All posts by h716a5.icu

After a hectic start to the summer window for Tottenham Hotspur – with manager Ange Postecoglou completing the signings of James Maddison, Guglielmo Vicario and Manor Solomon – the club's transfer dealings have somewhat dried up of late, with it yet to be seen who else could be arriving through the door over the coming weeks.

One name that has been mooted as a potential target for the Lilywhites is Lyon starlet, Rayan Cherki, with the 19-year-old forward having caught the attention following a standout season in Ligue 1 – in which he chipped in with ten goals and assists in 34 league games.

What's the latest on Cherki to Tottenham?

As revealed by Football Transfers last month, Spurs – as well as Premier League rivals Chelsea – are said to have held talks with the player regarding a potential summer swoop, with teenager's representatives having recently been in London to discuss a move.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

If chairman Daniel Levy is to close on a deal for the promising Frenchman, Caught Offside have previously reported that the selling party are looking for a fee in the region of €50m (£43m) if they are to part ways with their prize asset.

How good is Rayan Cherki?

Despite having been dubbed a "magnificent talent" by respected scout, Jacek Kulig, the jury is out on whether the young playmaker would actually be able to thrive were he to move to England, with transfer insider Dean Jones sounding a note of caution with regard to Levy's interest in the player, despite his obvious potential.

Speaking in an interview with Football FanCast, the respected source stated: “If Spurs turn serious on Cherki then that could become a really nice move. The only problem with players like him, who play his way, is that things can go wrong quickly just as they can go well quickly.

A bad start can be a total disaster for creative players who are looking to assert themselves so that’s the one worry I would have. But if he does come to the Premier League and fulfil his potential then he’s going to be a star and so I can see why Spurs might be mulling it over.”

Should Tottenham sign Rayan Cherki?

Those of a Spurs persuasion may well be concerned at the prospect of enduring a repeat of their failed capture of another former Lyon star, Tanguy Ndombele, with the mercurial midfielder having made little impact since signing on a mammoth £63m deal from the French outfit back in 2019.

Since then, the 26-year-old has gone on to make just 91 appearances for the Lilywhites in all competitions over the past four years, having notably spent the last 18 months out on loan at both Lyon and Napoli.

While there had been hopes that the Frenchman could turn things around under Postecoglou, the latest indication is that the £200k-per-week enigma could be on his way to Turkish giants Galatasaray for as little as £11m – representing a sizeable loss on Levy's initial investment.

One notable issue that the instinctive, "street footballer" – as hailed by Arsenal's Declan Rice – has faced in English football is his apparent lack of work ethic, having been branded a "disgrace" in that regard by Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher in the past.

The fear will be that despite Cherki's obvious gifts – having been dubbed a "difference-maker" by Kulig – he too may also represent something of a liability off the ball, as he notably ranks within the bottom 15% among his European peers for interceptions, tackles, blocks, clearances and aerial duels won.

As Tottenham have found out with the case of Ndombele, teams in the Premier League can ill-afford to carry any passengers no matter what they can do in the final third, with it looking as if Cherki could follow a similar path if he is to trade France for England this summer.

After scores of 15 and 2 against England in the first Test, JP Duminy said that he ‘rightly deserved’ to be dropped and felt he needed to find a different path

