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أصبحت إدارة برشلونة تسابق الزمن للانتهاء من عدة عمليات بيع تمكنها من تسجيل لاعبين بعد انطلاق منافسات الموسم الجديد.

ونشرت صحيفة “سبورت” الإسبانية أن هيكتور فورت ظهير برشلونة على رأس المرشحين للرحيل وقد غاب اللاعب عن تدريبات الفريق حيث يدرس عدة عروض للمغادرة بنظام الإعارة وقد تكون وجهته النهائية هي الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

أقرأ أيضاً.. موقف تير شتيجن من خوض مباراة برشلونة وفياريال في ميامي

وأصبح وست هام الذي يستهدف التعاقد مع مارك كاسادو في خط الوسط مستعد أيضاً للتعاقد مع فورت على سبيل الإعارة وتسير المحادثات على ما يرام وقد تحسم الصفقة الأسبوع المقبل على الرغم من المنافسة من أندية أخرى على ضمه.

وأجرى وست هام عدة اتصالات مع برشلونة وأظهروا اهتمامهم بضم مارك كاسادو لكن اللاعب متردد في الرحيل وتظهر أمامه خيارات أفضل من النادي اللندني.

بينما ظهر خيار فيكتور فورت في محادثات الناديين حيث سيرحب بالانتقال لوست هام بشرط أن تكون الصفقة بصيغة الإعارة فقط ليتمكن من العودة لاحقاً.

ويهدف ظهير برشلونة الحالي للعودة من جديد للنجاح بقميص الفريق الأول، ورغم أن راتب فورت ليس مرتفعًا إلا أن رحيله سيساعد النادي على خلق مساحة كافية في سقف الرواتب لتسجيل لاعبين جدد.

وكان فورت قد تم تصعيده الموسم الماضي لتعويض رحيل كانسيلو مع صعوبة التعاقد مع بديل لكن فليك لم يعط له دقائق كثيرة واعتمد المدرب الألماني بشكل شبه كامل على كوندي ثم إريك جارسيا.

وينافس وست هام كل من أندية إيفرتون وكومو وريال مايوركا ولكن يبقى النادي اللندني هو الأقرب للحصول على خدمات هيكتور فورت.

The two MLS stars were spotted alongside an impressive collection of Toronto professional athletes including NBA and MLB athletes

Laryea and Bernardeschi pictured with several Raptors stars and Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero JrOla Brynhildsen and Theo Corbeanu also seen at a Leafs tailgate partyMaple Leafs ultimately fell 6-1 to the Panthers in the decisive Game 7Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowWHAT HAPPENED

During Sunday’s decisive Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers, Scotiabank Arena’s celebrity row showcased a strong turnout from the city’s professional athletes. Toronto FC stars Richie Laryea and Federico Bernardeschi were spotted during the second intermission alongside Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and several Toronto Raptors players, including Jamison Battle, Jamal Shead, AJ Lawson, Ja'Kobe Walter, Colin Castleton, and Ulrich Chomche.

Toronto FC teammates Ola Brynhildsen and Theo Corbeanu were also seen earlier at a Leafs tailgate party ahead of the game.

Despite the show of support from some of Toronto’s top sports talent, it wasn’t enough to rally the home team, as the Maple Leafs fell 6–1 to the Panthers.

AdvertisementWHAT THE MAPLE LEAFS POSTEDTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Toronto has increasingly emerged as a city where athletes from different sports publicly support one another, creating a unified sports culture that goes beyond individual leagues. This cross-sport camaraderie comes as all four major Toronto teams—the Maple Leafs, Blue Jays, Raptors, and Toronto FC—are experiencing different competitive trajectories in 2025.

Getty Images SportWHAT’S NEXT?

A commanding 6-1 win over fellow Canadian MLS side CF Montreal has moved Toronto FC into 13th place on the Eastern Conference with 13 points after 14 league games. They host Nashville SC next at the BMO Field on May 24 which is followed by another home game against the Philadelphia Union on May 28.

