Sports

Alonso gets 100th F1 podium after penalty u-turn

Published

2 years ago

March 20, 2023

Staff Reporter

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BEN STANSALL/ AFP

Fernando Alonso was handed back the 100th podium of his Formula One career, and second in two races for Aston Martin, after a U-turn by officials hours after the finish of Sunday’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

The 41-year-old double world champion, enjoying a renaissance with his much-improved team, finished third in Jeddah but was demoted to fourth by a 10-second post-race penalty.

The Spaniard was initially handed a five-second penalty for an error on the starting grid and another for failing to serve it properly — the rear jack being in contact with the car before the five seconds were up.

That second penalty was then reversed when his team won a right to review after presenting new evidence to support their case.

“I am happy in the end with the result tonight and our second podium. We showed that we can be the second fastest team and we had good pace throughout the race,” said Alonso in a team statement.

The new evidence included the minutes of the latest Sporting Advisory Committee meeting and video of “seven different instances where cars were touched by the jack while serving a similar penalty… without being penalised.”

Stewards said the evidence called into question a supposed agreement between the teams and FIA that “touching the car in any way, including with a jack, would constitute ‘working’ on the car.”

Alonso, who had celebrated on the podium before the demotion, had criticised the FIA for the delay in imposing the second penalty more than 30 laps after his pitstop.

“I think it’s more an FIA poor show today, more than disappointment for ourselves,” he said then.

“You can’t apply a penalty 35 laps after the pitstop. They had enough time to really inform about the penalty. If I knew that, maybe I open 11 seconds to the car behind. Today we didn’t put on a good show, I think, for our fans.

“They told me just five seconds in the first stint and I opened seven or eight. Then in the second there was no information at all, not even investigated.”

The reversal meant Mercedes driver George Russell dropped back to fourth after appearing in the post-race news conference as third-placed finisher.

“The penalty on Fernando was harsh. They are deserving podium finishers today but I’ll take an extra trophy,” he said earlier.

Sergio Perez won the race from pole position in a Red Bull one-two with Max Verstappen staying top of the championship after racing from 15th to second with the fastest lap.

Double Formula One world champion Verstappen snatched the bonus point from Perez with a last-lap blast around Jeddah’s floodlit Corniche street circuit that left him a point clear of the Mexican.

The result was Red Bull’s second one-two in as many races this season but a reverse of the March 5 opener in Bahrain.

Perez had also started on pole last year before ending up fourth after an unfortunate safety car, but this time he made it stick despite another such intervention.

Verstappen now has 44 points, Perez 43 and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso 30.

Red Bull have 87 points in the constructors’ standings with Aston Martin and Mercedes level on 38.

There were more than a few fireworks in our second race of the season! 🎆#SaudiArabianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/WqMHL1lAqW

— Formula 1 (@F1) March 19, 2023

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Sports

Muhammad Waseem to captain UAE in Sharjah T20I Tri-Series 2025

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6 hours ago

August 27, 2025

Michael Gomes

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UAE opener Muhammad Waseem has been named captain of the national men’s cricket team for the Inverex Solar Energy presents Bank Alfalah T20I Tri-Series 2025, set to take place at the iconic Sharjah Cricket Stadium from August 29 to September 7.

The tri-series will feature UAE, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, serving as a crucial warm-up ahead of the ACC Asia Cup 2025, which begins in the UAE on September 9.

The UAE will open their campaign against Pakistan on Saturday, August 30, at 7pm.

UAE Squad

Muhammad Waseem (captain)
Alishan Sharafu
Aryansh Sharma (wicketkeeper)
Asif Khan
Dhruv Parashar
Ethan D’ Souza
Haider Ali
Harshit Kaushik
Junaid Siddique
Muhammad Farooq
Muhammad Jawadullah
Muhammad Zohaib
Rahul Chopra (wicketkeeper)
Rohid Khan
Saghir Khan

Support Staff: Amjad Ezzi (team manager), Lalchand Rajput (head coach), Azharuddin Qureshi (strength and conditioning coach), Manipreet Sidhu (video analyst), Manish Pradeshi (physiotherapist).

Tournament Schedule – Sharjah Cricket Stadium

Friday, 29 Aug – Afghanistan vs Pakistan – 7:00pm
Saturday, 30 Aug – UAE vs Pakistan – 7:00pm
Monday, 1 Sept – Afghanistan vs UAE – 7:00pm
Tuesday, 2 Sept – Afghanistan vs Pakistan – 7:00pm
Thursday, 4 Sept – Pakistan vs UAE – 7:00pm
Friday, 5 Sept – Afghanistan vs UAE – 7:00pm
Sunday, 7 Sept – Final – 7:00pm

The series is expected to draw strong crowds, with Sharjah once again hosting top-flight international cricket under lights.

News

Taimoor Ali’s last-ball heroics seal Desert Vipers’ thrilling win over Dubai Capitals in ILT20 Development Tournament

Published

2 days ago

August 25, 2025

Michael Gomes

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The Desert Vipers opened their DP World ILT20 Development Tournament campaign stunningly, pulling off a nail-biting one-wicket victory against the Dubai Capitals at the ICC Academy. The contest went right down to the last ball, with impact player Taimoor Ali holding his nerve to deliver a dramatic finish.

