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The Zonal T20 league and the Syed Mushtaq Ali knockout tournament will be played before the 2018 IPL auction, a move that is bound to help both IPL franchises as well as domestic players

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Dec-2017The BCCI has brought forward two domestic tournaments, the Zonal T20 league and the Syed Mushtaq Ali knockout tournament, to ensure the players have a chance to audition ahead of the 2018 auction on January 27 and 28. It is understood that the Zonal T20 league will now be held from January 8 to 16 instead of January 21 to 29. The new schedule also has the Syed Mushtaq Ali knockout tournament being pushed from the February 4-10 window to January 21-27.Consequently, the fixtures for the Vijay Hazare Trophy – the domestic 50-over tournament – have also been reworked. The group-league phase, which was set to be played from February 16 to 25, has been advanced to February 5 to 14. The schedule for the knockout stages has also been tweaked, and it will be now played from February 21 to 26 instead of March 3 to 8. On the other hand, the Irani Cup, which will feature the Ranji Trophy winner against a Rest of India side, has been postponed from January to March.A couple of officials from IPL franchises confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that they hadn’t made specific rescheduling requests to the BCCI, but noted that the changes were not surprising. “It has happened in the last two years as well,” an official said. “It makes sense for both the players and the franchises as we can take a look at the talent on display ahead of the auctions.”In 2015, the BCCI had decided to advance the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, the domestic T20 championship, before the IPL auction. The board had also changed the format of both its inter-state limited-overs championships from an intra-zonal-knockout format to a group-knockout league format. While the BCCI at that point did not openly state that the schedule had been planned with the IPL auctions in mind – it instead said the fixtures were drawn keeping in mind the Under-19 World Cup and the World T20 – the move was welcomed by both the franchises and players.Up to that point, there were question marks over the relevance of the Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament, which was played after the IPL auction. With teams already being assembled, there was little at stake, at least in the short run, for both the players and the franchises. However, with the change in schedule, players, talent scouts and franchise officials have admitted that the tournament now has greater context.

Newcastle United are still active in the transfer window even though the new Premier League season is well underway. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has offered an update to GIVEMESPORT on their pursuit of Arsenal and Scotland fullback Kieran Tierney.

Something stands in the way of Tierney transfer?

Newcastle got off to the best possible start last weekend as they put Aston Villa to the sword, romping past them at St James’ Park to a 5-1 victory. Alexander Isak scored a brace whilst the opener was grabbed by none other than debutant Sandro Tonali.

An even bigger test is up next as the Magpies prepare to face Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City who are fresh off of their Super Cup victory.

Dan Burn started at left-back against Unai Emery’s Villa and will surely hold on to that spot for the trip to the Etihad. That being said, Eddie Howe and co are on the hunt for an upgrade in that position with Kieran Tierney at the top of their list, along with Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella.

This Tierney saga has gone back and forth with Real Sociedad and Celtic also interested in striking a deal for the Scotsman. The major sticking point has been surrounding whether it would be a permanent deal or a loan, something which La Real and the Gunners have been unable to agree on.

What is Fabrizio Romano's update?

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano gave his opinion on what we can expect regarding Tierney and Newcastle to GIVEMESPORT.

"There is interest from Newcastle United, it's true, but again, with Arsenal asking for a permanent transfer, we know the Newcastle situation with Financial Fair Play is not that easy.

"So they have to be careful on how they spend money, what kind of proposal they can offer to Arsenal.

"So that's why the deal is not so easy. But it's true that he's appreciated. So, I think in the next few weeks, something could happen for Tierney."

Should Arsenal let Tierney leave?

A lot of the chatter amongst the Emirates faithful relates to these Tierney links and whether or not their club should allow him to move on to pastures new.

Ben Jacobs revealed on the Loaded Mag NUFC podcast the position of Arteta on the future of Tierney.

