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Javed Miandad, the former Pakistan captain, has been named the PCB’s director-general

Cricinfo staff19-Nov-2008
Javed Miandad: captain, coach and now PCB’s director-general © Getty Images
Javed Miandad, the former Pakistan captain and coach, has been appointed director-general of the PCB. The appointment isn’t a complete surprise as Miandad’s name had been linked to several roles in the board, and he had also met Ijaz Butt, the chairman, recently.The exact nature and ambit of the role is not yet clear, but Miandad hopes first to lift Pakistan’s standing in the ICC rankings. Pakistan, who have not played a Test in 2008, are sixth in the Test rankings and fourth among ODI teams.”The main purpose of my appointment is to look after the cricketing affairs in the board,” Miandad told . “It’s good that the new chairman of the board [Ijaz Butt] is inducting former Test cricketers in the PCB and I hope it would benefit Pakistan cricket in the future.Among former players handling positions in the PCB is former fast bowler Saleem Altaf, who only last month had been named as director-general, but is now the board’s chief operating officer. Altaf’s current position had originally been scrapped when his appointment as director-general was made.Speaking to Miandad said, however, that his role would be a purely cricketing one, not overlapping with Altaf’s role. “Basically I shall be overseeing the cricketing side. That includes both domestic and international levels as well as the academies. For this I would be going to different parts of the country.”I won’t be involved in the PCB’s administrative matters because that is the domain of the COO. And at the same time I won’t be intruding in the path of Aamir Sohail [director NCA]. Generally I am here to help develop the standard of our cricket .”A spate of changes have taken place in Pakistan cricket after Butt, a former Test player, assumed charge. Former Test batsmen Ijaz Ahmed and Shoaib Mohammad were appointed to an interim selection committee, with Saleem Jaffar, the surviving member of the previous three-man panel, named chairman of selectors. Talat Ali, the team’s permanent manager since October 2006, stepped down, with Yawar Saeed, a veteran administrator and former manager, taking up duties for the ODI series in Abu Dhabi.Sohail, the former Pakistan captain and opener, was appointed director of the National Cricket Academy (NCA), replacing Mudassar Nazar, who left for a coaching post with the ICC last month. Wasim Bari, the former wicketkeeper and chief selector, was appointed director of human resources and administration. On Tuesday, Bari had said the PCB would aim to cut down heavily on the administrative expenditure of running the organisation in order to cope with decreased revenues.Miandad had been tipped to take over as Pakistan’s coach following the dismissal of Geoff Lawson last month, but to the PCB’s disappointment, he turned down a fourth stint in charge of the team, instead offering to help the board in an advisory position. Butt admitted Miandad was the board’s first choice for the job, now taken up by Intikhab Alam.

An update has emerged on reported Leeds United transfer target Matheus Cunha regarding Hertha Berlin’s valuation of the Brazilian.

What’s the talk?

According to TuttoMercatoWeb, via Sport Witness, Leeds have a concrete interest in Hertha Berlin attacking midfielder Matheus Cunha heading into the final few weeks of the window.

The report claimed that £21m (€25m) would be enough to tempt the Bundesliga club to part ways with the Brazilian, with AS Monaco and Zenit St Petersburg also hot on his trail.

Get it done

Victor Orta must sanction a deal to bring Cunha to Elland Road before the end of the transfer window. The midfield maestro could be a terrific addition to the squad and significantly strengthen Marcelo Bielsa’s attacking options.

Firstly, his versatility could be a useful asset to the Argentine coach. He played in a plethora of positions for Hertha in the Bundesliga last season, filling in six separate roles – including on the wing, through the middle as a striker, in the number 10 position and as a central midfielder. This means that Bielsa could use him in a variety of ways and would not be limited in what he could do with him in the Premier League.

Secondly, Cunha has proven that he has the quality to make an impact in the final third at the top level. The forward provided seven goals and four assists in 25 league starts last term, having managed five goals and nine starts in the previous campaign. This suggests that he could arrive in England and be a reliable option for Bielsa in attack.

Only three Leeds players scored more goals than him in the 2020/21 campaign, whilst no-one from the Whites was able to match Cunha’s sublime average WhoScored rating of 7.33. Therefore, he could improve their current squad and add some extra quality in the wide and central attacking roles.

He also comes highly recommended. Last year, former Hertha head coach Bruno Labbadia lauded the attacker and claimed that he is capable of “individual brilliance”. He said: “Matheus has something special. He can always produce something with a moment of individual brilliance.”