Bangladesh head coach not worried about lack of context around the Test; Trott excited as Afghanistan get back to red-ball cricket after two years

Mohammad Isam13-Jun-2023Even if the one-off Test is not part of the new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle and even if Bangladesh and Afghanistan haven’t played Test cricket in a long time, representing your country and winning Tests remains the primary “motivation” and “ambition,” according to the head coaches of the two teams, Chandika Hathurusinghe and Jonathan Trott. The two sides square off in a one-off Test starting Wednesday in Dhaka with questions around the match’s importance given it is being held during Bangladesh’s monsoon season.However, Hathurusinghe and Trott believe players across the two sides are looking forward to some red-ball cricket.”You are playing for your country, aren’t you?” Hathurusinghe said ahead of the Test. “Forget about the Test Championship; that came four years ago. Before that, playing Tests for your country was the dream, when you are nine or 11 years old.Related

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Rashid Khan rested for Afghanistan's one-off Test against Bangladesh

Finger injury rules Shakib out of third ODI, could also miss Afghanistan Test

“If there’s a problem [playing a Test for your country], then he is in the wrong place. Winning for your country is enough for myself and the players. It is the motivational factor.”Trott was of a similar opinion. “I think there’s an ambition to play Test matches, being a Test nation. But I think it is also important that every Test match we go into, we try to win as well,” he said.The lack of Test matches has been an issue for both teams. Bangladesh have played only one Test this year, while Afghanistan’s last was more than two years ago. The monsoon, the school exams in Bangladesh, and the lack of context because it’s a one-off series, could all affect the viewership of this Test.Both sides are also missing key personnel in their line-up. While Afghanistan have rested Rashid Khan, their best bowler, to prioritise his “long-term fitness”, Bangladesh are without Shakib Al Hasan whose finger injury put him out of action last month. Tamim Iqbal was also ruled out of the game on the eve of the match with lower back pain.

“All Test cricketers will tell you they like playing Test cricket. They will say it is their favourite format because of the challenge and the test it creates between the two sides.”Jonathan Trott

For Hathurusinghe, though, just representing the country in a Test match should be motivation enough for the players.”Playing for the Tigers is an honour. I think we don’t look beyond that,” he remarked. “Overall, if you ask my opinion, Test cricket is the pinnacle of the game no matter how the other formats are going to be in the future. Your skills as a cricketer are tested in Test cricket, as a bowler, batter and fielder. Your mental skills and resilience is tested. There’s no better format for any cricketer if you really want to be proud of representing your country.”Trott, who took over as Afghanistan’s head coach last year, will oversee his first Test with them. He said his players, who become more famous playing T20s around the world, have ambitions to play Tests too.Rashid Khan has been rested for the one-off Test against Bangladesh•Abu Dhabi Cricket”We haven’t played for a while, Bangladesh have played quite a lot of Tests recently,” Trott said. “I think it is always good to develop the players’ mindset of being ambitious and playing Tests, along with all the other formats. Being competitive in red-ball cricket just as much in white-ball cricket.””I think [Afghanistan players are] just as ambitious as Bangladesh were when they started playing Tests. You see Bangladesh now going on to beat other teams at home. I think it’s important to have that ambition. I think it is what drives the game. All Test cricketers will tell you they like playing Test cricket. They will say it is their favourite format, because of the challenge and test it creates between the two sides. Also individual as well. It is something that I am looking forward to seeing tomorrow.”A bigger concern for the Afghanistan coach will be to replace Rashid. Trott kept his cards close to his chest, but the make-up of the side suggests that a few newcomers are likely to make their debuts, including 19-year-old legspinner Izharulhaq Naveed who impressed in last season’s Big Bash League.”It is very difficult to replace a guy like Rashid,” Trott said. “He has vast experience in playing all around the world in different competitions and different variations of the game. He has played Test cricket. So yes, that’s obviously missed.”But I think him having time off, obviously there’s a lot of cricket coming up. Asia Cup and World Cup is coming up. I certainly see this time off for him now to get his back sorted out, with a view to the future, in the competitions in a few months’ time.”Afghanistan players have a chat with coach Jonathan Trott at training•Munir Uz Zaman/AFP/Getty ImagesHe underlined that Afghanistan have a confident unit that could give Bangladesh a run for their money. “I think any team playing at home will have a bit of an advantage. I think certainly a team that has played more Tests by a long stretch will also have a bit of advantage. It doesn’t mean tomorrow they will play better than us. We prepared really well. I feel the players have trained exceptionally well. They are excited to play a Test in Bangladesh,” he said.”Whatever has happened in the past, whoever is favourite or the conditions, it is all about what happens tomorrow and who does it the best. It is my job to make sure everyone is ready for the Test starting tomorrow”.Meanwhile, the hosts are keen to develop a playing style rather than just focusing on the result of this game. “We discussed before the Ireland series that we want to play a certain brand of cricket regardless of the result,” Hathurusinghe said. “Our aim is to get the result but we want to understand how our skillset lasts five days in different conditions, challenging ourselves in certain ways.”We might do different things tactically if we have to earn points in the WTC. This game is giving us the opportunity to play on a sporting wicket. Regardless of playing the Championship or not, we will find the way best suited for us to play at home. We have to keep an eye on how we want to play away from home.”

