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Coronavirus: IPL season start delayed because of outbreak
Rtv online desk
13 Mar 2020, 00:00
Photo: BBC
The start of the 2020 Indian Premier League season has been delayed from 29 March to 15 April as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, reports BBC.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said the move was a "precautionary measure".
The BCCI said it was taking "all necessary steps to ensure that all people related to IPL including fans have a safe cricketing experience".
England players including Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler are due to take part.
On Thursday it was announced that Australia's one-day internationals against New Zealand - which begin on Friday - will be played behind closed doors.
England's Sam Curran, Jason Roy, Chris Jordan, Harry Gurney, Eoin Morgan, Tom Banton, Tom Curran, Moeen Ali and Jonny Bairstow are all also signed up to play in the IPL.
The competition was due to run from 29 March to 24 May.
England start a Test series against West Indies on 4 June and had asked players to be back in the country by 26 May, so it is unclear whether that deadline will have to be moved.
The Indian government has travel restrictions in place as a result of the virus, which was designated a pandemic by the World Health Organization this week.
A host of sporting events including the major tennis tours and golf's PGA Tour have been suspended, while the season-opening Australian Grand Prix has been postponed.
Source: BBC/UNB
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IOC blocks Russian athletes from Olympic opening ceremony
Athletes from Russia and Belarus will not be allowed to participate in the Paris Olympics opening ceremony, the IOC has said. Moscow said the move "destroyed the Olympic idea."
Russian and Belarusian athletes will not be allowed to participate in the parade of nations at the opening ceremony of the Paris Games, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has said.
The athletes, who will be competing in the Games under a neutral flag, "will not participate in the parade of delegations and teams during the opening ceremony since they are individual athletes," IOC director James McLeod said after an IOC executive board meeting on Tuesday in Lausanne, Switzerland.
A decision on whether they would participate in the closing ceremony had not yet been made, McLeod added.
Negative response from Moscow
The IOC decision has not gone down well with the Kremlin. On Wednesday, spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that the move amounted to the destruction of the Olympic idea.
"Of course, this is absolutely contrary to the entire ideology of the Olympic movement, and this does not paint the IOC in a good light," he said.
IOC vetting Russian, Belarusian athletes
Russian and Belarusian athletes who qualify for the Games will do so without their flags and anthems. Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, athletes from both countries were banned from many international sporting events.
The IOC is now allowing them to compete in individual sports if they don't support the war and have no affiliation with Russia's military or security forces.
So far, 12 Russians and seven Belarusians have qualified for the Games, and McLeod said he estimated 36 Russians and 22 Belarusians would eventually qualify. Their final participation, however, will depend on an IOC review examining each athlete.
IOC refuses outright ban
The decision to bar Russian representation at the Olympic Games has come under fire from both Moscow and Kyiv.
Ukraine has urged the IOC to issue an outright ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes, but the committee said in December that such a move would create a precedent that could end up with the Olympics becoming used as a political pawn.
The IOC did, however, suspend Russia's Olympic Committee last year after it unilaterally recognized regional sports organizations in the four Ukrainian territories that Russia illegally annexed in 2022.
Russia's attempt to appeal that decision was shot down by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in February.
Moscow has also said it will run its own Friendship Games in Moscow and Ekaterinburg after this year's Paris Olympic Games, a move the IOC called a "cynical attempt to politicize sport."
McLeod said that the executive board would decide on any possible sanctions for athletes who take part in the Friendship Games.
This drew a sharp response from Moscow, with foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova saying it demonstrated "how far the IOC has moved away from its stated principles and slipped into racism and neo-Nazism."
The IOC has yet to respond to the Kremlin and foreign ministry statements.
Football: North Korea loses 1-0 to Japan, cancels next game
Japan's football association head told domestic media after the win over North Korea in Tokyo. He said he'd been told next week's game could not take place in Pyongyang and asked if Japan could host it instead.
North Korea has reportedly canceled a football World Cup qualifier game it was hosting with former colonizer Japan, after losing to its eastern neighbor on Thursday.
Japan beat North Korea 1-0 in the second round of Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. The game was held in Tokyo.
What did Pyongyang say?
After the game, the head of Japan's football association, Kozo Tashima, told Tokyo-based Kyodo news that Pyongyang canceled next Tuesday's qualifier, which was scheduled to be held in the North Korean capital.
