Category: Sports

Karachi: Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ehsan Mani has asserted that the PCB will not agree to cancelling the Asia Cup, scheduled in the UAE in September, to make room for the Indian Premier League, which has been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The IPL was to be held from March 29 to May 24 but has been postponed indefinitely because of a extended lockdown to combat the deadly virus in India.

“I have read and heard about these speculations but right now just remember that having or not having the Asia Cup is not a decision between Pakistan and India it involves other countries as well,” asserted Mani here on Tuesday.

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Pakistan were to host the event but it was shifted to Dubai and Abu Dhabi after India expressed reluctance to come here owing to security concerns and the strained diplomatic ties between the two countries.

“.it is important to have the Asia Cup if cricket activities resume by then because development of Asian cricket depends on funding from the tournament. It is important for many countries who are members of the Asian Cricket Council,” he added in a podcast released by the PCB.

However, he also conceded that holding the Asia Cup this year is a big challenge because right now “we don’t know if it can be held or not.”

“But if the conditions change and we can have the Asia Cup, it must be held as earnings from it are distributed as development funds to member countries for next two years,” he said.

He said reports about the Asia Cup being hosted by Bangladesh or UAE were mere speculation at this stage.

Speaking about another big event, Mani warned that if the T20 World Cup, to be held in Australia in October-November, is postponed, the financial fallout will be big for many countries.

“The financial impact will be felt by many countries if the ICC can’t distribute their shares from the tournament. Many countries including Pakistan will feel the pinch,” he admitted.

Mani confirmed that Pakistan was to receive around USD 7 to 8 million in June and January.

“Pakistan is fortunate it has good financial controls in place and in short term, it will be better off than most countries if the lockdowns continue because of the coronavirus pandemic,” he claimed.

“We are to get 7 to 8 Million dollars from the ICC in June but we know they might not come so we have planned accordingly,” he added.

On whether Pakistan’s forthcoming tours to Holland, Ireland and England between late June and August will gohead, Mani said the PCB was prepared for disruptions.

But he ruled out resumption of international cricket in empty stadiums.

“Empty stadiums also offer their big challenges as teams have to travel by air and stay in hotels so the risks start there. The logistical arrangements have to be manageable,” he explained.

Mani said Pakistan was prepared to show goodwill and flexibility and support the hosts of these tours.

“We wouldn’t mind if two series are held at the same time like one team playing Tests and another white-ball cricket. In these difficult times we need to support each other,” he said.

Mani also revealed that Pakistan had shown interest in hosting several ICC tournaments to be held between 2023 and 2031, including the ICC Youth Cup and World Cups.

“Unfortunately the last time the cycle of ICC events were bid for the big three, India, Australia and England distributed all the main events among themselves. This time I can say there are more countries interested in hosting the events,” he said.

The show is on and the centrepiece for the historic and landmark 25th running of the $35 million Dubai World Cup is undoubtedly the $12 million Dubai World Cup affair.

But as has been the case over the past two decades, the race night which has traditionally been held on the last Saturday of March, has eight other contests that oozes class and dollops of quality.

The night, in entirety, features six Group 1 and three Group 2 races, that is sure to whet the appetite of horse racing fans around the world.

Sadly, avid racegoers in Dubai and the country as a whole, won’t be able to witness it but circumstances are such. Action will be behind closed doors at the magnificent Meydan Racecourse but fans can still get a glimpse in the comfort of their living rooms, with the races streamed live on television.

The other eight races on the card are headlined by the Group 1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic, which precedes the main race on the night – the Dubai World Cup.

And there are 11 strong runners in the 2,410 metres contest to be run on turf and which carries a generous prize purse of $6 million.

Flying the flag for the UAE is the impressive Ghaiyyath, owned by Godolphin.

Saddled by Englishman Charlie Appleby, Ghaiyyath, the son of two Irish classic winners, had made a sensational Dubai debut in the eighth horse race meeting of the Dubai World Cup Carnival last month.

The five-year-old son of Dubawi, Ghaiyyath, showed why he was rated 126, towering over the rest of the field to land the Group 3 Dubai Millennium Stakes at the Meydan Racecourse.

Ghaiyyath had led from start to finish, under jockey William Buick, to win the 10-furlong affair by a whopping 8.5 lengths over last year’s Millennium Stakes winner Spotify.

The Japanese have Hong Kong Vase Group 1 winner Glory Vase, Current Bouquetd’Or and Loves Only You.

The UK too have a trio of runners in Defoe, Desert Encounter and Star Catcher with Ireland double-handed with two in Fleeting and Mount Everest. The lone American entry is the Richard Mandella-conditioned United.

