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A round-up of the North Zone matches from the first round of the Inter-State T20 tournament

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Jan-2017Amit Pachhara, the 21-year old on T20 debut, led Services to a four-wicket victory off the penultimate ball of a 15-overs-a-side game against Himachal Pradesh in Dharamsala. Pachhara came to the crease with his team on 48 for 4 in the sixth over chasing 129, and struck an unbeaten 47 off 30 balls, with three sixes and three fours. His knock redressed a top-order wobble after Pankaj Jaiswal took two wickets in two overs to spur Himachal Pradesh’s hopes of defending their total. They had got to 128 with a late surge from Amit Kumar (34 off 24), Rishi Dhawan (37* off 24) and Bipul Sharma (10* off 4) but as has become custom, the side chasing in a shortened game came out on top.File photo – Jayant Yadav conceded just 10 runs in his four overs as Haryana defended 153 against Punjab•BCCIIn a match where batsmen outside of the top four in either team couldn’t score in double figures, Haryana inflicted a collapse on Punjab to win by 47 runs. Haryana posted 153 after being put in, thanks to a 73-run alliance for the second wicket between debutant Shubham Rohilla (37 off 34) and Rajat Paliwal (44 off 39). No. 4 batsman Shivam Chauhan, also on debut, then hit a 24-ball 41 even as the middle order collapsed around him to lift Haryana to 153 for 7. In reply, Punjab’s loss of an early wicket was offset by Manan Vohra (24 off 27) and Jaskaranveer Singh (27 off 20), as the pair put on 45 for the second wicket. But they succumbed to the spin duo of Jayant Yadav and Rahul Tewatia, who finished with figures of 3 for 23 between them in eight overs. Sanjay Pahal then stuck to the pattern of memorable debuts, as he ran through the lower-middle order to finish with 3 for 8. Punjab folded for 106.Unmukt Chand struck two fours and four sixes in his unbetaen 49•PTI Unmukt Chand struck an unbeaten 49 as Delhi made light work of Jammu & Kashmir’s 104-run target, winning by six wickets with 22 balls to spare. Only two J&K batsmen – Shubham Khajuria and Pranav Gupta – managed to cross 20 after they were put in to bat. Left-arm spinner Manan Sharma applied the brakes to take 2 for 13 off his four overs. Delhi were rocked early when they lost Gautam Gambhir in the second over. Chand then added 61 with Shikhar Dhawan (30) to help Delhi drive ahead and smoothen the passage for victory.

Liverpool have held a long-term interest in Nicolo Barella and now a new update has emerged on the club's pursuit of their target during the summer transfer window.

What's the latest on Liverpool's interest in Nicolo Barella?

According to Italian news outlet Gazzetta Dello Sport (via 90min), Liverpool are leading the race to sign the Inter Milan midfielder.

As per the report, the Reds are currently defeating Manchester United and Chelsea in the battle to secure Barella's signature this summer.

In another report from The Independent, Miguel Delaney has confirmed that Liverpool remain interested in signing the player, but suitors will need to meet the Serie A giants' valuation of their asset which is reported to be £80m.

Should Liverpool sign Nicolo Barella?

The midfield rebuild at Anfield has got off to a great start with former Brighton and Hove Albion star Alexis Mac Allister signing up for Jurgen Klopp's project on a long-term deal.

However, there is still plenty of work to be done to get Liverpool back competing for Champions League football and winning trophies again, so the signing of another player with a winning mentality would be massively advantageous.

Barella has earned a number of accolades over his career so far, winning a Serie A title, two Italian Cups, two Italian Super Cups and sealing a Euros triumph with Italy. Meanwhile, more recently, he reached the Champions League final in Istanbul earlier this month.

Should FSG sanction the move for the Serie A star this summer it could be the arrival at Anfield that further pushes Henderson out of the first team to start a new chapter in the centre of the pitch.

