Maiden Qatar Cup triumph for Al Wakrah cagers page 15

WEDNESday, OCTOBER 21, 2020

MAN UNITED EDGE PSG; BARCELONA THRASH FERENCVAROS AS CHAMPIONS LEAGUE BEGINS Morata double gets Juventus off the mark in Kiev AFP the 1-1 league draw. Atletico Madrid. Kiev “We managed to try some- ‘Go all the way’ “(Chiel- thing (in training) on Monday lini’s) injury forced us to Alvaro Morata struck twice and we were more organised change the cards but Demiral on Tuesday as Juventus made for today.” did very well,” said Pirlo. light of ’s The Italian champions had “The approach I had from absence to get their Champi- little to show for their early the beginning was to have ons League campaign off the domination against the young more players in attack. mark with a 2-0 win at Dy- Ukrainian side with Dynamo “Chiesa can play on both namo Kiev. goalkeeper Georgiy Bushchan sides, Kulusevski can be a Spain’s Morata opened the denying early efforts from playmaker and Ramsey can scoring just after the break and Dejan play behind Morata without when he tapped in off a re- Kulusevski. forgetting we have Ronaldo bound and nodded in a sec- Juve skipper Giorgio and Dybala.” Pirlo took over ond with six minutes to go to Chiellini also nodded wide be- this season after Maurizio Sar- give Juventus three points in fore the veteran defender was ri was sacked after the Italian Group G which also includes replaced by Merih Demiral champions’ last 16 exit to Lyon Barcelona and Hungarian club after 18 minutes after limping last season. Paris Saint-Germain’s French forward Kylian Mbappe (left) vies for the ball with Manchester United’s Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea during Ferencvaros. off clutching his leg. “These are three important their UEFA Europa League Group H first-leg match at the Parc des Princes Stadium in Paris on Tuesday. Manchester United won 2-1.( AFP) Portugal Ronaldo Morata’s first goal came points,” said Morata. and US Weston after Bushchan parried Ku- “Every year there is the McKennie both missed the lusevski’s effort, allowing the possibility to win and we want trip to the Ukraine after test- striker to finish off the rebound, to fight to go all the way.” Ju- ing positive for coronavirus, in front of a crowd of 15,000 in ventus are chasing a third with and Matthijs the Ukrainian capital. Champions League title after de Ligt out injured. came on for 1985 and 1996, with seven But , 41, got Kulusevski 10 minutes after runners-up finishes, includ- his European coaching debut the break for the Argentine ing in 2015, with Pirlo playing, off to a winning start against forward’s first start this sea- and 2017. veteran Dynamo coach Mir- son. Juventus next play Barce- cea Lucescu who gave the Ital- But it was former Chelsea lona on October 28 in Turin. ian his first start as a striker Morata who had the Brescia player 25 years ago. final word with a powerful Brugge beat Zenit “One step at a time. It header from a Visiting Club Brugge beat Zenit was important to play a solid cross which gave him a third St Petersburg 2-1 as Charles de match compared to Saturday goal in a week since moving Ketelaere got a stoppage time against Crotone,” said Pirlo of on loan back to Juventus from winner for Brugge in Russia.

