Carlos Vela scored a goal in the 53rd minute and LAFC was able to salvage a 3-3 tie against the visiting LA Galaxy on Sunday night -- although the club remains winless in two seasons against its crosstown rival.

The latest chapter of the 17-month-old El Trafico derby was played in another atmosphere of unusual passion and excitement in frequently laid-back Los Angeles. Although LAFC only came into existence last season, the teams have created an instant rivalry with their spirited supporters' groups, premier individual talents and an immediate knack for playing thrilling games.

MLS' two biggest stars love this stage: Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scored eight goals in just five games against LAFC, topping Vela's seven goals against the Galaxy.

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"If they don't beat us, they don't beat us," said Ibrahimovic after the game, who celebrated both of his goals in front of the LAFC supporters' section. "What can I say? I enjoy it when I play against them. I enjoy to play in this stadium."

Their supporting casts also get fired up by the rivalry. Latif Blessing had extra motivation after his friends told him about the billboards put up around Banc of California Stadium this week showing Ibrahimovic knocking him down during his club's last meeting with the LA Galaxy.

"I was mad," Blessing said. "It was so disrespectful. I felt sad. I felt like this game, I need to go all-out. I need to do my best."

Cristian Pavon scored his first MLS goal to put the Galaxy up 3-1 after just 16 minutes, but Blessing scored two first-half goals for LAFC before Vela connected for his MLS-leading 27th goal. Vela was unwillingly taken off shortly after his goal with a possible hamstring injury, but neither team could conjure a winning goal in the fifth edition of El Trafico.

The Galaxy are 2-0-3 against MLS-leading LAFC, including a win and a draw this season.

"You lead 3-1, I think we should hold the results, but then we were doing mistakes that killed ourselves," Ibrahimovic said. "It wasn't them. I mean, they punished us, but when they play their game, and we do mistakes, they punish us. At a higher level, the one that does the most mistakes is going to pay the most."

LAFC (19-3-5) is cruising toward MLS' best regular-season record and the top seed in the playoffs. LAFC had won five straight games since its 3-2 loss last month to the Galaxy (13-11-3), who are fourth in the Western Conference after their first three-game unbeaten run since April.

Although the regular-season series is over, these archrivals easily could meet in a playoff game in October, adding even more spice to an already sizzling rivalry.

Ibrahimovic still craves the big stages on which he played for nearly two decades in Europe, and this rivalry already has the closest thing to it in MLS. Unsurprisingly, Ibrahimovic has thrived on it since his Galaxy debut in March 2018, when he came on as a substitute and scored two electrifying goals during a three-goal comeback victory in these clubs' inaugural meeting.

Ibrahimovic had a hat trick against LAFC last month, overcoming two goals by Vela in a 3-2 Galaxy victory.

And Ibrahimovic needed about 100 seconds to get on the board against LAFC this time. After he scored with a left-footed strike on a sublime pass from Pavon, the Swedish superstar celebrated with his arms outstretched defiantly in front of LAFC's vociferous North End supporters. Blessing evened it with a rebound header 10 minutes later, but Ibrahimovic added his 22nd goal in 22 games and blew kisses to the LAFC fans.

Pavon made it 3-1 less than a minute afterward with the rising Argentine star's first goal for his new club, but LAFC rallied. Blessing slipped in to score again shortly before half-time, and Vela tied it with a superb piece of skill in the 53rd minute.

Vela's 27 goals are as many as FC Cincinnati's entire roster has scored this season, but the LAFC captain apparently strained his hamstring moments before coach Bob Bradley pulled him in the 61st minute. Vela threw his captain's armband on the ground in disappointment after he was replaced by Brian Rodríguez, a 19-year-old Uruguayan prospect making his MLS debut.

Both teams played more cautiously in the final minutes. Ibrahimovic nearly got another hat trick in injury time, but his wicked turnaround shot from outside the box went just outside the post.

Manchester United will wait to discover the extent of Anthony Martial's muscle injury before deciding whether to allow Alexis Sanchez to join Inter Milan, sources have told ESPN FC.

Martial is set for scans this week after suffering an injury to his left thigh during the 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on Saturday.

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The Frenchman was barely able to move during the final few minutes but stayed on the pitch until the end because manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had no more substitutions available.

