The Emirates Cricket Board is looking to fill-up 30 to 50 per cent of the stadiums with crowds when the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/ipl">Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020</a> kickstarts in the UAE following government approval, ECB secretary Mubashshir Usmani said on Friday.

Earlier, IPL Governing Council Chairman Brijesh Patel had said that the decision on the crowds will be on the UAE government. After announcing the dates of IPL 2020, i.e September 19 to November 8, BCCI is awaiting Indian government’s approval to shift the cash-rich tournament in the UAE.&nbsp;

"Once we get the confirmation from the BCCI (on Indian government's approval), we will go to our government with the complete proposal and SOPs which will be prepared by us and the BCCI," Usmani told PTI.

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"We will definitely want our people to experience this prestigious event but it is totally the government's decision. For most events here, the number ranges from thirty to 50 percent capacity, we are looking at a similar number.

"We are hopeful of getting our government's approval on that," he added.

The UAE has just over 6000 active cases of coronavirus and the overall situation around the dreaded virus is under control. Usmani said that people in the UAE are living almost a normal life with certain rules and protocols while adding the situation will be better by the time IPL starts.&nbsp;

"The UAE government has been very efficient in bringing down the case numbers. We are almost living a normal life with certain rules and protocols to be followed.

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"And with the IPL still some time way, we will be in an even better place than what it is right now."

The IPL Governing Council will meet on Sunday to take a final call on the logistics and SOP for the biggest T20 tournament.&nbsp;

Usmani said the UAE is ready to host the event and is only awaiting the Indian government's approval, "which should come through soon", going by what Patel said at the time of announcing the tournament dates.

"We are still waiting to hear from the BCCI on the Indian government's approval. Having said that, we are ready," Usmani said.

"We have plug and play facilities here and have informed them (officials at Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah stadiums) to be ready and they are fully aware of it."

Asked if managing the training schedules of eight teams will be a challenge, Usmani said: "UAE is blessed with the support of private infrastructure. We are able to deliver such events and have delivered before. Last year, we hosted the T20 World Cup qualifier which had 14 teams."

The UAE had partially hosted the IPL in 2014 due to the general elections in India.

"Last time also, it contributed significantly to the UAE economy. With the full tournament taking place this time, it will be a much bigger boost," added Usmani.

(With PTI inputs)

The Emirates Cricket Board is looking to fill-up 30 to 50 per cent of the stadiums with crowds when the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 kickstarts in the UAE following government approval, ECB secretary Mubashshir Usmani said on Friday.

The Emirates Cricket Board is looking to fill-up 30 to 50 per cent of the stadiums with crowds when the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 kickstarts in the UAE following government approval, ECB secretary Mubashshir Usmani said on Friday. Earlier, IPL Governing Council Chairman Brijesh Patel had said that the decision on the crowds will be on the UAE government. After announcing the dates of IPL 2020, i.e September 19 to November 8, BCCI is awaiting Indian government’s approval to shift the cash-rich tournament in the UAE. "Once we get the confirmation from the BCCI (on Indian government's approval), we will go to our government with the complete proposal and SOPs which will be prepared by us and the BCCI," Usmani told PTI. ALSO READ: Exclusive | Marnus Labuschagne: Thriving to be the best "We will definitely want our people to experience this prestigious event but it is totally the government's decision. For most events here, the number ranges from thirty to 50 percent capacity, we are looking at a similar number. "We are hopeful of getting our government's approval on that," he added. The UAE has just over 6000 active cases of coronavirus and the overall situation around the dreaded virus is under control. Usmani said that people in the UAE are living almost a normal life with certain rules and protocols while adding the situation will be better by the time IPL starts. "The UAE government has been very efficient in bringing down the case numbers. We are almost living a normal life with certain rules and protocols to be followed. ALSO READ: EXCLUSIVE: Australia's Josh Hazlewood opens up on England and India series, IPL 2020, injuries and more "And with the IPL still some time way, we will be in an even better place than what it is right now." The IPL Governing Council will meet on Sunday to take a final call on the logistics and SOP for the biggest T20 tournament. Usmani said the UAE is ready to host the event and is only awaiting the Indian government's approval, "which should come through soon", going by what Patel said at the time of announcing the tournament dates. "We are still waiting to hear from the BCCI on the Indian government's approval. Having said that, we are ready," Usmani said. "We have plug and play facilities here and have informed them (officials at Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah stadiums) to be ready and they are fully aware of it." Asked if managing the training schedules of eight teams will be a challenge, Usmani said: "UAE is blessed with the support of private infrastructure. We are able to deliver such events and have delivered before. Last year, we hosted the T20 World Cup qualifier which had 14 teams." The UAE had partially hosted the IPL in 2014 due to the general elections in India. "Last time also, it contributed significantly to the UAE economy. With the full tournament taking place this time, it will be a much bigger boost," added Usmani. (With PTI inputs)

IPL 2020: Emirates Cricket Board to fill 30 to 50 per cent of stadiums in UAE

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reckons that star forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s future at the club could be influenced by Saturday’s outcome in the FA Cup final against London-rivals Chelsea with the Gunners desperately trying to keep hold of the Gabon international.&nbsp;

Aubameyang has just one year left on his current contract and if he cannot be convinced about a new deal then the Gunners would have to sell the 31-year-old to get the maximum out of the deal.

Aubameyang is one of Europe’s deadliest striker in over the last six seasons with two major trophies under his belt at St Etienne and Borussia Dortmund. Arteta, who have captained Arsenal to two FA Cup wins, firmly feels winning the final against Chelsea would convince Aubameyang to trust club’s pathway.&nbsp;

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"No, I don't have that feeling," said Arteta on Friday when asked if Saturday's clash could be Aubameyang's final game for the club.

"It's a package at the end. You need to have a lot of ingredients on the table to persuade a player of his level to be at this football club.

"Don't forget that he still has a contract here with us. We want to do it in a long-term, at the moment he's with us and he should be really proud of where he is.

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"Winning a trophy helps to really believe and feel 'wow', I want more of these moments. If you are wearing the armband and able to lift that cup, it is such a moment. This is going to help for sure."

Winning the FA Cup would also provide a huge boost to Arteta given he is working on to restore Arsenal’s former glories.&nbsp;

"It generates trust when you win titles," he added. "It generates moments when together you go through some good emotions.

"It brings everybody together, you have memories, there is a lot of things about winning a trophy that is so positive for any group and when you are in a process of (development) that makes it even more important, so we have a great opportunity tomorrow, let's go for it."

A win against Chelsea would also make sure that Arsenal don’t miss out on European football for the first time since 1995/96 as a victory would give them automatic qualification to Europa League 2020-21.&nbsp;

"It's a final, the only focus is on winning that trophy tomorrow," said Arteta.

