Former England captain Hussain names four players he would pay to watch page 13

Monday, April 20, 2020

Xavi joins Haydos, others in taking pay cut Roma players, coach to forgo Tribune News Network as players, in order to stand remainder of season’s pay Doha with everyone during the cur- rent ordeal. AFP Al Sadd Sports Club’s head Abdulaziz Hatim, Qatar Rome coach Xavi Hernandez has be- national team and Al Rayyan come the latest star in Qatar player, said that the reduction Roma players and coach to join the list of a number of comes as an initiative from Paulo Fonseca have agreed players and coaches in taking him, and stems from his feel- to go without pay for the a pay cut to support the fight ing of responsibility looking at rest of the season to help the against the novel coronavirus the requirements of the current club’s finances during the (COVID-19) pandemic. situation, and his appreciation coronavirus pandemic, the Just two days ago, Qatar’s of the officials and those in Serie A outfit said on Sun- football stars stepped forward charge of sport, hoping that day. and announced that they would this pandemic will disappear The deal means the play- be taking pay cuts as a gesture Al Sadd coach and soon and the football activity ers, Fonseca and his coach- of solidarity in dealing with the former Barcelona will return in various countries ing staff will give up their coronavirus crisis, the former legend Xavi of the world. salaries for March, April, Barcelona legend Xavi has now Hernandez. Also, Abdul Karim Hassan May and June, although done so. stressed that this is a duty that Roma said that should the Qatar’s national team and everyone must fulfill, out of a current campaign end up Al Sadd captain Hassan al Hay- sense of responsibility towards being completed “an incen- Roma thanked captain Edin Dzeko and the other players for agreeing dos, 2018 AFC Player of the Al Sadd player and captain Players Association to take the a country that has given us so tive plan to be paid subject to go without pay. (AFP) Year Abdelkarim Hassan, and of the first Qatari team Haydos necessary measures to reach an much, adding, “I have informed to the achievement of cer- defender Bassem al Rawi, who said that everyone knows the agreement in this regard.” the Qatar Players Association tain sporting objectives” had stands for and we also thank ished come the end of Italy’s plays for Al Duhail in the Qatar great ordeal that the country He added that what he did of my decision, and I hope that been agreed. them all for their superb ges- COVID-19 lockdown, cur- Stars League, and Assem Madi- and the whole world are going could not be compared to the everyone is fine, and the situa- They had also agreed to ture towards the employees rently scheduled for May 4. bo and Almoez Ali, are among through during the current pe- sacrifices made by the official tion will pass quickly.” “collectively pay the differ- at this club,” said CEO Guido Earlier this month, Serie the star players who have an- riod with the spread of the coro- cadres in the State, especially Rawi, stressing the impor- ence” to ensure that employ- Fienga. A clubs unanimously agreed nounced their decisions. navirus. the medical ones, “as they stand tance of solidarity among all, ees who have been placed Italy has suffered more to cut the salaries of players, The others following suit “Out of my sense of respon- in the first ranks to fight this said, “I have the honour to join on a partial unemployment than 23,000 coronavirus coaches and staff, with the include the national team and sibility towards my dear coun- scourge, which I hope Allah will this initiative, and agree to re- scheme will receive their deaths, second only to the exception of Juventus, who Al Sadd goalkeeper Saad al try, I announce waiving part of end it soon.” duce my salary.” regular salary, the club add- United States, and all organ- had already hammered out a Sheeb, Al Duhail SC midfielder my salary to express through Dosari, while praising the Fathi announced joining the ed. ised sport has been suspend- deal with their own players. Assim Madibo and Al Gharafa this my support to all the efforts step of his colleague Haydos, initiative and said, “I consider “(Captain) Edin Dzeko, ed since March 9. Each club’s squad will defender Almahdi Ali, and Al that are being made announced that he will waive this initiative a duty as everyone all the players and Paulo The Italian Football Fed- have to agree to waive be- Arabi player Ahmed Fathi be- to address this pandemic, part of his salary, considering needs to come together to over- have demonstrated they eration (FIGC) has said that tween two and four months’ sides many others. and I have informed the Qatar that an obligatory step for them come the current conditions.” understand what this club it wants the season to be fin- salary. Wuhan football team makes emotional return

Staff and members of the armed forces prepare for the opening of a new testing facility for COVID-19 for NHS workers at the AMEX Stadium (AFP) to virus ground zero in Brighton, East Sussex on Saturday.

