The inquiry into a suspicious first-class match in January will take “two to three” more weeks, SLC has said.SLC had appointed a committee to head an inquiry into a Premier League Tournament match between Kalutara Physical Culture Club and eventual Tier B winners Panadura Sports Club, when a rival team made allegations that the result of that match had been artificially engineered. Though it was hoped that committee would produce a final report on their findings within a few weeks, with the case having since become more complex, further time was required.”The inquiry might take a little longer – maybe two or three weeks,” SLC vice-president K Mathivanan said. “There are so many witnesses who have to be heard from. Also, they will be allowed to be examined by the Panadura and KCC lawyers. Then there will be natural justice. It’s like a court scenario, but justice will be done.”That match had drawn suspicion primarily because of the nature of the third and final day’s scoring rates. Panadura, who were still making their first-innings response to Kalutara’s 390, hit 223 at a run rate of 10.34 to begin the last day, and the scoring continued at this breakneck pace. Kalutara were all out for 197 in 22.5 overs, in their second innings; Panadura then chased down the target of 165 inside 14 overs. All told, a staggering 587 runs were scored in a single day.The result proved to be pivotal to the league’s outcome, as Panadura went on to beat Sri Lanka Ports Authority Cricket Club to the Tier B title.

West Ham United will 'test the water' to see if they can land Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha this window as David Moyes looks to replace Declan Rice, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest transfer news involving Joao Palhinha?

According to The Daily Mail, Fulham have slapped an incredible £90 million price tag on Palhinha this summer as they look to ward off interest from suitors in the £50k-a-week ace.

West Ham United are believed to be one side that are keen on the Portugal international; however, Fulham are said to have benchmarked their demands against the Hammers' £100 million asking price for club captain Rice.

Football Insider have claimed that Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and Bayern Munich have all monitored Palhinha following his impressive debut campaign in English football, though they are looking towards alternative targets.

The Sun via TEAMtalk indicate that Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou is an admirer of Palhinha and has urged Spurs' chiefs to make a move to acquire the former Sporting Lisbon man.

Palhinha was an influential figure for Fulham during last term and was the most frequent tackler in the Premier League, winning 147 challenges in total.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jones thinks that West Ham United will try to test Fulham's resolve to see whether a swoop to try and land Palhinha is attainable.

Jones told FFC: "They'll go and test the water for Palhinha as well, I fully expect them to go and do that, but Fulham, if they do that, will give West Ham a taste of their own medicine. West Ham have just held out for £105 million for Declan Rice and Fulham are not going to cave in on Palhinha's valuation and that's why there's little leaks that they'll look to for £90 million and it was just to know to West Ham that you've lost your best player, we're not about to lose ours."

Would Joao Palhinha be a good addition for West Ham United this summer?

In light of West Ham captain Rice closing in on a move to Arsenal, the Irons will need a suitable replacement and bringing in Palhinha would be an exciting addition at the London Stadium.

Last term, the 27-year-old made 40 appearances in all competitions for Fulham, registering four goals in the process, as per Transfermarkt.

WhoScored show how monstrous Palhinha was in the tackle during 2022/23, winning an average of 4.2 challenges per match in the Premier League.

Intriguingly, the Portugal international also excelled aerially in comparison to his positional peers across Europe's top five divisions, coming out on top in around 2.06 duels per 90 minutes across the last 365 days, putting him in the eighth percentile for this metric, as per FBRef.

Consistent displays on the field for Fulham throughout the season earned Palhinha a SofaScore average match rating of 7/10 in the English top flight, signifying that he could be the man to fill Rice's large boots at the club in the engine room if the Hammers were to land Palhinha this summer.

Sarah Taylor remains in contention for the Women’s World Cup in June and July, according to head coach Mark Robinson, despite her omission from a 24-player training camp in the United Arab Emirates next month.

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Mar-2017Sarah Taylor remains in contention for the Women’s World Cup in June and July, according to head coach Mark Robinson, despite her omission from a 24-player training camp in the United Arab Emirates next month.Taylor, arguably one of the most talented female cricketers in the world, has not featured for England since their defeat to Australia in the World T20 semi-final in Delhi 12 months ago.England Squad

Heather Knight (captain), Anya Shrubsole (vice-captain), Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Kate Cross, Georgia Elwiss, Tash Farrant, Jenny Gunn, Alexandra Hartley, Danielle Hazell, Amy Jones, Beth Langston, Laura Marsh, Natalie Sciver, Fran Wilson, Lauren Winfield, Danielle Wyatt, Georgia Adams, Hollie Armitage, Alice Davidson-Richards, Sophie Ecclestone, Evelyn Jones, Emma Lamb, Linsey Smith.

