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Sri Lanka’s chairman of selectors Aravinda de Silva gave no indication that Sanath Jayasuriya and Chaminda Vaas would be in contention for a spot in the final 15

Sa'adi Thawfeeq14-Dec-2010Despite including two former World Cup heroes – Sanath Jayasuriya and Chaminda Vaas – in the provisional 30-member squad for the tournament’s 2011 edition, Sri Lanka’s chairman of selectors Aravinda de Silva gave no indication that they would be in contention for a spot in the final 15.”We felt that, in the 30 we need to have a combination of experience as well as youth,” de Silva, also a member of the 1996 World Cup winning side, said. “We have mainly considered performances and also, to a certain extent, experience. Putting everything together that is what we ultimately came out with.”You know what Vaas and Jayasuriya can do but you also have to consider the current form. We have seen the potential of some of the guys we have tried out. It is only if there is an absolute requirement or necessity that we need experience as well as good performances, will we look at them.”Vaas, 36, last played for Sri Lanka in August 2008 and the 41-year-old Jayasuriya’s last one-dayer was in December 2009. de Silva hinted that the youngsters who have been a part of the set-up in recent times were likely to be prefered.”At the moment if you take some of the fast bowlers who are doing pretty well we need to persevere with them,” de Silva said. “We must also consider the fact that Vaas has not played one-day cricket for a little while. If you take Sanath into account, there are guys like Tharanga Paranavitana who we wanted to try. All this time we didn’t include Jayasuriya in the team because we didn’t have a requirement. That is why we went with the present team. We have a basic idea of about 10-11 players but there are a few places which we need to work out, and if we can get some cricket before the final selection it would be ideal.”de Silva also mentioned that unity would be essential to the team’s cause, and that the selectors were guarded against allowing divisive influences to creep into the side’s make-up. “If there is any antagonism or issue in the team of someone being included, who is going to create any sort of problems within the team, that will be the main reason for leaving them out of the squad,” he said. “That sort of thing will be very hard to tolerate especially during the World Cup because you need unity if you want to succeed. We can’t have any divisions within the team.”Sri Lanka’s lead-up to the World Cup has been strong, with victories in the Dambulla tri-series and in Australia, but weather dealt a setback to the final plans, forcing a postponement to the home series against West Indies.”Missing those five ODIs against West Indies was very crucial because we were really looking at finding an ultimate combination before picking the final 15,” de Silva said. “There were things which we wanted to try in the five ODIs. It was very unfortunate we missed out on it, but nevertheless we have a basic idea of what we are looking for. There are a couple of things we would have loved to have tried out and made sure before the World Cup.”If we are unable to get some international fixtures we’ll have to take the risk and go with our gut feeling in selecting the final 15. That is why we are here to take certain decisions on the experience we’ve had and what we seen. My co-selectors and the team management are quite confident we will put out a strong squad.”de Silva underplayed the notion that Sri Lanka would lose the home advantage because they haven’t been able to familiarise themselves with the three Sri Lankan venues for the World Cup – Hambantota, Pallakele and R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. “When I saw the wickets and how they played I didn’t see much of a difference from the past,” he said. “It is all a mental game. Even when you play at a familiar venue on that particular day the conditions can defer. As international cricketers, there is no excuse to say that you haven’t had enough cricket on a particular ground or a wicket. It’s unfortunate the West Indies series had to be postponed but they will have enough practice under lights at these three venues.”

Leeds United could revisit Eddie Nketiah in the January transfer window…

What’s the word?

According to TransferMarketWeb, the Whites have enquired about signing the former loanee on a permanent basis as he enters the final six months of his current contract at Arsenal.

However, Victor Orta and co face stiff competition from Premier League rivals West Ham United, who have also asked about the 22-year-old, and Crystal Palace as well as Bundesliga duo Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Monchengladbach.

The report claims the England U21 record-breaker could be available for as little as €12m (£10m) this winter.

Bargain

And that would be an absolute bargain for United to seal.

His loan stint during the 2019/20 season was hardly inspiring before an abrupt and premature return to north London, having scored only five goals in 19 appearances but that actually worked out to a goal every 133 minutes as he played second fiddle to Patrick Bamford.

There is an element of unfinished business here between the £10.8m-rated Gunners gem and Leeds.

