Big picture – T20 World Cup countdown begins

And now for something completely different. Or at least a slight change of pace after three months solid of ODI cricket. England have had their fill for 2023 and even if West Indies’ appetite for the 50-over format has been sharpened by a 2-1 series win, having kicked their heels during the World Cup, it is time to switch gears and dig out the T20 duds for five short-form thrashes starting under the Bridgetown lights on Tuesday.You are never far from an ICC event these days, with the series beginning an informal countdown to next year’s T20 World Cup, to be played in the Caribbean and USA. England are the defending champions (where have we heard that one before?) and alongside West Indies the only team to have won the competition twice. Both have brought back some of their big guns – West Indies notably recalling Andre Russell two years after his last T20I appearance – although England are still without a number of their 2022 title-winning side, including Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Chris Jordan and Mark Wood.For the hosts, after two dismal T20 World Cup campaigns in the UAE and Australia – the latter of which saw them knocked out by Ireland in the preliminary group stage – there is an acute sense of needing to reassert their pedigree in what was for a long time West Indies’ strongest format. Already there are signs that Daren Sammy, now six months into his role as white-ball coach, is starting to improve fortunes; since failing at the 50-over qualifier in June, they have beaten India in T20Is and now England in ODIs.Sammy, famously, was the uncomplaining showrunner who united West Indies’ all-star T20 cast for their World Cup successes in 2012 and 2016, and it seems he has been at work behind the scenes once again to ensure that the likes of Russell – and Jason Holder, Nicholas Pooran and Kyle Mayers, all of whom turned down central contracts from CWI – are involved ahead of a home tournament.England, too, are beginning to feel the squeeze around player availability and the global T20 calendar that has long been the norm in the Caribbean, but they remain in a stronger position to dictate terms. Will Jacks may have been aggrieved to miss out on a central contract recently, but he is among those looking to place themselves front and centre as Jos Buttler and Matthew Mott begin to plot their second World Cup defence in less than a year.There will be opportunities, too, for the likes of Phil Salt – who has a World Cup winner’s medal but was left out for the New Zealand series in September – Ben Duckett and Rehan Ahmed to polish their credentials, while John Turner is line for an international debut as the latest addition to the seam-bowling stable after catching the eye with his performances in the Blast and Hundred during the summer.England have not set much store in bilateral limited-overs competition in recent times – their T20I commitments so far this year include being whitewashed 3-0 in Bangladesh and a 2-2 draw with New Zealand ahead of the ODI World Cup run-in – and will doubtless feel that, given the higher volume of T20 cricket played by most of their players, they have a strong base from which to prepare. This series and the visit of Pakistan in May will comprise their entire World Cup build-up; West Indies, meanwhile, only have a three-match series in Australia to come, after their Pakistan tour was shunted to 2025. Across the next 10 days, in Barbados, Grenada and Trindad, we’ll see how each team is placed.

Form guide

West Indies WLLWW
England WLWWL

In the spotlight – Andre Russell and Jos Buttler

Few players have T20 CVs to compete with Andre Russell, whose exploits across the major leagues – notably during a decade in the IPL with Kolkata Knight Riders – as well as his role in two World T20 wins, put him among the format’s all-time MVPs. It is now more than two years since his last international appearance, as the defending champions limped out of the 2021 World Cup, and it remains to be seen whether a 35-year-old allrounder with a history of knee problems can still be a dominant force. But his talismanic presence is enough in itself to encourage West Indies that they can regain their mojo in the format.Is a change as good as a rest? Jos Buttler might be about to find out. In action almost permanently since the start of August, through the Hundred and then the build-up and execution of England’s doomed World Cup campaign, followed almost immediately by a return to colours in the Caribbean, Buttler has looked increasingly careworn over recent weeks. Although he ended the worst run of his ODI career with a fifty at the 14th attempt in Antigua last week, that was immediately followed up with a golden duck in the defeat in Barbados. A return to opening the batting might bring the clarity he needs.