Firdose Moonda11-Oct-20170:49

Duminy’s International career by the numbers

JP Duminy only announced his Test retirement in mid-September, but he knew his time in whites was up more than two months earlier. With scores of 15 and 2 in South Africa’s series-opener against England in July, Duminy sensed he had reached the end, and when he was sent home from the tour after the second Test, it confirmed it.”Walking off after Lord’s, I felt a change needed to happen. I rightly deserved to be dropped. There were guys putting up their hands for places and I felt I needed a different path,” Duminy said in Bloemfontein, ahead of the South African Invitation XI’s match against the touring Bangladesh team.At the time he was discarded, Duminy had gone eight innings with a top-score of 39. While he had scored two of his six hundreds in the last year, the lean patches he went through in between big scores meant there was constant pressure on him to justify his place. South Africa’s line-up needed a relook with Temba Bavuma and Quinton de Kock wasted down the order and allrounders waiting in the wings to bolster both departments.Since Duminy’s departure, South Africa have rejigged things so that Bavuma bats at No.4 and de Kock at No.6, and have made room for either an extra allrounder or another bowler. They lost the series in England 3-1 but have just recorded a 2-0 win over Bangladesh at home. Although the quality of the opposition and the circumstances in which they are playing must be considered when assessing their performances, it seems they are on the right track.Meanwhile, Duminy’s “different path” has seen him begin a journey of his own, which mostly involves leadership. Duminy will captain the Invitation side, which also includes former ODI skipper AB de Villiers, who may also be after Duminy’s Test spot, and was also due to lead the Cape Town Knight Riders in the now-postponed T20 Global League. Having chosen to finish his career playing white-ball cricket, it’s understandable Duminy is particularly let down by the tournament being a non-starter.”It is disappointing, not just from a South African point of view but also from a global point of view. I think the manner in which it has been postponed is the most disappointing,” he said. “I’m hoping it’s not the end. I’m hoping it can recover and we can come to a consensus about the way forward.”CSA maintains that the league will begin in 2018 but have a myriad of issues to resolve before then, not least the acquisition of a broadcast deal and title sponsor. Meanwhile, Duminy and South Africas’s ODI outfit also have things to work on, chiefly on how they plan to win the 2019 World Cup.For Duminy, it’s not so much about the team strategy yet but about his own performances and making sure he does enough to remain part of South Africa’s plans. “Every player wants to win the World Cup but we still have a long way to go. To be there, I have to keep putting in good performances,” Duminy said. “It’s good to have a long-term goal but it’s also important that we stay focused on the present and what’s in front of us.”

Manchester United look set to really ramp up their transfer activity as the summer window enters its final few weeks.

Erik ten Hag has already improved the spine of his side by signing Andre Onana, Mason Mount and Rasmus Hojlund, and it looks as though a defender could be the next port of call for the Dutchman.

Could the manager perhaps swoop for another goalkeeper, however? As Glasgow Rangers shot-stopper Robby McCrorie has been linked with a surprise move to the Old Trafford side.

Are Manchester United interested in Robby McCrorie?

David De Gea departed the Red Devils following 12 years at the club and this prompted Ten Hag into action, swiftly securing the signature of Onana from Inter Milan for £47.2m.

According to The Herald, United have made an initial approach to sign McCrorie this summer after he expressed his desire to leave the Ibrox side following the arrival of Englishman Jack Butland.

Despite signing a new contract that takes him to 2025, the Scot has been valued at just £1m by Michael Beale.

Read the latest Man United transfer news HERE…

United are not alone in their pursuit of the ‘keeper, with Hull City and Polish side Raków Czestochowa expressing their interest in the player, yet the lure of Old Trafford should clearly put Ten Hag in the driving seat.

Who is Robby McCrorie?

Following on from the signing of Onana, the goalkeeping department shouldn’t be a priority, yet the Rangers' player could give the Cameroonian some added competition across the season, despite enduring a frustrating few seasons in Glasgow.

The 25-year-old spent a few periods out on loan during the embryonic stages of his career and was given his chance in the first team back in August 2021.

A virus outbreak across the squad ruled Allan McGregor and Jon McLaughlin out for ties against Alashkert and Celtic in August 2021 and McCrorie took his opportunity well.

He kept two clean sheets during a pair of 1–0 victories, yet these were his only appearances all season.

Beale eventually gave him a run in the starting XI towards the end of the 2022/23 campaign, and he once again impressed, conceding just one goal from four matches, and keeping three clean sheets.

If called upon by Ten Hag, the 6 foot 3 titan could work well with centre-back Lisandro Martinez, building attacks from the defence regularly.

The Argentinian arrived at United last summer and across 27 Premier League ties, he completed 33.8 accurate passes in her own half per game – a success rate of 93% – which indicates just how effective he is on the ball.

The former Ajax gem also ranked in the top 20% when compared to positional peers for progressive carries per 90 (0.93) and the top 12% for successful take-ons per 90 (0.51), suggesting that he carries the ball forward often and isn’t fazed by taking on opposition players.

McCrorie averaged 37.3 touches per game during his four matches last term while having a 92% pass success rate in his own half, meaning he could find Martinez with ease and this in turn would allow United to build from the back, transitioning the ball from defence to attack.

