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The ICC has suspended Hong Kong allrounder Irfan Ahmed for two-and-a-half years after he admitted to breaching the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Code

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Apr-2016The ICC has suspended Hong Kong allrounder Irfan Ahmed for two years and six months after he admitted to breaching the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Code. Ahmed has accepted the suspension and waived his right to appeal.Ahmed has not been charged with any offence involving corruption. The ICC’s anti-corruption unit, however, established that he failed to disclose “full details of approaches or invitations to engage in corrupt conduct that had been made to him between January 2012 and January 2014”.The allrounder was charged under Article 2.4.2 of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code which states, “Failing to disclose to the ACU (without undue delay) full details of any approaches or invitations received by the Participant to engage in conduct that would amount to a breach of the Anti-Corruption Code.”Ahmed was provisionally suspended in November 2015 following an investigation by the ACU “relating in part to the activities of another individual known to the ACU and suspected of making corrupt approaches to participants”. His period of ineligibility will take effect from the date of the provisional suspension (November 4, 2015) and will end on May 4, 2018.Ronnie Flanagan, chairman of the ACU, said the suspension should serve as a reminder to participants of the need to comply with the code.”It is pleasing to note that the investigation upon which these charges were founded originated from information that had been disclosed to the ACU,” Flanagan said in an ICC release. “This is a clear and welcome demonstration that participants now more and more fully realise their own responsibilities in combating this scourge on the game through prompt and diligent reporting as required by the Code.”However, it is also indicative of the worrying trend that those intent on corrupting the game are increasingly focusing their activities on Associate Member cricket and that the sport therefore needs to ensure that it is appropriately resourced and protected in that area.”Mike Walsh, chairman of the Hong Kong Cricket Association, said the board supported the ICC’s fight against corruption. “The HKCA are pleased this matter has now reached its conclusion and fully support the continued fight against corruption in cricket,” Walsh said. “We echo the ICC ACU Chairman’s concerns about the recent attention paid to emerging cricket nations by illegal betting networks, and we stand with the ICC to reinforce their efforts in educating our players and officials about the very real risks currently faced by cricket.”The 26-year-old Ahmed has played six ODIs since his debut in 2008, as well as eight T20Is, the last of which was in July 2015. He had been in the top bracket for centrally contracted cricketers in Hong Kong in 2014-15, but was not retained for the 2015-16 season.

Real Madrid starlet Arda Guler has been given a glowing comparison to Mesut Ozil by Barcelona midfielder Ilkay Gundogan.

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Guler tipped to have a bright futureCompared to Ozil by GundoganTurkish starlet currently out injuredWHAT HAPPENED?

Guler was signed by Los Blancos in the summer from Fenerbahce for an initial €20m (£17m/$22m), with up to €10m in add-ons. This was significantly higher than his reported €17.5m (£15m/$19m) release clause, paid in order to beat bitter rivals Barcelona to his signature. The youngster has been hailed as a future star by many of his Real Madrid teammates including Ballon d'Or winner Luka Modric, and now Gundogan has likened him to Ozil, who was once a fan-favourite at the Santiago Bernabeu.

AdvertisementWHAT GUNDOGAN SAID

Speaking to Turkish outlet, Gundogan said: "Guler went to Real Madrid, he is a very talented football player. I talked to Rudiger, he likes Arda very much. Yes, he had physical issues and because of injuries, he couldn’t start the season. But he is very talented. Even Ozil said the same thing. If there is a Turkish football player who is similar to Mesut Ozil, the first name is Arda Guler. I see his future bright."

GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Guler is yet to make his Real Madrid debut as he has been plagued with three injuries since his summer move. He had undergone knee surgery in August, before picking up a couple of muscle injuries which has kept him sidelined from competitive action. Were he fit, he would have undoubtedly been named in the Turkish squad for their two upcoming fixtures against Germany and Wales.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR GULER AND GUNDOGAN?

Real Madrid have thus far been extremely cautious with Guler and do not want to rush him back to action. The medical staff have not set a specific return date but it is expected that he could be available after the Christmas break. Meanwhile, Gundogan will be in action for Germany against Turkey and Austria in two international friendlies on November 18 and 21, respectively.

