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A round-up of the matches played on March 26 in the 2008-09 Royal Bank of Scotland Cup

Cricinfo staff27-Mar-2009Group BLahore Lions took the D/L route to seal their spot in the semi-finals with a seven-wicket win against the Peshawar Panthers at the Lahore Country Club. Put in by the hosts, Peshawar were off on the wrong foot with Israullah falling off the first ball, bowled by Junaid Zia. But it was captain Sajjad Ahmed’s composed 77 which pushed Peshawar to 182 for 5 in 37. 3 overs. Sajjad stroked seven boundaries during his 100-ball innings. Raza Ali and Sohail Ahmed set the tone during the chase, as Lahore raced to 113. Both openers were severe on the bowlers as Raza brought up his fifty. However, he was dismissed soon after, for 59, having hit five fours and two sixes en route. When the game was finally called off after 14 overs, Lahore’s score of 142 for 3 was enough to hand them the win.Faisalabad Wolves’ thumping victory against Sialkot Stallions at the Iqbal Stadium was not enough to guarantee them a semis spot. A whirlwind 78 from Zeeshan Asif did help them to a nine-wicket win and helped them draw level on points with Lahore on points, but an inferior run-rate meant they had to be content being second on the points table. Faisalabad chose to field first in the match reduced to 20 overs, and Zahoor Khan provided the perfect start with two quick blows. Rizwan Sultan and Ayaz Tasawwar however steadied the Sialkot innings putting on 62 for the third wicket. Rizwan was aggressive during his 45-ball 65, hitting seven sixes, as the visitors finished on 134. The Faisalabad openers were off to a rousing start, as their strike rates soared. Imran Ali and Zeeshan looked firmly in control as they rushed to 114. Zeeshan finally fell having smashed nine boundaries and five sixes in his 30-ball innings. Imran however powered on, hitting six fours during his unbeaten 35 off 16 balls, as the hosts reached the target in the ninth over.Group CA brilliant 93 from Sohail Tanvir helped Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) beat Sui Southern Gas Corporation (SSGC) by seven wickets at Khan Research Laboratory Ground. Electing to bat, SSGC made a solid start with openers Asif Zakir and Wajid Ali putting on 44. Ahmed Zeeshan joined Zakir and added a further 77 as the visitors looked on course for a big score. Zakir ended on 53, which included three fours, while Zeeshan stroked five boundaries and a six during his breezy 50. A disciplined bowling performance however contained SSGC to 233. In reply, KRL started impressively with Azhar Ali and Tanvir putting on 62 for the opening wicket. Wicketkeeper Zulfiqar Jan joined Tanvir later to further strengthen the hosts. Tanvir’s 113-ball knock included eight fours and one six while Jan provided able support with a quick 50. However, at 179 for 3, it was left to Rizwan Ahmed (43) who took KRL home in the 43rd over.A sparkling century from Inam-ul-Haq handed Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) a seven-wicket win against Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) at the Diamond Club Ground. PIA, who had already secured a place in the last four, chose to bat and looked to be struggling at 54 for 3 before Yasir Hameed starred with a 79-ball 58, comprising six boundaries. The fourth-wicket partnership with Kamran Sajid was the highest of the innings as PIA were bowled out in the 42nd over for 196. Kashif Daud and Abdul Razzaq were ZTBL’s most successful bowlers with three wickets apiece while Junaid Nadir and Zohaib Khan picked up two each. There was a slight hiccup at the start of the chase with Anwar Ali picking up two quick wickets. But Haq seized the initiative and took the game away from PIA. He was partnered well by Adnan Raza who scored a controlled 59. But even when the 146-run stand came to an end, Haq guided ZTBL home in the 39th over. He remained unbeaten on 100, stroking ten fours and two sixes during his 117-ball innings.

