Tag Futebol

Arsenal have deployed chiefs to assess the performance of a new forward overseas, according to a fresh report that has emerged.

Arsenal transfer targets

Ahead of January, Edu Gaspar and Mikel Arteta appear to be looking to strengthen all areas of the pitch, with recent claims suggesting that the club are currently in pole position to sign Sporting CP centre-back Goncalo Inacio.

In midfield, Aston Villa’s Douglas Luiz has been a long-term target of the hierarchy, though with Unai Emery’s side standing firm on their stance that their prized asset is not for sale during the upcoming transfer window, chiefs might have to be more patient with that particular deal.

The Gunners are additionally keen to increase their options in the final third and have highlighted Rennes’ left-winger Ibrahim Salah as a potential candidate, with the attacker having made 30 appearances since joining from KAA Gent back in January (Transfermarkt – Salah statistics).

The Morocco youth international, who is 22 years of age, still has just under four years remaining on his deal (Rennes contracts), but that hasn’t stopped the manager and sporting director from wanting to take a bite at the cherry in the hope of bringing him to the Premier League, in particular to the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal monitoring Salah

According to Moroccan outlet Le360 Sport (via Sport Witness), Arsenal have sent scouts to watch Salah ahead of January. The North London outfit “would be interested” in signing the forward next month because they have already “sent emissaries” to keep tabs on him “during a recent appearance” as they weigh up approaching Rennes.

Salah is a real threat in the final third

Across all competitions this season, Salah has scored six goals from a total of 16 appearances, showing the positive impact that he can make in the opposition’s box, and he’s constantly posing a threat regardless of whether the end product comes to fruition.

Standing at 6 foot 1, the colossus currently ranks in the 94th percentile for shots and the 92nd percentile for successful take-ons, highlighting how much he loves to use his athletic pace to dribble past his marker and create as many chances as possible for both himself and his fellow teammates (FBRef – Salah statistics).

Arteta’s target is even a versatile operator having been deployed in five different positions over the grass since the start of his career, including everywhere across the frontline and even on the left side of the midfield, though he has been described as an “inside forward” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Having been crowned U23s Africa Cup Winner with Morocco, Salah will possess a winning mentality and will know what it takes to compete and be successful at a high level, so there’s no doubt that he could be a great addition should he put pen to paper at Arsenal.

With the World Cup less than two month’s away, Pakistan’s head coach has cast doubts over the fast bowler’s inclusion in the side “going forward”

Umar Farooq26-Mar-2019Mohammad Amir’s ODI numbers since the 2017 Champions Trophy make for worrying reading if you’re a Pakistan fan. With just five wickets from his last 14 ODIs and the World Cup less than two months away, Pakistan’s head coach Mickey Arthur has cast doubts over the fast bowler’s inclusion in the side “going forward”.In the 21 months since that Champions Trophy final against India in June 2017, Amir has gone for an average of 92.60, failing to complete his quota of 10 overs even once. The spotlight on him only increased after he was named in the Pakistan squad for the ongoing series against Australia, only to be dropped immediately after another wicketless, expensive outing in the first ODI in Sharjah.While both Arthur and chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq have previously backed Amir as a bowler for the big occasion, it is becoming increasingly more difficult to see him seal a spot in the squad for the World Cup, which begins on England on May 30.”Yes, Amir’s form is a worry and nobody is more worried than Amir,” Arthur said. “I still think he is an incredibly skilled bowler and has all the attributes to be successful. He has got a big match temperament and we will see how we use him going forward.”Amir has potentially three more chances to make an impression in Dubai, with three ODIs left in the series against Australia. Things haven’t gone according to plan so far for Pakistan, who lost the first two matches convincingly after resting six key players (as well as a seventh later in Faheem Ashraf). The team faced further ire when makeshift captain Shoaib Malik suggested after the second ODI in Sharjah that Pakistan were using the series merely to test their bench strength, and that winning or losing did not matter.Arthur, however, put those suggestions to bed, claiming that Pakistan were always out to win, and that the environment in the dressing room was positive.”Every time we play for Pakistan, we are playing to win,” he said. “You ask the guys in the dressing room, I am a very bad loser. We hate losing. We are representing a very proud cricket nation and we never want to lose. We are testing our bench strength, but we will never sacrifice our intensity and the will to win.”The attitude of the guys that we have around here has been incredible. These guys will become very, very good cricketers. The other guys [who have been rested for this series] have been in a tough system for two years. These guys are only now making their way like Mohammad Hasnain, Abid Ali, Saad Ali. Shan [Masood] and Rizi [Mohammad Rizwan] have been in and out of our ODI side. Umar Akmal is back. We are trying to increase the depth of Pakistan cricket.”We get castigated for not giving opportunities to the younger guys. Now we are giving them the opportunities are we are being castigated again. There seems to be no winning. What people need to understand is that we are a very passionate cricket team and whenever we go on the field, it is to win. We represent 210 million people and it is so important. Myself, Inzi [Inzamam ul Haq and the selection panel have a plan in place which is to have our core group of 15 ready and firing to go by April 23, when we go to England, to win the World Cup for Pakistan.”

