O público pagante no Maracanã nesta quarta-feira, na partida entre Flamengo e Vélez Sarsfield, pela semifinal da Libertadores, garantiu ao clube a maior bilheteria da temporada: R$ 5.522.336,00. A renda ficou superou a marca de outro jogo da Copa, contra o Corinthians nas quartas de final, que teve arrecadação total de R$ 5.387.254,50.
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Foram 61.519 torcedores pagantes e 66.635 presentes no Maracanã, assistindo a vitória sobre o Vélez Sarsfield, um público menor que o do jogo contra o Corinthians (62.082 pagantes e 68.418 presentes).
A expectativa por um recorde de público, portanto, não se confirmou.
Após as reformas do estádio para a Copa do Mundo de 2014, a partida entre clubes com maior público foi Flamengo e Palmeiras, neste Brasileirão:64.816 pagantes e 69.997 torcedores presentes.
كشف الاتحاد الإسباني لكرة القدم، في مراسم القرعة التي أجريت مساء اليوم الثلاثاء، موعد مباراتي برشلونة وأتلتيكو مدريد، في بطولة الدوري الإسباني لكرة القدم موسم 2025/25.
كان برشلونة قد توج بلقب الموسم الماضي من بطولة الدوري الإسباني، نسخة 2024/25، تحت قيادة المدرب هانز فليك في بداية مشواره.
اقرأ أيضًا | مباريات الجولة الأولى من الدوري الإسباني 2025/26.. مواجهة سهلة لـ برشلونة وريال مدريد
في حين أن أتلتيكو مدريد قد اكتفى بالمركز الثالث في جدول الدوري الإسباني للموسم نفسه.
كان برشلونة قد تعرض لهزيمة قاتلة على يد أتلتيكو مدريد في مباراتهما في الدور الأول من الليجا في الموسم الماضي، بهدفين لهدف على ملعب “مونتجويك”.
في حين أن برشلونة اقتنص فوزًا مثيرًا في ملعب أتلتيكو مدريد بأربعة أهداف مقابل هدفين، في الدور الثاني. موعد مباراتي برشلونة وأتلتيكو مدريد في الدوري الإسباني 2025/26
يلتقي برشلونة مع أتلتيكو مدريد على ملعب “كامب نو” في الدور الأول من الليجا، في الجولة 19 يوم 11 يناير 2026.
ويلتقي برشلونة مع أتلتيكو مدريد على ملعب “سيفيتاس ميتروبوليتانو” في الدور الثاني من الليجا، في الجولة 30 يوم 5 أبريل 2026.
Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim was hired to make tough decisions at Old Trafford, and he now looks to have made up his mind on one key position ahead of the summer window.
Manchester United's problems laid bare under Amorim
Expectedly, United are never a club who find themselves too far away from the headlines when it comes to transfer stories, on-field analysis and everything in between at Old Trafford.
Despite a mixed run of fortunes since stepping into the hotseat, Ruben Amorim won’t be judged too harshly in comparison to his managerial competitors until reinforcements arrive at the Red Devils this summer to fit his vision.
Manchester United manager RubenAmorimlooks dejected after the match
Individual mistakes have hindered his side in their mission to push forward in the Premier League standings. In midweek, a 3-2 victory over Ipswich Town offered some brief respite for the Portuguese boss. Still, United’s performance was littered with errors that could well have proved costly on another day.
Patrick Dorgu saw red for a high challenge on Omari Hutchinson following a VAR intervention, while Andre Onana’s two mistakes allowed Jaden Philogene to fire the visitors into the lead twice before the first-half was out.
Andre Onana’s Premier League season in numbers
Save percentage
64.9%
Errors leading to goal
3
Expected Goals value prevented
-0.12
Penalties saved
1
Pass accuracy
71.1%
The Cameroon international has been under scrutiny this term due to a string of inconsistent performances. In recent days, Espanyol stopper Joan Garcia has been identified as a target for the Red Devils as Amorim looks to add competition between the sticks.
Financially, it remains to be seen how much business Manchester United will be able to conduct once the summer window opens as supporters wait to see if continental qualification can be secured via the Europa League or FA Cup. Nevertheless, the Red Devils are now said to be eyeing a statement move, according to recent reports.
