All posts by h716a5.icu

A Pakistani court has lifted a domestic ban on the last six active players who joined the ICL, leaving them eligible to take part in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy

Cricinfo staff17-Feb-2009A Pakistani court has lifted a domestic ban on the last six active players who joined the ICL, making them eligible to take part in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, the domestic first-class competition. In all, 17 players can return to domestic cricket but the ban on their participation in international cricket remains since it is not yet a point of argument in the legal proceedings.”Imran Nazir, Imran Farhat, Humayun Farhat, Riaz Afridi, Arshad Khan and Taufeeq Umar got their bans suspended by the court and are now free to play in domestic matches,” the players’ lawyer, Zahid Ebrahim, said.Last week, the Sind High Court had temporarily lifted the bans imposed by the PCB on 11 players, nine of whom featured in the latest round of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq and Saqlain Mushtaq are the only players who remain barred from domestic cricket, but both are now retired.The PCB’s present administration has been keen on getting back ICL players into the fold but has maintained that it would only be possible if the ICL reaches a compromise with the BCCI and ICL. The ICC deferred a decision on recognizing the ICL at its last board meeting in Perth, but a meeting between the ICL, ICC and BCCI has been arranged on February 21 in Johannesburg.

Tottenham Hotspur target Weston McKennie has reportedly knocked back the chance to sign for West Ham United in favour of a move to north London this summer [Gazzetta dello Sport print edition August 26th via Hammers News].

The Lowdown: Spurs look to tie up remaining business

With the transfer window set to slam shut in England on the 31st August, Lilywhites manager Nuno Espirito Santo will be desperate to tie up any remaining business as he plots success on both domestic and European fronts this campaign.

Recruiting intelligently so far within the window, the Portuguese boss has signed three first-team – Pierluigi Gollini, Bryan Gil and Cristian Romero [Transfermarkt].

Now, Spurs could be set for a major boost in their pursuit of 22-year-old McKennie, owing to reports in Italian media circles.

The Latest: McKennie rejects West Ham move

USA international McKennie is allegedly said to have rejected a move to the London Stadium in favour of a switch to Tottenham Hotspur this summer [Gazzetta dello Sport print edition August 26th via Hammers News].

The 6 foot tall ace is said to have opened talks with Tottenham over a move, however any deal would cost somewhere in the region just under £40 million [Independent].

Axel Witsel looks to have been earmarked as a potential replacement for Mckenzie in Turin, should the American depart before the end of the window [Tuttosport].

The Verdict: McKennie addition would excite the Tottenham Hotspur support

In need of midfield reinforcements, the decision made by McKennie to reject a move to the Hammers in search of a move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will no doubt excite the Lilywhites support.

Possessing the capability to dictate play in central areas, he would bring some much-needed control and stability to the Spurs line up.

In 2020/21, he excelled for his current employers, registering nine goal contributions in 46 appearances; six goals and three assists [Transfermarkt].

Patrolling the middle of the park with his impressive ball retention, McKennie managed to record a pass accuracy of 85.4% across the piece in Serie A [WhoScored].

Once labelled as ‘outstanding’ by former Schalke executive manager Christian Heidel, Tottenham should look to finalise the deal before the end of the window [Schalke 04 Official].

In other news, a Spurs ace is in line for a surprise summer window exit. Find out more here.

Former Newcastle United defender Steve Howey believes that Freddie Woodman is a very good goalkeeper.

Woodman spent last season out on loan at Swansea City, where he kept 22 clean sheets in 52 games in all competitions. It was Woodman’s second loan spell with the Swans, as he spent the previous season also on loan at the Liberty Stadium, where he played 43 games and kept 12 clean sheets.

The 24-year-old was tipped to go out on loan again this season, with AFC Bournemouth touted as the destination for Woodman, but after injury to Martin Dubravka, which saw the shot-stopper require surgery, Woodman has remained at St James’ Park this summer.

Woodman featured in the Magpies’ first Premier League match of the season against West Ham United last weekend, saving a penalty, and Howey was full of praise for the shot-stopper

“I think he’s done his kind of work away from the club, I haven’t seen much of him at Newcastle, but apparently at Swansea last season he was excellent. Everybody has been touting him for years, he will be a very good goalkeeper and I think he is a very good goalkeeper,” Howey exclusively told Football FanCast.

