SPORT SPORT | 15 SPORT | 15 Federer saw rival Moeen, Bairstow Nadal ‘grow, in England right in front of training squad my eyes’ for Ireland ODIs

FRIDAY 10 JULY 2020

AFC ready to China rules out hosting most resume 2020 competitions with new international sport in 2020 calendar AFP - BEIJING the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Euro 2020 football pushed back to next summer. QNA - KUALA LUMPUR China will not hold most international China was earmarked to host a number sporting events for the rest of 2020 as part of tennis tournaments later this year in a The Asian Football Confed- of measures to stop the spread of corona- revised schedule. eration (AFC) has revealed virus, the government said yesterday, dealing That includes the WTA Wuhan Open in the new calendar for the a potential blow to the likes of Formula One October -- the central city was the original epi- 2020 competition following and tennis. centre of the pandemic and staging the annual a meeting with national Shanghai’s sports authority recently said tournament would be hugely symbolic. federations, leagues, and that it had been offered two Formula One The fate of the Wuhan Open and season- clubs. races this year, while several tournaments in ending WTA Finals has now been thrown into The AFC’s National China are on the revised tennis calendar. grave doubt, along with the prestigious ATP Team and Club competi- But China -- where coronavirus emerged Shanghai Masters which would usually take tions as well as the AFC late last year before spreading globally -- place in the autumn. Futsal Championship appears to have ruled out many of those now The Chinese Super League (CSL) football planned for Turkmenistan happening, despite local infections dwindling season was due to kick off on February 22 have been postponed since markedly. but became one of the earliest sporting February and March but, The General Administration of Sport (GAS) victims of the pandemic when it was indef- thanks to the support of the said in a statement that, except for Beijing initely postponed in January. Members, Leagues, and 2022 Winter Olympic test events “and other The CSL will now begin on July 25 under Clubs, there is a determi- important events, in principle, no other inter- a different format in which the 16 teams will nation to finish the compe- national sports events will be held this year”. be split into two groups located in two cities titions this year, www. China’s highest sporting authority did not to stop any infections spreading. It follows the-afc.com reported. specify which competitions will be hit, but the return of the Chinese Basketball Associ- Dato’ Windsor John, the the official Xinhua news agency said that ation competition last month -- the first major A staff member disinfects a ball, as play resumes during a Premier League AFC General Secretary, “lots of international sport events will be league to return to action in the country fol- match between Bournemouth and Tottenham Hotspur behind closed said: “The AFC Adminis- affected”. lowing the coronavirus outbreak. Like in the doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19)at tration has been in constant This year’s global sporting calendar has CBA, CSL games will take place behind closed dialogue with our MAs, Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth, Britain, yesterday. been badly disrupted by the pandemic, with doors. Leagues, and Clubs in recent weeks so that we can establish a clear picture of the opportunities that Dutch league exist in each MA. “During those discus- to allow some Pacers Holder and Gabriel sions which began in Kuala Lumpur, Doha, Dubai, and Delhi in February and fans to return March, and have continued put West Indies in control online ever since, we have in September looked to agree a calendar of matches that will allow REUTERS - AMSTERDAM REUTERS - SOUTHAMPTON Hope survived some express SCOREBOARD as a battle of the world's best us to complete both the pace from before two all-rounders and Holder club competitions and cen- England (I innings) League football in the Netherlands West Indies Jason bad light ended the day's play. R Burns lbw b Gabriel ...... 30 drew first blood when he tralised tournaments in will resume in September with 15 Holder posted career-best Test England are hosting the D Sibley b Gabriel ...... 0 induced a nick behind from 2020.” to 35 percent of the stadium bowling figures with six first international - J Denly b Gabriel ...... 18 Stokes to dismiss him on 43. The venues for the cen- available for spectators but with no as his side dominated match after a 117-day absence Z Crawley lbw b Holder ...... 10 There was more joy for tralised groups to be used away supporters allowed, the Dutch the second day of the first Test because of the COVID-19 B Stokes c Dowrich b Holder ...... 43 Holder as Buttler got a thick for both the AFC Cham- football association (KNVB) said against England yesterday. pandemic. O Pope c Dowrich b Holder ...... 12 edge to a peach of a pions League and the AFC yesterday. Making full use of the England began the day on J Buttler c Dowrich b Holder ...... 