The Supreme Court of India has asked former BCCI president Anurag Thakur to tender an “unconditional, unequivocal” and “categorical” apology to get relief from the contempt proceedings initiated against him

PTI08-Jul-2017The Supreme Court of India has asked former BCCI president Anurag Thakur to tender an “unconditional, unequivocal” and “categorical” apology to get relief from the contempt proceedings initiated against him.A bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra, AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud made it clear that it was not going to consider Thakur’s earlier affidavit of apology and asked him to file a “one-page short affidavit” tendering unconditional apology.”We will grant you one more opportunity,” the bench said. “We suggest that you file a one-page affidavit in categorical language that you tender an unequivocal and unconditional apology for the misinformation or miscommunication that happened.”The court also asked Thakur to be present for its next hearing on July 14 to tender the apology. The bench indicated that it was willing to accept the apology and close the contempt proceedings against him.Senior advocate PS Patwalia, appearing for Thakur, said though his client was willing to tender an unconditional apology, he had a very good case on merit through which it can be proved that he did no wrong.Senior advocate Gopal Subramanium, who is assisting the court as amicus curiae (friend of court) in the matter said if the court is magnanimous in granting pardon to Thakur, then he has nothing to say, but the apology should be unqualified and explicit in terms. The bench, however, said it would not go into the merit of the case.The court had initiated contempt proceedings against Thakur on January 2 this year for filing a false affidavit over writing to the ICC chairman Shashank Manohar, asking for a letter stating whether the appointment of an official from the Comptroller and Auditor General’s office would amount to governmental interference. The ICC does not permit government interference in the functioning of its member boards.”The conduct of the President of BCCI in seeking a letter from the President of ICC in August 2016, after the final judgement and Order of this Court, is nothing but an attempt on the part of the head of BCCI to evade complying with the Order of this Court,” the court had said while issuing a showcause notice to Thakur.Coming down heavily on the defiant BCCI brass, the Supreme Court had removed Thakur and Ajay Shirke as the president and the secretary for “obstructing” and “impeding” its directions for overhauling governance in the board. It had also appointed a Committee of Administrators to oversee BCCI’s functions.Thakur had, on March 6, tendered an “unconditional and unqualified apology” before the Supreme Court and said he had never intended to file any false information. His affidavit explained the circumstances under which the averments made by him led to the initiation of contempt proceedings.

As rain put a dampener on The Oval’s 100th Test celebrations, one England batsman was concerned not with marking the past but protecting his future

The Report by David Hopps29-Jul-20170:56

Temperament wins over technique for Jennings

As rain put a dampener on The Oval’s 100th Test celebrations, one England batsman was concerned not with marking the past but protecting his future.Keaton Jennings’ England place was under threat after making only 44 runs in his first five innings against South Africa, his hundred on Test debut against India in Mumbai in December now a distant memory.Jennings was 34 not out – his best score of a draining summer – when rain arrived shortly before 3pm and prevented further play. England, at 74 for 1, were building an impregnable position, leading by 252 with nine wickets remaining, but will fear more disruption from the weather over the last two days. As for Jennings, he was just relieved that one of those nine wickets remains his.Vernon Philander had been conditionally discharged from hospital, coming out to bat for South Africa at No. 11 as they were dismissed before lunch for 175 and then summoning what strength he had left for a few below-par overs.His viral infection had not yet departed and he was still vomiting and suffering from abdominal pain. But NHS nurses presumably got him back on his feet by whispering the words “Keaton Jennings” kindly into his ear because it has proved to be a pick-me-up all series.Jennings was chary against Philander from the outset and might have fallen twice in successive balls in his second over. He inside-edged past leg stump for his first boundary, looking round uncertainly as if he had stumbled over a paving slab. The next ball, on 6, he was dropped by Dean Elgar, head high at third slip. South Africa’s cordon was bunched and close and, on this occasion at least, suffered for it.Jennings routinely stands as straight as a sentry at the crease. Put him in a bearskin hat and he could easily double as a guardsman at Buckingham Palace where he would have the discipline to stand still for hours while tourists snapped away intrusively. But it was movement, not stillness, he hankered after and he danced around on the spot in an attempt to rid himself of the stilted footwork that has bedevilled him all series.Alastair Cook departed for 7, undone by a top-notch delivery from Morne Morkel which he straightened from around the wicket to crash into the top of off. Too good for Cook, one imagines it would have defeated Jennings, too, but he watched from the non-striker’s end, a batsman spared.Kagiso Rabada’s first over afforded a release. He had the poise to crash two short and wide deliveries through the off side. In the next over, he tucked Morkel off his pads for another boundary: 19 and vulnerable had become 32, a score to build on, in a matter of five minutes.Not that he suggested permanence. He needed a review to survive an lbw decision in Rabada’s favour on 33, replays suggesting the ball had both pitched outside leg and would have passed over the stumps.While Jennings struggled, Tom Westley again played with elan, six boundaries in his 28. The best of them as far as Jennings was concerned was the one that persuaded Philander to leave the field for another toilet break. Before too long, everybody followed him into the dressing room, never to re-emerge.Toby Roland-Jones leads the team off after his debut five-for•Associated Press

