They will join the Ajinkya Rahane-led squad for the Duleep Trophy final against South Zone in Coimbatore

Shashank Kishore20-Sep-2022

Priyank Panchal, Shreyas Iyer and Sarfaraz Khan have been drafted into the Ajinkya Rahane-led West Zone squad for the Duleep Trophy final against South Zone in Coimbatore starting Wednesday.Panchal and Sarfaraz are joining the camp from Bengaluru, where they were part of the India A squad that beat New Zealand A 1-0 in a series of three unofficial Tests. Their addition comes on the back of Prithvi Shaw and Rahul Tripathi being called up to join the A team for the white-ball leg of the same tour in Chennai starting Thursday.Iyer, meanwhile, is returning from a short break. He missed the semi-final against Central Zone as he was at the National Cricket Academy for a regular fitness assessment, prior to being named as one of the stand-by players in India’s T20 World Cup squad. He also missed the quarter-final against Northeast as he was with India’s Asia Cup contingent in UAE, also as a reserve player.Panchal, India A’s red-ball captain, finished the series with two half-centuries and 201 runs overall in four innings. Sarfaraz, the 2021-22 Ranji season’s highest run-getter, had a slightly milder series, returning 99 runs in three innings.Meanwhile, the upcoming red-ball season could be crucial for Iyer, as he looks to turnaround his career that appears to have hit a rough patch. While he remains an incumbent in the Test team, his apparent struggles with the short ball have come under increased scrutiny. He has also, over the past three months, fallen behind in the pecking order as far as India’s first XI goes in white-ball cricket.Iyer’s most-recent appearance for India was in the Caribbean in July-August, where he hit three half-centuries in as many ODIs, and one half-century in three T20I knocks. After the Duleep final, he is likely to link up with India’s World Cup bound squad. Unlike at the Asia Cup, where only one of the three reserves were on tour, all reserve players will be part of the Australia-bound contingent.

da dobrowin： Wolverhampton Wanderers finally picked up their first win of the Premier League season just before the international break, as Gary O’Neil’s Old Gold downed fellow relegation-threatened side Southampton 2-0.

da imperador bet： This could well be the springboard needed to pick up even more victories, with the West Midlands outfit unbeaten in their last three now in the top-flight, having picked up back-to-back draws before this desperately needed win.

However, despite that rare three points finally being picked up to the delight of the Molineux masses, there’s plenty of talk that O’Neil’s future at the club is still on unsteady foundations.

Managers who could soon replace O'Neil

Before this pivotal win, it was understandable that O’Neil was under some pressure in the Wolves dug-out, with his side conceding goals by the bucket load with no golden victory in sight.

Around that time, the rumour mill was going into overdrive as to who the ex-AFC Bournemouth manager’s successor was going to be, with the likes of David Moyes and Graham Potter thrown into the mix as bosses who have considerable Premier League experience.

All of that talk has died down now somewhat, with O’Neil hopeful that he has bought himself some extended time in the Old Gold job post with some green shoots now visible.

But, fresh rumours seem to indicate Wolves are now looking at this brand-new alternative to the likes of Moyes and Potter, who could be a real statement appointment by the powers that be at Molineux in moving on from O’Neil’s up-and-down tenure.

This manager in the dug-out could also get even more out of Matheus Cunha, who has been a bright spark all campaign long even as his side occupy a spot in the Premier League drop-zone.

The bold manager who could soon replace O'Neil

The new name emerging into the limelight to be the under-fire Wolves manager’s successor is Ruud Van Nistelrooy, who is on the hunt for an exciting new opportunity after walking away from Manchester United recently after Ruben Amorim’s grand arrival.

Van Nistelrooy had been on the Coventry City list as a potential replacement for Mark Robins, but Football Insider has revealed that the Dutchman wants to remain in the Premier League as he attempts to embark on his first main manager gig in England, with Wolves, Southampton and Crystal Palace all reportedly eyeing him up.

Van Nistelrooy would prove to be a hit as interim Red Devils boss after the wheels had finally come off the dire Erik ten Hag era, steering Man United to three wins from four, with Bruno Fernandes in particular loving life under his temporary guidance.

