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Fakhar Zaman extends form with another fifty as Qalandars hand United 66-run defeat

Hemant Brar19-Feb-2022Harry Brook’s unbeaten 102 off just 49 balls set up a thumping 66-run win for Lahore Qalandars as they consolidated their second spot on the PSL points table.Brook reached his hundred off just 48 balls – the second-fastest in the PSL – but what made his knock even more special was the circumstances in which he came out to bat. After opting to bat, Qalandars were reeling at 12 for 3 in the third over as Faheem Ashraf removed Phil Salt and Kamran Ghulam in the second over of the innings before running out Mohammad Hafeez with a direct hit in the next.Brook then joined hands with Fakhar Zaman and the pair revived the innings by adding 101 off just 63 balls for the fourth wicket. Brook was the aggressor of the two, reaching his half-century off 27 balls. In comparison, Fakhar took 39 balls for his.Fakhar fell soon after reaching the landmark but Brook kept batting in the same vein. He took Mohammad Wasim for two fours and a six in the 15th over and then smashed Waqas Maqsood for three fours and a six in the 20-run penultimate over of the innings. In all, Brook hit ten fours and five sixes in his innings.United started positively in their chase of 198 and despite Shaheen Shah Afridi sending both their openers back off successive deliveries in the third over, they finished the powerplay at 59 for 2.It was Rashid Khan who applied brakes on the scoring rate, first by trapping Wasim lbw and then having Azam Khan stumped. He finished with 2 for 19 from his four overs. Zaman Khan also chipped in with a couple of wickets, and by the end of the 15th over, United were 106 for 6 and way behind the asking rate.Danish Aziz tried to fight with an unbeaten 30 off 26 balls but the task had become insurmountable. Eventually, United could reach only 131 for 9. They are currently fourth on the points table with eight points from nine games.

The people of Ranchi’s love for MS Dhoni and their excitement at having international cricket for the first time in the city was unbridled

Prasun Bose19-Jan-2013The people of Ranchi proved an old adage on Saturday. All roads in the city seemed to lead to the brand-new Jharkhand State Cricket Association Stadium on its southwest outskirts, as cavalcade after cavalcade of bigwigs and bikers made their way to the first international match in Ranchi.It might be a cricketing backwater, but Ranchi has produced a gem in India captain MS Dhoni, and the local people’s love for him knows no bounds. Images of Dhoni are plastered on either side of the main road leading to the stadium, with local companies taking full advantage of the interest the game has generated to promote their wares, while also wishing the Indian team good luck.”Mahi means the world to Ranchi-ites. In fact, one hotel he used to frequent as a youngster has been renamed after him,” said Pratap Singh, who runs a hotel in the city. “We feel a connect with him because he is one of us, and has worked his way to the dizzying heights of cricket. He is an inspiration.”To the man on the street, all that matters is a glimpse of the captain and his team of superstars. Ever since the players arrived in the city on Wednesday evening, the Radisson Blu Hotel has been surrounded by people, and loud cheers go up from time to time when a player is spotted or a team bus leaves or arrives.Even on Saturday, as the Indian team bus left the hotel for the venue, hundreds of people cheered it along, with chants of ‘Dhoni, Dhoni’. Even the policemen lining the route couldn’t help but get carried away, and had a hard time keeping the crowds under control.”It’s a proud moment for the city so the crowd is understandably excited. We are too, but it’s our duty to ensure the safety of the team and keep them under control,” constable Bikash Kumar said.Scores of tricolours were being sold along the streets, and as one got closer to the stadium, there were face-painters and people distributing ‘4’ and ‘6’ banners. Traffic moved at snail’s pace, and even as early as two hours before the first ball, fans had grabbed their seats. Others waited for entry in queues that doubled back on themselves, especially on the southern side of the ground where two of the bigger stands are located.The stadium itself is a beauty, invoking bits of Lord’s, the Dubai stadium, and the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. White canopies top four of the stands and contrast well with the light brown bricks and stone of the buildings themselves. The capacity is just under 40,000 and, like the new Rajkot stadium, the pillars supporting the upper tiers of the stands are placed deep into the buildings, in order to provide a good view from all parts. The stands, too, are very deep, a bit reminiscent of Kolkata’s Eden Gardens, while the two grass banks square of the wicket on either side are a novelty at an Indian ground and add a lot of charm to the venue.As Dhoni and Alastair Cook appeared for the toss, the roar from the fans seemed to lift the ground off its foundations, and the now-familiar ‘Dhoni’ chant went up. He called correctly to add to the joy, and responded to Ravi Shastri’s question about playing at home by saying: “It means a lot, a very special feeling. I have grown up here, played a lot of cricket and of the 40,000 people [here], I must have played tennis-ball cricket with at least 15,000.”Soon after, as the bowlers of the two teams practised on the side pitches, the crowd was treated to a unique experience – of low-flying gliders scattering (pink powder). Three planes encircled the area and performed some acrobatics too, and the spectacle got the crowd warmed up for the prolonged period of cheering to come.”I never expected to see this. First our city gets a hero, then a beautiful stadium, and now we get to see a flypast too. Sapna sa lag raha hai [it feels like a dream],” proclaimed Puja, a housewife sitting in the South-Eastern stand.By the time the first ball was bowled, over 90% of the stadium was full, excluding the JSCA president’s enclosure on the northern side, which remained empty for much longer.The Indian team may be losing more than it wins, and the busier metropolitan cities maybe giving some matches, especially Tests, the cold shoulder. But Ranchi’s response proved that cricket still held the prime spot in the heart of small-town India.

