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Tracking the spot-fixing controversy from the sting leading up to the independent tribunal in Doha

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Jan-2011August 28, 2010 The fourth Test between Pakistan and England at Lord’s comes under the police scanner for spot-fixing following a sting alleging that Mazhar Majeed, a player agent, offered money to Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif to bowl no-balls on demand. In the video recording Majeed is clearly heard predicting that Amir would bowl the first over of the England innings, and that he would deliver a no-ball from the first ball of the third over – which as ESPNcricinfo’s ball-by-ball commentary noted: “was an enormous no-ball, good half a metre over the line.” He also appeared to correctly predict a no-ball from the sixth ball of the tenth over, bowled this time by Asif. Majeed is arrested on suspicion of a controversy to defraud bookmakers.August 29, 2010 Police investigations centre around the currency notes handed by to Majeed, and whether they match with those found in the named players’ hotel rooms. Majeed is revealed to be close to many players in the Pakistan team. The ICC reveals that Majeed and “several” Pakistan players had been on their anti-corruption watchlist for some time. Meanwhile, Pakistan insist that the limited-overs leg of the tour will go on.August 30, 2010 ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat assures thorough investigation and appropriate punishment if anyone is found guilty of wrongdoing. Scotland Yard releases Majeed on bail without charge. Ricky Ponting expresses concerns that the allegations could taint his side’s come-back win against Pakistan in Sydney earlier in the year.August 31, 2010 Australia’s Shane Watson reports two approaches by an illegal bookmaker in 2009 in England. UK’s anti-corruption chief says there may be insufficient evidence for police to press charges against Majeed.September 2, 2010 The ICC suspends Butt, Amir and Asif after charging them with “various offences under Article 2 of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code for Players and Player Support Personnel relating to alleged irregular behavior during, and in relation to, the Lord’s Test”. Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the UK, Wajid Shamsul Hasan, claims that the three players may have been the victims of a “set-up”.September 3, 2010 Lorgat reacts to Hasan’s claims that ICC was “playing to the public gallery”, saying the players had been made aware of their suspensions in advance, and that the body had sufficient evidence to charge the players. The ICC also removes Amir from its list of nominees for the 2009 awards.September 5, 2010 Australia coach Tim Nielsen, and members of the Sri Lankan team report suspicious approaches over the past year.September 8, 2010 In his first statement following the suspension, Ijaz Butt says the PCB wrote to the ICC on behalf of the players, but they wanted individual replies from the players.September 9, 2010 Ijaz Butt reveals that the ICC had sent notices to Salman Butt and Kamran Akmal seeking information, following the 2010 World Twenty20 in the Caribbean.September 10, 2010 The PCB instructs its players that all their agents will have to be approved by the board, failing which the player would be ineligible for selection. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Cricket reveals another ‘suspicious approach’ reported by the seamer Dilhara Fernando.September 11, 2010 Butt, Amir and Asif return from England and land at Lahore airport, and leave through a back exit to avoid the crowds.September 14, 2010 Butt, Amir and Asif file their formal replies to the ICC, through their London-based lawyer. Pakistan seamer Wahab Riaz becomes the fourth player to be questioned over the sting. The ICC begins a review of its existing anti-corruption measures.Ijaz Butt added to the controversy by questioning England’s performance in the Oval ODI•AFPSeptember 18, 2010 After receiving information from a newspaper before the game began, alleging that bookies were aware of