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West Ham United could capitalise on a ‘stalemate’ between Inter Milan and Cagliari to sign midfielder Nahitan Nandez, according to La Repubblica (via Sport Witness). 

The lowdown

The Uruguay international made 32 league appearances for Cagliari last season, averaging 1.8 tackles, 1.2 dribbles and one key pass per game (via WhoScored). His performances earned him a call-up to his country’s squad for the Copa America this summer.

Serie A expert Mina Rzouki has raved about Nandez, labelling him ‘unstoppable’ and claiming that he’s ‘one of the most underrated players’ in the Italian top flight. The 25-year-old, formerly of Boca Juniors, is valued at £19.8m by Transfermarkt.

The latest

The report from La Repubblica (via Sport Witness) claimed that Inter boss Simone Inzaghi has made Nandez a primary target, but the reigning Serie A champions have seen an offer rejected by Cagliari.

The player is ‘certain’ to leave the Sardinian club this summer, either in a permanent deal or on loan with an obligation to buy.

He is said to relish the idea of joining Inter but negotiations between the two clubs appear to have stalled. The Nerazzurri are under pressure to make a breakthrough, with West Ham waiting in the wings if the impasse between the Serie A duo isn’t resolved.

The verdict

Nandez appears to be an excellent all-round midfielder judging by his performance figures and the praise which has come his way, but West Ham’s priorities should lie elsewhere in the remaining weeks of the transfer window.

Above all, they need to sign a starting centre-back to ensure that their defence doesn’t prove to be their undoing. The goals they conceded in Sunday’s 4-2 win at Newcastle made this abundantly clear.

After that, the focus should be on recruiting some cover and competition for Michail Antonio at centre-forward. A clear gap exists in that area of the squad, where there is no natural alternative to the injury-prone 31-year-old.

In other news, some West Ham fans were unhappy with this man’s performance at St James’ Park on Sunday.

A preview to the ICL 20s World Series

Cricinfo staff22-Nov-2008
The bowler to watch: Saqlain Mushtaq © AFP
The Big PictureThe ICL World Series is a battle between teams led by Inzamam-ul-Haq, Chris Harris, Habibul Bashar and R Sathish. Inzamam and Bashar have the advantage of playing with the same team that featured in the ICL 20s Indian Championship whereas Harris will lead the best of the world and Sathish will take charge of the best of the Indian players.India are the defending champions but Pakistan look the best team. They have the power players, the spinners and the momentum of a winning team. Imran Nazir and Imran Farhat have sizzled at the top, Inzamam and Mohammad Yousuf provide stability in the middle, Naved-ul-Hasan has been very effective with the new and old ball and Saqlain Mushtaq has strangled batsmen with his variety. Pakistan are bolstered further by the inclusion of Abdul Razzaq, who turned out for Hyderabad Heroes in the Indian Championship. Format This premium ICL tournament features the top players from a talent pool of over 150 Indian and international players in the recently concluded ICL 20s Indian Championship. The four teams will now take each other on, once in a round-robin format, and then a final between the two top teams. Interestingly, the white ball can be changed after the 15th over if it loses colour. Prize money There is Rs 2.74 crore (US$552,931) up for grabs. Winners of this tournament stand to gain Rs 1.25 crore (US$252,250) and the runner-up will cash in Rs 75 lakh (US$151,350). The financial incentive for every win at the league stage will be Rs 10 lakh while the Man of the Match will collect Rs 2 lakh.Players to watchPakistan: Imran Nazir and Saqlain. Nazir has hit two violent hundreds in the Indian Championship, including a whirlwind ton in the final, and is in great form. Saqlain has continued to tease and taunt the batsmen with his doosras, and a whole bag of tricks.India: G Vignesh and Stuart Binny. Vignesh – the bowler who has found his calling as a dashing opener in the ICL – is no Nazir but is rapidly earning a reputation for launching furious starts. Binny won the award for the most improved player in the Indian Championship and fills up the vital allrounder role.World: Ian Harvey and Nicky Boje. Harvey has given explosive starts but has to work on his consistency. Boje really sparkled with bat and ball for Hyderabad and can be expected to continue with his good form.Bangladesh Alok Kapali and Nazimuddin. Kapali hit the first ICL ton and has been very consistent. Nazimuddin has the talent to be a real powerhouse with the bat.The teamsPakistan: Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt), Imran Nazir, Abdul Razzaq, Arshad Khan, Haafiz Shahid, Humayun Farhat (wk), Imran Farhat, Mohammad Sami, Mohammad Yousuf, Naved-ul-Hasan, Riaz Afridi, Saqlain Mushtaq, Shahid Nazir, Shahid Yousuf, Tahir Mughal, Taufeeq Umar.India: R Sathish (capt), Abbas Ali, Hemang Badani, Stuart Binny, Deep Dasgupta (wk), Eklak Ahmid, Rohan Gavaskar, R Jesuraj, Ibrahim Khaleel (wk), Ali Murtaza, Rakesh Patel, Ambati Rayudu, Inder Shekar Reddy, Reetinder Sodhi, G VigneshBangladesh: Habibul Bashar (capt), Aftab Ahmed, Alok Kapali, Dhiman Ghosh (wk), Farhad Reza, Golam Mabud, Mahbubul Karim, Manjural Islam, Mohammad Rafique, Mohammad Sharif, Mosharraf Hossain, Nazimuddin, Shahriar Nafees, Tapash BaisyaWorld: Chris Harris (capt), Andre Adams, Marvan Atapattu, Nicky Boje, Jason Gillespie, Murray Goodwin, Avishka Gunawardene, Andrew Hall, Ian Harvey, Nantie Hayward, Justin Kemp, Lance Klusener, Damien Martyn, Paul Nixon (wk).Quotes:Inzamam: “We have a good team and all are in perfect health. We will be carrying forward the momentum and aim for the title. Our players are in good form and now with the inclusion of allrounder Abdul Razzak, we will have some advantage.” Sathish: “This game is all about how you handle the pressure. The one who can withstand it is likely to become the champion.”Harris: “We have good players to choose from, but picking up final XI will be a little tough for me as all of them are in good form. We will try to build a good standard for this 20-20 World Series.”Bashar: “Since it is our first year, it will be tough for us to compete against the more experienced sides. But after the 20-20 championship we are more confident and will try to reach the finals.”

