ANN/THE STAR – The ringgit is expected to continue its gains against the United States (US) dollar next week, potentially trading between 4.41 and 4.42, said Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid.
He said attention will be on the movement of the US Dollar Index (DXY), which has dipped to 99.758 points. “If the DXY remains subdued, there is a possibility the ringgit could appreciate further,” he told Bernama.
Looking ahead, Mohd Afzanizam said the ongoing US-China trade war will remain a key factor influencing market sentiment.
He noted that uncertainties over potential announcements from the US administration are leaving markets cautious, as investors struggle to assess whether the developments will have a positive or negative impact on the global economy.
Meanwhile, SPI Asset Management managing director Stephen Innes expects the foreign exchange (forex) markets to stabilise next week, noting that the impact of the trade war is waning as it shifts from policy-driven concerns to political posturing. The local currency ended the week at 4.4200/4265 against the greenback, up from 4.4335/4400 the previous week. Year to date, the ringgit has strengthened by 1.09 per cent.
It slid against the Japanese yen to 3.0952/1000 from 3.0294/0340 last week, decreased vis-a-vis the euro to 5.0207/0281 from 4.8706/8778, and fell against the British pound to 5.7849/7934 from 5.7591/7676. The local note was traded mixed against ASEAN currencies.
It appreciated against the Philippine peso to 7.75/7.77 from 7.80/7.782 and was better vis-a-vis the Indonesian rupiah to 263.1/263.6 from 266.2/266.7 last week.
However, it slid versus the Singapore dollar to 3.3495/3549 from 3.3153/3204 and declined against the Thai baht to 13.1599/1902 from 12.9589/9847.
AP – Many of the world’s largest shipping nations decided to impose a minimum fee of USD100 for every tonne of greenhouse gases emitted by ships above certain thresholds, in what is effectively the first global tax on greenhouse gas emissions.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) estimates USD11 billion to USD13 billion in revenue annually from the fees, with the money to be put into its net zero fund to invest in fuels and technologies needed to transition to green shipping, reward low-emission ships and support developing countries so they aren’t left behind with dirty fuels and old ships.
The thresholds set through the agreement will get stricter over time to try to reach the IMO’s goal of net zero across the industry by about 2050.
The agreement, reached with the United States (US) notably absent, is expected to be formally adopted at an October meeting to take effect in 2027. The IMO, which regulates international shipping, also set a marine fuel standard to phase in cleaner fuels.
Shipping emissions have grown over the last decade to about three per cent of the global total as vessels have gotten bigger, delivering more cargo per trip and using immense amounts of fuel.
A container ship approaches the port of Santos in Brazil. PHOTO: APDockworkers secure lines from a container ship at the Port of Oakland. PHOTO: AP
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said the group forged a meaningful consensus in the face of complex challenges to combat climate change and modernise shipping. The shipping industry is on track to meet the net zero goal, he added.
Some environmentalists at the meeting called the agreement a “historic decision” that doesn’t go far enough. The fee doesn’t drive enough emission reductions and it won’t raise enough revenue to help developing countries transition to greener shipping, said senior director for climate diplomacy at a United Kingdom (UK)-based climate change non-profit Opportunity Green Emma Fenton.
Fenton said the measure actually opens the door for a scenario where ships can pay to pollute instead of decarbonise, because it could be cheaper to simply absorb the fee than to make changes to reduce emissions, like switching fuels.
Other groups welcomed the agreement as a step in the right direction.
“By approving a global fuel standard and greenhouse gas pricing mechanism, the International Maritime Organization took a crucial step to reduce climate impacts from shipping. Member states must now deliver on strengthening the fuel standard over time to more effectively incentivise the sector’s adoption of zero and near-zero fuels, and to ensure a just and equitable energy transition,” said Natacha Stamatiou of the Environmental Defense Fund.
The previous day, delegates approved a proposal to designate an emissions control area in the North-East Atlantic Ocean. Ships traveling through the area will have to abide by more stringent controls on fuels and their engines to reduce pollution. It will cover ships coming into and leave ports in the North Atlantic, such as the UK, Greenland, France and the Faroe Islands. It will oblige ships from North America, Asia and many other destinations to reduce emissions, said lead adviser to the Clean Arctic Alliance Sian Prior.
The Marine Environment Protection Committee, which is part of the IMO, has been in meetings all week in London and finalised its decision on Friday.
