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Umar Akmal has said he is excited to play for Pakistan in front of his home crowd for the first time in his career, and is overjoyed that international cricket is returning to his country with the Zimbabwe series

ESPNcricinfo staff20-May-2015Umar Akmal has said he is excited to play for Pakistan in front of his home crowd for the first time in his career, and is overjoyed that international cricket is returning to his country with the Zimbabwe series. Akmal made his international debut in August 2009, but no Full Member nation has toured Pakistan since the terrorist attacks on the Sri Lanka team bus in March 2009. Zimbabwe will play two T20Is and three ODIs in Lahore beginning on May 22.”It will be an amazing feeling, it would mean so much to me. Cricketers around the world take playing at home in front of their own crowds for granted,” Akmal told . “But unfortunately many of us Pakistani cricketers have never been able to play in our own conditions which is really tough. I know the people of Pakistan are really looking forward to the return of international cricket to Pakistan and so are the players. I can’t wait to hopefully walk out in front of the Lahore crowd if I am selected. I thank the Zimbabwe team for embarking on this tour and hope it’s the start of international cricket returning permanently to Pakistan.”Akmal was recalled to the Pakistan T20 squad after he was left out for the tour to Bangladesh. He made scores of 35, 1, 95 not out and 85 not out in four innings in the recently concluded Super8 T20 Cup for Lahore Lions. “I went back to club cricket and performed well there and I was also one of the top-scorers during the Super8 tournament in Faisalabad and showed the selectors that I am in good form and can score runs when given the opportunity. I’m hoping that I can carry my good form into the Zimbabwe series.”Reports of disciplinary issues coupled with a poor World Cup – where he scored 164 runs in seven games at an average of 27.33 – resulted in him not being selected for the tour to Bangladesh. Akmal said that batting down the order had affected his returns.”I have done the best I could despite the position I have been batting in for large parts of my career. I could have been selfish and finished with a few more not outs, but that’s not the way I am. I’m a team player and will not sacrifice the team’s interests for my own. Obviously you cannot make runs every time, but I feel my better performances have come when the management have shown faith in me and given me a chance to bat up the order.”

Karnataka batsman Robin Uthappa has said that his team is “inspired” to accomplish an “unprecedented feat” of winning three domestic titles in consecutive seasons ahead of their Irani Cup tie in Bangalore against Rest of India

Gaurav Kalra16-Mar-20154:49

‘We aimed to win everything that was possible’ – Uthappa

Karnataka batsman Robin Uthappa has said that his team is “inspired” to accomplish an “unprecedented feat” of winning three domestic titles in consecutive seasons ahead of their Irani Cup tie in Bangalore against Rest of India. Karnataka demolished Tamil Nadu in the final to win the Ranji trophy in Mumbai last week, but Uthappa told ESPNcricinfo that the celebrations had been “muted” as the players were focused on continuing their dominance in the domestic circuit.”We know that no team in the world has won three domestic titles back to back and I don’t think any team has done it twice in two years,” he said. “It will be a great feat. We are on course right now for an encore. We just need to win the next one. As a team we do well because we are inspired to play the next level. We want to dominate the scene here with strong performances and that’s what we have done as a team and as individuals as well. In each aspect, in each skill that we’ve performed as batting unit, bowling unit, in different positions, as an allrounder, everyone has done really well for themselves.”Karnataka’s second consecutive Ranji title was their fifth in a row on the domestic circuit, having won the 50-over Vijay Hazare tournament over the last couple of years as well as last season’s Irani Cup. Although the Ranji final was a one-sided affair, Uthappa said defending the title was a “lot more challenging” than winning it last season.”There is a lit bit more pressure but we sensed that as we won all three domestic titles last year and we knew that there would be a lot of naysayers,” he said. “But we took that up as a challenge, we are going to take it one game at a time and we are going to win everything that’s possible. We’ve felt a really good attitude, worked very hard and bearing the fruits of it right now. We played on a lot of green tops this year, it was good for our bowlers, but for the batsmen it was challenging. But we performed really well as a batting unit, we’ve had some stellar performances, so its been a great year.”Uthappa – “Winning the India Test cap is what’s driving me, that’s always driven me. I came back into the game three years ago because I wanted to don the Test cap”•PTI Uthappa was one of the players to put in “stellar performances”, finishing the season as the highest run-getter with 912 at an average of 50.66 along with two centuries. He credits his success to a strong “work ethic” and having “figured out his game a lot more now.””I am sticking to what works for me, not trying to change anything. I just need to keep monitoring my batting, I just need to know what helps me prepare well, what helps me stay in the right mindset. There are a few areas that I am still working on. This season I had a few rough games, where I had four zeroes and still ended up becoming the top scorer. I want to make sure that those things don’t happen again. I want to make every innings I play count.”Although Uthappa briefly earned a recall to the Indian team for a one-day series in Bangladesh last year, he remains on the fringe of the national set-up. Still, he is convinced that if he “continues in the same way,” a recall is on the cards “sooner or later.””Winning the India Test cap is what’s driving me, that’s always driven me. I came back into the game three years ago because I wanted to don the Test cap,” he says. “I think I am getting closer to that dream, I just need to keep working, stacking up the runs and performing. Just lay out all the options, put it all out there and let the selectors take a call.”Once the Irani Cup is completed, Uthappa will have another chance to press his case for a national call-up with the IPL kicking off on April 8. Uthappa was the leading scorer in the tournament last year, making 660 runs at an average of 44, playing a key role in Kolkata Knight Riders’ second triumph in three years.”I am looking forward to it,” he said. “We have to defend our title there as well, its going to be a lot of fun. We have the team equipped to do that. Hopefully its going to be a fantastic year.”