Group B Team Mat Won Lost Tied N/R Pts Net RR For Against

Lahore Lions 4 3 1 0 012 +1.622 832/127.5 742/151.5 Wolves 4 3 1 0 0 12+0.780 938/155.0 847/160.4 Leopards 42 2 0 0 8 -0.317893/182.4 931/178.5 S Stallions 4 12 0 1 6 -1.269 517/105.0577/93.1 P Panthers 4 0 30 1 2 -1.604 746/120.0 829/106.0

Group C Team Mat Won Lost Tied N/R Pts Net RR For Against

PIA 4 3 10 0 12 +0.929 914/153.2 847/168.2 Khan RL 4 2 1 01 10 +0.342 736/129.5 799/150.0Zarai TBL 4 2 1 0 110 +0.077 589/126.5 685/150.0 Sui Sthn Gas 4 1 2 0 1 6+0.349 713/130.0 618/120.2 Pakistan Customs 40 3 0 1 2 -2.101647/150.0 650/101.2

Antigua-based billionaire Allen Stanford has been charged with fraud by US authorities according to the Reuters agency

Cricinfo staff17-Feb-2009
Allen Stanford outside his cricket ground last October – the name he chose for the venue might come back to haunt him © PA Photos
Antigua-based billionaire Allen Stanford has been charged with fraud by US authorities according to the Reuters agency. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said that it was “alleging a fraud of shocking magnitude”.Linda Chatman Thomsen, director of the SEC’s division of enforcement, said: “As we allege in our complaint, Stanford and the close circle of family and friends with whom he runs his businesses perpetrated a massive fraud based on false promises and fabricated historical return data to prey on investors. We are moving quickly and decisively in this enforcement action to stop this fraudulent conduct and preserve assets for investors.”Rose Romero, regional director of the SEC’s Fort Worth regional office, added: “We are alleging a fraud of shocking magnitude that has spread its tentacles throughout the world.”A US district judge granted the SEC’s request to impose a temporary restraining order on the Stanford operations and to freeze the defendants’ assets, and appoint a receiver to marshal those assets.Federal agents were also reported to have entered the Houston office of Stanford Financial Group, according to a Reuters eyewitness.In Antigua, the country’s prime minister, Baldwin Spencer, said the case had “profound, serious implications” for Antigua and Barbuda and its fallout threatens “catastrophic and immediate consequences”. The government, he said, was putting in place a contingency plan and there was no need to panic.‘We are alleging a fraud of shocking magnitude that has spread its tentacles throughout the world’ Rose Romero, regional director of the SEC’s Fort Worth regional officeEarlier on Tuesday the SEC had filed a complaint in federal court in Dallas accusing Stanford, the head of the Stanford Financial Group, of fraud in the sale of about US$8 billion of high-yielding certificates of deposit held in the firm’s bank in Antigua. James M. Davis, a director and chief financial officer of Stanford Group, was also arrested.The SEC said it could not account for the US$8 billion in assets that were housed in the Antigua bank after issuing subpoenas for bank records and to various witnesses. Most of those subpoenaed, including Davis and Stanford, failed to testify or produce documents relating to the assets. The group as a whole has 30,000 clients and investments totalling around US$50 billion.The SEC went on to describe claims by the bank that it paid “significantly” higher returns on its CDs because of the high quality of its investments as “improbable, if not impossible”.The SEC’s investigation into Stanford Financial Group comes at a time it is under considerable pressure inside the USA for its inaction regarding the multi-billion Bernard L. Madoff case.

An update has emerged on Huddersfield midfielder Lewis O’Brien, regarding Crystal Palace’s interest in his services.

What’s the talk?

According to the Daily Mail, Huddersfield midfielder O’Brien is a player Crystal Palace are targeting ahead of next Tuesday’s transfer deadline.

Leeds United are also reportedly keen on the central midfielder, with a £7m deal for him said to be on the cards for Marcelo Bielsa’s side.

Get it done

Steve Parish must pounce and match Leeds’ £7m offer in the coming days to give his side the best chance of getting a deal done for the midfielder. He could be a terrific addition to Crystal Palace’s team and added another option for Patrick Vieira to work with in the middle of the park.

