كشف محمود عبد الرازق شيكابالا، لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الزمالك، عن تفاصيل محاولات أحمد حسام ميدو، إثنائه عن قرار الاعتزال وعن علاقته مع أحمد سيد زيزو، لاعب الأهلي الحالي.
وقال شيكابالا، عبر قناة “إم بي سي مصر 2”: “ميدو جاء إلى منزلي وجلس معي، وقال لي: يجب أن تكون حاضرًا، وتراجع قرار الاعتزال، لا يصح أن تتوقف عن اللعب بهذه الطريقة، فأجبته لقد اتخذت هذا القرار منذ عام”.
وأضاف: “الكثير من الناس حاولوا الضغط عليّ، لكنني كنت أرى أن هذا هو التوقيت المناسب، بإذن الله، يكون الفريق في الموسم المقبل في حالة جيدة”.
طالع.. شيكابالا: لاعب الزمالك خسارة لا تعوض.. وقرار اعتزالي لا رجعة فيه
وأكمل: “منذ يومين، تحدثت مع ابني وفتحت معه موضوع الاعتزال، فظن أنني أمزح، وكلما أخبرته كان يضحك، ثم ذهب إلى والدته وقال لها: هل حقًا بابا لن يلعب كرة القدم مرة أخرى”.
وتابع: ” لمن سأسلم الراية في الزمالك؟ لجمهور الزمالك، ولو عاد بي الزمن، كنت سأقول إنني سأُسلم الراية لزيزو، لكنه غير متواجد حاليًا، وهذا ما أحزنني”.
واستطرد: “مرات عديدة كان على وشك الرحيل، وكنت أتحدث مع المسؤولين في النادي مؤكدًا على ضرورة بقاء زيزو في الزمالك”.
وأردف: “وبعد ما حدث، وعاد زيزو وتدرّب مجددًا، لم أتحدث معه، وهو لم يصافحني بعد عودته للتدريبات، هذا الأمر أثّر في نفسي كثيرًا، فنحن لم نكن نتحدث، وذلك كان يزعجني”.
وأتم: “كل أهداف زيزو كنا نحتفل بها سويًا، وزيزو عشرة عمر، وغياب المصافحة بيننا بعد عودته للتدريبات يزعجني بلا شك، وأتمنى له التوفيق”.
When we look back at the 2024/25 campaign, it won’t be remembered for Liverpool’s premature exit from the Champions League.
After such indomitable success in the group phase, Liverpool were rewarded for their first-place finish with an unsavoury meeting against Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16, arguably the toughest opponent possible.
But you’ve got to beat the best to be the best, as the maxim goes, and Liverpool can issue little complaint over their shootout agony, for PSG were well worth their victory over the two legs.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot on the touchline against Lille
Anyhoo. Liverpool’s first campaign with Arne Slot at the helm will be remembered for winning the Premier League (fingers crossed). With nine matches to play, the Reds are 15 points clear at the top of the table. It’s turning into a procession.
However, Slot’s not one to forget a defeat and Liverpool’s Champions League defeat will rankle for some time.
It will also have confirmed in the Dutch coach’s mind – were it not already sealed – that Liverpool need a new striker. But will it be Alexander Isak?
Will Liverpool sign Alexander Isak?
Back in December, Jamie Carragher hailed Isak for being “the best striker in the Premier League right now,” with his goalscoring quality, powerful running and intelligent movements proving too much for the division’s defences.
1.
Mohamed Salah
29
27
2.
Erling Haaland
27
20
3.
Alexander Isak
24
19
4.
Chris Wood
28
18
5.
Bryan Mbeumo
28
15
As you can see, Isak is indeed one of the best forwards across English football, though that man Mohamed Salah still stands mightily above him in the charts.
Though Isak would be a brilliant addition to Liverpool’s ranks, certainly an upgrade on the misfiring Darwin Nunez, it’s been reported Newcastle will demand in excess of £150m for his signature this summer, with further Tyneside reports revealing Eddie Howe hasn’t received any inkling his talisman wants to leave.