Who can be happy and who can be concerned after Tuesday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying draw?

GettyWinners: Nigeria

The Super Eagles can largely be content with their Group A draw, even if there are a few potential banana skins in there as the West African giants look to pick themselves up off the ground.

Sierra Leone are strong—and Nigeria weren’t able to beat them during the last qualifying campaign—but Guinea-Bissau were dispatched comfortably at the Nations Cup, and shouldn’t spoil the party.

Sao Tome e Principe are one of the continent’s minnows, and are unlikely to pose any problems for the Eagles.

AdvertisementBackpagePix.Losers: Kenya

As one of the weaker sides in Pot Two, everyone in the other pots will have been keen to be pitted against the Harambee Stars, while there are a few sides who Kenya will have wanted to have avoided.

Cameroon—who they’ve been pooled against from Pot One—are one of those sides, with the Indomitable Lions demonstrating their class to eliminate Algeria in the World Cup qualifying.

Namibia and Burundi, like Kenya, were both present at the 2019 Nations Cup, and their squads are full of players who know how to get over the line.

backpagepixWinners: South Africa

Morocco are tough opponents for Bafana Bafana, and they’ll definitely have been one of the sides they’ll be keen to have avoided from Pot One.

However, the presence of Liberia presents South Africa with two winnable fixtures, and the derby with Zimbabwe—even if that complicates matters—gives Hugo Broos a good opportunity to demonstrate the progress he’s overseeing with this talented squad.

Zim were undone by Malawi at the Nations Cup, and Bafana will only have themselves to blame if they can’t reach the Afcon.

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Getty ImagesLosers: Egypt

Top seeds Egypt are of course favourites to reach the Nations Cup from Group D, but the Pharaohs could have had things a little easier than the group they’ve ultimately ended up with.

All of Guinea, Malawi and Ethiopia reached the last Nations Cup, with the Syli Nationale and the Flames both reaching the Last 16.

Egypt must ensure there’s no complacency as they look to progress.

Germany's players reportedly have a number of concerns about manager Julian Nagelsmann amid a run of two consecutive defeats.

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Die Mannschaft have lost to Turkiye and AustriaPlayers concerned about NagelsmannFirst international job for coachWHAT HAPPENED?

reports that Germany's players have a series of concerns about the management of the 36-year-old, who is embarking on his first international coaching job. They have lost two on the bounce, 3-2 against Turkiye and 2-0 against Austria. Since his appointment, Nagelsmann has also overseen a 3-1 win over the United States men's national team, and a 2-2 draw with Mexico.

AdvertisementWHY ARE GERMANY'S PLAYERS UNHAPPY?

Per the report, several players believe that Nagelsmann is more suited to club management and is too demanding. There is not said to be a lack of faith in the manager, but they would like him to simplify his ideas, due to the condensed nature of training at international level.

