Mad Dog Game

Dhaka: Shakib Al Hasan claimed four wickets for eight runs in his international comeback to set up an easy six-wicket victory for Bangladesh over West Indies in the first one-day international in Dhaka on Wednesday.

Debutant pacer Hasan Mahmud also impressed with the ball, picking up 3-28 as the hosts bowled out the weakened tourists for 122 before racing to 125-4 in 33.5 overs.

Skipper Tamim Iqbal top-scored with 44 off 69 while all-rounder Shakib played his part with the bat, hitting 19.

Left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein took 3-26 to give the home batsmen some trouble but his effort was not enough to defend the visitors’ meagre total.

Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riyad were unbeaten on 19 and nine runs respectively to complete the win, helping Bangladesh take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Opting to bowl first, Bangladesh earlier wrapped up the West Indies innings in 32.2 overs.

“No complaints, we bowled extremely well. Not just the spinners, but the pacers as well,” said Tamim at the prize-giving ceremony.

West Indies captain Jason Mohammed said he was disappointed with his side’s performance.

“It wasn’t easy to start on, but we didn’t have enough guys getting partnerships and those who got starts didn’t carry on,” he said.

Mustafizur Rahman, who claimed 2-20, seized the early momentum for Bangladesh, trapping Sunil Ambris in front for seven in the second over.

He removed Joshua Da Silva for nine after a rain break that halted play for nearly an hour.

Playing his first international after a one-year suspension, Shakib’s left-arm spin immediately put pressure on the West Indies.

He bowled Andre McCarthy for 12 before West Indies’ stand-in captain Jason Mohammed was stumped off his bowling for 17.

Nkrumah Bonner went for a duck leg before wicket in Shakib’s next over to leave the West Indies struggling at 56-5.

Kyle Mayers hit 40 off 56 balls and added 59 runs with Rovman Powell (28) for the seventh wicket to bring some respectability to the visitors’ score.

Hasan’s pace removed Powell and Raymon Reifer with successive deliveries to end the resistance.

Off-spinner Mehidy Hasan dismissed Mayers as the West Indies lost their last five wickets for seven runs. Shakib claimed the final wicket of Alzarri Joseph (four).

The second match of the series will be held at the same venue on Friday.

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“It’s humiliating. It’s embarrassing. It’s not me. It’s not a word that I use, but for some reason, it was in there. And that’s what I’m trying to figure out as to why it was in there”

Justin Thomas admitted he is still at a loss to explain why he came out with a homophobic slur in Hawaii, but he repeated his vow to learn from his “humiliating and embarrassing” mistake.

Thomas vowed to “become better” as he dealt with the fallout following his offensive remark on day three at the Sentry Tournament of Champions, an incident that prompted Ralph Lauren to end their long-standing endorsement deal with the American.

The controversy remained a big talking point as the world No 3 prepares to make his debut in the European Tour’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, where Thomas repeated his deep contrition over what happened at Kapalua.

“It’s humiliating, it’s embarrassing, and it’s not me,” said Thomas, who was earlier backed by close friend and Rory McIlroy to learn from the incident. “It’s not a word that I use, but for some reason, it was in there.

“And that’s what I’m trying to figure out as to why it was in there, and it’s going to be a part of this process and training program or whatever I need to do, not only to prove to myself but prove to my sponsors and prove to those people that don’t know who I am that that is indeed not the person I am.”

Thomas admitted he put Ralph Lauren “in a terrible position” and while he understood and accepted their decision to terminate their support and sponsorship, it did not make it any less upsetting.

“I think disappointed is the wrong word, obviously I was upset,” Thomas added. “But at the end of the day, they have that right. They had to make the decision that they had to make.

“I spoke with them along with all of my sponsors. Although I apologised, it’s like it was then; it’s an opportunity for me to grow and I felt like it was something we could have done together and gone through that process.

“They just felt like they needed to move on. That’s exactly what I’m doing, as well. It was a great run that we had and a great partnership, but you know, things will work out for the best.

“Just like my other partners and other sponsorships, it was an opportunity for them to help me, just like I hope to help them. But like I said, they had to do what they had to do.