"Financially it would be really helpful and on the sporting side, to play European football for this club is a must." 
&nbsp;

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reckons that star forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s future at the club could be influenced by Saturday’s outcome in the FA Cup final against London-rivals Chelsea with the Gunners desperately trying to keep hold of the Gabon international.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reckons that star forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s future at the club could be influenced by Saturday’s outcome in the FA Cup final against London-rivals Chelsea with the Gunners desperately trying to keep hold of the Gabon international. Aubameyang has just one year left on his current contract and if he cannot be convinced about a new deal then the Gunners would have to sell the 31-year-old to get the maximum out of the deal. Aubameyang is one of Europe’s deadliest striker in over the last six seasons with two major trophies under his belt at St Etienne and Borussia Dortmund. Arteta, who have captained Arsenal to two FA Cup wins, firmly feels winning the final against Chelsea would convince Aubameyang to trust club’s pathway. ALSO READ: Newcastle fans demand answers after Saudi bid collapses "No, I don't have that feeling," said Arteta on Friday when asked if Saturday's clash could be Aubameyang's final game for the club. "It's a package at the end. You need to have a lot of ingredients on the table to persuade a player of his level to be at this football club. "Don't forget that he still has a contract here with us. We want to do it in a long-term, at the moment he's with us and he should be really proud of where he is. ALSO READ: De Bruyne wants Champions League win for Silva's Man City send-off "Winning a trophy helps to really believe and feel 'wow', I want more of these moments. If you are wearing the armband and able to lift that cup, it is such a moment. This is going to help for sure." Winning the FA Cup would also provide a huge boost to Arteta given he is working on to restore Arsenal’s former glories. "It generates trust when you win titles," he added. "It generates moments when together you go through some good emotions. "It brings everybody together, you have memories, there is a lot of things about winning a trophy that is so positive for any group and when you are in a process of (development) that makes it even more important, so we have a great opportunity tomorrow, let's go for it." A win against Chelsea would also make sure that Arsenal don’t miss out on European football for the first time since 1995/96 as a victory would give them automatic qualification to Europa League 2020-21. "It's a final, the only focus is on winning that trophy tomorrow," said Arteta. "Financially it would be really helpful and on the sporting side, to play European football for this club is a must."

Mikel Arteta hopes FA Cup win convinces Aubameyang to stay at Arsenal

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/premier-league">Premier League</a> wanted the Saudi state to become a director of Newcastle United for a takeover deal to go through, according to a leading member of the investment group who were looking to buy the club.&nbsp;

A proposed £300 million ($391 million) takeover collapsed on Thursday when the investment group of the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), billionaire brothers David and Simon Reuben and Amanda Staveley of PCP Capital Partners said they had withdrawn their interest after three months waiting for the Premier League's approval.

Issues over Saudi piracy of sports broadcasting rights, including the Premier League, and pressure from human rights groups to block the deal complicated the process.

Staveley has been interested in buying the club for the past three years and had finally agreed a deal with Newcastle owner Mike Ashley in April with PIF reportedly set to take an 80 percent stake in the club.

"The Premier League wanted the country, Saudi, to become a director of the football club," Staveley told The Athletic.

"That's what this is about. They were effectively saying 'PIF wouldn't be the ultimate beneficial owner, we believe it's actually the government, therefore we want the country to become a director'.

"The Premier League made it so hard. It would be unprecedented. No country has ever become a director of a club. It's ridiculous."

Staveley also claimed that other Premier League clubs played a part in influencing the league's decision to stall over seeing the deal through.

Newcastle have not won a major domestic trophy since 1955, but could still count on regular crowds of 50,000 before coronavirus pandemic forced stadiums to close.

Many fans dreamed that the riches of a Saudi-backed project could replicate Manchester City's success in winning four Premier League titles since Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Mansour bought the club in 2008.

"We know that other clubs briefed heavily against it. Because they were jealous," Staveley added.

"Newcastle are the last great untapped club. The last great club with so much potential to grow and improve and with a fanbase who were already there and who wanted it so much."

Newcastle's all-time top goalscorer Alan Shearer said the club's fans have been left angry and disappointed by the collapse of the takeover.

"There's a lot of anger, understandably so, and a massive amount of disappointment," Shearer told the BBC.

"They want their club to compete, they want their club to move forward, that's why yesterday was such a disappointing day."

Retail tycoon Ashley is a deeply unpopular figure among the Newcastle support for his treatment of fans and an unwillingness to invest on the field to improve the club's fortunes.

Newcastle have finished 13th in the Premier League table for the past two seasons and have twice been relegated to the Championship during Ashley's 13-year reign.

"We can only hope and pray that new owners come in at some stage and take the club back to where it belongs because that's what the fans of Newcastle deserve," said Shearer.

The Premier League wanted the Saudi state to become a director of Newcastle United for a takeover deal to go through, according to a leading member of the investment group who were looking to buy the club.

The Premier League wanted the Saudi state to become a director of Newcastle United for a takeover deal to go through, according to a leading member of the investment group who were looking to buy the club. A proposed £300 million ($391 million) takeover collapsed on Thursday when the investment group of the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), billionaire brothers David and Simon Reuben and Amanda Staveley of PCP Capital Partners said they had withdrawn their interest after three months waiting for the Premier League's approval. Issues over Saudi piracy of sports broadcasting rights, including the Premier League, and pressure from human rights groups to block the deal complicated the process. Staveley has been interested in buying the club for the past three years and had finally agreed a deal with Newcastle owner Mike Ashley in April with PIF reportedly set to take an 80 percent stake in the club. "The Premier League wanted the country, Saudi, to become a director of the football club," Staveley told The Athletic. "That's what this is about. They were effectively saying 'PIF wouldn't be the ultimate beneficial owner, we believe it's actually the government, therefore we want the country to become a director'. "The Premier League made it so hard. It would be unprecedented. No country has ever become a director of a club. It's ridiculous." Staveley also claimed that other Premier League clubs played a part in influencing the league's decision to stall over seeing the deal through. Newcastle have not won a major domestic trophy since 1955, but could still count on regular crowds of 50,000 before coronavirus pandemic forced stadiums to close. Many fans dreamed that the riches of a Saudi-backed project could replicate Manchester City's success in winning four Premier League titles since Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Mansour bought the club in 2008. "We know that other clubs briefed heavily against it. Because they were jealous," Staveley added. "Newcastle are the last great untapped club. The last great club with so much potential to grow and improve and with a fanbase who were already there and who wanted it so much." Newcastle's all-time top goalscorer Alan Shearer said the club's fans have been left angry and disappointed by the collapse of the takeover. "There's a lot of anger, understandably so, and a massive amount of disappointment," Shearer told the BBC. "They want their club to compete, they want their club to move forward, that's why yesterday was such a disappointing day." Retail tycoon Ashley is a deeply unpopular figure among the Newcastle support for his treatment of fans and an unwillingness to invest on the field to improve the club's fortunes. Newcastle have finished 13th in the Premier League table for the past two seasons and have twice been relegated to the Championship during Ashley's 13-year reign. "We can only hope and pray that new owners come in at some stage and take the club back to where it belongs because that's what the fans of Newcastle deserve," said Shearer.

Premier League wanted Saudi state to become Newcastle director - Staveley

Indian skipper Virat Kohli and his wife Anushka Sharma on Thursday asked people to donate for Assam and Bihar flood relief. Kohli, taking to social media platform Instagram, announced that they have pledged to donate to the relief funds while urging people to contribute towards the same cause.

On Friday, Kohli shared another video clip to urge people to contribute towards Assam and Bihar flood relief, that he wreaked havoc in both the Indian states and disrupted daily life. Kohli, along with other elite sportspersons, like KL Rahul, Sania Mirza, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Harmanpreet Kaur, Wriddhiman Saha and Shubman Gill, have decided to auction their prized possessions in a bid to raise funds for the flood victims.&nbsp;

“#WeAreTogetherForAssamAndBihar Our countrymen need us in these troubled times. Let’s do our part in helping them,” tweeted Kohli.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreTogetherForAssamAndBihar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreTogetherForAssamAndBihar</a> 
 
Our countrymen need us in these troubled times. Let's do our part in helping them.<a href="https://twitter.com/cornerstoneway?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cornerstoneway</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/theawarefound?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@theawarefound</a><a href="https://t.co/DT7Q2tiBLN">https://t.co/DT7Q2tiBLN</a> <a href="https://t.co/9AyMHyNw5J">pic.twitter.com/9AyMHyNw5J</a>
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) <a href="https://twitter.com/imVkohli/status/1289137415395790848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 31, 2020</a></blockquote>
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In Bihar, over three lakh people have been evacuated so far with over 25,000 people put in 19 relief camps. Whereas in Assam, at least 107 people have died. A total of 208 relief camps have been set up which now have more than 37,000 people.

