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Australia’s cricketers will fly out for a one-day tour of England and Ireland on Thursday knowing that time is running out for a new pay deal to be signed

Brydon Coverdale14-Jun-2012

Australia’s cricketers will fly out for a one-day tour of England and Ireland on Thursday knowing that time is running out for a new pay deal to be signed. Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) were due to resume negotiations on Thursday as they aim to find common ground on a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with the existing agreement to expire on June 30.If a new MoU is not completed by then, Australia’s players will need to decide whether to play on – they will have four ODIs remaining against England in early July – or call a strike. Australia’s Twenty20 captain and one-day batsman George Bailey, who is also a member of the ACA executive committee, said the players remained hopeful that they would not be put in such a difficult position.”The players still have full faith that the ACA and CA will be able to sort out the differences they have at the moment and come to a conclusion,” Bailey said. “Whenever there’s talk of a strike I think that’s very much a last, last resort. It would be a disaster if both the ACA and CA got to the stage where that had to occur. I’ve still got full faith that both parties will be able to rectify that in the next few days.”It is not just the national players who could be affected by the ongoing failure to reach a deal. State cricketers have been left in limbo, not knowing whether they will have a contract for next season and unable to negotiate a move interstate, as Cricket Australia has banned any player movements until a new MoU is agreed.That has left a number of domestic players with no choice but to train with their existing state in the knowledge that they might not be part of the squad next summer. Bailey, the captain of Tasmania, said it was a difficult situation for some players, particularly those on the fringes of the state system who did not know what their immediate future would hold.”There’s players who are in a position where they aren’t sure whether they should be training because the reality is they might not be playing for Tassie in a few months,” he said. “It’s that balance of should they be looking for work or should they be talking to other states, who actually aren’t allowed to talk to them at the moment. It’s a bit of a challenge for those guys.”They’re probably the guys you feel for most, the guys at the domestic level who are in limbo, not knowing where they’re going to be playing, who they’re going to be playing for, and the state associations are looking at who they’re going to recruit, who they’re going to contract. At that level you can understand the state associations are starting to get pretty frustrated and players would be wanting to know what’s going on. It’s probably less so at the national level.”The Australians begin their tour with a one-off ODI against Ireland in Belfast on June 23, before a five-match series against England from June 29 to July 10. The squad features several men who are returning after spending time out of the national side, including the fast bowlers Pat Cummins and Mitchell Johnson, neither of whom have played for Australia since the tour of South Africa last November due to injuries.The allrounder Steven Smith is also back in the mix, having been overlooked since the one-day portion of the South African tour in October. The bowlers will be under the guidance of Ali de Winter, the Tasmania assistant coach, who has been seconded to the squad as temporary bowling coach.

أكد كريستوف جالتييه مدرب باريس سان جيرمان أنه لا يشكك في نجميه ليونيل ميسي وسيرجيو راموس، ويثق في قدرتهما على التعامل مع الموقف الذي يمر به الفريق بعد توديع دوري أبطال أوروبا.

ورفض مدرب باريس سان جيرمان التقليل من إنجاز الفوز بالدوري، مشيرًا إلى أنه حال فوز فريقه باللقب هذا الموسم سيكون الـ11 للنادي.

وودع باريس سان جيرمان دوري الأبطال على يد بايرن ميونخ الألماني من دور الـ 16.

وينتهي عقدي ميسي وراموس مع باريس سان جيرمان ولم يصلا بعد لاتفاق لتجديد العقد مع الفريق.

وقال جالتييه في مؤتمر صحفي اليوم الجمعة: “لا أشك في هذين اللاعبين العظماء بسجل حافل لا يصدق، ويعرفان هذا النوع من المواقف”.

وأضاف: “إنهما لاعبان رفيعا المستوى للغاية، ينتقلان بسرعة من مباراة إلى أخرى، فيما يتعلق بعقودهم، فقد اعتادا على العيش في هذا النوع من اللحظات”.

اقرأ أيضًا | جالتييه: لست مضطرًا لإقناع مبابي بمشروع باريس سان جيرمان

وتابع: “إذا فاز باريس سان جيرمان بالدوري الفرنسي هذا الموسم، فسيكون هو الحادي عشر، وهو ما لم يتم الوصول إليه في هذا البلد، لا يجب أن نقلل من هذا الإنجاز”.

