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Darren Sammy, the St Lucia Zouks captain, has been ruled for four weeks and will miss the remainder of the Caribbean Premier League after he fractured his left hand while batting in the match against Jamaica Tallawahs

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Jul-2015Darren Sammy, the St Lucia Zouks captain, has been ruled out for four weeks and will miss the remainder of the Caribbean Premier League after he fractured his left hand while batting in the match against Jamaica Tallawahs. Sammy took a blow from a delivery by Andre Russell, and had to retire hurt.Kevin Pietersen will replace him as Zouks captain and Keron Cottoy, who has played just three T20s, has been called up to the squad as a replacement.”It’s a real shame for Darren, he’s one of the biggest names in the CPL and a great leader for the Zouks,” Tom Moody, CPL director of cricket, said. “We wish him a speedy recovery, and knowing the kind of guy he is, I’m sure he’ll continue to be an inspirational part of the squad for the rest of the tournament even though he won’t actually be out in the middle.”Sammy, who led Zouks to three wins this season, scored 81 runs in six innings at a strike-rate of 124.61 and also picked up six wickets at an economy-rate of 8.5.

Mithali Raj anchored India Women’s chase with a steady fifty and lifted them to an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series against Sri Lanka Women in Ranchi

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Feb-2016
ScorecardFile photo – Mithali Raj’s 52-ball 51 resurrected India’s chase•ICCMithali Raj anchored India Women’s chase with a steady fifty and lifted them to an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series against Sri Lanka Women in Ranchi. Chasing 108, India were reduced to 27 for 4 in the seventh over before Raj and Anuja Patil combined for a 77-run stand to rescue the hosts.India lost Vellaswamy Vanitha, Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma in successive overs, before wrecker-in-chief Inoka Ranaweera trapped Veda Krishnamurthy in the seventh over to leave India reeling. Patil and Raj then took India to the brink of victory, before Patil was caught and bowled. However, Raj went on to bring up her half-century and take India home with an over to spare. Left-arm spinner Ranaweera took 3 for 10 from four overs.Earlier, Sri Lanka got off to a slow start after opting to bat. Shikha Pandey removed Yasoda Mendis, who made an 18-ball 3, in the sixth over. Chamari Atapattu (22), Dilani Manodara (27) and Shashikala Siriwardene (26) all made contributions to help Sri Lanka reach a decent total.India’s bowlers pulled things back towards the end to keep Sri Lanka to 107. Ekta Bisht took 3 for 22, while Poonam Yadav claimed 3 for 17, all her wickets coming in the penultimate over.

Sri Lanka Cricket remains mired in stadium debt of over USD $20 million, but has strode towards stability in its operational budget since the interim committee took over in late March, board treasurer Lucille Wijewardene said

Andrew Fidel Fernando08-Jun-2015Sri Lanka Cricket remains mired in stadium debt of over USD $20 million, but has strode towards stability in its operational budget since the interim committee took over in late March, board treasurer Lucille Wijewardene said. The board also hopes to contest the ownership of much of those stadium debts, which were accrued in the approach to the 2011 World Cup.SLC officials said the board’s operational funds have been improved by at least Rs 475 million since the interim committee was appointed. The board had a bank overdraft of Rs 285 million when the interim committee took over, but is now in the black, thanks largely to spending cuts, and the receipt of part of the financial distribution the ICC had held in escrow.”We have a deposit of a 190 million rupee treasury bill (approx. USD $1.42 million) deposit,” Wijewardene said. “We also have a separate one million dollar deposit. In addition, the ICC has indicated they will release a further $2.3 million to us this month. I don’t see a problem for the next six months.”The ICC still holds much of the payment due to SLC in escrow, but the board has arrived at an arrangement through which it can periodically have some of those funds released to it. At present, roughly a third of the ICC sum owed to SLC has been paid, Wijewardene said. The ICC had in April decided to withhold the financial distribution to SLC because Sri Lanka’s government had appointed the new board, before discussions brought a compromise.But although the improvements to SLC’s operational finances will allow the board to begin development on indoor nets and a pool at Khettarama Stadium, as well as fund a pay increase for domestic cricketers, the board’s long-standing stadium debt remains immense. Wijewardene said the board still owed Rs 2.2 billion (approx USD $16.5 million) to Sri Lanka’s Ports Authority, for the building of the Hambantota Stadium, as well as 500 million rupees (approx. $3.8 million) to the State Engineering Corporation (SEC), for the work done on Pallekele stadium.The creditors – both government organisations – are not currently pressing SLC for repayment, Wijewardene said. But while he conceded the debt to SEC must be paid eventually, he said the board would contest its ownership of the Rs 2.2 billion debt to the Ports Authority. The erection of the stadium in Hambantota had been part of the previous government’s plan to spur development in that region, and as such, SLC feels it should not have to bear those construction costs.”The 500 million to the State Engineering Corporation will probably have to be paid, but we’re in discussion with them,” Wijewardene said. “They are even ready to begin the development work we have proposed at Khettarama, so there’s no problem.”The work on the indoor nets and pool at Khettarama is expected to begin in early July, interim committee chairman Sidath Wettimuny said. The board also expected to cut Rs 25 million in expenditure on the upcoming Pakistan tour, after re-ordering their budget for that series.”It may be too early to tell after just 2.5 months, but I think we’ll be under budget on our expenditure, because we have cut costs drastically,” Wettimuny said. “Next month we will look at our quarterly budget and get a better idea of where we are. This is something we’re watching very, very closely. We’re looking at only spending where it really matters.”

