Australia's limited overs captain Aaron Finch feels compromises will have to be made for the cricketing world to get back on its feet in the post COVID-19 world, indicating that bilateral series could gain more precedence.
The health crisis has thrown international cricketing calendar haywire, making rescheduling of various bilateral series a major challenge.
"It will get to a point, not just for IPL but for all cricket, there'll be a compromise from a lot of different stakeholders - organisations, countries, players, the ICC - to get cricket back and countries thriving again," Finch was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.
The ICC Board Meeting on Friday could set the tone for coming months, feels Finch.
"I think the ICC are meeting next week to start discussing the FTP (Future Tours Program) again. The next couple of weeks we'll have more idea what that looks like, what compromises will be made for different tournaments and countries.
"Everyone working together to get the best result for ..

Compromises from all stakeholders will be needed for cricket to thrive post COVID-19: Finch

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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Sunday came out in full support for his embattled top aide, Dominic Cummings, over an alleged breach of the country's strict coronavirus lockdown rules, as he confirmed moving the UK on to the next stage of opening up the economy, with schools set to open from June 1.
Addressing the daily Downing Street briefing, Johnson opened by addressing the escalating row around his Chief Strategy Adviser's 260-mile journey from London to his parents' home in Durham in north-east England at the end of March and stressed that his aide had acted responsibly, legally and with integrity, and with the overall aim of stopping the spread of the virus and saving lives.
I can tell you today I have had extensive face to face conversations with Dominic Cummings, I have concluded that in travelling to find the right kind of care at the moment when both he and his wife were about to be incapacitated by coronavirus, and when he had no alternative, I think he followed the 

UK PM backs aide amid lockdown breach row, fixes June 1 to open schools

The number of COVID-19 cases and related fatalities in the US is coming down, US President Donald Trump said on Sunday, even as the country inched closer to the grim milestone of 100,000 deaths from the deadly coronavirus.
The president's tweet comes days after White House coronavirus response coordinator Dr Deborah Birx said that there has been over a 50 per cent decline in new hospitalisations.
Cases, numbers and deaths are going down all over the Country! Trump said, reflecting on the sharp decline in the number of new cases and deaths due to coronavirus.
Trump's tweet came as the number of deaths in the country due to the virus approached a record 100,000 mark.
More than 1.6 million Americans have tested positive for the coronavirus.

Number of COVID-19 cases on decline in US: Trump

The deadly coronavirus was unleashed by China to the rest of the world and there has been a massive cover up by Beijing, US National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien said on Sunday.
President Donald Trump and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have repeatedly said they suspect the novel coronavirus that was first detected in Wuhan was somehow released from a laboratory in China.
"This was a virus that was unleashed by China. There was a coverup that someday they're going to do an HBO show like they did with Chernobyl on this virus," O'Brien told 'Face the Nation' Sunday talk show of the CBS News.
When asked whether he was accusing the Chinese government as a whole or local officials of a coverup, O'Brien said, "We don't know, because they kicked out all reporters and they wouldn't let [the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] investigators come in and they're still stonewalling investigators.
It doesn't matter if it was local officials or the Chinese Communist Party, it was a ...

Coronavirus unleashed by China: Trump's aide

Americans must maintain social distancing and there should not be more than 10 people during public gatherings, the top White House official on coronavirus said on Sunday as the states across the US gradually started to reopen their economies.
Responding to questions, Deborah Brix said that the Trump administration has been working with every county and state and local official, both through the Center of Disease Control and through the governors, to encourage proactive testing.
During this reopening, social gatherings should not be more than 10 people, even if they're outside, because you still need to maintain that social distancing, Dr Brix told ABC News in an interview on a Sunday talk show.
More than 97,000 Americans have died of coronavirus in the last three months and over 1.6 million have tested positive.
As the rate of new cases showed signs of decline, states have now started reopening their economies.
On Friday, Trump issued an order to declare places of worship as ...

Americans must maintain social distancing even after reopening: top US official on coronavirus

Amid the war of words between the US and China over the COVID-19 crisis, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Sunday that the authoritarian nature of China's ruling Communist Party and its desire to have hegemonic influence around the world has become clear as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
President Donald Trump and Pompeo have repeatedly said they suspect the novel coronavirus that was first detected in Wuhan was somehow released from the laboratory.
"The nature of the Chinese Communist Party now, I think, has become clear as a result of this coronavirus. Those of us who have been watching this had been talking about this risk to the world. We know the nature of authoritarian regimes. We know what happens when there's not freedom, when journalists can't speak," Pompeo told Sky News Australia.
"Then we've watched the Chinese Communist Party also expand its desire to have hegemonic influence around the world, whether that's through the Belt and Road Initiative or other ...

