All posts by h716a5.icu

Pakistan are looking to hit back in the one-day series against Australia, which starts in Brisbane on Friday

The Preview by Peter English20-Jan-2010Match FactsFriday, January 22, the Gabba
Start time 1325 (0325 GMT)Look out: Younis Khan is back in Pakistan’s squad without the responsibility of being captain•AFPThe Big PictureAfter the three Tests come the five ODIs and a Twenty20 to complete Pakistan’s tour. While the opening segment of the trip ended in a 3-0 victory for Australia, the limited-overs arrangements will be much more competitive.Despite the result, Pakistan’s squad became more united as the tour went on and they have received some key reinforcements, with Younis Khan and Shahid Afridi added to the unit. The tourists have also troubled Australia in their most recent engagements and their fast-bowling unit, which includes Mohammad Aamer, will worry the hosts at times. Australia won a tight series in the UAE 3-2 last year and the teams also ran into each other at the Champions Trophy, when Australia sneaked home by two wickets.This series will be an important gauge of the popularity of the 50-over game. Twenty20 crowds have been huge for the domestic Big Bash and five-match head-to-head series against Pakistan and West Indies will test Australia’s love affair with the format that began here in the 1970s.Form guide (most recent first)Australia NWWWL
Pakistan LLWLL
Watch out for…Younis Khan is back after resigning the captaincy and Pakistan are glad to have his services. One of the game’s finest batsmen, Younis averages 33.12 over 197 ODIs and will bring some much-needed experience to the young line-up. He won’t be captain – that job is still Mohammad Yousuf’s – but he will be leading from the front.Shane Watson has just come off the best Test campaign of his career, with 609 runs in six Tests, and it will be interesting to see whether that form translates back to the one-day arena. It was his performances at the Champions Trophy and in India that set up his fine summer. He will be a main man with bat and ball as he returns to an old home ground.Team newsThe Australians have picked their 12 and the only tricky decision is whether to leave out a batsman or the allrounder James Hopes, who is only in the squad for the first game. Ricky Ponting is keen for Nathan Hauritz to continue to build on the momentum he picked up during the Test summer and with Mitchell Johnson resting, there are only three front-line fast men in Clint McKay, Peter Siddle and Doug Bollinger. Despite Shane Watson’s heavy five-day campaign, Ponting expects him to deliver 10 overs as well as open the batting with Shaun Marsh.Australia (probable) 1 Shane Watson, 2 Shaun Marsh, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Michael Hussey, 5 Michael Clarke, 6 Cameron White, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 Nathan Hauritz, 9 Clint McKay, 10 Peter Siddle, 11 Doug Bollinger, 12 James Hopes.Things are less clear for Pakistan, who are lugging around a 17-man squad. Expect Kamran Akmal to return, more for his power hitting as an opener than his glovework, after he was dropped for the third Test in Hobart. The final bowling place appears to be between Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, who has been playing for Tasmania in the Big Bash, and Umar Gul. Younis and Afridi come back to offer some serious strike power.Pakistan (possible) 1 Salman Butt, 2 Kamran Akmal (wk), 3 Younis Khan, 4 Mohammad Yousuf (capt), 5 Umar Akmal, 6 Shoaib Malik, 7 Shahid Afridi, 8 Umar Gul, 9 Mohammad Asif, 10 Mohammed Aamer, 11 Saeed Ajmal.Pitch and conditionsThe Gabba has been excellent for batting during the domestic Twenty20 matches over the past month and whoever wins the toss will want to set a big target. In the early overs of the second innings the ball can swing as darkness falls, making life harder for the run-makers, and the extra bounce will take the Pakistanis some time to adjust to. The weather is expected to be fine throughout Friday, with a top of 32C.Stats and trivia Australia and Pakistan have two wins each in five head-to-head contests at the Gabba, with one game rained out. Pakistan have won six and lost seven of their 14 matches at the ground while Australia have been successful 14 times in 31 appearances. The tourists own the lowest score at the Gabba in an ODI after managing 71 against West Indies in 1992-93. Dean Jones has the most runs in Brisbane with 513, while Ricky Ponting is the best of the current group with 324. Shoaib Akhtar’s 5 for 25 in 2002 equalled the best figures at the ground for an ODI.Quotes”If you read through their side, it looks a better team on paper than their Test team does. Guys like Afridi and Rana are very experienced and have been match-winners. Their one-day side does look particularly strong.”
Ricky Ponting
“It’s the best team we are playing against. We will give some fight, we have a young side, and I’m happy with it.”
Mohammad Yousuf

