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GOAL takes a look back at the on and off-field moments and stories that defined the icon's first month in Miami

The thing you notice the most is the smile; for the past month or so, it hasn't really left Lionel Messi's face. You can see it at his unveiling, an event that would have been a rain-soaked disaster if held for any other player. You've seen it after each of the nine goals spread across six games as he's celebrated with friends old and new. And that smile has perhaps been biggest in the moments involving his three sons, who themselves are being introduced to a whole new way of life in South Beach.

For the first time in a little while, it seems that Messi is having fun, and why wouldn't he be? What a month it's been in Miami.

With the Argentine leading the charge, Inter Miami have reached the Leagues Cup final, where the club will look to win its first-ever trophy. Since Messi's arrival, their fortunes have completely turned around. They were, and still technically are, a last-place club in MLS but, with Messi, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Tata Martino now involved, Miami feel like one of the biggest clubs in the world.

It's been a wild ride, and it's only been a few weeks. Messi is just getting started but, in just one month, he's already created enough stories and moments to last a lifetime.

• Joe Raedle/Getty Images
  

  The rain-soaked arrival

  It was supposed to be dream moment, but even Messi couldn't stop the rain. On the night of his introduction, the South Florida skies opened up, as they tend to do. It was perhaps the perfect introduction to the state: welcome to Florida, meet the rain, Leo.

  It would have been easy for the weather to quite literally rain on Messi's parade, but Jorge Mas, the man most crucial in bringing him to Miami, saw it a different way.

  “Tonight is a gift and celebration to the city that opened its arms to my family," Mas said. "Tonight we are doing this in the rain. This is holy water!

  A wild proclamation, but also a fitting one when assessing Messi's god-like status all over the world. Despite that rain, fans made the pilgrimage to DRV PNK Stadium not to see Messi play, but to see him speak and wave a bit. Sergio Busquets was there, too, of course, but come on now… this was about Messi.

  That rain-soaked night will be remembered as his introduction to American soccer, albeit an imperfect one.

  Mas understood the significance: "This is our moment! Our moment to change the football landscape in this country. When David and I first met and we dreamt of what Inter Miami represents, it started off with the freedom to dream. And we dreamed of not only bringing elite players and the best players but the best player to ever don boots — and his name is Lionel Andres Messi.”

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  A dose of normality

  You've seen the pictures by now: Messi out in public doing his shopping. It's like seeing an alien walking among the general population. Who knew that the Messi's liked Froot Loops so much?

  Since his now famous appearance at Publix, we haven't quite seen him out in public as much, aside from a series of dinner photos with Beckham and his long-time Barca team-mates. Part of that, of course, is due to the flurry of Leagues Cup games.

  Still, Miami and the U.S. offer Messi something he never quite had during his time in Barcelona and Paris: privacy. It's something that has called many players before to the United States. Steven Gerrard once said how much he appreciated simply walking up and down the Los Angeles beach with his family, having spent the entirety of his adult life as an icon in Liverpool.

  Messi, unfortunately, doesn't quite have that luxury. He is a different level of famous, after all, which is why he is constantly accompanied by a bodyguard wherever he goes. Messi may be able to make the odd Publix trip, but he'll never be able to live like a normal person.

  The small doses, though, are probably a nice change of pace for a man who has been an icon all over the world for as long as he can probably remember.

  “From the very beginning ever since I arrived the welcome was impressive," Messi said. "It’s a city with many Latinos and that’s why everything is a bit easier. Latino people are close, they show their emotions all the time, they show their sentiments and their care, and proximity. That’s the most important thing. It’s very healthy, and helps acclimate yourself.

  “People in this city and this club have made it easy for us," he added. "The fans, the people that I meet every day on the streets in the city we are now, it’s a spectacular city, and that’s why I can live with happiness."

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  Feeling loved again after a rough time in Paris

  It was widely reported and has been admitted as fact: Messi was not happy in Paris.

  His relationship with the club and its fans was always complicated. By the end, things had grown somewhat toxic as Messi and Paris Saint-Germain failed to live up to their own lofty expectations by winning the Champions League.

  “I came here in Miami looking for this, to be able to enjoy again as I was doing all my career after two complicated years [with PSG]," he told . "And luckily, me and my family are in the place where we are happy, not only for football, but for day-to-day life also.”

  He harped on that point further in his press conference later on Thursday, adding: “Me going to Paris wasn’t something I wanted. I didn’t want to leave Barcelona and that was from one day to another. I had to get adjusted to a completely different place from where I had been all my life, both from the city standpoint and sporting standpoint, and it was hard. It’s the complete opposite of what’s happening now, thank God.”

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  Introduction to team-mates

  Inter Miami's players all had a similar reaction from the moment they realized what had happened: 'how the hell did sneak into the WhatsApp group?!'

  That, somehow, happened in the hours leading up to his unveiling. Messi, the most famous footballer on the planet, had entered the team group chat under the radar.

  It was in that group chat that striker Leonardo Campana asked for any extra tickets to the event. A new number soon popped up saying he'd handle it. It was Messi.

  "I didn't even know whether Messi was in the group chat yet," said DeAndre Yedlin, "But he popped up straightway and said, 'How many do you need though?'. Straightaway like that.

