THE HIMALAYAN MAIL JAMMU Q SUNDAY Q JUNE 14, 2020 7

India lacks ability to handle pressure Former Pak captain Shahid Afridi in crucial games: Gambhir tests positive for COVID-19 NEW DELHI, JUNE years, said India cannot call 13: Former opener Gautam themselves world champi- KARACHI, JUNE 13: Akmal also joined in Gambhir feels Indian play- ons unless they prove them- Former Pakistan captain praying for Afridi. "Prayers ers lack "mental toughness" selves. Shahid Afridi on Saturday are for your long, healthy to handle pressure in "We can keep talking that said he had tested positive life. Get well soon," he crunch situations and can- we've got everything, we for COVID-19, becoming tweeted. The Pakistan all- not call themselves world have the ability to be the the first high-profile crick- rounder, famous for his big- champions unless they world champions, but till eter to be infected with the hitting, retired from inter- prove themselves in big- the time you don't go on the deadly virus. national cricket in 2017. ticket tournaments like the cricket field and prove that, "I've been feeling unwell He had already quit Tests World Cup. you will never be called the since Thursday; my body in 2010 and ODIs after the India won the ODI World world champions," said the had been aching badly. I've 2015 World Cup but cap- Cup twice in 1983 and 2011 38-year-old. been tested and unfortu- tained Pakistan in the but have been knocked out "It's just your ability in nately I'm covid positive. World T20 in India. the head of a foundation international cricket but his in the semifinal stage in those crunch situations. In Need prayers for a speedy Another former Pakistan named after him. Following popularity in the sub-conti- four editions, including the bilaterals and league stages recovery, InshaAllah," international Taufeeq Afridi announced on Twit- the coronavirus outbreak, nent has not dipped. Umar, had also tested posi- last two editions in 2015 what you do in those crucial semifinals and finals, it just you have got probably a ter. he was seen outdoors on His tweet also drew quick tive for coronavirus but he and 2019. games. I think, probably we shows when playing really chance to make the mis- Afridi played for Pakistan many occasions, mainly for response from his Pakistan recovered earlier this In T20 World Cups, India have not been able to han- well in the league stage… take, come to knockout between 1996 and 2018, his charity work. teammates including month. had triumphed in the inau- dle the pressure, probably you don't play well in the stages, you don't have a featuring in 27 Tests (1716 I’ve been feeling unwell Muhammad Hafeez, At least two Pakistani gural edition in 2007 and other teams have been able semifinals or knockouts. It's chance to do that, you make runs and 48 wickets), 398 since Thursday; my body Shoaib Malik, Kamran Ak- First-Class players have reached the finals in 2014. to handle the pressure that probably your mental a mistake and you're going ODIs (8064 runs and 395 had been aching badly. I’ve mal and the Pakistan died from the infection with "What sets you apart way," Gambhir said on Star toughness as well." back home. That's where wickets) and 99 T20 Inter- been tested and unfortu- Cricket Board (PCB). Riaz Sheikh passing away in from being a good player to Sports' show 'Cricket Con- Gambhir, who was part of beliefs come into play and nationals (1416 runs and 98 nately I’m covid positive. "Get well soon. Praying Karachi earlier this month. being a very-very good nected'. the 2011 World Cup which that’s where India lacks in wickets). Need prayers for a speedy for your swift recovery!" Sheikh, a leg-spinner who player in a team sport is "If you look at all the the country won after 28 all those crucial games." He remains involved in recovery, InshaAllah . wrote PCB on Twitter. took 116 wickets in 43 the game and was last seen Wishes of a speedy recov- Hafeez said that Afridi matches, died in his home. on the field in the Pakistan ery started pouring on so- was a "fighter by nature" Another Pakistani First- Sourav Ganguly was the bravest batsman Super League in March. cial media soon after Afridi and was sure that he would Class player, Zafar Sarfaraz, Afridi is also actively in- made the announcement. "fight the virus and will de- 50, died due to the virus in I ever bowled to: Shoaib Akhtar volved in his charity work as He might have retired from feat it soon". April in Peshawar. LAHORE, JUNE 13: Shoaib chest but he never backed away, and Akhtar has heaped praise on Sourav still scored runs. That is what I call Vasant Raiji, India's oldest first-class Ganguly, saying the former Indian bravery." The former Pakistan speed- batsman was very brave and was the ster also labelled Ganguly as the best only opener who could face the Indian captain he had played against. cricketer, dies after a well-played '100' 'Rawalpindi Express' with the new "If I talk about India, then it will be