تقدم مجلس إدارة النادي الأهلي، بشكوى رسمية اليوم الاثنين، ضد لاعبه السابق، وذلك بعد التجاوزات التي قام بها في حق النادي ومجلس الإدارة.
وأعلن عن ذلك المجلس الأعلى لتنظيم الإعلام، برئاسة المهندس خالد عبدالعزيز، حيث كشف عن استقباله شكوى من سعد شلبي، المدير التنفيذي للنادي الأهلي، ضد الكابتن مصطفى يونس لاعب الفريق السابق.
وأكد النادي الأهلي في شكواه، أن الكابتن مصطفى يونس، دأب على ارتكاب العديد من التجاوزات في حق رئيس وأعضاء مجلس إدارة النادي على مدار أكثر من 5 سنوات، خلال استضافته في برامج تلفزيونية منها برنامج “الكابتن” الذي يقدمه الكابتن أحمد حسن على قناة DMC، وبرنامج “اللعيب” الذي يقدمه الإعلامي مهيب عبدالهادي، على قناة MBC، وكذلك نشره وبثه تلك التجاوزات والإساءات عبر صفحته على موقع يوتيوب المسماه “مصطفي يونس”.
وتقدم النادي الأهلي بأسطوانة مدمجة عليها تسجيل الحلقات المذكورة وكذلك بعض الروابط الخاصة بالفيديوهات المذاعة على صفحة اليوتيوب، وتم إحالة الأمر إلى لجنة الشكاوى بالمجلس برئاسة الإعلامي عصام الأمير، وكيل المجلس، لإعمال شئونها فيها.
طالع | مصطفى يونس: سأذهب إلى النائب العام بجيش.. وعندي معلومة لا يعرفها أحد في الأهلي
يذكر أن النادي الأهلي كان قد قرر إحالة مصطفى يونس عضو النادي إلى التحقيق بمعرفة الشئون القانونية بشأن ما جاء على لسانه من وقائع واتهامات طالت الذمم المالية مع إيقافه لحين انتهاء التحقيق، وفقًا للائحة النظام الأساسي للنادي.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca heaped praise on Noni Madueke but sent out a blunt message for the Arsenal-linked winger. The Gunners have reportedly initiated fresh round of transfer talks with Madueke's representatives as their search for a new attacker continues. The Blues reportedly value the 23-year-old England internatonal at £50 million ($68m).
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Maresca's blunt message for Madueke
Madueke could head to Arsenal
Arsenal yet to approach Chelsea with a formal offer
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Madueke only joined Chelsea in the summer of 2023 and has a contract with the Stamford Bridge outfit until 2030. He made 32 Premier League appearances in the 2024-25 campaign, scoring seven goals and registering four assists. The Blues, however, are eyeing a move for Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund and that could lead to Madueke's exit this summer.
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According to , the winger is open to a move to Arsenal, although the Gunners are yet to approach the Blues with a formal offer. Amid speculations over Madueke's future at Stamford Bridge, Maresca sent out a blunt message for all his players who want to exit the club this summer.
WHAT MARESCA SAID
Speaking to reporters, the Italian coach said: "Noni has been very important for us during this season. Today, again, he has been important. But my message to the players and to the club is that I want just players that are happy to be with us. The ones that are not happy, they are free to go. It's not for Noni, it's for all the players we have. But again, Noni has been very good during the season and very good tonight."
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WHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?
After a 2-1 win over Palmeiras in the Club World Cup quarter-final on Friday, the Blues will next face Fluminense in the last-four stage on July 9.
Newcastle United have joined the race for a “special” young star who has been likened to Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, according to a new report.
Newcastle plan for big summer after Carabao Cup success
Newcastle have had quite the season. Not only are the Magpies firmly in the race for Champions League football next season, they also won the Carabao Cup – their first piece of major silverware in 64 years.
To clinch the trophy, Eddie Howe’s side beat Premier League leaders Liverpool 2-1 in the final at Wembley Stadium, with both Alexander Isak and Dan Burn on the scoresheet.
Speaking to BBC Radio Newcastle about the club’s open-top bus parade, which took place over the weekend, Burn said: “It’s something I’ll never forget – I knew there would be a lot of people but when we saw the sheer amount of people it was amazing.