One Test into his career, Karunaratne has earned a trip to Australia on Sri Lanka’s most high-profile Test tour in years

Andrew Fernando21-Nov-2012If a run-a-ball 60 not out in the second innings in Galle swelled opener Dimuth Karunaratne’s confidence, an affirmation of his talent by the Sri Lanka selectors a day later will have him feeling bulletproof. One Test into his career, Karunaratne has earned a trip to Australia on Sri Lanka’s most high-profile Test tour in years, and can now dream of taking the field amid the MCG’s Boxing Day hubbub. He will likely have to displace his Sinhala Sports Club opening partner Tharanga Paranavitana to get a game in Australia, but it is not a tour he would have expected to be on at all after his first Test innings.He made a duck on Sunday, extending a tradition plenty of Sri Lankan openers have contributed to. His batting coach Marvan Atapattu began with a Test pair, and team manager Charith Senanayake started with a nought. Even Paranavitana at the other end was dismissed without scoring in his first Test – a legacy he had inherited from Malinda Warnapura, his partner on debut.”When I got out, Angie [Angelo Mathews] came to me and said, ‘Don’t worry man, I got out for a duck in my debut as well’,” Karunaratne said. ” A few others said that as well. No one scolded me or was harsh on me. They just said, ‘Don’t worry about it. It’s in the past, just think about the future. You can bounce back from this.’ I’m lucky that I get to play with understanding cricketers like that.”It is perhaps testament to the character of both the cricketer and the dressing-room culture that eager youngsters can have their best coaxed out of them, even after early setbacks. Captain Mahela Jaywardene said he was encouraged by Karunaratne’s self-belief in the manner in which he recovered from the failure.”If you watched some of his shots, you can tell he is a talented cricketer,” Jayawardene said. “I think he has a good future, but Tests aren’t easy. He will need to learn, but he’s a good batsman.”I have played with Dimuth at the SSC, so I know what he is like mentally. When he got out, he was quite disappointed, but we didn’t try to tell him much at that stage. It’s important that for a young player, we don’t crowd his mind in a moment like that. We let him play as he played. When we were fielding is when I talked to him, and I said, ‘Play like you play in a club match’.”Karunaratne revealed himself as a stroke-maker during his maiden fifty, striking nine fours in his innings, and finishing with the best strike rate for any batsman who scored more than 15 in the match. He was particularly powerful through the legside, hitting six of his boundaries there, and was unafraid to attack the short ball. He was only drafted into the side the week before the Test, after Tillakaratne Dilshan’s back injury ruled him out.”I thought I would be in the initial squad, but I wasn’t,” Karunaratne said. “But still I didn’t give up hope. I kept playing well and when Dilshan was injured I was able to join the squad. I was desperate to take my chance when it came, and I think that’s what I did.”He was selected for the New Zealand series thanks largely to his exploits for the Sri Lanka A team in South Africa, where he was the highest run scorer in two unofficial Tests, with 270 runs at an average of 90. He is among a growing number of young Sri Lankan batsmen who have found early success on fast, bouncy surfaces, and this was likely a major cause for his inclusion in the squad to Australia.”I’m very happy. I got this opportunity after two years of playing well and even though I couldn’t get any runs in the first innings, I did my best for the team in the second innings and showed everyone what I can do.”

