Tag Futebol

The two had breached Covid-19 protocols and were required to serve a three-day quarantine and return two negative tests

Umar Farooq21-Feb-2021The PCB has allowed Wahab Riaz and Daren Sammy to reintegrate with the Peshawar Zalmi team without completing the three-day quarantine period, as the board had announced earlier. The pair had been placed in quarantine following a Covid-19 protocol breach – the violation took place when the two met franchise owner Javed Afridi outside the team’s bio-security bubble on Friday. Riaz led the team in their season-opener against Lahore Qalandars on Sunday in Karachi.Sammy, the coach of the PSL team, and Riaz, the team’s captain, were required to undergo the quarantine as well as return two negative tests, taken 48 hours apart, within that timeframe before being allowed to be with their team-mates, in accordance with the board’s protocols.A PCB official told ESPNcricinfo that, following the breach on Friday, Covid-19 tests were conducted the same night and then on Saturday, and both sets were negative. The test on Saturday is believed to have been arranged by the franchise itself, rather than the PCB as should have been the case according to tournament protocols.On the basis of those two negatives, as well as another set of negative tests in the week preceding the start of the season, Peshawar lodged an appeal with the league’s Event Technical Committee to allow the two to be reintegrated. The committee accepted the appeal on Sunday morning.”A player and an official of the side have been allowed to enter the bio-secure bubble after their side’s appeal was accepted by the Event Technical Committee on Sunday morning. This means the two individuals can now integrate with their side and participate in team activities.”The ETC had reached the decision after reviewing test results of the three individuals involved in Friday’s bio-secure bubble breach. These results included tests conducted last week as well as fresh tests conducted on Saturday.”The team has offered its regrets to the PCB on Friday’s breach and has thanked the PSL ETC for accepting their appeal. They have further assured protocols will be followed and respected as everyone wants the PSL to succeed.”The issue of their reintegration had caused a delay in both Peshawar and Lahore leaving for the National Stadium for the game on Sunday morning. As part of security protocols, both teams travel together in the bus to the ground but their departure on Sunday was held up after the Lahore squad had boarded the bus with no sign of Peshawar. The delay is said to be down to the wait for the ETC’s final decision and it was only after the decision came that Peshawar were ready to travel.The breach came three days after the PCB had briefed players, support staff and match officials to “religiously follow” all Covid-19 protocols. Each PSL franchise has its own Covid-19 compliance officer, who is responsible for testing, implementation of protocols, sanitisation, and players’ temperature checks. The whole process is bring regulated by the event doctor.On Saturday, the PCB had said, “The PCB is disappointed that two members of one of the sides showed carelessness and violated the bio-secure bubble protocols by coming into contact with a person who was not part of the bubble. As reiterated previously, the health and safety of all individuals associated with Pakistan Super League 6 is of paramount importance to the PCB and the event.”All players, player support personnel, match officials and family members are once again reminded to diligently follow the PCB Covid-19 Protocols as the PCB will not allow anyone to affect the integrity and credibility of the tournament.”

Arsenal, led by sporting director Edu Gaspar, have agreed to pay £86 million to sign a very in-form forward for manager Mikel Arteta, according to a report this week.

Edu and Arteta targeting four key signings for Arsenal

According to some reports, Arsenal are targeting four key signings before the summer window deadline on August 30 – coming in the form of a new goalkeeper, defender, midfielder and forward.

"Special" Arsenal player agrees to leave as West Ham chase quick deal

They want it done this week.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 18, 2024

As talks remain ongoing over a deal for Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori, as widely reported, a large section of supporters are especially keen to see a talismanic new striker come through the door at London Colney.

A goalscoring out-and-out centre-forward has long been seen by many critics as the final missing piece of Arteta's jigsaw. Arsenal were heavily linked with a move for Brentford star Ivan Toney to fill the role last summer, but murmurs of a move for the England international have since cooled.

Bukayo Saka

20

Leandro Trossard

17

Kai Havertz

14

Martin Odegaard

11

Gabriel Jesus

8

While their fondness for Toney appears to have waned, the north Londoners are still believed to be in the market for a new striker if the right opportunity presents itself.

Arteta is rumoured to be a fan of Ajax striker Brian Brobbey as a possible alternative to Gabriel Jesus, while more marquee options like Napoli star Victor Osimhen have been mentioned in parts as well.

Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz bagged a brilliant 51 goals between them in all competitions last season, but Arteta apparently wants a striking partner for Havertz going forward next season.

