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FPL Blogger to Compete in T20 World Cup

Brad Currie, a bowler for Scotland, is potentially set to take the field against England on Saturday, yet he also maintains a separate persona as a specialist in fantasy football, where he shares his insights as a blogger.

Scotland's T20 World Cup campaign began with Brad Currie taking 2-23 against the West Indies and 1-12 against Italy in their opening matches.

On social media platform X, Brad Currie's biography reveals his impressive Fantasy Football credentials, with a 21/22 overall rank of 1,000 and a 22/23 overall rank of 1,800.

As Scotland prepares to face England in the T20 World Cup, Currie is likely to open the bowling, but his notable numbers on social media have nothing to do with his cricket statistics.

Instead, these numbers reflect his achievements in Fantasy Football, where he is known by his online alias, 'FPL Schofield'.

Currie operates a popular account with thousands of followers, offering guidance and strategies on the online football game.

Currie admits that his digital life is dominated by Fantasy Football, telling BBC Sport, "My iPad notes are filled with FPL transfers and fixture rotations."

He further explains, "My YouTube feed is filled with FPL videos, my Twitter is all about football, and even my TikTok is dedicated to the sport."

However, his girlfriend is not a fan of his Fantasy Football obsession.

In a recent cricket match, Leask and Munsey starred as Scotland secured a win against debutants Italy.

Earlier, Scotland suffered a defeat at the hands of the West Indies in their T20 World Cup opener.

Scotland's preparation for the World Cup has been marked by chaos, with references to The Office, Willy Wonka, and Denmark's Euro 92 campaign.

At 27, Currie has achieved a notable ranking of 30th in the world in Fantasy Football, a game with nearly 13 million players.

The time difference between India, where the World Cup is being held, and the UK poses a significant challenge for Currie, affecting his ability to keep up with Premier League matches and make timely transfers.

With Premier League matches kicking off in the early hours and transfer deadlines at night, Currie found it difficult to manage his Fantasy Football team.

He describes the experience as "horrible," struggling to watch games and even highlights.

Currie expresses his frustration, saying, "I couldn't figure out how to watch the games, and I'm struggling to see highlights."

However, he finds some relief with the upcoming FA Cup weekend.

Initially, Currie's Fantasy Football alter ego was unknown in the professional cricket world, but the secret has started to come out.

Now, he receives messages from teammates and opponents seeking his advice on Fantasy Football.

One such example is Sussex bowler Sean Hunt, who reached out to Currie for guidance before their match against the West Indies.

Hunt sent Currie a screenshot of his team, asking for his opinion, and later congratulated him on his bowling performance.

Currie shares that Hunt asked for his thoughts on his team, saying, "I know you have bigger things at play, but what do you think of my team?" and later added, "What do you think of my team? Oh, and well bowled."

When asked for a tip for the remainder of the Fantasy Football season, Currie quickly suggests a "chip strategy."

He advises, "Dead-end into Gameweek 31, wildcard in 32, and bench boost in 33, and use your triple captain whenever you want."

Currie's strategy is straightforward, emphasizing the importance of timing and clever use of chips.

Brad Currie is the brother of Scott, a Scotland bowler who was called up by England last year, and both brothers qualify to play for Scotland through their Scottish father.

Growing up on England's south coast, the Currie brothers developed their cricket skills, with Brad studying sports psychology at Bournemouth University.

Brad is a lifelong fan and was present at the Cherries' 3-2 win over Liverpool at the Vitality Stadium, where Amine Adli scored a 95th-minute winner against the Premier League champions, on the day he received the call to join Scotland's World Cup squad.

Currie recalls the moment he received the call from coach Owen Dawkins, saying, "I knew exactly what it was, but I couldn't pick up because I wouldn't get any signal."

When he finally spoke to Dawkins, the coach mentioned the recent football match, and Currie responded, hoping the call wouldn't ruin his mood.

Currie expressed his concern, saying, "Yeah, and I hope you're not going to ruin my mood now."

Scotland secured a place in the World Cup after Bangladesh opted to boycott the tournament, following a period of uncertainty and speculation.

The weeks leading up to the tournament were marked by claims and counterclaims about Bangladesh's participation and its implications for Scotland.

Currie recounts the uncertainty, saying, "I was asking the coaching staff at Sussex, and it was crazy to have people saying we were going to the World Cup."

He found it surprising that others seemed to have more information than he did, despite being part of the official Scotland group chat.

As a county professional at Sussex, Currie had the advantage of training throughout the winter, which helped him prepare for the World Cup.

However, managing bowlers' workloads is crucial, and Scotland's focus shifted from the Cricket World Cup League 2 to the T20 World Cup in India.

Currie describes the initial reaction to the World Cup announcement, saying, "I don't know what date it was officially announced, but the two days after were the weekend, and I just did nothing."

His girlfriend's family questioned his lack of activity, asking if he should be training, but Currie knew that cramming in preparation would only lead to injury.

