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Six months ago, Sam Heazlett was yet to make his one-day debut. Indeed, he is still yet to make his one-day debut for Queensland, having missed this summer’s Matador Cup due to injury. But in Auckland on Monday, Heazlett leap-frogged state cricket to become the 220th ODI cricketer to represent Australia, a late addition to the XI after stand-in captain Matthew Wade was ruled out due to a back injury.Heazlett struggled to have any impact against New Zealand, scoring 4 before he was caught behind off the bowling of Lockie Ferguson. His chances of playing again in the second ODI on Thursday will likely depend on whether Wade is passed fit. But for the time being, he finds himself in the unusual situation of having playing List A cricket only for Australia and for the National Performance Squad in a winter A series last year.It was that series that won Heazlett his surprise national call-up. On his List A debut in Townsville in August, he struck 101 off 87 balls against South Africa A, and he followed up later in the series with 60 against India A and 73 against South Africa A. Since then, Heazlett’s only innings of note were a couple of brisk BBL contributions for the Brisbane Heat, and two Sheffield Shield fifties.Heazlett’s ODI call-up was thus one of the most glaring examples of Australian fast-tracking in recent times, although other inclusions this summer – fast bowler Billy Stanlake was also rushed into the ODI team with only four List A games to his name, and none this summer – have also raised eyebrows. Heazlett is studying to be a physiotherapist, but his selection has rubbed a few people the wrong way.”When his name got read out, it was a bit like, you need to go to the Cricinfo site and have a quick look around to work out who he was,” former Australia fast bowler Stuart Clark said on the radio show on Tuesday. “I don’t know, they’ve obviously seen some potential in this guy … the next thing you know he’s in the one-day international team.”I don’t know how you come up with that selection. Personally I don’t like that sort of selection. You’ve got a lot of guys running around playing first-class cricket and you go, ‘Hang on, why are they not getting an opportunity?’ But the selectors have obviously seen someone and thought, ‘Well this guy’s a player of the future, let’s get him into the series’. But I’m a bit uncomfortable with that.”Heazlett, 21, was a late inclusion in Australia’s Chappell-Hadlee squad after Steven Smith was ruled out due to injury. He was picked ahead of prolific Matador Cup run-scorers from this summer, including Cameron White (457 runs at 76.16), Moises Henriques (414 at 69.00), Daniel Hughes (386 at 64.33) and Player of the Tournament Marnus Labuschagne (271 at 45.16).Although Heazlett was told on the day before the Auckland ODI that he would not be in the side, things changed when Wade was ruled out on the morning of the match. Heazlett said coach Darren Lehmann had told him to play his natural game.”I was a little bit nervous but no more than any other cricket game. I’m usually pretty nervous before any cricket game,” Heazlett said. “Darren had a chat and just said bat the way you have been, back yourself. It’s good to have that backing from the captain and the coach.”It was a bit annoying not to score a few more with the bat, but that’s the way it goes in cricket. Hopefully next time I can take the opportunity and contribute to a win for the team. We’ll see what happens for the rest of the series. If I get another go, then great. But we’ll see if Wadey comes back, what happens, and take it from there.”

West Indies batsman Shai Hope was pleased at having scored a maiden ODI century in only his second game but some off the sheen from that achievement was taken away by the side’s tied match against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo

Liam Brickhill in Bulawayo19-Nov-2016West Indies’ tie against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo took some of the gloss off what was otherwise an adventurous maiden hundred by West Indies batsman Shai Hope. Playing his second ODI, Hope marshalled West Indies’ chase along with Kraigg Brathwaite, the pair putting on 162 for the third wicket, and reached his ton with a whip through midwicket off the second ball of the 45thover. But two deliveries later a wild swipe resulted in an edge through to the wicketkeeper, opening a window for Zimbabwe to claw their way back into the game.”[Getting the hundred was] a good feeling, but it would be even better with a win,” Hope said. “That’s the main thing: it’s about winning games. So the hundred doesn’t really mean much right now because we didn’t win.”Hope, who also kept wicket today, was at the crease as early as the 12th over in West Indies’ chase after Johnson Charles and Evin Lewis fell in the teens. “It’s a bit tough [keeping wicket and batting up the order], especially if the team loses quick wickets at the beginning,” Hope said. “But it’s about transferring the effort of your wicketkeeping into your batting, and keeping your team on top of things.”After a period of consolidation, during which both batsmen survived confident appeals at the hands of Zimbabwe’s spinners, Hope broke the shackles with 10 runs from consecutive long hops in the 20th over. Thereafter, he was soon outscoring Brathwaite, and rode his luck as West Indies sought to press home their advantage.In the 32nd over, he was caught by Donald Tiripano at long-on, but the fielder stepped on the boundary rope while completing the catch. Three overs later, he slapped a full toss straight to Sikandar Raza but the chance was dropped. In the 39th over, a top-edged slog once again evaded Raza, running towards long-off from cover.Those errors aside, Hope and Brathwaite appeared to be in control, with the latter focusing his efforts on turning the strike over to his more aggressive partner. “We were trying to put the bad balls away, capitalising on those ones and rotating the strike,” Hope said. “We wanted to take it as deep as possible and finish off the game, but it was unfortunate we couldn’t get that done today.”West Indies were 220 for 3 when Hope fell, and still appeared to be on course in their chase. Yet five more wickets fell in the next five overs, and with three needed from five balls in the last over, Carlos Brathwaite swatted a Tiripano legcutter to Sean Williams at long-on to set in motion Zimbabwe’s unlikely comeback.”There’s always nerves, especially in games like this. But I must say it was a bit disappointing not to cross the line. That’s the game of cricket. Sometimes it can go both ways. On another day, that ball Carlos hit would have gone for six. Today he lost his wicket. It’s just about being more aware. It didn’t happen for us today.”

A move by Manchester United to land Jeremie Frimpong looks increasingly likely, with a report from SportBILD (via Sport Witness) suggesting that a deal to send the player to Old Trafford "beckons".

Are Manchester United signing Jeremie Frimpong?

The defender has become a first-team regular for Bayer Leverkusen this season, playing in 33 Bundesliga outings – the most he has managed over the course of his career to date. The club have reaped the rewards of getting the player on the field more, too, with Frimpong managing eight goals and seven assists so far – again a career-best for the wing-back.

And while achieving an average WhoScored rating of 7.15 for the club in the league, the 22-year-old has become hot property. Showcasing his ability to do it at the top level, his rating puts him as the 17th-best player in the entire division (min. 18 apps) and above people like Alphonso Davies – understandably catching the attention of sides who now want to sign him in the process.

One of the most heavily interested sides are Premier League giants Man United, who have been linked with a switch for the defender on several occasions over the last few months. Erik ten Hag remains keen to add some more depth to his side in the right-back position and the Bayer Leverkusen man would fit the bill in that respect.

Now, it seems that a deal to send him to Old Trafford is becoming more likely. That's because a report from SportBILD (via Sport Witness) states that a move to the Red Devils "beckons" for the player.

Who are Man United signing at right-back?

If United do pull off a deal to bring in Frimpong, they could have themselves a top-level player – and for a good fee, too.

For starters, the CIES Football Observatory suggests that his value is around the €40m (£34m) mark, which, if accurate, makes him not too expensive considering what he could potentially offer to United.

He's also been praised highly by Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso, who stated that the defender is a "special" player and has a "big impact" for the team when he is on the field. It's high praise indeed from a manager who accomplished plenty as a player himself.

Frimpong would also offer plenty offensively. Despite his position on the field, he is the second-highest goalscorer in the Bayer Leverkusen squad this season, while his assist tally also ranks him second in the side. He would therefore enable United to get on the front foot more and could offer them a real upgrade on that right flank if he was able to replicate his Bundesliga form in the Premier League.

USA wicketkeeper-batsman Akeem Dodson has issued a plea to global administrators to work towards supporting an ICC application for cricket’s inclusion in the 2024 Summer Olympics, calling the Olympics “the grand stage of sport”. Dodson’s comments were made after Patrick Sandusky of the USOC told ESPNcricinfo in a recent interview that “Twenty20 cricket at least is a very natural fit” in the Olympics, though the ICC remains ambivalent to the idea.”I pray weekly, daily for cricket in the Olympics,” Dodson told ESPNcricinfo. “Right now USA is in the lower league and we have to work our way up. Cricket in the Olympics would mean cricket on a world stage where USA starts on a level playing field.”Everyone will start at level zero and we will now look to make whatever dreams we can come true from there. I believe that team USA, given that platform and a clean slate, cricket in the Olympics, I think we could [win a] medal. That is the prospect you all want. Can the USA win American gold at cricket? Hell yeah we can.”The 28-year-old from New York was USA’s leading scorer at the World T20 Qualifier last summer in Scotland and Ireland, with 165 runs in six games as USA won three and lost three to narrowly miss out on qualifying. Encouraged by an improved on-field performance, the ICC unveiled a strategic plan for USA late last year setting targets for the 2019 World Cup, the 2020 World T20 as well as making a bid for hosting a future World T20, as early as 2024.However, USA might alternately play a role in a push for cricket at the Olympics if Los Angeles wins the hosting rights for the 2024 Summer Games. When asked if he would rather reach a maiden World T20 or an Olympic T20 tournament for USA, Dodson did not hesitate to state his preference.”Olympic T20. Even though playing a World T20 competition is something very commendable and it is the grand stage of world cricket, the Olympics is the grand stage of sport,” Dodson said. “That’s where we want to play, that’s where every athlete dreams of playing, to do it at the Olympics.”Everyone always says you are a national representative when you’re playing for USA and you’re a representative to US cricket, but we would truly feel like national representatives if we played cricket as an Olympic sport for Team USA. That would be a dream come true. A US Olympian, that part of it is the most important. A lot of people are able to say they’ve played a sport but to say that you’ve done it at an Olympic level, that is unbelievable almost. To have that experience with you and to remember everything that goes along with the Olympics – the Olympic village and the opening ceremony – doing all of that would be unforgettable.”Dodson would be 36 by the time the 2024 Summer Olympics rolls around and his reputation as a fitness workhorse means he would still have a realistic chance to be part of a USA team, if cricket were to successfully gain inclusion in the Olympics. He is convinced that helping the USA qualify for a spot in an Olympic T20 competition would galvanise the sport’s growth around his country and the world. It is why he is pleading for administrators elsewhere and in ICC circles to come around to the idea of submitting an application to the International Olympic Committee.”Cricket was in the Olympics a long time ago, in the early 1900s,” Dodson said. “What can I say to you to make you want to put cricket in the Olympics? Please, do I have to beg? Cricket is the kind of sport that once you learn to love it, the passion and the feeling that cricket gives you, I haven’t experienced it anywhere else.”The amount of American spirit that we could generate and create in this beautiful game, it would be paramount. It would take over the world. Please let us play the Olympics.”

Liverpool are interested in completing the signing of Nice midfielder Khephren Thuram at the end of the season, according to a fresh update.

Is Thuram having a good season?

The Frenchman may only be 22 years of age, but he is already an integral part of Nice's team, enjoying an eye-catching season for them to date as Les Aiglons compete for European glory. He has made 30 appearances in Ligue 1 overall, scoring two goals in that time and also chipping in with four assists, while he was in Europa Conference League action in midweek as his side earned a 2-2 away draw against Basel.

Midfield is an area of the pitch that Liverpool simply have to focus on during the summer transfer window, with a complete rebuild needed in the middle of the park. Both Fabinho and Jordan Henderson have looked past their best throughout this season, while Thiago is now 32 years old and injury-prone, highlighting why changes need to be made.

Meanwhile, the likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita are expected to leave at the end of the campaign, while doubts surround the future of veteran James Milner.

