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Manchester United have made an impressive start to 2025. The Red Devils have not lost yet, drawing away to Liverpool in the Premier League and Arsenal in the FA Cup, which they proceeded to win on penalties. Most recently, Ruben Amorim’s side got a 3-1 home win against Southampton, who are bottom of the Premier League.

The star of the show has been Amad. The Ivorian scored the equaliser at Anfield, scored his penalty against the Gunners and, most recently, bagged a 12-minute hattrick against the Saints from the 82nd to 94th minute to earn his side all three points.

However, United clearly feel Amad cannot bear the responsibility all on their own, given they are reportedly targeting an attacking addition.

Man United target new attacker

The player in question here is Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens. The Englishman, who has yet to be capped by his country, has been superb for the German side this season and is now a target for some of Europe’s biggest clubs.

According to a report from Florian Plettenberg, reporting for Sky Sports, the Red Devils are believed to be ‘seriously interested’ in making a move to sign the 20-year-old, with a move in the summer potentially on the cards.

However, they are not the only side interested in signing him. United are set to go head-to-head with German giants Bayern Munich, and Gittens ‘remains a top transfer target’ for the Bundesliga side.

Plettenberg adds that the former Manchester City youngster is likely to become available if Dortmund fail to qualify for the Champions League next season.

Why Gittens would be a good signing

It has been a very impressive season so far for former Manchester City academy player Gittens. The 20-year-old has become a key player for Dortmund this term, scoring 11 goals and providing five assists in 26 games for the club.

That includes an impressive four goals and one assist in six Champions League appearances. The winger scored away to Real Madrid in a 5-2 defeat, but actually made it 2-0 to Dortmund at the time, bursting to the back post and getting on the end of Donyell Malen’s cross.

It is clear to see why football talent scout Jacek Kulig described Gittens as a “pure difference-maker”. Like Amad does for United, the Dortmund star is someone who can pop up with a big goal or assist to change a game for his side. A goal at the Bernabeu is a perfect example of that.

In fact, he could be the perfect long-term replacement for Marcus Rashford. It seems like his time at United might be over, with Plettenberg reporting on Thursday that Dortmund, and AC Milan, are showing interest in the winger.

If United view Gittens as their replacement for Rashford, the Dortmund number 43 will have to perform superbly if he wants to match the numbers of the Wythenshawe-born star. The United number 10 has 138 goals and 63 assists in 426 games for the club.

To get an idea of how good of a replacement Gittens might be for Rashford, statistical comparisons can be drawn. These particular stats on the pair’s FBref numbers from 2021/22, the Dortmund winger’s first season, up to the 2024/25 campaign.

You can clearly see how good of a ball carrier Gittens is. Per 90 minutes, he averages 5.41 progressive carries, compared to 3.06 for Rashford. He also averages slightly more key passes per game, with 1.10, as opposed to 0.94 for the United star. However, Rashford does come out on top in goals per 90 minutes, with 0.39 compared to Gittens’ 0.34.

Stat (per 90)

Gittens

Rashford

Progressive carries

5.41

3.06

Key passes

1.10

0.94

Goals

0.34

0.39

Shot-creating actions

3.43

2.95

Ball recoveries

3.12

3.04

It certainly seems like Gittens would be an excellent Rashford replacement if the United academy graduate were to leave Old Trafford, given the quality he can provide as a ball carrier, a creator, and a goalscorer on the left flank.

He is statistically able to hold his own against the United ace, and for the right price, could be a fantastic signing as the long-term replacement for Rashford.

Former Australia coach set to commentate on players he led following messy exit earlier this year

Alex Malcolm29-Jul-2022Justin Langer’s next career move has been confirmed, with the former Australia coach joining Channel Seven’s commentary team to provide analysis on the Test side he recently coached. Langer’s move was announced on Friday after being widely expected when he withdrew from the opportunity to coach Hobart Hurricanes in the BBL.Close friend Ricky Ponting – also a Channel Seven commentator – had pursued Langer to coach Hurricanes, after himself being appointed as their head of strategy.But Ponting confirmed last week that Langer had decided against returning to coaching in the short term, and will now commentate on the players he coached for four years.Related

