Nepal stunned defending champions India on the third day of the Under-19 Asia Cup in Kuala Lumpur. Playing a key role in the 19-run win was the captain Dipendra Singh Airee. First he made 88 in Nepal’s modest 185 for 8. Then he took 4 for 39 to wrestle India down from 91 for 1 to 166 all out.There were several points in the match when the eventual result looked quite unlikely. Like when Himanshu Rana got the chase off to a brisk start, smacking seven fours and a six in his 38-ball 46. Though he fell to Kamal Singh Airee, India seemed to have things well in hand. At one point, they only needed 96 runs in about 27 overs with nine wickets in hand.The game turned when Dipendra dismissed Atharva Taide. Pawan Sarraf (2-24) and Shalab Alam (2-11) also chipped in with a couple of wickets to ensure India’s middle and lower order felt the pressure of the chase. And eventually the quarter-finalists in the last Under-19 World Cup secured victory.It was perhaps the situation Dipendra had hoped for when he was batting earlier in the day, doing his best to repair the innings after the loss of both openers inside 10 overs. He added 49 for the third wicket with Jitendra Singh, before taking charge with an innings that included six fours and two sixes. Having faced 101 deliveries, he was dismissed only in the penultimate over.Nepal, who were beaten by Bangladesh by two wickets in their tournament opener, play Malaysia next on Tuesday, while India, winners by 202 runs against Malaysia, take on Bangladesh.
Manchester City fullback Kyle Walker could be "tempted by the possibility" of leaving the club this summer, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The 33-year-old has been at the club since 2017.
What is the latest news regarding Kyle Walker?
Walker is closing in on a move away from the Etihad this summer according to reports.
The Athletic are reporting that the England international has verbally agreed terms with German juggernauts Bayern Munich on a two-year deal. Whilst an agreement between the two sides has not been reached yet, the reported asking price from the current Champions League holders is in the region of £15m.
Current City boss Pep Guardiola has stated that he is determined to keep the fullback, citing his importance for the side and the qualities he brings to the team: "“Kyle is incredibly important for us. He has specific qualities that are so difficult to find out wide. I don’t know what’s going to happen, both clubs are in touch. We will fight for him like I’m sure Bayern will. I don’t know how it will finish.”
Manchester City defender Kyle Walker.
Walker has made 254 appearances for the Manchester club since his £50m move in the summer of 2017, registering six goals and 18 assists en route to winning 12 major honours with the club, including five Premier League titles and one Champions League.
There were also reports earlier in the window that Arsenal were interested in signing the former Tottenham Hotspur full-back, however, nothing ultimately materialised regarding that potential move.
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Italian journalist Romano revealed that the 78-time-capped England international is "tempted" by the opportunity to join Bayern, with the German side's manager Thomas Tuchel "really pushing" to secure the deal: "Manchester City are really trying their best to keep Kyle Walker, but it's not an easy situation. Also for the player, I can guarantee to you that Walker is tempted by the possibility of joining Bayern Munich. It's a big chance, it's a big contract, and Thomas Tuchel is really pushing to have him."
How can Manchester City replace Kyle Walker?
The Citizens have two real options to replace the 33-year-old should he make the switch to Bavaria.
One option is to delve into the transfer market. The Manchester club are reportedly in talks with Bayern over French international defender Benjamin Pavard however they face stiff competition from local rivals Manchester United as well as Italian giants Juventus. The player is in the final 12 months of his contract at the club, and the German side do not want to lose the 27-year-old on a free transfer next summer so have placed a €30m price tag on the defender. Pavard is set for a reduced role next season following the arrival of Kim Min Jae and the potential arrival of Walker, so may push for a move for more regular first-team football ahead of Euro 2024, and due to both clubs wanting a respective player, a swap deal could be negotiated between the sides which could make City the favourites.
Man City do also have a couple of potential in-house solutions as well. Portuguese full-back Joao Cancelo could be reintroduced into the first-team setup following his six-month loan spell in Munich during the second half of last season following a fallout with boss Guardiola. The player has featured during the side's pre-season tour so far and has even registered an assist. Another in-house option could be giving young Rico Lewis increased minutes next season. The full-back made his mark at City last season, making 23 appearances in all competitions and playing his part in helping the club secure an illustrious treble. Referred to as the clubs "little Phillip Lahm" by Guardiola, the youngster may be ready for an increased role with greater responsibility next season should Walker depart this summer.
Mohamed Salah could potentially join an exclusive club – including Harry Kane and Wayne Rooney – if he scores for Liverpool against Newcastle.
