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The Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL) faces the prospect ofa possible legal dispute with Taj Television, a Dubai-based sportsbroadcaster, if it fails to recognise a three-year television andsponsorship contract signed in October 2001.According to BCCSL sources, the executive committee is close to an agreementthat will see the Singapore-based WSG Nimbus reinstated as the BCCSL’stelevision and sponsorship rights holder for the forthcoming England tour ofSri Lanka.But Taj Television, who have already sold television feeds to Sky Sports forthe series, and are currently selling the title and other sponsorshiprights, are adamant that their contract, due to run until 2004, cannot justbe brushed aside. “We have a contract with the BCCSL that is legal andbinding,” said Jude de Valliere, spokesman for Taj Television, in Colombo.The deal being brokered is designed to save the BCCSL from a potentiallycrippling US$11 million damages claim after a Singapore arbitration courtruled that the board – led at that time by a government-appointed interimcommittee – had cancelled a contract with WSG Nimbus “unlawfully andillegally” in 2001 for allegedly missing payment deadlines.”What we are hopeful to do is reduce the US$11 million damages claimed on usand ensure that future matches are televised,” Mohan de Silva, the BCCSL’ssecretary, told AFP. “The talks have been going very well and we are hopeful ofreaching an amicable settlement within a week.”The BCCSL is expected to argue that the Taj Television contract is “null andvoid” because it was not signed with a properly elected executivecommittee – even though the interim committee, which had sought the adviceof the Attorney General, had been invested with government authority.

Ewen Thompson, the 21-year-old Central Districts left-arm bowler, joined the small ranks of one-armed cricketers when he batted one-handed against Auckland on the third day of their State Championship four-day match on the Eden Park Outer Oval today.Thompson suffered a broken bone in his right forearm when batting on Monday, and the forecast seemed to be that while he might bowl again in the match batting was out of the question.As the Central Districts second innings wickets fell steadily today Thompson sat on the sideline, feeling more than one kind of pain.”Then I decided I owed it to the team to try and get some runs at the end,” said Thompson, “so I had a go.”I felt a bit awkward, but managed to get some runs (in fact 18 from 14 balls in a 26-run last-wicket stand with Michael Mason).”Thompson even managed two fours and a sweetly timed one-handed reverse sweep to the leg-spin bowling of Brooke Walker. He confessed that even batted one-handed gave him twinges of pain.However, later in the day, Thompson joined the CD bowling as they tried to slow Auckland’s growingly confident pursuit of 210 runs for victory, but could not bear the pain.”It really hurt, and I could not really get my right arm up in its normal bowling position, so it was not much use.”Thompson managed only three overs and is now facing four weeks with the arm in plaster, and perhaps some coaching work in Wairarapa, before he can consider re-starting his cricketing heroics.

Worried Adams does not know which way his team is going Photo © CricInfo

England carried their magnificent form from Old Trafford to the picturesqueRiverside ground in Durham and virtually ended West Indies’ hopes of apassage to the final of the NatWest Series next Saturday.For the second successive match, England produced a highly commendableperformance that brought them victory by a most comfortable margin of tenwickets, the first time that they have achieved it on such a scale in 314one-day international matches that they have played since the first one inMelbourne nearly thirty years ago.Capacity crowdIt was a display that would have brought some warmth to England’s supportersamong the crowd which filled the ground to capacity on a bitterly coldmorning. Ironically, by the time the game ended, the ground was bathed insunshine.It was England’s day from the start, having put the opposition in to bat,England’s bowlers remained on top throughout the innings, apart from theperiod when Brian Lara and Chris Gayle were putting on a 61 run stand,having got together on 43 for three. Needless to say there were no individualscores of any significance barring Lara’s half-century in West Indies’ total of169.Worry for West IndiesFor West Indies, the decline in both the major areas of their game since thewin in the first Test match at Edgbaston, a month ago, must now be a sourceof considerable worry. It’s true that their veteran and leading fast bowlersCurtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh are currently missing from the attack, andthat must surely take some pressure off England’s batsmen, but theirbatting – even allowing for the absence of the injured Shivnarine Chanderpaul -shows obvious lack of depth and application.It has undoubtedly put pressure on Lara who contributes substantially, bycomparison to others, but does not come up with the big scores that he is socapable of and, indeed, is expected to.It now calls for an allmighty effort from the Windies in their remainingtwo games in this series to have a chance to reach the final. They will have towin their match against Zimbabwe tomorrow and against England next Thursday,by considerable margins, and then, too, they must hope for Zimbabwe todefeat England on Tuesday, to entertain any hopes for a Lord’s final. That is the, almost unrealistic, formula that they hope will apply.West Indies attack dominatedEngland’s innings today saw a total domination of the West Indies attack.Marcus Trescothick, with 87 not out, showed he is going from strength tostrength in these limited-over matches, and as he says, he now hopes to finda place in the England Test side. Captain Alec Stewart, who formed such aneffective opening partnership with him, hitting an unbeaten 74, said:” Itsbeen two great performances on the trot. We carried on from where we leftoff at Old Trafford. They produced a very good wicket here and all credit toDurham for it and all the facilities.”

