Category Uncategorized

Fast bowler Abdur Rauf has been added to the PCB’s list of centrally-contracted players after he complained of being treated unfairly

Cricinfo staff12-Jan-2009Fast bowler Abdur Rauf has been added to the PCB’s list of centrally-contracted players announced last week. Rauf has been given a Category C contract, the lowest grade, after he complained of being treated unfairly in television interviews.According to a report in the , a PCB spokesman confirmed on Sunday that Abdul Qadir, the chief selector, recommended a C-category contract for Rauf, which was approved by board chairman Ijaz Butt.Rauf, who made his international debut last year, has played four ODIs and one Twenty20 international for Pakistan. “I am really sad at not being considered for the contract. I don’t understand why they ignored me,” Rauf had said in one of the interviews. The 30-year-old bowler has taken eight ODI wickets at 26.50 apiece.Among the surprises in this year’s list of contracts were the promotion of Shoaib Akhtar and Danish Kaneria to the top category. The contracts were awarded by the board after inputs from Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam, Abdul Qadir, chief selector and Yawar Saeed, the team manager, with seniority having played a significant role.

Scorecard

Federal Areas’ formidable fast bowling, led by Shoaib Akhtar, sparked a dramatic Punjab collapse to leave the match evenly poised going into the fourth day.Punjab were on top after overnight batsmen, Salman Butt and Umar Akmal, pushed the score to 78 for 1, an overall lead of 171. Ifthikar Anjum then had Butt caught behind but Punjab were still in control after Akmal guided them to 102 for 2. Things swiftly went downhill for them as Shoaib and Sohail Tanvir took six wickets for 21 runs before Ifthikar cleaned up the tail. Wahab Riaz (19*) was the only one of Punjab’s last eight batsmen to make more than 6. Shoaib finished with 10-7-14-4 while Tanvir took 3-27 to leave Federal Areas chasing 238 for a come-from-behind victory.Their openers gave the chase a solid start, putting on 70, and Federal Areas had moved to 124 for 2 before Mohammad Talha struck a double-blow to leave them 111 runs away from the target with six wickets in hand.
Scorecard
Sind’s batsmen showed a lot more resolve in their second innings compared to the first and clawed their way back into the match against Baluchistan.Three contrasting half-centuries averted the possibility of an innings defeat after fast bowler Kamran Hussain had Sind in trouble at 50 for 3, still trailing by 188 runs. Fawad Alam, who had an outstanding tour of Zimbabwe and Kenya recently, laboured to 68, opener Khalid Latif made a cavalier 78 and captain Shahid Afridi hammered a couple of sixes in his typically belligerent 81.Sarfraz Ahmed, a handy batsman to come in at No. 8 with a first-class average of 44.96, continued Sind’s resistance with a brisk 57 to help his side finish with a 128-run lead and two wickets in hand. Hussain was the most effective of the Baluchistan bowlers, picking up five wickets to go with the three he took in the first innings.

Many Crystal Palace fans have flocked to Twitter following a post from transfer guru Fabrizio Romano in which he claimed that Eagles youngster Zion Atta is set to complete a move to Ligue 1 outfit OGC Nice.

At the age of just 16, the winger made one appearance in the Under-18 Premier League last term for Crystal Palace [Transfermarkt].

However, he has now elected to join Nice in France following recent reports from renowned reporter Romano, with the reported offer of a new scholarship and professional deal [Daily Mail] seemingly not enough to keep him at Selhurst Park.

Speaking to his large Twitter audience, the journalist relayed that there is a ‘deal now agreed’ between the winger and Nice, with a move set to be completed today. Juventus were also said to be interested in acquiring his services.

In light of this, plenty of Crystal Palace diehards took to social media to express their opinions on recent developments.

Crystal Palace fans react:

Replying to Romano on Twitter, here is what some Eagles fans had to say as Atta gets set to depart Selhurst Park, with many taking aim at his agent Mino Raiola:

“Yeah but wanted 2 grand a week and we weren’t willing to break our wage structure for him. Raiola client so only wanted money”

Credit: @george_eard

“Good riddance. A lot can happen between now and him being ready to play first team football. Paying him what he demanded (£100k pa) would have been bad for morale in the academy group and a huge gamble.”