certain scoring patterns that occurred during the match, the ICC investigates the Oval ODI which Pakistan won. The ECB confirms that the tour will continue despite the latest investigation.September 19, 2010 Ijaz Butt points a finger at England’s cricketers for their batting collapse in the ODI under investigation, and said his board was investigating a conspiracy involving “august cricket bodies”, to defraud Pakistan and Pakistan cricket.September 29, 2010 Salman Butt becomes the first of the three players to appeal against the suspension. Ijaz Butt issues an apology and withdraws his comments accusing England of fixing the Oval ODI.October 6, 2010 The ICC fixes the hearings against the appeals to be held in end-October, in Doha, Qatar.October 13, 2010 The ICC gives the PCB a hard rap on the knuckles and asks them to clean up their act, while confirming that there was no wrongdoing in the Oval ODI.October 18, 2010 Anti-corruption measures are the emphasis in a revised code of conduct for Pakistan ahead of tour of the UAE.October 22, 2010 Asif, who is barred from entering UAE – where Pakistan’s next tour, and the appeal process are to be held – on a drug-related offence, withdraws his appeal against the provisional suspension.October 31, 2010 Butt and Amir remain provisionally suspended after their appeals are rejected during a two-day hearing in Dubai.November 4, 2010 The PCB suspends the central contracts of Butt, Amir and Asif, following the rejection of the appeals of the first two by the ICC.November 12, 2010 The ICC sets the hearing into the spot-fixing allegations for January 6-11 in Doha, and appoints a three-man tribunal to look into the charges.Mohammad Asif withdrew his appeal against the provisional suspension; Salman Butt and Mohammad Amir filed appeals which were dismissed•AFPNovember 14, 2010 In an unprecedented move, the PCB decides to send a list of potential World Cup probables to the ICC’s Anti-corruption & Security Unit (ACSU) for clearance before selecting their final World Cup squad.November 30, 2010 A Pakistani TV channel broadcasts previously unseen video footage of Majeed, in which he takes the names of four more Pakistani players – Umar Akmal, Kamran Akmal, Wahab Riaz and Imran Farhat – who, he claims, work with him.December 11, 2010 Wasim Bari, former wicketkeeper and former chief operating officer of the PCB, is appointed Director of Education and Training, a post created within the PCB as part of their revised anti-corruption measures.December 22, 2010 Michael Beloff QC, ICC’s code of conduct commissioner and member of the three-man tribunal, rejects Butt’s request to postpone the hearing to a date after the UK’s Crown Prosecution Service has dealt with the case at its end.January 1, 2011 The PCB announces that Afridi and Younis will participate in the Doha tribunal, either in person or through teleconference.January 6, 2011 Doha hearing begins.January 11, 2011 Tribunal defers delivering judgement till February 5, says players will remain suspended till then.February 5, 2011 The ICC tribunal announces a sanction of ten years’ ineligibility for Salman Butt (with five years of a suspended sentence); seven years for Mohammad Asif (with two years suspended) and five years’ ineligibility for Mohammad Amir. Amir’s lawyer says the seamer will file an appeal with the Court of Arbitration in Sports (CAS) against his ban.February 26, 2011 Salman Butt and Mohammad Amir file appeals against their bans from the game with the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland.March 1, 2011 Mohammad Asif, too, registers a case with the CAS, contesting the ICC ban.March 17, 2011 A British judge at the City of Westminister Magistrates’ Court orders Butt, Asif, Amir and Mazhar Majeed will stand trial from May 20 charges of conspiracy to cheat and conspiracy to obtain and accept corrupt payments All three players are granted unconditional bail but Majeed is asked to surrender his passport.May 20, 2011 Southwark Crown court fixes October 4, 2011 as the date of trial in to the corruption charges filed by the Crown Prosecution Service against Butt, Asif, Amir and Majeed.

