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This was the first time any men’s professional match – T20 or List A – had gone into a third Super Over

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Jun-2025Historic scenes unfolded in Glasgow as the Netherlands-Nepal game went into a third Super Over, with Netherlands prevailing in a thrilling contest. This was the first time any men’s professional match – T20 or List A – had gone into a third Super Over, and it was Netherlands who eventually came on top in a topsy-turvy encounter.With Nepal requiring 16 to win the match in the final over of regular time, Nandan Yadav hit fast bowler Kyle Klein for 4, 2, 2, 4 and took the game into the first Super Over.Left-arm spinner Daniel Doram was tasked with bowling the over, and he went for 19 with Kushal Bhurtel smashing him for two sixes and a four. Doram had conceded just 14 in his four overs and picked up three wickets during regular time. Michael Levitt then launched a six the first ball and Max O’Dowd went 6 and 4 off the final two balls to take the game into a second Super Over.Lalit Rajbanshi was then smashed for two sixes off his first three balls but came back well as Netherlands were kept to 17 in Super Over No. 2. Rohit Paudel crashed a six first ball while Dipendra Singh Airee hit a four as the equation came down to seven off the final ball. Airee then smashed Klein over cow corner to take the game into a third Super Over for the first time.Offspinner Zach Lion-Cachet started the third Super Over, and grabbed the wickets of Paudel and debutant Rupesh Singh as Nepal failed to score a run. Levitt then held his cool and thumped Sandeep Lamichhane for a six over long-on to finally end a thrilling contest.Earlier defending 152, left-arm pacer Ben Fletcher had a dream start to his T20I career, getting Lokesh Bam caught behind with a full and wide delivery. Klein then had Anil Sah caught at mid-on as Nepal slipped to 9 for 2 in 2.1 overs. But Bhurtel and Paudel took the attack to Netherlands.Nepal raced to 52 for 2 in five overs before Doram ended Bhurtel’s brisk stay on 34. The runs dried up after the powerplay, with Doram taking charge. He got rid of Airee and then Kiran Thagunna as Nepal could only reach 97 for 5 after 15 overs. With 56 required off the last five overs, it was Rupesh who got Nepal going with a four and six but fell soon after. Paudel and Karan KC kept Nepal in it before the game ran into overtime.In the first innings, seamer Nandan took the new ball for Nepal and was taken for two back-to-back fours by O’Dowd before the opener planted fast bowler Karan over the ropes. But the introduction of spin changed the narrative.Rajbanshi struck with his first ball, sending O’Dowd back. Lamichhane was introduced into the attack after six overs and made an immediate impact. He first flattened Levitt’s middle stump with his second ball and four balls later had Netherlands captain Scott Edwards caught at deep backward square leg.Lamichhane then struck for a third time to dismiss Noah Croes. Saqib Zulfiqar’s late blows, however, took Netherlands past 150.

Barcelona boss Hansi Flick explained his controversial celebration after being sent off against Girona, as the German coach will miss the season's first El Clasico next weekend. Flick received his marching orders for an angry protest as the Catalan giants moved above their fierce rivals Real Madrid at the top of La Liga thanks to defender Ronald Araujo’s late winner.

• Flick ruled out of El Clasico

  With Barcelona tied at 1-1 against Girona in the dying minutes of the La Liga fixture, Flick was visibly angry when the fourth official announced there would be just four minutes of additional time at the Olympic Stadium. With emotions running high as his side chased a crucial winner in their attempts to leapfrog great rivals Real at the summit, the 60-year-old argued with the officials over the amount of time added on and was dismissed as a result. This also means that the German coach will not be present in the dugout at Santiago Bernabeu in the season's first El Clasico.

  Following the red card, Flick was also seen making a gesture near the dugout after Araujo netted the all-important last-minute winner for the Catalan club. Slapping his left hand against his right arm twice, it is not clear if Flick aimed the motion towards either the referee or the fourth official. Araujo met Frenkie de Jong’s cross to spark wild celebrations among the home side.