Credit: @DaveSturges”Raiola back to ruining football”Credit: @DrizzyCPFC”Raiola ruining football”Credit: @cpfcgoaat”Finished anyway tbh”Credit: @JamesCPFC11″Big L, especially with teams like Juve wanting him he was obviously special. However no team is paying 2k a week to a 16 year old”Credit: @L_cpfcIn other news, many Crystal Palace fans react to injury news. Find out more here.

Bryce McGain’s tour of India is officially over after Cricket Australia announced he would be flying home due to his lingering shoulder injury

Cricinfo staff03-Oct-2008
Bryce McGain’s first trip with the Australia Test squad has ended prematurely © AFP
Bryce McGain’s tour of India is officially over after Cricket Australia announced he would be flying home due to his lingering shoulder injury. McGain, the legspinner who was rated a strong chance of making his Test debut on the trip, has been unable to bowl properly since straining his right shoulder while playing for Australia A last month.Australia have not yet decided whether to send a replacement player for the four-Test series, which begins in Bangalore next Thursday. Beau Casson, the left-arm wrist-spinner, would be the most likely candidate for a call-up after playing a Test in the Caribbean this year, while the offspinner Jason Krejza is for now the only specialist slow bowler in the squad.Australia’s physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said McGain would have been unable to bowl through most of the tour had he stayed with the squad. “Bryce’s injury was first sustained in an Australia A match in September,” Kountouris said.”Despite his workload being managed throughout the early stages of this tour, he suffered a setback at training on Tuesday in an attempt to be available for Australia’s four-day match currently being played in Hyderabad. As a result, it has been decided that Bryce will not be available for selection for the majority of the tour.”McGain, 36, was considered the first-choice spinner in the squad after beating Casson for the sole wrist-spinner’s position. Had he played in India, McGain would have been Australia’s oldest Test debutant since his fellow legspinner Bob Holland in 1984-85.

يتوقع نادي آرسنال حسم صفقة جابرييل جيسوس مهاجم مانشستر سيتي في صفقة تقل قيمتها بقليل عن 50 مليون جنيه إسترليني.

جعل آرسنال التوقيع مع المهاجم أولويتهم الأولى هذا الصيف، بعد رحيل ألكسندر لاكازيت إلى ليون.

ومانشستر سيتي متردد في ترك جيسوس يرحل، لكن بيب جوارديولا يتفهم رغبته في اللعب بانتظام.

كان بطل الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز يسعى للحصول على 50 مليون جنيه إسترليني للاعب البرازيلي الدولي، لكن صحيفة التايمز تقول إن آرسنال مستعد الآن لتقديم ما يقل قليلًا عن هذا التقييم، ويقترب من حسم الصفقة.

سيصبح جيسوس أول خطوة مهمة لآرسنال في الصيف، وسيكون هبوطه بمثابة انقلاب كبير بالنظر إلى المنافسة على توقيعه.

كان آرسنال يخشى أن يؤدي فشلهم في الفوز بمقعد مؤهل للعب في دوري أبطال أوروبا إلى إفساد انتقال جيسوس، لكن المهاجم أبدى رغبة في العمل مع أرتيتا مرة أخرى، بعد 3 سنوات قضاها الإسباني كمساعد جوارديولا في الاتحاد.

كان جيسوس مهتمًا بالفعل بمغادرة النادي هذا الصيف، نظرًا لإحجامه عن تمديد عقده، الذي ينتهي في عام 2023.

لكن صفقة السيتي مع إيرلينج هالاند أقنعته بأن مستقبله يكمن في مكان آخر ويبدو أن آرسنال سيستفيد.

بمجرد أن ينضم جيسوس لفريق أرتيتا، سيسعى آرسنال إلى تعزيز خط الوسط مع ليستر سيتي يوري تيلمانز كهدف رئيسي.

وقد حسم آرسنال بالفعل صفقة البرازيلي ماركينيوس من ساو باولو، وبحسب التقارير توصل لاتفاق للتوقيع مع لاعب الوسط المهاجم فابيو فييرا من بورتو، في صفقة تصل قيمتها إلى 40 مليون يورو.