Chinese Communist Party's nature becomes clear as result of coronavirus: Pompeo

Georgian tennis star Nikoloz Basilashvili, ranked 27th in the world, was charged on Sunday with physically assaulting his ex-wife, prosecutors said.
A court in the Georgian capital Tbilisi charged Basilashvili with perpetrating "violence against a family member committed in the presence of a minor" before releasing him on bail amounting to $30,000 (27,500 euros), prosecutor Natia Guruli said.
He faces up to three years behind bars if found guilty.  Basilashvili's ex-wife Neka Dorokashvili told the Mtavari TV station on Sunday that he "physically assaulted" her Friday in the presence of their five-year-old son.
Basilashvili denied the charges, his lawyer Irma Chkadua told journalists.
The 28-year-old won his second ATP title at the China Open in 2018 by defeating world number four Juan Martin del Potro in the final, three months after winning the German Open in Hamburg.
He went on to defend the Hamburg title last year.
In May 2019, Basilashvili reached a career high of 16 in the world.

Georgian tennis star Basilashvili charged with assaulting ex-wife

Leipzig seemed to enjoy playing in an empty stadium with no protesters as it routed host Mainz 5-0 to move third in the Bundesliga on Sunday. Germany forward Timo Werner scored a hat trick.
Leipzig has got used to protests from rival fans due to its financial backing from energy drinks manufacturer Red Bull. Players have been regularly whistled at away grounds, and Union Berlin supporters even held a funeral march for soccer before their team's game in Leipzig earlier this season.
But supporters have been banned from Bundesliga games for the rest of the season in a bid to contain the coronavirus pandemic. The league resumed amid strict hygiene measures last weekend.
Werner opened the scoring in the 11th minute, and there were more goals from Yussuf Poulsen and Marcel Sabitzer before the break. Werner grabbed two more in the second half.
Leipzig took advantage of Borussia Mnchengladbach's 3-1 loss at home to Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday as it stayed three points behind second-place ...

No fans and no protesters as Leipzig beats Mainz 5-0

Former Pakistan spinner Saqlain Mushtaq is set to get an important posting at the Pakistan Cricket Board's High Performance Centre in Lahore.
According to a reliable source in the PCB, Saqlain has agreed to take over as the high performance coach for international players.
"Saqlain is set to join the high Performance Centre soon as the PCB has now started the process of revamping the centre in Lahore with the appointment of Nadeem Khan as the Director of High Performance," the source said.
Saqlain, who has previous experience of having been with the England, West Indies and New Zealand teams as spin bowling coach/consultant, had also applied for the position of the Pakistan junior and A team head coach last year but didn't get the job which eventually went to former Test batsman Ejaz Ahmed.
"But recently when the PCB invited applications for different coaching positions Saqlain had applied for the high performance position and has got the job, the source said.
He said another ...

Saqlain set be appointed PCB high performance coach for international players

Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa said on Sunday that Kashmir was a "disputed territory" and any attempt to challenge its status would be responded with full military might.
Gen Bajwa made the remarks during his visit to the Puna Sector of the Line of Control where he spent Eid with troops.
Addressing his troops, Bajwa said that disturbing the strategic stability matrix in South Asia can lead to dire consequences.
"Kashmir is a disputed territory and any attempt to challenge the disputed status including any political-cum-military thought related to aggression will be responded with full national resolve and military might, Bajwa said.
Early this month, India told Pakistan that the entire Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, including the areas of Gilgit and Baltistan, are an integral part of India by virtue of its fully legal and irrevocable accession.
The General said that the Army was fully alive of the threat spectrum and will remain ever ready to perform 

Pak Army chief raises rhetoric on Kashmir; says it's 'disputed territory'

Kim Clijsters is looking forward to returning to the US Open even though the coronavirus pandemic means that since her second comeback from retirement she has spent more time with her family.
"I'm still motivated," the four-time Grand Slam winner told a Belgium newspaper on Sunday.
"I hope we can still play this season. But even if we don't, I intend to keep going," the Belgian tennis star, who turns 37 in June, told Het Laatse Nieuws (HLN).
Clijsters had spells at number one before and after her first retirement, from 2007-2009. She had her daughter in 2008. She won the US Open before that break and the Australian Open and two more US titles when she came back. She retired for a second time after the US Open in 2012. She has since had two sons.
"I always felt I was fulfilled," Clijsters said in an earlier interview with the Tennis Hall of Fame. "After I had our third baby, Blake, I started travelling to tournaments. I did commentary.
"But I still felt more like a player. A little ...

