South Africa’s two-Test tour of Zimbabwe next month will go ahead as scheduled unless the South African government or the Zimbabwean cricket authorities advise the United Cricket Board otherwise.There has been speculation that the tour might be jeopardised by fears for the safety of the South African team, but UCB chief executive Gerald Majola said this week that there were no plans to call the tour off.Political unrest in Zimbabwe has dominated the front page of South African newspapers for several days, but although the situation appears have worsened recently, with confrontations between "war veterans" and mainly white commercial farmers, violence appears to be confined to rural areas.Majola said that the UCB had asked the South African government for a briefing on the situation, but stressed that the tour would only be called off "on the advice of the South African government or the Zimbabwe Cricket Union".
Wilfried Nancy admitted people will doubt him after his start at Celtic and Fabrizio Romano has delivered an update on the Frenchman’s future at Parkhead.
Wilfried Nancy under pressure after cup final defeat
Nancy can understand the scepticism around him after his disastrous start to life in Glasgow continued with a 3-1 defeat by St Mirren in the Premier Sports Cup final.
“You don’t know me, you’re going to think that I’m all over the place,” the 48-year-old said. “No, I know exactly what we need to do to help the players. We had many, many situations where we did exactly what I’m looking for.
“This is obviously not the result we wanted. But in terms of the way we want to do it, I’m really confident with that.
“But I have to also be humble. The reality is the last three games in terms of results, this is not enough.
“I can understand why the fans can doubt. I can see an evolution all the time, I can see something good, but this is not enough, we are not able to be consistent.
“So obviously, I understand the fans. Yes, I can ask them to believe in me but this is not my job to do that. I have to act instead of talking.”
Fabrizio Romano has since responded to questions about whether the former Columbus Crew boss is facing the sack after his nightmare start in Glasgow.
Nancy fires back at tactical criticisms
Celtic fell behind to Marcus Fraser’s header after 90 seconds before Reo Hatate levelled midway through the first half. But St Mirren were worthy winners through their second-half performance as Jonah Ayunga’s double took the trophy to Paisley.
Nancy took over a team that had won seven out of eight games under interim manager Martin O’Neill but opted to change Celtic’s long-standing 4-3-3 formation and start with three centre-backs, wing-backs, a box midfield and a lone striker.
Celtic have suffered three consecutive defeats for only the third time in 30 years.
Worse than Scales: Nancy must drop 4/10 flop who cost Celtic the trophy
Wilfried Nancy must drop this Celtic flop who was even worse than Liam Scales against St Mirren.
2 ByDan Emery
When asked if his formation change had backfired, the 48 year-old said: “Not at all because we had a really good performance in the first half against Hearts, second half against Roma, and first half today.
“I’m questioning everything. This is my job, to find solutions. But I don’t see it like that. The structure that we had was really interesting, we were able to go wide, we were able to go through the middle, and we were able to attack the box.”
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Nancy felt the first half went to plan after the early goal but added: “When we started the second half, the first five minutes we didn’t control the ball, we started to play long balls.
“So that’s why I was a bit frustrated because I wanted them to keep doing what they did in the first half. After conceding the second goal, we did a kind of ping-pong game. We had the ball, we lost the ball. I want my players to have more belief in themselves.”
Nancy added: “I know that I came in and it was not easy for them to adapt to certain things. And they are really engaged.
“But now this is more about what I ask individually – recognise when we have time on the ball to attack the box. And instead of playing the long ball, can we play (short)? Instead of playing back, can we play forward?”
MS Dhoni has been named captain of the new Pune franchise, Rising Pune Supergiants, for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League.Dhoni, who led Chennai Super Kings to two IPL titles, was named Supergiants’ captain for only one season for now. “He has always been a phenomenal leader for teams that he has represented including the Indian side,” team owner Sanjiv Goenka said at the team’s logo unveiling. “Right now the focus is only on 2016 and the team building. That’s why we named Dhoni as the captain.”His track record in both domestic and International arenas have been remarkable. I firmly believe he will lead our team extremely well on and off the field.”Having made the most successful bid for a new franchise, Dhoni was Pune’s first pick at the player draft in December. The other four players chosen were Ajinkya Rahane, R Ashwin, Steven Smith and Faf du Plessis.”Practically we hope there will be complete harmony in the team. The likes of MS, Steven Smith and Faf du Plessis are seasoned leaders. I don’t think there will be any chance of a friction in the team,” Goenka said.Rising Pune Supergiants, owned by New Rising, will have INR 27 crore to spend at the player auction on February 6 to make up the rest of the squad.
