All posts by h716a5.icu

Urooj Mumtaz will lead Pakistan’s 15-member squad for the Women’s World Cup in Australia from March 7 to 22

Cricinfo staff12-Jan-2009Urooj Mumtaz will lead Pakistan’s 15-member squad for the Tri-Nation Series in Bangladesh, from February 3 to 18, and the subsequent Women’s World Cup in Australia from March 7 to 22.Sana Mir will be Mumtaz’s deputy in the touring party, which includes four uncapped players in Nahida Khan, Armaan Khan, Sania Khan and Sukhan Faiz. Among those missing from the squad are former captain Sana Javed as well as opener Tasqeen Qadeer.Pakistan qualified for the World Cup, which will have eight teams, by finishing second in last year’s qualifiers in South Africa – they lost in the final to the hosts. They have been drawn in the same group as India, England and Sri Lanka.The top three teams will make it to the Super Six round, a tough ask for Pakistan, given England are the pre-tournament favourites, and that both India and Sri Lanka beat them convincingly in the Asia Cup in May 2008. Pakistan have also not played any international cricket since the tournament, with West Indies having cancelled a visit to the country over security concerns.However, they will gain match practice before the World Cup in a triangular contest in Bangladesh, involving the hosts and Sri Lanka.Pakistan squad Urooj Mumtaz (capt), Sana Mir (vice-captain), Bismah Maroof, Nain Abidi, Sajjida Shah, Javeria Khan, Armaan Khan, Batool Fatima, Nahida Khan, Almas Akram, Asmavia Iqbal, Sania Khan, Qanita Jalil, Naila Nazir, Sukhan Faiz.

Ehsan Mani has advised the PCB to surrender its right to host the 2009 Champions Trophy and ask the ICC for an event in the future as compensation

Cricinfo staff10-Sep-2008
Ehsan Mani: “I am of the view that even now, during the meetings underway in Dubai, the PCB should surrender the hosting rights of the Champions Trophy ” © International Cricket Council
Ehsan Mani, the former ICC president, has advised the Pakistan Cricket Board to surrender its right to host the Champions Trophy, scheduled for October 2009, and ask the ICC for an event in the future as compensation.Pakistan was supposed to host the Champions Trophy in September 2008 but the tournament was postponed after five countries said they would not send their teams because of security concerns in the country. Sri Lanka was the designated back-up option but the ICC chose to postpone the tournament, rather than shift it to another location, after the Pakistan board and the BCCI stood firm against a change in venue.”Since it was known earlier that some teams were not comfortable about touring Pakistan for the Champions Trophy, the PCB should have taken the initiative by asking the ICC to shift it to an alternate venue, instead of postponing it, to avoid the financial loses,” Mani told . “If the tournament was shifted, the ICC could have earned approximately $50 million and every participating team would have had their share of $3.75 million each.”In my view, the PCB should have withdrawn from hosting the Champions Trophy and should have demanded any future ICC event like the 2012 Champions Trophy or the Twenty20 World Cup in 2013 as compensation since ICC hasn’t allocated those events.”The staging of the Champions Trophy in 2009 will be discussed during meetings between the Chief Executives Committee and the ICC board on September 10 and 11. Mani was of the view that Pakistan could still give up the hosting rights during the meeting in Dubai.”I am of the view that even now, during the meetings underway in Dubai, the PCB should surrender the hosting rights of the Champions Trophy and ask the ICC to hold it next year in Dubai, or anywhere else they want to, in lieu of any future ICC event when things become normal in Pakistan.”

Everton are leading the race to sign Lazio’s Joaquin Correa, according to Italian outlet Tuttosport. 

The lowdown

26-year-old Correa is predominantly a second striker but has also led the line and played on both flanks over the course of his career (via Transfermarkt).

He’s been directly involved in 48 goals (scoring 30 and assisting 18) in 117 appearances for Lazio.

Former Lazio boss Simone Inzaghi described Correa as a ‘formidable’ player who’s ‘very intelligent tactically’.

The latest

The report says that, of Correa’s suitors, ‘Everton are the most forward’, but no ‘formalised suitable offers’ have been made as yet.

