BLOOMBERG – TOKYO

Tokyo’s postponed Olympics is unlikely to take place even in 2021 as the coronavirus pandemic may not be fully contained around the world by then, a growing number of infectious disease experts warn.

The highly contagious virus, which has claimed more than 200,000 lives globally, will be at various stages of spread and infection in different countries by next summer, making it hard to pull off a large-scale inter-national event, some health policy experts say. Under such a scenario, guests and athletes from more than 200 countries and regions would require extensive testing and

quarantines -- a logistical process that may not be feasible.

“Japan may be able to contain the virus by next year’s games” but other regions like the US, Africa or Brazil may not, creating an uneven playing field for athletes, said Norio Sugaya, a visiting professor at Keio University’s School of Medicine in Tokyo and a member of a World Health Organization panel advising on pandemic influenza.

“It’s going to be tough to hold the Olympics.”

Sugaya’s concern is echoed by Yoshito Niki, a visiting pro-fessor of infectious disease at Showa University, who warns that the world will need at least

two years to contain the virus as infections return in the northern and southern

hemispheres when they enter their winter seasons.

"If the games are to be pushed ahead regardless, spec-tators would have to be shut out and athletes would have to travel to Japan a month in advance for testing," he said. That raises the question of whether it will be even worth having the event at all, he said.

"A timely development of a vaccine would be one sliver of hope, but even that’s optimistic as it may take three years for it to reach some of the poorer countries," Niki said.

Organisers and Japanese government officials have said that if the games do not happen in 2021, then they will likely be cancelled. The summer games

have been rescheduled for July 23 to August 8 of next year.

It’s also going to be a chal-lenge to make the competition fair, with the virus affecting the competing nations in different ways and at different times.

“If the pandemic spikes at different times in different zones, creating a devastating staggering, it will produce an unlevel playing field for the ath-letes,” Rick Burton, a professor of sports management at Syr-acuse University, said in an e-mailed statement.

“That could mean some Olympians would be cleared to resume regular training activ-ities at different points of time. That advantage would not fit the Olympic ideal.”

SPORT | 10

Cricket fraternity

wishes

Brian Lara on

his birthday

Crick

B

SPORTFIFA Vice-President

ponders calendar

year season

in Europe

SPORT | 11

SUNDAY 3 MAY 2020

Arsenal’s Ozil gives $101,000 for holy month aid drive

ANATOLIA – ANKARA

English club Arsenal’s star Mesut Ozil (pictured) has donated 713,000 Turkish liras ($101,000) to the Turkish Red Crescent for an aid campaign for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The money will be used to provide iftar - the evening meal to break the daily fast during the month - to 16,000 people in Turkey, according to the group.

Families in Turkey and Syria will receive 2,000 food packages through Ozil’s donation, while 90,000 iftar packages will be dis-tributed in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu.

Kerem Kinik, head of the Turkish Red Crescent, thanked the London-based foot-baller for the donation.

“We will deliver the packages provided with the donation of my brother Mesut to people in need as soon as possible,” he said.

COVID-19 cases at FC Cologne raise questions over safety of League restartREUTERS – BERLIN

The COVID-19 infection of three people at German top-flight soccer team FC Cologne has raised questions about the safety of a possible Bundesliga restart amid the coronavirus pandemic.

With the Bundesliga battling to convince the government that the season should restart in May, and with daily infection figures dropping, Cologne announced the positive tests on Friday.

“Likely two players, one staffer infected,” wrote Karl Lau-terbach, senior lawmaker with the Social Democrats, junior partners in Chancellor Angela Merkel’s coalition, on Twitter yesterday.

“The rest (of the squad) con-tinues to train. Whoever trains with COVID-19 risks damages to lung, heart and kidneys,” added Lauterbach, who is a professor of heal th economics and epidemiology.

“I am surprised that players are allowing this,” he said in ref-erence to Cologne’s training con-tinuing with the rest of the squad instead of them all being

quarantined as a precaution. Cologne had said all three cases were symptom free and the indi-viduals were placed in a 14-day quarantine but the club did not confirm any names out of respect for the privacy of those con-cerned, nor did it say whether players were involved.

While Bundesliga clubs have returned to training in small groups in the past weeks after the league was suspended in mid-March, they must wait another week to find out about a possible restart to the season.

The German government on Thursday delayed any decision over a league resumption amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The cash-strapped clubs and league had been hoping for the green light to end the two-month suspension so the league can con-tractually finish by June 30.

The German Football League has also submitted a health safety plan for games without spectators that foresees regular testing of players but no quarantine for entire squads in cases of positive tests.

An FC Cologne fan displays her fan scarf during a German League match at the RheinEnergie Stadium in Cologne in this file photo.

Training goeson at Cologne

AP – COLOGNE

Cologne’s players are continuing to train despite the three positive tests for coronavirus at the club that have unsettled the German soccer league’s restart plans.

Cologne said yesterday that three people had tested positive but didn’t name them or say whether they were players, who are cur-rently training in small groups.

