SPORTS 15
Friday, 27 October, 2017
Felt ‘aFraid’ aFter rejecting spot-Fixing oFFer: sarFraz ahmed
ABU DHABI
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STAFF REPORT
AKISTAN cricket captain Sarfraz Ahmed has spoken of the “fear” he felt after reporting an alleged illegal approach from a bookmaker during the one-day international series against Sri
Lanka. Sarfraz Ahmed on Wednesday confirmed that he contacted the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after the approach was made. The Pakistan skipper said he was left “scared” despite following the necessary procedures. “Whatever happened, it is done and I did what I was supposed to do,” Sarfraz said on the first Twenty20 against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi. “I wasn’t frightened after informing (the ICC
and BCCI); in fact, I was more scared watching myself on TV. “I was discussed on TV so much that at some stage I started to feel fear. But by the grace of Allah, everything is getting back to normal. “When you are going into a series you need to be normal and everything is going good so far.” Pakistan cricket was hit by a fixing scandal during the second edition of the Pakistan Super League earlier this year that saw Pakistan openers Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif banned for two-and-a-half and five years respectively. The most infamous spot-fixing incident to hit Pakistani cricket came on the 2010 tour of England when then-captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif were all given prison sentences for conspiring to bowl deliberate no-balls in the fourth Test at Lord’s.
Akhuwat Foundation, Strawberry Sports Management to partner in sports development LAHORE STAFF REPORT
Akhuwat Foundation and Strawberry Sports Management have signed a partnership agreement in Lahore on Thursday, to cover various aspects of development through sport. Akhuwat Foundation is the world's largest interest free micro finance organisation, with the aim of alleviating poverty, empowerment and building entrepreneurial potential. Strawberry Sports Management is Pakistan's premier sports management company committed to spreading sports in life. They are the owners of multiple international sports leagues that include Kabaddi, Football, Vol-
leyball and Wrestling. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Amjad Saqib, the founder and executive director of Akhuwat Foundation, said "We are excited to partner with Strawberry Sports Management and wish to leverage their potential and expertise to bring affordable and accessible sport opportunities to the underprivileged." Haider Ali Daud Khan, founder & CEO of Strawberry Sports Management, said that "Akhuwat has a unique model of reaching out to the communities. Sport is a transformative force; one that we shall leverage as part of this partnership with access and equity to the benefit of the underprivileged. We aim to produce world class athletes from the talent pool developed through this partnership."
Jim Lampley points the finger at Mayweather in megafight conspiracy SPORTS DESK Floyd Mayweather has been taken to the cleaners by a boxing expert who claims he fudged his fight against Conor McGregor. Conor McGregor’s crossover fight against Floyd Mayweather in August sent the world into a spin as the undefeated boxing star took home his 50th win in the ring. McGregor showed promise early on in the bout, taking the first few rounds by bullying Floyd with his superior reach. But Mayweather was able to get the 29-year-old’s measure and shut him out in the 10th round via TKO. Controversy erupted over the result immediately after the fight with McGregor himself admitting he was “shocked” at the scoring. The MMA star later announced he was faring well under Mayweather’s beating despite constantly losing his balance, prompting a former boxing doctor to disprove the Irishman and declare he was in danger of brain trauma. One would think even the biggest boxing match in history had seen enough controversy by September. But three months later, another expert has risen to poke the fire and prepare fans for a rematch. A fresh crop of videos of the 50-0 immortal working out posted to his Instagram has iconic US sportscaster Jim Lampley suspicious with the 68-year-old pulling
out a bombshell accusation. “Why else is he putting out videos of him working out?” Lampley told TMZ. “He allowed Conor McGregor to ‘win’ three rounds. Why did the whole thing last 10 rounds, etc.? It’s all a setup.” Lampley said Mayweather could easily make another $150 million from a rematch with the UFC lightweight champion, claiming “suckers” would be drawn to the spectacle. “Why should he retire?” Lampley said. “He created a marvellous scam with this whole thing. He allowed Conor to quote ‘win’ three rounds, so the whole global MMA wish community could have something to latch onto.
“I think there’s a decent chance, there’s enough suckers out there, Floyd could maybe make another $150 million.” When asked if he thought Mayweather would be stupid enough to risk his legendary undefeated record for another shot at McGregor, Lampley replied in incredulity. “Risk?” Lampley said. “Risk? Did you just associate the word risk with Floyd Mayweather? This is not about risk, young man. Risk has nothing to do with it. There’s no risk involved for him. “So we’re betting on the question, does Floyd want to make another $150 million? Why would that even be a bet?”
