Manchester United vs Everton: Where to watch the match online, live stream, TV channels & kick-off time

How to watch Man United against Everton in the Premier League in the US, as well as kick-off time and team news.

Manchester United are looking forward to extending their unbeaten record at Old Trafford when they face Everton in Saturday's Premier League encounter.

đź’» Watch Manchester United vs Everton live on Sling TV today!

However, more importantly, Erik ten Hag's men will want to consolidate their place in the top four after the 1-0 win against Brentford just about put them back in contention for Champions League football next season.

The Toffees find themselves at the opposite end of the table as Sean Dyche's side are desperate for a win in order to distance themselves from the dropzone following back-to-back draws including the 1-1 result against Tottenham the last time out.

GOAL brings you details on how to watch the game on TV in the U.S. as well as how to stream live online.

GettyKick-off timeGame:Manchester United vs EvertonDate:April 8, 2023Kick-off:7:30am EDTVenue:Old Trafford

The Premier League game between Manchester United and Everton is scheduled for April 8 at Old Trafford, nicknamed 'The Theatre of Dreams'.

It will kick off at 7:30am EDT in the US.

AdvertisementGettyHow to watch Manchester United vs Everton online – TV channels & live streamsTV channels & streaming options

Country TV channel Live stream

U.S.USA Network, UniversoSling Blue, Sling Latino, Fubo, DirecTV Stream

In the United States (US), the game can be watched live on Sling Blue, Sling Latino, USA Network (English-language), Universo (Spanish-language), Fubo and DirecTV Stream.

GettyTeam news & squadsManchester United team news

Casemiro will complete his four-game ban here, and Luke Shaw's withdrawal with a hamstring injury in the first half against Brentford adds to Ten Hag's woes given that United are already without long-term absentees Christian Eriksen and Donny van de Beek.

Alejandro Garnacho and Tom Heaton also sit on the sidelines, while Tyrell Malacia is likely to fill in for Shaw at left-back.

Also in line for a start against Everton, are the likes of Fred, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Anthony Martial.

Manchester United possible XI: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Martinez, Malacia; Fred, Sabitzer; Antony, Fernandes, Rashford; Martial

Position Players

GoalkeepersDe Gea, ButlandDefendersMartinez, Varane, Maguire, Lindelof, Jones, Malacia, Williams, Dalot, Wan-BissakaMidfieldersMcTominay, Sabitzer, Fred, Fernandes, PellistriForwardsRashford, Elanga, Antony, Sancho, Martial, WeghorstEverton team news

Abdoulaye Doucoure had a moment of madness when he clawed Harry Kane in the face on Monday, and as a result is slapped with a three-game domestic ban.

Dyche has the option of replacing the suspended midfielder with former Man United man James Garner or Tom Davies.

Meanwhile, Andros Townsend is out for at least a couple of weeks more due to a knee problem, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin deals with a thigh injury.

Everton possible XI: Pickford; Keane, Tarkowski, Godfrey; Coleman, Onana, Gueye, Mykolenko; Iwobi, Gray, McNeil

Position Players

GoalkeepersPickford, Begovic, LonerganDefendersTarkowski, Mina, Godfrey, Coady, Holgate, Keane, Mykolenko, Vinagre, Patterson, ColemanMidfieldersOnana, Garner, Davies, Gueye, IwobiForwardsMaupay, Simms, Gray, McNeilHead-to-head record

Date Result Competition

January 1, 2023Manchester United 3-1 EvertonFA CupOctober 9, 2022Everton 1-2 Manchester UnitedPremier LeagueApril 9, 2022Everton 1-0 Manchester UnitedPremier LeagueOctober 2, 2021Manchester United 1-1 EvertonPremier LeagueAugust 7, 2021Manchester United 4-0 EvertonClub friendlyENJOYED THIS STORY?

