SPORTS 15
Thursday, 1 December, 2016
Misbahul haq ready to face ‘inexperienced’ australia India v England: Captain Alastair Cook says tourists need a break after Mohali defeat COURTESY ESPN England's players need a break after the third Test defeat by India, according to captain Alastair Cook. The loss in Mohali, which gave India a 2-0 lead in the five-match series, was England's fifth Test in six weeks. With the next Test in Mumbai not beginning until 8 December, a number of the England squad will leave India for a holiday in Dubai. "We will get away, see some different scenery and come back for the last two Tests," Cook told BBC Sport. England's two-Test series in Bangladesh, which was drawn 1-1, began on 20 October. They then travelled straight to India where, after a draw in the first Test, Cook's men have suffered two heavy defeats. "I think most people would agree that five back-to-back Tests in six weeks is a heavy schedule," added opener Cook, who has spent just 18 hours with his daughter since she was born midway through the tour of Bangladesh. "I genuinely believe if we put a better standard of performance in we can put India under pressure, we just haven't done it yet." By the end of their tour to India, England will have played seven Tests in two months and 17 in total in a 2016 that also included a run to the final of the World Twenty20 in March and April. Their congested schedule is part of a modern trend that sees tours packed with international matches, while also including fewer rest days or warm-up games. England coach Trevor Bayliss said: "It's been a long tour. "The break will give the guys time to get away, refresh mentally and physically and come back ready and raring to go. "These tours are what you've got to put up with these days. A lot of the teams are going through the same thing and a lot of the players and staff are saying the same thing - it's becoming too much." Analysis Former England captain Michael Vaughan on Test Match Special: Mentally it's going to be a challenge. When you're 2-0 down and you can only draw, it's always a challenge. The one thing in their advantage - the one thing they can grab at - is they're playing the fourth Test in Mumbai. The last two times they've been there, England have won the Test
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SPORTS DESK
AKISTAN Test captain Misbahul Haq on Wednesday said that the current Australia team is just a shadow of its past and they will be looking to exploit their inexperience. The 42-year-old was talking to media in Lahore when he said: “We will take the tour of Australia as a challenge. The current Australian team is not the same as it was in the past. We will try take to exploit their inexperience.” Misbah, who was unable to lead Pakistan in the second Test against New Zealand which stand-in captain Azhar Ali’s side lost by 138 runs, said Australia will be a relatively better
place for his side to play in. “It is not impossible to stand up after defeats,” said Misbah. “First goal in Australia will be to regain confidence. Also, Australian conditions are relatively easier to the ones in New Zealand.” The most successful Test captain for Pakistan once again did not give a specific date or time for his retirement. “There is no such plan that if the Australia tour goes well then I will continue, otherwise not,” said Misbah. “I will be there for the team until it needs me.” Pakistan will be facing Australia from December 15 in first a day-night and then two regular Test matches. The five-day affairs will be followed by five ODIs.
Bangladesh launches probe after matchfixing allegations resurface in BPL DHAKA AGENCIES
A probe has been launched into allegations by a player that he was asked to fix matches during the latest scandal-hit Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20 tournament. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said it would investigate after Rangpur Riders player Jupiter Ghosh alleged on Monday that team manager Sanuar Hossain had told him to fix match results just before the start of the tournament earlier this month. He claims that he was dropped from the team when he refused to comply. "The BCB is investigating complaints lodged by a cricketer of BPL 2016 franchise Rangpur Riders against an official of the same team," the BCB said. "The BCB recognises that the allegations and counter alle-
gations brought forward by the player and the official concerned, which includes breach of discipline and corrupt practice, are of serious nature." The Rangpur Riders expelled Ghosh on disciplinary grounds on Monday after he went public with the
allegations. The BCB has also suspended Ghosh and Hossain from the tournament while the investigation is conducted. The BPL, modelled on the glitzy and lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL), has been blighted by fixing rows ever since it began in 2012. The tournament was sus-
pended for a season in 2014 following revelations that former Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful and four others including New Zealand's Lou Vincent were involved in fixing matches. Ashraful was banned for eight years after he tearfully confessed on national television, but was allowed to return to domestic cricket earlier this year. The BCB's anti-corruption officials have also thrown out at least four suspected bookmakers during the previous editions in an effort to ensure the tournament is corruption-free. Seven franchises are playing in the current edition with several big names in international cricket, including Pakistan's Shahid Afridi, West Indies' Chris Gayle and Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara taking part. Afridi is leading the beleaguered Rangpur Riders, who currently lie fifth in the points table.