A couple of hours into the game, you might have switched this off, assuming a comfortable victory for South Africa. While that is exactly what it was in the end, the circuitous path this match took to get to that point made it arguably the most dramatic game of the entire tour. It needed a sixth-wicket partnership of 127 between Andile Phehlukwayo and Rassie van der Dussen to level the series in what had begun to look like improbable circumstances. Phehlukwayo and van der Dussen both scored unbeaten half-centuries, seeing their side through to the end. It was very much Phehlukwayo’s game, the Player of the Match achieving his best-ever bowling figures (4 for 22) and his highest score with the bat (75*).South Africa could have been chasing far less than 204. They did so thanks to a blistering half-century by Hasan Ali that rescued Pakistan from 112 for 8. Then, a stunning opening spell from Shaheen Afridi thrust the hosts onto the back foot early in their chase. The 18-year-old removed Hashim Amla, Reeza Hendricks and Faf du Plessis within the first 15 balls of his spell as South Africa slumped to 29 for 3. When Shadab Khan dismissed David Miller and Heinrich Klassen off successive balls, the hosts had lost half their side for 80 and Pakistan smelled blood.Early in his innings, it seemed improbable that Phehlukwayo would be the man to guide South Africa home. He charged Shadab when the bowler looked unplayable, looked to swipe across the line when he was miles from the pitch of the ball. Shadab was, initially, almost amused at what he saw as the left-hander’s ineptitude with the bat; his departure almost appeared a matter of time. When he was adjudged lbw with South Africa at 92, he was reprieved only by dint of the ball spinning too much.But against the odds, Phehlukwayo persisted, hanging around and scoring runs even when he played ill-advised shots. He reverse-swept and charged down the ground, swept across the line and skied the ball into the Durban night. It all brought runs, the dismissal seemingly around the corner but always elusive. Alongside him van der Dussen almost went unnoticed, even when he shouldn’t have been. He had been involved in an excellent little partnership with David Miller after the top order had been blown away, and when Phehlukwayo’s flamboyance stole the show, van der Dussen was mature enough to realise his role was a supporting one. Off the back off 93 on ODI debut, he finished unbeaten on 80 here today, including the winning runs with eight overs still to spare.Andile Phehlukwayo roars after taking a wicket•AFP

