Wolves forward Hee-Chan Hwang has been praised for his performance in his side's draw at Molineux, with his work-rate and energy drawing particular applause from journalist Liam Keen.
How did Hwang play against Everton?
Everton scored a late equaliser to deny Wolves a win in their final home game of the season, but Hwang gave a good account of himself, and opened the scoring in the first half, finishing as the ball rebounded to him after a sensational run and shot from Adama Traore.
The 26-year-old was given a 7.2 rating by SofaScore, as he scored, completed 82% of his passes, and won two fouls in a toughly contested battle.
Speaking on Express & Star after the match, Keen singled out Hwang as Wolves' best player, and praised his commitment to the side.
"Four goals this season, three in the Premier League. all three of them have been tap-ins. I can't criticise Hwang for not scoring worldly goals either, he's in the right place at the right time," he stated.
"He has good instincts, good finishing and on his overall play today, Hwang, I thought he was excellent. He was probably Wolves' best player, he ran himself into the ground and had to come off in the second half because he was so knackered."
Can Hwang be an option for Wolves next season?
Hwang's strike was his third of the season in just ten league starts, with the likes of Matheus Cunha, Diego Costa and Raul Jimenez preferred to him throughout the campaign.
The former Salzburg forward has hardly been prolific for Wolves, scoring just eight times in 61 games, and despite his strong display against Everton, it remains doubtful that he can be a starter for Julen Lopetegui's side next season.
Jimenez may depart the club as he enters the final year of his deal, and Wolves could dip into the market for a more prolific goalscorer, but Hwang could prove to be a solid rotational option.
The South Korea international can provide cover across the front line, having played near-equal amounts on either wing or through the middle, and if he can continue to deliver committed displays like he did against Everton, he could endear himself to Lopetegui and the Wolves fans for next season.
Wolves secured Premier League safety, but will be looking to kick on next season and avoid a relegation battle again, and more quality additions are necessary in the summer.
The Supreme Court has accepted most of the Lodha Committee recommendations covering wide-ranging aspects of the game in India
ESPNcricinfo staff18-Jul-20166:39
Ugra: The BCCI will look for legal wriggle room
The Supreme Court has accepted the majority of the Lodha Committee recommendations covering wide-ranging aspects of Indian cricket at the central and state level. It has given the BCCI between four and six months to implement the recommendations and appointed RM Lodha, the former chief justice of India who was the architect of the report, to oversee the transition.The order was delivered on Monday afternoon by the two-judge bench, comprising Chief Justice of India TS Thakur and Justice Ibrahim Kalifulla, which has been hearing the case since January.Highlights of the court order
Recommendations that were accepted ♢ Each state will have only one vote at BCCI elections ♢ Ministers and civil servants cannot hold BCCI offices ♢ BCCI and state office bearers must not be over 70 years old ♢ No person can hold office at the BCCI and state association simultaneously ♢ No person can hold more than three, three-year terms as a BCCI official, and no official can serve consecutive terms Recommendations that weren’t imposed ♢ Bringing the BCCI under the Right to Information Act ♢ Legalising betting in India ♢ Limiting TV advertisements during the broadcast of matches ♢ Making the BCCI fund the proposed players’ association
“In the result, we accept the report submitted by the [Lodha] Committee and the recommendations made therein with such modifications and clarifications as have been set out by us in the body of this judgement,” the bench said in its order. “The transition from the old to the new system recommended by the Committee shall have to be under the watchful supervision of this Court.”The supervision of the transition can, in our opinion, be left to be undertaken by the Committee not only because it has a complete understanding of and insight into the nature of the problems sought to be remedied but also the ability to draw timelines for taking of steps necessary for the implementation of the proposed reforms. We are conscious of fact that the process may be time consuming but we hope that the same should be completed within a period of four months or at best six months from today. We, therefore, request the committee headed by Justice Lodha to draw appropriate timelines for implementation of the recommendations and supervise the implementation thereof.”With these observations we dispose of the matter finally placing on record our deep appreciation for the commendable work which the Committee has done in a short period.”The BCCI counsel KK Venugopal told the court that his client “will show greatest respect in implementing the judgment”. BCCI president Anurag Thakur offered no comment because he said he wanted to study the order first, but IPL chairman Rajiv Shukla said the BCCI would respect the judgement and discuss the procedure for implementation at a meeting.Reacting to the court order, Lodha said he hoped it would be a positive influence on the game. “Great day for Indian cricket and Indian sport, think cricket fans should rejoice the verdict of Supreme Court,” he told ANI.The panel – comprising Lodha and retired Supreme Court judges, Ashok Bhan and R Raveendran – had been formed in January 2015 to determine appropriate punishments for Rajasthan Royals official Raj Kundra, Chennai Super Kings official