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The PCB has issued national coach Waqar Younis a notice for expressing his surprise over the board’s decision to not name the captain when it announced the final squad for the World Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Jan-2011The PCB has issued national coach Waqar Younis a notice for expressing surprise over the board’s decision to not name the captain when it announced Pakistan’s final squad for the World Cup. Waqar had said it “would have been better” if the selectors had named the captain along with the final 15, and that not doing so “would only lead to issues”.”We have issued Waqar a notice asking him to explain his comments on the captaincy issue since he is under contract with the PCB,” the board’s media manager Nadeem Sarwar told . He explained that under PCB’s media policy it was binding on all team officials and players to avoid giving statements that questioned or negated the policies of the board.In recent times, the PCB has adopted a new media policy for players and officials and has come down hard on any violations. The new guidelines also limit direct interaction between the team and journalists, and prefers the use of press releases.The delay in naming the captain was criticised by several former cricketers and ex-selectors. It led to speculation that Misbah-ul-Haq could take over the one-day leadership from Shahid Afridi, who has been the captain in the limited-overs formats since the 2010 Asia Cup. After taking over from Salman Butt, who was suspended following the spot-fixing controversy, Misbah has sparked a resurgence as the Test captain, leading Pakistan to a draw against South Africa and a series win in New Zealand. The move to name him as vice-captain for the New Zealand ODIs is seen as a means of putting pressure on Afridi, who has struggled for form.Before leaving for New Zealand, however, Afridi said he was not worried about the position. “I am not worried about the captaincy, it never worries me,” he said. “I have never run after the captaincy in my entire career. It is something for the cricket board to decide. If they feel I am the right man they will appoint me and if they don’t they will make someone else captain.”I am a senior professional and I know what I have to do. I have to lead the team to win the series and perform well as player. I know our winning the series will be very important because if we win in New Zealand it will give us a boost for the World Cup.”

Nepal, USA, Italy, Cayman Islands, Argentina and Tanzania have announced their squads to compete in the World Cricket League Division 4 in Bologna

Cricinfo staff01-Aug-2010Nepal, USA, Italy, Cayman Islands, Argentina and Tanzania have announced their squads to compete in the World Cricket League Division 4 in Bologna, Italy as the teams continue along the path that may ultimately lead to a place at the World Cup in 2015. The top two sides at Division 4 tournament, which will be played from August 14 to 21, will move a step closer with promotion to the WCL Division 3 to be staged in Hong Kong in January 2011.”We have good knowledge of Nepal who we played against in February and also Cayman Islands and Argentina whom we have regularly played, including as recently as May in ICC Americas Division 1 and we beat them on both occasions,” said USA captain Steve Massiah. “The other two teams we don’t know so well, but I’m confident we’re prepared and ready to continue moving up the World Cricket League ladder.””We’re looking forward to the tournament,” commented Cayman Islands’ coach Theo Cuffy. “It will be the first time to Europe for a number of our team and it’s going to be a tough tournament with strong teams, but we’re confident we can do well.”This will be the first global ICC event to be hosted in Italy. Matches will be played at three venues in the Bologna area – Pianoro, Medicina and Bologna.Ian Gould, a member of the ICC’s Elite Panel of umpires, will be one of nine umpires officiating at the event, which will be overseen by match referee David Jukes. Gould follows in the footsteps of fellow Elite Panel umpire Simon Taufel who officiated in Singapore at WCL Div. 6 in 2009.Argentina: Esteban MacDermott (capt), Grant Dugmore, Agustin Casime, Alejandro Ferguson, Pablo Ferguson, Donald Forrester, Tomas Francis, Carlos Gibson, Diego Lord, Lucas Paterlini, Matias Paterlini, Pablo Ryan, Gary Savage, Martin Siri.Cayman Islands: Saheed Mohamed (capt), Pearson Best, Ryan Bovell, Kervin Ebanks, Paul Chin, Marlon Byran, Ricardo Roach, Jaylon Linton, Abali Hoilett, Conroy Wright, Alassandra Morris, Kevin Bazil, Ramon Sealy, Ronald Ebanks.Italy: Alessandro Bonora (capt), Roshendra Abewickrama, Din Alaud, Dilan Arsakulasuriya, Damien Crowley, Gayashan Munasinghe, Thushara Kurukulasuriya, Damian Fernando, Andrew Northcote, Nicholas Northcote, Hayden dell’Agnello, Peter Petricola, Michael Raso, Stanly Kankanamge.Nepal: Paras Kadka (capt), Gyanendra Malla, Shakti Gauchan, Sharad Vesawkar, Mahesh Kumar Chhetri, Anil Kumar Mandal, Amrit Battarai, Basant Regmi, Binod Kumar Das, Sanjam Regmi, Rahul Kumar Vishwakarma, Mahaboob Alam, Manjeet Shrestha, Pradeep Airee.Tanzania: Hamzi Abdallah (capt), Abhik Patwa, Hasnain Damji, Khalil Rehemtulla, Seif Khalifa, Riziki Kiseto, Kassim Nassoro, Issa Kikasi, Enjo Kiongozi, Shaheed Danani, Rashidi Amiri, Benson Mwita, Harsh Ramaiya, Ally Kimote.USA: Steve Massiah (capt), Muhammad Asad Ghous, Steven Taylor, Rashard Marshall, Sushil Nadkarni, Timroy Allen, Orlando Baker, Carl Wright, Aditya Thyagarajan, Adrian Gordon, Lennox Cush, Khawaja Usman Shuja, Kevin Darlington, Nasir Javed.