He explains, "You can't cram in training; it's not like a school test where you can revise at the last minute."

The video is currently unavailable for playback.

Scotland secured a win over newcomers Italy, thanks in part to the standout performances of Leask and Munsey.

There were questions surrounding the availability of the younger Currie brother due to uncertainty.

Having been selected for England's tour of Ireland the previous year, he failed to make his debut, prompting speculation about a potential switch to Scotland.

It was ultimately determined that a single stint as a substitute fielder rendered him ineligible.

According to Brad, he had to reach out to his brother via text message to clarify the situation.

Brad expressed his initial concern, citing the numerous sets of brothers competing, including the Manentis, Moscas, and Sheikh brothers from Nepal.

He joked that if his brother were to play, their parents might have had to take drastic measures to support them, but as it stands, only one son is competing, making such measures unnecessary.

Brad quipped that his brother aims to please their mother by playing for England, while he himself intends to appease their father by sticking with his Scottish roots.

With England's loss to the West Indies, the upcoming match between the two teams has become a crucial one for both sides.

The last meeting between the teams took place at the 2024 T20 World Cup, where Scotland's impressive batting performance left England facing a challenging target of 110 runs in 10 overs before the match was interrupted by rain.

Currie reflected on the unanswered question of what could have been if the match had continued.

He emphasized his approach to the game, stating that he has learned to be fearless and approach each match with the expectation of winning.

Drawing on his background in sports psychology, Currie believes that this mindset is essential for success in high-pressure games.

While acknowledging the impressive skills of opponents like Adil Rashid, Currie remains aware of his own capabilities and limitations.

He noted that England's team has its own challenges to contend with, including travel and performance under pressure, whereas Scotland has had the advantage of playing two games at Eden Gardens.

Currie expressed his eagerness to face the upcoming match.

He is looking forward to the challenge ahead.

To stay up-to-date with the latest cricket news, users can opt to receive updates directly on their phones.

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NBA Imposes Fine on Utah Jazz for Violating League Integrity

The National Basketball Association has imposed a fine of $500,000, equivalent to £367,000, on the Utah Jazz for resting healthy players, a move deemed to have undermined the league’s integrity.

The Utah Jazz have secured 18 victories out of 56 games played so far this season.

The NBA has imposed a fine of $500,000 (£367,000) on the Utah Jazz for their decision to bench healthy players, which the league believes has compromised the integrity of the competition.

In recent games against the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat, Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy made the decision to remove key players Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr from the lineup before the fourth quarter.

This strategy, commonly referred to as "tanking," involves coaches deliberately fielding a weaker team to improve their chances of securing a higher draft pick.

The NBA's draft system is designed to give teams with the worst records the best opportunity to select top prospects.

The Indiana Pacers have also been fined $100,000 (£73,000) for violating the league's player participation policy during their loss to the Jazz on February 4.

According to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, "behaviour that prioritises draft position over winning undermines the competitive foundation of the NBA, and we will take appropriate action in response to any further incidents that compromise the integrity of our games."

The NBA is currently working with its competition committee and board of governors to develop additional measures aimed at preventing this type of behaviour.

With the Jazz ranked 13th in the Western Conference and the Pacers 14th in the Eastern Conference, a playoff push seems unlikely for both teams, and attention is already turning to next season's roster construction.

In their recent games, the Jazz held a nine-point lead in the fourth quarter against Orlando on February 8 but ultimately lost 120-117, while they managed to defeat Miami 115-111 two days later.

Utah owner Ryan Smith expressed his disagreement with the fine on social media, stating "Agree to disagree. We won the game in Miami and still got fined, which doesn't make sense."

Head coach Will Hardy has defended his decision to bench Markkanen, citing a minutes restriction, and the team has also announced that Jackson Jr will undergo season-ending knee surgery after the All-Star games.

Hardy explained his decision, saying "I benched Lauri because he was under a minutes restriction, and I'm trying to keep him healthy, as per our medical team's instructions."

This is not the first time the Jazz have been fined for resting players; they were also fined $100,000 (£73,000) last season for resting Markkanen in multiple games.

The Pacers' fine was issued after a league investigation found that Pascal Siakam and two other players who did not participate in the game could have played, even if it was with limited minutes.

The player participation policy was introduced by the NBA in 2023 as a measure to discourage teams from deliberately losing games to improve their draft lottery chances.

Business

Artist Alleges AirAsia Used His Work Without Permission

A street artist from Penang has reported that one of his artworks has been replicated and featured on the design of an airplane.

A lawsuit has been filed by a Malaysian-based artist against AirAsia and its parent company, Capital A Berhad, alleging unauthorized use of the artist's designs on one of the airline's planes.