“The starting point of Arteta, I understood, was that if Tierney was happy at Arsenal, Arteta was happy with Tierney staying because he’s hugely valued as a squad player and they’re going to have a lot of important games now that they’re back in the Champions League.

Jacobs then went on to echo a sentiment shared by a large amount of Arsenal fans, saying that, “What if Zinchenko gets injured? You’d love a player like Tierney there that can come in.”

As previously mentioned, the Gunners now have UCL action to contend with as well and Zinchenko hardly boasted the most positive fitness record last term. Knee problems and two separate calf issues kept the Ukrainian international out of action for over 150 days in 2022/23, as per Transfermarkt, so the decision to part ways with his only realistic replacement would certainly raise eyebrows across the Premier League landscape.

Both teams are coming off fine wins, with Khulna beating Chittagong Vikings by 18 runs while Dhaka crushed Sylhet Sixers with eight wickets and 73 balls remaining

The Report by Mohammad Isam14-Nov-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsAshley Allen – CPL T20 / GettyKieron Pollard nicked the battle of big-hitters against Carlos Brathwaite as the Shere Bangla National Stadium were enthralled by both batsman’s six-hitting abilities. Pollard’s 24-ball 55 – that had six huge sixes – helped Dhaka Dynamites to their third win in a row, this time beating Khulna Titans by four wickets in the final over.Khulna had earlier made 156 for 5, a remarkable recovery from a sluggish 47 for three in the first 10 overs. The late addition came mostly through Brathwaite’s unbeaten 64 that included six sixes in the last 5.5 overs. Abu Hider took two wickets while Sunil Narine, Shakib Al Hasan and Shahid Afridi took one each.Dhaka’s chase, however, started even poorer. They were 41 for 5 at one stage, but Pollard’s cluster of sixes bought them back into the game, before Jahurul Islam and Mosaddek Hossain took them to victory with a ball to spare.Slow to startKhulna struck only five boundaries in the first 10 overs after being sent to bat. They also lost Michael Klinger, Dhiman Ghosh and Nazmul Hossain Shanto during the same period. The lack of boundaries played a big factor in each of these batsmen’s dismissals.Klinger’s cross-bat took a top edge and was well caught at mid on by Hider, off Shakib. The bowler-fielder combination then switched roles as Hider took Dhiman’s wicket in the sixth over, the skier taken in the second attempt by Shakib.Narine easily scalped Shanto in the tenth over when the batsman charged him needlessly, only to be stumped by Jahurul Islam for a 25-ball 24.Khulna’s late burstEerily similar to their previous game, Brathwaite got into his stride soon after Mahmudullah got out. He first struck Afridi for two sixes in the space of three balls, first over the bowler’s head and then over midwicket. Shakib then went for 17 runs in the 16th over, which included another six over midwicket that went deeper than the one in the previous over.Rilee Rossouw got out in the next over to end the rapid 54-run fifth-wicket stand but Brathwaite struck his fourth six before reaching his maiden T20 fifty off just 25 balls. In the final over, both his sixes off Hider went straight, the second slightly bigger than the first. He finished with six maximums in his unbeaten 29-ball 64.Pollard’s reply to BrathwaiteDhaka, too, slipped like Khulna in the first half of their innings. Abu Jayed had Evin Lewis skied to mid off in the first over, Afridi slammed one to cover in the second over before Jofra Archer bowled Cameron Delport with a quick delivery. Mahmudullah took a sharp catch to remove Narine and Dhaka’s crisis deepened further in the ninth when Shakib was caught for 20.But the scenario changed in the space of five balls, of which four went for sixes off Pollard’s bat. All of those went over long on, despite Mahmudullah’s varying lengths. That over, the innings’ 11th, cost 25 runs. Pollard didn’t spare Brathwaite either, hitting his compatriot for two sixes, both on the leg side in the 13th over that cost 20 runs. From a precarious position, Dhaka had reduced the chase to 58 off the last seven overs.The pullback via ArcherJofra Archer, whose pace has troubled a few batsmen in the BPL, used it to good effect in the 14th over. He gave away just three runs, after which Shafiul picked up the key wicket of Pollard in the following over. Much of the credit for Pollard’s wicket, however, should go to Archer for bringing some control to the Khulna attack. Between the 14th and 17th overs, Khulna conceded only two fours as Dhaka went left needing 27 off the last three overs.Some local creditThe lack of contribution from the local players had been a concern in the BPL but the way Jahurul and Mosaddek played out the last 5.1 overs should be appeasing. They narrowed the chase down with two balls to go, but Jahurul’s reverse off Brathwaite, with four needed, was a was superbly executed. The pair added 43 in their unbroken seventh-wicket stand.What they said”I gambled with that reverse scoop off the second last ball. This is the first time I played in a match.”