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Seven’s coverage is only available in Australia, as CA have two television broadcasters providing separate broadcast feeds with separate commentary teams on Australia’s home Test matches. Foxtel provides the global feed, with Seven broadcasting to local Australian audiences only.But Langer’s move will likely cause some intrigue as he comments on the team that he departed from in messy circumstances earlier this year. Langer had wanted to continue coaching Australia’s men’s team long-term, but was only offered a six-month contract extension in February after relationships with players and staff had become strained over the previous 15 months.Instead, Langer chose to resign rather than accept the short-term extension.A raft of Langer’s former team-mates – including Ponting – had delivered a chorus of criticism of both CA and the players in the aftermath, forcing Test captain Pat Cummins to defend his team’s role in the saga.Australia’s next Test assignment will be a home two-match series against West Indies starting in Perth in late November, which is likely to be Langer’s commentary debut.

Worcestershire build first-innings lead after early Derbyshire collapse

ECB Reporters Network25-Jul-2022Worcestershire 141 for 5 (Kashif 52) lead Derbyshire 130 (Dal 55, Pennington 4-36) by 11 runsDillon Pennington’s burst with the new ball and Kashif Ali’s half-century on his first-class debut earned Worcestershire the initiative on the opening day of the LV=Insurance County Championship match with Derbyshire at New Road.Pennington reduced Derbyshire to 14 for 5 with four wickets in the space of 18 balls after they had been put into bat and, despite a half-century from Anuj Dal, they were bowled out for 130 in 51.1 overs.He clearly enjoys bowling against Derbyshire after registering career-best figures of 5 for 32 and a match return of 9 for 76 in the corresponding game last season.Worcestershire also had initial problems when they launched their reply but Kashif seized his chance following a mountain of runs for the second XI and they closed on 141 for 5 when bad light and then rain halted play at 5.35pm.Related

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Kashif was the first product of the South Asian Cricket Academy to sign a professional contract with a first-class county earlier this season. Three hundreds and four fifties in his last seven knocks for the seconds was a testament to his potential and he reached a 72-ball half-century.But he became one of several players during the day who surrendered their wicket to careless shots although there was enough movement on a greenish pitch to keep the seamers interested.Worcestershire handed a debut to Pakistan pace bowler, Mohammad Hasnain. Club captain Brett D’Oliveira was ruled out with a back injury and vice-captain, Jake Libby, led the side while Derbyshire were unchanged from the team which drew with Nottinghamshire.Libby won an important toss on a green tinged wicket and his bowlers soon justified his decision to put Derbyshire into bat. Joe Leach struck with the last ball of the opening over as Harry Came was plumb lbw to a ball of full length.But it was Pennington who broke the back of the Derbyshire top order with a superb opening burst of 4-2-3-4. Brooke Guest was bowled offering no shot to a ball angled in and then Wayne Madsen, who began the day needing 32 runs to reach 1,000 for the season, did not reduce that tally as he edged as delivery which nipped away to Josh Baker at fourth slip.Luis Reece and Hilton Cartwright were both caught behind by Gareth Roderick, after pushing forward to Pennington. Derbyshire captain, Leus du Plooy, opted for an aggressive response and dominated the scoring during a sixth-wicket stand of 39 with Dal.But Ed Barnard, who is to join Warwickshire on a three-year deal from next season, made further inroads with wickets in successive overs.Du Plooy, on 38, played with an angled bat at a delivery and gave Baker another catch, this time at third slip, and Mattie McKiernan offered no shot but inside edged onto the stumps. Derbyshire were then 53 for 7 and in danger of being bowled out before lunch but resistance came from Dal and Ben AitchisonThey added 56 in 22 overs before Barnard came back into the attack and had Aitchison nibbling at a delivery which was safely pouched by Roderick. Dal mixed solid defence with some classy shots and two cuts for four off spinner Josh Baker enabled him to complete a 104-ball halfpcentury with eight boundaries.Hasnain had bowled two threatening spells without any luck but cleaned up the tail in classic fast bowler’s fashion as he yorked both Sam Conners and Dal.Worcestershire also ran into trouble against the new ball and found themselves 23 for 3 in the fifth over. Conners knocked out Libby’s off stump with a ball which nipped back and Ed Pollock, having struck Aitchison for six over midwicket, tried to upper cut his next ball and was caught behind.Taylor Cornall flicked at a leg-side delivery from Conners and also found the gloves of Guest. But the momentum of the game switched into Worcestershire’s favour as Jack Haynes and Kashif counter-attacked during a stand of 97 in 18.4 overs.Haynes reeled off a succession off delightful cover drives and flicks off his legs why Kashif produced a series of back foot punches which pierced the field. The pair took Worcestershire into the lead only to then both surrender their wickets to loose shots.

