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The newly-elected BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur has denied either knowledge or clue of the activities “as a suspected bookie” of an individual called Karan Gilhotra

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Apr-20151:24

Kalra: Thakur sends a clear message

The internal tussle for control of the BCCI was played out in public via a letter from the newly-elected BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur to the ICC chairman N Srinivasan on Monday. In the letter, Thakur accused Srinivasan of not being ‘reconciled’ with his election to the post of BCCI secretary and therefore launching a ‘counter offensive.’ This counter offensive, Thakur wrote, was the leak of an internal ICC document regarding his association with a ‘suspected bookie.’Thakur, however, has denied having knowledge or clue of the activities of one Karan Gilhotra “as a suspected bookie.”Srinivasan responded to Thakur’s letter by saying he was not in the habit of leaking information. “If I have to talk to Anurag, I will write a letter to him in private or have a word with him,” he told . “I don’t need to go to the media with allegations against BCCI officials.”The letter from the ICC was dated April 22 with a copy marked to the ICC chairman Srinivasan. ICC chief executive David Richardson had written to BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya over an allegation that Thakur was spotted with Gilhotra, who “appears on the ICC ACSU database… following rumours … about his involvement in betting on cricket.”Richardson said, “during the 2014 edition of the IPL, unverified information was received by the ICC ACSU that Mr Gilhotra was seen trying to befriend players and support staff during the tournament and that there were rumours (again unverified) about his involvement in betting on cricket.”The letter was sent to Dalmiya as it fell, “outside the jurisdiction of the ICC’s anti corruption code” so he could “handle as appropriate.” The original email sent by a journalist carried photographs of Gilhotra and Thakur together.Thakur, in his letter on Monday, said that the BCCI had “received information from the ICC ostensibly under your [Srinivasan’s] direction that I should keep away from one Mr Karan Gilhotra who is a ‘suspected bookie… I only wish that you had shared the list of ‘unverified suspected bookies’ with me and other colleagues, so we could identify such persons and keep away from them.”Thakur added he had, known Gilhotra “who has been active in the political and cricket in activities in Punjab and adjacent states. I had no knowledge about his activities as a bookie.”The ICC letter states that on the basis of the information, Ravi Sawani, the director of the BCCI’s anti corruption unit, “wrote to all the IPL franchise managers in 2014 advising them that they should take steps to ensure Mr Gilhotra was not entertained by any of their squad members.” The letter then ended with the following: “we believe however as the allegation involves Mr Thakur for his own benefit, it would be advisable for its contents to be drawn to Mr Thakur’s immediate attention.”Thakur said the ICC advisory was made public at Srinivasan’s “behest” around the working committee meeting in Kolkata on Sunday. He also asked Srinivasan to, share this information (regarding the list of suspected bookies) “with your family members, whose involvement in betting has been proved.” A reference to the 2013 IPL corruption case when Srinivasan’s son in law and Chennai Super Kings official Gurunath Meiyappan was charged with betting by the Supreme Court.Thakur’s letter ended with a statement that, “since the ICC advisory had been made in public, I would be making this letter to you public” circulating its contents and details on social media and on the BCCI’s official mailing list to media outlets.

Joyraz Sheik’s century lit up the final day of the first Youth Test between Bangladesh Under-19s and Sri Lanka Under-19s that ended in a draw

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Jan-2015
ScorecardFile photo – Joyraz Sheik’s 100 not out had 11 fours•WICBJoyraz Sheik’s century lit up the final day of the first Youth Test between Bangladesh Under-19s and Sri Lanka Under-19s that ended in a draw. The visitors led by 73 runs at the end of the third and final day in Dambulla.Opting to bat first, the home side were bowled out for 216 runs on the second morning. Salindu Ushan top-scored with 77 off 254 balls with nine fours, but the rest of the batsmen didn’t make much after getting set – four of them fell in the 20s.Left-arm spinner Nihaduzzaman took five wickets while offspinner Mehedy Hasan picked up three wickets.The visitors reached 78 for 2 at the end of a truncated second day, which was affected by rain. Shadman Islam started quickly off the blocks with his 69-ball 56 with 11 boundaries. Afterwards, Sheik added 66 runs for the fourth wicket with Hasan, who made 41.Sheik made 100 off 167 balls with 11 fours. For Sri Lanka, offspinner Nishan Peiris took four wickets while chinaman bowler Ravindu Tillakaratne took two wickets.

