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Celtic ‘will continue to keep tabs’ on Bristol City’s Antoine Semenyo, but he could prove to be too expensive for the Hoops. 

That’s according to freelance sports journalist Pete O’Rourke, who was speaking to GiveMeSport.

The lowdown

Celtic sent senior scout Craig Strachan to watch Semenyo in action against Reading last month (via Bristol World). The 22-year-old is capable of operating anywhere across the frontline and has less than 18 months remaining on his contract at Ashton Gate (via Transfermarkt).

However, Bristol Live’s James Piercy has claimed that the Robins have slapped a £20m price tag on the forward. For context, Celtic’s record signing up to this point is Odsonne Edouard, who only cost them £9m.

The latest

Nontheless, O’Rourke believes that Celtic have yet to give up hope of signing Semenyo despite the warning over his price tag.

The journalist told GiveMeSport: “I’m sure Celtic will continue to keep tabs on him. But if it comes down to pricing, I think Celtic will be priced out of it.”

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The verdict

It’s no surprise that Celtic are interested in Semenyo. He’s impressively racked up 14 direct goal contributions in the Championship this season, with six goals and eight assists to his name.

Only six players in the entire division have set up more goals (John Swift, Harry Wilson, Chris Willock, Sorba Thomas, Jed Wallace and Ryan Giles), and they have all played at least four more games than Semenyo (via BBC Sport).

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Furthermore, Robins manager Nigel Pearson has said that the 22-year-old’s ‘power and pace’ make him a ‘nightmare to play against’.

Celtic perhaps shouldn’t give up hope just yet because Semenyo’s contract situation puts Bristol City in a difficult position. As it stands, they know that he could walk away for free in just over a year’s time, so they could be willing to compromise on his transfer fee as a result.

In other news, Stiliyan Petrov criticised this Celtic star on Sunday over one ‘poor’ moment 

	Shane Bond is reportedly in line to earn more than NZ$3 million over three years for joining the Indian Cricket League © Getty Images

Shane Bond has signed up with the Indian Cricket League (ICL), according to one of the league’s senior officials. New Zealand Cricket’s chief executive Justin Vaughan will meet with Bond on Tuesday as NZC make a last-ditch attempt to rescue Bond’s international career.Ashish Kaul, the executive vice-president of the Essel Group, the company behind the ICL, confirmed the rumours that the league had secured New Zealand’s strike bowler. “Shane Bond has signed up,” Kaul told . “It’s a three-year contract that he has with the Indian Cricket League.”The reported Bond’s ICL deal was worth US$800,000 a season, regardless of whether he is fit to play. That would equate to more than NZ$3 million over the length of the contract – an extremely attractive proposition for the injury-prone Bond, who turns 33 this year. While NZC would prefer Bond to sign with the Indian Premier League (IPL), which has the backing of India’s board, their offer is reportedly a much lower US$250,000 a season, provided Bond is fit to play.An abdominal strain has kept Bond out of the current Test series against Bangladesh but Bond said he would make his comeback through club cricket next weekend. He would not confirm the reports he had signed with the ICL. “There’s a few agreements in place that mean I can’t really talk at the moment,” Bond told the paper. “I’d rather work through those before saying too much.”The deal would likely mean the end of Bond’s Test and ODI career, as NZC has already told its selectors to consider other players ahead of any who join the ICL. NZC has also made an agreement with the other Test nations that any players who take part in the non-officially-sanctioned ICL should not be selected for international duties.Heath Mills, the New Zealand Cricket Players Association manager, said the rights of the players needed to be kept in mind. “We just need to make sure we don’t do anything that breaches the rights of the individual contractor in any way, shape or form, and effectively bring on a situation that results in NZC being in dispute with its players,” Mills told the .”It’s not necessary. We need to continue working hard to find a solution that is good for both parties. It’s not staring us in the face right now, I’m the first to admit. But we’re not going to give up on finding a solution that’s good for both NZC and for the players.”

ScorecardHimachal Pradesh made a steady beginning in reply to Orissa’s total of 317, finishing at 157 for the loss of three wickets on the second day at Cuttack. Sandeep Sharma continued his good form from the semi-finals, his 76 providing the platform for his side to attain their first target of gaining a first-innings lead.Resuming their overnight score of 276 for 7, Orissa managed to add 41 to their overnight score. Vishal Bhatia, the left-arm spinner, wrapped up the innings to finish with figures of 6 for 84. Himachal began strongly, with the openers Monish Gupta and Sharma adding 119. However, they were pegged back by the loss of two quick wickets, with the score on 129. Sourabha Sehgal, the left-arm seamer, got the important breakthrough of Sharma trapping him in front. Orissa struck again just before the close of play when Debasis Mohanty dismissed Sangram Singh. Paras Dogra was unbeaten on 29 at stumps and was joined by Bhatia, the nightwatchman.

