Tag Futebol

Despite having dominated much of the Tests, South Africa will have to contend with a confident ODI team, without their best player in the format

The Preview by Firdose Moonda31-Jan-2018Big pictureInevitably, everyone wants another Test between South Africa and India after the three-match series ended 2-1, with South Africa dominating the early stages and India getting progressively better. A fourth, maybe even a fifth Test would have been a fitting finale. Instead, six ODIs will take place in the space of 16 days, two of them at the venue South Africa criticised for having a subcontinental style pitch, SuperSport Park.At least the pitches are unlikely to be the source of much discussion in the limited-overs matches with a strong likelihood of flat pitches and big totals. And there’s still a strong contest to be expected – this remains a battle between No.1 and No.2, except now the roles are switched. South Africa are the top-ranked ODI side in the world, though Ottis Gibson continues to stress that it means very little in this format, while India are second with only a point separating the two sides.Rather than focus on widening the gap, South Africa are using this series to mark the start of “Vision 2019,” a catchy name for their campaign to win the World Cup. They’ve set aside the next few months to trial different combinations, so expect to see new faces and funky tactics, with the view to using the time between September and June next year to fine-tune their game plans ahead of a tournament they are desperate to triumph in.India have not even mentioned the World Cup yet. For them, this is more about being able to win a series on this trip. An ODI trophy, especially after South Africa took the series in India in late 2015, will be a prized possession.Form guide(last five completed matches, most recent first)
South Africa: WWWLL
India: WWLWWESPNcricinfo Ltd

In the spotlightNeither Faf du Plessis nor Gibson are concerned about Quinton de Kock’s form but the rest of South Africa is. With 71 runs in the Test series off the back of a lean domestic twenty-over campaign, de Kock looks out of touch. There are suggestions from the inner circle that he requires a change of lifestyle to bring focus back to his game. Du Plessis and Gibson hope a change of format will do the same thing. They might be right – the last time de Kock made a score of significance was in a fifty-over game when he smashed 168* against Bangladesh last October. He will need a few like that to provide reassurance of his ability.Rohit Sharma had his place questioned during the first two Tests and scored just 78 runs in four innings before being dropped for the third. But in the ODI format, Rohit is the only batsmen in the world to have three double-hundreds to his name, the most recent of which came in India’s series against Sri Lanka, just before they left for South Africa. Rohit remains a white-ball darling, and India will hope his best on this tour is yet to come.Team newsAB de Villiers’ injury opens a spot in the middle-order that du Plessis confirmed will be filled by Aiden Markram, meaning Khaya Zondo will have to wait to make his debut. The rest of the batting is familiar, with JP Duminy coming off a run of good scores in the domestic one-day cup. Lungi Ngidi may have to wait for his first fifty-over appearance if South Africa opt for Morne Morkel, with Imran Tahir likely to start as the sole specialist spinner.South Africa (probable): 1 Hashim Amla, 2 Quinton de Kock (wk), 3 Faf du Plessis (capt), 4 Aiden Markram, 5 JP Duminy, 6 David Miller, 7 Chris Morris, 8 Andile Phehlukwayo, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Morne Morkel, 11 Imran TahirIndia seem set to become more flexible with Ajinkya Rahane’s role after having pegionholed him into the opening slot earlier last year. He could be playing at No. 4 given there will be pace on offer throughout the innings in conditions in South Africa and England, where the World Cup will be played. They seem to be set with whom they want at Nos 5, 6 and 7: Kedar Jadhav, Hardik Pandya and MS Dhoni. Another decision they will have to make is whether they play two specialist spinners.India (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Shikhar Dhawan, 3 Virat Kohli (capt.), 4 Ajinkya Rahane/ Manish Pandey, 5 MS Dhoni (wk), 6 Kedar Jadhav, 7 Hardik Pandya, 8 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 9 Jasprit Bumrah, 10 Kuldeep Yadav/Yuzvendra Chahal, 11 Mohammed Shami/ Shardul ThakurPitch and conditionsDurban’s surface can sometimes be a little slower than others around the country. It will definitely not have the pace of the Highveld venues the teams have just come from. Rain is forecast for the early afternoon but should stop later on, though the cloud cover will remain with temperatures in the early 20s.Stats and triviaThe last time South Africa and India played in a bilateral ODI series against each other was in October 2015. The series see-sawed, but South Africa emerged triumphant in the end, winning 3-2. India have only won five out of 28 ODIs in South Africa, none in Durban. MS Dhoni needs 102 runs to become the fourth Indian batsmen to 10,000 ODI runs.Quotes”AB is not playing this game so Aiden Markram is coming into his place and we’re giving him an opportunity to bat in different places in our batting order. That’s also a great way to evolve your own game, learn different situations at different times and it will be a nice learning curve for him.”

