Crown Jewel and WWE Raw tickets on sale

Crown Jewel and WWE Raw tickets on sale
Crown Jewel takes place at Mohammed Abdo arena in Riyadh on Saturday, Nov. 2. (Supplied)
Short Url
Updated 15 October 2024
Follow

Crown Jewel and WWE Raw tickets on sale

Crown Jewel and WWE Raw tickets on sale
  • Crown Jewel takes place at Mohammed Abdo arena in Riyadh on Saturday, Nov. 2
  • WWE Raw to debut in Saudia Arabia for the first time on Sunday, Nov. 3

RIYADH: The General Entertainment Authority announced on Tuesday the release of tickets for Crown Jewel and WWE Raw to be held at the Mohammed Abdo Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

History will be made at Crown Jewel as this year’s event starts an annual match pitting the WWE Champion against the World Champion for both the men and the women to determine the first-ever Crown Jewel Champion, a title made up of 50 carats of diamonds that will signify the best of the best.

Aiming to become Crown Jewel Champion on Saturday, Nov. 2 will be WWE Champion “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes and World Heavyweight Champion Gunther, plus WWE Women’s Champion Nia Jax and Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan.

Fans will see their favorite WWE Superstars in action across the weekend, including Roman Reigns, Sami Zayn, Seth “Freakin” Rollins, Rhea Ripley, Damian Priest, “Main Event” Jey Uso, Drew McIntyre, The New Day and many more.

The arrival of WWE Raw marks the first time that the show will be held Saudi Arabia. Taking place at the Mohammed Abdo Arena the night after Crown Jewel on Sunday, Nov. 3, the episode will broadcast internationally on Monday, Nov. 4.

Tickets for Crown Jewel and WWE Raw in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, can be purchased at https://webook.com.


Left-field thought and patio heaters: How Pakistan turned series on head

Left-field thought and patio heaters: How Pakistan turned series on head
Updated 27 October 2024
Follow

Left-field thought and patio heaters: How Pakistan turned series on head

Left-field thought and patio heaters: How Pakistan turned series on head
  • A revamped selection committee dropped out-of-form batsman Babar Azam, pace spearheads Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah
  • Azam’s replacement Kamran Ghulam, prolific in the domestic game but hitherto ignored, rewarded selectors with a century on debut

RAWALPINDI: When Pakistan slumped to a sixth Test defeat in a row, by an innings as England piled up 823-7 in Multan just over two weeks ago, it sparked some soul-searching and a radical rethink.
A revamped Pakistan selection committee dropped out-of-form batsman Babar Azam, pace spearheads Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah and instead turned to spin with instructions to groundstaff to produce pitches to match.
The featherbed batsmen’s paradise of the first Test at Multan was recycled, with the help of a dowsing by water and industrial fans, into a turning pitch for the second.
Azam’s replacement Kamran Ghulam, prolific in the domestic game but hitherto ignored, rewarded the new selectors with a century on debut.
But it was the recalled Noman Ali and Sajid Khan who ripped England apart with spin, guile and a flourish as they took all 20 wickets on their way to a 152-run victory.
More of the same was ordered for the series-deciding third Test in Rawalpindi and Pakistan completed a remarkable turnaround by nine wickets on Saturday.
The 2-1 triumph over England was their first home series win since February 2021.
“We were losing matches after matches, series after series because there was no plan,” former Pakistan wicketkeeper batsman Kamran Akmal told AFP.
“It’s thanks to the PCB for thinking out of the box and selectors for picking the discarded spinners that this win was forced,” said Akmal.
Pakistan took a punt using the same pitch for two Tests in a row in Multan.
But they pulled out all the stops in Rawalpindi, which had a reputation in the past of favoring seam bowlers, employing patio heaters and rakes to set up a spinning track.
Noman and Sajid this time shared 19 wickets as England crumbled to 112 all out and Pakistan cruised to victory by nine wickets.
Former England captain Michael Atherton gave credit to Pakistan for finally finding a way to win after a dire spell in all formats of the game.
“Pakistan now have a template to win at home,” said Atherton, who was a TV commentator for the series.
“You have got to be strong at home. Then you search for ways to adapt your game to win abroad.”
His TV colleague, another former England captain Nasser Hussain, said Pakistan “switched a plan mid-series and it’s paid dividends.”
Pakistan has had five PCB chairmen in as many years, with 26 different selectors and six head coaches over that same period.
Hussain said as a result, their previous tactics “would last a week” before being chopped and changed, ruling out an overarching strategy like the one that yielded two Test victories in a row.
“We met some fans who told us that they are happy that Pakistan at least have a plan now, even if it is an unorthodox one,” said Hussain.
“The win with a new plan has given them new joy.”
The series victory is the first Shan Masood since he was appointed captain last year and has given him respite from calls for his resignation.
But Pakistan will next play a two-match Test series in South Africa in December, where they have never won.
“We will need to plan and work hard for further progress and just not sit on this one win,” warned Akmal.
“A win will motivate everyone,” he said. “I am sure this will lift our cricket and we will regain our glory of the past.”