The England left-back is capable of sparking a revival at Old Trafford after returning from injury ahead of schedule

Manchester United have endured plenty of lows in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, but they hit rock-bottom after a 3-0 loss to Newcastle at Old Trafford on November 1. That result saw the Red Devils exit the Carabao Cup at the round of 16, capping a miserable defence of the trophy they had won after a final win over the same opponents in February.

It was also their eighth defeat in their first 15 matches across all competitions in 2023-24. The last time United started a season that badly was way back in 1961, when they were still rebuilding the squad after the tragic Munich air crash of '58.

Erik ten Hag's side have been leaking goals in domestic and European competition, while also looking alarmingly toothless at the other end of the pitch. United have won four of their last five Premier League games, but only by a solitary goal, and they are already seven points behind leaders Manchester City.

Even another top-four finish looks beyond United right now given their poor level of performance, and they certainly won't be qualifying for next season's Champions League by winning it. Only maximum points from their final two group games against Galatasaray and Bayern Munich will prevent them from falling at the first hurdle.

And yet, all is not lost. There is no denying that bad luck with injuries has played a key role in United's decline. Andre Onana, Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro, Christian Eriksen, Amad Diallo and Tyrell Malacia are all currently on the treatment table, while Rasmus Hojlund, Mason Mount and Aaron Wan-Bissaka have also missed a significant portion of games.

Any team would struggle with such a depleted squad, but the absence of Luke Shaw has been the most significant for United. The 28-year-old has been out of action since sustaining a muscle issue in United's 2-0 loss at Tottenham on August 17, and wasn't expected back until December.

However, Shaw made a surprise early return to training this week, and is being tipped to start against Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday. United's first-choice left-back has rarely received the credit he deserves at Old Trafford, but he's the most important player in Ten Hag's ranks – and his reintegration might just spark a rapid turnaround in fortunes.

GettyPartnership rekindled

Marcus Rashford won the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award for the 2022-23, finishing top of the voting among United fans ahead of Bruno Fernandes and Martinez. He also picked up the club's Player's Player of the Year award as he was deservedly recognised for his most prolific season yet in the famous red shirt.

But he owed a great debt of gratitude to Shaw for giving him the platform to reach those heights. The defender's overlapping runs drew opposition players out of position so that Rashford could cut inside or dart into the penalty area and provide the finish or decisive final pass for United.

Without Shaw, he has been unable to make the same in-roads. Rashford has only scored once in 14 appearances since the defender's injury against Spurs, and has been very lucky to retain his place in Ten Hag's line-up.

Diogo Dalot, Victor Lindelof and Sergio Reguilon have all filled in for Shaw, but none of them have had the same natural rapport with Rashford going forward. Consequently, United have carried next to no threat down the left flank, which was where the majority of their goals came from last season.

Rashford has been guilty of overrunning the ball in an attempt to create openings and shooting from ridiculous positions out of frustration. His confidence is completely shot and he's in desperate need of a boost, which Shaw can provide. The England duo built up one of the most effective partnerships in English football in Ten Hag's debut season in Manchester, and there's no reason why they can't now rekindle it.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesHungry Hojlund

United forked out £72 million ($90m) to bring Hojlund to Old Trafford from Atalanta in the summer window, which was a huge investment considering his lack of experience. And so far, the gamble hasn't paid off. Hojlund has gone nine Premier League games without a goal, and appears to be struggling with the pace of the English football.

The Danish striker's work-rate can't be faulted, but there are a lot of raw edges in his game that still need to be ironed out. Going all out for Harry Kane would have made more sense, and there must be a part of Ten Hag that regrets his decision after watching the former Tottenham man break every scoring record in the book in his first few months at Bayern Munich.

That's not to say that Hojlund is a lost cause, though. In actual fact, it's quite conceivable that the 20-year-old could go on to reach a similar level to Kane in the future. Hojlund has hit five goals in four Champions League appearances for United to date, and his link-up play has been generally very impressive. The Denmark international is also intelligent with his movement off the ball, but many of his runs have been ignored or overlooked.

