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As on the first morning, Essex’s bowlers tore through Worcestershire, finishing the job they had started two days ago

Alan Gardner at Chelmsford25-Sep-2014
ScorecardGraham Napier blew away Worcestershire’s middle order but it won only pride and not promotion•Getty Images

As on the first morning, Essex’s bowlers tore through Worcestershire, finishing the job they had started two days ago. Victory had practically been assured after ten wickets fell in the first session of the game – practically assured from the moment the toss was conducted, according to Steve Rhodes – but there was little of the accompanying drama as both sides trudged off the final time this season with a metaphorical pebble in the shoe.For Essex, Hampshire’s imperious dismantling of Glamorgan, which would be confirmed within the following hour, meant that they missed out on promotion once again. It was small consolation for Paul Grayson that his side, who won six of their last seven games, collected the highest number of points (229) by a team finishing third in Division Two.No team has accumulated that many before and not gone up and only once would they have finished outside the top two – in 2003, the days of three up, three down, when Worcestershire and Northamptonshire had 245.75 and 237 respectively but Gloucestershire were still promoted with 190 points in third.Worcestershire, meanwhile, were also left feeling bilked by Hampshire. The two were tied at the top for most of the season but, with four games left, Worcestershire had a 45-point advantage on Hampshire. That lead was steadily eroded and, needing what turned out to be five points from their visit to Chelmsford to pick up the Division Two title, they fell painfully short. The cost is to pockets as well as pride: club and players will share around £50,000 in prize money, half of what the champions receive.Grayson has watched his side miss out altogether for a fifth season running, after they last won promotion in 2009, but took great encouragement from the second half of Essex’s Championship campaign. In all formats, Essex won 22 matches in 2014, behind only Warwickshire, T20 champions and runners-up in 50-over and Championship cricket, who were victorious 24 times.”I’m really pleased with the cricket we’ve played this year, especially in the second half of the Championship,” Grayson said. “Our form in four-day cricket over the last six weeks has been outstanding. I feel for the players, because there’s four or five lads who really deserve to play in Division One.”Essex used 25 players in the Championship this year and the first half of their campaign was undermined by a “horrific” injury list which at one point saw David Masters, Graham Napier, Reece Topley and Tymal Mills all injured at the same time. Essex’s only two defeats came against Hampshire and Worcestershire but they fell off the pace in failing to win for eight games after their opening fixture. “When we put our best 11-12 on the park, we would give any team in the country a good game,” Grayson said.”We were struggling for players, we played a few triallists, played a few academy players, a few club players, couple of lads out of minor counties – but when you miss the quality of that attack, it’s very difficult to get 20 wickets and win games. One more win early season, I think would have given us a great chance of getting promotion. But credit to Hampshire and Worcestershire, and good luck to them, they’ve played some very consistent cricket all year.”I’m disappointed with the fact we didn’t win a one-day trophy this year because we felt we were strong in both formats. We won 10 matches in our T20 campaign, had a quarter-final here against Warwickshire – but they played better than us. Then we played them in the quarter-final of the 50 overs and they played better than us again. That was the tough one to take, because we felt we would win a one-day trophy this year.”Rhodes can look forward to Division One cricket again after Worcestershire’s fifth promotion since the Championship was split. However, he felt Essex had taken a “big gamble” with the pitch, which was green in the middle and bare at both ends, and said his side’s chances of securing the title had effectively disappeared with the flip of a coin.”We came knowing we needed six points,” he said. “So when we turned up, we were absolutely desperate to win the toss because the wicket it was obvious was going to be darting around all over the place. When we lost that toss, it was a major, major blow to us trying to get any batting points. That first morning, to try and get to 200 and a first batting point, that was a hell of a task.”We were 33-1 outsiders to win promotion at the start of the season, so for us to do that has been excellent. We’ve got a very, very young side and they’ll be better for the experience.”With the script written in this match, Napier burst into the spotlight as Essex came close to wrapping things up inside the first session. Masters nipped one through Tom Fell’s defences to break an 82-run partnership with Moeen Ali, before Napier struck twice in his first over. He bettered that with three more in five balls, denying Moeen a century when he top-edged a pull to midwicket on 98. Napier had taken 5 for 11 in 25 deliveries at that stage but Jack Shantry and Brett D’Oliveira ensured lunch would be taken one last time at the ECG with an enterprising stand.