Former Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea shared a touching birthday message to his wife Edurne Garcia amid speculation about his own future.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

De Gea shares touching birthday message to wifeGoalkeeper still a free agent after United exitInjury-hit Newcastle linked with SpaniardGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

The Spaniard posted his message to his long-term partner, the singer and actress Edurne. The pair married this summer on the Balearic island of Menorca, just days after his United contract expired, which ended a 12-year spell at Old Trafford.

AdvertisementWHAT DE GEA SAID

"Happy birthday Mommy! We love you so much!" posted De Gea on Instagram alongside a picture of the couple in fancy dress.

WHAT EDURNE SAID

Edurne had a humorous take to the day, posting a video of herself blowing the candles on a cake which magically revealed he true age, much to her mock dismay.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

De Gea remains by far the biggest name free agent there is out there at the moment. At the age of 33 and having played 76 consecutive Premier League games before his departure from United there is no doubt that the former Spain number one is capable of playing several more seasons at the highest level.

But with financial fair play (FFP) limitations forcing several top teams into awkward situations it may take a smart piece of accountancy or a significant drop in De Gea's United wages to see him back on a field soon. With their strong financial backing and the long-term injury to Nick Pope, Newcastle United appear to be the most likely landing spot for the Spaniard.

Andy Hurry has been rushed back to Taunton as Somerset’s director of cricket after the removal of Matthew Maynard

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Oct-2017

Somerset have confirmed that Andy Hurry will return to the club as director of cricket following the departure of Matthew Maynard.The news, which was first signalled in ESPNcricinfo, also sees Jason Kerr promoted from assistant and bowling coach to become Somerset’s new head coach.Hurry’s return offers Somerset a sense of stability and unity after a difficult season in which they only avoided relegation on the final day of the season and released a clutch of players including the limited-overs captain Jim Allenby.Indeed, even now they cannot entirely rest easy: Middlesex, who were relegated instead, have lodged an official protest with the ECB about an overrate sanction during a match at The Oval which ended prematurely for safety reasons when a crossbow bolt was fired onto the outfield.ECB clear ‘below average’ pitch

Somerset have avoided any further action over the pitch produced for the final Championship match of the season against Middlesex which was rated “below average”.
The judgement, by Cricket Liaison Officer Wayne Noon, prompted further investigation by the ECB but the surface was cleared on Monday.
Somerset saved their Division One status with victory in the match which was dominated by spin.
However, the club will remain under notice and further action could be taken if another surface is rated “below average” next season. And they are not 100% secure of their position until the outcome of Middlesex’s appeal against their slow over-rate is decided for the match ended by the crossbow incident at The Oval.

Hurry spent 13 years at Somerset before he left in 2014 to become head coach of the ECB’s Player Development Programme.He originally joined Somerset in 2001 and went on to become head coach before taking the position of director of high performance for a brief period at the end of the 2013 season.In his time as head coach he oversaw Somerset’s most successful period since the Glory Years in the late 1970s and early 80s, as he led them to within a whisker of the County Championship and to several white-ball finals.Somerset CEO Lee Cooper, who has undertaken a comprehensive review of the club’s structure since his appointment during the summer, said: “Andy Hurry enjoyed considerable success during his time with Somerset and since then he has gone on to gain extensive and valuable experience working with the ECB and the Young Lions Programme. He is held in extremely high regard by both the ECB and our playing staff.”Jason Kerr has fulfilled a number of roles since a shoulder injury brought his seam-bowling career to a premature end in 2002 and has been actively involved with the First XI for over a decade.Andy Hurry•Getty Images

Cooper said: “Jason’s knowledge of the club and the unique culture that surrounds it is second to none. He has also played a major role in the development of our exciting young players who are now breaking in to the first XI.”Hurry has been unable to resist the lure of a return to the south-west. He said: “Somerset will always hold a very special place in my heart,” he said. “We came so close to winning silverware when I was here before and there is therefore some unfinished business. It is one of the most respected clubs in the world and it feels very much like I’m coming home.”I have relished my three years with the ECB and Young Lions and through the opportunities the programme has provided me, I have grown my experience and knowledge significantly”

