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Gayle chipped in with a 45-ball 51 as well as Sylhet were shut out of the BPL playoff race

Mohammad Isam08-Feb-2022How the match played outFortune Barishal ended Sylhet Sunrisers’ hopes of a place in the BPL playoffs, beating them by 12 runs. After putting together a formidable 199 for 4 batting first, Barishal waited out Colin Ingram’s 49-ball 90 before closing out the game with tight overs in the second half of the chase.Shakib Al Hasan once again turned in an all-round performance, but this time it was his 2 for 23 from four overs that made more of a difference. His fourth over going for three runs helped Barishal turn the corner, before part-timer Najmul Hossain Shanto removed the well-set Ingram and Mizanur Rahman off consecutive balls to put the pressure back on Sylhet.The win solidified Barishal’s position on top of the table with 13 points from nine games. Sylhet remain rooted at the bottom after their sixth defeat in eight outings.Big hitBarishal’s batters combined to hit 14 sixes, the most in an innings in this season’s BPL. Munim Shahriar started the big-hitting by taking 17 runs off Sohag Gazi in the first over. He struck three sixes and six fours, reaching his maiden BPL fifty off just 26 balls.Shakib continued the run-spree with his 19-ball 38, hitting four sixes over midwicket, backward square leg and wide long-off. All this time, Gayle bided his time at the other end, playing a supporting role. He struck his first six in the 16th over, and although he went on to score a fifty, it was Dwayne Bravo towards the end who did actual damage. Bravo struck four sixes, one sliced off Shiraz Ahmed, and the others conventional over long-off and wide long-on.The left-handed Ingram gave Sylhet a brilliant start by hitting ten fours in the powerplay overs, the most by any batter this season. Six of those fours were off the usually economical Mujeeb Ur Rahman.Ingram reached his second BPL fifty in no time, as he crashed Mehedi Hasan Rana for 21 runs in the 10th over. He struck four boundaries, all along the carpet on the offside, bringing down the required run-rate below ten for the first and only time, in the chase.But a combination of Shakib, Bravo, Ziaur Rahman and Shanto made all the difference for Barishal.Big missSylhet leaked a lot of runs, mainly due to left-arm quick Shiraz who had an outing to forget. He conceded 56 runs in four wicketless overs. The Barishal batters took a liking to his pace, it seemed, hitting him for five sixes and three fours. It is the worst bowling figures in the BPL this season, beating Taskin Ahmed’s 1 for 53 from four overs. In his second game for Sylhet, Shiraz remains without a wicket in the tournament.Mujeeb also had an off-day, giving away 40 runs in four wicketless overs. It was rare to see the mystery bowler go for so many, with Ingram hitting him for six fours in the powerplay. Some of the fours were streaky, but Mujeeb was certainly knocked off his length by the left-hander.

USA Cricket has a list showing 12,732 eligible members, but a legal action, pending in the courts, means their voting right is still up in the air

Peter Della Penna21-Feb-2022USA Cricket’s general elections continue to be delayed, as the governance issues that plagued cricket in the US during the USACA-era rear their head again. USA Cricket has been in charge for less than four years but already elections that were supposed to happen no later than December 2020 have been delayed until at least March 2022. They could be delayed even further beyond that.USA Cricket issued an election update earlier this month, putting out membership eligibility lists showing a total of 12,732 members. It is a significant increase from the 723 members USA Cricket had registered for the most recent election, in February 2020, but far below the “approximately 20,000” claimed by board chairman Paraag Marathe and then-CEO Iain Higgins during the May 2021 AGM.The eligibility of those 12,009 additional members remains up in the air because of a legal action filed by USA Cricket board members Venu Pisike and Srini Salver over the legality of voting rights for new members. The pair’s lawsuit was initially dismissed in the summer of 2021 on procedural grounds. However, the lawsuit has since been refiled and is currently pending in the court system.Former USA Cricket board member Atul Rai, who served as league director from 2018 until 2020, but is now running as one of four candidates for the club director role currently held by Ajith Bhaskar, has called on the members of the board whose terms were supposed to end in 2020 to “resign with immediate effect and not participate in any further USA Cricket related meetings”. Specifically, Rai’s demand is targeted at three board members: Bhaskar, individual director Suraj Viswanathan, and female elite player director Nadia Gruny. In the absence of elections taking place, all three have continued to serve on the board for more than a year beyond their scheduled terms.

