Qatar reported five coronavirus cases among workers on three World Cup stadiums on Wednesday, the first to be confirmed among those involved in 2022 tournament projects.
The Gulf nation has reported a total of seven deaths, 3,711 COVID-19 infections and 406 recoveries since March 6 but had not previously disclosed any cases at World Cup sites.
"The Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC) has confirmed that two staff members who work for an SC Contractor on the Al-Thumama Stadium project have tested positive for COVID-19," organisers said in a statement to AFP.
"In addition, three workers, one working on the Al-Rayyan Stadium project and two on the Al-Bayt Stadium project have tested positive."
Qatar is building seven new stadiums for the tournament, one of which has officially opened, while one existing venue was refurbished ahead of 2022.
The SC was following health ministry guidance to respond to the cases and all those affected would continue to be paid and receive free ...

Qatar confirms first virus cases at World Cup sites

PTI Automatic

Pakistan Cricket Board's former chief Khalid Mahmood and ex-captain Aamir Sohail have slammed the body's current administrators for not doing enough to curb match-fixing and spot-fixing.
Mahmood, who was PCB chairman when Pakistan toured India in 1999 and reached the final of the World Cup in England in the same year, said the board has not taken the issue of fixing seriously.
Mahmood, who had ordered the Justice (retd) Malik Qayyum judicial inquiry into match-fixing allegations in 1998, said if the board had enforced the recommendations made by Justice Qayyum in his report, things would have been different.
"People say I was a player friendly administrator. That I was but I was never corruption friendly. My only argument was that severe action should only be taken against a player if it is proven beyond doubt he has done something wrong," Mahmood said on GTV News Channel.
Mahmood was removed as chairman before the Qayyum findings came out.
Ironically, his removal came after ...

Former PCB chief Khalid, Sohail hit out at current administrators

India on Wednesday sealed their qualification for the 2021 Women's World Cup following the cancellation of their ODI Championship round against Pakistan with the BCCI not getting government clearance to play the arch-rivals.
The India-Pakistan round was scheduled to take place between July and November last year but was always subject to government clearance. Both teams will share points for the cancelled three-match series.
"With respect to the India v Pakistan series, the TC concluded that the series could not be played because of a Force Majeure event after the BCCI demonstrated that it was unable to obtain the necessary government clearances to allow India to participate in the bilateral series against Pakistan, which forms a part of the ICC Women's Championship," said the ICC in a statement.
"The India-Pakistan series was originally scheduled in the sixth round of the competition, between July and November 2019, but despite the best efforts of both the boards, it was unable to ...

Indian women qualify for 2021 World Cup after ODI C'ship round against Pakistan cancelled

Borussia Dortmund defender Dan-Axel Zagadou damaged a ligament in his left knee after the club returned to training amid the coronavirus pandemic, the club said Wednesday.
Dortmund said Zagadou injured the lateral collateral ligament while training, but didn't give further details.
German clubs have resumed training but they have kept players working in small groups.
Over the coming weeks, the France (under-21) international will work intensively with the club's rehab coaches in a bid to return to fitness and  provided that the corona pandemic allows for it  help his team in the remainder of the season, Dortmund said in a statement.
Zagadou was a bench player for Dortmund at the beginning of the season but became a regular starter in November. He played both legs in Dortmund's 3-2 aggregate loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.

Dortmund defender Dan-Axel Zagadou injures knee ligament

World Cup-winning coach Dav Whatmore is set to take over the reins of the Baroda team after being shortlisted for the job by its cricket association.
The Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) on Wednesday said that talks are on with Whatmore, who guided Sri Lanka to their maiden World Cup triumph in 1996.
"The Apex council members of the BCA have given a go-ahead for the office bearers to have a discussion with Dav Whatmore on the coaching/mentoring  position," the BCA said in a statement.
Whatmore has got years of experience in top-flight and was also coaching the Kerala team.
"Whatmore was one of the candidates shortlisted for the position of head coach and mentor. The association is still in discussion, internally, on availability and the terms of engagement," it said.
The BCA said that the decision on appointment of the coach will be announced officially once there is clarity on availability and compensation.
"The process of communication, intent, clarity of role and compensation is in 

Shortlisted, Whatmore set to be appointed Baroda coach

Belgian side Anderlecht resumed training under strict social-distancing guidelines on Wednesday prompting criticism from medical experts.
Despite the Belgian first division being cut short by the coronavirus pandemic the Brussels club elected to go back to work "for those players who want to".
Among those to question Anderlecht's decision was virologist Marc Van Ranst who described it as "legal but a bad signal" during lockdown.
Another doctor wrote to the Brussels mayor telling him: "It's incredible. (It) goes totally against government recommendations and the advice of experts."
Police are carrying out daily checks to ensure the players are respecting the strict health measures put in place to stop the spread of COVID-19 which has claimed 4,400 lives in Belgium.
Anderlecht, placed eighth in the league, say each player is designated a zone on the pitch and his own ball, no passing is permitted.

