The Pakistan Cricket Board has decided to stick to the best possible team for the ODI series against Zimbabwe that is scheduled to get underway next month. It was widely anticipated, and planned by the national selection committee, that new faces will be tried in the relatively low-key series in order to assess Pakistan’s backup resources.”We cannot take Zimbabwe on any other team lightly,” Nasim Ashraf, chairman of the PCB, told the . “That is why we will ensure that our best possible team plays against Zimbabwe and wins the series five-nil.”Salahuddin Ahmed, the chief selector, had earlier planned on introducing young blood into the team during the series.”We will definitely try out some new faces in whichever department we need them in,” Salahuddin had told Cricinfo. “That’s not to say that we are taking Zimbabwe lightly, but we need to assess players on the fringes of the national side and this is a good opportunity.”However, after Ashraf attended a couple of domestic matches on Thursday, he had a meeting with Salahuddin where a decision to hold a three-day exercise to test several upcoming cricketers was taken. The camp is scheduled to take place in Karachi from January 9 and will include 22 to 24 promising youngsters in action.”We will call around 20 to 24 youngsters for a few trial matches ahead of the series against Zimbabwe,” Ashraf said. “The players will be selected on the basis of their performance in domestic events as well as during Under-19 assignments.”We will spot players who can be a part of the national team in the future but will bring them in step by step. This is because we have to make it sure that the team’s performance is not affected by too many rapid changes.”We have a four-day and a three-day game against Zimbabwe and they would provide us with excellent opportunities to check out the youngsters who are knocking at the doors of international cricket.”We need solid players who can be groomed into world class Test cricketers.”The tour is scheduled to start on January 14 with a four-day match in Karachi. However, yesterday’s assassination of Benazir Bhutto, former prime minister, has thrown the immediate fate of the series in doubt.
The one remaining issue of the Division Two season was settled in the first hour of the day as Warwickshire secured the bonus points needed against Glamorgan for them to overhaul Worcestershire and clinch the title at Edgbaston.Glamorgan, a side whose finish to the summer on and off the field is taking on Devon Loch qualities, offered no fight once they had polished off the Warwickshire innings. Neil Carter continued the onslaught he started last night, so much so that another 21 runs had been added when Tim Ambrose was dismissed without adding to his overnight 86. Adam Shanty took two of the three wickets to fall to finish with 5 for 77.That left them needing three Glamorgan wickets, and they didn’t have to wait long as Chris Woakes tore through a flimsy top order. After removing Gareth Rees and Tom Maynard, the title was secured when Jonathan Trott caught Michael Powell, and the collapse continued as Glamorgan limped to 43 for 6. Jamie Dalrymple was the man to dig in, and his plucky 92 ensured there was no follow-on. He was last man out, caught at long-on as he tried for his hundred before running out of partners, falling to Woakes who finished with 6 for 68.Second time round, Warwickshire were, understandably, slightly less focussed, and as was the case yesterday, they lost early wickets to close on 55 for 3. The day was rounded off when Ian Salisbury was awarded the third county cap of his career, adding to the ones he gained at Sussex and Surrey.Middlesex made the most of a placid pitch at Wantage Road to amass 545 for 7 against Northamptonshire. Andrew Strauss fell early for 172, failing to beat his career-best score by five runs, but Owais Shah, 80 not out overnight, completed his hundred and then Eoin Morgan gorged himself in making an unbeaten 136. In the midst of plenty there was a rather unexpected mid-innings collapse as four wickets fell for 19, Ed Joyce, in probably his last innings for the county, making only 1, while Monty Panesar whirled away to finish with 5 for 143. Northamptonshire found things equally straightforward although their batsmen got themselves out after playing themselves in, and more application will be needed tomorrow if they are to avoid the follow-on. At the close, they were 128 for 3.Leicestershire’spolicy of fielding young England players among their Kolpaks is well documented, but it was Derbyshire’s 21-year-old Portsmouth-born offspinner Jake Needham who pulled his side back into the match at Grace Road. He took career-best figures of 6 for 49, and more impressively 5 for 24 after lunch, as Leicestershire slid from 152 for 4 to 208 all out, a lead of only 14. After that excitement the rest of a truncated day was fairly hard work for the Leicester diehards, Derbyshire grinding their way to 85 for 0 in 43 turgid overs on a pitch where the bounce remains variable.Essex were another side who decided to give they batsmen free rein on a flat pitch as they piled up 510 against Gloucestershire at Bristol. James Foster gave the selectors a nudge on the eve of them naming their Test squad for India with 122 while James Middlebrook chipped in with 75, the pair adding 107 for the seventh wicket. Gloucestershire were heartened by the performance of Rob Woodman who took a career-best 4 for 65 on his debut, but when it was their turn to bat, they found the going much harder. They slid to 49 for 3 in the 25th over, the umpires coming to their aid when they took the players off for bad light.