Fernandes would pick up four goals and two assists under the ex-PSV Eindhoven manager’s impactful stint at the Theatre of Dreams, with this not being the only set-up Van Nistelrooy has been responsible for that has seen an attacking midfielder shine, as his PSV team also heavily relied on a player in this spot during the 2022/23 season.

Top five Eredivisie goalscorers (22/23)

Player

Games played

Position played

Goals scored

1. Xavi Simons

34

CAM

19

2. Anastasios Douvikas

32

ST

19

3. Sydney Van Hooijdonk

33

ST

16

4. Santiago Gimenez

32

ST

15

5. Luuk De Jong

24

ST

14

Sourced by Transfermarkt

Looking at the table above, Van Nistelrooy – who typically utilises a 4-3-3 system – clearly gets more out of attacking midfielders when given full freedom to leave his imprint, with Xavi Simons lighting up the Eredivisie under his stewardship with 19 goals bagged in just 34 games.

Matheus Cunha is no doubt keeping tabs on the manager situation at Molineux, perhaps hopeful that a fresh boss will come in soon like the Man United icon, considering he also can explode into life from this position.

Last match, Cunha scored and assisted in his team’s 2-0 win over Southampton from this spot on the pitch, with his total numbers for Wolves here reaching seven goals and four assists from just ten games.

Manager Focus

Who are the greatest coaches in the land? Football FanCast's Manager Focus series aims to reveal all.

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Therefore, if the Old Gold hierarchy do decide a change is necessary, Van Nistelrooy could be high up on their names of replacements, with Ten Hag previously praising his assistant for having “so much experience”, despite his relative youth in the coaching game.

Such an appointment could then see Cunha’s game perhaps taken to another level, to truly fashion him into something of an attacking monster at Molineux.

Related Wolves wasted £2.6m per goal on "animal" who earned more than Ait Nouri

Wolves had a player at the club who earned way more than what Ait Nouri does now

Posts ByRoss Kilvington Nov 16, 2024

It’s no secret that Chelsea haven’t been afraid to splash the cash since the arrival of owner Todd Boehly back in May 2022 – spending over £1.2bn on new signings in the process.

The money spent has allowed for a complete overhaul of the first-team squad, handing boss Enzo Maresca all the tools to be a success during his debut season at the helm in West London.

Various big-money attackers have arrived at Stamford Bridge over the last couple of years, with the likes of Mykhailo Mudryk and Pedro Neto up there with the biggest fees spent on players during the American’s reign as owner.

The Ukrainian cost the club a whopping £88.5m, with Neto setting Boehly back around £54m after his surprise summer transfer from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

However, neither have yet been able to reach the level of one star who captured the hearts of the fanbase during his own time as a player with the Blues.

Eden Hazard’s time at Chelsea

Belgian winger Eden Hazard arrived at Chelsea back in the summer of 2012 as an unknown quantity to many, but quickly introduced himself to the Blues faithful, rapidly becoming a fan favourite.

He quickly caught the eye with his direct dribbling ability, breezing past many opposition players – with his eye for goal also notable during his seven years at the Bridge.

Hazard registered a total of 110 goals within his 352 appearances for the Blues, winning six major trophies during his time in England, which includes two separate Europa League triumphs in 2013 and 2019.

The one goal that could sum up his talent during his time with the Blues is his solo effort against London rivals Arsenal, picking the ball up just inside the opponent’s half before shrugging off multiple players before dinking the ‘keeper and slotting the ball home.

He would subsequently leave the club back in the summer of 2019, joining Real Madrid in a £150m deal – a move that would see his career rapidly decline with injuries plaguing his time in Spain.

However, it will never tarnish his legacy as a Chelsea player, undoubtedly going down as one of the very best players in their recent history – with no player more able to turn a game on its head like Hazard did.

Arguably, the club have struggled to replace him five years on from his departure, but they could be handed an opportunity to finally end their hunt in January with a move for one talent.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The player who could be Chelsea’s next Hazard

According to reporter Graeme Bailey, Chelsea have sent scouts to keep a close eye on Lyon winger Rayan Cherki over a potential move to Stamford Bridge.

However, they aren’t alone in their pursuit of the French talent, with fellow Premier League side Newcastle United also firmly in the race for his signature.