Celtic are reportedly closing in on the signing of Swedish defender Gustaf Lagerbielke in a £3m deal from Elfsborg but he may not be the last centre-back to arrive at Parkhead this summer.

Who are Celtic interested in signing?

It was recently claimed that the Hoops remain keen on a swoop for Volendam central defender Xavier Mbuyamba in spite of their prospective sixth signing.

The Bhoys have already brought in Odin Thiago Holm, Maik Nawrocki, Hyeok-kyu Kwon, Hyun-jun Yang, and Marco Tilio to bolster Brendan Rodgers' squad, with Lagerbielke now set to compete for a spot in the defence.

However, the Northern Irish tactician seemingly still has an eye on another addition in that area of the pitch as Mbuyamba could be the third centre-back to arrive after the Elfsborg star and Nawrocki.

How good is Xavier Mbuyamba?

Whilst Lagerbielke could come in to replace Carl Starfelt, Rodgers could land an upgrade on Stephen Welsh by securing a deal for the Volendam titan.

The 6 foot 5 colossus enjoyed an excellent campaign in the Dutch top-flight and his performances suggest that the potential is there for him to offer more than the current Celtic enforcer, who came off the bench to replace Cameron Carter-Vickers against Aberdeen last weekend.

Mbuyamba appeared in 28 Eredivisie matches last season and caught the eye with his defensive work at the back.

The former Chelsea academy prospect made an eye-catching 3.5 tackles and interceptions per game, which was more than any Hoops defender managed and 2.2 more than Welsh produced per outing.

He also made 5.4 clearances per game as the towering brute displayed his positional awareness and ability to read danger to clear the ball away when facing pressure from the opposition, whilst no Celtic player made more than 4.2 clearances per clash.

The 21-year-old titan's 6.2 duels won per match also eclipsed Welsh's five battles won per game for the Hoops in the Scottish Premiership last term, which shows that he engaged in more physical contests to win possession back for his team.

Mbuyamba's impressive defensive output for the Dutch side indicates that he could be a superb option for Rodgers due to his knack for being able to clear danger and make numerous interventions per game to cut out opposition attacks.

Volendam's starlet is also an excellent attacking threat from set-pieces as he racked up five Eredivisie goals last season, which is four more than any current Hoops centre-back produced in that time.

Whereas, the 23-year-old Scotsman has only scored four goals in 53 first-team appearances for the club to date.

These statistics suggest that Mbuyamba could be a "complete" – as he was once described by talent scout Jacek Kulig – upgrade on Welsh due to his offensive and defensive qualities.

Therefore, Rodgers must swoop to sign the giant defender, who was also hailed as "elegant" by Kulig, after the deal for Lagerbielke in order to improve the depth of his squad.

This could also allow the Scottish side to consider Welsh's future as the centre-back has been touted with a move to the Serie A this summer, which could be a possibility if he falls further down the pecking order.