Anderlecht criticised for training under lockdown

Juventus said Wednesday that French midfielder Blaise Matuidi and Italian defender Daniele Rugani had recovered from coronavirus after testing positive for it last month.
Rugani was the first Italian top-flight footballer diagnosed with the virus on March 11. World Cup winner Matuidi also tested positive for COVID-19 a few days later.
"Daniele Rugani and Blaise Matuidi underwent, as per protocol, a double check with diagnostic tests (swabs) for the Coronavirus-Covid 19. The tests came back with negative results," the club said in a statement.
"The players have, therefore, recovered and are no longer subjected to the home isolation regime."
Juventus forward Paulo Dybala documented how he "struggled to breathe" after coming down with the virus on March 21, although the club did not provide an update on the Argentine.
Dybala had said he was doing better late last month after displaying "strong symptoms".

Juventus duo Matuidi, Rugani cleared of coronavirus

The great Michael Holding has picked South African Dale Steyn among his top-four fast bowlers across generations and his list includes fellow West Indians Malcolm Marshall and Andy Roberts besides Australian Denis Lillee.
In a Sky Sports podcast, the 66-year-old said he would pay to watch Steyn, who retired from Tests last year.
"I have experience with those three guys (Marshall, Roberts and Lillee, but just watching, you can't go Dale Steyn outside of photography. He has been one of the great fast bowlers in an era. You'd pay to see it," said Holding, who picked 249 wickets in 60 Tests at 23.68.
Steyn picked 439 Test wickets at a stellar average of 22.95 and has one of the smoothest actions in the game.
Talking about Lillee, Holding said he was a complete package.
"Lillee had it all: rhythm, aggression control. He was extremely fast when he started, but he had to completely reshape his action after a back injury and find different ways to get hitters out after losing a lot of ...

Holding picks his 'fab 4' fast bowlers across generations

Two Russians will face trial in France over a vicious assault that left an English fan partially paralysed during Euro 2016, a judicial source said on Wednesday.
Mikhail Ivkine, 34, and Pavel Kosov, 33, risk up to 15 years behind bars if found guilty of the attack on Andrew Bache. The trial is expected to take place before March 2021.
Street battles ahead of the Russia-England match in the French port city of Marseille on June 11, 2016, left 35 people injured, including two England fans who suffered serious injuries.
Bache, now in his fifties, was left paralysed on the left side of his body after being hit around the head with an iron bar.
Ivkine and Kosov, both from Moscow, do not contest hitting Bache, but they claim they were provoked by English supporters. They also claim they were not to blame for the extent of the victim's injuries.
The pair have been held in custody since 2018 after being tracked on social media by a joint French and British investigation.
Kosov was arrested in 

Russians face trial for iron-bar attack on English fan

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and captain Jordan Henderson have delivered messages of support to the families of the 96 supporters killed in the Hillsborough disaster 31 years ago.
A final memorial service for the victims was due to take place at Anfield on Wednesday, but has been postponed due to coronavirus guidelines on mass gatherings.
"Today is the most significant date for our football club each year," Klopp said in a video message.
"The plan was for us to be together at Anfield but this is not possible, the only thing we can make sure is we are in each other's thoughts.
"Believe me you have our thoughts, you have our prayers and most of all you have our love. You'll never walk alone."
The final memorial service was arranged after the police commander at Hillsborough, David Duckenfield, was found not guilty of gross negligence manslaughter in November.
"Today was a day when as a club we were all supposed to be together at Anfield to honour the lives of 96 people who went to a ..