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney can make Wrexham a Premier League side inside five years, claims ex-Red Dragons star Brett Ormerod.

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Welsh outfit back in the Football LeagueHollywood co-owners want to reach the topFunds able to make those dreams realityWHAT HAPPENED?

The ambitious Welsh outfit began their climb towards the top tier in 2022-23 when claiming the National League title in record-breaking style. They are now riding high in League Two, with Hollywood co-ownersmaking the funds available that are allowing the grandest of long-term plans to be pieced together.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT ORMEROD SAID ABOUT WREXHAM

Quizzed on whether Wrexham could be rubbing shoulders with the Premier League elite by 2028, Ormerod – who spent two years at the Racecourse between 2012 and 2014 – told : “Hopefully, I'd like to see them in the Championship or Premier League in five years. The owners are ambitious enough to get there. They've always had the right fanbase and now they have the might of the Americans. Where Wrexham end up depends on where the owners want to take it. I wish them all the best because the fans have been through a lot of pain. I remember being there when the bills weren't being paid and they were being threatened to be kicked out of the ground.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Wrexham have come a long way in a short space of time, with Ormerod adding on a remarkable sporting story that began when a stunning takeover of the club was completed in the spring of 2021: “Wrexham are very strong. Wrexham have always been a well-supported club and now they have the Hollywood glitz – it's a bit like the circus comes to town now with Wrexham. When I was there as a player, the club was on the brink of bankruptcy and only survived because of the fans so they deserve to be in the position they're in now.”

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FXWHAT NEXT FOR WREXHAM?

Reynolds and McElhenney have never shied away from the fact that they want to take Wrexham to the very top, with their bid to hit the loftiest of targets being captured on camera by the ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ documentary series.

Paul Mullin started a tradition at Wrexham that he now cannot stop, with Jurgen Klopp-esque fist pumps demanded from the striker after every win.

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Star striker celebrates with supportersFist pumps aimed in direction of the standsDragons have had plenty to shout aboutGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

The prolific frontman started that trend a couple of years ago when scoring a dramatic goal that sealed three points for the Red Dragons. Supporters now expect the post-match routine to be delivered when emerging victorious, with a loyal fan base – that includes co-owners Ryan and Reynolds and Rob McElhenney – having had plenty to cheer of late.

AdvertisementWHAT MULLIN SAID

Mullin has told the podcast of his celebration and why he was delighted to break it out again following an emotional return from injury in a 2-1 victory over Doncaster on September 9: “It’s something we sort of stumbled across. It was a couple of years ago that I scored a last-minute goal and just celebrating at the end of the game, it just came out. Ever since then, I think I didn’t do it when we won and I had so many people asking me to carry on doing it and it’s become a signature thing now when we win a game. I can genuinely say that while I was in LA, I was sat there thinking I can’t wait to come back and do that. Not because I get anything from it, it’s because we have won a game and it’s something I have worked for to do that. The fans get to enjoy it and it’s something to look forward to at the end of the game. If we win, that’s going to happen.”

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He added on returning to action after a punctured lung suffered in a pre-season friendly date with Manchester United, which forced him to spend several weeks in the United States before returning to North Wales: “That day [against Doncaster] the lads did unbelievably well – I came on and we managed to win the game. About the noise, it is still emotional now. I know the fans like me, but that day is something that I can’t describe. I don’t often get taken aback, especially when playing football, but that day I actually couldn’t believe it. Players I’ve played with on the other team said to be after the game ‘I thought the stadium was going to fall down’. It was that loud. It is a noise that I will never forget and is something I’m really proud of. For the two years that I’ve been there, I’ve built up that much of a connection with the fans to warrant that reception.”

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DID YOU KNOW?

Merseyside native Mullin believes the noise generated that day eclipsed anything else that he has ever experienced, including his travels across Europe following superstar performers on the books at Anfield. He added: “When I came on the pitch, I was playing the rest of the game thinking ‘wow, has that really just happened?’ I’ve been to many, many Liverpool games all around the world – Champions League finals and all sorts – and although there were only 10,000 fans in the stadium that day, I genuinely think that is the loudest noise I’ve ever experienced towards one player. I’ve been in the stadium cheering Steven Gerrard back onto the pitch after injury and there wasn’t an excitement like I felt that day. It was something I will never forget.”

