All posts by h716a5.icu

A BCCI umpire doing liaison work for the ICC during the World Cup has been removed from duty following revelations of unprofessional conduct

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Mar-2011Devendra Sharma, a BCCI umpire involved in liaison work for the ICC during the World Cup, has been removed from duty following revelations of unprofessional conduct unearthed by a TV sting operation. Sharma was caught by , an Indian television channel, allegedly supplying information about the pitch and conditions before a game, which is a violation of the ICC’s code of conduct.In a statement sent to the press detailing the sting operation, claimed that Sharma “revealed some vital information about the condition of the pitch” a day before the March 6 game between Canada and Kenya. “He said that it’s a good batting track and it is going to be a high scoring game,” the statement said. “The team after winning the toss will opt for batting first.”Clause 2.3.2 of the code of conduct states that it is a misuse of inside information to disclose it “to any person (with or without reward) before or during any international match or ICC event where the player or player support personnel might reasonably be expected to know that disclosure of such information in such circumstances could be used in relation to betting.”In that game, Kenya won the toss and chose to bat first, with Canada captain Ashish Bagai saying he too would have chosen to bat first. Kenya wound up being bowled out for 198, a total Canada chased down with more than four overs to spare. also claimed to have recorded five BCCI umpires, and a former umpire, who were allegedly willing to violate professional rules and ethics by agreeing to participate in a corporate tournament that was not sanctioned by the BCCI or any of the state associations. The umpires apparently also agreed to favour certain players with their decisions.”Reporters tell the umpires that in the tournament some players could get promotions and bonus in their company if they performed well in this tournament,” the channel said. “For this the players also depended on ‘favours’ from the umpires. All six agree that they will be lenient on decisions like LBW and caught behind. They also inform our undercover reporters that a list of players to be favoured should be given to them before matches.”

Stuart Law has said he is confident Sri Lanka can reach 450 and put themselves in position to win the third and final test against India

Sa'adi Thawfeeq at the P Sara Oval03-Aug-2010Sri Lanka assistant coach Stuart Law has said he is confident his team can reach 450 and put themselves in a good position to win the third and final test against India.”If you look at the averages and what has happened in the past, 350-400 is a pretty good score,” Law said. “If we try and bat as long as we can tomorrow, the way we play, who knows, 450 might be. The closer we get 500; it sets up for a good victory.”This pitch looks like a more even contest between bat and ball. If you bat well, you score runs, if you bowl well, we have already seen balls flying past the edge to both seamers and spinners. So for me, it’s going to be a more of a test for the skills of the batsmen.”Law was disappointed that Sri Lanka gifted the wickets of Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara, but otherwise he was happy with his side’s performance.”Sanga still fells hurt for getting out the way he did. He’s in superb touch at the moment. He was destined for another hundred or so it seemed today, till he got out for 75. That happens. The guy has scored a hundred in the first Test, 200 and 40 odd not out in the second Test and 75 today. You can probably excuse him, a lapse of concentration if you like.”Dilshan was unfortunate. He’s that sort of cricketer who wants to keep the game moving forward always. He thought there was a single that wasn’t there. You can also count Mahela [Jayawardene] unlucky as well for being adjudged lbw,” Law said.”Our guys are playing well. We are a good team and we are tough to beat in Sri Lanka. Once the confidence was high since winning the first Test, our batsmen have revelled in these conditions. With our spin attack, coming towards the end of the Test match in the fourth innings bowling on it, we know they are going to get lot of assistance.”

New South Wales will look to the West Indies and New Zealand for an overseas player after Sri Lanka blocked Tillakaratne Dilshan from playing in the Big Bash

