تحدث إيهاب الكومي إيهاب الكومي، عضو مجلس إدارة الاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم، فيما يخص الدوري المصري للموسم المقبل.
وقال إيهاب الكومي في تصريحات عبر قناة “صدى البلد”: “موسم طويل جدًا وشاق انتهى، سنبدأ موسمًا جديدًا، هل هو موسم استثنائي؟ أعتقد أننا نسير في هذا الطريق، المناسب للموسم المقبل هو تطبيق دوري المحترفين”.
وأوضح: “ما يتردد بأن الدوري من مجموعتين مع إلغاء الهبوط هو درب من الخيال، هل نعود بالكرة للوراء أو للأمام، إلغاء الهبوط في الدوري الممتاز يترتب عليه إلغاء الهبوط في كل الدرجات وهذا غير صحيح ومستحيل تنفيذه”.
طالع أيضاً.. محامي الزمالك يوضح موقف أحمد فتوح حال التصالح مع أهل المتوفي
واختتم: “معلوماتي المشرف على المسابقات في رابطة الأندية عامر حسين، عمل تصورين لـ الدوري المصري بالشكل الحالي، أو نظام استثنائي بإقامة الدوري مثل دوري المحترفين في الموسم الماضي”.
Virat Kohli has said it has been made clear to Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul that their controversial comments made on an Indian TV show, which has left them facing a suspension, are not acceptable and the personal opinions are not the view of the India team.Pandya and Rahul appeared on a talk show on Sunday where their comments – Pandya’s in particular – came in for widespread criticism and raised concerns over the team culture. The BCCI issued the players a show-cause notice to which Pandya responded with an apology to the board.”From the Indian cricket team point of view, any inappropriate comments that are made in that scenario are something that we definitely don’t support and the two concerned players felt what has gone wrong and they have understood the magnitude of what’s happened,” Kohli said at the SCG ahead of the opening ODI against Australia. “Definitely it has to hit anyone hard, they will definitely understand the things that have not gone right.”We, definitely, as the Indian cricket team do not support views like that and that has been communicated. I can definitely say that as the Indian cricket team and responsible cricketers we definitely don’t align with those views and those are purely individual views.”We are still waiting for a decision to be made but from the Indian cricket team point of view this changes nothing in terms of our beliefs in the change room. It does nothing to the spirit that we’ve been able to create within the change room and these are purely individual opinions and something as I said which is inappropriate.”While the controversy is dealt with by the Committee of Administrators (CoA), which is overseeing the BCCI, it creates a headache for Kohli ahead of the first ODI on Saturday, especially the uncertainty around Pandya’s availability given how key he is to balancing the India line-up as the seam-bowling allounder in the middle order.Kohli acknowledged the outcome of the process may require the team to rethink their plans, but was confident that with Ravindra Jadeja in the squad, they had the options to cover for Pandya even though Jadeja is a spin-bowling allrounder.”From the combination and team balance point of view, yes, you’ll have to think about the combination you’ll need now,” Kohli said. “You don’t have control over these things so you have to address it the way it unfolds. That’s how we are looking at it, the combinations will have to be looked at when the decision comes out and from there on we’ll see what needs to be done about the whole situation.”
Australia’s Test squad announcement had arrived ahead of the selectors’ preferred schedule, and the coach did not deny this
Daniel Brettig22-Nov-2018It was the Britpop songsmith Jarvis Cocker who penned a tune in 2009 called “Further Complications”, in which he pondered how many of his former certainties had been replaced by questions, doubts and imperfect choices. “I used to think that people all chose the lives they led, but so many different choices that you’ve got to make instead; Don’t write a novel, a shopping list is better, it’s a complicated boogie and I don’t know any better, baby…”That year happened to be the start of Justin Langer’s coaching journey, having concluded his final stint as a county batsman for Middlesex. He was an assistant for Australia until late 2012, then a broadly successful coach of Western Australia and the Perth Scorchers until earlier this year. But nothing truly prepared him for the magnitude of coaching the national team in the wake of the Newlands scandal, a fact he has wrestled with ever more visibly since the day he was first unveiled on a four-year deal in May.Thursday’s Test squad announcement was yet another, being the biggest Cricket Australia makes each year and thus part of a far bigger eco-system of events, marketing and media than the selectors simply naming a squad and informing which players are in and out of the group to face India in Adelaide from December 6. An extended 14-man squad, featuring an extra batsman and two extra pace bowlers, suggested the announcement had arrived ahead of the selectors’ preferred schedule – which would have included a sight of the final Sheffield Shield game before the start of Test preparations – and Langer did not deny this.”I’m learning this business is a lot more complex than it could be maybe,” Langer said. “There’s lots of reasons. For example, if we’d named it the day after the next Shield game, we’ve got to go the next morning to Adelaide so the players have to have some idea. We also know that if we let some players know they’re going, so their managers will know and the whole world will know about it, because you’ve all got good contacts however you’ve got them, which we’ve all got, which is all great.”So it’s not as simple. I would say let’s just name it after the next Shield game, give the other guys who did miss out or the guys who are in a good chance, that’d be perfect, but it’s a more complex world than it probably needs to be but actually is, because a lot goes in to putting the Australian cricket team on the park and being ready for a Test match.””A lot” included sufficient time to prepare an elaborate video including all the nominated players in graphic form, set against the backdrop of a backyard cricket match, in line with CA’s ‘it’s your game’ slogan for the summer. This effort has been devised to try to reconnect the players to the public after the fateful events of South Africa.