The Togolese forward launched himself in the air for the overhead kick with what became the game-winner

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• FC Cincinnati defeat Sporting KC 2-1
• Kevin Denkey scores bicycle kick winner
• Togolese DP is adapting to life well in MLS
• Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games now

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  FC Cincinnati striker Kevin Denkey scored a goal of the season contender on Saturday as FCC defeated Sporting Kansas City 2-1 in MLS action. The Togolese forward leapt into the air for a stunning bicycle kick in the 79th minute, doubling FCC's lead late in the match, and scoring the eventual winner.

  He scored their first of the day as well, opening the scoring in the match in the 43rd minute. SKC earned a late goal back in the 89th minute through Zorhan Bassong, but it was too little, too late.

  Signed as a Designated Player in a $16.2M transfer from Belgian club Cercle Brugge, the 24-year-old is now up to six goals in his debut season.

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• WATCH THE CLIP

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  FCC are now up to 22 points on the season, and sit atop the Eastern Conference after their victory. However, the standings could change come the end of Matchday 11, as Wilfried Zaha's Charlotte FC trail them by three points and have a higher goal-differential than them heading into their match against the New England Revolution on Saturday.

  Cincy, meanwhile, are in red-hot form and have won five-straight matches.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR FCC?

  Cincy return to the pitch on Sunday, May 4 against NYCFC on Matchday 11.

And so, a new era is here at Tottenham Hotspur, with Ange Postecoglou’s turbulent tenure coming to a close despite overseeing Europa League glory back in May.

That success in Bilbao has handed his successor, Thomas Frank, the chance to experience life in the Champions League, with the Danish coach seeking to prove himself at the truly elite level after years of stability at Brentford.

For the former Bees boss to truly flourish in north London, however, he will need to be handed the appropriate tools, with the Lilywhites having thus far only recruited Japanese starlet, Koto Takai – excluding the permanent captures of Kevin Danso, Mathys Tel and Luka Vuskovic.

As noted by The Athletic’s David Ornstein, the major priority appears to have the signing of a new, high-profile attacker to freshen up Frank’s forward line, with both Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa having been touted as potential targets of late, alongside Mohammed Kudus.

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With that mind, we have taken a stab at predicting – with the help of AI tool, ChatGPT – how that trio would perform at N17 next season…

Mohammed Kudus – 8-10 Premier League goals

The leading target to join Spurs ahead of next season appears to be Kudus, with recent reports indicating that Daniel Levy and co have struck a £55m agreement with West Ham United, having already had a £50m bid rejected.

The Ghanaian has enjoyed a respectable two-year stint at the London Stadium, following his £38m switch from Ajax in 2023, having chalked up 32 goals and assists in 80 games in all competitions.