“They are a huge, huge global brand, and I have to respect their decision. I wasn’t disappointed, because I put them in a terrible position. I just was more upset. I had a great relationship with a lot of people there, and like I said, we would have had the opportunity to do it together, and I totally respect their decision and I’ve moved on from it.”

Thomas revealed he had been in close contact with all of his sponsors and insisted he had restored relations with all of them.

He said: “I’ve had great communication with all of them. It was obviously not calls or emails I was hoping or planning to make, but I needed to because I have some great long-lasting partnerships with all my sponsors. They know that’s not the person that I am.

“They know that’s not how I act and although they are far from brushing it to the side just like I am, they understand that this is an opportunity for me to educate myself, grow, become a better person.

“I know that I’ll become a better man and a better person because of it, and they are going to kind of help me along that process.”

Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan cuts a swathe through a weakened West Indies side in his first international match since completing a suspension, setting up a six-wicket victory despite an impressive debut for spinner Akeal Hosein for the visitors

Shakib Al Hasan marked his international return following a 12-month ban by taking 4-8 as Bangladesh eased to a six-wicket victory over an inexperienced West Indies team in the opening one-dayer.

SCORECARD

The all-rounder was Test captain of Bangladesh when he was in October 2019 hit with a two-year ban, one of which was suspended, for failing to report corrupt approaches, but he made up for lost time at Dhaka.

The tourists’ line-up comprised of six debutants, with a number of experienced players opting out of the trip, and they were all out for 122 in 32.2 overs after being invited to bat first, with Shakib the pick of the bowlers.

Bangladesh skipper Tamim Iqbal’s 44 helped the hosts knock off the paltry target in the 34th over – although slow left armer Akeal Hosein ensured it was not a rout with 3-26 on his international debut.

The three-match series, which is part of the World Cup Super League, resumes at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Friday before a potential decider at the same venue on Monday.

Opening batsman David Warner has voiced his opinion on where Australia must desperately improve in the wake of their disastrous Test series loss to India, pinpointing the out-of-sorts top order.

Australia are set to face South Africa in the Proteas’ backyard in three Tests across February and March, which loom as their only remaining chances to claw back a top-two spot on the World Test Championship points table.

MORE CRICKET NEWS: Pat Cummins backs in ‘brilliant’ Tim Paine amid public pressure

Tim Paine’s men slipped from first to third in their humiliating loss at The Gabba, in which India became the first team to defeat Australia at the Brisbane venue since the West Indies in 1988.

The sides that finish in first and second will square off in the inaugural World Test Championship final at Lord’s in June – and the countries currently in that position are India (No.1) and New Zealand (No.2).

Australia are also set to host Afghanistan in one Test in November, before striving to retain the Ashes on home soil over the 2021-22 summer.

Warner says Australia’s top order is the most pressing concern as they lift their sights to the cricket ahead.

“The biggest questions and debates were around the top order this series – chopping and changing and not scoring runs,” Warner said on Wide World of Sports radio.

“I think that’s where we need to be better.

“I hold myself accountable as a senior player. I need to do everything I can to make sure I’m scoring runs out there.”

A combination of form and injury forced Australia to use five openers across the four-Test series against India: Warner, Will Pucovski, Marcus Harris, Matthew Wade and Joe Burns.

Every one of those batsmen were outscored by rookie Indian Shubman Gill, who made his Test debut at the MCG and finished the series with 259 runs at an average of 51.80.

Warner said it still hadn’t been confirmed to the squad if the series against the Proteas would take place in South Africa, despite what’s scheduled, as the pandemic continues to shake the sports landscape.

“I am unsure at the moment,” Warner said.

“We are doing everything we can to prepare for that.

“We’re governed by our medicos and Cricket Australia, who are trying to get that series up and going, and obviously they’re in talks with Cricket South Africa.”

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With a fierce grit in the paint and sniper production on the perimeter, Miami carved out a deserved route to the NBA Finals last season behind an outstanding coaching job from Erik Spoelstra, but it has been a less than inspired start to 2021 for the Heat since falling to the Los Angeles Lakers. 