Arsenal made a good proposal to RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko to fill the role earlier this window, but Edu and co were met with a swift rejection as the Slovenia international chose to stay in the Bundesliga and further his development at his current club.

There are other opportunities for Arsenal in the market, but they may have to invest heavily, with an interesting report now claiming they're willing to do just that.

Arsenal agree to pay £86 million to sign Viktor Gyokeres

As per Leonino, via Standard Sport [17/07/2024, 07:00], Sporting Lisbon star Viktor Gyokeres remains on Arsenal's wanted list after being heavily linked earlier this year.

It is now claimed that Arsenal have agreed to pay Sporting £86 million to sign Gyokeres, which is believed to be the value of his release clause. The Swede, called "unplayable" by former Coventry City teammate Maxime Biamou, scored a phenomenal 43 goals in 50 appearances across all competitions last season.

Gyokeres bagged a further 15 assists as well, totalling 58 goal contributions over what was a truly exceptional debut season in Portugal. There is a growing clamor for his services as a result, and it will be interesting to see if this report comes to fruition as Edu looks to end the club's long search for a new vocal point up front.

Newcastle United are keen to make one of the stars of EURO 2024 their second signing of the summer, according to reports, with the Magpies one of three English sides "very interested" in his services.

All change on Tyneside

So far, this summer has not gone to plan for Eddie Howe's side. After a disappointing Premier League campaign saw them miss out on European football altogether for next season, they have had to deal with financial fair play issues.

Those issues have limited their spending so far, with Lloyd Kelly and John Ruddy arriving on free transfers and Odysseas Vlachodimos arriving from Nottingham Forest the only pieces of business done to bolster their ranks to date.

Imagine him & Isak: Newcastle line up "one of the best STs in the world"

The pair would form a deadly partnership at Newcastle.

ByEthan Lamb Jul 10, 2024

Meanwhile, they have been forced into unwanted exits; both young talent Elliot Anderson and impressive winger Yankuba Minteh both having to be sacrificed to help the Magpies meet PSR regulations.

They also parted ways with Dan Ashworth, with the ex-Brighton sporting director joining Manchester United and seeing Newcastle making a move for Paul Mitchell, who previously worked with Southampton and Tottenham.

Paul Mitchell's best signings

Player

Club joined

Heung-Min Son

Tottenham

Dele Alli

Tottenham

Kieran Trippier

Tottenham

Sadio Mane

Southampton

Toby Alderweireld

Southampton

"I’ve seen the recent growth and ambition of the club. This, plus the amazing fanbase, made the decision to join an easy one", Mitchell explained. “I can't wait to get started and help continue the organisation's growth and long-term competitiveness in all areas of elite football performance."

Now, he could be planning to make his first signing of a new era.

Newcastle chasing defender

That comes with Newcastle United one of several clubs having been credited with an interest in Fenerbahçe defender Ferdi Kadioglu this summer.

The defender impressed in the Turkish top flight last season, attracting the attention of clubs around the Premier League, including Arsenal and Aston Villa, while largely operating from right back.

Journalist Zach Lowry took to X to herald the defender, dubbing him a "really formidable defender" and named him the best left back at EURO 2024 after starring for Turkey, and it appears he is a man in demand.

Now, a fresh report from Sport Witness claim that Juventus are keen on the full back, but that they cannot afford him and are wary of a threat from England and the extra money that the Premier League can put up.

Indeed, it is claimed that "biggest obstacle" to a move to Turin is from Newcastle, Liverpool and Manchester United, with the Red Devils leading the charge.

Newcastle are said to be "very interested" in signing the £48k-per-week ace, who is valued in excess of 30m euros by the Turkish side this summer.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has been charged with alleged fraud for the second time in a month.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Laporta has case to answer
• Allegedly failed to return €50,000
• Second charge within 30 days

Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Per , Laporta is being investigated for alleged fraud for the second time in a month. He and his former partner, Joan Olive, are accused of failing to return €50,000 to a private investor.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Between 2016 and 2018, Laporta and Olive are alleged to have raised money from several investors into a company they run. Now, they are being accused of failing to return the money that has been invested. They are already under investigation for failing to return €4.7m (£4m/$5m) to another complainant.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Laporta is alleged to have invested the money in a company called Reus, which ended up insolvent, and into a Hong Kong company with the intention of constructing a house in Asia. Now, the lawyer fronting the suit claims that he has never been told what happened to the money.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  Per the report, Laporta could soon be on the end of another lawsuit, with another victim allegedly considering coming forward.

