Six-times world champion Lewis Hamilton has said he was “silenced” earlier in his Formula One career over his plans to protest racism by taking a knee.

The Mercedes driver was one of 14 who knelt before Sunday’s season-opening Austrian Grand Prix.

Afterwards Hamilton spoke of a discussion he had years ago with former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, whose kneeling protests in 2016 became a symbol of the fight against racial injustice.

“He sat down for the national anthem and got a lot of backlash ... I thought that was a really powerful statement that he made and he lost his job,” said the Briton.

“I had actually spoken to him a couple of years ago shortly after that for the U.S. Grand Prix and I had a helmet and everything made in red with his number on the top.

“But back then I was kind of silenced, I was told to kind of back down, don’t support it. Which I will say that I regret. So it was important for me to make sure that during this period of time I did my part.”

Formula One’s only Black driver did not say who had told him not to kneel.

Hamilton wore a different T-shirt to the other 20 drivers on Sunday, his reading ‘Black Lives Matter’ on the front instead of ‘End Racism’. He said he had yet to decide what to do for future races.

“Whether that’s continuing to take the knee, I don’t know there’s going to be opportunities to do that. I definitely don’t want to do it on national anthems,” he said.

The 35-year-old recently took part in a ‘Black Lives Matter’ march in London but said he was supporting racial equality rather than taking any political stance.

“When I wear the shirt and when I speak out, that’s what I’m supporting. I’m not supporting necessarily the political movements,” he added.

Hamilton, whose car has changed from silver to black for the season, said he would continue to speak out.

“There has been awareness for a few weeks and what we don’t need is for it to die a silent death and disappear and see no change,” he said. “I could be the guinea pig there. I’ve got to keep speaking out.”

Six-times world champion Lewis Hamilton has said he was “silenced” earlier in his Formula One career over his plans to protest racism by taking a knee. The Mercedes driver was one of 14 who knelt before Sunday’s season-opening Austrian Grand Prix.

Six-times world champion Lewis Hamilton has said he was “silenced” earlier in his Formula One career over his plans to protest racism by taking a knee. The Mercedes driver was one of 14 who knelt before Sunday’s season-opening Austrian Grand Prix. Afterwards Hamilton spoke of a discussion he had years ago with former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, whose kneeling protests in 2016 became a symbol of the fight against racial injustice. “He sat down for the national anthem and got a lot of backlash ... I thought that was a really powerful statement that he made and he lost his job,” said the Briton. “I had actually spoken to him a couple of years ago shortly after that for the U.S. Grand Prix and I had a helmet and everything made in red with his number on the top. “But back then I was kind of silenced, I was told to kind of back down, don’t support it. Which I will say that I regret. So it was important for me to make sure that during this period of time I did my part.” Formula One’s only Black driver did not say who had told him not to kneel. Hamilton wore a different T-shirt to the other 20 drivers on Sunday, his reading ‘Black Lives Matter’ on the front instead of ‘End Racism’. He said he had yet to decide what to do for future races. “Whether that’s continuing to take the knee, I don’t know there’s going to be opportunities to do that. I definitely don’t want to do it on national anthems,” he said. The 35-year-old recently took part in a ‘Black Lives Matter’ march in London but said he was supporting racial equality rather than taking any political stance. “When I wear the shirt and when I speak out, that’s what I’m supporting. I’m not supporting necessarily the political movements,” he added. Hamilton, whose car has changed from silver to black for the season, said he would continue to speak out. “There has been awareness for a few weeks and what we don’t need is for it to die a silent death and disappear and see no change,” he said. “I could be the guinea pig there. I’ve got to keep speaking out.”

Lewis Hamilton regrets being 'silenced' on taking a knee in the past

Seven Women's NBA players have tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of Monday's scheduled team arrivals at a Florida bubble, with one team delaying its arrival until at least Saturday.

The 12-team league announced on Monday tests of 137 WNBA players between June 28 and July 5 returned seven positives for coronavirus, although no names or clubs were revealed.

Under US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations followed by the league, players who test positive will self-isolate until being cleared by a physician, generally after two negative tests at least 24 hours apart.

The Indiana Fever will delay travel to the IMG Academy at Bradenton, Florida, by at least five days, the league said, "in an abundance of caution due to the CDC's close contact self-quarantine requirements."

Players and staff from the other 11 clubs were set to arrive Monday at IMG Academy to start a virus-delayed 2020 season.

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced last month the league would stage a season at IMG Academy that would include 22 games for each team without spectators starting in late July after pre-season training workouts.

Cases of COVID-19 have spiked in Florida in recent days after state officials welcomed teams into bubble isolation plans to stage seasons. The NBA and Major League Soccer are using bubbles at Disney World in Orlando to play games despite the deadly virus.

Seven Women's NBA players have tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of Monday's scheduled team arrivals at a Florida bubble, with one team delaying its arrival until at least Saturday.

Seven Women's NBA players have tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of Monday's scheduled team arrivals at a Florida bubble, with one team delaying its arrival until at least Saturday. The 12-team league announced on Monday tests of 137 WNBA players between June 28 and July 5 returned seven positives for coronavirus, although no names or clubs were revealed. Under US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations followed by the league, players who test positive will self-isolate until being cleared by a physician, generally after two negative tests at least 24 hours apart. The Indiana Fever will delay travel to the IMG Academy at Bradenton, Florida, by at least five days, the league said, "in an abundance of caution due to the CDC's close contact self-quarantine requirements." Players and staff from the other 11 clubs were set to arrive Monday at IMG Academy to start a virus-delayed 2020 season. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced last month the league would stage a season at IMG Academy that would include 22 games for each team without spectators starting in late July after pre-season training workouts. Cases of COVID-19 have spiked in Florida in recent days after state officials welcomed teams into bubble isolation plans to stage seasons. The NBA and Major League Soccer are using bubbles at Disney World in Orlando to play games despite the deadly virus.

Seven Women's NBA players positive, Fever delays trip

Roger Federer on Monday said that he is “missing” Wimbledon after the iconic Grand Slam was cancelled. However, the Swiss maestro hopes to play the tournament in the year 2021. The 38-year-old had earlier announced that the will not take to the court until next year after undergoing two knee surgeries this year.

Wimbledon was cancelled for the first time since World War II due to COVID-19 pandemic and this week was supposed to be the second week of the grass-court Grand Slam, where Federer has lifted a record eight men’s singles titles.&nbsp;

Federer said that he is preparing for a 20-week physical preparation block this year as he wishes to play Wimbledon next year.

"Personally, it has been very pleasant to stay in the same place for a long time, I hadn't experienced that for more than 25 years," Federer said at the launch of the "Roger Center Court".&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/novak-djokovics-event-taught-us-to-be-cautious-french-open-director-311144" hreflang="en">Novak Djokovic's event taught us to be cautious: French Open director</a>

"But of course I miss Wimbledon, of course, I would like to be there currently playing on Centre Court for a place in the second week.

"Clearly, one of my big goals, and that's why I do recovery work every day and work so hard, and why I'm preparing for a 20-week physical preparation block this year, is because I hope to play at Wimbledon next year."

Federer added that the COVID-19 lockdown has given him the chance to heal properly following the surgeries but said he will have to be patient in a bid to return back to the court.&nbsp;

"Combined with my operations, it was an important moment for me, (to know) if I wanted to continue," he said.

"It's very easy to say but it's a long way to come back, you have to be patient, it also was a time for reflection.

"We were in the mountains, isolated, we didn't see anyone, I didn't see my parents for almost three months, we were very serious and strict."

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wion-exclusive-raninder-singh-hosting-bilateral-events-only-option-to-keep-olympic-team-sharp-310550" hreflang="en">WION Exclusive| Raninder Singh: Hosting bilateral events only option to keep Olympic team sharp</a>

The ATP and WTA Tours are set to commence in August despite many pro-tennis players having contracted the dreaded virus.

The US Open is set to be the first Grand Slam following the resumption of tennis and will be played behind closed doors in New York on August 31. However, fans will be allowed to attend the Roland Garros on September 24.

The Swiss icon will also hope to bag the Olympic singles gold for the first time at the postponed Tokyo Olympics in Japan, with the final to be played a week before his 40th birth anniversary. 
&nbsp;

Roger Federer on Monday said that he is “missing” Wimbledon after the iconic Grand Slam was cancelled. However, the Swiss maestro hopes to play the tournament in the year 2021.

Roger Federer on Monday said that he is “missing” Wimbledon after the iconic Grand Slam was cancelled. However, the Swiss maestro hopes to play the tournament in the year 2021. The 38-year-old had earlier announced that the will not take to the court until next year after undergoing two knee surgeries this year. Wimbledon was cancelled for the first time since World War II due to COVID-19 pandemic and this week was supposed to be the second week of the grass-court Grand Slam, where Federer has lifted a record eight men’s singles titles. Federer said that he is preparing for a 20-week physical preparation block this year as he wishes to play Wimbledon next year. "Personally, it has been very pleasant to stay in the same place for a long time, I hadn't experienced that for more than 25 years," Federer said at the launch of the "Roger Center Court". ALSO READ: Novak Djokovic's event taught us to be cautious: French Open director "But of course I miss Wimbledon, of course, I would like to be there currently playing on Centre Court for a place in the second week. "Clearly, one of my big goals, and that's why I do recovery work every day and work so hard, and why I'm preparing for a 20-week physical preparation block this year, is because I hope to play at Wimbledon next year." Federer added that the COVID-19 lockdown has given him the chance to heal properly following the surgeries but said he will have to be patient in a bid to return back to the court. "Combined with my operations, it was an important moment for me, (to know) if I wanted to continue," he said. "It's very easy to say but it's a long way to come back, you have to be patient, it also was a time for reflection. "We were in the mountains, isolated, we didn't see anyone, I didn't see my parents for almost three months, we were very serious and strict." ALSO READ: WION Exclusive| Raninder Singh: Hosting bilateral events only option to keep Olympic team sharp The ATP and WTA Tours are set to commence in August despite many pro-tennis players having contracted the dreaded virus. The US Open is set to be the first Grand Slam following the resumption of tennis and will be played behind closed doors in New York on August 31. However, fans will be allowed to attend the Roland Garros on September 24. The Swiss icon will also hope to bag the Olympic singles gold for the first time at the postponed Tokyo Olympics in Japan, with the final to be played a week before his 40th birth anniversary.

Roger Federer 'missing' Wimbledon but aiming to be back in 2021

Sreesanth is all set to make his comeback to the cricket field after a seven-year-break. The 37-year-old's aspiration to be back on the field was bolstered by Kerala coach Tinu Yohanan's words of motivation and the right-handed seamer is looking forward to hitting the ground running and help Kerala win trophies in the domestic circuit. With lofty goals and passion, Sreesanth is gearing up to bridge the lost gap while learning and sharing his experience with the young guns of Indian cricket.

In an exclusive chat with WION, Sreesanth opened up about life in lockdown, training phase, what goals he has set for himself, changing landscape of cricket, IPL 2020, Michael Jordan's mental conditioning coach Tim Grover, his ultimate Team India XI (present) and much more.

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&nbsp;

Subhayan Chakraborty: Thank you Sreesanth for your time, how did the lockdown phase go for you?

Sreesanth: It’s treating me well. I did say that people need to stick to their house to curb the spread and honestly, there are certain jobs which can be done from home. But imagine me, I have been in lockdown for close to seven years now. I missed the thing I love – play cricket. But thankfully, it is during the coronavirus pandemic that I got a green signal from Kerala Cricket Association so it has been a blessing in disguise.&nbsp;

I am spending a lot of time with my family. I love to read and write and I am reading a lot now, and trying to get my values right. I have been training in my home and I will be back again at the nets soon. But I urge people to stay indoors and as a wise man once said, ‘you have to win the war and small battles matter a lot’. I am not a wise man but I say that to be a national hero, stay indoors and if you really need to go out then take all the precautions. Don’t be lazy when it comes to hygiene.

I am writing something on whatever has happened in the last couple of months, I am writing on the lines of ‘loneliness is equal to geniuses’. The emphasis is on meditation and focus will be on ‘enjoy yourself during this time.’ Another thing I learned is painting and I am thinking of starting a YouTube channel.&nbsp;

SC: How has your body been responding to the resumption of practice and full-fledged training for cricket?&nbsp;

Sreesanth: God has been extremely kind. A 37-year-old is trying to make a comeback to international cricket. I think the break has been a blessing in disguise for my body as it helped me to freshen up my mind, I try to think positively. I did a couple of movies which helped remain in good shape but when it comes to cricket, the Celebrity Cricket League helped me be into cricket. I worked with Dilip Vengsarkar sir there. So being a bowling coach helped me a lot in keeping my fitness in check. I was 100-102 kgs before I went to Bigg Boss but with no food there, it helped me lose some weight (laughs). Ayurveda and Indian food has helped me keep my fitness intact and I would advise everyone to at least try it. It is miraculous.&nbsp;

For match fitness, yes, I have to play a lot and I am looking forward to it. I am fresh and raring to go. Some players who used to play with me have retired because they are mentally and physically tired but that is not the case for me as I haven’t played for the last seven years. So yes, I am there for the long run now.&nbsp;

<img alt="Sreesanth" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="762b8e60-d6b0-4833-955b-fa0fda66aa06" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_Del143706.jpg" />

SC: But let’s be honest here, playing one match is a different thing but playing an entire season is a different ball game. Do you think your body is ready to sustain that sort of pressure?

Sreesanth: Absolutely! When you are a youngster, an under-19 cricketer, you can afford to not sleep in time and eat healthily. But at my age, you have to be very particular about how you maintain your lifestyle. I am enjoying a healthy lifestyle now. In my opinion, it is all about mindset. I am not physically or mentally exhausted. After this long break, I am feeling like a youngster. I am not here for a season, I am here to sustain four or five seasons. My goal is to help Kerala win and help youngsters grow and then move to some of the smaller teams. I don’t want to hold onto a youngster’s position and rather would pass on my experience for them to learn from it.&nbsp; 
During this break, I have learned about different types of training, recovery training and all. So that will help me a lot. I am a positive person and Sreesanth was never a realistic person. I will defy all the odds again. And my message to all, don’t think about age, just lock on a target and work on that.&nbsp;

SC: Cricket has completely in these last seven years. Are you prepared to learn and grasp things from youngsters and be a better bowler?

Sreesanth: The way I look at this is that it will be a debut match for me. It is all about the experience. You have to accept that there are better players. Yes, I have to learn a lot about the changed rules. I didn’t know that there were two new white balls and I have no shame in accepting that. Thanks to Sachin Baby, Sanju Samson, Basil Thampi and others, they all have way more experience in the last seven years. They have played the IPL and know modern cricket. I have so many things to learn from them. I still have that out-swinger, I can still bowl toe-crushing yorkers. I still have that in-cutter from which I got Sachin paaji (Sachin Tendulkar) out in 2005.

But yes, I do accept that I have so many things to learn from the younger players. I am not worried about spit-ban, just bowl your heart out. If you have proper priorities, you won’t have any problem in life. I want to leave a legacy and set fresh benchmarks.

SC: Kerala’s performance wasn’t up to the mark but the pace attack with the likes of Basil Thampi, KM Asif looks pretty decent on paper and your addition could further bolster it. Do you look at it as competition for places?

Sreesanth: We have fast bowlers who could represent the country at any given day. I am not here to compete. Something I have written ‘everybody knows what they want to be but most of them don’t know what they want to become’. I exactly know who I want to be. I can never get my seven years back but I am so grateful that I got to learn so much thing about life. There is no ego now, there is no competition. I am here to help. I will be starting Sreesanth Sports Academy soon, and that will be a small contribution to help the youngsters from my side. I will help each and everyone to better than me and then only I can be better than them. And if I end up with good performances, then hopefully I will be back playing for the country.&nbsp;

<img alt="Sreesanth" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="4729c061-8f6c-4685-bec9-184a46de0931" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_Del465036.jpg" />

SC: What about your aspirations for IPL?

Sreesanth: I will definitely put my name if my association allows. I think I am a good enough bowler and if any franchise contacts me before the auctions then I would love to be back in IPL. I have done decently in these last seven years. I have done movies, reality shows and I have continued to earn for my family. But I am not worrying about the results that is something I am preaching. Seven years is a long time for the season but for me, it was like a life sentence and I am ready to help and learn.&nbsp;

SC: How was your time learning from Michael Jordan’s mental conditioning coach Tim Grover?

Sreesanth: What he was teaching is being unapologetic. I learned a lot about how Michael Jordan created his legacy. Again coronavirus has been a blessing in disguise, otherwise, I wouldn’t have gotten the chance to learn from him. He is brute honest, something I learned from him. Being yourself, being your own competition is something which he taught me. That is what Tim Grover taught me but equally, Ramji Srinivasan has been a big help for me. He was the one who told me to run for 30 minutes or else I wouldn’t survive the physical intensity of the sport.&nbsp;

SC: A chat with Sreesanth is incomplete without that South Africa tour. Almost everyone knows about the Andre Nel incident but not many how Jacques Rudolph triggered you.&nbsp;

Sreesanth: Every day you learn. I have to thank Dada (Sourav Ganguly). Initially, I had no clue about how to bowl to left-handers. I just used to release the ball and hope that the batsman would get LBW or bowler. But it was Dada who told me ‘I know you struggle against left-handers so let’s practice’. So I used to bowl him in the nets. He helped me with the angle, release point and other technicalities. You know, when you bowl to the best, you become the best. When there are legends like Dada, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, Gautam Gambhir are there in the dressing room and for that matter Murali Vijay, Dinesh Karthik have good technique.

<img alt="Sreesanth" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="130ffd56-a672-47db-8f0f-32b63b7efeb5" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_DV1020215.jpg" />

So I have to thank these people behind my success there. It was not easy to be part of that team but again I am thankful to them for making me learn so much. I know a lot of people laugh after I hit Andre Nel for that six but they don’t realise that he was saying all the wrong things about me and my country. I just wanted to tame him. And even know I am obsessed with the game. Jacques Rudolph said that there is nothing to worry about Indian bowling apart from Zaheer Khan, who is also making his comeback. And since then he faced me four times, and all the time he got out for ducks.&nbsp;

SC: On a final note, what will be your Indian team with you included in the XI.&nbsp;

Sreesanth: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, KL Rahul, MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Sreesanth.&nbsp;

I firmly believe in one team for all formats. Suresh Raina is someone who deserves a lot more appreciation. And with all due respect to Virat, Rohit will captain in T20s and Kohli can take the captain’s band in all other formats.&nbsp;

<img alt="Sreesanth" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fec71dc7-a36a-4544-a1dc-8c951cc3dc2b" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_DV1013110.jpg" />

And before I leave, I wanted to say something: Whenever you face a situation be it difficult, easy, super easy, impossible. Change, adapt and improvise. Make sure, you are doing it physically, mentally and spiritually. Another thing I wanted to say, when you do all these things together, it changes the look like a walk in the park. Every battle out there is a victory. Don’t even lose the battle. Don’t give up. Stick to your plan and you will achieve greatness. God bless you all. If I can, anybody can. &nbsp;&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

Sreesanth is all set to make his comeback to the cricket field after a seven-year-break. The 37-year-old's aspiration to be back on the field was bolstered by Kerala coach Tinu Yohanan's words of motivation and the right-handed seamer is looking forward to hitting the ground running and help Kerala win trophies in the domestic circuit.

Sreesanth is all set to make his comeback to the cricket field after a seven-year-break. The 37-year-old's aspiration to be back on the field was bolstered by Kerala coach Tinu Yohanan's words of motivation and the right-handed seamer is looking forward to hitting the ground running and help Kerala win trophies in the domestic circuit. With lofty goals and passion, Sreesanth is gearing up to bridge the lost gap while learning and sharing his experience with the young guns of Indian cricket. In an exclusive chat with WION, Sreesanth opened up about life in lockdown, training phase, what goals he has set for himself, changing landscape of cricket, IPL 2020, Michael Jordan's mental conditioning coach Tim Grover, his ultimate Team India XI (present) and much more. × Subhayan Chakraborty: Thank you Sreesanth for your time, how did the lockdown phase go for you? Sreesanth: It’s treating me well. I did say that people need to stick to their house to curb the spread and honestly, there are certain jobs which can be done from home. But imagine me, I have been in lockdown for close to seven years now. I missed the thing I love – play cricket. But thankfully, it is during the coronavirus pandemic that I got a green signal from Kerala Cricket Association so it has been a blessing in disguise. I am spending a lot of time with my family. I love to read and write and I am reading a lot now, and trying to get my values right. I have been training in my home and I will be back again at the nets soon. But I urge people to stay indoors and as a wise man once said, ‘you have to win the war and small battles matter a lot’. I am not a wise man but I say that to be a national hero, stay indoors and if you really need to go out then take all the precautions. Don’t be lazy when it comes to hygiene. I am writing something on whatever has happened in the last couple of months, I am writing on the lines of ‘loneliness is equal to geniuses’. The emphasis is on meditation and focus will be on ‘enjoy yourself during this time.’ Another thing I learned is painting and I am thinking of starting a YouTube channel. SC: How has your body been responding to the resumption of practice and full-fledged training for cricket? Sreesanth: God has been extremely kind. A 37-year-old is trying to make a comeback to international cricket. I think the break has been a blessing in disguise for my body as it helped me to freshen up my mind, I try to think positively. I did a couple of movies which helped remain in good shape but when it comes to cricket, the Celebrity Cricket League helped me be into cricket. I worked with Dilip Vengsarkar sir there. So being a bowling coach helped me a lot in keeping my fitness in check. I was 100-102 kgs before I went to Bigg Boss but with no food there, it helped me lose some weight (laughs). Ayurveda and Indian food has helped me keep my fitness intact and I would advise everyone to at least try it. It is miraculous. For match fitness, yes, I have to play a lot and I am looking forward to it. I am fresh and raring to go. Some players who used to play with me have retired because they are mentally and physically tired but that is not the case for me as I haven’t played for the last seven years. So yes, I am there for the long run now. SC: But let’s be honest here, playing one match is a different thing but playing an entire season is a different ball game. Do you think your body is ready to sustain that sort of pressure? Sreesanth: Absolutely! When you are a youngster, an under-19 cricketer, you can afford to not sleep in time and eat healthily. But at my age, you have to be very particular about how you maintain your lifestyle. I am enjoying a healthy lifestyle now. In my opinion, it is all about mindset. I am not physically or mentally exhausted. After this long break, I am feeling like a youngster. I am not here for a season, I am here to sustain four or five seasons. My goal is to help Kerala win and help youngsters grow and then move to some of the smaller teams. I don’t want to hold onto a youngster’s position and rather would pass on my experience for them to learn from it. During this break, I have learned about different types of training, recovery training and all. So that will help me a lot. I am a positive person and Sreesanth was never a realistic person. I will defy all the odds again. And my message to all, don’t think about age, just lock on a target and work on that. SC: Cricket has completely in these last seven years. Are you prepared to learn and grasp things from youngsters and be a better bowler? Sreesanth: The way I look at this is that it will be a debut match for me. It is all about the experience. You have to accept that there are better players. Yes, I have to learn a lot about the changed rules. I didn’t know that there were two new white balls and I have no shame in accepting that. Thanks to Sachin Baby, Sanju Samson, Basil Thampi and others, they all have way more experience in the last seven years. They have played the IPL and know modern cricket. I have so many things to learn from them. I still have that out-swinger, I can still bowl toe-crushing yorkers. I still have that in-cutter from which I got Sachin paaji (Sachin Tendulkar) out in 2005. But yes, I do accept that I have so many things to learn from the younger players. I am not worried about spit-ban, just bowl your heart out. If you have proper priorities, you won’t have any problem in life. I want to leave a legacy and set fresh benchmarks. SC: Kerala’s performance wasn’t up to the mark but the pace attack with the likes of Basil Thampi, KM Asif looks pretty decent on paper and your addition could further bolster it. Do you look at it as competition for places? Sreesanth: We have fast bowlers who could represent the country at any given day. I am not here to compete. Something I have written ‘everybody knows what they want to be but most of them don’t know what they want to become’. I exactly know who I want to be. I can never get my seven years back but I am so grateful that I got to learn so much thing about life. There is no ego now, there is no competition. I am here to help. I will be starting Sreesanth Sports Academy soon, and that will be a small contribution to help the youngsters from my side. I will help each and everyone to better than me and then only I can be better than them. And if I end up with good performances, then hopefully I will be back playing for the country. SC: What about your aspirations for IPL? Sreesanth: I will definitely put my name if my association allows. I think I am a good enough bowler and if any franchise contacts me before the auctions then I would love to be back in IPL. I have done decently in these last seven years. I have done movies, reality shows and I have continued to earn for my family. But I am not worrying about the results that is something I am preaching. Seven years is a long time for the season but for me, it was like a life sentence and I am ready to help and learn. SC: How was your time learning from Michael Jordan’s mental conditioning coach Tim Grover? Sreesanth: What he was teaching is being unapologetic. I learned a lot about how Michael Jordan created his legacy. Again coronavirus has been a blessing in disguise, otherwise, I wouldn’t have gotten the chance to learn from him. He is brute honest, something I learned from him. Being yourself, being your own competition is something which he taught me. That is what Tim Grover taught me but equally, Ramji Srinivasan has been a big help for me. He was the one who told me to run for 30 minutes or else I wouldn’t survive the physical intensity of the sport. SC: A chat with Sreesanth is incomplete without that South Africa tour. Almost everyone knows about the Andre Nel incident but not many how Jacques Rudolph triggered you. Sreesanth: Every day you learn. I have to thank Dada (Sourav Ganguly). Initially, I had no clue about how to bowl to left-handers. I just used to release the ball and hope that the batsman would get LBW or bowler. But it was Dada who told me ‘I know you struggle against left-handers so let’s practice’. So I used to bowl him in the nets. He helped me with the angle, release point and other technicalities. You know, when you bowl to the best, you become the best. When there are legends like Dada, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, Gautam Gambhir are there in the dressing room and for that matter Murali Vijay, Dinesh Karthik have good technique. So I have to thank these people behind my success there. It was not easy to be part of that team but again I am thankful to them for making me learn so much. I know a lot of people laugh after I hit Andre Nel for that six but they don’t realise that he was saying all the wrong things about me and my country. I just wanted to tame him. And even know I am obsessed with the game. Jacques Rudolph said that there is nothing to worry about Indian bowling apart from Zaheer Khan, who is also making his comeback. And since then he faced me four times, and all the time he got out for ducks. SC: On a final note, what will be your Indian team with you included in the XI. Sreesanth: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, KL Rahul, MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Sreesanth. I firmly believe in one team for all formats. Suresh Raina is someone who deserves a lot more appreciation. And with all due respect to Virat, Rohit will captain in T20s and Kohli can take the captain’s band in all other formats. And before I leave, I wanted to say something: Whenever you face a situation be it difficult, easy, super easy, impossible. Change, adapt and improvise. Make sure, you are doing it physically, mentally and spiritually. Another thing I wanted to say, when you do all these things together, it changes the look like a walk in the park. Every battle out there is a victory. Don’t even lose the battle. Don’t give up. Stick to your plan and you will achieve greatness. God bless you all. If I can, anybody can.

Interview | I want to leave a legacy and set fresh benchmarks: Sreesanth

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Monday announced that the Ageas Bowl and Old Trafford will host England’s international matches, behind closed doors, against Ireland and Pakistan. Pakistan, who arrived in the UK on June 28 have already started their preparation ahead of the Test and T20I series while undergoing a 14-day isolation period in Worcester.&nbsp;

Ahead of the Test series, Pakistan will play two four-day internal warm-up matches before the start of the series, scheduled for an August 5 start. The final two Tests will be played at the Ageas Bowl from Thursday 13 August and Friday 21 August.

Whereas the three-match T20I series will take place at Emirates Old Trafford on Friday 28 August, Sunday 30 August and the final match of the tour on Tuesday 1 September.

WATCH:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/interview-i-want-to-leave-a-legacy-and-set-fresh-benchmarks-sreesanth-311099" hreflang="en">Interview | I want to leave a legacy and set fresh benchmarks: Sreesanth</a>

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Pakistan's first training session in England 🇵🇰 
 
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&nbsp;

<h2>England vs Pakistan Test Series: Full Schedule</h2>

<ul>
	<li>1st Test v Pakistan: 5-9 August at Emirates Old Trafford (11.00am start)</li>
	<li>2nd Test v Pakistan: 13-17 August at The Ageas Bowl (11.00am start)</li>
	<li>3rd Test v Pakistan: 21-25 August at The Ageas Bowl (11.00am start)</li>
</ul>

<h2>England vs Pakistan T20I Series: Full schedule</h2>

<ul>
	<li>1st IT20 v Pakistan: Friday 28 August at Emirates Old Trafford (6.00pm start)</li>
	<li>2nd IT20 v Pakistan: Sunday 30 August at Emirates Old Trafford (2.30pm start)</li>
	<li>3rd IT20 v Pakistan: Tuesday 1 September at Emirates Old Trafford (6.00pm start)</li>
</ul>

Furthermore, Ireland will arrive in the UK on July 18 before starting the three-match ODI series from July 30. The second ODI will be played on August 1 before the final match of the series on August 4.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/new-zealand-offers-to-host-ipl-after-uae-and-sri-lanka-confirms-bcci-official-311116" hreflang="en">New Zealand offers to host IPL after UAE and Sri Lanka, confirms BCCI official</a>

<h2>England vs Ireland ODI Series: Full schedule</h2>

<ul>
	<li>1st ODI v Ireland: Thursday 30 July at The Ageas Bowl (2.00pm start D/N)</li>
	<li>2nd ODI v Ireland: Saturday 1 August at The Ageas Bowl (2.00pm D/N)</li>
	<li>3rd ODI v Ireland: Tuesday 4 August at The Ageas Bowl (2.00pm D/N)</li>
</ul>

Talks for England Women to host a tri-series against India and South Africa are going well and a final call could be taken soon on the series.&nbsp;

ECB Chief Executive Officer, Tom Harrison, said: “Confirmation of these matches against Ireland and Pakistan is another important step for our game as we begin to safely stage international cricket again, but also to minimise the impact the Covid-19 pandemic has had, and will continue to have, on cricket at all levels.

“It has taken significant effort and expertise to allow us to reach a position where cricket is now ready and able to return to the field of play from the elite level to recreational cricket.

“We owe a significant debt of gratitude to the players, staff and administrators of the Cricket West Indies, Cricket Ireland, and the Pakistan Cricket Board for their willingness and co-operation to get international cricket back up and running and allow these matches to be staged. We also continue to explore options for our England Men to play white-ball series against Australia this summer and hope to have news on those series soon.” 
&nbsp;

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Monday announced that the Ageas Bowl and Old Trafford will host England’s international matches, behind closed doors, against Ireland and Pakistan.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Monday announced that the Ageas Bowl and Old Trafford will host England’s international matches, behind closed doors, against Ireland and Pakistan. Pakistan, who arrived in the UK on June 28 have already started their preparation ahead of the Test and T20I series while undergoing a 14-day isolation period in Worcester. Ahead of the Test series, Pakistan will play two four-day internal warm-up matches before the start of the series, scheduled for an August 5 start. The final two Tests will be played at the Ageas Bowl from Thursday 13 August and Friday 21 August. Whereas the three-match T20I series will take place at Emirates Old Trafford on Friday 28 August, Sunday 30 August and the final match of the tour on Tuesday 1 September. WATCH: Interview | I want to leave a legacy and set fresh benchmarks: Sreesanth Pakistan's first training session in England 🇵🇰 📸 @TheRealPCB pic.twitter.com/zH2BTTXV57 — ICC (@ICC) June 30, 2020 × England vs Pakistan Test Series: Full Schedule 1st Test v Pakistan: 5-9 August at Emirates Old Trafford (11.00am start) 2nd Test v Pakistan: 13-17 August at The Ageas Bowl (11.00am start) 3rd Test v Pakistan: 21-25 August at The Ageas Bowl (11.00am start) England vs Pakistan T20I Series: Full schedule 1st IT20 v Pakistan: Friday 28 August at Emirates Old Trafford (6.00pm start) 2nd IT20 v Pakistan: Sunday 30 August at Emirates Old Trafford (2.30pm start) 3rd IT20 v Pakistan: Tuesday 1 September at Emirates Old Trafford (6.00pm start) Furthermore, Ireland will arrive in the UK on July 18 before starting the three-match ODI series from July 30. The second ODI will be played on August 1 before the final match of the series on August 4. ALSO READ: New Zealand offers to host IPL after UAE and Sri Lanka, confirms BCCI official England vs Ireland ODI Series: Full schedule 1st ODI v Ireland: Thursday 30 July at The Ageas Bowl (2.00pm start D/N) 2nd ODI v Ireland: Saturday 1 August at The Ageas Bowl (2.00pm D/N) 3rd ODI v Ireland: Tuesday 4 August at The Ageas Bowl (2.00pm D/N) Talks for England Women to host a tri-series against India and South Africa are going well and a final call could be taken soon on the series. ECB Chief Executive Officer, Tom Harrison, said: “Confirmation of these matches against Ireland and Pakistan is another important step for our game as we begin to safely stage international cricket again, but also to minimise the impact the Covid-19 pandemic has had, and will continue to have, on cricket at all levels. “It has taken significant effort and expertise to allow us to reach a position where cricket is now ready and able to return to the field of play from the elite level to recreational cricket. “We owe a significant debt of gratitude to the players, staff and administrators of the Cricket West Indies, Cricket Ireland, and the Pakistan Cricket Board for their willingness and co-operation to get international cricket back up and running and allow these matches to be staged. We also continue to explore options for our England Men to play white-ball series against Australia this summer and hope to have news on those series soon.”

England vs Pakistan: ECB announces full fixtures for Test and T20I series

After the United Arab Emirates and Sri Lanka, New Zealand has offered to host the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/ipl">Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020</a> if the money-spinning tournament can’t be held in India amid COVID-19 pandemic. With the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-world-cup-set-to-be-postponed-this-week-bcci-to-start-planning-for-ipl-2020-311015">postponement of T20 World Cup 2020 inevitable</a>, a window has popped up for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/ipl">IPL</a> with the BCCI zeroing in on the September-November window for the tournament.

While the Indian cricket board’s first choice of host will be India but with the rising cases of coronavirus, chances look grim. India has the third in the list to have most COVID-19 cases behind Brazil and the USA.&nbsp;

"Staging the event in India has to be the first choice but in case it is not safe to have it, then we will look at the overseas options. 
After UAE and Sri Lanka, New Zealand has also offered to host the IPL," a senior BCCI official told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

"We will sit down with all stakeholders (broadcaster, teams, etc) and take a call. The safety of the players is paramount. There will be no compromise on that," the official said.

WATCH:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/interview-i-want-to-leave-a-legacy-and-set-fresh-benchmarks-sreesanth-311099" hreflang="en">Interview | I want to leave a legacy and set fresh benchmarks: Sreesanth</a>

The IPL has been held abroad in the past with the UAE and South Africa being the hosts of the tournament previously. The 2009 edition was staged in South Africa due to general election and the UAE hosted a few matches in 2014 due to the same reason. However, in 2019, the BCCI did schedule the IPL in India while avoiding clashes with poll dates in different states.

<h2>Time difference a major issue with New Zealand</h2>

However, India has a seven and half hour time difference with New Zealand which could affect the viewership of matches. Even apart from Hamilton and Auckland, venues in Wellington, Christchurch, Napier and Dunedin will need air travel.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/questions-will-be-raised-if-ipl-2020-happens-but-t20-world-cup-is-postponed-inzamam-ul-haq-311059" hreflang="en">Questions will be raised if IPL 2020 happens but T20 World Cup is postponed: Inzamam-ul-Haq</a>&nbsp;

The BCCI official further said that the date of IPL Governing Council Meeting will be announced soon where the issues relating to IPL and Chinese sponsorship deals in the tournament will be discussed.

The BCCI has a five-year-deal in place for IPL title rights with Chinese mobile phone maker Vivo, which fetches the Indian board a mammoth Rs 440 crore annually till 2022.

After the United Arab Emirates and Sri Lanka, New Zealand has offered to host the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 if the money-spinning tournament can’t be held in India amid COVID-19 pandemic.

After the United Arab Emirates and Sri Lanka, New Zealand has offered to host the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 if the money-spinning tournament can’t be held in India amid COVID-19 pandemic. With the postponement of T20 World Cup 2020 inevitable, a window has popped up for IPL with the BCCI zeroing in on the September-November window for the tournament. While the Indian cricket board’s first choice of host will be India but with the rising cases of coronavirus, chances look grim. India has the third in the list to have most COVID-19 cases behind Brazil and the USA. "Staging the event in India has to be the first choice but in case it is not safe to have it, then we will look at the overseas options. After UAE and Sri Lanka, New Zealand has also offered to host the IPL," a senior BCCI official told PTI on conditions of anonymity. "We will sit down with all stakeholders (broadcaster, teams, etc) and take a call. The safety of the players is paramount. There will be no compromise on that," the official said. WATCH: Interview | I want to leave a legacy and set fresh benchmarks: Sreesanth The IPL has been held abroad in the past with the UAE and South Africa being the hosts of the tournament previously. The 2009 edition was staged in South Africa due to general election and the UAE hosted a few matches in 2014 due to the same reason. However, in 2019, the BCCI did schedule the IPL in India while avoiding clashes with poll dates in different states. Time difference a major issue with New Zealand However, India has a seven and half hour time difference with New Zealand which could affect the viewership of matches. Even apart from Hamilton and Auckland, venues in Wellington, Christchurch, Napier and Dunedin will need air travel. ALSO READ: Questions will be raised if IPL 2020 happens but T20 World Cup is postponed: Inzamam-ul-Haq The BCCI official further said that the date of IPL Governing Council Meeting will be announced soon where the issues relating to IPL and Chinese sponsorship deals in the tournament will be discussed. The BCCI has a five-year-deal in place for IPL title rights with Chinese mobile phone maker Vivo, which fetches the Indian board a mammoth Rs 440 crore annually till 2022.

New Zealand offers to host IPL after UAE and Sri Lanka, confirms BCCI official

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-world-cup-set-to-be-postponed-this-week-bcci-to-start-planning-for-ipl-2020-311015">With reports surfacing that the ICC T20 World Cup 2020 is set to be postponed while opening up a window for Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020</a>, former Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq has said that questions will be raised if the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/ipl">IPL</a> is conducted during the same window allotted to the T20 World Cup.&nbsp;

While the ICC is yet to officially announce the fate of T20 World Cup, which is scheduled to be hosted by Australia from October 18 to November 15, latest reports suggest that the showpiece tournament will be deferred when ICC officials meet on Friday (July 10).&nbsp;

“There are rumours that the World Cup was clashing with the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/ipl">Indian Premier League (IPL)</a> and the Australia-India series, therefore, it (T20 World Cup) won’t take place,” Inzamam, who scored 8830 runs in 120 Tests and 11739 runs in 378 ODIs for Pakistan, said in his YouTube channel on Sunday.

“The Indian board is strong and has control in the International Cricket Council (ICC). If Australia says that we cannot hold the World Cup because of the COVID-19 pandemic, then their stance will be easily accepted, but if any such kind event happens during the same time, then questions will be raised,” he said.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sri-lankas-kusal-mendis-granted-bail-over-deadly-accident-agrees-to-pay-1-million-in-compensation-311051" hreflang="en">Sri Lanka's Kusal Mendis granted bail over deadly accident, agrees to pay 1 million in compensation</a>

Inzamam is of the view that ICC should not give priority to private leagues (IPL) over international cricket as it will lead to players focusing on private leagues rather than international cricket. However, he did agree that hosting 16 teams for the T20 World Cup is not an easy task.

<h2>ICC should not be allowed to give priority to private leagues: Inzamam-ul-Haq</h2>

“People will think, if a country could host 12 to 14 teams (16 teams), then why the ICC could not look after the teams after all Australia is such an advanced country. Another thing is the ICC should not be allowed to give priority to private leagues (IPL) on international cricket. This will lead to young players forcing on private leagues other than international matches.

“Australia can say that it was difficult for it to manage 18 teams (16) for the mega event as it is not easy. Likewise, the Pakistan team was in England in a hotel and all the facilities were being provided there, therefore, it has not been easy to manage 18 teams (16),” he said.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/west-indies-unleash-latest-fab-four-in-england-311008" hreflang="en">West Indies unleash latest 'Fab Four' in England</a>

Even the fate of Asia Cup 2020 hangs in balance. The tournament was originally scheduled to be hosted in Pakistan but the PCB agreed on a neutral venue for security reasons. However, there has been no word on the fate of the tournament scheduled in September.&nbsp;

Inzamam said: “I have also heard that objections are also raised on the dates of the Asia Cup as it is clashing with some other event.

“The ICC, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and all cricket boards should sit together and give a strong message that any such kind of impression (giving priority to private leagues instead of international cricket), won’t take place,” he said. 
&nbsp;

With reports surfacing that the ICC T20 World Cup 2020 is set to be postponed while opening up a window for Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020, former Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq has said that questions will be raised if the IPL is conducted during the same window allotted to the T20 World Cup.

With reports surfacing that the ICC T20 World Cup 2020 is set to be postponed while opening up a window for Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020, former Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq has said that questions will be raised if the IPL is conducted during the same window allotted to the T20 World Cup. While the ICC is yet to officially announce the fate of T20 World Cup, which is scheduled to be hosted by Australia from October 18 to November 15, latest reports suggest that the showpiece tournament will be deferred when ICC officials meet on Friday (July 10). “There are rumours that the World Cup was clashing with the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Australia-India series, therefore, it (T20 World Cup) won’t take place,” Inzamam, who scored 8830 runs in 120 Tests and 11739 runs in 378 ODIs for Pakistan, said in his YouTube channel on Sunday. “The Indian board is strong and has control in the International Cricket Council (ICC). If Australia says that we cannot hold the World Cup because of the COVID-19 pandemic, then their stance will be easily accepted, but if any such kind event happens during the same time, then questions will be raised,” he said. ALSO READ: Sri Lanka's Kusal Mendis granted bail over deadly accident, agrees to pay 1 million in compensation Inzamam is of the view that ICC should not give priority to private leagues (IPL) over international cricket as it will lead to players focusing on private leagues rather than international cricket. However, he did agree that hosting 16 teams for the T20 World Cup is not an easy task. ICC should not be allowed to give priority to private leagues: Inzamam-ul-Haq “People will think, if a country could host 12 to 14 teams (16 teams), then why the ICC could not look after the teams after all Australia is such an advanced country. Another thing is the ICC should not be allowed to give priority to private leagues (IPL) on international cricket. This will lead to young players forcing on private leagues other than international matches. “Australia can say that it was difficult for it to manage 18 teams (16) for the mega event as it is not easy. Likewise, the Pakistan team was in England in a hotel and all the facilities were being provided there, therefore, it has not been easy to manage 18 teams (16),” he said. ALSO READ: West Indies unleash latest 'Fab Four' in England Even the fate of Asia Cup 2020 hangs in balance. The tournament was originally scheduled to be hosted in Pakistan but the PCB agreed on a neutral venue for security reasons. However, there has been no word on the fate of the tournament scheduled in September. Inzamam said: “I have also heard that objections are also raised on the dates of the Asia Cup as it is clashing with some other event. “The ICC, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and all cricket boards should sit together and give a strong message that any such kind of impression (giving priority to private leagues instead of international cricket), won’t take place,” he said.

Questions will be raised if IPL 2020 happens but T20 World Cup is postponed: Inzamam-ul-Haq

Sri Lankan cricketer Kusal Mendis found himself in massive trouble after he was arrested on Sunday over an accident that killed a man in Panadure, Sri Lanka. Panadura Additional Magistrate on Monday granted bail for Mendis on two sureties worth 1 million Sri Lankan rupees.&nbsp;

The Panadura Additional Magistrate further ordered that a compensation worth 1 million rupees to be paid to victim’s family. The 64-year-old resident of Gorakapola, Panadura, who was riding a bicycle, died after the SUV driven by the Sri Lankan cricketer crashed in the Horethuduwa area. As reported by the police, the pedestrian died instantly.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sri-lanka-batsman-kusal-mendis-arrested-over-fatal-crash-310830" hreflang="en">Sri Lanka batsman Kusal Mendis arrested over fatal crash</a>

Earlier, Mendis was named in the 16-man squad for the two-match Test series scheduled against England in March before the rubber was called off due to the coronavirus outbreak. The mainstay of Sri Lankan batting-order, Mendis was also named in the squad which resumed training post-COVID-crisis.

Mendis has represented Sri Lanka in 44 Tests, 76 ODIs and 26 T20Is, amassing 2995 runs, 2164 runs and 484 runs respectively. The middle-order batsman has nine international centuries under his belt along with 28 half-centuries.

<h2>A gloomy season for Sri Lankan cricket</h2>

Things have been gloomy in Sri Lankan cricket of-late with allegations of match-fixing in the ICC World Cup 2011 by former sports minister and the arrest of Shehan Madushanka, who was found in possession of drugs.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-world-cup-set-to-be-postponed-this-week-bcci-to-start-planning-for-ipl-2020-311015" hreflang="en">T20 World Cup set to be postponed this week, BCCI to start planning for IPL 2020</a>

Even though the allegations of match-fixing were dismissed due to lack of evidence, Sri Lankan cricket icons Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene along with Upul Tharanga were grilled by the SIU. Even Aravinda de Silva, who was the chief selector during the 2011 World Cup, was also questioned by the investigating team.&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

Sri Lankan cricketer Kusal Mendis found himself in massive trouble after he was arrested on Sunday over an accident that killed a man in Panadure, Sri Lanka. Panadura Additional Magistrate on Monday granted bail for Mendis on two sureties worth 1 million Sri Lankan rupees.

Sri Lankan cricketer Kusal Mendis found himself in massive trouble after he was arrested on Sunday over an accident that killed a man in Panadure, Sri Lanka. Panadura Additional Magistrate on Monday granted bail for Mendis on two sureties worth 1 million Sri Lankan rupees. The Panadura Additional Magistrate further ordered that a compensation worth 1 million rupees to be paid to victim’s family. The 64-year-old resident of Gorakapola, Panadura, who was riding a bicycle, died after the SUV driven by the Sri Lankan cricketer crashed in the Horethuduwa area. As reported by the police, the pedestrian died instantly. ALSO READ: Sri Lanka batsman Kusal Mendis arrested over fatal crash Earlier, Mendis was named in the 16-man squad for the two-match Test series scheduled against England in March before the rubber was called off due to the coronavirus outbreak. The mainstay of Sri Lankan batting-order, Mendis was also named in the squad which resumed training post-COVID-crisis. Mendis has represented Sri Lanka in 44 Tests, 76 ODIs and 26 T20Is, amassing 2995 runs, 2164 runs and 484 runs respectively. The middle-order batsman has nine international centuries under his belt along with 28 half-centuries. A gloomy season for Sri Lankan cricket Things have been gloomy in Sri Lankan cricket of-late with allegations of match-fixing in the ICC World Cup 2011 by former sports minister and the arrest of Shehan Madushanka, who was found in possession of drugs. ALSO READ: T20 World Cup set to be postponed this week, BCCI to start planning for IPL 2020 Even though the allegations of match-fixing were dismissed due to lack of evidence, Sri Lankan cricket icons Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene along with Upul Tharanga were grilled by the SIU. Even Aravinda de Silva, who was the chief selector during the 2011 World Cup, was also questioned by the investigating team.

Sri Lanka's Kusal Mendis granted bail over deadly accident, agrees to pay 1 million in compensation

Antoine Griezmann answered his critics in style on Sunday by scoring with a sensational chip as Barcelona thrashed Villarreal 4-1 to keep their faint La Liga title hopes alive.&nbsp;

After the humiliation of being brought on in the 90th minute against his former club Atletico Madrid, Griezmann was back in the starting line-up at La Ceramica and repaid the faith with a stunning goal, teed up by Lionel Messi.&nbsp;

"It was the kind of goal only great players can score," said Barcelona coach Quique Setien. "He played a spectacular match."

Messi also laid on a curling Luis Suarez shot into the top corner after Gerard Moreno cancelled out a Pau Torres own-goal that had put Barca in front. Ansu Fati then added a fourth late on.&nbsp;

An impressive victory for Setien's side reduces the gap back to four points behind Real Madrid, who earlier ground out another 1-0 win over Athletic Bilbao at San Mames, with a Sergio Ramos penalty proving the difference.

Madrid's resilient performance, and their third 1-0 victory in a row, offered a stark contrast to a goal-fest from Barcelona that was certainly easier on the eye but instructive on the title race too.&nbsp;

An end-to-end contest, full of chances for both sides, showed Messi, Suarez and Griezmann at their free-flowing best yet the defence was opened up with ease by Villarreal, who might have scored more.&nbsp;

Madrid's discipline and organisation has made them firm favourites with four games remaining.&nbsp;

"We needed this match a while ago," admitted Setien. "We have to keep adding points and we'll see what happens."

Griezmann had experienced his lowest moment since joining Barcelona on Tuesday in the draw against Atletico but this was the perfect response.&nbsp;

He celebrated his goal by sharing a warm embrace with Messi.&nbsp;

Villarreal looked a difficult opponent after winning five games out of six since the restart, a run that has put them in in touching distance of the top four.&nbsp;

This defeat leaves them three points behind Sevilla, who play Eibar on Monday.&nbsp;

The first half was perhaps the most entertaining in La Liga since the restart, with four goals and chances for two or three more.&nbsp;

Barca were ahead within three minutes, Torres diverting Jordi Alba's cross into his own net under pressure from Griezmann at the near post.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<h2>- Ramos on the spot -</h2>

But Villarreal were level 11 minutes later as a superb pass from Samuel Chukwueze sent Paco Alcacer scampering in down the right and he did brilliantly to switch to Santi Cazorla on the opposite side.&nbsp;

Cazorla's drive was parried but only to Moreno, who finished.&nbsp;

Messi laid on two sumptuous assists before half-time but the finishes were even better.&nbsp;

After chesting the ball down in the centre circle, Messi touched and turned, leaving his marker for dead.&nbsp;

He drove through two Villarreal defenders before pushing the ball left to Suarez, who arrived from the angle on the edge of the box and curled first time into the far corner.&nbsp;

If that was power, Griezmann's was finesse, Messi and Suarez combining before Messi dragged back to the Frenchman, who caressed a delightful chip over Sergio Asenjo and in.&nbsp;

Messi thought he had his goal in the second half but Arturo Vidal was offside.&nbsp;

Suarez was taken off, presumably rested, and Fati added a fourth off the bench. The teenager cut in from the left and pulled his shot back inside the near post.&nbsp;

After edging out Getafe on Thursday, through a Ramos spot-kick, Madrid repeated the trick at San Mames, their captain's nerve from the spot combining with a gutsy display for a pivotal win.&nbsp;

Ramos was perhaps fortunate not to concede a penalty himself late on when, off the ball, he seemed to slip and tread on the foot of Raul Garcia, but Madrid escaped.&nbsp;

Instead, the defender's 10th goal of the season, the best tally of his career, proved decisive.

"It's a massive win," said Ramos. "We knew today was going to be one of the biggest games that we have left.&nbsp;

"It's always a difficult game away at Bilbao and we saw it like that. We're happy with another crucial three points that put more pressure on Barcelona."&nbsp;

Antoine Griezmann answered his critics in style on Sunday by scoring with a sensational chip as Barcelona thrashed Villarreal 4-1 to keep their faint La Liga title hopes alive.

Antoine Griezmann answered his critics in style on Sunday by scoring with a sensational chip as Barcelona thrashed Villarreal 4-1 to keep their faint La Liga title hopes alive. After the humiliation of being brought on in the 90th minute against his former club Atletico Madrid, Griezmann was back in the starting line-up at La Ceramica and repaid the faith with a stunning goal, teed up by Lionel Messi. "It was the kind of goal only great players can score," said Barcelona coach Quique Setien. "He played a spectacular match." Messi also laid on a curling Luis Suarez shot into the top corner after Gerard Moreno cancelled out a Pau Torres own-goal that had put Barca in front. Ansu Fati then added a fourth late on. An impressive victory for Setien's side reduces the gap back to four points behind Real Madrid, who earlier ground out another 1-0 win over Athletic Bilbao at San Mames, with a Sergio Ramos penalty proving the difference. Madrid's resilient performance, and their third 1-0 victory in a row, offered a stark contrast to a goal-fest from Barcelona that was certainly easier on the eye but instructive on the title race too. An end-to-end contest, full of chances for both sides, showed Messi, Suarez and Griezmann at their free-flowing best yet the defence was opened up with ease by Villarreal, who might have scored more. Madrid's discipline and organisation has made them firm favourites with four games remaining. "We needed this match a while ago," admitted Setien. "We have to keep adding points and we'll see what happens." Griezmann had experienced his lowest moment since joining Barcelona on Tuesday in the draw against Atletico but this was the perfect response. He celebrated his goal by sharing a warm embrace with Messi. Villarreal looked a difficult opponent after winning five games out of six since the restart, a run that has put them in in touching distance of the top four. This defeat leaves them three points behind Sevilla, who play Eibar on Monday. The first half was perhaps the most entertaining in La Liga since the restart, with four goals and chances for two or three more. Barca were ahead within three minutes, Torres diverting Jordi Alba's cross into his own net under pressure from Griezmann at the near post. - Ramos on the spot - But Villarreal were level 11 minutes later as a superb pass from Samuel Chukwueze sent Paco Alcacer scampering in down the right and he did brilliantly to switch to Santi Cazorla on the opposite side. Cazorla's drive was parried but only to Moreno, who finished. Messi laid on two sumptuous assists before half-time but the finishes were even better. After chesting the ball down in the centre circle, Messi touched and turned, leaving his marker for dead. He drove through two Villarreal defenders before pushing the ball left to Suarez, who arrived from the angle on the edge of the box and curled first time into the far corner. If that was power, Griezmann's was finesse, Messi and Suarez combining before Messi dragged back to the Frenchman, who caressed a delightful chip over Sergio Asenjo and in. Messi thought he had his goal in the second half but Arturo Vidal was offside. Suarez was taken off, presumably rested, and Fati added a fourth off the bench. The teenager cut in from the left and pulled his shot back inside the near post. After edging out Getafe on Thursday, through a Ramos spot-kick, Madrid repeated the trick at San Mames, their captain's nerve from the spot combining with a gutsy display for a pivotal win. Ramos was perhaps fortunate not to concede a penalty himself late on when, off the ball, he seemed to slip and tread on the foot of Raul Garcia, but Madrid escaped. Instead, the defender's 10th goal of the season, the best tally of his career, proved decisive. "It's a massive win," said Ramos. "We knew today was going to be one of the biggest games that we have left. "It's always a difficult game away at Bilbao and we saw it like that. We're happy with another crucial three points that put more pressure on Barcelona."

Griezmann stars against Villarreal as Barca keep title hopes alive

The T20 World Cup 2020 to be hosted by Australia in October-November is set to be postponed when the ICC officials meet this Friday. For the last couple of months, the ICC has been delaying a final call on the T20 World Cup as it wants to make a correct call. However, a decision on the showpiece event looks inevitable now.&nbsp;

The postponement of T20 World Cup may open up a window for the BCCI to conduct the much-talked-about <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/ipl">Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020</a> which has also been postponed indefinitely due to COVID-19 pandemic.&nbsp;

There has been a lot of talks about the postponement of the T20 World Cup 2020, which could be pushed back to 2022 as India is scheduled to host the 2021 edition of the tournament with the 50-over World Cup in 2023 also scheduled to be played in the country.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/west-indies-unleash-latest-fab-four-in-england-311008" hreflang="en">West Indies unleash latest 'Fab Four' in England</a>

<h2>T20 World Cup 2020 postponement inevitable, BCCI working on <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/ipl">IPL</a>'s schedule</h2>

The report also states that the Cricket Australia has asked its players to prepare for a limited-overs away series against England in mid-September. The BCCI is also chalking out a tentative window for the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/ipl">IPL 2020</a>, irrespective of ICC’s call on the T20 World Cup.&nbsp;

"The year started on a horrible note and there's been no relief on any front. But as time goes by, we need to take things head-on and ensure that we remain prepared for any eventuality. Cricket is no different. It is time for the BCCI to start planning for the year ahead," Dhumal told TOI.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sri-lanka-batsman-kusal-mendis-arrested-over-fatal-crash-310830" hreflang="en">Sri Lanka batsman Kusal Mendis arrested over fatal crash</a>

The IPL 2020 was originally scheduled to commence in March but was suspended indefinitely following the COVID-19 outbreak. The ICC is yet to officially decide on the T20 World Cup and with officials publicly claiming that it would be unrealistic for Australia to host the showpiece event, at this point of time, the final verdict is awaited from the ICC.

The T20 World Cup 2020 to be hosted by Australia in October-November is set to be postponed when the ICC officials meet this Friday. For the last couple of months, the ICC has been delaying a final call on the T20 World Cup as it wants to make a correct call.

The T20 World Cup 2020 to be hosted by Australia in October-November is set to be postponed when the ICC officials meet this Friday. For the last couple of months, the ICC has been delaying a final call on the T20 World Cup as it wants to make a correct call. However, a decision on the showpiece event looks inevitable now. The postponement of T20 World Cup may open up a window for the BCCI to conduct the much-talked-about Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 which has also been postponed indefinitely due to COVID-19 pandemic. There has been a lot of talks about the postponement of the T20 World Cup 2020, which could be pushed back to 2022 as India is scheduled to host the 2021 edition of the tournament with the 50-over World Cup in 2023 also scheduled to be played in the country. ALSO READ: West Indies unleash latest 'Fab Four' in England T20 World Cup 2020 postponement inevitable, BCCI working on IPL's schedule The report also states that the Cricket Australia has asked its players to prepare for a limited-overs away series against England in mid-September. The BCCI is also chalking out a tentative window for the IPL 2020, irrespective of ICC’s call on the T20 World Cup. "The year started on a horrible note and there's been no relief on any front. But as time goes by, we need to take things head-on and ensure that we remain prepared for any eventuality. Cricket is no different. It is time for the BCCI to start planning for the year ahead," Dhumal told TOI. ALSO READ: Sri Lanka batsman Kusal Mendis arrested over fatal crash The IPL 2020 was originally scheduled to commence in March but was suspended indefinitely following the COVID-19 outbreak. The ICC is yet to officially decide on the T20 World Cup and with officials publicly claiming that it would be unrealistic for Australia to host the showpiece event, at this point of time, the final verdict is awaited from the ICC.

T20 World Cup set to be postponed this week, BCCI to start planning for IPL 2020

West Ham rocked Chelsea's top-four hopes and boosted their survival bid with a dramatic 3-2 win, while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang struck twice as Arsenal climbed back into European contention with a 4-0 thrashing of Norwich on Wednesday.

Chelsea were hoping to take advantage of third-placed Leicester's 2-1 defeat at Everton earlier in the day, but instead the Blues were beaten for the first time since the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/premier-league">Premier League</a> restart.

West Ham were denied the opening goal at the London Stadium when VAR ruled Michail Antonio was offside as he lay on the ground while Tomas Soucek slotted home.

Willian fired Chelsea ahead from the penalty spot five minutes before half-time after Issa Diop tripped Christian Pulisic.

Soucek headed home in first-half stoppage time as West Ham finally scored their first goal since the restart.

Antonio put West Ham in front in the 51st minute when he slid in to convert Jarrod Bowen's cross.

Willian's superb 70th-minute free-kick drew Chelsea level, but it was West Ham who broke away to win it in the 89th minute when substitute Andriy Yarmolenko finished a brilliant counter attack.

Chelsea are one point behind Leicester and only two ahead of Manchester United and Wolves as the race to qualify for the Champions League hots up with six games left.

"It's the story of our season. It's been a good season but there have been so many of these moments," Chelsea boss Frank Lampard said.

"I'm not happy with any of the goals. There were details in the game which we knew but we lost because we didn't get them right.

"It's why we are fighting for the top four and not first or second. We don't get things right as much as the big boys do."

West Ham's crucial first win since the restart moved them three points clear of the relegation zone.

At the Emirates Stadium, Aubameyang moved alongside Jamie Vardy as the Premier League's top scorer on 19 goals on a night of contrasting fortunes for the Golden Boot contenders.

Arsenal registered a third straight win to move up to seventh against a Norwich side ever more resigned to relegation.

Canaries keeper Tim Krul did his side no favours by gifting the opener to Aubameyang when he was caught trying to dribble past the Gabon international.

Aubameyang's first saw him reach 50 Premier League goals in 79 appearances -- making him the fastest Arsenal player to reach that landmark.

"A player that is able to score as many goals as he has done in that short space of time tells you everything about the importance that he has for us," said Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta.

Aubameyang turned provider for Granit Xhaka to make it 2-0 before half-time and was then handed another gift when Norwich striker Josip Drmic teed him up to make it 3-0.

Cedric Soares, signed from Southampton in January, made his debut one to remember with a long-range strike nine minutes from time to round off the scoring.

<h2>- Leicester lose more ground -</h2>

Leicester are headed in the opposite direction as their winless run since English football's restart from the coronavirus pandemic stretched to four games.

Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdsson's penalty gave Everton the perfect start at Goodison Park.

Kelechi Iheanacho's fortunate goal as the ball ricocheted in off his face reduced Leicester's arrears and they pressed hard for an equaliser in the closing stages.

"Our form hasn't been the best for a period now but we still have it in our hands to achieve what would be a dream for us, getting into the top four," said Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers.

At the bottom of the table, Bournemouth also suffered a huge blow in their battle to beat the drop with a humiliating 4-1 home defeat by Newcastle.

Dwight Gayle, Sean Longstaff, Miguel Almiron and Valentino Lazaro were on target for the Magpies.

Bournemouth remain in the bottom three and the margin of defeat could also prove costly as they drop below Aston Villa on goal difference into 19th.

West Ham rocked Chelsea's top-four hopes and boosted their survival bid with a dramatic 3-2 win, while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang struck twice as Arsenal climbed back into European contention with a 4-0 thrashing of Norwich on Wednesday.

West Ham rocked Chelsea's top-four hopes and boosted their survival bid with a dramatic 3-2 win, while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang struck twice as Arsenal climbed back into European contention with a 4-0 thrashing of Norwich on Wednesday. Chelsea were hoping to take advantage of third-placed Leicester's 2-1 defeat at Everton earlier in the day, but instead the Blues were beaten for the first time since the Premier League restart. West Ham were denied the opening goal at the London Stadium when VAR ruled Michail Antonio was offside as he lay on the ground while Tomas Soucek slotted home. Willian fired Chelsea ahead from the penalty spot five minutes before half-time after Issa Diop tripped Christian Pulisic. Soucek headed home in first-half stoppage time as West Ham finally scored their first goal since the restart. Antonio put West Ham in front in the 51st minute when he slid in to convert Jarrod Bowen's cross. Willian's superb 70th-minute free-kick drew Chelsea level, but it was West Ham who broke away to win it in the 89th minute when substitute Andriy Yarmolenko finished a brilliant counter attack. Chelsea are one point behind Leicester and only two ahead of Manchester United and Wolves as the race to qualify for the Champions League hots up with six games left. "It's the story of our season. It's been a good season but there have been so many of these moments," Chelsea boss Frank Lampard said. "I'm not happy with any of the goals. There were details in the game which we knew but we lost because we didn't get them right. "It's why we are fighting for the top four and not first or second. We don't get things right as much as the big boys do." West Ham's crucial first win since the restart moved them three points clear of the relegation zone. At the Emirates Stadium, Aubameyang moved alongside Jamie Vardy as the Premier League's top scorer on 19 goals on a night of contrasting fortunes for the Golden Boot contenders. Arsenal registered a third straight win to move up to seventh against a Norwich side ever more resigned to relegation. Canaries keeper Tim Krul did his side no favours by gifting the opener to Aubameyang when he was caught trying to dribble past the Gabon international. Aubameyang's first saw him reach 50 Premier League goals in 79 appearances -- making him the fastest Arsenal player to reach that landmark. "A player that is able to score as many goals as he has done in that short space of time tells you everything about the importance that he has for us," said Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta. Aubameyang turned provider for Granit Xhaka to make it 2-0 before half-time and was then handed another gift when Norwich striker Josip Drmic teed him up to make it 3-0. Cedric Soares, signed from Southampton in January, made his debut one to remember with a long-range strike nine minutes from time to round off the scoring. - Leicester lose more ground - Leicester are headed in the opposite direction as their winless run since English football's restart from the coronavirus pandemic stretched to four games. Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdsson's penalty gave Everton the perfect start at Goodison Park. Kelechi Iheanacho's fortunate goal as the ball ricocheted in off his face reduced Leicester's arrears and they pressed hard for an equaliser in the closing stages. "Our form hasn't been the best for a period now but we still have it in our hands to achieve what would be a dream for us, getting into the top four," said Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers. At the bottom of the table, Bournemouth also suffered a huge blow in their battle to beat the drop with a humiliating 4-1 home defeat by Newcastle. Dwight Gayle, Sean Longstaff, Miguel Almiron and Valentino Lazaro were on target for the Magpies. Bournemouth remain in the bottom three and the margin of defeat could also prove costly as they drop below Aston Villa on goal difference into 19th.

West Ham stun Chelsea, Aubameyang fires Arsenal revival

West Indies coach Phil Simmons was told Wednesday he was in no danger of losing his job after the Barbados Cricket Association president said the former Test batsman should be sacked for attending his father-in-law's funeral.

Simmons is currently in self-isolation at the team's on-site hotel at Old Trafford ahead of next week's first Test against England at Southampton after being granted a request for compassionate leave before the squad left for Britain.

Simmons temporarily left the West Indies' protective bubble to attend the funeral, which took place in Britain.

Simmons has twice tested negative for the coronavirus and will rejoin the squad if he's given the all-clear following another test carried out on Wednesday.

But ahead of a Test series taking place against the backdrop of COVID-19, ESPNCricinfo revealed that BCA chief Conde Riley had written to Cricket West Indies president Ricky Skerritt lamenting an "inconsiderate and reckless" process as he called for Simmons' dismissal.

But Skerritt told a conference call: "I want to assure West Indies cricket fans that Phil Simmons still has the full backing of Cricket West Indies no matter what has been said.

"When all is said and done, Phil's job is not in any way threatened by that letter.&nbsp;

"He went through a very vigorous recruitment process nine months ago and was the best man we could have found for the job. He's still the best man."

Meanwhile Simmons, in his second stint as Windies coach, said: "This has not been an easy time for my family. My wife was very close to her father and his passing has hurt us. There was no question of me not going to the funeral.

"My wife, my daughters and my son needed that support. Family is a huge thing for me.

"It won't disrupt us, it will just make us a little stronger going into the Test series. Our focus is still on the series."

West Indies captain Jason Holder had no qualms over Simmons' brief absence.

"Phil has done what was asked of him and I don't have any issue with it," he said.

West Indies coach Phil Simmons was told Wednesday he was in no danger of losing his job after the Barbados Cricket Association president said the former Test batsman should be sacked for attending his father-in-law's funeral.

West Indies coach Phil Simmons was told Wednesday he was in no danger of losing his job after the Barbados Cricket Association president said the former Test batsman should be sacked for attending his father-in-law's funeral. Simmons is currently in self-isolation at the team's on-site hotel at Old Trafford ahead of next week's first Test against England at Southampton after being granted a request for compassionate leave before the squad left for Britain. Simmons temporarily left the West Indies' protective bubble to attend the funeral, which took place in Britain. Simmons has twice tested negative for the coronavirus and will rejoin the squad if he's given the all-clear following another test carried out on Wednesday. But ahead of a Test series taking place against the backdrop of COVID-19, ESPNCricinfo revealed that BCA chief Conde Riley had written to Cricket West Indies president Ricky Skerritt lamenting an "inconsiderate and reckless" process as he called for Simmons' dismissal. But Skerritt told a conference call: "I want to assure West Indies cricket fans that Phil Simmons still has the full backing of Cricket West Indies no matter what has been said. "When all is said and done, Phil's job is not in any way threatened by that letter. "He went through a very vigorous recruitment process nine months ago and was the best man we could have found for the job. He's still the best man." Meanwhile Simmons, in his second stint as Windies coach, said: "This has not been an easy time for my family. My wife was very close to her father and his passing has hurt us. There was no question of me not going to the funeral. "My wife, my daughters and my son needed that support. Family is a huge thing for me. "It won't disrupt us, it will just make us a little stronger going into the Test series. Our focus is still on the series." West Indies captain Jason Holder had no qualms over Simmons' brief absence. "Phil has done what was asked of him and I don't have any issue with it," he said.

Windies coach Simmons won't be sacked over funeral attendance

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