Miami enter Wednesday night’s matchup with the Toronto Raptors sitting down in 12th in the Eastern Conference at 5-7 having won just two of their last six games, most recently beating the Detroit Pistons 113-107 following a 28-point, 11-rebound double-double from Bam Adebayo.

Having led the team in points and assists in the 2019-20 regular season, during which his involvement was managed to just 58 games, Jimmy Butler has featured in only six outings so far this campaign while nursing an ankle injury following the quickest offseason turnaround in NBA history.

Back-and-forth results are nothing new to this Heat team, whose longest win streak last season was five games, nor have they deterred three-time NBA champion BJ Armstrong’s confidence in Miami launching another playoff run.

“You’ve got Bam, Jimmy Butler, you’ve got Duncan Robinson down there, you have Tyler Herro, they’ve got to get past the first round,” Armstrong said on Heatcheck. “Will they get back to the NBA Finals? I can’t say that. But what they were able to do last year, it wasn’t like they had a hot streak through the regular season, they did this consistently in the playoffs.

“And let’s not forget guys in the Finals they were very competitive so I’m going to say this team has the mentality to get past the first round. But more importantly I think they have the talent to do it.

“Do I think they have the talent to get past Milwaukee? I can’t say that. Do they have the talent to get past Brooklyn right now? I can’t say that. But do I think this team will advance and could they upset those teams, Philadelphia and the Boston Celtics? Yeah I could see that.”

While Adebayo has continued his ascent as a leading figure under Spoelstra, the Heat head coach has also been using the opening weeks of the season to offer minutes to rookie Precious Achiuwa and second-year forward KZ Okpala.

Adebayo himself along with Herro and Goran Dragic have all meanwhile missed time early on, and Avery Bradley has just seven games under his belt since arriving from the Lakers in November.

“We’re talking about the LA Lakers maybe being in cruise control,” said Heatcheck’s Mo Mooncey. “There may be an element of that with the Miami Heat because you’ve got to think about it, they had the shortest offseason. The Lakers and the Heat both played the same amount of games in that finals series.

“With guys like Jimmy Butler, he’s never been known for big regular season numbers but he comes through and delivers when it’s time. And you’ve got to add into the mix guys like Duncan Robinson, guys like Tyler Herro, they’ve now got another year of experience.

“They’ve obviously lost Jae Crowder which is obviously a huge loss but they’ve gained Avery Bradley, another great perimeter defender.

“And then for me the biggest development for the Miami Heat is Bam Adebayo, he’s got his mid-range game going, he’s scoring off the dribble and he’s added to his bag of tricks.”

Adebayo is currently averaging a team-high 19.5 points, nine rebounds and 5.1 assists through 10 games after signing a five-year extension back in November.

The 23-year-old was absent for Game 2 and Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the Lakers in the summer due to a shoulder injury.

“I think the Miami Heat have improved,” Mooncey continued. “Do I think they’re going to get back to the finals? No I don’t. Do I think they can beat the Celtics? Most definitely. Do I think they can beat the Milwaukee Bucks? Somehow they always find a way to stop Giannis.

“Could they beat the Brooklyn Nets? That depends on the changes Brooklyn makes to its roster defensively. I don’t think they got there by luck last season. There was no luck. This is a hard-working team.

“You have to look at what they’ve got, which is Jimmy Butler a winning basketball player, Bam Adebayo, one of the most versatile bigs and then they’ve got shooters on the wings.”

Watch the Heat visit the Raptors live on Sky Sports Main Event & Arena from 12:30am in the early hours of Thursday.

Want to watch even more of the NBA and WNBA but don’t have Sky Sports? Get the Sky Sports Action and Arena pack, click here

“It’s humiliating. It’s embarrassing. It’s not me. It’s not a word that I use, but for some reason, it was in there. And that’s what I’m trying to figure out as to why it was in there”

Justin Thomas admitted he is still at a loss to explain why he came out with a homophobic slur in Hawaii, but he repeated his vow to learn from his “humiliating and embarrassing” mistake.

Thomas vowed to “become better” as he dealt with the fallout following his offensive remark on day three at the Sentry Tournament of Champions, an incident that prompted Ralph Lauren to end their long-standing endorsement deal with the American.

