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Chris Broad landed back in Manchester and launched a stinging attack on the security in Lahore at the time of yesterday’s attack which left eight people dead, while expressing his concern that the incident sounds a ‘death knell’ for cricket in Pakistan

Cricinfo staff04-Mar-2009
Chris Broad: ‘We were promised high level security and in our hour of need that security vanished. There was not a sign of a policeman anywhere’ © PA Photos
Chris Broad landed back in Manchester and launched a stinging attack on the security in Lahore at the time of yesterday’s attack which left eight people dead, while expressing his concern that the incident sounds a ‘death knell’ for cricket in Pakistan.Broad, who was the ICC’s match referee for the Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the city, accused the Pakistani authorities of leaving match officials as “sitting ducks” and claiming that players and officials arriving for the Test were not offered sufficient protection despite assurances given by the Pakistan board.”I’m angry with the Pakistani security forces,” Broad said. “We were promised high level security and in our hour of need that security vanished. There was not a sign of a policeman anywhere. They had clearly gone, left the scene and left us to be sitting ducks. I had an inkling before the Test match leg of the tour that something might happen. I certainly didn’t think this was going to happen.”Broad’s claims that he had flagged concerns about the security before the start of the series will raise issues. “I raised my concerns with the ICC before the tour started and they passed on those concerns to the Pakistan board. They assured me through e-mail that all security would be taken care of, presidential-style security. And clearly that didn’t happen.”When we were in the van we weren’t aware of what was going on outside. But after the incident when you watch the TV pictures you can clearly see the white van we were in, next to the ambulance in the middle of a roundabout, with terrorists shooting into our van and past our van and not a sign of a policeman anywhere.”Broad has been praised for throwing himself on top of fellow official Ahsan Raza as the vehicle they were travelling in came under fire. “I am not a hero,” he said. “Most of us were just waiting for a bullet to hit us.”Raza was shot in the back during the attack and rushed to Lahore’s Service hospital for surgery on a collapsed right lung and a damaged liver. Hospital staff said the operation was successful.Raza’s family members have said he is recovering fast and is likely to be released from the intensive care unit in the next two to three days.Broad went on to say that some of the security forces fled when the shooting started. “At some stage … someone opened the door of the van and an elite policeman threw himself inside and lay on top of me. That wasn’t particularly brave. When the shooting stopped, I shouted at him to drive us away but he said: ‘I don’t drive.'”For all Broad’s anger at the security concerns, he was just as dismayed at the impact that the attack could have on the future of cricket in the country. “They have a lot of very talented cricketers, and I feel sorry for the cricketers and for the cricket-mad public of Pakistan,” he said. “But this is a bit of a death knell for cricket in Pakistan and I feel sorry for those people. I can’t see it going on for the foreseeable future.”Ijaz Butt, the chairman [of the PCB] has come out and said that friends will come to Pakistan but I don’t think they have any friends in world cricket that will go to Pakistan after this has happened. Sri Lanka were a friendly country – they wanted to go, they wanted to support Pakistan. I don’t think they will be going back and certainly India, Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa won’t be keen.”Broad said the ICC would, in future, possibly have to take more direct responsibility for security arrangements rather than leaving matters to individual boards. “There are countries who have their own security experts,” he said. “I know England have Reg Dickason from Australia. Dickason didn’t think Pakistan was safe for anyone to go to. He was amazed the Sri Lanka tour went ahead. But he’s not advising Sri Lanka.”Maybe there’s something for the ICC to look at – that they themselves take the safety concerns into consideration and make the decisions.”

Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins features on Tottenham Hotspur’s list of transfer targets, according to Spanish outlet Fichajes.

The lowdown

Villa paid what was a club-record fee of £28million to sign Watkins from Brentford in September 2020 (via BBC Sport).

He’s gone on to score 16 goals in his first 44 appearances for Dean Smith’s side (via Transfermarkt).

Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer, who knows a thing or two about sticking the ball in the back of the net, has described the Englishman as ‘magnificent’.

He still has four years left on the £75,000-per-week contract he signed upon his arrival in the Midlands.

The latest

Spurs are said to be in the process of a devising a ‘template’ to turn the team into title contenders from next season.

They see a need for reinforcements at the top end of the pitch, either as support or a replacement for Harry Kane.

Watkins is on their ‘list of options’ because his profile ‘fits perfectly with the sporting plan that the team has’.

Villa, though, are described as ‘a complicated club to negotiate with’ and will demand a hefty fee.

