LAHORE: Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi won the coin toss under overcast conditions and elected to bat in Afghanistan’s must-win last Group B game of the Champions Trophy against Australia on Friday.
Afghanistan made a big turnaround in the tournament when it eliminated England with a stunning eight-run victory at the same venue on Wednesday.
Afghanistan, which lost the first match to South Africa by 107 runs, went with the same playing XI for the third successive game and banked on three spinners — Mohammad Nabi, Noor Ahmad and ace leg-spinner Rashid Khan.
Australia has three points from its record-breaking 352-run chase against England and a point from its washout game against South Africa at Rawalpindi.
Australia named an unchanged side.
New Zealand and India have already qualified for the semifinals from Group A with host Pakistan and Bangladesh eliminated.
Lineups:
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi
Australia: Matthew Short, Travis Head, Steven Smith (captain), Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey, Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson
Afghanistan wins toss and elects to bat against Australia in must-win Champions Trophy game
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Afghanistan wins toss and elects to bat against Australia in must-win Champions Trophy game
- Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi won the coin toss under overcast conditions and elected to bat in Afghanistan’s must-win last Group B game of the Champions Trophy against Australia
- Afghanistan made a big turnaround in the tournament when it eliminated England from the tournament with a stunning eight-run victory at the same venue on Wednesday
UAE U-21s enjoy success at 9th Asian Jiu-Jitsu Championships
- Team wins 10 medals on final day, making it 22 for the tournament
AMMAN: The UAE’s U-21s notched up 10 medals in their category on the final day of the 9th Asian Jiu-Jitsu Championships, bringing the team’s total for the competition to 22.
The Emirati athletes, sponsored by Mubadala Investment Company, gave outstanding performances across the event, winning three gold, two silver and five bronze medals.
The gold medalists were Mariam Al-Ali (45kg), Rashed Mohammed Al-Shehhi (56kg) and Ammar Al-Hosani (94kg).
Silvers went to Aysha Al-Shamsi (45kg) and Alanood Al-Harbi (48kg), with Alanood Al-Hosani (57kg), Rashid Al-Haimeini (+94kg), Saeed Al-Nuaimi (62kg), Ahmad Andeez (69kg) and Fahad Al-Hammadi (77kg) taking bronze.
Several dignitaries attended the event, including Hamad Al-Matrooshi, acting charge d’affaires at the UAE Embassy in Amman, and Khaled Al-Ali and Aisha Al-Shehhi, both members of the UAE diplomatic corps.
Yousef Abdullah Al-Batran, of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation board, said: “This achievement highlights the athletes’ technical maturity and mental focus, as well as their ability to succeed against top-level competitors across Asia. Our preparation included both local and international training camps focused on tactical and physical development — something that clearly paid off during the competition.”
Rashed Mohammed Al-Shehhi, who won gold in the 56kg division, said he was delighted take such a significant victory.
“The matches were not easy, especially the final, where I faced a highly skilled and experienced opponent. I relied on tactical discipline and exploited my opponent’s flaws at vital points. With the coaches’ instruction and the rigorous preparation, we underwent, I was able to impose my style and secure the victory,” he said.
Fellow gold medalist Mariam Al-Ali added the competition and diverse techniques had been challenging.
“I experienced various technical hurdles that needed me to constantly change my plan, but I was able to transition quickly between offense and defense and employ ground control efficiently,” she said.
“The technical assistance provided by our coaches prior to and throughout the event was critical in building my confidence. This gold medal is just the beginning; my dreams are expanding, and I’ll keep working hard to reach even higher levels.”
Pakistan and Bangladesh begin T20I series today
- 2009 world champions Pakistan have endured significant downturn in last 12 months, crashed out in first round of World Cup in 2024
- Bangladesh, ranked ninth, have won just four of last 12 T20Is, lost series against lower-ranked US last year and UAE earlier this month
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan are all set to take on Bangladesh in a three-match T20I series commencing from today, Wednesday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a statement.
The second T20I will be held on Friday, May 30, while the third and final T20I of the series is scheduled on June 1.
Salman Ali Agha will lead Pakistan, while Litton Das will captain Bangladesh. All three T20Is will be played at Lahore’s Qaddafi Stadium, which will host its first T20I series after going through a complete renovation earlier this year.
“The boys are doing well as a unit. A lot of our players are coming off strong performances in the HBL PSL X, which is one of the most competitive T20 tournaments in the world. That form and momentum are something we are hoping to carry into this series,” Agha was quoted as saying in a PCB statement.
“Bangladesh are a quality side with talented players and we are expecting a good challenge from them. I believe fans are in for some thrilling cricket over the next few days.”
