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Lahore-Almost 20 years after its inauguration as a Test venue, in 1981 against the Clive Lloyd led West Indies, Multan is all set to renew its status with the first match of the Asian Test Championship on August 29, when it plays host to Bangladesh.But this major city in the Southern Punjab, which is home to Inzamam-ul-Haq, would not have hosted only its second Test in two decades if the visiting team was not Bangladesh. That despite having a brand-new stadium now. The ICC regulations specifically ask for a five-star hotel facility within 30 minutes of travelling time to the ground. The hotel is there, but it is merely a three-star – and even that is stretching it a bit.These days, when international teams and cricketers have become highly demanding, no front-line team would have agreed to put up in such a facility. The example of the Aussies only recently forsaking a 100-plus years of tradition for the additional comforts of a swimming pool during the Edgbaston Test in the ongoing Ashes series is a case in point. Perhaps Bangladesh consented because they are babes of the game and not yet spoiled by the frills that international cricketers these days take for granted. Or maybe they agreed not to make the modest lodgings an issue because the Boards of the two countries enjoy very cordial relations.Recognized as one of the best-kept tourism secrets in the world because of the pristine natural beauty of its mountain ranges, historical monuments some of which date back to thousands of years and such tremendous variety in landscape and climates, Pakistan is sometimes a tourist’s nightmare because of a lack of quality lodgings in most cities and towns. The places where quality hotels are available are mostly the provincial and federal capitals.Cricket also stands to suffer on this count, as four venues where stadiums exist – and are being revamped and upgraded under the PCB’s ‘Vision 2005’ programme – would no longer be able to host international matches unless the guests show the kind of accommodation that the Bangladeshis are doing. These are: Hyderabad’s Niaz Stadium, the Multan’s newly-made cricket ground and Sialkot’s Jinnah Stadium and Gujranwala’s Municipal Stadium. In the circumstances, the point to consider for the PCB is as to how would it recoup the sizable investment that it is making in reconstructing these stadiums. Maybe the Board thinks that quality hotels would eventually be built in these cities or perhaps the use of these grounds for domestic cricket would be enough justification for its investment. And also that it would occasionally find visitors as accommodating as Bangladesh.

Everton have been woeful defensively, with just Leeds, Newcastle, Watford and Norwich conceding more than the Toffees’ total of 47 leaked goals this season in the Premier League.

Their highest performing defender in terms of match rating according to SofaScore, Michael Keane (6.92), has been frequently criticised throughout the year, and calls for him to be dropped are becoming more and more regular.

Having made two errors which have led to goals in the top flight this season, with Ben Godfrey having made an additional one, and neither Mason Holgate or Yerry Mina covering themselves in too much glory either this season, manager Frank Lampard is running short on players at the back that he can consistently trust.

He will also be wishing that the club didn’t sell 6 foot 4 Shane Duffy back in 2014, when he joined Blackburn for just £1.7m after failing to convince then-manager Roberto Martinez – with him now becoming a solid Premier League defender at Brighton where he has averaged an average match rating of 7.13 – higher than every single Everton player.

Since then he has become a “beast” in the words of Celtic legend John Hartson and a “monster” by Billy Reid so surely there will now be an element of regret in letting him depart so easily.

Speaking on Premier Sports TV at the start of the month, former Republic of Ireland players Shay Given and Kenny Cunningham praised their compatriot for reviving his career at the South-Coast club.

“I’ll give him credit, he turned things around at the start of the season in the summer and won over the manager,” said Cunningham.

“He got a run in the team but he’s been out of the team since then, and he had a rough time against Burnley a few weeks ago. But he’s got an opportunity with Webster out of the team.”

Given then added: “He worked hard at the start of the season, but recently his form has dipped slightly, like Brighton’s… But I think on his day in both boxes, he’s a massive part of this team.”

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Duffy ranks in the top 1% among central defenders in Europe’s top five leagues and continental competitions for aerials won per 90 (5.08) and percentage of aerials won per 90 (77.9%), stats that no doubt would be useful in Frank Lampard’s team right now.