The Red Devils have broken the transfer record a number of times in the last three decades, but which players have been their best signings?

Getty Images1Eric Cantona – 1992 – £1.2 million from Leeds UnitedManchester United started the Premier League era with a couple of marquee signings, bringing in Dion Dublin from Cambridge United and Eric Cantona from Leeds United. Dublin was Alex Ferguson's second-choice in the transfer market, bringing him to Old Trafford after Alan Shearer moved from Southampton to Blackburn Rovers. He scored just two league goals for the Red Devils before leaving for Coventry City in 1994. On the other hand, Cantona was a revelation for the club, reaching double figures in the Premier League in four of his five seasons, picking up four league titles and two FA Cups along the way.AdvertisementGetty2Roy Keane – 1993 – £3.75m from Nottingham ForestRoy Keane became the most expensive player in English football when he joined United as a 21-year-old and was the face and heart of the team for the next 13 seasons. He played 480 times for the Red Devils winning seven league titles as well as the Champions League in 1999. The Republic of Ireland midfielder was the team's captain for their European success, but missed the final due to suspension after picking up a yellow card during a career-best performance against Juventus in the semi-final.Getty Images3Andy Cole – 1995 – £7m from NewcastleAndy Cole was an immediate success at Manchester United after signing in January 1995. The England attacker ended the season in double figures in the Premier League despite playing just 18 times in half-a-campaign. He went on to score 121 times in all competitions for the club, finishing with five league titles and a Champions League medal.ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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Getty Images4Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – 1996 – £1.5m from MoldeOle Gunnar Solskjaer would go down in Manchester United history for one single moment, but scored almost 100 Premier League goals as he became the world's best 'super sub' under Alex Ferguson. He was signed by United after local rivals Manchester City were not willing to take a chance on him, and ended up coming off the bench to score the winner in the club's miraculous comeback in the 1999 Champions League final.

Harry Kane could lose Thomas Muller at Bayern Munich as the veteran has been urged to leave, with Manchester United one potential destination.

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Muller advised to leave Bayern Struggling for minutes under Thomas TuchelTen Hag ready to bring him to Old TraffordWHAT HAPPENED?

The 2014 World Cup winner has slipped down the pecking order at Allianz Arena, particularly with the arrival of Kane. Moreover, competition from other players like Jamal Musiala, Leroy Sane, Kingsley Coman, Serge Gnabry, and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting has made it difficult for him to be a regular. This has prompted Lothar Matthaus, a World Cup-winning captain, to suggest Muller consider a move away from Germany which would see Kane lose one of his closest friends in the Bayern dressing room. Matthaus even touted the MLS as a potential destination for Muller where he could unite with former Uefa Champions League rival Lionel Messi.

AdvertisementWHAT MATTHAUS SAID ABOUT MULLER

Writing for Sky Germany, Matthaus said: "At Bayern Munich, he will no longer get the minutes he got two years ago. If he has the confidence to play from the start like he did two years ago, then he has to change clubs. You have to say that openly. Muller’s situation looks like a gradual decline.

"As far as Muller’s future at Bayern is concerned, the question is what Thomas wants. Is he content with only being a part-time worker or even not playing at all? Muller is rooted in Munich, but perhaps he can imagine a new life experience, for example in North America?"

Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

According toTen Hag is an admirer of Muller and would want him at his disposal at Old Trafford in 2024. The Dutch manager wanted to get him in the previous winter but could not thrash out a deal for the striker. However, this time the winds are in his favour as Muller's contract is expiring at the end of the season.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER UNITED?

United are struggling for goals as Marcus Rashford has been just a shadow of his former self and Rasmus Hojlund is bizarrely yet to find the net in the Premier League after 651 minutes of action. The Red Devils had been linked with a move for Napoli's Victor Osimhen but their president Aurelio De Laurentiis confirmed that the striker is on the verge of extending that would see him stay in Naples beyond 2025. Hence Muller could be an option who could lift United, at least in the short term.

Dani Dyer has revealed what she thinks of the vulgar West Ham fan chant in which she figures prominently alongside partner Jarrod Bowen.

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Hammers fans serenade star wingerPartner has no issue with the chantFather does not interfere in private lifeWHAT HAPPENED?

