Kevin Pietersen has hinted that he may withdraw from the upcoming season of the IPL, given the fragile security situation across the subcontinent.”I will be consulting as many people as I can but if I don’t think it is right, then I will not be going,” Pietersen told . “Hopefully, the security will come right for India, but if everybody pulls out of the IPL, it would be a disaster, a catastrophe and world cricket would really be on a down. India is the force behind most of world cricket but there are things we have to go through before we go.”The second edition of the IPL will be played from April 10 to May 24, and will have Pietersen turning out for the Bangalore Royal Challengers, after being signed for a record $1.55 million at the player auction in February. Andrew Flintoff (Chennai Super Kings), Ravi Bopara (Kings XI Punjab) Owais Shah and Paul Collingwood (both Delhi Daredevils) are among his team-mates who have also signed lucrative contracts.”After the final Test against West Indies [in Trinidad], I will be speaking to Bangalore, to the ECB, to my agent and to security advisors,” Pietersen said. “Then I will be a lot clearer in my thoughts than I am now. Since the terror attacks in Mumbai we are all now more mindful of our own security arrangements.” Security for games in the subcontinent has also become a bigger issue after the recent attacks on the touring Sri Lankan cricketers in Pakistan.Pietersen said there was a cloud hanging over England’s proposed tour of Pakistan in February next year as well. “I think, at the moment, it is unlikely people will be comfortable travelling there,” he said. “It is very, very sad -I feel sorry for the Pakistan cricketers.”I feel sorry for everybody in Pakistan but everybody thought sportsmen were safe, they thought cricketers were safe but obviously they are not. I am shocked, it [the attack on the Sri Lankan cricketers] is a tragedy and a catastrophe – not just in sport but in the world. I don’t think anyone would want to travel to Pakistan at the moment.”There has never been an incident like that. Everyone said cricketers were safe but now they are not safe in the subcontinent, so it is very worrying.”

انتقد سمير كمونة لاعب الأهلي السابق، مدير الكرة بالمارد الأحمر سيد عبد الحفيظ، بعد أنباء اقتحامه غرفة تقنية الفيديو عقب انتهاء مباراة فريقه مع المقاولون العرب في الدوري.

وتعادل الأهلي مع المقاولون بدون أهداف، في المباراة التي أقيمت على ملعب الأخير والمؤجلة من الأسبوع الـ 21، والتي شهدت جدلًا تحكيميًا واسعًا بسبب إلغاء حكم الفيديو هدفًا للمارد الأحمر.

وكان الإعلامي إسلام صادق مقدم برنامج “البريمو” قد صرح أن سيد عبد الحفيظ اقتحم غرفة تقنية الفيديو عقب اللقاء، وطالب الحكام بإعادة الهدف الملغي ليتأكد من صحة القرار، وهو ما حدث بالفعل؛ لذلك لم يُعلق مدير الكرة عقب المباراة على قرار الإلغاء.

طالع أيضًا.. الشناوي: الحكم تغاضى عن طرد للمقاولون وركلة جزاء أخرى لـ الأهلي.. وإلغاء الهدف قرار صحيح

ومن جانبه، علق كمونة في تصريحات لبرنامج “البريمو” عبر قناة “ten”، قائلًا: “هل هذا التصرف قانوني؟، هل مدير الكرة من حقه أن يدخل غرفة تقنية الفيديو ويُطالب الحكام بإعادة الكرة ليتأكد من القرار؟، هذا أمر لا يصح، هذا التصرف لم أره في حياتي”.

وتابع: “لم أر في حياتي مدير كرة بعد مباراة يدخل غرفة الفيديو يتأكد الكرة هدف أم لا، إذا لماذا لم ير عبد الحفيظ كرة ركلة الجزاء؟ هي في الأساس خطأ على حسام حسن، أنا حقاني ولا أجامل، كرة الهدف تسلل”.

واختتم حديثه مُنفعلًا: “هل الأهلي (هيشحت فوز)، إما بركلة جزاء أو هدف من تسلل”.

