SPORTS Tuesday, 2 February, 2016
New ZealaNd prime triple-spiN threat for world t20 WELLINGTON
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AGENCIES
EW Zealand will be hoping to stifle their opponents by taking pace off the ball with the inclusion of three frontline spinners in their 15-man squad for next month’s World Twenty20 in India. Off-spinner Nathan McCullum, leftarmer Mitchell Santner and leggie Ish Sodhi all found a place in the Kane Williamson-led side for the March 8April 3 tournament, and the trio can expect to see plenty of action on the host
nation’s slow pitches. “With the Indian conditions in mind, the plan has always been to take three frontline spinners, and all three bring something different,” coach Mike Hesson said in a New Zealand Cricket statement on Monday. “It’s great to have Nathan available again and his experience in the foreign conditions will be invaluable. “Both he and Mitch Santner have the ability to bowl in the first six overs, which gives Kane a number of options to work with.” McCullum has not played for New
Zealand since August but is also handy with the bat, as is Santner, who impressed during the recent limited-overs series at home against Pakistan. Left-handed batsman Henry Nicholls, yet to play a T20 for New Zealand, was also rewarded with a spot for his match-winning 82 against Pakistan in the first ODI. “Henry has shown his talent and versatility with the bat this summer and has also been used as a wicketkeeper for New Zealand A,” Hesson added. Pacemen Tim Southee and Mitchell McClenaghan, and batsman Ross Taylor
were also included in the squad despite carrying injuries with all three expected to be fit for the tournament, NZC added in the statement. New Zealand, who will be aiming to win a first limited-overs World Cup, have been drawn with Australia, India, Pakistan and a yet-to-be-confirmed qualifier in Group 2 of the Super 10 round of the tournament. “On top of our four genuine pace bowlers and Corey (Anderson) as all-
rounder, Colin (Munro) and Grant (Elliott) are also options with the ball for us with their change of pace,” Hesson said. New Zealand open their campaign against the hosts in Nagpur on March 15. Squad: Kane Williamson (captain), Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, Grant Elliott, Corey Anderson, Colin Munro, Luke Ronchi, Mitchell Santner, Nathan McCullum, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Mitchell McClenaghan, Adam Milne and Ish Sodhi.
Guardiola set to manage Manchester City from next season LONDON AGENCIES
roy suffers back injury before south Africa vs england odi series COURTESY BBC England will assess an injury to Jason Roy before naming their team for the first game of the five-match one-day series with South Africa on Wednesday. Surrey’s Durban-born opener, 25, who averages 33 from his 15 ODIs, suffered a back spasm on Monday. Should he not prove his fitness on Tuesday, James Taylor or Moeen Ali are the likely candidates to open. South Africa, who are without Dale Steyn, Kyle Abbott and Albie Morkel, have called up seamer David Wiese. The 30-year-old took 2-73 from 10 overs for South Africa A on Saturday, when Taylor made 116 from as many balls to inspire an England XI to a 163-run win. Wiese made his ODI debut last August and has played three matches, taking five wickets at a cost of 28.80 each, and has also made 12 Twenty20 appearances, claiming 20 wickets.
English Premier League club Manchester City have named Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola as their new manager from July, hoping the Spaniard can emulate the glory years he enjoyed at Barcelona. Manuel Pellegrini will leave the job on June 30 to make way for Guardiola, who has signed a three-year contract with City, the club said in a statement on Monday. The move ends months of speculation about the future of the charismatic Guardiola, one of the most sought-after coaches in the world. He had turned down a new contract with Bayern Munich last year and said he would quit at the end of the season. Guardiola, who turned 45 on Jan. 18, won 14 titles with Barcelona in a four-year coaching spell, including the Champions League in 2009. At Bayern, he won back-toback league titles and leaves with the side on course for a third. But his record is dimmed by the Bavarian club’s failure to bring home Europe’s top club prize. They twice stumbled in the Champions League’s semi-final stage, losing heavily to Real Madrid in 2014 before being edged out by Juventus the fol-
lowing year. It has long been an open secret that Manchester City had their eyes on Guardiola to fire their own bid for European success having failed to make any impression in recent seasons since becoming one of the world’s richest clubs and twice winning the Premier League. Pellegrini, a Chilean who took over at City in 2013, said at a news conference on Monday that he would finish at the club on June 30. “There’s been lots of speculation, nothing done behind me but I don’t think it is good to have the speculation so that is why I told the press and the play-
ers,” he said, almost as an afterthought at the end of the session. City then issued a statement, saying the club wanted to remove “the unnecessary burden of speculation”. “Manuel, who is fully supportive of the decision to make this communication, is entirely focused on achieving his targets for the season ahead and retains the respect and commitment of all involved with the leadership of the Club,” City said. City currently stand second in the Premier League, three points behind surprise leaders Leicester City. They face Dynamo Kiev in the last 16 of the Champions League. As a player, the Cataloniaborn Guardiola spent most of his career as a midfielder with Barcelona, winning the old European Cup in 1992 and four La Liga titles in a row from 1991 to 1994. He went on to manage the club for four glorious years before taking a sabbatical and then taking the reins at Bayern in 2013. Guardiola’s record in the transfer market at Bayern was impressive, bringing players to the club who went on to become resounding successes such as Xabi Alonso, Thiago Alcantara, Douglas Costa and Kingsley Coman among others.
