England coach asked the allrounder if he would play the India series in early 2024

Matt Roller02-Aug-2023England coach Brendon McCullum asked Moeen Ali if he would consider playing the five-match series in India in early 2024 during their win at The Oval but was told: “That’s me done”.Moeen retired from Test cricket in September 2021 but made himself available for the Ashes after Jack Leach was diagnosed with a stress fracture. Ben Stokes, England’s captain, sent him a text saying, “Ashes?” and Moeen could not resist the temptation to return, but insisted after the fifth Test: “If Stokesy messages me again, I’m going to delete it.”He joked that confirmation of the venues for England’s tour to India – with none of the five Tests due to be held in the bigger cities in the country – had played a part in him recommitting to his retirement, but said that Stokes and McCullum had been fully aware that he never intended to play beyond this summer.”They knew from the start,” Moeen said, laughing. “Especially when those India venues came out! Baz asked me again when I had my day off on the second day. I said no. I’m not going [to India]. There’s no way I’m going. That’s me done. It’s nice to finish like this and be part of an amazing day.”Related

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Moeen suffered a groin strain while batting on the first day of the fifth Test and did not field in Australia’s first innings, but returned to bowl 23 overs in their second, taking 3 for 76 as England squared the series with a 49-run win on the final day.”Test cricket is the best cricket,” Moeen said. “I wish I could rewind time. Although my career has been a bit up and down, I wouldn’t change it. I’ve loved it. I would have regretted it later in life. It was quite daunting, because I’ve never done well against Australia.”I still don’t believe I’ve done that well, but it was great to finish like this. It was daunting, but I had nothing to lose, it was a free hit. I had a call from Baz and Stokesy, I felt like I was bowling alright, but the finger was the only issue. I wasn’t worried about the bowling.”Moeen said his groin strain was “real sore” when he initially pulled the muscle, and it remains to be seen how much of a part he plays in the Hundred over the next four weeks, when he is due to captain Birmingham Phoenix.”It’s something called an adductor. I’d never heard of it before,” he explained. “It’s only when I’m running. It’s great actually, because you can get away with being rubbish in the field. Guys are moving their positions for me to go into the easiest positions.”Apparently it settles down quick. Not bowling in the first innings and having a day off allowed me to bowl today. It was real sore at first and I was quite sore [on Monday]. It crossed my mind that I might not be able to bowl, but I knew it was my last day in Test cricket.”

Wrexham have completed the signing of Scottish forward Ryan Hardie from Plymouth as they prepare for their Championship challenge.

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• Wrexham signed Hardie from Plymouth
• Completed their first signing of the summer
• Wrexham rebuilding squad ahead of Championship challenge

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney-owned side means business in the transfer market after securing their third consecutive promotion to the Championship. On Monday, they completed their first signing of the summer as they secured a transfer for Plymouth's star forward Hardie, the club confirmed.

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• WHAT HARDIE SAID

  After signing for the Red Dragons, Hardie told the club's official website: "I’m delighted to get the move done, I’m really happy to get it done so early and I cannot wait to get going. To get a full pre-season will be a massive benefit, to get integrated into the squad and learn the way the manager plays and get to know everyone will be important.

  "The last couple of seasons, it’s been good getting experience in the EFL Championship and it’s experience I can lean on now. I’ve enjoyed playing there, and I’ve managed to score a few goals, so hopefully that can continue this season. I love how family-oriented the Club is, the community is all together and it really is a one-club City. Everything is to do with the football, and I’m really excited to be a part of that – I’ll give everything I’ve got for the badge."

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  The Welsh club are also keen on signing of proven Championship midfielder, Barry Bannan, who has been strongly linked with a move away from Sheffield Wednesday this summer. The Owls have been struggling financially, not able to pay players for the past two weeks, which is advantageous for Wrexham

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  WHAT NEXT FOR WREXHAM?