She took a break from cricket last year to undergo treatment for anxiety issues, and though she has returned to training with the England squad, the management are keen not to rush her back into the team before she is fully ready.”Sarah Taylor is going really well at the moment and is back in training,” said Robinson. “Her return is a graduated one which is regularly reviewed as she works herself back to hopefully full fitness. There are no timescales in place for her, but her goal is still to give herself the best chance of being able to play in the World Cup.”The squad, which will be led by Heather Knight, includes 17 of England’s centrally-contracted players, alongside seven members of the England Women’s Senior Academy players.Their UAE trip will include several inter-squad matches, alongside three 50-over matches between an England XI and their Irish counterparts, at the Sheikh Zayed stadium in Abu Dhabi on April 24, 26 and 28.”This is an exciting step in the build-up to the World Cup,” said Knight. “We’ve begun to show who we are as a side over the past year and we’ll continue to work hard and continue to progress.”We are looking forward to getting back outside and testing ourselves against Ireland. I’m sure there will be a few of the squad who will be keen to see who comes out on top when we play each other as well.”Robinson, who maintains that England are still a work in progress as they continue to rebuild with a new-look squad, was enthusiastic about the tour, which will be England’s first engagement of 2017.”The trip will give us the opportunity to play some internal games to get us back playing competitive cricket,” he said. “With places up for grabs, the players will start the process of building a case for selection this summer.”Having some of the Academy players with us is exciting as we are always looking for opportunities to increase their learning and exposure.”Ireland joining us will give us some different opposition and hopefully we can play our part in giving support to one of the Associate countries.Cricket Ireland Performance Director Richard Holdsworth said: “We are very grateful to the ECB for agreeing to play three matches against an England XI. These matches will not only serve as very useful preparation for our Quadrangular Series in South Africa, but also an excellent development opportunity for our players.”

Arsenal are reportedly one of the clubs interested in Israeli sensation Oscar Gloukh, as the Gunners eye reinforcements ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Mikel Arteta will hope to close the gap on Manchester City in making sufficient signings this summer, something that the Spaniard is seemingly mastering with Kai Havertz, Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber Emirates bound.

The Gunners will face competition for Gloukh, who has been linked with a potential move to north London from Austria.

Are Arsenal signing Oscar Gloukh?

As reported by The Guardian on Tuesday, Arsenal are one of the Premier League representatives eyeing RB Salzburg midfielder Oscar Gloukh.

The report names the Gunners, along with City and Tottenham as the side’s wanting to secure the teenager’s signature, stating that the player would ‘prefer’ to join an English or Spanish side next.

It's thought that all three of those clubs have made enquiries to sign the player too.

It was only in the winter window that the youngster was picked up by Salzburg from Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv for a fee of €7m (£6m), however, a sharp start to his budding career has suggested that another move could be on the cards.

How good is Oscar Gloukh?

Labelled a "wonderkid" by journalist Tom Maston, the teen lit up the recent U21 European Championships, where he actually played against Emile Smith Rowe's England on Wednesday night.

The Arsenal star bagged an assist as Gloukh's side exited the tournament following a 3-0 defeat. He did, however, bow out having created four big chances in the tournament, the most of any player, while also registering three assists.

Deployed primarily as an attacking midfielder for Salzburg, the 19-year-old clearly has talents in the final third, as further highlighted by his two goals and one assist since arriving in the Austrian Bundesliga.

In the Bundesliga, Gloukh created five big chances, as well as averaging 1.2 key passes, despite only averaging 52 minutes per game for his new club.

For Arsenal, the teenager’s talent is an exciting prospect when taking into consideration Arteta’s confidence in young players at the Emirates, with the Gunners averaging the joint-youngest team last season.

The north Londoners are expected to bid farewell to Granit Xhaka this summer, who could depart for a German Bundesliga return after an eventful seven years at the club.

The Swiss midfielder’s exit could allow for a new face to flourish in his place alongside Rice, with Gloukh signalling to be a perfect heir to the 30-year-old.

Hailed as being a “jewel” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the teenager has been tipped by Kulig to become a “future legend of Israeli football” and could emulate the creative spark that Xhaka introduced to his game in the latter stages of his Arsenal career.

Typically used as a deep midfielder, the Swiss ace was identifiable as a hot-headed cog in the engine room, before displaying a more offensive role under Arteta, scoring nine times last term.

The 30-year-old averaged 1.3 key passes per game for the Gunners, as well as creating six big chances, just one more than Gloukh in his half-a-season at Salzburg, implying that the youngster could one day fill the void left by Xhaka’s departure.

