RIYADH // The new Saudi Arabia coach Jorge Peseiro has dropped the former Asian Player of the Year Yasser al Qahtani from the national squad for a crucial World Cup match on April 1 after the striker missed a practice session.
Al Qahtani, 26, rated the continent's leading player in 2007, played in Al Hilal's club match against Al Wehda on Monday night but skipped a national squad session on Tuesday.
"The coach has decided against including Yasser Al Qahtani after he missed the training and didn't reply repeated phone calls," the Saudi team manager Fahed al Musebeih was quoted saying in a report posted on the Asian Football Confederation's website today.
Al Qahtani was already going to miss Saturday's World Cup match against Iran because of suspension. Peseiro has also ruled him out for the match against UAE four days later.
Iran warmed up for Saturday's match with a 1-0 win over Kuwait on Monday night, via Maziar Zareh's penalty in the 84th minute.
The Saudis were held to a scoreless draw in a friendly against the Asian Cup champions Iraq on Sunday.
Saudi Arabia lie fourth in the five-team Group B half way through the final full round of Asian qualifying for the 2010 World Cup with four points.
South Korea lead the group with eight points, one clear of North Korea and two ahead of Iran. The top two teams in Asian Groups A and B earn direct places at the World Cup in South Africa, while the third-place teams in each group play off for a spot in an intercontinental qualifier.
*AP
Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE squad
Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind
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Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE
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Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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In
- Raed Mozafar Abu Al Saoud, Minister of Water and Irrigation
- Dr Bassam Samir Al Talhouni, Minister of Justice
- Majd Mohamed Shoueikeh, State Minister of Development of Foundation Performance
- Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research
- Falah Abdalla Al Ammoush, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Basma Moussa Ishakat, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Ghazi Monawar Al Zein, Minister of Health
- Ibrahim Sobhi Alshahahede, Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Environment
- Dr Mohamed Suleiman Aburamman, Minister of Culture and Minister of Youth
Out
- Dr Adel Issa Al Tawissi, Minister of High Education and Scientific Research
- Hala Noaman “Basiso Lattouf”, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Mahmud Yassin Al Sheyab, Minister of Health
- Yahya Moussa Kasbi, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Nayef Hamidi Al Fayez, Minister of Environment
- Majd Mohamed Shoueika, Minister of Public Sector Development
- Khalid Moussa Al Huneifat, Minister of Agriculture
- Dr Awad Abu Jarad Al Mushakiba, Minister of Justice
- Mounir Moussa Ouwais, Minister of Water and Agriculture
- Dr Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education
- Mokarram Mustafa Al Kaysi, Minister of Youth
- Basma Mohamed Al Nousour, Minister of Culture
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