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Hambantota: Pakistan face Afghanistan in a three-match one-day international series in Sri Lanka starting Tuesday, with skipper Babar Azam seeing it as good preparation for the Asia Cup and World Cup.
The first bilateral ODI series between the two teams will be followed by the six-nation Asia Cup, in Sri Lanka and Pakistan, beginning on August 30 and the World Cup in India from October 5.
It is a home series for Afghanistan who cannot stage international cricket in their own country because of security fears.
“These three matches are a good opportunity for us to test our players in the match situation,” Azam told AFP.
Azam is the top-ranked ODI batsman and leads a strong side that also boasts openers Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq — ranked three and four respectively.
They are backed up by a potent pace attack of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf.
Afghanistan have world-class spinner Rashid Khan fit again after he withdrew from The Hundred competition in England
“Afghanistan have developed into a good side,” said Azam of a team which beat Bangladesh 2-1 in an ODI series last month.
“We are not going to take these matches lightly,” said Azam, despite Pakistan having won all four ODIs against Afghanistan since the countries first met in 2012.
“We have good players who can deal with spin bowling so it is going to be an exciting series.”
Afghanistan are captained by batsman Hashmatullah Shahidi and have new faces in fast bowlers Abdul Rahman, Mohammad Saleem Safi and Wafadar Momand.
Tuesday’s match is being played in Hambantota, with the remaining two in Colombo on Thursday and Saturday.
Squads:
Pakistan: Babar Azam (capt), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Saud Shakeel, Agha Salman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Tayyab Tahir, Mohammad Haris, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Wasim
Afghanistan: Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ikram Alikhil, Ibrahim Zadran, Riaz Hassan, Rahmat Shah, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Abdul Rahman, Mohammad Saleem Safi, Wafadar Momand
Beach Games will host Super League Triathlon NEOM, NEOM Beach Soccer Cup, NEOM FIBA 3×3 Challenger 2023, NEOM Titan Desert Saudi Arabia, and NEOM IFSC Masters.
NEOM, the sustainable regional development taking shape in northwest Saudi Arabia, announced the return of the NEOM Beach Games that will welcome world-class sports events with international athletes.
The series of leading global sports events will launch on Oct. 21 and feature five dynamic sports: Super League Triathlon NEOM, NEOM Beach Soccer Cup, NEOM FIBA 3×3 Challenger 2023, NEOM Titan Desert Saudi Arabia, and NEOM IFSC (International Federation of Sport Climbing) Masters.
The event will commence with the grand finale of short course Super League Triathlon NEOM on Oct. 21, followed by a NEOM Beach Soccer Cup competition. Next will be a three-day international NEOM FIBA 3×3 Challenger basketball competition.
The NEOM Titan Desert Saudi Arabia mountain bike race will return to the region for the second time on Nov. 14, featuring 230 male and female riders for a four-stage event, covering between 80 and 120 kilometers per stage.
The series will culminate with the introduction of an international sport climbing event, NEOM IFSC Masters, featuring world champions and Olympians, from Nov. 22 to 24.
Jan Paterson, managing director of sport at NEOM, said: “The inclusion of the International Federation of Sport Climbing in this year’s games is exciting, aligning with our goals to build a high-performance culture and inspire the next generations of athletes across the Kingdom.”
This year’s event will see the introduction of the NEOM Beach Games Volunteers Program, with 50 volunteers from the NEOM community helping to ensure a smooth and enjoyable event for spectators and athletes.
The program is open to those aged 18 years and over.
Jeddah hosted the FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023 draw on Tuesday, with the tournament emblem being unveiled during a live broadcast on FIFA’s digital platforms and Saudi sports channels.
The tournament matches will be held between Dec. 12 and 22 in Jeddah with the participation of seven clubs: the host Al-Ittihad from Saudi Arabia; CAF Champions League 2022/2023 winners Al-Ahly from Egypt; AFC Champions League 2022 winners Urawa Reds from Japan; Concacaf Champions League 2023 winners Club Leon from Mexico; OFC Champions League 2023 winners Auckland City from New Zealand; UEFA Champions League 2022/2023 winners Manchester City from England; and the yet-to-be-determined Copa Libertadores champions.
The draw was conducted by Jaime Yarza, director of FIFA Tournaments, with Samantha Johnson presenting and the roles of assistants performed by City legend Yaya Toure and Al-Ittihad icon Manaf Abushugair.
Al-Ittihad will play against Auckland City in the first match on Dec. 12 at the King Abdullah Sports City stadium in Jeddah.
In the same round, Mexico’s Leon will meet Japan’s Urawa Reds. The winners of the two matches will qualify for the semifinals to face Manchester City and the yet-to-be-determined Copa Libertadores champions.
