Ahead of the much-awaited England tour, where Team India will not only play the final of the ICC World Test Championship but also a five-match Test series against England, the Indian players have been asked to enter the bio-secure bubble on May 19 in Mumbai. <o:p></o:p>

The Indian players, part of the three-and-a-half-month-long tour to the UK, have been asked to regroup in Mumbai on May 19 and enter a 10-day quarantine period. <o:p></o:p>

“Yes, those travelling to England are entering the bio-bubble on May 19 after regrouping in Mumbai. After completing the hard quarantine (confined to hotel rooms) in Mumbai, the team will depart for the UK on June 2,” a source close to the Indian team told WION. <o:p></o:p>

The BCCI wanted to complete a quarantine period to avoid any positive COVID-19 cases in the United Kingdom. The Indian board is also in talks with the England Cricket Board (ECB) to reduce the 10-day soft quarantine (training allowed) as it will be a bubble-to-bubble movement. However, it remains to be seen whether there will be any concession in this regard for the Indian contingent.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/official-ramesh-powar-appointed-head-coach-of-indian-womens-cricket-team-384783" hreflang="en">Official: Ramesh Powar appointed head coach of Indian women’s cricket team</a><o:p></o:p>

Earlier, the BCCI had announced a 24-member squad including four standby players for the long season in the UK, which is scheduled to conclude on September 14 following the grueling five-match Test series against Joe Root-led England.<o:p></o:p>

Out of those 24, KL Rahul and Wriddhiman Saha would have to undergo a fitness test while Prasidh Krishna, who tested positive for COVID-19 a few days back, will have to return negative to be eligible to travel.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/they-werent-going-to-gabba-australia-skipper-tim-paine-says-team-india-good-at-creating-sideshows-384723" hreflang="en">'They weren't going to Gabba': Australia skipper Tim Paine says Team India good at 'creating sideshows'</a>

Whereas the squad for the Indian women's team is likely to be announced on Friday. India women play three WODIs as many T20Is and one-off Test against England starting June 16.

<h2 class="MsoNormal">India Squad for WTC final vs New Zealand, and five-match Test Series vs England<o:p></o:p></h2>

India’s squad: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (Captain), Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), R. Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohd. Shami, Md. Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav, KL Rahul (subject to fitness clearance), Wriddhiman Saha (wicket-keeper; subject to fitness clearance).<o:p></o:p>

Standby players: Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan, Arzan Nagwaswalla<o:p></o:p>

Ahead of the much-awaited England tour, where Team India will not only play the final of the ICC World Test Championship but also a five-match Test series against England, the Indian players have been asked to enter the bio-secure bubble on May 19 in Mumbai.

Ahead of the much-awaited England tour, where Team India will not only play the final of the ICC World Test Championship but also a five-match Test series against England, the Indian players have been asked to enter the bio-secure bubble on May 19 in Mumbai. The Indian players, part of the three-and-a-half-month-long tour to the UK, have been asked to regroup in Mumbai on May 19 and enter a 10-day quarantine period. “Yes, those travelling to England are entering the bio-bubble on May 19 after regrouping in Mumbai. After completing the hard quarantine (confined to hotel rooms) in Mumbai, the team will depart for the UK on June 2,” a source close to the Indian team told WION. The BCCI wanted to complete a quarantine period to avoid any positive COVID-19 cases in the United Kingdom. The Indian board is also in talks with the England Cricket Board (ECB) to reduce the 10-day soft quarantine (training allowed) as it will be a bubble-to-bubble movement. However, it remains to be seen whether there will be any concession in this regard for the Indian contingent. ALSO READ: Official: Ramesh Powar appointed head coach of Indian women’s cricket team Earlier, the BCCI had announced a 24-member squad including four standby players for the long season in the UK, which is scheduled to conclude on September 14 following the grueling five-match Test series against Joe Root-led England. Out of those 24, KL Rahul and Wriddhiman Saha would have to undergo a fitness test while Prasidh Krishna, who tested positive for COVID-19 a few days back, will have to return negative to be eligible to travel. ALSO READ: 'They weren't going to Gabba': Australia skipper Tim Paine says Team India good at 'creating sideshows' Whereas the squad for the Indian women's team is likely to be announced on Friday. India women play three WODIs as many T20Is and one-off Test against England starting June 16. India Squad for WTC final vs New Zealand, and five-match Test Series vs England India’s squad: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (Captain), Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), R. Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohd. Shami, Md. Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav, KL Rahul (subject to fitness clearance), Wriddhiman Saha (wicket-keeper; subject to fitness clearance). Standby players: Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan, Arzan Nagwaswalla

Team India to enter bio-bubble on May 19 in Mumbai ahead of England tour

Cristiano Ronaldo could be involved in a massively surprising return to his boyhood club Sporting Lisbon this summer after his mother Dolores Aveiro insisted that she will try to convince the Portuguese stalwart to return to where he started his career.<o:p></o:p>

While Ronaldo currently leads the goalscoring charts in Serie A, Juventus could finish the season outside the top four, which will end their hopes of playing UEFA Champions League next season. However, Juventus as a club has still not pulled out of the controversial European Super League and the matter is expected to be dragged for weeks. <o:p></o:p>

Meanwhile, Ronaldo also completed 100 goals for Juventus as he became the fastest player in Serie A to achieve the milestone and the only player to score a century of goals in three major European leagues. <o:p></o:p>

Ronaldo started his senior career at Sporting and won the Portuguese title for the first time since 2002.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/official-ramesh-powar-appointed-head-coach-of-indian-womens-cricket-team-384783" hreflang="en">Official: Ramesh Powar appointed head coach of Indian women’s cricket team</a><o:p></o:p>

Ronaldo’s mother, an avid Sporting fan, cleared the air by saying she will try and convince Ronaldo to join the Portuguese club. <o:p></o:p>

"I'll talk to him (Cristiano) to bring him back," she said from her balcony as she spoke to Sporting fans that had taken to the streets to celebrate.<o:p></o:p>

"Next year, he will play in Alvalade (Sporting's stadium).".&nbsp;

&nbsp;ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/it-could-be-difficult-rajasthan-royals-ben-stokes-on-playing-in-remainder-of-ipl-2021-384755" hreflang="en">'It could be difficult': Rajasthan Royals' Ben Stokes on playing in remainder of IPL 2021</a>

Ronaldo, 36, has one year left in his current contract at Juventus. However, the former Real Madrid forward is linked with a departure this summer with former club Manchester United being touted as one of the destinations.<o:p></o:p>

Cristiano Ronaldo could be involved in a massively surprising return to his boyhood club Sporting Lisbon this summer after his mother Dolores Aveiro insisted that she will try to convince the Portuguese stalwart to return to where he started his career.

