SUNDAY, MARCH 22, 2020 (PAGE 10) DAILY EXCELSIOR, JAMMU Committees, Federations urge J&K's Samad among top five Kohli's record itself tells a IOC to postpone Tokyo Olympics performers in Ranji Trophy 2019-20 lot, says Miandad OSLO, Mar 21: Games because of *These players can earn a national call-up soon: Experts KARACHI, Mar 21: performance itself tells a lot. the coronavirus. People have to admit this as stats The Norwegian Olympic In a letter to Excelsior Sports Correspondent Ishan Porel from Bengal. Saurashtra team, Jaydev Unadkat Pakistani cricket legend Committee wants the Tokyo are visible. the CEO of the The big-hitter from Jammu and silenced all of his critics with a bril- Javed Miandad is in awe of Virat "Virat performed really well Games only to take place once the JAMMU, Mar 21: Kashmir, Abdul Samad stole the liant performance in Ranji Trophy Kohli's batting and has U.S. Olympic and Swashbuckling middle-order bats- in South Africa; even Coronavirus outbreak "is under Paralympic show in this edition of Ranji 2019-20. The left-arm pace bowler picked the India captain firm control" worldwide. man from Jammu and Kashmir, on an uneven wicket, Committee, USA Trophy with his towering sixes. No ended the season as the highest as his favourite bats- he scored a hundred. The NIF laid out its position in Abdul Samad has emerged as one other batsman could hit even 30 wicket-taker (65 wickets) from all man, saying his record Track and Field of the top performers among a list You cannot say he is a letter sent to IOC President CEO Max Siegel sixes in this teams and he narrowly missed out "itself tells a lot". Thomas Bach entitled "Olympic of five in the Ranji Trophy 2019- scared of fast-bowlers urged the federa- competition on the all-time record of (68 wick- The former Pakistan or he cannot play on Games Tokyo 2020 and COVID- 20, which culminated one week while Samad ets) in Ranji Trophy. captain picked the cur- tion to advocate ago with Saurashtra emerging as bouncy pitches or he 19" and signed by its president and for the postpone- slammed 37 The batsman with the highest rent India skipper as his secretary general. final decision on whether they go the champions. doesn't play spinners ment of the Games, which are to maximums to batting average in Ranji Trophy favourite due to his well." The body said it urged the IOC ahead, with many qualifying The Jaydev Unadkat-led side earn the 2019-20, Sarfaraz Khan emerged "classy" batting. events having been canceled and start July 24. defeated Bengal by virtue of their Miandad, who aggregated to provide an "insight on the cen- France's swimming federation record of as one of the most improved play- Speaking on his YouTube tral milestones" in the process lead- many countries going into lock- first innings lead. Big names like 8832 runs in 124 Tests and 7381 today joined its US counterpart in most sixes in ers in this season. Khan began his channel about the talent and runs in 233 ODIs for Pakistan, ing to the final decision on whether down. Cheteshwar Pujara and Ranji Trophy campaign with an unbeaten depth present in the current The head of USA Swimming calling for the Tokyo Olympics to Wriddhiman Saha took part in this stated that both Rohit Sharma the games will be held. be postponed because of the coron- 2019-20. Samad is a part of innings of 71 runs against Indian squad, Miandad especial- "Our clear recommendation," urged the U.S. Olympic and year's final as the most prestigious and Kohli make batting look avirus pandemic, adding to pres- Sunrisers Hyderabad squad in IPL Karnataka. He failed to score big ly praised Kohli for his enviable easy. the letter read, "is that the Olympic Paralympic Committee to push for domestic competition of Indian 2020. against Tamil Nadu but he shat- stats and the way he achieved a 12-month postponement. sure on the IOC. cricket came to an end. One of the toughest competi- Games in Tokyo shall not take "The current context does not Veteran Indian all-rounder, tered multiple records with a them. place before the COVID-19 situa- Japanese Olympic Committee Over the years, several big tors of his time, Miandad is allow the 2020 Olympic Games to Irfan Pathan has played a huge role superb innings of 301* against "I was asked who is the best known for his outspokenness. tion is under firm control on a glob- member Kaori Yamaguchi told the names have broken into the inter- in his success and Samad show- Uttar Pradesh. in the Indian cricket team, so I newspaper Nikkei that the IOC "is be organised properly," the federa- national arena because of their On Kohli, he added, "He is a al scale." tion said after a videoconference of cased his talent