According to The Athletic’s Phil Hay at the time, Marcelo Bielsa was left rather frustrated by his recall to Arsenal and that he “wanted him to stay,” so perhaps it can be second time lucky.

He did make a good impression on the Argentine during their time together, however.

“He’s a specialist great player with a lot of resources and our play is a collective way of playing and one player needs to adapt to this style,” Bielsa said.

“For this reason when we felt he was part of the team we thought that we were going to feel the same and that he would continue with us. He didn’t take this decision but he is a great player, an excellent professional and he had very good behaviour, he is a gentleman in every sense.”

The 5 foot 11 frontman has bagged 43 goals in Arsenal’s youth setup and carried that natural ability into Mikel Arteta’s senior side whenever given a chance, having scored 15 times, five of which have been in the Premier League.

Nketiah has also been compared to Jermain Defoe for his “very dangerous” nature inside the box by ex-United man Noel Whelan and dubbed “so incredibly prolific” by football scout Jacek Kulig.

For just £10m, Leeds could do no wrong in bringing the young forward back to Elland Road this winter. Orta and Bielsa must look to get it done.

AND in other news, Forget Raphinha: Leeds struck dream deal with £18m-rated “beast” who’s “got it all”…

A round-up of all the games on the first day of round two of the 2009-10 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy

Cricinfo staff16-Oct-2009Group AMohammad Asif made his presence felt at the Gaddafi Stadium, taking 5 for 35 to help bowl Water and Power Development Authority out for 133. Asif dismissed Rafatullah Mohmand and Aamer Sajjad in successive deliveries and then kept the lower order under check. Supporting him with 3 for 34 was Mohammad Talha, who picked up the top-scorer Mohammad Yousuf (35). Kamran Akmal held five dismissals behind the stumps. National Bank of Pakistan faced a hurdle when they slipped to 60 for 3, but Umar Amin (43) and Fawad Alam (50 not out of 48 balls) steadied the ship.Khan Research Laboratories ended the first day’s play at the National Stadium in a good position. Led by their bowlers, they bowled out Habib Bank for 222 and then, after an early wicket, finished the day on 56 for 1. It was a pretty poor batting performance from Habib Bank, for whom only the captain Hasan Raza reached 50. Each of the five bowlers used after Mohammad Wasim opted to field made an impression.Pakistan Customs kept a tight leash over Karachi Whites at the Southend Club Cricket Stadium, without ever being ruthless. The day panned out in three phases: first the opening bowler Tahir Mughal quickly had Karachi at 28 for 2 after they chose to field, after which Mohtashim Ali (51), the captain Afsar Nawaz (60)and Faraz Patel propped up the innings, but Customs had the final day by taking three wickets for five runs shortly before stumps.At the at the Lahore City Cricket Assocation Stadium, Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited struggled to make 264 against Lahore Shalimar after being put in. They began poorly, slipping to 8 for 2 against Mohammad Naved, and needed half-centuries from Haris Sohail and Zulqarnain Haider to prop them up. A last-wicket stand of 70 between Zulqarnain and Saeed Ajmal (33) contributed sizably to the final score. Naved, with 3 for 68, and Saad Nasim, with 3 for 53, starred with the ball.Just two wickets went down on day one at the Gaddafi Stadium, where Pakistan International Airlines were carried by Kamran Sajid (92 not out) and Fahad Iqbal (79). The pair added 163 after PIA slipped to 41 for 2 and Sui Southern Gas Corporation, who used eight bowlers, have their work cut out on day two.Group BNaved Ashraf’s unbeaten 166 was the crux of Rawalpindi’s 431 for 7 against Hyderabad at the Diamond Club Ground. Nine bowlers were used on the day but none managed to dislodge Ashraf, a former Pakistan player, as he smashed 20 fours and a pair of sixes in a 163-ball effort. Babar Naeem (46), Fawad Hussain (41) and Yasim Murtaza (41) offered support, and the day ended with Ashraf and Khalid Latif (50 not out off 46 balls) having taken their ninth-wicket partnership to 105.Centuries from Khalid Latif and Ali Asad helped Karachi Blues to 276 for 4 against Abbottabad on day one at the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium. Their 172-run alliance for the second wicket was crucial after the hosts opted to field, with Latif hitting his second hundred in a row.Multan hit back before stumps at the Iqbal Stadium after they made 237, with their new-ball pair of Abdur Rauf and Rizwan Haider leaving Faisalabad hurting at 23 for 3. It was just the boost they needed after an indifferent batting performance. There were no half-centuries in the innings as Ahmed Hayat sliced Multan from 86 for 1 to 125 for 5 with his medium-pace. The last five wickets managed to add 112 and a top order collapse from Faisalabad left Multan with something to be positive about.Kashif Siddiq led from the front with an unbeaten 121 as Lahore Ravi reached 193 for 4 against Sialkot in Muridke. It was slow going – runs came at 2.32 an over – and Siddiq’s inning could yet prove to be decisive given he revived the innings from 31 for 3 and 60 for 4. Ashraf Ali, who batted 167 balls for 40, also weighed in.Peshawar were well placed in Islamabad despite losing two wickets in quick succession before stumps. They had done the good work by keeping Quetta to 207 after opting to field, with new-ball operators Nauman Habib (4 for 67) and Imran Khan (3 for 47) the most successful. Quetta were never allowed to get going and from the depths of 79 for 6 needed some stubborn resistance from the last four to get them past 200.