Azam, Afridi back in Pakistan squad for Australia tour

Azam, Afridi back in Pakistan squad for Australia tour
Updated 27 October 2024
Follow

Azam, Afridi back in Pakistan squad for Australia tour

Azam, Afridi back in Pakistan squad for Australia tour
  • Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi will be rested for limited-overs matches against Zimbabwe next month
  • Pakistan will play three ODI matches against Australia on Nov. 4, 8 and 10 at Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth

LAHORE: Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi were named on Sunday in Pakistan’s squads for the November limited-overs series in Australia after being dropped from the last two Tests against England.
However, selectors said the duo will be rested for the limited-overs matches in the Zimbabwe tour later next month.
A new captain for Pakistan’s white-ball format will also be announced later on Sunday to replace Azam, who stepped back this month after a second turn in the post.
Pakistan open the Australia tour with three one-day internationals in Melbourne (November 4), Adelaide (November 8) and Perth (November 10).
That will be followed by three Twenty20 internationals in Brisbane (November 14), Sydney (November 16) and Hobart (November 18).
Allrounders Aamer Jamal and Arafat Minhas, spinner Faisal Akram, wicketkeeper batsman Haseebullah and batsmen Irfan Khan and Saim Ayub have been selected for the first time in ODIs.
Likewise, allrounders Jahandad Khan and Salman Agha have been selected for the first time in T20Is.
Azam, appointed white-ball captain for the first time in 2019, stepped down after Pakistan’s disastrous first-round exit from the ODI World Cup in India last year.
However, he was re-appointed for a second time in March ahead of the T20I World Cup in the United States and West Indies — where Pakistan exited in the first round again, adding pressure on him to resign.
Squads for Australia:
ODI SQUAD: Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan, Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi
T20I SQUAD: Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah, Jahandad Khan, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Omair Bin Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Usman Khan
Squads for Zimbabwe:
ODI: Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan, Irfan Khan, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha, Shahnawaz Dahani, Tayyab Tahir
T20I: Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah, Jahandad Khan, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Irfan Khan, Omair bin Yousuf, Qasim Akram, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Agha, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir, Usman Khan


Renard return should bring joy to Saudi national team and fans

Renard return should bring joy to Saudi national team and fans
Updated 27 October 2024
Follow

Renard return should bring joy to Saudi national team and fans

Renard return should bring joy to Saudi national team and fans
  • The Frenchman replaces Roberto Mancini and hopes to recreate the magic that saw the Green Falcons beat Argentina at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar

LONDON: “I’m back.” And with those words on Saturday night, one of the biggest — though least surprising — homecomings in Asian football was complete.

Herve Renard is the new (and old) Saudia Arabian coach. It is a little over 18 months since the Frenchman left Riyadh to become head coach of the women’s national team in his homeland, and he has some work to do on his return.

Saudi football fans hope he brings him the joy that was felt during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when their nation beat eventual champions Argentina 2-1.