“It really hit home, what it means to the region and the city, the achievement that we’ve managed to do. The lads were starting chants all the way round and just being able to take in that moment, it was only an hour but it’s an hour I’ll never forget.”
On his goal in the final, which saw the English defender head home Kieran Trippier’s corner, Burn said: “The first few days, my phone was getting constantly pinged with videos and remixes, when I was away with the England lads it was on TV all the time and I ended up having to switch the TVs off at the end because I was starting to get a bit embarrassed!”
“I will watch it forever, I’ll never tire of it – it was an amazing moment.”
Newcastle join race for Dibling despite huge price tag
Even after such a successful season, Newcastle are expected to bolster their squad in the summer, with Howe keen to push on from this year’s achievements and build more depth. Among those players thought to be interesting the Magpies is Southampton’s Tyler Dibling.
Southampton's TylerDiblingin action with AFC Bournemouth's Dean Huijsen
According to Chronicle Live, Newcastle are now one of several clubs keen on the English talent and are “expected to closely monitor” his situation at Southampton in the coming weeks, as the Saints brace for a significant transfer shake-up when they eventually get relegated back to the Championship.
Though previously Southampton put a price tag of £100 million on Dibling’s head, it’s thought that the asking price will significantly drop in the summer to ensure a sale.
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Dibling has been one of Southampton’s standout players in an otherwise poor season for the club, and has been heavily lauded for his performances by former Premier League players Danny Murphy and Dion Dublin.
“It is the quality he has got – the belief in himself and the physical power. He just goes past people with ease. He has got a lovely left foot. He is very brave on the ball and his decision-making is good,” Murphy told BBC Sport of the 19-year-old in December.
“It is difficult to get too over the top with these young players, because he has just come on to the scene, but he is going to be something special.”
Dublin added: “Do you know what it is? I don’t want to put any pressure on him, but he plays his game like Cole Palmer, doesn’t he? He plays free and easy, and he gets himself into good positions, rolls players and takes the ball well.”
Alvaro Morata claims he would not want to continue with Spain if he continues being insulted, as he weighs up international retirement.
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Morata discusses his experience with Spain Admits he has had unpleasant timesStriker considering retirement from international footballFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Morata is the captain of the Spanish national team, but the former Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid forward has been hinting at international retirement following his decisive penalty miss in the Nations League final defeat to Portugal earlier this month. The striker, in his documentary titled Morata: They Don't Know Who I Am, revealed that continuing with La Roja wouldn't be worth it if all he'll experience are the insults and jeers from the Spain faithful.
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The 32-year-old has been going through intense internal turmoil, battling depression months before the 2024 European Championship. He was extremely fatigued mentally, to the extent that he even considered faking an injury in order to avoid playing at last summer's tournament with the eventual champions. The Spain star has admitted to suffering from anxiety attacks as well, and is now seriously considering retirement from international football. In the aftermath of the recent defeat to Portugal, fans on social media sent death threats to the player, pitting the entire blame of the loss on the ex-Juventus and Chelsea man.
WHAT ALVARO MORATA SAID
In his documentary, Morata explained why he wouldn't want to return to the national team, stating: "Is it worth it that every time I go to Spain with my family, I have unpleasant experiences and people mock you, insult you, and laugh at you? I don't know if it's worth it. Is it worth it to keep coming to the national team only to be insulted and whistled at in the stadiums where you play wearing the national team jersey? It's not worth it."
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DID YOU KNOW?
Morata has been at the receiving end of booing and whistling from Spain fans at stadiums from quite a long time, with head coach Luis de la Fuente even saying that he was "hurt" by the fans' behaviour following their game against Brazil in 2024. What's more, Morata received death threats aimed at his children after missing a goal-scoring opportunity against Poland at Euro 2020, revealing that he "did not sleep for nine hours."
Liverpool have been in contact with the representatives of an “incredible” player ahead of the summer transfer window, journalist Fabrizio Romano has claimed.
Liverpool in need of summer attacking signings
The Reds are still having a superb season, and defeats to Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle United shouldn’t change that, but it has highlighted the need for attacking reinforcements this summer.
Mohamed Salah has enjoyed a sensational campaign, while Cody Gakpo has also shone, but there are question marks over the futures of Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota.
Diogo Jota is substituted off for Liverpool
All three have had up-and-down seasons, with Diaz the best of the three, but arguably not at the world-class level Sadio Mane was at when he starred on the left wing for Liverpool. Nunez is still a frustrating player to watch both in and out of possession, while Jota looks like injuries could be catching up with him. He has only scored twice in 2025 to date.
