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Rawalpindi may not host its scheduled matches between Pakistan and India early next year because of construction delays. Faisalabad is likely to be the replacement venue

Cricinfo staff08-Nov-2008Rawalpindi may not host its scheduled matches between Pakistan and India early next year because of construction delays. Faisalabad is likely to be the replacement venue.All five venues for the series are undergoing refurbishment that will cost the Pakistan board Rs 800 million. Rawalpindi was marked down for the second of three Tests and third of five ODIs against India.But Saleem Altaf, the PCB’s director-general, said the renovation work in the stadium was likely to be completed only by June next year. “The outfield is in really bad shape and we have sent our chief curator Agha Zahid to inspect it,” Altaf told . “He has given a report but it will take time for the outfield to be repaired properly.”However, Altaf added that Faisalabad was also not ready. Rawalpindi last hosted an international match in 2006 – an ODI between Pakistan and West Indies – while its last Test was during India’s 2004 tour.Earlier this year the venue was dropped for security reasons from the Champions Trophy which was eventually postponed to 2009.

كشفت تقارير صحفية إسبانية عن مفاجأة برغبة نادي باريس سان جيرمان في التخلص من الثنائي من ليونيل ميسي ونيمار دا سليفا.

وقالت إذاعة “كوبي” الإسبانية، إن إدارة باريس سان جيرمان الآن لا تُريد بقاء ميسي و نيمار، حيث يرى المسؤولين أن الأرجنتيني والبرازيلي لا يتناسبان مع المشروع لتجديد الفريق وإنشاء فريق أكثر تنافسية.

ليونيل ميسي ونيمار دا سيلفا لاعبان يعتقد باريس سان جيرمان أنهما يجب أن يكونا خارج الفريق بأسرع ما يمكن، ولكن داخل باريس سان جيرمان يعلمون أيضًا أن العملية أنها لن تكون مهمة سهلة بسبب رواتب الثنائي المُرتفعة.

اقرأ أيضًا.. والد نيمار يوضح موقفه من الرحيل عن باريس سان جيرمان والعودة للبرازيل

ووفقًا لمصادر من النادي الباريسي، فإن فكرة فريق باريس سان جيرمان، الذي سيديره كريستوف جالتير والذي عين لويس كامبوس مستشارًا رياضيًا، هي بناء فريق جديد أكثر تنافسية مع عدد أقل من اللاعبين الكبار ولاعبون قادرون على المنافسة.

وقالت الإذاعة في تقريرا إن النادي أجرى تحليل على مباريات الفريق بالموسم الماضي، وبعد التحليل الذي تم إجراؤه تبين أن باريس سان جيرمان، يدافع دائمًا بتسعة لاعبين، عندما يتصادف وجود ميسي ونيمار على أرض الملعب.

لذلك، فإن استراتيجية باريس سان جيرمان الجديدة تتضمن التخلص من ميسي ونيما ، في أسرع وقت ممكن رغم بصعوبة ذلك، وبناء فريق جديد بدونهما.

Middlesex may not be playing the US$20 million game in the Stanford Super Series, but Tyron Henderson, their South Africa allrounder, wants to leave a mark during the one-week long event in Antigua

Cricinfo staff23-Oct-2008
Tyron Henderson: ‘I’m not going to die wondering when I am batting thinking whether I should or shouldn’t have hit it’ © Getty Images
Middlesex may not be playing the US$20 million game in the Stanford Super Series, but Tyron Henderson, their South Africa allrounder, wants to leave a mark during the one-week long event in Antigua.”We’re here to entertain, so I go out and entertain,” he told the BBC. “People want to see the ball going out of the ground, I try to do my best to do what they’ve come to see.”I enjoy the format, it’s high intensity and you have to be on the ball from the word go. I’m not going to die wondering when I am batting thinking whether I should or shouldn’t have hit it – if it’s there to hit, believe me I will be swinging and throwing the kitchen sink at it.”Henderson is the world’s leading wicket-taker in Twenty20s, with 73 scalps in 60 games, and was one of Middlesex’s key players in their victorious campaign in the domestic Twenty20 Cup. He scored 281 runs at 40.14 at a strike-rate of 180.12 and took 21 wickets at an economy-rate under 7.5 per over.”If they typecast me as a Twenty20 player, then so be it – it doesn’t worry me,” he said. “If you look at my stats over four-day cricket, I’m quite happy with them, I think I have done a good job throughout the length of my career playing all formats of the game, but Twenty20 just seems to suit the way I play my game.”He revealed that the IPL franchise, Mumbai Indians, have shown interest along with “one or two others,” while adding: “My agents will have a chat to a couple of guys over there and hopefully I will be in the auction at the end of January and something will come out.”When I discussed my contract, there is a clause about the IPL, but Vinny Codrington [Middlesex chief executive] is only too happy for us to play, if guys get selected then they’ll get pats on the back.”But I’m not counting my chickens before they hatch. If it happens it happens. If not then so be it. I will be here at the start of April for the start of the C&G Trophy.”Middlesex will play the two teams who will clash for the US$20 million match, England and Stanford Superstars, in warm-up games, before facing Trinidad and Tobago on October 30 – a game with US$400,000 at stake.

Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard is now expected to remain at Old Trafford this summer despite continued speculation over an imminent exit.

What’s the story?

The 28-year-old has been linked with a variety of clubs in the current window after a string of outstanding performances on loan as West Ham United in the second half of last season but is now set to stay put.

On the latest episode of the Talk of the Devils podcast (as relayed by UtdDistrict), The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell revealed Lingard is part of United’s first-team plans for the upcoming campaign.

He said: “Manchester United are looking at Lingard as a genuine player for the squad….the noises are that he’s going to stay.”

Fans should be buzzing

Following an impressive 2017/28 campaign for United, which concluded with Lingard scoring one goal and providing two assists in three appearances as England reached the 2018 World Cup semi-finals, Lingard badly struggled for form.

Over the next two seasons, the versatile forward started just 28 Premier League fixtures for the Red Devils, contributing to just eight goals as the Jose Mourinho era made way for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s rejuvenation project.

However, a short-term loan move to West Ham halfway through 2020/21 sparked Lingard into life again in dramatic fashion.

In just 16 top-flight outings for the Hammers, the England international put the ball in the back of the net on nine occasions, laying on a further five assists for his teammates, playing a pivotal part as the capital club qualified for the Europa League.

With only one year remaining on his current deal and talk of United needing to raise funds for a new defensive midfielder, Lingard had been tipped to wave his boyhood club goodbye on a permanent basis in the current window.

Now though, that prospect looks extremely unlikely, and the sudden U-turn is something that United supporters should be buzzing about.

Key attacker Marcus Rashford is set for a three-month spell on the sidelines after deciding to undergo surgery for a long-term shoulder injury, leaving Solskjaer without one of his star performers until at least October.

And while Dan James has also worked extremely hard when given the chance to impress, the Wales international has, so far, been unable to show the quality required to make a difference at the highest level.

Lingard, on the other hand, has produced big moments on the biggest of stages. He’s a ready-made replacement for the absent Rashofrd, and his form for West Ham shows he’s now back to his best.

United’s decision to keep him around for another season could prove to be a very astute one by Solskjaer, who is developing a solid reputation for his work in the transfer market.

And, in other news…Man Utd must swoop for “complete” £58.5m-rated machine this summer, Ole would love him 

New Zealand Under-19s saved their best until last as they squared the one-day series against England Under-19s with a convincing six-wicket victory at Northampton

Cricinfo staff15-Aug-2008
ScorecardNew Zealand Under-19s saved their best until last as they squared the one-day series against England Under-19s with a convincing six-wicket victory at Northampton. Michael Bracewell and captain Kane Williamson led the run chase with composed half-centuries as they hunted down the total with 13 balls to spare.It was an impressive performance from New Zealand’s batsmen, especially considering the floundering display yesterday when they were 109 for 7 before rained washed out the match. This time, though, they were much more positive against England’s spinners while none of the bowlers were quite on top of their game.England did well to set 239 after slipping to 33 for 4 against Greg Morgan having been put in. Tom Westley made an attractive 85 and Liam Dawson hit 50, but New Zealand stole back the momentum through an opening stand of 80 between Bracewell and George Worker. They were ahead of the required rate and maintained the pace as Bracewell and Williamson added 62 for the second wicket.Dawson broke through when Bracewell offered a return catch, but Fraser Colson’s 32 off 35 balls meant England couldn’t build any pressure. Any late wobbles were avoided as Morgan hit 29 off 27 balls, enough to earn him the Man-of-the Match award following his bowling efforts.Morgan swung the new ball and took out England’s top three before a recovery came from Westley and Dawson who added 118 for the fifth wicket. Both batsmen found fielders as they tried to accelerate, but Ben Brown played neatly for his 31. England’s attack, including first-class experience, would have fancied defending the runs but New Zealand had other ideas.

