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Kristen Beams will look to return to cricket for the Melbourne Stars in the Women’s BBL, after being ruled out of action with a finger fracture

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Nov-2016Australia women legspinner Kristen Beams has been ruled out of the remainder of the home ODIs against South Africa due to a finger injury. She had fractured her right little finger during the third match on Wednesday in Sydney and parted with the squad on Friday.While the Australia squad headed to Coffs Harbour for the last two ODIs of the series, which they lead 3-0, Beams returned to Melbourne after undergoing surgery. Beams had bowled six overs for 35 runs and one wicket on the day.”You never want to see one of your team-mates get injured,” seamer Rene Farrell said before training at Coffs International Stadium on Saturday. “We’ve all been there and we’ve all had finger injuries before. Hopefully she’ll be right around the middle of the WBBL season. I know she’ll come back stronger, she’s a tough character.”Beams had broken her finger after bowling four overs on Wednesday and received medical treatment near the boundary line before returning to bowl another two and dismissed centurion Lizelle Lee in her final over.”Her finger was still dislocated and she bowled her last two overs for us,” Australia opener Nicole Bolton said. “That shows the strength of character of someone like Beamsy, who we heavily rely on with the ball, and for her to come out and do that for us was just incredible.”Beams had a terrific tour of Sri Lanka in September, across four ODIs and the lone T20I. She was the leading wicket-taker in the ODI series, which Australia whitewashed, with 13 scalps at a stunning average of 5.92 and took two four-fors. In the T20I, her figures of 3 for 11 from four overs restricted the hosts to 59 for 8. She had bettered her career-best figures in both formats on the tour.She is also Australia’s leading wicket-taker (18) in ODIs this year, behind South Africa legspinner Suné Luus (30), England’s Katherine Brunt (21) and Luus’ team-mate Ayabonga Khaka (21).

Prague has a proud history of producing supremely talented footballers, with stars going through the doors at Sparta and Slavia

The Czech Republic is frequently described as a 'Dark Horse' in European football thanks to its long history of nurturing quality footballers. The capital city, Prague, is a hotbed of talent, with an ever-growing list of stars emerging from the city.

Clubs such as Sparta Prague and Slavia Prague (read more about them here!), as well as Bohemians, have all played their part, though, very often the best players are snapped up quickly and ushered off into the arms of Europe's elite teams.

Here, GOAL takes a look at some of the best footballers who come from or are indelibly associated with Prague.

Prague is one of GOAL's Soccer Cities 23 – find out more here!

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  Tomas Rosicky

  Affectionately known as 'Little Mozart', Tomas Rosicky is one of Prague's most famous and talented football sons. The diminutive playmaker comes from a soccer family, with his father Jiri playing for Sparta Prague in the 1970s, while his brother also spent time at the club.

  Rosicky broke into the Sparta Prague first team as a teenager and played a part in securing back-to-back league titles in 1999 and 2000, but his ability was such that Europe's elite were forced to sit up and take notice.

  Borussia Dortmund came knocking and made him the most expensive player in Bundesliga history when they forked out DM 25 million (equivalent €12.7m today) for his services in 2001. Arsenal was Rosicky's next port of call in 2006 and he earned cult hero status with the Premier League club, helping them to FA Cup glory in 2014.

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  Pavel Nedved

  Pavel Nedved may not be a Prague native, but his performances for Sparta Prague, and indeed the Czech Republic national team, in the 1990s were the catalyst for his future career success. Czech fans of a certain vintage will fondly recall his pivotal role in the national team's run to the final of Euro 96.

  A truly complete midfielder, capable of playing anywhere across the line, Nedved played a part in three league titles for Sparta between 1992 and 1995 before moving on to Serie A, where he shone first for Lazio and later Juventus.

  Indeed, his displays for Juve earned him the Ballon d'Or in 2003 as he saw off challenges from the likes of Thierry Henry and Paolo Maldini. He remains, to this day, the only Czech player to win the prestigious accolade.

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  Vladimir Smicer

  Vladimir Smicer is a Premier League legend for Liverpool fans, but he is also a heroic figure in Prague, where he dazzled in the red and white of Slavia. The 80-cap Czech international began his career in the capital at Slavia and helped them to a league title in 1996.