A new centre forward is essential for Arne Slot come the end of the campaign, with Newcastle ace Alexander Isak arguably the top option to come in. Now, a fresh update has dropped regarding Liverpool’s pursuit of him.
Liverpool in talks to sign "incredible" £160m star
Speaking on his YouTube channel on Monday [via The Metro], Romano claimed that Liverpool and by extension FSG have been in contact with Isak’s people, as they look to beat Arsenal to his signature in the summer window:
“Newcastle keep insisting in private and in public that they want to keep Alexander Isak. They hope to be in the Champions League next season but, in any case, they want to keep Alexander Isak at the club, so that’s the message from Newcastle. But I keep telling you that big, big, massive proposals will come to the table for Alexander Isak because Arsenal will be there, Arsenal want Isak.
“[Benjamin] Sesko is the other name on the list but, for sure, Isak and Sesko are the main names. Liverpool are also there for Alexander Isak, they already made some contacts with people close to the player, so both clubs are interested in Alexander Isak. For Arsenal, he is the absolute top target. For Liverpool, he’s one of names they are considering in that position.”
This is another encouraging update, with Isak a player who could transform Liverpool as an attacking force, standing out as arguably Europe’s most in-form striker this season.
The 25-year-old, valued at a whopping £160m, is coming into his absolute peak years, recently being described as “incredible” by Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, and he could be the next great striker at Anfield.
The one concern would be a questionable injury record down the years, so he would be a slight risk if huge money was spent on him, but he has started 25 games in the Premier League this season, which bodes well moving forward, with 19 goals coming his way in the competition.
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Isak has all the attributes to excel under Slot, whether it be great finishing, a silky touch or pace to run in behind, and he could be a game-changer of an addition if Liverpool can sign him over Arsenal.
Chelsea’s hunt for a striker has been going on for nearly 12 months now, with boss Enzo Maresca targeting a new centre-forward ever since his appointment during the summer.
Countless players have been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge over the past few months, with Victor Osimhen and Ivan Toney just two of the names thrown into the mix.
However, the Italian is yet to land the talisman he craves in West London, potentially providing a huge boost in their chances of returning to Premier League glory in the coming years.
Chelsea manager EnzoMarescabefore the match
The summer will provide a fresh opportunity to delve back into the transfer market to try and finally end their pursuit, with owner Todd Boehly needing to get his chequebook out once again.
It’s crucial that the Blues land a player who would provide an upgrade on the options currently at Maresca’s disposal, dropping one player down the pecking order as a result.
Nicolas Jackson’s stats for Chelsea in 2024/25
Senegalese forward Nicolas Jackson joined Chelsea back in the summer of 2023, looking to cement his place as a regular starter for the Blues at the top end of the pitch.
Fast-forward 18 months, the 23-year-old has certainly done just that, scoring 26 times before his injury lay-off and becoming Maresca’s number one striking option.
Chelsea'sNicolasJacksonlooks dejected after AFC Bournemouth's Justin Kluivert score
However, there’s still been a few question marks around his goal-scoring ability due to his wasteful nature in the final third, as seen by his tally of 15 big chances missed with only two players managing more in the league this campaign.
Jackson has also been dispossessed 1.7 times per 90 to date, often struggling to make the ball stick, with the club desperately needing a focal point to take them to the next level.
Undoubtedly, a proven goal scorer in today’s market is likely to cost a fortune, but the club have already made a huge mistake in allowing one talent to leave for a bargain fee.
The talisman who’s scored 89 goals since leaving Chelsea
Chelsea’s academy setup has provided numerous stars over the years, handing numerous managers the opportunity to be a success during their spell in charge at the Bridge.
However, players are also offloaded to balance the books, with striker Dominic Solanke one of those who falls into such a category – departing in a £3m deal to join Liverpool in 2017.
The Englishman was once seen as a player with huge potential in West London, scoring countless times at various youth levels, before notching seven goals during his first professional loan at Vitesse.
His lack of first-team action with his boyhood side would lead to his departure, having the opportunity to impress under Jürgen Klopp at Anfield, scoring just once before a permanent move to Bournemouth a year later.
