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The Indian board has a zero-tolerance approach to doping and isn’t against the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) but it wants some flexibility on the ‘whereabouts’ clause

Cricinfo staff06-Aug-2009

The Indian board has a zero-tolerance approach to doping and isn’t against the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) but it wants some flexibility on the ‘whereabouts’ clause, a senior BCCI official has said. India’s main reservation about the contentious clause is the security of its players, Ratnakar Shetty, the BCCI’s chief administrative officer, said.”There are two cricketers who absolutely cannot disclose their whereabouts,” Shetty told Cricinfo. “There is a security concern with them, and they are under security cover so I don’t think they can disclose their whereabouts on a daily basis.”Shetty did not specify the names of the two players but there have been reports of threats to the lives of Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni, the Indian captain. Both these cricketers are among the 11 Indians on the ICC’s testing pool and have raised concerns about the WADA’s ‘whereabouts’ clause, which requires them to divulge information three months in advance about their location for an hour every day for the next quarter to facilitate out-of-competition random testing. The BCCI and the players have also said that the clause is a violation of privacy statutes.”What they are asking is not for the moon, they are asking for just some flexibility in approach. Tendulkar is on record saying that we are available for tests every day, during the matches, during tour, during camps, we are not saying you don’t test us,” Shetty said. “We have made it very clear we are all for zero-tolerance, we want doping tests, and we are not opposed to that. All that we are saying is that there should be flexibility in the whereabouts clause. We are asking for a more practical and structured system, that’s all. If they are playing for 9 months, 10 months a year, they are free to catch them any time, take them for the test. They can also do the test during match training camps and coaching camps. Even when they are not playing for the country, you can do the tests during Ranji matches.”Shetty said that the Indian players have voiced their opposition to the whereabouts clause right from the time they were briefed about it. “The first time was on the New Zealand trip when ICC came to educate the cricketers,” he said. “At that time the players expressed reservations, and from then on the Indian board has consistently been telling ICC that our players have a problem.”Players from all other cricket-playing countries have agreed to WADA regulations despite expressing similar reservations. The Indian board and its players, meanwhile, have faced heavy criticism at home on their refusal to abide by the code. But Shetty wasn’t concerned about the critics. “We don’t want to get into that,” he said. “We will take care of our own problems, why should we bother about others. They have got a right to criticise, so they can criticise. We have got a right to express our opinion and we’ll express our opinion. The board secretary has written to the ICC about the problem.”

A new name has been put forward in the Newcastle United manager hunt in the form of Rudi Garcia.

The Lowdown: So many names…

As per The Daily Mail, there have been countless names mentioned as potential successors to Steve Bruce after he left his role at St. James’ Park on Wednesday morning.

Unai Emery, Roberto Martinez, Steven Gerrard and Paulo Fonseca have all been linked with the job, according to the publication.

The Latest: Garcia emerges

The Daily Mail has now revealed that Garcia is the newest name to have been put forward for the vacant post, having been out of work since leaving Lyon this summer.

Journalist and transfer insider Pedro Almeida has recently fuelled speculation that a Frenchman is set to be the next manager in the North East, and of course, Garcia would fit that bill.

The Verdict: Wait for someone better

With the kind of names that have been linked with the job on Tyneside in recent days, the Magpies are better off waiting for someone better to become available than Garcia.

He has an impressive overall win rate as a manager at 48.5%, but has only won a mere two major trophies in his managerial career, both of whom came over a decade ago with Lille (Transfermarkt).

The fact that the biggest transfer fee that he has played for a player is £26.37m for Dimitri Payet also suggests that he may be overwhelmed by the abundance of riches that the new owners will likely give their manager to spend, and so Garcia should not be a priority for them as of now.

In other news, find out which Champions League and Premier League winner is keen on the NUFC job here!

Southampton will be aiming to maintain their three-game unbeaten run in all competitions when they travel to Vicarage Road this afternoon to take on Watford in the Premier League.

The Saints held Chelsea to a 1-1 draw in the last 16 of the Carabao Cup in midweek before being beaten in the penalty shootout after Theo Walcott and Will Smallbone failed to hit the target with their efforts. Despite the team’s lack of fortune from 18 yards, Ralph Hasenhuttl will certainly have taken plenty of positives from the trip to the capital in midweek.

One of the major pluses will have been the performance of struggling striker Adam Armstrong. The £16.2m-rated ace arrived on the south coast over the summer as Danny Ings’ replacement, but so far he has been unable to replicate his predecessor’s form.

Just one goal in his first seven Premier League starts saw the 24-year-old drop to the bench against Leeds United, and he was consigned to watching on from the sidelines once again when Southampton took on Burnley last week.

