ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in Dubai begins with Captains’ Day ahead of opening game

The captains of all 10 competing teams gathered at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday for a pretournament press conference. (Supplied/ICC)
The captains of all 10 competing teams gathered at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday for a pretournament press conference. (Supplied/ICC)
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Updated 02 October 2024
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ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in Dubai begins with Captains’ Day ahead of opening game

ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in Dubai begins with Captains’ Day ahead of opening game
  • Action gets underway on Thursday when original hosts Bangladesh face tournament debutants Scotland
  • Decision to move competition to UAE taken amid concerns about political violence in Bangladesh

DUBAI: The captain of Bangladesh’s women’s cricket team said her team will remain professional during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup despite their disappointment about the last-minute relocation of the tournament from their home country.

The decision to move the competition, which begins on Thursday and continues until Oct. 20, to the UAE was taken in August because of political violence in Bangladesh. All 23 matches will be played at two venues in Dubai and Sharjah. Bangladesh, who remain the official hosts, will get the tournament underway against debutants Scotland in the opening match.

The captains of all 10 competing teams gathered at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday for a pretournament press conference.




The captains of all 10 competing teams gathered at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday for a pretournament press conference. (Supplied/ICC)

Bangladesh’s captain, Sultana Joty, acknowledged the challenges her team have faced as a result of the unrest in their home country and the resultant change in venue for the competition but said they maintain a positive outlook.

“It was disappointing but we are professional,” she said. “More than us, this is about everyone there. We are fortunate to be here and will provide some cheer for the fans.

“I’m expecting a lot of spectators because in Sharjah there are a lot of Bangladeshis there. And playing in this kind of event, I think more people will come watch us and support.”

Scotland are playing in their first-ever Women’s T20 World Cup. Captain Kathryn Brice emphasized her team’s familiarity with the host venues and hopes their previous experience with conditions in the UAE will give them a boost.

“I think we just really want to compete in this competition,” she said. “We’ve played some fantastic cricket in the qualifiers and leading up to it, so I think we just want to go out there and do ourselves justice on that stage and put in some good performances against these teams.”

The tournament begins with a group stage, with the top two teams from each of the two five-team groups progressing to the knockout phase. The top team from each group will then face the runners-up from the other group, with the two winners contesting the final.

In one of the most eagerly anticipated group-stage matchups, India will take on Pakistan on Oct. 6. Adding to the excitement is the fact that tickets are very reasonably priced, starting at just 5 dirhams ($1.36), and children get in free.

India’s captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, a veteran of all eight previous T20 World Cups, said it is important to remain composed under pressure.

“I think learning is something which is never going to stop,” she said. “Every day is a learning day. I’m going and learning and getting experience from every game.

“I think people around me, they are helping me, they are working hard to make our team go at that level where we want to be. I am happy with where our team is. I like how our team is working hard to achieve small, small things.”

Fatima Sana, the captain of Pakistan, emphasized the importance of self-belief, saying: “The best advice that management gave me is to express and back myself. They told me to take a brave decision in the field.”

The team with the best record in the tournament, six-time champions Australia, are led by Alyssa Healy.

“Ten teams, we all have a shot. You don’t come to defend a ball, you come to win,” she said.

“Our pool is quite a tricky one. We’ve got to get past a lot of these teams to be able to lift the trophy and it’s a challenge we’re excited for.”

A new feature for this year’s event is the first all-female team of umpires and referees, marking a historic step toward gender equality in officiating major sporting events.

With the possibility that dew might influence matches played under floodlights, and teams having taken the opportunity to play warm-up games to help adapt to conditions in the UAE, this edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup offers a chance for the next global superstars of women’s cricket to shine. New Zealand captain Sophie Devine highlighted the importance of nurturing emerging talent as the women’s game continues to develop.

“In terms of the quick bowlers, you’ve seen the girls become more professional, and what they’ve been able to do in the gym is starting to see bowlers hitting 120 kph and more, which makes for a challenge,” she said.

“It’s always exciting to be coming up against that but I think it just shows the development of the women’s game, that those sorts of skills continue to improve.

“We’ve got a number of young fast bowlers coming through. And again, their development has been massive the last 12 to 18 months, so certainly I’m looking forward to seeing what sort of bowlers they can turn into.”

Following the opening match between Bangladesh and Scotland, Pakistan will take on Sri Lanka on Thursday. Both games are at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.


