Tottenham Hotspur have it all to do. There is plenty of season still to cover for Thomas Frank’s side, who are in a promising position in the Champions League and meet Aston Villa in the third round of the FA Cup next month.

Sure, Spurs languish in 11th place in the Premier League as Christmas beckons, but the peculiar nature of this year’s table means fourth-place Chelsea lead their London rivals by only six points.

After so much upheaval in recent years, Tottenham always needed a big summer transfer window. But the promising additions are leaving something to be desired.

Spurs lining up Frank's best signing yet

Tottenham added quality to their ranks during the summer. Mohammed Kudus’ dribbling is first-class, and Xavi Simons is well regarded as one of Europe’s most talented playmakers.

But the Dutchman is only 22, and despite recent green shoots, has yet to find consistency in front of goal and from the heart of creative influence.

Tottenham need a Son-esque talisman, and they could find him in Antoine Semenyo, with transfer guru Fabrizio Romano confirming that the Ghana international, 25, has been at the heart of ENIC Group discussions ahead of a potential winter transfer, with many suitors interested in sparking his £65m release clause.

Tottenham had an enquiry rejected by the south coast club during the summer, but Johan Lange and Fabio Paratici will hope that their earlier persistence could help sway the odds in their favour, with Liverpool and Manchester City also keen.

In full, Romano said: “Tottenham are really interested in Semenyo. Tottenham have January interest. This week Manchester United and Manchester City called to understand the situation. Between Monday and Tuesday some calls took place. £65m release clause. These three clubs all called.”

Why Semenyo is perfect for Spurs

Semenyo has scored seven goals and supplied three assists in the Premier League this season. He is one of the division’s most potent threats.

Tottenham could do a lot worse. Two-footed and destructive on both sides – as well as playing centrally as a focal point – Semenyo would add so much punch to Spurs’ frontline. After all, analyst Ben Mattinson has spoken of how he has been “constantly creating problems for Tottenham” when facing them, so why not add him to the ranks?

Considered to be a “world-class” forward by his teammate Justin Kluivert, Semenyo has been racking up the goal contributions, for sure, but he’s also established himself as an all-encompassing Premier League attacker, and it is that completeness that sets him apart from his peers.

It is for that reason, in fact, that he could become the best piece of business the Lilywhites have completed for many years, certainly trumping Simons, who is a talented young player but has shown over the past few months that he is inconsistent, raw.

Subscribe to the newsletter for Tottenham transfer insight Join our newsletter for expert Spurs transfer and tactical breakdowns, player comparisons and transfer-market context that go beyond headlines. Subscribing provides focused analysis on moves like Semenyo, what they mean for Tottenham’s setup and wider trends. Subscribe Subscribe to the newsletter for Tottenham transfer insight Join our newsletter for expert Spurs transfer and tactical breakdowns, player comparisons and transfer-market context that go beyond headlines. Subscribing provides focused analysis on moves like Semenyo, what they mean for Tottenham’s setup and wider trends.

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Conversely, Semenyo is firing on all cylinders. For example, look at how the Ghanaian’s performance this season ranks against Son’s from the 2024/25 campaign with Tottenham. This is a player who would not only add a clinical dimension to Frank’s wings, but he would add energy and intensity too.

Premier League – Semenyo vs Son

Stats (per 90)

Semenyo (25/26)

Son (24/25)

Goals scored

0.47

0.30

Assists

0.20

0.38

Shots taken

2.20

2.35

Shot-creating actions

3.40

4.99

Touches (att pen)

4.20

5.20

Pass completion (%)

69.8

78.9

Progressive passes

3.60

4.73

Progressive carries

3.54

4.09

Successful take-ons

1.60

1.24

Ball recoveries

4.94

3.63

Tackles + interceptions

1.87

0.94

Data via FBref

The wear and tear of so many seasons in the Premier League had pressed against Son last season, but he still impressed, adopting a more creative berth as his snappy athleticism wore away.