Das, the Bangladesh captain, said his team was “focused and understands the challenge Pakistan poses, especially in their home conditions.”
“This series is a great opportunity for every player to step up. We are trying a few combinations in the build-up to the T20 World Cup next year and this tour is a valuable part of that process,” the PCB statement quoted Das as saying.
The 2009 world champions Pakistan have endured a significant downturn in the last 12 months and crashed out in the first round of the World Cup in 2024.
They have won only three of their last 13 T20Is, two against minnows Zimbabwe, and slumped to eighth in the T20I rankings.
With a new head coach in New Zealand’s Mike Hesson they are looking to younger players with the World Cup in India and Sri Lanka just eight months away.
Star batsmen Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, and pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi, have all been axed.
Salman Agha will lead the side, having lost a series in New Zealand 4-1 two months ago.
Bangladesh, ranked ninth, are in the same boat.
They have won just four of their last 12 T20Is and lost series against lower-ranked United States (2024) and United Arab Emirates earlier this month.
They also have a new coach in West Indian Phil Simmons, who will be missing senior players including Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan, Mohammad Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim, all either fully retired or from the T20Is.
Frontline fast bowlers Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman are nursing injuries while new pace sensation Nahid Rana withdrew from the tour over security fears following the cross-border conflict between India and Pakistan.
With inputs from AFP
Pacers beat Knicks to move one win shy of reaching NBA Finals
- Indiana, who blew a 20-point lead in a Game 3 home loss, seized a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals with the home triumph
- Haliburton: Guys put me in position to make plays and play my game and man, it’s a big win for us
WASHINGTON: Tyrese Haliburton delivered his second career playoff triple double to power Indiana over New York 130-121 on Tuesday, lifting the Pacers one win from the NBA Finals.
Haliburton scored 32 points, passed off 15 assists and grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds while making no turnovers over 38 minutes becoming the first player in NBA playoff history with 30-15-10 and no turnovers.
Indiana, who blew a 20-point lead in a Game 3 home loss, seized a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals with the home triumph.
“I was just trying to be aggressive, trying to respond,” Haliburton said.
“I felt like I let the team down in game three so it was important to come out here and just make plays.
“Guys put me in position to make plays and play my game and man, it’s a big win for us.”
Game 5 is set for Thursday in New York’s Madison Square Garden.
“I’m excited about it. It’s going to be a lot of fun,” Haliburton said.
“It’s a tough environment to play in. We’ve got to be ready. Just one more game, take what we can from this and be ready for game five.”
The East winner will face either Oklahoma City or Minnesota in the NBA Finals starting June 5.
Haliburton’s father was in the arena after a month-long ban following an on-court incident with Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo earlier in the playoffs.
“Hell yeah. I’m glad pop is in the building,” Haliburton said. “It makes it that much more sweet. Had a little bit to do with it.”
Haliburton, who also had four steals, made 11-of-23 shots from the floor and 5-of-12 from three-point range.
“We tried giving him different looks,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “We’ll look at the film. We just have to do better.”
Pascal Siakam added 30 points for the Pacers while Bennedict Mathurin scored 20 points off the bench for Indiana.
“We just wanted to come out with more energy, more urgency,” Siakam said.
“I thought we did that from the beginning. They made runs but we stuck to our game plan.”
Indiana coach Rick Carlisle praised Mathurin. “He was great. He gave us a huge lift,” he said.
Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 31 points while Karl-Anthony Towns had 24 points and 12 rebounds, O.G. Anunoby had 22 points and Mikael Bridges netted 17 points. New York gave up 17 turnovers.
“Our defense wasn’t good enough. Our defense and turnovers probably hurt us,” Thibodeau said. “The important thing is to reset. We’re not playing the series. We’re playing the game.”
Towns suffered a left knee injury defending a drive by Myles Turner with 2:10 remaining but stayed in the game.
“He was able to go back in. That was a good sign,” Thibodeau said. “We’ll see how he is after he’s evaluated.”
“I’m only thinking about the loss. I’m not thinking about that right now,” Towns said when asked about his knee.
The Pacers last made the NBA Finals in 2000 and have never won the NBA title.
The Knicks, on the brink of elimination, have not reached the NBA Finals since 1999 and their last crown was in 1973.
“You’ve got to give it your all,” Brunson said. “It’s that simple.”
Indiana led 43-35 after the first quarter as Haliburton had 15 points, six assists and five rebounds to start his no-turnover night.
“To not have any turnovers is pretty remarkable,” Carlisle said. “I know he takes great pride in it. That’s a motivating factor.”
The Pacers led 69-64 at halftime and stretched the lead to 102-91 entering the fourth quarter.
