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An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their plans to add to their defensive options in the upcoming summer transfer window…

What's the latest on Ferdi Kadioglu to Newcastle?

According to Turkish outlet Aksam, the Magpies are plotting a €20m (£17m) swoop to sign Fenerbahce right-back Ferdi Kadioglu as PIF look to bolster Eddie Howe's squad.

The report claims that the club wants to build a team that is deep enough to rotate on a regular basis, given they will be competing in a European competition to go alongside their domestic matches next season.

It is stated that the versatile defender is interested in a move away from his current club as he would like to showcase his talents on the European stage.

What is Ferdi Kadioglu's style of play?

The Fenerbahce gem currently plays as a right-back but started his senior career as a forward and has the attacking quality to make an impact in the final third.

Kadioglu's ability in possession could make him the dream long-term heir to current Newcastle star Kieran Trippier's throne at right-back, as the England international has been pivotal to the club's success with his invention.

In the Premier League this season, the former Tottenham Hotspur defender has racked up seven assists in 36 appearances and created a whopping 23 'big chances' for his teammates. He is the Magpies' top assister in the division and this highlights how important it is for Howe to have an attack-minded player in that position as the England international has been the main man for creativity.

Kadioglu, who is nine years younger than Trippier, has shown great promise as an attacking full-back. The 23-year-old has registered three assists in 30 appearances in the Super Lig this season but is relatively new to the right-back role and his previous form as a forward could allow him to thrive when bombing forward in Newcastle's system.

During his time at NEC Nijmegen in the Netherlands, the 5 foot 9 youngster produced 12 goals and 16 assists in 70 first-team outings before he scored six goals and provided five assists in 32 games for Fenerbahce during his debut season in Turkey.

The 23-year-old dynamo, who was once hailed as a "future superstar" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, does not shy away from his defensive responsibilities. He has made three tackles and interceptions combined per match in the Turkish top-flight and won 58% of his individual duels this term, whilst Trippier has made 3.1 per game and won 54% of his battles in the Premier League.

These statistics indicate that Kadioglu has the potential to offer a similar level of defensive impact, in terms of volume and efficiency, in comparison to the Englishman whilst also having the attacking quality to be a threat going forwards.

Therefore, the Turkish gem could be Newcastle's long-term heir to the right-back position and a £17m swoop for the 23-year-old this summer could be a shrewd move by PIF to bolster the squad.

Joe Root produced a seamless 93 from 106 balls and Jos Buttler made 70 from 45 balls as England wrapped up victory by 122 runs for a 3-0 series win

The Report by Andrew Fidel Fernando02-Jul-2016England 324 for 7 (Root 93, Buttler 70, Vince 51) beat Sri Lanka 202 (Chandimal 53, Willey 4-34) by 122 runs

Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsJoe Root’s 93 set up a 122-run win for England•PA Photos

