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While Celtic supporters will undoubtedly be disappointed with Moussa Dembele’s departure to Lyon on deadline day, Olivier Ntcham remaining at the club will soften the blow.

Ntcham had been linked with a move away from Celtic Park with Porto said to have been interested (via Goal) but, nothing materialised, to the delight of former Celtic man Si Ferry who believes Ntcham is the best midfielder the Bhoys have had in years.

The Breakdown

Speaking on Open Goal’s ‘Keep it on the ground’ podcast (via HITC), Ferry said: “Ntcham is the best midfielder I’ve seen here in years.

“I can’t believe how fit he looked [versus Rangers], he won the ball back, tackled, and he always passed the ball forwards.”

There is no denying the impact £2.7m-rated (via Transfermarkt) Ntcham has had at Celtic Park since arriving from Manchester City last summer, but having the 22-year-old at his disposal did not stop Brendan Rodgers from wanting to bring in John McGinn during the summer.

The former Liverpool manager was keen for the midfielder to link up with his SPL title-winning squad, but was beaten to his signature by Aston Villa.

Losing out on McGinn left a sense of frustration; however, the way Ntcham has been playing this season — against Rangers in particular — will have everyone forgetting about Aston Villa’s gazump on one of the club’s primary targets.

At 22 years of age, Ntcham will only continue to grow and has both the ability and skill set to be Scott Brown’s long-term successor in midfield.

Like Brown, Ntcham offers a very combative presence in the middle of the park but, as well as that, the ex-Manchester City player possesses the technical skill to create a chance or fire an accurate long-ranged shot towards goal.

With that in mind and, including the addition of Youssouf Mulumbu, Celtic look strong in midfield.

The decision to not overspend on McGinn by the Celtic hierarchy is starting to look justified.

Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Manchester United on Sunday may have produced a scintillating performance but it only paved over the cracks. Something just hasn’t felt right at Stamford Bridge this season amid constant murmurings of strained relationships behind the scenes.

We’ve seen even more evidence of that over the last few days. David Luiz was unexpectedly dropped for the win over the Red Devils and much-maligned technical director Michael Emenalo, who has never quite seen eye-to-eye with Antonio Conte, has now left the west Londoners.

So perhaps the ultimate question at this point, considering Chelsea’s history of hastily parting with managers and the long-standing belief of there being too much power in the dressing room, is whether Conte will last the season. Manchester United legend Gary Neville has already suggested the Italian could be a dead man walking…

“Every manager who has taken on the players here has gone pretty quickly. It is a big call because if you take on these players in that dressing room, where David Luiz is a big influence, a big character, you can lose at this club. This is not the end of this — this is the start. Conte has won today, but in two or three weeks’ time if David Luiz is still sat on that bench, every time they concede a goal, the cameras will flip to David Luiz. It was the same with John Terry.”

He may be sacked if Chelsea don’t keep up in the title race, or may even resign of his own accord should those issues behind the scenes become too much to bear. So, Blues supporters, do you think Conte will last until the summer? Let us know by voting below…

If you’re an Arsenal fan looking for a scapegoat after a traumatic season, you probably have just two options left: jump on the #WengerOut bandwagon or blame the players.

And perhaps one player, more than most, has come in for that sort of criticism this season: Mesut Ozil.

The wilderness years for Arsenal – those directly following the move to the Emirates Stadium – were, in hindsight, officially ended by the signing of the German playmaker. Not only did Arsenal splash some serious cash for the first time in years, but they were supposedly given a huge ‘war chest’ every summer to buy those sorts of players. Modern football called for levels of cash beyond what was normal for Arsene Wenger up until now, and perhaps the modern way called for some modern ideas.

The signing of Ozil seemed to play into that idea. He was a top new player to take the club to the next level, and someone who had taken part in the Spanish domination of European football around the same period.

And yet, even if he was supposed to help usher in a new era for the north London club, Arsene Wenger is hardly the man who guarantees innovation these days.

Since his arrival at Highbury in 1996, Wenger has played one formation for the majority of his time in charge. That is, some variation on a 90s classic: 4-4-2. A flat back-four, two central midfielders, two wide, attacking midfielders, a number 10, and a striker. It hasn’t changed too much.

And the reason Ozil was such an exciting signing was because he seemed to promise a return to the days when Arsenal were at the top of the game. When the German arrived, he slotted right into the most important position in Wenger’s team – the role occupied by Dennis Bergkamp. And since the Dutchman’s retirement, Arsenal hadn’t won a trophy.