The verdict

Watkins is a 25-year-old, excellent all-round striker with multiple years to run on his deal. Villa should be slapping a price-tag of more than £50million on his head.

It’s also worth noting that he probably wouldn’t view Spurs as much of an upgrade right now. After a run of three straight defeats, they look in a bad way, while there’s a sense of an upward trajectory at Villa Park.

In other news, this three-word message saw Villa fans erupt. 

MatériaMais Notícias

Lucas Pratto completou sete partidas sem fazer gols neste domingo, exatamente o tempo que o São Paulo está sem vencer no Campeonato Brasileiro, torneio em que termina a 12ª rodada na penúltima posição. O atacante argentino, entretanto, teve boa chance de encerrar o jejum no momento em que o Santos vencia por 3 a 0, mas desperdiçou uma batida de pênalti sofrido por ele mesmo aos 25 minutos do segundo tempo e lamentou.

-Eu como capitão não posso perder um pênalti assim – desabafou o camisa 14 do São Paulo, que ainda explicou o nível de desempenho da equipe na derrota por 3 a 2 na Vila Belmiro.

RelacionadasBrasileirãoATUAÇÕES: Copete sobra, faz três gols e garante vitória no clássicoBrasileirão09/07/2017BrasileirãoPanela de pressão! Copete faz três e deixa São Paulo em penúltimo lugarBrasileirão09/07/2017

-O time joga bem em alguns momentos. Não dava para acreditar no 3 a 0 porque o Santos não foi melhor que o São Paulo. Temos de ter melhor sorte, porque temos muita entrega durante o jogo.

Prattoé o artilheiro do São Paulo no Brasileiro, com três gols (todos no Morumbi), e o segundo jogador que mais balançou as redes pelo São Paulo na temporada: são dez gols em 25 jogos, atrás dos 12 que Gilberto fez nas 23 partidas que realizou neste ano.

Neste domingo, ele cobrou na trave um pênalti já aos 25 do segundo tempo e atrasou a reação do Tricolor contra o Santos, que vencia por 3 a 0 na ocasião. Depois do pênalti perdido, Shaylon marcou aos 30 e Arboleda aos 41 da etapa complementar.

Everton fans are delighted with the news that Crystal Palace are interested in signing Tom Davies and are keeping tabs on his future.

The Toffees have had a generally good start to the season under new manager Rafael Benitez. As it stands, they are fifth in the Premier League table, having won four of their opening six matches, and they sit just one point behind current leaders Liverpool (Sky Sports).

While the Goodison Park outfit have performed rather well, Davies has had to make do with a just two appearances and a total of 17 minutes in the league (Transfermarkt).

According to Football Insider, there is uncertainly over the £16.2m-valued man’s future at the club, and Palace are said to be interested in acquiring his services as a result.

The news was shared on Twitter by @ToffeeTVEFC, and it attracted plenty of attention from the supporters. They took to the social media platform to share their thoughts on the rumour.

Let’s see what the fans had to say about the Davies news below

“I’d get shut in a heartbeat”

Credit: @andy_francis2

“Let it happen please”

Credit: @VladtheLad8

“Stop teasing me”

Credit: @andysimo5

“Sound like a good deal all around if for the right price. Davies needs to be be playing regularly and seems that Rafa doesn’t fancy him.”

Credit: @_RobMatthews_

“This would be a good deal for everyone make it happen Palace.”

Credit: @leemolton

“Probably time he left now I think. It hasn’t worked here for whatever reasons and Palace are a decent club who may be able to give him game time”

Credit: @pdwyer1987

In other news, Everton fans react to this transfer news.

نجح فريق الكرة الأول بالنادي الأهلي في تسجيل الهدف الأول بشباك مصر المقاصة في المباراة الجارية بينهما الآن.

ويستضيف استاد الكلية الحربية مباراة الأهلي ومصر المقاصة، في الجولة الـ27 من عمر الدوري المصري الممتاز.

طالع أيضًا.. ترتيب الدوري المصري بعد فوز الأهلي وبيراميدز على مصر المقاصة والبنك الأهلي

وأحرز الأهلي هدفه في الدقيقة 22 بتسديدة متقنة للاعب المالي أليو ديانج من على حدود منطقة الجزاء.

ويطمح الأهلي في تحقيق الفوز من أجل مواصلة مطاردة فريقي الزمالك وبيراميدز بجدول ترتيب الدوري.