Simons has been signed to replace that playmaking prowess, but it’s clear that Spurs need more incisiveness in the final third, and Semenyo would provide Frank’s team with exactly that, proving with crisp attacking performances that he can become the new talisman.

Because of this, the Bournemouth star might just establish himself not just as a better signing than a raw playmaker like Simons, but actually Tottenham’s best addition for quite a few years.

Related Spurs could land Poch 2.0 by hiring "one of the best managers in Europe"

Tottenham Hotspur could find their next Mauricio Pochettino by sacking Thomas Frank to appoint this manager.

Posts ByDan Emery

Out with the old and in with the new seems to be the new philosophy adopted at White Hart Lane this summer. The arrival of Andre Villas-Boas as Harry Redknapp’s successor was finally confirmed this week bringing to an end the guessing games regarding the next incumbent of the Spurs hot seat. And before we’d even had time to blink Villas Boas had signed a player tying up the deal for Icelandic midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson. He’s expected to be the first of many as the Portuguese tactician endeavours to overhaul his new squad and stamp his mark on the North London club. It’s a refreshing change from the norm that chairman Daniel Levy has given a young manager a chance to shine in the Premier League again following that torrid spell down the road at Stamford Bridge. Villas-Boas is certainly a talented young manager, as proven by his success in Portgugal, and should prove his credentials at Spurs. It’ll interesting to see how he integrates his preferred 4-3-3 formation into a team that become stifled by Redknapp’s reluctance to sway from the tried and tested 4-4-2 and whether the players are receptive to the methods that brought about his demise at the Blues earlier this year.

This week on FFC and Villas-Boas and Spurs the perfect fit for one another and which French midfielder is supposedly on his shopping list?

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Short-sighted attitudes unfair on Andre Villas-Boas

Why Tottenham have already made their best summer acquisition

Can Villas-Boas cure Tottenham’s real problem?

A watershed moment for Michael Dawson?

What next for Tom Huddlestone?

Match made in heaven for Tottenham Hotspur

Exactly what Tottenham have needed?

Spurs set to test the Birmingham waters with £7m bid

Andre Villas-Boas plotting transfer move for duo

[divider]

Best of WEB

Arrivals and departures. – Spurs musings from Jimmy G2

Are You Cloughie In Disguise? Are You Cloughie, In Disguise? – Harry Hotspur

Hot-Spurts – Dear Mr Levy

Is Ambitious Walcott Really Considering A Move To Tottenham? – Transfer Tavern

Done deals – Spurs musings from Jimmy G2

Villas-Boas Opus: Beginnings – Dear Mr Levy

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

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The 5 O’Clocker: Bids In For Two – Harry Hotspur

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Quote of the Week

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“I feel privileged to be its coach. For me, this is one of the most exciting coaching positions in the Premier League. I have had several discussions with the chairman and the board and I share their vision for the future progress of the club.

“This is a squad any coach would love to work with and together I believe we can bring success in the seasons ahead.” Andre Villas-Boas speaks of his delight at being appointed Tottenham manager

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A massive 305 run first wicket partnership between T Suman (169) and PShashank Nag (141) put Hyderabad in a formidable position on the firstday of their Cooch Behar Trophy South Zone League match against Keralaat the Gymkhana Ground on Sunday. The stand helped Hyderabad to ascore of 345 for 3 at close of play.Winning the toss the Kerala skipper M Vipin Lal put Hyderabad into batbut he was in for a shocker as the Hyderabad openers took hold of theproceedings. Both Suman and Shashank Nag were unstoppable right fromthe start and brought up the 100 before the lunch interval. Suman, whoscored his third century of the tournament, was more severe on theKerala attack while plundering 20 boundaries during his 310 minutestay at the crease.The post Lunch session saw the two going from strength to strength andbefore long took the team score past the 200 run mark. The Keralaskipper was probably bereft of ideas and tried all his might to breakthe partnership. The spinners especially bore the brunt of the openersbats so much so that Aneesh Kumar and Sooraj went for 185 runs betweenthemselves. Shashank Nag was not far behind and matched his partner inpacing his innings. During his 348 ball stay he managed to find theropes 8 times while clearing it on five occations.Kerala bowlers found their first success in the form of Suman only inthe post Tea session when he was caught at deep extra cover by sujitoff Sooraj in the 77th over of the innings. His partner Shashank Nagdeparted seven balls later, being caught at deep mid wicket by Soorajof Aneesh. The new bat Arjan Yadav offered a return catch to Aneesh inthe 88th over. AT Rayudu (15) and Ibrahim Khaleel (6) safelynegociated the end overs and made sure of no further casualities forHyderabad.

