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Mesmo apresentando novidades quanto a seu formato e duração, a Florida Cup manterá em 2019 uma tradição: contar com clubes brasileiros. A partir desta quinta-feira, Flamengo e São Paulo vão representar o país no torneio que, a cada edição, amplia o desejo por intercâmbio entre equipes de várias nacionalidades e uma expansão internacional de mercado.

Segundo o CEO do evento, Ricardo Villar, o formato com quatro clubes e quatro partidas tenta ajudar a preparação dos clubes e abrir espaço para novas atrações em torno da competição:

-O número de clubes foi reduzido para entregar um formato mais atraente ao público e aos times. Além disso, a plataforma está crescendo como um todo. Somos hoje um evento e não um torneio apenas – afirmou, ao LANCE!.

Além da competição (que, além do Rubro-Negro e do Tricolor paulista, terá Ajax-HOL e Eintrach Frankfurt-ALE), a programação apresenta em 2019 uma corrida de 5Km, um confronto de lendas do futebol nos parques da Universal Studios Florida e um show da cantora Ivete Sangalo. Prova de que, para as equipes brasileiras, há muita coisa em jogo.

VALORIZAÇÃO DA MARCA E INTERCÂMBIO COM CLUBES EUROPEUS

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A possibilidade de a pré-temporada servir para clubes brasileiros subirem de valor é exaltada por Ricardo Villar. Segundo o CEO do evento, a Florida Cup dá visibilidade tanto a clubes quanto a jogadores:

-Para os jogadores, é a chance de ter uma exposição global, jogar contra o mercado europeu, por exemplo. Comercialmente falando, a oportunidade é muito boa para internacionalização das marcas, além do retorno natural que participar do evento significa para os patrocinadores que os times já tem.

A sensação de que a pré-temporada no exterior é uma boa chance de subir de valor marca quem participou do torneio com assiduidade. Mandatário de um Corinthians que disputou as edições entre 2015 e 2018, Roberto de Andradeapontou como a ida para a Flórida trouxe impacto ao Timão:

– Usamos a pré-temporada para agregar muito ao clube em relação à marca e à exposição. Além disto, levamos o grupo para um lugar diferente, para uma nova rotina. Isto traz benefícios ao elenco.

Já aos olhos do presidente do Atlético-MG (que foi campeão em 2016), Daniel Nepomuceno, a Florida Cup surge como uma chance de desenvolvimento para quem a disputa:

-Trouxe de positivo uma exposição internacional para o Atlético-MG. Trata-se de uma competição que une continentes e, enquanto a temporada nacional não começa, temos a chance de jogar contra clubes de outros países.

Vice-presidente do Bahia que disputou a Florida Cup de 2017, Pedro Henriques também valorizou a possibilidade de levar o clube para um intercâmbio com rivais europeus:

-Foi interessante. Um convite feito em cima da hora, mas que abriu espaço para uma pré-temporada diferente e que deu chance de estarmos com clubes de outros países. Foi uma forma ótima de trabalharmos, agregou muito para nós.

Especialista em marketing, João Henrique Areias crê que a Florida Cup traga um progresso financeiro para quem disputa a competição:

-Sem dúvida, os clubes que participam ganham muito em exposição da marca no exterior. A Florida Cup é um evento internacional, o crescimento vai acontecer. Além disto, as equipes brasileiras conseguem um intercâmbio maior com os Estados Unidos e com as equipes de outros países que disputam o torneio.

De acordo com números divulgados pela empresa 2SV Sports, a Florida Cup é transmitida para, ao menos, 106 países.

O TORNEIO AFETA O DECORRER DO ANO DOS CLUBES?

A hipótese da pré-temporada realizada na Flórida comprometer o restante da temporada é rechaçada por quem disputa o torneio amistoso. De acordo com Ricardo Villar, o rendimento do Corinthians comprova as boas intenções da competição:

– Nossa prioridade sempre foi oferecer uma preparação de excelência para os clubes. Recebemos o Corinthians durante quatro anos e, nesse período, a equipe venceu dois Brasileiros e dois Paulistas. Para os treinadores, é a chance de conhecer as deficiências de sua equipe a tempo de tomar as devidas providências, assim como conhecer melhor taticamente equipe.