Sent in to bat, Pakistan continued to have issues with the short ball, even if it was at Durban where the quicks have lately tended to get less assistance from the pitch. Pakistan seemed to be back in the Test series, where the short ball was an unconquerable demon, and Duanne Olivier and Kagiso Rabada invincible tormentors. A series of dismissals when the ball was pitched short hampered Pakistan early on, before an inspired performance from Tabraiz Shamsi, deputising for Imran Tahir, reduced them to 112 for 8. The left-arm wristspinner, fighting for a World Cup spot, took three wickets, and at one point appeared to have set his side up for a seemingly straightforward chase.It required the most delightful sort of innings from Hasan, a character who matches that description to the fullest, to keep Pakistan in the contest, his uncomplicated hitting helping Pakistan recover to 203. Hasan was responsible for 59 of the 90 runs which came in a ninth-wicket partnership with Sarfraz Ahmed, and was last man dismissed after Phehlukwayo returned to remove both batsmen in the 46th over.Hasan’s innings remained in spirit the typical knock of a have-a-go hero, but the sweet timing of the strikes against legitimately world-class bowling gave it an unexpected air of classiness. It was only thanks to career-best figures from Phehlukwayo that his merrymaking didn’t go on even longer.Du Plessis won the toss again, this time deciding to bowl after much criticism around his side’s failure to pace their innings well in Port Elizabeth. Pace was never a problem for his fast bowlers, though, who accounted for Pakistan’s top four in the first hour with deliveries that grew big on the batsmen. Imam-ul-Haq mistiming a pull shot off a Rabada ball was a harbinger for what was to come, and Babar Azam was dismissed cheaply much the same way. Then came the now-customary Fakhar Zaman dismissal off a short ball, when Olivier got one to rise towards his grille, the batsman fending it off to gully.The middle overs might have been an opportunity for rebuilding, but Shamsi had other ideas. The first ball of his spell drew an edge from Malik that first slip would have pouched had one been placed, and off his fourth delivery he snared fellow spinner Shadab Khan. It wasn’t long before debutant Hussain Talat, curiously promoted ahead of Sarfraz, fell to perhaps the ball of the innings. An exquisite stock ball beat Talat’s outside edge, drawing him out of his crease while Heinrich Klaasen deftly removed the bails.The game might have ended on a similar note of South African joy and Pakistani despair, but for a short while in the middle, this was a proper contest. The series is very much alive and now, with the ODIs moving to faster surfaces, du Plessis’s men will feel confident they have the upper hand.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe looks set to become Manchester United’s minority shareholder after his 25% bid has been accepted by the Glazers.

He has agreed to buy a quarter of the club for £1.3b and this could give Erik ten Hag a new lease of life in charge of the club.

The Old Trafford side have endured a dismal start to the 2023/24 campaign, winning just nine of their opening 18 matches and this sort of form seems unlikely lead them to much success.

They currently occupy sixth place in the Premier League table and while they may only be seven points off the summit, recent performances against the top four suggest they will not be challenging for a title this term.

The Dutchman has not been helped with an injury crisis engulfing his squad, while his summer arrivals have failed to sparkle domestically and these factors have meant United have struggled.

With clashes against Newcastle United, Chelsea, and Liverpool to come in the next few weeks, along with tough Champions League ties against Bayern Munich and Galatasaray, ten Hag will need to see some vast improvement, and fast.

The January transfer window is fast approaching and could the former Ajax boss perhaps delve into the market and bolster his faltering squad?

Man Utd transfer news

Having spent £191.7m during the summer window, it remains to be seen how much money ten Hag will have to spend, and he may need to move a few players on in order to raise funds.

According to Portuguese outlet Record, however, the Red Devils are eyeing up a move for youngster Joao Neves in the upcoming January transfer window.

The club have scouted the player numerous times recently, most notably last weekend where he scored an equaliser for Benfica against Sporting CP before his side netted the winner just a few minutes later.

There is one major problem, however; money. The midfielder has a release clause which currently stands at €120m (£105m) and with a contract at the Portuguese side until 2028, ten Hag is going to have to break the bank to secure a deal for the talented gem.

Ratcliffe's arrival could provide fresh optimism, as could a splash from ten Hag to allow Neves to arrive in Manchester, as he would be the ideal player to replace Casemiro, who has been linked with an exit recently.

Casemiro’s future is in doubt at Man Utd

The midfielder has missed the previous seven games for United having suffered an injury while on international duty with Brazil in October.

He could be in his final furlong with the club, however, as Ratcliffe apparently wants to move him on in order to create space in the squad for other players.

This could suggest they are ready to cash in on the former Real Madrid midfielder, who they only signed in 2022 for a fee in the region of £70m and although he improved their midfield last term, some may question a fee of that size for a player who they are now prepared to move on after 18 months at the club.

There is interest from Saudi Arabia for the Brazilian and considering he still has two-and-a-half-years left on his current contract, ten Hag could be able to recoup some of the cash he spent on him in 2022.

He was instrumental in United winning their first trophy in six years, scoring in the EFL Cup final against Newcastle while helping the side secure third spot in the league.

Due to injury, however, he has only played eight league matches and with the interest from the Middle East apparent, the Dutchman could move him on and use the funds to try and lure Neves to England.