  "From there I was just like 'Woah!' You know what I mean? Like straight off the bat, they maybe know each other for three days or something. But to show that generosity is a great fresh example of how he (Messi) is."

  In the weeks since, Messi has worked hard to endear himself to his team-mates. He's seemingly developed quite a bond with Josef Martinez, a player he's battled with in CONMEBOL when facing Venezuela. Robert Taylor, a Finnish international who was once languishing in England's lower leagues, is now his go-to running mate. When Ian Fray suffered another catastrophic ACL injury, Messi paid tribute to him, despite knowing him for just a matter of days. And when Philadelphia Union enforcer Jose Martinez took out Noah Allen late in Inter Miami's win, it was Messi who was immediately in his face to defend his new colleague.

  He, of course, already has a relationship with the likes of Alba and Busquets, but Messi has seemingly worked hard to make sure to develop a bond even with his lesser-known team-mates.

  So, when Inter Miami showed up to the field all wearing new club-branded headphones, it was easy to figure out where they'd come from.

  “You have to ask Messi," Yedlin said. "Messi got them for the team. I don’t know if he bought them, but he gave everyone headphones."

MatériaMais Notícias

O diretor de competições de clubes da Conmebol, Fred Nantes, disse em entrevista ao “O Globo” que a Libertadores terá sua final no dia 21 de novembro, como programado inicialmente. Diante do cenário de incerteza provocado pela pandemia do coronavírus, em todos os modelos desenhados pela entidade culminam para o mesmo fim no Maracanã. Apesar disto, ainda falta um prazo para o retorno das competições no continente.

– Queremos dar tranquilidade aos clubes de que vamos continuar a Libertadores e vamos terminá-la. Temos tempo para isso. Não tem mudança de data para a final. Em todos os cenários que temos hoje, a Libertadores em 21 de novembro. Seja começando em junho, julho ou agosto. Precisamos de 10 datas para terminar a Libertadores. Dizer que não vai ocorrer é precipitado. Vale para a Sul-Americana, que precisa de oito datas. Mais simples ainda.

A Conmebol suspendeu o futebol até o dia cinco de maio, mas talvez tenha que estender o prazo, pois cada país está em um estágio de contágio diferente do vírus. Apesar do desejo do retorno, a competição vai acontecer do jeito que as autoridades decidirem.

– Se os países disserem que vai ser de portões fechados, vamos respeitar. O importante é que os clubes possam viajar. O que queremos é ter a garantia de implementação de protocolos determinados pelas autoridades sanitárias.

Nantes lembra que a data para o Mundial de Clubes da Fifa está programada para ter início no dia nove de dezembro, com o representante da América do Sul jogando no dia 13 ou 14, mas tudo dependerá do andamento das competições até o final do ano. O diretor também garantiu que os contratos firmados para a Libertadores estão vigentes e que a Conmebol não irá sofrer financeiramente.

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MatériaMais Notícias

As últimas duas semanas do Fluminense não foi nada agradável para a torcida. O time tricolor foi eliminado da Taça Guanabara após derrota para o Flamengo por 3 a 2, no Maracanã, e na última terça-feira, saiu – precocemente – da Copa Sul-Americana depois do empate por 0 a 0 diante do Unión La Calera, no Chile. Para alentar os corações dos torcedores tricolores, Nenê virou destaque da equipe e pode ajudar o time a conquistar os principais objetivos do clube.

O meia, que tem 38 anos, começou a temporada à todo vapor e surpreendeu os torcedores mais céticos do Fluminense. No atual momento, ele conseguiu terminar a Taça Guanabara, com cinco gols em seis partidas disputadas. Com isso, se junta aos artilheiros: João Carlos, do Volta Redonda, Matheus Babi, do Macaé, e Caio Dantas, do Boavista.

Não foram somente gols, mas sim a importância deles. Nenê balançou as redes na vitória sobre a Cabofriense e Flamengo, marcou contra a Portuguesa e fez mais dois contra o Botafogo. Mesmo com a idade avançada, o ritmo dentro de campo mostra que o meia consegue se destacar.

+ VEJA E SIMULE OS JOGOS DA COPA DO BRASIL

– Quando você está bem fisicamente, ajuda tecnicamente. Fica mais leve, as coisas fluem. Importante começar o ano jogando. Ano passado, no São Paulo ficou aquela coisa de sai, não sai.. E fiquei sem ritmo. Aí vim para cá no meio da temporada, o treinador que me trouxe foi embora três semanas depois – disse.

Nos outros dois jogos pela primeira fase da Copa Sul-Americana, o meia não conseguiu balançar as redes. Apesar disso, mostrou disposição dentro de campo, porém o setor tem baixa criatividade. O jogador sofre com a falta de opções com quem jogar. Contra um La Calera que se fechou para garantir o empate, o Fluminense mal criou. As melhores chances, no fim, surgiram quando o modo desespero foi ativado.

Para tentar suprir a falta de opções, o meia se mostra bastante voluntarioso na frente. Com boa movimentação e combatividade, Nenê tenta reverter a situação do ataque tricolor, porém a qualidade dificulta o processo das tentativas. Matheus Alessandro já esgotou a paciência da torcida e Caio Paulista ainda não conseguiu encontrar a melhor forma. Evanílson é promissor, mas também vê problemas até a bola chegar em seus pés. Wellington Silva tenta relembrar as boas partidas de sua primeira passagem pelo clube.

