While Afghanistan have a total of nine games ahead of the T20 World Cup, India only have the IPL after these three

Hemant Brar10-Jan-20244:59

Dravid not concerned with lack of T20Is ahead of World Cup

Big picture: Final rehearsal for IndiaIn less than five months, India will face Ireland in their opening game at the 2024 T20 World Cup. While there is the IPL before that, the three-match series against Afghanistan, starting in Mohali on Thursday, is India’s only T20I assignment in between. Incidentally, this is the first time India are playing a bilateral white-ball series against Afghanistan.Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are back in the T20I squad for the first time since India’s semi-final loss to England at the 2022 T20 World Cup. Kohli, though, will miss Thursday’s game because of personal reasons.Rohit’s return also forces a change at the top. Head coach Rahul Dravid confirmed that Rohit and Yashasvi Jaiswal are India’s first-choice openers in T20Is. They also provide the left-right combination. Jaiswal’s ability to attack from the first ball also makes him a better prospect than Shubman Gill, who is the third opener in the squad.Related

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Kohli and Rohit return to India's T20I squad for Afghanistan series

While Gill has improved his six-hitting ability, his powerplay strike rate in all T20s since the start of 2023 is only 138.44 while Jaiswal’s is 163.69. In Kohli’s absence, Gill could slot in at No. 3 on Thursday but may have to sit out for the last two games.Afghanistan will be keen to build on their gains from the 2023 ODI World Cup. They will play nine T20Is between now and the T20 World Cup. So there is time to finalise the first-choice XI, play it together, and fine-tune it if required.With that in mind, they have picked a 19-member squad for this series. Rashid Khan is also part of the roster but will not play in the series as he continues to recover from back surgery. In his absence, Ibrahim Zadran will lead the side once again.Afghanistan had a hiccup last month when Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveen-ul-Haq and Mujeeb Ur Rahman wanted to be released from their central contracts and play franchise cricket. But all three are now back in the national team and are expected to play a big role.Rohit Sharma was in good spirits during India’s training session•PTI Form guideIndia WLWWL (last five completed T20Is, most recent first)
Afghanistan WLWWWIn the spotlight: Rohit Sharma and Najibullah ZadranRohit Sharma gave India blazing starts at the ODI World Cup, scoring at a strike rate of 135.01 in the powerplay. But it needs to be seen if he can translate the same into T20 cricket. In ODIs, a batter can take an over or two to get their eye in and then line up a particular bowler. T20, a different beast, has little breathing room. One-over spells are the norm here with bowlers’ primary goal being to stop runs. That is a challenge India would want Rohit to overcome.Najibullah Zadran rarely gets the recognition he deserves. Among Afghanistan batters with at least 500 T20I runs, he has the highest average (31.85) and the highest strike rate (139.71). And only Mohammad Shahzad has more 50-plus scores for the country. Of late, Najibullah has been struggling with injuries and form. He was left out of the XI after just two games of the ODI World Cup, in which he scored 5 and 2. But he showed signs of a return to form with an unbeaten 13-ball 28 against UAE in the third T20I last week.Team news: Samson or Jitesh?With Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya out with injuries, Tilak Varma and Rinku Singh will get another chance to show their wares. The same holds for Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan and Mukesh Kumar in the fast-bowling department, with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj rested. It will be interesting to see whether India pick Jitesh Sharma or Sanju Samson as wicketkeeper.India (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 3 Shubman Gill, 4 Tilak Varma, 5 Jitesh Sharma/Sanju Samson (wk), 6 Rinku Singh, 7 Axar Patel, 8 Kuldeep Yadav, 9 Avesh Khan, 10 Arshdeep Singh, 11 Mukesh KumarIbrahim Zadran will lead Afghanistan in T20Is for the second successive series•PTI In the absence of Rashid, Afghanistan are likely to continue with fellow legspinner Qais Ahmad. However, Noor Ahmed may have to make way for Mujeeb.Afghanistan (probable): 1 Hazratullah Zazai, 2 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 3 Ibrahim Zadran (capt), 4 Azmatullah Omarzai, 5 Najibullah Zadran, 6 Mohammad Nabi, 7 Gulbadin Naib/Karim Janat, 8 Mujeeb Ur Rahman, 9 Qais Ahmad, 10 Naveen-ul-Haq, 11 Fazalhaq FarooqiPitch and conditions: Win the toss and chaseOut of 40 T20s Mohali has hosted in the last two years, the chasing team has won 26. So the team winning the toss will be looking to bowl first, even though Afghanistan captain Ibrahim Zadran said he didn’t notice much dew in the past two days. At night, it could get slightly foggy with the temperature dropping below 5°C.Stats and trivia: Will India get lucky with the toss? India have now lost 11 tosses in a row. The probability of that happening is 0.0005. Rohit needs 147 runs to become the second batter after Kohli to reach 4000 T20I runs. Mohammad Nabi needs 123 runs and eight wickets to complete the double of 2000 runs and 100 wickets in T20Is. So far, Shakib Al Hasan is the only one to do so. Axar Patel is five short of 50 T20I wickets.Quotes”Rinku Singh has made a good start in international cricket and he is playing really well. The role we have given him, the finisher’s role, he is fulfilling it. This is another opportunity for him to take his development further. As far as the selection is concerned, that will be decided later but when players perform well, they are always in the selectors’ minds.”
“You see, we have one of the best spinners in the world, and we also have good fast bowlers in Naveen and Fazal. So our aim is to improve our batting skills and we will try to do more in that department.”

