MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2020 (PAGE 10) DAILY EXCELSIOR, JAMMU Believe FTP for next two years Montreal WTA tournament put off until 2021 MONTREAL, Apr 12: this was a difficult decision and great celebration during which should be reworked: Azharuddin we look forward to being back we will be able to celebrate the NEW DELHI, Apr 12: Hyderabad. The Montreal WTA tourna- in Montreal in 2021." sport and enjoy each other's "Therefore, I am expecting a ment, one of the key build-up Tournament director Eugene company." This is the latest Former India captain-turned- complete overhaul of the FTP, if events ahead of the US Open, Lapierre said the decision was blow to the tennis season which administrator Mohammed we have to fit in the IPL. I feel has been axed and will not be made for them. "At the begin- has been on ice for the last played until 2021, officials said. Azharuddin all the boards will agree as ning of the COVID-19 crisis we month. feels that all The event, scheduled for were hoping that the situation The French Open was post- everybody is getting affected. August 7-16, had been in jeop- cricket would be resolved in time to be poned from its traditional May- But obviously the BCCI gets ardy after Quebec June slot and boards affected more," he added. Province request- rescheduled for should come IPL has so much prominence ed that all sport- September- together to because foreign players like Jos ing and cultural October, just a redraw the Buttler and Pat Cummins have events be can- week after the international expressed their willingness to celled through conclusion of calendar as participate in the tournament at August 31 as a the US Open. the COVID-19 pandemic has some point of the year. means of slowing Wimbledon ensured that the current schedule "No one will say no to IPL. the spread of the was cancelled is irredeemable. Not even the foreign players. So coronavirus. for the first time Azharuddin, who is the pres- many people thrive on IPL," he "As a result of since World ident of the Hyderabad Cricket set the record straight. the measures War II, meaning Association (HCA), feels that "For a lot of our domestic imposed by the that the earliest tweaking of the Futures Tours guys, who are not India regulars, Quebec govern- tennis can and Programmes (FTP) is also let's accept they look forward to ment prohibiting resume this year necessary to accommodate the the IPL." holding events is July 13. until August 31, Indian Premier League, which is However, the man who led "As it cur- important for both domestic and the Rogers Cup rently stands, India in three editions of the 50- in Montreal will postpone their foreign players. able to host our tournament as the WTA Tour is suspended over World Cup, doesnt think event to 2021," said a WTA initially planned on the calendar. through July 12," added "I am sure they can have a that the World T20 in Australia statement on Saturday. "It is thus with a heavy heart Saturday's statement. restructured FTP for two years in October-November will be "The WTA reiterates that that we received this news, but "We will continue to work because of so much of uncer- done away with. health and safety will always be we understand that this decision with our tournament partners in tainty in prevailing circum- "I don't think World T20's the top priority. We understand was necessary," Lapierre said. evaluating when we will be able stances. I mean you can always slot will be gone. It's third week "We will be working tireless- to get back on the court. prepare for good times but you of October and if things are okay Tendulkar interacts ly in the coming months in order "We do not foresee any fur- can't prepare for bad times," the by then, I would believe World to make next year's tournament a ther decisions until next month." 57-year-old former skipper said. T20 will happen. with 12,000 docs on "Once things settle down, we "This is purely my personal sport injuries Dhoni looked in spectacular touch can have a dialogue with other opinion as you can't tinker with member nations," he added. a World Cup. But obviously IPL MUMBAI, Apr 12: The IPL, which was sched- will get accommodated in some- Always eager to share his in CSK camp, say teammates uled to be held from March 29- where." vast knowledge and experience, CHENNAI, Apr 12: during the auction late last year, May 24, is set to be postponed He agreed that the current cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar said Dhoni was focused and indefinitely as the country stares situation is