Aston Villa journalist Luke Hatfield insists that there is no shame in the club missing out on the signing of Emile Smith Rowe from Arsenal as they continue their aggressive recruitment this summer.

The Gunners rejected a £30m bid for Smith Rowe from Villa, having previously seen a £25m offer knocked back.

He has subsequently signed a new contract at the Emirates, penning a long-term deal that will tie him to his boyhood club for the foreseeable future.

Smith Rowe can play in a variety of positions and has been deployed as an attacking midfield, on both wings, or in central midfield.

The 21-year-old has made a total of 45 appearances for Mikel Arteta’s side, scoring seven goals and registering seven assists.

He is also a former England U21 international, winning two caps for his country, and Hatfield insists that Villa should feel no shame in failing to extricate him from north London.

They have already signed Emiliano Buendia from Norwich City this summer and are on the verge of completing a deal for Leon Bailey from Bayer Leverkusen too, per reports.

He said: “For now, I think it’s one where they’ve kind of admitted defeat there. There’s no shame in that, Smith Rowe is an Arsenal boy, it’s been his boyhood club, so there’s no shame in missing out on that one but for them, it’s just now focusing on other targets.”

Bandula Warnapura, who is on his way out as Sri Lankan Cricket’s director of operations, has said that the country needs a cricket-development base before harbouring visions of producing the best cricket team in the world.Warnapura, Sri Lanka’s first Test captain, has been involved with SLC for the past eight years (as director of operations) and worked under the administration of elected as well as appointed bodies. “My belief is that until SLC is completely transformed into a 100% cricket development base with transparency and accountability we will not get anywhere. Today it is not a cricket-development base, but a power-development base.”Set to take over as the development manager with the Asian Cricket Council, Warnapura urged Sri Lankan administrators to forget their difference and come together for a common purpose. “People who have fallen out with each other must get together and work towards the development of this game immaterial of names or clubs,” he said. “If we can do that part only we will develop and achieve to become the best in cricket. A good example is Australia. Their cricket is the best because their administration is the best.”There should be a proper structure where each post is given in black and white. Nobody should be taken outside that. We don’t have a structure that is why anybody can come in. SLC doesn’t have any guidelines for employing people. It is very loose. That is why politicians try to get their people in and the right person for the right job doesn’t get in. This is a big drawback. The present system is an advantage for people who want to get their own people in to have it loose like this.”He was also critical of the present voting system which forced SLC to bend over backwards to help individual clubs, all with a vote in mind. “The clubs have also got used to playing cricket with SLC money,” he said. “If you don’t give them money they say they won’t play. A club tournament is like having branches of SLC. SLC gives everything to the club for what? Just for one or two votes. There is no commitment from the clubs. They pay huge amounts of money for players but to play in the tournament matches they want money from SLC. All this is because of the present voting system.Warnapura, a towering figure in club circles in Sri Lanka, was saddened with monetary concerns over-riding team loyalties. “Most of the players today don’t have a feeling towards the club that they play,” he said. “It is because of the money which has come in and the perks that they are getting. At the end of the season you find players wanting to change clubs for the sake of money. Even provincial tournament the players must have a feeling towards the province.”He was also concerned about the provincial set-up, one that was affecting outstation cricket in the country. “From what I see these outstation clubs and schools are feeder grounds to Colombo schools and clubs. Based on that we must make sure we provide the basic facilities for the youngsters to develop. Until such time we sort out the provincial set-up we have to make sure we give enough facilities to outstations. We talk about outstations clubs today but most of the boys are practicing in Colombo. We have to make it stronger to avoid it. We are going in the right direction at the moment but it will take another 3-5 years time.”

Arsenal are interested in bringing James Maddison to the Emirates Stadium this summer…

What’s the word?

That’s according to football.london, who claimed that the Gunners could consider a move for the Leicester City star before next month’s transfer deadline, although they may be priced out of a move.

It has previously been suggested that the Arsenal hierarchy are confident that a £60m deal would be enough to tempt the Foxes into a sale, despite them rejecting a £70m offer last summer, as per the Daily Mail.

Reliable journalist Chris Wheatley tweeted last month that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta “is a huge fan of Maddison and he’s certainly a target”.

Ozil’s true successor?