Nagelsmann has also played several players out of position – for example, Kai Havertz has been fielded as a left-back – and is said to place great faith in video sessions, while he also stops training to point out mistakes. Overall, it is said to have overwhelmed the Germany squad.

Getty ImagesWHAT NAGELSMANN SAID

Nagelsmann's desire to overhaul Germany's defence has not paid dividends yet, with his side failing to keep a clean sheet under his management and conceding eight goals in four games, and he has said: "We're not defensive monsters".

That has not gone down particularly well in the Germany dressing room.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?

Nagelsmann will go back to the drawing board now that the international break is over. One has to expect that he will tinker with his tactics before the next break and Euro 2024, when the country will be hosts.

Harry Maguire is happy to stay back at Manchester United and fight for his place in Erik ten Hag's starting lineup.

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Maguire happy to stay back at Man UtdWest Ham wanted to sign the defender in the summerHas started in the club's last eight matchesWHAT HAPPENED?

Despite reported offers from West Ham to join them in the summer, Maguire decided to stay back at United and the defender now feels vindicated over his decision after starting in the Red Devils' last eight matches across all competitions.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The 30-year-old became an outcast ever since Ten Hag joined the club last season, having appeared in 16 Premier League games and clocked just 759 minutes on the pitch. Yet the English international never gave up. Since Lisandro Martinez got ruled out of action at the end of September, Maguire has become a mainstay in the club's team sheet and he claimed that he is enjoying his football at the moment.

WHAT DID HARRY MAGUIRE SAY?

Speaking to , the former Leicester City player said, "I played a few games last year, 16 or 17 starts, and I felt like I performed really well in the games I played in, I just didn't play as many as I would have liked. On the other hand, Rapha [Raphael Varane] and Licha [Lisandro Martinez] were playing brilliantly and kept numerous clean sheets.

"I had to bide my time and be patient. I had two or three opportunities last season to get a run of games but I broke down with illness, I broke down with injuries twice, so I never got the rhythm and never got the run of games that I could prove myself to the manager. I have got that now. I am really enjoying my football and I really enjoy playing for this club. I was willing to stay and fight for my place and we have four or five top international centre-backs at this club and the competition for places is really high."

He added, "Working hard in training is the main thing and making sure you're ready. I started 16 or 17 games last year and felt like my form was there. There was a lot of talk about me because I wasn't playing games, but that is the way it is. I was playing well for my country, went to the World Cup and played well and always thought my form was there. But I am up against some top, top-level centre-backs and last year they were playing amazing, so I didn't get as many opportunities as I would have liked. This club demands competition for places and that is what we have in my position."

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GettyWHAT NEXT?

The centre back will be next seen in action for the Three Lions as they take on Malta on November 17 in a Euro 2024 qualifying game.

Bangladesh spun their way to an emphatic 71-run victory in the first Twenty20 international against Ireland in Belfast

