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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has hailed Francis Coquelin’s contribution to the team over the last few weeks. It’s unsurprising really. As Arsenal’s turbulent season continues, a 2-0 win at the Etihad restored confidence in the manager, and then a dismal defeat at home to Monaco in the Champions League has taken it away.

One bright spot of the last few weeks has been the uncovering of Coquelin, however. An actual, real life, defensive midfielder gracing the pitch at the Emirates!

Coquelin has indeed been impressive, and after sustaining a broken nose in a clash with teammate Olivier Giroud against Everton last weekend, the French midfielder wore a protective mask in the 2-1 win over QPR in midweek.

In quotes reported by the London Evening Standard, Wenger said that despite his injury, Coquelin did not want to be left out of the team and was determined to hold onto his place. Speaking of Coquelin’s recent success, the manager added:

‘the human being is a strange animal – the more you have suffered before, the more you enjoy it’ 

In fact, this might just sum up Wenger!

Take the finding of this new defensive midfielder, as an example. For so long fans have been vainly calling for Wenger to bring in a midfielder to sit in front of the back four while Arsenal’s orchestra of number 10s create beautiful attacking moves up front.

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What they may be celebrating, though, is a new, pragmatic Arsenal. Albeit, celebrating mutedly after the horror show that was the Champions League game against Monaco.

But the win over City was done in such a way that the Arsenal fans probably enjoyed that particular victory more than most of their recent ones – and Wenger will have too. It was the first time in recent memory that Wenger had set his team up to stifle the opposition, and the success of this was due in no small part to Coquelin.

Wenger’s tactics and team selection worked and he was widely praised, even managing to pacify some of the fans calling for his head. For a while at least.

Equally, the Gunners’ first trophy in nine years did a similar trick for Wenger. Along with signings like Alexis Sanchez, it bought him a few months of good will.

Clinching fourth place has also been celebrated like winning a trophy. There have been heaps of jokes about this fact, but in seasons like 2011/12 after the 8-2 defeat at Old Trafford, and 2012/13 where they pipped Tottenham to fourth, Champions League qualification wasn’t always certain for Wenger’s team.

The celebrations as Arsenal beat Newcastle 1-0 at St James’s Park that year are a testament to that. Even though the fans want more, Champions League football is still hugely important for the club.

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Wenger’s words sound like those of a man who has been through some suffering, and after the abuse that he has been getting from a sizeable section of the Gunners’ support, he is probably entitled to enjoy what success he gets this season more than most. With Arsenal looking to start their habitual late season charge for fourth, and have a good chance of retaining the FA cup if they can beat Manchester United on Monday night, Wenger may yet have something to cheer.

Maybe Wenger saw something of himself in Coquelin. Maybe Arsene Wenger is a strange animal – the more he has suffered, the more he enjoys it.

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Sir Alex Ferguson has refuted speculation that Cristiano Ronaldo will be returning to Old Trafford this summer, according to The Metro.

The Portuguese winger left Manchester United for Real Madrid in a four year deal worth £80 million in 2009 and has been rumoured to make a shock return to the Manchester club, while being prepared to take a pay cut to do so.

Ferguson says there is no truth in the rumours and thinks it is a tactical part of the contract negotiations:

‘I don’t think there’s anything, as far as I’m aware, that would encourage me to think he would come back here. I don’t think there’s anything in that at all,’

“He has got two years left on his contract. It could be to do with the fact that negotiations are going on for a new contract. I think maybe his agent is playing the game, though I’m not prepared to comment on that.

I think it is false hope.”

The 28-year-old is in the best form of his life and has even outdone Messi in recent weeks, but is refusing to sign a new contract with Real Madrid indicating that he could leave at the end of the season.

He returns to Old Trafford this week when United take on Real Madrid in the second leg of their Champion’s League round 16 tie and Fergie expects that he will receive a warm welcome from fans.

“Cristiano will get a good reception. All our former players, especially the ones who have been great for this club, get a good ­reception when they return.

