Shahid Afridi will organise a summer coaching camp in Karachi for Under-19 and Under-14 players later this month.Afridi is famously the product of very little formal coaching himself, having honed his unique style on the streets of Karachi before he gained acclaim as an international. But he is keen to unearth talent from the city that he has lived most of his life in.”Sadly, nowadays we are not producing such cricketers from our city,” Afridi told , a Karachi-based daily. “I think, as national heroes, it is our foremost duty to make some sort of contribution to ensure we don’t lag behind.”Karachi’s presence in the national team has dwindled in recent years, as more cricketers emerge from smaller towns, particularly in Punjab. Mohammad Sami, Danish Kaneria, apart from Afridi, are among the more successful Karachi talents in recent years.”There was a time in the past when there was stiff competition for places at the Karachi level and a number of those players went on to represent Pakistan. But now there are hardly a couple of players representing Karachi in our national teams,” Afridi explained.Dates for the camp have not yet been decided though trials for it will be held at the National Stadium on June 9-10. Afridi also said that other national team members will come to the camp. “I intend to invite a good number of former and current Pakistan players during the camp for giving tips as well as do some coaching.”
Glenn McGrath is still hoping to make his international return at the Champions Trophy in India in September. McGrath has not played since January when his wife Jane again fell ill to cancer, but with her recovery he is set for his comeback.”Things are going really well at home and Jane continues to improve each day,” McGrath told the . “She is more than happy for me to get back into some serious work. I’ve been doing plenty of indoor work and everything has been feeling great. Now it’s time to build up with some extra sessions outdoors.”McGrath is due to visit Brisbane next week for a rigourous workout at the Australian Cricket Academy. “A few of the guys, including Michael Clarke, have indicated they want to travel up there with me and ‘Pup’ [Clarke] is pretty keen to face me,” McGrath said. “I can’t wait to get to Brisbane for the outdoor stuff.”He believes the flat batting tracks in India will be ideal practice for the Ashes campaign. “I can think of no better preparation for the Ashes than a six-week build-up on the flat sub-continent wickets,” he said. “That will be all the workout I need leading into the summer.”He has received support and encouragement from the former greats Dennis Lillee, Richard Hadlee and Allan Donald. Lillee felt McGrath should be handed the new ball in the first Ashes Test and Hadlee said there was no reason why McGrath could not return “as strong as ever”. “What you lose in pace you make up for in experience, skill and variation,” he said.”It’s great to hear positive things from people who know what the game is all about, as opposed to the opinions of a few who are less informed,” McGrath said. “They are all quality fast bowlers – three of the greatest ever – and that level of support has given me a lift.”McGrath revealed that if everything goes to plan he will feature in the World Cup 2007. “I’ve always said the next World Cup is a realistic goal – and the way I’m feeling, there is no reason why I can’t go beyond that,” he said. “As the guys have said, it’s all about experience and I still have some good years, maybe even my best years, ahead of me.”
World champions Australia will play two Test matches and three one-day internationals on their tour next year of Bangladesh, the Bangladesh board announced in Dhaka on Wednesday.Australia will arrive in the country on April 6 and play their first Test at Dhaka on April 9, according to an itinerary released by the BCB. The second Test will begin at Chittagong on April 16.The opening one-dayer will he at Chittagong on April 23, followed by matches on April 26 and 28 in Dhaka. Australia have so far played just two Tests against minnows Bangladesh,winning both of them by an innings at home in 2003. Bangladesh have won just one of their 38 matches since gaining Test status in 2000, their lone victory coming against fellow-strugglers Zimbabwe at home last year. They have lost 33 Tests and drawn four.Bangladesh were under fire recently after tamely losing a two-Test series in England, with the former Australian captain and noted commentator Richie Benaud calling for them to be removed from Test cricket along with Zimbabwe. But the Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland came to the defence of the struggling side, saying that a sport with only ten Test-playing nations could not afford to dump teams.”They have (Test) status,” Sutherland said, “and we have commitments under the future tour programmes to play against those countries.”