Under FIGC rules, Lazio need to raise between €25million and €30million if they want to register four new signings – Elseid Hysaj, Felipe Anderson, Dimitrije Kamenović and Luka Romero – and complete a fifth in the form of Bordeaux’s Toma Basic.

And, as it happens, Maurizio Sarri’s side value Correa at €30million (£25.6million).

Correa and his team-mates are headed to Germany for a pre-season ‘retreat’, but the player is said to be determined to leave the Stadio Olimpico this summer.

The verdict

It certainly looks like there’s a deal to be done here, and Correa would bring a great deal to Everton. If Rafael Benitez sticks with his preferred 4-2-3-1, the Argentine could theoretically be deployed in any of the four attacking positions.

You could argue that Everton would be better served bringing in an out-and-out no. 9 as back-up to Dominic Calvert-Lewin after the departure of Josh King, but Correa did out-perform his expected goals last season, suggesting he’s a reliable finisher if needed as a centre-forward.

If the Blues can successfully offload Moise Kean, then perhaps we could see them meet Lazio’s demands and bring in Correa as a replacement.

In other news, Everton fans were left fuming as these comments emerged.

Sri Lanka’s president Mahinda Rajapakse has given the green light for the national team to tour Pakistan next month, AFP reported

Cricinfo staff26-Dec-2008
Sri Lanka celebrate their Asia Cup triumph in Karachi earlier this year: After getting government clearance, Sri Lanka will revisit the scene of their triumph in January 2009 © AFP
Sri Lanka’s president Mahinda Rajapakse has cleared the national team’s tour of Pakistan next month. The series had been confirmed by the Pakistan board last week but its status became uncertain after the Sri Lankan interim board, headed by Arjuna Ranatunga, was dissolved on Tuesday by the country’s sports minister Gamini Lokuge.Sri Lanka’s foreign minister Rohitha Bogollagama announced the decision to tour after talks with President Mahinda Rajapakse. The foreign ministry said in a statement, “Minister Bogollagama is of the view that sport is an effective means of promoting connectivity between nations and thereby enhancing friendship and mutual goodwill between countries.” The tour, it said, is scheduled to run from January 20 to February 25,Unsurprisingly, the decision has been welcomed by a Pakistan starved of top-flight, international cricket. Javed Miandad, director general PCB, asked people to come out and watch the series. “Not only the cricket fraternity but the whole of Pakistan is thankful to the Sri Lankan president for clearing their tour to Pakistan,” he told AFP”I hope more and more people come to watch Sri Lanka play in Pakistan because we want to prove to the world that Pakistan is safe and secure for cricket,” he added. His views were echoed by Shoaib Malik, Pakistan’s captain. “It’s great news. It will give us some much needed international cricket and we are determined to do well.”Though a succession of reports in recent days had cast doubts on the tour, the PCB had privately remained confident it would go ahead. Board officials were due to meet their Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) counterparts in Kuala Lumpur for an Asian Cricket Council moot and it is believed details will be finalised there on Saturday.Earlier in the day Ijaz Butt, the PCB chairman, said that Lokuge had assured Pakistani officials of the series receiving government clearance. “Our High Commissioner has spoken to the sports minister, who has assured him the tour is on but, under government policies, it has to be cleared by the Sri Lankan foreign ministry,” Butt told .”As is the usual practice the Sri Lankan cricket authorities have to get security clearance from their foreign office. The foreign office will in turn will seek assurances from our government for proper security arrangements to be made for the series,” he said.India had originally been scheduled to tour Pakistan early next year but called off the visit after last month’s terror attacks in Mumbai. Sri Lanka are scheduled to play three Tests and five ODIs, instead of three ODIs and a Twenty20 international as had been proposed by Pakistan originally. Though the itinerary is yet to be finalised the Tests are likely to be played in Lahore, Multan and Karachi, while the ODIs will be shared by Karachi, Lahore and possibly Faisalabad.