“I did not intend to leave but when your country knocks on your door, you have to respond,” Renard said in a video released by the Saudi Arabia Football Federation. “My connection with Saudi, the fans, the players and all the memories — I can never forget.”

Such words will be well-received by the fans, coming just two days after Roberto Mancini was dismissed following 14 months in the job. It was clear the federation already had their man in place and Renard’s return feels like a warm, comfortable embrace.

 

 

Qualification for the 2026 World Cup was not going well. Five points from the first four games, three of which were in Jeddah, was a disappointing start in Group C for the Saudi team. With only the top two sure of a place in North America, the Green Falcons were already resigned — or Mancini was, at least — to a battle.

The goalless home draw with Bahrain on Oct. 15 was the final straw. Bahrain are level with Saudi Arabia on five points, as are the Kingdom’s next opponents, Australia. Bosses wanted to make the change before the long journey to Melbourne.

That crucial match comes almost three years to the day since Renard took the team to Sydney for a 2022 World Cup qualifier. It was the fourth game of the third round. Saudi Arabia had won their first three and produced a fighting performance to draw 0-0, showing the spirit that would take them all the way to Qatar. In the end the team finished top of a tough group, above Japan and a massive eight points clear of Australia in third.

It is a stark contrast to the current situation. The national team are low on confidence, having scored just three goals in five games — two came from Hassan Kadesh headers in China, with midfielder Musab Al-Juwayr getting the other.

But it is not just about results on the pitch; the atmosphere around the national team has soured of late. This stems from the results, of course, but the sight of Mancini gesturing and seemingly shouting at fans at the end of the Bahrain game was also a cause for concern. The Italian was also visibly angry with Salem Al-Dawsari for missing his second penalty in four qualifiers.

Mancini may have won some big trophies as a coach, but repeated complaints about the lack of playing time given to his players did not go down well.

In contrast, Renard plays the game well off the pitch and seems to enjoy his job. There is none of Mancini’s spikiness. This is bound to improve the atmosphere around the team instantly.

They say you should never go back, but there was already an understanding in Riyadh when Reynard left for France. There were no acrimonious circumstances surrounding his departure.

After being in charge for almost four years, the 56-year-old knew his players well. And there will always be that unforgettable win against Argentina in 2022. Renard’s half-time team-talk has gone down in World Cup history, not just in Saudi Arabia but everywhere. His leadership and motivational qualities are on show for all to see.

Still, it is easily forgotten that there were a few rumblings before Renard left. Five of his last six games ended in defeat, albeit against the kind of international opposition the Kingdom does not face often.

Nobody cares about that now, however; now, it is about qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. Renard has a contract until 2025 with an option to extend to 2027, the duration of his last contract. This would also include the Asian Cup, which is set to take place on home soil.

As he left last year, he said: “I think I did the maximum with the team. I can’t reach another level so I prefer to be honest with everybody.”

There is no need for that other level right now. All everyone wants is a return to the old one. That the federation has turned to a familiar, friendly face is understandable. It will be a happier team that flies to Australia next month — for a game they can’t afford to lose.


Ilia Topuria makes good on his promise, becomes first man to stop Max Holloway at UFC 308

Ilia Topuria makes good on his promise, becomes first man to stop Max Holloway at UFC 308
Updated 27 October 2024
Follow

Ilia Topuria makes good on his promise, becomes first man to stop Max Holloway at UFC 308

Ilia Topuria makes good on his promise, becomes first man to stop Max Holloway at UFC 308
  • Using a huge right hand to daze Holloway, Topuria (16-0) followed up moments later with a powerful left hook that dropped the 32-year-old
  • It was Topuria’s first title defense since capturing the belt with a second-round technical knockout of Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298

