Posts Tagged ‘Abu Dhabi’
The International Cricket Council is trying to convince Pakistan to host Australia at a neutral venue if the one-day series does not go ahead as planned in the strife-torn country. Though Cricket Australia and the ICC insist that the first preference would be to play in Pakistan, an alternative venue could not be ruled out either.
“The first priority is for any country to play at home, but if that can’t happen what we have to do is encourage teams to play cricket,” ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said. “If that’s at a neutral venue then so be it. Let’s get teams playing cricket,” he was quoted as saying in ‘The Australian’.
Kuala Lumpur, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi are being touted as the neutral venues for the one-day series. CA chief executive James Sutherland supported the idea of neutral venues if it was not possible to play in Pakistan.
“We don’t have any objections to neutral venues, but we’re not anywhere near advanced enough to be making assessments of playing in Pakistan,” Sutherland said. “We haven’t played Pakistan for some time because of the postponement of tours and we want to play them. We see it as good preparation leading into the world Twenty20 championship in London (in June).
“We’ll do checks on any neutral venues if they come into play, but as far as we’re concerned we’ve got a commitment to play Pakistan in Pakistan and we’ll work through that process as we’ve done in the past,” Sutherland said. Australia have not toured Pakistan for 10 years.
Andy Murray overcame world number one Rafael Nadal 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 in a thrilling final of the World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on Saturday (January 3). The victorious Scot, who also beat Roger Federer in the newly-formed exhibition event, will now strive to defend his title in the season-opening ATP tournament in Doha, Qatar.
With the start of the new ATP season just days away, Andy Murray faced Rafael Nadal in the final of the inaugural World Tennis Championship on Saturday. The Spanish world number one held the upper hand in their previous encounters, having won the first five.
But Great Britain’s Murray came out on top for the first time in their most recent clash at the semi-final stage of the 2008 US Open. This match came to life in the third game as Murray broke serve with a thumping backhand after a thrilling long rally.
However, at 4-3 ahead, the 21-year-old wobbled on his own serve, and a double-fault allowed Nadal to level the match at four-all. Murray, though, immediately regained the momentum, snatching the next game with a brilliant short-angled backhand before holding his serve to claim the first set 6-4.
Nadal raised the intensity of his tennis at the start of the second set.But it was his opponent who managed the first break of serve after a marathon fifth game in which the Spaniard served an ace and a double-fault.
After four deuces, Nadal played a straightforward backhand long and it was 3-2 in Murray’s favour.Nadal’s challenge was far from over, however.The five-time Grand Slam winner battled his way from 40-15 down to take the very next game with a hooked forehand that Murray was unable to control.
The powerful groundstrokes continued but with Nadal leading 6-5, Murray was found wanting. He played into the net three times and Nadal broke his serve to level the match at one-set all. The third set was little short of epic, with a succession of incredible rallies.
The seventh game, in particular, brought the best out of both players as the excitement level in the crowd reached fever pitch. A huge stretch for a volley earned the world number four a break point at 30-40.
An amazing get kept Nadal in the game, but after a few more scintillating shots, Murray got the break when his rival missed wide with a backhand. The Briton could now sense victory and he duly completed it with another break in the ninth game.
Moments after being beaten by a fine running lob, Nadal played into the net and the title and US$ 250,000 winner’s prize was Murray’s. It will serve as the perfect preparation for the new ATP season which starts in Doha on Monday (January 5).
Murray is defending champion in Qatar, having lifted the crown twelve months ago before going on to win four more ATP titles in 2008.
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