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FRESH UPDATE: Twist in Aussie Test great’s kidnapping as partner’s brother arrested

Fresh details have emerged from the kidnapping of former Australian Test cricketer Stuart MacGill, with his girlfriend’s brother arrested following the shocking attack on Sydney’s north shore.

The news was first reported by the Daily Telegraph, with police confirming in a statement that a 50-year old man was abducted at gunpoint from Cremorne.

According to police MacGill was allegedly confronted by a 46-year-old man about 8pm on April 14.

That person is alleged to be Marino Sotiropoulos – the brother of Mr MacGill’s recent partner Maria O’Meagher according to The Age, who is the owner of Aristotle’s restaurant in Neutral Bay, where the former leg-spin bowler works as general manager.

Two other men then allegedly forced MacGill into a vehicle before being driven to a property at Bringelly in Sydney’s south west.

It was there that police allege he was assaulted and threatened with a firearm before being driven to the Belmore area and released around an hour later.

The other men were Son Minh Nguyen, 42, and brothers Frederick and Richard Schaaf, 27 and 29.

The men were taken to local police stations where they have been charged with unlawfully taking or detaining someone with intent to gain advantage, causing actual bodily harm.

Mr Sotiropoulos was charged with participating in a criminal group and supplying a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug.

The incident was reported to police six days later, with Mr MacGill reportedly experiencing trauma and fearing for his safety.

Detectives from the NSW Robbery and Serious Crime Squad are investigating with police raiding a number of homes in relation to the incident.

“Following extensive investigations, strike force detectives, with assistance from Raptor Squad and the Public Order and Riot Squad, arrested four men – aged 27, 29, 42 and 46 – from 6am today (Wednesday 5 May 2021),” police said in a statement.

“The men were taken to local police stations where charges are expected to be laid.

“Officers are currently in the process of executing search warrants at homes at Sutherland, Caringbah, Brighton Le-Sands, Banksia and Marrickville.”

The Australian is reporting Mr Sotiropoulos potentially saw MacGill as a means to an end to obtaining money to clear a debt.

Detective Acting Superintendent Anthony Holton said MacGill did not owe money to the charged group, including Mr Sotiropoulos.

“His kidnapping is not involved in any other backstory that leads to him having to a personal debt to other people that he had to pay back.”

MacGill played 44 Test matches for Australia and three One Day Internationals.

The leg spinner made his Test debut in 1998 and made a statement in 1999 when he out bowled Shane Warne on the tour of West Indies.

MacGill retired in 2008 before making a comeback to cricket at the age of 40 in the inaugural 2011 Big Bash League season, playing for the Sydney Sixers.

He was later signed by the Dhaka Gladiators to play in the Bangladesh Premier League.

Source- fox sports

Aussie cricket great Stuart MacGill ‘kidnapped and held for ransom’

Stuart MacGill, pictured here during a Test match for Australia in 2008. — Stuart MacGill look on during a Test match for Australia in 2008. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images)

Aussie cricket great Stuart MacGill has been named as the victim of an alleged kidnapping and extortion attempt in Sydney.

While NSW Police haven’t identified the victim, described as a 50-year-old man, MacGill has been named by multiple media outlets.

Police said the alleged victim was confronted by a man in Cremorne on Sydney’s north shore at 8pm on April 14.

Two other men then arrived and helped force him into a car before driving him to Bringelly, in Sydney’s southwest, where he was threatened with a firearm.

An hour later the victim was driven to Belmore and released.

According to the Daily Telegraph, MacGill was badly assaulted during the ordeal.

The incident was reported to police on April 20.

Four men – aged 27, 29, 42 and 46 – were arrested in dawn raids on Wednesday.

The men have been taken to police stations where charges are expected to be laid.

Police officers are in the process of executing search warrants at homes at Sutherland, Caringbah, Brighton Le-Sands, Banksia and Marrickville.