Former United defender Rio Ferdinand recently compared Hojlund's situation to the one Ruud van Nistelrooy found himself in after Cristiano Ronaldo's arrival at the club back in 2003. “Ruud van Nistelrooy more or less had Cristiano Ronaldo in tears almost one day, saying, ‘How can I make my runs when you don’t cross the ball?’ That’s how Hojlund must feel right now with the wide players he’s playing with," Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel .

The Red Devils have quite simply not been playing to Hojlund's strengths. He hasn't played with Shaw yet, and must be licking his lips at the prospect of some quality service from out wide. Shaw put more crosses into the box than any other United player last term, and was also top for passes into the final third.

He would have probably led the way for assists too, if he'd had a proper centre-forward following in, which he admitted he was "desperate" for before the new season got underway. He will finally get his wish in the coming weeks, and it will be no surprise if Hojlund's output suddenly increases dramatically.

Getty ImagesDefensive balance

Shaw is widely considered to be one of the best left-backs in the business, not least because of his quality on the ball and strength in one-on-one duels. He has the most to offer United in that position, but Ten Hag has also experimented with him as a centre-half – with impressive results.

Eleven of Shaw's starts for United last season came in the heart of the defence as the Dutch manager favoured the left-footer over Harry Maguire. The England international put his body on the line and read the game brilliantly to cut out attacks in those matches, but it was his passing that stood out most.

Ten Hag has always stressed the importance of his centre-backs playing through the lines to ensure that United build attacks from both sides of the pitch. Shaw delivered those incisive balls time and time again, while also pushing forward himself on the counter.

With Martinez not expected to return until the new year, Shaw might just be the best option to partner Maguire, who has won his place back as the right-sided centre-back in recent weeks. He offers far more than Lindelof and surprise summer signing Jonny Evans, with both men lacking the technical ability to step into midfield and mobility to keep close track of runners.

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GettyFull faith in Ten Hag

When United lose games, the manager comes under the spotlight. Ten Hag learned that quicker than most, after opening his reign with back-to-back defeats against Brighton and Brentford. The Red Devils also suffered heavy losses against the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool and Sevilla in 2022-23, but the campaign was ultimately deemed a success because Ten Hag delivered a trophy and Champions League qualification.

All the players seemed to be behind the Dutchman, and for the first time since Ferguson's departure in 2013, there was a real sense that United were heading in the right direction. And no one believed that more than Shaw.

"It's clear to see what he has brought in and how he has changed the way we think, the way we play," he told at the end of May. "I think he wants to bring a lot of intensity. I think everything he wants the team to do is high intensity, he wants us to be aggressive, on the front foot, pressing as high as possible.

"With the ball he has made us better. We have to be challenging for the title with this team. Our aim at the beginning of next season has to be winning the Premier League and the Champions League. That's how we've got to think from now on."

Shaw also called for new signings, and Ten Hag was able to bring in Hojlund, Mount, Onana, Reguilon and Sofyan Amrabat in the summer market. United then began the season with a scrappy home win against Wolves and the defeat to Spurs, which saw Shaw suffer his unfortunate fitness setback.

But he would never imagined that the team would fall so far from that point. The Red Devils have completely lost their identity, and many of Ten Hag's signings, from this year and last, are either underperforming or clearly now past their best.

Dressing room leaks have also re-emerged – the kind that undermined the authority of previous managers such as Ralf Rangnick, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Jose Mourinho. Consequently, it has been suggested that Ten Hag no longer enjoys the full trust of his players.

Right now, it feels like a daunting task for him to turn the situation around. But he should still have a strong ally in Shaw, given the fact he hasn't been involved for the majority of this turbulent period. His opinion on Ten Hag is unlikely to have changed, and he can play a key role in getting the rest of squad to believe in the manager again.

United might not be able to achieve the lofty goals he previously set, but there is still plenty to play for in the second half of the season.