Finch suffers ‘moderate grade’ hamstring injury COURTESY ESPN Scans have revealed that Australia T20 captain Aaron Finch suffered a “moderate grade” injury to his left hamstring during the second T20 against India. Cricket Australia’s physio Alex Kountouris said having Finch fit for the World T20, where Australia play their first game on March 18, is the target. Finch had picked up the injury while running between the wickets at the MCG, during a 48-ball 74. Kountouris said: “Aaron had scans on his injured left hamstring that confirmed a moderate grade hamstring injury. This is not a recurrence of the previous hamstring injury that required surgery in April 2015. “Although this current injury doesn’t require surgery there is a period of rehabilitation required before he can resume playing. “We are aiming to have Aaron fit for the ICC World T20 in India but will have better idea about his fitness for that tournament in the coming weeks once we see how he responds to treatment and a rehabilitation program.” Meanwhile, batsman Usman Khawaja has been added to the ODI squad for the series in New Zealand, which begins on February 3, to cover for Finch’s absence.
AjmAl ‘rediscovers old rhythm’, tArgets World t20 return ISLAMABAD AGENCIES
Pakistan’s discarded off-spinner Saaed Ajmal says he is hopeful of proving his form in a forthcoming domestic league as he targets a return to national colours in the World Twenty20 this March. The 38-year-old, whose accuracy and deceptive doosra helped drive his team to victory in the 2009 edition, has struggled to make an impact since coming back last February from a five-month ban for chucking. He took just one wicket in two ODIs when he last played, against Bangladesh, in April, and a paltry 16 wickets at 55 apiece for his English county side Worcestershire. But speaking on the sidelines of a launch event for Islamabad United, one of five teams taking part in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) to be held in the
UAE this month, Ajmal said he had worked on technical flaws and rediscov-
ered his old rhythm. “I’ve got a good platform and working
on my goals. You are going to see the Saeed Ajmal of old,” he said. “The World T20 is after this. and I want to perform well and make myself available for the team.” Ajmal, who was picked as a last minute ‘supplementary player’ by the capital’s team, pointed to better showings in Bangladesh’s T20 league last November as proof the magic had not deserted him. Before being suspended in September 2014 for exceeding the 15-degree elbow flex limit set by the International Cricket Council, Ajmal was ranked the world’s number one bowler in ODIs and was almost as impressive in Tests. He famously captured 24 wickets in three Tests against England in 2012. “When I made my comeback against Bangladesh I was lacking match practice,” he said. “I needed some time. Now I’ve had some time and I’ve been able to work on myself. I’ve got my
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variation back and you will see the results in the PSL. “There were several issues. My arm was falling off too much to the side and I’ve worked on that and straightened it up. I’ve worked on my main ball and my doosra as well as my arm ball. “The variation I got from the revolutions I’d put on the ball in the air — I’ve got that back and you’re going to enjoy watching it.” Despite his optimism, it is unclear how much opportunity Ajmal will get to play as he competes for a place against teammate Samuel Badree, the West Indian leg spinner who is currently the world’s number one T20 bowler. But with Pakistan’s favoured slow bowler, leg spinner Yasir Shah, currently suspended for a doping offence, the door could remain ajar for an improbable comeback.