DUBAI: India’s KL Rahul said on Friday his team is looking forward to playing Pakistan in a high-stakes Asia Cup clash this weekend with the arch-rivals only meeting each other in multi-nation events due to political issues between them.
The neighbors have not played a Test since 2007, instead facing off only in the shorter versions of the game and at multi-team competitions on foreign soil, rather than head-to-head series at home.
The Twenty20 tournament begins on Saturday in the United Arab Emirates but fans await the blockbuster clash between India and Pakistan a day later.
“We are all very excited. As players we always look forward to this India-Pak clash as we don’t play each other anywhere else but these big tournaments,” Rahul told reporters.
“As we’ve seen there is a huge history, there has always been rivalry and the games have always been high intensity. As players we have always dreamt of playing India-Pakistan and it’s a great opportunity for all of us to challenge ourselves.”
Matches ignite great fervor but they have also defused military tensions between the two nations, which have fought four wars since independence from Britain in 1947.
Recently pictures and videos of Pakistan skipper Babar Azam and India superstar Virat Kohli meeting on the sidelines of a practice session in Dubai went viral.
“We can’t run away from the rivalry and emotion that comes through as a player,” Rahul said.
“After the game or before, everything goes away you become normal people, learn from each other, share experiences, it’s always been friendly.”
An India-Pakistan match is always a big draw among cricket fans with millions expected to watch the match across the globe.
Pakistan outplayed India by 10 wickets in their previous meeting to bring the house down at the T20 World Cup match in Dubai last year.
“Losing any game in a World Cup always hurts a little bit,” said India’s vice-captain.
“We were outplayed by a really strong Pakistan team, so we once again get an opportunity against them.
“There might be a history of how many times we have played, how many times each team has won (but) it doesn’t count for anything, it will always start from zero.”
Rahul recently led India to a 3-0 one-day international sweep of Zimbabwe — in the absence of regular skipper Rohit Sharma — after returning from a long injury lay-off.
Last year, Rahul was bowled for three by Pakistan pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi who led his team’s demolition of India’s batting.
Shaheen, however, will miss the Asia Cup due to a knee injury which is a boost to India’s prospects.
“We’ve seen Shaheen Afridi, how he’s performed over the last two years. He’s a world class bowler, a quality bowler,” said Rahul.
“Left-arm fast bowlers right now in world cricket are the most dangerous, they’re causing most trouble for the batters.
“So if he played, it would’ve been a good experience to challenge ourselves against a quality bowler.”
Rahul downplayed Kohli’s extended slump in form, saying the team is “not worried” and the star batsman will soon be back to his high standards of batting.
Rare India-Pakistan meeting in Asia Cup ‘exciting’ for Rahul
https://arab.news/mhkaw
Rare India-Pakistan meeting in Asia Cup ‘exciting’ for Rahul
- Twenty20 tournament begins on Saturday in the United Arab Emirates
- An India-Pakistan match is always a big draw among cricket fans
Gaza war protester ties himself to goalpost ahead of Scotland-Israel women’s football match
- The protester, wearing a ‘Red Card For Israel’ T-shirt, was eventually removed before the teams emerged for a second warm-up
GLASGOW, Scotland: Kick-off in Scotland’s Women’s Euro 2025 qualifier with Israel in Glasgow on Friday was delayed for over half an hour after a demonstrator avoided security at Hampden Park and chained himself to a goalpost.
Both Friday’s fixture in Glasgow and the ‘return’ match in Hungary on June 4 are meant to be taking place behind closed doors, without any spectators.
That decision was taken against the backdrop of the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict.
But on Friday, as pro-Palestinian protests took place outside Scotland’s national stadium, it emerged just before the scheduled kick-off time of 1805 GMT that somebody had managed to access the arena and chain themselves to one of Hampden’s goalpost.
The protester, wearing a ‘Red Card For Israel’ T-shirt, was eventually removed before the teams emerged for a second warm-up, with the game eventually kicking-off at 1836 GMT.
The Gaza war was sparked by Hamas’s October 7 attack on southern Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,189 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.
Militants also took 252 hostages, 121 of whom remain in Gaza, including 37 the army says are dead.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at least 36,284 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.
Dortmund dream of shocking Real Madrid in Champions League final
LONDON: Borussia Dortmund coach Edin Terzic believes “anything is possible” as his side aim to shock Real Madrid in Saturday’s Champions League final at London’s Wembley stadium.
The star-studded Spanish giants are heavy favorites to be crowned European champions for the 15th time, and a sixth in the last 11 seasons, against a Dortmund team that have beaten the odds just to make it to the English capital.
Madrid have lost just twice in 54 games in all competitions this season, storming to the title in La Liga by 10 points and thrashing Barcelona 4-1 to lift the Spanish Super Cup along the way.
However, they have had to once again dig deep to reach what coach Carlo Ancelotti described as the “biggest game of any season” in the Champions League.