Gurunath Meiyappan and their respective franchises, and decide on Sundar Raman’s role in the IPL 2013 scandal, and propose changes to the BCCI’s functioning to streamline its functions and prevent sporting fraud and conflict of interest.The most important set of recommendations announced by the Lodha Committee in January this year were accordingly aimed at transforming the BCCI’s power structure. The court accepted the committee’s recommendation of giving each state only one vote in the BCCI’s elections and and removing the vote from associations without territorial definitions (Railways and Services, for example).The court also approved of recommendations that sought to define stringent eligibility criteria for the board’s office-bearers and set limits to their time in office. Ministers and bureaucrats currently holding office will not to be allowed to hold BCCI positions, neither would those officials holding office in their state associations or those above 70 years of age.The committee’s recommendation that there be five elected office-bearers – president, secretary, one vice-president instead of the current five, treasurer and joint-secretary – but that they serve no more than three three-year terms across positions was also accepted by the court; as was the motion to have a “cooling-off” period between terms to prevent an official from holding high BCCI office for several years at a stretch.The Lodha’s report had also recommended that the Working Committee, the BCCI’s highest decision-making body, be replaced with a nine-member Apex Council, which will include representatives from the players’ community – including one woman. There should also be a nominee of the Comptroller and Auditor General to keep an eye on how the board’s vast resources were being utilised. The BCCI was asked to implement all these recommendations.There were three major recommendations made by the Lodha Committee that the Supreme Court did not direct the BCCI to implement. The court did not accept the recommendation to impose restrictions on television advertisements during the broadcast of matches, and it said that the matters of bringing the BCCI under the Right to Information Act and legalising betting in the country were matters for the Indian legislature.
Durham and England fast bowler Mark Wood has undergone second surgery on his left ankle
ESPNcricinfo staff22-Apr-2016Durham and England fast bowler Mark Wood has undergone second surgery on his left ankle. The surgery was to address issues at the back of his left ankle, five months after a successful surgery to the front of the same ankle in November.Wood will now undergo a rehabilitation period and begin his programme to get back to bowling for his return to competitive cricket later this summer. He is expected to remain out of action for up to eight weeks of the 2016 season, and out of the three Tests against Sri Lanka starting next month.Wood had flown home early from England’s tour of the UAE in November and was later forced to pull out of his scheduled return for Durham’s second XI against Scotland earlier this week.
Mumbai took giant steps towards making it a grand double this season, as they bowled out Rest of India in a little over three sessions to take a monumental lead
ESPNcricinfo staff08-Mar-2016 Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsFile photo: Abhishek Nayar picked up three wickets to derail Rest of India on a good batting surface at the Brabourne Stadium•PTI
Mumbai took giant steps towards making it a grand double this season, as they bowled out Rest of India in a little over three sessions to take a 297-run lead. With more than two full days to play, Aditya Tare, the captain, decided to have a bat for a second time, with Akhil Herwadkar, who made 90 in the first innings, falling for a duck in the second dig; Mumbai going into stumps on 2 for 1.The story of the day was as much about Karun Nair’s gritty 94 as much as it was about Mumbai’s disciplined bowling. Nair, who made a triple century in the Ranji Trophy final in March 2015, held the lower middle order together after poor shot selection resulted in an accomplished top order returning with little returns to show.Rest of India, who resumed on 27 for 1, lost Faiz Fazal early as he was drawn into a drive to a Shardul Thakur outswinger. Jayant Yadav looked solid, and did all the hard work by grinding himself in before his dismissal for 46 triggered an implosion as they slipped from 110 for 2 to 128 for 5.Sheldon Jackson, Saurashtra’s highest scorer in the 2015-16 Ranji Trophy season, stitched together a 59-run stand with Nair as the Mumbai bowlers were kept at bay in the second session, before a rush of blood triggered another slide. Jackson, who hit two fours and a six in his 37, lost his concentration and was eventually bowled after missing a slog sweep off Jay Bista, the part-time offspinner. Bista then added to his impressive match tally of a century and a wicket by adding another one into his kitty as he had Stuart Binny stumped shortly after.All along, Nair continued to soldier on a calm manner, picking the odd boundaries and continuing to rotate strike at every available opportunity. Jaydev Unadkat complemented him ably as the eight-wicket pair put together a 91-run stand, the highest for the innings. Unadkat fell two short of his third first-class fifty to leave Nair precariously placed.With Ankit Rajpoot, who wasn’t coming out to bat because of a knee injury, the onus was on him to get the 18 runs left for his century on his own. He managed 12, before a misguided slap over the infield resulted in a catch at deep cover to bring an end to the innings. Abhishek Nayar had three wickets to show for 19 overs of toil, while Iqbal Abdulla, the left-arm spinner, and Bista scalped two apiece.