England’s start was swift, their middle overs lively, and their finish was efficient. In response to an imposing total of 324, their visitors stuttered at the outset, lost wickets through the middle, and arrived at a limp finish. Sri Lanka’s 122-run defeat was an apt reflection of the chasm between the quality of the teams on display this series, which England have sewn up 3-0.Joe Root produced a seamless 93 from 106 balls to underpin his team’s dynamic innings, but it was arguably Jos Buttler who played the most electric knock within it. He set off with a four to fine leg, collected quick runs into the outfield for a while, then after facing 25 deliveries, let fly with the boundaries. There were shovels over the shoulder, searing cuts, crunching drives and a six over long off, all executed with a powerful bottom hand. His tally was 70 off 45. James Vince had also hit a half-century at the top of the innings.Erratic seam bowling at either end of the innings had helped England to their imposing total. Most hopes of Sri Lanka running that score down then dissipated in the first 22 overs, after which they were 107 for 5. Dinesh Chandimal made his fourth consecutive fifty as the wickets fell around him, before David Willey wiped out the tail to finish with four wickets for himself. Sri Lanka were all out for 202, and never in the course of their chase, did they appear to have the measure of their target.In England’s innings, Danushka Gunathilaka’s part-time offspin claimed three wickets for 48 from his full quota of overs, but it was debutant left-arm seamer Chaminda Bandara’s 1 for 83 which was the more definitive set of figures. Bandara was wayward at the outset while the other seam bowlers failed to pose a consistent threat, and costly at the death when everyone was going for runs. Nuwan Pradeep was also expensive again, giving away more than seven an over, as he attempts to come to grips closing out an innings.England had purred into motion with a cover-driven boundary from Jason Roy’s bat, third ball. Though play was soon left suspended for about 25 minutes by a passing shower, the hosts’ tempo rarely wavered over the following three-and-a-half hours. Bandara bowled overs that cost 11 and 14 in the Powerplay, while more experienced bowlers delivered more disciplined, but hardly miserly, spells. By the tenth over, only seven boundaries had been struck in all, yet 66 runs had been gathered. The green tinge on the pitch, which had put both captains in the mood to bowl first, offered only modest sideways movement. The overhead cloud made for only the slightest swing.The dismissal of Roy came somewhat against the run of play – caught on the midwicket boundary off Suranga Lakmal for a run-a-ball 34. Root, the next batsman, sent his first ball skipping through the covers for four, and Vince continued his pretty progress alongside the new man, the pair flitting efficiently between their wickets until Vince reached his first international fifty, off 54 balls. He was soon out charging Gunathilaka, who pulled his length back and slipped a ball past Vince’s advance, but neither that wicket, nor the next one, really dented England’s rate of progress. Halfway through the innings, the hosts were 138 for 3.With a confident Gunathilaka proving so successful, Mathews banked on spin through the middle overs. Jonny Bairstow was occasionally tested by it during his 21 off 28, but Root’s mastery of the single prevented Sri Lanka from making substantial headway. This steady beat of ones and twos was occasionally enlivened by the crash of cymbals: the reverse-paddle for four off the exceptionally part-time bowling of Kusal Mendis, the clatter through the covers at the end of the 38th over.Buttler twice hit Pradeep for consecutive fours, and thwacked a six off Lakmal in the 44th over, as he scored 45 runs from the last 20 balls he faced. It was he who propelled England’s run rate past six, and though he was out in the 48th over to give Bandara his first international wicket, had laid the groundwork for a fast finish. Thirty-three runs were hit off the last three overs.When the chase got under way an inability to pierce the lively infield drew a fatal mistake from Kusal Perera, not for the first time in the series. He was out lbw to Willey at the end of the fourth over. Mendis and Gunathilaka attempted to build the platform Sri Lanka required, before committing another of Sri Lanka’s most common mistakes through the series: attempting to come back for a second run in the 14th over, Mendis was caught short by Bairstow’s throw.From 66 for 2, the match slipped quickly. Gunathilaka was lbw to Liam Plunkett for 48. Mathews had his stumps splayed by a yorker from the same bowler. Upul Tharanga was bowled first delivery by Adil Rashid, and Dasun Shanaka was stumped off him, some time later. When Seekkuge Prasanna was caught at fine leg by a diving Willey, Sri Lanka had crumbled to 170 for 7 in the 35th over. A brittle tail didn’t hang around long.

After the shock of James Taylor’s retirement, it was an impressive show of character fro Nottinghamshire to close out victory

George Dobell at Trent Bridge13-Apr-2016
ScorecardJake Ball completed a five-wicket haul•Getty Images