Para tentar reconquistar as boas atuações, Fernando Pacheco e Miguel são clamados pela torcida. O peruano, que foi contratado neste ano, mudou completamente o duelo contra o Flamengo e já deixou boa impressão. Enquanto a joia tricolor expressou boa percepção de passes e virou líder de assistência.

O Fluminense entra em campo diante do Moto Club, do Maranhão, na próxima quarta-feira pela estreia da Copa do Brasil, para tentar reconquistar a confiança da torcida depois da vexatória eliminação da Copa Sul-Americana. Ao comando de Nenê, o time busca entrar no eixo e encher os olhos da torcida.

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The Supreme Court on Monday made it clear that all state cricket associations will have to “fall in line” with recommendations of Justice RM Lodha led-panel on structural reforms in the BCCI

PTI02-May-2016

India’s Supreme Court, on Monday, made it clear that all state cricket associations will have to “fall in line” with the recommendations of Justice RM Lodha led-panel on structural reforms in the BCCI. The court had tasked a three-member committee with recommending changes to the BCCI’s constitution and manner of functioning in the wake of match-fixing and spot-fixing scandal that occurred in IPL 2013. The panel presented its report in January this year.”Once the BCCI is reformed it will go down the line and all cricket associations will have to reform themselves if they want to associate with it. The committee constituted in the wake of match-fixing and spot-fixing allegations was a serious exercise and not a futile exercise,” a two-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice TS Thakur, said.The bench said that recommendations of reforms in the BCCI were made by a committee of experts after extensive deliberations with stakeholders, and the findings could not be defined as “just recommendations”. The court’s statement was in response to the Haryana Cricket Association’s argument that the Lodha panel’s findings were only recommendations and a few of them were not feasible for cricket bodies to implement.”It will no longer remain just recommendations if we say it has to be implemented,” the court said. “It was called recommendations as some of the findings of the committee were implemented by the BCCI during the deliberations itself and some were not implemented.”We are hearing the issue because we are seeing whether the recommendations which have not been implemented can be implemented or not. [The] Justice RM Lodha committee has said that what has been done is just cosmetic and what is required is not cosmetic reforms but more than that.”The apex court also pulled up the Haryana association for objecting to the recommendation of an age cap of 70 years for office bearers, and asked whether “some office bearers in cricket bodies think they are indispensable”.”Do you think that some office bearers in cricket bodies think they are indispensable? Nobody is indispensable, leave alone the cricket administrators,” the bench said. “There should be time when you have to say enough is enough, and pave the way for others to take charge.”Responding to objections raised by the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) on the inclusion of a nominee of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) on the cricket board, the apex court said that the law could be amended to pave the way for reforms.”[The] Justice RM Lodha committee has said that laws could be amended for inclusion of a nominee from CAG in governing bodies. The law doesn’t say that the governing body should only comprise members,” the bench said.Additional Solicitor General Maninder Singh, representing the Railways Sports Promotion Board and the Services Sports Control Board, opposed the Lodha panel’s recommendation to downgrade the bodies to associate members of the BCCI and take away their voting rights. The bench asked the ASG to give two reasons that justified their claim on voting rights.”Not allowing us a right to vote is just like ousting us from the decision-making process despite meeting all the required rational parameters which are applied to the states given the right to vote,” ASG Singh said. He added that that both Railways and the Services boards had a presence across India.The court had earlier pulled up the BCCI for “monopolizing” cricket in the country and had said several youngsters wanting to be Dhonis and Kohlis were not given equal opportunity if they were not on the right side of the cricket body.The court had appointed senior advocate Gopal Subramanium as amicus curiae and sought his assistance to explore how the recommendations of Lodha committee could be implemented. Subramanium will present his views before the court on Tuesday, May 3.

There was no immediate joy for former England coach Peter Moores, brought into Trent Bridge on a three-month contract, as Notts lost to Worcestershire by 20 runs to undermine their slim hopes of reaching the last eight

ECB/PA03-Jul-2015
ScorecardTom Kohler-Cadmore cracked his highest T20 score (file photo)•Getty Images

Peter Moores’ first involvement with Nottinghamshire brought no immediate joy as Worcestershire Rapids made light of a dismal lower-order collapse to beat Notts Outlaws by 20 runs in the T20 Blast at Trent Bridge and disappoint the former England coach in the process.Notts, who have lost home quarter-finals for the past three years, now lie third bottom and face an uphill challenge to reach the last eight.Moores has been added to Nottinghamshire’s coaching staff on a three-month contract and he must have been hopeful of success when Worcestershire collapsed to a still formidable 173: a format-best 75 from Tom Kohler-Cadmore seemingly not followed through when they lost their last five wickets for a paltry 10 runs in 11 balls.Nottinghamshire left-armer Harry Gurney was the main beneficiary as he returned figures of 3 for 25, while fellow seamer Jake Ball pulled back a previously forgettable outing by consecutively bowling Joe Leach and Ed Barnard.A home crowd of 10,123 anticipated a match-winning turn from Alex Hales but, after the England limted-overs opener departed for 47, Worcestershire’s slow bowlers strangled the life out of a Notts innings that spluttered to 153 for 9.Insights

His Worcestershire colleagues didn’t fully capitalise on the brilliant platform he laid as a late collapse flattered Nottinghamshire’s bowlers (although it turned out they already had plenty) but Tom Kohler-Cadmore’s 75 was as calculated as it was brutal. Eleven of the 39 deliveries he faced were dots, but never mind, 12 other yielded 58 in boundaries as he took a particularly liking Nottinghamshire’s lack of express pace on a green pitch designed to helkp them.