Segundo Villar, outro fator que pesa é o “intercâmbio” entre clubes brasileiros e de outros países:

-Quando o Corinthians, com o Tite, treinou ao lado do Bayer Leverkusen, significou a oportunidade das duas escolas trocarem muitas informações. Só esse intercâmbio já é válido. A venda de jogadores que passam por aqui é outro ponto importante. Equipes de ponta costumam mandar diretores para acompanhar o trabalho dos jogadores no evento.

Ex-dirigente do Corinthians, Roberto de Andrade confirmou que o torneio amistoso foi crucial para a sequência das temporadas do clube.

– Eleva o nível técnico do time. São jogos com times fortes, o que é bem melhor do que ficar restrito a treinos em uma pré-temporada – falou sobre o Timão, que foi campeão brasileiro em 2015 e 2017, além de conquistar o Paulista em 2017 e 2018.

De acordo com o ex-dirigente do Bahia, Pedro Henriques, o risco de pré-temporada acidentada passa pela maneira como se encara a competição:

– Depende muito da forma como o clube encara. A gente trocou os 11 jogadores no intervalo. É saber valorizar o torneio adequadamente, como a gente pensava que a Florida Cup valia. Agora, imagina o São Paulo e Corinthians, que são rivais mas jogaram uma decisão de Florida Cup (em 2017)?

Já o especialista em marketing João Henrique Areias cita Real Madrid e Manchester United para descartar o risco de desgaste na pré-temporada:

-Clubes de ponta como o Real Madrid e o Manchester United usam países como a China ou os Estados Unidos para fazer da pré-temporada a chance de um intercâmbio no futebol. Como se trata de um torneio amistoso, a Florida Cup tende a ser boa para as equipes brasileiras. Os times ficam arrumados e têm condições de iniciar bem o ano.

DESGASTES, PERCALÇOS… AS CRÍTICAS À FLORIDA CUP

No entanto, a ideia de fazer as malas rumo à Flórida para a pré-temporada nem sempre traz benefícios por completo. Diretor de marketing do Internacional em 2016, Luiz Henrique Nuñez de Oliveira crê que um projeto de valorização do clube no exterior com um torneio como a Florida Cup só ocorre caso haja um projeto a longo prazo.

O ex-dirigente do Colorado detalhou como era o planejamento do Inter para o torneio:

– Assinamos um contrato de três anos e tínhamos um projeto muito consistente para colocarmos a marca Inter nos Estados Unidos, assim como o de internacionalização, que requer um prazo maior. No primeiro ano foi bom, mas houve muito mais investimento, o saldo foi muito pouco. Já a partir do segundo ano, mudou a gestão e a nova diretoria optou por não continuar o projeto – afirmou Nuñez de Oliveira, que é um entusiasta de pré-temporadas no exterior com algumas condições:

– Defendo que estes projetos sejam de longo prazo, com planejamentos de temporadas no exterior e internacionalização, como é feito com o Manchester United, Real Madrid e Manchester City. Nosso desejo era de que o Internacional, no ano seguinte, fizesse sua pré-temporada completa nos Estados Unidos.

Já na parte técnica, também houve queixas de outra equipe. Embora valorize a chance dos brasileiros enfrentarem adversários de outras nacionalidades, o ex-dirigente do Bahia, Pedro Henriques, crê que o calendário do país devia abrir outros espaços para mais “intercâmbios”:

– É nítido este problema de calendário no Brasil, que tem muitos jogos por ano e só dá espaço para jogos neste período de pré-temporada. Por mais que a gente tenha conhecido equipes de outros países na Florida Cup, tivemos de pensar a longo prazo, evitar os riscos de um futuro desgaste físico. Tanto que, nos jogos que fizemos, mudamos a equipe por completo sempre no intervalo.