Wasim Akram, the former Pakistan fast bowler and captain, is in Delhi to conduct a fast-bowling camp for promising youngsters in the capital

Cricinfo staff02-Sep-2008
Wasim Akram: “We look at pitches putting Australia as the benchmark. We have to get rid of that now” © AFP
Wasim Akram, the former Pakistan fast bowler and captain, is in Delhi to conduct a fast-bowling camp for promising youngsters in the capital. The camp, a joint initiative between the Delhi District Cricket Association (DDCA) and Cradle Sports, will be held on September 2 and 3 and will involve up to 15 players.”The Wasim Akram Pace Academy will improve upon and better the MRF Pace Academy [in Chennai],” Sunil Dev, the DDCA secretary, said. “The idea is to have a legend train the young kids.”These workshops will be held on a sustained basis. The School Cricket League [for Under-16s] will start from October 1 and will be used as a platform to select the state team in that group so that all biases are removed.”Akram, who will be assisted by the former Indian offspinner Nikhil Chopra, said it’s important to train youngsters to adjust to different pitches and conditions. “We look at pitches putting Australia as the benchmark. We have to get rid of that now,” Akram said. “It’s only in the mind. We too had similar conditions to play with. Pace is the most important thing and nothing else matters.”The idea is to help youngsters develop and improve upon their skills and what better platform than an academy of this nature. Initiatives like this need to be carried on a sustainable basis and corporates should come forward and support it in a big way.”

Former Pakistan batsman wants PCB to allow current coach to complete contract

Cricinfo staff30-Jul-2008
Javed Miandad feels sacking Lawson now would set a bad precedent © AFP
Javed Miandad, the former Pakistan captain, has defended the current national coach Geoff Lawson, arguing that the Australian “should be allowed to complete his contract”.”Nowhere in the world are contracts treated with such contempt,” Miandad told . “In our [Pakistan] cricket system there is a proper contract system for coaches and players with relevant clauses. Yet despite repeated breaches no action is taken by the board.”The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is bound to adhere to the contractual terms. Nowhere is a coach or player allowed to give statements with board officials having a say on every issue, except in Pakistan. They should allow Lawson to complete his contract but if he wants out himself that is another issue.”He quoted his own experience as coach of the national side. “What example of discipline can you set by not honouring a valid contract? They (PCB) did the same with me. I had a legal contract with them and yet behind my back they were negotiating with another coach (Woolmer).”Lawson was appointed coach in August last year for a two-year term, but has had a mixed run so far; under him Pakistan have lost series to South Africa and India and failed to qualify for the final of the Asia Cup, held at home.Pakistan did, however, reach the final of the Twenty20 World Cup last year and win the Kitply Cup in Dhaka in June this year. However, speculation has been rife about his fate and though privately board officials are not thought to be impressed by him, officially he has the board’s backing. Nasim Ashraf, the board chairman, said recently, after the Asia Cup, that both captain Shoaib Malik and Lawson would retain their jobs.The team’s next assignment is a likely three-match ODI series against New Zealand at home, ahead of the Champions Trophy to be held in Pakistan in September 2008.

SYDNEY – Australian captain Ricky Ponting on Tuesday urged Shane Watson toignore the hoopla surrounding Steve Waugh in order to nail down the allrounder position in time for next year’s World Cup