Batsman Wayne Madsen and fast bowler Mark Footit have signed new two-year contracts with Derbyshire

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Oct-2010Batsman Wayne Madsen and fast-bowler Mark Footitt have signed new two-year contracts with Derbyshire.Madsen, 26, was born in South Africa and made his Derbyshire debut last year. In April 2010 he reached a career-best first-class score of 179, putting together an opening stand of 273 with captain Chris Rogers – a county record and scored 1,403 runs, four first-class centuries and averaged over 50 in one-day cricket in 2010.Footitt was a former Under-19 international for England and now 24, took 33 wickets in all competitions last year after joining from Nottinghamshire in 2009. “I am delighted to secure the services of two cricketers who could prove to be prized assets for the next two years,” said Derbyshire head of cricket John Morris.”In Mark Footitt we have a bowler capable of genuine pace who took promising strides forward in 2010. He is aiming to continue that development over the next two years into a front line first-class bowler. Wayne Madsen has brought great professionalism and an exemplary attitude to the squad as well as maintaining the happy habit of scoring centuries.”Both players are now working hard during the winter to attain the peak of physical fitness before no doubt testing each other out in the nets ahead of the 2011 season.”

Celtic have made Zinedine Ferhat a pre-contract offer ahead of a potential switch in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to reports from France (via the Daily Record), who claim that, after failing to secure a move for the 28-year-old in the January window, both Celtic and Trabzonspor have now offered the Nimes winger a contract ahead of a potential free transfer at the end of the season.

The report goes on to state that the Algeria international has made it clear to the Ligue 2 side that, following their relegation from the French top-flight last season, he would like to secure a move away from the Costieres Stadium – with it being believed that Ferhat even refused to train with the rest of the Nimes squad or feature in any Ligue 2 fixtures in order to force his January departure from the club.

Nicholson continuing the Postecoglou revolution

With Ange Postecoglou having overseen the arrivals of no less than 13 signings since his appointment as Celtic head coach last summer – many of whom are already tearing it up in Scotland – the news that Michael Nicholson is already looking to secure one of the club’s summer targets is clear evidence that the chief executive wishes to continue the 56-year-old manager’s revolution at Parkhead.

And, considering just how talented a player Ferhat is, the 28-year-old would very much look to make another fantastic addition to Postecoglou’s attacking arsenal at Parkhead.

Indeed, over his 33 Ligue 1 appearances last season, the £4.05m-rated winger was in extraordinary form for Nimes, scoring six goals, providing 10 assists and creating nine big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average 1.9 shots and making 1.6 key passes per game.

These returns saw the £13k-per-week man who Adam White dubbed a “graceful” player earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 7.07, easily ranking him as his club’s best performer in the French top-flight last time out.

As such, should Celtic go on to secure a deal for the Algerian who has scored 29 goals and registered 82 assists over his 311 career appearances this summer, the forward would undoubtedly be yet another extremely exciting option for Postecoglou to call upon in his front three – something that would bode very well for both the Bhoys’ domestic and European hopes next season.

In other news: Nicholson may be about to repeat one of McKay’s biggest Celtic blunders at Parkhead

Journalist Ryan Taylor believes Leeds United are working ‘behind the scenes’ on ‘other’ deals alongside RB Salzburg midfielder Brenden Aaronson, Give Me Sport report.

The Lowdown: Third Aaronson bid?

The Whites have made Aaronson their top midfield target and have already submitted two bids. The first was £15m and was rejected, whereas the second was worth £20m and is also yet to be accepted.

Graham Smyth of The Yorkshire Evening Post believes the Whites are now considering a third offer for the USA international, who was coy when quizzed on a move to Yorkshire.

