NEW DELHI: Former India batsman Sandeep Patil was named Thursday as the new chief selector ahead of home Test series against England and Australia, the country’s cricket board announced.
The 56-year-old replaced Krishnamachari Srikkanth whose tenure saw India clinch the 50-over World Cup at home last year and rise to number one in the Test rankings.
Patil, a member of the 1983 World Cup-winning team in England, retired from international cricket in 1986 with 1,588 runs in 29 Tests and 1,005 runs in 45 one-day internationals.
The other selectors in the new five-man panel were Roger Binny, Saba Karim, Vikram Rathour — all former Test players — and Rajinder Singh Hans.
“We wanted a person of sufficient stature to be the new chairman,” the Board of Control for Cricket in India president N. Srinivasan told the media in Mumbai.
“And I think Sandeep Patil fits the bill. No one can question his credentials.” The selectors’ first assignment will be to pick the squad against second-ranked England, who arrive in India next month to play a four-Test series.
India, currently fifth in the International Cricket Council Test rankings, will also play four Tests against Australia at home this season.
Patil named India’s new chief selector
Patil named India’s new chief selector
US-based group completes Rangers takeover
Rangers said the Scottish Football Association approved the deal late on Thursday night
GLASGOW: A United States-based group completed their takeover of Scottish Premiership club Rangers on Friday and immediately pledged to make a £20 million ($26 million) investment in new signings.
The consortium of investors, led by Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises, purchased a majority 51 percent stake in the Glasgow team.
Funding for the close-season signings will come in the form of a new share issue, subject to shareholder approval at a general meeting on June 23.
Healthcare executive Cavenagh is Rangers’ new chairman, while Paraag Marathe, who is chairman of Premier League side Leeds United and the president of 49ers Enterprises, becomes the vice-chairman.
Rangers said the Scottish Football Association approved the deal late on Thursday night after the club sought consent over dual ownership issues.
Sports investment firm 49ers Enterprises also owns a majority stake in Leeds, who won promotion from the Championship this season.
The deal will allow Rangers to step up their recruitment of a new manager.
Real Madrid’s departing assistant manager Davide Ancelotti and former Southampton boss Russell Martin are among the leading contenders for the job following the departure of interim boss Barry Ferguson.
“We are deeply grateful for the trust placed in us by the Rangers board, shareholders, staff, and supporters,” Cavenagh said.
“This club’s history and traditions speak for themselves, but history doesn’t win matches.
“We know that the true way to honor the club’s heritage will be to drive performance.
“Our focus is simple: elevate performance, deliver results, and bring Rangers back to where it belongs — at the top.”
Rangers finished second in the Scottish Premier League this season, trailing 17 points behind Old Firm rivals Celtic, and failed to win a trophy.
Rangers haven’t won the Scottish title since 2021, with Celtic lifting the trophy 13 times in the last 14 seasons.
Ending Celtic’s dominance will be the top priority for Rangers’ new owners.
Marathe added: “At 49ers Enterprises, we have built a track record of sporting and business success, but our driving motivation is our deep connection to the clubs and communities we serve.”
Aryna Sabalenka powers into French Open fourth round
- The Belarusian dominated her opponent from the start and although she faced some brief resistance in the second set
PARIS: World number one Aryna Sabalenka’s French Open quest continued as she powered into the fourth round with a 6-2 6-3 victory against Serbia’s Olga Danilovic on Friday.
The Belarusian dominated her opponent from the start and although she faced some brief resistance in the second set, she easily set up a meeting with 16th seed Amanda Anisimova of the United States.
“I am super happy with the win, Olga is a fighter and I knew it would be a fight. She played like a top 10 player; pretty soon she will be in the top 10,” said Sabalenka.
Sabalenka started in ruthless fashion, racing to a 5-0 lead but Danilovic avoided the bagel by winning the sixth game on serve, going on to pull a break back.
The resurgence was shortlived, however, as Sabalenka wrapped up the opening set with another break of serve.
Danilovic put up a decent fight in the second set but there was no comeback on the cards as Sabalenka broke for 5-3.
The three-time Grand Slam champion wrapped it up with an unreturnable serve on a half-empty Court Philippe Chatrier – a common occurrence on early matches at the French Open.
Driver charged with Liverpool football parade tragedy appears in court
- Prosecutors have charged him with dangerous driving and six serious offenses alleging grievous bodily harm
- The charges are related to two boys, two women and two men who were among the 79 people injured Monday during celebrations of Liverpool’s Premier League championship
LONDON: A driver charged with multiple counts of intentionally causing grievous bodily harm for ramming into a crowd of Liverpool football fans celebrating their team’s Premier League championship was ordered held in custody Friday at his first court appearance.
Paul Doyle, wearing a black suit, white shirt and gray tie, looked emotional as he spoke only to confirm his name, address and birth date in a hearing in Liverpool Magistrates’ Court. He did not enter a plea.
Doyle, 53, faces a charge of dangerous driving and six serious offenses alleging he caused or tried to cause grievous bodily harm. The charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison if he is convicted.