Alex Hales’ barnstorming white-ball form continued•Getty Images

A brutal display of ball-striking from Alex Hales powered the Notts Outlaws to a convincing victory over Durham Jets in the NatWest T20 Blast competition.The England international, who scored an unbeaten 187 to help his county win the Royal London One-Day Cup final a month ago, clubbed nine fours and nine sixes in a stunning innings of 95, made from just 30 deliveries.West Indies’ star Chris Gayle holds the record for the fastest individual T20 century of all-time, getting to the landmark from only 30 balls and Hales could have equalled it but his mighty assault off James Weighell sliced high into the Nottingham sky and then down into the waiting gloves of wicketkeeper Stuart Poynter.”I knew there was a chance to go for the quickest T20 century of all-time and you don’t get those opportunities very often,” Hales said. “I love batting at Trent Bridge, for me it is utter paradise, the wickets are great and there are some short boundaries, so I knew there was a chance of doing it.It’s a special feeling to play here and to get so many in the Powerplay overs with Riki. As a team we’ve got real momentum at the moment and hopefully we can keep it going.”Riki Wessels made an undefeated 41 to ensure that Hales’ work didn’t go unrewarded, although there was a clatter of wickets before the home side got over the line to chase down a target of 184 and complete a five-wicket win with 37 balls remaining.

A record-breaking chase

106 Runs scored by Nottinghamshire Outlaws in the Powerplay against Durham Jets – Most runs ever scored in the Powerplay in T20s where ball-by-ball data is available. They broke the record set by Kolkata Knight Riders who scored 105 against Royal Challengers Bangalore earlier this year in the Indian Premier League.
19 Balls taken by Alex Hales to reach his fifty. This is the second time this season he has scored a fifty in 19 balls or fewer. He reached his 50 in 18 balls against Yorkshire.
13.30 Run rate at which the Notts Outlaws chased down the target of 183 set by Durham – second-highest in all T20s where the target was above 150. Netherlands chased 189 in 13.5 overs at 13.95 runs per over which remains the best.
9.63 Average run rate at Trent Bridge since the start of 2016 – highest for any ground that has hosted more than 10 T20s. The ground has a strike rate of 153.09 in the same period which is also the highest.

Durham had earlier scored 183 for 7, after being asked to bat first, with Michael Richardson top-scoring with 53 and Paul Coughlin was left undefeated on 42 from 25 deliveries. Pace off the ball proved beneficial for the home attack, with Samit Patel taking 2 for 23 and both Steven Mullaney and Ish Sodhi also picked up two wickets.The Outlaws’ run chase began in highly dramatic circumstances, with Durham suddenly finding themselves two bowlers short.Thirteen runs, including a six from Hales, came from Weighell’s opening over of the innings but it was the next over that produced a flurry of incidents, with three different bowlers needed to complete the set of six.Usman Arshad was ordered out of the attack after sending down two waist-high full tosses. Coughlin took over and went for two fours and a six before he had to leave the field after being struck on the hand by a blow from Hales. Jack Burnham completed the over with a dot ball.Hales and Wessels brought up the team 50 in only 3.2 overs but only five more balls were bowled before a short shower sent the players off the field.The break seemed to re-invigorate the opener as Hales powered his next three balls to the ropes, to leave the total on 78 without loss after five overs.Ryan Pringle came in for extreme punishment as Hales then took 28 off the next over, passing his 50 from just 19 balls, with seven fours and three sixes. The board read 106-0 at the end of the sixth over, a world record for the Powerplay overs.No bowler was spared, although Cameron Steel put down a bullet of a caught and bowled chance when the international was on 82. Typically, the next two balls disappeared out of the ground.Once Hales had departed mayhem set in. Both Tom Moores and Mullaney departed to the first ball they faced and Christian only made 10, with Steel getting his first two wickets in the format – but at a personal cost of 60 runs.Patel made 26 but fell to Brydon Carse when only four runs were needed, leaving Wessels and Brendan Taylor to take the Outlaws over the finishing line.Earlier in the day, Durham were put under pressure from the very start of their innings when Graham Clark was bowled in the first over by Patel.Richardson and Steel began to re-build the innings with a stand of 54 but Mullaney separated them as soon as he came into the attack. The first delivery sent down by the medium-pacer was helped out by Steel, straight into the safe hands of Hales at deep midwicket.Burnham was bowled by Sodhi for 1 and Gareth Harte, in for the resting Paul Collngwood, lofted Mullaney out to Taylor at deep cover.The visitors had slid from 57 for 1 to 68 for 4 but then had around 15 minutes to regroup after a sudden shower sent the players scurrying back to the dressing rooms.Upon the resumption Richardson went on to reach his 50 from 37 balls but hit all around a Patel delivery and was bowled.Sodhi removed Stuart Poynter but an eighth wicket stand of 52 between Coughlin and Ryan Pringle, who made 25, helped the Jets towards a competitive total.Overthrows helped the Jets take 21 from the final over, with Ball’s last delivery being scooped over his own head for six by Coughlin.Durham’s defeat was their eighth in 10 matches, whilst the Outlaws now top the North Group table, despite having lost their first two matches in the competition.

