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Steve Kirby, once reputed as one of the most passionate competitors in cricket, not averse to a famous sledge or two, has been appointed as head coach of MCC, proof perhaps that even the wildest players mature into establishment jobs and the MCC, these days at least, has a broader attitude to life.Kirby, a ginger-haired never-say-die pace bowler for Yorkshire, Gloucestershire and Somerset, will oversee all aspects of the MCC’s coaching structures, including the MCC Young Cricketers, who compete in the 2nd XI Championship, the MCC Academy based at Lord’s and the Club’s burgeoning community coaching programmes.He will assume the role in late April, replacing Mark Alleyne, whose seven-year term has ended. His “infectious love of cricket”, as cited by the MCC, is bound to challenge the next generation of players in ways they have yet to imagine.Kirby’s most famous outburst – and he must be weary of hearing it – was allegedly when he informed Michael Atherton that he had “seen better players in my fridge” – an assessment that as far as is known he has never fully explained. Perhaps alongside the milk and the probiotic yogurt he had a perishable figure of Wally Hammond?The player himself later gave his own version of what passed, suggesting that the sledge had actually been “I’ve seen better batters in my fish and chip shop,” which sounded a little more logical.The irresistible vision cannot be resisted of future players in MCC caps lambasting their opponents in colourful language that has rarely entered the annals of the most famous private cricket club in England. It is doubtless unfair, because Kirby has many qualities, but it is irresistible all the same.There were few more committed cricketers than Kirby and his sheer love of the game is sure to be communicated to the next generation of MCC cricketers.With less ambition, he would never have made the grade. He began his career at Leicestershire as a 17-year-old but after suffering a back injury was released from the before playing a first-class match.His first-class debut for Yorkshire in 2001 was a revelation – not just because he was born in Lancashire, on the other side of the Pennines. He took 7-50 on his first-class debut and amassed 47 wickets at just over 20 runs apiece in a championship-winning season. Raw of bone and unpretentious of nature, he was instantly one of the fastest bowlers in England, obsessively committed to attack, stomping through the season with the gait of an American gold prospector.Yorkshire released Kirby three years later at his own request. His future was in doubt, Kirby would go on to take 572 first-class wickets for three counties in a fourteen-year playing career. His sheer desire won him four England A tours. That England debut never came and, on balance, he could not fairly complain..Kirby has been a Member of MCC since 2010 and played in the annual Champion County match on four occasions, taking 5 for 29 against Nottinghamshire in Abu Dhabi in 2011. He has represented MCC on overseas tours to Papua New Guinea and Fiji and also to Argentina. His coaching experience has been earned with county academies at Oxford MCC University and by heading community coaching programmes throughout the South-West.John Stephenson, MCC’s head of cricket, said: “Steve’s passion for the role and for MCC shone through and this was a key reason why we decided to appoint him. He has energy, drive and commitment in spades and his ambition to drive forward all the club’s coaching structures was clear throughout the robust interview process.”With a successful playing career and impressive coaching credentials, we feel we have, in Steve, someone who is going to really inspire young cricketers of all ages either to take up the game or to take their game to the next level.”His infectious love of cricket will also rub off on our MCC Academy and Community coaches and we very much look forward to him joining the staff as we start another busy cricket season.”Kirby said: “Words can’t describe how excited I am to be taking on such a prestigious role of MCC head coach and I can’t wait to get started. Mark Alleyne did a tremendous job over the previous seven years and they are very big boots to fill.”This role is about helping to unearth the hidden talent of young players from all age groups and backgrounds, helping them to excel in their dreams of playing professional cricket but most importantly helping them to become truly well-rounded confident people who can cope with any hurdle that life throws at them.”I want to teach them to treasure and respect the values MCC stands for within the game, nurturing them to be role models and ambassadors that MCC can be proud of, but most importantly that they are extremely proud to say they are a real part of.”

Having barely enjoyed the FA Cup trophy at the end of the 17/18 campaign, established and esteemed Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois shocked the Stamford Bridge faithful by forcing a move through to Spanish giants Real Madrid, leaving an alarming chasm between the sticks.

