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West Bromwich Albion manager Ryan Mason had some of the pressure taken off him after his side claimed a 2-0 win over Sheffield United in the Championship at the weekend.

Prior to that clash, Football Insider reported that the club’s away form has caused serious concern behind the scenes and that the manager’s future will be evaluated if they get dragged into a relegation battle.

The report added that the board, with owner Shilen Patel, remain in support of the former Tottenham Hotspur coach, but that the situation could change if they fall down the table.

Why West Brom should sack Ryan Mason

Despite a 2-0 win over the Blades last time out, Patel should ruthlessly part ways with Mason because the Baggies have regressed under his watch in comparison to last season.

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Whilst it must be noted that Tom Fellows left to join Southampton, the English head coach was given new signing Aune Heggebo, who has scored eight goals in 17 league starts, per Sofascore.

Despite that impressive addition, whilst also having the likes of Isaac Price, Mikey Johnston, Karlan Grant, and Josh Maja at his disposal, Mason has been unable to improve the team’s attacking play.

West Brom’s regression under Mason

Stat

24/25 (rank)

25/26 (rank)

Points per game

1.39 (9th)

1.31 (15th)

xG

58.7 (9th)

25.3 (14th)

xA

47.1 (4th)

24.4 (7th)

xGD

+11.6 (6th)

+0.9 (12th)

League position

9th

15th

Stats via FBref

As you can see in the table above, West Brom are worse defensively, offensively, and overall as a team since the English tactician took the job in the summer, which is why the club should make a decision on his future.

If the Baggies do decide to part ways with Mason, Gary O’Neil is one out-of-work manager who could come in as an upgrade in the dugout, having been touted for the role in the summer.

Why West Brom should appoint Gary O'Neil

In what would be a controversial move, given his time at Wolves, the English boss could come in and provide West Brom with a boost to lift them up the Championship table.

Prior to Mason’s appointment, EFL pundit Joe Jacobson tipped the club to appoint O’Neil, saying: “At Wolves, it was tough but I think he is a very, very good manager and that’s exactly what West Brom need right now, a freshness, someone with some fresh ideas, someone who’s obviously very motivated and wants to prove himself again.”

The former Wolves and Bournemouth boss was viewed as somone who could come in with ‘fresh ideas’ and motivation to push West Brom forward, and that is still what they need six months later, as they have regressed under Mason.

O’Neil, as shown in the clip above, has shown that he can motivate a group of players to achieve success, having guided Bournemouth and Wolves to safety in the Premier League in his first two seasons as a manager.

O’Neil’s first 2 Premier League seasons

Championship

22/23

23/24

Games managed

34

38

Wins

10

13

Draws

6

7

Losses

18

18

Points

36

46

League finish

15th

14th

Stats via Transfermarkt

The 42-year-old tactician showed that he has the capabilities as a coach to deliver decent enough performances at that level, even if his second season at Wolves, losing 11 of 16 league games, was a disappointment.

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He has been out of a job since December of last year, which means that he has had plenty of time off to reflect and learn from his experiences so far, and could come in with real motivation to succeed, as Jacobson said.

O’Neil could be an upgrade on Mason because he has shown promising signs, with his first two seasons at the level, as a manager in the Premier League, whilst the Baggies boss has seemingly made a Championship side worse in his first senior posting.

That is why Patel should seriously consider sacking the former Spurs coach in favour of bringing O’Neil in to lead the club forward in the coming months and, hopefully, seasons.

Related He'd revive Price: West Brom could hire "insanely talented" Mason upgrade

West Bromwich Albion could soon replace an under-fire Ryan Mason with this fresh manager, who might get even more out of Isaac Price.

