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Abril acabou, e o Botafogo já inicia maio com mais um desafio. Neste domingo, o Alvinegro entra em campo contra o Nova Iguaçu, no estádio Nilton Santos, às 18h, em partida válida pelo jogo de ida da fase semifinal da Taça Rio. Assim, para começar o mês com “o pé direito”, uma vitória convincente sobre o time da Baixada Fluminense é essencial. O técnico Marcelo Chamusca, portanto, precisa por o que tem de melhor – e isso significa continuar com o voto de confiança nos atletas que subiram da base.

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> Veja quem entrou em campo pelo Botafogo na temporada de 2021

Na temporada de 2021, o Botafogo usou 32 jogadores, sendo 13 com passagens pela base alvinegra. São eles: Diego Loureiro (goleiro); Marcelo Benevenuto, Kanu e Sousa (zagueiros); Hugo e Paulo Victor (laterais); Kayque, Cesinha e Rickson (meias); e Rafael Navarro, Matheus Nascimento, Ênio e Gabriel (atacantes).

O uso desses jogadores não é por acaso. Em entrevista à Botafogo TV, Lúcio Flávio, auxiliar técnico permanente do clube, lembrou que essa integração entre base e profissional é continuação do que já vinha sendo feito desde a reta final da temporada de 2020. Além disso, ele também revelou que o próprio técnico Marcelo Chamusca pede atividades com atletas que fazem parte do atual elenco sub-20 do Glorioso.

– Eu acho que essa integração é fundamental, especialmente em momento como esse, onde você acaba perdendo receitas e você tem que aproveitar mais os atletas. Então, tem sido muito boa essa relação do nosso profissional com a base, justamente dando a condição e a oportunidade para que esses atletas possam ser observados

– O Chamusca também tem solicitado muito essas atividades, aproveitando justamente os momentos, onde nós temos semanas cheias para sempre trazer os atletas do sub-20 para poderem treinar com o profissional. E, obviamente, para nós conhecermos de perto esses atletas. Então, é uma relação fundamental que os clubes, hoje, possuem, e mais do que nunca o Botafogo tem buscado aproveitar ao máximo essa condição.

O trabalho feito gera frutos que se traduzem em números. Por exemplo, o líder em passes certos do Campeonato Carioca é Kanu, xerife da zaga do Glorioso. Até o momento, são 452 passes certos e apenas 14 errados, o que resulta em um aproveitamento de 97%.

Outro nome que chama é atenção é Paulo Victor. Com a saída de Victor Luis e as lesões de Guilherme Santos e de Hugo, o Botafogo precisou do jovem PV, que correspondeu a altura. Além das duas assistências no último jogo, contra o Macaé, o camisa 46 lidera o time em dribles e é o segundo em desarmes.

> Veja a tabela do Campeonato Carioca

Como consolidação do trabalho, o gol de número 600 do estádio Nilton Santos foi simbólico. No duelo contra o Macaé, após cobrança de falta de Marcinho, Matheus Nascimento (formado na base) resvalou de cabeça para Kanu (formado na base), que conseguiu a finalização. Antes que a bola entrasse, Sousa (também da base) concluiu para o fundo das redes.

-Creio que com essa mescla da experiência com a juventude, temos tudo para reconstruir um Botafogo que vai dar alegrias para a torcida e que vai estar na Série A, no lugar dele – analisou Sousa.

Nottingham Forest aren't shy of a transfer or two as demonstrated since their promotion back to the Premier League in May 2022.

Since promotion, the Reds have made 34 new additions, with owner Evangelos Marinakis investing over £200m on new players to establish the club as a modern-day Premier League outfit.

Players such as Taiwo Awoniyi, Morgan Gibbs-White and Ibrahim Sangare have all broken Forest's transfer record within the last two years, showcasing the owner's ambition to take the club forward.

Not all of Forest's signings have been successful, with players such as Emmanuel Dennis and Jonjo Shelvey joining for hefty fees and wages, but failing to provide value for money.

Despite the club's erratic dealings in the transfer market, they missed out on a deal a few years ago that would have for sure made them a huge profit in 2024.

Nottingham Forest missed out on clinical striker in 2020

After missing out on a play-off place on the final day of the 2019/20 season, the Reds needed to build on a positive campaign in order to push for promotion in the following campaign.

The club were forced to sell right-back Matty Cash to Aston Villa after failing to win promotion, with the now Poland international moving to Villa Park for £15m.