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• AFP
  

  Barcelona boss explains celebrations

  After the game, Flick opened up about his protest against the officials, while also explaining his controversial celebration. Speaking to reporters, the Barcelona boss said: "Football is about emotions, it's about tension. It wasn't for anyone, it was just a celebration. Frenkie was there and they showed him a card. My reaction wasn't directed at the referee. And I don't know why he showed me the second one. The celebration wasn't against anyone, it was about how we won. I was happy. I don't and won't do anything against anyone. I accept the referee's decision. It wasn't against him. I applauded so the team would react.

  Flick also said he tried to talk to the match referee but Gil Manzano wasn't interested in a discussion. He added: "I tried to talk to the referee, but I couldn't. He went his own way, and I couldn't. I accept the referee's decisions; he makes the decisions. What I did had nothing to do with him. If he doesn't want to talk to me, that doesn't make me sad; I accept that."

• Yamal back in form ahead of El Clasico

  After suffering from a persistent groin injury, Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal finally returned to action and even featured in Flick's starting lineup. The youngster made a blockbuster return as he turned the assist provider for Pedri's opening goal, before being subbed off in the second. While Flick's red card was a massive blow for the Spanish champions, Yamal's return to action will surely prove to be a huge boost for the team ahead of the mouth-watering El Clasico against arch-rivals Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu next week. 

  Flick also revealed why Lamine was taken off in the second half, as he added: "I think he's fine, but we'll see tomorrow. He didn't say anything to me after the game, and that's good. He was only going to play 60 minutes. We had no other option. Pedri also plays a lot of minutes, which is why we substituted both of them. They're top players. Toni also played the first 45 minutes. It's also good that Fermín is back. He didn't start from the start. It was the right strategy."

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  Barcelona dominated El Clasico last season

  Barcelona will now aim to build on the dramatic late victory over Girona and return to winning ways in the Champions League, as they are all set to host Olympiacos on Tuesday. Flick’s men began their Champions League campaign with a 2-1 victory over Newcastle on 18 September, with on-loan forward Marcus Rashford scoring twice, before losing 2-1 to defending champions Paris Saint-Germain in their second fixture in Europe’s elite club competition. Following the European fixture, the focus will shift to the main attraction, the all-important El Clasico. The Catalan side will draw inspiration from their performance in El Clasicos last season as they won all four head-to-head clashes with their rivals and completely dominated Los Blancos. The two Spanish giants are set to lock horns for the first time in the 2025-26 campaign at Santiago Bernabeu on October 26. 

Celtic did not have a perfect summer transfer window, as they failed to land any strikers on deadline day, but they did do some good business on the whole.

Bringing Kieran Tierney back to the club on a free transfer from Arsenal was arguably the highlight of the window on paper, six years on from his £25m move to Arsenal in the summer of 2019.

The Scotland international was the first signing of the window and the highest-profile addition to the squad to replace Greg Taylor for Brendan Rodgers.

How Kieran Tierney has performed for Celtic

Expectations were, understandably, high for the left-footed star after what he achieved during his first spell at the club, and the fact that he has played in the Premier League and LaLiga over the past six years.

The 28-year-old full-back has not had a perfect start, losing 100% of his ground duels in the second leg against Kairat for example, but that should have been expected given his injury issues in recent years.

Tierney missed 45 matches through injuries in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 campaigns combined, per Transfermarkt, but he has still shown glimpses of the quality that he can provide, with an excellent assist against Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership.

Whilst it has been exciting to see such a high-profile player return to Celtic this season, Tierney is not the most valuable full-back in the squad – Alistair Johnston is.

Celtic have hit the jackpot with Alistair Johnston

Ange Postecoglou signed the Canada international from Montreal for a reported fee of £3.5m in January 2023, and the Australian head coach hit the jackpot for the club with that move.

The impressive right-back, whose work rate was hailed as “phenomenal” by Rodgers, has gone on to play 115 times for the Scottish giants in all competitions, per Transfermarkt, and registered 22 assists.

