30/05/2025

SPORTS FRIDAY | MAY 30, 2025

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Winging it? F1 rule change raises hopes of a reset M CLAREN’S Formula One rivals hope stricter front wing tests could help to close the gap to the run away leaders in Spain this weekend. Even if title-chasing teammates Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris are confident little will change, others remain unconvinced.

Agha, Hasan star in Pakistan’s win over Bangladesh in first T20I

SKIPPER Salman Agha hit a career best knock and pacer Hasan Ali grabbed his first five wicket haul as Pakistan beat Bangladesh by 37 runs in the first T20 international in Lahore on Wednesday. Agha struck a career-best 56 to guide Pakistan to 201-7 before Hasan took 5-30 to dismiss the tourists for 164 in 19.2 overs at Gaddafi Stadium. The win gives the home team a 1-0 lead in the three match series. Allrounder Shadab Khan, who also struck a quick 48, then dismissed rival skipper Litton Das for a 30-ball 48 to break a fighting 63-run stand for the third wicket that lifted Bangladesh from 37-2. Litton hit three sixes and a boundary and had steadied the innings with Towhid Hridoy who scored 17, but the later batters could not GLAMORGAN all-rounder Dan Douthwaite was not alone among the foreign players in being unsure what to expect when he headed to the Himalayas to take part in the inaugural Nepal Premier League (NPL) late last year. Taking up a playing contract in the mountainous nation of 30 million was always going to be a novel challenge for the Englishman, not least because the Twenty20 league was staged at a ground some 1,350 metres above sea level. “I thought I was going to be constantly out of breath or struggling, but it wasn’t actually as bad as I thought it was going to be,” the 28-year old recalled of his time playing for the Kathmandu Gurkhas. “I think I noticed it more so with sixes. When they got the ball it absolutely went miles. A lot of balls … kept going and going and going. “When you think you’ve hit one straight up and it’s a 70-metre six.” Apart from the extra flight of the ball at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground near Kathmandu, Douthwaite’s other big takeaway from the experience was the enthusiasm of the Nepali fans. “Cricket in Nepal is probably like the Premier League in England … there’s a kind of almost Indian cricket feel about the way people appreciate and love the

capitalise on the platform. Pacer Hasan ended Jaker Ali’s knock of 36 (21 balls with three sixes and a boundary), Tanzim Hasan for one and Shoriful Islam for five to cap a succesful return to international cricket after a year-long injury lay-off. Hasan said he was happy and satisfied. “The last eight months were very tough because it was a career-threatening injury so I am happy to have contributed to the team’s win,” said Hasan, who underwent elbow surgery last year. “I did hard work during the rehab and it’s a reward for that hard work,” said Hasan. Bangladesh skipper Litton was unhappy. “All over the game, we didn’t bowl well, bat well and field well. We have to come back strongly with two games still to play,” said Litton. – AFP game,” he told Reuters . This was the third attempt by Nepal, which became an ICC associate member in 1996 and has qualified for the T20 World Cup twice, to follow in the path of the Indian Premier League (IPL) by launching its own Twenty20 league. The NPL hopes the passion of the fans, combined with the country’s unique geography and society, will carve out a niche in a landscape dominated by the likes of the IPL and Australia’s Big Bash League. “We’re rich in terms of nature,” said Sandesh Katwal, the chief executive of the Gurkhas, one of eight NPL franchises. “It’s a beautiful country and we’re a friendly, welcoming people. The weather, the hospitality suits international players.” Katwal said he hoped the NPL would provide that valuable competitive experience, as the IPL has done for young Indian talents. “It’s a dream come true for Nepali players … sharing practice sessions with the foreign players, they definitely learned a lot. We also had coaches from India, Sri Lanka, England and elsewhere,” he said. “Since the IPL has started, you can see young players getting opportunities and it has paid off. The NPL is also an opportunity for Nepali players, a starting point.” – Reuters

that got away in Spain last year after taking pole and then losing out at the start to Verstappen. Seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton has won a record-equalling six times in Spain but is still waiting for his first win with Ferrari, apart from a Shanghai sprint victory, since he joined from Mercedes in January. Mercedes are also looking to return strongly after a double blank in Monaco with George Russell and Kimi Antonelli. Spain’s double world champion Fernando Alonso will have strong support and hopes to end his worst start to a season in a decade, the Aston Martin driver pointless after eight races. Carlos Sainz is making his home return in Williams colours after losing his Ferrari seat to Hamilton. Barcelona faces an uncertain future, with the contract running out in 2026 and Madrid set to host the Spanish Grand Prix from next year. Alonso, who this week became an ambassador for the Barcelona circuit, has said the track needs to stay on the calendar. Sainz is carrying out a similar promotional role for Madrid, adding piquancy to their friendly rivalry. – Reuters

high-speed corners not naturally suiting their car. Rivals will be watching closely either way. “What we don’t know is how it will affect others. It’s a significant change,” said Red Bull boss Christian Horner, whose champion Max Verstappen is chasing a fourth successive Spanish victory. “There will be some effect. Of course the teams have anticipated that, so it may well be neutral or maybe it will have some effect on (tyre) degradation … it certainly doesn’t make life easier.” Barcelona is high-downforce and overtaking is not easy, although fans can hope for a better race than Monaco’s no-overtaking procession. “It will be interesting to see who has better interpreted this new challenge and if it will change the actual ranking of competitiveness,” said Haas technical director Andrea de Zordo. Championship leader Piastri is only three points clear of Norris after the Briton’s win in Monaco on Sunday and both will be at the centre of attention. Norris has the momentum, beating Piastri in the last two races even if the Australian leads four wins to two. The Briton still smarts from a win

F1 teams were told in January that the front flex tests would be implemented from June 1 after rear wings came under increased scrutiny when the season started in March. Teams have had to redesign their front wings to make them stiffer, which will affect the aerodynamics. “I think Barcelona is on the calendar of everybody in the paddock with the new regulation for the front wing,” Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur, whose team are fourth overall and a point behind Red Bull, said in Monaco last weekend. “We are working on it for ages now and this can be a game-changer for everybody because we don’t know the impact on every single team of the new regulation.” Champions McLaren, winners of six of eight races so far and a mighty 172 points clear of Mercedes in the constructors’ standings, say the circuit itself could have a bigger effect with

Nepal takes domestic cricket to new heights

Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi (right) is challenged by FC Montreal’s Jalen Neal (2nd left) during their MLS match. – AFPPIC

Miami’s Messi, Suarez rip through Montreal

LIONEL MESSI and Luis Suarez each scored two goals to spark Inter Miami to a 4-2 Major League Soccer victory over visiting Montreal yesterday. Argentine superstar Messi opened the scoring in the 27th minute and assisted on Suarez’s first goal in the 68th minute for a 2-0 edge. Uruguayan star Suarez scored again in the 71st minute before Montreal’s Dante Sealy answered in the 74th minute. Messi struck again in the 87th minute before Victor Loturi pulled one back from the Canadian club two minutes into

stoppage time. Miami jumped to sixth in the Eastern Conference with seven wins and five drawn from 15 matches while East doormat Montreal slid to 1-10 with five drawn. Miami had lost twice and drawn twice in the past four matches. “We had to take responsibility for the poor results. It’s a matter of correcting to regain confidence,”said Suarez, who added the victory “means a lot … We have to continue to gain confidence in this kind of game.”

Inter coach Javier Mascherano was concerned about injuries to defenders Gonzalo Lujan, Tomas Aviles and Jordi Alba. “We needed to cut the negative dynamic. I’m happy,” he said. “Unfortunately (the victory) is tarnished by the departure of Gonzalo, Jordi and Toto. “In the case of Gonzalo and Jordi it was something muscular, which tomorrow we will see how far it is. In the case of ‘Toto’ it was the ankle that swelled in a stomp. Maybe he could continue. He wanted to continue.” – AFP