Agent Godsick says Roger Federer not money-driven SPORTS DESK Top players often say they don't really care about rankings, but they actually do, or at least they are supposed to. Ranking-wise, a lot changes for the players when it comes to sponsorship deals' bonuses, as revealed by the New York Times. Roger Federer is 1,960 points behind world no. 1 Rafael Nadal and two are in the race to finish the year ranked no. 1. The Swiss can earn 500 points this week in Basel by winning the title and the key will be playing Paris Bercy, which is uncertain for Federer. But, according to Federer's long time agent Tony Godsick, the 19-time Grand Slam champion's schedule isn't affected by his monetary preferences. 'I can’t speak for Roger, but I know he would not make a de-
cision for his schedule that was driven by money,' said Godsick. 'He would make it first and foremost on whether it makes sense in the near and long term as it relates to the physical situation. Not, "Oh, there’s a bonus there." I’m not sure those years ever happened with Roger.' Ending the year with a higher rank would not only add to the player's financial depth, but would also be helpful to bargain for increased appearance fees to play exhibitions and tournaments. The age factor is also into consideration. If a player is 29-30 and finishes the year in the top-50, the player will not receive any bonus. But for someone, like Denis Shapovalov, who is only 18, a lot changes. Glory and trophies, but also a lot of money: tennis is really a full environment!
Heath Streak urges more elite cricket for Zimbabwe SPORTS DESK It has become a refrain in Zimbabwe cricket circles that the national side needs to play more cricket in order to improve. After their defeat to West Indies on Tuesday, coach Heath Streak reiterated Zimbabwe's need for elite cricket: the Bulawayo Test was just their second Test of the year. "It is difficult," Streak said. "Unfortunately for us, we had planned to have Pakistan A for two four-day games [before this series]. They would have been very strong opposition, but that didn't materialise and it set us back a little bit. We had our own Logan Cup games but the level of that is not quite the same. I've said for a while that I think Zimbabwe play well when we play consistently and regularly at elite level. Hopefully in the future we will have fewer long gaps in between series and guys can play regularly at that high level." Zimbabwe have played just 14 full international games this year, and seven of those were against Afghanistan and
Scotland. Compare that to, for example, their neighbours South Africa who have played 37 internationals so far in 2017, going on multi-format tours of New Zealand and England, and hosting Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Happily for Zimbabwe, the next six months or so will see them playing much more cricket. While there are Tests against South Africa and Afghanistan to look forward to, much of the focus will also be on ODI cricket. In March, Zimbabwe will host the World Cup Qualifiers, needing to reach the final in order to book a spot at the 2019 World Cup in England. "Originally we had asked West Indies to play ODIs because our focus is very much on the World Cup qualifiers that we're hosting and we want to make sure we get into the 2019 World Cup," Streak explained. "So short-format cricket is a strong focus that we're going to have over the next six months, but we have some series lined up against Pakistan, Afghanistan want to play us, so we've got a good bank of cricket coming up next
year, which will be good for the guys to play regularly." Ahead of an unusually busy scheduling period for them, Zimbabwe's first challenge will be to level the Test series against West Indies in the second match, starting on Sunday. Streak rued the "golden opportunity" Zimbabwe let slip in the first when their batsmen failed to
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take advantage of the strong position set up by the bowlers on the first day. "I think it really boiled down to our first-innings batting," Streak said. "We were bitterly disappointed after day two because it was a golden opportunity. I thought our bowlers did a really good job, and we didn't have a lot of luck. I think we beat the bat more regularly than they
did with spinners. Sometimes you make your own luck, so hopefully we can do that a bit better. We had a couple of chances, and even though they weren't massively costly chances, they add up. I thought as a bowling and fielding unit we were pretty good, it just boils down to that one innings." Streak suggested that there would be no major tactical or personnel changes for the hosts for what has become a must-win second Test. "I think we've got good balance to our side," he said. "In terms of the types of bowlers we have, Jarvis and Mpofu are very different types of bowlers. We have a legspinner, an offspinner, a left-arm spinner, Malcolm Waller who can weigh in. I though Solomon Mire had a good start to his Test career - he was unfortunate not to get a fifty but his bowling was good. Maybe we can use guys like Hamilton Masakadza and Malcolm Waller more in the next Test match and see how they can do. I think a slower bowler bowling wicket to wicket with the keeper up is something we may look to do in the next Test."