Irrevocably severing his tether to Chelsea and the endearment of the fanbase, signing for Los Blancos for £35m after seven years on the Blues’ books, the Belgian ace’s acrimonious departure warranted a first-rate replacement, and the club’s hierarchy swiftly scoured the market for the optimum acquisition.

Before the commencement of the 18/19 Premier League campaign, the west London outfit would announce the world-record goalkeeper signing of Kepa Arrizabalaga, who joined from La Liga outfit Athletic Bilbao for £72m.

It all could have been so different; Sky in Italy reported that Liverpool had been pursuing a deal for Roma goalkeeper Alisson, but had been priced out of a move, paving the way for the affluent Chelsea to swoop in and secure the Brazilian titan for a reported £62m.

Liverpool would return, to the surprise of observers, and complete the £67m signing of Alisson, spelling an end to Chelsea’s interest, breaking the world-record fee for a shot-stopper before the Blues would indeed break it for the Spanish Kepa just one month later.

Did Chelsea blunder on Alisson?

It’s fair to say that the respective colossus’ have had contrasting fortunes since their arrivals in England, with Alisson cementing his stature as one of Europe’s finest of his position, while Kepa has endured a tumultuous journey; not without its success, but not without its considerable hardships.

The polarity in fortunes for the gems is perhaps best encapsulated by CIES Football Observatory’s respective current values: Alisson still boasts a value of £71m that holds with the fee Liverpool paid, but the 11-cap Spaniard now yields a price to his name of just £13m, which is startling in its entirety.

Had the Blues completed the signing of Alisson, who cost less than Kepa, they could have instated an unwavering and iron-clad figure to dominate from the defensive third, providing steely resistance and instilling leadership across the pitch.

Having made 216 appearances, keeping an impressive 98 clean sheets, the 30-year-old South American has been instrumental in the craft of Liverpool’s current outfit, and despite the current seasonal woes, has basked in the glory of clinching the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, and Club World Cup during his stay, now nearly five years on Merseyside.

The 61-cap star has also won the 18/19 Copa America with Brazil during this period, and his elite, winning mentality, would have paid dividends for the Stamford Bridge-based side.

Lauded as a “monster” by journalist Matt Kim, Alisson has proved time and time again that he is a world-class star, evidenced by his stellar performances despite Liverpool’s loss of potency and fluidity this season.

And had Alisson, dubbed “the best in the world” by Reds team-mate Andy Robertson, donned Chelsea blue in 2018, the footballing script that has dictated the past several years could very well have been rewritten.

Instead of the underperforming and devalued Kepa, the Blues could have had one of the ‘best’ shot-stoppers on the globe, which is why they fumbled badly with the Brazilian in 2018.

Arsenal have undergone a remarkable transformation in recent seasons. From missing out on the Champions League to arch-rivals Tottenham in 2021/22 to running Manchester City close to the Premier League title in 2022/23, the Gunners' meteoric rise has seen them shift their spending up a gear in the transfer window.

In the summer of 2022, Mikel Arteta was allowed to open up the chequebook and raid his former club for Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus for a combined £82m, with the pair becoming vital cogs in the Spaniard's footballing machine.

With the aim of challenging Man City for the title once more, Arsenal have turned their volume of spending up a notch, replacing the likes of Matt Turner, Rob Holding, Granit Xhaka and Florian Balogun with David Raya, Jurrien Timber, Declan Rice and Kai Havertz for a combined £208m.

Out of that quartet, it is Rice who has made the most impressive start to life in north London, etching his name into Gunners folklore by scoring the winner in a pulsating 3-1 victory over Manchester United.

The Englishman is forming a strong partnership with Thomas Partey in the engine room and despite the qualities the latter possesses, Arsenal could have upgraded on the Ghanaian by signing Federico Valverde in 2016.

Did Arsenal almost sign Fede Valverde?

According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Arsenal had the opportunity to sign Valverde in 2016 when he was plying his trade in Uruguay for CA Penarol.