Barcelona’s Argentine forward scores a penalty during the UEFA Champions League football match against Ferencvarosi TC at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, on Tuesday. Barcelona won the match 5-1. (AFP)

Matches Today RB Salzburg vs Lokomotiv Moscow (7.55pm) Midtjylland vs Atalanta (10pm) Real Madrid vs Shakhtar Donetsk (7.55pm) Olympiacos vs Marseille (10pm) Ajax vs Liverpool (10pm) Bayern Munich vs Atletico Madrid (10pm) Juventus’ Spanish forward Alvaro Morata celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal during Inter Milan vs Monchengladbach (10pm) the UEFA Champions League Group G match against FC Dynamo Kiev at the Olympiyskiy stadium in Kiev, Manchester City vs Porto (10pm) Ukraine, on Tuesday. (AFP) Coach Lamouchi seeks positive result as Duhail take on Al Sadd

points against Al Duhail, who It is always complicated facing are our direct rivals,” he added. Regarding Al Sadd’s disal- Al Duhail, says lowed goal against Al Khor, Xavi said: “Today, we got the Tribune News Network the Abdullah bin Khalifa Sta- information from the referees Doha dium on Wednesday. (committee) that the deci- “Regarding the next match sion was wrong. It’s difficult Al Duhail coach Sabri Lam- against Al Sadd, we will face to accept, because we lost two ouchi says he and his team is one of the teams competing points. This is the reality. The ready to take on a new chal- for the title and we are looking committee said it was a mis- lenge of facing Al Sadd when forward to a strong match and take. What can we say? We the two big guns of QNB Stars achieve a good result. lost two points because of the League meet in the resched- “The match between Al Sadd refereeing. This is the truth. uled Week 3 clash following and Al Duhail is always strong. “Of course, we have to their 2020 AFC Champions Al Sadd have great potential and be more effective and play League commitment. this match does not determine with more ambition to score “I am happy to return to the path of the title because we goals, but this decision totally work in the QNB Stars League only played three matches. I Al Duhail coach Sabri Lamouchi (left) and Al Sadd coach Xavi Hernandez while addressing the media on the eve of their Week 3 QNB Stars changed the game.” and in Qatar. I will take on a will put the ready-made squad league match to be played at the Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium on Wednesday. As for the availability of new challenge with one of the which I know is able to play Akram Afif and Abdelka- biggest Qatari teams and we the match without considering and we are now thinking about Xavi Hernandeztermed the But we are ready, we are in a to defeat Al Sadd. It will be dif- rim Hassan, the coach said: started with a match against they are young or old, and the the Al Sadd match, and then the battle with Al Duhail as com- good moment, even though we ficult for both sides.” “Akram and Abdelkarim are Qatar SC, where we achieved options before us are not wide. Al Rayyan match. Then we will plicated. “Of course, it is always lost two points against Al Khor “We have to do our best, give ready. Unfortunately, we don’t a difficult, but important vic- I will choose the best squad for start preparing for our match complicated to play against Al in the last game,” said Xavi. our 100% and be aggressive. We have Saad Al Dosari as he can- tory,” said Lamouchi while this match,” he added. against Al Sadd in the semi-final Duhail. It will be very difficult We have the capac- must be ambitious. We want to not play tomorrow. For Bagh- speaking to the media on eve “I want to see the best ef- of Amir Cup,” said Lamouchi. because the players feel more ity to defeat Al Duhail, and of win this competition. We have dad Bounedjah and the rest of of the match to be played at forts on the part of the players Meanwhile, Al Sadd coach tension that in other games. course, they have the capacity to get these three important the players, we will see.” 14 Wednesday, October 21, 2020 Sports UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Liverpool fuming at Pickford’s ‘stupid’ challenge

AFP from on Thiago, Amsterdam that was also a nasty one.” Pickford will not face any Liverpool midfielder retrospective punishment af- Georginio Wijnaldum brand- ter referee Michael Oliver took ed the challenge from Everton no action on the field, nor was goalkeeper Jordan Pickford he instructed to review in the that injured incident by VAR. as “stupid” and called for the “Accidents can always hap- England number one to be pen in football, you can be un- punished. lucky but they way they were Van Dijk looks set to miss doing it was completely unac- the rest of the season after suf- ceptable,” added Wijnaldum. fering cruciate ligament dam- “It makes it harder that age in a contentious 2-2 draw they don’t get punished. In this in the Merseyside derby on case Pickford doesn’t get pun- Saturday that also saw Ever- ished after seeing the videos.” ton forward Richarlison sent- Liverpool boss Jurgen off for a wild lunge on Thiago Klopp labelled both challenges Alcantara. “difficult to accept”. “Of course we are upset,” “Injuries happen, it is just said Wijnaldum at a pre- normally it is both players just match press conference ahead going for the ball. That was not of Wednesday’s Champions the case in these two challenges League clash with Ajax. and it makes it so difficult to take. “The way Pickford went in Klopp called for more in- to the challenge was complete- centives for good disciplinary ly, in my opinion, stupid. I be- records. lieve he didn’t want to injure “In the last four years we Virgil the way he injured him, were leader of the fair play ta- but the way he took the tackle, ble and you don’t get anything he didn’t care about what hap- for that.” pened after the tackle. Klopp also rounded on re- Bayern Munich’s Thomas Mueller and others during a practice session ahead of their Champions League opener against Atletico Madrid. “I think we had it a lot in porters for asking whether he the games against Everton. In plans to bolster his defensive my opinion they take it way options in the January trans- too far in the games we play fer window. against them. Joe Gomez and Joel Mat- Bayern start title defence “We know it is a derby and ip are the only other senior everyone wants to win that central defenders in Klopp’s derby, sometimes you go over squad. Matip has not travelled the top, but it was too much. to Amsterdam due to injury, “It was not only his tack- with midfielder Fabinho set to against Atletico Madrid le. If we talk about the tackle deputise at centre-back.