McCrorie and his brother Ross were lauded as “model professionals” by Steven Gerrard back in 2020, and although he wouldn't be the number one keeper at United should he join; it is perhaps a move which he would find difficult to turn down.

Josh Hazlewood and Jackson Bird have been withdrawn from the third round of the Sheffield Shield, and will instead train alongside Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins in the lead-up to the first Test in Brisbane

Daniel Brettig09-Nov-2017Australia have effectively revealed their full pace attack for the first Ashes Test in Brisbane by withdrawing Josh Hazlewood and Jackson Bird from the third round of the Sheffield Shield in addition to Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins.The decision to have Hazlewood train alongside the other three at the National Cricket Centre – rather than playing for New South Wales in the Shield match against Queensland at Allan Border Field next week – followed his impressively rhythmic return to first-class cricket against Western Australia at Hurstville Oval.Having played in Sydney grade cricket the previous weekend, Hazlewood claimed three wickets in each innings, notably dismissing Test middle-order contender Hilton Cartwright for a first-innings duck, defeating the WA captain Mitchell Marsh in each innings, and also getting the wicket of Shaun Marsh twice. These top-order incisions made it possible for Starc to pluck a hat-trick in each innings while cleaning up the WA tail.Following the match, Hazlewood was involved in discussions with coaches, selectors and medical staff, leading to the decision to spell him from the next Shield match, effectively deciding he was ahead of schedule after Hurstville. Instead, he will work alongside Starc, Cummins and Bird under the eye of the Australian bowling coach David Saker in Brisbane. Starc and Cummins were always slated to play the first two Shield games before missing the third.”The decision on Hazlewood not playing in the third round of the Shield was made in consultation with the player, coaching staff, selectors and team performance staff, following a review of all the bowlers after the last round of the Shield,” a Cricket Australia spokesperson said.Bird’s inclusion in the quartet, having bowled well for Tasmania despite their defeats in the opening two matches to Western Australia and Queensland, underlines his long-standing position as the selectors’ preferred reserve pace bowler in most conditions. He played the most recent of his Test matches at the MCG against Pakistan on Boxing Day last season, and was a squad member in both India and Bangladesh.Beyond Bird, the most recent other pace bowler in Australian squads has been Chadd Sayers, who was 12th man for last year’s day-night Test in Adelaide and is a noted exponent of swing and seam with the pink ball.

Tottenham Hotspur continue to peruse the market for a new striker, and could make a surprising swoop to snag a star from a rival…

Who could replace Harry Kane at Tottenham Hotspur?

Having dominated the bulk of the summer transfer window, Harry Kane's departure now ushers in a new saga: who will Ange Postecoglou recruit to replace him?

The Lilywhites do boast a rich plethora of attacking talent already, but at the end of the day, a focal point is needed with which to spearhead their frightening front line.

There also remains a viable debate as to whether the Australian will invest in the future, trusting a youthful forward to take that role, or depending on a more experienced talisman.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

One report from The Sun seems to suggest the former, as they report that the north London outfit are seeking to raid their rivals, snatching the 22-year-old striker Folarin Balogun from Arsenal in what would be a surprise move.

Despite the Gunners holding out for £50m amidst interest from AS Monaco, that could be a fee sure to skyrocket should they potentially seek to barter with their bitter enemy.

How good is Folarin Balogun?

Having been raised through the Gunners academy, the USMNT international took his opportunity last season with a special loan spell in France.

With a struggling tenure at Middlesbrough previously, few expected the young finisher to amount to much as his unassuming Ligue 1 switch was confirmed. However, his form has sparked plenty of debate at the Emirates regarding whether he should be given a chance, especially with the longstanding injury issues held by Gabriel Jesus.

Regardless, it seems they are prepared to sell, with a move across the city sure to spark anger.

Especially given how he would certainly improve Spurs, given how he scored 21 times in the French top-flight most recently, earning praise. His boss at Reims, Will Still, led that notion:

"He is a super complete striker, he is able to play with his back to goal, in depth. It is technically very clean. He scores, he is decisive."

