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India’s powerful batting line-up has often had to compensate for errant bowling and slack fielding in the past but the tables were turned in Mohali

Cricinfo staff02-Nov-2009India’s powerful batting line-up has often had to compensate for errant bowling and slack fielding in the past but the tables were turned in Mohali. MS Dhoni praised his bowlers for restricting Australia to 250; he said the fielding effort was India’s best in the last one-and-a-half years; but he criticised the batsmen for a lack of partnerships which ultimately led to a 24-run defeat in the fourth ODI.”It was a good effort by the bowlers to restrict them to a total like 250,” Dhoni said. “We got a decent start to our chase also. But subsequently, we failed as a batting unit. We should have batted the full 50 overs but that was not possible because we kept losing wickets at regular intervals.”Dhoni defended his decision to field, saying the dew factor would have made it difficult for the bowlers to grip the ball under lights. “Dew is a big factor that always plays on your mind. From overs 15-40, generally the spinners do the job for us. That would have been taking a risk. Of course, it can backfire as well, so it’s difficult to choose. But we knew in Mohali, the wicket would not break much and ball would come nicely onto the bat with a bit of dew. I think our bowlers did a great job and 251 is something we should have scored.”India’s chase had a terrific start with Virender Sehwag caning Mitchell Johnson for 30 runs off 14 balls. Australia began to fight back after Sehwag fell but India were on course while Sachin Tendulkar was batting. However, his dismissal for 40 – the highest score of the innings – was the beginning of the end as wickets fell frequently thereafter.”We badly needed some partnerships going,” Dhoni said. “We got the start but we could not take advantage of that. If at least one batsman got going, it would have made things easy.”Dhoni also said the younger batsmen like Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja and Virat Kohli would need to learn how to overhaul a difficult target. “Raina today got out to a beautiful delivery, while Jadeja was run out after a mix-up,” Dhoni said. “Batting at No. 6 or 7 is not easy, since you don’t get much opportunity to bat. You cannot pace your innings either, for you have to play according to the platform given to you. Sometimes, you have to accelerate or keep a partnership going. They are still inexperienced and I hope they learn from their mistakes.”On the decision to send Kohli at No. 3, Dhoni said: “The best way to give someone an opportunity is to let him bat higher. At No. 6 or 7, you score 20-30 in quick time or can get out for 10-12 also. I think it’s important to give them a chance. Virat is a talented batsman, good on the field and brings in lot of energy.”India’s defeat in Mohali prevented them from taking Australia’s No. 1 ranking in ODIs and the gap between the teams is now three points. The next match is in Hyderabad on November 5.

Marcelo Bielsa’s position as Leeds United manager remains ‘solid’ despite a disappointing start to the season, according to journalist Phil Hay.

The Lowdown: Leeds’ early-season struggles

The Whites bounced into the 2021/22 campaign hoping for a repeat of last year’s efforts, when they finished ninth in the Premier League upon their top-flight return.

Instead, Leeds currently sit 17th in the table and have only won two of their opening 10 league games, one of which came at bottom-placed Norwich City on Sunday.

Bielsa might have come under pressure because of this poor form, but it doesn’t appear as though there is any talk of him losing his job.

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The Latest: Hay provides Bielsa update

That’s according to The Athletic’s Hay, who claimed that Bielsa is still seen as the man to take Leeds forward and that results will continue to improve once key players are back from injury.

In an article for the publication, he wrote: “Within the four walls of Elland Road, Bielsa’s position remains solid. There has been no discussion about it at a high level and the prevailing view is that he will find the straight and narrow once certain players dig up their best form and injuries stop biting so deeply.”

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The Verdict: Still the right man

At a time when managers are too readily sacked – Nuno Espirito Santo has become the latest victim – it is refreshing that Leeds are not panicking when it comes to Bielsa’s future.

The Argentine has been a revelation at Elland Road, guiding the Whites back into the Premier League after a 16-year absence and leading them to a strong first season back at that level, and this dip in form doesn’t change that.

Bielsa’s contract expires at the end of the season, and barring a disaster between now and May, he remains the man to take the team forward, having made such a difference since arriving.

In other news, Hay has also provided an update regarding Leeds’ potential interest in one player. Read more here.

