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THE HINDU MUMBAI SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 2020 SPORT 17 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE It could be a truncated IPL: Ganguly

BCCI will keep ‘reviewing the situation every week’ Amol Karhadkar their chief executives. “We were told that with MUMBAI While the BCCI secretary multiple double­headers, a All domestic games After a day of frantic activity Jay Shah, in a statement, full IPL season will require 37 at Cricket Centre — the BCCI stressed that “the BCCI and days, so considering the IPL headquarters — where the all its stakeholders are com­ can be stretched till May 31, if put on hold the Board’s office­bearers mitted to providing a safe the season can start on or be­ met with the owners of all and healthy environment for fore April 25, there’s a bright Special Correspondent It will mean that the Irani the eight Indian Premier everyone involved in our chance of playing the full Mumbai Cup tie — between Ranji League (IPL) franchises, fol­ great sport and the nation” season,” said a franchise A day after suspending the Trophy champion Saurash­ lowed by the IPL Governing after the meeting, Jindal and official. Indian Premier League and tra and Rest of India — will Council discussing the way Wadia, while speaking to re­ “There are a couple of op­ India’s two ODIs against most probably be played as forward after suspending the porters, also stressed on the tions for a truncated IPL: South Africa, the Board of a precursor to the next sea­ event till April 15, BCCI presi­ “safety” aspect, without Eight teams playing each oth­ Control for Cricket in India son while the renovated dent Sourav Ganguly hinted spelling out the details. er just once instead of home has put the whole domestic Motera stadium in Ahmeda­ that “truncated IPL” is the After the Governing Coun­ and away in the league (32 season “on hold” on Satur­ bad, with a record capacity only way forward but that’s cil meeting, however, Gangu­ games, including 4 playoffs) day. of 1.11 lakh which was sche­ the last possible option that ly admitted that truncated or the teams being divided duled to host the Senior Wo­ the BCCI is considering. IPL is definitely being consi­ into two groups of four each “In view of the ongoing men’s Challenger from dered. “It (truncated IPL) and playing home and away novel coronavirus (CO­ March 26, will have to wait Anxious wait will happen because if it is basis (28 games, including VID­19) outbreak, the BCCI longer for hosting its first Once the BCCI adhered to (starting by) April 15, then in playoffs) can be considered on Saturday announced that competitive game. the government advisories any case 15 days are gone, so should the need arise,” an all matches of the Paytm Ira­ on Friday and suspended it has to be truncated. How IPL official said. ni Cup, Senior Women’s Surprise decision IPL’s 13th edition till April 15 truncated, how many games, He corroborated that the One­Day knockout, Vizzy in the wake of the COVID­19 I can't say at the moment. Till two possibilities of a truncat­ Trophy, Senior Women's The decision came as a sur­ outbreak, the franchise own­ April 15, (there are) no visas,” ed IPL will arise only if the One­Day Challenger, Wo­ prise to many since Gujarat ers were anxiously waiting to Ganguly said. Union Government gives a men's Under­19 One­Day is yet to have any positive be briefed by the BCCI boss­ go­ahead and clears visas of knockout, Women’s Under COVID­19 case. es on Saturday. Various options overseas players and support 19 T20 League, Super In fact, the national selec­ No wonder then that the However, multiple franchise staff members for a start at League and knockout, Wo­ tion panel had even final­ meeting saw virtually all the officials confirmed to The the end of April or early May. men's Under­19 T20 Chal­ ised the Rest of India squad, high­profile owners — includ­ Hindu that the BCCI office­ However, all these possi­ lenger Trophy, Women's Un­ with Hanuma Vihari as cap­ ing Kolkata Knight Riders’ bearers and IPL executives bilities will arise if and when der­23 knockout, Women’s tain. However, considering Shahrukh Khan, Mumbai In­ tabled various options