However, even though Phil Hay stated that a quiet end to the window was expected if Leeds couldn’t land Aaronson, Taylor believes Victor Orta is hard at work.

The Latest: Taylor’s comments

Journalist Taylor was talking to Give Me Sport in a story shared on Wednesday morning.

He believes that there is ‘other stuff going on’ alongside Aaronson ‘behind the scenes’.

“We haven’t really heard much on specific names, but from some of the people I’ve spoken to, it seems like there is other stuff going on (than the Aaronson pursuit) behind the scenes.”

The Verdict: Who could it be?

Midfield is where Orta is keen to add to, with reports ahead of January suggesting he was after both a defensive and attacking midfielder.

Aaronson appears to be the attacking target, so perhaps Marseille’s Boubacar Kamara is a defensive one. Leeds have reportedly spoken with the Frenchman’s agent, with the Marseille man seemingly up for sale for £10m due to his contract situation.

He could be a shrewd midfield addition who can also provide cover at centre-back, and hopefully, Leeds can bring in at least one player before Monday’s deadline.

In other news: Sky Sports drop live TV update as Leeds now handed fresh hope to sign Aaronson before February 1. 

Roberto Firmino may consider leaving Liverpool this summer due to Sadio Mane’s shift into the middle, says former top flight manager Alex McLeish.

The Lowdown: Firmino down the pecking order

The Brazilian has become an undisputed Reds legend since joining from Hoffenheim back in 2015, winning the Premier League and Champions League, not to mention leading the line superbly.

Firmino finds himself down the attacking pecking order these days, however, with Mohamed Salah, Mane, Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota all arguably seen as stronger options by Jurgen Klopp, especially since Mane moved to a central role after Diaz’s arrival in January.

The 30-year-old’s current Liverpool deal runs out at the end of next season and the idea of him leaving this summer hasn’t been completely ruled out.

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The Latest: Pundit casts doubt over future

Speaking to Football Insider, McLeish admitted that he could see Firmino moving on due to the shift Klopp has made in recent weeks with Mane, moving Firmino further down the striker pecking order.

Ultimately, he says, the decision will be up to the player himself:

“I think he’s still making an impact. You see him in games coming on and getting a couple of goals and assists. He’s still, I think, very integral to their success this season.

“Like everybody else, he will want to maybe play more football at the end. Who knows, maybe it suits him, the way it is just now. One thing’s for sure, Liverpool are a great club and will do the right thing by their players.

“They will do whatever Firmino wants to do, I would think. Maybe keep him on and keep doing his cameo. Or does the guy want to play more football? I think that would be in Firmino’s hands.”

The Verdict: Don’t leave, Bobby

While it would be understandable if Firmino decided to enjoy a fresh challenge this summer, the hope with the vast majority of Liverpool fans is that he stays put.

At 30, he still has a huge amount to offer, even if his best days are behind him, and he is a perfect foil for different styles of players around him in attack. If he is content being a squad player, the matter should be settled immediately.

Firmino isn’t a player who is reliant on pace, which further highlights why he can be a force for years to come, and the idea of such a popular player leaving doesn’t bear thinking about.

In other news, an exciting Liverpool transfer update has emerged. Read more here.

James Taylor hit a brilliant double century and Australian Andrew McDonald a career best 176 in a record fourth-wicket partnership as Leicestershire took control of their County Championship game against Middlesex at Grace Road