As per Martyn Ziegler, chief sports reporter for The Times, some news has just dropped which may excite Tottenham Hotspur fans.

The Lowdown: Safe standing debate…

It has long been debated whether safe standing should be re-introduced for atmospheric and general matchday experience purposes.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/spurs-developments/” title=”Spurs developments!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

25 years ago, a blanket ban was introduced on standing in football stadiums across England’s top two divisions with recent murmurs indicating it could now be brought back after all this time.

Sharing a big development on the matter, The Times have just dropped some interesting news.

The Latest: Exciting news for Spurs fans?

Now, it appears safe standing will be in the Premier League this season as reporter Ziegler shares the news on his social media and in a column for The Times. 

Indeed, the initiative is set to be trialled and Tottenham are one of the clubs who can safely integrate safe standing for home and away supporters.

“Update: Safe standing to be in Premier League and Championship this season,” Ziegler explained.

“Spurs, Man City, Chelsea and West Ham all have necessary facilities already in place for home & away fans.

“Wolves, Man Utd, Liverpool would need to add to existing home fan areas.”

The Verdict: About time?

While some issues come with safe standing, like the health and safety requirements of all supporters which will need to be figured out carefully, there are also immense benefits.

In terms of atmosphere at Premier League grounds, safe standing will arguably improve it vastly as certain clubs in Germany have already proved over the last few years.

For one, Borussia Dortmund are famous for their ‘Yellow Wall’ at Signal Iduna Park and it’s little wonder the English top flight wants to replicate that kind of electric matchday experience.

It will certainly be intriguing to see if the trial proves successful, not just for Spurs supporters, but for fans up and down the country.

In other news: Medical was done: Source reveals player’s summer move from Spurs fell apart at the very last minute, find out more here.

MatériaMais Notícias

A Avaí apresentou mais um reforço para o Campeonato Brasileiro. Nesta quarta-feira, o atacante Maurinho chegou ao clube para vestir a camisa azul e branca. Com uma rápida passagem pelo Criciúma, na Série A de 2014, o jogador encara tal oportunidade como uma segunda chance na elite do futebol brasileiro.

Maurinho estava no FC Seul, da Coreia do Sul, antes de retornar ao futebol brasileiro para defender as cores do Avaí. O nome do atleta já apatece no BID da CBF, e pode ser relacionado para a próxima partida.

O Avaí ocupa a 17ª posição na tabela de classificação, com 17 pontos. Na próxima rodada o Leão da Ressacada encara o Palmeiras, sábado, às 19h, na Arena Palmeiras.

An update has emerged on Rangers centre-back Leon Balogun, regarding Steven Gerrard’s thoughts on the defender.

What’s the talk?

According to The Scottish Sun, the Gers boss is be keen to keep Leon Balogun at the club beyond the end of the season.

The report states that Balogun is out of contract at the end of the campaign, but he has won over Gerrard’s trust and could be handed an extension.

Gerrard loves him

Ibrox chief Ross Wilson must make a key decision by offering Balogun a contract to remain at Ibrox beyond the end of the 2021/22 campaign. He must now allow the central defender to depart on a free transfer as he still has plenty to offer and could be a valuable player for Gerrard moving forward.

Whilst there is speculation circling around Gerrard’s own future at Rangers, he is still contracted to the club and we can only assume that he will be the head coach heading into next season as it stands. This is why signing Balogun to a new deal could be a shrewd move, as he is a player the ex-Liverpool man loves.

Earlier this year, Gerrard lauded the defender as he admitted that he wanted Balogun to sign a contract extension, which he later did. The manager said:

“Leon is someone we want to keep hold of. He knows that and he is performing so well.

“He signed a contract with an option of an extension and we want him to be here beyond this season.

“Leon knows he is wanted here. I think he’s enjoying it, he’s playing with a smile on his face.

This, along with the aforementioned report stating Gerrard’s trust in the £14k-per-week defender, shows that Balogun is loved by the manager and that is why he must be handed another extension by Wilson.