Real Madrid starlet Nico Paz has followed in Lionel Messi's footsteps and surpassed Alejandro Garnacho with his Champions League goal against Napoli.

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Paz scored in Madrid's 4-2 victoryBecame second-youngest Argentine to score in UCLBeat compatriot Garnacho by a couple of monthsWHAT HAPPENED?

The Argentine was brought on in place of Brahim Diaz with the game evenly poised at 2-2 on Wednesday evening at the Santiago Bernabeu. Not many would have imagined that the teenager would give his side the lead but a speculative effort from a distance in the 84th minute ended up in the back of the net which paved the way for a 4-2 victory. The goal earned him a place in the history books as he became the second youngest Argentine, at 19 years two months and 21 days, to score in the Champions League.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Messi holds the record as the youngest to achieve this feat after he scored for Barcelona against Panathinaikos in a 5-0 rout at Camp Nou on November 2, 2005, at 18 years four months and nine days. Earlier on Wednesday evening, Garnacho was in the second spot after he finished off a brilliant move against Galatasaray to open his Champions League account at 19 years, four months and 29 days. However, Paz pushed him to the third spot after scoring in his second European top-flight appearance.

WHAT NICO PAZ SAID

Speaking after the match, Paz said: "A dream come true. The entire team & staff has congratulated me. We are an incredible group.”

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Getty WHAT NEXT FOR PAZ?

Paz will hope to earn more minutes with Real Madrid's first team after scoring in the Champions League. The club is going through an injury crisis and the Argentine should be geared up to make the most of the opportunity when Los Blancos get back to action against Granada on Saturday.

A total of 10 arenas will host matches during the summer showpiece event

Getty ImagesBerlin

The capital. Always proud of multiculturalism. Wasn't a host at the 1988 European Championships, but was the venue of the World Cup final in 1974 and 2006. Since the summer tournament twelve years ago, the area has served as a major football events pilgrimage for millions of fans after stopping at the Brandenburg Gate during the day. Plagued by the love-hate relationship of Hertha BSC supporters, the Olympiastadion is seldom sold out. Stadium: Olympiastadion (Total seat capacity: 74,461)

AdvertisementGetty ImagesMunich

The heart and home of Bavaria. At the 1974 World Cup and the European Championship in 1988, matches were still played in Munich's Olympic Stadium, and both times the stadium hosted the final. Forty-four years ago, Franz Beckenbauer and Co. won the World Cup (2-1) against the Netherlands, and 14 years later, the Oranje won its only title thanks to Marco van Basten's goal against the Soviet Union (2-0). The 2006 World Cup started in the Allianz Arena when the German team defeated Costa Rica 4-2 in the opening match. Stadium: Allianz Arena (70,076)

Getty ImagesDusseldorf

According to its own statement, has the "longest bar in the world" and welcomes guests from all over the world in the Old Town. Describes itself as a sports city, but failed in the effort to host the Olympic Games in 2012. Entertains a love-hate relationship with Cologne. During the promotion of Fortuna in 2012, was the scene of a peaceful pitch invasion, which then occupied the stadium. Stadium: Merku Spiel-Arena (51,031)

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GettyStuttgart

Swabian city. Stuttgart is a mixture between narrow-mindedness and thinking big, but the city has long since transformed the prejudices into pride. They can do anything except speak without their dialect. At the 1974 World Cup and the 1988 Euros, the Italian visitors gave the Neckarstadion southern flair. In 2006, the hosts were there in third-place match against Portugal (3-1). And when VfB plays in Cannstatt, more than 50,000 regularly come to the stadium. Stadium: Mercedes-Benz Arena (54.697)

The Supreme Court has asked sidelined BCCI president N Srinivasan to explain why he had chaired the board’s working committee meeting and submit it by February 27

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Feb-2015The Supreme Court has asked sidelined BCCI president N Srinivasan to explain why he had chaired the board’s working committee meeting and submit it by February 27.”We are not happy with N Srinivasan,” the Apex Court said. “He should understand the spirit of our order. His position after this judgement is vulnerable. He should not have presided over the working committee meeting.”This was in response to Aditya Verma, the petitioner in the IPL corruption case, questioning Srinivasan’s presence at the meeting.Kapil Sibal, Srinivasan’s lawyer, argued the interim orders given first on and March 28 and then on May 16 last year had stated that Srinivasan had to step aside as BCCI president until the investigation into the IPL corruption case was completed. Now that the probe was over, Sibal said, Srinivasan could attend the board’s meetings.But Nalini Chidambaram, CAB legal counsel, highlighted the fact that there was no time limit imposed in the interim orders and that final order in January was a “declaratory judgment” that disqualified Srinivsan from holding the post of president because of conflict of interest.