Spike Milligan used to tell a story about a time when he was suffering from a bout of depression. Lying in bed and crying uncontrollably, he was brought a glass of water by his young daughter. She knew it wouldn’t help, but she wanted to try and couldn’t think of anything else to offer.Perhaps this Nottinghamshire victory might be viewed in the same light. A club reeling from the news that James Taylor’s career is not only over, but that he must undergo heart surgery in the next couple of days knows that, in the grand scheme of things, the result of a game of cricket does not amount to much. But they wanted to do what they could for him and have nothing else to give besides good wishes and encouraging performances You can be quite sure this result raised a smile from Taylor.It was, in the end, a victory that owed much to the fortitude and character of a team struggling to come to terms with the sad news they had received. Facing a target of 169 on a pitch that remained encouraging for seamers, they slipped form 72 without loss to 100 for 5 before rallying.Jake Ball, a much improved seamer who will surely be pushing for England recognition in the coming months, completed the second five-wicket haul of his first-class career in the morning and hit the winning runs in the evening, while Greg Smith, a former team-mate of Taylor at Leicestershire as well as Nottinghamshire, registered his highest score for the club in first-class cricket.”As soon as we found out about James we said we’ve got to win him a trophy,” Ball said afterwards. “He’s an exceptional talent and it’s sad that it’s all been taken away from him.”He’s been a massive part of this club for a few years. What we can do is put wins on the board and trophies in the cabinet for him.”Ball must have thought his work was over when he helped polish off the Surrey innings in the morning session. While Sam Curran – surely a fine batsman in the making – contributed five sweetly-struck boundaries, he was trapped in front by one that nipped back and Arun Harinath’s admirable resistance was ended when he was lured into reaching for a drive and edged to the cordon. He had batted on every day of the match and didn’t deserve to be on the losing side.The Nottinghamshire chase began smoothly. Mullaney, who looks in glorious form, and the more careful Smith reached 72 in 14 overs. But when Mullaney was trapped in front, the next four batsman added just eight between them.Tom Curran, finding life and movement from a good length, claimed three wickets in seven balls without conceding a run at one stage as Michael Lumb edged one angled across him, Brendan Taylor was taken on the glove by a brute of a ball and Riki Wessels edged one that bounced and left him. It was, by any standards, outstanding bowling.Smith, however, stood firm. So grim had his red-ball form been – this was his first score above 20 in 13 Championship innings and his first half-century in 24 first-class innings dating back to September 2014 – that one national newspaper left him out of their fantasy league options at the start of the season.But he has worked hard with Peter Moores – the consultant coach at Nottinghamshire – in recent months and demonstrated a sound defence and calm head in a crisis. It took a peach of a delivery, bouncing and nipping away from a good length, to find his edge.By then, Nottinghamshire were still 17 short and left with a tail that were blown away in the first innings. But Brett Hutton produced two sumptuous on drives and Ball kept his head to see their side over the line. Nottinghamshire took 24 points and Surrey just four.There was encouragement here for Surrey, though. They left themselves too much ground to make up after a poor start to the game with bat and ball but showed spirit and skill in clawing their way back into it.They also showed – if we did not know before – that they have at least two outstanding young cricketers in Ben Foakes and Tom Curran. To out-keep Chris Read, as Foakes did in this match, is a rare achievement, while Tom Curran produced a series of beautiful deliveries to precipitate a Nottinghamshire collapse.This was a mixed debut for Ravi Rampaul, though. After three years out of the first-class game, he was understandably rusty and looked as if he were carrying a few more pounds – or even stone – than can be ideal for a professional sportsman. Ravi Ample one wag called him; Ravi Rampall-you-can-eat another retorted.He retains enviable skills, though. While some of his wickets may have owed a little to fortune – Samit Patel, slashing without foot movement, edged a long-hop to slip and Read and Steven Mullaney may have felt the balls that trapped them leg before were passing down the leg side – he can move the ball both ways. The donation of 26 in no-balls though (Ravi no-ball was another nickname) was costly in such a tight game. He will, no doubt, improve for the experience.Surrey were also hampered by the decision not to bowl Sam Curran. They were, perhaps, keen not to over-burden a young man in such a tight situation, though he has given every indication to date of relishing the heat of the battle.”We made it very difficult for ourselves over the first four or five sessions of the game,” Gareth Batty admitted. “You can’t get that far behind against a very good team and Notts are a proven team. We gave ourselves too big a hill to climb but it was a pretty good effort to try and turn it around.”There is no lack of talent in his Surrey team. Their Championship season may well be defined by how quickly they can adapt to the greater discipline required in the top division. The pace at which they improved in this game may, despite the result, offer cause for optimism.

Sheikh Jassim has made a second offer to take control at Manchester United, Sky Sports report.

The Lowdown: Slight delay

Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe have been the front runners when it comes to a complete takeover from the Glazers, with both holding Old Trafford talks earlier this month.

However, both missed the deadline to make a second offer for the club on Wednesday in an incredible development, asking for an extension from the Raine Group in New York. That was granted, with Ratcliffe needing less than 24 hours to place his revised bid for United. It went relatively quiet when it came to Jassim’s second bid, but there has now been a development.