The India captain tried to encourage the outgoing coach to reapply for the position but was keen not to talk-up sending him off with a trophy

Sidharth Monga04-Jun-20242:15

Rohit: Tried to convince Dravid to stay

India’s captain Rohit Sharma unsuccessfully tried to get the outgoing coach Rahul Dravid to stay on in the job. Rohit, who played under Dravid, with Dravid, then against Dravid in the IPL and against teams coached by him, said he wanted the association to carry on. Dravid, though, decided not to seek an extension after the current term ends with the T20 World Cup 2024.”I tried convincing him to stay, but obviously, there are a lot of things that he needs to look after as well,” Rohit said. “But yeah, I’ve personally enjoyed my time with him. I’m sure the rest of the guys will say the same. It’s been great working with him and I hope…I’m not going to say anything, actually. I’m not going to say anything.”In the end Rohit was trying not to jinx it by saying that he hoped they sent Dravid off with a trophy. He could look back at fond memories, though. “We have not really thought of it,” Rohit said when asked if they were looking to do something special for the outgoing coach. “But my equation with him goes a long way back. He was my first international captain when I made my debut in Ireland. Then I’ve seen him play while I was just coming into the team, Test matches, when he was captain. And such a big role model for all of us. Growing up, we watched him play.Related

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“We know what he’s achieved personally as a player and also what he’s done for the team over the years, bailing out the team from difficult situations. And that is what he’s known for. He’s shown a lot of great determination throughout his career, and that is something that, when he came here as a coach, I wanted to learn from him. It’s been very fruitful, other than the big silverware I think we’ve won all the major tournaments and series and all of that.”Having said that, I think I’ve enjoyed every bit of it, working with him, deciding what direction the team needs to head. And for him to buy into that thought makes a huge difference. And he was the first one who came and said, this is what we need to do as a team.”Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid go back a long way•PTI

That missing silverware has become a bit of a stumbling block for India. Rohit’s international career began in 2007 when he was part of the T20 World Cup winning team. Virat Kohli was part of the ODI World Cup win in 2011. They both won the Champions Trophy in 2013. Since then, though, India haven’t won a world title. Losing the final after a dominant run at home in last year’s ODI World Cup left Rohit heartbroken. He has spoken of the struggle getting out of that funk. Now, he said, he wanted to not think of the title before making it to the summit clash.”I have thought a lot about all this,” Rohit said. “Now I’m just going to play my game and help the team in whatever way I can and get everyone together to play as a team. That is what I’m going to be focusing on. Not looking at the larger picture. I don’t think those kinds of thoughts will help so much. Staying in the present and doing what is required at that particular time which is important, and I’ll be focusing on that.”I’m sure everyone in the team have their own way of dealing with tournaments like World Cup. And I’m sure they’ll take the right calls as well. But for me, I think it’s important not to look too far ahead. Just think about what we need to do tomorrow. Play the game well and then take it from there. We won’t think too much and put ourselves under pressure.”