“He is a better player now than he was when he was with us because he has matured. He is 28 and at the peak of his career.

“From 28 to 32, with the fitness Ronaldo has got, he never misses a game and is never injured. He will be at his absolute best.

“I’ve got a plan to stop him: it’s called a machete, plan B is a machine gun!”

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Man United came back from the Bernabeu with a draw but they will be fighting to overturn that into a win.

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Jaiswal’s innings, under blue skies and bright sunshine, was split between patience and aggression in the first and second hour of the session

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Jul-2025Lunch Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 62 took India to a solid position of 98 for 2 at lunch on day one of the second Test match in Edgbaston, after Ben Stokes once again opted to bowl first after winning the toss.Jaiswal’s innings, under blue skies and bright sunshine, was split between patience and aggression in the first and second hour of the session, respectively. Having played patiently with early movement on offer, he went from 16 off 34 to a 16th fifty-plus score in just 25 deliveries later. Having started the series with a century in Leeds, he looks in the mood to replicate that first innings feat here in Birmingham.Related

• Bumrah rested; Washington, Reddy, Akash Deep in for India

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• Gill wants top order to take 'more responsibility' after Leeds loss

It was a welcome start following the big news that Jasprit Bumrah was to sit out the Test. His resting was one of three changes for India, with Akash Deep, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar drafted into the XI.The changes give India a completely different feel from the defeat at Headingley, with Sai Sudharsan and Shadrul Thakur dropped. Karun Nair batted at No.3. Explaining the decision to rest Bumrah, Shubman Gill revealed the India management felt Lord’s will offer Bumrah more than this track.The catalyst for the left-hander’s acceleration was the introduction of Josh Tongue, who inadvertently alleiviated the pressure created by the opening bowlers, Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse. The former prised out KL Rahul for a torturous 2 from 26 deliveries in an impressive new ball spell which read 1 for 15 from seven overs, including four maidens on the bounce. And Woakes was unlucky not to make more inroads after standing umpire Sharfuddoula turned down two close LBW appeals – the first against Jaiswal on 12, the second against Nair on 5. Both were reviewed only to come back with fractional Umpire’s Call on the predicted path into the stumps.Carse had to wait six minutes before the lunch interval to get his reward, when hard length surprised Nair, on 31, powerless to prevent a splice towards Harry Brook at second slip. That ended a productive stand of 80 for the second wicket which Nair had driven initially before Jaiswal took the wheel.Yashasvi Jaiswal cuts for four to bring up his half-century•Getty Images

Even as England bossed the first half of the morning session, Jaiswal remained tight (a few slashes aside) driving crisply down the ground. Tongue’s waywardness then allowed him to free his arms to the square boundary. Three boundaries from the Nottinghamshire quick’s third over were followed by three-in-a-row from what turned out to be Tongue’s sixth and final one of his spell, as Stokes ordered his quicks to instigate their usual bumper ploy.A hook took Jaiswal to 49, before he leapt into a vicious cut high over point to pass fifty, followed by a celebratory four – his 11th – carved past third. He now has at least fifty in all seven of his Tests against England.

Alana King helped herself to a career-best haul after a rain delay as the home side produced a strong performance

Andrew McGlashan10-Feb-2024Standout performances from Beth Mooney and Tahlia McGrath enabled Australia to recover their composure after the heavy defeat three days ago to secure the ODI series in convincing style. It means they are 8-4 ahead in the multi-format contest leading into the Test match, and can’t be overtaken.Mooney anchored Australia’s innings with an unbeaten 82 off 91 balls without ever finding top gear after Alyssa Healy had struck a crisp half-century. South Africa kept themselves in the game by removing McGrath and Ash Gardner in quick succession, but Annabel Sutherland and Alana King played handy innings down the order alongside Mooney.McGrath and Kim Garth then did the significant damage with the ball. Garth’s swing accounted for Laura Wolvaardt and Anneke Bosch, while McGrath had Tazmin Brits and the key wicket of Marizanne Kapp both held in the deep in the space of four balls.Beth Mooney was unstoppable and finished 82 not out•Cricket Australia/Getty Images

