SPORT SPORT | 18 SPORT | 19 Badminton Moeen and superstar Lin Dan Bairstow miss out calls time on on England squad glorious career for Windies Test

SUNDAY 5 JULY 2020

Greenwood scores twice at Old Trafford as Solskjaer’s men climb into PL top four Five-star United crush Bournemouth

AFP – MANCHESTER

Manchester United continued their charge into the Premier League top four with another devastating attacking display as they thrashed Bournemouth 5-2 yesterday with Mason Greenwood, Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fern- andes doing the damage. Another bad day for Bourne- mouth pushed the Cherries closer to a return to the Championship as they remain rooted in the bottom three despite taking a shock lead at Old Trafford through Junior Stanislas. Teenage sensation Greenwood, Rashford from the penalty spot and Martial hit back before half-time. Former United forward Josh King’s penalty briefly gave the visitors hope early in the second half, but another thumping finish Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford (second right) controls the ball from Greenwood and a during yesterday's match against AFC Bournemouth at the Old Trafford. trademark Fernandes free-kick gave United five goals at Old Trafford in a Premier League Stanislas nutmegged the world’s outside the box to reach 20 goals As in the first half, United’s game for the first time since 2011. most expensive defender and in a season for the first time in response was quick and Vardy nets 100th PL Victory takes Ole Gunnar Sol- then fired in at De Gea’s near post his career. emphatic. Greenwood smashed skjaer’s men a point above completely against the run of The game appeared to be home his 15th goal of the season Chelsea into fourth as they play on 16 minutes. over at the break, but a sloppy on his supposedly weaker right goal in Leicester win extended an unbeaten run Those errors were not as start from United presented foot to restore a two-goal lead. stretching back to January to 16 costly this time as the blossoming Bournemouth with a route back The signing of Fernandes has REUTERS – LONDON games. front three of Greenwood, into the game. been the catalyst to United’s United had kept 11 clean Martial and Rashford quickly Eric Bailly replaced Victor turnaround before and after a Jamie Vardy netted his 100th Premier League goal as Leicester sheets in their previous 15 turned the game around. Lindelof at half-time and the three-month stoppage due to the City notched their first victory since the league resumed, matches without defeat, but Greenwood’s star is rising Ivorian handled as he tried to coronavirus lockdown and the beating Crystal Palace 3-0 on Saturday to keep up their drive defensive lapses were the only fast and the 18-year-old blasted control a loose pass from Portuguese midfielder took his for Champions League football next season. blight on another satisfying home from Fernandes’s pass to Nemanja Matic. tally to seven goals in 14 games Leicester swarmed all over Palace from the first whistle afternoon for Solskjaer. get United back on track. King, who was a United target by hooking a free-kick in at as defender James Justin hit the crossbar early on, but it took Harry Maguire and David de The hosts were then gifted a in January as Solskjaer desper- Aaron Ramsdale’s near post. until the fourth minute of the second half for Kelechi Ihea- Gea were at fault for the only second by Adam Smith’s handball ately looked for cover for the Rashford also had another nacho to finally put his side ahead with a close-range effort. points the Red Devils have inside the area and Fernandes then-injured Rashford, dis- goal ruled out for offside, but Despite the return of striker Christian Benteke, visitors dropped since the Premier stepped aside to let Rashford net patched the penalty and moments United were happy to settle for Palace struggled to create much in front of goal, with their League’s restart in a 1-1 draw at for the first time since January. later Bournemouth had the ball five as they moved into the top best efforts coming from set pieces. Any chances they did Tottenham. Martial completed the set in the net again only for Arnaut four for the first time since manage were easily dealt with by goalkeeper Kasper Both were culpable as with a stunning strike from Danjuma to be flagged offside. September. Schmeichel. Vardy cut a frustrated