When comparing Barella's output with the Liverpool captain last season, the Italian outperformed his positional peer in a number of key attributes including goal contributions (12 v 2), progressive passes (214 v 189), shot-creating actions per 90 (4.17 v 3.13), take-on success rate (57.1% v 52.2%) and aerial duels won (57.1% v 52.4%).

The 26-year-old – dubbed a "warrior" by Antonio Conte – possesses diverse strengths in midfield from ball-winning to creativity making him the perfect player to succeed Henderson in the Liverpool team, with his experience in Europe and clear determination to win trophies a huge boost for the future of Liverpool's potential success too.

The Liverpool boss has already made his feelings clear about Barella's quality, with Klopp reserving praise for the Inter Milan ace in a press conference when their two sides met in Europe:

"He's a really good player, a really good player and I like him a lot. He has all the things you want from a midfield player: he is aggressive, he is technical, he can run for ages and all these kinds of things. That's a top-class player."

With that being said, it would be a no-brainer for Liverpool to snap up the services of the midfielder this summer as he could significantly improve the work rate in midfield and ultimately replace Henderson in one of the most important roles on the pitch.

Arsenal are "monitoring" Villarreal winger Samuel Chukwueze for a summer transfer swoop, according to journalist Rudy Galetti.

What's the latest Arsenal transfer news?

According to journalist Charles Watts, one of Arsenal's initial priorities in this window was to bring in cover for Bukayo Saka, however after the recent arrival of Kai Havertz, Mikel Arteta may no longer feel there is a pressing need to strengthen in that area.

If Arteta does choose to bring in a new right-winger, Harvey Barnes is one of the players who could be targeted, while Wolverhampton Wanderers' Pedro Neto has previously been identified as a potential option.

Back in April, it was reported the Gunners were crazy about signing Chukwueze, however, interest in his signature is now growing, with a number of top clubs from across the continent targeting moves.

In a new update on Twitter, Galetti has claimed that Arsenal, Newcastle United and Liverpool are all monitoring the Nigerian, while AC Milan are still working on a deal, although they believe Villarreal's asking price is a little too high.

The La Liga club are holding out for between €25m – €30m (£21m – £26m) for the 24-year-old, who is out of contract at the end of next season, meaning this summer may be their last opportunity to cash-in.

With competition for the winger said to be "fierce", it remains to be seen whether Arsenal's interest develops into them making an official bid.

Is Samuel Chukwueze signing for Arsenal?

At the moment, the Gunners have not made any concrete moves for the Nigeria international, however, there is every indication that he could be a very solid back-up for Saka if he becomes a major target.

Hailed as a "beast" by members of the media, the 5 foot 8 winger had a very impressive 2022-23 campaign, weighing in with 13 goals and 11 assists for Villarreal in all competitions, most often being utilised on the right of the front three.

The £18k-per-week attacker is a very strong dribbler of the ball, ranking in the 91st percentile for progressive carries, and in the 97th for successful take-ons per 90 over the past year, having averaged a higher amount than Saka.

Arteta will be aiming to compete on all fronts next season, with his Arsenal side returning to the Champions League, so it will be vital to have strength in depth, and Chukwueze could be a great alternative option to Saka.

Backing Kusal Mendis was an easy decision for Sri Lanka coach Graham Ford and the batsman repaid the faith hitting 194 in Galle