North Korea was concerned by "a malignant infectious disease" in Japan, an apparent reference to rising cases of streptococcus infections, Kyodo said.
Tashima told Kyodo that North Korean officials had asked him during half time whether Japan could host Tuesday's match instead, but that he had replied that he was not sure at such short notice. The game is likely to either be rescheduled or relocated or both.
Japan won Thursday's game after midfielder Ao Tanaka scored soon after the kickoff, with the side maintaining its 1-0 lead for the remainder of the game.
North Korea was cheered by a small group of red-shirted fans in the Tokyo stadium.
"We wanted to give our fans a good result and we are sorry we could not but it was a good game," North Korea coach Sin Yong Nam said.
Asia's automatic allocation at the World Cup has increased from four to eight teams.
North Korea had not hosted a men's international football match since 2019, before the COVID pandemic. It pulled out of the qualification process for the 2022 World Cup citing concerns about the pandemic. But even during more normal times, it was not uncommon for North Korea to play some of its home games in other countries.
Samson leads Rajasthan to win over Lucknow in IPL
Sanju Samson led from the front as Rajasthan Royals defeated Lucknow Super Giants by 20 runs in their opening match of the Indian Premier League on Sunday.
Captain Samson hammered an unbeaten 82 off 52 balls to steer inaugural IPL champions Rajasthan to 193-4 after they elected to bat first in Jaipur.
Rajasthan's New Zealander quick Trent Boult then struck two early blows to rattle the Lucknow batting, which finished on 173-6 despite an unbeaten 64 by West Indies' Nicholas Pooran.
Lucknow, who made the play-offs in the last two seasons since their debut alongside Gujarat Titans in 2022, lost regular wickets but skipper KL Rahul attempted to keep the chase on track in his 44-ball 58 despite his slow start.
The left-handed Pooran then took charge and along with Rahul put on 85 runs for the fifth wicket but the asking rate kept climbing.
Rahul fell to Sandeep Sharma after his fifty and Marcus Stoinis's departure left Pooran with a lot in the final few overs.
Samson remained the hero as he took on the opposition attack and built key partnerships including a 93-run third-wicket stand with Riyan Parag, who made 43.
Samson hit six sixes on a pitch with variable bounce where Lucknow bowlers took a beating except Krunal Pandya, who returned figures of 0-19.
The Rajasthan innings witnessed a nearly 10-minute halt in the first over when a cable of the spidercam broke as technicians scurried to sort out the wires on the field.
Source: BSS
Bangladesh, Bhutan sign 3 new MoUs, renew 1
Bangladesh and Bhutan today signed three new memorandum of understandings (MoUs) and renewed one to enhance mutual cooperation between the two neighbouring countries.
The new MoUs are - Establishment of Special Economic Zone in Kurigram, setting up a Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit in Thimphu and technical cooperation on Consumers Rights.
Besides, another MoU on cultural exchange was also renewed.
Visiting Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Bhutanese Queen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck witnessed the signing ceremony held at Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
Earlier, on his arrival at the PMO, the Bhutanese king was received by the prime minister.
Wangchuck also hold a delegation-level meeting with Sheikh Hasina prior to the signing ceremony.
They also had a Tête-à-tête (one-to-one meeting).
Health Minister Dr. Samanta Lal Sen and Bhutanese Health Minister Tandin Wangchuk signed the MoU on establishment of Plastic Surgery Unit in Thimphu, Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) Shaikh Yusuf Harun and Bhutanese Commerce Secretary Tashi Wangmo signed the MoU on Establishment of Special Economic Zone in Kurigram on behalf of their respective sides.
Directorate of National Consumers' Right Protection Director General AHM Shafiquzzaman and Bhutanese Commerce Secretary Tashi Wangmo inked the MoU on technical cooperation on Consumers Rights.
Cultural Affairs Secretary Khalil Ahmed and Bhutanese Foreign Secretary Pema Choden signed the renewal of MoUs on cultural exchange on behalf of their respective sides.
In addition, Bangladesh has offered to increase the number of annual medical seats for Bhutanese students to 30 from 22.
The Foreign Service Academy of Bangladesh has offered two seats for the Bhutanese foreign service officers every year for capacity building and would also like to extend necessary assistance in setting up a Diplomatic Training Institute in Bhutan.