MatériaMais Notícias

Aos cinco minutos do primeiro tempo, Marcelo Lomba se machucou após cobrar um tiro de meta. No seu lugar entrou Keiller, terceiro goleiro do Internacional, que teve a dura missão de garantir que o sonho do heptacomeponato gaúcho continuasse vivo. Aos 25, Júlio César abriu o placar para o Caxias em uma cabeçada sem chances para Keiller. Depois do gol, o Grená seguiu melhor e o goleiro colorado seguiu trabalhando bem.

No segundo tempo, Keiller teve seu primeiro grande momento da carreira. Aos 20 minutos, Léo Ortiz cometeu pênalti e se o Caxias marcasse, ficaria muito perto da final. Na cobrança, Gilmar parou no goleiro do Inter, que garantiu a disputa por pênaltis. Nela, o jovem arqueiro pegou a cobrança de Marlon e classificou a equipe para a final. Após o jogo, Keiller afirmou que trabalhou muito para esse momento e revelou uma dica passada para ele antes da disputa por pênaltis:

-Nunca imaginei ter uma estreia dessas. É trabalho, um pouco de intuição. A gente fala muito no dia a dia. Na hora (dos pênaltis), passaram para eu ficar tranquilo, que eu tinha pegado um já, e para não dar o lado para bater. Trabalhei para esse momento. Vou trabalhar sete dias para essa final.

O Inter espera o vencedor do duelo entre Novo Hamburgo x Grêmio na final e pode conquistar pela segunda vez, o sétimo título consecutivo do Campeonato Gaúcho. A primeira partida será realizada no próximo domingo, no Beira-Rio, e a partida decisiva será realizada no dia 7 de maio.

According to The Telegraph, Southampton are interested in signing Manchester City midfielder Yangel Herrera this summer.

The Lowdown: Saints prepare for new campaign

Ralph Hasenhuttl is preparing his squad for the new season as the Saints aim to improve on their 15th-placed finish in the Premier League last term.

Only Romain Perraud has been added to their squad so far this summer, though (Transfermarkt), and we are fast approaching the start of the new season.

The Latest: Saints eye Herrera

The Telegraph reported that Southampton are interested in Herrera, who spent last season on loan at Granada in Spain.

West Ham United and Crystal Palace are also in pursuit of the 23-year-old, but the Hammers have the advantage of being able to offer European football to the Venezuela international.

The Verdict: Emerging talent

While Herrera is yet to make a single appearance for the Citizens, he has already proven himself elsewhere throughout his career, right from when 2010 World Cup winner David Villa said that he was “the best player in the 2018 season in Major League Soccer” (The Manchester Evening News).

He has made 82 appearances across two seasons for Granada (Transfermarkt), helping them reach the quarter-finals of the Europa League in the process, and he also has 24 caps for his country.

Valued at £16.2m by Transfermarkt, it is said that City are looking for up to £20m to part ways with him. That would be a significant outlay for Southampton, but sometimes you must speculate to accumulate. If they don’t take this calculated gamble, they may end up regretting missing out on the 23-year-old.

In other news, Southampton also want to sign this Premier League defender.

FULL NAME: Waddington Mwayenga BORN: At Harare, 28 June 1984 MAJOR TEAMS: Mashonaland (2001/02)

