BERN: Professional athletes could be particularly vulnerable to falling seriously ill with the new coronavirus, the head of a global union representing them said on Thursday.
Brendan Schwab, the executive director of the World Players' Association, added that some players were being asked to sign away rights that would normally give them legal and financial protection should they fall ill.
"We have seen some research that athletes may be particularly vulnerable to serious symptoms," said Schwab, whose union represents around 85,000 athletes, including many who play in the NBA, MLB, NHL, NFL, rugby, European soccer and Australian Rules football.
"The virus may get deep into the lungs, it is a virus that can cause severe damage not only to the lungs but other organs and athletes need to be at a very high level of health and fitness in order to be able to preserve their careers."
KARACHI: A cricket museum based in India has bought a bat auctioned by Pakistan Test captain Azhar Ali to raise funds for the needy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Azhar had put two of his precious belongings -- the bat he used to score 302 runs against the West Indies in a Test in 2016 and the jersey he wore during the 2017 Champions Trophy final win over India -- on an online auction to raise funds for the people affected by the deadly disease.
Both the bat and jersey were signed by members of the Pakistan team.
Azhar announced on social media that he had kept a base price of one million each for the bat and jersey and they had sold for 2.2 million.
ROME: The fate of the Serie A championship remained in limbo on Thursday after state scientists met with football bosses in a desperate effort to save the coronavirus-interrupted season threatened by a new wave of positive tests among players.
The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) huddled with the government's technical scientific committee to discuss details of the medical protocol for a potential return to group training.
The talks came with pressure mounting from sports-deprived fans and sponsors for Italy to follow the German Bundesliga's lead and return to action.
KARACHI: Pakistan head coach and chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq said being confined to home due to the coronavirus-forced lockdown can become depressing and wants some cricket activities to resume soon even if the matches have to take place behind closed doors with proper safety barriers.
There are reports that the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) was contemplating rescheduling and organising the three Test matches against Pakistan in August behind closed doors at Manchester Old Trafford and Southampton.
Misbah said he would love to see some cricket activities resume at the international level and has no problems in playing in empty stadiums.
Jaspreet Sahni| TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Updated: May 8, 2020, 08:09 IST
NEW DELHI: Varun Aaron burst onto the scene as a tearaway pacer, who could consistently clock speeds in the high 140 kmph plus range. But ever since his international debut during England's tour of India, after the 2011 World Cup, he broke down time and again, which proved to be a 'speed-breaker' for him in every sense. But fit as a fiddle now, chasing his India comeback, Aaron is confident about knowing his body better. The only problem is there's no cricket happening at the moment.
"It's something none of us have control over," said Aaron about the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic, talking to Timesofindia.com in a video interview.
"It's quite an uncanny situation to be in because we were all at the (Rajasthan Royals) camp, with almost a month and a half to go (for the IPL), getting ready, sharpening our skills but we are now all sitting at home. All that we can do is train, eat, sleep and then repeat that again. The intensities are very varied as to what we were supposed to be doing now," said the 30-year-old right-arm pacer.
The IPL was scheduled to begin March 29, but now stands postponed until further notice.