Manchester United look to bring high-profile Onana replacement
Per reports in Spain, Manchester United hope to convince AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan to join the club and Amorim is believed to have sought out the France international as his preferred replacement for Onana.
Born in Cayenne, the 29-year-old would be open to trying his luck in the Premier League and the thought of a move to Old Trafford could tempt the stopper to seek a new challenge. However, the Red Devils would have to convince him that a potential switch would be the correct course of action during his peak years.
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Sean Markus Clifford
Feb 28, 2025
Strengthening on the goalkeeper front has become a priority for United’s coaching staff. Maignan may be the ideal candidate to fit the bill following 11 clean sheets in 39 appearances across all competitions through 2024/25.
Labelled “incredible” by former Ireland boss Stephen Kenny, the former Lille number one has saved 68.5% of 89 shots on target faced in Serie A across the campaign. In the Champions League, he has prevented 77.5% of 49 efforts bound for goal, which suggests he could be an upgrade on Onana based on current form.
Difficult decisions need to be made at Old Trafford as Amorim plots a route to bring long-term stability to Old Trafford. Could Maignan be the answer? His arrival would certainly ignite excitement among supporters.
Missing Caribbean tour may have prolonged career, fast bowler admits
Vithushan Ehantharajah11-Feb-2023
Stuart Broad is back in New Zealand, 15 years after his break-out tour in 2008•Getty Images
It was in New Zealand back in 2008 that Peter Moores pulled the cord on the future of English Test cricket. Out went the experience of Steve Harmison and Matthew Hoggard for the second Test at Wellington. In came 25-year-old James Anderson and 21-year-old Stuart Broad.The pair would play the next match in Napier, too, going on split 16 wickets between them as England secured what remains their last series victory in these parts. A month shy of 15 years on, and 1,225 more dismissals between them later, they return to the country where it all truly began.It’s tempting to fawn over such Origin Story shtick with Anderson and Broad, as per their three visits since. With good reason, mind, given their longevity is a key part of their legacy, specifically a sense they had as much control over their own destinies as the seam on a ball. But this tour carries the whiff of something a little different. That maybe now they are ceding a bit of that control and allowing themselves to be slaves to fate, just like the rest of us. Particularly Broad.When both Broad and Anderson were dropped last March for the tour of the Caribbean after another disastrous Ashes Down Under, retirement came into their minds. It’s hard to gauge who was closer to making that call, but Broad was being pencilled into the rota for Sky Sports’ Test coverage in the 2022 summer, which suggests feelers had been put out.A permanent move from the pitch to the commentary box will have to wait a little longer, though Broad did occupy the couch as a pundit for the Pakistan tour, which he missed for the birth of his first child, Annabella. Now, sitting as comfortably as ever in England training gear outside the team room of the Novotel Hotel in Hamilton, he sees a different side to missing that West Indies series.”Arguably that decision saved my career,” Broad says. “If I had gone there on those pitches I’m not sure I’d be here now.” The series ended in a 1-0 defeat after two high-scoring draws in the opening matches in Antigua and Barbados. “I don’t think it was designed like that by the selectors but I count myself as pretty lucky.”Now here we are: Rob Key as men’s managing director, Brendon McCullum as red-ball coach, Ben Stokes as Test captain and a run of nine wins out of 10 after just one in 17. English cricket is in an wonderfully absurd place right now, catalysed to an about-turn few saw coming. Broad has been a key part of that, particularly as the leading wicket-taker of the 2022 summer with 29 at 27.17.He knows his numbers, of course – there aren’t many in the game quite as invested in the minutiae of their statistics as Broad. “If I’d have gone on the two tours I missed [West Indies and Pakistan] I would have ended up the leading wicket-taker in the world [in 2022],” he says, assuming of course that first tour hadn’t finished him. He ended up with 40 in the calendar year, seven shy of the joint-leaders Nathan Lyon and Kagiso Rabada.Stuart Broad was England’s leading wicket-taker in the 2022 summer•Getty Images