At the age of 22, the midfielder also has plenty of growth left in him. He could be a player who Bielsa is able to develop on the training ground to increase his value, which is why picking him up now for £21m could be a shrewd piece of business from the financial side over the long run whilst also improving the playing squad immediately.

AND in other news, Orta must avoid £45m Leeds blunder over “unplayable” beast, fans would be livid…

Hedley Howarth, who was New Zealand’s leading slow bowler during the early 1970s and a key man in their first Test win on the subcontinent, has died at the age of 64

Cricinfo staff08-Nov-2008
Hedley Howarth was part of New Zealand’s Test side from 1969 to 1977 © Hulton Archive
Hedley Howarth, who was New Zealand’s leading slow bowler during the early 1970s and a key man in their first Test win on the subcontinent, has died at the age of 64. Howarth, the elder brother of the former New Zealand captain Geoff Howarth, collected 86 wickets at 36.95 in his 30 Test appearances.A left-arm orthodox bowler, Howarth occupies a significant place in New Zealand’s history as the man who bowled them to victory against India in Nagpur in 1969-70. India were chasing 277 in the fourth innings but Howarth’s 5 for 34, including a wonderful catch off his own bowling, ensured the hosts never got close.New Zealand’s 167-run win was their first Test success on the subcontinent. It was also in that part of the world that Howarth collected his only other five-wicket haul in a Test, when he picked up 5 for 80 against Pakistan in Karachi.Howarth’s control and flight made him a useful prospect at international level and he was often used in long spells to dry up the scoring. A dangerous bowler on the first-class scene, Howarth picked up 541 wickets at 25.27 in an Auckland career that lasted nearly two decades.Justin Vaughan, the chief executive of New Zealand Cricket, said Howarth would be remembered as an important player during a positive era for New Zealand. “Hedley was part of a Test era in the early ’70s that saw New Zealand performing consistently on the world stage,” Vaughan said.”His bowling was a big factor in that success. He remained closely involved in the game after his retirement – especially in Auckland – and his loss will be keenly felt by the cricketing community throughout New Zealand.”

As per Charlie Eccleshare on Twitter, some Tottenham Hotspur sources ‘close to the deal’ are ‘confident’ an agreement can be reached to sign defender Cristian Romero.

The Lowdown: Spurs in Romero talks…

Tottenham have been in negotiations for Romero over this past week, with Sky Sports claiming that the Lilywhites have in fact stepped up their pursuit of the Argentine.

Spurs also allegedly made an offer of around £34m (€40m) plus £8.5m (€10) in bonuses – but managing director Fabio Paratici will not overpay for his services and has other targets as alternatives (Sky Sports).

A complete agreement is still yet to be reached on price as talks remain ongoing.

The Latest: Sources back agreement…

As per Eccleshare, sharing what he’s heard from some sources ‘close to the deal’, there are those who are apparently ‘confident’ a compromise will be settled when it comes to valuation.

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As well as this, some of the journalist’s sources believe an agreement is ‘not too far away’, but as it stands, the two clubs remain apart in their price for the player.

Tottenham officially sold Toby Alderweireld to Qatari side Al Duhail earlier this week and need to seal his replacement with the transfer window deadline looming next month.

The Verdict: Get it done…

There are great alternatives to Romero, like Fiorentina defender Nikola Milenkovic for instance, who Eccleshare believes would be a ‘straightforward deal’.

However, these extensive negotiations for the South American colossus could prove to be worth all of this trouble given his unbelievable performances in Serie A.

Romero was rewarded with the title of 2020/2021 best defender in the Italian top flight and has garnered praise from critics, with Serie A expert Conor Clancy calling him ‘phenomenal’ (This is Futbol).

At just 23-years-old, the centre-back also has plenty of years ahead of him, potentially marking him out as a real prime target.

In other news: Spurs receive boost in pursuit of possible Lamela replacement, find out more here.

