Qadeer Ahmed, the UAE medium pacer, has been banned for five years by the ICC for committing six breaches of the governing body’s anti-corruption code. Ahmed’s ban will be backdated to October 16, 2019, when he was provisionally suspended by the ICC along with his colleagues Mohammad Naveed and Shaiman Anwar, both of whom have since been handed eight-year bans.The ICC anti-corruption unit found 35-year-old Ahmed, who played 11 ODIs and ten T20Is between 2015 and 2019, guilty on counts that included failing to disclose approaches during two bilateral series the UAE played away in 2019. The first was in Zimbabwe in April, where Ahmed was offered AED 60,000-70,000 (US$ 16,000 to 19,000 approx) by the corruptors. Then, in August in Netherlands, Ahmed was again found to be in contact with corruptors, and the ACU subsequently suspended him just at the start of the 2019 World Cup qualifiers, held in Zimbabwe in October-November.The ICC said in a media statement on Wednesday that Ahmed had failed to disclose details of the approaches from corruptors, or that he provided inside information in August 2019 to a person, who had played with club cricket with him in the UAE.Related
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That person is understood to be Mehardeep Chhayakar, named “Mr Z” in the ACU findings, which were published by the ICC on Wednesday. Chhayakar knew Ahmed while playing domestic cricket in Ajman in the UAE.On Wednesday, the ICC also charged Chhayakar for breaching half a dozen counts of the anti-corruption code. He was charged for “attempting to contrive to fix aspects” of games in the Zimbabwe vs UAE series in April 2019 as well as at the Global T20 Canada league in 2019. Chhayakar was also charged with trying to “induce and/or solicit” a participant involved in both the Zimbabwe-UAE series as well as at the GT20 Canada. Chhayakar, who the ICC said has refused to cooperate with the investigation, has 14 days from April 15 (the day he was charged) to respond.Ahmed is originally from Pakistan, and has been there since leaving the UAE midway into the ACU investigation. Before that, Ahmed had attended two interviews with the ACU team, held on October 6 and 9, 2019. He would talk to the ACU team again in April 2020, before quitting midway through again.How was Ahmed approached? Ahmed told the ACU that Chhayakar had been a “close associate” and he had helped him get into various teams in the UAE club circuit. In early 2019, Chhayakar told Ahmed he could help him get into one of the T10 franchises in a tournament scheduled for November 2019 in the UAE. To that end, Chhayakar put Ahmed in touch with a “Mr Y”, who ESPNcricinfo understands is Dinesh Talwar, who is on the ACU’s list of corruptors.”[Mr Z] [Chhayakar] had previously connected him with an individual named [Mr Y] [Talwar] (a known corrupter), on the basis that [Mr Y] might be able to get him into a T10 team which [Mr Y] was looking to buy into,” the ICC elaborated.Chhayakar and Talwar then made their first approach to Ahmed just as he was preparing to leave for Zimbabwe. “About a week to 10 days before Mr Khan [Ahmed] travelled to Zimbabwe in April 2019 to participate as a member of the UAE squad in the Zimbabwe v UAE series, [Mr Z] and [Mr Y] approached him and offered him 60,000-70,000 dirhams to “do bad bowling” in the Zimbabwe v UAE series. In particular, they asked him to give away 70/80 runs while bowling.”It could not be confirmed if Ahmed ended up receiving the money. Ahmed, the ACU found, continued to meet Chhayakar, who would contact him before a series or tournament. Ahmed then shared inside information, especially of bowling plans in case he was playing, from the series against the Netherlands.”He had provided Inside Information to [Mr Z], at [Mr Z]’s request, in August 2019, namely which overs he would be bowling if he played in the Netherlands v UAE series that month.”Ahmed agreed he was aware of the ACU rules that he had breached, as he failed to come clean about being approached, being offered money, and providing inside information to corruptors. However, the ICC said that Ahmed had questioned the timing of suspending members of the UAE team just prior to the World Cup qualifiers.”He questioned why the ACU had acted against members of the UAE team prior to the start of the ICC World T20 Qualifiers in October 2019 because if it had not, he said that the ACU would have been able to collect a lot of information about corruption (i.e. inferring that the ACU’s action in questioning members of the UAE team had disrupted planned corruption).”According to the ICC, Ahmed suddenly left for Pakistan on October 11, 2019 without the knowledge of either the ACU or the Emirates Cricket Board. The ACU did track Ahmed down and conducted another interview on April 18 last year. However, Ahmed “stopped the interview halfway through, stating that he had to go to work”. Subsequently, he “refused” to complete a rescheduled interview and said he would face the ICC anti-corruption tribunal instead.Last week, on April 14, Ahmed agreed to all the ACU sanctions without facing the tribunal.Alex Marshall, general manager of the ICC’s integrity unit, said in a statement, “He [Ahmed] has accepted he did wrong and requested an agreed sanction in place of a Tribunal. His five-year period of ineligibility is a reflection of the seriousness of his breaches and the number of charges. He has accepted responsibility for his actions and expressed regret for those he has let down.”