Andrew Fidel Fernando in Galle09-Mar-2017Sri Lanka coach Graham Ford produced a ringing endorsement of Kusal Mendis after the 22-year old hit 194 in Galle and said the team management “never thought of dropping him” despite a spell of poor form.Mendis averaged 21.70 across 10 Test innings with only one half-century on the tours of Zimbabwe and South Africa. However, it took him only one innings, back in home conditions, to shrug off those returns and the Sri Lankan staff was certainly expecting the turnaround.”It’s not hard to back him at all,” Ford said. “He’s such a wonderful talent, and he’s going to win a lot of games for Sri Lanka along the way. The worst thing we could do is to put too much expectation on his shoulders. We don’t want to put him under any pressure. He is learning and no doubt with his talent he will pay us back down the line. We never thought of dropping him – he’s just got too much talent. I am sure down the line, he is going to show everybody just how great he is.”Ford said better shot selection – particularly early in the innings – marked Mendis’ path to improvement. His technique and attitude, Ford said, did not need much tinkering. “He is one player always supporting the guys that are doing well – he’s very happy for the other guys. He had a smile on his face the whole time when he didn’t quite fire as we know he can.”He kept working as hard as ever. He loves his cricket he loves his practices. We have seen with a guy like that – with the amount of talent he’s got – it’s not hugely about technique. It’s just about making sure his decision-making and his shot selection is good. He probably is the first to admit that he was a bit extravagant early on in South Africa and got himself out. He’s come home and done a lot of work on his own. Hats off to the fella he deserves the big score.”Although Mendis fell six short of his maiden double-century, he did become the youngest Sri Lankan to 1000 Test runs. But things could have been so different. Subashis Roy had Mendis caught behind for a golden duck, until the umpire signaled no-ball, and Ford felt being recalled to the crease after initially believing himself out may have spurred Mendis to greater focus.”Getting out first ball may have shook him up because he really applied himself after that – he really worked hard in those first two sessions. It all started to get easier as he went along. It was brilliant to see when he went to his hundred, that he raised his bat and went back to re-mark his guard. It was pretty clear that he was starting all over again. We sort of chatted at team meetings that it’s just not about making hundreds, but making very big hundreds – those are the things that change matches. For a young guy, he has taken that on pretty well.”Sri Lanka ended the first innings 182 runs ahead, after bowling Bangladesh out for 312. However, the rain that washed out all but two balls of the third session has dented Ford’s hopes of pushing for victory.”We should make up eight overs each day – in total we may lose about 20 overs out of the match, which is quite a lot when you are pressing for a result on what seems to be a pretty good batting wicket. It’s going to make it harder for us, and we haven’t really done our math yet as far as where we need to be, and how much time we’ll need to bowl them out. When we do go out to bat, we need a partnership early on so that we can dictate, and then declare when we feel it’s the right time.”

Glasgow Rangers head coach Michael Beale has been a busy man in recent weeks as his side have made four signings ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Despite there being over two months left to run before the deadline passes, the Light Blues have moved swiftly to land Kieran Dowell, Sam Lammers, Dujon Sterling, and Jack Butland to bolster the squad.

However, they may not be done there as the Scottish giants have been linked with a host of other players in their bid to win the Scottish Premiership title back from their bitter rivals.

Incomings are not the only order of business for the club, though, as fresh arrivals also open the door for players to move on.

The Daily Mail recently claimed that Antonio Colak is being eyed by teams in Germany and could be sold after just one year at Ibrox.

Does Antonio Colak have a future at Rangers?

Beale could ruthlessly ditch the Croatian international in the coming weeks by securing a deal to snap up 20-year-old marksman Benie Traore.

According to journalist Alan Nixon on his Patreon (25/06/2023), Rangers are one of the clubs interested in signing the Hacken centre-forward this summer. The striker is said to be available for a fee in the region of £5m, while Sheffield United and Celtic are also pursuing his signature.

Traore, who scout Jacek Kulig lauded as "talented" and a "jewel", has been in phenomenal form in the top-flight of Swedish football this year. He has plundered an outstanding 12 goals and three assists in 13 matches, while his average Sofascore rating of 7.25 would place him sixth within the Gers squad last term.

Colak, on the other hand, averaged a Scottish Premiership Sofascore rating of 7.11 across 25 appearances during the 2022/23 campaign to go along with his 14 goals and one assist for the club.

This indicates that the reported Light Blues target could provide more than the 29-year-old in the final third based on his superior scoring return of one strike every 1.08 matches – better than any Rangers player managed last season – compared to the Croatian forward's 1.79.