Report by Ian Callender at Stormont18-Jul-2012
ScorecardBangladesh spun their way to an emphatic 71-run victory in the first Twenty20 international against Ireland in Belfast with Elias Sunny recording his country’s best ever figures.The Ireland batsmen had no answer to Sunny, the slow left-arm spinner, who took 5 for 13 as Ireland were restricted to 119 for 8, never threatening the tourists’ imposing 190 for 5 on a blameless Stormont pitch.The start was delayed by 30 minutes because of two heavy showers just before the start but that was the only respite the home team enjoyed. William Porterfield won the toss and asked Bangladesh to bat but from the off the team that are not even on the Twenty20 world ranking table meant business.Tamim Iqbal with a run-a-ball 31 and Shakib Al Hasan, with nine boundaries in his 57 from just 33 deliveries, put Bangladesh in control and although both batsmen were out, along with the captain Mushfiqur Rahim in the space of 21 balls, the mayhem was just beginning.Ziaur Rahman came to the middle at 120 for 4 and after facing just 17 balls he had scored 40, including five sixes. Four successive balls in the 16th and 17th overs from Paul Stirling and Max Sorensen cleared the boundary as the Ireland bowlers wilted.Boyd Rankin, playing only his third game since the World Twenty20 qualifying final in March, was match rusty and, significantly, his best over was his last which gave Ireland some hope for the remaining two games in the series, on Friday and Saturday when they will also have George Dockrell available.Dockrell, the Ireland Under-19 captain, also suffered on Wednesday as the England team they will be playing in the World Cup next month bowled them out for 94 in Leicester before a thunderstorm hit the ground.But it is the Ireland batsmen who will have the most homework to do in the next 24 hours. They have to work out how to play left-arm spin because while Sunny grabbed the headlines with his wickets, Abdur Razzak was even more economical, conceding just nine runs in his four overs and picking up the prize scalps of Porterfield and Kevin O’Brien. And it will be surprising Shakib, the world’s No 1 all-rounder in one-day cricket, does not bowl better in the next two matches.Of Ireland’s 119 runs, more than half (63) came from seven overs of pace, including 25 from the first two overs as Porterfield raced away, hitting two fours and two sixes. But he failed to survive Razzak’s first over and when Paul Stirling ran himself out in the next Ireland were immediately on the back foot.Only Gary Wilson looked anyway comfortable against the spin, although even he was helped to his unbeaten 41 by facing four overs from the returning opening bowlers. But that was about giving Mortaza and Abul Hasan overs under their belt with the game already won.Sunny finished with 5 for 13 and became the first cricketer to win Man-of-the-Match awards on debut in two formats. He had taken seven wickets on Test debut against West Indies.Bangladesh complete the requisite number of qualifying games on Friday to enter the Twenty20 rankings table and another victory will see them included in ninth place, above Ireland and, on the evidence of the first match, it will be well deserved.

ESPNcricinfo previews the third Test between South Africa and Sri Lanka at Newlands in Cape Town

The Preview by Siddarth Ravindran02-Jan-2012Match factsJanuary 3-7, Cape Town
Start time 10:30 (08:30 GMT)Can Jacques Kallis return to his best in his 150th Test?•Getty ImagesThe Big PictureSouth Africa haven’t won their previous four home Test series, but a failure to close out this one will cause the most criticism. While the other contests were against teams near the top of the rankings, this one is against a side that was struggling to find its feet in Test cricket after the retirement of Muttiah Muralitharan. A series that was expected to be all one-way traffic is now level at one-all, with Sri Lanka having already achieved their pre-tour ambition of winning a Test in South Africa.After basking in one of their greatest Test victories, Sri Lanka have now scaled up their goal to a series win in South Africa. The Durban success came about through