Aston Villa and Unai Emery appear to be interested in signing Sevilla striker Youssef En-Nesyri.
The Lowdown: Priority area
Villa could be in for a busy summer ahead of Emery’s first full season in charge after making two additions during the January window.
One of those was teenage forward Jhon Duran, however, Ashley Preece believes that ‘a new No.9 to partner Ollie Watkins is at the top of Villa’s shopping list’.
En-Nesyri appears to be a new target at Villa Park, with the forward being described as being ‘back to his best’ last month by writer Bence Bocsak after scoring nine goals in 14 games after the World Cup.
The Latest: Villa update
A Spanish outlet shared an update regarding En-Nesyri’s future in the last 48 hours, with Villa receiving a mention.
The report states that Villa and Emery would be interested in signing the Morocco international.
The Verdict: Smart move?
En-Nesyri can also turn out on the wing but is primarily a centre-forward who has scored 12 goals in all competitions this season, more than his 2021/22 tally.
Labelled as a forward who has ‘unreal’ finishing by members of the media, En-Nesyri scored 24 goals during the 2020/21 season and has experience in both the Champions League and Europa League.
The 25-year-old also impressed in Qatar, helping his country to the World Cup semi-finals by scoring the winner in the quarter-finals against Portugal, so he could be a shrewd signing both in the short and long run to rival Watkins and Duran.
Barcelona boss Xavi addressed the rumours that he could reverse his decision to quit Barcelona at the end of the current season.
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Xavi responds to rumours of him reversing decision to quitXavi set to leave Barcelona next seasonBarcelona currently third in La LigaWHAT HAPPENED?
In January, during a press conference, Xavi dropped the bombshell that he would quit Barcelona at the end of the current season. Lately, there has been speculation that suggests the Catalan coach could reverse his decision if the club end the 2023/24 on a positive note.
AdvertisementWHAT XAVI SAID
Speaking to reporters, Xavi refuted all the rumours as he said, "As of today, nothing has changed. There is no more story than that. It all remains the same and we focus on the next game."
He added, "It’s true we’ve done well recently; I see the team training great every day and the group of players is less tense than in the past. But tomorrow is a whole new story, here at Barcelona you have a challenge every day. The moment of the truth this season is coming, and we feel we have been good over the last weeks."
Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE
In his first full season as the Blaugrana boss, the 44-year-old guided the club to La Liga title win and also helped them claim the Spanish Super Cup by beating rivals Real Madrid in the final. In the current campaign, though, the Catalan giants have struggled to find form. They failed to defend the Spanish Super Cup title as Real Madrid reclaimed the trophy and were also ousted from the Copa del Rey quarter-final after losing 4-2 to Athletic Club.
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(C)Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?
The reigning champions, who are currently third in the league and are eight points behind Los Blancos, will next face Athletic Club on Sunday.
Newcastle United's season has not gone off without a hitch, but the quality and potential within Eddie Howe's blooming side is crystal clear, summed up in the recent drubbing of Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.
8-0. A record-equalling victory in the top-flight for the Tyneside club (the other match, interestingly, came against the Blades' city rivals Sheffield Wednesday in 1999), Newcastle can delight in the incisiveness and ruthless edge to their efforts, exactly what is needed for a side pushing for Champions League qualification once again.
Indeed, the Magpies defied expectations last season by finishing in fourth place in the Premier League, transferring some fine form from the 2021/22 season – form that ensued from the PIF takeover and Howe's subsequent appointment – and making it something lasting, tangible.