Clijsters determined to press on with comeback

The authorities must not postpone the T20 World Cup in haste since the showpiece event is the best product to highlight cricket once activities resume, Pakistan head coach and chief selector, Misbah-ul-Haq has said.
Misbah said though logistics is a huge challenge due to the prevailing circumstances, the authorities must deliberate enough before arriving at a decision.
"The logistics of hosting 16 teams is not easy but the authorities should give it time and wait for a month or more before taking any decision," Misbah said in an interview to Youtube channel, Cricket Baaz.
"Everyone wants to see the T20 World Cup. It would be the best product to highlight cricket once activities resume internationally," he said.
Misbah also said that their upcoming tour to England will not be easy for either the players, coaches or anyone as circumstances are not ideal for cricket.
"But there is a feeling of depression right now all over the world because of this Covid-19 problem and with sports ...

T20 World Cup should not be postponed in haste: Misbah

Heiko Herrlich enjoyed a perfect first Bundesliga game on the touchline as Augsburg coach on Sunday as his side cruised to a 3-0 win at Schalke, a week after he missed their loss to Wolfsburg after breaking quarantine rules to buy toothpaste.
David Wagner's Schalke continued their slide down the table, falling to eighth after another poor defensive display.
Eduard Loewen, Noah Sarenren Bazee and Sergio Cordova scored as Augsburg moved seven points clear of the relegation play-off place.
This was the ninth away win in the 16 Bundesliga matches since the league resumed behind closed doors last weekend after the coronavirus lockdown.
The 48-year-old Herrlich apologised to his squad after breaking a week-long quarantine by leaving the team hotel -- to buy toothpaste and skin cream -- before the Wolfsburg match last weekend.
With Herrlich back in charge, Augsburg enjoyed their first win in seven league games.
Having been as high as third last December, Schalke are now winless in their last 

Herrlich makes belated touchline debut as Augsburg thump Schalke

President Donald Trump's national security adviser says he thinks leaders of the world's major economies would love to get out of their offices and meet in person and plan the post-COVID world at a summit Trump is considering hosting in the United States in June.
Trump had scheduled the Group of Seven summit for June 10-12 at Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland.
But in March, he announced he was cancelling the annual meeting because of the pandemic and that the leaders would confer by video conference instead.
His national security adviser, Robert O'Brien, tells CBS' Face the Nation that the meeting would be a chance for the leaders to decide how to get their economies reopened and how we can work together to make sure that we all get out of this COVID crisis and bring back health and prosperity to our peoples.
O'Brien says we'd be looking at the end of June at this point.
He says so far we've got a great response from the invitations that have been extended. O'Brien says 

Trump adviser pushes for in-person G7 meeting

China for the first on Sunday admitted that its multi-billion dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has been affected by the coronavirus pandemic, but said that the impact is "temporary and limited".
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that from an overall long term perspective the coronavirus will "strengthen and reenergise" BRI cooperation and open-up new possibilities.
He said the demand for public health expansion in view of the COVID-19 all over the world will give a new impetus to project expansion.
Indeed COVID-19 has affected Belt and Road cooperation to some extent but the impact is temporary and limited," Wang told media here answering a question on the impact of the coronavirus on BRI.
Outlining the progress made by BRI, Wang said over the past seven years China has signed BRI cooperation documents with 138 countries, more than 2,000 projects have been launched and thousands of jobs have been created in partner countries.
During the same period China's trading goods with .

BRI affected by COVID-19, but impact is 'temporary': China

The US on Sunday welcomed the announcements by the Taliban and Afghanistan's president to observe a three-day ceasefire for Eid, expressing hope that it would build trust between the two sides.
Hours before the three-day festival of Eid al-Fitr was due to begin, Taliban made the declaration that they would attack only if their positions were hit, leading President Ashraf Ghani to welcome the move shortly afterwards, and release a statement saying security and defence forces would comply.
We worked hard to achieve this moment, and I hope that this respite from conflict gives Afghan people the space and security they deserve to celebrate Eid, while allowing the Taliban and the government the opportunity to take additional steps toward a peaceful future for their country, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said.
Sending Eid greetings, Pompeo said that the US remains committed to the implementation of the Taliban agreement and the US-Afghanistan Joint Declaration.
The US-Taliban peace deal 