DPA ern have brought in new players Berlin Want to repeat treble, says Hernandez since their 1-0 win against Paris Saint-Germain in the final last Nadal to play Paris Masters Only 59 days after their Munich: says Bayern season. Champions League triumph in Munich want to show “typical German mental- Signings such as Eric Max- AFP for #ParisBercy.” Lisbon, Bayern Munich start ity” and repeat last season’s treble, as they im Choupo-Moting, Alexander Paris The Paris Masters is sched- their title defence on Wednes- prepare to start their Champions League title Nuebel, , among oth- uled to run from November 2-8. day with a difficult home game defence against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday. ers and a talented youth acad- Rafael Nadal announced Any health rules to be im- against Atletico Madrid. “You can speak of the typical German mental- emy will give Flick the chance on Tuesday that he will com- plemented for the event due to It’s the third competition ity: We want to win, win, win,” said the French to rotate his options as seen pete in the Paris Masters next the coronavirus are yet to be Bayern start this season amid a defender, who cost Bayern a club-record 80 against Dueren in Bayern’s Ger- month, despite previously say- announced. tight coronavirus-affected foot- million euros ($94.5 million) from Atletico last man Cup opener on October 15. ing he might not play again After moving level with Rog- ball calendar, which will force year. Newcomer Leroy Sane, this season. er Federer on a men’s record 20 the club to play several mid- Just 59 days after beating Paris Saint-Germain however, is still working his way The 34-year-old won a Grand Slam titles, Nadal said: “I week games. in the Lisbon final, Bayern host Atletico behind back to fitness after a knee in- record-extending 13th French don’t know what I’m going to do closed doors. jury and at best will have a seat Open title earlier this month after Roland Garros. “It’s about entering the competition with on the bench. with a one-sided final victory “I can’t tell you if I’m going After Champions League the same enthusiasm and motivation,” the “We must evaluate from over world number one Novak to play again or not in the next glory last season, Bayern 24-year-od Hernandez said. game to game and see how fit Djokovic at Roland Garros. two months.” Munich start their bid for “The Champions League speaks for itself. Even after such a fantastic year, we want to build.” each player is. “It’s indoor season time... Nadal has never won the a back-to-back title with a He said he is looking forward to seeing his former team-mates, but said that only “Bayern counts on We must all work together, this picture was earlier today Paris Masters in his career. tough matchup against the pitch”. coaching staff and also the play- practicing at @rnadalacademy,” He pulled out before a Atletico Madrid An injury to striker Diego Costa is a blow for Atletico, with Joao Felix set to partner Luis Suarez up ers,” Flick said. he posted on Twitter alongside a scheduled semi-final against front. For family reasons, Joshua photo of him training. Denis Shapovalov at Bercy Bayern coach regards the opening Group A match as a true test for his side against Kimmich, who already missed “And yes... getting ready in 2019. Players had no rest and not Diego Simeone’s experienced outfit. the game at Bielefeld, is not cer- much time to savour their first “Playing in the first game of the Champions League against Atletico is a highlight,” said Flick. tain to play on Wednesday. away win of the sea- “Diego Simeone has managed to develop the team again and again. They have one of the best “Against Atletico he is son at Arminia Bielefeld on Sat- defences in Europe.” very important. I hope he urday (4-1). With only and Leroy Sane sidelined, Bayern will be near full-strength and Flick hopes can be there. It’s a home game “We need to maintain the to start midfielder Joshua Kimmich, who is expecting his second child. so chances of him being there rhythm and win the next game “Everyone knows how important Joshua is for our game, but we will have to wait until tomorrow,” are bigger,” Flick told newspa- too,” striker Robert Lewan- Flick added. Flick is also convinced Bayern have the quality to be “maybe even as successful as per Bild. dowski said after the match. last year”. (AFP) As for Atletico they con- “The Champions League is al- firmed on Monday that Douglas ways special, but we’re prepared Costa won’t travel to Germany. for the game.” The matchup nated Bayern in the semi-finals son,” goalkeeper team are “missing some train- The Brazilian-born Spain in- doesn’t bring good memories thanks to an away goal scored at said. “Everyone knows the play- ing sessions” and “it will be a ternational striker limped off to Munich. The last meeting be- the Allianz Arena. ers, so we can look forward challenge, but there is no other with what appeared to be a tween the clubs was in the 2016- Since then a lot has changed, to a great night of football on option and for that reason we’ll hamstring strain on Saturday 17 season when each won their but the title holders maintain Wednesday. take it.” in Atletico’s 2-0 league win over respective group stage home their respect for their season’s “It’s the first game, so you However, to handle the Celta Vigo. game 1-0 and went through to opening opponent. never know where your oppo- packed schedule in a better way The game at the Allianz Are- the next round. “They’re a strong and awk- nents are at in the Champions and attempt to defend three ti- na will take place behind closed But in the previous sea- ward team. They were rightly League.” After the win in Biele- tles (Bundesliga, German Cup doors amid rising coronavirus Rafael Nadal tweeted this picture saying “practicing at the @rnada- son (2015-16) Atletico elimi- in the knockout stages last sea- feld coach Hansi Flick said the and Champions League) Bay- infection rates in Europe. lacademy ... And yes... getting ready for #ParisBercy”. (Twitter) Ajax – What remains of the team that took CL by storm? AFP Centre-back De Ligt, who And Donny van de Beek The former Southampton brought in from sales over Amsterdam captained Ajax in that cam- was the most recent to move man netted six times in that the last 18 months, shelling paign aged 19, scored the Back in business on, the 23-year-old midfielder European run and scored 16 out fees of more than 15 mil- Ajax host Liverpool in winner against Juventus in who scored the only goal away more last season in all com- lion euros to sign Dutch in- the Champions League on the quarter-finals andalso Ajax host Liverpool in the to Spurs in the first leg of the petitions in a campaign that ternational forward Quincy Wednesday, 18 months after scored against Tottenham Champions League on semi-final being sold to Man- was eventually cut short Promes from Sevilla, Mexico being denied the chance to in the semi-final. He moved Wednesday, 18 months chester United in September because of the coronavirus midfielder Edson Alvarez play the Anfield club in the to Juve for 75 million euros after being denied the for 39 million euros. pandemic, with no champion and the young Brazilian at- final by a stunning Totten- ($84.2 million) plus 10.5 chance to play the Anfield In total the four-time crowned. Tadic also scored tacker . ham Hotspur comeback in the million euros of add-ons, a club in the final by a European champions have twice in the 5-1 weekend de- The latter came off the semi-final in Amsterdam. world-record fee for a de- stunning Tottenham raised nearly 300 million eu- feat of Heerenveen. bench to score at the week- The Dutch side wowed fender. Hotspur comeback in the ros in transfer fees from sell- Goalkeeper Andre Onana, end. Also on target in that Europe on that run to the last Meanwhile midfielder De semi-final in Amsterdam. ing members of that squad centre-back , Ar- game was , four, before many of their best Jong, now 23, was sold to that won the domestic double gentine left-back Nicolas a 20-year-old Ghana interna- players were unsurprisingly