figure as he sought to become the 29th player to score a century in the English top flight, getting the ball caught under his feet and snatching at some decent opportunities as he chased the milestone. Qatar team concludes Having slammed the ground in frustration at another missed chance moments earlier, Vardy made no mistake when Harvey Barnes set him up for a tap-in in the 77th minute. training camp ahead The 33-year-old striker looked relieved as he celebrated in an empty King Power Stadium. Leicester continued to concede corners and free kicks in of Asian qualifiers dangerous positions, but all too often the ball flew harm- lessly over the massed ranks in the penalty area on a disap- QNA – DOHA pointing afternoon for Palace. one of the precautionary measures Vardy added a superb solo second in stoppage time to required by the Ministry of Public make it 3-0, breaking from the halfway line before calmly The Qatari national team yesterday Health. There will also tactical ses- slotting the ball past Vicente Guaita. concluded its training camp that sions in addition to group training. began on June 12. This follows the The training camp was the first suspension of football witnessed all of its kind in the world for an inter- around the world as a result of the national team. A total of 34 players Ex-Al Gharafa captain coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. took part in the training in prepa- The camp took place in coordi- ration for the 2023 Asia Cup quali- Sneijder looks to come nation with league teams. Players fiers. Qatar will meet in Group E underwent training that remained with India, and Bangladesh on Al Duhail's star striker Almoez Ali (centre) and his team- in line with the health protocols October 8 and 13, in addition to out of retirement mates in action during a training session held yesterday. required by the Ministry of Public meeting with Oman on November Health and the designated author- 12. QNB Stars League (QSL) points leaders Al Duhail will meet AFP – THE HAGUE ities to contain the virus. President of Qatar Football Al Sailiya in a friendly match on Wednesday at the Al Sailiya The coaching staff led by Felix Association (QFA), Sheikh Hamad Stadium as they gear up for the upcoming QSL Round- Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder is considering coming out Sanchez worked on improving the bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani 18 fixture against Umm Salal which will be played at the of retirement to play for his hometown club Utrecht, local players’ fitness level. They were thanked the coaching staff and the brand new Education City Stadium on July 25. BOTTOM media have reported. divided into separate group to players for their discipline during LEFT: Al Rayyan players in action during a training session Sneijder won a national record of 134 caps and was key maintain safe distancing, which is the training camp. yesterday. BOTTOM RIGHT: Al Sadd's Qatari international to the Netherlands’ march to the World Cup final in 2010, Akram Afif trains with team-mates. the same year he led Inter Milan to glory in the Champions League. But he retired in 2018 at Al Gharafa in Qatar and hasn’t played for two seasons. The return appears to have been evoked by Utrecht fans putting out a video asking him to join their club, possibly in reaction to seeing Arjen Robben promise a return at his hometown club Groningen. “I’ll give it a think through, I have already spoken to Jordy (Zuidam, the Utrech boss),” the 36-year-old Sneijder told local television. Zuidam told the press he was also open to the idea. “The ball is in his court, a fit and motivated Wesley Sne- ijder would interest us,” he said. Sneijder came through the youth system at Ajax before his big break with Real Madrid and Inter Milan, and more modestly at Galatasaray and Nice at the tail end of his career. 18 SPORT SUNDAY 5 JULY 2020 Early results Badminton superstar Lin Dan reveal 31 MLB players tested calls time on glorious career positive for