Crude terrace songs are nothing new in football circles and former Love Island star Dyer knew what she was getting in to when linking up with England international winger Bowen in 2021. The London Stadium can often be heard rocking to the sound of “Bowen's on fire and he's sh*gging Dani Dyer” – with said chant sung to the tune of Nineties dance classic ‘Freed from Desire’ by Gala.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT DANI DYER SAID

Dyer has told the podcast when asked for her take on being the unfortunate star of a crass chant: “Not that long ago I went to an away game, and I don’t usually like going to the away games because there’s the die-hard fans that are crazy. I really needed a drink, so I was like, I’d rather have died of dehydration to be honest, that was the better option. I came out and they were all looking at me and they all sung the song, I was literally in the midst of the crowds. It’s fine, it’s so fine, it really doesn’t bother me.”

THE GOSSIP

Dani and Jarrod are now proud parents to twin girls, while Bowen has been welcomed into the Dyer family by film star and EastEnders actor Danny. Asked if her Hammers-mad father would have allowed her to date a player from arch-rivals Millwall, Dani said: “No! I don’t know, he wouldn’t care. Listen, people always say ‘oh, I bet your dad loves that because you’re dating someone from West Ham’, but he could be a total ars*hole, do you know what I mean? And he’s not, so I think that was just a bonus. The West Ham thing was a bonus.”

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@danidyerxx & GettyWHAT NEXT?

Bowen – who netted the winning goal for West Ham in the 2023 Europa Conference League final – has continued to star for the Hammers this season. He has found the target on 11 occasions, while providing five assists, and will be hoping to form part of England’s plans at Euro 2024 this summer.

A man has been fined after racially abusing three young spectators during the ODI between England and South Africa at West End in August

George Dobell14-Jan-2013A man has been fined after racially abusing three young spectators during the ODI between England and South Africa at West End on August 28.John Guinelly, a 44-year-old from Portsmouth, was ordered to pay each victim £500 by Southampton Magistrates’ Court, with his actions towards the children described by magistrates as “threatening and abusive”.Hampshire Police launched an investigation after the incident when the three children, aged 11, 13 and 14, returned to their seats having purchased food during the match only to find that Guinelly and two other men had taken their places.Guinelly first pretended he could not understand the children – the court heard he said “are they talking Dutch or something?” – and then used racist phrases when stewards asked him to move. Later, as Guinelly was being spoken to by stewards and police, he spotted one of the children and delivered another racist insult.While Guinelly did not attend court, he send a letter stating that he would plead guilty to racially or religiously aggravated harassment, alarm or distress. He claimed his comments were “friendly banter”. He was also ordered to pay £65 court costs.

Murray Goodwin made the highest score of the season so far as Yorkshire’s bowlers were made to toil again

30-May-2011
ScorecardMurray Goodwin made the highest score of the season so far as Yorkshire’s bowlers were made to toil again on the second day of the County Championship Division One game at Hove.Goodwin compiled an undefeated 274 before Sussex declared 30 minutes before tea on 548 for 4. Yorkshire reached 21 without loss in reply when bad light brought a premature close with only 4.2 overs possible after tea.It was the eighth time in his 11 years with the county that the 38-year-old Goodwin has lodged a double hundred and, apart from one waft which flew through the slips on the first day when he was on 49, he hardly played a false shot.After reaching his double hundred he thrashed his next 74 runs off just 56 balls with leg-spinner Adil Rashid, whose figures of nought for 187 were the worst of his career and the third-worst ever by a Yorkshire bowler, coming in for particularly savage treatment as Goodwin twice struck him for three successive boundaries.When the declaration came Goodwin had made the third-highest individual score against Yorkshire, while there have only been six bigger scores by Sussex batsmen in their history – with Goodwin responsible for two of them. He faced 397 balls and hit 37 fours.At the start of the day Goodwin extended his stand with Luke Wells to 304, Sussex’s second-highest for the third wicket, before the 20-year-old Wells was run out in sight of his own double hundred.Wells came back for a second after Goodwin flicked the ball to long leg but his partner was not interested and Wells turned too late to beat Steven Patterson’s direct hit at the non-striker’s end. Wells batted for seven-and-a-half hours for his career-best 174 and faced 338 balls, hitting 26 fours and a six.Yorkshire’s only other success on a chastening day for their attack was also a run-out, when Oliver Hannon-Dalby spotted that skipper Mike Yardy had strayed out of his ground after defending back up the pitch and side-footed the ball against the stumps in his follow-through. But Goodwin and Andrew Hodd thrashed another 100 for the fifth wicket in 17 overs before leaving Yorkshire needing 399 just to avoid the follow-on.Yorkshire openers Joe Root and Joe Sayers negotiated 11.2 overs either side of tea in fading light but the follow-on target of 399 is still some way off.

