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Shoaib Akhtar has been included in the Pakistan squad for the Asia Cup to be played in Sri Lanka from June 15 to 24

Osman Samiuddin03-Jun-2010

The two Shoaibs, Akhtar and Malik, made comebacks which would rightly be considered remarkable anywhere else but in Pakistan, as the PCB announced a 15-man squad for the Asia Cup, due to begin in Sri Lanka from June 15. There are a few new faces in the squad as well, but much of the attention will fall on the returning pair.The fast-bowling Shoaib, nearing 35, last played for Pakistan over a year ago and had been off the selection radar since. But a sudden, impressive comeback in the domestic Pentangular limited-overs tournament and some weight-loss put him back in the frame. Shahid Afridi, the Pakistan captain, was keen to have him in the squad and he underwent a rigorous fitness test yesterday, bowling as many as 12 overs. Though some management officials weren’t entirely convinced of his general fitness initially, he seems to have passed approval.”We got an okay from the medical team and Shoaib [Akhtar] was given a good report so he has been picked,” Mohsin Khan, chief selector, told Cricinfo. “We took the both of them to nets yesterday and gave them an extensive playing and fitness test, for nearly five hours and I’m happy to say both of them passed it.”Fitness, of course, was never an issue with Malik. Only a few months ago he had been banned by this very board for a year from playing for Pakistan for being, vaguely, a poor disciplinary influence on the side. But after a frankly farcical judgment, in which the board said they monitored him over three months of no cricket and found him to be rehabilitated, he is also back in the squad.Ijaz Butt, PCB chairman, had said last week that Malik was free to return for Pakistan though the board of governors had to ratify the decision first; whether or not that is the case could not be confirmed by the board. Mohsin did say, however, that all the selected players had been granted approval by Butt. There was speculation prior to the announcement that Afridi wasn’t keen on selecting Malik because of their fairly-publicised differences; the issue will no doubt rear its head in coming weeks.There is a first call-up to the ODI format for Shahzaib Hasan, the no-nonsense opener, who played a quiet yet key role in Pakistan’s 2009 World Twenty20 triumph. Space has also been found for some new faces in the middle order. Both Umar Amin and Asad Shafiq have impressed domestically for some time and have hovered on the fringes of national selection. Both are rewarded with call-ups to bolster an order that will be missing Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf. “The pair has been on the selectors’ radars for some time now,” Mohsin said. “We’ve been very impressed by them and we all thought this is a good time to give them a go.”The arrival of this pair and the return of Malik means there is no place for Fawad Alam in the squad; given that he was one of the very few bright lights in Pakistan’s last ODI assignment, the 5-0 whitewash in Australia where he averaged nearly 40 in three ODIs, it seems strange to reward him with a place among the stand-bys. “Fawad has a very bright future ahead of him we all know that,” Mohsin said. “There is a lot of cricket coming up, in England, against South Africa, so there will be more opportunities later.”With the return of the two Shoaibs, the touring party is a potentially volatile one, threatening to keep Yawar Saeed, the team manager, busy. Kamran Akmal is the first-choice and only wicketkeeper in the squad and travelling with him will be Aaqib Javed, the assistant coach who made allegations against Akmal of deliberately underperforming in a PCB inquiry.After various selectorial run-ins in his short stint, Mohsin was keen to stress that the composition of the squad left no stakeholder unhappy. “This is a balanced side and it has been selected with the approval of everyone – the captain, coach and selection committee – so there is no question of any disagreement.”Squad: Shahid Afridi (capt), Salman Butt (vice-capt), Imran Farhat, Shahzaib Hasan, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Asad Shafiq, Umar Amin, Kamran Akmal (wk), Abdul Razzaq, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Aamer, Shoaib Akhtar, Saeed Ajmal, Abdur Rehman.Reserves: Fawad Alam, Azhar Ali, Mohammad Irfan, Zulfiqar Babar.

