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The chairman of BCCI’s technical committee believes introduction of foreigner among four ‘guest’ players will have a positive impact on the standard of cricket in India

Cricinfo staff09-Sep-2008
Sunil Gavaskar: “We did not want people to come in and use our domestic tournaments as a learning ground, so we decided that the foreign player should have played in 10 Tests or 20 one-dayers” © AFP
Sunil Gavaskar hopes the introduction of foreign players in Indian domestic cricket will make significant contributions to the application levels and attitudes of the teams across the country.Gavaskar is currently the chairman of the BCCI’s technical committee, which recently allowed state associations to include four ‘guest players’ [ those from areas outside their jurisdiction] in their squad from the 2008-09 season onwards, up from the three previously permitted.”Whenever a player was selected for India his state used to miss the contributions from him and no replacements would be immediately available,” Gavaskar told . “All states already had the right to include three guest players. The technical committee increased it to four by permitting one foreign player.”However, the committee attached a rider that required the overseas player to have played at least ten Tests or 20 ODIs. “We did not want people to come in and use our domestic tournaments as a learning ground, so we decided that the foreign player should have played in 10 Tests or 20 one-dayers,” he said.Gavaskar believed an overseas player who had played just one Test would not make any contribution to the domestic competitions. “If the foreign player is experienced our young Ranji Trophy players can look up to him and can learn something from him.”He was also optimistic about playing in India becoming a big draw for international cricketers. “A foreign player not playing for his national team or just out of the national reckoning may be ready to play. For such a player it might make sense financially too.”However, it’s unlikely state associations in India will be able to match the sums the various franchises shelled out for the big names during the IPL. The BCCI is likely to increase the daily match fee for players taking part in domestic tournaments in the 2008-09 season to Rs. 37,000 [approximately US$840]; the pay hike, if implemented, will see an increase of Rs. 11,000 from last season.The 2008-09 season will begin with the Irani Trophy match – between Ranji Trophy champions Delhi and Rest of India – from September 24.

Sheffield Wednesday are reportedly interested in signing former Southampton midfielder Josh Sims, according to journalist Dom Howson.

The Lowdown: Moore working hard on signings

Darren Moore is having a productive time of things in the transfer window, bringing in a host of players already this summer.

Bailey Peacock-Farrell and Lewis Wing both signed on loan earlier in the week, meaning six new players have arrived, but the Owls’ business still looks to be far from over.

The Latest: Owls linked with Sims move

According to Yorkshire Live journalist Howson, Wednesday are ‘in talks’ with Sims over a move to Hillsborough, with the 24-year-old a free agent after leaving Southampton last month.

Moore is thought to be a ‘big admirer’ of the winger, who played under the Owls boss on loan at Doncaster Rovers last season, scoring once and registering seven assists in League One.

The Verdict: Another effective addition

This is proving to be a promising summer for Wednesday, with Moore looking like he has a clear plan, bringing young and hungry players into his squad – only one of his arrivals so far are over 26.

Sims could be another of those, possessing experience at a top-level club in Southampton, making 27 appearances for them overall.

He could provide competition for places in wide areas – with Adam Reach no longer at the club he could help fill that void – and aid the Owls’ promotion push.

In other news, one Sheff Wed player has been hailed after this week’s friendly win. Find out who it is here.

Southampton are reportedly targeting a move for RB Leipzig forward Alexander Sorloth as a potential Danny Ings replacement, according to The Athletic. 

Ings’ somewhat surprising departure to Aston Villa was confirmed on Wednesday evening, with Dean Smith’s side looking as though they’ll be planning for life without Jack Grealish.

It has been reported by Fabrizio Romano that Grealish is set to get undergo a medical with Manchester City, ahead of a move worth £100million.

Villa signed Ings on Wednesday, in a deal worth £30million, according to a report from Hampshire Live. The forward spent two years with Southampton, and scored 13 goals in 33 appearances for the Saints last term in what was a frustrating league campaign for Ralph Hasenhüttl’s side.

Southampton are seemingly moving quickly in their efforts to find Ings’ replacement, with Alexander Sorloth being one of their reported targets ahead of the 2021/22 league campaign.

Sorloth has been with RB Leipzig since 2020, and scored six goals in 37 appearances last term for the German side.

