Henry Nicholls faces race to be fit for opening England Test

The left hander will fly out with the squad at the weekend but remains under a fitness cloud

ESPNcricinfo staff09-May-2022 • Updated on 11-May-2022

Henry Nicholls is an important part of New Zealand’s middle order•Getty Images

Henry Nicholls has been cleared to travel to England this weekend but may be struggling to be fit for the opening Test at Lord’s after picking up a grade one calf strain during a pre-tour training camp.Nicholls, the left-handed middle-order player, underwent a scan on his right calf on Tuesday after picking up the injury doing running drills in Mount Maunganui. The positive news was that he has not suffered a tear but he still faces uncertainty and is unlikely to play a full part in the two warm-up matches at the end of the month.”While it’s a positive that Henry hasn’t torn the calf, the next two to three weeks are going to be crucial in terms of his recovery and subsequent availability for the Test series,” head coach Gary Stead said. “Calves can be a challenge to rehab and we will need to minimise the risk of him re-injuring himself with any return to match action.”Related

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Nicholls is a key part of New Zealand’s Test side having made eight centuries in 46 matches with an average of 40.38. Daryl Mitchell, who is one of five members of the Test squad currently at the IPL, would be in the frame to replace Nicholls in the middle-order if required with Rachin Ravindra another option who would also be able to provide some spin bowling.”Henry’s obviously an important player for us at number five and we know he’ll be doing everything he can to make himself available,” Stead saidNew Zealand face England in three Tests during June with the opening match beginning at Lord’s on June 2.There remains a question mark over when the IPL-based players – Mitchell, Kane Williamson, Devon Conway, Trent Boult and Tim Southee – will join the tour depending on the progress of their franchises.Initially an enlarged 20-player squad has been named to cover for those absences with a reduced 15 names expected to be confirmed before the opening Test.

The new Neves: Wolves’ 8/10 sensation could now be as important as Cunha

Wolverhampton Wanderers’ resurgence under Vitor Pereira continued as they secured a stunning 2-0 win over Manchester United on Boxing Day.

The result moves the Old Gold out of the Premier League relegation zone heading into 2025 and early signs look positive under the former Porto coach.

Vitor Pereira

The Portuguese boss has earmarked Matheus Cunha as one of his most important players and the Brazilian was excellent against the Old Trafford side on Thursday evening.

If he continues this sort of form, there will be plenty of interest once the January window opens, no doubt about that.

Matheus Cunha’s game in numbers vs Man Utd

Cunha scored his tenth Premier League goal of the season against United, while also netting for the third match in a row.

The forward also succeeded with four of his six dribble attempts, made one key pass, took 93 touches and created a big chance as he caused chaos for the United defence throughout the clash.

He was even fouled five times, and it is clear that Wolves function better when Cunha is in the starting XI.

There was a player who was even better than Cunha against the Red Devils. Could he finally be the heir to Ruben Neves that the supporters have sought?

Andre's display vs Manchester United

Cunha may have proved he is vital to Pereira’s attack against United, but Andre is now a key cog in the club’s midfield. The Molineux outfit has missed Neves since he left last summer, but it certainly appears that Andre could be the answer.

The midfielder dictated play wonderfully, completing 95% of his passes during the game, along with succeeding with 100% of his long balls.

Wolves vs Man Utd – Key stats

Stat

Highest Ranked

Accurate passes

Matt Doherty and Andre (59)

Key passes

Kobbie Mainoo (3)

Shots on target

Matheus Cuna (2)

Tackles

Toti Gomes (5)

Ground duels won

Matheus Cunha (13)

Via Sofascore

Defensively, Andre won seven of his eight ground duels, made four tackles and lost possession just six times. It was an excellent display and proves that the Brazilian can control games, which earmarks him as a successor to Neves.

His performance was praised by many, with GOAL giving him a match rating of 8/10, signifying how important and crucial his display was during the 2-0 win.

If Pereira can continue to get the best out of the midfielder, then he will be as important as Cunha over the next few months, especially with the club fighting to avoid relegation from the top flight.

Following the game, talent scout Jacek Kulig even lauded Andre, saying it was “a superb performance by the 23-year-old Wolves midfielder” and it appears as though his display is gaining rave reviews from all over.

Andre

Going forward, Cunha and Andre could well be the two most important players under Pereira, and he is certainly bringing the best out of both of them, despite only being in charge for a short period of time.