Ole Gunnar Solksjaer has told Leeds United target Dan James that he’ll be remaining at Manchester United this summer, according to The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell. 

The lowdown

James was set to join Leeds in January 2019, back when he was still a Swansea City player, but that move collapsed.

The winger, though, has remained on the Whites’ shortlist because of ‘the way he plays’ – his willingness to work as hard without the ball as he does with it.

The £73million arrival in Manchester of Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund may have raised Leeds’ hopes that a deal was possible, for it seemed to nudge James further down the pecking order.

James has made 73 appearances for the Red Devils since he joined ahead of the 2019/20 season, scoring nine goals and providing nine assists (via Transfermarkt).

The latest

James was ‘told earlier this month’ that he wouldn’t be granted a move away from Old Trafford during the transfer window. Solskjaer explained that the player was ‘fully in his plans’ for the season ahead.

Along with Leeds, Brighton and Hove Albion have been monitoring the Welshman, while Leicester City submitted what was described as a ‘tentative enquiry’.

Ultimately, though, any interest has been rebuffed and each club will have to look elsewhere if they want to add a winger to their ranks.

The verdict

Even if the two clubs could have reached an agreement, it’s unclear whether James would have been keen on the move. How much would it really have improved his playing prospects when Raphinha and Jack Harrison seemingly have those wide spots locked down?

Still, Leeds appear to have had alternative targets in mind anyway. Talks over a deal for Club Brugge’s Noa Lang are said to be ‘progressing well’.

Whoever comes in, Marcelo Bielsa is clearly chasing a young player who can provide backup to the aforementioned pair without a significant drop-off in quality.

In other news, Leeds have also been urged to strengthen this position.

Plays of the day for day three of the second Test between Australia and South Africa at the MCG

