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Yazeed Al-Rajhi leads Hail Rally as Nissans dominate top 15 overall

Nissan is aiming for a third victory in this year's Hail Nissan International Rally. (AN photo)
Updated 03 April 2017
Arab News
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Yazeed Al-Rajhi leads Hail Rally as Nissans dominate top 15 overall

Updated 03 April 2017
Arab News

HAIL: Faris Al-Mashna and Saud Al-Taimi made a superb start to their challenge for honors in the 2016 Hail Nissan International Rally, Saudi Arabia’s flagship off-road motor sport event, which began on Sunday afternoon with a timed super special stage of 4.17km at Meshar.

The Saudi duo, driving a Nissan Patrol, finished the special in fourth place behind early leader and five-time winner Yazeed Al-Rajhi, who is partnered by the German navigator Timo Gottschalk in his customary Hummer.

Dubai’s former MERC driver Rashed Al-Kitbi made a first appearance at the Hail event and slotted into second place and T3 leader Yousef Al-Dheef was third.

Nissans dominated the leaderboard with nine cars inside the provisional top 15 at the end of the day. An impressive 33 cars began the event, despite a direct date clash with the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge.

Former Ibrahim Al-Muhanna snatched sixth place in his Nissan and Mohammed Al-Tuwaijri, Ahmed Abdullah Al-Suhail, Saleh Al-Abdulali and T2 leader Meshal Saud Al-Saeedi (Nissan) rounded off the top 10.

The rally is being held under the patronage of Prince Saud bin Abdul Mohsen bin Abdul Aziz, governor of Hail, president of the Supreme Commission for Hail Development and the head of the Supreme Commission of the Hail Rally.

Monday, competitors will tackle the first of three selective sections through the An-Nafud desert. The timed test begins at Umm Al-Qultan and runs for 269.55km to a finish in Q’na. A road section then returns entrants to the overnight halt in Hail.

Ha’il Nissan International Rally – positions after SSS (unofficial @ 17.00hrs):
1. Yazeed Al-Rajhi (SAU)/Timo Gottschalk (DEU) Hummer 2min 31.4sec
2. Rashid Al-Kitbi (ARE)/Ali Mirza (UAE) BMW X6 2min 41.6sec
3. Yousef Al-Dheef (SAU)/Ahmed Al-Dheef (SAU) Can Am T3 2min 41.7sec
4. Faris Al-Mashna (SAU)/Saud Al-Taimi (SAU) Nissan 2min 57.4sec
5. Salman Al-Shammeri (SAU)/Nawaf Al-Onazi (SAU) Toyota 2min 58.6sec
6. Ibrahim Al-Muhanna (SAU)/Osama Al-Sanad (SAU) Nissan 3min 00.4sec
7. Mohammed Al-Tuwaijri (SAU)/Muath Abatain (SAU) Toyota 3min 02.6sec
8. Ahmed Abdullah Al-Shehail (SAU)/Rasheed Mslet (SAU) Nissan 3min 03.2sec
9. Saleh Al-Abdulali (SAU)/Mohammed Al-Naeem (SAU) Nissan 3min 03.3sec
10. Meshal Saud Al-Saeedi (SAU)/Bander Al-Saeedi (SAU) Nissan 3min 03.5sec

Australia injury woes continue with skipper Marsh ruled out of World Cup opener

Updated 11 February 2026
Reuters
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Australia injury woes continue with skipper Marsh ruled out of World Cup opener

  • Former captain Steve Smith will join squad in Sri Lanka as cover while Travis Head captains team
  • Marsh sustained direct blow to the groin during training earlier this week, Cricket Australia says 
Updated 11 February 2026
Reuters

Australia captain ‌Mitchell Marsh will miss the opening game of their Twenty20 World Cup campaign against Ireland on Wednesday with a groin ​injury, Cricket Australia (CA) said.

Steve Smith will now join the squad in Sri Lanka as cover, with fellow batsman Travis Head captaining the side at Colombo’s R Premadasa Stadium and Matthew Renshaw coming into the team.

Marsh sustained a direct blow to the groin during training earlier this week and is experiencing ‌pain and ‌discomfort which is restricting his ​movement, ‌the ⁠board added.

“Scans ​have confirmed ⁠internal testicular bleeding, and he will require a period of rest and rehabilitation. His return to play will be guided by symptom resolution and medical advice,” CA said in a statement.

Head said at the toss later that Marsh was unlucky to miss out ⁠and appeared to play down the seriousness ‌of the injury. He did ‌not give a timeline for ​his teammate’s return.

“Unfortunately Mitchie ‌Marsh has copped a blow at training a couple ‌of days ago and no one has been willing to massage it out for him,” Head joked after winning the toss and opting to bat.

“He’s the unfortunate one but ‌the rest (of the side) is the same. It’s nice to have a couple ⁠of boys ⁠back from the Pakistan series. Strong team and we’re looking forward to going well.”

Australia are also without fast bowler Pat Cummins, who was ruled out of the event after failing to recover from a niggling back injury. Fellow seamer Josh Hazlewood lost a race to be fit after Achilles and hamstring injuries.

Mitchell Starc has quit the format, leaving them without their top quick bowlers.

The big-hitting Tim David was ​also ruled out of ​the first game as he returns from a hamstring strain.

The 2021 champions take on Zimbabwe in their second match ​on Friday.

Topics: Mitchell Marsh

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