Bergkamp’s final (competitive) match as an Arsenal player was the 2006 Champions League final. What’s special about that game isn’t just that it was a final of the biggest competition on club football, or that it was the first time Arsenal had reached the final of it. Nor had it anything to do with Bergkamp’s last game, as such. But it was Arsenal’s final match as the team from Highbury. Afterwards, they moved into their new home.

Bergkamp did play the first game at the new ground, though. He scored the very first goal of his own testimonial: the very first goal at the Emirates Stadium.

In hindsight, that’s the moment when the baton was passed, from one era of Arsenal under Wenger to another. Bergkamp left and Arsenal couldn’t replace him, at least not adequately. Possibly due to the financial constraints placed upon them by the shiny new stadium. When Ozil arrived, the mood changed. Here was a long-awaited replacement.

Of sorts, at least. They are far from the same sort of player, and while Bergkamp is seen as a striker dropping deep, Ozil is more of a midfielder pushed forward. Whereas the Dutchman scored on average every 3.6 or so league games, Ozil’s record is more like one in five – this season is the first time the German has managed double figures in all competitions in an Arsenal shirt.

Comparing goals is a little harsh as Ozil is known for assists, though Bergkamp has 94 of those in the Premier League, too. The main reason comparisons fail, though, is because of the players they both have around them.

Bergkamp’s game became moulded by Wenger’s team’s ability to create space for him. Up top, Thierry Henry’s pace worried defences, who would drop deep to nullify a ball in the space behind them. In the midfield, opposition midfielders – hardwired to man-mark their opposite numbers in a solid 4-4-2 – were drawn out into one-on-one battles with Arsenal’s deep midfielders. The result was huge spaces for Bergkamp in the midfield where he could roam.

The arrival of Jose Mourinho saw the arrival of the midfield anchorman to help plug the gaps, eventually morphing into a midfield three instead of a two, but for a few glorious years Bergkamp reigned supreme in his kingdom of manufactured space.

One of Ozil’s problems, playing in a similar role in a modern era, is that most teams are quite adept at plugging those gaps. But more importantly for the German, he – unlike Bergkamp – doesn’t have the right sort of players around him to make that work.

Whereas Arsenal usually had at least three willing runners ahead of Bergkamp to move defenders around and create problems, Ozil doesn’t have that many. Whereas the Dutchman had Thierry Henry, Marc Overmars, Nicolas Anelka or Freddie Ljungberg, the German has Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott. An increasingly disinterested Alexis Sanchez, seemingly the best it gets.

Ozil’s languid style looks lazy when the team doesn’t perform. His largely cushy role in between defence and attack means his defensive duties are limited, as bringing him back would be a waste of his attacking talents, whilst his attacking duties are limited because asking him to make runs would waste his ability to launch attacks and set the team’s rhythm.

The result is predictable: Arsenal underperform, and Ozil is singled out as the most visible example of the lack of fight, emotion and steel. And whilst some of the criticism isn’t always unfair, it’s hard not to think that, he has been let down somewhat. With the right kinds of player around him, and with more progressive and modern ideas from his manager, he might not look so lazy and so ineffective in the games when Arsenal are on the back foot.

The problem with Ozil is that comparisons with Bergkamp will stay in the back of the mind precisely because he’s playing in the same role that his predecessor occupied. And yet the problem with comparing them is that the game has changed partly because teams learned to deal with players like Bergkamp.

And maybe that’s something we should bear in mind this weekend, though, as Arsenal take on Mourinho’s Manchester United. The Portuguese manager is one Wenger has never beaten in a Premier League game. Perhaps his persistence with Ozil in a role that doesn’t seem to have too much of a place in the modern game is one reason to think he never will.

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Joe Allen’s transfer to Stoke City was an odd one in many ways.

The Potters were in need of a defensive midfielder, Allen had just finished an excellent European Championship, the deal looked a little like a team drawn in by some good form rather than one addressing their weaknesses. Allen has never been, and will never be, the deep-lying midfielder that Stoke need to balance their side. Instead, he has been used in an advanced role and kept the supremely talented Bojan out of the side.

As the team has looked short of ideas creatively-speaking and lacklustre defensively, Allen has been the outlier. His performances have largely been a standout in the early games of this season. Allen’s 1.3 key passes-per-game is hardly phenomenal compared to the rest of the league, but only Xherdan Shaqiri has been able to create more than the Welshman. While Allen has completed more tackles-per-game than any of his team-mates and is second to only Geoff Cameron when it comes to interceptions.