The former PAOK man created 0.5 Premiership chances per game for his teammates, whilst Traore's 1.4 league key passes per match for Hacken suggests that the Ivorian gem would be a big upgrade from a creative perspective – Fashion Sakala led the way for Beale's strikers with 1.5 per outing.

Therefore, the signing of the 20-year-old prodigy would allow Beale to end Colak's time at Ibrox as the English head coach would be bringing in a forward with the potential to offer far more quality, in terms of scoring goals and creating chances, week-in-week-out.

South Africa have little time to recoup after their series against Sri Lanka and their travel across several time zones to get to New Zealand, before they take the field there

Firdose Moonda11-Feb-2017While Australia are still navigating their way through a calendar that sees them start a Test in India the day after a T20 at home, South Africa have scheduling challenges of their own. They will play a warm-up match in New Zealand less than 48 hours after their final ODI against Sri Lanka at Centurion and a T20 within a week of their series win. The difference between them and Australia is that South Africa are taking the same group that was on duty at home across 11 time zones to New Zealand.”It’s not ideal. Usually we have a seven to ten day period to acclimatise,” Mohammad Moosajee, South Africa’s team manager, who is also a medical doctor, said. “We will have some tricks up our sleeve to help players deal with the jet lag.”But that was as much as Moosajee would give away about how he is planning to help the players adjust. Not even the men themselves seem to know what’s in store. “We will sleep a lot on the plane I guess,” Faf du Plessis joked. “I’m not too sure but we have an amazing team doctor, so I’m sure he has got a plan.”South Africa will play a T20 and five ODIs in New Zealand, with only one change to the squad that beat Sri Lanka 5-0, and that change is only for two matches. Cobras’ quick Dane Paterson has been included as cover for Dwaine Pretorius, who will remain at home to welcome his first child, before flying over.The T20 series, in which du Plessis will captain, will not have as much emphasis placed on it as the ODIs, which form an important part of preparations for the Champions Trophy. South Africa want to be tested, not least because Sri Lanka did not present an adequate enough challenge but they also want to banish some bad memories. The last time South Africa were in New Zealand was at the 2015 World Cup and their semi-final defeat against the hosts still stings.”We have got a bit of unfinished business there form the 2015 World Cup,” AB de Villiers, ODI captain said.While a bilateral series in no way compares to a major tournament, South Africa will use the matches as a barometer to justify their newly gained No. 1 ranking. They took the spot from Australia, who have just been beaten by New Zealand, who sit third. “Being the No. 1 team in the world, people expect you to play a certain level of cricket all the time. With what we’ve got going at the moment, I think we will thrive under that kind of pressure,” de Villiers said. “We’re very positive, we have a great culture and we go there with a lot of confidence and belief in our ability.”The same can be said of the Test outfit, who will play three matches after the limited-overs fest, by which time South Africa will definitely have adjusted to the time difference – any additions to the squad would have enough time too. South Africa will fly over a fresh attack for the three Tests but they need to hope they are all fit. Vernon Philander is nursing a slight ankle impingement and Morne Morkel, who has been out of action since the CPL in mid-2016 with a back concern, will play in domestic one-day matches to determine his availability. Duanne Olivier, who has taken over 50 wickets in this season’s first-class competition, also has a good chance of playing but du Plessis hinted they may also hang on to a few players from the one-day outfit.”The only gap available in our Test team is the third seamer. Morne is coming back. I faced him the other day in the nets and he is bowling beautifully but we’ve also got guys like Chris Morris and Wayne Parnell, who have been bowling well.”Both Morris and Parnell are part of the limited-overs’ squad that depart South Africa on Saturday. On Monday, they will be in action again. No rest.

An update has emerged on Liverpool and their plans to bolster their academy options ahead of the 2023/24 campaign…

What's the latest on Trevan Sanusi to Liverpool?