Glasgow Rangers delivered a resolute display in their Europa League quarter-final first leg tie against La Liga side Athletic Bilbao, despite being reduced to ten men early on.

Robin Propper was sent off after he was deemed to have prevented a scoring opportunity and from then on, it looked as though the Spanish side would go on to score a few goals.

Bilbao had 19 shots throughout the match, yet couldn’t find the back of the net. They even had a penalty saved following a decision by the referee after a VAR review and this set up the match nicely ahead of the second leg.

One person who will miss that game, however, is Propper. Perhaps this could work wonders as the Light Blues look to reach the semi-finals.

Why Robin Propper was sent off against Athletic Bilbao

Prior to being dismissed, the Dutchman had yet to win a single duel contested while he lost possession twice, failed to deliver an accurate long ball from two attempts, and took just 16 touches.

After fouling Nico Williams on the edge of the penalty area, Propper was initially given a yellow card for his troubles.

Metric

Highest-ranked

Accurate passes

Daniel Vivian (84)

Key passes

Nico Williams (6)

Tackles

James Tavernier (5)

Shots on target

Oihan Sancet, Maroan Sannadi and Alex Berenguer (1)

Ground duels won

James Tavernier (7)

Following a VAR review, however, referee Istvan Kovacs upgraded this yellow to a red card for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.

According to IFAB rules, denying an opportunity outside the box results in a red card, although the sentiment wasn’t quite shared by the Ibrox crowd.

Thankfully, the Gers were able to secure a 0-0 draw that puts them in a solid position heading into the second leg.

Propper hasn’t exactly enjoyed the best maiden season at Ibrox. Did the club sell a player last year who is better than the former FC Twente captain?

The former Rangers star who is miles better than Propper

After spending six seasons with Rangers, making 309 appearances for the club in that time, Philippe Clement sold Connor Goldson last summer to Aris Limassol.

The timing was right, as the centre-back wasn’t at his best throughout 2023/24, but there is no doubt he still would have been a better option than Propper.

Hailed by former manager Steven Gerrard as being “an absolute mountain” back in 2021, Goldson’s influence waned, hence his move to Cyprus.

The English titan averages a 90% pass success rate this season in the Cypriot top flight, along with winning an impressive 75% of his aerial duels and succeeding with 53% of his long ball attempts.

Comparing this to Propper, who has an 89% pass success rate domestically, while winning 64% of his aerial duels and succeeding with 48% of his long ball attempts, proves that Goldson is enjoying the best campaign from a statistical viewpoint.

Furthermore, Propper simply cannot handle the physicality of Scottish football, as opposition attackers can get the better of him, having been dribbled past ten times in the Premiership so far.

Of course, I’m not saying Goldson is the answer to the club’s prayers, but given the choice, he appears to be a better option in comparison to Propper, based off their respective form this season.

As bad as Propper: Ferguson must axe Rangers dud who made just 4 passes

Having battled to a goalless draw at Ibrox, Rangers manager Barry Ferguson must axe his “frustrating” star at San Mamés in next Thursday’s second leg.

Apr 11, 2025

This is why the Gers messed up when they cashed in on the former Brighton man last year because he is currently miles better than the Dutch dud, who is yet to prove his worth at Ibrox.