With only one round of matches to go in the ICC Six Nation Challenge, five teams were still in with a chance to take the single berth on offer for the Champions Trophy, to be held in England in September. Scotland and Netherlands led the points tally going into the final round, but USA, Namibia and UAE were all in the hunt as well. Points tableScotland 214 (Stanger 84, Codrington 4-39) beat Canada 178 (Stanger 3-11) by 36 runs ScorecardA superb allround performance from Ian Stanger helped Scotland ease to a 36-run win against Canada, who slumped to their fourth consecutive defeat in the tournament. Stanger steadied the Scotland innings with a patient 84, allowing them reach 214. He then chipped in with three late wickets as Canada were bundled out for 178 in the 46th over. For Canada, Austin Codrington was the star performer with four wickets, but in the end, it wasn’t enough to take his team to victory. Scotland play USA in their last match, and need a win to be assured of a place in the ICC Champions Trophy.Namibia 177 (Keulder 64, Khuram 4-35) beat UAE 107 (Kotze 3-4, Burger 3-24) by 70 runs ScorecardAfter starting the tournament with consecutive defeats, Namibia bounced back with their second win in two games, beating UAE by a handy 70-run margin in a low-scoring game. After being put in to bat, Namibia managed just 177, with Danie Keulder, their opener, top-scoring with a patient 64. UAE made a reasonable start, but then slumped from 46 for 1 to 67 for 6, and were never in the hunt thereafter.Netherlands 249 for 2 (van Bunge 79*, Reekers 67, Zuiderent 64*) beat USA 248 (Staple 94, Reid 55, Schiferli 5-45) by 8 wickets ScorecardA superb batting display by Netherlands helped them register their third win in the competition. Set a challenging target of 249, Netherlands reached there for the loss of just two wickets, and with 11 balls to spare. Daan van Bunge anchored the run-chase with an unbeaten 79, while Darron Reekers (67) and Bas Zuiderent (64*) provided the impetus to the innings. Earlier, Richard Staple (94) lifted USA to a respectable total after they had slumped to 20 for 3.
KARACHI, Feb 2: The first semifinal of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Cricket Championship will be played from Monday between Khan Research Laboratories and Faisalabad at National Stadium.KRL, possessing the services of Test discards Misbah-ul-Haq, Mohammad Ramzan, skipper Ali Naqvi and upcoming stars Saeed bin Nasir, Yasir Arafat and Saeed Anwar Junior, definitely have an edge over Faisalabad.Faisalabad sprung a surprise by shocking an aging Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) at UBL Sports Complex last week in the only quarterfinal tie to produce an outright result.KRL qualified for the semifinals after their intriguing clash against National Bank ended on a damp note with the final day’s play abandoned after overnight rain had left the NSK’s square drenched and muddy.The second semifinal, between PIA and Rawalpindi, originally scheduled for Peshawar from Monday, will now be played here at UBL Sports Complex from Thursday after rain ruined the quarterfinals in northern parts of the country.