ScorecardSteve Davies steered Surrey to a draw•Getty Images

54 overs, 19 maidens, 128 runs and one solitary wicket; a bowler of Saeed Ajmal’s mystique is not meant to record such figures in Division Two of the County Championship. An Oval pitch designed to neuter him, ample help from the weather and two innings of extraordinary resolve from Zafar Ansari, was enough for Surrey to salvage a draw in spite of Worcestershire’s dominance.It was refreshing that, rather than resort to banal clichés about respecting all the opposition, Graham Ford admitted that the spectre of Ajmal had dominated Surrey’s preparations for the game – to the unhealthy exclusion of the rest of the Worcestershire attack.”There was a lot of sharing of information and even lads who didn’t play in this game like Hashim Amla and Robin Petersen who had knowledge of him passed on information and that did help,” Ford explained.”Maybe we did too much talking and preparing because we really did focus on him and perhaps we should have focused a little more on what was going to happen around him but we really felt he was the main threat.”If the preoccupation with Ajmal was wholly understandable, it came at a price, helping Jack Shantry to 6 for 53 in Surrey’s first innings. “We were so concerned with Ajmal that some of the lads perhaps hadn’t really focused on their game plans against Jack Shantry so we were caught a little short there.”Zafar Ansari was one Surrey batsman who was certainly not culpable: he was not dismissed until the 387th delivery he faced in the match. For a man of 22 batting at No. 3 in a Championship match for the first time, Ansari was remarkably unflustered against Ajmal.”We were helped by the wicket in that it wasn’t spinning particularly big so that kind of meant that if you could get a sense of what he was trying to do with the ball – which way he was trying to spin it – then you weren’t also having to deal with that happening on a large scale,” he said.”I felt like I had a decent method for playing him – I tried to play back as much as possible and just be out there as long as possible against him because the more time you spend playing him the more you get used to what he’s trying to do.”It was a commendable effort. While Ansari was finally out on the final day – flicking tamely to mid-on off Charles Morris, a dismissal not in keeping with his vigils he displayed – Steven Davies and Jason Roy played fluently as only two wickets fell in the 41 overs possible on the final day.Davies played with languid class in his 77 – his third Championship half-century in four innings – and Ford said that there are no imminent plans for him to return to wicketkeeping. “At this stage he’s concentrating on his batting and getting on with it.”Despite signs of encouragement from Surrey, one win from seven games suggests that fans may be lumbered with ‘transition’ for longer than they would like.”The sides that we have put out in the four-day competition in particular have been very young – we’ve had two school boys playing in a lot of the games, and a lot of lads playing in roles that they’re still adapting to,” Ford said. “Being really realistic about it it’s going to take some time. Exactly how long it’s going to take I’m not sure. But I think there’s some really promising talent in the group but still quite a lot of youth and inexperience.”As the posters at Vauxhall station remind you, there is also Kevin Pietersen’s imminent return to look forward to. Yet talk that he will play in Championship cricket seems, for now, premature.”At this stage we haven’t even got to discussing that. He’s had this finger issue and I think it would be unfair to play four days of cricket with that,” Ford said. “Just looking at the finger it’s still not looking like a normal finger.””For him he’ll play the Twenty20s and we’ll talk about other competitions at a later stage.” That imbues the search for another overseas player – Hashim Amla is only available in three more Championship matches – with more urgency. “We’d like to get some experience and international class into the group.”As for Graeme Smith, Surrey are still waiting to see if the three-year contract he signed last season will extend beyond the eight Championship games he has played so far. “I haven’t actually spoken to him since he’s returned. He had his CSA awards things yesterday and he’s got his operation on Monday I think,” Ford said. “We’ll wait and see how the op goes and get more idea after that.”If Ajmal is a big part of the reason for Worcestershire’s 44-point lead over Surrey, they played with an ebullience that refuted charges they are unhealthily dependent on him. Daryl Mitchell – who is averaging 108 in the Championship – Moeen Ali and Shantry have also been magnificent, while a return for Gareth Andrew, who has taken 20 wickets at 16 apiece this season, is also imminent. Worcestershire are quietly mounting a formidable promotion challenge.