“The experts evaluate it as such that, due to the hygiene and infection prevention measures in group training, we can continue to train with those who tested nega-tively as we had been,” team doctor Paul Klein said on the club website yesterday.

Klein added no-one at the club was considered “category one” in respect of the three individuals who gave samples Thursday. That is typically someone who either lives with an infected person or had close contact with them.

Tokyo Games unlikely to happen in 2021: Experts

ITTF halts all events, activities until endof JulyREUTERS – BERLIN

All table tennis competi-tions and events have been scrapped at least until the end of July due to the coronavirus, the international table tennis federation (ITTF) said yesterday.

Following an update from its task force the ITTF said it was looking into potentially returning to action in August but would also need to cut costs.

“The current period of suspension of all ITTF events and activities has been extended up until the end of July 2020,” it said in a statement.

“The situation is being monitored closely for an eventual restart of ITTF events in August 2020.”

It said it was also can-celling all veterans tour events and Table Tennis X events for the entire year while looking into cost-cutting measures to meet the financial challenges.

“ITTF management have been asked to find ways to reduce operation costs overall, including the need for there to be some HR restructure in order to manage 2020 financial realities,” it said.

The virus has wreaked havoc with the international sports cal-endar, forcing also the postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and the Euro 2020 soccer championships to 2021.

But it has also cut deep into international federations’ finances putting their future oper-ations in doubt.

India to revive bid for 2032 OlympicsAFP – NEW DELHI

India will step up its battle to win the 2032 Olympic Games and other international events when the global coronavirus pandemic eases, its top sports leader Narinder Batra told AFP.

Ten years after hosting the Commonwealth Games, the Indian Olympic Association President said his country had lessons to learn but would not be deterred.

“We are serious and defi-nitely pitching for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games and the 2032 Olympics,” he said.

India has already written expressions of interest to the

International Olympic Com-mittee but faces reported com-petition from Thailand, Russia and Colombia for the 2026 event.

Queensland in Australia, Shanghai and a potential joint bid between Seoul and Pyongyang are also being touted for the 2032 Olympics.

However, the pandemic has halted all debate. Batra, also head of the International Hockey Federation, said “documen-tation” has started for 2032 but work is now frozen. A final decision may take until 2025.

“Now there is a team that visits the various venues and you keep talking to them and then

they submit a report. It is a con-tinuous process which I believe will see no activity until December,” India’s most influ-ential sports leader said.

Delhi’s hosting of the

Commonwealth Games was marked by construction delays, failing infrastructure and accu-sat ions of f inancial mismanagement.

More recently, Delhi was stripped of the 2021 world boxing championships, with the global body accusing organisers of failing to pay a hosting fee on time.

Batra said he knew nothing of the boxing dispute but insisted that the 2010 multi-sport event had made India think big and its growing economic clout means it has resources.

“I can say the biggest takeaway was that India is capable of hosting all big-ticket

events whether it is Olympics or any other Games,” said Batra.

But he added that New Delhi did not capitalise enough on the 2010 Games by encouraging more young athletes.

“The Delhi event fell short on legacy values. The legacy that you produce more athletes and you develop them. That never happened here and that is why tournaments shifted out of Delhi,” he said.

“The fact that such a big event happened here was not properly exploited.” India has a population of 1.3 billion people but while it excels at cricket, its team returned from the 2016 Rio Olympics with just two medals.

If the pandemic spikes at different times in different zones, creating a devastating staggering, it will produce an unlevel playing field for the athletes. That could mean some Olympians would be cleared to resume regular training activities at different points of time. That advantage would not fit the Olympic ideal: Rick Burton, a professor of sports management at Syracuse University

through Ozil s donation, while 90,000 iftar s will be dis-in Somalia’s

Mogadishu.m Kinik, head Turkish Red , thanked the

-based foot-r the donation.will deliver kages withation otherpeople as soon ble,”

India has already written

expressions of interest to

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Russia and Colombia for the

2026 Youth Olympics while

Queensland in Australia,

Shanghai and a potential

joint bid between Seoul and

Pyongyang are competing to

host the 2032 Olympics.

This October 3, 2010 file photo shows a general view of the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium during the opening ceremony of the Delhi Commonwealth Games. Ten years after hosting the Commonwealth Games, the Indian Olympic Association President yesterday said his country is serious and definitely pitching for 2032 Olympics.PIC: CHINTHANA WASALA / THE PENINSULA

09SUNDAY 3 MAY 2020 SPORT

US women lose football equal pay caseAFP – LOS ANGELES

A federal judge dismissed the United States women’s soccer team’s bid for equal pay, rejecting claims the players had been underpaid in a crushing defeat for the reigning world champions.

In a 32-page ruling, Judge Gary Klausner of the US Dis-trict Court for Central Cali-fornia in Los Angeles tossed the women’s claim of pay dis-crimination, ruling in favour of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF).

Klausner did allow the women’s case for unfair treatment in areas such as travel, housing and medical support to proceed to trial, set for June 16 in Los Angeles.

But the judge said the equal pay claims -- the central plank of the case -- had been dis-missed because there was evi-dence the women had previ-ously turned down an offer in the Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations to be

paid along the lines of the US men’s team.