Basketball team pays goodwill visit to Malaysia LAHORE STAFF REPORT
A goodwill tour of Pakistan Basketball Team (Koinonia Love Pakistan) was arranged in Malaysia under the auspices of Pakistan Basketball Federation, Pakistan Bible Society and Peace Ambassadors Society. Three basketball matches were arranged by Pakistan Basketball Federation in Kuala Lampur and Langkawi. The series got equal 1-1, as the third match was
cancelled due to heavy rain. Colonel (r) Nasim Butt, Chief Demission Adeel Manzar, Deputy Chief Demission Ajmal Tahir Alban, Team Manager and Coach Irfan Francis, Tour and Team Manager and Treasurer Imtiaz ul Hassan, Referee and Coach Pervaiz Younis Coach Akbar Butt were in the organising and tour committee. During the tour, FIBA Asia invited Pakistan Basketball Team (Koinonia Love) in FIBA Asia office where Lt. Col. (r) Lee Kak
Kuan, Technical Director FIBA Asia welcomed the team and provided information about FIBA Asia to young basketball players. Team visited the Basketball Stadium and also visited the office of Dato Yeoh Choo Hock. Souvenir were present to team by FIBA. Captain Asher Gill, Saryan Ajmal Alban (Vice Captain) Romeo Raza, Iraj Gill, Aroon David, Shane Saleem, Nadub Akram, Samran Gill, Suleman Yashab, and Shahzeb Pervaiz.
Woakes suffers 'tiny crack' to thumb COURTESY ESPN Chris Woakes has been diagnosed with a small crack in his right thumb sustained while batting in the third Test in Mohali. Woakes, the England allrounder, was struck on the helmet by a welldirected bouncer from Mohammed Shami and, next ball, was stuck on the thumb as he tried to fend off another fine short ball. To add insult to injury, the ball lobbed to Parthiv Patel behind the wicket to end Woakes' innings. Woakes went for an X-ray after the game which showed what the England management are describing as a "tiny crack." Despite this, and some on-going trouble with a sore knee, England are hopeful Woakes will be fit for the fourth Test in Mumbai. That Test does not start until December 8 and the England squad has been given a few days off before resuming training with most heading to Dubai. England are expected to announce a replacement for Haseeb Hameed, who is returning to England for an operation on his hand, on Wednesday afternoon (IST).
Sacked Real Betis coach Gus Poyet lands Shanghai Shenhua job
WASIM AKRAM TO TRAIN SRI LANKA PACERS SRI LANKA AGENCIES
won the World Cup in 1996 but choked twice in the finals of the
2007 and 2011 editions. The latest coaching session comes
Sri Lanka on Wednesday said it has roped in legendary Pakistan paceman Wasim Akram as a mentor ahead of the team's gruelling tour of South Africa next month. Akram, 50, will conduct a daylong coaching clinic in Colombo on Thursday, Sri Lanka Cricket said, in what would be the first of a series of programmes involving foreign experts. "We are honoured that Mr. Akram has accepted our invitation to be a part of this initiative," Sri Lanka Cricket chief Thilanga Sumathipala said. Sumathipala also said the 2019 World Cup could be within the grasp of Sri Lanka if the team is given the right guidance. Sri Lanka
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as the victorious team returned home Tuesday after beating Zimbabwe in a two-Test series in Harare and lifting a triangular tournament that also involved the West Indies. Regarded as one of the best leftarm pacemen ever to grace the game, Akram took 414 Test wickets and 502 in 356 one-day internationals ─ both still a Pakistan record. Sri Lanka are set to tour South Africa for three Tests, three T20 matches and five ODIs starting December 26, with national coach Graham Ford warning of a tough challenge against the formidable Proteas. Sri Lanka, who also won a threeTest home series against Australia in August, are ranked seventh in Test ratings behind South Africa on fifth.
COURTESY TRIBAL FOOTBALL Ex-Sunderland boss Poyet has packed his bags for China to lead Shanghai Shenhua just 17 days after leaving the Andalusian capital. The Chinese team chose not to continue with Gregorio Manzano, despite having qualified the team for the Asian Champions League.