Rain interrupted South Africa’s chase after 14 overs and for a while looked like it may not relent to allow the game to be completed, but it resumed as a 31-over contest. South Africa immediately needed ten an over, which proved way beyond them and wickets fell in a rush including three in an over for King, who was a whisker away from a hat-trick.South Africa had made an encouraging start after Healy won another toss. Phoebe Litchfield’s lean series continued when she found cover, and after seven overs Australia had been held to 21 for 1 with Kapp producing an opening spell of 4-2-5-0.But Healy, who was given a life on 27 when a very tough chance was spilled at deep square-leg, started to increase the tempo alongside Ellyse Perry as the pair added 82 for the second wicket. Masabata Klaas produced a brilliant inswinger to remove Perry, and after passing fifty from 61 balls, Healy somewhat carelessly flicked to deep square-leg.Mooney, who took 13 balls to get off the mark, and McGrath built another important stand, although progress was often hard work. McGrath broke the shackles with five consecutive boundaries off Ayanda Hlubi but was beaten by one that skidded through from Chloe Tryon in the next over. Gardner was then pinned lbw by Kapp to leave Australia 187 for 5 in the 37th over.Alana King knocked her stumps over while hitting a waist-high no-ball for six, and then hit the free hit for six as well•Getty Images

Mooney brought up her fifty from 71 balls and would go on to add 32 from her next 20 deliveries as Australia accelerated in the final ten overs. A brace of superb catches – one by Wolvaardt at cover and another by Nadine de Klerk in her follow through – dented Australia’s ambitions a little, but their total was given a boost when 13 runs effectively came from one delivery. King swung a huge full toss from Klaas for six (demolishing her stumps in the process) and then dispatched the free hit as well.Wolvaardt has not managed to get going in the ODIs and soon edged Garth to first slip. At the other end, Darcie Brown, who replaced a rested Megan Schutt, was bowling with good pace and struck Brits a nasty blow on the wrist.Brits fought through the pain before finding deep midwicket and South Africa’s best hope then vanished when Kapp, who had been so inspirational in the second game, helped McGrath into the hands of deep-backward square-leg.Either side of the rain delay, de Klerk and Sune Luus added 50 but Australia had plenty of breathing space.