  Wrexham are scheduled to travel to Australia and New Zealand in the second week of July for their pre-season preparations, where they will face three A-League clubs, Melbourne Victory, Sydney FC and Wellington Phoenix.

MatériaMais Notícias

O São Paulo venceu o Ceará por 2 a 0, na tarde deste domingo (18), no Castelão, e subiu degraus importantes na classificação do Campeonato Brasileiro, além de quebrar alguns jejuns, como Calleri voltar a marcar e o time encontrar uma vitória longe do Morumbi após dois meses. Confira os melhores momentos:

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Tottenham Hotspur have shelved new contract talks with a star player in their squad, and he’s now seriously pursuing an exit from the north London club this summer, which could be seen as a concern for chairman Daniel Levy.

Ange Postecoglou facing potential Tottenham sack

As things stand, real uncertainty surrounds the long-term future of Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou, following a disappointing second full campaign in charge.

Diego Simeone's private message to Cristian Romero in Tottenham exit talks

The Argentine is being heavily linked with a summer exit.

By
Emilio Galantini

Apr 2, 2025

Debilitating injuries haven’t helped the Australian, but 14th in the Premier League after 15 defeats in the top flight alone makes for very grim reading from the perspective of a ‘big six’ club.

Postecoglou is now relying on an impressive Europa League run to convince Tottenham not to change managers, according to reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano, and Spurs are already expressing a serious interest in Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, among other high-profile alternatives like Inter Milan’s Simone Inzaghi and Fulham’s Marco Silva.

These next few weeks will be key in determining Postecoglou’s position at N17, and even if the 59-year-old does manage to make history in Europe and keep his job, the former Celtic boss is facing a very real prospect of losing key players this summer.

One of them, according to various reports in the last few days, could be star defender Cristian Romero.

The Argentine is wanted by Atlético Madrid, with South American media claiming that Diego Simeone has personally reached out to him (Uriel Lugt). Their arch rivals Real Madrid have also internally discussed a move for Romero, so it appears the 26-year-old has plenty of temptation away from N17.

Losing Romero would be a blow for Postecoglou and Levy, considering his status as a senior leader in the squad, and it now appears that the defender has fully made up his mind on quitting Spurs.

Cristian Romero "pushing" to leave Tottenham with contract talks cancelled

According to The Boot Room and journalist Graeme Bailey, Romero is “pushing” to leave Tottenham, and Levy has postponed talks over a new deal for the £165,000-per-week ace as a result.

The player has apparently made it clear to his circle that he’s ready to pursue a new challenge, and he’s set his sights on a move to La Liga specifically. Simeone really wants him at Atletico, as he views Romero as one of world football’s best centre-backs, but Levy won’t let him go cheaply.

The former Atalanta star’s price tag is set at around £60 million, and this could prove to be the main obstacle in place of an Atlético deal for the player. It is also worth noting that Romero is determined to leave regardless of whether Spurs win the Europa League and qualify for next season’s Champions League, so his eagerness to go may even force through a move.

One thing is certain – Tottenham would need to bring an adept replacement for the stalwart who’s been praised for his overall performances since joining in 2021.

“In Romero they have got a phenomenal defender. He makes others around him better,” said former Spurs keeper Paul Robinson to Football Insider three years ago.

“What they have got isn’t enough. They need more but he is certainly the best that they have got. He could play in any side in the top four of the Premier League. He is a Champions League player, a top player.

“If Spurs are going to go places Romero is the type of player they will need to keep and build around.”