The Latest: Second offer

Sky Sports provided an update regarding Jassim and United in the last 24 hours. They said that a new offer has now been submitted, describing it as ‘news that Manchester United fans have been waiting for’.

‘Now the news that Manchester United fans we know have been waiting for and that is that Sheikh Jassim, the Qatari bid, a new bid has now been submitted to buy Manchester United.

‘It went in overnight, the deadline for the second bid was 9pm on Wednesday, an extension was granted. We knew that Sir Jim Ratcliffe had submitted a second bid on Thursday – now we know that Jassim has followed suit.’

The Verdict: Now we wait

It looks as if it is now down to the Glazers to provide feedback to Jassim, Ratcliffe and other parties who have made Old Trafford bids, so it could be an interesting few months.

Fabrizio Romano has stated that Jassim and his group remain confident as they believe their bid is the best one for the club, fans and local community. He also seemingly has a marquee transfer on his radar, should he take over, with Jassim thought to be a huge fan of Jude Bellingham.

That might come as music to Erik ten Hag’s ears, with the manager after a midfielder and a forward this summer, but in regards to a takeover, Jassim may have to remain patient for now.

Liverpool forward Luis Diaz is now back running on the training pitches after a lengthy absence through injury.

The Lowdown: Diaz a huge loss for Liverpool

The Colombian was an instant hit when he arrived from Porto last January, adding new life to the Reds’ season as they pushed to win an unprecedented quadruple.

Diaz came into this season as an undisputed key man, but unfortunately, he was limited to just seven Premier League starts before picking up a knee injury against Arsenal.

Thankfully, it now looks as though the 26-year-old’s return isn’t a million miles away, following a new update.

The Latest: Back on track

Taking to Twitter, Jones reacted to an image showing Diaz is now running outside again, albeit not taking part in full contact training:

“Another positive step for Luis Díaz in his recovery from injury.”

The Verdict: Massive boost for Reds

It may still be a while before Diaz officially returns to the pitch for Liverpool but this is undoubtedly a huge positive in their season, given his importance to the team.

[freshpress-quiz id=“419074″]

The 37-cap Colombia international’s pace and directness have been a major loss for Jurgen Klopp, with that left-sided position tough to fill without him around.

The manager has hailed Diaz as ‘exceptional’ in the past and he is someone who could be such a key player in the latter weeks of the season, should Liverpool be pushing for a top-four finish.

Moving forward, the £56,000-a-week star can become an even greater force, with his best years potentially coming up, and his absence has to be considered a big reason for the Reds’ struggles this season.

Justin Kemp’s magnificent unbeaten 100 from 89 balls completely changed the complexion of a match that seemed to be in India’s bag. Here at the stats highlights from his knock

S Rajesh26-Nov-2006

Justin Kemp scored 65 from his last 27 balls as India reeled under his onslaught © Getty Images
240.74 – Justin Kemp’s strike rate in his last 27 balls. After 62 balls he had made just 35.76 – The number of runs South Africa scored in the five-over period from 43 to 47. The sequence read 12, 15, 19, 11, 19.138 – The eighth-wicket partnership between Kemp and Andrew Hall, which is a record for that wicket in ODIs, beating the earlier mark of 119 between Shane Warne and Paul Reiffel against South Africa at Port Elizabeth in 1993-94.240 – Kemp’s strike rate against Irfan Pathan (24 off 10 balls). Against Zaheer Khan he hammered 21 off 11, while Harbhajan Singh vanished for 27 off 24. The only bowler who had respectable stats against him was Anil Kumble, who conceded just 11 from 25 balls.24.07 – Kemp’s average in his 20 previous ODIs this year. He had only scored two fifties in these matches.3 – The number of No.7 batsmen who have scored hundreds in ODIs. Before Kemp, only Hashan Tillakaratne (100 against West Indies at Sharjah, 1995-96), and Mohammad Kaif (111 not out against Zimbabwe at Colombo, 2002-03) had managed this feat51.20 – Rahul Dravid’s average in ODIs against South Africa in South Africa. In 11 innings, he has scored seven fifties25.89 – Sachin Tendulkar’s average against South Africa in South Africa. In 18 matches, he only has one fifty-plus score