Twenty wickets go down on lively first day at Trent Bridge

ECB Reporters Network05-Sep-2022Nottinghamshire 201 (Montgomery 43, Wright 3-26) and 15 for 0 vs Leicestershire 93 (Evans 50, Fletcher 4-23) by 123 runsDivision Two leaders Nottinghamshire are in a strong position with a lead of 123 after 20 wickets fell on the opening day of their LV= Insurance County Championship match with bottom-of-the-table Leicestershire.On a difficult batting surface, Nottinghamshire were bowled out for 201, losing their last eight wickets for 118 as they collapsed from 83 for two just after lunch, Chris Wright and Ed Barnes taking three wickets each. But Leicestershire found conditions no more to their liking, dismissed for just 93 in reply. Nottinghamshire are 15 without loss in their second innings.Luke Fletcher took 4 for 23 with opener Sam Evans carrying his bat for exactly 50 as the only Foxes batter to make double figures as Nottinghamshire made light of the absence of their Australian quick James Pattinson, who was granted an early release from his contract last week.Matthew Montgomery, in for Ben Duckett after the left-hander was added to England’s third Test squad, top scored for the home side with 43 after being dropped on 1 – one of three slip catches put down in the innings, all by Rishi Patel, who held two others.Leicestershire were without key allrounder Wiaan Mulder – picked as cover for England’s opponents South Africa – and England under-19 legspinner Rehan Ahmed, who is injured. They also left out allrounder Ben Mike after his decision to join Yorkshire at the end of the season in favour of 26-year-old left-arm seamer Michael Finan – signed on a two-year contract last month despite never having played a senior match.Wright dismissed both Nottinghamshire openers in his first five overs. Haseeb Hameed, having got off the mark with a beautiful drive to the extra cover boundary, edged to first slip before the left-handed Ben Slater was bowled not offering a shot.With the ball doing plenty, it was tough going for Nottinghamshire, who would have been 26 for 3 had Patel not dropped Montgomery off Barnes at first slip.Joe Clarke, for whom form has been elusive much of the season, took 32 balls to get off the mark but he and Montgomery guided Nottinghamshire to 82 for 2 at lunch. Yet after appearing to have weathered the storm, Nottinghamshire found themselves back in its grip from the start of the afternoon session.Barnes brought one back sharply to have Clarke leg before, picked up a second wicket as Montgomery played a loose shot to backward point and Lyndon James, missed at first slip on 4, edged Wright low to second slip.Roman Walker struck twice as Tom Moores was taken at third slip and Liam Patterson-White – dropped on 15 – offered a low return catch. Steve Mullaney was leg before to a full, swinging ball from Barnes.Brett Hutton nicked to the keeper off Callum Parkinson’s left-arm spin and Dane Paterson lasted just long enough to claim Nottinghamshire a batting point before he holed out to deep midwicket to give Finan a wicket on his first-class debut.It was Nottinghamshire’s lowest first-innings total of the season, yet it looked handsome indeed as Fletcher tore through the Leicestershire top order.After Hassan Azad was caught behind off one that left him late, Fletcher sent Louis Kimber’s off stump cartwheeling, had Colin Ackermann caught at third slip and swung one back into Patel’s pads as the visitors reeled at 32 for 4, which quickly became 33 for 5 as Harry Swindells was trapped in front by Paterson.Hutton made his mark as Barnes was leg before trying to work one off his pads and dismissed Walker via a fine catch by James at third slip. Parkinson nicked Paterson behind – the South African’s 100th first-class wicket for Nottinghamshire in just 22 matches – before Wright chipped Hutton to mid-on.Finan survived just long enough for Evans to complete his half-century – a remarkable effort in the circumstances – off 71 balls, but was bowled shouldering arms to Patterson-White four balls later.

Durham seal innings victory after dominating visitors at the Riverside

Paul Edwards01-May-2021The funfair arrived in Chester-le-Street this week. If they glimpse its gaudy attractions as they travel home this evening Warwickshire’s cricketers might think them an exercise in irony, the last insult from the worst three days of their season so far. Their innings defeat had looked likely since they collapsed on the first day and Durham’s openers showed them how to bat on a pitch that was testing but never the haunt of vipers Will Rhodes’ batters thought it. Nevertheless, the lights and those bloody waltzers were the final insult.From the upper floors of the Riverside one could see the Ferris wheel, nothing as grand as the London Eye, mark you, but a couple of classes above the one featured in the 1949 film . Until Friday morning there were no carriages attached and one wondered if, in keeping with the North East’s reputation for toughness, customers were supposed to hang from the struts. It might have been rather tricky for Harry Lime to give Holly Martins a tutorial in his moral philosophy had those been the conditions in post-war Vienna. But wait, I was going to tell you about Carse, Brydon Carse…Related

• Alex Davies salvo sets up Lancashire chase after Sussex squander sizeable lead

• Yorkshire dig deep in bid to protect unbeaten start despite Wayne Parnell efforts