The second ODI between Canada and Netherlands at the Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club was abandoned without a ball being bowled.Rain in the early morning left the ground wet, and although the mopping up operation went well, no sooner had it finished that the rain returned.At 1.10pm the rain again relented and the two captains headed out to the middle to toss, but before they got out there a light drizzle started falling and the two of them returned to the pavilion.An hour later the decision was taken to abandon the game. Even though it had again stopped raining, the umpires decided that the outfield was too wet and would take too long to clear up.Netherlands take the two-match series by virtue of their 117-run win in yesterday’s game.On Tuesday at King City, the Canadian Invitational XI beat the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by 37 runs. This was a warm-up game for the UAE before playing Canada in a four-day Intercontinental Cup match starting on Friday at Maple Leaf Cricket Club, King City. Play begins at 10.30am.The Invitational XI scored 290 for 7, with Quebec’s Abdul Jabbar topscoring with 75. There were fifties, too, for Zain Ahmed (56) and Hemnarine Chattergoon (50).Saqib Ali made 90 not out and Ismail 62 for the visitors from a total of 233. Calvert Hooper took 3 for 45, Naresh Roopnaraine 2 for 36 and Krunal Patel 2 for 33.
The Indian selectors, acting on the advice of the captain and coach, will decide on Wednesday about the number of players to be included in the preliminary list to be submitted to the ICC for the Champions Trophy in October.Though most nations have named, or are in the process of naming 30-man preliminary squads, there has been some debate in the Indian camp over whether to have 30 names, or as few as 22. With Sourav Ganguly expected to be one of the names under consideration, Wednesday’s decision will be watched exceedingly closely.Kiran More, the chairman of selectors whose term expires next month, revealed as much while interacting with the media after the first day of India’s final camp prior to the tri-nation tournament in Sri Lanka. The team had regular net sessions today, and a practice match is planned fortomorrow morning.The much-hyped centre-wicket practices, which simulate match situations better than your ordinary net session, weren’t in evidence today, with batsmen and bowlers going through the routine drills. Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag were first into the nets in the morning, while Sachin Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh initially played half-pitch on the adjacent cement surface. Lakshmipathy Balaji, who has been out with injury for a year, was among those to bowl to Tendulkar, and he may certainly come into the frame for the Champions Trophy.Several of the batsmen, and later the bowlers, practised big hits, while most of the bowlers experimented with slower deliveries, which will be of some import on the placid and treacle-slow surfaces expected in Sri Lanka. The players also had a 20-minute session of Edward de Bono’s Lateral Thinking method on Sunday evening, and there was a yoga session beforenets this morning. When asked about the efficacy of the various techniques employed during the first camp last week, More was fairly vague. “Anything that helps with balance and concentration is good,” he said, referring to the one tai-chi session.According to him, there was no confusion regarding Tendulkar’s fitness. Though the board had pronounced him 100% fit, Greg Chappell had revealed soon after his arrival in India that Tendulkar would be made to field in the inner ring since his throwing arm still wasn’t up to speed. “You created the confusion,” said More, “you listen to what Chappell said,” clearly unaware of what the coach said.The new methods were in More’s words, part of a sea change in Indian cricket. “The system that we grew up in, you just did nets, ran ten rounds and then did about 15 sprints. These team games stress on thinking and planning, and there are different leaders, which gives each player more confidence. The routine can become boring, and it’s our job to keep the players happy.”He refused to be drawn on the controversy sparked off by extracts from John Wright’s book. “I haven’t read it yet,” said More. “He did much to improve Indian cricket, and I prefer to take whatever he said in a positive way.”