John Ward30-Nov-2002FULL NAME: Waddington Mwayenga
BORN: At Harare, 28 June 1984
MAJOR TEAMS: Mashonaland (2001/02). Present club: Old Georgians Sports Club
KNOWN AS: Waddington/Waddy Mwayenga
BATTING STYLE: Right Hand Bat
BOWLING STYLE: Right Arm Fast Medium
OCCUPATION: Scholar
FIRST-CLASS DEBUT: Mashonaland v Midlands, at Harare Sports Club; 22-24 March 2002
TEST DEBUT: Still awaited
ODI DEBUT: Zimbabwe v Pakistan, at Queens Sports Club; 24 November 2002BIOGRAPHY (November 2002)Zimbabwe’s selectors have acquired a reputation in recent years for plunging young players into international cricket well before they are ready for it, and then dropping them quickly when they don’t make the grade, before leaving them for a year or two before returning to them – if at all. Hopefully Waddington Mwayenga will not suffer such a fate.There was much cynicism when Waddy, as he is usually called, became yet another virtually unknown 18-year-old to be fast-tracked into the national one-day squad to face Pakistan in November 2002. In the second of the five-match series, he was given a place in the team.It was a hard baptism against a Pakistani team that had only narrowly won the first match and was therefore determined to hammer the weak Zimbabwe bowling to build a total that was way beyond Zimbabwe’s reach. Waddy’s figures of none for 74 off nine overs do not show it, but he was the most accurate of Zimbabwe’s often wayward seam bowling attack, pitching a full length and bowling a good line. Yousuf Youhana and Shahid Afridi got after him, but he still maintained a reasonable standard of accuracy under pressure. Given his youth and inexperience, it was a promising start.Waddy’s father is groundsman at the elite St John’s College in Harare, although he did not know the game and was unable to introduce his three sons to the game. It was here that Waddy and his older brother Allan, a CFX Academy student in 2002, first had contact with the game. They used to hang around the school with their father and watch the teams practising in the nets. Coach Bill Flower, father of Andy and Grant, threw the ball to them and soon discovered they had talent. Waddy played no cricket at his junior school, Tomlinson Depot at the police headquarters, but Bill Flower took an interest in him, gave him some coaching and was so impressed with him that he included him in his Harare Stragglers team for players of his age.From the beginning Waddy was primarily a pace bowler. The Stragglers team went to Mutare for the Casuals Cricket Week there and was pleased to take seven wickets in three matches. Waddy won a scholarship to Vainona High School for three years, where he was the star of a very weak side against weak opposition, frequently taking seven or eight wickets in a match. In one match he took all ten wickets to fall, including two hat-tricks, and also scored 95, his highest in any match to date, before being run out by his brother!Then he won a much better scholarship to St John’s itself, sponsored partly by the school and partly by a Mr Carter, a businessman who took an interest in him over the years. His best school performance has to date been six for 14 against Watershed, although he has a number of other six-wicket hauls to his credit.He had already been noted by the national age-group selectors, and represented Zimbabwe at Under-14 and Under-16 level before progressing to the Under-19 side for two years. His most memorable match was an Under-19 World Cup match in New Zealand against Kenya, when he took five wickets for 21 runs. He has also been to Zambia, Namibia, South Africa and Singapore with age-group teams.Waddy also owed his introduction to club cricket to Bill Flower, who took him along to Old Georgians Sports Club at the age of 15, and he has played for them ever since. His best figures for them so far are four wickets for 35 runs against Harare Sports Club during the 2002/03 season. He has also played winter cricket for Shamva.Waddy feels his main strengths as a bowler are his ability to bowl a good length and line, wicket to wicket, coupled with swing away from the right-hander and movement off the seam. “I cut the white ball but really struggle with the red ball,” he says.Waddy is used to fielding in the deep, or at mid-on or mid-off. He is keen to develop his batting and become an all-rounder. His only captaincy experience to date was at Vainona, and he says he has no real ambitions for the job.Besides Bill Flower, Waddy pays tribute to Shane Cloete as a coach with the age-group and Zimbabwe A teams and Mike Seager, a former seam bowler himself, for his constant encouragement. His role model as a pace bowler is the Australian Glenn McGrath: “I think he’s an excellent bowler.”At present Waddy is studying for his A-levels and will continue at school for 2003. After that he wants to follow in Allan’s footsteps at the CFX Academy, and hopes by then that he will be a regular member of the national side. Given the talent he has shown so far, it is a definite possibility.Cricket heroes: Andy Flower.
Toughest opponents: “In my first one-dayer, Shahid Afridi. I really didn’t know where to bowl to him. Also Yousuf Youhana.”
Personal ambitions: “To bowl as well as Glenn McGrath.”
Proudest achievement so far: “Making the one-day side and being able to play cricket at international level.”
Best friends in cricket: Stuart Matsikenyeri, Hamilton Masakadza, Tatenda Taibu, my brothers.
Other qualifications: Studying A-levels.
Other sports: First-team hockey at St John’s and first-team soccer at Vainona.
Outside interests: “I like reading cricket magazines or any other sporting magazines.”