How Andrew Flintoff turned it on for England yet again

On the ball with S Rajesh and Arun Gopalakrishnan11-Sep-2005After managing just two wickets in 78.4 overs, England swept eight more in just 28.3 overs on the fourth day to wrest back the initiative and dampen Australia’s hopes of an unlikely series-levelling win.Not for the first time in the series, England’s hero was Andrew Flintoff, who took his tally for the series to 24 wickets at an average of 27.29. The Australians tackled him quite comfortably earlier in the match, but Flintoff was in irresistible form on the fourth morning, nearly doubling his potential-wicket-taking deliveries – that’s the number of balls which beat the bat, induced an edge, or rapped the pads – from 16.5% to 30.3%. In 89 balls on the fourth morning, he beat the bat 13 times; in 121 deliveries earlier in this match, he had only managed it five times. The result was four wickets for 30 runs in 14.2 overs, all bowled on the trot and interrupted only by the lunch break.Matthew Hoggard improved his stats almost as dramatically, from 21.2% to 32.8%. He beat the bat or induced an edge 11 times in 61 balls on the fourth day, up from seven in 85 on the two previous days. Together, they ensured that, barring a collapse of monumental proportions on the final day, the Ashes should be theirs for the first time since 1986-87.

India have left Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli out of their T20I squad for the upcoming home series against New Zealand. KL Rahul is also not in the squad, and while the BCCI put his absence – and that of Axar Patel, from both the ODI and T20I legs of the series – down to family commitments, it gave no specific reason for Rohit, India’s regular all-format captain, and Kohli missing the series.As a result, India’s first-choice top three from their last two T20 World Cups are now missing successive T20I series.This may not yet have a major bearing on India’s long-term future in the format, however. Ahead of the recently concluded ODI series against Sri Lanka, Rohit said the selectors and team management had made it clear to a number of senior players that they would not be able to play all three formats over the next few months for workload-management reasons, with India building up towards the 50-overs World Cup later this year.Related

• The Kishan dilemma, Kuldeep vs Chahal, Malik's rise: India face tricky calls vs NZ

• Suryakumar and Kishan in India's Test squad to face Australia

• Bumrah to miss SL ODIs, doubtful for Test series against Australia

• Pant undergoes knee ligament surgery in Mumbai hospital

Hardik Pandya, who captained India in the three T20Is against Sri Lanka earlier this month, will continue to lead the side in the T20I series, which will be played in Ranchi, Lucknow and Ahmedabad from January 27 to February 1, with Suryakumar Yadav as his deputy.Rohit and Kohli are part of the squad for the ODI series that will take place before the T20Is, from January 18 to 24 in Hyderabad, Raipur and Indore.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Prithvi Shaw in, Harshal Patel out

The T20I squad is also notable for the return of opener Prithvi Shaw, who last played for India in July 2021, and whose absence from subsequent squads – particularly in the T20 format – has been a constant source of debate, given his rare ability to provide rapid starts in the powerplay. Shaw forced himself into the reckoning earlier this week by scoring 379 off 383 balls – the second-highest first-class score by an Indian batter – for Mumbai against Assam in the Ranji Trophy.Left-arm wristspinner Kuldeep Yadav, who took a Player-of-the-Match-winning 3 for 51 in the second ODI against Sri Lanka on Thursday, is also back in the T20I squad, having last featured for India in that format in August 2022. He is one of two wristspinners in the squad along with Yuzvendra Chahal.Sanju Samson, who was ruled out midway through the T20I series against Sri Lanka with a knee injury, remains out of the squad – the BCCI release did not provide an update on his fitness. Jitesh Sharma, who replaced him, remains in the squad as one of two wicketkeeping options alongside Ishan Kishan.Fast bowler Harshal Patel, who played only the first T20I against Sri Lanka, has been left out of the squad.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

KS Bharat called up to ODI squad

With Rahul sitting out the ODIs, India have called up the uncapped KS Bharat as a second wicketkeeper alongside Kishan. Bharat is also part of India’s squad for the first two Tests against Australia in February – he is expected to contest the lead wicketkeeper role with Kishan in the absence of regular keeper Rishabh Pant, who has undergone knee ligament surgery after suffering a serious car crash in late December.In Axar’s absence, meanwhile, the selectors have called on a like-for-like replacement in Shahbaz Ahmed – both are allrounders who bat left-handed and bowl left-arm spin. Shahbaz has been part of the white-ball mix in recent months, and has played three ODIs, most recently in December on the tour of Bangladesh.Also back in the squad is fast-bowling allrounder Shardul Thakur, who was left out of the series against Sri Lanka. Left-arm quick Arshdeep Singh, who was part of the ODI squad against Sri Lanka but didn’t get a chance in the starting XI, misses out – he remains part of the T20I squad, however.Jasprit Bumrah, who was initially named in the ODI squad against Sri Lanka before pulling out before the start of the series – he is on the road to recovery from a long-term back injury – is not part of either white-ball squad or the squad for the first two Tests against Australia.

Barcelona new boy Marcus Rashford has opened up on his decision to leave the Red Devils and what it's like to play alongside wonderkid Lamine Yamal.

• Rashford has moved on season-long loan
• Searching for happiness in Barcelona
• Full of praise for teenage star Yamal

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Rashford has signed for Barcelona from Manchester United on a season-long loan after a difficult spell with the Red Devils. The forward fell out of favour under Ruben Amorim and spent the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa but failed to earn a permanent transfer to Unai Emery's side. He is now hoping to reignite his career in Catalunya, with Hansi Flick's side having the option to sign him permanently at the end of the season.

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  Rashford faces a battle for minutes at Barcelona with the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Ferran Torres around but will be hoping he can rise to the challenge. The forward has revealed he moved on in search of happiness and says that Barcelona is the best place in the world to enjoy playing football.

• WHAT RASHFORD SAID

  He told : "I need to be happy to play my best football. For me personally… Football is my life. You know? It's been my life since I was very, very young. Actually, I don't know anything else. So the bond I have, not only with my career but with sport in general, is huge and I don't expect it to go away. But yes, it's always good to be happy when you play football. It's the reason I started in this.