Liverpool will be there, but their options stretch beyond that of one man, evidenced when the pursuit of Jude Bellingham was abandoned and an amalgamation of midfield talent was signed instead (Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo).
Whatever FSG do this summer, it’s clear a striker needs to be signed. With Nunez reportedly set to depart, Liverpool should have funds to invest, however sporting director Richard Hughes may want to think about selling Diogo Jota too.
Liverpool need to cash in on Diogo Jota
Liverpool may lift some silverware by the end of the season, but there’s going to be plenty going on this summer, especially with Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk’s contract quandaries still unresolved.
Market Movers
Although selling both Nunez and Jota would be something of a bold move, opening space for not one but two new centre-forwards, it might be worth the hassle. Both stars have flattered to deceive for much of the campaign and Slot needs to stamp his design on Liverpool’s first team.
Jota, typically regarded as one of the most clinical players in the Premier League, has cut a frustrated figure in recent weeks, going eight games without a goal after suffering more injury misfortune. His interminable fitness problems finally appear to be wearing him down.
With only eight goals all season, the one-time Wolverhampton Wanderers talent admitted “I don’t feel my best” at the moment, toiling to little avail.
And anyway, the Portugal international is entering the penultimate year of his £140k-per-week deal. He’s still worth a hefty figure at 28, but if his fitness problems and loss of potency in front of goal persist, Liverpool might find themselves taking a far more minimal fee.
Liverpool striker Diogo Jota
According to Football Transfers, Jota has actually been deduced to be worth about £50m in the current market, which makes an interesting comment on his underlying quality, even if he’s out of sorts at the moment.
Indeed, across the past 365 days, he ranks among the top 19% for shot-creating actions, the top 15% for progressive passes, the top 7% for progressive carries and the top 17% for assists per 90, as per FBref.
There’s a real player in there, evidenced by Jota currently boasting a worth higher than Salah (£25m) and Alexander-Arnold (£45m).
Mohamed Salah celebrates for Liverpool
Of course, both stars are out of contract at the end of the season but this still highlights the high regard Jota is held in from a financial standpoint, with all but a select few Redmen towering above the £50m-rated Iberian, it may indeed be worth cashing in now that signs of regression are starting to show.
In fact, Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg revealed at the beginning of the week that “a reshaping of the squad is planned,” with Jota among the potential sales.
He’s been a terrific servant for the club, scoring 64 goals and providing 22 further assists across 173 outings, winning the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup twice, maybe making that thrice after the weekend. Of course, Liverpool are also 15 points clear at the top of the Premier League, all but set to lift the title in May.
Liverpool signed him from Wolves for £45m in September 2020 and he’s more than paid his due since, but Jota’s time may be coming to an end, with Slot set to welcome some fresh faces to freshen the ranks and continue the pursuit of glory.
Liverpool forward Diogo Jota
BBC analyst Raj Chohan hailed him for his “deadly” goalscoring instinct in the past, but with that trait beginning to desert him, Liverpool indeed need to act before his lofty value starts to depreciate.
Liverpool need to prepare for the summer ahead, and if Hughes and co fail to tie down the likes of Salah and Trent to new deals, it may well be that Liverpool need to cash in on Jota as well as Nunez, for a spree of spending will be required to revamp the squad.
A homegrown Isak: Liverpool teen is already "a better finisher than Nunez"
Chelsea have endured somewhat of a disappointing run in recent weeks, losing three games in a row across all competitions, subsequently having an impact on their Premier League standing.
However, Enzo Maresca managed to end their poor run of form last night, claiming a 4-0 win over bottom side Southampton at Stamford Bridge, a victory that was just their third league win of 2025.
Such a convincing display will add needed confidence to the first-team squad, also bolstering their chances of claiming a Champions League place by the end of the season.
However, despite the huge scoreline, multiple players struggled to produce one of their best performances, potentially being punished by higher-quality opposition on another day.
One player in particular was wasteful in West London during the triumph, extending his own disappointing run within the final third over the last few weeks.