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Salah on the verge of another record
Could join elite strikers Kane and Rooney
Scored vs Magpies five times at Anfield
WHAT HAPPENED?
The Reds are locked in a fierce battle for the top spot in the Premier League with Arsenal. A crucial away win against Burnley helped Jurgen Klopp's team recapture pole position and open up a two-point lead over the Gunners at the top, albeit playing a match more. After drawing a blank against the Clarets, Salah would be fired up to get scoring again in his team's clash with Newcastle on January 1.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Salah recently scored his 150th goal in the English top-flight and now the Egyptian superstar remains just one goal away from reaching 150 for Liverpool in the competition. The goal will see him join an elite group, becoming the fifth player to achieve this remarkable feat for a single club – including the likes of Harry Kane (Tottenham), Sergio Aguero (Manchester City), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), and Thierry Henry (Arsenal).
DID YOU KNOW?
Salah boasts of an impressive track record against Newcastle, having scored in five of six games at Anfield. However, if he doesn't score in this game, he will have to wait until the conclusion of the African Cup of Nations, as he will depart to join his international teammates for the continental competition.
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WHAT NEXT?
Newcastle have historically struggled to find success at Anfield as they have not won any of their last 27 Premier League away games against Liverpool, drawing five and losing 22, since the 2-0 triumph back in April 1994. Eddie Howe faces a tall challenge to amend the record for the better on Monday night as his team has been grappling with fatigue and injuries and have lost four of their last five league games.
Glasgow Rangers head coach Michael Beale failed to secure a trophy in his debut season in the dugout at Ibrox after replacing Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
The English manager joined during the break for the 2022 World Cup, having started the campaign with Queens Park Rangers, and used his knowledge of the Championship to bolster the squad during his first window in charge.
Beale signed former Norwich City wizard Todd Cantwell in January to bolster his forward options and the 25-year-old proved to be a sensational addition to the team.
How much was Todd Cantwell sold for?
According to The Sun, the Canaries cashed in on the attacking midfielder for a fee in the region of £1.5m, despite rejecting an offer for the same price from Blackburn Rovers earlier that month, as his contract was due to expire at the end of the season.
He proved his worth to the Light Blues with a string of fantastic performances across the middle of the park. Cantwell averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.36 across 16 Scottish Premiership appearances, which placed him third in the squad – only behind James Tavernier and Borna Barisic.
Rangers midfielder Todd Cantwell.
However, Beale could help the Gers number 13 to become even better by securing a deal for reported transfer target Jack Clarke, who could make his compatriot unstoppable at Ibrox by giving the opposition another threat to deal with.
Is Jack Clarke staying at Sunderland?
Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray recently claimed that the young winger is in no rush to leave Wearside but refused to completely rule out a transfer, which could open the door for Rangers to swoop over the coming weeks.
The "exciting" talent – as he was once described by ex-Premier League forward Noel Whelan – enjoyed a terrific campaign in the Championship to draw interest from the Scottish giants.
He produced nine goals to go along with an outstanding 11 assists in 44 league starts for the Black Cats, as the former Tottenham Hotspur man proved himself capable of making a significant impact at the top end of the pitch on a regular basis from a wide position.
To highlight how impressive those numbers are, Malik Tillman (ten) was the only Rangers midfielder with more than nine goals while none of Beale's stars from last season hit double figures for assists.
These statistics suggest that the £15k-per-week sensation has the potential to be an exceptional addition to the team if he is capable of translating his form at Sunderland over to Scotland.
Cantwell could, therefore, become unplayable in the number ten position as Clarke would provide a huge threat on the left flank that would cause opposition defenders to double up on him, subsequently opening up more space for the ex-Norwich ace to thrive.
The Sunderland star's ability to assist his teammates regularly could also allow Cantwell to improve his own goal return, after six goals in 15 league starts for the club last term, as the former Leeds starlet has proven himself to be more creative than any of Beale's existing options.
The Norfolk-born maestro was one of the team's top performers last season but the arrival of the Sunderland phenomenon could take his game to another level, making him an unstoppable proposition in midfield for the Light Blues.