Nottingham Forest reportedly value Brennan Johnson in the region of £8m to £10m amid interest from Brentford, according to The Athletic.

What’s the story?

Johnson has found regular game-time with Nottingham Forest’s first team hard to come by in the early stages of his professional career, playing just eight times for them, but he has caught the eye with a number of impressive showings out on loan.

The winger was loaned out to League One side Lincoln City and scored 13 goals, whilst also being on hand to provide 14 assists for his team-mates. However, his efforts still weren’t quite enough to see Michael Appleton’s side over the line in their bid for promotion, as they were beaten by Blackpool in the play-off final at Wembley.

Johnson has since returned to the City Ground and has been attracting interest from the likes of Brentford, Leeds United and Barnsley already this summer. The Bees have reportedly lodged a £3.5m bid for him, although that is well below Forest’s rumoured £8m-£10m valuation of the 20-year-old.

Forest are set to hold talks with Johnson over a new contract as they look to fend off interest from interested parties ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.

It’s a statement of intent ahead of the 2021/22 season

Nottingham Forest endured a frustrating league campaign in 2020/21 and the club’s supporters must be eager to see them challenge much higher up the Championship table next season.

The Reds finished 17th in the table last season, which will have been tough to take for Chris Hughton, who has already shown that he can guide teams into the Premier League having won promotion with Brighton and Newcastle earlier in his managerial career.

Forest have a number of players who are being linked with summer moves away from the City Ground, with Joe Worrall catching the eye of Premier League side Burnley.

However, Johnson is one player who Forest are clearly keen to retain for the foreseeable future, and you can understand why as he could play an important role in their bid for promotion to the Premier League over the coming months.

With 13 goals and 14 assists to his name last season, he’ll certainly feel as though he’s more than capable of playing regularly for the Reds in the Championship, and this could be the breakthrough season that he’s been waiting for with Nottingham Forest.

Former City Ground manager Sabri Lamouchi had previously labelled Johnson as an ‘unbelievable player with the right mentality’, and it seems as though he’s starting to show glimpses of that exciting potential.

It would be a real statement of intent by Hughton’s side if they can keep hold of Johnson this summer, and it’s good to see them standing firm in their valuation of the youngster, as he’s a player who could easily be worth even more if he can hit the ground running and replicate the form he had shown in his loan spell with Lincoln.

The club’s steadfast approach in refusing to accept less than what they feel Johnson is worth, and planning contract talks to safeguard his future at the City Ground, may well have Forest fans delighted with the intent being shown in order to try and hold on to such a promising player.

In other news, Forest handed transfer boost over “incredible” 20 y/o, Hughton must be delighted

Sheffield United are yet to receive any concrete offers for reported Celtic target George Baldock, according to The Athletic.

The Lowdown: Baldock links

Baldock, who was wanted by Neil Lennon back in 2019, has emerged on the Hoops’ radar once again this month.

Reports suggested that Celtic would be willing to pay £5-8m for the 28-year-old, who has just 12 months left on his £10,000-a-week Bramall Lane deal.

Recent stories have claimed that Baldock is on a list of potential right-back targets, with Ange Postecoglou spending days watching footage of those targets.

He’s reportedly approved a potential deal for Baldock, however, it doesn’t look as if Celtic have made an official bid as of yet.

The Latest: No offers

The Athletic’s Richard Sutcliffe shared a story regarding the Blades’ transfer business on Friday.

He addressed both incomings and outgoings, admitting ‘there have been no concrete offers’ for Baldock – an interesting six-word update as you’d think Celtic may have made their move going off recent reports.

The Verdict: Celtic looking abroad?

Since Celtic’s interest in Baldock came out at the beginning of the month, the Hoops have been linked to two right-backs from Ligue 1 side Rennes.

Brandon Soppy and Sacha Boey are the full-backs in question, so perhaps the Hoops are looking to explore the European market over a swoop for Baldock.

It could make perfect sense, especially with Baldock not looking to depart Yorkshire. Right-backs are required at Celtic Park before the new season, but at this moment in time, a move for Baldock appears unlikely.

In other news: £2.6k-p/w ace sparkling in pre-season now wants Scotland move and Celtic are keen.