With Everton currently in a relegation scrap, Lampard would have loved to have a player like the 51-time Republic of Ireland international at his disposal, and his experience, leadership and dominating presence would have added some crucial stability in the Merseyside club’s backline.

In other news: Frank heading for first transfer disaster at Everton on £25m tank who’s been “immense”

United Bank Limited sealed their place in the final of the President’s Trophy with a 169-run win over Port Qasim Authority in Karachi. Though they were chasing the game during the first half of the Test, a substantial second-innings total courtesy Abid Ali’s century and a stellar bowling effort led by captain Atif Maqbool, who took eleven wickets for the match, took United Bank to title contention.Mohammad Sami’s four wickets limited United Bank to 232 and Port Qasim were able to build on their bowers’ exploits largely thanks to a belligerent 140 from captain Khalid Latif. He arrived with the score at 153 for 5 and his 116-ball effort was vital to the side securing a 98-run lead. Maqbool, the offspinner, was the star bowler for United Bank, claiming 6 for 102, but his opposite number snared the limelight, biffing 12 sixes and nine fours.United Bank, who had ended a 15-year hiatus from top-grade first-class cricket in 2011, were able to overhaul the lead they conceded and set up a formidable fourth-innings target of 290 through Abid’s 128, his ninth first-class ton. He paced his innings quite well and ensured he wasn’t bogged down by striking 18 fours. With a little help from Mohammad Zohaib (61) and No. 9 Kashif Bhatti (64), United Bank were able to put up a much better effort second time around. Azam Hussain was the pick of the bowlers with 7 for 102.Port Qasim’s chase stuttered even as it began with the fall of four early wickets. Asim Kamal’s half-century was only one of three double-figure scores in the innings as Maqbool proved troublesome once again, ending up with 5 for 39 and sealing United Bank’s victory to help the four-time Quad-e-Azam champions bid for their first President’s Trophy title.Misbah-ul-Haq and Imran Khalid were the architects of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited‘s progress into the final with a victory over Water and Power Development Authority by 98 runs.Invited to bat, SNGPL were dented early and were propped up only by Misbah’s battling century. The next best score was 18 as Azhar Attari claimed five wickets for the third time in his first-class career. Misbah faced more than twice as many balls as any of his team-mates, striking seven sixes and eight fours.Though only 187 was needed to claim a first-innings lead, WAPDA’s batting struggled right from the start. Having lost their first wicket with no score on the board, they were shaken by regular jolts largely courtesy left-arm spinner Khalid, who ended up with 5 for 31. A slew of starts were wasted by the WAPDA batsmen resulting in them being dismissed for 137.With a lead of 49, SNGPL went for the kill. After opener Taufeeq Umar fell for a 66-ball 65, Umar Akmal was promoted to No.3 and skinned 77 off only 37 balls. WAPDA were set 272 for victory but they fell well short as again none of their batsmen could post more than 38. Khalid snared four wickets in the second innings as well.Kamran Akmal had an immensely profitable outing as his 162 runs and seven dismissals in the match ushered National Bank of Pakistan to a 112-run victory over Habib Bank Limited in Islamabad.Invited to bat, National Bank suffered a trend of batsmen failing to capitalise on their starts. Akmal, coming at No.6 broke the trend with a rapid century. His skill at finding the boundary was apparent as he mauled 94 of his 106 runs through fours (19) and sixes (3). Fifties from Nasir Jamshed and Fawad Alam had set the platform for his explosion as National Bank declared their innings on 325.Offspinner Adnan Rasool raked through the Habib Bank middle and lower order to claim his 10th five-wicket haul, which proved instrumental in bundling Habib Bank out for 178. Imran Farhat, the captain, led the resistance with brother Humayun chipping in but the lack of substantial partnerships and big scores meant National Bank gained a lead of 147.Akmal pressed the advantage further with an aggressive half-century in the second innings and his team-mates followed suit. Wahab Riaz was promoted to No.4 and smashed five fours and two sixes in a 17-ball 40 that powered National Bank to 181 in 22.2 overs, when they declared to set up a target of 329.The chase began well as the openers put up Habib Bank’s first fifty-partnership of the match. Bilal Shafayat and Imran Farhat posted useful half-centuries but neither batsman could convert. With the score on 171, Farhat was the fifth batsman to fall and Habib Bank lost a further three wickets with the score on 204 to be eight down. Ahmed Jamal picked up the final two in the 77th over to complete his five-for as victory was sealed.Sharjeel Khan slammed a mammoth 279, his highest first-class score but Pakistan Television held Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited to a draw, after the first day’s play was abandoned, in Rawalpindi.PTV were routed for 212 in the first innings, having been put in. It did not look likely, with Akbar Badshah and Mohammad Sami putting on 74 for the fourth wicket. The score was still a reasonably healthy 157 for 4, but the last six wickets posed very little threat as Sajjad Hussain and Imran Khan claimed four wickets each.ZTBL’s batting effort was dominated by Sharjeel as he went at nearly a run-a-ball, slamming an astonishing 40 fours and five sixes. The rest of the top-order, though, could contribute only 24 runs to the total and ZTBL were in considerable trouble at 61 for 5. But that was when Sharjeel took control. He added 66 runs with Luqman Butt and a further 214 with the keeper Shakeel Ansar, who struck his fourth first-class fifty.PTV would not be scuttled out again as Sami went on to make his second first-class ton, with 12 fours and two sixes, and enjoyed good support from Zohaib Ahmed who struck 81 as they reached 290 for 5 at the end of the fourth day.