Stuart MacGill and Shane Warne, pictured here in 2006. — Stuart MacGill and Shane Warne in 2006. (Photo by Hamish Blair/Getty Images)

Stuart MacGill among Australia’s unluckiest cricketers

MacGill played 44 Tests for Australia between 1998 and 2008, taking 208 wickets.

Only Shane Warne (708), Richie Benaud (248) and Clarrie Grimmett (216) have more Test wickets among Australian leg-spinners.

MacGill played the majority of his career while Warne was in his prime, meaning he probably would have played many more Tests in any other era.

MacGill also played in three one-day internationals for his country.

He took 328 wickets for NSW in the Sheffield Shield, putting him equal-third on the state’s all-time list alongside Trent Copeland.

Only Geoff Lawson (367) and Greg Matthews (363) have taken more wickets for NSW in first-class cricket.

After retiring in 2008 he made a comeback at age 40 to play for the Sydney Sixers in the inaugural Big Bash League season in 2011

Source- yahoo sports https://au.yahoo.com/

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Australian players set for IPL exodus to the Maldives

There are close to 40 Australians in the IPL bubble comprising players, coaching staff and commentators

IPL Trophy

A mass exodus of Australian players, coaches and support staff to the Maldives is the expected remedy to a dilemma created by the postponement of the 2021 IPL and the current closure of the Australian border to citizens currently in India during its rampant Covid-19 outbreak. There are close to 40 Australians in the IPL bubble comprising players, coaching staff and commentators.

The likes of Pat Cummins, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Ricky Ponting, Simon Katich and company are expected to join the commentator Michael Slater, who had already headed to the Maldives as a temporary post in the wake of blanket bans on entry to Australian citizens who have recently been in India, a state of play that will exist until at least May 15.null

The exceptions will be the likes of allrounder Dan Christian, who has a deal to play in the UK later this year. But the UK is currently allowing only its citizens and residents to fly in from India, so it remains to be seen what route he will take as Dubai – often a stopover between India and the UK – is not allowing flights from India either.

“Once we flew out of Australia we knew we’d signed up for 14 days quarantine coming home so you feel a bit further from getting home, but when the hard border shut no one has ever experienced that before,” Cummins told The Back Page on Fox Sports. “[It has] added a bit of anxiety for the Aussies over here but we signed up to play the tournament until the start of June so hopefully it all reopens on May 15 and we can get back.

“Think we are all hoping we can get home like we would normally plan and the borders open on May 15, whether it’s [a] private [flight] or not we wouldn’t be allowed back in [at the moment]. Cricket Australia have been brilliant along with the ACA, they are working closely with the government to get the latest information, if we can’t get home it won’t be for lack of trying from all those involved.”

Cricket Australia’s interim chief executive Nick Hockley, team performance chief Ben Oliver and the Australian Cricketers’ Association CEO Todd Greenberg were all in urgent meetings on Tuesday night aimed at clarifying the situation for the freelancing players.

“Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’ Association understand the decision of the BCCI to indefinitely postpone the 2021 Indian Premier League for the safety and wellbeing of all participants,” a joint statement from CA and ACA said. “CA is in direct contact with the BCCI as they work through plans to ensure the safe accommodation and repatriation of Australian players, coaches, match officials and commentators back home to Australia. CA and the ACA respect the decision of the Australian Government to pause travel from India until at least May 15 and will not seek exemptions. CA and the ACA thank the BCCI for their efforts and cooperation for the safe repatriation of all participants at the IPL.”

On April 27, Hemang Amin, the interim chief executive officer of the BCCI, had sent an email to all eight franchises saying the IPL understood players and support staff would be “apprehensive” about returning home. But he reassured them saying: “the BCCI will do everything to ensure that you reach your respective destinations seamlessly. Be rest assured that the tournament is not over for BCCI till each one of you has reached your home, safe and sound.”

On Tuesday the BCCI was busy working out with franchises what was the best and safest way for players to reach home. On Monday, Hockley had stated that there had been “no suggestion at the moment” of a charter flight for the Australians in the IPL.