Posts 1 ByKelan Sarson

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum has declared day-night Test cricket “here to stay” after the conclusion of the inaugural floodlit match at Adelaide Oval, a popular success despite its meagre three-day running time.A crowd of 123,736 poured into the ground across those three days, and similarly strong television audiences made it a spectacle to delight broadcasters and administrators alike. But the verdict of the players was always going to be critical to the future of the concept, and in the glowing words of McCullum and his opposite number Steven Smith there was ample evidence that the game’s elite practitioners will be comfortable with doing this kind of thing more often.The only reservation raised by both McCullum and Smith was the amount of grass left on the Adelaide Oval pitch, which they agreed was the major factor in the game’s short time span. But they were equally adamant that players would be able to adapt with greater experience, with the added incentive now of having played a Test match in front of such a celebratory and voluminous gathering.”It’s a great concept,” McCullum said. “As pink ball cricket evolves as I am sure it will grow into a global game and I think we will see the pitches probably won’t have quite as much grass on it. The thing about day-night Test cricket is it is meant to allow Test match cricket to be played at night time, it is not meant to be to change how Test cricket should play.”There was a fraction too much grass on it, I think we saw under lights that the pink ball probably responded a little bit much, but I would say that because I am a batter. Overall it was a roaring success and 120,000 people over three days, people are voting with their feet and I think it’s here to stay, which is great.”In general, spectators would want see results in games. And will want to see captains start to try and force results. Sitting in changing room after hard fought Test win that’s what’s most memorable as a cricketer. Sometimes fighting draws are great and I think we’ll find captains will try and push home some advantage to get Test victories.”Smith was naturally relieved after seeing out a series victory over a fast-finishing New Zealand, and he had little hesitation in describing the contest as a “great” one. “The whole Test match was a great innovation, it was a great spectacle,” he said. “To get 120,000 people through the gates in three days is absolutely amazing. I thought it was a great spectacle and a great Test match.”It was a game that was dominated by the bowlers. New Zealand’s bowlers bowled just as well as ours. But it was one of those games – if you got yourself in you could still score runs, it just wasn’t to be this game for a lot of the batters, we got starts and couldn’t go on with it. I think the contest is there if you’re willing to have a game plan and bat some time you can certainly score runs.”Like McCullum, Smith noted the thick grass coverage presented for the pink ball, but was happy enough to live with that after finishing the match as a narrow winner. “I think the wicket here compared to the two Shield games that have been played on it and particularly the pink ball shield game we played, it looked like the grass was a bit more lively,” he said. “I think it was the same height as the grass in the Shield game but it was probably just a tad greener.”That created a little bit more movement for the bowlers and kept the ball together and swinging for a long period. But I think it was great to see something different, the first two Test matches were dominated by the bat, so it’s great to see something different and see the bowlers coming into their own.”

Kevin Pietersen: ‘People are still hurting from the winter’ © Getty Images

Kevin Pietersen wants to be a member of an England side that ‘demolishes’ Australia in two years time after the team’s 5-0 Ashes humbling. Despite scoring 490 runs during the series, including 158 in Adelaide, he could do nothing about the eventual result.But Pietersen has promised the memory of their recent thrashing will inspire the team to success when the Ashes are next up for grabs, in England, in 2009. “People are still hurting from the winter. But I don’t think it did England too much harm, this winter,” he told BBC Radio Five Live’s Sportsweek programme on Sunday.”Yes, we got hammered in Australia and the World Cup (where England failed to reach the semi-finals) wasn’t good for us, but we are hurting. Inside, we are hurting and it is the same sort of pain we want to inflict on a lot of countries that tour England, and it is the same pain we want to inflict on the Australians in 2009, so it wasn’t all that bad.”The way we are playing our cricket now is the way we want to play and the way we want to demolish the Australians in 2009.Michael Vaughan spoke of England needing to be ruthless ahead of the fourth Test against West Indies and Pietersen echoes those opinions. “I just basically think it’s that killer instinct, that ruthlessness that the Australian team showed us in Australia this winter.”They were at our throats – that’s what we want to do, we want to be mentally right, we want to be physically right and we just want to keep asking questions ball after ball, session after session,” explained Pietersen, who said new coach Peter Moores wanted the side to have a hard edge.”A team has to back down at some stage and that is something Peter is very, very positive about and keen on doing. As soon as you turn up at the ground, you are in the right frame of mind, you have got positive energy, positive vibes chucking around the dressing room Positive energy breeds positive performances.”