significant contributions from many of their players – Thilan Samaraweera and Kumar Sangakkara making hundreds, Chanaka Welegedera and Rangana Herath taking five-fors, and Dinesh Chandimal scoring vital half-centuries in each innings. That’s something they need to repeat in Cape Town if they are to pose a challenge to South Africa, who remain favourites despite the Durban debacle.The return of Vernon Philander, whose accurate swing bowling has brought him four five-wicket hauls in three Tests, is a cause of cheer for the home side. Sri Lanka, though, have several injury worries – Chandimal is struggling with an elbow problem and a final call on his availability will be taken on Tuesday, while their quickest bowler Dilhara Fernando is also doubtful after suffering knee pain.It has been more than a decade since Sri Lanka played a Test in Cape Town, but their previous match at the venue remains their biggest defeat in Tests. However, as they did memorably in Durban, Sri Lanka need to forget the past and set about taking a shot at history.Form guide (Most recent first)
South Africa LWLWD
Sri Lanka WLDLDWatch out for…Only once in the past nine seasons has Jacques Kallis gone through an entire home season without making a Test century. The Cape Town Test is the last one of the South African summer and Kallis is yet to score a hundred, and what is more – he has picked up three ducks in his past four Tests. Luckily for him, the next match is at Newlands, his home ground and one where he has an outstanding record – 1874 runs at 72.07 with eight centuries. No better place then for him to regain form, that too in his 150th Test.
Tillakaratne Dilshan is another batsman struggling for form – he has only two half-centuries in his previous 15 Test innings. After a miserable first seven months as leader, Dilshan had little to show in terms of results, but the Durban victory should give his captaincy a fresh lease. Now that the team is showing signs of a turnaround, he’ll hope his own form too will improve.Team newsThe Durban debacle has prompted immediate action from South Africa. Ashwell Prince has been axed, and the in-form Alviro Petersen returns. He slots in as an opener, pushing the out-of-sorts Jacques Rudolph down the order. The other change to the XI is that Vernon Philander returns to take the place of Marchant de Lange.South Africa: 1 Graeme Smith (capt), 2 Alviro Petersen, 3 Hashim Amla, 4 Jacques Kallis, 5 AB de Villiers, 6 Jacques Rudolph, 7 Mark Boucher (wk), 8 Vernon Philander, 9 Dale Steyn, 10 Morne Morkel, 11 Imran TahirThe only changes to the Sri Lankan side are likely to be due to injuries. Decisions on Chandimal and Fernando will be taken on Tuesday morning, and in case they aren’t fit, Kaushal Silva and Dhammika Prasad are the likely replacements.Sri Lanka: (probable) 1 Tillakaratne Dilshan (capt), 2 Tharanga Paranavitana, 3 Kumar Sangakkara, 4 Mahela Jayawardene, 5 Thilan Samaraweera, 6 Angelo Mathews, 7 Dinesh Chandimal / Kaushal Silva (wk), 8 Thisara Perera, 9 Rangana Herath, 10 Dilhara Fernando / Dhammika Prasad, 11 Chanaka WelegedaraPitch and conditionsIt rained in Cape Town on Monday but the forecast is better for the rest of the week. Smith believes the pitch is dry though there is a tinge of green on it. The Newlands track is usually a good Test wicket, so we can expect a bit for the bowlers early on, and a decent batting strip.Stats and trivia Since South Africa’s post-apartheid return to cricket, Australia are the only visiting team to have won Tests at Newlands. South Africa’s record at the ground in that period is a formidable 15 wins and three losses in 23 matchesDaryl Cullinan is the only South African batsman to have made more than one Test century against Sri Lanka. Surprisingly, the only batsman in the current squad to make have made a Test hundred against Sri Lanka is Jacques RudolphThilan Samaraweera is 22 short of becoming Sri Lanka’s highest run-getter in a Test series in South Africa.
Click here for the detailed stats preview to the Test.Quotes”We have the capabilities to be at the top and we won’t get there with the way we played in Durban. We need to step it up a little bit and we understand that.”