As much as the new environment has helped, in particular the attacking mantra in the field of progress over preservation, Broad admits to a shift in his general outlook. After a period of “waking up more confused and angrier with each passing day” as he wrote in hiscolumn following his axing, came the decision to focus on what was right in front of him.”When I got left out of the Caribbean I changed my mindset to just attacking a week at a time, because it can be quite tiring looking too far ahead all the time, and we got in a habit of doing that. It is so refreshing just to have a crack at the week in front of you and sign it off.”Looking back a year, I would not have chosen to miss the Caribbean but it was a good thing that has happened for me. I never decided I was not going to play for England again but, when I got back to playing for Notts, I decided to give it everything, put my heart and soul into this week, try and get a win, sign it off, recover and move on.”With me going down that mindset, and Baz and Stokes taking over, it has been incredible for my enjoyment levels and me personally. I bowled well and felt I did my thing for the team instead of saying ‘I’ve got to do this to try and play at Edgbaston in July’. I’m very relaxed. If and when I get selected, I will give it everything, charge in, sign it off and go again.”The “if and when I get selected” is sincere. Since the emergence of Ollie Robinson, Broad’s place is no longer guaranteed. He is now as likely to play alongside Anderson as he is to deputise for him.It’s something he accepts, in terms of the reality of the situation right now rather than a reflection of his skills. And as such, the last year has been spent workshopping a new gather (when a bowler “loads up” their arms before delivery). If his usual action has his right (bowling) hand under his chin before coming back over his shoulder, like he’s tucking a napkin into his shirt before going to town on some soup, this new variation has his right hand cocked out just in front of his nose, like a T-Rex about to catch a sneeze.The idea is to improve his wobble-seam delivery to right-handers. The new method is still a work in progress, with Broad having used it sparingly at the end of last summer, but he gave it another go during the warm-up match against New Zealand A.Related
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“It came about at the start of last year with the Dukes ball,” Broad said. “it didn’t necessarily swing a huge amount in those first four Tests. The wobble wasn’t getting a huge amount of reaction, so I wanted to change my seam position and the way I wanted to do that was just change my shoulder position.”So it almost looks a bit like Dominic Cork, how he used to have that high load, and used to twist his shoulders around. I’ve got quite an open front side, so the aim of it is to load high, to twist my shoulders earlier, to be able to hold my front side and get the ball to bounce away more to the right-hander. So it’s something that I’ll use against right-handers with the red ball a little bit more, but it’s just a technical tweak to get my shoulder a little bit more aligned to the batter.”Popey spotted it when he batted [in the nets] but a few of the guys didn’t really notice it too much. So I’m hoping that opposition batters won’t be able to spot anything. It’s just a real flow through the action to relax the arms and try to get a bit more flick.”Whether Broad plays in Mount Maunganui on Thursday or is saved for the second Test and a return to Wellington on February 24, Broad’s return will come off the longest break he has had since his school days. His domestic season ended at the end of September as Nottinghamshire sealed promotion to Division One. Then came the newborn and the associated loss of free time. “I didn’t do a huge amount because even having a shower was quite a big commitment to be honest.” he says. “Bowling six overs indoors just wasn’t going to happen.”He probably could do with a few more sessions ahead of the first Test if selected, though Cyclone Gabrielle is expected to wash out any hope of meaningful outdoor practice on Monday and probably Tuesday, too. But there are no regrets for Broad after what he regards as an incredibly fortunate few months at home.”I feel very lucky and blessed for Baz to have let me miss that period away from cricket,” he says. “I watched it [the Pakistan tour] intensely as a great tour to watch, and the guys really enjoyed it. I feel very lucky to have been around for the birth and the first 12 weeks of Annabella’s life. It’s certainly life-changing, that is for sure. It’s incredible. But I’ve enjoyed being back with the group here and it’s been a great first two weeks.”Unfortunately, Broad’s time away was also a period of sadness as his father-in-law passed away after a short illness. Missing the tour meant he was able to be there for his partner, Mollie, and her family.With anyone else, becoming a father and suffering loss might offer a reminder that there are more important things than cricket. But Broad has never lacked for perspective or taken what he has for granted, which is exactly why he finds himself back here in New Zealand, on the cusp of his 160th Test, with 566 wickets to improve upon, and an 11th Ashes series on the horizon.Though he may have less control over his own destiny, with uncertainty over how much road there is to go, he is arguably the embodiment of a team living in the moment and wanting to test the limits of what they can achieve.
Manchester United are now battling Liverpool for the signature of a rising star, who could be brought in to replace a first-team player this summer, according to a report.