After a riveting conclusion to the ODI series, where New Zealand scraped to a 2-1 win, the focus now turns to the Twenty20 leg of the tour which Pakistan will be better-placed to trump

The Preview by Siddhartha Talya11-Nov-2009Match factsThursday, November 12
Start time 20.00 (16:00 GMT)Mohammad Aamer did his prospects no harm, staging a phenomenal fightback with his unbeaten 73 in the final ODI•AFPBig PictureAfter a riveting end to the ODI series, which New Zealand won 2-1, the focus turns to the Twenty20s, which Pakistan will feel they are better placed to trump. Pakistan conceded the ODI series in typically erratic fashion, making a meal of a chase of 212 before a phenomenal fightback staged by Mohammad Aamer and Saeed Ajmal ensured the game was settled in the final over. They will be disappointed by a fifth consecutive ODI series defeat, especially one they were well poised to win, but the Twenty20 games in Dubai present an opportunity to redress that.Pakistan have a far superior record in Twenty20s this year – they won the World Twenty20 and overall have seven wins in nine games. New Zealand are no slouches themselves – they beat Sri Lanka 2-0 in what was their only highlight of a disappointing tour in September- but their success in Abu Dhabi couldn’t hide their struggle against spin. Saeed Ajmal and Shahid Afridi, with their wily variations, nibbled away at New Zealand while proving economical. With the pair, and possibly Shoaib Malik, likely to gobble a major share of the 20 overs, the New Zealand batsmen, who gave up 12 wickets at 22.42, face a serious challenge.Pakistan face their own demons with the bat; the terrible shot selection that brought their downfall in the ODI decider prompted Afridi to liken his batsmen to “club cricketers”, and the comparison will only be reinforced in the event of a repeat.Form Guide (most recent first)
New Zealand – WLLWW
Pakistan – WWWWW
Watch out forRoss Taylor has proved destructive in the death overs in this format. His exploits in the IPL and the Champions League Twenty20 are well known but his performances on the international circuit – he averages 23.68 in Twenty20 internationals against 34.31 overall – have been less successful. He’ll want to change that.Mohammad Aamer staged one of the great comebacks in limited-overs cricket with his unbeaten 73. His ability to clear the ropes matched with a sound technique represented a talent more deserving that a No.10 position in the batting order.Team newsImran Nazir, Fawad Alam and Sohail Tanvir have joined the squad for the Twenty20 series. Mohammad Yousuf, who stands in for Younis Khan as captain for the Test series, sits out along with Salman Butt and Wahab Riaz.Pakistan (possible): 1 Kamran Akmal (wk), 2 Imran Nazir, 3 Shoaib Malik, 4 Shahid Afridi (capt), 5 Umar Akmal, 6 Fawad Alam, 7 Abdul Razzaq, 8 Mohammad Aamer, 9 Umar Gul, 10 Iftikhar Anjum/Sohail Tanvir, 11 Saeed Ajmal.New Zealand will be without Kyle Mills and James Franklin, nursing shoulder and back injuries respectively. Jacob Oram is also unavailable – he’s flown back home to attend the birth of his child. With only 12 players to choose from, they are likely to draft in Ian Butler and Nathan McCullum.New Zealand (possible): 1 Brendon McCullum (wk), 2 Aaron Redmond, 3 Martin Guptill, 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Scott Styris, 6 Daniel Vettori (capt), 7 Neil Broom/BJ Watling, 8 Nathan McCullum, 9 Ian Butler, 10 Shane Bond, 11 Tim Southee.Quotes”We didn’t play well in the one-day series but it’s gone, it’s history, it’s a new day now and tomorrow (Thursday) will be a new day too.”
“Pakistan have proved they’re a great Twenty20 outfit – they’re the world champions – and they’ve got the wood over us in the last few outings.”

Leeds United star Raphinha could be sold for three times the amount the Whites paid for him, according to journalist Joe Donnohue.

The Lowdown: Raphinha’s star continues to rise

The Brazilian has been a fantastic signing for the Whites, being hailed as ‘electric’ by Jermaine Beckford and scoring 11 goals in 41 appearances for the club.

It was Raphinha who opened the scoring in Sunday’s 1-1 draw at home to Leicester, with the winger curling a free-kick into the far corner.

