was awarded and Brugge captain Hans Vanaken scored in the 52nd minute, placing the ball to Martínez’s left as the World Cup-winning Argentina goalkeeper dived to his right.
Martínez tried to persuade German referee Tobias Stieler after the game that he had made a mistake.
The loss leaves Villa in fifth place in the standings now led by Liverpool, with Inter Milan, Arsenal and Brest all able to rise above coach Unai Emery’s team with a win later Wednesday. Inter were hosting Arsenal at San Siro.
Club Brugge have six points, from two wins and two losses and were provisionally in 20th place, which after all eight rounds in January would earn a place in the knockout playoffs round.
Shakhtar’s Sudakov showed against Young Boys why he is expected to be the club’s next big-money sale.
Both teams came into the game without scoring a goal in the first three rounds of the new league phase format.
Swiss champion Young Boys are struggling in 10th place in their domestic title defense and took an unexpected lead in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, where Shakhtar are playing their Champions League home games during the military invasion by Russia.
After the Shakhtar defense was caught in the 27th minute playing short passes deep in their own half, Kastriot Imeri struck with a low shot from the edge of the penalty area.
Shakhtar was level four minutes later when Sudakov’s precise pass into the goalmouth eluded a circle of five Young Boys players to find Oleksandr Zubkov for a tap-in.
Sudakov cleverly created space in the 41st to stride forward and fire a low shot from 20 yards (meters) into the far corner of the net past diving goalkeeper Marvin Keller.
Shakhtar are outside the playoff places in 26th, with four points, and Young Boys is 35th and among six teams with zero points.