Nathan Astle’s ‘dismissal’ said it all about New Zealand’s first innings on day three in the first Test against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo.All the signs before the Test were of a confident batting unit looking to impose itself on its opposition, not only in Zimbabwe but through the rest of a summer in which it will face South Africa, Zimbabwe again, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.But the old cliches, about ‘best laid plans’ and all that, can still be undone in cricket by what former Kiwi batting great Glenn Turner used to describe as “outside influences”, or those factors over which the player has no control.In Astle’s instance it was a judgement by umpire Russell Tiffin of his being caught behind by Andy Flower from Paul Strang’s second ball after the dismissal of Kiwi captain Stephen Fleming.From a position of developing strength, the Black Caps were facing their executioner, a short, back-from-injury leg-spinner in the shape of Paul Strang.As a distraught Astle stood at the crease coming to terms with his fate he could possibly have been thinking that the sooner video technology was employed in decision-making the better for all concerned. He might also have been thinking what a jolly fine bowler Strang was, and still is.But it can be safely assumed that Mr Tiffin would be wasting his time if he ventured to his letter box on a daily basis expecting a Christmas card from Astle.Strang did exploit a tentativeness among the New Zealanders in their handling of his variations, particularly his googly. His recovery from a wrist injury will no doubt be welcomed by Zimbabwe which needs him as a foil to pace man Heath Streak and an example to what is clearly an impressive group of developing bowlers.His six wicket haul was just reward for the indecision he created among all who faced him. He clearly has a lot more influence to cast before this Test, and series, is finished.Just which way the Test now heads could depend on what sort of mood Chris Cairns wakes in this morning. If he’s at his most competitive, and can get full support from Adam Parore and Daniel Vettori, there will be a lot of batting left in the New Zealand innings.However, if Zimbabwe is able to get a breakthrough and a comfortable lead, then there could yet be some fascinating last day activity. Though to give themselves a chance of setting New Zealand a big enough target, the Zimbabwe batsmen will have to bat at a much faster clip which means taking more risks.And for the Kiwis there is the need to come to grips with Strang’s leg-spin, before the second Test and the One-Day Internationals coming up.

