Hey BCCI, why pressurise youngsters for Sachin's 200th Test?

September 7, 2013

Sachins_200New Delhi, Sep 7: BCCI's move to facilitate Sachin Tendulkar's 200th Test milestone on home soil is likely to have serious repercussions on the Indian team's curtailed South Africa tour.

After a timid encounter against Zimbabwe during the months of July and August, a fresh and rejuvenated Indian side was supposed to take on the World No.1 Proteas in November in their backyard with aplomb, sans any fatigue.

India were supposed to tour South Africa for three Tests, seven ODIs and two T20 matches between November 18 and January 25. However, with the BCCI adamant on holding a West Indies series - two Tests and three ODIs - before the South Africa tour, an exhausted Indian side may find it difficult to face Proteas on their soil where the visitors already have a dismal record.

India have won just two Tests in South Africa and their ODI win-loss ratio, too, is far from impressive. With fresh pool of talents like Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara and Murali Vijay leaving a mark in previous home series and Champions Trophy, expectations were high from this current batch of youngsters.

But it seems the Indian board is hell bent on adding psychological pressures of an unwanted home series against the Caribbean side onto the youngsters, only to facilitate a fading star by helping him reach another milestone.

The board's adamant stand appears more foolish when Tendulkar himself has asserted that 200th Test is just a number and he has no intentions of quitting the game even after reaching the magical number. "Where is the rush? I don't think at this stage I need to do that," said Tendulkar when asked about his retirement plan.

Tendulkar had a chance to quit on a high note had he been allowed to reach the 200th Test during a challenging South Africa tour, rather than against a weak West Indies side in the sub-continent. A Tendulkar special against a ferocious attack consisting of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel would have been a delight for all his fans.

Tendulkar had reached his 50th Test ton during the South Africa tour in 2010. Though, India lost the match, the famous hundred at Centurion was a face saver for the visitors after the first innings collapse.

Tendulkar's fans are looking for another such knock from him. And if he guides the young team to a Test series win in South Africa, it would have been another prominent feather to his cap, rather than completing a double ton of Test matches on home soil.

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News Network
March 28,2020

Milan, Mar 28: Juventus star Paulo Dybala revealed how he "struggled to breathe" after contracting coronavirus which has killed over 9,000 people in Italy.

The Argentine international announced last Saturday he was one of three Juventus players to catch the virus along with Daniele Rugani and Blaise Matuidi, who both had no symptoms.

"I feel better now after some strong symptoms," the 26-year-old Dybala told JTV channel.

"A couple of days ago I was not well, I felt heavy and after five minutes of movement I had to stop because I was struggling to breathe.

"Now I can move and walk to start trying to train, because when I tried in the past few days I started to shake too much.

"I gasped for air and as a result I couldn't do anything, after five minutes I was already very tired, I felt the body heavy and my muscles hurt.

"Now I'm fine. My fiancee Oriana (Sabatini) has also overcome the symptoms."

Dybala has scored 13 goals in all competitions this season, including in league leader's Juventus's last game against Inter Milan before Serie A and all sport in Italy was suspended.

"The goal against Inter was the greatest emotion, (Aaron) Ramsey provided the perfect assist - it's a pity that there was no public," added Dybala.

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News Network
March 26,2020

New Delhi, Mar 26: As India continues its fight against coronavirus, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Sourav Ganguly pledged to donate rice worth Rs 50 Lakhs to the needy people.
The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), in its statement, said Ganguly along with Lal Baba Rice will provide rice to people who have been put in government schools for safety and security.
"#Sourav to provide Free Rice to the Needy It is heartening to note that Sourav Ganguly along with Lal Baba Rice has come forward to provide free rice worth Rs 50 lacs to the needy people who have been put in government schools for safety and security. Hope this initiative of Ganguly would encourage other citizens of the state to take up similar initiatives to serve the people of our state. #CAB," CAB said in a statement.
CAB President Avishek Dalmiya has also lent support to the needy people as he donated Rs 5 lakhs to the Government's Emergency Relief Fund.
"CAB President donates 5 lakhs to the Government's Emergency Relief Fund to fight against #CoronaVirus/#Covid19," CAB said in a statement.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced a 21-day nation-wide lockdown to contain coronavirus.

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News Network
July 21,2020

Melbourne, Jul 21: Cricket Australia's chief executive Nick Hockley has said that the Indian players and staff will most likely be asked to face two weeks of quarantine before the four-match Test series.

This scenario will bring the Adelaide Oval and its newly constructed hotel firmly into view as the sort of biosecure bubble, ESPNCricinfo reported.

India and Australia are slated to face each other in a four-match Test series, which is to begin from December 4 at Brisbane.

"The two-week quarantine is pretty well-defined. What we are working on is making sure that even within that quarantine environment, the players have got the absolute best training facilities, so that their preparation for the matches is as optimal as it can possibly be," ESPNCricinfo quoted Hockey as saying.

"Certainly the fact that the Adelaide Oval has a hotel. It does provide a facility not dissimilar to Old Trafford or Ageas Bowl where the hotels are integrated into the venue," he added.

Hockley also said that an exacting standard of biosecurity and testing would be applied before the series against India as the coronavirus cases are spiking in the subcontinent.

"It's widely known and it's unlikely that international travel restrictions would have lifted by the time that India will be due to come into the country. Clearly there will be testing regimes. We will be able to test people before that they get on to the plane and it is the nature of the situation of making sure we have the quarantine arrangements in line with government and health authority protocols," Hockley said.

"The key thing for the players is that there's regular testing and that we appropriately quarantine them when they come in and all of those plans are currently in development," he added.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday announced the postponement of the T20 World Cup 2020 slated to be held in Australia from October 18-November 15 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Following the announcement, the BCCI is likely to go ahead with the Indian Premier League (IPL) in the October-November window. However, it is known where the T20 tournament will be played as cases continue to rise in India.
"I think the BCCI has made no secrets that they are considering what that means for the IPL. For us, it's about getting a bit of an understanding and certainty around what that means. Clearly, in a normal course, some of our best players are obviously top picks for those IPL teams," Hockley said.

"It's a bit premature to speculate on that. We need to understand what the plans are if any and once we understand that we will make decisions accordingly," he added.

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