USA Cricket’s club eligibility lists make no mention about the club voting status of five leagues that collectively have 89 voting eligible clubs as part of 1462 legitimately registered members.

One point of contention relates to the club voting eligibility lists announced by the board. According to its own data, USA Cricket has declared eligible 397 clubs, which meet the constitutional threshold of 12 members per club to be eligible to have a club vote. However, ESPNcricinfo’s own review of the membership data indicates that there are 542 clubs that meet the 12-member-per-club threshold. USA Cricket’s club eligibility lists make no mention about the club voting status of five leagues – Colorado Cricket League, Commonwealth Cricket League (NY), Kerala Cricket League (NY), NY Bangladeshi Cricket League, and New York Tennis Ball Cricket League – that collectively have 89 voting eligible clubs as part of 1462 legitimately registered members.Separate to this, the election voting membership data reflects the shifting patterns of cricket growth around the USA. Ahead of USA Cricket’s first elections in 2018, the Midwest Cricket Conference was the largest affiliated member league with more than 400 players registered among the approximately 5500 members. However, USA Cricket’s most recently published data shows that the league with both the most clubs and largest individual membership base in the country is now North Carolina’s Triangle Cricket League. The TCL has 1153 members registered with USA Cricket, including 53 voting eligible clubs and 137 total clubs.Those numbers help explain why USA Cricket and their commercial partner American Cricket Enterprises (ACE) in conjunction with Major League Cricket announced plans in February for a multi-million dollar investment upgrade toward TCL’s Church Street Park. The facility is located in Morrisville, a suburb of the state capital Raleigh, and has previously hosted ICC Americas Regional Qualifier in 2018 as well as the tournament finals for the inaugural season of the Minor League Cricket T20 franchise tournament.The upgrades for Church Street Park include adding 2000 permanent seats to open up total capacity to at least 3500 people, practice net facilities and TV broadcast facilities. The upgrades are primarily intended to make the facility more suitable to host matches for the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The ICC announced in November that USA and West Indies had been awarded co-hosting rights for the event.

The Lionesses star sealed victory for Marc Skinner's side late on as the FA Cup holders cruised into the last four

The Red Devils continued their fine form in a dominant 3-1 victory and needed just seven minutes to break the deadlock. Celin Bezit teased her defender down the right and then crossed for Leah Galton to direct a header across goal and into the back of the net.

Galton then turned provider by sending in a cross for Melvine Malard to volley onto the crossbar, before another delivery saw Bezit fire over the bar from close range. A second goal always looked likely and duly arrived just before half-time. Gabby George sent in a corner from the left for Maya Le Tissier to nod home and double the hosts’ lead.

United should have had a third at the start of the second half. Galton picked out Malard again in the box, but she couldn't get her shot away, and then had a sight of goal herself but could only volley wide at the far post after the ball was pinged in from deep.

With his team seemingly in control, Skinner opted to make three changes but could only watch on helplessly as Sunderland pulled one back to set up a tense finish. An attempted clearance by the otherwise excellent Le Tissier smacked off Louise Griffiths and flew past Phallon Tullis-Joyce to make it 2-1 with 20 minutes left to play.

Manchester United responded strongly by racing straight down the other end and ought to have restored their two-goal advantage immediately but substitute Rachel Williams saw her header blocked by goalkeeper Demi Lambourne at point-blank range.

Yet the hosts kept the pressure on and did finally score again in stoppage time to end Sunderland's FA Cup dreams. Bezit once again sent in another inviting ball from the right for Ella Toone to head home and seal victory.

GOAL rates Manchester United's players from Leigh Sports Village…

Getty Images SportGoalkeeper & Defence

Phallon Tullis-Joyce (6/10):

Had a very quiet evening in the United goal and didn't have much to do.

Aoife Mannion (6/10):

Defensively untroubled but didn't offer too much going forwards.

Maya Le Tissier (8/10):

Solid as a rock at the back and one surging run forwards brought the crowd to its feet. Made it 2-0 with a deft header. A little unlucky with the Sunderland goal.

Millie Turner (7/10):

Defended really well and ensured Sunderland had very few sights of goal.