Despite the big defeat, Rishad Hossain’s performance with ball and bat would have made Bangladesh happy
Mohammad Isam09-Mar-2024Nuwan Thushara’s five-wicket burst, including a hat-trick, after Kusal Mendis struck a 55-ball 86 handed Sri Lanka a 2-1 series win against Bangladesh in Sylhet on Saturday.Thushara blew away the Bangladesh top order with a hat-trick in his first over – the fourth of the innings. He became the sixth Sri Lankan to achieve the feat. Rishad Hossain and Taskin Ahmed, also Bangladesh’s best bowlers on the day, provided some respite with the bat, but Sri Lanka had done enough damage in that initial phase to get to a comfortable win.Rishad struck seven sixes in his 30-ball 53, the most by a Bangladesh batter and the second most by a batter batting at No. 8 or lower in the batting order. But the day belonged to Thushara.Thushara rips through BangladeshThushara, who only entered the XI because Matheesha Pathirana was ruled out with a hamstring injury, started bowling in the fourth over and immediately got the ball to swing – he got one to shape into the left-handed Najmul Hossain Shanto and rearranged his stumps.Towhid Hridoy penalised
Towhid Hridoy has been fined 15% of his match fee for “displaying conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game” in the third and final T20I against Sri Lanka. After being dismissed for a first-ball duck by Nuwan Thushara, Hridoy “turned around on his way back to the pavilion and remonstrated aggressively and inappropriately with the Sri Lankan players”, an ICC statement said. One demerit point (his first in a 24-month period) has been added to his disciplinary record as well.
Towhid Hridoy was up next, and Thushara got another one to swing similarly, this time the movement away from the right-hander. The ball ended up at the deep-third boundary, but only after uprooting the off stump.As a Sri Lankan fielder retrieved the ball, the rest became involved in an altercation with Hridoy, who had to be held back by umpire Tanvir Ahmed.The chaos gave way to the sublime when Thushara handed out that same treatment to Mahmudullah, trapping him lbw. The ball once again dipped and then swung in front of the batter. For those who witnessed the three balls, there’s bound to be debate about which was the best of the three.Kusal Mendis made 86 off 55 balls•AFP/Getty ImagesKusal Mendis puts on a showWhen Sri Lanka batted after losing the toss, Kusal Mendis was Bangladesh’s biggest threat, and he ended up scoring almost half of Sri Lanka’s 174-run total. Kusal Mendis’ 86 off 55 balls, peppered with half a dozen sixes and as many fours, was also his highest score in T20Is.This was Kusal Mendis’ sixth fifty, in eight innings, against Bangladesh, the most by any batter. He struck half of his sixes down the ground, and the other half behind the wicket. It was also a similar split when it came to his fours; two scrumptious cover drives to go with four boundaries through third and fine-leg.Rishad Hossain’s 53 off 30 balls went in vain•AFP/Getty ImagesRishad rouses quiet SylhetAfter Thushara’s hat-trick, Bangladesh’s end was near. The 18,000-plus crowd had fallen quiet already, and it became worse when Wanindu Hasaranga trapped Jaker Ali lbw to reduce Bangladesh to 32 for 6.Out of this mire came Rishad’s superb innings. He played out two overs before hitting Hasaranga for two sixes in the 11th. He then took a liking for Maheesh Theekshana, hitting him for his third six, with a sweep, and then with three slog-sweeps in the 15th over. To reach his fifty, Rishad timed a superb pull shot off Binura Fernando, before falling to Theekshana for 53 off 30 balls.With the ball, too, Rishad had a great time. He removed Kamindu Mendis in his first over with a delivery that beat the left-hander in the flight. Rishad also removed Angelo Mathews. He also got to bowl the 18th over, a clear sign that Rishad is winning the trust of his captain.
Aston Villa are now thought to be in advanced talks with a £25m “leader” over a potential move to Villa Park, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Aston Villa’s summer signings
NSWE and Monchi have been working hard behind the scenes in the Midlands to bolster Unai Emery’s squad ahead of the upcoming campaign.
With Champions League football on offer at Villa Park, the club have brought in eight new players, three of which have sealed returns to Villa in Ros Barkley, Cameron Archer and Jaden Philogene.