Ancelotti’s men withstood a barrage from defending champions Manchester City to win their quarter-final tie on penalties before another legendary late fightback at the Santiago Bernabeu to beat Bayern Munich in the last four.
“We never stop believing, no matter how the circumstances are,” said Luka Modric, who along with Nacho, Dani Carvajal and Toni Kroos, in the final match of his club career, can win the European Cup for a record-equalling sixth time as a player.
“We always believe, keep believing, keep pushing, fighting until the end. In the end, we manage to find a way to beat opponents.
“Many people say there is luck, but when it happens so many times, I think it’s not just luck.”
The career path of Jude Bellingham exemplifies the scale of the task facing Dortmund.
Plucked from English Championship side Birmingham as a teenager, he was molded and developed by the German giants before being picked off by Madrid for a transfer fee in excess of 100 million euros ($109 million) 12 months ago.
Without him, Dortmund struggled domestically this season, finishing fifth in the Bundesliga, 27 points adrift of Bayer Leverkusen.
Yet, Terzic’s men have saved their best for the Champions League stage to reach the final for the third time in the club’s history and first since they lost at Wembley to Bayern Munich 11 years ago.
Dortmund topped the group of death featuring Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan and Newcastle.
PSV Eindhoven and Atletico Madrid were then seen off before a heroic defensive display kept out PSG over two legs in the semifinals.
“They are the favorites but we don’t care, we haven’t been the favorites against Atletico or against PSG,” said Terzic.
“But if we are brave and not here to watch Real Madrid lift the trophy, if we are here to give them a game, then we have a chance.”
In stark contrast to Madrid’s moniker as the kings of the competition, Dortmund’s only previous Champions League success came back in 1997.
Over 100,000 fans of the German giants are estimated to have made the trip to London despite the club being allocated just 30,000 tickets.
Marco Reus is one of only two Dortmund players who were in the side that lost to Bayern at Wembley 11 years ago and is dreaming of the perfect end to his time at the club.
Saturday will be the 429th and final game of Reus’ Dortmund career that could have a fairytale ending.
“I would say there is nothing better than playing your last game in a Champions League final and winning it,” said Reus, who turned 35 on Friday.
“Now the objective is to win the trophy because we cannot imagine how things could be the very next day in Dortmund.”
UEFA will be hoping the focus is on the protagonists on the field come full-time to ensure their decision to return to Wembley for a major final is not questioned.
Three years ago, the final of Euro 2020 was marred by violence as ticketless fans stormed the stadium doors to gain entry.
The English Football Association have invested £5 million ($6 million) into improving safety and infrastructure at Wembley, which is also set to host the Euro 2028 final.
Al-Hilal defeat Al-Nassr to lift King’s Cup after penalty shootout leaves Ronaldo in tears
- Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou is the hero, saving two spot-kicks after three players were sent off and the game ended in a 1-1 draw
Cristiano Ronaldo’s season ended in tears on Friday as Al-Hilal completed the league and cup double by defeating Al-Nassr 5-4 in a penalty shootout, after two hours of play in a tempestuous King’s Cup final at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah had ended 1-1.
Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was the hero, saving two spot-kicks at the conclusion of a fierce battle between the Riyadh rivals that had a little of everything. There was an early goal from Aleksandar Mitrovic that seemed to put the league champions on course for their 11th triumph in Saudi Arabia’s premier cup competition. Then there was a late, late equalizer from Ayman Yahya that took the game into extra time — but not before three players had been sent off by Argentine referee Dario Herrera.
Al-Nassr goalkeeper David Ospina was the first to go, early in the second half. At that point, it seemed certain that Al-Hilal’s name was destined to be on the cup but then, late in the game, both of their central defenders, Ali Al-Bulaihi and then Kalidou Koulibaly, were red-carded.
Ronaldo and his teammates, who earlier in the week finished the league season in second place behind Al-Hilal, looked dangerous from the start.
Sadio Mane had the best opportunity of the early exchanges, firing just over from close range in the sixth minute. Seconds later, however, Mitrovic illustrated the difference between the teams this season as he made the Yellows pay for missed opportunities with the kind of ruthless efficiency that has been a trademark of this Al-Hilal side; if you do not take your opportunities against them, you will be punished. The Serbian striker was waiting at the far post to head the ball low into the net after Malcom curled a fine cross over from the right.
Just three minutes later, Al-Nassr had a great chance to equalize but Otavio fired just wide from inside the area. Shortly after the half-hour mark, Yahya had a shot cleared off the line by Al-Bulaihi, and then a low effort by Ronaldo was blocked by the legs of Bounou.
The Moroccan goalkeeper was in action again soon after, pushing another shot from the 39-year-old Portuguese superstar away and then saving Otavio’s follow-up header from the rebound. This summed up a frustrating first half for Al-Nassr in which they made most of the running.
GALLERY
View our photos from the drama-filled 2024 King’s Cup final in Jeddah
At the start of the second half, Ronaldo almost scored what might have been the goal of the season but his spectacular, near-perfect overhead kick, which left Bounou no chance, bounced off the post.
