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O Vasco busca um novo treinador para próxima temporada. O nome mais cotado para assumir o cargo é Maurício Barbieri. A negociação está bem avançadae promete ter um final feliz.

A decisão da diretoria vem gerando muita repercussão nas redes sociais. O treinador tem apenas 41 anos, mas já vivenciou momentos marcantes ao longo de sua curta carreira no futebol.

+Messi protagoniza memes da classificação da Argentina; Lautaro vira piada

RelacionadasBotafogoFerj repudia nota do Botafogo sobre direitos de transmissão do Campeonato CariocaBotafogo04/12/2022São PauloInternacional quer Igor Gomes já para a pré-temporada, e São Paulo inicia negociaçõesSão Paulo04/12/2022VascoCEO do Vasco vai participar de curso da FifaVasco03/12/2022

+Cobiçado por clubes da Europa, Andrey Santos segue focado no Vasco

INÍCIO DE BARBIERI

Após conseguir acesso no Campeonato Carioca pelo Audax Rio e desempenhar trabalhos promissores no Red Bull Brasil, Guarani e Desportivo Brasil, chegou ao Flamengo em março de 2018 para trabalhar na comissão técnica.

FLAMENGO

Em pouco tempo, acabou sendo promovido para interino. Paulo Cezar Carpegiani, que vinha sendo treinador da equipe rubro-negra no início da temporada, foi demitido após um reformulação proposta por Ricardo Lomba, vice-presidente do clube na época.

O início de Barbieri no Flamengo foi promissor. O treinador conseguiu utilizar Vini Jr, Lucas Paquetá, Diego Ribas e Everton Ribeiro juntos no time titular e implementou um estilo de jogo ofensivo através do esquema 4-3-3.

As boas atuações fizeram com que fosse efetivado como treinador do clube em junho daquele ano. No entanto, esta química entre comandante e elenco não durou por muito tempo.

A falta de experiência de Barbieri acabou virando um problema para muitos rubro-negros. Com as eliminações da Libertadores e Copa do Brasil para Cruzeiro e Corinthians, acabou sendo demitido do Flamengo.

GOIÁS

Barbieri chegou ao Goiás em dezembro de 2018. Apesar do bom aproveitamento (73%), as derrotas em jogos decisivos acabaram prejudicando seu trabalho. Após perder os dois jogos da final do Campeonato Goiano, os dirigentes do clube optaram por demiti-lo.

AMÉRICA-MG

Em maio de 2019, foi anunciado pelo América-MG para tirá-lo das últimas colocações da Série B. Apesar da expectativa, novamente não conseguiu obter uma sequência no comando. Após sete jogos e apenas uma vitória, foi demitido com apenas dois meses.

CSA

Chegou ao CSA em dezembro de 2019 e comandou os jogadores por somente seis jogos. A campanha negativa na Copa do Nordeste e a precoce eliminação na Copa do Brasil acabaram culminando na rápida insatisfação dos dirigentes e torcedores.

RB BRAGANTINO

Após uma sequência de trabalhos curtos, Barbieri chegou ao RB Bragantino em setembro de 2020 e obteve a continuidade que tanto buscava. O treinador conseguiu, durante um trabalho de longo prazo, implementar um padrão de jogo na equipe paulista.

Com 151 jogos comandados, mais de dois anos de trabalho e campanhas positivas em dois Brasileiros consecutivos, acabou deixando Bragança Paulista após uma sequência de resultados ruins. Apesar da demissão, conseguiu deixar um bom legado no clube.

POSSÍVEL CHEGADA AO VASCO

O treinador chegaria para substituir Jorginho na próxima temporada. O Vasco vem atravessando um período de reformulação nos últimos meses após ser comprado pela 777 Partners e busca um nome qualificado e atualizado para comandar uma equipe competitiva na próxima temporada. Resta saber se Barbieri terá tempo e paciência para tentar implementar um padrão de jogo no elenco cruz-maltino.

