Sunrisers Hyderbad captain David Warner believes his side's death bowling is "probably the best" in the Indian Premier League.
The 2016 champions boast of a fine combination of pacers and spinners with India's Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Afghan leg-spinner Rashid Khan being the prominent names.
"We've got a very good squad. One of the best things about our squad is we have great depths in our bowling," Warner said in an Instagram live session with Sunrisers teammate Jonny Bairstow.
"We have got got good upfront swing bowling and our death bowling is probably the best in the competition," he added.
While Warner has been in the side since 2014, Bairstow joined the Sunrisers last season. They shared some brilliant opening partnerships including a 185 stand against the Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Asked about what they liked most about batting with each other, both said running between the wickets was a major contributing factor in their successful partnership.
"I love running between wickets ..

SRH has the best death bowling in IPL: Warner

PTI Automatic

Former captain Salim Malik cannot take up any cricket activities in the country despite a lower court overturning the life ban imposed on him on charges of corrupt practices as the ICC and the PCB are yet to cleared him, according to sources.
According to a reliable source in the Pakistan Cricket Board, Malik has still not responded to a notice issued to him in 2013 over the nature of a couple of meetings he had after he was banned for life for match-fixing in 2000.
"Malik, to date, has not responded to the notice and that is why the PCB and ICC are not willing to give any clear statement on why Malik is not allowed to engage in any cricket activities," the source told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
"After the Board banned him for life in 2000 on the recommendations of Justice (retd) Qayyum judicial commission, Malik had some meetings in the UK the transcripts of which were obtained by the ICC and which raised doubts over the purpose of these meetings."
The source said after Malik ...

Malik can't take up cricket activities until he responds to notice of suspicious meetings: PCB

The World Anti-Doping Agency demanded answers Friday after reports that Chinese swimming star Sun Yang was called up for national training for the Tokyo Olympics in an apparent breach of his doping ban.
The latest incident in the colourful career of the three-time Olympic champion comes two months after he was given an eight-year ban for refusing to provide a doping sample.
Unless he is successful with an appeal, the 28-year-old will not be eligible for the Tokyo Games in 2021 and his career is effectively over.
However, Chinese media said on Thursday that Sun had been included on a list of swimmers called up for national training between April 1 and June 30.
Media published a notice purporting to show Sun's name on the list for preparations for the Olympics, which have been moved to the summer of 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Chinese Swimming Association (CSA) subsequently said that the 1500m freestyle world record-holder is "still serving (his) suspension.
"The ...

WADA wants answers after banned Sun's 'Olympic training call-up'

India's World Cup-winning former opener Gautam Gambhir performed the last rites of his deceased domestic help after her mortal remains could not be sent to her home in Odisha due to the coronavirus-forced national lockdown.
Gambhir, also a Lok Sabha from the BJP, posted a tribute on his Twitter page for his employee Saraswati Patra, who was working at his residence for the past six years.
"Taking care of my little one can never be domestic help. She was family. Performing her last rites was my duty," he tweeted.
"Always believed in dignity irrespective of caste, creed, religion or social status. Only way to create a better society. That's my idea of India! Om Shanti," said the 38-year-old Gambhir, who played 58 Tests for India between 2004 and 2016.
Media reports in Odisha said the 49-year-old Patra hailed from a village in Jajpur district.
She was admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital a few days ago and was battling diabetes and high blood pressure for a long period. She breathed her ...

Gambhir performs last rites of domestic help after lockdown prevents body from reaching family

The Pakistan Cricket Board will object to any change in the schedule of Asia Cup to accommodate the currently-suspended Indian Premier League (IPL), PCB CEO Wasim Khan has asserted.
Khan said the PCB is hoping to hold the Asia Cup T20 tournament in the UAE as scheduled in September unless there are issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Our stance is absolutely clear, the Asia Cup is set for September and the only reason it should not take place is continued health safety issues. We will not accept that the Asia Cup is moved to accommodate the IPL," Khan said on GTV News Channel.
"I have heard that there is talk to move the Asia Cup to November-December but for us that is not possible. If you move the Asia Cup you are making way for one member nation and that is not right and it will not have our support," he added.
Khan said Pakistan will host Zimbabwe and then tour New Zealand in this November-December and so hosting Asian Cup in this period is not an option for them.
The IPL has 

