Federer pulls out of Miami tourney

Miami: Defending champion Roger Federer has withdrawn from this month’s Miami Open as he works his way back to full fitness following surgeries to repair his right knee, US media reported on Monday. The 39-year-old Swiss star, who has not played since losing in

the semi-finals of last year’s Australian Open, is due to make his return from a year-long layoff at the Qatar Open in Doha next

week. However the Miami Herald cited Federer’s agent Tony Godsick as

saying on Monday that the 20time Grand Slam singles champion had opted to skip the Miami tournament for scheduling reasons. The Herald said Federer could

play in Dubai after Doha but would then take a training break. Federer’s withdrawal is a blow to

organizers of the Miami tournament, who were forced to cancel last year’s event as Covid-19

chaos left sport in North America at a standstill. —

Karachi: Three more people —

two foreign players and one support staff member — have tested positive for Covid-19 in

the ongoing Pakistan Super League but the cricket Board on Tuesday insisted the tournament would continue on schedule. Pakistan Cricket Board’s Director of Media Sami Burney did not name the three people whose Covid-19 infection came a day after Australian leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed tested positive, leading to his isolation. “I can confirm that two foreign players and one support staff member have tested positive from the results of the 242 PCR

tests we had conducted on all the franchises their officials and support staff since yesterday,”

Burney said.