REUTERS – LONDON

Formula One is working to put on a British Grand Prix in July even if the country imposes quarantine measures on visitors during the COVID-19 crisis, F1 sources said.

The Sun newspaper quoted a government source as saying there would be an exemption for sports, with Formula One and soccer teams free to travel from Britain and return without restriction once competition resumes.

It said athletes and teams would be expected to undergo a rigorous testing regime and isolate them-selves immediately if they tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

Formula One sources told Reuters conversations with the gov-ernment were ongoing.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a televised address to the nation on Sunday that “it will soon be the time... to impose quarantine on people

coming into this country by air”.An association representing UK

airlines said the government was planning a 14-day quarantine period for most people arriving from abroad to try to avoid a second peak of the coronavirus outbreak.

Manchester City and Chelsea are still in the Champions League, which has been halted since March at the

last 16 stage, and would need an exemption to continue in the competition.

Quarantine also has big impli-cations for Formula One, with the British Grand Prix at Silverstone scheduled for July 19 -- the weekend after teams complete a planned double-header in Austria on July 5 and 12.

The race will be a 70th anni-versary for Formula One at the English circuit which hosted the first world championship race in 1950. Seven of the 10 Formula One teams are based in Britain and would be returning from a secure envi-ronment in Austria where they would have been effectively isolated for two weeks and repeatedly tested.

Formula One managing director Ross Brawn outlined last week some of the measures set to be imple-mented for the season-opening races.

“Everybody will be tested and will have a clearance before they even go into the paddock, and then every two days they’ll be tested whilst in the paddock and that will be with an authorised authority and consistent,” he told Sky Sports television.

Silverstone has made clear that its race has to get government approval and cannot be a burden on policing or the medical services.

AFP – LONDON

Premier League clubs received a boost to their hopes of completing the season yesterday as the government published a “roadmap” that could see the return of elite sport in England from June 1.

As the 20 English top-flight clubs met for further talks on “Project Restart”, ministers announced plans to ease the coronavirus lockdown.

Under step two of that process, which cannot begin any earlier than June 1, sporting events would be allowed “to take place behind closed doors for broadcast, while avoiding the risk of large-scale social contact”.

Such events will only be allowed if sufficient progress is made in limiting the spread of the virus.

Premier League clubs had been planning for a return to action no earlier than the week beginning June 8.

English top-flight clubs were talking yesterday about a possible resumption despite growing disquiet among players over safety issues and divisions over proposals on how to finish the season.

Before the resumption of matches can be considered, protocols need to be agreed on

how to return to group training safely and on how the Premier League would deal with pos-itive tests.

Brighton confirmed on Sunday that a third member of their squad had tested positive.

Cases have also been found in squads in Germany, where the Bundesliga is due to restart this weekend, as well as Italy, Spain and Portugal in recent days.

German second-tier side Dynamo Dresden placed their entire squad into a 14-day quar-antine on Saturday after discov-ering two new cases of the virus.

However, five La Liga players who tested positive have been quarantined at home, while their teammates continue to train in preparation for a return to action. In England, players have voiced their con-cerns at the prospect of being rushed back into training and, eventually, into playing a contact sport at a time when the rest of the public remain encouraged to abide by social-distancing guidelines.

The UK has been one of the worst-hit countries in the global pandemic, with the government officially recording nearly 32,000 deaths of people who had tested positive for COVID-19.

“We are just people too,” tweeted Norwich midfielder Todd Cantwell on Sunday.

The Premier League’s desire to overcome so many obstacles to complete the campaign is rooted in economic necessity.

Clubs stand to lose an esti-mated £1bn ($1.2bn) if the season is not finished, £760m of which comes from TV con-tracts that would be satisfied if games were played behind closed doors.

Financial worries are also causing divisions among the 20 top-flight clubs, which could end the chances of a return to action.

A group of clubs near the bottom of the table are fiercely opposed to plans to play the remaining 92 games at neutral venues.

“With all these compro-mises and health risks we are asked to finish a competition that bears no resemblance to the one we started,” Watford’s chairman and chief executive Scott Duxbury told the club’s website.

“So is this fair? Does it have any semblance of sporting

integrity? Of course not.” Exec-utives at Brighton, West Ham and Aston Villa have also pub-licly opposed the neutral-venues plan with the suspicion they will only back down if there is an agreement to scrap relegation this season.

However, that could cause even more financial hardship to the league as a whole. Broad-casters are not keen on spending hundreds of millions for a series of glorified friendlies should the jeopardy of

relegation be removed. English Football League Chairman Rick Parry suggested last week that legal action would be launched if promotion were denied to three clubs from the second-tier Championship.

Supporters face a long wait to be allowed to attend matches, with the latest guidelines rec-ognising a return to sport in front of a crowd “may only be fully possible significantly later depending on the reduction in numbers of infections”.