The 24-year-old’s form has unsurprisingly seen him linked with a move away from Elland Road, with big clubs circling like vultures.

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The Latest: Joe Donnohue names potential price for Raphinha

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Donnohue claimed that any prospective suitors could need to pay more than £50m for Raphinha’s services, having cost Leeds £17m last year. He said:

“I think you’re looking at at least three times the figure they paid if he were to be sold. It would depend on the timing that he’d be sold.

“I think you’re looking at, at the very minimum, three times that £17million figure.”

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The Verdict: Big money or nothing

If Raphinha is to move on from Leeds, which may well eventually be the case, it is vital that they receive a hefty fee for him, breaking the club’s record departure fee set by Rio Ferdinand when he joined Manchester United.

The Brazil international is a hugely influential figure at Elland Road, posting by far the highest WhoScored rating in Marcelo Bielsa’s squad so far this season, and the Whites will need the money to replace him with a similar talented wide man.

In an ideal world, Raphinha would stay at Leeds for many more years, but it is only natural that he may have Champions League aspirations moving forward.

In other news, Leeds have received a potential injury boost ahead of their upcoming clash with Tottenham. Read more here.

A round-up of the second day’s action of the 11th round of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy

Cricinfo staff16-Dec-2009Group BSialkot took charge of their game against Karachi Blues in the top-of-the-table clash at the National Stadium. Karachi’s No. 3 Asad Shafique top scored with 85, but none of the others below him in the order made it past 20. That meant they slipped to 216 all out, after being 108 for 3 at one stage, handing Sialkot a 100-run first-innings cushion. Sialkot opener Kamran Younis, who made a first-innings century, was the only batsman to fall before stumps in the second innings, after slamming seven fours in a 31-ball 42 to put them 197 ahead.At the Sports Stadium in Sargodha, the match between Abbottabad and Faisalabad remained evenly poised. Ammar Mahmood’s half-century and an unbeaten 45 form Zeeshan Asif took Faisalabad to 173 for 4, still trailing by 166 runs. The Abbottabad tail had used up more than 21 overs in compiling 46 runs for the final four wickets earlier in the day. Zahoor Khan added the scalp of Junaid Khan to his four on Tuesday to complete his fifth five-wicket haul.The two cellar-dwellers of the group, Hyderabad and Quetta, were locked in a tense battle for the first-innings lead in Mirpur Khas. Hanif-ur-Rehman’s brisk 123 seemed to have put Hyderabad in control, steering them to 201 for 3 in reply to Quetta’s 280. However, Hyderabad lost two wickets, including that of Hanif, on that score, and two more for the addition of 60 runs, leaving them 12 short at stumps. Quick bowler Arun Lal was the most effective of the Quetta bowlers, taking four of the first five wickets to fall.Lahore Ravi’s fast bowler Junaid Zia followed up the good work of their batsmen to leave Islamabad in big trouble at the Lahore City Cricket Association ground. Overnight batsmen, Sohail Ahmed and Mohammad Asim, piled on the misery for Islamabad: Sohail going on to his century while Asim fell for 73. Eighteen-year-old offspinner Kamran Hussain took four wickets on the day to keep Lahore to 448. During the reply, the Islamabad batsmen were clueless against Zia as they slumped to 140 for 9. Zia finished the day with 6 for 48.Babar Naeem’s century strengthened Rawalpindi’s position against Multan at the Multan Cricket Stadium. Resuming from 54 for 2, Rawalpindi seemed to have wasted the chance of taking a massive first-innings lead by slipping to 156 for 6, 48 ahead of Multan. However, Babar stitched together a 108-run partnership with Yasim Murtaza (51*) for the seventh wicket to give Rawalpindi a substantial lead. They finished the day with a 217-run cushion, with two wickets in hand.Group AIt was a riveting contest between Karachi Whites and Sui Southern Gas Corporation at the Southend Club Cricket Stadium. SSGC pocked the points for the first-innings lead after bowling out Karachi for 253, a 40-run advantage. However, Karachi fought back to level the game by snaring four SSGC wickets in the 18 overs before stumps. SSGC are now 103 ahead with six wickets in hand. Earlier, fast bowlers Sohail Khan and Rajesh Ramesh had reduced Karachi to 90 for 5 before Karachi clawed their way past 200 through wicketkeeper Afsar Nawaz’s 61.Khan Research Laboratories will be the happier team after a day of collapses in their game against Pakistan Customs in Rawalpindi. KRL fluffed their lines in the first-innings, losing their final six wickets for 61 to concede a 21-run lead despite having bowled out Customs for 197. Twenty-three-year-old Zeeshan Nadir was the pick of the Customs bowlers, bagging 5 for 58. KRL bounced back in the final session, though, with new-ball bowlers Mohammad Irfan and Jaffar Nazir reducing Customs to 43 for 6. A seventh-wicket association of 51 runs saved Customs some embarrassment, but at 121 for 9 KRL are frontrunners to take the game.The wickets continued to tumble at the Gaddafi Stadium, where Habib Bank Limited fragile batting lost them the buffer gained by bowling out Lahore Shalimar for 149. In the morning, Lahore imploded spectacularly – losing eight wickets for 32 runs from 79 for 1, including four on 111. Left-arm medium-pacer Kamran Hussain brought about that collapse, capturing seven wickets for 25. Remarkably, six of his victims were bowled. Saad Nasim (34) however guided Lahore past HBL’s first-innings score of 141, making most of the runs in a 38-run final-wicket stand. Things got worse for HBL as their batting folded against the pace of Mohammad Naved; his six wickets reducing HBL to 186 for 9, an overall lead of 178.Legspinner Yasir Shah’s six wickets gave Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited the first-innings lead against National Bank of Pakistan at the Iqbal Stadium. NBP started well, their openers putting on 95 but soon slipped to 111 for 4. Only two other batsmen made it into double figures, and despite Wasim Khan’s unbeaten 53 NBP folded for 202, conceding a 57-run lead. SNGPL’s openers took their side safely to 19 before stumps.Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited are poised to overtake Pakistan International Airlines’ first-innings total of 273 at the Diamond Club ground. Inam-ul-Haq’s 81 provided solidity at the top of the order; he forged two substantial partnerships, one of 67 runs with Shahid Yousuf for the third wicket and the other of 60 runs with captain Imran Nazir for the fourth. The biggest stand of the day came after his dismissal – an unbroken 83 for the fifth between Nazir and Haris Sohail which took ZTBL to 251 for 4.