with some fine per- He followed it up with an choose Virat Kohli," Miandad The NIF said it was concerned putting athletes at risk." IOC mem- splendid performances in Ranji clean hitter. Look at his shots, it its executive committee. formances in this tournament. unbeaten double century versus said. feels so good to watch him bat. about the public health situation ber Hayley Wickenheiser, a four- Trophy. The current Indian stars Surprisingly, the 18-year-old play- Himachal Pradesh and at one "I don't have to say much, his time gold medalist from Canada, Meanwhile, India's veteran namely Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit He has class." (PTI) both in its own country and inter- table tennis player Sharath Kamal er did not feature in the India U-19 moment it seemed like no bowler nationally, saying it was a "very said her organization was "insensi- Bumrah and likes owe their suc- squad for the U-19 World Cup. in the world could dismiss tive and irresponsible" for insisting is in line to play his fourth cess to Ranji Trophy. challenging time" for its athletes Olympics in July-August but he Samad showed no relent to the Sarfaraz. Lower-division soccer clubs because of the country's ban on the Olympics will move ahead, This year, the fans witnessed bowlers of Assam as he registered The 21-year-old fast bowler "given the state of humanity." wants the IOC to postpone the the rise of several new stars and organized sports. mega event due to the COVID-19 a 73-ball century against them. He from Bengal, Ishan Porel led his among hardest hit by pandemic "We trust that the advices from The chairman of UK Athletics, here is a list of the top 5 players pandemic. repeated the same performance team's pace attack magnificently in MADRID, Mar 21: toll on top teams everywhere, but the Tokyo 2020 Task Force are of Nic Coward, has said the IOC's who according to experts could Sharath, who won his first title against Jharkhand as he hit 11 sixes Ranji Trophy 2019-20. As he was a it will be for the smaller clubs that the highest medical standard and stance "to leave it where it is, is cre- earn a national call-up because of in 10 years when he won the ITTF in his innings of 128 runs. As he part of India A squad that toured A Spanish third-division soc- the financial impact may cause the has the safety of the athletes as the ating so much pressure in the sys- their good performance in Ranji Oman Open last week, is in self- bowls leg break as well, he can New Zealand during the course of cer team had just started selling a most damage. overall priority." tem. It now has to be addressed." Trophy 2019-20. quarantine ever since he returned earn a national call-up in the near Ranji Trophy, he missed a few special membership package for While the stoppage has already Calls are growing for the The U.S. Track federation The list of top five performers from Muscat in the wee hours of future. games for Bengal. But still, he was the decisive portion of the season, forced some teams in the major Tokyo Games to be postponed or added its name to a growing chorus in Ranji Trophy 2019-20 includes Monday. (Agencies) Deemed by many as the pre- one of the top performers of his hoping to bring in some extra leagues to cut players' salaries, the for Bach to give a deadline for a of calls to postpone the Tokyo wicketkeeper/batsman Srikar mier Indian wicket-keeper bats- side, playing a match-winning role income. Bharat from Andhra Pradesh, effect of the crisis on lower-divi- man in the domestic arena, Srikar for them in the semifinal versus Another was counting on the sion clubs may be even more dire, speedster Jaydev Unadkat from Bharat ended Ranji Trophy 2019- Karnataka, scalping 7 wickets in boost from revenue on the back of ECB suspends professional cricket till May 28 Saurashtra, explosive batsman lasting longer and possibly leading LONDON, Mar 21: 20 as the most successful wicket- the high-pressure encounter. ticket sales for the upcoming to financial collapse. Sarfaraz Khan from Mumbai, styl- keeper, executed 37 dismissals Thus, these are the five top per- derby against a regional rival, one ish batsman, who can bowl leg- "Every team in the third divi- The England and Wales behind the stumps at an average of formers of Ranji Trophy 2019-20 of its biggest matches of the sea- sion will suffer serious conse- Cricket Board (ECB) has breaks also Abdul Samad from 2.85 dismissals/innings. who can earn a national call-up son. J&K and medium pace bowler quences," Franco Caselli, presi- announced suspension of all The skipper of the champions soon. They were not expecting the dent of Spanish third-division club professional cricket till May 