frustrating for the has interacted with 12,000 doc- Mahendra Singh Dhoni's showed match-like intensity in the at a lockdown till the end of this players. tors on sports injuries. intensity stood out and he looked way he was batting and keeping. month to contain the pandemic. "Since they are not able to do In his over two decade long in spectacular touch during the "Mahi bhai was absolutely "I think if they have to slot any nets, that's a problem. Once illustrious career, Tendulkar IPL camp, focused, training purposefully and IPL, the whole itinerary needs to they come back, they would feel suffered many health issues, the vouched his was looking really good. He was be changed. That's one option or that lack of practice time. most prominent being the tennis Chennai showing match-like intensity in else stick to the current itinerary "Pretty sure most players elbow injury. Super Kings the way he was batting and keep- with whatever gone being gone. have their own fitness pro- The veteran of 200 Tests and teammates, ing and that was rubbing off on "But that means huge losses grammes. Once normalcy 463 ODIs, got to know through who rema- others," Chawla was quoted as for all the stakeholders and is returns, it will probably take a one Dr Sudhir Warrier, an ined unper- saying on the CSK website. not practical," said Azharuddin, week to get back the touch," the orthopaedic surgeon, that sever- turbed by Karn Sharma, another leggie whose own Association hosts veteran of 99 Tests and 334 al young doctors across the speculations in the squad, said the CSK cap- seven home games of Sunrisers ODIs, concluded. (PTI) country were utilising the lock- over their talisman's future in tain's enthusiasm and involvement down time to effectively gain international cricket. were a source of inspiration for the Kohli comparable to Kapil because of knowledge on sports injuries The three-time winners had other members. through live webinars. commenced their training on "Mahi bhai was batting for two self-belief, never-say-die attitude: Srikkanth A session on sports injuries March 2 with Dhoni joining from to three hours at nets every day, was held on Saturday and day one, but it was suspended on and the way he was hitting the ball NEW DELHI, Apr 12: intention to win. The never-say- Tendulkar, knowing that his March 14 owing to the novel coro- no one could say he was returning die attitude in them and the experiences will help these doc- navirus outbreak. from a long break. The way he was Former India opener aggressiveness makes them fan- tors, volunteered to be a part of Leg-spinner Piyush Chawla, training was a huge motivation for Krishnamachari Srikkanth feels tastic during chases and the pos- it.(PTI) who was picked by the franchise the rest of us," he added.(PTI) that current itive attitude both of them have captain Virat makes them very similar to each Kohli can be other." compared On the same show, former with the leg- batsman VVS Laxman said that endary Kapil Kohli never lets his guard down. Dev, given "The one thing I admire both have about Virat Kohli is his intensity. tremendous One thing I was worried about self-belief and never-say-die was whether he will burn out attitude. quickly. But not even one ses- Srikkanth was part of the sion or one over he lets his squad that Kapil led to victory in intensity drop and that is really the 1983 World Cup while Kohli commendable," Laxman said. featured in the team that won the Kohli is rated as one of the 2011 edition of the showpiece. best batsmen of all time due to "I've played along with Kapil his ability to amass big runs and Dev and I've been the chairman singlehandedly change the com- of selection committee for plexion of the game regardless choosing Virat Kohli and I can of the format. tell you, both of their attitudes The batting maestro aver- are absolutely the same," ages above 50 in all forms in Srikkanth said on Star Sports international cricket. In Tests, he show 'Cricket Connected'. has aggregated 7240 runs at an "Both have a tremendous average of 53.62 and in ODIs, amount of self-belief and they he has amassed 11,867 runs at know they only go out with nearly 60. (PTI) Kapil bhai doesn’t need money but everyone else does: Akhtar NEW DELHI, Apr 12: doesn't need the money" and that it is not worth risking lives DIP/J-69/20 Former Pakistan pacer for a cricket match. Shoaib Akhtar has responded to Speaking to 'Aajtak', Akhtar Dt: 11-04-2020 Kapil Dev's criticism of his said: "I don't think Kapil bhai proposal for understood what I was trying to an Indo-Pak say.