Axar Patel wants to be in the Indian side for the World T20 in March next year and is also working towards a maiden Test call-up

Amol Karhadkar05-Jun-2015Axar Patel’s performance in Twenty20 cricket, especially in the 2014 IPL, had been the catalyst for an ODI debut within two years of his first List A appearance. The 21-year old allrounder’s next goal is to break into the Indian Test and T20 teams as well.”World Twenty20 is the main target since it’s a World championship and India will be hosting it. But if I can get selected for the Test series against South Africa, it will be a huge achievement,” Axar told ESPNcricinfo. “I have played in ODIs so far, if I can earn the India cap in the remaining two formats this season, it would be a great reward.”Even though I didn’t feature in the Test squad for the Bangladesh tour, I am working hard on earning the Test cap. I don’t want to be tagged as a limited-overs cricketer. I want to establish myself in all three formats of the game. That would make me a complete cricketer. So earning a Test cap would be the biggest achievement, I hope it would come soon.”Axar will join the rest of the India squad for a two-day training camp in Kolkata ahead of their departure to Dhaka on Monday.In IPL 2014, his left-arm spin secured 17 wickets, cost only 6.13 per over and earned the boy from Nadiad, a small town in Gujarat an hour’s drive away from Ahmedabad, the Emerging Player of the season award. A first India call-up and an international debut followed when India had visited Bangladesh in June last year.He followed that with impressive outings in home series against West Indies and Sri Lanka and became a contender to make the World Cup squad. Prior to that, he was picked as cover for the injured Ravindra Jadeja for the Australia Tests.Things went downhill after that though. Axar found a place in the 15-man side for the World Cup, but did not play a single game. A budding allrounder, he went through a form slump with the bat during the tri-series in Australia that preceded the World Cup. That bad patch, however, was part of a learning curve for Axar.”When things weren’t going my way, especially while batting in the ODIs, the manner in which the whole squad stood behind me taught me that come what may, you have to keep backing yourself,” he said.”All the coaching staff and senior players gave me the confidence that one bad match doesn’t mean you are a bad player. When you are selected for India, you are special and you have to trust your abilities. One good ball by the bowler or a patch of bad form doesn’t make you a bad cricketer.”IPL 2015 didn’t turn out as good. Axar managed 13 wickets at an average 30.15 and an economy rate of 8.40 while his team Kings XI Punjab finished bottom of the table.”I knew that the batsmen will try and target me,” he said. “Most teams try and target the main bowler of a team, so I was prepared for that. But I feel when I was introduced into the attack, the momentum had already been with the batting side most of the time.”It was obviously easier for the batsmen to attack me. But at the most, I conceded at the odd boundary every over. Otherwise I managed to restrict most of the batsmen to singles. But when there isn’t a bowling partnership, I knew I was handicapped. When runs are being scored in heaps from the other end, it becomes a lot difficult to contain the batsmen.”All through the IPL, Axar kept going back to the advice of India captain MS Dhoni during his stint with the national side.”I spoke a lot with Mahi . He would help me improve bowling in match situations. He would make me understand a batsman’s mindset at different times in an innings and help me set fields that would force the batsman to play according to my plans. He let me express myself and then trap a batsman with a specific field, even in the nets.”

Ted Hussey, a former board member of the Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA) and the father of Australia players Michael And David Hussey, died on Saturday

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Oct-2014Ted Hussey, a former board member of the Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA) and the father of Australia players Michael and David Hussey, died on Saturday. He was 73. Hussey, who played a major role in the early careers of his two sons, also served as an administrator of the Western Australian District Cricket Competition and at the Wanneroo District Cricket Club.”Ted’s character was such that he will be sadly missed by all within the WA cricket community,” WACA CEO Christina Matthews said. “On a personal level, Ted was a great help to me when I arrived in WA, providing me with an invaluable insight of the history of District Cricket, which assisted enormously in understanding the challenges cricket faced.”I’m sure I speak for the WA cricket community as a whole when I say our thoughts and hearts go out to Ted’s family.”Hussey is survived by his wife Helen and his children Michael, David, Gemma and Kate.

Goal looks at the best and worst from men's soccer in the region this year including Mexico's Gold Cup stars and Honduras' roller-coaster season

FREDERIC J. BROWNBest Player – Raul Jimenez, Mexico

What a year for Raul Jimenez. He scored eight goals for Mexico, including five during the Gold Cup when he helped lead El Tri to the regional title.

With his club, he's been unstoppable as well, helping Wolves push into the knockout stages of the Europa League and also playing a big role in upsets over teams like Manchester City.

With eight goals in Premier League play, Jimenez sits just outside the top 10 in the Premier League. Combine his nine Europa League goals, though, and you'll begin to understand why he was the most important Concacaf player in Europe this season and is Mexico's No. 9 for the foreseeable future.