For all of his failings at Anfield, particularly in his early days, Allen is an integral cog in the Stoke side and it has taken only a handful of Premier League games. Mark Hughes is already under severe pressure, but Allen has repaid his manager’s faith. His late equaliser at Old Trafford was a result of good fortune and wise positioning from the former Liverpool man and might just have earned his manager a little longer at the helm.

The importance of Allen to Hughes’ team is clear, it is emphasised by the fact that he has recently pushed club-record signing, Giannelli Imbula, to the bench. Like so many managers in the early part of the season, Hughes is manipulating his squad to find the best combination of his immensely talented midfielders. Allen is unlikely to remain in the same attacking midfield role throughout this season, although his versatility and good form should allow him to retain a starting berth.

Allen is not the type of player that Jurgen Klopp felt he could fit into his side, but he certainly is an excellent acquisition for Stoke City. While Hughes continues to search for his best combination in the middle third, Allen’s early performances in the red and white of the Potters has nailed him down as one of the player’s to build the side around. A deal that was part of an underwhelming summer for Stoke, Allen could yet prove to be a key difference as they strive to turn their season around. Giving Hughes an array of additional options in midfield and upgrading the quality of the squad, Allen might yet prove to be one of the summer’s smartest signings.

The Israel playmaker has enjoyed a rapid rise to prominence, and could earn a move to the Premier League if he continues on his current trajectory

Red Bull Salzburg have an impressive track record when it comes to moulding talented young players. Sadio Mane, Erling Haaland, Dominik Szoboszlai and Karim Adeyemi all honed their skills at the Austrian club before stepping onto the elite stage – and Oscar Gloukh has every chance of following in their footsteps.

At just 19 years of age, Gloukh is being heralded as one of the brightest prospects in Europe, and for good reason. The former Maccabi Tel Aviv attacker, who is already a full Israel international, has made an instant impact at Red Bull Arena under the tutelage of Gerhard Struber – showing a maturity belying his young age.

Gloukh is putting himself on the map with his outstanding performances for Salzburg, with Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal all being credited with an interest in his services ahead of the January transfer window. But what exactly is it that makes the teenager so special? GOAL takes a look below…

Where it all began

Gloukh was born in the City of Rehovot, 12 miles outside of Tel Aviv. His father, Maxim, emigrated from Russia to Israel as a 13-year-old, and did not encourage his son's love of football initially.

As a five-year-old, Oscar would take part in four-on-four matches against boys twice his age to sharpen his skills. Maxim eventually accepted an invitation to watch Oscar in action, and quickly realised that he had a unique talent he could no longer ignore.

"I spent every day, all the time I had in the street playing with friends. I was really small and really young," Gloukh said in a recent interview with the . "When I was five, my father didn’t want me to be a professional footballer. He was told he needed to see me play and he came along. He was surprised. He said to me: 'If we want to go in on this, we need to go 100 per cent, all in'."

Gloukh would go on to earn a place in Maccabi Tel Aviv’s academy and play for Israel from Under-16s all the way through to U21 level. He was able to back up his immense talent with hard work, which led to him making his senior debut at the age of 17 – in August 2021.

Maccabi Tel Aviv couldn't mark the occasion with a victory, as they were knocked out of the Israeli Toto Cup on penalties by Hapoel Jerusalem, but Gloukh made a lasting impression after coming on as a 62nd-minute substitute and converted his spot-kick in the shootout.

AdvertisementGettyThe big break

Gloukh had to bide his time for a chance to shine in the Israeli Premier League, but it finally came in April 2022 against his club's fiercest rivals, Maccabi Haifa. Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were soon cheering whenever the teenager got on the ball as he constantly made himself available and took it upon himself to drive his team forward. And with only 28 minutes on the clock, Gloukh was the man who forced the breakthrough.

After receiving a pass on the edge of the box, the diminutive attacker sidestepped his marker with ease and set himself before letting fly, and his fierce effort found it's way into the back of the net with the help of a fortunate deflection. That goal very nearly secured a huge victory for Tel Aviv, but Tjaronn Cherry ultimately spoiled the party with an equaliser for the visitors in second-half stoppage time.

Still, the pressure of a derby clash in front of a capacity crowd at Bloomfield Stadium hadn't fazed Gloukh in the slightest. Quizzed on the difference between playing academy football and making his maiden first-team appearance in such a hostile atmosphere, he told reporters after the game: "For me, it is the same — you just have more people in the stands and afterwards you asked me to speak on TV!"