35 and Dowrich took a diving Cup are to be confirmed. The KNVB issued an 80-page murky conditions, all-rounder 35 for one after 17 overs were D Bess ...... 31 catch to leave England on All of the planned group J Archer lbw b Holder ...... 0 document detailing protocols for a Holder took six for 42 and completed on Wednesday, but M Wood c Hope b Holder ...... 5 157-7. Holder trapped Jofra stage matches will be return to action, after the previous paceman Gabriel struck twice in the first J Anderson b Gabriel ...... 10 Archer lbw for a duck and played in full while the season was called off because of the claimed four wickets as hour having removed Dom Extras (LB6, NB2, W2) ...... 10 grabbed his sixth when knock-out rounds will now novel coronavirus health crisis. England were dismissed for Sibley on day one. Total (all out) ...... 204 Wood was caught at gully by consist of single match ties Spectators will have to stay 1.5 204. In the sixth over he got a Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-48, 3-51, 4-71, 5-87, Hope. (rather than home & away), metres apart, bring masks and buy Captain top- 90mph delivery to nip back 6-154, 7-157, 8-157, 9-174, 10-204 Dom Bess's 31-run cameo as will the Final of both and drink from roving sellers rather scored with 43 but might be and splatter 's off Bowling: Roach 19-6-41-0; Gabriel 15.3-3-62- helped England past 200 competitions. than queuing at kiosks. regretting his decision to bat stump and in his next over the 4 (1nb, 1w); Joseph 13-4-53-0 (1w); Holder 20- before Gabriel bowled The AFC Champions 6-42-6 (1nb) “To create the necessary space first having won the toss. 32-year-old trapped Rory Anderson. League group stage in West for this, only a limited part of the seats West Indies showed great Burns (30) in front of his stumps West Indies opener Asia to be played in Sep- in a stadium can be used,” the KNVB discipline and rode their luck with a full delivery that was proved correct. Campbell was twice reprieved tember, followed by said. "The good news, however, is that at times in reply as they given lbw on review. looked good in reaching 12 off a frustrated Anderson -- knockout stages with semi- playing with a limited audience is a reached 57-1 to put themselves Stokes started confidently, before edging Holder to wick- making it five successful finals to be completed by first step towards playing with packed in a decent position going into pulling Gabriel to the boundary, etkeeper Shane Dowrich. reviews out of five for the vis- early October. stadiums. It is therefore only a the third day at the Ageas Bowl but Zak Crawley struggled to Stokes got lucky before itors, before his luck finally ran The remaining matches stopover." when an improving weather 10 before Holder claimed his lunch when he was dropped at out. of East Asia’s group stage Dutch football was shut down forecast should make first wicket, angling one back long leg by , England could make no will be played from mid- due to the COVID-19 crisis in March easier. in to strike the pad. hooking Alzarri Joseph, as he further inroads, though, and October, with the knockout with football initially banned until James Anderson removed Again the on-field umpire and launched a West Indies were much the stage to be played in September but this was lifted last opener John Campbell for 28 turned down the appeal, but 67-run counter-attack. happier side when bad light November. month by the government. but Kraigg Brathwaite and Shai Holder's decision to review The series has been touted stopped play. The AFC will also look to conclude the age-group National Team and Futsal tournaments in 2020 with F1: Bottas sets his sights on historic Austrian double the new schedule involving: AFC U-19 Championship REUTERS - VIENNA from pole position, has a good point counts, so we need to it could rain this week and I’m Uzbekistan October 14 to chance of doing the double. improve quickly on that not sure anybody knows how 31, 2020; AFC Futsal Cham- Valtteri Bottas can make The race will again be front.” competitive they are in the pionship Turkmenistan Formula One history in without spectators but those Six times world champion wet with these new cars so November 4 to15, 2020; Austria on Sunday as the first expecting race two to be the Lewis Hamilton, Bottas’s that could be interesting.” AFC U-16 Championship driver to win twice at the same as race one in all other team-mate, was hampered by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc Bahrain November 25 to same circuit in a single season, respects are likely to be both a three-place grid drop and McLaren’s Lando Norris, December 12, 2020; AFC but the Finn knows plenty can disappointed. and time penalty last Sunday who took surprise podiums in Futsal Club Championship change in the space of a week. “The reality is that we and that particular lightning a race of only 11 finishers, may UAE December 2 to 13, The first Styrian Grand were fortunate to finish the is unlikely to strike twice. Red struggle to repeat that success 2020. Prix, named after the southern race,” Mercedes team boss Bull’s Max Verstappen, winner even if Ferrari are speeding The Asian Qualifiers for Austrian state that surrounds Toto Wolff said of the