Rising Pune Supergiants – welcome to the family #VIVOIPL pic.twitter.com/tZqipos17O
Michael Owen-Smith, the South African journalist, has been appointed Cricket South Africa’s media officer on a three-year contract, replacing Gordon Templeton on September 1.Owen-Smith comes from a strong cricketing background, having spent 30 years as a newspaper journalist; been part of the judging panel for the annual Wisden Cricketer of the Year and is the son of Tuppy Owen-Smith, the former South Africa allrounder.”Michael Owen-Smith is regarded as one of the most knowledgeable and experienced cricket correspondents both here and abroad. He will be a major asset to both CSA and the Proteas,” Gerald Majola, CSA’s chief executive said. “Apart from his writing abilities, Michael comes from an outstanding sports background as his late father was the famous Tuppy Owen-Smith, who played cricket for South Africa and rugby for England.”Michael has also been a talent-spotter of note, and many young cricketers he wrote about later became top players. His CSA assignment will include liaising with the media on Proteas’ matters, as well as preparing senior and junior representative players to deal with public issues.”The new appointment is one of a raft of changes for South Africa’s board, following the selection of Joubert Strydom as convenor of selectors.”After 37 years of being directly involved in the newspaper industry, I feel the need for change,” Owen-Smith said. “I am delighted to join the team of Cricket South Africa as I feel the game in this country is entering its most exciting period since unity in 1991.”This was born out by the fully representative squad that represented South Africa at the recent Emerging Players tournament in Australia which we won. Although one of my main focuses will be to communicate with the local and international media, I will also have the opportunity to carry on writing which I will do through the medium of CSA’s website”Understandably the mainframe media tend to concentrate on the Proteas, but there is much else to CSA including the High Performance Centre, the academies, the national youth teams, the franchises and domestic cricket generally.”
Shaharyar Khan, the Pakistan chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has given the best assurance yet that the one-day series against England could go ahead. Speaking to PTI, Khan confirmed his side’s commitment to the forthcoming series and says their ‘focus is now on cricket’.A disciplinary hearing on charges faced by Inzamam-ul-Haq, for ball-tampering and bringing the game into dispute, was due to be held on Friday but it has been deferred. The date of the hearing will be announced tomorrow.”The players did not want to play the one-day series with the sword ofthe hearing hanging over them but now they have realised the importance of playing,” Khan explained. “Our focus is now on cricket.I’ve held meetings with the Pakistan players and captain. I’ve toldthem we don’t have any problems with the ECB so we must continue with the tour.”The postponement of the hearing is due to the unavailability of RanjanMadugalle, the ICC chief match referee, whose sister recently suffered a serious accident. Both England and Pakistan have requested Madugalleas the adjudicator, which was confirmed by the ICC chief executive,Malcolm Speed, who is flying to London in the next 48 hours to tacklethe situation head-on.Despite a calming of the waters in England, back in Islamabad, Pakistani MPs of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) party have tabled a motion in the lower house to discuss the issue. “We urged the government to formally intervene in the matter,” Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, the senior MMA leader, told AFP. “We support Inzamam’s decision,” he said adding that the Pakistan captain was justified in registering his protest after the team were dubbed ‘cheats’.Pakistan face England in a Twenty20 match on August 28 at Bristol.<!–The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has demanded that the ICC hold a disciplinary hearing on charges faced by Inzamam-ul-Haq for ball tampering and bringing the game into disrepute before Monday. They added that they will not have a problem if Clive Lloyd is appointed to deal with the case.However, contradictory reports have emerged from the Pakistan camp with Zaheer Abbas, the team manager, telling journalists that it had been decided that they would wait until the end of the one-day series, on September 10, for the hearing to take place. "The board will have no objection if ICC appoints Clive Lloyd for the case hearing," a PCB spokesperson was quoted as saying on Geo TV, a Pakistan news channel.But a spokesman for DLA Piper, the legal firm appointed to represent Inzamam, said: "We want the original bloke. Clearly he has problems to deal with, but the situation has not changed."Abbas, however, offered another different view: "There was an opinion we should ask the ICC to have the hearing before the one-day series to close this issue but since both boards have agreed on having Ranjan Madugalle as the adjudicator it has been decided to wait until he is available. Madugalle's sister has had a serious accident and the reasons for postponing the hearing are genuine." Rather confusingly, he concluded: "Our legal advisers also felt it was best to wait."He added that Thursday's fixture against Middlesex would go ahead as planned. "We are definitely playing that match and the remaining ones also. The players are now just concentrating on the cricket and winning the one-dayers."Earlier, ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed, who is flying to London in the next two days to tackle the crisis first hand, said Friday's planned hearing had been postponed since Pakistan and England preferred Madugalle to act as adjudicator.On Thursday Pakistani MPs of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) party have tabled a motion in the lower house to discuss the issue. "We urged the government to formally intervene in the matter," Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, the senior MMA leader, told AFP. "We support Inzamam's decision," he said adding that the Pakistan captain was justified in registering protest after the team were dubbed 'cheats'."Meanwhile, The Guardian reported that David Morgan, the chairman of the ECB, took part in a 45-minute meeting on Wednesday with Shaharyar Khan and Inzamam at the team’s hotel near Heathrow. Morgan said he had been invited to the meeting by Khan, who said he was “very keen that the one-dayers are not disrupted”. The newspaper speculated that Khan may have been trying to use Morgan’s influence to persuade Inzamam to carry on with the tour.–>