Kamla Persad-Bissessar, the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, has called on the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and the West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA) to end their ongoing feud for the betterment of cricket in the region

Cricinfo staff11-Jun-2010Kamla Persad-Bissessar, the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, has asked the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and the West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA) to end their ongoing feud for the betterment of cricket in the region. She also called for the implementation of the PJ Patterson report, which, authored by the former Jamaican Prime Minister, had recommended changes to the governance of West Indies cricket.”I am calling on the West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA) and the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) to improve their relationship in order to return cricket to its glory days. Both parties must have mutual trust, respect and full disclosure in order to achieve better relations,” Persad-Bissessar said in Port of Spain. “Blame is the comfort of the weak. Change is the name of a warrior, so we must be willing to make that change that would make a difference and not keep blaming each other.”The WIPA and the WICB have been at loggerheads over the issue of player contracts as well as the running of West Indies cricket. Their stand-off reached its peak when several senior West Indies players boycotted the Test series against Bangladesh at home in 2009, and missed the entire tour. A second-string team was chosen to play the series, eventually resulting in a series defeat in both the Tests and ODIs.”The game of cricket means so much to us, it defines us, it unites us and it gives us a sense of belonging. Caricom [The Caribbean Community] cannot produce anything that can resonate as cricket does in the region,” Persad-Bissessar added.In 2009, the PJ Patterson report had proposed the formation of a reconstituted body, West Indies cricket, consisting of a council and a board. The council, comprising 23 members – drawn from a wide cross-section of stakeholders – would meet once a year “to review all aspects of the game and its management”. The new board, to run the day-to-day affairs, would number 13 under a president, vice-president and chief executive, to be appointed by the council. However, there was no headway made. “The WICB should table the PJ Patterson report for discussion and see what can be implemented from it, instead of leaving it sealed,” Persad-Bissessar said.

Leeds United remain interested in signing Sampdoria centre-back Omar Colley in the near future, according to a fresh transfer rumour.

The Lowdown: Colley linked with Leeds move

The 32-time capped Gambia international has been continually linked with a move to Elland Road this year, as Marcelo Bielsa eyes up defensive reinforcements – Victor Orta and co were allegedly interested as far back as June.

Despite summer interest from Elland Road however, Colley ended up staying put at Sampdoria, where he has made 17 Serie A starts this season, continuing to be a key man for the Genoa-based outfit.

With Leeds suffering from a centre-back shortage, it looks as though the 29-year-old is still on their radar ahead of the January transfer window.

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The Latest: Transfer rumour returns

That’s according to TEAMtalk, who claim that the Whites are ‘back on his trail’, with Everton and Newcastle United also seen as potential suitors.

Colley’s current Sampdoria deal doesn’t expire until the summer of 2025, so he may not come cheap with his current employers holding a strong negotiating position.

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The Verdict: Strong option

At 29, Colley doesn’t necessarily represent the long-term but he could be an ideal signing in the January transfer window, as Bielsa surely needs to bring in an immediate upgrade at centre-back in the absence of Liam Cooper and Pascal Struijk.

He is an experienced international player so he shouldn’t find it too difficult adjusting to life in the Premier League, averaging 1.8 tackles and 3.2 interceptions per game in Serie A – that is far more interceptions than any Leeds player this season.

Robin Koch (2.0) has the most interceptions for Leeds in 2021/22 but his average is still comfortably lower than Colley’s, showing what a savvy and dominant defender he is.

In other news, Phil Hay has made a transfer claim regarding one player. Find out who it is here.

تغلب فريق آرسنال الإنجليزي على بودو جليمت بثلاثة أهداف دون مقابل، ضمن مباريات الدوري الأوروبي، مساء اليوم الخميس.

ويغيب محترفنا المصري محمد النني عن المشاركة مع آرسنال للإصابة التي لحقت به مؤخرًا. 

وافتتح آرسنال التسجيل بهدف لإيدي نيكيتاه في الدقيقة 23، ولعب تيرني الكرة على اليسار وسدد تسديدة رائعة عبر  لكنها ارتدت من القائم إلى منتصف المنطقة، حيث تمركز نيكيتاه وسدد في شباك الخصم.

وبعد 5 دقائق، أضاف روب هولدينج الهدف الثاني للمدفعجية، من رأسية مستفيدًا من كرة أرسلها فابيو فييرا في الدقيقة 27.

في شوط المباراة الثاني أجرى ميكيل أرتيتا ثلاثة تبديلات دفعة واحدة لآرسنال، وشارك الثلاثي جيسوس وأوديجارد وساكا بدلاً من مارتينيلي وشاكا وماركينيوس في الدقيقة 58.