elec- in 2018 and 2019 at his team’s up planned updates. the FIFA World Cup Qatar Spielberg’s Red Bull Ring, is a trical problems experienced home circuit, and Alex Albon “One thing I’ve learned 2022 and AFC Asian Cup new name for a familiar race. last Sunday. would have to be doubly about race cars in 20 years or China 2023 Second Round, For the first time a circuit “Reliability caused us real unlucky to draw blanks for a something of doing this, which were postponed is hosting back-to-back races concern and it is something second weekend in a row. whether its go-karts or F1, is from March, June and Sep- Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton addresses -- a situation resulting from we are working on as our “Whatever we found a track can change from one tember, have already been the drivers’ press conference ahead of the COVID-19 pandemic -- highest priority. In a shorter wasn’t perfect last weekend day to the next,” said Renault’s rearranged for October and the Formula One Styrian Grand Prix, and Bottas, winner of last season with a yet to be deter- we can improve this week,” Daniel Ricciardo, who failed November 2020. yesterday. Sunday’s Austrian opener mined number of races, every said Verstappen. “It looks like to finish last Sunday. FRIDAY 10 JULY 2020 SPORT 15 Tiger will Federer saw rival Nadal ‘grow, play first PGA event right in front of my eyes’ since shutdown AP - LONDON McEnroe-Connors: Meetings: 34 (McEnroe 20-14); Grand Slam Finals: 2 Roger Federer (pictured) and Rafael (Tied) at Memorial Nadal own an unforgettable collection of McEnroe-Borg: Meetings, 14 (Tied); on-court contests - including nine Grand Grand Slam Finals: 4 (McEnroe, 3-1) AFP - MIAMI Slam finals - and a healthy store of mutual Borg-Connors: Meetings, 23 (Borg, off-court respect for each other. 15-8); Grand Slam Finals: 4 (Tied) Reigning Masters champion “I saw him grow, right in front of my Highlights: Borg’s 8-6 fifth-set win Tiger Woods, a 15-time major eyes,” Federer said in an interview last against McEnroe after dropping a tie- winner, said yesterday he will year. “I always feel like he’s one of the breaker 18-16 in the 1980 Wimbledon play his first US PGA Tour guys from tennis - players - that I could final; Connors’ five-set victory over event since February at next call up and, if I told him something, it McEnroe at the All England Club two years week’s Jack Nicklaus-hosted would be a secret between the two of us. later; Borg getting the better of Connors Memorial Tournament. And I appreciate that we were able to in two Wimbledon finals, with Connors Woods will attempt to build a relationship like that.” taking their two US Open finals. capture a record 83rd career Each has played more matches STEFAN EDBERG VS. BORIS BECKER US PGA title after having against Novak Djokovic, who leads his Meetings: 35 (Becker, 25-10); Grand matched Sam Snead’s all-time head-to-head series against the other Slam Finals: 3 (Edberg, 2-1) mark by winning last October’s members of the Big Three. Highlights: The only men to face each Zozo Championship in Japan. Yet it is Roger vs. Rafa that seems to character.... And then, of course, the Highlights: Exhausted, they rested in other in three consecutive title matches “I’m looking forward to be the rivalry that stands above others. rivalry started building.” chairs during the trophy ceremony after at the All England Club, with Edberg playing in the @MemorialGolf Perhaps because they’re currently Nos. Some top men’s tennis rivalries in the Djokovic’s 5-hour, 53-minute victory in winning in 1988 and 1990, Becker in 1989. next week,” Woods tweeted. 1-2 for most men’s Grand Slam titles. Or Open era, which began in 1968: the 2012 Australian Open final; Nadal’s 9-7 PETE SAMPRAS VS. ANDRE AGASSI “I’ve missed going out and perhaps because of their epic 2008 final RAFAEL NADAL VS. ROGER fifth-set win in the 2013 French Open sem- Meetings: 34 (Sampras, 20-14); Grand competing with the guys and at Wimbledon, the tournament supposed FEDERER ifinals was a thing of beautiful attrition. Slam Finals: 5 (Sampras 4-1) can’t wait to get back out to be happening now but canceled Meetings: 40 (Nadal, 24-16); Grand NOVAK DJOKOVIC VS. ROGER Highlights: Sampras won their lone there.” because of the coronavirus pandemic. Slam Finals: 9 (Nadal, 6-3) FEDERER Wimbledon final, in 1999, and the last Spectators will not be The dynamic between Federer, 38, Highlights: Federer won three of four Meetings: 50 (Djokovic, 27-23); Grand match he ever played, in the 2002 U.S. allowed at the tournament and Nadal, 34, has shifted. Wimbledon meetings, but their most Slam Finals: 5 (Djokovic, 4-1) Open final; four-tiebreaker meeting in because of tightened “We went in phases a little bit. In the famous matchup is Nadal’s 9-7 fifth-set Highlights: Last year’s unprecedented the 2001 US Open quarterfinals was COVID-19 restrictions in Ohio. beginning, he was so extremely shy and victory in the 2008 final; Nadal’s 6-1, 6-3, fifth-set tiebreaker at Wimbledon, with riveting. The Memorial was to have he was so - how do you say? - like, 6-0 win in that year’s French Open final, Djokovic winning after saving two cham- ANDY MURRAY VS. NOVAK