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Here's how you can watch Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr vs Al-Wehda in the King's Cup semi-final.

Cristiano Ronaldo will be eyeing his first trophy with Al-Nassr when they take on Al-Wehda in the King's Cup semi-final on Monday.

Where to watch Cristiano Ronaldo's matches for Al-Nassr

Ronaldo and co. were last seen in a 2-0 defeat to Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League and it was only their fourth loss of the season in all competitions. Al-Nassr beat Abha 3-1 in the quarter-finals and will be confident of going all the way to clinch their seventh King's Cup trophy.

Al-Wehda are without a win in their last five league games but managed to beat Al-Batin 2-1 in the quarter-finals to set up Monday's highly anticipated clash against Al-Nassr.

Cristiano Ronaldo has 11 goals in 13 matches for his Saudi club so far but he is yet to score in the King's Cup. Al-Wehda have the monumental task of stopping Ronaldo and co. as current form suggests the hosts are clear favourites.

GOAL brings you details on how to watch the game on TV in the U.S., as well as how to stream it live online.

Getty ImagesKick-off timeGame:Al-NassrDate:April 24, 2023Kick-off:1.30pm EDTVenue:SMC Stadium

The King's Cup semi-final between Al-Wehda and Al-Nassr is scheduled for Monday April 24, 2023.

It will kick off at 1.30pm EDT in the USA.

AdvertisementNassr TwitterHow to watch Al-Nassr vs Al-Wehda online – TV channels & live streamsTV channels & streaming options

Country TV channel Live stream

U.S.N/AShahid

In the United States (USA), the match will not be telecast.

GettyTeam news & squadsAl-Nassr team news

Cristiano Ronaldo seemed to have picked up a groin injury during Al-Nassr's defeat at the hands of Al-Hilal. However, he is expected to be fit again to face Al-Wehda in the semi-finals of the King's Cup.

Ronaldo has not scored in the last two matches for his team but when he got on the scoresheet against Al-Adalah, he grabbed a brace. He will hope to make a match-winning impact in the semi-final.

Al-Nassr possible XI: Nawaf Al-Aqeedi, Sultan Al Ghanam, Al-Amri, Alvaro Gonzalez, Ghislain Konan, Abdullah Alkhaibari, Luis Gustavo, Ghareeb, Talisca, Yahya, Cristiano Ronaldo.

Position Players

GoalkeepersRossi, Ospina, Al-Aqidi, Al-Bukhari, AbdullahDefendersGonzalez, Al-Amri, Madu, Al-Oujami, Al-Fatil, Haqawi, Konan, Qasem, Qasheesh, Al-Ghanam, Al-Boushal, Al-MansourMidfieldersGustavo, Al-Hassan, Al-Khaibari, Al-Sulaiheem, Talisca, Martinez, Al-Najei, Masharipov, Ghareeb, YahyaForwardsAsiri, Ronaldo, Maran, Al-NemerAl-Wehda team news

Jose Luis Sierra has no fresh injury concerns ahead of this match.

Key players in the squad – Anselmo and Gerson Rodrigues – will be hoping to make an impact in the big game against Cristiano Ronaldo and co.

Al-Wehda possible XI: Attieh, Kurdi, Makki, F.Al-Jayzani, Hawsawi; Yoda, Al-Harbi, Anselmo, Al-Otaibi, Rodrigues, Al-Ghamdi.

Position Players

GoalkeepersMunir, Al-Husseini, Attieh, Al-Araf, Atallah.DefendersBotia, Duarte, Makki, Ouattara, Al-Rashidi, Al-Hafith, Hamza, Al-Harbi, Bilal, F. Al-Jayzani, Al-Bukhari, Al-Hajri, H. Al-Jayzani, Al-Otaibe, Kurdi., Hawsawi,MidfieldersNoor, Anselmo, Bakshween, Al-Qarni, Fajr, Al-Hajji, Al-Qahtani, Al-Sawadi.ForwardsAl-Bishi, Rodrigues, Al-Eisa, Akouz, Yoda, Naji, Al-Otaibi, Beauguel, Asiri, Al-Ghamdi.Head-to-head record

Cristiano Ronaldo scored four goals as Al-Nassr beat Al-Wehda 4-0 when these two teams met in February this season. Al-Wehda's last win over Al-Nassr came in November 2019.