The transfer window is just around the corner, and after a dramatic season that saw them once again come close to ending their two-decade Premier League title drought, Arsenal have some work to do.

Most pundits and fans alike will pinpoint the striker position and left eight as particular areas of need, and while they would be right, there is another position that needs strengthening: right wing.

Bukayo Saka seems to be the only player Mikel Arteta plays there – as demonstrated by his 47 appearances this season – but based on recent reports, it looks as if the club could finally land a player to rival the Englishman going forward – and give him some much-needed rest.

Arsenal transfer news

According to a recent article from The Athletic, Arsenal have maintained their 'long-term interest' in Wolverhampton Wanderers' Portuguese winger Pedro Neto.

However, while the Gunners are big fans of the 24-year-old, his injury record is a concern, which could influence their final decision.

The report does not mention a potential price, but a story in the Telegraph earlier this year claimed that the fee needed to pry the attacker from the Old Gold would be north of £60m.

It would be costly to complete, and there are obvious concerns around his injuries, but the fact that Arsenal have maintained their interest in Neto suggests they view the upside of signing him as more significant than the downsides, and considering Saka currently has no competition, it looks like a deal worth pursuing.

How Neto compares to Saka

Now, the first thing to say is that whoever the Gunners opt to bring in as reinforcements for the right wing is almost certainly going to have to start out as a backup option to Saka, as Arteta and the club have made it abundantly clear that the Hale End sensation is the face of the project and their crown jewel.

However, that doesn't mean said backup couldn't push for more game time through impressive performances, and based on what we have seen this season, there is nothing to suggest that Neto wouldn't be able to stake a claim for himself over the course of a campaign.

For example, while the Englishman's return of 20 goals and 14 assists in 47 games is boarding on world-class and averages out to a goal involvement every 1.38 games, the Wolves star's three goals and 11 assists in 24 games is still seriously impressive and averages out to a goal involvement every 1.71 games.

Moreover, while the Ealing-born dynamo comes out ahead in most underlying numbers, it's not as one-sided as you may think.

Neto vs Saka
Stats per 90	Neto	Saka
Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists	0.47	0.65
Non-Penalty Goals	0.16	0.30
Assists	0.52	0.27
Progressive Carries	5.83	4.78
Progressive Passes	3.21	3.89
Shots	2.03	3.20
Passing Accuracy	74.5%	75.6%
Goal-Creating Actions	0.83	0.65
Successful Take-Ons	2.20	1.51
All Stats via FBref for the 23/24 Domestic Season

In fact, the former Braga "pace monster," as data analyst Ben Mattinson dubbed him, does more than just hold his own. He comes out on top in key metrics such as actual assists, progressive carries, goal-creating actions, and, crucially, successful take-ons, all per 90.

The five-capped international's ability to take on defenders would be his most significant attribute in this Arsenal team, and it's also why Mattinson described him as a "full-backs worst nightmare."

His injury record will always remain a serious concern, as he's missed a whopping 99 games over the last four campaigns, but if he was signed to provide competition for Saka and allow the talismanic youngster to come off in games more regularly or just rest altogether, he'd also have fewer opportunities to pick up injuries himself.

Ultimately, there are always some drawbacks to a signing, but given how good Neto can be and how badly Arsenal need another quality right winger, this transfer simply has to happen.

Arsenal make offer to sign "dangerous" £51m Saka & Foden hybrid

The incredible winger could finally see Saka spend some time on the bench.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jun 4, 2024

SToK Cae Ras has has quickly become a fortress for Wrexham but the club have warned fans their behaviour at the stadium could result in consequences.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Wrexham issue statement to fansWarned about 'persistent standing'Could face further action from authoritiesFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Wrexham have advanced to League One over the past two seasons, gaining back-to-back promotions, and as such, attendance at the STok Cae Ras is at an all-time high. The Red Dragons are having a terrific time on the field but the team have expressed some concern in a statement released on Thursday. The Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds-owned club have warned fans that if 'persistent standing' continues at its home ground, the side may have to contend with reduced capacity.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The Sports Ground Safety Authority is in charge of overseeing Wrexham AFC, who have been given a safety certificate by Wrexham County Borough Council (SGSA). They need this certificate in order to be able to host matches at the SToK Cae Ras to full capacity. The Red Dragons have claimed that they have been contacted regarding standing during games, and released a blunt statement to fans.