The father of three bowed his head as the charges were read. The counts are related to the injuries of two boys, two women and two men who were among the 79 people injured Monday. The victims ranged in age from 9 to 78, police said. Seven people remained hospitalized Thursday.
District Judge Paul Healey put an order in place restricting the publication of victims’ names.
Doyle was ordered to appear later in the day in Liverpool Crown Court.
The city had been celebrating Liverpool’s record-tying 20th title when Doyle turned down a street full of fans and joy quickly turned to tragedy. Police said they believed Doyle got past a road block by following an ambulance that was trying to reach a possible heart attack victim.
Videos showed the car hit and toss a person wrapped in a red Liverpool flag into the air and then swerve into a sea of people packed on the side of the road.
At least four people, including a child, had to be freed from beneath the vehicle when it came to a halt.
The driver was believed to have acted alone and terrorism was not suspected, Merseyside Police said. They have not disclosed an alleged motive for the act.
Real Madrid sign Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool
- Real Madrid have signed defender Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool on a deal until 2031, the Spanish giants said on Friday
MADRID: Real Madrid have signed defender Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool on a deal until 2031, the Spanish giants said on Friday.
The 26-year-old England international’s contract at Anfield was drawing to an end but Madrid paid a fee to bring him in earlier so he can play in the Club World Cup.
Right-back Alexander-Arnold, who has just won the Premier League title with Liverpool, came through the academy of his boyhood club and won the Champions League in 2019.
He also won the Premier League in 2020 and 352 appearances for the club.
The defender joins former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso at Real Madrid, with the Spaniard appointed as their new coach to replace Carlo Ancelotti.
Alexander-Arnold’s close connections to Liverpool meant that his announcement that he was leaving the club was viewed with disgust by some supporters and he was booed in the penultimate match of the season.
But after club figures including former manager Jurgen Klopp and Mohamed Salah urged fans to remember the contribution he has made to Liverpool’s success over the last six years, he was roundly cheered when he lifted the Premier League trophy at Anfield last Sunday.
The defender joins a Real Madrid side which failed to win a major trophy this season.
Alexander-Arnold has been criticized for his defensive concentration at times but brings supreme passing vision and attacking edge down the right flank.
Real Madrid have struggled at right-back this season with Dani Carvajal recovering from a long-term knee injury and winger Lucas Vazquez enduring a torrid time there out of position.
Alexander-Arnold could make his Real Madrid debut when they face Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal in their opening Club World Cup match on June 18 in Miami.
Real Madrid have also signed Spanish center-back Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth as they look to bolster a back-line which was ravaged by injury this season.
De Bruyne is Manchester City’s ‘greatest player’ says club chairman as Guardiola prepares team for Club World Cup
- In Part 1 of his review of the 2024-2025 season, Khaldoon Al-Mubarak looks back on the challenges faced by the team and confirms his confidence that they will be back to winning ways
ABU DHABI: Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak has provided his annual review of the season to the club’s official online channel. In Part 1 of the interview he discussed the challenges of the 2024-2025 campaign, the departure of a club legend and his trust in manager Pep Guardiola. Here are some of the highlights.
On City improving next season …
We will be back. This season is a season that’s now behind us. And we will take all the good things and the not-so-good things from this season and learn from it and improve from it and get better.
I can assure you, this club will do everything possible to come back to the standards that we know we all can achieve and that we know, we will achieve. If there’s one thing I’d like right now, it’s to turn that page from last season and just immediately start focusing on next season.
All the players, everyone I saw yesterday after the Fulham game, all the players, they’re excited, they’re excited about coming back. Nobody feels good about how we finished the season. They want to come back and they want to come back hungry. And I can see the hunger.
And that’s exactly why you see me so positive. We’re going to come back strong, with a lot of positivity.
On City’s summer transfer strategy …
We have clearly identified who exactly are the targets, in what positions, and we have our clear No.1 option, our clear No.2 option. And we’ll go about our business, and it will be very clear, very swift.
Our objective is to try to be ready with the new squad for the Club World Cup.
On Kevin De Bruyne …
In my view, he is the greatest player to play for this club. His accomplishments speak for themselves. His accomplishments for the club in terms of trophies — that tally, number of Premier Leagues, the Champions League, FA Cups, Community Shields, Carabao Cups. It’s an unbelievable tally, the highest of any player who has ever played for this club.
He's been a captain. He’s been a leader. He’s been a teammate. He’s been everything you would hope from your most important player.
Kevin really transcends this team and I’m so proud of what he has accomplished. It’s one of the best decisions we ever took – the day we took the decision to invest in Kevin and bring him from Wolfsburg. I remember some people thought we overpaid.
On Pep Guardiola …
One thing we have with Pep, which is so fundamental, is one word: trust.
We have trust, and it goes both ways. I think he trusts us. He trusts me. He trusts the organisation. He trusts the club, and we trust him.
And that trust is what, in the good times, allows you to keep winning. And in the tough times, that’s where that trust really shows up.
And we’ve gone through all these ups and downs, and we’ve always stood together as a team. And inevitably it’s always shown to be the foundation of our success.
