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Thursday, April 16, 2020 Sports Hammers boss Moyes fears injury pile-up if Premier League resumes MLS says mid-May return ‘unlikely’, season could be shortened

LONDON: West Ham manager David West Ham are only above the relegation league said in a statement. Moyes fears a rash of injuries to players zone on goal difference but Moyes, in his “Although we hoped to return to play in should there be a desperate rush to com- second spell in charge of the east London mid-May, that is extremely unlikely based plete the Premier League season if the club, was optimistic about their long-term on the guidance of federal and local public coronavirus relents sufficiently to allow the prospects. health authorities. “Our goal remains to resumption of football. “I want to build a new, energetic, young play as many games as possible, and while The Premier League has now ditched team and I think we’ve just started that,” we currently have enough dates to play the plans to get back underway at the start said the 56-year-old Scottish boss. “With entire season, we recognize at this time of May and a further complication is that the signings we’ve brought in January, try- that it may become difficult to do so.” a number of players will be out of con- ing to freshen it up and given us a lot more MLS suspended play on March 12 as tract in June. the coronavirus pandemic was shutting It has been suggested that clubs may down sports worldwide. need to play up to three games a week On March 19 MLS said it would re- in order to finish this season before the main suspended for eight weeks, which 2020/21 campaign gets going. would have brought them back on May Moyes would prefer a four-week Four weeks 10. With competition on hold indefi- build-up on the training ground before nitely, the league has also imposed a the current Premier League season re- would be ideal training moratorium for all clubs, which sumes, should lockdown restrictions be was scheduled to last through April 24. relaxed and the Hammers boss fears the In an interview with ESPN, Garber consequences if, as seems likely, clubs said that moratorium would be ex- have less preparation time. tended “at least a couple weeks”. Gar- “I think that four weeks would be ber also said that MLS is exploring David Moyes ideal. But I think three weeks will be youthfulness and direction.” alternative formats for completing the sea- the maximum we get,” Moyes told Major League Soccer said Tuesday it’s son. “From tournament formats and neutral beIN Sports on Tuesday. “Everybody’s hoped for return in mid-May looked “ex- locations, ultimately playing an abridged American league are monitoring their weeks regarding when we can return to now talking about the injuries we’re li- tremely unlikely,” acknowledging it might regular season, but doing everything to get counterparts in England and Germany as play,” the league statement said. able to pick up either during the three- not be possible to play its full season. as many games,” Garber said. they implement testing and training proto- “As we have throughout this process, week preparation time or during the “Major League Soccer continues to He said that if play does resume he cols amid the pandemic. we will update our fans with every deci- period where it looks like we’ll have to regularly evaluate the impact of the thinks it would likely be without fans in “We continue to learn more every day sion, and we thank them for their support play an awful lot of games in a short COVID-19 pandemic, including how it will what he called “MLS Studio” games. The from the medical experts, and we expect and understanding during this extremely period of time.” affect our plans for the 2020 season,” the commissioner said officials of the North to have additional details in the coming challenging time.” —Agencies

Tsitsipas ‘trying to learn’ French during lockdown Curran ‘can’t wait’ ATHENS: Greek tennis star Stefanos the measures. to play under Dhoni Tsitsipas said on Tuesday the coron- “We do have the opportunity to avirus pandemic lockdown has given change habits and come out of this trial him a chance to brush up on his French. stronger. People will understand the amid virus threat The 21-year-old ranked sixth in the importance of a healthy lifestyle and LONDON: England all-rounder Sam Curran world has returned home with the might even discover exercise again, said Tuesday he still hoped to play under India global season on hold due to the even if at home, and even light jogging, great MS Dhoni in the COVID-19 outbreak. things that are allowed under the cir- — and get one over older brother Tom — de- “It’s an opportunity to stay a little cumstances,” Mitsotakis said. spite the coronavirus pandemic. longer with my family and do things I The premier said if April goes Curran, 21, was the most expensive England didn’t have time to do before,” he said smoothly with measures against the ill- player in November’s initial IPL auction, being during an online chat with Greek Prime ness, the gradual return to normalcy sold to the , captained by Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. may begin in May, “which will include Dhoni, for £590,000 ($742,000) after a suc- “Specifically, right now on a daily an increase in sports activities.” cesful 2019 stint with the Kings XI Punjab. basis I’m trying to learn a little bit of Greece’s world number 20 Maria Meanwhile the 25-year-old Tom, also of French, it’s something I’ve always Sakkari thanked and congratulated Surrey and England, was signed by the Ra- wanted but I didn’t have time to deal Mitsotakis and his government for Stefanos Tsitsipas jasthan Royals. But the spread of COVID-19 with and it’s an opportunity now,” Tsit- the positive results in the fight has led to the suspension of all major sipas said. against the virus. worldwide. This year’s IPL was meant to start Mitsotakis had a teleconference “We all understand that it is not 24-year-old Sakkari said. of things for us.” on March 29 before being delayed until with outstanding Greek athletes such easy, it is something very difficult, we Olympic pole vault champion Kate- “We are in a difficult time from now Wednesday to coincide with the end of an ini- as Tsitsipas to thank them for their are all grateful. I think I am speaking rina Stefanidi, 30, said things are very on, but I think everyone is doing what tial Indian government lockdown. contributions in encouraging people on behalf of everyone, it is something difficult and “the more we sit, the more they can at home, on the street, a little But with Prime Minister Narendra Modi an- to exercise at home while observing admirable that you have achieved,” it will take us to return to the normality on the beach,” Stefanidi added. — AFP nouncing Tuesday an extension of the lock- down — the world’s biggest covering over 1.3 billion people — until May 3, there is no cer- Dundee had done or meant to do, the Dens Park club said tainty about when, or indeed if, the 2020 IPL they were still undecided despite “positive discussions” Scottish football in IPL cricket made will take place. “No-one knows,” Sam Curran about possible league reconstruction. told reporters in a conference call with Tom on “Given our discussions and considering all aspects, we Tuesday. “It (the IPL) might happen this year, limbo as Dundee don’t feel we are in a position to comment further on the to wait as India it might be cancelled, but we have to follow the resolution that was put forward,” said a Dundee statement. government guidelines.” “We understand that this may bring more questions delay drags on extends lockdown Chennai are one of the IPL’s most success- than answers and we will look to give a much more sub- ful teams, having won the tournament three stantial account of the past few days at the conclusion of times before a dramatic one-run loss to Mum- this process.” Inverness chief executive Scot Gardiner said GLASGOW: Dundee said Tuesday they were still not yet NEW DELHI: India’s cricket board remains bai Indians in last year’s final. ready to cast what threatens to be a deciding vote on a Dundee representative had told several Championship optimistic about playing the lucrative IPL rivals they had submitted a ‘no’ vote eight minutes before plans to cut short the Scottish season because of the coro- later this year, a team official told AFP yes- ‘CHENNAI LEGENDS’ the suggested deadline. But SPFL chairman Murdoch navirus. According to the Scottish Professional League, terday, as an extended national lockdown left “I was very excited to move franchises,” MacLennan, in a letter written to clubs on Sunday and the second-tier side gave an “unequivocal instruction” not the competition in limbo. said Sam. “Chennai is a great franchise with all later released to the media, insisted he had been told by to count their ballot after a technical problem held up the In line with other sports events world- the big names and I can’t wait to play under Dundee to disregard any such vote. of their vote ahead of a suggested deadline of wide, the 13th edition of the Indian Premier MS Dhoni. “Hopefully I will play against Tom, This saga could in fact drag on for three more weeks 1600 GMT on Friday. League, the world’s richest tour- hit him everywhere and then hit his stumps. as regulations state clubs do in fact have 28 days to cast a Soon afterwards, the SPFL released the results on a nament, had already been pushed back from “Dhoni exudes calm,” added Sam, who said ballot. Soon after Gardiner made his comments, Rangers, resolution that said the three lower leagues would finish its original start date of March 29. only Virat Kohli, Dhoni’s successor as India second in the Premiership behind leaders Celtic, urged in the positions they stood at when play was halted be- Officially it was postponed until yester- , could rival him in terms of superstar that SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster and legal advi- cause of the pandemic in March. A decision on the Scot- day but with India and much of the world in status in cricket crazy India. sor Rod McKenzie both be suspended, with the Glasgow tish Premiership would be taken at a later date if the first lockdown, preventing players from travel- “Chennai is quite an older squad so there giants accusing the league of “farcical” conduct. proposal was passed. ling and fans attending matches, the tour- are