Alec Stewart, the Surrey director of cricket said that signing up Shakib on a one-match deal was an “easy decision”

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Sep-2024Alec Stewart, Surrey’s director of cricket, said it was “an easy decision” to sign Shakib Al Hasan on a one-match deal as the club confirmed his arrival for their vital County Championship fixture against Somerset at Taunton this week.Surrey are on the hunt for a third consecutive Championship title in Stewart’s final season as director of cricket and are 24 points ahead of second-placed Somerset with three matches remaining this season. They have eight players missing on England duty this week, due to clashes with the end of the Sri Lanka Test series and the start of the Australia T20Is.Those players include Will Jacks and Dan Lawrence, who have been used as spin-bowling allrounders this season. “We’ve been aware for a period of time that this fixture was likely to be one where we would have a significant number of players away on England duty and, in particular, missing two of our spinning allrounders,” Stewart said. “When the opportunity to bring a player of the quality of Shakib to the club came along, it was an easy decision to make.”Shakib brings a wealth of experience and outstanding skill with bat and ball and we look forward to seeing what he can do for Surrey.”Related

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Shakib effectively replaces Sai Sudharsan, who has returned to India for the 2024-25 Duleep Trophy. For Shakib, the fixture also represents the chance to play competitive cricket before Bangladesh’s upcoming Test series in India.”Surrey are one of the most prestigious clubs in the world and I am pleased to get the chance to represent the club,” he said. “I’m coming here to have an impact and help the team achieve their goals for the season.”With so many players unavailable, Surrey have also convinced Tom Curran to play first-class cricket for the first time in two years. Curran announced in February 2023 that he was stepping away from red-ball cricket “for my body and for my mental health” but has been named in a 15-man squad to travel to Taunton this week.Along with Jacks and Lawrence, Surrey are also missing Ollie Pope, Gus Atkinson, Jamie Smith, Sam Curran, Reece Topley and Jamie Overton – although they have still named seven international players in their squad. Somerset’s squad includes Brett Randell, a seamer from New Zealand who has signed a short-term deal.Elsewhere, Lancashire have signed Anderson Phillip, the Trinidadian seamer, for their final three Championship games as they bid to avoid relegation. They had been working on a deal to sign Pakistan seamer Mohammad Ali, but the move has fallen through.

يستعد الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي النصر السعودي، بقيادة جورجي خيسوس المديرالفني، لمواجهة استقلال دوشنبه من الطاجاكستاني، في بطولة دوري أبطال آسيا 2.

ومن المقرر أن يلعب النصر أمام استقلال دوشنبه الطاجاكستاني ضمن منافسات الجولة الأولى من بطولة دوري أبطال آسيا 2، على ملعب “الأول بارك”.

طالع| قرار مفاجئ من مدرب النصر تجاه رونالدو قبل مواجهة استقلال الطاجاكستاني في دوري أبطال آسيا 2

ويشارك نادي النصر، في بطولة دوري أبطال آسيا 2، بعدما احتل المركز الثالث في الدوري السعودي الموسم الماضي، حيث لم يتأهل للمشاركة في بطولة دوري أبطال آسيا للنخبة البطولة الأكبر في آسيا.

ويلعب فريق النصر السعودي في المجموعة الرابعة من بطولة دوري أبطال آسيا 2، إلى جانب كل من الزوراء العراقي، استقلال دوشنبه الطاجاكستاني، وجوا الهندي. موعد مباراة النصر السعودي واستقلال دوشنبه في دوري أبطال آسيا 2

تنطلق مباراة النصر واستقلال دوشنبه في دوري أبطال آسيا 2 اليوم الأربعاء، الموافق 17 سبتمبر 2025، في تمام الساعة التاسعة والربع مساء بتوقيت مكة المكرمة والقاهرة. القناة الناقلة لمباراة النصر السعودي واستقلال دوشنبه في دوري أبطال آسيا 2

تنقل مباراة النصر واستقلال دوشنبه عبر شبكة قنوات بي إن سبورتس 2.

ويمكنكم مطالعة مواعيد ونتائج جميع المباريات لحظة بلحظة عبر مركز المباريات من هنا.