While the 25-year-old has become one of the best midfielders in Europe, his path to the top could have been a lot different.

The Gunners took the 50-cap Uruguay international on trial for a week seven years ago but Arsenal's manager at the time, Arsene Wenger, declined the opportunity to secure his services with Real Madrid swooping for him instead in a £4.5m deal.

Despite being rejected by the Frenchman, Valverde spoke fondly about his brief stint at the club and particularly, the impact Alexis Sanchez had on him as a youngster.

He said: "I have always been grateful to him. When I went to train at Arsenal, Alexis was there and he was one of the few who came up to help me.

"I will always be grateful to him because, being a nobody, I was well-received by him. He was there to help me when I was a kid. As a footballer, he is an incredible player."

What has Valverde achieved at Real Madrid?

Lauded as "untouchable" by manager Carlo Ancelotti, Valverde has enjoyed a glittering career so far in the Spanish capital, winning two La Liga titles and a Champions League in 2022. Such sparkling form and honours have seen his value rise to a meteoric £129m, as per Football Observatory.

The versatile midfielder, who can operate box-to-box, as a number 10 or on either flank, has become an important player in the Italian's system due to the fact he can play in a variety of positions, but it isn't just his versatility that has caught the eye.

Speaking on BT Sport after Real's 5-1 demolition of Celtic in the Champions League last season, Joe Cole heaped praise on Valverde for the array of technical and physical attributes he brings to the party while putting him in the same bracket as Jude Bellingham, saying:

"He's standing right at the top of the tree with Bellingham in the young players, and he's on the verge of becoming the best.

"He's box-to-box, he scores goals, he's a technician he was the unsung hero in the final, I thought he was outstanding against Liverpool.

"His stats this year are unbelievable, his goals, assists, goal involvements, incredible player and we talk a lot about Bellingham in this country, but this kid is every bit as good as Bellingham."

The departure of Casemiro to Manchester United was the catalyst for the £134k per-week star to grasp more opportunities to impress next to the untouchable duo of Luca Modric and Toni Kroos, doing so by becoming the driving force in that midfield, covering ground quickly and making lung-bursting runs to contribute further forward.

In the 2022/23 season, Valverde scored more goals than he managed in his previous five seasons for the club, amassing 12 goals in 56 appearances, compared to a total of six in the seasons prior, demonstrating that his influence on this Real side grows fast as he continues to play more regularly.

Valverde's former teammate Casemiro always believed in the Uruguayan's ability and predicted he would stand tall among the world's elite.

Speaking in 2020, the Brazilian said: "He's going to be one of the best No 8s in the world in two years"

According to FBref, Valverde is backing up that claim by producing frighteningly good metrics when compared against players positionally similar to him across Europe's top five leagues. He ranks in top 8% for progressive carries, top 10% for non-penalty goals, top 10% for expected assists and top 13% for progressive passes recorded.

For as long as Valverde continues to have a growing influence at Real by producing in every department, Arsenal will continue to rue their decision to let the 25-year-old slip through the net who is now worth a whopping £129m, as per Football Observatory.

Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold is facing a spell on the sidelines, but a reliable journalist has confirmed that his injury is not as bad as first feared in a promising update for supporters.

What's the latest injury news on Trent Alexander-Arnold?

During the 3-0 Premier League victory over Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon, the right-back was forced off the pitch after 71 minutes with a suspected hamstring injury and was replaced by Jarell Quansah.

In his post-match interview after the game, Jurgen Klopp delivered an immediate update on his vice-captain’s fitness. He said: “I don’t know exactly. I asked him, he said it’s [his] hamstring. ‘Not too serious’ is his opinion, but we obviously have to wait for the scans and then we will know more.”

The England international had initially been named as part of Gareth Southgate’s squad for his side's upcoming Euro 2024 qualifier against Ukraine and friendly vs Scotland, but with the 24-year-old having since withdrawn from duty with the Three Lions, fans will have been concerned that their academy graduate had sustained a serious problem.

How long is Alexander-Arnold out for?