He would be no stranger to English football either, having previously been on the books with Crystal Palace before heading to RB Leipzig in 2020 – he scored just once in 20 appearances for the Eagles.

Plenty of Southampton supporters were quick to take social media to react to the Saints’ rumoured interest in signing Sorloth this summer.

Saints fans fume

Take a look at the best of the reaction from Twitter below, after their interest was shared by Saints Extra.

“No no no no no. Tammy or Armstrong I wouldn’t mind, but not Sorlorth.”

Credit: @AidanCMcMahon

“Please no he’s awful.”

Credit: @GaryFretwell

“He scored 6 goals for his club last season, what on earth are they thinking.”

Credit: @PixelKicker

“Palace and Leipzig reject Alexander Sorloth? The man who could only do the business in the Super Lig, a league where Mario Lemina looked like a world beater? That guy?”

Credit: @ftbl_mark

“Who??”

Credit: @Southampton_82

“Eduoard, Armstrong or Tammy all great options.”

Credit: @G0DDARD97

Australia’s players are concerned about the recent bombings in Delhi, where the third Test will be held, according to the fast bowler Stuart Clark

Cricinfo staff30-Sep-2008
Stuart Clark says the Delhi bombings are “pretty fresh in everyone’s mind” © AFP
Australia’s players are concerned about the recent bombings in Delhi, where the third Test will be held, according to the fast bowler Stuart Clark. The tour is at this stage going ahead as planned, although the team’s travelling security consultant Frank Dimasi will not make a final recommendation on whether the squad should play in Delhi until closer to the match.But Rajiv Shukla, the chairman of BCCI’s finance committee, who met the home ministry officials in Delhi to discuss the security issue, said the tour was on and there was no change in the venue or the schedule. “We are satisfied by the security arrangement provided by the government,” Shukla said. “They have committed full co-operation to us.”The latest attack came on Saturday when a low-grade bomb went off in a crowded marketplace, killing three people. That blast came a fortnight after a series of five synchronised bomb attacks which killed at least 30 people around Delhi.”It is pretty fresh in everyone’s mind at the moment,” Clark said on the Sydney radio station 2KY. “We are still hanging out and waiting to see what will happen.”But there is some sort of concern that we are going to somewhere where an explosion has just been. I would be lying if I said there wasn’t concern and that we are going to Delhi and there is that sort of thing going on.”After spending a week in Jaipur the Australians have arrived in Hyderabad, where they will have their most testing hit-out to date with a first-class tour match. The Test series begins in Bangalore and then moves on to Mohali, before the third Test starts in Delhi on October 29.The Melbourne-based reported that the squad is receiving regular updates from Dimasi, the security consultant who is travelling with the group and who has prepared a report for Cricket Australia. Peter Young, the Cricket Australia spokesman, said that following a briefing from Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, it was decided that no further restrictions would be placed on the players’ movements for the time being.”The protocols haven’t changed,” Young told the . “They’re doing things like avoiding major markets and avoiding religious gatherings on public holidays. The sorts of things that tourists are advised to avoid as well.”Australia are not only supposed to be in Delhi for the Test, but also for a week beforehand as they enjoy an eight-day break between games. One of the men they will be facing in the Test series, Sachin Tendulkar, said the recent bombings were not a major concern for India’s players.”I don’t think it bothers us,” Tendulkar said. “We are confident nothing bad will happen. This is our homeland. In our homeland I don’t think anyone can harm us. We should be free to move wherever and whenever we want.”

Every team in the Championship would take West Brom target Liam Delap on loan if given the opportunity, claims the Express & Star’s Luke Hatfield.

The Manchester City striker could leave the Etihad for the season in search of more game time and West Brom are one side currently being linked with him.

According to the Express & Star, Delap and Orlando City’s Daryl Dike, who played under Valerien Ismael at Barnsley, are on West Brom’s transfer shortlist as they look to improve their options up front.

Hatfield, though, is expecting a real battle for the 18-year-old should City allow him to leave the club on loan.

“I think he’s a player that pretty much everyone in the Championship wants if I’m being honest with you,” the West Brom journalist told FFC. “Really shone for Man City at youth level.

“He’s a player, like I said, if you offered him to every Championship team, they’d all take him on loan.”

Delap certainly has made an impression at youth level, bagging 24 goals in 22 Premier League 2 appearances.