Al-Ahly will play against the winner of the match between Al-Ittihad and Auckland City.
This is the first time the tournament will be hosted by Saudi Arabia.
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabian champions Al-Ittihad and their star striker Karim Benzema avoided Manchester City in the semifinal draw on Tuesday for the first FIFA Club World Cup to be hosted by the Kingdom.
The December 12-22 tournament for continental champions and the host nation’s league winner will be played in Al-Ittihad’s home city Jeddah.
The event will be the last Club World Cup in the current annual format before a 32-team version played every four years starts in June 2025. The inaugural host is the US.
#WATCH: Footage of Karim @Benzema greeting officials and posing for selfies with fans ahead of the @FIFAcom #ClubWC draw in #Jeddah #SaudiArabia https://t.co/eQb5TMhHxE pic.twitter.com/pXENBiFzUq
Al-Ittihad will kick the tournament off against Auckland City, the champions of Oceania.
The winners of that tie will go on to face African champions Al-Ahly of Egypt in the second round for a place in the semifinals against the champions of South America.
The Copa Libertadores is currently at the semifinals stage featuring Boca Juniors of Argentina and Brazilian clubs Palmeiras, Fluminense and Internacional.
#WATCH: @FIFAcom president Infantino catches up with @ittihad striker Karim @Benzema at the #ClubWC draw in #SaudiArabia https://t.co/4J2BeZcMJy https://t.co/mWevuQ2XeK
Manchester City, as the champion of Europe, also get direct entry to the semifinals and will play either Club León of Mexico or Urawa Red Diamonds of Japan.
The final on Dec. 22 will be played at the 62,000-seat King Abdullah Sports City, home of Al-Ittihad.
Jaime Yarza, director of FIFA Tournaments, conducted the draw and was assisted by Yaya Toure, who won a memorable and dramatic final with Barcelona in 2009 and Manaf Abushugair, a two-time AFC Champions League winner with Al-Ittihad.
Champions of the beautiful game will be welcomed to the beautiful city of Jeddah this December for the FIFA Club World Cup
We are ready to host the world #ClubWC pic.twitter.com/MWeno60r31
FIFA president Gianni Infantino and Saudi soccer federation leader Yasser Al-Misehal, who is now a member of the ruling FIFA Council, also attended the draw ceremony.
During his welcoming speech, Al-Misehal said: “We are prepared and excited to welcome the world to Jeddah in December, we are honored that Jeddah is hosting this world-renowned tournament.
He continued: “This tournament will be an extraordinary celebration of professional football, international talent and best-in-class skill, showcasing the great facilities, hospitality and unique culture of Saudi Arabia as a world-class sporting destination.
“The sports sector is a fundamental pillar of the continuous transformation process that the Kingdom is witnessing, as part of the Saudi Vision 2030, and enjoys unlimited support from the Saudi leadership, Saudi Arabia has succeeded in establishing its position as one of the most important and fastest growing sports destinations globally,” he added.
Infantino said he was looking forward to the tournament in Jeddah, adding it was a “special occasion” taking place “in a very special country, in a great football environment.”
Benzema, who came to the ceremony wearing the Saudi thoub, added: “I have played in the FIFA Club World Cup with Real Madrid and I have the experience to help my team.”
#PHOTO: French striker for @SPL_EN‘s club @ittihad_en, @Benzema, wears traditional Saudi thobe to the FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023 draw ceremony.@FIFAcom | #ClubWC | @ittihad | @SPL pic.twitter.com/T9kikHc2LU
Yaya Toure said: “It is a great opportunity for football fans here in Saudi Arabia to witness some of the best football talent in the world. All of the teams participating are champions. It is high quality and the fans are really in for a treat.”
Hussam Ghali, former captain of Egyptian giants Al-Ahly expressed his happiness at the club being with the best teams in the world for the eighth time in a row and told the press that his team were looking forward to playing the winners of the Al-Ittihad and Auckland City tie.
* With AP
ABU DHABI: The National Basketball Association and the Department of Culture and Tourism — Abu Dhabi today announced an expanded series of fan events surrounding the NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2023 Presented by ADQ, which will see the Dallas Mavericks and the Minnesota Timberwolves play two preseason games on Thursday, Oct. 5 and Saturday, Oct. 7 at 8 at Etihad Arena on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.