Gabby George (7/10):

Looked eager to get forwards and made a nuisance of herself down the left. Sent in a fine corner for Le Tissier to double United's lead.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportMidfield

Hinata Miyazawa (7/10):

Always available, kept United ticking over and barely put a pass astray.

Grace Clinton (7/10):

Glided through the match in a classy showing. A cut above the Sunderland midfield.

Ella Toone (8/10)

Was a real handful throughout the 90 minutes and finished Sunderland off with a header in stoppage time.

Getty Images SportAttack

Celin Bizet (8/10):

Tormented her defender to set up the opener and should have scored just before half-time but missed by a fraction. Grabbed another assist late on for Toone.

Melvine Malard (6/10):

Had chances to score but hit the woodwork with a volleyed effort in the first half and couldn't get a shot away when well placed just after the break.

Leah Galton (8/10):

Was a real threat down the left and caused all sorts of problems. Clever header for the opener as she stooped to direct the ball low into the far corner.

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Rachel Williams (6/10):

Had a great chance to make it 3-1 but put her header too close to the goalkeeper.

Anna Sandberg (6/10):

Did OK after coming on for the last 20 minutes.

Dominique Janssen (5/10):

Might have done better for the goal as she failed to stop the cross.

Marc Skinner (7/10):

Won't be happy with the goal they conceded but otherwise saw his team put in a controlled showing to maintain their hopes of retaining the FA Cup.

It’s no secret that Manchester United have been home to one of the very best academies in English football over the years, producing endless talents that have had a huge impact on the beautiful game – namely the ‘Class of 92’.

David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Phil Neville, Gary Neville and Paul Scholes were the six graduates who progressed into being key first-team players in Manchester.

The six players made over 3000 appearances for the club during their respective periods at the Theatre of Dreams, contributing to their success, which has seen them claim 20 English top division titles – making them the most successful club in the country.

Fast-forward to 2024, new boss Ruben Amorim is on the lookout for a new crop of stars to make the jump into his squad, potentially making his tenure in the Premier League a roaring triumph.

Manchester United’s U18 squad in 2024/25

Whilst the club’s first-team have failed to deliver during the opening months, leading to the sacking of Erik ten Hag, the academy side have thrived and impressed beyond any imagination in recent weeks.

During the U18 Premier League season to date, the Red Devils have played nine matches, winning all nine and sitting at the top of the table – sitting five points clear of rivals Manchester City, boasting the only unbeaten record in the division.

Their record is all the more impressive when delving into their stats, scoring 43 times in their outings – an average of 4.7 goals per game, whilst conceding just four goals in the process.

Winger James Scanlon has caught the eye, scoring nine times and registering four assists in his eight appearances, currently sitting as their top-scorer and playing a huge part in their attacking success in recent months.

16-year-old Chido Obi-Martin arrived in the summer from Arsenal, joining with high expectations after his record from 2023/24 which saw him score 32 times in 18 matches during the U18 Premier League campaign.

The Dane has already made a solid start to life in the North, registering four goals in his opening four matches, including a hat-trick on his debut against Nottingham Forest in the 6-0 victory.

However, there’s another youth prospect who could have a significant role to play under new boss Amorim, following in the footsteps of multiple current members of the 39-year-old’s squad.

The teen who could star under Amorim for Man Utd

Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho are two players currently plying their trade for United, making the step up from youth level to the professional game with ease.

The English man has already made his mark at international level, featuring under Gareth Southgate at Euro 2024, with Garnacho also featuring for Argentina, but also having a talismanic role in the opening weeks of 2024/25.

The 20-year-old has already registered seven goals and four assists in his opening 19 matches of the season, the most of any player in the Red Devils side.

Amorim could add another talented academy star into the mix in the coming years in the form of centre-back Godwill Kukonki, who has starred in the U18 setup despite being just 16.

He’s made eight appearances, playing a huge part in their defensive success in recent months, earning him an immediate call-up to Amorim’s squad.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast's In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

Kukonki, who’s been dubbed as “incredibly exciting” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has been involved in first-team training after his appointment, even travelling with the side for the game against Ipswich Town at the weekend.

