Amir, Haris pull out of England tour
bowler Mohammad Amir and batsman Haris Sohail have withdrawn from Pakistan’s England tour, citing personal reasons, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Thursday.
Pakistan are due to play three Tests and three Twenty20 internationals starting in August, with hosts England providing “bio-secure” arrangements in closed stadiums and hotels.
“Amir has withdrawn so that he can be at the birth of his second child in August, while Sohail will miss the tour because of family reasons,” the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a statement.
Pakistan media reported Sohail does not travel without his family, and they are not allowed on this tour.
SA CRICKET TO RETURN WITH MADE-FOR-TV TIES
South African cricketers will return to action after the coronavirus-forced hiatus with the country’s cricket board (CSA) planning to organise a made-for-tv match featuring three teams in Centurion on June 27.
Acting Cricket South Africa (CSA) chief executive Jacques Faul said the proposed match is a fund-raiser and will be held behind closed doors pending government clearance.
“Government have to gazette the Level 3 regulations and then the minister of sport will go over the return-to-play protocols that we have sent, which he must agree with,” he told ‘The Citizen’ on Wednesday.
DJOKO EVENT HELPS TENNIS EMERGE
After being suspended for three months due to the coronavirus pandemic, top-level international tennis returns this weekend in Belgrade with a charity tournament hosted by world number one Novak Djokovic and where fans will be welcome.
The Adria Tour will be held until July 5 in Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro and Bosnia. On the tournament’s first stop, on Saturday and Sunday, the Serbian star will be joined by Dominic Thiem. Alexander Zverev and Grigor Dimitrov are also set to take part.
KYRGIOS BLASTS ‘SELFISH’ ATP
Nick Kyrgios slammed the ATP as “selfish” Thursday for pressing ahead with plans for the US Open despite the country dealing with a coronavirus pandemic and widespread anti-racism protests.
The temperamental Australian suggested it was too early for the Flushing Meadow Grand Slam. “The ATP is trying to make the US Open go ahead. Selfish with everything going on at the moment,” Kyrgios, ranked just 40 but a showman who is popular with fans, said on Twitter. “Obviously Covid, but also with the riots. Together we need to overcome these challenges before tennis returns in my opinion.”
RUSSIANS DEMAND TO SETTLE DOPING FINE
Russian athletes including star high jumper Maria Lasitskene on Wednesday called on sporting authorities to pay a $5 million fine to allow them to take part in the Tokyo Olympics.
In March, World Athletics fined Russia’s track and field federation $10 million for breaching anti-doping rules.
The system of allowing Russian athletes to take part as neutrals will be suspended if $5 million of the $10 million fine is not paid by July 1, World Athletics has warned.