Consultor de marketing e gestão financeira, Amir Somoggi crê que a competição não chega a ser rentável para os clubes que participam. Aos seus olhos, o futuro é a MLS:

-A Florida Cup é um produto bem abaixo do ponto de vista do que é o soccer dos Estados Unidos. A MLS, ainda que o Orlando City esteja lá, não é na Flórida, naqueles estádios de segunda categoria, com aqueles times, com aquela organização. O soccer dos Estados Unidos cresce em centros como a Califórnia, Seatlle, Nova York, Dallas, Atlanta…

Segundo Somoggi, o caminho nos Estados Unidos é o investimento no soccer:

– Há muito mais investimento em outros locais para os times jogarem que não têm nada a ver com a Florida Cup. Essa história de Disney, Mickey, não está internacionalizando a marca. Minha empresa Sports Value tem mapeado as grandes oportunidades destes mercados dos Estados Unidos e nenhum deles passa pela Flórida ou pela Disneylândia. Passa, sim, pelo soccer, que é a força que vem para o futuro.

Ricardo Villar rebate as críticas avaliando o bom desempenho de clubes como o Corinthians e destacando o desempenho de profissionais que fizeram as malas para o exterior:

– Críticas sempre vão ocorrer. Mas nós trabalhamos com o Corinthians durante quatro anos e venceu dois Brasileiros e dois Paulistas. Além disso, grandes treinadores e diretores vencedores do mercado que vieram pra cá comprovaram o benefício que traz uma Florida Cup – afirma o CEO da Florida Cup, que completa:

– Esse período do ano é ideal para sair do próprio país, como os europeus costumam fazer, para realizar esse tipo de trabalho tendo foco na preparação técnica e aproveitando oportunidades de explorar comercialmente a marca.

ORGANIZADOR VÊ CHANCES DE APRIMORAR A COMPETIÇÃO

Mesmo com boas expectativas sobre a Florida Cup de 2019, Ricardo Villar ainda crê que a competição tem de se aprimorar com o decorrer das temporadas. O CEO do evento já adiantou uma novidade: deve manter o formato com quatro equipes.

-Acho que a redução para quatro equipes já é um aprimoramento. Não pretendemos aumentar mais o número de equipes, para dar um foco maior nessas quatro marcas. Outro ponto que pretendemos é atrair cada vez mais público local para o evento. Fora isso, é continuar trabalhando as parcerias com os clubes para gerar várias oportunidades no mercado.

Às 22h, o Flamengo entra em campo diante do Ajax-HOL, no Orlando City Stadium. No mesmo horário, mas no Al Lang Stadium, em São Petersburgo, o São Paulo encara o Eintracht Frankfurt-ALE. Nos Estados Unidos, os dois brasileiros querem mostrar que têm condições de ser sucesso de crítica e público.

TABELA

1ª RODADA

10/01 (quinta-feira)

22h – FLAMENGO x Ajax – Orlando City Stadium, em Orlando
22h – SÃO PAULO x Eintracht Frankfurt -Al Lang Stadium, em São Petersburgo

2ª RODADA

12/01 (sábado)

16h – FLAMENGO x Eintracht Frankfurt – Orlando City Stadium, em Orlando
19h – SÃO PAULO x Ajax – Orlando City Stadium, em Orlando

*Horários de Brasília

A breathtaking 96 off 50 deliveries from Mahela Jayawardene and another impressive turn by Akila Dananjaya saw Wayamba United establish themselves as the form side in the SLPL

The report by Andrew Fernando20-Aug-2012
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsMahela Jayawardene began by punishing only the bad balls; eventually the improvisations came, and even the good balls disappeared•Shaun Roy/SPORTZPICS/SLPL