“The history of negotiations between the parties demon-strates that the WNT rejected an offer to be paid under the same pay-to-play structure as the MNT, and the WNT was willing to forgo higher bonuses for ben-efits, such as greater base com-pensation and the guarantee of a higher number of contracted players,” Klausner wrote.

“Accordingly, plaintiffs cannot now retroactively deem their CBA (collective bargaining agreement) worse than the MNT CBA by reference to what they would have made had they been paid under the MNT’s pay-to-play terms structure when they themselves rejected such a structure,” he said.

The US women were left stunned by their defeat on the pay issue. The women had been seeking back pay of $66m under the Equal Pay Act.

Prominent US women’s team star Megan Rapinoe said after learning of the court’s

decision that the battle is not over.

“We will never stop fighting for EQUALITY,” she wrote on Twitter.

A spokeswoman for the players reacted with dismay fol-lowing Friday’s ruling.

“We are shocked and dis-appointed with today’s decision, but we will not give up our hard work for equal pay,” spokes-woman Molly Levinson said.

“We are confident in our case and steadfast in our com-mitment to ensuring that girls

and women who play this sport will not be valued as lesser just because of their gender.

“We have learned that there are tremendous obstacles to change; we know that it takes bravery and courage and per-severance to stand up to them.”

USSF said it would continue to work with the women’s program to grow the game in the United States.

“We look forward to working with the Women’s National Team to chart a pos-itive path forward and to grow

the game both here at home and around the world,” it said.

“We are committed to con-tinuing that work to ensure our Women’s National Team remains the best in the world.” The increasingly acrimonious lawsuit had taken a dramatic turn in March, when a filing by lawyers for the federation argued that US men’s team players required a “higher level of skill based on speed and strength” than the women.

The filing triggered outrage amongst the women’s players

while influential sponsors such as Coca-Cola voiced disgust at the remarks.

USSF President Carlos Cor-deiro later resigned following the uproar, with Rapinoe accusing the USSF of “blatant sexism” in its legal filings.

The US women, who clinched back-to-back World Cup wins with victory at last year’s finals in France, had based their claim for back pay in the disparities between prize money distributed by FIFA at the men’s and women’s World Cups.

Germany’s men won $35m for their victory in the 2014 World Cup while France earned $38m after triumphing in Russia in 2018.

The United States women, victors in the 2015 and 2019 World Cups, earned total prize money of $6m over the two tournaments.

The USSF argued in court that between the years 2015-2019, the women actually were paid more money than the men on both a cumulative and an average per game basis.

During that period the women’s national team received $24m and an average of $220,747 per game while the men’s team received payments of $18m and $212,639 per game.

Under the current CBA, which was signed in 2017, more than half the women’s team players receive an annual base salary of $167,000.

In a 32-page ruling, Judge Gary Klausner of the US

District Court for Central California in Los Angeles

tossed the women’s claim of pay discrimination, ruling

in favour of the United States Soccer Federation.

The judge said the equal pay claims -- the central plank

of the case -- had been dismissed because there was

evidence the women had previously turned down an offer

in the Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations to be

paid along the lines of the US men’s team.

The US women were left stunned by their defeat on the pay issue. The women had been seeking back pay of $66m under the Equal Pay Act.

Formula One hopes to start season with double-header in AustriaAP — PARIS

Formula One hopes to finally start the season with a double-header in the naturally isolated environment around the venue for the Austrian Grand Prix.

Despite the first 10 races having been cancelled or post-poned because of the corona-virus pandemic, the targeted start date is July 5 in Austria. F1 still envisages holding 15 to 18 of the 22 scheduled Grands Prix.

One way to make up for lost time is having consecutive weekends on one circuit, like the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg. F1 manager director of motor-sports Ross Brawn says this is a “real consideration” so long as iron-tight safety regulations are met.

“One of the logistical chal-lenges is getting everyone tested and cleared to enter the racing environment,” he told an official F1 podcast. “We can contain everyone within that environment, and therefore once we are there it is appealing to have another race the fol-lowing week.”

The Red Bull Ring’s location in the Styrian mountains makes it naturally isolated.

“It’s pretty challenging to find the right sort of races early on where we can control the environment well enough to ensure the safety of everyone,” Brawn added.

“Austria fits that bill very well. It has a local airport right next to the circuit, where people can charter planes into. It’s not too close to a metropolis.”

It is unclear where F1 would race after Austria, if it even goes ahead.

The British GP is set to follow on July 19 and organisers are talking to the government about the viability of holding that race without fans. Silver-stone would also reportedly be able to hold consecutive races.

The season could then con-tinue later in the summer in Hungary, where the

Hungaroring circuit is nestled in the countryside outside Budapest; and Belgium, whose Spa-Francorchamps track is within the Ardennes forest. The idea is then to move into Eurasia, Asia, and the Americas before concluding with Bahrain and Abu Dhabi in the Gulf.

“It’s important for us to try and get the season going. One reason is to excite the fans,” Brawn said.