“The reality is right at this moment, when you lose the three Test batters we’ve lost through suspension, then there’s going to be spots up for grabs. I think it’s important to keep giving people opportunities to put their name up to play Test cricket for Australia.”
It’s hardly the first time that the Australian selectors have, when confronted by doubts about who to choose, attempted to choose more than would be the standard number of players. Infamously in 2010 the panel named a 17-man squad for a pre-planned announcement of that year’s first Ashes Test, live on Channel Nine, which was rather undermined by heavy rain that saw it watched by a soggy handful at Circular Quay. If this announcement was a little less uncertain, Langer said the gulf left by the banned David Warner, Steven Smith and Cameron Bancroft could not be ignored.”The reality is right at this moment, and we’re all very aware of this, when you lose the three Test batters we’ve lost through suspension, then there’s going to be spots up for grabs,” he said. “I think it’s important to keep giving people opportunities to put their name up to play Test cricket for Australia, so every opportunity whether white-ball or red-ball cricket is an opportunity to put your name up to be selected.”Plenty of other complications have confronted Langer over the past six months, from a schedule that has bounded somewhat breathtakingly between formats, and the juggling of a support staff that remained contracted in the wake of Darren Lehmann’s departure, to the many and varied criticisms of past players, not least the ever outspoken and unavoidably visible Shane Warne. Little wonder Langer has looked at times like a student who has mistakenly walked into a different exam to the one they revised for.”The scheduling has been the biggest challenge for me coming into this role, just looking at the scheduling,” he said. “We played some one-dayers in England then we went to the UAE played two Tests matches, three T20s, came back a week later played three one-dayers against South Africa, a T20, now a T20 series and then a Test series Thursday week.”I’ve said for many years the great players adapt, whatever the colour of the ball and the great teams have to adapt as well. Gaining that continuity of team is one of the challenges I reckon, but that’s the reality of the business we’re in. It is no doubt one of the big challenges as well.”Underpinning all this of course is the question of the Australian team’s very identity, so publicly dissected by the Longstaff and McCosker review of CA’s culture. South Africa’s captain Faf du Plessis, described as “speaking with a forked tongue” by the former Board director and now commentator Mark Taylor recently, had described the team he faced in the recent victories as “tame”, a term that Langer railed at.”I’m not sure where the tame came from, we played really well in the second game, we batted poorly in the first game, and in the third game we played brilliantly for the first 35 overs with the ball and they got away from us,” he said. “Shaun Marsh’s hundred was excellent, Marcus Stoinis, if you saw his reaction in Adelaide I wouldn’t say that was tame, that was really passionate, it means a lot to the boys. they’re hurting at the moment, their confidence is down. I’m not sure what people want from us.”On the one hand we were too aggressive, the Australian team too aggressive and probably stepped over the line, now we’re getting called tame. You saw the way the guys are going about their business again last night. I’ve said from the start, there’s no room for abuse in the game of cricket, there’s no room for it, but we’ve got to play good, hard cricket. That’s what fans want to see, that’s what Australia want to see I think.”But amid all the questions, the second-guesses and the further complications, Langer has been able to glimpse moments of improvement, points of progress and reasons for some hope. Whether it was Shaun Marsh’s centuries in the England series, Usman Khawaja’s epic contributions in Dubai, or Marcus Stoinis’ recent emergence as a 21st century late overs “iceman” in the vein of a young Steve Waugh, the green (and gold) shoots can be found while digging in the dirt. A scrappy win over India in the opening T20I at the Gabba gave Langer some reason to smile.”I just loved how brave the boys were last night,” he said. “The way they fielded, the way they batted they were brave, they had a red hot dip last night. That’s what Australians are good at, aren’t we. We get to a point of ‘we’ve had enough of this, when are we going to turn it round’ and hopefully that was some really good signs last night.”There were some challenging overs with the ball, but let’s not underestimate we’re bowling to some great players. It’s going to be an arm wrestle all summer I think, India are a very good team, but there’s some really good signs. Winning’s more fun than losing.”Overcoming the many complications of his new world will be a key to how successful Langer turns out to be. And for all the imperfections inherent in naming a Test squad so far out from the toss of the coin, the fundamental soundness of the Australian team’s composition was a decidedly promising sign.