As Great Britain is represented in the Olympics, Scotland and England players could join forces in Los Angeles

Matt Roller13-Aug-2024

The ECB and Cricket Scotland have opened talks about plans to field men’s and women’s Team GB cricket teams at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.Cricket will return to the Olympics for the first time since 1900 after its inclusion was ratified late last year. Details are yet to be confirmed but the ICC has proposed six-team T20 tournaments for both the women’s and men’s competitions, which are both expected to last around a week and will likely be played consecutively rather than simultaneously.Related

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Qualification details are also yet to be confirmed but the ICC’s T20I rankings will be used in some capacity. Most countries will compete in their usual guise but if England qualify then they will play as Great Britain, in line with the rest of the Olympics. It opens up the possibility of some Scottish players competing, such as Brandon McMullen or Sarah and Kathryn Bryce.The ECB and Cricket Scotland have held preliminary discussions about working together on proposed Team GB cricket teams. Cricket Scotland are pushing for active involvement in their running and are keen to contribute players and staff, but the ECB will be the teams’ nominated governing body.”With the Los Angeles Olympics four years away, it’s very early stages, but we’re talking to Team GB and Cricket Scotland about the next steps we need to take,” an ECB spokesperson told ESPNcricinfo.”Once again Great Britain’s Olympians have captured the national imagination with their exploits in Paris this year, and we look forward to working together to compete when cricket returns to the Olympic stage in 2028.”Along with England and Wales hosting Women’s and Men’s [T20] World Cups in 2026 and 2030, it’s another great opportunity to grow the game and inspire more people to develop a love for cricket.”Andy Anson, the chief executive of the British Olympic Association, said on Monday: “We’ve got good experience in golf, in rugby and in women’s football, of how the Four Nations [England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland] can come together and nominate one country to be the main governing body and work with the other countries. So I think cricket will be the same.”Anson, who is also Lancashire’s chairman, added: “The ECB will be at the centre of that. They’ll have to work with Cricket Scotland to make sure that happens properly. We will help them sign agreements to come together and create a single national governing body, as we have done in those other sports. We are working very closely with the ECB to make them become the fully fledged National Olympic Committee member.”Team GB is officially the Great Britain and Northern Ireland Olympic Team, and athletes from Northern Ireland can choose to compete for either Team GB or Ireland. But since cricket is organised on an all-Ireland basis, leading Northern Irish cricketers such as Mark Adair and Paul Stirling are highly unlikely to nominate themselves for Team GB.The venue for the cricket events at the 2028 Olympics is yet to be confirmed. Los Angeles Knight Riders and Major League Cricket have plans to build a stadium in Great Park in Irvine, while the Oakland Coliseum has also been mooted as an option.West Indies’ potential involvement also raises some complications, though there is recent precedent from the 2022 Commonwealth Games. West Indies’ T20I ranking ensured they qualified for the women’s cricket event, and they were represented by Barbados as the winners of the most recent edition of the Women’s T20 Blaze.Involvement in the Olympics – which will take place in the second half of July – will add to an incredibly busy 2028 summer for England’s men, which is already due to feature six Tests and white-ball tours from Australia and India.

A finger injury sustained playing in a T10 league in the Cayman Islands has ruled Ravi Bopara out of the T20 Blast’s knockout stages.Bopara is the fifth-highest run-scorer in Blast history and won the competition with Essex, his boyhood club, in 2019. He joined Sussex the following season and signed for Northamptonshire earlier this year on a T20-only contract.He made a significant impact with bat and ball in the group stages. He was Northants’ second-highest run-scorer and third-highest wicket-taker as they finished second in the North Group, reaching the knockout stages for only the second time since their 2016 title and securing a home quarter-final.They will face Somerset at Wantage Road on September 5, but Bopara has been ruled out. He has undergone surgery after sustaining a finger injury while playing for Miami Lions in the inaugural Max60 tournament in the Cayman Islands, a privately-owned T10 league which is not affiliated to Cricket West Indies and took place last week.”Bopara ruptured the tendon in a finger on his right hand while attempting a caught-and-bowled,” Northants said in a club statement. “[He] has had surgery but will need three weeks of recovery time.”Raphy Weatherall has been ruled out with a stress fracture•Getty Images

Raphy Weatherall, the 19-year-old seamer who took 11 group-stage wickets in the Blast, has also been ruled out for the rest of the season due to a lower-back stress fracture, a common injury among young fast bowlers.Northants will also be without Sikandar Raza for the quarter-finals and are waiting to hear from Cricket South Africa whether Matthew Breetzke will be made available to play. Ashton Agar, the Australian allrounder, has been cleared to return.

Everton are readying themselves to bring in more arrivals under David Moyes and have now made an approach for a new striker, according to a report.

Everton plotting to make more signings

Continuing their pre-season preparations, the Toffees suffered a 1-0 defeat to Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park ahead of their trip to the United States for the Premier League Summer Series.

Reacting after a disappointing day at the office, new signing Mark Travers believes his side will become stronger over the coming weeks once fitness is restored at Finch Farm.