Date Result Competition

February 2023Al-Wehda 0-4 Al-NassrSaudi Pro LeagueAugust 2022Al-Nassr 1-0 Al-WehdaSaudi Pro LeagueMay 2021Al-Wehda 1-1 Al-NassrSaudi Pro LeagueJanuary 2021Al-Nassr 3-1 Al-WehdaSaudi Pro LeagueAugust 2020Al-Nassr 1-0 Al-WehdaSaudi Pro LeagueENJOYED THIS STORY?

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Where to watch Ronaldo Al-Nassr games

Live soccer on TV in the U.S.

Your votes have been counted and we can now confirm the overall winner of the women's GOAL50 2021!

Check out the final standings, and the overall winner, of the women's GOAL50 2021!

GOAL1Alexia Putellas – Midfielder, Barcelona and SpainWith 25 goals in all competitions, most scored with the captain's armband on, the Spaniard was outstanding as Barcelona won the treble. Player of the Match as they lifted the Copa de la Reina, she also scored in the Women's Champions League final.AdvertisementGOAL2Irene Paredes – Defender, Barcelona and SpainThe Spaniard was PSG's leader in defence last season as they kept 19 clean sheets to win a maiden league title. Before switching to Barcelona, she also helped them reach the last four in Europe, where they'd narrowly fall short against the Catalans.GOAL3Asisat Oshoala – Forward, Barcelona and NigeriaThe Nigeria international scored 18 goals in 18 league starts last season as Barcelona won the treble. She also netted a further four in the Women's Champions League, including a crucial pair in the quarter-final win over Manchester City.ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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GOAL4Lieke Martens – Forward, Barcelona and the NetherlandsThe Dutch winger scored 20 goals in all competitions for Barcelona as they won the treble, shining in the latter stages of the Women's Champions League in particular. She then scored four goals in as many games at the Olympics for her country.

While the two great No.10s have made history with the Albiceleste, the nation has been blessed with a host of incredible talents over the years

With two World Cup wins and a further three final appearances, Argentina are up there amongst the elite of international football.

Not only that, but players like Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi and Gabriel Batistuta to name just three have become icons of the game, instantly recognisable the world ever. 

But who is the greatest of all? Here, Goal ranks the top 20 to have ever worn the famous Albiceleste jersey…

ATTILA KISBENEDEK/AFP/Getty Images20Hernan Crespo

Hernan Crespo was, at one point, the world's most expensive football player, a title that, among his compatriots, only Diego Maradona has held in the modern game.

A striker of impossible elegance and potency, he became a firm favourite thanks to his exploits with Parma, Lazio, Milan, Inter and Chelsea among others.

A veteran of three World Cups, Crespo also became the first man to score in the Champions League with five different teams, while helping Inter to three Scudetti in as many years from 2006 to 2009.

He is sometimes overlooked when putting together lists of football's best strikers but, at his most deadly, few could resist the Argentine when bearing down on goal.

AdvertisementGetty19Ricardo Bochini

You know you are not just another run of the mill player when someone of Diego Maradona's stature insists you are picked for a World Cup.

A living legend at Independiente, Ricardo Bochini was the archetype of the languid, supremely gifted Argentina No.10, playing his entire career at the Avellaneda club and helping them to four Primera titles, five Copas Libertadores and two Intercontinental Cup victories in what proved to be their most successful spell in history.

Bochini's time in the national team was understandably curtailed by the emergence of Maradona, who was nevertheless a great friend to his older team-mate.

“Come over, maestro, we've been waiting for you”, Argentina's captain famously said to him when he entered in the 1986 World Cup against Belgium for the last five minutes, his only experience of football's most-coveted trophy.

18Roberto Ayala

When it comes to Argentine football, the list of heroes is dominated by creative geniuses and prolific forwards. It is testament, then, to Roberto Ayala's supreme abilities that the former Valencia favourite is remembered among the nation's elite.

Ayala was a formidable defender in his day, playing 115 times for his nation in a career that spanned three World Cups.