Graeme Smith had one word to describe his international career after his final day as a Test cricketer: privileged

Firdose Moonda in Cape Town05-Mar-2014After 10 years, 11 months and 16 days, 117 Tests, 60 wins, 9265 runs, 27 hundreds and more press conferences, training sessions and autographs than you can count, Graeme Smith had one word to describe his international career: privileged.”When I look at my Test cap, it’s worn down and it’s been through a lot but it’s been a privilege,” Smith said after his last day as a Test cricketer. “Today is a day I would like to celebrate. The challenges of captaining are well documented but I only see it as a highlight. I’ve been extremely proud of captaining South Africa.”Smith is Test cricket’s longest-serving captain and under his leadership, South Africa grew from a team that threatened to achieve into one that achieved. They won series in tough places, members of their squad became world leaders in their disciplines and they became a unified unit.Smith began thinking about retirement in June, when Gary Kirsten’s tenure as coach ended. Smith wasn’t sure if it was just Kirsten going, Mark Boucher gone and Jacques Kallis about to go that sparked the idea, or whether he really wanted to call it quits. “It’s been a period of time of trying to understand that because everyone kept telling me you’re only 33,” he said.If any cricketer has proved that age is really nothing but a number, that person is Smith. He took over the captaincy at 22 and played at the highest level for 11 years. Smith had said he did not want to play until the same age as Jacques Kallis (38) or Sachin Tendulkar (40) and perhaps that is how old he feels already. Once he accepted that, it was just about doing what he considered the right thing.’Even if you don’t have enough talent, there’s still a lot you can achieve’

With a heavy bottom-hand, a tendency to ignore the entire off side and a whole lot of heart, Graeme Smith muscled his way to 17,236 international runs across three formats. He said determination rather than technique had helped him get there.
“When I started my professional career, all I used to hear about was my grip and my stance and that I needed to change my stance,” he said. “To be sitting here 17,000 runs later is hopefully an example to other people that even if you don’t have enough talent, there’s still a lot you can achieve, not only in sport but also in life.
“I have always been a determined player. I have always been able to find a way and leave it all out on the field. From a personal perspective my most meaningful knocks are probably the 154 to win the series in England and the hundred in Perth to set up the chase of 414. Those moments stand out.”
Smith’s only unfinished business is winning a World Cup for South Africa and he is willing to leave that to the next generation.
“To have won a World Cup would have been ticking all the boxes. I’d love to see a South African team win a World Cup and once they do, I think they will go on to win many. I will be on my couch, or somewhere, supporting them for the rest of my life.”