The move to the South Coast would kickstart his career into life, registering 77 goals for the Cherries during his six years at the Vitality, which saw him notch 19 goals in his final season at the club during 2024/25.
Such form led to a club-record £65m move to Tottenham Hotspur last summer, offering a replacement for Harry Kane, and wasting no time in impressing – as seen by his tally of 11 goals in all competitions for the Lilywhites, taking his tally to 89 goals since leaving the Blues.
Games played
29
24
Goals scored
11
9
Progressive passes
2.1
1.4
Take-on success
35%
34%
Carries into final third
1.2
1.1
Aerials won
1.9
0.7
Aerial success rate
43%
33%
The aforementioned figure is also higher than that of current first-team star Jackson, outscoring the Senegalese international but also outperforming him when delving into their respective stats in 2024/25.
Given his rise to stardom, coupled with his ability to find the back of the net at the top level, it’s safe to say the Blues made a huge mistake in allowing him to depart the club – with their loss now Spurs’ gain in their own hunt for European success.
Jackson has been a solid option in recent times, but if the Blues are to progress to the next level under Maresca, it’s pivotal that a new striker is signed this summer – missing a trick by allowing Solanke to leave with the 27-year-old possessing all the tools to be their leading talisman going forward.
Chelsea let Cobham "wizard" leave for £0, now he's even better than Palmer
Todd Boehly has even wanted to bring this top talent back to Stamford Bridge.
Brighton & Hove Albion host Chelsea in the Premier League on Friday evening, with the two sides set to meet at the American Express Stadium for the second time in the space of a week.
The visitors will be looking to avenge their FA Cup exit at the weekend, crashing out of the competition at the fourth round stage as a result of a 2-1 defeat.
Having suffered a 7-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest in their last Premier League outing, the Seagulls will be hoping to get their European push back on track, and they would move up to eighth with a victory.
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Chelsea manager EnzoMarescalooks dejected after the match
Brighton
Brighton currently have a number of players on the sidelines, with Igor Julio, Pervis Estupinan and James Milner expected to be ruled out for a considerable period, while Jason Steele is also unavailable after undergoing shoulder surgery.
Solly March has missed the last three matches and is set to miss out again, with the 30-year-old undergoing rehabilitation, while Lewis Dunk is doubtful.
Chelsea
The Blues also have some notable absentees, with Wesley Fofana, Romeo Lavia and Mykhailo Mudryk unlikely to be available for selection anytime soon.
Before the trip to Brighton last week, Enzo Maresca confirmed Marc Guiu could be ruled out for months, in what could be a real blow, whereas Nicolas Jackson is also sidelined.
Reece James wasn’t selected last weekend, but Maresca has stated it was a pre-planned decision and the captain could return this weekend.
Where to watch Brighton v Chelsea on TV
Brighton & Hove Albion v Chelsea – TheAmericanExpressCommunityStadium
Brighton vs Chelsea has been selected for live TV coverage. The fixture, which is scheduled to kick-off at 8pm (GMT) on Friday 14th February, will be shown on Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Main Event in the UK.
In the USA, viewers can tune in on NBC.
Brighton v Chelsea referee and VAR
ChrisKavanagh
The Premier League have appointed Chris Kavanagh as the referee for this Friday’s clash, with the 39-year-old set to be supported by assistants Lee Betts and Mark Scholes, while Stuart Attwell is the fourth official.
Michael Oliver has been named as the Video Assistant Referee, with the Assistant Video Assistant Referee being named as Ian Hussin.
Games
18
18
Record
11W, 3D, 4L
5W, 5D, 8L
Cards received
32 Yellow, 0 Red
40 Yellow, 0 Red
Cards to opponents
42 Yellow, 1 Red
31 Yellow, 2 Red
Penalties for/against
5/2
5/6
Brighton v Chelsea form Brighton
Brighton& Hove Albion's Bart Verbruggen and Adam Webster celebrate
Brighton’s Premier League form has been inconsistent, defeating Ipswich Town and Manchester United on the road since the turn of the year, before falling to consecutive defeats against Everton and Nottingham Forest.
The 7-0 loss against Forest is likely to be a cause for particular concern, but Fabian Hurzeler’s side will take confidence from the fact they beat Friday’s opponents 2-1 in the FA Cup last time out.
