Taj Nehar and Sanjida Akter earn maiden call-ups to the ODI side
Mohammad Isam18-Nov-2024Bangladesh have recalled Sharmin Akhter and Jahanara Alam to their ODI squad for the upcoming three-match series against Ireland. Taj Nehar and Sanjida Akter, meanwhile, earned their first call-ups to the ODI side.Sharmin had missed the T20 World Cup earlier this year and had last played international cricket during the ODI series at home against India in July 2023. The 28-year-old has played 35 ODIs and 16 T20Is since she made her international debut in 2011. As for Jahanara, she is among the three Bangladesh players who have played at least 50 women’s ODIs. Jahanara has picked up 48 wickets in 52 matches at an average of 30.39.Middle-order batter Taj made her international debut in the Women’s T20 World Cup in October, while left-arm spinner Sanjida has played 18 WT20Is.This is Bangladesh’s first ODI series since the Australia series in April this year. From that squad, the selectors have excluded Farzana Akter, Sumaiya Akter, Disha Biswas and Nishita Akter.Bangladesh have won three out of six ODIs against Ireland. They won the last bilateral series between the two sides, back in 2016. This time, they will play the three ODIs in Dhaka on November 27 and 30 and December 2. They will also play three T20Is in Sylhet on December 5, 7 and 9.This is Bangladesh’s first international series since the Women’s T20 World Cup held in UAE in October.Bangladesh ODI squadNigar Sultana (capt), Nahida Akter, Murshida Khatun, Fargana Hoque, Sharmin Akhter, Sobhana Mostary, Shorna Akter, Ritu Moni, Rabeya Khan, Fahima Khatun, Marufa Akter, Jahanara Alam, Sultana Khatun, Taj Nehar, Sanjida Akther
‘I guess we’re really fortunate as well that we play last in our pool. So, we know exactly where the situation will lie before we play’
Shashank Kishore13-Oct-2024
Sophie Devine trusts a flexible New Zealand squad to come good in this T20 World Cup•ICC via Getty Images
Only twice in eight previous editions of the women’s T20 World Cup has a side lost out on a semi-final berth because of an inferior net run-rate. Sophie Devine has been part of both those heartbreaks, in 2014 and 2023. As luck would have it, New Zealand are faced with yet another net run-rate scenario this time around as well.By Sunday evening, New Zealand would have a fair idea of what they should do to progress. An Indian win against Australia will mean they will have to beat Pakistan by a certain margin to qualify. India losing will mean they can beat Pakistan by any margin and qualify.This may seem like a potentially sticky scenario to face, but Devine, the New Zealand captain, doesn’t see it that way. “We’re really pleased with the position we’re in,” she said ahead of the Pakistan match in Dubai. “I think if you asked us at the start of the tournament that we’d have fate in our hands in terms of the semi-finals race going into our last game, we would’ve taken it.Related
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“I guess we’re really fortunate as well that we play last in our pool. So, we know exactly where the situation will lie before we play [Pakistan]. For us it’s simple, we reflect, review, watch the Australia game – “go, Aussie girls” – with a lot of interest. Hopefully our Aussie mates do us a favour.”New Zealand could’ve overtaken India’s net run-rate had they achieved their target of 116 in 14.3 overs against Sri Lanka. Asked if that thought ever crossed their minds, Devine was clear they weren’t “too focused” on that.”I’ve seen it so many times in different competitions and different leagues where you start focusing on those little things like net run-rates, I’ve seen teams lose completely when they’re in a position to win,” she said. “Cricket has a funny way of biting you in the bum.”We wanted to make sure that we won the [Sri Lanka] game, and we still did it comprehensively with a couple of overs to spare and wickets in hand. So, we’re in a really good position where we know exactly where our ball is going to lie before our last game.”If we’ve got to go about things slightly differently, we’ve got the options to do that with a squad that’s really flexible, that we’ve got an order that can change and we’ve got a lot of spinners, a lot of bowlers that can come in and out of the side and do a job.”Devine was equally mindful of what Pakistan could do to them. Only last December, they beat New Zealand in New Zealand by a 2-1 margin in the T20Is. In the subsequent ODIs, Pakistan managed to tie the third game and take it into a Super Over before winning.Monday’s fixture could be an emotional one for Fatima Sana, who has returned to the UAE from Pakistan after attending her father’s funeral. And Devine doesn’t want to leave anything to chance against a team that can sting them.”I think we’d be more concerned if there weren’t issues to work on,” she said. “So you’re right, Pakistan, they’ve got a lot to play for in terms of pride, and obviously with Fatima Sana, you know, regards to her family for their loss, and them wanting to play for her.”In World Cup games, you don’t need any more motivation to get out of bed. So, we certainly know, maybe it’s going to be a big ask and I guess our focus will be on us and making sure that we’re focusing on how we’re going to play.”The tournament has been up and down for New Zealand on the performances front. They broke a 10-match losing streak to beat India at the start of their campaign but stumbled against Australia to cancel out the net run-rate boost.Against Sri Lanka, especially with Chamari Athapaththu going strong at the 10-over mark, it seemed as if New Zealand may have been staring at a 130-plus target, but they bounced back to restrict them to 115, which they chased down courtesy Georgia Plimmer’s brisk half-century.Asked about the wild fluctuations in fortunes, Devine underlined how they’d been trying to remain neutral through the highs and lows, rather than letting the emotions drain them in an already intense competition.”It’s a very Kiwi nature that we stay pretty placid, pretty calm,” she said. “You can sometimes exhaust yourself riding the roller-coaster, especially at World Cups. Living on the emotions day to day can be pretty draining. So we spoke a lot about being really calm and level in this group and everyone’s doing it slightly differently.”