AFP “They are not walking virus- Brighton’s stadium to Shanghai es, they are athletes,” Gonzalez told Spanish media at the time, become testing centre Wuhan Zall, the Chinese pleading for his players not to Super League team from the be demonised. AFP ecutive Paul Barber. epicentre of the coronavirus But when the virus began London “We have committed to pandemic, made an emotional taking hold in Spain in March, do everything we can to assist return to their home city after Zall made arrangements to fly Brighton’s Amex stadium the NHS and other key work- more than three months torn back to China, where the num- is the latest British sports ers in this crisis. from their families. ber of infections was slowing venue to be turned into a “We have already opened Zall endured a turbulent markedly. coronavirus testing centre, up the doors of the training 104 days on the road -- includ- Wuhan was still sealed off the Premier League club con- ground, as well as the sta- ing being stranded in Spain -- so the squad, via a prolonged firmed on Sunday. dium, to be used by the NHS, because Wuhan was sealed off transit in Germany, flew to Chi- The Tottenham Hotspur emergency services and local in January when the virus killed na’s southern city of Shenzhen stadium and the home of authority for training, storage and infected thousands there. on March 16. English rugby, Twickenham, or whatever they feel it can be The city is now emerging They went into three weeks have also been converted used for in the fight against from its weeks-long lockdown of quarantine, followed by train- into drive-through testing this pandemic.” and hundreds of chanting fans ing in the nearby city of Foshan, facilities as part of the Brit- The UK government has met the Zall players when they before taking a high-speed train ish government’s effort to come under increasing pres- arrived at Wuhan’s train station from Guangzhou to Wuhan on increase testing for thou- sure to ramp up its testing late Saturday, state media said. Saturday evening. sands more National Health capability to help control the Wearing masks, the players Wuhan Zall football team fans welcoming the team members home at the railway station in Wuhan, in Zall are preparing for a sea- Service (NHS) staff and oth- spread of COVID-19. had bouquets of flowers thrust China’s central Hubei province on Saturday. (AFP) son that still has no start date. er key workers. The official death toll in into their hands as supporters The CSL was supposed to begin “The centre was sched- Britain soared by 888 on Sat- clad in the team’s orange col- Spanish coach Jose Gonzalez, the top-flight CSL. nitely, in early January in the on February 22 but could now uled to see more than 50 NHS urday to 15,464. ours held banners and sang. will now spend a few days at “The club is very grateful for southern city of Guangzhou. kick off in late June, according frontline workers on Satur- Premier League matches “After more than three home before resuming training the support and understanding They flew to Malaga, Spain to latest reports. day afternoon, and they will have been suspended indefi- months of wandering, the on Wednesday. of the players’ families.” towards the end of January, China’s government says have the results of their tests nitely due to the virus. homesick Wuhan Zall team “The local players will be The squad’s return home is by which time the city of Wu- it has curbed coronavirus at within 48 hours. Within a few Even when games do re- members finally set foot in their reunited with their families, the final chapter in a long saga. han and its 11 million people home, but on Friday admitted days, the site should reach its turn they are likely to be behind hometown,” the team said on having not seen them for more They began training for were under harsh restrictions errors in tallying the death toll capacity of up to 1,000 tests a closed doors due to guidelines the Twitter-like Weibo. than three months,” said Zall, the new Chinese Super League because of the coronavirus in Wuhan and raised the count day,” said Brighton chief ex- on social distancing. The squad, led by their who finished sixth last year in season, since postponed indefi- outbreak. there by 50 percent to 3,869.