WHAT WREXHAM'S STATEMENT SAID

Wrexham published a statement on Thursday that read: "If persistent standing is not stopped, we could face further action – including reduced capacity.

"For the avoidance of doubt, the STōK Cae Ras is a fully-seated stadium. There are no safe standing areas currently in place.

"Persistent standing inside the ground is not permitted anywhere in the stadium – this includes stairwells, exits, gangways and in the seating areas.

"The club faces further punishments if persistent standing continues, including the closure of blocks of seats or even entire stands.

"Persistent standing refers to where individuals stand in seated areas for prolonged periods of time, other than for short durations in play where it could be deemed unnatural to remain seated.

"As a football club, we must do all we can avoid the repercussions and wider impact persistent standing could have at the STōK Cae Ras and we know no supporters want to risk these enforcements.

"We ask all supporters to help us to ensure persistent standing does not continue, and as a Club we will act as necessary where supporters are continuing to stand persistently through the match.

"All at Wrexham AFC is grateful for the loyal, proud and noisy support you provide to us at the STōK Cae Ras and do not wish for anybody to miss out on following this incredible journey we are on.

"We are dedicated to ensuring the STōK Cae Ras is a safe and enjoyable environment for all supporters, and we thank you for your understanding and support on this matter."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

GettyWHAT NEXT FOR WREXHAM?

After Phil Parkinson's men suffered their first League One defeat of the season against Birmingham City, they will now be looking to bounce back to winning ways, to try and keep their first place in the league's standing. They take on Crawley Town on Saturday, September 21 at SToK Cae Ras and they will be hopeful of seeing their directions followed by fans.

Former Australia wicketkeeper Lorna Beal (née Larter), who played seven Test matches between 1948 and 1951, has died aged 96.She made her debut against New Zealand in Wellington in what was the first women’s Test between the two countries with the remaining six matches all coming against England.Her final Test was at The Oval in 1951 in a match England won to level the series 1-1 after Australia had won the second Test in Worcester by two wickets.It was on the boat journey to England for the 1951 tour where she met her husband, Roy, who she would marry following her retirement from international cricket after that trip. “Our thoughts are with Lorna’s family, as well as all the friends she made throughout her career,” Nick Hockley, the interim CA CEO, said. “There’s no doubt Lorna faced challenges that today’s players could never dream of, including spending six weeks at sea to get to England to play the game she loved.”It’s pioneers like Lorna who paved the way for future generations and have made the game what it is today. One of the best in the business behind the stumps, we pay our respects to Lorna and acknowledge the legacy she has left on the game of cricket.”

Emirates Old Trafford preparing for green light to host behind-closed-doors England matches