to the the COVID­19 pandemic sub­ Under­23 One­Day Challen­ the rapidly perpetrating co­ dians’ Akash Ambani, Ness teams. Possible start dates sides in India. Till then, as ger have been put on hold ronavirus cases in various Wadia of Kings XI Punjab and that were mentioned were Ganguly admitted, BCCI will till further notice,” Jay Shah, regions of India, the BCCI Onerous task: BCCI president Sourav Ganguly and secretary Jay Shah arrive for a crucial Parth Jindal of Delhi Capitals April 15, April 20, April 25, keep “reviewing the situa­ BCCI secretary, said in a decided to suspend all offi­ meeting in Mumbai on Saturday. * VIVEK BENDRE — in attendance, along with April 30 and May 1. tion every week”. statement. cial cricket tournaments. IN BRIEF Culmination of a rich cricketing history Gopi welcomes Adjah helps Kiwis abandon tour Neroca hold of Australia I ensured that players were picked purely on basis of performance: Jaydev Shah SYDNEY BWF’s decision CCFC New Zealand abandoned its RANJI REVIEW one­day cricket tour of BADMINTON Australia on Saturday after Y.B. Sarangi I-LEAGUE V.V. Subrahmanyam Wellington tightened border RAJKOT restrictions to combat the HYDERABAD IANS Carrying on a long legacy spread of coronavirus. The IMPHAL from the time of the British India’s chief national coach Blacks Caps lost the opening Host Neroca FC played out rule, the friendly and hospit­ P. Gopi Chand welcomed game of the three­match the Badminton World Fed­ a 2­2 draw with Chennai Ci­ series and were due to play able Saurashtrians finally ex­ eration’s (BWF) decision to ty FC (CCFC) in the I­ the second here on Sunday, perienced a dream come suspend till April 12, all League here on Saturday. but will fly home after New true when Jaydev Unadkat Khanngam Horam found Zealand Prime Minister lifted the Ranji Trophy for events from March 16 due to the coronavirus pandemic. the net for the host just 21 Jacinda Ardern announced the first time by beating Ben­ seconds after kick­off — the “It is a good decision and everyone entering the gal at home here on Friday. quickest goal of this sea­ one cannot ignore the country from midnight on After the erstwhile Nawa­ Gopi Chand. * FILE PHOTO son. Sunday would have to self­ nagar (the previous version health risk of players, offi­ isolate for 14 days. of Saurashtra) won the Ranji cials and spectators. need to know the cut­off Mashoor Sheriff equal­ Trophy — which was named “When the whole world date and the number of ised in the 21st minute be­ after the legendary Ranjit­ is witnessing so many res­ tournaments the players, fore Adolfo Miranda made sinhji of Jamnagar — way trictions, it was not the especially those aspiring it 2­1 for CCFC before the All England: back in 1936­37, incidentally ideal scenario to go ahead from India, can play to break. beating Bengal, its cricket with the BWF events,” Gopi make the cut for the Philip Adjah saved the Axelsen in final administration went through told The Hindu on the way Games,” the former All En­ day for Neroca, converting Sports Bureau a lot of changes before the back to Hyderabad from gland champion said. a penalty in the added time London Saurashtra Cricket Associa­ London. “Unless, there is a clear to give a vital point for his Viktor Axelsen of Denmark tion (SCA) came into being in message detailing the quali­ side. entered the final of the All the 1950s. ‘Element of concern’ fication norms, what sort of Chances had been abun­ Trophy. For generations to he built a solid unit. “Once, hand over captaincy to Un­ England badminton cham­ “I don’t say the players are impact they will have on the dant on either end and not follow, it will give them be­ we were No. 28 among 30 adkat. The transition was pionships here on Saturday Renowned cricketers scared but there was a se­ players, especially those as­ surprisingly so. The lines­ lief,” said Pujara. teams. Then we became the smooth. Every small thing after rallying to get past Over the years, the region rious element of concern piring to make it from In­ man flagged seven offsides Plate division champion, was taken care of. Getting Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia 17­21, has produced several re­ For former Board of Con­ which I