Martial was limping heavily as he left the stadium and the 23-year-old, who has scored twice this season, will undergo tests this week as the club's medical staff attempt to assess the damage.

It is a blow to Sanchez's hopes of joining Inter before the European transfer deadline on Sep. 2.

The Italian side are trying to negotiate a loan deal for the Chilean with an obligation to buy next summer which would see United pay a portion of his £391,000-a-week wages this season.

Sources have told ESPN FC that the two clubs are yet to find a breakthrough in talks and the injury to Martial has complicated matters further with Solskjaer becoming concerned at a lack of options up front.

Romelu Lukaku has already departed for Inter leaving the Norwegian with three recognised strikers in Martial, Marcus Rashford and 17-year-old Mason Greenwood.

Sanchez is yet to feature this season as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury but his exit would reduce Solskjaer's options even further ahead of a busy season in the Premier League and the Europa League.

Sanchez has managed just five goals in 45 games since arriving from Arsenal in January 2018.

Marcos Rojo could also leave Old Trafford before the European deadline. He is yet to make the match day squad in United's first three games of the season and sources have told ESPN FC that Marseille, Monaco and AC Milan are interested in signing the defender.

Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp said on Monday that he expects to take a break from coaching once his time with the European champions comes to an end.

Klopp, who joined Liverpool in 2015 and is under contract until 2022, led the club to the Champions League title last season and finished second in the Premier League, one point behind Manchester City.

Asked by Germany's Kicker magazine if he would take a break after his tenure at Liverpool is up, Klopp said: "It looks like it. Who can now say if he can give it his all in three years' time?

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"If I decide for myself that I can't go on anymore, I'll take a break and in that year I'd have to make a definite decision [if he wants to continue at all].

"I have absolute energy, but I have one problem: I can't to 'a little bit.' I can only do 'all or nothing.'

"But the chances are very high that my energy levels will go up again [after a year's break], and that I can then do the job the way I want to."

Sources told ESPN FC in June that Klopp could take a year's sabbatical at the end of his Liverpool contract in 2022.

Before taking over at Liverpool Klopp enjoyed a successful time at Borussia Dortmund, where he won two league titles and a DFB Pokal trophy, also reaching the Champions League final in 2013.

Liverpool, who have not won a league title since 1990, are top of the Premier League after three games, with maximum points putting them two ahead of title rivals City.

Rivalry Week has come and gone and here we are to pick up the pieces.

We don't know about you, but we're gassed. Spent. Wasted. Ready for a week of recuperation. It turns out mutual enmity makes for some pretty intense soccer matches.

From Friday night's Cascadia Cup madness through to a wild El Trafico, Rivalry Week delivered.

A backheel winner. A four-goal blowout. Rivalry trophies lifted Portland by the visitors and Utah by the home team. Zlatan... Zlataning, then LAFC showing their quality in a comeback.

Time for a shower...

Right after we rank. Like, right after.

Previous rankings: Week 24 | Week 23 | Week 22 | Week 21 | Week 20 | Week 19 | Week 18 | Week 17 | Week 16 | Week 15 | Week 14 | Week 13 | Week 12 | Week 11 | Week 10 | Week 9 | Week 8 | Week 7 | Week 6 | Week 5 | Week 4 | Week 3 | Week 2 | Week 1

1. LAFC (19 wins, 5 draws, 3 losses)

Previous ranking: 1

Next MLS match: Sunday, Sept. 1 vs. Minnesota United, 10 p.m. ET, stream live on ESPN+

Tip of the Power Rankings cap (it's a bowler, in case you're wondering) to Bob Bradley, who made the tough decision to pull Carlos Vela off in a tied El Trafico match. LAFC didn't win, but saving the captain and MVP leader for the future was the smart thing to do.

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2. Atlanta United (15-3-9)

Previous ranking: 2

Next MLS match: Saturday, Aug. 31 at Philadelphia Union, 7:30 p.m. ET, stream live on ESPN+

The Five Stripes Express chugged into Orlando on Friday and departed with a boxcar full of points. The conductor, one Josef Martinez, scored in his 12th straight game. The last time Martinez didn't score for Atlanta United, trains were brand new technology. It feels true, doesn't it?

