Arun Lal, Whatmore barred by Covid SOPs

New Delhi: Arun Lal and Australian Dav Whatmore, who are coaches of Bengal and Baroda, respectively. Whatmore, 66, was appointed in April while Lal, 65, guided Bengal to the Ranji Trophy final in March. “Individuals who are over the age of 60 years, viz support staff, umpires, ground staff and those individuals with underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, weakened immunity, should be considered vulnerable and are believed to have higher risk of severe Covid-19. All such individuals should be discouraged from participating in camp activities unless suitable guidelines are issued by the government,” read one of the guidelines from BCCI’s SOPs. Both Lal and Whatmore won’t be able to join the pre-season training camp. CAB president Avishek Dalmiya was unavailable for a comment but a senior BCCI official said, “This is SOP. It will be very difficult for any teams to breach the protocols. It is unfortunate that someone like Lal-ji or Whatmore might have to miss out.”

Lahore
I was ready to fight before Kargil War started: Akhtar

Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar claimed that he had turned down a £175,000 county contract with Nottinghamshire to fight the 1999 war against India in Kargil. “People hardly know about this story. I had a £175,000 contract with Nottingham. Then in 2002, I had another big contract. I left both when Kargil happened,” Akhtar said in an interview with a Pakistani TV channel. “I stood on the outskirts of Lahore. A general asked me what I’m doing there. I said war is about to start and we’ll die together,” said Akhtar, indicating that before the war, he and the Pak Army general were ready to take part in it. This is significant because for a long time, the Pakistani army denied that their soldiers were involved in Kargil.

New Delhi
Indian teams get favourable draws in Thomas, Uber finals

India have been handed relatively easy draws in the twice-rescheduled Thomas and Uber Cup Finals, slated to be held from 3 to 11 October in Denmark. The Indian men’s team was placed in Group C alongside 2016 champions Denmark, Germany and Algeria, while the women’s side has been clubbed with 14-time winners China, France and Germany in Group D in the draw staged in Kuala Lumpur on Monday. Both the men’s and women’s team are seeded fifth in the tournament.

New Delhi
Players’ body urges ICC to address contract breaches

A third of international male cricketers have not been paid or suffered breaches of contract from events regulated by the global governing body or its member nations, the international players’ federation said on Monday. The Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations said in a report that the Bangladesh players have not received their share of prize money from an ICC event, and Zimbabwe’s players are still waiting for their board to pay their contracts.

London
O’Sullivan smashes record with 108-minute win

Five-time champion Ronnie O’Sullivan was in imperious form at the World Snooker Championship when he beat first round opponent Thepchaiya Un-Nooh of Thailand 10-1 in 108 minutes to set the record for the fastest match in Crucible history on Monday. O’Sullivan, who led 8-1 at the close of play on Sunday, stayed true to his nickname ‘The Rocket’ when he won the two frames needed in less than 30 minutes to become the first man to win a match in under two hours. The record was held by England’s Shaun Murphy, who blanked China’s Luo Honghao 10-0 in the first round last year in 149 minutes. O’Sullivan smashed the record by 41 minutes, after which he brushed aside his achievement. Agencies