La Liga, RFEF and CSD reach Danish club plans drive-in football for fans agreement over Spanish football DPA Denmark on Saturday ex- ball match. Copenhagen tended a ban on public gath- The match would be pre- DPA by La Liga on Friday, regarding their erings until May 11. ceded by a joint song. Specta- Barcelona eventual return to training. For Danish top-flight club When the Danish Super tors would be offered match Spanish football to resume in any Midtjylland plans to intro- League eventually gets the commentary in their cars by The Spanish Football Federation capacity all three parties would duce drive-in football for fans greenlight to resume com- tuning in to a designated ra- (RFEF), La Liga and the Spanish have to agree on the timing and when sports events are al- petitive matches, it is unlikely dio frequency, the club said. Sports Council (CSD) have agreed conditions. La Liga and the RFEF lowed after the coronavirus that spectators will be allowed Midtjylland currently tops on the basis of a deal about the have long been at loggerheads. outbreak. for some time to come, Pre- the Super League. Their last future of Spanish football amid the “Yesterday (Saturday April The club based in cen- ben Rokkjaer, responsible for match was on March 8. coronavirus health crisis, the CSD 18), there was a meeting at the tral Jutland planned to use marketing, said on the club’s The Danish league asso- said on Sunday. Viana Palace (Madrid) between 2,000 parking spots around website. ciation has said it wants to La Liga president Javier the CSD, the RFEF and La Liga, the MCH Arena in the city of “We are in close dialogue complete this season even if Tebas, RFEF president Luis with the aim of taking on the situ- Herning, where fans will be with the police, Herning Mu- matches are played with emp- Rubiales and CSD president ation that the Covid-19 crisis has able to watch the action on nicipality and the MCH Arena ty stands. Irene Lozano met on Saturday in generated in football and Spanish large screens. to create a safe framework Midtjylland said that if the Madrid for over eight hours and sport,” said the CSD. Denmark has, along with and security for everyone,” he drive-in football experience reached some agreements. “The participants - Irene Loza- many other countries, limited added. pans out, it would attempt to Although no specifics erew no, Luis Rubiales and Javier Tebas public gatherings to 10 people The club estimated about offer more parking spots and announced in the CSD statement, - spoke for over eight hours in an FC Midtjylland are offering their fans the chance to park their cars at most, which rules out spec- 10,000 spectators could possibly apply for an entry in for context the meeting took place open and honest way. All sides and watch the game. tators on the stands. watch the first drive-in foot- the Guinness World Records. after a protocol was sent to clubs were contributing constructively. 12 Monday, April 20, 2020 Sports Serena Williams’ coach and Nadal planning matches at academies

AFP leased a statement unveil- portant thing is everyone’s der the title “Ultimate Tennis ment, fans watching remotely Paris ing a planned “league” of 50 health, but if in the coming Showdown”. would be able to interact in matches at his academy near months the Academy can be The competition will start real time with the players, lis- Both Rafael Nadal and Ser- Nice in the south of France used to help other profession- on the weekend of May 16 ten to conversations between ena Williams’ coach Patrick and talking of “millions of US al players, I’d be delighted if with a match between world the players and their coaches. Mouratoglou announced plans dollars in prize money”. they could come to train and number 10 David Goffin and Mouratoglou said that the on Saturday to stage matches The Nadal Academy said also to compete,” Nadal said. 20-year-old Australian Alexei competition will be “player- at their tennis academies. it was considering becoming “I think that competing Popyrin, who is training at centric” could be “particular- With top-level profession- “a campus where elite play- among ourselves would help the academy and whose fa- ly beneficial to lower-ranked al tennis shut down until at ers can reside, train and com- us maintain our game for ther reportedly came up with players.” least July 13, both academies pete between themselves in when the tour restarts.” the idea. The lockdown in France said they were examining matches that will be televised The academy has hosted The lineup for later match- is scheduled to end on May the possibility of staging and so that fans around the world a Challenger Tour event, the es has yet to be decided. 11, which means players will broadcasting matches so fans can enjoy them.” Rafa Nadal Open, as well as The statement posted on be able to travel, although could watch remotely. It said Nadal had origi- other lower-ranked and jun- social media said that the mass events will still be While the Rafael Nadal nated the idea and that the ior tournaments. “UTS aims to reinvent the banned, so no spectators academy, based on the Span- academy had been in taks Mouratoglou’s state- way tennis is usually experi- would be allowed. ish island of Mallorca, said with ATP chairman Andrea ment said he was planning enced and consumed.” The Spanish government on its website that it was in Gaudenzi. 10 closed-door matches to be On-court coaching and on Saturday proposed ex- talks with the ATP on how “Right now tennis takes broadcast live at his academy video coaching would be al- tending its lockdown until The Rafa Nadal Academy wants to become a base for players to train to proceed, Mouratoglou re- a back seat and the most im- on each of five weekends un- lowed and, said the state- May 9. and play during the coronavirus pandemic. (AFP) Tennis warned of Djokovic says tennis ‘elevated risk of corruption’ ‘big three’ plan to help during lockdown

