UAE team show quality at Baseball United Arab Classic final in Dubai

1 / 3
All games were played at Baseball United’s new ballpark at The Sevens, with the UAE defeating India, Bangladesh and Afghanistan en route to the quarterfinals. (SPA)
Short Url
Updated 12 November 2024
Follow

UAE team show quality at Baseball United Arab Classic final in Dubai

  • The team defeated several more experienced baseball nations during their journey to the tournament finale

DUBAI: The UAE’s national baseball team — assembled in just 30 days — put on a stunning performance when they played in their first international tournament at the weekend.

During the inaugural Baseball United Arab Classic, the UAE side won five games before finishing as runners-up, losing in the final to the championship’s highest-ranked team, Pakistan.

All games were played at Baseball United’s new ballpark at The Sevens, with the UAE defeating India, Bangladesh and Afghanistan en route to the quarterfinals. There, they beat Saudi Arabia — also playing in their first international tournament — and followed that up with a semifinal over Palestine.

That was arguably the championship’s most exciting game, with shortstop Chris Beyers hitting a momentum-shifting home run to spearhead the victory. Overall, the UAE outscored their opponents by 23 runs during the tournament, with Beyers (SS), Lorenzo Riddle (RF/P), and Gabriel Reque (DH) winning All-Tournament Team honors.

It was a strong and unprecedented debut for a team new to the international scene. The UAE national team was formed after Baseball United’s chairman, CEO and co-founder Kash Shaikh petitioned the Emirates Cricket Board to allow the organization to build, develop and manage a national baseball program.

The rights were granted on Oct. 4, based on “Baseball United’s professional knowledge, expertise and pedigree as a respected international baseball organization.”

Shaikh said: “I am so proud of this historic team and I’m very grateful to Emirates Cricket Board for enabling us to elevate the UAE on yet another global stage. To go from formation to championship game in just one month’s time is incredible.

“From our managers, Eddie Diaz and Roger Duthie, to the entire coaching staff, to this passionate and talented group of players — everyone came together to positively share the UAE’s vision and values through sport. They truly got the world to take notice. The UAE baseball team, our new ballpark and our Baseball United professional games and brand have put Dubai and the UAE on the baseball map. And we believe it’s just the beginning.”

Diaz, a Hall of Fame manager in Mexico, has a professional baseball career that spans more than four decades, with experience as a player, manager and executive. He played Minor League Baseball with the New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves and Cleveland Indians, and also was a Major League Baseball scout for more than a decade. Diaz later managed in Mexico’s top summer baseball league, LMB, for 12 years and its top winter league, the Mexican Pacific League, for 11 years. He also won two Caribbean Series championships.

“As Kash often says, we made history,” said Diaz. “It was an honor for our team to represent the UAE. Most of these guys have spent the vast majority of their lives in this great country so they were very proud to have UAE across their chest. We are looking forward to continuing (to get) better with Baseball United’s leadership, guidance, and support.”

The team follows World Baseball Classic eligibility rules and regulations, which will enable broader representation and participation for local residents. In addition to citizens, WBC rules allow for permanent legal residents and/or players born in the national team’s country of territory to participate in its international events, as well as those with at least one parent who is a citizen of or who was born in the country or territory.

Globally, baseball is classed as a top five sport, with some 600 million fans. Most are located in the US, Latin America, Japan and Korea. In the US alone, professional baseball generates nearly $15 billion in revenue each year.

International tournaments are gaining in worldwide popularity, with the World Baseball Classic generating record attendance, viewership and revenue last year. Baseball is also set to appear in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.


Liverpool sign Bournemouth defender Kerkez

Updated 6 sec ago
Follow

Liverpool sign Bournemouth defender Kerkez

  • Liverpool on Thursday announced they had completed the £40 million ($55 million) signing of Bournemouth defender Milos Kerkez
LONDON: Liverpool on Thursday announced they had completed the £40 million ($55 million) signing of Bournemouth defender Milos Kerkez.
The 21-year-old, who has penned a five-year deal, is the third major signing of the transfer window for the Premier League champions following the arrival of Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz.
Germany midfielder Wirtz was signed for a club-record fee that could reportedly rise to £116 million.
With Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili joining next month in a deal done 12 months ago there will be more than £200 million of new talent present when pre-season training starts.
Left-back Kerkez is viewed as the long-term successor to 31-year-old Andy Robertson, who is a target for Atletico Madrid.
“I’m really happy,” said the Hungary international. “It’s a real honor for me, a privilege to come to play for one of the biggest clubs in the world, the biggest club in England. I’m just really, really happy and excited.
“After this, I’ll go home and in my hometown enjoy a few days, and then I can’t really wait to come back and put the training kit on and start to train and prepare for the season.”
Kerkez made 74 appearances for Bournemouth after joining from AZ Alkmaar two years ago, scoring twice.
“I just want to thank everyone for really showing me big love, even before it will be announced.”

