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Mohammad Azharuddin has filed his nomination papers and will contest to be president of the Hyderabad Cricket Association

Nagraj Gollapudi10-Jan-20171:22

‘I want to start fresh’ – Azharuddin

Former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin will stand for the president’s post of the Hyderabad Cricket Association. On December 22, a lower court in Hyderabad ordered the HCA elections to take place on January 17.Azharuddin, who filed the nomination papers representing the National Cricket Club on Tuesday morning, said Hyderabad cricket was in the “doldrums” and his aim was to develop a flourishing cricket structure that would produce and retain talent. “I want to serve Hyderabad cricket. It is in doldrums now despite the team making it to the Ranji Trophy semi-finals this year,” Azharuddin told the . “The fact of the matter is that there is no development of the game and there are corruption issues in the HCA. I want to ensure that cricket flourishes in Telangana.”Azharuddin played 99 Tests and scored 6215 runs at an average of 45. He also played 334 ODIs and struck 9378 runs at 36.92 in a career spanning 15 years.Cricket in Hyderabad had taken a backseat with the HCA embroiled in corruption controversies. Deloitte, appointed by the BCCI to carry out an audit of all state associations, presented a diligence report last year and implicated HCA of mismanagement of funds and revealed irregularities and anomalies in the functioning and decision-making.Azharuddin, blamed the current HCA administration, which was headed by his former Hyderabad and India team-mate Arshad Ayub, for the issues with Hyderabad cricket. “I have heard stories of nepotism and corruption in selection. In the under-14, six new players are added to the team after every match. This is shocking.’There is no development of the game and there are corruption issues in the HCA. I want to ensure that cricket flourishes in Telangana’ – Mohammad Azharuddin•Associated Press”Hyderabad lost two very good players to Andhra [Hanuman Vihari] and one went to Bengal [Pragyan Ojha]. How could the HCA allow them to go and play for other states. Cricket sadly has taken a backseat and that is what I want to change,” Azharuddin said.Ayub, having served for more than nine years as HCA office bearer, had to step down as president after the Supreme Court order on January 2. But Ayub said there was confusion over whether Azharuddin could be eligible to run for the president’s post. “As per HCA constitution, Azhar cannot file directly for the president’s post. Firstly he has to file for the executive committee. Once he serves there he has to become an office bearer. Then only he can put in his nomination for the president’s post,” Ayub told ESPNcricinfo.Ayub also said he was uncertain about how the HCA could conduct elections as the Supreme Court was yet to appoint the panel of administrators that would supervise the BCCI. The Supreme Court is expected to do so on January 19. Ayub said although the HCA had told the Lodha Committee that it would implement all the recommendations, the HCA constitution had not yet been amended. “As per our rules we have to conduct two emergent general body meetings to approve the amended constitution. In the first EGM we had decided to adopt the recommendations.”In the second EGM, which has not yet taken place, the HCA is supposed to insert the various clauses from the Lodha Report into its constitution and then approve it.The HCA was also keen to know from the BCCI whether the life ban imposed on Azharuddin for his involvement in match-fixing had been lifted. It is understood that the HCA secretary John Manoj has raised these points in e-mails to the Lodha Committee, which has not yet been responded to.After the 2000 match-fixing investigation conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation found Azharuddin and three others guilty of fixing matches, the BCCI’s disciplinary committee, led by the then board president AC Muthiah, banned him for life on December 5, 2000. According to the CBI, Azharuddin had admitted to accepting large sums of money from Mukesh Gupta, a bookmaker, to under-perform in two matches.Azharuddin, who subsequently moved to politics, challenged the ban but his initial attempts failed. Then, in 2012, a division bench of the Andhra Pradesh High Court ruled the BCCI ban illegal.Azharuddin, though, said the BCCI ban could not rule him out of the HCA elections. “I don’t think the BCCI ban on me can be an issue in my contesting for a post in HCA. It may be recalled here that the Andhra Pradesh High Court has set aside the ban four years ago. So, I don’t foresee any issue in this regard,” Azharuddin said after filing his nomination papers.