The 21-year-old has enjoyed a phenomenal start to the 2024/25 campaign, registering two goals and three assists in his first nine outings in all competitions.

Cherki has previously been compared to Hazard, with French football expert Jonathan Johnson previously saying:

Such a comparison may seem far-fetched, but when delving into his stats from the Europa League so far this season, it’s clear he possesses serious talent which could see the Blues land another version of the Belgian.

In his three European outings this season, he’s averaged a staggering nine progressive passes per 90, along with five successful take-ons – with both figures ranking him within the top 1% of players in the competition. Hazard was one of the finest dribblers in the Premier League so the comparison begins to make sense here.

Games played

3

Goals & assists

3

Progressive passes

9

Progressive carries

6.2

Successful take-ons

5

Key passes completed

5.8

Through balls

2.5

Take-on success

71%

The “world-class” Cherki, as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has also averaged 5.8 key passes and 2.5 through balls per 90, showcasing his ability to find teammates in attacking areas, potentially benefitting the likes of Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson.

Whilst it’s unknown how much any potential deal would set Maresca’s side back in January, it’s evident that he would be a superb addition that would bring added firepower in attacking areas.

His comparison to former fan-favourite Hazard would see him bring huge excitement to Stamford Bridge in the club’s hunt to return to a Champions League finish this season.

Boehly must permanently axe Chelsea flop who earns even more than Palmer

Chelsea need to sell a player who’s earning even more than Cole Palmer.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 5, 2024

Big picture

This is not an ODI World Cup year. The series between West Indies and India is not part of the World Cup Super League. Both teams finished their previous 50-over assignments less than a week ago. So what can one expect during these three ODIs?After clinching both white-ball series in England, India have rested Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah, while KL Rahul is on the recovery path after a hernia surgery. That means some of their back-up players – under stand-in captain Shikhar Dhawan – will get a full series than just a one-off game here and there.

Live in the USA

If you’re in America, you can watch Friday’s first ODI between West Indies and India live on ESPN+

West Indies, on the other hand, are on a six-match losing streak in the format, and have one of the worst win-loss ratios in ODI cricket this year. To put things back on track, their captain Nicholas Pooran and coach Phil Simmons have asked their players to make sure they bat out full 50 overs, something they have struggled with of late. Since January 2021, West Indies have batted first 12 times in ODI cricket; on nine occasions, they failed to last their full allocation of overs.In good news for the hosts, Jason Holder is back after having been rested for the Bangladesh series. His presence will lend the side the much-needed experience not just in the bowling department but also in the lower middle order.Related

• 'Doing things together' key to the Shikhar Dhawan way

• Which teams have had more than six captains in a calendar year?

• Hosein, Motie and Seales among talents who could challenge India

• WI ODIs a chance for India's bench to prove its strength

• Simmons puts faith in struggling WI batters, adds voice for better pitches

Form guide

West Indies LLLLL (last five completed ODIs, most recent first)
India WLWWW

In the spotlight

Nicholas Pooran was one of the few bright spots for West Indies during their white-ball series against Bangladesh. If the hosts are to challenge India, Pooran will once again have to lead from the front. The good thing from West Indies’ perspective is that their captain has a favourable record against India: 354 runs in nine innings, at an average of 44.25 and a strike rate of 107.59.Shikhar Dhawan will be key for India in the absence of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli•AFP/Getty Images

Shikhar Dhawan might be the stand-in captain for the series but his recent form with the bat hasn’t been great. In his last five ODIs, Dhawan has made 112 runs at an average of 28 and a strike rate of 61.53. It has been 20 innings since he last made a hundred in the format. In the absence of experienced players, India will want Dhawan to find his form back.