The Spanish defender addressed Rayados fans after a rough start to the tournament as Liga MX sides continue to stumble in tournament

• Monterrey have slim chances of advancing
• Only four out of 18 Liga MX teams are moving on
• Rayados face NY Red Bulls on Sunday

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Following Monterrey’s defeat in their opening game of Leagues Cup – a 3-2 loss on the road against FC Cincinnati – captain Sergio Ramos delivered a blunt message to fans on social media, suggesting the defeat leaves the Mexican side with slim chances of advancing to the next round of the Leagues Cup.

  “Disappointed to start the Leagues Cup this way. We need to analyze, improve and bounce back with a strong performance on Sunday. Football always gives you new chances. Let’s go all in!” Ramos posted on social media.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The start of the Leagues Cup hasn’t been ideal for Liga MX clubs – especially for heavyweights such as América, Cruz Azul, Chivas, and Monterrey. Despite boasting one of the tournament’s strongest squads, Monterrey fell to Cincinnati, severely denting their hopes of advancing to the next round.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT DOMÈNEC TORRENT SAID

  Spanish coach Domènec Torrent strongly criticized the Leagues Cup format following Monterrey’s defeat.

  "Maybe we’re already out – they’ve put together such a strange competition, where you lose one game and you’re practically eliminated," he said. "It’s a tournament where you’re hoping all the other Mexican clubs lose too, because you’re competing against them. I’m not going to complain, but out of 18 teams, only four qualify – 14 get eliminated. One loss punishes you too much."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MONTERREY?

  Monterrey will now have to assert themselves against a New York Red Bulls side that already dealt Chivas a defeat in their Leagues Cup opener. The two teams play Sunday.

Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr side have reportedly made an offer for Manchester United's Brazilian winger Antony.

Winger training away from United team-matesConflicting reports over United's price tagAl-Nassr spending big after Felix agreementFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

reports the Saudi club have made an undisclosed offer to the Red Devils. Antony, along with Jadon Sancho, Tyrell Malacia and Alejandro Garnacho, is one of four United first-team players currently training separately from the rest of the squad; he was not included in the club's pre-season tour of the US. While the Red Devils are clearly intending to sell the player, a report last week suggested they would ask for €50m (€60m/$67m) to part company with the winger. Earlier in the summer, it had been suggested the club would accept £20-30m (€22m-€34m/$27-40m) for the wide man.

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Al-Nassr are willing to splash the cash, as they chase an SPL title after last season's disappointing third-place finish. Earlier today, they agreed to a €30m (£26m/$35m) deal for Chelsea's Joao Felix. That deal could reach €50m (£44.5m/$67m) with add-ons.

DID YOU KNOW?

Antony enjoyed a stellar loan spell at Real Betis in the second half of the 2024/25 season. The Brazilian scored nine goals in 26 appearances for the Spanish side, re-establishing himself as a sought after prospect after three disappointing seasons at Old Trafford.

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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR ANTONY?

The 23-year-old will leave Manchester this summer, but it remains to be seen if he fancies a move to Saudi. Antony had fancied a return to southern Spain, but Betis were unable to finance a deal.

Dillon du Preez will take over in an interim capacity for South Africa’s tour of India with a new coach to be appointed after that

Firdose Moonda10-May-2024Long-serving South Africa Women head coach Hilton Moreeng’s tenure has ended after a period of 11 years and four months.Moreeng was originally appointed in the role in December 2012, and oversaw South Africa’s transition to professionalism in 2014 and their greatest successes in the decade since. He took them to two ODI World Cup semi-finals, two T20 World Cup semi-finals, and was in charge when they became the first national senior side to reach a World Cup final, at home in the 2023 T20 World Cup. He was South Africa’s first black African national coach.Dillon du Preez, Moreeng’s assistant since September 2020 and a former first-class cricketer, will take over from him in an interim capacity for South Africa’s tour of India in June-July with a permanent coach to be appointed after that.Moreeng’s departure came after a period of short-term extensions to his contract since 2020 – originally for three years until after the 2023 T20 World Cup, and then for periods of time in the months that followed.CSA have confirmed it was Moreeng’s decision to step away.”He opted not to continue. And the timing of it is not great, but we really respect and understand his position,” Enoch Nkwe, South Africa’s director of cricket, said at a press conference on Friday. “He’s invested a lot, you know, obviously into women’s cricket. He’s taken this team from basically nothing to great heights. He’s reached a point where, and he was completely honest, he needs to allow the next person to take the team to the next level.”In his latest extension, Moreeng was contracted for the 2023-24 season, initially until the end of 2023, and then until the end of the summer, after his contract expired last year. He was also retained in 2020 when CSA first appointed a director of cricket – Graeme Smith – who undertook a major overhaul of the organisation’s coaching structures.