For some time now, there has been talk of a nexus between theunderworld, the bookies and some cricketers which has been at thecentre of the match fixing scandal. Even the Condon report mentionedit and added that because of this nexus, cricketers were living in anatmosphere of fear and uncertainty and were not easily forthcomingwith information.Now, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), probing the nexus, hasindicated that Dubai and Pakistan based underworld gangs were runningdedicated groups of operators to concentrate on the `lucrativebusiness’ of betting and match-fixing in international cricket. TheCBI began probing the nexus between bookies and the underworld mafiato find out how deep the criminal section has penetrated into thegame.Information about the formation of such groups emerged as part ofvital clues collected by the CBI on the modus operandi of theunderworld with regard to the murky dealings in cricket. The CBI hasbeen working towards exposing the underworld’s involvement in cricketever since it became apparent.CBI sources recently said that the investigation into the matter,which started soon after the submission of its report on betting andmatch-fixing in Indian cricket in November last year, was progressingat a good pace and they had gathered many vital clues about the case.According to indications, the gangs were closer to cricketers,administrators and officials in the Indian sub-continent. The CBI hasalso collected a lot of information about the alleged role of a numberof cricketers, administrators and officials in the murky business.While the agency has so far refused to reveal details as, according tothem, it might hamper investigations, it has confirmed that they haveinformation about their close links with the underworld operators andwould question them at an opportune time.The country’s premier investigating agency is also considering takingactive help from the Delhi Police and the Mumbai Police to get to thebottom of the way the underworld operated. The CBI has alreadycontacted a number of countries, including the United Arab Emirates,Dubai and Singapore and sought help in providing inputs about thepossible role of the underworld in tournaments held there.The CBI decided to probe the matter in the wake of reports of risinginterest of the underworld in cricket in India. Even though the nexushad been unearthed during the CBI’s probe into the match-fixingscandal, the dimensions at that time were yet to be fully established.But now the probe into this nexus and its bearing on national securityis being conducted vigorously both within India and abroad.The agency had, in its report on match-fixing released in Novemberlast year, warned that if concrete steps were not taken immediately,the underworld could take overall control of the betting racket.Negligence of the police and other authorities in allowing "wageringto turn into an organised racket, particularly with the involvement ofthe underworld mafia", was cited by the CBI as reason for the growthof the mafia’s dealings within the game.The possible implication of the underworld in betting in Indiancricket is seen in the statements of former Indian captain MdAzharuddin and the Indian team’s former physio Ali Irani who hadindicated the involvement of mafia dons.In the testimonies of Azharuddin and Irani, the names of mafia donsAnees Ibrahim, Abu Salem and Sharad Shetty have found mention. The CBIreport said Azhar during his questioning had stated that “Abu Salemhad rung him up on a couple of occasions to fix matches but he hadrefused.”According to the CBI, the fact that a “few bookies” had links with theunderworld has been fairly established during the initialinvestigation. The CBI now seems to be casting its net far and wide toget to the bottom of the nexus between the underworld, bookies,cricketers and the game’s administrators.It is a disturbing thought that more than a year after the matchfixing scandal broke, and several probes have been conducted, theevidence gathered could well be in the words of Sir Paul Condon, "thetip of the iceberg." Former England captain Ian Botham has alsospoken in much the same terms and has now even expressed the fear thatsomeone within the game could be killed. He is of the view thatplayers caught in the scandal were afraid to blow the whistle on thoseseemingly responsible for offering money to under perform for fear ofviolent reprisals, again something that Condon hinted in his report.Clearly the fight against match fixing is far from over despite allthe efforts put in so far.
Arsenal are now racing Real Madrid and Bayern Munich for the signature of a “really exciting” Champions League player, who is likely to have a huge asking price.
Campbell suggests Arsenal need to sign new centre-back
With William Saliba and Gabriel spending time on the treatment table, Sol Campbell has now suggested it could be worth dipping into the transfer market to sign a new centre-back next month, saying: “Maybe an older centre-half who wants a six-month contract, something might happen at the back-end of January, or a loan that makes sense. Keep your options open.”
The former defender also added: “Arsenal can lose two players elsewhere on the pitch but in defence, they miss Saliba and Gabriel’s experience, knowledge and cool heads for the big moments.”
The two defenders are set to return before 2026, but Cristhian Mosquera was recently sidelined for weeks due to an ankle issue, which means it may still be worth bringing in another centre-back, heading into a busy period.
With the Gunners still competing on all fronts, they have 11 games penciled in before the end of January, so having squad depth is likely to be important, and they have now joined the race for a new defender.