The battle between the Kenyan Cricket Association and the country’s stakeholders took another twist this weekend with the revelation that the government is forming a new organisation to run the game.It had been hoped that last week’s court hearing in Nairobi would bring an end to years of bitter infighting inside Kenya, but legal delays, which seemed to be almost entirely at the whim of a High Court judge, meant that the hearing will now not be heard until March. It seems that was the final straw for Ochillo Ayacko, the minister for sports, and The Nation, which has followed a pro-KCA line throughout much of this dispute, is reporting that the government, which suspended the KCA last month, has decided to bypass the old regime altogether.Officially, the ICC has stayed on the sidelines throughout this whole affair, but there is plenty of evidence to suggest that it has been involved behind the scenes and, as previously reported here, has held meetings with Ayacko about how best to proceed. Many inside Kenya actually believe that his decision to move against the KCA was accelerated by ICC support. It also seems unlikely that Ayacko would undertake such a bold move without consulting the ICC as to its position – ICC rules state that it will only deal with the body recognised by the relevant government as being in charge of the game inside a country.The Nation reported that a meeting, chaired by Ayacko, was held at Kasarani on Sunday and that an application will be made this week for the new body to be registered. “We are not interfering with KCA,” Sammy Obingo, the former KCA general manager, told the newspaper. “They can continue with their affairs.”Such a move would render the old Sharad Ghai-led KCA an irrelevance. It has no sponsors and is, to all intents and purposes, insolvent. The ICC, which is its main source of funding, is understood to have suspended payments pending the resolution of the dispute, and senior figures inside Kenya have confirmed that there is no money to meet even the most urgent of liabilities.It seems inconceivable that Ghai will not challenge the minister’s move, but it would be hard to see how a court could rule against a body backed by the government and almost all the country’s stakeholders in favour of an organisation which is broke and has such a dismal record of failure and mismanagement.This is certainly not be the final chapter of this whole sorry tale, but it could be a decisive turning point.

