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Australia could decide within a fortnight whether to pull out of September’s Champions Trophy in Pakistan

Cricinfo staff08-Jul-2008
After successfully hosting the Asia Cup, the Pakistan board is confident over organising the Champions Trophy in September © AFP
Australia could decide within a fortnight whether to pull out of September’s Champions Trophy in Pakistan. The recent bombings in Karachi and Islamabad have cast a shadow over the event but Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) chief executive Paul Marshsaid a decision will not be made before it get reports from its security experts and the Federation of International Cricket Associations.”They’re compiling reports which we should have within the next two weeks,” Marsh told . “Until you have all the information you can’t make a final decision but the concern levels certainly rise whenever there are bombings.”Cricket Australia is expected to take a decision within two weeks,according to their spokesman Peter Young. Ricky Ponting, Australia’s captain, had earlier said that several team members were concerned about visiting Pakistan and could skip the tournament even if security reports were positive.However, the PCB is confident the ICC will back the country to host the tournament. “We know that the bombings have come at the wrong time,” Shafqat Naghmi, the PCB’s chief operating officer, told the Karachi-based . “But we also know that this violence is not directed at any sports teams. We are confident that the ICC will continue backing us over the Champions Trophy because of our assurance to provide fool-proof security cover.”Earlier this week, Haroon Lorgat, the ICC chief executive, said there would be no compromise on security and the tournament would be held in Pakistan only if experts give the go-ahead. “The ICC will not compromise the safety and security of any individual at one of its tournaments and if it is not appropriate to play in any country then we will not do so.”Our security consultants have been working with the Pakistan authorities during the Asia Cup, assessing security, and will report back as soon as possible with their views,” he said. “At this stage we are working towards the ICC Champions Trophy being held in Pakistan in September.” During their meeting in Dubai last week, the ICC board and the chief executives’ committee received a presentation from security consultants hired to oversee the situation and agreed upon a process to deal with any incidents that may occur in Pakistan between now and the end of the tournament. Sri Lanka is the alternate host for the Champions Trophy in September if a final security report indicates Pakistan is unsafe.

وصفت حكومة المجر أولئك الذين ينتقدون المشجعين الشباب الذين يطلقون صيحات الاستهجان على لاعبي منتخب إنجلترا بأنهم أغبياء.

حضر حوالي 30 ألف مشجع شاب تبلغ أعمارهم 14 عامًا أو أقل في بوشكاش أرينا يوم السبت لمشاهدة فريقهم وهو يهزم الأسود الثلاثة 1-0، في دوري الأمم الأوروبية.

أمر الاتحاد الأوروبي لكرة القدم المجر بلعب ثلاث مباريات خلف أبواب مغلقة بعد أحداث عنصرية وكراهية للمثليين في بطولة أوروبا الصيف الماضي.

لكن الاتحاد المجري استخدم ثغرة للالتفاف على حظر المشجعين، مما سمح لمن هم دون 14 عامًا بالحضور مجانًا، مع منح شخص بالغ حق الوصول لكل عشرة أطفال.

وقد أعلنوا عن وجودهم قبل انطلاق المباراة الافتتاحية لدوري الأمم حيث أطلقوا صيحات الاستهجان على لاعبي إنجلترا وهم يجثون على الركبة في لفتة مناهضة للعنصرية.

وأبدى المدير الفني لمنتخب إنجلترا جاريث ساوثجيت، استياءه مما حدث، حيث قال: “ليس لدي أي فكرة عن سبب محاولة الناس التنديد بهذه المبادرة”.

وأضاف: “أعتقد في كثير من الأحيان أن الشباب لا يعرفون لماذا يفعلون ذلك حقًا، فهم يتأثرون بكبار السن”.

ثم قال كونور كوادي مدافع إنجلترا: “إنه أمر مخيب للآمال بشكل كبير، إنه ليس شيئًا تريد سماعه”.

أثار انتقاد المؤيدين الشباب غضب وزير الدولة للاتصال الدولي والعلاقات الدولية في المجر، زولتان كوفاكس.

لقد دافع عن الجماهير بسبب حادثة ما قبل المباراة عندما هاجم أولئك الذين تركوا بخيبة أمل بسبب تصرفاتهم الغريبة.

وكتب كوفاكس على تويتر: “أي شخص يعتقد أن الأطفال الذين يحضرون مباراة كرة قدم في بودابست يمكن أن يلاموا على أي نوع من التصريحات السياسية فهو أحمق حقًا”.

وأضاف في تغريدته: “مبروك لمنتخبنا الوطني، تصفيق لـ 35000 طفل”.

Anyone who thinks that children attending a football match in Budapest can be blamed for any kind of political statement is truly an idiot.

