Inzamam-ul-Haq, the Pakistan captain, has been fined 10% of his match fees for a slow over-rate during the third ODI against India. The rest of the team was fined 5%.Pakistan bowled one over less in the stipulated time during their loss to India at Lahore. The Indians were pulled up for the same offence after the first game at Peshawar that Pakistan won by seven runs.India lead the five-match series 2-1 going into the fourth ODI at Multan on Thursday.
Ehsan Mani, the president of the International Cricket Council, is disappointed with the confusion surrounding the venues for the forthcoming Pakistan tour of India and hopes that the issue gets resolved in an amicable fashion. With little more than a week remaining until Pakistan arrive in India, the two boards have failed to resolve the issue, as Pakistan are unwilling to play in Ahmedabad due to security reasons.Mani, who is here to conduct regular meetings with the Indian Board, told newspaper: "This is not the right time to decide the schedule for the forthcoming India-Pakistan series. It is being done in the eleventh hour, I may say."The BCCI should have sorted out the TV rights and the tour itinerary a long time ago,” he said. “They could not do so because of some legal matters that were pending in the courts. These legal matters have played spoilsport and delayed the work process of the BCCI."Mani denied the presence of any tussle existing between the two boards. "There is absolutely no difference of opinion," he said. "I am told that the BCCI will be announcing the itinerary in the middle of this month. The Indo-Pak series generates tremendous goodwill and both the nations will once again come together to celebrate this great moment. Even I don’t want to miss it!"Not mentioning his favourites for the series, Mani expects the series to be a thrilling contest between the arch-rivals. "It really doesn’t matter who are the winners at the end of the series but cricket will be the ultimate champion. And when this happens, the ICC gets benefitted."With regards to ICC’s plan to shift the headquarters from London to Dubai, Mani noted: “From ICC’s point of view, it is a big move. But we need some time to resolve this issue. In the next four to five months, we will make it happen.”
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The start of the West Indian domestic season may still be a few days away, but already a row has broken out over the selection of Shivnarine Chanderpaul as Guyana’s captain ahead of Ramnaresh Sarwan, who is currently the Test team’s vice-captain.The Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) reacted angrily to the decision of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), describing it as "unbelievable, ludicrous and autocratic", and called on Chanderpaul to turn down the appointment. "The DCB is of the firm view that the GCB’s decision can only sow the seeds of discord and disunity between these two illustrious national heroes and is definitely not what is desired at this stage of West Indies cricket development," it said in a statement. "Should the GCB, in its usual autocratic style, fail to exercise either option, the DCB is now calling on Chanderpaul to exercise prudent judgment and not allow himself to be used as the GCB’s political football."Warming to the theme, the DCB statement continued: "In the national and regional interest, Chanderpaul should display the courage and moral fibre that has been the hallmark of his brilliant career by declining this appointment as captain. This is a glorious opportunity for him to display the skills, strength and courage of a true and selfless leader."Sarwan captained Demerera to victory in the recent El Dorado inter-county one-day tournament, and the GCB’s subsequent decision has been interpreted by the DCB as a deliberate snub. But Chetram Singh, the GCB president who was also the DCB’s president until two years ago, denied suggestions that Sarwan had been their original choice but that the GCB executive had overturned the decision.