If Gunners technical director Edu Gaspar can indeed seal a move for the England international, then the north London giants could finally have replaced Mesut Ozil.

The German left behind a considerable void in attacking midfield and one which has only ever been temporarily filled, with Real Madrid duo Dani Ceballos and Martin Odegaard joining the club on loan across the last two seasons.

It’s time for Arsenal to secure a permanent option in the role and there cannot be many better candidates out there than Maddison, especially as he would also kill two birds with one stone thanks to his homegrown status.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-arsenal-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-and-much-more” title= “Read the latest Arsenal news, transfer rumours, gossip and much more!”]

Injuries somewhat curtailed the 24-year-old’s impressive progress last season but that didn’t stop him from providing Brendan Rodgers with 11 goals and ten assists across all competitions, via Transfermarkt.

These returns were better than each of Arteta’s current attacking midfield options combined, which speaks volumes, whereas Ozil regularly delivered for the club until his final campaign, including a peak return of eight goals and 20 assists in 2015/16.

It’s that sort of presence which Arteta should be craving in the number 10 role once again. Further evidence from last term suggests that he could well do exactly that with the Leicester playmaker.

Maddison averaged 1.7 key passes per game across the Premier League and Europa League, which was 0.3 more than Arsenal’s most creative options in Odegaard and Emile Smith Rowe.

Back in April, The Times’ chief football writer Henry Winter described the Leicester man as having a “special talent”, whilst Rodgers has frequently waxed lyrical over the “sensational” 24-year-old maestro.

Valued at £49.5m by Transfermarkt, it’s evident that Maddison would be a perfect upgrade to Arteta’s lacklustre attacking midfield department, and whilst £60m may seem like a lot to play, it’s a deal that KSE should absolutely look to sanction.

AND in other news, Arsenal can sign a new Alexis Sanchez in £34m-rated “phenomenal talent”…

Many Southampton fans are delighted after The Athletic revealed the Saints have given Sam McQueen a new six-month contract.

The Saints are preparing for the new season as they aim to improve on their disappointing 15th-placed finish in the Premier League last term. Ralph Hasenhuttl and co will hope to be busy in the transfer window and have already confirmed the signing of Romain Perraud from Brest in France (southamptonfc.com).

Rather than completing another new signing, though, the Saints have instead move to extend McQueen’s deal at the club. So far, he has made just 29 appearances for the south coast outfit (Transfermarkt), with a lengthy cruciate ligament rupture hindering his development. However, the Saints appear to have given the 26-year-old another chance to prove himself at St Mary’s.

The update was relayed on Twitter by @SaintsExtra, and it attracted plenty of attention from Southampton supporters who are glad that the club aren’t turning their back on the player. They took to the social media platform to share their thoughts on what one fan described as “encouraging” news.

Let’s see what these fans had to say about McQueen’s extension

“that’s encouraging!”

Credit: @vestergodSFC

“Love to see it”

Credit: @CallumSFC18

“This is great to see”

Credit: @sfcrxbbo_

“Well done #Saints looking after one of our own, let’s hope he manages to get fit.”

Credit: @wsmruss

“Brilliant for Sam. It shows the club hasn’t given up on him”

Credit: @Dixon1970Darren

“Happy about this, he was unlucky with his injuries”

Credit: @AidanCMcMahon

In other news, Southampton want this Premier League midfielder.

أجرى مهاجم الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي جالطة سراي، مصطفى محمد، حوارًا مع صحيفة “فوتوماك” التركية من أجل الحديث عن محمد صلاح ومدربه السابق، فاتح تريم وسبب فشل انتقاله إلى بوردو في الميركاتو الصيفي الماضي.

ويلعب مصطفى محمد مع جالطة سراي منذ يناير 2021 بعد انتقاله على سبيل الإعارة من الزمالك ثم انضم نهائيًا إلى الفريق التركي في ديسمبر الماضي بمقابل 4 ملايين دولار.