Whilst Arsenal look set for a summer full of big-name signings, it looks as if a team are now monitoring one of the Gunners' stars ahead of a potential move.

Gunners set to make room for incoming stars

The big news out of north London in recent weeks has concerned the imminent arrival of Riccardo Calafiori. A report by Fabrizio Romano last week suggested that Arsenal have reached an agreement to sign the Bologna defender with a fee in the region of €45million (£38million) cited.

Forget Merino: Arsenal in talks to sign a "monster" with shades of Vieira

The “world-class” midfielder would be unreal for the Gunners.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jul 22, 2024

With the Italian defender close to being confirmed as an Arsenal player, it is now thought that Jakub Kiwior could be shown the door in order to make room for the new arrival.

Joining the Polish defender on the Gunners' list of stars deemed surplus to requirements is Eddie Nketiah. The striker has recently been linked with a move to West Ham and would likely be sold to fund Arsenal's pursuit of Sporting CP talisman Viktor Gyokeres.

With the Gunners clearly not afraid to let players leave this summer, it appears that a club is actively assessing a move for another Arsenal attacker.

Al-Ahli eye Premier League shopping spree

According to a report in the Daily Mail, Al-Ahli are monitoring Arsenal's Gabriel Jesus ahead of a potential summer move. The outlet claims that the Saudi Pro League side are also looking at Tottenham Hotspur's Richarlison as they look for a player to replace the departing Allan Saint-Maximin.

The report goes on to state that the club will assess both players before choosing one to sign during the transfer window. If Al-Ahli end up opting for Jesus over his compatriot and good friend, the chance to secure a significant fee for the Brazilian may prove an enticing one for the higher-ups at the Emirates.

Jesus arrived in north London in a £45million move from Manchester City in the summer of 2022. Whilst the 26-year-old has had his moments in an Arsenal shirt, many of the Gunners' faithful may be happy to see a portion of the fee recouped and his hefty £265,000-per-week salary off the books.

Throughout the course of last season, Jesus struggled for form, finding the back of the net on just four occasions in the league. With Kai Havertz now the favoured option at centre-forward and the Gunners linked to a number of new strikers, it could be a good opportunity to call time on Jesus' Arsenal career.

Despite his struggles, it was the striker's relationship with current Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta that kept him in the picture at the Emirates, with the Spaniard speaking of the chaos Jesus brings to his side back in September:

"In certain areas of the pitch, I love it. In others, I hate it. So it’s where you produce that chaos. He draws a lot of attention from opponents with the way he plays and creates space for others. That’s a big quality of his."

Whilst things have not worked out as imagined for Jesus at the Emirates, this summer could see him get a new lease of life while Arsenal receive a significant return on their investment.

Chairman hits out at predecessor following cancellation of EGM to determine Test viability