It's that level of composure, and indeed arrogance, that can often separate the very best players from their peers. Gloukh used those tools to great effect for Israel a couple of months later at the U19 European Championships, scoring three goals in five appearances. He even won the Goal of the Tournament prize for his effort in the final against England, as he deceived two defenders in the box with his sublime close-quarter dribbling skills before firing the ball low into the bottom corner of the net. Israel ended up losing the game 3-1, but Gloukh had announced himself to a global audience.

Scouts then started to attend Gloukh's games regularly in the first half of the 2022-23 season, and a big move became inevitable as he recorded 12 goal contributions in his first 17 league appearances for Tel Aviv while breaking into Israel's senior squad.

Sure enough, Salzburg swooped for his services in the winter transfer window, snapping him up for €7 million on a four-and-a-half year contract. It would turn out out to be one of the bargain deals of the entire year.

GettyHow it's going

Salzburg were not the only club to make a move for Gloukh. La Liga giants Barcelona had also been keeping tabs on the youngster, and made a late January swoop for his services. Gloukh did not pursue a last-minute change in career path, though, having already decided that Salzburg was the best place for him to unlock his full potential. "I was very excited that (Barcelona) wanted me, but they were late for the bidding and came back when we had already closed the Salzburg deal," he said. "In the end, I think we made the right decision to go to Salzburg and not to Barcelona. It makes more sense for my development as a player."

Matthias Jaissle didn't throw Gloukh into his matchday squad at Salzburg until mid-February, but he gradually found his feet and scored his first goal for the club in a 3-0 Austrian Bundesliga victory over Klagenfurt on April 2. The Israeli star doubled his account in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Austria Vienna the following week, and ultimately helped the the club clinch their 10th-successive domestic crown.

Former Austria Vienna and Borussia Dortmund boss Peter Stoger was among those to praise Gloukh for his instant impact at Red Bull Arena, telling : "This is an extraordinary player. From the category of someone who can assess situations very well and has quick solutions. Also for his age, there’s a lot in there. He’s an exciting boy. I would be surprised if he doesn't bring a lot of money into Salzburg's coffers in the next few years. I think he can have a really great career."

Israel included Gloukh in their U21 European Championship squad in the summer, and he spearheaded their run to the semi-finals. He tasted defeat against England once again, but caught the eye with a number of magical moments in the 3-0 loss, and has gone up another level since returning to his club.

Gloukh made his Champions League debut in Salzburg's first group-stage outing of the 2023-24 season against Benfica, and scored early in the second half to round of a surprise away victory – becoming the youngest Israeli player to ever score in the competition in the process.

Salzburg, who drafted in Gerhard Struber as their new manager after Jaissle's summer exit, were unable to build on that result, with Real Sociedad beating them 2-0 at Red Bull Arena before home and away losses against Inter. But Gloukh was the man who gave them brief hope of progress once again on matchday three at San Siro as he cancelled out Alexis Sanchez' opening goal with a sublime equaliser in the 57th minute, curling an unstoppable first-time shot into the top corner after a lung-busting effort to get into the box.

The Salzburg talisman also has two goals and three assists to his name in the Austrian Bundesliga already in 2023-24, which explains why he is now being strongly linked with a move to the Premier League.

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GettyBiggest strengths

Gloukh is such a nightmare for defenders because he is great with both feet and comfortable playing in a variety of different positions. The Israel starlet tends to do the most damage in a No.10 role, but can also operate as a false nine, traditional centre-midfielder or even as a winger.

It's impossible to pin him down, and he has a knack for occupying small pockets of space to pick up the ball and drive forward. Gloukh dribbles with a low centre of gravity, too, which allows him to change direction quickly and unbalance his opponents.

There is no doubt that Salzburg have one of the most exciting players in European football on their hands. There are very few players with a footballing IQ as high as Gloukh's, in and out possession, and there is no limit to what he can achieve if he continues on his current trajectory.

“He presents a great learning curve. He’s a high-profile player and he understands how he’s supposed to play without the ball. We’re very pleased with his development," Struber told in October.

The Belgian winger scored two wonderful goals to guide Mikel Arteta's side past the Barca in a testy contest in Los Angeles

Given the signing of Kai Havertz and the continued excellence of both Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, it might have seemed like opportunities would be limited for Leandro Trossard at Arsenal this season. However, if his form in pre-season so far is anything to go by, it is going to be difficult for Mikel Arteta to leave him out.

Trossard scored twice in a 5-3 win for the Gunners over Barcelona in Los Angeles on Wednesday, as the Premier League side came from behind to secure what turned out to be a thrilling win despite the pre-season vibes.