Albania international Armando Broja shone in his stead, scoring the winner against Leeds before following it up with a crucial strike in the draw at St Mary’s when the Clarets came to visit. However, the 20-year-old loanee has now been ruled out of action with an ankle injury, handing Armstrong the ideal opportunity to reclaim a place in the starting XI.

The former England under-21 international was in devastating form for Blackburn Rovers prior to his move to the top flight, netting 44 Championship goals over the previous two seasons and earning praise from his former manager Tony Mowbray, and the diminutive forward will be desperate to get back to his best over the coming weeks.

“Adam does (make a difference) as he has done all season. I think Adam has matured and he’s only 23,” Mowbray said back in 2020.

“He’s a boy really, but his explosive pace at the top end of the pitch allows you to play both ways, to not be overly concerned if you’re pinned back around the edge of your box because one pass releases pressure to someone like (Harvey) Elliott to play the pass that he can hit just leaving it in the space for the speed and dynamic movement of Armstrong – it’s a devastating effect for the team.”

With Broja’s enforced absence giving Hasenhuttl a selection headache, the Austrian must be brave and reinstate Armstrong from the first whistle; he could just prove to be Southampton’s game-changer this afternoon.

In other news… Southampton dealt massive injury blow ahead of Watford clash, fans will be absolutely gutted 

Discussions between the PCB, ECB and Cricket Australia (CA) are at an advanced stage as the three parties try and find a way of rescheduling Pakistan’s ‘home’ series against Australia in England next summer.Australia were due to tour Pakistan for a full series in March 2008 but pulled out because of security concerns. The tour was postponed, but after the terrorist attacks on the Sri Lankan team in March this year and the subsequent ICC move to take the 2011 World Cup away from Pakistan, international cricket within Pakistan is all but ruled out for the next few years. The PCB, therefore, is looking for ways to minimize the impact on its FTP and is actively looking at neutral venues where it can stage future home commitments.Abu Dhabi and Dubai, where Pakistan just played an ODI series against Australia, is one option but England has always been another, ever since Giles Clarke, the ECB chairman, floated the idea last year.”There is a lot of discussion going on between the three parties,” an official involved in the negotiations told Cricinfo. “Nothing has been finalised just yet but we are getting closer to the possibility that Pakistan plays its Tests against Australia in England next year.”There are obstacles still in the way before any agreement is reached. The first is the itinerary: CA wants to play two Tests and two Twenty20 internationals, while the Pakistan board is keener on a three-Test and three-ODI series. Whichever schedule is settled upon, it will have to be worked in between three international series in the English summer: Bangladesh are touring in May-June for a Test and ODI series and West Indies in July and August. Additionally, in June, Australia are due to play a five-match ODI series with England. Further complication may come in the form of the P20, the ECB’s answer to the IPL, which begins from next summer and may involve international players.Other hurdles are TV rights and the costs involved. Sky Television has the rights to England’s home Tests but this covers those contests where England are the hosts. As the rights holder to Pakistan’s home contests, Ten Sports are likely to be the broadcaster. “The TV rights are a pressing question,” the official said. “It is crucial for the PCB to continue to benefit from broadcasting rights and Ten Sports and Sky will have to come up with some kind of compromise to ensure that happens. It shouldn’t be a problem.”As the PCB found in the series against Australia in the UAE, the costs involved in hosting a ‘home’ series at a neutral venue are prohibitive. Cash-strapped already – though perhaps not as much as initially thought – the cost of holding a series in England will have to be weighed up seriously. “As it was in Dubai, the costs in the UK will be very high,” a PCB official said. “That is something we really have to look at, in terms of how much revenue we will be able to generate.”The venues for the series are yet to be decided though cities such as Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham – traditionally home to large British Asian populations – are likely to be on any shortlist.

A number of West Brom supporters have hailed Conor Townsend’s display in the first half against Birmingham City.

The Baggies are back in Championship action in another Friday evening encounter, following the rather tedious international break which has taken place over the past fortnight.

Valerien Ismael’s side host Birmingham City in an all Midlands derby, with three points and of course plenty of bragging rights on offer at The Hawthorns.

A win for West Brom would take them top of the Championship going into the weekend, with Bournemouth returning to the summit if they win or draw away to Bristol City on Saturday afternoon.

Townsend was the standout man in the opening 45 minutes, forcing Matija Šarkić into a good save after a quarter of an hour, as well as registering a couple of crucial tackles.

West Brom fans react to Townsend display

These Baggies supporters took to Twitter to laud the 28 year-old’s first half performance.

“Townsend is back wow!!”

Credit: @nathy_james

“Tackle Townsend!!!”