[ad_pod ]Crystal Palace fans have taken to Twitter to state their desire to see Selhurst Park favourite Scott Dann remain at the club, amid reported interest from 19th placed Fulham, according to Bleacher Report’s football insider Dean Jones on Twitter.The Eagles defender has only recently recovered from a serious knee injury sustained in the 0-0 draw against Manchester City at Selhurst Park last season, and has made just two starts in the current campaign in the FA Cup games against Grimsby and Tottenham – he performed excellently in both games, playing 90 minutes and keeping two clean sheets, as per Transfermarkt.However, given his undoubted quality, the 31-year-old perhaps deserves to be starting week in, week out, and he probably would be but for the formidable partnership of Mamadou Sakho and James Tomkins.Which player with “no potential” has just been named Crystal Palace’s worst ever January signing? Find out in the video below…As a result, relegation threatened Fulham are interested in bringing him to Craven Cottage to solve their defensive woes according to Dean Jones, although fans of the Eagles aren’t too up for the idea of seeing such a pivotal figure depart the club, if their reactions on Twitter are anything to go by…

Daniel Vettori, the New Zealand captain, is determined to win the second Twenty20 international against Sri Lanka in Lauderhill so that his team can “finish a long season on a high note”

Cricinfo staff23-May-2010Daniel Vettori, the New Zealand captain, is determined to win the second Twenty20 international against Sri Lanka in Lauderhill so that his team can “finish a long season on a high note”. Vettori said there was a “a little bit of that exhibition feel” in the lead up to the Florida Twenty20s but it disappeared once the games got underway, with both New Zealand and Sri Lanka wanting to pick up momentum after the ICC World Twenty20.New Zealand go into the second game protecting a 1-0 lead, after winning a low-scoring contest on Saturday. They struggled to make 120 on a slow pitch at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium but their bowlers ensured victory by restricting Sri Lanka to 92.Vettori, however, didn’t feel the conditions favoured any team in particular. “Most teams round the world are used to these conditions and are adept at them,” he said. “I don’t think teams have a stranglehold over other teams just because of conditions these days. We’ve played enough in this, and so have they obviously. We understand what we need to do and that’s why we won today.”New Zealand were 71 for 4 in the 13th over when Vettori began his innings and he said he knew straightaway they had to get to 120. “We weren’t sure if it was enough but we knew it’d be competitive. We kept losing wickets so it was difficult, and it was hard to hit from one end because of the wind and the size of the boundaries.”Sri Lanka’s chase started poorly, with Mahela Jayawardene falling to the second ball, and then Scott Styris picked up three key middle-order wickets with his medium-pace to swing the match New Zealand’s way. “I think the key was to make things a little uncertain for them – back of a length bowling, you weren’t too sure if it was going to stay low or bounce as it normally should,” Styris said. “So to try and put some uncertainty into the batsman’s minds, and their medium pacers did a good job as well, but we had the runs on the board.”Kumar Sangakkara, the Sri Lankan captain, said his team would have to make sure they had a different batting plan in the second game. “It was not the tallest of scores,” he said. “We should have been smarter in the way we batted. We had a good idea of what the pitch was going to do when we were bowling, we knew it was going to be slow and low and big shots were going to be difficult. We should have used our touch a lot more – placement and chip shots.”However, Sangakkara said there would be no major changes to Sri Lanka’s line-up and was non-committal on whether Sanath Jayasuriya, whose place in the XI is under increasing scrutiny, would play.Both captains had praise for the crowd that turned up to watch the first ever international match in the USA. “There were a lot of Sri Lankan fans here so it had that subcontinent feel,” Vettori said. “It was a crowd that was entertained, I thought. While it wasn’t as high-scoring as people would have wanted I think it was a pretty thrilling game.”Sangakkara said the crowd was great and hoped they’d return on Sunday. “Sri Lankans have a lot of fun when they watch cricket and today was no different. Hopefully they’ll come back tomorrow and we’ll give them a better performance.”