One major issue during the meetings was the way the fee would be charged. More than 60 countries entered the negotiations pushing for a simple tax charged per metric tonne of emissions. They were led by Pacific island nations, whose very existence is threatened by climate change.
Other countries with sizable maritime fleets – notably China, Brazil, Saudi Arabia and South Africa – wanted a credit trading model instead of a fixed levy. Finally, a compromise between the two models was reached. The compromise is in the ambition of the measure, since the fee is not a universal levy on all emissions.
The IMO aimed for consensus in decision-making, but in this case had to vote. Sixty-three nations, including China, Brazil, South Africa and many European states, approved the agreement. Led by Saudi Arabia, 16 opposed. And 24 nations, including a group from the Pacific Islands, abstained. Ministers from the island nations said they refused to support an agreement that would “do too little, too late to cut shipping emissions and protect their islands,” and will try to strengthen it at the October meeting.
“We came as climate vulnerable countries – with the greatest need and the clearest solution. And what did we face? Weak alternatives from the world’s biggest economies,” Tuvalu’s Minister for Transport, Energy, Communication and Innovation Simon Kofe said in a statement.
Brazil’s negotiator, who wasn’t identified by name in a livestream of the closing, said the agreement isn’t intended to be perfect because each nation would have a different answer on what would be perfect. But he said nations listened to each other and came up with a framework to address climate change in an extremely challenging geopolitical environment.
The US didn’t participate in the negotiations in London and urged other governments to oppose the emission measures being considered.
The Trump administration said it would reject any efforts to impose economic measures against its ships based on emissions or fuel choice, which it said would burden the sector and drive inflation. It threatened possible reciprocal measures if any fees are charged.
When asked about the US’ position in a press conference, Secretary-General Dominguez said large ships traveling between different countries are obliged to comply with the IMO’s regulations. He said nations with concerns should engage with the IMO, to move forward together.
Dominguez also addressed concerns that the targeted reductions in carbon intensity for fuels aren’t strict enough to reduce the use of liquefied natural gas as a marine fuel, which emits greenhouse gases when burned. He said it’s a “transition fuel,” or a bridge to cleaner fuels, and the IMO will continue to look at its environmental impacts in addressing its use.
ANN/THE KOREA HERALD – South Korean stocks ended lower as the trade dispute between the United States (US) and China escalated, driven by Washington’s retaliatory tariff measures. Meanwhile, the Korean won strengthened against the US dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index dropped by 12.34 points, or 0.5 per cent, closing at 2,432.72.
Trade volume was moderate at 361 million shares worth KRW7.61 trillion. Winners, however, beat losers 536 to 340.
Foreigners sold a net KRW688.5 billion worth of stocks, while individuals and institutions combined purchased a net KRW571.5 billion. Overnight, Wall Street, which rallied the previous session from US President Donald Trump’s pause on reciprocal tariffs for 90 days, plunged amid the intensifying tit-for-tat retaliatory tariff measures between Washington and Beijing.
The S&P 500 dropped 3.46 per cent, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 2.5 per cent, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite tumbled 4.31 per cent.
“The tariff war dynamic has now shifted to a one-on-one standoff between the US and China,” said analyst at Kiwoom Securities Han Ji-young, while advising investors to monitor developments rather than make hasty sell decisions. Market bellwether Samsung Electronics plunged 2.13 per cent to KRW55,200, while its chipmaking rival SK hynix dropped 1.31 per cent to KRW180,800.
Leading battery maker LG Energy Solution plummeted 4.01 per cent to KRW335,000, and top automaker Hyundai Motor lost 5.08 per cent to end at KRW177,500.
Steel giant POSCO Holdings shed 2.3 per cent to end at KRW255,000 and SK Innovation retreated 4.79 per cent to KRW97,300.
The local currency was trading at KRW1,449.9 against the US dollar at 3.30pm, up KRW6.5 from the previous session.
An electronic board showing the Korea Composite Stock Price Index at a dealing room of the Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul. PHOTO: THE KOREA HERALD
LOS ANGELES (AFP) – The Denver Nuggets strengthened their playoff position with a triple double from history-making Nikola Jokic helping them to a 117-109 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday.
The Serb put up 26 points, 13 assists and 16 rebounds, and his 34th triple double performance ensured he will finish the regular season as just the third player averaging a triple double across an entire season.