Barca took the lead through Robert Lewandowski, who pounced on a rebound and scuffed his effort over Aaron Ramsdale and into the net, before Saka levelled things soon after, seizing onto an Andreas Christensen miscue and finishing from close range.

The winger could've added a second in quick succession but skewed a penalty wide of the post, and Raphinha gave his team the lead back 15 minutes later, whipping a free-kick into the bottom corner after a heavy deflection. Havertz provided the Arsenal response on the stroke of half-time, latching onto a Martin Odegaard header to find the corner.

Then Trossard took over. He put the Gunners ahead early in the second half with a fine cut and finish. He added his second to kill the game, guiding a volley into the bottom corner off a Kieran Tierney cross. Ferran Torres did pull one back, but a curler from Fabio Viera in the dying moments settled things.

Still, this night was about Trossard, an ever-improving player who could be crucial if Arsenal are to push Manchester City in the Premier League title race yet again this season.

GOAL looks at what we learned during the clash at So-Fi Stadium…

Saka magic is back!

Yes, he missed a penalty, but this was an otherwise mesmerising showing from the England winger. He scored his side's first with an opportunistic poke and spent the remainder of the contest teasing Marcos Alonso. Sometimes, he went to the by-line. Others, he cut inside. It all culminated in a handful of chances, and constant danger for Barcelona to deal with.

This wasn't a perfect night, though. Saka blasted one over in the second half, and sometimes saw his passing lanes cut off by an incessant Barca backline. Still, Saka managed to find his angles and ensured that his opposing number never had a second to rest.

Arsenal have something of a restructured side here, with different midfield configurations, and perhaps a new right-back playing behind him. If there were any fears about Saka's level of play taking a hit, though, they weren't given any merit here.

AdvertisementRaphinha gets back among the goals

Raphinha is something of a polarising figure among Barcelona fans. At times, the former Leeds man can be brilliant, scoring goals and setting up team-mates. But he's too often invisible, failing to impact play. Wednesday was one of his better days, though, as he gave his side the lead, and was generally dangerous against Arsenal's new-signing Jurrien Timber.

His goal was an opportunistic one, a speculative free-kick deflecting in via the chest of Odegaard, and although he failed to bag another, Raphinha was something of a handful all evening. A switch to centre-forward on occasion didn't phase him, either. He's not a natural there, but still made the right runs, and ensured that Arsenal's backline never had a second to rest.

The Blaugrana seem stuck in the transfer market when it comes to attacking additions, and likely won't bring anyone else in. This is an opportunity for Raphinha, then, to properly prove his worth to the team. The early signs look good.

Trossard has a massive part to play

If Saka was good on the right wing, Trossard was even better on the left. The former Brighton man seemed like a shrewd signing in January, and he proved to be, offering valuable backup at multiple positions for an increasingly tiring Arsenal side.

But he might be even more important this season. Gabriel Martinelli faded towards the end of last campaign, losing his legs slightly after an intense period, and ensuring the exciting Brazilian stays fresh for the biggest occasions will be on Arteta's mind. To that end, Trossard should get more opportunities.

On Wednesday, Trossard turned and twisted his way around first Sergino Dest and then Sergi Roberto, teasing opponents and sending angled crosses into the Barcelona box. He was also clinical in front of goal, one guided strike giving Arsenal a 3-2 lead on the night, a second putting the game beyond doubt.

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Barca's new boys fail to impress

It's only pre-season, and these things take time, but Barcelona fielded two new signings here, and neither performed particularly well. Ilkay Gundogan was deployed in centre-midfield alongside Pedri, a theoretically dominant duo in the middle, but the former Man City man struggled to get involved in the contest, and was simply outrun by Odegaard and Arsenal's fearsome press.

Oriol Romeu's showing was even more worrying. This was never supposed to be a game-changing acquisition, but he might just have to be a regular following the departure of Sergio Busquets to Inter Miami. And if this was a trial run, Xavi will have a lot to think about. Romeu only completed four passes, and gave the ball away on a handful of occasions.

There will perhaps be a signing or two to come, despite Barcelona's financial limitations in the transfer market. Still, they don't have loads of cash to throw around. Those that have come in will have to adapt quickly.

Toronto FC remains the class of MLS — but Atlanta United may not be far behind.

That's the consensus, at least, from 's annual survey of MLS general managers, technical directors and sporting directors. Having become the first team in MLS history to claim a domestic treble last season, TFC has been tipped to repeat as MLS Cup champion in 2018 by the executives who know the league best.