AFP portunities created are wel- Paris comed, we must advise you that there may be an ele- lowest-ranked players Tennis players taking part vated risk of corruption and in private tournaments while corrupt approaches in some the sport is in lockdown have of these environments.” AFP tennis media, Djokovic, as been warned that match-fix- Rafael Nadal and Patrick Paris president of the ATP Players’ ers remain a threat. Mouratoglou, the coach of Council, which also includes ATP and WTA events Serena Williams, both say Novak Djokovic said on Federer and Nadal, pro- have been on ice for over a that they plan events at their Saturday that he, Roger posed to members that play- month and will not resume academies. Federer and Rafael Nadal ers in the top 100 for singles until July 13 at the earliest. The Nadal Academy in are organising aid for play- and the top 20 in doubles In the meantime, exhi- Mallorca said it was consid- ers struggling with the pa- contribute according to their bition matches, as well as ering becoming “a campus ralysis of the game due to the rankings. virtual tennis tournaments, where elite players can re- coronavirus pandemic. The proposed scale runs have been suggested as a side, train and compete be- “I spoke to Roger and from $30,000 for a top-five means to sharpen competi- tween themselves in match- Rafa a few days ago,” Djoko- player to $5,000 for those tive edges and boost bank es that will be televised so vic, the world number one, between 51 and 100. balances. that fans around the world said in an Instagram chat That would raise approx- “The suspension of pro- can enjoy them.” with friend and rival Stan imately $1 million and the fessional tennis is an uncer- Mouratoglou released Wawrinka on Saturday. ATP would make a similar tain and challenging time for a statement unveiling a “We had a long conversa- contribution. the tennis community,” said planned “league” of 50 tion about the near future of On Friday, ATP chief An- a statement from corruption matches at his academy near tennis, what is going to hap- drea Gaudenzi echoed the watchdog, the Tennis Integ- Nice in the south of France pen, how we can contribute call for unity on the tour rity Unit. and talking of “millions of and how we can help espe- website. “Some privately organ- US dollars in prize money”. cially lower-ranked players, “Our guys are at home, ised exhibition matches, Mouratoglou said he was who are obviously struggling obviously unable to play, tournaments and even eS- planning 10 closed-door the most.” unable to earn money and ports events will start to take matches to be broadcast live “The majority of the play- financially struggling, so place where and when local on each of five weekends un- ers who are ranked between we will try to help,” he said, government restrictions al- der the title “Ultimate Ten- 200, 250 in the world, and Novak Djokovic said he is talking to Roger Federer as well as Rafael Nadal about giving money to players who adding that the ATP faced low. nis Showdown”. the 700th or 1,000th do not are struggling financially.( AFP) the problem of not knowing “We understand that The competition will have federation support, do how long the crisis would these will be attractive op- start on the weekend of May not have sponsors. They are Millman questions ‘big three’ plan to help tennis professionals last and how much revenue portunities to many of you 16 with a match between completely independent and it would lose. eager to play and to earn an world number 10 David Gof- left alone,” he said DPA pandemic to realize this? Surely L’Equipe, in a letter calling for “I’ve been quite touched income. fin and 20-year-old Austral- “Guys who are ranked Berlin over the many years of top end the top 100 to make dona- by the top players who “While the playing op- ian Alexei Popyrin. between 200-250, especially heavy prize money increases tions on a sliding scale. While reached out, the big names to 700...are thinking of leav- The planned initiative from we maybe should have maybe he and the rest of the top five expressing their desire of ing tennis right now.” tennis ‘big three’ Novak distributed the spread a little would donate 30,000 dollars, helping the lower-ranked He said players, the ATP Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and more...” Millman, ranked 43 in Millman would be asked to players and putting those and the four Grand Slams Roger Federer to support lower the world, wrote on Twitter. donate 10,000 dollars. players first.” “would all get together and ranked professionals during However, the four Grand Other contributions would “We are also talking will contribute to a player the coronavirus crisis has been Slams have recently increased come the grand slams and with the Grand Slams about relief fund that ATP will dis- questioned by Australian player the amounts paid to those los- ATP Finals with the aim of it. They may want to join tribute.” John Millman on Sunday. ing in the first round. giving the players ranked in the effort. I think it “It looks, hopefully, that “If the concern is to help Djokovic, who is also presi- 250-700 10,000 dollars each, would be a great message for there will something be- players ranked 250-700 in the dent of the ATP player council, which would require 4.5 mil- the sport.” tween $3 million (2.75 mil- world why has it taken a global was quoted by French paper lion dollars overall. World tennis has been lion euros) and $4.5 million at a standstill since the be- that is going to be distribut- ginning of March and will ed,” he estimated. bonus pools for top players. son, we can take a certain roots of tennis. The future not resume until mid-July Djokovic said the cash percentage from our prize of tennis. We need to show at the earliest following the could come from the prize ‘Future of tennis’ money form Australian them they still can rely on postponement of Roland money for the season-ending “Maybe if we don’t have Open in January,” he said. support of the top guys.” Garros and the cancellation World Tour Finals or the final any tournaments this sea- “These guys are the grass According to reports in of Wimbledon.