3. Philadelphia Union (14-6-8)

Previous ranking: 3

Next MLS match: Saturday, Aug. 31 vs. Atlanta United, 7:30 p.m. ET, stream live on ESPN+

Philly isn't going to give up first place without a fight. Okay, so technically Atlanta holds a tiebreaker on the Union, but it still sets up for a gargantuan match next weekend at Talen Energy Stadium when the Five Stripes steam into town with a free-and-clear first place on the line.

4. New York City FC (13-8-5)

Previous ranking: 6

Next MLS match: Saturday, Aug. 31 at Vancouver Whitecaps, 10 p.m. ET, stream live on ESPN+

Red Bulls are red, New York is blue, Heber's goal belongs in the Lou...vre.

Eh, close enough.

5. Minnesota United (12-6-9)

Previous ranking: 4

Next MLS match: Sunday, Sept. 1 at LAFC, 10:30 p.m. ET, stream live on ESPN+

The margins are so small in the battle for playoff seeding in the Western Conference that the Loons' loss to Sporting Kansas City on Friday night via late, late goal dropped them from second to fourth. Adrian Heath nearly got away with leaving Darwin Quintero on the bench in KC.

6. San Jose Earthquakes (12-5-10)

Previous ranking: 5

Next MLS match: Saturday, Aug. 31 vs. Orlando City, 10:30 p.m. ET, stream live on ESPN+

The Quakes bombarded the 'Caps net on Saturday, scoring three times and forcing 16 saves by Maxime Crepau. To say they needed that would be an understatement, following a three-game losing streak and the emotional experience against LAFC in midweek.

7. New England Revolution (9-8-9)

Previous ranking: 7

Next MLS match: Saturday, Aug. 31 vs. Toronto FC, 7:30 p.m. ET, stream live on ESPN+

Gustavo Bou, the hero of the New England Revolution's revolution used the greatest weapon of the revolution -- his left foot -- to fire the Revolution to three more points in the quest to revolutionize the playoffs hopes of the Bruce Arena-led revolutionary program for the Revolution.

8. Seattle Sounders (12-7-8)

Previous ranking: 9

Next MLS match: Sunday, Sept. 1 vs. LA Galaxy, 6:30 p.m. ET

When the emotional grind starts to effect form, it sometimes takes a big game to provide a lift and get things back on track. That might be what happens for the Sounders, the 2019 Cascadia Cup champions after Friday's Jordan Morris-led victory over the Timbers -- on Portland's pitch.

9. LA Galaxy (13-3-11)

Previous ranking: 11

Next MLS match: Sunday, Sept. 1 at Seattle Sounders, 6:30 p.m. ET

Zlatan Ibrahimovic showed up...for the first half. Christian Pavon scored his first MLS goal and showed why LA's acquisition of the Argentine was such a coup. The Galaxy have still never lost to LAFC, a fact they'll use to their psychological advantage if, and when, the two teams meet in the playoffs.

10. Real Salt Lake (13-4-10)

Previous ranking: 15

Next MLS match: Saturday, Aug. 31 at Portland Timbers, 10:30 p.m. ET, stream live on ESPN+

There's no truth to the rumor that Joao Plata was showing up on the side of milk cartons in Utah before Saturday's Rocky Mountain Cup win over Colorado, but you'd be forgiven for believing it. Albert Rusnak handed the ball to Plata for the penalty kick winner, a move that might be a spark for RSL's stretch run.

11. Portland Timbers (11-4-11)

Previous ranking: 8

Next MLS match: Saturday, Aug. 31 vs. Real Salt Lake, 10:30 p.m. ET, stream live on ESPN+

Our recent polling suggests that Timbers fans would rather swear off organically grown, locally sourced, fair trade cold brew coffee and barrel-aged Imperial IPA with notes of cardamom and coriander than lose to the Seattle Sounders. It's that damn serious.

12. New York Red Bulls (11-5-10)

Previous ranking: 10

Next MLS match: Saturday, Aug. 31 vs. Colorado Rapids, 7:30 p.m. ET, stream live on ESPN+

Red Bulls are red, New York is blue, congrats to Josh Sims on his homegrown debut.