A bullish Dawid Malan doesn’t believe his place in the ODI World Cup is under threat from Harry Brook, saying “I don’t know where that comparison’s come from…I bat top three and he bats four, five, six.”Malan was speaking moments after England had wrapped up a convincing seven-wicket win over New Zealand, a victory that had seen the 35-year-old left-hander play a major role with 54 runs off 42 balls. After a slow start, in which Malan made only four runs off his first ten balls, he went on to compile yet another match-defining half-century in an England shirt. Since 2019, only Jos Buttler (13) has made more T20I fifties for England’s than Malan’s haul of 11 in 48 innings.Furthermore, in T20Is, he is the leading run-scorer in the same period, with 1,614 runs compared to Buttler’s 1,453. By way of comparison, Moeen Ali in third has just 841. It is no understatement to say that over the last four years, Malan has been nothing short of a white-ball marvel.And so he has every right to be confident of his worth in the England set-up. His opportunities in the 50-over format have been far more limited, with a solitary ODI against Ireland in the lead-up to the 2019 World Cup. Since then, however, he has the best ODI average of any English batter to have played three innings or more (57.30), and has scored the most ODI centuries of any Englishman in that time (4).In spite of that, however, Malan admitted that his overwhelming emotion after making England’s provisional World Cup squad was “definitely relief”.”You look at the amount of depth we’ve got in English cricket…to get the call was extremely satisfying,” he said. “I know there are people who’ve missed out and I have so much sympathy for them.”From a personal point of view, I was exceptionally pleased to get that call, because I felt I’ve worked really hard to get in that squad. Every opportunity I’ve been given in 50 overs in my last four or five series, I’ve gone and had to score the runs, doing it the tough way to get in there.”Related

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• Brydon Carse makes his mark on debut as England power to seven-wicket victory

But, much to his awareness and annoyance, Malan’s place in the team remains a constant debate. Talking points vary from his T20I starts being too slow (Wednesday’s innings was true to type), to his age (he turns 36 on Sunday), to his temperament (Eoin Morgan famously chastised him for not running a bye off the last ball of his unbeaten century at Napier in 2019). There’s also the underlying sense that he’s a second-teamer who refuses to get dropped. It’s big competition time now, so pick the big boys. The problem with all those complaints, however, is he also scores too many runs.”That’s what I’m picked for,” Malan said. “To score runs and win games. I am not there to please anyone, I’m there to score runs for Jos [Buttler] and Motty [Matthew Mott] and contribute to wins.”I feel like I have done that consistently over the last five or six years, whatever it is in white-ball cricket. You get criticised, and that is part and parcel of the game. You might not be the favourite of the crowds, and the fans, and the commentators and the press, and everyone else, but all I can do is score runs when you get given the opportunity. Touch wood, I do that more often than not, and hopefully I continue to do it to keep the faith that the leadership have shown in me.”Along with Liam Livingstone and Jason Roy, Malan is one of three potential players that could make way if England opt to u-turn and select Brook for the final World Cup squad. It would be a cruel blow to any of the three, but England have proven in the past that they’re not afraid to make such decisions: first, with the selection of Jofra Archer in place of David Willey on the eve of the 2019 World Cup and, most recently, with the omission of Roy for the recent T20 World Cup win in Australia.A fourth, less likely option, would be that England opt to rejig the balance of their squad and replace a seamer with Brook, but that would require a change in philosophy, with England strongly believing that a large of arsenal of quicks – including the as-yet uncapped Gus Atkinson – will be necessary for a tournament in which they will play nine matches in eight cities across little more than a month.”I think you always have to score runs when you play international cricket,” Malan responded, as to whether he felt the need to be looking over his shoulder. “It’s a provisional squad but, from my understanding, it’s up to us to score runs to stay in it. I think it would be tough, two weeks before we are flying, especially with people potentially resting for the Ireland series, to suddenly lose their place. But that is cricket and that’s the way life goes. Nothing is ever guaranteed until you stand on that plane…I know people compare me to Brooky but I bat top three and he bats 4, 5, 6, so I don’t know where that comparison’s from.”There is a fine line between confidence and delusion, and while Malan has every right to be confident that he will make the final 15 for the World Cup, if not the starting XI itself, the difference between three and four in the batting line-up won’t be what saves him. If England trusted Brook to bat No.3 in Test cricket against Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, they’ll be more than happy to trust him to do the same in white-ball cricket against New Zealand, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.”I don’t know who will get the nod at the top of the order,” Malan concluded. “Hopefully I can score as many runs as I can in the opportunities I get here, I’m not sure how many games I’ll play, but when I do, hopefully I score runs and the runs put pressure on the selectors and the guys to pick an XI and keep me in it. I try not to look too far ahead, and score as many runs as I can in each opportunity.”And on that metric, at least, Malan continues to be perfect.