ثم دفع أرتيتا بلاعبه بن وايت بدلاً من كيران تيرني في الدقيقة 70، وشارك أيضًا ريس نيلسون بدلاً من نيكيتاه في الدقيقة 82.

وفي الدقيقة 84 تمكن فييرا من تسجيل الهدف الثالث لآرسنال، لتصير النتيجة ثلاثية دون رد لفريق أرتيتا. 

انتهت المباراة بفوز آرسنال بثلاثية دون مقابل، ليرفع رصيده لـ 6 نقاط في الصدارة وقد خاض مباراتين فقط نظرًا لتأجيل مباراته مع آيندهوفن.

وآيندهوفن في المركز الثاني بـ 4 نقاط، ويأتي بودو جليمت في المركز الثالث بـ 4 نقاط، ويتذيل زيوريخ بلا نقاط.  أهداف مباراة آرسنال وبودو جليمت

On a day of inevitabilities, Australia moved within six wickets of completing a clean-sweep against a disappointing Pakistan

The Bulletin by Brydon Coverdale at Bellerive Oval17-Jan-2010
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsDoug Bollinger picked up the key wicket of Salman Butt as Australia’s bowlers created plenty of trouble on the fourth afternoon•Getty Images

On a day of inevitabilities, Australia moved within six wickets of completing a clean-sweep against a disappointing Pakistan. Simon Katich scored his first century of the summer, Ricky Ponting recorded his highest aggregate in a Test and Pakistan’s top order looked shakier than the few yachts brave enough to take to the Derwent River on a gloomy, windy and eventually rainy Hobart day.Since Pakistan’s capitulation in Sydney, it seemed inevitable that they would struggle to lift themselves for the dead rubber at Bellerive Oval. At the start of the fourth day, the most likely scenario was for Australia to add quickly to their overnight score and bat until after lunch, and Pakistan’s batsmen to struggle and rain to play a part as the afternoon wore on. And so it unfolded.Pakistan entered this Test with only two men averaging more than 40 for the series and until Salman Butt’s first-innings century the best score by any of their players was his 71 at the SCG. Australia fancied their chances against the Pakistan order despite the forecast showers, and gave them a victory target of 438 from just under five sessions.A win for Australia would be their 12th consecutive triumph against Pakistan, equalling the record for any team over any other Test side, which is currently held by Sri Lanka over Bangladesh. It came closer when Pakistan lost both openers within the first ten overs, then the captain and best batsman Mohammad Yousuf with the score on 61, and the young star Umar Akmal with the total at 4 for 83.When the rain came an hour before the scheduled close, Pakistan were 4 for 103, needing an extremely unlikely 335 more for victory, with Khurram Manzoor on 23 and Shoaib Malik on 18. Yousuf and Akmal both fell lbw to Shane Watson, both had their decisions reviewed, and neither finished with the result he desired. Earlier, Butt failed to keep out a Doug Bollinger delivery and was bowled for 9, before Peter Siddle drew an edge behind from Imran Farhat (14) to begin Pakistan’s slump.The day had been yet another ugly one for them even before their innings began. Ponting and Katich added 141 in a brutal opening session as Pakistan continued to set defensive fields and waited for a declaration. Katich has had trouble reaching triple-figures this season and had posted scores of 92, 80, 99 and 98.He hadn’t scored a hundred since the Ashes opener in Cardiff and when he moved to 99, Pakistan tried to increase the pressure, but he found an easy single behind square on the leg side to register his century from 137 deliveries. In the next over, Katich holed out to deep midwicket off Danish Kaneria and departed for an even 100, his ninth Test century.Playing with the freedom of having a hefty buffer, Katich took a more aggressive approach than normal and struck 13 fours in his 138 balls. Ponting also went after the bowling during their 191-run stand and was happy to be inventive, driving in the air over fielders and taking balls from outside off to the leg side.Ponting failed to become the seventh batsman in Test history to score a double-century and a century in the same match when he departed for 89 on the fourth ball after lunch. He tried to sweep Malik and was taken down the legside by Sarfraz Ahmed, and the umpire’s not-out decision was overturned on review when Hot Spot showed the ball brushed Ponting’s glove.He did finish with his best aggregate of runs in a Test match, scoring 298 and beating by ten his previous best set against India in Melbourne in 2003-04. After his dismissal, Brad Haddin and Mitchell Johnson came in as pinch-hitters but failed to have any impact and Australia lost 4 for 27 starting with Katich.It didn’t matter. Ponting already felt he had enough and declared at 5 for 219, setting Pakistan 438 to win. Yousuf’s men need either a deluge of rain or runs to save them and only their most ardent fans could expect it to be the latter.