Worcestershire men remain second in the North Group – four points clear of Notts, who have played a game more.Daryl Mitchell, Worcestershire’s captain, won the toss but was lbw on the sweep to Samit Patel off the fifth ball of the match, bringing Kohler-Cadmore to the crease.The 20-year-old emphatically punished an initially wayward Notts attack to race to a 26-ball half century, featuring six fours and three sixes.A partnership of 86 with Richard Oliver ended when the opener was bowled by medium pacer Steven Mullaney for 31.The visitors were handsomely placed on 94 for 2 at the midway point and Kohler-Cadmore continued to make merry, planting Dan Christian and Mullaney over midwicket and long-on respectively. After another four through backward point, Christian got his man – somewhat inevitably caught on the on the long-on boundary.Brett D’Oliveira was brilliantly caught in the deep by Greg Smith off Patel and Hales recovered from a fumble to run out Colin Munroe, before Ball and Gurney unceremoniously ripped the wheels from a now spluttering Rapids juggernaut.Notts’ opener Michael Lumb dragged Barnard’s first ball onto his stumps in the fourth over of the reply, while three lusty on-side sixes showed Hales to be in typically imposing form.Kohler-Cadmore ensured he remained the night’s great entertainer by catching Hales at long-off, making him Mitchell’s sole scalp in a miserly four overs for 18.Having added 53 with Hales, Riki Wessels was the next man to go – D’Oliveira disturbing his stumps for 24 – and the required rate moved beyond over 10 an over as Worcestershire firmly applied the breaks.Christian, Notts’ latest overseas signing, threatened to break the shackles in the 15th over, pumping a D’Oliveira full-toss high over midwicket and striking four more through cover, but a decisive blow followed, with Saeed Ajmal (2 for 33) bowling an advancing Christian through the gate.

Moeen Ali coupled a rapid hundred with two wickets to help England beat Scotland by 119 runs in Christchurch and gain a much-needed first win

The Report by David Hopps22-Feb-2015
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

The timely appearance of the Auld Enemy proved to be a World-Cup blessing for England. Scotland rarely pass muster these days even in their most culturally-ingrained team sports of football and rugby union and, as far as cricket is concerned, their fortunes have yet to cause much impassioned debate on Sauchiehall Street. England, easy victors by 119 runs, were grateful for that as they began to restore their World Cup reputation.For all the belligerent pre-match cries of Paul Collingwood, a proud Englishman finding himself reading from the Braveheart script, Scotland have never beaten a Full Member nation in a one-day international. Repelled by Moeen Ali’s confident century, 128 from 107 balls, they managed little more than a skirmish in Christchurch, although all remains far from right for England because while Moeen oiled the England innings, there was the sound of clanking and grinding all around him.There is no more modest bowling attack in this World Cup than Scotland’s and the immediate consequence for England was a first-wicket record in World Cups: 172 in 30.1 overs by Moeen and Ian Bell, surpassing the 158 gathered by Dennis Amiss and Barry Wood against East Africa at Edgbaston in the first World Cup in 1975. England’s approach, their critics have been sniping, has not changed all that much in the intervening 40 years.Expectations that they might pass 350-plus for only the third time in ODIs departed with Moeen. In the end, England’s captain Eoin Morgan would be grateful for lesser mercies: a total beyond 300, the fact they batted their full quota of overs, a semblance of form for himself – 46 until he fell in the final over, one of four wickets for Josh Davey – which ensured those minimum targets were met.As for England’s bowling, it did what it had to do; dismissing Scotland within 42.2 overs the bowlers began to remedy what had been the worst net run rate in the group in a manner the batsmen, Moeen apart, had found beyond them. Kyle Coetzer drove vigorously in making 71 before Moeen again underlined his all-round attributes by having him caught at long-on – Coetzer coming down the pitch to loft the ball on the full. But the dangerous Calum MacLeod fell making room to James Anderson’s outswinger and the captain Preston Mommsen, so productive in the qualifiers, fell on the sweep to Joe Root just as he was threatening to lead a second wave.England will seek value in Steven Finn’s display, coming so soon after his two overs were savaged for 49 by Brendon McCullum in Wellington. He settled his nerves with three cheap wickets, including the important one of Matt Machan, caught at the wicket. He upped his speeds as the day wore on, but while his pace remains so irregular – more, it seems, by accident than design – he will not altogether convince.The World Cup had briefly turned its attention to a very British rivalry on a very British sort of day: England v Scotland under initially grouchy Hagley Park skies, with the discordant chants of the Barmy Army combated by the screech of the pipes and a brandished flag bearing the word “freedom”, a vestige of Scotland’s failed independence referendum. For the tournament proper, it all seemed a bit inconsequential, but for England, bereft of form and reputation, a bit of parochialism was just what they needed.If Moeen was England’s assailant, moving fluently to his second ODI hundred, Bell pottered around for 54 from 85 balls, a half-century that looked as if it was the product of a meetings culture: Bell’s “strategic staircase” had the need for responsibility bullet pointed on every step.After the heavy defeats suffered against Australia and New Zealand, by 111 runs and eight wicket respectively, Bell’s innings put short-term stability above long-term needs – the imperative that England’s batting order must stamp its mark on the tournament. He was restrained throughout, disappointed to drive the first ball of Richie Berrington’s second spell to short extra just as he imagined he might accelerate.When England did try to stamp their mark, the stamp was hopelessly underweight and the innings was lost somewhere in the sorting office. Moeen, Gary Ballance and Root fell in the space of 10 balls and, at 203 for 4 in the 37th over and England committed to a comparatively reserved finale on a slowing surface, the sound of the pipes had a more unnerving feel.The failure could count most heavily for Ballance, whose introduction at No. 3 on the eve of the tournament has not been productive, his latest demise coming when he chopped Alasdair Evans on to his stumps, seeking to run the ball and suffering for a lack of pace.From England’s perspective, at least there was Moeen. He was characteristically unafraid to go aerial over the off side – almost suffering for the habit on 7 when he drove Davey to Freddie Coleman in the covers on the half volley – and when Scotland’s bowlers did test him against the short ball, at barely 130kph it was inferior stuff and Moeen pulled with ease. He had an ambition that England will hope proves contagious.Scotland’s attack was make-do. It comprised three seamers – Evans replaced the left-armer Rob Taylor who had been expensive against New Zealand – a fifth bowler fiddled through as best they might, and the redoubtable rotundity of Majid Haq, who turned in 10 overs of offspin for 51 runs and took the prize wicket of Moeen who dragged him to deep midwicket.Haq is Scotland’s leading wicket-taker in one-day cricket: a genial purveyor of lobs. He has no like in international cricket, bowling as slowly as 65kph (40mph), inviting an insecure batsman to run through an infinite list of potential dismissals while the ball is still in the air and ensuring that, by the time it arrives, all sense of life’s purpose has been lost. He would be regarded as a confidence-trickster on the village green.It was Davey who finished with four wickets. Root was unpinned by a decent delivery; he beat James Taylor’s advance with a full, wide one, enabling Matthew Cross to pull off a neat stumping; and added Morgan and Chris Woakes in the final over to finish with four wickets.It was a commendable effort from a bowler who failed to make the grade at Middlesex and is making a second attempt at county level with Somerset. He had bowled nine of Scotland’s 15 wides, but by the end he had emphatically put those nerves behind him.

MatériaMais Notícias

Informe de afiliação

O DAZN, primeiro serviço de streaming de esportes ao vivo e sob demanda do mundo, apresenta uma semana de definições no Campeonato Brasileiro da Série C e no Paulista Sub-20.Já a novidade fica por conta do Campeonato Carioca masculino de basquete, com clássico logo na estreia.

Você pode assinar o DAZN sem burocracias, com rapidez e ter um mês de acesso gratuito. Clique aqui!

Na Série C, oito clubes decidem as quatro vagas na Série B de 2020. No sábado, às 17h, o Confiança, único clube a vencer no duelo de ida, por 1 a 0 (os demais resultados terminaram empatados, sem gols), precisa de um simples empate para avançar diante do Ypiranga-RS, fora de casa, no estádio Colosso da Lagoa. Um pouco mais tarde, às 19h15, é a vez de do Sampaio Corrêa receber os gaúchos do São José, no Castelão (MA). No domingo, às 18h, o grande confronto entre Náutico e Paysandu, nos Aflitos. E na segunda, às 20h, o Juventude recebe a equipe do Imperatriz no Alfredo Jaconi, em Caxias.

No Sub-20, os 16 classificados na segunda fase buscam a classificação às quartas de final, em jogos únicos que serão disputados entre os dias 5 e 8 de setembro. Avançando nas primeiras colocações de seus respectivos grupos, os quatro grandes de São Paulo marcam presença nessa terceira fase da competição estadual. O DAZN transmitirá com exclusividade os duelos entre Guarani x Corinthians, Ituano x Santos e São Bernardo x Palmeiras.

Pelo Campeonato Carioca de Basquete, as transmissões no DAZN começam nesta sexta, com um grande clássico às 20h entre Flamengo x Botafogo. No domingo às 11h, o Botafogo volta para a quadra e enfrenta o Niterói.

Não perca tempo e assine!

Sexta-feira, 6/9

– Guarani x Corinthians – 15h – Paulista Sub-20 – Narração: Marcelo Gomes

– Ituano x Santos – 17h – Paulista Sub-20 – Narração: Eduardo Monsanto / Comentários: Andrei Kampff

– Botafogo x Flamengo – 20h – Campeonato Carioca de Basquete

Sábado, 7/9

– São Bernardo x Palmeiras – 15h – Paulista Sub-20– Narração: Marcelo Gomes / Comentários: Felipe Nabarro

– Ypiranga Erechim x Confiança – 17h – Série C – Narração: Giovani Martinelo / Comentários: Gustavo Fogaço

– Sampaio Corrêa x São José – 19h15 – Série C – Narração: Pedro Canísio / Comentários: Luiz Ademar

Domingo, 8/9

– Botafogo x Niterói – 11h – Campeonato Carioca de Basquete

– Náutico x Paysandu – 18h – Série C – Narração: Eduardo Monsanto / Comentários: Rafael Oliveira

Segunda, 9/9

– Juventude x Imperatriz – 20h – Série C – Narração: Luiz Alano / Comentários: Andrei Kampff

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A preview of the prospects of Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi and Madhya Pradesh ahead of the 2014-15 Ranji Trophy

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Dec-2014PunjabBy Devashish FuloriaHarbhajan Singh would want to lead Punjab with a few more wickets this season•ESPNcricinfo LtdWhere they finished last season
Semi-finalists. Lost to Karnataka, the eventual winners.Big picture
With a young and well-rounded team, Punjab are one of the stronger units in the domestic circuit. Yet their wait for a big finish in the Ranji Trophy is now in its 22nd year. However, the signs, leading up to the current season, are encouraging: Punjab were the semi-finalists last season and recently finished as runners-up in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. They also haven’t lost any big player to the national side.One of Punjab’s strengths is the clutch of young batsmen at the top who all have enhanced their reputations over the last few years. Jiwanjot Singh and Mandeep Singh have been regulars at the India-A level while Manan Vohra was a breakthrough performer during the last season of the IPL. With Manpreet Gony likely to be unavailable for the first two rounds and VRV Singh yet to be declared fit, the bowling will be led by two young seamers – Siddarth Kaul and Sandeep Sharma – both of whom rely on swing, which comes in handy in the north Indian venues.If there is one area that could be tested, it is Punjab’s spin attack. Harbhajan Singh is not the same bowler he used to be; he has just one five-wicket haul in 15 first-class matches over last two seasons. Sarabjit Ladda and Rajwinder Singh add variety but both of them are yet to prove themselves over an extended period.There is also Yuvraj Singh, well past his prime. Punjab though would hope for some inspiration from the batsman to break their big-match jinx.Players to watch
Amitoze Singh, who scored 422 runs from nine Vijay Hazare Trophy matches this season, has been primed by coach Bhupinder Singh Sr as a batsman to watch out for. “He has been our mainstay and is batting really well,” Bhupinder said. “I hope he performs well in the longer version too.”Baltej Singh, the medium pacer, had a forgettable Ranji debut in 2011 and played only three more first-class matches, the last one of which was two years ago. For two years, he did not play a senior domestic match but made a fruitful return to cricket this year with 14 wickets in seven Vijay Hazare matches. He has been pipped as the “dark horse” for his return season by Bhupinder.Teamspeak
“Punjab is always a good team but I tell the boys that until you lift the trophy no body will label you as a good team,” coach Bhupinder Singh said. “You have to achieve something.””I have been losing to Karnataka, I have lost three games in a row. I really want to amend my record. Karnataka is definitely playing good cricket but we want to be the answer to them.”Madhya PradeshBy Abhishek PurohitWhere they finished last season
Second from the bottom in Group B, with two losses and six draws from eight gamesThe Big Picture
Madhya Pradesh were the only non-relegated side that failed to win a single game last season, despite making Railways and Bengal follow-on. Mukesh Sahni has been replaced as coach by Harvinder Sodhi and the experienced fast bowler Anand Rajan has been dropped, even as the core of the batting remains intact.Ishwar Pandey will lead the pace attack again, and he will be supported by a raw bunch in Puneet Datey, Yogesh Rawat and Avesh Khan, who played for India in the Under-19 World Cup earlier this year. Devendra Bundela, the 37-year old captain, hopes the “fresh legs” can translate into plenty of wickets, something MP’s fast bowlers, barring Pandey, could not take last season. MP haven’t had a reliable spinner apart from allrounder Jalaj Saxena’s steady offbreaks, making them more dependent on the quicks.MP also missed big runs from their key batsmen in 2013-14 as only Naman Ojha clicked consistently. With Ojha in Australia with the Indian team and set to miss at least the first round, the likes of Bundela, Mohnish Mishra and Saxena will have to fire. MP’s season looks daunting with heavyweight opponents such as Karnataka, Mumbai and Uttar Pradesh.Player to watchJalaj Saxena was MP’s most successful bowler last season with 35 wickets at 19.68 and his 545 runs were next only to Ojha’s 835. The allrounder has found consistency with both bat and ball of late. He will have to take the lead again at the top of the order with his positive batting, and provide breakthroughs along with Pandey in case the inexperienced seam attack flags.Teamspeak”We bowled well in patches last season. Some individuals performed at times, but we could not do so collectively as a bowling unit. We want to change that this time.” MP captain Devendra BundelaDelhiBy Nagraj GollapudiWhere they finished last seasonFifth in Group A, with just two victories from eight matches.Big PictureLast season, Virender Sehwag managed just 234 runs from seven matches. He pushed himself to the middle order, batting at numbers 3, 4 and 5. Still, in thirteen innings Sehwag had just one fifty. A man that haunted bowlers once was now being hunted down with ease.Sehwag, along with Gautam Gambhir, is the biggest pillar of strength in Delhi’s weak batting order. But last year, Gambhir, already overburdened with various responsibilities, found no support from Sehwag who failed to get started or worse, convert the few starts he had. Delhi need Sewhag to pack the impact punch in the top order. It does not even have to be a knockout punch all