Brydon Coverdale at the MCG28-Dec-2008
Ricky Ponting grassed what was by his standards a basic catch © Getty Images (file photo)
Mr Cricket’s moment of joy
Michael Hussey is such a cricket nut that he works hard on his bowlingeven though it is rarely seen in matches. The decision to bowl Husseyin Nagpur was one of the key reasons Ricky Ponting was criticisedafter the match and when he turned to Hussey at the MCG when Australiawere trying to wrap up South Africa’s tail it was more in hope thananything. But this time Hussey’s 120kph medium-pace delivered. PaulHarris tried to belt Hussey out of the park but mistimed his shot andMitchell Johnson ran back from mid-on to take the chance. It wasHussey’s first Test wicket and he celebrated as if he had made ahundred.Mr Cricket’s moment of shame
Hussey was happy to be the centre of attention after his wicket, notso after an embarrassing failure in the field later in the day. DaleSteyn skied Nathan Hauritz and Hussey at mid-on would have hardly hadto move to accept the chance. But the ball went so high that Husseylost it in the sun, putting up his left hand, then his right, to tryand shield his eyes. Panicking as it became clear he couldn’t see theball, Hussey jigged from left to right as if his feet were on fire. Inthe end the ball thudded to the turf a couple of metres behind hisleft shoulder. There was nowhere to hide and he spent much of the nextdrinks break trying to explain to his colleagues what went wrong.Ponting slips up
Last month in Adelaide Ricky Ponting pulled off one of the all-timegreat slips catches when he flung himself to his right and somehowclasped a one-hander that removed Jamie How. The catch wasexponentially more difficult than one he put down today, when Steynedged off Mitchell Johnson. Ponting moved to his right but onlyslightly and grassed what by his standards was a basic chance. Steynwas on 32 at the time; it proved a costly mistake.An unexpected advantage
When JP Duminy and Paul Harris strode to the crease in the morningwith a 196-run deficit and three wickets in hand, gaining a lead wasnot on the agenda. But things went so perfectly that they pulled infront of Australia with only one more wicket down and the moment camewith a Duminy boundary off Hussey. Duminy and Dale Steyn walked downthe pitch and with a brief handshake celebrated their remarkableachievement.Pain pen strikes again
The pain-gone pen that the South African physio Shane Jabaar used onGraeme Smith’s elbow in Perth made another appearance today, this timeto deal with Dale Steyn’s hand. Steyn copped two nasty blows, one oneach hand, and after the first Jabaar pumped the now familiar deviceon the uncomfortable spot. It obviously worked – Steyn went on torecord his first Test half-century.

Juninho Bacuna became the latest player to sign for Rangers last week and former Leeds United man Noel Whelan has recently praised Steven Gerrard’s decision to bring him to Ibrox.

What’s the word?

Bacuna joined the Gers from Huddersfield Town last week and will be hoping to replicate some of the performances that he showed during his time with Groningen in the Eredivisie after a disappointing spell with the Terriers.

Speaking to Football Insider, Whelan was quick to praise Rangers’ transfer business, saying:

“He’s a very talented player.

“Likes to produce a few different hair colours as well but you don’t mind that if the player has got some ability. He definitely has got the ability and I think that’s been seen by Steven Gerrard.

“Very quick, good on the ball, technically wise. He has got an eye for a goal as well. One of these players I feel, in time to come – he’s not even in his best years of football – will probably produce for Rangers.

“I think no better than having a man like Steven Gerrard, a midfield superstar in that position over years and years and years, to give him that guidance. To progress him to the player that, potentially, he really could be.

“I mean, wow, we saw some brilliant stuff from him at Huddersfield during the time he was there. I guess it was just finding that consistency. Plus he was in a team that was getting weaker and weaker by the season.

“He was still a standout there. I think Steven Gerrard has done some really good business there. If he can get the best out of Bacuna, he’s got a really talented midfield player on his hands.”

Will Bacuna be a good signing?

Last season saw the 24-year-old midfielder contribute just five goals and four assists in 43 Championship appearances for Huddersfield, in which he averaged a disappointing 6.53 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

However, you could argue that Huddersfield have been on a downward spiral in recent seasons, and Bacuna might be better able to showcase his attacking talents in a side such as Rangers, who are likely to dominate the majority of games they play in Scotland.

[freshpress-quiz id=“593776”]

Therefore, if Bacuna can learn from Gerrard and build on his obvious talent and potential, then there is no reason why he can’t be a stellar addition to the squad at Ibrox and make a real difference this season as they look to defend their Premiership title.

If he is as good as Whelan suggests, then Ross Wilson may well have delivered another masterclass.