Date
Opponent
Competition
Result
Sat 8th Feb
Chelsea
FA Cup
W 2-1
Sat 1st Feb
Nottingham Forest (a)
Premier League
L 7-0
Sat 25th Jan
Everton (h)
Premier League
L 0-1
Sun 19th Jan
Man Utd (a)
Premier League
W 1-3
Thu 16th Jan
Ipswich (a)
Premier League
W 0-2
Chelsea
Chelseamanager Enzo Maresca
Maresca insisted his side were not a part of the Premier League title race earlier this season, and the Blues’ form since the end of 2024 means that Champions League qualification is a more realistic target.
A record of two wins in their last three games keeps Chelsea in the top four, producing a second-half comeback to defeat West Ham United 2-1 in their last Premier League match.
Date
Opponent
Competition
Result
Sat 8th Feb
Brighton (a)
FA Cup
L 2-1
Mon 3rd Feb
West Ham (h)
Premier League
W 2-1
Sat 25th Jan
Man City (a)
Premier League
L 3-1
Mon 20th Jan
Wolves (h)
Premier League
W 3-1
Tue 14th Jan
Bournemouth (h)
Premier League
D 2-2
Brighton v Chelsea head-to-head
Brighton & Hove Albion manager FabianHurzelercelebrates after the match as Chelsea manager EnzoMarescalooks dejected
Brighton and Chelsea have met 25 times in total, with the majority of their clashes coming since the Seagulls’ promotion to the Premier League in 2017.
The Blues have a very strong record against Friday’s hosts, although Hurzeler’s side managed to notch a fourth victory against the six-time English champions on Saturday.
“Prithvi Shaw is one I feel can be a very aggressive captain, a very successful captain because you see that aggression in the way a person plays the sport”
ESPNcricinfo staff28-Nov-2022Prithvi Shaw could be a future India captaincy candidate, according to former India batter Gautam Gambhir. Gambhir also picked Hardik Pandya, who has already led India in T20Is, as a future India captain, but Shaw was a more left-field choice as he has not played for India since July 2021.Hardik has been touted as a possible successor to Rohit Sharma, at least in T20Is, following India’s semi-final exit at the T20 World Cup last month. Over time, he has racked up some captaincy experience too. In May, he captained debutants Gujarat Titans to their maiden IPL crown and then led India for the first time in T20Is on a tour of Ireland for a 2-0 series win. More recently, he led India to a 1-0 series win in the T20Is in New Zealand, in the absence of senior players such as Rohit, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul.”Hardik Pandya obviously is in line,” Gambhir said at an event organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) in New Delhi on Sunday. “But that’s going to be unfortunate for Rohit because I think judging his captaincy in only one ICC event is not the right way to probably judge him.”The other pick, Shaw, has struggled to find a regular place even in India’s second-string squads over the past year, and Gambhir didn’t specify in which format he saw Shaw as a potential captaincy candidate. Over the course of his short career, Shaw has had to cope with more than just a loss of form. Ever since he was suspended for a doping violation in 2019, his fitness and lifestyle issues have been under scrutiny.In March this year, Shaw was reported to have failed a yo-yo test. His score of less than 15 was far from BCCI’s prescribed minimum score of 16.5 for men.Having made his Test debut in 2018, the same year he led India to Under-19 World Cup glory in New Zealand, Shaw has managed to play just four more Tests. Shaw’s limited-overs appearances have been sporadic, too. He last played for India in July 2021, when he was part of a second-string squad that toured Sri Lanka for three ODIs and as many T20Is.”The reason I’ve picked Prithvi Shaw, I know a lot of people talk about his off-field activities, but that is what the job of the coach and the selectors are,” Gambhir said. “The selectors’ job isn’t just to pick the 15, but also to get people walk the right path.”Prithvi Shaw is one I feel can be a very aggressive captain, a very successful captain because you see that aggression in the way a person plays the sport.”Shaw’s recent appearances have come for Mumbai in the domestic circuit, where he was the second-highest run-scorer at the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20s. His 332 runs came in 10 innings at a strike rate of 181.42, and included a career-best 61-ball 134 against Assam.His form in the 50-over competition, the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy, was patchy, with his only two half-centuries coming against inexperienced Mizoram and Railways. Overall, he managed just 217 runs in seven innings at an average of 31. He was shaded by fellow top-order batter Yashasvi Jaiswal, who made 396 runs in six innings to top the run charts for Mumbai, who exited in the pre-quarter-finals.Over time, Shaw has racked up some captaincy experience with Mumbai, apart from captaining India Under-19. At the junior level, he led a batch of players, many of whom are regulars in the IPL currently.