Taking to X on Monday, however, The Athletic’s James Pearce revealed that Alexander-Arnold is only set to be out of action for a fortnight, and whilst he might not make next weekend’s game vs Wolves, the prognosis is a "big relief" from initial fears of serious damage:

“Trent Alexander-Arnold expected to be sidelined for around 2 weeks. Scan today showed damage to his hamstring is only minor. Big relief. A doubt for Wolves away after the break – but he’s a quick healer.”

How many goals has Alexander-Arnold scored for Liverpool?

During his 277 senior appearances for Liverpool, Alexander-Arnold has posted 89 goal contributions (73 assists and 16 goals), form which has previously seen him dubbed “mind-blowing” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, and that’s certainly the impact he has under Klopp, hence why it’ll be a huge boost to have him back.

Sponsored by Under Armour, the defender has recorded a total of 18 shot-creating actions so far this season, which is tied with Dominik Szoboszlai for the most in the squad, as well as whipping 16 crosses into the box which is the second-highest behind Andy Robertson, via FBRef, highlighting his desire to provide for his peers in the final third.

The West Derby-born talent, who pockets £180k-per-week, has also helped the club to secure seven pieces of silverware since his promotion to the first team fold, including the Premier League and Champions League trophies, so he knows exactly what it takes to compete and be successful at the highest level with his extraordinary winning mentality.

Finally, Alexander-Arnold has the ability to operate slightly higher up in both central and on the right side of the midfield alongside his usual role as a full-back so he provides the boss with excellent versatility, and there’s no doubt that having him in the starting line-up only increases the team’s chances of gaining a positive result.

With the summer transfer window approaching the final days, West Ham United could yet welcome more reinforcements, having already welcomed James Ward-Prowse and Edson Alvarez.

The Hammers still have some remaining budget left from the reported £105m sale of Declan Rice to Arsenal, however, and that could see them enjoy a busy end to the window.

Among their targets is KRC Genk midfielder Mike Tresor, according to reports.

What's the latest on Mike Tresor to West Ham?

As per journalist Sacha Taviolieri, the London club have made contact with Tresor over a potential summer switch.

This follows the news that Hammers midfielder Lucas Paqueta is under investigation for off-field breaches, which put an end to any potential move to Manchester City.

Taviolieri reported that West Ham must settle the Paqueta situation before they move ahead with any potential deal for Tresor. They are, however, reportedly keen on making their move next week, starting with contacting Genk.

If they are to make their move, the Premier League side will have to do it sooner rather than later, of course, given that the transfer window closes in just over a week. It's certainly a move to keep an eye on, though.

Should West Ham sign Mike Tresor?

Described as the Belgium Pro League's best player of the 2022/2023 season, everything suggests that West Ham would be signing some player if they pushed ahead with their pursuit of Tresor before the window shuts.

At just 24 years of age, too, the attacking midfielder, who can also play out wide, could soon be entering his prime, so may get better with a move to somewhere as competitive as the Premier League.

At his best, Tresor has attracted plenty of praise, too, including from Football Talent Scout's Jacek Kulig, who said, after pointing out the midfielder's numbers last season.

"Crazy numbers. Absolutely sensational season for the 23-year-old Genk attacking midfielder."

The numbers that Kulig was talking about, of course, come from last season, when Tresor scored eight goals, made a sensational 22 assists, created 19 big chances, with three key chances per 90, and a goal involvement every 99 minutes in a total of 35 games played.

Looking at the statistics, Kulig was more than correct with his verdict of the 24-year-old. If West Ham are to lose Paqueta this season, too, whether that be through a move away or other circumstances, given his possible alleged breaches, then welcoming a player of Tresor's calibre seems like a must.

Paqueta made 155 progressive passes for the Hammers last season, and replacing that output at the London Stadium will be no easy task for David Moyes. Tresor more than proved his ability to create last season, however, with his 22 assists an incredible number in the Belgium Pro League.

Read the latest West Ham transfer news HERE…

As West Ham look to avoid another relegation scrap in the current campaign, then welcoming further reinforcements is imperative. As things stand, Ward-Prowse and Alvarez may not be enough to help Moyes and co reach their target in the coming year.