It is reported that Zimbabwe’s premier first class competition, the Logan Cup, is to be postponed indefinitely with the possibility that it will be scrapped for the season.According to original fixtures released by Zimbabwe Cricket, the tournament was supposed to get underway on Tuesday with Mashonaland, who have retained the Cup for six seasons, set to clash with fierce rivals Matabeleland at Harare Sports Club, while Midlands had a date with new-boys Masvingo at Kwekwe Sports Club.A reliable source within Zimbabwe Cricket said the Logan Cup was going to be indefinitely postponed because of the dreadful standard of cricket seen in last week’s Faithwear inter-provincial one-day competition, in which Matabeleland successfully defended their title amid some dire games. Mashonaland, for example, fielded a side so weak that only two players finished with batting averages in double figures. The first five matches produced a highest team score of 118 and not a single individual fifty.The source indicated that there were fears that Logan Cup games, which are scheduled to last four days, could finish embarrassingly quickly.The main problem appears to be Mashonaland. Their selectors refused to pick players from six clubs which had been expelled for opposing the provincial board, but those six included almost all the national players. But now they have signed national contracts, they had to be considered for selection or the alternative was Mashonaland again fielded a feeble side. No-one was ready to be seen to climbdown, especially the Mashonaland board.The Logan Cup fixtures had been planned in a such a way that it would have taken place ahead of Zimbabwe’s tour to West Indies, where they were scheduled to play two Tests and five ODIs, and players who excelled in the Logan Cup were to be picked for the Tests. But the Sports and Recreation Commision appointed interim executive running the affairs of Zimbabwe Cricket decided to voluntarily suspend Zimbabwe’s Test status for this year.Zimbabwe are now preparing to take on Kenya in five ODIs later on this month and are then scheduled to play in a triangular series featuring hosts Bangladesh and Kenya immediately after. Those dates would overrun many of the rounds in the Logan Cup and so further weaken the standard.No-one at Zimbabwe Cricket was available to comment.

Mohammad Kaif is one of several with points to prove against the tourists© Getty Images

Pakistan begin their tour game on a `ganja’ wicket. That’s how their coach Bob Woolmer described the pitch at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association ground in Dharamsala, where the tourists play a three-day game with the Indian Board President’s XI being led by Mohammad Kaif. Kaif went straight to the point, without saying much about the pitch: “There can’t be a result in a game of this sort.” “It’s completely bald” was Woolmer’s assessment.Both men were right with their assessments. However, if nature had behaved true to form, their opinions might have been different. In the ongoing domestic season, the ground had hosted six first-class games – four Ranji Trophy and two Duleep Trophy – and all the six produced results.The chief reason behind the results was the grassy pitch. “The speciality of this wicket was the abundant grass cover,” says Himachal Pradesh Ranji Trophy coach, Rajdeep Kalsi, who acted as the curator for the ground under the guidance of the BCCI grounds committee member Daljit Singh. However, in the last one month, inclement weather and drizzle has denuded the pitch of its lush green tinge.The altitude and the heavy air will assist the fast bowlers who rely on movement, but the ball will not zip off the pitch as it had during the domestic games. As for the bounce, that will be normal. That should be good news for the Pakistan pace brigade of Naved-ul-Hasan Rana, Mohammad Sami and Abdur Razzaq. Mohammad Khalil, the left-armer, is still recovering from the injury he suffered during the Australia series and didn’t bowl in the nets.Kalsi felt that the wicket could take turn as the match wore on. “There are good chances of the wicket breaking midway into the third day,” he said. That might happen if the frequent clouds that keep appearing take a break.Both teams were quiet on the team-composition front, but it should be quite a tussle. Kaif said that his team would make sure that they don’t allow Pakistan to gain any momentum before the main event starts in Mohali in six days’ time. Hopefully, the weather Gods will relent long enough for both teams to make an impression.Board President’s XI (from): Satyajit Parab, Dheeraj Jadhav, Shikhir Dhawan, Venugopala Rao, Mohammad Kaif (capt), Suresh Raina, Neeraj Patel, Parthiv Patel (wk), Ramesh Powar, Shib Shankar Paul, Rudra Pratap Singh, Gagandeep Singh, Ranadeb Bose, Ram Kumar.Pakistan (from): Salman Butt, Yasir Hameed, Younis Khan, Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt), Yousuf Youhana, Shoaib Malik, Abdul Razzaq, Kamran Akmal (wk), Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Mohammad Sami, Danish Kaneria, Mohammad Khalil, Asim Kamal, Taufeeq Umar, Shahid Afridi, Arshad Khan.

