NBA restart likely to provide TV audience new sights, sounds
Washington: During a normal NBA season, the sights and sounds of arenas serve as both a showy backdrop and home court advantage for its teams. But with no fans allowed in the stands for the upcoming restart because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the league’s Orlando-area bubble restart will have a decidedly different feel for both players and coaches, as well as the television audience watching from afar. The NBA has promised to do its best to bring some of the familiar noises and environment that players are used to playing in and fans have grown accustomed to seeing when the curtain officially drops on Thursday night. Count former NBA coach Stan Van Gundy, who will serve as an analyst for one of TNT’s broadcasts on opening night, among those curious to see how players will be affected by the atypical setup and what kind of previously inaudible insights on the court could be available to fans peering in remotely. “I think the idea is right, because with no noise, it’s almost eerie,” Van Gundy said. (AP)
LPL to kick off on August 28
Colombo: The inaugural Lanka Premier League T20 tournament will kick off on August 28, the Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC) said.The board gave its approval to the tournament during its executive committee meeting on Monday. Five teams will compete for the title over 23 games. “Sri Lanka Cricket Executive Committee at the meeting held today (27th July) granted approval to conduct the inaugural Lanka Premier League T20 Tournament from 28th August to 20th September 2020,” SLC said in a statement. The tournament will be played on the “four international venues of R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, Rangiri Dambulu International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele International Cricket Stadium and Suriyawewa Mahinda Rajapakse International Cricket Stadium.” “5 Teams named after the cities of Colombo, Kandy, Galle, Dambulla and Jaffna will participate in the League.” The Board said that “over 70 International players and 10 top notch coaches have already confirmed their availability for the tournament along with leading Sri Lankan national players.” In the tournament, each franchise will be allowed to pick a maximum of six foreign players in the squad with only four in the final eleven. The Board will come out with a schedule for the tournament later. (PTI)