AFP – SHANGHAI COVID-19 LIN DAN AFP – LOS ANGELES China’s two-timeme OlympicOlympic champion Lin Dan,an, ararguablyguably Nickname:Nicknaamem : Super Dan Country: China A total of 31 players tested the greatest bbadmintonadminton Born:Born: OctoberOctob 14, 1983 (Age 36) in Longyan, Fujian, China positive for the coronavirus in player of all time, announceannouncedd Height:Height: 117878 cm Weight: 70 kg Major League Baseball’s first his retirement yesterdayyesterday Years active: 2000–2020 round of mass testing to aged 36. prepare for the start of the It means thatat LiLin,n, whowho MEN'S SINGLES delayed season. won gold at the BeijingBeijing 20082008 CareerCar record: 666 wins, 128 losses The 31 players, and seven and London 20122 Games, willwill Career titles: 66 additional staff members, not compete att the 20220200 make up 1.2 percent of the Tokyo Olympics, whwhichich hhaveave CAREER HIGHLIGHTS 3,185 samples collected in the been pushed backck to next OLYMPICOLYMPIC GAMESG first set of results. The players summer becauseuse ofof Gold: 2008 Beijing Men's singles came from 19 of the 30 clubs. coronavirus. Gold:Gold: 2012 London Men's singles The league and the players’ WORLDWORLD CHAMPIONSHIPSCH The end of LLin’sin’s union announced the results glorious careereer Gold:Gold: 2006 Madrid Men's singles Friday as teams resumed Gold: 2007 Kuala Lumpur Men's singles comes just over a training for the first time since Gold:Gold: 2009 Hyderabad Men's singles year after thee the global pandemic shutdown Gold: 2011 London Men's singles retirement of hiss spring training on March 12. Gold:Gold: 2013 Guangzhou Men's singles great rival andd WORLDWORLD CUCUP The season is now friend, thee Gold: 2005 Yiyang Men's singles scheduled to start on July 23, Malaysian star Leeee Gold:Gold: 2006 Yiyang Men's singles making it the latest opening in Chong Wei. ASIANASIAN GAMESGAM American baseball history. The duo reignedigned GoGold:old: 2006 Doha Men's team The 1.2 percent positive over badminton for moremore GoGold:ldd: 2010 Guangzhou Men's singles rate compares favorably to the than a decade andd hhaveave onlyonly rerelin-lin- GoGold:ld: 2010 Guangzhou Men's team NBA which saw 5.3 percent (16 quished that hold in recent years as theirtheir GGoldolld : 2014 Incheon Men's singles of 302) of its people test pos- powers waned. GGold:old:d 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Men's team itive in announced results on Lin, who hadd somethingsomething ofof a “bad“bad AASIANSI CHAMPIONSHIPS June 26. The MLS had a pos- boy” reputation dduringuring his younger daydayss GGold:o 2010 New Delhi Men's singles itive rate of 2.7 percent (18 of and has several tattoostattoos -- unusualunusual forfor GGold: 2011 Chengdu Men's singles 668). Chinese athletes ---- ends with 666 singlessingles GGold: 2014 Gimcheon Men's singles MLB is not officially iden- wins and a glut off medalsmedals.. This file photo taken on August 1, 2018 shows Lin Dan of China reacting GGold: 2015 Wuhan Men's singles tifying individual players who “My family, coaches,oaches, team-mates anandd after defeating Sameer Verma of India in their men’s singles match during WWORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS test positive but the Cleveland fans have accompaniedmpanied me throuthroughgh the badminton World Championships in Nanjing. GoGold: 2000 Guangzhou Mixed team Indians said Friday that many peaks andd difficult troughs,” troughs,” hehe American outfielder Delino said in a post on China’s Twitter-like DeShields tested positive. Weibo that quickly went viral. series of first-round exits at The retirement means Lin, who 51 million times and praise for him Several other teams have “Every forceful jump was a desire tournaments. won gold at the Beijing 2008 poured in. raised suspicions by placing for victory. Lin always said he was determined and London 2012 Games, will Bao Chunlai, who formerly repre- players on injury lists without “I have dedicated everything to this to reach the Tokyo Olympics, but his not compete at the 2020 Tokyo sented China in badminton, said Lin’s announcing the ailment. sport I love.” Lee called his nemesis Lin ranking of 19 in the world and the post- Olympics. retirement took him by surprise. The Philadelphia Inquirer “my greatest opponent”. ponement of the Games made that “It’s somewhat sudden, but under- reported Friday that the Phil- “Please believe that the laughter, dream unlikely. standable,” he wrote on Weibo. adelphia Phillies placed four The end of Lin’s glorious career tears and all the promises are unforget- At Rio 2016 Lin lost in the semi-finals “The last person of that generation players on their COVID-19 table diary entries,” the 37-year-old Lee to Lee in what was a rare victory for the comes just