The 15-point comeback victory was the second straight win for interim head coach David Adelman, who took over when Michael Malone was fired in a surprise move.
Malone, who led Denver to the NBA championship in 2023, was dismissed after a four-game losing streak.
The win means the Nuggets improve to 49-32 on the season and have a real chance of grabbing fourth place and home court advantage in the playoffs.
Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets in the fourth quarter at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. PHOTO: AFP
Aaron Gordon top scored with 33 points for Denver while Jamal Murray, back from a six-game injury absence, played a key role down the stretch and ended with 15 points and seven assists. The game was tied at 108 with 3:30 left but Murray and Jokic saw the Nuggets to the victory.
Adelman paid tribute to Murray for the physical effort he put in after a lengthy absence with his ankle injury.
“You can tell he was exhausted. He hasn’t played in a long time… but the harder it gets, the more tired he gets, the better he plays. To watch those guys play the two-man game at the end, I know I’d buy a ticket to watch that,” he said.
Asked about Jokic’s latest display and his place in the record books, Adelman said: “If he doesn’t win the MVP then it is the greatest season of all-time not to win the MVP”.
The loss leaves Memphis with a 47-34 record. They face Dallas in the final round of games on today. Elsewhere, the Los Angeles Lakers clinched third seed in the Western Conference with a 140-109 pounding of an under-strength Houston Rockets, who had already assured themselves of second seed in the West.
Luka Doncic, who scored 45 points in his emotional return to Dallas, had another big offensive display with 39 points in a comfortable victory for the Lakers, who are on track to face the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the playoffs as things stand.
The Warriors, who blew past the Portland Trail Blazers 103-86 on Friday, currently occupy sixth place in the Western Conference.
The Oklahoma City Thunder, who have secured the top seed, convincingly beat the Utah Jazz 145-111 with Aaron Wiggins scoring 35 points and Isaiah Joe adding 32. The Thunder were without top scorer Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who missed a second straight game with a shin injury. In the East, the Cleveland Cavaliers, who have secured the top seed, rallied for a 108-102 win over third-seeds the New York Knicks. Darius Garland scored 26 points for Cleveland, half of them in the fourth quarter, as the Cavs fought back from 23 points down.
The Knicks secured the third seed when the Indiana Pacers, who sat out all their starters, lost 129-115 to the Orlando Magic.
The Boston Celtics, the second seed, collected their 60th win of the season with a 130-94 win over the Charlotte Hornets.
New Orleans Pelicans suffered the heaviest regular season defeat in franchise history as they were crushed 153-104 by the Miami Heat. Bam Adebayo was only on the court for 22 minutes but still put up 23 points and 12 rebounds as Miami, who led by 52 points at one stage, ran rampant against an injury weakened Pelicans.
However, the victory did nothing to improve Miami’s playoff position. With other results going against them, the Heat are locked into tenth place and will play at the Chicago Bulls in a play-in game on Wednesday.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Much of this season for the Minnesota Timberwolves has been harder than it needed to be, so it’s fitting they might have to play their final game – which they need to win to improve their seed for the playoffs – without star Anthony Edwards.
Edwards was slapped with his NBA-high 18th technical foul of the season for using profanity to complain about a call in Minnesota’s 117-91 win over Brooklyn on Friday night, prompting an automatic suspension for the next game against Utah.
NBA rules dictate a one-game suspension for any player who reaches 16 technical fouls during the regular season. Each two additional technicals trigger another suspension.
The league has the right to review and rescind a technical foul, which the Timberwolves will hope for considering they lost at Utah on February 28 the first time Edwards was suspended.
Edwards was whistled for a personal foul while closely guarding Brooklyn’s Keon Johnson on the wing midway through the second quarter. After spreading his arms out in disbelief with a furrowed glance at official Ray Acosta, Edwards quickly got the technical, too.
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets in Minneapolis.PHOTO: AP
Crew chief Bill Kennedy told a pool reporter after the game that the technical was assessed for the profanity used toward Acosta, which Edwards confirmed.
“I tried to play good defense. They called a foul,” Edwards said, adding he then asked what the foul was while using profanity. “And he gave me a tech. I hope they look at it and rescind it, so I can play in a couple days.”
Edwards separately from the technicals has been fined six times for a total of USD320,000 for various behaviours.