Everton are set to have an interesting transfer window if speculation is to be believed, with many players already being linked with moves to the Merseyside club.

Rafa Benitez will be keen to add quality to their team after an injury crisis in attack and the swift departure of James Rodriguez, a key area they will be looking to enhance is their midfield.

Manchester United misfit, Donny Van De Beek, would be the ideal addition to the Toffees, with previous links to a move in the summer transfer window.

Van De Beek’s agent gave an interview on deadline day to Ziggo Sport, where he claimed Manchester United and Solskjaer refused to escalate a move for the midfielder to join Everton.

Guido Albers said;

“We had conversations with Solskjær and the board. We took the initiative to find a club and our search ended up at Everton. We opened talks with Marcel Brands and Farhad Moshiri.

“On Monday night [before deadline day] we received a call from Solskjær and the club who told us that a transfer was out of question and that he had to report himself to training the next morning.”

Everton have a fantastic forward line in Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison, with the Brazilian returning from injury recently and the former due to return in the next few weeks. Thus, sourcing the Dutch playmaking midfielder to link up with the dynamic duo would be advantageous to Everton as they attempt to make top six and European football.

Calvert-Lewin has been a fantastic attacking presence for Everton, with 56 goals and 16 assists for the Toffees in 176 appearances and will look to add more many goals when he returns from injury in the coming weeks.

Despite not being utilised at Manchester United, the 24-year-old Netherlands native, was highly impressive at Ajax with 41 goals in 175 appearances, his efficiency playing in multiple midfield and attacking roles, as he did at his former club, would be highly beneficial to the attacking prowess at Everton.

There is a with huge opportunity for fantastic link-up play with Calvert-Lewin especially. Having previously been described as “perfect” by Owen Hargreaves, the thought of the United midfielder lining up in the same side as Everton’s star striker is mouth-watering.

