Bangladesh Cricket Board expected to close discussions on Pakistan tour

Sources say that Bangladesh, like Sri Lanka, wish to spend as little time as possible in Pakistan. Photo: AFP

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday announced that discussions with Bangladesh regarding their tour,  scheduled later this month, would soon reach to a signed agreement.

According to the proposed schedule, the PCB intended to host three T20 matches and two Test matches, which would be part of the ICC World Test Championship. However, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) have not been too keen about the idea and, instead, proposed that the team take part in a shorter format and play Test series on neutral ground.

The BCB also did not provide any formal reason for their suggestion.

On the other hand, sources said Bangladesh, like Sri Lanka, wish to spend as little time as possible in Pakistan.

Sources close to the PCB have said the board maintained its original stance to prioritise Test cricket over a T20 series as it was need of the hour for Pakistan.

The dates Bangladesh proposed for a Test series were not suitable as they would fall in the month of Ramadan, the sources said. Another suggestion was for to schedule one Test match and while the number of T20s be increased to three, they added.

'If team is given clearance, then I'll go'

Bangladesh head coach Russell Domingo had said he had no issues touring Pakistan, provided the BCB agreed to send their national team.

"If the team is given clearance to go, then I will go. If the team isn’t given clearance, then I definitely won’t go," Domingo had said in an interview with New Age.

Read more: If team is given clearance to tour Pakistan, then I will go: Bangladesh head coach

Bangladesh were scheduled to play three T20Is and two Tests later in January; however, doubts over the tour surfaced when BCB President Nazmul Hassan said certain members of the fraternity were uncertain of the tour.

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Australia to bat versus New Zealand in final Test

SYDNEY: Australia won the toss and chose to bat against virus-hit New Zealand in the third Sydney Test on Friday.

The Black Caps, with the series already lost, were in disarray with five changes, among them skipper and star batsman Kane Williamson, who has been ill in the lead-up.

Batsman Henry Nicholls and spinner Mitchell Santner were other illness withdrawals while paceman Tim Southee lost his place to spinner Todd Astle.

Paceman Trent Boult is also missing after returning home with a broken hand suffered in the second Test in Melbourne.

Batsman Glenn Phillips, who made a late dash to Sydney Thursday as cover, was named to make his Test debut, with opener Tom Latham to lead the side in Williamson´s absence.

Will Somerville, Matt Henry, Jeet Raval and Astle were called into the side, while the Australians were unchanged after considering Mitchell Swepson as a second spinner.

"It looks like a good wicket. Good toss to win," Australia captain Tim Paine said. "We´re going with the same XI, we wanted to stick with a winning combination."

New Kiwi skipper Latham said: "It´s been a tough 48 hours for us. We´ve had a virus which has gone through the team, which is unfortunate.

"We would have liked to have had a bat but hopefully there is a bit in the wicket and we can use that this morning."

Australia have been unbeatable this season, winning all four Tests at home -- two each against Pakistan and New Zealand -- after retaining the Ashes in England.

The Test is being played against the backdrop of one of Australia´s most devastating bushfire seasons with at least 18 people losing their lives in blazes raging across the country, including on the outskirts of Sydney.

Play will be suspended in the match at the umpire´s discretion, should smoke significantly affect air quality or visibility.

Teams

Australia: David Warner, Joe Burns, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Matthew Wade, Tim Paine (capt), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, James Pattinson

New Zealand: Tom Latham (capt), Tom Blundell, Jeet Raval, Ross Taylor, Glenn Phillips, BJ Watling, Colin de Grandhomme, Todd Astle, Will Somerville, Matt Henry, Neil Wagner.

Umpires: Aleem Dar (PAK), Marais Erasmus (RSA)

TV umpire: Nigel Llong (ENG)

Match referee: Richie Richardson (WIS)

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Pakistan football: Normalisation committee chairman brushes aside 'perception of bias'

Humza said he had invited everyone to work with the Normalization Committee but some people opted out. Photo: Reporter

KARACHI: Chairman of the FIFA appointed Normalisation Committee in Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), Humza Khan, on Thursday brushed aside the perception that he is more inclined towards the Ashfaq Hussain group of PFF.

Speaking to media in Karachi, Humza said he had invited everyone to work with the Normalisation Committee but some people opted not to work alongside them.

"It is not true that we are with any group, we are representing FIFA and working according to what FIFA has mandated us to do. The perception is wrong that we only have anti-Faisal Saleh Hayat people working with us," he said.

"We had invited all the people, be [they] from Faisal group or Ashfaq group, to work for the betterment of the football, but few opted not to join us," he added.

FIFA had appointed Humza as chairman of the Normalisation Committee in September last year with the mandate to hold PFF elections within nine months.

The first step towards having free and fair elections in PFF was to have clubs scrutinised and the Normalisation Committee is yet to do that.

Read more:   FIFA to keep close watch over normalisation committee

"It is a challenging task, it is not that easy," Humza replied when asked if the roadmap given was being followed properly.