• Kemar Roach eight-for consigns Hampshire to heavy first defeat of season

The evening session ended with Carse leading his team off the field after taking five wickets, three of them rather easy ones, when the game was up. Earlier, though, he had removed Sam Hain and Matt Lamb in a lively spell from the Lumley End. So he and everyone else will have received plaudits and pints.Yes, this was a lovely day and a lovely match for Durham and who will say they do not deserve their time of jubilee? Even their first reverse of the morning prompted a standing ovation. For after 500 minutes’ unobtrusive and quietly magnificent resistance Alex Lees was caught by Tim Bresnan for 129 when he couldn’t get his bat out of the way of a lifting delivery and the nick was parried to first slip by Michael Burgess. Three wickets then fell in less than an half an hour, two of them to Danny Briggs, but this was something a trade-off, given that both Ben Raine and Carse whacked the slow left-armer into the stands. And Carse continued his resistance after Raine had flat-batted a return catch to Briggs. He added exactly 50 with Wood, a partnership that took the lead past 300, although by the time Wood was bowled by Briggs the batters were swiping at most things, Carse was unbeaten on 40 and the lead was 304.The declaration gave Warwickshire’s openers a rather smelly 20 minutes before lunch and their noses were not up to it. The fifth ball of Wood’s second over kept low and brought Rhodes to his knees, unsurprising when the thing’s coming down at about 90mph. The next delivery was maybe even quicker and of full length. Warwickshire’s unsettled skipper played a loose drive and nicked a catch to David Bedingham at first slip.What the visitors needed after lunch was exactly what they had required in their first innings: a long partnership between two of their established batters. What they received was Russell Warren’s finger in the second over after the resumption when Hanuma Vihari pushed slightly forward to his second delivery only for the ball to hit his pad. He thus became Chris Rushworth’s 500th wicket in County Championship cricket. The task of salvaging something from the fast accumulating wreckage fell to Rob Yates and Sam Hain…The relative stability Yates and Hain brought to Warwickshire’s innings lasted barely 90 minutes. After batting for nearly two hours for his 34, Yates was defeated by Rushworth’s bounce and Scott Borthwick took the catch at second slip. On the point of tea Hain had no price when a ball from Carse reared off a length and Bedingham did the necessary. Early in the evening session Lamb played inside a ball from Carse and lost his off stump. Warwickshire were 93 for 5 and no one gave a cuckoo-clock for their chances.They were right. The end came fairly quickly after tea as only Bresnan showed any taste for the fight. Carse took three wickets in 15 balls and at one stage looked as though he might end the game with a hat-trick. Instead he had to settle for five wickets, a chorus of “Blaydon Races” and a day off. One doubts he will be complaining. The same may not be said for Rhodes’ cricketers but they would be sagely advised to watch a recording of Lees’s innings. It was a master class.There will be celebrations both in and near the Riverside tonight. For one thing there is the funfair; for another, this town has long had a reputation for enjoying its Saturday nights. That may be so… but then I never knew the old Chester-le-Street before the war with its folk music, its glamour and easy charm…

The 22-year old wicketkeeper was struck on the head by the ball in the 44th over, a ricochet off the top edge which also resulted in his wicket

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Jan-2020Rishabh Pant has been ruled out of India’s second ODI against Australia, after sustaining a concussion during the first match in Mumbai. A decision on his availability for the third and final match has not been made yet, and will depend on how he responds to treatment during the rehabilitation period.The 22-year old wicketkeeper was struck on the head by a bouncer from Pat Cummins in the 44th over of India’s innings, a ricochet off the top edge which also resulted in his wicket. He didn’t take the field for the second half of the match, with KL Rahul given the gloves for India.With no replacement named by the BCCI, it looks likely that Rahul will continue to keep wicket as the series goes on. Pant, meanwhile, was kept under observation overnight and will now head to the NCA in Bengaluru, which is also the venue for the third ODI, after his scans came back clear.”After getting hit on his helmet while batting in the 1st ODI, Rishabh got a concussion and took no further part in the game,” the BCCI said ina statement. “He was then taken to the hospital for overnight monitoring under a specialist. He is stable and all his scan reports are clear. He has been discharged from the hospital and will head to NCA, Bengaluru to undergo his rehabilitation protocol. He is ruled out of the 2nd ODI. His availability for the final ODI will be based on how he responds during the rehabilitation protocol.”Pant had not needed any immediate treatment on the field after he was hit on Tuesday, and he was able to walk off on his own steam as well, but it soon became clear that he was indisposed. He did not join India’s training in the break between innings and Rahul who was seen practicing his glovework as the Australian openers walked out. Confirmation of the injury arrived when the BCCI put out a statement some time during the first two overs of the chase.Pant had played a good hand, scoring 28 off 33 balls as India tried to recover from a middle-order collapse. India had been 134 for 1 in the 28th over, but were dragged down to 164 for 5 as Australia’s fast bowlers adapted well to a slow pitch at the Wankhede Stadium.The bowlers eventually restricted India to 255, and the opening duo of David Warner and Aaron Finch both hit unbeaten centuries as Australia squashed India by ten wickets, with 12.2 overs to spare.