Team news – Big names back on both sides

After the experimental feel of the ODIs, West Indies will welcome back a host of battle-hardened internationals for this series. Holder, Pooran, Mayers, Russell and the captain Rovman Powell have all been in action at the Abu Dhabi T10 but should slot back in, with the personnel largely unchanged from the 3-2 victory over India in August.West Indies (probable): 1 Brandon King, 2 Kyle Mayers, 3 Nicholas Pooran, 4 Shai Hope, 5 Rovman Powell (capt), 6 Shimron Hetmyer, 7 Andre Russell, Romario Shepherd, 8 Jason Holder, 9 Akeal Hosein, 10 Gudakesh Motie, 11 Alzarri JosephMott has confirmed that Buttler will move back up to opener, where he will be partnered by one of the ODI Bash Brothers, Salt or Jacks. Rehan may have to warm the bench, with the return of senior spin duo Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid, while 22-year-old quick Turner will hope to make his first England appearance at some point in the series.England (probable): 1 Jos Buttler (capt & wk), 2 Phil Salt, 3 Will Jacks, 4 Ben Duckett, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Liam Livingstone, 7 Moeen Ali, 8 Sam Curran, 9 Tymal Mills/Gus Atkinson, 10 Adil Rashid, 11 Reece Topley

Pitch and conditions

There was plenty on offer for the bowlers during the rain-affected ODI at Kensington Oval and the prospect of a used surface for this first T20I may put a cap on the run-scoring – although it is a ground on which the ball can fly to all parts, as demonstrated when more than 400 runs were scored by West Indies and England in the third match of five in 2021-22. As with Saturday’s one-day game, there is a chance that the weather may have a say.

Stats and trivia

• England have won six and lost seven of their previous 13 T20Is against West Indies in the Caribbean, although their overall record in the region is in credit – 11 wins, seven losses – thanks to their World T20 victory back in 2010, which was sealed on this ground against Australia.
• Their last T20I series in the region finished in a 3-2 series loss, with each of the five matches taking place in Barbados. That included a memorable one-run win in the second match, despite West Indies’ remarkable ninth-wicket stand of 72 in 29 balls.
• Rashid needs two more wickets to become the first Englishman to 100 in T20Is.
• He is also the man with the most international T20 wickets against West Indies – 22 in 13 matches, at an average of 10.95.

“It’s very, very important. It’s good that we play a T20 series before so we have an idea of how we are looking to play, we have an idea of the squad and combination that can work for us. It provides a lot of opportunity for us to fine tune.”
“We’re in the thick of a series which is going to be quite important for us going forward with the T20 here in six months. You naturally need to focus on that.”

The stand-in head coach also explained the thinking about omitting Jason Behrendorff

Hemant Brar27-Nov-2023

Andre Borovec, Australia’s stand-in head coach, rued losing too many wickets in the first ten overs after his side’s 44-run defeat in the second T20I in Thiruvananthapuram. But at the same time, he lauded the intent shown by the batters throughout the chase.Batting first, India scored a mammoth 235 for 4. In response, Australia were on 104 after ten overs but had lost four wickets. Marcus Stoinis and Tim David kept the fight on by adding 81 off just 38 balls for the fifth wicket, but Australia eventually fell short and are now trailing 2-0 in the five-match series.”It’s just that we were behind a couple more wickets at the halfway mark there, four to one,” Borovec said. “It’s always ifs, buts and maybes, isn’t it? But we just fell behind the game a little bit. We knew we probably didn’t have the breathing space that India had going into those last ten overs.Related

