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Glasgow Rangers manager Michael Beale has been a busy man throughout the summer transfer window as a raft of fresh additions have come through the door at Ibrox.

The Gers have snapped up seven new signings to bolster their playing squad after the club's failure to secure a single piece of silverware last season.

Sam Lammers, Leon Balogun, Cyriel Dessers, Kieran Dowell, Abdallah Sima, Jack Butland, and Dujon Sterling have all arrived either permanently or on loan since the end of the 2022/23 campaign.

However, the Scottish giants may not be done there as they still have well over a month to get their business done before September's deadline.

Last month, it was reported that the Light Blues are still in the race to land Malik Tillman on a second loan spell after his impressive performances for the club last term.

Bayern Munich, although they would be open to a sale, are prepared to sanction another temporary deal if the right opportunity comes about, whilst Premier League teams are also showing an interest in his services.

How many goals did Malik Tillman score last season?

The USA international plundered 12 goals across all competitions for Rangers and his return to Glasgow could allow Beale to brutally bin Ianis Hagi.

It was recently claimed that some unnamed teams in the Serie A are keeping tabs on the Romania international with a view to a potential swoop for his signature this summer, which could open up the door for the Gers to cash in on him.

The 24-year-old wizard missed 69 competitive games through a knee injury between January 2022 and 2023. He made his comeback under Beale last season and, understandably so, struggled to make a significant impact.

Hagi scored one goal and failed to create a single 'big chance' for his teammates across eight Scottish Premiership outings for the club, to go along with a Sofascore rating of 6.90 – the 15th-best score within the squad.

Tillman, on the other hand, ranked ninth on the team with an average Sofascore rating of 7.09. The £13k-per-week sensation, whose "infectious" attitude was hailed by ex-Gers boss Alex McLeish, racked up ten goals alongside 12 'big chances' created in 28 league matches for Rangers.

Fashion Sakala (12) was the only winger or midfielder with more Premiership goals than the German-born talent, which highlights how important the exceptional loanee was to the side with his ability at the top end of the pitch.

His form was also more impressive than Hagi's most successful campaign at Ibrox to date. The Romanian maestro averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.02 and contributed with seven goals to go along with six 'big chances' created in 33 matches during the 2020/21 title-winning season.

This suggests that Tillman has the ability to offer more, as a scorer and a creator, than Hagi in the final third as a midfielder or wide player.

Therefore, with the additions of Dowell and Sima to further bolster the club's options in those areas of the pitch, bringing the Bayern Munich dynamo back to Glasgow would allow Beale to cash in on Hagi amid interest from teams in Italy.

Their bowling remains as strong and varied as ever, but their batsmen have been struggling to cope with the demands of modern-day limited-overs cricket

Umar Farooq30-May-20171:20

Babar Azam – The new face of Pakistan’s batting

Overview

Pakistan cricket has always been associated with great symbols – their unpredictability, and boldness to unleash young surprise packages to name a couple. Now, however, those associations seem more diluted. There are more challenges than ever before with the team fluctuating around the bottom three spots in the ICC ODI rankings. They were on the verge of losing a berth in the Champions Trophy and barely managed to qualify.Squad

Sarfraz Ahmed (capt, wk), Ahmed Shehzad, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Hasan Ali, Imad Wasim, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hafeez, Shadab Khan, Shoaib Malik, Wahab Riaz

Pakistan have won all the major titles – World Cup, World T20, Asia Cup – but the Champions Trophy crown has eluded them. The closest they came was in 2009 when a crucial catch dropped by Younis Khan halted their progress into the final. Pakistan’s record in the 2013 edition was rather modest – knocked out losing all three games, and losing to India meant they lost their unbeaten record in the tournament against India.Pakistan are slotted in the same group as arch-rivals India, Sri Lanka and South Africa, the only Full Member they beat in the 2015 World Cup. They have already had to do away with one captain [Azhar Ali] and they go into the Champions Trophy ranked No. 8 but the next couple of weeks present them a rare opportunity. The young players coming into the squad – legspinner Shadab Khan, fast bowler Hasan Ali – and even Sarfraz Ahmed, the newly appointed captain will, once and for all, know if they can cut it with the best in the world.