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Feb-2022Lord Kamlesh Patel has accused a group of Yorkshire members of attempting to “delay and derail” Headingley’s reinstatement as an international venue, because they believe the club is being “sacrificed on the altar of Black Lives Matter”.Yorkshire’s hopes of meeting the ECB’s conditions for hosting fixtures against New Zealand and South Africa this summer suffered a setback this week, after the club was forced to delay a proposed Emergency General Meeting (EGM), which had been expected to confirm governance changes in the wake of the Azeem Rafiq racism scandal.The EGM had been due to take place on Wednesday evening, but was cancelled after Yorkshire admitted it “had not been properly called under club rules”. The news was followed by claims from former chairman Robin Smith that the process to appoint Patel as the new chairman last year was “invalid”.In a statement to the PA news agency, Patel said: “It is plain that, when I joined the club in November, it had a wealth of legacy problems inherited from previous leadership, of which former chairman Robin Smith was a part.”I made a conscious decision that we would focus on a positive future for Yorkshire and remediate the inherited issues. For me and others at the club, this was part of a positive programme for change as there is no benefit to Yorkshire CCC in arguing about the past. That is a block to reform.”There is emerging, however, a clear agenda to undermine the club, driven by opposition to our progress and a desire to maintain an outdated status quo. It is disheartening and pernicious in equal manner.”We have become aware of a small group of individuals who have indicated a belief that, by looking to make progress and change for the better, ‘the lamb that is Yorkshire Cricket Club is to be sacrificed on the altar of Black Lives Matter’. This is unacceptable in every possible way.”This group is actively seeking to delay and derail the essential reforms and consequently the return of international cricket by litigating process issues, without presenting any positive alternative.”Patel has been the driving force behind Yorkshire’s response to being stripped of the right to host international matches by the ECB, following their mishandling of a report into Rafiq’s claims of institutional racism. Patel was brought in as chair in November, shortly after the incumbent, Roger Hutton, resigned.He said last month the club had made “significant progress” but warned that they could not remain “financially viable” without the restoration of major match status, with Headingley otherwise set to lose out on hosting a Test on New Zealand’s tour and an ODI featuring South Africa.Related

• Yorkshire's Test status restored pending resolution of internal issues

• Yorkshire bid to regain international status clouded by EGM cancellation

• English cricket must 'clean up its act' on racism – DCMS report

• Graves told by MP: 'Put up or shut up', amid row over influence

• Rafiq: 'Time is right' for Yorkshire to get international cricket back

However, the reported on Thursday that Yorkshire’s failure to register a rule change, which had been voted on at last year’s Annual General Meeting, with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), meant that Patel’s authority had been called into question.In a written statement, Smith responded: “Lord Patel’s comments seek to damage me for drawing attention to his own failures.”The members will in due course have an opportunity to pass judgement on Lord Patel’s actions since November last year and their enormous financial consequences for the club (currently rumoured to be more than GBP 3million).”In the meantime he should focus on getting the club’s legal position corrected in timely fashion.”As to the majority of members wanting his reforms, we shall see in due course. The reality, though, is that all Yorkshire members wish to see Test cricket returned to Headingley and have been threatened that that will not happen unless they support the reforms.”That is no way to ascertain members’ true views. Yorkshire members are true lovers of the game and are entitled to more respect than Lord Patel is showing them.”Among Patel’s first actions taken as chair was settling an employment tribunal with Rafiq, and overseeing the removal of Martyn Moxon, Yorkshire’s long-serving director of cricket, and Andrew Gale, the head coach, as part of a cull of 16 staff members.Yorkshire had been hoping to push through changes to the structure of their board, which reportedly included the ECB being given a seat on the club’s nominations committee, this week – with the outcome expected to influence the possible return of international cricket to Headingley.Martin Darlow, the ECB’s deputy chair, said during an appearance before the Department of Culture, Media and Sport select committee last week that the governing body “will be making a decision and considering their options” following the EGM. Rafiq himself said last month that the “time is right” for Yorkshire to regain its hosting rights.Yorkshire released a statement saying that it had cancelled the EGM after taking “specialist legal advice”, suggesting that the failure to notify the FCA of changes to its rules was “a legacy issue” attributable to the previous leadership. The club also said that it hoped to rearrange the EGM before the end of the month.

Vinicius Junior has received a letter of apology from a minor who made racist insults against him while Real Madrid played Rayo Vallecano.

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• Vinicius Jr abused by youngster
• Letter of apology sent to Brazilian
• Perpetrator fined and banned from stadiums

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Madrid issued a statement on Friday, confirming that a minor has been handed a stadium ban after racially abusing Vinicius during the club's fixture against Rayo Vallecano. The individual in question has also written a letter of apology to the Brazil international, and will undergo educational courses designed to ensure he does not repeat the behaviour.