Joao Neves’ career statistics

This time last year, the 19-year-old had yet to make his debut for Benfica, but with the Portuguese club selling Enzo Fernández to Chelsea in January, a slot opened up in the midfield, and he hasn’t looked back since.

He played 20 times for the club during the second half of last season, scoring once, but it has been the previous few months that has seen his performances attract attention from other clubs.

As you can see in the table above, Neves has offered a similar level of defensive protection out of possession whilst being able to offer far more to his team on the ball this season.

Hailed as “highly talented” by talent scout Jacek Kulig alongside other Benfica gems, the midfielder has played a part in every Benfica game already this term, adding a goal and an assist in the process.

Indeed, he currently ranks fourth in the squad for accurate passes per game (53.7), along with ranking third for big chances created (three), fourth for successful dribbles per game (1.4), and third for accurate long passes per game (3.8), certainly proving that he belongs at the elite and is one of Benfica’s best performers across these metrics this season.

The teenager also ranks highly across a range of defensive metrics when compared to his positional peers. According to FBref, Neves ranks in the top 5% for tackles per 90 (3.44) along with ranking in the top 1% for blocks per 90 (2.18) and in the top 11% for aerial duels won per 90 (1.98) which suggests that, alongside his excellent passing abilities and forward-thinking mindset, the youngster is also effective defensively.

These attributes could ensure Neves would become an ideal heir for Casemiro, especially as he would be able to slot straight into the heart of the midfield given his experience in the Portuguese top flight and the Champions League.

The Dutchman may need to rejuvenate what appears to be a squad that is stagnating and injecting some young talent into the engine room could be an excellent way of giving the side a jolt.

Signing Neves could be a costly venture, given his reported release clause but, over time, he has the potential to develop into a midfielder who can shine in the Premier League.

He does not turn 20 until next September, giving the Old Trafford side plenty of time to work with him and build him into a top-class central midfielder.

If Ratcliffe can receive a decent fee for Casemiro in January, then this should enable the club to make a concrete offer for Neves, who could come in as the heir to the Brazilian's position.

Big Picture

This is a Test between a team ranked No. 6 that has just been walloped 3-0 at home, and a No. 4 side that has just returned from a 2-1 triumph overseas. That the series takes place in the the higher-ranked outfit’s own conditions further underlines who the favourites here are.There is stability for New Zealand. There is a highly-rated captain who has been in the job for almost three years. There is a well-heeled and confident attack. A solid top order. A reliable backroom. They’ve travelled across continents since their last Test, and arrived at the Basin Reserve where, by Kane Williamson’s own estimation, the conditions they will encounter are the “polar opposite” to those last week in Abu Dhabi, and yet, they have made only one change to the XI, switching out the offspinner William Somerville for the fast bowler Neil Wagner. You get the feeling there is a plan at work here. That they are building to something. Perhaps something special.The visitors, meanwhile, are scrambling. The poor returns against England first cost the selectors their jobs. The fielding coach and batting coach have also since been told they will be replaced. In truth, Sri Lanka’s Test record over the past 18 months is not all that awful – they’ve won series against South Africa, Pakistan and Bangladesh, and drawn a series in the West Indies. But being whitewashed at home by England last month has stung. The whole system suddenly seems a little shaken. Now, they are in a country where they last won a Test 12 years ago, and where they have been more-or-less thumped in four matches this decade.There is, however, a glimmer of hope for Sri Lanka, and that is their young, exciting seam-bowling battery. The last time Sri Lanka fielded three frontline quicks in a match, as they are almost certain to do in Wellington, they blasted out West Indies for 93 in Barbados, overturning a first-innings deficit, and setting up a win. Lahiru Kumara, the quickest in Sri Lanka’s ranks, took 17 wickets at less than 20 apiece in that series. Kasun Rajitha seamed the ball viciously in his first two matches. Dushmantha Chameera, meanwhile, has already had one good tour of New Zealand, back in 2015-16.But so infrequently do Sri Lanka play on seam-friendly tracks, it is difficult to gauge how good these bowlers actually are. Will they really be menacing and dynamic? Or will Williamson and co. wear them down, then exploit their inexperience? Sri Lanka have to hope they have some special young talents in their side. Form and proven quality are decidedly with New Zealand. All that remains to the visitors is surprise.