The result came through on Saturday and could put him in doubt for the Test

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Jun-2022India Test captain Rohit Sharma has tested positive for Covid-19 which could put him in doubt for the one-off Test against England at Edgbaston.Rohit is in isolation at the team hotel and if the same protocols are followed as for the ongoing England-New Zealand series it would be for a period of five days. The Test starts on July 1.It is unclear who will lead India in case Rohit is unavailable for the England Test. KL Rahul was appointed vice-captain by the selectors when the squad was announced in May, but he is not in England as he picked up a groin injury before the home T20I series against South Africa recently. The BCCI has not yet given any update on Rahul’s fitness and is also yet to name a deputy to Rohit.The selectors have seemingly earmarked Rahul as the long-term captaincy option. Rahul led India in the second Test on the South Africa tour in December-January after Virat Kohli pulled out due to a back injury. In March, injury ruled Rahul out from selection for the two-match Test series at home against Sri Lanka, prompting the selectors to give the vice-captaincy to Jasprit Bumrah. Bumrah, though, has no captaincy experience at any level. It could not be confirmed whether the selectors would look at Kohli as an interim captain for the one-off Test. The one-off Test is the conclusion of the series from last year which was suspended after a Covid-19 outbreak in the India team.A BCCI statement, concerning Rohit’s Covid result, said: “Team India captain Mr Rohit Sharma has tested positive for COVID-19 following a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) conducted on Saturday. He is currently in isolation at the team hotel and is under the care of the BCCI Medical Team. An RT-PCR test will be conducted on Sunday to ascertain his CT value.”The news of Rohit’s positive test came through after the third day’s play of the warm-up match against Leicestershire. He had made 25 in the first innings before not batting in the second.Previously, R Ashwin’s arrival on the tour was delayed after he tested positive before leaving India.New Zealand have had to deal with a number of Covid-19 cases during their ongoing Test tour while England batting coach Marcus Trescothick has been absent from the Headingley match after testing positive. England wicketkeeper Ben Foakes also tested positive on Sunday and his participation in the Test against India is in doubt, although England are hopeful he would be fit to play.

Julen Lopetegui and his West Ham side managed to record their fifth win of the campaign on Monday, beating Wolves 2-1, climbing to 18 points in the Premier League, just one point behind Manchester United in 13th.

West Ham held more of the ball against Wolves, with 54% possession, as both teams took 19 shots in the game, the Hammers creating one big chance and Wolves creating two.

Goals from Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen secured the points for the Hammers, and these two goals could prove to be vital for the future of Lopetegui, whose future seems to be riding on each game.

Why the pressure is on Julen Lopetegui at West Ham

The 58-year-old Spaniard has struggled in his first months at the club, aiming to completely change the identity of the Hammers from a counter-attacking outfit under David Moyes to a more control-based side.

West Ham are averaging 46.9% possession (ranking 13th in this metric in the division), taking 15 shots per game (6th most in the league) and scoring 20 goals in 14 games so far. In comparison to last season under Moyes, the Hammers averaged 40.5% possession (4th lowest), taking 11.8 shots per game (5th fewest) and scoring 60 goals in 38 games.

Despite improvements in key metrics, this has left West Ham defensively open, with their press often being pierced open far too easily. This sees the Hammers 14th in the Premier League after 14 games played, conceding 16 shots per game – the fourth-highest total across the top-flight – and conceding 28 goals.

A loss against Wolves could well have been the end for Lopetegui, but a big performance from a defender Lopetegui continues to show faith in may be the one that saved his job.

The West Ham star who just saved Lopetegui

After a performance back in September by Konstantinos Mavropanos, Tom Rennie claimed the defender was “nowhere near Premier League quality”. However, his most recent performance was key to West Ham beating Wolves 2-1, and Lopetegui’s faith in the 27-year-old has paid off.

