The second Test of their tour of Sri Lanka will be Bangladesh’s 100th. Having begun their journey in November 2000, they will have taken little over 16 years to their century

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Feb-2017

Bangladesh will play their 100th Test match, against Sri Lanka, on March 15 in Colombo. Having played their first Test in November 2000, Bangladesh will be the last of the Full Members to complete the century, having taken little over 16 years to the mark.The visitors will begin their tour with a two-day practice game in Moratuwa before the first Test in Galle on March 7 and their milestone match at P Sara Oval a week later.The limited-overs leg begins with a warm-up game on March 22, before Dambulla hosts the first and second ODIs on March 25 and 28. The series concludes in Colombo – unusually at the SSC, which has not hosted an ODI since 2011.Sri Lanka Cricket CEO Ashley de Silva said the decision to play this match – a day game – was made on the basis that Bangladesh were not a major drawcard. The SSC has a capacity of about 10,000.”The reason we don’t host one-day games at SSC when we play other teams, is because we feel we won’t be able to accommodate the crowds there – the capacity is very limited at SSC,” de Silva said. “But when we play against Bangladesh, though there will be crowds, it will not exceed the capacity which can be accommodated as SSC, I’m sure.”When you play at a smaller ground also, it would seem like there are crowds – even for a Bangladesh tour. We can market it better.”The two T20Is to finish the tour, however, will be played at Khettarama.The Bangladesh squad is expected to be announced by February 20, while training begins in Mirpur on February 24. This is Bangladesh’s first bilateral tour of Sri Lanka since 2013, when they drew the Galle Test and also secured a 1-1 result in the three-match ODI series.

Alex Hales has been added to the England squad and looks set to return to the side for the final ODI against West Indies

George Dobell07-Mar-2017Alex Hales has been added to the England squad and looks set to return to the side for the final ODI against West Indies. Hales, who was not selected originally due to a hand injury sustained during the series in India, joined the tour party to continue his rehab in Antigua.He has now been officially added to the squad, which means he will come into contention for Thursday’s match in Barbados. England lead the three-match series 2-0.”Hales has now been passed fit by the medics and he’s practised well over the last few days,” Paul Farbrace, England’s assistant coach, told the BBC. “So he’s officially in the squad now for Thursday’s game, which is good news.”We always knew that Hales would join us. Even if he wasn’t available to play, we were always going to bring him here so we had him as part of the group.”Hales’ availability is not good news for Sam Billings. While Billings made a half-century in the first ODI – his second half-century in three ODI innings at that stage – he was unable to convert his start into the formidable contribution that might have kept Hales out of the side. Billings was out first ball in the second ODI.There is little doubt that Hales remains England’s first choice opening partner for Jason Roy. He made 171 against Pakistan in August – England’s highest individual ODI score and his fourth century within 12 months.Jake Ball may also come back into contention for the final game. Ball injured his knee during the warm-up games in St Kitts and was not considered for selection for the first two ODIs. He will train on Wednesday, although it may well be that Steven Finn retains his place.The England squad, many of whom have their families with them now, enjoyed a rest day in Barbados on Tuesday.

The Committee of Administrators has barred disqualified BCCI and state association office bearers who are part of the IPL governing council from attending the IPL auction. The tenth IPL auction is set to take place in Bangalore on February 20.The Committee of Administrators was appointed by the Supreme Court to oversee the implementation of the Lodha Committee recommendations. The committee named three persons in particular – CK Khanna, Amitabh Choudhry and Anirudh Chaudhry – and also warned that any other IPL governing council member attending the auction should do so only after they have self-assessed to determine that they do not stand disqualified as per the Lodha recommendations.The release sent out by the BCCI said: “Mr. CK Khanna, Mr. Amitabh Choudhary, Mr. Anirudh Chaudhry and any other persons who claim to be ex-officio members of the IPL GC on account of being office bearers of the BCCI shall not be entitled to attend the IPL Player Auctions since the issue regarding validity of the undertakings filed by such persons pursuant to the order dated 2nd January 2017 is still pending before the Hon’ble Supreme Court.”Amitabh Choudhry had earlier tried to attend an India selection meeting as joint secretary but the Supreme Court had ordered that the meeting be convened by the board CEO Rahul Johri.The committee said it didn’t have the details of all the IPL members so they were expected to assess for themselves if they were disqualified. “The Committee of Administrators does not have complete data to determine whether each of the members of the IPL GC other than the ex-officio members are disqualified or not,” the release said. “In view thereof, the said other members are requested to assess for themselves as to whether they are disqualified or not. Should they attend the IPL Player Auctions, the concerned members would be deemed to have undertaken and represented that they are not disqualified as aforesaid.”The IPL governing council has four members out of which Rajiv Shukla, Jyotiraditya Scindia and MP Pandove stand disqualified under the Lodha Committee norms. Only Sourav Ganguly can now attend the auction. The committee said it might nominate persons as substitutes if required.The release said: “In the event less than 2 of the members are available to attend the IPL Player Auctions on 20th February 2017, any role that may ordinarily have been performed by the IPL GC in relation to the IPL Player Auctions will be performed by such persons as the Committee of Administrators may separately designate for the purpose, if required.”