“The hard part is to have the courage to make the decision,” Smith said. “It felt like the time is right. I realised this is the place where I wanted to finish. I didn’t want to hang on too long and finish it in a place where it didn’t feel right. It just took courage to hang on to that last 5% and make the decision.”I haven’t had my best series. I felt really good in the two past series but knowing that the end was near made it difficult for me to find the space to keep performing.”Before the second innings against Australia at Newlands, Smith needed to call time. His first duty was to tell his charges. It was also his most difficult task. No player in that change-room knew a Test captain other than Smith. His concern was that they would feel abandoned. “When I told the team, it was a really tough night. I didn’t get too many words out,” he said. “The hardest part was saying goodbye to the team. For so long the Proteas have been my family. I’ve grown close to players and I will cherish those relationships for the rest of my life.”Knitting close bonds is what Smith’s leadership was really about. As his captaincy matured, his focus shifted away from results and towards team building, which he realised would ultimately bring results. “To create the culture and to see it grow has been really special,” Smith said. “And there’s been so many wonderful victories around the world. Our record away from home is something I am proud of as a leader as well.”Smith also places value on things that cannot be measured. As his captaincy reached its later stages, he spent time emphasising team culture and the importance of representing the country the best way possible. He stressed that political challenges had nothing to do with his decision to step down. “I am hugely proud of the diversity and the quality of players that have come through and stand their ground against anyone in the world. The diversity of this team is our strength,” he said.He thinks it will continue to be that way but South Africa’s most important challenge will be filling the gap left by the retirements of three stalwarts: Mark Boucher, Jacques Kallis and himself. “There’s some important things that need to be tightened and an environment needs to be created that can create success. The leadership group and how they galvanise the players and get them in the right direction will be important,” Smith said. “Yes, the team has lost a lot of experience but there are guys who have played well around the world.”He will be around to offer advice when needed. “There are certain challenges on the exterior that need to be met. I’d love to play a role in helping. I have gained a lot of experience over the years and I’d love to share that.”For now, though, he has something he needs to do: let go. While South Africa’s lower-order batted out the final hours of Smith’s international career and attempted to increase his unbeaten series run to 15, the former national captain found out how difficult it bowing out really was. “We’ve become good at never letting go,” Smith said.Smith’s days as a South African cricketer are over but he left the way he arrived -fighting. “We found a way to take it as deep as possible. It would have been a wonderful fairytale if we hung in there but I saw enough qualities to know South Africa will be strong for a long period of time.”In that knowledge, Smith can walk away a satisfied and proud man. He is choosing to walk away feeling privileged instead.

Steve Rixon, Australia’s outgoing assistant coach, has declared that he had “very little respect” for Cricket Australia and in particular what saw as interference with cricket decisions from above

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Jan-2014Steve Rixon, Australia’s outgoing assistant coach, has declared that he had “very little respect” for Cricket Australia and in particular what saw as interference with cricket decisions from above.Rixon has been axed from the coaching staff, although he said he had no problem with head coach Darren Lehmann’s desire to build his own coaching group and he would have finished his tenure before this year’s IPL anyway. However, in a radio interview on Thursday, Rixon took a parting shot at Cricket Australia and its general manager of team performance, Pat Howard.”I’m not getting into a slinging match … I have very little respect for the organisation, so I think we best just leave it there,” Rixon said on Sky Sports Radio. “I don’t like a lot of things they do. They interfere basically with a lot of the cricket decisions over the period of time and I don’t necessarily agree with that.”It’s none of my business. At the end of the day, I do what I do, I go out and do it to the best I know how. But it’s probably just draining and the one thing I’ve lived my cricket life with is a major passion for the game.”When pressed on whether it was Howard, a former rugby union international, who Rixon had a problem with, Rixon replied: “Let me say, I hope he was a good rugby player.”Rixon was brought into the setup as fielding coach in June 2011, before Mickey Arthur was named head coach later that year. Rixon said as well as his duties in drilling the fielders, part of his role was to be a sounding board for the then new captain Michael Clarke, with whom he had a long-standing relationship from Clarke’s junior years.”With Michael now being very content with where he is, Boof’s obviously come in with a stronger approach to that,” he said. “That’s why I think cricket’s in a very good shape with Australia, we’re starting to get all those bits and pieces.”Darren will eventually get a team around him that he’s very, very comfortable with and that’s fine. That’s the way life is, that’s the way it is with coaching. He’s come in with some heavy hands and he’s done a very good job in actually sorting a few of these things out and I complimented him for that. If he continues down this road, he’ll get the best out of this Australian cricket team.”

ScorecardFile photo – Steve O’Keefe took three crucial wickets to keep Queensland to 306•Getty Images

New South Wales restricted Queensland to 306 in the first innings and finished the third day in Sydney with a lead of 202 runs with nine wickets in hand in the second innings. While Peter Forrest fell short of a hundred by three runs, left-arm spinner Steve O’Keefe took three of the six Queensland wickets, including Forrest’s, as NSW took a first-innings lead of 91.Chris Lynn and Forrest started the day at 3 for 53 and Lynn added only 10 more to his overnight score of 18 before being dismissed by Trent Copeland. Forrest built two stable partnerships from there – 50 runs with Chris Hartley for the fifth wicket and 87 for the sixth wicket with James Hopes, who registered his 26th first-class fifty. Queensland were looking comfortable at 5 for 206 but Hopes, Michael Neser and Forrest were all sent back by O’Keefe to bring them down to 8 for 284. Useful contributions from the tail took Queensland past 300 and an injured Matthew Gale meant their innings was over at 306.NSW built on their lead further with a strong opening stand of 110 between Nic Maddinson and Ryan Carters, before Maddinson was run-out for a brisk 67 in the penultimate over of the day.