He has shown on the pitch this season that he still has quality to offer.

Balogun has averaged a sublime SofaScore rating of 7.20 in the Premiership and 7.25 in the Europa League, with Rangers keeping three clean sheets in his six league appearances.

This shows that he can still perform to a high standard for the Gers and Wilson must please Gerrard by getting the Nigerian international to put pen to paper.

AND in other news, Rangers may be set for big boost after Gers news, Gerrard will be elated…

A solid century from opener Abhinav Mukund backed by impressive bowling from Rangaraj Suthesh and captain Ravichandran Ashwin helped Tamil Nadu beat Bengal in the final of the Vijay Hazare Trophy

Cricinfo staff09-Mar-2009
Scorecard

Tamil Nadu beat Bengal by 66 runs in the Ranji one-day final © Cricinfo Ltd
A solid century from opener Abhinav Mukund, backed by impressive bowling from Rangaraj Suthesh and Ravichandran Ashwin helped Tamil Nadu beat Bengal in the final of the Vijay Hazare Trophy in Agartala. After Mukund’s 118 of 140 balls pushed Tamil Nadu to a commanding 284 in their 50 overs, Suthesh and Ashwin bagged three wickets apiece to complete the win.Tamil Nadu made a steady start after winning the toss, with Mukund and Srikkanth Anirudha putting on 46 by the 10th over. Aniruddha became Ashok Dinda’s first victim, caught by Iresh Saxena for 26. Subramaniam Badrinath provided able support, adding 77 with Mukund for the second wicket before departing for 30.Mukund, though, continued undeterred and forged another crucial partnership of 95 with Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan for the fourth wicket, bringing up his hundred in the process. Mukund’s innings included 12 fours and a six, and when he was dismissed in the 46th over, the run-rate stood at just over five.Enter Suresh Kumar, who unleashed a blitz to completely disrupt the rhythm of the Bengal bowlers. He faced only 18 balls, but smashed an unbeaten 41, comprising one four and four sixes. Thanks to that blast, Tamil Nadu sped to 284. Dinda finished as Bengal’s most successful bowler with 3 for 52.The response from Bengal was insipid, as Suthesh accounted for opener Shreevats Goswami and Debabrata Das quite early. But their saviour from the previous match, Manoj Tiwary, and Wriddhiman Saha stitched together a 74-run partnership for the third wicket to get the chase back on course. Ashwin picked up his first wicket, bowling Saha for 31, but Laxmi Ratan Shukla kept the chase on track with a run-a-ball 26, before Vidyut ran him out.Tiwary soon brought up his fifty but was running out of partners as the Tamil Nadu bowlers made frequent inroads. He finally departed for 76, having hit seven fours in his 87-ball innings before being bowled by Yo Mahesh.There was no coming back for Bengal from there on as Suthesh and Ashwin completed the formalities by the 46th over.

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. 

Two masters of the limited-overs game, with a combined age of nearly 76, treated Newlands to the cleanest, purest exhibition of batting that this season of the IPL has seen