That did include a disappointing return of just eight goals and assists in the Premier League last term, although that came amid real upheaval for the Irons, with Graham Potter replacing Julen Lopetegui midway through the campaign.

Under the guidance of Frank, and with a position finally nailed down for the versatile speedster, he could be revived next season. Indeed, ChatGPT certainly thinks so, suggesting that “a more central role and better service could boost his output”.

Their prediction is that the 24-year-old could manage to chalk up eight to ten league goals, alongside chipping in with a further six to eight assists.

Yoane Wissa – 15-18 Premier League goals

Much like the man we’ll come onto below, it would appear that Frank has his eye on some familiar faces this summer, with recent reports suggesting that a move could be in the works for Brentford goal machine, Wissa.

While somewhat in the shadow of Mbeumo and Ivan Toney before that, the 28-year-old’s stock has soared of late, following his return of 19 Premier League goals last season.

Previously a target for Nottingham Forest in January, with a £22m bid having been rebuffed by the Bees, now could be the time for the Congolese marksman to finally jump ship from the Gtech.

With that in mind, there would be no better place, arguably, than the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and a reunion with Frank, with ChatGPT predicting that he could notch between 15 and 18 top-flight goals, provided he “adapts quickly and starts regularly”.

Bryan Mbeumo – 18-22 Premier League goals

While Kudus – and perhaps Wissa – look more likely to end up at Spurs this summer, there remains a glimmer of hope that Mbeumo could reunite with his former boss, amid prior claims that Levy was ready to hijack Manchester United’s move for the Cameroon international.

The 25-year-old’s preference appears to be to move to Old Trafford, although a deal has yet to be struck with the Red Devils, with Ruben Amorim’s side already seeing two bids rejected for the winger.

Non-penalty goals

0.17

0.40

Shots

2.61

2.08

Assists

0.10

0.18

Shot-creating actions

3.72

3.80

Pass completion

83.6%

66.1%

Progressive passes

2.75

3.72

Progressive carries

3.41

3.43

Successful take-ons

3.20

1.37

Touches in attacking box

4.41

4.43

Progressive passes received

7.51

9.25

If Spurs can re-enter the race, it could certainly prove fruitful, with Mbeumo having dazzled for the Bees in 2024/25, after scoring 20 goals in the top flight, finishing behind only Mohamed Salah, Alexander Isak and Erling Haaland in the scoring charts.

With 121 goals and assists to his name in 242 games under Frank to date, the left-footer would surely be able to slot in smoothly next term, with ChatGPT suggesting that “Mbeumo could immediately hit 20 league goals”, while representing “an upgrade in Spurs’ front line”.

In all, ChatGPT reckons he could get between 18-20 Premier League goals in 2025/26, alongside registering a further eight to ten assists.

The dream squad Spurs could build: £283m stars sign alongside Kudus

Here’s what Spurs’ squad could look like after a dream summer.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 8, 2025

حرص وائل جمعة وهيثم فاروق نجمي الكرة المصرية على زبارة معسكر المنتخب الوطني تحت 17 سنة، والمشارك في كأس العالم في قطر.

وتنطلق منافسات بطولة كأس العالم للناشئين بداية من الثالث من نوفمبر المقبل وتستمر حتى السابع والعشرين من نفس الشهر.

طالع | منتخب مصر تحت 17 عامًا يواصل استعداداته قبل انطلاق كأس العالم

منتخب مصر يخوض الدور الأول للبطولة في المجموعة الخامسة ويبدأ مشواره أمام منتخب تاهيتي في الرابع من نوفمبر ثم يواجه فنزويلا وإنجلترا في الجولتين الثانية والثالثة في السابع والعاشر من الشهر ذاته.

وقال وائل جمعة في فيديو نشره حساب اتحاد الكرة على “فيس بوك”: “ربنا يكرمكوا أنتم مستقبل للكرة المصرية، إن شاء البطولة تصبح بدايتكم بدعم الجهاز الفني”.