Kevin Pietersen is fit to pick up where he left off© Getty Images

Kevin Pietersen was adamant that he would be fit to resume his innings on the second day of the third Test between England and Pakistan at Headingley, after retiring hurt with cramp shortly after recording his fifth Test century.”I’m facing the first ball tomorrow unless something drastic happens to me this evening,” Pietersen confirmed, after the late dismissal of Matthew Hoggard left England handily placed on 347 for 6 at stumps. “I was [scheduled to go] in before Hoggard and after [Chris] Read,” he added, “but then we used the nightwatchman for the last five overs.”Pietersen enjoyed a charmed life in his innings, surviving a clear-cut appeal for caught-behind on 2 followed by a dismissal off a no-ball, and then, on the stroke of his eventual retirement, he was dropped at midwicket by Salman Butt.”It did inconvenience me because that’s why I came off the field,” explained Pietersen, who had called for treatment on his forearm three times in a single over as he raced through the 90s with a series of typically bombastic shots. “Instinct and adrenalin took over,” he added, “but after each shot, [my forearm] would freeze into a certain position. It wasn’t fun and it’s certainly never happened before.””I couldn’t grip the bat as well as I should have done,” he continued. “I had some treatment but I had to come off. I’ve had it needled and massaged and hopefully with some rest and more treatment, I’ll be able to face the first ball tomorrow.”Pietersen was satisfied with his performance in typically tough, overcast conditions at Headingley. “I was happy to get out there and play,” he said. “Other batsmen have been fantastic this series, so it’s nice to get another hundred. I’m really satisfied with this one, especially after getting 20,30, 40 in my last innings. Hopefully, if Ian [Bell] and I can bat for an hour or more in the first session, we can get a score in excess of 400.””That’s the first time I’ve ever suffered with cramps in my life,” claimed Pietersen. “I think the problem today was that I didn’t have lunch, I don’t generally eat when I’m batting, and I had breakfast at 8am. It’s probably just my salt levels, because my fluids were perfect and my urine was crystal clear.”

Carl Gazzard and Keith Parsons both scored centuries as Somerset Seconds drew their two day match against Sussex at North Perrott.Chasing the visitors total of 433, Somerset lost Piran Holloway for 27 when he was run out before Parsons joined Gazzard.The second wicket pair added 140 in quick time before the young Cornishman was out for a hard hit 112.Parsons then shared in stands with Wes Durston (36) and Arul Suppiah (28) before the game ended by which Somerset had moved onto 449 for 7, and the all rounder remained unbeaten on 108.

ScorecardPreview – A time to riseDay 1
Bulletin – Bashar leads the way for BangladeshDay 2
Bulletin – Rafique century frustrates West IndiesDay 3
Bulletin – Bangladesh rue missed chancesDay 4
Bulletin – Bangladesh secure first-innings leadDay 5
Bulletin – Khaled Mashud defies West Indies
News – Best fined 75% of match fee