He stated: “It’s really good to get 90 minutes under my belt. I’d say it’s a disappointing result, but we’re still early in pre-season. The lads are just getting their fitness levels up. I’m really excited to get my first game early in pre-season and I’m looking forward to the rest of pre-season now.”

Of course, part of the improvement to come will take shape in the form of signings at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, and Everton have entered the race to sign Celtic forward Daizen Maeda following his 33-goal return last season.

However, Tottenham Hotspur, Brentford and West Ham United are also keen on the Japan international, who could become a new addition to their forward line after Thierno Barry arrived from Villarreal.

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Meanwhile, Douglas Luiz and Conor Gallagher may strengthen the Toffees’ midfield. Respectively, Juventus and Atletico Madrid could be tempted by the prospect of selling either player for considerable financial gain.

Right now, it still feels like the Friedkin Group have plenty of work to do in a transitional summer, but Everton may feel they could have gained an edge in the hunt for another striker signing.

Everton make approach for Rangers star Hamza Igamane

According to journalist Sacha Tavolieri on X, Everton have made an approach for Rangers striker Hamza Igamane by means of an enquiry. At the same time, Feyenoord and Udinese have also emerged as suitors for the Morocco international.

LOSC Lille appeared in pole position to bring him to France. However, their deal with the Scottish Premiership outfit is now on hold after struggling to find a breakthrough in negotiations despite already agreeing personal terms.

Last term, the 22-year-old scored 16 times in 46 appearances across all competitions, leading to Derek Ferguson labelling him “brilliant” after an effort in a 3-0 win away at Ross County.

Everton appear like they are looking to take a foothold in the race for his signature, but any movement may depend on whether Rangers are willing to budge from their £17 million valuation of Igamane, which has been widely reported.

Arsenal have an estimated 100 million fans worldwide, with the Gunners one of the most recognisable clubs in the world.

As to be expected, plenty of famous faces support the red side of north London. From rappers to political leaders and sporting superstars, here is a list of Arsenal’s most famous fans.

1 Sir Keir Starmer British Prime Minister

Sir Keir Starmer is a lifelong Arsenal fan and has been a season ticket holder at the Emirates for many years.

After becoming Prime Minister in July, Starmer has been watching Arsenal’s games from a corporate box instead of his regular seat – an arrangement he was forced to defend to the BBC.

“I’ve had a season ticket for many, many years. I’m a regular attender but now, for security reasons, I can’t go in the stands, and therefore the club have made arrangements for me to watch from elsewhere. It’s as simple as that.”

2 Lewis Hamilton Formula 1 driver

Lewis Hamilton has long professed to be an Arsenal fan, so it raised more than just a few eyebrows in 2022 when it was revealed he had joined a consortium led by Sir Martin Broughton that was trying to buy rivals Chelsea.

At the time, the Formula 1 star even seemed to deny he was a true Arsenal supporter.

“I remember 5, 6 years old that I then became a supporter of Arsenal. But my Uncle Terry is a big Blues fan, so I’ve been to so many games with him to watch Arsenal and Chelsea play,” he told the press ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola.

3 Jay-Z Rapper & entrepreneur

It was Thierry Henry that prompted Jay-Z to start following Arsenal in the mid-noughties.

“I saw him play, and I just thought he was an amazing player,” the rapper and music mogul explained in an interview with Arsenal Magazine in 2010.

“Ever since then I have been a big fan of the club, following you guys, and still today you play the beautiful football that Thierry did. I think he had a real long-term effect on the team.”

4 Piers Morgan Journalist

Piers Morgan isn’t afraid to speak his mind and he never hides his love for Arsenal.

The journalist is regularly at the Emirates with friends and family to watch the Gunners, and he described the club’s 3-0 win over Real Madrid in the Champions League in 2025 as his best moment in his 55 years of supporting Arsenal.

However, when things go wrong in north London, Morgan is also quick to call those at the Emirates out, whether it be players, board or managers.

5 Kevin Costner Actor

Ahead of the 1998 FA Cup Final between Arsenal and Newcastle United, Hollywood star Kevin Costner revealed he was a Gooner in an interview with Sky Sports.

Costner told Sky that he first went to watch the Gunners play while shooting the film “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves” in 1991, and that he has been a fan since.

He’s since been back to watch Arsenal on numerous occasions, including in 2014, when he was in the stands to see Arsene Wenger’s side beat take on Aston Villa in the Premier League.

6 Mo Farah Long-distance runner

Shooting to fame after winning double Olympic gold at London 2012, Mo Farah is another high proifle Arsenal fan.