The controversy remained a big talking point as the world No 3 prepares to make his debut in the European Tour’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, where Thomas repeated his deep contrition over what happened at Kapalua.

“It’s humiliating, it’s embarrassing, and it’s not me,” said Thomas, who was earlier backed by close friend and Rory McIlroy to learn from the incident. “It’s not a word that I use, but for some reason, it was in there.

“And that’s what I’m trying to figure out as to why it was in there, and it’s going to be a part of this process and training program or whatever I need to do, not only to prove to myself but prove to my sponsors and prove to those people that don’t know who I am that that is indeed not the person I am.”

Thomas admitted he put Ralph Lauren “in a terrible position” and while he understood and accepted their decision to terminate their support and sponsorship, it did not make it any less upsetting.

“I think disappointed is the wrong word, obviously I was upset,” Thomas added. “But at the end of the day, they have that right. They had to make the decision that they had to make.

“I spoke with them along with all of my sponsors. Although I apologised, it’s like it was then; it’s an opportunity for me to grow and I felt like it was something we could have done together and gone through that process.

“They just felt like they needed to move on. That’s exactly what I’m doing, as well. It was a great run that we had and a great partnership, but you know, things will work out for the best.

“Just like my other partners and other sponsorships, it was an opportunity for them to help me, just like I hope to help them. But like I said, they had to do what they had to do.

“They are a huge, huge global brand, and I have to respect their decision. I wasn’t disappointed, because I put them in a terrible position. I just was more upset. I had a great relationship with a lot of people there, and like I said, we would have had the opportunity to do it together, and I totally respect their decision and I’ve moved on from it.”

Thomas revealed he had been in close contact with all of his sponsors and insisted he had restored relations with all of them.

He said: “I’ve had great communication with all of them. It was obviously not calls or emails I was hoping or planning to make, but I needed to because I have some great long-lasting partnerships with all my sponsors. They know that’s not the person that I am.

“They know that’s not how I act and although they are far from brushing it to the side just like I am, they understand that this is an opportunity for me to educate myself, grow, become a better person.

“I know that I’ll become a better man and a better person because of it, and they are going to kind of help me along that process.”

NRL star Dylan Walker has been given the all-clear to play for the Manly Sea Eagles in round one despite allegedly assaulting two pizza shop workers on Sydney’s northern beaches last year.

The 26-year-old’s case on Wednesday returned to Downing Centre Local Court where lawyer Jessica Kavvalos requested a two-day hearing.

The request was approved and Walker will give his argument between May 14 and 17.

The NRL season will begin on March 11 and Manly chief executive Steve Humphries said he had told Walker he would be free to play.

“Dylan maintains his innocence and he plans to vigorously defend the charges,” Humphries told the Sydney Morning Herald.

“That’s his plan and, in the meantime, he will continue to train in preparation for the 2021 season.

“He will also be available to be selected.”

The NRL also said they hadn’t planned to impose a suspension for the allegations.

Walker was arrested for allegedly assaulting pizza workes Stephen and Enzo Melani at Little Italy in Narrawenna on November 1.

For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!

Opening batsman David Warner has voiced his opinion on where Australia must desperately improve in the wake of their disastrous Test series loss to India, pinpointing the out-of-sorts top order.

Australia are set to face South Africa in the Proteas’ backyard in three Tests across February and March, which loom as their only remaining chances to claw back a top-two spot on the World Test Championship points table.

MORE CRICKET NEWS: Pat Cummins backs in ‘brilliant’ Tim Paine amid public pressure

Tim Paine’s men slipped from first to third in their humiliating loss at The Gabba, in which India became the first team to defeat Australia at the Brisbane venue since the West Indies in 1988.

The sides that finish in first and second will square off in the inaugural World Test Championship final at Lord’s in June – and the countries currently in that position are India (No.1) and New Zealand (No.2).

Australia are also set to host Afghanistan in one Test in November, before striving to retain the Ashes on home soil over the 2021-22 summer.

Warner says Australia’s top order is the most pressing concern as they lift their sights to the cricket ahead.

“The biggest questions and debates were around the top order this series – chopping and changing and not scoring runs,” Warner said on Wide World of Sports radio.

“I think that’s where we need to be better.