SPORT | 09

Tennis: Pique

pessimistic about

holding this year's

Davis Cup

T

pess

holdin

SPORTAl Attiyah quenches

thirst for speed

with racing

simulator

SPORT | 11

TUESDAY 12 MAY 2020

Two Belarusian games postponed due to suspected COVID-19 cases

REUTERS – MINSK

One Belarusian Premier League match and one first division (second tier) game were post-poned due to suspected COVID-19 cases, the domestic football federation said yesterday.

Belarus was the only country in Europe playing soccer amid the coronavirus pandemic, making it an unlikely draw for fans overseas where matches have been cancelled.

There are almost 24,000 confirmed coro-navirus cases in Belarus, with more than 130 deaths.

The federation said that the top flight game between FC Minsk and Neman Grodno, scheduled to take place on May 15, has been called off due to suspected COVID-19 cases among the home team’s players.

The first division’s match between Arsenal Dzerzhinsk and leaders Lokomotiv Gomel, scheduled for May 16, was postponed because of suspected cases among Lokomotiv players.

New dates for the games were not announced.

Premier League can return in June

Formula 1: British GP could go ahead despite quarantine restrictions

British ministers announce plans to ease the coronavirus lockdown as the English top-flight clubs meet for further talks on “Project Restart”.

After June 1, sporting events would be allowed to take place behind closed doors for broadcast, while avoiding the risk of large-scale social contact.

Such events will only be allowed if sufficient progress is made in limiting the spread of the virus.

A general view of the Silverstone Circuit before the start of the 2019 Formula One British Grand Prix in this July 14, 2019 file photo.

THE PENINSULA – DOHA

Top Qatari rider Saeed Al Sulaiti and compatriot Soud Al Thani topped their respective groups as the inaugural Qatar Online Racing Championship (QORC) MotoGP series flagged off on a virtual Laguna Seca Raceway on Sunday.

The series, played on Play-Station 4 platform of MotoGP 19 game, is organised by the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) who successfully con-cluded the QORC for cars, last month.

Soud clinched the victory in Group A while Sulaiti, the reigning Qatar Superstock champion, fin-ished first in Group B. Jeremy Parola and Hade Ahmed won the second and third places respec-tively in Group A.

Mohamad Al Zaidan and Ali Ahmed finished second and third behind Al Sulaiti.

Interestingly, Sulaiti’s familiar

opponent in the regular Qatar Superstock series, Abdulla Al Qubaisi, could not secure a podium spot in Sunday’s race, and came fifth.

A total of 21 riders have signed up for the championship, including four from Kuwait.

The riders will now compete in two more ‘qualifying rounds’

taking place today and Thursday.After that, the top 4 riders from

each group will qualify to go to the finals.

With all motorsport events around the world coming to a halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the series is playing a huge role in keeping racing enthusiasts involved in their favourite sport.

QORC QUALIFYING ROUND 1 FINAL STANDINGS (TOP 5) GROUP B1: Saeed Al Sulaiti 2: Mohamad Al Zaidan3: Ali Ahmed4: Khalid Al Maraghi 5: Abdulla Al Qubaisi

GROUP A1: Soud Al Thani 2: Jeremy Parola 3: Hade Ahmed 4: Joshua llano 5: Hamad Al Sahouti

QORC MotoGP: Saeed and Soud shine in opening round

A general view outside the London Stadium in London, Britain as the Premier League is suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic in this file photo.

09TUESDAY 12 MAY 2020 SPORT

Tennis: Pique pessimistic about holding this year's Davis CupREUTERS — MADRID

Gerard Pique has said he is not confident that the 2020 Davis Cup will take place due to Spain’s restrictions on spectators attending events because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Barcelona defender’s investment group Kosmos paid €3bn in 2018 to acquire the rights to the sport’s flagship team event, transforming it into a week-long competition akin to a tennis World Cup.

The 2019 Davis Cup in Madrid, won by Spain, was the first to be held in one city and the competition is also scheduled to take place in the Spanish capital in November.

“I’m a bit pessimistic, to have the Davis Cup without fans is difficult,” Pique told Spanish tel-evision network Movistar on Sunday.

“There is a lot of uncertainty. We are listening to what the sport’s ministry and the gov-ernment are telling us about whether we’ll be able to have fans in the stadium.

“There are different opinions and no-one is sure if we’ll be able to have fans or if it’ll have to be behind closed doors.”

Pique added that Spain’s strict lockdown has made it harder to make preparations for the event, although he said his team were continuing to work on making it happen if the

government eventually decides to allow spectators at sporting events.

“I think in the next few weeks we’ll have more clarity but right now we’re trying to be prepared,” he added.

“People are working from home and obviously we can’t go to Madrid to look at facilities, we are prepared in case we end up being able to organise it.”

Pique has been unable to play football since March due to the pandemic but he returned to individual training with Barca

last week and La Liga president Javier Tebas hopes matches, without spectators, will resume on June 12.