“But it is (also) a very important livelihood for thou-sands of people.”

Guenther Steiner, the team principal of the Haas F1 team,

cautiously argued in favor of giving Austria the green light.

“I think Austria is a very good place to start,” Steiner said in a video interview.

“They have got the disease well under control at the moment and we just need to make sure that we don’t bring it back.”

Steiner also thinks consec-utive races could be held there.

“I think it’s realistic. I don’t know so much about what is coming after,” he said. “Let’s hope we can get official (clearance) and we get also a good follow-up plan.”

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and his team-mate Valtteri Bottas in action during the British Grand Prix at Silverstone Circuit in this July 14, 2019 file photo. This year's British GP is set to follow on July 19 and organisers are talking to the government about the viability of holding that race without fans.

NASCAR to resume season on May 17 with seven races in 10 days

AP — CHARLOTTE

NASCAR plans to restart its engines with a flurry of races at two historic tracks.

NASCAR said it is set to return May 17 with an elite Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina, the first of seven events in an 10-day span across the top three series.

There will be no practice, no qualifying and drivers will jump into their cars for the first time since March 8 and attempt to tackle “The Track Too Tough To Tame.”

“Events are going to look different than they have in the past,” said John Bobo, NASCAR vice president of racing operations.

NASCAR has set guide-lines to safely hold the events using CDC guidelines on social distancing and per-sonal protective equipment. The entire venue will be used to maintain distancing in garage stalls and where the haulers are parked, while drivers will have to self-isolate in their motorhomes as they prepare to compete.

“Our priority right now is to try and get back racing in a safe way,” said Steve

O’Donnell, chief racing development officer.

NASCAR’s revised schedule goes only through May and has a pair of Wednesday Cup races, ful-filling fans’ longtime plea for midweek events. The first of those races will be at Dar-lington, three days after the return race at the 70-year-old, egg-shaped oval.

C h a r l o t t e M o t o r Speedway will then host the Coca-Cola 600 on May 24 to mark 60 consecutive years the longest race on the NASCAR schedule will be held on Memorial Day weekend. The track in Concord, outside NASCAR’s home base of Charlotte, will then host a Wednesday race three days later.

NASCAR suspended its season March 13 with only four of its 36 scheduled races completed. The stock car series, heavily reliant on tel-evision money and sponsor payments, has vowed to complete its full schedule.

The revised schedule for now stays at tracks within driving distance of Charlotte-based race teams and in states that have started reopening.

NFL schedule expected to be released on time next week

REUTERS — NEW YORK

The NFL will release the 2020 game schedule next week, and despite talk of alternative scheduling or a late start because of the coronavirus, it is expected to be a business-as-usual slate.

ESPN reported yesterday that the 17-week season will open on September 10 and close with the Super Bowl on February 7 in Tampa, Fla., citing league spokesman Brian McCarthy.

“We plan to start on time,” McCarthy said.

The league has discussed contingency plans, however.

Sports Business Daily reported Monday that the NFL was forming contingency plans in case its schedule of games

needs to be altered, including delaying season openers by more than a month and moving the Super Bowl to the end of February.

It’s unclear whether the coronavirus outbreak will ease enough to allow fans in the stands. ESPN said the NFL won’t

hunker players in specific loca-tions to play the season, as the NHL, MLB and NBA have discussed.

Meanwhile, the Tennessee Titans have agreed to terms on a one-year deal with veteran safety Ibraheim Campbell.

Campbell, who turns 28 on May 13, spent much of last season recovering from a knee injury before the Green Bay Packers activated him from the reserve/physically unable to perform list on Nov. 5.

He played seven games with three starts and had 15 tackles as well as two special-teams stops during the 2019 regular season.

He had two tackles on defense plus three stops on special teams during the Packers' two play-off games.

NBA postpones May's draft combine and draft lotteryAP — LOS ANGELES

The NBA is delaying the draft lottery and draft combine, events scheduled for Chicago later this month.

The league made the decision , though it has been expected for some time. The lottery cannot occur until the regular season is completed or is declared over, because team records determine the odds that the 14 non-play-off teams will have of securing the right to pick No. 1 overall in the draft.

For now, the draft remains scheduled for June 25 - though that, too, will likely have to change in the coming weeks as the league continues reacting to the coronavirus pandemic.

The lottery was to have taken place May 19. The draft

combine was to have run from May 21-24.

The league typically invites about 70 players to the combine, where some of the candidates work out and play in scrimmages and others skip the on-court events entirely and just interview with teams instead.

The combine has also been a chance for teams to conduct physicals with players, a key component of the evaluation process.

The NBA has been looking at several options for weeks about the draft schedule and pre-draft events, just as the league has when it comes to possibilities for resuming the season when public health offi-cials say that would be appropriate.

The NBA has not played since March 11, when it became the first of the major US pro sports leagues to suspend games because of the pan-demic. The league has missed 259 regular-season games because of the shutdown, and the play-offs would have started about two weeks ago.