Such proficiency combined with his physicality and youth understandably draw comparisons with Erling Haaland, which FBref emphasise by including the Norwegian goal machine on his 'similar players' list.

Gunners legend Thierry Henry offered one key similarity they share after he claimed:

"He’s a very English-style player who likes to run down the channels but he was missing something, which was his finishing. He’s now starting to score goals regularly and I’m happy for that – happy he has gone abroad. It’s especially so considering he is a Londoner, in general Londoners struggle to leave London."

It seems that his bulky 5 foot 10 frame partnered with his electric pace makes for the same frightening combination that has allowed Manchester City's 23-year-old forward to dominate world football.

Last season saw him score 52 goals across all competitions, breaking the Premier League goalscoring record for a sole campaign with his 36 strikes.

He is imperious, and regarded by Wayne Rooney as "the best footballer in the world" at present.

Whilst Balogun will have aspirations of reaching such a level, he will be aware that few can dominate as he does. However, with the vacancy that has emerged at his north London rivals, he would surely be best served starting with them than battling behind Jesus under Mikel Arteta.

Postecoglou would likely nurture the young forward, utilising his talents to get him as close as possible to the unimitable Haaland.

Manchester United boss Erik Ten Hag is eyeing a Premier League midfield general to shore up his engine room before the end of the transfer window, according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.

What's the latest transfer news at Manchester United?

The Red Devils are still on the lookout for some new additions this window after they completed deals to sign Andre Onana, Mason Mount and Rasmus Hojlund earlier in the summer, as per Transfermarkt.

Northern Ireland international Jonny Evans has also joined the club on a short-term deal for the time being and it remains to be seen whether he will sign a longer contract at Old Trafford, as per BBC Sport.

Manchester United looked set to let Harry Maguire leave for West Ham United in a proposed transfer worth around £30 million; however, it now looks like the England international will be staying put in the North West to fight for his place under Ten Hag, according to The Guardian.

Sky Sports journalist Dharmesh Sheth detailed on the Transfer Show that it seems unlikely that Scott McTominay will leave Old Trafford in the latter stages of the window despite uncertainty over his future.

Italian outlet La Nazione have provided an update concerning Manchester United's pursuit of Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat, who earns £30k per week, indicating that the next few days could be crucial in negotiations between both parties.

According to The Guardian, Manchester United have approached Everton about a deal for Belgium international Amadou Onana; however, he would cost a minimum of £50 million to prize away from Merseyside.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, transfer guru Romano has confirmed that Onana is a target for Manchester United; nevertheless, he expects the Red Devils to try and 'find a way' to sign Amrabat before exploring the Everton enforcers' availability.

Romano stated: “Onana is another player they have on the list. He’s a player they appreciate and have been considering already in the past. Currently, it’s not something advanced.

“The price is completely different because he's more than double what you would spend for Amrabat, who could cost something around €27m-€28m (£23m-£24m). So, that's why I expect United to try and find a way to sign Amrabat. Otherwise, there could be some other option.”

Who else could Manchester United sign?

According to 90min, Manchester United will have to pay a fee in the region of £34.5 million to sign Benjamin Pavard from Bayern Munich this summer.

Despite the France international's willingness to seek a new challenge, it remains unclear whether continuing to pursue Pavard will be possible due to Maguire still being on the books at Old Trafford.

Foot Mercato claim that Manchester United have 'reactivated' their interest in Pavard's Bayern Munich teammate Ryan Gravenberch; however, Liverpool are also in the market for midfield reinforcements and admire the Netherlands international.

No offer has been made by either side, though it is believed that Gravenberch would prefer to move to Manchester United over Liverpool.

The Daily Record report that Manchester United are keen on Rangers goalkeeper Robby McCrorie as a backup option between the sticks alongside Polish outfit Rakow Czestochowa.

