bits and pieces

 

 

Halfway odds sum up crazy Premier League season

LONDON: One of the most unpredictable Premier League seasons for years can be summed up by comparing pre-season odds to the numbers now at the halfway stage — with Leicester City’s title odds slashed from 5,000-1 to 14-1 after their stunning start.

Claudio Ranieri’s side, who needed a remarkable late charge to avoid relegation last season, are flying high in second place and are now rated 11-10 for a top-four finish, compared to 200-1 in August according to British bookmaker William Hill.

Converesly, champions Chelsea were 7-4 favourites to retain their title but now, having sacked manager Jose Mourniho and languishing in 14th place, they are 150-1. Their top-four ambitions, initially a 1-33 shot, are now rated 10-1. League leaders Arsenal and Manchester City are 11-8 joint favourites (from 7-2 and 3-1) to win the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur at 8-1 to take the honours for the first time since 1961, from 150-1 at the start of the season.

At the foot of the table Aston Villa are 1-16 for relegation, compared to 5-2 pre-season.

Premier League winner odds at the start of the season: 7-4 Chelsea; 3-1 Manchester City; 7-2 Arsenal; 5-1 Manchester United; 28-1 Liverpool; 150-1 Tottenham; 300-1 Everton; 300-1 Southampton; 3000-1 Crystal Palace; 3000-1 West Ham; 5000-1 Aston Villa; 5000-1 Leicester; 5000-1 Sunderland; 5000-1 West Brom; 7500-1 Bournemouth; 7500-1 Norwich; 10,000-1 WatfordPremier League relegation odds at the start of the season: 8-13 Watford; 1-1 Norwich; 6-5 Bournemouth; 2-1 Sunderland; 5-2 Aston Villa; 11-4 Leicester; 9-2 Newcastle; 9-2 West Brom; 6-1 Crystal Palace; 6-1 West Ham; 8-1 Swansea; 12-1 Stoke; 40-1 Everton; 40-1 Southampton; 250-1-Liverpool; 250-1 Tottenham; 1000-1 Arsenal; 1000-1 Chelsea; 1000-1 Man City; 1000-1 Man United.

 

Israr likely to face Patrick Rooney in British Junior Open

By our correspondent 

KARACHI: Pakistan’s Israr Ahmed is projected as the quarter-finalist based on his seeding in the 2016 edition of British Junior Open, which commences in Sheffield from Saturday (today).

According to the draws, ¾ seed Israr is likely to face 5/8 seed Patrick Rooney of England in the quarter-finals of this championship in which over 400 competitors from over 30 nations are participating.

Israr recently won US Junior Open, while the other players from Pakistan participating in this championship are Oan Abbas, Mehran Javed, Mansoor Zaman, Abdul Malik, and Ibtisam Riaz.

England have the biggest number and Egypt the highest number of seeds.

The under-19 title in the BJO is called Drysdale Cup. The event is named after Theodore Drysdale, who was one of that early band of enthusiasts who injected vitality into squash during its emergence from an amusing pastime into a competitive game.

 

PCB felicitates Aleem Dar for 100-Test milestone

KARACHI: Chairman PCB Shaharyar Khan felicitated Aleem Dar, who is in the ICC’s Elite Panel, on the eve of his achievement of officiating in 100 Tests.

When he stands in the second Test between South Africa and England on Saturday (today) at Newlands, Aleem Dar will become only the third umpire to reach the 100-Test mark.

“Aleem Dar is not just the best umpire of his generation in Pakistan, but he is also one of the best at the global level,” the PCB chief said.

“Such a performance requires high skills as well as extraordinary concentration and endurance,” he added.

Shaharyar said that Dar deserved all the plaudits for having displayed these attributes for so long.

“He has made Pakistan’s cricketing fraternity and the nation proud,” he said.

Only Steve Bucknor and Rudi Koertzen have officiated in 100 or more Test matches.

Dar won the ICC Umpire of the Year award in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

 

Handball trials for SAG in Islamabad on Monday

By our correspondent

KARACHI: Pakistan Handball Federation (PHF) will hold trials on Monday at Pakistan Sports Complex in Islamabad to finalise men and women teams for the South Asian Games.

The biennial event will be held in the Indian cities of Guwahati and Shillong from February 6-16.

Pakistan Handball Federation’s (PHF) president Mohammad Shafiq told ‘The News’ on Friday that trials would be held under the supervision of a selection commitee headed by Riaz Mehmood Qureshi.

Former Pakistan captain Amir Rasheed and Tahir Hameed are the other members of the committee.

Coaches of both teams, Mohammad Imran, Izhar-ul-Haq, Naseer Ahmed and Saiqa Ihsan, will assist the committee during trials.

The PHF has also invited observers of Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) and Pakistan Olympic Association (POA).