JP Duminy blasted his maiden ODI century, and South Africa’s fielders held onto a succession of spectacular catches as the hosts romped to a 212-run victory

The Bulletin by Alex Brown10-Nov-2009
ScorecardJP Duminy produced a flowing century in a dominant South Africa performance•Gallo ImagesOn the very day their nation’s administrators unveiled a three-year plan for Zimbabwe’s return to the cricketing mainstream, South Africa’s cricketers provided evidence to suggest such projections were optimistic. JP Duminy blasted his maiden ODI century, and South Africa’s fielders held onto a succession of spectacular catches as the hosts romped to a 212-run victory.South Africa thunderous win at Centurion coincided with an announcement at the Wanderers relating to a joint CSA-ZC initiative aimed at restoring Zimbabwe to Test cricket within three years. Executives from both sides of the border spoke glowingly of Zimbabwe’s revival prospects, but the team’s performance further up the Ben Schoeman Highway suggested much work still needs to be done.Zimbabwe were never a realistic chance of reeling in South Africa’s intimidating 331 for 5, and eventually capitulated for 119 inside 35 overs. Tatenda Taibu was leaned upon to produce the lion’s share of his side’s runs, 52 from 71 deliveries, only for his team-mates to again prove they are some way short of international standard. Their cause was not helped by the athletic fielding of the South Africans – Jacques Kallis, Mark Boucher and AB de Villiers all claimed catches worthy of the highlight reel – while Charl Langeveldt continued his successful re-entry to sanctioned cricket with a three-wicket haul.Earlier, Kallis and Graeme Smith were at their bludgeoning in raising half-centuries at the top of the innings. Kallis, making his return from a side strain, signalled his intentions early by cutting Kyle Jarvis for six in the second over, followed by a brace of boundaries off Chris Mpofu. Smith was slower out of the blocks – indeed, he was granted a life when Brendan Taylor turfed a straight-forward chance at point off the bowling of Mpofu – but the South African skipper soon found his range. Cutting, pulling and driving with power, Smith plundered 14 runs from Jarvis’s fourth over and raced to a half-century 39 balls in the making.Zimbabwe finally broke through in the 18th over when Smith attempted to slog-sweep Prosper Utseya out of the ground and was neatly stumped by Taibu. de Villiers followed shortly after, playing inside to a straightening Ray Price delivery that clipped the top of leg-stump, but not before South Africa had laid the groundwork for an imposing total.Price was comfortably the pick of the Zimbabwean bowlers, using a flat trajectory and subtle turn to stem the flow of runs. He claimed the additional wickets of Alviro Petersen and Albie Morkel, and might well have pushed for a five-for had his team-mates proved more dexterous in the field. Utseya, too, bowled steadily, but his combination with Price could not cover for the profligate ways of Zimbabwe’s other bowlers. All came in for heavy punishment from Duminy, who showed few ill-effects from his recent shin injury in charging to an unbeaten 111.Duminy was in superb touch from the outset, twice reverse sweeping the leg spinner Graeme Cremer to the boundary early in his innings before adopting a more conventional attack plan. He was particularly brutal in his treatment of the Zimbabwean seamers in the closing overs in an innings that has no doubt prompted a few nervous glances among the English camp.