Liverpool have been credited with an interest for Southampton star Romeo Lavia for several months now, with the Belgium international on the club's shortlist of options this summer.

Jurgen Klopp has received all the plaudits for the exceptional job he has done on Merseyside since arriving in 2015, but the Reds collapsed this season after chasing a historic quadruple last year, and major surgery is now paramount.

World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister has already been signed for a bargain £35m following the departures of midfield trio James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, but further firepower is expected, with Fabrizio Romano confirming that the outfit are in the market for two more midfielders.

And according to The Athletic's James Pearce, the 19-year-old Lavia could soon don the Liverpool shirt, and is considered a part of the core cluster of centre-midfield targets for the club.

Football Insider have also recently claimed that contact has been made with the player's representatives, with Chelsea and Manchester United also both intrigued – a fee of around £40m would likely be enough to prompt the relegated Saints to seriously consider allowing their prodigy to leave.

How good is Romeo Lavia?

While the former Manchester City youngster suffered the ignominy of Premier League relegation last term, the teenage gem can hold his head high after belying his tender age and top-flight inexperience with assured and composed performances from the anchoring role in the south coast club's midfield.

Reporter Benjy Nurick had high praise after one performance earlier this year, saying: "Romeo Lavia was an absolute monster tonight. Quite possibly the best midfielder on the pitch."

The one-cap prodigy has recorded an average league rating of 6.8 – as per Sofascore – and exhibited his skills by completing 86% of his passes, making 2.1 tackles per game and succeeding with an extraordinary 68% of his dribbles, which bodes well as Klopp seeks out progressive players to enhance his midfield.

He could be the "perfect" – as stated by reporter Nick Emms – component to ensure that Trent Alexander-Arnold's late-season purple patch is cemented after a year which highlighted his defensive frailties and left the full-back at the epicentre of Liverpool's woes.

As per The Athletic, the crux of Liverpool's strife this year has been down to the midfield's inability to protect the defence, sapped of vitality and devoid of confidence, and Lavia could fix this and subsequently unlock the full might of Alexander-Arnold's creative arsenal.

As per FBref, Lavia ranks among the top 4% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for rate of blocks per 90, which only further strengthens the claim that, despite still being a budding prospect, he is en route to becoming one of the most dogged in the midfield business.

With Alexander-Arnold now flourishing in his new, inverted role – providing seven assists in the last ten league games of last season, the youthful exuberance of Lavia could ensure that Anfield steps into the new season firing across all cylinders, holding the centre of Klopp's squad together with an iron-clad grip and acting as the midfield 'monster' to allow his creative-centric teammates like the right-back to thrive.

There is a possibility of Arsenal "revisiting talks" to sign Brighton star Moises Caicedo this summer, according to journalist Dean Jones.

Who could Arsenal sign this summer?

The Gunners are currently seeking to reinforce their central midfield area, and it seems like a major priority for manager Mikel Arteta. West Ham star Declan Rice, who has been subject to a rejected opening bid from Arsenal, is firmly in their thinking.

Meanwhile, as his Man City contract runs down, treble-winning captain and Germany international veteran Ilkay Gundogan is also a player attracting interest from sporting director Edu.

Caicedo, who starred for Brighton over the 2022/2023 Premier League season, was being heavily courted by Arsenal in January with the player even releasing a statement of his intention to leave the Amex.

The 21-year-old instead went on to pen a new deal at Brighton, putting them in a strong position this summer transfer window as big clubs, including Chelsea, register a real interest.

Arsenal have also been tipped to re-launch a move for Caicedo, with reporter Jones saying they could do exactly that in a column for GiveMeSport.

The journalist, when discussing their transfer targets, claimed Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, Edmond Tapsoba of Bayer Leverkusen RB Leipzig's Mohamed Simakan are early targets for the centre-back area too – with Torino's Perr Schurrs also one to watch.

Expanding further, Jones claims there is a real "possiblity" of Arsenal "revisiting talks" to sign Caicedo as well, even despite their push to sign Rice from West Ham.