Ireland secured the one-day series but they were made to work for their three-wicket win, firstly by a fine hundred from Richie Berrington and then a late push by Scotland in the field

Ryan Bailey at Malahide10-Sep-2014
ScorecardKevin O’Brien made it back-to-back fifties before Ireland suffered a wobble•ICC/GettyFor over a century the Scots have been voyaging across the Irish sea armed with whites and willow. On few occasions have they not made the return journey empty-handed and even the acclaimed hospitality will have done little to enrich their humbling visits to the Emerald Isle.Their record on Irish soil in ODIs now stands at played six, lost six as Ireland once more claimed the bragging rights, but this time Scotland made them work for their victory and at 186 for 7 the result was far from assured before John Mooney calmed Irish nerves. A tighter game, though, will have done Ireland no harm in this pre-World Cup workout.Scotland are a side resigned to the protracted nature of transition but even this, a week in which they have been outplayed and outmuscled, is an alarming reality check five months out from a third appearance on the sport’s most exalted stage. There has, however, been a glimpse of light, or two, not least a striking innings from Richie Berrington, the South-African born batsman, who recorded his maiden ODI century.It was a lone hand though. Much like on Monday, the Scottish top order wilted in the face of Ireland’s calculated blitz and while Berrington, along with Josh Davey and then Ali Evans, managed to thrust their side to a semblance of respectability, they were unable to apply the same stranglehold they had been put under when Ireland went about their chase of 222.As it was, a late rally ensured the scorecard would have a polished look to it from a Scottish perspective but they were always behind the eight ball. Kevin O’Brien scored his second fifty of the series – the first time he had reached the landmark in successive games for Ireland in seven years – to once again take the sting out of any potential Scottish retaliation with the ball.However, a fine diving catch away to his right from wicketkeeper Matthew Cross off Evans to remove O’Brien, for 67 from 65 balls, in the 35th over was the moment of inspiration his side needed. Stuart Poynter was brilliantly run out by Evans at midwicket a couple of overs later and when Stuart Thompson was trapped in front by Michael Leask, Ireland were wobbling.Just as he has done on countless occasions before, Mooney, in just his second game back from an extended break from the game due to a stress related illness, played the role of finisher to ease his side over the line with five overs remaining.In truth, Ireland made hard work of a chase that ought to have been a lot more straightforward. They will, however, be all the better for the workout but for much of the early part of the match it did not appear they would be pushed that far. That they did was solely down to a century of great tenacity and perseverance from Berrington; he could teach his team-mates a thing or two.An innings which started in survival mode gradually moved through the gears as he and Davey frustrated the hosts and halted their early onslaught. Max Sorensen had accounted for three of the top four, utilising the two-paced pitch and early-morning conditions, to reduce Scotland to 48 for 5. There was a distant possibility the visiting Scots would have a free afternoon to take in the sights of the Irish capital.Berrington, however, had other ideas. His 84-run stand for the sixth wicket with Davey included an array of shots around the wicket before the latter could only fend Craig Young to gully. Berrington was having no such issues with the Irish bowlers as he struck eight fours and a powerful six to reach three figures for the first time. It was the type of innings worthy of being match winning. Ultimately, it was in vain.

Rangana Herath has been ruled out of the fifth ODI against England, and is unlikely to play a further part in the series. He will be replaced by Sachithra Senanayake

Andrew Fidel Fernando09-Dec-2014Rangana Herath has been ruled out of the fifth ODI against England, and is unlikely to play a further part in the series, after pulling a hamstring in his left thigh during Tuesday’s fielding practice. Offspinner Sachithra Senanayake – who was cleared to bowl again earlier in the day – will immediately take Herath’s place in the squad, and may even play against England on Wednesday.Herath’s injury has not yet been fully assessed, and as such, the full extent of damage will not be known until late tomorrow. However, team manager Michael de Zoysa said it was unlikely he would play again in the ongoing series. The injury also puts him in doubt for the first Test against New Zealand, which begins on December 26, but he was unsure of playing that game in any case, thanks to separate personal reasons.Senanayake had bowled 10 overs in a List-A match in Panagoda – near Colombo – on Tuesday, and will now travel to join the team in Kandy, in the evening. De Zoysa said Senanayake will be considered for a place in the XI for Wednesday’s match.The loss of Herath is a blow to Sri Lanka, who have relied on him during the middle overs. He has seven wickets at an average of 25 in the series. Senanayake also comes into the side in some bowling form, however, having taken five wickets in three List A matches over the past week.Sri Lanka lead the seven-match series 3-1, with two games at Pallekele and one in Colombo, to play.