THE HIMALAYAN MAIL JAMMU Q WEDNESDAY Q SEPTEMBER 16, 2020 11

IPL-bound stars hope for 'Tokyo Olympics to decide COVID-19 counter-measures' reduced quarantine NEW DELHI:Organis- March to postpone the ers are ploughing ahead Games, which were origi- NEW DELHI, SEPT be accepted. with the postponed Tokyo nally scheduled to begin in 15: Australia and England's The only franchise, which Olympics and will decide by July. - won't be affected by the six- the end of the year what Tokyo officials have said bound stars, who are sup- day quarantine rule is “counter-measures” are re- they intend to put on the posed to undergo a six-day Kolkata Knight Riders as quired to hold them safely Games in 2021 even if the quarantine after arriving in the team would be opening in the time of COVID-19, pandemic has not eased the UAE, have requested its campaign against Mum- IOC Vice President John substantially. the Board of Control for bai Indians on September Coates said on Tuesday. Australia’s retired five- in India (BCCI) to 23. Australian Coates heads time Olympic champion reduce the duration to three KKR have Tom Banton, up the International swimmer Ian Thorpe said days to ensure their avail- Eoin Morgan and Pat Cum- Olympic Committee’s (IOC) he wanted to see the Games ability from the start of the mins on their roster with at Coordination Commission go ahead but was doubtful tournament. least two being part of the for the Tokyo Games, which 20th anniversary of the necessary quarantine when they could without a vac- Around 21 players, cur- first XI (other two being An- were delayed until 2021 be- 2000 Sydney Olympics’ they arrive in Japan. All of cine. rently part of an England- dre Russell and Sunil Nar- cause of the pandemic. opening ceremony." those things." “First and foremost is Australia white-ball series, ine). Coates told reporters in “What we wait for is to de- “And by the time we get to people’s health,” Thorpe will be boarding a chartered However, the likes of Ra- Sydney that organisers cide what counter-mea- the end of the year we’ll told reporters at the Sydney flight from Manchester to has been made. Southampton and Man- jasthan Royals will be hit if were “throwing whatever sures we need to go ahead make an assessment on Games ceremony. Dubai, touching base on "Yes, the BCCI president chester, which is a part of Jofra Archer, Jos Buttler resources are necessary” at with, to proceed depending what counter-measures “So let’s put that into per- September 17. They can has received a request. It the stadium. They have and Steve Smith are not the Games. on what stage COVID is at." we’ll need to apply.” spective and if we haven’t only be available from Sep- may have been written by been tested every fifth day available in the opening “Our decision at the mo- “The extent of the cere- The Japanese govern- got a treatment or a vaccine tember 23, while tourna- one of the players but it is and even on the day of their game considering that Ben ment is to go ahead,” Coates monies, the extent of the ment and the IOC took the for COVID, the Olympics ment gets underway from something that all the Eng- departure from UK, they Stokes is already out of at said at an event marking the crowd participation, any unprecedented decision in will possibly not go ahead.” September 19. lish and Australian players, will be tested and also on least the first half of the Desperate to not miss a who are coming from the first and third day of ar- tournament due to his fa- single game, a big-hitting UK, feel," a senior IPL rival." ther's illness. star has requested BCCI source said on conditions of "If you go through safety will What will be VVS Laxman's strategy to president Sourav Ganguly, anonymity. bubble that the ECB cre- miss their skipper David on behalf of the players The players feel that since ated, not even housekeeping Warner, while his opening from both countries, to they are already in a bio- was allowed in the rooms of partner , in beef up Sunrisers' thin middle-order? lessen the quarantine pe- bubble -- first in Australia the players. Also they are all likelihood, won't be riod to three days. and then in UK --, it's only taking a chartered flight and available for at least one NEW DELHI, SEPT campaign, is likely to fill the Ganguly, who is in the logical that "they be allowed not a commercial one." game. 15:Armed with a lethal top- last overseas slot. They also have the option of playing UAE along with other of- to enter from one bio-bub- "So they do have a point Chennai Super Kings will order and a solid spin at- tack, Sunrisers Hyderabad left-arm spinner Shahbaz fice-bearers to oversee the ble to another" as they when they talk about enter- be without first-team play- as usual is an epitome of a Nadeem apart from their tournament's preparations, haven't been in contact with ing from one bio-bubble to ers Josh Hazlewood and balanced T20 side which part time spinners. wasn't available for a com- the outside world. another," said the IPL offi- Sam Curran in opening first will again be among the top The team