Ronaldo, Duran take Al-Nassr into last 8

Ronaldo, Duran take Al-Nassr into last 8
Updated 11 March 2025
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Ronaldo, Duran take Al-Nassr into last 8

Ronaldo, Duran take Al-Nassr into last 8
  • Ronaldo, who missed the first leg in Iran, kept his cool and produced a perfect Panenka penalty into the center of the goal to bag his seventh goal of the tournament so far
  • Duran got his second five minutes from the end — found in space on the right side of the penalty area — he fired a low shot into the far corner in emphatic fashion

Al-Nassr booked their AFC Champions League Elite quarter-final place on Monday with a comfortable 3-0 win over Esteghlal of Iran.

After a frustrating first leg ended 0-0 in Tehran a week earlier, Jhon Duran and Cristiano Ronaldo did the damage in Riyadh to dump the visitors out of the tournament.

Duran opened the scoring after just nine minutes in spectacular fashion. The Colombian, signed from Aston Villa in January, found space on the right corner of the penalty area and produced an exquisite lob that the goalkeeper got a hand to but could not prevent crossing the line.

After Sadio Mane was fouled in the area, Ronaldo, who missed the first leg in Iran, kept his cool and produced a perfect Panenka penalty into the center of the goal to bag his seventh goal of the tournament so far. 

What was already a tough task became mission impossible for the Tehran club after they were reduced to 10 men on the stroke of half time. Mehran Ahmadi was shown a second yellow and as he exited the pitch, with a consoling arm of Ronaldo around his shoulders, he took the slim hopes of Esteghlal with him.

It was then a case of damage limitation and Al-Nassr remained in total control of the tie. Five minutes after the restart, Duran fired a fierce shot against the bar from just outside the area.

The Colombian got his second five minutes from the end. He was found in space on the right side of the penalty area and fired a low shot into the far corner in emphatic fashion.

It ended a perfect evening for the Yellows — seeking a first Asian championship — who are the first Saudi Arabian club to make the last eight.

Al-Ahli are expected to join them on Tuesday after winning their first leg 3-1 against Al-Rayyan of Qatar last week. Al-Hilal, however, have much more work to do after losing 1-0 at the Uzbekistan home of Pakhtakor.

Elsewhere, Al-Sadd of Qatar defeated Dubai’s Al-Wasl 3-1 to take the tie 4-2 on aggregate.


KL Rahul: India’s unsung hero and chase-finishing maestro

KL Rahul: India’s unsung hero and chase-finishing maestro
Updated 10 March 2025
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KL Rahul: India’s unsung hero and chase-finishing maestro

KL Rahul: India’s unsung hero and chase-finishing maestro
  • Rohit was full of praise for Rahul’s composure at the sharp end of the nerve-shredding chases

DUBAI: KL Rahul was hailed Monday as India’s Champions Trophy unsung hero, having twice kept a cool head under pressure to see his team to victory in tense semifinal and finals.

Captain Rohit Sharma top-scored with 76 to lead India to a four-wicket final win over New Zealand in Dubai on Sunday, following Virat Kohli’s 84 to anchor India’s semifinal chase against Australia.

Both won Player of the Match awards for their respective knocks, but after they had departed it had been No. 6 Rahul, almost under the radar, who had kept calm to guide India across the finish line.

He was unbeaten on 34 in the final as India chased down 252, just a few days after his 42 not out took India past Australia’s 264 in the last four of the 50-over competition.

Rohit was full of praise for Rahul’s composure at the sharp end of the nerve-shredding chases.

“Look, when we discussed KL’s batting position, that is one thing we discussed quite deeply about how calm he is when he is batting,” Rohit said after guiding India to a third Champions Trophy crown.

“I’m very, very happy with how he ... batted in the pressure situation, both in the semifinals and this game.

“With KL being there, we know that he’s got that mind where he keeps himself calm and keeps the dressing room also very calm.”

While Rohit and Kohli grabbed the headlines, a softly spoken and smiling Rahul, 32, was quietly enjoying his first win in an ICC championship.

“ICC victories are not so easy to get and it’s my first one, so I’m over the moon,” Rahul said.

“It’s been a complete team effort, all 11-12 players have stood up and their chance and opportunity has come and it’s one of the biggest reasons why we have ended up winning the tournament.”

An elegant batsman, Rahul started off as an opener for India in white-ball cricket.

But a loss of form and intense media scrutiny forced him to reinvent his batting.

He dropped down to No. 6 recently as he edged out Rishabh Pant behind the stumps.