ABU DHABI: Featherweight champion Ilia Topuria vowed to become the first man to knock out Max Holloway.
He made good on his promise at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.
Using a huge right hand to daze Holloway, Topuria (16-0) followed up moments later with a powerful left hook that dropped the 32-year-old. Topuria pounced on Holloway immediately for a ground-and-pound finish before referee Mark Goddard stopped the bout at the 1:34 mark of the third round.
“To beat a legend like Max Holloway, I don’t know what to say,” Topuria said. “He’s been a great example for the generation. ... I hope I’m gonna be a small example he has been for me for the new generation.”
Topuria said he knew immediately with his initial power punch that the victory was within his grasp.
“I catch him with ... the right hand, I felt it,” Topuria said. “I saw it in his face. You don’t see that often in Max Holloway.”
Topuria opened the match with Holloway’s traditional gesture of pointing to the center of the ring, indicating he wanted to throw down with immediacy. Holloway, instead, pointed to where he was standing.
The two mixed it up in the first round, Topuria doing early damage with leg kicks to Holloway’s lead leg. Both fighters’ boxing skills were on display in the second round, with Holloway landing several big shots. But it was Topuria’s leg kicks that seemingly continued to weaken Holloway.
Then came his two big punches in the third.
“He just landed a shot and I guess it hurt much more than I thought it did,” said Holloway, who fell to 26-8. “I felt great until he did it. No excuses. I felt great, I had a great camp, no injuries. I went out there, did my thing. He was just a better man tonight.”
It was Topuria’s first title defense since capturing the belt with a second-round technical knockout of Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 on Feb. 17.
Topuria’s back-to-back victories over Holloway and Volkanovski make a case for Fighter of the Year.
Volkanovski was in attendance Saturday, and Topuria said he would honor him with a rematch.
“You deserve that, you’re the man,” Topuria told Volkanovski, who entered the octagon after the match.
In the co-main event, No. 13 Khamzat Chimaev (14-0) stopped No. 3 Robert Whitaker (27-8) with a first-round submission just 3:34 into the fight, after taking him down and administering a wicked face crank.
“I’m going for the belt!” Chimaev exclaimed after his dominating win.
“I love you brother, you’re a legend,” the Russian told Whitaker during his post-fight interview.
Additionally from the main card:
Top-ranked light heavyweight Magomed Ankalaev defeated No. 5 Aleksandar Rakic by unanimous decision after three rounds.
In an action-packed three-round featherweight match, Lerone Murphy beat Dan Ige by unanimous decision.
Shara Magomedov (15-0-0) defeated Armen Petrosyan (9-4-0) by TKO at the 4:52 mark of the second round of their middleweight bout.


Olympic champion Zheng wins in Tokyo for third title of year

Olympic champion Zheng wins in Tokyo for third title of year
Updated 27 October 2024
Follow

Olympic champion Zheng wins in Tokyo for third title of year

Olympic champion Zheng wins in Tokyo for third title of year
  • The win extended world No. 7 Zheng’s impressive run of form this year
  • She also won in Palermo and finished runner-up in Wuhan and at the Australian Open

TOKYO: Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen won the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo on Sunday for her third title of the year, beating Sofia Kenin 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 in the final.

China’s Zheng, the tournament’s top seed, kept her cool to edge a tight first set despite two rain delays, before pressing home her advantage to take the second comfortably.

The win extended world No. 7 Zheng’s impressive run of form this year after she became the first Chinese player to win an Olympic singles tennis gold when she triumphed in Paris.

She also won in Palermo and finished runner-up in Wuhan and at the Australian Open.

Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion, was in doubt after retiring from her doubles semifinal on Saturday with a leg injury.

The American played the final with heavy strapping on her upper leg but showed no outward signs of discomfort.

It was world No. 155 Kenin’s first final of 2024.

She was looking to end a title drought that stretches back more than four years.

Neither player was allowed to get into a rhythm early in the match as rain twice brought play to a halt in Tokyo.

The roof was eventually closed and Zheng edged ahead with the slimmest of margins to take the first set in a tiebreak.

Backed by a large contingent of Chinese fans, the 22-year-old took control of the second set early.

She hit a total of 16 aces in the match and closed it out when Kenin hit a return long.