Pique, however, would like more time in order to return to full fitness.

“That’s only one month, without warm-up games, and although I’m sure La Liga is thinking in the best interests of the competition and doesn’t expect there to be injuries, I think a few more days to prepare wouldn’t be bad,” the football star added.

Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates with team-mates after winning the Davis Cup final, in this November 24, 2019 file photo.

There is a lot of uncertainty. We are listening to what the sport’s ministry and the government are telling us about whether we’ll be able to have fans in the stadium: Gerard Pique

Algerian Ibbou hailed after challenging Thiem over fundREUTERS — MUMBAI

Algerian Ines Ibbou was hailed as a hero by Venus Williams while her country’s president pledged full support after the low-ranked tennis player posted an emotional video to take on world No. 3 Dominic Thiem for his opposition to a player relief fund.

Thiem rejected the notion that top tennis players should chip in to help lower-ranked competitors who are struggling financially due to the pause in tournaments due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

In the video, which runs over nine minutes and was posted on Ibbou’s Instagram page, the world number 620 starts with “Dear Dominic” and goes on to talk about the difficulties she has had to endure and the sacrifices she needed to make in her career.

The 21-year-old pleads with Thiem to understand the stark dif-ference in the Austrian’s “magical world” and how she had to pursue tennis in the North African country, which she said lacked even basic infrastructure for the sport.

“I cherish the day when I’ll be able to afford a gift for my parents. I’m dreaming about this day,” said Ibbou, who started playing at the age of six but has only managed to make $27,825 in tournament earnings so far.

“I’m a lonely lady, travelling the world generally in three-legged trips, always looking for the cheapest tickets.”

World number one Novak Djokovic has urged fellow profes-sionals to contribute to a fund set up by the sport’s governing bodies

to help players affected by a shutdown which began in March and will continue at least until mid-July.

Austrian Thiem said he felt there were sections of society that needed more urgent help than his fellow competitors during the eco-nomic crisis caused by the pandemic.

“Do you alternate clay and hard from a week to another like I do,” Ibbou questioned Thiem. “Do you finish your tournaments with holes in shoes like I do?” “Dear Dominic, unlike you, many share my reality.

“Just a reminder, it’s not because of your money that we survived until now. And nobody requested to you anything. The ini-tiative went from generous players who showed instant compassion with a classy touch.” The governing bodies recently raised over $6 million to help lower-level players affected by the shutdown.

Ibbou said the crisis showed “who people truly are” and helping the needy players was only to help

the game survive. “We did not ask anything from you. Except a bit of respect to our sacrifice,” she said before signing off.

“Players like you make me hold on to my dreams. Please, don’t ruin it.”

Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam singles winner, commented on the post: “You’re my hero.” Ibbou replied: “You’ve always been mine too, and now you’re even more to me. Thank you so much.”

Australian Kyrgios, who had criticised Thiem for his comments, said “Respect!” before adding, “Keep doing you, I’m always willing to support.”

As Ibbou’s post gained popu-larity and was widely shared on social media, it caught the eye of Algerian president Abdelmadjid Tebboune.

“Algeria can’t miss a sporting talent like Ines Ibbou in a young age and a flower of giving, in a spe-cialty that is rarely born in it,” Teb-boune said in a message for Ibbou on his official Facebook page.

Ines Ibbou

Pliskova and Kvitova to lead teams in Czech event

AP — PRAGUE

Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova and third-ranked Karolina Pliskova will lead two teams in a charity competition during the coronavirus pandemic.

Pliskova’s team will include her twin-sister Kristyna, 2019 French Open runner-up Marketa Von-drousova, Tereza Martincová and Nikola Bartunkova.

Kvitova will be joined in her squad by Barbora Strýcová, Kateřina Siniaková, Barbora Krejčíková, Linda Fruhvirtova and Russia’s Eka-terina Alexandrova.

“It’s a great opportunity for us to play a unique tour-nament,” Pliskova said.

The first of the four tour-naments that are part of the competition is scheduled for June 13-15 in Prague. All the tournaments will be without spectators. The matches will be broadcast on television.

Karolina Pliskova

NBA: Shaq says scrap season without an ‘asterisk’ champAFP — LOS ANGELES

Retired four-time NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal says the league would be smart to call off the halted 2019-20 campaign and avoid crowning a champion that would carry an “asterisk.”

O’Neal, in an interview with USA Today, said players should start to prepare for a 2020-21 season and set aside a campaign halted in March by the coronavirus pandemic with five weeks of regular-season games and two months of playoffs remaining.

“I think we should scrap the season. Everybody go home, get healthy, come back next year. Just scrap the season. Just scrap it,” O’Neal told the newspaper.

“To try and come back now and do a rush playoffs as a player? Any team that wins this year, there’s an asterisk. They’re not going to get the respect.