Former England captain Michael Vaughan believes England need to play five bowlers if they are to win an Ashes series in Australia for the first time since Mike Gatting’s side did it over 20 years ago

Cricinfo staff25-May-2010Former England captain Michael Vaughan believes England need to play five bowlers if they are to win an Ashes series in Australia for the first time since Mike Gatting’s side did it over 20 years ago. However, Vaughan feels the current England set-up, led by coach Andy Flower and captain Andrew Strauss, will choose to play an extra-batsman instead.”The debate all summer will be about England’s formation,” Vaughan told AFP. “Will it be six batters and four bowlers, or five and five? I firmly believe they are going to need five bowlers in Australia but I think this management group and Strauss will go with six and four.”They will say they win as many games with four (bowlers) as they do with five. I guess the question I will say is ‘well how many real top teams do we beat with four?'”Vaughan opted for a five-man attack during England’s thrilling home win over Australia in 2005. That line-up was led by a rampant Steve Harmison, and included Andrew Flintoff, Simon Jones, Matthew Hoggard and Ashley Giles. He also pointed out that England used five bowlers in their two Ashes Test victories in 2009.”We beat Australia last year with Freddie (Flintoff) in the team twice, at Lord’s and the Oval, and with five bowlers. I think we need five bowlers. I think Tim Bresnan is a good enough batter to bat at seven, with Graeme Swann and Stuart Broad at eight and nine. But I think they will go in with six (batsmen).”Vaughan, while praising Swann, expressed concern that Australia could target England’s player of the year if he was part of a four-man attack. “He’s had a wonderful year but I just worry that if Swanny doesn’t get it right and the opposition do attack him a little bit more, three seamers on days one and two looks very, very light,” he said. “Maybe they’ll get some overs out of Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood but they are not going to do much damage. We’ll wait and see. But from what I’ve seen of Andy Flower, I think they’ll go with six batters.”Vaughan went on to applaud England’s victory in the World Twenty20 final, the team’s first win in an ICC tournament, calling it an “amazing achievement”. But he insisted it still didn’t compare to the Ashes. “It’s not as important as the Ashes, don’t get me wrong. The Ashes is the pinnacle but, as an achievement, it’s right up there.”

Former Premier League star Mido has claimed that Liverpool's Mohamed Salah has already "signed contracts" to play in Saudi Arabia next season.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Salah tipped to leave LiverpoolMido claimed Salah has already signed contractAl-Ittifaq wanted to sign him last summerGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

Mido, a former Egypt international and West Ham and Tottenham striker, has claimed on social media that Salah will leave Liverpool at the end of the 2023-24 season, and says he has already put pen to paper on a Saudi Pro League contract.

AdvertisementWHAT HAS BEEN SAID

Taking to X, the 41-year-old Premier League cult hero dropped the bombshell about Salah's supposed departure to his 5.6 million followers, as he wrote: "Mohamed Salah will be in the Saudi League next season. Contracts have been signed."

GettyImageTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Saudi giants Al-Ittifaq had shown genuine interest Salah last summer and even tabled an offer worth £150 million. However at that time, Liverpool refused to let their star attacker leave. Recent reports, though, suggest that clubs in the Middle East will once again chase several Premier League stars including Salah when the transfer window reopens.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

GettyWHAT NEXT FOR MOHAMED SALAH?

The 31-year-old's current contract with the Premier League giants runs until 2025. With head coach Jurgen Klopp set to depart Liverpool at the end of this season, the Egyptian could be tempted to follow his manager through the Anfield exit door.

Left-arm fast bowler Kazi Kamrul Islam has sprained his ankle during a training session with Bangladesh A in Mirpur

Mohammad Isam21-Jul-2012Left-arm fast bowler Kazi Kamrul Islam has sprained his ankle during a training session with Bangladesh A in Mirpur, ahead of their invitational tournament in India. Debashish Roy, the Bangladesh Cricket Board doctor, said it would take three weeks for Kamrul to recover, meaning he will miss the Indian tournament, which begins on July 27.Kamrul has 120 wickets in 38 first-class matches for Chittagong, and was picked for the Bangladesh A side after finishing with 26 wickets in seven matches in the 2011-12 season’s National Cricket League.He is set to be replaced by pace bowler Robiul Islam, who was among the four standbys for the squad. Sylhet’s Robiul has played three Tests, and taken 144 first-class wickets in 47 matches.

