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Rangers have been hit with a late Ibrox injury setback ahead of their return to European action in Glasgow later today…

What’s the latest?

In his pre-match press conference, Gio van Bronckhorst revealed that the Wales international will be unavailable for selection against Borussia Dortmund on Thursday in the UEFA Europa League.

Ramsey was missing from the squad against Dundee United at the weekend and it was stated that he would be back in training this week. However, it has now been confirmed that he has not returned in time for this huge Europa League second leg clash.

The club Tweeted this update from the head coach: “Ramsey won’t be in the squad for tomorrow, no other fresh injury news.”

Livid

This update will surely leave Rangers fans feeling livid as Ramsey’s career at Ibrox has got off to almost the worst possible start.

He has been at the club for the best part of a month and a cup clash with a League Two outfit is the only match that he has been able to start so far.

The Juventus loanee has been used as a substitute once in the Europa League and two times in the Premiership, failing to register a goal or assist in either competition – with limited game time.

This will be particularly frustrating for the supporters as he arrived with plenty of hype due to his pedigree and experience. He has played over 400 matches for Juventus and Arsenal – two big European clubs – throughout his career and managed over 150 direct goal involvements for club and country.

Therefore, him being out is a major blow for the Gers because of what he could bring to the side, particularly against Bundesliga opposition in Dortmund. His career statistics show that he knows how to perform at the top level and his know-how could have been crucial tonight had he been available for selection, from the start or off the bench.

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Fans will be annoyed that van Bronckhorst will not be able to call upon his expertise and they may even be starting to wonder whether there was any point in signing him in January with his limited availability already creating issues.

However, there are plenty of games left in the season and he still has time on his side to get himself back to full fitness in order to then make a big impact on the side in the clutch stage of the campaign.

AND in other news, Forget Amad: Gvb must unearth “exciting” 18 y/o Rangers dynamo who impressed Murty…

ScorecardFile photo: Tagenarine Chanderpaul struck an important second-innings fifty in Guyana’s victory•WICB Media

Gudakesh Moti, the left-arm spinner who made his first-class debut only a month ago, has taken a fourth five-wicket haul in five matches to entrench Guyana atop the Regional 4-day Tournament points table for 2015-16. He bowled 23.3 overs, allowed a meager 33 runs, and snatched up six wickets to hand Jamaica their second loss of the season, by 117 runs at Sabina Park.Fourth-innings chases are invariably tough, but the hosts’ battling line-up did not do themselves any favours. They had already been bundled out for 146 in their first innings, which was the major reason for their target being 326. In the second innings, as many as six batsmen faced more than fifty balls each, but none of them could reach a score of fifty. That is not to slight the increased determination. Tamar Lambert made 30 off 128, debutant Rovman Powell spent over two hours at the crease for his 23 and Jamaica batted out more than 100 overs in search of the draw, but it wasn’t to be as Motie broke through. The 20-year old dismissed the final six batsmen, including Lambert and Powell to become the top wicket-taker in the competition.That mantle had been with Jamaica’s own left-arm spinner Nikita Miller only a few days ago. He had taken 6 for 46 off 26 overs to restrict Guyana to 189 in their first innings, and claim the top spot. Motie only got one wicket off 11 overs on his first try, but Jamaica didn’t have it much easier as his left-arm team-mate Veerasammy Permaul spun them out with 5 for 25 in 22. 5 overs, an economy rate of 1.09.Guyana claimed a lead of 43, then Tagenarine Chanderpaul became the only batsman with a substantial score in the entire match, a situation his father Shivnarine has come across many a time. Tagenarine made 81 off 249 balls and, with handy contributions down the order, pushed the lead past 300.
ScorecardA string of top-order fifties from Trinidad & Tobago beat a string of lower-order fifties from Windward Islands for the first-innings points in St Lucia.T&T won the toss and their bowlers put on a strong show to reduce Windward Islands to 76 for 5. Then came the rally with Andre Fletcher digging in for 63 off 159 balls and offspinner Shane Shillingford eventually outscoring him with 64 off 161 balls. No. 10 Mervyn Matthew chipped in with 48 runs, including seven fours to drag Windward Islands to 306.T&T had help from the lower order too – No. 10 Marlon Richards whacked 60 off 58 balls with five sixes – but their total of 382 was set up by No. 3 Yannic Cariah’s 70 off 216 balls and middle-order batsman Yannick Ottley’s 99 off 218 balls, with 12 fours. They took a lead of 76 runs, and the subsequent seven points that came with it. Left-arm fast bowler Kevin McClean took 4 for 66.Windward Islands then batted out 81.4 overs and were at 189 for 8 when the match came to a close. It was a slow moving draw, with the run-rate less than three in all three innings Devon Smith made 56 off 186 balls at the top of the line-up and Shillingford again showed his capability to bat by spending 94 balls at the crease for his 34, which included 4 sixes.