أعلن الاتحاد السعودي لكرة القدم، تفاصيل وموعد قرعة كأس خادم الحرمين الشريفين لكرة القدم موسم 2023/2024.

وكان الهلال حقق لقب كأس خادم الحرمين الشريفين في الموسم الماضي 2022-2023 على حساب نادي الوحدة.

وينتظر أن تُقام البطولة بنظام خروج المغلوب من مباراة واحدة، حيث سيشارك 32 فريقًا تم تقسيمهم إلى مستويين.

اقرأ أيضا..فيديو | ركلات الترجيح تقود الهلال للفوز بلقب كأس خادم الحرمين الشريفين على حساب الوحدة

وبحسب الاتحاد السعودي لكرة القدم، سوف يتم تقسيم الأندية لمستويين، يضم المستوى الأول أندية “الاتحاد، النصر، الهلال، الشباب، التعاون، الفتح، الاتفاق، ضمك، الطائي، الرائد، الفيحاء، أبها، الوحدة، الخليج، الأهلي والحزم”.

ويتواجد في المستوى الثاني أندية الأخدود، الرياض، العدالة، الباطن، الفيصلي، العربي، الخلود، هجر، أحد، الجبلين، القادسية، العروبة، القيصومة، العين، جدة والنجمة. موعد قرعة كأس خادم الحرمين الشريفين

تقام القرعة مساء يوم الأربعاء المقبل في تمام السابعة والنصف مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية. القناة الناقلة لقرعة كأس خادم الحرمين الشريفين

تنقل القرعة عبر قنوات SSC الناقل الحصري للمسابقات المحلية في السعودية.

Warm sunshine, wonderful setting and a former international batsman making the sure-footed, seldom in doubt century that turned Surrey’s slim advantage into a position of strength

David Lloyd at Arundel14-Jun-2013
ScorecardVikram Solanki produced the most dominating batting of the match•Getty Images

Warm sunshine, wonderful setting and a former international batsman making the sure-footed, seldom in doubt century that turned Surrey’s slim advantage into a position of strength. And all Ricky Ponting needed to do for most of the day was watch from the sidelines.At 37, Vikram Solanki is one of those veterans whose move to The Oval has earned Surrey criticism from a number of directions – not because the former Worcestershire player is a poor signing, by any means, but for the fact his arrival, and that of others, may have blocked the progress of home grown talent.Well, whatever the rights and wrongs of Surrey’s recruitment policy, watching Solanki in prime form has never been anything less than a pleasure. And in terms of what the acting captain’s first hundred in these colours could do for his new county, the hierarchy must feel he is worth every penny.Surrey are without a win in the Championship, and the odds are against them breaking their duck here with only a day remaining. But this was the sort of dominating performance which they were expected to produce on a regular basis in 2013 – and it ought to do wonders for their confidence for the rest of the campaign.In fairness to Sussex, who have lost their position as table-toppers to Yorkshire, the visitors enjoyed the best batting conditions of the match either side of tea when there was barely a cloud in the sky. And while the pitch remained slow, with the odd delivery still sticking in the surface, there was a clear invitation for Surrey to take control.Solanki, who played 51 one-day internationals for England and is currently leading this side because both Graeme Smith and Gareth Batty are injured, needed little encouragement. He had to find a supporting act, though, and, crucially, a perfect one presented itself in the shape of another middle order veteran, Zander de Bruyn.The pair added 177 for the fourth wicket, de Bruyn ending the day unbeaten and just one run short of his own century.Six members of the Sussex line-up had passed 30 on the second day of this game but only Mike Yardy reached 50. And when Surrey openers Rory Burns and Arun Harinath both perished when apparently established, the impression that batsmen could never consider themselves truly ‘in’ on this surface was strengthened.What is more, the dismissal of Ponting – squared up by fellow Australian Steve Magoffin and caught in the slips by Chris Jordan – for only 13 left the battle for first innings supremacy in the balance. Or so it seemed.Jordan, playing against his old county, Magoffin and Jimmy Anyon combined to produce a real threat. And had Jordan speared a yorker through Solanki’s defences early on, instead of seeing it dug out, it is anyone’s guess how the third day would have panned out. Instead, Surrey’s No. 3 was soon driving sumptuously, cutting firmly and taking the initiative away from the hosts.Having reached 50, Solanki pulled Jordan for another emphatic boundary, de Bruyn set about Monty Panesar’s left-arm spin and, for the first time in the match, a big partnership seemed probable rather than just possible.The century stand was sealed with the help of Solanki’s off-driven six against Chris Nash (he later pulled Anyon for another big ‘un) and his hundred came up with a gorgeous cover drive – one of 11 fours. A little punch of delight marked the milestone, then the captain went into overdrive, taking 30 more runs from 17 balls before holing out to long-on.That acceleration underlined Solanki’s belief that there could be some life left in a match which lost its first day to rain. And with de Bruyn staying around to supervise a final morning charge, there is hope for Surrey and a possible nervy survival battle for Sussex.”Once you get in it’s a reasonably good wicket but you have to work hard when you first some in,” said Solanki. “It was very pleasing to score my first first-class hundred for Surrey but more important was that we were able to get into a position where we might be able to exert some pressure on the final day.”

