THE HIMALAYAN MAIL JAMMU Q SUNDAY Q JULY 19, 2020 7 Why Punjab govt withdrew Faf Du Plessis donates bat, Graeme Smith to join South Africa Harbhajan's Khel Ratna nomination ODI jersey to raise funds in the eligibility criteria for players in taking the knee country's highest sporting NEW DELHI:Former honour. fight vs COVID-19 captain and Cricket South "I have been flooded with South Africa's Africa Director of Cricket calls as to why Punjab Govt star batsman Graeme Smith will take the withdrew my name from Faf du Plessis knee along with players and Khel Ratna nominations. has auctioned staff in support of the Black The truth is I am not eligi- one of his bats Lives Matter (BLM) move- ble for Khel Ratna which and a pink ODI ment during the 3TC Soli- primarily considers the in- jersey to raise darity Cup at the Centurion. ternational performances funds for feed- Smith said he backed na- in last three years," the 40- ing underprivi- tional team pacer Ngidi year-old cricketer tweeted. leged children Lungi on the BLM move- "The Punjab Govt is not struggling to ment which has gathered at fault here as they have cope with the momentum following the rightly withdrawn my COVID-19 pandemic. death of African-American name. Would urge my Du Plessis has donated the items -- a new IXU bat and George Floyd. friends in media not to his pink ODI jersey which has his name and number (18) in- "As Director of Cricket at speculate." scribed on the back -- after being nominated by his former Cricket South Africa, a for- Harbhajan, who has 417 teammate AB de Villiers. mer Protea and captain, a Test and 269 ODI wickets is "As you all know the Covid - 19 pandemic has had a devas- teammate, a father, a after he was killed at the Ashwell Prince, JP Duminy an Arjuna Awardee and was tating effect on a lot of people, and we're experiencing these brother, a friend and most hands of a white police offi- and Paul Adams have come also conferred with Padma effects first hand in South Africa," Du Plessis posted the importantly fellow South cer in Minneapolis, trigger- out in support of the move- NEW DELHI:Veteran decision to withdraw his Shri. message on his Instagram page with pictures of both the African, I am proud to sup- ing widespread protests ment, saying racism re- off-spinner Harbhajan nomination for this year's The off-spinner last rep- items. port this incredibly impor- across the US and the mains part of the game in Singh on Saturday clarified Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna resented India in Test and "I've accepted the @allin_africa challenge after being tant movement. There is no world. the country. the Punjab government's award as he doesn't fit in ODIs in 2015. nominated by @siya_kolisi_the_bear and @abdevil- room for neutrality in on The 3TC Solidarity tour- In a statement, the for- liers17. I've donated one of my almost new IXU bats and this topic," Smith wrote on nament begins on Saturday. mer cricketers threw their my Pink ODI shirt from the 2016 Pink ODI against Eng- his Twitter handle. It will feature some of South weight behind Ngidi, who land that will be auctioned on All in Africa's website. "I stand with Lungi Ngidi Africa's top cricketers fea- was recently criticised by Ready to play IPL anywhere ture in three teams -- The ex-Proteas like Pat Symcox "All of the proceeds of the auction will go towards a project and our brothers and sisters I've launched with the Hillsong Africa Foundation. The goal around the world. I will join Eagles, Kingfishers and The and Boeta Dippenar for of the project is to raise R500 000 that will be used to feed the teams tomorrow in tak- Kites -- playing two halves supporting the BLM cam- in the world: Bhuvneshwar vulnerable children from local communities. Every donation ing the knee at the 3TC in a single match. paign. NEW DELHI:Playing will go a long way in helping these children.' #SolidarityCup," he wrote. Thirty former South Cricket South Africa day-night Test with the pink It is not the first time the 36-year-old cricketer has in- Floyd became a symbol of Africa cricketers, including (CSA) has also extended its ball against Australia later volved himself in charity work amid the pandemic. the anti-racism movement Makhaya Ntini, Herchelle support to the BLM move- this year could be "challeng- Gibbs, Vernon Philander, ment. ing", believes Indian pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, as the Tim Paine-led side has Indian women's hockey goalkeeper Savita feels