Who is Moises Caicedo?

Averaging more tackles and interceptions per 90 than any other Brighton player last season, it's safe to say the South American ace has marked himself out as a real defensive midfield gem.

He is also revered in his homeland, with Ecuadorian critics seeing him as their nation's "crown jewel" and great hope for a new era of football nationally.

Enrico Castro-Montes, a football historian of Ecuador, went into great detail on Caicedo's potential in an interview with Het Niuewsblad (via Sport Witness).

Castro-Montes even said he has been described as a cross between N'Golo Kante and Paul Pogba

"Caicedo covers the whole field. He is much more eye-catching," said the historian.

“There will be a lot of pressure on Caicedo’s shoulders. His nickname in Ecuador is ‘La Joya’, the jewel. In his own country, he is really seen as the crown jewel of a new generation.

“Caicedo really has everything to become the best Ecuadorian footballer of all time. I think that off the ball, he is indeed somewhat reminiscent of Kante, but on the ball, he resembles Paul Pogba with his flair and his technique.

“That’s also how they describe him in Ecuador: a cross between Kanté and Pogba.”

Steven Smith has come out in praise of his team, particularly Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc, who pulled off an unlikely victory on the final day at the MCG

Brydon Coverdale at the MCG30-Dec-2016Nobody turns up to day five of a Test anymore. Well, hardly anybody. At the Gabba: 2593 showed up, with free entry all day. At the MCG: 6189 – though more flooded in after tea when Cricket Australia threw open the gates. And yet day five was when both Tests sprung dramatically and unexpectedly to life. The end result was that in Brisbane, Australia nearly lost the unlosable Test, while in Melbourne they won the unwinnable.Even Steven Smith turned up to the MCG on day five thinking a result was unlikely. Possible, yes, but improbable. After all, rain had washed out nearly half of days one, two and four, and Pakistan had piled on 443 in their first innings, across three days. “If we can get a lead of 150-ish then maybe we can have a crack and see how we go,” Smith said on ABC Radio on the fifth morning. “Funnier things have happened in the game of cricket.”He might not have expected it, but Smith’s words could hardly have been more prophetic. In the first session, Smith and Mitchell Starc provided outstanding entertainment for the small crowd. Starc struck seven sixes, the most for any player in a Test innings at the MCG, and Australia amassed 624, the highest total ever in a Test at the venue. In the end, Smith gave himself a little extra room to manoeuvre, declaring 181 in front.Australia’s golden run continued when Josh Hazlewood struck in the second over of Pakistan’s second innings, justifying Smith’s declaration timing – Pakistan had to bat for a nervy four-over period before lunch. Everything continued to fall into place from there: Nathan Lyon – whose consistency was questioned by Smith on the fourth evening – ran through the middle order, and the fast men finished the job after tea.Australia had won by an innings, in a Test in which Pakistan had made 443 batting first, and in which Australia did not even begin to bat until after lunch on day three. In a Test in which rain wreaked havoc. After the match, Smith could hardly believe that Australia would fly to Sydney for the third Test having already wrapped up the series with a 2-0 lead.’We want a clean sweep in Sydney, and we need to continue to improve in every aspect’•Cricket Australia/Getty Images”That was a pretty amazing Test match and a great one to be a part of,” Smith said. “Coming here this morning, lots of people would have had their doubts that this could happen. Everyone was always staring down the barrel of a draw, really. It was phenomenal the way we could turn things around, give ourselves a chance and take that chance when it came. I’m really proud, and I think it says Test cricket is alive and going really well.”I thought Starcy was incredible. I thought he batted incredibly. He broke the record for the most sixes at the MCG, and hit the ball incredibly cleanly to give us an opportunity to get 180 and have the overs that we did at them today. It was pretty special. To come out and do what we did – we always thought if we could get three or four wickets, when we got the ball reversing we’d be in for a show.”A lot of credit has got to go to Nathan Lyon. I thought he bowled beautifully this afternoon. He mixed up his seam. He bowled a lot of cross-seam balls today, which I guess put a bit of doubt in the Pakistan batters’ minds. He came up with the crucial wickets to get us in a good position for when the ball started to reverse. And then Starcy did what Starcy’s done for a while and was world-class.”Smith’s praise for Lyon was particularly notable after his tepid support of the offspinner on the fourth evening, when he declined to back him as a certain starter for the Sydney Test. Lyon had taken 1 for 115 from 23 overs in the first innings, but showed on day five why he has been Australia’s most successful Test offspinner of all time.He collected 3 for 33 in Pakistan’s second innings, importantly claiming the wickets of the two most senior members of the side: Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq. He also had Asad Shafiq brilliantly caught at short leg by Peter Handscomb shortly before tea, ending a ten-over partnership with Azhar Ali that Smith believed was the turning point for Australia.”I thought when we broke the Azhar-Shafiq partnership, the catch that Petey took at bat-pad, I thought we’re in for a good show here,” Smith said. “The ball was starting to tail and it was about to get pretty difficult for the batters to start. Everything just sort of worked to plan. It was one of those days.”The victory means Australia have now won three consecutive Tests since the nadir of their loss to South Africa in Hobart, after which the selectors made sweeping changes to the side. Not all of those changes have been successful – No. 6 batsman Nic Maddinson has now been axed for the Sydney Test, and wicketkeeper Matthew Wade is yet to make a batting contribution – but Smith believes the wins will give his young team confidence.”I think it can give you that belief to know that you’re never out of the game or you can pull a win out of your hat from nowhere,” he said. “It was quite remarkable the way we were able to do that today. Everything just went to plan. It was just one of those days. I’m just incredibly pleased and hopefully the guys can take a lot of confidence out of how they’ve played this week.”We’re still a work in progress. We’re a young team. I’m proud of the boys. We’ve played some very good cricket in the last couple of weeks, to win three Test matches and three one-day matches on the bounce has been outstanding. But we want a clean sweep in Sydney, and we need to continue to improve in every aspect. We’ve got to grow and get better each and every day. If we do that hopefully we can get to where we want to get to.”