An update has emerged on PSG striker Mauro Icardi, regarding Newcastle’s interest in his services… 

What’s the talk?

According to Calcio Mercato, Newcastle are one of three clubs looking at the PSG centre-forward ahead of the January transfer window.

The report claims that Tottenham and Juventus are also keen on the Argentina international, whose contract in Paris expires in 2024.

Get it done

PIF must secure a January deal for Icardi ahead of Juventus and Spurs as he could be a terrific addition to the squad to kickstart their reign on Tyneside. He is a proven, top-class, centre-forward in European football and could come in and score the goals to fire the Magpies up the Premier League table.

Icardi has spent the bulk of his career to date playing for Inter in the Serie A and PSG in Ligue 1, two European heavyweights, and has an eye-catching goal return. In 219 games for Inter, the attacker scored a phenomenal 124 goals.

His form for the Italian giants earned him a transfer to PSG in 2019 and his goalscoring form continued. He has scored 36 goals in 72 games for the French side to date, including five goals in 11 Champions League appearances for the club.

Juventus and Italy centre-back Giorgio Chiellini lauded the Argentine in his autobiography, hailing him as a world-class striker. He said:

“Among the great attackers I have faced, I highly value Icardi, who inside the area is almost impossible to mark. Mauro against Juve has often scored, it hurt me.

“He’s a world-class centre-forward, even if he lacks something in the collective game, he’s a Trezeguet but with different characteristics, lethal in the aerial game but perfectible outside the surface.”

This shows how well-thought-of the £31.5m-rated attacker is in the Italian game, with an experienced veteran in Chiellini lavishing praise on him. Couple this with his sensational goal return in both Italy and France and it helps to paint a picture of the type of player Newcastle would be getting in January.

Last season, Joe Willock (eight) and Callum Wilson (12) were the only Newcastle players who scored more than four goals in the Premier League. This suggests that there is a lack of goalscoring talent in the current team and Icardi could, therefore, come in and solve that issue based on his record throughout his career at the top level. PIF must now work hard to make sure that he is a Magpies player come February 1st, 2022.

AND in other news, PIF must reignite move for “stratospheric” goalscorer, he could be NUFC’s next Shearer…

Former Premier League defender Alan Hutton says Leeds United star Raphinha is a ‘nightmare’ due to his versatility up front, commenting after the winger left Elland Road ‘on crutches’ last weekend.

The Lowdown: Raphinha shines all over

£28.8m-valued Raphinha (Transfermarkt) is usually a right winger, but he was used in a different role during the clash with Wolves last weekend.

The Brazil international was deployed in an attacking midfield position and, according to SofaScore, he was one of the best players on the pitch before he was substituted.

The Latest: Hutton praises Raphinha

Speaking to Football Insider, Hutton called Raphinha a nightmare due to his versatility and ability. He said:

“Yeah, he is. He’s a nightmare, isn’t he?

“Thank god I don’t need to play against players like that because he’s unbelievable. Not just performances for Leeds but for Brazil now.

“It would not surprise me if there are a lot of big teams looking at him because of what he brings.

“He’s a flair player but he works extremely hard for the team. I think that’s what everybody likes. It’s what Bielsa likes, the fans, everybody.

“They kind of buy into what he’s doing and he’s got so much quality on the ball which is just fantastic to see. He can play a number of positions, which is brilliant.

“Things are looking good for him, aside from getting taken off and leaving the stadium on crutches. He says he’s okay. He’s a fantastic player.”

The Verdict: Wonderful

The 24-year-old is a wonderful footballer who has been a fantastic signing for the Whites since making the switch from Rennes last summer. All in all, he has nine goals and nine assists in 39 matches, developing into the Yorkshire outfit’s most dangerous attacking threat, and for however long he is out Marcelo Bielsa will be missing a crucial piece of his puzzle.

If he can play in more than one position, that is something that can only be a positive for Leeds too. Of course, that is no doubt going to attract interest from a number of clubs across Europe – the Whites will be hoping he wants to continue his journey at Elland Road.