Sam Curran is among nine capped players to list themselves at the maximum base price of INR 2 crore, while Lasith Malinga hopes to return as a player

Nagraj Gollapudi and Gaurav Sundararaman05-Dec-2018Glenn Maxwell and Aaron Finch have chosen not to enter the IPL auction, keeping in mind Australia’s packed schedule over the first half of 2019 – a home summer followed by a World Cup in England, and then the Ashes series.England’s Sam Curran, one of the finds of 2018 as an allrounder, has put himself in a group of nine capped players who have listed themselves at the maximum base price of INR 2 crore (USD 278,000 approx). Also among this group is Sri Lanka fast bowler Lasith Malinga, who last season was on the Mumbai Indians coaching staff, playing the role of mentor.Maxwell and Finch were among a host of players released by their franchises in November, having just spent one season with their new teams. Maxwell was released by Delhi Daredevils (now renamed Delhi Capitals), who signed him in January for INR 9 crore (USD 1.4 million approx then). Finch was picked by Kings XI Punjab for INR 6.2 crore (USD 948,000).ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Among some of the big names listed in the auction pool are Dale Steyn (base price INR 1.5 crore/USD 208,000 approx), Brendon McCullum, D’Arcy Short, Corey Anderson (all INR 2 crore). Jaydev Unadkat has listed the maximum base price by an Indian player at INR 1.5 crore. Unadkat, the left-arm fast bowler, was the the highest-paid Indian player at the January 2018 auction, with Rajasthan Royals signing him for INR 11.5 crore (USD 1.796 million approx).Other big-name Indian players that have put themselves back on the auction pool are Yuvraj Singh, Mohammed Shami and Axar Patel, all at a base price of INR 1 crore (USD 138,000 approx).Availability was always going to be the key factor ahead of this auction, scheduled for December 18 in Jaipur. Although the BCCI has not finalised the dates the IPL is likely to run between March 23 and mid-May. The venue, too, has not been finalised because the BCCI is waiting for the dates of India’s general elections. In 2009 and 2014 – the last two seasons that clashed with general elections – the IPL moved to South Africa and the UAE (first half of the season) respectively.ESPNcricinfo understands the BCCI has decided to wait until mid-January before finalising the venue. The BCCI wants the IPL to take place in India as far as possible but has worked out a back-up plan where the tournament will be displaced overseas with South Africa as a favourite alternative venue.But the biggest challenge for the franchises next season is that the IPL will end a couple of weeks before the World Cup begins on May 30 in England. The availability of overseas players, as a result, has been the biggest concern for the franchises.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

In an email sent to the franchises on Monday, which ESPNcricinfo has accessed, the IPL listed out the cut-off dates for overseas players for all countries. Barring New Zealand and West Indies, all other boards have restricted the availability of their players.The Australian players will spend the least time in the IPL considering the Sheffield Shield final ends on April 1. Moreover, most of the first-choice Australian players, including Maxwell and Finch, are likely to be in the UAE playing a five-match ODI series against Pakistan. Although the dates have not been announced yet, that series is expected to begin in late March and end in the first half of April. Cricket Australia has set May 2 as the cut-off date for players in their World Cup squad to return for a preparatory camp.The players in England’s World Cup squad will return home on April 25 for their camp while the rest of the English players can continue in the IPL until May 19. The South African players will need to report for their World Cup camp by May 10, the Sri Lankans by May 6, Bangladesh’s players by April 15 and Ireland’s by April 30. The Afghanistan Cricket Board is yet to finalise a cut-off date.On Monday, the IPL sent a longlist of 946 players to the eight franchises including 200 capped players, of whom 25 are Indians and three are Associate players. The franchises will need to send the IPL the list of players they want added to the longlist by December 7. By December 10, the franchises will need to send the IPL the list of players they want in the auction pool following which a pruned and final list will be prepared.