US welcomes three-day ceasefire announcement by Taliban and Afghan govt during Eid

Many business owners are changing the way they make money as they attempt to recoup revenue lost to the coronavirus outbreak.
The changes can look subtle; for example, when owners of clothing stores decide to beef up their internet business.
But often such adjustments involve an entire rethinking of the business model  the blueprint that encompasses the key aspects of running a company  with significant changes to staffing, technology and inventory.
For many companies, it's a matter of survival, but for others, the changes have been a silver lining amidst the crisis.
When Big Bottom Market, a cafe and food shop in Guerneville, California, closed in mid-March, I had to take stock of what we had and think about how we could evolve the business, says co-owner Michael Volpatt.
Volpatt started a daily cooking show on Facebook in hopes of drawing customers to Big Bottom's page on the online marketplace Etsy.
He succeeded: Daily visits jumped 66 per cent and customers stocked up on ...

Forced to adapt, businesses rethink how they make money

The Election Commission of Sri Lanka on Sunday said  a road map to hold Parliamentary Elections was being made in consultation with health authorities.
Sri Lanka in mid-April postponed the parliamentary elections by nearly two months to June 20 due to the coronavirus outbreak that has killed nine people and infected over 1,100 others in the island nation so far.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on March 2 dissolved the Parliament, six months ahead of schedule and called for snap elections on April 25.
"We had continuous meetings with health authorities in the last three months," Election Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya told reporters on Sunday.
Now, there is uncertainty on the revised date to elect the 225-member assembly for its five-year term. The Election Commission has reported to the Supreme Court its inability to hold the polls on June 20.
"Our discussions were on social distancing, washing of hands, sanitising and  all health requirements during the election process," said ..

Sri Lanka election road map under process

Former English Football Association chief executive Mark Palios has warned the cost of the coronavirus to lower-league clubs could be even larger than the 200 million pounds ($244 million, 223 million euros) forecast by officials.
Rick Parry, the chairman of the English Football League, which governs the three divisions below the Premier League, estimated the cost of lockdown earlier this month.
But Palios, the chairman of third-tier Tranmere, believes the financial damage could be worse.
"Whilst you may look at the 'hole' which has been articulated as ?200 million to September -- I think it's bigger than that," Palios told Sky News.
"There is a real financial maelstrom coming towards the league at this point in time.
"I personally believe we haven't seen the worst of it yet, and during the course of the summer you'll see a lot more financial stress on the clubs as we move onwards and continue to pay wages.
"I think what you'll see is a lot of clubs will stumble down the road to ...

Former FA chief exec warns EFL clubs face virus 'insolvency'

Borussia Dortmund is waiting on the fitness of defensive chief Mats Hummels for Tuesday's Bundesliga top-of-the-table showdown at home to leaders Bayern Munich.
The 2014 World Cup winner aggravated his Achilles tendon in Saturday's 2-0 win at Wolfsburg which kept second-placed Dortmund four points behind leaders Bayern, who are chasing an eighth straight league title.
Hummels came off at half-time on Saturday, but Dortmund still hope he can lead the hosts' defence against his former club Bayern.
"Mats has a problem with his Achilles tendon and we hope he can play on Tuesday," said Dortmund sports director Michael Zorc.
"He has had the problem for a while."
Hummels was treated at Dortmund's training ground on Sunday and if he is not fit, Emre Can, who replaced Hummels in Wolfsburg, will deputise against Bayern.
In the Munich squad, there are question marks over midfielder Thiago Alcantara and defender Jerome Boateng.
Alcantara sat out Saturday's 5-2 thrashing of Eintracht Frankfurt in .

Dortmund waiting on defender Hummels for Bayern clash

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Sunday welcomed the announcement by the Taliban and the Afghanistan government of a ceasefire to enable the Afghan people to celebrate Eid al-Fitr in peace, urging all parties concerned to seize this opportunity and embrace an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process.
Hours before the three-day festival of Eid al-Fitr was due to begin, Taliban made the declaration that they would attack only if their positions were hit, leading President Ashraf Ghani to welcome the move shortly afterwards, and release a statement saying security and defence forces would comply.
"The Secretary-General welcomes the announcement by the Government of Afghanistan and the Taliban of a ceasefire to enable the Afghan people to celebrate the Eid al-Fitr holiday in peace," a statement issued by Stephane Dujarric, the Spokesman for the Secretary-General, said.
It added that Guterres urges all parties concerned to seize this opportunity and embrace an Afghan-led and ...

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