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  Madrid have confirmed that there will be a fine paid by the perpetrator, as the club continue to aim to prosecute every fan found guilty of racially abusing any of their players. Sadly, Vinicius has been abused regularly in La Liga, and in June, two Valencia fans were jailed for their part in racist chanting.

• WHAT REAL SAID

  In their statement, the club said: "Real Madrid C. F. would like to announce that the minor who made racist insults towards Vinicius Junior at the Vallecas stadium, during the match between Rayo Vallecano and Real Madrid on 18 February 2024, has issued a letter of apology to Vinicius Junior, in which he apologised and expressed his regret for his behaviour, accepting in the juvenile jurisdiction, as a consequence of the out-of-court agreement reached, to undertake the socio-educational activities requested by the Prosecutor's Office for Minors, as well as not entering stadiums where official competitions are played for a period of one year.

  "Additionally, he will have to pay the financial fine handed down for his behaviour by the State Commission against Violence, Racism, Xenophobia and Intolerance in Sport. Since last June, there have now been four legal proceedings, either in criminal or juvenile jurisdiction, which have ended with the punishment of the perpetrators of the unacceptable racist acts committed against Real Madrid players both in different sports stadiums and in forums and social media.

  "Real Madrid has acted as a private prosecutor together with its players in these proceedings and is currently prosecuting others, and will continue to strive to protect the values of our club and to eradicate any racist behaviour in the world of football and sport."

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  WHAT NEXT?

  On the pitch, Real face Getafe in La Liga this weekend. They are currently second, four points behind leaders Barcelona.

England dismissed for 185 after another flaky display with the bat in Melbourne

Valkerie Baynes26-Dec-2021It was a case of the more things change the more they stay the same for England as Australia took a stranglehold on the Ashes, bowling out the tourists for 185 on the opening day of the third Test at the MCG before reaching the close one wicket down and only 124 runs behind.England had made four changes to their side that lost by 275 runs in Adelaide to concede a 2-0 lead in the series, but again their batters struggled as Pat Cummins ripped through the top order by lunch and Nathan Lyon matched his captain’s haul of 3 for 36 as England succumbed for under 200 runs for the 12th time this year.In between, Cameron Green reaped rewards for a suffocating four-over spell and Scott Boland claimed a wicket on Test debut while also taking two catches to have a further hand in England’s demise before a Boxing Day crowd of 57,100.The Australians reached 57 without loss before James Anderson had David Warner sharply caught by Zak Crawley at gully. The hosts closed on 1 for 61 with under-pressure opener Marcus Harris unbeaten on 20.Cummins won the toss after rain delayed the start and sent England in to bat on a pitch offering some grass coverage. He capitalised with his fifth ball – the 11th legitimate delivery of the match after Mitchell Starc had opened with a no-ball – when he had Haseeb Hameed out feathering a catch behind to Alex Carey for a second consecutive duck.Cummins then had Crawley, replacing opener Rory Burns, caught by Green at gully for 12 as England slumped to 2 for 13 inside eight overs.
The tourists were again looking to Joe Root and Dawid Malan to steady them and they did, to some extent, with a 48-run partnership from 115 balls. But England needed so much more than even the 162-run stand they put on to give them some hope in the first Test in Brisbane and, when Cummins had Malan caught in the slips by Warner on the last ball before the lunch, they were again in strife at 3 for 61.Root brought up his ninth fifty in Australia after the break, but he fell a short time later when Starc – used sparingly in the morning session – had him caught behind chasing a ball outside off stump. Visibly furious with the fallibility of his dismissal, Root now needs to score a maiden century in Australia – 109 runs to be precise – in England’s second innings if he is to pass Mohammad Yousuf’s record for runs scored in a calendar year.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