MCC have announced that there will be free admission for the next match at Lord’s, between MCC and another MCC – Melbourne Cricket Club. The game, which starts at 11am on Tuesday July 26, is the first in a sequence of six free-entry days at Lord’s.Mike Gatting, who recently completed his 1000 mile Ashes Walk to raise money for the Lord’s Taverner’s, will play for MCC along with the former Surrey batsman David Ward and the former England batsman Jon Stephenson.On Tuesday August 9, MCC play a Combined Services XI and, on August 28, there will be free admission to the National Village Cricket Championship final. MCC also announced “Kids 4 Free,” a joint initiative with Middlesex, allowing free entry for under 16s to the following matches:Wednesday August 3 – Middlesex v Warwickshire (County Championship, day one)Monday August 15 – Middlesex v Northamptonshire (NationalLeague)Thursday August 18 – Middlesex v Sussex (County Championship, day three)There are spaces for up to 80 boys and girls on each of these “Kids 4 Free” days. Parents or guardians can register their children – who must be aged eight to 16 – by calling the Middlesex CCC office at Lord’s, on 020 7289 1300.
The USA Cricket Association has named a 14-strong team for the Americas under-15 tournament, which will be held in the Cayman Islands from July 20 to 25. The announcement came as a surprise to many, as the USACA has faced a lot of criticism this year for apparently neglecting junior cricket in spite of promises made in the past.Brian Ajodhi, the team’s captain, and Ravi Timbawala, the vice captain, are expected to open the batting – both have gone on international tours with the USA Cricket Academy as opening batsmen.Shaham Mumtaz, then 12, wrote his name into the record books at the ICC U19 World Cup two years ago as the youngest player to have played in the tournament. He was not over-awed by the occasion, and picked up a five-wicket haul against Cayman Islands with his legspin. Dhruv Mehra has also performed well on several international juniors. Apart from these players, the rest of the team will be playing on the international stage for the first time.Following the naming of the team, there was an unofficial protest from New York, claiming that no New York Region players had been selected for the U15 team because of past feuds between the USACA and the New York Region over international junior tours. However, this is unlikely as the coach, Linden Fraser, is himself from New York.USA squad for Americas U15 tournament Brian Ajodhi (capt), Dhaval Patel, Shalin Naik , Shaham Mumtaz, Mohammed Hassan, Chirag Bhakta , Ravi Timbawala, Imran Samsair, Kartik Vittala , Dhruv Mehra, Sunil Deopersaud , Syed N. Abdullah, Chandika Singh, Siddhanth Dhume.
JOHANNESBURG – The entire Caribbean must unite if the 2007 cricket World Cup is to be the organisational and financial success it can be, Barbados Cricket Association president Stephen Alleyne has forewarned."We have to make sure that, in our individual territories, we do an excellent job so that the whole World Cup operation is of a consistently high quality," he said, following two weeks in South Africa as a member of a West Indies delegation of 17 observing the running of the current tournament."It’s not going to help if Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago, for instance, do an excellent job and Barbados and St Lucia are second rate, because the World Cup is going to be judged on the whole."Alleyne, also a director of the West Indies Cricket Board, said his experience in South Africa reinforced his opinion that the Caribbean could not host the World Cup "without the full partnership of the governments of the region".They would have to be involved in security, institute "ambush marketing" legislation, as the South African government did, and be consulted over the best way to deal with the movement of teams, officials, media and fans between territories."The kind of security requirements of a world championship such as this probably exceed the current capabilities of any of our territories," he said. "The traffic-free and no-fly zones, the bomb sweepers, the personal security officers for every VIP and team, all this will take careful thought and planning with our police and possibly armies."Alleyne admitted he was struck by the "extensiveness and exhaustiveness" of measures to protect the official sponsors against competing products and services at the stadia here."Every electrical appliance in the stadium that was not of the main sponsors had to have its brand name masked out. Spectators were not allowed entrance carrying any soft drink other than one of the sponsor."This was one of the provisions in the contract between the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Global Cricket Corporation that bought the rights to all ICC events up to and including the 2007 World Cup.On logistics, one suggestion was that each individual coming for the World Cup would be served at first point of entry with accreditation that would act as "a sort of temporary passport" to allow a freer flow for the duration of the event. Chartering of aircraft and cruise ships was also a possibility to be discussed."These are the kinds of measures that will be required," Alleyne added.He conceded that outside help would be essential."It will need a significant import of expertise. Rather than us trying to run a World Cup on our own, having never done so before, it makes sense to use some of the techniques and some of the experiences that have been used in previous world [sporting] events."