He was also an integral part of Valencia's all-conquering team of the early 2000s, winning two La Liga titles as well as the UEFA Cup in Los Che's most successful spell since the 1940s.

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Gabriel Rossi17Sergio Aguero

While Sergio Aguero has often been criticised for struggling to replicate his club form on the international stage, there is no doubting his brilliance in front of the net.

Ever since he burst onto the scene as a 15-year-old wonderkid for Independiente great things have been expected from 'El Kun', and he has certainly delivered in England.

With two Premier League titles and more than 200 goals for Manchester City, fans at the Etihad Stadium at least have taken Aguero to their hearts as one of the club's all-time greats.

And, at 30, there is still plenty of time for the striker to show Argentina fans exactly what he can do at the highest level.

Cynical gamesmanship or well-meaning attempt to improve the spirit? If it was England’s intention to improve relations between the sides when they invited their Australia counterparts for a drink at the end of the Cardiff Test, it may well have backfired

George Dobell14-Jul-20151:35

Siddle plays down ‘beergate’ row

Cynical gamesmanship or well-meaning attempt to improve the spirit in which cricket is played? The answer to that question probably depends on whether you like – or hate – England or Australia more. But if it was England’s intention to improve relations between the sides when they invited their Australia counterparts for a drink in the dressing rooms at the end of the Cardiff Test, it may well have backfired.Certainly, some in the Australian dressing room were underwhelmed by the invitation. Going in the face of modern convention – in recent times, at least, the sides would only meet for such a drink at the end of the series – it has been interpreted, coming moments after a heavy defeat, as antagonistic. Nobody likes a gloater.What is not disputed is that Alastair Cook, the England captain, invited Michael Clarke, the Australian captain, and his team into the England dressing room immediately after the game was completed. Nor is it disputed that the Australia team did not accept. Everything else is open to interpretation.James Anderson on…

Stuart Broad: “He hardly bowled a bad ball. He hasn’t bowled badly in recent months but you just sometimes forget how dangerous he can be when he snaps into that slightly fuller length. He was always trying to find the outside edge and at pace with the bounce that he gets, he can be unplayable at times. It was great to see him in that sort of form.”
England’s balanced attack: “It probably is the best balanced attack we’ve had since Flintoff retired. It’s great to have Ben Stokes at No. 6 to bring us that four seam option and with him and Mark Wood bowling so fantastically it eases the burden on me. Moeen bowled brilliantly throughout the Cardiff Test, too, which is a big help.”
England’s positive approach: “We did exactly what we talked about: we took the positive options throughout. We were in trouble a couple of times with the bat but Joe Root did what he has been doing for a year and with the ball we kept asking questions of them.”