Derby County are believed to be in the race to sign an exciting youth international in the January transfer window, according to a fresh update.
Derby transfer news
The Rams have made a solid enough start to the 2023/24 season, going into the campaign as arguably one of the favourites to seal promotion from League One to the Championship.
Last Saturday, Paul Warne's side eased to an impressive 3-0 victory at home to Barnsley, and in the process, it meant that they drew level on points with their opponents. Derby are seventh in the table going into the final international break of the year, now only sitting outside the playoff places on goal difference.
While the Rams are showing positive signs of being right in the mix for promotion come the end of the season, bringing in some new faces in January could act as a further boost to Warne, as fixtures come thick and fast, and legs potentially start to tire within the squad.
Derby are reportedly interested in signing Ali Al-Hamadi from AFC Wimbledon in the winter window, seeing him as a good option to bring in, and a fresh claim suggests that they could also snap him up as a long-term addition.
Derby send scouts to cup final
Football League World relayed an update from TEAMtalk that suggests that Derby one of the clubs who are interested in signing young Irish midfielder Adam Murphy, potentially signing him in January after scouts watched St Patrick's Athletic in cup final action last weekend.
Derby County manager Paul Warne.
"Murphy has been excellent in his breakthrough season at St. Patricks and was watched by a collection of academy scouts during the Irish cup final at the weekend. Sources say at least 10 clubs had a representative in attendance.
"Man City have been confirmed to TEAMtalk as one of those clubs and are looking to add more Irish talent into their ranks. They have watched the 18-year-old on several occasions this season and are understood to be keen on his signature.
"Derby County and Southampton also had scouts watching the final as they try to find the best young talent in the country to help them back to the English Premier League. There is major competition, and they will face a challenge to convince the teenager to join their ranks."
Not a huge amount is known about Murphy as a player, which is only natural because he plays for St Patrick's in Ireland, but such a scramble for his signature suggests that he is someone who could have a massive future in the game. The fact that Manchester City are mentioned as potential suitors is particularly eye-catching and makes the idea of Derby signing him instead even more enticing.
James Collins
7
Martyn Waghorn
6
Nathaniel Mendez-Laing
4
Conor Hourihane
3
Conor Washington
3
Murphy already has 10 caps and two goals for the Republic of Ireland's Under-15s, and will now hope to mark his mark in older age groups, with the Irishman still only 18 years of age. A pre-contract agreement in January can be agreed with any club and could cost £200,000 – so the Rams could look to make it happen, planning for the future rather than simply the present.
Leeds United have been in inspired form recently in the Championship, only losing one of their five games last month – Daniel Farke's men coming unstuck at Stoke City in a narrow 1-0 defeat, Patrick Bamford missing a penalty on the night.
A convincing 4-1 win versus Huddersfield Town saw the Whites respond immediately to his minor setback, with Crysencio Summerville starring at Elland Road with two goals.
However, the Dutch winger was substituted off versus the Terriers owing to a knock. This could give Wilfried Gnonto an opportunity to fill in for the 22-year-old, a change expected to be made by Farke for Leeds' trip to runaway Championship leaders Leicester City.
The German could pick this starting XI for the away game at the King Power Stadium…
1 GK – Illan Meslier
Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier.
Leeds' first choice goalkeeper Illan Meslier should retain his spot in between the sticks for this Friday night clash, everpresent under Farke in the Championship this campaign with the 23-year-old picking up five clean sheets from 15 games played.
2 RB – Jamie Shackleton
Breaking into the Leeds starting line-up against Huddersfield, Jamie Shackleton – who is a homegrown talent with the Whites after coming through their Academy – should also be picked by Farke to take up the right-back spot against the Foxes. He could have his work cut out for him, however, potentially facing off against Abdul Fatawu.