The Sri Lanka captain said the team is prepared to field a fifth bowler or an allrounder in keeping with their “changed” attitude to win the match

Karthik Krishnaswamy in Nagpur23-Nov-20172:12

We can pull off miracle in India – Chandimal

Conditions in Nagpur will not assist seam-bowling to the extent they did in Kolkata, according to Dinesh Chandimal, the Sri Lanka captain. There is a fair amount of grass on the VCA Stadium pitch as well, in line with India’s desire to test themselves in pace-friendly conditions ahead of their tour of South Africa. Chandimal, however, felt there would be a more even contest between bat and ball here.”We saw so much grass at Eden Gardens,” he said. “This is much less. This looks a good Test pitch. It’s a challenge for us as a team. We are looking forward to the game.”He went on to explain what he meant by a “good Test pitch”: “The first few days will be good for batters. Then it might turn. That’s the kind of wicket I think that is.”Sri Lanka were the dominant side for most of the first Test – until the last innings in which they slipped to 75 for 7 before bad light saved them – and Chandimal felt it was the result of their changed attitude since a 0-3 home series defeat to India in July-August. Sri Lanka, he said, are now looking to win Test matches and series, and are prepared to play a fifth bowler or allrounder to be able to do this.”We learned a lot from the last Indian series in Sri Lanka,” he said. “The most important thing is we came here to win the series. Our attitude has changed. As I said every time our fielding also has made a huge difference – there’s a lot of energy.”We have looked at a six-five combination or six-four – plus [an] all-rounder. That’s the combination we are looking at. Most importantly we have come here with a mindset to win a Test match.”Despite all the help for the quicks in Kolkata, Lahiru Gamage did not enjoy a hugely productive Test, only picking up three wickets in 40.3 overs. Chandimal, however, backed Gamage to come good through the rest of the series.”Calcutta was his second game [in Test cricket],” he said. “His first game was in Dubai and he did well against Pakistan. You can have a bad day and you can have a bad game. He is a really good player. He has a lot of experience, having played quite a bit of domestic cricket. I am sure he will be a good asset, especially when bowling on a wicket like this. We will make a call on the side tomorrow morning.”

With Manchester United closing in on a deal to sign Altay Bayindir, footage has emerged that won't exactly convince anyone who has doubts about the goalkeeper.

What's the latest Man United transfer news?

The big news for the Red Devils today is that the club could actually be set to be sold to Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani, with the Glazers reportedly accepting a £6bn bid that could see a takeover completed by mid-October.

However, this will have an impact on future transfers and for now it seems as though business in some aspects will be a little less eye-catching.

For instance, the Red Devils may soon look to be replacing backup goalkeeper Dean Henderson amid links to Crystal Palace with a pretty unknown quantity.

That is according to The Athletic's David Ornstein, who notes that Erik ten Hag and co will look to replace the potentially departing player with Bayindir of Fenerbahce for around €5m (£4.2m).

Read the latest Man United transfer news HERE…

Backing this up, an image has been shared on social media by journalist Yagiz Sabuncuoglu (via Fabrizio Romano) which shows the player has returned to Istanbul after doing a "medical check" with Manchester United staff in Athens. The Italian journalist added: "Next steps to follow soon."

It's hardly the biggest deal of the summer and many fans in England won't know much, or anything at all, about the 25-year-old shot-stopper.

Worryingly, then, the first impressions aren't exactly great. Indeed, footage on Twitter has gone viral and it doesn't paint the best picture.

As you can see in the compilation, the goalkeeper is repeatedly made a fool of as he makes a catalogue of errors, conceding goal after goal.

Who is Man United transfer target Altay Bayindir?

Bayindir is still only 25 years of age and so has plenty of time to improve in theory. However, his time at Fenerbahce hasn't exactly seen him perform miracles.

After all, in 145 outings for his current club, he has conceded 162 goals and only kept 44 clean sheets (via Transfermarkt).

Even so, his form at times has been solid enough to earn five caps for the Turkey national team, with his last appearance coming nearly a year ago in September 2022.

As per Tom Maston of Goal, however, Bayindir's "stock has fallen pretty dramatically" in Turkey over the past few years. It's explained that an injury in 2021, which required surgery on a shoulder, was the catalyst for his poor form.

Worryingly, it's added that he's consequently lost the support of the Fenerbahce fans and after a mistake during a Super Lig clash with Gaziantep earlier this month, a water bottle was thrown at him from the stands.

Bayindir was said to have "reacted angrily, throwing his hands up in frustration and smashing the ball to the ground in disgust." Even if justifiable, a bad temper isn't exactly a good look and suggests he could struggle to handle the intense pressure of Premier League football.