Form guide

Sri Lanka LLLWW (last five Tests, most recent first)
New Zealand WLWDWHenry Nicholls shows off his leg-side game•Getty Images

In the spotlight

Henry Nicholls had skated by on a modest average for the first 16 Tests of his career, but 2018 might just be the making of the man. He made 145 not out against England, in Auckland, to begin the year, but it was in the UAE last month that he truly blossomed, making scores of 55 and 77 before his outstanding match-turning second-innings 126 not out in the company of Williamson, in Abu Dhabi. A good series at home to follow an excellent one overseas would help cement a burgeoning reputation as a reliable middle-order batsman.Of Sri Lanka’s batsmen, only opener Dimuth Karunaratne has a hundred in New Zealand – his 152 in Christchurch at the end of 2014. He also comes into the series with a little batting form, having made 256 runs at 42.66 against England, after having dominated the home series against South Africa earlier in the year. Now the team’s vice-captain, Sri Lanka will look to him for some serious stability against the new ball, because it is a shaky middle order that he is protecting.

Team news

New Zealand have named their XI. They will go with the tried-and-tested pace trio of Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Neil Wagner, with Ajaz Patel as the sole specialist spinner.New Zealand: 1 Jeet Raval, 2 Tom Latham, 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Henry Nicholls, 6 BJ Watling (wk), 7 Colin de Grandhomme, 8 Tim Southee, 9 Neil Wagner, 10 Ajaz Patel, 11 Trent BoultSri Lanka’s line-up is a little tougher to predict. Danushka Gunathilaka probably played himself into an opening spot with a second-innings 83 in the practice match. Suranga Lakmal and Lahiru Kumara are likely to be the first seamers chosen, with Kasun Rajitha, Nuwan Pradeep and Dushmantha Chameera fighting for the third seamer’s spot.Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Dimuth Karunaratne, 2 Danushka Gunathilaka , 3 Dhananjaya de Silva, 4 Kusal Mendis, 5 Dinesh Chandimal (capt), 6 Angelo Mathews, 7 Niroshan Dickwella (wk), 8 Dilruwan Perera, 9 Suranga Lakmal, 10 Kasun Rajitha, 11 Lahiru Kumara

Pitch and conditions

The pitch was barely distinguishable from the outfield on the eve of the match, but the general trend for Basin Reserve surfaces is that they dry out after day two and become very good for batting on days three and four.

Stats and trivia

• Kane Williamson averages 91.88 after 12 innings against Sri Lanka. This is his highest average against any Test nation. After his ton in the second innings in Abu Dhabi, he also only needs one more century to become the first New Zealand batsman to make 20 tons.
• Sri Lanka have lost each of their last five Tests against New Zealand – four of them in New Zealand, and one in Sri Lanka.
• Sri Lanka’s most recent win in New Zealand came at the Basin Reserve, back in 2006.
• New Zealand will become the No. 2 ranked team in the world if they win the series 2-0.

Quotes

“You do as much homework as you can, but there’s some bowlers some guys haven’t seen. That’s the beauty of international cricket, in that you do see other countries’ depth. We know that by all accounts there is a really talented fast bowling group in the Sri Lankan side. I’m sure they’re really excited to get into the Test tomorrow. .”New Zealand captain Kane Williamson on Sri Lanka’s pace battery
“Straight after the series finished against Englnad we had three or four practice sessions. We knew that when we came to New Zealand we’d definitely get grassy pitches. We kept grass on our pitches and had really good preparation.”Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal

After a difficult start to the season, Everton have finally found their feet under Sean Dyche. The Toffees looked on course for another campaign of relegation fears but have since eased those with victories over Bournemouth and West Ham United. Amid Everton's financial fair play investigation, too, they could do with all the points they can get, as a potential 12-point deduction looms.

Those at Goodison Park will hope to see the investigation end with a far less severe punishment, but will know that the only way to avoid complete damage is to get results on the pitch. What will certainly help Dyche plan for the future is the recent news of one particular young player's contract extension.