Kohli put up a pair of bats signed by him for auction, whereas Saha put his signed Test jersey. Kuldeep auctioned his hat-trick ball while Chahal put the match-ball by which he picked up a five-fer against South Africa.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-australias-josh-hazlewood-opens-up-on-england-and-india-series-ipl-2020-injuries-and-more-316469" hreflang="en">EXCLUSIVE: Australia's Josh Hazlewood opens up on England and India series, IPL 2020, injuries and more</a>

Rahul auctioned the bat which he used to smash the fastest IPL half-century, whereas Harmanpreet put her 100th T20I jersey for auction. Shubman Gill put up his signed Test jersey while Sania decised to auction the racquet with which she won the Australian Open women’s double in 2016.

The sportspersons asked everyone to participate in the auctions as the proceedings will go straight to the people affected by floods in Assam and Bihar.

Indian skipper Virat Kohli and his wife Anushka Sharma on Thursday asked people to donate for Assam and Bihar flood relief. Kohli, taking to social media platform Instagram, announced that they have pledged to donate to the relief funds while urging people to contribute towards the same cause.

Indian skipper Virat Kohli and his wife Anushka Sharma on Thursday asked people to donate for Assam and Bihar flood relief. Kohli, taking to social media platform Instagram, announced that they have pledged to donate to the relief funds while urging people to contribute towards the same cause. On Friday, Kohli shared another video clip to urge people to contribute towards Assam and Bihar flood relief, that he wreaked havoc in both the Indian states and disrupted daily life. Kohli, along with other elite sportspersons, like KL Rahul, Sania Mirza, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Harmanpreet Kaur, Wriddhiman Saha and Shubman Gill, have decided to auction their prized possessions in a bid to raise funds for the flood victims. “#WeAreTogetherForAssamAndBihar Our countrymen need us in these troubled times. Let’s do our part in helping them,” tweeted Kohli. ALSO READ: Exclusive | Marnus Labuschagne: Thriving to be the best #WeAreTogetherForAssamAndBihar Our countrymen need us in these troubled times. Let's do our part in helping them.@cornerstoneway @theawarefoundhttps://t.co/DT7Q2tiBLN pic.twitter.com/9AyMHyNw5J — Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) July 31, 2020 × In Bihar, over three lakh people have been evacuated so far with over 25,000 people put in 19 relief camps. Whereas in Assam, at least 107 people have died. A total of 208 relief camps have been set up which now have more than 37,000 people. Kohli put up a pair of bats signed by him for auction, whereas Saha put his signed Test jersey. Kuldeep auctioned his hat-trick ball while Chahal put the match-ball by which he picked up a five-fer against South Africa. ALSO READ: EXCLUSIVE: Australia's Josh Hazlewood opens up on England and India series, IPL 2020, injuries and more Rahul auctioned the bat which he used to smash the fastest IPL half-century, whereas Harmanpreet put her 100th T20I jersey for auction. Shubman Gill put up his signed Test jersey while Sania decised to auction the racquet with which she won the Australian Open women’s double in 2016. The sportspersons asked everyone to participate in the auctions as the proceedings will go straight to the people affected by floods in Assam and Bihar.

Kohli, Rahul and others auction prized possession to raise funds for Bihar, Assam flood victims

Britain’s Andy Murray has said that he is expecting some of the top male tennis players to skip the much-awaited US Open in New York next month due to concerns over COVID-19 pandemic following women’s world no. one Ashleigh Barty’s footsteps.&nbsp;

Barty on Thursday said she was not comfortable travelling to New York amid the pandemic and didn’t want to put herself and her team in trouble for the hardcourt Grand Slam, which is scheduled to start on August 31.&nbsp;

Murray backed <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/world-number-one-ashleigh-barty-to-skip-us-open-over-covid-19-concerns-317067">Barty’s decision to skip the US Open</a> as he said that if a player is not comfortable travelling and playing then it is completely understandable.

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“I have heard some of the top male players aren’t going to play. I would expect that would be the case,” former world number one Murray told British media.

“It’s everyone’s personal decision. If they don’t feel safe, and don’t feel comfortable, travelling and going there and putting themselves and their team at an increased risk, then it’s completely understandable.”

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nick-kyrgios-hits-back-at-borna-coric-over-adria-tour-saga-asks-do-you-have-rocks-in-your-head-316740" hreflang="en">Nick Kyrgios hits back at Borna Coric over Adria Tour saga, asks 'do you have rocks in your head?'</a>

The likes of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams have all entered the Western &amp; Southern Open in New York, which has been relocated from Cincinnati this year due to COVID-19 and will serve as a preparatory event for the US Open. Even Japanese ace Naomi Osaka has confirmed her participation in the US Open, which will be first Grand Slam to be played post-COVID-19 break.

Both tournament will be played behind closed doors with organizes United States Tennis Association looking to set up a strict bio-secure bubble to curb the spread of the dreaded virus.

 
&nbsp;

Britain’s Andy Murray has said that he is expecting some of the top male tennis players to skip the much-awaited US Open in New York next month due to concerns over COVID-19 pandemic following women’s world no.

Britain’s Andy Murray has said that he is expecting some of the top male tennis players to skip the much-awaited US Open in New York next month due to concerns over COVID-19 pandemic following women’s world no. one Ashleigh Barty’s footsteps. Barty on Thursday said she was not comfortable travelling to New York amid the pandemic and didn’t want to put herself and her team in trouble for the hardcourt Grand Slam, which is scheduled to start on August 31. Murray backed Barty’s decision to skip the US Open as he said that if a player is not comfortable travelling and playing then it is completely understandable. ALSO READ: World number one Ashleigh Barty to skip U.S. Open over COVID-19 concerns “I have heard some of the top male players aren’t going to play. I would expect that would be the case,” former world number one Murray told British media. “It’s everyone’s personal decision. If they don’t feel safe, and don’t feel comfortable, travelling and going there and putting themselves and their team at an increased risk, then it’s completely understandable.” ALSO READ: Nick Kyrgios hits back at Borna Coric over Adria Tour saga, asks 'do you have rocks in your head?' The likes of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams have all entered the Western & Southern Open in New York, which has been relocated from Cincinnati this year due to COVID-19 and will serve as a preparatory event for the US Open. Even Japanese ace Naomi Osaka has confirmed her participation in the US Open, which will be first Grand Slam to be played post-COVID-19 break. Both tournament will be played behind closed doors with organizes United States Tennis Association looking to set up a strict bio-secure bubble to curb the spread of the dreaded virus.

Andy Murray expects 'some top male players' to skip US Open 2020

Biju George, the coach of Sanju Samson believes that the right-handed batsman will have a golden chance to cement his place in the T20 World Cup 2021 squad if he performs well in the two <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/ipl?page=1">IPL</a>s which will be played in a span of seven months.Samson was just 11-years-old when he started training under coach Biju George in Thiruvananthapuram.