10 SUNDAY 3 MAY 2020SPORT

CA to work with govt to prepare biosecurity planIANS - MELBOURNE

In Australia, the use of saliva or sweat to shine the ball will be restricted once cricket training returns in the post coronavirus world.

The federal government in Australia has released a framework regarding the staged return of sports amid the pandemic under the title “The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Framework for rebooting sport in a COVID-19 envi-ronment” available on the official government website.

AIS, in consultation with medical experts, sporting bodies and federal and state governments, has come up with guidelines wherein they have restricted the use of saliva and sweat to shine the ball.

The framework, which out-lines a staged return to play, has three stages -- Level A, Level B and Level C. Currently, sports is outlined as being at “Level A”, which restricts all training except that of the individual kind. “Running/aerobic training (solo), resistance training (solo), skills training (solo).”

However, in probably a week’s time, it will move to “Level B” which will allow the

following: “Nets -- batters facing bowlers. Limit bowlers per net. Fielding sessions -- unrestricted. No warm up drills involving unnecessary person-person contact. No shining cricket ball with sweat/saliva during training.” The third and final “Level C”, to be permitted later in the year, is outlined as: “Full training and competition. No ball shining with sweat/saliva in training.”

Meanwhile, Cricket Aus-tralia also welcomed Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s announcement regarding national principles for the recommencement of com-munity and professional sport, as agreed by the national cabinet.

“As and when restrictions are lifted, CA will seek advice from medical experts including our own Chief Medical Officer, John Orchard, and relevant government agencies to support the cricket community with protocols and guidelines that allow community cricket to recommence as early and as safely as possible,” CA said in a statement.

“Cricket Australia will con-tinue to work with government to prepare a comprehensive

biosecurity plan to ensure we are as prepared as possible to deliver elite cricket content on Australian soil, including an exciting summer of cricket highlighted by the ICC T20 World Cup 2020 and the Border-Gavaskar Test series between Australia and India,” it added.

In the framework, there are also guidelines for training and management of illness in elite sports.

“Individuals should not return to sport if in the last 14 days they have been unwell or had contact with a known or suspected case of COVID-19.

“Athletes returning to sport after COVID-19 infection require special consideration prior to resumption of high intensity physical activity.

“Resumption of sporting activity may not be linear. Increasing restrictions may be required in response to fluctu-ating numbers of COVID-19 cases.”

The government has said that the AIS framework is a “timely tool” for ‘how’ reintro-duction of sport activity will occur in a cautious and methodical manner, to optimise athlete and community safety.

Gary O’Hara, volunteer groundsman and semi-retired player for Crown Taverners in the Hampshire cricket league, drives a roller on the ground past a cricket-themed scarecrow at Crown Taverners Cricket Club in Camberley, southwest of London, yesterday. The Hampshire cricket league were due to open their season next weekend were it not for the coronavirus lockdown. Now a limited staff of three work with social distancing measures in place to maintain the cricket ground until play can resume.

Miss hitting the ball, can’t wait to go out and play, says Rohit

IANS - MUMBAI

Prolific India opener Rohit Sharma is badly missing hitting the cricket ball and can’t wait to go out and start playing again once the lockdown ends amid the coronavirus pandemic.

In normal circum-stances, Rohit would have been currently leading Mumbai Indians in the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League which now stands indef ini te ly postponed.

“I wish I had enough place to play indoor cricket, but unfortunately in Mumbai, the place is very secluded, and you have to stick to your apartment. We are not lucky as you guys where you have your own backyard to play,” Rohit said while speaking to former Australian pacer Brett Lee on Star Sports Cricket Connected show.

“In Mumbai, it’s very expensive to get your own house where you have your own backyard. I live in an apartment and I am lucky to have a little balcony where I can run around and do some activities that my trainer has given me.

“I am trying to follow whatever little I can. Hope-fully, the gyms will open soon, and I can go there,” he added.

“But I am missing hitting the ball, that’s for sure. As you know, I like to hit big, so the space is not enough. I just can’t wait to go out there and start hitting the ball,” Rohit, who recently turned 33, further said.

All sporting activities have been suspended since mid March following the coronavirus outbreak which has so far claimed more than 2.3 lakh lives across the world. And the chances of cricketing activ-ities resuming in the near future are highly grim.

In India, nationwide lockdown was announced on March 24. It was first slated to end on April 14 but then it was extended till May 3. It has now been further extended till May 17 as the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases refuses to slow down.

Tendulkar leads the way as cricket fraternity greets Lara on birthday

IANS - NEW DELHI

West Indies batting legend Brian Lara turned 51 yesterday. Widely rated as one of the greatest batsmen of all time in a generation that had stalwarts like Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Rahul Dravid and so on, the West Indian got wishes from a number of quarters within the cricket fraternity on the occasion.

Tendulkar led the way in wishing his long-time rival at the top of the batting charts.

“Wishing my fellow Taurean a very happy birthday. Was great fun catching up with you recently. Have a great one, Prince! Look forward to seeing you soon. Take care,” said Tendulkar.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) also tweeted their birthday wishe to the former West Indies captain and asked fans to rate their favourite Brian Lara innings.