As the window nears its end, the Hammers will certainly be an interesting side to keep an eye on.

The South Africa batsman has said that he is in a ‘good space’ physically and mentally after series-turning contributions against India

Sidharth Monga in Johannesburg18-Jan-2018South Africa coach Ottis Gibson was asked in the lead-up to the series if the Indian pace attack had enough in it to make them reconsider the usual policy of batting first in Cape Town. This was, after all, not the usual Cape Town pitch; it had more grass than usual on it. Gibson said it would depend on the overheads on the morning of the Test. The morning was bright with no clouds, and South Africa thought about putting India in, but went ahead and took the challenge of batting the first session out.Three overs in, South Africa were in crisis. Dean Elgar nicked behind while Aiden Markram was pinned lbw. The ball did a lot, and Hashim Amla would soon perish to make it 12 for 3. Bhuvneshwar Kumar took three wickets in each of his first three overs. Batting seemed treacherous. South Africa were pretty close to their gamble of a spicy pitch backfiring on them.AB de Villiers, though, batted as if on a different plane. He was helped by Mohammed Shami bowling the first ball to him on his pads. The score didn’t matter, the situation didn’t matter; the ball was there to be hit, and he hit it. Soon he hit Bhuvneshwar Kumar for four boundaries in one over. In crisis he scored 65 off 84 balls, benefitting from some loose bowling along the way, to take South Africa to a total they could win the Test with.In Centurion, South Africa didn’t get the pitch they wanted. It was slow, it didn’t have much bounce, and it turned on day one. Morne Morkel said it felt “100%” like bowling India. South Africa won the toss again – a big advantage this time – but let India back in by not scoring over 400. There was some ordinary running, some loose shots, that let India off the hook. They took a lead of 28 in the first innings, but the third innings was now important. This pitch seemed to now favour India’s bowlers whose default mode of operation is to attack the stumps. Two early wickets fell to balls that stayed low and were at the stumps.South Africa were now 31 for 2 effectively, and it was anybody’s game. It was de Villiers’ game. Once again he scored 80 at the rate of two runs per three balls to pull South Africa out of trouble. These were two crucial innings in the context of the series even though none of these got him the Man-of-the-Match award. They were played at strike-rates you would be proud of in crisis in ODIs. These were what you would call counterattacks, but to de Villiers these are normal innings.ESPNcricinfo Ltd”Not at all,” de Villiers said when asked if he consciously made an attempt to hit South Africa’s way out of trouble. “I watch the ball and I just play. I have always said that I don’t feel there’s a big difference between the three formats. It is just a mindset applying yourself to the wicket and conditions, and that’s always been the way that I have played. So no definitely it’s not something that I force.”That is how de Villiers bats. He sees the ball early, gets into attacking positions, and defends or leaves only if he must. In an interview to ESPNcricinfo in 2015, he said: “My mindset in all three formats, in any situation, is exactly the same. I just want to get myself in, get myself a nice foundation to hopefully attack and dominate the bowlers. After a period what I call – let’s say a period when you have got to earn the right to dominate the bowling. In some innings it takes one ball, sometimes it takes 10 overs, sometimes five overs…”It hasn’t all been smooth of late for de Villiers, with injuries keeping him out of Test cricket. It must feel great to come back and immediately make such a big impact on a grudge series. “Test cricket is the ultimate challenge,” de Villiers said. “It was very enjoyable to be a part of a really important and good series win. I think it was a great team effort from everyone, from the fielding to the bowlers with big pressure moments with the bat in hand, just an all-round really good team performance. I am obviously enjoying my cricket and loving it out there with the boys. And it has been a great couple of Test matches.”These might not have been big hundreds, but these have been match-turning, and consequently series-turning, innings. And de Villiers has never felt better about his game. “I feel like I am in the best form of my life right now,” de Villiers said. “I am never guaranteed results, never guaranteed five hundreds in a row, I could get five ducks in a row but I am happy where I am at. And I am playing well, and I am doing my preparation well, and I am meeting the ball well. It’s just up to the day to take care of itself. I feel at the best phase of my life right now.”AFPPhysically, too, de Villiers said he felt he was in a good space. “It feels like my debut back in 2004 when I started as an opening batsman then a keeper at no.7 and back to opening, and up and down,” de Villiers said of his body. “It’s funny with my comeback now similar to back in the day. But it has been very enjoyable. I feel very fresh, and I have said it on numerous occasions in the last few months that I just feel like just getting out there and playing, and that’s what a good break does to you.”I am feeling in a good space, and the energy is good, and my body is feeling right at the moment. I do have niggles but that is part of Test cricket. You never get up feeling a 100%. The back is still there, the ankles and knees, everything is hurting at times but to be playing the ultimate form of the game again has been a great challenge.”De Villiers is not done yet with India. He will laugh about the last series in India, where some of the best batsmen in the world lost confidence playing on tracks that Faf du Plessis said bordered on the “extreme”, but they are gunning for 3-0.”I can’t remember what happened,” de Villiers joked. “What happened in 2015? Oh we won the ODI series, yeah. It would be great, India have really impressed me and surprised us in terms of the bowling department so they have shown lot more skill and definitely there is lot more pace than we expected. So we know we are going to have to be watchful in that last Test. They will come out fighting and wanting to finish well in the Test series, and wanting to take that confidence into the ODIs, but obviously we would love to beat them 3-0. But you are never guaranteed of a result. We know we are going to have to dig deep again and make sure that like in the last two Tests we adapt to the conditions and put in our best type of cricket in the conditions.”