At that time, George was a cricket coach at the Sports Authority of India`s cricket training centre. The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/ipl">IPL 2020</a> is slated to start from September 19 in the UAE, while next year, the tournament is likely to be played in its normal window (March-May).

The T20 World Cup slated to be played this year in Australia has been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, and now it will go ahead next year either in India or Australia.

"Yes absolutely, I think it is a golden chance for him to make his place in the T20 World Cup 2021 squad. If you look at his white-ball career, he has been consistent at it and I am sure he will perform, he has been consistent ever since he made his debut in IPL," George told ANI while talking about Samson`s chances to make it to the T20 World Cup squad.

"I do not think Samson will have any pressure on him when he goes in to play the IPL. This year, he has put in the maximum preparation, I have never seen him more focused, he was even working out when we were in lockdown in Trivandrum," he added.

The 25-year-old will be representing Rajasthan Royals in the IPL this year.Samson has so far played 93 matches in the IPL, managing to score 1,696 runs at an average of 27.61 with his highest score being 102 not out. The batsman has been a part of India`s T20I squad for the past six months, but the player did not find many chances to feature in the playing XI.

Since then, Samson`s exclusion from the playing XI has been a subject of severe criticism. Firstly, Rishabh Pant was getting the nod in front of Samson, and later KL Rahul started performing well to feature permanently as the first-choice wicket-keeper in the white-ball format.

However, George believes that every cricketer in the Indian dressing room might be worried as Samson has a knack of producing quality innings in the IPL. "Every cricketer in the Indian dressing room knows that IPL is where Sanju Samson comes to play, comes to the party actually.

He plays some outstandings knocks in this tournament," George said."Rishabh Pant is a left-hander as compared to KL Rahul and Sanju Samson so he might be getting the nod because of this reason. But nowadays, you do not care whether you are a left-hander or right-hander," he added.

Samson has so far played 4 T20Is for India, in which he has registered 35 runs.The batsman was last seen in action in a T20I match against New Zealand earlier this year.&nbsp;

Biju George, the coach of Sanju Samson believes that the right-handed batsman will have a golden chance to cement his place in the T20 World Cup 2021 squad if he performs well in the two IPLs which will be played in a span of seven months.

Biju George, the coach of Sanju Samson believes that the right-handed batsman will have a golden chance to cement his place in the T20 World Cup 2021 squad if he performs well in the two IPLs which will be played in a span of seven months.Samson was just 11-years-old when he started training under coach Biju George in Thiruvananthapuram. At that time, George was a cricket coach at the Sports Authority of India`s cricket training centre. The IPL 2020 is slated to start from September 19 in the UAE, while next year, the tournament is likely to be played in its normal window (March-May). The T20 World Cup slated to be played this year in Australia has been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, and now it will go ahead next year either in India or Australia. "Yes absolutely, I think it is a golden chance for him to make his place in the T20 World Cup 2021 squad. If you look at his white-ball career, he has been consistent at it and I am sure he will perform, he has been consistent ever since he made his debut in IPL," George told ANI while talking about Samson`s chances to make it to the T20 World Cup squad. "I do not think Samson will have any pressure on him when he goes in to play the IPL. This year, he has put in the maximum preparation, I have never seen him more focused, he was even working out when we were in lockdown in Trivandrum," he added. The 25-year-old will be representing Rajasthan Royals in the IPL this year.Samson has so far played 93 matches in the IPL, managing to score 1,696 runs at an average of 27.61 with his highest score being 102 not out. The batsman has been a part of India`s T20I squad for the past six months, but the player did not find many chances to feature in the playing XI. Since then, Samson`s exclusion from the playing XI has been a subject of severe criticism. Firstly, Rishabh Pant was getting the nod in front of Samson, and later KL Rahul started performing well to feature permanently as the first-choice wicket-keeper in the white-ball format. However, George believes that every cricketer in the Indian dressing room might be worried as Samson has a knack of producing quality innings in the IPL. "Every cricketer in the Indian dressing room knows that IPL is where Sanju Samson comes to play, comes to the party actually. He plays some outstandings knocks in this tournament," George said."Rishabh Pant is a left-hander as compared to KL Rahul and Sanju Samson so he might be getting the nod because of this reason. But nowadays, you do not care whether you are a left-hander or right-hander," he added. Samson has so far played 4 T20Is for India, in which he has registered 35 runs.The batsman was last seen in action in a T20I match against New Zealand earlier this year.

Samson will definitely perform in IPL, have never seen him more focused: Coach Biju George

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has raised his concerns about his side having to travel to Spain for their <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/uefa-champions-league">UEFA Champions League</a> clash versus Barcelona amid a spike in COVID-19 cases in the country.

UEFA, earlier this month, confirmed that the remaining second-leg matches of Champions League round of 16 matches would be played in stadiums of the home team before the ‘Final-8’ of the elite competition is played in Lisbon, Portugal. The Europa League will be shifted to Germany.&nbsp;

Laurentiis said that while fear is coming from Spain, authorities in the football body is acting like nothing is wrong while adding he really doesn’t see why football should be played in a city that is in critical situation.

"I hear a lot of perplexity and fear coming from Spain and they're acting like nothing is wrong. What does it take to say, 'Don't go to Barcelona but rather go to Portugal, Germany or Geneva?" the Guardian quoted De Laurentiis as saying.

"If they've decided to play the Champions League in Portugal and the Europa League in Germany, I think we can go to Portugal or Germany for the last 16. I don't understand why it should stay in a city that has a really critical situation."

Napoli’s last-16 match with Barcelona is hanging in balance at 1-1 ahead of second leg at the iconic Camp Nou on August 8.&nbsp;

There has been a surge in COVID-19 positives in Spain with thousands of new cases reported on a daily basis, taking the country's total tally to over 303,000 cases.

Players from Sevilla, Real Madrid and Almeria tested positive for the virus this week. 
&nbsp;

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has raised his concerns about his side having to travel to Spain for their UEFA Champions League clash versus Barcelona amid a spike in COVID-19 cases in the country.

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has raised his concerns about his side having to travel to Spain for their UEFA Champions League clash versus Barcelona amid a spike in COVID-19 cases in the country. UEFA, earlier this month, confirmed that the remaining second-leg matches of Champions League round of 16 matches would be played in stadiums of the home team before the ‘Final-8’ of the elite competition is played in Lisbon, Portugal. The Europa League will be shifted to Germany. Laurentiis said that while fear is coming from Spain, authorities in the football body is acting like nothing is wrong while adding he really doesn’t see why football should be played in a city that is in critical situation. "I hear a lot of perplexity and fear coming from Spain and they're acting like nothing is wrong. What does it take to say, 'Don't go to Barcelona but rather go to Portugal, Germany or Geneva?" the Guardian quoted De Laurentiis as saying. "If they've decided to play the Champions League in Portugal and the Europa League in Germany, I think we can go to Portugal or Germany for the last 16. I don't understand why it should stay in a city that has a really critical situation." Napoli’s last-16 match with Barcelona is hanging in balance at 1-1 ahead of second leg at the iconic Camp Nou on August 8. There has been a surge in COVID-19 positives in Spain with thousands of new cases reported on a daily basis, taking the country's total tally to over 303,000 cases. Players from Sevilla, Real Madrid and Almeria tested positive for the virus this week.