AdvertisementFrederic J. BrownCoach of the Year – Marc Collat, Haiti

Marc Collat's Haiti ended the year on a bitter note, getting relegated from its Concacaf Nations League group. Yet, you have to understand the challenges with which Collat is working.

Haiti wasn't able to play its second set of CNL matches at home because of political turmoil in the country, and already the manager is pulling players from all over the globe.

Now, the path back to the Gold Cup involves extra qualification. So why is Collat the Coach of the Year? Because in this year's Gold Cup, Haiti was the story of the tournament, getting into the semifinals and pushing eventual champion Mexico to extra time.

They did it thanks to strong game plans from Collat and a collective mentality the coach instituted despite cultural and language barriers few other teams have to overcome.

Getty ImagesBreakout Star – Charly Rodriguez, Mexico

Carlos Rodriguez already is such a fixture with the Mexico national team that it's difficult to remember that his debut came in this calendar year. With Hector Herrera out of a March friendly, Rodriguez stepped into the void and didn't look at all out of place in a 3-1 win against Chile.

His showings with Monterrey also have been quality, with the 22-year-old midfielder impressing during the Club World Cup and eventually lifting the Liga MX title with Rayados.

Now, he's being asked questions about heading to Europe, something that would only help him become a bigger star in the region.

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GettyFuture star flying under the radar – Jonathan David, Canada

Jonathan David was the Golden Boot winner at this summer's Gold Cup with six goals in four matches.

He scored a dozen goals with Gent last year, a mark he's set to surpass with nine already this season. Oh, and he's 19. Why are we not talking more about this guy?

Sure, the Gold Cup goal tally was run up thanks to a hat-trick against a hapless Cuba, but as Canada pushes to make the World Cup in 2022 before hosting four years later, we're going to be seeing David have plenty of success against more formidable teams in the very near future.

Chelsea’s academy churns out some of the best young footballers in world football – here are the most promising talents born after January 1, 2000

Getty Images1Callum Hudson-Odoi

Now on the verge of an England senior debut after five goals and four assists for Chelsea this season, Callum Hudson-Odoi has well and truly announced himself as one of world football’s best youngsters.

The 18-year-old winger is blessed with incredible raw talent, able to beat his man at will, to both create and finish chances.

He was even at the centre of a January transfer tussle as Chelsea fought to resist the advances of Bayern Munich, who bid £35 million for their academy product.

Despite the youngster handing in a transfer request, the Blues hope to persuade Hudson-Odoi to renew his deal – which expires in June 2020 – by offering him around £85,000 a week.

Hudson-Odoi is certainly ready to become a major player at Stamford Bridge, as underlined by the fact that he ranked third in Goal's 2019 NxGn list.

AdvertisementGetty2Ethan Ampadu

Just like Hudson-Odoi, Ethan Ampadu has established himself as a regular member of the Chelsea first-team squad under Maurizio Sarri this season.

The versatile defender, who can also play in midfield, made his Blues debut under Antonio Conte, though, not long after being signed from Exeter City, where he had made his senior bow at just 15.

Ampadu has struggled to progress under Sarri but time is on his side and he has already shown what a class act he is by impressing for Wales at senior international level.

Getty Images3Billy Gilmour

In 2017, Chelsea beat a host of top clubs to the signing of Rangers academy product Billy Gilmour, who cost an initial £600,000, with the potential of further add-ons.

Gilmour is presently proving his worth in Chelsea's youth system, showing himself to be a uniquely-gifted midfield technician, one who is already lining out for the Under-23s at just 17.

Scotland Under-21s have already called up the youngster, who has been described by some as the best talent his nation has produced in a generation, as well as earning comparisons with Cesc Fabregas for his intelligent and creative style of play.

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Getty Images4Tino Anjorin

A goal on his Under-23 debut at just 16 announced Tino Anjorin as a force to be reckoned with at youth level.

This came after he also got his first taste of Under-18s football last season, even scoring after coming off the bench in the FA Youth Cup final against Arsenal.

Anjorin is getting bigger and stronger as he gets older, combining his technical skill as an attacking midfielder with impressive physical attributes.