This highlights why new signings are desperately required in midfield, and with Jude Bellingham seemingly off the table now, Liverpool need to look at alternatives – and it looks as though they have one lined up in the form of Thuram, according to a new claim.

Are Liverpool looking to sign Khephren Thuram?

According to Foot Mercato [via Sport Witness], Liverpool are one of many clubs who are "dreaming of signing" Thuram in the summer window. They have been "seduced" by his performances for Nice this season and see him as one of France's potential next great midfielders.

Nice are demanding €60m (£53m) for one of their star players' services, however, and that price tag could rise further if even more clubs become interested.

Thuram could be exactly what Liverpool are looking for in the middle of the park this summer, as he possesses the technical quality and energy that has been so badly lacking.

He is averaging 1.5 tackles per game in the French league this season as well as an 86.4% pass completion rate – performing better than Henderson in both departments, albeit in a different competition. He has also averaged more interceptions per game than the Englishman and Fabinho, and given he would have youth on his side, there is an argument to suggest he could offer something to the Liverpool midfield in time, if not immediately.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has lauded Thuram's "significant upper-body strength", his "excellent technique" and his impressive "ball control at speed", as well as "above-average vision & playmaking skills" – all of which could take the Reds up another gear next season and beyond when you consider the current midfield has vastly underperformed this term.

He may not be able to transform Liverpool's fortunes on his own, but if he was to be part of a number of arrivals in the summer, we believe could become an integral part of a team in dire need of a refresh.

by seven wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details1:08

100 T20Is for Pakistan

UAE’s decision to bat seemed a bit like someone doing away with the veggies so they could get to the meat quicker. All their captain Amjad Javed hoped for was “120 to 130” runs; they got 129. Pakistan tried to sink their teeth into the target and suddenly found it was more than they could chew. The top three fell by the time the fourth over of the chase began, but Shoaib Malik and Umar Akmal buckled down and took Pakistan to a seven-wicket victory in Mirpur.While that margin indicates it was all hunky dory, Javed’s new-ball burst and the way he could rally his team together had given UAE a strong chance to record their first victory against a Full Member. He took three wickets off his first seven balls to make his team believe, and then made sure they did not waver by slinging his arm around every one of his bowlers while he was at the top of his run-up and clapping his hands until they stung.Pakistan were 17 for 3 when Akmal and Malik got together. They recognised the momentum was with UAE, but knew they could turn it around. They just had to bide their time, to keep their wickets intact and take the chase deep so that the ball wouldn’t be swinging and their experience could trump UAE’s adrenaline. The first boundary of their fourth-wicket partnership came off the 15th ball and the next one came off the 31st but overhauling a target of 130 doesn’t take pyrotechnics. Just patience.There was a moment when UAE could have stormed back. With 40 runs to win from 26 balls, Malik dragged a Mohammad Shahzad bouncer from outside off and the resulting top-edge seemed destined for deep square leg’s hands but Usman Mushtaq, who was brought into the XI in place of Saqlain Haider, dropped it. Malik reached his fifty with a four and a six off the next two balls he faced and along with Akmal sealed Pakistan’s victory with their unbeaten 114-run partnership.Javed was in uproar when the catch went down. He could have had a match-winning three-wicket haul after all. He dismissed Sharjeel Khan lbw, but replays showed the ball would have climbed over the stumps. Two balls later, Khurram Manzoor was caught behind playing an unwise cut against a rising ball that didn’t give him the requisite room to free his arms.Javed’s final wicket of the night though came about because of the room he offered to the batsman. Mohammad Hafeez thought he had an easy put away through the covers but failed to keep his drive down much to the glee of one of UAE’s best fielder Fahad Tariq. The one over he saved for the death turned out to be dreadful as Malik and Akmal caned 23 off it to pull ahead.That Pakistan would need to huff and puff a bit had not seemed likely when they had UAE at 12 for 3 in four overs. Mohammad Amir was in the thick of things again, bowling a first over that went for only one run and following up with a second that had five dot balls and an indipper that squeezed through Muhammad Kaleem’s limp defences. At the other end, Mohammad Sami made Rohan Mustafa pay for driving on the up by summoning some extra bounce. The batsman spooned a simple catch to mid-off and extra bounce from the seven-foot tall Mohammad Irfan accounted for Mohammad Shahzad.Pakistan were barely at full throttle. They even rested their fastest bowler Wahab Riaz to give left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz an international debut. But the rest stacked enough balls around middle and off stump to capitalise on the batsmen’s mistakes.Shaiman Anwar stuck it out for 46 off 42 balls, but he may have been helped by Pakistan resorting to spin soon after the Powerplay. Shahid Afridi brought himself on, at the other end came Nawaz and UAE found some relief. They were 20 for 3 and going nowhere, but seven overs of slow bowling got them to 70 for 4. Anwar even took Afridi for a hat-trick of fours – a cut right through the point fielder, a beautiful loft over extra cover and a superbly-timed sweep. Lucky over 13 yielded 17 runs, the most UAE have scored in one over against a Full Member in T20Is.There had been plenty of plays and misses because the UAE batsmen had not faced quick bowlers of this quality. At the 2015 World Cup, then captain Mohammad Tauqir had been shocked at the South Africa quicks roughing up their batsmen with bouncers. Here too, the company of Amir, Irfan and Sami were outclassing them. Amir had 21 dot balls out of 24, Irfan and Sami had 15 apiece.Still, UAE went down swinging in their death overs as edges and mis-hits flew to the boundary to get a total that gave them a chance. But once again, they couldn’t seal the deal and are now out of the Asia Cup.