Where once the devout Newcastle faithful hoped for a sustained spot away from the jaws of relegation from the top flight and pushed for a bit more ambition on the transfer front, their stoical support has been duly rewarded with a war chest fit to serve an outfit at the very forefront of the game.
Now within Champions League competition and boasting a squad fit for purpose in Europe's elite club competition, Howe deserves all the plaudits for the work that he has forged at St. James' Park, making good use of supplies and investing in players who would fight for the badge and contribute toward the revival.
Who better to typify this than captain Kieran Trippier, with the veteran right-back joining from the genesis of the creation of this new-look Newcastle side and serving with aplomb, paramount to the rise.
Against Sheffield United, he became the first Magpie to bag a hat-trick of assists since Allan Saint-Maximin against Bournemouth in 2020, but then this is just one – admittedly sensational – performance from a player who has already etched his name into the record books for his role in rebuilding a football club desperate for an escape from obscurity.
How much did Newcastle sign Kieran Trippier for?
In October 2021, Mike Ashley's tyrannical reign of Newcastle came to an end. One month later, Howe was appointed in the managerial role, replacing Steve Bruce.
As the Magpies made merry and the brilliant red of the carpets rolled from St. James' Park, welcoming a new era and a clean slate, glimmering in the Tyneside sunlight after years of hurt, the club still languished at their nadir in the Premier League, but a revitalised strategy and some astute business on the transfer front worked wonders for an outfit targetting a renaissance.
Howe had the plan, but he needed the tools to rebuild the outfit and was granted a significant pool of expenditure to set his idea into motion, and the moves made in January 2022 proved to catalyse Newcastle's hopes for an illustrious new chapter.
Bruno Guimaraes
£40m
Chris Wood
£25m
Dan Burn
£13m
Kieran Trippier
£12m
Matt Targett
Loan
Some standout names in there that play a big role at the club to this day, but none more so than the cheapest permanent signing of that decisive winter transfer market, with diminutive right-back Trippier embodying everything that Howe has striven to achieve since taking the helm at the Toon.
Trippier, a £12m acquisition, had played the lion's share of his career in his English homeland but was actually signed for Newcastle from Spanish side Atletico Madrid.
The dynamo had made 86 appearances across two-and-a-half seasons in LaLiga, registering 11 assists and playing a key role in winning the 2020/21 LaLiga title – his only major honour to date – and was heralded for his "very important" standing in the squad by Atletico manager Diego Simeone.
Newcastle defender Kieran Trippier.
While there were murmurings from certain segments of rival fanbases that he was moving to Newcastle for a big payday in the later phase of his career, he has quashed such ludicrous claims with a staunch devotion to the rise of this exciting side, and he has arguably been their most important player.
How good is Kieran Trippier?
The 43-cap England international is a distinguished presence down the right flank and a proven force as one of the most creative and influential in his position.
As per FBref, he ranks among the top 6% of full-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 1% for shot-creating actions, the top 5% for passes attempted and the top 2% for progressive passes per 90, evidently a playmaker with an "elite output", as praised by Statman Dave on Twitter.
Having now completed 60 matches, scoring three goals and providing 13 assists, the £120k-per-week phenom has been hailed as a "revelation" by talkSPORT's Simon Jordan, and there is no question that the side's ascendancy might not have been quite so profound had he not been signed.
Boasting commanding leadership qualities to blend with his talent and technicality on the pitch, Trippier has been integral and actually earned an impressive average Sofascore rating of 7.61 in the Premier League last term, keeping 14 clean sheets, making 1.9 tackles and two clearances per outing, creating 2.9 key passes per game and succeeding with 60% of his attempted dribbles.
So much so, that perhaps he has had an even greater impact than Bruno Guimaraes, who has recently penned a lucrative new contract with the Tyneside outfit after arriving in the same month as his English peer.
The Brazilian has been a "world-class" addition to Newcastle's squad, as has been said by Dan Burn, and is undoubtedly one of the most technically proficient midfielders in the Premier League.
Having forged 40 displays last term and started every match so far this season, the 25-year-old ranks among the top 20% of midfielders for goals, the top 15% for assists, the top 19% for shot-creating actions, the top 16% for progressive passes and the top 13% for successful take-ons per 90.
Bruno Guimaraes
He is undoubtedly a starring member of Howe's team, the orchestrator in the middle and the conduit between the thirds, but with Trippier's authority and dynamism, he might not be the man to have made the biggest impact, albeit he has been absolutely sensational.