“What I have been taught by my coaches from an early age is that cricket’s a team game and whatever the team requires of you, you need to be able to do that,” said Rahul, who sports a trademark beard and a man bun on his tattooed, athletic frame.

“It requires a lot of preparation, lot of work outside the field. I just watch and learn from the batsmen I like at four, five, six.”

Rahul started his cricketing journey as a wicketkeeper-batsman but had given up the gloves in domestic cricket.

It was not until an injury to Pant against Australia in 2020 that he again stood behind the stumps.

“I kept wickets in the series, played at No. 5 and performed well,” said Rahul.

“From then on the captain and team management thought I could do that role.”


Liverpool, Madrid and Barcelona looking to complete job as they protect slim leads

Liverpool, Madrid and Barcelona looking  to complete job as they protect slim leads
Updated 10 March 2025
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Liverpool, Madrid and Barcelona looking to complete job as they protect slim leads

Liverpool, Madrid and Barcelona looking  to complete job as they protect slim leads

MILAN: Defending champions Real Madrid, Liverpool and Barcelona all have one-goal leads to protect going into the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 this week.

For Madrid there is also city bragging rights at stake as they visit Atletico Madrid on Wednesday with a 2-1 advantage from the first leg, while Liverpool host  Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday knowing they were fortunate to snatch a 1-0 win in France. Barcelona also only have a 1-0 advantage over Benfica, while some other teams are feeling a lot more comfortable — with Bayern Munich having beaten Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 and Arsenal crushing PSV Eindhoven 7-1.

Smash and grab

Liverpool’s players don’t really care how they’re winning — as long as they continue to do so.

Arne Slot’s team had to withstand a barrage of attacks at Parc des Princes before a late goal from Harvey Elliott, who had only just come off the bench, saw it stun PSG.

That was only Liverpool’s second attempt on target compared to a whopping 28 for PSG.

The runaway Premier League leaders had another poor performance on Saturday but still managed to come away with a victory over Southampton.

“It’s just about winning, not how we win. Sometimes you have to win dirty and today was one of them days,” Elliott said after that match. “I think we know that’s what winners do really: When times are hard, what do you do? How can you come up with something to win the game? Luckily this squad is full of them players.”

This week will be decisive for Liverpool’s treble bid as they play Newcastle in the English League Cup final on Sunday.

“I think the best possible way to describe it is four finals, really,” Elliott said. “PSG away, really, really tough game, today was a really tough game, then again on Tuesday another tough game and then the final on the weekend. “So, we just need to make sure that energy-wise we’re still there. We’re still fighting, we’re still hungry to achieve things this season, although it’s a very tough period.”

The loss to Liverpool was PSG’s first defeat since November and halted a run of 10 straight wins for the French team.

Madrid derby

This was supposed to be the year Atletico finally got the best of Real Madrid in the Champions League after losing two finals to their city rivals and being eliminated the other two times they faced off in the knockout rounds.

Going into the first leg, Atletico were ahead of Madrid in the Spanish league and were also undefeated in the past four Madrid derbies.

But they are now on the verge of going out yet again to their neighbors.

Atletico have also slipped behind in La Liga after two late goals saw them  lose 2-1 at Getafe at the weekend, while Madrid managed to grind out a 2-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano.

Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti was also able to rotate his squad that was further boosted by the return of Jude Bellingham.

The England midfielder had missed three of his team’s last four games through suspension — including the first leg against Atletico.

Treble chances

It’s not just Liverpool who have their eyes on lifting a trio of trophies this season.

Atletico, Real and Barcelona are also in the semifinals of the Spanish Cup and fighting it out at the top of the league table.

Leverkusen are also still involved in two trophies domestically. Although it would need something of a miracle to make up the eight-point deficit they have to Bayern in the Bundesliga as well as overturn a three-goal disadvantage in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Inter Milan, who won the treble in 2010 under Jose Mourinho, are in better shape. They lead  Serie A, will face AC Milan in the Italian Cup semifinals and have a 2-0 advantage over Feyenoord going into Tuesday’s second leg.

Barcelona’s matchup against Benfica also takes place on Tuesday.

Arsenal are not the only English club that should feel confident going into Wednesday. Fellow Premier League side Aston Villa are also at home then and have a 3-1 advantage over Club Brugge.

The matchup between Lille and Borussia Dortmund in France is the only one that is level after they drew 1-1 in the first leg.