Gianluca Scamacca’s move to West Ham has unravelled into disaster.

The Italian was signed from Sassuolo to become the Irons’ main man, but he has been spectacularly disappointing, unable to take the goal-scoring burden off Michail Antonio.

Danny Ings was also bought in January in an attempt to cover up the Scamacca mistake, however, the Englishman has also struggled to find form in East London.

This situation has left David Moyes in the hunt for a new striker and the club has been linked with Armando Broja.

What’s the latest on Armando Broja to Chelsea?

According to Romagiallorossa.it, Roma are closing on a loan with an obligation to buy deal for Scamacca, a move that would provide space for West Ham to enquire about the Chelsea man.

Indeed, it's alleged that the Hammers are supposedly “closing” in on the 21-year-old, who last year had an asking price of around £30m.

Can Armando Broja replace Gianluca Scamacca?

Broja is a player brimming with talent, effervescence, and potential, but has suffered hideous luck with injury.

The £40k-per-week striker has been restricted to just three starts for the Blues this season after he tore his cruciate ligament in a friendly against Aston Villa in December 2022.

Although, admittedly prior to this unfortunate event, Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter were both reluctant to regularly utilise the forward. Nevertheless, he has shown in a previous loan spell his extraordinary talent.

During the 2020/21 season, the youngster was at Southampton, where has displayed the most promise in his short career, as in 38 appearances in all competitions, the Chelsea starlet scored nine times.

Frank Lampard, who gave Broja his full debut back in 2020, once said: “He is a very talented young boy.

“He came into us at the start of the Covid times, trained with us, and showed the attributes that I think you’re seeing now in the Premier League at Southampton.

“He’s fast, strong, has a real eye for goal and he’s a very, very good young player so I’m very aware of his strengths.”

Meanwhile, Scamacca has failed to hit the heights he had previously shown in his homeland. After netting 16 Serie goals in the 2020/21 season, he has only registered three Premier League strikes, failing to score since January 4th.