Peter English25-Jun-2010New South Wales will look to the West Indies and New Zealand for an overseas player after Sri Lanka blocked Tillakaratne Dilshan from playing in the 2010-11 Big Bash. Dilshan, the explosive opener, signed with the Blues in March but his country wants him to avoid any unnecessary setbacks before next year’s World Cup.The move is a blow to the Blues and a spokesman said they had already started searching for a replacement after learning of the development over the past week. Nishantha Ranatunga, the Sri Lanka Cricket secretary, said their contract holders would not be able to play in overseas domestic leagues before the World Cup in February.”The board has taken the position in consultation with the selectors and coaching staff,” Ranatunga told Cricinfo. “The players will be focusing on the World Cup in 2011 and the decision has been made not to release any of them for any domestic tournament.”Dilshan was Northern Districts’ overseas signing last season in New Zealand’s domestic Twenty20 competition before planning his switch to Australia. He has scored at a strike-rate of 120.50 in 31 Twenty20 internationals, but New South Wales will still have a powerful top order including the locals David Warner, Phillip Hughes and Phil Jaques.While the Blues won the inaugural Champions League Twenty20 in India, they failed to qualify for the 2010 event after finishing second last in the Big Bash. West Indians have been in high demand with the states, who are allowed to bring in two overseas stars each.Chris Gayle and Kemar Roach have been contracted by Western Australia and Dwayne Bravo (Victoria) and Kieron Pollard (South Australia) will also take part. Securing the best New Zealanders could also be difficult as their internationals are involved in local campaigns in January.Brendon McCullum, Ross Taylor and Daniel Vettori are the most attractive options from New Zealand, although they will also want to try qualifying for the Champions League through their domestic sides. Vettori (Queensland) and Taylor (Victoria) both made guest appearances last summer while McCullum was a controversial late addition in New South Wales’ final victory in 2008-09.Tasmania were initially hopeful of attracting Lasith Malinga and Angelo Mathews before being told of Sri Lanka’s plans to protect their players. Instead the Tigers re-signed the Pakistani Naved-ul-Hasan, who is currently banned for a year by his country following his performances on the 2009-10 tour of Australia.

An update has emerged on Newcastle United, regarding their pursuit of Burnley striker Chris Wood…

What’s the talk?

Sky Sports journalist Keith Downie has revealed that the Clarets did not expect the Magpies to stump up the cash to activate his release clause.

He initially Tweeted: “Also hearing as per @JPercyTelegraph that Chris Wood is travelling to the North East tonight for a medical. Newcastle have met his Burnley release clause, which is thought to be in the region of £20m.”

The reporter then added: “Burnley were aware of Chris Wood’s release clause but didn’t think Newcastle would trigger it. They thought it was too high. Clarets angry that Wood would leave to a relegation rival. His Burnley contract was up next year.”

Delight

This update from Downie will surely leave Newcastle fans feeling delighted as it perfectly illustrates the muscle they now have in the transfer market. Long gone are the days of refusing to pay loan fees and missing out on signings because of it.

PIF are making serious moves and putting their money where their mouth is, as shown by Burnley’s surprise at this deal for the striker. That is why fans will be over the moon as it shows that their club is making strides off the pitch in order to change their fortunes around on it.

The supporters will also be buzzing as it means that Wood is poised to arrive to bolster the squad. He is a proven Premier League goalscorer and could provide a lift to the squad on the pitch in the second half of the campaign.

He has previously been compared to Magpies legend Alan Shearer, with former Leeds man Ben Parker saying of a goal he scored for the Whites:

“It was a fantastic header. He’s kind of like Sheareresque and I don’t think there are many strikers in the division, especially in the Championship, even going to the Premier League, who would have scored with that header.”

Wood has scored 10+ goals in each of the past four seasons leading up to the 2021/22 campaign. This shows that he knows how to find the back of the net at this level and could be a key asset for Howe in the coming months as they attempt to work their way out of the relegation zone, which is why fans will be buzzing with the deal overall.

AND in other news, “Still trying”: Keith Downie issues five-word NUFC claim that’ll leave fans buzzing…

At 35 Michael Hussey, his sideburns flecked with grey, has to convince himself to be free and focused, which aren’t always complementary aims