13. FC Dallas (11-7-10)

Previous ranking: 13

Next MLS match: Saturday, Aug. 31 vs. FC Cincinnati, 8:30 p.m. ET, stream live on ESPN+

It's been a long wait, but finally FC Dallas is getting lethal strikes from the man they call "The Cobra." We were beginning to think the nickname was completely unwarranted, like when people call the really big guys "Tiny". FCD also got lethal strikes from lots of other players, too.

14. Orlando City (9-7-11)

Previous ranking: 12

Next MLS match: Saturday, Aug. 31 at San Jose Earthquakes, 10:30 p.m. ET, stream live on ESPN+

Eight games, no wins for the Lions against Atlanta. After losing in game in which they outshot United and created more chances, it's starting to feel like a curse. Worse, the loss means Orlando falls three points behind Toronto for the final playoff spot in the East.

15. Sporting Kansas City (8-7-11)

Previous ranking: 17

Next MLS match: Saturday, Aug. 31 vs. Houston Dynamo, 8:30 p.m. ET, stream live on ESPN+

If Sporting somehow manages to put together an incredible late-season run and claim a playoff spot, Erik Hurtado's ferocious winner against Minnesota might be the goal we'll point back to as the spark. Must-win games need match-winners.

16. Toronto FC (10-7-10)

Previous ranking: 20

Next MLS match: Saturday, Aug. 31 at New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m. ET, stream live on ESPN+

As far as massive wins go, TFC's victory over Montreal on Saturday was massively massive. The Reds are now in seventh place with a game-in-hand on Orlando and Montreal. A trip to New England next weekend looms and it might end up being the defining game of the season.

17. Chicago Fire (8-9-11)

Previous ranking: 14

Next MLS match: Saturday, Aug. 31 at Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m. ET, stream live on ESPN+

So that's the reason the Embers... er, Fire... have just six points on the road in 2019. The already slim chance that Chicago could sneak into the playoffs this season took a massive hit because of a bad turnover and a Gustavo Bou goal at Gillette Stadium on Saturday.

18. D.C. United (10-9-10)

Previous ranking: 16

Next MLS match: Saturday, Aug. 31 at Montreal Impact, 7:30 p.m. ET, stream live on ESPN+

Wayne Rooney-less United crashed and burned against the Union in Chester and are in real danger of slipping out of the playoff placed completely. Word on the street is that Rooney could get another game for last week's red card, only adding to the dread surrounding the club.

19. Columbus Crew (8-6-15)

Previous ranking: 19

Next MLS match: Saturday, Aug. 31 vs. Chicago Fire, 7:30 p.m. ET, stream live on ESPN+

Hell. Unleashed. Three goals in the fist half, two of them by Gyasi Zardes, won the day for the Crew on the road in Cincinnati. Columbus planted a stake at Nippert Stadium in the first win for either side in the MLS history of "Hell Is Real."

20. Colorado Rapids (7-6-14)

Previous ranking: 18

Next MLS match: Saturday, Aug. 31 at New York Red Bulls, 7 p.m. ET, stream live on ESPN+

The Rocky Mountain Cup was just about all the Rapids had left to play for this season. Losing to RSL like they did has to hurt, but there's always tomorrow -- a tomorrow that brings a new head coach and, they hope, a new era for a club still thrashing in turbulent waters for a winning approach.

21. Montreal Impact (10-4-14)

Previous ranking: 21

Next MLS match: Wednesday, Aug. 28 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps, 8 p.m. ET, stream live on ESPN+

A debut goal for Bojan Krkic in Wilmer Cabrera's debut as coach wasn't enough for Montreal on the road in Toronto. If the Impact are counting on a new manager bump to push them across the playoff line, they'll have to get cracking against Vancouver on Wednesday night.

22. Vancouver Whitecaps (6-9-13)

Previous ranking: 22

Next MLS match: Wednesday, Aug. 28 at Montreal Impact, 8 p.m. ET, stream live on ESPN+

Vancouver Whitecaps FC is a Canadian professional soccer team based in Vancouver, British Columbia that competes in the Western Conference of Major League Soccer (MLS).

