أعلنت لجنة الحكام بالاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم، برئاسة البرتغالي فيتور بيريرا، طاقم تحكيم مباراة الأهلي وسيراميكا كليوباترا، مساء اليوم الإثنين، في بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.
الأهلي يواجه سيراميكا كليوباترا، في المباراة المؤجلة بينهما، ضمن منافسات الجولة الـ19، لبطولة الدوري، على ملعب استاد القاهرة الدولي.
ويتصدر النادي الأهلي، ترتيب جدول الدوري المصري الممتاز، برصيد 69 نقطة من 27 مباراة.
طالع | موعد والقناة الناقلة لمباراة الأهلي وسيراميكا كليوباترا اليوم في الدوري المصري
ويتبقى للنادي الأهلي 4 مباريات مؤجلة بالإضافة إلى الثلاث جولات الأخيرة من بطولة الدوري، ويحتاج المارد الأحمر إلى الفوز في 4 مباريات فقط من أجل حسم لقب الدوري هذا الموسم بشكل رسمي.
وعلى الجانب الآخر، يتواجد فريق سيراميكا كليوباترا في المركز الثامن بجدول ترتيب الدوري المصري، برصيد 44 نقطة من 30 لقاء. حكم مباراة الأهلي وسيراميكا كليوباترا في الدوري المصري
A year of malaise had done its damage. On 29 May 2023 – the final game of the 2022/23 Premier League season – Tottenham Hotspur swept relegated Leeds United aside at Elland Road to win 4-1, but the emphatic result did little to paper over the cracks.Spurs had endured a terrible season and that big victory – with two Harry Kane goals at the centre – failed to salvage European football and has since proved to be the club's record scorer's swansong, having joined Bayern Munich in August.Ange Postecoglou has changed the narrative since his managerial appointment in June, however, making some impactful signings and restoring the withered crop already within the ranks.And now, ten games into the Premier League term, Tottenham have eclipsed expectations, delightfully ensconced in first place, two points ahead of Arsenal and Manchester City.Of course, things can change in a flash at this phase of the year, and given that the upcoming run of fixtures are certainly not easy, a clearer picture will materialise come the end of the calendar year.
Date
Team
Position
6/11/23
Chelsea (H)
10th
11/11/23
Wolves (A)
12th
26/11/23
Aston Villa (H)
5th
03/12/23
Man City (A)
3rd
07/12/23
West Ham (H)
9th
10/12/23
Newcastle (H)
6th
It's, frankly, a daunting period, but Postecoglou will maintain the belief that Spurs have the capacity to blitz through and continue their charge as the division's table-toppers.Manchester United and Liverpool have already been defeated, while a convincing draw against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium supports the claim that Tottenham are the real deal.Up next, Chelsea, and while the Blues' campaign has been a stark contrast to the Lilywhites' soaring ascent, Mauricio Pochettino has been working to instil his system and he will feel that his squad have what it takes to strike a blow into their rival's lofty goals.The Postecoglou revolution is a product of the Australian's charisma, cunning and confidence in his players' potential, and the work he has done in transforming the atmosphere from the pitch to the dressing room to the very boardroom itself is extraordinary.Summer signings such as James Maddison and Micky van de Ven have been a resounding success, but the revival of new captain Heung-min Son, who has eight Premier League goals already, and tenacious midfield engine Yves Bissouma has been equally, if not more, impressive.Some have not quite enjoyed the biggest of resurgences yet, with Richarlison improving after a dreadful maiden year in London, though still some way from living up to the £60m price tag after joining from Everton in 2022.