Sussex have appointed wicketkeeper Ben Brown as their Championship captain for the rest of the season, with Ross Taylor taking charge in the NatWest T20 Blast
ESPNcricinfo staff23-Jun-2017
Sussex wicketkeeper Ben Brown has been appointed Championship captain for the rest of the season•Getty Images
Sussex have appointed wicketkeeper Ben Brown as their Championship captain for the rest of the season, with New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor taking charge in the NatWest T20 Blast, following Luke Wright’s decision earlier this month to stand down.Brown, who has been absent since early May after suffering a broken finger, steps up from vice-captain, after Chris Nash led the team to two wins from two as Wright’s initial replacement. Brown has been with Sussex since the age of 11 and captained the team in several games last season, with Wright injured.”For someone who has been associated with Sussex for so long being appointed as captain is a very proud moment for me,” Brown said.”I enjoyed the challenge of captaining the side last season but I feel in the last 12 months that the team has grown with a good core of senior players. Of course, I have my own ideas about how I want to lead the side but I also know there are some very solid cricketers in our dressing room who can give me support and advice if I need it.”It’s an exciting time. We have eight Championship games left but we go into Monday’s match against Gloucestershire with some real momentum. If we keep playing as we have in recent weeks the table will take care of itself and we can challenge for promotion.”Sussex lost three of their first four games in Division Two but rebounded with victories over Worcestershire and Leicestershire. Approaching the halfway point of the season, they lie fifth in the table, 43 points off the promotion places.Brown’s first game in charge will be a day-night fixture, played with a pink ball, against Gloucestershire at Hove starting on Monday. He scored 72 on his comeback from injury earlier this week, playing in a T20 for Nash’s testimonial in Horsham.Sussex’s head coach, Mark Davis, said: “As our vice-captain and a key senior member of the team we’re delighted Ben has agreed to take over as skipper. He learned a lot last season when he led the side when Luke Wright was injured and he will be a better captain for that experience.”He will do the job for the rest of the season when the cricket management team will review the situation. We have no plans to appoint a vice-captain because we feel there is already a good group of senior players in our squad who can support Ben.”I’d also like to say a big thank-you to Chris Nash who led us to victories in his two games in charge against Worcestershire and Leicestershire. I’m looking forward to Nashy making a big contribution in the rest of the season as a senior player and a key batsman in the side.”Taylor, the former New Zealand captain, is returning after a spell as Sussex’s overseas player last season and will lead the team in the T20 Blast, which begins next month.”I am very proud to be appointed captain of the Sharks for this season’s competition,” Taylor said. “I know the club and the players well from my time at Hove in 2016 and I am looking forward to joining up with the boys again. I believe we have a very exciting squad for this format and one that can challenge any team in the competition.”
Steve O’Keefe has been banned from this year’s domestic limited-overs competition by New South Wales and fined for the second time in eight months
Daniel Brettig07-Apr-2017Steve O’Keefe has been banned from this year’s domestic limited-overs competition by New South Wales and fined $20,000 by Cricket Australia for making highly offensive comments while intoxicated at the after-party following the Steve Waugh Medal presentation.In what was his second alcohol-related offence in the past nine months – he was fined $10,000 and handed an infringement notice by NSW Police for an incident at a Sydney pub last year after returning home injured from the Test tour of Sri Lanka – O’Keefe is believed to have made a string of offensive remarks after the awards ceremony, which was held at the Hilton Hotel in Sydney on Saturday night.Having performed so well for Australia on the recent tour of India, O’Keefe now finds himself on exceedingly thin ice with both his state and the national team. O’Keefe said he would seek specialist counselling in the wake of the episode.”At an official Cricket NSW function I became intoxicated and made highly inappropriate comments. There is no excuse for this and I take full responsibility and offer an unconditional apology,” O’Keefe said in a statement. “I accept the sanctions imposed by Cricket Australia and Cricket NSW and welcome the chance to receive specialist counselling.”I have a big challenge ahead and I am determined to meet it with actions, not just words. To all of the members of the cricket family I love and respect so much, again, apologies for letting you down.”Senior officials from both Cricket NSW and CA were furious at O’Keefe’s behaviour, particularly after he worked assiduously and well to prepare himself for the India tour, where he was among Australia’s most accomplished performers.”Stephen has not upheld the standards expected of a NSW and Australian cricketer in the aftermath of the India tour where he proudly represented his state and country,” NSW chief executive Andrew Jones said. “As this is his second recent offence we believe a strong penalty is appropriate. At Cricket NSW, we want all our people to achieve their potential on and off the field and Stephen needs to refocus himself on that task.”Pat Howard, the CA team performance manager, said the incident overshadowed what had been a most productive season for O’Keefe. “There is no time or place for unacceptable behaviour from any of our players in Australian Cricket, and we continue to take a zero-tolerance approach to this,” he said.”We’re extremely disappointed this situation occurred, particularly on the back of a previous incident, and it now overshadows Stephen’s on field performance on the recent tour of India.”