Barcelona in a deal worth a in 2019 as well as going so far Tagliafico and the Moroccan tional recruited from Nord- picked off by wealthier clubs total of 86 million euros that in Europe. right-back sjaelland in Denmark. elsewhere. was agreed midway through Ajax coach during the Dutch match against SC all remain key elements too. Ajax continue to put faith Here’s a look at what re- the 2018-19 season. Heerenveen at the Johan Cruijff Arena in Amsterdam on Sunday. (AFP) Stayed put: Most of the excit- Further forward, Brazil in youth, but they have brought mains of that Ajax team: was re- ing young talents in that side winger -- who was in experience too. Midfielder ally only a bit-part player in Dane, veteran midfielderAjax allowed another main- have moved on, but others on target in the 2019 quarter- was signed Moved on: The two big names that Champions League cam- Lasse Schone, left for Genoa stay of their side to go, with remain. Erik ten Hag is still final against Juventus -- is also from Werder Bremen in a 14 to leave in the summer of 2019 paign, but Ajax still cashed in in Italy. supremely gifted Moroccan the coach, while Serbian in- still part of Ten Hag’s squad. million-euro deal and returns were the Dutch international on the Danish striker, selling After failing to progress international attacking mid- ternational Dusan Tadic is to the club he left in 2017 for a duo of and him to French club Nice for beyond the group stage of fielderHakim Ziyech joining still one of Ajax’s main goal- The new faces: Ajax have re- failed stint on the blue side of . 20.5 million euros. Another last season’s competition, Chelsea for 40 million euros. scoring threats. invested some of the money Merseyside at Everton. Sports Wednesday, October 21, 2020 15 Maiden Qatar Cup triumph Qatar SC in Amir Cup volleyball semis for Al Wakrah cagers

Qatar SC moved into the semi-finals of the 2019-2020 HH the Amir Cup beating Al Ahli 3-2 (13-15, 20-25, 17-25, 25-20, 25-18) in the quarter-finals on Tuesday. Roglic wins Vuelta a Espana opening stage

AFP Arrate (Spain) Al Wakrah players celebrate with the Qatar Cup and their medals at the Al Gharafa Sports Club Hall on Tuesday. Defending champion Pri- Tribune News Network Club Hall on Tuesday. winners, while Sammy Mon- 19 points in the third quarter moz Roglic won stage one of Doha Stover scored four times roe saw his 24-point effort go while restricting Al Wakrah the Vuelta a Espana on Tues- from the three-point mark in vain for Al Arabi. to just 13, raising visions of day while former winner Chris Nicholas Stover emerged a and nailed seven out of seven Al Wakrah led 27-15 after an upset. Froome rolled in 11 minutes star scoring a match-high 28 free throws in a match that the first quarter and held on to That was not to be, how- behind the peloton. points to propel Al Wakrah saw Al Wakrah lead for the a 45-37 advantage at the half- ever, as Al Wakrah came up Roglic, the runner up in to their first-ever basketball first 35 minutes. way stage to keep the pressure with a dominating 25-point the Tour de France, outsprint- Qatar Cup title triumph with a Julius V. Coles with 19 and on their rivals. effort in the final 10 min- ed an elite group that had sur- convincing 83-74 win over Al Abdelrehman Abdelhaleem But Al Arabi bounced back utes to seal the outcome of vived the steep final 5km climb Arabi at the Al Gharafa Sports with 15 also excelled for the into contention by scoring the match. to Alto de Arrate. Meanwhile, Froome, in his final race forI neos, was aban- doned by the team as they set the pace up most of the final climb for their race leader Rich- Dhawan’s second ton in vain ard Carapaz, who was second. Irishman Dan Martin of Is- rael Start-Up Nation, the team Froome will join next season, as KXIP down finished third. Froome had lost touch be- AFP Rabada sent back Pooran and fore the last ascent. Dubai has become then Glenn Maxwell, for 32, “I got a bit caught out com- the first batsman in the to put Punjab in a spot, but ing into the penultimate climb, Shikhar Dhawan on Tuesday to hit Deepak Hooda, on 15, and I started pretty far back and became the first batsman in the Jimmy Neesham, on 10, took got stuck behind a crash at the Indian Premier League to hit two successive centuries the team home. bottom,” said Froome, a four two successive centuries but his Earlier Punjab paceman time Tour de France winner Delhi Capitals lost by five wick- Mohammed Shami returned who suffered a horrific crash ets to Kings XI Punjab. figures of 2-28 from his four 18-months ago. Team Jumbo rider Slovenia’s Primoz Roglic celebrates winning the The left-hand opener overs to keep Delhi’s scoring “I’m really happy to be here, 1st stage of the 2020 La Vuelta cycling tour of Spain, a 173 km race smashed an unbeaten 106 rate under check. I’m really, really happy to be from Irun to Arrate on Tuesday. (AFP) off 61 deliveries to guide Shami gave away just 13 racing a Grand Tour again af- Delhi to 164 for five, a total runs from his final two overs ter two years of not doing any ma teammates as on the Tour schedule meant that on Tues- that proved insufficient as and got two wickets of Marcus Grand Tours and just going to de France in all rounder Tom day two major tours raced on Punjab won with one over to Stoinis and Shimron Hetmyer. take the race day by day and try Dumoulin, American climber the same day. Roglic’s victory spare in Dubai. “Shami obviously is com- and do as much for the team as Sepp Kuss and Kiwi climber completed another good day The KL Rahul-led side ing in with confidence from I can,” the British rider said. George Bennett. for Slovenia as compatriot Jan moved up to fifth in the eight- the last game,” Rahul said of Roglic produced his trade- “They worked perfectly the Tratnik had earlier won the team table as his paceman who defended mark late kick in the final whole day. Then I was able to 16th stage of the Giro d’Italia. scored 53 and hit five runs in a super over to 500m to open a gap of just a win, so top - it’s a beautiful The Vuelta set off almost 29 off 13 balls. help his team beat Mumbai few seconds for a comfortable start. I’ll try to enjoy it day by two months late from Irun in- But Dhawan, who hit his it into the next games. We are Delhi failed to fire, Indians in the Sunday match win that puts him in the race day,” said Roglic of the moun- stead of from the Netherlands first IPL ton of the season going to have a discussion and with skipper that witnessed IPL’s first dou- leader’s red jersey. tainous race that winds up in as originally planned, with in a match-winning knock see where we can improve. (14) and wicketkeeper-bats- ble super over. Roglic arrived as defending Madrid two weeks on Sunday. few fans in attendance for a on Sunday, was named man “Of course, it is going to man (14) as the “He is our senior bowler, champion but with a point to Kuss has the blue polka 173km rolling run through of the match for his 57-ball be a learning. This is not go- next best. and an international, and he is prove after his late meltdown dots jersey as best climber the Basque Country. hundred. ing to put us down. Just take Punjab lost early wickets, getting better and better every on the Tour de France cost him after the man from Colorado The original route had “The boys have been play- our lessons, and come back including Rahul for 15 and game.” relinquish the yellow jersey. crested the summit of the Ar- been Dutch flat, but instead the ing well in other games. Today stronger.” Gayle, bowled by Ravichan- Scores: Kings XI Punjab 167 “I’m very happy - the team rate climb first. SpaniardE nric 18-stage Vuelta started with a I had to take the responsibility Dhawan used the sweep dran Ashwin, but Pooran kept for 5 (Pooran 53, Maxwell 32, again showed that they are all Mas of the Movistar team has bang on this rolling terrain with on myself,” said Dhawan. and the slog sweep to great the chase on track in his 28- Rabada 2-27) beat Delhi Capi- really strong,” said the former the best under-25’s white jer- Frenchman Thibaut Pinot and “It is good that I am scor- effect as he hit 14 fours and ball knock. tals 164 for 5 (Dhawan 106*, ski-jumper who is escorted by sey 11 sec back from Roglic. Dutch former Giro champion ing consistently so you carry three sixes, but the rest of the Delhi quick bowler Kagiso Shami 2-28) by five wickets. three of the same Jumbo-Vis- The reorganised cycling Dumoulin losing time already. Cricket in bio-bubbles can Zimbabwe arrive in Pakistan, without Indian coach affect mental health: Morgan AFP with relations taking a fresh turn Karachi for the worse last year following AFP ly travel, I think is untenable. New Delhi’s decision to strip Dubai You can drill a player both Zimbabwe’s cricket squad Indian-administered Kashmir mentally and physically. And arrived in Pakistan on Tues- of its partial autonomy. England’s white-ball cap- it can cause extreme burnout, day – minus their Indian In Rajput’s absence, bowl- tain Eoin Morgan said play- which nobody wants to see.” coach, who had been advised ing coach Douglas Hondo will ers should have the freedom England hosted West In- to stay away from the rival supervise Zimbabwe for the to withdraw from tours if the dies, Pakistan, Ireland and South Asian nation. tour, with allrounder Chamu bio-secure bubbles are affect- Australia this summer with all The 20-man Zimbabwe Chibhabha at the helm. ing their “mental health”. matches played in Manchester team is competing in a series The schedule will see three West Indies toured Eng- and Southampton. of One-day internationals and ODIs in Rawalpindi on Oc- land in June, a month ahead of The players’ travel was re- , the first of which is tober 30, November 1 and 3, their three-Test series to restart stricted from the on-site hotels slated for October 30 in Rawal- while three inter- cricket after the coronavirus to the grounds and Morgan feels pindi after the players complete nationals are set for Lahore on pandemic halted most major that more similar tours will only a mandatory quarantine period. November 7, 8 and 10. sporting events across the globe. increase the stress levels. Pakistan had granted Zim- The limited-over series Players have since been “We’ve spoken about this babwe coach Lalchand Rajput will further the revival of in- confined to bio-secure envi- as a team and we’ve accepted a visa, but he did not travel as ternational cricket in Pakistan, ronments on tours and dur- that guys will come in and out per his government’s advice. suspended after the Sri Lan- ing tournaments, including at of the bubble as they feel it is “Zimbabwe head coach kan team bus was attacked in the ongoing Indian Premier affecting their mental health,” Rajput will miss the Pakistan Lahore in 2009. League in the UAE. said Morgan. tour after Indian embassy in Zimbabwe were the first “We managed to fulfil all “That’s a reactive way of wrote to us asking that team to end Pakistan’s five- of our international fixtures dealing with things and we Rajput, who is an Indian na- year isolation by touring in for the summer,” Morgan, want to be at the forefront of tional, be exempted from vis- 2015. South Africa is also slat- who is also leading the Kolkata making it acceptable for people iting Pakistan,” a Zimbabwe ed to tour Pakistan in January, Knight Riders in the IPL, told to say ‘I need to spend time with Cricket (ZC) statement read. Faraz Akram (left) waits first in line for sanitisation ahead of his team mates as the Zimbabwe cricket while England seem likely to various media. “But to keep my family now and I’m taking India and Pakistan have squad of 20 players depart their country at Robert Mugabe International Airport in Harare on Monday, come for the first time since that level of bubble for 10 of this tour off’ just because of the been bitter rivals since inde- after having spent seven days in a bio-secure bubble as a preventive measure against the spread of the 2005 for a three-match Twen- the 12 months that we normal- extraordinary circumstances.” pendence from Britain in 1947, COVID-19 coronavirus ahead of their tour of Pakistan. (AFP) ty20 series, also in January.