Napoli president raises concerns about Champions League tie vs Barcelona in Camp Nou

Rory McIlroy says he may not return to Europe from the United States this year due to the risks associated with travelling amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

McIlroy, who is in the field for the PGA Tour’s WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational this week, will play in the U.S. Open in September but has hinted he may not take part in the European Tour’s Scottish Open or BMW PGA Championship in October.

“I honestly don’t know if I see myself going back to Europe this year,” the world number two said. “I don’t know if I want to travel, I don’t know if I want to be exposed to more things and more people.

“I’m sort of taking it week by week. I’ve got my schedule planned up until the U.S. Open, which is obviously a couple weeks after the Tour Championship, and then I honestly have no idea what I’m going to do after that.”

McIlroy said that while he understood why Lee Westwood chose not to travel to San Francisco for the PGA Championship, he would return to Europe if there was a major on the schedule.

This year’s British Open, which was due to be held at Royal St George’s in Kent this month, was cancelled due to the pandemic.

“I understand their plight. I was just saying I don’t know if I would travel in the fall and go and play some of these other events in Europe, but if it was a major championship, it would probably be different,” he said.

The European Tour returned this month with back-to-back events in Austria, while the British Masters last week was the first of six tournaments on the ‘UK Swing’.

Rory McIlroy says he may not return to Europe from the United States this year due to the risks associated with travelling amid the COVID-19 pandemic. McIlroy, who is in the field for the PGA Tour’s WGC-FedEx St.

Rory McIlroy says he may not return to Europe from the United States this year due to the risks associated with travelling amid the COVID-19 pandemic. McIlroy, who is in the field for the PGA Tour’s WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational this week, will play in the U.S. Open in September but has hinted he may not take part in the European Tour’s Scottish Open or BMW PGA Championship in October. “I honestly don’t know if I see myself going back to Europe this year,” the world number two said. “I don’t know if I want to travel, I don’t know if I want to be exposed to more things and more people. “I’m sort of taking it week by week. I’ve got my schedule planned up until the U.S. Open, which is obviously a couple weeks after the Tour Championship, and then I honestly have no idea what I’m going to do after that.” McIlroy said that while he understood why Lee Westwood chose not to travel to San Francisco for the PGA Championship, he would return to Europe if there was a major on the schedule. This year’s British Open, which was due to be held at Royal St George’s in Kent this month, was cancelled due to the pandemic. “I understand their plight. I was just saying I don’t know if I would travel in the fall and go and play some of these other events in Europe, but if it was a major championship, it would probably be different,” he said. The European Tour returned this month with back-to-back events in Austria, while the British Masters last week was the first of six tournaments on the ‘UK Swing’.

Golf: McIlroy may not return to Europe this year due to COVID-19 risk

Juventus crashed to a humiliating 2-0 defeat at Cagliari on Wednesday, days after sealing their ninth consecutive Serie A title, prompting coach Maurizio Sarri to consider fielding his Under-23 team in Saturday's finale to conserve resources ahead of their Champions League challenge.

Cagliari's 20-year-old forward Luca Gagliano tapped in the opener eight minutes into his first Serie A match, beating veteran Juventus keeper Gianluigi Buffon to score his first top division goal.

And the young Italian then teed up Giovanni Simeone in first half stoppage time to give Cagliari their first win over Juventus in 11 years.

"The 40 goals conceded (this season) may be a concern, but tonight's game is not," said Sarri.&nbsp;

"We had nine injured and we came from a championship won 68 hours ago, so it was an atypical game that should be taken for what it is.&nbsp;

"We are the only ones in Europe who have played five games in 12 days, the League has created big problems for us.&nbsp;

"Let's see how we are tomorrow and if it is appropriate to line up the Under-23 team on Saturday against Roma to recover better."

Cristiano Ronaldo missed the chance to keep pace with Serie A's leading scorer Ciro Immobile, the Portuguese now four goals behind the Lazio forward's tally of 35 with one match remaining.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner had a goal ruled offside after 16 minutes and was denied twice by Cagliari goalkeeper Alessio Cragno as the 13th-placed Sardinians ended their eight-match winless run.

It was a worrying performance for Sarri's side, who have won just two of their last seven games, with key forwards Paulo Dybala and Douglas Costa fighting for fitness ahead of the Champions League showdown with Lyon on August 7 in Turin, when they need to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit.

<h2>- Immobile on target -</h2>

&nbsp;

In Rome, Immobile moved to within one goal of equalling the Serie A single season scoring record as Lazio beat relegated Brescia 2-0 to stay in the race for second place.

Immobile struck eight minutes from time to close in on Gonzalo Higuain's record of 36 goals, scored for Napoli in 2015-16.

Lazio are fourth, equal on 78 points with third-placed Atalanta, who beat Parma 2-1 on Tuesday, and one adrift of Inter Milan who are second following their 2-0 win over Napoli.

Inter and Atalanta will go head-to-head this weekend with Lazio's last game at seventh-placed Napoli.

Immobile helped Joaquin Correa open the scoring after 16 minutes at the Stadio Olimpico, with Correa returning the favour late on.

Behind the top four, who are assured of Champions League football next season, Roma sealed their Europa League group stage berth with a 3-2 win at Torino.

Napoli have already secured their place as a result of their Italian Cup win while AC Milan, who will finish sixth, must go through the Europa League qualifying rounds despite beating Sampdoria 4-1.

<h2>- Zlatan AKA 'Benjamin Button' -</h2>

&nbsp;

Stefano Pioli's side remain four points behind Roma after Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice and set up a third in a dominating display against Samp.

The 38-year-old got his head to an Ante Rebic cross within four minutes in Genoa for his fastest goal in the Italian top flight, before nodding the ball across for Hakan Calhanoglu to add the second six minutes after the break.&nbsp;

Turkish winger Calhanoglu provided the cross which allowed Ibrahimovic to add his second of the night.&nbsp;

Leao added a fourth in injury time as Milan extended their unbeaten run to 11 games.

Ibrahimovic has scored nine league goals since rejoining Milan in January.

The veteran brings his club tally to 51 goals for the club, combined with his previous stint between 2010 and 2012.

He also becomes the first player to have scored 50 goals for both Milan clubs, with 57 netted during his time at city rivals Inter from 2006 to 2009.

"Like Benjamin Button, I've always been young, never old," said Ibrahimovic of the film of a man who ages in reverse.

"They tell me I'm old and tired but I'm just warming up."

Lecce's bid for survival will go down to the final day after they came from behind to beat Udinese 2-1.&nbsp;

The southern club occupy the final relegation position but are now just one point behind 17th-placed Genoa, who were hammered 5-0 at Sassuolo.

Both Lecce and Genoa will face Parma and Hellas Verona respectively at the weekend hoping to avoid joining Brescia and SPAL in Serie B.

Juventus crashed to a humiliating 2-0 defeat at Cagliari on Wednesday, days after sealing their ninth consecutive Serie A title, prompting coach Maurizio Sarri to consider fielding his Under-23 team in Saturday's finale to conserve resources ahead of their Champions League challenge.