That is according to a report from Caught Offside, which states Arsenal are now closely monitoring Atalanta defender Honest Ahanor, but there could be fierce competition for his signature, with Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Chelsea also keen.
In fact, the Blues could be prepared to make a bid of €60m (£52m), with the Italian club set to hold out for a huge fee, as they view the 17-year-old as a ‘future defensive leader’, rather than a player to cash-in on in the near future.
The starlet is regarded as a ‘potential cornerstone signing’ by the Gunners, and there are plenty of indications he could go on to be a future star…
Journalist fears Arsenal could sign AC Milan rising star amid "strong" temptation
The Rossoneri may give in and sell.
ByEmilio Galantini "Really exciting" Ahanor tipped to become "one of the best"
Journalist Bence Bocsak clearly rates the teenager very highly, having described him as a “really exciting” player, while former Italy international Aldo Serena believes the starlet is capable of reaching the very highest level.
Serena said: “I don’t usually bet, but I could make an exception for Ahanor. I feel confident saying that by the age of 20, he will be one of the best in the world in his position.”
Subscribe to the newsletter for expert Arsenal transfer insight For deeper transfer context, subscribe to our newsletter to get expert analysis, scouting breakdowns, and clearer perspective on signings like emerging centre-backs. Subscribe and follow our coverage of transfers, squad strategy, and broader club developments. Subscribe to the newsletter for expert Arsenal transfer insight For deeper transfer context, subscribe to our newsletter to get expert analysis, scouting breakdowns, and clearer perspective on signings like emerging centre-backs. Subscribe and follow our coverage of transfers, squad strategy, and broader club developments.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Since making his breakthrough at senior level, the Atalanta ace has regularly displayed his dribbling skills and ability to win back possession.
Honest Ahanor’s key statistics
Average per 90 (past year)
Tackles
2.20 (91st percentile)
Blocks
2.0 (98th percentile)
Progressive carries
1.05 (81st percentile)
Not only that, but the centre-back put in an impressive showing against Arsenal’s rivals in the Champions League, with manager Raffaele Palladino saying: “He had a great game against Chelsea, and I really like his spirit: his boldness and his willingness to give 110% of every opportunity he gets.”
Ahanor clearly has the talent to become a top defender, and it would be exciting if Arsenal were to launch a January move.
The South African cricketers selected by the eight Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises willlose part of their treasure chest after they decided to fly back home atthe conclusion of the ongoing Test series to take part in the final stagesof the Standard Bank Pro20.The likes of Jacques Kallis, Graeme Smith, Mark Boucher, Dale Steyn and Makhaya Ntini will now be available for the semi-finals and finals of the domestic competition, and will enter the IPLfray only after April 25. As a result, most of them will miss four games.The news comes three days after Lalit Modi, the IPL commissioner, said the members of the Cobras side would stay back in India for the start of the IPL. He said the Titans players could also follow suit.However, Gerald Majola, the chief executive of Cricket South Africa (CSA), confirmed to Cricinfo that the South Africans would be available for IPL only after the first week of the tournament. “That was always the arrangement,” Majola said.Charu Sharma, the chief executive of the Bangalore Royal Challengers, told Cricinfo that the franchise was yet to receive any official information. Bangalore, who play their first match on April 18, have Kallis, Boucher and Steyn and will be the most affected. The Chennai Super Kings will lose Makhaya Ntini and Albie Morkel but VB Chandreshekar, who oversees cricket operations, said the team was always expecting this situation, especially after Majola’s visit to Chennai last month.The decision, made in consultation with Majola, was taken on Wednesday night, and the players will now fly home, via Dubai, at the conclusion of the Kanpur Test.Under the terms of their contracts, the players could end up forfeitingmore than 25 percent of what they would otherwise have earned during theIPL season. Kallis, signed by the Royal Challengers for $900,000stands to lose more than $200,000. As things stand, he and Smith, who areteam-mates at the Cape Cobras, will now miss their first head-to-headconfrontation, when the Royal Challengers take on the Rajasthan Royals atthe Chinnaswamy Stadium on April 26.