India batsman K.L. Rahul tweeted: “Happy Birthday #legend @BrianLara Have a good one”

Shikhar Dhawan, who opens the batting for India in limited-overs cricket, also wished Lara on the occasion.

“Happy birthday to the legend, the Prince of Trinidad & Tobago and a great human being @BrianLara Hope you have a beautiful year ahead and soon we’ll do our dance lessons,” said Dhawan

Indian Premier League side Royal Challengers Bangalore also wished Lara a happy birthday. “Lara, Kya Mara - if you relate to this phrase, then your childhood was awesome. Here’s wishing the stylish West Indian legend @BrianLara a very Happy Birthday!” said RCB.

Former India batsman Yuvraj Singh tweeted: “A man known to set unbelievable records on the field and humanitarian bench-marks in life, wishing you the very best on your special day. Happy birthday Sir Brian”

Veteran spinner Harbhajan Singh tweeted: “Happy birthday to the most dashing,dominating,stylish,left handed batsman that has played the game.. Prince of Trinidad Flag of Trinidad & Tobago A top man @BrianLara Glad I played cricket in the era where these legends played the game and inspired.”

Labuschagne ready for ‘heaps of cricket’ when sport resumesREUTERS - SYDNEY

Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne is bracing for “heaps and heaps of cricket” once the COVID-19 pandemic subsides, the prolific top order batsman said yesterday.

The global health crisis has halted international sports, post-poning several bilateral cricket series and jeopardising this year’s Twenty20 World Cup scheduled in October-November in Australia.

“There is going to be a lot of tours that will need to be made up,” Labuschagne told Australian Associated Press (AAP).

“There’s going to be a whole heap of cricket in a very short time frame. We’ll be making up for missed time, that schedule is just going to be packed.

“It’s going to be a bit different to what we’re used to. We’re going to have to be ready coming out of this break to play heaps and heaps of cricket.”

The South Africa-born Labuschagne is probably best prepared for such a scenario, having been adjudged the busiest cricketer in an ESPNcricinfo analysis last October.

The 25-year-old has been a revelation since stepping up as Steve Smith’s concussion substitute at Lord’s in last year’s Ashes series in England.

In the subsequent series against Pakistan and New Zealand, the right-hander smashed four centuries in five tests, including a maiden double hundred in Sydney earlier this year.

Labuschagne felt his Glamorgan stint helped him get better as a batsman and lamented not being able to reunite with the county as professional cricket remains suspended in England until at least July 1.

“I really enjoyed it last year. I loved Glamorgan, hence why I signed a two-year extension,” he said.

“It’s disappointing to see them and England cricket in trouble. It’s our responsibility, cricket on the whole, to make sure once this period is over that we get games on television and get the sport started again.

"We need to support each other.”

England’s Sri Lanka tour rescheduled for January 2021, says SLC's De SilvaREUTERS - COLOMBO

England’s two-match Test series in Sri Lanka, which has been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, has been rescheduled for January next year, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) CEO Ashley de Silva has said.

England were scheduled to play Tests in Galle and Colombo in March before the coronavirus outbreak shut down sport worldwide as countries intro-duced lockdown measures to prevent the spread of the virus.

“We are in the process of rescheduling the tours that have been postponed,” De Silva told Sri Lankan newspaper Daily News.

“England has been already rescheduled for the month of January next year but the dates have not been finalised.

“At the same time we are also looking at exploring the possibility of rescheduling post-poned tours and looking at the windows which are available and alternatives too. South Africa is one of the tours which we are looking at rescheduling. We are engaged in discussions with the member countries and see how it can be planned out.”

South Africa’s limited-overs tour of Sri Lanka -- three one-day internationals and three Twenty20 games -- was scheduled to take place in June

before it was postponed. “There are also two other tours which are scheduled to take place with India and Bangladesh due to tour Sri Lanka in June-July and July-August respectively,” De Silva added.

South Africa's limited-overs tour of Sri Lanka, which was scheduled for the first half of June, was postponed because of the Covid-19 pandemic around two weeks ago.

The teams were set to play

three ODIs and three T20Is during the tour, with results from the former counting towards points in the ICC's new one-day league.

"It is very sad that we have been forced to take this step and we will re-schedule the tour as soon as cricket returns to a sense of normality and our international fixture list allows," Cricket South Africa acting chief executive Jacques Faul said in a statement.

Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis plays a shot next to England’s wicket keeper Ben Foakes during a Test in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in this November 26, 2018, file photo.

Shastri posts old pics with Richards and Marshall

IANS - MUMBAI

India heach coach Ravi Shastri yesterday took a trip down the memory lane and made a nostalgic post in which he seen photo-graphed alongside West Indies batting legend Sir Vivian Richards and bowling icon Malcolm Marshall.

“Brothers in arms. The best I played against. Priv-ilege and honour - with Malcolm Denzil Marshall and Sir Isaac Vivian Alex-ander Richards,” Shastri tweeted along with the two photographs.