“We’re going to be engaging with them later in the month, at a camp, to try and gauge, obviously, where they’re feeling and where everybody’s at. We also want to see how we can help Dillion to make sure that the team can pull in one direction, which I have no doubt he’ll be able to do”Enoch Nkwe on the transition

Most recently, Moreeng remained in the job despite senior players expressing unhappiness with the length of his tenure. In August last year, six months after South Africa reached the final of the T20 World Cup, a group of players wrote to CSA to express their desire for change, but ESPNcricinfo understands that the process to replace Moreeng was delayed, and he was allowed to continue. As it turned out, CSA changed the captain and replaced Sune Luus, who led at the T20 World Cup and prior to that in Dane van Niekerk’s injury-enforced absence, with Laura Wolvaardt.A process was then put in place to recruit Moreeng’s replacement, who was expected to take over after the home series against Bangladesh last December, but that never happened. In early November, Nkwe told reporters that CSA “had interviews last week and we are still finalising a couple of things”. “As soon as we are done with the post-interview process, we will be able to make an announcement,” he said, and indicated the new support staff would be in place for South Africa’s January-February tour to Australia. He has since said CSA was not satisfied with those who put their hands up for the job. “We did advertise the position and unfortunately we couldn’t find the fitting candidates to take the team forward,” Nkwe said. “We went into the process of headhunting as well and unfortunately we couldn’t find anyone.”Moreeng then took South Africa to Australia, where they beat Australia for the first time in both a T20I and an ODI (though they lost both series) and was in charge for the home series against Sri Lanka. South Africa lost a T20I series to Sri Lanka for the first time and shared the ODI spoils, as Sri Lanka successfully completed the highest chase in women’s ODIs. It was after the Sri Lanka series that Moreeng decided his time was up, Nkwe said.CSA had initially hoped that Moreeng would continue until the 2025 World Cup, during which time they could plan a transition phase for his successor but “the process didn’t work out as planned”. Du Preez will now take the team to India and it is possible a new coach will be in place ahead of the T20 World Cup. Asked if the players are comfortable with du Preez, who has been in his role since September 2020, Nkwe suggested it may take some time for things to settle.”They’re still a little bit shocked because they didn’t expect [Moreeng’s departure] so soon; immediately at the end of the season. A lot of them are still processing what just transpired,” Nkwe said. “We’re going to be engaging with them later in the month, at a camp, to try and gauge, obviously, where they’re feeling and where everybody’s at. We also want to see how we can help Dillion to make sure that the team can pull in one direction, which I have no doubt he’ll be able to do.”Under Hilton Moreeng, South Africa Women became the first national senior side to reach a World Cup final•ICC via Getty ImagesAsked if he would consider putting himself up for the job full-time, du Preez stayed on the fence, for now. “I see myself as someone who has to do this at this stage of my life. Whether or not I try to do it going forward, this will allow me to grow. I see it as a positive move, even if it is for a month or two,” he said. “I think I will want to [have the job permanently] but it’s too early to give you a 100% answer. But that’s where you want to be, at the highest level. I would really want to coach there. I enjoy it a lot. But let’s talk after India.”Du Preez also indicated he would not change too much to begin with, having been mentored by Moreeng. “He’s been here for 11 years in this space and to learn from him, meant a lot to me. Whatever you know about cricket, the moment you move into the women’s space, you actually find out that you might know nothing,” du Preez said. “It’s been an emotional week. Hilton has left big shoes for me to fill. What he has done for women’s cricket, it feels like no one is going to match. I couldn’t pick a better guy to learn from.”There is no suggestion that CSA will continue to look for a women’s director of cricket, and that Moreeng could be considered for that. Nkwe said the former coach needs “time” to “continue reflecting and to see what his journey is going to look like moving forward”. But, Nkwe said, CSA would be open to engaging Moreeng in the future. “From our point of view, we would like to retain him in whichever way, because you don’t just let go of such experience, especially in women’s cricket.”In parting, Moreeng offered thanks to everyone he met along the way. “It has been an honour and a privilege to lead such a talented group of athletes over the years,” Moreeng said in a statement. “I want to express my sincere appreciation to all the players and team management who have been instrumental in this journey. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work alongside each of you. I would also like to thank the South African fans and the media for their unwavering support throughout this journey. Your encouragement has been a constant source of motivation. Last but certainly not least, I am deeply grateful to my family and friends who have stood by me through the highs and lows along the way. Your love and support have been my rock.”CSA has also appointed a new batting coach in Baakier Adams, previously with the Warriors provincial team, and Bongani Ndaba as fielding coach alongside a new physiotherapist Neline Hoffman-Kellerman.