Congratulations to our national team, applause for the 35,000 kids.@Tom_Morgs @philmcnulty @NickAmes82 @squiresexpress @johncrossmirror pic.twitter.com/AMQ80WOZJW — Zoltan Kovacs (@zoltanspox) June 5, 2022

Young West Ham goalkeeper Nathan Trott would be a solid signing for Sheffield Wednesday, says The Transfer Tavern’s EFL insider.

Having seen the popular Keiren Westwood released at the end of last season, Darren Moore will be looking to add another goalkeeper to his ranks.

Moore currently has Cameron Dawson and Joe Wildsmith at his disposal, with those two sharing the workload in the Owls’ opening few pre-season friendlies.

The pair have been in and out the team over the course of the last few seasons, but Wednesday haven’t had one regular first-choice goalkeeper.

Meanwhile, Trott has made just one senior appearance for the Hammers as a late substitute in the FA Cup last season, but spent last season mainly playing for the Under-23s – and desperately needs to be playing men’s football.

The shotstopper’s only experience of regular first-team football came when he played 26 times for AFC Wimbledon during a loan spell in 2019-2020.

And the EFL spy exclusively told The Transfer Tavern that he’s been impressed with Trott’s progression:

“He’s got a very good profile for a keeper and made great strides last season with the U23s.

“He’s good with his feet so would be a good addition to the Wednesday squad.”

The first day of the Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament saw the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) XI reach four for no loss after bowling out Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) XI for just 258

Staff Reporter17-Aug-2002The first day of the Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament saw the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) XI reach four for no loss after bowling out Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) XI for just 258.IOC started fairly well after winning the toss, putting on 79 runs for the first wicket before H Kinikar was run out. MR Beerala, his opening partner, went on to make a sedate 65 off 177 balls (10×4) before falling as the fifth wicket with the score on 146.A minor middle-order collapse was partially propped up by Beerala’s innings, but it was left to M Karanjkar (44), AP Dani (34) and RV Pawar (31) to add meat to IOC’s score lower down the order.For KSCA, NSC Aiyappa, Dharmichand and Vadeyraj picked up two wickets apiece. KSCA’s openers – KS Ponnappa and Barrington Rowland – played out an over before stumps, making four runs in the process.

أعلن المدرب الإيطالي، كارلو أنشيلوتي، المدير الفني لنادي ريال مدريد، تشكيل فريقه الرسمي، لمباراة قادش في الدوري الإسباني.

ريال مدريد يحل ضيفًا على قادش، مساء اليوم الأحد، على ملعب “نويفو ميرانديلا”، وتنطلق المباراة في تمام الساعة السابعة والنصف بتوقيت القاهرة، وذلك ضمن لقاءات الجولة السابعة والثلاثين من الدوري الإسباني.

اقرأ أيضًا.. تعرف على معلق مباراة ريال مدريد وقادش اليوم في الدوري الإسباني

ريال مدريد يدخل المباراة، وهو يتواجد في صدارة الدوري الإسباني، برصيد 84 نقطة، فيما قادش يتواجد في المركز السابع عشر ولديه 35 نقطة، وتعتبر المباراة (تحصيل حاصل) للنادي الملكي، والذي حسم اللقب قبل أربع جولات.

وشهد تشكيل ريال مدريد تغييرات بالجملة، حيث يغيب، تيبو كورتوا، كريم بنزيما، ديفيد ألابا، ولوكا مودريتش، عن الملكي، بجانب فينيسيوس جونيور.

ويعتمد أنشيلوتي في الهجوم على الثلاثي، ماركو أسينسيو، وماريانو دياز، بجانب رودريجو جوس، فيما يجلس البلجيكي إيدين هازارد على مقاعد البدلاء. تشكيل ريال مدريد اليوم ضد قادش

حراسة المرمى: أندري لونين.

خط الدفاع: لوكاس فاسكيز، إيدير ميليتاو، خيسوس فاييخو، ناتشو.

خط الوسط: فالفيردي، توني كروس، كاسيميرو.

خط الهجوم: ماركو أسينسيو، ماريانو، رودريجو جوس.

مقاعد بدلاء ريال مدريد

فيدياس، دييجو، داني كارفاخال، إيدين هازارد، داني سيبايوس، فيرلاند ميندي، كامافينجا، لاتاسا، جيلا.

📋✅ ¡Nuestro 𝗫𝗜 inicial 🆚 @Cadiz_CF! @UnicajaBanco | #CádizRealMadrid pic.twitter.com/OGxlV9tef3 — Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) May 15, 2022

بدأ أكرم توفيق لاعب الأهلي المرحلة الجديدة من البرنامج التأهيلي المخصص له للتعافي من إصابة القطع في الرباط الصليبي بالركبة التي يعاني منها.

وشهد مران الأهلي الذي يقام على ملعب مختار التتش اليوم، ظهور أكرم توفيق بعد انتهائه من تأدية تدريباته في صالة “الجيم” داخل النادي.

طالع أيضًا.. وفاق سطيف: حكم مباراة الأهلي نزيه عكس جاساما

وعقد اللاعب جلسة سريعة مع سيد عبد الحفيظ مدير الكرة بالنادي الأهلي، وأحمد أبو عبلة طبيب الفريق.

وكان أكرم توفيق قد تعرض للإصابة بقطع في الرباط الصليبي للركبة في مباراة مصر أمام نيجيريا بالجولة الأولى من دور المجموعات لبطولة أمم إفريقيا خلال شهر يناير الماضي.

وعاد اللاعب خلال الأيام القليلة الماضية من الدوحة بعد انتهائه من البرنامج العلاجي الذي كان مخصصًا له في مستشفى الطب الرياضي أسبيتار.

جدير بالذكر أن الأهلي يؤدي اليوم مرانه الختامي استعدادًا لمواجهة وفاق سطيف الجزائري غدًا السبت على ملعب السلام، في إطار منافسات الذهاب من نصف نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

Everton’s hunt for a new manager has been crushed by raging doubts in the last few weeks.

Nuno Santo was close to being installed as the Toffees’ new manager until questions were raised over his backroom staff and proceedings stalled.

However, a deal for Rafa Benitez is also being put under the microscope with supporters praying for a different head coach.

What’s the word?

With fan pressure increasing on the board, you’d have thought that Farhad Moshiri and co would look at taking a different option.

The Everton hierarchy have been appealed by Lille boss Christophe Galtier but the man that still tops their list is Benitez.

TalkSPORT claimed on Monday that a deal was now in doubt but those reports have been crushed by various sectors.

Alan Myers took to Twitter in the aftermath to issue a four-word response after being questioned whether a deal was off. He answered: “Not true I believe.”

Those words were then backed up by the Mirror who claim that the Spaniard is edging closer to a return to Merseyside.

Fans will be livid

Carlo Ancelotti’s shock departure to Real Madrid will have left a bitter taste in the mouth of Everton supporters.

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They will willingly accept that Real Madrid are a much bigger club than themselves but the Italian exited with unfinished business.

He was meant to take this Everton side to the Champions League but truth be told, there was never any true progression under the 62-year-old.

Everton have since looked at rehiring Roberto Martinez, a man who finished fifth during one season of his short tenure at Goodison Park and despite the way he left, he is a manager who would be favoured by fans.

That’s certainly the case if Benitez arrives. Having dubbed the Toffees a “small club” he is already fighting a battle to get the supporters on side who are staunchly against him signing on the dotted line.

Throw in his allegiances to Liverpool and the lure becomes even more unappealing. The 61-year-old spent six years with Everton’s biggest rivals and it would appear that the Goodison faithful are unwilling to let that slide.

You can understand their fume if he does indeed get appointed but he is one of the most high profile names they could go for.

Galtier is progressive and is coming off the back of a Ligue 1 title win but Benitez has prior experience in the Premier League and has lifted Europe’s premier competition.

He has won 13 titles throughout his career and despite a rocky time in the northeast, he stabilised Newcastle in the top-flight of English football.

Benitez got the Magpies promoted from the Championship and then despite a lack of spending, guided them to mid-table finishes. Therefore, you sense that with the financial backing the Toffees hierarchy traditionally hand a new manager, he’d be able to lift them further up the table.

That said, it’s unlikely supporters will give him the support he needs in order to thrive.

AND in other news, Bye-bye DCL: Everton must swoop for “spectacular” £24m gem with “blistering pace”…

Writing on Twitter, Sportitalia journalist Rudy Galetti has dropped a major claim involving Tottenham Hotspur and Marcus Thuram.

The Lowdown: Spurs moving for Thuram?

RMC Sport reporter Mohamed Bouhafsi first broke news that Tottenham are in advanced discussions to sign the Frenchman who is currently at Euro 2020 (Twitter).

Indeed, the journalist also claimed it is very likely the 23-year-old will leave current club Borussia Monchengladbach this summer after an impressive season in Germany.

Bouhafsi believes a swoop for Thuram is now a Spurs ‘priority’ this summer with the transfer window now well underway.

The Latest: Journalist drops Thuram to Spurs claim…

Writing on Twitter, fellow journalist Galetti has dropped his own update on the situation.

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Indeed, he believes that talks are in progress between Spurs and Monchengladbach over the transfer of Thuram but his €30 million (£25.7m) release clause recently expired.

This could mean Tottenham will now have to pay more to seal his signature.

“The times are getting longer between Tottenham and Borussia Monchengladbach for Marcus Thuram,” explained the reporter on social media.

“The €30m release clause recently expired and Spurs should invest at least €40/45m to close the deal.