Trinidad and Tobago Under-19 suffered from another poor all-round display in their final West Indies Under-19 Challenge match against defending champions Guyana at Canaree, St Kitts.T&T lost the encounter by a narrow five-run margin after needing six runs off the last over of the match with only one wicket in hand. The loss allowed Guyana to proceed to the semi-finals of the tournament along with Barbados, Jamaica and Leeward Islands.In the other games yesterday, Leewards defeated Windward Islands by 192 runs to book their place in the next round and Barbados were able to come out on top against leaders Jamaica by five wickets.Guyana, who were also in a must-win situation, amassed a competitive total of 201 for 8 in their 50 overs with Rajindra Chandrika top scoring with 43. Javon Charles was the pick of the bowlers for T&T, picking up 3 for 35.T&T, in reply, kept the game interesting right down to the end as Sumant Maraj battled for 36 overs to top score with 56 but that was not enough as T&T eventually ran out of batsmen after trying to accelerate the scoring late in the game.”It was a very disappointing tournament for T&T,” said team manager Narsingh Rambarran. But Rambarran said there were also some positives.”Darren Bravo was very consistent throughout the tournament while Milton Dookran provided him with some good support. There are some talented players there who can go further in the game.”

Mendis: ‘The government put in place presidential-level security for the team, yet they [South Africa] were not convinced’ © AFP

Duleep Mendis, Sri Lanka Cricket’s chief executive, has criticised South Africa’s decision to pull out of the Unitech Cup following a bomb blast in Colombo on Monday. South Africa’s withdrawal came after an independent security assessment by a Dubai-based firm said that “the current risk to the team is at an unacceptable level”.”I am amazed at their decision to return home,” Mendis told AFP. “The government put in place presidential-level security for the team, yet they were not convinced. They took advice from a Dubai firm which is even more surprising. I did not see anyone from this firm in Colombo, yet they prepared a security report within 24 hours sitting in Dubai.”The South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) issued a statement fully supporting the decision while saying that it was an extremely difficult one to make. “This has been a very tense last three days” said Tony Irish, the Chief Executive Officer of SACA. “Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis and I have been in constant contact with the team in Colombo while the process necessary for making the decision has taken place. It has been a very difficult time for the players, especially having to deal with the uncertainty of the situation.””At the end of the day, you have to rely on what the security experts say and base the decisions on that. The team’s security consultants, Nicholls, Steyn and Associates, have been very thorough and the independent ICC security consultants concurred with their security assessment. One cannot underestimate the difficulty of this decision, but it does show that Cricket South Africa places the emphasis on where it should be, namely the safety of the players and the national team.”