DAV College Chandigarh became Campus Cricket World Final champions, beating University of Karachi by 49 runs in the final at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday.

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Apr-2013DAV College Chandigarh became Campus Cricket World Final champions, defeating University of Karachi by 49 runs in the final at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday.Chandigarh, who were the most impressive team in the tournament, could hardly have had a worse start to the final when they were reduced to 2 for 3, in the fourth over, after being put in to bat. Karachi opening Meer Hamza bowler took two of those wickets, and later finished his four overs for 22 runs.Chandigarh were soon 36 for 4 from 7.1 overs but captain Kunal Mahajan led a startling recovery from there on, with a 73 off 36 balls. Mahajan’s innings featured three fours and seven sixes, and the biggest partnership of the match was his 87-run association with Gurinder Singh. Piyush Singh, batting at No. 8, pitched in with 24 runs off 11 deliveries, as Chandigarh finished on 170 for 8 from their 20 overs.Karachi started off better than Chandigarh but lost two wickets in the Powerplay and were unable to rebuild thereon. Opening batsman Ammar Hasan provided the early impetus with a 49-ball 58, but could not find a partner to stay with him, as four of the top six perished without having made double figures. Chandigarh bowler Rattan Singh took two early wickets and finished with 3 for 16 from his four overs, while Gurinder Singh accounted for the middle and lower order with 4 for 20. Karachi were all out for 121 in 19 overs.