A breathtaking 96 off 50 deliveries from Mahela Jayawardene and another impressive turn by Akila Dananjaya saw Wayamba United establish themselves as the form side in the SLPL. Wayamba United amassed 190 for 4 before dismissing Nagenahira Nagas, the only other unbeaten side in the competition till today, for 134, in 19.5 overs. One more victory from their two remaining fixtures will guarantee Wayamba United a semi-final spot, but even if they lose, they will be difficult to displace from the top four.The Nagas’ reputation as the best attack in the tournament was dismantled almost poetically by Jayawardene in sumptuous form. Shaminda Eranga’s final over cost 23, and he conceded 56 from his four. Ben Laughlin did little better, giving away 44 from his full quota.Jayawardene began by punishing only the bad balls; a wide, overpitched delivery from Eranga was crashed over the covers, before two balls on leg stump were pushed firmly to the leg-side boundary. But eventually the improvisations came, and then even the good balls disappeared. An attempted yorker from Laughlin was scooped for six, Ajantha Mendis was charged and carted, and even when Eranga found the blockhole at the death, Jayawardene moved deep into the crease to manufacture length and swept the ball over square leg for six.Jayawardene benefited from good fortune too, edging boundaries past the keeper and over leg stump, but the Nagas failed to take chances when they came, spilling four simple catches in eight balls as Wayamba United reaped 85 from the last six overs.Dananjaya was playing his only fourth match outside school competition, but appears so much at ease that he could be taken for a veteran. He nabbed his best haul, taking 3 for 18 from four overs, and is making himself mighty difficult to leave out of the 15-man squad for the World Twenty20, due Friday at the latest.The Nagas sparked in bursts during their reply, but were unable to sustain the sort of aggression that might have taken them close to their target. Travis Birt made a promising 25, before missing a straight one from Mohammad Hafeez, and the only other score of note was Angelo Perera’s 39-ball 48, that was neither rapid nor substantial enough to compensate for a steady string of dismissals at the other end.

Back-to-back Ashes series in 2013 may arrive too soon for Pat Cummins’ young body to cope with, says Australia coach Mickey Arthur

Daniel Brettig02-Jul-2012Back-to-back Ashes series in 2013 may arrive too soon for Pat Cummins’ young body to cope with. Australia’s coach Mickey Arthur has forecast another two years of injuries and brief international appearances for Cummins until the 19-year-old’s body matures to deal with the demands of fast bowling.Cummins returned to international duty against Ireland for the first time since his Test debut last November, but suffered a side strain against England at Lord’s and is now on his way home to recover. His performances so far when fit have been enough to suggest that Cummins will be a fast bowler of the highest quality, but Arthur said Cricket Australia and the game’s followers would have to be patient in waiting for his body to be up to the rigours of the task.”We forget he’s only 19, he’s still growing,” Arthur said. “It’s disappointing him coming back and then picking up another injury but we’re just going to have to live with that for another couple of years until he gets stronger and his body is used to the workloads. We’ve just got to keep giving him the opportunities because he’s going to be very, very good. I definitely see him playing all three forms.”Australia has deemed Cummins so important to the national side’s future that the team performance manager Pat Howard has drawn up a three-year plan for his management and development from his teenage beginnings into adulthood. Arthur said the plan included selective exposure to conditions around the world, from this year’s brief England visit to the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka later in the year and potentially the Test tour of India in 2013.”We’ve just got to find out what works for him and expose him to conditions around the world,” Arthur said. “We’ve got an important tour here next year so it’s really important he has a look at English conditions. Hopefully he’ll be ready for the World T20, we can expose him to bowling in the subcontinent a little bit and we know he’s proficient in our conditions. But we’ve got to live with the fact he is going to break down, he is 19.”The example of Brett Lee is relevant to Cummins’ case. Lee made his first class debut while still a teenager in the 1994-95 season but a series of injuries and adjustments to his bowling action meant he was a far more hardened bowler by the time he earned his first Test cap against India in 1999. Lee has previously stated that young bowlers have to experience pain and injury over time to understand their limits, rather than being nursed through by medical and fitness staff.”Most importantly, you don’t want guys at 17 or 18; the first time they feel a niggle, they go to the physio and say ‘my calf’s hurting me’ and they have three weeks off,” Lee said last year. “They don’t know where the line is.”Arthur said Australia’s management of fast bowlers was becoming more individualised all the time, highlighting the individual player plans brought in under Howard from the New Zealand rugby team.”I don’t think there’s a blanket rule, everyone’s different,” Arthur said. “A lot of guys bowl better by bowling all year round but you’ve still got to monitor their workloads. Sometimes when guys rest and then spark then that’s when they go into a major danger area so it’s a conundrum and I think everybody is different.”That’s why we’ve got these individual player plans for our guys now, we’re trying to work out what’s best for every guy to make sure they’re ready to perform.”