over a year after the who persevered has also walked to the injured list, comprising US wrote on Weibo. Malaysian on the biggest stage of all. retirement of his great rival and ‘end’. second baseman Scott “Proud of you,” he added. Lin said yesterday his body would friend, the Malaysian star Lee “My feelings are mixed. All the best, Kingery, US pitcher Tommy As well as the Olympic golds, Lin was not allow him to plough on in the Chong Wei. brother. The future will be better.” Lin’s Hunter, pitcher Hector Neris, also a five-time world champion and unlikely pursuit of a third Games gold. wife Xie Xingfang, also a former bad- of the Dominican, and pitcher long-time world number one. “’Persevere’, I said to myself in every minton world champion, wrote online: Ranger Suarez of Venezuela. He earned the nickname “Super Dan” moment of suffering, so that my sporting athlete and practise the sporting spirit “The 20 years we have walked with each at the peak of his career. career could be prolonged,” he wrote on that I will never give up. other.... will continue. However, the left-hander’s career Weibo. “(But) my physical abilities and pain “Let us work hard together.” Lin’s has tailed off in recent years as age and “Rather than simply pursuing no longer allow me to fight alongside my reputation was badly tainted in China in NFL: Redskins injuries took their toll. rankings as I did when I was younger, team-mates.” - Praise - As of Saturday 2016 after it emerged he had an affair Just last year he rebuffed claims in these years, I have been wanting to afternoon, a hashtag on Weibo about while Xie was pregnant. He to review that he was about to retire following a challenge the physical limits of an ‘old’ Lin’s retirement had been read at least apologised. name after All Blacks legend Carter sponsor threat happy with club hitout AFP – WASHINGTON The Washington Redskins have launched a “thorough review” in return to NZ rugby of the team’s name, the NFL REUTERS – WELLINGTON franchise said Friday, as sponsors stepped up pressure Former All Blacks flyhalf Dan Carter gave himself a pass to scrap the moniker long crit- mark after his first game of rugby in New Zealand since icized as racist. 2015 but was not expecting to make a marketers' dream “In light of recent events debut for the Auckland Blues next week against the around our country and Canterbury Crusaders. feedback from our community, Carter surprisingly joined the Blues last month for Super the Washington Redskins are Rugby Aotearoa but said he would need a few weeks to get announcing the team will up to speed and took his first tentative steps back on Sat- undergo a thorough review of urday, playing for boyhood club Southbridge in a Canterbury the team’s name,” the team said club match. in a statement just 24 hours "If anyone saw that game today, I'd say myself that I'm after stadium sponsor FedEx a bit rusty," Carter told reporters after he kicked six con- demanded a name change. versions and had a hand in two tries in Southbridge's 54-14 “This review formalizes the victory over West Melton. initial discussions the team has "It's good to make the first step in to potentially playing been having with the league in again. I'm not sure if I could play at Super Rugby level just recent weeks.” Redskins owner yet. You leave those kinds of decisions up to the coaches." Dan Snyder had long been A three-times World Player of the Year and World Cup resistant to changing the team’s winner in 2011 and 2015, Carter spent his entire profes- Mack Hansen (left) of the ACT Brumbies runs with the ball during the Super Rugby match against Melbourne name -- a term for Native sional career in New Zealand playing for the Christchurch- Rebels in Canberra, yesterday. The ACT Brumbies survived a gritty fightback to pick up where they left Americans that is seen as a slur. based Crusaders. off before the coronavirus shutdown with a battling 31-23 win over the Melbourne Rebels. Australia “We’ll never change the He joined the Blues after stints in France and Japan, but welcomed the return of professional rugby union on Friday as the launch of 'Super Rugby AU' brings to name,” Snyder said in 2018. has not played since February after Japan's Top League was an end a tumultuous shutdown triggered by COVID-19. “It’s that simple. NEVER -- you shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic. can use