Champions Trophy history

1998 – first-round exit
2000 – semi-final lost
2002- first-round exit
2004 – semi-final lost
2006 – first-round exit
2009 – semi-final lost
2013 – first-round exit

Form guide

Pakistan beat WestIndies 2-1 in their most recent ODI series, a tournament that was played with the added pressure of getting a rankings boost ahead of the September 30 deadline for direct qualification into the 2019 World Cup. Shoaib Malik and Babar Azam made match-winning hundreds and Mohammad Hafeez was the highest run-getter in the series with 201 runs at an average of 67.

Strength

“The return of my swing will make a huge difference in conditions like England,” Mohammad Amir said. Amir will lead the bowling attack, which remains the team’s biggest strength. The 18-year old legspinner Shadab had a fantastic introduction to T20Is, picking up 10 wickets in four games, and has been backed to replicate that performance in 50-overs as well. Pakistan will also look for impactful performances from Junaid Khan, who made his ODI comeback against Australia earlier this year, and Wahab Riaz, with his sheer pace.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Weakness

Pakistan’s limited-overs batting has been strewn with unbelievable collapses. To add to that, concerns regarding the strike-rates of their batsmen have also risen and cost them games recently. The team appears to be struggling to adapt to the pace of one-day cricket, where power-hitting has become a major aspect. In the period between 2012 and 2015, Pakistan’s scoring rate in the first 10 overs hovered close to the 4.5 runs per over mark, only gradually improving over the last two seasons and climbing to over 5. Their scoring rate in the last 10 overs has also shown similar improvement after a period of prolonged struggle. They have already lost their best power-hitter, Sharjeel Khan, in the wake of the PSL corruption case, while Umar Akmal was removed from the squad after failing a fitness test. With the batting unit lacking in firepower, their bowlers will be under a significant amount of pressure.

Key stats

Malik is set to feature in his sixth Champions Trophy tournament, the most among current players. He made his tournament debut in 2002, and since then has played all editions of the tournament. He has scored 326 runs and taken 10 wickets in 15 Champions Trophy games. The last time a Pakistan batsman scored a century in the Champions Trophy was in 2009 when Malik made 128 against India in Centurion. Saeed Anwar, who struck two of them in Nairobi in 2000, is the only other batsman from Pakistan to have scored a century in the tournament. Among the current Pakistan bowlers, Junaid Khan has dismissed Virat Kohli the most in ODIs – three times, all during the 2012-13 series.

Hours after Bangladesh team manager Khaled Mahmud confirmed that allrounder Mahmudullah would not be a part of the playing XI for the Colombo Test and would fly home on the eve of the match, BCB president Nazmul Hassan claimed the player’s return would be a personal decision and not one taken by the team management.The Test, which begins on March 15 in Colombo, will be Bangladesh’s 100th and Mahmud had said that given the match would be an emotional, landmark occasion, it was decided not to keep a high-profile, senior player sitting on the bench.Hassan said the decision to either stay in Colombo or return to Dhaka was up to Mahmudullah.”It is totally up to him [Mahmudullah], whether he wants to stay [in Colombo] or return [to Dhaka],” Hassan said. “There’s no question about sending him home by us or the team management, because the ODIs are coming up. I am sure he is supposed to stay back. At least I would have known if something like that had happened.”Mahmud later confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that Mahmudullah could return to Dhaka, either on March 14 or 15, depending on the availability of an air ticket. Sources, however, indicate that Mahmudullah’s likely return will be discussed after Hassan arrives in Colombo on Tuesday.Mahmudullah made scores of 8 and 0 in Bangladesh’s loss in Galle, and bowled just two overs of his offspin. He had made a half-century in the one-off Test in India before this, but before that had gone ten innings without getting to a fifty.He was at the ground with the team at practice today and took part in the warm-ups, but did not train thereafter.Hassan also backed Mahmudullah’s selection for the three ODIs and two T20Is that follow. The ODI series starts from March 25, while the two T20Is will be played on April 4 and 6.”The ODI team isn’t submitted to me yet,” Hassan said. “Whether he will play or not, but I don’t think anyone will drop him from the squad without talking to me first.”He is a senior player who has made a lot of contribution. I don’t see any possibility of him being dropped from the squad.”