On Monday Slater had condemned the Australian government’s decision to bar all travelers from India, including its own citizens until May 15. “If our government cared for the safety of Aussies they would allow us to get home,” an indignant Slater wrote on Twitter, addressing the Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison. “It’s a disgrace!! Blood on your hands PM. How dare you treat us like this. How about you sort out [the] quarantine system. I had government permission to work on the IPL but I now have government neglect.

“And for those who think this is a money exercise, well, forget it. This is what I do for a living and I have not made a penny having left early. So please stop the abuse and think of the thousands dying in India each day. It’s called empathy. If only our government had some.”

Adam Zampa, Kane Richardson and Andrew Tye had been among the Australian cricketers who had managed to exit India before the IPL was paused and the Australian border shut. Morrison called for patience from citizens currently locked outside their own country on a television interview with Nine on Tuesday morning.

“I thank all of those who are in this difficult situation for their patience and their understanding,” Morrison said. “I am working to bring them home safely. I am going to take decisions that I believe will protect Australia from a third wave and help me to be able to reach out and bring more Australians safely home from places where they are in difficult situations.”

“I’d just ask them [the cricketers], like the many Australians that are in India at present, to be patient and understanding. This is a two-week pause. It’s not a permanent pause, it’s not a four-month lockdown.”

New Zealand players at the IPL
New Zealand recently lifted its travel ban for India but there are limited flights between the two countries, and the New Zealand players will have to undergo a 14-day quarantine whenever they get home. NZC issued a statement saying it was liaising with different authorities to find a solution.

“NZC remains in contact with the New Zealand contingent in the Indian Premier League. The players are in a relatively safe environment and those within affected teams are in isolation,” the statement said. “We’ll continue to liaise with the BCCI, the ECB and New Zealand government authorities in terms of managing their situation – but at this juncture it’s too early to discuss potential options.”

Source- ESPNcricinfo.com

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BREAKING NEWS- IPL 2021 postponed as Covid count increases

As things stand, members of three franchises have been confirmed to have tested positive

IPL 2021 has been postponed, following several positive Covid-19 cases across franchises over the past couple of days. The move was confirmed by IPL chairman Brijesh Patel, who said it was for the safety of all stakeholders.

In a media statement, the IPL said the decision was “unanimously” taken by the tournament’s Governing Council along with the top brass of the BCCI. “The BCCI does not want to compromise on the safety of the players, support staff and the other participants involved in organising the IPL,” the statement said. “This decision was taken keeping the safety, health and wellbeing of all the stakeholders in mind.

“These are difficult times, especially in India, and while we have tried to bring in some positivity and cheer, however, it is imperative that the tournament is now suspended and everyone goes back to their families and loved ones in these trying times.”

The statement also said the BCCI would do “do everything in its powers to arrange for the secure and safe passage of all the participants in IPL 2021”.

Sunrisers Hyderabad became the third franchise to register cases when it was confirmed earlier on Tuesday that Wriddhiman Saha had tested positive for Covid-19 and was isolating away from the rest of the squad; he had reported reported symptoms including persistent fever.

Previously, the Kolkata Knight Riders – with two players – and the Chennai Super Kings – with two members of staff – had registered cases.

The postponement comes a week after the BCCI reassured all stakeholders and the eight teams that the tournament bubble was “totally safe”. That note was sent out by the BCCI’s interim chief executive officer Hemang Amin, who told players they were playing the 2021 IPL not just to win, but for something “much more important… humanity.”

However, by Monday, May 3, the first cases of IPL’s bubble being breached by the virus emerged, after the Knight Riders’ Varun Chakravarthy and Sandeep Warrier tested positive. Subsequently, Monday’s match between the Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore in Ahmedabad was put off.

At the same time, in Delhi, the Super Kings reported two confirmed cases: bowling coach L Balaji and a member of their service staff. Balaji’s case, in particular, raised concerns among the other franchises as he was in the team’s dugout on May 1 during the match against the Mumbai Indians. Earlier today, it was confirmed that the Super Kings had gone into isolation for a week. The Saha news soon followed, before the tournament’s postponement was announced.

