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DELHI THE HINDU 18 SPORT THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2020 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE IOC moves to ease fears Meagre returns for openers in Ranji Trophy Wasim Jaffer attributes it to delayed start and lack of adaptation time Japan insists on going ahead even as many athletes voice concerns CRICKET TOKYO 2020 Amol Karhadkar Reuters MUMBAI Lausanne From Arun Lal to Wasim Jaff­ The International Olympic er, Abhinav Mukund to Vik­ Committee (IOC) president ram Rathour, Shiv Sundar Thomas Bach moved on Das to Surendra Bhave, Wednesday to ease fears af­ opening batsmen have ter complaints by athletes as emerged as run­machines in Japan insisted it was not pre­ the Ranji Trophy over the paring for a postponement years. But the recently­con­ of the Tokyo Olympics. cluded edition threw up a With the Olympic flame startling fact — not a single about to be handed by opener featured in the Greece to Japan, Bach said top­20 run­getters. the IOC heard the athletes’ In fact, the highest tally by concerns on health and an opener came from Goa’s preparations as the virus, Sumiran Amonkar (24th with Wise reasoning: Wasim Jaffer feels that the top­order batsmen struggled this season because which has infected over 646 runs), who played in of the moving ball and no lead time between change in formats.* FILE PHOTO: SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR 200,000 and killed more Plate Group, the lowest rung. than 8,000 worldwide, con­ Each of the last 20 editions of majority of places are so cold “A worrying trend is that smen go out, getting replace­ tinues to spread. the tournament has seen at that it works against bat­ some of the regular openers ments becomes a problem.” “Everybody realised that least one opener in the top­ smen, especially openers. who have been playing for Jaffer concludes by point­ we have still more than four five run­getters. Add to that the SG ball that India­A haven’t been able to ing out the lack of time to months to go and we will ad­ So what has led to the aids bowlers and has made score runs in the Ranji Tro­ prepare ahead of the tourna­ dress this action, and we will drastic change in the open­ life difficult for openers.” phy. I am not sure on what ment after a prolonged keep acting in a responsible ers’ numbers? Jaffer believes basis will they be persisted white­ball season. way in the interest of the ath­ a delayed start to the tourna­ India­A players struggle with the next time an India­A letes,” Bach said after a con­ Suspense continues: The picturesque setting notwithstanding, the uncertainty over the ment is a “major reason”. Vijay Dahiya, the former In­ or Rest of India squad is No breather ference call with 220 ath­ Summer Games looms large. * CLIVE ROSE/GETTY IMAGES dia wicketkeeper­batsman picked,” says Dahiya, a regu­ For the last couple of years, letes representatives. Aiding the bowlers who also coached Delhi to its lar in commentary crew for the inter­State domestic sea­ Meanwhile, Japan is still scheduled as far ahead as IOC) is putting us at risk,” will be a last­minute stand­in “Since the tournament start­ last Ranji title in 2007­08, domestic cricket. son has started with the Vijay planning to host the Olym­ early June, have been can­ Stefanidi said in an interview to receive the Olympic flame ed in December this time doesn’t see the late start as a Hazare Trophy and moved to pics as scheduled from July celled or postponed, raising with Reuters. during a scaled back handov­ around, the conditions were factor, but is worried about TN coach’s take Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, 24­Aug. 9. concerns among athletes. er in Athens on Thursday. in favour of pace bowlers. the lack of runs from the D. Vasu, Tamil Nadu’s coach, leaving barely a week for the Several, including reign­ Modified qualifiers Due to travel restrictions Earlier we used to start in Oc­ likes of Priyank Panchal and feels the absence of esta­ players to prepare with the No adjustments ing Olympic pole vault Tokyo is set to host about in Europe, Tokyo 2020 an­ tober and the conditions Abhimanyu Easwaran. blished batsmen in a few red ball. “We’re not making any ad­ champion Katerina Stefani­ 11,000 athletes and 57% have nounced on Tuesday it would be even,” Jaffer, the The duo, a regular with In­ games has also played a role “After playing one­dayers justments to postpone the di, said the IOC decision was earned their spots at the would not be sending a dele­ former India opener who re­ dia­A for the last couple of in the low returns. and T20s, if you start Ranji Games,” the government’s putting athletes’ health at Games. The remaining 43% gation to Athens to receive tired recently as the highest seasons, had a miserable sea­ “Senior players in a few Trophy in eight or 10 days, top spokesman, chief cabi­ risk, urging them to train as will clinch their places the Olympic flame, as is cus­ run­getter in Ranji history, son. sides were coming in and go­ you are bound to struggle. net secretary Yoshihide Su­ normal when entire coun­ through modified qualifiers, tomary for a host city. tells The Hindu. While Panchal, who plays ing out. Even for Tamil Nadu, Even the best find it difficult ga, told parliament when tries have shut down to con­ or previous performances The Japanese ambassador “Now it’s a one­way traffic for Gujarat, tallied 457 runs we struggled to get an open­ to cope with the change in asked by a lawmaker wheth­ tain the virus spread. based on ranking. to Greece will instead receive for pacers. Even if the wicket from 17 innings at 28.57, Ab­ er. Murali Vijay went out and the formats and suddenly if er the government was mak­ The lead­up to the Tokyo the flame on behalf of Tokyo has a little bit of help, be­ himanyu, who led Bengal to then Abhinav Mukund didn’t you enter Ranji Trophy in ing plans to cancel or post­ Risking it Olympics has already been 2020 during a ceremony set cause of the weather, the the final, scored just 258 runs play a few games,” Vasu says. that kind of weather, it’s pone the event. “There is no postponement, disrupted as little­known re­ to take place in an empty sta­ bowlers are always on top. from the same number of in­ “We had issues because of bound to be challenging for Many sports events, some no cancellation. But it (the tired swimmer Naoko Imoto dium. Not just in the north, but a nings at 17.20. that. Once the senior bat­ the openers.”

COVID-19 IMPACT Hazy future, Janani and Vrinda in International Bangar says no Wimbledon still planning to go ahead says Anderson to BCB offer LONDON Panel of ICC Development Umpires AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Wimbledon organisers are still LONDON Sports Reporter NEW DELHI planning to play the Grand Chennai Slam this year, despite the England fast bowler James Former India batting coach coronavirus chaos that led the Anderson fears the corona­ Tamil Nadu's Janani Naraya­ Sanjay Bangar has decided French Open to be pushed virus pandemic could see nan and Vrinda Rathi of against taking up the Ban­ back until September. the domestic and interna­ Mumbai were named in the gladesh Cricket Board’s off­ Wimbledon is scheduled to run tional season abandoned International Panel of ICC er to become its Test team’s from June 29 to July 12, but All completely. Development Umpires on consultant, citing personal England Club chiefs are aware “Cricket and sport is not Wednesday. The announce­ and professional the sporting schedule has been the be­all and end­all, but it ment comes soon after the commitments. decimated by the deadly is my livelihood. It’s all I launch of 100% Cricket, a 12­ Bangar was asked to pandemic. know,” said Anderson. month campaign to build on coach Bangladesh in red­ Wimbledon remains hopeful Dutee worried about training­cum­competition stint “The season is unlikely the momentum of the ICC ball cricket eight weeks ago, that play at the grass­court Olympic qualification in Germany from March 2. I to start. It’s still a little bit Women’s T20 World Cup but he could not take up the tournament will be able to go NEW DELHI was planning to run in some hazy as to what's going to 2020. offer as he had signed a two­ ahead if the spread of the virus quality competitions in Europe Athlete Dutee Chand is wary of happen. There's a chance A software engineer, Jana­ year contract with Star is slowed. But Richard Lewis, and hoping to qualify for the missing out