Benitez must act fast swooping in for £22.5m-rated van de Beek, as he is a sought after hot target for other Premier League clubs in the upcoming transfer window, including Newcastle United, who are expected to go all out in the winter transfer window after their billion-pound takeover.

In other news: Benitez must unleash Richarlison against Man City…

Manchester United are set to appoint Ralf Rangnick as their new interim manager after dismissing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer over the weekend.

According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, the innovative tactician is expected to take charge of the Red Devils on a six-month deal until the end of May before moving into a consultancy role for the next two years.

The news will be warmly welcomed by everyone associated with United, given his reputation and previous exploits, but the 63-year-old will also likely demand many changes.

Rangnick is commonly believed to be the founding father of modern-day tactics in his homeland, with his Gegenpressing style influencing the likes of Jurgen Klopp, Thomas Tuchel and Julian Nagelsmann.

Such a physically demanding style requires a certain type of player, and therefore, it’s probable that considerable investments will be made in the upcoming January transfer window.

With that in mind, here’s how Football FanCast expects Rangnick to lineup following a whopping £196.5 million spending spree…

Despite David de Gea’s return to form in the opening weeks of the current campaign, Rangnick’s sides require a sweeper-keeper due to their high defensive line, meaning the more proactive Dean Henderson would likely be preferred to the Spaniard.

Ahead of the 24-year-old would be a familiar back four, but with one significant change.

While Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire and Raphael Varane would almost certainly keep their places, Diogo Dalot could complete the defensive unit ahead of Aaron Wan-Bissaka due to his superior attacking prowess.

And there would likely be some major changes in the engine room, too. Rangnick prefers to play a 4-2-2-2 formation, meaning the two central midfielders are required to be extremely mobile.

Therefore, a £42.5m move for Monaco’s Aurelien Tchouameni could be sanctioned, allowing him to partner Donny van de Beek in the middle of the pitch.

Out wide, the stamina and creativity of Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes could see them secure regular starting spots, although Jadon Sancho would also feature heavily after proving his pressing credentials at Borussia Dortmund.

And one of Sancho’s former teammates could link up with the England international at Old Trafford once again.

Erling Haaland has long been linked with the Red Devils, and Rangnick’s arrival could prompt the Glazers to meet his reported £154m price tag, with Mason Greenwood completely a fearsome forward line.

And, in other news…David Ornstein drops huge Man United manager update that’ll surely have fans buzzing

Trevor Bayliss, the Sri Lanka coach, has said that setting India a target of “150 on a wearing wicket” was probably the best his team could hope for at this stage

Cricinfo staff04-Dec-2009Trevor Bayliss, the Sri Lanka coach, has said that setting India a target of “150 on a wearing wicket” was probably the best his team could hope for at this stage, after the hosts took a 333-run first innings lead on the third day in Mumbai.”From a win point of view, it just doesn’t look right at the moment but, on day one when there was a bit in the track, we made 366 for 8 having lost a few wickets in the middle,” Bayliss said. “If our top-order batters can get us off to a good start and bat for a long time there is no reason why we can’t score 400 in a day tomorrow. It needs some very hard work and the players I am sure are capable of doing it. Who knows what the wicket will be like on day five?”Sri Lanka had to bat out three overs after India’s declaration on 726 for 9 and they reached 11 for no loss at stumps. Bayliss said the team was looking to their “three big players” and hoped for solid contributions from Nos. 3, 4, and 5 – the out-of-form Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera.Bayliss, however, said that he was happy the way Sri Lanka fought back today to capture eight Indian wickets, in a manner similar to the second Test in Kanpur. “I was very happy with the boys – the same as the second Test when we faced 417 for 2 and we came back the next day, taking 225 for 8. It would have been quite easy to have gone for a lot more runs than we did, but we stuck to it and showed a bit of fight and character. We were just up against unbelievable batting from [Virender] Sehwag.””The guys tried most things, different fields, bowling different sides of the wicket but [no matter] where they put the ball he [Sehwag] was skillful enough to put it away into the gaps. It was one of those days you needed 20 fielders out there.”Muttiah Muralitharan, who had gone wicketless and taking a hiding on the second day, made a comeback of sorts on day three. He dismissed Sehwag early and went on to take three more wickets, finishing with 195 for 4. “Murali is very philosophical about things. During his career this is not the first time it’s happened to him,” Bayliss said. “For a guy who has taken so many wickets it has not happened to him very often. He realises that’s what happens in Test cricket on good wickets against very good players. Today Murali got four wickets and showed that he is still able to take wickets at this level.”After a day on which an edge from Rahul Dravid and a close lbw shout against Sachin Tendulkar were both given not out, Bayliss said he did not know why the umpire review system was not being used in this series. Tillakaratne Dilshan, too, was erroneously given out bat-pad in the first innings soon after reaching his century.”The question that’s got to be asked is, why the referral system is being used in every other series barring this one, when the ICC said that it should be used after October 1,” Bayliss said. “No one’s explained to us yet why it’s not being used when it’s being used everywhere else in the world. If Dilshan was able to go and make a big score in the first innings, things might have been a bit different.”