Cole Palmer’s form for Chelsea in 2025
Cole Palmer has been the leading talisman in front of goal for Chelsea since his move from Manchester City in 2023, as seen by his mammoth tally of goal contributions.
The England international has registered 60 combined goals and assists in his 75 appearances for the Blues, but has struggled to maintain his performance levels over the last couple of weeks.
Cole Palmer for Chelsea
Palmer has failed to register a goal contribution in any of the last six games across all competitions, scoring just twice since the turn of the year, showcasing his decline in form.
His showing against the Saints was a wasteful one, notching seven efforts on goal, including three on target, but was unable to find the back of the net – something which he hasn’t usually struggled with in West London.
Such a spell will come as a surprise to the fanbase given his impact over the last 18 months, with Palmer needing to dig deep between now and the end of May to recapture his impressive form.
However, it has allowed for one player to potentially overtake the Englishman in terms of importance to Maresca, with one player thriving since his return to the side.
The Chelsea player who’s becoming more important than Palmer
During the early stages of the 2024/25 season, midfielder Enzo Fernández struggled to cement his place in Maresca’s starting eleven, with Moises Caicedo and Roméo Lavia ahead of him in the pecking order.
Enzo Fernandez for Chelsea
However, he’s emerged as a key member of the first team squad in recent weeks, repaying the faith shown in him by the Italian – impressing beyond anyone’s imagination.
Since the turn of the year, the Argentine may only have registered a single goal, but he has starred with his underlying stats, with his showing against Southampton up there with one of his best in recent times.
Fernandez started at the base of the side alongside Caicedo, featuring for 89 minutes at the Bridge, arguably one of the best performers within the side last night.
The 24-year-old completed 88% of the passes he attempted, whilst also winning 100% of the duels he entered – offering a real commanding presence in the midfield department.
Enzo Fernández’s stats for Chelsea against Southampton
Statistics
Tally
Minutes played
89
Touches
80
Pass accuracy
58/66 (88%)
Duels won
5/5 (100%)
Chances created
6
Dribbles completed
1/1 (100%)
Recoveries made
7
Stats via SofaScore
Enzo also created six chances, completing 100% of dribbles and making seven recoveries – producing a sensational all-round box-to-box performance for the Blues.
As a result of his display, the former Benfica ace was handed a 9/10 match rating by Football London journalist Bobby Vincent, further demonstrating how impressive he was in the convincing victory.
Palmer has no doubt been crucial to the side over the last couple of months, with the former City star expected to have a drop-off after such a stellar start to life in West London.
However, Fernandez has since stepped up to the plate, producing multiple impressive showings at the heart of the side, taking responsibility with Maresca reaping the rewards as a result of the trust shown in him.
Chelsea's £100m star in the making has very quickly become a liability
He’s been really disappointing recently for Enzo Maresca’s side.
عبّر محمد الشناوي، قائد الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالنادي الأهلي وحارس مرماه، عن سعادته بتواجد بعثة الفريق في مدينة ميامي بالولايات المتحدة الأمريكية، استعدادًا للمشاركة في النسخة الجديدة من بطولة كأس العالم للأندية 2025 بنظامها الجديد.
ويستهل الأهلي، مشواره ببطولة كأس العالم للأندية 2025، بمواجهة إنتر ميامي الأمريكي في المباراة الافتتاحية يوم 15 يونيو الجاري.
وأكد الشناوي، عبر الموقع الرسمي للنادي أن الأهلي يدخل البطولة بصفته ناديًا كبيرًا يملك تاريخًا حافلًا بالإنجازات القارية والعالمية، مشيرًا إلى أن الفريق لديه خبرات سابقة في البطولة رغم تغير النظام، وهو ما يمنح اللاعبين دوافع قوية لتقديم أداء يليق باسم الأهلي وتاريخه.
وأضاف قائد الأهلي أن الفريق يستعد بكل تركيز منذ اللحظة الأولى لوصوله إلى أمريكا، موضحًا أن الجهاز الفني بقيادة الإسباني خوسيه ريبييرو يعمل على تجهيز اللاعبين بدنيًا وفنيًا وذهنيًا بأعلى مستوى، من أجل الوصول لأفضل حالة ممكنة قبل انطلاق المباريات.