The morning belonged to Toby Roland-Jones, who completed a five-wicket haul on Test debut as South Africa were dismissed for 175 – a deficit of 178 . Eight down for spit overnight, with Philander carded at No. 11, South Africa might have folded in no time. Instead they added another 52 in 15.4 overs.Roland-Jones led England from the field, raising his cap slightly bashfully, after returning 5 for 57- the first English quick to take a five-for on debut since Graham Onions in 2009. His last wicket was a good one: Temba Bavuma pushing forward to a ball that left him to fall to a keeper’s catch after making 52 from 120 balls.Bavuma had been a serene figure even on the previous evening, as South Africa collapsed to 61 for 7 with the floodlights cutting through a grouchy south London evening, and he looked at ease again in what were initially more inviting batting conditions.The stumps were blue to mark Cricket United day, as were much of the crowd, an annual fund-raiser at The Oval for three charities. It is a pragmatic choice. If you are going to ask a fair proportion of blokes to dress up in a colour for charity, it’s best to choose blue. It’s all some have in their wardrobe.After his dream sequence on the second day, Roland-Jones found life had returned to normal as he began at the Vauxhall End. The comparison between him and the quick he replaced – Mark Wood – is instructional.Roland-Jones is a classic English seamer, hitting the seam at an average of 83mph. Wood is the sort of explosive quick needed on more benign surfaces. But Wood has only averaged 86mph in his two Tests against South Africa. Averages tell only half the story, of course, as the potential for an occasionally quick ball is also important, but explosive bowlers need to explode.Bavuma had attractive moments, particularly when driving through the off side, striking Stuart Broad to the extra cover boards to take South Africa past the follow-on and then stretching his diminutive frame to the utmost to plant Anderson in the same direction, although he was dropped off Broad on 40, Ben Stokes failing to cling to a rapid chance as he dived to his left in the gully. His half-century was also raised streakily when he edged Roland-Jones wide of the slips.Morkel also put up stubborn resistance, reaching 17 before he edged a back-of-a-length delivery from Anderson to Cook at first slip.Roland-Jones might have picked up Philander on 5, but his edge flew wide of third slip. A one-legged flat-bat then lobbed over mid-off. But Philander survived, albeit not particularly healthily. He, at least, would have welcomed the rest.

Granit Xhaka's Arsenal career appeared to be heading for a rather unsavoury end when he tossed his armband to the floor in disgust and marched off the Emirates pitch after being substituted.

That, however, was in November 2019. Since that clash against Crystal Palace, Xhaka's revival has been the stuff of legend.

He won't necessarily leave Islington a legend, but he will no doubt be remembered as a cult hero at the club.

Is Granit Xhaka leaving Arsenal?

Last term was his best yet after a move from Borussia Monchengladbach, with the Swiss midfielder scoring nine goals and registering seven assists.