The Group 1 Dubai Turf, worth $6 million, has also drawn a stellar field with Almond Eye looking to defend her title.

Almond Eye, the Japanese mare goes up against the likes of Jebel Hatta Group 1 champion Barney Roy, conditioned by Appleby, and Hong Kong Cup G) winner Win Bright, among others.

Appleby has another runner in Magic Lily. There is also the Fawzi Nass-trained Port Lions, who had created history last month by winning the first ever turf race to be staged in Saudi Arabia, during the Saudi Cup at the King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh.

The $1.5 million Dubai Gold Cup G2 has attracted superb stayers as Melbourne Cup G1 winner Cross Counter and St Leger (G1) winner Kew Gardens.

Meanwhile, the world’s richest dirt sprint, the $2.5 million Dubai Golden Shaheen has drawn one of the top dirt sprinters in the world Imperial Hint.

The $1.5 million Godolphin Mile G2 features a clash between dominant milers Capezzano and Salute The Soldier.

The world’s richest race night begins with the $1 million Group 1 Dubai Kahayla Classic, the only contest for Purebred Arabians in the world and AF Maher will look to defend his title.

Novak Djokovic saved three match points before defeating Gael Monfils 2-6, 7-6 (10/8), 6-1 to reach the Dubai Championships final on Friday, describing his victory as “an amazing escape”.
It was the 17th win of the season for the world number one and a 17th career win over Frenchman Monfils without a loss.
Djokovic will play on Saturday for a fifth Dubai trophy against Stefanos Tsitsipas after the second seed and 2019 finalist beat Dan Evans 6-2, 6-3.
The Serbian fought off three Monfils match points in the second-set tiebreaker, as the Frenchman committed forehand and backhand errors on his first two winning chances.
An increasingly weary Monfils blew the third with a double-fault.
Djokovic finally squared the semi-final at one set a-piece on his eighth set point before rolling on to victory in the third set after more than two and a half hours.
“It was an amazing escape,” said Djokovic who now has a 20-match win streak stretching from the end of last year.
“Gael was playing as well as he ever has.
“It was difficult to go through him. I have good defence, but what he did today was unbelievable.
“On the match points, I just hoped that he would miss on first serves, which he did. That gave me an opportunity to get into the points.
“I know Gael was injured and he could not play his best, but once he’s healthy, watch out.”
Tsitsipas, who lost the final a year ago to Roger Federer, won his eighth match in a row by seeing off Evans.
The Greek lifted the trophy last Sunday in Marseille.
Tsitsipas could not fault his victory in 83 minutes over the 37th-ranked Evans in a first-time meeting.
“I managed to stay solid throughout the whole match, I didn’t have too much stress, I stayed quite calm and played well,” he said.
“I was dominating a lot from my forehand side, playing with a clear head and not thinking of too much, staying in the moment, trying to process of what potentially he’s going to use on the court.
“It was just a matter of time for me to take the lead and get up in the score.”
Tsitsipas, winner of 16 of his last 17 sets, won his 10th career match at the Aviation Club against two defeats.
British number one Evans was competing in his fourth semifinal at the ATP level.
He saved three match points against Pierre-Hugues Herbert in the second round and two set points in the quarter-finals against Andrey Rublev.
Tsitsipas never faced a break point on Friday while breaking Evans’ serve four times.