اقرأ أيضًا | مدرب الوداد: بترو أتليتكو كان سيتأهل للنهائي حال مواجهة الأهلي.. ونحن الأفضل في إفريقيا

وقال مصطفى محمد في بداية حواره عن مدربه السابق، فاتح تريم: “أسطورة وإمبراطور بالنسبة لي، لقد تعلمت منه الكثير، كانت علاقتنا جيدة جدًا، آسف لأنه رحل، كنت أود الاستمرار معه لسنوات عديدة، لم يحالفني الحظ ودومينيك تورنت يحتاج إلى الوقت”.

وعن فشل انتقاله إلى بوردو: “أردت الرحيل لأن كانت هناك صعوبة في المشاركة مع جالطة سراي، أريد دائمًا لعب المباريات، لا أحب كوني على مقاعد البدلاء، اخترت مكانًا آخر، لكن لم يحالفني الحظ أيضًا، لم تكن المشكلة معي ولكن بسبب مشاكل بين الناديين، كنت مستاءً مما حدث ولكن عندما عدت إلى تركيا نسيت ما حدث، ولم تكن لدي أي مشاكل مع المدرب (فاتح تريم) لكنني كنت أرغب في اللعب في دوري كبير وفي الوقت الحالي سعيد مع جالطة سراي ولا أفكر في الرحيل”.

وعن شائعات حياته الخاصة في الصحافة التركية: “لا أتابع الكثير على مواقع التواصل الاجتماعي، لكن هناك مبالغة لما يحدث في حياتي الشخصية، لم تظهر لي أي صورة في أي مكان، أحافظ على حياتي الشخصية وأسرتي هنا وأحاول التركيز مع الفريق وأذهب إلى الكثير من الأماكن السياحية مثل مسجد أيا صوفيا، السلطان أحمد”.

وعن احتلال المركز الثالث عشر في الدوري التركي قال: “نحن آسفون للغاية لكل من يساندنا من الجماهير، لا أستطيع أن أقول أننا بذلنا قصارى جهدنا، نحن حزينون للغاية، لم نكن جيدين، نشعر بخيبة أمل، جئت من نادي الزمالك صاحب أكبر شعبية في مصر ولكن هنا حب جماهير جالطة سراي أكبر، لقد كنت حزينًا في الموسم الماضي بعد فقدان لقب الدوري، لا أنسى أبدًا أننا خسرنا البطولة بفارق الأهداف (مع بشكتاش)”.

وبشأن هدفه في الديربي أمام فناربخشة في الموسم الماضي تابع: “في هذه اللحظة، لم أكن أفهم مدى أهمية هذا الهدف، لم أشعر بأهمية الهدف حتى سجلت، كانت المباراة بدون جمهور، لكنني مازالت أشعر بالإثارة كلما أتذكره”.

وعن محمد صلاح: “إنه لشرف عظيم أن ألعب معه، كما أنه يتابع مبارياتي مع جالطة سراي، حتى أننا نعلق على مباريات بعضنا البعض من وقت لآخر، علاقتنا جيدة ونتحدث كثيرا، نضحك سويا من خلال بعض النكات في حافلة المنتخب، أحيانا لا يحب الأغاني التي يحبها الجميع فنقوم بإغلاقها”.

وبشأن اهتمام فناربخشة السابق واصل: “قبل انتقالي إلى جالطة سراي، كان هناك اهتمام من فناربخشة، تحدثت مع مديرهم الرياضي السابق، إيمري بيلوزغلو، هذا قبل 8 أشهر من انتقالي إلى جالطة سراي ولكن الزمالك لم يرغب في رحيلي، كان هناك دوري أبطال إفريقيا ولكنني لم اتحدث معه بعد انتقالي إلى تركيا”.

وعن هبوط مستواه مع جالطة سراي: “بعد كأس أمم إفريقيا كنت محبطا لخسارتنا من السنغال، لم يكن لدي أي حافز وهذا ما أثر على أدائي مع الفريق”.

وعن صداقاته في تركيا: “الأقرب هو كريم حافظ، ومنذ عودة تريزيجيه وتعاقده مع باشاك شهير، نحن نلتقي بشكل مستمر”.

وأغنية “يا مصطفى” من جماهير جالطة سراي: “تشعرني بالسعادة الشديدة، خاصة مع مكبرات الصوت في الملعب وهذا ما حدث في مباراة أرضروم، ولا توجد كلمات كافية لوصف سعادتي”.