Johnston did not have a Transfermarkt market value at the time of Tierney’s £25m move to Arsenal in 2019. Now, six years later, the Canadian star is worth even more than the Scotland international.

As you can see in the table above, the 26-year-old star is worth more than the Scottish defender for the first time in their respective careers, which speaks to his rise and the fall of the left-back.

This also shows that the Hoops hit the jackpot with the right-back because his value has soared from £3.5m to £9m in less than three years, making him a far more valuable asset than he was when they signed him from the MLS.

Johnston, who is currently out injured, has proven himself to be a huge attacking threat from right-back for Celtic, creating 15 ‘big chances’ in 30 league starts last term, per Sofascore.

His superb performances on the pitch for the Scottish giants have led to his market value soaring to the point that he is now worth even more than Tierney, who was once a £25m-rated player.

Sold by Rodgers, now worth £22m more: Celtic messed up with prolific star

Celtic must regret selling this star who is now worth over £20m more than the fee they received for him.

1

By
Dan Emery

Sep 4, 2025

Overall, Postecoglou hit the jackpot for Celtic by signing him from Montreal and the club will be hoping that he can continue to deliver on the pitch to increase his value by even more.

يستعد فريق الكرة بـ النادي الأهلي لخوض مباراة هامة أمام منافسه إيجل نوار البوروندي، في افتتاح مشواره ببطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

ويلتقي الأهلي مع نظيره إيجل نوار بطل بوروندي على أرضية ملعب انتواري، في إطار لقاءات ذهاب دور الـ32 من دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

ويبدأ الأهلي مشواره الإفريقي هذا الموسم بمواجهة تُعدّ الأولى في طريقه نحو الفوز ببطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا، بجانب رغبة لتحقيق انتصار خارج الديار يخفف ضغوط البداية ويمهد الطريق نحو مرحلة المجموعات من المسابقة القارية.

طالع | توروب يٌعلن قائمة الأهلي لمباراة إيجل نوار في دوري أبطال إفريقيا

وفي الوقت ذاته يترقب جمهور الأهلي الظهور الأول للفريق تحت قيادة المدير الفني الجديد توروب، بعد التعاقد معه خلفًا لخوسيه ريبيرو بعد فترة شهدت تراجعًا في الأداء وتذبذبًا في النتائج، ليبدأ الأهلي صفحة جديدة. موعد مباراة الأهلي وإيجل نوار البوروندي في دوري أبطال إفريقيا

ومن المقرر أن تنطلق أحداث مباراة الأهلي أمام فريق إيجل نوار، يوم السبت 18 أكتوبر الجاري، في الرابعة عصرًا بتوقيت مصر والسعودية. القناة الناقلة لمباراة الأهلي وإيجل نوار البوروندي في دوري أبطال إفريقيا

وتذاع المباراة بين الأهلي وإيجل نوار، عبر قناة اون سبورت 1.

Newcastle United are in talks over the signing of a towering Scandinavian attacker this summer, who could join alongside one of Yoane Wissa or Nicolas Jackson.

Newcastle watch on as striker dominoes fall

The striker situation at St James’ Park has dominated their summer, with Alexander Isak’s future still in doubt amid continued interest from Liverpool and seemingly every other European rival in the top flight landing their own superstar striker.

If Isak does depart, he would be the second big Swedish striker transfer of the summer aftter Viktor Gyokeres joined Arsenal, with the pair joining the likes of Erling Haaland and Alexander Sørloth in what is a growing crop of Nordic strikers thriving in major European leagues.

Brentford’s Yoane Wissa and Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson have emerged as two of the leading options to arrive at St James’ Park to replace Isak, with both potentially needed if the Magpies lose both Isak and Callum Wilson in the same summer transfer window.

Like Isak, Wissa is refusing to play for his current club, in order to try and force a move away, while Jackson finds himself struggling for a starting berth at Stamford Bridge after the signing of Joao Pedro from Brighton. Now, an update has emerged regarding another Premier League attacker.

Newcastle join teams tapping into Scandinavian striker market

According to The Athletic‘s David Ornstein on X, Newcastle are in “talks” over signing Wolves and Norway striker Jorgen Strand Larsen, with the 25-year-old liking the idea of joining the Magpies.

