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If Covid 19 Can Happen To Mi Camp Nothing Is Safe Anywhere Else Franchises Officials

If COVID-19 can happen to MI camp, nothing is safe anywhere else: Franchises' officials

The positive cases of COVID-19 in the country and within the IPL franchises have created an atmosphere of tension and stress. After RCB, KKR and Delhi Capitals, the Mumbai Indians too have been affected. MI’s scout and wicket-keeping consultant Kiran More had tested positive for the disease earlier.

Talking to Times of India, officials from other franchises have admitted that this is a cause of concern.

“If this can happen to the Mumbai Indians’ camp, then nothing is safe anywhere else. They are always doubly prepared in circumstances like these. Their bio-bubble began on March 1 in Mumbai and ever since, they have been travelling inside it. Like they did in the UAE, they once again booked the entire wing of a five-star resort in Chennai this season too. If they’re worried right now trying to figure out how Kiran got infected, others are all the more worried,” representatives of two other franchises told TOI.

The IPL 2021 is scheduled to begin from April 9 when RCB take on defending champions Mumbai Indians in the opening clash in Chennai. Earlier, RCB’s Devdutt Padikkal joined the camp after testing negative for COVID-19. He tested positive on March 22 and had been quarantining at home since.

Apart from Padikkal, bowling all-rounder Daniel Sams has tested positive. The left-arm pacer had tested negative first when he arrived on April 3 at the team hotel but his second test has come out to be positive, according to an official statement from the franchise.

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SA vs PAK: Fakhar Zaman brings up consecutive century to propel Pakistan in series decider

After a heroic century in the second ODI of the series against South Africa, Fakhar Zaman did not waste his good form one bit and brought another century in the series decider. He batted with supreme control and hit three sixes and nine fours on his way to 101 from 104 balls. He first stitched a 112-run partnership with his opening partner Imam-ul-Haq and then followed it up with another 94-run of batting together with his skipper Babar Azam. His century and able support from Azam and Imam along with a batting blitz from Hassan Ali propelled Pakistan to a huge total of 320 runs in an all-important series finale. Also, his innings of 193 runs in the last game against the same opponent helped him jump seven places on the ICC Rankings for Batsmen in ODIs. He now has secured his place at 12th spot on the list that has many champion batsmen of the format such as his skipper Babar Azam and Virat Kohli. His form has been recognised by the team management and upon their request, the national selection committee of Pakistan have added him to the T20I squads for the series against South Africa and Zimbabwe that will follow the ongoing ODI series.

IPL 2021: Mumbai Indians favourite to make a hat-trick of titles feels Michael Vaughan

With the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League set to kick off in less than two days, former England skipper Michael Vaughan has picked the strongest contender to win the tournament. He feels that Mumbai Indians will make a hat-trick of titles and if they falter at any stage then Sunrisers Hyderabad have a good chance to win the trophy for the second time. Taking to his Twitter handle, Vaughan wrote, Early #IPL2021 prediction ... @mipaltan will win it ... if by some bizarre loss of form then @SunRisers will win it ... #OnOn #India. The 14th edition of the extravaganza kicks off on 9th April with a high octane clash between the Mumbai Indians and the Royal Challengers Bangalore. Mumbai Indians looks one of the strongest teams on paper and the other seven teams will have their task cut out against the mighty MI. The Blue brigade has won both the last two editions and during the previous season in UAE, they were by the far the most superior team in the competition and remained at the top of the ladder for the majority of the tournament. Rohit Sharma has been an incredible captain for them and given the players at his arsenal, the job hasn’t been that difficult for the Hitman. On the other hand, Sunrisers Hyderabad won the title back in 2016 and also have a formidable team to boast of. An able captain in David Warner and some exceptional all-around players, SRH will also back themselves to go a long way in the upcoming tournament.

Year after anti - China clamour, Virat Kohli to bat for Vivo as brand returns to IPL sponsorship

Ahead of the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League where it will return as the official sponsor after an unceremonious departure last year, the smartphone brand Vivo has appointed Virat Kohli as its brand ambassador. Kohli, who will be leading the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the upcoming edition of the league has been roped in to propagate awareness and promotion launch of Vivo's upcoming product. Notably, Vivo had withdrawn its name from the sponsorship of the IPL last year in the wake of rising anti-China sentiments in the country following a deadly clash between the armies of two nations resulting in 20 casualties in India. After Vivo’s pullout from the league, the Board of Control for Cricket India (BCCI) had to accept sponsorship worth well below the price Vivo was offering. Fantasy sports company Dream 11 sealed the deal with the BCCI for one edition and before the auction of the 14the edition, BCCI made it clear that Vivo will be returning as the principal sponsor of the cash-rich league. The move is likely to enrage Virat Kohli and Indian cricket fans as India and China—the country of Vivo’s origin are still at loggerheads at the border. However, the return of Vivo as the sponsor of the league and Kohli singing up for the smartphone company serves as a crucial reminder that the profits the game earns for the players and the boards involved overweigh every other aspect in the longer run.

Semi-final between India-Pakistan in 2011 was a final in itself: Simon Taufel

Umpire Simon Taufel has said that the semi-final between India and Pakistan in the World Cup 2011 in Mohali was like a final in itself. "The semi-final in Mohali was certainly a wonderful occasion and in a lot of ways, it was a final in itself. It seemed like the whole world was watching us, it seemed like the whole world had their private jets parked at Chandigarh Airport," Taufel told ICC. This was the fifth occasion when India and Pakistan were locking horns with each other in a ODI World Cup. They later played against each other in 2015 and 2019 editions as well. India have a 100% win record against Pakistan in the World Cups. The MS Dhoni-led side defeated Pakistan in the semi-final and marched into the title clash to face Sri Lanka in Mumbai. The hosts beat the Lankan Lions to win the World Cup after 28 years. India had batted first against Pakistan in the semis and managed to score 260/9 in 50 overs. Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar top-scored for the team with 85 while Suresh Raina chipped in with 36 in the later part of the innings. For Pakistan, it was Wahab Riaz who was the pick of the bowlers as he scalped a fifer during the course. The home side later bundled out Pakistan for 231 to win the match by 29 runs. This was the third instance when India had made a place for themselves in the final of a ODI World Cup. They did it in 1983 and went on to win the tournament after beating West Indies under the captaincy of Kapil Dev. The second time India registered a place in a World Cup final was in 2003 under the leadership of Sourav Ganguly. The Men in Blue though suffered a defeat in the final against Australia.