16-04-2021 The Asian Independent

www.theasianindependent.co.uk
ASIA
16-04-2021 to 30-04-2021
3
Kumbh Mela might culminate
early amid Covid-19 surge
New Delhi : The Niranjan Akhada
has announced curtailing the ongoing
Kumbh Mela on April 17, almost two
weeks ahead of schedule, after several
senior BJP leaders in Uttarakhand held
discussion with the Akhadas to convince
them to end it amid surge in
Covid-19 cases and concerns of violation
of Covid protocols, a senior party
leader said.
However, the BJP-ruled state government
has already announced that
Kumbh Mela will go on as per schedule.
The Kumbh Mela started on April
1 and was scheduled to end on April
30.
"Senior BJP leaders met 13
Akhadas with a request to
take a decision to wind up
the mela seeing the
severe situation of Covid.
After the discussion,
Akhadas have agreed to
our request.
"After the Niranjani
Akhada, most of the
Akhadas have responded
positively to our request
and in the next couple of
days, they will make the
announcement," the senior
party leader from the
hill state said. The state
government is also holding consultationw
to take a final call on the continuation
of Mela.
"Currently, the state is not in favour
of curtailing the Kumbh Mela but seeing
the sudden surge of Covid cases, a
discussion has started to review the
decision. Discussions with the religious
channels has also been initiated,"
another senior BJP leader said.
Several devotees including saints
from different Akhadas have tested
Covid positive in Haridwar. Lakh of
devotees participated in the last two
'Shahi Snans' violating Covid protocols
by not wearing masks or maintaining
social distancing.
Victory makes Dhoni's 200th
match for CSK special
Mumbai : MS Dhoni's 200th match for Chennai Super Kings
(CSK) turned out to be special as his team put in a commanding
performance to thump Punjab Kings by six wickets on Friday
night at the Wankhede Stadium.
"[It] Makes me feel very good. It has been a very long journey.
It started in 2008 -- played in South Africa, UAE, and back
home. Never thought Mumbai would be our home," said Dhoni
after leading his team to their first win of the 2021 season.
Dhoni has led CSK to three IPL title (2010, 2011 and 2018).
The game against the Punjab franchise on Friday was the former
India captain's 176th match for CSK in the Indian Premier
League (IPL). He has also played 24 matches for CSK in the
now-defunct Champions League T20 tournament.
Dhoni also played 30 IPL matches for Pune Supergiant during
2016 and 2017 when the CSK franchise was banned following
the spot-fixing scandal.
Dhoni, who has 4632 runs in IPL, has scored 4058 runs for
CSK. He is eighth in the list of run-getters in IPL and is the most
successful wicket-keeper in the league with 148 dismissals.
While his team had a disappointing outing the last time, finishing
seventh in the table, he is hoping to lead the team to the
play-offs this time. He is the most successful captain in IPL history,
captaining his teams (CSK and Rising Pune Supergiant) to
111 wins.
Football
Olympian Ahmed
Hussain no more
New Delhi : Football Olympian Ahmed Hussain, who
was a member of the India team which finished fourth at the
1956 Melbourne Olympics, died on Friday. He was 89.
Ahmed Hussain made his debut against Bulgaria on
December 7, 1956 and went on to make 11 appearances for
India. He was also part of the India team, which finished
fourth at the 1958 Asian Games in Tokyo.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) president,
Praful Patel, in his condolence message said, "It is sad to
hear that Mr. Ahmed Hussain is no more. I share the grief."
AIFF general secretary, Kushal Das said, "Mr. Ahmed
Hussain was a very talented defender who played with
repute at the international and domestic level. My condolences
to his family."
On the domestic front, Hussain represented both
Hyderabad and Bengal in the Santosh Trophy, and won it on
four occasions.
He also played for Mohammedan Sporting and created
history when his side became the first Indian team to win the
Aga Khan Gold Cup in Dhaka in 1960. Hussain also won
the Rovers Cup with Mohammedan Sporting in 1959.
DRS is not there to
take a chance : Dhoni
Mumbai : Chennai Super
Kings skipper MS Dhoni offered a
brief lesson on how to use
Decision Review System (DRS)
that might come in handy for those
struggling to use it well like the
current Indian team. Dhoni, who
has been known to be spot on with
DRS, opted to not take a review
against Punjab Kings batsman
Shahrukh Khan after he was hit on
the pads by a Deepak Chahar
delivery on the very first ball he
faced. The umpire had ruled him
not out and it seemed from the
replays that Dhoni's decision to not
take a review was right.
"I thought that [lbw call] was
high. So told him (Chahar) 'no we
are not reviewing'. I have always
felt DRS is there to take the
howlers away and not just to take a
chance. You only take a chance if
it's the last over of the game or it's
someone very important," said
Dhoni after the match while
explaining how he has approached
DRS. Dhoni, however, praised
Chahar for his effort that saw the
pace bowler take four early wickets
to peg the Punjab franchise
back. The right-arm pacer returned
with figures of four wickets for 13
runs in four overs. Despite being a
good death overs bowler, Chahar
bowled all his four overs early
without a break.
"Chahar is somebody who has
developed as a death overs bowler
too. If I'm looking to attack and
there is movement I try to bowl
him out because he gets more out
of the pitch. As a bowling unit we
have more resources. I was looking
to attack, so bowled his four
overs and it helps in becoming fit
because to bowl 4 successive overs
you need to be fit," added Dhoni.