Mexico has six points in the Gold Cup, and will next face Costa Rica with Group A leadership on the line

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César Montes scored a braceEl Tri now has six points in the tournamentFour of Mexico’s five goals from set piecesFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?

With their 2-0 victory over Suriname, Mexico secured a place in the next round of the Gold Cup, reaching six points after two group-stage wins. El Tri currently lead Group A, tied on points with Costa Rica but ahead on goal difference.

The two sides will face off Sunday at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas to determine the group winner – a draw would be enough for Mexico to top the group.

Despite the victories, Javier Aguirre’s squad continues to face criticism from Mexican media for underwhelming performances. Mexico’s goals came from set pieces, taking advantage of Suriname’s defensive weaknesses but still showing a lack of fluidity in open play.

César Montes opened the scoring in the 56th minute with a header after being left unmarked in the box. Just six minutes later, the center-back scored again from another set piece, sealing the win for Aguirre’s men.

Suriname offered little resistance at AT&T Stadium on Wednesday night, and both they and the Dominican Republic have now been eliminated from the tournament.

On ESPN’s , analyst and Mexican football legend Hugo Sánchez delivered a strong statement: “We’re not optimistic. We haven’t seen a convincing performance from this team.”

Álvaro Morales was critical of Aguirre’s decisions: “After 56 minutes at 0-0, we got inside Aguirre’s head and made the substitutions for him. We beat the 137th-ranked team in the world – barely. Did someone fall asleep in the first half?”

Former national team striker Jared Borgetti offered a more measured take: “They played a smart match. The result was never in danger. I saw a focused team, even though there’s still room for improvement. Some players need to show more, and I hope the coach takes that into account.”

Analyst and coach Ricardo Ferretti echoed the sentiment: “The goalkeeper, Edson [Álvarez], Raúl Jiménez and Santiago Giménez are locks for the World Cup. But others like Alexis Vega and Roberto Alvarado are wasting their chances. They’re not creating or supporting the forwards. Aguirre still has doubts.”

On TUDN David Faitelson didn’t mince words: “Mexico wins with two goals from a center-back… Aguirre’s team is still offering very little. And remember, this was Suriname – not Argentina, Spain, or Portugal. Mexico’s performance is unacceptable.”

On FOX Sports, Rubén Rodríguez said: “There’s no attacking volume. Four of Mexico’s five goals have come from set pieces.”

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Mexico remains unconvincing after two group-stage games, echoing the doubts raised during recent friendlies against Switzerland and Turkey. Sunday’s clash with Costa Rica – coached by Miguel Herrera – will be the first real test of Mexico’s tournament credentials.

Getty Images SportWHAT JAVIER AGUIRRE AND MEXICO PLAYERS SAID

Defender César Montes, now Mexico’s top scorer in the tournament, said he was surprised at his chances.

“I didn’t imagine I’d be the one scoring goals – those are for the strikers," he said. "But if I can help the team that way, I’ll do it. These teams sit back and are hard to break down, so set pieces are key. Against Costa Rica it’ll be intense. We know how Miguel Herrera works, and he’ll want to beat us. But we’ll play our game.”

Alexis Vega said the team raised the level of their game in the second Gold Cup match.

“Our play was better than in the last match," he said. "We were left with a bad taste after the game against the Dominican Republic. This time we were more organized, we studied our opponent well. We had four chances that should’ve been goals, but that’s football. We’re happy with the result and looking to improve. Against Costa Rica it’ll be tough – we want to finish first in the group, and we’re ready to leave everything on the field.”