“It was Cooky’s idea,” James Anderson confirmed. “After the New Zealand series we had a beer after each game and we found that that was quite an enjoyable thing to do. Just to chew the fat after a hard Test. It didn’t matter if we won or lost. We still did it at Headingley after we lost. So Cooky went and asked. We were all happy to do it. I don’t know why they didn’t come in.”Clarke said he discussed the idea with the Australia coach and senior players before responding. “When Cooky approached me after the game I was a little surprised, to be honest,” he said. “It hasn’t happened too many times in my career no matter who we have played after the first Test. Normally we do it after a series.”I spoke to Darren Lehmann and a few of the senior players to get their views. They were of the opinion – like me – that at the end of the series we’ll have a drink with England. If they ask us again at the end of this match, we’ll worry about it then. For us it’s not a big deal and I’m sure for England it’s not a big deal either.”The invitation comes at the same time as England embrace a new, aggressive style of cricket and after they have spoken of playing “with a smile on their face”. While they have not specifically said they will not “sledge” they were notably quieter in Cardiff this year than they had been in the earlier matches of the summer of 2014 when the Sri Lanka players were notably unimpressed by their antics.Yet now, inspired, in part at least, by the refreshing attitude of the New Zealand side, who played a hard but good-spirited brand of cricket, England have reasoned that, to appeal to a wider fan base and to engage with a general public that seemed underwhelmed by their Ashes success in 2013, they have to do more than win. Their focus has moved away from talk of fighting and battles and more to enjoyment and the expression of skills. They appear, at first glance, to have embraced the new approach with the zeal of a recent convertBut it’s not hard to understand Australia’s cynicism towards England’s new approach. Until very recently, England gave as good as they got in terms of gamesmanship and sledging. It was, after all, only a year ago that James Anderson was accused – though subsequently cleared – of “crossing the line” in an off-field incident with Ravi Jaedja. It remains to be seen if this is a passing phase – a ploy, even, to show-up Australia’s more brusque approach – or a meaningful change.Certainly Peter Siddle, who may well come into the team for the second Investec Test at Lord’s, is unconvinced. “It’s my fifth Ashes series and it’s the first time anyone has ever gone to have a drink after one Test match,” he said. “So it’s a little bit of an interesting story.”Especially coming from Jimmy Anderson. You know what Jimmy is like. After the Oval last time we had a drink and he said ‘I don’t know why we do this, I can’t stand it’.”I’ve played four Ashes series and we’ve never had a drink after a Test match until the very last one so I don’t think anything is going to change there. It’s always a hard, aggressive match and obviously after the game it’s move on to the next one and get prepared to go again. But at the end of the series, we’ll be happy to have a drink.”Perhaps, in the grand scheme of things, such issues matter little. Perhaps it is more important to note that Moeen Ali, sore after his exertions in Cardiff, did not train at Lord’s on Tuesday, but is said not to be a risk for the second Test. Perhaps it is more important to note that Mitchell McClenaghan, New Zealand’s left-arm fast bowler currently playing for Middlesex, was among the net bowlers helping England prepare for the on-going challenge of facing Mitchell Johnson and, fitness permitting, Mitchell Starc.Or perhaps, after a few years where the image of the game has been tarnished by on-field posturing and childish sledging, it is refreshing that teams are beginning the reflect on their behaviour and the actions they can have on the next generation of cricket lovers. These are very early days in England’s conversion. It remains to be seen whether it takes root.

Bangladesh are confident Shakib Al Hasan will be fit for the Asia Cup final against India on Sunday after the allrounder suffered a blow on his right thigh while batting in the nets on Friday

Mohammad Isam in Mirpur05-Mar-20160:57

‘Still room for improvement in T20Is’ – Mashrafe

The Bangladesh team management is hopeful Shakib Al Hasan will be fit for the Asia Cup final against India on Sunday after the allrounder suffered a blow on his right thigh while batting in the nets on Friday. The team physio, Bayejidul Islam Khan, said Shakib had suffered bruising on the hip flexor near the thigh muscle.Shakib batted in the nets during an optional training session at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on Saturday before returning to the dressing room. Bayejidul said an injury of this kind normally takes 48 hours to heal and is hopeful this will be the case with Shakib.”Shakib got this injury during training on Friday,” Bayejidul said. “We call it a contusion, after he was struck on the hip flexor of his thigh muscle. He is quite well now. It was optional training today and we had asked him not to train. But he still went at it for a while though he didn’t practice much. He will recover before tomorrow’s match. Normally it takes 48 hours to recover, and we are hoping that it is the case.”Bangladesh have bigger worries ahead of the final, particularly India’s batting line-up. In the league-stage match, Bangladesh managed to put them under pressure in the first seven overs but late-hitting from Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya got India back in the game and they eventually won by 45 runs.Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza said the team would focus on curbing runs in the Powerplay and slog overs, when the likes of Rohit and MS Dhoni can do maximum damage.”There is no doubt that India’s batting order has six world-class batsmen in all formats,” Mashrafe said. “You can’t get them out thinking of a particular way or area. You need to bowl well throughout; they will charge, but you have to minimize that. In this format generally the damage happens in the first six overs and towards the end so we have to keep an eye on those two periods.”Mashrafe said that Mustafizur Rahman, who was ruled out due to a side strain, will be sorely missed but was pleased that Taskin Ahmed and Al-Amin Hossain had taken up the responsibility well, as was evident against Pakistan.”We are playing without our best bowler [Mustafizur Rahman] to be honest but Taskin and Al-Amin bowled well in the last game,” Mashrafe said. “This is a good sign for a team that’s growing. When your best payer isn’t there still you are performing. This is a good sign.”Mashrafe admitted the side was missing a big-hitter down the order, to back up a strong top and middle-order: “I do believe we have some good players like Tamim, Soumya, Sabbir, Shakib and Mushfiqur. They can change the game for us, I do believe.”Obviously in T20, I feel there is another area that the game can change and that’s the batsman at No 7 or 8. We don’t have a world-class player there at the moment but we have some of those in the rest of the batting order.”