Won't accept change of Asia Cup schedule to accommodate IPL: PCB CEO

Real Madrid star Gareth Bale says there should be no rush to restart La Liga during the coronavirus lockdown as the Spanish football federation plans tests and a return to training.
Testing players is being discussed with a view to completing the Liga season and thereby avoiding financial disaster, a source cose to La Liga told AFP on Thursday.
Bale said he wanted to get back into action but felt it wise to wait and see.
"Everyone wants to play football, but the most important thing is everyone stays safe, we don't want to come back too early. We need to make sure everything is done safely so we avoid the second wave of this virus," Bale told British broadcaster BT Sports.
The Bundesliga in Germany, where there have been far fewer coronavirus deaths, said on Thursday they are "ready" to restart on May 9 but needed government approval.
Rafael Ramos of the Spanish Association of Football Team Physicians said La Liga is planning to return to action in a series of stages.
"The idea ...

Don't rush to restart La Liga, Bale warns

Italian football chiefs announced that the end of the Serie A season will be pushed back from June 30 to August 2 to finish the season suspended amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Federation president Gabriele Gravina said the FIGC would "adopt a resolution in the coming hours to postpone the end of the 2019/2020 sports season to August 2".
No sport has been played in Italy since March 9 as the country grapples with the COVID-19 crisis which has killed over 25,000 people.
"The world of football is working incessantly and responsibly to find concrete and sustainable solutions to the crisis generated by Covid-19 including those necessary and indispensable to safeguard 2020-21 competitions," Gravina said.
Serie A's 20 clubs on Tuesday voted unanimously to complete the league season, but the final decision will be down to the Italian government.
The federation also hopes clubs can start training again from May 4, the date on which the government plans to start easing the containment ...

Serie A season to be extended until August 2

Major League Soccer has extended its league-wide training moratorium, ruling all team facilities off limits until May 15.
MLS chiefs had previously barred players and staff from training facilities until April 24 with the league in shutdown since last month due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Under Thursday's extended ruling, only players requiring medical treatment or rehabilitation will be allowed to access team facilities.
The league also requested players remain in their club's location.
"MLS will remain in close contact with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) on this continually evolving situation and provide further updates as they become available," the MLS said.
MLS chiefs said last week there was no chance of the league resuming play before June 8.

MLS extends training moratorium to mid-May

Formula One chief has said some teams have been given cash payments to protect the championship's "ecosystem" as it absorbs the financial hit caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Greg Maffei, the chief executive of Formula One owners Liberty Media, said an undisclosed number of payments had been made to teams, which rely heavily on profit-sharing from F1 to survive.
The 2020 championship has been thrown into turmoil since the COVID-19 crisis swept around the world, with the Australian Grand Prix and Monaco Grand Prix canceled and seven other races postponed.
With the possibility of races taking place without fans when the season does eventually resume, Maffei told analysts on a conference call Formula One may struggle to make a profit this year.
"If you run races with no live audience, we'll obviously have lower profitability, and that may be even no profitability," Maffei said.
"We may be sufficiently capitalized to handle that for 2020, but there are teams which will incur costs, ...

F1 paying teams to protect 'ecosystem'

The governor of North Carolina has said that NASCAR teams can work in their race shops if they maintain social distancing guidelines, clearing a potential hurdle to resuming the season in coming weeks.
Gov. Roy Cooper extended the state's stay-at-home order through May 8 on Thursday and said he would gradually open the state in three phases. He said he is still considering NASCAR's request to run the Coca-Cola 600 as scheduled on May 24 without spectators.
The governors of both Florida and Texas have already said NASCAR is welcome to race in their states without fans, and South Carolina and Georgia are gradually easing restrictions.
For any racing to be done, the North Carolina-based teams need access to their shops to prep the cars.
From the information that I have now, already under our state executive order, they could begin working in their garages as an essential business defined under our executive order, Cooper said.
They are still in contact with local health departments that .

NASCAR teams OK to work in N.C. shops, a key step in return

Tottenham midfielder Eric Dier has been charged by England's Football Association for climbing into the stand to confront a supporter after Spurs' FA Cup exit to Norwich.
The England international could face a lengthy suspension for climbing several rows to intervene after he saw his brother in an argument with a fan at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
"It is alleged that the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder's actions at the conclusion of the Emirates FA Cup fixture against Norwich City FC on Wednesday 4 March 2020 were improper and/or threatening," the FA said in a statement.
"Eric Dier has until Friday 8 May 2020 to provide a response."
Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho was highly supportive of his player after the incident and said he hoped Dier would not be subject to a ban.
"I think Eric Dier did something that we professionals cannot do but in these circumstances every one of us would do," said Mourinho at the time.