يستأنف ريال مدريد مواجهاته في الدوري الإسباني بلقاء إسبانيول بداية الأسبوع المقبل، بعد الفوز الصعب الذي حققه الفريق على مارسيليا في الجولة الأولى بمرحلة الدوري بـ دوري أبطال أوروبا.
وتلقى ريال مدريد صدمة من الاتحاد الإسباني لكرة القدم بعد حصول دين هويسن مدافع الفريق على بطاقة حمراء مباشرة أثناء مواجهة ريال سوسيداد في الدوري الإسباني لكرة القدم.
وبحسب “كادينا كوبي” الإسبانية فقد أكدت لجنة الاستئناف في الاتحاد الإسباني لكرة القدم إيقاف دين هويسن لمباراة واحدة، وقد رفضت استئناف ريال مدريد على البطاقة الحمراء التي تلقاها.
وكان ريال مدريد قد سارع إلى تقديم استئناف بعد طرد دين هويسن أمام ريال سوسيداد لكن لجنة الانضباط التابعة للاتحاد الإسباني قامت برفضه.
أقرأ أيضاً.. تقارير: ريال مدريد يفجر غضب جماهيره في مباراة مارسيليا بسبب فلسطين
وقد أحال ريال مدريد الأمر إلى لجنة الاستئناف وطالب ريال مدريد بإلغاء قرار الطرد مستشهداً بواقعة أنتوني لاعب ريال بيتيس في وقت سابق الذي تم رفع عقوبته بعد تقديم أدلة فيديو.
كما أقرت لجنة الاستئناف بخطأ طاقم التحكيم في طرد مدافع ريال مدريد دين هويسن والذي قام بتعطيل مهاجم ريال سوسيداد قبل انفراده بالحارس تيبو كورتوا لكن لجنة الاستئناف أيدت قرار طرده.
وبناء على رفض استئناف ريال مدريد فإن دين هويسن لن يلعب مباراة فريقه القادمة ضد إسبانيول على ملعب سانتياجو برنابيو، وسيرفع النادي القضية لمحكمة التحكيم الرياضي على أمل إلغاء البطاقة الحمراء وإيقافه.
كشفت تقارير صحفية موقف لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي برشلونة من التسجيل في رابطة أندية الدوري الإسباني للموسم الجديد 2025/2026.
وعاش النادي الكتالوني مسلسلًا طويلًا على مدار فترة الانتقالات الصيفية المنقضية مع أزمة تسجيل اللاعبين والصفقات الجديدة بوجه التحديد.
وتمكن برشلونة من تسجيل عقد حارسه خوان جارسيا بنجاح بعد صراع طويل مع الدولي الألماني تير شتيجن، ثم التخلص من بعض اللاعبين أبرزهم إنيجو مارتينيز وإينياكي بينيا، مما ساهم في سهولة تسجيل لاعبين آخرين مهمين بالنسبة لتشكيل الألماني هانز فليك.
وعلى رأس هؤلاء اللاعبين الذين تم تسجيلهم بنجاح في رابطة أندية الدوري الإسبابني هم الدولي الإنجليزي ماركوس راشفورد والحارس البولندي فوتشيك تشيزني الذي ظهر لأول مرة في بطولة الدوري أمام رايو فاليكانو.