‘Not good enough’ and ‘overpaid’: Ratcliffe slams Man Utd flops

‘Not good enough’ and ‘overpaid’: Ratcliffe slams Man Utd flops
Updated 10 March 2025
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‘Not good enough’ and ‘overpaid’: Ratcliffe slams Man Utd flops

‘Not good enough’ and ‘overpaid’: Ratcliffe slams Man Utd flops
  • British billionaire names Rasmus Hojlund, Andre Onana and Casemiro, Jadon Sancho and Antony as the chief causes of his frustration
  • Jim Ratcliffe: ‘If I actually look at the squad which is available to Ruben (Amorim), I think he is doing a really good job to be honest’

LONDON: Manchester United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe has blasted some of his troubled club’s stars as “not good enough” and “probably overpaid.”
Ratcliffe has endured a dismal start to his reign at Old Trafford since taking charge of footballing operations in February last year.
The British billionaire named Rasmus Hojlund, Andre Onana and Casemiro, Jadon Sancho and Antony as the chief causes of his frustration.
Sancho and Antony are currently on loan at Chelsea and Real Betis respectively after underachieving with United.
In reference to United still paying instalments of transfer fees on several out-of-form players, Ratcliffe, who shares ownership of United with the US-based Glazer family, told the BBC: “If you look at the players we are buying this summer, that we didn’t buy, we’re buying Antony, we’re buying Casemiro, we’re buying Onana, we’re buying Hojlund, we’re buying Sancho.
“These are all things from the past, whether we like it or not, we’ve inherited those things and have to sort that out.
“For Sancho, who now plays for Chelsea and we pay half his wages, we’re paying £17 million to buy him in the summer.”
Asked if he was suggesting those players were not good enough for United, Ratcliffe said: “Some are not good enough and some probably are overpaid, but for us to mold the squad that we are fully responsible for, and accountable for, will take time.”
After United finished eighth in the Premier League last season and won the FA Cup, Ratcliffe and his United advisers opted to stick with boss Erik ten Hag despite their poor form for much of the campaign.
The Dutchman was subsequently sacked in October and replaced by Ruben Amorim after United endured another wretched run.
INEOS chairman Ratcliffe has accepted the decision to keep Ten Hag was a mistake.
He applied the same verdict to his decision to hire Dan Ashworth as sporting director, a role he left in December after just five months.
“I agree the Erik ten Tag and Dan Ashworth decisions were errors,” the 72-year-old said.
“I think there were some mitigating circumstances, but ultimately they were errors. I accept that and I apologize for that.”
Despite United’s struggles since Amorim took charge, leaving them 14th in the Premier League, Ratcliffe insisted he would keep faith with the former Sporting Lisbon boss.
“If I actually look at the squad which is available to Ruben, I think he is doing a really good job to be honest,” he said.
“I think Ruben is an outstanding young manager. I really do. He’s an excellent manager and I think he will be there for a long time.”


Al-Qahtani and Al-Saif ready to battle in PFL MENA’s second season

Al-Qahtani and Al-Saif ready to battle in PFL MENA’s second season
Updated 10 March 2025
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Al-Qahtani and Al-Saif ready to battle in PFL MENA’s second season

Al-Qahtani and Al-Saif ready to battle in PFL MENA’s second season
  • With training for the season coinciding with Ramadan, fighters are adjusting their regimens

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s mixed martial arts scene is gearing up for an electrifying second season of the Professional Fighters League MENA with top regional fighters intensifying their training ahead of the highly anticipated competition in April.

Defending champion Abdullah Al-Qahtani and record-breaking fighter Hattan Al-Saif are among those preparing to showcase their skills on the premier stage, fine-tuning their conditioning, strategy and discipline as they aim for championship success.

With training for the season coinciding with Ramadan, fighters are adjusting their regimens to maintain peak performance levels while fasting.

Al-Saif highlighted the importance of structure and discipline during this period, emphasizing the need for mental clarity and a strict diet. She personally prepares her own meals during the holy month to ensure she meets the demands of a high-performance athlete.

Al-Qahtani, who captured the title in the league’s inaugural season, remains unfazed by the challenge of training while fasting. His routine remains largely unchanged, with iftar serving as his primary meal before he shifts focus to training. The Saudi fighter is confident in his ability to retain his title.

“All the fighters are watching me, but I’m prepared for every opponent and ready to compete with full strength inside the cage,” he said.

The reigning champion is also looking forward to tough matchups in the upcoming season, expressing a desire to test himself against elite fighters such as Abdulrahman Al-Hayassat, Islam Reda and Taha Bendaoud.

His determination to remain at the top of the division signals another thrilling season of MMA action for PFL MENA fans.