In other news, this man has been suggested as a potential Bielsa replacement.

Jagmohan Dalmiya has been re-elected president of the Cricket Association of Bengal on the day former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly marked his entrance into cricket administration

Cricinfo staff31-Jul-2009Jagmohan Dalmiya has been re-elected president of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) on the day former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly marked his entrance into cricket administration.Dalmiya was re-elected unopposed at the CAB’s 78th annual general meeting in Kolkata and also retained his panel of two joint secretaries and treasurer.Ganguly, 37, had earlier this month expressed an ambition to join cricket administration in his home state of West Bengal. The state’s minister for state and tourism, Sultan Ahmed, who is also the president of Mohammedan Sporting Club which Ganguly represented at the AGM, termed Ganguly’s new role as “healthy and successful”.”He [Ganguly] has given very good advice to CAB in the AGM. In a healthy way we will go forward together, we want Bengal cricket to go forward,” he said. “Our boys are not getting chances at the senior level which is a point of concern. We have discussed all this and it was very successful. He [Ganguly] said there are many veteran cricketers who have not been given chance.”Dalmiya also welcomed Ganguly’s entry into the fray. “Not only Ganguly more and more cricketers should come forward to help the sport grow in the state,” he said. “I have personally invited Ganguly to sit with me and discuss various plans to take Bengal cricket forward. Not only Ganguly, I also invited former players Russi Jeejeebhoy, Raja Venkat and Snehashish Ganguly to contribute with their knowledge towards the development of Bengal cricket.”

Reliable reporter Fabrizio Romano has claimed that Arsenal are ‘really happy’ with defender William Saliba.

And a number of Gunners fans have been reacting to the news on social media.

The 20-year-old, who cost the club £27m back in 2019, joined Marseille on loan over the summer. He’s already spent time on loan at Saint-Etienne and OGC Nice but is now with Les Phocéens, where he has been a regular.

The Frenchman has started nine of ten fixtures in all competitions and has even made his France U21 debut against Macedonia last month.

Romano took to Twitter on Tuesday afternoon, claiming the Gunners are following Saliba closely and recently informed the defender that they trust him 100 per cent for the future.

Saliba is expected to return to the Emirates next summer ahead of a possible breakthrough campaign in north London.

Arsenal fans react

Romano’s Twitter post received plenty of interaction, with these Arsenal supporters delighted. One even described it as ‘great news’.

“Oh my days our defence is set”

Credit: @afc_r1ch

“Yessssss. Will be so much better than Holding. Just curious what it would be like if he was given an opportunity at Arsenal earlier than next season”

Credit: @titanori

“Great news! He will do well for us when he is back!”

Credit: @PremLovesMusic

“William Saliba, Ben White and Gabriel. Wow.”

Credit: @jbsoutar

“Tears in my eyes”

Credit: @TXT978

“GET IN BOYS”

Credit: @allezarsenal

In other news: ‘What?’ – Many Arsenal fans erupt at ‘criminal’ news from Charles Watts. 

Sachin Tendulkar has said he is not satisfied with his achievements andhopes to accumulate 15,000 runs and win the World Cup in 2011

Cricinfo staff06-Aug-2009Sachin Tendulkar has said he is not satisfied with his achievements and hopes to accumulate 15,000 runs and win the World Cup in 2011.”I am not pleased yet with what I have done,” Tendulkar, who has scored a record12773 Test runs at an average of 54.58 from 159 matches, said in aninterview with the . “Sunil Gavaskar has told me that Ihave to get to 15,000 runs. He said he would be angry with me and wouldcome and catch me if I didn’t. I admire him so much and to score that manywould be a terrific achievement, but that is not the only aim.” His other big cricketing ambition is to “win the World Cup in 2011”.Tendulkar, 36, also spoke about how he has been consistently playing with pain. “I always play in pain, all the time. I played with a broken finger for the last three months, but you know when pain is manageable or not, and most of the time I can do it,” he said. “I can still do what I did when I was 25 but the body is changing, so your thought process has to change too. I have had to change how I think, which is about taking less risk.”Tendulkar also disagreed with John Buchanan, former Australia coach, who felt Tendulkar had become susceptible to the short ball early in his innings because of a lack of footwork. “It is only his opinion; John Buchanan doesn’t have to be right all the time. If I couldn’t handle short deliveries, then I wouldn’t still be scoring runs,” he said. “Maybe he needs to change his opinion. There must be something very wrong with all the bowlers around the world that they have allowed me to score so many runs.”