Following the recent capture of Mason Mount, Manchester United's focus appears to have shifted toward the signing of a new striker and a new goalkeeper, with Erik ten Hag seemingly intent on strengthening the spine of his time this summer.

With a £50m bid for Atalanta marksman, Rasmus Hojlund believed to be in the works, United are also currently in negotiations with Inter Milan to try and strike a deal for Cameroonian stopper, Andre Onana, having seemingly made an offer of around €50m (£43m) for the 27-year-old.

With doubts remaining over the future of long-serving number one, David De Gea, it would appear that Onana is being lined up to replace the experienced Spaniard in the sticks, having previously worked under Ten Hag at Ajax.

Having been part of the Inter side that reached the Champions League final last season, the 6 foot 3 ace has particularly impressed due to his quality on the ball, having been branded "exceptional" in that regard by Manchester City boss, Pep Guardiola ahead of that European showpiece.

That ball-playing brilliance is evidenced by the fact that the towering gem ranks in the top 11% among his European peers for touches made as a sign of just how comfortable he is in possession, with De Gea, by contrast, ranking in just the bottom 30% in that regard.

The introduction of the Serie A star to Ten Hag's side would then allow the Red Devils to begin to properly play out from the back next term, with club legend Paul Scholes previously stating that De Gea "makes the whole team nervous" when attempting to use his feet.

Onana will, however, need players ahead of him who are also comfortable in possession, hence why the signing of Monaco's Axel Disasi – who is a reported target for the Premier League outfit this summer – could prove to be a perfect fit at the heart of the defence.

How good is Axel Disasi?

The 6 foot 3 centre-back could represent a big upgrade on club captain, Harry Maguire in Ten Hag's defensive ranks, with the latter man having been branded "a walking disaster" by journalist Samuel Luckhurst in recent times, having also been restricted to just eight league starts last term.

The 30-year-old Englishman – who has been linked with a move away from the Theatre of Dreams – has looked rather uncomfortable when attempting to play out of late, notably turning into trouble in the grim Europa League defeat to Sevilla earlier this year.

Disasi, however, should have no such trouble in that regard, with the impressive "hidden gem" – as lauded by talent scout Jacek Kulig – ranking in the top 4% among those in his position in Europe's top five leagues for both progressive passes and progressive carries, showcasing his willingness to initiate attacks from deep.

That is in stark contrast to Maguire's record across the last 365 days, as per FBref, with the former Leicester City man ranking in just the bottom 47% for progressive passes and only in the top 19% for progressive carries, having looked ill-suited at times to a more progressive style of play.

Disasi would also offer a benefit to both Onana and United as a whole due to his ability to sniff out danger, showcased by the fact that the Frenchman ranks in the top 14% for interceptions made, while Maguire ranks in just the top 38% for that same metric.

That would suggest that the signing of the 25-year-old – who has been valued at around €50m (£43m) – could be a perfect solution for Ten Hag ahead of next season, helping to hasten the transition towards a more free-flowing style of play.

USMNT stars Yunus Musah and Christian Pulisic were greeted with a surprise Thanksgiving feast from Italian club Milan Thursday.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Milan surprise USMNT duo Pulisic and Musah
• Duo gifted a traditional Thanksgiving feast
• 'Taste of home' in Italy

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  After leaving Thursday's training session ahead of their return to action at the weekend, the American duo were surprised by the Italian club with a traditional holiday feast. Pulisic and Musah were not able to spend the holiday with their family, so the Serie A side went out of their way to bring a taste of home for their players.