Will Swanton – 10 December 200210-Dec-2002SYDNEY – Australian captain Ricky Ponting on Tuesday urged Shane Watson toignore the hoopla surrounding Steve Waugh in order to nail down the allrounder position in time for next year’s World Cup.But Australian coach John Buchanan claimed the national selectors might not pick any allrounders for the Cup defence in Africa, leaving both Watson and Waugh on the outer.The push for Waugh to be re-instated to Australia’s one-day side has placed enormous pressure on 21-year-old Watson heading into Australia’s sell-out opening match of the tri-series against England at the SCG on Friday night.Test captain Waugh was robbed of a major opportunity to press his claims as an allrounder when today’s game between NSW and Australia was washed out without a ball being bowled – by him or anybody else.Asked if Watson felt under extra pressure because of the growing public support for 37-year-old Waugh, Ponting said: “I haven’t spoken to him about it but I wouldn’t have thought so. If he starts thinking about things other than his own game then he will start to struggle.”We’ve all been there and done that before, where we’ve let other little things get to us. I wouldn’t think it would be bothering him too much.”I think he’s improving and he’ll keep improving.”Watson’s 15 games for Australia since his debut in March have produced 202 runs at 33.66 and eight wickets at 46.25. His ING Cup returns from four appearances this season have been a disappointing 57 runs at 14.25 and five wickets at 31.21.Time is running out for him. The World Cup will not be the place to experiment with an unproven player.”He’s the sort of guy that if he’s not happy with things, he’ll stay in the nets to the end like he did today, working on his throwing,” Ponting said after Australian training at the SCG.”The more cricket he plays at this level the more he’ll learn and the more he’ll keep improving so let’s just hope he does that through this series.”The big wet in Sydney means Waugh’s next match isn’t likely to be until December 19 when NSW plays Victoria in the Pura Cup. Then follows the Boxing Day Test, after which the 15-man players for the World Cup will be announced.”Selectors are not going to pick an allrounder just for the sake of it,” Buchanan said on Melbourne radio station Sport927.”At this stage we are short of that quality allrounder and I’m not sureit will surface between now and when the final squad is announced at theend of this month.”Possibly the selectors will consider a player who can fill a number ofroles but that does not mean he is a genuine allrounder.”Ponting played it coy on the subject of Waugh and defended the right of chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns to hide the reasons for Waugh’s omission from the public.”I’m sure Steve’s disappointed – as he’s made clear over the last fewdays – that he’s been left out of it (the 30-man squad),” said Ponting.”It’s not for me to comment – that’s what the selectors are there for. They’ve obviously told Stephen the reasons why. They haven’t told the public the reasons why but I don’t think they really have to do that either.”They’re making very big decisions and sometimes they don’t have to justify to every Australian person why they’ve made some of those decisions.”I don’t really understand the outcry, why the public needs to know all those finer details of it.”Hohns told Ponting during the third Ashes Test in Perth that Waugh was being left off the 30-man roster and Ponting expects to have no input when the final decision is made.”It’s been made clear over the last couple of years that the captain is just the captain now, he has no say in the outright selection of the sides,” Ponting said.”I’ll probably be consulted about it and what I think about certain players and certain ideas the selectors might have, but at the end of the day they’ll be the guys that make the big decisions.”

Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish was substituted for England on Wednesday night just over half an hour after coming on against Denmark at Wembley.

ITV pundits Gary Neville and Ian Wright had their say on Gareth Southgate’s decision, with a number of Villa supporters giving their thought to the pair’s comments.

Grealish came on for Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka in the second half and helped the Three Lions take the lead against Denmark in extra time through a Harry Kane effort after a missed penalty. However, Southgate then replaced the 25-year-old with full-back Kieran Trippier for the final 15 minutes as England booked their place in the final against Italy on Sunday.

Neville said it was ‘an embarrassing moment’ for the attacking midfielder, whereas Wright admitted he ‘felt for’ Grealish but it was ‘about the team’.

Villa fans react

@AVFC_News shared both Neville and Wright’s comments on Grealish on Twitter on Wednesday evening.

Here is what these Villa supporters had to say in reply, with many fuming over his prompt withdrawal…

“Done more in that time than most. Disgusting he was taken off! No need”Credit: @taker1874″Embarrassing…No Disgraceful…Yes!”Credit: @smnhndmch”Why ?????????”Credit: @william55004613″So happy for the team but as a Villa fan I need an explanation from Southgate why this happened to Jack?”Credit: @motownmarvin”Look, there’s many of us, we’re more than entitled to be absolutely fuming at the decision to bring Jack off. Why do it to him in a major semi final? Why? Could have easily brought Sterling off instead who was puffing. Why Jack…that’s the question.”Credit: @KingsyAVFC”He looked gutted, staying out on the pitch for over an hour after the game with a beaming smile across his face.”Credit: @IanJamsie

In other news: Aston Villa source provides telling Emile Smith Rowe update as third bid looms, find out more here.  

Liverpool will be desperate to win back their Premier League title this term, and a huge part of that will be the returns to fitness of Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez. 

