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Saudi Arabian football chiefs have been sensationally tipped to buy the Champions League franchise and create a new worldwide Super League.

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Oil prices surging in Middle EastCould open door for purchase of UCLFinance expert claims Man Utd could benefitGetty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

The Saudi Pro League is gradually emerging as a new footballing superpower, having been able to attract a host of star names to the Middle East over the past year. Cristiano Ronaldo started the trend when he joined Al-Nassr after leaving Manchester United last November, with the likes of Karim Benzema, Neymar, N'Golo Kante, Roberto Firmino and Jordan Henderson treading the same path in the summer transfer window.

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The rapid rise of the Saudi Pro League has led to suggestions that the division's top teams could one day play in Europe's flagship Champions League competition. However, Ole Hansen and Kim Cramer Larsson, who work for Danish investment bank Saxo in respective head of commodity strategy and technical analyst roles, have gone a step further by suggesting that a Saudi Arabian consortium could purchase the entire Champions League franchise in the near future, on the back of an unprecedented surge in crude oil prices.

WHAT OLE HANSEN & KIM CRAMER LARSSON SAID

Such a move could then see Saudi officials push for the creation of a worldwide 'Super League', as Hansen and Cramer Larsson wrote in their annual 'Outrageous Predictions' article for : “Saudi Arabia’s radical restructuring of its economy away from its dependency on oil revenues towards becoming a tourism, leisure and entertainment powerhouse, receives an added boost from a meteoric rise in oil prices, which reach $150 (£118) per barrel around mid-year on stronger-than-expected demand, as the green transformation begins to sputter amid rising costs, and after OPEC+ oil, led by Saudi Arabia, maintains a firm grip on supply. In recent years, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, a known football enthusiast, has overseen the revamping of the Saudi Pro League, with a focus on improved on-pitch performance through the acquisition of world-class players in order to become one of the top 10 football leagues in the world. However, with oil revenues surging, MBS sees an excellent opportunity to go one step further and, backed by FIFA, the Kingdom launches a successful attempt to buy the UEFA Champions League, one of the world’s most prestigious football tournaments.

"Now holding the keys to the cherished football competition, the Saudis immediately move to transform it into a global club competition that FIFA, despite offering prize money of $150 million (£119m), had tried but failed to establish amid resistance from UEFA and the European Club Association, and not least the biggest clubs in Europe, fearing risk of players’ fatigue. However, with the Saudi takeover, the new offer reaches a level where the big clubs cannot say no, especially after being offered money for all 220 leading clubs under the European Club Association umbrella. A FIFA World Champions League becomes a reality, with a considerable number of games being played in Riyadh. The new competition ends up consisting of 48 teams, with European clubs just like the current UEFA Champions League format being guaranteed 32 spots, Asia/Middle East, Africa, and the Americas getting five spots each in the tournament, and the remaining going to Oceania.”

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The financial gurus have also claimed that Manchester United could be one of the top European clubs to benefit financially if the Saudis are indeed able to complete a full purchase of the Champions League in the coming years. “As a result of this takeover, the effect on the market would see Manchester United’s stock price doubled as Brent crude oil rises to $150 (£118) per barrel," Hansen and Cramer Larsson added.

Zimbabwe will become the first Full Member nation to tour Pakistan since March 2009, when terrorists attacked the Sri Lankan team in Lahore

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Apr-20154:41

Pakistan’s international isolation ends

Zimbabwe will be the first Full Member nation to tour Pakistan since March 2009, when terrorists attacked the Sri Lankan team in Lahore, rendering the country untenable as an international cricket venue because of security concerns. Zimbabwe Cricket confirmed the tour in Harare on Thursday, saying all the games would be played in Lahore.The PCB announced on Twitter that Zimbabwe would arrive in Lahore on May 19, and play two Twenty20 internationals and three ODIs between May 22 and 31. The T20s will be played on May 22 and 24, and the ODIs on May 26, 29 and 31.New deal for Whatmore

Dav Whatmore will coach Zimbabwe for four more years, Zimbabwe Cricket has announced.
“We can also confirm that @dfwhatmore has signed a new four year contract with @ZimCricketv, ” ZC chairman Wilson Manase was quoted as saying by the board’s Twitter account.
Whatmore had been announced as Zimbabwe coach in December last year, taking over the role from Stephen Mangongo.