He also managed to score in City’s Carabao Cup third-round win against Bournemouth last season, so perhaps the English youngster is now ready to go out on loan and make a real impact at senior level.

Raqibul Hasan, the middle-order batsman, returns to Bangladesh’s limited-overs squad for the tour of South Africa

Cricinfo staff28-Oct-2008Bangladesh ODI squadTamim Iqbal, Junaid Siddique, Mohammad Ashraful (capt), Raqibul Hasan, Shakib Al Hasan, Mehrab Hossain jnr, Imrul Kayes, Naeem Islam, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mashrafe Mortaza, Abdur Razzak, Shahadat Hossain, Syed Rasel, Nazmul Hossain, Mahbubul Alam.Raqibul Hasan, the middle-order batsman, returns to Bangladesh’s limited-overs squad for the tour of South Africa. Besides the addition of Raqibul, who fractured his thumb in a recent ODI against Australia, in the 15-man squad, Bangladesh’s selectors have dropped allrounder Mahmudullah from the 14 that played the recent three-ODI series at home against New Zealand. Fast bowler Nazmul Hossain takes his place.Bangladesh, despite the loss of recent internationals to the ICL, have performed creditably against New Zealand. They pulled off a win in the first ODI in Mirpur, and nearly upset the visitors in the first Test in Chittagong. The three newcomers tried out in the series, Naeem Islam, Imrul Kayes and Mahbubul Alam – all three earned a call-up after impressing in the Academy tour of Sri Lanka – are part of the touring party for South Africa.Raqibul will be a handy addition to Bangladesh’s batting line-up, which has often failed to deliver in the recent past. A steady accumulator of runs, Raqibul has made 412 runs at 29.42 in 14 innings since his debut in the home ODIs against South Africa.The squad, led by Mohammad Ashraful, begin the tour with the only Twenty20 international on November 5, followed by three ODIs. Bangladesh will also play two Tests in South Africa, the first of which starts on November 19 in Bloemfontein. During their last tour in 2002, Bangladesh were defeated comprehensively in the three ODIs and two Tests.Mashrafe Mortaza will be Ashraful’s deputy in the 15-man squad, which includes seven batsmen, one allrounder, a wicketkeeper, and six bowlers. Bangladesh’s pool of talent was severely depleted when 14 players joined the ICL’s latest franchise, the Dhaka Warriors. They include recent internationals Aftab Ahmed, Alok Kapali, Shahriar Nafees, Farhad Reza, Ghosh, Mosharraf Hossain and Nazimuddin.

Newcastle United have now reportedly made an offer to try and sign Carles Perez before the summer transfer window ends.

The Lowdown: Winger needed

The St. James’ Park faithful currently only have three natural wingers in their squad at the moment (Transfermarkt), and one of them is Jacob Murphy, who may be seen more as a right wing-back when the new 2021/22 Premier League season starts.

Thus, if he, Allan Saint-Maximin or Ryan Fraser were to find themselves injured for a sustained period of time, it would leave Steve Bruce pretty short in that area.

The Latest: Perez offer

As per Italian football journalist Rudy Galetti, the North East club have ‘officially stepped forward’ to sign Perez, and have made an offer to AS Roma of around €10m (£8.5m) for his signature.

There are ‘ongoing evaluations’ between both teams as the Tyneside club look to strike a deal before the window closes.

The Verdict: Sign

Given the lack of depth in wide areas, it would be a smart move for Bruce and co to go out and sign Perez, especially if they can get him for a mere £8.5m.

Once praised by Lionel Messi while he was at FC Barcelona back in 2019, the Spaniard will feel as if he has a point to prove, and at just 23 years of age, still has a lot of potential.

His three goals and three assists in 31 games in total over all competitions last term (Transfermarkt) show that he can be deadly at times in front of goal, but is perhaps lacking a little consistency.

Nonetheless, £8.5m could turn out to be a steal for a position that needs filling for the Tyneside club.

In other news, find out which £12.6m-rated ‘phenomenon’ NUFC are keen on signing here!