“Talks in progress.”

The Verdict: Worth it?

Widely seen as a really exciting talent, this move will depend on Tottenham’s ability to either drive the price down or get as many unwanted players out the door as possible.

Tottenham have to adopt a sell-to-buy policy this summer with the coronavirus pandemic having a severe impact on their financing.

New managing director Fabio Paratici may have a huge job on his hands if he wishes to sign Thuram this summer, and going by his stats, the player should have no shortage of suitors.

Out of the entire Monchengladbach squad, the attacker averaged more completes dribbles per 90 in the Bundesliga (1.6) than any of his teammates and was only beaten by Alassane Plea in terms of shots attempted every match (WhoScored).

He may be worth the price tag, but whether Spurs have it to invest is another matter entirely.

In other news: ‘Tottenham are now planning’…Fabrizio Romano relays big N17 development, find out more here.

La Liga expert Euan McTear believes that Yangel Herrera is certain to leave Manchester City this summer amid links with West Ham United.

Herrera is still on the books at City but has spent the past two seasons on loan at Granada in La Liga.

In total, he has made 82 appearances for the club, scoring 10 goals and registering five assists.

The 23-year-old enjoyed an impressive season with the Spanish club this term, as they qualified for the Europa League and enjoyed a run to the quarter-finals, where they were ultimately beaten by Manchester United. He has subsequently been linked with West Ham United.

McTear has been impressed with the form of the Venezuela international and believes he is an old-school midfielder who consistently looks to get on the ball and move it forward, while also trying to hit the back of the net himself.

Herrera is a versatile presence and he can play as a defensive midfielder, a central midfielder, an attacking midfielder or even as a centre-back.

Speaking exclusively to The Transfer Tavern, McTear said: “Yeah, so he’s been at Granada for more than a couple seasons now in a row, he’s been key to their qualification for Europa League and then the run to the quarter-finals.

“He’s like a classic box-to-box midfielder, a bit of a throwback in that way, his first instinct is to try and dribble, to pass it forward, charging forward he took so many shots this season, he would get in the box, he scored quite a few goals early on when they were lacking strikers and attacking midfielders and that’s the thing too, he’s been really versatile.

“Granada this season had more injuries than anybody else in La Liga because they have a small squad and they were playing in Europa League from the first qualifying round all the way to the quarterfinals. So their squad was knackered. They had COVID outbreaks and everything. So Herrera was one of the few players who was hardly injured.

“So he was kind of asked to fill in, defensive midfield, attacking midfield, even as a sort of second striker at points. So never out wide always down the middle, but one of those positions right down the spine, and he was really good. He’ll leave them for sure and who knows where he goes?”

Aston Villa would be making an unforgivable mistake by replacing Dean Smith with Nuno Espirito Santo this summer.

What’s the story?

After his time at Molineux came to an end following the conclusion of the Premier League season, it appears that Nuno could be set for a return to the dugout in English football as shock news emerges from Villa Park.

Football Insider claimed that super-agent Jorge Mendes has held talks with the club’s owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens (NSWE) over the possibility of installing the 47-year-old as manager.

The report adds: “Edens and Sawiris are hugely ambitious and will bankroll more major spending this summer on new signings as they look to establish Villa as a top-six team.

“Smith may well start next season in the dugout but will come under huge pressure for his job in the autumn period if they do not start the new campaign well.”

Massive blunder from NSWE

Make no mistake about it, if Villa’s owners were to remove Smith from his post and appoint Nuno, fans could be absolutely fuming – the current boss was the one to guide the Midlands club out of the Championship, and after managing to avoid relegation in their first season back in the Premier League, led them to a superb 11th-placed finish this time around.

A boyhood Villa fan, Smith has built up an incredible relationship with the club’s fans and has got the team playing impressively, making a number of important and exciting signings to build around Jack Grealish.

Nuno, on the other hand, has come in for some intense criticism for his lack of attacking football, and he leaves Molineux after essentially stagnating at Wolves – former Villa striker Gabby Abgonlahor has been one of those to take aim at his tactics.

He said: “When I watch Wolves they’re very boring to watch. You watch them and they can’t play unless they’re playing five at the back because their centre-halves aren’t good enough to play as a four.

“They’re very boring when they play five at the back as well. You can see the manager’s tried to change it by playing four at the back against West Ham but their centre-halves couldn’t manage it and they lost.

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“I’m sure he’ll revert back to five at the back and they’ll become boring again. Maybe the loss of Jimenez has been massive but still with the players they’ve got they’re underachieving.”

Villa simply can’t afford to make the mistake of getting rid of Smith to appoint Nuno, who finished two places and 10 points worse off than the 50-year-old with a rival Midlands club.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa are facing a major transfer nightmare…