Author: The Frontier Post

DURBAN (Agenies): An all-round performance from Andile Phehlukwayo took South Africa to a series-levelling victory the 2nd ODI against Pakistan of the five-match series at Durban.

Phehlukwayo took four wickets for just 22 runs in 9.2 overs, while he scored precious 69 runs on off 80 deliveries.

South Africa were pursuing a moderate target of 204 runs on a slow track and they were dented by the 18-year-old pacer, Shaheen Shah Afridi, who took three early wickets in the inning.

The three victims of Afridi, Hashim Amla, Reeza Hendricks and the skipper Faf du Plessis contributed 8, 5 and 8 runs respectively, leaving South Africa reeling at 29/3.

It was once again the stubborn newcomer, Rassie van der Dussen, who kept the hosts’ inning together. David Miller played a useful cameo of 31 runs off 26 deliveries and contributed 51 runs with der Dussen.

The partnership looked threatening for Pakistan, however, Shadab Khan removed the dangerous-looking Miller on just the second delivery of his spell and cleaned up Heinrich Klaasen on a golden duck.

South Africa seemed to be in trouble, losing half of their side for just 80 runs with the inexperienced Der Dussen and the bowling all-rounder Phehlukwayo at the crease.

Phehlukwayo was lucky and looked shaky at the start of his inning, however, he managed to hang in there in the middle to support his batting partner.

The left-handed batsman took chances against Pakistani bowlers, who were impressive throughout the day, but luck favoured the batsman as he managed to stay alive at the crease.

It was Der Dussen’s rigid approach and Phehlukwayo’s courage that took the hosts home in 42 overs at a loss of five wickets. The two scored unbeaten 80 and 69 runs respectively.

Earlier, skipper Sarfraz Ahmed alongside Hasan Ali put 90-run partnership on the scoreboard to rescue Pakistan from 112/8 to 203/10 against South Africa in the second ODI at Durban on Tuesday.

Ali showed courage and played a powerful inning of 59 runs to help his skipper who scored a fighting knock of 41. They both accelerated the score for Pakistan and gave their bowlers a defendable total.

South Africa after winning the toss put Pakistan into bat first. The green shirts having the good memories of the last match once again started their inning with Imam-ul-Haq and Fakhar Zaman.

Imam, who played a handsome knock of 86 runs in the last match, couldn’t manage to deal well with the short ball and got out scoring just 5 runs.

Zaman, who was already facing problems to get his shots in the right zone, joined by Babar Azam who last time made his presence felt with a fine knock of 49. Babar fell to Rabada’s short ball which went straight up in the air and caught easily by Phehlukwayo.

Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik scored 9 and 21 respectively while Shadab Khan played a brief knock of 18 runs.

Phehlukwayo took four wickets, while Tabraiz Shamsi picked wickets of three front-line batsmen of Pakistan conceding 56 runs in his 10 overs. Kagiso Rabada and Duanne Olivier took two and one wicket each respectively in the match.

DURBAN (Agenies): Only a check of the schedule would tell you it’s an ODI, much less that it’s being played at Kingsmead. The first innings today took Pakistan back to the Test series, where the short ball was an unconquerable demon, and Duanne Olivier and Kagiso Rabada invincible tormentors.

A series of dismissals when the ball was pitched short saw Pakistan hampered in their innings early on, before an inspired performance from Tabraiz Shamsi, deputising for Imran Tahir, helped reduce Pakistan to 112 for 8. The left-arm wristspinner, fighting for a World Cup spot, ended up among the better bowlers, taking three wickets, and at one point appeared to have set up his side for a seemingly straightforward chase.

It required the most delightful joie de vivre sort of innings from Hasan Ali – a character who matches that description to the fullest – to keep Pakistan in the contest. They were 59 of the most uncomplicated runs that saw Pakistan recover to 203. Hasan was responsible for 59 of the 90 runs which came in a ninth-wicket partnership with Sarfraz Ahmed, and was last man dismissed after Andile Phehlukwayo returned to remove both Sarfraz and Hasan in the 46th over.

Hasan’s innings remained in spirit the typical knock of a have-a-go hero, but the sweet timing of the strikes against legitimately world-class bowling gave it the air of conventional classiness you might not expect from Hasan. At any rate, it gave Pakistan more than a fighting chance. It was only thanks to career-best figures from Phehlukwayo that it wasn’t even more, his 4 for 22 including those vital last two wickets that finally put paid to Pakistan’s innings.

Faf du Plessis had won the toss again, this time deciding to let Pakistan bat first after much criticism around his side’s failure to pace their innings well. Pace was never a problem for his fast bowlers, though, who accounted for Pakistan’s top four in the first hour with deliveries that grew big on the batsmen. Imam-ul-Haq mistiming a pull shot off a Rabada ball was a harbinger for what was to come, and Babar Azam was dismissed cheaply much the same way. Then came the now-customary Fakhar Zaman dismissal off a short ball, when Olivier got one to rise towards his grille, the batsman fending it off to gully.