O’Brien enjoyed an excellent season in the Championship with Huddersfield, averaging a SofaScore rating of 6.85 despite the Terries not being near the promotion hunt. This has seemingly caught the attention of both Palace and Leeds, with his defensive contribution standing out in particular.

Huddersfield writer Steven Chicken offered his thoughts on O’Brien earlier this year and quoted ex-Terries boss Danny Cowley as saying he was ‘like having two players’.

He said: “Former Huddersfield boss Danny Cowley often praised O’Brien as being ‘like having two players’, with the midfielder receiving particular praise from his manager and fans alike for his ability and willingness to rush back and win the ball with a clean sliding tackle whenever his side were caught on the counter-attack.

“He certainly has the potential to be (a Premier League player), if he’s not already. His fitness is incredible and he just never seems to get tired, which is one of the biggest difficulties Championship players have when stepping up to the Premier League.

“He’s never going to be a big glamorous name in the Premier League, but he is the kind of wholehearted, committed player that managers love because they do so much of the hard work that helps other players to shine.”

These comments, and the quote from Cowley, show that O’Brien has a superb engine and would be able to cope with the rigours of Premier League football. He averaged three tackles and interceptions per game in the second tier, whilst making zero errors leading to goals all season.

Therefore, he could be a great option for Vieira to call upon in midfield as he is hard-working and defensively resolute. At the age of 22, he could also be a player the Frenchman is able to coach – who better than the Arsenal legend to learn from as a central midfielder?

AND in other news, Imagine him & Benteke: Vieira can land dream CPFC attack by signing “immense” dynamo…

Mitchell Johnson has no doubt Australia will win the exciting battle of speed with South Africa at the WACA from Wednesday

Cricinfo staff11-Dec-2008
Mitchell Johnson, who now lives in Perth, is preparing for his first Test against South Africa © AFP
Mitchell Johnson has no doubt Australia will win the exciting battle of speed with South Africa at the WACA from Wednesday. Five of the world’s top ten bowlers will be on display in the opening Test of the series on what should be the quickest pitch of the contest.”I back our attack,” he said in the Australian. “There’s obviously going to be a little bit of niggle there with their pace, our pace, their top order, our top order. They can talk as much as they like but we’re just going to go out there and bowl like we’ve been bowling.”Johnson, who is ranked No. 8, said the attack improved during the 2-0 win over New Zealand and was comfortable in home conditions. “I’m looking forward to the contest,” he said. “I know it’s going to be a great series. They’ve been talking up their bowlers a little bit but I think our attack is something to look forward to as well. You’ve got Brett Lee and Stuart Clark – two classy bowlers.”Clark is third on the Test rankings, two spots ahead of Lee. The South Africans have Dale Steyn, who is in second, and Makhaya Ntini (fourth) alongside Morne Morkel, who picked up an ankle injury in the tour opener against Western Australia.The WACA is now Johnson’s home ground after an off-season move from Queensland to Western Australia and one of his new bosses is Dennis Lillee, the man who spotted him as a teenager in Townsville. Johnson saw Lillee on Thursday and asked for advice on dealing with the pitch.”We just spoke about how things have been going for me at the moment and also just bowling at the WACA,” he said in the Sydney Morning Herald. “It’s somewhere where you’ve got to make the batsmen play. If you’re bowling outside the off stump, it’s pretty easy to leave here. We just spoke about a few little things like that.”It will be the first time Johnson, who has played 15 Tests, will face South Africa in the long form of the game. “I guess it’s going to be pretty exciting for me to bowl to their top order,” he said. “They’ve had some good performers there. It’s a bit of a look-and-see for them. They’ve only faced me in the one-day [arena].”

Sheffield United have been handed a major boost in their bid to bring Matty Longstaff to Bramall Lane.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by the Daily Mail, who relayed recent comments made by Newcastle United manager Steve Bruce regarding the future of the 21-year-old, amid reports of interest from both Sheffield United and Huddersfield Town.