“What if a team that’s not really in the mix of things all of a sudden wins with a new playoff format? Nobody is going to respect that. So, scrap it. Worry about the safety of the fans and the people. Come back next year.”

Dominating centre O’Neal combined with the late Kobe Bryant and sparked the Los Angeles Lakers to NBA crowns from 2000 through 2002, being named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player each time, then powered the Miami Heat to the 2006 title.

O’Neal, 48, retired in 2011 after a 19-season NBA career and has been working as a television analyst.

Current Lakers star LeBron James, who had LA atop the Western Conference when the season went on hiatus, has said no one should be talking about cancelling the season.

The league has been working on plans to gather teams in a single city, test and house players in a secured area and stage games without fans in a con-troled area, with Las Vegas and Orlando most often mentioned as possible sites for the “bubble” plan.

“I understand how players are feeling. I really do,” O’Neal told the newspaper.

“But any team that gets it done this year, there’s going to be an asterisk on that championship.”

O’Neal doesn’t want to see any resumption unless all involved -- players, coaches, referees and the broadcast personnel -- are safe from the deadly virus.

“However long it takes for us to get 100% back to normal, I’m willing to wait,” O’Neal said.

“All it takes is one person. After the game, you’ve still got to go home. What if one person gets sick? Then we start from zero again.”

Dominating centre O’Neal combined with the late Kobe Bryant and sparked the Los Angeles Lakers to NBA crowns from 2000 through 2002, being named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player each time, then powered the Miami Heat to the 2006 title.

Current Lakers star LeBron James, who had LA atop the Western Conference when the season went on hiatus, has said no one should be talking about cancelling the season.

Shaquille O’Neal

New Zealand to resume Super Rugby without fans on June 13AP — WELLINGTON

A domestic tournament involving New Zealand’s five Super Rugby teams will begin on June 13 after the New Zealand government yesterday loosened restrictions on sporting competitions imposed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The tournament is called Super Rugby Aotearoa and involves the Auckland-based Blues, Hamilton-based Chiefs,

Wellington-based Hurricanes, Christchurch-based Crusaders and Dunedin-based High-landers. Players will be given four weeks to prepare.

Teams will play each other home and away over 10 weeks, with two matches per weekend in empty stadiums. While New Zealand moved Monday to Alert Level 2, mostly ending a five-week national lockdown, restrictions remain on the size of public gatherings. Fans will not be able to return to

stadiums until those guidelines are further relaxed.

The Highlanders will play the Chiefs in Dunedin on June 13 and the Blues will play the Hurricanes in Auckland on June 14 in the first round of matches.

“The thought of five world-class Kiwi teams battling it out in 20 matches over 10 weeks should put a smile back on the faces of many people,” New Zealand Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson said. “I know our players are excited and I’m

sure rugby fans will be as well.”New Zealand Rugby chief

medical officer Karen Ras-mussen said strict safety pro-tocols, worked out in consul-tation with the government, will be applied. Players and team officials will face daily symptom and temperature checks and there will be stringent hygiene and cleaning requirements.

Contact tracing systems will be put in place and anyone showing symptoms of Covid-19 will be required to self-isolate

and be tested. “A major factor will be ensuring we control who enters the team bubbles and that we have necessary measures in place to mitigate against any risk to the health of all team members, as well as the health of their families and the wider community,” said Rasmussen.

“Team members will be asked to minimize their con-tacts outside of the team envi-ronment and their family bubbles.”

Rugby Australia released a plan for a domestic tournament featuring five or six teams to begin in early July.

The tournament would involve the four Australian Super Rugby teams - the ACT Brumbies, Melbourne Rebels, Queensland Reds and New South Wales Waratahs - along with the Perth-based Western Force and possibly Japan’s Sunwolves.

The tournament would likely run for 12 weeks.

10 TUESDAY 12 MAY 2020SPORT

QCTF announces winners of Qatar National Triathlon Series

Mccullagh and Bushell grab top honoursTHE PENINSULA — DOHA

Ireland’s Bernard Mccullagh and Britain’s Isobel Bushell were declared winners in the men’s and women’s open cate-gories at the Qatar National Triathlon Series 2019/2020.

Qatar Cycling and Triathlon Federation (QCTF) announced an end to the season which was reduced to three events due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Despite the curtailed season, the QCTF was happy with the outcome of the season which unearthed many talented athletes and witnessed thrilling action.

“I am delighted with the development of the grass roots of triathlon we are seeing in Qatar. QCTF’s National Triathlon Series and the impressive range of triathlon and multisport events organised by local clubs are a real driver for all the triathletes

in the country,” said QCTF Vice President Professor Nasser Al Mohannadi. “COVID-19 and the necessary restrictions have hindered our operations and brought an excellent season to an early end but still we are hoping for resolution before the new season, to have a complete National Triathlon Series. However, the first big multi-sport milestone of the new year will be December’s Asian Cup, which will bring the sport’s elite to Qatar and the concurrent public race should be one of the most multinational and com-petitive ever held on these shores,” he added.