	Chris Gayle believes batting will be the key against Barbados © Imran Khan

Front-runners Jamaica have a chance to move ahead of the remaining teams in the Carib Beer Series as they take on Barbados at Kensington Oval. Jamaica need a win in their top-of-the-table, fifth-round contest and Chris Gayle, their captain, believes batting will be the key.”It’s going to be a pretty good game,” Gayle said on the eve of the big game. “Barbados are looking to gain on us and we are looking to step up the points standings. We’re looking forward to it. We’ve been playing good cricket. Barbados have been playing good cricket as well. It is going to be interesting.”Vasbert Drakes, coach of Barbados, termed Jamaica ‘a funny side’ despite their batting prowess. “Sometimes they do not always click, and since Wavell Hinds and Marlon Samuels are not in the side, it will take a big chunk out of their batting,” he said. “It will all come down to how we plan and execute our plans against their batting line-up, and stay as disciplined as possible.”Jamaica gained first-innings points in their previous match against Trinidad & Tobago, which ended in a draw to give them 42 points. Despite completing three straight home matches against Leeward Islands, Combined Campuses & Colleges, and Guyana, Gayle said Jamaican were not going to relax.”We’re going to play attacking cricket … they [Barbados] are on their home turf. From what I gather, the last time they played here, they scored more than 500 runs. It’s going to be ‘even-Stevens’ going into this game. Hopefully, the approach is going to be just like in Trinidad.”Barbados won their first two matches but were beaten in an upset win by CCC in the third round. A high-scoring draw against Leeward Islands in Montserrat carried them to 30 points.Both sides have retained the same squads that traveled for their previous matches which means that Jamaica are without Marlon Samuels, and Dwayne Smith continue to lead Barbados in he absence of Corey Collymore.Both T&T and Windward Islands are geared up for their match at the brand new Windsor Park Stadium. As the competition heads into its late stages, both sides know the importance of maximum points.Windwards’ last game was a ten-wicket win CCC while T&T, Standford 20/20 champions, hope to come back after conceding first-innings points to Jamaica. Windwards have 12 points after having picked up their first points of the tournament with the win over CCC.For T&T, West Indies wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin’s century and half-century and Dwayne Bravo’s 95 in the last game were positives they can build on. T&T are joint third in the standings on 19 points.Guyana need to get on the board after losing their first three matches. They take on Providence after a break for the Stanford 20/20, where they failed to defend their title. Guyana have not won a first-class title since 2002. Their captain, Ramnaresh Sarwan, is the leading run-scorer in the competition with 314 runs from three matches but has found scant support from the rest of the batsmen. The side is boosted by the return of Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Sewnarine Chattergoon. Narsingh Deonarine, another international, is unavailable due to a back injury.It has been tough-going for CCC. Fast bowler Jason Bennett has been their leading wicket-taker with 14 wickets but like his side, inconsistency has been a worry. Eleven of those wickets came in the win over Barbados. There has been little back-up to speak of and even in the batting, the bulk of the runs have come from veteran Floyd Reifer (202 runs). Only three others have passed 100 runs for the competition.

Team	Mat	Won	Lost	Tied	Draw	Aban	Pts
Jamaica	4	3	0	0	1	0	42
Barbados	4	2	1	0	1	0	30
Leeward Islands	4	1	1	0	2	0	19
Trinidad & T	3	1	0	0	2	0	19
Comb CC	3	1	2	0	0	0	12
Windward Islands	3	1	2	0	0	0	12
Guyana	3	0	3	0	0	0	0