Steven Smith set for Sydney Sixers' opening BBL match

Jaiswal, Kishan, Rinku, Bishnoi dominate Australia for 2-0 lead

Rinku follows Dhoni's template to make case for full-time position

“One of the key pillars of our game is intent. And you couldn’t fault that throughout the innings. Will there be mistakes made? Of course. But if we’re making mistakes with good intent, good decisions, good plans, and if the execution doesn’t go quite right, well, we’re quite happy to accept that.”Another difference was that India scored 20 or more in an over on four occasions. Australia did so on two. Borovec acknowledged that the bowlers found it difficult to close out the over after they had conceded boundaries on the first two balls.”The first two balls in an over can be quite important in T20 cricket,” he said. “If you’re conceding boundaries on those two balls, it can be difficult to get back. You’ve got less resources at your disposal as you’ve shown a couple of deliveries… if you’ve bowled a bouncer.”What we saw tonight was that at those moments, the Indian players were getting ahead in the count and almost getting a good read on what potential ball might come down at them. I think zeroing in on those first two balls and how we can structure those better – that’s usually a good starting point.”On Sunday, Australia left out Jason Behrendorff, their best bowler in Visakhapatnam, where he picked up 1 for 25 from his four overs even as India chased down 209. It raised questions as to whether he was unfit, but Borovec clarified it was because they wanted to play two spinners keeping in mind the upcoming T20 World Cup, which will be played in the West Indies and the USA where the pitches are expected to be on the slower side.”We’ve got a few things to consider that we need to see different players in different conditions and one of the considerations today was to have a look at two spinners,” he said. “We thought that was going to be a good attacking option for us, so we decided to structure our bowling around that.Australia’s seamers came in for some punishment•Associated Press

“We had a great conversation with Jase about how good his bowling was. Also, when you look back at it, it was probably one of his better bowling performances for Australia. So it was a really tough decision but one we built around the fact that these conditions, we thought, were going to help spin a little bit more than perhaps Vizag.”Given it had rained on Saturday, there wasn’t much help on offer for spinners. And despite dew starting to settle in as early as the seventh over in the first innings, Tanveer Sangha and Adam Zampa helped Australia pull things back. India had raced away to 77 for 1 in the powerplay but could add only 29 in the next five overs.”The irony was when the dew came, we had some nice overs there around about the seventh to the 11th over,” Borovec said. “It just shows that in T20 cricket sometimes things like that happen that go against the grain. We are probably a little bit disappointed with our execution in the first six. And that’s where we thought the sweet spot was for taking wickets and giving our spinners a chance to bowl at some new batters.”I was really proud of that fightback in that early middle-overs period. Then of course the dew came in and it just made it so difficult to execute, but you can’t fault the endeavour and the plans with the bowlers.”Australia are trying out one more thing in this series: Steven Smith at the top of the order. Opening the batting in the first T20I, he was on 24 off as many balls at one point before finishing on 52 off 41. Here, he scored 19 off 16. Borovec, however, was happy with Smith’s approach.”We have got a number of things we’re looking at,” he said. “We’ve got ten games to fit some of that stuff in. Not all of it is possible. One of the things we had in our planning coming into this series was to have a look at Steve up the top. And we’ve had a chance to do that now and again. We’ve been extremely happy with that intent that he’s shown with the bat.”

He will go in at the top for the first time in his career against West Indies in Adelaide

Andrew McGlashan13-Jan-2024Steven Smith has laid out his rationale behind pushing for a move to open in Test cricket, and it’s pretty simple: he doesn’t want to wait.Smith had been the only incumbent player to publicly state he wanted to shift up the order to replace David Warner and the selectors ended up taking the option, which has also allowed them to bring Cameron Green back in at No. 4.The new-look batting order will have its first outing in the opening Test against West Indies, in Adelaide, which starts on January 17.Related

Rocky start to post-Warner era for Australia's top order

Smith has no negative thoughts after opening pitch finally pays off

Renshaw reflects on 'weird time' after Test recall

Persuasive Smith gets his new (and final?) challenge

Da Silva hits century as WI find positives before Test challenge

Smith has never opened in Test or first-class before in a career spanning 16 years, but is no stranger to facing an almost new ball, particularly when he was batting at No. 3. However, he cited the 2019 Ashes, where he was No. 4, as an example of when he was frequently been tested early in an innings – in those four Tests (he missed one with concussion) the highest total, and longest wait, he entered at was 60 for 2 in the 23rd over at Lord’s.”Since I guess Marnus [Labuschagne] has been playing at No. 3, I’ve been waiting to bat for quite a long period of time and I don’t really like waiting to bat,” he told while playing for Sydney Sixers on Friday night. “So I thought, why don’t I put my hand up and have a crack up top and that way you can get Cameron Green in and you’re playing your six best batters so hopefully it works out.”I am [excited]. I like facing the newer ball. I think if you look back to the 2019 Ashes I was in pretty early most of the time there where I was facing the new ball. I batted No. 3 for a number of years as well and was in early and did pretty well against the new ball so it’s nothing new or foreign to me. You know I enjoy getting in there and getting amongst it and yeah, I’m looking forward to that challenge.”Steven Smith has faced a lot of short bowling in recent times•Getty Images