New South Wales 4 for 255 (Bevan 110*, Katich 53) trail Tasmania 322 (Dighton 69, Clingeleffer 53, Mason 51, Lee 5-124) by 67 runs
Scorecard

Michael Bevan reaches his hundred © Getty Images

A Michael Beavan hundred put New South Wales in a solid position at the end of the seocnd day of their Pura Cup match against Tasmania at the SCG. Bevan hit an unbeaten 110 to guide NSW to 4 for 255 in reply to Tasmania’s first innings of 322.As debate rages over whether Martin Love, Michael Clarke, Darren Lehmann or Brad Hodge should replace Steve Waugh in the Australian Test team next summer, Bevan proved he remained one of the most prolific batsmen in the country.He’s never even mentioned as a Test candidate these days, but with an average of 76 in the Pura Cup last season, a wealth of international one-day experience, more than 9,000 first-class runs, renowned calmness under pressure and limitless ambition, his claims are probably as good as anyone’s.Supposedly suspect against the short ball, Bevan pulled a bouncer from the sharpish Andrew Downton to reach his 59th first-class century. It was his 25th first-class ton at the SCG, three more than Sir Donald Bradman and Alan Kippax.Still a regular in the Australian limited-overs side, Bevan said at the start of the season he hadn’t given up hope of wearing the baggy green cap again. He’s probably on the wrong side of 30 years of age, though. While Steve Rixon, NSW’s coach, can count on Bevan in a mini-crisis, he must be pulling his hair out over Mark Waugh.Waugh, having one last season before retirement, came up with another frustratingly short but sweet innings when his side needed something more substantial. Blessed with all the natural talent in the world and a long and illustrious Test career, Waugh was expected to be a force to be reckoned with as NSW attempted to defend the Cup this season.Arriving at the crease at 3 for 99, Waugh got off the mark first ball with a trademark flick off his legs to the fence, then peeled off four more quick boundaries to reach 20 in a hurry. He didn’t have a hair out of place.But on 28, when he was making it all look so easy, he missed a seemingly innocuous ball from medium-pacer Adam Griffith to be clean bowled.NSW were rescued from the perils of 2 for 29 by Simon Katich (53) and Bevan in a 70-run partnership. Bevan and Waugh put on 61, then Bevan and Dominic Thornely conspired to put on 95 runs late in the day.Brett Lee finished with 5 for 124 from 30 overs in a promising effort ahead of his certain Test recall next week. Rightly or wrongly, there’s little hope of Bevan joining him.

Young NSW batsman Michael Clarke will be aiming to score a century and lead his team to first innings points after a counter-punching partnership with Brad Haddin revived his team’s fortunes against South Australia today.The Blues finished day two of the Pura Cup cricket match at Adelaide Oval on 6-275, needing another 85 runs to take first innings points, with former Australian under-19 captain Clarke unbeaten on 94 and Don Nash on six.”Anyone who gets into the 90s wants to make 100 but that’s the least of my worries, we’re just looking to pass SA’s score,” Clarke said at the close of play today.In reply to SA’s 9(dec)-359, Clarke and Haddin came together with the score at 5-151 and NSW still in some danger of failing to reach the 210 needed to avoidthe follow-on.But an aggressive Haddin scored 55 in 61 balls, in an innings that included six boundaries and a six, before being caught at deep cover attempting to loft another boundary from leg-spinner Peter McIntyre.Clarke and Haddin shared a hard-hitting sixth-wicket stand of 110 in 89 minutes to take NSW to 6-261.Clarke’s 217-minute innings included 15 boundaries and he said the partnership with Haddin was enjoyable.”Brad was hitting the ball very well, I’ve opened with him in some of the one-day matches and he communicates well, he’s good to bat with,” Clarke said.He said a declaration some time tomorrow morning was likely if the Blues could overtake SA’s total.Opener Brett van Deinsen was also aggressive in his innings earlier in the day, hitting 11 boundaries and a six in his innings of 60.But Michael Slater, demoted to No.3 in the batting order, continued his shocking run of form, managing just 10 runs in an unusually subdued 46-minute inningsbefore being trapped lbw attempting to pull Paul Rofe.McIntyre and Rofe each finished the day with two wickets.Earlier, SA all-rounder Bradley Young scored his highest first-class score of 122 before SA declared its first innings, with NSW left arm paceman Nathan Bracken taking four wickets.