New Zealand has picked players to succeed for the Bangladesh series and they have been advised it would be unwise to under-perform.Announcing the side for the first Test in Hamilton starting on Tuesday, Sir Richard Hadlee, the selection chairman, said it had been five years and 40 Test matches since New Zealand had fielded the same team in successive Tests.That there were no changes was a reward for the third Test performance against Australia in Perth, and for the Australian tour overall, Hadlee said.”We’ve picked the players to succeed and we want them to win convincingly,” he said.Hadlee said the selection of Mathew Sinclair, the one batsman in the side who has struggled for his best touch recently, had not taken much debate at all.He averaged 52 in New Zealand conditions and deserved the chance, Hadlee said.Sinclair had been advised he was under pressure and Hadlee said the side had been picked for the first Test only.As far as the bowlers were concerned Hadlee said they would find the conditions in New Zealand much more suitable than those they had struck in Australia.”In Australian conditions the margin of error is very small. Here there is more in, and off, the track,” he said.It would be up to captain Stephen Fleming and coach Denis Aberhart to decide who would be given the new ball but it was certain that Shane Bond would be at one end with it and it would be between Chris Cairns and Chris Martin who supported him.Whatever else happened, Hadlee said standards set in Australia must be maintained and progress must continue to be made.If Bangladesh was able to play well and put New Zealand under real pressure that would be ideal.On the issue of Lou Vincent opening the batting instead of a specialist, such as Auckland’s Matt Horne, who scored his second century of the summer today against Bangladesh, he said that Horne had made a lot of progress over the last 12 months.He had some personal problems and had to rebuild his career and he offered another choice and option for the selectors.There was more depth in the pace bowling department available to the selectors with 10 or 12 players now vying for positions in the side but there was still no obvious second spinner sorting himself out from the crowd.Aberhart said the intention in Australia had been to be competitive, to learn and to move forward and that would continue against Bangladesh with the players looking to show more confidence as a result of the improvements they had achieved.He said that left-arm fast-medium bowler Shayne O’Connor had an MRI scan last night and New Zealand Cricket’s medical personnel were still assessing the findings but it did not look good for O’Connor in the short term.”They [the medical specialists] were not willing to commit on when he might be playing again,” Aberhart said.Dion Nash was the other player not considered for the side.Of the decision to choose a 12th man so far out from the Test, Hadlee said: “Chris Drum is in excellent form. He bowled well in the final match of the Australian tour taking a five-wicket bag and had a psychological edge over Bangladesh after claiming four for 32 for Auckland yesterday.”We have told Chris that, barring an unexpected injury, he will be 12th man but we know that having him waiting in the wings will keep pressure on the other seamers to perform at the highest levels,” he said.
The one day series between the New Zealand and England is taking theappearance of one of those tales that old cricketers tell: the same story alittle more exaggerated each time. It goes like this. England bat first,fail to make enough of a score, New Zealand knock them off.Given that this pattern was already apparent England’s decision to bat onwinning the toss was a surprise. Their team was unchanged from the defeat atAuckland on Thursday. New Zealand replaced Katrina Keenan with Helen Watson.The first overs of the England innings set the pattern for what followed.The bowling was tight, the batting cautious. Only ten runs came from thefirst nine overs for the loss of Connor, lbw to one that nipped back off theseam from Rachel Pullar. Since being handed the poisoned chalice of theEngland captaincy in mid tour Connor has scored only 24 runs in fourinternationals.The other opener, Claire Taylor, had scored only four by the thirteenth overwhen frustration overcame her. Attempting a cross bat swipe off Ramel, shespooned a catch to Campbell at mid on.Charlotte Edwards timed the ball well until her leg stump was removed by aTiffen delivery that came in from the off when she was on 11. She was notthe last England player to be playing back when the slowness and movement ofthe pitch suggested that she would be better off on the front foot.Nicky Shaw cover drove the first boundary of the innings in the sixteenthover, following it with another straight away, before becoming as becalmedas the rest of the top order. Shaw fell in an unfortunate manner, treadingon her stumps in the process of pulling Emily Drumm.That Drumm (two previous overs in the series) chose to put herself on asearly as the twenty first over showed that with the series already won shewas going to take the chance to experiment. Her leg breaks were sometimeseccentric of line but claimed a second victim when Debbie Hockley took afine catch, turning and diving full length at silly point off