Trippier is 33-years-old and ostensibly approaching the twilight of his career, but based on the evidence from his dismantling creative display against Sheffield United, he is still every bit the multi-functional phenom Newcastle signed to spearhead a way out of danger at the bottom of the division.
Before we know it, the Champions League will be returning to our screens and Football FanCast has run through the tournament’s key dates, qualified teams and much more.
Who has qualified for the Champions League?
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.
Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal, Newcastle United
Sevilla, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Real Sociedad
Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Union Berlin
Napoli, Inter, Milan, Lazio
Paris Saint-Germain, Lens
Feyenoord, PSV
Benfica, FC Porto, Braga
Antwerp
Celtic
RB Salzburg
Red Star
Galatasaray
Young Boys
Shakhtar Donetsk
Copenhagen
A real mix of teams this year, then. We've got plenty of historic names there, with Real Madrid, Milan, Barcelona and Bayern Munich being some of the most successful teams in the competition's history.
But we've also got quite a few rare names. Newcastle United appear for the first time in 20 years, as do Lens. Union Berlin have never appeared in the competition and will debut. We can't help but note the return of Arsenal, too, even if their absence hasn't been quite as long as some of the names mentioned.
What is this year’s Champions League format?
This year’s Champions League is the same as what we have come to know it as – 32 teams will be split into eight groups of four, where the top two sides will qualify for the last 16.
Here, it will be a straight knockout over two legs, where away goals no longer count. The final is one leg, which includes extra time and penalties if required.
This will be the last time the Champions League plays out in this format, with the 2024/25 campaign set to be a completely different style.
The next edition of the Champions League will see the number of teams increased from 32 to 36, all competing in one league. Each team will play eight games, upping the total of matches from 125 to 189.
When is the Champions League group stage?
August's play-off rounds saw the likes of Rangers, AEK Athens, Maccabi Haifa, Molde and Panathinaikos bow out, with all having to be content with a spot in the group stage of the Europa League.
For the victors in midweek, however, the Champions League group stage beckons, and takes place between 19th September and 13th December.
Here are those group stage dates in full:
19th-20th September
3rd-4th October
24th-25th October
7th-8th November
28th-29th November
12th-13th December
What are the Champions League pots?
Manchester City
Real Madrid
Shakhtar Donetsk
Young Boys
Sevilla
Manchester United
RB Salzburg
Real Sociedad
Barcelona
Inter
Milan
Galatasaray
Bayern Munich
Borussia Dortmund
Braga
Celtic
Napoli
Atlético Madrid
PSV
Newcastle United
Benfica
RB Leipzig
Lazio
Union Berlin
Paris Saint-Germain
FC Porto
Red Star
Antwerp
Feyenoord
Arsenal
Copenhagen
Lens
Maybe it's just us, but those pots look a lot stronger than usual – perhaps because of the surprise returning and debuting teams this time around.
Napoli winning Serie A, for instance, pushes Inter into pot two and Milan into pot three. All three are amongst the strongest in their pots.
A top seed getting Real Madrid is essentially a nightmare scenario for any of them, while Newcastle being in pot four will terrify everyone.
A team could conceivably start in Pot 1 and end up with Real Madrid, Milan and Newcastle United. Bayern Munich or PSG could end up with that, in fact.
One other consequence of 'smaller' teams getting into the competition is that Pot 4 is unusually scary. You'd typically see it full of smaller nations' champions, with little threat to the bigger teams.
But Spain, England, Germany and France all have teams in there thanks to surprise entrants. Sociedad, Newcastle, Union and Lens have little European history, but all placed at the top of elite European leagues.
Who could Newcastle United draw?
Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes.
Newcastle United return to the Champions League for the first time in a long, long time – but they won't have it easy. They're in Pot 4 as a consequence of their lack of European football.
And that sets up some scary-looking prospects, here. Their worst-case scenario essentially creates a 'Group of Death' as many will have them down as the strongest side in that final pot.
Worst-case scenario: Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Milan, Newcastle United
There's an argument there that Milan are actually the weakest side in this particular group, depending on how you view their transfer business this summer. After all, they did lose Sandro Tonali to the Magpies. Really, though, no one is enjoying that group one bit.