‘Home of cricket’ faces new challenges

Updated 32 min 44 sec ago
Follow

‘Home of cricket’ faces new challenges

  • Lord’s symbolizes the sport’s rich heritage, but has also moved with the times

During the World Test Championship final at Lord’s, a previously unthinkable discussion opened up among friends from a variety of backgrounds: Does Lord’s still justify its cachet as the home of cricket? The very question will be regarded as heresy in many quarters, but the heavy thought hung in the air.

At a meeting of the International Cricket Council’s executives committee in April 2025, the Board of Control for Cricket in India expressed its desire to host future WTC finals.

India’s motivations are clear. Hosting the event would cement its position as the powerhouse of international cricket. The BCCI argues that viewership and commercial revenue would be boosted, along with tourism. However, these would be jeopardized if India failed to reach the final. Attendances for matches in India which do not involve the Indian team are notably low. If the final continues to be scheduled for June, there is also the issue of the monsoon season. In order to hold it in another month, the existing crowded international and domestic schedules would have to be disrupted. It is probably too late to change the dates of the current two-year cycle and maybe for the two which follow.

In response to this challenge, the England and Wales Cricket Board and the Marylebone Cricket Club launched a charm offensive before and during the WTC final.

In January, the MCC invited the ICC’s Chair Jay Shah to join a new advisory board of its World Cricket Connects initiative. Launched in 2024 at Lord’s, the initiative gathers together over 100 people, including administrators, former and current players, coaches, players’ association leaders, media and broadcasting personnel.

The advisory board, comprising 13 members, has replaced the MCC’s World Cricket Committee. After its inaugural meeting at Lord’s, it will meet virtually throughout the year. How much Mr. Shah’s busy schedule allows him to participate remains to be seen.

He was very much in evidence at Lord’s, where he was feted by the ECB’s leaders. Together with the MCC, they ensured that the full pomp and circumstance associated with a Lord’s Test match was brought to bear. This included an invitation to ring the bell prior to the start of the match. As mentioned last week, rumors now abound that Shah was sufficiently impressed to the point where he will recommend to the ICC’s Annual Conference in July that Lord’s should host the next three WTC finals. If this motion passes, it will burnish the claim of Lord’s to be the home of cricket. It will also be a test of Shah’s omnipotence since the BCCI is likely to be disappointed.

His power and presence were encapsulated in the ICC’s 45-second video of the match highlights released after the final. This has not gone down well on social media. Fans expressed their disappointment by trolling both the ICC and Shah, who features in 11 of the 23 frames. A common reaction is that the video is a PR piece for Shah, to the exclusion of key players and moments. Other reactions have been even more uncomplimentary. There has also been adverse reaction to reports that he did not attend the World Cricket Connects forum, an event he also missed last year.

Topics for discussion this year included fan engagement, franchise cricket, growth in women’s cricket, sustainability issues, social impact and shortage of willow. All of these are topical issues for the game. Gathering together “the most influential voices in the sport” alongside a major match is perhaps something that only the MCC and Lord’s can achieve. An interesting aspect of this was that the heads of the main franchise leagues met together in person for the first time. One hopes that they talked about scheduling clashes.

This is a matter which should vex Shah and the ICC. His voice is indisputably influential. The World Cricket Connects forum and its advisory board have no power. Its purpose is to make recommendations to the ICC, which is under no obligation to address them. Inviting Shah to join the advisory board — and his acceptance of the invitation — looks a little odd. Should he be part of a board which will present recommendations to the governing body of which he is the chair? Perhaps his non-attendance reflects an acceptance of this duality and potential conflict of interests. Either way, neither party appears to have made a public statement.

If Lord’s does retain the honor of hosting the WTC final, the ECB and MCC’s overtures will have been successful. It is relevant to wonder what quid pro quo may be in the offing. Perhaps the imminent influx of Indian shareholding of The Hundred franchises, including the one held by the MCC at Lord’s, is playing a part in the decision-making.