West Indies coach heaps praise on Holder and team after series win, but has a bone to pick with quality of pitches offered by Zimbabwe

Liam Brickhill in Bulawayo02-Nov-2017After a tough tour of England, West Indies won their first Test series under Jason Holder’s captaincy after a 1-0 victory over Zimbabwe. Coach Stuart Law, who has been in the position for a year, was full of praise for his captain, and for some of the players who struggled in England but played defining roles in Zimbabwe. Devendra Bishoo took just three wickets in England, but was named Man of the Series for his 13 wickets across two Tests in Zimbabwe, while Shane Dowrich overcame poor form to score his maiden Test hundred.”I’m super proud of Jason and the way he’s led this team, as well as the way the boys have played,” Law said. “For Devendra Bishoo to come here after a tough series in England and get Man of the Series is a great effort, and I thought Shane Dowrich has been outstanding. His glovework behind the stumps and that hundred was great. I’m very proud of our boys.”Law has played a fundamental role in West Indies’ steady progress in recent times, and has been a strong advocate for giving selected players extended runs in the team. West Indies came to Zimbabwe with the same squad that had travelled to England, and Law suggested that he would like to keep the squad together when West Indies move on to their next engagement in New Zealand.”I’ve been pretty clear to the selectors that this group that we have together is worth working with,” Law said. “It’s a short turnaround between now and the New Zealand series, to bring someone else – or a number of players – in, I don’t think would be a great move. We would have to start again with those players. We’re starting to make strides and go forward. We competed well in England and won a Test match there, we’ve now won a series in Zimbabwe. I think it would be great if we could keep the guys together. Those guys who have struggled might be our heroes in the next match. I understand some people think we could chop and change, but I believe that if we stay together and become one, we’ll start producing the results.”Law was particularly impressed with the performances of his two fast bowlers, Shannon Gabriel and Kemar Roach. Gabriel touched 150kph during the series, picking up five wickets, while Roach filled the role of senior seamer to perfection with eight wickets at just 17.25.”On very slow, low wickets, to have Shannon and Kemar doing what they did was great to watch,” Law said. “When the ball was flying through, it excites everybody at the ground. They toiled manfully in these conditions. The first Test was very hot and dry, and they kept coming. Those guys have been great and the captain himself got a hundred in the first innings and bowled well today as well. I can’t be more proud of our boys. Fast bowlers get the rough end of the stick in these conditions, but it was tough for the spinners as well. The turn was slow and the batsmen had time to adjust. I’m sure our fast bowlers are looking forward to going to New Zealand.”Law was also magnanimous enough to praise Zimbabwe’s efforts at putting up a good fight and battling to a draw in the second Test. “Zimbabwe are full of quality cricketers. To come here and beat them in their own patch is a tremendous effort. They have some high-class players.”Aside from his gripes with the use of the DRS in this series, Law’s only other point of contention was the quality of pitches that Zimbabwe provided. Both tracks played slow and low throughout, resulting in a lot of hard graft for both bowlers and batsmen and some moribund cricket.”It’s tough enough taking 20 wickets in a Test match, but when the pitch offers you nothing on the final day… It seemed to offer more on days one and two than it did on days four and five. Credit to Zimbabwe, they fought really hard.””The challenge [for Zimbabwe] is always going away from home. To play your cricket on slow, turgid, nothing wickets is not really going to set yourself forward and continue your growth to win games of cricket. We have issues around the world with the quality of pitches, especially when a touring team lands on your shores. I’d just like to see a more even contest between bat and ball. We’ve come from England where the ball was swinging and seaming, it provided great cricket. There are a lot of people saying that Test cricket is dying; on a pitch like this, it is. No disrespect – they utilised what they had to get ahead, but for the growth of the sport, I think we need to be growing on better pitches.”