The 60-year-old admitted that he needs to move a few players out on loan in order for him to make moves for his own targets in the remainder of the summer transfer window, and suggested that Longstaff will be one of the players to leave St. James’ Park.

In his comments, Bruce said: “It’s something that we have decided might be best for Matty. I have had that conversation with him. We have had one or two enquiries and hope something happens in the next couple of days.”

Jokanovic will be buzzing

Considering the fact that Slavisa Jokanovic’s Sheffield United side is lacking a considerable amount of depth in the middle of the pitch, as well as the sheer amount of potential Longstaff appears to possess, the news that Bruce is willing to sanction the temporary departure of the midfielder is sure to have left the Serbian boss buzzing.

Indeed, following the departures of both John Lundstram and Jack Rodwell earlier this summer, the 53-year-old currently only has two natural central midfielders in his first-team squad, in the shape of John Fleck and Oliver Norwood.

As such, while both Sander Berge and Regan Slater can operate in the position, it would nevertheless appear wise for United to bring in at least one more option, with an extremely long and arduous Championship campaign ahead of the Blades.

Furthermore, after bursting onto the Premier League scene by scoring the winner against Manchester United on his top-flight debut, pundits and teammates alike were quick to heap praise on the 21-year-old – with Sean Longstaff dubbing his brother an “outstanding” talent, Graeme Souness complimenting the midfielder’s ability to pick out players with “30 or 40 yard passes” and Jamie Redknapp claiming that the “game stands still” when the youngster is on the ball.

So, should Longstaff indeed go on to complete a switch to Bramall Lane in the coming days, it would very much appear to provide Jokanovic’s midfield with a very welcome boost – at a time when the Serbian desperately needs one.

In other news: Jokanovic drops Sheffield United transfer claim that’ll be music to the ears of fans

Newcastle United are now reportedly keen on signing Amadou Diawara before the summer transfer window ends.

The Lowdown: Diawara impresses

Diawara has come off the back of an impressive individual 2020/21 season with AS Roma, helping them finish in seventh spot in the Serie A table.

The Guinea international was particularly impressive in their UEFA Europa League campaign, winning no fewer than 3.1 of his duels per game in the competition, as well as averaging 2.3 interceptions, 1.4 tackles and 1.3 clearances per match (Sofascore).

The Latest: Newcastle keen

As per Corriere dello Sport (via Sport Witness), the St. James’ Park faithful are now ‘interested’ in a potential move for Diawara, who needs to be sold by Roma to make room for a new central midfield player.

Wolves are also reportedly keen on his signature, but he has turned down the option of joining the Midlands club.

The Verdict: Sign

The North East club could certainly do with some more bodies in the middle of the park ahead of the new 2021/22 Premier League season, and Diawara would fit the bill.

Once dubbed a ‘phenomenon’ by Italian agent and scout Robert Visan back in 2018, the 24-year-old still has a lot of potential, and has already shown that he is more than capable of playing at a high level with his performances in European competition.

Currently rated at just £12.6m by Transfermarkt, Diawara could turn out to be an absolute bargain, should the Tyneside club be able to sign him of course.

In other news, find out which ‘exciting’ international NUFC have made an offer for here!

There’s been plenty of talk regarding Liverpool’s search for a new midfielder and forward player over the summer, with Jurgen Klopp desperate to put a hugely disappointing 2020/21 campaign behind him.

Several star names have been linked with plugging a Gini Wijnaldum-shaped hole in the engine room or coming in to add competition for a misfiring Sadio Mane, but the answer to the club’s conundrums could already be within Anfield.

On the chalkboard

Harvey Elliott rose to prominence after becoming the Premier League’s youngest-ever player at 16 years and 30 days, coming on as an 88th-minute substitute for Fulham against Wolves back in 2019.

Since then, the now 18-year-old has gone from strength to strength. After completing his transfer to Liverpool, the youngster made eight senior appearances for Klopp’s charges throughout 2019/20, adding to his top-flight experience.

A season-long loan move to Championship side Blackburn Rovers followed, and it was at Ewood Park where Elliott truly turned from a teenage prodigy to a potential wonderkid.