اقرأ أيضًا | رباعي برشلونة يثير قلق فليك قبل مواجهة فالنسيا في الدوري الإسباني
ووفقًا لصحيفة “موندو ديبورتفو” الإسبانية، فإن برشلونة تلقى خطابًا من رابطة الدوري الإسباني بالموافقة على تسجيل الجناح الشاب روني باردجي لاعبًا في قائمة النادي لهذا الموسم.
وأفادت الصحيفة بأنه وفقًا للمدير الإداري برابطة أندية الدوري، سوف تسمح لـ باردجي هذه الموافقة النهائية بالمشاركة في مباراة الأسبوع المقبل ضد فالنسيا المقرر إقامتها في 14 سبتمبر الجاري.
الجناح السويدي حصل على الضوء الأخضر من إدارة النادي للانضمام للفريق الأول لبرشلونة كما أراد النادي منذ بداية الموسم وستتوقف مشاركته وفقًا لاختيارات فليك.
يُذكر أن برشلونة مشواره في بطولة الدوري الإسباني بفوز ثمين على ريال مايوركا، بثلاثية نظيفة، كما كرر انتصاره على نظيره ليفانتي في الجولة الثانية بنتيجة 3/2، لكنه تعثر أمام رايو فاليكانو وتعادل تعادلًا إيجابيًا بنتيجة 1/1.
One of Europe’s biggest clubs are reportedly open to the idea of selling a “world-class” player to Manchester United in the summer transfer window.
Amorim coy over Man Utd's summer business
The Red Devils endured a pitiful 2024/25 campaign by their standards, with the Europa League final defeat to Tottenham the last nail in the coffin.
Ruben Amorim will know the importance of nailing his first summer in charge of United, both in terms of signings and training ground work, but the Portuguese has spoken cautiously about the amount of transfer business that can be done.
“You know better than me that we have rules with FFP. We can’t change that in this year. We need to do something in the summer. We have a plan and we are doing that in a while. We also have a preseason to improve the players we have.”
Manchester United manager RubenAmorimtalks to the fans after the match
It looks as though United are trying to be bold in the market, with Matheus Cunha already arriving from Wolves, and the likes of Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo and Eintracht Frankfurt forward Hugo Ekitike also among the leading targets ahead of next season. Now, another player with a big reputation has been mentioned as an option.
Man Utd boosted in efforts to sign "world-class" ace
According to Give Me Sport, Juventus are “open” to selling Douglas Luiz to Manchester United this summer, with a “cut-price” deal mooted. A loan move away from the Serie A giants is also mentioned in the report, with the Brazilian midfielder not believed to be part of their future plans, in a possible boost for Amorim.
Douglas Luiz in action for Juventus.
Added quality is needed in United’s midfield this summer, with Casemiro no longer the force of old and Christian Eriksen’s time at the club now officially over. Kobbie Mainoo is a great prospect, but he is still learning his trade, while the likes of Manuel Ugarte and Mason Mount are good players, but haven’t wholly convinced at Old Trafford to date.
In Luiz, United could have a great choice to strengthen their options in the middle of the park, having been hailed as “world-class” by former Aston Villa teammate John McGinn in the past.
The Brazilian has proven that he can shine in the Premier League, making 175 appearances in the competition and chipping in with 38 goal contributions (20 goals and 18 assists).
Luiz possesses box-to-box quality, offering defensive quality but also class going forward, and at 27, he is at a good age to come in and hit the ground running from minute one.
He's better than Cunha: Man Utd in talks to sign £40m Ekitike alternative
Manchester United appear to be making moves to land a star who could sign ahead of Viktor Gyokeres.
ByEthan Lamb Jun 13, 2025
A permanent deal would be better than a loan move, although the benefit of the latter is that he could be moved on easily next summer if the move simply didn’t work out.
Nottingham Forest are believed to have advanced interest in an “amazing” Premier League player this summer, according to a fresh transfer claim.
Nottingham Forest preparing for Chelsea showdown
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side’s 2-1 win away to West Ham last weekend has set up one of the Reds’ biggest matches in years this weekend, as they prepare to host Chelsea on Sunday afternoon.