The Reds finished third in the top-flight standings last season, and many of the Anfield faithful will feel as though their injuries in defence caused an insurmountable task as they lost out on the title to Manchester City.

Both Gomez and van Dijk missed the majority of the 2020/21 league campaign, after picking up long-term knee injuries early into the season.

Gomez made 43 appearances for the Reds two seasons ago, whilst van Dijk made 50 appearances in total in their title-winning 2019/20 campaign.

The pair have recently been captured watching their team-mates in action during pre-season, and it seemed as though they’re in a good mood heading towards the new Premier League campaign.

A number of Liverpool fans took to social media to react to this footage of Gomez and van Dijk, and it’s safe to say that the majority were pleased to see the pair in good spirits.

Take a look at the best of the reaction from Twitter below….

“I love these guys.”

Credit: @AlexFtbl

“The league ain’t ready.”

Credit: @Josh8ii

“Imagine the bond these two will have when they come back.”

Credit: @jasiekkal

“Love these two can’t wait to see them back on the pitch.”

Credit: @corey_YNWA

“Protect them at all costs.”

Credit: @semmutalindwa

“Best duo in the league.”

Credit: @john_youhanan

“This brings me so much joy.”

Credit: @lfcoliverpool

“I’ve missed them so much.”

Credit: @icy7_YNWA

West Ham could land one of their reported summer transfer targets for a lot less than first expected…

What’s the word?

According to Italian outlet Calciomercato, Fiorentina centre-back Nikola Milenkovic has been offered to the Irons but they could face competition from Serie A rivals Juventus.

It’s claimed that the 23-year-old defender will not renew his contract in Florence as he enters the final 12 months of his current contract, meaning the club will likely be forced into selling him this window.

They are currently asking for between €15m (£12.8m) and €20m (£18m) but that could decrease considerably as we head closer towards the new campaign as they don’t want to risk losing him for free, with Milenkovic able to discuss terms with other clubs about a free transfer in January 2022.

At one stage, his price tag was reportedly around €35m (£30m).

The Hammers’ interest in the Serbian powerhouse was confirmed by the ever-reliable ExWHUemployee on this week’s ‘The West Ham Way’ podcast, where he said:

“The latest is a guy called Milenkovic from Fiorentina. There is interest in him, but I don’t think they’ve put any concrete offer in for him at all, but he is on the potential radar.”

Time to strike

If this latest development is to be believed, then it’s time for GSB to put in that concrete offer, otherwise they’ll risk Juventus coming in and swooping him from their grasp.

It’s thought that David Moyes sees the addition of a new central defender as a big priority, as per Football Insider, who also suggest that the club’s hierarchy have set aside funds to do so.

At less than £20m, Milenkovic seems like an ideal candidate to sign this summer.

He may not have played outside of Italy or his home country but comparisons to a Premier League great suggests that he could well fit right in.

“Milenkovic is better than Vidic with the ball at his feet, and he is much calmer on the field,” Mozzart journalist Dejan Stankovic told ESPN FC. “He is the most talented centre-back Serbia have had since Vidic, and they definitely have one thing in common – both are fearless.”

Former Serbia head coach Mladen Krstajic has also likened the Fiorentina star to the Manchester United legend, whilst his ex-manager at Partizan, Ivan Tomic, believes he “has [the] physical characteristics of a beast.”

Standing at a whopping 6 foot 5, Milenkovic certainly offers the physical presence to be a nuisance to many a top-flight attack and that’s backed up by the fact that he averaged three aerial duels won per game in 2020/21.

Also via WhoScored, the £18m-rated monster managed a seasonal 86% passing accuracy, proving to be equally adept with the ball at his feet – another factor that suits the Premier League.

Furthermore, Milenkovic also averaged 3.6 clearances, 1.4 tackles and 1.3 interceptions per league outing, only further bolstering his claims of being an all-round animal at the back.

After this exciting update, Moyes and co would be foolish to not try and sign the Serbia international.

AND in other news, Fabrizio Romano delivers encouraging West Ham transfer claim, fans must be buzzing…