In 43 outings for the Lancashire outfit, the England Under-17 international bagged seven goals, providing a further 12 assists for his teammates.

His standout performances led to former teammate Elliott Bennett labeling Elliott a “special player” on Twitter and has seen Klopp reintegrate him into his first-team plans during pre-season.

“We have a new midfielder in our squad in Harvey Elliott,” the German tactician announced (as relayed by James Pearce). “We have players who can make a big step. We are not blind. We see what others are doing. We just have to be able to beat them. We will try to do that.”

“Harvey can play different positions. In pre-season, we wanted to see him in a deeper role. He’s made a big step in the pre-season. If he stays fit then the football world can be really excited about that. I really liked his performance and attitude in pre-season.”

With the financial impact of the ongoing pandemic severely restricting Liverpool’s spending power this summer, FSG, the club’s owners, may not have the spending power to buy both a midfielder and an attacker.

And that’s where Elliott comes in. With Jordan Henderson and Thiago only recently returning to training and Curtis Jones ruled out through injury, the diminutive gem is in contention to start the Reds’ curtain-raiser against Norwich at the weekend.

After becoming renowned for his technical ability, eye for a pass and ability to cooly slot the ball into the corner of the net, Elliott has showcased his truly world-class potential, the prospect of him linking up with Mohamed Salah is a mouth-watering concept.

His development could save the club millions, but more importantly than that, he has the ability to spark a new wave of Liverpool success, taking over the baton from Salah, the last player to fire the 19-time English champions to domestic and European glory.

And, in other news…Fabrizio Romano drops exciting Liverpool transfer update that’ll have the fans buzzing 

The traditional staid tactics, has-been batsmen and bowlers too callow to land a paper dart, let alone a yorker, are nowhere to be found in the current England squad. So just who are these imposters?

Andrew Miller in Delhi 31-Mar-2016The latter stages of an ICC world event can feel, up in the press box, a bit like the gathering of the clans. Representatives from cricket’s myriad nations, some of whom may have been circling one another throughout the tournament without ever quite finding themselves in the same city at the same time, are finally drawn together for reunions that, in many cases, span decades.The press lounge at the back of the stand can be a fascinating place to loiter at such events, as conversations get picked up from where they were left off in the Caribbean in 2007, or in Sri Lanka in 2012. And generally, where England are concerned, those have tended to revolve around staid tactics, has-been batsmen and bowlers too callow to land a paper dart, let alone a yorker.By the end of Wednesday night’s freak show of a performance, however, as observers from Australia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh began melting into the night – some bound for Mumbai and others heading straight for the final in Kolkata – every single comment focused on the same incredulous theme. Who are these imposters? What has happened to the England team that we know and love to mock?England teams are not meant to play like this – with flamboyance, and aggression, and with savvy in the big moments. They are meant to blow cold and colder at world events, with the occasional tepid upsurge as they kid their supporters into believing they might yet have the wherewithal to mend their sorry ways.But there’s no artifice about the alchemy we’ve been witnessing in the space of the past three weeks. England have genuinely learned from their mistakes, they have genuinely trusted their talents, and they have genuinely shown faith in one another, to the extent that on this night in Delhi, they were able to bury the very team that prompted their own resurrection following last year’s dismal World Cup. Now there’s gratitude for you.On the eve of England’s semi-final in Delhi, their coach Trevor Bayliss had called for his players to aim for the perfect performance, only to check himself in the very next breath and admit that such a performance has never been produced, and probably never will be. And sure enough, the loss of two wickets in two balls, including the captain Eoin Morgan for his second golden duck of the week, ensured that the wait must indeed go on.But up until that moment… well. In the brief but intense history of the World T20, there can’t have been many more credible contenders for the crown.If it is said that winning the World T20 is all about peaking at the right time – and Morgan, a member of the victorious 2010 side, knows and swears by this mantra – then the surge of indomitability that England brought to their knock-out of New Zealand was as forceful as a Jason Roy uppercut over point.