Richarlison's season in numbers
Last year, Richarlison endured a testing year after several years of talismanic service at Goodison Park, only scoring once from 27 Premier League outings, branded a "joke" by talkSPORT pundit Tony Cascarino.He's looking better under Postecoglou's wing, and has in fact posted two goals and three assists from 11 matches across all competitions, including four direct goal contributions from his past four top-flight starts.Pundit Ally McCoist is still unconvinced however, and revealed that the player of "extreme talent" does not use his skills in the best fashion and is "frustrating" to watch at times.
brennan-johnson-richarlison-tottenham-opinion
Primarily playing on the left wing, with Son occupying the centre-forward role, the Brazilian will need to see an upswing in his productivity if he is to retain a starting berth.The discourse does seem to centre around the 26-year-old despite him actually outperforming Dejan Kulusevski this season, who will now be worried for his spot in the team following the events of Tottenham's recent victory over Crystal Palace.
Kulusevski's season in numbers
Kulusevski started off so brightly in London after joining from Juventus on an initial loan in January 2022, which was made permanent this summer, posting five goals and eight assists from 14 Premier League starts during the 2021/22 campaign.The question that arises from Spurs' newfound success is whether the Swede is truly performing at the level required to sustain this unlikely, inspiring title charge.
He has scored twice from ten Premier League starts this season, playing the full 90 on eight occasions, but seemingly isn't quite thriving. That being said, he's been unequivocally solid and has averaged 2.2 key passes per game, highlighting his consistent creativity.However, given Brennan Johnson's display off the bench against the Eagles last week, perhaps it's now time for Postecoglou to shake things up and unleash the Welshman in his stead, with the visit of Chelsea on Monday night potentially crucial in preserving top spot across the winter period.
Brennan Johnson's style of play
Johnson signed for Tottenham from Nottingham Forest in a £47.5m deal this summer, offering a dynamic skill set and "frightening" pace – as was once said by countryman Joe Allen – that could cause Chelsea a world of problems.Johnson played a central role in Forest's successful bid for survival last term, plundering ten goals and three assists across all competitions and strutting his skills with enough conviction to convince the Liltywhites to pay up.The £70k-per-week forward will be valuable against Chelsea, utilising his innate talents to weave through the lines and wreak havoc against an underperforming outfit. But more importantly, he could inflict damage on the opposition across multiple matches going forward and must now receive the chance to stake his claim for a prominent role.Against Palace, as per Sofascore, he grabbed his assist, completed 88% of his passes, made two key passes and won two of his three contested ground duels, all in 26 minutes.
As per FBref, he ranks among the top 5% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries and the top 6% for successful take-ons per 90, underscoring a directness and tenacity that could be used to complement the current crop of starters.The 21-cap international is brimming with potential that hasn't been reached yet, and he's in the perfect environment to realise his ability under a sage manager like Postecoglou, and considering that he outscored both Richarlison and Kulusevski while plying his trade for the Tricky Trees last year, surely he deserves a shot now?The Nottingham native needs to start being entrusted with a starting spot, though, and given that Kulusevski is performing solidly, if unspectacularly, then it might be the apt moment to unleash the 22-year-old from the outset.Now with a taste for goals after setting up his captain at Selhurst Park, Johnson could prove to truly make his mark and give his manager a welcome selection headache going forward.
Sri Lanka’s coach also held the selection door open for Lasith Malinga, provided he plays domestic cricket and proves he can still bowl and field at the top level
Andrew Fidel Fernando11-Aug-2018
Getty Images
Danushka Gunathilaka, Jeffrey Vandersay and Lasith Malinga – three players currently out of favour with the cricket establishment – could all find their way back into the Sri Lanka team. So says coach Chandika Hathurusingha who, albeit not a selector, exerts substantial influence in selection decisions. Like captain Angelo Mathews and batting coach Thilan Samaraweera, Hathurusingha believes Sri Lanka are yet to identify the “combination” of players that will take them into the World Cup in 2019, and the World T20 the following year, and has said spots remain open for these three, so long as they sharpen up.Gunathilaka, of course, has committed the most serious offence, breaking curfew on a Test-match night last month, and as a result was suspended for the entire limited-overs leg of the South Africa series. Vandersay briefly went missing after a night out in St Lucia in June (though at least in his case, he was allowed to be out that night), and received a hefty fine and was put on probation as a consequence. The official team stance on such conduct is that it is not tolerated, with Mathews delivering an especially stern public rebuke to Gunathilaka. But that does not mean these two players are out forever, Hathurusingha said.”I am very disappointed that these kinds of things happened,” Hathurusingha said of Gunathilaka and Vandersay’s indiscipline. “But at the same time this has been something that has been happening in the past. Our culture is so different. We don’t tolerate this. It is not that he is letting down one person or two persons; he is letting down the whole team and his family. At the same time, people do mistakes. We need to give them second chance. They have not done a crime. It is just the team rules that they have broken. They will be back.”Malinga, meanwhile, was not considered for ODI selection because he did not play in the provincial one-day tournament earlier this year; he spent that time working as a bowling consultant in the IPL instead. Though he played in one domestic T20 tournament earlier this year, and finished as joint-top wicket-taker, he was overlooked for selection for the forthcoming one-off T20 against South Africa on Tuesday. But with another, more competive domestic T20 tournament set to begin in August, Malinga has another chance to prove himself.”As long as what the selectors want is fulfilled, Malinga is in our plans,” Hathurusingha said. “He needs to come and play domestic cricket and we are not going to make exceptions for anybody. The team is number one. The team culture has to be protected. We are not treating him differently. He is a quality player. He needs to show that he is capable of delivering what he has done in the past. Not only with bowling, but fielding as well. There’s a good opportunity for him to come and play the domestic T20 tournament if he is willing to play. If he is performing he is in our plans.”Malinga had been substantially below his best when he last played international cricket, but the absence of a good death bowler has been felt by the team, who have lost over 70 per cent of the limited-overs matches they have played since the start of 2017. That awful record has prompted a change in strategy, whereby Sri Lanka have decided to prepare batting-friendly pitches at home in order to prime themselves for the kinds of tracks they will encounter elsewhere in the world. Ahead of the final ODI against South Africa, Hathurusingha described this change of tack as a no-brainer.”When you play 36 matches and win only nine, it is not a tough call at all to change strategy,” he said. “It is common sense. It is looking at what we have been doing and seeing it’s not working. We have scored more than 300 only a handful of times if my memory serves right. We realized what we need to do. It is not only about the World Cup, it is about whatever we have been doing is not working.”
Crystal Palace are exploring a move to sign an in-demand “versatile” new player in the New Year, according to recent reports.
Who did Crystal Palace sign this summer?
The Eagles and Roy Hodgson were relatively quiet in the summer, bringing in just four new players during the transfer market. Big fees were paid for Matheus Franca and Dean Henderson from Flamengo and Manchester United respectively, whereas Rob Holding arrived from Arsenal late in the window and Jefferson Lerma made the switch to London on a free transfer after leaving Bournemouth.
On the pitch, Palace have made a relatively solid start, picking up eight points from their first six Premier League games. However, chairman Steve Parish and sporting director Dougie Freedman already seem to have one eye on the January transfer window, and a new target has emerged at Selhurst Park.
TEAMtalk, Crystal Palace are one of five top-flight clubs who are now exploring a move to sign Shakhtar Donetsk defender Mykola Matviyenko.
Alongside the Eagles, Burnley, Everton, Sheffield United and West Ham are also keen on the Ukraine international, whose representatives are looking at possible options ahead of 2024.
Who is Mykola Matviyenko?
Matviyenko can play anywhere across the back four but is primarily a central defender who has made 175 appearances for Shakhtar Donetsk after progressing through their academy.
The left-footed defender would therefore offer plenty of versatility to Hodgson’s backline, should a move go through, and that attribute has been picked up in the media.
Journalist Andrew Todos recently described Matviyenko as a “versatile” player who “can be world-class when he plays in a formation with three defenders” following links of a move to Brighton, highlighting his pace and ball-playing ability as some of his main strengths.
"Matviyenko is a composed and experienced centre-back, who comes across as very assured, especially when playing alongside younger teammates. As he started his career as a full-back, he's got more pace than an average centre-back and this aids him quite a lot in recovery challenges.
"He rarely goes in for wild tackles that might result in bookings or penalties and one of his main strengths is blocking crosses or goalbound shots. He's also very good at playing balls over the top, playing out from the back, and he's versatile.
"In my opinion, he can be world-class when he plays in a formation with three defenders. If he plays in a back four, he should play alongside a tall defender who can help him. He is good as a centre-back but the best matches of his career were when he was in a back three and he played next to wing-backs."
The 27-year-old appears to be in his prime with Transfermarkt valuation standing at €20m – the highest figure of his career – and it looks like a move to England could be possible.
Whether or not that will be at Selhurst Park remains to be seen, but a move could be one to watch over the coming months where Matviyenko may end up coming in to rival the likes of Marc Guehi and Joachim Andersen.
West Ham United look to be closing in on a deal involving an exciting teenager at the London Stadium, according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.
What's the latest news involving West Ham United?
The Hammers have enjoyed a successful start to the Premier League campaign under David Moyes and are fresh from a comfortable 2-0 victory over Sheffield United at the London Stadium, courtesy of goals from Jarrod Bowen and Tomas Soucek. Speaking to BBC Sport in the aftermath of his 900th game as a manager, Moyes complimented his side's ability to navigate a tough test against Paul Heckingbottom's stubborn Blades, stating:
"The one thing I will say is there's never an easy game – in that 900 I can't think of an easy game. Every game is hard, winning a game in the Premier League is difficult and today was difficult but it was three really good points. To get a couple of goals in front was really pleasing, it gave us a bit of breathing space as we had missed a few chances before that. We didn't play as well in the second half but getting a clean sheet is a real positive because we'd not had one this season."
According to Claret & Hugh, Hammers defender Ben Johnson could be given another opportunity to prove his worth in east London on Thursday evening, where West Ham will travel to Freiburg in their second Europa League matchday, in light of Aaron Cresswell's injury struggles.
Meanwhile, Football Insider report that free agent Jesse Lingard, who was on trial at West Ham, wasn't offered a contract by his former employers owing to concerns over his fitness. Lingard is now on trial at Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq and will try to win a deal in the Gulf region with the Damman-based outfit, who are managed by former Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard.
Who could earn a new deal at West Ham United?
Taking to social media platform X, transfer guru Romano has confirmed that West Ham are on the verge of tying down one of their "highly rated" youngsters to a new "long term" deal at the London Stadium, despite vast interest in their services from elsewhere. Romano stated:
"Understand highly rated talent Dan Rigge is about to sign a new long term deal with West Ham. 2006 born midfielder had interest from 4 Premier League clubs and 2 in La Liga but was focused on West Ham future."
West Ham United managerDavidMoyesbefore the match
Rigge, who is just 17 years of age, has started the campaign in fine fettle for West Ham's Under-18 side, putting up three goals and one assist in his opening four appearances in the Under-18 Premier League, as per Transfermarkt.
Predominantly utilised as either a winger or in an attacking midfield role, Rigge has already played his part in Under-18 Premier League South Division and FA Youth Cup triumphs since arriving in east London on scholarship terms from Manchester City back in 2022. Looking to the future, West Ham will hope that he can go on to replicate the likes of Declan Rice by making a senior breakthrough and going on to be a key player in years to come.
استقر الجهاز الفني لفريق الزمالك بقيادة البرتغالي جوزيه جوميز، على دكة بدلاء الأبيض في مباراة اليوم أمام فاركو، التي ستجمع بينهما ببطولة الدوري المصري.
وتقام المباراة بين الزمالك وفاركو على أرضية استاد المقاولون العرب، في المواجهة المؤجلة من الجولة الـ12 للمسابقة المحلية.
ويتواجد الزمالك في المركز الحادي عشر في جدول ترتيب الدوري المصري الممتاز، برصيد 31 نقطة من 19 مباراة.
طالع | تشكيل الزمالك أمام فاركو في الدوري المصري.. محمد صبحي يحرس المرمى
على الجانب الآخر، يحتل فريق فاركو المركز الخامس عشر بجدول الدوري، وفي جعبته 22 نقطة حصدها بعد خوض 25 مواجهة، إذ فاز في 4 وتعادل في 10 وتلقى 11 هزيمة.
وشهدت دكة بدلاء الزمالك تواجد ناصر منسي وسيف فاروق جعفر وكذلك محمد أشرف روقا كـ أوراق رابحة في يد الجهاز الفني خلال اللقاء. بدلاء الزمالك اليوم أمام فاركو في الدوري
محمود أشرف فاروق، ياسر حمد، محمد أشرف روقا، سيف فاروق جعفر، محمد عاطف عثمان، محمد السيد، ترافيس موتيابا، ناصر منسي، عمار ياسر.
انتهت قبل قليل مباراة منتخبي قطر وأفغانستان في خضم منافسات تصفيات قارة آسيا المؤهلة لنهائيات كأس العالم 2026 بالتعادل السلبي بدون أهداف.
المباراة أقيمت على ملعب مدينة الأمير عبدالله بن جلوي الرياضية بالجولة الخامسة من تصفيات كأس العالم 2026.
بتلك النتيجة يواصل منتخب قطر تربعه على عرش صدارة ترتيب المجموعة برصيد 13 نقطة حصدها من 4 انتصارات وتعادل، أما منتخب أفغانستان فيأتي ثالثًا برصيد 5 نقاط.
منتخب سوريا يسقط بهدف قاتل أمام كوريا الشمالية في تصفيات كأس العالم
ويتواجد منتخبا قطر وأفغانستان في المجموعة الأولى التي تضم إلى جوارهما الهند والكويت.
وتقام منافسات دور المجموعات بـ تصفيات آسيا لكأس العالم بوجود 36 منتخبًا بواقع 11 فريقًا متأهلين من الدور التمهيدي، و25 أصحاب التصنيف الأول في القارة، تم توزيعها إلى 9 مجموعات، تضم كل منها 4 منتخبات.
وتلعب المنافسات بنظام الدوري من مرحلتي الذهاب والإياب، على أن يتأهل متصدر كل مجموعة ووصيفه إلى المرحلة النهائية الحاسمة.
An update recently emerged on Southampton and their plans to bolster Russell Martin's playing squad before the summer transfer window slams shut on Friday.
What's the latest Southampton transfer news?
According to a recent Tweet from journalist Darren Witcoop, the Saints are eyeing a possible swoop for Leeds United right-back Cody Drameh.
The reporter has claimed that Martin has a move for the talented young defender in his sights, alongside an attempt to snap up Nathan Wood from Swansea City.
Southampton have brought in Ryan Fraser, Shea Charles, Joe Lumley, Ryan Manning, Flynn Downes, and Mason Holgate during the window so far and could make further additions, including Drameh, before the end of the week.
How good is Cody Drameh?
Martin could land a dream heir to Tino Livramento following the defender's move to Newcastle United earlier this summer by securing a deal to sign Drameh as he is a proven Championship performer who also has room to improve.
The Saints lost a talented prospect when they sold the former Chelsea starlet to the Magpies for a reported £32m and could replace him by signing the Leeds gem.
Livramento, who was restricted to two appearances last season due to injury, had caught the eye during the 2021/22 campaign with an average Sofascore rating of 6.85 across 28 Premier League games.
He showcased his defensive qualities with 3.6 tackles and interceptions per match and won 59% of his duels, whilst the exciting youngster also created 0.7 chances per game for his teammates from the right-back position, as per Sofascore.
Former Luton loanee Cody Drameh.
Drameh could come in and possibly be an upgrade on Livramento based on his impressive form on loan to Luton Town during the second half of last season.
The 21-year-old battler averaged an excellent Sofascore rating of 7.09 across 16 Championship matches with the Hatters.
He made an outstanding 4.2 tackles and interceptions per clash and won 55% of his battles, whilst the ex-Fulham prodigy also produced 1.6 key passes per game to show off his ability on the ball.
These statistics show that the £4.4k-per-week hotshot is a player who can make an impact at both ends of the pitch, which is helped by his superb energy levels that once led to him being hailed as a "Duracell bunny" by former boss Steve Morison.
No Southampton player managed more than 3.7 tackles and interceptions and only James Ward-Prowse (1.9) produced more than one key pass per game in the Premier League last season.
This suggests that Drameh has the potential to be an outstanding performer for the Saints from a defensive and offensive perspective at right-back due to his excellent ability to consistently win possession back for his side whilst also being able to make things happen at the top end of the pitch to create opportunities for his teammates.
At the age of 21, the ex-Luton loanee also has plenty of time on his hands to improve and could develop under Martin's coaching, which is another reason why he is a dream heir to the 20-year-old Livramento, who could also have grown at St. Mary's.
Therefore, Drameh has the profile to be a fantastic replacement for the now-Newcastle ace and the club could pull off a shrewd swoop by securing his signature this week.
Celtic could be handed the chance to sign a former fan favourite this summer who is 'appreciated' by Brendan Rodgers at Parkhead, according to journalist Rudy Galetti.
How have Celtic started the campaign in the Scottish Premiership and who has joined?
Celtic have started their Scottish Premiership title defence in typical fashion, recording a 4-2 victory over Ross County at Parkhead and a 3-1 triumph away to Aberdeen at Pittodrie, as per Sky Sports.
In his second stint in charge of Celtic, Rodgers has been proactive in the window, bringing in five signings in the form of Odin Thiago Holm, Marco Tilio, Yang Hyun-jun, Kwon Hyeok-kyu and Maik Nawrocki, as per Transfermarkt.
The Irishman is close to confirming his sixth addition since returning to Scotland, with Elfsborg central defender Gustaf Lagerbielke expected to arrive later in the week, according to Football Scotland.
Speaking to Sky Sports via the outlet in the aftermath of the Hoops' victory over Aberdeen, Rodgers confirmed that he is close to adding another body to his backline, stating: "Very close. I'm pretty sure next week we'll get that done."
Lagerbielke is expected to join Celtic as a replacement for Sweden international Carl Starfelt, who joined La Liga outfit Celta Vigo last week for an undisclosed fee, as per BBC Sport.
Cited by ESPN, former Celtic star Jota has been the only other high-profile player to seek a new challenge this summer after joining Saudi Pro-League side Al-Ittihad for a fee in the region of £25 million.
What has Rudy Galetti said about Kieran Tierney?
Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney, who has been hailed as "outstanding", has been the subject of interest from several clubs this summer and is wanted by both Premier League outfit Newcastle United on loan alongside La Liga side Real Sociedad, according to Telegraph Sport.
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Galetti has signalled that Celtic are another side in the race to sign the £110k-a-week Scotland international and has indicated that an emotional return to his boyhood club before the transfer deadline is not out of the question.
Galetti stated: "In this moment, Kieran Tierney is the hottest name for Celtic.
"Brendan Rodgers, in his statement, wants to dampen spirits over whether his return to Scotland is possible. But the Arsenal player is, for sure, one of the most appreciated players by Celtic.
"Arsenal have asked for around £25million or £30million to let him go permanently, but a transfer on loan is also considered an option."
What other events are occurring at Celtic?
According to The Northern Echo, Celtic are set to make a 'formal approach' for Newcastle United outcast Ryan Fraser, who could be available for a knock-down fee as his current employers look to shift him off the books in the North East.
Celtic boss Rodgers is in the market for a winger before the end of the window and Scotland international Fraser has emerged as a 'viable target' that he looks to be pursuing.
Newcastle winger Ryan Fraser.
As per STV News, Fringe defender Stephen Welsh looks to have been given an unexpected olive branch at Celtic and was praised by Rodgers for his performance off the bench in the Hoops' Scottish Premiership victory over Aberdeen, as he stated: "I thought he was excellent when he came in. I like Stephen. I took him with me one pre-season when he was a young player because I really liked him. For whatever reason, he hasn’t maybe played the games, but he’s a Celtic boy who wants to be at the club. I want him to be at the club."
The Daily Mail report that Celtic are one of a number of clubs keen to acquire Manchester City youngster James McAtee, though they will need to fight off competition from Brighton & Hove Albion, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Real Sociedad, Southampton, Sheffield United and AZ Alkmaar.
The BCCI has “dismissed” Pandurang Salgaoncar, the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) curator, for “malpractice” that was captured on camera by undercover reporters. The controversy did not affect the start of the second ODI between India and New Zealand, which began as scheduled after a routine pre-match pitch inspection by ICC match officials. Ramesh Mhamunkar, a member of the BCCI’s grounds and pitches committee, was put in charge of the pitch.The nature of what the BCCI called “malpractice” emerged in a sting operation video carried out by reporters from . In the released footage, which has been edited, Salgaoncar is shown interacting with the reporters and talking to them about the pitch for the ODI – the voiceover says the reporters are posing as bookies though the released footage does not show them introducing themselves to Salgaoncar as such.The conversations in the released video are centred on the pitch. Shot over Monday and Tuesday, Salgaoncar said in the video that the pitch – No. 8 of the 15 strips – would have runs. “It is very good. It will garner 337 runs. And 337 will be chaseable.”The ground is a new one and before Wednesday’s game had only hosted two ODIs. First innings scores in those two were 304-8 and 350-7 (an average of 327); the latter score was chased down.In a different clip, at the stadium, Salgaoncar alerts the reporters to the presence of Mhamunkar at the ground. He tells them that as per regulations no outsider is allowed to be at the pitch. Nonetheless one of the reporters is shown tapping a pitch. In another exchange, in a car, the reporter asks whether two fast bowlers could be given some help from the match’s pitch. Salgaoncar replies that the pitch always helps fast bowlers.And in another, the reporter asks that either a player or a team – the identity has been bleeped out – be dealt a “favor” for the game. Salgaoncar says: “I told you, this will be a 340-run wicket, either way.”The reporter replies, “You’ve already said that. We will do betting on that. But the ****** [name of player or team] we want a favour for tomorrow’s match…”Salcaongar interrupts and says: “That will be done good. I told you.”In response, the BCCI immediately “dismissed” Salgaoncar. Though the acting board president CK Khanna had earlier told ESPNcricinfo that Salgaoncar would be “suspended” and “barred” from entering the ground, a BCCI release left no doubt that the curator had been sacked.”After reports stating an alleged malpractice from the MCA (Maharashtra State Cricket Association) pitch curator, Mr Pandurang Salgaoncar, the MCA has dismissed Mr Salgaoncar from the position of Curator with immediate effect,” the board said.”A strict action has been taken against the pitch curator and the employment relationship between Mr Pandurang Salgaonkar and MCA stands terminated,” the CEO Rahul Johri said. An inquiry will now take place into the events.As the incident concerns an international match the ICC will also be involved. “We are investigating the allegations from Pune this morning, as with all international cricket, the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit has an ICC ACU Manager on the ground in India and we are in close contact with him,” an ICC spokesperson told ESPNcricinfo. “We are now looking to establish the facts and will make no further comment whilst this is ongoing.”MCA president Abhay Apte said: “The MCA will be making a detailed enquiry on what has happened or what has appeared on the television. But before we have our urgent meeting, in the capacity of the MCA president, I have taken Mr Salgaoncar under immediate suspension with immediate effect and all his work has been withdrawn.”Salgaoncar, a long-time curator and former fast bowler, was involved in another pitch controversy earlier this year, after the surface for the first Test between India and Australia in March was rated poor by the ICC match referee Chris Broad.