Punjab had Chhattisgarh at 35 for 5, before the tail provided a fine fightback. Bengal and Vidharbha’s batsmen enjoyed better days with their openers scoring big centuries

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Nov-2017
ScorecardManpreet Gony and Harbhajan Singh celebrate taking a wicket•FotocorpA brutal new-ball spell from Manpreet Gony reduced Chhattisgarh to 35 for 5 – their run-rate was barely over 1 – but the lower order mounted a fine rearguard to lift the total up to a comparatively respectable 238 in Raipur.Vishal Kushwah, coming in at No. 9 in his third first-class match, top scored with 76 off only 93 deliveries. Equally aggressive was the No. 7 Jatin Saxena, whose 52 came off 59 balls. The No. 8 batsman Sumit Ruikar ensured there was a hat-trick of fifties on the scorecard, and he was the last man dismissed for an even 50.Until their efforts, Punjab looked unstoppable. Gony (4-41) and Sandeep Sharma (2-41) dismissed the Chhattisgarh openers for ducks and ensured none of the top five batsmen got past a score of 15. Left-arm spinner Vinay Chaudhary (3-56) finally broke through the lower-order resistance, dismissing two of the three half-centurions.Perhaps wanting to stamp their dominance, Punjab captain Jiwanjot Singh came out swinging when it was their turn to bat, scoring 40 off only 44 balls and remaining unbeaten when stumps was called.
ScorecardA hefty maiden first-class hundred from Abhishek Raman was the highlight of the first day’s play at Eden Gardens, where Bengal made 306 for 5 against Himachal Pradesh. Raman was out in the sixth over before stumps after smashing 176 off 242 balls, with 29 fours peppering his innings.Raman’s dismissal ended a 163-run fourth-wicket stand with Manoj Tiwary, and was followed by that of Wriddhiman Saha in the final over of the day, ensuring Himachal went to stumps not entirely displeased with their day’s work. Tiwary, batting on 78 (132b, 8×4, 1×6), will hold the key to Bengal’s hopes of a big total.Sent in to bat, Bengal lost Abhimanyu Easwaran in the first over of the day. Raman then added 37 for the second wicket with Sudip Chatterjee and 92 for the third with Koushik Ghosh (27) before Tiwary joined him with the score at 136 for 3.
ScorecardAn unbeaten hundred from Faiz Fazal led Vidarbha to a solid 259 for 3 against Services at the old VCA Stadium in Nagpur. Fazal batted right through the day’s play, and went to stumps on 128, having faced 256 balls and hit 12 fours and three sixes.Having chosen to bat, Vidarbha didn’t lose a wicket until the 50th over of the day, when Muzzaffaruddin Khalid dismissed Sanjay Ramaswamy for a 146-ball 55. By then, the two openers had added 148. Services would only take two more wickets all day, with Fazal holding fort at one end while adding 43 for the second wicket with Wasim Jaffer, 36 for the third with Siddhesh Wath, and an unbroken 32 for the fourth with Ganesh Satish.

Tottenham Hotspur are believed to be closing in on a potential replacement for in-demand striker, Harry Kane, amid reports that negotiations have been held regarding a move for Porto talisman, Mehdi Taremi.

What's the latest on Taremi to Tottenham?

According to Portuguese newspaper, Record, the 31-year-old is potentially set to play his 'last game' for the Primeira Liga side against rivals Benfica in the super cup later this week, with the north Londoners continuing their contact with the Iranian international.

Amid those talks, the piece suggests that an agreement has not yet been reached between the two clubs as the Lilywhites have yet to meet Porto's €30m (£26m) asking price, having thus far promised to cough up in the region of €24m (£21m).

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

This follows a report from transfer guru Gianluca Di Marzio who revealed last week that Spurs are interested in signing the former Rio Ave man, with the experienced marksman seemingly up for grabs with just a year left to run on his current deal.

How good is Mehdi Taremi?

Not that Ange Postecoglou would have needed reminding of the importance of Kane to his side, although the free-scoring Englishman further rubberstamped his quality with a clinical display in the recent pre-season friendly clash with Shakhtar Donetsk, having hit four goals against the Ukranian outfit.

With the club's record scorer potentially on his way to Bayern Munich, those at N17 will have to seek out a suitable replacement who can be the new attacking figurehead moving forward, with Taremi perhaps an ideal fit due to his stellar record in Portugal in recent seasons.