The regular Monday column in which Steven Lynch answers your questions about (almost) any aspect of cricket

Steven Lynch19-Sep-2005The regular Monday column in which Steven Lynch answers your questions about (almost) any aspect of cricket:

Kevin Pietersen’s 473 runs in the Ashes puts him in joint second place for the most runs in a debut series © Getty Images
Shane Warne dismissed Andrew Strauss six times in the Ashes series – is this a record? asked Amin Shukla from Trivandrum
The amazing Warne also dismissed Ashley Giles six times in the epic series that has just finished. As it turns out these were the 45th and 46th instances of a bowler taking the same batsman’s wicket six times in the same series, starting in 1894-95, when England’s Tom Richardson kept removing Syd Gregory. But the record is seven, which has happened four times now: the first was the South African Jack Siedle, who fell to a previous Australian legspinning legend, Clarrie Grimmett, seven times in 1935-36. Another South African opener, Trevor Goddard, lost his wicket seven times to Brian Statham in England in 1960. The other two are more recent: in the 1989 Ashes series Geoff Lawson dismissed David Gower seven times, while in 1997 Glenn McGrath accounted for Mike Atherton on seven occasions. While we’re on this subject it might be worth mentioning the England opener Peter Richardson, who had eight innings in the 1956 Ashes series and was caught behind in each of them, although the bowlers were different.Before the end of Kevin Pietersen’s epic 158 at The Oval, a caption showed that he was approaching the record for the most runs in his debut Test series. Did he get there? asked Ben Elmington from Glasgow
He didn’t quite break the record for England, which is still held by RE “Tip” Foster, who scored 486 runs in the 1903-04 Ashes series, including 287 on his debut at Sydney. But Pietersen did finish up with 473 runs in his first series, which puts him level in second place for England with Paul Gibb, who made 473 in South Africa in 1938-39, in the series that included the famous Timeless Test at Durban. George Gunn (462 in 1907-08) and Brian Luckhurst (455 in 1970-71) also made more than 450 runs in their first Test series for England. The Ashes record is 557, by Australia’s Herbie Collins in 1920-21, while Arthur Morris (503 in 1946-47) also made more than any Englishman. But all of these are quite a long way adrift of the record for any debut series. In 1970-71 Sunil Gavaskar collected 774 runs in just four Tests in his maiden series, for India in the West Indies. He broke the previous record, George Headley’s 703 for West Indies against England in 1929-30.Who has scored the most Test runs without ever making a half-century? asked Nusrat Vohra from Pakistan
It’s quite well-known that Shane Warne, with 2767 now, has scored the most Test runs without a century, but I’m not sure that I’ve ever been asked this question before, The answer is Pakistan’s Waqar Younis, who’s actually the only man to make more than 1000 Test runs without the aid of a fifty – his highest score in 87 matches was 45. Fred Trueman of England lies second with 981, ahead of Craig McDermott (940), Derek Underwood (937), Courtney Walsh (936), Andy Caddick (861) and Bob Willis (840). Caddick did have a near-miss – his highest Test score was 49 not out against Australia at Edgbaston in 2001.Is it true that Jai Prakash Yadav’s 69 in the recent Videocon Series was the highest score by a No. 9 in ODIs? asked Ganesh Mali from India
Yes, JP Yadav’s 69 against New Zealand at Bulawayo last month did indeed break the record for the highest score by a No. 9 batsman in ODIs. The previous record was 64, shared by Michael Holding for West Indies against Australia at Perth in 1983-84, and Andy Bichel for Australia v New Zealand at Port Elizabeth in the 2002-03 World Cup. Tahir Naqqash hit 61 for Pakistan v New Zealand at Auckland in 1984-85, and there have been 14 other ODI half-centuries from Nos 9 or 10 in the order, three of them by South Africa’s Lance Klusener, and one by Irfan Pathan in the same match as Yadav.Recently Muttiah Muralitharan, almost unnoticed, went past Wasim Akram’s overall record of international wickets, and is closing in on 1000. Who else has more than 800? asked Haider Abbas from Pakistan
Murali’s nine wickets in last week’s first Test against Bangladesh in Colombo took him to 939 international wickets all told – 558 in Tests and 381 in Odis. (He also has 999 Test runs as I write!) Wasim Akram did indeed hold the previous record, with 916, but Shane Warne has equalled him now. The only other one over 800 at the moment is Glenn McGrath, with 842, although Anil Kumble had 790 before the first Test against Zimbabwe.Where does the name “Cross Arrows” come from? asked Stephen Sellick
The Cross Arrows Cricket Club is the one that plays matches throughout September on the Nursery Ground at Lord’s. It’s mostly made up of people who work there – MCC staff members as well as current and former groundstaff players. They play a high standard of club cricket, against local teams and organisations, as well as the occasional centenary or other celebration game. The Cross Arrows were founded in 1880, and legend has it that early on, before the club had a proper name, they had an away fixture out in the wilds of Middlesex. Asked where the match was, one of the players said “It’s across ‘Arrow way” (Harrow, home of the famous school, is out to the north-west of London) … and the name stuck. I’m not quite sure if it’s true, but it’s a good story!