Apart from this, annual special training to Bhutanese three batches' officials in Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) for three years has also been offered.
Meanwhile, as a special gesture of goodwill and friendship, Bangladesh handed over computers and laptops for the capacity building and skill development of the government officials of Bhutan.
Source: BSS
We couldn't grab the opportunity with both hands: Shanto
Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto expressed his disappointment at not grabbing the opportunity to win the first Test against Sri Lanka, despite reducing the visitors to 57-5 in the first morning session of the game.
Sri Lanka recovered from the collapse, thanks to skipper Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis to eventually crush Bangladesh by 328 runs at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium today.
However after their meek surrender, the question came to the fore that if Bangladesh got relaxed following Sri Lanka's slump.
"We are not relaxed (after reducing Sri Lanka to 57-5). There is no option to be relaxed. Opportunity came to us but we couldn't grab it with both hands. However everyone gave their 100 percent, that is what I can say," Shanto said.
"It happens sometimes, but the way Dhananjaya and Kamindu batted, credit goes to them. The way we started, really proud of our seam bowlers. The wicket was good. There was movement early on. We have to improve our new-ball batting," Shanto added.
The captain felt they need to work extensively after making enormous mistakes in the first Test.
The players played some reckless shots, specially the shots that Liton Das and Shanto himself played, created massive uproar as Bangladesh failed to go past 200 runs in both of the innings.
"Every match is a learning curve. You can find out the mistakes easily if you would like to. We had done a lot of mistakes. Hopefully we'll work on those extensively to come back strongly in the next match," Shanto said.
"I can tell about my shot, it was injudicious and I played it wrong time. I could leave it because it was early in the innings and the ball was new. But I can't tell about Liton's shot. He himself can explain it well but yes, we hardly saw such type of dismissal in Test cricket. I think its misjudgment. We all are careful to do well in the next match," he added.
Sri Lanka recovered from 57-5 to post 280 in the first innings and thereafter bowled Bangladesh out for 188 to gain a 92-run lead. In the second innings, the visitors also tasted a top order collapse but set an improbable 511-run target for Bangladesh to win the game, after compiling 418 before being all out.
In both innings, Kamindu Mendis and captain Dhananjaya de Silva were the protagonists. While they added 202 runs in the first innings, in the second innings, they shared 173 runs to bail the side out of danger.
In the process, both of them hit centuries in both innings to achieve a rare feat.
"Lot of work has to be done before the next Test and we are going to have a plan to come back strongly," Shanto said.
Shanto however heaped praise on Mominul Haque who played a lone defiant innings, stranded on 87 amid Bangladesh's batting tumble in the second innings, in which they were all out for 182.
"He played an outstanding innings, he showed his experience. We were expecting a knock like this from him, hopefully he can continue. If someone could support him, the match could have gone to fifth day." He remarked.
Source: BSS
Shakib returns for 2nd Test against Sri Lanka
Ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has made a comeback to the longer version format after a gap of one year as Bangladesh announced the squad for the second and final Test against Sri Lanka, which gets underway in Chattogram on March 30.
Shakib has been out of the national team since the match against Sri Lanka in World Cup in India last year where he smashed 82 and took two wickets for a match winning performance but he fractured his left index finger, which ruled him out of the side's last match against Australia in the showcase event.
Shakib's eye problem also emerged in the World Cup event and he was forced to miss Bangladesh series against New Zealand at home and away.
He was then left out of the T20 and ODI squad and also the squad of the first Test of Bangladesh for Sri Lanka series as his eye was not deemed okay. However, according to the team management, he is now okay with his eye and played some Dhaka Premier League matches without any trouble.
The star all-rounder last played a Test in April 2023 when Bangladesh met Ireland in Mirpur. Batter Towhid Hridoy, who was drafted in the 15-member squad for the first Test, misses out due to the inclusion of Shakib.
Also out is pacer Mushfik Hasan who has picked up an injury on his left ankle which will require rehab. His replacement is fellow right-arm paceman Hasan Mahmud who has played 39 matches for Bangladesh in white ball cricket but is yet to feature in a Test. Mahmud has taken 49 wickets from 16 first-class outings.