Leaving on a high is the best way of bowing out and indeed he will do just that after moving to Bayer Leverkusen for £21.5m.

Declan Rice, a slightly more expensive mover at a whopping £105m, will come in as a result, but the Gunners won't stop there in their pursuit of success.

Jurrien Timber is due to arrive from Ajax but it's also thought that a move for Jeremie Frimpong could be on the table, a deal potentially set to be worth in the region of £34m.

His club? Rather coincidentally, Bayer Leverkusen.

How good is Jeremie Frimpong?

Adjusting to English football should not be an arduous task for the right-back, who like Xhaka did all the way back in 2014, could trade the Bundesliga for Premier League life.

Frimpong, however, will arrive more well-known to a British audience.

The Dutchman came through the ranks at Manchester City before moving to Celtic from a young age, where former boss Neil Lennon described him as "one of the best kids I've ever seen at that age."

Since then, the full-back has only gone from strength to strength. The 22-year-old is now one of the best in his position around, particularly when it comes to the offensive side of the game.

As per FBref, he ranks inside the top 10% in his position across Europe's top five leagues for a host of metrics, notably non-penalty goals, shots, assists and progressive carries.

For the latter, he actually sits in the best 1%. That is a theme that regularly appears throughout Frimpong's scout report, as he is in the top 1% for successful take-ons and touches in the attacking penalty area.

Such numbers indicate that he is one of the most offensive full-backs in the game, something that would no doubt benefit Mikel Arteta's side.

Such a rampant threat could also help to ensure Bukayo Saka's performance levels stay the same, if not get better.

Saka has benefited tremendously from his partnership alongside Ben White down the right-hand side.

White isn't a marauder by any stretch of the imagination. He ranks inside the worst 37% for progressive carries as an indication. Yet, his composure is bettered by very few at the club.

Capable of drifting inside but also playing on the overlap to allow Saka to cut in on his favoured left foot, Frimpong could ensure that becomes more of a regular thing.

He is a truly "breathtaking" asset as dubbed by scout Antonio Mango, one whose exploits from right-back could only ensure Saka gets into more favourable positions himself.

Having scored 15 goals and assisted 11 himself, there is little room to get better, but a player such as Frimpong could well ensure that happens swiftly.

White has done little wrong since playing at right-back but he is not the archetypal modern full-back. Frimpong certainly is and his arrival could well be the berth of a right flank to rival the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mo Salah.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has been able to bolster his squad with two new additions since joining the club to replace Ange Postecoglou last month.

Odin Thiago Holm and Marco Tilio have come in to complement his options in the middle of the park and out wide.

The Northern Irishman has still well over a month left to make further signings before the deadline passes and one player who has been touted with a possible move to Parkhead is former Hoops star Kieran Tierney.

It was reported by The Scottish Sun at the end of last month that the Arsenal left-back would consider a return to Paradise if an offer came his way.

The defender is currently considering his future at The Emirates and a loan could be on the cards, although his £120k-per-week wages could prove to be a stumbling block unless the Gunners are willing to subsidise them.

Journalist Dean Jones has cast his own doubt over the likelihood of a deal being done but has also stated that it would be a fantastic piece of business if Rodgers can get it over the line.

Speaking to Football FanCast, the reporter said: "I think if Tierney did return to Celtic, he would be the biggest player at the club, and it'd be an unbelievable moment.

"I'm just not sure that they can get to that price point. Newcastle were put off by it, recently. and it doesn't seem like Arsenal are going to budge."

What is the market value of Kieran Tierney?

The Scotland international is valued at €36.4m (£31.1m) by FootballTransfers and left Celtic for a fee of £25m when he moved to Arsenal in the summer of 2019.

The Hoops have never spent £15m or more on one signing in their history and the highest earner at the club is reportedly Callum McGregor on £32k-per-week, significantly less than Tierney's £120k-per-week.

His market value is also considerably ahead of every player in Rodgers' squad as Celtic's most valuable star, as per FootballTransfers, is currently Israel international Liel Abada at €16.9m (£14.4m).