Aston Villa are reportedly interested in West Bromwich Albion youngster Rico Richards, as Unai Emery plots to steal a rising star from the club’s rivals.

It’s expected to be a busy summer at Villa Park, as both Emery and Monchi aim to take the side to the next level following on from last season’s highs.

The Spanish duo will be hoping to bolster the squad with depth in all areas, as Emery explained to The Athletic in April, which is something they could do by introducing the talent of West Brom’s Richards.

What’s the latest on Rico Richards to Aston Villa?

As reported by Football Insider, Villa are in ‘advanced talks’ to sign the 19-year-old talent who will leave West Brom this summer at the expiry of his contract.

The report states that talks are ‘well underway’ and making good progress, with Villa ‘confident’ in reaching a full agreement with the player.

Who is Rico Richards?

Hailed as a “technician” by analyst Tom Williams, the teenager has shone for the Baggies’ academy sides and made his Championship debut earlier this year, playing ten minutes against Hull City.

Deployed primarily an attacking midfielder, the 19-year-old is versatile in his position behind the striker, with the ability to play on either flank as well as centrally.

In 19 Premier League 2 Division 2 appearances last season, the 6 foot Englishman contributed to nine goals, scoring four and assisting five in an impressive feat in the final third for the skilled teenager.

Described as a player that “loves dribbling” by Williams, the youngster could offer a lot to Emery’s side, and would follow in the footsteps of academy stars that have made the cut to the first team, including the likes of Jack Grealish and a certain Jacob Ramsey who transitioned into being a regular starter.

Possessing the ability to play centrally and on the flanks like Richards, Ramsey initially filtered out Bertrand Traore with his top performances over the past few seasons, a trend that Richards could follow as he bids to dislodge someone of Emiliano Buendia's standing.

Signed from Norwich City in the summer of 2021, the Argentine playmaker secured 32 goals and assists in his final Championship campaign with the Canaries, however, has failed to show his full potential as of yet in the Midlands.

The 26-year-old has registered just 18 goal involvements in the entirety of his Villa career which has spanned over 78 appearances so far, showing his struggle for form in the Premier League.

With the "splendid" Richards – as dubbed by Joe Chapman – potentially arriving at Villa Park, the youngster could target Buendia’s spot in the starting 11, just as Ramsey did in claiming the right-flank as his quarters.

As per The Athletic’s Steve Madeley, the teen has been described by unnamed coaches that have worked alongside him as being an individual with an ‘eye for a goal-creating pass’, to a level that is ‘rarely seen in players his age’.

With his composure on the ball and in the final third, Emery could discover a revelation in Richards, in a talent that could grace his side for years to come and emulate the success of youngsters that have excelled before him at Villa Park.

Chelsea may already be well stocked at the back even after Kalidou Koulibaly's exit, but new head coach Mauricio Pochettino is no doubt eyeing a replacement before the summer transfer window closes.

Juventus centre-back Gleison Bremer has been strongly linked with a switch to Stamford Bridge, though Chelsea and Manchester United appear to now face fresh competition from fellow Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.

That's according to the Daily Mail, who suggests Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou is hoping to bring in the Brazilian, meaning Chelsea must speed things up if they are indeed interested in the player.

Is Gleison Bremer a good choice for Chelsea?

Bremer only joined Juventus from Torino last year, having caught the eye across three seasons as a regular with their city rivals, especially in 2021-22 when being named Best Defender in Serie A.

As a full Brazil international and with four years still to run on his Juve contract, it is reported that it will take a bid of around £50m to tempt the Turin giants to cash in.

For those unaware of Bremer's style, FBref's player comparison tool provides a good indication. Based on their statistical profiles, Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk is rated as the eighth-most similar defender to the Juve star across Europe's top five leagues.