Man Utd struggling defensively
It would be fair to say Man United have struggled at both ends of the pitch this season, with Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund struggling to deliver in attack, while there have also been some very poor defensive performances.
The Red Devils have conceded three goals at home against the likes of Nottingham Forest and Brighton & Hove Albion, and their frailties were on show once again in the 2-2 draw against Everton at the weekend, with Harry Maguire receiving criticism.
There has been doubt over Maguire for quite some time, with the Englishman being stripped of the captaincy during the Erik ten Hag era, and there are now indications Ruben Amorim is looking to bring in a replacement this summer.
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According to a report from Caught Offside, United held off on signing a centre-back in the January transfer window, at which point Maguire was in good form, but they are now ready to battle it out for the signature of Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite this summer.
Everton's JarradBranthwaitein action with Manchester United's Harry Maguire
Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are also named as potential suitors for Branthwaite, with some of the Premier League’s biggest clubs queuing up to get a deal done, while Real Madrid have also been linked.
However, the centre-back will not come cheap, as the report reveals he will cost in excess of £70m, and Everton are determined to keep hold of him, with the plan being to extend his contract until 2030.
"Colossal" Branthwaite performing well for Everton
The Toffees have been in resurgent form since David Moyes returned to Goodison Park, and the 22-year-old has continued to play a key role, starting every Premier League game under his new manager.
The Englishman has also averaged a 7.06 SofaScore match rating in the league this season, ranking him among the best performers in the Everton squad, while also eclipsing Maguire’s average of 6.86.
In the 2-2 draw at Goodison Park on Saturday, the Carlisle-born centre-back was rated as the best-performing defender on the pitch, winning seven of the eight duels he contested, indicating he could be a real upgrade on the Red Devils’ current options.
Maguire is by no means a bad player, ranking highly across some key defensive metrics over the past year, placing in the 97th percentile for interceptions, and the 93rd percentile for aerials won.
However, if Amorim is to turn United back into contenders near the top of the table, it is clear he will need to improve his defence this summer, and Branthwaite, who has been lauded as “colossal”, is showing signs he could be a fantastic long-term addition to the squad.
Newcastle United have reportedly been offered the chance to sign a “tricky” attacking player who has been compared to Arjen Robben in the past.
Newcastle transfer news
The Magpies are believed to be pushing to beat Tottenham to the signing of Southampton youngster Tyler Dibling, who has been a breath of fresh air in a struggling Saints side in the Premier League this season. He would be an exciting long-term addition for Eddie Howe, having such a high ceiling in the game.
Illia Zabarnyi is enjoying an outstanding season at the heart of Bournemouth’s defence and Newcastle are reportedly eyeing a move for him, as they look to strengthen their centre-back options. He has started all 23 of the Cherries’ league games in 2024/25 to date, excelling alongside the equally impressive Dean Huijsen.
AC Milan wide man Noah Okafor has been linked with a move to the Magpies in the past, and the Serie A giants would be willing to allow him to leave in the January transfer window, due to their financial restrictions. He isn’t the only one of their players in that position, however, with another individual also linked with a switch to St James’ Park for the same reason.
Newcastle given chance to sign "tricky" Milan winger
According to Calciomercato, Milan have offered Newcastle the opportunity to sign winger Samuel Chukwueze, as they look to drum up funds for new signings. He is believed to be happy where he is, though, which could make it a tricky deal to agree for the £82,000-a-week man.
Not only that, but the Magpies are not alone in being given the chance to sign the Nigeria international, with fellow Premier League trio Everton, Crystal Palace and Tottenham also in the same boat.
AC Milan's Christian Pulisic celebrates scoring their first goal with Samuel Chukwueze and FikayoTomori
With Miguel Almiron completing a move back to Atalanta United this week, Newcastle are in need of a new right winger, both in terms of squad depth to help Jacob Murphy, and to bring in an upgrade on both he and the departed Paraguayan.
Chukwueze could be ideal in that respect, proving to be a hugely exciting winger capable of creating and scoring with his left foot, with football talent scout Jacek Kulig comparing him to Robben and calling him “tricky”.
At 25 years of age, Newcastle wouldn’t be taking a risk on a player whose peak isn’t far away either, and they could even get the best years of his career, with plenty of time to still mature.