3 CB – Liam Cooper
Leeds United captain Liam Cooper
Liam Cooper could come into the side versus Leicester the Scottish centre-back very much part of the furniture at Leeds with the 32-year-old accumulating 272 appearances for the club. Missing recently due to an injury niggle, Farke could utilise his experience at the King Power to thwart a rampant Foxes team.
Pascal Struijk has also been at Elland Road for some time now, joining the Whites back in 2018. Like Meslier, the Dutch defender is yet to miss a Championship match this season so will be one of the first names on Farke's team sheet.
5 LB – Sam Byram
Leeds defender Sam Byram.
Returning to his boyhood club this summer from Norwich City, Sam Byram has slotted back in nicely as an experienced 30-year-old. Having even scored against Watford in a 3-0 home win back in September, Leeds' number 25 should start once more down the channels on Friday night.
6 CDM – Glen Kamara
Finland international Glen Kamara.
Playing in the Champions League with Rangers last campaign, Glen Kamara's move to Leeds was met with a degree of intrigue at what the Finnish midfielder could provide the Whites centrally. The 28-year-old only has one assist to his name so far, but his quiet work off the ball allows Leeds to tick and he should start again versus the Foxes.
7 CDM – Ethan Ampadu
Ethan Ampadu has turned into a much-loved figure at Elland Road since joining the club on loan, putting in consistent battling displays from defensive midfield. Winning five of his seven ground duels versus Huddersfield, as per Sofascore, the ex-RB Leipzig man could provide the necessary grit to stop Leicester's free-flowing game.
8 RW – Dan James
Dan James
Often a scapegoat when Leeds are performing poorly, Dan James has shone in the Championship this campaign to date to answer back to his critics. Contributing to seven goals this season from the right wing, the 26-year-old will hope he can help his team pull off an incredible win at Leicester.
9 CAM – Joel Piroe
Leeds forward Joel Piroe.
Joel Piroe has settled into his new West Yorkshire surroundings without any difficulties, the former Swansea City striker netting five times this season for Leeds from an unorthodox attacking midfield slot. Can he add another strike to his Whites resume at the King Power?
10 Wilfried Gnonto
Leeds United forward Wilfried Gnonto.
Leeds' "pocket rocket" – as hailed by pundit Tam McManus – could well benefit from Summerville's injury concerns if the Dutchman is ruled out of contention for the Foxes clash, the Italian on the periphery at Elland Road after a move to Everton failed to materialise. This could be his chance to impress again, the diminutive attacker netting twice in the Premier League last season.
Arsenal were back in action in the Champions League last night, as Mikel Arteta saw his side get back to winning ways in Europe by defeating Sevilla 2-1 at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium.
After losing against RC Lens in the second fixture of Group B, it was integral that the Gunners registered a win against the Spanish outfit, which was achieved and saw the north Londoners take back control of the group.
It wasn’t the easiest fixture for Arsenal to squeeze a result from, highlighted by their mere 44% of possession over the 90 minutes played in Seville, however it took two moments of Brazilian excellence to get the win.
Gabriel Jesus was crowned Man of the Match for his display in Spain, in which he scored and assisted in emphatic style to showcase his individual brilliance during a high-intensity affair.
Three key passes, two big chances created, a goal, an assist and a 92% pass completion rate capped off a mesmerising display for Jesus, via Sofascore, however, his performance was overshadowed by his premature exit.
Nine minutes from full-time, the 26-year-old pulled up clutching his hamstring and was forced to withdraw early, which spiked some concern for Arsenal over the potential severity of his injury.
What is Gabriel Jesus’ injury?
After the game, Arteta faced the media and was asked to comment on his striker’s injury, to which the Spaniard admitted his worry.
The Arsenal boss said that he was “really sad” to see his number nine exit the game, explaining that he “felt something in his hamstring” which put a slight damper on the evening.
Arteta took the time to wax lyrical over the Brazilian, exclaiming that his forward had “changed our world”, following his arrival from Manchester City last summer.
Jesus has benefitted Arsenal in ways far beyond scoring goals, adding a tireless presence to the front line and an innate energy, making his trouble with keeping fit even more agonising.
What is Gabriel Jesus’ injury history?
In his almost 16 months in north London, Jesus has changed the trajectory of Arsenal’s belief going forward, but has also hugely had his, and the club’s, progression halted due to injury.
As per Transfermarkt, Jesus has missed over 120 days due to injury, with both instances stemming from his knee injury sustained whilst representing Brazil at the 2022 World Cup.