Spurs' Dier charged by FA for confronting fan in stands

Athletics was left with the prospect of a lost season after this summer's European Championships, set to be held in Paris, were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
In a statement, the event's organising committee and French Athletics Federation (FFA) said they "wished to adopt a responsible position by putting human health and the fight against the spread of the virus before any other consideration".
The championships were scheduled for August 25-30. The cancellation follows the postponement in March of the Tokyo Olympics to 2021 and the announcement earlier on Thursday of the postponement of Diamond League events in Eugene, Oregon, and Paris.
"We really tried," said Jean Gracia, president of the Paris European Championships organising committee.
"We all hoped that the situation might improve rapidly, but unfortunately that wasn't the case," "We looked at all the possibilities, including reducing the number of athletes in each contest and halving the number of ...

European Championships cancellation delivers another blow to athletics

India limited overs vice-captain Rohit Sharma wants his team to win at least two out of the next three World Cups and says the management is making a conscious effort to give young players adequate chances to prove themselves.
Rohit spoke his mind in an Instagram live session with former India spinner Harbhajan Singh.
"My personal aim is that we as a team should be able to win at least two World Cups out of three coming up," he said referring to the T20 World Cup in 2020 and 2021 and 50-over World Cup in 2023.
India have not won a global event since the 2013 Champions Trophy. Rohit had hit a record five hundreds in the 2019 World Cup but India could not go beyond the semifinals.
"Probably, if we did not lose wickets in the that opening half hour (against New Zealand), we could have won the game. Those 10 overs were really important," said Rohit, recalling India's batting collapse in the all-important semifinals.
In the recent past, India have tried many players in the middle-order but 

We should win at least two out of next three World Cups: Rohit

German league football is prepared to resume without spectators on May 9, making it the first major European league back in action, but the final go-ahead rests with political leaders, its chief executive said Thursday.
Following a meeting with Germany's top clubs, Christian Seifert said the league, suspended since March 13 because of the coronavorus pandemic, is "ready" to return next month.
Seifert stressed though that Chancellor Angela Merkel's government and state leaders will make the final decision. They are due to meet next Thursday.
"It is solely down to what the political leaders decide," Seifert said in a video press conference.
"The Bundesliga is ready -- regardless of whether it can continue on 9 May or at a later date."
Germany has been less affected by the pandemic than other European countries, partly due to mass testing.
But the move to allow players to resume competition is being treated with caution and Seifert stressed that hygiene precautions would have to be ...

German football targets May 9 restart but needs political green light

Former Australia fast bowler Peter Siddle's return to county champions Essex has been delayed until at least 2021 after the coronavirus put paid to the start of this year's English season, he announced Thursday.
The 35-year-old took 34 wickets at an impressive average of 20.08 in eight matches last year as Essex won the County Championship First Division title.
He had been all set for a return to the county's headquarters in Chelmsford, east of London.
But with the pandemic bringing cricket to a standstill worldwide and suspending the start of the English season until at least May 28, with further delays looking likely, Siddle and Essex have agreed to hold his deal over until next year.
"It's a shame I won't be returning to Chelmsford this year as I was really looking forward to the season with the Eagles, but there are plenty of things more important than cricket going on in the world at the moment," said Siddle.
"In light of the current situation, it makes sense for me to come back .

Virus puts paid to Siddle's 2020 Essex stint

One of the mayors for Liverpool has called for an investigation into why Liverpool's Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid was allowed to go ahead in front of 52,000 supporters last month.
Despite the game taking place after a plan was agreed to play La Liga matches behind closed doors, 3,000 visiting fans were allowed to travel from Spain and attend the match at Anfield on March 11.
Days later Spain was forced into a nationwide lockdown and mass gatherings, including all major sporting events, in Britain were cancelled.
Madrid has been one of the European cities worst-hit by coronavirus and the Spanish capital's mayor Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida said it had been a "mistake" to play the game.
"If people have contracted coronavirus as a direct result of a sporting event that we believe shouldn't have taken place, well that is scandalous," Steve Rotheram, Mayor of Liverpool City Region, told the BBC.
"That needs to be investigated to find out whether some of those infections are 