وشدد الشناوي على أن الأهلي يولي احترامًا كاملًا لجميع الفرق المشاركة في البطولة، ويتعامل مع كل مباراة بجدية ودراسة دقيقة للمنافس، مؤكدًا أن الهدف الرئيسي للفريق هو الظهور القوي وتحقيق نتائج إيجابية تُسعد جماهير النادي في كل مكان.
واختتم قائد الأهلي تصريحاته بالتأكيد على ثقته الكبيرة في زملائه اللاعبين، وقدرتهم على تمثيل النادي بالشكل الذي يعكس تاريخه العريق وطموحاته المستمرة في المنافسة على كل البطولات، متمنيًا أن ينجح الفريق في تقديم أداء قوي خلال مشواره في البطولة وتحقيق النتائج التي تُرضي جماهيره.
Manchester City have got some issues with depth at right-back. Kyle Walker departed the club midway through the January transfer window, joining AC Milan on loan until the end of the season. There is no guarantee he will return to the Etihad Stadium because the Italian giants have an option to buy him.
Someone who Pep Guardiola has turned to as an option at right-back is Matheus Nunes. Although the Portuguese star has played there fairly often, he has looked all at sea.
Most recently, in City’s 3-1 Champions League win over Club Brugge, Nunes received a 4/10 for his efforts from Simon Bajkowski, chief Manchester City writer for the Manchester Evening News, having been undone for the away side’s opener.
With that in mind, it might not be a surprise to see City chasing a deal for Juventus full-back Andre Cambiaso.
Man City's pursuit of Cambiaso
It has been a quick rise for Juve defender Cambiaso. The 24-year-old has played for a whole host of clubs across Italy, originally coming through the academy at Genoa. After making the move to the Allianz Stadium, he has become a key player for the Old Lady.
Andrea Cambiaso in action for Juventus.
Over the course of one and a half seasons in Turin, Cambiaso has played 67 games for the Serie A giants across all competitions. In that time, he has grabbed five goals and eight assists, creating the only goal in the 2023/24 Coppa Italia final against Atalanta, to help Juve to the trophy.
If there is one thing he would bring to City, it is versatility. Whilst they have predominantly got issues at right-back, he has also played at left-back, and in the centre of midfield for Juve during his time at the club so far. That adaptability is surely something Guardiola would love to have available in his squad.
In terms of a price for Cambiaso, he could cost anywhere upwards of £67m, according to a report from GiveMeSport a couple of days ago. Given the money City have spent this winter, it is not clear if they could afford that deal.
However, perhaps this is not a signing City even need to make since they have another versatile full-back in the squad who is worth even more than Cambiaso.
The Man City star worth more than Cambiaso
The player in question here is academy graduate Rico Lewis. It has been an extraordinary rise to the top for the Englishman, who is now fully capped by his country. Within the last two and a half seasons, he has gone from being an academy prospect to an important player for his boyhood club.
Indeed, Lewis, who hails from Bury, has played 80 games for the Citizens so far, after making his debut in 2022/23. He has a similar number of goal involvements to Cambiaso, with four goals and eight assists for Guardiola’s side so far.
That included a strike in his first-ever Champions League start, a 3-1 win at home to Sevilla.
Like the Italian defender, Lewis is a Swiss army knife, able to play in a multitude of positions. So far in his short City career, Guardiola has been able to call upon him to play right across the backline and all over midfield, including as a number 10.
Position
Games
G/A
Right-back
31
4
Defensive midfield
18
6
Left-back
10
1
Central midfield
5
1
Right-midfield
4
0
Attacking midfield
1
0
Centre-back
1
0
According to CIES Football Observatory, the young England defender is valued at as high as £73m, slightly more than the £67m-rated Juventus man. That certainly begs the question, do City actually need to break the bank for Cambiaso?