Forest’s final Premier League game of the season is their most important, with victory over the Blues still giving them a chance of making it into the Champions League against all odds. But Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville believes they may just miss out, saying on Monday Night Football:
“They [Nottingham Forest] will give Chelsea a tough day, 100%. I’m not sure Chelsea can go there and win, I’ll be really honest with you. I think if Aston Villa win, they’ll get into the Champions League because I think Forest will take points off Chelsea.”
Champions League qualification would be absolutely huge for Forest, especially in terms of the calibre of player they could entice to the City Ground this summer, and a top-level footballer has now been linked with a switch there, amid some heavyweight competition for his signature.
Nottingham Forest prepare bid to sig £70m Eze
That’s according to Caught Offside, who state that Nottingham Forest have “advanced” interest in Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze and are even preparing a bid.
Tottenham are also in the same boat, with the England international having a £70m release clause in his contract, while Liverpool are also “long-standing admirers” of him.
Eze could be an incredible signing for Forest this summer, although missing out on the Champions League is likely to give other possible suitors an advantage in the race to snap him up.
The England international is still flying after his season-defining FA Cup final goal against Manchester City, as he wrote his name into Palace history, sealing a first-ever triumph in the competition in the Eagles’ history.
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Nuno Espirito Santo’s side want to build upon their overachieving season.
ByEmilio Galantini May 17, 2025
Oliver Glasner is under no illusions as to how good his star player is, saying of him after a memorable goal in the semi-final victory over Aston villa: “The goal against Latvia and his first for England means a lot for him him. He always has the confidence, we know he’s an amazing finisher to cut inside on his right foot with an amazing finish. We need this quality, he helped us today massively.”
Eze’s flair and confidence on the ball, as well as his unpredictability, could make him an immediate hit at Forest, and if they did strike a deal for him, it would be a major statement of interest ahead of next season.
The 26-year-old could feel that now is the time for a new challenge in his career, feeling he has come as far as he can in a Palace shirt, and he could dovetail superbly with the likes of Morgan Gibbs-White and Chris Wood.
Granted, £70m is a lot of money, which could be a potential stumbling block, but Champions League qualification this weekend could help hugely in that respect.
Newcastle United are on course for Champions League qualification for the second time in just three seasons after a 4-1 win over Manchester United.
Last time out, they struggled on the big stage, despite securing a stunning home victory over PSG. Should they make the group stages again, Eddie Howe will have his men better prepared. That’s a certainty.
In order to do this, however, he will have to invest when the summer transfer window opens in a couple of months.
Newcastle United manager EddieHowe
The lack of a big-name signing is perhaps the only thing the Toon faithful have to say against the club right now, but this should be corrected ahead of next season.
There are plenty of areas to improve on in the first-team squad, which could see Howe being an extremely busy man once the current campaign comes to an end.
Several players might need to be sold to comply with the Premier League profit and sustainability regulations, something which the manager has done rather well during his time in charge of the Magpies.
Bringing in young talent and developing them into world-class players is another thing Howe has done well. Take a look at Alexander Isak for example, who is now being courted by Liverpool and Arsenal.
Could Newcastle bring in a player who is attracting interest from several European heavyweights this summer?
Newcastle eyeing move for teenage superstar in waiting
According to the Sun, Scouts from Newcastle were present at Hampden Park last month to witness Konstantinos Karetsas become Greece’s youngest-ever starter and then their youngest-ever scorer during their 3-0 victory over Scotland in the Nations League.
The Premier League outfit aren’t the only club to be keeping a close watch on the winger. Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich want to bring him to Germany, while Liverpool and Manchester United are admirers from England too, with fellow Premier League sides Aston Villa, Man City and Nottingham Forest also having scouts present in Glasgow a few weeks ago.
The 17-year-old currently plays for Belgian side Genk and has a contract at the club until the summer of 2027.
Luckily for Newcastle, there is a £35m release clause inserted into the deal, which is a very affordable fee for the Magpies.
Securing Champions League football this term would go a long way to enticing the youngster that St James’ Park is the best place for his development, especially as he could likely get more playing time compared to the other clubs interested.
Greece's KonstantinosKaretsascelebrates after the match
Such is his emergence onto the European scene that the Greek wonderkid is showing a similar meteoric rise that Lamine Yamal has shown over the previous 12 months.
Why Konstantinos Karetsas could be Newcastle's own Lamine Yamal
Yamal made his senior club debut back during the 2022/23 season and, is still aged only 17. He has since gone on to make 95 appearances for Barcelona, scoring 21 times while grabbing 30 assists in the process.
