Like perhaps no other time in recent history, sports and politics are again at the crossroads this weekend. Pakistan has not hosted international cricket within the country since 2009. In that year, the visiting Sri Lanka team fell under attack by rebels, losing 8 of their members, with another 8 escaping with serious injuries. The Sri Lankans have decided to give it another go, on Sunday, when the blockade is broken... Tens of thousands of security will be deployed in Lahore when Sri Lanka become the first major cricket team to visit Pakistan since that deadly ambush. Some of the attack survivors will be among those returning to the scene. No one blames the several Sri Lankans who have opted out of this Twenty20 game, as security is not completely assured, given recent rebel attacks. Asanka Gurusinha and Hashan Tillakaratne of Sri Lanka and Pakistan's Ahsan Raza, are among those returning to the field for this match. Sunday's game will the third and final T20 - with the other two having been played in UAE, site of many of Pakistan's "home" games in recent years. Pakistani's have a great passion for Cricket, so this step towards normalcy is greeted with great expectation. Sunday's Twenty20 international is being hailed as a brave decision by Sri Lanka and a milestone for Pakistan as it attempts to end its sporting isolation. We wish all those involved the best this Sunday! Meanwhile back in Spain, the Catalans have declared independence. For some reason, though, their teams are still playing in the Spanish Liga. This weekend should be interesting, in that Real Madrid are playing in the Catalan stronghold Girona, and Barcelona travels to Basque stronghold Bilbao. Real Madrid is chasing Barcelona in the standings, whilst Bilbao has been scraping the bottom. Fresh from picking up FIFA's award for the best player of 2017, Cristiano Ronaldo will be one of number of Madrid stars to return after being rested for Madrid's Copa del Rey last-32, first-leg at third-tier Fuenlabrada on Thursday. Gareth Bale once again misses out through injury, although there is hope the Welshman could return from a calf problem in time to face his old team the Tottenham Hotspur in their Champions League contest on Wednesday. In England, the Premier League Season is heating up. Defeat is not an option for Manchester United or Tottenham Hotspur as their teams seek to keep pace with leaders Manchester City in the Premier League title race. The respective teams begin the weekend five points behind City as they face each other at Old Trafford in Saturday’s early kick-off. Man U has lost significant ground in the last two weekends. Coach Mourinho accused his players of a “poor attitude” after the Huddersfield reverse, and switched several of them out of starting spots. United have won all four of their home league matches this season, scoring 14 goals and conceding none, and Mourinho is seeking to keep that sequence going. "Tottenham are a direct rival every season," midfielder Ander Herrera said. "In the last two or three years they have improved a lot and they are contenders for everything. The Champions League, the Premier League and for both cups." That's right, Tottenham... The same Tottenham who beat Liverpool last weekend 4-1. The same Tottenham who will meet Real Madrid next Wednesday in Champion's League action. They would be clear favorites and full of confidence had they not lost to West Ham United during the week, 3-2. ... and what of the Gunners? Arsenal look prepared to field Chilean Alexis Sanchez, German Mesut Ozil and Alexandre Lacazette on Swansea City on Saturday after the trio all scored against Everton last weekend, this was the first time they had all played together. Prospects are, apparently, looking up for the team as they face Saturday's contest. At least the English Season gives us a bit of a break from the politics/sports nexus In the United States of America, hurricane ravaged Houston has recovered enough to cheer their home team, the Astros, along the way in the World Series of Baseball. Los Angeles hosted the first two games, and won and lost one, and with Friday night's game, Houston has convincingly seized the home field advantage. Today's game promises even more excitement. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "omnisport" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/omnisport. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