Warner, who retired from Test cricket after facing Pakistan in Sydney, believes one of the advantages for Smith is that he will likely face more conventional bowling and tactics early in his innings which may allow him to score more freely.In recent years, oppositions have come up with a variety of plans to Smith – including bouncers from round the wicket and stacked leg-side fields – which, while not often dismissing him quickly, have stemmed his scoring rate.”He likes to walk cross and get onto the legside and get it away there,” Warner said. “People have been bowling short to him when he first gets in. But he finds a way. Early on, they’re going to try and swing the ball and pitch the ball up. And he’s going to be allowed to get into his game and his game plan. Get into the rhythm of how he wants to bat and he can dictate. So I’m actually looking forward to seeing how he goes.”Warner added that he thought Smith and Usman Khawaja both had “another year or two” in them in Test cricket, which could take them up to the 2025-26 Ashes in Australia after next season’s series against India. Matt Renshaw has now been earmarked as the next batter in line, but Warner backed the move to get Green back in the side.”It’s a good taste for Greeny…24 years of age,” he said. “They’re going to have to look for two new guys up the top [of] the order. But to get that No. 4 replacement as well, that’s your foundation at three and four. So if they can knuckle that down, they’ve got a base in the middle. Then they just have a look for some more openers.”

Naveen-ul-Haq has arrived in South Africa and will feature for Durban’s Super Giants in the SA20 as planned, after the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) backtracked on their initial decision to deny three players No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) following a contractual dispute.Naveen, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman were sanctioned last month for “prioritising their personal interests over playing for Afghanistan” when they told the ACB they did not wish to sign central contracts for 2024 in order to maximise their opportunities in franchise leagues around the world.Related

• Farooqi, Mujeeb and Naveen to get limited NOCs as ACB modifies sanctions

• Mujeeb left out of Melbourne Derby after a change in NOC conditions

• ACB sanctions Mujeeb, Naveen, Farooqi for wanting to opt out of national contract

The ACB initially told the players that they would be ineligible for NOCs for two years and revoked Mujeeb’s while he was playing for Melbourne Renegades in the BBL. But the sanctions were largely reversed on review, allowing the players to sign central contracts and granting them “limited NOCs”.The board did not outline the limits that would be imposed, but said in a press release: “ACB will strictly consider the issuance of the NOCs to the respected players while prioritising the national duty and ACB’s interests.” They are all expected to be granted NOCs to feature in the IPL.Naveen has arrived in South Africa and will be available for DSG – an affiliate of his IPL franchise, Lucknow Super Giants – against Pretoria Capitals on Thursday evening, replacing Richard Gleeson in their squad. DSG, who won their first three games, will also have Marcus Stoinis available after he replaced Nicholas Pooran.Graeme Smith, the SA20’s commissioner, said: “We can see the teams pulling out all the stops and bringing in some world-class players into their squads. It’s great to have the calibre of these players joining the league.”ESPNcricinfo understands that Mujeeb and Farooqi have also been granted NOCs for the ILT20 and will arrive in the UAE on Thursday following Afghanistan’s third T20I against India. Mujeeb will play for the defending champions Gulf Giants, while Farooqi is due to represent MI Emirates.

تلقى منتخب المغرب الخسارة أمام نظيره كينيا، اليوم الأحد، ضمن منافسات بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا للمحليين 2025، بهدف نظيف.

والتقى منتخب المغرب مع نظيره الكيني، ضمن منافسات الجولة الثالثة من دور المجموعات في إطار بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا للمحليين 2025.