This suggests that the Arsenal ace, who won 11 trophies during his first spell at Parkhead, would come in as the biggest star at the club, certainly in terms of his worth.

He is already a proven Scottish Premiership performer who would be able to hit the ground running in order to make an instant impact on the pitch, rather than arriving as an unknown with no prior experience playing in the country.

Tierney was named as one of the stars of the PFA Team of the Year in three of his last four seasons in Scotland; including the 2015/16, 2016/17, and 2017/18 campaigns.

This suggests that the 26-year-old, who has won the FA Cup during his time in England, was the standout left-back in the country throughout his time in Glasgow, which is another reason why he would be a phenomenal signing as he has showcased his ability to be an outstanding player at that level.

Therefore, Rodgers and the club must work hard to strike an agreement with Arsenal, if the Premier League side are willing to be flexible with the player's wages in a possible loan deal ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Australian cricket’s long and bitter pay dispute is over, paving the way for the Test tour of Bangladesh to proceed later this month.Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland and the Australian Cricketers’ Association CEO Alistair Nicholson announced the new agreement at a joint press conference in Melbourne on Thursday afternoon. The agreement ends a 10-month negotiation process that became bitter and acrimonious as Cricket Australia sought to dramatically alter the existing pay model by which players shared in the game’s revenue.Australia’s international cricketers and many domestic players have been unemployed since July 1, after CA and the ACA failed to agree on a new Memorandum of Understanding before the expiration of the existing deal. However, those players who were out of contract will be provided with back-pay when the full MoU is completed.The agreement means Australia can honour their upcoming international commitments, including the two-Test tour of Bangladesh, a limited-overs trip to India, and the home Ashes to follow this summer. Sutherland said it was “a great shame” that Australia A’s scheduled tour of South Africa did not proceed last month, but he was pleased that no other elite cricket series had been affected.Sutherland said the deal would allow all state and international cricketers to be contracted immediately, and would mean an increase in pay that ensures Australia’s international players will be the highest-paid of all team sports in the country. The agreement also includes what Nicholson described as “the biggest pay-rise in the history of women’s sport in Australia”.”Today’s agreement is the result of a sensible compromise from both parties,” Sutherland said. “From Cricket Australia’s point of view, we needed to modernise the pay model to provide us with more flexibility to deal with issues facing the game as they come up from time to time. In this regard, the under-funding of grassroots cricket and junior cricket is our highest strategic priority.”We also wanted to introduce a gender equity pay model for women’s cricketers, so that they can also pursue a career in cricket. The ACA and Cricket Australia are delighted to be genuine market leaders in Australian sport in this regard.”This process hasn’t been easy, and history will judge whether it was all worth it in the end. Neither side has got everything that we wanted out of these negotiations, but they shouldn’t be approached with a winner-takes-all mindset.”There’s no denying that the debate itself has at times been difficult and even acrimonious. Relationships within the game have been tested, and I know that’s been a bit of a turn-off for some fans. I think I can speak for Alistair when I say that both parties acknowledge and regret that, and now it’s very much up to us to put that behind us. In announcing this agreement, we’re restoring certainty and beginning to repair relationships, especially with the fans.”I’m very confident that by the time the first ball is bowled this summer, all of this will be well and truly behind us.”Details of the new agreement include: a modernised revenue-sharing formula by which the players will receive 27.5% of forecast revenue; an increase in female player payments from $7.5 million to $55.2 million; and an adjustment ledger that allows funding for grassroots cricket if revenues exceed $1.67 billion.”It’s a very different revenue share model to what was previously the case,” Sutherland said. “It’s been modernised to allow the game more flexibility. The guarantee of player payments is formed on a certain basis. We’ve talked about bringing women’s cricketers into the pay model for the first time. Beyond that, where revenues exceed a certain level of income, it allows the grassroots of the game to share in those surpluses as well.”The new agreement includes a significant rise in women player payments, from $7.5 million to $55.2 million•Getty Images