The 6 foot 1 menace notably scored 31 goals and chipped in with 14 assists in 51 games in all competitions last term – totalling more goal involvements than any Tottenham player achieved – while having also netted 26 times and registered 17 assists the year prior.

While replicating such form in the Premier League will pose a different challenge, the 66-cap sensation could find that task far easier due to the presence of recent summer signing, James Maddison, with the ex-Leicester City magician likely to help Taremi prove rather unplayable in the final third.

As Maddison proved against Shakhtar – after providing an assist for Kane's second goal with a stunning, whipped cross – he can be a real creative weapon for Postecoglou's side next season, with 90min's Sean Walsh writing that the 26-year-old 'loves to get on the ball and play it forward'.

That quality was also evident last season as the Coventry-born maestro finished tenth in the division with regard to chances created, while also ranking in the top 15% among those in his position in Europe's top five leagues for progressive passes as a marker of that forward-thinking approach.

Having also created 12 'big chances' and averaged 2.3 key passes per game in 2022/23, Maddison has proven that he can provide the goods on a plate for those ahead of him in the forward line, thus ensuring that Taremi could flourish amid that constant, elite service.

With the Porto goal machine a true poacher by trade – as he ranks in the top 3% among his European peers for touches in the attacking penalty area – he could allow Maddison the space and freedom to operate in an advanced midfield role behind him.

As such, the signing of Taremi – who was branded "ridiculous" by pundit Rio Ferdinand for his overhead kick against Chelsea in the Champions League a few years ago – could prove to be a particularly astute, albeit rather left-field Kane replacement for Postecoglou and co.

Manchester United defender Harry Maguire could now remain at Old Trafford this summer, if the club do not receive a suitable offer, with the player himself keen to stay, according to a recent report from Football Insider.

Is Harry Maguire leaving Manchester United?

Transfer insider Dean Jones has recently told GiveMeSport that Maguire will be leaving Man United this summer, despite the fact he has featured in some of the club's friendlies, saying:

"Harry Maguire is starting pre-season games and we are only a couple of weeks from the start of the season so as it stands, he genuinely is in the squad make-up for the start of the season. Will that remain the case? I doubt it.

"They are fielding enquiries and even if Maguire is still a United player at the start of the campaign, he won’t be there by the beginning of September."

However, journalist Alex Crook has received conflicting information, and he has recently suggested that Erik ten Hag is "content" for the defender to stay, having informed the player about his stance.

The manager believes the Englishman "has still got a job to do" at Old Trafford, meaning he could now be poised to remain with the Red Devils.

Read The Latest Manchester United Transfer News HERE

According to a report from Football Insider, the 30-year-old is believed to be keen to stay at Man United beyond this summer, and he is ready to fight for a place in the starting XI, which could make a deal difficult for any interested club.

West Ham United have already had a £20m bid rejected for the England international, with United unwilling to force him out of the club this summer, although they are willing to part ways with him for a suitable fee.

Ten Hag is keen to bolster his options in midfield, and the sale of the former Leicester City man, as well as Scott McTominay, would help facilitate new additions, but he is not putting the duo under any pressure to leave at the moment.

How much does Harry Maguire earn per week?

The centre-back is currently on a £190k-per-week deal, which means he is among the top ten earners at Old Trafford, and his sale would free up a significant amount of money on the wage bill.

It is clear to see why Ten Hag would be willing to keep hold of his former captain, given that he was hailed as "fantastic" by David de Gea back in February. However, he should definitely get rid of him if a suitable fee comes in.

The Sheffield-born defender made just 16 appearances in the Premier League last season, having fallen down the pecking order considerably, and when he was given the opportunity to play, he often failed to impress.

Quite rightly, United fans bemoaned the part the 6 foot 4 defender played in their Europa League exit at the hands of Sevilla, making an error leading to a goal in the second leg, in a match where he received a Sofascore rating of just 6.3.