Manchester United look set to make an improved £50m transfer offer for Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount this week, according to reports.

What’s the latest Man United transfer news involving Mount?

It looks set to be a busy summer off the pitch at Old Trafford, with the Glazers still in charge despite an ongoing takeover saga.

The Red Devils have seemingly made Mount one of their top transfer targets this summer and have already agreed on personal terms with the England international.

Mount is entering the final 12 months of his Stamford Bridge contract, however, a fee between the two clubs appears to be proving tricky. Man United had an initial £40m bid turned down by their Premier League rivals recently, but it looks as if they are set to return quickly with an improved offer for the player who Chelsea value at £70m.

According to The Daily Mail in the last 48 hours, Man United are expected to make a £50m offer for Mount this week.

Those at Old Trafford are determined to sign the midfielder for Erik ten Hag and are the front runners, should they reach an agreement with the Blues.

How much money does Mason Mount earn at Chelsea?

Mount, hailed as "unbelievable" by Joe Cole, has progressed through the academy at Stamford Bridge, and as a result, his salary has increased over time. The 24-year-old was on £100-a-week back in 2015 and has been on £76,000-a-week since 2019 after breaking through into the first team.

It looks as if United are desperate to sign Mount, and if they succeed, he would offer a versatile option to Ten Hag’s side. He is capable of playing as an attacking midfielder, central midfielder or out on the left, with the majority of his appearances turning out in an advanced role.

He has contributed to 70 goals in 195 games for Chelsea and has 36 senior caps for England, so could come in and potentially play alongside Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro in a three-man midfield, possibly even replacing the former in an attacking role, should the Portugal international be rested at points throughout the campaign.

It’ll be interesting to see if United get their man, and by the looks of it, there will be further developments over the coming days.

Batsman Chris Lynn has been ruled out of the remainder of Australia’s ODI series against Pakistan and the upcoming Chappell-Hadlee Series in New Zealand due to a neck injury

Brydon Coverdale18-Jan-2017Batsman Chris Lynn has been ruled out of the remainder of Australia’s ODI series against Pakistan and the upcoming Chappell-Hadlee Series in New Zealand due to a neck injury. However, the Australians are hopeful that Lynn will recover in time to be part of the Twenty20 side to take on Sri Lanka in mid-February, when the Test players will already be in India.Lynn made his ODI debut on his home ground at the Gabba in the first game against Pakistan last Friday, but was ruled out of the second match in Melbourne due to an aggravation of his existing injury. The sidelining of Lynn comes at an unfortunate time for the batsman, who had lit up the Big Bash League with the Brisbane Heat and had a chance to make a one-day spot his own.”He’s obviously been playing in a lot of pain, even through the BBL,” Australia’s coach Darren Lehmann said ahead of the second ODI against Pakistan in Perth. “It’s just got to the stage where he can’t function anymore.”He’s got a couple of weeks with really no cricket, light duties … a little bit of physical stuff but nothing weight-bearing. He’s got to calm down the neck – it’s quite aggravated. He’ll start his rehab as of now, but he won’t be doing too much strenuous stuff before hopefully getting back for the Sri Lankan series.”As a result of Lynn’s absence, Peter Handscomb will make his ODI debut at the WACA on Thursday, having been added to the squad. Although Handscomb has averaged just 23.83 in the past two years in List A cricket, his outstanding form when stepping into the Test line-up this summer – he is yet to be dismissed for less than 50 in a Test innings – encouraged the selectors to look to him again.”He’s done really well, he’s been outstanding,” Lehmann said of Handscomb. “A good reward for a good summer. We want four quality batters going at the top, so he’ll get his chance there … That number four spot is there and Peter has done a really good job for us in the Test matches, so he gets another crack at it.”He played a very good one-day sort of innings for us in the Sydney Test match, where we scored quite quickly. He’s got all the shots and he’s quite innovative. But if we lose early wickets he can consolidate from there.”Handscomb’s inclusion for Mitchell Marsh, who hurt his shoulder during Australia’s loss at the MCG, is one of two changes to the XI. Mitchell Starc has been rested for the third match, with fast bowler Billy Stanlake set to return to the side after making his debut in the first game at the Gabba.”He’s tall and he’s got some bounce, so we think he’ll be quite effective here,” Lehmann said of Stanlake. The teams head into the Perth ODI level at 1-1 in the five-game series, after Pakistan’s win in Melbourne ended a stretch of 16 consecutive losses to Australia in Australia across all formats.Australia XI for Perth ODI: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Steven Smith (capt), Peter Handscomb, Travis Head, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Wade (wk), James Faulkner, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Billy Stanlake.