April 10 event should have been the fifth and final event of the Qatar National Triathlon Series but the ongoing circum-stances have resulted in a

curtailed series of only three events.

The Katara Triathlon on November 8, 2019 opened the year’s open water racing. This sprint distance event had the same swim and bike routes as in 2018 and a completely new running course, thanks to the fan-tastic Katara hills running path.

Race two was the Dukhan Triathlon (December 14, 2019). Dukhan offered a variety of dis-tances: Besides Sprint and Olympic, for the first time in Qatar there was a long distance triathlon.

The Series reached its early conclusion with Doha Triathlon (February 8, 2020). Being the country’s premier triathlon, it is always the event with highest participation and league points were available for sprint,

Olympic and Qatar National Championships races, besides the super sprint race, which is suitable for new to triathlon.

Among the juniors, the youngest age group in the series, there are some great talents who already compete with the best seniors.

Triathlon in Qatar needs tomorrows champions! In this category Matteo Francesci in front of Halleux and Bennett dominated.

In Junior Women, Ailsa Cameron made a clean sweep of three victories and took home the maximum 750 points.

The Men Open category was again dominated by last year’s winner Bernard McCullagh, in front of consistent local Alro-maihi and Shillabeer.

McCullagh even stepped up

to the longest distance at Dukhan, which he won con-vincingly. However, with the series now dominated by multi-format races, he went the whole year without coming up against some of the strongest opposition; Aday Alvarez coming most easily to mind.

It would have been inter-esting to see that fight. Com-petition among Qataris gets stronger every year.

There are more athletes training and racing than ever. National team athlete, Ebrahim Alromaihi, was the strongest in the Open Qatari category while Essa Alkuwari was untouchable among the veterans.

Series winners will be awarded their prizes at the first race of the 2020/21 season.

Junior Men 1. Matteo Francesci (ITA) 2. Liam Halleux (FRA)

3. Ethan Bennett (GBR) Junior Women1. Ailsa Cameron (GBR)2. Paloma Vayssie (FRA)

3. Emilie Jaynne Canaria (PHI) Men Open1. Bernard Mccullagh (IRL)2. Ebrahim Alromaihi (QAT) 3. Barry Shillabeer (GBR)Women Open1. Isobel Bushell (GBR)

2. Michelle Shillabeer (GBR) 3. Lyndall Jensen (AUS)

Veteran Men 1. Enzo Fascinato (ARG)2 Ewan Cameron (GBR)

3. Paul Crooks (GBR) Veteran Women

1. Pia Sundstet (FIN) 2. Daniela Sposi (GBR) 3. Andrea Stadler (ECU)

QATARI OPEN MEN1. Ebrahim Alromaihi 2. Abdulrahman Aljaber 3. Fahad Almohamed QATARI VETERAN MEN1. Essa Alkuwari 2 . Jamil Al Katami 3. Fahad Al Groon

WINNERSAction during an event at Qatar National Triathlon Series 2019/2020, in this file photo.

An athlete celebrates his victory in this file photo.

Former Pakistan stars give ‘rewarding’ online lectures to current cricketers

AGENCIES — LAHORE

Head coach Misbahul Haq and batting star Babar Azam have thanked country’s former stars for taking part in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) online sessions in which they gave tips to the current cricketers through lectures amid the coronavirus hiatus.

Pakistan head coach and chief selector Misbah said: “I am thankful to all the greats who took time out and spoke to the players. These lectures have proven to be a wonderful experience for the players especially in these unprece-dented and challenging times.”

“The online sessions were very rewarding, wonderful and have helped in increasing the confidence of the players. From the start of my career I have tried to model my game and seek inspiration from Mohammad Yousuf and Younus Khan,” said Azam.

“Listening to them has

further increased my confidence and I can’t wait to put in practice the tips they gave during the lec-tures. If the lockdown prevails for long, I would strive to stay in contact with these players and seek their guidance on a long term basis.”

The series of online ses-sions of cricket greats with current and emerging red and white-ball cricketers to help them remain focused and make optimum use of their time in the wake of Covid-19 lockdown ended this week.

The lectures began on 27 April and lasted two weeks;

they were conducted by the legends of Pakistan cricket who won international acclaim with their consistent performances. The list of cricketers who delivered the lectures included Javed Miandad, Wasim Akram, Rashid Latif, Mushtaq Ahmed, Mohammad Yousuf, Moin Khan, Younus Khan and Shoaib Akhtar. The greats of Pakistan and world cricket spoke at length about their cricketing journey and gave some very useful tips to Paki-stan’s current and emerging players.

A total of 45 current and emerging players took part in the lectures.

Former captain and wick-etkeeper batsman Sarfaraz Ahmed said: “I consider myself fortunate to belong to a city which is famous for producing top notch wicketkeepers, including Rashid Latif and Moin Khan. Since I also live in Karachi, I keep interacting with both from time to time yet each and every session with these greats provides some valuable lessons and these lec-tures were no different.