“I’m praying they rescind it,” he added. “I don’t feel like it should’ve been a tech, but me and Ray got a good relationship. We talked it out after the fact. But I don’t think I deserved a tech for just that little gesture.” The Timberwolves agreed. “I did not really get a good or clear explanation of why the technical occurred. It didn’t seem like there was anything egregious or overly demonstrative,” coach Chris Finch said.
The Timberwolves (48-33) can still finish as high as fourth in the crowd of Western Conference contenders, which would come with home-court advantage for the first round of the playoffs.
They can also drop as low as eighth, which would require them to win a play-in game to get a spot in the bracket.
Minnesota is 16-4 since the loss to Utah with Edwards sitting out. The Jazz are tied with Washington for the NBA’s worst record at 17-64.
“We’ll try to see if he can appeal it and if not, everyone’s going to have to step up,” said Rudy Gobert, who matched his career high with 35 points against the Nets.
LONDON (AFP) – Burnley stepped up their bid for promotion to the Premier League with a 2-1 win against Norwich to send them back to the top of the Championship.
Scott Parker’s side extended their unbeaten league run to 29 matches thanks to first half goals from Hannibal Mejbri and Jaidon Anthony at Turf Moor.
Norwich were much improved in the second half and substitute Jack Stacey pulled one back.
But the Clarets stood firm to move three points clear of second-placed Leeds in the battle for automatic promotion via a top two finish.
Leeds will regain pole position if they win their game in hand against Preston at Elland Road, while third-placed Sheffield United – five points behind Burnley – travel to bottom of the table Plymouth.
Burnley, relegated from the top-flight last season, are unbeaten in their last 21 home league games and Norwich were unable to end that impressive streak.
Parker’s men dominated possession and their patient probing paid off when Mejbri struck in the 14th minute.
The Tunisia midfielder darted on to Josh Cullen’s inch-perfect free-kick into the penalty area and kept his composure to steer a low finish beyond Angus Gunn for his first goal for the club. Burnley doubled the lead when Anthony’s shot from outside the area struck Norwich captain Shane Duffy on the back and wrong-footed Gunn in the 24th minute. Stacey, a 67th minute replacement for Emiliano Marcondes, hauled the Canaries back in it in the 76th minute. Kenny McLean headed a corner goalwards and Stacey was first to react, turning the ball home from close range for only the sixth goal conceded by James Trafford on home soil this season.
Burnley FC players at Turf Moor stadium in England. PHOTO: AFP
AP – FIFA President Gianni Infantino praised the impact of expanded tournaments in the development of soccer around the world in a video message to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Congress on Saturday.
Speaking from the United States (US), host of this year’s Club World Cup which will feature 32 teams in June and July instead of the previous seven, Infantino addressed the 46 member associations gathered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
“Opportunities to face opponents from different continents don’t come along too often and that is something that we have been trying to change at FIFA,” said Infantino, who has pushed for bigger and new tournaments since taking his position in 2016 in a bid to generate more revenue for the organisation’s 211 member associations.
Asia will have four representatives at the Club World Cup: Al-Ain of the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal, Ulsan HD of South Korea and Japan’s Urawa Reds.
“In total, players from more nations will represent their respective countries at this tournament than at all of the FIFA World Cups combined since 1930,” added Infantino. “It is further proof in our desire to make football truly global.”
While there has been some criticism of expanded tournaments in Europe because of the increased demands placed on players, AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa said Infantino had Asia’s support. “This is a competition that we have supported as a confederation and a competitive opportunity which our members, and their clubs, have wanted,” the AFC president said.
The US will also co-host the 2026 World Cup along with Mexico and Canada in the first tournament to feature 48 national teams, an increase from 32 in 2022.
“Some teams will break new ground in reaching that competition as a result, not only of the move to 48 teams with eight or even nine Asian teams now being able to qualify, but also a product of the tireless work being done by you all,” added Infantino.
Infantino did not mention the proposal by President of South American soccer’s ruling body CONMEBOL Alejandro Dominguez, that the 2030 World Cup, which will be hosted by six nations, feature 64 teams in order to mark the centennial celebration of the tournament.
LONDON (AFP) – Ange Postecoglou insists the person leaking information about Tottenham injuries and team selections is not one of his players.
Postecoglou claimed there is a mole at the club after social media speculation about Wilson Odobert being sidelined for Thursday’s Europa League quarter-final draw against Eintracht Frankfurt with a hamstring injury.