Early indications suggest that Wolves have appointed the right manager in Pereira. After his first two results, the Old Gold look like a team revitalised.

Wolves and Pereira could now sign "powerful" defender in loan-to-buy deal

The 26-year-old is keen on a move to the Premier League.

1 ByDominic Lund Dec 27, 2024

صورة | جماهير الأهلي تقذف كولر بالزجاجات بعد توديع دوري أبطال إفريقيا

شن جمهور الأهلي، هجومًا حادًا على السويسري مارسيل كولر، المدير الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم، بعد الخروج من بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

وودع الأهلي، بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا، أمام ماميلودي صن داونز، بعد التعادل في مباراة الإياب بهدف لكل منهما وسلبيًا ذهابًا.

طالع.. ماذا قالت جماهير الأهلي لـ كولر واللاعبين بعد توديع دوري أبطال إفريقيا؟

وقذفت جماهير الأحمر، التي تواجدت في مدرجات استاد القاهرة، كولر بالزجاجات بعد نهاية المباراة.

يُذكر أن الأهلي قدّم شوطًا أول مقبولًا إلى حد ما، قبل أن يتراجع بشكل ملحوظ في الشوط الثاني، دون مبرر واضح، وسط استغراب من الجماهير الحاضرة في الاستاد والتي كانت تنتظر رد فعل أقوى من الجهاز الفني واللاعبين.

وتُعد هذه الخسارة ضربة موجعة في مشوار الأهلي الإفريقي، وتفتح باب التساؤلات حول مستقبل الفريق تحت قيادة كولر، خاصة مع تكرار نفس الأخطاء في أكثر من مباراة مصيرية.

Calleri brilha, São Paulo derruba invencibilidade do Palmeiras e abre boa vantagem em final do Paulistão

MatériaMais Notícias

Caiu o último invicto do Campeonato Paulista. Com uma polêmica marcação de pênalti do VAR, o São Paulo fez valer o fator mando de campo no Morumbi e, melhor em campo na maior parte do tempo, venceu o Palmeiras por 3 a 1, com dois gols de Calleri, na noite desta quarta-feira (30), saindo em vantagem na disputa da final do Estadual.

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Abel Ferreira cansou de dizer nas entrevistas pós-jogos para os críticos terem calma, que seu time perderia em algum momento. O problema é que a derrota veio na pior hora possível. Jogando um futebol abaixo de sua média padrão, o Verdão foi engolido pelo Tricolor na maior parte do tempo, pouco se valendo da escalação de Weverton, apto para o jogo após uma polêmica dispensa da Seleção Brasileira por contusão.

>ATUAÇÕES: Calleri brilha com dois gols e decide vitória pelo São Paulo
>ATUAÇÕES: Raphael Veiga é o único que se salva pelo Palmeiras em derrota

Rogério Ceni, que nada tem a ver com os problemas palmeirenses, montou um time intenso, que anulou as principais opções de ataque do rival e conseguiu aparecer com perigo no ataque de forma constante.

No primeiro tempo, um duelo nervoso e acirrado, cheio de faltas e reclamações, não poderia ter sido decidido de outra forma. Aos 50, o árbitro de vídeo apontou um toque de mão de Marcos Rocha após cruzamento na área do São Paulo. Calleri, artilheiro da equipe na competição, converteu.

Na etapa final, um abatido Palmeiras não esboçava nenhum tipo de reação ante um adversário vibrante e dedicado. Não poderia dar em outra coisa. Logo aos 18, Pablo Maia marcou o segundo tento tricolor e definiu a partida.

Mas o dia era dele, Calleri. Toca nele que é gol, canta a torcida. E assim foi aos 35, quando o argentino desviou cobrança de escanteio e definiu a ampla vantagem do Tricolor. Menos mal para o Verdão que Raphael Veiga conseguiu diminuir e evitar uma tragédia anunciada na casa rival.

Agora, para completar sua festa e ganhar um bicampeonato Paulista consecutivo que não alcança desde 1992, o Tricolor pode perder por até um gol de diferença no duelo de domingo (3), às 16h (de Brasília), em um Allianz Parque com capacidade reduzida. Caso o Palmeiras desconte os dois gols de vantagem do rival, a decisão vai para os pênaltis.