They already have someone who is of a similar profile; a versatile player who excels at right-back but can also slot into midfield, and is comfortable inverting. Whilst Cambiaso is an exciting player, they have a “special talent” of their own in Lewis, as football statistician Statman Dave described him.
rico-lewis-man-city-championship-leeds-transfers
Perhaps it is smarter for City to save the money and for Guardiola to put his faith in Lewis and give him a run as the first-choice right-back.
Their answer to Rice: Man City exploring late move for "elite" £42m star
Manchester City are seeking midfield reinforcements, so could they sign a number six many believe to be better than Arsenal’s Declan Rice.
In a decisive move, Southampton are now already reportedly considering sending one particular January signing out on loan this month despite only just securing his signature on deadline day.
Southampton transfer news
The Saints needed a strong winter window, but were forced to settle for a mixed month in the transfer market with Alex Gronbaek the significant standout arrival out of the four who arrived. The midfielder has already got his Premier League start and victory under his belt too, having played his part in Southampton’s 2-1 defeat of relegation rivals Ipswich Town recently.
Whilst Gronbaek was one that the Saints managed to get over the line, Ivan Juric didn’t end the transfer window completely satisfied.
The Southampton boss told reporters when asked whether he was disappointed: “A little. There are some positions where we are missing players and that could be an issue in the future. But I understand the situation and it is difficult when you are bottom of the table to convince players. The club tried to bring me what I want – but we didn’t succeed.”
Now, after at least welcoming the young Victor Udoh, the Saints could be about to show the 20-year-old the door. According to Yeni Asir, as relayed by Sport Witness, Southampton are now considering sending Udoh out on loan to Goztepe SK, who are also owned by Sport Republic.
Juric not optimistic as senior Southampton figure suffers fresh injury blow
Frustrating news for the Saints…
ByTom Cunningham Feb 7, 2025
The Saints and the Turkish club have already done business in the past thanks to their ownership link and could now do business once again regarding Udoh. The young forward arrived on deadline day from Royal Antwerp, before being put straight into the U21s rather than the first-team.
That academy stay may be short-lived, however, with Goztepe potentially swooping in before Turkey’s deadline on February 13.
"Promising" Udoh is one for the future
Whilst there’s no doubt that Southampton could do with the added firepower, Udoh’s inexperience in senior football was always likely to stand in the way of the Nigerian making an instant impact. Instead, a loan move in pursuit of adding that experience to his game should prove to be an intelligent move from those at St Mary’s.
Dubbed “promising” by All Nigeria Soccer as he completed his move, Udoh impressed at youth level for Royal Antwerp enough to earn a place from the bench in 12 of their Jupiler Pro League games in the current campaign.
If he is to secure an instant loan spell away from St Mary’s in the coming days, then Udoh will be one to watch from afar. Even as Southampton continue to scrap away in an attempt to restore some pride to their season, they may yet have discovered a gem.
SouthamptonmanagerIvan Juric
In an ideal world, whilst Juric came away disappointed from the January transfer window, the Saints have given him an eventual solution to lead the line for his side – be it in the Premier League or the Championship.
Asad Rauf, the former ICC elite panel umpire from Pakistan, has died following a cardiac arrest in Lahore. Rauf was 66 years old. He officiated in 64 Tests (49 as on-field umpire and 15 as TV umpire), 139 ODIs and 28 T20Is.Rauf was one of Pakistan’s most prominent umpires in the mid-2000s, having been elevated to the ICC’s elite panel in 2006. He had officiated in his first Test the previous year, and been on the ODI panel since 2004, having stood in his first ODI in 2000. He was a popular figure on the circuit who, alongside Aleem Dar, did his bit in improving the reputation of Pakistani umpires before the neutral umpires era. But his career came to an abrupt halt in 2013 when he was named as a “wanted accused” by Mumbai police in their investigation into the IPL spot-fixing scandal, where Rauf had been umpiring. Rauf left India before the end of that IPL season and but was withdrawn from the Champions Trophy that followed by the ICC and later that year would be dropped from the ICC’s elite panel, though the ICC insisted it wasn’t because his name had come up in the investigations.Rauf protested his innocence throughout and said he would be happy to cooperate with the ACSU. In 2016, the BCCI banned Rauf for five years on four charges of corruption and misconduct.Rauf had a substantial first-class career as a middle-order batter before he turned to umpiring, appearing for National Bank and Railways, averaging 28.76 from 71 first-class matches.