Team news

Keemo Paul didn’t bowl in the final ODI against Bangladesh after sustaining a hamstring injury. While Simmons is happy with his recovery, West Indies will take a call on his inclusion on the eve of the match. With Holder and Kyle Mayers in the squad as other seam-bowling allrounders, they may not want to rush him though. Apart from Paul, Keacy Carty could be the other one to miss out from the 13-member squad.West Indies (probable): 1 Shai Hope (wk), 2 Brandon King, 3 Shamarh Brooks, 4 Kyle Mayers, 5 Nicholas Pooran (capt), 6 Rovman Powell, 7 Jason Holder, 8 Akeal Hosein, 9 Alzarri Joseph, 10 Gudakesh Motie, 11 Jayden SealesIndia have plenty of decisions to make. Who will open with Dhawan? What will the seam-bowling attack look like? Do they pick Shardul Thakur at No. 8? They can choose from Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill to open with Dhawan. Among seamers, Mohammed Siraj, Avesh Khan, Prasidh Krishna and Arshdeep Singh are their options. What is certain, though, is Ravindra Jadeja has a niggle that could keep him out of the series opener at least.India (probable): 1 Shikhar Dhawan (capt), 2 Ruturaj Gaikwad/Ishan Kishan (wk), 3 Shreyas Iyer, 4 Deepak Hooda, 5 Sanju Samson (wk), 6 Suryakumar Yadav, 7 Axar Patel, 8 Shardul Thakur, 9 Avesh Khan/Prasidh Krishna, 10 Yuzvendra Chahal, 11 Mohammed Siraj

Pitch and conditions

After Pooran criticised the pitches used for the ODI series against Bangladesh in Guyana, one expects the Queen’s Park Oval to offer a better contest between bat and ball. To Simmons, the surfaces here look better prepared, but the venue last hosted an international match in 2019. So it needs to be seen how they play out. The weather is expected to be partly cloudy with the temperature hovering around 30°C.

Stats and trivia

• India have won eight of their last nine matches at the Queen’s Park Oval. The other game was washed out.
• Dhawan will be India’s seventh captain across formats this calendar year.
• Among Full Member players, Akeal Hosein is the leading wicket-taker in ODI cricket this year. In 14 games so far, he has picked up 22 wickets at an economy of 4.90.

Quotes

“He [Holder] looks fresh, he had some time out of the game. He has been bowling well for the last two days and actually batting well too. So it’s good to have him back.”

Chelsea have been hunting for their prolific number nine over the past few years, notably since their £97.5m move for Romelu Lukaku backfired, only making 44 appearances in his second stint with the Blues, scoring 15 goals and providing one assist.

Since then, Kai Havertz was often deployed as a striker under Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter, with other signings such as Pierre Emerick-Aubamayang and David Datro Fofana not going as planned.

This now leaves the current options as Nicolas Jackson, Christopher Nkunku and Marc Guiu, who have scored 17 goals between the three of them in 2024/25.

How Chelsea's main strikers compare

Jackson has started this campaign as the starting striker in Enzo Maresca’s team, scoring six goals and providing three assists in 901 minutes. His all-round play, ability to run the channels and work hard for the team, has seen him heavily trusted by the new boss, specifically over Nkunku.

The France international has still been used effectively this season, starting cup competitions, and coming from the bench in Premier League games, making 17 appearances, netting ten goals and registering one assist in 688 minutes.

Guiu, who was signed from Barcelona this summer for just £5m, has scored once in his seven appearances, showing promise as a hard-working centre-forward, who is a handful for defenders and looks to press from the front, winning the ball back in the opposition half.

Goals

0.63

1.08

Assists

0.31

0.12

xG

0.65

1.07

Progressive Carries

1.98

2.62

Progressive Passes

1.56

3.33

Shots Total

2.60

3.01

Key Passes

1.25

1.43

Touches (Att Pen)

4.79

6.43

Aerial Duels Won

0.52

0.95

The metrics above show Nkunku’s quality in and around the box, with a higher shot volume, more goals per 90, and a higher xG generated per 90. The Frenchman is a clinical finisher and has excellent movement to pair his instincts in dangerous areas.

However, whilst Nkunku betters Jackson in many of these per 90 metrics, what the Senegal international offers Chelsea is a real presence when running the channels, relentlessly making runs and being a nightmare for defenders, linking play and then driving forwards.

But one thing both of these strikers lack, is aerial prowess, both winning less than one aerial duel per 90 (Jackson with 0.52 and Nkunku with 0.95).

This is a clear hole in their squad building, and the Chelsea scouting department is looking to fix that in the coming windows.

Chelsea looking at Nkunku upgrade

According to reports from GIVEMESPORT, Chelsea are interested in Ipswich striker, Liam Delap, and could make a move for him next summer.