O JOGO

Para quem foi apontado como favorito absoluto da decisão, o Palmeiras repetiu a estratégia usada na partida da fase de classificação e foi com tudo para cima do São Paulo. Foram duas boas chances nos primeiros lances. Aos 4, Piquerez cruzou (ou chutou, quem sabe) rasteiro no veneno e Diego Costa afastou. Em seguida, aos 9, o uruguaio driblou Rafinha e de novo apostou no cruzamento rasteiro para Raphael Veiga, que bateu de primeira, com perigo.

Só que desta vez Rogério Ceni parece ter vindo preparado para enfrentar Abel Ferreira. Ciente dos planos do português, o ex-goleiro, fechou as ligações do meio-campo alviverde com seus pontas. E com isso aparecia no contra-ataque.

Aos 11, a jogada encaixou. Igor Gomes recuperou a pelota na intermediária e encontrou Welington na esquerda, que cruzou na medida para Alison, sozinho, dominar, ajeitar e chutar no travessão de Weverton.

O jogo era incrivelmente bom e tenso ao mesmo tempo. Faltas eram trocadas de forma áspera, reclamações e boas oportunidades. O Tricolor dominava as ações no meio-campo, mas o Verdão, especialista nas jogadas de profundidade, encontrava meios de atacar.

Aos 20, Raphael Veiga dominou lançamento (ou seria chutão mesmo) de Murilo, deixou Pablo Maia no chão e cruzou pela direita. O lance relembrou o gol marcado pelo Alviverde na partida da fase de classificação. Mas desta vez, pior para Rony que o rival tinha Jandrei no gol e conseguiu defender.

Desperdiçando sua melhor oportunidade, o Palmeiras sentiu o golpe. E por todo o decorrer da etapa inicial foi uma sucessão de faltas, catimbas, cartões amarelos e muitas reclamações. Lembram da qualidade citada parágrafos atrás? Pois então, sumiu.

Quando o futebol jogado parecia que ia desaparecer, veio o lance capital. Douglas Marques das Flores foi avisado no ouvido por José Claudio Rocha Filho de que algo teria dado ruim em cruzamento na área palmeirense. Na revisão do VAR o árbitro viu toque de mão de Marcos Rocha. Pênalti marcado e convertido por Calleri, aos 50 minutos. Assista ao lance no vídeo abaixo.

Morumbi ferve, Verdão some e Tricolor aproveita

Na volta do intervalo, a partida mudou de tônica. Ou seja, o São Paulo passou a dominar as ações e espaços diante de um Palmeiras inofensivo.

Aos 14, Eder tabelou com Igor Gomes e apareceu na frente de Weverton, mas preferiu cruzar ao invés de chutar e perdeu boa chance.

Não faria falta, afinal quatro minutos depois, Nestor achou Pablo Maia entrando de fora da área, que chutou de primeira e ampliou a vantagem tricolor.

Era uma inversão de valores. O Palmeiras pouco fazia sua torcida lembrar das boas atuações de outras jornadas e o Tricolor, em êxtase, vivia a sua melhor atuação neste Estadual.

Um, em especial, chamava a atenção: Calleri. O artilheiro ídolo são-paulino vivia noite especial e deixaria mais um. Aos 35, o camisa 9 desviou uma cobrança ensaiada de escanteio de Nikão que passou por Igor Gomes e fez os 3 a 0.

A única aparição palmeirense no segundo tempo veio aos 39. Raphael Veiga bateu falta pela direita e acertou o gol de Jandrei para diminuir a vantagem tricolor e manter o Verdão vivo (porém nem tanto), para o duelo do Allianz Parque.

FICHA TÉCNICA
SÃO PAULO 3 x 1 PALMEIRAS

Local: Estádio do Morumbi, São Paulo (SP)
Data/Horário: 30/03/2022, às 21h40 (de Brasília)
Árbitro: Douglas Marques das Flores
Assistentes: Daniel Paulo Ziolli e Alex Ang Ribeiro
VAR: Jose Claudio Rocha Filho
Público e renda:60.383 presentes (recorde do campeonato) eR$ 5.505.315,00

Cartões amarelos: Jailson, Gabriel Veron e Abel Ferreira (Palmeiras); Jandrei, Diego Costa, Nestor e Patrick (São Paulo)