Andrew Miller previews the third Test at Edgbaston

Andrew Miller at The Oval06-Aug-2008Match factsThursday August 7 to Monday August 11, 2008
Start time 11.00 (10.00GMT)
Kevin Pietersen gives Ravi Bopara a consolatory hug after the announcement of his first team © Getty Images
Big PictureRarely has a dead rubber created such a stir. The series may have been wrapped up at Edgbaston last week, but so too was the career of one of England’s finest captains. As Michael Vaughan departs the stage in tears, into the fray steps none other than Kevin Pietersen, the bête noire of South African cricket, and the man that his former countrymen love to hate. Pietersen’s presence alone adds a whole new level of excitement to a contest that might otherwise have been a victory procession for Graeme Smith’s men. Their first series win in England for 43 years will feel all the sweeter if they are able to inflict on Pietersen the same sort of drubbing with which Vaughan was baptised in the role, five long years ago. Conversely, if Pietersen is able to rally his troops with the same up-and-at-em attitude that he brings to his own game, English optimism for the future may not be entirely unfounded.Form guideEngland LLDWW
South Africa WWDLW
Watch out for…Kevin Pietersen: Who else? The ego has landed in no uncertain terms. It will be fascinating to watch how he goes about his work this week. His entire captaincy career amounts to one comfortable beating in an ODI against New Zealand in June, and so many facets of his leadership remain to be seen – his approach to field placings, bowling changes and, perhaps most crucially, man-management. Also under the spotlight will be KP’s own attitude with the bat. Will he dare a repeat of the punchy performance that carried England back into contention at Edgbaston, if it means risking a shot similar to the one that got him out. One thing is for sure, the team that he’s selected is not one that’s going to die in a hole wondering.Graeme Smith: One year younger, but in captaincy terms, on another level of experience, the man that Pietersen once dismissed as a “muppet” is quietly plotting the most publicly humiliating of retorts. Smith’s sublime 154 not out at Edgbaston has been virtually overlooked in the chaos of the past week, but one day it will be acknowledged as the performance of a man in utter command of his game, his team and the series situation. Smith is at the absolute zenith of his captaincy career, and with Australia looming in December this year, his focus is sure to remain unwavering. Five years ago, he sent Nasser Hussain packing from the England captaincy in almost identical circumstances … and followed up with a crushing innings victory in Vaughan’s first Test in charge. His share of that performance at Lord’s was the small matter of 259 chanceless runs. When he pauses to reflect on the task ahead, that fact will loom large in Pietersen’s thoughts.Team newsEngland have announced two changes of personnel, but an entire overhaul in attitude. Michael Vaughan’s absence briefly raised the prospect of a recall for Ravi Bopara, but Pietersen has preferred to place his faith in the remaining top five, and bring Stuart Broad to bulk out the tail and provide a fifth bowling option. Also returning is Steve Harmison – handed his chance by Ryan Sidebottom’s back problem – who will be thrown the new ball for the first time since the Old Trafford Test against West Indies in June last year. Ian Bell, England’s serial underachiever, is given the chance to sink or swim at No. 3, while Andrew Flintoff reverts to the No. 6 position from which he won the Ashes in 2005.England 1 Alastair Cook, 2 Andrew Strauss, 3 Ian Bell,4 Kevin Pietersen (capt), 5 Paul Collingwood, 6 Andrew Flintoff, 7 Tim Ambrose (wk), 8 Stuart Broad, 9 Steve Harmison, 10 James Anderson, 11 Monty Panesar.No such ground-breaking team news for South Africa. With Dale Steyn still unfit, they are all set to name an unchanged side, although Graeme Smith remains slightly troubled by the back injury that hindered his movement (though not noticeably) during the Edgbaston Test. “I’ve been working quite hard with the physio, and I’ll just keep managing it until I get some rest,” said Smith. “It’s basically down to over-use, because we’ve had a lot of intense cricket since the Twenty20 World Cup [in September].South Africa 1 Graeme Smith, 2 Neil McKenzie, 3 Hashim Amla, 4 Jacques Kallis, 5 Ashwell Prince, 6 AB de Villiers, 7 Mark Boucher (wk), 8 Morne Morkel, 9 Paul Harris, 10 Andre Nel, 11 Makhaya Ntini.Umpires: Steve Davis and Aleem Dar
© weather.com
Pitch and conditionsThe Oval has not enjoyed the best of reputations in recent years, with the last three matches all finishing as high-scoring draws. Nevertheless, Bill Gordon, the groundsman, anticipates rather more pace in the deck that has been seen of late, and for the moment at least, there is still a decent covering of grass. That sort of news will doubtless suit Harmison, although Morne Morkel and his colleagues won’t mind that sort of prognosis either.Stats and Trivia South Africa’s last Test at The Oval, in 2003, was a classic – as England, 2-1 down in the series, recovered from a first-day scoreline of 290 for 1 to record an emphatic nine-wicket victory.The best bowling figures ever recorded for a South Africa Test in England were made on this ground 14 years ago, when Devon Malcolm took 9 for 57 to pull England level in the series.Pietersen’s defining innings in Test cricket occurred on this ground in 2005, when he made 158 in England’s second innings to secure the draw that won England the Ashes.Quotes“He’s got a one-off Test against us, he’ll be hugely motivated, he’ll be excited, nervous, and have a lot of energy for this game. But everything you do in this game as captain, it’s about sustaining it afterwards.”
Smith warns Pietersen to enjoy the moment while it lasts, because the real test of his captaincy is to come.” I think the recipe for success that I’ve tried to use is, do it my way. Once you go over the white line, express yourself, and do whatever you need to do to be successful.”
Pietersen outlines his own captaincy philosophy.