the bat andpad of Laura Newton.Kathryn Leng was the only English batsman to try to take the game to the NewZealand bowlers, but those who were more cautious might say that it got herout, as Pullar caught a hard hit drive off her own bowling.Jane Cassar had come in at the fall of the third wicket. With Reynard andHolden out quickly and the score on 78-8 it was up to her to use up theovers and to take England to the outer edges of respectability. She did thiswell, producing the best batting of the innings, placing the ball well tokeep the score moving. Clare Taylor provided excellent support, the pairputting on 38 for the ninth wicket, the best partnership of the innings.Rachel Pullar was the pick of the bowlers, her brisk, testing seam bowlingearning figures of 10-2-15-3. Seven bowlers were used, though any five wouldhave got the job done. Catherine Campbell delivered a miserly eight overs ofoff spin for 12 runs, though none of the English batsmen thought of goingdown the pitch to her.The New Zealand fielding matched the bowling effort, a particularly goodexample being set by Hockley and Campbell, the two (how shall we put it?)most experienced members of the side.Though there was movement off the pitch for both spinners and seamers,especially from the town end, the England total was well below par for thefourth time in a row.The New Zealand batting set about its task with all the aggression andconfidence that England’s had lacked. As with the Australian men chasing asimilarly small total in Auckland yesterday, the approach was at times a bittoo cavalier, and wickets fell.Though England’s bowling was not as consistently accurate as New Zealand’sthere was enough evidence to suggest that if they ever get to bowl first orhave a decent total to play with they will pose a few problems. LucyPearson, the left arm opening bowler, got the ball swinging into the righthander and claimed two victims. Payne was lbw shuffling across while Drummfollowed a ball down legside to be caught behind.Dawn Holden, a slow left armer on her first tour, also impressed, bowlingwith a nice loop and considerable accuracy. She got Pulford stumped, luredinto the charge.With Rebecca Rolls (who had been promoted to open) also gone the Kiwis were53-4 and by no means home and hosed. This brought together Kathryn Ramel andHaidee Tiffen who had each taken two wickets with accurate medium pacebowling earlier. They now put on 63 for the fifth wicket with good shotselection, placement and running. Tiffen looks a fine young cricketer. Witha few more performances like this she can change her first name to Hadlee.Ramel was out just before the end, bowled by Shaw, who had earlier bowled aneleven ball over.New Zealand won by five wickets with sixteen and a half overs to spare.Seeing them for the first time this season, the impression is of acompetent, self-disciplined, well led team who will challenge Australiastrongly for the World Cup on home ground in Christchurch later this year.If England’s sponsors happen to read this, they should rest assured that theEngland team is determined, hard working and with an outwardly good spirit.It is also clear that they are chronically short of confidence, especiallywith bat in hand. Two key players, Collyer and Redfern, should return tostrengthen the side for the World Cup. Hard work is needed in theforthcoming series against South Africa.With New Zealand leading four-nil the final game in the series takes placeunder the lights in Napier on Tuesday.
Pundit Kevin Campbell has been reacting to Tottenham’s reported offer for Barcelona forward Memphis Depay, Football Insider report.
The Lowdown: Depay offer
Spurs are already making preparations for Antonio Conte’s first full season in charge, with attacking reinforcements seemingly high on the Italian’s radar.
Journalist Gerard Romero, via Twitch, revealed earlier this week that Tottenham have made a formal offer for Depay ahead of the summer transfer window.
Foot Mercato have also backed up those claims, suggesting a pre-summer offer has been submitted, with Barcelona now tempted to accept due to the financial situation at the Nou Camp.
[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/tottenham-latest-news-copy/” title=”Tottenham latest developments!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]
The Latest: Campbell’s comments
Campbell, who contributes for Sky Sports, was buzzing at the possibility of Depay moving to north London, describing the Dutch striker as ‘brilliant’ and labelled a possible deal as ‘very good’.
Talking to FI, Campbell said:
“That’d be a very good signing.
“He’s a brilliant player. Obviously, it didn’t quite work out for him before at Man United.
“He’s had a decent spell at Barca but maybe is falling down that pecking order with Aubameyang coming in and with the way Xavi wants to play. He doesn’t really fit.
“Memphis Depay won’t want to come to be an understudy to Kane or Son. He will be coming to play.
“So Conte needs to find a way to fit those three in, and then decide what that means for the likes of Kulusevski and Moura.”
The Verdict: Shrewd move?
Depay has found it hard to get back into Xavi Hernandez’s side since his return from injury, with former Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang appearing to be the main man for the Catalan giants in attack.