One thing that is certain is that the club that secures the signing of the starlet will have an audacious talent on their hands, in a player that has a glass ceiling to his abilities in central midfield.

Newcastle United haver allegedly discussed a shock deal for Leonardo Bonucci this summer, according to a report from Calciomercato, via The Daily Mail.

What is the latest Newcastle United transfer news?

The Toon have already got to work this summer in terms of strengthening their squad, with the Premier League outfit preparing for a campaign back in the Champions League. Having climbed into the top four in the 2022/23 season, they now want to challenge on all fronts, and that will involve ensuring they have the required strength in depth throughout their first-team – and maybe a little bit of Champions League know-how too.

They already have their eyes set on a number of other targets this transfer window. One name is Goncalo Inacio, with the Magpies keen to add him to their backline during the close season. In addition, it seems as though Newcastle may not need to stump up as much money as initially thought, eager to pay less than his £51m release clause.

Another player they want to add in a bid to bolster their defence is Marc Guehi at Crystal Palace. The Englishman would cost the club £60m, with the Eagles feeling his recent efforts on the international stage meaning his value has increased, and he will now be worth more to any interested party.

Are Newcastle United signing Leonardo Bonucci?

Now, there is a fresh name that has emerged as a potential target for them at centre-back. According to a report from Calciomercato, via The Daily Mail, Leonardo Bonucci has held 'shock' talks with the Premier League side over a potential switch to England this summer.

There is no offer on the table yet for the Italian but he has indeed spoken to the Toon over a move, with the player set to potentially leave Juventus this summer. He doesn't have long left to run on his current deal and plans to quit the game entirely next summer, but for now, he wants to have one more good season – and that looks like it could be away from Turin.

He had to spend the majority of his time out of the Juventus first-team in 2022/23, having played on just 16 occasions in Serie A for the Old Lady. Only nine of those were starts too, and he has gradually fallen more and more out of favour at the club, with his starts dwindling each year for the last three seasons.

The 36-year-old could now have a go at a new challenge elsewhere, having spent twelve seasons with the club. His latest stint with the Italian club began in 2018 but he had a further seven campaigns with them before that, with only a year at AC Milan splitting the two up. He's also played in over 500 games, has featured in the Champions League and has been a regular for his national team of Italy.

Bonucci has also never played outside of Italy so perhaps there could be concerns over both his age profile and pace in the Premier League, but one has to imagine his experience at the highest level would only serve to help the likes of Sven Botman when those European nights come calling.

Rangers transfer target Danilo is desperate to make the move to Ibrox as manager Michael Beale personally works to sign him, according to reports.

Who are Rangers signing?

So far, Beale and co have been very busy this transfer window, with the Scottish Premiership giants looking to wrestle back dominance from Old Firm rivals Celtic.

Jack Butland, Dujon Sterling, Kieran Dowell, Sam Lammers and Abdallah Sima have all joined the club in these last few weeks, with the Gers also sealing a deal for striker Cyriel Dessers from Cremonese very recently.

Speaking after the capture of Dessers, Beale raved over the business his club has conducted, claiming the forward will add another dimension of attacking quality to his side.

"He brings a lot of experience from playing in Holland, Belgium and Italy, as well as in European competitions," Beale said.

"At 28-years-old, he is at a good age and will bring personality and leadership to our team."

This summer marks a major Rangers overhaul with Scott Arfield, Filip Helander, Ryan Kent, Allan McGregor and Alfredo Morelos all leaving after their contracts expired in late May.

Following the arrival of Dessers, reports suggest they're not done there, with Beale also personally pursuing a move for Danilo from Feyenoord.

That is according to The Daily Record's print edition (via Ibrox News), who claim the Gers boss is actively chasing a move for the 24-year-old.

In a promising boost for Rangers, the Record also say that Danilo is "desperate" to join the club this summer, with more Ibrox exits on the cards.

Former manager Steven Gerrard, after his move to Saudi Arabia, is apparently targeting fringe squad member Scott Wright as he aims to bolster his squad at Al-Ettifaq.

How many goals has Danilo scored at Feyenoord?

The South American attacker has been exceptional in the Eredivisie, and while he can't quite match teammate Santiago Gimenez's goal return, Danilo did manage 10 goals and three assists in the Dutch top flight last season (WhoScored).

Danilo also racked up three assists and sits joint-fourth in Feyenoord's squad for attempts at goal per 90 over 2022/2023, marking him out as a potentially astute signing for Rangers if they can get it done (WhoScored).