The forward required surgery to fix such an issue, and when the problem recurred prior to the start of the 2023/24 Premier League campaign, he underwent further procedures to restore his fitness.
While the majority of Jesus’ injury history is made up of knee-related woes, he has faced time on the sidelines previously in his career due to hamstring concerns.
During his time at the Etihad, the Brazilian was absent for a recorded total of 38 days due to hamstring problems, suggesting that it could be a weak spot for the striker, who was forced off against Sevilla for that reason.
Despite Arteta’s initial concerns, Arsenal’s number nine downplayed the extent of his injury to the media, saying that it didn’t “look that big” following physio tests in Seville.
What games could Gabriel Jesus miss?
In September, Gabriel Martinelli was absent for four games due to a hamstring injury that he sustained against Everton, which at first was not deemed to be too severe.
Speaking on the wingers’ injury, Doctor Rajpal Brar explained on Twitter X that hamstring injuries can take around two weeks to recover depending on the location of the blow.
If Jesus faced the same recovery span, the Brazilian would be absent from around four games for Arsenal, where the Gunners play Sheffield United and Newcastle United in the Premier League, and West Ham United and Sevilla in the respective cup competitions.
Arsenal fixtures over the next 14 days
Date
Opponent
H/A
Competition
28/10/23
Sheffield United
H
Premier League
01/11/23
West Ham United
A
Carabao Cup
04/11/23
Newcastle United
A
Premier League
08/11/23
Sevilla
H
Champions League
It would be a big miss for Arteta to have to revise his options going forward in such critical fixtures, yet after missing Jesus for the start of the season, it’s not a scenario that is alien to the Spaniard.
Who could replace Gabriel Jesus?
In terms of established forwards, Arteta has three potential candidates that could replace Jesus in leading the line, with Eddie Nketiah, Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard the most identifiable trio.
Each forward brings different qualities, with neither of them showcasing a skill set as complete as the Brazilian, as portrayed in the table below that documents their per 90 averages over the past year.
Arsenal striker's stats per 90 over the past 365 days
Gabriel Jesus
Eddie Nketiah
Leandro Trossard
Kai Havertz
Non-penalty xG
0.54
0.53
0.22
0.34
Non-penalty goals
0.44
0.31
0.26
0.15
Progressive carries
2.09
2.17
2.92
2.05
Successful take-ons
2.04
0.98
1.15
0.61
Shot creating actions
3.31
2.48
3.49
2.54
Total shots
3.36
3.15
1.67
2.54
Tackles
1.75
0.83
0.83
1.28
Figures via FBref
That being said, when it comes to evidence with reference to actually playing in Arteta’s side, only one player stands out as being the most efficient, with Trossard being the better fit out of Nketiah and Havertz.
Once lauded as “outstanding” by Tim Sherwood, the Belgian was praised by the former Tottenham manager as being someone that “just affects football matches”, touching on his ability to both score and assist.
Usually deployed as a winger, Trossard has shown a streak of potency when called upon at Arsenal, reinforced by his five goals and 11 assists from only 15 starts since his arrival in January.
Arsenal winger Leandro Trossard.
Havertz is best deployed in midfield, and is low on confidence after his shaky start to life in north London, leaving Nketiah as the main competition for the former Brighton ace to battle for a starting spot up front.
Why isn’t Leandro Trossard starting?
While Trossard’s quality is unquestionable, Arsenal’s wingers are untouchable, with Bukayo Saka and Martinelli’s status in the favoured XI consistently confirmed by their star performances week in and week out.
The 28-year-old’s claim to starting games for Arteta’s side is more likely to come in a more central role, with an opportunity there for him to replace Jesus if his injury is severe.
With Sheffield United up next in the Premier League, the manager may have the perfect opportunity to give Trossard a starting spot over Nketiah, whose potency as a number nine is questionable.
The Blades are a team bruised by their start to the 2023/24 campaign, recording only a single point from their opening nine games and having conceded a mammoth 24 goals, the most so far in the league.
Trossard’s ability to finish his chances gives him the slight upper hand on Nketiah, who has a conversion rate of just 10% from his opening nine league appearances this term.
The Englishman averages 2.2 shots per game, recording an average of just 0.4 on target, telling the tale of his lack of a clinical streak in the final third.
As for Trossard, the Belgian has a remarkable 100% goal conversion rate in the Premier League this season, having scored the same number of goals as Nketiah with two, despite playing four games fewer.
Arteta’s £27m forward could be the perfect figure to replace Jesus in the instance of an absence, with his experience and prolific nature in front of goal being far more dangerous than that of Nketiah.