GOLS:Calleri (pênalti) aos 50 min do 1º T (1-0), Pablo Maia aos 14 min do 2º T (2-0), Calleri aos 35 min do 2º T (3-0) e Raphael Veiga (falta) aos 39 min do 2º T (3-1)

SÃO PAULO:Jandrei; Rafinha, Diego Costa, Léo e Welington; Pablo Maia, Nestor (Andrés Colorado 37/2) e Igor Gomes; Alisson (Nikão 28/2), Eder (Marquinhos 23/2) e Calleri.Técnico: Rogério Ceni

PALMEIRAS:Weverton; Gustavo Gómez, Murilo e Piquerez; Marcos Rocha, Jailson, Zé Rafael (Atuesta 29/2) e Gustavo Scarpa (Gabriel Veron 24/2); Dudu (Wesley 24/2), Raphael Veiga e Rony.Técnico: Abel Ferreira

TABELA
> Veja classificação e simulador do Paulistão-2022 clicando aqui
> Conheça o aplicativo de resultados do LANCE!

Grêmio chega a marca negativa com Roger Machado no comando

MatériaMais Notícias

Na tarde do último sábado, o Grêmio foi derrotado pela Chapecoense por 1 a 0 na Arena, o que elevou a pressão por bons resultados.Com o revés, o time de Roger Machado entrou na zona de rebaixamento, e a cobrança é para uma reação imediata a partir das próximas rodadas da competição. Campeão estadual, o Tricolor foi eliminado na primeira fase da Copa do Brasil pelo Mirassol.

>>> VEJA A TABELA DA SÉRIE B

Além da falta de resultados no início da Série B, outro ponto que liga o sinal de alerta é a falta de bola na rede. Nos dois jogos da competição, o Tricolor não conseguiu furar a marcação da Ponte Preta e Chapecoense. Esta é a primeira vez que o Grêmio fica dois jogos sem marcar com Roger Machado no comando.

O Grêmio volta a campo na segunda divisão nacional nesta quinta-feira contra o Guarani, em Porto Alegre, às 16h30.

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تشكيل منتخب مصر للشباب المتوقع أمام جنوب إفريقيا في افتتاح كأس أمم إفريقيا

استقر أسامة نبيه، المدير الفني لمنتخب مصر للشباب تحت 20 عامًا، على تشكيل مباراة جنوب إفريقيا، اليوم الأحد، في افتتاحية مشواره في بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا.

يفتتح منتخب مصر مشاركته في بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا تحت 20 عامًا بملاقاة منتخب جنوب إفريقيا على ملعب استاد القاهرة.

وتستضيف مصر هذه البطولة من 27 أبريل حتى 18 مايو، والتي تُعد مؤهلة لكأس العالم.

طالع.. منتخب مصر للشباب يختتم تدريباته استعدادًا لـ كأس أمم إفريقيا

ويقع منتخب مصر في المجموعة الأولى، إلى جانب منتخبات جنوب إفريقيا، سيراليون، زامبيا، وتنزانيا.

ويتأهل إلى دور الثمانية من البطولة المنتخبات الحاصلة على المركزين الأول والثاني في كل مجموعة، بالإضافة إلى أفضل منتخبين من أصحاب المركز الثالث.

وتنطلق المباراة بين مصر وجنوب إفريقيا، في كأس أمم إفريقيا تحت 20 عامًا في تمام التاسعة مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة والمملكة العربية السعودية. تشكيل منتخب مصر للشباب المتوقع اليوم أمام جنوب أفريقيا

حراسة المرمى: عبد المنعم تامر.

الدفاع: محمد عاطف وأحمد عابدين وعبد الله بوستنجي ومحمود لبيب.

الوسط: أحمد كاباكا ومحمد السيد وأحمد وحيد.

الهجوم: عمر خضر وأحمد شرف ومحمد زعلوك.

Arsenal scouts now obsessed with "fantastic" record-breaking UCL player

Arsenal scouts are now obsessed with a “fantastic” young midfielder after his impressive performances this season, according to a report.

Arsenal still within reach of Liverpool

Although Liverpool are showing no signs of slowing down in their pursuit of the Premier League title, securing a 5-0 victory at West Ham United yesterday, a nine-point gap is by no means insurmountable for Arsenal in the second half of the season.

However, Mikel Arteta may have to bring in some reinforcements this winter in order to give his side the best possible chance of catching Arne Slot’s men, and the manager is believed to be keen on signing a new striker.