Samuel Chukwueze’s key club career stats
Appearances
Goals
Assists
Villarreal
207
37
31
AC Milan
57
7
4
Villarreal B
20
4
2
The fact that Chukwueze reportedly doesn’t want to leave Milan is a clear stumbling block, but if Howe feels he is a perfect option to replace Almiron with, the hope is that he can sell the Nigerian the idea of moving to St James’.
The January transfer window was a quiet period for Leeds United, but despite it being well claimed they didn’t complete any business, a reliable reporter has now stated that a signing was made, but there was no announcement.
Leeds United’s January transfer window
At the start of the transfer window, Daniel Farke made it clear that he wasn’t a fan of January moves and therefore wasn’t looking to do much business. The Leeds boss wasn’t lying, as it was very quiet at Elland Road, but towards the end of the transfer window, Leeds did start to look at some potential new arrivals.
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Leeds United dropped the ball when ditching this attacker prematurely.
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Farke admitted that business for Leeds was there to be done if the right player was available and found: “I trust this group, and if we go with this group, I am confident we can finish in a top position.
“I think it is also our responsibility, as key people in the club, to explore if there is something to improve the group a bit and make it a higher probability, we are successful. If we find something and think it’s a good addition and affordable, we will go for it. And if not, then no.”
Coventry City
A
Millwall
H
Watford
A
Sunderland
H
Sheffield United
A
One player Leeds were looking to sign late on in the window was Southampton’s Cameron Archer. The Whites had a loan offer turned down by the Saints, and with the forward keen on joining the Championship side, Leeds were expected to make a new offer. The 49ers also had their eyes on Adam Armstrong of Southampton, but they missed out on his signature too as he reunited with Tony Mowbray at West Brom.
Leeds signed a young goalkeeper in January
According to Alan Nixon, relayed by Leeds United News, Leeds signed teenage goalkeeper Robbie Cook during the January transfer window but never announced it.
Leeds United manager DanielFarkeapplauds fans
The Yorkshire side were heavily linked with signing the Australian from Perth Glory before the transfer window opened, as were other teams from England. A week into the transfer window, it was claimed that Leeds had won the race to sign the 17-year-old, but there have also been conflicting claims that Cook remains on trial at Thorp Arch. However, Nixon reported on Tuesday that, in fact, Leeds had signed Cook but “never bothered advertising it”.
In December, it was reported that Cook had been on trial with the Whites, and they were ready to offer the young shot stopper a contract after impressing. Furthermore, Manchester United were also interested in signing Cook, but it was claimed that Leeds had fended off their rivals to secure the signing.
Cook’s potential arrival at Leeds would probably see him join the club’s academy side first, with the view to him working his way up to the first team. Leeds will see Cook, though, as a player who can work his way into the first team and be a candidate to replace Illan Meslier in the future and become their long-term number one goalkeeper. If he does join or has joined Leeds, he has the opportunity to learn from Meslier, Karl Darlow and Alex Cairns, three experienced goalkeepers in English football.
After confirming the arrival of defender Emmanuel Agbadou, Wolverhampton Wanderers have now reportedly set their sights on signing an experienced striker on loan this month.
Wolves transfer news
After failing to sign a central defender in the summer and suffering ever since, Wolves have instantly backed new manager Vitor Pereira by welcoming Agbadou from Ligue 1 side Stade Reims. 27 years old and providing the experience that the Midlands club have lacked at times, Agbadou and the rest of his new teammates will undoubtedly have their focus firmly fixed on Premier League safety.
Speaking to the club website after officially welcoming the Ivory Coast defender, chairman Jeff Shi said: “We’re delighted to welcome Emmanuel to the club. He’s a player our recruitment team have watched for a long time and Vitor agreed that he was the right player and the right character to strengthen our squad now.
“It was important we completed the transfer early in the window to help Vitor straight away, and, like all transfers, this one took a lot of hard work from a lot of people. I hope Emmanuel has a successful career at Wolves, and he’ll have the full support of everyone during his time here.”
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New Wolves manager Vitor Pereira could face a busy January transfer window.
By
Ross Kilvington
Jan 8, 2025
Agbadou may not be the last player to be welcomed with open arms at the Molineux this month, however, with the Midlands club instantly setting their sights on a reinforcement at the opposite end of Pereira’s side.