Kenya 329 for 6 (Ouma 72, Patel 71, Obanda 57, Waters 55) beat Uganda 130 (Varaiya 3-18, J Otieno 3-27) by 199 runs
ScorecardKenya finished a mixed 2009 with a resounding 199-run victory over neighbours Uganda, a result which made all the sweeter as it came on the back of some good performances from their younger players. It also rounded off a 3-0 series whitewash over the Ugandans, consolation for their losses in the two Twenty20 games which preceded the series.Maurice Ouma (72) and Seren Waters (55), briefly back in the country from university in England, set the innings off with a stand of 118, but the headlines were made by the in-form Rakep Patel who smashed 71 off 29 balls, including eight sixes. The tail all chipped in, and a total of 329 for 6 was never seriously in doubt from a Ugandan side whose confidence had visibly wilted.Roger Mukasa fell to the first delivery, but a second-wicket stand of 75 between Akbar Baig and top scorer Frank Nsubuga (43) briefly raised hopes, but a double strike from James Ngoche (3 for 27) all but ended them. Thereafter, the innings fell away and the the last nine wickets added only 55.While the one-day games went as expected, the concern remains Kenya’s Twenty20 form ahead of the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifiers early next year. One source close to the team admitted that “we just don’t know how to play the game”. Their new coach Eldine Baptise has little time to teach them.

Lautaro Martinez would be ‘really interested’ in a move to Tottenham Hotspur, transfer insider Dean Jones has told GIVEMESPORT. 

The lowdown

The 24-year-old Inter marksman has scored six goals in 10 Serie A starts this season. Overall, he has bagged 55 goals and provided 21 assists in 148 appearances for the Nerazzurri (via Transfermarkt).

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Sky Sports reported during the summer that Spurs were willing to shell out £60m to secure Martinez’s signature, but his value may now have risen further after he penned a new £5m-per-year contract last month. Nevertheless, Jones has said that the Argentine is ‘someone they’re going to look back towards in January’.

According to FBRef, Martinez’s profile is similar to that of Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino, Chelsea’s Timo Werner and Juventus’ Alvaro Morata.

The latest

Jones told GIVEMESPORT that Martinez intends to test himself in England and reckons that the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium could be an appealing destination.

The journalist said: “He’s got eyes on getting to the Premier League and I think that he would be really interested to join Spurs.”

The verdict

It looks as if Spurs may still be drawing up a succession plan for Harry Kane, who was of course the subject of serious interest from Manchester City in the summer.

Martinez isn’t the only Serie A striker with whom Spurs have been closely linked in recent days, as Fiorentina’s Dusan Vlahovic has also been named as a target.

At 24 and 21 respectively, and with both boasting rich scoring records in the Italian top flight, they both seen to have the credentials to lead the line for Spurs in the long-term.

Indeed, Martinez features on the list of nominees for this year’s Ballon D’Or after helping Inter to the Serie A title, so imagine what a coup it would be for Conte to bring him to north London.

In other news, Fabio Paratici has made this exciting plea.

Newcastle United are reportedly now pushing to sign Matthias Ginter in the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: Centre-back targeted

As previously reported by Craig Hope, Ginter is among three central defenders that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) consortium are now targeting next month, along with Tottenham Hotspur’s Joe Rodon and Lille’s Sven Botman.

As his current deal at Borussia Monchengladbach expires in the summer, it is possible that the St. James’ Park faithful can sign him on a cut-price deal in January, given the risk for the Bundesliga club of losing him on a free transfer otherwise.

Nonetheless, it is clear that the Tyneside outfit now want to bolster a defence that has shipped no fewer than 30 goals in the Premier League so far this season, one of the worst records in the division.

The Latest: Ginter pushed

As per Calciomercato, the North East club are now aggressively making their move to sign Ginter in January after a development ‘in the last few hours’.