23. Houston Dynamo (9-4-14)

Previous ranking: 23

Next MLS match: Saturday, Aug. 31 vs. Sporting Kansas City, 8:30 p.m. ET, stream live on ESPN+

The Dynamo not only didn't get up for a rivalry match in an otherwise lost season, they got stomped by FC Dallas. It sure looks like Davy Arnaud is going to struggle to keep his team interested in competing in the final month and a half of the campaign.

24. FC Cincinnati (5-3-19)

Previous ranking: 24

Next MLS match: Saturday, Aug. 31 at FC Dallas, 8 p.m. ET, stream live on ESPN+

Hell Is Real take two brought hell to Cincinnati in the form of a 3-1 Columbus win. FCC showed some fight (literally) planting the seeds for an intense round of games in 2020. The rebuild happening with both clubs means Hell Is Real success will be a major part of whatever comes next season.

India Red 285 (Kalsi 106, Nair 99, Pathania 4-55) and 297 for 6 decl (Nair 166*, Kalsi 64, Jalaj 4-105) drew with India Blue 255 (Bawne 121, Anmolpreet 56, Avesh 4-58) Points: Red 3, Blue 1

A nearly two-year wait ended on Monday as Karun Nair scored a cathartic first-class century to lead India Red into the Duleep Trophy final. The batsman had not been able to breach the three-figure mark since December 2017 but produced a second-innings 166 not out to follow a 99 in the first and save the game.

With three points in the bag, India Red will know that only one of the other teams - Blue and Green - have any chance of going past them ahead of the day-night final at M Chinnaswamy stadium.

Himachal Pradesh's Ankit Kalsi, a 25-year old fighting to become a regular for his domestic side, assisted Nair in both innings. Having earned his place on the back of three Ranji Trophy centuries in five matches last season, the left-hander exhibited poise and composure to make scores of 106 and 64. Kalsi and Nair put on two century stands in the game to keep India Blue at bay.

ALSO READ - Kalsi and Pathania, a tale of two unknowns

Playing with a bowler short - Basil Thampi pulled up with a back injury after sending down 11 overs in the first innings - a bulk of the team's workload fell on Diwesh Pathania, the Services fast bowler, and the two spinners Jalaj Saxena and Saurabh Kumar.

During the course of the match, Jalaj, who finished with match haul of 7 for 162, went past the double of 6000 runs and 300 wickets in first-class cricket, an elite list that features the likes of S Abid Ali, Lala Amarnath, Sanjay Bangar, Sairaj Bahutule and S Venkataraghavan to name a few.

The India A regulars had a forgettable game. Priyank Panchal and Abhimanyu Easwaran, both of whom are in frame to be the third opener for the Test team, managed 42 runs between them in four innings, while Shubman Gill was out for 9, playing across the line to a full inswinging delivery from Jaydev Unadkat, in his only innings.

India Blue were in the frame for a first-innings lead during the course of a 129-run stand between centurion Ankit Bawne and Anmolpreet Singh, but they lost 5 for 15 in the aftermath to concede the advantage. They will now have to wait for the final league game - between Red and Green - to see if there is a passage for them to the final.

Misbah-ul-Haq's interest in taking over as head coach of the Pakistan national side was made official today after he resigned from the PCB cricket committee, following it up by formally applying for the role of head coach. Misbah, who is already working as camp commander and leading a 20-man training camp ahead of the start of Pakistan's domestic season, called it "everyone's dream" to become coach of the Pakistan team.

"It has been interesting to see my name being mentioned as a future head coach of the Pakistan cricket team, but the fact is I only made the decision today," said Misbah after resigning from the cricket committee. "I am applying for the head coach's role fully aware that the competition will be tough. I envisage there will be a few more very competent and highly qualified people applying for one of the most challenging jobs in the game."

Misbah decided to step down from the PCB cricket committee in the wake of reports that he was being considered for the position of head coach. Initially wary of formally expressing his interest, Misbah had said any application for the role would be preceded by his resignation from the cricket committee, and that he was deliberating on whether to apply.

The PCB had been seeking applications to rebuild their coaching staff after having brought to an end the tenure of Mickey Arthur and his staff earlier this month. The deadline for submitting applications concluded today, with the PCB seeking someone someone who was at least a Level 2 coach "with relevant experience for at least three years" with elite cricketers. It is notable Misbah does not have three years of coaching experience - indeed, he retired less than three years ago - but with him being the only one to formally make his interest public, he is the undisputed favourite to win the role.

Ironically, one of Misbah's biggest contributions while part of the cricket committee was leading the calls to bring down the curtain on Mickey Arthur's time as head coach. With the contracts of Arthur, batting coach Grant Flower, bowling coach Azhar Mahmood and fitness and trainer Grant Luden all having been scheduled to end on August 15, the PCB considered whether to award them extensions. Arthur and Flower, at least, had expressed an eagerness to continue. Arthur was given a chance to present his report following the World Cup, which was widely seen as a chance for him to defend his record and make a case for an extension.

However, the decision not to extend contracts was arrived at following a five-hour PCB cricket committee meeting. ESPNcricinfo understands Arthur wanted two more years on the job, but the recommendations of the cricket committee, on which Misbah was an influential voice, advised against a renewal. Now, mere weeks on, Misbah appears the frontrunner to succeed the man he played under as captain for a year.

South African cricket is in "a transition phase", according to former batsman Ashwell Prince. Prince, who coaches Cape Cobras in South African franchise cricket, and had been in India as a batting consultant supervising a spin camp that included both South Africa A and senior team regulars ahead of tours to India by the 'A' side as well as the senior men's and women's teams.

"It's a transition phase for South African cricket," Prince told the Deccan Chronicle. "I work in the first-class system and we have first-hand experience of the young guys that are coming through. Of course, you don't become [Hashim] Amla and [Dale] Steyn overnight."

Steyn announced his retirement from Test cricket and a renewed focus on limited-overs cricket at the beginning of the month, while Hashim Amla retired from all international cricket soon afterwards. South Africa will feel the absence of both players keenly - Amla averaged 62.73 in ten Tests in India, while Steyn took 26 Test wickets at 21.38 across three tours to India - but Prince, along with spin-bowling consultant Paul Adams and high-performance manager Vincent Barnes, have been working with the next generation to try and fill the breach.

Among the players in the camp were Aiden Markram, Temba Bavuma and Theunis de Bruyn, as well as promising young batsmen Zubayr Hamza, Janneman Malan, Sinethemba Qeshile, Pieter Malan, Eddie Moore and Matthew Breetzke.

"We are looking at both [physical and mental] aspects to playing spin," Prince, who played 66 Tests and 52 ODIs for South Africa - captaining the Test team twice - said. "It's about being able to understand that a good spinner on a surface providing spin will go past the outside edge and beat your bat."

Offspinner Dane Piedt and spin-bowling allrounder Senuran Muthusamy, who have been named in South Africa's Test squad, and left-arm spinner Bjorn Fortuin, who is part of the T20 squad, were also in the spin camp, as were Tsepo Ndwandwa, Thomas Kaber, Dyllan Matthews and George Linde.

"We obviously have come here for young players to experience some of the conditions," Prince said. "What we try to do is to pass on our learnings, but we have some local coaches helping us here. Even the spin coach has years of experience to associate the idea of local conditions. It's basically to feed the young guys as much information as possible."

Rahul Dravid, who was recently appointed head of cricket at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru by the BCCI, has been asked to appear before the board's ethics officer Justice (retired) DK Jain over allegations of conflict of interest. According to PTI, Dravid will be meeting Justice Jain in person in Mumbai on September 26.

Dravid's possible conflict of interest had been put in the spotlight by Sanjeev Gupta, a life member of the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association. Gupta said taking charge of the NCA will put Dravid in a conflict of interest situation since he is also employed by India Cements, which is owned by the former BCCI president N Srinivasan. Justice Jain will now adjudicate on the matter, even though the CoA is of the view that Dravid is not in conflict since he has frozen his employment with India Cements.

Also read: Conflict-of-interest rule has to be 'practical', says Sourav Ganguly

The conflict of interest issue has been in focus of late, with a number of high-profile former cricketers being called into question. Sourav Ganguly, Dravid's former India team-mate, who was found to be in conflict of interest recently, said last week that the BCCI had to make the conflict rule more "practical" and allow people to perform multiple roles. VVS Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar are among the other big names in Indian cricket to find themselves in similar situations of late.