Mayor demands investigation into Liverpool-Atletico match

The next European Championship will continue to be called Euro 2020 despite being postponed by a year to 2021, UEFA confirmed on Thursday.
Following an Executive Committee meeting of European football's governing body by videoconference, UEFA said maintaining the same name would be a way of remembering the coronavirus pandemic and the difficult times faced by the continent this year as a result.
In addition, and most importantly, UEFA had already produced huge amounts of branded merchandising before the tournament was put back by a year.
"This choice is in line with UEFA's commitment to make Euro 2020 sustainable and not to generate additional amounts of waste," it said in a statement.
"A change to the name of the event would have meant the destruction and  reproduction of such items."
In an unprecedented move, UEFA last month announced the postponement of Euro 2020 shortly after football all across the continent ground to a halt as COVID-19 spread.
More than 110,000 people have now ..

Euro 2020 to keep original name despite switch to 2021

Veteran India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh doesn't see Mahendra Singh Dhoni playing for the Indian team again.
Dhoni last played for India in the World Cup semi-final against New Zealand in July last year.
Asked about Dhoni's India future during an Instagram chat with opener Rohit Sharma, Harbhajan said, "When I was in Chennai Super Kings camp, people asked me about Dhoni. I don't know, it's upto him. You need to know whether he wants to play for India again.
"As far as I know him, he won't want to wear India blue jersey again. IPL he will play but for India I think he had decided World Cup (2019) was his last."
Harbhajan said the current team ends ups losing 70 percent of its matches as it doesn't have match-winners lower down the batting order.
Harbhajan said the team is too dependent on skipper Virat Kohli and the swashbuckling opener.
"The current team relies too much on Virat and you (Rohit). After Virat and you are dismissed, we lose 70 percent of the matches. Lower down the ...

I don't see Dhoni wearing India jersey again: Harbhajan

Gulf rivals Saudi Arabia and Qatar are competing for rights to host the 2030 Asian Games, the Olympic Council for Asia said Thursday after receiving bids from both countries.
"Doha, capital of Qatar, and Riyadh, capital of Saudi Arabia, submitted official bids to host the 21st Asian Games," the OCA said in a statement.
"The bid document from the National Olympic Committee of each country was accompanied by letters of support from the city and respective governments."
Saudi Arabia, along with the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain cut all ties with Doha in 2017, accusing it of backing "terrorists" and being too close to Iran -- charges Qatar denies.
Talks to mend the rift have stalled, after a flurry of diplomacy late last year raised hopes of a breakthrough.
Doha hosted the Asian Games in 2006 but Saudi Arabia has never organised an OCA multi-sport event, the statement added.
The OCA had invited bids for the 2030 Games from its 45 members by Wednesday.
"The OCA is delighted to ...

Riyadh, Doha enter rival bids to host 2030 Asian Games

Work on Qatar's World Cup stadiums and mega-projects linked to the tournament have continued apace despite tough social distancing rules to stem the spread of coronavirus among the largely migrant workforce.
Dozens of labourers with covered faces and sporting near-identical blue overalls clamoured across the vast exoskeleton of Lusail Stadium, an arena set to host the final of the 2022 tournament, AFP correspondents saw on Thursday.
Dozens of vehicles including buses, diggers and water tankers criss-crossed the complex of new parks, apartment blocks and tram stops around the stadium, which will become Qatar's largest with a capacity of 80,000.
The number of confirmed infections among those involved in construction for 2022 facilities stands at eight across three stadium projects, but organisers have not given an updated toll since Friday.
Qatari authorities have declared 7,764 confirmed infections nationwide, 10 deaths and 750 recoveries.
The supreme committee responsible for ...

Qatar presses on with World Cup projects despite coronavirus

Ferrari back-tracked on Thursday after team principal Mattia Binotto seemed to warn the team might quit Formula One if a planned spending cap was lowered further because of the coronavirus crisis.
Binotto told a British newspaper that if next year's cap was lowered the team would "look at other further options" but the team explained in a statement that he meant they would need additional outlets to express their "racing DNA", without saying whether those might compete with Formula One.
Ferrari was unhappy last year with the decision to introduce a budget cap of $175 million (161 million euros) per team from next season.
With the first nine races of this season already cancelled or postponed, the sport held a meeting last week to discuss reducing next year's cap to $145 million and $130 million the season after, but could not reach agreement.
Sources suggested that Ferrari and another big-spending team, Red Bull, opposed the changes.
In an interview with a British newspaper published .

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