A low-resolution image of an AirAsia aircraft with artwork children cycling printed on its side. The passenger plane is pictured parked in an airport — Artist Ernest Zacharevic is sueing AirAsia over the use of a livery on one of its jets in 2024

According to the lawsuit, Ernest Zacharevic, a Lithuanian-born artist residing in Penang, claims that his 2012 street mural, Kids on Bicycle, was reproduced and displayed on an AirAsia aircraft in late 2024 without his permission.

Zacharevic states that the use of his design was unauthorized, and no licensing agreement or consent was obtained, adding that the livery was removed after he publicly expressed concerns about the matter.

The BBC has reached out to AirAsia for a statement regarding the allegations.

In an interview with the BBC on Thursday, Zacharevic recalled that he first became aware of the alleged copyright infringement in October 2024, when he discovered that an AirAsia plane was featuring a livery resembling his artwork.

With over a decade of experience in Malaysia, Zacharevic is known for his roadside murals in Penang, which have become a staple of the local art scene.

One of Zacharevic's notable works is the 2012 street mural Kids on Bicycle, created for a local festival, which features two children on a bicycle integrated into the mural, located in George Town's heritage district.

The mural has become a popular tourist attraction, with many visitors taking photos in front of the iconic artwork.

Zacharevic alleges that his work was reproduced on an AirAsia plane without his knowledge or consent, and he personally witnessed the plane in operation at an airport.

Recalling the incident, Zacharevic expressed his discomfort with the situation, which occurred in 2024.

He took to social media to address the issue, posting a photo of the plane and tagging the airline, suggesting that they needed to discuss the use of his artwork.

A photograph of a wall mural, depicting two children in white tops. The images in painted to show the children seated on a real-life bicycle. — Zacharevic painted Kids on Bicycle, a famous wall mural in Penang, in 2012

Since then, Zacharevic has engaged in discussions with the company, but they have been unable to come to a mutually agreeable resolution.

This is not the first instance of Zacharevic's work being used in connection with AirAsia, as he claims the airline has also used his artwork on a delivery bag for its food services arm.

Court documents reveal that Zacharevic had previously discussed a potential collaboration with AirAsia in 2017, where he would create art for the airline's jets and a mural in one of their offices.

According to the documents, Zacharevic had informed the airline of his work and business rates during these discussions.

The lawsuit asserts that despite being aware of Zacharevic's work and rates, the airline proceeded to reproduce and publicly display one of his notable works, thereby infringing on his copyright and moral rights.

As the largest low-cost carrier in Asia, AirAsia operates over 200 jets to more than 100 destinations, and has recently announced plans to resume flights from Kuala Lumpur to London via Bahrain.

Zacharevic has stated that he will leave it to the court to determine any potential compensation he may be entitled to.

The artist emphasized that he does not consider the use of his artwork to be a mere reference to cultural or geographical associations, but rather a distinct artistic creation.

Zacharevic stressed that his artwork is the result of years of professional training, skill, and labor, and should be recognized as such.

News

Northern Ireland boss O’Neill poised for Blackburn Rovers move

Michael O’Neill, the manager of Northern Ireland, is poised to take on a position with Blackburn Rovers, a Championship club, in a dual capacity that will last until the end of the current season.

Michael O'Neill has begun his second stint as the manager of the Northern Ireland national team.

It has been announced that Northern Ireland's manager, Michael O'Neill, is expected to take on a dual role with Championship club Blackburn Rovers until the end of the season.

In March, Northern Ireland will face Italy in a World Cup play-off semi-final, followed by a potential match against either Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina, depending on the outcome of the Italy game.

O'Neill will remain involved with the Northern Ireland team for these matches and the World Cup finals, if they qualify.

After the current season, O'Neill is expected to take on the manager's role at Blackburn Rovers on a full-time basis.

Damien Johnson, a former Northern Ireland midfielder, will assist O'Neill at Blackburn Rovers for the remainder of the season.

If an agreement with the Irish FA is reached promptly, O'Neill could be in charge of Blackburn Rovers for their upcoming Championship match against Queen's Park Rangers on Saturday.

Currently, Blackburn Rovers are ranked 22nd in the table, narrowly outside the safety zone due to their goal difference.

The team has been without a permanent manager since Valerien Ismael's departure on February 2, with Damien Johnson serving as interim manager.

In 2020, O'Neill had a similar arrangement with Stoke City, where he balanced his duties with both the club and the national team.

However, the Covid-19 pandemic led to a delay in the Euro 2020 play-offs, and O'Neill left his position before those matches took place.

O'Neill returned to manage the national team in 2022, signing a contract that will keep him in the role until after the Euro 2028 campaign.

Northern Ireland is aiming to qualify for its first World Cup in 40 years and its first major tournament since O'Neill led the team to the Euro 2016 finals during his initial tenure.

O'Neill attended the Nations League draw on Thursday, where Northern Ireland was paired with Hungary, Ukraine, and Georgia, but he did not interact with the media in Brussels.

England's Nations League draw has resulted in matches against Spain and Croatia.