The middle overs might have been an opportunity for rebuilding, but Shamsi had other ideas. Brought in to replace Tahir, he had big boots to fill, and he acted like it. The first ball of his spell drew an edge from Malik that first slip would have pouched had one been placed, and off his fourth delivery, he snared fellow spinner Shadab Khan. It wasn’t long before debutant Hussain Talat, curiously promoted ahead of Sarfraz, fell to perhaps the ball of the innings. An exquisite stock ball beat Talat’s outside edge, drawing him out of his crease while Heinrich Klaasen deftly removed the bails.

Sarfraz, who has been shy of batting too high up the order since becoming captain, finally came in at No. 8. While Pakistan fans might have hoped for a valuable partnership with Shoaib Malik to rescue the side, injudicious shot selection from Malik soon left Pakistan eight down. It was after that that Pakistan’s finest moments in the innings were to arrive, thanks to a refreshingly straightforward innings from Hasan. He threw off the shackles, attacked every bowler he faced, seamer or spinner, his 59 coming off just 45 balls. It included five fours and three sixes, taking Pakistan past 200 where once they looked like they might struggle to reach 125.

South Africa still may be expected to chase this; 203 is, after all, well below par. But where once this looked like it might be headed for an early finish, there may now be a contest to be enjoyed after all.

LAHORE (Monitoring Desk): The Federal secretary Shahbaz senior says the future of the Pakistan hockey is uncertain. He stressed on revamping players’ selection procedure and the present coaching structure.

Hockey las lost popularity among our youth in the last 15 years. “The youth prioritize cricket over hockey,” he said. Any game is unable to maintain its highest place after the loss of the passion from fans. One of the reasons for the inclination of the youth towards cricket is the financial stability that it offers. A good cricketer even upon failing to secure a place in the team gets placement in some department. He has lots of avenues and can play in the local and international leagues.

The government does not allocate sufficient funds for hockey. The Hockey Federation has no system or property, where they could pay attention to educational, appetite, gym, swimming pool and coaching and other necessities. There should be a system where junior to senior level qualified coaches and trainers are available and all the camps should be planned for the entire year. Considering the present condition, no high hopes should be pinned on the young team. The captain of the 1994 gold medal winning team said that our habit of bringing a bad name to others leaves none respected. They should be thankful since hockey earned them this position. It is their identity for which they are respected.

It is their national duty to give their opinions which could bring good name and add to the prominence of the national game. Speaking about the system of the European teams, Shahbaz senior seconded that there lies immense difference between Pakistan and European hockey. Unlike the English, hockey is played differently in every other area. The English players play same hockey everywhere, and we should follow them.

The former PHF secretary complained that the attitude of Pakistan Sports Board and Inter-Provincial Coordination Ministry has been disappointing due to which the Hockey Federation has to face criticism, which in turn is bringing a bad name to the country and the game. I tried my best to seek help from the government but I resigned due to their apathy. Annually, Pakistan Hockey is in need of Rs200 million.

There is need for focusing on long-term planning. We have Japan, Belgium, India and Malaysia as examples before us; how they worked on development. We can revive hockey in two years upon provision of even half the budget of the aforementioned countries. Technocrats who do not work for the government should be appointed to revamp the hockey. Reforms that can greatly improve the future should be brought after consultations with the Olympians.

Our present coaching system has flaws. Attention will have to be paid to the coaches’ education. All the English coaches get promoted by earning higher education in addition to coaching from the club level. We will have to focus on the young coaches, who in addition to possessing coaching abilities enjoy a command over the English language. Furthermore, we need coaches who are patriotic and love the game.

LONDON (Agencies): Premier League club Cardiff City’s record new signing, Argentine striker Emiliano Sala, was missing on Tuesday after a light aircraft he was travelling in disappeared over the English Channel.

Sala, signed on Saturday from French club Nantes for a reported fee of 17 million euros ($19.3 million), was flying to Cardiff aboard a small plane that disappeared from radars around 20 kilometres (12 miles) north of Guernsey on Monday night.

French civil aviation authorities confirmed that 28-year-old Sala “was on board the plane”. A statement from police on Guernsey, a British island just off the coast of France, said the pilot had requested to lower his altitude shortly before air traffic control in neighbouring Jersey lost contact with the plane.

After a search was called off on Monday because of high winds, two helicopters, two planes and a lifeboat joined renewed efforts on Tuesday morning to find the single-propeller plane. “So far over 1,000 square miles have been searched by a total of five aircraft and two lifeboats,” Guernsey police said at 1145 GMT.