The report states that Chelsea’s scouts have been regularly watching Delap this season in his impressive run for struggling Ipswich.

The former Man City forward only left permanently last summer but has made a rip-roaring start to life in Suffolk, now being valued at £33m.

Making 12 appearances for Ipswich this campaign, he has scored six goals and provided one assist in 796 minutes played. His six goals in the Premier League have come from just 2.4 xG, therefore outscoring his xG by +3.6. It’s safe to say he’s truly delivering on the “unplayable” status he was given at Hull City by The Daily Mail’s Baz Cooper.

The 21-year-old forward offers a bigger and stronger build than both Jackson and Nkunku, winning 1.05 aerial duels per 90, and standing at 6 foot 1. Whilst he is the same height as Jackson, Delap has a stocky build, with a strong upper body, and the ability to bully defenders using his frame.

These are traits Chelsea want in their next striker option, to complement the qualities of Jackson, and add extra box threat to the squad, something that is currently lacking, especially when teams drop into a low block against the Blues.

Whether it is Delap, or someone else, Chelsea are definitely interested in adding a different-profile striker to their squad, in order to give Maresca extra options in games to turn the tide in their favour.

Chelsea must regret selling "sensational" star more than Hall & Livramento

Chelsea must regret offloading the talent given his recent form.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 20, 2024

لا يزال موقف لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الزمالك، غامضًا بعض الشيء، بسبب عدم مشاركته في المباريات رغم ظهوره في 3 مواجهات مع بداية انتقاله.

الزمالك يعاني مؤخرًا من تراجع النتائج، فعلى الرغم من فوزه في آخر مبارياته على بتروجيت بالدوري المصري، إلا أنه واجه سلسلة من التعادلات والهزائم في المسابقة المحلية والكونفدرالية، كلفته مقعدًا في دوري أبطال إفريقيا في الموسم الجديد، بعدما فقد فرصة المنافسة على مركز مؤهل، بالإضافة إلى توديعه بطولة الكونفدرالية.

ويسعى الزمالك إلى إحداث غربلة في صفوف الفريق، للإبقاء على العناصر المميزة، إلى جانب إبرام صفقات قوية تضيف ثقلاً فنيًا لتشكيلة الفارس الأبيض في الموسم الجديد.

وانضم أحمد الجفالي إلى صفوف الزمالك في شهر فبراير الماضي قادمًا من الاتحاد المنستيري في الدوري التونسي، لكنه لم يظهر إلا في 38 دقيقة مع القلعة البيضاء.

عقد الجفالي مع الزمالك مستمر حتى 30 يونيو 2028، لكن المفاجأة أن البعض في الإدارة البيضاء لا يرغب في استمراره بالموسم المقبل.

اقرأ أيضًا | طارق يحيى: قوانين الكرة المصرية فوضوية.. ويجب على الزمالك اتباع خطوات الأهلي

وبحسب ما علمه بطولات أن الزمالك تواصل مع إدارة المنستيري في الفترة الأخيرة لمحاولة عودة الجفالي في الصيف مع استبداله بصفقة أخرى يحتاجها الفريق وهو المهاجم حازم المستوري.

ويبلغ المستوري من العمر 27 عامًا فقط، ولكن أرقامه الجيدة مع المنستيري جعلت إدارة الزمالك تفكر في ضمه، حيث سجل 18 هدفًا وصنع 3 آخرين في 32 مباراة بجميع البطولات.

ولكن ما كان عائقًا أمام إدارة الزمالك عندما قاموا بفتح المناقشات مع المنستيري، أن النادي التونسي أبلغهم أن عليهم دفع المبلغ المتبقي في صفقة الجفالي، وقدره 300 ألف دولار، قبل التفاوض على عودة اللاعب من عدمه واستبداله بالمستوري.

في حين أن الجفالي نفسه رفض الرحيل عن صفوف الزمالك وأبلغ المسؤولين أنه لا يريد العودة إلى المنستيري لأن راتبه في الزمالك كبير، وهو ما لن يجده في فريقه التونسي السابق، لذلك توقفت المفاوضات.

The BCCI president added that a final decision could be taken in the “next two or three days”

Nagraj Gollapudi30-Sep-20222:40

Do extended breaks do more harm than good to bowlers?