However, they are likely to face competition from Inter Milan for his signature.

The Verdict: No-brainer

If the new owners can get Ginter in next month, potentially on the cheap, it would surely be a no-brainer for them.

A centre-back who plays like current PSG player and footballing legend Sergio Ramos, given his leadership qualities, he also possesses the same winning mentality as the Spaniard, given that he has won many trophies on the big stage, including the FIFA World Cup with Germany back in 2014.

A monster at the back, he is averaging more tackles (1.2) in the Bundesliga than all of Eddie Howe’s centre-half options are in the top flight so far this term (WhoScored), and so would really elevate the quality in the team.

The really exciting thing is that Ginter is still only 27 years of age, and so is just about to enter his prime years as a footballer.

Nonetheless, January represents the perfect time for the Magpies to snap him up.

In other news, find out which ‘incredible talent’ Steve Nickson has had a meeting over signing here!

Sri Lankan allrounder Farveez Maharoof, one of the finest national cricketers to emerge from Wesley College, has said the Munchee Glucofit Sixes, conducted by the Old Wesleyites Sports Club (OWSC), is the ideal stepping stone for any schoolboy cricketer.During his five years with the college, Maharoof managed to play only one season of the tournament.”The tournament no doubt serves its purpose because it highlights the performance of any schoolboy by the publicity it gets through live television coverage,” Maharoof said.”The tournament, to be frank, didn’t help me personally because I hardly tookpart in it except in 1999 when we lost to Ananda College in the first round. But ithas definitely brought to the limelight several schoolboy cricketers whosometimes don’t get the publicity they deserve at regular school matches.”Maharoof was an outstanding allrounder and his talents were recognisedquickly by the national selectors when they picked him in virtually everyjunior national team, which is why he was hardly in Colombo to participate atthe Wesley Sixes.He went on to play in two Under-19 World Cup tournaments, captaining hiscountry in one.”I believe it’s a great concept organised by the OWSC and it should go fromstrength to strength,” said Maharoof who is recovering from an injurysustained in the one-day practice match, playing for Sri Lanka Cricket XIagainst New Zealand three weeks ago.Maharoof split the webbing of his left hand while attempting areturn catch and the injury required five stitches.Maharoof, a right-hand hard hitting batsman and right-arm fast-medium bowler,made his debut for Sri Lanka at the age of 19 against Zimbabwe in 2004 andhas represented his country in 20 Tests and 91 one-day internationals. Heholds the best bowling record in the ICC Champions trophy with 6for 14 against West Indies in 2006.

Australia suffered more bad news on the morning after their Ashes defeat with Brad Haddin, their senior wicketkeeper, sent home with a broken finger

Alex Brown24-Aug-2009Australia suffered more bad news on the morning after their Ashes defeat with Brad Haddin, their senior wicketkeeper, sent home with a broken finger. Haddin is almost certain to miss the ODI and Twenty20 series in England in the hope of recuperating in time for the Champions Trophy, although team management have yet to rule out the possibility of him returning to the UK later in the tour.Haddin suffered the fracture to his left ring finger moments after the coin toss at Edgbaston, and while he missed that match, he played the final two Tests at Headingley and The Oval with the assistance of pain-killing injections. He underwent further scans on Monday morning, after Australia’s 197-run defeat at The Oval, and will return home to allow the finger time to heal.”It has now been decided Brad will return to Australia to allow him further recovery time and consultation with specialists to determine the best possible management of the injury,” Australia’s physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said. “His participation in any of the one-day and Twenty20 components of Australia’s VB Tour of England and the ICC Champions Trophy will be decided after consultation with these specialists.”Australia had already flown Tasmania’s Tim Paine to England as cover for the back-up keeper, Graham Manou, for the Oval Test. Manou is not in Australia’s ODI squad, leaving Paine to slot in, if needed, for Friday’s one-day game against Scotland in Edinburgh, the ensuing two Twenty20 matches at Old Trafford and the seven ODIs against England.Australia have yet to name a reserve wicketkeeper, although 27-year-old Chris Hartley, the incumbent Queensland glovesman who is playing in the Northern League near Manchester, deputised for Manou and Haddin during Australia’s two-day warm-up match in between the fourth and fifth Tests.