Richards, who is touted to be one of the finest batsmen to have ever graced the sport, repre-sented West Indies in 121 Tests and 187 ODIs. He scored 8,540 runs in Test cricket including 24 cen-turies and 45 fifties under his belt. In ODIs, he scored 6,721 runs including 11 tons and 45 half centuries.

Marshall, on the other hand, played 81 Tests and 136 ODIs in which he scalped 376 and 157 wickets respectively.

Former West Indie captain and batting great Brian Lara in action during one of the matches of the Road Safety World Series played in India in March. Pic: @RSWorldSeries

Batting legend turns 51

11SUNDAY 3 MAY 2020 SPORT

West Ham’s Bradysure PL can overcomerestart challengesAFP – LONDON

West Ham vice-chairperson Karren Brady (pictured) insists that every Premier League club wants to complete the season despite there being “a lot of obstacles” to restarting the campaign.

Clubs were presented with the league’s “Project Restart” plans at a meeting yesterday and were told the remaining 92 matches of the 2019-2020 season must be played at neutral venues.

That is an extra sticking point to a litany of other logistical issues as there remains oppo-sition on sporting integrity grounds about the idea of not fin-ishing the campaign on a home-and-away basis.

“At yesterday’s meeting, every club said it wants the season to restart,” said Brady in her column for The Sun newspaper.

“The only common theme from all the Prem clubs is that any compromises have to be fair and uphold the integrity of the game.

“Players and managers have to be key decision-makers on the protocols as there is a long way to go from where we are now to actually getting playing again.

“There are a lot of obstacles to overcome and no doubt many compromises to make.” Brighton chief executive Paul Barber said on Thursday that the idea of not playing matches home and away was a “further imperfection” on top of games being behind closed doors.

Before plans to return to playing can progress, the Premier League clubs must also address the thorny issues of testing and player welfare.

Players, coaches and backroom staff would reportedly be tested two or three times a week and could be forced to quarantine in hotels away from their families to help prevent the spread of the virus.

The Bundesliga’s ambitious plans to return to playing matches this month were dealt a blow with the news on Friday that three people at Cologne have tested positive for coro-navirus and been placed in a 14-day quarantine.

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero admitted this week that players are “scared” at the prospect of being rushed back into action, while Brighton’s Glenn Murray questioned whether it is right for football’s return to drain resources from public services such as ambulance crews and police.

The proposal of neutral venues by the Premier League is designed to reduce the number of medical, security and broadcast personnel needed at every match.

“It’s clear that the location of the games when the league recommences will be subject to approval from both the Gov-ernment and Sports Grounds Safety Authority,” added Brady.

“They could argue neutral grounds better protect the welfare of all involved and reduce the burden on public services like police and ambulance.”

After launching PFA bid, Kitsonunder fire for Sterling comments

REUTERS – MANCHESTER

Dave Kitson’s bid to become the players’ union chief has been opposed by former Arsenal striker Ian Wright (pictured), while the head of anti-racist campaign group Kick It Out has raised concerns over his past comments about England forward Raheem Sterling.

Ex-player Kitson is aiming to replace Professional Foot-ballers’ Association (PFA) chief Gordon Taylor, who has been at the helm since 1981, saying the body’s response to the COVID-19 crisis was “an absolute embarrassment”.

However, Kitson’s anti-racism stance was questioned when a 2018 video resurfaced in which he said that although he did not condone racism, players such as Sterling “make themselves a target” because of how they portray themselves on social media.

“Look at this rubbish. Same person now running to lead the PFA,” former England striker Wright wrote on Twitter.

“How can the PFA claim to take racism seriously when this

is a candidate’s views? “He’s literally blaming a victim of abuse saying they bring it

on themselves,” Wright added in response to another tweet.

Kick It Out head Sanjay Bhandari said Kitson’s remarks did not inspire confidence in dealing with black players.

“Anyone who has aspirations to lead the PFA in the future must have in mind the best interests of all players,” Bhandari told The Guardian.

“Given Dave Kitson’s previous remarks, I would be deeply concerned about his ability to represent black players. He needs

to win their confidence and I doubt he can do that,” Bhandari said.

Kitson responded by telling The Guardian: “My objective is to ensure that the policies of the union reflect the needs and aspi-rations of all its members.

“Very importantly, that must include a much

more effective anti-racism policy,” a d d e d t h e 40-year-old who played as a striker for several clubs including Reading, Stoke City, Port-smouth and Shef-field United.

Montpellier midfielder Sambia recovering from virus: ClubAFP – MONTPELLIER

Montpellier midfielder Junior Sambia (pictured), the first Ligue 1 player to be struck down with the coronavirus, is on the road to recovery and is preparing to leave hospital, the club said yesterday.

“All really happy that you’re doing better. We hope to see you very soon on the pitch,” the club tweeted.

The 23-year-old French player was last week admitted to a Montpellier hospital, where he was diagnosed with coronavirus and pro-visionally put into an artificial coma.

While Sambia was the first Ligue 1 player affected by COVID-19, South Korean Hyun-jun Suk, who plays for Troyes in the second division, was the first professional player in France officially diagnosed with the virus.