Cristiano Ronaldo could be involved in a massively surprising return to his boyhood club Sporting Lisbon this summer after his mother Dolores Aveiro insisted that she will try to convince the Portuguese stalwart to return to where he started his career. While Ronaldo currently leads the goalscoring charts in Serie A, Juventus could finish the season outside the top four, which will end their hopes of playing UEFA Champions League next season. However, Juventus as a club has still not pulled out of the controversial European Super League and the matter is expected to be dragged for weeks. Meanwhile, Ronaldo also completed 100 goals for Juventus as he became the fastest player in Serie A to achieve the milestone and the only player to score a century of goals in three major European leagues. Ronaldo started his senior career at Sporting and won the Portuguese title for the first time since 2002. ALSO READ: Official: Ramesh Powar appointed head coach of Indian women’s cricket team Ronaldo’s mother, an avid Sporting fan, cleared the air by saying she will try and convince Ronaldo to join the Portuguese club. "I'll talk to him (Cristiano) to bring him back," she said from her balcony as she spoke to Sporting fans that had taken to the streets to celebrate. "Next year, he will play in Alvalade (Sporting's stadium).". ALSO READ: 'It could be difficult': Rajasthan Royals' Ben Stokes on playing in remainder of IPL 2021 Ronaldo, 36, has one year left in his current contract at Juventus. However, the former Real Madrid forward is linked with a departure this summer with former club Manchester United being touted as one of the destinations.

Cristiano Ronaldo to sign for Sporting Lisbon? Juve star's mother fuels transfer speculation

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Thursday announced the appointment of Ramesh Powar as the head coach of the Indian women’s cricket team. The BCCI had advertised for the post and received over 35 applications.<o:p></o:p>

The three-member Cricket Advisory Committee comprising Sulakshana Naik, Madan Lal and Rudra Pratap Singh interviewed the applicants and unanimously agreed on Powar’s candidature.<o:p></o:p>

A former international, Powar played 2 Tests and 31 ODIs for India. Post his playing career, he took up cricket coaching and is an ECB Level 2 certified coach and has also attended BCCI-NCA Level 2 coaching course. <o:p></o:p>

A former coach of the Indian Women’s Team from July-November 2018, it was under him that India qualified for the semi-final of the ICC T20 Women’s World Cup in 2018 and also won 14 T20 matches in a row.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/they-werent-going-to-gabba-australia-skipper-tim-paine-says-team-india-good-at-creating-sideshows-384723" hreflang="en">'They weren't going to Gabba': Australia skipper Tim Paine says Team India good at 'creating sideshows'</a><o:p></o:p>

He recently coached the Mumbai senior team that won the Vijay Hazare Trophy and has worked at the National Cricket Academy as a Bowling Coach.<o:p></o:p>

Powar’s last term as the head coach of the Indian women’s team was cut short after a spat with ODI skipper Mithali Raj. However, it would be interesting to see how both Powar and Mithali continue in the 50-over circuit.

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Powar succeeds WV Raman, who guided the team to the final of ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in 2020. <o:p></o:p>

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Thursday announced the appointment of Ramesh Powar as the head coach of the Indian women’s cricket team. The BCCI had advertised for the post and received over 35 applications.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Thursday announced the appointment of Ramesh Powar as the head coach of the Indian women’s cricket team. The BCCI had advertised for the post and received over 35 applications. The three-member Cricket Advisory Committee comprising Sulakshana Naik, Madan Lal and Rudra Pratap Singh interviewed the applicants and unanimously agreed on Powar’s candidature. A former international, Powar played 2 Tests and 31 ODIs for India. Post his playing career, he took up cricket coaching and is an ECB Level 2 certified coach and has also attended BCCI-NCA Level 2 coaching course. A former coach of the Indian Women’s Team from July-November 2018, it was under him that India qualified for the semi-final of the ICC T20 Women’s World Cup in 2018 and also won 14 T20 matches in a row. ALSO READ: 'They weren't going to Gabba': Australia skipper Tim Paine says Team India good at 'creating sideshows' He recently coached the Mumbai senior team that won the Vijay Hazare Trophy and has worked at the National Cricket Academy as a Bowling Coach. Powar’s last term as the head coach of the Indian women’s team was cut short after a spat with ODI skipper Mithali Raj. However, it would be interesting to see how both Powar and Mithali continue in the 50-over circuit. ALSO READ: Domination continues! India remain atop of ICC Men’s Test team rankings Powar succeeds WV Raman, who guided the team to the final of ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in 2020.

Official: Ramesh Powar appointed head coach of Indian women’s cricket team

The much-anticipated Champions League final between Manchester City and Chelsea has been shifted from Istanbul, Turkey, to Porto in Portugal, UEFA announced on Thursday.<o:p></o:p>

The most awaited UCL final on May 29 has been shifted to allow English spectators to attend the match with the travel between the UK and Turkey suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.<o:p></o:p>

UEFA has further announced that up to 6,000 spectators each from Chelsea and Man City will be allowed to attend the Champions League final. <o:p></o:p>

"We accept that the decision of the British Government to place Turkey on the red list for travel was taken in good faith and in the best interests of protecting its citizens from the spread of the virus but it also presented us with a major challenge in staging a final featuring two English teams," UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said in a statement.