The city might be gaining a new familiarity with the feeling of hosting international cricket, but there is additional meaning to this latest match, given the identity of the visiting team

The Preview by Danyal Rasool28-Oct-2017

Big Picture

And so it comes again: for the fifth time this year, Gaddafi Stadium will attract global attention for doing what it was first built to do over 50 years ago: host an international cricket match. Sri Lanka are the visitors this time, the team that has been least fussy about playing cricket in Pakistan over the years. That was to their detriment in 2009, with the attack on their team bus, and Pakistan’s status as a venue has been paying the price ever since. A number of big names from Sri Lanka’s line-up are missing, not able to bring themselves back to the scene of the devastation their peers faced on a bleak March morning on their way to play a cricket match.But Pakistan have been more determined about getting international cricket back, particular this year, no matter the cost. The security detail and lockdown of the city in preparation is something Lahoris are beginning to get used to; it comes with the territory these days. It would perhaps be best to focus on what takes place inside Pakistan’s most famous sporting venue as a Thisara Perera-led Sri Lanka look to avoid yet another 2017 limited-overs whitewash. Dead rubber it may be, but the Gaddafi Stadium tomorrow will be brimming with life.Sri Lanka will be bitterly disappointed there isn’t more at stake, given their position of dominance for large parts during the second T20I in Abu Dhabi, where only a penultimate-ball six from Shadab Khan allowed Pakistan to sneak to victory. The visitors needed the win much more, for both confidence and pride. This is a young team put together under exceptional circumstances, expected to play against one of the world’s most in-form teams, and pushing them as they did last night was no mean feat.Pakistan will be eager to take advantage of a rare opportunity to play at what really is home, and should need no further motivation to turn up.
Each of these players are aware that these crowds may only be able to see them a handful of times in their careers, and do their best to grab the opportunity. In any case, it would be a bit of a shame for them to amass such a long winning streak in the UAE, only to see it snapped in Lahore.

Form guide

Sri Lanka LLLLW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Pakistan WWWLW

In the spotlight

Ahmed Shehzad has found himself pushed out of the ODI side by the dashing young Imam-ul-Haq, and only played the T20Is because of his form in the format against the World XI. However, two disappointing scores against a depleted Sri Lanka side means he should be dreading the axe in the shortest format too. With competition for the opening slot heating up, he needs a big performance to end the series on a high note, and to make a stronger case for T20I selection even as younger players look to take his place. His form in Lahore last month was outstanding, and returning to the Gaddafi may rekindle the confidence he has clearly been lacking of late.Seekkuge Prasanna is one of the more experienced players in Sri Lanka’s side, but his numbers haven’t done that experience justice. He played the last two ODIs as well has both T20’s, but has picked up only one wicket – none in the T20I series. He hasn’t compensated with runs either, never reaching 25 and averaging 15. Yet he has shown glimpses of why he’s in the side, and why the captain appears to trust him. But if Sri Lanka are to cause an upset, he’ll need to do more than that, and a high-profile game like this would be a good time to do it.

