Category: SPORTS

England’s white-ball captain Eoin Morgan says his team will have to make do with limited opportunities that come its way to prepare for this year’s T20 World Cup after the COVID-19 pandemic forced a cricket shutdown in the country.   The coronaviorus outbreak has forced the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to suspend professional games in the country till July 1 and has put in doubt Australia’s ODI and T20I tour of England in July. Morgan feels converting England’s three-ODI series against Ireland into a T20 rubber in September…

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Tainted former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Asif says he wasn’t the first nor would be the last to have indulged in spot-fixing and should have been treated better by his country’s Cricket Board, which gave “everyone a second chance” except for him.   Asif was banned for seven years for his role in the 2010 spot-fixing scandal during Pakistan’s tour of England, where he bowled deliberate no balls for money. He also served jail time in the UK after being found guilty along with Mohammad Amir and Salman Butt. Asif said…

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There is a raging debate on whether the use of sweat and saliva should be banned once cricket resumes after the COVID-19 pandemic but seamer Jaydev Unadkat feels that these components won’t make much of a difference with white ball.   Unadkat, who has played 7 ODIs and 10 T20 Internationals for India, is a sought-after name in the IPL and plies his trade for Rajasthan Royals. “I think white ball won’t be a problem as a whole. Even in ODIs, you will be using two new balls 25 overs…

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Former Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq says Hardik Pandya is nowhere near the league of Kapil Dev and needs to work harder to become a world-class cricketer. Speaking to PTI, Razzaq also clarified that his “baby bowler” comment against lead India pacer Jasprit Bumrah was misconstrued. One of the most prolific all-rounders to have come out of Pakistan, the 40-year-old also said India will continue to enjoy an unbeaten record against his team at the World Cup, as Indians handle the pressure of the big game much better. Talking about Pandya,…

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All players from overseas seeking to join Premier League clubs are set to be subject to points-based criteria for work permits after Britain’s departure from the European Union is complete.   Currently, only players from outside of the European single market have to meet certain soccer-specific immigration requirements. But new regulations are required because clubs will no longer have the unrestricted ability to sign players from the continent after the transition period for Britain’s divorce from the EU. The English Football Association disclosed in its annual financial report on Tuesday…

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The postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics will have to be cancelled if the coronavirus pandemic isn’t brought under control by next year, the organising committee’s president warned, ruling out further delays.   The comments, in an interview with a Japanese sports daily published Tuesday, come as medical experts doubted whether the pandemic can be sufficiently contained by next year to hold an event drawing participants and spectators from around the world. The pandemic has already forced a year-long delay of the Games, which are now scheduled to open on July 23,…

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The pressure to replace iconic Mahendra Singh Dhoni behind the stumps was “immense” due to high expectations from fans says K L Rahul, who has been doing the wicket-keeping duty for India in the limited overs format for some time now.   Dhoni quit Test cricket in 2014 and has not played for India in the limited overs format since last year’s ODI World Cup in England.   Rahul kept the wickets in the limited overs series against Australia in January this year and also during the team’s tour to…

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Sachin Tendulkar says he was “clueless” on his Test debut and almost cried thinking it was all over for him.   When he walked out for the last time 24 years later, Tendulkar would do so as a batting great with a record 200 Test appearances to his name. “I was clueless, I have to admit that. I played the first Test as if I was playing a school match,” Sachin told Nasser Hussain during the ‘Nasser meets Sachin’ episode on Skysports. In his first Test in 1989, Tendulkar was…

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A pair of fans in New York sued Major League Baseball, Commissioner Rob Manfred and the 30 teams, asking for their money back for tickets and for certification of class-action status.   The lawsuit was filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles by Matthew Ajzenman, who said he bought a partial season plan for more than 20 Mets games; and Susan Terry-Bazer, who said she purchased six tickets for a May 9 game at Yankee Stadium against Boston. “Baseball fans are stuck with expensive and unusable tickets for…

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Novak Djokovic has said that he, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are organising aid for players struggling with the paralysis of the game due to the coronavirus pandemic. “I spoke to Roger and Rafa a few days ago,” Djokovic, the world number one, said in an Instagram chat with friend and rival Stan Wawrinka on Saturday. “We had a long conversation about the near future of tennis, what is going to happen, how we can contribute and how we can help especially lower-ranked players, who are obviously struggling the most.”…

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