Sri Lanka lead the series 1-0 after winning the first Test in Sylhet by 328 runs. The Test series is part of the 2023-25 ICC World Test Championship cycle.
Bangladesh squad for 2nd Test: Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Zakir Hasan, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Shadman Islam, Liton Das, Mominul Haque, Shakib Al Hasan, Shahadat Hossain Dipu, Mehidy Hassan Miraz, Nayeem Hasan, Taijul Islam, Shoriful Islam, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Hasan Mahmud.
Brazil's football in crisis: No longer 'the beautiful game'
Experts have long been warning that a sell-off of Brazilian talent is seriously damaging domestic football. Restoring "the beautiful game" will be difficult, if not impossible.
Brazilian football has seen better days. The country's Olympic team failed to qualify for Paris 2024, while Brazil's full men's national team, the "Selecao," are languishing in sixth place in the South American World Cup qualifying standings. Utterly unacceptable for a team who have won a record five World Cups.
On Saturday, Dorival Junior became the fifth man in the past two years to take his place in the Selecao's coaching zone — for their friendly against England at Wembley. It seems as if the record-breaking world champions have lost their footballing identity.
Former Brazilian stiker Grafite, who led Wolfsburg to their sole Bundesliga title in 2009, told DW the "jogo bonito" — the "beautiful game" for which former Brazilian stars such as the late Pele were admired — is no longer recognizable. "This type of Brazilian football no longer exists today," said Grafite, who, as an expert for Globo TV, is a keen observer of the development of football in his homeland.
Several hundred transfers abroad annually
It's not as though Grafite was the first to raise the alarm. After the 2014 World Cup when the Selecao were humbled 7-1 by the eventual world champions Germany in the semifinals, Mario Zagallo, a World Cup winner as both a player and coach, warned of a sell-out of home-grown talent. Zagallo warned that Brazilian football was in peril of losing its identity as a result.
It's been around 20 years since a change in European law effectively made it easier for non-EU citizens to ply their trade in Europe. This sparked a wave of transactions that continues to this day. Brazil now loses hundreds of footballers to the rest of the world every year.
"This affects the development of the identity of Brazilian soccer," historian David 'Dere' Gomes told DW. Gomes has been researching the history of football in Rio de Janeiro for years. The most talented players, those capable of deciding a game in the Brazilian way, are being deprived of the time needed to sufficiently develop their talent in their own country, Gomes said. The Brazilian way is, among other things, the spectacular dribbling that can lift fans out of their seats. It's a big part of the country's footballing identity.
Top transfers not the only problem
The focus is usually only on the top transfers of exceptional talents such as Vinicius Junior in 2018 or Endrick to Real Madrid last summer. However, the Brazilian league is constantly losing substance and quality, not just at the top of the talent pool. Many transfers go largely unnoticed.
One could compare this to the exploitation of raw materials. The only difference is that it is not copper, oil or lithium that the rich industrialized countries are buying up, but footballing talent.
"It's normal for Brazilian players to adapt to the style of European soccer, but Brazil hasn't kept pace," Grafite said. Footballers who play in Brazil have a different rhythm and speed than those who play in Europe, the now 44-year-old added.
The game simply has a different dynamic overseas. These two identities then clash within the national team at a Copa America or a World Cup and lead to coordination problems.
"This was quite evident at the last World Cup," Grafite noted.
In Qatar, at the end of 2022, Brazil were eliminated by Croatia in the quarterfinals.
Premier League success at the expense of others
The Premier League is currently considered the measure of all things in club football worldwide.
"But how can the Premier League be the biggest league in the world if England has neither the best players nor a tradition of winning the World Cup?" asked historian Gomes rhetorically.
"It only works by importing players," he answered. "Talent from Latin America and Africa. And Brazil is one of the biggest treasure troves for this talent. Imagine how strong a Brazilian football league would be if it had players who earn their money in England, like Douglas Luiz, Lucas Paqueta, Joao Gomes, Bruno Guimaraes, Richarlison — or in other European leagues, like Vinicius Junior or Rodrygo."
Dere Gomes is well aware that with billions of euros changing hands every year, reversing this trend would be a very tall task indeed.
"Building a strong league in Brazil would require good club management coupled with financial fair play," he said. "You'd also need to find a way of reducing the clubs' dependence on large revenues."
And, he said, politics would also have an important role to play.