Everton are reportedly interested in completing the January signing of a £7.4m defender who could replace both Seamus Coleman and Ashley Young.
Everton transfer news
The Blues’ season continues to be an uninspiring one, not only because of consistently disappointing results, but also due to the negative football being played by the under-fire Sean Dyche. While they have breathing space in the Premier League, in terms of the relegation battle, it is still frustrating for supporters that they are once again aiming to avoid the drop more than anything else.
Everton’s form means that potential replacements for Dyche are continuing to emerge, with legendary former Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri mentioned as a hugely eye-catching option for the Merseysiders. He won six Serie A title during his time in charge in Turin, and would therefore be a major coup.
New signings in the January transfer window will go down well at Goodison Park, and they have been linked with players, as The Friedkin Group weigh up making their presence felt early on. Yunus Agkun has been mentioned as an exciting target for the Blues, with the Galatasaray ace scoring five goals in six appearances in the Europa League this season.
Everton are believed to be eyeing both a right-back and a winger this month, with additional depth and quality required in those areas of the pitch moving forward. Now, a key update has emerged regarding a signing in one of those positions.
Everton want to sign £7.4m defender
According to Takvim [via Sport Witness], Everton are keen on securing the signing of Galatasaray right-back Elias Jelert, as they look to the future with Coleman and Young in the latter stages of their careers.
They could snap him up for £7.4m, with his current club willing to sell him on a permanent deal in January, with offers expected to arrive for him.
Jelert could be exactly what Everton need in January, at a time when Coleman and Young are closer to 40 than 30, and clearly a long way past their very best, despite still giving their all for the club.
The next Ancelotti: TFG could axe Dyche for serial title winner at Everton
Sean Dyche could be facing uncertainty at Everton in the coming months.
By
Angus Sinclair
Jan 3, 2025
At 21, the Galatasaray man would be a long-term addition as well as possibly an immediate key man, with one goal coming his way in the Europa League this season, as well as an 86.4% pass completion rate in the competition. Meanwhile, football talent scout Jacek Kulig has even described him as “complete” and “one of the most interesting young right-backs in Europe”.
Jelert may tick so many boxes for Everton, and if they can beat others to his signing, it could end up being a masterstroke, given how highly rated he is as a young player with a bright future in the game.
England seamer impresses on comeback after Dane Paterson, James Pattinson share all 10
ECB Reporters Network27-Jul-2022Nottinghamshire 240 and 284 for 7 (Hameed 94, James 56, Robinson 3-55) lead Sussex 143 (Paterson 5-43, Pattinson 5-56) by 381 runsEngland’s Ollie Robinson increased his wickets haul to seven in the match but Nottinghamshire were in full control at the halfway stage of their LV= Insurance County Championship match against Sussex.Robinson proved deadly with the new ball for the second time, reducing the Division Two leaders to 40 for 3 in their second innings. But after Haseeb Hameed made 94 and Lyndon James 56, Nottinghamshire finished on 284 for 7, with a lead of 381.Earlier, Nottinghamshire pace bowlers James Pattinson and Dane Paterson finished with five wickets each as Sussex, who sit next to bottom of the table, were bowled out for 143 in reply to Nottinghamshire’s first innings 240.To add to their woes, any points take from this match – they have three thus far – may be lost, as they stand at minus six on their over-rate.Nottinghamshire needed just under an hour first thing to take the final five Sussex wickets, the key breakthrough coming in the sixth over when Paterson trapped Cheteshwar Pujara with an inswinging ball that was too good even for a player of the Indian Test star’s calibre.His wicket, ending a partnership worth 71, more than compensated the South African bowler for a chance missed earlier when Archie Lenham, the 18-year-old son of Neil Lenham and grandson of Les, who had battled courageously alongside Pujara in the face of a high class attack, was put down at second slip.With Pujara gone, Paterson and Pattinson ripped through the