THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020 09

WTA chief says merger with ATP would not be ‘acquisition’ Reuters | Mumbai Morgan goes to bat for omen’s Tennis Associa- Wtion (WTA) chief Steve Simon has said a merger with the men’s ATP “makes all the sense in the world” but that it T10 format at Olympics would not take the form of “an acquisition”. Reuters | London The tennis season was sus- pended in March due to the ngland’s World Cup win- COVID-19 pandemic and the ning captain hiatus will continue at least says ’s 10-overs When you can play a E cricket tournament until mid-July, depriving low- format would be ideal for a er-level players who depend WTA chief Steve Simon speaks during global multi-sport event such in eight-10 days it solely on tournament win - an event (file photo) as the Olympics as the entire really does make it nings of the chance to earn a ATP and the WTA Tours, tennis tournament could be squeezed appealing, and on living. is also controlled by the Inter- into 10 days. top of that it really Roger Federer called for national Tennis Federation and Cricket featured at the 1900 would be extremely a merger between the two the boards of the four Grand Olympics and was played in the governing bodies last month, Slam tournaments. 1998 Commonwealth Games entertaining with both Simon and ATP Tour Currently viewers need but has largely been absent from EOIN MORGAN Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi different pay-TV platforms to multi-sport events, which some welcoming the suggestion. watch tennis matches and a say has restricted its growth be- IPL’s Kolkata franchise, said T10 But some top WTA players merger of the Tours could sim- yond the traditional pockets. has its own merits. have said they want an equal plify television contracts and The 2022 Commonwealth England’s Eoin Morgan plays a shot (file photo) “The most important part of standing for the women play- sponsorship deals. Games in Birmingham will fea- a T20 game is always overs 10 ers in a combined body. The men’s and women’s ture a women’s Twenty20 com- ment in the space of 10 days,” he be extremely entertaining,” said to 20,” said Morgan, who also “It’s not an acquisition,” WTA players have a separate rank- petition but Morgan says the said in a video conference. the 33-year-old, who captains captains Delhi Bulls in the Abu Chief Executive Simon told ing system while some rules, T10 format would be a better “To have a tournament in such Delhi Bulls in the Abu Dhabi Dhabi T10 competition. the New York Times. “This including on-court coaching, fit than T20, 50 overs or test a short space of time maximis- T10 league. “But if you look at a T10 game, isn’t about either tour taking are also different. cricket. es the opportunity and the ex- Twenty20 has emerged as the earlier overs are the most territory. “I’m not afraid of the full “The one thing that T10 of- posure that it will have for the cricket’s most popular format, important. You need to make “Right now we compete merger; I never have been,” fers above the three formats sport. having spawned several fran- the most of that very short pow- against ourselves as well as Simon said. “I would certain- that makes it so appealing to an “When you can play a cricket chise-based leagues around the erplay, so who you put in those all the other leagues and en- ly be the first to support it, Olympic Games or a Common- tournament in eight-10 days it world including the lucrative key positions and in the form tertainment properties. We because I think then you tru- wealth Games is the fact that really does make it appealing, (IPL). that they’re in, is the most crit- compete for fans, partners, ly have the business and the you can play a whole tourna - and on top of that it really would But Morgan, who plays for the ical factor.” sponsorships as well as broad- strategic principles all aligned, cast and data, so the align - which is what you need to ment allows you to aggregate do. assets.” “Obviously it’s a long and MCC to extend As many as seven associa- winding road to get there, but Playing without fans won’t tions run different parts of the I think it makes all the sense in Sangakkara’s term sport in the world. Besides the the world. diminish competitive edge - Stokes Reuters | London Reuters | London ormer Sri Lanka captain FKumar Sangakkara will be offered a one-year ex- Giro d’Italia branded ‘biggest ngland all-rounder Ben tension as president of the EStokes says playing in Marylebone Cricket Club loser’ in new cycling calendar closed stadiums would not in the “extraordinary cir- dampen the competitive side cumstances” resulting from of matches and that play - the COVID-19 pandemic, the ers “would do anything” to MCC said yesterday. get cricket back on television screens for fans