Atlanta, meanwhile, finished second in the voting after a debut MLS campaign that saw Gerardo "Tata" Martino's side shatter attendance records while fielding one of the most dynamic teams the league has seen. The general managers are particularly bullish on Atlanta playmaker Miguel Almiron, pegging him as the odds-on favorite to claim MLS MVP honors.

The rules of the anonymous survey again were straightforward. Executives from the 14 clubs that agreed to participate were given 15 questions to answer about the teams, players, offseason moves and MLS rules. They were not permitted to vote for their own team or personnel, and some voters chose to pass on certain questions.

So which club has delivered the best offseason moves? Which current MLS player would make the best head coach one day? Who are the best and worst general managers in MLS to negotiate with? Find out in 's full 2018 MLS GM survey below:

• Nick Turchiaro
  

  Which team will win the 2018 MLS Cup?

  1. Toronto FC — 8 votes
  2. Atlanta United — 3
  T-3. Los Angeles FC, New York City FC — 1

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• Brett Davis
  

  Who will be the 2018 MLS MVP?

  1. Miguel Almiron — 7
  2. Sebastian Giovinco — 4
  T-3. Josef Martinez, Diego Valeri, David Villa — 1

• Troy Wayrynen
  

  If you were starting a team from scratch, which MLS player would you build around?

  1. Diego Valeri — 4
  T-2. Miguel Almiron, Michael Bradley — 3
  4. Sebastian Giovinco — 2
  5. Kellyn Acosta, Josef Martinez — 1

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• Adam Hunger
  

  Which player is most likely to break out in 2018?

  1. Tyler Adams — 4
  2. Alphonso Davies — 2
  T-3. Luciano Acosta, Ezequiel Barco, Abu Danladi, Jeremy Ebobisse, Jonathan Lewis, Josef Martinez, Pedro Santos, Jefferson Savarino — 1

Worcestershire turned up the heat on Sussex as the seamers took control on the second day of the Specsavers County Championship clash at New Road

ECB Reporters Network16-May-2016
ScorecardRoss Whiteley helped Worcestershire build on a strong opening day•Getty Images

Worcestershire turned up the heat on Sussex as the seamers took control on the second day of the Specsavers County Championship clash at New Road.After four sessions dominated by batsmen as Worcestershire made 491, the visitors came under severe pressure when set to make 342 to avoid the follow-on.Half the side went for 116 before stand-in captain Ben Brown and Matt Machan led a partial recovery, a stubborn sixth-wicket partnership of 56 helping their team to 192 for 6, still 299 behind, at the close.In a strong and relentless performance by the bowling unit, Worcestershire took five wickets in 21 overs after ending an opening stand of 58.Ed Barnard made the breakthrough by bowling Ed Joyce for 31, a big wicket after the left hander’s career-best score of 250 in last week’s rain-hit game against Derbyshire.When Chris Nash was leg-before in the first over of Matt Henry’s second spell, the balance of power was held by the home side’s seam quartet.Luke Wells shovelled a short ball from Joe Leach to fine leg, where Jack Shantry held a good catch, and in Leach’s next over Ross Taylor was lbw for 11.More trouble hit Sussex soon after tea when Shantry claimed his first wicket, Tom Kohler-Cadmore taking the chance from Harry Finch at first slip, but Brown and Machan picked a good time to make a significant contribution.With a previous highest score of 22 not out, Brown advanced to 49 and Machan scored 36 before he was out sweeping, a first Championship wicket of the season for Brett D’Oliveira after his successful conversion to opening batsman.Worcestershire made the most of the morning session in adding 109 to the first-day score of 382 for 4. When Henry was caught at point off Ollie Robinson on the stroke of lunch, the total was their highest in 156 first-class meetings with Sussex, surpassing 464 at Hove in 2010.The key to reaching this milestone was the overnight partnership which was extended to 120 by Kohler-Cadmore and Ross Whiteley, who hit a six and nine fours in a season’s best knock of 71 from 121 balls. They became the third and fourth players in the innings to reach 50 but no one posted a century.Kohler-Cadmore became a second victim for the impressively accurate Steve Magoffin, who bowled 29 overs for 56 runs, and Stuart Whitttingham dismissed Whiteley and Leach for the best return of three for 86.The more expensive Lewis Hatchett claimed one success when Ben Cox was snapped up at backward point and Barnard holed out at deep square-leg to give legspinner Wells figures of 3 for 105.While Sussex stuck at their task, at that stage there was nothing to suggest that their own batsmen would struggle as they did. The first ten in Worcestershire’s order all got into double figures.