played more matches with the pink ball in their back- yard. team is ready for Tokyo Olympics The two sides are slated to NEW DELHI:Women's believes the team is much drennial sporting extrava- take on each other in a four- hockey goalkeeper Savita improved now, evident ganza after 36 years. match Test series this year, says the Indian team was from its recent perfor- "The Olympic Games will starting in Brisbane from inexperienced at the Rio mances against top sides. always be the pinnacle tour- December 4. The second Olympics but has since then "We have certainly nament for any sportsper- match of the series in Ade- transformed into a compet- changed the way we oper- son. All of us dream of not laide from December 11 is itive side in the last four ate on and off the field since just participating in the scheduled to be a day-night years and it stands a good the 2016 Olympics. We competition, but also of contest. chance of making history in have recorded great victo- "Everyone is excited for winning a medal for our next year's Tokyo Games. ries in the last four years the series between India and country. It was fantastic to The Indian women's which includes Asia Cup Australia as after a long time, take part at the Rio hockey team had created 2017 and FIH Women's Se- Olympics in 2016," she there would be a game to history when they qualified watch and also, we would be ries Finals Hiroshima said. for Rio Olympics after a gap 2019," said Savita. "We had qualified for the playing against one of the of 36 years. But that joy was certainly hold us in good covered. We have com- "It was absolutely amaz- big competition after 36 toughest opponents out shortlived as they crashed stead for the next one in peted against top teams in ing to book a berth at the years and we were very ex- there," Bhuvneshwar said. out in the group stages. Tokyo," Savita was quoted the recent past and we have Tokyo Olympics through cited to be in the midst of The pacer also noted that "I feel our team was raw as saying in a Hockey India a strong belief in our abili- the FIH Olympic Qualifiers the best athletes from the conditions could be climatised to the Australian indefinitely due to the pan- at that time and we made a release. ties. If we play to our poten- 2019 in front of our home around the world. The feel- "challenging" because conditions. demic and it is likely that it few mistakes. Now, we have "I think we have a great tial, we will surely win a crowd." ing was unparalleled. The Aussies are used to play with "Yes, it will help for sure in could be held overseas later a much stronger side and I chance to make history at medal for India at the Savita recalled her expe- the pink ball. preparing better for those this year. am sure we will be able to buzz of the fans, spreading the Tokyo Olympics. We Olympics next year." riences of the Rio Olympics, "It is going to be fun to play conditions," he said. "I hope IPL happens this put the nightmare in Rio colour around the different have a good mix of experi- The 30-year-old custo- saying the entire team was with the pink ball in Ade- The Indian pace attack has year, we will play anywhere behind us. The experience sporting venues lifts and ence and youngsters in our dian from Haryana, who laide," he said. emerged as a potent force in in the world," said the UP at the Olympic Games will buzzing with excitement to motivates all sportspersons The COVID-19 pandemic recent years in Test cricket pace bowler. side and all our bases are was part of the Rio squad, be just a part of the qua- instantly." has wreaked havoc on sport- with the likes of Mohammed The Indian team last ing calendar around the Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Is- played a series against New world. International cricket hant Sharma and Umesh Ya- Zealand earlier this year, only resumed earlier this dav putting in consistent which Bhuvneshwar missed FA Cup more difficult to win than month after nearly four performances, both at home due to injury, and he can't months with the ongoing and away. wait to get cracking again three-Test series between When asked whether the once they are allowed to play. ever: Arsenal Boss Mikel Arteta England and West Indies in a Indian bowling attack is the "I do not know when NEW DELHI:Mikel winners of Sunday's semi-fi- their squads," Guardiola's 'bio-secure' environment, best in the world, the 30- cricket will resume but Arteta believes the FA Cup nal between Manchester former assistant said.