Another tough assignment for Taibu and his men © Getty Images

Tatenda Taibu will lead a 16-member squad in the upcoming tri-series, also involving New Zealand and India. The selectors named Heath Streak as the vice-captain and also included other former dissidents – Andy Blignaut, Craig Wishart and Stuart Carlisle.Zimbabwe will hope for an improved performance in the one-dayers after a thrashing at the hands of New Zealand in the two-Test series. The Zimbabwe Board XI for the warm-up match against New Zealand at Bulawayo on August 22 will be chosen from the same set – minus Taibu and Streak who will be returning after taking part in the Afro-Asian Cup in South Africa.Kevin Curran, the former Zimbabwe allrounder who recently replaced Phil Simmons as the coach, said he aimed to transform Zimbabwe into one of the top teams in one-day cricket. “I want all the team to rapidly improve by 5%,” he told AFP, “because that will impact on the team as a whole. I am a team man but also a really competitive person, and always have been. I want that to rub off and I’m sure it will.”The one-day series gets underway on August 24 with Zimbabwe taking on New Zealand in the opener at Bulawayo.Zimbabwe squad
1 Tatenda Taibu (capt), 2 Heath Streak (vice-capt), 3 Stuart Carlisle, 4 Chamunorwa Chibhabha, 5 Charles Coventry, 6 Keith Dabengwa, 7 Brendan Taylor, 8 Craig Wishart, 9 Andy Blignaut, 10 Gavin Ewing, 11 Blessing Mahwire, 12 Hamilton Masakadza, 13 Waddington Mwayenga, 14 Edward Rainsford, 15 Vusumuzi Sibanda, 16 Prosper Utseya.

Sri Lanka’s cricket authorities are adamant that the Asia Cup will proceed as planned, despite Wednesday’s suicide bombing in Colombo that killed five people.The Asia Cup, in which the Test nations of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will be joined by the United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong, is set to begin on July 16, and continue for a fortnight.But Ray Illangakoon, a spokesman for the Sri Lanka Cricket Board, told BBC Sport that there was no threat of cancellation. “It is not a bad situation here. Not one cricket board has approached us and asked for a re-scheduling of the tournament.” he said, adding that extra security would be provided on request, although no team had yet seen fit to do so."Security is a matter of concern," added SK Nair, the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, “though it was not discussed at the selectors meeting. We will be coordinating with the Sri Lankan board on this issue.”

South African Erasmus Hendrikse hit an unbeaten century as Trojans powered to the Southern Electric Premier League, Division 3 summit with a seven-wicket win at Paultons.The Stellenbosch University all-rounder hit two sixes and 11 fours in an undefeated 103, which carried Trojans past Paultons’ 172-9.John Robinson cracked 65 for Paultons, who were always on the back foot after struggling at 28-4.Australian Justin Larrescy blasted a quick-fire 115 as Rowledge easily overhauled South Wilts’ 172-9, Alton, the third club with an unblemished record, trimmd resurgent Hambledon (185), with Bruce Oliphant hitting a match winning 58 not out.West Indies B all-rounder Chaka Hodge hit 73 and Mark Fletcher (53) set the stage for Jeff Hose to score an unbeaten 40 in Ventnor’s five-wicket win over Hungerford. The Berkshire side included several MCC Young Cricketers in their side.Winchester KS leapt several places in the log with a handsome 60-run win over Havant II, while Flamingo’s dropped into the relegation zone after a thumping 132-run defeat at Hook & Newnham Basics.