Juventus crashed to a humiliating 2-0 defeat at Cagliari on Wednesday, days after sealing their ninth consecutive Serie A title, prompting coach Maurizio Sarri to consider fielding his Under-23 team in Saturday's finale to conserve resources ahead of their Champions League challenge. Cagliari's 20-year-old forward Luca Gagliano tapped in the opener eight minutes into his first Serie A match, beating veteran Juventus keeper Gianluigi Buffon to score his first top division goal. And the young Italian then teed up Giovanni Simeone in first half stoppage time to give Cagliari their first win over Juventus in 11 years. "The 40 goals conceded (this season) may be a concern, but tonight's game is not," said Sarri. "We had nine injured and we came from a championship won 68 hours ago, so it was an atypical game that should be taken for what it is. "We are the only ones in Europe who have played five games in 12 days, the League has created big problems for us. "Let's see how we are tomorrow and if it is appropriate to line up the Under-23 team on Saturday against Roma to recover better." Cristiano Ronaldo missed the chance to keep pace with Serie A's leading scorer Ciro Immobile, the Portuguese now four goals behind the Lazio forward's tally of 35 with one match remaining. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner had a goal ruled offside after 16 minutes and was denied twice by Cagliari goalkeeper Alessio Cragno as the 13th-placed Sardinians ended their eight-match winless run. It was a worrying performance for Sarri's side, who have won just two of their last seven games, with key forwards Paulo Dybala and Douglas Costa fighting for fitness ahead of the Champions League showdown with Lyon on August 7 in Turin, when they need to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit. - Immobile on target - In Rome, Immobile moved to within one goal of equalling the Serie A single season scoring record as Lazio beat relegated Brescia 2-0 to stay in the race for second place. Immobile struck eight minutes from time to close in on Gonzalo Higuain's record of 36 goals, scored for Napoli in 2015-16. Lazio are fourth, equal on 78 points with third-placed Atalanta, who beat Parma 2-1 on Tuesday, and one adrift of Inter Milan who are second following their 2-0 win over Napoli. Inter and Atalanta will go head-to-head this weekend with Lazio's last game at seventh-placed Napoli. Immobile helped Joaquin Correa open the scoring after 16 minutes at the Stadio Olimpico, with Correa returning the favour late on. Behind the top four, who are assured of Champions League football next season, Roma sealed their Europa League group stage berth with a 3-2 win at Torino. Napoli have already secured their place as a result of their Italian Cup win while AC Milan, who will finish sixth, must go through the Europa League qualifying rounds despite beating Sampdoria 4-1. - Zlatan AKA 'Benjamin Button' - Stefano Pioli's side remain four points behind Roma after Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice and set up a third in a dominating display against Samp. The 38-year-old got his head to an Ante Rebic cross within four minutes in Genoa for his fastest goal in the Italian top flight, before nodding the ball across for Hakan Calhanoglu to add the second six minutes after the break. Turkish winger Calhanoglu provided the cross which allowed Ibrahimovic to add his second of the night. Leao added a fourth in injury time as Milan extended their unbeaten run to 11 games. Ibrahimovic has scored nine league goals since rejoining Milan in January. The veteran brings his club tally to 51 goals for the club, combined with his previous stint between 2010 and 2012. He also becomes the first player to have scored 50 goals for both Milan clubs, with 57 netted during his time at city rivals Inter from 2006 to 2009. "Like Benjamin Button, I've always been young, never old," said Ibrahimovic of the film of a man who ages in reverse. "They tell me I'm old and tired but I'm just warming up." Lecce's bid for survival will go down to the final day after they came from behind to beat Udinese 2-1. The southern club occupy the final relegation position but are now just one point behind 17th-placed Genoa, who were hammered 5-0 at Sassuolo. Both Lecce and Genoa will face Parma and Hellas Verona respectively at the weekend hoping to avoid joining Brescia and SPAL in Serie B.

Sarri tempted to field Under-23 team as Juve crash to humiliating defeat

Fresh from two dominant triumphs, Lewis Hamilton will seek to complete an early-season hat-trick and extend his home wins record to seven without his usual impassioned supporters in "super weird" circumstances at this weekend's British Grand Prix.

The six-time world champion and current standings leader has always drawn energy from the big crowds that support him at Silverstone, but this year's event will be run behind closed doors in front of empty grandstands.

"The British Grand Prix is the best and that's particularly because of the fans –- thousands and thousands always turn up to create a great spectacle," said the Briton.

"So, it is going to be super weird to be there without them."

For Hamilton, that means no crowd-surfing celebrations and keeping his feet on the ground as he bids to add to his wins at the Styrian and Hungarian Grands Prix as the coronavirus-delayed 2020 season returns.

This Sunday's race will be the 71st British Grand Prix and 54th at Silverstone and is followed one week later by a race at the same venue to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the inaugural world championship event in 1950.

After his recent victories, and given his great record at Silverstone, Hamilton will start as favourite, but can expect a strong challenge from his Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas, who won the season-opener in Austria.

Already the two 'black Arrows' drivers have demonstrated the clear supremacy of their unbeaten W11 cars, dubbed "the fastest F1 cars ever" by team chief Toto Wolff this week.

He said: "We will miss our fans at Silverstone –- but we know that they will be rooting for us from home so we are determined to show our gratitude by putting on a great show.

"These are the fastest F1 cars ever built. They have broken the track records at both Spielberg and Budapest and it will be thrilling to see them on the iconic Silverstone circuit."

<h2>- Reliability 'crucial' -</h2>

The high-speed track's demanding and fast corners are expected to suit the Mercedes cars, but Wolff said he is taking nothing for granted.

"We've had a good start to the season," he said. "We resolved the issues that troubled us on the first weekend, won three out of three races and scored a good amount of points, but they highlighted a crucial factor -- the importance of reliability in this shortened season.

"We're one of only two teams that have finished all the races with both cars this year and we know how quickly a DNF (did not finish) can make a points lead disappear."

Arriving at Silverstone, Hamilton leads Bottas by five points with Max Verstappen of Red Bull third, 30 points adrift, but hoping to close the gap.

The Racing Point team's base is only a few hundred metres from the circuit entrance and, after demonstrating their speed and potential in Austria and Hungary, they hope to be in a scrap with Red Bull to secure a podium finish before Renault lodge another expected protest at the integrity of their 'pink Mercedes' car.

Ferrari, the only team to have interrupted Mercedes' supremacy at Silverstone in recent years, when Sebastian Vettel triumphed in 2018, are likely to continue their struggle for competitive form after a lacklustre start to 2020.

Vettel, in his final season at Ferrari, has this year emerged as a close supporter of Hamilton in backing the sport's anti-racism stance and the wider Black Lives Matter movement, which has not seen clear and unambiguous backing from the drivers.

Hamilton called for more unity and leadership on the issue following a confused and muddled pre-race 'taking the knee' ceremony in Hungary.

McLaren's Lando Norris, 20, said this week that the drivers would react and he expected to see "a better structure and a better plan in place" than at previous weekends.

The Briton suggested that Formula One management would be allocating proper time for a ceremony prior to the national anthem.

Fresh from two dominant triumphs, Lewis Hamilton will seek to complete an early-season hat-trick and extend his home wins record to seven without his usual impassioned supporters in "super weird" circumstances at this weekend's British Grand Prix.