However, Depay has been in fine form this season prior to his hamstring and achilles issues, contributing to 12 La Liga goals in 19 games, playing as a centre-forward and on the left, so it could turn out to be a shrewd move by Spurs officials.
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He is still just 28 years of age, and due to Barca’s financial situation, you’d expect a cut-price move could be on the cards, so this seems like one to keep a close eye on over the coming months.
In other news: Tottenham ‘monster’ now eyeing exit as club chiefs already make contact to sign him…find out more here.
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Anil Kumble is confident India can beat Australia in the upcoming series if the batsmen perform the way they did during the previous tour in 2003-04. Kumble, fresh from a 1-0 series win against Pakistan in his first assignment as Test captain, took heart from the manner in which Sri Lanka nearly chased down a target of more than 500 against Australia in the second Test in Hobart last month.”We have the potential to beat Australia because we have the batting line-up to put runs on the board,” he said during the shoot of a special television programme in Bangalore. “And once we have runs on the board, I believe we have the ability to get 20 wickets.”Kumble recently trumped Mahendra Singh Dhoni for the Test captaincy, after Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar had turned down the job. “I thought the chance had passed me by, I thought there was a chance when I was vice-captain in 1996,” said Kumble, adding that he didn’t expect to be made captain even as recently as two months ago. “When I became captain was not in my control [but] I think it has come at the right time.”In front of an audience that included many of his school teachers and college professors, Kumble said being handed the reins of the Test side was a great motivation. The 37-year-old Kumble, whose career spans 17 years and 121 Tests so far, said he had contemplated retirement several times in the past and that Test captaincy was a “shot in the arm” .In a recorded message, Sourav Ganguly – India’s most successful captain – hailed Kumble’s leadership skills. “The first day in Delhi [ahead of the first Test against Pakistan], the team meeting summed up everything. Certain issues were addressed and from that point I knew things were going to turn out well.”In a freewheeling chat, Kumble picked Shane Warne over Muttiah Muralitharan as his favourite spinner, termed his maiden Test century (at The Oval against England in June this year) as one of his career highlights, and mentioned that, post-retirement, he would prefer coaching in Bangalore to touring as part of the media.
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David Morgan, the chairman of the ECB, has leant his backing to England’s beleaguered coach, Duncan Fletcher, by insisting – as David Graveney, the chairman of selectors did yesterday – that his job is not under immediate threat despite the wave of defeats that the team is currently being subjected to in Australia.Fletcher’s one-day record against the top eight Test-playing nations is poor but, with the World Cup in the West Indies looming, Morgan is aware that a change of personnel in the short-term could be even more destabilising for the team. “What we decided to do is not have any final decisions about what his [Fletcher’s] aspirations are until the end of this tour,” Morgan told BBC Radio Five Live. “I don’t anticipate him going. That is my assessment of the position.”Graveney, meanwhile is convinced Fletcher retains the full confidence of the ailing England dressing-room, and insists the players are desperate to claim a much-needed victory over New Zealand on Tuesday to ease the pressure on their coach. He told the BBC: “Duncan is hurting the same as everyone else – and when I say everyone else I mean the players, the management and every England cricket fan.”He is trying to do the job on a day-to-day basis with the same intensity and I am sure the players know if there is one thing they want to do on Tuesday it is to win for Duncan Fletcher. [He] is still the England coach and he retains the support of everyone close to the team and the team in particular. Our main objective is to start winning some games on this tour.”Rather than using Fletcher as a convenient scapegoat for an Ashes tour rated by many experts as the worst in England cricket history, Graveney insists the players must shoulder much of the blame for the sorry displays.”They have to assess their performances each day by looking at themselves and saying, ‘have I done everything I possibly can for this team?’ The two performances in Adelaide were way off the standards we expect from this national team.”I don’t want to make excuses because I don’t think that is particularly appropriate at this stage.”Michael Vaughan has also come out in support of Fletcher, but the debate rages on about who would the favourite to replace him as coach.