The BCB has made two amendments to its constitution at the 2024 Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Dhaka on Sunday, with a view to launching its own TV channel. The board wants to ensure all competitive cricket that it runs in the country is broadcast, with this channel plugging any gaps.BCB president Nazmul Hassan said that the TV channel will generally show domestic matches and those international matches that their broadcast partners can’t show. “T-Sports and Gazi TV show most of our matches. If they cannot show some matches, we want to show those matches,” Hassan said. “They are showing the men’s Test match, so they can’t show the women’s series. We want both to be on TV, so we need to have an option.”We also want to show domestic cricket on TV. Everyone thinks that it will raise the standard of cricket in the country. People can then see the standard of umpiring in domestic cricket, for example.”The amendments were made to sub-clauses 6.17 and 6.20, which fall under the “scope and responsibility” section of the BCB’s constitution. The new 6.17 sub-clause allows the board to enhance its financial transactions and banking activities. The new 6.20 sub-clause talks of the option to form “one or more trusts, companies, societies/foundations as necessary to achieve ancillary objectives including enhancement of infrastructural, economic, commercial and social facilities for the development of cricket across the country”.BCB chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury said the idea was not to turn the national board into a “business enterprise”, but launching a TV channel would require the board to strengthen its legal framework.”According to our legal advice, we have made the amendments to bring more dynamism to our financial transactions and banking activities,” Chowdhury said. “As you know there are many criteria of Bangladesh Bank that we have to meet to make banking transactions.”[That BCB is looking to become a business enterprise] is misleading information. There’s a difference between company formation and floating shares of a company in the share market. We have a plan to form BCB TV, for which we have to come into a legal framework through the BCB’s constitution.”The AGM brought together the BCB’s 170-plus councilors (or members) from different backgrounds, the majority of whom are from Bangladesh’s 64 districts.The BCB has long promised to form regional cricket bodies and while most cricket in these regions is being run by ad-hoc committees, the board officials, mainly based in the capital Dhaka, have not allowed them autonomy. According to BCB chief Hassan, the regional bodies have to prove themselves first before independence is granted.”Regional cricket associations cannot be free of the centre’s interference unless we are satisfied with their work. They aren’t independent right now. But our big picture plan is to make them independent bodies. It is not decentralisation. It is de-concentration. We are reducing concentration away from Dhaka. Eventually it will be decentralised.”The BCB has allocated each body BDT 2 million (USD 17,400 approx) to organise a tournament in the coming months. “We have told them to organise a T20 tournament as a test case. We will pay them BDT 2 million initially. We will see how they perform and expend this money,” Hassan said. “We are not paying them blindly. Not all districts get money. Only those who are organising cricket are getting money.”

“I love to play in tough situations and tough conditions,” Thakur says after top-scoring in Mumbai’s first innings in the Ranji Trophy final

PTI10-Mar-2024Ajinkya Rahane and Shreyas Iyer might have failed to snap their lean runs with the bat in the first innings of the Ranji Trophy final for Mumbai, but Shardul Thakur has placed his trust in them to return to form.Rahane and Iyer scored 7 apiece as Mumbai scored 224 at Wankhede Stadium, with Thakur the top-scorer with 75. Thakur then picked up the first Vidarbha wicket before Dhawal Kulkarni picked up two more to leave Vidarbha at a precarious 31 for 3.”Ajinkya is not scoring runs throughout the season. He is not in the greatest of the forms. We cannot blame him as it is just a phase for him where he is not getting runs,” Thakur said after the day’s play. “It’s just a rough patch for them. That’s what I would say [about] Shreyas [and] Ajinkya. These guys have been absolute match-winners for Mumbai and India.Related

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“Right now, it’s not their time; it’s time to support them rather than criticising them because it’s easy to criticise.”Rahane has so far made just 141 runs in eight Ranji matches at an average of 12.81 with a solitary fifty. Iyer has not been a regular for Mumbai this season, but his return to the domestic circuit has been far from impressive – 58 runs from three games at an average of 19.33 with a highest of 48.”Ajinkya has not scored runs but his attitude on the fielding is top notch,” Thakur said. “A lot of youngsters coming from Under-23 and Under-19 cricket in Mumbai don’t have the attitude that he has. You see him in the slips, even if he is fielded for 80 overs, he will sprint [to] save four runs.”Shreyas moves around the field like a tiger. He absolutely gives everything that he has on the field. Both of them are role models when they are in the dressing room.”While defending the senior pros, Thakur expressed his displeasure at some of the younger batters not grabbing their opportunities in a match as significant as the Ranji final.”The other batters… we collectively felt that they should have shown a better approach,” he said. “Starting from Bhupen Lalwani, because he survived the first two or three balls in that over [from Yash Thakur, in which he was dismissed] and still chasing that wide one on the fourth delivery, is not on.” Lalwani scored 37, while Prithvi Shaw scored 46, but Musheer Khan (6) and Hardik Tamore (5) failed.Dhawal Kulkarni, playing his last game, brought Mumbai back into the contest after a middling batting effort•PTI “They have to learn quickly because Mumbai dressing room is not about [your] own self. When you play here, you play for the team. You have to keep your individual scores, your own game aside,” Thakur said. “When you score 20-25 or 30 runs, the next runs are for the team. They have to learn about it.”We just need to regroup as a batting unit [in the second innings]. There are going to be tough days as a batting unit. Probably, we will just have a meeting and decide collectively how are you going to put a big score on the board from the first three or four wickets.”On his own innings – Thakur walked out at 111 for 6 and was the last man out – he said, “I love to play in tough situations and tough conditions. The kind of life that I have lived travelling far from Palghar to Mumbai with the kit bag on the train, you know it was not easy. That has toughened me up.”About Kulkarni, who will retire after the final, Thakur said it was emotional to see his old mate turning out for Mumbai for the last time.”Today morning it was confirmed that he is playing. It was going to be his last game. It was an extremely emotional moment for him,” Thakur said. “It’s an emotional moment for me also because I have watched him since childhood. When I did not have money to buy shoes, he gave me a few pairs of shoes.”