Given that Maguire is an experienced England international, West Ham's offer of £20m is far too low, but Man United should let him leave for the right price this summer.

Inzamam-ul-Haq, the PCB’s chief selector, is impressed with the opener’s form and fitness since his return from his spot-fixing ban, and has said his case for a full international return will be assessed by picking him in the Pakistan A team

Umar Farooq23-Sep-2017Pakistan’s selectors have come up with a plan to reintegrate Salman Butt into the national side. They are impressed with his domestic form since his return from his spot-fixing ban, and will look to pick him in the Pakistan A team to assess his case for a full international return. A similar scheme was shelved earlier this year in light of the PSL spot-fixing controversy.”He is playing very well after his comeback and we are considering him,” Inzamam-ul-Haq, the PCB’s chief selector, said in a press conference on Saturday. “He was there in our high-performance camp and he was exceptional. It’s fantastic to see that a player has been out for five years but still maintained a high standard of fitness. He has checked all the boxes for his selection and we have a plan. We are not selecting him directly in the international circuit but we are trying to have him play in the A team first and then we will take it from there.”Butt, 32, returned to domestic cricket in January 2016, after serving a five-year ban for his role in the spot-fixing scandal in England in 2010. He scored a century in his comeback game in the National One-Day Cup, and went on to finish the tournament as its second-highest run-getter, with 536 runs at an average of 107.20.He then led his first-class team, Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), to the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, scoring twin hundreds in the final to finish the season with 741 runs at 49.40. He was also the second-highest run-getter in the National T20 Cup last year, with 350 at 70.00.Butt was 26 when he was banned, having played 33 Tests, 78 ODIs and 24 T20Is. Since then, he has attended anti-corruption rehabilitation programmes conducted by the PCB, taken part in social work, and publicly apologised, though he had pleaded his innocence until 2013. The two other players punished at the time, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir, have also returned to cricket after completing their bans. Amir has been successfully re-integrated into the national set-up, and has set a precedent of sorts for any more returns.Over the last two years, Butt’s selection had been mooted on few occasions, but the board has waited to weigh all its options before giving its go-ahead. His consistent domestic performances impressed Pakistan’s previous head coach Waqar Younis and former captain Misbah-ul-Haq, and the lack of stability in the opening position ensured the topic of his return remained relevant. The current coaching staff led by Mickey Arthur have also been impressed with Butt as a player but have left it to the selectors and the board to decide.Butt could have returned to the Pakistan squad as early as their tour of the West Indies in March-May 2017, with the then PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan publicly clearing his possible selection. But the revelations of spot fixing in the PSL – though Butt had no connection to it – created an adverse climate for his return, forcing the selectors to wait a little longer.

A day after he was dropped from the Test side, Bangladesh’s Mahmudullah has been picked by Jamaica Tallawahs for the remainder of the CPL

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Aug-2017A day after being dropped from the Test side, Bangladesh’s Mahmudullah has been picked by Jamaica Tallawahs for the remainder of the CPL. Mahmudullah will be a replacement for Pakistan’s Imad Wasim, who played five games for Tallawahs so far this season, but was recalled by the Pakistan Cricket Board to undergo fitness testing.”We are gutted to be losing Imad Wasim but Mahmudullah is a great replacement,” Tallawahs coach Paul Nixon said. “He is a proven match winner at international level and he is exactly the kind of player we need to claim back to back Hero CPL titles.”Wasim had picked up four wickets in the 17 overs he bowled in five matches, at an impressive economy rate of 5.35, the best for Tallawahs so far. Mahmudullah, though out of favour in Tests, scored a century against New Zealand in the Champions Trophy in June, helping Bangladesh to the semi-finals. In T20s overall, he has 2344 runs from 123 innings, at a strike rate of 114.28, and 67 wickets with an economy rate of 7.04.Mahmudullah will join Tallawahs on August 23, before their match against St Lucia Stars on August 25 at Sabina Park.