Ireland are targeting victories in their two ODIs against Bangladesh this summer

Cricinfo staff26-Feb-2010Ireland are targeting victories in their two ODIs against Bangladesh this summer – at Stormont on July 15 and 16 – as a chance to gain valuable ranking points and as an important benchmark for the side as they attempt to assert their readiness to step up to cricket’s top level.”For the last three years or so, we have targeted matches against the lower-ranked full members as the most important means of measuring our progress and determining our readiness to step up to the elite level,” said Warren Deutrom, Cricket Ireland’s chief executive.”All our players will be aware of the perception that strong results against Test-playing countries create, and will be keen to maximise home advantage to good effect in the year that we are applying to move higher in the international firmament.”Ireland coach Phil Simmons sees the games as a chance to test his side ahead of the World Cup in 2011, where they will meet Bangladesh in the group stage at Dhaka. “It’s great that we have a chance to play them on home soil,” he said. “We lost to them badly in 2008 in Bangladesh but on our home turf I’d be confident of doing well.”We have beaten them in both the 2007 World Cup and in the World Twenty20 last year, so I don’t think there’s much to choose from between the two teams. It’s a great opportunity for us to gain valuable ranking points.”

Amad Diallo is yet to see a minute of competitive football this season due to injury, with a January move at Manchester United being speculated on.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Knee injury picked up during pre-seasonStarred for the Blacks Cats in 2022-23Loan move mooted for early 2024WHAT HAPPENED?

The highly-rated Ivorian winger caught the eye when taking in a loan spell at Sunderland last season. He hit 14 goals for the Black Cats as they made their way into the Championship play-offs. The intention was to stake a claim for regular game time at Old Trafford in 2023-24.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Amad suffered a knee injury in pre-season and has not been seen since. Youngsters such as Hannibal Mejbri and Kobbie Mainoo have seen game time for United under Erik ten Hag, suggesting that Amad would have got a look in had he been fit – especially with Jadon Sancho out of favour and Antony struggling for form.

WHAT MOWBRAY SAID ABOUT AMAD

He may be given a chance to rebuild form and fitness elsewhere in 2024, with there suggestions that he could return to the Stadium of Light. Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray has said of those reports: “You are asking the wrong person to be honest. I don't know what the plans are for January at the moment, we haven't really discussed it yet. I would imagine, if he's going to be fit, he'll be going off to the Africa Cup of Nations. I don't think he'd be available for the whole of January. Let's see what the club are thinking of how we are doing by then.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

GettyWHAT NEXT FOR AMAD?

Sunderland are pushing for a top-six finish again this season, and Amad would certainly aid their cause were he to head back to the North East. United could find a role for him, though, with Ten Hag still crying out for creativity and goal threat in the final third of the field.

Here's where you can watch St Louis City vs Minnesota United in MLS on TV or stream live.

When St. Louis City host Minnesota United on Saturday at CityPark, they have a chance to win their sixth game of the year, one of the most surprising scenarios we could have predicted at the start of the MLS season.

After thrashing Real Salt Lake 4-0 a week ago, St. Louis is the only side in the league with a perfect record, while the Loons' 1-1 draw with the Vancouver Whitecaps came after they conceded a goal in stoppage time.

▶ Watch every MLS match, including the playoffs, here

Saying that St. Louis has achieved a lot would be an understatement since, up until this point in the campaign, this expansion franchise has defied the odds.

After five games, it is difficult to still attribute their success to beginner's luck. They joined Sporting Kansas City and Los Angeles Galaxy as the only teams in league history to accumulate 15 points from their first five MLS games. If they were to win two more games, they would tie the Sporting KC team from 2012 for the longest winning streak to begin an MLS season (non-shootout).

The Loons had three points nearly secured but they were only able to collect one after conceding against Vancouver in the 98th minute for a second straight home game.

Seven crucial Minnesota players were absent from the roster last weekend due to the international window, and the lack of consistency with the replacements was obvious as the home team played much of the game on their heels.

GOAL brings you everything you need to know about where to watch the game on TV and stream live online.

St Louis City vs Minnesota United date & kick-off timeGame:St Louis City vs Minnesota UnitedDate:April 1, 2023Kick-off time:8:30 pm ET Venue:CityparkAdvertisementWhere to watch St Louis City vs Minnesota United on TV & live stream online

Fans in the United States & across the world can watch MLS with Apple TV MLS Season Pass.