The 5,000m and 10,000m champion moved to Britain at the age of eight and instantly fell in love with the Gunners. He even previously admitted he would love to be Arsenal’s fitness coach one day.

“One thing I really love is football and I have a good relationship with Arsenal. I started supporting them when I first came to Britain as a kid.

“I liked the way they played. They also had a lot of players from African backgrounds. One day, I’d love to be able to work for them, maybe as a fitness coach.”

7 Anne Hathaway Actress

Anne Hathaway managed to keep her love for Arsenal secret until she let it slip during a junket for her movie “The Idea of You” in 2024.

Between interviews, Hathaway’s co-star Nicholas Galitzine celebrated after checking his phone to find out that the Gunners had gone a goal up against Wolves last season.

Hathaway seemed excited by the news, and after Galitzine had confirmed that it was Leandro Trossard who had scored, Hathaway responded by leaning forward in her chair and professing her love for the Belgian.

8 KSI Influencer and media personality

Media superstar KSI is one of the most well-known names on the internet. He first began making YouTube videos with the Sidemen and has since gone on to be successful in the influencer boxing world and music industry.

He is another who regularly visits the Emirates to watch Arsenal in action, and his drink brand Prime are even in partnership with the Gunners.

9 Christian McCaffrey NFL star

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey has been an Arsenal fan since watching them play during a pre-season trip to the United States in 2019.

After seeing Unai Emery’s side thump Serie A side Fiorentina 3-0 in the International Champions Cup at the Bank of America Stadium, McCaffrey announced his support for the Gunners in a video on the club’s social media pages.

10 Idris Elba Actor

Idris Elba is another well-known Arsenal fan and has been from a child, with the English actor working with the Gunners on numerous occasions.

Back in 2022, Elba and Ian Wright helped Arsenal with their anti-knife crime initiative by promoting a one-off all-white kit with no red, and he is no stranger to the Emirates.

He has bowled 30 over in the Test so far and picked up two wickets

Andrew Fidel Fernando20-Sep-2024

“I thought there was a run. Daryl [Mitchell] trusted my call. It was a pretty good throw. At the end of the day, run-outs in Test cricket are not exactly ideal. I take full accountability for it, and hopefully on another day I make a different decision.”Glenn Phillips isn’t the kind to mince words, especially when he’s the guy who did a team-mate wrong. Daryl Mitchell had been batting beautifully on 57 off 86 when that run out came. Mitchell couldn’t really have done much different, aside from maybe dive into the crease, and even then it may not have saved him.But then Phillips is one of cricket’s great hustlers – a wicketkeeper who can bowl ripping offspin on dry tracks, who is as box office as any infielder or outfielder in the game, and oh, also, one of cricket’s most reliable boundary-hitters. Not many cricketers do as much on so many fronts. You gotta respect the hustle.Related

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He took two wickets in the first innings with his offspin, which at times took huge turn. He has bowled 30 overs in this Test so far and, from the sound of it, has loved it.”I love my bowling much more than my batting. Being able to bowl spells of ten overs and then eight overs on the first day, and then a cheeky six today – I love it. Hopefully, there’s a few more poles [wickets] under the belt in the coming days.”New Zealand have a rest day immediately on their horizon, but have another Test in Galle next up, plus matches in Bengaluru, Pune and Mumbai to come. With Will O’Rourke and Tim Southee digging up some footmarks in Galle, perhaps there is potential for even spinners like Phillips to be effective, against left-handers especially.”[O’Rourke] has made some good footmarks on both sides of the pitch, if you manage to hit them there’s some good turn and bounce.”Phillips’ biggest contribution so far in this Test has been through his batting, however. He made 49 not out off 48 balls. Thirty of those runs came off sixes.”Batting with the tail is always a niche art. The fact that we managed to put 36 on for the final wicket is a boost going into the bowling period. We would have liked more, but a 34-run [35] lead is always valuable.”

He has admitted to breaching article 2.4.7 of the code, which relates to obstructing or delaying an ACU (anti-corruption unit) investigation

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Oct-2024The ICC has banned Sri Lanka left-arm spinner Praveen Jayawickrama from all cricket for one year, of which the last six months are suspended, after he admitted to breaching the global body’s anti-corruption code.In August the ICC charged Jayawickrama with two breaches of the code. He has admitted to breaching article 2.4.7, which relates to: “Obstructing or delaying any investigation that may be carried out by the ACU [anti-corruption unit], including concealing, tampering with or destroying any documentation or other information that may be relevant to that investigation and/or that may be evidence or may lead to the discovery of evidence of corrupt conduct under the Anti-Corruption Code.”Related

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The charges, according to an ICC release, relate to international cricket and the Lanka Premier League (LPL).Having made his international debut in a Test against Bangladesh in April 2021, Jayawickrama has played five Tests, five ODIs and five T20Is. His last appearance for Sri Lanka was in a T20I series at home against Australia in 2022.In LPL 2021, Jayawickrama was a part of the Jaffna Kings side that won its second title. He played one match that season, taking two wickets. In LPL 2024, he turned out for Dambulla Sixers.

