Cricket

London: Former Test umpire Harold "Dickie" Bird, one of the most famous officials of his era, has died at the age of 92, Yorkshire County cricket Club announced on Tuesday. Bird stood in 66 Tests between 1973 and 1996 as well as 69 men's one-day internationals, including three World Cup finals. His home county, Yorkshire, issued a statement saying Bird, "one of cricket's most beloved figures", had died peacefully at home. "Dickie Bird enjoyed an illustrious career as an international umpire, writing his name into history as the most famous and popular official in the game's history," the club said. Yorkshire said he had become a "national treasure, known not only for his umpiring excellence but also for his "eccentricities and warmth". "He leaves behind a legacy of sportsmanship, humility, and joy -- and a legion of admirers across generations," the statement added. Bird had a modest playing career as a batter for Yorkshire and Leicestershire but made his name as an international umpire, wearing his trademark white cap. He was given a guard of honour at Lord's by England and India players before his final Test. Bird, who sold more than a million copies of his autobiography, was named Yorkshire president in 2014. Geoffrey Boycott, the Yorkshire and England batting great, had an enduring friendship with Bird from their days playing for Barnsley cricket Club in the 1950s. The 84-year-old summed up Bird's quirky nature when he recalled how his friend used to insist on calling him Gerald, despite his protestations. "I would say, 'My name's not Gerald, it's Geoffrey'," Boycott wrote in the Telegraph. "It made no difference telling him because he would then say, 'OK, put the gloves on for me Gerald'. "Dickie was a character and he was always fun. He was respected, admired and loved. He will be given a fond farewell." 'One of the best' Barnsley, Bird's hometown football club, announced they would hold a minute's applause in memory of the umpire before their League Cup tie against Brighton on Tuesday. Former England captain David Gower hailed Bird as "one of the best umpires ever to take the field". "He certainly set himself high standards as an umpire, but that smile on his face at all times, whether he's giving you out or not out, whatever he was doing out in the middle, you just knew that Dickie was in the place that he loved best," Gower told the BBC. "He was just a very, very good umpire. He had a sense of humour. He had the ability in his own very quirky and slightly barmy way of being able to get on with everyone." Graham Gooch, another former England captain, fondly recalled Bird's habit of becoming embroiled in unusual incidents during matches. "At Headingley once they had a leaking pipe, right where Dickie was standing," said Gooch. "Coming up like a sprinkler. It could only happen to him."

Football

Doha, Qatar: Muaither thumped Al Gharafa 5-2 while Abdallah Ahmed Nouri’s hat-trick powered Al Bidda to a 3-1 victory over Al Sadd as Second Division sides excelled in the second round of the QSL Cup yesterday. Muaither looked impressive from the kick-off at Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Stadium, building a strong 3-1 lead in the first half. Albert Ramis struck the opener in the 16th minute, with Youssef Al Yahri regaining the lead for Muaither after Florinel Coman had levelled for Al Gharafa with a spot kick in the 26th minute. Ivan Morales added a third for Muaither in first-half stoppage time to make it 3-1. Coman brought Al Gharafa back into the match with a goal in the 54th minute but Ramis restored Muaither’s two-goal cushion with his second strike just three minutes later. Abdulrahman Al Salahi sealed the emphatic win with a goal in the 67th minute as Muaither claimed their first victory of the tournament following a goalless draw against Al Markhiya in the opening round. Al Gharafa, who played out a 3-3 draw against Al Sadd in their first match, remain on one point. At Stadium 974, Nouri put Al Bidda ahead in the seventh minute, tapping in from close range off a cross from Tiku Cosmas. Al Sadd’s persistence paid off when Yamaan Jarrar pulled one back in the 52nd minute, finishing from the centre of the box after receiving a cross from Hashim Ali. But Nouri restored Al Bidda’s lead in the 75th minute - again assisted by Cosmas - and completed his hat-trick with a last-gasp goal, sealing a memorable win for the Second Division side. Meanwhile, another Second Division side, Al Waab held Al Arabi to a 1-1 draw at Al Khor Stadium. Ahmed Moeen opened the scoring for Al Arabi in the 26th minute with a diving touch, set up by Isaac Lehadj’s clever back pass. Skipper Baha Faisal equalised for Al Waab in the 70th minute, chipping into an open goal after substitute Ameer Fowadah’s cross, with Al Arabi goalkeeper Mohamed Saeed Ibrahim caught out after charging forward to block Fowadah. Al Arabi were playing under coach Yeray Rodriguez, who was elevated from the U-23 side to replace Pablo Amo. Amo’s contract was terminated following the team’s 8-1 loss to Al Duhail in the Qatar Stars League. At Al Shamal Stadium, Al Duhail took their points tally to four after edging Mesaimeer 2-1. Youssef Dhaflaoui gave Mesaimeer the lead in the 23rd minute, but Tahsin Mohammed equalised immediately in the 24th minute, with the teams heading into halftime locked at 1-1. Hamada Ghazi netted the winner for Al Duhail in the 70th minute to secure all three points. Today, Al Shahania will meet Al Shamal while Al Rayyan will take on Al Wakrah in the other match. QSL CUP YESTERDAY'S RESULTS Mesaimeer 1-2 Al Duhail Muaither 5-2 Al Gharafa Al Bidda SC 3-1 Al Sadd Al Arabi 1-1 Al Waab TODAY'S FIXTURES Al Shahania vs Al Shamal at Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium (18:00) Al Rayyan vs Al Wakrah at Hamad Bin Khalifa Stadium (20:00) TOMORROW Umm Salal vs Al Khor at Al Khor Stadium (18:00) Qatar SC vs Al Kharaitiyat at Al Shamal Sports Club (18:00) Lusail SC vs Al Ahli at 974 Stadium (20:00) Al Sailiya vs Al Markhiya at Saoud Bin Abdulrahman (20:00)

Football

Paris: France forward OusmaneDembeleon Monday won the men's Ballon d'Or, the most prestigious individual prize in football, rewarding his starring role in the Paris Saint-Germain side that lifted the Champions League trophy last season. Ousmane Dembélé is the 2025 men's Ballon D'or winner.#BallonDor pic.twitter.com/891mHjOJKr — The Peninsula Qatar (@PeninsulaQatar) September 22, 2025 Dembele, 28, pipped Barcelona and Spain teenage sensation Lamine Yamal to the prize at a ceremony in Paris and succeeds Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri, who won the trophy in 2024. The former Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona winger, who was part of the France team that won the World Cup in 2018, scored 35 goals in all competitions as PSG won a French league and cup double as well as the Champions League for the first time in their history. "I really don't have the words. It was an incredible season with PSG," said an emotionalDembele, who said his club coach Luis Enrique had been "like a father". "It is an individual trophy but it was really the collective that won it," addedDembele, who was one of nine members of the triumphant PSG team from last season nominated for the prize. "The Ballon d'Or has not really been an objective for me in my career but I worked hard for the team to win the Champions League." The 18-year-old Yamal, who was a teammate ofDembele's at Barcelona when he first broke through in 2023, earlier won the Kopa Trophy for the best player aged under 21 - the second year running he has taken that award.