More importantly, however, England needed their skipper to convert to dig them out of a hole. Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow, the latter replacing Ollie Pope, set about trying to salvage the innings but Green applied sublime pressure in a four-over spell which included three maidens and one wicket for one run, when Stokes tried to lift him over the slips cordon, but picked out Lyon at point for 25. Green threatened to claim another two balls later with a pearl of a delivery that zipped back between Jos Buttler’s bat and pad as the scoreless batsman lunged forward.It was Lyon who had Buttler out, England’s No. 7 advancing down the pitch and skying the ball straight to Boland at deep midwicket – a rash shot which saw him depart for just 3 on the stroke of tea. Lyon also dismissed Ollie Robinson for a spirited 22 from 26 deliveries and Jack Leach, who took his fellow spinner for 11 runs off one over – including a thumping straight six, before falling for 13. Leach had returned to the side after his bowling had been punished at the Gabba, making his courage with the bat a short-lived bright spot for England.Starc claimed his second, cramping Bairstow with a short ball that saw him lose his footing as he toppled backwards and gloved a catch to Green at gully. Bairstow was England’s second-highest run-scorer with 35 but, in an all-too-similar vein to the other recognised batters, it was simply not enough.Mark Wood, coming in for Stuart Broad in England’s other personnel change, had earlier became Boland’s first Test wicket when he was trapped lbw. Boland became the fourth Indigenous Test cricketer after Faith Thomas, Jason Gillespie and Ashleigh Garner in one of two changes for the Australians alongside the return of Cummins, who missed the second Test as a close contact of a Covid case.Wood threatened with the ball, showing England what they had been missing Adelaide, but it was Anderson who made the breakthrough that was a rare moment of solace for the battling tourists.

Beating out Miami's Tata Martino, Nancy eclipsed the majority vote to win the award.

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• Wilfried Nancy named MLS Coach of the Year
• Led Crew to three Cup Finals
• Becomes first Columbus boss since Sigi Schmid to win award

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Wilfried Nancy has been named the 2024 MLS Coach of the Year, becoming the first Columbus Crew manager since the late great Sigi Schmid to win the award (2008).

  The Frenchman led the club to a record-breaking campaign, where they finished second in the Supporters' Shield standings with 66 points, scoring 72 goals and accumulating 19 wins. The Crew also boasted the best goal-differential in the league, while being just one of two teams alongside Inter Miami to win nine home and away matches during the regular season. The team also won the 2024 Leagues Cup, beating LAFC in the final.

  Last season, Nancy led the Crew to a 2024 MLS Cup win, securing the franchise's third league title.

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  Since the start of his tenure in 2023 with the Crew, Nancy has led Columbus to a league-best 139 regular-season goals; tied for the fifth-most in a two-season span in league history, while becoming the only club to average two-goals per-game across that time.

  In addition to their domestic success, Nancy led the Crew to a Leagues Cup title in August, a berth in the CONCACAF Champions Cup final in June and was a runner-up in the Campeones Cup championship in September.

  After three-straight nominations, Nancy has won the award, narrowly beating out now former Inter Miami manager Gerardo "Tata" Martino. With a 40.02 percent average of total votes, he beat out the Argentine's 33.03 percent of votes, while Colorado Rapids manager Chris Armas came in third with 6.59 percent.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Twenty-one different players recorded a goal-contribution under Nancy for the this season, tying the club's single-season record set in 1998. Meanwhile, 18-different scorers found the back of the net for the Crew, which was a new record set by the team.

• WHAT NEXT FOR NANCY?

  Preparation for the 2025 campaign is now on the cards for the Frenchman, along with enjoying his offseason. After the Crew's Playoff elimination in Round 1 of the postseason in November, they're now looking ahead to the new campaign.

