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The Lahore attack still weighs heavy on Mahela Jayawardene’s mind, to the extent that he finds it difficult even now to board the team bus while on duty for Kings XI Punjab in the IPL

Sriram Veera24-Apr-2009

The Lahore attack still weighs heavy on Mahela Jayawardene’s mind, to the extent that he finds it difficult even now to board the team bus while on duty for Kings XI Punjab in the IPL. He considers this part of his recovery process, though even with counseling it hasn’t been an easy experience.”I told myself it’s just another day and I have to move on,” Jayawardene said about the first time he got on to a team bus after the Lahore attack last month. “It was difficult. But I was with many other people in the bus who had no idea what was going on [in my mind], which I think actually helped me quite a bit.”He was the lone Sri Lankan on the Punjab team bus till Kumar Sangakkara landed up a few days later. “It was awkward at first , knowing what happened to us last time when we got to the team bus but it was something we’d spoken about before; it’s part of the recovery process of forgetting what happened and moving on with life.”However, Jayawardene believes it will be more difficult getting on to the Sri Lankan team bus. “I think when we, as the Sri Lankan squad, get into the team bus it could be probably a bigger thing. Everyone there would have gone through the [Lahore] episode.”Eight people, including six policemen, were killed when terrorists attacked the convoy carring players and officials to the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, where Sri Lanka were playing a Test against Pakistan. Five Sri Lankan players, including Jayawardene and Sangakkara, and a member of the coaching staff were injured by shrapnel. The Test and series were cancelled as the Sri Lankans flew home the same day.Jayawardene, currently in Durban, has been to counseling sessions in Sri Lanka as part of the recovery act but he knows it’s not something that will offer immediate relief. “I have been told that the incident might come back to me again and again. The sessions will be useful in the long run. I am sure we won’t ever forget the incident but the focus is not to get stuck in that situation and to try and move on.”Playing cricket, especially in an international competition like the IPL, has also helped in the recovery process. “Your mind is busy working on tactics and how to face the next game. So it keeps you occupied.” Before coming to South Africa Jayawardene had a few nets sessions played some domestic cricket. “It was nice to get out to the park and play with your friends. All that made a huge difference.”As Jayawardene gets closer to normality, though, he realizes his perspective on life too has changed. “You realise there are more things to life that cricket. I just want to concentrate and enjoy the simple little things and make the most of every moment. I know that in this world nothing is sure right now; anything can happen if you are in the wrong place at the wrong time. It’s not a negative thing; lots of people go through this in day-to-day life, people in the armed forces and even normal people. You appreciate their job even more now and try to contribute in some way.”Jayawardene is in South Africa with his wife, who has now recovered from the trauma. “She was very upset initially but she got slowly recovered. She didn’t have to go to counseling [unlike Thilan Samaraweera’s wife]. What helped was that we both took some time off and went away for ten days just to have some quality time together; that made a huge difference. After that she was fine.”Is he following the investigation back in Lahore? “That’s not in our control. It’s the authorities’ job to find out who did it why they did it and make sure it doesn’t happen again. We cricketers don’t want to be involved in this politics. We can point fingers about security, et cetera, but when something like that happens there’s nothing we can do about it. Let’s just hope that it doesn’t happen again.”

Brad Haddin was part of the Australian squad which lost the Ashes 2-1 in 2005 but was left out of the team which wiped out England 5-0 in the following series