the time. A few jabs, cuts, hooks to send the opponent astray, could make Delhi’s job easier. Sehwag has only Delhi to resurrect his career. Delhi need Sehwag to resurrect their fortunes. It is mutual.Another man who could alleviate Delhi’s pains is Vijay Dahiya, who is back as head coach, a position he was forced to leave last season. He was at the helm when Delhi last made the knockouts, in 2010, when they lost to Mumbai in the semi-finals. The motivation for men like Sehwag, Gambhir, Chand, Dahiya and a senior fast bowler like Ashish Nehra to succeed both for the self and the team cannot be higher.Player to watchUnmukt Chand proudly enjoyed the limelight after leading India to the Under 19 World Cup. He even wrote a book, an unknown for a young Indian cricketer, recording his journey towards the title. He might be fluent in the spoken word, but Chand is yet to express himself in first-class cricket. He did get a century last year, but managed just 268 runs across eleven innings in the six matches he played with an average of 26.80. Chand needs to provide stability atop, opening in the company of Gambhir.Teamspeak”I have opened the batting, one down, two down, three down, four down also. I am hoping I can score runs, it doesn’t matter where I bat. It is important for me to score runs that I watch the ball till the end and if it is in my zone then try to hit it rather than play cautiously. This year, I am hoping to bat at No. 3 and No. 4 for Delhi.” Virender Sehwag outlines his plan to get back among runs for the forthcoming seasonRajasthanBy Amol KarhadkarPankaj Singh: “Our main challenge this season would be to cope with the absence of professionals”•AFPWhere they finished last seasonSixth in Group B, with 22 points from the league stage. Had it not been for their victory against Baroda in the penultimate round – their second of the season – Rajasthan would have finished at the bottom of the table.Big PictureRajasthan’s off season is a clear example of how off-the-field matters trickle down on the field. The mess in the Rajasthan Cricket Association – first its suspension by the BCCI following Lalit Modi’s election as RCA chief, and then a revolt against Modi – put Rajasthan cricketers in danger of missing out on a full season. It was eventually the High Court that stepped in and ensured Rajasthan teams could participate in the domestic season.By the time the decision was made, all the pre-season tournaments in the country were over and the Rajasthan players hardly had any game time before they entered the zonal one-dayers. And the rustiness was evident, as the team could win just one of the four league games and suffered the ignominy of being bowled out for 35 against Railways.To add to their woes, Modi’s RCA had decided before the season that they would not hire the services of professionals this season. Had it not been for domestic stalwarts like Hrishikesh Kanitkar, Rashmi Parida and Aakash Chopra, Rajasthan would not have won successive titles in 2010-11 and 2011-12. This has left Pankaj Singh and Robin Bist with far too much responsibility. Not only do they have to keep performing consistently, but also be on the ball when it comes to grooming youngsters and getting their strategies right.Player to WatchAshok Menaria had a fairytale start to his first-class career. Soon after leading India in the Under-19 World Cup in 2010, Menaria scored a century each in the quarter-final, semi-final and the final to star in Rajasthan’s maiden Ranji triumph. Menaria, however, has failed to replicate the same consistency since then. It reflected in his tally of 302 runs from 14 innings last season, with just one fifty. He will be desperate to better his numbers and help his side to a better season.Teamspeak”Our main challenge this season would be to cope with the absence of professionals. We haven’t had the most ideal preparations and with no veteran in the dressing room, we will need to gel as a unit as soon as we can. If we can get our act together early on in the season, I am sure we will be in a position to make it to the knockouts.” Pankaj SinghHaryanaBy Amol KarhadkarWhere they finished last seasonHaryana managed to avoid relegation for the second time in succession. They tallied 10 points from eight games, finishing eighth in Group A.Big PictureHaryana have one of the most balanced bowling units. But they have one of the weakest batting line-ups in the tournament. As a result, their recent Ranji Trophy campaigns have been focused on keeping their place in the top division.To revive their fortunes with the bat, Haryana have brought in Surendra Bhave as the coach ahead of the season. Bhave guided Maharashtra to their first Ranji final in over two decades last season. The former national selector has been working hard with the Haryana batsmen, none of whom could tally 600 runs in 2013-14. If the batting unit can complement the bowlers, Haryana can emerge as one of the strong units this year.Their strength lies in the bowling department. In Joginder Sharma and Amit Mishra, they have seasoned campaigners who have proven their worth time and again. While Joginder will be sharing the new ball with Mohit Sharma, Haryana have a problem of plenty in the spin department. Legspinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Rahul Tewatia have given a glimpse of their talent during the limited opportunities they have got during the IPL. If they can pair up with Mishra, Haryana can restrict any opposition irrespective of the conditions.Player to WatchMohit Sharma’s wicket tally may have dipped from 37 in eight in 2012-13 to 21 from six matches last season, but the exposure of international cricket has made Mohit a mature bowler. He will be charged up to lead the Haryana bowling attack and make a case for an India comeback.TeamspeakThe Haryana Cricket Association feels it is premature for anyone in the set-up to have an interaction with the media right now.