If Howe does manage to lure Karetsas to the club, could he have his very own version of the Spanish sensation at his disposal? It certainly looks that way.
Perhaps his greatest contribution has been at international level with Spain. Making his debut in September 2023, aged only 16, the winger duly scored on his debut against Georgia and hasn’t looked back since.
Lamine Yamal for Barcelona
Indeed, he secured a place in the Euro 2024 squad, going on to play a part in every game during the victorious campaign, with the highlight being a stunning curling effort against France in the semi-final.
Such was his maturity; Yamal grabbed an assist in the final as Spain defeated England to win their fourth European Championship.
Both quick with a keen eye for goal, Karetsas has shown plenty of similar qualities in recent months. Like Yamal, who made history as Spain’s youngest-ever player when he made his debut, the Greek star was aged just 17 when he came off the bench against Scotland during a 1-0 loss last month.
A few days later, he made history of his own. In the return leg against the Scots, the attacking midfielder scored a delightful lob over Craig Gordon in the Scotland goal, making him the youngest-ever scorer for the Greek national team in the process.
Yamal has made his mark at a club like Barcelona. Could Karetsas do the same should he move to a European giant this summer?
Konstantinos Karetsas' best attributes
This season, the teenager has been in excellent form for Genk. Across 33 matches in all competitions, he has scored three goals while recording four assists.
In the Belgian top flight, Karetsas has created seven big chances for his teammates, averaging 1.6 key passes per game while succeeding with 1.1 dribbles each match.
Compared to his teammates, he ranks third for big chances created, third for key passes and second for successful dribbles, showcasing Yamal-like traits and demonstrating that he is already one of the best players in the team, despite his tender years.
The future looks bright indeed for the player and Newcastle must make sure they are there or thereabouts when it comes to trying to secure his signature this summer.
Football talent scout Jacek Kulig lauded the youngster for his antics against Scotland recently, suggesting he is “one of the most electrifying teenage talents in Europe.”
Goals
1
Assists
0
Key passes
1
Big chances created
0
Touches
39
Total duels won
6
Passes
18/19
Given the nature of the transfer market now, with players going for inflated fees, paying just £35m to sign Karetsas could turn out to be one of the best signings a club could make this summer.
Much will depend on just how strong the Magpies finish the season. With the top five securing a spot in the promised land of the Champions League, the incentive is there for Howe’s men.
If so, a talent like Karetsas may just be willing to make the move to the northeast when the window opens.
8/10 Newcastle star who won 100% duels was even better than Barnes
Newcastle sealed a 4-1 win over Manchester United on Sunday evening.
Three of the four semi-finalists have overcome personal and structural hardships to beat the best in the world at this T20 World Cup
Firdose Moonda19-Oct-20242:54
Carson leads the way, West Indies’ injuries costly
The Sharjah outfield received a hard smack from Zaida James’ bat as she walked off, with West Indies 11 runs away from the T20 World Cup final. James, 11 days away from turning 20, contributed 14 runs off eight balls batting at No. 9 and had believed she could “bring it home”. Ashmini Munisar, just a year older than James, came in next and gave James a reassuring pat on the helmet as they swapped places. Munisar would do her job and get off strike but had to watch from the other end as the match was lost.That West Indies’ last hopes lay with two of the youngest players in their squad spoke volumes about what they lacked in this tournament, and also about what they may have to look forward to. There is talent, but it must be nurtured and more of it must be found in a region where resources remain scarce. All of this makes West Indies’ final-four finish that much more remarkable.”Honestly speaking, we probably just don’t have it like a lot of the rest of the teams,” Hayley Matthews, the captain, had said after West Indies knocked England out of the tournament on Tuesday. “Back home in the Caribbean, sometimes we don’t have facilities and a lot of our girls come from very humble beginnings. To be given this opportunity to come out, represent your nation, and make a living out of it, for every single person it changes their lives.”Related
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While West Indies have central contracts for the women’s team, the regional system is only on the cusp of professionalising. Creating a year-round high-performance system remains a challenge. Ahead of international assignments, players get taken to centralised camps, which Matthews says are “really difficult on the girls because they are not able to stay in their homes with their friends and their families”. She would like to see them “be able to just get proper cricket training whilst they’re home”, because “we’ve got enough good coaches around the Caribbean that something can be done or put in place for everyone to be able to stay in their own territories and be put in a proper system where they can continue to improve there”.Legspinner Afy Fletcher, who is currently the joint-second-highest wicket-taker at the T20 World Cup, is one example. She is the only player in the West Indies team from Grenada, an island whose players compete alongside four others as Windward Islands. When she is not on regional or national duty, she practices with her partner, a former club cricketer, because it is her only option.”Fletch just