“I can confirm that @ZimCricketv will tour @TheRealPCB in May,” Zimbabwe Cricket chairman Wilson Manase was quoted as saying by the board’s Twitter account. “We have taken cognisance of all the factors for us to arrive at this decision, so let’s not be alarmist about the situation in Pakistan.”Alistair Campbell, Zimbabwe Cricket’s managing director, said Pakistan would also tour Zimbabwe in August. “We are touring Pakistan as a measure of establishing bilateral relations between us and them,” he was quoted as saying on ZC’s twitter account. “They will also come to Zimbabwe in August.” Zimbabwe Cricket had already announced tours by India and New Zealand in July and August.On March 3, 2009, gunmen had ambushed the vehicles transporting the Sri Lankan players and match officials to the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore for the third day of the Test. Several players suffered injuries, while security personnel and civilians were killed, and as a result the match was abandoned and the tour called off. Ever since, Pakistan have had to play their home matches at offshore venues, primarily the UAE, as the ICC and other Full Members considered the country too much of a security risk.

A round-up from the latest matches in the Dhaka Premier Division

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Nov-2013Abdul Mazid struck an unbeaten 102 to guide Kalabagan Cricket Academy to a nine-wicket win over Gazi Tank Cricketers in the Dhaka Premier League. The win took KCA to fourth position with 11 points.It was the first List-A hundred for the opener who struck 12 boundaries and two sixes in his 136-ball innings. He shared an unbroken 150-run second wicket stand with Hamilton Masakadza, who made 77 off 70 balls with five fours and three sixes. Mazid had added 57 for the opening wicket with Avishek Mitra.Earlier, Gazi Tank were bowled out for 204 runs in 49.5 overs. Captain Imrul Kayes’ made 83 but his was the only contribution of note. Aftab Ahmed and Hamidul Islam made 22 each. Maksudul Hasan, Mitra and Zakaria Masud took two wickets each.Left-arm spinner Shamsul Alam’s five-wicket haul put Abahani in more safety after they beat Brothers Union by 27 runs. He finished with figures of 5 for 37 from ten overs.Batting first, Abahani made 227 in 49.3 overs with Greg Smith scoring 62 off 106 balls. Alauddin Babu and captain Shahriar Nafees scored 44 and 43 respectively. Shurawadi Shuvo took four wickets. In reply, Brothers Union were bowled out for 200 runs in 46.1 overs with Jashimuddin top-scoring with 33.Prime Bank Cricket Club crushed Victoria Sporting Club in Mirpur. Batting first, the defending champions were bowled out for 134 runs in the 41st over.Left-arm spin duo Liam Dawson and Enamul Haque jnr took three wickets each while Ravi Bopara took two wickets. In reply, Saikat Ali’s unbeaten 81 off 69 balls, hitting eight fours and three sixes.Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club beat Khelaghar Samaj Kallyan Samity by six wickets. Elias Sunny and Dilshan Munaweera starred with ball and bat for the winning side.Batting first, Khelaghar Samaj Kallyan Samity made 190 in 46.5 overs with Steven Mullaney making 44 and Michael Vandort’s 40. Sunny took 4 for 22 while Nahidul Islam and Angelo Perera took two wickets each.Munaweera then blasted 88 off 81 balls with five fours and five sixes, enough to complete the chase in just 35.2 overs.