MatériaMais Notícias

Agora é oficial, Fiel! O Corinthians se acertou com o Zenit, da Rússia, e comunicou a permanência em definitivo de Yuri Alberto. O atacante estava emprestado ao Timão e agora possui vínculo com o Time do Povo até 31 de dezembro de 2027.

O camisa 9 celebrou o acordo e deixou claro seu amor pelo clube e torcida.

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+ Confira quem sai, quem fica e as movimentações do Timão no mercado
​
-Estou muito feliz em permanecer no Corinthians. Me identifiquei muito com o clube, e minha vontade sempre foi ficar. Sei do esforço que o clube fez para essa negociação ter uma final feliz e só quero comemorar e dar muitas alegrias à essa torcida incrível – afirmou Yuri.

+ Veja todas as movimentações do futebol brasileiro na nova ferramenta de mercado do LANCE!

O presidente do Corinthians, Duílio Monteiro Alves, destacou a dificuldade em fazer a negociação dar certo, e disse que as conversas com os russos sempre foram para definir o “fico” de Yuri. Veja todos os detalhes da negociação aqui.

– Desde o início, as conversas foram pela compra do Yuri e não cogitamos outras possibilidades. Foi uma negociação complexa, que envolveu muitos detalhes e tivemos sucesso. Feliz pelo resultado final e por conseguir dar esse presente para a Fiel Torcida”, comentou Duilio Monteiro Alves, presidente do Corinthians – disse Duílio.

+ Veja tabela e simule os jogos do Paulistão 2023

Yuri Alberto chegou na metade de 2022, cedido pelo Zenit até o final de junho de 2023. Após oito jogos sem balançar as redes, o centroavante desencantou contra o Atlético-GO, na Copa do Brasil, anotando um hat-trick. O jogador virou o artilheiro do Timão no segundo semestre, com 11 gols em 28 jogos disputados. e caiu nas graças da Fiel.

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أعلن أحمد الكأس، المدير الفني لـ منتخب مصر للناشئين، تشكيل الفراعنة لخوض أولى مواجهات بطولة كأس الخليج أمام عمان، اليوم الجمعة.

يفتتح منتخب مصر للناشئين تحت 17 عامًا مواليد 2008، مبارياته في بطولة كأس الخليج، أمام عمان، وذلك خلال الجولة الأولى من مواجهات دور المجموعات.

ويتواجد منتخب مصر في المجموعة الثانية من بطولة كأس الخليج، بجانب منتخبات عمان والعراق والبحرين.

وانطلقت بطولة كأس الخليج في السعودية، أمس الخميس 28 أغسطس وحتى 9 سبتمبر، حيث فاز منتخب السعودية على اليمن بهدف دون رد وتعادل منتخبا قطر والكويت سلبيًا.

طالع | موعد والقنوات الناقلة لمباراة مصر وعمان اليوم في كأس الخليج للشباب تشكيل منتخب مصر اليوم أمام عمان في كأس الخليج

حراسة المرمي: عمرو عادل.

خط الدفاع: حمزة الدجوي، محمد البنداري، أدهم فريد وياسين حسام.

خط الوسط: باسل مدحت، عمر أبوطالب، بلال عطية، أنس رشدي وإبراهيم النجعاوي.