The BCCI released the IPL schedule on March 7, with six cities staging matches between April 9 and May 30. The plan was for a caravan model, with two of the six venues being used at any given time. The first leg took place in Chennai and Mumbai and the second leg – ongoing till today’s postponement news – was in Ahmedabad and Delhi. The third leg was due to kick off in Bengaluru and Kolkata next week, with the playoffs scheduled for Ahmedabad.

However India’s worsening pandemic situation – it has been recording around 400,000 new positive cases daily over the past few days – prompted several countries to ban travellers from India. The Australian government even imposed a ban on its own citizens returning from India until May 15 and said any transgression would be deemed a criminal offence.

All this meant the players were getting anxious. Liam Livingstone and Andrew Tye (both Royals) and the Royal Challengers pair of Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson returned home – to England and Australia – before the clampdowns. The Capitals’ lead spinner R Ashwin also ended his IPL stint after the first leg to attend to his family, many of whom had tested positive for Covid-19. Senior Indian umpire Nitin Menon too returned home to Indore to attend to his parents, who were positive. Australian umpire Paul Reiffel admitted he was minutes away from leaving India until the travel corridor through which he was planning to return was shut off.

Source- ESPNcricinfo.com

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Cricket first sport to announce qualifiers for Commonwealth Games

Cricket is the first discipline to announce qualifying teams for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, and a country from the West Indies join England in qualifying for Birmingham 2022; Qualifier to determine the final participant

Cricket is the first discipline to announce qualifying teams for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games as the sport makes a landmark re-entry to the prestigious multi-sport event scheduled from 28 July to 8 August next year.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) made the announcement on Monday as women’s cricket features in the Games for the first time in 22 editions and cricket for only the second time ever, the first occasion being a men’s ODI competition in Kuala Lumpur in 1998, which was won by South Africa.

The six qualifiers who join home team England in the eight-team Twenty20 competition are Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, and a country from the West Indies. They have secured qualification as a result of their standings in the MRF Tyres ICC Women’s T20I Team Rankings on 1 April 2021.

As per the qualification process, the winner of a designated Qualifying event will determine which country from the Caribbean region gets to participate as athletes will be representing their individual countries and not the West Indies as they would at ICC events.

The last participating team will be decided through a Qualifying tournament to be held by 31 January 2022, details of which will be announced in due course.

The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will see 4,500 athletes from 72 nations and territories compete across 11 spectacular days of sport. Birmingham 2022 will be the first major multi-sport event in history to award more medals to women than men.

The Commonwealth Games cricket tournament will take place at the iconic Edgbaston Stadium, with tickets set to go on sale later this year.

ICC Acting Chief Executive Geoff Allardice: “We are incredibly proud and excited to be part of Birmingham 2022 and it is a fantastic opportunity for us to continue to grow the women’s game globally.

“We are committed to maintaining the momentum that saw 86,174 fans packed into the Melbourne Cricket Ground for the final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup last year and Birmingham 2022 gives us another global stage on which to showcase the women’s game.

“On behalf of the ICC and its Members, I thank the Commonwealth Games Federation for their support and look forward to seeing some superb cricket at Edgbaston.”

Commonwealth Games Federation President Dame Louise Martin: “It is an exciting milestone to be announcing the first teams to qualify for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Cricket is a sport that is synonymous with the Commonwealth and we are so excited to have it back in the Games for the first time since the men’s competition at Kuala Lumpur 1998.

“The debut of women’s T20 cricket will be a historic moment for Commonwealth Sport and a wonderful showcase for women’s sport across the world. Congratulations to the teams that have now booked their spot to compete at the iconic Edgbaston Stadium for what I am certain will be an unforgettable tournament.”

England captain Heather Knight: “We’re really excited about hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2022 and it offers a big opportunity for women’s cricket, both in England and Wales and around the world.

“With direct entry into the competition confirmed, we’re one step closer to being on the pitch in Birmingham, and the prospect of potentially winning a medal is something that will be at the back of our minds across the next 12 months.