The MCC retains a privileged position within cricket. It has been the maker of the laws of cricket since its formation in 1787. Although it maintains this position, law changes will only be made after discussion with the ICC. Until 2005, Lord’s was the home of the ICC, when it moved to Dubai. Both of these pillars underpinned Lord’s as the home of cricket.

Despite the partial removal of the pillars, players say that it remains an ambition to score 100 or take five wickets at Lord’s, for which the reward is to have their name etched on the honors board. There are famous players who have not achieved this feat. Sachin Tendulkar is one of them, along with Sunil Gavaskar, Ricky Ponting and Jacques Kallis. On their way to the field of play, each player walks through the Long Room, lined with MCC members, oil paintings and other cricketing artifacts, representing over 200 years of ritual, legacy, shaping and preservation of the game.

The ground symbolizes cricket’s rich heritage and tradition. It has moved with the times, choosing more modern structures to sit alongside the pavilion of late 19th-century vintage. These may not be to everyone’s liking, but spectator viewing has improved along with ground capacity. Unique among Test match venues in England, spectators are allowed to bring alcohol into the ground, but no fancy dressing-up is allowed, or musical instruments.

There is no other cricket ground quite like it. Sydney has a number of similar characteristics and a rich history; the Melbourne Cricket Ground has three times the capacity of Lord’s; the newly built stadium in Ahmedabad has four times more; Eden Gardens, Kolkata, is much noisier; and Newlands at Cape Town sits iconically in the shadow of Table Mountain. Cricket’s governing body now resides in Dubai, UAE, which has become the place to go for countries that require a neutral venue or an emergency outlet.

Compared with these and other venues, Lord’s continues to hold sway over them. MCC membership and ethos is idiosyncratic. The ground and its architecture reek of history and tradition. There are no crumbling facades, and plans for redevelopment of stands are constantly under consideration. The sloping playing area provides another unique characteristic and an additional test of a player’s skill set.

London’s multicultural population means that big matches that do not involve England are able to attract sizable crowds, unlike arenas in other countries.

Lord’s has evolved and endured, while maintaining its essence, grace, dignity, prestige and tradition. These characteristics and its place in shaping the game combine to support its accolade as the home of cricket.

In concluding the discussion with my friends, they were of the view that Lord’s still holds its status. They, along with many others, hope that the uniqueness of Lord’s is strong enough to ward off the competition from India for future WTC finals.


Inzaghi looks for more Hilal firepower in must-win FIFA Club World Cup clash  

Updated 26 June 2025
Follow

Inzaghi looks for more Hilal firepower in must-win FIFA Club World Cup clash  

  • Riyadh’s Blues have scored only 1 goal in the tournament ahead of final group match against Mexico’s CF Pachuca
  • Hilal midfielder Sergej Milinković-Savić happy with two previous performances but says ‘we need to score more goals’

NASHVILLE: In Nashville, the US’ self-proclaimed Music City, Al-Hilal’s new coach Simone Inzaghi is hoping to fine-tune an Al-Hilal forward line that has performed worryingly off-key so far at this month’s FIFA Club World Cup.

With only a Ruben Neves penalty to show for almost 200 minutes of football in the US, the Riyadh side face Mexico’s CF Pachuca tonight knowing only a win will do if they are to progress to the round of 16.

The Blues will need to find their rhythm.

For all the praise received following the statement 1-1 draw with Real Madrid in Miami, it is Sunday’s dull stalemate with Red Bull Salzburg that is freshest in mind.

The statistics do not make for pleasant reading: across the two matches, Hilal managed 31 shots, but only six hit the target. Discount the penalty and it equates to six shots for every one on target — hardly in harmony with a team of Hilal’s wealth of ambition.

Nonetheless, Inzaghi was generous with his praise for the players’ effort after the scoreless draw.

He confirmed in his pre-match press conference yesterday that striker Aleksandar Mitrovic remains sidelined, though Saudi Arabia center-back Hassan Al-Tambakti trained as normal despite hobbling off against Salzburg.

While the front three is likely to remain unchanged with Marcos Leonardo operating between Salem Al-Dawsari and Malcom, the Hilal bench might have one new face should Inzaghi need a spark in attack.