“There has been no trace of the aircraft. The search is continuing.” It is thought Sala was one of two passengers on board, but French civil aviation authorities were unable to confirm that. Sala, who had been at Nantes since 2015 and had scored 13 goals in all competitions this season, had signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with relegation-threatened Cardiff subject to receiving international clearance.

Neither club has commented publicly on the disappearance, but Nantes have postponed their French Cup match against third-tier side Entente SSG on Wednesday as a mark of respect. When he put pen to paper at Cardiff on Saturday, Sala, who also has Italian nationality, said in a statement: “I’m very happy to be here. It gives me great pleasure and I can’t wait to start training, meet my new team-mates and get down to work.

“For me it feels special (to be the club’s record signing). I have come here wanting to work and to help my team-mates and the club.” Sala’s last post on Instagram showed him surrounded by players from Nantes. “La ultima ciao (the last goodbye),” he wrote.

Cardiff, who currently sit third from bottom of the English Premier League with 19 points, said they were “very concerned”. “We are awaiting confirmation before we can say anything further. We are very concerned for the safety of Emiliano Sala,” the club said in a statement.

The accident, if confirmed, comes only three months after the Thai billionaire owner of Leicester City football club died in a helicopter crash that shocked the club and supporters around the world. Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and four others died on October 28 shortly after taking off from the pitch of the club’s stadium in central England.

Disconnected cockpit pedals, which are used to control the rotor on the helicopter’s tail, were found to be the cause of the accident by investigators. Sala began his footballing career at French club Bordeaux, who he joined in 2010, and spent loan spells at other French clubs including Orleans, Niort and Caen.

He joined Nantes in 2015 for one million euros and appeared to be peaking as a player in recent seasons, overcoming technical shortcomings that had held him back earlier in his career. He was tipped for a move to Turkish giants Galatasaray last summer.

“He’s a very likeable lad, very hard working,” his coach at Nantes, Vahid Halilhodzic, said of him recently.

MELBOURNE (Agencies): Rafael Nadal continued his relentless march towards an 18th major title Tuesday as an emotional Petra Kvitova swept into her first Grand Slam semi-final since a terrifying knife attack almost ended her career. On day nine of the Australian Open, the fairytale runs of Stefanos Tsitsipas and Danielle Collins were also extended as they too swept into the last four.

Second seed Nadal inched closer to winning an event he has only claimed once before when he trounced unseeded American Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 in another ruthless display from a man who has not dropped a set so far. Tiafoe had announced himself by beating fifth seed Kevin Anderson, but was no match for a player at the peak of his powers as he attempts to become only the third man to win all four Slams twice and the first to do so in the Open era. “I had some trouble at this event all my career, so I’m very happy with the way I played tonight,” said the Spaniard, who faces another young gun Tsitsipas in the semi-finals. “I feel lucky to be where I am.”

Greek sensation Tsitsipas powered into the last four with a measured 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/2) win over Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut. The 20-year-old, who ended Swiss great Roger Federer’s tournament, became the youngest man to reach the semis at Melbourne Park since Andy Roddick in 2003 and the first player from Greece — man or woman — to get so far at Grand Slam.

“I’m just living the dream, living what I’ve been working hard for,” said the 14th seed, who lives in Cyprus but trains at the academy of Serena Williams’ coach Patrick Mouratoglou in France. “I feel a bit emotional but not too much -– I know I really worked hard to get here, playing in semis of a Grand Slam.”

Czech Kvitova had not gone past the last eight at a major since a burglar slashed her left hand in December 2016, forcing her out of the game for six months and leaving her with lasting nerve damage in the fingers of her racquet hand. But the eighth seed has bounced back and is on a sensational 10-match unbeaten streak after claiming the Sydney International warm-up title.

She proved too much for Ashleigh Barty, crushing the local hope 6-1, 6-4, and was in tears afterwards as she reflected on her long journey back to the top. “Really, I didn’t imagine to be back on this great stadium and play with the best,” the two-time Wimbledon champion said. “I’m calling it as my second career. So it’s the first semi-final of the second career. I’m really enjoying it.”

Kvitova will face unseeded American Collins in the semi-final on Thursday and she desperately wants to reach Saturday’s decider. “I want it bad, that’s right,” she said. Collins, the world number 35, had never won a Grand Slam match before entering this year’s tournament but she stunned three-time major champion and second seed Angelique Kerber in round four.

And the 25-year-old from Florida continued her Cinderella run by bouncing back spectacularly to down Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 2-6, 7-5, 6-1 in the quarter-finals. Collins, who has spent long stretches of her career playing small tournaments to build up her ranking points, was in big trouble after losing the first set to the world number 44. But she fearlessly battled back into the match to again stamp her mark on the tournament. “This has all been a really incredible experience,” she said. “This time last year I was playing a challenger (tournament) in Newport Beach. But, yeah, I think I’m really embracing it. It makes it a lot easier when you play in front of great fans and really good energy.”