Pakistan began their warm-up for the ICC World Twenty20 with a comprehensive win over Australia in Dubai, where their spinners flummoxed Australia’s long batting line-up

The Report by Brydon Coverdale05-Sep-2012
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Raza Hasan picked up two wickets on debut•AFPPakistan began their warm-up for the ICC World Twenty20 with a comprehensive win over Australia in Dubai, where their spinners flummoxed Australia’s long batting line-up. Not since the second T20 international ever played had Australia scored as few in an innings as the 89 for which they were dismissed in this match, and although Pakistan lost three wickets in the chase they were never in danger of losing. They cruised to the target with 31 balls to spare.Statistics don’t always mean much in T20 but the story of this match could be summed up with a few numbers. It was the first time since another loss to Pakistan in Dubai in May 2009 that Australia failed to hit a six in a T20 innings. They struck only three fours in the 19.3 overs they faced; Pakistan had that many within four overs. The only time Australia scored fewer in a completed T20 innings was 79 against England in Southampton in 2005, back when the IPL was not even a glimmer in Lalit Modi’s eye. Never before had a team beaten Australia with so many balls to spare.But the figures don’t tell how Pakistan managed such a one-sided result. Sohail Tanvir finished with 3 for 13 but it was the work of the spinners, Mohammad Hafeez, Saeed Ajmal and the debutant Raza Hasan that kept Australia from posting a competitive score. They picked up two wickets each and the regular breakthroughs and large boundaries starved the Australians.Again they found Ajmal difficult to pick, while Hasan’s clever variations showed that he can be a force at international level, while Hafeez was typically tidy. Pakistan also held their catches, which they had not always done during the ODIs, and only three Australians reached double figures, making it irrelevant that they had entered the game with eight batsmen.David Warner top scored with 22 from 25 balls, an innings that at the time looked scratchy but was solid when compared with the rest of the performances. Warner was the third man to fall when he pushed a catch back to the bowler Hafeez, after the innings had started shakily when Shane Watson was trapped in front by Umar Gul for 8.Smart stats

Pakistan beat Australia with 31 balls to spare. This is the highest number of balls remaining in a T20 defeat for Australia.

Australia’s total of 89 is their second-lowest in Twenty20 internationals. Their lowest total of 79 came against England in Southampton in 2005 (min seven wickets lost in innings)

Pakistan have the most wins in Twenty20 internationals (34). South Africa are second with 29 wins.

The win was Pakistan’s fifth against Australia in Twenty20 internationals. South Africa and Sri Lanka are second with four wins each.

The number of fours hit in Australia’s innings (3) is the second-lowest for a completed team innings in Twenty20 internationals. The lowest is two fours hit by South Africa against West Indies in Port Elizabeth in 2007 (major Test teams only).

Promoted to No.3, Michael Hussey chipped a catch to cover when he failed to pick Tanvir’s slower ball. Warner and George Bailey provided a slight recovery with a 33-run stand before Warner went, and that was followed soon after by Hasan’s first international wicket, which came when David Hussey failed to clear the man at long on.Bailey fell for 14 when he top edged a sweep off Hafeez and was caught at deep backward square leg, and it was up to Cameron White and Matthew Wade to attempt a recovery. But Pakistan’s spinners were too good for White and Wade, Ajmal’s variations especially deceptive, although it was Hasan who broke the partnership when Wade holed out to deep midwicket for 6 from 13 balls.Glenn Maxwell, who came in at No.8, was caught at deep square leg off Ajmal for 4 and next ball White failed to read Ajmal and was bowled for 15 off 22 balls. Xavier Doherty survived the hat trick ball but that was about all the Australians had to celebrate, as Tanvir finished off the tail to end up with 3 for 13.Australia’s bowlers had nothing to defend and their cause was hopeless from the start. Hafeez and Imran Nazir, playing his first international for two and a half years, gave Pakistan a solid start with their 30-run opening stand. They both found the boundary and Nazir showed a willingness to take on the Australian bowlers, despite the small chase.Hafeez (17) fell to a slower ball from Pat Cummins when he chipped a catch to midwicket and the Australians claimed a second when Ben Hilfenhaus bowled Nasir Jamshed for 10 with a good inswinger. Nazir eventually fell for 22 when he pushed a Watson full toss to cover, but Kamran Akmal and Shoaib Malik saw Pakistan home. Akmal struck the only six of the match and finished unbeaten on 31 from 24 balls. He hit more boundaries on his own than the Australians did for their entire innings.It was a clinical performance from Pakistan, but Australia did little to suggest their ninth place in the ICC T20 rankings is anything but accurate. Of course in T20 anything can happen on any day; Australia just need to make sure happens for them before this series is out. Because one day like this in the World T20 could be enough to send them home early.