Manchester City continued their imperious stranglehold over the League Cup with a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa with goals from Sergio Aguero and Rodri in the final at Wembley on Sunday to win the trophy for a third straight season.
City, who have now won the competition in five of the last seven seasons, dominated much of the match and should have been home and dry when they opened a 2-0 lead after half an hour thanks to Aguero’s strike in the 20th minute and a Rodri header.
Yet a bizarre slip from City defender John Stones allowed Villa’s Anwar El Ghazi to cross for Mbwana Samatta to head home just before halftime, fuelling their hopes of a comeback. The second half failed to live up to the first, however, with few clear chances until City keeper Claudio Bravo pulled off an excellent save to push Bjorn Engels’ header against the post and out in the 87th minute.
City became the first side to win the competition three seasons in a row since Liverpool claimed four straight titles from 1981 to 1984.
“Three times in a row is a big success. It’s the consistency, incredible,” said Spaniard Guardiola.
“It was awesome. We struggled in the first minutes and the last ones. They had two clear chances in the first minutes but we played really well, especially in the second half.
“Big success, our second title of the season with the Community Shield, it’s so nice,” he added.
CITY DOMINANCE
City had come into the final buoyed by their midweek Champions League last 16, first-leg victory at Real Madrid and there was a spring in their step as the game quickly settled into a predictable pattern of City dominance.
Aguero looped a header over the bar after 10 minutes but the formidable Argentine goal-getter, who had been dropped for City’s trip to Madrid, did not have to wait long to get on the scoresheet after 20 minutes.
A lofted ball to the far post by Spain international Rodri was headed back across goal by Phil Foden for Aguero to volley into the turf past goalkeeper Orjan Nyland and into the net.
It was Aguero’s 10th goal in his last six starts against Villa and a setback for the Midlands side who looked unlikely to recover when Rodri doubled the lead 10 minutes later.
The Spaniard powered a downward header into the net from Ilkay Gundogan’s corner, which left a bitter taste for Villa who felt the set piece should not have been awarded.
A two-goal lead usually spells the end for City’s opponents, but a bizarre slip from Stones gave Dean Smith’s Villa side an unlikely route back into the match.
Under no pressure, the England centre back tumbled to the turf under a lofted ball, allowing El Ghazi to dash down the left and cross for Villa’s Tanzania striker Samatta to find the net with a diving header.
That should have revved up Villa for a rousing second-half display but in truth they never really got going after the break until it was too late.
The majority of the chances in the second half went City’s way with Foden flashing an effort just wide, Rodri having a header palmed away by Nyland and Aguero thrashing a volley into the side netting before Villa found some late momentum.
As the clock ticked round towards 88 minutes Engels rose high to power a header goalwards but City keeper Bravo, starting instead of usual first choice Ederson, palmed his effort onto the post and away.

The brilliant thing about living in the UAE is that you get two slices of life – the upbeat urban city life and the great outdoors.

And if you’re into outdoor adventure, there are several brand-new activities that have recently opened.

From luxury desert camping to a new Sky Maze of the tallest mountain in the UAE, we’re spoilt for choice. Check out what to put on your to-do list and get on out there.

And, if you fancy going a little off-track for more of a DIY desert camping experience, we’ve got you covered in our essential guide to camping throughout the UAE.

(Although, if you’re after a more glamorous camping experience, click here).

Sonara Camp
Sonara Camp has launched desert dune tents for glammed up overnight stays in a completely untouched part of the Dubai desert, offering up the opportunity to dine and sleep in purely nomadic surroundings. For Dhs1,500, you’ll get a night in a nomadic tent out on the dunes, as well as breakfast the following morning. As for activities, expect camel rides, sandboarding, falconry shows, stargazing and more.

Laguna Waterpark Dubai
It’s the sleepover we’ve always dreamed about when we we’re little and not wanting to leave a waterpark, but now Laguna Waterpark Dubai is making it come true. La Mer’s buzzing waterpark is set to launch The Camp, the region’s first-ever overnight camping experience located within a waterpark. We’re excited. Taking place every Thursday and Friday, the overnight stay kicks off at 5pm, where campers can head straight to the slides, hit up the WaveOZ 180 FlowRider, or choose to tuck into a unlimited barbecue offering everything from burgers to flame-grilled chicken – until 10pm.

Jais Adventure Peak
Think you’ve already conquered the world’s longest zipline at Jebel Jais? There are now plenty more reasons to head up to the UAE’s highest mountain. The Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority has officially launched Jais Adventure Peak, a new collection of adventure attractions that includes more ziplines, a viewing deck, adventure centre and an all-new Sky Maze. The attraction features the world’s longest zipline, Jebel Jais Flight, the recently launched seven zipline Jais Sky Tour and a Jebel Jais Viewing Deck Park to check out the scenery.

If you find performing your signature tricks at the same skate park can be repetitive, it’s time to mix things up at Ras Al Khaimah’s brand-new skate park.

The Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority is set to officially open its all-new outdoor attraction located in the largest recreational park, Saqr Park, and it’s putting on quite the launch party.

Kicking off on Thursday February 27 until Saturday February 29, the free-to-attend event will feature skateboarding sessions, music and games for the whole family to enjoy, along with plenty of food stalls.

On Friday, there will be special performances from renowned international skateboarders, including 15-year-old Isabelly Avila, her father Garcia Rodriguez and 13-year-old Virginia Fortes Aguas. Learn a trick or two from these guys.

The three pros will also lead workshops where visitors will have the chance to skate with the pros and pick up stylish techniques, skills and tricks.

Spanning 620sq m, the new skatepark is built within the nature-filled Ghaf tree reserve, boasting plenty of obstacles including a bowl, pyramids, ledges, banks and round rails.

The park brings Ghaf trees into its design, all to ensure the trees are both well protected and provide natural shading. We all know how hot it gets during summer.

The RAK Tourism Development Authority also recently opened up Jais Adventure Peak, boasting new zip-line tours and a new Sky Maze. Check it all out right here.