Moyes provided a rather damning indictment on Scamacca and said: "We know that his physical data has got to be much better than it is. Gianluca has got to get himself back.

“You want to put out the players who you think are going to win for you, so you are always looking to put your best team out. We just want the output to be bigger and more.”

Therefore, this has opened the pathway for Broja, who has already shown he can consistently perform at the top level.

Described as “dangerous” by Ralph Hasenhuttl, the 17-cap international is a more than adequate replacement for the out-of-favour Scamacca.

England’s Ben Stokes, Eoin Morgan and Chris Woakes are among seven players who have listed their prices as INR 2 crore in the upcoming auction for IPL 2017

Nagraj Gollapudi06-Feb-2017England allrounders Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes and their limited-overs captain Eoin Morgan are among the seven players who have listed themselves at the highest base price of INR 2 crore (approx US $298,000) for the IPL player auction scheduled in Bangalore on February 20. India seamer Ishant Sharma, Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews, and the Australian fast bowlers Mitchell Johnson and Pat Cummins are the rest of the players in this set.Also in the top bracket

INR 1.5 crore: Jonny Bairstow, Trent Boult, Brad Haddin, Nathan Lyon, Kyle Abbott, Jason Holder

*INR 1 crore = INR 100 lakh = INR 10000000 = USD 149 thousand approx
INR 1 lakh = INR 100 thousand = INR 100000 = USD 1490 approx

A total of 799 players were part of the initial roster which would be pruned once the franchises submit their choices before the deadline this weekend. There were 160 capped players from eight countries – leaving out Bangladesh and Pakistan – and 639 from India, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and West Indies. Of the 24 capped Indian cricketers, everyone barring Ishant has listed their base price at INR 30 lakh.Considering they will have to put a majority of their players back into the auction in 2018, some franchise officials said they would not be too aggressive in buying players this season. However, they did agree that there would be considerable interest in the English players.Although the IPL is yet to decide on the retention rules, franchises expect the right-to-match option to be available. This allows franchises to buy back a specific number of the players they have released for the auction, by matching the highest bid those players attract; if they match the bid they win the player.With the impressive all-round skills he showed during England’s recent tour of India, Stokes tops the list of marquee players that several franchises have said they would like to have.0:47

Quick Facts: IPL 2017 Auction

After Andrew Strauss took over as the ECB director of cricket last year, he has allowed England players the freedom to play in domestic T20 leagues like the IPL to gain wider exposure. Morgan, who has played for three different teams, Jos Butler (Mumbai Indians), Sam Billings (Delhi Daredevils), Chris Jordan (Royal Challengers Bangalore) have all commented on the positive influence of playing the IPL.Many England players who attended media briefings during the six-match limited-overs series in India last month spoke about the attraction of the IPL. Wicketkeeper batsman Jonny Bairstow (INR 1.5 crore), hard-hitting opening batsmen Alex Hales and Jason Roy (INR 1 crore) and fast bowlers Jordan and Tymal Mills (INR 50 lakh) have put their names up for auction.Franchises retained a total of 140 players and released 89 ahead of this IPL auction. Among those released and now trying to make a return are Johnson (Kings XI Punjab, INR 6.5 crore), Mathews (Delhi Daredevils, INR 7.5 crore), Ishant (Rising Pune Supergiants, INR 3.8 crore) and Morgan (Sunrisers Hyderabad, INR 1.5 crore).ESPNcricinfo LtdFormer South Africa fast bowler Kyle Abbott, who recently moved to Hampshire as a Kolpak player, has listed his base price at INR 1.5 cr. Abott was bought by Kings XI in 2016 for INR 2.1 crore but was released in December. Another player attempting to make a return is New Zealand fast bowler Trent Boult, who was hired by Sunrisers in 2015 for INR 3.8 crore. Boult has now listed his base price at INR 1.5 crore.West Indies ODI captain Jason Holder has also kept his price at INR 1.5 crore. He was with Kolkata Knight Riders, who had bought him for INR 75 lakh in 2014, until last season. India left-arm spinner Pawan Negi, who was the second-most expensive player bought at last year’s auction by the Daredevils for INR 8.5 crore comes into the auction with a base price of INR 30 lakh.