طالع أيضًا.. موريتانيا تخطف فوزًا صعبًا من إفريقيا الوسطى في أمم إفريقيا للمحليين

وجاء هدف منتخب كينيا الوحيد في المباراة عن طريق رامبوك ريان في الدقيقة 42 من عمر اللقاء ليقود بلاده لحصد ثلاث نقاط هامة.

ورفع منتخب كينيا رصيده إلى 7 نقاط في المركز الأول في المجموعة من 3 مباريات، بينما تجمد رصيد المغرب عند 3 نقاط من مباراتين فقط.

وتقام بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا للمحليين، في دول كينيا وأوغندا وتنزانيا، بمشاركة 19 منتخبًا مقسمية على 4 مجموعات، أول 3 مجموعات تتواجد بها 5 منتخبات، والمجموعة الرابعة بها 4.

وبحسب قرعة كأس أمم إفريقيا للمحليين، يلعب منتخب المغرب في المجموعة الأولى التي تضم منتخبات كينيا وأنجولا والكونغو الديمقراطية وزامبيا.

Kohli was named the men’s ODI cricketer of the year while Suryakumar took the honour for men’s T20Is

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Jan-2024 • Updated on 25-Jan-2024Pat Cummins won the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for the ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year for leading Australia to the World Test Championship and the ODI World Cup titles, apart from helping the team to retain the Ashes. He staved off competition from team-mate Travis Head and India’s Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja to run away with the top honour.Cummins showed his worth throughout the year with bat and ball. He was the second-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket with 42 scalps, and capped off the year with his second ten-for in Tests. With bat, his unbeaten 44 in the first Ashes Test gave Australia a two-wicket win.England allrounder Nat Sciver-Brunt – who shone across formats, including in the women’s Ashes – won the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Award for the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year for the second time in a row. She overcame stiff competition from Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu and Australia’s Ashleigh Gardner and Beth Mooney.Kohli, Athapaththu named ODI cricketers of the yearAn exceptional year in ODIs where he showed glimpses of being his old self saw Virat Kohli named as the men’s ODI cricketer of the year. He scored 1377 runs in ODIs in 2023, which included a tally of 765 in the World Cup alone. It was the most any batter had scored at a men’s World Cup, and he crossed fifty in nine of the 11 innings in the competition. He finished the competition with an average of 95.62 and a strike rate of 90.31, becoming the first man to fifty ODI hundreds in the process.Chamari Athapaththu, meanwhile, was at the fore of Sri Lanka’s first bilateral win over New Zealand, leading the way with bat. She scored two centuries in successful chases in the three-match ODI series. In the series-deciding final game, she struck an unbeaten 140 after Sri Lanka found themselves at 4 for 2 in the first four overs, chasing 196. She attacked her way to a 31-ball fifty and a 60-ball century – the fastest for Sri Lanka in women’s ODIs.Suryakumar Yadav named men’s T20I cricketer of the yearA stellar 2023 where he finished as the highest run-scorer in T20Is among Full Member nations has seen Suryakumar Yadav bag the men’s T20I cricketer of the year award for the second year running. He beat fellow competitors Sikandar Raza, Alpesh Ramjani and Mark Chapman to take the award home.Suryakumar started the year scoring just 7 against Sri Lanka but followed it up with scores of 51 (36) and 112 not out (51) in the next two matches. The middle-order batter went from strength to strength in the format thereon. In all, he played 17 T20I innings in 2023, recording 733 runs at 48.86 which included five half-centuries and two hundreds. More importantly, amidst the carnage, he maintained a strike rate of 155.95.No other batter from a Full Member nation had more T20I runs than Suryakumar Yadav in 2023•Associated PressThe 31-year-old finished 2023 on a high note with a 56-ball 100 against South Africa. With Rohit Sharma opting out and Hardik Pandya injured, Suryakumar was also handed the captaincy of the Indian T20I side. He gave a good account of himself taking India to a 4-1 series win against Australia at home before drawing a three-match series against South Africa 1-1.Khawaja Test cricketer of the year; Ravindra and Litchfield emerging players of the yearUsman Khawaja edged out Travis Head, R Ashwin and Joe Root to be crowned the Test cricketer of the year. He was the only one batter to score more than 1000 runs in the year; he amassed 1210 in 13 Tests, including a career-best of 195 not out against South Africa. He showed his mettle in spin-friendly conditions in