FULL NAME: Gary Bazil Brent
BORN: 13 January 1976, at Sinoia (now Chinhoyi)
MAJOR TEAMS: Mashonaland Under-24/Young Mashonaland (1994/95-1995/96);
Mashonaland (1996/97-1998/99), Manicaland (1999/2000 to date).
Present club teams: Old Hararians, Mutare Sports Club.
KNOWN AS: Gary Brent. Nickname: GB.
BATTING STYLE: Right Hand Bat
BOWLING STYLE: Right Arm Fast Medium Bowler
OCCUPATION: Professional cricketer
FIRST-CLASS DEBUT: Mashonaland Under-24 v Mashonaland Country Districts, (Harare South), 16 September 1994
TEST DEBUT: 18-22 November 1999, Zimbabwe v Sri Lanka (Queens Sports Club).
ODI DEBUT: 30 October 1996, Zimbabwe v Pakistan (Quetta).
BIOGRAPHY (updated March 2003)Gary Brent is a medium-pace bowler, and also a useful batsman, who has been on the fringe of the Zimbabwean national side for several years now without being able to break through and earn a permanent place in the team.Gary comes from a strong cricketing background, and his uncle Jon Brent was an all-rounder, like himself, who represented Zimbabwe between 1988 and 1990. His earliest memories of cricket are of his father bowling to him on the lawn at home when he was very young.Although Gary is now primarily a bowler who can bat, his bowling was a later development in his career. Although born in Chinhoyi, his family soon moved near Harare and he attended Highlands Primary School there. He won his place in the large school’s Colts team, which consisted mainly of Grade 5 players, while still in Grade 3, as a batsman and later also as wicket-keeper. This was a role he was to fulfill until late in his high-school career.He scored his first fifty for the school first team while in Grade 7 and was sent for trials for the national primary school tournament, but did not make the final side. He progressed to Eaglesvale High School, where he was in the same year as the Matambanadzo twins, Darlington and Everton. At first he continued to keep wicket and either opened the batting or went in at number three. It was here that he was coached by Barry Lake, whom he names as the main influence in his cricketing career.It was Mr Lake who encouraged Gary to develop his bowling. Gary soon became a useful seam bowler, aiming to hit the seam and with the inswinger as his stock delivery. In his final year he hit 108 against the English school Dean Close at the Prince Edward Cricket Festival, in a partnership of over 300 with Doug Marillier, who scored a double-century. He was selected for the national schools team as an all-rounder.During this year he also played club cricket for the first time, joining Old Hararians who offered free membership to players from schools such as Eaglesvale. He had further encouragement from some of the leading players, and pays tribute especially to Paul and Bryan Strang who gave him a great deal of help, especially on the mental side of the game, and also Dirk Viljoen for his advice with his batting.After leaving school he started work for his father on the family farm in Norton, which earned him a qualification for Mashonaland Country Districts. During the off season he travelled to England to play for the club at Burridge, where he found the play of quite a good standard, better than Zimbabwean second-league standard he thinks.After some useful performances at club level, mainly as a bowler, he made his first-class debut in the Logan Cup for Mashonaland Under-24 against Mashonaland Country Districts. Although he took only one wicket, he did play an innings of 40 against an attack containing Test players Gary Crocker, Steve Peall and Paul Strang, which was to remain his highest first-class score for five years. In his team’s next match, against Mashonaland, he took the wickets of Test players Craig Evans (twice), Andy Flower and Gavin Briant.Gary also had some good performances to his credit for the Zimbabwe Board XI in matches not ranked as first-class against South African teams, most notably eight wickets against Free State B. It was largely as a result of these performances that he was chosen to tour Pakistan with the national side in 1996/97, a surprise choice even though Zimbabwe’s pace-bowling reserves were very thin at that time.It was a memorable tour for Gary, even though most of his time was spent doing twelfth-man duties. He was particularly struck by the dryness of the country and the poverty of so many of the people there, and also felt very much in awe of the great crowds that filled the stadiums and the noise they created. A great deal of time was also spent driving from place to place in not the most comfortable of conditions. He did play in one international match, making his one-day debut at Quetta, where he scored just one run and bowled five rather innocuous overs. He was clearly not international material yet, and was overlooked for more than a year after this by the national selectors.His career took an important step forward when he was selected to attend the MRF Pace Foundation coaching course with Dennis Lillee at Madras just before he returned to international cricket in April 1998. He worked hard at his action, especially in putting his feet down in the right places, and feels the coaching was of great benefit, an experience he would be eager to repeat given the opportunity. He feels Lillee’s advice on playing in big matches also made a positive impression on him: "Stop, look, and take in the atmosphere."Gary’s second one-day international was no more successful than his first with the ball; playing against India in Cuttack, he again bowled only five rather expensive overs without success, but he did score a useful 24 with the bat, hanging on while Grant Flower reached his century at the other end as Zimbabwe made a late but unsuccessful bid for victory.The following season he attended the Commonwealth Games, playing in two matches against Malaysia and Sri Lanka, taking one and two wickets respectively in the unofficial internationals. He again played in just one official one-day international during the