Klopp leads Liverpool tributes to Hillsborough families

The Sports Ministry will reach out to 11 national federations on Thursday via video conference for a possible discussion on the future course of action as sporting activities have been suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It has been learnt from reliable sources in the National Sports Federations (NSFs) that Sports Secretary Radheyshyam Julaniya will address two representatives each from the 11 federations invited for a meeting, the agenda of which has not been disclosed.
The Ministry, in the first batch, will address federations which are managing 'priority' disciplines.
NSFs invited in the first batch are Handball, Basketball, Volleyball, Wushu, Tennis, Squash, Special Olympic Bharat, Yachting, Kayaking and Canoeing, Kabaddi and All India University (AIU).
All India Tennis Association CEO Akhouri Bishwadeep confirmed to PTI that there indeed is a meeting but did not tell what the agenda of the meeting is.
"I can't tell you what the agenda is because we have not been told. I don't 

Sports Ministry to engage with 11 Federations via video conference on Thursday

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday lavished praise on Indian chess players, including world champion Vishwanathan Anand, for coming up with an "innovative" way to raise funds for the country's fight against COVID-19 pandemic.
Five leading players Vidit Gujrathi, P Harikrishna and B Adhiban, Koneru Humpy and Dharika, alongside Anand had  participated in an online chess exhibition and helped raise Rs 4.5 lakh for the PM-CARES Fund.
"Innovative effort and kind gesture by our chess players, including @vishy64theking, @viditchess, Pentala Harikrishna, B. Adhiban and @HarikaDronavali," Modi tweeted.
"Am sure the participants would have had an enriching experience," he added.
In India, the COVID-19 pandemic has so far claimed over 350 lives while infecting close to 12,000 across the country.
On Tuesday, Modi extended the lockdown till May 3 in a bid to contain the spread of the virus.

PM Modi lauds chess players' innovative method of raising money

Novak Djokovic has been praised by the director general of the local health authority in Bergamo for his donation to help control the coronavirus outbreak in Italy.
Peter Assembergs says we never expected to see on our bank account a donation from such a prestigious person.
Assembergs says reading among the donators the name of the best tennis player in the world ... made me emotional. The money will be used to help buy ventilators and other medical equipment.
Djokovic, his wife and their foundation recently donated 1 million euros (about $1.1 million) to help hospitals in Serbia.

Novak Djokovic praised for donation in Italy

The Tour de France will be raced from August 29 to September 20, organisers announced on Wednesday, postponing cycling's flagship event originally slated to start on June 27 due to the coronavirus lockdown.
The new dates follow French President Emmanuel Macron's extension of a ban on large public gatherings until mid-July.
While the news comes as a relief to professional cycling teams and fans, it also moves the three-week race out of its traditional slot in the summer holidays where roadside crowds of around 12 million would be expected to gather in festive spirit.
"Following the president's address on Monday evening, where large-scale events were banned in France until mid-July as a part of the fight against the spread of COVID-19, the organisers of the Tour de France, in agreement with the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), have decided to postpone the Tour de France to  Saturday 29th August to Sunday 20th September 2020," a statement from the organisers said.
It said the race ...

Rescheduled Tour de France to start August 29

Arsenal's executive team have agreed to cut more than a third of their salary as the club warned it is facing "one of the most challenging periods" in its history on Wednesday.
The Premier League has been suspended indefinitely due to strict government guidelines to control the spread of coronavirus.
Arsenal posted a ?27 million ($34 million) loss for the 2018/19 season and are on course to lose far more this year due to the shutdown.
An inability to complete the season could cost Premier League clubs an estimated ?1 billion.
"The potential financial impact is significant so we must be responsible and act now to best protect Arsenal from what might happen in the months ahead. What is clear is that this is one of the most challenging periods in our near 134-year history," Arsenal said in a statement.
"Our executive team volunteered to waive more than a third of their earnings over the next 12 months."
To soften the economic blow, Premier League clubs have asked players to take a 30 ...

Arsenal executives take pay cut as player talks continue

Full list of stages on the 2020 Tour de France, to be held over 3,470km starting in Nice on August 29 and ending in Paris on September 20: August 29
Stage 1: Nice - Nice (156km) August 30
Stage 2: Nice - Nice (187km)
August 31
Stage 3: Nice - Sisteron (198km)
September 1
Stage 4: Sisteron - Orcieres-Merlette (157km) September 2
Stage 5: Gap - Privas (183km) September 3
Stage 6: Le Teil - Mont Aigoual (191km) September 4
Stage 7: Millau - Lavaur (168km) September 5
Stage 8: Cazeres-sur-Garonne - Loudenvielle (140km) September 6
Stage 9: Pau - Laruns (154km) September 7
Rest Day in Charente-Maritime September 8
Stage 10: Ile de Oleron - Ile de Re (170km) September 9
Stage 11: Chatelaillon-Plage - Poitiers (167km) September 10
Stage 12: Chauvigny - Sarran (218km) September 11
Stage 13: Chatel-Guyon - Puy Mary (191km) September 12
Stage 14: Clermont-Ferrand - Lyon (197km) September 13
Stage 15: Lyon - Grand Colombier (175km) September 14
Rest day in Isere September 15
Stage 16: La Tour du 