What is more, as a consequence of England’s progress, there has not been one single press conference mention for He Who Must Not Be Picked

Neither India nor West Indies will be cowed by what they witnessed ahead of their own showdown in Mumbai – teams powered by personalities as vibrant as Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle genuflect to no one. Yet you can be sure that each will have raised an eyebrow of respect, in particular at the exploits of Roy at the top of England’s innings and Jos Buttler bookending the chase at No. 5 – from where he scotched any notion of an anxious dribble to the finish by pressing the beast mode button and flogging three sixes in four balls to seal the game with a whopping 17 balls to spare.Gayle, in particular, may also have noticed that something has clicked among the England bowlers whom he beasted in the tournament opener for a brilliant 47-ball hundred. First there was Ben Stokes, who closed out Saturday’s gripping win over Sri Lanka with a nerveless diet of yorkers, and now this evening he was matched in the “execution” stakes by the rejuvenated Chris Jordan.Here was a man whose form had been on a precipice going into the opening fixtures of the World T20. And yet England’s insistence that Jordan was their go-to man for the death overs has somehow turned out to be a self-fulfilling prophecy.All winter long, the management had been clinging to a single Jordan over like an article of faith – his remarkable concession of a solitary run in the whitewash-sealing super over against Pakistan back in November.That, plus his unrivalled ability in the field, was sufficient reason to put up with his moments of uncertainty. Tonight, it was payback time, and Jordan’s stifling spell of 4-0-24-1 added another deluge of confidence to a dressing room already awash with positive vibes.Eoin Morgan’s charges have peaked at just the right time to earn a spot in Sunday’s final at Eden Gardens•IDI/Getty ImagesOn the night, the most stunning and insurmountable point of difference between England and New Zealand came at the end of their respective innings. Whereas Buttler alone battered 23 runs from the last five deliveries of England’s, New Zealand mustered a grand total of 20 from the final four overs of theirs, in which time they also shipped five momentum-shifting wickets.It is true that several of those came from full tosses and long hops, but the pressure created in between was intense and undoubtedly contributed to the mass downfall. It was as if England’s players had all discovered mojos that had been stuffed unceremoniously to the bottom of their kit-bags in the final days of the South Africa tour, and were now running them up the flag pole and flaunting them in the favourable winds.”The momentum that we carried over from the end of their innings to ours was outstanding,” Roy said. “They’ve grown in confidence, the bowlers, from the Sri Lanka performance. It was just perfect.”In their march to the final, England have flown in the face of the doubters, haters, pundits and sages, all of whom questioned – with differing degrees of relish – how a squad containing ten cricketers who had never before played in India could possibly adapt to life in the sport’s most frantic lane.Well, they have done just that with a blend of bravery, camaraderie, application and skill. And now, Roy added, their reward is to go off and play “just another game of cricket. It just happens to be at Eden Gardens in the World Cup final in front of 100,000 people.” It was, he added, “pretty cool”.What is more, as a consequence of their progress – and it is safe to say it now, given how spectacularly England have brought on-field closure to the thorniest off-field saga of them all – there has not been one single press conference mention for He Who Must Not Be Picked.The politicking and bickering that accompanied England’s initial attempts to move on from Kevin Pietersen has given way to a serene realisation that, across all three formats, the country has now landed a young and dynamic team that it can be proud to support. This is how lines in the sand should be drawn, on pure playing merit and nothing else besides. It’s taken an eternity but the deed has now been done. This time, there really is nothing left to say on the matter.There was, however, one last sublimely awkward moment this evening, when the acrimony might just have managed to seep back into the public domain for one last encore. From the back of the press conference room, an Indian journalist presented Roy with a convoluted, multi-faceted masterpiece of a question, which required an answer that peeled back the layers like a banana skin.One of the subclauses, almost certainly an innocent enquiry, happened to include the question “who is your idol?” Roy snorted involuntarily – his admiration for KP, his team-mate at Surrey, is no secret in English circles. Those in the know held their breath, wondering whether his name was about to be invoked in the hour of Roy’s coming-of-age innings of 78 from 44 balls. But in the end, despite a follow-up prompt to get specific, he ducked a delivery for the first time in a belligerent evening’s work, and turned his attention back to the very-near futureThere is no reason whatsoever for England not to believe in victory on Sunday night. However, much like the team that they beat this evening, and which also lost the World Cup final in Melbourne last year, it is hard to see how there can be any recrimination should England fall short.Like Brendon McCullum’s New Zealand, Morgan’s England – and it is his team, in spite of his dearth of runs – has already exceeded every expectation bar their own. And they have done so in a manner that has united fans and neutrals in admiration. Not least those at the gathering of the clans in Delhi.

