North Zone stay top despite rain-affected draw

A round-up of the Bangladesh Cricket League matches which ended on January 22, 2016

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Jan-2016North Zone remained on top of the Bangladesh Cricket League table despite a rain-affected draw against East Zone in Bogra. All four days were marred by showers, with no play possible at all on the second and fourth.Batting first, East Zone were bowled out for 214, with Tasamul Haque top scoring with 45 and Liton Das contributing 43. Sunzamul Islam took three wickets, while Subashis Roy, Mahmudul Hasan and Nasir Hossain shared two scalps each. North Zone had made 59 for 3 at the end of the third day, with Abul Hasan helping himself to two wickets.There were more overs bowled in the other game, but Central Zone and South Zone still did not have enough time to force an outright result in Rajshahi.Central Zone, batting first, were bundled out for 381, with Shamsur Rahman making 103 and Sharifullah and Shuvagata Hom getting 91 and 83 respectively. Abdur Razzak took five wickets for South Zone.In reply, South Zone were bowled out for 246 with only Mohammad Mithun (78) providing a score of substance. Sharifullah took four wickets while Shuvagata and Shahidul Islam picked up three each. Central Zone got to 45 for 1 in their second innings, but with the entire second day washed out, the draw was never really in question.

Pietersen feared serious injury

Kevin Pietersen has suggested that his fear of prolonged injury lay-offs was precisely the reason why last summer he wanted to retire from England’s one-day side

David Hopps21-Jun-2013Kevin Pietersen has marked his return to first-class action for the first time in three months by suggesting that his fear of prolonged injury lay-offs was precisely the reason why last summer he wanted to retire from England’s one-day side.There was no angry self-justification, no forceful opinion likely to incur the wrath of the England management, just a gentle acceptance in a chat on Talksport radio with his old England buddy, Darren Gough – billed as his only interview of the summer – that his injury might never have happened if he had been allowed licence to plot his own career.Pietersen’s disgruntlement over England’s refusal to let him retire solely from ODIs – he was obliged to give up T20 as well – to an outburst after the Headingley Test against South Africa, a rift with the England dressing room, a stand-off with officialdom, exclusion from England’s World Twenty20 squad and finally a triumphant return in the Test series against India as he agreed to continue in all three formats.Despite being rested for the T20s in India and both limited-overs series against New Zealand, he suffered a badly bruised knee bone in Queenstown, which has caused him to miss both the IPL and Champions Trophy. While England face India in the final of the latter competition at Edgbaston on Sunday, Pietersen will be engaged in the third day of a Championship match against Yorkshire at Headingley. The English media he so mistrusts were out in force to watch him field on the opening day as he made a rare Championship appearance for Surrey.In the interview, Gough suggested to Pietersen: “Only last year you were talking about looking after your body; you don’t want to get injured playing all forms of the game. You went back on that, and ended up playing all forms of the game and got injured. So it highlighted what you were saying, that at some point every individual’s body is going to break down.””Exactly,” Pietersen responded. “You can feel it as a player. I probably didn’t go about it in the best fashion. You make mistakes, and you get over them, and that’s the way you grow as a human being, by learning from things that you don’t do well. So I take it on the chin, no dramas, it’s just a case of looking forward and making sure that you do the right things now.”Pietersen’s relationship with the English media has never been more strained. His disenchantment with the ridicule he received during his power struggle with England was deepened when it was erroneously suggested in New Zealand that his knee injury was not serious and that he was just trying to pick up an insurance payout from IPL.”It was really bad,” he said. “In New Zealand I couldn’t duck a bounce, I couldn’t sweep, I was in all sorts of trouble. I was on the strongest painkillers and eventually my stomach just gave up with me in the second Test match. I probably did it a lot of damage by playing, but I just tried to get through and played for as long as I could because I hate missing Test matches.”A bruising on your bone is a lot worse than breaking it. You know with a break it’ll be back. I’ve broken my arm, I’ve broken collar bones, I’ve broken my leg. I’ve broken plenty of bones and you know that within six, seven, eight weeks you’re firing again. The bruising has been really frustrating but over the last three weeks I turned a real positive corner.”I’m just going up to Yorkshire this week to get through four days. If I get runs, I get runs. If I don’t get runs, I don’t get runs. I just need to wake up on Tuesday morning or the day after being on the field knowing that my knee’s not an issue.”The professional in me will want to score as many runs as possible and that never stops, never fades, but the most important thing from this four-day game is to wake up every morning with no knee issue and to know that I’ve turned a good corner and I can handle a day in the field – because that’s the only thing that hasn’t been tested yet. I can bat in the nets, I’ve done all the fielding drills you can do but it’s not the same as fielding for 96 overs.Pietersen also dwelt upon the problems at Surrey which have seen Chris Adams sacked as team director and Alec Stewart, the former England captain, take temporary charge. He revealed for the first time – doubtless unintentionally – that Steve Davies’ need to take a break from the game after the death of his team-mate, Tom Maynard, in a tube accident, led him to turn down offers of at least one England tour last winter.If this was the case, it has never officially been made public.Pietersen said the tragedy had “moulded the dressing room”. He added: “The guys are really super-tight as they looked after each other so well last year. A lot of them took a big hit last year, but in terms of their performances, some of the guys have come back really well.”I mean Steve Davies for one. He was hit by the Tom Maynard incident really hard last year. He went away all winter, turned down a few England tours and he said ‘I need to go away, sort my head out’ and I’ve never seen Steve Davies play as well as he has this summer. I mean, he’s back and I think he’s back a better player.”Pietersen was in affable enough mood to express his love for county cricket, even if it is a love from afar. “It serves a great purpose, it’s a great learning facility. I learnt to be the cricketer I was through county cricket and the more you play it, the better you become. The more you do anything the better you become, so I love county cricket, it’s a great form of the game, and it looks like it’s still flourishing.”