Matt Roller19-May-2020Lancashire have expressed hopes that some fans will be able to attend matches this summer as they prepare for the “green light” to stage England fixtures behind closed doors at Emirates Old Trafford.Extensive plans have been drawn up to play international cricket in ‘bio-secure’ conditions in recent months, with the ECB accepting that the game’s reliance on broadcast revenues means there is a financial imperative to stage as much of the summer schedule as possible, even if fixtures have to be played without crowds.But Les Platts, Lancashire’s acting chairman, said the club remains optimistic of allowing some spectators into grounds later in the summer, potentially with some degree of social distancing still in place.ALSO READ: Holder voices financial concerns as Windies contemplate England tourThere is less of a financial incentive to play the T20 Blast behind closed doors compared to international cricket, as the counties make most of their money from it through gate receipts rather than broadcast revenue. And despite government advice published last week suggesting there is little prospect of large crowds being admitted to games this season, Platts said he was hopeful that that fans could yet be allowed access.”You never know, later in the season we might be having some spectators back in again,” Platts said. “It must be possible for us to devise a scheme when we’ve got a capacity of 23,000 to have some spectators in with appropriate protocols. I’m not guaranteeing it by any means, but we’re hoping and planning that we might be able to get some of that in September.”As things stand, all professional cricket in England and Wales has been suspended until at least July 1, and all counties have made contingency plans for an entire season without cricket.Lancashire are also in dialogue with the ECB about hosting behind-closed-doors games this summer, and have been making plans on the basis that fixtures will take place as soon as July 8. Emirates Old Trafford had been scheduled for an Australia T20I in July and the second Pakistan Test in August, but could be in line for several more games.As one of two Test grounds with an on-site hotel with sufficient capacity to house enlarged squads and support staff – Hampshire’s Ageas Bowl is the other – Old Trafford is well-placed to create a secure bubble, and the club hopes to receive confirmation next week.The exact details of staging games behind closed doors are still to be negotiated, but Platts confirmed that Lancashire expect to receive compensation for staging costs and for hosting fixtures to aid the club’s financial recovery from the crisis.”I don’t think the club and the game would expect us to be profiteering at these difficult times, but there will have to be compensation that’s fair for the club,” Platts said. “There will have to be cost recovery. If the hotel is being used, there would be a rate… for those using it. There will be income coming into the club that will help the club.”One of the most important bits about that is that if we get that hotel working for behind-closed-doors cricket, it proves a model for a hotel working in a bio-secure environment that will enable the hotel to start trading in a normal commercial sense thereafter – maybe quicker than hotels elsewhere, because we’ve proven the model… and therefore people will have more confidence, perhaps, in booking.”Lancashire are one of two counties along with Surrey who have not furloughed any of their players, with the rationale that the club felt “uneasy about using a job retention scheme for elite sportsmen”. That said, Platts admitted the government’s scheme could be used if it becomes clear that it will not be possible to play any county cricket this summer, and that the decision is being reviewed on a month-by-month basis.If Lancashire’s players are able to return to training, they may have to do so away from Emirates Old Trafford due to clashes with England’s use of the ground, and provisions are being put in place to use outgrounds instead.David Hodgkiss, Lancashire chairman, at the unveiling of the James Anderson End at Old Trafford in August 2017•Getty ImagesLancashire reported record financial returns for a first-class county this week on the back of a 2019 season that included an Ashes Test and an India-Pakistan fixture at the World Cup, and are in a stronger position to recover than most from the impact of the pandemic despite revenue from the hotel and their conference and events business dropping off a cliff in recent months.”It has provided the platform to help us survive 2020, when otherwise we might have struggled a lot more,” said Platts, who has served as the club’s treasurer since 2014 and was appointed acting chairman after the passing of David Hodgkiss in March.”It has put us in a position where we are absorbing the stresses and costs at the moment way better than we would have been able to, but the way that it’s going, we still need income to start again. If we don’t get cricket and the hotel and The Point going again, we’re going to have to take more severe measures. The club will survive one way or another, but if things don’t get going again it will be tougher.”It’s a year to take great pride in its results. It’s a year that David Hodgkiss himself would be very proud of with those results. He would be very proud sitting here today. It’s very sad that he can’t be presenting those results to you.”

MatériaMais Notícias

Além do significado de vencer de virada o Fluminense como visitante na última quarta-feira (30) pelo Brasileirão, o Athletico-PR estabeleceu uma marca importante no que diz respeito aos embates como visitante frente ao clube carioca.

RelacionadasFluminenseFluminense sai na frente, mas é dominado e goleado pelo Athletico no BrasileirãoFluminense30/06/2021Athletico ParanaenseProposta de acordo feita por Tiago Nunes em processo milionário é negada pelo AthleticoAthletico Paranaense30/06/2021Futebol NacionalChapecoense arranca empate nos acréscimos e impede Athletico-PR de assumir a liderança do BrasileiroFutebol Nacional27/06/2021

>Na cola do líder! A campanha do Furacão no BR-2021

Isso porque o marcador de ontem foi o maior já obtido pelo clube quando atuou longe da Arena da Baixada diante do Fluminense. Sendo que, anteriormente, a vitória de maior margem havia sido por 2 a 0 em compromisso que valeu pela volta da semifinal na Copa Sul-Americana de 2018 onde o time, então dirigido por Tiago Nunes, foi campeão.

Em números gerais dentro do levantamento que considera confrontos desde 1974, são 27 partidas com o modelo Fluminense x Athletico-PR com um caráter de absoluto equilíbrio nos números. Se o time da Baixada perdeu em 12 oportunidades e empatou três vezes, ele triunfou nas outras 12 partidas com 38 gols marcados e 34 sofridos.

Na próxima rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro, o rubro-negro terá um confronto de equipes que estão na parte alta da tabela quando receberá o Fortaleza às 19h (de Brasília) no próximo sábado (3).