Alex Brown04-May-2009Ashes revenge has not been discussed in the Australian dressing room for several seasons now. When Ricky Ponting’s men reversed the gloom of ’05 to the euphoria of 5-0 in the return series, Australia’s senior players successfully filled the urn-shaped hole in their lives and allowed the likes of Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne and Justin Langer to head into retirement content and complete.Brad Haddin, however, has not been so fortunate. As Adam Gilchrist’s understudy in 2005, Haddin vividly recalls the pain and despondency in the Australian dressing room after the defeat at Trent Bridge; a result that handed England a decisive 2-1 series lead. He was subsequently overlooked for the ensuing series in Australia – back-up wicketkeepers are a luxury seldom afforded to squads within their own county – resulting in a sense of unfinished business ahead of this year’s tour of England.”The only time I’ve been involved in an Ashes series, we tasted defeat,” Haddin told Cricinfo. “As exciting as it was to experience all the hype in 2005, it was still a pretty disappointing tour in a lot of ways. The memories are still strong from that tour. Some of the other guys had a chance to be part of the next Ashes series that we won 5-0, but I wasn’t in that squad.”I was lucky and unfortunate in 2005. Being in the squad, I was able to experience all the hype and excitement of being in England in a very competitive Ashes series. The way the country responded, and seeing those 20,000 people shut out of Old Trafford and still trying to get a look, was something I won’t forget. But having said that I remember the feeling in the change-rooms in Trent Bridge after we’d pretty much lost the Ashes. It was a sombre and uncomfortable place to be. I don’t want to have to experience that again.”Haddin’s rise from the periphery to the nucleus of the national team has been both rapid and dramatic. Twelve months have not passed since his Test debut at Sabina Park, yet Haddin has already assumed senior status within Ricky Ponting’s re-emerging Test side and is likely to be remunerated accordingly when Cricket Australia’s 25-man contract list is released next week.So high is the esteem in which he is held by national selectors, Haddin stands poised to lead Australia for the second time in a Twenty20 international (against Pakistan in Dubai on Thursday), placing him second in line for the captaincy behind Michael Clarke. Haddin has also been handed the added responsibility of opening the innings in the 50-over format.Those close to the team credit Haddin with imbuing Australia’s rookie players with a sense of “old school” toughness in this period of transition – the casual observer could probably deduce as much from the frequency and tenacity of his appeals. And while his glovework remains solid, if not flawless, his batting is of great importance to the Australians in all three forms of the game.”I’m lucky that in my career with NSW I’ve had the opportunity to bat from one-to-seven in the one-dayers, and I’ve had a bit of success in all those spots,” he said. “If someone like Shaun Marsh goes down and I get the call up the order, then that’s fine with me. That might add a little to the workload but, put it this way, I was happy we batted second in the (second one-day international against Pakistan) when it was 42 degrees out in the middle.”Perhaps most remarkable of all Haddin’s accomplishments over the past 12 months has been his durability. Since the beginning of Australia’s tour of the West Indies last year, he has played in all 15 of Australia’s Tests (scoring 901 runs at 37.54 with 56 dismissals), 24 of 28 one-day internationals (a broken finger sidelined him for the final four games of the series in the Caribbean) and three of six Twenty20 matches. While Ponting, Mitchell Johnson and Michael Hussey were rested from the limited overs tour of the UAE ahead of a gruelling 2009 campaign, which includes the World Twenty20, the Ashes and the Champions Trophy, Haddin has played on, subscribing to Dennis Lillee’s old mantra of never giving a sucker an even break.”I actually don’t have any niggles, and my hands are good,” he said. “Life is a lot easier when your hands aren’t barking at you. I put it down to the fact that I have been training my body for this for years. This is the reason you run all those laps and lift all those weights. I might not have been playing international cricket for a long time, but I feel like I have been conditioning my body for it for years.”Ask me in 12 months if I’m feeling this fresh, and the answer might be a bit different. But I’m feeling pretty good, and I think [the World Twenty20] will be an exciting thing to be a part of, especially with it being in England and the Ashes being around the corner.”

Aston Villa have opened talks with forward Cameron Archer over a new deal, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Preece’s claim

Archer burst onto the first-team scene this season with a hat-trick on his first start in a 6-0 win over Barrow in the EFL Cup.

Reliable reporter Ashley Preece claimed that the 19-year-old is under contract until 2022 and expected Villa to assess his future in January.

However, it seems as if Johan Lange and the Villa hierarchy are taking action before then when it comes to the teenager who Dean Smith described as ‘really good’ in pre-season.