"I wouldn't say an exception be made to the rule [for celebrated former players but] the rule has to be practical," Ganguly said at an event in Mumbai. "And what is conflict of interest? Today Rahul Dravid is appointed NCA head and there are issues about his conflict of interest of his job with India Cements. So you've got to be practical on that. You never know whether you will become NCA head or not, three years later you may not remain NCA head, but these [other] jobs are permanent and these jobs remain with you. So it has got to be practically solved - even when you do commentary or coaching, I don't see it as a conflict of interest."

Ganguly's roles came into question as he is president of the Cricket Association of Bengal, as well as on the coaching staff of the IPL team Delhi Capitals, and has also been doing media work as a commentator and columnist.

Cricket South Africa has extended its commercial deal with Global Sports Commerce for the Mzansi Super League for another four years.

GSC, which is headquartered in Singapore but has an affiliate office in Johannesburg, was the official commercial and broadcast partner for the inaugural MSL in 2018. The new agreement which runs from 2019 to 2023 grants GSC all commercial rights to the MSL, excluding the teams, and makes GSC the official broadcast and digital rights holder outside South Africa.

GSC has various partnerships with global and Indian brands, and also had a hand in broadcasting the last edition of the Pakistan Super League.

Closer to home, however, CSA have confirmed that local broadcast rights for the second season of the MSL will remain with SABC, South Africa's public broadcaster. The embattled broadcaster last month secured a R 3.2 billion (approx $210 million) bailout from the government but will provide little to no commercial value to CSA locally - making overseas partnerships all the more important.

"It gives us great pleasure to extend our partnership with GSC," CSA Chief Executive Thabang Moroe said. "They are a significant global brand that has put its faith in our administration, our governance and our players for a considerable period of time.

"As their name indicates, GSC have a global sporting presence as a major player in the organization of sporting events around the world and already have considerable experience of South African sport through their investment in Megapro and Megaview," Moroe said. "They made a significant contribution to getting the MSL off to a winning start last year and will again play a major role as we build on those advances in MSL 2.0."

"GSC is delighted to be associated with the MSL," GSC's chief executive MS Muralidharan said. "We see this as a milestone sports asset for Africa as the sole and exclusive International Commercial Partner across Television, Digital, and Event Sponsorship.

"The GSC family, including its South Africa-based affiliates, Megapro and Megaview, will bring to the event its global technology expertise with cutting edge technologies in Television/Content Production, Event Presentation and Immersive fan experience."

Carli Lloyd thinks it's "insane" that video of her making a 55-yard field goal during a visit with the Philadelphia Eagles went viral last week, but she's confident a woman could be successful as a kicker in the NFL.

"I'm laughing about it, but the more I think about it, this has the chance to be sort of a pioneering moment for women," the U.S. women's soccer star told NBCSports.com, adding that "I know that I could probably do it."

Lloyd, a die-hard Eagles fan, visited the team's camp Tuesday, where Philadelphia was holding a joint practice with the Ravens, and kicked 40-yard field goals flawlessly and hit the 55-yarder that drew widespread attention. Lloyd told NBCSports.com that she tried from as far away as 57 yards "but it was wide; distance was good." She said she would have kept trying, "but I felt like I was holding them up" at practice.

Lloyd told Sports Illustrated's "Planet Futbol TV" last week that she had received some inquiries from NFL teams after her performance but didn't provide specifics.

"The mindset I have, I think with practice, I know I have to work on my steps and my technique, but I think I could do it and do it well. It could be a huge pivotal moment. There is no reason why a woman could not do this," she told NBCSports.com.

Lloyd noted to NBCSports.com that she has "one of the most accurate shots" in women's soccer.

"Big thing would be getting used to the big boys out there. But nothing scares me. You hold yourself back if you're afraid. What's the worst that can happen? I don't make the team? Let's just say I did try. Maybe I change the landscape a lot," she said.

The 37-year-old Lloyd, from nearby Delran, New Jersey, scored three goals in the 2019 World Cup and has 113 in her career, seventh all time in women's soccer history. She's a two-time FIFA Player of the Year and a two-time World Cup champion.