“I would say Virender Sehwag comes closest to my style.”

Don Bradman had said Tendulkar reminded him of himself and the Indian batsman was the only modern player in Bradman’s all-time XI. Does Tendulkar think the same way about anyone? “I would say Virender Sehwag comes closest to my style.”Tendulkar said he was not thinking about retirement yet but he would knowwhen to quit cricket. “I will know when it is the right time, I won’t have to bedragged away. I am the person who will make the decision and I will knowwhether I still belong.”He admitted life after cricket wouldn’t be easy. “It’s a scary thought. It has been there for my whole adult life, it will be difficult, I have been around for a long time, I can imagine when I finish I will long to face just 10 more balls but you have to move.”

South Africa’s convenor of selectors, Mike Procter, has called on the team to show their “character” after the innings-and-98-run drubbing against England at Durban

Andrew McGlashan in Cape Town31-Dec-2009South Africa’s convenor of selectors, Mike Procter, has called on the team to show their “character” after the innings-and-98-run drubbing against England at Durban. They have only two days to prepare for the next Test at Cape Town, a match they must win to retain any chance of claiming a series they were expected to dominate.Procter admits the nature of the defeat has been hard to take, but while he maintains there is no need for panic measures he did add “at this stage, anyway”. That suggests the pressure is squarely on this group of players to turn the series around otherwise places will be on the line.”They are very down after that beating and they have got to recover and perform better in the next Test,” Procter told Cricinfo. “The test of character for a side is how you come back from a defeat like that.”Procter refused to be alarmist despite 2009 bringing just a single Test victory from six matches – and that, too, in a dead rubber against Australia at Newlands – after the side achieved so much in the previous 12 months including the series victory in Australia. Securing that series, with a nine-wicket triumph at the MCG on the penultimate day of 2008, appeared to leave South Africa with the opportunity to dominate the world game.That hasn’t happened and Graeme Smith yesterday said the team “hasn’t lived up to the hype.” But despite the innings loss at Durban being South Africa’s fourth defeat of the year Procter believes the side can turn their fortunes around. “These things happen. It was a pretty convincing victory by England and you have to give credit where it is due, they played exceptionally well,” he said.”They batted very well and bowled superbly to put pressure on our guys. I think there is still that chance [for South Africa] because there are two more games to go. We’ll have a much better idea of where we stand after Cape Town. It’s going to be a very interesting Test match to see how the guys respond.”The South African selectors named a 14-man squad to cover both the second and third Tests and Procter said there wasn’t any need to make additions to the party for Cape Town. “We are only talking about one Test match, the guys played well at Centurion and were one wicket away from a very good victory. One defeat isn’t a call for drastic changes.”Although the batting collapsed dramatically for 133 in the second innings – and lost six wickets in 71 deliveries on the fourth afternoon – it is the bowling that is causing most concern after Morne Morkel provided the only genuine threat to the England batsmen. The major question mark hangs over Makhaya Ntini, who went wicketless through 29 overs after claiming just two scalps in the opening Test.”He’s a very effervescent guy and a bubbly character, but when you go through a Test like that I don’t think it’s that easy to remain bubbly,” Procter said. “It’s something he’ll have to take on the chin and recover from.”The bowling was a bit disappointing,” he added. “It’s something we have to work hard to rectify. Dale Steyn came back from an injury and Jacques Kallis was in the same situation, but they will be better for the work and should be in top order by January 3.”Procter also had words of encouragement for Ashwell Prince, who has come under scrutiny following a lean start to the series. Prince has made it clear he would prefer a middle-order slot, but that would require major alterations to the line-up. “Although he hasn’t opened the batting too often, when he has done he scored a big hundred in a Supersport game a while back and made that hundred in Cape Town against Australia,” Procter said.”I think when he gets to the subcontinent, if he’s still in the team, he’ll enjoy opening a lot. He got a pretty nasty ball in the first innings [from Jimmy Anderson], almost unplayable, and that happens. I’m not too worried about him.”