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  WHAT PULISIC SAID

  “AC Milan truly knows how to make us feel like family. I am used to spending Thanksgiving away from home and from my friends and family, but yesterday was such a special surprise to walk off the training pitch and be greeted with a Thanksgiving feast. To have a taste of home here in Milan means the world, and it's a testament to the incredible bond we share as a team. Grazie mille to the AC Milan family for making this year’s Thanksgiving day extra special. For moments like these, I'm grateful to call Milan my home away from home.”

• WHAT MUSAH SAID

  “Feeling the warmth of a Thanksgiving celebration here in Milan is something I'll always remember. AC Milan surprised us with a fantastic meal, making us feel like family. It's moments like these that create a strong bond, and I'm grateful to be part of the AC Milan family. Thanks for bringing a bit of home to us in Italy.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Pulisic was ruled out of action during the November international FIFA break after picking up an injury against PSG in the Champions League in early November, with just minutes to spare in the contest. Thankfully, it turned out to be nothing serious, and he's now in contention to make his return to the pitch this weekend. Meanwhile, Musah, has been playing some of his best soccer of late for both club and country, recently being compared to ex-Rossoneri and Barcelona midfielder, Franck Kessie.

  The USMNT duo are finding life in Milan incredibly successful, with both getting regular minutes and contributing to the success of the club. In return, seeing the Italian side share the American holiday with them is a brilliant touch; the real question though, is what the spread was actually like! Turkey or ham? Mashed or sweet potatoes? Regardless, it's safe to say they were both pleasantly surprised with the meal from the Italian club.

Losing star player Kadidiatou Diani to rivals Lyon and seeing coach Gerard Precheur leave due to a desire to "win", the club isn't in the best shape

Not many teams go into their third game of the season with a brand new coach. Not many teams, though, are like Paris Saint-Germain. When Jocelyn Precheur, son of departing women's team boss Gerard, stepped into the dugout to make his managerial debut for the French giants, his upgraded role wasn't the only sign of the mayhem that often surrounds this club, either.

To his left, a banner was unveiled behind the goal that criticised Kadidiatou Diani, who departed for arch-rivals Lyon in the summer. She's one of many to take that path in recent years, and she had the last laugh just over a week ago as she and her new team emerged 1-0 winners at Parc des Princes. The result gives Lyon a head start in a title race that PSG have beaten them in just once in the last 17 seasons.

It's a chaotic and disappointing start to the new campaign, on and off the pitch, but chaos and disappointment are two things never far from this club, whether it is on the men’s side or the women’s.

There have been some weird and worrying stories to come out of PSG in recent years, but the current concerns surround the team’s inability to win trophies. Lyon continue to triumph domestically, with PSG’s best players often deciding to take the mantra of ‘if you can’t beat them, join them’ quite literally. In Europe, the Parisians’ wait for success goes on, with them reaching two finals – the last in 2017 – but failing to get the job done in either.

Despite the superstar talent the team so often has and despite being part of one of the richest clubs in world football, PSG seem to constantly be a mess. It’s something Lyon have taken advantage of early in this new season, though the most-recent result wasn’t much of a shock.

The turmoil going on in the French capital will be encouraging for another big club, though. On Tuesday, Manchester United will welcome PSG for the first leg of their Women’s Champions League qualifier, with the winner of the tie reaching the group stages.

The English side, making their competition debut, are huge underdogs, that’s for sure. But with PSG, there is always an element of doubt.

• Getty
  

  ‘Being competitive isn't enough’

  Four months before Gerard Precheur’s eventual departure as head coach of PSG, the 63-year-old had expressed clear doubts at his desire to continue. It was the end of another trophy-less season, which all-but-five in the history of the women’s team have been, and when Precheur was asked if he would be continuing, his response was honest.

  “I don't know," he said in May. “I need time to recover. I'm fed up of being kicked around behind labels. PSG must provide guarantees to build a great club. Being competitive isn't enough. I want to finish my career with a determination to win.”

  He would agree to come back for another season, but according to , the doubts remained, with Diani’s move to Lyon a factor in his thinking.

  “I'm not of an age to be building things anymore,” Precheur had said. PSG have some big names in their squad, there's no doubt about that, but an array of stars doesn't guarantee success. Precheur is right: This club needs to actually build something more to deliver trophies on a regular basis.