“Moin Khan and Rashid Latif improved my confidence; tips by these wicketkeeping greats are very useful for me.”

Test fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi said: “These lec-tures were very useful for me as I learned a lot about various aspects of the game, including both skill and the mental side. I consider myself fortunate to have been a part of Wasim Akram’s online session."

The list of cricketers who delivered the lectures included Javed Miandad, Wasim Akram, Rashid Latif, Mushtaq Ahmed, Mohammad Yousuf, Moin Khan, Younus Khan and Shoaib Akhtar.

The greats of Pakistan and world cricket spoke at length about their cricketing journey. A total of 45 current and emerging players took part in the lectures.

Allow bowlers to ball-tamper, saysIan Chappell

AFP — LONDON

Former Australia captain Ian Chappell says some form of ball-tampering could be allowed in cricket, with saliva and sweat considered health risks due to the coronavirus crisis.

Bowlers regularly shine one side of the leather-clad ball to make the ball swing sideways in mid-flight and deceive the batsman.

But rubbing spit or sweat into the ball’s surface is expressly forbidden under new Australian Institute of Sport guidelines that set out the con-ditions for the game to resume.

Chappell has previously suggested that international captains be asked to come up with a list of natural substances bowlers feel would help them swing the ball. And, writing on the Cricinfo website, he said fans craved a genuine contest between bat and ball.

“From this list, the admin-istrators should deem one method to be legal with all others being punishable as illegal,” he wrote.

“With cricket on hold, this is the ideal time to conduct the exercise. Using saliva and per-spiration are now seen as a health hazard,

so bowlers require something to replace the traditional methods of shining the ball.”

Australian ball manufac-turer Kookaburra is developing a wax applicator that would allow bowlers to shine the ball.

The innovation involves using a sponge to apply small amounts of wax to the ball.

Current laws forbid the use of artificial substances to alter the ball, but there is a long history of tampering that goes well beyond bowlers spitting on the ball and rubbing it on their clothing.

Test players have been accused of using lozenges, petroleum jelly and resin to shine the ball, and also scuffing it with bottle tops, trouser zippers and grit.

Chappell also said admin-istrators should make a change to the leg-before-wicket (LBW) law in favour of bowlers.

“The new lbw law should simply say ‘any delivery that strikes the pad without first hitting the bat and, in the umpire’s opinion, would go on to hit the stumps is out regardless of whether or not a

shot is attempted’,” the former batsman wrote.

He added: “These law changes would help redress any imbalance and make the game, particularly Test cricket, a far more entertaining spectacle.”

illegal,” he wrote.“With cricket

on hold, this is the ideal time to conduct the exercise. Using gsaliva and per-spiration are now seen as a ahealth hazard,,

regardless of whether or notshot is attempted’,” thformer batsman wrote

He added: “These lachanges would helrer dress any imbalancand make the gamparticularly Test crickeaa far more entertaininspectacle.”

Ian Chappell

Raina calls on BCCI to lift overseas T20 banREUTERS — MUMBAI

India’s 2011 World Cup-winning batsman Suresh Raina (pictured) has called on the country’s cricket board (BCCI) to lift its ban on players partic-ipating in overseas Twenty20 leagues.

The BCCI does not allow active players to sign for fran-chise-based leagues outside the country in a bid to protect the prestige of its own Indian Premier League (IPL), which attracts many of the world’s top cricketers.

“I hope the BCCI can get together with the ICC (Interna-tional Cricket Council) or with franchises and allow players

who don’t have BCCI contracts to play in overseas leagues,” Raina said during an Instagram chat with his former India team-mate Irfan Pathan.

“I feel there are a lot of players, including Yusuf (Pathan), myself, Robin Uthappa - a lot of quality players who can go overseas and learn a lot, no matter which league it is.” Once considered an automatic selection for India’s limited-overs sides, Raina played 226 one-dayers and 78 T20 inter-nationals but has not worn the blue jersey since July 2018.

An aggressive left-handed batsman and a part-time off-spinner, Raina is also known for his electric fielding and was part

of the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led side that won the 50-overs World Cup at home in 2011.

“We aren’t in the BCCI con-tracts list, some of us don’t have IPL contracts, we aren’t playing international cricket, and the competition in domestic cricket isn’t what it is at the interna-tional level,” Raina said.

“If we can get three months of quality cricket, whether it’s the CPL (Caribbean Premier League) or the Big Bash (League) or any league, it can help us stay ready. Players from other countries are able to play in these leagues, and a lot of them have made international comebacks after doing well in them.

“If we go overseas and perform, our cricket will improve and we’ll get to learn a lot.”

THE PENINSULA – DOHA

Nasser Al Attiyah has recently been adjusting to a new routine. With more time now being spent at home, it is important for the three-time Dakar Rally Champion to maintain his fitness and focus throughout the break.