The BCCI president Sourav Ganguly is not yet giving up on injured India strike bowler Jasprit Bumrah turning up in Australia to participate in the T20 World Cup.Bumrah was rushed to the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru from Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday to undergo scans on his back after being ruled out of the ongoing three-match T20I series against South Africa.Related

• Dravid still awaiting official confirmation of the extent of Bumrah's injury

• Timeline – how injuries have kept Bumrah out in the last four years

• India to depart for Aus on Oct 6 for preparatory camp ahead of T20 WC

• Injured Jasprit Bumrah in doubt for the T20 World Cup

“Bumrah is not out of the World Cup yet,” Ganguly told the digital channel in Kolkata on Friday. The BCCI president added that he was keeping his “fingers crossed” and that a final decision could be taken in the “next two or three days”.Ganguly’s comments come on the back of a BCCI media release earlier in the day which said Bumrah had “sustained” a back injury and was being monitored by their medical team at the NCA.While the BCCI has not put out any further detail on the nature of the injury, ESPNcricinfo has learned that Bumrah went for a scan on his back in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday. It is learned that those scans revealed a stress-related injury in his back. Keeping in mind Bumrah had only recently recovered from a back injury which had kept him out of the Asia Cup, the Indian team’s medical staff, together with the NCA, decided to have fresh scans done in Bengaluru.The fresh scans, which were taken on Thursday, will be studied by independent medical consultants hired by the BCCI who will then coordinate with the board’s medical staff to determine the next step.As it stands, Bumrah is in a race against time with the India squad departing for Australia on October 6 to prepare for the T20 World Cup. They will be in Perth until October 13 before heading to Brisbane where they are scheduled to play two practice matches against Australia and New Zealand on October 17 and 19 before moving to Melbourne to play their tournament opener against Pakistan on October 23.

Preparing for Ruben Amorim’s arrival, INEOS have reportedly set their sights on a new Manchester United target who has earned comparisons to Real Madrid wonderkid Arda Guler.

Man Utd transfer news

It would be an understatement to suggest that Amorim has a hefty task on his hands at Old Trafford. Several managers have tried and all have failed to awaken a sleeping giant, from Jose Mourinho all the way to Erik ten Hag. This time, as the first coach to arrive with a new sporting director in place in the form of Dan Ashworth, the Red Devils will be desperate to see their latest choice finally succeed.

Saved by Amad: Ruud must instantly axe 4/10 Man Utd star after PAOK

Manchester United secured their first win of the Europa League last night.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 8, 2024

The former Sporting boss is due to arrive on November 11 to take charge of a side that he will hope is fresh from a four-game unbeaten run since Ten Hag’s dismissal, with Leicester City up next for interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy. If the Dutchman defeats the Foxes for the second time in his short spell then he should consider his four-game tenure quite the success.

United’s recent turnaround doesn’t end the need for reinforcements, however, and those at Old Trafford seem to be well aware of that. According to reports in Spain, INEOS have now set their sights on Yunus Akgun, who has been compared to Turkey teammate and Real Madrid star Arda Guler.

The 24-year-old winger has reportedly emerged to become Manchester United’s latest target for Amorim after scoring six goals and assisting one other in 15 games for Galatasaray this season. On the scoresheet against United’s Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur in a recent 3-2 victory, Akgun is one to watch.

"Wonderful" Akgun would replace Antony

One of the first problem positions that Amorim must deal with is right-wing. Jadon Sancho tried and failed to star in that role to leave Manchester United spending big once again. Like Sancho, however, splashing the cash on Antony only added to the issue that the Red Devils must now solve once and for all, which could see Akgun arrive.

The 24-year-old is finally bursting into life at Galatasaray and living up to the praise that Football Talent Scout’s Jacek Kulig sent his way in 2022, describing Akgun’s season as “wonderful” at the time.

Following Antony’s failure, Manchester United must spend wisely and Akgun represents an interesting option who has shown plenty of signs that he could be the man to finally solve their problem on the right-hand side.