30-May-2010
ScorecardJames Taylor hit a brilliant double century and Australian Andrew McDonald a career best 176 in a record fourth-wicket partnership as Leicestershire took control of their County Championship game against Middlesex at Grace Road. Taylor and McDonald smashed 360 runs off 73 overs to take Leicestershire to an imposing 464 for 3 declared and earn the home side five batting bonus points for the first time this season.Taylor finished on 206 not out off 271 balls while McDonald’s 218-ball innings beat his previous best of 150 not out for Victoria against New South Wales three years ago. Middlesex then faced an awkward seven overs before the close following Matthew Hoggard’s declaration but reached 19 without loss to trail by 445 at the end of the second day.It was the fourth century of 20-year-old Taylor’s career but his first at Grace Road, while for McDonald it was his second in consecutive Championship matches. Their fourth-wicket partnership beat the previous best of 290 between Peter Willey and Tim Boon – the current Leicestershire coach – against Warwickshire in 1984.Leicestershire’s performance was in stark contrast to their efforts in the last match against Glamorgan a few days ago when they were bowled out for 71 in their second innings. They had begun the second day of this match looking in some trouble on an overnight 23 for 2 but then proceeded to score 441 runs off 88 overs for the loss of just one wicket.Middlesex toiled to make any impact with the ball and were not helped by some sloppy fielding throughout the day and the absence after lunch of seamer Iain O’Brien, who was unable to return to the field because of a suspected thigh muscle injury.The only wicket claimed by Middlesex was that of opener Matthew Boyce, who was beaten and bowled by a perfect yorker from Gareth Berg an hour into the morning’s play. Boyce was out for 42 but from that point on Taylor and McDonald dominated the day. Runs flowed at around four an over as the fourth-wicket pair flayed the Middlesex attack with the boundary count piling up.Taylor, who shot to stardom last season scoring his maiden century against Middlesex at Southgate, clearly loves playing against them. He reached his century this time with a boundary off Shaun Udal – his 15th at that stage – off 138 balls. McDonald was equally severe with some glorious drives both sides of the wicket and despite using eight bowlers Udal was unable to prevent Leicestershire’s march towards the 400-plus total.McDonald reached his century off 158 balls with 13 fours and Taylor’s double century arrived off 267 balls with 27 fours. Soon after that Hoggard called a halt with Taylor on 206 having faced 271 balls and hit 28 fours and McDonald on 176, which included 22 boundaries. It was a magnificent effort from the home side and the partnership was the fourth highest for any wicket for them in a Championship match.

Dropping a live TV update (via Football Daily), Sky Sports have now shared what they know on Tottenham Hotspur’s interest in Wolverhampton Wanderer’s star Adama Traore.

The Lowdown: Spurs eye move…

Reports linking the Spaniard with a move to Tottenham have seriously gained traction in the last few days as manager Antonio Conte reportedly sets out a first team plan for him.

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Indeed, The Athletic claim Spurs’ manager sees Traore as a solution to his right-wing-back problem and believes he can remould the 25-year-old in a similar fashion to Victor Moses during his stint at Chelsea.

90min claim that Tottenham front the queue for his signature with Traore ‘willing’ to join Conte as a makeshift defender.

The Latest: Sky share update…

Sharing news on live TV (via Football Daily), broadcast giant Sky back Tottenham’s interest in the player and claim it is in fact ‘strong’.

“Tottenham showing strong interest in the Wolves attacker Adama Traore,” they explained.

“They were in talks to sign him at the end of the summer transfer window and that interest has remained.

“And we’re told Spurs see Traore as someone who could play well as a right-wing back in that Antonio Conte system.”

The Verdict: Get it done?

Making the winger Conte’s first signing of his tenure could be a brilliant move and the perfect start to the Italian’s tenure at N17.

Called ‘undefendable’ by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, he’s averaged a far superior rate of completed dribbles per 90 (4.5) than any Spurs player (WhoScored) – highlighting his real threat from out wide.

You can clearly see why Conte wants to transform the player into a marauding full-back who can inject width and energy into Tottenham’s side.

Given he could now leave Molineux for just £22 million according to some reports, moving for Traore could come as a no-brainer.

In other news: Tottenham ‘working strongly’ for ‘phenomenal signing’ as reporter drops Twitter message, find out more here.

Ricky Ponting believes it is “absolutely possible” that Australia can trounce England with a 5-0 Ashes clean-sweep this summer

Cricinfo staff16-Aug-2010Ricky Ponting believes it is “absolutely possible” that Australia can trounce England with a 5-0 Ashes clean-sweep this summer. Although Ponting didn’t quite match Glenn McGrath’s 5-0 prediction from four years ago – which turned out to be correct – he was confident that Australia had learnt from their mistakes and such an outcome was “all in our hands”.The Australians gave up the urn in England last year with a 2-1 defeat and while they have performed strongly since then, a 1-1 draw against Pakistan last month raised a few questions. The Headingley loss was Australia’s first Test defeat since the Ashes, and back home they won’t have as much reason to fear the swinging ball.By the first Test at the Gabba, Australia should have regained their No. 1 wicketkeeper Brad Haddin and the offspinner Nathan Hauritz, while they hope Peter Siddle will also be available after battling back stress fractures. Ponting met Cricket Australia officials in Melbourne on Monday to plan for the Ashes and said there was no reason to rule out a 5-0 win.”It’s absolutely possible,” Ponting told reporters. “There’s no reason why not. It’s all in our hands. It’s how well we play and how well we take charge of different situations. We’ve learnt from a lot of the mistakes that we’ve made. There’s no doubt we made some mistakes in the last Ashes series in England that probably at the end of the day cost us the series.”We know now that we’re a more experienced and probably a better team now than we were then. We put that together plus we’re playing in our conditions, we hope to win this series and win it well. Batting collapses probably were the reason we lost the series last time around and our inability to bowl them out on the last day in Cardiff. I’ve got confidence in the squad of players that we’ve got that they are going to be good enough to win an Ashes series.”Following Australia’s 1-1 series with Pakistan, England have started their series against the same opponents with two powerful victories, winning inside four days at both Trent Bridge and Edgbaston. They play two more Tests against Pakistan, their only five-day outings before the Ashes, while Australia will fine-tune their preparations with two Tests in India in October.”[James] Anderson and [Stuart] Broad and those guys have really stepped up,” Ponting said of England.” They are coming together well as a team. We have to make sure at the end of the Indian tour that we have got everything in place to make sure that we’re ultra-competitive against them.”They [England] certainly have bowled well and they’ve had great conditions to bowl in as well, the English. We’ll have a different set of conditions and a different ball when they come out here and I’m sure our guys will equip themselves really well. We know where we have to bowl to all of their batsmen. They’ve got no one there who’s going to surprise us at all.”Jonathan Trott, the England batsman who scored a century on debut at The Oval last August, offered a wry response to Ponting’s assessment. “I’ve only played one game against them, and they wanted to win that game but it turned out pretty good for us,” he said. “That’s all I can say, I don’t know the guy and his character, but I’d find if I’d said something like that I’d have put more pressure on myself and the team, more than if I go about my business the way I know.”