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has denied conflict of interest with regard to his position on the IPL governing council. Ganguly was facing an allegation of a commercial tie-up with the RP Sanjiv Goenka group, which has a stake in the Atletico de Kolkata [ATK] football club in Indian Super League (ISL) and, in December, secured the ownership rights to run the Pune franchise in the IPL. In an email to BCCI ombudsman, Justice AP Shah, Ganguly denied that he had any “interest or stake” with New Rising Promoters Pvt Ltd, which won the bid for the Rising Pune Supergiants franchise.The conflict-of-interest case against Ganguly was filed in January by Mumbai-based freelance journalist Niraj Gunde. In an e-mail to Shah, dated January 28, accessed by ESPNcricinfo, Ganguly admitted he had “about 5%” stake in ATK. “It is true that I have a small stake in Atletico de Kolkata, the football club which participates in the Indian Super League,” Ganguly wrote. “Atletico de Kolkata is owned and managed by Kolkata Games and Sports Pvt. Ltd. I am a partner with 6.67% share in ‘Catch 22 Informatics LLP’ a limited liability partnership which has about 75% share in Kolkata Games and Sports Pvt. Ltd. In other words, my stake in Kolkata Games and Sports Pvt. Ltd is about 5%.”

‘BCCI shielding Ganguly’

Reacting to Sourav Ganguly’s denial of his alleged conflict of interest and the BCCI’s vague response in the matter, freelance journalist Niraj Gunde, who raised the issue, has said that the board is trying to “shield” the former India captain.
In an email to BCCI ombudsman AP Shah on Monday, Gunde said: “It appears to me that BCCI is trying to shield Mr Sourav Ganguly by mentioning that decisions are taken by majority of members in the IPL Governing Council and all decisions are approved at the Working Committee. Does BCCI concede that even having persons with conflict of interest… in a committee, if decisions taken by it are by [means of] a majority, [can be problematic]?” Gunde wrote.
According to Gunde, “It cannot be said Mr Sourav Ganguly was just a witness to the bids when he himself was present in the room when the bids were opened. Mr Sourav Ganguly was a member of the council which approved these bids meaning that all the members should have been aware of the contents of the bids.”
Gunde asked Shah to scrutinise the bid documents submitted by New Rising Promoters Ltd, which won the ownership of Pune IPL franchise for two years. He wants the ombudsman to ascertain specifically whether Sanjeeve Goenka, owner of Rising Pune Super Giants franchise, had disclosed the commercial partnership with Ganguly. He wrote: “Mr Sourav Ganguly sat in the meeting of IPL Governing Council which awarded the rights to New Rising Promoters Ltd while having prior business interest with the same promoters, [it] is a clear incident of conflict of interest case.”

“However, I have no interest or stake in or connection with New Rising Promoters Pvt. Ltd. which bid at the auction held on December 8, 2016. I am neither a shareholder nor a director of New Rising Promoters Pvt. Ltd or the companies or entities which are its shareholders. I have no personal knowledge of the shareholding pattern of New Rising Promoters Pvt. Ltd.”Ganguly, who is the president of the Cricket Association of Bengal, told Shah that having gone through the BCCI’s rules on conflict of interest, he “found nothing” that could “enable my association with BCCI [as a member of the IPL Governing Council or as President of CAB] to be construed as a ‘conflict of interest’ situation because of my interest in Atletico de Kolkata. I cannot and do not perceive any potential conflict situation.”Calling the allegation a “purported complaint”, Ganguly wrote that as a player and an administrator, he has always conducted himself with “dignity befitting” the gentleman’s game. “Both during my playing days and after my retirement I have always strived to maintain the highest standards of ethics, propriety, morality and decorum in my public and private life. As such, the complaint has left me nonplussed,” Ganguly wrote.In the complaint, Ganguly’s failure to not disclose the commercial tie-up with ATK was cited as a case of conflict. Shah had sought responses from the BCCI and Ganguly, and the board said its rules on conflict of interest were “exhaustive”. In an e-mail to Shah, dated February 8, Ratnakar Shetty, the board’s game development manager who has also been entrusted with the task of overseeing the IPL, said that the BCCI was “unaware” of Ganguly’s “links” in ATK.Shetty told Shah that, on the day the bids were opened, Ganguly reached the venue after the technical bids were assessed. “By the time Sourav Ganguly reached the meeting the technical bids were opened and all the five bidders were found to be eligible and the Chairman of the meeting Mr. Rajeev Shukla and the President BCCI Mr. Shashank Manohar opened the sealed envelopes containing the financial bids and declared the two bidders who were successful in the presence of the five bidders. Mr. Sourav Ganguly was a witness as were the members of the IPL GC,” Shetty wrote in the e-mail.According to Ganguly, there were no questions about the transparency of the bidding process. “[I] was away in London and returned that morning to Delhi and by the time I reached the venue of the meeting the technical bids were already opened by the lawyers appointed by BCCI,” Ganguly said. “As a member of the IPL Governing Council it is only then that I came to learn of the bids. After the technical bids were scrutinised by the BCCI legal experts in the presence of all concerned then only were the sealed financial bids of the bidders opened.”The entire process took place in quick succession in the presence of all bidders. The rule of the bid was that the lowest bidder would get the franchise and New Rising Promoters Pvt. Ltd and another company won the bids for the two teams being the lowest bidder of all the bids. I also state that no one has raised any grievance with regard to the transparency and fairness of the process.”

