CRICKET
Mustafizur gets Test call-up
Bangladesh yesterday rewarded young left-arm paceman Mustafizur Rahman for an outstanding one-day debut by including him for next week’s first Test against South Africa. The 19-year-old has claimed 16 wickets in his first five matches during which he steered the Tigers to a 2-1 win over former world champions India at home last month. Mustafizur is the only new face in the 14-man squad announced for the first of two Tests against the Proteas starting in Chittagong on Tuesday next week. “He [Mustafizur] has already shown what he is capable of. He is probably the brightest find for us in recent times,” chief selector Faruque Ahmed told reporters. “He has been playing in all formats this season and we are confident he will adjust quickly to the demands of Test cricket.” Faruque said that Mahmudullah’s return from injury would boost the hosts. “Mahmudullah’s return adds depth in the batting order and some vital experience. His off-spin can also be effective,” he said.
SOCCER
NZ to appeal disqualification
New Zealand Football said it would appeal the decision of the Oceania Football Confederation to disqualify its under-23 team from the regional Olympic qualifying tournament for fielding an ineligible player. The Oceania disciplinary committee ruled on Sunday that New Zealand should be ejected from the final in Papua New Guinea for playing an ineligible player in a 2-0 semi-final win over Vanuatu. Vanuatu were awarded the match and went on to play Fiji in Sunday’s final, losing 4-3 on penalties. Fiji are to represent the Oceania region at next year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janiero. New Zealand Football said yesterday it would appeal the ruling that found South Africa-born defender Deklan Wynne was not eligible to play for New Zealand in the semi-final.
SOCCER
Schneiderlin to join United
Manchester United’s transfer splurge looked set to intensify on Sunday following media reports that Southampton’s France midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin had undergone a medical with the Old Trafford club. Schneiderlin, 25, was playing in the English third tier with Southampton only five years ago, but has impressed in the English Premier League and was in France’s World Cup squad last year. Louis van Gaal’s team, who finished fourth in the Premier League last season, are also looking at a part swap deal involving Brazilian rightback Rafael and SL Benfica’s long-coveted Argentina winger Nicolas Gaitan. “Benfica and Manchester United are in negotiations over Gaitan and one offer includes Rafael to join Benfica,” Cassiano Pereira, Rafael’s agent, told Portuguese newspaper Record. One man seemingly definitely on his way out of Old Trafford is injury-prone striker Robin van Persie, who took to social media on Sunday to chronicle his journey to Turkey, where he was poised to sign a deal with Fenerbahce.
TENNIS
Hamilton misses final
Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton broke Wimbledon’s Royal Box dress code and missed watching Novak Djokovic beat Roger Federer in the men’s singles final on Sunday. Hamilton, who was photographed wearing a bright floral shirt and a hat, but no jacket or tie, was not allowed to take his place on Centre Court. “Due to an unfortunate misunderstanding regarding dress code, Lewis is very disappointed to have missed the men’s final,” Hamilton’s spokesperson said in a statement.
MARRED FINAL: As most of Senegalese players walked off the pitch after a controversial decision, some supporters threw objects and attempted to get onto the pitch Senegal on Sunday won the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as Pape Gueye’s extra-time winner sunk hosts Morocco 1-0 after a chaotic final that saw the eventual champions storm off the pitch late in the game. Brahim Diaz could have won the trophy for Morocco with a controversial spot-kick in the 24th minute of added time at the end of normal time as ugly scenes broke out in the stands. However, Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy easily saved the weak attempted “Panenka” chip by the Real Madrid winger, who was clearly distracted by the long delay that followed the penalty award.
James Harden on Friday scored 31 points and came up big in overtime to help the Los Angeles Clippers erase a double-digit deficit on the way to a 121-117 NBA victory over the Toronto Raptors. Harden scored 16 points in the fourth quarter and overtime as the Clippers pushed their wining steak to five games despite the absence of star Kawhi Leonard with a sprained right ankle. The Clippers trailed by 11 entering the fourth quarter, but Harden drilled a pair of free-throws with 1:24 left in regulation to tie it and after misses from both teams, they went to
Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg on Wednesday was ruled out for the second half of their 118-109 loss to the Denver Nuggets after the No. 1 pick sprained his left ankle in the first half. Flagg was called for a foul while defending against Peyton Watson and turned the ankle as he fell to the floor with 6 minutes, 1 second left in the second quarter. Flagg limped to the bench and continued to the locker room, but returned for the final 2 minutes, 35 seconds before the break. The 19-year-old did not come out for the second half before the announcement that
Yassine Bounou on Wednesday saved two penalties, while Youssef en-Nesyri netted the decisive spot-kick as hosts Morocco secured a 4-2 shoot-out victory over Nigeria following a 0-0 draw in a tense Africa Cup of Nations semi-final in Rabat. Morocco, seeking their first continental title in 50 years, are to face 2021 winners Senegal in Sunday’s decider in Rabat, while Nigeria take on Egypt in the third-place playoff tomorrow. The 120 minutes before the shoot-out had few clear-cut chances for either side, but it was Morocco who created more opportunities, although they were denied by some fine saves from Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali. Nigeria
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