First Impressions

What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast's 'First Impressions' series has everything you need.

Mavropanos has made 13 appearances for the Hammers this season, contributing to three cleans, and totaling 908 minutes played. Perhaps fortuitous not to give away a penalty late on, he arguably saved one of his best displays in an Irons shirt for ‘El Sackico’ on Monday night.

Minutes

90

Touches

67

Accurate Passes

45/50

Long Balls

6/7

Ground Duels Won

4/4

Aerial Duels Won

1/4

Clearances

3

Blocks

1

Interceptions

3

Tackles

2

The 27-year-old won 100% of his ground duels, making three interceptions and two tackles. Mavropanos was key to stopping in-form Matheus Cunha, working in tandem with Aaron Wan-Bissaka on the right side of defence in order to nullify the threat of the Brazilian Wolves forward.

But the passing quality was also important in order for the Hammers to control the game (averaging 54% possession as stated above), taking 67 touches, making 45/50 accurate passes, whilst also completing six out of seven long balls attempted.

The recent performances of Mavropanos have kept new signing, Jean-Clair Todibo out of the side, as he partners another new signing Max Kilman in central defence. But Lopetegui will need to see more of the same from the defender if they want to continue to gain points and climb their way up the table.

Not Potter: West Ham can get Fullkrug firing by hiring "incredible" coach

West Ham head coach Julen Lopetegui is on the brink of being fired after wretched results this season.

ByAngus Sinclair Dec 8, 2024

The allrounder returned a positive result when he was tested upon arrival at the team hotel in Karachi

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Mar-2022

Pakistan’s selection frustrations in the Australia series are set to continue after allrounder Faheem Ashraf tested positive for Covid-19, days away from the second Test against Australia in Karachi. That rules out Ashraf for another Test – the second of the three-match series begins on Saturday.Ashraf tested positive on arrival at the team hotel in Karachi on Wednesday. He will now be placed in isolation for the next five days. Pakistan will take a call in due course on whether they need to replace him – give they are already traveling with a couple of replacement players in the squad.Related

Pakistan lose Hasan Ali, Faheem Ashraf to injury for first Australia Test

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Ashraf missed the first Test in Rawalpindi – Australia’s first in over 23 years in the country – with a hamstring injury he had picked towards the end of the PSL season with Islamabad United. Ashraf has been one of Pakistan’s star Test performers over the last year, scoring important runs at number seven and providing more than handy support to a four-man attack.Such has been his importance that Ramiz Raja, the PCB chairman, all but admitted on Wednesday that Ashraf’s absence – as well as that of a couple of other players was one of the reasons the Rawalpindi pitch was made so lifeless.Pakistan called up Iftikhar Ahmed and Naseem Shah in the first Test to cover for the absences of Ashraf and Hasan Ali – the latter, a key prong of their pace attack – missed out because of an adductor strain, also picked up during the PSL. Both Iftikhar and Naseem played, though the former – ostensibly a direct replacement for Ashraf – only bowled three overs.Pakistan are confident that Hasan will be fit for the second Test, allowing them to bring back an opening pair that took over 80 Test wickets last year and were the second and third-highest wicket-takers for the year.The rest of Pakistan’s squad returned negative tests, meaning that Haris Rauf is back in contention for selection. Rauf missed the first Test after testing positive for Covid-19.

An ODI average of under 28 between the two World Cups in 2017 and 2022, but an imposing average of 53 in the 18 World Cup innings she has played so far tell the story of a player who steps up on the big stage.Harmanpreet Kaur had been under pressure before the ongoing World Cup because of a severe lack of runs since the 2017 ODI World Cup, giving an impression that she had been given a long rope because of that epochal 171 not out against Australia in the 2017 semi-final.Related