Querl stars as Unicorns win

Glenn Querl starred with ball and bat as the Unicorns pulled off their first win of the Clydesdale Bank 40 season, beating Kent by four wickets

20-May-2012
ScorecardGlenn Querl starred with ball and bat as the Unicorns pulled off their first win of the Clydesdale Bank 40 season, beating Kent by four wickets with an over to spare at Canterbury.Querl, the Zimbabwe-born all-rounder, followed up best figures of 4 for 41 with an unbeaten 24 from 21 balls to see his side to victory in the Group C clash. Having played out a maiden from Matt Coles to leave the Unicorns needing 33 from four overs he went on to hit four boundaries in seven balls to make Kent pay for a self-destructive batting effort.The experienced Keith Parsons played with calm composure to finish unbeaten on 46, guiding the ECB recreational side to a notable scalp. It was also Kent’s first competitive defeat this season.The pattern was set as early as the ninth ball of the Kent innings, when Sam Billings played across the line to be bowled by Querl. Alex Blake then miscued a pull to Steven Cheetham at mid-on to become Querl’ s second victim.Rob Key, the Kent captain, was third out at 41 when he was lured down the pitch in slow left-armer Luke Beaven’s first over and was stumped by yards by Tom New. In Beaven’s next over Darren Stevens tried to hit over the top and fell to an excellent low catch by Luis Reece at mid-on.A low-key stand of 50 in 14 overs between Brendan Nash and Sam Northeast brought some stability to the Kent innings before Nash was run out for 26 attempting a risky second run to James Campbell at long leg.Kent would have struggled to reach 150 but for a responsible 69 off 94 balls from Northeast, who was run out in the final over of the innings.Off-spinner James Tredwell made a much-needed breakthrough for Kent in the 10th over of the Unicorns reply when he dismissed Michael Thornely, Geraint Jones sprinting from behind the stumps to scoop the ball up in the vacant short-leg position. Jones also caught James Ord as he tried to angle medium-pacer Adam Ball down to third man.The same combination accounted for Campbell when he top-edged an attempted hook in Ball’s next over, but Tom New and Parsons brought the Unicorns closer to their target in a stand of 49 in 12 overs before New chipped Tredwell to Blake at midwicket.The Unicorns were still well placed needing 54 from 10 overs, but Tredwell, who finished with four for 24, gave Kent fresh hope with two wickets in successive balls.

Sehwag doubtful for West Indies match

Virender Sehwag might miss India’s final group game against the West Indies on Sunday because of a problem with his knee

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Mar-2011Virender Sehwag might miss India’s final group game against West Indies on Sunday because of a knee problem. Sehwag’s knee has been bothering him since the start of the World Cup, but his current worry is the result of swelling caused by an allergic reaction to a pain-killing injection he took after the match against South Africa.”Viru [Sehwag] has got an allergic reaction in his right knee, so we will take that call [about whether to play him] either in the evening or on the morning of the game,” MS Dhoni said at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Saturday.If Sehwag is unable to take the field, Gautam Gambhir will most likely open the innings with Sachin Tendulkar.The game doesn’t have a lot riding on it as Bangladesh’s defeat to South Africa today means India and England are already through to the quarter-finals and barring a catastrophic defeat, West Indies can afford to lose tomorrow’s game and still join them on the basis of a better net run-rate than Bangladesh.