Adam Voges became the oldest man to score a century on Test debut as Australia took control on the second day in Dominica

The Report by Brydon Coverdale04-Jun-2015
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsAdam Voges played patiently for his debut hundred•Getty ImagesAdam Voges became the oldest man to score a century on Test debut as Australia took control on the second day in Dominica. It was a day of frustration and missed opportunities for West Indies, who had the chance to run through Australia but allowed the tail to wag and found themselves facing a 170-run first-innings deficit. They then lost both their openers cheaply late in the afternoon.Smart stats

1 Australian batsmen who have scored a century on Test debut when batting at No. 5 – Adam Voges is the first.
35 Voges’ age (35y, 242d), making him the oldest batsmen to score a century on Test debut, going past Zimbabwe’s Dave Houghton (35y 117d), versus India in 1992.
6-80 Devendra Bishoo’s figures, the best ever by a West Indies legspinner in Tests, and the first five-for against Australia.
50 Test wickets for Bishoo, the second most by a West Indies legspinner, one behind David Holford who has 51.
201 Keeper dismissals effected by Denesh Ramdin, making him the third West Indies wicketkeeper to go past the 200-mark after Jeff Dujon (270) and Ridley Jacobs (219). Across countries, 16 keepers have achieved this feat.

Devendra Bishoo had given West Indies the perfect start by spinning out three batsmen before lunch and he finished with 6 for 80, but Voges remained a calm presence at the crease throughout Australia’s innings. The 97-run stand that he and Josh Hazlewood compiled for the last wicket could prove to be the difference, although Mitchell Johnson and Nathan Lyon also provided useful support.By stumps, West Indies were in an even bigger hole. Shai Hope edged Johnson to second slip and was sharply taken by Michael Clarke, and next ball Mitchell Starc swung one in to rattle the stumps of Kraigg Brathwaite. It left West Indies on 25 for 2 at stumps, still 145 runs behind, with Darren Bravo on 3 and Shane Dowrich on 1. A mountain of work remained for them on day three.For Australia, it was a day to celebrate the achievement of Voges, who at 35 replaced Zimbabwe’s David Houghton as Test cricket’s oldest debut centurion. Patience is no problem for Voges – he has had to wait 160 first-class matches for this opportunity – and he displayed impressive concentration throughout this innings, bringing up his hundred from his 187th delivery.Having made a brisk start on the first afternoon, Voges took a more steady approach on the second day, waiting for his opportunities to work runs through gaps and taking few risks. Rarely did he play a loose shot, although just after reaching his half-century he pulled Marlon Samuels and a diving Jermaine Blackwood at midwicket put down a tough chance.It was an example of the difference in fielding between the two sides: Australia grasped nearly everything in West Indies’ first innings, but West Indies let opportunities slip. Voges received another life on 104 when Hope dropped one at gully off Taylor, and Hazlewood was put down on 33 as the afternoon wore on.West Indies seemed unable to find the intensity they needed to finish the Australians off: the seventh-, ninth- and tenth-wicket partnerships were Australia’s best of the innings. They were six down when Voges nudged them past West Indies’ total of 148 but Johnson, Lyon and then Hazlewood all offered vital support to Voges, who never looked flustered as wickets fell.For a while it looked like Voges might be denied the chance to reach his hundred: he was on 77 when Hazlewood joined him at the wicket. But Hazlewood proved himself a worthy partner, defending capably as Voges kept the scoreboard ticking along and then moved to 98 with a six slammed down the ground off Jerome Taylor.Voges was still there on 130 when Hazlewood was bowled by Marlon Samuels for 39, completing Australia’s innings at 318. It was a wonderful recovery after Bishoo threatened to skittle them cheaply. During the morning, he turned the ball sharply but also varied his degree of spin, and found enough drift to deceive the batsmen.In the morning session, Bishoo claimed the three key wickets of Steven Smith, Shane Watson and Brad Haddin, and after the break he added Johnson and Starc. Smith (25) added eight to his overnight score before he was hoodwinked by Bishoo, advancing down the pitch only to see the ball drop short of him, spin past his edge and Denesh Ramdin complete the stumping.If it is rare for Smith to be outflighted by a spinner, it is not so uncommon for Watson, who on 11 drove hard and had his thick edge well caught at second slip by Jason Holder. Haddin showed some intent by launching a Bishoo wrong’un back over the bowler’s head for six, but Bishoo had his revenge by bowling Haddin for 8.It was a beautiful piece of legspin that fittingly came 22 years to the day after Shane Warne’s ball of the century tricked Mike Gatting. Bishoo similarly drifted the ball in and pitched it on leg stump, turning it perfectly past Haddin’s bat to clip the top of off stump.Johnson’s 52-run stand with Voges ended when Johnson top-edged a sweep and was caught at short fine leg for 20. Starc lasted only two balls, bowled for a duck when he tried to slog Bishoo, and a quick finish appeared possible. However, Bishoo had to go off for some treatment to his hand, and Lyon’s temperament was what Voges needed at the other end, quiet and unperturbed.Lyon managed 22 from 50 balls before he walked across his stumps and was trapped lbw by Shannon Gabriel, but Hazlewood was able to offer even greater support. Bishoo looked like having a seven-for when he trapped Voges lbw on 127, but a review suggested the ball would have turned past off stump and Voges was reprieved. It was just one more frustration on a disappointing day for West Indies.