The Latest: Source shares update

According to Football Insider, who were informed by a Villa source, talks are underway between Lange and co with Archer over a new contract.

Villa hold Archer in high regard and are now working on agreeing on terms with the striker over a new deal.

The report even adds that Villa turned down offers for Archer in the summer window.

The Verdict: Good move

Villa appear to be building for the future with a number of Under-23 additions over the summer, but keeping hold of exciting talents who are already at Bodymoor Heath is just as important.

Archer has impressed in recent months and took his opportunity in the Carabao Cup, so hopefully, he’ll pen improved terms before the New Year and will be able to train alongside the likes of Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings.

Villa could then reap the rewards regarding Archer in years to come, but if they fail to keep him in the Midlands, it could come back to haunt them in the long run.

In other news: ‘We’re done’, ‘Was coming’ – Villa source update has lots of fans talking. 

MatériaMais Notícias

Acabou a espera. O meia chileno Leonardo Valencia assinou, no início da noite desta terça-feira, contrato com o Botafogo. O vínculo de três anos foi firmado na sede do clube, em General Severiano, e ele já deve passar a treinar com o grupo alvinegro nesta quarta-feira.

Para entrar em campo, o que faltará a Valencia é a parte burocrática. Fisicamente, ele não deve apresentar problemas, uma vez que atuou na final da Copa das Confederações, há dez dias.

Cobiçado também pelo Vasco, Valencia ocupará lacuna aberta após a aposentadoria de Montillo. Em comum entre eles, a passagem pela Universidad de Chile. Mas o novo reforço alvinegro ficou conhecido no Brasil jogando pelo Palestino, de sua terra natal.

Pela equipe que defendia até o último mês de maio, Leo Valencia fez o gol que eliminou o Flamengo da Copa Sul-Americana do ano passado. No Botafogo, ele se junta a Camilo, João Paulo, Marcos Vinícius e Leandrinho no setor de criação.

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رأى روبرت ليفاندوفسكي حلمه يتحقق بمغادرة بايرن ميونخ للتوقيع مع برشلونة ولجعل ذلك حقيقة  كان عليه التضحية بجزء من مكافآته الحالية.

وقد أعلن بايرن ميونخ توصله لاتفاق مع برشلونة لرحيل روبرت ليفاندوفسكي للنادي الكتالوني، بعد أشهر من المفاوضات. 

كل شيء يشير إلى أن المهاجم البولندي سيحصل على 9 ملايين يورو سنويًا في برشلونة.

في ألمانيا، كان ليفاندوفسكي حتى الآن اللاعب الأعلى أجرًا في الدوري الألماني، والذي وضع عقده عند إجمالي 24 مليون يورو سنويًا مع رقم صافٍ يقارب 12 مليونًا سنويًا.

في برشلونة سيحصل ليفاندوفسكي على 9 ملايين يورو، أي أقل بثلاثة ملايين يورو مما كان يحصل عليه من نادي ميونخ.

ومع ذلك، أشارت صحيفة بيلد الألمانية مؤخرًا إلى المعلومات الواردة من “موندو ديبورتيفو” الإسبانية، والتي كشفت فيها عن “خدعة” نادي برشلونة التي من خلالها لن يتقاضى المحترفون رواتبهم في غضون عام واحد ولكن على مدى فترة زمنية أطول.

في سن 25، وقع البولندي عقدًا مدته خمس سنوات مع بايرن ميونخ، ومع ذلك، قبل انتهاء عقده الأول، تم الاتفاق مسبقًا على تمديد هذه المرة حتى نهاية يونيو 2023، مع ترقية الراتب إلى المبلغ الذي حصل عليه حاليًا.