The club used the money to bolster the squad ahead of the 2020/21 campaign, spending £12m on new players, which included Loic Mbe-Soh from PSG and Harry Arter from Bournemouth – a deal that proved to be a complete disaster with the player eventually alienated from the first-team picture.

During the same summer, Sabri Lamouchi was reportedly interested in signing Peterborough United striker Ivan Toney after he scored 26 times in 39 league outings the season prior.

The club faced a battle with fierce rivals Derby County for his signature. However, neither club failed to agree a deal for the striker.

Toney eventually joined Brentford in a deal rising to £10m with add-ons – a deal that looks to be a bargain given his form for the Bees in the Championship and Premier League.

Nottingham Forest star who left in 2022 has been on fire this season

He’s scored 8 goals in 16 games so far this season.

ByEthan Lamb Feb 14, 2024 Ivan Toney's stats for Brentford since 2020

No one could've envisaged the impact Toney would've had at the GTEC Community Stadium after he arrived from League One. The striker took the Championship by storm, scoring 31 times for the Bees in the season they gained promotion to the Premier League for the first time in the club's history.

Toney's tally that season broke the Championship record for most goals in a 46-game season until it was broken by Fulham's Aleksander Mitrovic during the 2021/22 campaign.

The striker continued his brilliant form in the Premier League under Thomas Frank, scoring 12 times in his first Premier League campaign. However, it was his second season that brought all the attention to Toney for on and off-the-field reasons.

The former Newcastle United forward scored 20 times for the Bees but was hit with an FA charge for breaking betting rules that would see him serve an eight-month ban from all competitions.

His first game back from his ban was in the 3-2 victory over Nottingham Forest, with Toney scoring and claiming the Man of the Match award – a real case of showing the Reds what they could've had.

He's since been linked with a huge £100m move to the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal this summer, with Forest missing out on a deal that would've brought them a brilliant striker in the Premier League but also an exceptional profit to help the club in their battle against FFP.

Nottingham Forest are on the verge of making two signings at once as we head towards Thursday night's Premier League transfer deadline, with David Ornstein now confirming one of them has a rather large buy option.

Forest set to sign Reyna and Ribeiro

The Reds look to have secured the attacking reinforcments they have been desperate for, locking up a deal for Borussia Dortmund rising star and USA international Giovanni Reyna. Reyna will sign for Forest on loan until the end of the season, with Evangelos Marinakis expected to cover the entirety of the attacking midfielder's £50,000-a-week wages.

Nuno Espirito Santo had made signing an attacker a priority in the closing stages of the window, prompting links with West Ham outcast Maxwel Cornet, but they have instead managed to fend off competition from Marseille for Reyna, who needs a fresh start having only managed 272 minutes of Bundesliga action this season.

Nuno’s priority: Forest now “exploring” late move for “spectacular” forward

Forest are working on another deal in tandem with Gio Reyna.

ByDavid Comerford Jan 31, 2024

As reported by Fabrizio Romano on X on Wednesday morning, Forest are also on the verge of a deal to sign 18 year-old forward Rodrigo Ribeiro.

Ribeiro's stats show he's impressing at youth level despite not really breaking into Sporting's senior set-up, scoring six in nine appearances in the UEFA Youth League last season as his side beat some impressive competition on their way to the semi-finals.

Group Stage

Eintracht Frankfurt

1

0

Group Stage

Tottenham

1

0

Group Stage

Marseille

2

2

Round of 16

Ajax

1

0

Quarter Finals

Liverpool

1

0

The youngster will have Chris Wood and Taiwo Awoniyi ahead of him in the pecking order, but could become second in command if Wood moves on in the near future, as the New Zealand international turns 33 later this year.

Is there a buy option for Reyna and Ribeiro?

Forest fans will of course be concerned about the long-term squad structure with two loan deals arriving late in the day, and while there is still no word on a clause in Reyna's deal, The Athletic's Ornstein has confirmed a hefty fee inserted in the agreement with Sporting for Ribeiro.

A £10m deal – if that is all it is – would make the teenage striker Forest's 13th most expensive arrival of all time.