Odobert was eventually named as an unused substitute for the first leg in north London, but the latest leaking of information at Tottenham prompted Postecoglou to go public with his grievances.
The under-fire Australian’s team are languishing in 14th place in the Premier League ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Wolves.
And Postecoglou is convinced someone outside of the squad is trying to undermine his bid to avoid the sack.
File photo shows Tottenham Hotspur members players on the field.PHOTO: AFPTottenham Hotspur’s manager Ange Postecoglou. PHOTO: AFP
“It’s been going on for a while. It started last year. We thought we had nipped it in the bud but it’s still consistently coming out at different times,” he told reporters.
“You try to keep the circle of information pretty tight. I don’t understand why people would do it, especially if they’re so-called in our camp because I don’t know how it’s helpful to us.
It certainly doesn’t seem to be helpful to us. “It’s not agents. Definitely not agents. The stuff that is coming out is pretty specific. The language used is not used by agents. It’s definitely not the players.”
Postecoglou has endured a difficult second season in charge, with Tottenham’s last hope of ending their 17-year trophy drought resting with the Europa League.
The leaker is the latest issue for the former Celtic boss, who is unhappy that private medical information about players has been allowed to become public knowledge.
“Even though we’re in the world of football and I know everyone thinks these things should be carte blanche in terms of information flow, I’m still very respectful in terms of medical records and how much information we actually give on certain things,” he said.
“Sometimes players don’t want that information disclosed, it’s as simple as that. The fact that it is getting out is unacceptable, from a club perspective, because it doesn’t help us and from an individual’s perspective because it doesn’t help him.
“As a club, I just think, I’ve got enough challenges out there without adding more to ours.
“We’ll deal with it internally. Like you deal with anything. You do the right thing and deal with it.”
Postecoglou joked he had turned into fictional detective Jack Reacher to find out the source of the leak.
“There’s always a bit of detective work in football management. I think it’s a cultural thing.
I’m big on creating a culture of success and I don’t think successful organisations behave in that manner,” he said. “That’s the bit that we’re constantly, not just me, but the other people in the club are trying to change and trying to get the club to a place where there is a real strong mentality and identity of who we are and protect that.”
AUGUSTA (AP) – The end of a long day that reshaped the Masters had Scottie Scheffler sitting in the pine straw under a magnolia tree left of the 18th fairway, waiting for a rules official but looking very much like someone who simply needed to catch his breath.
Rest up for a weekend at Augusta National that doesn’t figure to lack for drama.
It starts with Justin Rose, who did just enough in his round of 1-under 71 to be the 36-hole leader for the third time in his career as the 44-year-old from England tries to become the second-oldest Masters champion behind Jack Nicklaus.
The leading role returns to Rory McIlroy, who came to life with a birdie-birdie-par-eagle start to the back nine. Maybe that’s where his Masters started, because he roared into contention with a bogey-free 66 that renewed hopes of a green jacket to complete the career Grand Slam.
Unite States (US) Open champion Bryson DeChambeau might have learned to putt the Augusta National greens, a scary proposition for someone who already knows how to bash the golf ball. He shot 68 and was a shot behind Rose in his best start ever at the Masters.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland during the second round at the Masters golf tournament in Augusta, Georgia. PHOTO: APThe tournament in progress. PHOTO: APPHOTO: APRory McIlroy; and Justin Rose at the Masters golf tournament in Augusta, Georgia. PHOTO: AP
And Scheffler, the defending Masters champion did his best to survive the worst of the conditions, mainly wind that caused a little discomfort and a lot of uncertainty.
He made five bogeys over his last 12 holes, the last one by going from under the magnolia, back to the fairway, over the green and then hitting a superb chip to limit the damage.
All that and he was only three behind after a 71. “We’ve got a great golf course, conditions should be really good, challenging, and we’ve got some great guys on top of the leaderboard,” Scheffler said. “So it should be a fun weekend.”
Sixteen players were separated by five shots at the halfway point, nine of them major champions, three of them with experience winning at Augusta National.
“The leaderboard is stacking up very favourably for what looks like world-class players right up there,” Rose said after a round that featured birdies on the par fives on the front nine and on the par threes on the back nine.