1) David Gaskell

24/10/1956

16 years, 19 days

2) Jeff Whitefoot

05/04/1950

16 years, 5 months, 15 days

3) Duncan Edwards

04/04/1953

16 years, 6 months, 4 days

4) Angel Gomes

21/05/2017

16 years, 8 months, 20 days

5) Willie Anderson

28/12/1963

16 years, 11 months, 17 days

He may have a lot of developing before he’s able to make an impact at Old Trafford, but his 6 foot 5 frame could see him develop into a key figure over the years to come in the new-look back three.

The injury crisis at the back could allow the youngster to make strides into cementing a place under Amorim, with the former Sporting CP boss evidently showing a lot of trust in the stars despite his tender age.

Their academy has been a source of solace over the years, with Kukonki having all of the tools to become a part of United’s revival under the former Portuguese international during his tenure in the North West.

Man Utd star who Solskjaer sold for just £1.2m is now on par with Fernandes

The former Manchester United talent has still demonstrated his talents away from Old Trafford.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 27, 2024

Attempting to take further strides towards their shock European ambitions, Nottingham Forest are now reportedly in pole position to sign a Brazilian forward for Nuno Espirito Santo in 2025.

Nottingham Forest transfer news

Forest’s sudden rise into the race to secure a European place has been about as unexpected as it gets in the Premier League. The Midlands club found themselves battling for survival in the last two seasons, but have discovered their best form yet in the current campaign to set course for shock European qualification.

It’s the type of form that owner Evangelos Marinakis should want to take full advantage of in the transfer window too, using the potential of European football to lure further top names to the City Ground. On that front, names such as Evan Ferguson and Juventus midfielder Nicolo Fagioli have already been mentioned to highlight just how far Forest have come in recent months.

Fagioli, in particular, could represent their rise. To attract a Juventus midfielder – albeit one who’s currently out of favour under Thiago Motta – is no easy task and something that Forest may not have managed in the middle of past relegation battles. But that doesn’t mean those in the Midlands have turned their focus away from other targets.

According to Trivela via Sport Witness, Nottingham Forest are now in pole position to sign Yuri Alberto, having been linked with the Corinthians striker on more than one occasion in recent months.

Nottingham Forest now willing to submit first bid for £8m+ priority target

He could continue their impressive recruitment.

ByTom Cunningham Dec 5, 2024

Now reports are emerging that Alberto’s agent wants the forward to move on amid a dispute over fees that Corinthians should have paid – something they could look to use in their favour to secure an exit away. Demanding at least €25m (£20m) to sanction the departure of their star man, however, the deal won’t exactly come cheap for Nottingham Forest, who are the most interested and leading the chase at this stage.

"Superb" Alberto can become long-term Wood replacement

As untouchable as Chris Wood has been so far this season, the New Zealand forward is now 32 years old and is inevitably going to slow down on the goals front in the next couple of years. And with Taiwo Awoniyi still struggling with injuries and consistency in front of goal, Forest could turn their attention towards Alberto when replacing their star striker.

The 23-year-old Brazilian has scored 30 goals and assisted a further seven in all competitions for Corinthians in 2024 and looks destined to earn a move away from South America as a result. It’s also no shock amid such form that he has earned high praise from South American football expert Nathan Joyes, who labelled one of his many standout performances as “superb”.

If Alberto can replicate his Corinthians form in Europe then that £20m fee could quickly become one of the bargains of 2025.

Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been defended over his plans to knock down Old Trafford and build a new 100,000 seater stadium.

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Man Utd planning to build new stadiumProject will take five years and cost £2bnStadium architects offer insight into plansFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Red Devils have unveiled plans to knock down their current Old Trafford home and build a new state-of-the-art stadium that will cost around £2bn. It's estimated the new ground will take five years to build and could stimulate economic growth in the region and generate some 92,000 jobs.

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However, there has been criticism already of United's plans. Fans have been left disappointed by the "ugly" look of the proposed new ground, while Paul Merson, among many others, has told the Red Devils they should be focusing on investment in the squad rather than building a new home. Yet Ratcliffe's ground plans have been backed by Patrick Campbell, one of the senior architects involved, who has offered more insight into the new stadium.