goes to the nets with someone she knows, maybe her partner, and he throws balls at her a lot of the time. So it’s amazing for her to be able to come out here and perform the way she does,” Matthews said. “For all of our players to come out and perform the way they do – that’s why I feel as though you can never really be too hard on them because I think a lot of the time with what we’re given and what they’re given we’re still exceeding expectations every single time.”While Matthews has experience in the WBBL, the Hundred and the WPL, where she plays alongside other internationals, most players in her West Indies team have to “learn on the international scene and that can be so difficult”. She would love a system as advanced and professional as Australia’s, for example, which is designed “to create players who are ready to step onto the big stage”.Hayley Matthews tries to hide her emotions after the loss•ICC/Getty Images”I’m watching the T20 Spring Challenge right now in Australia and I’m seeing 13- and 15-year-old girls doing some insane things,” Matthews said. “I would absolutely love it if we had a system like that in place where our girls could come out from the regional system and be at a certain level.”The challenges for West Indies lies in creating this from the geographic spread of the islands to their economies but they will receive a big boost from this T20 World Cup. As losing semi-finalists, West Indies will take home US$ 675,000, some of which may be invested back into the women’s game. That thought won’t dry Matthews’ tears on a night when she thought her team had a World Cup final in the bag, but as someone who, in the words of the team coach Shane Deitz, is “really driving” the legacy-building aspect of the women’s game, it may provide some comfort in the days and weeks to come.Then, perhaps, Matthews and West Indies will be able to look back and appreciate the significance of what they achieved by getting to the semi-finals at a World Cup where better-resourced teams like England and India did not. New Zealand, who advanced to their first final in 14 years, already know that especially after they identified a lack of depth as their primary concern despite a developed domestic system.
“For all of our players to come out and perform the way they do, that’s why I feel as though you can never really be too hard on them because I think a lot of the time with what we’re given and what they’re given we’re still exceeding expectations every single time.”Hayley Matthews
In March, their captain Sophie Devine told ESPNcricinfo’s Powerplay podcast that “there’s not much depth coming through” in a country with a small population. After getting to the semi-final by beating Pakistan in the UAE, she repeated and expanded on that: “We’re not India, we don’t have a billion people to sort of pick from.”But they do have some, and Devine recognised that as a start. “Look at who’s on the bench. Molly Penfold’s been outstanding the last 12 months, she’s come on in leaps and bounds and you’ve still got players like Jess Kerr, Hannah Rowe and Leigh Kasperek – it’s those small, wee things where it’s going to take time to build depth, especially in a country as small as New Zealand. It’s not going to happen overnight. It’s going to be a continual work on for us.”New Zealand do not suffer from poor finances like West Indies and were the first country to introduce equal match fees, but have to deal with several other competing sports that attract some of their best athletes. Netball is their most popular women’s sport, followed by rugby union. But cricket is gaining ground.That is reasonably similar to the situation that their opponents in the final, South Africa face. Netball is also the most popular female sport in participation numbers in South Africa but cricket is growing. South Africa are the third country out of the four that advanced out of the group stage, whose players have battled personal and structural hardships to beat the best in the world.Ayabonga Khaka is an integral part of the SA women’s team•Getty ImagesAlmost every one of them has a story but Ayabonga Khaka, who was born in the small town of Middledrift in the Eastern Cape two years before democracy came to the country in 1994, is a standout example. Khaka was born into “impoverished circumstances”, as Eddie Khoza, CSA’s pathways manager, told ESPNcricinfo. She went on to become one of the first women at a boys’ academy when she joined the University of Fort Hare’s facility under the tutorship of former international Mfuneko Ngam. She has a degree in human movement science, she invests in farming in her community, and Khoza calls her “a living example and an icon who has achieved things on and off the field and could inspire the next generation of cricketers”.In Khaka, South Africa have a player whose quiet consistency and confidence has proved how much is possible. She has played in two ODI World Cups – both times reaching the semi-final – and four T20 World Cups and has lived and breathed the gains and misses of each of them. Her message to “people from the parts that I come from” is: “anything you want, you can do it”.That sums up what this World Cup has said for the progression of women’s cricket. Two of the Big Three – England and India – did not reach the semi-final, and Australia’s grip on the trophy was released. Three of the four semi-finalists come from places where their players put their passion ahead of the struggle, even when it seems that the odds are stacked against them. They know that desire alone doesn’t win a World Cup. It’s a combination of planning, luck and the muscle memory of dealing with pressure and if nothing else, they now know a bit about that. As James said, “I take this as a learning experience”, which may mean next time will be better.