Randal Kolo Muani is on Arteta’s list of targets, with the Frenchman’s future at Paris Saint-Germain still uncertain, while a move for Galatasaray loanee Victor Osimhen is also being plotted, although a deal will not come cheap, with a £66m fee being touted.

Signing a new striker appears to be a priority for the Gunners, given the number of targets that have been identified, but Arteta still continues to cast his eye on players in other positions, who could make a more long-term contribution to the club.

Arsenal’s upcoming Premier League fixtures

Date

Brentford (a)

January 1st

Brighton (a)

January 4th

Tottenham Hotspur (h)

January 15th

Aston Villa (h)

January 18th

Wolverhampton Wanderers (a)

January 25th

One such player is Ayyoub Bouaddi, with Arsenal scouts said to be wowed by the Lille midfielder and ‘enamoured’ with his talent, having put in some very impressive performances so far this season. There may be stiff competition for Bouaddi’s signature, however, as he is on the radar of a number of top European clubs, including Liverpool, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Barcelona.

In 2023, the youngster broke a record by becoming the youngest player ever to play in a European club competition game, making his debut at 16 years and 3 days old. As the starlet does not turn 18 until October, a move to England is not possible in January, but he could leave Lille at the end of the season.

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ByBen Browning Dec 30, 2024 One for the future

The young Frenchman has added to his Champions League experience this season, making five appearances in the competition, no mean feat considering he is still just 17 years old. Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has given an overview of the maestro’s abilities, saying he is a “midfield controller”, while also likening him to Manchester City’s Ilkay Gundogan and describing him as “fantastic”.

Lille's AyyoubBouaddicelebrates with teammates after the match

Bouaddi is very much one for the future and it will be interesting to see whether Arsenal make a move for him at the end of the season, but Arteta’s more pressing concern will be strengthening his squad this January. With Raheem Sterling and Bukayo Saka now out injured, Arteta may have to strengthen his attacking options heading into the second half of the season, if his side are to have any chance of catching Liverpool.

Joe Root: I had an 'unhealthy relationship' with England captaincy

England’s match-winner opens up on strains of leadership after return to the ranks

Andrew Miller05-Jun-2022

Joe Root and Ben Stokes share a joke•Getty Images

The emotion was plain for Joe Root as he soaked up the acclaim from an enraptured Lord’s crowd. A phenomenally composed 115 not out, his 26th Test hundred but his first in the fourth innings, had guided England to a gripping five-wicket win over New Zealand in the first Test of the English summer, and ended a barren run of results that stretched back 10 months to the Headingley Test against India.But perhaps more significantly, it was a century in Root’s first appearance back in England’s ranks, after stepping down from a role that he had held with pride for five years and a national-record 64 matches, but which he admitted after the match had become an “unhealthy relationship” in its grim final throes.England won just one of their last 17 Tests under Root’s leadership, including a 4-0 defeat in the Ashes and a further 1-0 reverse in the Caribbean in March. And though he insisted in the immediate aftermath of that campaign that he still had the drive to take the team forward, Root conceded upon his return to the UK that the pressures had become too much to bear.”It had become a very unhealthy relationship to be honest, the captaincy and me,” Root admitted after his innings on Sunday. “It started to really take a bad toll on my own personal health. I couldn’t leave it at the ground any more, it was coming home. It wasn’t fair on my family, on people close to me, and it wasn’t fair on myself either.Related