“Newcastle retain firm interest in Jorgen Strand Larsen. Not more advanced than other options but 25yo Wolves forward among small group being considered. Talks via intermediaries + Norway int’l keen on NUFC but not agitating to exit.”

Strand Larsen stands out as another good option for Newcastle, having developed massively in recent years. According to Transfermarkt, the striker was worth just €600k (£500k) at Groningen, a number which has ballooned to €30m (£26m) after moves to Celta Vigo and then Wolves.

The Wolves ace has 14 goals in 39 appearances, which is a good return for a team that struggled in the Premier League last season, and Magpies legend Alan Shearer is a big admirer, hailing his qualities back in April.

“He was a nuisance. His hold-up play was excellent and I thought his touch and his control were superb. “Wolves didn’t play that well in the first half, but they certainly improved in the second. When you’ve got a guy who’s 6’4, you have to get balls into the box, and they certainly did that in the second half.”

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Strand Larsen is arguably a better option than Jackson, considering he scored more league goals than him in a weaker team last season, so he and Wissa could be ideal business to make up for the loss of Isak, if it happens.

The left hander will slip down the order for the day-night Test as she continues as wicketkeeper in place of Alyssa Healy

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Jan-2025Beth Mooney wants Australia to “show off our skills” during the day-night Ashes Test at the MCG as they aim to complete a miserable tour for England by claiming a 16-0 whitewash.Mooney, who was masterful in the third T20I with an unbeaten 94 off 63 balls, conceded there was an element of disappointment in the fact the Test wasn’t a live contest in terms of the Ashes, but on the flip side hoped that it would allow the team to play with freedom.Related

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Mooney 94*, England 90 all out; Australia make it 12-0

“It’s going to be awesome,” Mooney said. “We obviously don’t get to pull on the baggy green too often. The pink ball behaves a little bit differently so that’ll create some challenges. I’m just really looking forward to the spectacle of the game to be honest.”We’re pumped that we’re 12-0 up. It certainly would have been nice if we played the test match while the series was still on the line, maybe earlier in the series, but that wasn’t to be. I think on an individual front and as a group it’s come at a great time for us to basically just show off our skills and really enjoy playing the four-day game.”Mooney confirmed she will bat in the middle order for the Test as she continues to take the wicketkeeping gloves from Alyssa Healy with Australia’s captain working around the clock to try and ensure she can overcome a foot injury to play as a batter. Mooney’s last three Tests have come as an opener but the workload would be too great for her to continue in that role and keep wicket.”I take pride in the fact that I can offer the coaching staff and selection panel different options,” Mooney said. “Whether it’s batting order or behind the stumps or in the field. It’ll be a nice challenge for me wicketkeeping and batting in that middle order role, so looking forward to what that’s going to present and hopefully I’m just warming Midge’s spot for a little while.”Should Healy be fit it leaves Australia with an interesting selection call to make given she has moved down the order in Test cricket in recent years. She would likely have to slot back in at the top alongside Phoebe Litchfield unless the selectors were also able to find room for Georgia Voll.There is one vacancy from when Australia last played a Test, against South Africa at the WACA, with Sophie Molineux out injured. Georgia Wareham could come into the side to partner fellow legspinner Alana King, although the pink-ball factor may bring Megan Schutt into contention as another seamer. Wareham has only played one previous Test, against India in 2021.Ash Gardner is expected to be fit after a calf injury kept her out of the T20I series.

It wouldn’t be hyperbolic to say this summer is turning into something of a disaster for Newcastle United.

The Magpies should be looking forward to a season of Champions League football and possibilities for more silverware, but instead are embroiled in a transfer saga involving Alexander Isak.

On top of that, Eddie Howe and Co have had to watch the club seemingly miss out on target after target in recent weeks, with it now not entirely clear what is happening regarding Benjamin Sesko.

However, perhaps it’s not all doom and gloom, as the League Cup champions have done some business, and it now looks like they’re planning to go back in for one international who could be something of another Anthony Elanga.