WHAT HAS BEEN SAID

Campbell told the club's media: "This all started, the big, big challenge that we got from Jim Ratcliffe was the idea of generating the finest football stadium in the world. Football first, all about atmosphere, all about that fan experience, all about making this the best stadium in the world to come to. So it's talking about proximity to pitch, can you see everything that's going on and how closely can you get to that? How can all the fans get together with that fantastic roar to drive on the team, to make it a winning stadium, a winning team. So all about acoustics, all about sight-lines, all about proximity to pitch, all about feeling connected. The idea of… you know, maybe this is the biggest, football stadium in Europe. Maybe this will be the biggest football stadium in the world. There are some others that are out there at 150,000 but how can we drive this to be the finest club football ground in the world."

DID YOU KNOW?

Campbell also claimed fans will be involved in the process. He added: "This is very much the start of the process. These are some ideas about how we can bring forward the finest football stadium in the world but we’ve got to do that with the fans, the local community and all the different stakeholders, to make sure they see it as their club, their stadium. We’re just custodians. We’re helping to find form in a stadium and we look forward to continuing some amazing consultations."

It continues NZ’s long trip across Europe, following up from tours to England, Scotland and Ireland

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Apr-2022New Zealand are set to play two T20Is in Netherlands this August. In an announcement by the two boards, it was confirmed that they will be facing the hosts on August 4 and 6 at the Voorburg Cricket Club in The Hague.”The chance to play the best white-ball teams in the world has always been the goal for this team. To test our young players against them, as well as showcasing our skills in front of our home fans is so extremely exciting,” Netherlands coach Ryan Campbell said. “The Black Caps coming to The Netherlands again shows the respect we are building in world cricket and I hope all Dutch fans come out and enjoy the contest.”New Zealand coach Gary Stead added that Full Member teams playing Associate nations was crucial for the growth of their game.”We’re really excited to be touring the Netherlands,” he said. “Playing against Associate teams as a Full Member nation is a really important part of helping them grow, and that can only benefit the world game long term.”The two teams are also currently engaged in a bilateral series in New Zealand, with Netherlands touring for a one-off T20I and three ODIs. While the T20I was abandoned due to rain, the hosts won the first ODI comfortably to take a 1-0 lead in the series. So far, they have faced each other only five times across formats.The tour of Netherlands continues New Zealand’s trip across Europe, as they are first due to tour England for three Tests starting June 2, followed by three ODIs and T20Is each in Ireland from July 10, after which they visit Scotland for two T20Is and a solitary ODI. And just four days after concluding their Scotland series, they face Netherlands in the first of two T20Is.

It was assumed Eric Dier would leave Bayern Munich when his current deal expires, but new reports suggest the defender will stay in Bavaria.

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Dier wants to stay alongside KaneThe Englishman is viewed as a dependable squad player31-year-old is out of contract in the summerFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to reports by Sky Deutschland, the Englishman's solid performances, leadership skills and popularity with his teammates have made Bayern's top brass reconsider their position on the 31-year-old's future. Talks between Dier's representatives and the Bavarian giants will continue over the next few weeks. The centre back is keen to stay, and feels comfortable in Bavaria alongside his friend Harry Kane.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Dier has been content with deputising for first-choice centre back pairing Min-Jae Kim and Dayot Upamecano. His professionalism has led to Bayern's sporting director Max Eberl hinting that an extension is possible.

WHAT MAX EBERL SAID

Max Eberl said: "Eric Dier is also a player who, through his performances, has absolutely made it possible to think about what the future might look like."

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR ERIC DIER?

Dier will likely take his usual position on the bench for today's away game at Union Berlin. Bayern will hope to strengthen their grip on the Bundesliga title. They hold an eight-point lead over Bayer Leverkusen with nine games remaining.

Tottenham Hotspur have endured an extremely stop-start 2024/2025 season under Ange Postecoglou so far, blowing hot and cold, with one player very keen to quit the club in January.

Tottenham face high-flying Chelsea after disappointing Premier League results

There have been reports in the last 48 hours clarifying Tottenham’s stance on sacking Postecoglou, which is never a good sign for any manager as pressure slowly starts to build on the Australian.

Club plotting serious talks to sign frustrated £120k-per-week Tottenham ace

They prepared to push hard in January.