Fresh from two dominant triumphs, Lewis Hamilton will seek to complete an early-season hat-trick and extend his home wins record to seven without his usual impassioned supporters in "super weird" circumstances at this weekend's British Grand Prix. The six-time world champion and current standings leader has always drawn energy from the big crowds that support him at Silverstone, but this year's event will be run behind closed doors in front of empty grandstands. "The British Grand Prix is the best and that's particularly because of the fans –- thousands and thousands always turn up to create a great spectacle," said the Briton. "So, it is going to be super weird to be there without them." For Hamilton, that means no crowd-surfing celebrations and keeping his feet on the ground as he bids to add to his wins at the Styrian and Hungarian Grands Prix as the coronavirus-delayed 2020 season returns. This Sunday's race will be the 71st British Grand Prix and 54th at Silverstone and is followed one week later by a race at the same venue to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the inaugural world championship event in 1950. After his recent victories, and given his great record at Silverstone, Hamilton will start as favourite, but can expect a strong challenge from his Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas, who won the season-opener in Austria. Already the two 'black Arrows' drivers have demonstrated the clear supremacy of their unbeaten W11 cars, dubbed "the fastest F1 cars ever" by team chief Toto Wolff this week. He said: "We will miss our fans at Silverstone –- but we know that they will be rooting for us from home so we are determined to show our gratitude by putting on a great show. "These are the fastest F1 cars ever built. They have broken the track records at both Spielberg and Budapest and it will be thrilling to see them on the iconic Silverstone circuit." - Reliability 'crucial' - The high-speed track's demanding and fast corners are expected to suit the Mercedes cars, but Wolff said he is taking nothing for granted. "We've had a good start to the season," he said. "We resolved the issues that troubled us on the first weekend, won three out of three races and scored a good amount of points, but they highlighted a crucial factor -- the importance of reliability in this shortened season. "We're one of only two teams that have finished all the races with both cars this year and we know how quickly a DNF (did not finish) can make a points lead disappear." Arriving at Silverstone, Hamilton leads Bottas by five points with Max Verstappen of Red Bull third, 30 points adrift, but hoping to close the gap. The Racing Point team's base is only a few hundred metres from the circuit entrance and, after demonstrating their speed and potential in Austria and Hungary, they hope to be in a scrap with Red Bull to secure a podium finish before Renault lodge another expected protest at the integrity of their 'pink Mercedes' car. Ferrari, the only team to have interrupted Mercedes' supremacy at Silverstone in recent years, when Sebastian Vettel triumphed in 2018, are likely to continue their struggle for competitive form after a lacklustre start to 2020. Vettel, in his final season at Ferrari, has this year emerged as a close supporter of Hamilton in backing the sport's anti-racism stance and the wider Black Lives Matter movement, which has not seen clear and unambiguous backing from the drivers. Hamilton called for more unity and leadership on the issue following a confused and muddled pre-race 'taking the knee' ceremony in Hungary. McLaren's Lando Norris, 20, said this week that the drivers would react and he expected to see "a better structure and a better plan in place" than at previous weekends. The Briton suggested that Formula One management would be allocating proper time for a ceremony prior to the national anthem.

Hamilton eyes 'super weird' seventh Silverstone triumph

Frank Lampard has set his sights on capping an impressive first season as Chelsea manager by leading the Blues to FA Cup glory against Arsenal on Saturday.

Lampard enjoyed four FA Cup final victories as a Chelsea player, but getting his hands on the first trophy of his nascent managerial career would be an even more significant moment for the 42-year-old.

Having led Chelsea into next season's Champions League via a top four finish in the Premier League, Lampard heads to Wembley surfing a wave of positivity.

It is a testament to Lampard's acumen that, in just his second season as a manager, he has Chelsea positioned as an emerging force just 12 months after the club was in turmoil.

When Lampard arrived at Stamford Bridge in June 2019 after one season as boss of second tier Derby, he carried the good wishes of supporters who idolised him during his glittering 13-year spell with the club.

But there were many pundits who doubted whether Lampard was the right man to get Chelsea back on track following the turbulent reign of Maurizio Sarri.

The taciturn Sarri fell out with several of Chelsea's stars, alienating them with his monotonous training regime and inflexible tactics.

Fixing the fractures in Chelsea's dressing room wasn't the only problem facing Lampard, who also had to deal with the club's transfer ban last summer and the sale of Belgium playmaker Eden Hazard to Real Madrid.&nbsp;

Even for an experienced boss, it would have been a daunting situation, but Lampard has risen to the challenge.

"There were a lot of unknowns when I came in, could we move forward without Eden Hazard? We knew we had lost a massive player," Lampard said.

"We've a real spirit within the group now and it's a real team effort now."

With his hands tied by the transfer embargo, Lampard was compelled to give some of the club's youngsters a chance to prove their worth.

That they responded so tenaciously and with such verve was a tribute to Lampard's influence.

The energy and optimism provided by Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount, Reece James, Billy Gilmour and Fikayo Tomori gave the entire club a jolt of adrenaline.

A swaggering 5-2 win at Wolves in September served notice that Lampard and his young prodigies wouldn't be out of their depth, while a mature 1-0 Champions League win at Ajax showed they could handle Europe's elite.

<h2>- Midas touch -</h2>

Lampard's midas touch hasn't been restricted to the young guns.

He coaxed consistency from Willian and brought Olivier Giroud back into the fold after the French striker had appeared set to leave in January.

Exiled in the first half of the season, Giroud's prolific form since the coronavirus hiatus -- seven goals in 10 matches in all competitions -- played a key role in Chelsea holding onto their top four berth.

"What we've done this season is take the opportunity to bring in the younger players and improve the existing players," Lampard said.

At a club where owner Roman Abramovich dispenses with managers in ruthless fashion, Lampard showed he wasn't intimidated by twice dropping error-prone goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga despite the club's fears it could harm his future transfer value.

Lampard's furious response to perceived antagonism from Liverpool's coaching staff during their recent clash at Anfield was another sign he isn't to be trifled with.

While Chelsea's progress under Lampard has been undeniable, they still lost 12 times in the league for only the second time since Abramovich bought the club in 2003.

Unable to fix Chelsea's defensive frailties and often frustrated by their lack of cutting edge, Lampard has been busy in the transfer market and more new signings are on the way.

Lampard needs Leipzig striker Timo Werner and Ajax playmaker Hakim Ziyech to hit the ground running next season.

He has also been linked with Manchester United keeper Dean Henderson, West Ham's Declan Rice and Bayer Leverkusen's Kai Havertz as he tries to bridge the 33-point gap to Liverpool.

"The challenge now is to see what more we can do next season," Lampard said.

Frank Lampard has set his sights on capping an impressive first season as Chelsea manager by leading the Blues to FA Cup glory against Arsenal on Saturday. Lampard enjoyed four FA Cup final victories as a Chelsea player, but getting his hands on the first trophy of his nascent managerial career would be an even more significant moment for the 42-year-old.