A round-up of action from the World Cricket League Division Three tournament in Hong Kong

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Jan-2011Papua New Guinea rolled United States of America over by seven wickets, with 44 overs to spare, in one of the most one-sided games in the tournament at the Hong Kong Cricket Club. PNG won the toss and had USA on the mat immediately, with Hitolo Areni sending Lennox Cush back for a duck. Steve Massiah seemed to be at ease with the conditions, stroking four boundaries in his 18, but things were about to fall apart spectacularly. Carl Wright succumbed against opening bowler Loa Nou, before Areni sent messiah back to reduce USA to 25 for 3. Six of the remaining eight batsmen failed to open their accounts as USA crumbled from a precarious 37 for 4 in bizarre fashion, to be bowled out for 44 in the 21st over. Seamer Rarva Dikana was the main tormentor, finishing with dream figures of 4 for 1 from 4.2 overs. PNG were in a rush to end the game, lashing boundaries and losing wickets, before Christopher Kent hit two sixes to seal PNG’s third win in three games.”We didn’t expect to bowl the USA out so cheaply this morning and all credit has to go to our bowlers and the way they performed today,” captain Dikana said after the game. “I don’t think the USA batsmen played badly, I just think they didn’t know how to read our bowlers and our fielding was particularly strong.”A win is a win for us, but I would have liked it if we hadn’t lost those three wickets to make it to the target. However, by losing those three wickets it means those batsmen have something to focus on in our next game – by improving their performances for us. We can’t rest on our laurels though, we’ve another match tomorrow and we’ve got to focus on our own game and be ready for the next challenge.”Oman authored a major recovery from 63 for 6 to overhaul the target of 241 set by Italy with seven balls to spare at Kowloon Cricket Club. Italy’s effort after electing to bat was guided by captain Alessandro Bonora’s unbeaten 124, that included ten fours and four sixes. After the early loss of Andy Northcote, Bonora laid the platform in a 84-run second-wicket stand with Damian Fernando, off 22.1 overs. The middle order faltered after Fernando’s exit for 46, but Bonora kept firing from one end to lift his side to a strong score.Oman’s chase was initially crippled by Italy’s opening bowlers, Vince Pennazza and Gayashan Munasinghe, who ripped open the top order. Oman looked down and out when No. 8 Awal Khan joined Sultan Ahmed in the middle. The pair kick-started a resurgence with a 59-run stand in 11.3 overs. Sultan’s exit did not allow Italy to run through the tail, as Amir Ali batted with rare composure for a No. 9 batsman. He added 99 with Awal and took Oman to the brink before Peter Petricola ended Awal’s resistance for 81, at 221 for 8. Rajesh Kumar held his nerve to help Amir tie the scores before perishing, in what was the final twist in the riveting match. Amir, however, hit a boundary off the next ball to seal a memorable win for Oman.”We’ve lost two games now, both of which were games that we could have won if we had applied ourselves better,” a disappointed Bonora said. “We simply did not complete the basics – bowling, fielding and even batting. I may have scored 124 runs for our 240 but it was still not enough on this pitch. We need to regroup ahead of tomorrow’s game against Hong Kong. We both have one win each and tomorrow’s game is almost like a semi-final as whoever loses falls into the relegation battle.”On the other hand, Oman captain Hemal Mehta was thrilled with the result. “We were definitely the most challenged in this game – Italy didn’t let us take wickets easily and credit has to go to Bonora for his knock,” he said. “It was outstanding and if we’d got him out early then we would have seen a much lower score on the board.””Sultan Ahmed and Awal Khan had a great partnership and after Sultan departed and Amir Ali and Awal paired up, their run partnerships really made the difference for us. We can’t be complacent though, tomorrow we’ve got USA who we know will be wanting to bounce back after being bundled out for 44 so we need refocus to face them at HKCC.”Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s bowlers sparked a dramatic collapse to set up a comfortable seven-wicket victory against Denmark at the Mission Road Ground.Having worked their way to a respectable 71 for 2, Denmark lost eight wickets for 31 runs in 15.4 overs. Najeeb Amar made the key breakthrough removing Denmark captain Michael Pedersen for 34 and struck again four overs later to snare his brother Carsten for 6. Amar broke the back of the top order when he dismissed Rizwan Mahmood for 24 and by that point the floodgates were open. No other batsman reached double figures as new-ball pair Irfan Ahmed and Aizaz Ahmed shared five more wickets – each bowled – to speed through the lower order.The modest chase was never going to be too much of a bother and despite losing Roy Lamsam for 19, Hong Kong barely broke sweat. Coutney Kruger struck six boundaries in an unbeaten 40 and Mark Chapman hit a breezy 29 from 33 balls – with a six and two fours – to take the home side to the victory line. Chapman fell on the brink but with over half the innings left, it was never going to be costly.”It’s obviously great to finally get a win in the tournament and hopefully we can carry this momentum through to the next game against Italy,” Irfan said. “I just seemed to be able to get things right for us when it came about to claiming the wickets with the ball moving easily in the conditions at Mission Road. We kept things tight and it paid off for us today and we showed what we are capable of doing as a side.”