Leeds United could potentially sign Liverpool forward Takumi Minamino in the summer transfer window, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Lowdown: Minamino enjoying a productive season

The Japan international may not be a key figure at Anfield currently, with world-class names keeping him out of the starting line-up, but he is still having a good season.

However, Minamino has chipped in with an impressive tally of nine goals in all competitions, playing an important role in Liverpool winning the Carabao Cup.

Leeds have been linked with a move for the 27-year-old in the recent past and it may be a rumour which continues to circulate.

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The Latest: Leeds backed to make move for Minamino

Speaking to GiveMeSport, O’Rourke claimed that Jesse Marsch’s arrival at Elland Road could increase the chances of Minamino coming to Leeds, with the duo having previously worked together.

The journalist said: “Yeah, I still think it’s a position that Leeds need to strengthen. They’ve been so badly hit by Patrick Bamford’s absences this season through injury; they haven’t got much up there. Jesse Marsch knows all about him from his time at RB Salzburg.”

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The Verdict: Ideal summer signing

Minamino may not have been a huge success at Liverpool so far but he has shown his class sporadically and would be a shrewd summer addition at Leeds.

The fact that he and Marsch worked together at Red Bull Salzburg means that the Whites’ new manager is aware of his qualities, with Jurgen Klopp also hailing the 27-year-old as ‘exceptional’ after his match-winning double against Norwich in the FA Cup last week.

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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Minamino’s versatility means he could thrive in a number 10 role, out wide or even leading the line. He could therefore be invaluable to squad depth, not to mention bringing undisputed quality in attacking areas.

Seventeen goals in 37 caps for Japan is also an impressive return, and if Liverpool are willing to part ways this summer, a move to Leeds could suit all parties.

In other news, Phil Hay has provided a key Leeds injury update. Read more here.

John Wright has been appointed as acting high performance manager for New Zealand Cricket, replacing Ric Charlesworth, who left on Friday following the end of his two-year contract. It is understood Charlesworth has taken a role with the Indian hockey team.”Many of the initiatives Ric has put in place are positive for the long-term future of elite cricket performance in New Zealand,” said the NZC chief executive, Justin Vaughan. “His main initiatives include a world-class specialist coaching network which will expose many more cricketers throughout New Zealand to coaching at the highest level and a winter playing programme which will allow emerging players to train and play outdoors in Australia during the winter months.”John will assume the role of acting high performance manager as we work through a process to determine the optimal structures for high performance in the future. John has been at NZC a short time but has already made a significant contribution. His approach towards creating winning performances is exactly what we need at the elite level.”Wright, who joined in August, was tipped as Charlesworth’s long-term replacement last month, with the short-term deal providing further indication that he could be the man for the future.

Scorecard
Bangladesh A sneaked a one-wicket win over Zimbabwe at Mirpur, but only thanks to a last-wicket stand between Mohammad Shahzada and Enamul Haque jnr. Coming together with the score on 109 for 9 – still nine runs short- the pair calmly guided their team home in a match in which no batsman ever came to terms with a pitch criticised for its uneven bounce.Zimbabwe had seemed to be heading to defeat when Bangladesh A, who resumed on 29 for 1, progressed to 63 for 1 in the first half hour. However, with only 45 runs needed, the innings fell apart as eight wickets went down for 46 runs, with Zimbabwe’s bowlers finally showing a resolve which had been missing among their batsmen.Anthony Ireland took 3 for 38 – taking his match haul to 10 for 74 – while Graeme Cremer chipped in with 3 for 25 as in the space of 27 overs Zimbabwe went from certain defeat to likely victory. But Shahzada and Haque ensured that Bangladesh A had the final say in a low-scoring contestThe closeness of the finish could not mask the humiliating nature of the defeat for Zimbabwe, twice dismissed for under 150 in the match. Sean Williams, who struggled manfully with the bat, and Ireland were the only men to emerge with any credit in a lacklustre performance from a team that has lost 12 ODIs in a row.The two sides meet again in a four-day match starting at the same venue on Friday. It represents the last chance for Zimbabwe to salvage anything from a tour which has seen almost all the signs that they might have turned the corner cruelly crushed.