خط الهجوم: حمزة عبد الكريم.

Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw has officially been handed Manchester City Women’s iconic No.9 shirt, which is worn by Erling Haaland for the men's team, as she prepares for the 2025-26 season. The prolific Jamaican forward, who has worn number 21 since joining City in the summer of 2021, will now carry a shirt number steeped in the club’s history.

• Shaw switches to squad’s iconic No.9
• Miedema announced as new No.10 
• WSL campaign starts September 5 vs Chelsea

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Shaw's switch to No.9 highlights her status as City Women’s most lethal striker. She has scored 91 times in just 106 appearances, earning back-to-back WSL Golden Boots and shattering the club’s single-season goal record with 31 strikes in 30 matches during 2022-23. 

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  In a parallel squad update, Dutch star Vivianne Miedema has been designated as City’s No.10 for the upcoming campaign. She previously wore the No.6 jersey during her debut season, scoring 11 goals in 19 appearances. She steps into the No.10 role previously occupied by Jill Roord. 

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Shaw becomes the fourth official City women’s squad player to claim the No.9 shirt since the professional era began in 2014. Previous holders include Toni Duggan, Pauline Bremer, and Chloe Kelly, each leaving their mark through outstanding contributions.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR SHAW?

  City Women will kick off their season on September 5 with a high-profile home match against Chelsea in the WSL. However, before that, they will play a friendly against eternal rivals Manchester United on August 9.

Eddie Hearn has explained how he and boxing champion Anthony Joshua are building a football agency that could attract interest from Cristiano Ronaldo.

Initial idea floated by boxing superstarMeetings and talent scouting taking placeWill handle all aspects of footballer's careerFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Hearn, who is the head of Matchroom Sport, is buying into an exciting venture that was dreamt up by Olympic gold medal winner and former heavyweight title holder Joshua. They are planning to create a company that will help to manage every aspect of a professional footballer’s career.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT HEARN SAID

Hearn has told the , with meetings and talent scouting already taking place: “We've been talking about this for years and fine-tuning the plans behind the scenes over the past couple of months. But, I hadn't planned to speak about it publicly just yet. AJ's gone and revealed the whole thing. I had no idea he was going to post about it (on Instagram) but once he did it went mental. Players, clubs, sponsors, media, everyone was coming to us.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The business model in question will handle sponsorships, brand deals, PR, endorsements, lifestyle, logistics, and long-term career strategy, with Hearn adding: “It will be a 360-degree service for players. From a commercial level, from a transfer level, from a concierge level, booking restaurants and sorting private jets – everything. We're not just talking about moving you from one club to another. It's about shaping your career and life on and off the pitch. We don't expect to be a nine-to-five business, they can use us as they please to benefit their careers.”

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GettyDID YOU KNOW?

Joshua’s profile will help the new brand to gain access to players that others cannot reach, with Hearn saying of ambitious plans to get superstar clients on board: “I'm not interested in coming in, with all due respect, and representing a couple of lower league players. I want to enter at the highest level. I want to leverage all of our contacts globally – particularly, perhaps, in the Middle East – to represent the biggest names in the sport.

“So we've definitely been keeping our ear to the ground when it comes to players who might be seeking new representation or looking for something different. Because again, when we launch, we want to do so with players already on board – not launch the agency and then, a year later, people are asking, ‘So who have you actually signed?’ So yeah, we believe we could move quite quickly when it comes to talent.”

Dillon Pennington takes seven in the match to seal result after Haseeb Hameed double-ton

ECB Reporters Network13-May-2024

A maiden first-class century from young wicketkeeper Matthew Hurst salvaged some pride for Lancashire but could not stop Nottinghamshire completing their first victory of the season, by nine wickets, in the Vitality County Championship match at Trent Bridge.Nottinghamshire had begun the final day of this Division One clash sniffing an innings win, holding a 72-run advantage with Lancashire six down. Yet 20-year-old Hurst defied them with an impressive 104 that included 10 fours and four sixes.Lancashire were dismissed for 252, leaving the home side needing just 81 to win with 50 overs remaining, so the result was never in serious doubt, but given that they had been 61 for 6 on the third evening, the visitors could console themselves with having put up a fight.Hurst and England spinner Tom Hartley (50) were the principal sources of frustration for Nottinghamshire, sharing a seventh-wicket stand of 116.Dillon Pennington, who delivered several spells of top-class fast bowling over both innings, was rewarded with figures of 4 for 61, his best return so far for Nottinghamshire after moving from Worcestershire over the winter, before the home side wrapped up a 22-points win in 18.4 overs with opener Ben Slater their only loss.Lancashire remain bottom of Division One after three defeats in their opening five matches, while Nottinghamshire have their first win under new red-ball captain Haseeb Hameed, whose magnificent unbeaten 247 in their first innings was the biggest component in their victory. Opener Hameed, who finished 24 not out in his second innings, was on the field for every minute of the contestWhen Hartley joined Hurst on Sunday, a target of 172 just to make the home side bat a second time was looking beyond Lancashire. But having battled through to the close, the pair set themselves again on the fourth morning, determined that those efforts would not go to waste.They began with Nottinghamshire, who had made 503 in reply to Lancashire’s first-innings 331, still comfortably ahead and at short odds to get the job done ahead of the lunch interval.But after seeing off Pennington and Olly Stone through their opening overs, the two kept their focus well enough to survive the first hour unscathed and grew confident enough as the ball began to lose its hardness to up the tempo, Hurst greeting legspinner Calvin Harrison’s appearance in the attack with a six over long-on.An on-drive for four by Hurst off Harrison took the partnership into three figures. The pugnacious right-hander was dropped by Harrison at slip off Lyndon James on 46 but quickly completed his fifty from 87 balls, bringing the scores level in the same over.Hartley’s half-century came off 98 balls with seven fours but he could not add to it before Harrison atoned for his earlier error with a fine catch at second slip as James at last achieved a breakthrough.Pennington then had too much pace for Tom Bailey, who was dismissed leg before just ahead of lunch, Lancashire heading for the dining room with a lead of just 26 and only two wickets in hand.With Phil Salt currently playing in the IPL, Hurst has made himself first-choice keeper in the Lancashire squad but would justify his place as a batter on the evidence so far.He had three half-centuries in nine first-class innings before this match and had the confidence to take on the likes of England speed merchant Stone and the similarly pacy Pennington despite suffering a painful blow on his bottom hand facing James just before lunch.After Harrison’s dismissal of Will Williams left him with last man Saqib Mahmood for company, Hurst hammered Stone over the wide midwicket boundary and cleared the rope twice in the same James over to go to his hundred, before another attempt at a maximum saw him caught at deep midwicket off Harrison.Mahmood ended Slater’s attempt to bring a rapid conclusion by having him caught behind for 31 off 32 balls but Hameed and Will Young guided Nottinghamshire to the finish line with no further alarms.

Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and coach Chandika Hathurusinghe are concerned about Bangladesh’s batting, but that hasn’t led to any late changes to the T20 World Cup squad. As a result, Litton Das has survived despite scoring just 79 runs in his last six T20Is, all played this year.Litton’s T20I form had dipped so much that he lost his place in the side after scoring 1, 23 and 12 in the first three T20Is of the five-match series against Zimbabwe. His last innings ended when he missed with three consecutive attempts at scooping Blessing Muzarabani, dragging the ball on to the stumps off the last one.”Litton is a very important player in our team,” Shanto said in a press interaction on Wednesday. “He hasn’t had a good time recently. It can happen to any cricketer. But we didn’t want to bring in a new player for such a big event. We valued Litton’s experience. I wouldn’t have dropped him.Related

• Rishad Hossain, a package Bangladesh don't understand but can't ignore

• Can Najmul Hossain Shanto pilot a successful World Cup campaign for Bangladesh?