“Staying at home I’m working on the physical side just to be prepared for once things get back to normal. There’s plenty to do and it’s important to keep yourself busy,” Al Attiyah said.

Quality time is meaningful to the Qatari champion, espe-cially when surrounded by supportive family members. With the Gaming Unit setup at the family farmhouse, Al Attiyah is excited to participate with his brothers in new activities.

“I’m always around family now, especially my brothers. I have six brothers and there is a lot that we get to talk about. I get a lot of support from them,

both in and out of motorsports. So, it’s very special to be able to share a rally simulator expe-rience with them,” Al Attiyah said.

Al Attiyah is no stranger to

simulators. As a veteran of Rally and racing, he has had many encounters with virtual expe-riences in preparation for main events.

With the Red Bull Gaming

Unit Al Attiyah can find himself reenacting his rally raid driving experience.

“At the Porsche Club - Middle East and during the 24-hour and 6-hour races in

Nürburgring Germany, I used simulators to get the feeling and to learn the tracks. But this sim-ulator is different. I can actually drive my Rally car from Dakar that we won with in 2019,” he said.

A simulated driving expe-rience can give Al Attiyah a new perspective on his technique and adventure.

But off the track, the Qatari champion relies on footage to study his highlights and reflect

on his decision-making during races.

“When I’m away from the track I go through all my replays. Recently I have been watching and reflecting on how I managed my last Dakar and I learn a lot,” he added.

The multi-talented sport star is anticipating his next opportunity to compete, but until then he’ll be sure to stay ready and prepared to get back on the track.

11TUESDAY 12 MAY 2020 SPORT

Al Attiyah quenches thirst for speed with racing simulator

At the Porsche Club - Middle East and during the

24-hour and 6-hour races in Nürburgring Germany, I used simulators to get the feeling

and to learn the tracks. But this simulator is different. I can actually drive my Rally

car from Dakar that we won with in 2019: Al Attiyah

Denmark's Superliga to resume on May 28REUTERS – COPENHAGEN

Denmark’s top-f l ight Superliga will resume on May 28 following a gap of more than two months due to the new coronavirus pandemic, the Danish League Associ-ation said in a statement yesterday.

Yesterday, Denmark entered its second phase of reopening society after a two-month lockdown, allowing the country’s top football teams to resume playing.

The League Association said the season would restart without fans in the stadiums, and that it expected the cam-paign to conclude with the Europa League play-off game on July 29.

The league will restart with the final match of the 21st round of fixtures between third-placed AGF Aarhus and Randers, who are seventh. The match was postponed earlier in the season.

All the other teams have played 24 games each.

Some matches in the 25th round of fixtures will be played over the first weekend after the restart, with most taking place on Monday, June 1, the League Association said.

FC Midtjylland were top of the table, 12 points clear of second-placed FC Copen-hagen, when the league was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Elsewhere in Europe, some leagues are also set to resume, with the German Bundesliga due to start on May 16.

Ibrahimovic returns to Italy, leaves questions in SwedenAP – STOCKHOLM

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (pictured) returned to Italy yesterday and is set to spend time in quarantine before training with AC Milan ahead of the potential return of the Serie A season.

He leaves behind plenty of questions in his native Sweden.

Ibrahimovic has been keeping up his

fitness by training with Hammarby, the Stockholm-based club

in which he bought a nearly 25% stake last year in his controversial first move into soccer ownership.

He has practiced with Hammarby’s men’s

and women’s teams, including playing a training match, because Sweden is not under strict lockdown measures during the coro-navirus pandemic. It has raised hopes at Hammarby, and belief among soccer fans in Sweden, that the 38-year-old Ibrahimovic could return to the club as a player - not just an investor - in the final years of his career. He previously has said he would not play club soccer again in the country of his birth, having had a globe-trotting career after leaving his boyhood club, Malmo.

Hammarby Sports <anager Jesper Jansson said there is a possibility Ibrahimovic could play for the club one day.

“Only Zlatan himself knows,” Jansson told Swedish daily Expressen.

“He hasn’t said anything like that and it’s

not that I need to ask him and tell him that we want him here.”

Milan and most of the other Italian league clubs resumed training on an individual basis last week before full team training restarts next Monday.

Ibrahimovic is one of the last Serie A players to return to Italy ahead of the potential league restart and he didn’t give much away about his future during his few weeks at Hammarby.

“I have a contract with Milan, we will see how it ends there. If it ends,” he told Swedish broadcaster DPlay. “I want to play football for as long as I can.” Ibrahimovic has a con-tract with Milan until the end of the season. The Swedish league is hoping to be staged from June to December.

July 4 set for German Cup final, women’s League can restart on May 29: FA

REUTERS – BERLIN

The men’s German Cup final has been rescheduled for July 4 and play can resume in the third division as well as the women’s Bundesliga pending a green light from local authorities, the German Football Association (DFB) said yesterday.