Everton contract update

On paper, Everton's transfer business in the summer window should be enough to keep them afloat in the Premier League this season. The likes of Jack Harrison are more than capable of performing at Goodison Park alongside Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has finally been back to his goalscoring best as of late. Whilst the Toffees return to form on the pitch, Dyche will be keen to see things return to their best away from Goodison Park, and away from the reported FFP investigation.

With that said, Everton have agreed a new deal with Francis Okoronkwo. According to Pete O'Rourke of Football Insider, the 19 year-old has put pen to paper on a long-term contract following a breakthrough in talks. The forward can now look ahead towards gaining a place in Dyche's first-team, having impressed for Everton's youth sides since making the move from Sunderland for £1m in 2021.

Even as Calvert-Lewin gets closer to his best, Everton's need for goals has not gone away, handing Okoronwko the perfect chance to make an impact in Merseyside for the first time since joining the club.

Okoronkwo is a "composed" young striker

After being handed opportunities in the EFL Trophy this season, Okoronkwo may well be hoping to receive his Premier League debut at some stage in the current campaign. Ahead of the 19-year-old in the pecking order is currently Calvert-Lewin, Beto and Youssef Chermiti, however, which gives the youngster quite the mountain to climb when it comes to winning the faith of Dyche.

For the U21s this season, meanwhile, Okoronkwo's stats haven't stood out enough to warrant an opportunity in England's top flight just yet. In seven Premier League 2 games, the striker has scored two goals and assisted one other in what has been a frustrating start to the season. That's not to say that he doesn't have potential, though, with The Athletic's Patrick Boyland certainly left impressed by his performances in the past, posting on X: "Everton U18s lead at Old Trafford! Francis Okoronkwo again! Really composed finish."

With that said, Dyche could yet have a plan for the forward and the fact that Okoronkwo has reportedly been handed a new deal is nothing but a good sign. From here, if he pushes on, we could be seeing a lot more of the teenager.

Lionesses star Chloe Kelly joined the final leg of a 178-mile walk to Anfield to raise awareness for motor neurone disease (MND) on Monday.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Kelly among famous faces to support 178-mile trek
• Walk raising awareness for motor neurone disease
• Man City star Houghton's husband suffers from condition

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The trek, dubbed 'March of the Day', has been led by former footballers Stephen Darby and Marcus Stewart, who both suffer from MND, a rare condition affecting the brain and nerves. It started in Bradford on Friday, Darby having spent five years playing for Bradford City, and ends at Anfield, with him having come through the Liverpool youth system.

Advertisement

• WATCH THE CLIP

• Getty
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Darby is married to Manchester City defender and former England captain Steph Houghton, and the support of Kelly and Jill Scott on this walk is just the latest example of how her team-mates have got behind the pair over the years.

  The Cityzens' players wore 'March of the Day' t-shirts in the warm-up for Saturday's Manchester derby while Georgia Stanway, who played with Houghton at City for seven years before moving to Bayern Munich, is a patron of the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Kelly and Scott are just a couple of the many famous faces who have come out to support the cause over the weekend. Ex-Liverpool duo Jamie Redknapp and Chris Kirkland were also involved on Monday, while former Manchester United stars Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt joined the trek on Sunday.

Pakistan’s international players are set for a significant earnings rise after a fresh three-year remuneration agreement saw salary increases between 25% and 30% for players across the central contract spectrum. The earnings ratio will apply to centrally-contracted players in each of the four traditional categories, A to D. Players’ match fees will also go up by 20%.In addition, a new category ‘E’ has also been introduced, which a PCB media release said was to “recognise performers on the domestic circuit as well as to encourage the continuing development of emerging cricketers from the junior cricket level”.