  "You never know for sure, but from the beginning I have felt comfortable. On the pitch, of course I'll learn more with each game. But the starting point is very good. The more matches that come, the more I'll learn. Barça is the easiest place to enjoy and learn football."

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  TELL ME MORE…

  Rashford then went on to hail new team-mate Lamine Yamal, who he believes will win the Ballon d'Or. He said: "Yes, definitely. If you don't win it this year, you'll win it in the future. [Ousmane] Dembélé, Raphinha, they all deserve it. It's hard to pick one, but they're all mature and have had a fantastic season. Lamine is so young that he is sure to win it.

  "He's a top talent, a top player. The most surprising thing is how mature he is for his age. How he thinks and plays. He is well above his age. It's exciting to play with him and others as well. I'm adapting to the change of environment, rhythm and football, and the best place to do that is on the pitch. I will make mistakes, but I will also learn a lot and improve. The quality of the players helps a lot."

أشارت تقارير صحفية موثوقة أن ليفربول تلقى دفعة معنوية قوية في سعيه للتعاقد مع المهاجم السويدي ألكسندر إيزاك من صفوف نيوكاسل يونايتد هذا الصيف.

ويرغب ليفربول في التعاقد مع إيزاك لدعم خط هجومه في الساعات الأخيرة قبل إغلاق سوق الانتقالات الصيفية على الرغم من ضمه هوجو إيكتيكي من صفوف آينتراخت فرانكفورت.

ووفقاً لصحفي سكاي سبورت “فابريزيو رومانو” فإن نيوكاسل يونايتد أنهي صفقة التعاقد مع نيك فولتمايد المهاجم الألماني والذي يلعب مع نادي شتوتجارت.

أقرأ أيضاً.. سلوت: القرعة وضعت ليفربول في مواجهات “صعبة ومثيرة”.. وننتظر مباراة ريال مدريد

وتوصل نيوكاسل لاتفاق مع شتوتجارت لضم اللاعب مقابل ما يتجاوز 80 مليون يورو بجانب إضافات وسيخضع فولتمايد للفحوصات الطبية خلال ال24 ساعة القادمة.

وسيوقع فولتمايد لعقد طويل الأمد مع نيوكاسل يونايتد والذي يقوم بترتيبات السفر للاعبه الجديد حالياً.

وأكد رومانو أن ليفربول مستعد في هذه اللحظات لتقديم كل ما لديه والتقدم بعرض جديد لضم ألكسندر إيزاك والذي لم يقم بتغيير موقفه بعد.

ويرغب المهاجم السويدي في ارتداء قميص ليفربول فقط وفي حالة قرر نيوكاسل يونايتد فتح باب الرحيل أمام اللاعب فإن الريدز جاهز للحصول على خدماته.

MatériaMais Notícias

Recentemente, o portal espanhol ‘ElDesmarque’ publicou a informação de que o Valencia-ESP estaria interessado na contratação do zagueiro Vitão, do Internacional, onde a ideia seria de apresentar proposta na casa dos seis milhões de euros, equivalente a R$ 32,7 milhões.

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>Galvão Bueno festeja derrota de virada da Argentina na Copa do Mundo

Entretanto, o estafe do jogador de 22 anos de idade que está no Inter por empréstimo do Shakhtar Donetsk-UCR afirmou recentemente não ter recebido qualquer tipo de proposta pelo atleta.

Além disso, os responsáveis por agenciar Vitão acrescentaram que existe preferência para o Inter exercer o direito de compra dentro do acordo feito com os ucranianos. Todavia, a efetivação do negócio é algo que foge do alcance do jogador, precisando também o Shakhtar ser convencido da transação. A informação em questão foi veiculada no portal ‘Revista Colorada’ e confirmada pelo Futebol Latino:

-Para a gente aqui, por enquanto, não chegou nada. Não depende só dele (Vitão), né. Tem o contrato com o Shakhtar, mas a preferência é o Inter.

Desde sua chegada ao Internacional, Vitão disputou 38 partidas (todas elas começando como titular) com dois gols marcados.

A lot goes on directly before the start of the regular season.

Pre-season can truly mark the difference between having a successful season and a disappointing campaign.

Fundamentally, pre-season lays the foundation for a number of aspects that can lead towards improving physical fitness, preventing injuries, team bonding, and building strategies, among other factors. In short, it is all about readying up physically and mentally.