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  Two coaches in three games

  And so, on September 28, three days before Lyon’s visit to Parc des Princes, PSG released a statement. “For personal reasons, and in agreement with Paris Saint-Germain, Gerard Precheur is stepping down as head coach of the women's team,” it read.

  “To ensure the continuity of the sporting project put in place for the summer of 2022, the entire technical staff has been retained and will continue to work with the women's professional team. Jocelyn Precheur, until now assistant coach, will take charge of the team. Paris Saint-Germain would like to thank Gerard Precheur for his commitment and work over the last 14 months.”

  There is arguably no bigger fixture that Precheur 2.0 could have stepped into for his first game in charge of PSG. The 42-year-old has had previous success coaching in the Chinese Women’s Super League, also stepping in to take his father's place in a role, but this was quite the step up.

  In truth, his team played well. Were it not for a defiant Christiane Endler, the Chilean goalkeeper who is one of many to have swapped Paris for Lyon over the years, they probably would’ve earned at least a point. But, as Precheur himself put it after the game: “A defeat is still a defeat. We need to take things to the next level and progress if we want to play at the top of the table.

  “We need to be more consistent if we want to go further. It's frustrating because the score is so small. But we don't want to hear any more of that 'we're not far off' nonsense. We need to show more spirit, especially at home.”

• Getty
  

  ‘You leave for the money, we stay for the love’

  That it was Endler who stood in the way of PSG getting a better result was almost symbolic. One of the best shot-stoppers in the world, the Chilean was part of the Parisians’ side when they finally toppled Lyon in the 2020-21 season and won the club’s first league title on the women’s side. But in the weeks that followed that success, Endler was one of three PSG stars to leave for Lyon.

  "It is time to look for another sports project," she wrote on Instagram upon departure. "I want to keep improving as a player, as a person, to keep learning and adding different experiences to my life. I want to bet on a club that treats women's football as an equal.” That line was particularly damning.

  While the banner that the PSG ultras unveiled before the defeat to Lyon at the start of October suggested that there are other motives for those who leave for OL – ‘You leave for the money, we stay for the love’ was the message aimed at Diani – it’s success that these players crave, success that cannot be delivered in a consistent manner by the current project in the French capital.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  Five trophies in 52 years

  That inequality that Endler spoke of two years ago is part of the reason why PSG has just five trophies to show for its 52 years in the women’s game – one top-flight title, a second-tier title and three Coupe de France triumphs.

  Lyon’s early investment in its women’s team not only increased its quality and attractiveness for potential signings, but also its reputation and the trust which players have in the club to support them. Despite PSG having significantly better finances than their French rivals, they’ve not yet been able to match OL in that sense.

  Even as the club’s commitment to its women’s team has grown, some of the decisions haven’t always made sense. Whether that has been in the managers appointed, the players signed or perhaps areas of the team neglected in transfer windows, there have always been questionable moves made by PSG in a sporting sense.

  And while that financial power has helped them on their rise to the top of the women’s game, it is the final step that they are unable to make. How do they overtake Lyon in France? How do they become a serious Champions League contender? That is what PSG have to figure out now, because as it stands, Lyon still appears to be a more attractive proposition for a player.

Plans to include Salman Butt in the Test squad to tour the West Indies were afoot, but the PCB has decided to shelve them for now in the wake of the PSL spot-fixing affair

