18 SPORTS
Tuesday, 8 March, 2016
Bowling-heavy afghanistan seek to avoid complacency
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COURTESY ESPN
INCE the start of 2015, Afghanistan have played 16 Twenty20 Internationals. They have won 13 of them and have the best win-loss ratio of any team in the world since then. There is, of course, an asterisk next to those numbers. Afghanistan’s opponents in those 16 matches were Netherlands, United Arab Emirates (twice), Scotland, Hong Kong (three times), Papua New Guinea, Oman (four times) and Zimbabwe (four times). None of those teams features in the top ten of the ICC T20I rankings. That Afghanistan haven’t had a chance to play any of the top sides is mostly down to the way the cricket calendar is structured, and partly
down to their own habit of fluffing their lines at important moments. Having begun the qualifying stage of the Asia Cup as overwhelming favourites, they promptly lost to UAE, and lost the opportunity to test themselves against India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. It was reminiscent of the first round of the 2014 World T20, where defeat to Nepal ended their chances of clashing against the big boys. There should, therefore, be no complacency when Afghanistan prepare to meet Scotland, despite holding an 11-3 edge against them in their ODI and T20I meetings. It took an epic escape act, engineered by Samiullah Shenwari, for Afghanistan to sneak a win when the two sides last met in a tournament of this stature, in
Dunedin during the 2015 World Cup. Scotland will start as underdogs for two reasons - the head-to-head record and the conditions. They have only won six of their 25 matches in Asia, and their seam-heavy bowling attack is unlikely to get too much help from the Nagpur pitch, which is likely to be a typically flat, subcontinental limited-overs surface rather than the minefield that hosted the IndiaSouth Africa Test in November. Afghanistan have the edge, both in terms of genuine pace, with an attack comprising Dawlat Zadran, and the recently recalled new-ball duo of Shapoor Zadran and Hamid Hassan, as well as spin, with options in Amir Hamza’s leftarm darts and Rashid Khan’s low-slung legbreaks. Afghanistan’s batting, however, remains something of a weakness, with
their line-up often unable to recover from early setbacks. Scotland’s best chance,
therefore, is to strike with the new ball and put the middle order under pressure.
Only 250 visas for Pakistani supporters for each T20 match, says Indian ministry SPORTS DESK According to Indian Home Ministry, the host nation will issue 250 visas to Pakistani spectators for each match Pakistan team plays in the World T20 tournament starting tomorrow. “As of now, we have decided to issue 250 visas to Pakistani cricket fans for each match Pakistan team will play in the T20 tournament,” said a senior Home Ministry official. The visa will be issued for five days after provision of proof regarding match tickets, return tickets and accommodation bookings from fans. However the number of visas might increase if Pakistan reach semifinal or final stage, the official added. Pakistan is set to play against India on March 19 in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh. The stadium has a capacity of 23,000 seats. The national team will further play two matches in Mohali, Punjab — against New Zealand on March 22 and against Australia on March 25. It will also play a match at Kolkata’s historical Eden Gardens which has a capacity of 66,000, making it the second-largest stadium in the world after Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Gamze Bulut: Turkish runner suspended after doping allegation
SPORTS DESK Olympic 1500m silver medallist Gamze Bulut has been provisionally suspended pending an IAAF investigation into a possible doping violation. Turkey’s NTV television reports that abnormalities were found in Bulut’s blood samples from 2011, 2012 and 2013. The 23-year-old is the fifth 2012 Olympic finalist to face drug allegations, along with fellow Turk Asli Cakir Alptekin. Alptekin has since been stripped of her gold medal and banned for eight years. Nataliya Kareiva of Belarus and Russian athlete Yekaterina Kostetskaya, who finished seventh and ninth respectively, have since been banned by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) for biological passport abnormalities. Ethiopia-born Swede Abeba Aregawi, who finished fifth in London, wassuspended last week pending an investigation after testing positive for a banned substance.
INJURY CASTS CLOUD OVER MALINGA CAPTAINCY AT WORLD T20 SPORTS DESK Lasith Malinga has offered to step down as Sri Lanka’s T20 captain, after concerns over the slow recovery of a knee injury have grown. The board is yet to make a final call on whether a change of leadership is needed, but Malinga has handed the board a letter voicing reservations about keeping the job when he cannot guarantee his availability for Sri Lanka’s full campaign. An MRI scan on Monday confirmed substantial damage to Malinga’s knee, but also suggested that he could manage the injury with painkillers over the next few weeks. The team is scheduled to leave India on Tuesday, but Malinga is considering staying in Sri Lanka to receive further treatment, and may not depart to India until the days before Sri Lanka’s first match, on March 17. This overuse injury to the left knee - on which he lands during the delivery stride - has troubled him since West Indies’ series in Sri Lanka in November last year. He missed Sri Lanka’s tour of New Zealand in December and January, and was later ruled out of the T20s in India, in February. Then, Malinga played only one match of four during the Asia Cup, taking four wickets in Sri Lanka’s solitary victory against UAE, before sitting out games against Bangladesh, India and Pakistan. It is understood
he has not bowled in the nets since the UAE game, though, he is not a player who generally requires extensive net bowling before matches. The recovery date for this injury has always been vague, but has been much slower than initially expected, prompting particular worry. It was hoped Malinga could be fit for the T20s in New Zealand, and he was picked for the Asia Cup on the understanding he could play a substantial role in that tournament.
This is also the third serious injury to hit Malinga’s career. He had previously been plagued by a similar overuse injury in his right knee, which he said forced him to retire from Tests in 2010. Then in 2014, a long-term ankle injury was operated on in the months leading up to last year’s World Cup. It now appears possible that this current injury could end his international career. In the approach to the Asia Cup, Malinga had hinted the World T20 might be his final foray for Sri Lanka.
Arsenal manager says title race is far from over SPORTS DESK Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says the Premier League title race is “far from being over” despite the eight-point gap between his side and leaders Leicester. The Gunners have dropped eight points in three matches, including defeats by Manchester United and Swansea. Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Tottenham left them three points behind their second-placed rivals with nine games to play. “We will not give up the Premier League, we will fight until the end,” Wenger, 66, said. “Just to remind you, we have beaten Leicester twice so we have done our job against them. People have to look at other teams more, not just us on that front. “The Premier League is far from being over.” Arsenal are competing for three trophies, including the FA Cup and the Champions League, although they face an uphill battle in the latter following their2-0 home defeat by Barcelona in the first leg of their last-16 tie. They travel to Hull on Tuesday for a fifth-round replay in the FA Cup - a competition they have won for the past two seasons. Wenger, who is in his 20th season as Arsenal boss, has been criticised during their recent poor run but he says he is unaffected. “I believe that opinions are opinions,” the Frenchman said. “I do my job and one day someone will replace me and will replace you. “I try to do my best and leave this club in the best shape so the guy coming after me will have good potential to work with.”
Eva Carneiro: Former Chelsea doctor attends tribunal hearing SPORTS DESK Ex-Chelsea doctor Eva Carneiro has appeared at a tribunal hearing for her constructive dismissal case against the Premier League champions. The 42-yearold Briton is suing the club for constructive dismissal and breach of contract. The private hearing is taking place at London South Employment Tribunal in Croydon, during which the parties could agree to come to a settlement. Chelsea filed their defence in the tribunal hearing in December.
CMYK