The latter stage of Arsenal’s transfer window is likely to throw up many twists and turns yet, with Mikel Arteta sending a clear message to the board ahead of their pre-season clash with AC Milan in Asia.

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Arteta, in his first press conference since returning from Arsenal’s summer break, was adamant that his side still need to reinforce the squad with more depth and quality, as the Spaniard attempts to end their two-decade-long wait for a Premier League title.

“It’s like shaking the tree again,” said Arteta about Arsenal’s new signings, with Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard all included in the squad for their trip to Singapore.

“Bringing new faces, they bring new excitement, new energy as well. We signed very important players as well. I think everybody feels that the heights have to go to different level, and it’s what we are seeking.”

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

25/26 – summer

£140m

Sporting CP’s striker Viktor Gyokeres is a top target for the Gunners, and a deal has now been given Fabrizio Romano’s famous ‘here we go’ tagline, with the striker set to sign a five-year deal at the Emirates.

After Gyokeres, Arsenal will prioritise the signing of a central attacking midfielder (Ben Jacobs), and there are still suggestions that sporting director Andrea Berta could add another high-profile winger after Madueke.

TalkSPORT reported recently that Arsenal maintain an interest in Real Madrid star Rodrygo, following their talks over signing the Brazil international earlier this window, which proved “very complicated” at the time, according to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg.

Now, Fabrizio Romano has shared an update on the 24-year-old’s uncertain future under Xabi Alonso.

Rodrygo set to decide Real Madrid future after early summer Arsenal talks

Writing in his GiveMeSport newsletter, Romano claims that Rodrygo is set for talks with Real Madrid over his career in the coming days, and there is still a possibility that he could choose to depart Los Blancos.

However, his price tag could come in as high as £86 million, so it is unclear whether Arsenal could somehow fit him.

“I’m told, also in this case, it’s still early stages,” said Romano.

“Rodrygo has to speak to Real Madrid again in the next days, decide whether he wants to go or stay, and get a final price, likely to be over €100m (£86m) at the start of talks. It’s not an advanced deal now.”

The former Santos starlet bagged 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions for Real last season, and his creativity would be a very useful asset for Arteta up against teams in the low block, which they struggled to deal with a lot last season.

AC Milan midfielder and Whites legend Luka Modrić has also already branded Rodrygo a “world-class superstar”.

أثنى قائد فريق ليفربول، فيرجيل فان دايك، على أحد زملائه في النادي، حيث يرى إنه في قمة مستواه في الوقت الحالي، وهو الأمر الذي يساعد بكل تأكيد كتيبة آرني سلوت.

وحقق ليفربول فوزًا على إيفرتون، ظهر يوم السبت، في الجولة الخامسة من الدوري الإنجليزي بهدفين لهدف.

وتمكن ريان جرافنبيرخ من تسجيل هدف ليفربول الأول بعد أسيست رائع من النجم المصري محمد صلاح، قبل أن يصنع الهولندي الهدف الثاني لـ هوجو إيكتيكي.

اقرأ أيضًا.. جماهير ليفربول تختار أفضل لاعب في مباراة إيفرتون بـ الدوري الإنجليزي

وقال فان دايك في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “إندبندنت” الإنجليزية، عن جرافنبيرخ: “ليس هذا الموسم فحسب، بل كان يلعب بمثل تلك الطريقة منذ اللحظة التي بدأ فيها الموسم الماضي، إنه أمر لا يُصدق، إنه مهم للغاية للطريقة التي نلعب بها”.

وأضاف: “ترى مقدار المرات التي أحاول فيها البحث عنه، هذا يفيده، أنا والفريق، إنه في حالة لا تصدق، عليه أن يستمر، إنه لا يزال شابًا، سيكون مستوى التوقع دائمًا هناك، وهذا ما يجب أن يحاول الوصول إليه كل ثلاثة أو أربعة أيام، إنه تحدٍ رائع”.

وواصل: “إنه مزيج من كل شيء، الحصول على الثقة والتقدم والتحسن كلاعب ولعب المباريات على أعلى مستوى ومعرفة دوره في الفريق، أنا مسرور جدًا له لأنه يبذل الكثير من العمل الشاق لفعل ما يفعله”.