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Israel bans Gaza, West Bank footballers from playing in Palestinian Cup

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Ramallah (Palestine): The Palestinian Football Association (PFA) postponed the Palestinian Football Cup final after Israel banned West Bank footballers from playing in Gaza.

The PFA said in a statement on Sunday that the match was scheduled to be played between West Bank city Hebron Sports and the Gaza-based al-Shuja’eya in Gaza, as per reports.

“The association decided to annul the match after the Israeli authorities banned the football players in Hebron to cross from the West Bank to Gaza through Israel,” said the statement.

The PFA statement also said that the Israeli authorities also refused to let the football team of the Gaza-based al-Shuja’eya sports club to cross from Gaza to West Bank through Israel to play the final.

“The PFA has immediately addressed urgent letters of protest to the international football federation (FIFA) and its executive board as well as to the European Union and as well as the Arab and Asian football unions,” it said.

The statement added that the Israeli measures and practices on the ground urge the sports international community to bear its responsibility and help the Palestinian sports persons to get their legitimate rights. The statement reiterated that PFA will follow up the case of banning the two teams from travelling “to unveil the haphazard measures against Palestinian sports”.

The teams were scheduled to play two matches; a first and second leg to decide the winner of the Palestinian Cup. It is the first time in so many years that the PFA launches a race on the Palestinian Football Cup between Gaza and West Bank teams.

The Palestinians are complaining that Israel is imposing restrictions on their free movement, mainly sports men and footballers. Israel always says it bans the free movement of the Palestinians for security reasons.

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Sunil Gavaskar gives his opinion of GT allrounder Rahul Tewatia

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The left-handed batsman from Haryana is garnering praise from all quarters for the way he’s finishing games regularly in the most exciting IPL season.

Gavaskar reckons Tewatia’s whirlwind knock in Sharjah (in IPL 2020) where he smashed West Indies pacer Sheldon Cottrell for five sixes in an over, gave him the confidence that he belongs to the big stage.

Speaking on Cricket Live on Star Sports, Gavaskar said, “That assault on Sheldon Cottrell in Sharjah gave him the belief to do the impossible and the confidence that he belongs here. We saw the impossible (he did with the bat) the other day as well. There’s no twitching or touching the pads (which shows a batter’s nervousness) when he bats in the death overs. He just waits for the ball to be delivered and plays his shots. He’s got all the shots in the book, but most importantly his temperament to stay cool in a crisis is brilliant.”

Gavaskar has also nicknamed the 28-year-old cricketer the ‘ice-man’ and lauded Tewatia’s ability to remain unruffled during the tense moments.

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