وواصل: “بعض لاعبينا لديهم أرقام غير عادية لكنهم مهووسون بإضافة هذه الكأس، والبعض الآخر لم يفوز بها من قبل، إنه شيء مهم للغاية”.

وأكمل: “أرسلتم جميعًا رسالة مفادها أن لقب الدوري هذا سهل، لكنه ليس كذلك، أرى ما يحدث في الخارج، بايرن ميونخ لا يفوز بدوري أبطال أوروبا كل عام”.

وأشار مدرب باريس سان جيرمان: “لكن في كل مرة يفوزون فيها بالدوري، يكون لديهم احتفال كبير، ويحتفلون مع مشجعيهم وكل من في النادي”.

وأتم: “يجب أن يكون الأمر هو نفسه معنا، نحن بحاجة إلى التوقف عن التقليل من شأن كوننا أبطال فرنسا، هذا ليس بالأمر السهل”.

Australia’s coach Micky Arthur has said that Mitchell Johnson will have to compete with Pat Cummins for a place in the playing XI

ESPNcricinfo staff15-May-2012

Australia’s coach Micky Arthur has said Mitchell Johnson will have to compete with Pat Cummins for a place in the starting XI during the one-day series against Ireland and England in June and July.Both Johnson and Cummins were recalled to the squad after recovering from foot injuries they sustained during Australia’s Test tour of South Africa in November 2011. “Mitchell Johnson returns and we can’t wait to have him back around the group,” Arthur said. “He may have to wait his turn though, as we are taking such a talented group of bowlers on the tour with us.”Arthur said he was excited with the prospect of seeing Cummins, who took seven wickets on Test debut against South Africa last November, return to top-flight cricket. “The player I am most excited about is Pat Cummins, we all saw what he could do in his one and only Test match and to have him back in the mix is fantastic,” he said. “He has the ability to become one of the best in the world. He and Patto [James Pattinson] will take a huge amount out of this tour.”Arthur hoped the Pattinson-Cummins combination would make their attack a force during the Ashes in 2013. “We hope they both will be firing this time next year when we go to England to claim the Ashes back and drawing on the experience of touring the UK before will certainly give them an edge.”Arthur also expressed support for Australia’s Test batting line up. “I am very happy with where our Test team is headed. Continuity in selection and role clarity is so important in creating team culture and I know that all players now know where and how they fit in,” he said. “We have a settled top six now and, together, this unit has played seven Test matches.”Edited by Carlyle Laurie

Afghanistan maintained their perfect record in Group A thanks to a superb all-round effort by Samiullah Shenwari that helped them beat Canada by 41 runs at the ICC Global Cricket Academy

Peter Della Penna in Dubai18-Mar-2012
ScorecardSamiullah Shenwari’s 61 off 34 balls boosted Afghanistan to 174•ICC/Thusith Wijedoru

Afghanistan maintained their perfect record in Group A thanks to a superb all-round effort by Samiullah Shenwari that helped them beat Canada by 41 runs at the ICC Global Cricket Academy. While the final margin indicates a comfortable win in the end for Afghanistan, the match could have easily been tilted in Canada’s favour, but fortune seemed to favour the Afghanistan players on the day, none more so than Shenwari.Afghanistan got off to a rollicking start thanks to Karim Sadiq, who toyed with Canada legspinner Junaid Siddiqui in the second over to hit a string of boundaries: a late cut to third man, a cut through point and a straight drive through mid-on. Sadiq’s aggressiveness almost got the best of him off the fifth ball of the over when he tried to drive down the ground again on 17 and sent a sharp return chance which Siddiqui could not hang onto.Sadiq plundered another 19 runs after the drop, including a six over square leg that put a charge into the hundreds of flag-waving Afghan supporters in attendance, before Zahid Hussain spun Canada back into the match with three wickets in four balls. The left-arm spinner induced a leading edge from Sadiq that went to Jimmy Hansra at cover. Shabir Noori crossed while the ball was in the air and was on strike for the next ball, which he scooped to Hiral Patel on the boundary at long-on.After Mohammad Shahzad nudged a single to prevent a hat-trick, Afghanistan captain Nawroz Mangal danced down the pitch first ball and was beaten in the flight. Rustam Bhatti fumbled badly behind the stumps, but Mangal had given up and Bhatti recovered to scoop up the ball and dislodge the bails to make it 53 for 3 four balls into the eighth over.Shahzad was joined by Shenwari and the pair took a few overs to settle before Shenwari decided it was time to have a go. With the score at 70 on the last ball of the 12th and Shenwari on 6, he slogged Harvir Baidwan back towards Patel on the long-on boundary. Patel misjudged the ball badly, running in five yards before watching in horror as it sailed over his head and landed just over the rope for six.”Those chances you have to take,” Canada captain Rizwan Cheema told ESPNcricinfo after the game. “If you miss one it will always hurt you. He came in just a little bit. If we took that catch it would be a different story.””I was just thinking God help me,” Shenwari said, describing his mindset while the ball was in the air. “He didn’t [catch it]. I wanted to take my chance and be positive.”Shenwari could not have been more positive, cracking 49 runs off his next 20 deliveries with only one dot ball in that stretch. He showed his class in the 14th over with identical boundaries off back-to-back deliveries, stroking Baidwan wristily through midwicket. He brought up his half-century in 31 balls, and his stand with Shahzad produced 80 for Afghanistan, setting a solid platform for the bowlers to defend. The only time luck went against him was when he was run out for 61 in the final over trying to pinch an extra run and get back on strike off a wide.Canada did not shrivel in the face of the target of 175. After the early setback of losing both openers, Siddiqui led an audacious assault that began by slogging Sadiq over midwicket for six, part of a 17-run fourth over. Against Izatullah Dawlatzai in the fifth, Siddiqui pulled a short ball for four and when Dawlatzai responded by pitching it up, Siddiqui was ready to drive him through the covers to the rope. After five overs, Canada stood tall at 53 for 2.Three balls later, Shenwari began to put his stamp on the second innings with his legspin, cutting Canada back down to size. He tempted Siddiqui with a flighted delivery on the stumps and the batsman couldn’t resist one more heave. It brought about his demise for 21. Nitish Kumar continued to soldier on and had Jimmy Hansra provide brief support as they took the score to 73 after 9 overs, but Shenwari struck again to start the 10th. Hansra played back when he should have been on the front foot and was trapped in front for 6.Canada’s last threat was a potential blinder from Cheema, but he lasted just four balls before holing out to the safe hands of Mohammad Nabi at mid-on in the 11th. Tyson Gordon tried to sweep a full toss from Shenwari and was struck on the toe for another leg before and Baidwan made it two in two when he tamely pulled Shenwari to deep midwicket.Canada had thrown their best punches to start the chase but were now out on their feet at 87 for 7. The rest of the innings meandered with the result a foregone conclusion. Kumar provided some resistance before slashing to third man for 38 and Canada eventually finished on 133 for 9.Afghanistan remains in pole position in Group A with 10 points while Canada sits on six points, and is suddenly under some pressure to hang onto the third and last playoff spot, with Nepal breathing down their neck. Canada and Nepal square off on the final day of group matches, on Tuesday, in a match that could decide who takes third.

ابتعد لاعب وسط الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالنادي الأهلي، لويس ميكيسوني، عن المشهد خلال الأسابيع القليلة الماضية بعد إغلاق سوق الانتقالات في شهر يناير.

لم يعد ميكيسوني إلى الأهلي مرة أخرى رغم قطع إعارته مع نادي أبها الذي أعير له في بداية الموسم، لكن مستوى اللاعب الموزمبيقي لم يرق لمستوى التوقعات هناك مع الفريق السعودي.

قرر أبها عدم استمرار ميكيسوني معه حتى نهاية فترة الإعارة مع انتهاء الموسم الحالي، لكن الأهلي وضعه في قائمة الانتظار نظرًا لعدم حاجته إلى جهوده مرة أخرى.

وكان ميكيسوني قد انتقل إلى صفوف الأهلي في صيف عام 2021 من سيمبا المنافس في الدوري التنزاني مقابل 900 ألف دولار، لكنه لم يشارك سوى في 28 مباراة وسجل 5 أهداف وصنع آخر في جميع البطولات.

اقرأ أيضًا.. اتحاد الكرة يعلن حكم مباراة الأهلي والمقاولون العرب في الدوري المصري

وتواصل “btolat.com” مع وكيل ميكيسوني، سيمون دوارتي، للحديث عن آخر تطورات مستقبل اللاعب، وقال: “لويس متواجد في موزمبيق بالوقت الحالي، يشعر بالهدوء تجاه مستقبله”.

وتابع: “لم يلعب كرة القدم منذ فترة، لكننا نجهز لعودته من جديد للملاعب”.

وبسؤاله “هل تلك العودة ستكون للأهلي أم الرحيل؟”، قال: “ميكيسوني لديه عقد مع الأهلي حتى يونيو 2025، لدينا العديد من الخيارات من بينها عروض خارجية”.

وعن تلك العروض: “لن أتحدث عن أسماء الأندية الراغبة في ضم ميكيسوني، لكنها من خارج قارة إفريقيا، سيكون هناك أخبار جديدة خلال الأيام القليلة المقبلة”.

وأضاف: “علينا الانتظار لبضعة أيام قليلة حتى يتم حسم كل شيء ومعرفة الوجهة المقبلة للاعب”.

وحول انفتاح الأهلي حول رحيل ميكيسوني من عدمه في الوقت الحالي، قال: “نعم، موقف الأهلي إيجابي تجاه اللاعب ويريد رحيله وتسهيل المفاوضات مع الأندية الراغبة في ضمه”.

Lalit Modi might have cleared the way for Andrew Flintoff to be bought by Chennai Super Kings in the 2009 IPL auction by convincing Rajasthan Royals to retain the contract of Sohail Tanvir

Tariq Engineer07-Feb-2012

Lalit Modi might have cleared the way for Andrew Flintoff to be bought by Chennai Super Kings in the 2009 IPL auction by convincing Rajasthan Royals to retain the contract of former Pakistan fast bowler Sohail Tanvir, correspondence from that period has indicated. By retaining Tanvir, Royals were left with a reduced purse at the auction and were unable to match Super Kings’ bids for Flintoff.Modi, the former IPL commissioner, told CNN IBN, an Indian news channel, that the sale of Flintoff to Super Kings had been manipulated. “That onus was on me and as chairman I should have not allowed that to happen then,” Modi said. “I was arm-twisted to allow Andrew Flintoff to go to Chennai Super Kings. I’m to blame for that. It’s a fact.”However, Modi did not reveal how he arranged for Super Kings to buy Flintoff but emails between him and N Srinivasan – the managing director of India Cements, who own Chennai Super Kings, the BCCI secretary at the time and now its president – appear to show that Modi had cleared the way. The emails – which ESPNcricinfo has seen – were written on February 4, 2009, two days before the auction.”What a nightmare to convince them not to terminate tanveer and also not to take flintoff,” Modi wrote. “Warne went of [sic] the handle. But have managed it by using stick and carrot strategy. Thus they have [$]1.875 [million] only. Much love Lalit.” Srinivasan’s reply later the same day reads: “Thanks. You are most sweet. Srini.” The existence of the emails was first reported by CNN-IBN in September, 2010.Super Kings had been favourites to sign Flintoff at the 2009 auction because they were the only franchise to have the whole $2 million to spend. They had originally retained Chamara Kapugedera, the Sri Lanka batsman, for $150,000, but were later given permission to cancel his contract, restoring their full purse.Flintoff was sold for $1.55 million at the auction in Goa, making him the most expensive player at the time alongside Kevin Pietersen. Mumbai Indians had, by buying JP Duminy for $950,000, effectively ruled themselves out of the bidding for Flintoff, and Royal Challengers Bangalore did not enter the bidding for him at all. Royals tried to keep pace, but after buying Shaun Tait for $375,000, they had only $1.5 million left, and Super Kings eventually got him.The participation of Pakistan players in the 2009 IPL was in doubt because of the Mumbai terror attacks in November 2008 and, a day after the above email exchange, six Pakistan players had their contracts terminated. But four other contracts, including Tanvir’s, were only “suspended”, with the affected teams allowed to sign replacements outside of the auction. If Royals had terminated Tanvir’s contract instead, the team would have had an extra slot for a player in the auction and their full purse.The BCCI has always maintained that the auction was free of collusion. Board and IPL officials told ESPNcricinfo that they did not wish to comment on Modi’s interview, but Srinivasan told that while he had not watched the interview, he could state that “there is absolutely no substance or truth in what he is saying. He [Modi] is talking about 2009 auctions and this is 2012. If what he is saying is true, then why didn’t he speak out earlier?”

The fast bowler Jackson Bird has kept Tasmania firmly in the race to make the Sheffield Shield final with a five-wicket haul in Hobart

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Mar-2012
ScorecardIt was another excellent day for Jackson Bird•Getty Images

The fast bowler Jackson Bird has kept Tasmania firmly in the race to make the Sheffield Shield final with a five-wicket haul in Hobart. The Tigers skittled the competition leaders Western Australia for 142 and by the close of the first day they were already halfway to first-innings points, having reached 1 for 72 with Ed Cowan on 46 and Nick Kruger on 5.Tasmania need at least two points from the match to have any chance of making the final, while the Warriors can still miss out should they lose the game outright. They faced a challenge when they were sent in by the stand-in captain Ricky Ponting on a Bellerive Oval greentop and Bird removed both openers for single-figure scores.Shaun Marsh and Adam Voges steadied for the Warriors until Marsh edged behind for 32 off the bowling of James Faulkner, who picked up Travis Birt two balls later. But it was Bird who really troubled the batsmen, collecting Luke Ronchi, who top-edged a bouncer, and Jason Behrendorff, who was caught at mid-off.The big wicket was that of Voges, who on 49 was taken at slip off the bowling of Bird, having already had two lives in the difficult conditions. Bird finished with 5 for 32 off 19 overs, an outstanding effort and his fourth five-wicket haul this summer, remarkable for a man who did not make his first-class debut until November.In reply, Tasmania’s top order got through until stumps for the loss of only one wicket, that of Steve Cazzulino for 18. The Tigers had made three late changes due to a food-poisoning outbreak in the side but that didn’t seem to affect their performance on the first day, and the Warriors face an uphill battle to secure their place in the final.

MatériaMais Notícias

De forma discreta e com apenas duas checagens, o VAR (árbitro de vídeo, do inglês) fez sua estreia no futebol brasileiro nesta quarta-feira. A tecnologia entrou em ação nas quartas de final da Copa do Brasil, nos jogos entre Santos x Cruzeiro e Corinthians x Chapecoense. Os árbitros dessas partidas receberam informações via ponto eletrônico, mas optaram em não ver o replay e deixar o jogo seguir.

Na Vila Belmiro, a jogada que contou com o auxílio do VAR aconteceu aos 11 minutos do segundo tempo. Após cruzamento, Gabigol simulou uma carga de Lucas Romero e caiu dentro da pequena área. O jogo seguiu rolando por 15 segundos, até o momento em que a bola saiu para lateral e o árbitro Wilton Pereira Sampaio aproveitou para ouvir o que os assistentes de vídeo estavam falando em seu ponto eletrônico. Após 27 segundos, o juiz foi informado que nada aconteceu e deu continuidade a partida.

Já em Itaquera, os árbitros de video também tiveram pouco trabalho e fizeram o uso do recurso tenológico apenas uma vez. O lance aconteceu aos 36 minutos do segundo tempo, quando os jogadores da Chapecoense reclamaram de um suposto toque de mão de Romero dentro da área. Wagner do Nascimento Magalhães deixou a bola rolar, mas logo recebeu informações via ponto eletrônico. Após 52 segundos de paralisação, o VAR não constatou irregularidades, e o jogo continuou.

Vale ressaltar que a equipe de arbitragem tinha à disposição entre 14 e 16 câmeras para alguma consulta. A CBF planeja usar o VAR até a final da Copa do Brasil, possivelmente um teste antes de uma provável implementação no Brasileirão. Palmeiras e Bahia se enfrentarão nesta quinta-feira, às 19h45, na Arena Fonte Nova e será mais uma partida que contará com o árbitro de vídeo.

Por conta de ser algo inovador no futebol nacional, o LANCE! conversou com ex-árbitros de futebol para saber os erros e acertos desse primeiro dia de uso do recurso. Confira abaixo as declarações.

Sálvio Spínola, ex-árbitro de futebol e comentarista de arbitragem.
“Vejo o VAR como solução para erros grandes, chamo de erro de ‘elefante’ e não para erros pequenos, que chamo de erro de ‘formiga’. Nos jogos de ontem não vi a necessidade da interferência e nem de parar o jogo. Olha o que prega o VAR: Mínima interferência e máximo beneficio. Quanto a parte tecnológica, câmeras, ainda tenho algumas dúvidas. Utiliza-se as câmeras da transmissão? São todas? E se o VAR não tiver uma tomada e o transmissão mostrar o erro? Vamos aguardar. Para completar, a diferença com a FIFA e ligas é que lá eles geram as imagens, aqui não é a CBF e sim uma emissora”.

Jose Roberto Wright, ex-árbitro de futebol
“O trabalho realizado para ajudar na elaboração do VAR foi de ótima qualidade, e olha que foram jogos difíceis e empolgantes. Os lances que poderiam gerar dúvidas para os componentes da arbitragem foram corretos, e a equipe da tecnologia agiu muito bem nessas partidas. A primeira impressão é muito boa”.

Márcio Rezende de Freitas, ex-árbitro de futebol
“Sou totalmente favorável à utilização do VAR, que veio para ficar. As demandas serão melhoradas com a prática e o tempo. Sempre respeitando a autoridade do árbitro, óbvio. Nas partidas de ontem, a tecnologia agiu de forma correta e até o momento não tem o que criticar. Estava na hora do futebol brasileiro se modernizar”.

Confira também a repercussão nas redes sociais sobre a utilização da tecnologia nos jogos desta quarta-feira.

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Como é bom ver a iniciativa da copa do Brasil em usar o VAR, mtas vezes os campeonatos são decididos por causa de erros de arbitragem

— Doug Calistо 🇦🇹 (@Calisto_Doug) 2 de agosto de 2018

Efeito do VAR.

Mesmo sem o uso da tecnologia no jogo, o juiz e os bandeirinhas foram perfeitos na partida Santos 0 x 1 Cruzeiro.

— O Time do Povo! (@OTimedoPovoCEC) 2 de agosto de 2018

Realmente esse VAR só vai funcionar se for estilo FIFA, esse que estão usando na COPA DO BRASIL não serve pra nada.

— ꤇ꤣꤐ॑ಽ 💎 𝕻𝖎𝖌 𝕲𝖗𝖊𝖊𝖓 🐷🇳🇬 (@JubVasconcelos) 2 de agosto de 2018

VAR meio tosco na Copa do Brasil. Não lembra o glamour da Copa.

— Eduardo Tironi (@etironi) 2 de agosto de 2018

o VAR resolveria a maioria dessas picuinhas comuns aqui no Brasil. se você vê nessa rodada da copa do brasil o comportamento dos jogadores já mudou, e teve 0 erros importantes, até agr.

— PALMEIRAS NEWS (@SEPNEWS2018) 2 de agosto de 2018

Tillakaratne Dilshan, the Sri Lanka captain, is targetting a strong finish to the ODI series after his team won the fourth match by five wickets in Kimberley

Firdose Moonda in Kimberley21-Jan-2012

What if Tillakaratne Dilshan had come good more than just once in the Tests and in the four ODIs so far? What if Sri Lanka’s bowlers had been able to take 4 for 47 in one of the previous matches as well? What if their fielders had shown the commitment they did in Kimberley throughout?Then, according to Dilshan, “the last match could have been a final.” Instead, the corpse of the series will travel to Johannesburg. However, Sri Lanka’s steady improvement in each game promises a contest worthy of more than dead-rubber status, and if they can further redeem their reputation at the Wanderers it will take some pressure off the team, which will return home to face the possibility of a change of regime.”We need to finish strongly,” Dilshan said after his team chased 300 with five wickets in hand and eight balls to spare. “A 3-2 result will be a fantastic effort, but we have to play well. We can’t relax because South Africa are a good team and they are playing well. We know we are capable, and knew we could do much better than the first game.”Dilshan probably has the most at stake. Whispers are becoming louder that his term as captain, which runs until the end of the tour of South Africa, will not be extended and that he may be dropped from the team after a string of poor performances and badly judged dismissals. Through the tour, however, the Sri Lankan camp has used the same excuse when asked about Dilshan’s poor form – that when he fires, the fireworks are worth the wait.In Kimberley, Dilshan showed why people were willing to wait. He recorded his highest score of the ODI series – a run-a-ball 87 – and looked good for many more. After two ducks and an uncharacteristically watchful 33 in the first three games, Dilshan was himself again.”It feels good to score some runs, but it’s a bit late,” Dilshan said, unable to hide his regret. “The pitch was really good and when Upul [Tharanga] got out, I took a few chances because we were chasing 300. I just played my own game. After the Dilscoop went for six, I got more confident.”Dilshan brought out his signature shot off Vernon Philander’s second ball. It sailed over the fine-leg boundary and the ease with which Dilshan conducted the rest of his innings was noticeable.He took the bullishness of his innings to the press conference as well and, for the first time, defended his leadership with some aggression. “I am not listening to the news, anyone can write anything,” he said. “I want to finish this series because they [the selectors] appointed me for the South Africa tour. It’s up to them if I carry on. I am waiting for their call. I’m still enjoying my captaincy.”Although Dilshan has not led Sri Lanka to a single Test or ODI series win during his tenure since the World Cup, he said he had achieved other goals for the country, among them blooding the next generation at enormous self-sacrifice.”The main thing is that I want to see youngsters performing for Sri Lanka. I have done everything for my country. When they wanted me to keep wicket, I did it. When they wanted me to bat at No. 1, I did it. When they want me to bat at No. 6, I do it. These are the last few years of my international career and I want to finish strongly. After another few years I can sit and watch these youngsters do these things for Sri Lanka.”One of the most promising youngsters to have emerged under Dilshan’s captaincy is Dinesh Chandimal, who has been the shining light of Sri Lanka’s ODI series. Dilshan has talked up the 22-year old and, after Chandimal scored 59 in Kimberley, had more praise for the young man. “He is improving in every single game and learning in every game. He will have a long career and I think he will become one of the best cricketers in the world.”Sri Lanka’s Man of the Match in the fourth ODI was Thisara Perera, another youngster who has started to flourish. Dilshan sent him in at No. 6, ahead of Angelo Mathews, and Perera responded with a match-winning 69 off 44 balls, hitting a flurry of sixes to take Sri Lanka past the target.”We thought we would give him an opportunity because he hits the ball hard,” Dilshan said. “Even his mis-hits can clear the boundary easily. He grabbed the opportunity well.”Sri Lanka’s last opportunities will present themselves in Johannesburg. What if Sri Lanka are able to take every one of them?

يحل فريق ريال مدريد ضيفًا ثقيلًا، على فريق أوساسونا، غدًا السبت، في العاشرة مساء بتوقيت القاهرة، ضمن لقاءات الجولة 22 من الدوري الإسباني، على ملعب إل سادار.

وبحسب “ماركا” و”ريليفو”، فإن كريم بنزيما، وتوني كروس، وفيرلاند ميندي، ولوكاس فاسكيز، سيغيبون بشكل مؤكد عن مباراة الغد في الدوري الإسباني، بينما يعود كل من تيبو كورتوا، الذي سيبدأ أساسيًا، وفينيسيوس جونيور، وإيدين هازارد.

وأوضحت التقارير أن كروس لم يتعاف من المرض الذي أجبره على التغيب عن مباراة الأربعاء الماضي، أمام إلتشي في البرنابيو، ولم يكن مع بقية زملائه في فالديبيباس (مركز التدريب) اليوم الجمعة، ولن يسافر غدًا.

اقرأ أيضًا.. ذا صن: مانشستر يونايتد ينافس ليفربول على لاعب تشيلسي في الصيف

بدأت مشاكل لاعب الوسط بعد فوزه بكأس العالم للأندية في المغرب بسبب الفيروس الذي أصيب به، وبدأ بحمى وتوعك، وهي مضاعفات منعته من التدرب طوال الأسبوع، كما أنه يمر بأيام عصيبة للغاية، حيث يحتاج إلى رعاية طبية بشكل دائم بعدما فقد وزنه وكتلة عضلاته.

وسيسافر أيضًا فريق ريال مدريد، إلى ليفربول، ليخوض مباراة الذهاب في دور الـ16 من دوري أبطال أوروبا، على ملعب أنفيلد، يوم الثلاثاء القادم، في العاشرة مساء بتوقيت القاهرة.

وبحسب “ريليفو”، فإن وضع توني كروس ليس جيدًا، حيث لن يلعب غدًا ولن يكون جاهزًا بنسبة 100% لمباراة ليفربول، بينما كريم بنزيما أدرك أن يجب عليه إدارة وقته بذكاء في أرض الملعب حتى لا يتعرض لإصابات كثيرة، وسيكون لائقًا لمباراة ليفربول.

ويحتل ريال مدريد المركز الثاني في الدوري الإسباني، برصيد 48 نقطة بفارق 8 نقاط عن المتصدر برشلونة، ولا يوجد أي هامش للخطأ في مباراة أوساسونا، حيث أن أي تعثر سيجعل النادي الملكي بعيدًا جدًا عن الاحتفاظ بلقبه.