Aston Villa summer signings
From
Fee (Transfermarkt)
Amadou Onana
Everton
€59.35m
Ian Maatsen
Chelsea
€44.5m
Cameron Archer
Sheffield United
€16.65m
Jaden Philogene
Hull City
€16m
Samuel Iling-Junior
Juventus
€14m
Lewis Dobbin
Everton
€11.8m
Enzo Barrenechea
Juventus
€8m
Ross Barkley
Luton Town
€5.9m
The headline additions in regards to fees have been Amadou Onana and Ian Maatsen, but by the looks of things, more could be on the way before the August 30 deadline.
One specific target to emerge recently has been Feyenoord right-back Lutsharel Geertruida, with initial talks thought to be underway over a potential deal.
Approach made: Aston Villa working to sign "strong" 19 y/o gem for Emery
He’s one for the future.
ByTom Cunningham Aug 14, 2024
Valued at £25m and linked with the likes of Tottenham and Liverpool this year, Geertruida could soon be on his way to the Premier League, with Villa still working to agree personal terms.
Aston Villa in advanced Geertruida talks
Providing a new update on Aston Villa’s talks with Geertruida, Romano, talking to GiveMeSport, said that talks are advanced on the defender’s side, with Geertruida excited at the prospect of working under Emery. However, as of yet, a deal is not close with Feyenoord.
"It's ongoing [Geertruida negotiations], it's not that close yet, it's well advanced on the player's side, because the player is keen on the move to the Premier League and to the Champions League.
"Also in this case, with Aston Villa, he's really attracted by the project of Unai Emery. But with Feyenoord it's always complicated to negotiate for Geertruida. He's a really important player for them and every time important clubs try to approach Feyenoord in recent years, Leipzig last year, PSG at the beginning of this summer transfer window, it has always been a tough story.
"He's a player they love at Feyenoord, and it's never easy to negotiate with Feyenoord for Hanchko, for Geertruida, all their superstars, they love to keep those players at the club."
Lutsharel Geertruida for the Netherlands.
The Netherlands international has been described as a "leader" by football analyst Ben Mattinson on X, who added that Geertruida is both "technically secure" and "aerially strong". Aged 24, Geertruida can also play as a centre-back and even as a holding midfielder if required, as per Transfermarkt, so not only could he rival Matty Cash at right-back, but he’d also offer versatility in other areas.
A move looks like it will be one to watch with Villa being in advanced talks with the player and his representatives, with time ticking until the deadline.
Ruben Amorim's move to Manchester United means his wife, Maria Joao Diogo, is now set to become the rival of one of her best friends.
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Amorim appointed new Man Utd head coach
His wife runs business with Hugo Viana's partner
Viana heading to Man City in summer
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Amorim has been appointed as Erik ten Hag's successor at Manchester United and will be charged with knocking Manchester City off their perch and bringing the biggest titles back to Old Trafford. The 39-year-old's wife will join him in Manchester, where she will be reunited with close friend and business partner Raquel Viana. Raquel is the wife of Hugo Viana, who will replace Txiki Begiristain as director of football at Manchester City at the end of the season.
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Maria Joao Diogo and Raquel are both interior designers and run a business together but their friendship may face a new challenge after Amorim and Viana come up against each other in Manchester. The two worked together at Sporting, and enjoyed great success, but will now be city rivals vying for glory. Amorim has already enjoyed success against City since being appointed United boss. His Sporting team ran out 4-1 winners against Pep Guardiola's side in the Champions League on Tuesday night, with some fans already hailing the coach as 'the new Sir Alex Ferguson'.
DID YOU KNOW?
The interior design company owned by Maria Joao Diogo and Raquel is called Dois Tons. A recent social media post explained how the company's aim is to “create spaces with a unique identity” through their use of “color palette, textures and which are an extension of their history".
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WHAT NEXT FOR AMORIM
Amorim's first game in charge of Manchester United is against Ipswich Town on November 23. The new boss will come up against Manchester City for the first time in the Premier League on December 15.
Ian Wright issued a hilarious X-rated response to Alan Shearer after Arsenal suffered a narrow 1-0 loss to Newcastle at St James' Park.
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Newcastle edged out ArsenalIsak scored winner against GunnersWright & Shearer had a hilarious face-off after the gameFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The Magpies emerged triumphant thanks to a first-half goal from Alexander Isak, which was a major blow to the title ambitions of the Gunners as they slipped to fourth place in the Premier League standings. Manchester City also went down to Bournemouth which allowed Liverpool to seize the top spot after their own comeback victory over Brighton.