  His career subsequently took him to France and England – he enjoyed a trophy-laden six years at Anfield, even winning the Champions League – but he made a triumphant return to Prague in 2007, helping Slavia to two more titles.

  Smicer was born in Decin, but is now an adopted son of Prague having lived there for the last quarter of a century and he proudly showed the city off to us ahead of the 2023 Europa Conference League final – check it out below!

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  Petr Cech

  Petr Cech is one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time and Sparta Prague played their part in his remarkable journey when they signed him from Chmel Bisany.

  Indeed, while Cech's time in the capital was brief – just one season – his contribution was strongly felt as he went 903 competitive minutes without conceding a goal, setting a new record in the process.

  Cech left Sparta Prague for Rennes, joining the French club for a reported €5.5 million and his career went from strength to strength, first at Chelsea, where he won four Premier League titles and the Champions League, then at Arsenal, where he secured an FA Cup.

  With 124 caps for Czech Republic, he is the most-capped player in the history of the national team and his status as a legend is unquestioned.

Leeds United face an uphill task to stay in the Premier League, and new manager Sam Allardyce will surely have to improve the defence if he is going to keep the Yorkshire outfit in the Premier League.

What changes must Allardyce make to Leeds' defence?

The 4-1 defeat against Bournemouth ensured that Leeds now boast the worst defensive record in the division, with a remarkable 67 goals shipped in the top flight, which has also included heavy defeats against Liverpool and Crystal Palace in recent weeks.

Fingers have naturally been pointed at both the goalkeeper and the defence after Leeds bested their own record of goals conceded in a calendar month, and huge changes must be made by Allardyce if he wants to avoid similarly disappointing defeats against the high-flying Manchester City and Newcastle United in their next two games.

Despite the number of goals conceded, three of Leeds' defensive options rank in their top six players this season according to WhoScored, with Pascal Struijk, Max Wober and Liam Cooper all performing to a fairly consistent level in the Premier League.

Should Robin Koch be dropped by Leeds?

This begs the question therefore of why Robin Koch has been the main man for Leeds at centre-back so far this term, with the 26-year-old featuring in 33/34 Premier League games, with a shocking WhoScored average rating of 6.52.

Signed from Freiburg in 2020, the Germany international has struggled throughout his time at Elland Road, failing to average above a 6.6 rating from WhoScored in any of his seasons in the Premier League.

Speaking on a Leeds United Live Facebook stream following a 5-1 defeat against Manchester United in 2021, Beren Cross was less than complimentary of Koch's performance.

He said:

“Koch and Struijk today, not good enough at all, for me. I think I gave them 3s in the ratings.

“I mean, Fernandes almost retired Robin Koch, it was just horrible to watch, at times, because he just could not get a handle of him."

As a former defender, Allardyce will surely appreciate the need to have his best-performing centre-backs on the pitch for the final four games, and the stats certainly suggest that the £40k-per-week liability shouldn't be anywhere near the starting side.

He ranks 14th for tackles and sixth for interceptions per game in Leeds' squad, while his pass success rate of 77.6% is worrying considering he completes the second-most passes per game at Elland Road, which suggests that he often has the ball but doesn't know how to effectively use it.

Therefore, with defensive security a must for the tough upcoming fixtures, Allardyce must surely consider finally dropping Koch from the starting team.

ScorecardBen Raine top-scored for Leicestershire and then took three wickets•Getty Images

Yorkshire Vikings were never in the hunt against Leicestershire Foxes who beat them by 54 runs with eight balls remaining in the NatWest T20 Blast at Headingley.It was a disappointing start to the campaign for Yorkshire, who are desperate to do well in the competition this season under a new young captain in Alex Lees, but who drew only 6,000 to Headingley.Leicestershire could feel delighted with the result after opening with a defeat to Northamptonshire last week.Chasing a 175 victory target, Yorkshire failed to put a substantial stand together in a game which was dominated by Ben Raine and the O’Brien brothers, Kevin and Niall.Raine top-scored with 48 before opening the bowling and capturing 3 for 7 in his 3.4 overs. Niall O’Brien powered his way to 39 while Kevin hit 21 and then took three for 27.Yorkshire lost wickets at regular intervals and openers Adam Lyth and new one-day captain, Alex Lees, were both out inside the first five overs, Lyth driving Raine to mid-off and Lees turning Kevin O’Brien to leg-gully.Only Will Rhodes showed any real form, coming in at 32 for 4 and smacking 45 with three fours and two sixes before departing at 109 for 9 by driving Neil Dexter to Tom Wells at long off, by which time the game was well and truly lost for Yorkshire.A late flurry of sixes had revitalised the Foxes’ innings with 102 coming off the final ten overs. It was off the fourth delivery of the 14th over that Niall O’Brien straight drove Lyth for the first six of the match but another eight were to clear the rope in the remaining overs for Leicestershire to close on a competitive 174 for seven.All four of Niall O’Brian’s boundary shots in his 39 off 21 balls came from six hits while Raine included two fours and two sixes in his 48 from 43 deliveries.But Lewis Hill was responsible for the final flourish with three mid-wicket sixes in the last over from Ben Coad who gave away 22 runs, Hill ending unbeaten on 24 from just nine balls.Yorkshire did not have their best night in the field as three catches were put down, the easiest being when Raine, who had just pulled Adil Rashid for two sixes, survived a simple chance to Liam Plunkett on the mid-wicket boundary.Things began encouragingly for Yorkshire as Tim Bresnan, in his first appearance of the season after being sidelined with a calf muscle tear, started with a wicket maiden, Pettini forcing his fifth ball straight into the hands of Rhodes at point.Bresnan’s new ball partner, James Wainman, also enjoyed an early success on his T20 Blast debut. In Wainman’s second over, Mark Cosgrove, who had struck 20 from 11 balls, was caught at deep square leg by Coad.Bresnan and Plunkett each claimed two wickets but Leicestershire kept battling away and their destructive hitting late on proved to be decisive.

Tottenham Hotspur are eyeing a summer move for Leeds United defender Robin Koch, according to a report from Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Summer rebuild needed?

Antonio Conte accused his players of lacking ‘spirit’ in his post-match press conference after the 3-3 draw against Southampton yesterday afternoon, indicating the club could be in need of a summer rebuild, regardless of whether the manager stays.

The Lilywhites have been linked with new options at the back for quite some time now, with versatile Stuttgart defender Borna Sosa said to be of interest, while RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol is a more outlandish target.

However, Spurs could also look at bringing in a new option that has proven Premier League experience, with Koch emerging as a potential signing in recent days…

The Latest: Koch targeted

As per a report from Football Insider, Tottenham are in the market for a new centre-back this summer, and they have shortlisted the Leeds defender as a target, in light of him still not committing to a contract extension beyond the end of next season.

The Yorkshire club could look to cash in on the 26-year-old at the end of the current season to ensure that he doesn’t end up leaving for free in 2024, opening the door for a potential move to north London.

Spurs believe the centre-back could be available on the cheap this summer if Leeds are relegated to the Championship, so they are expected to continue to monitor the situation.

The Verdict: Get it done?

After the 3-3 draw against Southampton at the weekend, it is evident Spurs have glaring deficiencies in defence, with Eric Dier putting in a very poor performance, while Clement Lenglet has also been unconvincing this season, being heavily criticised by John Wenham.

Koch has been hailed by sections of the media for some of his performances this season, with pundit Clinton Morrison describing him as ‘outstanding’ after his performance against Brentford back in January.

However, the 6 foot 3 colossus has not stood out for Leeds, recording an average Sofascore match rating of just 6.72, ranking him as just the sixth-best performing defender in the squad, below the likes of Maximilian Wober and Rasmus Kristiansen.

As such, the eight-time Germany international may not be the huge upgrade that Spurs need in defence, and so he could only be targeted as a rotation option, rather than as the club’s main target to strengthen the centre-back area.

The limelight of Liverpool's transfer activity for what seems like an age has been the pursuit of coveted Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham, but manager Jurgen Klopp might have distinguished the perfect alternative.

What's the latest on Gabri Veiga to Liverpool?

According to ESPN, the talented ace has also attracted the attention of Manchester United, Newcastle United, AC Milan and Napoli, following January interest from the likes of Bournemouth and Leeds United.

The 20-year-old is believed to have a €40m (£35m) release clause in his current deal, which could narrow the competition considerably.

With Real Madrid also considered suitors for the precocious talent, it seems unlikely that Los Celestes will succeed in their attempts to tie him down to a new long-term deal, with his current contract expiring in 2026.

Could Liverpool forget Bellingham with Veiga swoop?

Last year, Veiga tantalised glimpses of future prowess with his performances for Celta Vigo B, playing in the Spanish third division, where he scored nine goals and registered an assist from 31 matches.

Playing seven times in La Liga that term, each outing a cameo from the bench, Veiga looked to be asserting himself as a glistening prospect at the maiden phase of his career, and provided the platform to impress this season, he has taken his opportunity to resounding success.

Having scored eight goals and supplied three assists from 17 starts in the top-flight, Veiga is indeed now one of the most coveted starlets in the country, hailed as a "joy of a player" by Alberto Casas.

Speaking to The Guardian, Celta teammate and former Liverpool player Iago Aspas also waxed lyrical, saying: “He has desire, enthusiasm, quality. He’s comfortable here and hope he stays for a long time. If he has to go, let it be leaving behind many millions.”

As per FBref, Veiga ranks among the top 1% of midfielders across Europe's elite five divisions for goals, 16% for assists, 2% for successful take-ons and 7% for progressive carries per 90, illustrating the impact he could have on Klopp's system.

With a successful bid for his name, the Merseyside outfit could boast a player in the mould of Bellingham, who has been touted at as much as £129m by the Yellow Wall.

With the former Birmingham City prodigy among the superlative midfielders in world football right now, scoring ten goals and serving six assists this season from his engine-room deployment and ranking among the top 9% of midfielders across Europe's elite five divisions for goals, the top 13% for assists, the top 11% for progressive carries and the top 1% for successful take-ons per 90, he is discernibly prolific as a robust and all-encompassing phenom.

And with striking similarities between the respective players, Liverpool might be inclined to move for the shrewder avenue and tie up a deal for Vigo's most coveted asset, one who holds all the promise of a future machine flourishing at the very highest level and for a far cheaper price.

West Ham United still cannot be sure which division they will be playing in next season but it seems as if the Hammers are already planning some of their transfer business.

The latest player to be linked with a move to David Moyes' side is Manchester City defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis, with the centre-back impressing on loan with Burnley in the Championship this term.

Could West Ham sign Taylor Harwood-Bellis?

According to 90min, West Ham are among a number of clubs showing an interest in the 21-year-old, whose contract at the Etihad, where he earns £7.5k-per-week, is set to expire next summer.

While the report claims that City rate the Englishman highly and want to extend his contract further, the academy graduate recognises that he is way down the pecking order in Pep Guardiola's thinking, with world-class centre-backs such as Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte and John Stones all ahead of him.

Burnley would understandably like to sign the defender permanently in the summer after his starring role in their likely title-winning Championship campaign but will face competition from the Hammers, as well as Newcastle United, Fulham and Brentford.

Should West Ham sign Harwood-Bellis?

This season has seen the youngster make 27 appearances in the second tier for Vincent Kompany's side, contributing one goal and two assists, with a superb 7.15 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

Not only is this a better average rating than anyone in West Ham's squad, with Declan Rice the highest rated at the London Stadium with a 6.98 rating from WhoScored, but his return of 1.9 interceptions per game is also unmatched by anyone at the east London club.

Harwood-Bellis has now accumulated 100 senior appearances in his career with City, Stoke, Anderlecht, Burnley and Blackburn Rovers, where he would earn the praise of former manager Tony Mowbray during his loan spell in the 2020/21 campaign.

He said: “Taylor has a defensive instinct, a warrior attitude and he’s someone who wants to win headers and tackles. He wants to engage, he’s composed on the ball and has a lot of really good attributes."

Moyes has worked to improve West Ham's central defensive options in his time at the club and brought Nayef Aguerd to the club last summer, with the Morocco international starting to prove his worth at the London Stadium after a goal and clean sheet in the vital win against Southampton last Sunday.

While his current partner, Kurt Zouma, has been a reliable servant in his time at West Ham, the Frenchman is also far too injury prone and is currently enduring one the worst seasons of his career, averaging a disappointing 6.67 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

Now 28, the former Chelsea man cannot be considered a long-term option next to Aguerd due to his injury issues, and Moyes might be better served by bringing in a talented youngster such as Harwood-Bellis instead.

Tottenham Hotspur are a club famed for its recent failures, with Daniel Levy's relentless pursuit of silverware culminating in a sharp shift in the club's mindset.

The chairman was sick of the ridicule, and their lack of trophies was highest on the agenda for things that needed solving. Therefore, the appointments of Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte made sense for that venture, but not for an outfit that had been making steady progress under Mauricio Pochettino, surely closing in on the elite honours.

Levy would admit his mistakes whilst speaking at a recent fan forum "I had gone through a period where we'd almost won. With Mauricio we went through some very good times. We didn't quite get there but we came very close and we had a change in strategy. The strategy was 'let's bring in a trophy manager'.

"We did it twice and look you have to learn from your mistakes. They're great managers but maybe not for this club. For what we want, we want to play in a certain way and if that means it has to take a little bit longer to win maybe it's the right thing for us. That's why bringing Ange in was from my point of view the right decision."

However, it was not just managerial mistakes that were made, with their ventures into the transfer market hardly proving more fruitful.

Whilst the likes of Moussa Sissoko and Tanguy Ndombele mark two of their more lucrative failures, it could be argued that stars such as Clinton N'Jie marked the larger disappointment, given the excitement his arrival brought.

How good was Clinton N'Jie?

Having emerged as a clinical youngster setting French football alight, it seemed like a major coup when Spurs were the side who managed to snag his services.

After all, the £12m expended seemed like a drop in the ocean to secure ample backup for Harry Kane, as a 22-year-old seemingly set to grow into true competition for their in-form front man.

Especially after he triumphantly declared his loyalty to the Lilywhites, revealing the club that he had snubbed to join the Argentine's revolution: "I was never scared that my transfer to Tottenham would not be confirmed. I never spoke to Arsenal representatives on the phone, they simply contacted my agent. My choice was made, I was determined to join Tottenham."

A fine return of seven goals and eight assists in Ligue 1 during the 2014/15 season drew excitement, but it would be a tally he did not even come close to matching during the following two years in north London.

In fact, the Cameroonian forward was only afforded a miserable 14 matches to showcase his worth, to which he unsurprisingly failed. As such, he would fail to score a single goal, assisting only once before moving on. To see such a promising career stagnate under a coach famed for his youth cultivation was desperately disappointing, especially given how the likes of Kane and Dele Alli had flourished under his leadership.

N'Jie was vocal in what he expected upon joining, and ultimately, what he failed to receive: "Here, I will be working under Mauricio Pochettino, a manager who plays youngsters and allows them to progress."

What was said about Clinton N'Jie when he signed for Spurs?

Given his nationality and the positions he took up, it took little time for the media to latch onto the blistering marksman and begin comparing him to his countrymen. Unsurprisingly, Samuel Eto'o was the first port of call.

The Cameroon legend had starred across a glittering career, enjoying spells with Inter Milan, Barcelona and Chelsea among numerous other huge clubs. Calling time on his period playing, the 42-year-old finished having scored 364 goals and won all manner of trophies, including a truly impressive four Champions Leagues, league titles in Italy and Spain, as well as a host of domestic honours too.

Former teammate Xavi would rush to praise the lethal striker, noting: "Today I do not have doubts. For me Samuel Eto'o is the best striker in the world,".

Then, even Pep Guardiola would laud his contribution, despite the pair not exactly seeing eye-to-eye during their tenure together: "Incredible player, outstanding striker, one of the best I met and have seen, personality, character, top scorer, more pressure, better performance. I had him for one season."

So, to see just how outstanding Eto'o became, it marks a laughable notion that sections of the media sought to force the comparisons between him and N'Jie, with The Mirror just one of many outlets suggesting he was the 'successor to Samuel Eto'o'.

Given the respective careers the two have enjoyed, it is fair to say that the media got this one horribly wrong, with the only real similarity being their shared nationality.

What is Clinton N'Jie doing now?

Seeking to shrug off his Tottenham nightmare, the 30-year-old made a desperate return to French football with Marseille, enjoying limited success – bagging 16 goals in 83 games.

It always felt like that spell in England completely ravaged what was set to be a promising lifespan in the sport, and yet he seemingly holds no grudges: "I do not regret. It’s a choice I had to make. Everyone thought it was a good solution. I gained a lot of experience during this adventure in Tottenham. It has served me a lot for the future and it still serves me. So I have no regrets."

Even if he now spends his days featuring in Turkey, and struggling at that.

The 43-cap flop has just a sole goal in the Super Lig this campaign, having only scored twice and assisted another two across an entire campaign in the Turkish top flight last term. It outlines a remarkable fall from grace for the forward, who was once regarded among some of the most talented young stars in Europe.

His career has now boasted a pitiful 34 goals across spells in England, France, Russia and Turkey, with the latter two marking a searing indication of the unfulfilled potential.

For comparison, Eto'o would match that tally across all competitions in the 2005/06 season alone, lighting up Spanish football for the Catalan giants, and proving that N'Jie was never likely to emulate the levels he posted.

For the Indians who’ve signed up with the ICL, the league is a welcome change from the apathy they’ve had from the BCCI all these years. By Siddhartha Vaidyanathan

Siddhartha Vaidyanathan30-Nov-2007

Kiran Powar: ‘Tell me one reason why I shouldn’t join the ICL’ © ICL
About 15 years ago Kiran Powar was a bigger name in Mumbai cricket than his brotherRamesh. A left-hand batsman with a wide array of strokes, Kiran struggled to breakinto a powerful Mumbai batting order and switched allegiance to other states. Hespent a number of seasons in Assam and Goa, during which time he made many long journeys by bus, and often, considering hotels were too much of a luxury, even spent nights in one. Frequently, with reimbursement hard to come by, he paid his own travel expenses. He even wasn’t compensated when he was hospitalised once.Today Powar enjoys the comfort of the Taj hotel in Chandigarh. He shares the same dressing room as Brian Lara and Nathan Astle. When I speak to him, he’s having lunch with Vikram Solanki, Johan van der Wath and Danny Redrup, a South African physio who is “showing me the sort of fitness a cricketer needs”. For the first time in Powar’s life he has a sense of security. “Tell me one reason why I shouldn’t join the ICL” he challenges.Powar’s isn’t an isolated case. The general mood among the Indian domestic playerswho have joined the ICL is one of disgruntlement. “Until today none of us had anoption,” says a player who was picked for India a couple of years ago. “Now we havesomeone to take care of us. Wait for some time and players will just rush in.”The BCCI’s apathy is a sore point. A domestic veteran talks about a prominent state association. “They made a big din about introducing central contracts for players,” he says. “Finally, we said, we’ve got some security. And they give us an annual contract of Rs 25,000 [US$ 500 approximately]. Is that any sort of money for a year?”Even more frustrating has been the handling of injuries. Shalabh Srivatsava, an Under-19 star who went on to do well consistently for Uttar Pradesh, travelled to South Africa for an expensive surgery. He is still waiting to be reimbursed. Rakesh Patel, the Baroda fast bowler who was selected for the Indian one-day side recently, underwent a similar fate. “The biggest problem is we can’t play when we’re injured,” says Powar. “It means no reimbursement and no match fees. How do you survive?”Redrup chips in: “This is exactly how rugby used to be conducted in South Africaduring the amateur days. But things changed with professionalism.”The situation with the coaching staff who have signed up with the ICL isn’t too different. Erapalli Prasanna, the former India offspinner, who was with the BCCI’s ill-fated spin wing had had enough of being ignored. “By sending me to Nagpur and to Kolkata for short periods, the NCA [National Cricket Academy] sent a clear message that I was not required. The other signal I got was that the BCCI wanted to get rid of me. The spin wing is finished.”Sandeep Patil, who is currently coaching the Mumbai Champs, echoes those views. “”I waited for the BCCI to give me a suitable job to serve Indian cricket. Twice I had written to the BCCI president, Sharad Pawar, expressing my interest to be a coach of the India Aside. I was assured a two-year contract, but after waiting for almost one and a halfyears, nothing came of it.”Hurdles, hurdles, hurdles
It’s not been easy for these players and coaches who have signed with the ICL. They are derisively referred to as “money whores”.Reetinder Singh Sodhi, the former India allrounder, speaks about being refusedentry into a ground in Patiala. “Imagine the scene,” he says. “You’ve gone to aground to practise almost every day of your life. And one day they stop you. As ifI’m a criminal or something. I’m still playing cricket only, no?”Bengal’s players faced a similar situation at the Calcutta Cricket and FootballClub, though the Essel Group, which runs the ICL, had a corporate membership at the club. JP Yadav and Mohnish Mishra, two Madhya Pradesh players, were forced to withdraw from a club tournament in Bhopal for a similar reason.Three Hyderabad players with jobs in state banks were apparently transferred toKolkata recently. They’ve to now choose between moving to a new city and losingtheir jobs.All ICL players have been banned from playing in corporate tournaments organised by the BCCI. Those who have jobs have had their terms of employment made more stringent. Madhya Pradesh batsman Abbas Ali, who works with Indian Oil, is required to work from 9am to 5pm every day and struggles to find time for practice.It is the youngsters who are hardest hit. “A young cricketer finds a job by telling his employees that he’s a cricketer,” says JP Yadav, the former India allrounder. “Now, since he can’t play corporate tournaments, how is a company going to give him a job? That’s a big worry.”Another implication is that cricketers may have to give up the option of playing leaguecricket in England – since that requires a minimum qualification of four first-classgames in a season.

Sandeep Patil waited in vain for a job as India A coach before signing with the ICL © ICL
Positives galore
Despite the ostracism the players remain upbeat. When JP Yadav walked into theTau Devi Lal Stadium in Panchkula, his first reaction was simple: “It’s fine, . You’re talking to someone who’s played cricket all his life at the Karnail Singh Stadium.” That, incidentally, is the headquarters of the Indian Railways side, a first-class ground that’s universally regarded as India’s worst in terms of facilities.The players have been given 12 pairs each of coloured uniforms. They’ve been exposed to physios and trainers streets ahead of the ones they’ve been used to in Indian first-class cricket. They’ve received 25% of the yearly payment promised them (as the base price), and are happy to see sums being deposited every month in Axis Bank accounts that have been opened for them.Some foreign players have been impressed with the local talent and have spoken aboutrecommending them to counties and provinces. “Abhishek Jhunjunwala has beennoticed,” says a senior player with the Bengal Tigers. “He was even asked if he would want to qualify to play for England.”The ICL, for all the talk of being the poor cousin to the Indian board’s Indian Premier League, is still an option that a number of Indian domestic players are seriously considering. As recently as September, a couple of players on the fringes were apparently seriously contemplating joining. Both made their India debuts subsequently and shelved the plan.A number of other players, though, are still in the loop. “I’ve got a call from so many domestic cricketers asking, ‘What’s happening, are they recruiting?” says Yadav. “People are definitely interested. It’s just a matter of taking the leap.” Like several others, he is convinced that the next 15 days will only reinforce their faith.

Mohammad Mithun and Mosaddek Hossain hit centuries to help South Zone secure a draw against Central Zone, after they had conceded a 111-run first-innings lead in Rajshahi.After being sent in, South Zone collapsed to 191 all out in 49.5 overs, with only opener Fazle Mahmud (40) passing 30. Seamer Ebadot Hossain and left-arm spinner Mosharraf Hossain took four wickets each for Central Zone.Central Zone’s batsmen showed greater fight and posted 302, with opener Shadman Islam top-scoring with 93. Left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak, who had recently made a comeback to the national team, claimed 6 for 106 in 31 overs for South Zone.South Zone started shakily in their second innings, too, and were 84 for 3 in the 26th over. Mithun, however, revived the innings with a 193-run stand for the fourth wicket with Tushar Imran. Mithun hit 118 off 121 balls, including 16 fours and a six, while Tushar made 88 off 141 balls, with 10 fours and a six.Mosaddek then took charge of the innings, despite a shoulder injury. He added 53 for the seventh wicket with Ziaur Rahman before adding 121 runs for the eighth wicket with Nayeem Hasan, who chipped in with 43. Mosaddek stayed unbeaten on 102 off 107 balls.Central Zone were 158 for 5 when play was called off on the final day. Razzak took three wickets to stretch his match tally to nine.