For a team that sustained the heaviest defeat in its long history to the same opposition only 10 days back – conceding over 500 runs in both Tests – West Indies will snatch at any available straw. Tenuous as they are, a few have presented themselves in advance of the third Test starting at Old Trafford tomorrow.The weather has changed from polar to tropical and runs have been made, wickets taken and long spells enjoyed in warm sunshine, albeit in a leisurely three-day match inbetween Tests.Even though Ramnaresh Sarwan is back home attending to the injured shoulder that forced him out of the entire series, the experienced and reliable Shivnarine Chanderpaul has recovered from his knee injury and can resume his essential place in the middle order, so badly missed at Leeds. Chris Gayle, who damaged a rib muscle in the intervening match, too has recovered.There has even been a little help from the other side. Michael Vaughan, the England captain, has created a distraction for England with some ill-timed, and widely condemned comments on the effect of Andrew Flintoff’s high jinks during the World Cup on team morale. It will take more than a little straw to suddenly make West Indies strong again but these few might render them less compliant than they were.An MCC XI, made up almost exclusively of eager but anonymous university students, bore no resemblance to the intimidating task expected over the coming days. All the same, most West Indies players used the chance for match practice with both bat and ball.Runako Morton’s double hundred and Denesh Ramdin’s ton surely raised the confidence of two players for whom it is more essential than most. And Fidel Edwards and Darren Sammy appreciated lengthy spells in their first chance in the middle since arriving in England over a month ago. To the English media and perhaps even to the England dressing room, such developments are irrelevant. Both appear certain of a repetition of the ruthlessness of Leeds and another thumping victory.It is Vaughan’s assertion that Flintoff’s much publicised, inebriated escapade on a paddle boat in St Lucia in the early hours of the morning after the first round loss to New Zealand in the World Cup that has attracted most attention. Flintoff’s weak ankle that required a second operation this week has put him out of the series but he remains an immensely popular cricketer in England, especially in Manchester where he plays his county cricket for Lancashire.Vaughan’s quote in a newspaper interview on Monday that the St Lucia incident “did affect morale” and “changed the whole atmosphere in the camp” has drawn widespread censure, especially from Jim Cumbes, Lancashire’s chief executive.Vaughan was yesterday engaged in the kind of damage control at which shrewd politicians are so adept, claiming he had been misquoted and misrepresented. But he is unlikely to be welcomed by the Lancastrian crowd today as he was in the previous Test at his home ground at Headingley. Even if they kidnap Vaughan and hold him hostage, however, it would make little impression on the gap, in every area, that has emerged in the first two Tests.Six England batsmen have helped themselves to hundreds already, the devastating Kevin Pietersen a double. The only West Indian hundreds have been to bowlers, four in the first Test, three in the second.For all the West Indies collapses at Leeds for 146 and 141, there were extenuating circumstances – the absence of Chanderpaul and Sarwan, the bowler-friendly conditions, the weather. It was their bowling and fielding that were more shocking in both instances. Lord’s, where they totaled 437 and 89 without loss, was a more accurate guide to their capacity on a true pitch. Old Trafford’s is dry and rock hard but if its character resembles last year’s Test against Pakistan, pace and bounce, rather than swing and seam, will be the problem. Steve Harmison took 11 for 77 in the match as Pakistan – Inzamam, Mohammad Yousuf, Younis Khan and all – were toppled for 119 and 222, losing by an innings and 120 runs.The present West Indies fast bowlers struggle to take 11 wickets in a series, far less a match, and a change in the trio so far used – Jerome Taylor, Daren Powell and Corey Collymore – is necessary. Edwards, who reportedly generated genuine pace on a benign pitch against the MCC, would add bite, but control is also required to prevent England’s batting romping along at five runs an over.Ravi Rampaul might have provided it but he broke down after 21 balls in his only bowl last Saturday. A case might be made for Sammy but where would be fit in?The straws are welcome but the problems won’t go away.