Pakistan captain Azhar Ali has singled out his side’s lack of experience on the international stage as the biggest reason behind their 79-run defeat in Mirpur

Mohammad Isam in Mirpur17-Apr-20152:15

Isam: Pakistan’s inexperience showed

This was not a usual Bangladesh-Pakistan contest. There were moments when the encounter looked to be following the usual routine of the last 29 years, but those moments were fleeting.The margin of victory followed the type, but the usual dominator looked weaker than the usual harried, for the first time. Even last year when Pakistan chased 327 at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, they believed a win was still possible. Bangladesh remained wary until Shahid Afridi’s blows settled the matter. There were moments in 2012, when Bangladesh lost to Pakistan by two runs in the Asia Cup final. Nine needed off the last over and Aizaz Cheema kept it down to six.A reversal of fortune after 16 years can’t be explained by this one performance. It would be unfair on both sides, especially Bangladesh who have improved vastly in the last several years and especially grown through the 2015 World Cup. Pakistan are going through a major transition, and is less experienced of them as a unit.Such has been their transition that they had to name Azhar Ali, who hadn’t played an ODI since January 2013, as captain. One can hardly blame him for the 79-run defeat, especially after his 73-ball 72. He does not possess a batting line-up as experienced as the one Misbah-ul-Haq had in Mirpur last year. Azhar noted that as the key difference.”The Bangladesh team has been playing the same unit for the last four or five years,” Azhar said. “In the years gone by, we always have the experience to go through difficult periods. But today we have some new guys. They are trying to make inroads. We lack a bit of experience in the team.”Whenever you make runs and you don’t win its not pleasing. We wanted to make runs, we also want that team to win. I think the score was a bit more, especially because we have a new batting line-up. So 230 to 240 runs was too many. It is difficult to chase 300 everyday. I think the guys tried their best but we fell a little bit short.”Azhar Ali – “In the years gone by, we always have the experience to go through difficult periods. But today we have some new guys. They are trying to make inroads”•AFPAzhar felt that Pakistan’s fielding too had cost them the game. Saad Nasim dropped Tamim Iqbal off his own bowling when the batsman was on 47, while Junaid Khan dropped Mushfiqur Rahim at mid-on when he was on 35. Both batsmen went on to score hundreds, the first time in Bangladesh’s ODI history that two batsmen made centuries in the same game. Pakistan subsequently conceded 55 in the batting Powerplay, and 93 in the last 10 overs.”I think especially when in the field we dropped few catches in the wrong stage. Some of the bowling wasn’t up to the mark, up to our standards. The way we bowled in the death overs and powerplay weren’t up to it. We will definitely try and fix it in the next game.”There were some positives in Pakistan’s performance. Mohammad Rizwan made 67 on ODI debut while Wahab Riaz ran in hard all afternoon, ending with a four-wicket haul.Perhaps Pakistan will look at their fifth bowler situation. Haris Sohail, Nasim and Azhar combined to concede 79 runs in 10 overs. The exact margin by which they lost the game.Some of the crowd started to leave the ground before Shakib Al Hasan picked up the last Pakistan wicket in the 46th over. Perhaps they were trying to beat the end-of-match traffic out of Mirpur. Perhaps some of them were Pakistan supporters. Bangladesh themselves didn’t celebrate in a manner that befits a win against such an opposition after 16 years.Pakistan will be expected to fight back, but as Azhar himself said, this team lacks the experience to bounce back. Over to Sunday to find out then.