“If we can win the series, it will be a great achievement as a team. We believe we can perform in any conditions and it would be a big achievement for Sri Lanka if we win.”

The Royal Challengers Bangalore lower order scraped 22 runs from 15 deliveries to steer their side past Delhi Daredevils’ 160 – a target that had looked small while Virat Kohli was in the middle

The Bulletin by Abhishek Purohit26-Apr-2011
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsVirat Kohli took just 38 balls for his 56•AFPThe Royal Challengers Bangalore lower order scraped 22 runs from 15 deliveries to steer their side past Delhi Daredevils’ 160 – a target that had looked small when Virat Kohli was at the crease, and stiff after his dismissal. But Daniel Vettori and J Syed Mohammad found the boundaries when they were needed, and got Bangalore home with three deliveries to spare.It had looked like a cakewalk when Kohli was finding the boundaries at will in a breezy half-century that stunned Delhi. But David Warner provided the inspiration Delhi needed with a direct hit from the deep that ran out AB de Villiers. After Morne Morkel bowled Kohli two deliveries later, 65 needed from 66 deliveries quickly became 44 required from 30, and the Feroz Shah Kotla crowd started buzzing with the hope of a home victory.But Syed flicked and steered Umesh Yadav for successive boundaries to bring the equation down to 12 required off two overs, and Bangalore didn’t allow Delhi back again.The way Kohli had begun in a blaze of boundaries, Delhi hadn’t looked like getting a look-in. Coming in after Tillakaratne Dilshan had been dismissed off the second ball of the chase, Kohli launched six fours off his first ten deliveries. He started with successive boundaries on either side of point off Ashok Dinda, and then laid in to Irfan Pathan, dismissing him for four fours in an over.Irfan is trying to make a comeback to the Indian team, but looked helpless against Kohli, becoming too predictable with his attempt to bend the ball back in at gentle pace. Kohli took full toll, flicking, driving and glancing him for 16 runs as Delhi surrendered the advantage of the early breakthrough.To add to Delhi’s troubles, they had to contend with Chris Gayle at the other end. The Jamaican carved Morne Morkel over cover and then hammered him over long-on. Kohli and Gayle took another 17 runs off Dinda as Bangalore raced to 62 for 1 in five overs. Though James Hopes got Gayle with a surprise bouncer to end an 82-run stand off 43 deliveries, Kohli casually flicked the next delivery for four to bring up his fifty in 31 balls.Then came the moment that got Delhi back in the game. AB de Villiers took on Warner’s throw from deep midwicket for a second run, and found himself nowhere close when the ball shattered the stumps. Two balls later, Morne Morkel got Kohli to play on, and suddenly Bangalore were 96 for 4.Bangalore had hardly recovered from the twin blows when Cheteshwar Pujara found deep midwicket with a pull. They still needed 54 from 45, and Saurabh Tiwary was the only specialist batsman left.But Vettori has scrapped on countless occasions for New Zealand, and wasn’t going to give in anytime soon. He and Tiwary brought it down to 32 from 24. Tiwary then clubbed Morkel for six over midwicket to almost snatch the game away from Delhi but the match turned again. Morkel had Tiwary steering a full delivery to the keeper. Abhimanyu Mithun tried to swing his way out of pressure off the next two balls, and found extra cover with the second attempt.Syed joined Vettori and they shut the door on Delhi with some nerveless batting; Vettori’s sliced boundary over backward point off Hopes decisively swung the game in Bangalore’s favour in the penultimate over.Hopes had earlier led a Delhi recovery after Zaheer Khan and S Aravind made the dangerous pair of Virender Sehwag and David Warner feel for the new ball that zipped around on a helpful surface. Hopes added 47 off 33 deliveries for the fifth wicket with Venugopal Rao and played the percentages excellently, targeting the three Bangalore spinners for six of his seven boundaries.Warner had found the initial movement too hot to handle, and was cleaned up by a perfectly pitched delivery from Zaheer that came back into him. Sehwag got off to his usual carefree start, slamming his first delivery for four and twice edging Aravind just short of the men behind the wicket. His luck eventually ran out when he was caught inches short of his crease by a Mithun throw.At 115 for 3 with five overs to go, however, Delhi had managed to set the base for the final onslaught, but Rao’s blind charge to Vettori made him lose his stumps. Some late sixes from Irfan Pathan and Naman Ojha lifted Delhi to 160, a score that proved inadequate ultimately.

Brahim Diaz spoke highly of team-mate Jude Bellingham after netting the winner for Real Madrid against RB Leipzig on Tuesday.

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Diaz scored Real Madrid's winning goalHailed Bellingham as world-classEmulated Bellingham's celebrationWHAT HAPPENED?

The former AC Milan player, who came into the starting lineup in place of the injured Jude Bellingham, turned hero for Real Madrid as he scored the winning goal for his team against RB Leipzig in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 clash.

After netting the all-important goal, Diaz claimed he shares a very close bond with the English midfielder and hailed him as a world-class player.

AdvertisementWHAT BRAHIM DIAZ SAID

Speaking to after the match, Diaz said, "I love [Bellingham]," Díaz told Movistar. "From the first moment, we've got on really well. I'm helping him with his Spanish. He's a world-class player, I enjoy playing with him. Apart from the charisma he has, he's a great person. Despite the absences of Jude, who we missed, and of [Antonio] Rudiger, and all those [players] who are out injured for a long time, we keep showing that we're a great team, that we're Real Madrid."

Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

After scoring in the 48th minute of the match with a brilliant solo effort, the 24-year-old emulated Bellingham's iconic open-arm celebration. The England international took to X to react to the Spaniard's celebration, posting "Oh my god Brahim!!!"

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR REAL MADRID?

Los Blancos will now return to La Liga action as they will aim to extend their lead at the top of the table by picking up another three points against Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.