on the Olympics we might not even bowl a ni wrote her umpiring ex­ Sports in the interim. chief executive of the All after she was deprived of her Olympics,” Dutee said. ball this summer. ams in 2015 before officiat­ “They offered me the England Lawn Tennis and training­cum­competition stint “I have got the visa and other “My wife’s mum and dad ing in the TNCA league. post eight weeks ago. I had Croquet Club, insisted they in Germany due to the travel documents. But I got the live in Spain so they are in The Hindu finalised my contract with would put safety first. COVID­19 pandemic, affecting message from the training Speaking to , “At the heart of our decision­ her plans to qualify for the base in Germany that I should lockdown. They are in the she said, “I have not played Star, giving me the oppor­ making is our commitment to Tokyo Games. not come due to coronavirus. I age group where there are cricket but always wanted to tunity to balance out my the health and safety of our Dutee was to train and take am very disappointed.” concerns. The anxiety is be associated with the game. personal and professional members, staff, and the public, part in Olympic qualifying About her qualification for the building up because of not I could write my exams only Recognition: Vrinda, left, and Janani look forward to being commitments. However, I and we are grateful to the events in Germany from March Olympic Games, Dutee said: “I knowing what will happen in 2015 because women associated with the sport at a higher level. look forward to working government and public health 2 but despite getting the visa don’t know. I am worried that I in the next few months.” were not allowed before with BCB in the future,” said authorities for their advice and and sponsorship, she could not may not qualify for the that.” come. Cricket has become New Zealand at the Women’s Bangar. support,” Lewis said. make it. “I was to go for a Olympics.” The 34­year­old said she part of my daily routine World Cup 2013. idolises the late David since the 90s, and I look for­ “I feel privileged to be CCFC’s AFC Cup group Halep to donate money Shepherd of England and re­ ward to being associated named in ICC’s development games put off to fight the virus tired India umpire S. Venka­ with the sport at a higher le­ panel as this opens new ave­ CHENNAI BUCHAREST traghavan. Janani has been vel,” said Janani. nues for me. I am sure I will Wimbledon champion and Chennai City FC’s AFC Cup group stage matches have umpiring in Indian domestic Vrinda, 31, a former varsi­ get to learn a lot from other World No. 2 Simona Halep said tournaments since 2018. ty player who has kept members of the panel and she was donating money to pay been postponed until further “It feels great to know that scores in international look forward to future as­ for medical equipment in notice due to COVID­19, the Vrinda and I have been in­ matches, has also been um­ signments," said Vrinda. Romania as the country deals Asian Football Confederation with the coronavirus pandemic. (AFC) said on Wednesday. ducted into the ICC's deve­ piring in Indian domestic “Having played cricket and In a message posted on her The AFC Champions League lopment panel. This gives cricket from 2018. She was also been a scorer, this was a Facebook page, the 28­year­ has also been postponed. me the chance to learn from inspired to take up umpiring natural progression for me old said she hoped to help Chennai City drew its opening seniors on the circuit and after watching retired wo­ and I am happy at the way hospitals in Bucharest and game 2­2 against Maziya R&C improve in the years to man umpire Kathy Cross of things unfolded.” Bangar. * FILE PHOTO: AP Constanta and encouraged in Group E in Chennai. people to follow self­isolation and positive! God help us!” she It was scheduled to travel to Anderson. * FILE PHOTO guidelines. “Let us all take care said. The women's WTA Tour is Maldives to take on TC Sports of ourselves, be responsible shut down until at least May 2. Club on April 15. Vihari for county cricket Hao stuns Liren The AFC had earlier postponed Ganguly gets a Durant, three other Nets coronavirus and are in all AFC Cup West Zone Group V.V. Subrahmanyam CANDIDATES CHESS Grischuk and Kirill Alek­ players test positive isolation. The injured Durant, Stage matches on March 12 much­needed HYDERABAD seenko, was also drawn. NEW YORK who has yet to play for the and the latest decision applies Indian Test cricketer Hanu­ The tournament is played to all matches in March and Sports Bureau Kevin Durant is reportedly Nets since signing for the club ma Vihari will play for a on a double round­robin ba­ The April across the five AFC zones. break YEKATERINBURG among four Brooklyn Nets last year, confirmed to leading team in the English sis (the participants will play Athletic players who have tested website he had tested county championship in Wang Hao stunned fellow­ each other twice). The win­ positive for the virus. South African cricketers Press Trust of India positive for the new August. Chinese Ding Liren in the ner will be eligible to chal­ “Everyone be careful, take care asked to self­isolate KOLKATA The 26­year­old Vihari, opening round of the Candi­ lenge World champion Mag­ of yourself and quarantine. for 14 days With the IPL postponed to who has played nine Tests dates Chess tournament. Li­ nus Carlsen later in the year. We’re going to get through JOHANNESBURG April 15 and the BCCI office ren was playing with white The results (first round): Max­ this,” Durant was quoted as The members of the South shut, board president Sou­ so far, scoring 552 runs with ime Vachier­Lagrave (Fra) 0.5 saying. “Four Brooklyn Nets African cricket team have been a century and four fifties, pieces. rav Ganguly has got a wel­ drew with Fabiano Caruana players have tested positive told to undergo a 14­day hoped it would be a “great The day’s only other deci­ come break from his busy (US) 0.5; Ding Liren (Chn) 0 for the COVID­19 virus,” the period of self­isolation and experience.” sive result also went in fa­ schedule. lost to Wang Hao (Chn) 1; An­ “It is obviously exciting to vour of black, as Anish Giri team said in a statement social distancing to prevent the “Corona virus scare .. ish Giri (Ned) 0 lost to Ian Ne­ play for the first time in En­ earlier. “Of the four, one player spread of coronavirus happy to sit in the lounge at went down to Ian Nepom­ pomniachtchi (Rus) 1; Alexan­ is exhibiting symptoms while following their return from an 5pm .. free... can’t remem­ glish county which is said to niachtchi. der Grischuk (Rus) 0.5 drew three are asymptomatic.” aborted tour of India. ber when I did last,” Gan­ be a rewarding experience. I The game between the with Kirill Alekseenko (Rus) guly posted on Instagram. hope to keep improving, two Russians, Alexander 0.5. which is the key for longevi­

ty at the highest level,” Viha­ Hanuma Vihari. * FILE PHOTO PGA Championship, Le Mans postponed ri said in a chat with The Hindu on Wednesday. “I feel that things are go­ Agence France-Presse pandemic. its own tournament Returning from the just­ ing in the right direction Los Angeles moratorium. concluded TNCA first divi­ right now as far my career is The US PGA golf Champion­ Date to be finalised The Le Mans 24­hour en­ sion league in Chennai, concerned. ship, scheduled to be held The PGA of America said on durance race, one of the tra­ where he turned out for Nel­ “I am taking a break right from May 14 to 17 at the Tuesday it hoped to resche­ ditional highlights of the son Sports Club, Vihari said now (he led Andhra in the Harding Park in San Fran­ dule the event at Harding motor racing calendar, has he will be playing only the fi­ Ranji Trophy before joining cisco, has been postponed. Park later in the year. been postponed from June nal four games for the Coun­ the Indian team on the tour It is the second 2020 Ma­ Shortly after the PGA to September 19­20. ty side in view of the Coro­ of New Zealand). The aim jor golf championship, after Championship was post­ The race serves as the fi­ navirus threat and the will be to focus on my fit­ the Augusta Masters, to be poned, the US PGA Tour an­ nale of the FIA's World En­ Sourav Ganguly. precautionary measures ness and try to keep improv­ Good start: Wang Hao, right, got the better of Ding Liren in derailed by the coronavirus nounced it was extending durance Championship. * INSTAGRAM/SOURAVGANGULY that are in place. ing,” Vihari said. the opening round. * FIDE CM M ND-NDE YK