been the first PGA event to looking up to me, that he just said, the most lopsided Grand Slam loss of Fed- pionship points; Djokovic’s two-match- DJOKOVIC allow limited numbers of fans ‘Whatever you say, Roger, I agree with erer’s career; Federer’s comeback from points-saved wins in the 2010 and 2011 Meetings: 36 (Djokovic 25-11); Grand back since the coronavirus you. Because you’re so important to the 3-1 in the fifth at the 2017 Australian Open, US Open semi-finals; Federer’s two-tie- Slam Finals: 7 (Djokovic, 5-2) pandemic shutdown began in game. And I know you want the right their most recent Slam final. breaker, four-set win on a dark, dank day Highlights: Nothing meant more to March. thing,’” Federer said. NOVAK DJOKOVIC VS. RAFAEL in the 2011 French Open semifinals to recent British tennis fans than Murray’s Woods has won a record “And over time, he became himself, NADAL snap Djokovic’s 43-match winning streak. win over Djokovic in the 2013 final to five Memorial titles, lifting the the dominant player he became, and he Meetings: 55 (Djokovic, 29-26); Grand JOHN MCENROE VS. JIMMY give the host country its first male trophy in 1999, 2000, 2001, started to build his own strong Slam Finals: 8 (Tied) CONNORS VS. BJORN BORG champion at Wimbledon in 77 years. 2009 and 2012. But he also fired a humbling career-worst 85 in the third round in 2015. The 44-year-old US legend Moeen, Bairstow in England played and captained the tri- umphant US team in last December’s Presidents Cup in Australia but has made only training squad for Ireland ODIs two prior starts this year, sharing ninth at Torrey Pines AFP - SOUTHAMPTON ENGLAND TRAINING SQUAD talent,” said national selector Ed in January and placing 68th at FOR IRELAND ODIS: Smith. England assistant coach Riviera in February in his first and Paul Collingwood, the captain chances to surpass Snead on were included in a 24-man of the England side that won the the all-time win list. Eoin Morgan (Middlesex, capt), England training squad named 2010 World in the Woods, ranked 14th, Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), yestersday for the three-match , will be the head dropped out of the WGC Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire, wkt), one-day international series at coach for the series, with former Mexico and Players Champi- Tom Banton (Somerset), Sam home to Ireland. England opener Marcus Tresco- onship citing back issues Billings (Kent, wkt), Wicketkeeper-batsman thick in his backroom staff. before the virus shutdown but (Warwickshire), Brydon Carse Bairstow and off-spinning all- The England one-day side looked fit in May in a high- (Durham), (Surrey), rounder Mooen were left out of will go into an on-site training profile return victory at the Liam Dawson (Hampshire), the squad for the first Test against camp at the Ageas Bowl on July Champions for Charity exhi- Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire), the West Indies, taking place in 16, playing two intra-squad bition match also featuring Southampton this week. (Sussex), Richard warm-up matches before the Phil Mickelson and NFL stars But with England still Gleeson (Lancashire), Lewis selectors pick a final team. Tom Brady and Peyton planning to complete a full pro- Gregory (Somerset), The series, being played Manning. gramme in a season truncated (Warwickshire), Tom Helm behind closed doors, starts on by the coronavirus shutdown, it (Middlesex), Liam Livingstone July 30, with subsequent has long been accepted they will (Lancashire), Saqib Mahmood matches to be staged on August COVID-positive have to field separate Test and (Lancashire), Matt Parkinson 1 and 4. one-day squads. (Lancashire), England also hope to play players tee The third ODI at South- (Yorkshire), (Surrey), three Twenty20 internationals ampton, the venue for all three Phil Salt (Sussex), against Pakistan in August and off together Ireland matches, is set to take (Surrey), James Vince (Hampshire), September, with three T20s and place on August 4 -- the day (Yorkshire) three ODIs against Australia orig- at PGA event before England start the first of inally scheduled for July still to a three-Test series against be re-arranged. AFP - WASHINGTON Pakistan at Manchester’s Old including and Ben Australia coach Justin Langer, Trafford. Stokes. speaking earlier on Thursday, Three players who continue to That means England’s “Even with several multi- said it was vital they went ahead test positive for COVID-19 teed white-ball team are set to be format players unavailable for with the tour of England “for the off together in yesterday's West Indies’ bowls on the second day of the first Test without several members of the the Ireland ODIs due to their Test health of world cricket” despite opening round of the US PGA cricket match between England and the West Indies at the Ageas team that beat New Zealand in commitments, there is real depth the challenges posed by Workday Charity Open under Bowl in Southampton, southwest England, yesterday. last year’s World Cup final to England’s white-ball playing COVID-19. "clarified" rules for sympto- matic participation. South Africa's Dylan Frit- telli and Americans Denny Australia