Team news

With the series wrapped up, Pakistan may experiment, although given the unique nature of this ‘dead’ rubber, everyone will want to start. Therefore, it isn’t unlikely that Pakistan may reward the side that won the series with a starting place in Lahore, going unchanged for three games straight.Pakistan (probable): 1 Ahmed Shehzad, 2 Fakhar Zaman, 3 Babar Azam, 4 Mohammad Hafeez, 5 Shoaib Malik, 6 Sarfraz Ahmed (capt & wk), 7 Imad Wasim, 8 Faheem Ashraf, 9 Shadab Khan, 10 Hasan Ali, 11 Usman Khan.Sri Lanka looked good in the second game, and might rely on the momentum they’ve built to challenge tomorrow. As such, the same eleven wouldn’t be a total surprise, although Lahiru Gamage bowled well in the ODIs and may merit a place.Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Danushka Gunathilaka, 2 Dilshan Munaweera, 3 Sadeera Samarawickrama (wk), 4 Ashan Priyanjan, 5 Seekkuge Prasanna, 6 Mahela Udawette, 7 Thisara Perera (capt), 8 Dasun Shanaka/Lahiru Gamage, 9 Isuru Udana, 10 Sachith Pathirana, 11 Vikum Sanjaya.

Pitch and conditions

The start time was brought forward by an hour for fear of excessive dew playing spoilsport in Lahore. The weather in the evening is much more pleasant than anything the players will have experienced in the UAE, and the ball is likely to come on to the bat much better. The winner of the toss is likely to bat first.

Stats and trivia

• If Pakistan make no changes to their side, Usman Khan will play an international in Pakistan for the first time. The other ten players have
  all played international cricket in their home country.

• If Sri Lanka lose tomorrow, it will be their 16th straight defeat in a limited-overs international.

The BCCI has to hold elections for the Apex Council, which is set to replace the board’s highest-decision making body, its working committee, and conduct its AGM by December 15

Nagraj Gollapudi01-Sep-2016The BCCI has to hold elections for the Apex Council, which is set to replace the board’s highest-decision making body, its working committee, and conduct its AGM by December 15.According to a second set of deadlines finalised by the Lodha committee at a meeting in Delhi last Sunday, the BCCI also has to form a fresh IPL governing council by December 30. Within the same time frame, and as advocated by the Lodha reforms upheld by the Supreme Court, the board has to select new committees and appoint a new management.The various state associations have to wrap up their own elections by November 15.

Deadlines, part 2

By November 15, 2016
Elections for State Associations
Elections to the Executive Committee of the Players’ Cricket Association
By December 15
Elections to the Apex Council of BCCI, BCCI AGM and Appointment of Ethics Officer and Ombudsman
By December 30
Creation of BCCI Committees, IPL Governing Council and Appointment of the Management under the new Rules

The BCCI had already decided to convene its AGM on September 21, but these deadlines were put up to make sure the board concentrated on the reforms before moving on to new business in 2017.”It was decided to direct the BCCI that the AGM to be called on 21.9.2016 be limited only to routine business concerning the past year (2015-16), and deal with any business or matters relating to the next year (2016-17) only after the adoption of the MoA and Rules as per the recommendations of the Committee in accordance with the same,” the Lodha committee said according to the minutes of its Sunday meeting.The committee released minutes of all its meetings in the last month from which it was learnt that on August 25, BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke had submitted a “First Compliance Report”, detailing the extent to which the board and the state associations had implemented the Lodha reforms.It was also understood the Lodha committee was not updated on the tenders and contracts the BCCI had approved while conducting the two-match T20I series against West Indies in Florida and did not want a similar situation to happen when the board would invite bids for the next set of IPL broadcast and digital rights.Consequently it was decided that Gopal Sankaranarayanan, the Committee’s secretary, would liaise with BCCI CEO Rahul Johri to ascertain “transparency requirements” of bids, tenders and contracts involving the BCCI.During its meeting with Shirke, the Lodha Committee also rejected the report prepared by former Supreme court judge Markandey Katju, which had called the Supreme Court’s judgment to accept a majority of the Lodha reforms as “illegal and unconstitutional.” The Committee also noted that although the BCCI called it the Katju Report, it was an “opinion”.Upon Katju’s advice, the BCCI had filed a review petition against the Lodha reforms before a larger bench of the Supreme Court. But the committee, on August 9, had “impressed” upon Shirke that the “time schedule had to be maintained in accordance with the Supreme Court Order.”