Page 48 - The Indian EYE 052821

SPORTS MAY 28, 2021 | The Indian Eye 48

and ready to play three Test 2023
matches.” The Asian Cricket Council
“They are in quick succes- (ACC) on Sunday confirmed
sion but we have had a chance that the Asia Cup 2021 has been
to prepare physically leading postponed as “no practical win-
into this with some strength and dow” was available to stage the
conditioning stuff. Now, it’s just tournament this year in face of
getting our loads to a point over the risks posed by COVID-19.
the coming weeks so that we “The ACC Executive Board,
can rock on to those three Test in face of the risks and restric-
matches,” he added. tions posed by the COVID-19
The New Zealand players pandemic, had made the diffi-
will lock horns in an intrasquad cult decision to postpone the
three-day practice match in Asia Cup 2020 to 2021,” the
Southampton, where the WTC ACC said in a statement. “Since
final will be played between the then, the ACC has been working
Kiwis and India later in June. with its participants and stake-
India has good quick bowl- New Zealand is a strong side to beat for any team in the world holders to try and ensure that
ers: Ian Chappell the event is held in the year.”
Former Australia skipper “However, on account of a
Ian Chappell believes that the packed FTP, it has been con-
life of a modern cricketer is be- cluded that there is no practical
coming harder and harder with window in the year when all the
the creation of bio-bubbles due teams would be available to par-
to the Covid-19 pandemic. He ticipate. The Board has accord-
also cited the India-Australia ingly considered the matter very
Test series on how the hosts’ carefully and determined that
got wore out in the bowling the only way ahead would be to
department while India some- postpone the event,” the state-
how managed to stay fresh even ment further read.
when they were being ham- ACC said it would only be
pered by injuries. “The modern feasible for this edition of the
cricketer is substantially better tournament to be held in 2023
rewarded than players of the as there is already an Asia Cup
previous century. However, like in 2022 and dates for the same
with all such things in life, there will be confirmed in due course.
is a downside involved. This Pakistan is likely to host the
comes in the form of the numer- 2022 edition of the tournament,
ous adjustments to be made be- with Sri Lanka hosting in 2023,
cause of the extra formats that ESPNcricinfo reported.
are now played and the resul- Earlier, Pakistan Cricket
tant crowding of the schedule,” Jasprit Bumrah is the spearhead of the Indian pace attack Board (PCB) chairman Ehsan
Chappell wrote in his column Mani had confirmed that the
for ESPNcricinfo. Chappell said: “The Covid-rav- The former Australia skip- Asia Cup slated to be held in
“This was highlighted in aged world has meant cricket- per also wondered whether June this year was likely to be
the last Australia-India series, ers spend extended periods in retired players would want to postponed if India managed
where the home side used the bubbles, which challenges their earn same rewards as the cur- to qualify for the finals of the
same fast-bowling trio in all four skills and their mental health. It rent crop of cricketers does or World Test Championship.
Tests. As the Australian pace has also resulted in scheduling whether it is now the current “Asia Cup was set to go last
bowlers wore down in the final that has Test matches crammed players missing being part of a year but it got postponed to this
stages of the series, their Indian together, which is physically and different era. year. Right now, it looks like the
counterparts may have caught a mentally demanding, especially “It would be interesting to Asia Cup won’t be going ahead
break as injuries meant they had for the fast bowlers.” discover if retired cricketers en- this year as the WTC finals are
to constantly change personnel. “Modern fast bowlers do a vied the rewards paid their mod- set to go ahead in June. Sri
India is one of the few teams who lot of varied training in order to ern counterparts or whether Lanka had said that they would
have enough skilled quick bowl- prepare for the demands of con- current players would swap to- try to host the tournament in
ers in reserve to meet the chal- stant cricket, but still the injuries day’s whirling merry-go-round June,” Mani had told reporters
lenges of the schedule and still continue to pile up. Fast bowlers for the casual approach of the in Karachi during a press con-
remain competitive,” he added. in the past concentrated more past. I suspect most internation- ference. There has not been an
Talking about the effect on running and bowling a lot in al cricketers are just happy to Asia Cup after 2018. India had
Covid-19 has had on play- the nets to gain their match fit- have played,” said Chappell. won the last two editions of the
ers and international cricket, ness,” he added. Asia Cup 2021 is put off till tournament.

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