to watch during the COVID-19 crisis. CHANGE OF NAME The spread of the novel coro- navirus has brought sport to a I, SAFEER S/O ABDUL standstill. Staging games with- SALAM, BORN on out spectators has been sug- 22/08/1981 holding of England celebrates hitting the winning runs to win the Ashes gested as one way to resume Test (file photo) Indian Passport NO. professional cricket. K 6391114, dated England’s home series against ent scenario to get our heads 31/05/2012 issued at West Indies scheduled for June around, that there isn’t going to DUBAI, UAE having Cyclists take part in 2019 Giro d’Italia race (file photo) has been postponed, with the be the atmosphere or cheering permanent residence likelihood of those three tests We would do anything that we’re used to when we play at MAJIDA MANZIL, AFP | Milan La Republicca. being played later in the sum- to get cricket back international game. NEAR S. N THEATRE, Cycling governing body UCI mer without fans. on the TVs and for “We would do anything to get KILIMANOOR P taly’s Giro d’Italia was on Tuesday revealed the new When asked if cricket might people to follow and cricket back on the TVs and for O presently residing Ibranded “the biggest loser” calendar which it is hoped lose its competitive edge in people to follow and watch. If at Al Mansoori Catering, yesterday amid anger the will salvage a season in tur- such an atmosphere Stokes, 28, watch. If that means that means you have to play in P O Box 33389, Isa Town, revised international cycling moil amid the coronavirus pan- said that even without fans the you have to play in front of nobody then so be it,” Kingdom of Bahrain calendar which Italians believe demic which has killed nearly players would still be going out front of nobody then he added. will henceforth be favours the Tour de France. 260,000 worldwide. to win. so be it Stokes, a key part of England’s known as (Given name) “Rosa Di Rabbia (Pink with Italy, where 29,000 people “Think about it, we are walk- BEN STOKES 2019 World Cup triumph, was SAFEER ABDUL SALAM anger),” daily Gazzetta Dello have died, will host the first ing out to represent our coun- not sure when cricket would , Objection(s) if any, Sport wrote on the front page race on August 1 with the try, we got three lions on our nobody or, like we are used to, resume but felt bigger issues may be forwarded to of “a decision that goes against Strade Bianca in Siena, with chest and there is a game that in front of full crowd, I don’t were at stake. Embassy of India, P.O common sense and history”. the final European race also on we are supposed to win,” Stokes think it’s going to take that “We are still not 100% sure Box 26106, Bldg 1090, “Lots of races and little the peninsula with the Giro di told BBC Radio 5 Live. competitive side away. when that’s going to happen,” Road 2819, Block 428, space: the Giro loses,” agreed Lombardia on October 31. “So whether it’s in front of “It’s a completely differ - he said. Al Seef, Kingdom of Bahrain

SUDOKU CROSSWORD Across Yesterday’s solution 1- Melt together; 5- Take ___ your leader; 9- Barker and Bell; 12- South American In- Yesterday’s solution dian; 13- Be of use to; 15- Dad; 16- The closest one to us is the sun; 17- Big fiddle?; 18- Excited; 19- Eye membrane; 21- Courtroom jargon; 23- Poet Teasdale; 25- Stand; 26- “Hold On Tight” band; 29- Portnoy’s creator; 31- Performing animal show; 35- Milne’s “Mr. ___ Passes By”; 36- Like some bears and icecaps; 38- Silvery fish; 39- Part of a process; 41- Nostrils; 43- Killer whale; 44- Church instrument; 46- Organization; 48- Hosp. readout; 49- More nasty; 51- Aromatic herb; 52- Grads-to-be; 53- Red-bearded god; 55- Auction site; 57- Forbid; 61- In ___ (sort of); 65- Alley; 66- Heron, usually white; 68- ___-do-well; 69- Above, finished; 70- “Quiet!”; 71- Species of antelope found in South Africa; 72- Singer Shannon; 73- Prefix with conference; 74- Get in a hand; Down 1- Money-related: Abbr.; 2- A law ___ itself; 3- Operation memento; 4- Merits; 5- Cook- ie; 6- Genesis name; 7- Like some orders; 8- Fuel transport; 9- Merlin, e.g.; 10- Mil. addresses; 11- Wise one; 14- Reasoning; 15- Capital of Sicily; 20- Tombstone lawman; 22- Warts and all; 24- Collection of maps; 26- ___ salts; 27- Brit’s bottle measure; 28- Last Greek letter; 30- Seraglio; 32- Roman name of Demeter; 33- Stomach woe; How to play 34- Does’ beaus; 37- Knot again; 40- Cougar; 42- Insolate; 45- Classic soda; 47- School Place a in the empty boxes in such orgs.; 50- Judges’ garments; 54- Appropriate; 56- Gossipmonger; 57- Trudge; 58- a way that each row across, each column down and each 9-box square contains all Pan’s opposite; 59- Like Nash’s lama; 60- Faithful; 62- Dodge model; 63- Equinox of the numbers from one to nine. mo.; 64- Buffalo’s county; 67- Alien’s subj.;