India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, topping the charts with 333 runs including a century and two fifties, in four games. He was also the leading run-scorer in the Ashes with a tally of 496.A truly breakthrough year where he lit up the 2023 ODI World Cup has resulted in New Zealand batter Rachin Ravindra winning the men’s emerging player of the year award. He overcame challenges from South Africa fast bowler Gerald Coetzee, Sri Lanka quick Dilshan Madushanka and India batter Yashasvi Jaiswal. Having made his 50-over debut against Sri Lanka in March, Ravindra played 25 ODIs in 2023, scoring 820 runs at an average of 41.00 while also picking 18 wickets at 46.61. Ravindra had a sensational time of it opening the batting for New Zealand as he amassed 578 runs in ten innings at 64.22.Australian Phoebe Litchfield was awarded the women’s emerging player of the year.Hayley Matthews crowned women’s T20I cricketer of the yearWest Indies captain Hayley Matthews capped off an excellent year by taking home the women’s T20I cricketer of the year award, overcoming stiff competition from Australia’s Ellyse Perry, England’s Sophie Ecclestone, and Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu.No other batter had more runs than Matthews’ 700 in 14 innings at an average of 63.63. She also picked up 19 wickets at 16.21. Matthews had a particularly stunning tour of Australia in October 2023 where she finished the three-match T20I series with scores of 99*, 132 and 79. Her tally of 310 runs is the most by any player in a women’s T20I bilateral series.Matthews is the second West Indies player to bag the award after Stafanie Taylor in 2015.Hayley Matthews had a spectacular series Down Under•Getty ImagesDe Leede wins men’s associate cricketer of the yearA key component behind Netherlands qualifying for the main draw of the 2023 ODI World Cup, Bas de Leede has been named the men’s associate cricketer of the year. The allrounder finished the year with 31 wickets in 16 ODIs at 28.26 while also scoring 424 runs at 28.26 with one fifty and one hundred.In one of the most talked-about all-round performances of the year, de Leede picked 5 for 52 against Scotland in a World Cup qualifier game and then backed it up with a 92-ball 123 to almost single-handedly take Netherlands into the final.Meanwhile, Kenyan allrounder Queentor Abel has been crowned the women’s associate cricketer of the year. Abel scored 476 runs in 17 T20Is at 34.00 in 2023 with a top score of 109 against Lesotho. She also picked 30 wickets with an average of 7.36 and an economy of 3.81.Teams of the yearThe 2023 ODI World Cup runner-up India dominated the ODI team of the year released by ICC. Rohit Sharma was named captain of the side which had as many as six Indians in the XI. The Australians meanwhile hogged the limelight in ICC’s Test team of the year. The WTC champions had five members in the XI with Pat Cummins leading the side.Chamari Athapaththu was named captain of the women’s ODI team of the year which had five Australians in the mix. No Indian found a place in the ICC’s women’s team of the year. Athapaththu was also named captain of the women’s T20I team of the year.Test team of the year: Usman Khawaja, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kane Williamson, Joe Root, Travis Head, Ravindra Jadeja, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (capt), R Ashwin, Mitchell Starc, Stuart BroadODI team of the year: Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill, Travis Head, Virat Kohli, Daryl Mitchell, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Marco Jansen, Adam Zampa, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed ShamiT20I team of the year: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Phil Salt, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Mark Chapman, Sikandar Raza, Alpesh Ramjani, Mark Adair, Ravi Bishnoi, Richard Ngarava, Arshdeep SinghWomen’s ODI team of the year: Chamari Athapaththu, Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney (wk), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Ashleigh Gardner, Annabel Sutherland, Nadine de Klerk, Le Tahuhu, Nahida AkterWomen’s T20I team of the year: Chamari Athapaththu (capt), Beth Mooney (wk), Laura Wolvaardt, Hayley Matthews, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Amelia Kerr, Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner, Deepti Sharma, Sophie Ecclestone, Megan Schutt

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is set to return to Marseille after just a season away, with his Saudi Pro League adventure with Al-Qadsiah coming to an end.

Aubameyang will return to MarseilleCould play alongside GreenwoodSaudi journey lasted just a yearFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Fabrizio Romano has given Aubameyang the 'here we go' treatment, reporting on X that the 36-year-old has verbally agreed a two-year deal with the French giants, where he will get the opportunity to play in the Champions League next season. The post reveals that the Gabon international captain rejected rival moves from Saudi Arabia to return to his former club on a free transfer, having had his Al-Qadsiah contract terminated.

AdvertisementAFPTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Aubameyang enjoyed a quietly prolific season with Marseille in 2023/24, hitting 30 goals in 51 matches, including 10 goals in the French outfit's run to the Europa League semi-finals. His return will be a welcome one for OM, who nevertheless finished second in Ligue 1 last season with a strike-force which included the controversial figures of Mason Greenwood and Neal Maupay. Greenwood was undeniably effective despite the scrutiny his move from Manchester United brought, scoring 21 Ligue 1 goals in his first season for the club. He may now link up with another former Premier League star in Aubameyang.

DID YOU KNOW?

Aubameyang's 30-goal return in his previous season with Marseille was his highest since hitting just one more for Arsenal in 2018/19. After opting for a move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Qadsiah, the former Gunner maintained his strong form in front of goal with a further 21 goals in all competitions. With this evidence, Marseille and head coach Roberto De Zerbi will be confident that Aubameyang can continue to provide the goods on his return to the south of France.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

GettyWHAT NEXT FOR AUBAMEYANG?

With his return to Marseille set to be officially announced in the coming days, Aubameyang will look forward to a return to Europe to play out the twilight years of his career. The rapid frontman has scored 355 career goals and knows Ligue 1 well, having spent five previous seasons playing there, including spells with Lille, Monaco and Saint-Etienne early in his career. It may be a nigh-on impossible task to knock European champions PSG off their perch, but De Zerbi's side will have a first run in the new-look Champions League phase to look forward to.

Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr have been criticised after a transfer that would have brought Feyenoord a club record fee collapsed.

• Deal agreed for Feyenoord star
• Dutch side expecting transfer windfall
• Al-Nassr pull out at the last minute

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Feyenoord defender David Hancko had looked set join Cristiano Ronaldo's side after leaving his club on Friday to link up with Al-Nassr for pre-season, according to ESPN. The player and the club had both agreed the transfer and signed and submitted the relevant documentation. However, Al-Nassr have now pulled the plug on the transfer, leaving Feyenoord furious.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The Eredivisie side had expected a club-record fee for Hancko who had been pursued by Al-Nassr for some time. The Slovakia international is now set to return to Robin van Persie's side for pre-season which, although unexpected, is not the worst news as Feyenoord have just lost Thomas Beelen to a broken leg. Yet the Dutch side may also have preferred the income from Hancko's sale and are clearly unhappy with the way the events have unfolded.

• WHAT FEYENOORD SAID

  A club spokesperson told ESPN: "It's truly scandalous how a club would treat a player this way. This has never happened before."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• social gfx/ Getty Images
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR AL-NASSR?

  Jorge Jesus's side are currently in pre-season training and are due to face Toulouse on Wednesday in a friendly in Austria.

MatériaMais Notícias

O meio-campista Gustavo Scarpa fez sua última temporada com a camisa do Palmeiras antes de se mudar para a Inglaterra, local onde atuará pelo Nottingham Forest a partir de 2023. O camisa 14 do Verdão deixa o clube com status de ídolo e conta que a última proposta da diretoria mexeu com ele, mas que o sonho de atuar na Europa falou mais alto.