The Bulletin by Jamie Alter27-Apr-2009
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Demolition derby: Fans got to see a rare combined batting exhibition from two legends of the game•AFPMany a time over the last 15 years or so fans of this great game have wondered what it would be like if Sachin Tendulkar and Sanath Jayasuriya opened together in a limited-overs game and really turned it on. Today they got a glimpse.The two masters of the limited-overs game, with a combined age of nearly 76, treated Port Elizabeth to the cleanest, purest exhibition of batting that this season of the IPL has seen. Tendulkar paved the way with a sublime innings and Jayasuriya followed suit with an explosive hand, the veteran pair combining to raise a century stand in 52 balls that flummoxed Kolkata Knight Riders. That stunning opening assault formed the crux of Mumbai Indians’ 187 and though Kolkata restricted the damage with six wickets for 48 runs after the tactical break, the damage had been done. Their only realistic chance at victory rested on their explosive openers’ shoulders but once they were gone inside three overs the chase was basically kaput.Mumbai’s first five overs were busy, without being spectacular. Tendulkar was beaten a couple times by Ishant Sharma but upper-cut a six and flicked a four in Ashok Dinda’s first over. That set the tone for a busy innings, taken up a level when he pulled Ishant for six from outside off stump.While Tendulkar whisked the ball off his pads and slapped through point, Jayasuriya didn’t get much strike. His first shot in anger was a chip just over extra cover’s fingertips and a signature clip to fine leg followed. Mumbai were 45 for 0 in five overs. What followed was carnage.Jayasuriya, who was on 8 as Tendulkar scurried to 30, launched Sourav Ganguly’s gentle military-medium stuff for consecutive sixes; Tendulkar swept Ajantha Mendis for six; Chris Gayle went for ten in six balls; Mendis was dumped for two sixes by each batsman in his second over. Tendulkar’s fourth six, a deft pick-up over midwicket off Mendis, raised his fifty from 34 balls. Jayasuriya had blasted 33 from 13 balls. The 100 was up in 8.4 overs. When the tactical break was taken Tendulkar was 60 off 39 and Jayasuriya 43 off 21, Mumbai 111 for 0.For a man who has only played one international Twenty20, Tendulkar batted with amazing fluency. He got the wrists into play superbly, pulling and cutting hard, and used his crease to negotiate the pacers. Mendis wasn’t even allowed to settle; Gayle was effortlessly reverse-swept.There were no crude shots, no cross-batted slogs from Tendulkar and Jayasuriya. This was clinical hitting – each veteran knew the field and backed himself to pick the gaps. It was the experience of 1138 combined international games coming together in a mesmerizing mosaic of boundaries. In between clearing his front leg to lift Mendis there were clever late dabs from Tendulkar, neat tickles from Jayasuriya.That assault was in stark contrast to the second half of Mumbai’s innings, when Kolkata regrouped. The scoring slowed after the break and Tendulkar fell to Laxmi Shukla, looking to take the ball from off stump and work it to leg. Harbhajan Singh strode in, clubbed 18 from 8 balls, and sent a full toss to deep midwicket. Jayasuriya looked for width but instead chipped to cover for 52 from 32 balls. Then Abhishek Nayar was run out, Dwayne Bravo top-edged to the deep, and Shikhar Dhawan edged Ishant. Gayle bowled a decent last over and Mumbai were unable to end on with a flurry.Kolkata needed almost 9.5 runs an over inside a stadium rumbling like a Jay Z amplifier, and the pressure of chasing a large total under lights affected the Kolkata openers early in their innings. Brendon McCullum shouldered arms to his first ball before he steered Lasith Malinga to point. Gayle thumped Bravo for the 150th six in the IPL only to edge his West Indian team-mate to slip.Sourav Ganguly wasn’t allowed to come onto the front foot and so he used his feet to loft Bravo down the ground for six and four, and with that try for some momentum. But Ganguly struggled to find the boundaries thereafter and Brad Hodge never really threatened with 24 off 22 balls. Both were to fall against the tidy seam-up bowling of Nayar in successive overs, the last nail firmly hammered into Kolkata’s coffin.Nayar, Bravo, Zaheer Khan and Malinga didn’t have to do much but keep it near the stumps and wait for an urgent shot. Each struck rather easily and the rest of the batting card made for disappointing reading as Kolkata fell short by 92 runs. From 71 for 3 when Hodge fell, Kolkata folded for 95 in 15.2 overs.A powerful batting display was followed by an efficient, shining effort in the field, aptly demonstrating that Mumbai pretty much have all the bases covered.

After joining Celtic for a figure in the region of £500k back in the summer of 2015, expectations for Ryan Christie’s future at Parkhead were extremely high.

It is easy to see why, as, after breaking into the Inverness Caledonian Thistle first team in the club’s 2013/14 Scottish Premiership campaign, scoring three goals over 15 league outings, the attacking midfielder went on to cement a starting spot in John Hughes’ side the following season, bagging four goals and registering three assists over 35 appearances in the top flight of Scottish football.