A Harare court has ordered Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) to submit documents concerning its payroll, sponsorship deals and ICC grants, according to a report from the Associated Press

Cricinfo staff11-Dec-2008
The latest development in the Taibu case is likely to stump Zimbabwe Cricket officials © Cricinfo Ltd
A Harare court has ordered Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) to submit documents concerning its payroll, sponsorship deals and ICC grants following claims of financial mismanagement by the former Zimbabwe captain, Tatenda Taibu.Taibu appeared in court on Thursday facing charges of assault on ZC’s general finance manager, Esther Lupepe, in October. He has claimed his innocence throughout and has countered that the accusation is part of a wider plot by ZC to silence him from going public on his concerns over their handling of funds and the poor incomes afforded to players. The court has now adjourned until February 6.Taibu’s alleged row with Lupepe in September is believed to have resulted from ZC declining to pay expenses claimed by him relating to his taking his family to Pakistan with the squad earlier this year. He maintains ZC agreed to underwrite those costs but later refused to honour that commitment.Taibu has had a fractious relationship with senior board officials ever since he walked out in 2005 following what he said were threats made against his family. He subsequently returned, but following the accusations by Lupepe he was only persuaded at the last minute to join the national squad when it headed to Canada.He is not the first to raise concern over financial irregularities by ZC. An independent forensic audit carried out by KPMG showed up misuse of funds by board officials, but the ICC, at an executive meeting earlier this year, decided not to take any major action against Zimbabwe, which ultimately led to a fallout between Ray Mali, the president, and chief executive Malcolm Speed – Speed, who opposed the inaction, was later sent on gardening leave.

Despite making just one substitute appearance in the Premier League for Southampton this season, Jan Bednarek produced a dominant display for Poland in their 4-1 win against Albania earlier this week.

Ralph Hasenhuttl has left the former Lech Poznan man on the bench for each of Southampton’s Premier League fixtures so far this season, with Mohammed Salisu and Jack Stephens getting the nod ahead of him at centre-back.

Whilst he did come off the bench against Manchester United to play at right-back, it looks as if it will be difficult for him to regain his starting spot, especially with the recent addition of Lyanco, who will provide added competition in Southampton’s defence.

However, the 25-year-old is a regular for his country and started at centre-back as they took on Albania in World Cup qualifying on Thursday, producing a superb display at the back for Paulo Sousa’s side.

As per SofaScore, Bednarek earned an impressive 7.5/10 rating for his performance, with only Robert Lewandowski (8.3/10) earning higher from all the players to feature in the game.

During the 90 minutes, the Saints man contributed an impressive eight clearances and six interceptions, which was the most of any player on the pitch. By comparison, his centre-back partner Kamil Glik managed just four clearances and three interceptions, which emphasises just how important Bednarek was to the win.

The 25-year-old cut an imperious figure for Poland as Albania’s attackers struggled to best him, with the centre-back dribbled past just once in the 90 minutes, whilst he also won all six of his aerial duels during the game.

[freshpress-quiz id=“594431”]

Hasenhuttl will surely take note of Bednarek’s impressive performance and it will be interesting to see who the Austrian selects at centre-back for Southampton’s next match after the international break, which sees them take on West Ham at St Mary’s.

In other news… Southampton could’ve signed Hasenhuttl his ideal number 6 with swoop for £10.3m beast

أفادت تقارير صحفية إنجليزية، أن نادي توتنهام هوتسبير، يستعد لتجهيز عرض من أجل تقديمه لفريق إيفرتون، للتعاقد مع أحد مُهاجميه في نافذة الانتقالات الصيفية.

ويريد توتنهام تعزيز صفوفه بالتعاقد مع لاعبين جُدد، إذ يرغب مدرب الفريق الإيطالي، أنطونيو كونتي، أن ينافس فريقه على الألقاب في الموسم المُقبل.

وحسب شبكة “جول” العالمية في نسختها الإنجليزية، فإن توتنهام سيقدم عرضًا من أجل التعاقد مع البرازيلي ريتشارليسون من إيفرتون.

اقرأ أيضًا.. بيريز يرد على طلب أنشيلوتي بعد طلب التعاقد مع ريتشارليسون

وأوضح التقرير أن مسؤولي توتنهام يستعدون لإجراء مقابلة مع وكلاء ريتشارليسون من أجل مناقشة مع البرازيلي.