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Man Utd all time top scorers

'India losing a bigger headline than India winning'

MS Dhoni has said it was very important for India to not trip up in the final of the Asia Cup to hold the critics at bay, and to keep the team’s momentum intact leading up to the World T20

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Mar-20161:26

MS Dhoni on the Asia Cup final

MS Dhoni has said it was very important for India to not trip up in the final of the Asia Cup to hold the critics at bay, and to keep the team’s momentum intact leading up to the World T20. The unit is a balanced one ahead of the showpiece event, he said, with the only question mark hanging over seamer Ashish Nehra who might have to make way for Mohammed Shami.”India losing a final is a bigger headline than India winning a final,” Dhoni said after sealing an eight-wicket win over Bangladesh in Mirpur with a six over midwicket. “It’s like putting in a lot at stake: if you win then they say ‘nothing really’; if you lose to Bangladesh, say people ‘oh, you lost to Bangladesh?'”You’re supposed to win. It’s like a game where a lot is at stake but when you win, you actually don’t take anything forward.”However, Dhoni added, Bangladesh’s recent top form at home – including a 2-1 ODI series victory over India in June 2015 – translated into this victory meaning a lot more. “Things have changed. It’s not like the 2004 Bangladesh team. They have a fantastic squad right now. They have improved a lot, and that’s what is showing in their performance on the field. So it was an important one to win.””As far as staying in the present is concerned, it always helps. If you start thinking about what happened when the last time we were here… of course you feel hurt, but what’s important is to forget all of that and concentrate on the present. You can’t do much about the past, you can only take the learnings from the past and that’s what we did today.”Dhoni said the focus now turned to the World T20 for his team, which is already “in the groove” for the tournament. “If you see the kind of performances that the team has given, they will carry a lot of confidence into the World T20. They know what has been really going well for them, what their strengths are.”While he is satisfied with how the XI is looking, Dhoni said, he is also still waiting to see how Shami’s recovery progresses; Nehra has “done very well” for the team but might be replaced by Shami if the latter can get fit in time. Shami was initially part of the Asia Cup squad, but was ruled out of the tournament after it was found he had failed to fully recover from a hamstring injury that had kept him out of the limited-overs series in Australia in January.”Whether Shami is fit or not, we’ll see. He still has a bit of time,” Dhoni said. “The only reason he was picked was because, he is someone who can deliver with the old and new ball, yorkers being his strength.”I think it’s very difficult to replace [Jasprit] Bumrah. He has the strength of bowling yorkers at will, and with the new ball also he has contributed. Nehra has also contributed. Few games ups and downs happen in T20. Hardik Pandya, he’s a fast-bowling allrounder. If Jadeja or him can bat No. 8 and they can give me three or four overs, then it looks like a better balanced side.”For Shami to replace [someone], it would be Ashish. Ashish is the only slot, but to replace Ashish would be very tough. The reason being he has done very well for us, he has moved the ball around. But Shami will have to prove his fitness in the warm-up games. If he does, he will stay ahead with the team.”Nehra was India’s joint second-highest wicket-taker at the Asia Cup, with six wickets at an average of 16.50. He was the most expensive of their specialist bowlers though, conceding 7.07 runs per over, with his poorest returns coming in the final where he took 1 for 33 in his three overs.

Ailing Northants propose change of ownership

Ailing Northamptomshire want to put the club up for sale and are aiming to raise a minimum of ÂŁ1m by offering the chance of group equity investment in a new company