Ian Harvey – Hustled Leics to defeat Photo © AllSport

Gloucestershire, holders of the NatWest Trophy, showed the quality of realchampions as they beat Leicestershire by 10 runs at Grace Road – coming the day after they had beaten Worcestershire in their replayed match from the preceding round. In a dramatic turn-about they took their host’s last five wickets for just nine runs in three overs to grasp victory from apparent defeat.Leicestershire seemed to be sailing to victory with just 20 runs needed from the last five overs with five wickets in hand. Ian Harvey (4-40) had other ideas and wrecked their prospects by taking three of the last five wickets.In the morning Gloucestershire rode their luck with Kim Barnett (86)surviving two dropped catches before he had reached ten. Yet he and Chris Taylor (41) took the visitors to a healthy 210-8 and justified their decision to bat. The position looked even more healthy when Leicestershire lost two batsmen early on.Darren Stevens (55) and Darren Maddy (72 from 83 balls with five fours andtwo sixes) recovered the position, and powered Leicestershire to the brink ofvictory. Barnett’s catch to dismiss the latter off Harvey triggered the collapse. Nobody could stay around long enough to stop the rot and Leicestershire tumbled out for 200 runs in 48.1 overs.

Paddy Kenny has given his reaction to some news that he has now heard from Mehrdad Ghodoussi at Newcastle United.

The Lowdown: Staying at SJP

In an interview with The Athletic last week, Magpies co-owner Ghodoussi revealed the North East club will be staying at St James’ Park, instead of building a new stadium.

They will also be looking to expand the ground beyond its current capacity, as they continue to build for the long-term project.

The Latest: Kenny reacts

Speaking to Football Insider, former Premier League goalkeeper Kenny has now given his reaction to the news, and the 43-year-old was nothing short of delighted:

“It’s a brilliant move, there is so much tradition there.

“Newcastle fans are really passionate fans, they sell out every week. I’ve played there before it’s amazing.

“The place has been electric since the takeover and you can only think that will continue.

“Expanding is a good idea. It’s almost the next stage of their development as a club.

“It’s always full so I’m sure Newcastle would have no problem filling an 80,000 seater.

“It’s a great stadium to go to now so imagine the noise if there are 80,000 in there, that will be special.“

The Verdict: Another step

The expansion of the stadium is another step towards fulfilling the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) consortium’s ambitions of becoming a real powerhouse in English football, and then eventually on the world stage.

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It is a great gesture as well to stay at St. James’ Park, a ground that the Toon Army have become attached to as their home, which they will now hope can become a fortress over the next few years.

Nonetheless, increasing the capacity will also attract more fans to the games, not just locally, but from around the world as well if they are successful, which will only help the Tyneside outfit build further.

In other news, find out what big transfer update has now emerged from NUFC here!

A maiden double-century capped a remarkable year for Sourav Ganguly © AFP

The third day’s play of the final Test between India and Pakistan was bland comparedto the excitement on the first two. Therefore, when Sourav Ganguly addressed the media afterPakistan had moved to within 58 runs of avoiding the follow-on, most of thequestions centered around his maiden double-century a day earlier that had enabled him to better his Test-best after a gap of ten years.”I have been trying to get a double hundred,” Ganguly said. “I have been close a fewtimes in the past, but didn’t get it. It is good that I managed to do it in animportant game.”Ganguly began his innings with India in a state of bother at 44 for 2, a situation that quickly worsened to 61for 4. He then provided the steady hand during an overwhelming 300-run stand with Yuvraj Singh and ensured that India drove home the advantage by piling up 626. It was an invaluable contribution considering that India, leading 1-0 inthe series, were in trouble in the first session. Ganguly echoed that view by labelling it one of his more “important innings”.”We were 61 for 4 at one stage and from there we got to 600. So I think from thatpoint of view and in the final Test of the series it was an important innings.”Pakistan batted solidly on the third day, scoring 283 runs for the loss of only fourwickets but Ganguly felt that the morning session on the fourth day could determinewhether or not the Test has a result.”It [the pitch] does a bit early morning and this is the last batting pair. Soif we can get an early breakthrough tomorrow and the way this wicket is behaving, it willnot be easy for the lower-order batsmen. That is why the morning session will becrucial.”The double-century came during the last month of what has been a remarkable year forGanguly. He has scored 932 runs in 16 innings so far in 2007, making it his mostprolific year in Test cricket but he played down claims of it being the “best yearof his career.””I think in the year 2000 I got seven one-day hundreds, so that wasa good year too. My first year in international cricket was asuccessful one. This has been a good year and I hope I can have some more good timein the middle.”Ganguly’s life in the middle has been a fairytale since his comeback against South Africa last year and refused to get drawn into speaking about his forced exile during Greg Chappell’s tenure as India’s coach. According to Ganguly, his return to the team as a player, and not captain, had nothing to dowith his improved form with the bat termed this fairytale a phase he would like to continue for a while.”I don’t think it was a good time, those eight months [out of the team]. It is justthat I have played well [now] and it has kept on getting better. Even when I not wasgetting runs, the efforts have been the same. It is just that I am a bit moresuccessful now.”