Chelsea might keep youngster Andrey Santos in west London next season as Mauricio Pochettino is "impressed" and "super happy" with what he has seen from the Brazilian in preseason, per transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.

Is Andrey Santos staying at Chelsea this summer?

The Blues look like they are finally starting to ease off on their mass selling of players this summer and are instead turning towards bringing new faces into the club and keeping the ones they already have.

The west Londoners have already signed the promising Nicolas Jackson from La Liga outfit Villarreal and look poised to complete the signing of French centre-back Axel Disasi from Monaco as well.

One player that will feel like a new signing to fans is 19-year-old Brazilian Santos, who officially signed for the club back in January before going back on loan to Vasco da Gama for the remainder of the season.

Read the latest Chelsea transfer news HERE…

There was an expectation in some quarters that, given his relative inexperience, he'd be sent out on loan yet again this year, but to somewhere in Europe instead, which might well have been the plan prior to preseason, but it appears that plan could've changed over the last few weeks.

In the four games Pochettino's side have played so far this summer, Santos has started three of them and came on as a substitute in the other, and left a real impression on the new manager, per Fabrizio Romano.

He explained the situation on his YouTube channel, saying:

"Andrey Santos Brazilian update. It's true that there is a lot of interest. More than seven clubs [are] asking for Andrey Santos on loan, the last one was an English club from the Premier League, not a big club, but the English clubs [is] asking for the loan of Andrey Santos.

"Porto in June, Salernita from Italy. We heard rumours, but at the moment, it is not something advanced, why? Because, at the moment, at Chelsea they are very happy with Andrey. Pochettino is super happy, the staff is super happy, and so there is a chance for Andrey Santos to stay in the first team and be part of the Chelsea squad for the season.

"This is not 100% decided yet will be decided in the next days, of course, but Andrey Santos is doing really well, not just in the friendly games but also in training. Pochettino is impressed, and so there is a chance for Andre Santos to stay.

"Again, not 100% decided it will be discussed with his agents, but it's a concrete possibility because he's doing fantastic. Otherwise, there are more than six [or] seven clubs ready to sign him on loan."

Who else have Chelsea been linked to this summer?

With a few new faces already through the doors at Stamford Bridge, who else could be joining the new Pochettino era in west London?

The name that has been touted for a move to the Bridge more than any other this summer – and by quite some way – is that of Moises Caicedo.