Julian Hunte and Whycliffe Cameron of Jamaica will contest the WICB presidential elections after former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd failed in his nomination bid. To secure a nomination, a candidate needs the backing of two full members (regional boards) and Lloyd only had the approval his native Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) before the deadline for filing the application expired on February 22. The elections will be held as part of the WICB AGM, on March 27 in Barbados.The presidential race is now a two-way fight between Hunte, who currently heads the WICB, and Cameron, who is vice-president. According to the amended rules of the WICB, none of the directors, who are part of the executive board, have voting powers from this year. That was one of the recommendations of the Wilkins Committee report, which was ratified by the board at its last meeting. Each of the six regional boards (Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Leeward Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, Windward Islands) have selected two representatives who are allowed to vote, with the new president to be elected via a secret ballot.The Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) president, Joel Garner, who was an integral part of the dominating West Indies team of the 1970s and ’80s that Lloyd led, has put his hat into the ring for the vice-president’s role. Garner, who is one of the WICB directors, will face-off against Dominican Emmanuel Nanthan, president of the Windward Islands Cricket Association.This was Lloyd’s second failed attempt to get a nomination. In the past he was not allowed to enter the presidential race on the grounds that he did not satisfy the required residential conditions, as he was staying outside of the Caribbean at the time. This time Lloyd had fulfilled that obligation, having moved back to Guyana after been appointed by the government as chairman of the interim management committee formed in the aftermath of the disputed GCB elections in 2011.Despite Lloyd calling the controversial GCB elections held on January 27 this year “illegal”, a special executive board meeting held last Thursday nominated him as its delegate for the WICB presidential elections. But Lloyd needed the one of the other five regional boards to second his nomination.In his attempt to garner more support Lloyd had even sent his manifesto to the T&T and Barbados cricket boards. Titled ‘Clive Lloyd’s manifesto – WICB presidency’, the three-page document stressed that West Indies cricket desperately needed a “second growth curve”and argued he had the right expertise and international experience as a former professional cricketer and ICC administrator to lead the board.”My vision for West Indies cricket is to take our cricket out of the doldrums and to put us back at the top. To use my expertise, knowledge of and passion for the game, my credibility, integrity and international professional standing and every moral fibre within to reverse the fortunes of our WI cricket,” Lloyd wrote.He signed off the document by quoting Winston Churchill, the former British prime minister: “‘To each there comes in their lifetime a special moment when they are figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered the chance to do a very special thing, unique to them and fitted to their talents.’ Today I believe I have been ‘figuratively tapped’ and offered an opportunity to do a very special thing. Cricket is one of the great unifying forces in West Indian history and culture and I would like to offer my services to people of the West Indies as the next president of WICB.”However, the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board sidestepped the issue by deciding to act as a neutral observer instead of supporting any candidate, while the BCA’s stance remained unclear.

أعرب علي معلول لاعب فريق الكرة بالأهلي،عن سعادته بعد فوز ناديه على بيراميدز مساء اليوم، والتتويج بلقب كأس السوبر المصري للمرة 13.

ونجح الأهلي في الفوز على بيراميدز بهدف دون رد، بالمباراة التي أقيمت على أرضية استاد محمد بن زايد في الإمارات.

وقال علي معلول في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر فضائية “أبو ظبي”: “لقب جديد يضاف لخزينة الأهلي ولي على المستوى الشخصي، وإن شاء الله القادم أفضل”.

طالع أيضاً | طاهر محمد طاهر يوضح حالة محمود متولي ويؤكد: المنافس لم يشغل الأهلي

وأضح: “حضرنا للمباراة جيدًا حتى مع تغيير المنافس، اللاعبون كانوا في قمة التركيز لحصد الكأس”.

وأردف: “كنا نعرف أنه ينتظرنا مباراة كبيرة أمام بيراميدز، لكن شخصية النادي الأهلي وروح اللاعبين سبب الفوز”.

واستطرد: “التتويج بلقب السوبر المصري على حساب بيراميدز لم يكن سهلًا، لأن المباراة كانت صعبة بشكل كبير، ولكن الفريق كان مستعدًّا لها بقوة وكان يعلم مدى قوة المواجهة”.

وأكمل: “ليس من السهل التتويج ببطولتين في أسبوعين فقط، وخاصة بعد تغيير الفريق المنافس في لقاء السوبر، ومشاركة بيراميدز في اللقاء، حيث كان واضحًا للجميع أن هناك رغبة قوية لدى المنافس في التتويج بالبطولة، وحضوره للإمارات من أجل المنافسة بقوة على اللقب”.

وعن المباراة المقبلة أمام الترجي في ذهاب نصف نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا، قال: “لدينا وقت كافٍ لكي نحتفل اليوم بالسوبر، ومن الغد سنغلق صفحة المباراة ونستعد بقوة لمواجهة الترجي”.

وأتم: “هذه عادات وشخصية الفريق، عندما يمر بأزمة يعرف كيف يخرج منها، كان ممكن أن نخرج من دور المجموعات بدوري الأبطال، ولكن الآن نحن في نصف النهائي، وإن شاء الله سنحضر لمباراة الترجي”.