Best-case scenario: Feyenoord, Porto, Copenhagen, Newcastle United
From this one, Newcastle might even be favourites to progress along with Porto. Feyenoord comfortably feel like the weakest of the Pot 1 teams, while Copenhagen have received a boost into Pot 3 because of the newbies in this year's competition.
Who could Arsenal draw?
Arsenal are back in the Champions League after six years away and find themselves in Pot 2. They can possibly consider themselves a little fortunate after their absence – the Gunners are the lowest-ranked side in the second tier of teams.
It makes their best and worst-case scenarios significantly more palatable. In fact, Arsenal will surely be down as one of the favourites to progress no matter who they end up with on Thursday.
Worst-case scenario: Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Milan, Galatasaray
It's very possible that we're being generous to Galatasaray by putting them in this, but of all the Pot 4 teams, they're the ones who made the biggest moves of the summer (Newcastle aside). They'll be a threat if things click for them. Of course, Bayern are there because Arsenal are forever obliged to run into the German giants at some point.
Best-case scenario: Feyenoord, Arsenal, Copenhagen, Royal Antwerp
Quite honestly – and perhaps this is harsh on Feyenoord – this is a group that Arsenal could chase maximum points from. It reads more like a Europa League group, in fact, and the Gunners would be overwhelming favourites to progress, along with the Dutch champions.
Who could Celtic draw?
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers.
Brendan Rodgers will lead a Celtic team back into the Champions League this season – but it's not a competition he's had much luck in. We'll see if he can change that this time around.
Of course, a lot of that depends on the group Celtic get. They've always gone into the competition knowing that there's potential for a devastating draw, but things could look on them favourably this time around with a bit of luck.
Worst-case scenario: Manchester City, Real Madrid, Milan, Celtic
You would imagine that most Celtic fans would never expect to get out of such a group – they may not even expect to get a single point. This would see the last two champions, after all, as well as a Milan side boasting some fantastic talent right now.
But honestly, you can build quite a few scary-looking groups for the Bhoys – Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Lazio, Celtic is marginally kinder, but not exactly by much.
While Celtic wouldn't be certainties to progress from this group, with some real fortune going their way, they'd have a real chance. They could easily target a Europa League spot, too, but second place really wouldn't be out of the question. Fingers crossed, they get the luck of the draw on Thursday.
Where is the 2024 Champions League final?
The Champions League final will be held at Wembley Stadium in London on 1st June 2024.
It will be the first time the stadium has held the showpiece event since 2013 when Bayern Munich triumphed over Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund. Last season's Champions League-winning captain Ilkay Gundogan was on the losing side that night as Arjen Robben's winner broke the hearts of Jurgen Klopp and the Yellow Wall.
Where can I watch the Champions League final in the UK?
The Champions League final will be available to watch on TNT Sports – previously BT Sport – as well as streamed for free on YouTube for those who do not have the relevant subscriptions.
BT Sport has been the home of Champions League football in the UK since 2015 and enters a ninth season as rightsholder under its new guise in 2023/24.
How will the 2024/25 Champions League format work?
Not without its controversy, the Champions League is going through a major shake-up going forward. In the 2024/25 format, 32 teams will become 36, while the number of games will increase from 125 to a total of 189.
This is because every team qualifying for the Champions League will compete in one league, in which all teams will play eight matches. The top eight teams will qualify directly for the knockout stage, with the following 16 teams (placed 9th-24th) entering a two-legged play-off round in order to claim a place in the round of 16.
From here, the format will remain the same as we currently know it. But can anyone stop Pep Guardiola's men this year?