When all are fit, Newcastle United have four good goalkeepers amongst their ranks with Dubravka, Darlow, Gillespie and Woodman, so there is going to be healthy competition for the number one jersey at St James’ Park this season.

West Indies batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan has stressed on the youngsters improving their performances if they are to be a permanent feature in the squad.

Tony Cozier01-Jan-2009
Shawn Findlay is an electric outfielder but seems out of his depth at this level in his primary role as left-hand batsman © Getty Images
West Indies batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan has said the youngsters in the squad need to improve their performances if they are to be a permanent feature.”We’re the most experienced and it’s important we try to give the young players as much support as we can but it’s important for them to learn as well,” the former captain said. “It’s a great chance for them to cement a place in the team and that should be the biggest goal for them, striving to be better players. We’ve already spoken to them, but it’s a matter of them seizing the opportunity.”Sarwan mentioned no names but at least nine of the 15-man squad, currently touring New Zealand, are playing for their immediate, some for their long-term, futures.Sewnarine Chattergoon has yet to put together a significant innings since introduced as the latest in the long line of opening batsman last season in the home series against Sri Lanka and Australia this year.Xavier Marshall is more likely to be retained for the forthcoming series against England in the Caribbean, either as Gayle’s opening partner or separating Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul in the middle order. But runs in the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand will boost his confidence.Shawn Findlay who, given his modest record for Jamaica, was a surprise choice when included in the ODI series against Australia, is an electric outfielder but seems out of his depth at this level in his primary role as left-hand batsman.Carlton Baugh has almost had the last of his many chances as wicketkeeper-batsman. It is a position that Denesh Ramdin appeared to have claimed as his own until his batting declined so markedly that it allowed Baugh to return. Runs over the coming five matches are important for his status.Kieron Pollard’s star has pitched since his sensational entry into first-class cricket two seasons ago when his six-hitting put spectators in danger and embarrassed bowlers. His boundary-filled hundreds against Barbados and the Leeward Islands earned him a place in the World Cup squad but he has found runs, far less sixes, hard to come by since then. Still, he is only 20, massively built and powerful and clearly talented. As much as anyone, he can heed Sarwan’s words about learning, striving to be better players and seizing the opportunity.Darren Sammy, perhaps not as dynamic but an honest and intelligent all-rounder already with a taste of Test and ODI success, is an alternative not far away from a recall.
Daren Powell is surely on his way out. He is an enthusiastic competitor but it is an extravagance to pay 46 runs a wicket in Tests as he does © AFP
After six years, 32 Tests and 50 ODIs, Daren Powell is surely on his way out. He is an enthusiastic competitor but it is an extravagance to pay 46 runs a wicket in Tests as he does. Only a cupboard bare of fast bowlers and the strange selectorial reservations about spinners have kept him going.New fast bowlers should be lining up to fill his spot and potential spinners continuing to wait patiently to be given their due.Lionel Baker, the young Montserratian, is the first new fast bowler since Jerome Taylor, Fidel Edwards and Ravi Rampaul five years ago. The first two now lead the attack, Rampaul has been so unlucky with injuries his prospects are doubtful.The door is open for the new crop, as it always is with West Indies selectors. Baker has been ushered through it but it will take time to establish whether his stay will be permanent. Sulieman Benn and Nikita Miller, two left-armers of different heights and methods, are the latest spinners on the roller coaster.The selectors have surely got them wrong way round, using the beanpole Benn for the Tests and the diminutive Miller in the ODIS.The former is flat through the air, steady in control and gains bounce, attributes more effective in the shorter (Twenty20 even) than the longer form. He has suffered the habitual fate of those of his ilk, given one Test here, one Test there along with three Twenty20s. No wonder he is still not sure of his role.Miller, who depends more on flight and turn, has so far been confined to the ODIs where he can hardly express himself properly.The decision to choose Benn for the Tests and the Twenty20s in New Zealand, but replace him for the one-dayers would be confusing were it not a West Indies selection.While the five ODIs are in progress, the first-class season would have started back home. Results from both will shape the composition of the team for the series against England in February and March and even beyond.