ScorecardMark Pettini: back in the red-ball runs•Getty Images

Colchester claims to be the oldest town in Britain. Mark Pettini is not an old man but, on his 32nd birthday, he relished Essex’s Championship return to the salubrious Castle Park. It might well be the day that reinvigorates Pettini’s first-class career.The rather patched-up feel to Essex’s side – Jesse Ryder, Ryan ten Doeschate, Graham Napier and David Masters are all missing through injury – compelled them to recall Pettini for his first Championship game of 2015. In a sense he has rather embodied Essex in recent years: often formidable in white-ball cricket, Pettini has been a diminished figure when confronting the red ball.So when Pettini emphatically drove Sam Curran through the covers for four just before six o’clock to bring up his century, he was entitled to lift his arms aloft in celebration, even if he must have realised a man of his talents should have amassed plenty more than 11 first-class centuries. To those who witnessed his marrying of style and substance here, it would have seemed extraordinary that he has not scored a County Championship century since 2009.With Surrey’s spin twins achieving the rare feat of topping 50 overs between them on the opening day, Pettini was not short of chances to show his dexterity against spin. His fourth ball was a touch short outside off stump; Pettini stood up on his toes, rocked back and caressed Ansari through point. Two slog sweeps, both latched onto decisively and early, promptly followed. In between the counter-punching, Pettini batted with intelligence and calm to underpin Essex’s recovery from a rather perilous 115 for 4.If Pettini’s century contained a certain novelty value for Essex supporters, Nick Browne’s effort was altogether less surprising. He scored his third century in four County Championship matches and again showcased his quietly formidable qualities. Browne marries a compact game, built upon formidable straight driving and judicious leaving, with greed for runs. After he edged Zafar Ansari to slip for 114, Browne’s reaction was revealing. He trudged off, keeping his helmet on and head down as if he had been dismissed first ball.”I wasn’t happy with just 114 today – I want to score 200s and big 200s as well. They’re the ones that get noticed – I want to keep knocking on doors and keep pushing my name forward,” he reflected. “I’d love to be in the Lions squad. It’s up to me to keep scoring hundreds.” Only for a fleeting moment – when, on 76, he survived a sharp slip chance during Sam Curran’s probing post-lunch spell – did Surrey threaten to deny Browne a century here.The sight of his unobtrusive accumulation and relentless fidgetiness between deliveries has become rather more familiar to Surrey than they would wish; in his only previous Championship innings against them, at The Oval this season, Browne scored 143. He now needs only 114 more Championship runs in 2015 to become the first Essex batsman to reach 1,000 runs in the Championship since 2008: a statistic that highlights how the top order have too often failed to match the assuredness of Browne’s innings today.For large portions of the day, it seemed the same would be true at Colchester, and Essex would not reach a first-innings total of the sort that James Foster would have envisaged upon winning the toss. Tom Westley and Kishen Velani – like Browne, products of the Essex Academy – both brimmed with languid class, but the upshot was two infuriatingly insubstantial cameos.Westley eased to 25 before Gareth Batty’s introduction lured him into attempting to loft the ball over James Burke at midwicket; two balls after playing a late cut of unusual finesse, Velani declined to use his feet and flashed Burke behind. Meanwhile Ravi Bopara’s bleak Championship season continued: he was neatly caught by Rory Burns off a leading edge from Batty at short leg, and now has just 253 runs from 14 innings this season.The sight of Ansari and Batty bowling astutely in tandem on a pitch that offered unusual turn for the opening day was particularly intriguing in light of Monty Panesar’s selection. Out of contract at the end of the season, most had assumed Panesar would not play for Essex again. He had been omitted from Essex’s squad, but, after Ravi Patel was recalled by Middlesex, Essex sensed they needed another spinner alongside Aron Nijjar; for the first time since playing at The Oval in April, Panesar was picked.In three months since, he has taken a break from the game and sought help for personal problems from the Professional Cricketers’ Association. The sight of him signing autographs after play was particularly gratifying, and he could relish getting to work at Colchester on the second day.

Surrey 560 (Ansari 106, Burns 92, Burke 79, Wilson 72, Durston 6-113) beat Derbyshire 313 (Hughes 96, T Curran 5-71, Ansari 4-61) and 149 (Madsen 76, Durston 57, Batty 6-51) by an innings and 98 runs
ScorecardGareth Batty sealed Surrey’s promotion in grand manner•Getty Images

Gareth Batty took a hat-trick and 6 for 51 overall as Surrey clinched promotion from LV= County Championship Division Two by beating Derbyshire by an innings and 98 runs at the Kia Oval.Batty, the 37-year-old Surrey captain, finished the game in style by dismissing Tony Palladino, Mark Footitt and No. 11 Ben Cotton with the second, third and fourth balls of his 17th over.Palladino was caught at the wicket for 2 and then bowled both Footitt and Cotton, who became the fifth Derbyshire batsman to be out for a duck as they were bowled out for 149 in the second innings.”That’s my first hat-trick in first-class cricket,” Batty said. “My only other one came for Yorkshire Under 11s against Lancashire Under 11s at Woodhouse Grange School back in the late 1980s. I think Freddie Flintoff may have been one of my hat-trick victims that day – he was certainly one of my seven wickets! It’s difficult to remember, it’s a very long time ago.””Of course it’s a nice thing for me, and a great moment, but the hat-trick is really irrelevant because it’s winning this match and getting promotion to Division One that matters. To have won this game of cricket and got the points is what’s important. It was a must-win game for us, we felt, and I thought we played some magnificent cricket as a team to win it.”Sam and Tom Curran began Derbyshire’s slide by each taking a wicket with the new ball as openers Billy Godleman and Ben Slater both fell for ducks.And Derbyshire, who began their second innings at the start of the final day after Surrey had totalled 560 in reply to their first innings 313, were in some disarray at 9 for 3 when Tom Curran’s quick thinking ran out Chesney Hughes for 5 in the eighth over.Wayne Madsen, the Derbyshire captain, made a battling 76 not out from 154 balls, with 11 fours, and was joined in a fourth wicket stand of 86 in 26 overs by Wes Durston, who also impressed with a determined 57 from 78 balls, but that was Surrey’s only lengthy hold-up as they completed a 23-point eighth victory of the season by 2.40pm.Batty removed both Durston, leg-before, and Harvey Hosein, caught at short leg for a third-ball duck, in the fourth over after lunch and, four overs later, he reduced Derbyshire to 107 for 6 by having Tom Milnes also taken off bat and pad by Rory Burns at short leg for 3.First to go for Derbyshire was Godleman, who nibbled at a perfectly-pitched outswinger from Sam Curran to edge through to Ben Foakes, keeping in place of Gary Wilson who was nursing a neck muscle strain.In the next over, still without a run on the board, Slater was leg-before to Tom Curran for an 11-ball duck and, in the eighth over, Hughes’s needless run out left Derbyshire rocking.Madsen straight drove a ball from Sam Curran and his brother Tom intercepted it from mid-on and, seeing Hughes failing to respond immediately to his partner’s call, threw to the striker’s end for Foakes to complete the run out with the batsman still yards from safety.An on-driven four by Madsen off Tom Curran, and another boundary punched between mid-on and midwicket later in the over, settled Derbyshire though, and he and Durston went on to build a determined fourth-wicket stand.At 78 for 3 at lunch, from 30 overs, Derbyshire seemed to have weathered their early storm and looked capable of holding out for a draw despite their 247-run first innings deficit.Batty’s swift intervention after the interval, however, soon settled matters on a fourth-day pitch encouraging the veteran offspinner and the slow left-arm of Zafar Ansari, who broke a stubborn seventh-wicket stand between Madsen and Matt Critchley of 37 in 17 overs by having the latter leg-before for 5.”James Burke, the two Currans and Zafar Ansari all made significant contributions as young players who, I believe, will be interesting the England selectors,” Batty said. “They are also players who can adapt to the needs of the team, which is what we’re about.”Zafar, for instance, is developing into a very fine all-round cricketer and he’s the best under-25 spinner in the country in my opinion. He should definitely go to UAE in the Test squad as back-up for Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid. But our success this season has not been about individuals. It’s been a squad effort, and that’s what you need these days.”

Group A

Kamran Akmal’s 105 steered Multan Region to 185 for 4, a total they defended by only three runs against Karachi Regional Whites.Kamran’s knock, off 57 deliveries with 12 fours and four sixes, ensured Multan were untroubled by the early loss of Imran Farhat. Kamran added swift partnerships of 64 and 67 for the second and third wickets with Sohaib Maqsood and Naved Yasin, before falling in the final over.A string of solid top-order performances, led by Sheharyar Ghani’s unbeaten 64, had ensured that Karachi Whites managed to keep a chase of 186 in control. They went into the last over needing eight to win, but Aamer Yamin conceded only four runs and took a wicket to ensure Karachi fell agonizingly short of the target.Sialkot Region beat Rawalpindi Region by 19 runs at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium to remain in contention for the semi-finals. Sialkot climbed to second place in the standings, while Rawalpindi slipped to third. Both teams have one match to play.Sialkot posted 176 for 4 after choosing to bat. Their captain Shoaib Malik hit four boundaries and two sixes in his 48 off 28 deliveries, while Haris Sohail made 50 off 45. Shoaib’s brother Adeel Malik, who played for English county Essex this season, provided the finishing touches by making 28 off 19 balls. Yasir Arafat and Mohammad Asghar took one wicket each and were the only Rawalpindi bowlers to have any success; the other two wickets were via run-outs.Rawalpindi began their chase cautiously and did not have much momentum. Nasir Jamshed made 28 off 16 balls but was dismissed in the seventh over, and a regular fall of wickets deprived the innings of partnerships. Umar Amin made 39 off 34 balls and Yasim Murtaza (24 off 23), and even Sohail Tanvir’s late fireworks – 37 off 21 balls with three sixes – was not enough as Rawalpindi finished with 157 for 7. Bilal Asif and Hasan Ali bagged two wickets each for Sialkot.

Group B

Fakhar Zaman’s maiden Twenty20 hundred helped Abbottabad Region chase down 196 against Peshawar Region, securing a six-wicket win for the side at the Diamond Club Ground in Islamabad.Abbottabad, opting to bowl, reduced Peshawar to 6 for 1, but Iftikhar Ahmed stroked four fours and six sixes during a 55-ball 90 to revive the innings. Iftikhar’s blitz, combined with handy knocks from Mohammad Rizwan (30 off 25 balls) and Adil Amin (33 off 18 balls) boosted the total to 195 for 4. Junaid Khan was Abbottabad’s best bowler, taking 2 for 23, while Yasir Shah conceded 38 runs without a wicket in four overs.Abbottabad, though, began the chase well with an opening stand of 46 between Zaman and Yasir Hameed. Zaman launched a total of 11 fours and three sixes, and remained unbeaten on 100 to take his side home with three deliveries to spare. Zaman was assisted by a 10-ball 18 from Younis Khan, and a 15-ball 30 from Sohail Akhtar. Fast bowlers Imran Khan and Taj Wali, and left-arm spinner Zohaib Khan all went at more than 10 an over.Karachi Region Blues knocked Lahore Region Whites out of the tournament with a seven-wicket win in a one-sided match in Islamabad. Karachi’s fourth straight win helped strengthen their chances of a semi-final spot, while Lahore Whites, filled with star players including Pakistan’s ODI captain Azhar Ali, are languishing in second-last place in Group B with one win in four matches.Asked to bat first, Lahore began solidly as openers Ahmed Shehzad and Azhar Ali shared a 52-run stand. The side, however, lost three quick wickets and were struggling at 63 for 3 before Umar Akmal’s blistering knock lifted them. Umar Akmal hit four sixes and two fours in a 36-ball 52 and with the help of Saad Nasim, who scored 35 off 24, helped the side post a challenging total of 179 for 7.Karachi wrapped up the 180-run chase with more than two overs to spare, riding on Khurram Manzoor’s 44-ball 81, against an attack that included Mohammad Irfan and Wahab Riaz. Manzoor, who struck 16 fours in the innings, shared an opening stand of 94 with Shahzaib Hasan, and the strong start ensured a comfortable chase despite the loss of three quick wickets.Opener Afaq Raheem’s unbeaten 49-ball 70 guided Islamabad Region to an eight-wicket win over Faisalabad Region. Raheem had good support from Shan Masood (30 off 22 balls) and Babar Azam (38 off 37 balls) as he ensured the side chased down a target of 159 with two overs to spare. Raheem’s 98-run second-wicket partnership with Babar Azam helped the side control the chase well after an opening partnership of 51 runs.Earlier, Faisalabad’s innings suffered from a lack of momentum as wickets fell in clusters near the halfway stage and towards the end of the innings. Opener Raheel Ameer (41 off 30 balls) and Khurram Shahzad (47 off 38) provided some solidity after an early wicket before Faisalabad lurched from 68 for 1 to 88 for 4. Misbah-ul-Haq tried to give the side a strong finish but three wickets in the last over by Shehzad Azam restricted them to 158 for 8. Munir-ur-Rahman and Shehzad Azam picked up two wickets apiece.

The new points system proposed for the Ranji Trophy by the Anil Kumble-led technical committee in May will not be implemented for the 2015-16 season, as the BCCI’s working committee is yet to discuss the system. The working committee was due to look into the proposal on August 28, but then that meeting was adjourned within minutes due to N Srinivasan’s presence.The technical committee had proposed major changes to the points system, the most prominent amendment being to do away with points for the first-innings lead. That decision had raised a few eyebrows, with some of the BCCI member units expressing apprehension over the possibility of both teams earning no points after a four-day game. As a result, the proposal was to be looked into by the working committee.But the working committee meeting on August 28 was adjourned due to confusion surrounding Srinivasan’s attendance – despite being requested to stay away from the meeting due to his complicated legal status, he attended in his capacity as Tamil Nadu Cricket Association head.As a result, the BCCI now has no option but to stick to last season’s points system.Quick comment – BCCI makes its priorities clearCricketers make a proposal. Four months and ten days later, just two days before the start of a new season, it emerges nobody has even debated that proposal.At times of crisis, when you can’t possibly look after everything, your priorities become clear. The BCCI administrators, who spare no money or effort in calling “emergent” meetings and hiring high-profile lawyers to stay in power to “safeguard the interests of the game,” have made their priorities clear.In the interest of the game a technical committee, comprising men of integrity and cricketing acumen and led by Anil Kumble, suggested this change to the points system to reward positive cricket in India’s premier domestic tournament. The BCCI power struggle, though, has successfully managed to push this into the background. A meeting where the ratification of the new system would have been debated was adjourned because N Srinivasan decided to land up, but no one found it fitting to find a way to discuss the new points system before the start of the Ranji season.You won’t find such a lackadaisical approach towards finding Jagmohan Dalmiya’s successor as BCCI president. A special general meeting has already been called within the deadline. Sticklers to the BCCI constitution will point to the clause that deals with deadlines for calling such meetings, but isn’t the start of a new season a deadline for a matter as crucial as a points system? By Sidharth Monga

James Anderson, Ian Bell and Alastair Cook are among the England players who could appear in the Pakistan Super League.Bell and Anderson have both signed agreements confirming their appearance in the competition’s draft, while Cook has been in talks with organisers for some time but has yet to confirm his involvement.The inaugural PSL will feature five franchise-based teams from the provincial capitals – Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta and Islamabad – with prize money of $1 million. The 24-match tournament is scheduled to run from February 4 to 24 in Dubai and Sharjah. Players will be allocated to teams via a draft to be held in December.The dates of the tournament will prevent members of England’s white-ball squad taking part as they will be required for the series against South Africa, but several other England-qualified players – including Luke Wright, Monty Panesar, Tim Bresnan, Jade Dernbach, Ravi Bopara and Michael Carberry – are also expected to appear in the draft.Bell was recently dropped from England’s Test squad for the tour of South Africa so currently does not have any competitive cricket until April while Anderson has not played white-ball cricket internationally since the World Cup.Kevin Pietersen has also agreed to play, leading to the intriguing possibility that he and Cook could face each other, or even share a dressing room, at some stage during the tournament. The two have not spoken since the day in February 2014 when Pietersen was informed that he no longer featured in the England’s management’s plans. Pietersen subsequently portrayed Cook as a “decent” but weak man in his autobiography – he compared him to Ned Flanders, from – suggesting he spent the final meeting between the pair unable to look Pietersen in the eye.While Pietersen hailed Cook’s captaincy as “outstanding” during the Ashes and admitted that the decision to drop him had been largely vindicated by Ashes success, the two have yet to mend their personal relationship.