Dilip Vengsarkar, India’s chairman of selectors, has stressed the need to reduce the number of one-day games in order to tackle the issue of player burnout

Cricinfo staff15-Jul-2008
Dilip Vengsarkar: “Only Manpreet Gony, you could say to a certain extent, was a find from the IPL. Test cricket will produce players for Twenty20, not the other way round” © Getty Images
Dilip Vengsarkar, India’s chairman of selectors, has stressed the need to reduce the number of one-day games in order to tackle the issue of player burnout. Instead of cutting down on Tests per tour, Vengsarkar said ODIs had to be targetted.”We play around five to seven ODI games on every tour,” Vengsarkar told the . “This takes away 14 to 20 days. Personally, these two-Test series do not make much sense to me. It should either be three or five.” The proposed itinerary for England’s tour of India in November includes seven ODIs and two Tests.Vengsarkar also wanted the international schedule to be eased so that national players could participate in domestic cricket. “During most of the domestic matches I watched last season, there were not more than ten people witnessing the matches. You need international stars to take part in domestic cricket to raise the standard. Otherwise it would become very hard to judge quality and temperament for Test cricket. But where do the international cricketers have the time in a packed calendar?”Mahendra Singh Dhoni recently chose to pull out of the Test series in Sri Lanka because he needed a break and Vengsarkar said player fatigue had become a global problem. “The stronger nations have to honour their commitments against the weaker sides as well. But how do you accommodate so many matches? Test cricket should not suffer.”Vengsarkar dismissed the idea that the Indian Premier League had thrown up fresh talent to pick from. “Twenty20 is an exciting and popular format but tell me five cricketers from the IPL who can play for India? A lot of players got exposure but are they good enough to play for India. Only Manpreet Gony, you could say to a certain extent, was a find from the IPL. Players like Yusuf Pathan were in the frame even before the IPL. Test cricket will produce players for Twenty20, not the other way round.”

Greg Smith, the Derbyshire allrounder, has signed a new two-year contract with the club

Cricinfo staff17-Jul-2008
Greg Smith has extended his stay at the club for two more years © Getty Images
Greg Smith, the Derbyshire allrounder, has signed a new two-year contract with the club.Smith, 25, has been injured for much of the season but cracked an impressive 79 from 59 balls in Derbyshire’s recent Twenty20 Cup match against Leicestershire. He was Derbyshire’s leading one-day scorer last year with 424 runs and 14 wickets.”Signing a new contract is a terrific boost after what has been a difficult season for me so far having missed so much cricket through injury,” he said. “Happily I am back on the field now and hopefully I can stay injury-free and play a part in a successful Derbyshire team for the remainder of this season and beyond.””Greg showed what a talented player he is during the recent Twenty20 Cup and I am delighted to be keeping him at the club for a further two years,” said Derbyshire’s head coach, John Morris. “The challenge for him now is to become a consistent four-day player and the club will work with him to help him achieve that goal.”

Everton winger Bernard is ‘heading closer’ to leaving the club amid interest from three countries, according to the Liverpool Echo. 

The lowdown

The Toffees signed Bernard from Shakhtar Donetsk ahead of the 2018/19 season on a free transfer.

He’s gone on to make 84 appearances for the club, scoring eight goals and providing seven assists (via Transfermarkt).

Last season, he was limited to just three Premier League starts, with a further nine appearances off the bench (via WhoScored).

Bernard has only a year remaining on his contract at Goodison Park and is valued at £10.8million by Transfermarkt.

The latest

Talks over the potential departure of the 28-year-old are said to be ‘ongoing’.

A club in the United Arab Emirates are keen on the Brazilian, who also has suitors in both Greece and Russia.