رفض الفرنسي باتريس كارتيرون المدير الفني الأسبق للأهلي والزمالك، الرد على ما تردد بشأن مفاوضات بيراميدز للتعاقد معه.

وقال كارتيرون في تصريحات تلفزيونية لفضائية “أون تايم سبورتس”: “بعض الأندية المصرية تتواصل معي والكشف عن هذه الاتصالات أو المحادثات ليس شيئًا جيدًا”.

طالع | كارتيرون: شعرت بالإحباط بسبب إمام عاشور.. وعانيت كثيرًا مع الاتفاق

وأضاف: “أتمنى أن أعود إلى مصر لأنني أعتبرها بلدي الثاني، وعلى أتم استعداد أن أخوض تحديًا جديدًا بها مع أي ناد وليس أهلي وزمالك فقط”.

وتابع: “الأهلي ناد كبير وعظيم ولديه إدارة رائعة، بعض الأمور لم تسر على ما يرام، عندما كنت مدربًا للفريق، خضنا نهائي بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا في تونس بشكل جيد، ولكني لم أستطع تحقيق ما كنت أتطلع إليه”.

وأردف: “عدت إلى الفندق ولم أقبل ما حدث في مباراة النهائي، تلك الخسارة أحزنتني ولم أتمكن من الاستمرار، علاقتي باللاعبين كانت جيدة ولكن الجماهير يحتاجون النتائج، خصوصًا عندما تقود فريق كبير مثل الأهلي، خسارة النهائي كانت اللحظة الحزينة لي كمدير فني”.

وواصل: “الزمالك فريق رائع، عندما أذهب إلى السعودية أو الإمارات يتاح لي فرصة للقاء المصريين، دائما يتحدثون عن الأهلي أو الزمالك”.

وكشف: “أعتقد ان المباراة المقبلة للزمالك أمام الترجي التونسي صعبة، نعلم جميعًا إذا فاز الفريق التونسي في اللقاء سيقصي الأبيض من البطولة، لذلك المواجهة ستكون هامة وفي غاية الصعوبة، هي مجموعة صعبة”.

وأتم: “الأهلي لديه فريق جيد وأتمنى أن يقتنصوا الفوز في المباراة المقبلة أمام القطن، المباراة صعبة ولكن بقوة لاعبيه يستطيع تحقيق الفوز”.

علق مرتضى منصور رئيس مجلس إدارة نادي الزمالك، على قرار الاتحاد الأفريقي “كاف” بعدم حضور جماهير في مباراة الأهلي والهلال بدوري أبطال إفريقيا.

ويواجه الأهلي فريق الهلال يوم السبت المقبل على أرضية استاد الجوهرة الزرقاء ضمن منافسات الجولة الثانية من مرحلة المجموعات بالبطولة القارية.

وفي نفس الجولة سيلتقي الزمالك مع نظيره المريخ اليوم الجمعة، في المباراة التي ستقام على ملعب استاد شهداء بنينا بمدينة بنغازي. طالع الموعد والقناة الناقلة من هنا.

وقال مرتضى منصور في تصريحات عبر فيديو نشره عبر موقع “يوتيوب”: لدي سؤالًا للكاف.. لماذا مباراة الهلال أمام الأهلي بدون جمهور؟ الهلال يواجه كل الأندية بحضور جماهيري لماذا عندما يواجه الأهلي بالأخص يلعب بدون جماهير؟، نريد أن نعرف السبب لتحقيق العدالة”.

وأضاف مرتضى منصور: “لا يوجد لاعبًا دخل نادي الزمالك إلا باختيار فيريرا، وأتمنى التوفيق للزمالك أمام فريق المريخ السوداني بدوري أبطال إفريقيا”.

وعن الحكم إبراهيم نور الدين قال: “هاجمت إبراهيم نور الدين منذ 5 سنوات وكنت أراه حكمًا ظالمًا، وقف على الكرة مثل رمضان صبحي، كيف يجامل الزمالك؟”.

وتطرق للحديث عن أحمد القندوسي لاعب الأهلي، قائلًا: “القندوسي كان سيأتي للزمالك ولا أحد كان يعرفه، وذهب الخطيب وأخذه لأن لديه أموالًا، وكنت سأتعاقد معه مقابل 500 ألف دولار أي ما يعادل 15 مليون جنيه”.

وأضاف: “الخطيب دفع 2 مليون دولار، الجماهير قالت الخطيب (خده منك)، ولكن الجماهير هي السبب كنا ننهي التعاقد معه في السر، نفس الأمر حدث مع مروان عطيه”.

وزاد: “أقسم بالله فيريرا لم يعرف مروان ولم يطلب التعاقد معه وكنت متفقًا مع محمد مصليحي على التعاقد معه مقابل 12 مليون، وباعه للأهلي مقابل 29 مليون جنيه، حرام.. أنتم السبب في تعاقد الفريق المنافس مع اللاعبين”.

طالع أيضًا.. مرتضى منصور يوجه رسالة لـ الخطيب .. ويُصرح: سددنا 7 ملايين جنيهًا من مديونية اتحاد الكرة

وأكد: “الفريق المنافس لا يحتاج إلى مروان عطية ولا القندوسي.. يمتلك أفضل لاعبي خط الوسط في مصر السولية وحمدي فتحي وديانج، ولكن ما تفعله الجماهير يلفت نظر المنافس بالحديث عن اللاعبين”.

وعن سامسون قال: “تعاقدنا مع سامسون مقابل 700 ألف دولار وغير صحيح المبلغ الذي يقال إننا تعاقدنا معه مقابل مليون 200 ألف دولار”.

Tillakaratne Dilshan, the Sri Lanka captain, has asked his batsmen to take responsibility and arrest their worrying slide, after his team shuddered to a 4-1 defeat in the ODI series against Pakistan

Umar Farooq24-Nov-2011Tillakaratne Dilshan, the Sri Lanka captain, has asked his batsmen to take responsibility and arrest their worrying slide, after his team shuddered to a 4-1 defeat in the ODI series against Pakistan.”I can still take positives, especially from the bowling unit – who did a great job throughout the series,” Dilshan said, after the loss in the fifth ODI in Abu Dhabi. “[However], we must be worried about the batting as most of the batsmen didn’t click. We played seven batsmen, but in every match only two or three were performing and the rest were failing. So there are some areas of concern that we have to sit down to discuss. Everyone has to take responsibility before going to South Africa.”While the one-sided scoreline suggests otherwise, Sri Lanka were in strong positions in a couple of games that they went on to lose. Dilshan admitted the inability to close out matches from winning positions cost his side. “The third and fourth ODIs, we should have won easy. At some stages we were going very well, but we didn’t finish and hence lost the series. Otherwise we would have won the series 3-2.”Dilshan has endured a horror run with the bat since taking over as the full-time captain, but brushed aside the general impression that captaincy was denting his own form. “I took over the captaincy in England series and got good runs,” he said. “Unfortunately, I broke my finger and after then I didn’t play enough. After the injury I am lacking in confidence and form. But I know I am good and I can get runs. I want to go back to Sri Lanka work on few areas to get back my form.”Sri Lanka lost the Test series 1-0 prior to the ODI defeat against Pakistan. Their next assignment is in South Africa, where they are yet to register a Test win, and have generally struggled over the years.”We have three weeks before the next tour starts,” Dilshan said. “I think the batting group should be working on some area. It’s better that we can go back to the Sri lankan domestic season and every one can play at least two-three matches to get the form. Everyone knows there are mistakes, and they can correct them quickly before going to South Africa – that is on the mind at the moment.”Dilshan further described Pakistan as a better side than his own. “They have more good players, with more options on the bench. They have seven bowlers out of whom, most can bat as well. So they are not a bad side, they are a good ODI side and in Tests as well.”

The PCB has replaced former coach Intikhab Alam as Pakistan’s team manager for the tour of Zimbabwe. Intikhab was appointed manager in October 2010 ahead of the series against South Africa in UAE. Taking his position is Naveed Akram Cheema, a member of the PCB’s governing board. Assistant coach Aaqib Javed and assistant manager Shahid Aslam have also been left out of the Zimbabwe touring party.”Changing the manager is not performance related,” Subhan Ahmed, the PCB’s chief operating officer, told . “We appoint a manager on a series by series basis. Intikhab is also head of the development programme at the National Cricket Academy and wants to devote more time to the ongoing programmes. Cheema is a member of the governing board, so he has been appointed manager for the Zimbabwe series.”Intikhab also said his focus was now on working on the development of the game at the academy level. “We have started several programmes in the country which many upcoming players are attending. The Under-16s talent-hunt programme is underway in more than 45 districts throughout Pakistan and we are working on some more programmes for the winter. While I have enjoyed working as team manager, I need to dedicate more time to the programmes in our academies.”Cheema had accompanied Pakistan A on their tour of the West Indies last year and he is the managing director of the country’s largest power supply corporation – Water and Power Development Corporation. He said he would ask Intikhab for advice to help the team. “I will be seeking advice from my predecessor Intikhab Alam, who is also a dear friend,” he said. “Our collective aim is to ensure that the team do well on the tour and that there is harmony and unity among the squad members.”Intikhab’s tenure as manager coincided with a difficult time for Pakistan cricket. During the series against South Africa, wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider fled to the UK, later claiming he was threatened by bookmakers. Earlier this year, following Pakistan’s return from the Caribbean, Shahid Afridi was removed as ODI captain and he responded by retiring “conditionally” from international cricket. Intikhab, in his tour report, acknowledged a rift between coach Waqar Younis and Afridi. He described Afridi as a “highly hyper-active personality who lacks [the] temperament to listen to other people’s point of views or look for solutions for the betterment of the team.”The ICC’s Pakistan Task Team (PTT) in its recommendations to the ICC and the PCB, including ways to improve governance of cricket in Pakistan, questioned Intikhab’s multiple roles in the board. In addition to being the team manager at the time the report was submitted, Intikhab was also the chairman of the cricket committee, director of game development and a governing board member.

Eoin Morgan has never been one to go by convention, especially with a bat in his hand, and once again showed that there is more than one way to be ready for first-class cricket. An innings of 156 off 177 balls would be impressive by someone in the middle of a golden run of form after hours in the middle, never mind a batsman coming off six weeks of stop-start Twenty20 cricket.In one, still unfinished, innings for England Lions against the Sri Lankans he scored more runs than he managed in nine knocks (137) for Kolkata Knight Riders at the IPL. If all the talk is right then he hasn’t got much chance of making the Test squad when it is announced on Sunday, but he gave another persuasive display of his unique ability.By the end of the day he was dispatching deliveries to the boundary with more freedom that he often managed during the IPL where, apart from one innings of 66, he struggled to make an impact. Morgan has shown before the ability to come in from the cold and score immediate runs when he was drafted into the World Cup and scored a half-century against Bangladesh, having not picked up a bat for six weeks due to a broken finger.”I’ve only practised a couple of days since I got back, but it’s been really solid and today to get some time in the middle has been really good,” he said. “I’m quite fresh so feel quite comfortable at the crease.”He also keeps the game very simple when it comes to switching from the longest format and believes his IPL stint was a huge benefit for him. “I don’t think it’s a big challenge, you play every ball as you see it,” he said. “The experience in the IPL has been invaluable, playing under a lot of pressure and in high-pressure situations. I think I learnt a lot out there by brushing shoulders with legends of the game.”He had a captive audience, too, at Derby including national selector Geoff Miller and England coach Andy Flower but Morgan wasn’t getting bogged down over what will happen at the weekend. “The selectors were here today and they’ll pick the team, I’ve no idea what will happen,” he said.Another player straight back from the IPL is Kumar Sangakkara, the former Sri Lanka captain, and he had plenty of time to assess Morgan at first hand. “He was pretty attacking right from the start and it paid off. Even though there was some grass on the surface I don’t think we did the basics as well as we can.”Stuart Law, Sri Lanka’s interim coach, has few concerns about Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene adjusting in time for the first Test at Cardiff but Sangakkara knows there are an important few days ahead. “It’s going to be a challenge but something I’ll enjoy,” he said. “It’s about getting used to the tracks and making a few adjustments, both mentally and technically, then getting on with the job.”