Kaio Cesar has proclaimed himself fully recovered from the hamstring injury that has kept him out since May 16. On Wednesday, the 21-year-old winger trained with the squad before being pulled aside and taken through his paces by muscle reconditioning expert Claudio Spicciariello.

The Brazilian told Arab News he is “100 percent ready” should Inzaghi call upon him.

“I am happy to be finished with the treatment and excited to be able to help my team again,” said Kaio, who has six goal involvements since joining Hilal in January from Portugal’s Vitoria Guimaraes.

“To start the match, I think it’s difficult because I’ve been out for a while, but I can play some minutes and hopefully make a difference.

“I’m ready, so it depends on the coach now, but I am with my mind in a very good place, lots of positive thoughts, and ready to help my team with goals, assists, running, and doing whatever I can to make sure we progress.”

Sitting in third place in Group H with two points, two behind Madrid and Salzburg who also play each other tonight, the result of that match will determine how many goals Hilal need to progress.

But nothing less than victory against Pachuca will suffice if the 2021 AFC Asian Champions League winners are to reach the round of 16 — a feat no other Asian or African team has managed Stateside, with all seven other representatives from the AFC and CAF already eliminated.

“Firstly, we are only worried about ourselves and our game — we need to do our job first and then we can look at the other result,” Kaio said when asked if the result in the Madrid-Salzburg match will play on the players’ minds and add extra pressure.

“Getting the win we need first of all, that is my motivation. That is our only concern. The pressure is already big because the club is big and the responsibility is always to win every match.

“Now the pressure is even more because we need to get the victory, but we have a lot of big players who are prepared for this type of moment.”

One such player is midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. The stylish Serb has been a key part of Hilal’s success since joining from Lazio in the summer of 2023.

And his role is expected to gain even more importance under Inzaghi, with whom he shone in Rome between 2016 and 2021. He said he cannot fault his teammates for the 0-0 draw with Salzburg and that they will continue on the same path that has brought them this far — with one key difference.

“We have played two good games so far,” he said. “The last game, we played very well and were just missing a goal to win the game, but this now being the last game of the group stage, we will do everything we can to win.

“I’ve said it before, but I am happy how we went in these first two games and we will go the same way until the end, but of course we need to score more goals.”

Pachuca cannot be underestimated. They have netted in both their matches so far, and while ultimately losing both, they have enough in attack to cause problems, especially in 19-year-old Elias Montiel.

The last time the reigning Concacaf Champions League winners faced an Arab side at a FIFA tournament was in last year’s Challenger Cup in Qatar. On that occasion, following a 0-0 draw with Al-Ahly, Pachuca triumphed on penalties.

When the music stops tonight, there will be no penalties: If Hilal fail to score — draw or not — they will be heading home. No encore. 


Delap makes his mark as Premier League clubs’ hunt for strikers hots up

Updated 26 June 2025
Follow

Delap makes his mark as Premier League clubs’ hunt for strikers hots up

  • Chelsea’s new signing from Ipswich scored his first goal for the club against ES Tunis at FIFA World Cup
  • Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United among clubs looking to strengthen their attacks with new strikers

DUBAI: It was third time lucky for Chelsea’s new striker Liam Delap — who arrived from Ipswich Town earlier this month — when he opened his account on Wednesday for the Blues in their 3-0 win over ES Tunis at the FIFA Club World Cup.

Following last Friday’s 3-1 defeat at the hands of Flamengo, Enzo Maresca’s team required a victory for a place in the knockout stages of a competition they won in 2022.

The result never looked in doubt once defender Tosin Adarabioyo had given them the lead with a well-taken header.

The advantage was doubled moments later as Delap scored his first Chelsea goal, collecting a pass from Enzo Fernandez before holding off one challenge, evading another and dispatching a low drive into the bottom corner.

It was brilliant center-forward play, combining strength, skill and a killer instinct in front of goal. For any striker, their first goal at a new club, regardless of the competition or opposition, is an important milestone.

It settles early nerves, eliminates any negative outside noise and helps to build a positive relationship with the fans, who enjoy nothing more than watching a new forward showcase his goalscoring capabilities.

Delap, who confidently took the Chelsea No. 9 shirt after signing, had shown encouraging signs during his first two performances at the tournament.

In their opening fixture, a 2-0 win over Los Angeles FC, the 22-year-old came off the bench and made an instant impact, providing a superb cross which was converted by Fernandez to put the game to bed.