Rose took a three-shot lead into the second round and had the advantage of playing early, before the wind became strong enough to make flags snap and create just enough indecision. He hit a nine-iron over Rae’s Creek to four feet for birdie on the par-three 12th, and he stuffed his tee shot on the par-three 16th for another birdie.
That allowed him to atone for a few mistakes. He was at eight-under 136, the third time he has had the 36-hole lead at the Masters. The buzz came from behind him. DeChambeau picked up an unlikely birdie by holing a bunker shot on the par-three fourth hole on his way to a 32 on the front nine that kept him on Rose’s heels the rest of the way.
“This is what golf is about,” DeChambeau said. “Got a lot of great names up there, and looking forward to an unbelievable test of golf.”
And then there was McIlroy, who had two double bogeys over the last four holes on Thursday, the latest frustrating chapter for him at the Masters. This time, he managed to forget about it and move on. He went birdie-birdie-par-eagle to start the back nine and was on his way to a bogey-free 66.
“I had to remind myself I was playing well,” McIlroy said. “I couldn’t let two bad holes dictate the narrative of the 16 good ones. I also had to remind myself this morning not to push too hard too early.” Corey Conners of Canada quietly put together a 70 and joined McIlroy at six-under 138.
The group three shots back included Scheffler (71), former British Open champion Shane Lowry (68) and Tyrrell Hatton, who got within one shot of Rose until a pair of three-putts. One of them did a U-turn down the hill at the 16th.
The other was a sleepy tap-in that lipped out. It shapes up for a wide-open weekend, led by a 44-year-old from England who has gone a dozen years since winning his only major at the 2013 US Open. Rose spoke last year about finding another stretch of magic in his career, and opportunity awaits.
“This is nice to be back in that mix.” McIlroy was thrilled, too. There was plenty of temptation to come out firing, but that’s what he did in 2023 when he played on Friday afternoon and saw he faced a 10-shot deficit. He tried to charge and wound up charging right out of the parking lot after missing the cut.
This time, he played the front nine with one birdie and eight pars. But he came to life quickly, stuffing a three-quarter eight-iron to a foot on number 10 and a similar play with a nine-iron to about four feet on number 11.
Best of all was hitting four-iron off the pine straw on the par-five 13th that narrowly cleared the tributary of Rae’s Creek and set up a 10-foot eagle.
“Things sort of clicked into gear on the back nine,” McIlroy said.
Scheffler and Tyrrell Hatton faced the worst of the wind. Scheffler’s tee shot on the par-three 12th sailed into the azaleas over the green, bounced out and he chipped in for birdie.
He played with limited stress one day, and it felt like chaos the next.
“Golf is a funny game. It’s a day-to-day thing. Yesterday I felt really sharp. Today not as sharp,” Scheffler said. The cut was at two-over 146, marking the end of 67-year-old Bernhard Langer’s career at the Masters. He needed to make a 10-foot par putt on the last hole, only for it to tickle the right side of the cup.
Five-time major champion Brooks Koepka might have had the most shocking departure. He was in good shape, needing a bogey on the 18th. He made a quadruple bogey, starting with a tee shot into the trees and ending with a three-putt from 10 feet.
Now the attentions shifts back to the top. “You’re going to have to play great golf, and you’re going to have to go out there and want it and go for it and get after it,” Rose said. “It’s as simple as that, really.”
AHMEDABAD (AP) – Gujarat Titans’ batter Glenn Phillips of New Zealand has been ruled out of the remainder of the Indian Premier League (IPL) due to a groin injury.
Phillips sustained the injury when he came on as a substitute fielder during Gujarat’s game against Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 6.
The IPL said in a statement yesterday that Phillips has “returned to New Zealand.”
Phillips did not have a chance to start in any of the five Gujarat games this season. He is the second overseas player of the franchise to leave the tournament early after Kagiso Rabada of South Africa returned home on April 3 to deal with a personal matter. It was not clear when Rabada will rejoin the team.
Gujarat has eight points from four wins in five games and is joint leader with Delhi Capitals, which has won all of its four games and also has eight points.
Jos Buttler of England, Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan and Sherfane Rutherford of the West Indies are the overseas players who have played for Gujarat this season.
It also has South African fast bowler Gerald Coetzee and Afghanistan’s Karim Janat as overseas players in its ranks.
Gujarat Titans’ Glenn Philips reacts in pain during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Gujarat Titans at Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad, India. PHOTO: AP