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“I had thrown everything at it and I was determined to help turn this team around but I realised over that time at home that it would have to be in a different way. I’m very excited to do that now and to do everything I can to help Ben [Stokes] really turn this team around and make this team the force it should and can be.”There was little about Root’s form with the bat in the latter months of his captaincy that let on about the mental toll the role was taking – quite the contrary in fact. He amassed an England-record 1,708 runs at 61.00 in 2021, just 80 runs shy of Mohammad Yousuf’s all-time record, and though he endured a dip in form towards the end of the Ashes, his back-to-back hundreds in Antigua and Barbados earlier this year seemed to have signalled his determination to keep leading from the front.Privately, however, Root acknowledged he was feeling the strain of propping up an under-performing team, and while taking a break from cricket at the end of the Caribbean tour, he announced it was time to step down.”I obviously tried as much as I could, but I think I was unaware of how much it was grabbing hold of me,” he admitted. “I just needed to make the decision, and I knew it was the right thing to do. I felt like a big weight had been lifted and I immediately felt a lot better.”As hard as it was, obviously it’s been a huge privilege and something that I’m extremely proud to have done, but it’s time for a new phase in my career. And it’s one that I’m very much looking forward to, seeing one of my best mates now take this team forward and start in a way that he has.”Stokes himself played a big part in securing victory in his first outing as official captain, scoring a chancy but vital 54 to help break the back of a 277-run chase on the third afternoon. But, once he fell to Kyle Jamieson with 118 runs still needed, Root stepped up his own tempo to score his final 81 runs from 81 balls, and ease England home in company with Ben Foakes.”This is a very nice feeling,” Root said in the aftermath of England’s win. “It’s felt like a long time. But it’s one that you want to feel over and over again. So, again, having experienced that this week, it’s one that we want to make sure that, when we turn up to Trent Bridge, we’re on the right side of it again, and can feel it again.”

In the moment of victory, Root paused on the edge of the boundary, shaking hands with the New Zealand players and support staff before taking a memorable walk of honour through the pavilion, where he was applauded by the members, and greeted by a line-up of his team-mates, led by Stokes, with Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad and James Anderson close behind.”It meant a huge amount to me,” he said, “not just personally, but when you walk through the dressing-room or through the Long Room and you’re high-fiving the rest of the group, and you can see the genuine joy and elation on their faces. That’s the one thing that I’ve missed the most, I suppose, over the last year and a bit. And one thing I’m really looking forward to seeing a lot more of, hopefully, this summer.”Root admitted that the chance to pay Stokes back for the many match-winning displays under his own captaincy had been an additional motivating factor in his performance.”It’s my turn now,” he said. “That’s a great motivator for me moving forward, with the amount of amazing things Ben did for this team under my leadership. It’s a great opportunity for me in the next phase of my career to do that for him. I’m not sure I’ll be able to do some of the things he has done but I can certainly try. It’s nice to do that today.”Stokes, however, dismissed his team-mate’s modesty. “There is never any doubt about Joe stepping up on the big occasions,” he said. “He didn’t have to speak so nicely about me, because he’s playing the next game whatever happens.”Everything that he’s spoken about with the captaincy, to see him walk off there, leading the team to victory, seeing the emotion of pure joy and happiness to win a game for England in his first game after stepping down as captain was amazing.”We are very close, we’re not just work colleagues together. As emotional as it was for him, it was fantastic for me to see a very close friend walk off after leading England to victory. It was a great day.”

PCB to separate men's red and white-ball central contracts

The number of women’s centrally-contracted players will rise from 18 to 25, with their salaries increasing by 15%

Danyal Rasool24-Jun-2022

Ramiz Raja: “I remain committed to looking after our national cricketers who bring joy to the fans and laurels for the country”•AFP via Getty Images

Pakistan’s men’s cricketers will have red and white-ball contracts separated in a revamp of the way the PCB central contracts are handed out. PCB chairman Ramiz Raja announced the move was necessary to incentivise and reward the efforts of players in each format. The number of centrally-contracted men’s cricketers will also rise from 20 to 33 when the contracts are next handed out next month. In addition, the number of women’s centrally-contracted players will rise from 18 to 25, with their salaries increasing by 15%.”The thought process behind splitting red and white-ball contracts is to recognise the importance of white-ball cricket in the growth and development of the game,” Ramiz said. “We have four international events in the next 16 months, including two World Cups. This recognition of offering contracts to white-ball specialists will help us to eventually develop two separate squads, which could simultaneously be engaged in white and red-ball cricket. This will also allow us to have a bigger spread of talent to showcase to the world.”The number of women’s central contracts has been increased to 25 from 18. You saw the performance of the women’s side against Sri Lanka, where Tuba [Hassan] became the first ICC Player of the Month. We won a Women’s World Cup match for the first time in 13 years. We executed a talent hunt of the women’s side across the country for the first time.”Related