Manchester United have been in contact with a “superstar” who Barcelona are looking to sign for free this summer.

Man Utd produce memorable Europa League comeback against Lyon

The Red Devils produced one of their best European comebacks in recent history on Thursday evening against Lyon, advancing to the semi-finals of the Europa League in the process.

Ruben Amorim’s side looked to be cruising to the last four before Lyon took the tie to extra time, and despite having 10-men, the Ligue 1 side then took a two-goal lead with just 10 minutes remaining.

However, goals from Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo and a Harry Maguire winner in injury time sparked wild scenes at Old Trafford, with United running out 5-4 winners on the night and 7-6 victors on aggregate.

Man Utd will now take on Athletic Club in the last four, with Tottenham or Bodo/Glimt awaiting in the final in Bilbao at the end of May.

Talking after the dramatic win over Lyon, Amorim said: “I was watching again the ’99, the documentary [when we completed the Treble by beating Bayern Munich with two late goals in the Nou Camp], so to have some inspiration for this moment. But, was a great night. I think the team were tired and you feel it during the game, and then 4-2 with one more player and, in the end, you think it’s over. But here, it’s never over.

“We tried to put Harry Maguire [up there] because he’s the only guy that can score a goal with his headers. And then Kobbie Mainoo, he has a lack of pace in this moment because he had that injury and he stopped for a while, but he’s really good on short spaces, and then he has the ability to do that kind of goal. And then we try it, and sometimes it works, and today was a good day.”

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ByDominic Lund Apr 18, 2025

All of United’s focus now will be on winning the Europa League to guarantee Champions League football at Old Trafford for 2025/26, something which could help in regards to signing some top players over the summer.

Man Utd make contact to sign 25 y/o Barcelona target for free

One player who has been linked with a move to Man Utd is Lille striker Jonathan David. Out of contract at the end of the season, the Canada international looks set to find a new club over the summer, with Amorim recently demanding the Red Devils to pursue a move for the 25-year-old.

According to TBR Football, Barcelona are the most likely to sign David for free this summer, however, Man Utd have been in contact with the striker’s representatives recently.

Dubbed a “superstar”, David is also being eyed up by Premier League rivals Arsenal and Liverpool after another excellent season in front of goal.

A move to Barcelona remains David’s preferred destination, but by the looks of things, a move to Man Utd can’t be ruled out at this stage, especially with the Red Devils still having the chance of Champions League football next season after Thursday night’s rescue mission.

Chelsea have a big summer ahead of them to build on the impressive work done this season during Enzo Maresca’s first year in charge at Stamford Bridge.

The Italian has set the side up for potential success first season, still sitting in an excellent position to claim Champions League football, whilst also in pole position to win the Europa Conference League.

However, the main aim for the 45-year-old and the hierarchy will certainly be to battle for the Premier League title next year, with Estevao Willian already set to move to the club this summer.

He will also be joined by Dario Essugo, who is moving to West London after the hierarchy agreed a deal for his services with Sporting CP earlier this month.

The 20-year-old will need time to settle given his tender age, but the transition could be made easier by 2026, with another one of his current teammates linking up with him 12 months after his move.

Chelsea’s deal to land Geovany Quenda from Sporting CP

It was confirmed this month that Chelsea had agreed a £42m deal with the Liga Portugal outfit for 17-year-old wonderkid Geovany Quenda to move to the club ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

The Portuguese star has been a man in demand after his tremendous breakthrough season, with Ruben Amorim previously interested in taking the teenager with him to Manchester.