must tour Engand McCarthy and Nick Watney Asia Cup postponed, SL swap began with pars at the 10th hole at Muirfield Village in for ‘health’ of cricket: Langer their morning start after hosting rights with Pakistan having limited access to facil- AFP - SYDNEY India later this year. “I think we have ities at the Ohio, layout. to go to England. There’s lots of chal- REUTERS - COLOMBO “Accordingly, the Board, after careful The PGA Tour protocol Australia must tour England in lenges of course but we have to find consideration of all the above factors, has guidelines involve players and September “for the health of world solutions to make sure that can This year’s Asia Cup tournament, origi- determined that the Asia Cup 2020 be caddies who meet the US cricket”, and players should then be happen if possible. That’s my view,” nally scheduled for September, has been postponed.” Centers for Disease Control released to join the Indian Premier Langer said. postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, The PCB had been granted the rights (CDC) "Return to Work" guide- League, coach Justin Langer said “I think for the health of world the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) said to host this year’s tournament but India lines after consultation with yesterday. cricket. As much as we’d like India yesterday. were unwilling to travel to Pakistan amid infectious disease experts and Despite the challenges of to come over here, I think we need Pakistan, who were set to host the political tension between the two coun- PGA medical advisor Dr. Tom COVID-19, Langer said Australia had to reciprocate that with England if tournament this year in the United Arab tries, prompting the PCB to swap hosting Hospel. to play its part in getting cricket we can.” Emirates, have exchanged hosting rights rights with Sri Lanka. Those allow condition moving again, even if it meant Langer believed releasing Aus- with Sri Lanka, who will stage next year’s International cricket was suspended returns to competition for enduring quarantine, biosecurity tralia’s big names to join the IPL -- event, while the Pakistan Cricket Board in March due to the pandemic but Pakistan players and caddies who con- restrictions and time away from whose revised dates are yet to be will host the 2022 edition. will be the first Asian team to return to tinue to test positive for coro- family. announced -- was also essential as The ACC said in a statement it is hoping action when they take on England in three navirus if at least 10 days have “My personal view is we have to a goodwill gesture, to make sure to stage the Twenty20 competition, which tests and three T20 internationals behind passed since the symptoms go. For so many reasons,” Langer told India go ahead with their Test tour. will feature six countries including India, closed doors in August-September. first appeared and 72 hours News Corp Australia. “I think we “I think we have to. Talking Pakistan and Sri Lanka, in June next year. Domestic cricket in Sri Lanka will have passed since fever has have to go to England. There’s lots of frankly,” Langer said. “I hear a dif- “From the onset the ACC was keen on resume on Tuesday without spectators. disappeared and issues such challenges of course but we have to ferent story about the IPL’s plans organising the tournament as per the India are the defending Asia Cup as cough and shortness of find solutions to make sure that can every few days. It varies. So until original schedule. However, travel restric- champions, having defeated Bangladesh breath have improved. happen if possible.” there’s some clarity and we can work tions, country-specific quarantine require- by three wickets in the 2018 final. In what "In the beginning stages of Australia’s limited-overs series out how it affects the domestic ments... have posed substantial challenges turned out to be a riveting final, India’s the illness, that virus is scheduled for this month in England season, how it affects our players, to the holding of the Asia Cup,” the ACC win was orchestrated by some gritty assumed to be active virus that was postponed because of the coro- how it works with quarantine... said. batting from the lower middle order. India can cause infection, can be navirus, and September has been there’s a lot of considerations here.” “Above all, the risks related to health made heavy weather of a modest 223-run contagious," Hospel said. raised as an alternative. After months of coronavirus- and safety of participating players, support target as Bangladesh fought for every run "As time passes and as Cricket Australia, which has laid enforced lockdown, international staff, commercial partners, fans and the before the title holders achieved victory symptoms resolve (the) theory off 15 percent of its staff during the cricket resumed on Wednesday with cricketing community were deemed to be off the last ball watched by a capacity is that this virus, this particle pandemic, is also desperate to host England’s home Test against the West significant. 25,000 holiday crowd at Dubai stadium. that has being detected... is no a money-spinning Test series against Indies. longer active or contagious."