According to Wayne Veysey of Football Insider, Wolves have now opened preliminary talks to sign Kelechi Iheanacho on loan from Sevilla, who will allow the Nigerian to leave for the rest of the season this month.
Kelechi Iheanacho warming up for Leicester City.
The former Leicester City striker – earning a reported £76,000-a-week – has struggled in La Liga, but could now receive the opportunity to rediscover his best form in a league he knows incredibly well all whilst keeping Wolves afloat in England’s top flight.
"Talented" Iheanacho can be Cunha fail-safe
Signing Iheanacho – an experienced striker who knows all about the Premier League – would certainly be an intelligent move by all involved at Wolves and not just for that knowhow. The Nigerian could also act as a fail-safe for Matheus Cunha’s potential decision to depart as early as the January transfer window.
Whilst the Brazilian’s exit seems unlikely at this stage amid Arsenal’s reported interest, Wolves would be wise to prepare for the worst and welcome a player who could go on and cover for the goals that they’d so desperately miss.
When at his best, Iheanacho is more than capable of stealing the headlines, having earned Brendan Rodgers’ praise for doing exactly that in 2021.
The former Leicester City boss told reporters as relayed by The Independent: “He’s a talented player and I think of the difference in him tonight than when we played Crystal Palace last time. When we played them around the Christmas period, he wasn’t playing so much, and when you are a striker in particular that rhythm of games is important.”
Sam Billings will captain an experienced squad in the four-day match in Canterbury
Matt Roller05-Aug-2022Dom Sibley and Dan Lawrence will have the opportunity to impress England’s new management after being named in a strong 13-man Lions squad to play the visiting South Africans in a four-day match at Canterbury next week.Sibley has not played Test cricket since England’s second Test against India last summer but has had a solid season for Warwickshire in the County Championship, while Lawrence has not featured since the tour of the Caribbean after a hamstring injury disrupted the early stages of his season.Related
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Both of them will have the opportunity to push their cases to Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes, England’s Test coach and captain respectively, ahead of winter tours to Pakistan and New Zealand. While runs for Sibley would put further pressure on Zak Crawley’s spot at the top of the order after a lean summer so far.Eight of the 13 players involved have previous international experience, seven of them in Test cricket. Sam Billings will captain the side while Harry Brook and Craig Overton are included after being on the fringes of selection all summer. And Ollie Robinson will continue his return to full fitness after earlier this week being named in the squad for the first two South Africa Tests.There are also spots for Keaton Jennings and Ben Duckett, who have had successful County Championship seasons after long absences from the Test set-up. Will Jacks, the Surrey allrounder, is one of two spin options named along with Nottinghamshire’s Liam Patterson-White.Essex’s Sam Cook and Derbyshire’s Sam Conners are the other seamers involved, while James Rew, the 18-year-old Somerset wicketkeeper-batter, is the final squad member. Paul Collingwood will act as head coach.The Lions game clashes directly with several Hundred fixtures, meaning that teams will have to cope without some of their key players: Overton (Southern Brave), Lawrence (London Spirit) and Brook (Northern Superchargers) will each miss two games, while Billings and Jacks (both Oval Invincibles) and Cook (Trent Rockets) will miss one game apiece.Sam Billings will captain the Lions•Getty Images”I would like to thank the Hundred teams and respective head coaches who have enabled the eight players who are playing in the competition the opportunity to play for the Lions,” Mo Bobat, the ECB’s performance director, said. “We are grateful for their support. We are delighted that the Lions will have a competitive fixture against the South African tourists. The squad strongly represents some of the country’s current, next best and future England players. For some players, this game will be important preparation going into the Test series.”These matches for the Lions are pivotal as we try to build the depth of players that can further enhance the way the Test team have been playing this summer. It is a reward for players who have scored runs and taken wickets this season in the LV= Insurance County Championship campaign and have caught our eye in how they’ve gone about their business.”South Africa will use the game, which starts on Tuesday, as preparation for the first Test. They have named a 17-man squad for the three-match series.England Lions squad: Sam Billings (capt, wk), Harry Brook, Sam Cook, Sam Conners, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Keaton Jennings, Dan Lawrence, Craig Overton, Liam Patterson-White, James Rew, Ollie Robinson, Dom Sibley
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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.”