However, the Blues jumped ahead of them in the race for his signature, agreeing a seven-year deal for his services with an option for a further year down the line.

Quenda, who can play as a wing-back or winger on either flank, has registered two goals and six assists in all competitions throughout this year – simply incredible figures for such a young talent.

However, he will have a lot of expectations on his shoulders upon his move to the Bridge given the fee, but the club may have been better off keeping hold of one former player who’s outperformed him this campaign.

The former Chelsea star who’s outperformed Quenda in 2024/25

As a result of the heavy spending during the Todd Boehly era, some brutal calls have had to be made to allow players to depart Chelsea to balance the books and avoid any punishments from the Premier League.

The Blues have sold nearly £500m worth of talent over the last three years, many of which have been phenomenal pieces of business – with the players unable to justify their hefty fees elsewhere.

However, one sale they may regret is that of full-back Lewis Hall, who departed his boyhood club for £35m in the summer, joining Newcastle United on a permanent basis after spending the previous year on loan on Tyneside.

The 20-year-old only made 12 first-team appearances for the Blues but has taken his career to the next level this season with valuable minutes under Eddie Howe’s guidance.

Hall, who’s been dubbed “superb” by journalist Thomas Hammond, has featured in 27 Premier League outings this season, with an ankle injury prematurely ending his first permanent year in the North East.

When comparing his figures to those of Quenda in 2024/25, the Englishman has outperformed him in numerous areas, showing the mistake the club made in allowing him to depart on a permanent basis.

The Chelsea academy graduate has won more tackles per 90, whilst also making more blocks per game – showcasing the defensive qualities he possesses in the wing-back role.

He’s also managed to complete more crosses and achieve a higher take-on success rate this season, outclassing Quenda in attacking areas despite his defensive position.

There’s no denying that Quenda will develop over time given his tender age, having the potential to transform into a top-level star under the guidance of Maresca.

However, as seen above, it’s evident that Hall is currently a bigger talent, having the skill set to play a key role in the current first-team, but their loss is Newcastle’s gain – making a huge mistake in parting ways with him given his rise in recent months.

Chelsea sold "sensational" ace for £5m, now he's a bigger star than James

Chelsea may regret offloading a player who’s managed to take his career to the next level after leaving.

By
Ethan Lamb

Mar 25, 2025

Athletic Club are set to report Barcelona to La Liga in an attempt to force a full financial audit as they bid to keep Nico Williams this summer.

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Athletic to report Barca to La LigaWant them to prove 1:1 rule eligibilityWilliams keen on move to Camp NouFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Per , Athletic have sent a delegation, comprising of president Jon Uriarte and general manager Jon Berasategi, to Madrid in a bid to force a full audit of Barca's financial operations amid their ongoing pursuit of Williams. They believe that the club have not complied with the league's 1:1 rule, which allows clubs to only spend what they have generated in revenue.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Williams has communicated to Athletic that he wants to leave to join Barcelona, but report that Athletic are ready to fight to keep him, and insist they have not reached any agreement with the winger to leave this summer, after he signed a new deal in December. The Spain international has a release clause of just over €60 million (£51m/$70m), but his current employers will call on La Liga to stop any transfer until Barca prove they can meet the 1:1 criteria.

WHAT LAPORTA SAID

Laporta told Mundo Deportivo, via Barca Blaugranes: “We don’t have bad relations with Athletic, yes there have been a series of misunderstandings and incidents in recent years, but you can’t say we have bad relations, we are two clubs with a very long history and with relationships that go back a long time.

“I don’t understand the reactions they are having, with all due respect, each one should look after their own, I don’t understand why they are going to talk about Barça in La Liga, I don’t think it’s right, but they will know what they are doing.”

Asked about the 1:1 rule, he added: “We are working to be in the 1:1 rule, we were already in it in the winter market, all the steps have been taken to be able to sign normally, to not be financially intervened with the ‘fair play’ as happened until winter, we have to comply with certain parameters, which is what we are doing and depending on that we will be able to sign and register the two players we want to sign… or register.”

DID YOU KNOW?

Williams has made 167 appearances for Athletic, scoring 31 goals and registering 30 assists. He has a contract until 2027 and it is clear that Bilbao do not plan to let him go without a fight.