A club abroad are reportedly plotting to snatch away a Tottenham summer signing in the January transfer window.

Spurs players who could leave next year

While some Spurs squad members have absolutely thrived under the tutelage of Ange Postecoglou, other Lilywhites players are enduring real contrasting fortunes.

Before injuries to Micky van de Ven and James Maddison, the likes of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Eric Dier were barely getting a look-in and don't appear to be a part of Postecoglou's plans moving forward. Dier is out of contract at the end of this Premier League season and reports suggest he could even leave as soon as January, with Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich apparently plotting a surprise move for him.

Meanwhile, despite the mounting injury issues for Postecoglou, it is believed Hojbjerg could still potentially leave in January as the likes of Atletico Madrid and Juventus take a real interest.

Richarlison has also been linked with a move away to Saudi Arabia in the new year, but it's been reported that Spurs aren't particularly keen on losing the Brazilian and want him to justify his £60 million price tag. Surprisingly, another player to be mentioned is summer signing Alejo Veliz.

Bologna "working" on Veliz move

According to a report by Italian news outlet Corriere di Bologna, the Serie A are side are "working" on a loan deal for Veliz with the obligation to buy him next summer. The Uruguayan has seen precious few opportunities since joining from Rosario Central, with Bologna now making him a top transfer target for the winter window.

Veliz is apparently the "hottest name" on their shopping list for 2024, with the South American seen as a player who can really bolster their attacking options for the second of this season. The notion they wish to attach a right to sign him permanently later in the year is an indication of just how highly they rate Veliz, but given he's only just joined, Spurs plan to take a very high ground in negotiations.

The 20-year-old has been tipped for more game time in the second half of the season, but it will be interesting to see if Spurs do let Veliz go out on loan and further his development. The striker's physical prowess and strength in the air could be useful in a league such as Serie A, with Veliz recently admitting that it is one of his main assets going forward.

"The first thing I'll be doing is to check in with them to help me to get established here and feel fully settled in," said Veliz upon signing for Spurs (via LiveScore).

"The good thing is I am a pretty open and friendly type of character and I always like to get on well with everyone, so I think I will settle in very well here.

"I run for everything and I never give up any pass as a lost cause. I'm going to give everything I can for this shirt."

ICC chief executive David Richardson will be part of the four-member panel, which also includes Amy Perko, Rohan Chandran and Keith Aaron