Ajit Agarkar, the former India fast bowler, has been officially appointed Mumbai captain for the first time in his 16-year-long career

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Feb-2012Ajit Agarkar, the former India fast bowler, has been officially appointed Mumbai captain for the first time in his 16-year-long career. Agarkar has been stand-in captain before but has now been named captain of Mumbai for the whole of the league phase of the Vijay Hazare Trophy.The announcement marks a complete turnaround in relations between Agarkar and the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA). In November 2011, Agarkar had left the team in Cuttack as he was disappointed to not be picked in the XI for a Ranji Trophy match against Orissa. He consequently withdrew from the squad for the entire Ranji season but reconciled his differences with the board in a meeting with Milind Rege, Mumbai’s chairman of selectors, Ratnakar Shetty, the MCA vice-president, and Nitin Dalal, the MCA secretary, in February 2012.Agarkar was then named in the probables for the Vijay Hazare Trophy and has now been named captain, replacing Wasim Jaffer, who stepped down as captain in February after holding the post for four seasons. Agarkar, 34, has got the job ahead of the younger Ajinkya Rahane, who has been named vice-captain, and Abhishek Nayar. Both Rahane and Nayar had been spoken about as possible future captains of Mumbai.Squad: Ajit Agarkar (capt), Ajinkya Rahane (vice-capt), Wasim Jaffer, Ramesh Powar, Suryakumar Yadav, Dhawal Kulkarni, Abhishek Nayar, Iqbal Abdullah, Sushant Marathe (wk), Ankit Chavan, Kshemal Waingankar, Balwinder Singh Sandhu (jr), Siddharth Chitnis, Shoaib Shaikh, Anup Revandkar

New Zealand are in for a tough time in India in the Test series, according to Mark Richardson and Simon Doull

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Aug-2012New Zealand are in for a tough time in India in the Test series due to questions over their ability to take 20 wickets in a Test, the lack of world-class players, and some poor form coming in to the tour, according to former opener Mark Richardson and former fast bowler Simon Doull.Richardson and Doull, in conversation with Harsha Bhogle on ESPNcricinfo’s audio show , said the changes in structure, the appointment of a new coach and inconsistency from some of the team’s senior players added to New Zealand’s problems.”I think New Zealand are going to struggle,” Richardson said. “There’s no form behind them, they’re going to a very difficult place to succeed. The motivation will be there but I believe they are down on confidence.”I just can’t see this New Zealand team bowling out India. So draws, and one or two times that [Brendon] McCullum and [Ross] Taylor might come off may give them a chance in the shorter games.”New Zealand were beaten 0-2 in the Tests against West Indies before this tour, and they will be without Daniel Vettori, their lead spinner, due to injury. They have five seamers in the squad and two spinners, Tarun Nethula and Jeetan Patel. Doull, though, said a four-pronged pace attack – Chris Martin, Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Doug Bracewell – was the way to go for the visitors.”If they [spinners] are part of your four best bowlers, play them,” Doull said. “The flip side is, the Indians play ordinary spin a lot better. Our four best bowlers are our four quicks. There’s no point playing average spinners against very good quality Indian batsmen.”New Zealand’s lean run in recent times owed in part to their senior players, like Vettori and McCullum, not meeting expectations, Richardson said. Vettori picked up just four wickets in his previous four Tests, while McCullum got starts in five of his last eight innings, but went past 50 only twice.”McCullum is massively talented but massively overrated as well,” Richardson said. “He just doesn’t perform enough. When he does, it’s staggeringly good and sticks in people’s minds, but in the end it averages out to around about 30. Vettori once was a magnificent left-arm spinner. He is still very good but has lost the ability to take wickets. The key players have failed to be the catalyst for performance and the youngsters simply aren’t at the level to make up for that.”McCullum, Vettori and Taylor are among the New Zealand players with IPL contracts and there could be uncertainty over their availability for part of the tour of England next year as it clashes with the league. Doull said they were able to play in the IPL because they performed for their national team on the world stage. “I wonder if too many players around the world forget that that is where they were predominantly first seen [international cricket], and that’s where their loyalties should lie.”New Zealand are currently ranked No. 8 in both Tests and ODIs. When asked if they could only become a bigger force in the shorter formats, Doull said: “The stats are just not stacking up, to say we’ll be a better one-day side. There will be the odd good performance like there was in the World Cup, but remember South Africa [in the quarter-final] was the only side we had to beat in a one-off situation. To play [and win] three or four games in a row, we don’t seem to be able to do that.”Listen to the show here

Stand-in opener James Middlebrook scored a magnificent century as Northamptonshire dominated the opening day of their match against Gloucestershire

23-May-2012
ScorecardStand-in opener James Middlebrook scored a magnificent century as Northamptonshire dominated the opening day of their match against Gloucestershire at Wantage Road. Middlebrook, who moved up the order in place of the injured Rob Newton, struck a superb 121 off 204 balls, as Northants closed in a strong position.Scotland international Kyle Coetzer finished unbeaten on 81 from 211 deliveries, with Gloucestershire’s bowlers toiling away in the heat as the hosts piled on the runs. Northants won the toss and chose to bat in gloriously sunny conditions and Stephen Peters and Middlebrook took full advantage by making 79 between them for the opening wicket.Peters made a composed 44 before he was sent packing four overs before lunch when Ian Saxelby’s delivery clattered into his stumps. The hosts resumed after lunch on 85 for 1 and Middlebrook went on to complete his half-century with a four through mid-wicket off Will Gidman.The veteran piled on another 134 runs for the second wicket along with Coetzer as the hosts looked set to build a big score. Middlebrook went on to complete the eighth century of his first-class career, and his fourth for Northants, by crashing a poor Ed Young delivery through square leg for four.Middlebrook’s innings finally ended in the eighth over of the evening session, when he chipped Gloucestershire captain Alex Gidman to former New Zealand international Hamish Marshall at extra-cover. This meant he fell just six runs short of his career-best score of 127, made for Essex against Middlesex at Lord’s in June 2007.Gloucestershire’s beleaguered attack unsurprisingly immediately took the second new ball when it became available after 80 overs. The decision paid off three overs later when David Sales was well caught by Ian Cockbain at point off the bowling of Will Gidman and the visitors managed to claim one more wicket with the final ball of the day, when Alex Wakely played the same bowler on to his stumps.

Saeed Ajmal has received an official reprimand after pleading guilty to a Level 1 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct, on the third day of the Dubai Test against South Africa

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Oct-2013Saeed Ajmal, the Pakistan offspinner, has received an official reprimand for his celebrations following the wicket of Morne Morkel on the third day of the second Test in Dubai. The celebrations were considered insulting towards the umpires.The incident in question occurred in the 162nd over of South Africa’s innings, when Ajmal appealed for a catch against Morne Morkel, but was turned down by umpire Ian Gould. Pakistan had no reviews left. Morkel was dismissed off Ajmal’s next delivery, caught at first slip by Younis Khan, but the bowler celebrated continued appealing animatedly.Ajmal was charged with breaching Article 2.1.4 of the ICC Code of Conduct which relates to “using language or a gesture that is obscene, offensive or insulting during an International Match”.The offspinner admitted to the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee David Boon.

The USMNT defender, who had an incredible campaign for FC Cincinnati during the regular season, was recognized with the award Monday morning.

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Miazga named Defender of the YearFC Cincinnati won Supporters' ShieldOnto MLS playoff Conference quarterfinalsWHAT HAPPENED?

The 28-year-old central defender was crowned the best in the league on Monday, with an accumulated voting percentage of 25.45% of the total votes.

Current active players, selected media members and respective coaches/front office staff all account for the voting tally with one-third going to each section. Miazga's highest percentage of votes came from active media members.

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Miazga's accomplishments in 2023 are ahead of the rest, despite some worthy opponents in the race like Orlando City's Robin Jansson. The 28-year-old USMNT defender, however, anchored the league's fifth-best defense en-route to a Supporter's Shield and the No. 1 overall seed in the playoffs.

He was an MLS All-Star who played in the XI vs Arsenal over the summer, earned 10 clean sheets in matches he started in and when Cincy had him on the pitch, they won more often than not. To be exact, with Miazga in the mix, they went 21-4-12 – only falling four times since his August 2022 arrival.

DID YOU KNOW?

Miazga played for English Premier League side Chelsea early in his career, but after a few stints on loan from the Blues, the USMNT defender returned to the U.S. with Cincy in 2022.

He spent nearly a decade abroad, with clubs in the Netherlands, France, Belgium, Spain, and of course, England.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR MIAZGA AND FC CINCINNATI?

The 28-year-old and his club will take the pitch again on November 25, when they take on the Philadelphia Union in the MLS playoffs. The Eastern Conference quarter-final will debut the post-season's extra-time and penalties format, with Round One going straight to spot kicks. It's a win-or-go-home match for both sides.

Two more centuries joined the count of six from the last match, but rain prevented any play on the second day resulting in a draw between West Indies A and Sri Lanka A in the second unofficial Test in St Vincent

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Jun-2013Scorecard
File photo: Narsingh Deonarine added 123 runs for the fourth wicket with Kraigg Brathwaite•DigicelCricket.com/Brooks LaTouche PhotographyTwo more centuries joined the count of six from the last match, but rain prevented any play on the second day, resulting in a draw between West Indies A and Sri Lanka A in the second unofficial Test in St Vincent.Seamers Miguel Cummins and Jonathan Carter struck early for West Indies A, reducing the visitors to 33 for 2 after they won the toss and batted. But wicketkeeper Kaushal Silva and Angelo Perera took advantage of their good starts and converted them into a century and half-century respectively. Silva’s 23rd first-class century, comprising 14 fours, propelled their 112-run partnership that guided Sri Lanka to safety.Sri Lanka were 275 for 7 when Cummins and Carter returned to sweep up the tail. They shared seven wickets between them as Sri Lanka finished at 314.Rain washed out the entire second day, and the probability of another draw loomed as large as the angry clouds above the Arnos Vale Ground.Still under grey skies on the third day, West Indies sunk to 11 for 2 as Suranga Lakmal claimed Kirk Edwards and Assad Fudadin for one run each. Opener Kraigg Brathwaite and Narsingh Deonarine came together at the fall of the third wicket and notched up a 123-run partnership, the highest of the match. Brathwaite fell for 77 on the fourth morning, also plagued by overcast skies, but Deonarine, with 13 fours, would not be denied his ninth first-class century.Malinda Pushpakumara’s left-arm spinners accounted for both Brathwaite and Deonarine and added three more to his tally to claim his 20th five-wicket haul which also ensured a lead of 30 for his side.Sheldon Cotterrell removed Sri Lanka’s in-form captain Dimuth Karunaratne in the third over. But a steady Udara Jayasundera, Kithuruwan Vithanage and Perera then climbed into the West Indian bowlers, especially Cotterrell who leaked over 8 runs an over. Vithanage smashed two sixes and four fours in 34 balls, falling eight short of a fifty while Perera beat his strike-rate with 34 off 25 balls with five fours.Carter claimed both batsmen and on the stroke of Jayasundera’s fifty, the match and the series ended in a tame draw.