Liverpool are interested in bringing a new centre-back to the club and will "attack" the market for one this summer, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Will Liverpool sign a defender?

After having gone so close to the quadruple in the 2021/22 season, last year's campaign saw an incredible drop-off in performances from the Reds.

Liverpool finished the season fifth in the Premier League, salvaging some pride by qualifying for the Europa League, exited both domestic cup competitions in the fourth round and failed to get past the last 16 in the Champions League. Overall, it was a bitterly disappointing campaign.

It is unsurprising that Liverpool are set to be busy in this summer's market, having already signed Alexis Mac Allister for Brighton for an initial £35m. Most of the focus is set on bringing in several new midfielders, but the Reds are also hoping to reinforce the centre of their defence.

Speaking on his Here We Go podcast, Romano said: "About Liverpool, let me mention the centre-backs because I think Liverpool also want to do something in terms of centre-backs in this transfer window."

"It's not a priority now. I think the priority is on the midifeld, of course, but in the second part of this market, or maybe earlier we will see, I think they will also attack the centre-backs market."

He added: "Maybe a left-footed centre-back. Evan Ndicka was offered to Liverpool but they decided against this opportunity and he is joining Roma. So, there were some possibilities, but Liverpool I think will explore the market of centre-backs too."

Considering only Fulham and relegated Leeds United conceded more big chances than Liverpool last season, it is not a shock to see the Reds look to strengthen their defensive unit. While Liverpool only conceded 47 goals, this was mainly due to Alisson's Player of the Year performances.

Virgil van Dijk looks a shadow of his former self, while Ibrahima Konate missed 13 games due to injury last season. Joel Matip and Joe Gomez's performances were also questionable at times and a fresh face in the heart of the Liverpool defence may help shift the narrative.

Who are Liverpool linked with?

As Romano stated, Liverpool are interested in a left-sided centre-back who is preferably left-footed.

Micky van de Ven has been linked with Anfield after an impressive season at Wolfsburg. The 22-year-old is currently playing for the Netherlands at the U21 European Championship and has been praised for his versatility, also being able to feature at left-back.

This could be incredibly useful for Liverpool if they choose to persist with the 3-box-3 system that saw Trent Alexander-Arnold move into midfield towards the end of last season. Andy Robertson struggled at times to play as a third centre-back when Liverpool were counter-attacked and could use some help in the role.

Sporting's Goncalo Inacio has been touted with a potential transfer to Merseyside, as well as Marc Guehi and Edmond Tapsoba, with the Reds keen to keep their options open.

With the Punjab government giving a public go-ahead to the Pakistan Super League final taking place in Lahore, the tournament organisers have one last problem to solve