Charles Coventry, Vusi Sibanda, Brian Vitori and Chris Mpofu are all expected to be recalled to the Zimbabwe squad for the upcoming series in Pakistan

Firdose Moonda07-May-2015Charles Coventry, Vusi Sibanda, Brian Vitori and Chris Mpofu are all expected to be recalled to the Zimbabwe squad for the upcoming series in Pakistan but there may be no room for Malcolm Waller, Graeme Cremer or Solomon Mire.The tour, which has been confirmed despite FICA’s independent security assessment calling the risk of any team visiting Pakistan “unacceptably high,” will be Zimbabwe’s first international outing since the 2015 World Cup, coach Dav Whatmore’s first bilateral series in charge of the team, and their first without Brendan Taylor who quit international cricket for a county career in March.Taylor’s absence has paved the way for the return of both Sibanda, who was dropped for the World Cup squad, and Coventry, who last played for Zimbabwe four years ago. Sibanda has been active in the domestic competition and scored two centuries and two half-centuries in his last six first-class games, while Coventry has come in from the wilderness. He turned down a call-up ahead of the 2014 World T20 because of Zimbabwe Cricket’s precarious financial situation and has since played club cricket in Dubai and South Africa.Zimbabwe have also had to bulk up their bowling reserves following Tendai Chatara’s leg injury, which will sideline him for six months. Chatara, who was Zimbabwe’s best bowler at the World Cup, broke his leg in two places playing football and will be replaced by Mpofu, who last played international cricket in 2013, and fit-again left-arm seamer Vitori, who was also not part of the World Cup squad.With Zimbabwe going back to many of the players they have relied on in the past, there could only be room for one new cap. Allrounder Roy Kaia, who bowls offspin, is in the mix. Zimbabwe’s other slower bowling resources will include Sean Williams and Sikandar Raza, while Prosper Utseya, who now bowls medium-pace after he was banned from bowling offspin, will also travel with the squad. Legspinner Cremer, who returned to training with the national squad, has not played any domestic cricket since quitting the sport for golf two years ago, and has not been deemed match-fit.Elton Chigumbura will continue to lead the limited-overs teams while Zimbabwe’s administrators mull a replacement for Taylor in the Test side, which will retain a core of players that includes Hamilton Masakadza, Craig Ervine and Tinashe Panyangara. Richmond Mutumbami is expected to take over as wicketkeeper from Taylor.Squad (probable): Elton Chigumbura (capt), Sikandar Raza, Charles Coventry, Chamu Chibhabha, Craig Ervine, Roy Kaia, Hamilton Masakadza, Chris Mpofu, Tawanda Mupariwa, Richmond Mutumbami, Tinashe Panyangara, Vusi Sibanda, Prosper Utseya, Brian Vitori, Sean Williams