With their disheartening 2-1 defeat against Norwich City at the weekend now behind them, Southampton have a big task of taking on Liverpool at Anfield in their next Premier League outing at the weekend, who are coming off the back of a strong 4-0 win over Arsenal.

On the chalkboard

In terms of who Saints manager Ralph Hasenhuttl could pick to be in his starting XI to take on Jurgen Klopp’s side, one player that featured in the game at Carrow Road that should be in the team to face Liverpool is Ibrahima Diallo.

For the match against Norwich, Hasenhuttl played Diallo as a right-midfielder when he usually plays in a more central role but still managed to deliver a good performance for the Saints showing his attacking and defensive capabilities.

During the match against Dean Smith’s side, Diallo managed to have 60 touches of the ball, complete 40 of the 47 passes he attempted with two key passes and one accurate cross, showing that he has what it takes to be a useful wide player for the team rather than just a central player.

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In addition to this, Diallo did not sacrifice his defensive duties in the game by winning six duels and completing three tackles.

Overall, this performance in a fairly unfamiliar position earned the 22-year-old, who has been praised by Hasenhuttl for showing the “quality” the player has earlier this season, an overall match rating of 6.7/10 according to SofaScore.

Not only should Diallo be in the starting XI to face Liverpool at the weekend, he could potentially give the Merseyside club a lot of problems if he’s able to frustrate their attacking players with his defensive qualities but also cause their defence some nightmares as well if he’s able to make the most out of any attacking scenarios they may get in the match.

Given how the Reds have managed to score more league goals than any other side, with 35 scored in 12 games, it’s safe to say Southampton will have to be a defensively strong as possible if they are going to have any opportunity of securing a positive result. However, by including Diallo in the team, they certainly stand a chance of causing an upset.

In other news: Gao could seal dream Southampton signing for Ralph with colossal 6 ft 3 weapon – opinion

David Morgan, the ICC president, has said he is not in favour of a World Cup ban for the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in New Delhi, adding that the tournament would be “poorer” without matches being hosted in India’s capital city

Cricinfo staff07-Jan-2010David Morgan, the ICC president, has said he is not in favour of a World Cup ban for the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in New Delhi, adding that the tournament would be “poorer” without matches being hosted in India’s capital city. However, he said the “appropriate” decision on the Kotla pitch issue would be taken by experts.The ICC match referee Alan Hurst is reported to have classified the Kotla pitch used in the abandoned fixture between India and Sri Lanka last month as “unfit”, the harshest possible assessment.This has raised fears of a possible ban that could extend up to the World Cup, scheduled to be held in the subcontinent in early 2011.”I’m not at all sure if such a ban would be appropriate in this case,” Morgan told the Indian news channel NDTV. “It’s not our desire that a pitch in an important city from a cricketing point of view, a place like Delhi, should face a lengthy ban.”The ICC has written to the BCCI. The World Cup would be the poorer without matches being hosted in New Delhi. But you can be sure that an appropriate decision would be made by two expert people on the subject.”The BCCI has two weeks to respond to Hurst’s report, which was submitted on December 29; its reply, in addition to the report, video footage of the abandoned game and other significant documents, will be studied by the ICC’s chief referee Ranjan Madugalle and its cricket operations manager Dave Richardson, who will determine the penalty.