Sri Lanka A face a huge final-day run chase after being set 463 by Leicestershire although started briskly to reach 71 for 1

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Jul-2011
ScorecardSri Lanka A face a huge final-day run chase after being set 463 by Leicestershire although started briskly to reach 71 for 1 despite losing a wicket to the first ball of their second innings.Leicestershire built their lead at a steady pace with useful contributions throughout the order. Greg Smith hit 67 and took his second-wicket stand with James Taylor to 102 before Sri Lanka staged a mini fightback.Four wickets fell for 37, including two to offspinner Sachithra Senanayake, but Leicestershire’s advantage was always substantial. It was further extended by Wayne White (57) and Tom New (62) as they added 129 in 28 overs to take the game away from the visitors.Sri Lanka didn’t get the solid start they needed to the chase as Malinda Warnapura was caught behind first ball off Nadeem Malik but Lahiru Thirimanne, who was part of the recent Test side that toured England, and Bhanuka Rajapaksascore freely during a truncated final session.

Riyad Mahrez has explained why he left Manchester City for the Saudi Pro League while still having “unfinished business” in the Champions League.

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Won the Treble with City last seasonGuardiola wanted him to stayNew challenge sought in Middle EastWHAT HAPPENED?

The Algerian winger formed part of the mass exodus that saw leading lights in European football head for the Middle East in the summer of 2023. Mahrez linked up with Al-Ahli in a £30 million ($37m) transfer, with that move completed on the back of savouring Treble glory with City.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT MAHREZ SAID ABOUT LEAVING CITY

Pep Guardiola wanted Mahrez to remain at the Etihad Stadium, despite leaving him on the bench for a Champions League final win over Inter, and the 32-year-old forward has told of why he bid farewell to England: “I had two years left on my contract with Manchester City, I could have stayed. It was really me who decided to leave. I felt that this opportunity would not come again. Maybe it was time to leave because I had spent five years at City and won everything. Txiki Begiristain (technical director) really wanted me to stay, and even Pep Guardiola. They made it clear to me. I weighed the pros and cons. And finally, I decided to leave. I don't regret it, I'm happy to be here."

WHAT MAHREZ SAID ABOUT THE SAUDI PRO LEAGUE

Mahrez added on the quality of the Saudi Pro League: "The level of the Saudi league is not bad. It's going to get better and better. It’s a championship that I’m learning. Here, they have put the resources into recruiting the best players. There's definitely quality, I think it's just the beginning. Can we compare it to Europe? I don't think so yet. But at this rate, in the near future, they can be among the five, six or seven best Championships in the world."

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WHAT MAHREZ SAID ABOUT UCL FINAL SNUB

Mahrez has signed a contract worth £43m ($53m) per year in Saudi Arabia and is fully committed to his new cause despite having some regrets at how his time in Europe finished – as he failed to take to the field before claiming a Champions League winners’ medal. He added: “To be honest, I still have a taste of unfinished business. In the Champions League, I did not play the semi-final or the final. In previous seasons, I always started in the Champions League while always being impactful for my team. This last year, I couldn't say it went badly, but I have a bit of this feeling of unfinished business. I was offered four years in Saudi Arabia, in a Muslim country where I can definitely protect (and provide for) my family. There was also a new challenge, and a new project. So, I decided to leave, it wasn't a big deal.”