Andre Russell, Alzarri Joseph and Kieran Powell have been recalled to the West Indies side for their three-match ODI series against Bangladesh beginning July 22
ESPNcricinfo staff16-Jul-2018Allrounder Andre Russell is set to play his first ODI for West Indies since November 2015 after being named in a 13-man squad for the three-match series against Bangladesh beginning on July 22 in Guyana.Fast bowler Alzarri Joseph and batsman Kieran Powell also earned recalls while Marlon Samuels, Carlos Brathwaite, Nikita Miller, Sheldon Cottrell and Kesrick Williams were dropped from the ODI squad, after they played in the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe to clinch a spot for West Indies at next year’s World Cup.West Indies ODI squad
Jason Holder (capt), Devendra Bishoo, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope (wk), Alzarri Joseph, Evin Lewis, Jason Mohammed, Ashley Nurse, Keemo Paul, Kieran Powell, Rovman Powell, Andre Russell In: Alzarri Joseph, Kieran Powell, Andre Russell Out: Carlos Brathwaite, Sheldon Cottrell, Nikita Miller, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels, Kesrick Williams
Russell’s last ODI for West Indies came nearly three years ago against Sri Lanka in the first ODI in Colombo. He scored 41 off 24 balls but also suffered a leg injury that kept him out of the following two matches in the series. That match is the only ODI Russell has played since the 2015 World Cup.He had been suspended for a year in January 2017 after he was found guilty of an anti-doping violation. Russell was charged with failing to file his whereabouts paperwork three times within a year, which amounts to a failed doping test under World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules.After the ban, he returned to 50-over cricket for Jamaica in the Regional Super50 tournament but withdrew himself from consideration for the West Indies squad for the World Cup Qualifier in March, allegedly because he wanted to regain his confidence in the format first. Instead, he chose to play in the Pakistan Super League during the same time frame.”Great to have Dre Russ back as well,” West Indies coach Stuart Law said in a CWI press release announcing the squad for the Bangladesh series. “His explosive power and energy will breathe life into an already motivated squad.”Aside from the five players dropped, Kemar Roach was rested for the ODIs in what the selectors described as managing player workloads in the lead-up to next year’s World Cup. Roach was also rested for the second Test against Bangladesh after picking up a hamstring strain in the first Test and was replaced in the squad by Joseph.
Moeen Ali returned to his first home at Edgbaston with runs and wickets to take Worcestershire into the semi-finals and bring heartache for his former county
George Dobell07-Jun-2018 ScorecardWhen Moeen Ali left Warwickshire a dozen or so years ago, the club made a point of confirming that he would always be made welcome on his return.But they probably didn’t mean like this. For here Moeen, with three wickets and a century of the highest class, guaranteed his ‘new’ side,Worcestershire, a home semi-final and at the same time sentenced Warwickshire, their local rivals, to the exit.In what became, effectively, a knock-out match – Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire both leapfrogged Warwickshire with their victories – Moeenhelped Worcestershire withstand a blistering opening spell from Olly Stone on the way to his first List A century in domestic cricket forfive years. The previous one was also against Warwickshire at Edgbaston. There’s no place like home.In truth, a wonderful game – full of moments of youthful brilliance – deserved better than the moment that sealed it: Keith Barker skiddingon a dewy outfield and allowing a single to become a boundary. That tied the scores and meant there was no way Warwickshire couldprogress. Worcestershire’s home semi-final was guaranteed moments later when Ed Barnard, admirably calm amid the mounting drama, forced one through the off side field for four.It is often said there is no pace in county cricket. But here Warwickshire – even without the injured Chris Woakes – fielded twoyoung men capable of generating 90 mph. Both Stone – who was timed at 91.4 mph at one stage – and Henry Brookes – who was timed at 89.6 – hurried and harried the Worcestershire batsmen and shared seven wickets between them. To see an international batsman, CallumFerguson, beaten for pace by Stone was heartening. To see 18-year-old Brookes – who beat Brett D’Oliveira for pace – lose little bycomparison will have had selectors taking note. To see Brookes relishing the responsibility and rising to the moment was to see aspecial talent start to blossom. Warwickshire – and probably England – may well have unearthed a gem here.Only Moeen appeared to enjoy the extra pace. Upon a surface on which Worcestershire’s attack had relied on cutters, Warwickshire’s somewhat unsophisticated approach – if fast doesn’t work then bowl faster – played into his hands