ByEmilio Galantini Dec 5, 2024

The notion of Postecoglou’s dismissal was far away from anybody’s mind after Spurs thumped Premier League champions Man City at the Etihad Stadium just two weeks ago, but a dismal run of results has since followed that memorable night in Manchester.

Tottenham failed to beat Serie A strugglers Roma in the Europa League, and then couldn’t secure all three points at home to mid-table Fulham. The most disappointing result of them all occurred soon afterwards, with Postecoglou’s side losing 1-0 to Bournemouth on Thursday evening.

Tottenham vs Chelsea

December 8

Southampton vs Tottenham

December 15

Tottenham vs Liverpool

December 22

Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham

December 26

Tottenham vs Wolves

December 29

It was an abject display where the Cherries cut Spurs open at will, and the Lilywhites could only muster four attempts on target despite enjoying the bulk of possession down south.

Postecoglou hasn’t been helped by the fact goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero – who form a major part of their spine – have been sidelined recently, but you could also argue that Tottenham’s inconsistency was present even with the trio fit and available.

Luckily, some reports have suggested that Spurs could go after a new defender and winger in January, which is apparently in chairman Daniel Levy’s thinking for when the transfer window reopens next month.

While it isn’t certain who they could sign in the winter, or if they’ll be able to complete a single deal at all, Postecoglou’s side need some form of inspiration from somewhere.

Spurs face-off against London rivals and high-flying Premier League hitters Chelsea this weekend, and a win against the Blues would do wonders to lift spirits at N17, at least for now.

Sergio Reguilon desperate to leave Tottenham as Getafe open early talks

One man who is unlikely to play any part in the encounter is left-back Sergio Reguilon, who has failed to make a single appearance under Postecoglou this term.

The Spaniard is being regularly linked with a January exit as a result, with Getafe expressing a real interest, amid claims Reguilon could even terminate his Spurs contract and leave before it expires in the summer.

Reports from his homeland indicated this week that Getafe may open talks for Reguilon ahead of January, and now Estadio Deportivo have provided a further update on the matter.

It is believed Getafe are in talks to sign Reguilon from Tottenham, and while they’re at an “embryonic” stage, meaning early, the 27-year-old is said to be desperate to leave north London before the expiry of his deal.

Whether that be on loan or permanently, Getafe are looking to take advantage of this situation and strike a mid-season deal for the “very quick” defender (Toby Alderweireld).

Another strong showing from the Pakistan contingent in round three of the Championship