List of the 2020 Tour de France stages

Leroy Sane's new agent says the Manchester City winger is still in the running for a transfer to Bayern Munich, after a potential switch was put on hold due to a serious knee injury.
"FC Bayern is the only club in Germany that Leroy can see as the next step in his career," Sane's agent Damir Smoljan told magazine Sport Bild on Wednesday.
"He believes the conditions are right there for him to achieve his ultimate goal: winning the Champions League." The 24-year-old Sane is viewed as one of Germany's brightest talents and has scored five goals in 21 appearances for his country.
He won the Premier League title with City in 2017/18 and 2018/19.
He seemed to be on the verge of joining Bayern last August before he tore his cruciate knee ligament during the Community Shield match against Liverpool at Wembley, holding up a possible move.
Last month, Sane admitted the devastating injury was the "longest and hardest" of his career, describing the road to recovery as both mentally and physically 

Sane move to Bayern still possible, says new agent

The Tour de France will take place from August 29 to September 20, organisers announced on Wednesday, postponing the race originally slated to start on June 27 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The new dates, the latest ever for the Tour founded in 1903, follow French President Emmanuel Macron's extension on Monday of a ban on public gatherings until mid-July.
While the news comes as a relief to professional cycling teams and fans, it moves the three-week race out of its traditional slot during the summer holidays where festive roadside crowds of around 12 million would be expected.

Tour de France postponed to August 29-September 20

Forced out of grounds, tracks and courts by the COVID-19 pandemic, sports events may help in the long run, but medical experts on Wednesday warned that resuming anything this year could mean putting lives at risk.
When sporting events do eventually make a comeback, which some of the region's top doctors believe is not going to happen until at least the next six months or may be nine, it may not be the same initially.
From cricket, football, tennis, racing, to the mother of all sporting events, the Olympics, the novel coronavirus has not spared anything.
"I have no doubt that sport is great but at the moment, the focus is on saving lives, and having sports events, which attract large crowds, could prove to be disastrous," Akash Sabharwal, a renowned sports injury surgeon associated with the Max Hospitals, told PTI.
Since the "transmission rate is very high", he said it should be completely avoided for a substantial period of time, even though sport encourages physical and mental ...

Sport must wait for some months, time not ideal: medical experts

The typical day for Noah Lyles now looks something like this: Drive to park. Unload weights from truck. Sprint on grassy field. Lift. And, every now and then, head home and take a doping test.
The world-champion sprinter is one of 15 American athletes who have volunteered to conduct in-home drug tests on themselves as part of a pilot program being run by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.
With anti-doping collections severely curtailed across the globe because of the coronavirus pandemic, USADA is looking at new options, in this case by asking a group of leading Americans to give urine and small dried blood samples at home.
They asked me to do it, and I wasn't opposed to doing it, Lyles said.
It's a way to get my drug test in. Athletes are still required to fill out their whereabouts forms, and under this program, a doping control officer will connect with an athlete via Zoom or FaceTime during a prescribed window.
Athletes receive test kits at home and head into their bathroom to give ...

In COVID-19 world, anti-doping gives in-home testing a try

UEFA banned Copenhagen forward Michael Santos for three games on Wednesday for his clash with police and security staff during a goal celebration at Celtic.
A disciplinary charge against Santos of assaulting another person present at the match was found proven, UEFA said in a statement.
The Uruguayan forward was also charged by police in Scotland after the incident in the Europa League on Feb. 27.
Santos was celebrating Copenhagen's second goal in a 3-1 win in the Round of 32, second leg when scorer Pep Biel ran past police and security stewards toward the team's fans.
The clash happened as Santos, who had earlier scored, was the first teammate to reach Biel.
Police also charged a member of Copenhagen's security staff, who the club said had tried to prevent a clash.
Copenhagen said in February we are now waiting to see if the Scottish Police will pursue the case, and of course, we will cooperate if they want more information from the club.
Santos played in Copenhagen's Round of 16, ...

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