1. Ibrahim Sangaré

PSV

£30m

2. Morgan Gibbs-White

Wolves

£25m

3. Taiwo Awoniyi

Union Berlin

£17.5m

4. Danilo

Palmeiras

£17m

5. Neco Williams

Liverpool

£17m

13. Rodrigo Ribeiro*

Sporting CP

£10m

Sunderland will be hoping to look back on their decision to appoint Michael Beale as a vital turning point in their aim for Championship promotion. So far, the former Rangers boss has endured a mixed start when it comes to league action, having been smashed by Coventry City in his first game in charge, before defeating play-off rivals Hull City, drawing at Rotherham and beating Preston North End. Sandwiched in between that, meanwhile, was a disappointing FA Cup exit at the hands of bitter rivals Newcastle United.

As he attempts to gain some consistency in England's second tier, however, Beale looks set to face a battle to keep one of his best players amid interest from European champions.

Sunderland transfer news

Beale has been handed no easy task this month, with the job of keeping the Black Cats in the race for a place inside the top six, making his mark on the side through incomings and hope that his best players stay put. As the window goes on, that final task may prove to be more and more difficult with West Ham United reportedly eyeing one particular star.

According to a live TV update from Sky Sports, West Ham are keen to sign Jack Clarke, with the deal at the "early stages" this month. West Ham, off the back of winning the Europa Conference League at the end of the last campaign, certainly have the ability to attract top players, and Clarke is reportedly one of the options that the Hammers are looking at, though those at The Stadium of Light aren't panicking just yet.

As the January transfer window goes on and Clarke continues to impress, the winger could certainly be one to keep an eye on when it comes to potential Sunderland exits.

"Amazing" Clarke vital to Sunderland's promotion chances

Clarke's stats this season paint the picture of a player at the top of his game in the Championship. The winger has already scored 12 goals in 28 appearances in all competitions this season, whilst also turning provider on two occasions.

If Beale is to secure Sunderland's place in the play-offs come May, then Clarke should prove to be the key. With the Black Cats just one point ahead of seventh-placed Hull City too, they simply cannot afford to let their star man leave this month.

Clarke earned the praise of former boss Mowbray following Sunderland's 3-1 victory over Blackburn Rovers, in which he scored a brace. Mowbray said via The Sunderland Echo: "Jack was amazing tonight, won and scored a penalty and the composure for his second goal… not just that, the more the game went on the more our players knew just to give it to Clarke. He can run 40 yards, he can cut inside and pass it to people in the box, shoot.

"He's a super talent and a great kid. I make no apology for shouting at him and telling him to work hard because I always say to him, all the best players, the great players – they work harder than anyone else and then the talent shines through."

Tottenham Hotspur have endured a mixed campaign so far as their form has been up and down with various injury and suspension issues to deal with throughout the season so far.

Ange Postecoglou was brought in from Scottish giants Celtic last summer and enjoyed a terrific start to life in England with eight wins and two draws from his first ten Premier League matches.

However, they then lost the likes of Micky van de Ven and James Maddison to injury and failed to win any of their next five league matches – including four losses and one draw.

Since then, Spurs have won four of their last five Premier League games and appear to be back on the right track ahead of the second half of the campaign.

The January transfer window opened at the start of last week and it has provided Postecoglou with an opportunity to add further depth and quality to his squad.

Spurs transfer news – Hayden Hackney

Tottenham have already been busy in the market this month and have now been linked with interest in Middlesbrough central midfielder Hayden Hackney.

The Standard claim that Spurs are lining up a move to land the Championship midfielder, who is also being eyed by other Premier League sides, as they prepare to join the race for his services.

Liverpool, Manchester City, and Manchester United are all said to be interested in a deal to sign the impressive young dynamo following his superb form under Michael Carrick in the second tier.

The report adds that Boro are braced for offers for his services in the summer and have told teams that it will take a 'sensational' offer to convince them to part ways with him this month.

However, The Standard do not mention what sort of fee would constitute as sensational, which means that it remains to be seen whether or not a move is realistic for Spurs this month.

The outlet goes on to mention that Tottenham are particularly keen on a deal for the England U21 international as another homegrown player would help them to meet the quota for UEFA competitions, should they secure a place in the Champions League, Europa League, or Europa Conference League.

Spurs got a glimpse of his quality against Premier League opposition when he faced Chelsea in the first-leg of the League Cup semi-final on Tuesday night.

Hackney, as you can watch in the video above, scored the winning goal in a 1-0 victory for Middlesbrough, whilst he also created one chance and made two tackles throughout the 90 minutes.

His performance showed that he does have the quality to make an impact against the top-flight sides, which is why Spurs should take a gamble on him this month.