Nicholson said the players had fought hard to retain a revenue-sharing model because they believed it had worked well in the past.”To have retained the revenue-sharing model and increased the level we have and ensure that men, women, domestic and international players receive a fair share is great news for the players and for the game,” Nicholson said. “It’s right that all players, men and women, will be partners in the game because that’s a fair outcome. It ensures a game with all parties pulling in the same direction.”Success in this negotiation for the ACA was achieving revenue sharing for all players, gender equity, fair remuneration increases, greater input on scheduling and more grassroots investment. We have achieved those things, and on that basis, we recommend to the players that the deal be accepted.”The ACA president, former Test wicketkeeper Greg Dyer, said in a statement that the agreement was ground-breaking for Australian sport”One MOU for men and women, the maintenance of the partnership model, and record investments for grassroots cricket is what we wanted and it’s what has been achieved,” Dyer said. “The men and women have been rewarded for sticking together and for having the courage of their convictions. They have made history and created a legacy for generations of players to come.”In particular, I want to acknowledge the sacrifice of the Australia A team which demonstrated the depth of the resolve of the players to support each other. We also congratulate the players who have bravely made the case in the public domain. It will be important that they are respected for having the courage of their convictions.”There is also a reality to confront. Yes, we’ve arrived at a great place but the game must never again take this same route. The players did not choose this route and did not enjoy being on it. In fact, the players resented it deeply. This was not a fight the players started. The players defended themselves as is fair and as is their right.”The acrimonious nature of the negotiations leaves Australian cricket in need of significant bridge-building in the coming months and years to repair the damage caused to relationships within the game. Sutherland said he was hopeful that both parties could put the dispute behind them.”Time will tell on that,” Sutherland said. “I’d like to think that in many ways, it’s good sport and we can all shake hands at the end of it and move on. It’s been difficult at times for lots of people, and we’ve all been dragged into the middle of it in one way or another. The important thing is to look forward … I’m really confident that those relationships will be strong. It’s our job as administrators to support the Australian players and those in state associations as well.”

Aston Villa have seen an opening bid for Moussa Diaby rejected by Bayer Leverkusen despite the Frenchman's desire to move to the Premier League, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Is Diaby joining Villa?

Having just completed a deal for Villarreal's Pau Torres – a major coup for the club – Villa are now turning their attention towards another potentially huge signing this summer.

Unai Emery's pulling power is already well documented and it appears some of Europe's best are excited about the prospect of working with the Spanish coach.

One of those is Diaby of Leverkusen who has continually impressed in the Bundesliga after arriving from Paris Saint-Germain in 2019.

The 24-year-old winger, now working under Xabi Alonso at the BayArena, has been linked with a move away from Die Werkself this summer and could be on his way to Villa Park.

According to Romano, Diaby is a "top target" for Villa but the Midlands club have already seen their first proposal rejected outright by Leverkusen.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano claimed: "Moussa Diaby [is] one of the most interesting news of the day because I can confirm that Moussa Diaby is a top target for Aston Villa.

"They signed Pau Torres, very important signing. They are doing a very clear and nice job with Monchi, with Unai Emery, and they submitted a bid for Moussa Diaby. Was not €45m from what I'm hearing, [it was] €35m plus add-ons. This is what they bid from Aston Villa to Bayer Leverkusen.

"Bayer Leverkusen said 'no', they rejected the proposal, but I am told that the conversation is still ongoing between Villa and Leverkusen. So, Moussa Diaby, who for example has been for a long time in the list at Arsenal, is one of the players appreciated. [He's] already said 'yes' to Aston Villa. So, Moussa Diaby wants Premier League football."

It is likely that Villa will return with an improved bid for Diaby with Romano stating that the approximately £30m bid they submitted would not be enough to tempt Leverkusen. With a contract running until 2025, the German side are in no rush to sell one of their star players.

The signings of Torres and Youri Tielemans, the latter on a free transfer, have shown that Villa mean business this summer and are willing to invest in Emery and his squad.

Diaby would be another wonderful addition to a squad needing depth for the Europa Conference League next season, with the right-winger having attracted interest from some of the biggest clubs in Europe in the past.