The BCCI has omitted the Rajasthan Cricket Association from its domestic programme for the forthcoming season

Amol Karhadkar23-Aug-2014The BCCI has omitted the Rajasthan Cricket Association from its domestic programme for the forthcoming season. A handbook of domestic programme covering all categories – Under-16, Under-19, Under-23, Ranji Trophy and women’s tournaments – that has been circulated amongst all the affiliates does not mention Rajasthan. It raises question marks over the participation of a full member which has been entangled in various disputes with the parent body.The BCCI, however, insisted that Rajasthan had not been excluded or suspended from the domestic season. “We have kept a slot open [for them]. Depending on the government and internal board decision, it will be finalised,” BCCI interim president Shivlal Yadav told ESPNcricinfo. “We want the boys to play. We want everybody to participate. Let us hope everything will be sorted and nobody misses out on playing.”Yadav said the BCCI hasn’t set any deadline, but the decision will have to be taken before the inter-state junior cricket tournaments start in early October.RCA deputy president Mehmood Abdi, who clarified that he had not yet seen the handbook, said nobody else apart from their committee would be able to represent RCA. “Ours is a duly elected and recognised body. We are the only association which can govern the game of cricket in the state of Rajasthan as per the Rajasthan Sports Act, so we cannot be deprived of all our privileges.”The BCCI had recently formed an ad-hoc committee to look after cricketing affairs of four disputed associations, including RCA. The BCCI had suspended the RCA in May, minutes after former IPL chairman Lalit Modi had been announced as its elected president. Since Modi had been expelled from the BCCI, the board suspended the RCA for allowing him to contest elections.However, even while suspending RCA, the BCCI had stressed that cricket in the state won’t be affected. “We will see that cricket is not affected and cricketers are not affected across all age groups,” BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel had said. “The ad-hoc committee will work out how Rajasthan can play in BCCI tournaments. The boys and cricket should not suffer. That is our primary goal. The players do not need to worry. We will see how to make them comfortable.”

ScorecardRory Burns made 79 before falling to the last ball of the day•PA Photos

This was a curious day, the sort when anticipation trumps action. There was the beguiling prospect of watching Saeed Ajmal bowl. After looting 28 wickets at 13 apiece this season, his visit to The Oval, scene of 219 of Saqlain Mushtaq’s first-class wickets, was one that filled Surrey with fear and dread. After Worcestershire had lifted their first innings to 476, there seemed a grim inevitability about it all.But, for one day at least, Ajmal was the dog with plenty of bark but no bite. Or, at least, that was how it seemed until the day’s final ball: Rory Burns could not resist wafting outside off stump, and Daryl Mitchell nonchalantly plucked the ball out of the air at first slip.The end was a shame, for Burns, in alliance with Zafar Ansari, had played Ajmal with admirable calm and restraint. They never looked comfortable – few can ever make that boast against the Pakistani – but decisive foot movement, allied to the phlegmatic recognition that being deceived was inevitable, made for a commendable defence.Ansari and Burns even achieved the rare feat of forcing Ajmal to switch ends. After seven overs from the Vauxhall End, he moved to the Pavilion End in search of greater bounce. It took until his 10th over for the spell to weaken, just a fraction, as Burns followed a square cut – the first boundary Ajmal conceded – with a neat clip to the leg side for three. But eventually his relentlessness was rewarded.When England Lions selection should have beckoned, the 2014 season has instead brought struggle for Burns. He had mustered a top score of 53 not out in the first six Championship matches; losing his opening partner Graeme Smith hardly helped.In circumstances not typical of Division Two – as if Ajmal was not enough, Jack Shantry produced an opening spell of genuine hostility – Burns produced a reminder of his considerable gifts. At his best, he is meticulously organised, but there were signs of a more expansive game as he caressed two balls from Ross Whiteley to midwicket late in the day.After Arun Harinath fell early, fending off a vicious lifter from Shantry, Ansari accompanied Burns in a 127-run stand. There is no denying that Ansari possesses a rare package of gifts. At the age of 22, he has taken a first-class five-for with his left-arm spin, has a degree from Cambridge, and – with Hashim Amla missing for this game, believed to be on the cusp of the South Africa Test captaincy – is now batting at No. 3 for Surrey. He showed the technique for the task here, even if spectators on a dreary day may have hoped for a little less stoicism.There was rather more excitement at the end of Worcestershire’s innings. Just as he had done on the first day, Moeen Ali hit the first ball he received from Gareth Batty for a boundary. It sailed over long-on for six – one of Moeen’s five. Batty would have feared plenty of repeats when he shelled Moeen at square leg on 162 but Matthew Dunn found extra pace to take the edge and Gary Wilson took a superb tumbling catch.After Moeen’s dismissal, a little of the sting was taken out of Worcestershire’s innings. On a largely lifeless surface – the intention, no doubt, being to nullify Ajmal – Surrey did well to take the last six wickets for 117 runs. Chris Tremlett will enjoy plenty of pitches more suited to his game but bowled with consistency and skill – he moved the ball both ways on occasions – and deserved more than his three wickets. Batty matched that haul when he ended Ajmal’s harum-scarum effort. His batting is rather less effective than his bowling, but it is almost as enthralling to watch.Amid all the talk about England wicketkeepers, Ben Cox, five years into his county career but still only 22, may be worth watching over the coming years. He played beautifully for 64, including a short-arm jab for six off Tremlett and some attractive cover drives, to lift Worcestershire to 476. A fourth victory of the season, and a tightening grip on the promotion places, is conceivable.