He is a progressive central midfielder who could help Postecoglou to unlock the best of Timo Werner, who recently joined on loan from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig.

Timo Werner's goal record

The Germany international is set to be at Tottenham until the end of the current campaign and they have an option to make it permanent for €17m (£14.6m).

Spurs will be hoping to get him back to his best after a difficult first half of the season in his home country, which ended with two goals and zero assists in 14 appearances in all competitions.

Last season, Werner plundered a respectable 16 goals and six assists in 40 matches for Leipzig – including nine goals and four assists in 29 Bundesliga outings.

His second spell at Leipzig came after a two-year stint in England with Chelsea. The German forward produced 23 goals and 21 assists in 89 games and helped the Blues to win the Champions League in 2021.

Werner's best goalscoring form, however, came during the 2019/20 campaign for Leipzig, which led to his transfer to England in the summer of 2020.

Centre-forward

292

133

Left winger

74

16

Right winger

25

Seven

Second striker

22

13

The now-27-year-old marksman racked up a staggering 34 goals and 13 assists in 45 games in all competitions – including 28 goals in 34 Bundesliga matches.

It is now up to Spurs and Postecoglou to unlock Werner's top form between now and the end of the season, which the signing of Hackney could help with.

The statistics that show why Spurs should sign Hackney

The Boro star is all-round central midfielder who can make an impact in and out of possession but his qualities on the ball are why he could help the German striker.

Hackney, firstly, is a solid contributor off the ball. He has made 2.2 tackles and interceptions combined and 7.7 ball recoveries per match across 16 Championship outings this season.

Meanwhile, Pape Matar Sarr (5.1) and Yves Bissouma (4.8) have not retrieved possession as frequently each game in the Premier League as the English dynamo.

This suggests that the potential is there for the Boro ace to create more opportunities for Spurs to attack by recovering the ball more often than Postecoglou's current options, if he can translate his form to the top-flight.

His presence in the middle of the park could, therefore, provide the team with more chances to counter and make the most of Werner's impressive pace and movement in transition.

Hackney, who was described as a "sensational" young midfielder by journalist Graeme Bailey on the Talking Transfers podcast, also has the progressive passing to consistently find Werner, and other attackers, in dangerous positions.

Shot-creating actions (3.50)

Top 18%

Progressive passes (8.19)

Top 1%

Progressive carries (2.25)

Top 19%

Passes attempted (77.37)

Top 5%

As you can see in the table above, the 21-year-old starlet is an exceptional passer who constantly looks to progress play through passes or carries to push his team into advanced positions in the opposition third.

Bissouma, as a point of reference, has averaged 6.56 progressive passes and 2.31 shot-creating actions from 78.74 attempted passes in the Premier League this season.

This suggests that, if Postecoglou can help Hackney to translate his current performances over to the top-flight, the 5 foot 10 dynamo could enhance the quality of Tottenham's build-up play.

This would, in turn, lead to more opportunities for Werner to use his pace and direct play to make things happen at the top end of the pitch, which is why this potential signing could help to unlock the German whiz.

Manchester United are keen to wrap up some deals in January to reinforce their squad, and it looks like Jadon Sancho may finally leave to make room for new faces, as Fabrizio Romano shares details on his exit talks.

United's new era under Sir Jim Ratcliffe

Manchester United are set to embark on a new era under Sir Jim Ratcliffe and company and there is an excitement at Old Trafford regarding the potential shift in dynamics at the club concerning the football operation's department.

According to The Indpendent, Ratcliffe is keen to make Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise one of his first signings at the Premier League giants; however, he would most likely be a summer pursuit for the Red Devils as the Eagles have ruled out a mid-season departure for the France Under-21 international.

Man Utd's rumoured centre-back targets for January

Latest update

David Alaba

18th December

Fikayo Tomori

16th December

Ronald Araujo

11th December

Jean-Clair Todibo

3rd January

Marc Guehi

9th December

Leny Yoro

1st January

Despite signing a new contract at Selhurst Park last year, Olise has a release clause inserted into his agreement that would kick into action at the end of this campaign, which is understood to be significantly more than his previous £35 million breakout stipulation.

According to The Athletic, Serhou Guirassy, Eric Choupo-Moting, Thomas Muller and Timo Werner comprise a four-man striker shortlist at Old Trafford, with Erik Ten Hag keen to add some extra firepower to his attack.