New York went on a 10-2 run to pull within 115-109, but could not catch Indiana and Obi Toppin’s three-pointer with 46 seconds remaining to establish a 126-116 Indiana lead sealed New York’s fate.
Eala sees ‘new era for Filipino sport’ after first Grand Slam match win
- Eala: I’m feeling good, it’s my debut in Grand Slam doubles so I’m feeling happy to be playing with Renata and to have my first Slam win
- Eala is part of a new generation of Filipino sports stars
- She lifted the 2022 US Open girls’ singles trophy and reached the semifinals at Miami in March when, ranked 140th in the world, she beat three Grand Slam winners in Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys and world No. 2 Iga Swiatek
PARIS: Alexandra Eala on Tuesday achieved a first Grand Slam match win for a Filipino woman, saying she hoped her doubles success at the French Open was part of “a new era for sport” in her country.
She teamed up with Mexico’s Renata Zarazua to defeat Britain’s Emily Appleton and Spain’s Yvonne Cavalle-Reimers 7-5, 6-4 and book a place in the second round.
The win came two days after the 20-year-old, the first woman from her country to compete in a Grand Slam, was eliminated in the first round of the singles by Emiliana Arango of Colombia 6-0, 2-6, 6-3.
“It’s so heartwarming,” Eala told AFP of her Grand Slam match win.
“Of course, it’s always good to come back and compete well after a singles loss, especially after a tight one.
“I’m feeling good, it’s my debut in Grand Slam doubles so I’m feeling happy to be playing with Renata and to have my first Slam win.
“Of course, it was a difficult (singles) loss but in the end I think there’s things to take away and I try to do better in the doubles.”
The support from home has been “positive,” she said.
“They’re happy to see a Filipino competing in the main draw in Paris.”
Eala is part of a new generation of Filipino sports stars. She has trained since the age of 13 at Rafael Nadal’s academy in Mallorca, Spain.
She lifted the 2022 US Open girls’ singles trophy and reached the semifinals at Miami in March when, ranked 140th in the world, she beat three Grand Slam winners in Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys and world number two Iga Swiatek.
“I think we’re entering a new era for Filipino sport,” the 73rd-ranked player said, pointing to the success of gymnast Carlos Yulo who took two gold medals at the Paris Olympics last year.
“Filipinos are very talented and very hard workers. There’s a support, a community, because it’s not often you (have) seen Filipino athletes excel on the international stage, so every time someone does good we’re very happy for them.”
Nicklaus surprised by McIlroy skipping his PGA Memorial event
- Nicklaus said he has not heard from McIlroy since the Northern Ireland star captured his fifth major title and first Masters to complete a career Grand Slam
- McIlroy will miss the Memorial for the first time since 2017, instead playing next week’s Canadian Open as his tuneup for the following week’s US Open
WASHINGTON: Jack Nicklaus said Tuesday that he was surprised Masters winner Rory McIlroy did not tell him in advance that he was not playing in this week’s Nicklaus-hosted PGA Memorial tournament.
Nicklaus, an 18-time major winner, predicted McIlroy’s triumph last month at Augusta National after hitting his own ceremonial opening tee shot.
Nicklaus said he has not heard from McIlroy since the Northern Ireland star captured his fifth major title and first Masters to complete a career Grand Slam.
McIlroy will miss the Memorial for the first time since 2017, instead playing next week’s Canadian Open as his tuneup for the following week’s US Open at Oakmont.
“I didn’t have a conversation with him, no,” Nicklaus said, calling that “a little bit” of a surprise.
“It surprised me. But guys have got schedules and got things they do. And I haven’t talked to him for him to tell me why or why not. It’s just his call,” Nicklaus said.
“I made a lot of calls that I had to make when I played to play or not play... sometimes you have to make those calls.
“I don’t hold anything against Rory for that. I know he likes to play so many in a row. He likes to play the week before a US Open. And so that’s what he’s doing.
“I mean, I’m a big Rory fan, I always have been. I’m sure that I will remain that way. I just, I was a little surprised, yes.”
Nicklaus said he had no problem about McIlroy not giving him advance warning about his absence.
“I’m not going to throw Rory under the bus. I like Rory too much,” said Nicklaus. “He’s got to make his own calls on things. Could he have done ‘em differently? Probably. But that’s all right. I probably could have done some of mine differently too. So I’m not complaining about Rory.”
Nicklaus said he sent McIlroy a congratulatory letter shortly after the Masters victory last month.
“I told him I don’t think anybody has won by having four double bogeys,” Nicklaus said. “And I said, ‘But that just showed me how much talent you have to overcome that to win and how you played some unbelievably spectacular shots.
“I was very happy for him. It was a great win.”