بينما قال هيثم فاروق: “سعيد بالتزامكم وأخلاقكم العالية وتركيزكم بالمهمة المحددة، وإن شاء الله موفقين، والبطولة ستكون نقلة وتتأهلوا إلى أدوار متقدمة”.

He is in the mix for selection for the upcoming tournament with board president Faruque and ODI captain Shanto giving their nods already

Mohammad Isam08-Jan-2025

Shakib Al Hasan is awaiting the result of a second test of his bowling action from Chennai in India after failing his previous assessment from UK’s Loughborough University that had left him suspended from bowling in top-flight domestic and international cricket.Shakib was reported for a suspect action during an English county match in September. This prompted the ECB’s action, and, in accordance with clause 11.3 of the ICC’s regulations for illegal bowling actions, his suspension was automatically recognised and enforced by the ICC in international cricket and by all national cricket federations in their respective domestic competitions.Shakib is expecting a result from the Chennai centre in a day or two, which is also keeping the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) from naming their Champions Trophy squad. Shakib is in consideration after board president Faruque Ahmed said on January 3 that he wants Shakib back in the team. It was also reported recently that Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto gave his nod to the BCB about Shakib’s return for ODIs.Related

Shakib Al Hasan fails second test of bowling action

Champions Trophy 2025: Shakib Al Hasan, and other topics on Bangladesh's selectors' plate

Shakib suspended from bowling in all top-level cricket, domestic and international

Shakib had been out of international cricket since he played the two Tests in India last year. He couldn’t travel to Bangladesh in the face of students’ protests. Shakib was a member of parliament of the Awami League government, which resigned from power in the face of student-led revolution in Bangladesh, on August 5.After the two Tests in India however, Shakib was reported for suspected action in England. The suspension came in December. He was already playing franchise cricket in UAE and Sri Lanka, as the BCB were also weighing his options for selection, to stay in line with Bangladesh’s interim government.BCB’s chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain said on Wednesday that he heard that Shakib has undergone a second bowling action test in Chennai, but couldn’t confirm the details.”It was very shocking to hear that Shakib couldn’t pass the bowling action test [at Loughborough],” Gazi said. “I will have to find out whether he has tested himself again. We have to wait for this information. The board hasn’t instructed us fully on Shakib. I think every minute counts. I am sure we can clarify this in a day or two.”Mohammad Salahuddin meanwhile said that he has given some tips over a video call to Shakib in the last few weeks to help him correct his bowling action issue.”He already went through the test,” Salahuddin told on Tuesday. “I know the A-Z of Shakib’s bowling. I couldn’t go and train him (in India). I think he knows what to do. We discussed a few things about what he has to do with his arm. We don’t need a big change in his bowling action. He can do it quickly too. But when an allegation comes, a person usually has to think about it.”Salahuddin said that Shakib couldn’t bowl with a correct action in an effort to impart more spin on the ball during the county game in Taunton in September. Shakib was trying to get some cricket with a red-ball ahead of Bangladesh’s tour of India.”I think it was due to extreme workload. Maybe he tried to impart more spin on the ball, for which he needed to use his upper body,” Salahuddin said. “It must have been one or two balls which came into question. When you can’t get strength from your legs, you have to drive from your arms. It is natural. I think he can fix it.”

He can be a match-winner on designer tracks in Bangladesh, but flat pitches like the one in Hamilton expose the offspinner’s limitations all too often