Umar Farooq20-Mar-20170:47

Quick Facts – Salman Butt

Plans for an international recall for former Pakistan captain Salman Butt have been shelved for now, in light of the continuing fallout from the recent corruption allegations emanating from the PSL.Butt has no connection to the PSL corruption issue, but his role in the spot-fixing scandal in England in 2010, for which he was banned, has forced a selection rethink ahead of Pakistan’s tour of the West Indies. The PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan had publicly cleared Butt’s potential selection earlier this year, but it appears he will have to wait longer for a comeback.ESPNcricinfo understands Butt was even informed by a selector last month that he was being considered for the national side. But last week he was told that those plans had been set aside for now, as the present circumstances were not ideal for his return.Five players – Sharjeel Khan, Khalid Latif, Mohammad Irfan, Shahzaib Hasan and Nasir Jamshed – were provisionally suspended for their alleged involvement in spot-fixing during the PSL and face various corruption charges. The PCB was thus keen to avoid criticism by recalling Butt, who has not featured for his country since returning to domestic cricket from a five-year ban for corruption.Butt’s name had cropped up in recent selection meetings – headed by Inzamam-ul-Haq – as a reflection of Pakistan’s continuing struggle with opening batsmen. There was reluctance among some members of the management but the proposition wasn’t rejected outright, and the chairman’s clearance was seen as a green signal.Since his return Butt has impressed on the domestic circuit. He was the second-highest run-scorer in the National One-Day Cup with 536 runs at 107.20 in 2015. He resumed his first-class career in 2016, as captain of the WAPDA side which won the Quaid-e-Azam trophy, and scored 749 runs at 49.40 in the season, including twin hundreds in the final. He was also the second highest run-getter in the National T20 Cup last year.Butt was 26 when he was banned, having played 33 Tests, 78 ODIs and 24 T20Is. Since then, he has attended anti-corruption rehabilitation programmes conducted by the PCB, taken part in social work and publicly apologised, though he had pleaded his innocence until 2013. Butt, who was Pakistan captain at the time, was also sentenced to 30 months in jail for his part in the Lord’s scandal. The two other players punished at the time, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir, have also returned to cricket after completing their bans. Amir has been successfully re-integrated into the national set-up, and so forms a precedent of sorts for any more returns.Butt’s selection had also been mooted ahead of Pakistan’s tour to England in 2016, when the captain Misbah-ul-Haq admitted he was impressed by Butt’s form.”We have a settled line up between numbers three and seven but the opening slot is not as consistent as the rest of the order,” Misbah had told ESPNcricinfo last year. “There are issues and we are looking at a couple more options including Shan Masood and Salman Butt. Salman is playing well and overall I didn’t see any such difference since he left [in 2010]. He is a good prospect and he has also scored ample runs after his comeback.”With an average of 30.46 from 33 Tests, Butt was never prolific at Test level, but a dearth of other options has made Pakistan look towards him again. Ahmed Shehzad has not played a Test since being dropped from the side in 2015 and Masood has struggled to cement his spot at the top of the order. Mohammad Hafeez’s inconsistency has made him a less attractive option at the top.Sami Aslam had impressed with twin fifties in his first Test against England last year but faded away, with only one score above 22 in his last nine innings. Sharjeel’s suspension has deprived Pakistan of yet another opening batsman, and the only bright spark has been Azhar since being pushed up as a makeshift opener.

Manchester United are in the midst of an ownership battle at Old Trafford and Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani's fifth bid to try and acquire the Premier League giants will also offer an 'exit route' if he isn't successful, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

What's the latest ownership news involving Manchester United?

As per Sky Sports, Sheikh Jassim is understood to have submitted a new and improved fifth bid to try and secure control of Manchester United and has indicated that this will be the final offer on the table for the Glazer family to consider.

The Qatari businessman and his Nine Two Foundation want to buy 100% control of the Premier League giants and has set a deadline of this Friday, in a proposal that would see £1 billion of club debt wiped alongside a separate ring-fenced fund to improve infrastructure around Old Trafford and the Carrington training complex.

As per ESPN, his rival bidder, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his petrochemicals firm INEOS want to buy a 69% stake in Manchester United instead of immediately seeking full authority at Old Trafford.

Ratcliffe is said to be the leading candidate to buy Manchester United and has put forward a deal that could see Joel and Avram Glazer stay on in minority stakeholder positions, as per Sky Sports.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jacobs has said that by submitting a fifth bid, Sheikh Jassim and the Nine Two Foundation has given them a platform to 'control the narrative' of the situation.

Jacobs told FFC: "I think the last thing to say is that with Nine Two Foundation, they were always going to have to improve, as I previously reported, and they have done now. They were always going to try and control the narrative. What the fifth bid does is not only gives them obviously a better chance of winning because their bid is higher, compared to the fourth one, but also an exit route too and that's another important point. If they are successful in beating Ratcliffe, even though the Ratcliffe group remain cautiously optimistic, then they are trying to force the issue."

Will Manchester United be able to conduct transfer business in the process of a sale?

Despite being in the process of potentially changing hands at ownership level, Manchester United and their boss Erik Ten Hag look to have taken a proactive approach in the transfer market and are already making inroads on potential summer additions.

Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount has agreed personal terms with the Red Devils ahead of a move to Old Trafford; however, both clubs are still yet to come to a compromise over a fee for the England international, as per Football Insider.

Il Mattino via The Sun also claim that Napoli defender Kim Min-jae is also a target for Manchester United and is preparing for a move to the Premier League.

Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund has also cropped up on Manchester United's radar, according to talkSPORT. Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see if the Red Devils conclude many deals despite being in the process of a takeover.

Australia have earmarked Dale Steyn as the South African who will pose the biggest threat especially as they know he was recently wounded in the ODI format

Firdose Moonda29-Sep-2016Before the series started Australia had identified AB de Villiers as the man to keep in check but with news that he will be sidelined for the next two months, they have had to turn their attention elsewhere. Now, they have earmarked Dale Steyn as the South African who will pose the biggest threat especially as they know he was recently wounded in the ODI format.”He’s a class bowler and has been for a long time,” Steven Smith, Australia’s captain, said. “I watched the Test series against New Zealand, where he was almost back to his best. I think he’s been left out of their one-day side for a while, so he’s probably out to prove a point.”Officially, Steyn was rested from the triangular series, which also featured Australia, in the Caribbean in June. But he was allowed to play in England’s Natwest T20 Blast so, unofficially, he was left out. Steyn admitted as much during the New Zealand Tests in August. “I can’t even make the one-day team now,” Steyn said, after he had surged back with eight wickets in the Centurion Test.That was Steyn’s first completed Test in more than 18 months, after he was forced out of six of South Africa’s eight matches in the 2015-16 season with injuries that he picked up in the other two. But last month Steyn showed signs of old when he bowled at good pace and swung the ball to finish as the series’ leading wicket-taker. Now, at the same venue, Steyn will make his comeback to the 50-over team and stand-in captain Faf du Plessis is certain he will want to do just as well.”Dale’s personality sometimes is a bit cranky, that’s why you see that fire when he gets a wicket and that’s why we love him like that,” du Plessis said. “I think when he came back, felt like he needed to prove a point. He is the No. 1 bowler in the world. If you don’t produce the goods regularly, people are going to ask questions and that comes with its own pressures. Now he is back in the one-day team and he will try and make a huge impact and try and show everyone that one-day cricket is still a big part of his future.”Steyn has said winning an ICC trophy remains a goal of his and, with the Champions Trophy nine months away, it is within reach. He is expected to play in several ODIs before that – after this series South Africa host Sri Lanka and then go to New Zealand – and du Plessis hopes the mere prospect of Steyn will work to South Africa’s advantage. “The fear that he puts into opposition, just the name itself – you only have a few guys around the world who can do that,” du Plessis said. “His skill and experience is something you can’t get overnight. If Dale is fit and 100% and wants to bowl quick, he is an extremely big asset.”Perhaps more worryingly for the opposition is that the make-up of South Africa’s team, which will now include at least two allrounders, means Steyn can be deployed slightly differently. Instead of merely seeing off Steyn’s opening spell, they may have to contend with him for longer up front because South Africa have several other bowling options to use mid-innings and at the death.”If Dale is bowling well, he can bowl six or seven up front to try and strike whereas in the past, if any one of your opening two bowlers had to bowl more than four overs you are taking those overs out of at the end of the game,” du Plessis said.Kagiso Rabada has emerged as one of the candidates who can operate at the end of the innings while Andile Phehlukwayo, who debuted against Ireland, is another. Kyle Abbott is a third. Then South Africa have Wayne Parnell and Dwaine Pretorius to operate in the middle period along with the spinner and JP Duminy, taking the number of bowlers in their team to seven.It is a balance du Plessis wants applied in the long term, especially as the allrounders develop. “Once you have a six and a seventh bowler in the team, it’s great for a captain. We’ve got Wayne, Andile and Dwaine. Between the three of them, at least two can put their hands up and really become good one-day cricketers for South Africa,” he said. “We’ve been lacking that and so always when we were picking a team, the side was unbalanced. We were either one batsman short or one bowler short. I am hoping two of them will step up in this series.”Du Plessis’ aims for whoever makes the allrounder spot their own is that they will contribute as much with the bat as with the ball, especially because South Africa are also looking to combat another problem: slow scoring rates in the middle overs. The 25-40 over period is where South Africa have sometimes let the game drift but with power-hitting allrounders, du Plessis hopes that will change.”Most of the time, we’ve only had six batsmen and that makes you a little hesitant when you come to those overs,” he said. “You can’t lose wickets because your tail starts at seven or eight and goes down to eleven, so you have to sit a little bit in those periods. With us having a longer batting line-up now it allows us to push a bit harder.”