Manchester United ownership bidder Sheikh Jassim and his Nine Two Foundation may take optimism from the fact that Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his firm INEOS haven't gained an exclusivity agreement at Old Trafford, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

What's the latest takeover news involving Manchester United?

Jamie Jackson, who is a journalist for The Guardian, has given an update regarding the state of play surrounding the ownership situation at Manchester United on Twitter, stating: "As I understand it, Sheikh Jassim is still waiting to hear back from Glazers regarding his last bid for Man Utd."

Sky Sports report that despite the ongoing takeover process, the Glazer family have yet to enter into a period of exclusivity with either Sheikh Jassim and the Nine Two Foundation or Ratcliffe, who is fronting the bid from INEOS to assume control at Old Trafford.

As per The Mirror, Sheikh Jassim wants to assume 100% control of the Premier League side while Ratcliffe is keen to purchase a 69% stake in the club, which would allow Joel and Avram Glazer to stay on as minority stakeholders.

BBC Sport journalist Simon Stone has claimed that Sheikh Jassim may even move to submit a fifth bid to try and win the bidding war for the Red Devils.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jacobs echoes the sentiment that the Nine Two Foundation could offer a higher amount yet to try and seize control of Manchester United.

Jacobs told FFC: "On the flip side, Nine Two Foundation take confidence from the fact that despite that cautious optimism, INEOS have not been placed in a period of exclusivity or given the title of the preferred bidder. What that means is the door is always open. I think the Nine Two Foundation feel like INEOS is almost a stalking horse to try and drive up the price, so if Qatar are to succeed, then they're still likely to have to go higher, which would mean if we include the indicative offer, a fifth bid."

What now for Manchester United?

It remains to be seen off the pitch as this ownership scenario carries which that may deplete Erik Ten Hag's ability to enter into the transfer market this summer for reinforcements if the Glazer family haven't managed to help facilitate a deal before the window opens in June.

As per ESPN, Ten Hag has stated in a recent interview that he isn't sure what the state of play may be with regards to his potential to recruit players in the off-season, stating: "I think it's clear what I want, but it's not up to me. It's about others in this club. The family are the owners, they make the decisions. It's not up to me, so I do everything I can and I influence the processes I'm in charge of.

"I'm focusing on improving the squad, the team development, so I have to make sure the team is progressing and I'm focusing on that.

Manchester United are expected to be in for several additions and Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount is believed to have 'agreed' personal terms over a prospective move to Old Trafford, as per The Guardian.

Nevertheless, we will probably find out more about who's money Manchester United will be spending after this weekend, where the Red Devils face the task of taking on Premier League champions Manchester City in the FA Cup final for another shot at silverware this term.

Citing “unforeseen” circumstances over which the BCCI has “no control,” the board has postponed the IPL media rights bidding process scheduled for Tuesday