According to the Daily Mail, the Reds are one of a number of teams eyeing up a swoop to sign Birmingham City winger Trevan Sanusi in the summer transfer window, as Jurgen Klopp looks to add another talented youngster to the club.

The report claims that fellow Premier League sides Arsenal, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United have all been scouting the 16-year-old attacker and are interested in snapping him up.

It states that scouts from all of the above outfits have been keeping tabs on the teenage starlet, with the Reds being one of the interested parties.

The Daily Mail do not, however, reveal how much a deal would cost. He has not signed a scholarship contract with the Championship outfit but any team attempting to sign him would need to pay a compensation fee due to his age.

Where would Trevan Sanusi fit in at Liverpool?

Sanusi only turned 16 in April and would likely arrive to form part of the club's academy system with a view to working his way up to the first team in the future.

He could follow in the footsteps of Spain U18 international Stefan Bajcetic, who forced himself into Klopp's plans during the 2022/23 campaign.

The defensive midfielder played for the Reds at U18, U19, and U21 level before making 19 senior appearances for the German boss last season.

Klopp proved that he is willing to offer opportunities to young players as he handed the 18-year-old six Premier League starts in the middle of the park, showing that there would be a pathway for Sanusi at Anfield.

Earlier this year, Birmingham boss John Eustace was hopeful of the young sensation putting pen to paper on a scholarship deal. The head coach said: “He’s a really exciting young attacking player and we’re hoping that he signs for us and joins the academy."

There is little data to go off in regard to his form for the Blues at youth level but he did score once in three outings for England's U16s as they won the Development Tournament earlier this year and was named on the bench for Eustace's side for a Championship clash with Sheffield United.

This suggests that the 16-year-old dynamo, who was previously called up by England's U15s, has showcased himself to be an exceptional talent for his age, as the club's first-team manager has decided to bring him into the senior set-up.

Therefore, Liverpool could be bringing in a potential future star to develop during the years to come and he could follow Bajcetic in working his way through the various age groups before making an impact for Klopp in the Premier League.

Given they are currently 16 and 18, Sanusi could end up forming an important part of the club's long-term future alongside the Spanish midfielder if they are both able to sustain themselves as regulars in the side as they develop over the coming years.

Isa Guha, the former England seamer, has become the first woman to be appointed to the board of the Professional Cricketers’ Association

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Apr-2017Isa Guha, the former England seamer, has become the first woman to be appointed to the board of the Professional Cricketers’ Association.Guha, 31, becomes a non-executive director of the players’ union.She retired from international cricket in 2012, having played a part in England’s victories in both the World Cup and the World T20 in 2009, as well as two Ashes triumphs in 2005 and 2007-08, when she took career-best match figures of 9 for 100 at Bowral.She has since gone on to forge a career in broadcasting, becoming the first female summariser on BBC Test Match Special in 2014, before co-hosting ESPN’s coverage of the 2015 World Cup in Australia.”Isa has a vast knowledge of the game from a men’s and women’s perspective,” said David Leatherdale, the PCA chief executive. “With our international women players now full members of the PCA, Isa will bring real insight to the PCA board.””I am delighted to be joining the PCA at an exciting time for the game here in England for our men and women at both domestic and international levels,” Guha said.”I look forward to working with the team at the PCA, and with all the many past and present players, as the country prepares for a number of major events, starting with the ICC Champions Trophy and the Women’s World Cup this summer.”