feel was pretty ge­ dia,” the former All England in the first forty five mi­ came to Elite, qualified for such top class infrastructure 21­13, 21­19. nowned cricketers — includ­ trol for Cricket in India nuine, given the kind of champion said. nutes and with both teams knockouts and ultimately be­ (at the SCA) also helped,” He will now meet Chou ing Duleepsinhji, L. Amar­ (BCCI) secretary Niranjan alarming reports that have The tournaments which playing a high line at the came a Ranji champion. said Jaydev. Tien Chen of Chinese Tai­ sinh, L. Ramji, Vinoo Shah and his son Jaydev, the been emanating from diffe­ will be affected by the BWF back, the statistic seems to pie, who had an easy pas­ Mankad, Salim Durrani, Dhi­ Ranji Trophy triumph was a Former captain and coach rent parts of the world,” Go­ directive on Saturday in­ suggest that both managers Purely on performance sage to the final after An­ raj Parsana, Karsan Ghavri, lifetime achievement. Sitanshu Kotaka, who spent pi said. clude Swiss Open, India may have considered ders Antonsen, his Ravindra Jadeja, Unadkat “Earlier, our players used “I ensured that players were 27 years with the side, said, “This is more so with Open 2020, Orleans Mas­ throwing caution to the opponent from Denmark and Cheteshwar Pujara — to migrate to other States. picked purely on the basis of “A good unit, which was de­ those players who have ters, Malaysia Open and Sin­ winds to an extent. and takes pride in its rich During Jaydev’s captaincy performance without any veloped over the years, has been travelling around the gapore Open and other In­ retired midway through The hosts climb to ninth cricketing history. (for 12 years), he held back discrimination and showed made this possible. It’s a world in search of winning ternational Grade III the first game. Chen was with 19 points while Chen­ Pujara, who was part of the players to build a team. faith in them. That’s how we proud moment for all of us,” important points to qualify tournaments. leading 17­14 at that time. nai remains at seventh. In the women’s semifi­ the winning squad, said, “Our effort to groom ta­ got an experienced side. You said Kotak. for the Tokyo Olympics. Significantly, Gopi also The results: Neroca 2 (Horam nal, Nozomi Okuhara, the “This victory means a lot lented under­19 players for need experience to win Ranji Coach Karsan Ghavri said, “I cannot straight away revealed that most of the 1, Adjah 90­P) drew with to me. For the entire team Ranji Trophy also helped,” Trophy. “Except Unadkat and Pujara, comment on the likely im­ national campers at two of conquerer of P.V. Sindhu, CCFC 2 (Sheriff 21, 45+2). fell rather tamely to the and the region, this is spe­ said Niranjan. “I kept some senior it is a team of normal Ranji pact of the fresh guidelines his academies in Hyderabad Chinese top seed Chen Yu cial. It means a lot to my fath­ Jaydev, the current SCA players in the leadership Trophy players. For five­six to be issued for the qualifi­ are in ‘isolation’ if not qua­ At Srinagar: Real Kashmir vs. TRAU FC — Match cancelled. Fei 21­14, 23­21. er, who has played the Ranji president, elaborated how group before deciding to of them it was like religion.” cation for Olympics. We rantained. ATK has the last laugh, picks up a record third title In football goals matter: Habas Amitabha Das Sharma Javier Hernandez’s brace leaves Chennaiyin FC ruing its missed chances FATORDA scissors kick. ATK could have The ATK head coach Antonio ISL doubled the lead in the 23rd Lopez Habas, who earned a Amitabha Das Sharma minute when Krishna set up record two ISL titles helming FATORDA another cross which was par­ the same franchise, said the Javier Hernandez’s brace tially cleared by Vishal Kaith. second crown was more pre­ cious as it came in a more helped ATK defeat Chennaiy­ Schembri had the chance competitive atmosphere. in FC in the final and create to draw level for Chennaiyin “There is a big difference Indian Super League history, FC in the 31st minute but the between the two. In the first at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadi­ ATK goalkeeper Arindam season the league was just um here on Saturday. Bhattattacharya put up a fan­ settling down to a profession­ A handful of lucky people tastic effort to clear the form­ al format but this season the — mainly friends and family er’s header. The ATK suffered league has grown really big of the team owners who were a big blow when Roy Krishna Well done! Nerijus Valskis of Chennaiyin... winner of the with better players, coaches given special access — were walked off the pitch in tears Golden Boot award. * PRASHANT NAKWE and had more competition. witness to the interesting ac­ after suffering in injury in the DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD So this one is more special to DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD not clinical enough in con­ tion which was held behind 40th minute. The setback, me,” Habas said after ATK’s B verting chances. “When we closed doors because of the however, did not appear to Golden Glove award: triumph. Gurpreet Sandhu (BFC) look at the match tonight our Coronavirus scare. hurt ATK much as it came team failed in two areas. One back after the break to dou­ B Golden Boot award: Nerijus In guiding ATK to its re­ Most important aspect was that we were not clinical ble the lead in the 48th mi­ Valskis (CFC) cord third title, Antonio Lo­ Cup of joy: The victorious ATK team with the trophy. * PRASHANT NAKWE Habas said his team succeed­ enough to convert the chanc­ nute. pez Habas became the most ed in realising the most im­ B Emerging Player of the es and secondly, we also let late in the second half. Crivellaro in the box. by the getting the goal in the successful coach of the ISL as Edu Garcia did the finish­ portant aspect in football — league: Sumit Rathi (ATK) the opponent get away with The latter’s attempt took a 10th minute. It was the result the Spaniard picked his se­ ing act to set ATK on the vic­ that is scoring goals. B their chances. Missed chances of a fantastic combination in Hero of the match: cond crown while returning deflection off an ATK defen­ tory path. Valskis made it 2­1 “In the first half we were “As a whole we could have the attack which saw Roy Arindam Bhattacharja (ATK) to the side after a break of The final could have easily der and was headed into the in the 69th minute but that better while Chennaiyin played lot better and ATK Krishna moving up on the left B Hero of the League award: three seasons. The ATK gone the other way had Chen­ goal but Pritam Kotal made a appeared to come a bit late as played a better second half. should be lot happy to be go­ to collect a long floater from Hugo Boumous (FC Goa) centre­half Hernandez, who naiyin FC managed to avail timely goalmouth clearance ATK effectively sealed its You see in football the goals ing back with the title,” Coyle the centre. DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD had never scored before the two opportunities in the first to the save ATK. Keeping up back­line. Hernandez made it matter and that’s where we said. “Goals changes matches final, stepped up as the finish­ four minutes. the pressure, Chennaiyin The Fijian forward essayed 3­1 in the injury­time to com­ did better than our oppo­ the Indian and the foreign and see how ATK made the er scoring the first and the Chennaiyin FC pressed the made another inroad in the a nice cross upfront to his col­ plete a fantastic win for ATK. nents,” Habas said. “Our players that brought success most of the first chance com­ third goals while Spainard attack mode right from the fourth minute but this time it league David Williams, who The result: Final: ATK 3 (Javier strength this season was the to us,” ATK’s Spanish head ing their way. We had two ea­ Edu Garcia scored one in bet­ start and had Andre Schem­ was the crosspiece that played a dummy letting Her­ Hernandez 10, 90+3, Edu Gar­ cohesion in the team and it coach added. sier chances and not getting a ween. Nerijus Valskis pulled bri running up the right to cut blocked Valskis’ attempt. nandez move from the centre cia 48) bt Chennaiyin FC 1(Neri­ was really the great mix of Chennaiyin FC head coach goal from them became cru­ one back for Chennaiyin FC the ball back to winger Rafael ATK released the pressure and finish with a spectacular jus Valskis 69). Owen Coyle said his side was cial in the end,” Coyle added.

CM A BM-BME YK