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Oct-2016Citing “unforeseen” circumstances over which it has “no control”, the BCCI has postponed the IPL media rights bidding process that was scheduled for Tuesday. The board made the announcement late on Monday and did not specify when the bids would be opened.The BCCI said that because the Supreme Court order on October 21 had made the Lodha Committee the “custodian” of the IPL tender process, the board, despite being well prepared, had to wait for directives from the committee before proceeding.The board’s release stated: “As the Committee has been entrusted by the Hon’ble Supreme Court with the mandate of overseeing the tender process and in effect is now the custodian of the IPL tender process and has to take all actions to safeguard the IPL tender and the interest of BCCI and cricket in India, the BCCI wrote to the Committee on 21st October 2016 itself immediately on receipt of the Judgment, inter alia seeking guidance on (a) whether to defer the IPL tender or (b) to cancel the same and (c) requesting that the name of the auditor appointed be intimated to the BCCI to ensure that he could be associated with the IPL tender. Further, BCCI has sent all the IPL Media Rights Tender documents to the Committee along with the Revised MRAs and relevant documents, which are yet to be issued to the Potential Bidders.”Offering a “sincere apology” to the bidders, the BCCI requested for patience. “The BCCI requests all bidders to appreciate that the events as have occurred were unforeseen and something over which the BCCI has no control.”After the court order came four days prior to the IPL bids being opened, the BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke wrote again to the Lodha Committee on Saturday, pointing out the “urgency in the matter”. Shirke also mentioned the 18 companies that had bought tender document, saying a “large number of potential bidders” would be represented by overseas staff and the BCCI would need to lay out timelines to facilitate the process. Failing to do so would hurt the board’s “commercial interests”, the board told the committee.The release issued on Monday stated: “The BCCI has accordingly sent requests on 23rd October 2016 and 24th October 2016 to the Committee on the aforesaid lines and requested for confirmation of receipt of emails and an urgent response to avoid any uncertainty in the IPL tender process to avoid any inconvenience to potential bidders. The BCCI also informed the Committee that any delay in responding and resultant uncertainty was hurting the commercial interest of the BCCI as it would lead to devaluation of the commercial rights that were to be awarded.”The prevailing uncertainty, the BCCI said, had put potential bidders on edge and they had put forth “numerous queries” and asked for a “clear roadmap on the way forward”.One of the bidders confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that it had sent an email to the BCCI on Sunday. The company had asked for the final Media Rights Agreement (MRA), which the BCCI had prepared after clarifying doubts through a two-round process with potential bidders. “We asked the board for the MRA, saying how do you expect us to enter the bidding without the documents (MRA) in hand,” a senior company official said.However, the official said they were prepared for the postponement keeping in mind the court was hearing the matter. “There was no urgency from our side. The new cycle of rights starts only from 2018.”The BCCI said the MRA could not be issued because it was awaiting a reply from the Lodha Committee, which the board said it finally got at 3.07 pm on Monday afternoon. The committee’s response asked for “certain further undertakings” and “further clarifications”. The BCCI said it had responded to the committee, which then replied by saying it would issue directions after “meeting amongst themselves”.”The BCCI, apart from the above communication, has so far at the time of going to Press, not received any further directions from the Committee, which is now the custodian of the entire process and has been tasked with the duty to ensure that the tender process is undertaken in a professional and transparent manner with least inconvenience to all stakeholders,” the board said. “Once the BCCI receives a response from the Committee it shall bring the same to the notice of all stakeholders as the BCCI is currently not in a position to take any decision in the matter other than what the Committee recommends. In the absence of permission from the Committee to go ahead with the process scheduled for tomorrow, the BCCI is unable to do so.”

Burnley face a battle to land Georges Mikautadze this summer, with a report from Footmercato stating that AC Milan are also ready to launch a bid for his services.

Who are Burnley signing this summer?

The Clarets have had a superb Championship campaign under boss Vincent Kompany, with the former Man City man taking the side to the top of the second-tier table in his first season. They stormed their way to glory, too – racking up 101 points and losing only three times.

Now, with the club gearing up for life back in the Premier League, their manager will be on the hunt for players that can help keep this upward trajectory going. The side won't want to be dumped straight back down a division and will therefore need to invest wisely to ensure their stay in the top flight is not a short one.

One of the names that has already emerged as a potential target for Burnley now is Georges Mikautadze. According to Footmercato, the Clarets have been "won over" by the player's performances this season but they could now face a struggle to sign the Metz ace.

That's because the same report adds that AC Milan are now also in the race to land the 14-cap Georgia man and could offer €10m (£8.7m) in order to secure his signature.

Who is Georges Mikautadze?

The striker currently plays for FC Metz in France and has had a sensational season with the club, bagging himself 23 goals in 33 league starts for the side, including a current run of nine goals in eight games. In addition, he managed a further eight assists, which led to a per-90 goal contribution rate of 0.96. It's a large part of the reason why the French outfit are currently sat third in Ligue 2.