Glamorgan County Cricket Club today confirmed that Steve Watkin has beenappointed as the first Academy Director for the new Welsh Cricket Academy,which will be based at the Club’s headquarters ground at Sophia Gardens,Cardiff. Watkin, 37 on Saturday, will formally retire from playing in orderto take up the new appointment, though the Club will be retaining hisregistration.Chief Executive Mike Fatkin said:”We have somewhat mixed feelings about Steve’s appointment. On the one handhe has been such a fantastically loyal servant to Glamorgan since he madehis debut fifteen years ago, not to mention one of the most consistentbowlers on the circuit throughout his career, but on the other we believe heis admirably suited to this new position. He is the ideal role model foryoung cricketers in Wales.We have been working hard for some time to establish the concept of anAcademy here in Wales and we’re delighted that Steve has accepted theposition. His appointment comes after a year spent putting everything inplace and we’ve been very encouraged by the support we’ve received from boththe Sports Council for Wales – who are investing a significant amount ofmoney into the programme costs, and the England and Wales Cricket Board, whoare licensing the academy as one of the first wave of eight that arestarting up this autumn. The network of county academies will support thenew National Academy set up this year.The intention is to recruit six youngsters in the first year, rising to amaximum of nine subsequently, and provide them with as rounded a programmeof training, coaching and advice that we can to help mould them intoprofessional cricketers of the future. The Cricket Board of Wales has donesterling work in recent years in establishing a structure for junior cricketbut the gap between when they leave the CBW umbrella aged 16 or 17 tojoining Glamorgan as professionals has needed to be filled for some time.We are confident the Academy structure will enable the young talent comingthrough to be fast-tracked through the system and that they can be taughtwhat being a professional or international cricketer is all about beforethey actually reach the ranks of the professional staff at Glamorgan.There are some differences between the Welsh Academy and the others inEngland but we’re delighted to have the Sports Council for Wales on board,with all the expertise and support that they bring, and the appointment ofSteve Watkin as the first Welsh Cricket Academy Director is a significantboost.”Steve Watkin said:”It’ll be a huge wrench giving up playing professional cricket as I havebeen involved with Glamorgan – not to mention with England and England ‘A’ -for some sixteen seasons but this was too good an opportunity to miss. TheClub has said it intends to retain my registration as a player just in caseI might be required to play but having thought about it long and hard Iaccept that it’s an important job, with substantial money being invested inthe scheme by the Sports Council for Wales, and I am really looking forwardto the challenge of helping develop the next generation of professionalcricketers. There’s a lot of talent at junior level in Wales and I’m surethat the new Academy will only add to the development of the best youngplayers.I’d like to thank the Club for giving me this opportunity, but equallyimportantly I’d like to thank all of my team-mates and the players I’veplayed with at Glamorgan throughout my career for giving me so muchenjoyment. There are some obvious highlights, such as winning the SundayLeague in 1993 and the Championship in 1997, not to mention a Lord’s Finaland a promotion last summer and playing and touring for England, but I feelvery lucky to have enjoyed considerable success as a cricketer and I’m nowlooking forward to giving something back to a game that has been nothing butgood to me. Hopefully I can bow out with a few wickets against Surrey!”

Sylvain Distin has told Everton’s official website that he was impressed with the performances of Kevin Mirallas and Steven Naismith during Sunday’s Merseyside derby. Both new signings at Goodison Park, Distin believes their significant impact against Liverpool is a sign of the Blues’ quality in depth this season.

Steven Naismith arrived from bankrupted Glasgow Rangers in the summer, and scored the equalising goal after 35 minutes which levelled the scrappy contest at 2-2. Kevin Mirallas joined Everton from Olympiacos for a fee of £6million in August, and has since made a place for himself in the Everton starting line-up.

The Belgian international was taken off at half-time after picking up a knock, but experienced centre-back Distin is pleased with the winger’s first half contribution.

“I think Kevin did great. If he stayed on the pitch for the second half, we might have had a few more chances up front. He was playing really well going forward, providing good crosses as well and he could have scored a good goal today” said the Frenchman.

Distin also stated that he was impressed with Steven Naismith’s performances from the bench this season, as well as coming in for the suspended Steven Pienaar for the Merseyside derby.

“Against QPR, he came on the pitch and did great. He carried on today [against Liverpool] and that’s what we need.

“The squad is not only the 11 players on the pitch; it’s those on the bench and those in the stand. You need a big squad if you want to have a good season.”

Naismith, 26, has told reporters he is going to be patient in regards to his Everton career, but is glad he’s netted his first goal for the club.

“At least I’m off the mark now for Everton and I can build on it,” said Naismith “This first period is about settling in and getting used to the training.

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“I never came expecting to play every week. But I work hard every day to get back to where I was before and this was just another step towards that” he added.