Islamabad-Multan diary: While the focus on safety is very understandable, it regrettably drains the travelling reporter’s experience of authentic local flavour
Vithushan Ehantharajah09-Dec-2022It was probably when heading outside for my first cigarette in Multan that I realised the true nature of this tour.Islamabad was fine, the spectre of heavy security easy to ignore given the scale of the Serena Hotel, the drives to the ground, and the occasional manufactured dalliance into the real world. But lighting up and seeing four police officers form a square around you as if they are about to start up an impromptu game of rondo was a reminder of the lengths local law-enforcement people need to go. Everyone here harbours a collective responsibility to do their bit for this England tour of Pakistan. They thought I might try and leave my hotel, but I knew better than that after the way they panicked when a colleague tried to go for a wander. No one can leave without police presence and getting out at night is a straight no-go. Hopefully that softens, but I’m not holding out much hope.Related
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Since arriving in Pakistan at the end of November, the sense of local pride at hosting England for a first Test tour since 2005 has been abundantly clear. But in Multan, you can feel the anxiety.Cricket has only just returned to this city after 14 years, following a few ODIs against West Indies in March, and it is clear the PCB isn’t keen to take the training wheels off the place just yet. And fair enough. These international tours, costing US$ 2 million a pop, are so reliant on Western sensitivities. If the choice is between making your guests feel frustrated and safe and liberated and exposed, then, yeah, why wouldn’t you choose the latter?There is a sense among the travelling press corps that those who have never been to Pakistan before, like myself, won’t get to see the real Pakistan before we leave. As important as the cricket is on this occasion, it largely defeats the point of touring.The previous week in Islamabad was heavily cricket – one-of-a-kind cricket, to be fair – but for a visit to the British High Commission. It was pegged as one of the few places to openly consume alcohol in the city, and barring the plush setting and three levels of security clearance required, it basically ended up with all the English media packed into what was a glorified cricket club bar talking loudly, playing pool and asking if they had anything else other than BrewDog (they did – plenty). Just as that night was winding down, an invite came for a jaunt into Islamabad. Specifically, a house party.No, this was not simply another manufactured Anglo comfort rouse. A friend of a friend had an in, and three of us were cool by association. An hour later, we found ourselves in the kind of house that would be the final boss on MTV Cribs.If the choice is between making your guests feel frustrated and safe and liberated and exposed, then why wouldn’t you choose the latter?•Getty ImagesIt was surreal for many reasons, but perhaps the most heartening was the breadth of those in attendance. The kind of bolshy creative types responsible for layers of culture among younger generations. Quite apart from being made to feel totally welcome was the gratitude of getting an opportunity to glimpse into a side of Pakistan that is rarely considered. This, we were told, was the start of Islamabad’s party season. Many in attendance were prominent members of niche yet thriving industries, some of whom were back from abroad to catch up with old friends in their old haunts. All older, worldlier, and a little more appreciative of home and how it forged them.During the 3am ride back to the hotel through the dark empty streets of Islamabad, the glee at finally seeing something real beyond those who come to cheer in the stands reinforced something: there are many personalities of Pakistan, but they will only reveal themselves to you if you’re willing to meet them more than halfway.As I recall that thought now, on the eve of the second Test, maybe a cricket tour is one of the worst ways to do that, especially with England? None of this is inauthentic, but also none of this is real. Perhaps other opportunities to embrace the real Pakistan will come before I head home, especially with Karachi on the horizon. My aim for now is to at least shake its hand in Multan.