The central contracts list

• Category A: Azhar Ali, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Amir
  Category B: Fakhar Zaman, Faheem Ashraf, Shadab Khan, Asad Shafiq, Mohammad Hafeez, Hasan Ali

• Category C: Wahab Riaz, Shan Masood, Haris Sohail, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Nawaz, Usman Shinwari, Imad Wasim, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Abbas

• Category D: Rumman Raees, Asif Ali, Usman Salahuddin, Hussain Talat, Rahat Ali
  Category E: Bilal Asif, Saad Ali, Mir Hamza, Umaid Asif, Mohammad Rizwan, Sahibzada Farhan, Shaheen Shah Afridi
  Big demotions: Mohammad Hafeez (A to B), Rahat Ali (C to D), Imad Wasim (B to C), Ahmed Shehzad (omitted)
  Big promotions: Babar Azam (B to A), Faheem Ashraf (D to B), Fakhar Zaman (C to B), Shadab Khan, (C to B), Imam-ul-Haq (D to C)

The PCB also announced the list of 33 players who had been awarded central contracts – down from 35 last year. It sees very little change in terms of personnel from 2017’s list of the players with category A contracts. Babar Azam, who was in category B last year, has been promoted to the top bracket, while Mohammad Hafeez, who didn’t feature in any of Pakistan’s five ODIs against Zimbabwe despite being part of a much-rotated squad, drops down to category B. Azhar Ali, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed, Yasir Shah and Mohammad Amir retain their places as category A players.Most of Pakistan’s young crop of players, arguably pivotal to their resurgence in the shorter formats over the past year or so, find themselves in category B. Fakhar Zaman and Shadab Khan were both promoted from category C, while Faheem Ashraf jumped two places, getting into category B after being in the category D list last year. Hasan Ali retained his category B slot, with Asad Shafiq and Hafeez rounding off the category for 2018.Three players who were in category C the previous year were omitted from the centrally-contracted list of players altogether. The biggest casualty was Ahmed Shehzad, who is currently suspended for a doping violation and awaits a hearing. Sami Aslam, who found his Test place usurped by Imam-ul-Haq in Ireland and England earlier this year, is also out of a central contract. The same fate befell Sohail Khan, who has dropped significantly down the pecking order over the past year or so.Mohammad Rizwan, who was named in category D last year as Sarfraz’s deputy behind the stumps, drops down to the newly-introduced category E. He is the only wicketkeeper in the list of 33 players besides the captain. It serves to reinforce Pakistan’s lack of options in that department; Sarfraz has played every single Pakistan game in all formats since being rested for the limited-overs leg of Pakistan’s tour of Australia over 18 months ago.

ScorecardA hobbling Tom Moores, batting with a runner, launched a blitz of sixes in a whirlwind 87 that enabled Nottinghamshire to set a beleaguered Essex a near-impossible target of 441 in 131 overs. Notts had four Essex batsmen back in the pavilion by the close.Moores, the 21-year-old son of head coach Peter, took a particular shine to Essex spinner Simon Harmer, who he deposited all around Chelmsford in an over that went for 27. In all, Moores hit seven fours and seven sixes in an 80-ball knock, and was the only contributor to a last-wicket stand of 58 from 52 balls with Harry Gurney, who was not out nought from 13 balls.With a series of pulls, straight drives, many lofted, and unorthodox shots out of the one-day repertoire, Moores followed up his maiden century in the last Specsavers County Championship match, at Taunton. He recorded his second highest first-class score despite turning his right ankle during wicketkeeping drills before the start of the third day.Notts assistant head coach Paul Franks said: “We’re not sure at the moment how serious it is. But we could see that he was in a bit of discomfort and would not be able to run between the wickets. He is in a bit of pain but these things can settle down overnight. He’s had a fantastic season and really made his mark on the team. He’s had to follow in some big footsteps.”He has a good range of shots, and sometimes it looks like he doesn’t always use them. But his ball-striking was outstanding and he managed the situation really well. Sometimes when you have a runner, batting with tail-enders chaos can ensue. But he handled it well.”Essex had agreed at lunchtime that Moores could bat with a runner, and Jake Libby duly walked out alongside him at the fall of the seventh wicket on 143. His efforts almost doubled Notts’ score and put the game far beyond Essex’s reach. Moores did not appear behind the stumps later with Riki Wessels taking the gloves briefly before young 2nd XI player Tom Keast arrived from Trent Bridge.Essex’s chase got off to the worse possible start as their top-order folded again. Alastair Cook went lbw in the second over without scoring, playing back to a ball from Matt Milnes that kept low, and Varun Chopra’s middle stump was knocked out of the ground in Milnes’s next over. To compound that, stand-in captain Tom Westley was beaten by one from Luke Fletcher that nipped back and struck off-stump.It was Cook’s second duck in nine innings for the county this summer, Westley’s fifth single-figure score in 11, while Chopra has totalled just 92 from eight Championship outings.Dan Lawrence and Ravi Bopara set about trying to save the game in the early evening, and their patient partnership reached 55 in 20 overs when Lawrence was caught and bowled by Samit Patel.But the day belonged to Moores. At the start of his innings, he was struck firmly on the boot by Neil Wagner. It did not discomfort Moores in the least as he was soon pulling Harmer for four and sweep-swiping his first six from the following ball. He went down on one knee to cart Jamie Porter over midwicket for his second six.But it was the return of Harmer, who went for 78 from his 15 overs, that sparked the fireworks. The first ball was thumped over long-off for six to reach a 63-ball fifty. The next was driven for a one-bounce boundary, followed by a swept four. There were further sixes, one on to the press-box roof and another to long-leg, before the over was completed with a single into the deep.Moores’s sixth six brought up the fifty partnership for the last wicket, and he added a second in the only over of the match bowled by Ravi Bopara. Moores finally departed, edging Porter behind.The day had not started so promising for Notts when they lost nightwatchman Milnes without addition. Patel pushed forward to Coles and sent Adam Wheater tumbling to his right to take the catch low down. Ross Taylor, centurion in the first innings, lasted just seven balls second time around, bowled trying to cut.Libby perished on 51 as Wagner found some exaggerated movement off the pitch. Switching around the wicket, the New Zealand pace bowler slanted one in to remove leg-stump.Wagner added his second straight after lunch when he got one to climb and take the edge of Wessels’s bat. Billy Root had just reverse-swept Harmer for four to reach 29 when he popped the next ball into Cook’s hands at third slip. But the Tom Moores show was about to begin.