The first NBA Fan Appreciation Day in Abu Dhabi will take place on Friday, Oct. 6 from 4:30 p.m. GST at Etihad Arena. The unique fan experience will feature appearances by Mavericks and Timberwolves players and NBA legends including 19-time NBA All-Star and six-time NBA champion Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and two-time NBA champion Kenny Smith. Activities will include a skills challenge and three-point contest featuring Mavericks and Timberwolves players, performances by the Mavericks Entertainment Team, the Timberwolves Dunk Team, and the team mascots, and a slam dunk contest featuring professional dunkers.
NBA District, an interactive event that last year welcomed nearly 10,000 fans, will return to Manarat Al-Saadiyat from Thursday, Oct. 5 to Sunday, Oct. 8. Fans will be able to meet five-time NBA All-Star Tim Hardaway Sr., and nine-time NBA All-Star and NBA champion Gary Payton, participate in basketball activities on a full-size NBA court, watch NBA highlights and programming, take photos with the Larry O’Brien Trophy, purchase limited-edition NBA merchandise, and more.
First access to NBA Fan Appreciation Day in Abu Dhabi tickets will be offered to NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2023 ticket holders via a unique link starting today and for a one-week period prior to tickets going on general sale on Sep. 14. Tickets for NBA District, which cost AED 55 ($15) for a one-day pass and AED 180 for a four-day pass, are now on sale at ticketmaster.ae.
“We are excited to expand our fan programming around this year’s games by introducing NBA Fan Appreciation Day in Abu Dhabi and bringing back NBA District,” said NBA Europe and Middle East Head of Fan Engagement and Direct-to-Consumer George Aivazoglou. “Through these events, fans of all ages, from Abu Dhabi and abroad, will have more opportunities to interact with the NBA, the Mavericks and the Timberwolves.”
The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2023 will air live in the UAE and across the Middle East and North Africa on beIN SPORTS, The Sports Channel and NBA League Pass, reaching fans in more than 200 countries and territories on television, digital media and social media. In addition to presenting partner ADQ, the games and surrounding events will be supported by a roster of marketing partners, including Aldar, Experience Abu Dhabi, Gatorade, Nike and Tissot.
The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2023 follow last year’s preseason games between the Atlanta Hawks and the Milwaukee Bucks, which marked the league’s first games in the Arabian Gulf. In January, the NBA and DCT Abu Dhabi launched an expanded second season of the Jr. NBA Abu Dhabi League, featuring boys’ and girls’ leagues each composed of 450 players ages 11-14 from schools across the UAE capital. The collaboration also includes a variety of interactive fan events featuring appearances by current and former NBA players, a series of NBA FIT clinics promoting health and wellness, and an NBA 2K League exhibition event. The collaboration sees DCT Abu Dhabi, under Experience Abu Dhabi, the tourism promotion initiative of the UAE’s capital, serve as the official tourism destination partner of the NBA in the Middle East, North Africa, Europe and China.
NBA fans in the UAE and across the Middle East can shop online at NBAStoreME.com and at the NBA Store at Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi for the widest selection of authentic NBA products ever available in the region.
Tickets for the NBA Abu Dhabi 2023 are on sale at etihadarena.ae and ticketmaster.ae.
KANDY, Sri Lanka: Wicketkeeper KL Rahul was named in India’s squad Tuesday for the one-day World Cup but skipper Rohit Sharma was coy about his place in the XI after months sidelined by injury.
Rahul will be in contention along with fellow gloveman Ishan Kishan, a left-hander who hit a defiant 82 against Pakistan at the ongoing Asia Cup.
“We have said earlier that problems like these are good, that boys are fighting for spots,” Rohit told reporters in Kandy as World Cup hosts India named their squad.
“We will have to see who is in form and who is the opposition to face. All this will be calculated and the best XI will be picked.”
The 31-year-old Rahul has not played any competitive cricket since he was injured during the Indian Premier League in May.
He was picked in the Asia Cup squad for Sri Lanka but missed the opening two matches with a niggle unrelated to his original thigh injury.
The World Cup starts on October 5 and Rohit did not rule out the possibility of Rahul and Ishan — who have both topped the batting order — playing together.
“As long as everyone’s available and fit to play, the selection depends on the opposition we play, current form, players who have done well under pressure, those things do matter,” said Rohit.
“For Ishan’s confidence the last match he played was brilliant — under pressure, batting at number five for the first time, (being a) left-hander gives us another dimension.”
Rahul’s return is “a good headache to have”, chief selector Ajit Agarkar said.
“You see KL’s record in one-day cricket is fantastic. So when he comes there will be a conversation.”
The 50-over World Cup takes place across 12 venues in India.
Cricket-mad India have suffered a world title drought since the 2013 Champions Trophy and last won an ODI World Cup in 2011 on home soil.
India World Cup squad: Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan (wk), KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya (vice-capt), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav.