The pandemic has stopped French football, with 10 rounds of matches of the season left.

Lockdown has been a mental battle, says Liverpool's LovrenREUTERS – ZAGREB

Staying focused on the Premier League title race during the coronavirus pandemic lockdown has been a mental battle despite all individual efforts to maintain physical fitness, Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren has said.

“It hasn’t been easy as we have been locked up in our homes for 46 days now,” the Croatia international told yesterday's online edition of Sportske Novisti, the Balkan nation’s leading sports daily (sportske.jutarnji.hr).

“The psychological aspect is the most difficult to overome. I work out on my own as much as I can, I kick the ball around a bit with my son on our lawn, but training

with the team is totally different.”

The league, which has been suspended since March 9, remains in limbo and unable to take any steps until any government decision next week on pos-sible changes to lockdown restrictions.

All 20 clubs held a con-ference call on Friday in which they looked at plans for a resumption of training later in May followed by a possible return to compet-itive action in June.

During the meeting, the clubs were informed that an eventual resumption of matches would only see them play only at neutral venues approved from a health and safety point of view.

Lovren acknowledged it

was difficult to get excited by the daily routine under the circumstances.

“I try to stay motivated any way I can. I get up in the morning and tell myself ‘I am going to get knackered in training today’ and at least I’ve managed to lose some weight,” he said.

“But I’ve also lost some mass on my legs because there is no substitute for a 90-minute team training session. You can’t do an indoor exercise on your legs for 90 minutes.”

“I hope (UEFA President) Aleksander Ceferin and all the other people from UEFA and FIFA will come up with a solution so that we don’t get into a situation of having to play 15 games in 30 days,” he said.

FIFA VP ponders calendar year season in EuropeREUTERS – ROME

FIFA Vice-President Victor Montagliani (pictured) has said that moving the European football season to the calendar year is a “possibility to be discussed” in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic which has brought football to a stand-still around the world.

In an interview with Italy’s Radio Sportiva, Montagliani, who is seen as a close ally of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, said the move would fit in with the 2022 World Cup being played in Qatar in November and December.

The head of world soccer’s governing body himself has said that football will be totally dif-ferent when it restarts and that the current stoppage could be a good chance to overhaul the overloaded calendar which is due to run until 2024.

“We have the opportunity because the World Cup in Qatar in 2022 will be played in

November/December and that could be the idea,” said Mon-tagliani, who is President of the CONCACAF confederation.

“Here in the Americas, the season is already played according to the calendar year, perhaps it is a solution that could also be used in Europe and Africa, it is a possibility to

be discussed at national and continental level,” he said.

“It is not an idea to be dis-carded, it can be a solution in view of the next two years and this winter World Cup”.

A number of European leagues, including Italy, Germany and England, still hope to finish their seasons but

doing so could force the start of the 2020-21 campaign to be pushed back. UEFA also wants to finish the Champions League and Europa League.

“We had already started thinking about how to set a new calendar from 2024, now with this crisis we need imme-diate answers,” added Montagliani.

The idea of a calendar-year season has been put forward before including by Karl-Heinz Rummenigge when he was chairman of the European Club Association (ECA).

“Everywhere, be it Germany, France or England, summer is the best period of the year. And that is the season we don’t play,” he told France Football magazine in a 2013 interview.

“In deepest winter, when it is very cold and snowing, we play nearly all the time in con-ditions that are disagreeable for both players and spectators. It is not logical.”

We have the opportunity because the World Cup in Qatar in 2022 will be played in November/December and that could be the idea. Here in the Americas, the season is already played according to the calendar year, perhaps it is a solution that could also be used in Europe and Africa, it is a possibility to be discussed at national and continental level: Montagliani

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Martinez to stay in charge of Belgium until Qatar 2022

REUTERS – BRUSSELS

Belgium coach Roberto Martinez (pictured) has extended his contract through to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, ending weeks of speculation about a new deal, Belgian media reported yesterday.

There was no official confirmation from the Belgian football association but newspapers said Martinez would stay in charge through to the next World Cup after negotiating a new two-year deal.

His contract was up after this year’s European Champi-onship, which has been shifted back a year because of the coronavirus crisis.

Martinez, 46, had already said in interviews over the last weeks he wanted to stay in charge in order to take Belgium to Euro 2021, where they are drawn in Group B and will play Denmark, Finland and Russia.

The team, who are top of the FIFA world rankings, had qualified in imposing fashion, by winning all 10 qualifiers, scoring 40 goals and conceding just three.

Spanish-born Martinez, the former Wigan Athletic and Everton manager, took Belgium to third place at the World Cup and is popular among the players, reports added.

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to lead the PFA in the futuremust have in mind the best interests of all players,” Bhandari told The Guardian.

“Given Dave Kitson’s previousremarks, I would bedeeply concerned about his ability torepresent blackplayers. He needs

rations of all its members.“Very importantly, that

must include a much more effective anti-

racism policy,” a d d e d t h e40-year-old who played as a strikerfor several clubs including Reading,Stoke City, Port-smouth and Shef-field United.

Raheem Sterling