The forthcoming Afro-Asia one-day series risks hitting the buffers before it has even started with the news that, so far, there has been a distinct lack of enthusiasm regarding the TV rights.ESPN/Star, who would usually be considered among the front-runners for such a contest, are committed to showing the Zimbabwe-New Zealand Test series (which clashes with the first game) and then English Premier League football (which clashes with the second and third matches). Additionally, the three ODIs fall in the middle of their Ashes coverage.Ten Sports, another likely bidder, are covering the Rabobank hockey tournament, featuring the leading nations including India and Pakistan. And although South Africa’s Supersport has expressed interest, they have also said that they are not willing to pay for the rights.The appeal of the event has not been helped by the questionable availability of leading players. The entire Zimbabwe squad are effectively ruled out by their national commitments, while a number of the South African side have county contracts which they are reported to be unwilling to break to play in matches which have questionable value, despite them having the official backing of the ICC.Pakistan announced today that none of their players would be forced to take part, with a senior official quoted as saying that “if any player wants to skip the event it’s all right with us”.The only guaranteed big-name participants appear to be India, although Sachin Tendulkar, their main draw, is out injured. Given that the tournament is the brainchild Jagmohan Dalmiya, there is likely to be intense pressure on the Indians to agree to take part.When the event was first touted – to a decidedly mixed response – it was hoped that TV rights could be worth more than $10 million over a three-year period, but with less than three weeks to go until the opening match, it seems that the organisers might have to take whatever they can get.
The International Cricket Council and the England & Wales Cricket Board today launched the ICC Champions Trophy 2004 in London. The event, dubbed by many as the Mini World Cup, will take place at three venues in England (Edgbaston, The Oval and Southampton’s Rose Bowl) between September 10 and 25.Several international captains marked the London launch by throwing down the gauntlet for the tournament. For a start, Ricky Ponting is acutely aware that this is one tournament that Australia has never won: “It’s one trophy we haven’t been able to get our hands on,” he said, “and we haven’t played anything like our best cricket in past events. It’s the second biggest one-day tournament we play, and I know a lot of the players in our side are keen to make sure we play well in England this time around.”Graeme Smith, meanwhile, is hoping for a strong performance to erase the memories of South Africa’s damp-squib exit from the 2003 World Cup at home. “It is a tremendously important event for us. We didn’t do too well in the last World Cup, so it is important to see how far we’ve come since then and to gain some experience against the world’s best. I’d like to believe our chances are good and our chances must be good if we prepare well, remain focused and play good cricket.”And England’s Michael Vaughan thinks the Champions Trophy will play an important role in the development of his new-look one-day side. “We are giving players experience all the time and making sure they learn and we are building all the time to the next World Cup,” he said. “We are progressing, but we are nowhere near the finished article. Playing in England is something that is a strength of ours, and we showed last year against Pakistan, Zimbabwe and South Africa that we are a match for any team on our day. But to win a trophy you have to play consistently well against good teams for three weeks.”Ehsan Mani, ICC’s president, expressed his delight that the world’s best cricketers would be gathering in England in September. “It is the only time outside the World Cup when all of the top teams assemble in one country,” he said. “With the World Cup not likely to return to England for at least a decade it will be a rare opportunity for English cricket fans to see the world’s best players.”I know that some people are wary that we have scheduled a cricket event in England in September. Our research has shown that it is England’s fourth-warmest month, and we have amended the playing conditions to give us every chance of matches being completed. All games have scheduled reserve days and, unlike two years ago, matches will be continued the following day rather than replayed in the event of showers or bad light.”The event will also enable us to draw attention to our strategic alliance with UNAIDS. Cricket cannot ignore this problem of HIV and AIDS and I look forward to the sport’s top players uniting in this common cause later this year.”Meanwhile David Morgan, the ECB chairman, was equally upbeat: “At ECB we are confident that the tournament will provide a spectacular climax to an exciting and invigorating summer of international cricket in England and Wales. What a feast for supporters of the game here – 15 games in 15 days with the best players in the world gracing three of our international venues – all who are interested in cricket will be excited by that prospect.”The total tournament prize fund is second only to that offered at the 2003 World Cup.This is the fourth time the ICC has staged the event. It began as the ICC Knockout in Bangladesh in 1998, when South Africa beat West Indies in the final. Two years later, New Zealand defeated India in Kenya. In 2002 the name was changed to the ICC Champions Trophy to reflect a new format. After a thrilling semi-final between India and South Africa, unseasonal rains prevented the completion of the final between India and the hosts Sri Lanka.The Champions Trophy is part of the ICC’s long-term commercial partnership with the Global Cricket Corporation. The global partners for the event are LG Electronics, Pepsi, Hutchison and Hero Honda.