Aston Villa are in action this evening in the first match of the group stages of the UEFA Conference League, as Unai Emery’s side travel to Poland to face Legia Warsaw.

The Villans progressed into the finals of the competition with ease, brushing aside Hibernian 8-0 on aggregate in the qualifying round to secure their place going forward in the 2023/24 campaign.

It’s the first time the Midlands side have been involved in European competition since 2010, with Emery hoping his team can get the tournament off to a strong start in Group E.

The four-time Europa League winner has an impeccable record in Europe during his managerial career so far, with his side preparing to start with a challenge, against a side that are unbeaten in the league this campaign.

What’s the latest Aston Villa team news?

It’s expected that the Spaniard will rotate his team from the one that typically starts in the Premier League, as the Villans are back in action on Sunday against Chelsea.

One name that could be in for a starting place is Youri Tielemans, who is yet to start a league game for the club after he joined in the summer, with the Belgian being a strong asset to possibly welcome into the fold this evening.

In his pre-match press conference, Emery revealed that Alex Moreno and Jacob Ramsey are with the squad after their absences, however stressed that he must “be careful” in bringing the two stars back.

Last time out, Villa were 3-1 victors against Crystal Palace at home, in a match that the hosts left it late to grasp three points, scoring all three of their goals in the dying moments of the fixture.

19-year-old Jhon Duran scored the equaliser against the Eagles in style, and could be handed a chance to shine against Legia this evening should the manager wish to rest Ollie Watkins. There could also be a chance for Nicolo Zaniolo to shine.

Will Nicolo Zaniolo start against Legia Warsaw?

Another player who showed some magic against Palace was summer arrival Zaniolo, who was handed his full Premier League debut after joining the club on an initial loan deal from Galatasaray.

If there’s anyone who has sufficient experience of the Europa Conference League, it’s the Italian, who won the competition in the 2021/22 season with AS Roma, where he scored the match-winner in the final against Feyenoord.

That campaign, the 24-year-old had a hand in eight goals in ten appearances in the tournament, scoring five and assisting three for Jose Mourinho’s side in what was a memorable time for the forward.

Previously lauded as “world-class” by journalist John Solano, the Italy international has all the tools to be the difference-maker against Legia, as he continues to find his stride for the Midlands club.

During his 57-minute performance against Palace, Zaniolo gave a glimpse of just what he can offer to Emery’s side, recording three key passes to showcase his creative ability, an area of his game that has seen him dubbed a “lethal playmaker” by journalist Zach Lowy.