Few surprises emerged in a 16-man squad announced by Pakistan’s selectors for the tour to England which begins later this month. Shahid Nazir has been recalled, in place of the injured Shoaib Akhtar, but the selectors and Bob Woolmer, Pakistan’s coach, were both satisfied that the squad was the strongest one available.Wasim Bari, the chief selector, told Cricinfo that despite Shoaib’s absence, Pakistan will arrive with a strong pace attack. “I think this is the best squad we could get, especially after the news of Shoaib’s fracture. We will miss him of course – any side would – but in Shahid Nazir we have a bowler who is suited to English conditions and is a good option for the captain.”As a consolation, Shoaib’s absence is not unusual for Pakistan; they drew in India and the West Indies last year and won in Sri Lanka recently without him. The emergence of Mohammad Asif and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and the return of Umar Gul has helped ease the burden and with Mohammad Sami recalled as well (Bari said the bowler has been working “extremely hard” since he was dropped after the India series), Pakistan’s seam attack still has an enviable depth.”We’ve played and done well in a few series without Shoaib,” said Woolmer. “Obviously his presence and express pace are good to have, but I am happy with the squad we have. Shahid Nazir can be very good in these conditions.”Shoaib’s participation at some point during the tour has, of course, not been ruled out yet least of all by Bari or the bowler. “I am very hopeful that he will play at some stage of the series. He will have another scan in six weeks and we will see after that,” said Bari. And Shoaib told AFP he was planning to be fit in time to play at least the last two Tests of the series.His absence apart, little about the squad warranted debate; in Woolmer’s words, “this is a squad that has done very well and we don’t want to be chopping and changing all the time.” As is now the norm, there is a scarcity of specialist openers in whom confidence can be invested. Salman Butt and Imran Farhat are selected, though Shoaib Malik is likely to open with one of them in the Tests. “I don’t understand why people have issues with him as an opener,” said Woolmer, referring to a number of half-century opening stands and a maiden Test hundred in Colombo recently since Malik added opening to a burgeoning list of roles.”He is a good, good cricketer. All opening batsmen are under pressure, but he’s gutsy and the sort of bloke you want in your team. And he’s done pretty well as opener.”Below them – always nice to say – is a middle order that picks itself. Asim Kamal’s continued absence (though he remains a reserve member) might grate with some, but his poor domestic form and the robust international display of Faisal Iqbal recently, lessens the impact of his absence.And because it is England, mischievous mutterings about little Mushie, currently busy tormenting English batsmen on the county circuit, still float around. Bari and Woolmer played their part, neither ruling out, nor ruling in, a Mushtaq cameo at some point in the summer.Woolmer hinted that he might not be needed: “Danish [Kaneria] is our No. 1 spinner but we also have back-up in Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik. The pitches at that time of year in England will also have uneven bounce so we’re looking more at our seam attack to do the work.”But Bari said, open-endedly: “We can’t pre-plan these things and it all depends on what happens as the tour progresses, but he is in good form certainly.” That form has seen him help Sussex to the top of the County table and help himself to 47 wickets from seven matches.With England still suffering from a calamitous injury list, you could almost be tempted into believing Pakistan stand a more-than-decent chance of preserving an unbeaten record on England tours since 1982. Almost, but not quite, says Woolmer. “I don’t look into the future. I respect the team, any team, that we play against. We still have to play very good cricket and win those crucial sessions to win matches. Above all we must take every game seriously.”Pakistan squad Inzamam-ul Haq (capt), Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Shoaib Malik, Salman Butt, Imran Farhat, Kamran Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Danish Kaneria, Faisal Iqbal, Muhammad Sami, Rana Naved, Mohammad Asif, Umar Gul, Shahid Nazir.