ويتواجد الأهلي في المركز الثالث برصيد 51 نقطة حصدها من 24 مباراة، ويتبقى له مؤجلتان. هدف الأهلي الأول أمام المقاصة

Cricinfo has learned that Zimbabwe Cricket is considering readvertising the post of national coach after it received only four fairly low-profile applications

Steven Price in Harare23-Dec-2008Cricinfo has learned that Zimbabwe Cricket is considering readvertising the post of national coach after it received only four fairly low-profile applications. One source close to the board even said that it is considering approaching the ICC for its help, although that was not confirmed.The four applicants are understood to have been reduced to two, incumbent Walter Chawaguta and Stephen Mangongo, with former coach Kevin Curran and Colin Siller removed from the equation. Website zimbabwecricket.com referred to the four applicants as being “not much of a choice, really …. two men of the “wrong” colour with at least some of the right experience, and two men of the “right” colour with very little experience between them”.A Zimbabwe Cricket spokesman said that Chawaguta “was appointed in an interim capacity and so will continue in that role until a substantive appointment, the process leading to which is currently under way with applications having closed and the relevant committee going through those received, is made.”So in the short-term, Chawaguta retains his post for the tour to Bangladesh and then Kenya in January, and a permanent appointment will be made when the squad returns. It is believed that he will have to cut a far more impressive figure on the trip than he did during the home series against Sri Lanka last month to convince the board to stick with him.If he does not, then Mangongo is expected to take on the job, despite having no first-class experience and few credentials as a coach. What he does have is strong links to the influential Takashinga club and, despite some public fallings-out in recent years, the support of key individuals at the top of ZC. Whether that extends to making him qualified to coach an international side is another matter.What this shows is how far Zimbabwe have sunk, as only a few years ago the post would have been seen as an ideal one for any up-and-coming coach. In fairness to ZC, the state of the country is probably more responsible for putting off prospective candidates than anything else.An inexperienced side desperately needs top-class coaching to help them find their feet on the international stage. What is doesn’t want is a coach every bit as raw as the youngsters on the field.If the ICC is sincere about wanting to help Zimbabwe, this is one area where its influence really could make a difference.

Tobago will not be hosting any matches in this year’s domestic four-day tournament after the scheduled sixth-round match at Shaw Park, Scarborough was switched to Trinidad

Cricinfo staff18-Jan-2009Tobago will not be hosting any matches in this year’s domestic four-day tournament after the scheduled sixth-round match at Shaw Park, Scarborough was switched to Trinidad.The reported the move came about after the West Indies Players’ Association expressed concerns over Shaw Park, though it’s not yet known what they were. The match slated for Shaw Park, between Trinidad & Tobago and the Leeward Islands, will now be played at the Sir Frank Worrell ground in St Augustine fromFebruary 13 to 16. The decision comes after a meeting between officials of the T&T board (TTCB) and the University of the West Indies, on whose campus the ground is located.The ground, spruced up for the 2007 World Cup, will also host the fifth-round fixture against Combined Campuses and Colleges Cricket, which was originally to be held in Couva. Leo Doodnath, the TTCB vice-president, said the switch was made to assist the media and relieve the financial obligation of the board.”The board has been looking to revive cricket in the East-West Corridor andthis would provide an opportunity for the young ones in these areas to come to the cricket and see the stars in action.”

Aston Villa loanee would ‘welcome’ a permanent move from Manchester United, according to The Sun.

The Lowdown: Tuanzebe’s third loan spell

Tuanzebe was one of five Villa signings over the summer, sealing a third loan move to Villa Park.

He’s started two of four Premier League games this season but won’t be able to feature in Villa’s trip to Old Trafford later this month.

The 6ft defender still has two years remaining on his Manchester United contract, but it seems as if he is open to a permanent transfer to the Midlands.

The Latest: Transfer update

The Sun shared a story on Monday afternoon regarding Tuanzebe’s future.

They were informed by an insider that the 23-year-old is ‘very happy’ at Villa Park and would ‘welcome’ a full-time move to the club, should that arise.

Tuanzebe believes Dean Smith can get the best out of him and would relish the opportunity to make his stay at the club permanent.

The Verdict: Sign

Reports back in May suggested that an offer of £7m could have been enough for Tuanzebe on a permanent basis, and if that is still the case, it could be a wise move by Villa.

Tuanzebe, who was handed his Manchester United debut by Jose Mourinho, is capable of playing as a centre-back and a right-back and is still in the early stages of his career even though he has racked up over 75 senior appearances.

Villa are fairly short of centre-back and right-back options, so keeping hold of a player who wants to be at the club seems a smart call.

In other news: ‘Bad attitude’ – Aston Villa ace’s comments have got loads of fans talking. 