TurkmenistanToto Wolff football season restarts with crowds AFP nity!” He hoped his team could Belarus, Tajikistan and now, On World Health Day on Ashgabat stay the pace at the top of the di- Turkmenistan. April 7, the president was shown vision. “This club is a legendary Global interest in the Be- on state television riding a horse Turkmenistan rebooted club,” Murad said. The deeply larusian league has surged on and a bicycle as state employees its domestic football season on authoritarian Central Asian the back of its decision, while engaged in mass exercise ses- Sunday, with fans returning state followed other countries the Tajikistan’s Super Cup fi- sions across the country. to stadiums in one of the few around the world when it sus- nal earlier this month attracted Such large public events countries yet to declare a case pended its eight-team league in a curious multi-lingual online have prompted observers to of coronavirus. March just three games into the following.But Belarus, which question how seriously the gov- Around 300 people attend- season. has confirmed 4,779 corona- ernment is taking the pandem- ed a top-of-the table clash be- The national football fed- virus cases, has been strongly ic. Since then, Berdymukhame- tween last season’s champions eration cited recommendations criticised for allowing fans to dov has ordered officials to Altyn Asyr and league leaders by the health ministry and the attend games. ramp up efforts to detect any Kopetdag in a 20,000-capac- World Health Organisation for Tajikistan has begun its cases and prevent the virus ity stadium in the capital Ash- preventing the spread of the season with matches held be- spreading. gabat. illness. But a month later, and hind closed doors, even as its The president is known as The two teams played out despite international concerns authoritarian government, like the nation’s Arkadag, or “Pro- an attritional 1-1 draw with that Turkmen authorities are that of Turkmenistan, contin- tector.” both goals coming in the sec- underplaying the threat of the ues to insist there are no cases State media have stressed ond half. virus, football made a return to in the country. the importance of his leader- Like several other fans the gas-rich country. Turkmenistan has never ship in the pandemic. interviewed by AFP, none of “Joy boosts our immu- been known as a footballing In a poem published in whom wore masks, Murad, a nity,” joked Ashir Yusupov, a powerhouse and the coun- state newspapers on Friday, the 60-year-old Kopetdag fan, said 34-year-old entrepreneur and try’s main sports channel president’s favourite poet Go- he had no fear of the coronavi- fans said before the game. chose to show handball over zel Shagulyyeva praised him as rus pandemic and planned to “We have no coronavirus, Sunday’s game. “the impregnable fortress of the continue attending games. so why not restart our league?” Nor is soccer among the motherland.” “Sport kills all viruses,” he Three ex-Soviet states have sports promoted by sport- “Protector, you are watch- Around 300 people attended a top-of-the-table clash between last season’s champions Altyn Asyr and joked. “When your favourite bucked the global trend for sus- mad president Gurbanguly ing over (our) health,” Shagu- league leaders Kopetdag in a 20,000-capacity stadium in the capital Ashgabat on Sunday. team wins, it lifts your immu- pending professional leagues: Berdymukhamedov. lyyeva wrote. Sports Monday, April 20, 2020 13 First Qatar Online Racing Championship Red Bull boss Horner expects final race postponed to Monday F1 to bail out smaller teams The opener of the three-race finals at the Qatar Online Racing DPA about trying to bring the top Championship was postponed due Berlin teams down to a level where to technical reasons. The driv- the midfield teams feel they can ers, behind the wheels of Lexus Red Bull team principal Chris- compete. RCF16, were not able to start tian Horner expects Formula “The reality is that whatever the pole position shootout at the One owners Liberty Media to the level of spend there will al- Nurburgring Circuit in Germany provide assistance to financially ways be teams that run at the after the practice session as the stricken teams if needed during front and teams that run at the connectivity dropped and could the coronavirus crisis. back.” Horner suggests an alter- not be restored despite the best “It is their business, they native plan would be allowing of efforts. In the FP1, Sheikh Soud have to decide how do they keep Christian Horner teams to buy full customer