Nonetheless, financial muscle isn't something that the Red Devils have alot of this window as they seek to find suitable cover for Rasmus Hojlund and Anthony Martial. On the flip side, Manchester United could now get one first-team man off the books after interest in his services has emerged, according to Romano.

Jadon Sancho set to leave Manchester United

According to Romano, Manchester United winger Sancho is now in talks over a potential return on loan to Borussia Dortmund, as the world-renowned journalist explained on social media platform X:

The England international has been frozen out at Old Trafford ever since his public spat with Ten Hag back in early September, where he claimed that he had been made "a scapegoat for a long time" following criticism from the Dutchman over his performances in training.

In his time at the Red Devils, the 23-year-old, who has previously been labelled "very strong" by Michael Zorc, has failed to set the heather alight, registering 12 goals and six assists in 82 appearances across all competitions (Sancho statistics – Transfermarkt).

Five similar players to Jadon Sancho (FBRef)

Player

Club

Jack Grealish

Manchester City

Chris Fuhrich

Stuttgart

Florian Wirtz

Borussia Dortmund

Takefusa Kubo

Real Sociedad

Kingsley Coman

Bayern Munich

Changing scenery would undoubtedly be a wise move by Sancho as he looks to leave a toxic last few months behind him and a clean break between the London-born man and Manchester United may eventually be the best solution for both parties.

تأهل فريق زد إلى نهائي بطولة كأس مصر، بالفوز على نظيره الإسماعيلي بنتيجة 1/0، في المباراة التي جمعتهما اليوم الثلاثاء.

الإسماعيلي واجه زد، ضمن منافسات دور نصف النهائي من عمر كأس مصر للموسم الحالي 2024 على استاد “الإسماعيلية”.

اقرأ ايضاً.. خاص.. الزمالك يقترب من ضم ثنائي مغربي “من العيار الثقيل”

في الشوط الأول وبحلول الدقيقة 15 تمكن ديلسون كاموني من تسجيل هدف زد الأول، بعدما تلقى تمريرة حاسمة من مصطفى سعد.

وفي الشوط الثاني حاول لاعبو الإسماعيلي فرض سيطرتهم على مجريات اللقاء بنسبة استحواذ وصلت إلى 55% لتعديل نتيجة المباراة.

ولم ينجح أصحاب الأرض في تسجيل أي هدف من خلال الفرص التي أتيحت لهم أمام مرمى زد طوال المباراة.

وبهذه النتيجة، تأهل فريق زد إلى نهائي كأس مصر لأول مرة في تاريخه عن موسم 2024 في انتظار الفائز من مواجهة بيراميدز والمصري مساء اليوم.

جدير بالذكر أن مواجهة نهائي كأس مصر ستقام يوم الجمعة القادمة الموافق 30 أغسطس الجاري، في تمام الساعة التاسعة مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة. هدف زد الاول في مرمي الاسماعيلي بكأس مصر

An X-ray has cleared Kusal Mendis of any serious injury, after he had taken a fierce blow while fielding at short leg on the first day of the tour game against the Cricket Australia XI, in Hobart.*A powerful sweep from Jake Doran hit Mendis during the middle session of the day-night match and having been in considerable pain, he quickly left the field for treatment. He spent the rest of the day icing the injury to his right ring finger, but has now been shown to have sustained no breaks or fractures.”We took him for an X-ray in the morning and it showed that he was fine,” team manager Jeryl Woutersz said on Friday. “We’re not sure if he will bat yet, because the finger is quite sore. But he’s okay.”The news will be a relief to Sri Lanka, for whom Mendis is a vital top-order batsman, especially in the absence of Angelo Mathews. Mendis comes into the series on the back of impressive form against New Zealand where he made an unbeaten 141 in the first Test and 67 in the second. Last year, he was the second-highest scorer in Tests with 1023 runs at 46.50.ALSO READ: ‘I knew if I scored a century against Australia I’d have a big future’The team is still waiting for confirmation on the extent of the injury to fast bowler Nuwan Pradeep, however. Pradeep had left the field after two overs on Thursday, with a suspected hamstring strain. Woutersz said Pradeep would undergo a scan sometime on Friday before the team made any further decisions on his further participation in the tour. Pradeep has had severe problems with injuries – and especially his hamstrings – over the years.Overall, Sri Lanka had had a mixed first day in the field in Hobart, reducing the CA XI to 5 for 98 before an unbroken stand of 218 between Kurtis Patterson and Doran became the dominant feature. Keeping the four players in Australia’s Test squad to 40 runs between them was a major plus, but head coach Chandika Hathurusingha was far less impressed with a familiar problem rearing its head in the shape of 12 no-balls – eight delivered by Kasun Rajitha.”It’s a big concern,” he said. “We need to get that right because it’s happened to us again. The spinners also bowled no-balls in the England series and we got wickets off no-balls. We need to get it right soon.”It’s about being aware of the line right in front of you basically. I think they are trying a bit too hard when the ball gets softer to get the ball through. It’s a mental thing so they need to adjust knowing they have to stay back.”The softness of the ball Hathurusingha referred to was part of a larger concern he had about the durability of the pink ball as the day wore on, but he hoped the Gabba pitch and outfield may aid its longevity during the first Test, starting January 24. Sri Lanka couldn’t keep hold of the run-rate later in the day either, with their spinners conceding more than five an over.”We got a lot of information about the pink ball as well because we are playing with it after a long time. The last time was in Barbados with a Dukes ball and this ball is different, it got softer very quickly. I thought our guys bowled really well at the start then we need to find how to be in the game when it gets softer.”*12.40pm, January 18: This story was updated with news of Mendis’ x-ray results and the latest on Nuwan Pradeep