أوضح الأرجنتيني سيرجيو أجويرو، حقيقة سخريته من الدولي الفرنسي إدواردو كامافينجا لاعب فريق ريال مدريد الإسباني، بعد نهائي كأس العالم أمس.

وفاز المنتخب الأرجنتيني على فرنسا بركلات الترجيح، بعد نهاية المباراة في وقتها الأصلي والإضافي بنتيجة 3/3.

وظهر أجويرو في بث حي عبر حسابه بموقع “إنستجرام” عقب المباراة أثناء احتفاله مع لاعبي الأرجنتين في غرف خلع الملابس باستاد لوسيل الذي احتضن النهائي، وهو يسخر من كامافينجا بألفاظ خادشة.

طالع أيضًا | رسميًا.. بنزيما يُعلن اعتزاله الدولي مع فرنسا

الأرجنتيني عبر “تويتر”، فسر ذلك قائلًا: “ليس لدي أي شيء ضد كامافينجا، إنها كانت مزحة أثناء الاحتفال، وكان البعض يردد العديد من الأسماء أثناء البث المباشر”.

واختتم: “لا تبحثوا عن المشاكل من فضلكم”.

أجويرو كان قد اعتزل كرة القدم في العام الماضي بعد إصابته مع برشلونة بسبب مشاكل في القلب، وانصاع لنصائح الأطباء بالابتعاد عن اللعبة.

تحدث اليوناني تاكيس جونياس المدير الفني لنادي بيراميدز، عن خسارة فريقه أمام الزمالك، في اللقاء الذي أقيم اليوم الأحد ببطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.

بيراميدز خسر أمام الزمالك بهدف دون رد، في المباراة التي أقيمت ضمن مؤجلات الأسبوع الثالث للمسابقة المحلية على استاد القاهرة.

وقال جونياس خلال المؤتمر الصحفي بعد المباراة: “بدأنا المباراة بشكل سيء، واستقبلنا هدفًا بشكل سريع جدًا”.

طالع | رابطة الأندية تعلن أفضل لاعب في مباراة الزمالك وبيراميدز بالدوري

وأضاف: “بعد 10 دقايق حاولنا اللعب بطريقنا، لكن لم نستطع العودة، وفي الشوط الثاني كنا أفضل وأهدرنا فرصًا كثيرة”.

وواصل: “أنا محبط من النتيجة والمباراة، ولكن ما زال أمامنا مباريات كثيرة سنلعبها، والدوري ما زال طويلًا”.

وعن غياب عبد الله السعيد، أوضح: “أهمية عبد الله السعيد الجميع يعرفها ولكن غيابه اليوم لم يكن السبب في خساراة المباراة”.

ويحتل فريق بيراميدز المركز الخامس في ترتيب جدول الدوري المصري برصيد 11 نقطة من 3 انتصارات وتعادلين وهزيمة واحدة.