Sri Lanka Cricket’s first election by secret ballot concluded peacefully with Jayantha Dharmadasa and Nishantha Ranatunga being elected uncontested for the two most powerful posts of president and secretary respectively

Sa'adi Thawfeeq in Colombo16-Apr-2013Sri Lanka Cricket’s first election by secret ballot concluded peacefully with Jayantha Dharmadasa and Nishantha Ranatunga being elected uncontested for the two most powerful posts of president and secretary respectively.The majority of office-bearers elected for the main posts last year were retained, with the exception of Asanga Seneviratne, who lost his seat as vice-president to Mohan de Silva. That was the only major upset in an otherwise straightforward contest. K Mathivanan retained his seat as one of the vice-presidents by polling the highest with 113 votes. Nuski Mohamed retained his seat as treasurer when he beat his opponent Eastman Narangoda by 32 votes (87-55).The election was supervised by officials of the Elections Department at the request of SLC because this was the first time a secret ballot was being used to elect the office-bearers. Although all the key office-bearer posts barring the president and secretary were contested, the incumbent office-bearers managed to re-elect themselves for a two-year term. The official term for the previous year’s board was one year, but due to postponement of elections, their term was stretched to 15 months.Jayantha Dharmadasa was appointed the sole nominee for the position, after the three original candidates were disqualified, for three different reasons. Thilanga Sumathipala was first ruled to be contravening Sri Lanka’s sports law, which states no person linked to the betting industry, media or a sports equipment business may stand for SLC presidency, before incumbent president Upali Dharmadasa – Jayantha’s brother – and Badureliya Sports Club president Sumith Perera, were disqualified by the board for falling foul of the SLC constitution.With no legitimate candidates left standing, SLC’s executive then exercised a constitutional right to appoint their own nominee, after Jayantha Dharmadasa expressed strong interest in the role, and had already acquired the documentation that would allow him to stand for election.Full list of office bearers

President – Jayantha Dharmadasa
Vice-Presidents – K Mathivanan, Mohan De Silva
Secretary – Nishantha Ranatunga
Asst. Secretary – Hirantha Perera
Treasurer – Nuski Mohamed
Asst. Treasurer – Ajita Pasqual
Tournament committee – Roshan Iddamalgoda (chairman), Kavinda Liyanage (secretary), Manuja Kariyapperuma, Samantha Dodanwela, Upali Seneviratne.
Umpires Committee – ARM Aroos (chairman), Gajaba Pitigala, Jayantha Paranathala, Lal Ranasinghe, Hiran Jayamanne
Tour Organising Committee – One of the SLC vice-presidents (chairman), SLC secretary (secretary), Chandra Rodrigo, Anil de Silva, Roland Perera, Daminda Cooray, Jayantha Jayaweera
Sponsorship Committee – One of the SLC vice presidents (chairman), SLC treasurer (secretary), Sarath Abeysundara, Matheesha Dharmasiri, Eranga Egodawela, plus two to be picked by ExCo.
District Associations – Thilina Tennekoon, Dr Sandasegara
Affiliated Clubs – Jayananda Warnaweera, Sumith Perera
Controlling Clubs – Shammi Silva, Srinath Silva, Irwin Jayawardene
Mercantile CA – Ashley Ratnayake
Nationalised Services CA – Nalin Aponso
Schools Association – president and secretary of SLSCA

Jayantha Dharmadasa was SLC interim president from 2005 to 2007, and is joint managing director of business conglomerate Nawaloka Group, alongside his brother. Ranatunga was elected to the post of secretary without contest for the second year in a row.He had also served in that role in two interim committees immediately preceding the 2012 elections, and has been SLC’s secretary since 2009. Before last year’s election, SLC had been run by a series of interim committees for seven years.Seneviratne, who was one of two vice-presidents elected last year lost his seat by 13 votes to de Silva, a former SLC president. Silva polled 81 to Seneviratne’s 68. Hirantha Perera and Ajitha Pasqual also retained their posts as assistant secretary and assistant treasurer respectively.Perera polled 79 against his opponent Bandula Dissanayake, who managed 51 while 14 votes were rejected. A third contestant, Priyantha Soysa, withdrew. Pasqual won by the thinnest of margins against Irwin Jayawardene (71-68) with five votes being rejected.Outgoing president Upali Dharmadasa will automatically serve in the next Executive Committee as the immediate past president, making it the first instance of two brothers serving in an SLC committee.There were contests for the tournament, umpires and tour organising committees while the sponsorship committee went uncontested for lack of candidates.The new board is another major change in a season of flux for SLC. In the past three months, SLC has appointed a new CEO, two new captains (Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal) and a new fast bowling coach (Chaminda Vaas), while the sports minister named a new selection panel, headed by Sanath Jayasuriya, in February.The elections were conducted amid tight security at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall in Colombo. It commenced at 10.30am and lasted a marathon eight hours.