How good is Diaby?

Another potential superstar spurned by Paris Saint-Germain after coming through the French club's academy, Diaby has been sensational since arriving at Leverkusen.

A right-sided winger desperate to cut in on his favoured left foot, Diaby has managed 49 goals and 48 assists in 172 matches with Die Werkself. Last season the speedster managed 18 combined goals and assists in 33 Bundesliga games, making him one of the division's top contributors.

The nine-cap French international is a menace for opposition left-backs with his direct running, pace and trickery causing defensive headaches. Compared to other wingers and attacking midfielders in the Bundesliga last season, his forward-thinking attitude really stood out.

Diaby was in the top 5% per 90 for progressive carries and the top 10% for carries into the penalty area, as well as sitting in the top 14% for passes and crosses into the box.

His willingness to run at defenders is one of his key strengths and his ability to cut back onto his wand of a left foot and unleash chaos makes him well-suited to the Premier League.

Manchester United starlet Amad Diallo has returned to full training, handing Erik ten Hag a boost ahead of their match against Bournemouth.

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• Amad returns to full training
• Winger yet to feature this season
• Had been recovering from a serious knee injury

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The winger has been out of action since July after picking up a serious knee injury which halted his development under Ten Hag or a potential loan move to any other club when the likes of West Ham, Everton, and Burnley were interested in the youngster in the summer. He had been gradually upping his ante in the recovery sessions from late October and the club media officially informed on Thursday that Amad is available for selection.

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• WHAT MANCHESTER UNITED SAID

  A club statement read: "Amad has returned to full training with the first-team squad, as he gets back to fitness after a knee injury."

• Getty Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Amad was sensational for Sunderland in the 2022-23 season as he boasted of having 16 goal contributions in 37 Championship appearances. His performances caught the attention of the Old Trafford think tank but his knee injury dealt a mortal blow to his chances of racking up minutes under Ten Hag.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR AMAD?

  United forwards have struggled in front of goal which saw Marcus Rashford drop to the bench against Chelsea on Wednesday, with Scott McTominay scoring a brace to bail out the Red Devils. Hence, Amad's availability should be music to the ears of Ten Hag who could potentially give me a run in the latter stages when they take on Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday.

The Australia captain has reiterated that players are unlikely to tour Bangladesh without a resolution to the ongoing pay dispute between Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers Association

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Aug-2017Australia captain Steven Smith has reiterated that players are unlikely to tour Bangladesh without a resolution to the ongoing pay dispute between Cricket Australia (CA) and the Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA). The tour is scheduled to begin in three weeks, from August 22.”I’d like to, but as we’ve said for a long time we need to get the deal done first,” Smith told , when asked if he expected the Bangladesh series to go ahead. “I don’t think it would be fair for us to go away after the [Australia] A guys were very strong on not going away on their tour [of South Africa], for us to then go away, I don’t think that’s fair.”CA know this, they’ve been told this. I told [CA’s Executive GM of Team Performance] Pat Howard personally that this was how things were going to be if there wasn’t a deal done.”CA and the ACA are in the middle of negotiations and are thought to be moving closer to an agreement. Contrary to some reports, an agreement has not yet been reached.Smith, however, remained hopeful because he said there had been “”some really good progress” in negotiations. He also spoke of the difficulty he faced in having to take a stand on behalf of the players while maintaining a healthy relationship with CA management, saying that he would have preferred for the dispute to remain confidential.”It’s had some difficult moments,” Smith said. “When this is all over with, I have to deal with Pat Howard, I have to deal with the (CA) Board and speak to [CA CEO] James Sutherland so I have to be careful with what sort of lines I tread. Some guys have been really vocal on social media and I think the way for me to lead in this dispute is to be able to talk to guys behind the scenes that are at the table and doing the job.”Australia have not toured Bangladesh for Tests since 2006. The upcoming tour was originally supposed to have taken place in 2016, but Australia postponed that trip because of security concerns.

