20
GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 28, 2019
Outright dominance helps Pakistan level series
Ahmed banned for four matches after racist remark
Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed will also have to take part in an education programme
Imran Tahir brought back the shoe telephone, South Africa v Pakistan, 4th ODI, Johannesburg, January 27, 2019 © AFP
(ESPNCRICINFO) - Pakistan drew level in their series with South Africa at the Wanderers, inflicting the hosts’ first ever PinkDay defeat as they dominated with bat and ball. Usman Shinwari inflicted most of the damage this morning, starring with 4 for 35 to bowl South Africa out for 164. Imam-ulHaq then continued his good form with 71 to go with his century in the last match, adding 94 with Babar Azam to guide Pakistan to an eight-wicket victory with more than 18 overs to spare. On a surprisingly helpful pitch, Imam didn’t have it all his way and had to endure probing spells from Dale Steyn and Kagiso Rabada, with Steyn beating his outside edge several times. But the vital breakthrough never came, and eventually the misses turned into hits for both Imam and Fakhar Zaman, who cracked seven boundaries in a run-a-ball 44 - his highest score of the tour so far. Imam contributed just three boundaries to an opening stand that ran to 70 before Fakhar slogged Imran Tahir to Rassie van der Dussen at deep midwicket, Tahir lightening the occasion by dialling Tabraiz Shamsi - on the bench for this game - with Shamsi’s own shoe-phone celebration. Shamsi removed his own shoe in the dugout to receive the call at the
other end. The celebration was soaked up by a capacity pink-clad crowd, but that was as good as it got for South Africa, as thereafter Imam settled in and struck three more boundaries to raise his fifth fifty - and second against South Africa - in the 24th over. By then, Pakistan’s target was under fifty and Imam and Babar steadily chipped away it it. Babar pulled Reeza Hendricks’ offspin through square leg for four to raise the fifty stand, and after raising his fifty, Imam stepped down the track to shovel Tahir over long-off for the first six of the innings. A dab to third man brought the teams level, but with the job all but done Imam swiped at Phehlukwayo to be caught behind for 71. Mohammad Rizwan needed just one ball to secure the win, tapping the first he faced through the covers for four to complete the chase. South Africa had a collapse of 8 for 45 to blame for their paltry total. They had looked like getting a lot more when Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis added 101 for the third wicket, but the lower middle order crumbled to spin and pace alike as stand-in captain Shoaib Malik marshalled his troops efficiently.
(BBC) - PAKISTAN captain Sarfraz Ahmed has been banned for four matches after admitting making a racist remark to South Africa all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo. The International Cricket Council said Sarfraz breached its anti-racism code in a oneday international in Durban. Sarfraz, 31, later apologised and claimed his words were “not directed towards anyone in particular”. The wicketkeeper will miss two one-day internationals and two Twenty20 matches, all against South Africa. “Sarfraz has promptly admitted the offence, was regretful of his actions and has issued a public apology, so these factors were taken into account when determining an appropriate sanction,” said the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) chief executive David Richardson. The world governing body opened an investigation after Sarfraz was caught on a stump microphone using the Urdu word “kaale”, meaning “black”. Sarfraz will also have to go on an ICC education programme. He was charged under a part of the section of the code
relating to “conduct (whether through the use of language, gestures or otherwise) which is likely to offend, insult, humiliate, intimidate, threaten, disparage or vilify any reasonable person... on the basis of their race, religion, culture, colour, descent, national or ethnic origin”. In response, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a statement that it had “a zero-tolerance approach to racist comments and behaviour”, but expressed its “utmost disappointment” with the decision to ban Sarfraz. The PCB said it believed the matter had been settled amicably following the player’s apology and said it would seek to reform the anti-racism code at future ICC forums. Sarfraz’s suspension started with Sunday’s fourth ODI in Johannesburg and the player will return to Pakistan, with all-rounder Shoaib Malik stepping in as captain for the rest of the South Africa tour - even though Sarfraz would have been available for the final T20 match on 6 February. Back-up keeper Mohammad Rizwan, who has taken the gloves in Johannesburg, will remain with the squad for the T20 leg of the tour.
Djokovic claims seventh Australian Open crown (REUTERS) - NOVAK Djokovic claimed a record seventh Australian Open crown in devastating style on Sunday as he condemned Rafael Nadal to the most stinging defeat in their long Grand Slam rivalry. Three years after thrashing Andy Murray for the 2016 trophy, the Serbian regained his Melbourne Park throne with a 6-3 6-2 6-3 procession, clinching his 15th Grand Slam title and third in succession. Moving past Pete Sampras into outright third on the all-time list of Grand Slam winners, Djokovic will head to Roland Garros looking for a second “Nole Slam”, having already swept all four majors in 201516. Only Federer’s 20 and Nadal’s 17 outstrip Djokovic’s tally of Grand Slam trophies, but on the strength of the champion’s virtuoso performance at Rod Laver Arena, they will be looking nervously over their shoulders. It was a win that left even Djokovic marvelling, seven years after needing a record five hours and 53 minutes to fell the Spaniard in the 2012 classic at Melbourne Park. “It ranks right at the top. Under the circumstances, playing against Nadal, such an important match, it’s amazing,” the 31-year-old told reporters after needing barely two hours to extend his perfect record in seven Australian
Open finals. The peerless Serb broke Nadal five times while conceding only a single break point, and coughed up only four unforced errors in the first two sets. Sealing the win when a desperate Nadal fired a backhand long, Djokovic kneeled on the blue hardcourt and shook his fists at the sky. He moved past Federer and Australian great Roy Emerson’s six Melbourne titles, after two barren years Down Under with elbow problems. After raising the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup aloft, Djokovic said American Sampras had inspired him to pick up a racket. “It was definitely a sign of destiny to start playing tennis, to aspire to be as good as Pete. To surpass him with Grand Slam titles, I’m speechless,” he said. Blitzed from the start, Nadal could only congratulate an opponent that condemned him to his worst Grand Slam defeat in their long rivalry. “It has been very emotional two weeks. Even if tonight was not my best, I had somebody that played much better,” said the 32-year-old. “I am going to keep fighting hard, going to keep working hard to be a better player every time, for the good things in life.”
Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates after winning championship point in his Men’s Singles Final match against Rafael Nadal of Spain during day 14 of the 2019 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 27, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)