The PCB has demanded 50% of the revenue from the BCB in return for touring Bangladesh as scheduled in April-May this year

Umar Farooq23-Jan-2015The PCB has demanded 50% of the revenue from the BCB in return for touring Bangladesh as scheduled in April-May this year. The PCB has also stipulated a condition to exchange Under-19 and A team tours. ESPNcricinfo understands that the PCB’s governing board has agreed that the tour should only go ahead if the BCB agrees to the conditions.The PCB has informed the BCB that they are sticking to their demands and also insisted on making every agreement a written and legally binding one before getting into any commitment. Both PCB and BCB executives are set to meet in the UAE on the sidelines of the ICC meeting for a final round of talks.Bangladesh, according to the present FTP, are supposed to host Pakistan for two Tests, three ODIs and a T20 between April 10 and May 7. However, the PCB is yet to hand the BCB an assurance on the tour. The FTP is no more a central agreement between the ICC and its members. Now there are bilateral agreements between member nations and boards can decide individually whether playing each other is commercially viable or not.In the last four years, PCB and BCB relations have been embroiled as Bangladesh repeatedly pulled out from touring Pakistan, citing safety and security concerns. During the Zaka Ashraf regime, the PCB had disengaged communication with the BCB and barred its cricketers from featuring in the Bangladesh Premier League. The last full bilateral series between the two teams was when Pakistan toured Bangladesh in late 2011.Pakistan has been forced to host its home series mostly in the UAE but the PCB played down the possibility of hosting teams like Bangladesh and Zimbabwe at offshore venues. The PCB understands that hosting Bangladesh in the UAE or playing them in their home country is not financially viable.With new chairman Shaharyar Khan arriving at the helm of the PCB, the relationship was revived last year with low-profile tours by Bangladeshi representative teams. The BCB offered their women and academy teams to visit Pakistan but the PCB insisted on exchanging U-19 and A team tours instead.

Nisarg Patel, who finished as Most Valuable Player in the recent USACA T20 National Championship, and 22-year-old fast bowler Jasdeep Singh have been picked in USA’s 14-man squad for next month’s ICC Americas Division One T20 tournament in Indianapolis