Sussex race to victory

Sussex needed just 33 minutes to wrap up a 10-wicket victory over Surrey on the
final day of their Division Two match at Hove

18-Apr-2010
ScorecardMichael Yardy hit the winning runs but will now miss out on Sussex’s game against Gloucestershire because he is with England for the World Twenty20•PA Photos

Sussex needed just 33 minutes to wrap up a 10-wicket victory over Surrey on the
final day of their Division Two match at Hove.Surrey had not added to their overnight score of 243 for 9 when they lost
Jade Dernbach to the tenth ball of the day, the number 11 edging to slip to give
spinner Monty Panesar his second wicket.That left Sussex with a token victory target of 33, and openers Mike Yardy and
Chris Nash needed just 6.4 overs to knock off the runs. The pair hit two boundaries apiece as Yardy finished 17 not out, with Nash 12 not out from just 14 balls.Surrey opened the bowling with off-spinner Gareth Batty to make sure they did
not incur a points deduction for a slow over rate but that was little compensation after a crushing defeat.To make matters worse for the visitors, who also lost their opening
Championship game against Derbyshire, skipper Rory Hamilton-Brown left the
ground on crutches. Hamilton-Brown suffered bad bruising to the top of his left foot when he was hit by Luke Wright’s yorker on the third day, although he expects to be fit in
time for Surrey’s next Championship game against Worcestershire on Wednesday.Sussex head to Bristol for their next game having won both of their opening
matches as they bid to make an immediate return to Division One. But they will face Gloucestershire without skipper Yardy and Wright, who will be preparing with the England squad for the Twenty20 World Cup.

A world-record fee for Racheal Kundananji! NWSL expansion side Bay FC acquire Madrid CFF and Zambian superstar in blockbuster transfer

NWSL expansion side Bay FC smashed the world-record transfer fee to sign Madrid CFF superstar Racheal Kundananji on Tuesday.

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Bay FC sign Kundananji for world-record feeMadrid CFF superstar joins NWSL expansion sideLook ahead at 2024 campaignWHAT HAPPENED?

The Zambian superstar has signed from Madrid CFF in the biggest transfer in women's soccer history, for a staggering fee worth €735,000 ($788,000/£625,000). The 23-year-old striker will travel to the United States to now be one of the highest-paid players in the league, with a deal that will pay over $2m across her contract through 2026, according to

AdvertisementWHAT BAY FC

“We are delighted to add Racheal to our group,” said Bay FC General Manager Lucy Rushton. “She is a tremendous talent with dynamic attacking qualities and an incredible physical profile who has produced for both club and country. Racheal has a composure in-front of goal and a natural ability to score with different types of finishes and from various locations. We believe she will continue to grow and develop at our club, showcasing her skillset and adding to the array of exciting attacking talent we have here.”

GettyWHAT KUNDANANJI SAID

“Every place that I’ve been to, I always take something from there; I learn something from there,” Kundananji told . “Good or bad, to me it’s a good experience because you have to experience something to know something. I’m looking [forward] to having a great time in the U.S., have a great time with the team. Now, Bay FC is my new family.”

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THE BIGGER PICTURE

Kundananji, who has eight goals and two assists this campaign in Liga F, is one of the top prospects in all of women's soccer. After signing in Spain in 2022, she ended her debut season with 25 goals across all competitions for Madrid CFF. Now, she's taking her talents to the West Coast to be the first-ever superstar signing for Bay FC ahead of their inaugural season.

Cade Cowell and Diego Luna to lead the line again: How the USMNT should line up vs Uruguay in the Under-20 World Cup quarter-finals

Several American youngsters have stepped up in Argentina, and they will have to be at their best again to reach the final four

There are some benefits to a blowout, and the biggest benefit is the opportunity to rest. That's what the United States Under-20 men's national team did before and during their last-16 win over New Zealand, a lopsided 4-0 victory that saw the U.S. team play as favorites.

In that match, the U.S. were able to rotate, allowing some key players a slight rest while giving new additions Rokas Pukstas and Kevin Paredes a soft launch into the team. Now, as the U.S. prepares to face Uruguay in the quarter-finals, there are no injuries, no fatigue and no suspensions, which can't be said about the opponents, who went down a man due to a red card in their win over Gambia on Thursday after watching the U.S. coast two days prior.