“It’s going to be a fantastic competition, a real chance to showcase the women’s game to a huge audience and it’s one we’re thrilled to be taking part in.”

India captain Harmanpreet Kaur: “It’s great to be confirmed a place in the Commonwealth Games. We are raring to go, confident of doing well after having made the final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in Australia last year.

“It is an awesome opportunity for both the women’s game and cricket to make a mark at the prestigious multi-discipline Games and we hope to return with loads of good memories.”

South Africa captain Sune Luus: “Participating in the Commonwealth Games will be an awesome experience for the teams and a tremendous opportunity to take cricket to new audiences.

“We have been constantly improving as a side and will go into the event hoping to emulate our men’s team, which won gold the only previous time cricket featured in the Games.”

Full details of the qualification process can be found here.

An earlier media release on the announcement of the qualification process can be found here.

Source- ICC Media release

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ICC launches tender process for Data Services and Data Rights

The ICC would like to invite interested and qualified applicants to submit tenders to provide data collection services and exploit certain data-related rights at ICC Events between 2021 – 2023.

The tender covers a total of 279 matches at ICC Events, including the ICC World Test Championship Finals in 2021 and 2023, ICC Men’s T20 World Cups in 2021 and 2022, and the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2023. 56 matches are from Women’s Events, including the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2023 and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2022. The scope of the tender also covers the ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup 2022 and the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2023.

Applicants should have a demonstrated history of providing similar services and exploiting comparable rights. Accordingly, tenders should be accompanied by a compelling financial proposition.

Applicants may submit tenders in respect of one or more of the elements set out within the Invitation to Tender document here. The ICC will evaluate each component element separately.

Applicants should submit their relevant documentation, in English, to digitalRFP@icc-cricket.com no later than 23:59 BST on Monday 17^th May 2021.

source – ICC Media release

The road to the Under 19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2022 confirmed- ICC

U19 pic ICC has announced the rescheduled qualification pathway to the ICC Under 19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2022 in the West Indies, where 34 teams will compete for five World Cup spots.

• 34 teams to compete for five Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup 2022 spots
• U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup to take place in Q1 of 2022 in West Indies

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has today announced the rescheduled qualification pathway to the ICC Under 19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2022 in the West Indies, where 34 teams will compete for five World Cup spots.

The 14th edition of the event which takes place in the West Indies in early 2022 will involve Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Zimbabwe by virtue of their top 11 finish in the 2020 edition. The remaining five spots will be determined by regional qualification. Qualification for the 2022 edition of the U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup was delayed by a year due to COVID-19.

The 34 spots will be decided by seven regional events starting in June 2021. Due to the depth in strength in the Africa and Asia regions, a two-division qualification pathway will take place. Road to West Indies 2022 – ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup

Teams from the other three regions, Americas, EAP and Europe will have a one division qualifying process, with the winner of each regional Qualifier claiming one of the five coveted ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2022 places.

The road to the West Indies which showcases the future stars of cricket, will begin in Tanzania with the Africa Division 2 in June 2021. The hosts, Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, Rwanda and Sierra Leone will be fighting for two spots to join Namibia, Nigeria and Uganda in the Africa Qualifier in September 2021. The qualifier will be hosted by Nigeria who competed in their first ever ICC event at the U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2020. The top team from the September event will secure their spot in the West Indies.

The Asia region which also has two divisions will see two qualifiers from Bhutan, Hong Kong, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and Thailand in Division 2 join Malaysia, Nepal, Kuwait and UAE nine in the Asia Qualifier to be hosted in the United Arab Emirates with the top team qualifying for the West Indies.

The top team from the remaining qualifiers East-Asia Pacific, Europe and Americas will make up the Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup line-up.

In Europe, Scotland will host the Qualifier from 30 July to 5 August and will compete alongside Denmark, Guernsey, Ireland, Jersey and the Netherlands for the World Cup spot. USA will host the Americas Qualifier and will be joined by Argentina, Bermuda and Canada between 18 and 25 August 2021.

Finally, the EAP qualifier which consists of Indonesia, PNG, Vanuatu and hosts Japan will take place between 28 September and 4 October, with the winner booking their ticket to the West Indies.