Man United manager Erik ten Hag, during his time at Ajax with the player, even called Danilo the club's "best finisher" before he ultimately opted to join Feyenoord.

Gimenez, commenting on his partnership with Danilo, even hinted that his teammate is the "first striker" of Feyenoord.

"I don’t feel like I’m the first striker,” said Gimenez.

“We are a team and Danilo has his own tasks, just like me. We work for the same team and with the same price in mind. We are not 11, but a team of 25. Together we give everything to win the title.”

As the Rangers revamp continues, with Beale personally chasing Danilo, it would be a great coup for the club to seal a player who looks more than capable for the challenges of Scottish football.

An update has emerged on interest in one of Glasgow Rangers' fringe players ahead of the 2023/24 Scottish Premiership campaign…

Is Scott Wright leaving Rangers?

According to Football Insider, Saudi Arabian side Al Ettifaq are keen on a deal to sign Scott Wright from the Light Blues before the end of the summer transfer window.

The report claims that they have made a 'concrete' move to land the former Aberdeen winger, although there is no mention of an official offer or how much the Scottish side would demand for his services.

Former Gers head coach Steven Gerrard was confirmed as Al Ettifaq's new manager earlier this month and the Englishman is now looking to reunite with his former player heading into next season.

This comes after the Daily Mail recently reported that the Scottish forward is one of a number of players who could be allowed to move on from Ibrox this summer if the right bid comes in.

Who could replace Scott Wright at Rangers?

Michael Beale could land a superb replacement for the current Light Blues attacker by securing a deal to sign Sunderland ace Jack Clarke, who would be a dream upgrade for the club.

The Glasgow giants are one of a number of clubs reportedly interested in signing the Championship hotshot and the 42-year-old head coach must push to win the race for his signature over the coming weeks.

Clarke enjoyed a terrific campaign in the second tier of English football as the exciting winger produced nine goals and 11 assists in 44 league outings for the Black Cats, while he also completed two dribbles per match.

To put those numbers into context, no Rangers player managed more than nine Scottish Premiership assists or 1.9 dribbles per game. This suggests that the £15k-per-week star would provide Beale with an added level of creativity and drive on the wing, particularly when you compare his statistics directly to Wright's.

The current Gers dud made 19 league appearances for the club last season and was directly involved in one goal, as he failed to find the back of the net on any occasion while the ex-Dons man also only completed 0.5 dribbles per match.

Wright averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.63, which placed him 30th out of 31 players within the squad, and did not prove himself to be a valuable option for Beale moving forward, as the vast majority of the side managed to outperform him.

Clarke, on the other hand, averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.00 for Sunderland and that would have placed him 12th in the Gers team – above the likes of Alfredo Morelos, Nicolas Raskin, and Glen Kamara.

The 22-year-old, whose talent was described as "effortless" by ex-Premier League forward Noel Whelan, has proven himself to be a productive player in the final third while being able to deliver consistent performances. Whereas, Wright has struggled badly on both fronts

That is why Beale must now sanction an exit for the Scottish dud before landing an upgrade in Clarke, who would offer far more quality at the top end of the pitch.

Naeem Islam and Sunzamul Islam extended their good form to help North Zone open up a big lead on the points table, while East Zone lifted themselves from the bottom place on the table with a draw against South Zone

Mohammad Isam01-Mar-2017

North Zone put themselves six points ahead of second-placed South Zone in the Bangladesh Cricket League points table after their innings-and-85-run win over Central Zone in Sylhet.Central Zone were bowled out for 181 in their first innings, as left-arm spinner Sunzamul Islam extended his good form with 5 for 45, his second five-for of the tournament so far. Farhad Reza took 3 for 41. Saif Hassan’s 63 was the lone half-century in Central Zone’s innings.Then Naeem Islam, Nazmul Hossain Shanto and Dhiman Ghosh struck centuries as North Zone piled up 537 in reply, taking a 356-run lead.Naeem top-scored with 142 off 285 balls that included 20 boundaries and a six. He added 197 runs for the fifth wicket with Shanto, who made 123 off 142 balls, including 18 fours. Naeem then added 126 runs for the seventh wicket with Dhiman, who struck 14 fours in his 113. Dhiman was also part of a 60-run partnership for the ninth wicket with Alauddin Babu, who chipped in with a 67-ball 54. Naeem’s 142 was his third successive hundred, and fourth overall, in the tournament, and took his run tally in the series to 567.Saif replied with a second fifty in the game, but Central Zone couldn’t wipe out their deficit and were bowled out 271 in 76 overs. Saif’s 98-ball 70 included eight fours and two sixes. Tanbir Hayder also struck 51.Babu took four wickets while Sunzamul took three to take his match haul to 8 for 159.East Zone lifted themselves up from the last place on the table after a draw against South Zone at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong. They finished the game with three points, while South Zone took only one point.Batting first, South Zone were bowled out for 296 after Mohammad Saifuddin and Saqlain Sajib took three wickets each. Imrul Kayes, who is attempting to prove his fitness for a spot in the second Test squad in Colombo, struck 136 off 210 balls that had 18 fours and two sixes. Anamul Haque made 58 but the rest of the South Zone batsmen crumbled.East Zone replied well, declaring on 523 for 7, which gave them a lead of 227 runs. Afif Hossain made 137 off 238 balls with the help of 17 fours. Tasamul Haque missed out on a century by two runs, while Alok Kapali (66), Mohammad Saifuddin (50 not out) and Rahatul Ferdous (60 not out) also struck fifties.On the final day, South Zone moved to 198 for 5 in 96 overs, with nearly all their batsmen getting starts.