Newcastle target another Elanga

While there is plenty to be worried about from a Newcastle fan’s perspective this summer, it is worth noting that the club have conducted some promising business, such as getting Aaron Ramsdale in on a season-long loan with an option to buy.

Transfer Focus

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The Englishman may have his detractors, but for two years at Arsenal, he was brilliant and played a big part in the Gunners’ surprise title push in the 22/23 season, pulling off some notable saves in games against Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.

On top of that, the club have also got their hands on Elanga, and while it would be fair to say pre-season has been mixed for the Swedish international, we all saw how effective he could be last season when he ended the campaign with six goals and 12 assists in 43 appearances for Nottingham Forest.

Interestingly, with just under a month until the transfer window slams shut, the Toon look set to go back in for one of their previous targets, someone who could be described as another Elanga.

At least that is according to a recent report from the Times, which claims Newcastle are interested in Marc Guehi again.

The report has revealed that the Crystal Palace star, who is valued at around £50m, is now back on the menu for the Magpies, and that they could finally go in with a fresh bid at any point in the coming weeks – although they do not want to spend more than £40m.

It would be another significant investment from the club, but the Englishman has proven his worth over the years, and there would be an Elanga-esque quality to the deal.

Why Guehi would be an Elanga-esque signing

So, before we get into a few reasons why Guehi would be an excellent signing for Newcastle in his own right, it’s worth going over why his arrival would be reminiscent of Elanga’s.

The first is that, like the Swede, the Englishman would be moving to St James’ Park from another Premier League side, and not just that, but one set to compete in Europe next season.

Moreover, while it’s not entirely clear just how much the Palace ace will cost at the moment, the likelihood is that the final price will not be too far off the £55m the Toon paid for the Malmo-born winger.

Lastly, like former Manchester United prospect, the Eagles star defender had to leave one of the Premier League’s ‘big six’ sides early in his career to really gain a foothold in English football and make a name for himself, and make a name for himslef, he certainly has.

That brings us to arguably the most crucial reason the 25-year-old would be an excellent addition to Howe’s squad, which is his vast experience.

Hato’s senior record

Team

Club

National

Appearances

216

23

Goals

8

0

Assists

4

2

Goal Involvements per Match

0.05

0.08

All Stats via Transfermarkt

Despite still being relatively young for a centre-back and around two years off from hitting his peak, according to research carried out by The Athletic, the “exceptional” star, as dubbed by former goalkeeper Joe Hart, has now made 216 senior club appearances across his stints with the Eagles, Swansea and Chelsea.

On top of that, the former Blues gem has also won 23 caps for England and was a key member of the squad that made it to the final of the European Championships last season.

Ultimately, while it won’t be cheap, Newcastle should once again push the boat out to sign a player previously discarded by the ‘big six’ as Guehi looks like he has everything needed to elevate their backline next season.

Williamson suffered the injury in SL which requires extended rehabilitation; Chapman has been added to the squad

Alex Malcolm08-Oct-2024Kane Williamson is set to miss the opening Test against India in Bengaluru with his departure from New Zealand delayed by a groin strain he suffered during the Sri Lanka series.New Zealand have added Mark Chapman to the squad for the three-Test tour of India that begins in Bengaluru on October 16. The team will be led by Tom Latham after Tim Southee stepped down as captain following the 2-0 defeat in Sri Lanka.The rest of the squad remains unchanged from the Sri Lanka tour. Although Michael Bracewell will only be available for the first Test in India before departing for the birth of his second child. Ish Sodhi will join the squad as Bracewell’s replacement for the second and third Tests.Williamson’s injury is a major blow for the Black Caps considering his experience in India and New Zealand’s struggles for runs in Sri Lanka. He experienced groin discomfort during the second Test in Galle and requires an extended period of rehabilitation at home before flying to India.Related