Andrew Miller25-Apr-2022The third round of the 2022 County Championship concluded on Sunday, with another strong showing from the Pakistan representatives. Here we take a look at how they got on.Division OneMohammad Abbas
A curious season so far for Hampshire – innings win, innings loss, and now another innings win, with Kent powerless to resist a middle-order mashing at the hands of James Vince, Liam Dawson and Ben Brown. And either side of that towering total of 652 for 6 declared, Mohammad Abbas simply did the needful, picking off four wickets in the match in a support role to Keith Barker’s first-innings six-for and Kyle Abbott’s match-sealing 5 for 29. Without yet hitting the heights of previous Hampshire campaigns, Abbas has quietly picked off ten wickets at 22.60 in three matches, including a wicketless display at The Oval. His guileful, edge-threatening medium-pace will doubtless continue to bring the slips into play for some time yet.Hasan Ali
A joyous introduction to Old Trafford for Hasan Ali, who is already well on his way to feeling as at home in his northern surroundings as Lancashire’s most famous Pakistan import, Wasim Akram. Hasan’s exuberant displays with the ball were matched by his habitual power-surge celebrations – on nine separate occasions in this match, and 14 in two outings to date – as Gloucestershire were overwhelmed by one of the most eye-catching county attacks of recent vintage. His match haul of 9 for 96 comfortably outshone the returning James Anderson, albeit Anderson’s second-innings display of 2 for 25 in 25 overs was a hint of great hauls to come, as Saqib Mahmood and Matt Parkinson completed a formidable support act. With pace and swing on a hostile full length, Hasan’s finest moment was the fierce stump-smashing yorker that dispatched James Bracey on the third evening to end any realistic hopes of a Gloucestershire rearguard.Haris Rauf
Match figures of 3 for 128 in 44 overs do scant justice to Haris Rauf’s spirited attempts to carry Yorkshire’s ill-balanced attack against Northants. Shorn of the services of the newly-capped England quick Matt Fisher, they were ultimately thwarted on one of the flattest fourth-day decks that Wantage Road has produced in recent times, but not before Rauf had produced two bona fide snorters in the space of three balls in the day’s opening exchanges – a pair of round-the-wicket splice rattlers to see off Ricardo Vasconcelos and Emilio Gay, and prise open an innings that the young allrounder Matthew Revis did his best to clean out. But with Northants five-down and vulnerable come the second new ball, Rauf disappointed himself with his failure to finish the job. In particular, the Australian Matthew Kelly, coming in at No.8, stood firm against a reprisal of Rauf’s short-ball approach, twice pulling him for six over square leg, and Rauf’s work was concluded with a frustrated kick of the turf.Zafar Gohar
There wasn’t much quarter given by Lancashire while Josh Bohannon was grinding out his career-best 231, least of all while he and Dane Vilas were adding 203 for the fourth wicket across the second evening and third morning. But in emerging from the ordeal with 4 for 135 across 65 tidily compiled overs, Zafar Gohar’s left-arm spin showed once more the dependability in adversity that could yet be translated into a matchwinning capability when conditions are more in Gloucestershire’s favour. Each of his scalps was hard-earned and well prised out, not least Luke Wells, trapped on the knee-roll for 59 by one that turned back in. Gohar also popped up with a lively piece of fielding at square leg to run out George Balderson early in Lancashire’s innings, before the traffic had turned one-way.Division TwoShan Masood
Never mind the legendary landmark of 1000 runs before the end of May; Shan Masood is in the mood to have a dart before the end of April. He’s got 611 to his name in four innings so far, with last week’s 239 against Sussex blending seamlessly into this week’s 219 against Leicestershire – an innings best summed up by a straight drive for four off Beuran Hendricks that left Twitter weak at the knees. Once again, he will encounter stiffer bowling attacks than was on show at Grace Road, but as he showed on Pakistan’s tour of England in 2020, with a graceful 156 in the first Test at Old Trafford, the purity of his technique means he is well equipped for a return to the national set-up.Mohammad Rizwan
Mohammad Rizwan began his week with a notable accolade, after being announced as Wisden’s Leading Twenty20 Player in the World. Unfortunately for Sussex, he ended it with a (hopefully) temporary blip to his first-class form, making scores of 0 and 4 in a crushing innings defeat against Worcestershire at New Road. It was a disappointment, too, for those onlookers yearning for a display of Indo-Pak harmony out in the middle – we did at least get a glimpse of Rizwan and Cheteshwar Pujara batting together for the first time this season… but only for one ball, as Rizwan nicked his first delivery from Joe Leach to the keeper. An inducker from Ed Barnard saw him off second time around. But he did at least pick up a smart diving catch off Ben Cox for one of his two dismissals in the match. Shaheen Shah Afridi
A truly box-office debut for Shaheen Shah Afridi – who is quite possibly the most captivating signing of the summer across all competitions (not least the Hundred). His eagerly anticipated bow for Middlesex came within a leg-side snick of a first-day hat-trick against Glamorgan at Cardiff, and though his returns diminished thereafter, his impact did not. His four wickets in the match included Marnus Labuschagne, the ICC’s No.1-ranked Test batter, in both innings (as well as Sam Northeast for a first-baller) as Glamorgan’s batting twice folded in his absence for scores of 122 and 132. Afridi had fun with the bat too, biffing a quick 29 from 39 balls in Middlesex’s 336, before Labuschagne extracted a measure of revenge by having him caught in the covers.Azhar Ali
It’s been a slow start to the campaign for Azhar Ali, with this week’s innings of 20 taking his tally to 23 from three innings. However, Worcestershire hardly struggled in the absence of his big runs – thanks to Brett D’Oliveira’s unbeaten 169, they needed to bat just the once to trounce Sussex by an innings.And the non-combatants …Naseem Shah has been ruled out of action at least until the start of the T20 Blast next month after suffering a shoulder injury, but in his absence, Gloucestershire have pulled off something of a coup, with the news that Mohammad Amir will be coming out of his red-ball retirement as a short-term replacement. He linked up with the squad in Manchester this week, and is in line to make his return to first-class cricket against Surrey on Thursday.