Despite numerous uncertainties that have shrouded their cricket, Pakistan have made it to their sixth consecutive semi-final of an ICC tournament

Abhishek Purohit in Colombo03-Oct-2012The Premadasa Stadium, in its refurbished avatar, shimmers in the Colombo afternoon heat, its near-vertical stands staring coldly at the tattered outfield, large patches of brown spread like a rash on the green. Last evening Pakistan’s fielders, faced with a win-or-depart situation, threw themselves around on it, without a care for their bodies. Their spinners squeezed all the power and fight out of Australia’s batsmen. The reward was a sixth successive semi-final in an ICC tournament since the double blows of tragedy and disappointment in the 2007 World Cup.For a side that is called unpredictable, inconsistent, mercurial and the like almost by rote, that is an achievement beyond belief. Even more so, given that they have been reduced to a life lived perpetually out of suitcases for a majority of that period. You wonder whether someone like young Umar Akmal, who started his international career after Pakistan’s international exile began, even knows what it is like to have home advantage.It has to be one of international sports’ more fascinating stories, if only for the demands the situation places on a group of men to remain largely away from loved ones and the comfort of familiarity, perform at their peak, every series, every game, every innings. Perhaps, one day, an expressive and thoughtful man like Mohammad Hafeez will be able to reveal just what it takes, mentally and physically, out of him and his players.For the moment, Hafeez is just proud of what Pakistan have done. “For the past three years we have been away from our home grounds and home crowd,” he said. “We are very much used to it now. It has been a very difficult time for our team. It is amazing and special what we have been able to achieve despite all that, and credit should go to all players and the management.”Do the six consecutive knockout appearances signal a break from the past – a new set of beliefs, a new method of operation, an end to the chaos, the intrigue, the flux? Far from it. Just sample the number of captains Pakistan have had since the 2007 World Cup: Shoaib Malik, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Salman Butt, Shahid Afridi, Misbah-ul-Haq, Hafeez. Seven. This is without counting the permutations within the seven. The controversies, bans and investigations continued to happen, among them being the attack on the Sri Lanka team, the Sydney Test fallout and the spot-fixing fiasco.It is tempting to see the latest semi-final appearance from the point of view of what happened after the previous one at the 2010 World Twenty20. Pakistan appear to have regrouped completely and convincingly from the incidents in England that it is easy to view the possibility of another title simply as a break from the recent past, as a final stamp of vindication.That could be an important undercurrent but the larger picture is that Pakistan have achieved consistency in global tournaments without abandoning the traits that make them so moving to watch as a team, and so infuriating as a system. While the controversies continued, Pakistan also found inspiration from the unlikeliest of quarters at world events.The standout instance is probably that of Afridi, as volatile with the bat as he is dependable with the ball, producing two bursts of all-round dominance in the semi-final and final of the 2009 World Twenty20. While nowhere close in magnitude, but equally crucial to Pakistan’s chances, was the unexpected burst from Umar Gul the batsman, who stunned the South Africa pace battery a few days ago at the Premadasa. Gul’s cameo was vintage Pakistan, in that it came out of nowhere. Premier fast bowler, under pressure and out of form, comes in at 76 for 7 and starts blasting sixes like nobody’s business.As the tournament progressed, it seemed as though a team performance similar to Afridi and Gul’s individual freakish brilliance was not far away. And it arrived against Australia, in a match where uncertainty was at its peak. With India slated to play after them, Pakistan had no determinable safe goal to aim for. Except for the requirement that they had to win, and win big.Pakistan sides somehow find direction in vagueness. While they may have a lot in common with fellow subcontinent teams, such as the ability to play spin, wristy batsmen, susceptibility against genuine pace and swing, the ability to explode from one spark of instinct is decidedly Pakistani. On the day they rediscover it, they are a compelling sight They may find it again in the semi-final, they may not. But watch we must.

Manchester United suffered a wholly forgettable 2023/24 campaign, miserable and misfiring. Actually, no they didn't. The Red Devils' last competitive fixture saw the FA Cup trophy lifted in emphatic fashion, with neighbours Manchester City defeated at Wembley.

For Erik ten Hag – vindication after a battery of year-long criticisms. A lifeline. The Dutch manager had been expected to be sacked before the final was contested, but the grit and doggedness of United's effort turned the tide. It was Ten Hag's second slice of silverware in as many seasons, and European football had been salvaged.

But let's not forget that silver-laden success has served as a smokescreen of sorts over a truly wretched campaign, one that left the Old Trafford side marooned in eighth place in the Premier League at its conclusion.

Injuries buffeted the Theatre throughout, and Ten Hag argues that such misfortunes precluded his team from reaching the heights anticipated – and still, FA Cup glory.