It can be assumed that Rahul Dravid doesn’t take anything for granted since he has twice declined doctorates that were being conferred on him by two different universities in Karnataka. Dravid believed in earning the honour.No surprise then that Dravid recently asked the BCCI to halve the monetary reward he was being allotted for helping India win the Under-19 World Cup. To celebrate the victory, the BCCI, at the behest of the Committee of Administrators (COA), decided to give Dravid, the Under-19 coach, INR 50 lakhs while granting the players INR 30 lakhs each, and the support staff members INR 20 lakhs each.Once the garlands and bouquets were binned and the celebratory noise died, Dravid quietly contacted the BCCI chief executive officer Rahul Johri and informed him that as a matter of principle, he would not want any more than the players or the support staff members, who had played an equal role in India winning the title.In fact, Dravid expressed his disagreement over the BCCI’s decision on the day India beat Australia in the final to win the Under-19 World Cup. ESPNcricinfo understands Dravid informed Ratnakar Shetty, incharge of women’s and Under-19 cricket at the BCCI, of his displeasure, saying the board could not hold him over the rest of the coaching staff.The CoA chief Vinod Rai confirmed that Dravid’s request was accepted at a meeting in Mumbai this week. Although the BCCI is yet to communicate the decision officially to the Under-19 support staff, they are set to receive the same amount as Dravid: INR 25 lakhs each. “He felt that all the support staff should be adequately compensated, too. So he gave a viewpoint,” Rai told ESPNcricinfo. “He (Dravid) said you can reduce my [reward] but pay the players and other people, too.”In the past, whenever India have won global tournaments, the BCCI has paid the players more than the coach. This was the first time the coach was getting nearly double that of the players. According to Rai, the decision to pay Dravid more was because of his seniority. “Our logic was since he is a senior official and he has been involved with the team [for a long time], so we can’t equate him with the junior players. But he talked about principle and so we have acceded to his request and accepted his proposal.”According to Rai, Dravid had submitted a “list” of coaching staff who were assisting him in the lead-up to the World Cup and ought to have been compensated in addition to the coaching bench that assisted him during the tournament. Along with Dravid, the support staff that was involved in the Under-19 campaign comprised Paras Mhambrey (bowling coach), Abhay Sharma (fielding coach), Yogesh Parmar (physiotherapist), Anand Date (trainer), Mangesh Gaikwad (masseur) and Devraj Raut (video analyst).During his meeting with Johri upon returning from New Zealand, Dravid said the preparations for the World Cup had started early last year, including the tour of England.According to the , Dravid had listed the following people saying that they should also be rewarded for their contributions: former Indian opener WV Raman, who was the head coach of the Indian Under-19 team on the tour of England last summer, Amogh Pandit (trainer), Rajesh Savant (another trainer who died on Under-19 duty last year), Manuj Sharma and Sumeet Malahapurkar (logistics managers). It is not clear yet what amount Raman and others, who were not in New Zealand, would get. Dravid had asked the BCCI to work it out themselves without giving any set figure.
He will be Dinesh Chandimal’s deputy in Bangladesh, where the team will be play a two-match series starting on January 31
Andrew Fidel Fernando13-Jan-2018Sri Lanka’s first Test squad of the Chandika Hathurusingha era features a more dynamic set of bowlers than they have recently fielded. It also sees the return of batsmen Kusal Mendis and Danushka Gunathilaka.Sri Lanka squad
There is an emphasis on pace, with Dushmantha Chameera and 20-year-old Lahiru Kumara being picked. But it is the first-time selection of unorthodox offspinner Akila Dananjaya that is the strongest indication that the selectors and new coach are looking at taking Sri Lanka’s attack in a new direction.Dananjaya, who began as a T20 bowler, was thought of largely as a limited-overs option by previous selection committees. He has earned a Test call-up on the basis of decent ODI performances against India, however, and has a creditable first-class record (98 wickets at 28.31) behind him in any case. The prevailing thought about Dananjaya is that he is a player who raises his performance to fit the occasion. At the age of 19, he had been a steady contributor in Sri Lanka’s run to the 2012 World T20 final.Alongside the likes of Chameera, Kumara and Dananjaya are more experienced hands. Suranga Lakmal has been rewarded for a good 2017 with the team’s vice-captaincy. Rangana Herath and Dilruwan Perera head up the spin department, with left-arm wristspinner Lakshan Sandakan also included. Right-arm seam bowler Lahiru Gamage has been picked as well.There are notable omissions. Nuwan Pradeep has been left out, with the selectors seemingly now considering him for limited-overs duties alone, due largely to his propensity to pick up injuries in Test cricket. Allrounder Dasun Shanaka, who had some success with the ball against India, has been dropped, as has left-arm quick Vishwa Fernando. That batsmen Lahiru Thirimanne and Sadeera Samarawickrama were also dropped is little surprise, given their lack of runs in India, but more unexpected is the omission of allrounder Asela Gunaratne, and batsman Kusal Perera – both of whom are in the ODI squad.Gunathilaka, who has been in modest form across formats, has been chosen, however – perhaps on potential. It is possible he will open the batting alongside Karunaratne.The two-Test series begins in Chittagong on January 31, before the action moves to Dhaka.