has a new ment but a senior IPL "They have stayed at the cial but did not comment on two games if the rule is ad- four likely contenders for a coach, , at the source admitted that a plea Hilton hotel both in whether the request would hered to. play-off spot in this year's helm this season. The Aus- Indian Premier League. tralian comes with an out- Not exactly as high-profile standing white-ball record, as Mumbai Indians or a including leading England Thomas and Uber Cup Chennai Super Kings, the to their first ODI World Cup low-key presence armed last year and winning two with a solid core coaching IPL titles with the Kolkata group comprising Trevor Knight Riders. postponed due to COVID-19 Bayliss (KKR's IPL winning games, notching up two "This year we went with Bayliss will face the co- former coach), VVS Laxman fifties and a century. very young talent because nundrum of including a NEW DELHI, SEPT and , This year again, the pair we are looking at giving op- world-class batsman like 15:The Thomas and Uber which has done remarkably will be expected to do the portunities to the youngsters Williamson, who is a proven Cup in Denmark was on well to identify their core heavy lifting with the bat, and try to get the best out of match winner, in the play- Tuesday postponed to next strengths. while senior India pacer them," consultant ing eleven. With Rashid and year by the Badminton Best part is all three have Bhuvaneshwar Kumar and Muralitharan said. Warner sure-shot starters, World Federation following been in dug-outs of success- the Afghanistan T20 cap- The side also has an as- only two overseas slots can a wave of withdrawals by top ful IPL outfits and have that tain will be sortment of all-rounders in- be rotated.It seems unlikely teams due to the raging been there and done that manning the bowling re- cluding Nabi, Shankar, that Sunrisers will tinker COVID-19 pandemic. aura about them. sources. and West Indies' Fabian Allen, with their opening pair of India had announced both In , who is are potent Australian Warner and Bairstow and the men's and women's back as for this sea- Indian bowling options and Jammu and Kashmir's Nabi has made a strong case squads for the prestigious son, the franchise has an in- while Billy Stanlake can batsman-leg spinner Abdul with the bat and the ball in event which was scheduled spirational leader and a su- crank it up considerably. Samad, who impressed with the CPL. to be held in Aarhus, Den- perb batsman, who would Sunrisers' blind spot in the his bold hitting in the Ranji Foreign recruits Marsh mark from October 3 to 11. like to lead from the front. lack of depth in their Trophy and can play the role and Allen could also add However, after Indonesia The southpaw led Sunris- order. The team will rely on of a finisher. value to the team if given a and South Korea on Friday ers to a title triumph in 2016 and Kane Sunrisers won the 2016 ti- chance. joined Thailand, Australia, "The decision comes fol- clined the invitation. Saina, alongwith Olympic and has made the tourna- Wiliamson to provide direc- tle on the back of some bril- Squad: David Warner (c), Chinese Taipei and Algeria lowing the withdrawal of a There were also reports silver medallist P V Sindhu, ment his own, winning the tion provided Warner and liant bowling performances. Jonny Bairstow, Kane in pulling out due to the number of participating that Japan was contemplat- were supposed to lead the 'Orange Cap' thrice. Bairstow fail to click as a This year, on the pace front, Williamson, Manish dreaded disease, the sport's teams from the TOTAL ing withdrawing from the 10-member women's team Last season, alongside pair. Bhuvneshwar, who endured Pandey, Shreevats governing body held a vir- BWF Thomas and Uber Cup event, while China too was in Uber Cup, while former Jonny Bairstow, Warner The franchise has invested an injury-hit 2019, will Goswami, , tual emergency council Finals and the European leg awaiting government's ap- world no.1 Kidambi shattered multiple records in youngsters like left- again be the fulcrum of the , Wriddhiman meeting on Sunday. of the adjusted HSBC BWF proval. September 18 was Srikanth would have spear- including the highest open- handed Virat Singh, who attack. Saha, Abdul Samad, Vijay "The Badminton World World Tour. the last date for confirma- headed the Indian men's ing partnership in IPL his- scored 343 runs with a strike Spin is expected to play a Shankar, , Federation (BWF), in full "BWF is looking into possi- tion. campaign in Thomas Cup. tory. The duo single-hand- rate of 142.32 in the last Syed big role on the UAE pitches, Rashid Khan, Mitchell consultation and agreement ble alternative dates to Among top players, In- The BWF has, however, edly led Sunrisers to the Mushtaq Ali Trophy. and Rashid, who boasts of Marsh, Abhishek Sharma, with local host Badminton reschedule the World Men's dia's Saina Nehwal had on decided that the "Denmark knockout stage. Batting all-rounder Ab- the best bowling economy of Bavanaka Sandeep, Sanjay Denmark, has made the and Women's