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Black Caps selector Sam Wells was hopeful Williamson could play a part later in the series but confirmed he would miss the first Test.”The advice we’ve received is that the best course of action is for Kane to rest and rehabilitate now rather than risk aggravating the injury,” Wells said. “We’re hopeful that if the rehabilitation goes to plan Kane will be available for the latter part of the tour.”While it’s obviously disappointing to not have Kane available from the start of the tour, it provides an opportunity for someone else to play a role in an important series.”Williamson’s injury opens the door for Chapman to possibly make his Test debut having played 78 white-ball matches for New Zealand.The left-hander has played six first-class matches for New Zealand A, including scoring a century against India A in 2020 but has not played for New Zealand A since 2022 when he made 92 and 45 in a first-class match in Bengaluru.He only played three Plunket Shield matches for Auckland last summer in February and March but posted scores of 123 against Otago and 83 off 68 in his final innings against Central Districts, both of which came at No. 3.Former Sri Lanka spinner Rangana Herath will also travel to India with New Zealand as part of the coaching staff after his consultancy role as a spin-bowling coach in Sri Lanka.New Zealand squad for India Tests:Tom Latham (capt), Tom Blundell (wk), Michael Bracewell (1st Test only), Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ben Sears, Ish Sodhi (2nd and 3rd Test only), Tim Southee, Kane Williamson, Will Young

Harry Kane has been a player who’s been constantly on their radar over recent years and understandably so given his goalscoring ability in England.

The 31-year-old managed to score 213 goals during his spell in the Premier League, sitting second in the all-time list, with Alan Shearer the player who has scored more.

Back in the summer of 2023, the Red Devils were firmly in the race to land his signature, but he chose to join German giants Bayern Munich in an £82m transfer instead.

Despite moving to the Bundesliga, he’s still managed to haunt the club, scoring against them in the Champions League back in his first year in Munich.

However, despite missing out on his signature, Ruben Amorim could be about to land his own version of the England international, with a deal for one player in the pipeline.

The latest on United’s hunt for new additions this summer

A deal for Bryan Mbeumo appears to be edging ever closer, with journalist Graeme Bailey stating that a deal is expected to be agreed in the coming days for his signature.

He claims that a £65m deal remains on the cards this summer, after Amorim’s side previously had two offers rejected for the forward, who netted 20 league goals last campaign.

However, progress has been made on a deal to sign Juventus talisman Dušan Vlahović, with the Serbian expected to leave the club this summer, according to CaughtOffside.

Their report claims that talks have been held with the Serie A side over a deal for the 25-year-old, which could see current Red Devils outcast Jadon Sancho.

It also states that the forward has rejected approaches from the Saudi league to stay in Europe, after netting 17 goals in his 44 appearances across all competitions in 2024/25.

Why United’s latest target would be their answer to Kane

Given United’s measly tally of just 44 league goals last campaign, it’s understandable that Amorim will want to land a forward who can hand him that clinical edge within the final third.

Current strikers Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee only managed to score seven Premier League goals, highlighting the lack of confidence in front of goal.

Undoubtedly, many supporters must wish they had landed Kane when they were originally interested, with the Englishman finding the net on 85 occasions in the last two seasons.

However, despite missing out on his signature, they could be about to land their own version of the talisman this summer, with a potential move for Juve star Vlahovic.

The Serbian has been labelled as a similar player to the former Spurs star, highlighting how much of a superb signing he could be for the Red Devils this summer.

When comparing their respective stats from the 2024/25 campaign, Vlahovic has outperformed Kane in numerous key areas, showcasing the threat he poses within the final third.

Vlahovic, who’s been labelled “world-class” by journalist Matteo Bonetti, has matched the Englishman for shots on target per 90, but won more aerials – handing Amorim the focal point he’s craved since taking the reins.

Games played

29

31

Goals & assists

14

35

Progressive carries

2.4

1.1

Carries into opposition box

0.9

0.7

Aerials won

2

1.1

Shots on target per 90

1.7

1.7

Take-ons completed

1.4

0.8

He’s also completed more progressive carries and more carries into the final third, having the ability to transition the play and carry the ball into more dangerous areas.