a bit. Moeen equalled his own record (Joe Leach shares it) for Worcestershire’s fastest List A half-century: a 25-ball affair that included three sixes; the best of them a drive overlong-on off Stone.He hasn’t been in much form since returning from the IPL. His last three innings had produced 10 runs and two ducks. But here, presented with a relatively big occasion – there was a time such a game would have generated a crowd in excess of 10,000 – and a chance to put one over on Worcestershire rich neighbours, he looked imperious.With nobody else in the top five able to make 20, Moeen was grateful for the arrival of Ben Cox. The pair added 95 in 12 overs, with Moeennegating the threat posed by Jeetan Patel and punishing Warwickshire for their absence of a fifth bowler. Aaron Thomason, who has a sidestrain, was missed.It’s probably churlish to find fault in such an innings. But, by the time Moeen mistimed a rare slower ball to mid-off – DominicSibley making a tricky catch appear straightforward – Worcestershire needed 105 from 24.4 overs; a rate only a fraction over four-an-over.The hard work had been done. It seemed an unnecessary stroke.The same might have been said for Cox. Having just seen Ross Whiteley superbly caught at short third-man, Cox’s well-paced innings endedwhen he attempted to pull one too full for the stroke and played on. It left Worcestershire, with seven wickets down, chasing 19 more runs.Sam Hain has had an excellent tournament•Getty ImagesThat set-up a nerve wracking finale. With Patel forced to go all-in in the search for wickets – Worcestershire were miles ahead of therun-rate and had more than 10 overs to score those 19 runs – Brookes, Stone and Barker bowled out their allocation. Time and again, ballbeat bat but, though Brookes yorked Leach, Dillon Pennington – on first-team debut – somehow survived for 23-balls in helping Barnardadd nine runs. It doesn’t sound much, does it? But every one had to be chiselled from granite and, by the time Barker trapped him leg before,just four were required for the tie.Earlier Warwickshire’s batsmen appeared to struggle for fluency on a pitch that may have been a little slower than they wished. DespiteWorcestershire being without Josh Tongue, who was ruled out with a foot injury, and soon losing their skipper, Leach, to a back injury – he was required to come back out and field for a few overs before George Rhodes arrived from a second XI match in Stourbridge to lendsupport – Warwickshire were unable to progress as they would have like against a disciplined attack.It took a stand of 133 in 25 overs between Tim Ambrose and Will Rhodes to drag Warwickshire to respectability. The pair helped their sideplunder 103 in the final 10 overs of their innings – and 66 from the final five – as Worcestershire started to wilt in the field. Twice balls that should have cost a single – at most – were allowed through legs and to the boundary, while there were four wides in the final two overs; one of them going down the legside for four.For a while it seemed Warwickshire’s superior fielding may prove the difference. But if the highlight was Patel’s direct hit from mid-off to run-out Daryl Mithcell, it was all forgotten when Barker’s slip let through the ball at a crucial moment.As an aside, it will never be Trott’s fault again. The result confirmed that this was the final List A match of his career. The game has, in many ways, moved on in recent years but Trott’s record – the 23 List A centuries, the ODI average of 51.25 – remain exceptional. But for a few minutes of madness at this ground in the Champions Trophy final of 2013, he would have been part of a side that won England’s first global List A trophy. It wasn’t to be but, for a while, England went to No. 1 in the world and he won many games – and a few trophies – for club and country.Worcestershire need not worry about that. For a second year in succession, they have earned themselves a home semi-final. To have done it with a largely home-grown squad – and Moeen didn’t have to come too far, either – provides an excellent example to many richer rivals.
O treino do Botafogo na última quarta-feira teve uma novidade: Lúcio Flávio. O novo auxiliar técnico permanente começou a trabalhar no campo anexo do Estádio Nilton Santos e retornou ao time que defendeu por cinco anos como jogador – agora para exercer uma função na comissão técnica.
– Fiquei feliz com o contato que foi feito pela diretoria. Estou satisfeito por ter dado certo. Desde que finalizei a carreira, venho me preparando nessa parte técnica e, agora, juntamente com toda a comissão técnica que é dirigida pelo Bruno (Lazaroni), vim para dar esse suporte, para ser mais um membro para tentar agregar e fazer com que o desenvolvimento possa ser melhorado, não só da equipe como o meu também, para que eu possa crescer – afirmou.
Lúcio Flávio também reencontrou um velho amigo. Túlio Lustosa, gerente de futebol do clube, fez parte da equipe de 2007 ao lado do ex-meio-campista. O novo auxiliar permanente comemorou a reedição desta dupla.