However, Mikey Varas does have some difficult decisions to make, even if they are the good kind. With a full complement of players plenty that want to, and perhaps deserve to, play. The U.S. has steamrolled everyone in their path so far, and with Pukstas and Paredes now fully up to speed with the team, Varas has to make some tough decisions.

Does he revert back to a 4-3-3 to accommodate some of his best players? Or does he stick with the five-man defense that has yet to allow a goal at this tournament?

GOAL takes a look at how the U.S. should line up against Uruguay:

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    GK: Gabriel Slonina

    Still a no-doubter here. Slonina is yet to concede a goal at the tournament, an even though he's rarely been called upon, he's stepped up in the few moments he has with some spectacular stops.

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    LB: Caleb Wiley

    After an okay first half, Wiley came out of the gates hot in the second half against New Zealand, wreaking absolute havoc down the left-hand side. The Atlanta United starlet was also taken out of the game early, giving him an extra bit of rest heading into this quarter-finals.

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    CB: Josh Wynder

    The young Louisville City star has been totally unphased, answering any questions outsiders may have had about his ability to play up an age group. He'll keep his place again for this one, having established himself as a key figure in defense due to his athleticism.

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    CB: Brandan Craig

    No doubter here as well. Overall, Craig may just be the U.S. team's best player so far. His ability to pass the ball from the back opens up so much, and the U.S. has benefitted from the way he can kickstart an attack. Defensively, he's rock solid and he remains the team's best set-piece taker. Craig should start every game as long as he's able.

Pato pede 'bom senso de todos' em decisão de corte salarial no São Paulo

MatériaMais Notícias

No último sábado, no “Resenha ESPN”, programa gravado durante a semana que passou, Alexandre Pato foi questionado sobre o que pensava das negociações sobre a suspensão de parte dos salários do elenco durante a pandemia de coronavírus. A opinião do jogador, pedindo bom senso a todos, foi dada antes de o clube tomar a decisão de cortar 50% dos vencimentos, mesmo sem a concordância dos atletas, que não toparam a proposta.

-Eu acho que esse é um momento que ninguém esperava, que ia parar o futebol, que ia chegar o vírus, aconteceu tudo de repente, estava acontecendo na China, foi para a Europa e aconteceu com o futebol brasileiro. A gente tem que entender o contexto do que está acontecendo, que não é só no futebol com esses cortes de salário, mas também em outros trabalhos. Então nós temos que prezar também pelo bem estar de todos e entender o lado do clube, mas o clube também entender a parte do jogador – disse o atacante.

De acordo com apuração do LANCE!, essa decisão ainda não foi comunicada a todo o grupo, mas já está tomada. A diretoria considera que não está fazendo uma imposição aos atletas e avalia que não há outra alternativa para encarar este período de receitas menores devido à pandemia do novo coronavírus.

-Acho que se todo mundo chegar a um tipo de ideia clara para todos, todo mundo vai andar para o mesmo caminho para tudo dar certo e todo mundo andar abraçado para fazer o melhor possível não só para o clube, mas para as pessoas que precisam daquele trabalho, funcionários que estão lá há tempos. Então vejo que todo mundo está no mesmo percurso – afirmou Pato.

RelacionadasSão PauloSem poder projetar retorno, Pato explica rotina improvisada de treinosSão Paulo04/04/2020São PauloRaí elenca o maior acerto e o maior erro de sua gestão no São PauloSão Paulo04/04/2020São PauloRaí convoca torcida do São Paulo para fazer doações em campanhaSão Paulo04/04/2020

A decisão tomada pelo São Paulo, que não foi aceita pelo elenco, é a seguinte: suspensão de 50% dos salários de março, abril, maio e junho (se a crise persistir até lá) e congelamento dos direitos de imagem. Todos os valores que ficarem pendentes serão pagos após a normalização, de forma parcelada. Para quem ganha menos de R$ 100 mil, o valor mínimo mensal a ser pago durante a crise será de R$ 50 mil. Quem recebe abaixo disso não será afetado.

Para Pato, é preciso pensar que nem todos os jogadores têm a mesma condição de vida e dependendo do corte salarial, a situação de alguns pode ser prejudicada. Por isso, o atacante pensa que a melhor forma de encontrar um caminho em comum é a conversa. Segundo apurou o LANCE!, a ideia do elenco é que o corte seja menor do que os 50% apresentado pelo clube.