It is a time wherein players recondition their bodies, and prepare their muscles and neural pathways; while for clubs and coaches, it accounts for a period to establish a layout for the coming season.

Ultimately, a balance between fun and preparation, GOAL discusses the work that goes in before competitive action begins.

• When does pre-season start?

  The start of pre-season for different clubs and across different leagues will not necessarily be the same. So, depending on the start of the season, it is the training period immediately preceding the regular phase of any competition. Typically, this period lasts between four to six weeks, with the specific duration depending on the league and level of competition.

  Most teams are likely to conclude their pre-season camps and/or tours, including playing some club friendlies, about a week or so before coaches begin to tactically prepare for the first competitive game of the season.

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  Pre-season testing – what is a lactate test?

  A lactate test involves players running at increasing speeds while blood samples are taken from their ears to measure lactate levels, indicating their aerobic and anaerobic thresholds. The test provides valuable insights for coaches and sports scientists, helping them understand a player's ability to sustain high-intensity efforts and recover from them.

  The lactate threshold is the point where lactate builds up in the muscles faster than the body can remove it, indicating the transition to anaerobic energy production. Improving a player's lactate threshold can significantly enhance their ability to sustain high-intensity efforts for longer periods, ultimately making them more effective during matches.

  However, the traditional lactate test is increasingly being replaced with a 6-Minute Race Test (6MRT) to evaluate players' maximum aerobic speed. In 6MRT, players run as fast as possible for six minutes on a 400-meter track, aiming to cover the maximum distance. This evaluates maximal aerobic speed and aerobic endurance fitness, which is the body's ability to efficiently use oxygen as an energy source.

  While both tests allow coaches to evaluate performance and make adjustments to training plans based on individual results, 6MRT is not a direct replacement for lactate testing. Some teams may use both tests, leveraging the lactate test for more detailed physiological information and the 6MRT for a practical, field-based assessment of endurance.

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  Overall assessment and data collection

  As players return from their breaks, the focus is on assessing their physical and medical readiness. This involves a comprehensive evaluation, starting with blood tests, ECGs, and a musculoskeletal assessment to understand their movement quality. These assessments are completed before they proceed to physiological tests.

  Additionally, players undergo scans to identify any genetic predispositions, which are then combined with their past injury history. To align with head injury guidelines and proactively manage injuries, a baseline test is conducted for each player. This helps address any injury prevention concerns before players hit the gym and grass.

  Progressive cardiopulmonary exercise tests involve a 15-20 minute session that gradually increases in intensity, culminating in maximal exertion. This test specifically monitors oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production.

  All the data gathered from these assessments is crucial for developing future training plans. For returning players, this data provides a valuable comparison to previous seasons, while for new players, it offers a direct comparison to the existing group. This detailed information on individual strengths and deficits allows for the design of bespoke programs that fully support a club's football program.

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  What pre-season training drills are done?

  While players may engage in physical activity to an extent during the break, returning to full training will still require adjustment. Therefore, attention to the warm-up and cool-down elements of each session is non-negotiable for the purpose of injury prevention.

  Pre-season training drills focus on building a foundation of fitness, agility, and technical skills. They include strength training (like squats and deadlifts), plyometrics for explosive power, agility exercises (ladder and cone drills), dribbling and shooting drills, and ball mastery exercises, gradually increasing intensity.

  Endurance work is also crucial, incorporating various methods like interval training and small-sided games.

  Specific pre-season drills:
  Warm-up:	Dynamic stretching and drills to prepare the body for training.
  Strength Training (lower body):	Squats, lunges, deadlifts, single-leg squats, weighted squat jumps
  Strength Training (upper body):	Shoulder press, dumbbell press, planks, push-ups.
  Plyometrics:	Jump squats, box jumps, hurdle jumps.
  Agility:	Ladder drills, cone drills, shuttle runs.
  Dribbling:	Cone courses, changes of direction, speed dribbling.
  Shooting:	Various shots from different angles and distances, including volleys and half-volleys.
  Ball Mastery:	Drills focusing on close control, first touch, and passing accuracy.
  Endurance:	Interval training (HIIT), Fartlek, intensive small-sided games, full-pitch games.
  Cool-down:	Static stretching to aid recovery.

كشف الأنجولي شيكو بانزا، المنضم حديثًا إلى صفوف نادي الزمالك، عن طموحاته مع القلعة البيضاء بعد الانضمام بشكل رسمي، مشيرًا إلى أنه لم يتردد في قبول عرض الفارس الأبيض.