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It is now six weeks since Ochilo Ayacko, Kenya’s sports minister, decided enough was enough and suspended the Kenyan Cricket Association as the first step towards introducing a new body to truly and democratically represent the sport in the country.The minister’s actions appear to have been covertly backed by the ICC – he claims that he was "urged to take such independent lawful action as I deemed necessary so as to arrest what the ICC considered an unacceptable and indefensible state of affairs concerning the KCA and Kenya cricket generally." While the ICC officially distances itself from Ayacko’s subsequent forming of an alternative body, Cricket Kenya, it is widely believed that all funding to the KCA has been suspended.That the KCA remains legally in charge is down to the courts, who have proved the biggest crutch to the association in the past and are again doing so. Three ex parte injunctions have been granted to the KCA in the last six weeks, all before the same judge who has, rather surprisingly, not found time to hear legal applications from the minister. The judge’s last ruling was particularly contentious and, as with the other injuctions, is in the process of being challenged.The KCA has formally lost the support of almost all Kenya’s clubs. In special meetings earlier this month, not one club affiliated to the Nairobi and Coast associations backed it, with all but four, which abstained, opting to throw in their lot with Cricket Kenya. The KCA’s own domestic league and cup did not even start in 2004-05 as only a handful of clubs are thought to have entered, and even then some of those entries were subsequently challenged.It’s the same story with the players. The 14 who have been on strike since last October continue to refuse to have any dealings with the KCA, and Cricinfo has learned that others have now joined them, not on strike but in refusing to play under the KCA banner.Even the government has turned on the association, with the cabinet backing the minister’s strategy.Financially, the KCA is a shambles. It has not had a sponsor for almost two years, although there are several said to be waiting on the sidelines and willing to back Cricket Kenya if it gets official ICC recognition. Without ICC monies, the KCA has no income stream and things are growing increasingly desperate. A leading coach was evicted from his flat last week after the KCA failed to pay his rent, and recently a group of disgruntled coaches held senior KCA officials hostage in the association offices until their backpay was handed over.Aside from the strikers, who claim they are owed money from as long as two years ago, other players are also out of pocket and have even been asked to pay their own air fares to get to matches with no hope of reimbursement.Last week, Nairobi Gymkhana, the leading club in the country – and the home to the country’s main ground and also the KCA offices – decided to take the KCA to court over outstanding rent.So why are the KCA executive still fighting? The board has suffered a string of resignations lately, with three after Christmas being followed by that of Ramesh Bhalla last week. Even the KCA’s own selectors failed to name a side for the aborted Intercontinental Cup tie against Namibia after one of them said that, in his view, they no longer had the moral right to do so.The official reason that continues to be used by the board is that they have the legal authority to run the game, as proved by the courts. While legal arguments might keep them in control, their moral authority has surely long since expired.However, there are interesting developments behind the scenes, where some increasingly desperate maneuvering is taking place to try and allow senior officials an honourable exit. The thinking seems to be that longer they can hold on, the greater the desire to make concessions to remove them will become.The net is, however, closing. The ICC has raised "deep concerns as to the management and governance of Kenyan cricket" and the minister has gone some way beyond that, claiming that he stepped in to end a cycle of "internal wrangles, corruption and misappropriation of funds." On Friday, the police seized bank records of the KCA as part of ongoing investigations.Comments attributed to the ICC last week that it would take until June 2006 for a new body – ie Cricket Kenya – to be recognised were seized on by supporters of the KCA. But look at the ICC’s position. It cannot back this new body until it is entirely certain that the old KCA is finished. To do so would leave it in an embarrassing situation were the KCA to survive – and despite it being backed into a corner, stranger things have happened in Kenya. And so the ICC has no choice but to sit on the sidelines. It seems unlikely , however, that it will continue to back a body which is unrepresentative, has little support, is broke, and continues to operate under such a cloud.There are potential openings which would enable the ICC to act. One is that the constitutional review which is due any day now will not be delivered. The ICC put great store in this, but the man driving it inside Kenya, Sammy Obingo, the former KCA general manager, changed sides and is now firmly in the minister’s camp. Without this review, there can be no independent elections (there have been none since 1997) and that could give the ICC an excuse to get involved. There are also the ongoing investigations inside Kenya into the board’s management which might provide another opening.The only certainties are that this whole affair will drag on for some time yet, and the longer it does, the greater the harm for the game inside Kenya.