Credit: @gavin_poulton

“Superb tackle from Townsend there, it needed to be too”

Credit: @jemclay

“Townsend is absolutely quality”

Credit: @Blackjack42B

“Great shot by Townsend followed by a great tackle”

Credit: @BombersBoots

“I’m looking at the team and wondering who’s going to create anything, Townsend seems our best option at the min, looking for little 1-2s , the front 3 not at it so far”

Credit: @stuwolwalton

In other news, Luke Hatfield has claimed a number of clubs are interested in one West Brom player. Read more here.

MatériaMais Notícias

Jonatan Gomez deve fazer nesta segunda-feira, contra o Grêmio, o seu quinto jogo pelo São Paulo. Mas já bastante pressionado. Presente no Morumbi, certamente saudado pelos torcedores que o virem, estará de olho na partida a principal ameaça à sequência do argentino: Hernanes.

Gomez é o principal candidato a perder vaga para o ídolo que a diretoria repatriou da China, emprestado por um ano. O técnico Dorival Júnior crê que o recém-contratado camisa 15 pode atuar em qualquer função no meio-campo, mas Hernanes já avisou que prefere atuar perto da área e, diante dos outros concorrentes, é o camisa 33 argentino que está mais pressionado.

Cueva resgatou a disposição e mudou completamente seu status no clube, chegando a ser intensamente aplaudido pela torcida na vitória por 1 a 0 sobre o Vasco, na quarta-feira. Para completar a linha de armação, a vaga em que Wellington Nem está longe de convencer (machucado, deve ser substituído por Marcinho ou Lucas Fernandes nesta segunda) está sendo preparada para Marcos Guilherme, contratado a pedido de Dorival.

Mesmo que queira escalar Hernanes mais recuado, o técnico não deve mexer na elogiada dupla de volantes formada por Jucilei e Petros, raros casos próximos da unanimidade no Tricolor de 2017. Ou seja: a tendência é que sobre mesmo para Jonatan Gomez.

Comprado do Independiente Santa Fe, da Colômbia, por US$ 800 mil (R$ 2,6 milhões) no mês passado, Gomez tem 27 anos e assinou contrato até 2020. Por enquanto, vem se destacando pela raça, arrancando até aplausos com seus carrinhos, que ilustram a disposição para ajudar na marcação.

O meia argentino vem sendo escalado pela esquerda, mas se mexe bastante e, na quarta, chegou a atuar do outro lado. Porém, ainda não tem sido efetivo, já que não deu assistências nem balançou as redes pelo clube. Ao menos, mostrou importância na marcação contra o Vasco: deu quatro desarmes certos, sendo o líder no quesito do time, embora tenha levado seu primeiro cartão.

Jonatan Gomez já jogou na quarta-feira sob a sombra de Hernanes, anunciado horas antes. E a tendência é que ela só cresça, já que o Profeta começa a treinar no CT da Barra Funda nesta semana. Contra o Grêmio, dono de uma das melhores campanhas do Campeonato Brasileiro, o argentino tem a grande chance de, ao menos, colocar dúvidas na cabeça de Dorival.

The Athletic’s Phil Hay has delivered an update on Marcelo Bielsa’s former assistant Diego Flores, and even gave his verdict on whether he could eventually replace the Leeds United boss.

What’s the story?

Writing on Twitter, he said: “Diego Flores made a very quiet exit from Leeds United last year, deciding he was ready for a rest. He’s now taken up his first manager’s job (at Godoy Cruz) and between intense running, ruthless subs and a quick impact, it looks like he’s a chip off the old block.”

And then, in a follow-up article for The Athletic, Hay added: “Marcelo Bielsa’s staff were ecstatic about escaping from the Championship and nobody doubted Flores’ part in it. He was an assistant and colleague on whom Bielsa had leaned in more ways than one during the previous two years. Flores, from Cordoba in Argentina, was a sharp analyst with a growing interest in day-to-day coaching. Bielsa trusted him and used him briefly as his media interpreter, taking Flores with him to football seminars in the Americas.

“Bielsa lost him with reluctance because Flores was dependable and blessed with the analytical nous Bielsa valued but the demands at Leeds were heavy — long hours, few days off — and the now-40-year-old wanted space to draw breath. At Leeds, Flores was regarded as a bright and intelligent member of Bielsa’s inner circle, multi-lingual and compliant.”

Could he be a Bielsa successor?

Given everything Bielsa has done and achieved in his spell as Leeds United boss, it’s become almost unimaginable to think of a future without the charismatic Argentine sitting on his haunches in the dugout at Elland Road, barking out instructions and cutting an animated figure.

Bielsa has very much become part of the furniture in Yorkshire, and the Whites’ current Premier League status is more down to him than anyone else.

When the time does come when Bielsa decides to call it quits, then Andrea Radrizzani and co will have a sizeable task on their hands. If they opt to replace him with someone who could try and continue Bielsa-ball, then Flores may well be that man.