• Taskin dismisses fan talk, sets sights on T20 WC preps

• How T20 has changed cricket forever

“We were already discussing our World Cup team combinations during the Sri Lanka series. We wanted to be prepared by playing matches at home but the success in those matches was subjective. We were clear that we won’t change anyone only because he did badly in these home matches.”We didn’t bat on good wickets in the T20I series [against Zimbabwe in Chattogram and Dhaka]. We had to go on and off from the ground due to rain in some of the matches too. But Litton and I should score runs in every game. We have clarity in the team, so we hope we will deliver at the World Cup.”Hathurusinghe admitted that the top and middle order didn’t combine as well as expected against Zimbabwe, but felt there were occasions when they did fire to win games – they won the series 4-1, after all.”We managed to get a good start in some matches, and when we didn’t get a good start, we managed to finish strongly in some matches,” Hathurusinghe said. “So everybody got an opportunity to bat in the middle, that was a positive. Yes, individually, some of the players would have loved to spend [more] time in the middle, score runs, but in T20 cricket, anything can happen because it is a very different game to the other two formats.”We would love our top order to score all the time – in that kind of scenario, it takes a lot of pressure out of the other players. I am confident that – we have five matches leading up to the first game – we will be able to get those areas of concern sorted.”Bangladesh will play a three-T20I series against T20 World Cup co-hosts USA at Prairie View later this month and then the warm-up fixtures.Mahmudullah is back at his familiar finisher’s position and doing well•BCB

‘Want to give Mahmudullah and Shakib good memories’

Both Shanto and Hathurusinghe said that the batters should take inspiration from Mahmudullah. The senior batter, who is part of the 2024 squad, was dropped ahead of the 2022 T20 World Cup but returned to the fray just before the 2023 ODI World Cup, in which he was Bangladesh’s best batter. Mahmudullah has struck two fifties in T20Is this year in his familiar finisher’s role and had just one failure, a first-ball duck in the third T20I against Sri Lanka.”He’s been playing regularly. He made a strong comeback. Lately he’s playing his best cricket,” Hathurusinghe said. “He’s changed his approach to batting a lot. His role is going to be in the middle order, probably be the enforcer in the middle as well as a finisher role, which he has done remarkably well lately in all formats, in the domestics as well.”Shanto said that he was looking forward to Mahmudullah and Shakib Al Hasan, the most experienced cricketers in the squad, to share their experience with the other players.”The team is benefiting from [Mahmudullah’s] role in the batting line-up, at No. 5 or 6,” he said. “It gives the team an extra advantage. He is an inspiration for the youngsters. He has shown how to come back from such a tough situation.”We want to give them [Mahmudullah and Shakib] good memories at the World Cup. It is our responsibility as the younger players. I want them to perform their normal roles but, at the same time, if they can spread their experience with the rest of the team, it will help us.”Chandika Hathurusinghe: “Taskin is a very important member for us. He’s a leader”•AFP via Getty Images

‘Taskin is our leader of the pack in fast bowling’

Bangladesh are also hoping that their new vice-captain, Taskin Ahmed, gets fit in time to have an impact – Taskin was included in the squad despite a side strain.”Taskin is our leader of the pack in fast bowling,” Hathurusinghe said. “The rules of the tournament allow us to carry someone [reserve players], and then we can make a decision. We are giving him the best chance to be fit to play.”Taskin is a very important member for us. He’s a leader. That’s why he’s the vice-captain as well. We have the best medical and recovery procedures in America so we are going to use those resources and then give him the best chance of be fit for the first game.”Despite the question mark over Taskin, Shanto believes the bowling attack can win them games at the T20 World Cup.”We have a much improved fast-bowling department,” he said. “There’s a higher possibility of winning a T20 match if the bowling unit does well. We are also likely to play in conditions that may aid spin, so given our variation, they should also do well. Bowling is our strength.”At the 2022 T20 World Cup, then captain Shakib and the coaching staff led by S Sriram had overseen a new, fearless approach from the players, which gave Bangladesh two wins. They have struggled at global tournaments on the whole, though, but Hathurusinghe is being quietly optimistic.”I understand that we have high aspirations as a country. We have been playing good cricket generally out of the ICC events,” Hathurusinghe said. “As players and coaches, we also have high expectation. The first step is to get through this difficult group stage. We are in a very strong group so getting out of it is the main target.”Bangladesh are in Group D, with Nepal, Netherlands, South Africa and Sri Lanka, and start their World Cup on June 8 with a fixture against Sri Lanka at Dallas’ Grand Prairie stadium.