season, another unsuccessful match against India, but at least he had the satisfaction of a wicket this time, dismissing Rahul Dravid.Shortly after this he was given a place in the first intake of the Zimbabwe Cricket Academy, a position he had been aiming for as he hopes to become a fully-fledged professional cricketer. He had his first taste of captaincy at first-class level when, in the absence of Dirk Viljoen, he led the academy against the visiting Australian Cricket Academy team, which was to be a rather torrid experience, as the tourists had in their ranks Brett Lee, a bowler of express pace who literally frightened some of the local Academy players. Gary himself showed his unselfishness in the second innings by promoting himself in the batting order, when on a `pair’, to face the fury of Lee when he could have waited until the bowler was rested. He weathered the storm and made a valiant 37, but the team was heavily defeated.He also played in the one-day series for Zimbabwe A against the touring England A team, and impressed with some attacking accurate bowling. He had recently shortened his run-up and found it made a considerable difference to his bowling; this, he thought, was perhaps the best spell of bowling he had ever done. In his ten overs he took two wickets for 21 runs, by some way the best bowling return for his team.The 1999/2000 season was a major one for Gary, as to the surprise of many he played in two Test matches, with fair results, and played regularly for the national one-day team. He played a couple of one-day matches against Australia with no great success, and he himself was rather surprised to be selected to make his Test debut against Sri Lanka in the First Test at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.This came on the back of his best career bowling figures, six for 84 while playing for the Academy against the Sri Lankans at Kwekwe. That Test was badly affected by rain, but Gary was by far the most economical of the Zimbabwean bowlers, taking two wickets (Jayawardene and de Saram) for 55 runs in 32 overs. Against that, he was out first ball with the bat.He kept his place for the Second Test at Harare, where he was less successful with the ball, until the second innings, when Sri Lanka needed just 35 to win. Gary gave them a shock by taking three quick wickets, but still lost his place for the final Test, when Eddo Brandes returned to the team.Gary went on to have a most successful Logan Cup season. After completing his year at the Academy, he was posted to Manicaland, where he became the backbone of their attack in their most successful first year in the competition. He took 15 wickets in his first two matches for them, although he trailed off after that, and they missed him badly in the final which they lost the Mashonaland, as he was touring with the national side in the West Indies.Gary played in 17 one-day internationals during the season, taking 24 wickets at an average of 30, although conceding five runs an over. Eight of the wickets were in consecutive matches against Sri Lanka, so that remains his favourite series.He played in the triangular tournament in South Africa, against England at home, toured West Indies and finally was included in the World Cup squad for England in 1999. He played in only one World Cup match, though, the final one at The Oval against Pakistan, when he was as unsuccessful as the best of the team.Then it was back to domestic cricket for 2000/01, as he was not even selected for the Zimbabwe Board XI. He had another good season for Manicaland, taking 23 wickets in their four matches, but he did not even get a single game in the national one-day side.Then suddenly, the following season, he found he was in favour again. Regaining his one-day place, he was Zimbabwe’s most accurate and economical bowler against the South Africans, and continued to bowl steadily against England in the home one-day series. Sharjah followed, with seven wickets in four matches.The came the tour to Bangladesh, where Gary was given another chance at Test cricket, in the Second Test at Chittagong. He was disappointed to take only one wicket for 88 runs against weak opposition, but he took five wickets in two one-day internationals, which helped to keep him in the side for Sri Lanka.More disappointments were to follow, as he played one unsuccessful one-day match there and another disappointing Test match. He was given what was to be a final chance on the tour to India, but took just two expensive wickets in three one-day internationals.Since then Gary has been out in the cold as far as international cricket is concerned. He returned to live in Harare, although still playing for Manicaland and Mutare Sports Club in the national league, while rejoining Old Hararians for the Vigne Cup competition. He took 10 wickets at 14.20 each in his two Logan Cup matches in 2001/02, but his 2002/03 season did not go well. He cannot put his finger on the problem, but he tended to be more expensive in domestic cricket and so failed to challenge for a place in the World Cup squad.Gary’s batting steadily improved, and he has learned to be a better starter and contribute more consistently without producing any really high scores. He plays straight and scores the bulk of his runs from drives, while he is also able to play safe and keep an end up if that is in the interests of the team. He scored his first fifties for Old Hararians and also for the Zimbabwe Board XI in 1998/99. He felt particularly pleased with an innings of about 60 on a dodgy pitch in a Vigne Cup match, while his best first-class innings has been 72 not out when strengthening a CFX Academy XI against the Indian tourists of 2000/01.A modest man who perhaps still needs to work on the confidence factor, Gary’s international future is uncertain, but he could still return with plenty of hard work and mental strength. The next season or two should determine the future of his career as he seeks a return to the national side.