Now, Man United can start afresh, with INEOS orchestrating from the clouds above and a refreshing shift in recruitment seeing some exciting moves made in the transfer market. The £35m transfer of Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna has been agreed, and an exciting partner is currently in the pipeline.

Man Utd transfer news

As per Football Insider, Man United are tussling with Tottenham Hotspur for the signing of Eberechi Eze, who completed an impressive campaign with Crystal Palace in the Premier League.

United are long-term admirers of the attacking midfielder's talents and are actively seeking to strengthen under new ownership, with sights set on returning to the Champions League.

The Eagles' £50m sale of Michael Olise to Bayern Munich complicates things somewhat; there is no pressing need to cash in, but given that Eze has a £60m release clause in his contract, all it takes is Sir Jim Ratcliffe to green-light the outlay and complete a thrilling signing.

Eberechi Eze's season in numbers

Injury troubles have beset Eze throughout his Crystal Palace career but he's been an electric presence when fit, notching 43 goal contributions from 124 appearances since signing from Queens Park Rangers for £20m in August 2020.

The silky-skilled playmaker was particularly arresting in his performances last term, carrying the high-level form at the end of the 2022/23 campaign into Robert Glasner's maiden days at the helm.

Eze's first several months were punctuated by injuries but he came into his own under Glasner's wing, with the Austrian tactician replacing Roy Hodgson in February and shaping Palace into a force to be reckoned with.

Scoring six goals and supplying three more over just 11 matches with the Austrian in the dugout, the 26-year-old was a linchpin over those thrilling months, combining ball-carrying expertise with an ever-improving potency in front of goal.

His improvements last season suggest that the Three Lions star is entering his prime, which is a dizzying thought when considering how mighty he's been at Selhurst Park over the past couple of years.

Placed on the left wing, driving forward with sparks flying, Eze could prove to be the perfect partner for Zirkzee, who's already been added to the fold.

Imagine Eberechi Eze & Joshua Zirkzee

Zirkzee's transfer might not yet have been officially announced but it would take a remarkable development to stifle the move at this eleventh hour.

The Dutchman is a striker but plays a more withdrawn attacking role, driving from deep to influence and attack on goal. He's been described by analyst Ben Mattinson as "one of the most complete" strikers around.

As per FBref, the 6 foot 4 colossus ranked among the top 14% of forwards in Serie A last season for pass completion, the top 17% for passes attempted and progressive passes, the top 11% for successful take-ons and clearances and the top 22% for tackles per 90.

Eze, meanwhile, has demonstrated himself to be one of the deadliest attacking midfielders in Europe over this past year, ranking among the top 4% of positional peers for goals scored, the top 5% for shots taken, the top 19% for shot-creating actions and the top 9% for successful take-ons per 90.

Hailed for his "explosive" qualities by one first-team analyst, the Palace star is demonstrably one of the most effective strikers in the Premier League and offers an impressive roundedness to complement such a skill. Zirkzee's ball-playing acumen and knack to drop deep and impact play could lead to a wonderful connection between the two players.

In turn, Eze's playmaking prowess would pay dividends for the Bologna talent, who only scored 11 goals from 34 matches in the Italian top flight last term but, upon deeper analysis, can be observed to have one of the most clinical attacking outputs around.

Indeed, as per Sofascore, the 23-year-old only missed four big chances in the league last season, which speaks highly of his ability to find the back of the net when presented with an exciting opportunity.

Rasmus Hojlund, to expand on the point, scored ten goals from 30 Premier League matches for Man United last term but also missed 13 big chances – the talented Dane, 21, is one of the hottest forward prospects around but was starved for service last season, isolated and knocked from confidence, clearly issuing a detrimental effect on his prolificness.

Signing Eze would complete the Red Devils' frontline, creating a newfound sense of dynamism and depth to ensure that Ten Hag fires the club back into the ascendancy, once and for all.

Imagine him & Zirkzee: Man Utd hold talks to sign "magical" star

He is available for transfer this summer

By
Joe Nuttall

Jul 12, 2024