And, in other news… 113 touches, 92 passes: “Out of this world” Rangers ace ran the show vs Ross County

A round-up of the ninth-round matches of the Premier League Tournament in Sri Lanka

Sa'adi Thawfeeq15-Jan-2009The Colts Cricket Club batsmen came up with a record-breaking performance against Ragama CC at Braybrooke Place, to help their team close the gap with Sinhalese SC (SSC) at the top of the Premier League Tournament Tier A.Jeevantha Kulatunga and Roshen Silva starred in a fifth-wicket partnership of 353 for Colts, to establish a new first-class record for Sri Lanka, beating the 12-year-old record of the unbeaten 317-run stand set by the SSC pair of Arjuna Ranatunga and Hemantha Wickremaratne against Sebastianites at Maitland Place. Wickremaratne was on this occasion representing Ragama CC and could only helplessly watch his record being wiped out.Kulatunga went on to score his maiden double century in an 18-year first-class career, dominating the stand with a stroke-filled innings of 234 off 194 balls. The innings, which which included 28 fours and 12 sixes, was also the first double hundred for the current season.His junior partner Silva supported him well with his maiden first-class century (147) as they rescued Colts from a perilous 32 for 4 to an imposing 448. In the high-scoring drawn game, the Ragama batsmen also went on a leather hunt and fell short by 49 runs of overhauling the Colts total.Skipper Duminda Perera (135) and Sameera Soysa (104) put on 204 for the fifth wicket but could not prevent their team from surrendering a first-innings lead, which enabled Colts to move within six points of table leaders SSC with a game in hand.Captain Tharanga Paranavitana’s well-paced century ensured SSC retained their top position on the points table, as they took a 47-run first innings lead over Colombo CC at Maitland Place. CCC were saved from defeat by former under-19 World Cup cricketer Sachith Pathirana who followed his five-wicket haul in the first innings with a career-best 83 to force a draw.Badureliya CC secured their second win of the season in nine matches when they beat Army SC by four wickets at the Premadasa to keep their hopes of staying up in Tier A alive. In a low-scoring game, Badureliya were seen home by 33-year-old Rasika Priyadarshana who scored a valuable 66 to help his team reach the moderate target of 135 after they had fumbled at the start of their run-chase, losing three wickets for 11. Former Sri Lanka left-arm spinner Niroshan Bandaratillake led from the front for Badureliya, capturing ten wickets in the match. Badureliya’s victory left winless Nondescripts CC and Army to fight it out to avoid relegation to Tier B at the end of the season.Saracens SC took first-innings points in a crucial Tier B game against Panadura SC in a top-of-the-table clash at Panadura. After dismissing the hosts for 184 in the first innings, Saracens piled on the runs and picked up important batting bonus points as they declared on 437 for 6. Kasun Bodisha struck a fluent 179 and Chamara Soysa an unbeaten 121 in Saracens’ final game of the season.Saracens hold a 15.89 point lead and must await the outcome of Panadura’s final league match against Sebastianites to know the outcome of their fate. The Tier B winner will be making the step up to Tier A the following season.In the other matches that will not have any great bearing on the Tier B championship, Burgher RC beat Lankan Cricket Club at the Burgher Recreation Club, Seeduwa Raddoluwa thrashed Police Sports Club at the Police Park Ground, while Singha SC defeated Air Force Sports Club at the Colombo Cricket Club Ground.Player of the Week – Jeevantha KulatungaJeevantha Kulatunga is a batsman who wants to dominate the bowling from the time he takes guard. Circumstances have on occasions made him circumspect before he unleashed his full repertoire of strokes and as on most occasions Kulatunga finished on top of the pile. For the past 18 years the exciting right-hander has been a dominant force in domestic cricket for Colombo Colts, even though, for the majority of his 7,000 first-class runs he had to sacrifice his wicket going for big shots because he ran short of partners.”I was very unfortunate that for the first ten years of my career with Colts I could not bat any higher than six or seven because of the batting depth the club possessed,” said Kulatunga. That proved to be a big disadvantage to Kulatunga, who was capable of putting up big scores at a healthy rate, but was deprived of the opportunity because of his batting position.He missed out on several golden opportunities of making an impression and getting selected to the national team. At the age of 25, he was in the 30-member squad for the 1999 World Cup, but the next opportunity for national recognition did not come until he was 34 when he was picked for the T20 Canada in October last year. He was also picked to play for Sri Lanka in the Hong Kong Sixes. At his age Kulatunga, who is also captain-cum-coach of Burnley in the Lancashire League, says he is supremely fit and has two to three years of cricket ahead of him.”Getting that double hundred was very satisfying. It proved that I could bat for long periods and still dominate the bowling,” said Kulatunga. His hopes of making it to Sri Lanka’s Twenty20 World Cup squad will no doubt have been strengthened now.