He now hopes to maintain his Frank Lampard-like midfield goal record when he eventually steps up to senior level.

Manchester United have finalised a £73 million ($93m) transfer for Rasmus Hojlund, but when will the striker be unveiled at Old Trafford?

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Red Devils buying into potentialAcquiring long-term option in No.9 roleMost expensive striker they have ever signedWHAT HAPPENED?

The Red Devils have been in the market for a new No.9 from the moment that five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo was released as a free agent in November 2022. Several targets are reported to have been identified since then – from Harry Kane to Victor Osimhen via Kolo Randal Muani and Goncalo Ramos.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

United have eventually settled on Denmark international Hojlund, with the highly-rated 20-year-old considered to be a shrewd addition for the present and future. He is being lured away from Serie A giants Atalanta in a deal that will make him the most expensive frontman ever signed by the Red Devils.

AND WHAT'S MORE

Hojlund arrived in England to finalise his deal later than planned, with the youngster taking in a medical on Tuesday. reports that he has passed all of those checks and officially signed a five-year contract. Hojlund is now set to be unveiled to the United faithful ahead of a pre-season friendly clash with Lens at Old Trafford on Saturday.

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GettyWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

United – who have used Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford as central strikers in recent times, while also taking Netherlands international Wout Weghorst on loan in January – will be hoping to see Hojlund hit the ground running, with it possible that his competitive debut will come in a 2023-24 Premier League season opener at home to Wolves on August 14.

After 22 years, six World Cups, four World T20s and an uncountable number of jokes about the choke, South Africa have stopped searching for an elixir

Firdose Moonda17-Mar-2014After 22 years, six World Cups, four World T20s and an uncountable number of jokes about the choke, South Africa have stopped searching for an elixir. They have decided the way to approach major tournaments is with the best team they can muster and an understanding of the basic principles of winning and losing.”There’s nothing magical that you can do to win a World Cup,” Faf du Plessis said at the team’s arrival in Bangladesh. “It’s a tournament where you need guys in form and if you have that, you give yourselves a great opportunity to compete. If you can play good cricket during the build up and get to the semis, once you are there, it’s just about playing the game. There is nothing different about it. If you don’t play to your full potential you are going to get beaten.”Simple.Or not.For a start South Africa have not played enough T20 cricket to know who is in form and who is not. Only one match in their three-game series against Australia took place in full. Another was washed out and a third condensed to a seven-over shootout. “I would have liked to have played some more T20 cricket,” du Plessis admitted. Chances are, apart from West Indies and England, every other team feels the same way.What South Africa do have is a relatively recent strong record on the subcontinent. Last August they beat Sri Lanka in a T20 series on the island and last November they were victorious over Pakistan in the UAE. Both teams had players with the kind of magic fingers that du Plessis thinks will decide this tournament: spinners. That South Africa were successful is a tick in the form column for du Plessis. “We’ve proven that we can play in these conditions against quality spin,” he said. “This tournament is going to be won and lost with spinners.”What South Africa do not have is a reputation for being blessed with exactly that: spinners. But stereotypes date and South African cupboard has started to fill-up in that department. They have three spinners in their squad this time, each offering something different.The legspinner, Imran Tahir, is the player du Plessis thinks will make the biggest impact and the captain has given him a licence to kill. “He is a guy who takes wickets. It’s not required of him to go at two, three or four runs an over. He gets wickets,” he said. “Also, we’ve got JP Duminy who has been bowling very well as a back-up spinner.”Duminy’s part-time offspin is fast becoming not so part-time and he has proved an important partnership breaker in the last few months. Left-armer Aaron Phangiso did not get a mention from du Plessis but he is also in the squad, giving South Africa the kind of options teams want when they head into a competition.Having a slew of spinners alone is not going to win anyone anything, so du Plessis was quick to point out South Africa also have all the other departments covered. “When it comes to Bangladesh, it’s not always just spin. The conditions allow for fast bowling as well and we’ve got a really good bowling attack when it comes to the fast bowlers.”In our whole batting line-up, we’ve got destructive hitters. AB de Villiers has proven so many times how destructive he can be. So has David Miller. And then other guys, like Hashim Amla he goes under the radar but he is a high quality batsman. We’ve got a long batting line-up.”South Africa have got “ourselves covered,” just as they have had in the past. The only thing missing is the amnesia to forget the dreaded c-word that keeps popping up and will pop up throughout South Africa’s stay at in the tournament and be brought out no matter how far they get.Du Plessis says they do not need it. He may be right given how captains of the past of dealt with it. Graeme Smith turned it into an expletive of sorts, bristling every time the first syllable was mentioned and glaring so hard at the utterer the person was likely to choke before the whole word came out. That did not work. De Villiers tried reverse psychology with it by embracing the word and saying it as many times in one sentence as he could. That also did not work.So du Plessis is treating it like any other word. The same as win, lose, champions and losers. All of them are loaded with connotations but du Plessis wants to see only the logic hidden underneath. “You can look at it any way you want but for me, we need to be playing our best cricket. If we arrive on the day and we don’t we should get beaten and that goes for every team,” he said.”When it comes to choking, for me it’s simple. You need to make sure you give yourself the best opportunity to do well and if you don’t and you get beaten on the day, as long as the other team played better cricket, I can accept that.” If that happens, he’ll hope the rest of South Africa can too.