Team Cham- Sunday raised concerns Open in Odense, a HSBC The Australian was the hishek Sharma and India 6.55 at an average of 21.69 Yadav, Fabian Allen, Bhu- tough decision to postpone pionships, but on dates not about the timing of the BWF World Tour Event, will leading run-getter, amass- under-19 captain Priyam in the tournament, will bowl vneshwar Kumar, Khaleel the TOTAL BWF Thomas & before into 2021." event, asking whether it proceed as originally ing 692 runs in 12 matches, Garg, and they would hope the four most important Ahmed, , Uber Cup Finals 2020 in BWF had tried to rope in would be safe to go ahead planned in the BWF Tour- with eight half-centuries one of them can provide the overs for the team. Shahbaz Nadeem, Sid- Aarhus, Denmark," BWF Singapore and Hong Kong with it in the middle of the nament Calendar (13-18 Oc- and a ton. While Bairstow stability the middle-order Off-spinner Nabi, who is dharth Kaul, Billy Stanlake, said in a statement. as replacement but they de- pandemic. tober)." scored 445 runs in 10 desperately requires. coming off an excellent CPL TNatarajan, . Neymar admits he acted like EPL: James' stunner helps Chelsea sink Brighton NEW DELHI, SEPT “It was a hard game af- minute with a dipping low hosts were punished 15: Chelsea got their Pre- ter 1-1 but then Reece shot that was parried by again in the 66th as Web- a 'fool' in PSG brawl mier League campaign on scored an amazing goal. Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa ster turned a tame Zouma track after 20-year-old We are very happy that we Arrizabalaga. effort past the stranded NEW DELHI, SEPT because I realised that those right back Reece James won today,” said Werner. Brighton’s brave ap- Ryan after James had 15:Paris Saint-Germain's in charge would not do any- helped them to a 3-1 win “We had a lot of players proach was rewarded in swung in an inviting cor- (PSG) striker Neymar Jr has thing, did not notice or ig- at Brighton & Hove Al- not in the rhythm now but the 54th when Leandro ner. admitted that he acted like a nored the fact. During the bion with a spectacular I think we will get better equalised with a 20-metre Brighton right back fool to earn a red card game, I wanted to answer as goal on Monday. and better when we play strike which bounced in Tariq Lamptey produced against Marseille. always: playing football. The New signings Timo more games together.” front of the often criti- a superb individual per- In the match between facts showed that I did not Werner and Kai Havertz Brighton had taken the cised Arrizabalaga, who formance as he gave full- PSG and Marseille, Neymar succeed. I revolted. In our made their debuts up game to Chelsea in the should have done better, back Marcos Alonso a had accused Alvaro Gonza- sport, aggressions, insults, front after the German in- first half but fell behind although the home side’s roasting on his flank and lez of racism. The match be- swearing are part of the ternationals joined Frank after a defensive blunder joy was short-lived. Chelsea were forced to came a subject of contro- game, of the dispute. You Lampard’s side from the in the 23rd minute when James restored make several desperate versy as five players can't be affectionate. I un- Bundesliga during the goalkeeper Mat Ryan Chelsea’s lead two min- clearances to keep the including Neymar were derstand this guy partly, all is close season. fouled Werner in the area utes later with a goal any Seagulls at bay. given red cards for being in- part of the game, but racism But it was James who and Jorginho coolly con- of the forwards would But ultimately the Lon- volved in a brawl type situa- Neymar needs to learn how in power to address the issue and intolerance are unac- gave the visitors a 2-1 lead verted the penalty. have been proud of as he don side’s superior tech- tion. After the match, Ney- to lose. of racism in sport. ceptable," Neymar wrote on mar had also taken to On Monday (local time), "Yesterday I revolted. I Instagram. with a thunderbolt into Werner latched on to a teed himself up for an un- nique made the difference Twitter to say that he regret- Neymar again released a was punished with red be- "I am black, son of black, the top corner from 25 through ball by Jorginho stoppable shot which left although Werner and ted not hitting Gonzalez in lengthy statement saying cause I wanted to hit some- grandson and great-grand- metres before a deflected after a sloppy pass by Ryan clutching thin air. Havertz, the latter in par- the face while the Marseille that he regretted how the one who offended me. I son of black also. I am proud shot by central defender Brighton midfielder Brighton defender ticular, had a fairly quiet defender said that he did not entire situation unfolded, thought I could not leave and do not see myself as dif- Kurt Zouma sealed the Steven Alzate, who nearly Lewis Dunk missed a sit- evening on the south make any racial slurs and but he also asked the people without doing something ferent from anyone. points. made amends in the 35th ter soon after and the coast.