With the deadline for direct qualification for the 2019 World Cup on September 30, and with that luxury given only to the top eight teams including hosts England, West Indies who are at No. 9, are in a precarious position
ESPNcricinfo staff02-Mar-2017The new West Indies coach Stuart Law has said his main aim is to make sure the team qualifies directly for the 2019 World Cup.Currently ranked No. 9 by the ICC, West Indies have to improve their position by at least one spot before the September 30 deadline. The top eight ODI sides, including hosts England, on the cut-off date gain automatic entry into the showpiece event while the bottom four will have to go through the rigours of a qualifying competition, where ten contenders fight for only two spots.West Indies’ quest begins with the first of three ODIs at home against England on March 3. Then they take on their nearest competition on the rankings table – Pakistan at No. 8 – in April over three matches, which could prove decisive to which of the two teams end up in the top eight. West Indies also have the cushion of five more 50-over matches against England in the UK before September 30. While winning as much as possible would be the priority of any international cricket team, Law knows it is especially important for his.”The main aim is to qualify for the next World Cup, the 50-over World Cup, so these one-day games are extremely important to us,” he said. “So that’s our main focus really at this stage. I know we have Pakistan coming for T20s, Tests and one-dayers as well but the one-day series probably will take paramount importance.”There is considerable disappointment in West Indies at missing out on the Champions Trophy. They had won the tournament in 2004 but now, for the first time ever, they will not be part of it. Several issues – prominent among them the spat between the WICB and their biggest match-winners – have meant the one-day team, unlike its counterpart in T20s, is rarely at full strength. These concerns, however, are being addressed with the help of Jimmy Adams, the former captain and the new director of cricket in West Indies.”It’s a great little tournament, the Champions Trophy, the mini World Cup and to not be there probably isn’t where you want to be,” Law said. “You want to be in every single one of those tournaments but it is what it is. We’ve just got to make sure we have our heads screwed on for the one-day tournaments we play in upcoming tours and if we can win those, we can get through to qualify for the World Cup. That’s probably the bigger one to worry about.”Law is confident of the men under his charge – “We’ve got power. We’ve got extreme power. Match that with a bit of technique as well, we’re looking pretty good.” – and that helps because he is only into his second month on the job and there are other challenges to navigate as well.”For me, it’s about seeing how it all operates,” Law said “Learning the different cultures from the different islands and how to address people and how to get the best out of the young kids is probably the most important thing for me now. I’m not going to focus on becoming No. 1 in the world at this stage. I’m focusing on building a culture, building a work ethic in the dressing room that will put the little brick in place so that they can become the best they can be.”
Newcastle United are battling Tottenham for the signing of Leicester City star James Maddison, according to an update from journalist Fabrizio Romano.
Has Maddison been linked with Newcastle move?
The Foxes were relegated from the Premier League last month and that will lead to a number of top players at the club moving on during the summer transfer window.
Maddison is arguably the star man at the King Power Stadium currently, having scored ten goals and registered nine assists in the league in 2022/23, and his exit is seemingly an absolute given. He has been linked with a number of clubs and Newcastle are one of them, with the Magpies viewing him as a primary summer target.
The £110,000-a-week star could like the idea of moving to St James' Park, especially as the Magpies sealed a top-four finish and a place in next season's Champions League.
It won't be easy for Newcastle to get their man, given the level of interest in him, but a new claim suggests that they are still right in the mix to acquire his signature.
Taking to Twitter, Romano claimed that the Magpies and Spurs are "into the race" to snap up Maddison before the start of next season:
"Tottenham and Newcastle are into the race to sign James Maddison. He’s set to leave Leicester, negotiations will take place soon. Postecoglou asked for Maddison but Newcastle are working on this deal since last summer."
This is a really encouraging update surrounding Newcastle's potential move for Maddison, especially as Spurs are unable to promise him Champions League football in 2023/24.
That will surely play a role in the Leicester man's thinking, as he looks to test himself in Europe's best club competition, and also show England manager Gareth Southgate that he is worthy of playing a bigger role at international level moving forward.
Maddison's creative brilliance is summed up his aforementioned goal and assist return this season – he has 55 and 41 for Leicester overall respectively – and he was called "one of the best players" in the Premier League by former Foxes manager Brendan Rodgers earlier in the campaign.
At 26, the attacking midfielder should be heading into his peak years and he would add a different dimension to Newcastle's midfield, acting as a more attacking foil to the likes of Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton and Sean Longstaff.