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There was also an emphasis on shielding Pakistan’s frontline cricketers from fatigue by disincentivising them from playing too many overseas leagues. As a result, Ramiz announced “a substantial pool of funds” that would be made available to compensate them.”To discourage our elite players from signing up for additional off-season events, we have allocated substantial pool of funds. This amount will be used to compensate them for their potential loss in earnings and will also manage their workload and ensure that they remain fully fit, fresh and ready when required on national duty.”Another one of Ramiz’s signature projects, the introduction of drop-in pitches to Pakistan, is yet to see significant progress, but the PCB chairman announced that logistical and financial hurdles had frustrated his efforts, and that things were moving quickly now.”Drop-in pitches are extremely expensive, and transporting them from Australia is problematic,” he explained. “We’ve imported soil from Australia, which is coming in July. An Australian curator is coming here. We all learn lessons, and what I learned was the pitches against Australia were useless. We assumed we’d beat them with spin and reverse swing, which didn’t happen. So I had the pitches on the squares changed immediately.”These announcements were the most salient developments across a press conference after the PCB’s 69th Board of Governors (BoG) meet, where Ramiz re-emphasised his primary aims and intentions as chairman, talking up the need for financial independence, and the importance of on-field results to grow the influence and brand of Pakistan cricket. There were salary and fee increases announced across the board, too, with a 10% increase in match fees across formats. Moreover, non-playing members will earn 70% of the match fee that playing cricketers receive, up from 50% previously.”Since September 2021, the Pakistan men’s cricket team has achieved an impressive 75% success rate across all formats, which is the highest amongst all the Test playing nations. This has contributed in Pakistan improving its rankings, which now stands at fifth in Tests [up by one], third in ODIs [up by three and the highest since January 2017] and third in T20Is [up by one].”With this background, and in line with our philosophy that revolves around acknowledging, appreciating and rewarding high-performing players, I am pleased with the enhancements in the 2022-23 central contracts. I remain committed to looking after our national cricketers who bring joy to the fans and laurels for the country. These players are our pride, and always need to be well looked after and properly valued so that they can continue to flourish in their field of expertise.”

"Excellent" Newcastle youngster to be allowed to leave Tyneside in January

An “excellent” Newcastle United defender will be allowed to leave the club in January after expressing his deisre to play first team football, according to a new report.

Osula shines as Newcastle breeze past Bromley

Eddie Howe gave a number of his young stars a run out against League Two side Bromley in the FA Cup third round at the weekend, and they did not disappoint. Midfielder Lewis Miley, 18, and striker William Osula, 21, were both on the scoresheet with superb goals in a 3-1 win for the Magpies at St. James’ Park.

Trevan Sanusi, 17, also came off the bench to make his professional debut, and impressed, with Chronicle Live awarding him 7 out of 10 for his display, saying he “caused one or two problems”.

Speaking after the game, Howe praised both Miley and Osula for their goals: “What a brilliant finish from Lewis Miley. From that moment we settled into the game. Lewis played very well. He brings loads of composure and quality on the ball.”

On Osula’s goal, which saw him skillfully cut in from the right wing before bending the ball into the far corner, the English manager said: “He’s been waiting for that moment. He’s been training hard. He has huge potential and quality. I haven’t seen him score many like that. I’m delighted for him.”

Murphy set to leave Newcastle

One young player who wasn’t involved on Sunday and could soon be on his way out of St. James’ Park is Irish defender Alex Murphy. The 20-year-old, who was an unused substitute against Bromley, joined Newcastle from Galway United in the summer of 2022, but has since made just two first team appearances, spending the majority of his time with the club’s reserves.

Murphy recently went public with his request to play senior football, saying via The Shields Gazette: “I want to play as many senior minutes as I can, whether that is here or somewhere else for the year. I want to get as many games under my belt as possible and then, hopefully, the aim is to play here every week.”

And the Gazette report that Newcastle have now made Murphy available for a loan this month, and has had interest from a number of Football League and Scottish Premiership clubs, who are keen to take him on for the remainder of the campaign.

Given that Murphy signed a new long-term contract with Newcastle in May of last year, it’s appears he still has a bright future ahead of him on Tyneside – Howe has also been full of praise for the Irishman in the past.

Speaking about Murphy after he put in an impressive performance in a pre-season game against Chelsea in 2023, the boss had glowing praise: “I thought he was excellent, really, really good.

“He was very composed, and defended really well. I was really, really pleased with him. I’ve always liked Alex. I think he’s a very good technician. But it’s really when you find out about players when you’re in this environment- a full crowd, Premier League opposition. He can be very pleased with his night’s work.”

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