remainder so quickly that all five wickets fell for 23 runs in the space of 34 deliveries.Pattinson removed Lenham for a gutsy 31, the youngster looking disappointed to be given out leg before after the ball rolled away to third slip. Robinson was strangled down the leg side, prompting Luke Fletcher to appear alongside Pattinson to congratulate him on his first five-wicket haul of the season.Not to be outdone, Paterson knocked out Sean Hunt’s off stump before having Ari Karvelas plainly leg-before to finish with 5 for 43, Pattinson having taken 5 for 56.As on day one of a breathtakingly fast-moving contest, Robinson came up with a superb opening spell as Sussex, trailing by 97 on first innings, made early inroads.Again, his fourth and fifth overs were productive as Ben Slater, Ben Duckett and Joe Clarke departed in the space of six deliveries, the last-named pair without scoring.Slater went after a short ball with little chance of controlling the shot and was caught at fine leg. Duckett was caught behind off an inside edge before Clarke, offering no shot, was lbw to a ball that kept low.If they had winkelled out Hameed at that point, Sussex might have felt they were back in the contest but the sometime England opener, closing on 1,000 first-class runs in a season for the first time since his sensational breakthrough year at Lancashire in 2016, looked in splendid touch.A superbly timed straight drive for four in Robinson’s opening over was evidence of that and by the time he pulled Brad Currie to the fence for his ninth boundary he had 50 from 71 balls. Having seen the back of Robinson for a while, he and James added 138 in 33 overs.Hameed missed out on a hundred when a ball from Hunt, the 20-year-old left-armer, nipped away to have him caught behind. In his best spell of the match, Hunt also dismissed James, lbw trying to work him to leg.Currie removed Tom Moores shortly after tea with another delivery that found the edge and Steven Mullaney, whose 70 was the key innings in Nottinghamshire’s first innings, added another 42 before he was leg before sweeping another 18-year-old, the left-arm spinner.Pattinson and Liam Patterson-White added 34 before bad light brought the close forward by two overs.
Adani’s foray into the league makes them the fifth franchise owner in the tournament
ESPNcricinfo staff09-May-2022Adani Group, an Ahmedabad-based Indian infrastructure biggie, has bagged the rights to one of the six franchises in the newly-launched UAE T20 League.Adani’s foray into the league, through their subsidiary Adani Sportsline, makes them the fifth franchise owner in the tournament. The other four firms that have already brought franchise rights comprise: Capri Global, a non-banking financial company based in India, Lancer Capital, the owners of Manchester United Football Club, Reliance Strategic Business Ventures Limited, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited, the owners of Mumbai Indians and GMR Group, co-owners of Delhi Capitals.”We are excited to be part of the UAE T20 league,” Pranav Adani, the managing director of Adani Enterprises Limited, said. “The UAE is an amazing amalgamation of several cricket loving nations. It provides an excellent platform for enhancing the visibility of cricket as the sport goes increasingly global.”The Adani Group had last year put their hat in the ring to buy the Ahmedabad and Lucknow franchises in the IPL, bidding INR 5100 crores, though they were eventually outbid by corporate giants RP Sanjiv Goenka Group (RPSG) and CVC Capital Partners (Irelia Company Pte Ltd).”We are extremely pleased to have one of Asia’s leading corporates as our franchise team owner,” Mubashshir Usmani, the general secretary of the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB), said. “This is a resounding thumbs up to the unique opportunity that the UAE T20 league offers to experienced and established business owners. We are confident that this association will be mutually beneficial for both the Adani Group and the League. UAE’s T20 League will attract some of the biggest names in world cricket while also giving a platform and international exposure to local and upcoming players.”The six-team league, comprising 34 matches, was originally meant to be played in the February-March bracket, but the ECB remains confident it will host the inaugural edition of the league in 2022.ESPNcricinfo understands that one probable window would be in June, immediately after the IPL which is scheduled to end on May 29.