Peter Della Penna14-Apr-2018The ICC and USA Cricket jointly announced the formation of a four-member nominating and governance committee on Thursday, whose main role will be to put forward candidates to fill the three independent director slots on the new 10-member USA Cricket board of directors. The four members of the committee – who were selected by the ICC’s sustainable foundation advisory group (SFAG) for redeveloping US cricket governance in the wake of USACA’s suspension and subsequent expulsion – are ICC chief executive David Richardson, Amy Perko, Rohan Chandran and Keith Aaron.Perko was a three-time Academic All-American basketball player from 1983 to 1987 at Wake Forest before she transitioned into a career as a sports administrator where, in one of her previous roles, she served as an Associate Athletic Director at the University of Kansas. Her inclusion is noteworthy as it signals a continued effort by the ICC’s Project USA caretaker administration, which served as a bridge to the new USA Cricket administration, to build links with the wider US sports community as well as demonstrating a concerted effort to seek out female administrators that were nonexistent in the history of the USACA executive board. According to the new USA Cricket constitution, the three independent directors must not have held any administrative roles in cricket in the last three years and at least one must be female.Perko is currently the chief executive of the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics, a college sports committee founded in 1989 whose mission is “to promote reforms that support and strengthen the educational mission of college sports”, according to its website. Among the current 17-member Knight Commission panel are former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue, NBA Hall of Famer and 1992 Olympic basketball Dream Team member David Robinson, and Harvard Medical School neurosurgery resident Myron Rolle, who earned AP All-American honours as a defensive back on the Florida State football team in 2008 before famously postponing an opportunity to play in the NFL in order to accept a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship at Oxford.Chandran is well known in US cricket circles as one of the founders of ESPNcricinfo. Originally from Hong Kong, where he captained the national Under-19 team, Chandran now resides in the San Francisco Bay Area where he works as a technology executive and has been heavily involved in local cricket as a longtime member of Stanford Cricket Club. Chandran is familiar to Richardson and other ICC administrators after he was interviewed in late 2012 as one of five finalists for the vacant USACA chief executive position that eventually went to Australian administrator Darren Beazley.Aaron has over 30 years of experience as a business executive and cricket administrator in New York according to the ICC release. Prior to coming to America, Aaron captained the Guyana Under-19 team in 1968 to a regional junior title where he was team-mates with Dr. Vincent Adams, a member of the SFAG that appointed Aaron and the others.”The appointment of ICC Chief Executive, Mr. Richardson, represents the ICC’s continued commitment to the growth of cricket in the United States – something the SFAG has been eager to maintain,” said Adams in an ICC release. “His experience along with the skills and expertise of Mr. Aaron, Ms. Perko and Mr. Chandran ensure the NGC will play an extremely important role in identifying the right Independent Directors to work alongside the elected Members to take USA Cricket forward for many years to come.”The three independent directors will be appointed by the inaugural seven-person executive board after receiving nominations from Richardson’s new committee. The seven constituent directors – three individual directors, one club director, one league director, and one male and female elite player representative – will be voted in through the inaugural USA Cricket elections scheduled for June, just ahead of the ICC annual conference. A new 10-member board including the three independent directors can then be installed in time for USA Cricket to be formally approved as the officially recognised national governing body to replace USACA after its expulsion in 2017. Those seeking to be eligible to vote in the USA Cricket elections have until April 24 to register as members of USA Cricket.

Borussia Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl seemed to rule out a permanent move for Jadon Sancho this summer.

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Sancho impressing back in Germany Kehl reveals club's position on transfer Man Utd exit likely regardlessWHAT HAPPENED?

Sancho rejoined the club were he made his name on loan last month, having fallen out of favour at Manchester United following a much-publicised feud with manager Erik ten Hag. He's made a fast start in the Bundesliga too, sparking rumours that he could make the switch permanent at the end of the season. However, Kehl admitted that the deal would be a challenging one to complete.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT KEHL SAID

Asked by Sky Sports if there is an option to sign Sancho – as well as fellow Premier League loanee Ian Maatsen – in the summer, Kehl said: "Unfortunately for both players, neither option was really realistic. If you know what we got for Jadon Sancho two and a half years ago, then you know also that it might now be very, very difficult.

"We naturally advocated for an option with him – and also with Ian – but the negotiating position was not such that we could implement it and so we will accept it for now."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Sancho has featured three times in the league since returning to Dortmund, registering an assist in each of his first two appearances against Darmstadt and FC Koln. He also impressed when his side hosted Bochum last week, before being ruled out of BVB's goalless draw with Heidenheim due to a minor injury.

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GettyWHAT NEXT?

Despite Dortmund's public stance that signing Sancho is unlikely, it seems almost certain that United will endeavour to sell him this summer, unless Ten Hag is relieved of his managerial duties. For now, the England international will be focussing on inspiring his loan side up the Bundesliga table. Edin Terzic's charges are currently fourth, a startling 15 points off leaders Bayer Leverkusen despite only missing out on the title to Bayern Munich on the final day last term.