The report adds that the likely move will see Everton clear one of the ‘top earners’ from their wage bill – he is rumoured to be on £120k per-week, which is over £6m per-year.

The verdict

This deal makes sense for Everton. It will be a considerable boost to their coffers, and it won’t hurt them all that much on the field given the feeble impact he made last season.

Perhaps Bernard hoped that the change of manager at the club might yield more opportunities, but the reality is that he hasn’t done enough to be starting matches.

He’s a player who’s only shown rare glimpses, and his record for direct goal contributions is far from inspiring.

In other news, fans react to a potential incoming. 

Speaking to Football Insider, BBC Radio 5 Live pundit Alan Hutton has raved about defender Jannik Vestergaard, with Tottenham Hotspur allegedly in talks over signing him.

The Lowdown: Spurs in talks for Vestergaard…

As per The Times, Tottenham are in talks to sign the Denmark international this summer as the Lilywhites look to revamp most of their defence for new manager Nuno Espirito Santo.

The 28-year-old was a mainstay under Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl last term, starting 29 Premier League matches whilst averaging more clearances per game (four) than any other player in their squad (WhoScored). He also won 3.3 aerial duels per match, a greater average than any player in Spurs’ squad in 2020/21.

Indeed, following his solid season on the south coast, Vestergaard is now firmly on the radar at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The Latest: Hutton in awe of Vestergaard…

Speaking to Football Insider in reaction to this update from The Times, Hutton has been left in awe of the colossal 6 foot 5 defender, raving over his strength and technique on the ball.

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The former Spurs defender also believes the 28-year-old could fit in seamlessly at Hotspur Way, telling Football Insider: “I think he could go in there and do a job.

“He’s obviously got the experience of playing with Southampton in the Premier League, he’s a main player for them. He’s got a lovely diagonal ball.

“Going into the final year of his contract, you can probably pick him up for a decent fee, which would work in favour for the likes of Daniel Levy.

“There’s room for new players to come in. Vestergaard, the power of him, wow, the strength, he doesn’t mind just defending.

“He’s also got that kind of cultured pass so I think he’d fit into that team nicely.”

The Verdict: Agreed…

Vestergaard also shone for Denmark at Euro 2020 before their semi-final defeat to England at Wembley, and it’s little wonder why Spurs have reportedly entered talks.

The Dane’s exploits for Southampton last season warranted huge praise, with Hasenhuttl branding him ‘absolutely phenomenal’ for his sheer strength in the air (Hampshire Live).

Tottenham could certainly use that physical presence as Nuno gears up for his first full season in charge, and Hutton is quite right to talk up the 28-year-old amid the links with Spurs.

In other news: Tottenham frontrunners to sign ‘absolutely sensational’ player with Nuno set for final call, find out more here.

Aston Villa may move for Burnley winger Dwight McNeil this summer, according to The Athletic’s Gregg Evans.

The Lowdown: Previous links

This isn’t the first time McNeil has been linked with a move to the Midlands.

Back in May, Football Insider suggested that Villa were lining up a £15m offer for the player who Sean Dyche described as ‘very adaptable’.

Rumours of a move have since gone quiet, with Villa signing Emiliano Buendia from Norwich City in a deal worth £34.56m.

McNeil’s name has once again popped up in discussion when it comes to Villa’s transfer business.

The Latest: Evans claim

Evans shared a transfer update on Friday. Within his story, he claimed that a number 10 is still a priority for Villa.

A move for Tammy Abraham is not on the cards at this moment in time, with Arsenal’s Emile Smith Rowe a priority target.

Evans then added that if a move for Smith Rowe fails to materialise, McNeil may be looked at as an alternative. The 21-year-old has already been discussed as a player of interest and is valued at £19.8m by Transfermarkt.

The Verdict: Grealish central?

Should Villa end up signing McNeil over Smith Rowe, that could mean Jack Grealish would have to move in from the left to a more central role.

Manchester City are preparing a bid for Grealish, however, Villa are determined to keep hold of their club captain.

If they do succeed and stand firm, Grealish could take up the number 10 position, with McNeil an out and out left-winger, and Buendia on the right.

Villa aren’t done with their summer business by any stretch of the imagination, and it’s good to see that Smith Rowe alternatives are being lined up.

In other news: ‘Absolute madness’, ‘Leave us alone’ – Many AVFC fans erupt at ‘garbage’ transfer news, find out more here.