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Former Newcastle striker Shearer was quick to capitalise on the win by poking fun at Wright, an Arsenal legend and a staunch supporter of the Gunners. Known for their history together on punditry, Shearer and Wright have a longstanding friendship that often spills over into good-natured banter, especially when their teams clash.
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WHAT WRIGHT & SHEARER SAID
This weekend, it was Shearer’s turn to boast after his former club triumphed over Arsenal. Recovering from a recent knee replacement surgery, Wright is currently using a wheelchair, but that didn’t stop him from giving Shearer a feisty response as he spotted the former striker filming a video with a mischievous grin.
Wright, clearly unfazed, quipped "F*** off," as he chuckled, while Shearer, undeterred, replied, "It was only 1-0." Unamused by the continued taunting, Wright shot back, "F***ing shut your mouth," with a death stare at the ex-striker.
Lionel Messi will reportedly feature in FIFA's 2025 Club World Cup as Inter Miami will compete with Manchester City and Real Madrid for global glory.
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Inter Miami to be invited for 2025 CWC
CONCACAF have one additional spot
FIFA set to award the ticket to Inter Miami
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WHAT HAPPENED?
According to the South Florida-based team has reportedly secured the final Major League Soccer (MLS) spot for the prestigious global competition, set to take place in the summer of 2025.
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Inter Miami's selection for the Club World Cup stems from FIFA’s decision to award Concacaf an additional slot in the tournament. This extra spot was granted as the U.S. is hosting the tournament. While MLS had no direct say in which team would represent the league, it provided FIFA with potential candidates, leaving the governing body to make the final decision. Now, reported that Inter Miami, the 2024 Supporters' Shield winner, would claim the coveted spot.
DID YOU KNOW?
For the first time in its history, the FIFA Club World Cup will feature 32 teams, marking a significant expansion from the previous format, which hosted just seven teams. The revamped tournament, scheduled from June 15 to July 13, 2025, will be held across multiple venues in the United States. FIFA has allocated 12 spots to European clubs (UEFA), six to South American teams (CONMEBOL), and four each to clubs from North America and the Caribbean (CONCACAF), Asia (AFC), and Africa (CAF). The remaining spot is reserved for Oceania (OFC). Some of the confirmed teams for the competition include Manchester City, who qualified as the 2022-23 Champions League winners, and Real Madrid, who earned their spot as winners of both the 2021-22 and 2023-24 Champions League titles. Inter Miami, guided by the legendary Messi, will now join these European powerhouses in their quest for supremacy.
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WHAT NEXT FOR INTER MIAMI?
Before gearing up for the Club World Cup, Messi will return to action for Miami as they face the New England Revolution in their next MLS fixture on Saturday. The team currently sits at the top of the Eastern Conference standings, and Messi’s continued leadership will be crucial as they aim to set the record for most points (74) in a league campaign.
O diretor de futebol do São Paulo, Carlos Belmonte, explicou, nesta terça-feira (31), os valores e detalhes das contratações de Jonathan Calleri e Gabriel Neves. A dupla foi contratada e anunciada pelo Tricolor na segunda-feira (30), o dia de fechamento da janela de transferências internacionais.
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CONFIRA A TABELA ATUALIZADA E SIMULE OS JOGOS DO BRASILEIRÃO DE 2021!
Segundo informado por Belmonte durante participação em live no ‘Canal do Nicola’, do jornalista Jorge Nicola, no YouTube, Gabriel Neves não chegou ao Tricolor por empréstimo, como foi inicialmente divulgado.
– Os empresários fizeram um acerto direto do Nacional e ele ficou livre do Nacional. Estamos pagando US$ 300 mil a título de luvas e ficamos com 60% dos direitos econômicos. Ao final da temporada de 2022, decidimos se devolvemos os direitos aos empresários ou adquirimos o jogador em definitivo – informou Belmonte.
Quem divulgou que o atleta havia fechado por empréstimo foi o próprio Nacional-URU, time que Gabriel Neves defendia antes de fechar com o Tricolor. Em uma nota de despedida publicada pelo clube, foi afirmado que Neves foi transferido por empréstimo com opção de compra até o fim de 2022, mas, segundo o anúncio oficial do São Paulo, o vínculo pode ser estendido até o dia 31 de dezembro de 2025.
O outro contratado, Jonathan Calleri, também tem vínculo com o São Paulo até o fim de 2022. No caso do argentino, a transferência foi, de fato, feita através de um empréstimo. O Deportivo Maldonado-URU emprestou o atleta pelo mesmo valor que o Tricolor pagou por Neves, US$ 300 mil (R$ 1,5 milhão).