Khalid Latif and Shahzaib Hasan could be facing more charges for breaches of the PCB’s anti-corruption code

Umar Farooq17-Apr-2017Khalid Latif and Shahzaib Hasan could be facing more charges for breaches of the PCB’s anti-corruption code.ESPNcricinfo understands the PCB might have found fresh leads in the ongoing investigation into the allegations of corruption surrounding the second season of the PSL. The board issued fresh notices against the players, who are already provisionally suspended, on Monday, asking them to appear for interviews before its Security and Vigilance Department. Latif was asked to appear on April 26, and Hasan on April 27.”In furtherance of its fight against corruption in the game of cricket the Pakistan Cricket Board’s Security and Vigilance Department has today issued fresh Notices of Demand to Cricketers Khalid Latif and Shahzaib Hassan,” PCB said in a statement. “These Notices of Demand have been issued under Article 4.3 of the PCB Anti-Corruption Code and require both Cricketers to appear before the PCB Security and Vigilance Department for interviews relating to investigations into possible further breaches of the PCB Anti-Corruption Code.”Article 4.3, as well as requiring the players to be interviewed, allows the PCB to seek any information it believes to be relevant to the case, including access to personal records such as bank statements and phone records.Latif has already been charged with six breaches of the PCB’s anti-corruption code during the PSL in February. He was provisionally suspended for alleged misdemeanours and was sent home from the tournament. He has already challenged those charges and is set to be heard before a three-man tribunal on May 5. He will now, however, appear in this separate investigation on April 26.Latif challenged the status of the tribunal in the Lahore High Court during his hearing last week but the writ petition was shot down by the court. His lawyer subsequently decided to appear before the tribunal under protest.Shahzaib was charged for allegedly failing to report a suspect approach in time and in full detail, and also for allegedly inducing players in corruption. He was charged with breaching three major clauses of the PCB’s anti-corruption code and is scheduled to appear before the tribunal on April 21. He will now have to appear again on April 27.

It wasn't so long ago that the thought of Aston Villa being linked with a player of Federico Chiesa's stature would have sparked confusion, as they battled to reach mid-table mediocrity under Steven Gerrard.

Since Unai Emery's arrival, however, the Midlands club have endured an unexpected rise, securing a place in the Europa Conference League ahead of next season in just half a campaign under the former Villarreal boss.

Such is the financial power of the Premier League, too, a move for Chiesa no longer seems like a pipe dream for Villa, especially given Juventus' financial difficulties, culminating in their failure to qualify for the Champions League last season due to a point deduction.

According to BirminghamLive, Villa are targeting a move for the Juventus man this summer, and, If Emery did manage to secure the signing, then he would have himself an upgrade on Leon Bailey, believes transfer insider Dean Jones.

Jones told Football FanCast: “Chiesa is much better than Leon Bailey, I know that much. He’s such a talented player, he’s so exciting on the ball. And he can make a difference in big matches, it’s an extremely frustrating time in Italy, and that frustration looks like it’s continuing into the summer.”

How good is Federico Chiesa?

Chiesa first impressed many fans through his performances at Euro 2020, as Italy beat England on penalties to secure the trophy at Wembley. Since then, though, he has been forced to battle back from an ACL injury, before finally starting to get back on track last season.

In a struggling Juventus side, the winger scored four goals and made a further six for 10 goal involvements in 33 appearances in all competitions. Only really getting an injury-free run in the side in April, those numbers show a player on his way to getting back to his best form.

In the season prior to his injury, the 2020/21 campaign, the 25-year-old scored 15 goals and made a further 11 in an incredible campaign. It is clear that, at his injury-free best, Chiesa is one of the best players in Italy.

When compared at his best to Bailey last season, there's only one winner, as per FBref. Chiesa made 20 more progressive carries, 59 more progressive passes, and enjoyed a better take-on success than the current Villa man. Welcoming the Italian into the side would take Emery's team up another level entirely.

Even when still recovering from his ACL injury last season, with 20 fewer starts to his name, Chiesa was only one goal involvement away from Bailey's total of eight throughout the campaign.

The former Bayer Leverkusen winger has just never hit the heights that he was signed to hit at Villa Park after his £25m move back in 2021. And, if Villa want to continue their remarkably impressive rise under Emery, then signing an upgrade in the form of Chiesa should be the way forward this summer.

The Italian, at his best, has proven to be a step above competitors in previous times. It's just a pitty he may cost somewhere in the region of £52m.