أوضح كارلو أنشيلوتي المدير الفني لفريق ريال مدريد موقفهم من إمكانية التعاقد مع لاعبين جدد، خلال موسم الانتقالات الصيفي الحالي.

وكان ريال مدريد قد تعاقد مع اثنين من اللاعبين فقط هذا الصيف، وهما أنطونيو روديجر وأوريلين تشواميني.

وقال أنشيلوتي في تصريحات نشرها الصحفي الشهير فابريزيو رومانو: “لن نقوم بأي تعاقد آخر، نحن سعداء بالفريق الحالي، نحن أقوياء”.

وأضاف: “أنا سعيد مع روديجر وتشواميني، وأنا متأكد من أن هازارد سيساعدنا كثيرًا”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. أسينسيو يتلقى عرضًا من الدوري الإنجليزي للرحيل عن ريال مدريد

وعانى هازارد من كثرة الإصابات التي أثرت على مستواه وتسببت في قلة مشاركاته رفقة ريال مدريد، حيث خاض 23 مباراة في مختلف المسابقات وسجل هدفًا واحدًا وصنع هدفين.

Seventeen wickets fell on a dramatic third day in Mysore, but there was nochange in overall match situation, with Karnataka retaining a firm grip

The Bulletin by Siddarth Ravindran in Mysore18-Nov-2008
Scorecard

Rahul Dravid’s polished 50 was the centrepiece of Karnataka’s secondinnings © AFP (file photo)
Seventeen wickets fell on a dramatic third day in Mysore, but there was nochange in the overall match situation, with Karnataka retaining a firm grip.Andhra fought back after falling 148 runs short in the first inningsthrough medium-pacer P Vijaykumar’s six-wicket haul. But their top order’sfailings, on a pitch with a hint of variable bounce, put Karnataka back incharge.Andhra mostly kept only two fielders on the leg side, and their bowlers’persistent outside-off line had most of the Karnataka batsmen feeling forthe ball. Vijaykumar reaped most of the benefits, five of his wicketscoming through catches to the keeper or slip. His other victim, RobinUthappa, squatted exaggeratedly after being bowled for 9 indicating thatthe ball kept lower than he had anticipated.Rahul Dravid’s polished 50 was the centrepiece of Karnataka’s secondinnings, but the youngsters in the line-up failed again. A big chunk ofDravid’s, and Karnataka’s, runs came in the region between third man and cover.He started cautiously, refusing to be tempted by the wide deliveriesoutside off stump, and it was only after getting his eye in that heemployed the cut. There were some soft-handed, controlled glides past slipand, some delicate leg glances when the bowling drifted onto his pads.The only blemish in another assured knock was an attempted upper-cut whichflew just above the hands of slip. He finally fell, nicking a widedelivery from D Kalyankrishna to the keeper; Karnataka slipped to 135 for6.Brief bursts of hitting followed from Thilak Naidu, Sunil Joshi and VinayKumar before the innings came to a close with NC Aiyappa giving astraightforward catch to Hemal Watekar at slip off Vijaykumar, who was soelated with his career-best performance that he tripped over ateam-mate’s foot as he set off on a celebratory run.Barring Dravid, the Karnataka batsmen frequently groped for theball outside off stump before finally getting an edge. G Satish’s inningstypifying their display: he edged past third slip, survived two massiveappeals for caught behind, and, in one period, was beatenin four of five deliveries, before finally being caught by wicketkeeper Manoj Sai.Andhra needed 320 off 120 overs to pull off a comeback victory, achallenging task but as good a position as they could have hoped for atthe start of the day. However their batsmen chose to follow the templateset by Karnataka’s batsmen. Loose away-from-the-body wafts led to threeAndhra wickets; those of their openers, Watekar and LNP Reddy, and theirfirst-innings top scorer Sai. Joshi chipped in with one more,trapping B Sumanth lbw on the back foot, and the visitors finished the day on 28for 4.Their tail-enders had responded better to the challenge of saving thefollow-on in the morning session. They were eight down after Joshi gotKalyankrishna in the fourth over of the day, but M Suresh and debutantSuresh Babu resisted. Suresh fell soon after bringing up his fifty, miscuing a pull to point. Andhra were nine down, and still needed 16 more runs.The inexperienced left-arm spinner KP Appanna was brought on at thatstage, a move which backfired as Babu slammed three fours in his firstover. A sweep for four in Appanna’s next over ensured Andhra avoided the follow-on. Karnataka were disappointed but their smiles were back by the end of the day.