ball. "People used to say that he was Sourav Ganguly. India haven't pro- , JUNE 13: "I met Shri Vasant Raiji scared to face fast bowling, he was duced a better captain than him. Vasant Raiji, who was In- earlier this year to celebrate afraid to face me. I think all of that was Dhoni is very good, he's a superb cap- dia's oldest first-class crick- his 100th birthday. His rubbish. Sourav Ganguly was the tain but when you talk about team eter at 100, died here in the warmth and passion for bravest batsman I ever bowled to, the building, then Ganguly did a great wee hours of Saturday. playing and watching only opener who could face me with job," said Akhtar. Ganguly, counted as Raiji is survived by his Cricket was endearing. His the new ball," said Akhtar in an inter- was aimed at his body, the left-handed one of India's most successful cap- wife and two daughters. He passing away saddens my view on the Helo app. batsman never backed away. tains, played 113 Tests and 311 ODIs had turned 100 on January heart. My condolences to Akhtar further said that despite hav- "He knew, he didn't have the shots, I in which he scored 7,212 and 11,363 26 this year. his family & friends," ing limited strokes whenever the ball also targeted him by bowling at his runs, respectively. "He (Raiji) passed away tweeted Tendulkar. at 2.20 am in his sleep at his The Indian cricket board residence in Walkeshwar in (BCCI) too paid its tribute. due to old- "It is with profound sad- Djokovic relishing fan influx at charity tournament age," his son-in-law Sudar- ness that BCCI has learnt of BELGRADE, JUNE very difficult," the 23-year- shan Nanavati said. the passing of Vasant Raiji, a 13: World No. 1 Novak old said from Hamburg,” Raiji, a right-handed former first-class cricketer Djokovic is looking forward said Djokovic. batsman, played nine first- pened in 1941 when the bay Gymkhana in 1933. and historian, who had to returning to action in "You’d have to stay at JFK class matches in the 1940s, team played Western India Cricket icon Sachin Ten- turned 100 earlier this year front of fans at the Serb's Airport in quarantine for scoring 277 runs with 68 under the leadership of Vijay dulkar and former Aus- on 26th January," the charity tennis tournament two weeks and that means being his highest score. Merchant. The match tralian skipper Steve Board said in a note on its in Belgrade this weekend. coming two weeks in ad- Raiji, also a cricket histo- ended in a draw with Bom- Waugh had paid a courtesy website. As per the note, The first leg of Djokovic's vance as you wouldn’t be rian and chartered accoun- bay securing a first-innings visit to Raiji at his residence Raiji was also a founding Adria Tour is being held at able to play straight away. tant, made his debut for a lead. Later in his career, in January when he had member of the Jolly Cricket his tennis complex by the You’re also not allowed to Cricket Club of India team Raiji also played for Baroda. completed a "century". Club in Mumbai and wrote Danube River, with Ger- go anywhere except the sta- that played Central Raiji was 13 when India Tendulkar condoled books on , many's Alexander Zverev, dium and the hotel,” he Provinces and Berar in Nag- played its maiden Test on Raiji's demise and fondly , Victor Austrian Dominic Thiem added. pur in 1939. His Bombay home soil but managed to recollected their meeting Trumper, CK Nayudu and and Bulgarian Grigor Dim- "No spectators, no on-site (now Mumbai) debut hap- catch the action at the Bom- six months ago. LP Jai. itrov arriving for the event. locker rooms, showers, or Fans will be able to attend that’s horrible to see, in the 252 deaths, has lifted the food. We’re only allowed to despite the COVID-19 pan- region and worldwide. But ban on outdoor public gath- take one person with us. My Gilchrist, Warner thank two Indian students for demic after the government life goes on and we as ath- erings. Some 25,000 fans opinion is that not a lot of lifted its ban on outdoor letes are looking forward to turned up at Belgrade's soc- players would feel comfort- public gatherings. competing,” he said. cer derby on Wednesday. able in that environment." their work in Australia during COVID-19 pandemic "We have different cir- "You can also criticise us Djokovic said last week Several thousand fans are cumstances and measures expected to throng the MELBOURNE, JUNE tralia, all of India and more and say this is maybe dan- that proposed safety proto- 13: Former Australia wick- importantly, your family (to other countries) so it’s makeshift stands at gerous but it’s not up to me cols at the U.S. Open, etkeeper-batsman Adam will be so very proud of your very difficult to think of in- Djokovic's complex over the to make the calls what is scheduled to begin on Aug. Gilchrist and current efforts.” In another ternational standards (re- weekend and Thiem said he right or wrong health-wise. 31, were so extreme it would opener David Warner have