وقالت الشبكة إن ريتشارليسون من جانبه أيضًا حريص على الانتقال إلى توتنهام، حيث يرغب أن يشارك في مسابقة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

ريتشارليسون كان انضم إلى إيفرتون في 2018 قادمًا من واتفورد، وخلال مسيرته مع التوفيز خاض 152 مباراة في جميع المسابقات وسجل 53 هدفًا.

Many Glasgow Rangers fans were livid after Richard Keys urged supporters to tune in for an interview with the club’s disgraced former owner Charles Green.

The Gers may have won the Premiership last term and are currently in a healthy position, but it hasn’t always been that way over the last decade.

In 2012, they were demoted to the fourth tier of the Scottish football pyramid after entering administration (BBC), and they were than purchased by Green. However, he lasted less than a year in charge before stepping down as CEO, and was then charged with fraudulently acquiring the club.

He has now been speaking to Keys and Rangers supporter Andy Gray in an exclusive interview taking aim at a number of people (via The Daily Record). He labelled current Ibrox chairman Douglas Park a ‘lunatic’, tore into former Gers owner Dave King, defended his notorious kit deal with Sports Direct and even levelled criticism at Ibrox stalwart Allan McGregor and Steve Davis.

Keys took to Twitter to promote the interview, but it appears that many Gers supporters have no interest in listening to what Green has to say for himself.

These Gers fans took to the social media platform to let their feelings be known about the interview.

Let’s see what these fans had to say about the interview with Green

“Absolutely no chance. Won’t waste my time on that garbage”

Credit: @Macky1048

“Plenty of lies too I suspect”

Credit: @andi_dunn

“Talk about clueless. This is like telling Liverpool fans to read The Sun for an exclusive on their club.”

Credit: @jonathonmills

“A tissue of lies from a charlatan and fantasist. Very disappointed Andy Gray had anything to do with this. He should have known better.”

Credit: @wavydot

“It’s quite sad how 2 presenters who used to be at the top of the game are now reduced to literally scraping the dregs from the barrel”

Credit: @davetait1981

“You spelled ‘moon howling Celtic fans’ incorrectly. Andy Gray should know better.”

Credit: @scottberwick

In other news, this man has been partially blamed for Rangers’ Champions League exit.

حقق فريق المصري الفوز على نظيره المنصورة بهدفين لهدف، في المباراة التي أقيمت اليوم الأحد، بملعب برج العرب بالإسكندرية.

المصري واجه المنصورة، في إطار منافسات دور الـ32 من عمر مواجهات بطولة كأس مصر موسم 2022.

وكان فريق المنصورة قد تقدم أولًا عن طريق أحمد عبد العال من ركلة جزاء، في الدقيقة 61.

وعاد فريق المصري بهدفين متتاليين عن طريق جريندو من ركلة جزاء في الدقيقة 73، والهدف الثاني أحرزه أحمد الشيخ، بعد تمريرة من فريد شوقي أمام مرمى المنصورة في الدقيقة 82.

طالع | قيس اليعقوبي: معين الشعباني يستحق ناد أكبر من المصري البورسعيدي

وشهدت المباراة حالة طرد للاعب المصري إيزي إيميكا، بعد عرقلة لاعب فريق المنصورة، ولكن حكم اللقاء عاد إلى تقينة الفيديو في هذه الحالة، ليتم إلغاء البطاقة الصفراء الثانية للاعب وإلغاء الطرد.

وبهذا الفوز، يتأهل المصري إلى دور الـ16 من مسابقة كأس مصر، لكنه سينتظر معرفة منافسه بعد القرعة التي سيجريها الاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم.

جدير بالذكر أن مباراة المنصورة تعد الأولى لـ حسام حسن في قيادة فريق المصري بعد عودته لتولي قيادة الفريق البورسعيدي خلفًا للتونسي معين الشعباني. أهداف المصري والمنصورة في كأس مصر: