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The rest of squad will leave for Manchester on June 28, with Malik joining them on July 24

Umar Farooq20-Jun-2020Shoaib Malik has been given special permission to skip the first four weeks of Pakistan’s training in England in order to meet his family. According to the PCB, Malik hasn’t been with his wife Sania Mirza and their son – who are in India – for five months due to suspended flights in the wake of Covid-19.The 28 other Pakistan players will leave for Manchester on June 28, with Malik joining them on July 24.Malik, who is based in Sialkot, was with the Peshawar Zalmi squad in the Pakistan Super League before the tournament was suspended in March. Since then he is in Pakistan, while his wife and their one-year-old son are in Hyderabad in India. With limited flights in operation, it’s not yet clear where Malik and his family will reconnect but it is more likely to be in Dubai.”Unlike the rest of us, Shoaib Malik has not seen his immediate family for nearly five months due to his commitments and the subsequent international travel bans following the Covid-19 pandemic,” PCB CEO Wasim Khan said in a statement. “As travel restrictions are now slowly easing out and there is an opportunity for a family reunion, it is appropriate that at a human level we show compassion as part of our duty of care and respect Shoaib’s request.”The main reason behind reaching England five weeks ahead of the series is to comply with the UK government’s policy that those arriving from outside the country will have to undergo a 14-day quarantine period. While Malik is not travelling with the rest of the squad, he will have to adhere to the same policy.”We have spoken with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), which understands the situation and has agreed to make an exception by helping Shoaib enter the country on July 24,” Khan said. “Of course, before integrating with the side, Shoaib will follow the UK government’s policies on visitors entering the country.”The Pakistan team will stay in Derbyshire for the quarantine period during which they will be allowed to train and practise. They will also be playing intra-squad practice games because of the non-availability of local teams as the ECB is yet to commence its domestic season.

Dandiwal had allegedly passed off a T20 game played in Mohali as one hosted in Sri Lanka

Press Trust of India07-Jul-2020Punjab Police arrested alleged bookmaker Ravinder Dandiwal on Monday in connection with a recent T20 match played in Mohali but streamed online as a game hosted in Sri Lanka. The game, held in June, had caught the attention of BCCI’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU), the police and Sri Lanka Cricket.”Ravinder Dandiwal, who has emerged kingpin in the entire racket, was arrested on Monday,” Pal Singh, deputy superintendent of police in Kharar, confirmed to PTI. “He has been arrested in connection with ongoing investigations into the T20 match that was played, in which already two arrests have been made.”His role into the entire racket is being further probed,” Singh added about Dandiwal, from whom police have seized some laptops, mobile phones and documents. Preliminary investigations revealed that Dandiwal had organised fraudulent tournaments in the past as well, Singh said.The BCCI ACU will be in Chandigarh on Tuesday to share and gather information on Dandiwal, who had been on the BCCI’s radar for the past four years.”Whatever information we have we will pass it on to Punjab Police, if it helps them in their investigation or whatever we can gather from them, we will gather it. Our team will be from Delhi,” BCCI ACU chief Ajit Singh told PTI. “He has been arrested in connection to the T20 game (that was portrayed as a T20 game in Sri Lanka but was actually happening in Sawara village). We would like to have access to him also but that depends on Punjab Police. We are hopeful we will get it.”Police had got vital clues about Dandiwal from the two other accused, Pankaj and Raju, arrested on Thursday.The had reported on Friday that the game played on June 29 took place in Sawara village, close to Chandigarh, but was streamed as an ‘Uva T20 League’ match in Sri Lanka”s Badulla, home of the Uva Province Cricket Association (UPCA). Both UPCA and Sri Lanka Cricket denied their involvement in the league shortly afterwards.

The new USMNT head coach made the most of his first impressions, with big goals and big swagger

NEW YORK – Mauricio Pochettino got it right immediately. In answering the first question asked at his introductory news conference after being unveailed as the new coach of the U.S. men's national team Friday, the Argentine head coach called it soccer.

“I’m impressed that you remembered to call it soccer,” USSF President Cindy Parlow Cone added with a laugh.

And it wasn’t the only chuckle of the hour-long event. Tucked away on the 24th floor of Hudson Yards in New York City, before the bright lights of a deceptively large auditorium, the United States Soccer Federation curated a jovial atmosphere.

The media, officials, and, of course, Pochettino, gathered for good vibes and at times shameless platitudes. But after nearly two years of negativity around the USMNT, one thing shone through: hope.

"We will run"

Pochettino was thoroughly charming throughout. He seemed filled with confidence and swagger, and had the room – full of the most prominent soccer publications in the United States – smirking and giggling. The occasional slip in English was met by an agreeable laugh. When allowed to switch to Spanish, he remarked that he was “happy to have a rest.”

No questions were dodged. Sure, there was coach-speak to be found: “We will play good soccer." "We will run." "We have to believe that we can win.”

But the coach, who has managed four top flight European clubs in a 15 year career, never avoided an answer. The queries he didn’t understand were met with clarifications and translations.

Amidst it all, optimism ran abound. The federation brought out legendary announcer Andres Cantor, native to Pochettino’s Argentina, to introduce the whole thing. He spoke for five minutes to open the event, saying that with the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, the U.S. is “two years away from the biggest sporting event in history.” He asserted that the “entire soccer landscape in America is healthy and thriving.”

AdvertisementGetty Images SportSaying all the right things

That was followed by a hype video so compelling it overshadowed – well, almost – the memories of the U.S. squad's disappointing group stage Copa America exit.

There they were: the USMNT. Yunus Musah flew into tackles, Chris Richards rose for headers, and Christian Pulisic found the back of the net. Despite the British rap music accompanying the footage, one could otherwise taste the patriotism in the room.

By the time the video rolled to a close, with the USMNT crest in the middle as the screen faded to black, the room was full of applause – even from those from some of the supposedly impartial media. And then Pochettino spoke. He then entertained questions for 45 minutes, sharing a stage with Parlow Cone and fellow U.S. Soccer executives Matt Crocker and JT Batson. The other three were mostly spectators as Pochettino spoke, Crocker cutting an almost smug figure as he watched his appointee run rings around an expectant media corps.

At the end of it all, the room was filled with applause, and smiles from those who weren’t. Who could blame them? After so many years of false promises and golden generations, here was perhaps the right man to lead it all, wearing a suit, smiling, saying all of the right things.

Getty ImagesLooking forward

Everyone had converged, too. The media were greeted by MLS officials. Commissioner Don Garber sat in the front row. Pochettino’s reported $6 million salary is being partially funded by billionaire Ken Griffin. This was a celebration, a show of strength, the unflappable coach given the power to control a broken side.

It marked a contrast from the final coaching days of Gregg Berhalter. The former Columbus Crew boss spent the whole of Copa America being peppered with questions about his job security. More broadly, an American head coach hasn't sat comfortably through a news conference in more than a year.

Eventually, the questions ended. Pochettino covered it all, ranging from the current state of the squad, to the expectations for the future. He talked about his future home – set for Atlanta – and the promise of good Barbecue that lies in the American South.

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Getty Images Sport"On an amazing path"

There were drinks and smiles after, views over New York City to accompany them. Pochettino had been whisked away, Crocker gone with him. He has already done his sightseeing in New York. A journey to Chicago to meet everyone at U.S. Soccer in the coming weeks is on the cards. A new house comes next, and is family are supposedly delighted about the opportunity to move to the States.

And after all of the quotes, platitudes, and good vibes, it was Cantor’s assertion, made two minutes in, that remained:

“This sport is on an amazing path, and today is an incredible moment which we will remember for years to come.”

It's been another Premier League season to remember for Arsenal this year, as with just one game to go, they're in with a real chance of winning the title.

However, with the campaign almost at an end, Mikel Arteta and Edu Gaspar must start preparing for next year and, with Kai Havertz now the team's established number nine, Gabriel Jesus could well be on the way out.

The Brazilian marksman hasn't had the best of seasons, and based on recent reports, the club could be in close communication with a player who could replace him in the squad.

Arsenal transfer news

According to a recent report from transfers expert Fabrizio Romano, Elvis Basanovic, the agent of Slovenian striker Benjamin Šeško, was present at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon to watch the Gunners beat the Red Devils 1-0, and based on another report from the Standard, both teams are keen to bring the forward to England in the summer.

The Standard's report revealed that RB Leipzig, the team he joined last summer, has placed a €50m – £43m – release clause in his contract that will activate at the end of the summer, meaning he is genuinely attainable for both sides.

Cross-city rivals Chelsea and Newcastle United were also mentioned as interested parties in the article, but following Sunday's game, it would appear that Arsenal and United are at the forefront of the race.

It would likely be a challenging deal to get done and one that would still cost a pretty penny, but following an impressive year in Germany, it's one Edu and Co should pursue, especially as Jesus has been poor in front of goal this year.

How Šeško compares to Jesus

So, with Havertz looking like he'll remain the Gunners' preferred number nine until the end of the season and potentially into next year, the player we should be comparing Šeško to is Jesus, especially after reports at the start of the month revealed that the North Londoners could be open to selling him in the summer.

With that said, when looking at the pair's pure output this season, the "prolific" Leipzig ace, as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig, just about comes out ahead of the Brazilian, racking up 17 goals and two assists in 41 appearances, or just 1966 minutes, meaning he is currently averaging a goal involvement every 103 minutes.

In comparison, the former Manchester City star has scored eight goals and provided eight assists in 35 games, or 1897 minutes, meaning he is averaging a goal involvement every 118 minutes.

Appearances

41

35

Goals

17

8

Assists

2

8

Goal Involvements per Match

0.46

0.45

What about their striker-relevant underlying numbers, then? Does the Slovenian come out ahead there as well?

Well, while it's not a total landslide, the former Salzburg gem once again comes out ahead overall as while he produces a lower non-penalty expected goal and assist figure, takes fewer shots and produces fewer shot-creating actions per 90, he scores more goals, is far more clinical with his shots, takes more shots on target, produces more goal-creating actions and wins far more aerial duels per 90.

Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists

0.54

0.61

Non-Penalty Goals

0.81

0.25

Assists

0.12

0.21

Shots

2.76

3.32

Goals per Shot

0.30

0.07

Shots on Target

1.44

1.17

Goals per Shot on Target

0.57

0.21

Shot-Creating Actions

2.19

3.50

Goal-Creating Actions

0.50

0.49

Aerial Duels Won

2.31

0.92

Ultimately, while Jesus is a highly talented player and arguably a more complete all-around attacker, the players' pure output and underlying numbers make it crystal clear that when it comes to who is the better out-and-out goalscorer, the only answer is Sesko.

So if Arsenal have a chance to bring him to the Emirates in the summer, they must take it.

Arsenal must axe "phenomenal" fan favourite who earns more than Trossard

Despite his hefty wages, the talented ace doesn’t have a future at the Emirates.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 14, 2024

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard admits he was "scared" by the potential severity of his ankle injury, while providing an update on his recovery.

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Odegaard suffers ankle setbackArsenal star sustains "significant" injuryMidfielder issues update on recoveryFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The attacking midfielder limped off in Norway's Nations League clash with Austria earlier this month, with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta later revealing the 25-year-old had suffered a "significant" ankle injury. Now, the former Real Madrid man has spoken about his rehab process and his initial fears about the setback.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT ODEGAARD SAID

He told Arsenal's website: "It was a bad twist to my ankle, and I damaged some ligaments there, but it’s part of football and now I’m just trying to recover as quickly as I can. I’m moving forward, making progress and I’m feeling more positive every day. I have to be careful not to push it too much, but at the same time do what I can to make sure I come back as strongly and quickly as possible.
"It's something I’m not used to. I’ve been quite fortunate, if that’s the word, or have done well to avoid injuries in the past, but this is football and I have to get on with it. I think it was unfortunate to get the injury in the way that I did, but also it could have been worse.

"It was not a nice twist, and when it happened I felt it could be serious. I’ve injured my ankle before and the pain felt a bit different this time. That’s what scared me, but from what happened it could have been worse, so in that sense I got away with it a bit. Like any player, the first thing I asked the medical team was how long I would be out for, but it’s a bit tricky to say at the moment. In the early stages, it's crucial to get a proper rest and to make sure everything heals well. After that, it’s about getting stronger and building it up again."

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Despite this injury, Gunners manager Arteta is hopeful Odegaard will be back in action in a "matter of weeks" – with a return after next month's international break a possibility. The Norwegian scored 11 goals and bagged as many assists last season, so not having him available for a significant time will hurt their silverware chances this term.

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GettyWHAT NEXT?

The next international break runs from October 7-15, with the Premier League returning a few days later. It remains to be seen if Arsenal skipper Odegaard will be back fit for his team's matches after that pause.

He was among the 15 cricketers who were tested for the virus ahead of their month-long training camp in BKSP

Mohammad Isam19-Aug-2020Bangladesh U-19 player Iftekhar Hossain has tested positive for Covid-19 during the second batch of tests at the Shere Bangla National Stadium’s academy building on Monday. Hossain was among the 15 cricketers who were tested for the virus ahead of their month-long training camp in BKSP which begins on August 23.The first batch, tested on August 16, were all negative, while Hossain was the only one among the second batch to test positive. MA Kayser, BCB’s game development manager, said that Hossain has been kept in isolation in his room at the academy.”We have had one positive case, and his name is Iftekhar Hossain,” Kaysar told ESPNcricinfo. “He will now be in isolation under the BCB’s medical protocol. He is healthy but he is being closely monitored. We will provide him with everything during his isolation and the next course of action will be decided by the BCB’s medical team.”The first batch of 15 players arrived at the academy on August 15, were tested the following day, and when all were found negative, were sent to BKSP, the sports institute situated 36km from Mirpur. The same plan was followed for the second batch, except Hossain, while the third batch will be tested on Thursday.”Since July 19, several of Bangladesh’s senior cricketers have been training at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, utilising the academy ground and indoor facilities. The BCB has generally discouraged any such activities due to the country’s delicate Covid-19 situation, but earlier this week, Tamim Iqbal and Mustafizur Rahman joined training in Mirpur.

Now that the 2023/24 campaign has finally concluded, the Tottenham Hotspur faithful must have mixed emotions.

Missing out on a Champions League spot will have been extremely infuriating, but progress has been made under Ange Postecoglou.

It’s fair to say that the difference has been the lack of a true game changer, like Arsenal have with Bukayo Saka, and if Heung-min Son had more support, the Lilywhites could’ve achieved their goal.

Nevertheless, the Australian boss will be looking forward to next season, especially if they can acquire their own version of Saka before the transfer window ends.

Spurs’ search for a new attacker

As per a report from Football Transfers, Spurs are looking to make Eberechi Eze their first signing of the summer.

It’s mentioned that Spurs will “initiate discussions” this month as they look to sign the ace with a £60m asking price.

The number ten will not force his way out of Crystal Palace, but he hopes that they will allow him to leave if the required fee is met.

However, the Lilywhites won’t be alone in their search for the English international’s signature, with Chelsea and the two Manchester clubs also keeping an eye on him.

How Eze compares to Saka

It’s installed within every Spurs fan to despise absolutely everything to do with Arsenal, but one thing they can’t deny is the talent of Saka.

The Gunners number seven has been absolutely immense under Mikel Arteta, scoring 16 goals and providing nine assists in the Premier League last term.

Only Son has a better output than the winger in the Spurs squad, and Daniel Levy will be keen to bolster the attack with a profile similar to the England ace.

This is where Eze comes into the picture, and given his influence at Palace, he could become Spurs’ very own version of Saka if he were to join.

Starts

24

35

Goals

11

16

xG

9.12

15.5

Assists

4

9

Shots (per game)

3.1

3.1

Key passes (per game)

2

2.6

Touches (per game)

53.4

60.9

Successful dribbles (per game)

2.6

1.4

Tackles (per game)

1.3

1.9

According to FBref’s similar players model, both Eze and Saka share plenty of similarities in terms of their statistics.

Firstly, the two English stars are incredibly dangerous in front of goal; some would say they are a nightmare to play against, particularly due to their ability to score from nothing, which is shown by their overperformance of xG.

They’re extremely confident players who take a direct approach to attacking, often driving at defenders with the aim of either producing a combination or working half a yard of space to get a shot away.

On top of that, Saka and Eze are unique, largely due to the fact they're not only a goal threat themselves, but they can also act as a source of creativity, as shown by their key passes.

Furthermore, their influence on the side is much greater than just what they produce in front of goal, with their off-the-ball work rate and intensity also being so infectious.

Yet what makes Eze a “superstar” in particular, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, is the fact that he can genuinely glide past opponents as if they’re not even there, due to his brilliant agility, power, and ball control.

This is what would also make him an upgrade on Maddison, who only completed 1.1 dribbles per game in the Premier League and mainly creates via his passing.

Overall, Eze is the type of signing that can take Spurs to the next level, and his signature could prove to be the deal of the summer, particularly if they can unearth a player of Saka's ilk.

Spurs could instantly land the ideal Werner upgrade in £22m "future star"

The incredible youngster could be the perfect addition to Postecoglou’s team.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 1, 2024

Manchester United have reportedly been in contact to sign a £52m forward who was recently offered to Tottenham.

Erik ten Hag to stay at Man Utd

Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS have now decided that Erik ten Hag will remain as Red Devils manager following an end of season review. Ten Hag guided United to a brilliant FA Cup final win over rivals Manchester City at Wembley, and it has even been claimed that talks over a contract extension with the Dutchman will follow.

Journalist Ben Jacobs shared more on Man Utd's decision to keep Ten Hag, posting on X details of the two-week end of season review.

“More on Erik ten Hag remaining as Manchester United manager. Club conducted a two week thorough process and performance review. It factored in the 2023/24 season and broader first team operations. MUFC then held constructive conversations with Ten Hag.

"The club considered all eventualities, including due dillegence on other candidates, but came to a clear conclusion Ten Hag should stay on. Club and Ten Hag have now entered negotiations on a contract extension.”

The club will now be making preparations ahead of the 2024/25 season in what is Ratcliffe and INEOS’ first transfer window in charge.

INEOS love him: Man Utd want to sign £60m star who's a lot like Foden

INEOS love the Man United target.

ByTom Lever Jun 11, 2024

A number of outgoings have already been confirmed, with Anthony Martial and Raphael Varane officially leaving at the end of the month, and a replacement for the former could be on the cards.

Man Utd make Vitor Roque contact

According to reports in Spain, relayed by Sport Witness, Man Utd have made contact over a loan deal for Barcelona’s Vitor Roque. The Red Devils aren’t the only club interested, though, with AC Milan, Atletico Madrid, Lens, Lyon, Napoli, Nice, Porto, Real Betis and Sevilla all keen on the 19-year-old.

A 10-team battle for Roque’s services could be a possibility, which is why United have made an approach to Roque’s agent. Barcelona paid £52m to sign Roque from Athletico Paranaense last summer, with the Brazilian making just 16 appearances for the Catalan giants last season, scoring twice in 353 minutes of football.

As a result, a temporary move away from the Nou Camp could now be on the cards, and intermediaries reached out to Tottenham last month to offer them the forward’s services.

It looks as if there won’t be a shortage of suitors for Roque’s signature, should Barcelona green-light a loan exit, and by the looks of it, he could arrive in Manchester to replace Martial for the 2024/25 campaign, providing competition for Rasmus Hojlund ahead of Ten Hag's third season in charge.

Third defeat in a row for West Indies despite improvements in the field

Andrew Miller26-Sep-2020England 154 for 6 (Sciver 82) beat West Indies 134 for 5 (Dottin 63) by 20 runsEngland’s women sealed their T20I series against West Indies with their third victory in quick succession, a 20-run triumph at Derby. The win was set up by Nat Sciver’s 82 from 61 balls, the highest T20I score by an England women’s player against West Indies, and sealed by another disciplined bowling display that doused the lingering threat of Deandra Dottin, who once again top-scored for the visitors with 63.After consecutive wins by a margin of 47 runs, the tighter scoreline was a reflection of West Indies’ clear improvements, as they shuffled their pack with changes in both personnel and tactics, with a new top three and as many as eight bowling options, including Dottin herself for the first time this series.But on the day that England’s women returned to the BBC for the first time since 1993, England put on enough of a show to close out the series and show their new audience what they’ve been missing out on in the last 27 years, ever since Jo Chamberlain’s allround heroics sealed that year’s World Cup final against New Zealand.England’s bowling hero was once again the legspinner Sarah Glenn, who was never afraid to give the ball air – stratospheric air at times – as she wheeled through her four overs for 18 runs, with two lbws in the process, both of them outfoxing ambitious slog-sweeps as West Indies drowned in a rising required rate.Sciver sets England’s platformWith scores of 7 and 8 in the first two matches, it had been a lean time for England’s leading run-scorer at the T20 World Cup. But faced with a surface that was significantly more sluggish than had been bargained for at the toss, Sciver found the perfect tempo to record her highest score in T20Is and secure England’s third 150-plus score of the series.The key feature of her innings was Sciver’s measured leg-side play. She arrived in the midst of a two-wicket third over, as Tammy Beaumont and Danni Wyatt both fell to aggressive drives, and was faced from the outset with a wall of fielders in the covers, as West Indies challenged England to bludgeon their way through a disciplined off-stump line. Her response was a series of flicks and nudges to challenge the fielders at deep midwicket, turning ones into twos on eight occasions with smart and athletic running.Even so, with her team-mates once again struggling to find the same fluency, England were in danger of leaving West Indies a tantalising 130-odd target until a calculated and brilliant acceleration in the closing moments of her innings. It began with a Jedi mind-trick of a reverse pull off Dottin, brilliantly anticipating the slower-ball bouncer, and continued into a 17-run penultimate over to wreck Stafanie Taylor’s previously economical figures.She fell soon afterwards, trying one too many tricks with deliveries running out as she was bowled round her legs by Dottin, but on her watch England broke the shackles with 51 crucial runs in the final five overs of the innings.Dottin defies once againThe first sign that Dottin was in the mood came with her first delivery of the series – a whistling 70mph cutter that startled Heather Knight and confirmed that the management of her shoulder problem had been a success. Her raw strength was plain to see in three lively overs that restored a cutting edge to West Indies’ attack, and she duly translated that into another pre-eminent display with the bat, a 56-ball 63 that maintained her side’s threat even as the required rate crept towards two runs a ball.In contrast to England’s Powerplay approach, which had been a case of over-ambition from Beaumont and Wyatt, Dottin exuded cool power as she ransacked Katherine Brunt’s first over with a brace of swings over the leg side, then meted out similar treatment on Sophie Ecclestone’s first two balls to put West Indies right ahead of the rate at 27 for 0 after 14 balls.Her progress was stymied, as so often in this series, by a lack of support at the other end. West Indies shuffled their top three to break up the power trio of Dottin, Taylor and Hayley Matthews and spread their threat further through the innings. But Kirby and Shemaine Campbelle, their replacements in the Powerplay, managed eight runs in ten balls between them. And though Matthews found some form with 21 from 23 at No. 5, she was outfoxed by a loopy legbreak from Glenn, as was Chedean Nation, one over later, via a review.But Dottin wasn’t going to die wondering. A vast swipe for six over midwicket off Sciver kick-started her second wave, and after Mady Villiers’ sprawling take at long-off was shown on review to have bounced, she celebrated a 48-ball 50 by clonking her next two deliveries from Ecclestone for four. She even found time to unfurl a Natmeg, Sciver’s patented clip for four through the legs, but one ball later, Brunt undid her with a slower ball, pulled to deep square leg, and West Indies’ challenge went with her.Fielding failingsIn a week in which most households been have turning on the heating for the first time this year, it was no day to be fielder at bracing Derbados. Not that chilly fingers were much of an excuse for Lee-Ann Kirby’s horrific drop in the second over off Wyatt – a ballooning parry off a full-throttle drive, that caused her to leave the field for treatment after wearing the chance in her face.Afy Fletcher had few excuses either when she gave Knight a life at short third man – it looked dramatic as she flung herself forward, but she had a long hard look at it as it hovered in the air. Remarkably, neither miss cost West Indies dear, as both batsman fell moments later, but the frailties were revealing, and exposed a side that – for all its improvements – could still be pulled apart when the pressure was applied, as Sciver demonstrated superbly at the death.Mind you, Sciver is human after all, as Knight acknowledged after the match. She proved as much with an untimely spill off Dottin, on 43 at the time, a wipe to deep midwicket where she made good ground but let it burst through her fingers. With a bit more support, it might have been a crucial moment, but Taylor, bringing up the rear at No. 6, couldn’t find her top gear in time as her innings petered out to an insubstantial 14 not out from 13 balls.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s team-mate, Salem Al-Najdi, knocked himself unconscious celebrating the Portuguese’s winning goal for Al-Nassr against Al Rayyan.

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Portuguese on target during trip to QatarHis strike settled a keenly-fought contestTeam-mates got overly excited on benchFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱GettyWHAT HAPPENED?

The Saudi Pro League outfit were in AFC Champions League competition against Qatari opposition. Al-Nassr’s talismanic captain stepped up once again in a time of need, with five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo grabbing the decisive goal in a 2-1 victory.

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Ronaldo’s strike was recorded in the 76th minute, with Al-Najdi on the bench at the time having been forced off with an ankle injury in the first half. According to , the 21-year-old full-back leapt from his seat when seeing the ball hit the net.

DID YOU KNOW?

Al-Najdi is said to have cracked his head on the roof of the dugout, causing him to pass out for a few minutes. The game was halted as Al-Nassr's medical staff returned the defender to the dressing room for treatment – with it determined that no hospital visit was required.

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WHAT NEXT FOR AL-NASSR?

Al-Najdi left the stadium on foot at the end of the game, with head coach Stefano Pioli telling reporters: “The player suffered from high blood pressure and we will follow up on what happens to him.” Al-Nassr, with Ronaldo in the goal-getting groove once again, will be back in action on Saturday when playing host to Al-Orobah.