Aguirre said, despite their international rankings, both Gold Cup opponents have been strong.

"We knew this group would be difficult. These teams are better than people think," he said. "Suriname has 22 players in Europe, and their coach is experienced. The Dominican Republic gave us problems too. We’ve worked hard for these results. It hasn’t been easy – we’ve lacked clarity in attack – but fortunately, set pieces have helped us. We have good set-piece takers, and that’s part of the game.”

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Getty Images SportDID YOU KNOW?

Mexico have advanced past the group stage in all 18 editions of the Gold Cup and maintained their perfect record against Suriname, winning all four of their meetings. Both Suriname and the Dominican Republic have been eliminated from the tournament.

On an individual level, Montes’ two goals put him ahead of U.S. rival Malik Tillman – who had a brace in the 5-0 opening win over Trinidad and Tobago – in the race for the Golden Boot.

Manchester United appear to be advancing in their move to replace Andre Onana with a top goalkeeper target following a new transfer update.

Man Utd regret signing Onana and are looking to sell goalkeeper

The Red Devils decided to replace David de Gea with Onana back in 2023, however, that has been a decision that has arguably been the wrong one with the way things have gone for the Cameroon international at Old Trafford.

The former Inter Milan shot-stopper, who helped the Serie A side to the Champions League final against Manchester City, is thought to be unsettled in Manchester and has been for a long time.

In fact, there have been claims that Man Utd regret signing Onana and he is on course to be sold this summer with interest from Saudi Arabia.

INEOS now receive £65m+ bid to sell Man Utd star who Amorim has called out

The Red Devils are yet to respond to the offer.

By
Charlie Smith

Apr 1, 2025

The 29-year-old has still been a regular under Ruben Amorim, however, with Onana looking likely to exit Old Trafford, a replacement will be required.

Again, it looks as if the Red Devils could go shopping in Italy for a number one and in Milan specifically, but this time with AC Milan.

Man Utd progressing in talks to sign £67m Mike Maignan

According to a report from Spain, Man Utd have taken a ‘giant step’ to sign Mike Maignan from AC Milan.

It is believed that the Frenchman is the ‘top priority’ to replace Onana and that ‘negotiations’ between the player and the Red Devils have ‘progressed significantly’.

Now, United are planning to make contact with AC Milan to discuss the terms of a transfer, but it looks as if Maignan is keen on swapping Milan for Manchester.

Previous reports have valued Maignan at £67m, although there could be a 50% discount if he refuses to sign a new contract over the coming months, with his current deal set to expire in 2026.

AC Milan signed the ‘keeper back in 2021 from Lille and he has gone on to make more than 150 appearances for the Italian giants.

Maignan is also France’s first-choice goalkeeper and recently starred in a penalty shootout against Croatia to help his country qualify for the Nations League semi-finals.

Kylian Mbappe was quick to praise Maignan, saying: “We know we have a goalkeeper who makes the difference in penalties, so we’re at an advantage.”

Meanwhile, France boss Didier Deschamps added: “The French national team players know very well that Mike is very effective in penalties. He has that quality, the better. It’s a technical skill. He’s a goalkeeper who performed well in this penalty series, we owe him our qualification. It would have been frustrating to lose because we had the opportunity to have a bigger gap earlier.”

Didi Hamann has claimed that Florian Wirtz's "secret meeting" with Arne Slot helped Liverpool to lure the Bayer Leverkusen star to Anfield.

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• Wirtz has been a long-term target for Liverpool
• Slot convinced him to choose the Reds over other suitors
• Liverpool to pay £116m for his services

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Despite persistent interest from Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich, Wirtz has opted to make the switch to Merseyside. Liverpool have agreed to pay a British record £116 million ($156m) fee to Leverkusen for his services as they managed to negotiate a reduced package.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Former Liverpool midfielder and Germany international Hamann has now shed light on what may have tipped the scales in Liverpool’s favour. He revealed that while Bayern made their pursuit of Wirtz quite public, the Reds operated quietly and effectively behind the scenes. They remained in touch with Wirtz's family for several years and a private tour of the Kirkby academy helped the midfielder to make an informed decision about his future.