Ashley Nurse and Tion Webster were picked as replacements for Mehidy Hasan and Raymon Reifer respectively

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Aug-2017Trinbago Knight Riders and Barbados Tridents have brought in Ashley Nurse and Tion Webster as replacements to their respective sides for losing out on players who received Test call-ups recently. Knight Riders lost the services of Mehidy Hasan, who was picked for the home series against Australia, while Tridents have been without Raymon Reifer who has been in the UK with the West Indies Test squad.Mehidy will not be available for Knight Riders for the entire CPL this season. Nurse, who earlier represented Tridents, most recently played ODIs for West Indies at home against Afghanistan and India. Nurse will join the squad in St Kitts for the match against St Kitts & Nevis Patroits on August 23. Knight Riders head coach Simon Katich said: “Ashley gives us another spin option. He has been playing some league cricket in England so he comes fresh to us from there.”Dwayne Bravo was very keen to get him into the squad given that we have still got some big games coming up against St Kitts & Nevis Patriots, Jamaica Tallawahs and Barbados Tridents.”Last month, Reifer had earned his maiden call-up to the Test squad and was therefore unavailable for Tridents for this season’s CPL. He played the tour game for West Indies against Kent but was left out of the day-night Test at Edgbaston. Webster, his replacement and so far uncapped in T20s, made his first-class debut for Trinidad & Tobago in April 2017, and scored a century in his second match, which was also the last match he played.

Former New Zealand allrounder Grant Elliott provided resounding approval to the security measures for the World XI series in Lahore

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Sep-20174:31

‘The tour signifies world’s support for Pakistan’ – Raja

Former New Zealand allrounder Grant Elliott has provided resounding approval to the security measures for the World XI series in Lahore, saying “if no one felt safe, no one would be going”. Elliott is the only player from New Zealand in the visiting squad.A team of overseas players, comprising several first-choice picks in Hashim Amla, Tamim Iqbal, Morne Morkel, Samuel Badree, Imran Tahir, and led by Faf du Plessis, will play three T20 internationals on September 12, 13 and 15 as part of an effort to bring international cricket back to Pakistan. To ensure that the series goes on without a hitch, the PCB has promised presidential-level security to the visitors.”We get the reports from all the relevant agencies such as FICA (Federation of International Cricket Associations) and independent security firms,” Elliott told the . “You assess the risks involved and make a decision as a family. Of course the players are getting paid but, if no one felt safe, no one would be going.”These are small steps in returning cricket to Pakistan on a more permanent basis. It’s sad for them that they never play at home. They always talk about it with such passion. I think we can expect enthusiastic crowds. Wherever you go there are risks, and being away from home for long periods is always tough on the family.”The World XI series is being conducted on the back of a successful staging of the Pakistan Super League final at the Gaddafi Stadium in March. Elliott had been part of that tournament – his team Lahore Qalandars did not make it to the final – and he was looking forward to meeting up with some of his colleagues.”I got to know a few people in Pakistani cricket when I performed pretty well in those tournaments,” he said. “I’m also excited about some opportunities which might open up with the Lahore owners. They’ve just bought the Durban Qalandars franchise in South Africa, and I will be their assistant coach in November-December [for the inaugural Global League].”That doesn’t mean my playing days are over. I’m still keen to play, and have another year with the Birmingham Bears. I’ve just finished a successful tournament there.”Elliott retired from international cricket in March 2017, signing a Kolpak deal to play in England’s T20 Blast; he played the tournament final last week. “The shorter format is something I’m still passionate about, so I may as well keep doing it,” he said. “I thrived with the captaincy of the Bears towards the end. I enjoy helping younger guys achieve the pathways they want.”Should Elliot make the playing XI on Tuesday, Wednesday or Friday, he will be the first New Zealander to play cricket in Pakistan since December 2003.World XI squad: Faf du Plessis (capt), Hashim Amla, Samuel Badree, George Bailey, Paul Collingwood, Ben Cutting, Grant Elliott, Tamim Iqbal, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Tim Paine, Thisara Perera, Imran Tahir, Darren Sammy