With the men’s top two divi-sions set to start without spec-tators on May 16 after a two-month suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the DFB said the ball can also start rolling in the other competitions.

But it will also be without fans with Germany having banned all major events until at least August 31.

The German Cup semi-finals between Bayern Munich and Ein-tracht Frankfurt and Saar-bruecken and Bayer Leverkusen will be played on June 9 and 10.

The DFB said its health and safety plan developed jointly with the league for the Bundesliga will also apply for its own competi-tions. A restart of the third division is set for May 26-27 the earliest, it said.

“That is why I am very con-fident that very soon the author-ities will provide us with the per-mission to continue the third division, the women’s Bundesliga and the German Cup of course,” said DFB President Fritz Keller.

But with the virus far from gone in Germany where almost 170,000 people have been infected and more than 7,400 have died, football officials are concerned any positive cases could limit chances of finishing the season, and inflict potentially “existence-threatening” financial damage to some clubs.

Real Madrid returnto training ahead of season's restartAFP – MADRID

Real Madrid’s players returned to work at the club’s training ground yesterday ahead of the planned resumption of La Liga next month.

After finding no positive cases from tests for coro-navirus last week, Madrid’s players arrived at Valde-bebas to train for the first time in two months.

Madrid were one of the first clubs to go into quar-antine after a basketball player tested positive for coro-navirus on March 12, the same day La Liga suspended all competitive fixtures.

But after almost nine weeks training at home, Zin-edine Zidane’s players initiated the first phase of La Liga’s training programme, that includes players working individually, with a maximum of six on a pitch at once.

“Divided into two rotations and on various pitches, Real Madrid footballers carried out their first indi-vidual exercises with and without the ball,” the club said in a statement, with several photographs of the players in action.

Eden Hazard was among those pictured running, the Belgian returning after undergoing surgery on his right foot in the United States on March 5.

Thibaut Courtois, Gareth Bale and Marcelo were also training alone while Zidane wore a mask as he gave out instructions.

Madrid preferred to wait until yesterday to begin training again, after other clubs like Barcelona, Sevilla and Villarreal resumed on Friday.

Real Madrid's Marcelo Vieira in action during a training session yesterday. PICTURE: TWITTER / @REALMADRID

REUTERS – MADRID

La Liga President Javier Tebas (pictured) has said he hopes Spanish soccer will resume on June 12 after being halted for over three months due to the coronavirus pandemic.

All clubs in Spain’s top two divisions began testing players for the virus last week and many including La Liga cham-pions Barcelona started indi-vidual training, the second step of the league’s four-phase protocol for returning to action.

Real Madrid resume indi-vidual training yesterday.

“I’d like to restart on June 12 but we have to be prudent and it’s not just up to football, it’s also up to society, we all need to focus on complying with measures to protect health,” Tebas told Spanish television network Movistar on Sunday.

Tebas confirmed all matches will take place without spectators, as will be the case when Germany’s Bundesliga restarts next week, and he said the league was working on ways to add to the atmosphere although he did not give details.

He also said fixtures would be spread out so that there are matches every day.

“Now that we are not going to have fans in the sta-diums we are going to have some innovative ideas for broadcasting the games,” Tebas added.

“There’s going to be football every day once La Liga returns.”

The League reported on Sunday that five players across the two divisions had tested positive for the virus and had been ordered to stay isolated at their homes. They will not be able to return to training grounds until

they have tested negative.Tebas added that three

staff members had also tested positive for the virus but he said the number of cases was far lower than expected, insisting there would be no increase in the risk of players getting infected once matches started.

“We were expecting around 25 or 30 based on the numbers in the Bundesliga and how much the virus has penetrated Spain. Out of 2,500 people tested we have only eight positive cases, which is good news,” he said.

“Infection during a match is practically impossible as we have done a study which we’re releasing which will show there is a minimum risk in matches if we all respect the health measures.”

La Liga eyes June 12 restart

AP – STOCKHOLM

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (pto Italy yesterday and is sequarantine before traininahead of the potential retuseason.

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fitness Hammarby, the Stock

in which he bought a nearyear in his controversial firsownership.

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stay isolated at their homes.They will not be able toreturn to training grounds until

show there is a minimin matches if we all the health measures.”

The League Association said the season would restart without fans in the stadiums, and that it expected the campaign to conclude with the Europa League play-off game on July 29.

I’d like to restart on June 12 but we have to be prudent and it’s not just up to football, it’s also up to society, we all need to focus on complying with measures to protect health: La Liga President Javier Tebas

The German Cup semi-finals between Bayern Munich and Eintracht Frankfurt and Saarbruecken and Bayer Leverkusen will be played on June 9 and 10.

A restart of the third division is set for May 26-27 the earliest.

Nasser Al Attiyah drives a vehicle in his new Red Bull Gaming Unit.