cars al Thani emerged the quickest these teams alive because they - as was permitted many years among the 15 finalists with a lap need teams to go racing,” Brit- uncertain if, how or when rac- ago - to save research and devel- of 1:48.476. Hamad al Sulaiti, with ain’s Guardian newspaper quot- ing can start this year; many opment costs. five wins under the belt during ed him as saying on Sunday. teams have put staff on furlough “We need to think out of the the qualifying stage, was holding “In order to protect their or imposed pay cuts. box rather than just going round the second place at 1:48.699. own business I believe they Team chiefs and F1 bosses and round, beating ourselves up Rashid al Lebdah was third with would help to facilitate, which are currently discussing cutting about numbers,” he said. 1:48.886, leading Mohammed means paying, to ensure that the budget cap for 2021 but, “If this is all about saving the Dbiessy by 00.002, while Ahmad those teams would be around alongside Ferrari, Red Bull are little teams and improving their Kholy rounded out the fastest five, to compete next year.” F1 has resisting the move. competitiveness, it would be a recording his best at 1:49.120. postponed or cancelled the first The cap is a discussion very difficult to argue against Unbeaten Khalid al Kuwari was the nine races of the season due to about competitiveness, not the logic of a small team being seventh best at 1:49.536. the global pandemic. It remains about money,” he said. “It’s able to take a customer car.” Hussain names four players he Rashid reveals ambition would pay to watch to play in 2023 World Cup

His ‘childhood AFP remaining a white-ball special- London ist should the 2020 English hero’ Gower & season get underway. Adil Rashid has said it would But Rashid, a veteran of 19 India’s Kohli be “lovely” to play in the 2023 Tests, said he would “reassess” feature in the list World Cup even though the in September, leaving open the leg-spinner will have turned possibility of a bid for a place 35 by the time England defend in England’s squad for the Tribune News Network their title. 2021/22 Ashes in Australia. DOHA Persistent shoulder trouble “If I don’t make that deci- Former England captain Nasser has been a problem for Rashid, sion of playing red-ball and One of England’s most success- Hussain. who needed pain-killing injec- just sticking to white-ball then ful captain Nasser Hussain has tions while helping England there’s no Ashes or whatever again expressed his admiration said, “I’ve been watching some win their first men’s World Cup for me. for India captain Virat Kohli. old footage of Brian Lara with title on home soil last year. “But if I do, and I’m fully In a question and answer that big back-lift and, wow, Nevertheless, Rashid told fit then that’s something that session with Daily Mail, Nasser could he bat.” reporters in a conference call I could look towards but that’s Hussain was asked about who Hussain also admitted that on Saturday: “My aim is to play something that I’ve got to would he like to pay to watch Brian Lara was the toughest for England as long as possible. earn.” right now and in the past. batsman to plan for. “We don’t know how long Meanwhile Rashid, one of Answering to the question, “I didn’t captain against that could be. Months, years, the most high-profile Muslim the first name which sprang up him much but I have to say or whatever it is sportsmen in Britain, said it in the head of 96-Test veteran Brian Lara. Poor Mike Atherton “I have a vision in terms of England’s Adil Rashid: Keen to be in the team to defend World Cup 2023 title. was vital government guidance was Virat Kohli, according to would move a fielder and Lara maybe achieving that, the 2023 on social distancing designed India TV website. would almost take the mickey World Cup would be lovely. captain Eoin Morgan never lost ets, a quality he demonstrated vour spinners, Rashid could be to stop the spread of the coro- “Virat Kohli in a 50-over run and hit it in the gap where the “If I stay fit, if my shoulder faith in his leg-spinner. again as he won the man-of- an even greater threat. navirus was “abided by regard- chase. He just seems to chase fielder had been,” he said. gets stronger then I can hope- “He knew the shoulder the-match award for a return “South Africa was a big less” of the fact Ramadan, tra- down any score every time.” Hussain named his ‘child- fully play for a long time.” wasn’t great, but he kept back- of three for 52 against South turning point for me,” he said. ditionally a