Essex thought Ashar Zaidi had carried them to a competitive total but Gareth Roderick and George Hankins found a response

ESPNcricinfo staff20-May-2018
ScorecardGareth Roderick posted a superb 87 not out as Gloucestershire beat Essex by four wickets in Bristol and register their second victory in three days in the Royal London Cup South Group.Ashar Zaidi top-scored with 82 as Essex raised a competitive 287 for 6 on a decent batting track after winning the toss.But Roderick produced a true captain’s innings, staging a match-winning sixth-wicket partnership of 79 in seven overs with the hard-hitting Ryan Higgins as Gloucestershire reached their target with 11 balls to spare.Playing only his fifth List-A game, Academy product George Hankins registered a second white-ball half century inside three days, producing some clean hitting to accrue seven boundaries in a crowd-pleasing innings of 77 from 98 balls.Although he dragged a wideish delivery from Ravi Bopara onto his stumps eight runs short of his highest score, he nevertheless provided Gloucestershire’s reply with solid foundations.Simon Harmer kept Essex in the hunt, accounting for danger-men Ian Cockbain and Jack Taylor with his off spin, but Gloucestershire held the upper hand while Roderick remained at large.Demonstrating a cool head, Gloucestershire’s captain combined deft placement with feverish running between the wickets to raise 50 from 55 balls before pressing the accelerator button. Higgins provided rich entertainment in a murderous innings of 47 from 29 balls, accruing three fours and three sixes to break Essex spirits.Openers Adam Wheater and Varun Chopra had earlier afforded the Eagles a flying start, taking advantage of some loose bowling to raise 74 in 12 overs.But Gloucestershire quickly redressed the balance, slow left armer Tom Smith pinning Wheater lbw with his first ball, and then taking a superb diving catch at mid-off to remove Tom Westley without scoring before inducing Dan Lawrence to loft a miscued drive to mid-on.When Chopra flashed hard at a wide delivery from Chris Liddle and was caught at point for 42 in the 17th over, Essex had lost four wickets in 33 balls and were teetering at 93 for 4.Charged with the task of rebuilding the innings, Bopara dominated stands of 47 and 57 with Ryan ten Doeschate and Zaidi for the fifth and sixth wickets respectively. Having grafted 50 from 70 balls, he chased a ball outside off stump and was caught behind to become Liddle’s third victim.Zaidi picked up the cudgels thereafter, striking seven fours and two sixes and adding 90 for the sixth wicket with Harmer to propel the visitors to a competitive total.