short video, Warner garding the pandemic)," We are doing what the Ser- be impossible to participate was delighted to be part of expressed gratitude to two thanked Queensland-based Djokovic told a news con- bian government is telling and world number seven the event. "It’s amazing that Indian students for helping Indian student, Shreyas ference. us and hopefully we soon Zverev backed up his con- we will play in front of a people in the country dur- Sheth. "We’ve had better num- will get back on tour collec- cerns. "Everyone wants to crowd again and get that at- ing the COVID-19 pan- “Namaste. I am here to bers compared to some tively." compete at a Grand Slam if mosphere back so I really demic. say thank you to Shreyas other countries. Of course, Serbia, with 12,175 regis- possible, but with the cir- can’t wait for tomorrow," he Gilchrist thanked Sharon Sheth who is doing selfless lives have been lost and tered COVID-19 cases and cumstances now it will be said. Varghese, an Indian stu- work to help others during dent who did her Bachelors the COVID crisis. Shreyas is in Nursing from the Univer- doing his Masters in Com- sity of Wollongong. puter Science at the Univer- Lockdown: Tough times for tennis coaches Varghese has been was sity of Queensland and he working on the frontline work as an aged-care because you have enjoyed has been part of Univer- NEW DELHI, JUNE which runs the feeder cir- along with other health care worker throughout that three and a half years living sity’s outreach program, 13: Financial aid has slowly cuit for the men's ATP and workers to look after the time. Sharon, I want to say here. And that’s wonderful preparing and delivering trickled in for tennis play- women's WTA tours, residents of aged-care dur- congratulations on the self- to hear,” Gilchrist said in a food packets to students in ers in the lower echelons of added another $350,000 ing the global health crisis. less act and for wanting to video message. “Just want need right now,” Warner the sport during the for those ranked between “She gave up her time to thank people in Australia to let you know, all of Aus- said in the video. COVID-19 shutdown but 501-700. the vast majority of men The ITF has made a and women who coach range of learning resources Mexican town buries teen killed by police them for a living have been on its academy platform left to fend for themselves. available for free during the MEXICO, JUNE 13: Mexican soc- His death came after several other Some, like Simona shutdown while the ATP cer teammates of Alexander Martinez, police killings in Mexico, fanning rage Halep's coach Darren Tour announced an initia- a 16-year-old whose murder this week over rights abuses by police in a nation Cahill, continue to be paid tive this week that will give was blamed on police, mobbed his where authorities have long faced accu- for their work but the Aus- fans the chance to bid for wooden coffin this week after kicking a sations of torturing, abducting and tralian acknowledges he is sessions with top coaches. ball off it and bouncing it into the goal even killing citizens. one of the lucky ones and from Adelaide. those coaches have made Funds raised from the ses- so he could score one final time. There have been street protests in that more help needs to be "So I'm one of the lucky nothing through this pe- sions will go to the tour's After one last match on home the country's two biggest cities, the extended for those who are ones but I know that I'm riod, and it's been incredi- Coaches Committee to sup- ground in the southern Mexican state capital Mexico City and Guadalajara, such a key part of a player's one of the few. In the main bly tough." port its members. of Oaxaca, Martinez was buried in his inspired by similar demonstrations in success. draw of men's or women's In May, tennis governing Cahill appreciates that home village of Vicente Camalote on dual US-Mexico citizen who returned the United States in the wake of the "I know I'm privileged tournaments there are 128 bodies said they raised over governing bodies must first Thursday. A dozen teammates partic- from the United States four years ago. police killing of George Floyd, a black because I work with a great players (and) there might $6 million to help about look after the players but ipated in the moving farewell on a Local media reported he went out to man. player, and Simona has al- be 100 coaches that turn up 800 singles and doubles says the plight of coaches plaza pitch where he used to play. buy soda on Tuesday afternoon and The emotional funeral service was ways looked after me and in those tournaments. players, while the Interna- during the pandemic It was not immediately clear what was shot dead by police in an appar- attended by about 300 people, a wit- still does," he told Reuters "The vast majority of tional Tennis Federation, should not be ignored. caused the death of the teenager, a ent case of mistaken identity. ness said.