Europe’s originally scheduled Division 2 event was cancelled following extensive consultation with participating Members, as the only available window for hosting did not provide a suitable environment for the staging of an international pathway event.

ICC Head of Events, Chris Tetley said: “The ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup showcases the future stars of our game, with many top-class cricketers around the world having featured at this event. The qualification pathway also provides teams with the opportunity to display their progression at this level, with the likes of Japan and Nigeria qualifying for the last edition of the Men’s U19 CWC for the first time ever. With 33 teams in the running for five World Cup spots I am sure we will see a highly competitive series of events and the emergence of players that will become household names in the future.”

Bangladesh players celebrate with the trophy following victory during the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup Super League Final

ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2020 winning captain, Akbar Ali said: “Winning the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup for Bangladesh for the first time ever was a dream come true. To play in an U19 Cricket World Cup prepares you as an international cricketer, playing against the best teams in the world in front of millions of fans across the world. I wish the very best of luck to all teams competing for a spot in the U19 Cricket World Cup in 2022.”

All events are subject to COVID-19 arrangements if required at that time.

Event – ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Africa Division 2 Qualifier
Host – Tanzania
Dates – June 2021
Participating Teams – Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tanzania

Event – ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Europe Qualifier
Host – Scotland
Dates – 30 July – 5 August 2021
Participating Teams – Denmark, Guernsey, Ireland, Jersey, Netherlands, Scotland

Event – ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Americas Qualifier
Host – USA
Dates- 18 – 25 August 2021
Participating Teams – Argentina, Bermuda, Canada, USA

Event – ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Africa Qualifier
Host – Nigeria
Dates – September 2021
Participating Teams – Namibia, Nigeria, Uganda, Africa Qualifier x2

Event – ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup EAP Qualifier
Host – Japan
Dates – 28 September – 4 October 2021
Participating Teams – Indonesia, Japan, PNG, Vanuatu

Event – ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Asia Division 2 Qualifier
Host – TBC
Dates – TBC
Participating Teams – Bhutan, Hong Kong, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Thailand

Event – ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Asia Qualifier
Host – United Arab Emirates
Dates – TBC
Participating Teams – Malaysia, Nepal, Kuwait, UAE, Asia Qualifier x2

Event – ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup
Host – West Indies
Dates – Q1 2022
Participating Teams – Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies, Zimbabwe, Qualifiers x5

Source- ICC (International Cricket Council) https://www.icc-cricket.com/home-page

Coronavirus Second Wave: What Are The New Symptoms? | Watch Linked Video

Coronavirus Second Wave New Symptoms: It has been more than a year since the deadly coronavirus Covid-19 wreaked havoc in our country, and now the second wave of the virus is currently spreading in the nation.

While, the known symptoms identified by researchers are fever, cough, chills, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, repeated shaking with chills muscle or body aches, headache, sore throat, loss of taste or smell.

Day by day, the scientists are learning more about the different new symptoms of this deadly virus infection with the hopes of eventually being able to treat it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wLIajIGjj4 click this link and watch video that explaining the new symptoms of Covid-19

Dry Mouth

Dry mouth refers to a condition in which the salivary glands in your mouth don’t make enough saliva to keep your mouth wet. So, if you’re witnessing any such issue, this could be an alarming Covid symptom.

COVID tongue and Lesions

In this condition, your tongue may start to appear white and patchy, according to scientists. In the COVID tongue, your body fails to produce saliva that protects your mouth from bad bacteria. Another oral disease which is now a Covid symptom is Lesions, this happens when the virus attacks your muscle fibres, oral linings.

Gastrointestinal infection

Yes, Gastrointestinal infection such as diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, nausea and pain are some signs of coronavirus. If you are facing any digestive discomfort, you must get yourself tested.

Conjunctivitis

In the recent past, many people who got infected with the new strain of the coronavirus showed, conjunctivitis as a sign of COVID-19 infection. So you develop, redness, swelling or watery eyes, Covid test is a safe option.