Rain put paid to any hopes Shoaib Akhtar had of another bowl at Shenley © Getty Images

Bob Woolmer has refused to rule Shoaib Akhtar out of the final Test against England, at The Oval, but the paceman remains doubtful after he was denied another chance to bowl following the wash-out of Pakistan’s match against West Indies A at Shenley.Following yesterday’s draw, the two teams were due to face each other again but heavy showers in the South East of England caused the game to be called off before the scheduled start. It means Shoaib is well short of the amount of bowling Woolmer had earmarked before he’d be considered for an international return.”We saw enough of Shoaib yesterday [when he took 1 for 59 off 11 overs] to hold on to him and we’ll make a decision later on in the week as to whether we play him or not,” Woolmer told PA Sport. “We’re erring on the cautionary side. He did look very fit yesterday but obviously short of match practice but overall I thought he looked very good.”The plan had been for him to bowl at least 30 overs for him to be ready. Everything happens for a reason and maybe this is a sign that he is not ready to play in a Test match. But it’s not just up to me, there’s the captain involved and a whole medical team as well, not to mention Shoaib himself. I’ll go away and talk to them and then we’ll decide.”

Moin Khan will not play in the second Test starting this week© Getty Images

Moin Khan, Pakistan’s veteran wicketkeeper-batsman, has been dropped for the second Test against Sri Lanka that starts this Thursday at Karachi.Wasim Bari, Pakistan’s chief selector said: “Moin has been dropped. We have called up Kamran Akmal for the second Test on the request of the team management. Moin has been struggling for batting form.” Bari also indicated that former captain Rashid Latif is under consideration for a recall to the team.Moin, who has represented his country in 69 Test and 219 one-day internationals, has failed to score an international fifty since March. He managed just six runs in the defeat to Sri Lanka in the first Test, where the top-order batting also failed. Akmal, 22, made his Test debut on the 2002-03 tour of Zimbabwe.Inzamam-ul-Haq, Pakistan’s captain, had indicated yesterday that a change in wicketkeepers would occur for the second Test: “We gave him [Moin] a chance in 15 to 20 one-day matches and now in this [first] Test he has also not done well so we will try someone new in the next match.”In the recently concluded Paktel Cup, Younis Khan acted as a reverse wicketkeeper, and in his first match with the gloves he did not concede a bye and he was awarded Man of the Match for a well-crafted fifty. This effort prompted Bob Woolmer, Pakistan’s coach, to suggest Younis could do the job long-term in one-dayer matches.A third wicketkeeper, Zulqarnain Haider, 18, retains his squad place from the first Test but is unlikely to debut. The Pakistan bowling attack will miss Mohammad Sami, who has a groin strain. His absence will allow either Rana Naveed or Riaz Afridi to play.

David Hussey: told off by the ECB© Getty Images

David Hussey, the Australian batsman and Nottinghamshire overseas player, became the fourth player this season to be wrapped on the knuckles by the ECB.Hussey’s misdemeanour occurred during Notts’ Championship clash against Hampshire last week when he was reported by Mark Benson, one of the umpires, for showing dissent after a decision went against him. A Level One breach of the ECB’s code, the penalty will be on his record for a year.Hussey, 26, plays for Victoria in Australia with a first-class average of over 50. In his first season of county cricket, he has so far scored 650 runs this season for Notts, and currently heads the batting averages at just over 70.

THE Western Australian Cricket Association today announced the termination of its contract with Western Warriors coach, Michael Veletta.The decision was taken following a recommendation from the International and Interstate Committee.Mr Veletta has concluded two years of his three-year term as Western Warriors coach.The remainder of his contract will be paid in full by the Western Australian Cricket Association.In terminating Mr Veletta’s contract, WACA Chief Executive, Mrs Kath White, said the decision was part of a full review of the state’s cricket operations and plans to carry Western Australian cricket forward."The I&I committee has made an extremely tough decision not to continue with Michael Veletta as our state coach," Mrs White said."This decision was not taken lightly. But, it has been made in the best interests of Western Australian cricket."An assessment of our senior coach and all cricket operations is taken as a matter of course at the end of each season. That process is currently being undertaken."The I&I Committee has not acted solely in response to performances of the Warriors in season 2002-03."This assessment process has been on-going for some time."The I&I Committee and the WACA, believes that our state has a very talented group of young and developing players, as well as our established international players."In taking this decision, we are mindful of our responsibility to our current senior Warriors players and our representative youth program to enhance their prospects of success at the highest possible levels of performance."Mrs White said that the WACA will immediately commence an extensive search for a new State coach.Selection of a new Warriors coach will be conducted in accordance with the comprehensive review of cricket operations being conducted by the I&I Committee.The WACA will make no further comment on this matter.