Bremer would be a long-term partner for Benoit Badiashile at Chelsea, but it is likely to be the more experienced Thiago Silva he links up with in the heart of defence next season should he join.

The international colleagues have similarities and differences, with the most notable being Bremer's ability to score goals, as reflected in the four he scored last season. That ranks him in the top 4% of all defenders across Europe's top five leagues, whereas Silva is in the bottom 16% (no goals).

That is further highlighted in the shots and touches in the box metrics (top 5% and top 8% for Bremer respectively; top 36% and top 34% for Silva), though the former AC Milan defender does come out on top for tackles won per 90 (0.99 v 0.71), as per FBref, and percentage of aerial duels won (71.2% v 62.4%).

While Bremer is 12 years younger than his compatriot, he can certainly hold his own. As former Torino team-mate Mergim Vojvoda explained last year: "[Bremer] is very strong, an animal. He is also fast, he is tall and has made a great leap in quality on a technical level, with the ball at his feet."

That is reflected in the stats, with Bremer completing 89.7% of his passes across all competitions last season – a very similar figure to Silva's 90.7% at Chelsea.

Ultimately, it appears the Brazilian duo can complement each other well in the short term, providing a springboard at the back for what Pochettino will hope is a successful first campaign in West London.

Arsenal transfer target Jurrien Timber is set for a medical "in the coming days" as the Gunners agree an initial £34 million deal for his signing, according to reports.

Who are Arsenal signing this summer?

After weeks of talks, rejected bids and discusions over payment structure, Mikel Arteta is said to have finally sealed a move for West Ham United star Declan Rice.

The north Londoners have reached a compromise over the details of payment, with Arsenal set to give the Hammers an initial £100 million over 24 months for the midfielder.

The agreement includes a further £5m in add-ons as renowned transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano also gives his famous "here we go".

Rice's arrival is set to hand Arteta a major boost as the Spaniard looks to seriously contend for another league title next season, while Germany international Kai Havertz has already been confirmed in a deal worth £65 million from Chelsea.

“Kai is a player of top quality," said Arteta upon his arrival.

"He has great versatility and is an intelligent player. He will bring a huge amount of extra strength to our midfield and variety to our play.

“We welcome Kai and his family to Arsenal Football Club and we are all excited to start working with him when we start pre-season training soon.”

Ajax defender Timber, who has been targeted by transfer chief Edu as a versatile, elite defensive option, looks to also be nearing a move to the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal have now reached an agreement for the Netherlands international, and if all goes to plan, he will become their third major signing of the window after Havertz and Rice.

That is according to Sky Sports journalist Dharmesh Sheth, who had an exciting mid-week update for Arsenal supporters on their pursuit of Timber.

"Just been confirmed to us in the past few minutes, Arsenal have now got an agreement in principle with Ajax to sign the defender Jurrien Timber," said Sheth (via Football Daily).

"The deal is worth an initial €40 million (£34m), plus a further €5 million (£4m) in performance-related add-ons.

"He's expected to have a medical in the coming days, and then finalise those personal terms, which effectively have been agreed as well.

"He's been a long term target for Arsenal. you'll remember last summer that Man United tried to sign Jurrien Timber, but Arsenal have been keeping an eye on him for a number of months, he will be signed predominantly as a right-back.

"I think Mikel Arteta really wants to strengthen that backline."

Why have Arsenal signed Timber?

The 22-year-old played more Eredivisie minutes than any other Ajax player last season, highlighting his real importance to them, with no other regular averaging a better passing accuracy (91.7%).

Seemingly a composed ball-player, Timber could slot into Arteta's fluid system perfectly, and the exciting young defender has received plenty of plaudits.

Journalist Antonio Mango, writing on Twitter last year, even claimed he is a "generational superstar".

"I can’t describe just how good Julien Timber is," wrote Mango.

"Only 20 years-old & been Ajax most reliable and consistent player this season. Mr Versatile.

"Along with Antony, he’s been Ajax POYT. Generational Superstar."

Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsFile photo – Muhammad Usman struck six fours and a six•Peter Della Penna

Half-centuries from Ghulam Shabber, Rameez Shahzad and Muhammad Usman underpinned UAE’s 82-run victory over Papua New Guinea in Abu Dhabi. Mohammad Naveed and captain Rohan Mustafa, meanwhile, made cameos as UAE ran up 292 for 5. Spinners Ahmed Raza and Imran Haider then claimed combined figures of 7 for 79 to dismiss PNG for 210.PNG, though, had started positively in their chase with Tony Ura and Vani Morea adding 82 for the first wicket. Legspinner Haider then claimed three wickets in three overs to jolt PNG. Raza, the left-arm spinner, smothered the middle order further with the lone source of resistance coming from Sese Bau who contributed with 42 off 51 balls. The last five wickets tumbled for six runs as PNG were bowled out in 47.3 overs.Having been inserted, UAE lost Mohammed Qasim early to Chad Soper, but a string of fifty stands from the middle order shaped the innings. Shabber was circumspect, making 50 off 96 balls while Shahzad, Usman and Naveed went at better than a run a ball as UAE threatened the 300 mark. Seamer Alei Nao picked up 2 for 47 on ODI debut.

Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku have already arrived at Chelsea this summer, but new head coach Mauricio Pochettino has made clear he intends to bring in more players who are fully committed to the club's new era.

Who are Chelsea planning to sign?

Jackson and Nkunku's arrivals have come on the back of Chelsea saying goodbye to Kalidou Koulibaly, Mateo Kovacic, Edouard Mendy, N'Golo Kante, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Kai Havertz this summer, with Mason Mount next to follow as he undergoes a Manchester United medical.

The Blues have made signing Brighton and Hove Albion's Moises Caicedo their top priority, while a new goalkeeper also appears to be on Pochettino's radar, even if Kepa Arrizabalaga is to stay on as first choice.

Lyon midfielder Rayan Cherki is another who has been touted as a target, and football.london reports that Chelsea are now considering a move for the Frenchman.

Will Chelsea sign Rayan Cherki?

French outlet But! Football Club claims Cherki is available to purchase this summer, but only if his €50m (£43m) valuation is met by any interested clubs – of which Chelsea are one of many.

Cherki has been on the radar of Europe's elite clubs for a number of years, ever since scoring two goals and assisting two more in the same game for Lyon at the age of just 16.

That performance earned praise from Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe, who took to Twitter at the time to post: "Don't talk to him too much about age, huh?"

Now aged 19, Cherki is coming off the back of his third season as a first-team regular for Lyon, one in which he made 24 Ligue 1 appearances in a number of positions, predominantly in central attacking midfield.

Cherki's numbers last season make for exciting reading if you are a Chelsea supporter. The France U21 international ranked in the top 1% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues for chances created, as per The Analyst, and likewise for dribbles attempted.

In fact, using FBref's player comparison model, Cherki's figures are up there with the very biggest names in the game – Ousmane Dembele, Kingsley Coman, Vinicius Junior and Lionel Messi among them.

Taking Messi as an example, given the two men both played in Ligue 1 last season, the Argentina international averaged 35.9 touches in the opposition penalty box per 90; Cherki averaged 36.4.

Messi was successful from 55.4% of his take-ons, compared to 50.3% for Cherki, while they were involved in 6.25 and 6.15 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes respectively – a metric that considers factors such as passes and take-ons directly leading to a shot.

PSG star Messi was undoubtedly more of a direct goal threat (1.02 goals and assists per 90 to Cherki's 0.48), but it must be remembered he was playing in a forward line alongside Mbappe and Neymar.

In terms of the defensive side of both players' games, they are arguably more alike than any other area as Messi recorded 0.89 tackles and interceptions combined last time out, compared to 0.91 for Cherki.

Pochettino suggested last year that he struggled to manage Messi at PSG due to his compatriot's status, but that will not be the case with Cherki, who at 19 still has a long way to go before he can be considered a truly elite player.

Described as a "magnificent talent" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, it might be that Stamford Bridge becomes Cherki's equivalent of Camp Nou if he is to continue matching Messi and become a star in his own right under Pochettino.

Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah is piquing the interest of Saudi Arabian clubs, Rudy Galetti has told GIVEMESPORT.

What is the latest transfer news regarding Mohamed Salah?

Bizarrely, Saudi Arabian football official Hafez Al-Medlej wants the 31-year-old join the new-look Saudi Pro League along with the other footballing superstars that have headed to the Far East, as he stated:

"We must also start working on the signing of Mohamed Salah since he is overwhelmingly popular in the Arab world and in Europe, I think Salah still has records to break with Liverpool, so I hope that if he doesn’t come now he will in the future" Al-Medlej told Koura (via AS).