The match, which is set to be Virat Kohli’s 100th Test, was initially scheduled to be played behind closed doors

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Mar-2022The first India-Sri Lanka Test match in Mohali will now be open to spectators, who will be allowed to fill the PCA Stadium to 50% capacity.The match – which is set to be Virat Kohli’s 100th Test – was initially scheduled to be played behind closed doors due to Covid-19 restrictions. Three days before the start of the match, however, the BCCI has confirmed that spectators will be allowed to attend it.”The first Test between India and Sri Lanka to be played at the Punjab Cricket Stadium in Mohali will not be held behind closed doors,” BCCI secretary Jay Shah said in a statement. “The decision to allow spectators into the ground is one taken by the State Cricketing Associations and in the present circumstances, is based on various factors. I have spoken with the PCA office bearers and they have confirmed that cricket fans will be able to witness the historic moment of Virat Kohli playing his 100th Test match.”The statement suggested the decision was taken based on the decline in Covid-19 cases around the country. The third wave of the pandemic peaked in January in India, and the three-match ODI series against West Indies in early February was played behind closed doors in Ahmedabad. The T20I leg of the series in Kolkata, however, was opened up to crowds, as were the second and third T20Is against Sri Lanka in Dharamsala. The first T20I in Lucknow, however, was played behind closed doors because of the state elections that were taking place in Uttar Pradesh.”While we started off the West Indies Tour of India behind closed doors, the encouraging dip in COVID-19 cases allowed the hosting associations to permit crowds,” Shah’s statement said. “Based on the advisories by the State Health Authorities fans were able to witness the games in Kolkata and Dharamsala while UPCA had Lucknow T20I without crowds owing to polling a day before the match.”I am really looking forward to Virat Kohli’s 100th Test and wish our champion cricketer the very best. This is an occasion for our fans to savour. May he continue to represent the country in many more matches to come.”RP Singhla, the treasurer of the PCA, told the that online ticket sales would open on Wednesday.”We got the communication from BCCI about the allowing of fans at 50% capacity for the first Test match between India and Sri Lanka at Mohali starting March 4,” Singhla said. “So far, we will allow online sale of tickets from Wednesday onwards as it becomes crowded at the ticket counters at the stadium. Fans will be there to watch Virat Kohli play his 100th Test match and PCA will ensure that all Covid-19 protocols are followed.”

Liverpool scrambled back from the fear of a Premier League upset on Sunday afternoon to extend their lead at the summit to eight points, following Manchester City’s shock defeat against Tottenham Hotspur the day before.

Things couldn’t be going better for Arne Slot’s side, who are the clear favourites for the title even at a point of the campaign when many observers would scoff at claims of title contention.

They say to judge the league table after Christmas, but it would take a dramatic nosedive in form for Liverpool to plummet below first place in that timeframe.

Anyway. The Merseysiders are not only competing in the top flight. Indeed, Slot’s squad sit atop the newly-formatted, 36-team Champions League group at the midpoint, but now face Real Madrid, who are in solemn need of three points at Anfield on Wednesday evening.

Liverpool's recent record vs Real Madrid

Liverpool’s recent record against Real Madrid has left plenty to be desired. In fact, it’s left everything. Two Champions League final defeats, two knockout stage exits and one beaten-twice group stage struggle, under Brendan Rodgers in 2014/15, have shaped the Spaniards into Liverpool’s most despised foe.