caps.” However, nationwide protests over racial injustice -- sparked by the death of unarmed black man Pacers star Oladipo won’t George Floyd at the hands of Sprinter Thomas cleared by AIU police on May 25 -- have play in restarted season brought the Redskins tag under REUTERS – LONDON renewed scrutiny. AGENCIES – INDIANA feel like I’m at a great place in On Thursday, US delivery American sprinter Gabrielle my rehab and getting closer giant FedEx Corp -- which paid Thomas’s (pictured) provi- Indiana Pacers star guard and closer to 100 percent. With $205m to the Redskins in 1998 sional suspension for allegedly Victor Oladipo will skip the all the variables, from how I for the naming rights to the failing to make herself available restarted season in the have to build my five-on-five team’s suburban stadium -- for anti-doping tests has been Orlando area, according to workload back up, to the confirmed it had sought a lifted, the Athletics Integrity multiple media reports increased risk of a soft tissue change. Unit (AIU) said yesterday. yesterday. injury which could delay my Reports this week said that Thomas, twice a 200 metres Oladipo played in just 13 rehab, and the unknown exact FedEx, Nike and PepsiCo all winner at the Lausanne games before the season was setup of the bubble, I just can’t received letters from 87 Diamond League, had been interrupted by the corona- get my mind to being fully investment firms asking the banned in May by the AIU for virus, missing the first 47 comfortable in playing. companies and others to sever allegedly missing three tests in games due to a torn right quad “I have to be smart and this ties with the Redskins over the a 12-month period, a violation tendon sustained in January decision hasn’t been easy, but name. of anti-doping rules. When the suspension was multiple witnesses will conclu- 2019. He is concerned about I truly believe continuing on Food and beverage cor- But according to the AIU’s announced, Thomas said in a sively show that I was at the re-injury and also cited a lack the course I’m on and getting poration PepsiCo said in a Twitter account, Thomas pro- statement made available to exact location I established in of comfort with the restart fully healthy for the 2020-21 statement on Friday the vided new evidence in June and Reuters that one of the missed my whereabouts and that the situation. season is the right decision for company had been in con- as a result one of the missed tests was not valid and that she doping control officer simply “I really want to play, and me.” Oladipo recently versation with the league and tests cannot be established and expected to be cleared of failed to locate me and failed to as a competitor and teammate increased his workout activity Washington management so no anti-doping rule violation charges. follow proper protocol,” this is tearing me apart,” to get a better gauge on where “for a few weeks” about the has been committed. “Phone tracking data and Thomas said in the statement. Oladipo told The Athletic. “I he stood health-wise. issue. SUNDAY 5 JULY 2020 SPORT 19 Moeen and Bairstow miss out on World No.3 Thiem expects US Open England squad for Windies Test decision next week AFP - LONDON Zak Crawley and Joe Denly are set to provide England with Moeen Ali and Jonny Bairstow their top four in Root’s absence AFP - VIENNA were both left out of England’s as Stokes, the longtime vice- 13-man squad announced captain, leads the side for the World number three Dominic Thiem (pictured) said in an Austrian yesterday for next week’s first first time. media interview published yesterday that he was keen to play Test against the West Indies, Denly, however, averages a the US Open if it can go ahead. with neither experienced player modest 30 in his 14 Tests to date The United States has seen an alarming resurgence of new even among a list of nine and he may need a significant coronavirus cases. On Friday a record 57,000 new infections reserves. score at Hampshire’s head- were confirmed. Off-spinner Moeen had quarters if he is to keep his The ATP and WTA tours are due to return next month, with made himself available for Test place, with Root set to return the US Open starting on August 31 and the French Open beginning cricket again after taking a for the final two matches of the a month later. break from the red-ball game. ENGLAND SQUAD: series at Old Trafford. Thiem said he trusted the US authorities to make the right But although Moeen was Veteran new-ball bowlers decision. included in England’s 30-strong Ben Stokes (Durham, captain), James Anderson (Lanca- James Anderson and Stuart “I think in the next five to seven days there will be a decision,” training squad, England went shire), Jofra Archer (Sussex), Dominic Bess (Somerset), Stuart Broad are among a group of five Thiem said. with incumbent off-spinner Broad (Nottinghamshire), Rory Burns (Surrey), Jos Buttler (Lan- seamers in the 13, along with “Of course I hope it (the US Open) will go ahead, but safety Dom Bess, who impressed cashire, wkt), Zak Crawley (Kent), Joe Denly (Kent), Ollie Pope Barbados-born Jofra Archer, comes first of course. We have to follow countries’ governments during a victorious tour of (Surrey), Dom Sibley (Warwickshire), Chris Woakes (Warwick- Mark Wood and Chris Woakes. -- if they see any danger, they won’t allow a tournament, espe- South Africa, as their specialist shire), Mark Wood (Durham) But only three are likely to cially such a big one as the US Open,” the Austrian told public slow bowler for the behind TEST RESERVES: play given Stokes is himself a broadcaster ORF. closed doors series-opener at seam-bowling all-rounder. The 26-year-old plans to play in Kitzbuehel in western Austria Southampton starting on July James Bracey (Gloucestershire), Sam Curran (Surrey), Ben Uncapped batsman Dan in an exhibition event he is co-organising next and then in Berlin, 8. Foakes (Surrey), Dan Lawrence (Essex), Jack Leach (Somerset), Lawrence is among a standby after which he said he would do “intensive training” to prepare It was a similar story with Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire), Craig Overton (Somerset), Ollie list that also includes Surrey for Cincinnati and the US Open if those go ahead. wicketkeeper-batsman Robinson (Sussex), Olly Stone (Warwickshire) left-arm paceman Sam Curran, He played in the Adria Tour exhibition tournament organised Bairstow, who like Moeen may ENGLAND V WEST INDIES FIXTURES who tested negative for by Novak Djokovic last month after which the world number one be set for more of a white-ball COVID-19 after illness on and three other participants all tested positive for the new July 08-12: 1st Test, Ageas Bowl, Southampton role as England try to cram in a Wednesday ruled him out of the coronavirus. July 16-20: 2nd Test, Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester full international fixture despite last two days of England’s lone Thiem, who has tested negative for the new coronavirus since July 24-28: 3rd Test, Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester losing several months of their three-day intra-squad Belgrade, reiterated in the ORF interview the “huge mistake by home season to the coronavirus warm-up match at South- us all”. pandemic. the current Test gloveman, was birth of his second child. And ampton this week. “We all acted much too euphoric. The most important is that Bairstow’s fate for this named as vice-captain to Ben there was no place for Bairstow Next week’s Test will be a we learn from our mistakes,” he said. match was effectively sealed Stokes after it was confirmed among the reserves, with Ben landmark occasion given it is Thiem also said he will donate the prize money that he won when fellow wicket-keeper and regular skipper Joe Root would Foakes the back-up wicket- set to mark the return of inter- in Belgrade during the ill-fated Adria Tour. World Cup winner Jos Buttler, miss the first Test to attend the keeper. Rory Burns, Dom Sibley, national cricket from lockdown. Thiem took part in the Belgrade leg of the exhibition event organised by Djokovic, where social distancing was minimal and matches were played in front of thousands of fans, earning a storm of criticism. Australian cricketers reach Minister Thiem’s father, Wolfgang, who also trains the 26-year-old, defended Djokovic, telling Austria’s Presse daily that the world number one had not broken any of Serbia’s and Croatia’s coro- offers ICC navirus rules and the tour had aimed to collect money for charity. compromise on pay row “Of course the dancing in the nightclub (during the tour) was evidence not ideal, but AFP - SYDNEY percentage. The Australian that provides all parties with Djokovic did Cricketers Association (ACA), greater certainty about how to nothing bad in A potential pay dispute between which represents players, navigate the next year.” 2011 WC principle,” he was Cricket Australia (CA) and rejected the forecasts as hasty ACA chief executive Alistair quoted as saying. players was averted yesterday and issued the governing body Nicholson said the “’reset’ is was fixed “....a few after the governing body with a notice of dispute, which both welcome and sensible”. thousand euros withdrew a contentious could have led to a court The move is seen as a (dollars) are col- AFP - COLOMBO projection of financial losses standoff. common-sense approach from lected for a clinic from the coronavirus pandemic. But CA yesterday agreed to both sides, given the picture for Sri Lanka’s former sports treating children The decision to “reset” postpone its projections until it the cricketing summer ahead minister said yesterday he with cancer.” negotiations follows the resig- had a clearer idea of the remains unclear. has offered more evidence He did not say nation last month of CA chief financial impact of the pan- So far, only two tours to cricket’s world governing to who Thiem executive Kevin Roberts, with demic. In turn, the ACA involving Australia have been body that he says shows the would donate his his interim replacement Nick withdraw its notice of dispute. impacted by coronavirus -- a 2011 World Cup was fixed. prize money. Hockley vowing to repair rela- “Today’s agreement is a sig- two-Test tour of Bangladesh Mahindananda Aluth- The 33-year- tions between the two sides. nificant step forward in and a limited overs visit from gamage’s remarks come a old Djokovic The body in June forecast cricket’s response to the chal- Zimbabwe that have both been day after local police donated more than revenues would fall by nearly lenges presented by the cancelled. dropped an investigation €40,000 ($45,000) 50 percent in the 2020-21 COVID-19 pandemic and There is also doubt over into the claims, citing a lack to the Serbian town financial year despite the pan- should provide our stake- whether Australia will be able of evidence that Sri Lanka of Novi Pazar, demic hitting in the off-season holders with renewed clarity to host the Twenty20 World deliberately lost the final to badly affected by and India’s lucrative Test tour and confidence about the Cup in October and November, hosts India. the pandemic to this year still set to go ahead. summer ahead,” CA said in a but its four-Test series against Police had grilled help it fight a Australian players, both statement. India scheduled to start in former chief selector growing outbreak men and women, operate under “Calculating revenue pro- December is still expected to go Aravinda de Silva, opening of the disease, a revenue-sharing arrangement jections 12 months ahead ahead. batsman Upul Tharanga Serbian media and faced a significant knock- during a once-in-a-century Officials also remain and the 2011 captain Kumar reported on effect in the amount of pandemic has not been without hopeful of having crowds for Sangakkara -- the latter for Wednesday. money distributed to their its challenges, but we believe the popular T20 Big Bash nearly 10 hours. payment pool, which is a fixed we have arrived at a position League. But Aluthgamage, who was sports minister at the time and is now state min- Tiafoe tests positive for ister for energy, said there Simmons says Windies must were “powerful people who are spending huge sums of COVID-19, withdraws money to hush up the draw on Headingley spirit investigation”. He said that from Atlanta event he has informed Alex Mar- shall, anti-corruption chief REUTERS - LONDON at the International Cricket REUTERS - ATLANTA Council (ICC), that he was West Indies coach ready to provide more evi- Frances Tiafoe has tested positive for COVID-19 and been forced Phil Simmons says dence showing the match to withdraw from the All-American Team Cup exhibition tour- his side cannot afford was thrown. nament in Atlanta, the American said on Saturday. the batting debacles Aluthgamage said Tiafoe played in the first session on Friday and beat Sam that have often police had failed to probe Querrey in straight sets at the event in which the top eight American undermined their the claims properly and players are participating. tours of England urged Sri Lankan President The 22-year-old Tiafoe had said after the match that he when the series starts Gotabaya Rajapaksa to struggled to play in the heat and felt dizzy. behind closed doors intervene and pressure the “Unfortunately, I tested positive late Friday for Covid-19 and next week. ICC to reopen an investi- have to withdraw from the All-American Team Cup special event The first of three gation. Marshall had said in in Atlanta this weekend,” Tiafoe said on Twitter. Tests begins at the a statement on Friday that “Over the past two months, I have been training in Florida and Ageas Bowl in South- “at this time” the ICC has tested negative there as recently as a week ago. ampton next “not been presented with “I am scheduled to have a second test early next week, but Wednesday and Simmons says has got back-to-back hundreds equation and we start properly. any evidence that supports have already begun the quarantine protocol as advised by the making sure they are mentally here. It’s about getting to the “We are playing against one the claims made or which medical staff here in Atlanta.” ready is the most important task. mental stage where you are pre- of the best test teams in the would merit launching an Event director Eddie Gonzalez said Tiafoe was tested on arrival Three years ago they suf- pared for a Test match in world and we need to start on investigation”. in Atlanta and that the American had passed daily temperature fered a dreadful start when England, because it’s different the front foot. We’re trying to But he said that the ICC tests. England won the first Test by to many other places. bring back memories of Head- takes “allegations of this “Following his match, he was showing symptoms and was re- 209 runs inside three days. “The next three days of ingley and get the psychology nature extremely seriously tested and tested positive,” Gonzalez said in a statement. “Tiafoe While a bowling attack fea- practice is about sharpening up right.” and should we receive any has left the event site and will not participate in the remainder of turing the likes of Kemar Roach, the skills. But mentality is the big Next week’s Test, and the evidence to corroborate the the event. Alzarri Joseph and Shannon thing.” two after, will be played in claims, we will review our “Upon learning this information, we immediately began deep Gabriel, together with Bajan Simmons said West Indies empty stadiums with strict current position.” cleaning and sanitizing the event site, and enacted protocols in right-armer Chemar Holder and are drawing strength from the health protocols because of the Sri Lankan police have place for contact tracing and alerting individuals who may have Jamaican quick Oshane Thomas, way they hit back from that first coronavirus pandemic that shut not publicly responded to been exposed.” looks dangerous, the batting Test thrashing at Edgbaston in down cricket across the world. Aluthgamage’s claims. Christopher Eubanks will take Tiafoe’s place for the final two order is a concern. 2017 to claim a stunning victory But Simmons says it might The questioning of the days. “I think the batters have in the second test at Headingley not worry his players. nation’s cricketing heroes Although the number of spectators allowed was limited due worked hard on getting to a when they chased down 322. “I think maybe... the senior triggered criticism against to social distancing protocols, hundreds were in attendance on mental stage of where they need “We are drawing on that. guys it might affect a few of the government on social Friday. to be because most of them have The Test match before Head- them because they are used to media ahead of elections on Novak Djokovic was criticised last month for hosting the Adria scored runs here,” Simmons told ingley we were horrible and sold out matches in England,” August 5 when Rajapaksa’s Tour in Serbia and Croatia after the world number one and three the “Cricket, on the Inside” that seems to be like that most he said. party is hoping to secure a other players -- Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki webinar in conjunction with the times we go on tour. We are “But in the Caribbean there’s two-thirds majority in -- tested positive. Lord’s Taverners and Black trying to make sure that bad not much crowds for Test so we parliament. Djokovic and his wife Jelena have since tested negative for Opal, on Friday. “(Shay) Hope match is taken out of the are kind of accustomed to that.” COVID-19.