Since Salah joined the Reds in the summer of 2017, he has gone on to become one of the greatest Premier League attackers in history, scoring 137 goals and assisting 62 in 218 games.

The forward signed a new contract with Liverpool in the summer of 2022 which extended the forward's stay on Merseyside until 2025.

So, what is Rudy Galetti's update on Mohamed Salah?

When asked about the future of the Liverpool star, Galetti told GIVEMESPORT: "For sure, he's attracted the attention of Saudi Arabian clubs. Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal, at the moment, are the clubs that have shown the greatest interest in Mohamed Salah. Contacts are in progress and both clubs are trying to understand if there is room for negotiation."

What are the chances of Mohamed Salah leaving Liverpool for Saudi Arabia?

Liverpool will be desperate to keep Salah ahead of next season as they look to bounce back from a disappointing campaign.

Manager Jurgen Klopp was not concerned about the Egyptian leaving the club when asked in May, saying: "No worries, no. I only heard what he said but I couldn't read anything that could lead in that direction. Obviously Mo loves being here and Mo was part of it. He said apologies for what 'we' did – not apologies for 'what the other guys did, but I had to go with them'. It is all fine. If ever a player would come to me and said, 'oh, we didn't qualify for the Champions League, I have to leave', I would drive him to the other club myself."

The forward has broken plenty of records in his time at Liverpool, becoming the club's record Premier League goalscorer last season, and is closing in on some records held by some of the all-time Premier League greats which may be a reason for the Egyptian to turn down offers this summer.

Liverpool have made two signings this window in Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, and with heavy links to Romeo Lavia and Khephren Thuram, its clear the Reds are making a big push to return to their previous heights, which may well convince Salah to stick around and challenge for the top honours again.

The Reds have been linked with a move for Samuel Chukwueze but nothing has really materialised and it would come as a surprise if those links have anything to do with what would be a shock Mohamed Salah departure.

A round-up of the Group D matches of the Vijay Hazare Trophy help on March 4, 2017

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Mar-2017

Karnataka skittled Hyderabad for 108 and limped to the target with one wicket to spare in a match that saw 19 wickets fall in 73.2 overs. Vinay Kumar, playing his first match of the tournament after recuperating from injury, marked his return with a match-winning cameo of 35 off 56 balls, including six fours. He stayed unbeaten along with No.11 Prasidh Krishna and handed Karnataka their fifth win in five games.Karnataka lost Robin Uthappa and R Samarth inside five overs and stumbled further with captain Manish Pandey, Anirudddha Joshi, and Pavan Deshpande all bagging ducks. Binny then contributed with 14 before Vinay tipped the thriller in Karnataka’s favour.Earlier, offspinner K Gowtham, playing his third List A match, ripped through Hyderabad’s line-up with 5 for 28. S Badrinath and Akash Bhandari were the only Hyderabad batsmen to reach double figures.Parvez Rasool struck a 48-ball 53 and picked up four wickets, including a hat-trick, to give Jammu & Kashmir a low-scorer against Saurashtra in Kalyani. This was Jammu & Kashmir’s first win in five matches in this season’s Vijay Hazare Trophy.After being sent in, they were quickly reduced to 40 for 5. Rasool and Ram Dayal, who also made a fifty, then revived the innings with a 57-run partnership. Apart from these two, only Zahoor Sofi reached double-figures. Jaydev Unadkat and Kushang Patel claimed three wickets each to bowl Jammu & Kashmir out for 170 in 46 overs.Saurashtra fared worse, getting bowled out for 147 in 34.3 overs. Prerak Mankad mounted a fightback with 47 off 43 balls, but it was not enough with wickets tumbling around him. Rasool got rid of Sheldon Jackson, Chirag Jani, and Unadkat off successive balls in the 21st over of the chase to secure the hat-trick.Chhattisgarh survived half-centuries from Soumya Swain and Suraj Yadav, and registered a 14-run win over Services in Kolkata. Chasing 247, Chhattisgarh fell to 62 for 5, but Swain and Yadav revived the innings and threatened to topple Chhattisgarh. However, it was not to be. The last five wickets fell for 29 runs. Pankaj Rao and Shubham Agarwal claimed three wickets each for Chhattisgarh.Having opted to bat, Chhattisgarh lost opener Abhimanyu Chauhan in the first over, but Manoj Singh (49), the other opener, and middle-order batsmen Ashutosh Singh (84) and Mohammed Kaif (65) fired to lead their side to 246 for 7.