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The convenor of South Africa’s selectors, Haroon Lorgat, has warned the country’s top order that their performances in Australia have not been up to scratch. Lorgat’s comments follow their 94-run defeat against Sri Lanka, at Brisbane, which came two days after they beat Australia.The South African batting has not been helped by the withdrawal of Jacques Kallis, who has been replaced by Johan van de Wath, but Lorgat told that this is no excuse and other players should take responsibility.”van der Wath is a like-for-like replacement for Kallis, although he is obviously not in the same class as a specialist batsman,” Lorgat admitted. “But we still have plenty of senior batsmen available and, quite frankly, it is high time that they started pulling their weight.”Jacques Rudolph played well against Sri Lanka, but it is high time that [Graeme] Smith, [Herschelle] Gibbs and [Ashwell] Prince start making the sort of scores we expect from them.”I don’t think there is anything wrong with the personnel we have in Australia, but there is definitely something missing, and the team must sort themselves out quickly. What happened [at the Gabba] was simply not acceptable.”Smith’s form has been a concern throughout the tour. In the Tests, Twenty20 and one-day internationals he has failed to reach fifty in nine innings, with a top score of 39. However, for the head of the national selection panel to be making comments such as this mid-way through a tour is hardly going to inspire confidence among the players.
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Mark Butcher believes that the resumption of his Test career may be out of his hands, as he attempts to battle back from the wrist injury that kept him out of the 196-run defeat against South Africa at Newlands last week.Butcher, who has been wearing a cast over his sprained wrist, has received two cortisone injections and hopes to be fit to take part in Monday’s nets practice at the Wanderers. But even so, he may be unable to dislodge his replacement, Robert Key, who made a decent 41 in the second innings at Newlands in his first first-class appearance since September.Key had been Butcher’s stand-in throughout the 4-0 home series victory over West Indies, after he succumbed to a succession of untimely injuries, including whiplash from a car crash and a thigh injury while moving boxes at his new home in South London. And though Butcher resumed his No. 3 position at the start of the South Africa tour, he has been unable to make a concrete case for his reinstatement for a second time.His first Test innings of the tour was a gritty 79, but that was followed by three consecutive failures in the second innings at Port Elizabeth and at Durban. “I travelled out here not knowing whether I was going to be in the starting line-up,” said Butcher. “So to get that vote of confidence before the first Test was a huge boost, and I was determined not to let anybody down.”I might get down to the nets on Monday and not be able to bat properly,”Butcher conceded, “in which case there is no decision to be made. But I amcertainly hoping that Michael [Vaughan] and Duncan [Fletcher] are having to choose between one of us again. Obviously this injury has come at a bad time. I hate sitting out missing Test matches.”For Key, however, the prospect of another opportunity will be seen as justreward for his uncomplaining approach to the tour. He top-scored with 87 in the tour opener against Nicky Oppenheimer’s XI, but immediately conceded that his name was not in the frame for the Tests. “It wasn’t his decision, but I meant to talk to him at some point,” said Butcher. “But the time never seemed to be right. ‘What am I going to say? Thanks mate?'”That’s the way it is with teams,” he added. “Sometimes you have to accept your misfortune is going to benefit other people, and you cannot begrudge anybody that. My friends were texting me, hoping he would get out for nought and stuff like that! But I like him; he’s a good lad. I think he’s a good player, and I hope he scores runs as much as I hope any of the other batters score runs.”For England, the next two Tests are going to be a huge test of their mettle. They came within a whisker of going 2-0 up in Durban, only to be pulled back to 1-1 at Cape Town, and Butcher conceded that South Africa’s fightback was no flash in the pan. “They are starting to put their side together in the way it probably should have been from the start,” he said. “We never estimated they were going to be easy to beat anyway.”They have guys in their team who average 60 with the bat, and Shaun Pollock averages 22 with the ball – so it was never going to be easy. If we play to the potential we have shown, with all things firing as we would like, we are a better side than they are – but they are at home, they are a decent team and they played well in this last Test. We just can’t afford to slip up again.”