The 25-year-old’s dominance doesn’t end there, completing more take-ons per 90, and having the all-round tools to thrive within attacking areas at Old Trafford.

Given the need for a new striker and the availability of Vlahovic, a deal for his signature should be a no-brainer this summer, potentially reaping the rewards of any move this summer.

If he can manage to get anywhere close to the levels produced by Kane in England’s top-flight, it would be an excellent addition and one that could catapult the side to added success in the near future.

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At the risk of navel-gazing and giving too much importance to mainstream media, it is hard to contemplate team representatives outnumbering the press at a press conference before a World Cup semi-final. South Africa’s head coach Rob Walter arrived with their media officer and security officer to speak to a total of one member of the press. This is not the first time it has happened with South Africa during this World Cup – they kicked off their campaign on Long Island similarly – but there is something eerie about a semi-final creating no buzz in one of the most passionate centres for cricket at the T20 World Cup 2024.Well, almost one of the most passionate centres. For this ground – Brian Lara Cricket Academy – is located 50km from Port-of-Spain, on the outskirts of San Fernando. The Queen’s Park Oval, owned by a private club, has refused to upgrade with the times and has been left behind, but taking such a showpiece event away from the historic venue in the heart of Port-of-Spain to a ground that doesn’t necessarily hold more people is akin to cutting the nose to spite the face.Then comes the schedule, which doesn’t even give teams the time to train. South Africa at least held an optional training session after having arrived on Monday night, but Afghanistan finished their qualification well into the wee hours of Tuesday for a match on Wednesday. So excuse them for not training a day before the semi-final.Related

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Not that the ICC would have thrown open the gates to the public to watch the training anyway. There are lessons to be learnt from MCG in Melbourne and Eden Gardens in Kolkata, two of the few international grounds where people can come and watch the nets.Despite all this and other problems, the World Cup has been a roaring success. On TV, that is. Perhaps that’s the future of the sport? The fans at the grounds are just not worth the bother. The carnival atmosphere that World Cups of sports carry doesn’t seem to be a prerequisite for the cricket one to be a success.Not that South Africa mind. They allegedly freeze under the spotlight so perhaps it is best to stay under the radar? “This is an empty hall, which is a good sign, I think,” Walter joked when asked if it felt like a semi-final. Before he put the press in its place: “It’s not really about the press but about the occasion, isn’t it?”Walter did say that you can’t mislead yourself into believing it is just another game. Better to embrace it and the emotions that come with it. How does it manifest? Do you train differently? Do you not sleep well?2:11

Fleming: How Klaasen plays spin could decide the game

Walter again joked he is not the best person to talk about the quality of sleep since his is never “very good”. “I think there’s always an energy that you can feel that’s tangible when it comes to a semi-final,” he went on to say. “There’ll be a mixture of emotions which is with anxiety but excitement and I think anyone in any sport, if they get to this phase of a competition, feels that. And so really, it’s just acknowledging that and accepting it and then just understanding what you’ll do with that. We still want to play our best cricket in the key moments of the game tomorrow.”It is being said that this South Africa is different because it has been winning close games, but is a convenient, almost unfalsifiable claim: if they fail to win the title, it will again be said that they failed to win “when it mattered the most”. Walter chose not to argue that point but said whatever near misses have taken place, in the past, the burden is not theirs to carry.”The near misses in the past, they belong to the people who missed them,” Walter said. “To be honest, this team is a different team. We own whatever is ours to own. And so, our nearest reflection point is this tournament where we’ve managed to get over the line. So that’s what we think about.”That is exactly what another South African by birth, Englishman by nationality, and Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott is focussing on. “We go into the semi-final with no scarring or no history with regards to semi-finals,” Trott said minutes after winning against Bangladesh. “This is uncharted territory for us. We’re just going to go out there and give it our all. There’s no preconceived ideas on it all, or history of failure or success in semi-finals in past years. For us it’s a new challenge, and I think that makes us dangerous in the semi-finals as a side with nothing to lose and obviously a lot of pressure on the opposition.”Now that feels like a semi-final-level attempt at needling.