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"After the year that fans have endured, it is not right that they don't have the chance to watch their teams in the biggest game of the season," he added.<o:p></o:p>

There were reports that the UCL final would be played at London’s iconic Wembley Stadium but the move fell out due to certain allowances including&nbsp;quarantine-free visits by media and other authorities. <o:p></o:p>

"The difficulties of moving the final are great and the FA and the authorities made every effort to try to stage the match in England and I would like to thank them for their work in trying to make it happen," Ceferin said.

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UEFA added that COVID-19 protocols in the UK made it difficult for the match to be held in the English capital. <o:p></o:p>

"UEFA discussed moving the match to England but, despite exhaustive efforts on the part of the Football Association and the authorities, it was not possible to achieve the necessary exemptions from UK quarantine arrangements," it said.<o:p></o:p>

The much-anticipated Champions League final between Manchester City and Chelsea has been shifted from Istanbul, Turkey, to Porto in Portugal, UEFA announced on Thursday.

The much-anticipated Champions League final between Manchester City and Chelsea has been shifted from Istanbul, Turkey, to Porto in Portugal, UEFA announced on Thursday. The most awaited UCL final on May 29 has been shifted to allow English spectators to attend the match with the travel between the UK and Turkey suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. UEFA has further announced that up to 6,000 spectators each from Chelsea and Man City will be allowed to attend the Champions League final. "We accept that the decision of the British Government to place Turkey on the red list for travel was taken in good faith and in the best interests of protecting its citizens from the spread of the virus but it also presented us with a major challenge in staging a final featuring two English teams," UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said in a statement. ALSO READ: Atletico edge closer to La Liga title after Real Sociedad win "After the year that fans have endured, it is not right that they don't have the chance to watch their teams in the biggest game of the season," he added. There were reports that the UCL final would be played at London’s iconic Wembley Stadium but the move fell out due to certain allowances including quarantine-free visits by media and other authorities. "The difficulties of moving the final are great and the FA and the authorities made every effort to try to stage the match in England and I would like to thank them for their work in trying to make it happen," Ceferin said. ALSO READ: 'CHAMPIONS': Manchester City fans take to streets after Premier League win UEFA added that COVID-19 protocols in the UK made it difficult for the match to be held in the English capital. "UEFA discussed moving the match to England but, despite exhaustive efforts on the part of the Football Association and the authorities, it was not possible to achieve the necessary exemptions from UK quarantine arrangements," it said.

Man City vs Chelsea: UEFA Champions League final moved to Porto from Istanbul

Ace all-rounder Ben Stokes has admitted that it will be difficult for him and his fellow England teammates to participate in the remainder of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 if and when it resumes while citing the international calendar.<o:p></o:p>

IPL 2021 was indefinitely postponed last week after COVID-19 cases emerged in the bio-bubble of multiple franchises. <o:p></o:p>

Stokes suffered a fractured finger during Rajasthan Royals’ opening match against Punjab Kings and was ruled out of the tournament. But fans hoped the premier England all-rounder will return if the postponed T20 tournament resumes later in the year. <o:p></o:p>

"We don't know if or when the tournament will be rearranged, but as the ECB have said it could be difficult for the England boys to have a free gap," Stokes wrote in his column for 'Daily Mirror'.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/took-it-with-class-srh-assistant-coach-brad-haddin-opens-up-on-david-warner-captaincy-snub-384742" hreflang="en">'Took it with class': SRH assistant coach Brad Haddin opens up on David Warner captaincy snub</a><o:p></o:p>

"After this year though, I do look forward to playing a full part again at some point in the future," Stokes wrote.<o:p></o:p>

Stokes sustained a setback after fracturing his finger and opted to undergo surgery after initial skepticism. Without giving a particular date on his return, Stokes said he should be back playing in seven to nine weeks. <o:p></o:p>

"I can't put a date on when I'll be back playing again, but as long as things progress as well as they have then I should hope it will be well before the three months that was first feared and more like seven, eight, or nine weeks.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/they-werent-going-to-gabba-australia-skipper-tim-paine-says-team-india-good-at-creating-sideshows-384723" hreflang="en">'They weren't going to Gabba': Australia skipper Tim Paine says Team India good at 'creating sideshows'</a><o:p></o:p>

"You can never know for sure how long these things will take because it is not just about the technical side of healing and getting the bone strong, there is the big issue of having confidence in it to play professional sport."<o:p></o:p>

"It was tough to say goodbye to the guys at the Rajasthan Royals earlier than I wanted, but the subsequent suspension of the tournament means that everyone is now back early with their families as India tries to get through such a difficult time."<o:p></o:p>

Stokes is touted to play a major role for England in the upcoming T20 World Cup after starring in the ICC World Cup 2019 where he was awarded the player of the tournament. <o:p></o:p>

Ace all-rounder Ben Stokes has admitted that it will be difficult for him and his fellow England teammates to participate in the remainder of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 if and when it resumes while citing the international calendar.

Ace all-rounder Ben Stokes has admitted that it will be difficult for him and his fellow England teammates to participate in the remainder of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 if and when it resumes while citing the international calendar. IPL 2021 was indefinitely postponed last week after COVID-19 cases emerged in the bio-bubble of multiple franchises. Stokes suffered a fractured finger during Rajasthan Royals’ opening match against Punjab Kings and was ruled out of the tournament. But fans hoped the premier England all-rounder will return if the postponed T20 tournament resumes later in the year. "We don't know if or when the tournament will be rearranged, but as the ECB have said it could be difficult for the England boys to have a free gap," Stokes wrote in his column for 'Daily Mirror'. ALSO READ: 'Took it with class': SRH assistant coach Brad Haddin opens up on David Warner captaincy snub "After this year though, I do look forward to playing a full part again at some point in the future," Stokes wrote. Stokes sustained a setback after fracturing his finger and opted to undergo surgery after initial skepticism. Without giving a particular date on his return, Stokes said he should be back playing in seven to nine weeks. "I can't put a date on when I'll be back playing again, but as long as things progress as well as they have then I should hope it will be well before the three months that was first feared and more like seven, eight, or nine weeks. ALSO READ: 'They weren't going to Gabba': Australia skipper Tim Paine says Team India good at 'creating sideshows' "You can never know for sure how long these things will take because it is not just about the technical side of healing and getting the bone strong, there is the big issue of having confidence in it to play professional sport." "It was tough to say goodbye to the guys at the Rajasthan Royals earlier than I wanted, but the subsequent suspension of the tournament means that everyone is now back early with their families as India tries to get through such a difficult time." Stokes is touted to play a major role for England in the upcoming T20 World Cup after starring in the ICC World Cup 2019 where he was awarded the player of the tournament.

'It could be difficult': Rajasthan Royals' Ben Stokes on playing in remainder of IPL 2021

Sunrisers Hyderabad assistant coach Brad Haddin has opened up about the management’s decision to replace David Warner as the captain of the team during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021. Haddin revealed that Warner responded to the demotion with ‘class’ and just got back with his job as nothing happened.<o:p></o:p>

Warner was not only removed from the captaincy role but was even dropped from the playing XI, a move that shocked the cricket fraternity considering Warner has been among the most consistent players in the history of IPL. <o:p></o:p>

Haddin said the way Warner would have come back in contention to start in the next few days while adding the southpaw is one of the best in the world in the shortest format of the game. <o:p></o:p>

While SRH was lying at the bottom of the IPL 2021 table, the SRH management decided to shake things up in a bid to get back to winning run.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/they-werent-going-to-gabba-australia-skipper-tim-paine-says-team-india-good-at-creating-sideshows-384723" hreflang="en">'They weren't going to Gabba': Australia skipper Tim Paine says Team India good at 'creating sideshows'</a><o:p></o:p>

“He took it with class. It was a bit of a shock to everyone. Management decided to go in a different direction to try to spark something within the team. We weren’t playing to the standard we needed to. With Davey, the way he handled it was all class. He just got on back with the job,” Haddin (while being asked about Warner’s reaction) was quoted as saying by Fox Cricket.<o:p></o:p>

“I dare say he would have come back in contention in the next few games. He is one of the best in the world in that form of the game. You only had to look at the way he reacted when he came onto the bench. He was around everyone, running the drinks out. He was still really vocal in the meetings. He handled a difficult situation with a lot of class,” Haddin added.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/domination-continues-india-remain-atop-of-icc-mens-test-team-rankings-384711" hreflang="en">Domination continues! India remain atop of ICC Men’s Test team rankings</a>

<o:p></o:p>

While it is unclear whether Warner would return back to SRH if and when the IPL 2021 resumes later this year, the Hyderabad franchise would be itching to clinch a few wins to keep their playoff hopes alive.<o:p></o:p>

Sunrisers Hyderabad assistant coach Brad Haddin has opened up about the management’s decision to replace David Warner as the captain of the team during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021.

Sunrisers Hyderabad assistant coach Brad Haddin has opened up about the management’s decision to replace David Warner as the captain of the team during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021. Haddin revealed that Warner responded to the demotion with ‘class’ and just got back with his job as nothing happened. Warner was not only removed from the captaincy role but was even dropped from the playing XI, a move that shocked the cricket fraternity considering Warner has been among the most consistent players in the history of IPL. Haddin said the way Warner would have come back in contention to start in the next few days while adding the southpaw is one of the best in the world in the shortest format of the game. While SRH was lying at the bottom of the IPL 2021 table, the SRH management decided to shake things up in a bid to get back to winning run. ALSO READ: 'They weren't going to Gabba': Australia skipper Tim Paine says Team India good at 'creating sideshows' “He took it with class. It was a bit of a shock to everyone. Management decided to go in a different direction to try to spark something within the team. We weren’t playing to the standard we needed to. With Davey, the way he handled it was all class. He just got on back with the job,” Haddin (while being asked about Warner’s reaction) was quoted as saying by Fox Cricket. “I dare say he would have come back in contention in the next few games. He is one of the best in the world in that form of the game. You only had to look at the way he reacted when he came onto the bench. He was around everyone, running the drinks out. He was still really vocal in the meetings. He handled a difficult situation with a lot of class,” Haddin added. ALSO READ: Domination continues! India remain atop of ICC Men’s Test team rankings While it is unclear whether Warner would return back to SRH if and when the IPL 2021 resumes later this year, the Hyderabad franchise would be itching to clinch a few wins to keep their playoff hopes alive.

'Took it with class': SRH assistant coach Brad Haddin opens up on David Warner captaincy snub

Australia Test captain Tim Paine has taken a sly dig at India as he said that the Men in Blue are good at distracting opponents with things that “do not matter”. Paine’s comments come in the backdrop of India’s historic Test series win against Australia as they became the first team to defeat Australia in Australia on a back-to-back occasion in the longest format of the game.<o:p></o:p>

Ahead of the final Test of the series, reports emerged that the Indian team was unwilling to travel to Brisbane in relation to the COVID-19 situation in the city and bio-secure bubble protocols and reportedly insisted the final Test to be played in Sydney – the host of the third Test. <o:p></o:p>

However, India went to Brisbane and went on to win the Test and the series. Paine said the distractions created by the Indian team played a role in Australia losing focus ahead of the series decider.

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"Part of the challenge of playing against India is they're very good at niggling you and trying to distract you with stuff that doesn't really matter and there were times in that series where we fell for that," Paine told news.com.au.<o:p></o:p>

"The classic example was when they said they weren't going to the Gabba so we didn't know where we were going. They're very good at creating these sideshows and we took our eye off the ball."

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rahul-dravid-picked-australian-brains-to-build-indias-solid-domestic-structure-greg-chappell-384565" hreflang="en">ahul Dravid picked 'Australian brains' to build India's solid domestic structure: Greg Chappell</a>

While India’s previous tour of Australia was epic in many ways, the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar trophy win was sweeter for the players and fans given the number of injuries in the first-team. With the likes of Virat Kohli unavailable and many key players like Mohammed Shami, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah among others injured, India put a commendable show to seal a Test series for ages.<o:p></o:p>

Australia Test captain Tim Paine has taken a sly dig at India as he said that the Men in Blue are good at distracting opponents with things that “do not matter”.

Australia Test captain Tim Paine has taken a sly dig at India as he said that the Men in Blue are good at distracting opponents with things that “do not matter”. Paine’s comments come in the backdrop of India’s historic Test series win against Australia as they became the first team to defeat Australia in Australia on a back-to-back occasion in the longest format of the game. Ahead of the final Test of the series, reports emerged that the Indian team was unwilling to travel to Brisbane in relation to the COVID-19 situation in the city and bio-secure bubble protocols and reportedly insisted the final Test to be played in Sydney – the host of the third Test. However, India went to Brisbane and went on to win the Test and the series. Paine said the distractions created by the Indian team played a role in Australia losing focus ahead of the series decider. ALSO READ: Domination continues! India remain atop of ICC Men’s Test team rankings "Part of the challenge of playing against India is they're very good at niggling you and trying to distract you with stuff that doesn't really matter and there were times in that series where we fell for that," Paine told news.com.au. "The classic example was when they said they weren't going to the Gabba so we didn't know where we were going. They're very good at creating these sideshows and we took our eye off the ball." ALSO READ: ahul Dravid picked 'Australian brains' to build India's solid domestic structure: Greg Chappell While India’s previous tour of Australia was epic in many ways, the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar trophy win was sweeter for the players and fans given the number of injuries in the first-team. With the likes of Virat Kohli unavailable and many key players like Mohammed Shami, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah among others injured, India put a commendable show to seal a Test series for ages.

'They weren't going to Gabba': Australia skipper Tim Paine says Team India good at 'creating sideshows'

A protestor disguised as a journalist gatecrashed the International Olympic Committee (IOC) virtual press conference on Wednesday as he unfurled a banner while shouting profanities and repeating anti-Olympic messages.<o:p></o:p>

The man was given the opportunity to ask the last question of the press conference after the remote meeting of the IOC Executive Board. He straightaway raised a banner to the camera, which red “No Olympics in Tokyo” and went on to repeat "no Olympics anywhere" and "f*** the Olympics".<o:p></o:p>

"No Olympics anywhere," the man said.<o:p></o:p>

"No Olympics anywhere, f*** the Olympics, we don’t want the Olympics anywhere. <o:p></o:p>

"No Olympics in LA, No Olympics in Tokyo."

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ioc-confident-of-successful-tokyo-olympics-despite-widespread-opposition-384601" hreflang="en">IOC confident of successful Tokyo Olympics despite widespread opposition</a><o:p></o:p>

The protestor was cut by IOC’s Presidential spokesperson Mark Adams and the organization later deleted the video of the incident in the press briefing.<o:p></o:p>

Tokyo 2020 was the main focus of the meeting as Adams insisted the quadrennial event will go ahead as scheduled despite the state of emergency in Japan due to the rising cases of COVID-19 and dismal public support to host the event in the capital.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/hesitant-nadal-joins-chorus-of-concern-about-olympics-384362" hreflang="en">Hesitant Nadal joins chorus of concern about Olympics</a><o:p></o:p>

Tokyo 2020 president Seiko Hashimoto said: "There is slander on social media directed toward athletes and individuals, creating a lot of anxiety for them and it pains my heart. They should not criticise the athletes, they should criticise me the president of the organising committee."<o:p></o:p>

"I personally can't stand that the criticism and calls to cancel or boycott the Olympics are being aimed at the athletes themselves. The athletes should be able to attend the Games with confidence but they're not able to voice that. So we need to ensure we have the proper measures in place to make the Olympics comfortable for athletes,” she added.<o:p></o:p>

A protestor disguised as a journalist gatecrashed the International Olympic Committee (IOC) virtual press conference on Wednesday as he unfurled a banner while shouting profanities and repeating anti-Olympic messages.

A protestor disguised as a journalist gatecrashed the International Olympic Committee (IOC) virtual press conference on Wednesday as he unfurled a banner while shouting profanities and repeating anti-Olympic messages. The man was given the opportunity to ask the last question of the press conference after the remote meeting of the IOC Executive Board. He straightaway raised a banner to the camera, which red “No Olympics in Tokyo” and went on to repeat "no Olympics anywhere" and "f*** the Olympics". "No Olympics anywhere," the man said. "No Olympics anywhere, f*** the Olympics, we don’t want the Olympics anywhere. "No Olympics in LA, No Olympics in Tokyo." ALSO READ: IOC confident of successful Tokyo Olympics despite widespread opposition The protestor was cut by IOC’s Presidential spokesperson Mark Adams and the organization later deleted the video of the incident in the press briefing. Tokyo 2020 was the main focus of the meeting as Adams insisted the quadrennial event will go ahead as scheduled despite the state of emergency in Japan due to the rising cases of COVID-19 and dismal public support to host the event in the capital. ALSO READ: Hesitant Nadal joins chorus of concern about Olympics Tokyo 2020 president Seiko Hashimoto said: "There is slander on social media directed toward athletes and individuals, creating a lot of anxiety for them and it pains my heart. They should not criticise the athletes, they should criticise me the president of the organising committee." "I personally can't stand that the criticism and calls to cancel or boycott the Olympics are being aimed at the athletes themselves. The athletes should be able to attend the Games with confidence but they're not able to voice that. So we need to ensure we have the proper measures in place to make the Olympics comfortable for athletes,” she added.

Protestor gatecrashes IOC's virtual press conference, unfurls anti-Olympic banner

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Wednesday said it backed Japanese measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 as was confident that the Tokyo Olympics would be a ‘historic’ event despite widespread public opposition.<o:p></o:p>

The Games commence on July 23 but the host country is still grappling with the dreaded virus. Several polls show that majority of the Japanese population wants the quadrennial event cancelled or postponed again. <o:p></o:p>

"We are now very much in an implementation phase with 78 days to go and fully concentrated on delivering the Games," IOC spokesman Mark Adams told during a virtual press conference.<o:p></o:p>

"When the Games happen and the Japanese people are proud hosts of an event that will be a historic moment, I think I am very confident we will see public opinion hugely in favour of the Games."

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/indias-neeraj-chopra-says-virus-restrictions-hit-olympic-hopes-384555" hreflang="en">India's Neeraj Chopra says virus restrictions hit Olympic hopes</a><o:p></o:p>

The virtual press conference, however, was ended abruptly after a protester, signed up as a journalist, asked a question before unfurling a banner that read “No to Olympics” and shouted profanities and “No Olympics anywhere” before being kicked out.<o:p></o:p>

Meanwhile, Japan has extended a state of emergency in Tokyo and three other areas until the end of May as cases continue to rise. Even IOC president Thomas Bach’s visit to the country was postponed.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/hesitant-nadal-joins-chorus-of-concern-about-olympics-384362" hreflang="en">Hesitant Nadal joins chorus of concern about Olympics</a><o:p></o:p>

An opinion survey conducted from May 7-9 by the Yomiuri Shimbun daily showed 59% of respondents wanted the Games cancelled as opposed to 39% who said they should be held. "Postponement" was not offered as an option.<o:p></o:p>

Another poll conducted at the weekend by TBS News found 65% wanted the Games cancelled or postponed again. More than 300,000 people have signed a petition to cancel the Games since it was launched about five days ago.<o:p></o:p>

"In terms of Japan and Tokyo we understand the caution," Adams said. "We are fully in solidarity with them. People are very cautious. We have to fully trust Japanese authorities."<o:p></o:p>

"There will be ups and downs (in public opinion).We have to take account of public opinion on a longer-term. As thing stand now we are moving full ahead. We continue to plan for full Games. That's the way it has to be for us."<o:p></o:p>

(With inputs from agencies)<o:p></o:p>

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Wednesday said it backed Japanese measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 as was confident that the Tokyo Olympics would be a ‘historic’ event despite widespread public opposition.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Wednesday said it backed Japanese measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 as was confident that the Tokyo Olympics would be a ‘historic’ event despite widespread public opposition. The Games commence on July 23 but the host country is still grappling with the dreaded virus. Several polls show that majority of the Japanese population wants the quadrennial event cancelled or postponed again. "We are now very much in an implementation phase with 78 days to go and fully concentrated on delivering the Games," IOC spokesman Mark Adams told during a virtual press conference. "When the Games happen and the Japanese people are proud hosts of an event that will be a historic moment, I think I am very confident we will see public opinion hugely in favour of the Games." ALSO READ: India's Neeraj Chopra says virus restrictions hit Olympic hopes The virtual press conference, however, was ended abruptly after a protester, signed up as a journalist, asked a question before unfurling a banner that read “No to Olympics” and shouted profanities and “No Olympics anywhere” before being kicked out. Meanwhile, Japan has extended a state of emergency in Tokyo and three other areas until the end of May as cases continue to rise. Even IOC president Thomas Bach’s visit to the country was postponed. ALSO READ: Hesitant Nadal joins chorus of concern about Olympics An opinion survey conducted from May 7-9 by the Yomiuri Shimbun daily showed 59% of respondents wanted the Games cancelled as opposed to 39% who said they should be held. "Postponement" was not offered as an option. Another poll conducted at the weekend by TBS News found 65% wanted the Games cancelled or postponed again. More than 300,000 people have signed a petition to cancel the Games since it was launched about five days ago. "In terms of Japan and Tokyo we understand the caution," Adams said. "We are fully in solidarity with them. People are very cautious. We have to fully trust Japanese authorities." "There will be ups and downs (in public opinion).We have to take account of public opinion on a longer-term. As thing stand now we are moving full ahead. We continue to plan for full Games. That's the way it has to be for us." (With inputs from agencies)

IOC confident of successful Tokyo Olympics despite widespread opposition

Bayern Munich’s future CEO and former Germany goalkeeper, Oliver Kahn has ruled out a potential summer transfer for Borussia Dortmund hot-shot Erling Haaland. Kahn said that Bayern Munich spending over 100 million Euros for a player is “unimaginable” at this time.<o:p></o:p>

Haaland has established himself as one of the hottest properties in world football and many top European clubs are linked with a move to sign the Norwegian forward. Bayern Munich are one of the clubs touted to sign Haaland in the summer but Kahn has claimed that they won’t be able to match the transfer fees given the turbulent financial climate of the footballing world.<o:p></o:p>

"Sorry, whoever spoke about that didn't understand the situation," the Bayern director, who will succeed Karl-Heinz Rummenigge as CEO later this year, told Bild.<o:p></o:p>

"A package that costs - as we heard - over €100m is unimaginable for FC Bayern at the moment."

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/we-trust-the-authorities-jurgen-klopp-on-safety-concerns-over-man-utd-fixture-384575" hreflang="en">We trust the authorities': Jurgen Klopp on safety concerns over Man Utd fixture</a><o:p></o:p>

The former Germany and Bayern Munich goalkeeper went on to emphasise that the German giants can reply to Robert Lewandowski for the main share of goals for the foreseeable future. Lewandowski has smashed 46 goals across all competitions this season after winning the UEFA Player of the Year award last term.<o:p></o:p>

"Robert still has a two-year contract here. His performances cannot be questioned. He's scored 39 goals [in the Bundesliga] so far!<o:p></o:p>

"Just for that, we don't have to think about Haaland today. Robert can keep this level for a few more years."