The West Indies are anxiously awaiting a doctor’s report this morningthey fear could end Cameron Cuffy’s tour of Zimbabwe and Kenya.The tall, 31-year-old Vincentian fast bowler, who has made an emphaticreturn to international cricket after four years’ absence, has beeninitially ruled out for the next two weeks by a painful left instep.It means he will miss the two remaining matches in the triangularCoca-Cola Cup series, both against India here today and in the finalon Saturday, and will not be available again until the three-day matchagainst Zimbabwe A at Kwekwe immediately before the first of the twoTests.Though it’s a limited-overs international, we are going to take itvery, very seriously and we will be going out there to play at ourbest and try to see if we can win the match, West Indies coach RogerHarper said yesterday.If the results of yesterday’s X-ray scan reveal a stress fracture, hewill have to return home for the required rest.Cuffy said he first noticed the pain during his seventh over ofSunday’s last-over victory against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo. He has notbeen able to practise or train since.It is a setback to the team and to him personally.Since being recalled for the Carlton Series in Australia last Januaryfor the first time since the fourth Test in Adelaide in 1997, he hasbecome the West Indies best bowler in One-Day Internationals.His 21 wickets in 18 matches have come at an economy rate of 3.6 runsan over. In his three matches here, his 30 overs have cost 70.He is the second of the five fast bowlers for the triangular series tobreak down. Kerry Jeremy, the 21-year-old Antiguan, flew out of Hararelast night on his way home to have treatment for a serious backstrain.Colin Stuart, Jeremy’s original replacement for the second part of thetour, arrived in Harare yesterday along with Leon Garrick and DinanathRamnarine, the others chosen only for the longer matches.Ramnarine takes over leg-spin duties from Mahendra Nagamootoo afterSaturday’s Coca-Cola Cup final. He, Stuart and Garrick should all playthe opening first-class match against the President’s XI at the HarareSouth ground starting Monday.Today’s match has no bearing on the qualification as India, with threewins from three matches, and the West Indies, two from three, havegone through over Zimbabwe who lost all four of theirs.In the event, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Neil McGarrell, the only two yet toplay in the tournament, are included. Sarwan replaces Marlon Samuelsand McGarrell takes over from Nagamootoo.The team: Carl Hooper (captain), Daren Ganga, Chris Gayle,Wavell Hinds, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Ridley Jacobs,Neil McGarrell, Merv Dillon, Corey Collymore and Reon King.
West Ham United returned to Premier League action yesterday with a home clash against relegation-battling Everton.
The Hammers secured a 2-1 win over Frank Lampard’s Toffees thanks to goals from Aaron Cresswell and Jarrod Bowen, setting themselves up nicely for their Europa League quarter-final match against French club Lyon on Thursday night.
Despite the win, the east London club were without one of their key players, who they will now be sweating over in regards to whether or not he’ll be available for their midweek showdown.
What’s the news?
With Ben Johnson not involved at the weekend, David Moyes had this to say after Sunday’s victory about the full-back’s current fitness situation.
“He felt his hamstring playing for England on Wednesday night. He trained Friday and Saturday but felt it again Saturday. We don’t think it’s bad but it was a decision today. We didn’t not want him for other weeks. I’m hoping he’ll be ok.”
So far this season, the 22-year-old has made 26 senior appearances for the Hammers across all competitions, showing how much of a useful squad option he is for Moyes.
Having played through the entire 90 minutes of West Ham’s four previous league games prior to the win against Everton, this shows what a consistent run of form he was on before picking up this injury while away on international duty.
Fans will be sweating
To highlight how significant the defender has become for the team since his days of playing in the U18 and U23 sides, he has averaged 1.8 tackles, 1.3 interceptions and 2.5 clearances per game in the league this season, placing him in the top five for each statistic in Moyes’ squad.
With the reoccurrence of the hamstring issue on Saturday and the fact that Moyes is hopeful rather than sure that the Englishman can make a speedy recovery, this will surely leave plenty of Hammers fans sweating for the time being.
Given the significance of Thursday’s game, the club will undoubtedly be hoping that Johnson will be available for selection by that time and can keep his fitness up for the remainder of the season.
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Should the right-back be unable to play, the Hammers may have to rely on Ryan Fredericks or Vladimir Coufal to do a job for them in midweek.
That may not be ideal given the Czech star has been out of action for the past few weeks with injury despite being on the bench against Everton.
In other news: Moyes can finally axe “shocking” WHU dud as claim emerges, supporters surely buzzing