Sunil Gavaskar, Milind Rege and Chandu Borde pay tribute to Bapu Nadkarni

Nagraj Gollapudi and Vishal Dikshit17-Jan-2020

Bapu Nadkarni ‘could take a joke on himself and laugh it away’•Getty Images & Hindustan Times

In a heartfelt tribute to Bapu Nadkarni, who died on Friday aged 86, Sunil Gavaskar has hailed the former India allrounder’s attitude and cricketing acumen. Gavaskar was in Rajkot, as part of the commentators’ panel for the India-Australia ODI, when he heard the news of Nadkarni’s death.”He came as assistant manager for quite a number of our tours,” Gavaskar said. “He was very encouraging. His favourite term from where we all learnt from was ‘ (hang in there)’. He was gritty despite playing in the days when gloves and thigh pads were not very good, not much protective equipment as you would get hit, but still hang in there as he believed in . You are playing for India. That thing we learnt from him. “Every time he was on a tour he was very very helpful in terms of strategy. At lunch time or tea time, he would say ‘try this’, if you were a fielding captain. He would tell, ‘bring this bowler, or ask this bowler to bowl around the wicket.’ He was fantastic. Indian cricket has lost a real champion.”Gavaskar also recalled Nadkarni’s role in getting Sandeep Patil to bat in India’s second innings in Sydney in 1981, after he had retired hurt following a blow to the head from a Len Pascoe bouncer in the first innings. Patil went on to score 174 in the next Test match in Adelaide.”He [Nadkarni] was the one who kept urging Sandeep that ‘it doesn’t matter, you are here and you should go out and bat again.’ Bapuji was the assistant manager on the tour. It was only because of him that Sandeep went on to score that 174 in the next Test match because Bapuji was constantly there with him.”Bapu Nadkarni with fellow Mumbai and India stalwarts Dilip Vengsarkar and Ajit Wadekar•Getty Images & Hindustan Times

Milind Rege, the former Mumbai captain, said Nadkarni was a true allrounder.”Bapu Nadkarni was a great allrounder of Indian cricket and definitely a pillar of Mumbai cricket,” Rege said. “He didn’t get the accolades he deserved. He was one of the lead spinners and then would bat at No. 5 for Mumbai.”Rege reckoned that Nadkarni’s figures of 32-27-5-0 in his famous spell against England in Chennai would never be eclipsed. “Records are meant to be broken, but 21 overs and 5 balls without giving a run will never ever beaten by anybody.”Rege would call Nadkarni ‘Bapu ‘, as a mark of respect. Rege, along with his friend and teammate Gavaskar, learned a valuable lesson from Nadkarni, a characteristic Mumbai cricket is often associated with. “The thing that applies to Mumbai cricket, he would be right at the top. He was not a stylish player at all. With that stance he had, he managed to score important runs including the 283 not out against Delhi in the 1960-61 Ranji Trophy semifinals. He just would not give anything away, he was that .”Off the field, Nadkarni was a soft-spoken man, known to be particular about details. “Bapu was a lovely person,” Rege said. “The gentleman cricketer. Sunil and I played with Bapu when we were 17. He was among the Mumbai greats who nurtured us. He had a great sense of humour. And he could take a joke on himself and laugh it away.”Bapu Nadkarni (fifth from left) during a corporate tour of Pakistan in 1961•SD Rege/ACC Ltd

Chandu Borde, one of India’s leading lights in the 1960s, presented an example of Nadkarni supporting him at what he called a “crucial” time in his career. “It was one of the early Tests of my career,” Borde said. “I do not recollect exactly which one, but it was in Calcutta. I got a telegram from Pune (Borde’s home). It was to inform me that my relative Dayanand, who had played a big role in my cricket during my young days, had passed away in an accident.”Bapu hid the telegram under the pillow while I was batting. Later when I read the telegram I confronted Bapu: “What is this Bapu? Why did you this?” Bapu calmly told me he did not want me to be distracted. It was a crucial match for me. Till then my performances were not exciting or big. This was a crucial innings for me and Bapu did not want me to be disturbed.”Nadkarni, Borde said, always put the team first. “He was, what we in Marathi say an , one who had only friends and no enemies. Bapu was a very good team man, always appreciating his teammates’ performances.”According to Borde, Nadkarni’s upbringing and his family’s interest in sports was a major factor in his open personality. Borde recounted that Nadkarni was good at more than one sport, having played badminton at a high level. As for his cricket: “He was a very useful man to the team, a great contributor, stayed long at the wicket, was a good close-in fielder, and was a very accurate left-arm spinner.”