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/van-dijk-to-skip-euro-2020-with-netherlands-to-focus-on-liverpool-return-384549" hreflang="en">Van Dijk to skip Euro 2020 with Netherlands to focus on Liverpool return</a><o:p></o:p>

Earlier this month, Haaland’s agent Mino Raiola said: "What we know as of today is that Dortmund spoke extremely solemnly to us and said: 'We are not selling him'.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>

“Today, the official stance of Dortmund is this. But I've got another view, I think that if a good opportunity comes up and everyone would be happy, we'll put it on the table.”<o:p></o:p>

Bayern Munich’s future CEO and former Germany goalkeeper, Oliver Kahn has ruled out a potential summer transfer for Borussia Dortmund hot-shot Erling Haaland. Kahn said that Bayern Munich spending over 100 million Euros for a player is “unimaginable” at this time.

Bayern Munich’s future CEO and former Germany goalkeeper, Oliver Kahn has ruled out a potential summer transfer for Borussia Dortmund hot-shot Erling Haaland. Kahn said that Bayern Munich spending over 100 million Euros for a player is “unimaginable” at this time. Haaland has established himself as one of the hottest properties in world football and many top European clubs are linked with a move to sign the Norwegian forward. Bayern Munich are one of the clubs touted to sign Haaland in the summer but Kahn has claimed that they won’t be able to match the transfer fees given the turbulent financial climate of the footballing world. "Sorry, whoever spoke about that didn't understand the situation," the Bayern director, who will succeed Karl-Heinz Rummenigge as CEO later this year, told Bild. "A package that costs - as we heard - over €100m is unimaginable for FC Bayern at the moment." ALSO READ: We trust the authorities': Jurgen Klopp on safety concerns over Man Utd fixture The former Germany and Bayern Munich goalkeeper went on to emphasise that the German giants can reply to Robert Lewandowski for the main share of goals for the foreseeable future. Lewandowski has smashed 46 goals across all competitions this season after winning the UEFA Player of the Year award last term. "Robert still has a two-year contract here. His performances cannot be questioned. He's scored 39 goals [in the Bundesliga] so far! "Just for that, we don't have to think about Haaland today. Robert can keep this level for a few more years." ALSO READ: Van Dijk to skip Euro 2020 with Netherlands to focus on Liverpool return Earlier this month, Haaland’s agent Mino Raiola said: "What we know as of today is that Dortmund spoke extremely solemnly to us and said: 'We are not selling him'. “Today, the official stance of Dortmund is this. But I've got another view, I think that if a good opportunity comes up and everyone would be happy, we'll put it on the table.”

'€100 million is unimaginable': Oliver Kahn rules out Bayern Munich in race to sign Haaland

Former Australia captain Greg Chappell has said that Rahul Dravid picked the Aussie brains to build a solid domestic structure in India while recognising how India and England have surpassed Australia in terms of providing a platform for young talent.<o:p></o:p>

Chappell further said that Australia have now lost their position as the best in identifying talent and nurturing them for the biggest of stages. &nbsp;<o:p></o:p>

"I am seeing a bunch of young players with great potential who are in limbo. That's unacceptable. We cannot afford to lose one player. India have got their act together and that's largely because (India's academy chief and former Test captain) Rahul Dravid has picked our brains, seen what we're doing and replicated it in India and with their much larger population base," cricket.com.au quoted Chappell as saying.<o:p></o:p>

"I think we've already lost our position as the best at identifying talent and bringing it through. I think England are doing it better than us now and India are doing it better than us," he added.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/look-at-ishan-suryakumar-and-krunal-mohammad-amir-hits-out-at-pcb-selectors-384559" hreflang="en">'Look at Ishan, Suryakumar and Krunal': Mohammad Amir hits out at PCB selectors</a><o:p></o:p>

Chappell further cited how India defeated Australia earlier in the year despite having numerous first-team players injured. The former Aussie skipper, who also coached the Indian team in the mid-2000s, further said that the players coming from India A set-up are hardened international cricketers who have played in all sorts of conditions. <o:p></o:p>

"When you look at the Indian team that played in the Brisbane Test that had three or four fresh players, and everyone said, 'This is India's second XI' - those guys had played (extensively) for India A," said Chappell.<o:p></o:p>

"And in all sorts of different conditions, not just in India. So when they get picked, they're not tyros at all, they're quite hardened international cricketers. We picked Will Pucovski out of Shield cricket. Will has hardly had a game outside Australia. That's the difference," he added.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/siraj-has-overtaken-all-these-guys-msk-prasad-impressed-by-indian-pacer-384531" hreflang="en">'Siraj has overtaken all these guys': MSK Prasad impressed by Indian pacer</a><o:p></o:p>

Chappell further said a draft system could be a way of ensuring young players continue to get regular games.<o:p></o:p>

"We can't afford for the bigger states to warehouse kids just because they might need them at some stage. I think that's dangerous. If we were designing a structure from scratch now, we wouldn't design it the way we have got it. I think New South Wales could possibly have a second team," said Chappell.<o:p></o:p>

"We need to disperse the talent a little bit more evenly, rather than having good talent sitting on the sidelines in Victoria and New South Wales when they could be playing really well," he added.<o:p></o:p>

Former Australia captain Greg Chappell has said that Rahul Dravid picked the Aussie brains to build a solid domestic structure in India while recognising how India and England have surpassed Australia in terms of providing a platform for young talent.