– Todos vão achar a melhor maneira de conversar, não é só no São Paulo que está acontecendo, mas tem que ter o bom senso de todos os jogadores e bom senso dos clubes entenderem que tem atletas que talvez ganhem um tipo de salário e tem atletas que não ganham o mesmo tipo de salário. Acho que tem que ter o bom senso de todos, o atleta entender a condição do clube, entender a condição do mundo hoje, mas também o clube entender alguns tipos de jogadores. Tem tudo para dar certo, todos os jogadores e clubes andarem de mãos dadas e fazer o melhor possível – concluiu.

É certo que o diretor de futebol Raí sofrerá exatamente as mesmas alterações em seus vencimentos. O mesmo deve se aplicar a outros membros da diretoria, inclusive ao presidente Leco, que é remunerado. Uma resolução oficial deve sair nos próximos dias.O elenco do São Paulo entrou em férias de 20 dias na última quinta-feira. Não há previsão de retorno de Paulistão e Libertadores.

Santos recusa primeira proposta do San Lorenzo-ARG por Cueva

MatériaMais Notícias

O San Lorenzo-ARG demonstrou interesse no meia Cueva, do Santos. As conversas iniciaram há duas semanas, mas os valores ainda não agradaram a diretoria do Peixe.

A primeira proposta do time argentino foi por um empréstimo e com os clubes pagando a base salarial do atleta. O Santos não aceitou e o San Lorenzo prometeu arcar com 100%, mas o valor de compra proposto ainda é abaixo do estipulado pelo presidente José Carlos Peres.

Enquanto isso, Cueva treinou sem limitações nesta sexta-feira, no CT Rei Pelé. Os atletas fizeram um trabalho deestabilização e mobilidade junto com velocidade.

Não é segredo que o presidente José Carlos Peres gosta do futebol de Cueva. Em dezembro, na sede da CONMEBOL, o mandatário santista falou em dar uma segunda chance ao peruano. Ele espera que o camisa 8 tenha chances com Jesualdo.

Pelo ano passado não ter sido o esperado, Cueva ainda não está totalmente motivado. O camisa 8 não descarta ser negociado e tenta convencer a diretoria santista a vendê-lo por um valor menor.

Também em dezembro, Cueva despertou o interesse do Alianza Lima-PER e do Rosário Central-ARG, mas as conversas não evoluíram.

Cueva foi contratado pelo Santos junto ao Krasnodar-RUS, por R$ 26 milhões. O Peixe tem de pagar o valor em três parcelas nesta temporada.

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Want to play all three formats – Vijay

M Vijay’s inconsistent ODI career was given a boost after his career-best 72 in the second ODI that was the undergird to India’s total of 271

Liam Brickhill12-Jul-2015M Vijay has had to wait a long time to move from an understudy to a main act as an Indian opener in ODIs, with 16 ODIs spread over more than five years since his debut against South Africa in 2010. When he wafted Brian Vitori to second slip in the opening match of this series, it appeared he may have fluffed his chance once again, but his 72 in the second ODI – a career-best score – was the undergird to India’s unassailable 271 and their series win.”I’ve been there or thereabouts in the one-dayers and have been the third opener for quite some time, so this is a good opportunity for me to establish myself as a one-day player,” Vijay said. “I always wanted to play this format and play all three formats. So it’s just around the corner. You’ve got to wait your turn. I’m not in a hurry, but when I get an opportunity I’m keen to score runs.”It’s hard to fathom why it’s taken so long for Vijay to settle in this format – he averages over 40 in List A cricket and was one of India’s most consistent batsmen in Test cricket in 2013 and 2014. “[There are] a lot of variables. I don’t want to think about it now because it’s done and dusted – for me this is a new beginning and I’m looking forward to the opportunities coming for me. I think I’m batting well, which is more important, and I’m enjoying my cricket, so whichever format doesn’t matter to me so long as I’m batting.”Before today, he had scored 25 or more six times without passing 33, but while he was pleased to pass fifty he felt that he should have scored more than his 72 today.”It’s not really [a good return] but I’m enjoying my game so I’m not looking too far ahead. As long as I’m enjoying my cricket I think everything will fall into place. To be honest I was not playing at my best, but according to the conditions we decided not to give early wickets because then the team is under more pressure. We thought 260 or 270 was a good score on this wicket because it was getting slower and lower.”Ultimately, Vijay’s opening stand with Ajinkya Rahane was the tonic which allowed India to reach that score, and though he couldn’t push on to a maiden ODI century he was pleased to have stuck to the gameplan. “You saw in the first game we had a bit of a collapse, so we thought rather take time and play our game, so that we give the middle order an opportunity to come and do their job. We did that,” he said

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