Osman Samiuddin27-Feb-2017With only three matches left in the UAE, the Pakistan Super League and its franchises are beginning the process of figuring out which foreign players will travel to Lahore, where the final is scheduled for March 5.On Sunday evening in Dubai, Karachi Kings became the last team to qualify for the play-offs. They begin on Tuesday in Sharjah, with Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators, the two teams that finished top, playing each other. Looming over the games, though, is the question of who from the foreign contingents of the four teams is ready to travel to Lahore.The PSL management is expected to further brief the overseas players before the play-offs begin and the primary aim remains to try and convince as many of them as possible to make the trip. However, preparations are also underway to create a nominated pool of foreign players willing to travel in case the finalists’ current roster pulls out.On Monday, the Punjab government finally gave a public go-ahead to the staging of the final in Lahore. In theory, that ends the uncertainty of recent days caused by a wave of terrorist attacks across Pakistan that have claimed over 100 lives, including a suicide attack in Lahore two weeks ago when 13 people were killed.There was another blast in the city last Thursday, when at least seven people perished, heightening nerves and casting fresh doubt on the sense of bringing the final to Lahore. Though reports initially said it was a bomb, the government has since claimed it to be the result of a gas leak from a cooking cylinder.Senior league officials have worried over the fluidity of the situation, and had been waiting for a definitive go-ahead from government authorities. With that now in hand, the situation of the foreign players needs resolution. Najam Sethi, the PSL chief who was in Pakistan on Monday, said: “I will be going back to Dubai now and once the finalists are confirmed I will again talk to the franchise owners and foreign players. We have also prepared a back up list of foreign players in case the overseas signings of the finalist teams refuse to come to Lahore. “Kumar Sangakkara, who was in the team bus which was attacked in Lahore eight years ago, is almost certain not to travel to the city again•PCB/PSLOf the four remaining teams, Peshawar are the most confident their foreign contingent will go to Lahore should they reach the final. No player, however, has come outright and said so yet. And though no official word has come from Islamabad United, it is believed neither Brad Haddin nor Shane Watson will stay on.The two teams who might face greatest difficulties are Quetta Gladiators and Karachi Kings. Kevin Pietersen, of the former, will almost certainly not travel and Tymal Mills is also unlikely. Others such as Luke Wright and Rilee Roussow, who were considering making the trip, are said to have reassessed after the recent spate of attacks.Officially Karachi say their players will make a decision once the team’s fate is clear. Until then, it is said, their players do not want to “jinx” their chances of getting to the final by talking about it.It is almost inconceivable that Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, two players who were in the team bus in Lahore when it was attacked eight years ago, will travel. They have told officials that they cannot take the decision alone and have to consult with their families. And the call they make could potentially have an impact on what Chris Gayle and Kieron Pollard do as well.One-off payments, ranging from USD 10,000 – 50,000, are being offered to foreign players should they agree to play in Lahore. That, as one foreign player considering taking part in the final pointed out, brings its own complications. “What is the difference in me playing in Lahore under a security threat and a Pakistani player doing so?” he said. “In any attack both are at risk. And physios and masseuses? A life is a life, mine or a Pakistani player’s.”In case the teams end up severely shorthanded, a pool of nominated foreign players could be roped in. The list, initially of 54 names, has now grown to above 60 and is said to be composed of those who were not picked in the draft last October as well as additional names from outside the draft, who are willing to travel to Pakistan.Each franchise will nominate five to six players from the long list and hand it to the PSL, who hope that ultimately, accounting for common names that appear in multiple lists, they have a shortlist of 12 to 15 waiting on standby to participate in the final.

Chris Lynn has said he stuck to the basics and focused on putting the bad balls away during his unbeaten 93 off 41 balls in the record opening stand with Gautam Gambhir

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Apr-2017The prolific opening combination of Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa was one of the highlights of Kolkata Knight Riders’ 2016 season. Uthappa had lauded their “batting chemistry”; they had stacked up staggering numbers after all: 566 runs at an average of 37.73, with one century and four fifty stands.Why would they then change the combination in their opening match of the 2017 IPL? The answer is Chris Lynn. Knight Riders’ frail middle order was probably a cause of concern from last year and Friday night showed using Lynn’s strength against pace bowling early on was not a bad idea, even though he had opened only twice in his career of 85 T20s. It meant Uthappa would probably bat at No. 3, but he was not required to in their opening fixture against Gujarat Lions.Knight Riders’ Suryakumar Yadav revealed in the post-match conference that their strategy to open with Lynn was not an impromptu decision after Gujarat Lions had scored 183 for 4. “Since he [Lynn] came to Kolkata and we started the camp, we had one thing in mind – our captain backed him to open,” Suryakumar said. “It was the best thing and he [Gambhir] told Lynn straightaway that he’s going to open in the tournament so it was not instant, it was pre-planned.”Lynn was the dominant one in the opening partnership with Gambhir as he raced to a 19-ball fifty, hammering 23 runs against Dwayne Smith in the seventh over. He said he did not try anything unusual and only focused on getting the basics right by putting the bad balls away.”We knew we had to get off to a good start and we did that, we put them under pressure in the first six overs and then we took our momentum from there,” Lynn told after ending unbeaten on 93 off 41 balls.”I try and keep things very simple, it’s as simple as see ball, hit ball. If they bowl a good ball, you’ve got to respect that and try and get down at the other end and if they bowl a bad ball, you’ve to try and put it away. That’s as simple as I can put it. And if I’m not having fun, I’m not going to do well. That’s the main thing.”Chris Lynn was particularly unforgiving against Gujarat Lions’ seamers•ESPNcricinfo LtdOpening the batting also meant Lynn did not have to make too many adjustments to his game to suit Indian conditions. “Probably just the [adjustment to the] bounce, and maybe as a batter you might put your stance a little bit lower and you’ve got to hold your shape a little bit more. As an opener the difference is minimal but batting in the middle order has a lot more changes – starting against spin is one thing. But upfront it’s generally the ball slotting on, and it’s a nice hard Kookaburra… as I said, have a bit of fun and you never know. I had a little bit of luck tonight but you make use of luck so it’s a positive thing.”It may not always be my night but fingers crossed I can always pick that momentum and ride that wave throughout that tournament now. So that’s the challenge and teams are going to watch the footage and work a plan out and I’m going to have to try and throw a punch back and go one better, that’s part of the game but it’s great fun while we’re doing it.”Knight Riders’ opening stand of 184 was the highest total chased down in the history of T20s, with Gambhir unbeaten on 76 off 48 balls. Lynn said he was “very comfortable” with Gambhir and there was hardly going to be a chance of scoring a century since the captain was also scoring at a quick rate.”I’m just really happy with the way we gelled, we did it so quickly,” Lynn said. “That’s probably the second time I’ve batted with GG now. We were very comfortable, we ran between the wickets well and that’s the best sign coming out of it. It’s good fun and to do it none down was even more special.”First I was happy to get off the mark, then get the fifty but the way Gauti was batting, he was never going to give me a chance to get to a hundred. But I’ll take 90 not out any day of the week over a hundred, as everyone says the team comes first.”

Liverpool are the favourites to sign Southampton starlet Romeo Lavia in the summer transfer window, according to journalist Jacob Tanswell.

How many clubs want Lavia?

The 19-year-old is one of the Premier League's most impressive and talked-about players having stood out for the Saints last season amid their relegation struggles.

The interest in Lavia shows how he caught the eye throughout the campaign during his first year at St Mary's Stadium after leaving Manchester City last summer.

It looks almost certain that the £25,000-a-week Belgian will leave Southampton this summer, and some of the biggest clubs in the country have been linked with a move for him, such as Chelsea and Manchester United. Liverpool are also one of those in the running as they continue to look at midfield signings, with Alexis Mac Allister already signed and Dominik Szoboszlai expected to come in, too.

Are Liverpool favourites to sign Lavia?

Speaking to Empire of the Kop, Tanswell admitted that Liverpool are the team he sees as most likely to sign Lavia before the start of next season:

"Southampton want a high figure for him. Someone has got to pay around £45m-£50m for Lavia. Who can do that is dependent on all the other targets they get.”

"Liverpool or Chelsea. I probably think Liverpool, with Jurgen Klopp and with the background [work] they’ve done on him, that probably looks the likely destination."

This is great news for Liverpool, with the suggestion that Lavia could become the third midfield signing at Anfield this summer in what could represent an outstanding piece of long-term business.

At just 19, he already plays with intelligence beyond his years – Pep Guardiola has described him as "incredible", which says so much about what he is capable of moving forward – and he could be looked at as Fabinho's replacement in the No 6 role, potentially even from the off.

Lavia is still hugely inexperienced, which could make someone like Khephren Thuram a better signing – he is three years his senior and an established top-flight player – but the early signs suggest that the Saints teenager could mature into one of Europe's best players in his position over time, so Liverpool could be wise to make a move for him now if the chance arises.

Last season, he averaged 2.1 tackles per game in the Premier League, which was only bettered by Mohammed Salisu's tally of 2.3 within the Southampton squad, but he was also a strong presence in possession, completing a team-high 86.4% of his passes, demonstrating the multiple facets to his game.