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But crucial knocks of 109 and 71 against West Indies and New Zealand, respectively, have served a reminder of the value she adds to India’s middle order.”Big tournaments are very important and your role is more important, you need to take more responsibility and perform for your team. Maybe that’s the reason [I do well in World Cups],” she said a day before India’s game against England in Mount Maunganui. “I always want to give my best for the team but sometimes, things don’t go your way. But I’ll make sure whenever we play the World Cup, I’ll be there for my team.”As opposed to her career batting average of 35.17, Harmanpreet averages a whopping 53.07 in ODI World Cups and has struck three of her four centuries in the format in world tournaments, her World Cup runs coming at a strike rate to 97. In fact, many of the highlights from her ODI career have come in World Cups. ODI debut – 2009 World Cup. Maiden ODI century -2013 World Cup against England. Her only Player-of-the-Match award in the format – the 2017 World Cup semi-final, of course.Smriti Mandhana, who was involved in a record partnership of 184 with Harmanpreet against West Indies, scoring a century of her own, had said Harmanpreet brought out her “best” self when “her back is towards the wall”.Harmanpreet agreed that backing herself was the key to playing such big innings. “Sometimes, I just need to back myself and that’s what I’ve been doing, like before this West Indies game, and the New Zealand game,” she said. “When I bat with Smriti and someone who is already settled, it’s always easy for me to settle there and that’s what I enjoyed the other day.”Harmanpreet warmed up for the ongoing World Cup with a knock of 104 off 114 balls against South Africa, after she had scored a brisk 63 off 66 against New Zealand in the final ODI of the bilateral series.”The greatest thing was before the World Cup, we got a five-ODI series against New Zealand, and one T20,” she said. “Because of that, we got that momentum and got used to these conditions, and that is the reason which is helping us perform well.”Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana put together the best partnership for India in World Cups in the game against West Indies•ICC via Getty Images

With two wins from three games, India now take on defending champions England, who are in danger of crashing out early after three losses in a row. England had beaten India in the 2017 World Cup final by just nine runs, but Harmanpreet said India were focusing on current form instead of past results.”If we talk all over, we started that [2017] World Cup by beating England [in the league stage],” she pointed out. “And we can’t just focus on past performances. They had played good cricket [in the 2017 final] but right now, it’s all about momentum, and that’s on our side. We want to focus on our strengths. Past is history and if we focus too much on that, we’ll add to our own pressure. We want to live in the present and focus on the good things we’ve done rather than think about past results.”The only aspect of India’s game that Harmanpreet was wary of was losing wickets in clusters, which has happened consistently. They were 112 for 5 against Pakistan, 95 for 5 against New Zealand, and 78 for 3 against West Indies, before the lower-middle order rescued them.”Sometimes, we are losing back-to-back wickets and if we can work on that… otherwise, things are the way we want them,” she said. “Now is the time we just need to stay relaxed and enjoy the situation, because sometimes, that helps you perform better.”

On a surface aiding spin, the South African spinners were on point in the first game – can India’s pair match them this time around?

Saurabh Somani20-Jan-20221:50

Can Aiden Markram find some form? Will Venkatesh Iyer bowl?

Big picture About three weeks ago, India were riding the crest of a wave. They had breached a South African fortress in Centurion, were 1-0 up in the Test series, and had every prospect of turning that into a series-winning lead. However, that belonged in 2021. In 2022, India haven’t won any game in South Africa. Defeats in the last two Tests have been followed up by a loss in the opening ODI, and now India find themselves within one game of returning home with defeats in both the series, a prospect that would have seemed somewhat far-fetched at any point before the tour began or even after the first Test.The second ODI follows close on the heels of the first one, and at the same venue too – Boland Park in Paarl. The heat and the dryness of the pitch meant spinners found purchase, and the South African duo of Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi (combined figures of 20-1-94-3) comfortably out-performed India’s pair of R Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal (20-0-106-1). And if you add Aiden Markram’s part-time spin to the mix, South Africa’s spin figures become an even more impressive 26-1-124-4.Apart from expecting more from their spinners, India will also have to deal with the familiar issue of the middle order lacking runs. It has been the flip side to having a top three of Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli – who have piled on runs relentlessly – that the middle order remains slightly uncooked, and it is not a problem with easy solutions.Related