He was then handed his first start against Flamengo and proved a handful for opposition defenders prior to his withdrawal shortly after the hour mark with his replacement, Nicolas Jackson, shown a red card for a reckless challenge just four minutes after coming on.

With Jackson’s one-match ban extended to two following a FIFA disciplinary committee review, Delap is likely to start once again when Chelsea face Benfica in the round of 16 on Saturday, providing the youngster with another opportunity to stake his claim.

It is a summer transfer market in which many of the Premier League’s biggest sides are on the hunt for strikers, and Chelsea appear to have stolen a march on their rivals.

Had Arsenal invested in a proven goalscorer in the last couple of years, they could easily have won a title under Mikel Arteta’s stewardship. The fact he was forced to use midfielder Mikel Merino as a makeshift striker during last season’s run-in spoke volumes, and so the search goes on.

Manchester United are yet to reap the rewards of their investment in Rasmus Hojlund who has struggled since moving to Old Trafford in 2023.

The recent signing of Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers, and the probable arrival of Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, suggest Ruben Amorim is far from satisfied with the output of his current attackers.

Yet while both players are undoubtedly strong additions who will elevate the United forward line, they are not traditional center forwards.

Premier League champions Liverpool, who are certainly not short of attacking options, are also thought to be hunting for a striker, with rumors of an audacious bid for Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak continuing to persist.

That particular deal will be a difficult one to pull off, but Arne Slot clearly views the position as an area which needs strengthening, particularly if Darwin Nunez departs.

Of the strikers available on the market, many of the headlines have focused on Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko. While both players are clearly talented, any transfers would naturally involve a huge financial outlay, which many clubs are now wary of given the implications of the Profit and Sustainability Rules.

For Chelsea, the signing of Delap makes perfect sense. As well as being young and hungry, he boasts Premier League experience having scored 12 goals for relegated Ipswich last season.

Additionally, the fact he has played under Maresca, and alongside Cole Palmer and Romeo Lavia, in Manchester City’s academy, ensures he should quickly adapt to the team’s playing style.

Under the Clearlake ownership model, Chelsea have been widely criticized for spending huge sums of money on players who have failed to justify their price tags, with a few notable exceptions.

The acquisition of Delap for $41 million, however, might just prove to be the club’s smartest business move yet.


Celtics’ Jayson Tatum progressing well, but won’t return until ‘fully ready’

Updated 26 June 2025
Follow

Celtics’ Jayson Tatum progressing well, but won’t return until ‘fully ready’

  • Boston president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said the All-Star is progressing well following surgery last month

When Jayson Tatum ruptured his right Achilles tendon in the Celtics’ conference semifinals loss the the New York Knicks, everything about Boston’s immediate future changed.

But what won’t change is the Celtics’ front office’s prudence in making sure he has the space and time to make a full recovery.

Boston president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said the All-Star is progressing well following surgery last month. But asked about whether the team had put a potential timeline on Tatum’s return, Stevens was definitive that there would be no rushing the star’s rehabilitation.

“We don’t and we won’t,” Stevens said Wednesday night following the first round of the NBA draft. “We won’t put a projected timeline on him for a long, long time. ... It’s baby steps right now. He’s actually progressed great, but I don’t know what that means in regard to projected timelines. But that will be in consultation with him ... and everybody else to make sure when he hits the court he is fully ready, and fully healthy. And that will be the priority.”

Tatum is expected to miss most if not all of next season. It has already had implications for next season, with the team opting to trade Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday – both key contributors from the 2024 title team – in an effort to get the team’s salary under the luxury tax second penalty apron.

But Stevens said All-Star Jaylen Brown has already been back to the Celtics’ training facility since he had minimally invasive surgery to clean up his right knee. Brown is doing some light ball handling and work around the rim, Stevens said.

“We said be ready for training camp and I think he’ll probably be going full well ahead of that,” Stevens said.

While Stevens said league rules wouldn’t allow him to address the pending trades of Porzingis or Holiday, he said anything they do this offseason is with an eye toward regaining flexibility after multiple seasons with a high payroll.

“As far as whatever moves that those are a apart of, they’re all separate and hard and things that you’re going to have to do your best to make sure you put yourself in the right positions,” Stevens said. “We knew this was coming. This isn’t a huge surprise. ... The biggest thing for us is making sure that we balance that, maximizing what we can with regard to what we bring back so we can continue to build and grow.”