time for communal Earlier, 52-year-old Hus- hood hero’ David Gower as the The Yorkshireman was an ing me,” said Rashid. Africa in Johannesburg in Feb- “In South Africa the shoulder gathering, starts next week. sain has said that “Virat Kohli is final batsman in the list of play- ever-present during last year’s “I went in there with a ruary that included Temba Ba- was stronger.” “Meeting up with family not worried about stats and the ers he would pay to watch. World Cup, although his 11 strong mindset and did a de- vuma and Quinton de Kock. Looking ahead, Rashid and friends is not the question only stats he is worried about is “But I have to go for my tournament wickets came at cent job. That shows when I said the fact all senior cricket with what is going on in the the win/loss column”. childhood hero David Gower. an expensive average of 47.81 am 100 percent everything else Turning point worldwide was currently sus- world right now,” he said. Former Pakistan great I remember an early game apiece. will hopefully work out better.” And with the next World pended because of the coro- “The main thing is for us to Saeed Anwar, who played 55 against Leicestershire and I was But even though he wasn’t Rashid has, however, re- Cup set to be played in India, navirus outbreak had not led stay at home, stay safe and look Tests and 247 ODIs for his na- at cover point as he leant on fully fit, “top-drawer” England peatedly taken important wick- where pitches traditionally fa- him to change his mind about after each other.” tion, also found place in the elite one and before I could move it list. hit the boundary boards behind “In terms of being easy on me. Everything I had admired the eye, Saeed Anwar had an was there in front of my eyes,” elegance and grace through the he said about Gower. T20 World Cup may become international cricket’s biggest COVID-19 casualty off-side,” Hussain said about David Gower player 117 Test the Pakistan legend. matches for England between website, some of the former tancing to stop the spread of tunity to generate revenue, Hussain reserved the high- 1978 and 1992 and piled up IPL is likely to get bigger Australians players have al- coronavirus despite all safety the IPL teams are hoping that est praise for Brian Lara. He 8,231 runs during the period. window instead ready stated that conduct- measures. the richest T20 league would ing the T20 World Cup with- “It is also a dicey situation get preference over the world Tribune News Network out spectators is not the way for the ICC management to or- event. DOHA ahead. But the more pressing ganise big events when major Meanwhile, an IPL team reason is the economics of tennis, football and athletic makes at least $5 million from With social distancing go- conducting the tournament. events aren’t happening this gate receipts and make an- ICC warns players ing to be the norm in the days Ticket sale is one of the sourc- year. So our understanding is other $40 to 50 through other to come, the Indian Premier es of income for the Interna- simple. If at all cricket hap- modes of revenue stream. League (IPL) franchise own- tional Cricket Council’s (ICC) pens in autumn, it is got to be “So, IPL can happen without to beware fixers ers are confident that theT 20 premier tournament and IPL for sure,” a team official spectators and with the en- World Cup, to be held in Aus- hence the cricket body will told Sportskeeda on Sunday. tire world getting hooked to tralia later this year, is going not be in a position to hold the dow and not just having a Sources also said that ICC TV once again and IPL view- despite lockdown to be a non-starter. They feel event behind closed doors. truncated version of the tour- makes anything between $5 ing over 90 per cent on TV, that the IPL is the only tourna- On the other hand, a do- nament this year. to 10 million from the sale of chances of hosting IPL are AFP world but the corrupters are ment which can be conducted mestic event like IPL can still Sources said that there are tickets, and in Australia, the really bright. One thing is for London still active,” Marshall told the behind closed doors as it can survive without spectators also worries about how much expected amount could have sure, it is tough for World T20 Guardian. survive without the revenue coming to the stadia. There- the fans would be willing to been much higher. With the to sustain without fans inside Elite level cricket may have “As a result, our work from ticket sales. fore, the IPL owners are dis- spend on buying tickets, be- policy of the world governing the stadium,” another official been suspended because with members, players, play- According to Sportskeeda cussing getting a bigger win- sides maintaining social dis- body not to waste the oppor- added. of the coronavirus but the er associations and agents sport’s anti-corruption chief continues.” has told players to remain A former police chief in aware of approaches by po- England, Marshall added his Quick read tential fixers. team were aware reductions There has been no ma- in income caused by the cur- Rins extends Suzuki Vanessa pays touching tribute to Kobe Athletics group wants jor cricket played since last rent suspension of cricket MotoGP deal until 2022 on wedding anniversary Olympic qualifiers month and there’s no certain- could make lower-paid play- possible from autumn ty as to when any first-class, ers more vulnerable to fixing Paris: Alex Rins has signed a new deal Los Angeles: Vanessa Bryant celebrated the 19th anniversary of franchise or international approaches. with Suzuki that will keep him at the team her wedding to her late husband Kobe Bryant on Saturday with Frankfurt: The Euromeetings organis- matches will resume. “We are seeing known until 2022, the MotoGP outfit announced on a touching Instagram post. “My king, my heart, my best friend. ers of one-day athletics events have But Alex Marshall, the corrupters use this time, Sunday. “The renewal of the contract between Happy 19th wedding anniversary. I miss you so much. I wish you called on governing body World Athlet- head of the International when players are on social Suzuki Racing Company ... and the 24-year- were here to hold me in your arms. I love you,” she wrote, posting ics to rethink the policy of freezing the Cricket Council’s anti-corrup- media more than ever, to old Spaniard arrives during a very peculiar a picture of the couple. Five-time NBA champion Bryant and the qualification window for the 2020 okT yo tion unit, said it was wrong to connect with them and try to moment in history,” Suzuki said in a state- couple’s 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, were among nine people Olympics Games, a report said on assume this would lead to a build a relationship that they ment. “But this contract renewal confirms killed in a helicopter crash in Los Angeles on January 26. Gianna, Sunday. The insidethegames portal re- decline in approaches from can exploit at a later date,” he that Suzuki, the team, and the rider are all along with her basketball teammates Payton Chester and Alyssa ported the group sent a letter to World criminals who have long tar- said. thinking about the future and focused on achieving even better results.” Altobelli, who also died in the crash, were honored at Friday’s Athletics president Sebastian Coe geted cricket because the na- “We have reached out to Two wins and a series of good races landed Rins fourth place in the WNBA draft as honorary selections. Vanessa Bryant recorded an asking to “re-consider” the decision to ture of the game means bet- our members, players and 2019 campaign, but he is yet to race this year due to the coronavirus emotional message for the draft broadcast, saying being drafted halt Olympic qualifying until December ting coups can be engineered their wider networks to high- pandemic that has stopped the season from starting. Ahead of him into the women’s league “would have been a dream come true” 1 following the postponement of the by ‘fixing’ in-play events and light this issue and ensure last year were Maverick Vinales, Andrea Dovizioso and reigning world for Gianna. After the conclusion of the draft on Friday night, the Games until 2021. “Several Euromeet- not just the result. they all continue to be aware champion Marc Marquez, who in February signed an extension with WNBA announced the creation of the Kobe & Gigi Bryant WNBA ings members” are still attempting to “COVID-19 may have of the dangers of approaches Honda until 2024. Alongside Vinales at Yamaha for the 2021 and Advocacy Award, given to “an individual or group who has made host meetings in 2020 for athletes put a temporary stop on the and do not let their guard 2022 seasons will be Fabio Quartararo, who will replace the 41-year-old significant contributions to the visibility, perception and advance- “who want and need to compete,” the playing of international and down while there is no cricket seven-time world champion Valentino Rossi. (AFP) ment of women’s and girls’ basketball at all levels.” (AFP) letter reportedly said. (AFP) domestic cricket around the being played.”