van der Dussen, Bavuma feed off each other in fine partnership

Dhawan's knock underlines his value in India's ODI side

For South Africa, the theme that ran through their success in the Test series held good in the first ODI too: they are a team without too many superstars but one that still gets the job done. Rassie van der Dussen has played 30 ODIs so far, and averages a whopping 73.62 in them. In the first ODI here, he showed what he could do with inventive and attacking batting. His innings swung the game decisively South Africa’s way, with the run rate floundering until he took charge.While it is unrealistic to expect him to sustain this level of run-scoring in ODIs, it is not as if these numbers are completely out of the blue for van der Dussen. In a List A career spanning 119 matches, his average is just shy of 50.Form guideSouth Africa WLWLW (last five completed matches; most recent first)
India LLWWW
Runs haven’t been coming for Aiden Markram, and South Africa have other options in the squad•AFP/Getty ImagesIn the spotlight KL Rahul will face the heat as captain and opening batter. On the eve of the first ODI, he had lauded Venkatesh Iyer’s all-round utility to the ODI side, but then opted not to call him up for a single over with the ball even when the others were being dealt with easily by Temba Bavuma and van der Dussen. It left the question as to why Iyer was preferred to Suryakumar Yadav or Ishan Kishan, who arguably offer more as batters alone. And while batting, Rahul opted for some caution even though South Africa opened the bowling with Markram’s part-time offspin.A favourable match-up against a non-regular bowler with the field up during the powerplay and a steep target to chase should have unlocked Rahul’s free-stroking persona. Instead, he brought out the IPL image of recent vintage: the captain intent on caution. Tactically too, it wasn’t the best move as it allowed South Africa to get six overs out of the fifth bowler’s quota first up, and gave them much greater freedom to use their main bowlers at key moments. How Rahul responds to these as captain and batter will be interesting to see.While Aiden Markram’s bowling offered an unexpected bonus, and his fielding at point remains top notch, his main suit has been in trouble lately. He isn’t short of class but the runs haven’t been coming for Markram, and that is something that could trouble South Africa on another day. Hence, they could well consider a swap with a bowler. In the likes of George Linde and Dwaine Pretorius, they have bowlers who can bat.If they want to go for a pure bowler, there is Sisanda Magala. In effect, if Markram is not contributing via runs, there is an argument to be made that his part-time bowling can be replaced by someone with greater pedigree.Team news South Africa are unlikely to make changes to a winning combination from the first ODI. They followed the same philosophy in the Test matches, where Maharaj played the second and third Tests despite having little to do.South Africa (likely): 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Janneman Malan, 3 Temba Bavuma (capt), 4 Aiden Markram, 5 Rassie van der Dussen, 6 David Miller, 7 Andile Phehlulwayo, 8 Marco Jansen, 9 Keshav Maharaj, 10 Lungi Ngidi, 11 Tabraiz ShamsiRahul had said before the series began that while India would look to be flexible tactically, they would ensure those selected got a good run. On that basis, it is not likely that they will make any changes to the side from the first ODI either.India (likely): 1 KL Rahul (capt), 2 Shikhar Dhawan, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Shreyas Iyer, 5 Rishabh Pant (wk), 6 Venkatesh Iyer, 7 R Ashwin, 8 Shardul Thakur, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Jasprit Bumrah, 11 Yuzvendra ChahalPitch and conditions It is set to be another hot day in Paarl. The surface is slow and aiding spin already, and the heat will dry it out further. The slowness of the pitch is balanced by the shorter boundaries. And so, like in the first ODI, the team winning the toss will look to bat in all probability.Stats and trivia Among the top ten pace bowlers in terms of ODI wickets since Jasprit Bumrah’s debut in January 2016, only he has an economy rate below five. Bumrah has the second-most wickets in this period, but his average and economy rate are both better than Trent Boult, who has the most. Keshav Maharaj has played six of his 16 ODIs at home – all in the last two years – and in four out of those six, he has paired with Tabraiz Shamsi. This is a pointer to the South African pitches not always being spin-unfriendly, as well as to South Africa having two quality spinners to call on. Quotes “Our thought process is that we are building a team for the 2023 World Cup. So there are going to be a few hiccups here and there. But we all have good clarity that we have got this bunch of players and how we have to refine them. It doesn’t matter if we lose an odd game while trying to do that because we are looking at the bigger picture.”
“Definitely a lot more in favour of the Indian players, more like a subcontinent pitch rather than a South African pitch. So that’s what makes the victory even sweeter, basically in foreign conditions, we outplayed them.”

دخلت مصر دائرة الترشيحات لاستضافة النسخة المقبلة من البطولة العربية للأندية، المقرر إقامتها خلال صيف 2025، في ظل بحث الاتحاد العربي لكرة القدم عن الدولة التي ستحتضن الحدث القاري الذي يجمع نخبة الفرق من مختلف البلدان العربية.