All in all, it does seem an unusual piece of business for Man United to do. And if the goalkeeper does end up joining the Red Devils, it will certainly be interesting to see how he gets on in a new environment.

Alastair Cook scored his first Ashes hundred since January 2011 to back up excellent work from England’s pace attack on a day where the visitors dominated

Report by Brydon Coverdale27-Dec-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsFirst, win a session. Then another. Then win the day. And maybe, just maybe you might have a chance of winning the match. England have enjoyed few such small victories during this series, but on a day when they claimed Australia’s last seven wickets for 67 runs, and Alastair Cook scored a drought-breaking hundred, and England finished the day comfortably at 2 for 192, it was obvious which team had taken the honours. For once, it wasn’t Australia.Of course, much work remained ahead for England. Australia’s strong performance on Boxing Day set the platform for a total of 327, and by stumps England were still 135 runs behind. But their position – albeit with the Ashes already in Australian hands – was much healthier than it had been 24 hours earlier. Cook brought up his hundred in the final over of the day by swivelling a pull for four off Steven Smith’s legspin, and finished unbeaten on 104 alongside Joe Root on 49.Cook’s performance was significant, for he entered this match having failed to post a half-century in any of his past 10 Test innings – the longest such drought in a career spanning nearly 12 years. Dead rubber though it may be, his free-scoring innings was highly encouraging for England, as he struck 15 boundaries and punished Australia’s bowlers through point, straight back down the ground, through leg, and even with the occasional cover-drive.By the end of the day he had not only made his 32nd Test hundred, he had also moved past Mahela Jayawardene and into eighth position on the list of all-time Test run scorers. The Australians shook Cook’s hand as he walked off at stumps but they must also have rued giving him a life on 66 when he edged Mitchell Marsh and Smith, standing very close at first slip, failed to cling on to a challenging catch.On a very hot day when the fast bowlers baked and Pat Cummins struggled with an upset stomach, it took a brilliant catch for Australia to claim their first wicket of the innings. For the second time in the series Nathan Lyon plucked a return chance with one hand, this time off the leading edge of Mark Stoneman, who had made 15.Alastair Cook rocks back and plays a cut•Getty ImagesJames Vince would not have wanted to see replays of his dismissal when he returned to the rooms after making 17. Adjudged lbw off the bowling of Josh Hazlewood, Vince decided against a review, but Hot Spot showed that the ball had brushed his inside edge on the way through to his pad. His departure left England at 2 for 80, but Root and Cook settled in for a partnership that had reached 112 runs at stumps and solidified England’s position.Root played an important accompanying role and was within touching distance of his third half-century of the series. However, his inability to turn those starts into hundreds in the manner of his Australian counterpart, Smith, has been one of the key factors in the series.The importance of Smith for Australia was reinforced when his dismissal early in the day sparked the collapse that resulted in the last seven wickets falling for 67. A no-ball from debutant seamer Tom Curran on the opening day had denied him David Warner on 99 as his first Test wicket, but inducing a chop-on from Smith, trying to force a short and wide ball through off on 76, was a fine replacement for Curran.It was the first time Smith had been out in a Melbourne Test since 2014; he had scored 445 runs between MCG dismissals. Mitchell Marsh also dragged a wide one onto his stumps for 9 off the bowling of Chris Woakes, and Tim Paine later did the same on 24 while trying to pull James Anderson.In the meantime, Shaun Marsh had passed fifty for the third time in the series, raising his half-century from his 130th delivery, but fell lbw for 61 to Stuart Broad via a well-judged review from Root. Jackson Bird, curiously promoted to No. 9 ahead of Josh Hazlewood and Lyon, was lbw to Broad for 4, leaving Australia at risk of failing to bat out the opening session.They went to lunch on 8 for 326 and added just a single run after the break for the loss of their final two wickets, as Cummins edged Broad to slip for 4 and Lyon was trapped by Anderson for a duck. Anderson finished with 3 for 61 and Broad collected 4 for 51, his best analysis in a Test innings since November 2016. Throw in a Cook century, and it was the day on which England’s old heads finally stood up to be counted.