Mohammad Isam in Hamilton02-Mar-2019In the space of his first two-and-a-half years in international cricket, Mehidy Hasan Miraz has experienced both extremes. He has taken 12-wicket hauls in historic wins over England and West Indies, which occupy the top two slots among Bangladesh bowlers’ best match figures in Test cricket. Now, with his 2 for 246 in Hamilton, he also has the most expensive innings figures for a Bangladesh bowler.Neither extreme has been a one-off, which is a worry. When Mehidy has done well, he has been a match-winner. But when he bowls poorly, there’s nowhere to hide, no middle ground.The difference, of course, comes down to conditions, and Mehidy has certainly struggled on pitches that haven’t offered him much. He averages 20.68 at home and 55.28 away, and even at home, when pitches haven’t been responsive, he has had little to show for against good batsmen.Towards the end of Mehidy’s spell on the third afternoon in Hamilton, Colin de Grandhomme struck him for three sixes to push him towards more unwanted records. He is now sixth among Test cricket’s most expensive innings figures, but it’s important to note that other bowlers to have conceded 200-plus runs in an innings include spin greats such as Muttiah Muralitharan, Anil Kumble, Rangana Herath and Saqlain Mushtaq, among others.Sunil Joshi, Bangladesh’s spin bowling coach, said it was natural for a spinner from the subcontinent to struggle in these conditions, and hoped he would learn to adjust more quickly as he gains experience.”Finger spinners from the sub-continent travel abroad, they have a challenge,” Joshi said. “Miraz had an off day on the first day. We knew that he’d come back. I think he bowled well in patches. They batted really well. It is bound to happen. We need to change our mindset about playing Tests in this part of the world.”It is a very thin line. Most of the western teams will struggle against spin in the subcontinent. It is how you interpret. Challenges are for the bowlers. He is young so he will learn. We have to give him leverage. I am sure he will come out successful.”Joshi said he found nothing wrong with Mehidy’s fundamentals, but insisted that he needed to be more disciplined. “I think there’s nothing wrong with his technique. It is in the mindset. You have to be disciplined on the first day.”Taking nothing away from the New Zealand batsmen, but when they travel to subcontinent, we all know how they will struggle against spin. They will adapt to the situation and mindset. Similarly, our spinners have to adapt to the situation.”Mehidy, though, must be alarmed by the way he keeps leaking runs. By dint of his home performances since his breakthrough series against England in 2016, he has become an important cog in Bangladesh’s overall scheme of things. But for half the time, he will have to bowl to quality batsmen on flat pitches like this one in Hamilton.Away from home, he won’t find designer surfaces like the ones in Mirpur or Chittagong, where the ball turns, bites, and takes off or keeps low from the second afternoon onwards. It is true that most teams struggle to score runs against him, Shakib Al Hasan and Taijul Islam at these two venues in Bangladesh, but overseas, only Shakib stands out with his disciplined line and length.The alarm bells should ring loud not just for Mehidy but also for Joshi and the rest of the decision-makers and coaches within Bangladesh’s setup. They have now conceded 700 runs on three occasions, all since 2013, and been on the receiving end of four 200-plus opening stands, three of them since 2015.

Orla Prendergast, 22, has been named vice-captain

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Oct-2024Ireland Women are looking to the future with the appointment of Gaby Lewis as their new captain taking over from their most experienced player ever, Laura Delany.Delany represented Ireland 207 times across formats, and for the past eight years she’s been leading them as well. They were unable to make the Women’s T20 World Cup but have had recent success, levelling a bilateral contest with Sri Lanka 1-1 in August, when Lewis scored a century and was named Player of the Series. They beat Sri Lanka 2-1 in the ODIs that followed.”I know when I first came into the senior set-up, Dells was one of those team-mates you looked to for inspiration,” Lewis, who is currently in Melbourne, playing club cricket, said. “Moving from the amateur to professional era, she has continually looked to develop and improve her game, and I look forward to playing alongside Dells on many more occasions as we move into the next stage of our squad’s development.”Lewis made her debut for Ireland when she was just 13. She is their highest run-scorer with a tally of 3,742 at 28.95 across formats with two centuries and 21 half-centuries. The 23-year-old has also captained her country 12 times and will now take over full-time ahead of tours to Bangladesh and India coming up in November and January respectively.”I am delighted to be asked to be Ireland Women’s captain on a permanent basis,” Lewis said. “I thoroughly enjoyed acting in the role during the summer and am genuinely excited about the young talent coming through the system. While we are a young squad, the results in recent years have shown that we can compete with the best.”Ireland selector Ciara O’Brien confirmed that Delany would continue playing for the team and head coach Ed Joyce praised her contributions through the course of a career that began in 2010.”I have been privileged to work closely with Laura over the last five years,” Joyce said, “And have profound respect for the work she has done, both on-the-field and off.”Not only has she led the squad through the transition from the amateur to professional era, but the incredible support she offered the squad during those Covid years goes largely unrecognised. Laura’s one of the most competitive and focused players I have worked with, and I have greatly enjoyed every minute.”Orla Prendergast, 22, has been named Ireland’s vice-captain. She made a telling contribution with both bat and ball as Ireland came from behind to draw a T20I series against England in September.”Orla also got the opportunity to lead the team this summer when both Laura and Gaby were injured, and we were very impressed with how she handled some high-pressure situations during the Sri Lanka series,” Joyce said. “Gaby and Orla together then worked very well as the leadership team in the games where both played.”We have tours of Bangladesh and India this winter, an Under-19s Women’s T20 World Cup and a crucially important year ahead in 2025. Not only will we have another busy home summer, but there are qualifying tournaments to navigate for both the 2025 50-over World Cup and 2026 T20 World Cup. As such, we considered now the right time in the cycle to give the new leadership team time to settle in and begin planning.”