The Zimbabwe Cricket team will be playing in the Cherry Blossom Sharjah Cup, in the United Arab Emirate, from the third to the 10th of next month.The Sport and Recreation Commission cleared the team today, after its concerns about security in Sharjah were addressed by a letter of guarantee from the organisers, the commitment of the team to travel and reports of other sporting activities underway or scheduled for that country and the neighbouring emirate of Dubai where there will be several meetings of the International Cricket Council.One of the highlights of the international horse-racing calendar, the Dubai Classic, will be run there on Saturday.The Zimbabwe squad for the tournament comprises captain Heath Streak, Grant Flower, Craig Wishart, Gavin Rennie, Travis Friend, Mluleki Nkala, Dion Ebrahim, Raymond Price, Douglas Hondo, Douglas Marillier, Stewart Matsikenyeri, Sean Ervine, Tatenda Taibu and Andy Blignaut.The manager is Mohammed Meman, physiotherapist Bradley Robinson, coach Geoff Marsh and selector-on-tour Jon Brent.Kevin Barbour has been appointed as one of the umpires for the tournament, and Justice Ahmed Ebrahim match referee.
An unhappy and acrimonious week for South African cricket ended on Saturday when Percy Sonn was re-elected president of the United Cricket Board, beating off a challenge from Dr Mtutulezi Nyoka by what is thought to be a comfortable majority.There was, however, a change to the vice-presidency where KwaZulu-Natal’s Robbie Kurz was elected ahead of the incumbent Richard Harrison. Nyoka had been nominated for the vice-presidency as well, but withdrew his nomination after his defeat by Sonn.Afterwards Nyoka tried to suggest that the leaking of a letter last weekend in which he listed a number of complaints concerning the UCB as well as a claim that he was being investigated by the elite Scorpions investigative unit, of which Sonn is the head, did not form part of a campaign for the presidency. His arguments were unconvincing, however. Few observers believe that the release of the letter and Nyoka’s election bid were unconnected and most are of the view that the letter was part of a strategy that backfired against the newly-elected Gauteng chairman.Nyoka offered no apologies for what Sonn, in his president’s report, described as a “presidential campaign with a difference” and the “unpleasantness of the past few weeks”. The challenger also said that that he still intended to clear his name of “rumours” that he had used his position on the World Cup policy committee to enrich himself and insisted that these “rumours” had reached “high places” in the Scorpions unit.Sonn was reluctant to add to his comments in his president’s report, but he did say upon election that he did not regard the presidency as “something that one can own” and he pledged to “behave like a servant which I am”.Sonn said afterwards that his position as head of the Scorpions unit and the work of the unit itself were governed by statute.Following the election, Kurz’s first duty was to speak to both Sonn and Nyoka after which the General Council issued the following statement: “The Council congratulates the president on his election, expresses its disappointment at the unfortunate public of the contest and is convinced that claims about corruption relating to both candidates have no substance.”The Council considers the matter closed and both parties have committed themselves to ensuring that South African is united and looking forward to the next season against India and Australia. Furthermore, the UCB intends to deliver the best World Cup yet.”John Blair was re-elected treasurer and the three black African representatives elected were Tim Khumalo of Free State, Peter Bacela of Border and North West’s Gabriel “Oupa” Nkagisang.In his treasurer’s report, Blair noted that income from incoming tours and television rights had dropped during the past financial year. This could be attributed to the tours by Sri Lanka and New Zealand and TV revenue would be “substantially higher in the new year due to India and Australia touring in the new season”.Blair also criticised the R14,4-million loaned to affiliates, noting that “this amount has shown a steady increase over the years and can be attributed to poor financial management/disciplines at certain of the affiliates. This matter will be addressed as a matter of priority in the new year”.
Nigeria are one of Africa’s most iconic national sides with three AFCON titles to their name and a string of memorable performances at the World Cup.
The Super Eagles have produced countless high profile players at top clubs throughout world football, from mavericks like Jay-Jay Okocha to midfield enforcers such as John Obi-Mikel.
Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman hope to lead the current generation to glory, but who is the greatest Nigerian footballer of all time?
10 Victor Osimhen
Osimhen is the only active player to crack the top ten, as it’s impossible to leave the striker out given his success at club and international level.
The towering front man is forever etched into Italian football history after helping end Napoli’s title drought in the 2022-23 season, racking up 26 league goals and being crowned both Serie A player of the year and African footballer of the year.
At international level, Osimhen only made his senior debut in 2017 but is already one of the country’s greatest ever goalscorers, with just a handful more goals needed to pass Rashidi Yekini in first place.
9 Vincent Enyeama
Vincent Enyeama is Nigeria’s greatest goalkeeper ever. With incredible reflexes, leadership, and consistency, he anchored the Super Eagles for over a decade, racking up 101 caps for his national side.
He captained Nigeria to the 2013 AFCON title and starred at multiple World Cups, particularly in 2014, where he produced memorable performances in clean sheets against Iran and Bosnia
At club level, the legendary shot-stopper won the Nigerian Premier League three times in the early 2000s before spending over half a decade in France starring for Lille.
8 Finidi George
Finidi George was one of Africa’s finest wingers in the 1990s and a player who the likes of Lookman and Alex Iwobi will no doubt be looking up to.
With incredible pace and crossing that David Beckham would be proud of, he was a key part of Ajax’s golden generation that won the 1995 UEFA Champions League.
For the Super Eagles, Finidi was instrumental in the 1994 AFCON triumph and featured prominently in World Cups.
Consistency at elite club level and success internationally make Finidi one of Nigeria’s most accomplished players of all time, having also won the Eredivisie three times during his spell at Ajax.
7 John Obi Mikel
John Obi Mikel redefined the role of a Nigerian midfielder. Known for his intelligence, reading of the game and composure on the ball, he enjoyed most of his success at Chelsea, winning two Premier League titles, the Champions League and the Europa League.
Jose Mourinho once called him the “miracle man” due to his ability to play as a destroyer, marauding box to box midfielder or even as a number ten, with that versatility marking him out as one of the greatest midfielders in the Premier League in the late 2000s and early 2010s.
As captain, Mikel led Nigeria to AFCON victory in 2013 and an Olympic bronze medal in 2016. His leadership and discipline were crucial in stabilising teams filled with attacking talent.
6 Sunday Oliseh
On the topic of tough tackling midfielders, Sunday Oliseh was the engine of Nigeria’s midfield during its most successful era. A powerful and ruthless number six with tactical intelligence and leadership to boot, he played a crucial role in the 1994 AFCON win, 1996 Olympic gold, and multiple World Cup campaigns.
At club level, Oliseh featured for top European sides including Ajax, Juventus and Borussia Dortmund, making him one of the most decorated exports from Nigerian football.
His iconic long-range goal against Spain at the 1998 World Cup remains one of Nigerian sport’s greatest moments.
5 Segun Odegbami
Segun “Mathematical” Odegbami was Nigeria’s first true football superstar. Playing primarily in the 1970s and early 1980s, he was a dynamic winger known for his pace, intelligence and ability to step up in the big moments.
He starred in Nigeria’s first AFCON victory in 1980, scoring crucial goals throughout the tournament. His understanding of the game and off-the-ball movement were ahead of his time, creating the pathway for the growth of some of the country’s greatest attacking talents.
Odegbami helped lay the foundation for modern African football, inspiring generations long before the continent gained the type of global footballing exposure it has today.
4 Stephen Keshi
Stephen Keshi is one of a kind as a man who both captained and managed Nigeria to AFCON glory, starring in the 1994 team and later coaching them to another title in 2013.