Ao final do contrato de empréstimo, o São Paulo tem a opção de contratar o atacante em definitivo, pelo valor de US$ 3 milhões (R$ 15 milhões).
O diretor de futebol afirmou que os valores dos empréstimos serão pagos em três parcelas. A primeira será quitada pelo São Paulo em dezembro deste ano, enquanto as outras duas deverão ser pagas ao longo de 2022. O clube passa por dificuldades financeiras, com uma dívida superior a R$ 600 milhões.
O São Paulo está em processo final de regularização de Gabriel Neves e Jonathan Calleri. O meia uruguaio fará o restante dos exames médicos hoje (31) e deve ser apresentado nos próximos dias. Já o atacante argentino é esperado no Brasil na quinta-feira (1).
Sunrisers still to get off the mark in RHF Trophy after 49-run defeat
ECB Reporters Network11-Sep-2020Southern Vipers 232 (Adams 89) beat Sunrisers 183 (Norris 3-37) by 49 runsGeorgia Adams led by example with a fine 89 as Southern Vipers continued their 100 percent record in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy with a 49-run victory over Sunrisers.Vipers captain Adams was the only player to score more than 39 on a tricky slow wicket as she took her season tally to 225 runs.Left arm seamer Tara Norris claimed 3 for 37 to take her to 11 scalps in the competition, while Maia Bouchier snaffled three stunning catches as winless Sunrisers could only reach 183 in reply.Adams, having won the toss and chosen to bat, was involved in a run-out with opening partner Ella McCaughan and was dropped on three in the opening stages.But she took the lead with partnerships of 34, 64, 41 and 44 with Bouchier, Charlie Dean, Paige Scholfield and Emily Windsor.It was the partnership with Dean, who struck 39 off 41 balls despite a sluggish start, which sped up the run rate and laid the platform for an above par score.Adams excelled at waiting for short balls and thrashing into the leg side, scoring 61 of her runs between square and straight, and reached her half-century in 80 balls.She departed when she was run out, one of four Vipers batters dismissed in the manner, as the hosts lost three wickets for one run.But the tail, led by Carla Rudd’s 19, managed to add 48 in the last 10 overs to set Sunrisers 233 to win.Sunrisers’ chase saw full-time professionals Amara Carr and Cordelia Griffith fall within the first seven balls.Lissy MacLeod (35) and Naomi Dattani (20) added 48 for the third wicket and Katie Castle and Jo Gardner put on 63 for the sixth wicket.But despite the partnerships, Vipers controlled the chase with accurate bowling, with Norris’ treble, joined by two-fors for spinners Charlie Dean (2 for 35) and Providence Cowdrill (2 for 21).
Cristiano Ronaldo released a short biographical documentary on YouTube that captured the incredible journey of his football career.
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Ronaldo releases tale of his rise to stardom on YouTube
Reveals he wants to be remembered
Ronaldo received special award from UEFA last month
WHAT HAPPENED?
The documentary shows the journey of a small boy in Madeira who grew up to be one of the most decorated players in the history of the game. In the short film, Ronaldo speaks about how he wants to be remembered and what still motivates him at 39 to keep scoring goals for club and country and win awards.
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The Al-Nassr star was recently honoured with a special award at the 2024-25 Champions League draw as UEFA recognised him as the competition's all-time highest goalscorer. The Portuguese star netted 140 times in 183 appearances.
WHAT CRISTIANO RONALDO SAID
The film starts with Ronaldo on his way to receive UEFA's special award where he is being asked how he would like to be remembered, to which the player says, "I will say, unique player. In life, a good man. For me, it's the most important thing."
He then added, "Honestly, never. I never thought one day I'd be on this stage. I always believed that I was going to be a professional player. But the rest, no. My whole life, it's about challenge. I left my house as an 11-year-old to live in a big city. So for me, it's easy. I change Madeira to Lisbon, Lisbon to England., England to Italy, Italy to I'm back in Spain. For me, it's not a problem, it's part of my life. I'm used to having this kind of a life."
Later in the video, he was asked about his feelings about getting the award to which the former Real Madrid and Manchester United star said, "For me, it's a pleasure. To be recognised in this competition for all-time top scorer. It's a unique trophy for a unique player, I'm joking. So I'm happy. When I receive trophies, I am always thinking of my family, especially my kids. They still see daddy receiving awards, daddy scoring goals and playing football. For me, it's amazing. It's my motivation to carry on playing."
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WHAT NEXT FOR CRISTIANO RONALDO?
After being left out of the club's King's Cup clash against Al Hazm on Monday, the veteran star is expected to be back in action on Friday as Al-Nassr take on Al-Wehda in a Saudi Pro League clash.