Contrasting centuries from Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer allowed Australiato score 348-3 on the opening day of the Vodafone Challenge match withSomerset at Taunton.Ponting marked his first game in charge of the Australians with a magnificent 128, which contained 20 fours and two sixes and came from 130 deliveries.Langer struggled for fluency early in his innings, but by the end of a dayin which 24 overs were lost to rain he had reached 104 not out.His hundred came from 176 balls, included 13 fours and was a much-neededboost for the former Middlesex captain after his poor start to the tour.Somerset opted to rest five of their regular Championship side and broughtin Pakistan Test stars Aamir Sohail and Shoaib Akhtar as guest players.Aamir Sohail spent most of his day at second slip before bowling a few overs ofspin late in the day, while Shoaib Akhtar proved as expensive as any of theSomerset attack.He was despatched for three fours and a six in one over by Ponting, as the26-year-old Tasmanian made the most of the short, straight boundaries and aquick outfield.Shoaib finally gained some reward for his efforts in the 42nd over whenPonting, looking to cut, was bowled by a full-length delivery.Earlier, Matthew Hayden had fallen for six when he edged Jamie Grove high toKeith Parsons at third slip.Michael Slater departed for 28 when he was pinned lbw by Jason Kerr as helooked to work the ball on the legside.Mark Waugh provided the other major contribution of the day as he finishedwith 55 not out in an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 118 with Langer.Ponting was delighted to see Langer reach a hundred and said: “Justin was obviously very keen to score runs today because he has not had many hits on the tour.”But he came through for us, which is good news.”Ponting has now scored 725 runs from just 721 balls on this tour.He admitted: “I think I’m batting as well as I’ve ever done.”But Ponting, acting Australia captain in absence of Steve Waugh, thoughtSomerset could have bowled better.He said: “I don’t think Somerset bowled well early on. They bowled a bit short and if they had pitched it up and hit the right areas it might have been a bit different.”

Celtic have had plenty of consistent goalscorers in their ranks over the past few years, such as Leigh Griffiths, Kris Commons and Odsonne Edouard among others.

However, it seems as though the Parkhead club could have had another figure in their ranks who may have gone on to become a significant scorer for them but didn’t end up making the move to Celtic Park.

According to an article from Planet Football, back in the 2001 summer transfer window when the Hoops signed winger Momo Sylla from St Johnstone, the Guinean was asked by his former Le Mans team-mate Didier Drogba about a potential move to Celtic the following summer.

Unfortunately for Celtic, Sylla apparently told the striker that he wouldn’t have any chance of making it into the team and should forget about trying to join them.

With a total of 686 club appearances under his belt, the Ivory Coast international ended his career in 2018 with 300 goals to his name and four Premier League titles, four FA Cups and one Champions League title under his belt among other trophies and individual awards.

Labelled a “remarkable” player by his former Blues boss Jose Mourinho – who knows a good footballer when he sees one having managed the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Frank Lampard and Karim Benzema among many others – Drogba could have been a revelation for Celtic had Sylla not put him off a potential move to Glasgow early in the Ivorian’s lengthy and very successful career.

Whether the Parkhead hierarchy had any knowledge at the time over Drogba’s interest in a potential move to the club is unclear, but it’s safe to say that had they known of it, then they should have moved heaven and earth to get the striker in a Hoops shirt.

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Looking back, there could now be some Celtic fans displeased with what Sylla had to say to the young Drogba about his chances of breaking into the first team at the time, with the club potentially now having nightmares over the situation.

In other news: Ange must brutally axe “horrendous” £20k-p/w Celtic liability, he’s “been a disaster”