Peter Della Penna08-Apr-2015Nisarg Patel, who finished as Most Valuable Player in the 2014 USACA T20 National Championship, and 22-year-old fast bowler Jasdeep Singh are in line to make their senior team debuts for USA after being named in the 14-man squad for next month’s ICC Americas Division One T20 tournament in Indianapolis.Long-time veterans Usman Shuja and Steve Massiah have been passed over for selection, and USACA is yet to name a captain for the newly-assembled squad.After leading the run charts at last year’s USACA T20 National Championship, Patel finished second in this year’s event behind Steven Taylor. Jasdeep, born in New York City and currently residing in New Jersey, was the leading fast bowler at last week’s tournament and finished with 10 wickets in six games according to unofficial stats.”I’ve been waiting for this opportunity for a long time,” Jasdeep told ESPNcricinfo on Wednesday. “I’ve been working hard and now that I’ve gotten the opportunity I’m going to work even harder to make it count so I can have a long career and play for USACA for a long time as an attack bowler.”Patel and Jasdeep were two of seven changes made following USA’s fifth place finish at last year’s WCL Division Three in Malaysia. Their performance in that tournament saw them being demoted to Division Four after they only managed a pair of wins against regional rivals Bermuda, and batsmen Sushil Nadkarni and Aditya Thyagarajan announced their retirements upon returning from Division Four. The others to be dropped were fast bowlers Elmore Hutchinson and Jermaine Lawson and allrounder Srini Santhanam. With the exception of Santhanam, the other players who were dropped were absent from last weekend’s T20 National Championship.The five players recalled to the squad are allrounders Japen Patel and Barrington Bartley, wicketkeeper Akeem Dodson, batsman Nicholas Standford and fast bowler Hammad Shahid. The 23-year-old Shahid is one of four American-born players in the squad, along with Jasdeep, Dodson and Taylor – the first time the squad has so many American-born players since Taylor, Dodson, Mital Patel and Ravi Timbawala toured Canada together for the 2013 Auty Cup.Despite being the leading wicket-taker in last week’s national tournament, offspinner Pranay Suri was unable to break into the USA squad and instead was named as one of four reserve players. Suri took 12 wickets in five games, including two four-wicket hauls, at an average of 9.83 and an economy rate of 6.38.Incumbent offspinner Muhammad Ghous earned a reprieve despite poor returns in recent ICC tournaments. Ghous took four wickets in six games at an average of 41.50 in Malaysia at Division Three and had also struggled at the 2013 World T20 Qualifier in the UAE where he could only manage two wickets in six games at an average of 75.50 and an economy rate of 8.38. Ghous claimed just four wickets in four games at the USACA T20 but had a solid economy rate of 4.27.Suri’s North West Region team was the only one of the four semifinal teams at the USACA T20 that is not represented in USA’s 14-man squad. National runner-up USA Development XI and New York each had four players selected while Taylor and Japen Patel were selected from the championship-winning South East squad.Bartley and Timil Patel are the only two players over the age of 30 in the squad and five players are under 25, making this one of the youngest USA senior team squads to participate in an ICC tournament.USA will compete against Canada, Bermuda and Suriname in the ICC Americas Division One T20 event. The tournament will have a double round-robin format and takes place between May 3 and 10 with the top two sides advancing to the global qualifier in Ireland and Scotland, beginning July 6. The Americas qualifier will be the first time the new cricket complex at World Sports Park in Indianapolis will host a major national or international tournament.USA squad: Danial Ahmed, Fahad Babar, Barrington Bartley, Adil Bhatti, Akeem Dodson (wk), Karan Ganesh, Muhammad Ghous, Japen Patel, Nisarg Patel, Timil Patel, Jasdeep Singh, Hammad Shahid, Nicholas Standford, Steven Taylor (wk)

Robin Uthappa is disappointed not to have made it into India’s World Cup squad, but he says he has come to terms with the selectors’ decision

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Jan-2015Robin Uthappa is disappointed not to have made it into India’s World Cup squad, but says he has come to terms with the selectors’ decision. Uthappa was part of India’s squad in their last ODI series against Sri Lanka, playing the last two matches as wicketkeeper-batsman.Since then, Uthappa has enjoyed a productive start to his Ranji Trophy season, scoring 437 runs at 62.42. Shortly before the World Cup squad announcement, he made 156 in Karnataka’s first innings against Jammu and Kashmir.”I believe every person gets what they deserve at the right time,” Uthappa said. “For me, I have accepted it, staying very much in the present. Here I am playing Ranji Trophy and I will continue playing Ranji Trophy. I love the game, that is why we play the game. Yes, definitely I am a tad disappointed but I believe that good things will come at the right time, at the right place, under the right circumstances.”Uthappa was pleased for his Karnataka team-mate Stuart Binny, who made the World Cup squad as the only seam-bowling allrounder.”Yes, I am very happy for Stuart,” Uthappa said. “We both were pretty tensed yesterday and today. I am very happy for him and hopefully he does great. It is an honour to play in the World Cup. It is a fantastic opportunity. I just wished him and asked him to make the most of it.”Uthappa added that he was happy with his early-season form, which has fetched him three half-centuries and a hundred in seven innings, and hoped he could continue in the same vein.”I feel pretty confident with my skills,” he said. “I was pretty disappointed that I was not able to convert the 70s into hundreds in the first couple of innings. I missed out after being on 97 [against Railways]. On that challenging wicket, it would have been really satisfying to get a hundred. But I was pretty happy to finish the year on a high and begin the new year on a good note. I want to consolidate on this and continue to perform, and contribute to the team’s victory and make them meaningful.”