Fatigue

Extreme tiredness, muscle and joint pains has emerged as another Covid-19 symptom. If you observe any such issues for a longer duration than normal, then please get yourself tested for Covid-19.

source- https://www.india.com/video-gallery/coronavirus-second-wave-what-are-the-new-symptoms-watch-video-4583980/

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Fitness for Cricket

Cricket is a sport in which fitness is traditionally not thought of as very important. The importance of fitness in any sport cannot be underlined. The fitter you are the better you’ll play. But Cricket is one such sport which tests your game skills, mental strength, stamina and physical endurance as well. The success in the 1990s and 2000s of the world beating Australian team has been attributed to their professionalism, and in part to the way they addressed their fitness. The other test playing nations have rightfully put more emphasis on fitness recently and are reaping the benefits.

With the introduction of one day Cricket and more recently Twenty20, the game has gone through major changes and the physical demands made on a cricketer’s body have also increased dramatically.

Depending on the version of the game being played and the role of the player in the team, the importance of fitness will vary: the fitness requirements of a fast bowler will be greater and also different than that of an opening batsman, and one-day cricket will be more demanding than a test match.

Since Cricket is a team sport, all of the players are required to be in action. It takes lots of stamina for bowlers to throw the ball fast, accurate and without overstepping. The fielders must be alert and at vigil all the time. They must sprint, chase the leather and make a dive to stop the ball before it crosses the boundary line. The batsman must require the stamina to run continuously between the wickets and the power needed to execute big shots. The umpires too require lots of endurance and flexibility to perform their duties. But the most ‘fittest’ player in a cricket game is undoubtedly the wicket-keeper. Chirping and hoping behind the stumps, a wicket-keeper has to continuously stand on his toes. A wicket-keeper displays phenomenal level of physicality.

BATSMAN – Batsman are the brand ambassadors of the game. Crowds flock to witness big hitting (read 4s and 6s) and so a high degree of attractiveness of the game rests on batsman. Although batsman use their skills to score through the gaps or use the kinetic energy of the ball by slightly changing the direction, but physical fitness can bring in unprecedented level of success. Take for example, the mighty-muscular Chris Gayle. The West Indian opener hardly makes any foot movement but still manages to clear the boundaries far and clear. He uses his muscle power and gigantic physique to smash the ball all over the park. He stands and delivers, and is the most feared openers in the world. The power in this case, comes from having a strong core, abdominal mid-section that will help to generate explosive upper body actions.

FIELDER – Fielding is not as easy as it seems so. Fielders require ability to deliver concentrated effort for 7 hours in a One Day game and for 5 days in a Test Match. Fatigue means nothing for them and they have to perform their duty even in cold, sunny and rainy conditions. They just don’t have to survive through the day- but run after the ball, jump for a catch or make that bold dive, risking their body. To become a good fielder, keep your body moving whilst on the pitch and stretch muscles whenever possible. cricket players

Cricket is not just standing around all day

BOWLER – Apart from the bowling skills, a bowler needs to maintain a very high level of physical fitness. If a bowler is not in excellent fitness shape, it can lead to inaccurate bowling and increased risk of injury. Since bowlers exert pressure on their arms to deliver the ball, muscular strength is required.

source- topendsports.com

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BCCI mulls moving T20 World Cup to UAE in ‘worst-case scenario’

As India battles a raging Covid-19 pandemic, the BCCI is preparing for the “worst case scenario” of moving the 2021 men’s T20 World Cup to the UAE. The marquee event, comprising 16 countries, is scheduled to take place in India between October and November this year, with the final on November 14.

“I hope so. I am doing everything we can to make sure that it happens,” Dhiraj Malhotra, the tournament director for the T20 World Cup, said on the BBC’s Stumped podcast this week. “We will be doing normal scenario, Covid-scenario, worst case scenario. All that we are in talks with the ICC at the moment.”

The record surge in the Covid infections in the country recently, including a mounting death count, has prompted the cricket fraternity to start asking whether India could be fit to host the World Cup which is less than six months away.