Zac Toumazi, Sussex’s chief executive, will step down from his role at the end of 2016, after four years in the position.Toumazi, who joined Sussex at the start of 2013, oversaw the integration of Sussex’s professional, recreational and community cricket into one organisation, Sussex Cricket Limited, as well as a major overhaul of the ground infrastructure at Hove, including the development of a new media centre.He arrived at Sussex following a career in investment banking, as well as commercial roles at both Hampshire and Surrey and used that experience to help the club to punch above its weight, not least in securing a notable naming-rights deal for what became known as the BrightonandHoveJobs.com (latterly 1st Central) County Ground.However, Sussex’s relegation in 2015 hit the club hard, with the departure of their long-standing coach, Mark Robinson, effectively bringing to an end an era in which they won three County Championship titles in five seasons, including their maiden success in 2003.”It has been a difficult decision to make but I do believe that it is right for me to move on and hand over the reins to a successor,” said Toumazi. “The role of CEO of such a great club has been a privilege and an honour. I have enjoyed my time at Sussex and leave behind an excellent team that is set for the future. Our professional cricket is poised for exciting times ahead under the new management team, our Academy is bearing fruit with the young players coming through the programme, and I am sure that trophies are not too far away.”I take away many fond memories and lasting friendships. A special thank you to our members and partners who have been an absolute delight to interact with and who are always ready to support. I have no doubt that the future is bright for Good Old Sussex by The Sea.”Sussex’s chairman, Jim May, added: “Zac Toumazi has been a very professional and well respected chief executive who has brought great energy to the role and has been a great ambassador for Sussex. Aside from overseeing the ground-breaking formation of Sussex Cricket, Zac has accomplished much including the restructure of our pro-cricket department and has helped drive our commercial business.”He will be rightly remembered as a man with strong values whose interpersonal skills have helped strengthen our relationships with a wide range of stakeholders. Zac has been an excellent chief executive who leaves Sussex with our very best wishes, and, in very good shape for his successor.”
Manchester United are believed to be plotting to sign at least one new centre-forward this summer, with Tottenham Hotspur talisman Harry Kane seemingly at the top of the club's list of targets.
What's the latest on Kane to Man United?
According to transfer insider, Graeme Bailey, the Red Devils could look to bring in two new strikers ahead of next season in order to ease their goalscoring woes, with the England captain said to be the standout pick – despite concerns over whether the Old Trafford outfit will be able to prise the 29-year-old from north London.
Writing on Twitter, the journalist stated: "Man Utd exploring signing two centre forwards this summer. Harry Kane is preferred option, but within Old Trafford there is a real feeling that Daniel Levy is not willing to do business."
In his attached piece for 90min, Bailey states that the long-serving Spurs man is United's 'top transfer target' for the summer and is among those who the club would consider as a 'ready-made' option, albeit with the report outlining that the experienced marksman could still command a fee of around £100m despite having just 12 months remaining on his existing deal.
What impact could Kane make at Man United?
It is seemingly evident that Erik ten Hag is in need of a centre-forward upgrade this summer, with the club's attacking woes laid bare by the fact that they have netted just 52 goals in the Premier League this season – 41 goals less than champions, Manchester City.
That gulf has not been aided by the persistent injury woes of Anthony Martial, with the 27-year-old – who has been linked with an exit at the end of the season – having missed 27 games so far this term.
Equally, the January arrival of Wout Weghorst has failed to have the desired effect with the towering Dutchman netting just twice in all competitions so far, with doubts emerging as to whether the loan signing will be snapped up on a permanent contract.
Tottenham's Harry Kane
With United likely to be harbouring ambitions of competing with the likes of City for the title next term, the addition of Kane, therefore, could potentially be a "guarantee" of that success, as talkSPORT pundit Jamie O'Hara previously claimed.
While that statement came prior to the Etihad outfit recruiting goalscoring machine Erling Haaland – who fired Pep Guardiola's men to the title with 36 league goals to date – Kane has proven that he could be the only answer to the prolific Norwegian, having scored 28 league goals himself this term.
That stellar individual record has come as part of a struggling Spurs side that have already parted ways with both Antonio Conte and Cristian Stellini this term, with the £200k-per-week ace also now the leading scorer for the Lilywhites, as well as for his country.
Evidently something of a "machine" in front of goal – as per teammate Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (Match of the Day, BBC One, 26/12/2022, 23:25) – Kane would certainly provide United with a better chance of ending their now decade-long wait for the title, hence the need for the Red Devils to do all they can to seal the deal.