Davie Provan has urged Celtic to pursue a deal for Derby County beast David Marshall… 

What’s the talk?

Former Celtic player Davie Provan has urged the club to bring David Marshall back to the club to compete with Joe Hart. He believes that the Derby County shot-stopper should replace Vasilios Barkas, so that they can move the flop on this month.

He told Glasgow radio station Go Radio (via Derbyshire Live):

“Would it not make sense for Celtic to go and get David Marshall? And get him for nothing, probably, and have him and Joe fighting for the gloves?

“[Vasilios] Barkas is going, isn’t he? The sooner the better. Not just for Celtic, but for Barkas, as well. And, hopefully, his agent is working on a deal for him now to move him on.

“And that would leave room, and I think Marshall would make sense.”

Get it done

Celtic must pursue a deal to sign Marshall this month if it is viable. This is only a suggestion from Provan and there has been nothing to say that the Hoops are actively looking at the shot-stopper or whether or not Derby would even be willing to part ways with him at this stage.

However, with his contract expiring in 2022 there could be some wiggle room for Celtic to come in and make the Championship side an offer that is worth taking. Provan believes Barkas needs to leave the Scottish club and that could mean that a back-up is needed for Hart, which is a role Marshall could be perfect for.

The Scotland international is vastly experienced, both in his home country and England, and could provide reliable cover for the former Spurs man. He has played the best part of 500 games across the Championship and Premier League, having also played 31 times for Celtic at the start of his career before he moved on to Norwich.

When managing Cardiff earlier in his career, current Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjær claimed that he would not swap Marshall for any other goalkeeper. He said:

“David Marshall’s been outstanding to make such a save at such an important time of the game, it earned us a point.

“The last save was just unbelievable. He moves his feet quickly and gets his arm up and that just sums up his season really.

“I wouldn’t swap him for anyone, that’s for sure.”

This highlights the experience and quality he possesses. He knows what it takes to play for Celtic, having done so previously, and has shown off his ability in both the Premier League and Championship. With 46 caps for Scotland, the 6 foot 3 ace is also no stranger to the big occasion and having a player like that as a back-up could be useful for Ange Postecoglou this season.

Marshall himself has previously admitted his openness to a move back to Parkhead, saying: “Of course it would. I think it would interest any player. But to a Celtic fan growing up, and someone who played there as a youngster coming through, it would be a massive thing for me.

“I’ll just need to see how it all pans out. I haven’t heard anything from Celtic, but I’ll always have that affinity with them and it would be great if it happens.”

Celtic could strike gold with the goalkeeper this summer.

AND in other news, Report drops update on “incredible” £5m beast that’ll leave Celtic fans gutted…