Steven Taylor’s decision to drop out of the USA squad for the World T20 Qualifier in favour of a CPL contract has once again raised questions on the development path for Associate players in USA

Peter Della Penna23-Jun-2015Wicketkeeper-batsman Steven Taylor’s decision to pull out of the USA squad for the forthcoming World Twenty20 Qualifier in favour of a Caribbean Premier League contract with Barbados Tridents should not come as a surprise. It does, however, raise questions on the development path for an Associate player in the USA, and how the players perceive their future within the system.In the summer of 2013, Taylor had traveled to Jamaica for a training stint with a local club where he told a local media outlet that his dream was to play for West Indies. Taylor, one of the few USA players born and brought up in America, is not the first one to have ambitions of playing for a Full Member. New Jersey’s Cameron Mirza, who was the MVP of the ICC Americas Under-19s Division One in 2011, stated not long after that tournament that he was going to university in the UK with an aim to qualify for England on residency and pursue a dream of playing for them. Former USA U-19s captain Greg Sewdial, who made his USA senior team debut at 16, was born to Guyanese immigrants and raised in New York also stated in an interview that his goal was to play for West Indies one day.There is no proper development structure or career path as an Associate player in the USA for these players to aspire to. In order to be a professional player, it is only natural to look overseas. The limited opportunities to play for USA will only shrink further after next year when the ICC World T20 – the format so many people claim is the gateway to future popularity in the American market – goes from being a biennial event to being played once every four years.In that sense, the financial aspect of Taylor’s decision is significant. Taylor, now 21, dropped out of high school at 19 before completing his senior year, and does not have a regular job like other USA players. His main source of income comes from games in weekend T20 tournaments for private club teams scattered around country. The payment from Tridents, no matter how small, would have been an incentive compared to the stipend for touring with USA.Part of this also is a failure of the USA Cricket Association and their inability to stick to commitments made to players. Former USACA chief executives Don Lockerbie and Darren Beazley had laid out plans to turn USA’s players professional with central contracts, which never materialised. Taylor was part of a USA team that won the WCL Division Four in 2010 in Italy after which they were told they would receive a championship bonus from the board. The players are still waiting for the reward.After formally announcing a pair of preparation camps in Jamaica for the USA national team ahead of the ICC Americas Qualifier in May and then prior to their departure for Ireland, neither one has happened. USA’s players are routinely put under pressure by being asked to show up without any preparation against teams that are similarly talented but have far better support mechanisms in place.Taylor has also developed a very beneficial relationship with Robin Singh, after the latter took over as coach and technical director of USA’s various national teams in 2011. Their familiarity could have played a role in Taylor being assigned to Barbados Tridents, a team Singh coaches, for a CPL tryout following a December camp with an ICC Americas development squad. Taylor secured a full contract with the franchise, while Canada’s Nikhil Dutta, who was also among the shortlisted players from the development squad, won a contract with St Kitts and Nevis Patriots.Singh’s connection could present a conflict of interest. He has been working for USACA for the last four years to help raise the standard of the USA national team. Last week, five USA players, including Taylor joined a Tridents training camp on Singh’s invitation as part of their own preparation ahead of the World T20 Qualifier. Taylor’s decision to withdraw, however, has crippled USA’s chances of succeeding in Ireland, with the side deprived of their batting leader.Another issue is Taylor’s playing role with the Tridents compared to his status with the USA squad. Taylor is USA’s marquee player, one of the most feared big hitters in the Associate world and would have been assured of opening the batting in every game he played. Now he has gone from being the first name on the team sheet to, in all likelihood, riding the bench for Tridents. If the goal is for Taylor to continue developing his game and get better experience in different conditions, it might be better served by being on the field consistently instead of being limited to net sessions and watching from the sidelines.In the end, though, if spending one season on the Tridents bench as an apprentice is parlayed into several seasons in the starting XI, Taylor’s decision would seem wise. That it comes in the week that the ICC is deciding on USACA’s fate at the annual conference in Barbados also serves as a wake-up call to where the players see the future of cricket in the country heading.