According to Malhotra, who took charge this February as BCCI’s general manager of cricket operations and game development, the Indian board had plans to “take” the T20 World Cup to the UAE as a contingency measure if the ICC found India to be unsafe. “It would be (the) UAE. And we are hoping it will again be done by BCCI – we will take the tournament there. So it will be still run by BCCI.”null

Recently, the BCCI proposed to the ICC nine venues across India to stage the T20 World Cup: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Dharamsala, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow and Mumbai. Ahmedabad, which houses the world’s largest cricket stadium, was slotted in for the final.

The BCCI is using the two-venue caravan model in play during the 2021 IPL as a dry run to determine whether the same can be replicated for the World Cup, which will be the first multi-team global event staged by the ICC after the World Health Organisation declared Covid-19 as a pandemic in 2020. An ICC team including experts from the events, security and biosafety departments, was scheduled to arrive in India to inspect the venues and plans, but that plan had to be shelved with the UAE banning travel to India recently.

Malhotra pointed out that currently the BCCI was still going ahead with the original plan of India hosting the tournament. “As of now we are looking at ticket sales, people travelling from all over the world, but again we don’t know what the situation would be at that point of time.”

Speaking to Indian media agencies on April 7, two days before the start of the IPL, Geoff Allardice, the ICC’s interim chief executive officer, said that although there were back-up plans in place, the global body had not “activated those plans” and was “preparing to go ahead with the event in India as scheduled.”

Since then though, the situation in India has become grim by the day. As per Covid-19 data logged on Friday morning by the US-based John Hopkins University, India has reported over 18 million Covid-19 positive cases (second behind the USA) and is fast moving to become the third on the list of most deaths globally with the current count over 208,000.

Consequently, countries have banned flights to and from India as well as stiffening their quarantine protocols for travelers coming into the country. That move prompted four overseas players from two IPL franchises to return home while also leaving several more uneasy.

Bond – ‘Extra funding’ necessary to have T20 World Cup in India

One of those feeling uneasy is former New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond, who is the bowling coach with defending champions Mumbai Indians. “That is the biggest stress for all of us who are over here is how to get home,” Bond said from Delhi on Friday during a virtual media briefing, organised by the Sydney Thunder, the BBL franchise where he was stepping down as head coach.

“There’s no doubt from my perspective, that’s the only thing that keeps you awake at night is thinking: am I going to be able to get in and what are the rulings of the government. But the other is, what you don’t want to be doing is, sitting around all day talking about that stuff because that just wears you down.”

Asked about the feasibility of India hosting the T20 World Cup, Bond said it would be “certainly challenging” compared to hosting the IPL. “There’s no doubt about that. The uniqueness of obviously having something that is privately owned (franchise) is we have our own hotel, we have net bowlers and all the little things that are helping you as a cricket team taken care of. I know when I have been to ICC tournaments the numbers are limited to 23, so if you are carrying only those sorts of numbers and there’s challenges getting in and out of the country then it is going to make it pretty tough.””The only way I can see the World Cup happening or making it easier to happen is just extra funding. It just comes down to the level of security in the bubble”Mumbai Indians bowling coach Shane Bond

Recently the ICC agreed to increase the squad strength to 30 for the T20 World Cup and the women’s ODI World Cup (scheduled in New Zealand in 2022) to help teams use additional players and coaching staff as cover during the pandemic. Bond remained confident that the India could still host the T20 World Cup if the organisers put in some additional measures to create a secure bubble like the IPL model.

“The only way I can see that happening or making it easier to happen is just extra funding. It just comes down to the level of security in the bubble and the extra staff that you might be able to carry here. If you can do that there’s no doubt….in this completion (IPL) the bubble is pretty strong, our one (Mumbai) is outstanding.

“The other thing is in six months’ time things might look drastically different because of the vaccinations or lockdowns that are going on. I’m sure there will be contingencies put in place by the BCCI and the Indian government but there’s still a long way to go before the World Cup is held.”

Source – cricinfo.com