Dubai Capitals post 210/6

Batting first, the Capitals piled on a challenging 210 for six, setting up what looked like a match-winning total. But the Vipers’ bowlers struck at crucial stages, with UAE all-rounder Ali Naseer starring with the ball. He claimed 4 for 28 in four overs, applying the brakes to the scoring in the middle overs.

Vipers’ chase led by Suri, Keswani and Ali

In reply, Vipers captain and wicketkeeper-batter Tanish Suri gave his side a solid start, compiling a fluent 35 off 25 balls. The chase stayed alive thanks to a quick cameo from Nilansh Keswani, who smashed 22 off just nine deliveries, including two huge sixes.

But the decisive moment came with the arrival of Taimoor Ali as an impact player. Walking in with the game in the balance, Ali unleashed a stunning counterattack, blasting an unbeaten 59 off 28 balls, featuring two fours and six sixes. His clean hitting turned the tide, as the Vipers steadily closed in on the target.

Final-ball drama

The game came down to the wire, with the Vipers needing runs off the final delivery. Ali, calm under pressure, finished the job to secure victory by just one wicket, sparking wild celebrations in the Vipers’ dugout.

What’s next

The ILT20 Development Tournament runs until 3 September, with the final also set to be staged at the ICC Academy. Beyond the immediate silverware, the tournament serves as a crucial platform for UAE talent, giving players the chance to break into DP World ILT20 franchises, the UAE national team, and other global T20 leagues.

The Desert Vipers will be buoyed by their thrilling opening win, while the Dubai Capitals will be left ruing missed chances in a game that went down as one of the most exciting finishes of the competition so far.

Match Scorecard

Dubai Capitals – 210/6 (20 overs)

Other contributions: The Team posted a strong total with partnerships across the order
Best bowler (Vipers): Ali Naseer – 4/28 (4 overs)

Desert Vipers – 211/9 (20 overs)

Taimoor Ali – 59 (28 balls, 2 fours, 6 sixes)*
Tanish Suri – 35 (25 balls)
Nilansh Keswani – 22 (9 balls, 2 sixes)
Won by 1 wicket (off the final ball)

Result: Desert Vipers won by 1 wicket

News

Adani Sportsline’s Gulf Giants unveil power-packed coaching staff ahead of UAE ILT20 Season 4 Auction

Published

2 days ago

August 25, 2025

Michael Gomes

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With the highly anticipated fourth season of the DP World International League T20 (ILT20) approaching, Adani Sportsline-owned Gulf Giants have unveiled a star-studded coaching team ahead of the league’s first-ever auction. The revamped setup signals the franchise’s renewed push for silverware.

Jonathan Trott to lead as Head Coach

Former England batting star Jonathan Trott has been appointed Head Coach, bringing with him a reputation as one of England’s most technically accomplished cricketers and an impressive coaching track record.

Since transitioning from international cricket, Trott has guided Afghanistan to a historic ICC T20 World Cup 2024 semi-final and an inspired run at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. As a player, he scored 3,835 runs in 52 Tests and 2,819 runs in 68 ODIs at an average of 51, with four centuries and 22 fifties.

“The Gulf Giants have quickly become one of the ILT20’s most successful teams. My goal is to empower players to excel and shape a championship-winning squad through the first-ever ILT20 Auction,” Trott said.

Shane Bond joins as Bowling Coach

Joining Trott is New Zealand’s pace legend Shane Bond, who takes charge as Bowling Coach. A veteran of 120 internationals with 259 wickets, Bond has carved out a successful decade-long coaching career, working with the New Zealand national side and several global T20 franchises, including the IPL and UAE ILT20.

“The team’s ambition is clear. I’m excited to sharpen our bowling attack and make a decisive impact this season,” Bond said.

Specialist coaches to complete the lineup

The Giants have also secured some of the finest specialist coaches:

Andrew Puttick (Batting Coach) – South African batting stalwart with nearly 17,000 first-class runs, and prior coaching stints with Afghanistan, South Africa and Pakistan.
Jamie Troughton (Fielding Coach) – Former England international, bringing expertise in raising standards in the field.
Nick Lee (Strength & Conditioning Coach) – A seasoned fitness professional with experience at Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, returning to reunite with Trott.

Building on success stories

The Gulf Giants’ refreshed coaching team reflects Adani Sportsline’s focus on nurturing talent and creating a growth-driven environment. The franchise has already produced notable success stories, including young UAE all-rounder Aayan Khan and Zimbabwe pacer Blessing Muzarabani.

Andrew Puttick said: “It’s an honour to work in a setup that values player development. I’m eager to contribute to our collective success.”

Sanjay Adesara, Chief Business Officer, Adani Sportsline, added: “We are thrilled to welcome this exceptional group of cricketing minds. Their experience and shared values will be pivotal in taking the Gulf Giants to new heights.”

Gulf Giants Squad for ILT20 Season 4

Retained – Aayan Khan, Blessing Muzarabani, Gerhard Erasmus, James Vince, Mark Adair
New Signings – Azmatullah Omarzai, Moeen Ali, Rahmanullah Gurbaz