quite a few legends who have made it in Rangers insisted Sunday clubs would be “shocked” to The Premiership and clubs in League One and Two nament remains on hold. the game,” said Sam. “Hopefully they will be know the SPFL has the power to issue loans to cash- have backed the plan with the required majority of 75 per- After India extended the lockdown on looking to give tips to the younger players, so strapped teams. The league has repeatedly said the sea- cent. But the Championship remains finely balanced, with Tuesday, the Board of Control for Cricket that’s something I’m really looking forward to.” son must be completed before prize money can be seven clubs having voted for the plan and two against. in India (BCCI) told the eight franchises Sam had been preparing for a “massive” distributed. — AFP Following days of claim and counter-claim as to what that the tournament has been deferred three-month stint in Asia after being selected indefinitely. for England’s tour of Sri Lanka, which was “During that period, as you might expect any business “Yes, they have informed us that the IPL abandoned before the start of the Test series. MLB’s Manfred says would, we have engaged in contingency planning. We stands suspended for the moment,” a team Tom insisted, however, the lack of cricket thought about how we might be able to return in various official told AFP on condition of anonymity. was “nothing in the grand scheme of things” scenarios but again the key is the improvement in the pub- “However it is said that they will find a win- even though it was a “shock to the system”. public health ‘key’ lic health situation.” dow in the later end of the year to do it.” Sam added: “But you have to appreciate the The 2020 MLB season was scheduled to open on There was no announcement on the IPL’s time off is quite refreshing. to baseball’s return March 26, but has been postponed amid the COVID-19 future from the Indian board. At the week- “Hopefully I’m not one of the players who pandemic that has idled sports leagues worldwide. end, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly had has let themselves go and comes back for the In the meantime, ESPN reported Tuesday that MLB shied away from giving a prediction. county season 10 kg too big.” LOS ANGELES: Major League Baseball Commissioner teams will take part in a “massive” study that will test up “Practically speaking, when life has The lockdown has seen several England Rob Manfred said Tuesday that the season won’t open until to 10,000 people for coronavirus antibodies, which could come to a standstill everywhere in the players involved in charity initiatives, with Sam officials are sure it won’t be a detriment to public health. offer researchers a better sense of how widespread the world, where does sport have a future in having raised nearly £10,000 for Britain’s Na- Manfred, speaking on the Fox Business program “Morn- disease is in major metropolitan areas in the United States. this?” he said. The league is a huge revenue tional Health Service, although he downplayed ings with Maria,” said MLB officials continue to ponder a Scientists involved told ESPN the study, which is earner for the BCCI and is estimated to his efforts by saying “the smallest thing we can variety of scenarios for the resumption of sports in the being run by Stanford University, the University of generate more than $11 billion a year for do is raise some money for the NHS”. wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Southern California and the Sports Medicine Research the Indian economy. The Currans live separately from one an- With so many unknowns, he said, they are more “ideas” and Testing Laboratory, wouldn’t necessarily hasten the Foreign stars have been pushing for an other and Tom, asked if he was missing seeing than plans. “The only decision we have made, the only real return of the games. IPL start with Australia’s Steve Smith say- Sam, replied: “Nah, nice break. Only joking, of plan that we have, is that baseball is not going to return But the tests, which rely on blood drawn via pinprick, ing he hopes the league will be held “at course I’m missing the man.” until the public health situation is improved to the point can confirm if people had contracted coronavirus, even if some stage”. When cricket resumes the brothers, the that we’re comfortable that we can play games in a manner they never displayed symptoms. Doctor Jay Bhattacharya Former cricketers including England’s sons of the late all-rounder Kevin that is safe for our players, our employees, our fans and in of Stanford said MLB’s speedy willingness to participate Kevin Pietersen have suggested the glitzy Curran, hope to fulfil a “dream” by following a way that will not impact the public health situation ad- and the fact that they could marshal a wide range of people tournament be shortened from its normal their Surrey predecessors Adam and Ben Hol- versely,” Manfred said. — from players and executives through concession work- eight-week duration and played behind lioake as siblings playing in the “Right now, it’s largely a waiting game,” he added. ers — made them a solid partner in the study. — AFP closed doors. — AFP same England side. — AFP