Tonight’s opponents have conceded just three goals in their opening six games in the Polish top-flight, suggesting that their back line is in good stead to withstand threat, however, no door seems to be a blockage that Zaniolo can’t unlock when in form.

Emery could see a window of opportunity by allowing the Italian to maintain his starting spot this evening, in a game that could see him find added comfort in his new surroundings.

Other issues discussed

• Rest days between matches during the Vijay Hazare Trophy

• Increasing and standardising boundary sizes across grounds

• Playing the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in a league-cum-knockout format

• Use of DRS in domestic cricket

• Scheduling matches with weather conditions in mind

Captains and coaches of India’s domestic sides have called for an increase in the number of round-robin matches in the Ranji Trophy and the use of quality balls in domestic tournaments. At a meeting in Mumbai to gather feedback on the 2017-18 domestic season from the captains and coaches, there were discussions on scheduling, umpiring standards, pitches and pay hikes. Sourav Ganguly, the chairman of the BCCI’s technical committee, Saba Karim, the board’s general manager of cricket operations, and MSK Prasad, the chairman of the senior men’s selection committee, were present at the meeting.ESPNcricinfo understands the BCCI had invited teams to offer feedback on the aforementioned issues about a month ago. It is learnt that a number of coaches and captains favoured reverting to the earlier Ranji Trophy format in which the teams, divided into three groups, played a minimum of eight matches each. The new format introduced last season, had 28 teams split into four groups of seven each, meaning each side played six matches in the group stages. Andhra coach Sanath Kumar said an increase in the number of matches played would give players more opportunities to showcase their talent. “After working so hard ahead of the season, almost 80 percent of the teams will only get to play 24 days of first-class cricket [in the existing format],” he told ESPNcricinfo. “They should ideally get to play more cricket.”Mumbai captain Aditya Tare echoed Sanath’s opinion and said the current format made it difficult for teams to come back into the competition after a bad start. “If a team has had a bad game or has missed a game due to the weather, it becomes very difficult for them to get into the groove,” he said. “Take the example of Hyderabad, who missed two games at the start of the last season due to rain, and found it hard to come back into the competition. So going back to the three-group format will be better and players will also have better opportunities.”Both Tare and Sanath said nearly every team welcomed the return to the home-and-away format in the Ranji Trophy after the experiment with neutral venues in 2016-17, and also the concept of neutral curators. The quality of balls used in domestic cricket, however, has been another persistent issue. Balls going out of shape has been a frequent occurrence in the Ranji Trophy over the last few years – there have been instances of balls being changed as many as three or four times in a single session.The players have also urged the BCCI to revisit the use of the SG LE white ball in the shorter formats. The captain of a top state team felt the gulf in the quality between the white Kookaburra ball and the SG Test LE was huge. “I can understand the logic of playing with the SG Test LE if it was used in limited-overs internationals played in India, like the SG Test which is used in Test matches in India and thereby employed in Ranji Trophy cricket as well,” the player said. “When you play with the white Kookaburra in international matches, it would make sense for players to get a hang of it in domestic cricket as well.”Sanath, however, said that while the BCCI had agreed to work on the quality of the balls, it had indicated that the use of the SG Test LE would continue. “The BCCI said it will work with the manufacturers to ensure the quality of the red and white balls get better,” he said. “The board feels the SG Test LE can be used in limited-overs internationals played in India and in the IPL over a period of time, after improvements are made to its quality.”Umpiring was another area that left a lot to be desired, according to Tare, and was a matter of concern for many that attended the meeting. “When players do something wrong they are penalised for that. We are criticised or dropped following a bad performance,” Tare said. “The umpiring has been an issue for many years now and something has to be done to ensure that certain standards are maintained. If someone is consistently having bad games as an umpire, then he could be made to go back to officiating in age-group cricket [to prove his abilities]. That’s what my suggestion was.”A state captain felt it was also time to return to the run-quotient rule instead of net run-rate, which is used as the tie-breaker when teams are level on points. “I have raised this issue several times in the past, but there has been little progress on this front,” he said. “I don’t think the net run-rate is relevant in the longer format. The bowling should also come into play and that’s why the quotient rule works better.”The coaches and captains, though, welcomed the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators’ decision to increase the remuneration of players. The revised pay structure will see a first-class cricketer earn INR 35,000 per day for a four-day match apart from a percentage of the BCCI’s profits. “It is a real boost for the players and will give an incentive to talented cricketers to pursue cricket as a professional option and not drop out in favour of other career options,” Sanath said.

Tamil Nadu coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar has admitted to being aware of M Vijay’s injury that kept him out of the Vijay Hazare Trophy fixture against Mumbai in Chennai on Thursday. The Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) had subsequently left Vijay out of the squad for the remaining games after he had “failed to report” to the ground citing “shoulder pain”.The TNCA had also stated in a press release that the state body, selection committee and the team physio were unaware of Vijay’s injury.Kanitkar, however, acknowledged the possibility of a “communication gap”, and said Vijay had informed him of his unavailability on the morning of the match. He also said the team wasn’t caught unawares. “Vijay had told me on the morning of the match that he wouldn’t be able to play,” reports quoted Kanitkar as saying at the end of the Tamil Nadu-Madhya Pradesh match on Friday. “I think there was some communication gap with the association. I knew about it before coming to the ground. I also already knew who to replace him with. It wasn’t a surprise because we were prepared for it.”Even during the Ranji Trophy match against Tripura earlier this season, he opted out on the morning of the match with a neck sprain. But on that occasion he came to the ground to get it treated. I know Vijay has always played with commitment for the state.”A top TNCA official, however, confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that the association’s decision to replace Vijay with young batsman Pradosh Ranjan Paul remained unchanged and that “the matter was closed.” The TNCA official had said on Friday that Vijay had informed the Tamil Nadu coach at about 7.30am on the day of the match. The TNCA was upset by Vijay’s last-minute withdrawal and had generally been unhappy with his “attitude” over a period of time.Although the TNCA official had confirmed there wasn’t any disciplinary action initiated against Vijay, he said that going forward national players wouldn’t be allowed to pick and choose matches once they had confirmed their availability for a tournament. He further said the issue was likely to come up for discussion at an executive committee meeting of the TNCA.Meanwhile, an injury-ridden Tamil Nadu side suffered another blow with captain Vijay Shankar ruled out of the Andhra game on Sunday. Offspinner Malolan Rangarajan has been added to the squad, which will now be captained by B Aparajith. Lead spinner R Ashwin, who picked up seven wickets from four games, is also set to miss the game. The official clarified Ashwin had sought permission of the TNCA in advance, and the association, in consultation with the selectors, granted his request.

Manchester United will not make a bid to sign Karim Benzema from Al-Ittihad in the January transfer window, according to a report.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Benzema banned from Al-Ittihad training camp
• Striker linked with move away from Saudi Arabia
• Man Utd decided against signing Frenchman

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Red Devils emerged as a possible destination for the French striker as they look to address their goalscoring problems. However, the club have decided that they will not pursue the ex-Real Madrid star this month because of his age and his wage demands.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The 36-year-old is reportedly banished from Al-Ittihad's training camp in Dubai because of his refusal to show up to club events. Benzema is also said to have missed training sessions at the end of last year and could be on his way out of the club less than a year after joining from Real Madrid in a free transfer.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Benzema has scored nine times in 15 Saudi Pro League appearances for the reigning champions, but the club's defence of their crown has not gone as well as they had hoped after signing the N'Golo Kante, Fabinho, Luiz Felipe and Jota in the summer. Al-Ittihad are seventh in the table after 18 matches and 25 points behind leaders Al-Hilal.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BENZEMA?

  If Benzema's standoff with Al-Ittihad is not resolved soon, the player could end up leaving the club just months after agreeing to join.