Former Liverpool star Ryan Babel has hailed the work done by Arne Slot this season as the club close in on the Premier League trophy.
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Liverpool can win title this weekend
Reds only need one point
Babel surprised by Slot's work
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Babel has expressed his surprise at the success of Slot's reign at Anfield. Just a season after replacing Jurgen Klopp in the Reds dugout, Slot is on the verge of guiding the club to their 20th league title, with just one point required against Tottenham this weekend.
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The former Netherlands international expected Liverpool to struggle without the charismatic German in the dugout, and cited the example of Manchester United after Sir Alex Ferguson's departure. Instead, he believes Slot has found a way to improve on an already-impressive formula.
WHAT RYAN BABEL SAID
Babel said: “I think outstanding. I think most likely far above expectations, everyone's expectations. I think if you see what Jurgen Klopp has built and has performed over the years that he was there, I think everyone assumed that the next manager after Jurgen Klopp would suffer a lot.
"Usually what you see with teams that have been successful once they start bringing in new people, new management. Usually the management needs a few years. Other teams longer than usual. We see with Manchester United after the era of Ferguson. So you would assume that Liverpool would see a few dark years before they eventually would see some light again.
"Surprisingly, that didn't happen. And I think he took over very well. He polished it a little bit towards his vision. And from here, I think he has improved the style of playing even more.”
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WHAT NEXT?
Liverpool play Spurs this weekend and simply avoiding defeat will see them crowned champions with four games to spare.
Ireland, Scotland, Namibia, UAE and Netherlands are set to play at the iconic MCG for potentially the first time
ESPNcricinfo staff08-Sep-2022
Australia will also face India in a three-match T20I series in India, before their warm-up game in Brisbane•Associated Press
Hosts and defending champions Australia will take on India in their only warm-up fixture ahead of the T20 World Cup on October 17 in Brisbane. India will play their second warm-up against New Zealand two days later at the same venue.In addition to the big teams getting a feel for each other ahead of the main event, there is history in the offing for the likes of Ireland, Scotland, Namibia, UAE and Netherlands who will get to play a match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground for potentially the first time. Zimbabwe are also scheduled to play there for the first time since 2004.T20 World Cup warm-up fixtures10 Oct – WI vs UAE, Scotland vs Netherlands (Junction Oval), SL vs Zimbabwe (MCG) 11 Oct – Namibia vs Ireland (MCG) 12 Oct – WI vs Netherlands (MCG) 13 Oct – Zimbabwe vs Namibia, SL vs Ireland (Junction Oval), Scotland vs UAE (MCG) 17 Oct – Aus vs India, Eng vs Pak (the Gabba), NZ vs SA, Afg vs Ban (Allan Border Field) 19 Oct – Afg vs Pak, NZ vs India (The Gabba), Ban vs SA (Allan Border Field)The ICC announced on Thursday that the teams in the first round – West Indies, Sri Lanka, Ireland, Namibia, Netherlands, Scotland, UAE and Zimbabwe – will play their warm-up fixtures between October 10 and 13 at the MCG and the Junction Oval in Brisbane. The teams starting the Super 12 stage will play warm-ups on October 17 and 19 at the Gabba and Allan Border Field.Australia, India, England, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan earned direct qualification to the Super 12 stage in November 2021, on the basis of their T20I rankings at the time. All of them – barring Australia and England, who will be coming into the T20 World Cup on the back of a six-match white-ball series against each other – will play two warm-up games each.Afghanistan will face off against Pakistan once again, a rivalry that has fostered some amazing cricket matches – most recently at the Asia Cup – but also some unruly scenes in the stands. New Zealand and South Africa, who produced instant classics at the ODI World Cups in 2015 and 2019, have also been carded together in the warm-up schedule.The ICC added that these warm-up fixtures “will not carry official T20 International status.”When the World Cup starts, with the first round matches on October 16, the top two teams from each group will qualify for the Super 12s. There, every team will play against each other from the same group. The top two sides from each group will then advance to the semi-finals, to be held on November 9 and 10 at the Sydney Cricket Ground and Adelaide Oval, with the final slated for November 13 at the MCG.