A predictable redemption for former New Zealand Cricket captain Martin Crowe has occurred with today’s release of New Zealand Cricket’s inquiry into allegations made against Crowe by Indian bookmaker Mukesh Gupta.All Gupta’s claims have been thrown out unceremoniously by the inquiry which found no record of Gupta ever having entered New Zealand.Making matters all the more frustrating for Crowe was the realisation that despite the fact, which he used in his defence, he was to have been paid $US3000 for newspaper articles in India, he never received a cent.”Martin Crowe’s incorrect assumption, that he had been paid when the story broke in November 2000, was understandable,” the inquiry said.”The issue had not arisen between 1992 and 2000, so far as he was concerned. Only then did he check to see if any bank credit could be identified as had been agreed with the “journalist”. That enquiry, carried out by chartered accountants, revealed no sum approximating that which he agreed, or Gupta alleged. He could have avoided any such inquiry, simply by asserting a cash payment, or denying payment, had he something to hide,” it said.Crowe’s insistence on facing up to the charges, despite the lack of supporting evidence to Gupta’s claims made to the Indian police, won credit from the New Zealand inquiry of Sir Ian Barker and Nick Davidson.”Martin Crowe would have been entitled to refuse to come before the Inquiry,” their report said.”The Inquiry would have accepted that decision without criticism and it would have left Gupta’s allegations as unsubstantiated except to the extent Martin Crowe acknowledged contact with him.”However, Martin Crowe still sought to tell his story, and have his credibility assessed.”This was much to his credit.”He was prepared to give his evidence under oath, but as there was no jurisdiction for this Inquiry to administer such an oath, he made a statutory declaration, to record the truth of his statements. The interview took place on 4 July 2001 in Auckland,” they said.There was scope for the Inquiry to treat the allegations as unproven.However, the inquiry would have been a proper conclusion and fair to Martin Crowe.”He chose however to have his credibility assessed, despite that fact. Readers of this Report should recognise the significance of that stance, and the finding of credibility in his favour.”By this Report, Martin Crowe is cleared of any wrongful practice. His reputation should stand untarnished,” they said.The inquiry reported that Crowe explained to the Inquiry that when he learned after one or two calls that the person with whom he was speaking by telephone was not a journalist but a bookmaker attempting to fix matches, he reacted with shock and disgust. He spoke crudely and forcibly to this person and ended the conversation and all contact.”Crowe said he immediately spoke with Mark Greatbatch while in a state of shock, and told him what had occurred.”Mark Greatbatch confirmed what Martin Crowe had said. He remembered vividly Martin Crowe’s shocked state at the time, and the reason for it,” the report said.New Zealand Cricket chairman, Sir John Anderson, said the NZ Cricket board fully accepted the Inquiry findings and thanked the Inquiry team for their detailed and thorough investigation of the issues and their clear and concise conclusions.”The Board fully accepts the principal findings of the Inquiry: that former New Zealand cricket captain, Martin Crowe, was unfairly accused, and there is no evidence of any wrongdoing on his part.”The Board believes the ‘name and shame’ approach of the initial Indian CBI report offended principles of natural justice.”Martin Crowe can hold his head high in the knowledge that he has been exonerated by this rigorous and independent Inquiry. The Board accepts the allegations of corruption against Martin were without substance and considers the matter now closed,” Sir John said.By way of explanation of their approach to the inquiry Barker and Davidson backgrounded their .”The Inquiry had no powers to compel any attendance before it, or indeed provision of any information. It relied on co-operation,” they said.”Martin Crowe responded to the Report at the time by acknowledging he received money from a person whom he now understood to be Gupta, without realising he was a bookmaker. Martin Crowe said he thought he was to be paid for writing articles from a captain’s perspective, relevant to the 1992 World Cup, for syndication in India.”From the outset, Martin Crowe through his Counsel, David Howman, said he would co-operate with the Inquiry and attend for interview.”There was some public criticism of him, for stating as a condition that Gupta first come forward with his evidence, so that it could be tested in full. The Inquiry does not share in that criticism. Martin Crowe’s stance was entirely proper. Having been accused of associating with a known bookmaker for money, he was entitled to require that person to come forward before he gave his own evidence.”There were from the outset essential differences between the public statement Martin Crowe made, after publication of the CBI Report, and Gupta’s ‘statement’, they said.These were:

• Martin Crowe denied that he knew the person with whom he dealt (assumed to be Gupta) was a bookmaker, until he was asked to fix a match. He said he was approached by a person whom he believed to represent a newspaper, to write articles for syndication in India.
• He denied that Gupta had ever been to his home and that of his (then) wife Simone Crowe, as Gupta alleged.
• He denied that he was introduced to Gupta by Arvinda de Silva of Sri Lanka.
• He denied being paid US$20,000 in cash, in an envelope, but said he agreed to a fee of US$3,000, for provision of information for newspaper articles.

The New Zealand Inquiry attempted to interview Gupta through their counsel assisting the inquiry, Tim Gresson, of Timaru. He visited India in December 2000 with Anti Corruption Unit representatives and met with the Indian Bureau of Investigation. Efforts to interview Gupta failed.The Inquiry also conducted an exhaustive serach of New Zealand immigration files to see if Gupta visited New Zealand in 1991 and 1992. While Gupta reportedly left India in September 1991, there was no record of him entering New Zealand.The Inquiry also worked with the Sri Lankan inquiry into allegations made against Aravinda de Silva and Arjuna Ranatunga and De Silva denied introducing Gupta to Crowe, as Gupta claimed.”Because Simone Crowe was implicated in the narrative of Gupta’s allegations, the Inquiry asked her to come before it. Despite being encouraged by Martin Crowe, she chose not to do so and gave reasons which the Inquiry accepted.”She provided a written statement which denied the allegations made by Gupta,” the Inquiry said.

The Athletic’s Kieran Devlin has claimed it is possible that both Kyogo Furuhashi and Giorgos Giakoumakis start for Celtic on Sunday.

The Lowdown: Furuhashi’s return from injury

Ange Postecoglou has been without Furuhashi since December due to a hamstring problem.

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The Hoops have managed to cope without their top scorer though and are now three points clear of rivals Rangers heading into Sunday’s crucial Glasgow Derby at Ibrox.

Giakoumakis has stepped up to the mark in Furuhashi’s, absence, scoring 11 times in 2022, however, there is hope Furuhashi could be available against Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side.

The Latest: Devlin’s claim

Devlin shared a story on The Athletic on Wednesday, looking at who could lead the line for the Hoops at Ibrox.

He said it is ‘possible’ that both Furuhashi and Giakoumakis start together, although he added that it is unlikely.

The Verdict: A risk?

It looks as if Furuhashi may well have a part to play on the weekend, however, it could be a huge risk if Postecoglou selected the forward in his starting XI.

The 27-year-old suffered a reoccurrence of his hamstring issue after starting against St Johnstone prior to the winter break, so there could be a chance of lightning striking twice on Sunday if forced back for too many minutes.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

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It could be better for Giakoumakis to lead the line with Furuhashi on the bench, easing him back into action, as there is still a lot of football left to play this season, including two more games against Rangers.

In other news: ‘Fantastic’ Celtic gem now drops major hint he won’t be available for title run-in. 

Boyd Rankin, the Warwickshire and Ireland fast bowler, is likely to miss the entire 2008 season after being diagnosed with a serious shoulder injury.He is suffering from a SLAP (Superior Labrum from Anterior to Posterior) lesion in his right shoulder, a common injury among sportsmen who throw or in cricket bowl, and will undergo surgery. The expected recovery time is between three and six months.It is the latest blow for Rankin, who impressed during the 2007 World Cup for Ireland, after he spent the winter overcoming a back problem following his move from Derbyshire to Warwickshire.”I just dived for a ball in the warm-up [before the first day of the championship game against Worcestershire] and landed awkwardly,” Rankin told . “Then I went on as a substitute fielder and had to dive for another ball. When I tried to throw it in it felt as if I’d been stabbed.”It’s very frustrating. I’d worked so hard. But it’s better to have the operation now than let it get worse and hopefully I can get a few months cricket in later in the summer.”