• WHAT HAMANN SAID

  In an interview with Hamann said he'd heard a "secret meeting" between Slot and Wirtz had taken place before the deal with Leverkusen was agreed. "Apparently Liverpool have been in contact with Florian Wirtz for a long time, he and his family were impressed with how the club went about their business," he said.

  "Liverpool tried to get him when he joined Bayer Leverkusen five years ago and have always been in touch, the interest then warmed again over the last year but nobody knew. Bayern Munich were very vocal about wanting him so everyone expected him to go there, but from what I’ve heard, he met Arne Slot who showed him around the training ground and that's when he made his mind up. If there were any doubts for him, meeting all the staff put that to rest and I think he has made a fantastic choice."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Wirtz departs German football having achieved notable domestic success, winning both the Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal with Leverkusen. Hamann emphasized the significance of doing so without having joined Bayern, often the dominant force in Germany.

  "He won the league and cup in Germany and did so without needing to sign for Bayern," he argued. "Liverpool have got a fantastic player, a skillful player that makes other players better. He has a fantastic understanding with Jeremie Frimpong which is another bonus and what I like about him is that he got kicked around quite a bit in Germany but he looks after himself."

Chasing 301, Pakistan needed 11 off the final over, and just about got over the line to seal the series

Srinidhi Ramanujam24-Aug-2023

Pakistan clinched an epic last-over thriller against Afghanistan to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the ODI series, in Hambantota on Thursday. Chasing 301, Pakistan, somehow, narrowly escaped a defeat and kept their unbeaten ODI record intact against the hosts, having registered their sixth win in as many games.The match came down to 11 runs needed off the final over and Shadab Khan going strong unbeaten on 48. Pakistan had two wickets in hand. And then some drama, as it so often happens in an encounter between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Fazalhaq Farooqi ran the allrounder out backing up right at the start of the last over. Shadab was way out of the crease before Farooqi delivered the ball and replays confirmed the run-out. Naseem Shah, however, kept his cool and slammed the first ball of the last over for a four past long-off.The equation soon came down to six off three balls with Haris Rauf on strike. A misfield at the deep midwicket region then helped Pakistan fetch three runs and with three needed off two balls and just a wicket in hand, Naseem Shah’s thick outside edge past short third took the visitors home.It meant a memorable batting performance by Afghanistan went in vain. Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s epic 151 and Ibrahim Zadran’s classy 80 had led the team to 300 for 5 after they were bowled out for 59 in the opening ODI. But in the end, it wasn’t enough to secure their first victory over Pakistan in this format.Imam, Babar and Shadab shinePakistan recovered well after losing Fakhar Zaman early, with Imam-ul-Haq top-scoring with 91 and sharing a century stand with Babar Azam for the second wicket. Imam looked like the most comfortable batter in the line-up, ticking along by mostly running ones and twos. His 105-ball knock had just four fours, but kept Pakistan’s required run-rate under control. Babar, who was out for duck in the first game, played a steady 53. But his wicket off Farooqi in the 31st over opened the gates and offered Afghanistan a way back.Pakistan lost three key wickets for three runs inside ten balls. Mohammed Nabi struck twice in the 38th over to dismiss Agha Salma and Usama Mir, who was promoted up ahead of Shadab and Iftkhar Ahmed. Mujeeb Ur Rahman then got the big wicket of Imam in the next over with the equation coming down to 56 from 30 balls.The game was still evenly poised. Though Pakistan lost Iftikhar and Shaheen Afridi in the 47th and 48th over respectively, Shadab kept attacking, blazing three fours and a six in his 35-ball innings. His cameo was crucial in Pakistan bringing the equation down to 11 off the final over and chasing down the big total. It also earned him the Player-of-the-Match award.Rahmanullah Gurbaz scored a valiant fifth ODI century•AFP/Getty Images