Frank Lampard has set his sights on capping an impressive first season as Chelsea manager by leading the Blues to FA Cup glory against Arsenal on Saturday. Lampard enjoyed four FA Cup final victories as a Chelsea player, but getting his hands on the first trophy of his nascent managerial career would be an even more significant moment for the 42-year-old. Having led Chelsea into next season's Champions League via a top four finish in the Premier League, Lampard heads to Wembley surfing a wave of positivity. It is a testament to Lampard's acumen that, in just his second season as a manager, he has Chelsea positioned as an emerging force just 12 months after the club was in turmoil. When Lampard arrived at Stamford Bridge in June 2019 after one season as boss of second tier Derby, he carried the good wishes of supporters who idolised him during his glittering 13-year spell with the club. But there were many pundits who doubted whether Lampard was the right man to get Chelsea back on track following the turbulent reign of Maurizio Sarri. The taciturn Sarri fell out with several of Chelsea's stars, alienating them with his monotonous training regime and inflexible tactics. Fixing the fractures in Chelsea's dressing room wasn't the only problem facing Lampard, who also had to deal with the club's transfer ban last summer and the sale of Belgium playmaker Eden Hazard to Real Madrid. Even for an experienced boss, it would have been a daunting situation, but Lampard has risen to the challenge. "There were a lot of unknowns when I came in, could we move forward without Eden Hazard? We knew we had lost a massive player," Lampard said. "We've a real spirit within the group now and it's a real team effort now." With his hands tied by the transfer embargo, Lampard was compelled to give some of the club's youngsters a chance to prove their worth. That they responded so tenaciously and with such verve was a tribute to Lampard's influence. The energy and optimism provided by Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount, Reece James, Billy Gilmour and Fikayo Tomori gave the entire club a jolt of adrenaline. A swaggering 5-2 win at Wolves in September served notice that Lampard and his young prodigies wouldn't be out of their depth, while a mature 1-0 Champions League win at Ajax showed they could handle Europe's elite. - Midas touch - Lampard's midas touch hasn't been restricted to the young guns. He coaxed consistency from Willian and brought Olivier Giroud back into the fold after the French striker had appeared set to leave in January. Exiled in the first half of the season, Giroud's prolific form since the coronavirus hiatus -- seven goals in 10 matches in all competitions -- played a key role in Chelsea holding onto their top four berth. "What we've done this season is take the opportunity to bring in the younger players and improve the existing players," Lampard said. At a club where owner Roman Abramovich dispenses with managers in ruthless fashion, Lampard showed he wasn't intimidated by twice dropping error-prone goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga despite the club's fears it could harm his future transfer value. Lampard's furious response to perceived antagonism from Liverpool's coaching staff during their recent clash at Anfield was another sign he isn't to be trifled with. While Chelsea's progress under Lampard has been undeniable, they still lost 12 times in the league for only the second time since Abramovich bought the club in 2003. Unable to fix Chelsea's defensive frailties and often frustrated by their lack of cutting edge, Lampard has been busy in the transfer market and more new signings are on the way. Lampard needs Leipzig striker Timo Werner and Ajax playmaker Hakim Ziyech to hit the ground running next season. He has also been linked with Manchester United keeper Dean Henderson, West Ham's Declan Rice and Bayer Leverkusen's Kai Havertz as he tries to bridge the 33-point gap to Liverpool. "The challenge now is to see what more we can do next season," Lampard said.

Lampard aims to cap Chelsea comeback with FA Cup glory

Australian batsman Marnus Labuschagne has made a significant impact in the Aussie side since making his Test debut against Pakistan in October 2018. Since then he has scored 1459 runs in 14 Tests at a staggering average of 63.43 while becoming a vital part of the Australian batting line-up. In ODIs, Labuschagne has already hammered a century and couple of 50s in just seven matches making him one of the hottest property in world cricket. However, the T20 platform still remains untouched for the youngster.&nbsp;

Having played just 10 matches in the Big Bash League for Brisbane Heat, Labuschagne is yet to make his T20I debut for Australia. However, he wants to become a mainstay for Australia across formats if the hectic schedule permits him to do so.&nbsp;

When asked about whom he wants to emulate in becoming consistent across all three formats, Labuschagne named Steve Smith, Virat Kohli and David Warner for their ability to switch their mindset and carry forward their form in whatever format they are playing.

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ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-marnus-labuschagne-thriving-to-be-the-best-316956" hreflang="en">Exclusive | Marnus Labuschagne: Thriving to be the best</a>

“It is really important in modern day cricket to be able to switch in between format to format. It’s definitely something I personally want – just stay ready – and obviously you have to do some things differently in your preparations and the way you prepare for a game. All and all, it is a massive part of the game. You look at guys like Virat Kohli, whose able to switch between all three formats; Steve Smith and David Warner, and have success. Consistently there is a benchmark. And the target is to hit those standards,” Labuschagne told WION in an exclusive interview.

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“Absolutely, I definitely want to be playing all three formats. For me it doesn’t matter where my opportunity comes and I am playing a T20 game then it is important for me to make sure that I am understanding my role within that team and how I want to approach that format of the game. Like you said, I haven’t played too many T20 games, but with the schedule I don’t think I am going to play too many either. So for me, it is about learning in ODI cricket and making sure that I am ready to grab any opportunity that come my way,” the No. 3 ranked ICC Test batsman added.&nbsp;

The biggest challenge for Australia after the resumption of cricket post-COVID will be the forthcoming four-match Test series against India, scheduled to start in December. Labuschagne said he was excited to face India again while adding it is going to be a spectacle with two of the best Test nations facing each other in the longest format of the game.&nbsp;

“I can’t wait, I can’t wait for it to start! Very excited for it to get underway. Two of the best Test nations in the world going at it. That’s what we want to see. That’s what people want to see. Not only me but the whole team is excited for that challenge. Two good teams, two good bowling attacks coming head-to-head, what’s not to like!,” Labuschagne said. 
&nbsp;

Australian batsman Marnus Labuschagne has made a significant impact in the Aussie side since making his Test debut against Pakistan in October 2018. Since then he has scored 1459 runs in 14 Tests at a staggering average of 63.

Australian batsman Marnus Labuschagne has made a significant impact in the Aussie side since making his Test debut against Pakistan in October 2018. Since then he has scored 1459 runs in 14 Tests at a staggering average of 63.43 while becoming a vital part of the Australian batting line-up. In ODIs, Labuschagne has already hammered a century and couple of 50s in just seven matches making him one of the hottest property in world cricket. However, the T20 platform still remains untouched for the youngster. Having played just 10 matches in the Big Bash League for Brisbane Heat, Labuschagne is yet to make his T20I debut for Australia. However, he wants to become a mainstay for Australia across formats if the hectic schedule permits him to do so. When asked about whom he wants to emulate in becoming consistent across all three formats, Labuschagne named Steve Smith, Virat Kohli and David Warner for their ability to switch their mindset and carry forward their form in whatever format they are playing. × ALSO READ: Exclusive | Marnus Labuschagne: Thriving to be the best “It is really important in modern day cricket to be able to switch in between format to format. It’s definitely something I personally want – just stay ready – and obviously you have to do some things differently in your preparations and the way you prepare for a game. All and all, it is a massive part of the game. You look at guys like Virat Kohli, whose able to switch between all three formats; Steve Smith and David Warner, and have success. Consistently there is a benchmark. And the target is to hit those standards,” Labuschagne told WION in an exclusive interview. “Absolutely, I definitely want to be playing all three formats. For me it doesn’t matter where my opportunity comes and I am playing a T20 game then it is important for me to make sure that I am understanding my role within that team and how I want to approach that format of the game. Like you said, I haven’t played too many T20 games, but with the schedule I don’t think I am going to play too many either. So for me, it is about learning in ODI cricket and making sure that I am ready to grab any opportunity that come my way,” the No. 3 ranked ICC Test batsman added. The biggest challenge for Australia after the resumption of cricket post-COVID will be the forthcoming four-match Test series against India, scheduled to start in December. Labuschagne said he was excited to face India again while adding it is going to be a spectacle with two of the best Test nations facing each other in the longest format of the game. “I can’t wait, I can’t wait for it to start! Very excited for it to get underway. Two of the best Test nations in the world going at it. That’s what we want to see. That’s what people want to see. Not only me but the whole team is excited for that challenge. Two good teams, two good bowling attacks coming head-to-head, what’s not to like!,” Labuschagne said.

Marnus Labuschagne: Kohli, Smith and Warner benchmarks of modern cricket

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