Cricinfo previews the second final between Lahore Badshahs and Hyderabad Heroes

Cricinfo staff14-Nov-2008Match factsNovember 15, 2008
Start time 7.30pm (1400 GMT)
Will Abdul Razzaq be spurred on by Naved-ul-Hasan’s send-off and turn in a match-winning performance against his former team-mates? © ICL
The Big PictureThe script for the ICL 2008-09 finals has so far been a copy of last season’s so it won’t be a surprise, given that the Lahore Badshahs won the first of three matches, if the second game was tied.But the Hyderabad Heroes will be keen to alter it instead of letting a bowl-out decide the championship. It will be difficult for them to overcome a Lahore side that has dominated its last five consecutive wins – the narrowest margin of victory in those games was a 13-run win against the Chennai Superstars. Everything has clicked for Lahore since beating the Chandigarh Lions by seven wickets at the start of this month. They haven’t lost more than five wickets in four chases and scored a whopping 211 in the one game in which they batted first. Hyderabad also put in a couple of masterful performances – beating the Mumbai Champs by 79 runs and the Royal Bengal Tigers by nine wickets – but seemed to have lost some of their spark after just edging past Bengal in the semi-final.There’s no better time for Hyderabad’s openers – Jimmy Maher and Ibrahim Khaleel – to give their side a scorching start before Saqlain Mushtaq troubles them with his variations. They haven’t done so badly in the two matches they opened after Khaleel was promoted up the order – adding 49 in the first final – but in order to counter Lahore’s imposing batting line-up which includes Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Yousuf and the in-form Naved-ul-Hasan, Hyderabad will need something special from their openers.The two teams opened the tournament with a farcical match which Hyderabad won after the floodlights failed in Lahore’s innings. The organisers will hope that if Saturday’s game is the last one in the season, it turns out just the opposite.Form guide (last five matches, most recent first)Hyderabad- WWWWL
Lahore – LWWWWStats Justin Kemp has the most number of catches in the tournament, with eight from 10 games. His team-mates Maher and Inder Shekhar Reddy, with five each, can still race him to the eventual record. Khalid Mahmood’s 11 dismissals are the most by a keeper in the tournament. Bengal’s Deep Dasgupta has the same number from nine matches, one less than Mahmood. But Ibrahim Khaleel is close behind with eight. Players to watchAbdul Razzaq v Lahore: Razzaq was rankled by Naved’s send-off in the first final and angry words followed, after which he complained to Inzamam, who smoothed things with his customary calm. Razzaq top-scored for Hyderabad in the game and the sledging may spur him on against his former Pakistan team-mates.Naved-ul-Hasan: Lahore’s fortunes in their last five games have been tied to Naved’s form with the ball. He took 14 wickets in the matches and also scored two half-centuries batting at No. 3.Saqlain Mushtaq: How many Hyderabad batsmen will fall to his ? He has not gone wicketless in any of Lahore’s wins and conceded over eight runs an over in only one of those matches.Justin Kemp: He will be keen to fire for Hyderabad after scoring only 54 in 10 games. His hard-hitting approach can be very handy if the team is chasing a big total.Nicky Boje: His team will hope their top run-getter and second highest wicket-taker can stop Lahore in their tracks and give Hyderabad a chance to go for the title on Sunday night.Quotes”Winning the first match gives you an edge and now that we have done it we would like to go full stretch and win the event 2-0 tomorrow. The toss will be crucial because of the dew factor. The ball will not swing much in the second half and it will give batsmen the advantage.”
.”Winning the first match can make you relaxed, so I feel we are in a good position because we don’t have anything to lose now. We don’t have any pressure and we will give our best and win the next two games.”
.

While still inconsistent, West Indies have been winning Tests more often recently, putting an end to a barren run that has spanned the last several years

S Rajesh28-Jan-2019West Indies’ whopping 381-run win in Barbados – their second-largest ever in terms of runs against England – was their eighth win in their last 21 matches. Given their relatively barren run over the last several years, that is a bit of a revival, though it also needs to be noted that they have lost 11 Tests during this period, and were thrashed by both India and Bangladesh – losing each series 2-0 – just before this series.What should encourage West Indies supporters is the fact that, while the inconsistencies remain, wins against higher-ranked teams have started coming more often lately. In these 21 Tests, they have notched up two wins each against England and Pakistan, and one against Sri Lanka; apart from that, they also have two against Bangladesh and one against Zimbabwe.

Period Tests W/L Bat ave Bowl: pace Bowl: spinOct 30, ’16 onwards 21 8/11 25.93 25.59 37.17Sep 5, ’14 to Oct 29, ’16 21 3/13 26.99 42.7 47.23There was a period between 2012 and 2014 when West Indies had a slightly better win-loss ratio, 9-11, in 24 Tests. However, six of those nine wins had come against Bangladesh – who were a much poorer side then than they are now – and Zimbabwe.Two factors have chiefly contributed to these wins: the bowling, more specifically their pace attack, and the captain, who also happens to be their best batsman bowler during this period. Here are more numbers on these two aspects of West Indies’ cricket over the last two-and-a-half years.The pace resurgencePace was the cornerstone of West Indies’ dominance in the 1980s, and it seems to be playing a part in their revival now. Since October 30, 2016, West Indies’ seamers have averaged 25.59; only South Africa’s fast bowlers have done better in this period, averaging 21.50.