Arundhati and Co induced a collapse in the first innings, from which South Africa couldn’t recover

Srinidhi Ramanujam23-Jun-2024A Smriti Mandhana masterclass and Arundhati Reddy’s sharp bowling helped India beat South Africa by six wickets in the third and final ODI and seal the series 3-0 in Bengaluru.Playing in front of 15,000 at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, crowd-favourite Mandhana led India’s small chase of 216 but narrowly missed out on a century, making 90 off 83 balls. She finished the series with 343 runs after two hundreds in the first two games. Mandhana’s total was also the highest in a three-match women’s series, as she surpassed Laura Wolvaardt’s 335 against Sri Lanka in April 2024.She put on 61-run and 62-run stands with Shafali Verma (25) and Priya Punia (28), India’s new no.3, to get the chase going. Seven of her 11 fours came on the offside, with six of them towards the cover region alone. Alongside Harmanpreet Kaur (42 0ff 48), she shared 48 off 47 to blunt the South African attack.Smriti Mandhana finished the series with 343 runs•BCCI

Adapting to different pitches and situations, Mandhana has shown immense maturity and clarity to play long innings, not just once but thrice, in a row. However, a top edge to Ayabonga Khaka at short fine leg in the 31st over ended her knock. India needed 45 from the remaining 19 overs then and the rest of the batters completed the formalities with 9.2 overs to spare.The lack of a sixth bowling option hurt South Africa. Marizanne Kapp played all the matches as a specialist batter due to workload management after recovering from her back injury. Their premier spin-bowling allrounder Chole Tryon had to miss the tour due to recurring back injury.Despite Wolvaardt acknowledging this in the past, South Africa went in with a like-for-like replacement for Masabata Klass with another right-arm Tumi Sukhukhune. A few individual brilliance aside, South Africa had failed to fire in unison in the series.

South Africa’s innings of two halves

After coming close to chasing India’s 325 in the second ODI, the visitors had an underwhelming outing with the bat after a brisk start from Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits. They got through the first ten overs without losing a wicket, for the first time in this series, and added 46. Wolvaardt continued her purple patch, notching up her 32nd half-century in her 98th ODI.She started sedately, making 9 off her 15 balls and then targeted Pooja Vastrakar in the 10th over, hammering four fours with featuring gorgeous cover drives and pulls. A sweep and a pull off Radha Yadav’s left-arm spin fetched her two more fours, and she tapped a short and wide delivery off Smriti Mandhana to deep third.At the other end, Brits had a cautious start after getting out for 18 and 5 in the first two games of the series. On Sunday, there was intent to stay longer in her comeback series following a knee injury. A six over deep midwicket and fours to fine leg and deep backward point gave the impression of her getting her rhythm back.Tazmin Brits and Laura Wolvaardt added 102 for the first wicket•BCCI

The duo took the team past hundred in 119 balls and looked set to keep the momentum going. But an outstanding reaction catch from Reddy dismissed Wolvaardt for a 57-ball 61, ending the 102-run partnership in the 20th over.In the following over, Brits was run out for 66-ball 38 after a mix-up with Marizanne Kapp, who was promoted to no.3 after her century in the previous game.In her five-over third spell, Reddy produced another moment of brilliance, another catch in the follow-through to send Anneke Bosch back. Two overs later, Shreyanka Patil, who had come in for legspinner S Asha, dismissed Kapp caught and bowled for 7, by going around the wicket for the fifth ball after bowling the previous four from over the wicket.From 102 for 0, South Africa were left reeling at 120 for 4. Cameos from Nadine de Klerk and Mieke de Ridder helped them post over 200, but India’s tight bowling never let them into the game.On a pitch with cracks on one half and grass on the other, Harmanpreet opened the bowling with Patil and kept at least one spinner at play at one almost throughout the innings. Reddy was the best bowler of the day, finishing with figures of 2 for 36 in ten overs spread across four spells.Deepti Sharma, the most economical bowler of the day, also had her moment picking up two wickets in two balls bowling de Klerk and Nonkululeko Mlaba out in the 43rd over.There was slight drizzle after the first innings but it, too, fizzled out like South Africa’s batting, and did not result in overs being lost.

MatériaMais Notícias

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