As a defender, he was strong, commanding, and tactically astute.
Keshi enjoyed a successful club career in Europe, notably in Belgium, and also represented Nigeria in two World Cups and was a pillar of the golden generation.
As a coach, he rebuilt Nigerian football with locally based players, restoring national pride at a time when the national side was struggling. His legacy as both a player and coach cements his spot as one of the greatest of all time.
3 Nwankwo Kanu
A two-time African Footballer of the Year, Kanu won the UEFA Champions League with Ajax, multiple Premier League titles with Arsenal, and an Olympic gold medal in 1996 with Nigeria, making him one of the greatest African footballers of all time.
Overcoming a life-threatening heart condition early in his career, Kanu went on to enjoy remarkable longevity at the highest level, inspiring not only with his ability but with his resilience and fortitude.
His intelligent movement, ball control and lethal finishing made him a unique forward who thrived in tight spaces despite his huge 6 foot 5 frame.
Kanu’s post-playing career and humanitarian work further enhance his legacy, with the Kanu Heart Foundation tackling homelessness, building hospitals and paying for life-changing medical care.
2 Jay-Jay Okocha
Austin “Jay-Jay” Okocha is widely regarded as Nigeria’s most technically gifted footballer ever and one of the most “Barclays” players of all time.
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Blessed with extraordinary dribbling ability, flair, and creativity, Okocha played the game with a smile on his face, and has even been compared to Brazil legend Ronaldinho.
He was the heartbeat of the Super Eagles for over a decade, starring in three World Cups and winning the 1994 AFCON. At club level, he shone for Eintracht Frankfurt, Fenerbahçe, PSG, and Bolton Wanderers, where he became a cult hero in the Premier League.
Okocha’s influence went beyond trophies – he changed how Nigerian footballers were perceived globally.
1 Rashidi Yekini
Rashidi Yekini stands as the most iconic striker in Nigerian football history. He remains Nigeria’s all-time leading goalscorer with 37 goals in 58 appearances, a record that has never seriously been threatened until Osimhen’s emergence.
His physical strength and clinical finishing made him a nightmare for defenders throughout the late 1980s and 1990s.
Yekini’s legacy is inseparable from Nigeria’s first World Cup goal in 1994, scored against Bulgaria. His emotional celebration – clutching the net and shouting in disbelief – became one of the most enduring images in World Cup history.
He also finished as the tournament’s top scorer in Nigeria’s 1994 AFCON triumph.
Yekini remains the benchmark against which all Nigerian players are measured.
Ranking The 10 Best Cameroon Football Players Of All Time
One of Africa’s most successful national sides and one with a great history in the World Cup, here are Cameroon’s greatest players (ranked).
The ECB is to look into the influx of South African players in the English county game.The bulk of those involved are playing by virtue of the Kolpak ruling, an EU loophole originally aimed at trade between the community and certain countries. The numbers have burgeoned since 2004, largely as a result of disenchantment at strict racial quotas in South Africa which have led to players looking to forge a career in England.The match between Northamptonshire and Leicestershire which started today highlighted the issue, with each side fielding five South Africans. Leicestershire also included a West Indian Kolpaker and an Australian playing under a UK passport, while Northamptonshire had an Irishman.David Smith, Leicestershire’s chairman, has defended his county’s position, explaining last week that the more experienced Kolpaks were being used to give his side backbone, enabling him to field up-and-coming English talent. But many have grown alarmed at the quantity of what are seen as cheap imports on county rosters.”There is great concern about what is happening,” an ECB source told the BBC. “The board will look at the situation of an almost doubling of non-English qualified players as a matter of urgency.”The ECB has tried to tackle the problem by imposing financial penalties. At present, if a county fields a Kolpak player they are deducted £1100 from their annual handout. But many counties have not been dissuaded by that and the numbers have continued to increase.At present, Kolpaks are limited to a few Caribbean countries, South Africa and Zimbabwe, but it is believed that there is a possibility that Australia and New Zealand could be included in the near future, opening the floodgates to even more Kolpak players.The ECB is unable under EU legislation to ban or impose limits on Kolpak players, although there are suggestions that the law could be reviewed as it was originally intended to apply to trade rather than labour.