Former Australia captain Greg Chappell has said that Rahul Dravid picked the Aussie brains to build a solid domestic structure in India while recognising how India and England have surpassed Australia in terms of providing a platform for young talent. Chappell further said that Australia have now lost their position as the best in identifying talent and nurturing them for the biggest of stages. "I am seeing a bunch of young players with great potential who are in limbo. That's unacceptable. We cannot afford to lose one player. India have got their act together and that's largely because (India's academy chief and former Test captain) Rahul Dravid has picked our brains, seen what we're doing and replicated it in India and with their much larger population base," cricket.com.au quoted Chappell as saying. "I think we've already lost our position as the best at identifying talent and bringing it through. I think England are doing it better than us now and India are doing it better than us," he added. ALSO READ: 'Look at Ishan, Suryakumar and Krunal': Mohammad Amir hits out at PCB selectors Chappell further cited how India defeated Australia earlier in the year despite having numerous first-team players injured. The former Aussie skipper, who also coached the Indian team in the mid-2000s, further said that the players coming from India A set-up are hardened international cricketers who have played in all sorts of conditions. "When you look at the Indian team that played in the Brisbane Test that had three or four fresh players, and everyone said, 'This is India's second XI' - those guys had played (extensively) for India A," said Chappell. "And in all sorts of different conditions, not just in India. So when they get picked, they're not tyros at all, they're quite hardened international cricketers. We picked Will Pucovski out of Shield cricket. Will has hardly had a game outside Australia. That's the difference," he added. ALSO READ: 'Siraj has overtaken all these guys': MSK Prasad impressed by Indian pacer Chappell further said a draft system could be a way of ensuring young players continue to get regular games. "We can't afford for the bigger states to warehouse kids just because they might need them at some stage. I think that's dangerous. If we were designing a structure from scratch now, we wouldn't design it the way we have got it. I think New South Wales could possibly have a second team," said Chappell. "We need to disperse the talent a little bit more evenly, rather than having good talent sitting on the sidelines in Victoria and New South Wales when they could be playing really well," he added.

Rahul Dravid picked 'Australian brains' to build India's solid domestic structure: Greg Chappell

India's javelin star Neeraj Chopra said Wednesday that the lack of international competition because of coronavirus restrictions has badly hampered preparations for his first Olympic Games.

Chopra, a farmer's son from a village outside of Delhi, became a track and field star after winning the javelin gold at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games in 2018.

Having qualified for the Tokyo Olympics last year, he recorded a personal best of 88.07m in the Indian Grand Prix in March.

But an elbow injury in 2019 and then the pandemic have robbed him of the chance to get closer to the world's best.

"I need to compete in international tournaments," the 23-year-old told a virtual press conference.

"If we cannot take part in competitions then what is the use of training. To rise to the Olympic level, you need international exposure."

Germany's Johannes Vetter leads the current javelin rankings with a personal best of 97.76m.

"I am close to breaching the 90-metre mark and can do it if I get competition," said Chopra.&nbsp;

"The present group of seven or eight javelin throwers across the globe is the best in history with everyone recording over 90m.

"It is my first Olympics, like many others, so your confidence must be high. And we will get this confidence through these events."

Chopra and the rest of India's best athletes missed a recent trip to Turkey for training and competition due to a 14-day quarantine.

Doubts have been expressed about the viability of the Tokyo Games because of a pandemic surge in Asia, but Chopra said athletes have to keep their focus.

"We have to stay positive to prepare for the Olympics amid this negative atmosphere where there is a raging pandemic and so many people are dying," said Chopra, who received a first dose of a vaccine two weeks ago.

"We just have to keep preparing as athletes despite the uncertainty surrounding the Olympics."

India has been hit by a devastating new coronavirus wave in recent weeks, recording over 250,000 deaths as hospitals battle shortages of medical oxygen and beds.

Chopra said he has shut out news broadcasts to focus on his Olympic preparation.

"I have stopped listening to any kind of news on the mobile or TV as everywhere there are stories of Covid positive cases and deaths," he said from his room at the National Institute of Sports in Patiala.

"It plays on the mind, as even while talking to family members the talk is about deaths of distant relatives. So we are trying to stay away from this and maintain our focus."

India's javelin star Neeraj Chopra said Wednesday that the lack of international competition because of coronavirus restrictions has badly hampered preparations for his first Olympic Games.

India's javelin star Neeraj Chopra said Wednesday that the lack of international competition because of coronavirus restrictions has badly hampered preparations for his first Olympic Games. Chopra, a farmer's son from a village outside of Delhi, became a track and field star after winning the javelin gold at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games in 2018. Having qualified for the Tokyo Olympics last year, he recorded a personal best of 88.07m in the Indian Grand Prix in March. But an elbow injury in 2019 and then the pandemic have robbed him of the chance to get closer to the world's best. "I need to compete in international tournaments," the 23-year-old told a virtual press conference. "If we cannot take part in competitions then what is the use of training. To rise to the Olympic level, you need international exposure." Germany's Johannes Vetter leads the current javelin rankings with a personal best of 97.76m. "I am close to breaching the 90-metre mark and can do it if I get competition," said Chopra. "The present group of seven or eight javelin throwers across the globe is the best in history with everyone recording over 90m. "It is my first Olympics, like many others, so your confidence must be high. And we will get this confidence through these events." Chopra and the rest of India's best athletes missed a recent trip to Turkey for training and competition due to a 14-day quarantine. Doubts have been expressed about the viability of the Tokyo Games because of a pandemic surge in Asia, but Chopra said athletes have to keep their focus. "We have to stay positive to prepare for the Olympics amid this negative atmosphere where there is a raging pandemic and so many people are dying," said Chopra, who received a first dose of a vaccine two weeks ago. "We just have to keep preparing as athletes despite the uncertainty surrounding the Olympics." India has been hit by a devastating new coronavirus wave in recent weeks, recording over 250,000 deaths as hospitals battle shortages of medical oxygen and beds. Chopra said he has shut out news broadcasts to focus on his Olympic preparation. "I have stopped listening to any kind of news on the mobile or TV as everywhere there are stories of Covid positive cases and deaths," he said from his room at the National Institute of Sports in Patiala. "It plays on the mind, as even while talking to family members the talk is about deaths of distant relatives. So we are trying to stay away from this and maintain our focus."

India's Neeraj Chopra says virus restrictions hit Olympic hopes

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