Peter English in Brisbane23-Nov-2010Word has filtered through to Michael Hussey that he must get runs in Thursday’s first Test. He hasn’t read the papers or watched the television, but he has been sledged by the Victorians and listened to more talk than usual. A check of his stats will show he hasn’t scored a century in his past six Tests and in those matches has averaged 26.Outside the team everyone is asking him if he’s playing for his place, directly and in roundabout ways. Even before a 17-man squad was picked early last week to let the senior guys know that it was time to perform or perish. Hussey is always a gentleman, almost always talking positive, but there is pain in his smiles.”In my mind I still have the belief that I’m good enough to be in the team,” he said as the team prepared in Brisbane. “But there’s been a lot of speculation … Certainly some has filtered through. It’s not nice when you hear negative things or people saying you shouldn’t be in the team or they seem to have lost faith in you.”Re-confirming your worth to the detractors is a common theme for the aging player. At first, runs were all that mattered, but as things wind down it’s a fight to hold on to everything: the spot, the goodwill, the reputation.”Certainly for me that’s a motivating thing, trying to prove them wrong,” he said. “I had to do that last year. Shane Warne was pretty outspoken in wanting me out of the team. At the end of the summer he came out and said, you’ve proved me wrong.” Centuries used to create the most satisfying feelings.At 35 Hussey, his sideburns flecked with grey, has to convince himself to be free and focused, which aren’t always complementary aims. Throughout his career the latter has been easier to achieve. His single-mindedness turned a decade in the first-class ranks into one of the most stunning entries, a Test run which included an average of 80 more than two years after his debut.The fun came from accumulating, but a bad Test at the Gabba could end the ride. Or the final stop might be Adelaide, or back home in Perth. It is not a series for guarantees.He is relieved that he made the squad on the back of a second-innings century for Western Australia last week. During that display, which followed an 18-ball duck, the negative comments from the fielders “were driving me on further and further”. With the batch of young players gaining interest from the national selectors, Hussey is playing for next week and beyond.”I want to enjoy it, enjoy that pressure,” he said. “I don’t want to walk away at the end of my career, thinking, ‘geez, I absolutely hated playing for Australia’. I want to go away knowing that I played the way I wanted to play and that I gave myself the best chance of performing well and I enjoyed every minute of it. Go away a happy man rather than having regrets.”He will not change his approach and does not think his problems are technical. If he’s tentative he will struggle early, if he’s positive he can live with the consequences. The last time he was under similar heat was at The Oval in 2009, when he had gone 15 Tests without a hundred. His 121 saved his spot, but not the game, with his dismissal ending the series and changing the owners of the urn.He is a meticulous planner and is an expert at hanging on with a well-timed exertion. Does he prepare differently for a pressure innings? “No, you try not to,” he said. But do you? “No, I try not to.” He smiles as he repeats the answer, at the same time trying to convince himself he’s right.”I try to block out as much as I can and know what worked in the past. Stick to my game plans. Half the challenge is to block out all the external distractions that go on. It’s definitely been a lot tougher [this time].”While England have experienced a flawless preparation for the Ashes, Australia’s travels have been as bumpy as a landing on a rural airstrip. The hosts lost seven matches in a row in all forms of the game before succeeding in a dead ODI against Sri Lanka in Brisbane at the start of the month. England have skipped across the country, getting all their men in some form, at the same time as their stuttering opponents have picked up injuries and stinging criticism.”It’s been perceivably up and down,” Hussey said of Australia’s recent results. “But I actually think we’ve been going really well. Even in India, we played some fantastic Test cricket … It’s more been external stuff causing conjecture. Within the team our plans are really specific.”When there’s a lot of pressure, a lot of speculation and tension, that sometimes brings out the best in players, and you know if you can stick together tight as a team, you can always turn in a positive direction.” Keep the faith, retain your spot, win the Ashes. That’s the theory.

A fact-finding committee set-up by the PCB to look into the flight of Zulqarnain Haider to the UK from Dubai has failed to find any clear motives behind his actions

Osman Samiuddin24-Dec-2010A fact-finding committee set-up by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to look into the flight of Zulqarnain Haider to the UK from Dubai has failed to find any clear motives behind his actions.The three-member committee of Subhan Ahmed (COO, PCB), manager Intikhab Alam and security manager Khawaja Najam has ultimately recommended that the board “should write to Haider seeking complete written details of the entire episode and in light of those details [if received], may decide on whether to proceed with taking disciplinary action against him”.The board has already suspended the now retired wicketkeeper’s central contract.The committee’s report, seen by ESPNcricinfo, is based on conversations the three members had with Haider and others from the squad. “It is difficult to say with complete confidence at this stage as to what were the motives [behind the departure],” it concludes. But one of its observations seemingly offers a hint: “Some close associates of Haider, when contacted in UK, advised that during his last visit to UK with Pakistan team this summer, he had made enquiries on settling down in UK.”Further light is also shed on events leading to his departure after claiming he was threatened by bookies during Pakistan’s one-day series against South Africa last month.For example, the night before he left, seamer Wahab Riaz had been in Haider’s room till midnight. “His view was that Haider was normal and did not look worried,” the report says. “He did not discuss anything with Wahab with whom he was quite friendly.”The report also confirms that Haider asked the team management for his passport on the pretext of buying a mobile SIM card on the eve of the fourth ODI, a game in which he subsequently played a late, key role in securing a win.The last members of the squad to see Haider before his flight were the assistant manager Shahid Aslam and Younis Khan, who saw him walking out of his hotel room with a backpack on the morning of the fifth ODI. He told them he was going to visit relatives in the city.According to the report, Haider told the committee that he received the first threat two days before the fourth ODI. “When he was walking in the parking area of the hotel, he met a person who said to him he must do what he is told to do in cricket else he and his family would be killed.”He didn’t recognize the person who had met him 2 days before the fourth ODI. He didn’t see the person or hear from him afterwards.”What appears to have been the tipping point in convincing him to leave, however, came after that. “Later (he did not mention the date) he saw a note in his room which was on the hotel notepad on which some amounts and female names were mentioned.” He has since handed over the note to Scotland Yard.Though the investigation was mostly an exercise in fact-finding, certain questions are raised, echoing earlier concerns by the PCB. “It [his departure] was quite strange because Dubai is as safe a place as UK (perhaps safer), but Haider decided to travel to the UK rather than staying in Dubai or travelling to homeland Pakistan.”It is also quite strange that in the presence of a full-time security manager of the team and the other PCB officials, Haider deemed it appropriate to approach the media rather than the PCB which is his employer.”Several ex-players and officials questioned Haider’s state of mind immediately after he fled, a point the report touches on. “It may be noted that the views of some of the support staff about Haider were that he is a complex personality. He is a person who is easily convinced into believing whatever is said to him. He is also stated to be a weak nerves person.”Haider is still in the UK and is due to appear for another interview with asylum authorities on January 5, before reporting to the police on January 10th.