وأعلن نادي الزمالك اليوم الأحد، عن التعاقد مع الأنجولي شيكو بانزا لمدة أربعة مواسم، خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية الحالية، قادماً من نادي إستريلا دا أمادورا البرتغالي.

وقال بانزا خلال تصريحات عبر المركز الإعلامي لنادي الزمالك: “الزمالك فريق كبير، ولم أتردد في قبول عرض الأبيض، لأن الانضمام لأحد أكبر أندية أفريقيا شرف كبير”.

وأضاف: “طموحاتي كبيرة مع الزمالك، وأسعى لمساعدة الفريق على التتويج بكل بطولة نشارك فيها خلال الموسم المقبل”.

وأتم: “سأبذل قصارى جهدي من أجل الظهور بأفضل صورة، من أجل إسعاد جماهير الزمالك ولكي أكون عند حسن ظنهم بي”.

وتعد صفقة شيكو بانزا، هي الثانية لنادي الزمالك خلال الميركاتو الصيفي الحالي، بعدما ضم الحارس المهدي سليمان في أولى صفقاته.

Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins has withdrawn from the England squad after picking up a injury ahead of the World Cup qualifier against Andorra.

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Watkins withdraws from England squadEngland announce striker's 'minor injury'Watkins misses chance to impress TuchelFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Watkins has endured a rather frustrating 2024/25 season with Aston Villa, as he has failed to hit the heights of his previous campaign. Nonetheless, the Torquay-born striker retained his place in the England squad under new coach Tuchel, and was included in the Three Lions' roster for their World Cup qualifier against Andorra and the friendly against Senegal.

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However, England have now confirmed that Watkins has withdrawn from Tuchel's squad as a precaution due to a 'minor injury'. The setback will be very disappointing for the Aston Villa striker, who has been hoping to impress the German coach as he is currently behind Harry Kane and Ivan Toney in the pecking order.

AFPDID YOU KNOW?

Tuchel has reportedly decided not to call up a replacement for Watkins ahead of the World Cup qualifier, as he is said to be satisfied with his options, with Kane and Toney fit to play through the middle of the attack.

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WHAT NEXT FOR ENGLAND?

Watkins will now look to focus on his recovery from the injury; however, he will not have another opportunity to impress Tuchel until September, when England face Andorra again in the World Cup qualifiers.

Zaka Ashraf is expected to make a comeback as head of cricket in the country

Umar Farooq22-Jun-2023

The election for the next PCB chairman will be held on June 27, with Zaka Ashraf expected to make a comeback as head of cricket in the country.In a press release, Ahmed Shehzad Farooq Rana, the PCB election commissioner and acting chairman, said: “The election of the PCB Chair will be held in a fair and transparent manner whilst adopting due process and ensuring completion of all legal formalities… on Tuesday, 27 June, at the PCB headquarters in Lahore. The election schedule will be issued after receiving nominations from the departments/service organisations.”The PCB’s board will comprise ten members: four regional representatives, four representatives of services organisations and the two members nominated by the patron/prime minister. All board members, including the chairman, will be appointed for three years.Related

Zaka Ashraf takes a step closer to becoming PCB chairman

Najam Sethi pulls out of race to be PCB chairman

Earlier this week, Ashraf, along with Supreme Court lawyer Mustafa Ramday, joined the board after being nominated by the prime minister. In Pakistan, a prime minister appointee usually goes on to become the board chairman.This follows Najam Sethi, who was heading the interim management committee that ran the PCB till June 20, withdrawing from the race to become the chairman. The Sethi-led management committee was given the mandate to revive the 2014 PCB constitution and form the board of governors after Ramiz Raja was removed as chairman and the 2019 constitution was scrapped.However, Sethi’s list of nominees for the board stirred a legal complication as four regions – Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Rawalpindi – were named out of the rotation.In the press release, Rana rejected Sethi’s nominations and replaced them with representatives of Larkana, Dera Murad Jamali, Bahawalpur and Hyderabad. The four departments included are National Bank of Pakistan, State Bank of Pakistan, Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited and Sui Southern Gas Company.It was Sethi who had ended Ashraf’s first stint as PCB chairman in 2014. At that time, the pair was involved in a legal battle for the chairmanship, with the position switching hands several times. Eventually, then-prime minister Nawaz Sharif settled the issue by ousting Ashraf and bringing in Sethi.