“I hold myself accountable as a senior player. I need to do everything I can to make sure I’m scoring runs out there.”

A combination of form and injury forced Australia to use five openers across the four-Test series against India: Warner, Will Pucovski, Marcus Harris, Matthew Wade and Joe Burns.

Every one of those batsmen were outscored by rookie Indian Shubman Gill, who made his Test debut at the MCG and finished the series with 259 runs at an average of 51.80.

Warner said it still hadn’t been confirmed to the squad if the series against the Proteas would take place in South Africa, despite what’s scheduled, as the pandemic continues to shake the sports landscape.

“I am unsure at the moment,” Warner said.

“We are doing everything we can to prepare for that.

“We’re governed by our medicos and Cricket Australia, who are trying to get that series up and going, and obviously they’re in talks with Cricket South Africa.”

For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!

I was born in Calcutta, my mum’s Indian, my dad’s English. So I came over when I was one. I lived in Ecclesfield all my childhood life. I live on the outskirts of Rotherham right now but I’ve been here since I was one-year-old. Growing up was quite a challenge. Because back then, it’s not like it is today.

I didn’t have a lot going for me as a kid. Believe it or not, I was small. That seems to have stuck with me for life. So I got s**t because I was small. My dad didn’t have a job all the way through school so I was on dinner tickets and wearing hand me downs. Trousers that were too short for you and everyone taking the p**s. Shoes and trainers that had holes in them so water just comes in.

Every time I’d go to the park there’d be a group of kids and you’d be getting ‘P**i go home…’ They’d chase you down the street. So I had all that sort of stuff. That was my life as a kid. I’d get picked on at school, absolutely ridiculed at school and bullied at school. I’d go home and didn’t get on with my mum. My mum and dad were both alcoholics. When my mum would have a few drinks in her, then she was pretty nasty.

All I had as a kid was kids at school saying you can’t do nothing, ridiculing you, beating you up, then going home getting the same at home and having your mother tell me that I’d never do anything, that I was s**t, worthless, a mistake. When you have that, you don’t believe you can accomplish anything. It takes a long, long time to get over that.

I’m a patron for NACOA, which is the National Association for the Children of Alcoholics. I know what it feels like. I know what it feels like when people that are supposed to be building you up and supporting you, helping you grow as a person, as a little individual, tell you you can’t do anything.

As long as I’m a good dad to my kids and as long as I can bring my kids up to believe that they can achieve anything with hard work, I’ve cracked it. I’ve learned what not to do. Because I know what it feels like. All I had to do was flip the switch and make them feel the exact opposite to how I felt as a kid. That’s all I’ve done really.

I left home at 15 but I had no choice. It was a bad time. I had to get out of the house… I had the biggest beating again over nothing and I thought, that’s it. My life wouldn’t be what it is today if I had stayed in that house.

I started boxing at 15 because I finally got to the point where I couldn’t allow this to carry on going, to be scared of everything, to not believe I could do anything. I remember the kids at school locked me in a metal cupboard. It had no back just bars at the back. They locked me in there and were lobbing paper towels in the back of it. The next minute, the towels at my feet were on fire and, boom, my head just blew, I started smashing the door. It was only a thin door. I broke the door through and I remember thinking, I can’t do this anymore. I’ve got to get some confidence. Then I started boxing. I went on the hunt for Brendan Ingle’s gym.

Being in that gym environment, Brendan, Johnny Nelson, Clifton Mitchell, guys like that, they did a lot for my confidence. Naseem Hamed, that’s what you dream about becoming. But he was that unattainable dream, whereas with Johnny Nelson, Brendan had told us stories about Johnny being scared in sparring and being scared going to fights and made you look at how he came through; he lost his first few fights. I associated myself with him. I would watch Johnny and do what he was doing in the gym.

This sounds stupid but I remember Clifton Mitchell bought me an ice cream. I just thought, wow. I felt accepted because Clifton Mitchell bought me an ice cream and I was walking through Sheffield city centre with this professional prospect and Paul “Silky” Jones who was a good fighter as well. Clifton, he probably won’t even remember that day but that’s what I’m saying, you don’t remember what you’ve done just buying the kid an ice cream. You don’t remember the impact.