BCCI chief executive Rahul Johri, too, files affidavit against Anirudh Chaudhry with the Supreme Court

Nagraj Gollapudi29-Jan-2018The power struggle in the BCCI has intensified with the committee of administrators (CoA) joining forces with the chief executive officer Rahul Johri and chief financial officer Santosh Rangnekar in challenging the conduct of treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry.In November, Rangnekar told the Supreme Court that Chaudhry had issued veiled threats against him on three separate occasions. Chaudhry responded with shock and surprise at the allegation and promptly denied any wrongdoing. He also submitted an affidavit to that effect, having been being asked by the court to do so, on December 13.The court was scheduled to hear the matter on Monday, but deferred the case to February 23. Meanwhile, the CoA submitted its sixth status report to the court on January 25. Johri had filed an affidavit of his own on the same day and the contents of both these documents could lead to Chaudhry facing some tough questions at the next hearing.In a damning appraisal of his work, the CoA wrote that Chaudhry’s conduct had become “seriously objectionable” and they have “no reason to disbelieve the allegations levelled” against him by Rangnekar. The report further stated that Chaudhry “appears determined to use his position to undermine” the authority and functioning of the CoA, which took charge on January 30 last year. The committee felt they were “constrained” to report on Chaudhry to the court once he began “inundating” Johri and Rangnekar with e-mails intended to put pressure on them.Johri told the court that Chaudhry had accused him of taking “erroneous” decisions during the first three weeks of January last year, the period when he acted as head of the BCCI before the CoA took charge. On January 2, the court had sacked the board president Anurag Thakur and secretary Ajay Shirke and disqualified all existing office bearers pending their approval of the Lodha Committee reforms.Johri cited an example of Chaudhry’s pressure tactics in his affidavit. Last November Chaudhry sent him an e-mail saying he had violated the BCCI’s rules, and his own contract, by trimming the national selection panels (senior and junior) from five to three members. Johri explained that he took the decision based on “directions” from the Lodha Committee but Chaudhry argued that a court order on January 2 and 3 last year had limited the committee’s powers and as such their instructions were not “binding”.Johri insisted he made the call after consulting both the BCCI’s senior management and their lawyer. He further added that the Lodha committee told him that the court impasse should not hinder “cricketing activity”. But Chaudhry would not accept that the CEO had acted in “good faith”.Chaudhry highlighted another “wrongdoing” on the part of both Johri and Rangnekar when they accessed funds from a BCCI bank account at a Union Bank of India in Mumbai in January 2017. But both men argued they were within their right to do so. The court had sacked the board’s office bearers and there was a danger of cricket coming to a standstill if various vendors, suppliers, hotels, and state associations were not paid. Under such an emergency, as per a resolution of the BCCI’s financial committee in 2016, the Union Bank account could be operated by two out of three officials – the CEO (Johri), CFO (Rangnekar) and the board’s manager of game development and administration (Ratnakar Shetty).It was at this juncture the CoA decided to step in. According to Johri, they told Chaudhry that his conduct “is designed to intimidate the professional management of the BCCI and created obstacles in its functioning.” Furthermore, the CoA, in the status report, told the court that Johri had only acted in the “best interests” of the BCCI and should have been “commended rather than vilified”.The BCCI’s three existing office bearers have been asking the court to take another look at the Lodha reforms, one of which pertains to the demarcation of duties between administrators and management. Supported by many of the state associations, the office bearers prefer control of the board stays in own hands.The CoA, though, is clearly against that. In an email to Chaudhry on November 22, they said that “vested interests” within the BCCI were trying to create a “parallel” administration, one that wants to stick with the “flawed” existing constitution while opposing the reform process undertaken by the committee. “It is obvious which administration within the BCCI you form part of and support.”The thrust of your grievances stems from your preference” for the existing BCCI constitution, which was “flawed” and was being replaced by the reforms recommended by the Lodha Committee, approved by the court and being exercised by the professional management under the panel’s supervision.”It is for this reason that you have been inundating the CEO and CFO with long and verbose emails designed to intimidate them rather than pride any constructive suggestions. Some of the issues raised by you do not even pertain to your duties as Treasurer of the BCCI and it appears that you are insistent on involving yourself with mattes that are outside the scope your duties.”