And, after a question from a fan about whether Flores could be seen as a potential successor to Bielsa, Hay responded: “Unless his impact is incredible in Argentina, I think the Leeds job would come too early for Flores to be seriously considered. I might be wrong but he’s at the very start of his managerial career. Early days for him. I know what you mean about the transition from Bielsa – a prospect that everyone will be anxious about when the time comes.”

As Hay says, it’s early days, but given how much of a trusted figure he was of Bielsa’s, and the fact he appears to be “a chip off the old block”, it could well turn out to be an inspiring appointment.

Whatever the case, Hay’s verdict is sure to leave fans intrigued about whether Flores could make a return to Elland Road.

Meanwhile, Leeds are still tracking this star…

Steve Bruce was bound to find himself working in a hostile atmosphere at Newcastle United, a ‘well-placed source’ has told The Athletic. 

The lowdown

Newcastle have picked up just a single point from their first four Premier League matches, leaving them 19th in the Premier League table.

After shipping four goals away to Manchester United at the weekend, they’ve also conceded more often than anybody else. There were also chants of ‘We want Brucie out’ from some of the Newcastle contingent at Old Trafford.

Furthermore, relations between the manager and those above him are said to have frayed after the failure to strengthen the squad on transfer deadline day.

The latest

As per The Athletic, the source said that it seemed “inevitable” before the season had even started that Bruce would come under mounting pressure at St James’ Park.

The manager previously had the backing of the club’s hierarchy but now that support is ‘beginning to wane’, while his ‘few remaining allies appear to be deserting him’.

However, Newcastle may be reluctant to sack the 60-year-old, as then he would be entitled to a ‘multimillion-pound’ payout.

The verdict

You got the sense that Bruce’s relationship with those above him at the club was secure. They stood by him at the bleakest point of last season, the 3-0 defeat at Brighton in March.

However, if the fans are demanding that he be sacked, and influential figures are starting to turn against him, his time at St James’ Park may well be running out.

Could it be significant that former Swansea City boss Steve Cooper was present at Old Trafford on Saturday?

In other news, this Newcastle ace came under fire for his display at Old Trafford.

Tillakaratne Dilshan’s Player-of-the-Series performance in the Tests against Bangladesh earned him a recall to the one-day squad for the three-match series against Pakistan later this month

Sa'adi Thawfeeq09-Jan-2009
Tillakarate Dilshan scored 366 runs at 91.50 and took four wickets in Sri Lanka’s 2-0 Test series win in Bangladesh © AFP
Tillakaratne Dilshan’s Player-of-the-Series performance in the Tests against Bangladesh earned him a recall to the one-day squad for the three-match series against Pakistan later this month. Dammika Prasad, the fast bowler who is part of the squad for the tri-nation series in Bangladesh which starts on Saturday, makes way for Dilshan in Pakistan.Dilshan was dropped for the tri-nation series because of poor form but he returned to contention after scoring 366 runs, including two centuries in the second Test, and taking four wickets in Sri Lanka’s 2-0 series win.Apart from Prasad, all other members of the tri-nation squad will make the trip to Pakistan. Sri Lanka agreed to play three ODIs between January 21 and January 27 after India pulled out of their tour to Pakistan. Sri Lanka will return to the country on February 14 to play a two-Test series from February 22 to March 7.Sri Lanka ODI squad: Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Chamara Kapugedera, Jehan Mubarak, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Thilina Kandamby, Muthiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Farveez Maharoof, Dilhara Fernando, Nuwan Kulasekara, Thilan Thushara, Angelo Mathews.

Celtic’s attractive playing style under Ange Postecoglou could suffer following the departure of Ryan Christie, according to The Celtic Way reporter Anthony Haggerty.

Christie made the deadline day move to Championship side Bournemouth for a fee believed to be in the region of £2.5million.

It comes despite Postecoglou, who was appointed as Celtic’s new manager in June, wanting to extend the winger’s contract following an impressive start to the season.

Christie’s Bhoys deal was due to expire in January and, with deadline day looming, the 26-year-old was also linked with Bournemouth’s south coast rivals Southampton at a cut-price fee.

Saints were not the only Premier League outfit who raised an interest as Burnley explored the possibility of being able to tempt Christie to Turf Moor on deadline day.

Christie leaves a sizeable gap in Postecoglou’s preferred starting line-up, having appeared in all four of Celtic’s Scottish Premiership fixtures so far this season.

Haggerty admits Christie was a key cog as Postecoglou recovered from a poor start to his reign.

He told The Transfer Tavern: “I think there were machinations going on behind the scenes to try and keep Ryan Christie sweet and keep him on board.

“I think the Celtic supporters, to a man, woman and child, would say it was a no-brainer to try to keep him.

“But he has left and a big part of Angeball has left now because he hit the ground running under Ange.”