> Veja a tabela da Copa do Mundo 2022

>Mais um título! Veja quanto o Palmeiras já faturou em premiação com Abel Ferreira

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasPalmeiras renova com Marcelo Lomba, Luan e Raphael VeigaPalmeiras22/11/2022PalmeirasDanilo, do Palmeiras, aposta em Neymar para o Brasil vencer a CopaPalmeiras22/11/2022PalmeirasTécnico campeão da Libertadores, Ricardo Belli chega ao 100º jogo pelo Palmeiras femininoPalmeiras22/11/2022

– Eles me chamaram umas duas, três vezes, e na última foi difícil de recusar em questão de grana. Foi difícil, confesso. Mas entra naquela de experiência, e eu espero que essa experiência valha a pena porque, olha… – contou Scarpa, aos risos, em entrevista ao Desimpedidos.

Questionado sobre como contou ao técnico Abel Ferreira que deixaria o clube, Scarpa afirmou que ele preferiu contar ao comandante assim que assinou o pré-contrato.

– Eu que fui falar com o Abel. Logo no dia seguinte que eu assinei, antes de sair a notícia, eu avisei. O Abel já tinha falado que se fosse para a Grécia, ele achava melhor que eu ficasse no Palmeiras. Ele falou: ‘cara, você merece mais. Não é teu lugar lá. Agora, se for para a Inglaterra, pode ir, vai com Deus e boa sorte’ – afirmou o meia.

– Então, fui muito transparente com ele e ele me disse que enquanto eu tivesse contrato com o Palmeiras ele me trataria normal – completou.

Aos 28 anos, Scarpa se despede do Palmeiras com oito títulos: duas Libertadores, dois Brasileiros, dois Paulistas, uma Copa do Brasil e uma Recopa Sul-Americana. Agora, tem uma missão importante lá na Inglaterra: ajudar que seu novo clube a deixar as últimas posições da tabela da Premier League. Atualmente, o Nottingham Forest é o 18º colocado, o primeiro na zona de rebaixamento.

– Um dos meus maiores sonhos, desde criança, era jogar a Premier League. O Nottingham estava há 23 anos na Segunda Divisão, e eu com 28 anos de idade, jogando no Brasil, não me lembro de nenhum jogador com essa idade que tenha saído direto para a Premier League – avaliou o meia.

– Então, quando apareceu a oportunidade, veio na minha cabeça quando tentei sair para a Europa do Fluminense e não consegui por diversas razões… Quando chegou essa, eu muito decidido e convicto, aproveitei – finalizou Scarpa.

Lucas Paqueta endured "two years in hell" and "struggled" during his betting investigation, with the West Ham star finally in the clear.

• Charges revealed in August 2023
• Verdict delivered in spot-fixing case
• Brazilian cleared to focus on his career

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  It was revealed in August 2023 that the Brazil international was the subject of a probe regarding supposedly deliberate yellow cards that he picked up during Premier League appearances. A guilty verdict would have seen the South American banned for life.

Advertisement

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Paqueta’s wife has described the last two years as "living a nightmare", but an eight-week trial into alleged spot-fixing has led to the 27-year-old being cleared. Any questions of his professional integrity have been removed.

• WHAT PAQUETA SAID

  Paqueta posted on social media in the wake of a verdict being delivered: "The enemy will come against us one way, but they will flee seven ways. Since the first day of this investigation, I have maintained my innocence against these extremely serious accusations. I can’t say anything more now, but I also can’t express how grateful I am to God and how eager I am to return to playing football with a smile on my face.

  "To my wife who never let go of my hand, to West Ham, to the fans who always cheered me on, to Fernando Malta and my legal team at Level (Alastair Campbell, Jonathan Hyman, Dan Lowen), Nick De Marco KC, and Kendrah Potts – thank you for everything."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  Paqueta has been found guilty on two counts of obstructing the FA’s investigation, which will likely result in a fine, but the most serious of sanctions have been avoided. A weight has been lifted from the midfielder’s shoulders.

  The reports that Paqueta put on a brave face throughout a testing period in his career, but "he was struggling to bear the burden of what sources called a taxing ordeal". It is claimed that "behind that mask, Paqueta was struggling" as he experienced "good days and bad days".