Gurbaz, Zadran power Afghanistan to 300Two days ago, Afghanistan faltered in a chase of 202 and registered their second-lowest total in ODIs. But on Thursday, two determined 21-year-olds born a few weeks apart, powered Afghanistan to their highest ODI total against Pakistan.The openers played out almost 40 overs and scored at a brisk rate on a surface covered with grass and offering bounce. It was also a different track than the one for the first ODI that assisted spinners. Gurbaz and Zadran’s massive opening stand extended to 227 and was finally broken by legspinner Usama Mir when the former holed out to long-off. By that time, Afghanistan had touched the par score.Gurbaz, who expressed his intent from the beginning by coming down the track against the pace, found boundaries regularly to reach fifty in 72 deliveries. Despite experiencing some pain in his left forearm, Gurbaz kept going and brought up his fifth ODI hundred in 122 balls. His best over of the innings came against Rauf, the bowler who rattled Afghanistan with five wickets in the opening game, in the 37th over when he greeted the pacer with four back-to-back fours.On the way to his career-best score, Gurbaz achieved a few feats: he became the first wicketkeeper to score 150-plus in men’s ODIs against Pakistan, his 151 is the second highest individual score for Afghanistan in ODIs, and is also the third highest individual ODI score by any batter in Sri Lanka.On the other hand, Zadran kick-started his innings quietly but got on with the act as the innings progressed. He took 71 balls to reach his fourth ODI fifty, in the 30th over. Playing in his 16th ODI, he crossed 50 for the eighth time on Thursday, showing the temperament for the 50-over format. In his 101-ball knock, Zadran hit six fours and two sixes.For Pakistan, their short-ball tactic proved futile against the openers who either played it down the ground or pulled away for boundaries. Afridi came back in the 45th over to remove Gurbaz and Rashid Khan, but it was too late for a Pakistan turnaround. Naseem was also in the wicket chart with a dismissal of Nabi in the final over, but neither the spinners nor seamers could break the Afghanistan spirit early in the innings.Afghanistan’s spirit, however, would eventually break at the end.

MatériaMais Notícias

O árbitro Anderson Daronco será o encarregado em comandar o duelo entre Fluminense e Corinthians, nesta quinta-feira (15), às 20h, pela partida de volta da semifinal da Copa do Brasil, na Neo Química Arena. Ele será auxiliado porRafael da Silva Alves e Guilherme Dias Camilo.

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+ Balbuena assume o quarto lugar! Veja os defensores do Corinthians com mais gols na Arena

O experiente juiz gaúcho de 41 anos já esteve presente em 27 duelos do Timão. No total, foram 11 vitórias do clube alvinegro, oito empates e oito derrotas. Em todas essas ocasiões, o árbitro FIFA já distribuiu 46 cartões amarelos e quatro vermelhos.

Contudo, o Corinthians carrega um jejum recente em jogos apitados por Daronco, haja visto que o clube alvinegro está há quatro jogos consecutivos sem vencer com ele no apito.

Na atual temporada, ele comandou o empate em 1 a 1 com o América-MG e a derrota por 3 a 0 diante do Palmeiras, ambas no Brasileirão.

+ Confira a tabela da Copa do Brasil e simule os últimos jogos

No ano passado, Daronco apitou a vitória do Flamengo sobre o Timão, por 1 a 0, e o empate sem gols com o Vasco, ambas também pelo Campeonato Brasileiro.

O último triunfo do Corinthians em jogo apitado por Daronco aconteceu em 2020, também pela competição nacional. Na oportunidade, o clube dirigido ainda por Vagner Mancini derrotou o Sport por 3 a 0 em casa, com gols de Mosquito, Vital e Jô.