As many as 16 players each will be picked.

 

West Brom chase transfer ‘crumbs’

LONDON: West Bromwich Albion head coach Tony Pulis said Friday that the Baggies may be forced to wait to ‘pick up the crumbs’ in the January transfer window.

Pulis has been told he can sign players if they can generate transfer revenue, the most likely sale being that of out-of-sorts striker Saido Berahino.

“If we move people out, I’m hoping we get a little bit of money to reinvest, because we need to,” Pulis told BBC.

“But we have to move people out before we can move people in.”

He added: “The chairman (Jeremy Peace) showed in the last window that, unless a deal is right, he won’t do it.

“We’re not in a position where we can spend millions blowing everyone out of the water, where we can go out and offer people £100,000 a week.”

“We’re sat on the top table but we feed off the crumbs. You have to understand that,” he said.

 

Falcao eyes recovery amid transfer talk

LONDON: Chelsea striker Radamel Falcao has vowed to fight for his place following his latest injury setback amid speculation that Columbus Crew and Club America are interested.

Falcao, 29, has started only one Premier League game since joining Chelsea from Monaco in a season-long loan deal in July.

The Colombia international has not featured since the end of October after picking up a thigh injury and new Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink revealed this week that the player had aggravated a previous problem on his return to training.

Falcao admitted before his latest setback that he had not got the opportunities he would have liked at Chelsea and Hiddink did not rule out cutting the forward’s loan deal short.

Monaco manager Leonardo Jardim has so far remained tight-lipped about reports linking Falcao with a return to the principality this month with a view to selling him on next summer. 

 

Virus costs Schwartzel South African Open title

CAPE TOWN: A wretched Christmas for South African golfer Charl Schwartzel has been compounded by having to withdraw from next week’s South African Open when the European PGA Tour resumes after the holiday break.

The former US Masters winner has been in and out of hospital in recent days for rehydration treatment after being afflicted by a stomach virus, as were many family members, gathered for the festive season.

While Schwartzel is on the mend, he has been forced to pull out of one of the few domestic titles he has yet to win, South Africa’s Sunshine Tour said on Thursday.

“I am hugely disappointed to be missing out on the SA Open,” he said in a statement.

“Everybody knows how keen I am to win our national Open and, having come so close the last couple of years, following my good form at Leopard Creek,” he added.

He said he was really looking forward to contending at Glendower.

“I look forward to being strong and healthy in time for the Joburg Open the following week, however,” he appended. 

 

‘Sane too expansive for even Manchester City’

BERLIN: Schalke have warned suitors off Leroy Sane in the January window, insisted that even Manchester City cannot afford to sign Germany international.

City have been linked with a £32 million move for the highly rated 19-year-old attacking midfielder.

But while City spent over £150 million last summer as they brought in players such as Raheem Sterling, Kevin De Bruyne, Fabian Delph and Nicolas Otamendi, the Bundesliga club are adamant Sane is going nowhere. “We don’t want to sell him and Leroy doesn’t want to leave the club,” Schalke general manager Horst Heldt told Bild. “Even Man City haven’t got that much money.”

 

Kho-Kho teams to be picked tomorrow

By our correspondent

KARACHI: Pakistan Kho-Kho Federation will hold trials to pick men and women teams for the South Asian Games here at the Customs Sports Complex on Sunday (tomorrow).

Naushad Ahmed, a top official of the federation, told ‘The News’ on Friday that 12 players each would be picked.

This will be the first time that a Kho-Kho international event will be held. Pakistan Kho-Kho Federation was formed in January last year.

The camps of both the teams are in progress here. Indian coach Dr Asghar Ali is supervising the camps.

After finalising squads during trials from 3pm to 4pm on Sunday (tomorrow), Asghar will fly out for India on Monday.

Besides Pakistan, hosts India, Bangladesh, Nepal and either Sri Lanka or Bhutan will be showing their worth. The competitions will be held in Guwahati.

Pakistan’s men team will begin its journey against Bangladesh on February 6. On the same day Pakistan’s women will play against Nepal.

Because the federation is not associated with the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB), it is not yet clear whether the tour will be sponsored by the Board or not.

 

Army retain national judo title

KARACHI: Army retained the title of the National Senior Judo Championship at Qayyum Sports Complex in Peshawar late Thursday.Army got the top honours by securing 115 points which they earned by virtue of four gold, five silver and one bronze medal.WAPDA (105 points), who gave tough time to the soldiers, ended as the runners-up with five gold, two silver and two bronze medals.

Railways (55 points) claimed the third position with three silver and five bronze medals. FATA gained 25 points by winning one gold and two bronze medals. In a major upset, FATA’s Qaiser Khan defeated South Asian champion Karamat Butt.