He's also been gathering plenty of admirers along the way, with football talent scout Jacek Kulig calling him "The Georgian Killer." That's because of his goal rate for the side, and considering his age – he is just 22 years old – it makes his record even more impressive.

It's not the first time he has hit double-digit goal figures, either, having managed 19 when he was in his teens in Belgium. It means that this campaign is not a one-off for the striker – and if he does join Burnley and repeat the feat, it could go a long way towards keeping them in the Premier League next season.

A brutal innings from Riki Wessels helped Nottinghamshire to their second NatWest T20 Blast victory of the weekend with a one-sided nine-wicket victory over Worcestershire at Trent Bridge.

ECB Reporters Network 09-Jul-2016
ScorecardRiki Wessels ensured Nottinghamshire raced to victory•Getty Images

A brutal innings from Riki Wessels helped Nottinghamshire to their second NatWest T20 Blast victory of the weekend with a one-sided nine-wicket victory over Worcestershire at Trent Bridge.Having toppled Northants on Friday evening, the Outlaws were equally ruthless in dismantling the Rapids to move into second place in the North Group table.Set to score 125 to win, Notts reached their target in only 12.2 overs with Wessels blazing an unbeaten 80, scoring his runs from only 35 balls, He hit six fours and seven sixes in one of the most brutal assaults witnessed on the ground for some time.Worcestershire limped their way to a score of 124 for 8, after morning rain had delayed the start by 15 minutes.Ben Cox made an unbeaten 37 and Tom Kohler-Cadmore scored 22 from 28 balls but far too many of their team-mates were guilty of gifting their wickets away.Put in, after Dan Christian had won his eighth toss out of 10 for the Outlaws this season, the Rapids lost their way as early as the third over when Joe Leach fell for 18.Leach had shown signs of intent by hoisting Harry Gurney for the only six of the innings but then perished to a catch at long-on from Jake Ball’s bowling.Christian took pace off the ball as soon as the Powerplay overs had been completed and was rewarded as Imran Tahir, Steven Mullaney, who took two for 26, and Samit Patel dried up the runs and picked up crucial wickets in the middle overs.Tahir was the only bowler not to take a wicket but was nevertheless instrumental in throwing down the stumps to run out Brett D’Oliveira off his own bowling and then gathered a Ball return to dismiss Daryl Mitchell in the same way.The chase soon became a formality, even though Michael Lumb fell to Matt Henry in the fourth over.By then Wessels had already hit his straps, hitting Leach for 4646 at the end of the second over. The 30-year old continued in the same aggressive manner and brought up his fifty with his sixth maximum, from just 17 balls, the quickest in the competition this year.Greg Smith provided additional firepower from the other end, hitting Matt Henry over the ropes on his way to an unbeaten 32 from 27 balls.

يستعد منتخب مصر الأولمبي لخوض مباراة قوية، اليوم السبت، أمام نظيره الإمارات، في إطار منافسات دورة دبي الدولية الودية.

منتخب مصر يشارك في البطولة الودية بمدينة دبي في الإمارات بجانب منتخبات السعودية وقطر والإمارات والعراق.

وكان منتخب مصر بقيادة البرازيلي روجيرو ميكالي، قد تعادل في المباراة الأولى مع قطر، سلبيًا، وخسر أمام العراق في المواجهة الثانية بهدف دون رد.

طالع أيضًا | بعد محمد صلاح.. منتخب مصر يحدد المركز الثاني الذي سيدعمه بلاعب من الكبار في الأولمبياد تشكيل منتخب مصر الأولمبي المتوقع أمام الإمارات اليوم

في حراسة المرمى: حمزة علاء.

خط الدفاع: كريم الدبيس وحسام عبدالمجيد ومحمد طارق وأحمد عيد.

خط الوسط: محمد شحاتة ومحمود جهاد ومحمود صابر.

في الهجوم: مصطفى سعد ميسي، أسامة فيصل، أحمد عاطف قطة.

ومن المقرر أن تنطلق منافسات دورة الألعاب الأولمبية باريس 2024 في أغسطس من العام المقبل، وتأهل إليها منتخب مصر بعد احتلاله وصافة كأس أمم إفريقيا تحت 23 عامًا التي أقيمت في المغرب.