– Tanto o Túlio quanto eu conhecemos bem a história do clube. O Túlio, por ter ido mais para o lado da gestão, tem mais tempo nessa função, eu parei depois. É importante agregar esse conhecimento tanto da parte dele como meu na área técnica. Em razão desse perfil, por termos trabalhado no clube, é um fator positivo. Claro que envolve também muito trabalho, e vamos buscar unir forças para fazer com que o Botafogo possa ganhar com isso – completou.
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The PCB’s anti-corruption unit has formally charged the opening batsman for as many as five breaches of their anti-corruption code, to do with fixing, accepting money to improperly influence games as well as inducing other players to indulge in corrupt ac
Umar Farooq08-Feb-2018After 12 months of allegations and only a minor charge, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has blinked and made its first major move against Nasir Jamshed. The PCB’s anti-corruption unit has formally charged the opening batsman for as many as five breaches of their anti-corruption code. Jamshed is already serving a one-year ban after the PCB had found him guilty of the relatively minor charge of non-cooperation in the PSL spot-fixing investigation – that ends on February 13.Clauses under which Nasir Jamshed is charged
2.1 Corruption: 2.1.1 Fixing or contriving in any way or otherwise influencing improperly, or being a party to any agreement or effort to fix or contrive in any way or otherwise influence improperly, the result, progress, conduct or any other aspect of any Domestic Match, including (without limitation) by deliberately underperforming therein. 2.1.2 Ensuring for Betting or other corrupt purposes the occurrence of a particular incident in a Domestic Match. 2.1.3 Seeking, accepting, offering or agreeing to accept any bribe or other Reward to (a) fix or to contrive in any way or otherwise to influence improperly the result, progress, conduct or any other aspect of any Domestic Match or (b) ensure for Betting or other corrupt purposes the occurrence of a particular incident in a Domestic Match. 2.1.4 Directly or indirectly soliciting, inducing, enticing, instructing, persuading, encouraging or intentionally facilitating any Participant to breach any of the foregoing provisions of this Article 2.1. 2.4.4 Failing to disclose to the PCB Vigilance and Security Department (without unnecessary delay) full details of any approaches or invitations received by the Participant to engage in Corrupt Conduct under this Anti-Corruption Code.
But all through the last year, the PCB firmly believed that Jamshed was more central to the plots to corrupt games during the PSL and it was made clear several times by the board that he would face further consequences. That, potentially, could be the case now, as Jamshed has been charged with fixing, accepting money to improperly influence games as well as inducing other players to indulge in corrupt activity.Jamshed was also arrested in the UK by the National Crime Agency in February last year in connection to this case, though he was quickly released on bail. That investigation is believed to be ongoing, though officials familiar with the case believe a decision is expected in a few weeks – Jamshed, these officials believe, is not the centre of the NCA’s investigation.”The Pakistan Cricket Board has today issued a notice of charge to cricketer Nasir Jamshed, wherein he has been charged with multiple violations of Articles 2.1.1, 2.1.2, 2.1.3, 2.1.4 and 2.4.4 of the PCB’s Anti-Corruption Code for Participants (“the Code”),” a statement said. “Nasir Jamshed now has fourteen (14) days to respond to the notice of charge.”According to officials involved with the case, the PCB acted after the emergence of fresh evidence, centering around alleged meetings prior to the PSL in the UK. The board has, over the past year, claimed to have overwhelming evidence against Jamshed and also said that they have been waiting for the NCA to share their evidence – the latter has not occurred, though an NCA official did appear as a witness via video link in one of the PCB’s tribunal hearings. At least one part of the evidence against Jamshed is a collection of WhatsApp voice recordings allegedly between Jamshed and others also implicated in the case; these recordings were leaked to the media.Jamshed has all along denied any wrongdoing and has, in fact, threatened to take the PCB to court for maligning his name. He is based in Birmingham and has been communicating with the PCB through his Lahore-based lawyer, and has appeared before the PCB tribunal via video link.Jamshed was the fifth Pakistani player sanctioned in relation to the spot-fixing case that marred the start of the second season of the PSL last February. Sharjeel Khan, Khalid Latif, Mohammad Irfan and Mohammad Nawaz were all fined and banned for various periods of time, for a variety of charges. Shahzaib Hasan was also charged and is presently undergoing legal proceedings before a PCB three-man tribunal.Jamshed hasn’t played an international game for Pakistan since the 2015 World Cup and last featured in domestic cricket in December 2016.