Embrace pressure, don't fight it: Sachin

July 29, 2012

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Cricket superstar Sachin Tendulkar has simple advice to offer India's medal hopefuls at the London Olympics - embrace pressure, don't fight it.

The record-breaking batsman, who has himself shouldered the burden of expectations from cricket-crazy fans for more than two decades, said top sportspersons needed to get used to the pressure. "There is no doubt pressure will be your continuous companion," the 39-year-old was quoted as saying by the Hindustan Times.

"If you fight that, it gets difficult. You have to just understand your body and mind and embrace it. It is easier said than done, but I think, once they enter the playing area, they will all forget about the pressure. They would just want to focus on a good performance."

India, a perennial underachiever at the Olympics given its population, is hopeful of a better showing at the Games having sent its largest ever contingent to London. At the Beijing Olympics India won just three medals - shooter Abhinav Bindra picked up the country's first individual gold medal, and wrestler Sushil Kumar and boxer Vijender Singh won bronze medals. But Tendulkar shied away from predicting India's medals tally at London and urged the country's Olympic squad to just give their best and not worry about the results.

"I am not the kind of person who sets targets like that," he said. "The entire world is there to win and there is going to be only one winner. It's not going to be easy, but yes, we have winners in our contingent. I would want to let our entire Indian squad know that we all are behind them. Whether you are successful or not, your effort will matter to us and for that you will always be heroes. It is the commitment that matters. As long as the heart says that we have given our best' we will be proud of you. It is about the hard work they have put in, the sacrifices they have made."

Tendulkar, who made his debut in 1989, is the leading run-getter in both Test and one-day cricket and has an unprecedented 100 international centuries to his credit.

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India's T20 World Cup win could start a major breakthrough: Brett Lee

March 7,2020

Melbourne, Mar 7: He will be supporting Australia for sure but former pacer Brett Lee feels an Indian victory in Sunday's T20 Word Cup final could be a "start of a major breakthrough" for the women's game in the cricket-mad country.

India and Australia will lock horns in what is expected to be a blockbuster title clash at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

"As an Australian, I'd love nothing more than for (Meg) Lanning's team to do the job. But if India were to win the World Cup for the first time, victory would do so much for women's cricket in a country that already adores the sport," Lee wrote in an ICC column.

"This could be the start of a major breakthrough, particularly with the amount of talent that is coming through."

The former speedster said Australia will have to look for ways to counter the in-form 16-year-old Shafali Verma.

"In Shafali Verma, India boast one of the most talented players in the world and you feel that for Australia to win the game, dismissing her will likely be their first job.

"I've been so impressed with the opener - it's staggering to believe she's only 16 with the confidence she has in her own ability and the way she strikes the ball so cleanly.

"She's such good fun to watch and I'm not sure the women's game has seen anyone like her for such a long time."

Shafali has been the star of the tournament, having amassed 161 runs at a strike rate of 161, consistently providing India solid starts, and that was not lost on Lee.

"To be the world's best T20 batter already shows just how far she has progressed in such a short space of time and the experience in this tournament will hold her in good stead for years to come.

"Even with the way she's played in Australia and her fearless brand of cricket, you still get the feeling she has more to come as well."

He reckoned Shafali may have another big score awaiting her.

"She's got a big score in her locker and there's probably no better place to do that than the MCG. Shafali is already a record breaker but if she can steer her side to their first Women's T20 World Cup title at just 16, then the sky really is the limit for her career."

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Pak cricketers to donate Rs 5 million to govt emergency fund for COVID-19 pandemic

Agencies

March 26,2020

Karachi, Mar 26: Pakistan's centrally-contracted cricketers will contribute Rs 5 million to the national government's emergency fund to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Ehsan Mani on Wednesday said apart from centrally-contracted players contributing Rs 5 million, the employees in the board, up to the senior manager level, will contribute their one day's salary.

Those employed as general managers or on higher posts will give two days' salary to the fund.

"The PCB will collect all these funds and deposit it to the government's coronavirus fund," he said.

Pakistan has recorded more than 1,000 positive cases of the deadly virus, which has claimed more than 19,000 lives all over the world.

"It is the history of the cricket board that we always stand by the government in difficult times," Mani said.

The PCB has already given its high performances centre in Karachi at the national stadium to be used by paramedical staff working at the special coronavirus hospital set up at the expo centre in the in the city.

Mani said though cricket has been disrupted by the virus outbreak but it was far more important for the nation to stand by the government and also take all precautionary steps during the pandemic.

Pakistan's centrally-contracted players are entitled to monthly salaries ranging from Rs 5 to 12 lakh besides match fee and other earnings.

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Virat Kohli only Indian again in Forbes' list of highest-paid athletes

News Network

May 30,2020

New York, May 30: Cricket superstar Virat Kohli remains the only Indian in the Forbes' list of world's highest-paid athletes with total earnings of USD 26 million, jumping to the 66th spot from 100 in the 2020 standings.

Kohli's earnings from endorsement stand at USD 24 million and USD 2 million from salary/winnings. The 31-year-old is also the only cricketer in the top-100 list.

With earnings of USD 25 million, Kohli was ranked 100th in 2019 and 83rd in 2018 with USD 24 million.

Tennis legend Roger Federer has toped the list for the first time with earnings of USD 106.3 million, rising from fifth place last year.

Football icons Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are second and third respectively with earnings of USD 105 and USD 104 million.

The others in the top-10 are Neymar (football), LeBron James (basketball), Stephen Curry (basketball), Kevin Durrant (basketball), Tigers Woods (golf), Kirk Cousins (American football) and Carson Wentz (American football).

The athletes' earnings have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic which led to suspension of sporting activities all around the world.

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Saina Nehwal is the only Indian to feature in the world’s 20 most charitable athletes, as per a list compiled by the US based website in Athletes Gone Good.