And, while still being just 20 years of age upon the time of his move to the then Scottish champions, Christie continued his rather remarkable rise away from Glasgow, during three separate loan spells.

The first of these was back at Inverness, where the Scotland international scored three goals and provided six assists over 13 Premiership fixtures, while the second two loans both came at Aberdeen, with the midfielder bagging 15 goals and registering 18 assists over 57 appearances in all competitions during his two years at Pittodrie.

Upon his return to Celtic, not only was Christe a more developed and well-rounded player, but he was also a more valuable one, with the youngster’s Tranfsmarket value rocketing from £225k at the time of his initial move to Celtic to £630k after his three temporary spells away from the club.

This is a trend that would continue at Parkhead, with the £12k-per-week man scoring 11 goals and registering nine assists over 38 appearances in all competitions for the Bhoys in 2018/19. His value then jumped to £3.38m in the summer of 2019 – bagging a whopping 20 goals and providing 16 assists over 45 fixtures in 2019/20. He once again witnessed his value rise in 2020 to £5.85m – and after scoring seven goals and registering 15 assists over 46 appearances in all competitions in 2020/21 his estimations increased to £6.3m at the end of last season.

However, despite these extraordinary returns and his ever-rising value, Celtic somehow allowed the player who Alex McLeish dubbed a “magnificent” talent to enter the final year of his contract at Parkhead without having agreed an extension – something which ultimately led to the Bhoys cashing in on the midfielder for a mere £2.5m this summer.

As such, considering the sheer amount of potential Christie demonstrated during his time in Glasgow, in addition to the fact that the Hoops sold the 26-year-old for a figure £3.8m less than his current Transfermarkt value of £6.3m, it is not a difficult argument to make that the Bhoys had something of a nightmare in the sale of the midfielder.

In other news: Ange must seal Celtic deal for “extraordinary” £16k-p/w gem, he could be the next Lahm

Emile Smith Rowe has been one of Arsenal’s biggest success stories in recent years.

After making his senior debut in September 2018 in the Europa League, the Hale End prodigy was forced to go out on loan to Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig and Championship side Huddersfield Town before finally making his breakthrough in 2020/21.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta threw him straight into the deep end with a start against arch-rivals Chelsea – and the rest has been history.

The electric attacking maestro provided an assist for fellow academy graduate Bukayo Saka to score the winner in a 3-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium back in December 2020.

He went on to end the season with four goals and seven assists across all competitions, proving to be a shining light as Arsenal missed out on European qualification for the first time in 25 years.

Smith Rowe was rewarded with a bumper five-year contract extension, worth £40k-per-week, in the summer and was handed the famed no.10 shirt, a number that the likes of Mesut Ozil, Jack Wilshere, Robin van Persie, Dennis Bergkamp and strangely William Gallas have all donned in north London.

As of October 2021, the 21-year-old is estimated to be valued at a whopping €70m (£60m), as per CIES Football Observatory.

He cost the Gunners absolutely nothing, having joined the Hale End system aged just ten in 2010, so it only goes to show just how meteoric his rise has been in the past 18 months or so, and largely, that comes down to Arteta’s faith and coaching.

Dubbed the ‘Croydon Kevin De Bruyne’ by his peers, Smith Rowe has received plenty of glowing praise in that time.

“Emile Smith Rowe is just a really lovely player, isn’t he?” once claimed his former Terriers boss Danny Cowley, who also added (via ExaminerLive): “He has that ability to find space; he could find space in a telephone box.”

Ex-Arsenal playmaker Ozil dubbed him “the difference maker”, whilst former Premier League legend Rio Ferdinand has also waxed lyrical about the Gunners star. “He’s been a breath of fresh air and a big positive under Arteta.”

At just 21, Smith Rowe’s value and ability are only going to skyrocket even more but so far, the Gunners have certainly struck gold, going by the above evidence.

AND in other news, Arteta may have another Bukayo Saka in “sensational” teen who can help save Arsenal millions…