LAUSANNE: The Court of Arbitration for Sport has registered appeals by the Chilean football federation (FFCH) and the the Peruvian football federation (FPF)against FIFA’s decision to allow Ecuador to play at the World Cup despite allegations they fielded an ineligible player, it said on Friday.

World football’s governing body FIFA earlier this month dismissed an appeal in the case of Ecuadorean player Byron Castillo, who Chile had alleged was ineligible to play in qualifying since he was born in Colombia.

Castillo, a defender, played in eight of Ecuador’s qualifying games — including twice against Chile, a win for Ecuador and a draw — for the Qatar World Cup as they finished fourth to secure the last automatic regional berth, while Chile finished seventh.

He did not appear in either of Ecuador’s games against Peru, in which Peru picked up four points.

Ecuador have denied that the player was ineligible.

The FFCH said there are “countless proofs” that Castillo, who plays for Leon in Mexico, was born in Colombia in July 1995 and not in Playas, Ecuador in November 1998.

The FFCH alleged “use of a falsified birth certificate, false declaration of age and false nationality”.

Fifth-placed Peru missed out on the last automatic spot but advanced to the inter-confederation playoffs, where they lost to Australia.

Chile finished seven points behind Ecuador and five behind Peru, but wants the eight games Castillo played to be declared lost by Ecuador, which would lift it to the fourth place of the South American zone qualifiers.

Ecuador have been drawn against Qatar, Nether­lands and Senegal at the finals.

“The appeal filed by the FPF is directed at the Ecuador football association (FEF) and FIFA. The FPF requests that Ecuador be excluded from the FIFA World Cup 2022 and replaced by Peru, which is the best runner-up,” CAS said in a statement.

“FFCH requests CAS to rule that the Player was ineligible for the 8 matches played in the Qualifiers, declaring those matches as forfeited and placing Chile in the 4th position in the South America 2022 World Cup Qualifiers.”

CAS is the last legal resort available to the two South American nations. A decision is expected by Nov 10, days before the World Cup kicks off on Nov.

20 with Ecuador scheduled to take on hosts Qatar.

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2022

Antonio Inoki, a Japanese professional wrestling star turned politician, widely known for his match with Muhammad Ali and ties to North Korea, has died aged 79, after years of battling a rare disease, the company he founded said on Saturday.

“New Japan Pro-Wrestling is deeply saddened at the passing of our founder, Antonio Inoki,” the company he started in 1972 posted on Twitter.

“His achievements, both in professional wrestling and the global community are without parallel and will never be forgotten.”

Inoki became one of the biggest names on Japan’s pro-wrestling’s circuit in the 1960s. His fame went global in 1976 when he had a mixed martial arts match with boxing legend Muhammad Ali, billed as “the bout of the century”.

The lantern-jawed, 1.9-metre (6-foot-three-inch) performer entered politics, winning a seat in the upper house of Japan’s parliament in 1989. He made headlines the next year going to Iraq during the Gulf War and intervening on behalf of Japanese hostages, who were subsequently released.

The wrestler, who converted to Islam in 1990, was immensely popular in Pakistan as well. In 1976, Inoki was challenged by Pakistani wrestler Akram aka “Akki” and when he came to Pakistan for the encounter, he was surprised to see nearly 50,000 spectators turn up for the spectacle at the National Stadium Karachi.

He returned to Pakistan in 2013 again as part of goodwill celebrations of 60 years of Pak-Japanese diplomatic relations.

Tributes to Inoki poured in across social media. Atsushi Onita, another pro wrestler turned politician, tweeted: “An era has come to an end.”

“Thank you, Inoki-san. The supreme father of pro wrestling,” he wrote.

Triple H, the current chief content officer of World Wrestling Entertainment Inc (WWE.N) and a former grappler, called Inoki “one of the most important figures in the history of our business, and a man who embodied the term ‘fighting spirit.’”

Inoki developed close ties with North Korea because his mentor, early pro-wrestling superstar Rikidozan, hailed from North Korea but could never go home after the peninsula was divided by war.

He made numerous visits to Pyongyang as a lawmaker and met high-ranking officials, saying Tokyo could play a role in mediating with its nuclear-armed neighbour.

In 1995, he organised a two-day “Collision in Korea” wrestling extravaganza before more than 100,000 spectators in Pyongyang’s May Day Stadium. Inoki defeated Ric Flair in the main event with his signature “enzuigiri,” a jumping kick to the back of the head.

The fight with Ali has been described as the birth of mixed-martial arts, now a multi-billion dollar industry dominated by US-based Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Ali was supposed to be paid $6 million to lose in a fixed fight to Inoki, but the boxer had second thoughts upon arriving for the event in Tokyo, according to wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer. In the end, the fight was real, but under stipulations that Inoki could kick only while he had one knee on the mat.

“Inoki came out from round one on his back, crawling around the ring like a crab striking Ali’s legs,” recalled sports writer Robert Whiting in a 2016 podcast. “The entire fight, Ali threw a total of six punches. It was the worst thing I’ve ever seen.”

The match went to a 15-round draw, and Ali ended up being paid only $1.8 million, Meltzer wrote.

On his YouTube channel, called “Antonio Inoki’s Last Fighting Spirit,” he was shown going in and out of the hospital in the last few years, raising a clenched fist as he went for treatment of systemic amyloidosis, a rare ailment involving a buildup of a protein called amyloid in the organs.

NEW DELHI: India brought in Mohammed Siraj on Friday for the remaining Twenty20 matches against South Africa to replace pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, whose World Cup is in severe doubt because of a back injury.

Bumrah missed Wednesday’s opening win over the Proteas and he is under the supervision of a medical team, the Board of Control for Cricket in India said.

The 28-year-old, whose unorthodox action and yorkers make him a valuable limited-overs asset, missed the recent Asia Cup with the injury.

He played two 20-overs home matches against Australia earlier this month but skipped Wednesday’s Twenty20 against South Africa after the injury flared up.

Local media quoted Indian board (BCCI) sources as saying Bumrah had now been ruled out of the World Cup, where 2007 champions India begin their campaign on Oct. 23 against arch-rivals Pakistan in Melbourne.

Bumrah has a stress fracture of the back, Indian media said, calling his withdrawal from the tournament in Australia a certainty.

But BCCI spokespersons declined to confirm if Bumrah had been ruled out of the World Cup, with secretary Jay Shah saying only that the bowler would miss the entire South Africa series.

Bumrah has played 30 Tests, 72 ODIs and 60 T20Is for India since making his international debut in January 2016.

India beat world champions Australia 2-1 earlier this month and are 1-0 up against South Africa in their three-match series.

However, their death-overs bowling has been a concern ahead of the World Cup. With Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Arshdeep Singh bleeding runs in the final overs India had hoped Bumrah’s return from injury would plug that hole.

Rohit Sharma’s team are also fretting over the fitness of batsman Deepak Hooda, who has been ruled out of the South Africa series with a back injury.—Agencies

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2022

TEHRAN: Rights group Open Stadiums have called on FIFA to throw Iran out of the World Cup finals in Qatar in November because of the country’s treatment of women.

In a letter sent to FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Thursday, the organisation said Iranian authorities continued to refuse to allow female fans access to games inside the country despite pressure from the game’s governing body.

“The Iranian FA is not only an accomplice of the crimes of the regime. It is a direct threat to the security of female fans in Iran and wherever our national team plays in the world. Football should be a safe space for us all,” the letter said.

“That is why, as Iranian football fans, it is with an extremely heavy heart that we have to raise our deepest concern about Iran’s participation in the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

“Why would FIFA give the Iranian state and its representatives a global stage, while it not only refuses to respect basic human rights and dignities, but is currently torturing and killing its own people? “Where are the principles of FIFA’s statues in this regard? “Therefore, we ask FIFA, based on Articles 3 and 4 of its statutes, to immediately expel Iran from the World Cup 2022 in Qatar.”

The articles cited cover the issues of human rights and non-discrimination based on gender, race, religion and other matters, with breaches punishable by suspension or expulsion from the global body.

Neither FIFA nor Iran’s FA immediately responded to a request for comment.

The call comes as protests continued in several cities across Iran on Thursday against the death of young woman in police custody, state and social media reported, as a human rights group said at least 83 people had been killed in nearly two weeks of demonstrations.

Iran President Ebrahim Raisi has described the unrest as the latest in a series of moves against Iran by hostile Western powers since the 1979 Islamic revolution.

Open Stadiums have campaigned over the last decade for women to be allowed to attend football matches in Iran, but with only limited success.

Under pressure from Infantino, a small group of female fans were granted access to Persepolis’s home leg of the 2018 Asian Champions League final in Tehran.

But there has been minimal progress since, with female fans barred from entering Iran’s World Cup qualifying game against Lebanon in Mashad in March, with video emerging of female supporters being pepper sprayed outside the stadium.

The Carlos Queiroz-coached national team played friendly matches during the recent international break against Uruguay and Senegal in Austria, with both games played behind closed doors over security concerns.

Iran are due to appear at their sixth World Cup finals and have been drawn to face England, Wales and the United States in Qatar.

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2022

England's Phil Salt scored a blistering half-century as the visitors raced to an eight-wicket win over Pakistan in their sixth Twenty20 clash in Lahore on Friday to level the seven-match series at 3-3.

Salt, who had struggled for runs coming into the game, looked in ominous form from the outset when he opened his innings with two fours before helping England bring up 100 in just seven overs with a six off Aamer Jamal.

Alex Hales gave him support with a breezy 27 while Dawid Malan contributed 26, with both batsmen falling to the leg-spin of Shadab Khan.

The wickets proved to be mere consolation for Pakistan as Salt continued his onslaught and struck the winning runs in the 15th over, ending with 13 fours and three sixes in his 41-ball knock.

Earlier, Pakistan lost their opening two wickets for 15 after being put in to bat before captain Babar Azam launched a fine counter-attack, hitting seven fours and three sixes in an unbeaten 59-ball 87.

He was briefly supported by Iftikhar Ahmed (31) but Pakistan's middle-order failings cost them again as the bowling pair of David Willey (2-32) and Sam Curran (2-26) restricted the hosts to 169-6.

The teams will contest the final match in the series at the same venue on Sunday.

Azam equalled India star Virat Kohli's record of the fastest man to 3,000 runs in cricket's shortest format as Pakistan scored 169-6 in the sixth Twenty20 international against England in Lahore on Friday.

It was his 27th half century.

Azam hit Richard Gleeson for a six to join Indian duo of Rohit Sharma (3,694 runs in 140 matches) and Kohli (3,663 in 108), New Zealand's Martin Guptill (3,497 in 112) and Ireland's Paul Stirling (3,011 in 114) in the milestone.

Azam hit three sixes and seven boundaries and added 48 for the fourth wicket with Iftikhar Ahmed (31) and 47 for the third with Haider Ali (18).

Pakistan handed a T20I debut to 21-year-old wicketkeeper/batsman Mohammad Haris as they rested Mohammad Rizwan.

Fast bowler Haris Rauf was also rested, making way for Shahnawaz Dahani.

England rested the pace duo of Mark Wood and Chris Woakes to bring in Reece Topley and Gleeson.

The last match is also in Lahore on Sunday.

Babar Azam equalled India star Virat Kohli’s record of the fastest man to 3,000 runs in cricket’s shortest format as Pakistan scored 169-6 in the sixth Twenty20 international against England in Lahore on Friday.

The Pakistan skipper, who hit an unbeaten 59-ball 87 for his 27th half century, reached 3,000 T20I runs in 81 innings as he anchored the home team’s total after they were sent in to bat.

Azam hit Richard Gleeson for a six to join Indian duo of Rohit Sharma (3,694 runs in 140 matches) and Kohli (3,663 in 108), New Zealand’s Martin Guptill (3,497 in 112) and Ireland’s Paul Stirling (3,011 in 114) in the milestone.

Azam hit three sixes and seven boundaries and added 48 for the fourth wicket with Iftikhar Ahmed (31) and 47 for the third with Haider Ali (18).

Sam Curran (2-26) and David Willey (2-32) were the successful England bowlers. Pakistan, who lead the seven-match series 3-2, handed a T20I debut to 21-year-old wicketkeeper/batsman Mohammad Haris as they rested Mohammad Rizwan.

Fast bowler Haris Rauf was also rested, making way for Shahnawaz Dahani.

England rested the pace duo of Mark Wood and Chris Woakes to bring in Reece Topley and Gleeson. The last match is also in Lahore on Sunday.

England captain Moeen Ali won the toss and sent Pakistan in to bat in the sixth Twenty20 international at Gaddafi stadium in Lahore on Friday.

Pakistan, who leads the seven-match series 3-2, handed a T20I debut to 21-year-old wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Haris as they rested Mohammad Rizwan.

Fast bowler Haris Rauf is also rested, making way for Shahnawaz Dahani.

England rested pace duo of Mark Wood and Chris Woakes to bring in Reece Topley and Richard Gleeson.

The last match is also in Lahore on Sunday.

Teams:

Pakistan: Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Haris, Asif Ali, Aamer Jamal, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Haider Ali, Shan Masood, Mohammad Wasim Junior, Shahnawaz Dahani

England: Moeen Ali (captain), Dawid Malan, Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Ben Duckett, Reece Topley, Alex Hales, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Richard Gleeson, David Willey

Umpires: Aleem Dar (PAK) and Ahsan Raza (PAK) TV umpire: Asif Yaqoob (PAK)

Match referee: Javed Malik (PAK)

Jasprit Bumrah is set to miss next month’s Twenty20 World Cup in Australia, local media reported on Friday, after the Indian bowler was ruled out of the ongoing home series against South Africa with a back injury.

The 28-year-old, whose unorthodox action and yorkers make him a valuable limited-overs asset, missed the recent Asia Cup with the injury.

He played two 20-overs home matches against Australia earlier this month but skipped Wednesday’s Twenty20 against South Africa after the injury flared up.

Local media quoted Indian board (BCCI) sources as saying Bumrah had now been ruled out of the World Cup, where 2007 champions India begin their campaign on Oct. 23 against arch-rivals Pakistan in Melbourne.

But BCCI spokespersons declined to confirm if Bumrah had been ruled out of the World Cup, with secretary Jay Shah saying only that the bowler would miss the entire South Africa series.

“Bumrah has sustained a back injury and is currently under the supervision of the BCCI medical team,” Shah said in a statement on Friday.

Mohammed Siraj will replace Bumrah for the next two matches against Temba Bavuma’s team.

India beat world champions Australia 2-1 earlier this month and are 1-0 up against South Africa in their three-match series.

However, their death-overs bowling has been a concern ahead of the World Cup. With Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Arshdeep Singh bleeding runs in the final overs India had hoped Bumrah’s return from injury would plug that hole.

Rohit Sharma’s team are also fretting over the fitness of batsman Deepak Hooda, who has been ruled out of the South Africa series with a back injury.

LAHORE: Pakistan’s teenage pace sensation Naseem Shah tested positive for Covid-19 on Thursday, a day after he was diagnosed a suffering from pneumonia, and was shifted to the team hotel from the local hospital.

Sources told Dawn that Naseem will follow the full Covid-19 protocol at the hotel and while he will remain in isolation for the next couple of days, he wouldn’t be locked up in his room and can move anywhere by keeping a safe distance.

Naseem sat out the fifth T20 against England on Wednesday and has now been ruled out of the last two matches of the series which will be played on Friday and Sunday here at the Gaddafi Stadium.

The 19-year-old is part of Pakistan’s squad for the T20 World Cup, which begins in Australia next month and the Pakistan Cricket Board is still waiting for his medical reports before making a decision on whether he will be able to participate in a tri-nation series in New Zealand ahead of the tournament.

Pakistan are scheduled to depart on Oct 3, a day after the England series concludes, for New Zealand where they will square off against the hosts and Bangladesh.

Published in Dawn, September 30th, 2022