Brendan was a character who took me under his wing. He’s like a father figure. Just somebody that shows some interest in you. That’s the thing about amateur boxing coaches all over the world; the impact that they have on these kids, these kids that don’t have the attention at home, the impact that they have on kids that have no belief. Just people that nobody has an interest in. Nobody wants to sit and talk to them. Nobody gives them the time. But boxing coaches do.

If Brendan would take me on the pads, I felt like a million dollars. Even if it was just a round, he’s giving you the time that you don’t get anywhere else. Somebody giving you attention in a positive way and building your self-esteem.

Things like boxing gyms and boxing coaches, again I’m not talking about myself, now I just work with professionals, I’ve got a minute impact, I’m talking about unsung coaches, amateur coaches. The impact that these guys have is phenomenal. You can’t measure that.

So the influence of that gym changed my life. Without that I was just a terrified little boy. If a stranger spoke to me, I would just start sweating because I didn’t have the confidence to speak to them. So when I look at what I do now, if I work on TV for Sky, I think to myself I can’t believe I’ve just done that because I still remember how I felt before.

That gym and this sport has done everything for me. That’s why when you see stuff like the government not helping boxing it is so very frustrating. Forget about the sport and the financial side of things at the top end, what it does for kids like me is unbelievable. It’s the kids that just haven’t got the confidence, the kids that would not have gone on to do anything in life, it’s made such an impact on people like that. Because if it’s done that for me, it’s done that for thousands and thousands of people.

It never happened for me as a boxer, the success came years on as a coach. But what I’m doing now I get more satisfaction out of because I’m impacting more people.

There was a time I was skint. I was broke. I just had journeymen. I was struggling to put shows together as a promoter. I said to Spencer Fearon, ‘You know what, I think I’m just going to have a stable full of journeymen so I can make money.’ He said you can’t aim for that. He just started teaching me about how to be more positive. I struggled with everything, Spencer helped me start switching my mind.

I’m 45 now, I was in my overdraft until I was 40. So I will not apologise for enjoying my life right now. I remember I just wanted to get to a position where I’m not bothered when the postman comes. Because I can afford my bills. No debt collection letters coming through. I just wanted to get to that position.

The Jamie McDonnell-Tomoki Kameda fight paid my overdraft and the feeling… That was a good feeling. People think I just popped up with Tony Bellew. I didn’t. I used to drive to Scotland with Daniel Thorpe or James Tucker for four-rounders, for 12 minutes work, driving four hours, five-and-a-half hours to Scotland. Back then I was back on my way, no one was putting me up in hotels. Get home at five o’clock. Knowing he’s going to lose on points. Doing that and you’re getting 80 quid for it. And you’re training him and you’re the manager. That’s part of boxing. Some of us have actually gone through the s**t. I wouldn’t change it because my beginnings as a spit bucket man, working as a house second for Frank Warren shows, I learned a lot. In the corner you’re listening to Jimmy Tibbs, Pete Defreitas, people like that talking to their fighters. Working as a cut man with Billy Nelson and Ricky Burns and things like that. Just working with different coaches. Just sat there, holding the bucket, praying to God they don’t spit on you, listening and seeing how these coaches are dealing with everything. I wouldn’t change anything.

I appreciate every day. I don’t take my life for granted. I was at Peter Fury’s gym with Tony Bellew sparring once. I had this immense pain in my head and I dropped to the floor. Literally it dropped me. I went to hospital and it was a dispersed aneurysm. It was dispersed so I was lucky but that really, really made me think. You could just pop off at any time.

’ve got no time to be bitter. I’ve got no time to regret. I’ve seen people being bitter over the past and it affects the future. If one segment of your life was an absolute nightmare, it almost destroyed you but it didn’t destroy you, why let this segment of your past destroy your future? We have choices. You have a choice to dwell on what went wrong. But if all that was so s**t, why would I want that to stain what I’ve got now? That’s the way I look at it.

I don’t waste my time being bitter because your time can be up. I love working with the fighters that I’m working with. I love that every single day. I come home, I love every minute I’ve got with my kids. I love my life.

You’ve got one crack at it.