It would be fair to say that after having already made a number of offers for the Ecuadorian superstar, he is firmly the Blues' top target this summer, and despite getting rebuffed each of those four times, Chelsea are yet to decide whether they will move on or not, per Sky Sports.

Another deal that looks complete – even if the club themselves haven't confirmed it yet – is the £23m signing of Stade Rennes midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu, per Sky Sports.

The 19-year-old had a strong season for the Ligue 1 outfit last year, starting 14 games, providing one assist, maintaining a passing accuracy of 87.6% and averaging a match rating of 6.48, per WhoScored.

The plan for the youngster may be to send him out on loan straight away, as Pochettino seemed to indicate in a press conference, saying:

"My information is he is a player that is from France that maybe they are signing with the idea to send on some loan, using a different club that information was already in your laptop.

"There is nothing to say too much."

It will be an interesting season for Chelsea this year, especially with how many new faces Pochettino might have to integrate into the team, but who knows, all this change could be exactly what the club need.

Opener Sophie Devine struck 41 off 29 balls and followed it with the wicket of Ayesha Zafar to underpin New Zealand’s 15-run victory in the first T20I in Sharjah

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Nov-2017
ScorecardGetty Images

Opener Sophie Devine struck 41 off 29 balls and followed it with the wicket of Ayesha Zafar to underpin New Zealand women’s 15-run victory in the first T20I in Sharjah. After Devine and wicketkeeper-batsman Katey Martin (46) took New Zealand women to 147, the slower bowlers strangled Pakistan’s chase.Pakistan had had a strong start to their chase with Zafar and Nahida Khan adding 44 for the opening partnership. Both batsmen fell in successive overs but captain Bismah Maroof and Javeria Khan repaired the chase by putting on 47 for the third wicket in 45 balls. When seamer Lea Tahuhu had Maroof caught behind, Pakistan needed 54 from their last five overs.Thamsyn Newton, who claimed 2 for 22, and the spinners then tightened the noose around the batsmen to limit Pakistan to 132 for 7.Earlier, New Zealand lost their captain Suzie Bates for a duck in the first over, but Devine and Katie Perkins steadied the side with a 68-run stand for the second wicket. They stumbled when both batsmen fell in quick succession, but Martin hit four fours and a six to haul the score near 150. This, despite New Zealand losing five wickets in their last five overs. Left-arm spinner Sadia Yousuf was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan, ending with 3 for 30.

Cricket South Africa has had its first meeting with broadcaster SuperSport to discuss a deal for the upcoming T20 Global League following the departure of Haroon Lorgat as CEO on Thursday. Acting CEO Thabang Moroe, CFO Naasei Appiah and commercial manager Clive Eksteen, who have been given the mandate of selling the rights, met with SuperSport CEO Imtiaz Patel on Saturday morning. They are hopeful of sealing the tournament’s broadcast deal soon.South Africa’s inaugural T20 glamour competition is due to start in less than five weeks, on November 3, and is yet to secure a broadcaster. Lorgat made last-ditch attempts to sign an Indian company on Monday, after repeated reassurances he was waiting for the “right time” to tie up the deal. At an event unveiling Preity Zinta as the owner of the Stellenbosch Kings earlier in the month, Lorgat told reporters he “could have signed the deal months ago” but was not similarly forthcoming about what stopped him.Lorgat ran into several problems along the way, not least that SuperSport, Africa’s biggest sports broadcaster, initially insisted they had the rights to all cricket played in South Africa and were not expecting to pay more for the T20 Global League. It has since been established that the tournament constituted an entirely new product. SuperSport and CSA have been in negotiations but have been unable to agree on a price while CSA has also sought international broadcasters.Ultimately, it was Lorgat’s handling of the league’s logistics that made his position at CSA untenable. Lorgat and the CSA Board were understood to be at loggerheads over various sticking points – the broadcast deal was one of them, expenses were another – and on Thursday Lorgat’s exit was confirmed. He is expected to receive a payout.The CSA delegation was particularly significant because it included Appiah, who was previously left out of discussions as a result of an ongoing dispute with Lorgat. An insider told ESPNcricinfo that Lorgat’s departure would likely smooth the way for the broadcast deal to be wrapped up. Without it, the T20 Global League’s business model is in danger of being deemed unsustainable and, with millions of dollars invested in the tournament, CSA cannot afford that.