Hampshire bounced back from an indifferent opening day to peg Yorkshire back on day two of the County Championship match at the Rose Bowl

25-May-2010
ScorecardAdil Rashid had success with bat and ball as Yorkshire fought back at The Rose Bowl•PA PhotosHampshire bounced back from an indifferent opening day to peg Yorkshire back on day two of the County Championship match at the Rose Bowl. Resuming on 300 for 3, Yorkshire seemed set for a mammoth total on a decent batting track with skipper Andrew Gale and former captain Anthony McGrath at the wicket.But Hampshire, in contrast to some insipid bowling yesterday, kept things tight from the off and were rewarded in the 10th over of the day when McGrath nicked James Tomlinson through to Nic Pothas behind the stumps for 64. Gale followed quickly after to a rejuvenated Dominic Cork for a well-constructed 56 to leave Yorkshire on 333 for 5, with new batsmen Adil Rashid and Jonathan Bairstow both at the crease on nought.An excellent morning session looked to be complete for the home side when wicketkeeper Bairstow edged Tomlinson to give Pothas has third victim of the day. But just as the initiative looked to be swinging back Hampshire’s way, so some inspired attacking cricket from Rashid restored parity, the talented allrounder racing to 46 not out at lunch.He and Richard Pyrah moved Yorkshire onto 393 for 6 after lunch, before Pyrah edged David Balcombe to first slip, sparking a mini collapse. First Rashid went for a neat 51, before tailenders Tino Best and Oliver Hannon-Dalby were quickly polished off as Yorkshire’s innings – which had earlier promised a score nearer 500 – limped to 415 all out.Hampshire’s reply got off to a solid if unspectacular start, England cap Michael Carberry and opening partner Jimmy Adams prodding and nudging the score to 49 without loss. But just as the pair began to find the boundary, Yorkshire struck twice in quick succession to tilt the initiative back in their favour.First Carberry went attempting to advance down the track to Rashid, succeeding only in clipping the ball straight back to him where the leg-spinner took a neat return catch. Michael Lumb, restored to Hampshire ranks after a visit to Downing Street with his fellow World Twenty20 colleagues, followed for a duck just moments later when he top-edged a pull off Rashid safely into the hands of first slip Jacques Rudolph.The wicket brought the experienced and in-form Neil McKenzie to the wicket, who combined with Adams to calmly move Hampshire out of trouble to the relative calm of 143 for 2. However, with the light fading, Adams fell to seamer Hannon-Dalby for 82, leaving England prospect James Vince to see out the remaining overs with McKenzie, and leave the game in the balance at the halfway stage.

With 19 games played in the Premier League so far this season, Leeds United have only managed to win three of them, drawing seven and losing eight in the process.

In addition to this, Marcelo Bielsa’s side have only scored 21 goals, which is 11 fewer than they had managed to score last season with 19 league games played.

With this in mind and the fact that the January transfer window has now opened, the Yorkshire club could use this time to acquire some attacking players to help them put the ball in the back of the net throughout the remainder of the season and climb away from the relegation zone.

According to a recent club-by-club January transfer guide from the Daily Mail, Leeds are interested in signing Norwich City’s Todd Cantwell to add another attacking figure to their squad.

As a product of Norwich’s youth system, Cantwell has made a total of 153 appearances for the club across their youth and senior sides, scoring 21 goals and providing 17 assists along the way.