Azhar Ali’s hundred helped Pakistan boss over Australia on the opening day of the second Test but, more importantly, it showed that he was focused on ensuring his starts were not wasted

Umar Farooq in Abu Dhabi30-Oct-2014Azhar Ali was nearly dropped from the Test team after the series against South Africa in the UAE last year and it took Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq almost 40 minutes to convince the selection panel to “keep faith in him”. He survived the axe and was picked for the Tests against Sri Lanka but missed the first two games before returning for the third match in Sharjah, where he scored a match-winning 103 off 137 to help Pakistan pull off a stunning chase.Since that innings, Azhar has looked assured at the No. 3 spot in Pakistan’s line-up, a crucial one given the inconsistent opening performances. Some of that assurance was evident in his sixth Test hundred on the first day of the second Test in Abu Dhabi that helped Pakistan post 304 for 2.In 67 Test innings, Azhar has scored a century every 11 innings and while that number may not be extraordinary by international standards, it is important in the context of the team, as it suggests reliability.Azhar has the skills needed to occupy the crease and frustrate the opposition but his ability to convert half-centuries into centuries has been a talking point in his four-year career. His maiden Test hundred came in his 15th Test, against Sri Lanka in 2011, and he had scored 10 fifties, including two scores of more than 90, before that. Since the hundred against Sri Lanka in Sharjah, he has scored 30, 41, 32, 10, 53, 30.Against Australia in Abu Dhabi, he was dropped twice, while batting on 34 and 46, and had he not kept his cool and negotiated the bowling well, he would have missed out on another hundred. He batted out 223 balls at the strike rate of 45.29, higher than his career strike rate of 39.12, and shared an unbeaten stand of 208 for the third wicket with Younis Khan.”I do feel the fact that I should be converting my double figures into big hundreds,” he said. “That is always in my mind but you can only try and give your best. I have an example of Younis who has a good record in converting [starts] into big hundreds so I have this thing in my mind and as a player I do realise and I am focused for it.”All the senior players and coaches always advise me to convert my innings into big ones once I get settled. After Sri Lanka, I was trying to get myself focused as I know there is something missing because I wasn’t making it big. So, in the last two or three Test matches, I am feeling comfortable and today when I crossed 50, I had exactly the same thing in my mind and hence I managed to build it and scored in three figures. But you know we can only try; I can assure that I do put my efforts.”He struggled a little initially and then had to contend with a back spasm in the second session. While Younis, who batted at No. 4, scored his century in 128 balls, Azhar took 223 deliveries to get to the milestone.”It’s not like I was struggling with the flow but sometimes you need to take time and play according to your plan,” he said. “I picked up a spasm in my back right after the lunch break and struggled a lot until the tea break. But I got ample support from the dressing room as the physiotherapist was assisting me at regular intervals. So every run I was running made me better.”Azhar Ali: “After Sri Lanka, I was trying to get myself focused as I know there is something missing because I wasn’t making it big.”•Getty ImagesIn the 29 partnerships that Azhar and Younis have shared, the pair have had four century stands and as many fifty stands at an average of 51.53 and Azhar credited Younis for being an ‘example’ for him.”I can’t describe in words. As you know, he scored three back-to-back hundreds which is great to get motivated,” he said. “It is always great to have a partnership with him as I feel really comfortable playing with him. He guides and executes the game as well from the other end, giving me a sense of comfort.”And scoring against Australia is a big achievement. As you know, a few days ago he was telling Ahmed [Shehzad] that it took him 12 [14] years to score a hundred against Australia, so don’t let the opportunity go. So this entire thing was a source of motivation that actually worked in our case. This innings is going give a big support to my team as we are here to win our series and that is our only focus.”It’s a good sign that youngsters are taking responsibility and scoring runs. The way Ahmed responded in the first Test, and now I have scored a hundred, I think as a team we are going forward and if the youngsters are responding and scoring runs, it’s good for the team.”Azhar made his Test debut against Australia at Lord’s in 2010, coming into the line-up for the series following the retirement of Mohammad Yousuf and the exclusion of Younis Khan. He scored 16 and 42 on debut before making an impact in the next Test at Headingley, scoring 51 in a thrilling chase that helped Pakistan break a 15-year losing streak against Australia. Azhar was happy to be among the runs against the side once again.”Batting against a tough opponent is always great,” he said. “Australia are the tough side to play against and whenever you score against such a team, it always make you happy and you always enjoy every run scored against the tough bowlers. I always feel better after scoring against tough bowlers because the runs mean a lot to me.”