يترقب نادي ليفربول الإنجليزي، وضع لاعبه آندي روبرتسون بعد الإصابة التي تعرض لها في مباراة الأمس ضد أيرلندا الشمالية.

وخاضت اسكتلندا مباراة أمام أيرلندا الشمالية في مواجهة ودية، في فترة التوقف الدولي الخاص بشهر مارس، حيث خسرت اسكتلندا بهدف دون رد.

وتعرض روبرتسون لإصابة في الكاحل، وتعد مشاركته في الفترة المقبلة محل شك، وفقًا لتقارير.

وبحسب صحيفة “ديلي ميل” البريطانية، يأمل ليفربول ألا تكون إصابة روبرتسون خطيرة، ويتجنب أي ضرر.

وعاد روبرتسون إلى ميرسيسايد لإجراء فحص على كاحله، ويشير التقرير إلى أن ليفربول واثق من أنه تجنب إصابة خطيرة أخرى.

وتفيد الصحيفة أنه من المنتظر أن يتضح المزيد بشأن تشخيص إصابة روبرتسون، وعدد المباريات التي يمكن أن يغيب عنها.

وشهد ليفربول عودة بعض المصابين إلى صفوفه أمثال كورتيس جونز وجرافنبرخ، ويواصل محمد صلاح عمليات التعافي والاستشفاء.

ومن المتوقع أيضًا عودة ترينت ألكسندر أرنولد خلال الأسبوعين المقبلين، وكذلك ديوجو جوتا.

ويستعد ليفربول لملاقاة برايتون يوم الأحد المقبل ضمن مواجهات الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، بعد انتهاء فترة التوقف الدولي.

Manchester United have been dealt a blow as transfer target Adrien Rabiot is now set to stay at Juventus, Fabrizio Romano has confirmed.

Do Man United want to sign Rabiot?

Erik ten Hag is looking for additions to his midfield, and the club are currently in negotiations for Mason Mount, but France international Rabiot was a target.

Conversations for the "immense" talent had taken place over the 28-year-old, and he could have been a serious option should he have elected to depart Juventus on a free transfer in favour of a move to Old Trafford.

However, speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano revealed that Rabiot has received an improved offer to keep him in Turin, and this now looks like the most likely outcome.

"Currently, could be a free agent, Adrien Rabiot, who is out of contract at Juventus. We know there were conversations between Erik ten Hag and people close with Rabiot, because he's always been a big fan of the player, and he's one of the names, of the options considered into the club for Manchester United's midfield," he stated.

"Rabiot has always been one of the players appreciated at Man United, but Juventus made an improved proposal to extend his contract. So to sign a new deal at Juventus for Adrien Rabiot, and now they are confident to get it done.

"So the conversation between Juventus and Rabiot is positive, it is not done yet. But Juventus are really trying to extend his contract. In this case, of course, no Man United or no to any other option for Rabiot, who dreams of Premier League football but didn't receive the right proposal yet."

What do Man United need in midfield?

Whilst Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro have been two of United's better performers, signing a third option to complement both in the middle of the park will be crucial for Ten Hag this summer.

Although Christian Eriksen did well going forward, notching up ten assists in all competitions, the 31-year-old received criticism for his lack of defensive intensity, which often led to Casemiro and the United defence being exposed.

United experimented with Marcel Sabitzer on loan in January, but it appears that neither he nor Brazil international Fred have a future at the club.

If United's pursuit of Mount fails, then they may find themselves back at square one when it comes to reinforcing their midfield, and the lack of clarity over their ownership situation means that they could be held back in the market when pursuing their top targets.