28, coronavirus outbreak, nor to see Burgos, told The Associated Press. due to the Novel Coronavirus Wu Lei feels good despite testing positive for COVID-19 soccer come to a halt. "Some more than others, pandemic. The ECB took the The suspension of competi- depending on their economic situ- decision, following discussions BEIJING, Mar 21 COVID-19. tions across the globe has taken a ation." (Agencies) with the First Class Counties, Espanyol con- Chinese international foot- the Marylebone Cricket Club firmed on baller Wu Lei said he feels good (MCC) and the Professional Wednesday that six in isolation at home and cur- Ireland-Bangladesh Cricketers' Association (PCA). members of the rently has close to no symptoms "It was agreed that, given the club's staff have test- after the 28-year-old striker was cricket series postponed current information available, a ed positive for the tested positive for COVID-19 seven-week delay to the start of coronavirus, but did- LONDON, Mar 21: "We have a responsibility behind closed doors and giving game, '' ECB Chief Executive in Spain today. the season IS the most appropri- n't reveal the names to protect the wellbeing of sports fans the opportunity to Officer Tom Harrison said. "The "As you know, I have been Ireland's seven-match ate approach," an ECB media of the players who players, coaches, fans and the live broadcast action. decision to delay the start of the infected with COVID-19 and I series against Bangladesh statement said here on Friday. have been infected. wider community, and will not "The potential for reduced season has been essential, given am now isolating myself at became today the latest casual- The ECB has begun model- Wu's test result was hesitate to take a safety-first versions of competitions, should the circumstances the nation home. I am in good spirits as all that everyone should pay atten- ty to be inflicted on the cricket ling a range of options to start eventually published on approach to our operations the season become further trun- faces. I am reassured by the col- the symptoms have virtually tion to the ongoing global pan- calendar by the Coronavirus the season in June, July or demic. "We must wash our Saturday and has immediately over coming months," said cated, will also be discussed," it laborative effort from across the disappeared," Wu said in a pandemic. August ? with an immediate hands and go out less. I believe become one of the top searches Warren Deutrom, Chief added. The ECB said it will game that together, we will video released on his social The three one-day interna- focus on options for cricket in meet as needed to review the make the very best of whatever we will beat the virus and I on China's twitter-like platform Executive of Cricket Ireland. media on Saturday, hours after tionals in Belfast and four "We would like to thank the June, including the three-Test position and make further deci- length of the season we are able can't wait to return to the pitch." Weibo. the Chinese Football Twenty20 matches in England, Bangladesh Cricket Board for series against West Indies, the sions, as the UK situation to safely schedule in the coming Wu, who plays for La Liga The CFA said today that Wu Association confirmed his posi- scheduled to take place in May, their helpful cooperation in Vitality T20 Blast and England unfolds. "During this period of months," he added. He said this outfit Espanyol, is the only is now receiving medical treat- tive test result. have been postponed in line reaching this decision, and we Women's matches, scheduled deep uncertainty, it is the ECB's would give the ECB time to Chinese player playing in one ment with mild symptoms, and "I have conducted a series with British and Irish govern- shall work with them at estab- against India. "Close liaison first priority to protect the well- keep pace with a fast-moving of the top five football leagues the CFA will keep close contact of tests including a CT on my ment advice against the staging lishing new dates for the series with the Government will con- being of everyone within the situation and continue to plan in Europe, and he became the with Wu and Espanyol to pro- lungs, and the results are all of sporting events with mass when we are all in a position to tinue, with discussions on the cricket family, from players, to for how a revised season might first Chinese professional foot- vide any necessary good," the leading figure in gatherings and travel restric- plan for the future with greater potential of starting the season fans to colleagues, across the look.(UNI) baller tested positive for help.(Agencies) Chinese football added, urging tions. certainty." (Agencies)