Country TV channel Live stream

USN/AApple TV

Check out GOAL's soccer on U.S. TV guideTeam news & squadsSt Louis City team news and squad

St. Louis City will have Joakim Nilsson and Njabulo Blom unavailable for selection.

St Louis City possible XI: Burki; Nerwinski, Hiebert, Parker, Nelson; Stroud, Vassilev, Lowen, Ostrak; Gioacchini, Klauss

Position Players

GoalkeepersBurki, Lundt DefendersParker, Pidro, Nervenski, Nelson, Watts, Yaro, HiebertMidfieldersBlom, Vassilev, Lowen, Ostrak, Stroud, Perez, Martins, Sneijder, O'Malley, PompeuForwardsKlaus, Gioacchini, Adeniran, Alm, JacksonMinnesota United team news and squad

Minnesota United have Bakaye Dibassy, Emanuel Reynoso, and Ryen Jiba unavailable for selection.

Minnesota United possible XI: St. Clair; Valentin, Tapias, Boxall, Taylor; Arriaga, Rosales; Hlongwane, Lod, Fragapane; Garcia

Position Players

GoalkeepersIrwin, St. ClairDefendersHenry, Dibassy, Taylor, Tapias, Kallman, Valentin, MarquesMidfieldersLod, Hlongwane, Arriaga, Rosalaes, Fragapane, Trapp, MarquesForwardsAmarilla, Garcia, Oluwayesi, Weah, DunbarENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

Useful links

Live soccer on U.S. TV

Stream MLS matches on Apple TV

Clubs in the English top flight have until June 23 to tie down players to short-term deals if they want to finish the 2019-20 season

The coronavirus pandemic threw football into chaos this year.

While the Premier League season has now resumed, clubs and players alike face an uncertain future.

The financial ramifications of the disruption are yet to be truly seen but, in the short term, players up and down the country find themselves with decisions to make.

Most player contracts in the Premier League end on June 30 of a given year, but the 2019-20 season is now expected to run until late July. For clubs playing in Europe, fixtures may continue until the end of August.

The Premier League has set a deadline of June 23 for players to agree short-term contract extensions in order to play until the end of the season.

Some have already taken up this option – David Silva at Manchester City and Liverpool’s Adam Lallana among them – but plenty of players are still set to be without a club on July 1.

GettyWillian – Chelsea

Brazil international Willian has played more than 300 times for Chelsea since joining in 2013, winning two Premier League titles after the Blues hijacked a proposed move to Tottenham.

However, his future has been up in the air for some time now and he has been linked with a number of clubs during the 2019-20 season.

Manchester United and Arsenal have both been linked, with the 31-year-old still a useful player for any club looking to add strength in depth.

Barcelona were also rumoured to be considering a move during the January transfer window but for now, he is believed to be open to signing a temporary contract to finish the season with Chelsea.

AdvertisementGettyRyan Fraser – Bournemouth

Fraser’s decision not to agree a short-term contract extension has left Bournemouth staring down the barrel of relegation as the final stretch of the season looms.

He notched seven goals and 14 assists in the Premier League last season, though he has scored only once in the current campaign.

The Cherries restart the season in 18th. Simon Francis, Andrew Surman, Artur Boruc and Charlie Daniels have all agreed to short-term deals, but Fraser will depart for free.

Arsenal and Tottenham have both been linked with his signature.

Getty ImagesJan Vertonghen – Tottenham

Contrasting reports around Vertonghen’s immediate future mean it is currently unclear whether or not he will still be a Tottenham player come July 1.

The 33-year-old has been at Spurs since 2012, one of the key figures in their progression under Mauricio Pochettino.

His experience also means he will be a wanted man if he does leave on a free transfer.

Fellow defender Japhet Tanganga, who made his debut earlier this season, is also out of contract but had reportedly been in talks over a new deal before Covid-19 struck.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

GettyDavid Luiz – Arsenal

Arsenal are looking to reshape their squad on a budget under Mikel Arteta, and it remains to be seen whether Luiz will be part of the rebuild.

He may well have already played his last game for the Gunners, having been sent off in a disaster-class performance against Manchester City in their first game back.

Luiz has shown signs of being keen on another year at the Emirates Stadium but, after an unconvincing season, some fans would doubtless be content to see him go.

The defender’s agent, Kia Joorabchian, has said his future will be decided before the June 23 deadline.