The squad includes seven uncapped players, including Sediqullah Atal and Ismat Alam

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Dec-2024

Afghanistan’s ace spinner Rashid Khan is set to play his first Test match in more than three years after having been named in their squad for the upcoming two-Test series in Zimbabwe.Rashid had earlier taken a break from the longest format on medical advice because of a groin injury. Rashid’s last Test, which also came against Zimbabwe, was back in March 2021 in Abu Dhabi.The squad includes seven uncapped players, including allrounder Ismat Alam, left-arm spinner Zahir Shehzad and left-arm quick Bashir Ahmad Afghan. The trio has been rewarded for its strong domestic performances and will join Azmatullah Omarzai, Fareed Ahmad, Riaz Hassan and Sediqullah Atal who are also yet to represent Afghanistan in Test cricket. Omarzai, Fareed and Riaz were all part of the squad, though, for the one-off Test against New Zealand, which was washed out without a ball being bowled in September earlier this year.Related

Ben Curran among seven uncapped Test players in Zimbabwe squad vs Afghanistan

Omarzai, Rashid lead Afghanistan to T20I series win

“Rashid Khan returns to the Test squad, which is a promising sign for our red-ball game going forward,” Ahmad Shah Sulimankhil, ACB’s interim chief selector, said in a statement. “The rest of the team underwent good preparations recently in Nangarhar province, which featured 19 players and all the support staff to work with the players and ensure full preparation for the series.”We have thoroughly monitored the proceedings and have picked the squad which includes several new faces, including Ismat Alam, Bashir Ahmad, and Zahir Shehzad, who have performed well during the recent Ahmad Shah Abdali first-class tournament.”Meanwhile, Nasir Jamal, Zia Ur Rehman, and Mohammad Ibrahim will be part of the group as reserve players.Afghanistan head coach Jonathan Trott, who was in charge of the ODI leg of the team’s multi-format tour of Zimbabwe, has made himself unavailable for other formats of this tour for personal reasons. Hamid Hassan will stand in as head coach and Nawroz Mangal as the assistant coach in Trott’s absence. Hashmatullah Shahidi will continue to lead the team, with Rahmat Shah being his deputy.Bulawayo will host both the Test matches, with the series running from December 26 to January 6.Afghanistan Test squadHashmatullah Shahidi (capt), Rahmat Shah (vice-capt), Ikram Alikhail (wk), Afsar Zazai (wk), Riaz Hassan, Sediqullah Atal, Abdul Malik, Bahir Shah, Ismat Alam, Azmatullah Omarzai, Zahir Khan, Zia Ur Rehman, Zahir Shehzad, Rashid Khan, Yamin Ahmadzai, Bashir Ahmad, Naveed Zadran, Fareed Ahmad