George Dobell24-Mar-2016Ailing Northamptonshire are aiming to raise a minimum of ÂŁ1m by offering the chance of group equity investment to buy the county cricket club.Northants announced losses of ÂŁ449,127 after tax earlier this month – a deterioration of some ÂŁ144,000 from the previous year – with gross turnover also down and membership falling.The size of the deficit was a surprise in what was generally a highly successful year for county clubs bouyed by a payout from an Ashes summer and rising T20 attendances.Only a few days ago, the club’s chairman, Gavin Warren, said Northants was in a “strong position”. Such assurances sounded hollow after the club issued a statement on Thursday evening, saying: “While the current cash-flow situation has been stabilised – and the club is embarking on the new season with confidence – it doesn’t provide the long-term financial security that the club requires to prosper and grow.”While it recently emerged that the club had invested in plans for a new ground on the outskirts of town – a claim published by ESPNcricinfo and originally denied by the club management, many of whom have a background in property development – the board insist that they have no intention of moving from Wantage Road and that legal provision will be made to prevent development of the site for any non-cricket purpose.Northamptonshire say they hope to be able to bring in 10 to 15 major investors, most of whom they say already have links to the club as supporters and benefactors, to provide some ÂŁ50,000 each to allow for a reduction in the short-term debt and give additional working capital.Current directors, some of whom have loaned funds to the county at commercial rates of interest, would be able to transfer those loans into shares.They also intend to offer existing members of the county cricket club the opportunity to buy shares, with a minimum subscription of ÂŁ250. Under the proposals, members would also elect a director on the new board.”The proposal is to allow 10 to 15 major investors to provide a minimum of ÂŁ50,000 each,” a statement read.”Existing members will also have the opportunity to buy shares with a minimum subscription of ÂŁ250.”A new limited company will be formed which would become the owner of Northants, subject to the consent of current members.”It is expected that the current board of directors will remain in place to ensure continuity and a smooth handover.”An emergency general meeting is expected to be convened “within the next few months” with the aim of forming a new limited company to own the club.It remains to be seen if Northants members will accept the proposal and if they will regard the legal protection foir cricket at Wantage Road as strong enough once further details are released.

Bairstow's brilliance changes Yorkshire's day

Jonny Bairstow is not yet a great batsman but he is capable of playing brilliant innings. He has the rare gift of being able to transform a cricket match

Paul Edwards at Chester-le-Street28-Jun-2015
ScorecardJonny Bairstow is enjoying playing at Chester-le-Street this season – it was where he played a match-winning hand for England•Getty ImagesJonny Bairstow is not yet a great batsman but he is capable of playing brilliant innings. He has the rare gift of being able to transform a cricket match, of taking rules of engagement that apply inflexibly to other players and disregarding them in a welter of magnificent strokes. “Youth is to all the glad season,” wrote Thomas Carlyle, and Bairstow is a mere 25 years old. Who knows what this game might yet have in store for him?Bairstow’s gifts were on display in abundance on the first day of the match between Durham and Yorkshire at Chester-le-Street. Until he arrived at the wicket, the match between Division One’s top two sides had been characterised by understandable caution and orthodoxy. On a slowish wicket and under cloudy skies in the morning session, Yorkshire’s top-order batsmen had taken no risks at all. When Bairstow came to the wicket, Andrew Gale’s side were 124 for 3 in the 54th over. Then Yorkshire’s wicketkeeper-batsman hit his first ball for four and the whole day’s cricket began to change.Having made a very fine hundred against Hampshire at Headingley and an even better one against Middlesex, also on his home ground, Bairstow, whose attendance was not required at England’s pre-Ashes training camp in Spain, now topped the lot, and this in one of his team’s most important games of the season. He has a sense of occasion, too.Three balls after arriving at the wicket, he watched Gale fend John Hastings to Paul Collingwood at slip, the Durham skipper making a one-handed acrobatic catch look absurdly simple. Bairstow then shared brief partnerships of 22 with Aaron Finch and 39 with Adil Rashid. Yet when Rashid was caught by Collingwood off Chris Rushworth, Yorkshire were 191 for 6 in the 68th over and Durham’s bowlers could feel perfectly satisfied with their work.It was three overs after tea when Tim Bresnan arrived at the middle. What happened over the next two hours or so will be cherished by the good number of Yorkshire supporters who made the journey to the North-East. On a pitch which remained tricky, Bairstow and Bresnan added 138 in an unbroken stand for the seventh wicket with Bresnan making an immensely valuable unbeaten 66 off 85 balls while Bairstow went from 34 to 102 not out, reaching his century off the final ball he faced in the day when he drove Collingwood to extra cover.What was noticeable in that glorious evening session was the way in which Bairstow took virtually no risks. His drives, cuts and pulls were pure but his ability to seize on the even slightly loose ball is, on his day, as rare a talent as there is in the English game. Bowlers like Hastings and Jamie Harrison, who had bowled economically against Yorkshire’s other batsmen were suddenly being milked for boundaries and on many of these occasions, they were doing little or nothing wrong.Since returning from England’s tour to the West Indies, Bairstow has now scored 519 County Championship runs at an average of 86. In eight innings he has passed fifty on six occasions. He is in some of the form of his still developing career. Trevor Bayliss is surely taking note and maybe wondering what to do about it. At least James Whitaker will be able to advise him. The national selector was in attendance to see Bairstow’s innings and one would love to overhear their conversation.In a way, it was almost unfair on some of Yorkshire’s other batsmen that Bairstow should bat quite as brilliantly as he did on the first day of this game. Until he took Yorkshire’s innings and shaped it differently, opener Alex Lees could feel quite pleased to have made 40, his highest score in ten innings; and Lees had added 56 for the first wicket with Will Rhodes before Rhodes was bowled for 24 by left-arm seamer Harrison, who was making his first appearance of the season.Harrison was later to take the wicket of the in-form Jack Leaning, who was bowled for 28 runs carefully accumulated in two hours’ concentrated effort. Indeed, the first four in Yorkshire’s order had all done their best in difficult circumstances against accurate bowling. But when it is Bairstow’s day, there is little bowling to him and spectators at this game may have left the ground feeling privileged to have seen him bat as he did.