It’s going to be tough, and while the stakes aren’t quite as high as in recent years, there is still a burning desire to score payback and reinforce Slot’s incredible start to life as Jurgen Klopp’s successor.

This is as good a time as ever to defeat Los Blancos, though. Vinicius Junior’s false dawn in the Ballon d’Or does not detract from the Brazilian being one of the deadliest forwards in the world, and it is fortuitous for the Anfield side that he has picked up a hamstring injury that will rule him out this week.

Of course, the flip side is that Kylian Mbappe will get his wish and move into his favoured left-flanking role. Trent Alexander-Arnold has returned to training but may not be fit, meaning Conor Bradley may deputise once again.

Real have an awe-inspiring team of galacticos, but it’s not an infallible construction. In fact, Liverpool have some stars of their own would could walk right into the La Liga giants’ 11.

Mohamed Salah being one, for the 32-year-old is probably the best forward in the world right now, with 12 goals and ten assists from 18 matches in all competitions and an insatiable hunger for the biggest prizes.

He’s not the only one, though, with Ryan Gravenberch enjoying a spectacular season. Believe it or not, the Dutchman might just have hit the level that would see him establish a nailed-down starting berth at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The Liverpool star who'd be perfect for Carlo's Real Madrid

Liverpool signed Bayern Munich’s Gravenberch for a £34m fee in August 2023 in what proved to be Klopp’s final transfer move as the Anfield side’s manager.

He only managed 13 Premier League starts last season but has gone from strength to strength under Slot’s wing, levelling up and maturing a skillset that was blessed with patent quality but lacking in temperament and direction.

Yet to miss a minute in the top flight this term, the many-faceted qualities of this burgeoning midfielder have seen him rise to the fore, and he might just be the perfect piece for this Real Madrid team. After all, he’s actually outshining the La Liga side’s first-choice middleman Aurelien Tchouameni.

Matches (starts)

12 (12)

10 (10)

Goals

0

0

Assists

1

0

Touches*

76.3

76.6

Pass completion

89%

93%

Key passes*

0.6

0.3

Dribbles*

1.1

0.3

Ball recoveries*

5.7

4.4

Tackles + interceptions*

3.7

4.3

Total duels (won)*

5.8 (65%)

4.9 (63%)

The respective anchors are both clearly at the top of their game, but Gravenberch, praised by Steve Nicol for his “sensational” form, is proving to be more active, mobile and combative, on the whole.

Tchouameni yields a slightly higher average in regard to his tackling and intercepting numbers, while he is also the crisper passer, but this latter metric is upheld through the ceding of creativity, something that Gravenberch excels in, with double the key pass creation rate and a far superior ball-carrying average.

Ancelotti’s tactical identity is steeped in ball retention but also fast transitional play and flexibility. It’s a well-known fact that, in a world of tactical sagaciousness, Don Carlo employs a looser, less scripted style.

Gravenberch has demonstrated his dynamism and then some this season, slotting into a deeper-sitting, more defence-focused midfield role that has seen him breaking away from the confines of up-and-down prospect to superstar. Football scout Miguel Ruiz has recently pronounced the Dutchman as “the linchpin” of Liverpool’s engine room.

Not only is Gravenberch outstripping Tchouameni, but statistical analysis conducted by FBref has seen him likened to the versatile Federico Valverde too, only deepening the claim that this might be the perfect midfielder for Ancelotti’s Real team.

Ranking among the top 6% of Champions League midfielders this season for pass completion and the top 10% for progressive carries per 90 (FBref), the £150k-per-week talent could truly be the difference-maker, controlling and nullifying Liverpool’s opponents.

Naturally, his performances for the Reds this season have led to rogue transfer rumours surfacing that the Spaniards are interested in completing a deal in 2025, but you’d have to say that FSG would demand astronomical figures.

In any case, he’ll be one to watch under the European lights.

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