Roma boss Daniele De Rossi has offered a positive update on Evan Ndicka's health after the defender collapsed on the pitch against Udinese.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Ndicka collapses during game and taken to hospital
• Game abandonded after Ndicka stretchered off
• Defender now out of hospital and 'doing well'

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Roma's Serie A game against Udinese was abandoned on Sunday after Ndicka collapsed with chest pain and was strechered off the pitch and taken to hospital. Ndicka subsequently underwent tests where it was determined he had not suffered a heart attack, but had suffered "chest trauma with minimal left pneumothorax."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The 24-year-old was discharged from hospital on Monday to continue his recovery back in Rome. De Rossi has offered an update on his condition and spoken of his relief that he has not suffered a serious heart issue as was first feared.

• WHAT DE ROSSI SAID

  He told reporters: "He's doing well. A collapsed lung is a painful thing but luckily, if we can say that, he's not suffering from what we feared when he collapsed on the pitch."

  The Roma boss also addressed the decision to abandon the game, adding: "It's what had to be done, it was an unanimous decision, a normal one even. None of my players were ready to restart the match because the electrocardiogram (done at the stadium) suggested that he had suffered a heart attack."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ROMA & NDICKA

  Roma return to action on Thursday in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie against Serie A rivals Milan. The Giallorossi hold a 1-0 lead from the first leg at San Siro. Meanwhile, Ndicka will continue his recovery but no date has yet been set regarding when he will return to training with Roma.

The national academy side Rising Stars had won the Pro50 domestic tournament last season and helped nurture several promising cricketers

Liam Brickhill31-Oct-2018

The Zimbabwe fielders celebrate a wicket•AFP

In light of its restructuring exercise based on the new ICC-backed strategic plan, Zimbabwe Cricket has announced a revamped domestic format with an abridged first-class season and the dismantling of the national academy side Rising Stars.Created to give emerging players and Under-19 cricketers a pathway to the national side, Rising Stars won the Pro50 domestic tournament last season and helped nurture players such as Brandon Mavuta, Ryan Burl, Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava. Players from the team will be absorbed into the four remaining franchises: Eagles, Tuskers, Rhinos and Mountaineers.Domestic cricket in Zimbabwe was sidelined for several months by the country’s hosting of the World Cup Qualifiers last season, and this time around the only significant break will be for Christmas.The domestic calendar will begin with the opening round of Pro50 games on December 1, followed by the first Logan Cup matches on December 3. There will be six rounds in both the one-day and four-day competitions, while the season will close with a T20 competition held over a week from March 11 to 16.ZC’s latest reshuffle is a result of the lifeline offered to them by the ICC after the annual conference in Dublin earlier this year. The ICC board “agreed to a package of measures” that have allowed ZC to start paying its debts while still receiving funding “on a controlled basis”. The ICC also offered to work with ZC “to develop a plan for managing its cricketing, management and financial structures which will be reviewed on an ongoing basis”.As a result of the drip-feeding of funding, ZC also retrenched several staff members and reviewed all player contracts in August. At the time, ZC committed to starting the domestic season in November with a skeleton staff. December has now been confirmed as the start date.