Chelsea rejected! Brazilian wonderkid Gabriel Moscardo chooses PSG over Blues as Corinthians slap €25m price tag on 18-year-old midfielder

Gabriel Moscardo has reportedly chosen Paris Saint-Germain over Chelsea as Corinthians have set their asking price for the 18-year-old midfielder.

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PSG favourites to beat Chelsea to MoscardoLuis Campos in Brazil to complete the dealChelsea shift focus to a strikerWHAT HAPPENED?

According tothe Parisians have taken a march over Chelsea in the pursuit of the 18-year-old midfielder with PSG director Luis Campos set to fly to Brazil to complete the deal which could potentially cost £21m (€25m/$27). Chelsea have seen a bid of €20m (£17m/$22m) rejected as Corinthians are ready to sell their prized asset to the highest bidder.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Moscardo has reportedly set his heart on joining PSG in January and both clubs want to shake hands as soon as possible. The player believes that the Blues have several options in midfield like Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo, Conor Gallagher, Romeo Lavia, Lesley Ugochukwu, Carney Chukwuemeka and Andrey Santos, and fears that he might have to struggle for minutes with the London club.

DID YOU KNOW?

Chelsea cannot offer Moscardo a potential loan move as well since they have used up all seven international loan spots. Hence PSG have now got a free shot to get their hands on the player, even though they joined the race pretty late.

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(C)GettyImagesWHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?

Chelsea are struggling for goals and Mauricio Pochetttino might favour an additional striker in January. They are said to be interested in signing Ivan Toney from Brentford but will face stiff competition from Arsenal for the ÂŁ80 million ($99m) rated striker.

'It's not a face-saving win' – Misbah

A satisfied Misbah-ul-Haq said after their 328-run win, to seal the series 1-0, that they had a lot of positives to take from the tour, despite being whitewashed in the ODI series and losing the only T20I

Umar Farooq in Mirpur09-May-2015Pakistan signed off the Bangladesh tour with dignity, settling all the dust which had blown in the last month, after a massive win on the fourth day in Mirpur. A satisfied Misbah-ul-Haq said after their 328-run win, to seal the series 1-0, that they had a lot of positives to take from the tour, despite being whitewashed in the ODI series and losing the only T20I.Ranked third in Tests, Pakistan’s satisfying finish to the tour not only saved their sinking pride but a drop in their rankings too. Pakistan had never lost a Test to Bangladesh, ranked ninth, but they leave with a scar of the drawn Test in Khulna.Winning the second Test within four days was significant, which could have been more impact if Pakistan had asked Bangladesh to follow-on on the third day but they took the conservative route to win the contest.”It’s not a kind of face-saving win,” Misbah said. “I think we should be aware of the fact that there have been a lot of changes. Bangladesh team was more experienced in T20 and one-day cricket. They have been playing with the same team for the last four-five years. So they were having that edge and I think they deserve that victory.”But in the Test matches everything was the other way round. We were more experienced team, we were doing really well so I think we proved that again. Of course after the draw in the first Test that was a big disappointment for us but the consistency in the performance was key for us.”Pakistan might have had a poor run in Bangladesh. They were tested throughout the series, but Misbah said he was satisfied to sign-off with a lot of positives in Tests. “The biggest positive for us is that under pressure against an in-form team that we played since the beginning, the consistency that we showed in the way we were playing in Test matches. All our batsmen gave excellent batting performances in the previous two Test series, and scored 600-plus runs in nearly every innings, which is a really positive sign for Pakistan cricket.”According to me, our bowling attack is a bit inexperienced and young. It is a great learning curve for them and a great chance as well to bowl while defending so many runs. Gradually they will develop even more and build a habit of picking 20 wickets regularly and it will build their experience. This is gradually becoming a positive for us.”Azhar Ali, named Man of the Match and Man of the Series, and Asad Shafiq were the biggest positives from the series, according to Misbah. With long and assuring innings, both proved once again that Pakistan’s batting, at least in Tests, will be in safe hands once the senior batsmen walk away.”I think the way Azhar Ali’s performances in the Test matches is coming forward, the way Asad Shafiq and even Sarfraz is playing with such consistency, and Yasir Shah is improving every Test match, these are all positives to be taken,” Misbah said. “I think the most positive thing that I feel is the consistency of our performances.”Pakistan’s decision of not enforcing the follow-on remained debatable as it might have reflected that Misbah still does not have as much confidence in his bowlers to take another 10 wickets with an extensive lead of 354 runs. For Misbah, he didn’t have to make a telling statement to wrap the Test in three days.”To me, you sometimes take decisions if you have the chance, to totally take the opposition out of the game so that there is no chance whatsoever for the opposition to get back in the game,” Misbah said. “When you have that much time, and you have the opportunity to rest your bowlers and you know the pitch will deteriorate every hour and every session, the sensible decision is to first take your opponent out of the game, and then take your time to bowl your opponent out by exerting pressure.”

VIDEO: Joselu and Vinicius Jr pull out Jude Bellingham's celebration after Real Madrid striker scores against Rayo Vallecano

Real Madrid's Joselu and Vinicius Junior celebrated in Jude Bellingham-style after the Spanish striker put Los Blancos 1-0 up.

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Joselu puts Madrid 1-0 upCelebrates with arms awide in Bellingham-styleMadrid hoping to extend La Liga leadWHAT HAPPENED?

Just three minutes into the game against Rayo Vallecano, Real Madrid broke away and Federico Valverde's whipped cross found Joselu who managed to prod the ball over Stole Dimitrievski and into the far corner. The offside flag was raised before a VAR check confirmed Joselu was onside. The striker then proceeded to celebrate for a second time and pay tribute to the injured Bellingham.

AdvertisementWATCH THE CLIPGettyWHAT BELLINGHAM SAID

Clearly flattered by his team-mates gesture, Bellingham took to X to celebrate Madrid going 1-0 up. The Englishman tweeted "SELUUUUU" celebrating both the Spanish striker's goal and celebration.

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THE BIGGER PICTURE

Bellingham is currently out injured with a sprained ankle having been forced off in their last game against Girona. The Englishman leads La Liga's goalscoring charts and as such his trademark celebration has become commonplace in Madrid. It speaks volumes to the impact of the 20-year-old has already had at Madrid that his team-mates are celebrating just like him.

Nigeria vs Ghana: Changes Eguavoen should make against the Black Stars

Which alterations could the Super Eagles boss make for Tuesday’s make or break World Cup qualifier?

GettyNigeria vs Ghana

Friday’s goalless encounter between these West African giants has set up a hugely-awaited decider in Abuja on Tuesday, with observers closer to finding out which nation will be in Qatar later this year.

Nigeria boss Augustine Eguavoen may have seemed somewhat pleased with the 0-0 result, even though he still hinted a win could have been claimed at the Baba Yara Stadium.

Having assessed Friday’s performance, GOAL suggests tweaks the trainer could make for the reverse fixture.

AdvertisementBackpagepixFrank Onyeka

While there would be a temptation to play Peter Etebo instead, the Watford midfielder’s lack of match sharpness means Eguavoen should opt for the Brentford man from the start.

Whether the trainer selects Onyeka from the off remains to be seen, yet there is unlikely to be another Innocent Bonke experiment owing to the defensive midfielder’s underwhelming showing and subsequent injury in Kumasi.

GettyMore minutes for Ademola Lookman

Having waited so long before introducing the Leicester City winger on Friday, Lookman has to start in the reverse fixture.

The RB Leipzig loanee not only offers his aggressive ball carrying and dribbling ability, but he backs that up with the all-important end product.

With Samuel Chukwueze a doubt for Tuesday, Lookman should be trusted from the off for his home debut.

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Watford.Start Emmanuel Dennis

Kelechi Iheanacho may have fashioned Nigeria’s best chance of the night at the Baba Yara Stadium, but he offered little else for the remainder of the game.

Admittedly, it could be a risk playing Dennis and Victor Osimhen in tandem up front, so Eguavoen may alternatively choose to introduce the Watford man for Moses Simon from the start.

Derbyshire latest in limbo with Guptill call up

Derbyshire are the latest county to suffer at the hands of international selectors with Martin Guptill recalled to the New Zealand Test squad. Guptill was due to be Derbyshire’s overseas player for the first two months of the season.

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Apr-2015Derbyshire are the latest county to suffer at the hands of international selectors with Martin Guptill recalled to the New Zealand Test squad. Guptill was due to be Derbyshire’s overseas player for the first two months of the season.Middlesex and Lancashire were forced to rethink their own plans for overseas players earlier this week with Adam Voges and Peter Siddle picked for Australia Test duty and now Derbyshire have their own conundrum to solve.Guptill was due to be at Derbyshire until the one-day leg of New Zealand’s tour of England begins at the start of June. But, with the first red-ball tour match starting on May 8, Guptill is now only available for three Championship matches.”We have obviously prepared a number of additional options in anticipation of Martin’s early departure,” Graeme Welch, Derbyshire elite performance director, told . “We will now look to put the alternative plans into place as we aim for strong starts in both the LV= County Championship and NatWest T20 Blast competitions.”One additional option would be to get Tillakaratne Dilshan to Derby earlier than planned. He was scheduled to replace Guptill in June but may be available sooner. Sri Lanka have no cricket scheduled and Dilshan did not get bought in the IPL auction.But Dilshan was bought by Guyana Amazon Warriors for the Caribbean Premier League, which runs from July 11 to August 16. He will return to Derbyshire following the CPL but the initial task for Graeme Welch, Derbyshire elite performance director, was to find a stopgap for Dilshan’s CPL absence.”We will have to look at the budget, of course, but we do hope to find someone to come in for the middle part of the season,” Welch said. “New Zealand and Australia are on tour here next summer and if we could find someone who wants to stay on a bit longer and play some county cricket that would be ideal. We’ll see who’s available but we can afford to wait a little now with the signings we’ve made.”Derbyshire have potential to press for promotion from Division Two and begin their campaign at home to Lancashire on April 19.

Corrective measure to boost spirits – BCCI secretary

Sanjay Patel, the BCCI secretary, has said the appointment of Ravi Shastri as the Indian team’s director of cricket was a “corrective” measure

Nagraj Gollapudi19-Aug-2014Sanjay Patel, the BCCI secretary, has said the appointment of Ravi Shastri as the Indian team’s director, and the reshuffle in the coaching structure, was a “corrective” measure to arrest the waning spirits among the players in England. Patel also made it clear that despite India suffering heavy defeats in the last three Tests in England, the BCCI was not thinking of replacing the captain MS Dhoni and the coach Duncan Fletcher.Though the decision to put Shastri in charge of the team, and temporarily replace bowling and fielding coaches Joe Dawes and Trevor Penney with Indian staff, was taken by the BCCI, Patel said Dhoni and Fletcher were on board. “I conveyed the BCCI decision to both of them. Dhoni readily agreed and even Duncan has not said a word here or there.””The team is with Ravi Shastri. Now it is his baby,” Patel told ESPNcricinfo. “He will handle everything. If he asks me for any help I will extend.”Shastri’s appointment was suggested by Patel, who spoke to the former India allrounder before proposing his name to the BCCI office bearers. When asked if Shastri was the only candidate discussed, Patel said he had the necessary credentials. “We looked at all options. I must appreciate that Ravi Shastri readily agreed to work in the interests of the Indian team. I asked him, ‘This is a challenge, Ravi.’ He said, ‘Sure Sanjay, we can work out something.'”Patel did not elaborate on Shastri’s responsibilities or the division of duties between him and Fletcher. “He will do everything that is required for the team,” Patel said. “They (Shastri and Fletcher) will decide the roles between themselves.”When asked what led the BCCI to create a position that had not existed before, Patel said the board felt the players would need some sort of rejuvenation after losing the Test series 3-1.”We wanted to see what was wrong with the boys. We have full faith in all our players. To support the Indian team, this was the best option to start with. You mean to say our boys do not know how to play cricket. But mentally the players could have been upset. So we wanted to appoint someone who could also work on the mental conditioning. We felt Ravi’s experience on field and off field, and his long tenure in cricket as a ex-captain and now commentator, were handy.”India’s loss in all the major overseas Test series under Fletcher’s watch has sparked an outcry from former India captains and selectors to sack him. Patel did not speculate about Fletcher’s future. “It is premature to discuss,” he said. “Right now the situation through which the Indian team is going, we have taken the first step. We are not thinking beyond that. After the completion of this tour we will review everything and then decide further action if required.”When asked if there had been any pressure from within the BCCI to think about a replacement for Dhoni as captain, Patel said: “Not at all. Our full support is with him for the entire series. I am absolute about that. I have told him that I have complete faith in him. The rest of the decisions will be taken by selection committee.”Patel also said it was incorrect to conclude Dawes and Penney had been sacked. “You cannot say that right now. We have not discussed anything about their contracts. We have just asked them to step aside. They can go on holiday, or go back home. They can even come to India if they want.” Dawes and Penny were replaced by R Sridhar, B Arun and Sanjay Bangar.The contracts for Fletcher, Dawes and Penney had been renewed as recently as April, when they travelled to Chennai to meet Patel, N Srinivasan, the suspended BCCI president, along with senior board officials. “Under the current situation we felt corrective steps were required,” Patel said. “Even if I had taken a decision few months ago but if it was needed to change that now, there is nothing wrong.”

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