A substandard batting performance from defending champions Mumbai Indians led to their elimination from the Champions League as Northern Knights won their third qualification game in a row

The Report by Vishal Dikshit16-Sep-2014
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details4:07

Agarkar: Knights the strongest outfit from the qualifiers

A substandard batting performance from defending champions Mumbai Indians led to their elimination from the Champions League as Northern Knights won their third qualification game in a row. An all-round display from Knights handed Mumbai their second loss in three matches, a six-wicket defeat that ensured Knights and Lahore Lions qualified for the main tournament.All three teams were in the fray to advance to the next stage and Mumbai had to win the match, by any margin, to qualify. But once they were put in to bat, their task became an uphill one when they were reduced to 46 for 5 by the Knights seamers in the 11th over. The lower order helped them recover, but the chase of 133 was made easy by the Knights openers who steered them to another convincing win.Desperate to get a strong start, Mumbai never got in the groove as Trent Boult and Tim Southee stifled them with their nagging line outside off, conceding only 11 in the first four overs, and accounting for Michael Hussey. First-change Scott Kuggeleijn conceded 15 in the fifth over, but Scott Styris ensured Knights retained suffocating control over proceedings, running through Mumbai’s batting with three wickets. He got rid of Jalaj Saxena, Lendl Simmons and Aditya Tare, with all three batsmen dismissed while making room to target the off side. Saxena handed a low catch to short cover, Simmons missed completely and lost his off stump and Tare looked to cut late but the ball bounced a tad extra and took an edge to land in BJ Watling’s gloves.Boult then came back for his second spell to account for Ambati Rayudu and Mumbai were crumbling at 46 for 5. Outstanding fielding complemented the bowling, cutting off singles and not allowing Mumbai to rotate the strike under pressure.Mumbai nearly tripled the score from there, in two stages. Kieron Pollard and Harbhajan Singh stalled the fall of wickets for nearly five overs, and after Harbhajan fell for 10, Pollard started the fightback by striking three boundaries to push the score to 89. Lasith Malinga then struck three fours and a six off successive deliveries, two of them off the edge, and Shreyas Gopal topped it by making room and collecting 16 from the last over to lift the total to 132.Knights were hardly bothered in the chase, despite losing four wickets, as their openers put on a domineering stand of 83. Anton Devcich took charge initially and a calm Kane Williamson rotated the strike from the other end. They added 49 runs in the Powerplay, mostly striking the ball around the ground, finding gaps regularly, and converting the loose deliveries on offer.Bowling changes after the Powerplay didn’t help Mumbai, as Williamson chipped the ball into the gaps and used his feet against the spinners to accelerate. Devcich cashed in on the full tosses and short balls before he became the first of four batsmen to fall to soft dismissals, three of them popping catches to catching fielders in front of the wicket. But by the time Mumbai removed the openers, Knights needed only 30 from 43 balls and even though Watling gave his wicket away to fall for a duck, Styris came in and hit the winning runs with 16 balls to spare, after Daryl Mitchell had scored 15 off Malinga in the previous over.