The allrounder Alex Gidman has been named as Gloucestershire captain for 2009, replacing Jon Lewis who stood down in November

Cricinfo staff21-Jan-2009
Alex Gidman (centre) takes charge of Gloucestershire for the 2009 season © Getty Images
The allrounder Alex Gidman has been named as Gloucestershire captain for 2009, replacing Jon Lewis who stood down in November.Gidman has been a regular stand-in for Lewis whenever England call-ups or injury have struck and now has the chance to form a new partnership alongside John Bracewell who has returned as coach.Gidman was being chased by a number of other counties last season but was persuaded to stay at Gloucestershire.”To be given the job of captain makes me incredibly proud, I have learnt a huge amount in the last few years and feel the time is right for me to take on the role,” he said. “The team and myself had a poor 2008 and I am so keen to move forward and prove how good I and we can be.””The excitement around the boys about the coming year is great to be a part of, and myself and John, will be doing our utmost to bring the best out of the players. I am not sure how many people know how much I love this club and cannot wait to get started.”Tom Richardson, the chief executive, added: “Alex has had plenty of experience of captaining the team in 2006 and 2007 in the absence of Jon Lewis on England duty or because of injury. We feel the time is right for him to take on the role full time and we are very confident that he will work really well with John Bracewell.”

JustJoe Football Show host and Leeds United supporter Joe Wainman does not think Rodrigo fits into Marcelo Bielsa’s system.

After some initial struggles in the Premier League last term following his move from Valencia, Rodrigo started to show his quality towards the end of the campaign, bagging four goals in Leeds’ final five fixtures.

However, it has been another lacklustre start to a season, with the £57,000-a-week striker yet to make much of an impact in either the Premier League or Carabao Cup.

He was hooked off just before the 70-minute mark in a 3-0 win against Crewe Alexandra in the latter competition, a display Wainman has been highly critical of.

“On reflection, when you see him play in the system, it doesn’t really work,” Wainman told FFC. “He was given a chance against Crewe; he was hooked off. [Patrick] Bamford came on, got two assists, was unbelievable. 

“He’s got a lot to do. He was our transfer record, you know, it’s a lot of money for us.”

As he showed at the end of last season, the quality is certainly there with Rodrigo. It is just about trying to get the best out of him and getting him to fit into the system. Will Bielsa be able to do that as the campaign goes on? It will certainly be interesting to see.

Manchester United continued their unbeaten start to the Premier League campaign with a scrappy 1-0 win over Wolves at Molineux on Sunday.

Mason Greenwood’s late goal was the only strike of the match as the Red Devils snatched a winner after a number of openings created by Wolves were not taken. David de Gea’s agility allowed him to make a stunning double save, before Greenwood’s low effort squirmed past Jose Sa at the other end.

This comes after they beat Leeds 5-1 on the opening day of the season and were held to a 1-1 draw by Southampton at St. Mary’s. They face Newcastle at Old Trafford after the international break, which could – potentially – see Cristiano Ronaldo make his return if he is deemed fit enough to play.

Despite picking up the three points against Wolves, one player, in particular, let Ole Gunnar Solskjaer down with his performance on the pitch –  Jadon Sancho.

The England international, who signed from Borussia Dortmund this summer, made his full debut for the club alongside Raphael Varane, but failed to show the best of his abilities. Whilst Varane helped United keep a clean sheet with a solid display at centre-back, Sancho had next to no influence in the final third and was substituted after 72 minutes.

In his time on the field, the ex-Dortmund star lost 100% of his duels – losing all four of his ground duels and his solitary aerial battle. This suggests that he was slightly off the pace on his first start, as he was beaten to the pulp by the Wolves players every time he went in for a 50/50 challenge.

He also struggled when he had the ball at his feet. Sancho failed to create a single chance for his teammates and did not attempt a single shot, whilst taking 40 touches. The forward often dropped into a pocket on the left channel before passing backwards to Luke Shaw or inside to Bruno Fernandes, whilst failing with the one attempt he made to dribble past an opponent.

This shows that, along with his failure to compete in physical duels, he was unable to make the desired impact in the final third. Per SofaScore, he received the lowest match rating (6.1) in the United XI, with Dan James (6.6) and Fred (6.6) next in line just ahead of him.

Therefore, the £350k-per-week earner let Ole down with his full debut performance and will surely be more motivated than before to put things right when United host Newcastle after the international break. Hopefully, he can have a successful time away with England and build some confidence ahead of his return to Old Trafford.

AND in other news, Fabrizio Romano drops Man United exit claim that will frustrate supporters…

Lalit Modi has warned that the home matches of the Rajasthan Royals could be moved out of Jaipur if the state government continued to be uncooperative

Nagraj Gollapudi16-Feb-2009What’s troubling Lalit ModiFebruary 2005: After a controversial election, Lalit Modi becomes president of Rajasthan Cricket Association, controlled by the Rungta family for 38 years.December 11, 2008: Vasundhara Raje, in whose election campaign Modi played a key backroom role, is ousted as Rajasthan chief minister.January 21, 2009: A group headed by Kishore Rungta lodges a complaint against Modi alleging misappropriation of funds.January 28, 2009: Modi is accused of forging residence documents to enable him to contest the RCA elections in 2005January 30, 2009: Modi appoints a three-member arbitration tribunal comprising retired Supreme Court judges to look into the charges filed against himFebruary 15, 2009: An NGO accuses Modi of fraud, alleging that a promised Rs 6 crore (US$1.2million) donation never reached the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.February 16, 2009: In a bid to pressure the RCA, Modi has suggested the home matches of the Rajasthan Royals could be shifted out of Jaipur. The Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur hosted the Rajasthan IPL team’s home games last season.Much of Modi’s troubles are cropping up because elections to the RCA are round the corner. They were scheduled to be held on February 21 but a Jaipur court has stayed the election process till February 24.Lalit Modi, the IPL chairman, has said the league may shift matches out of Jaipur if it perceives any opposition to the staging of matches there from the state or city administration. This is the latest twist in Modi’s ongoing tussle with dissidents from the local Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA), which he heads.Jaipur is the base of Rajasthan Royals, the reigning IPL champions, but Modi said the IPL governing council had given him the authority to scrap venues in such cases.Modi, the president of the RCA, has been at the centre of controversy ever since the Rajasthan government changed hands in a recent election. Modi had close ties with the previous administration but is now facing charges of forgery and fraud and is battling to retain the RCA president’s post in the upcoming elections.Last week, the police filed another case against Modi after a local aid organisation alleged he had failed to deposit with the government the Rs 60 million [approximately US$1.23m] he had publicly pledged for the victims of the Jaipur bomb blasts, which took place during the last IPL. Today, Modi claimed that he was just a facilitator for the funds and it was the franchises and sponsors who needed to pay the money. “I believe some of them have done so and others will be doing so,” he said.Modi said the series of allegations were “politically motivated”. “The FIR (First Information Report) against me specifically in relation to the IPL is ill-conceived and looks to be politically motivated. Nowhere are complaints registered in the morning and turned into FIRs in the afternoon,” he said. “If any government, anywhere, is going to deter us from holding any of the IPL matches, the governing council has authorised me to make the final decision on whether or not to hold matches at any venue.”Some of Rajasthan’s matches this season are expected to be played in Ahmedabad, one of two new venues – along with Cuttack – shortlisted by the IPL for the tournament. Modi said each franchise had the option of choosing two grounds in and around its catchment area and the final list will be decided in the next couple of days. “There is an additional venue being discussed but we are waiting for a final decision on that from the franchise which is looking at another venue,” Modi said. Because of that the IPL has postponed the tender process for the production rights to Friday.There appears, however, to be a problem over the venue of this year’s final. Choosing the venue is the title holders’ prerogative and Rajasthan Royals had picked the Brabourne Stadium, though it comes with strings attached – the constitution of the Cricket Club of India (CCI), the ground’s owners, does not permit non-members’ seating in the pavilion, something the IPL wants desperately. The league has submitted its terms and conditions to the CCI and will hope the members agree at the special general body meeting called for February 27.”We have offered to give them 5000 seats in the West end,” Modi said. “If that does not work out Rajasthan can decide on the DY Patil Stadium [also in Mumbai] as an alternative or move to any other venue in the country.”Chennai Super Kings, last year’s runner-up have the right to hold the semifinals and they have decided to host both games in Chennai. Modi added that from this year onwards the semi-finals and finals will be operated by the IPL and the revenue would be shared between the IPL, the BCCI and the franchise that holds the rights.