Labelled as a player that has a “fighting spirit” by Kevin Hofland who was assistant manager at Fortuna Sittard during Cantwell’s loan spell there in 2018, this season has been a rather uninspiring one for the 23-year-old so far with 11 appearances and five starts under his belt in the Premier League with no goals or assists.

However, his lack of form could potentially be put down to the fact that he’s been deployed in a number of different positions across the midfield and attack this season and has failed to have any sort of consistency under Dean Smith since he arrived at the club back in November.

While this could put some clubs off making a move for him this month, if Cantwell was able to get some regular playing time under Bielsa’s guidance, this could give him the opportunity to get his season back on track and potentially avoid relegation, which seems to be where Norwich are heading towards with just 10 points on the board.

With Leeds having been linked with a move for the £18m-rated man since 2020, it could be a dream for Bielsa to finally have the player at Elland Road, replicating their long-winded hunt of Dan James across a number of years.

Leeds and Victor Orta should definitely approach Norwich this month to see if they would be willing to cash in and part ways with Cantwell, who could then revive his season and start a new chapter in his career with Leeds. Considering their own inconsistencies, they could do with a player of his talents to improve the squad.

In other news: Orta could unearth Leeds’ next Phillips with swoop for £22.5m-rated “phenomenon” – opinion

Andrew White’s unbeaten half-century took Ireland to a six-wicket victory against Canada even as rain threatened to thwart Irish hopes on the last day

Cricinfo staff04-Sep-2010
ScorecardAn unbeaten partnership of 59 runs between Andrew White and John Mooney took Ireland to victory against Canada•Bryan Vandenburg, Cricket CanadaAndrew White’s unbeaten half-century took Ireland to a six-wicket victory against Canada in Toronto even as rain threatened to thwart Irish hopes on the last day of an absorbing match.Play began with Ireland four down and requiring only 52 to win with rain forecast for the day. White and John Mooney began patiently before White opened up in the fourth over, driving and pulling Rizwan Cheema for consecutive fours. With 28 runs still needed, rain interrupted proceedings and no play was possible for a major portion of the day. Ireland’s optimism was turning into despair, but the sun eventually came out and play resumed.White did not waste time, reaching his fifty with consecutive fours off Khurram Chohan. He then pulled Umar Bhatti past midwicket to bring up Ireland’s victory, remaining unbeaten on 59 off 73 deliveries with eight fours. Mooney was not out on 16 off 35 balls with three fours in an unbroken 59-run stand for the fifth wicket. White was named Man of the Match for guiding Ireland to victory after top-scoring with 84 in the first innings.It was a comfortable win ultimately for Ireland after Canada had fought back on the second and third days. Ireland now have 52 points from five matches and are placed fourth in the points table. They take on third-placed Zimbabwe XI in Harare in their last match, which begins on September 20. Canada finished last with five losses in six games.

Aston Villa could be ready to get rid of some deadwood in their squad as Steven Gerrard approaches his first summer transfer window with the Premier League side.

What’s the word?

That’s according to journalist Pete O’Rourke who claimed to GIVEMESPORT that Steven Gerrard will be “looking to strengthen” his options out wide ahead of his first full season in charge of Villa.

He said: “Villa are probably going to lose a couple of wingers in the summer with El Ghazi out on loan at Everton and Trezeguet out on loan in Turkey.

“So, that’s two wingers who the club will most likely look to move on. So, it’s going to be an area that Steven Gerrard will be looking to strengthen as well.”

Gerrard needs to bolster attacking options

El Ghazi and Trezeguet have both been out on loan at Everton and Istanbul Basaksehir FK respectively for the second half of the campaign with contrasting success.

Trezeguet has scored five times in just nine appearances for the Turkish side whilst El Ghazi has only played twice for Everton in what is an underwhelming loan spell, to say the least.

With both players making a combined three appearances under Steven Gerrard, then fans will be ecstatic to hear of the news that they could both depart at the end of the campaign.

Gerrard will undeniably want to bring in his own players, with Philippe Coutinho and Lucas Digne arriving in January, he is stamping his authority on this Villa squad.

Results have been mixed, however, with some bright periods intersected by poor spells and this has largely been the nature of their season.

Villa have been linked to attacking options such as Ryan Kent, via the Daily Mail and Foot Mercato reported on their interest in Bayer Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby last summer, then there seem to be plenty of options out there for Gerrard to ponder.

The summer transfer window will be a key one for Villa, and if they have a bad start next season, then Gerrard will surely be feeling the pressure so recruitment must be excellent.

AND in other news, Gerrard now plotting AVFC bid for £46k-p/w “phenomenon”, he’s better than Phillips