"The organised way to get the clubs scrutinised is to have tournaments, and to have tournaments we need funds," he said.

While being hopeful of completing the task within the given deadline, Humza added that they could get an extension.

"It is up to the FIFA. If they think that we are right on track then they can give us some more time. I am providing FIFA updates on a regular basis," he added.

Humza added that, to ensure proper flow of funds from FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation, they need to provide an audit of previous accounts, but they are facing challenges in doing so.

"We haven't got relevant documents needed to complete audits," said the chairman of PFF's Normalisation Committee.

Replying to a question, he said that former director technical Shehzad Anwar was one of the people invited to work with Normalisation Committee but he opted out.

"He didn't even come to meet us. What can do if one isn't coming to join us," he said.

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Big Bash League Points Table 2019-20

The 9th edition of  T20 league  Big Bash  is underway in Australia . The BBL  comprises 61 matches this season to be played across a period of slightly less than two months, from December 17, 2019 to February 8, 2020.

Standings of the Big Bash League

TeamMWLPointsMelbourne Stars5418Sydney Sixers6428Adelaide Strikers5317Sydney Thunder6327Hobart Hurricanes4224Perth Scorchers 5234Brisbane Heat4132Melbourne Renegades5050

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Brian Lara thinks India is 'definitely capable' of winning any match

Indian skipper Virat Kohli. Photo: AFP

West Indies batting great Brian Lara has expressed his confidence over the Indian cricket team and has said that they are "definitely capable" of winning any tournament they partake in.

The Men in Blue have been consistent with their performances, making it to the semis and finals of most ICC tournaments, however have yet to claim themselves as victors. Their last win was the 2013 Champions Trophy where the side led by MS Dhoni defeated England to seal their win.

"I think they are definitely capable of winning all tournaments that they play. I think what Virat Kohli and company and the Indian team has to appreciate is the fact that everybody sort of target India," Lara said in an interview to  India Today.

"Everybody knows that some point of time one team is going to play that important match against India. If it's a quarter-final, semi-final and final," Lara said.

The legenday batsman, who holds a 15-year-old record for the highest individual score in Test cricket, chose the Indian skipper over Australia’s star batsman Steve Smith to break his record of 400 runs.

"It would be difficult for Steve Smith to do it batting at No 4 for Australia. He is a great player but he doesn't dominate. You know a player like David Warner for sure," he said.

"A player like [Virat] Kohli, who gets in early and gets set. He is a very attacking player. Rohit Sharma on his day. So they have got quite a group of players who can do so," Lara added.

The Kohli-led side will be heading to Australia in October for the T20 World Cup.

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Rauf sends stumps flying in BBL, becomes second highest wicket taker so far

The rising fast bowler adds 10 wickets to his name and becomes the second highest wicket taker of BBL. Photo: Twitter

Melbourne Stars fast bowler Haris Rauf has shaken things up in Sydney as the pacer sent stumps flying in the Big Bash League (BBL) in his third match against Sydney Thunder which saw the pacer become the second highest wicket taker in the league so far.

In the Stars clash against Thunder the 26-year-old finished with figures of 3-24, dismissing Callum Ferguson, Alex Ross, who was the match's top run scorer, and Daniel Sams.

Effectively, it came to no surprise when the bowling dynamo become the second highest wicket taker, just one shy from Sydney Sixers Sean Abbott.

The fast-bowler's debut saw him grab two wickets for just 20 runs against Brisbane Heat. In his second game against Hobart Hurricanes, Rauf finish with figures of 5-27.  

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Pogba to undergo surgery, expected to sit out for one month

Manchester United's midfielder Paul Pogba is expected to sit out for another month. Photo: AFP

Manchester United's midfielder Paul Pogba will undergo surgery on a recurring ankle injury which is expected to see the footballer sit out for another month, team manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirmed after his side's 2-0 defeat to Arsenal on Wednesday.

The French World Cup winner made his comeback after nearly three months out in a 2-0 defeat at Watford 10 days ago and also made an appearance off the bench in a 4-1 thrashing of Newcastle four days later.

"We've had scans and it's nothing major, it's something that has to be sorted and dealt with. He's been advised to it as soon as," said Solskjaer.

Pogba has made just six starts in all competitions for United this season and his influence in midfield has been badly missed with United sitting fifth in the Premier League.

His latest setback comes at a bad time for Solskjaer with Scott McTominay also sidelined for two months leaving the Norwegian extremely short on midfield options.

"It's a big blow that Paul is out now that Scott's out, he'll be out for a few months. Paul will be back within a month."

Speculation also surrounds Pogba's future at Old Trafford after he expressed a desire to leave the club before the start of the season.

Real Madrid reportedly remain interested in the man who cost United a then world record £89 million ($117 million) in 2016, but no move is expected to be made in the January transfer window.

And Solskjaer denied suggestions it is Pogba's own medical team rather than the club's which has suggested to undergo surgery at this time.

"We look after our players' health," added Solskjaer. "It's been advised that he should do it as soon as possible."

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