ووفقًا لما نشرته صحيفة “الشرق الأوسط” السعودية، فإن هناك مقترحًا قويًا بإقامة البطولة في مصر خلال الفترة من 25 يوليو إلى 11 أغسطس 2025، لتشهد منافسة قوية بين أبرز الأندية العربية، ومن بينها أندية سعودية بارزة.

طالع أيضًا | رابطة الدوري السعودي تُحدد موعد انطلاق ونهاية الموسم المُقبل 2025-2026

وشهدت النسخة الأخيرة من البطولة، التي أقيمت في السعودية عام 2023، تتويج فريق النصر السعودي باللقب بعد فوزه على الهلال في المباراة النهائية، بقيادة نجمه البرتغالي كريستيانو رونالدو.

كما شهدت مشاركة الزمالك، الذي خرج من دور المجموعات بعدما احتل المركز الثالث في مجموعته خلف النصر والشباب السعوديين.

ويسعى الاتحاد العربي خلال الفترة المقبلة لحسم هوية الدولة المستضيفة للبطولة، وسط توقعات بإجراء مشاورات مع الاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم بشأن إمكانية استضافة الحدث، خاصة في ظل امتلاك مصر للبنية التحتية القوية والملاعب المؤهلة لاستقبال هذا النوع من البطولات الكبرى.

The match was called off shortly before the toss due to Covid-19 cases in Brisbane

AAP29-Sep-2021

Dispute and discontent over a Sheffield Shield “debacle” in Brisbane has highlighted the immense challenge confronting Cricket Australia (CA) this summer.Stunning details of Tuesday’s sudden postponement of a Shield match between Queensland and Tasmania, set to feature star Marnus Labuschagne and a stack of Ashes hopefuls, have been laid bare.Queensland Cricket (QC) chief executive Terry Svenson first learned of what he termed a “rushed” and “panicked” decision via a groundsman at Ian Healy Oval.Svenson told he then called CA counterpart Nick Hockley, who at that stage was also unaware the game had been aborted because of Covid-19 cases in Brisbane that prompted Tasmania’s squad to flee the state.There is hope the sides’ first four-day match of the season will be played next week, with discussions between CA, QC and Cricket Tasmania (CT) continuing.But the circumstances that led to the postponement, which legend and QC board member Ian Healy lashed as an “absolute debacle” that “disrespected” the integrity of the Shield, underlined how this season’s schedule – domestic and international, male and female – remains a precarious beast.England are expected to name a men’s Ashes squad soon but the prospect of the final Test being staged in Perth has significantly diminished. The Shield chaos will have done little to soothe the various concerns of Joe Root’s squad.The AFL and NRL navigated another season of lockdowns, border closures and coronavirus-related scares.Part of CA’s problem is that it is trying to appease multiple state governments but also state associations – effectively its shareholders – in addition to players and foreign cricket boards. Common ground can often be hard to find.”We should still be playing,” Svenson told Healy on the latter’s radio show. “We have to be better at making decisions like this and not panicking.”That decision to postpone and ultimately cancel the match was done before we heard from the Premier and CHO [chief health officer].”There’s a flaw in the decision-making process. There has to be a sign-off process. Surely if there’s a material change in the game, has to be the CEO of Cricket Australia and the relevant state CEOs. That’s what I’ve appealed to Nick to do and Nick is aligned with my view.”Healy was stunned by the visitors’ haste. “Tasmania decides ‘we’re out’ … can you imagine the [Canterbury] Bulldogs flying home and deciding not to play a [NRL] game without Peter V’landys knowing? It’s unbelievable,” he said. “What the hell were Tasmania thinking?”CT made its decision because of fears that players could be forced to quarantine upon returning home, while it was also worried about future travel to South Australia and Western Australia.”To some extent, I certainly understand that,” Svenson said. “I would have liked to have seen them hang around for another 24 hours.”CT counterpart Dominic Baker claimed “players were happy to come home”, having debriefed with captain Matthew Wade on Tuesday.”He said the sentiment of the group was, if we can get out and get back, that’d be preferable. They don’t want to be sitting around, doing nothing,” Baker told . “No doubt there would be a level of frustration amongst the group.”