Marcus North, Doug Bollinger and Xavier Doherty have been axed, and Australia’s selectors have sprung a major surprise by naming the little-known spinner Michael Beer in their 12-man squad for the Perth Test

Brydon Coverdale10-Dec-2010Marcus North, Doug Bollinger and Xavier Doherty have been axed, and Australia’s selectors have sprung a major surprise by naming the little-known spinner Michael Beer in their 12-man squad for the Perth Test. Phillip Hughes has been picked to replace the injured Simon Katich, while Steven Smith is a strong chance to play after no other specialist batsman was named to replace North.Mitchell Johnson and Ben Hilfenhaus are also likely to come back in to the side in what could be a four-man pace attack with Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle, who the selectors considered the best of the bowlers in the Adelaide loss. But it’s the inclusion of Beer that will raise eyebrows, especially with Nathan Hauritz fresh from a first-class century and five-wicket haul for New South Wales.”Michael Beer replaces Xavier Doherty in the squad,” Australia’s chairman of selectors, Andrew Hilditch, said. “Michael is a left-arm orthodox spinner who has been very impressive at domestic level this year. He took wickets against England in the tour match earlier this summer and we expect he will bowl very well against the English on his home ground.”But Hilditch’s comments seemingly ignore the fact that the WACA has been Beer’s home ground for only a few months, after he moved from Victoria during the off-season. He has played only three first-class matches at the ground and in his five first-class appearances, all of which have taken place this summer, he has 16 wickets at 39.93 with a best of 3 for 39.Beer, 26, is a left-arm orthodox bowler who plied his trade in Melbourne club cricket until the end of last season, when he moved to Western Australia in an attempt to launch his domestic career. Against the touring England side last month he 3 for 108 and 2 for 99, and the chances of him winning a place in the starting XI for the third Test must be slim.One man who will definitely play at the WACA is Hughes, who is not in his best form but was still considered the most likely replacement for Katich, who will miss the rest of the series with an Achilles tendon injury. The pressure on Hughes will be increased after Australia altered the balance of their squad by leaving out the specialist batsman North.North has had a disappointing start to the Ashes campaign and the strong batting form of Brad Haddin makes it likely that the wicketkeeper will move up to No. 6 with Smith at No. 7. Smith has played two Tests, against Pakistan in England in July, when he was chosen as a legspinner in the absence of the injured Hauritz, and if Beer doesn’t play he will be the lead slow bowler in Perth.”Steve Smith replaces Marcus North in the 12-man squad,” Hilditch said. “This is obviously disappointing for Marcus who has played some outstanding Test innings for Australia but it was felt to be the right time to bring the exciting prospect Steve Smith into the Test team. Steve has already had success at international level and will also add to the bowling depth with his leg-spin bowling and dynamic fielding.”Doug Bollinger has been omitted from the squad. Both Mitchell Johnson and Ben Hilfenhaus did not play in Adelaide but will be strongly considered for selection in the Perth Test match where conditions will suit them. Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle were the pick of our quicks at Adelaide Oval and these four make up the pace attack for the Perth Test match.Squad Shane Watson, Phillip Hughes, Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey, Brad Haddin (wk), Steven Smith, Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris, Peter Siddle, Michael Beer, Ben Hilfenhaus.