Runs and wickets in two formats launched the tall quick bowler’s international career
Chinmay Vaidya11-Aug-2020When debutant Kyle Jamieson came to the crease in New Zealand’s second ODI of a three-match series against India they were 197 for 8 after 41.3 overs. Ross Taylor was at the other end, but needed some support to help New Zealand post a competitive total.So what was going through Jamieson’s mind?”If I’m honest, I wanted to get off the mark. I wanted to get a run and that was about as much as I was thinking,” Jamieson told ESPNcricinfo. “Just don’t get out, just try and get off the mark. At least you can say you got an international run.”Jamieson did slightly better than get off the mark. He contributed an unbeaten 25 to a 76-run stand to take New Zealand to 273.”We weren’t in great shape at that point,” Jamieson said. “It actually makes your role a lot simpler, [thinking] how do we get through the 50 overs and then as we move on, how do I keep getting Ross on strike?”ALSO READ: Who is the future of New Zealand’s batting? Peter Fulton picks four namesHowever, Jamieson’s job wasn’t done. Playing in the team as a bowler, he was largely responsible for defending New Zealand’s score. Although India’s usual openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan were out due to injury, Jamieson knew how dangerous youngster Prithvi Shaw was.”We were lucky we played an A series the week before which sort of enabled me to seen guys like Prithvi Shaw and play against them for a few times,” he said. “He took us to the cleaners in a couple of those games so I was just like, alright, don’t want to give him too much, don’t want to start off my international career from a bowling point of view going for too many boundaries.”Kyle Jamieson roars after getting a wicket in his first over on debut•Getty ImagesShaw, playing in his second ODI, started off strongly with six boundaries in the first four overs. New Zealand made their first bowling change and gave the ball to Jamieson. In his first over as an international bowler, he knocked over Shaw’s stumps to deliver the breakthrough.”To get that first wicket, [it was] very emotional, but it also just gets you into the game,” he added. “Right, I’m underway, I can come back to my role.”After dismissing Navdeep Saini late in the contest to pick up his second wicket, Jamieson was awarded Man of the Match. His 25 proved to be crucial in a 22-run win for the home side.New Zealand swept the one-day series 3-0 then attention turned to the two World Test Championship matches. Having come off a dismal tour against Australia – losing 3-0 with defeats by 296 runs, 247 runs and 279 runs – during which Jamieson was called up as an injury replacement but did not play, they needed to bounce back quickly against India.The No. 1-ranked Test side were still a major threat despite some injuries and appeared to be running away with the WTC six months into the competition. Given each match was worth 60 points in the standings, the series could’ve essentially sealed, signed and delivered India to the WTC final.For Jamieson, this was the next challenge. It’s one thing to perform well in two limited-overs matches; it’s another to bring that effort consistently over five days.As it turned out, five days ended up being too optimistic for India. Jamieson took four wickets on debut in Wellington, including Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli, but his signature moment arrived in the second Test in Christchurch when he claimed his maiden five-wicket haul.”As a fan of the Blackcaps team and watching the Test side being so settled for so long with some world class players, to kind of all of sudden be sitting in that dressing room and winning a Test match, it’s something that I’ll remember for the rest of my life,” he said. “Just being able to soak up that experience of playing such a world-class team like India and being in our dressing room and being able to find a way to contribute to a couple of Test wins.”The wickets were only part of Jamieson’s contributions. He made 44 in the first Test and came one run short of a half-century in the second. After his runs in his ODI debut, Jamieson was showcasing his batting prowess in the Test format.Kyle Jamieson scythes one through the covers•Getty Images”I think we saw in both those Tests how vital lower order runs can,” Jamieson said. “Whilst our main roles as bowlers is to take wickets and to restrict runs, if you can add 10, 20, 30 runs, it’s very important.”Jamieson sees himself developing as an allrounder, although he admits he’s more of a “net batter than a match batter” at this stage of his career. “I grew up as a batter mostly and it’s certainly one of my loves. I’m still trying to master it. I’ve got a passion for it and I love working on it.”All four matches Jamieson played resulted in New Zealand victories and he earned two Man of the Match awards. For the 25-year old, the stature of his team-mates was just as memorable as his early success on the pitch.”It’s pretty weird when you think about it, really. I remember that 2015 World Cup just how the whole nation got in behind that and it was such an awesome ride and I think everyone was so proud to be a Kiwi in that moment,” he said. “To play against those guys at the domestic level occasionally and then just to be sitting in the dressing room with guys that have been playing for a fair chunk of the time I’ve been watching cricket, being involved in bowling meetings, it’s pretty special. It’s what you dream of as a kid and it’s a ‘pinch yourself’ moment.”It is still to be confirmed when New Zealand will resume international action, although November is shaping as a likely start to the home season, but Jamieson’s future looks bright. “[It was] certainly a crazy three or four weeks,” he said. “I don’t even know now if I can really believe how it kind of all unfolded.”