The players’ associations in Australia and New Zealand have given their support to the proposed southern hemisphere Twenty20 tournament that would feature franchise-owned teams in the two nations and South Africa

Cricinfo staff25-Oct-2008
Paul Marsh wants to make sure players have time to spend with their families in among a growing list of international commitments and Twenty20 leagues © Getty Images
The players’ associations in Australia and New Zealand have given their support to the proposed southern hemisphere Twenty20 tournament that would feature franchise-owned teams in the two nations and South Africa. But Paul Marsh, the chief executive of the Australian Cricketers’ Association, said it was imperative the new league did not compromise existing international cricket.”The greatest challenge for this event and the IPL is to put together a schedule that can fit them in but not have them compete with international cricket,” Marsh told AAP. “If we can create a window for the IPL and for this event and ensure the players still have the necessary time for leave and to spend time with their families …”The three national boards are hoping to launch the tournament by 2011 and it is most likely to be fitted into an October timeslot, while the existing domestic Twenty20 competitions in each country can remain. Marsh said Twenty20 clearly created positive opportunities for players and for the game itself but retaining a focus on Test and ODI cricket was vital.”With the IPL, the massive crowds and television audiences, there’s no doubt that Twenty20 is bringing new people to cricket,” he said. “But if we start putting players in a position where they have to choose between big-money Twenty20 events and international cricket, particularly with players from some of the lesser nations, then international cricket will be the loser without any question.”You have to understand that the IPL payments for six weeks of work, for some of these players it might be eight or nine times what they earn in a whole year for their country. That’s why cricket has to protect the game.”Heath Mills, the executive manager of the New Zealand Cricket Players Association, also offered his support for the new league. “Although the competition is still at a conceptual stage,” Mills said, “we are excited by its potential for cricket and our players.”

Kevin Phillips has urged Glasgow Rangers to sell Alfredo Morelos as soon as possible and believes it is the right time for the Colombia international to leave.

The Lowdown: Morelos future up in the air

Morelos’ future has been the subject of much speculation this summer, with Porto in particular said to be interested in his services.

The 25-year-old was even said to have agreed personal terms with the Portuguese outfit (Antena 1), but there has so far not been any concrete offer for the striker.

The Latest: Phillips urges sale

Speaking to Football Insider, Phillips has urged the Gers to sell Morelos this summer. He said:

“I’ve been saying it’s time for Morelos to go for a while now.

“It would help them out financially too if they need that extra cash now.

“There are always issues with him, you know he will miss games in the season.

“Whether that’s through a red card or an accumulation of quite a few yellows.

“I would imagine Rangers are expecting an offer for him now, other clubs know all about the financials.

“I think he will go.”

The Verdict: Will there be a better time?

Unless Morelos signs a new contract at Ibrox – which would be a shock considering he has previously revealed his desire to play in a more prestigious league (Goal.com) – there will surely never be a better time for the Gers to let Morelos go.

With two years left on his current deal (Transfermarkt), he still has a strong sale value. If the Gers were to wait another year, the potential fee they could receive for his services would be significantly lower.

Of course, Morelos is a striker with plenty of talent as he has shown with 95 goals in 185 appearances for Rangers, but Steven Gerrard does have a number of other options at his disposal in Fashion Sakala, Cedric Itten, Kemar Roofe and Jermain Defoe. If Morelos wants to leave, the Gers should respect his wish.

In other news, Rangers fans were livid at this interview.

Surrey have continued their post-season shake-up by releasing quick bowler Neil Saker and batsman Richard Clinton

Cricinfo staff13-Nov-2008Surrey have continued their post-season shake-up by releasing quick bowler Neil Saker and batsman Richard Clinton.Saker, 24, joined in 2003 but managed just 18 first-class matches during an injury-hit stay. His best performance was 5 for 76 against Lancashire in 2007.Clinton, the son of former Surrey batsman Graeme, made his debut 2004 after a late call-up to open the batting and made 73. However, in his 23-match career he only managed one century, against Kent in 2005.”I’d like to thank both players on the club’s behalf for their commitment and effort put in during their time here,” said second team coach Nadeem Shahid. “Neil and Richard are talented and hard working cricketers and we wish them all the best for the future.”Managing director Gus Mackay added: “We were faced with an extremely difficult choice to make but you have to do what you think is best for the squad going forward. The decision was made in the best interests of the club and the players involved. They can now pursue better opportunities elsewhere and we can now focus on getting our squad right ahead of an extremely important year in 2009.”