A radical overhaul of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy is set to be presented before the PCB’s governing board despite some resistance to the changes

Umar Farooq27-Jul-2017A radical overhaul of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Pakistan’s premier first-class tournament, is set to be presented before the PCB’s governing board on Friday. Though there has been some resistance to the changes, ESPNcricinfo understands that the resolution is likely to win the seven votes that are required for its approval.If approved, it will mean that regional sides in the tournament – such as Karachi or Faisalabad – will be picked via a draft selection, as happens in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and has since also happened in the country’s premier 50-over tournament. News of the change was first revealed by ESPNcricinfo, but more details of the plan have emerged since then. Twelve players from each regional squad will now be allocated through a draft process, and the other eight selected in traditional fashion.A pool of over 140 players for the draft was initially thought to be made up only of players who are part of departmental teams in Grade 2, the level below first-class. But the PCB has since clarified that Grade 2 players from regional teams will also be shortlisted by the national selectors. The inclusion of more regional players in the pool is a key factor in appeasing critics who argue that regional teams will become further emaciated by the change.The rationale behind the plan, officials have said, is to make the tournament more competitive by populating each region with more experienced players. They also say that it aims to end a culture of nepotism hitherto rife in the selection of regional sides. However, the idea still hasn’t convinced two regional representatives of the PCB, Karachi and Rawalpindi. They worry that a draft selection process will obstruct a significant number of players coming through senior inter-district cricket in open trials.”Keeping in view the existing format, which includes eight departmental and eight regional teams in the first-class set-up, we have proposed meritocracy in selection through a player selection process since there were complaints that the regional teams were weak and hardly competed with the stronger departmental sides,” Haroon Rasheed, PCB’s director of cricket affairs, wrote in a blog on the PCB’s official website. Rasheed is one of the driving forces behind the change and the blog is the first time he – or any PCB official – has publicly explained the change.”Grade two players who are playing for departments or regions can be shortlisted by national selectors, and each region’s own selection committee can choose 12 players from the pool announced by selectors, while eight players belonging to the region can be chosen based on the performances in the inter-district tournaments.”Ijaz Faruki, the head of Karachi region, has written a letter questioning the process. Former players such as Javed Miandad and Mohsin Khan have also opposed the process, raising concerns about what this might do to regional associations.”With the draft coming in place, the production of the fresh players coming in the system will be lost with the passage of time,” said one regional head, who is likely to argue against it in the board meeting in Lahore tomorrow. “We have inter-district below grade cricket, and there is a huge number of players stepping up to play first-class cricket every year.”Yes, at an early stage, players are rookies in first-class cricket, but that is what it is all about. Nobody is born a Tendulkar or Younis Khan; they have to get in the system first to be developed, and domestic cricket is a platform where players get experience with time.”Peshawar and Islamabad regions are among those who support the plan, having been part of a working group that created the plan. The four departments, who are neither involved in the debate nor consulted, are not likely to argue against the proposed new system.The PCB has simultaneously also decided to revive a central contract mechanism for regional players. In 2011, the PCB had awarded six-month contracts for all 20-man regional squads. But with a change in administration, the concept was shelved, with regional players getting only match fees and the facility of lodging and boarding during tournaments.But the board will now hand 20 regional players a one-year contract, a stability many of them will not have seen before. “This will enable the PCB to work closely with them, monitor their progress, while the coaching staff can also work on improving their game and fitness throughout the year,” Rasheed wrote. “This example is followed by leading teams, as well as our own departmental sides. This way, we can produce a strong second string that can replace the national players in a state of readiness.”From now on, we have proposed induction of Under-19 players in the first-class system, which wasn’t the case until last domestic season. We want to concentrate on the development of young players and we might even set a quota for under-19 players in each team to ensure that the youngsters rub shoulders with the experienced lot which will help in developing their game.”