Things began to go wrong for Al-Nassr eight minutes after the restart when Malcom burst through on goal. Ospina came out of his area and handled the ball, earning him a red card.
Al-Nassr continued to give it their all, though, in an attempt to get back into the game, and Ronaldo forced another good save from Bounou with a well-struck free-kick. But the five-time Ballon d’Or winner appeared an increasingly frustrated figure.
Still, Al-Hilal were not quite able to put the game to bed and there were some nerves on display when a Mitrovic effort rolled just past the post when he had only substitute goalkeeper Waleed Abdullah to beat.
Then, three minutes from the end of the regulation 90 minutes, Al-Nassr were thrown a lifeline when Al-Bulaihi was sent off for seemingly headbutting Sami Al-Najei.
Yahya immediately took advantage by heading home from close range, sparking wild celebrations among the hordes of yellow-shirted fans and taking the game into extra time, but not before Al-Hilal went down to nine men when Koulibaly received a second yellow.
There was plenty of space on the pitch during the first period of extra time, given the reduced number of players, and both teams pushed forward in search of a winner. However, the longer they went without one of them managing to grab that all-important goal, the more inevitable it seemed the result would be decided by penalties. And so it proved to be.
Ruben Neves missed the first kick of the shoot-out but then so did Alex Telles. Bounou then saved from Ali Al-Hassan and Meshari Al-Nemer to secure another trophy for Al-Hilal and leave Ronaldo sprawled on the turf in despair.
Pakistan says ‘expects’ full US security for cricket team at World Cup following Daesh threat
- The statement comes after Daesh Khorasan called for ‘lone wolf’ attack against the Pakistan-India match in New York
- The foreign office spokesperson says Pakistani authorities are in contact with US officials to facilitate the team’s visit
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s foreign office said on Friday it expected the United States government to ensure full security for the national cricket team during the upcoming World Cup after a high-profile militant group threatened to target their match with India on June 9.
Media outlets around the world reported on the possibility of a “lone wolf” attack on the cricket stadium in New York after Daesh Khorasan released a message calling for independent attackers to act.
The 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is scheduled to be co-hosted by the West Indies and the US from June 1 to June 29. The Pakistan team is expected to arrive days ahead of their first match against the USA on June 6 in Dallas, Texas.
The players have just finished their tour to England where they lost the T20 series 2-0 to the home team.
Asked about their safety, foreign office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch told her weekly media briefing the Pakistani authorities were in contact with the US authorities to facilitate the cricket team’s visit.
“We expect the government of the US to fully provide security to Pakistan’s cricket team and Pakistani nationals who live in the United States,” she said.
Daesh Khorasan is a regional affiliate of the Daesh group that operates primarily in Afghanistan, though it is also suspected to have a presence in Pakistan and other parts of South Asia.
The group has been involved in various attacks in Pakistan, targeting public spaces, religious minorities and government installations, contributing to regional instability.
Their operations are part of a broader campaign to establish their influence and demonstrate their reach beyond the Afghan borders.
Drinking culture in English cricket ‘excluding’ British Muslims from attending, playing
- Former player Azeem Rafiq speaks at Hay Festival
LONDON: Cricket’s culture of drinking alcohol is alienating British Muslims, whistleblower Azeem Rafiq said at a literature festival this week.
Pakistan-born former off-spinner Rafiq, who first raised allegations of racism and bullying in September 2020 related to his two spells at Yorkshire County Cricket Club, was speaking at the Hay Festival on Thursday.
He said club cricket in England “revolved around alcohol,” which was “excluding Muslims specifically, but everyone who doesn’t drink,” The Times reported.
He added: “Every part of it, the minute you turn up to a club to the minute you leave, is around alcohol. The game needs to evolve its economy so it doesn’t at recreational level revolve around alcohol.”
This feeling of exclusion had led many British Asians and Muslims to set up their own cricket clubs away from mainstream club cricket, Rafiq added.
He told the festival that around 30 percent of players at recreational level were of British Asian heritage, but that this number plummeted to around 4 percent at professional level.
“The reason Asian people have gone and set up on their own is because they felt excluded from the system,” he said, adding that separate systems were “exactly the type of thing the racists want.”
The Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket report, known as the ICEC, was published last June and found the sport in England was “infected” with institutional racism, sexism and class-based discrimination.
Actor and comedian Stephen Fry, who was on the same panel as Rafiq, echoed its findings.
He slammed the influential Marylebone Cricket Club, the former custodians of the game, as having a public face that “stinks” of “privilege and classism.”
He added: “It (MCC) has a public face which is a deeply disturbing sort of beetroot-colored gentleman in yellow and orange blazer sitting in front of the Long Room at Lord’s Cricket Ground and looking as if they had come out of an Edwardian cartoon.
“The game will not survive (if it continues) giving off an atmosphere that puts people off.”
