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If the usual touristy sight-seeing doesn’t interest you, volunteering at Murali’s Foundation of Goodness might

Richard Browne16-Aug-2012The Southern Expressway has halved the drive from Colombo to Galle to one and half hours, and has opened up numerous possibilities for those based in Colombo during the World Twenty20. A day trip down south is now feasible.Galle Fort is one of Asia’s premier holiday destinations, teeming with history and quaint cobbled streets. It has museums, galleries and dreamy views over the Indian Ocean, as well as some of Sri Lanka’s finest hotels. It is also a perfect pit-stop for those driving to Hambantota.Just to the east is Unawatuna beach, the party capital of Sri Lanka, and the next village, Talpe, has some of the best seaside restaurants on the island. For those who don’t have access to a car, it’s better to take the train rather than the bus. Get on at Colombo Fort for the three-hour journey to Galle.Away from the costal resorts, southern Sri Lankan stills revolves around the village, family and temple. Thick palm jungles and rivers stretch as far as the eye can see to the east, and the beaches that make Sri Lanka such a popular tourist destination to the west. Even though tourism is an established industry, there are miles of undeveloped stretches of sand, offering privacy – your own slice of tropical paradise. Make sure to check with the locals, though, before going swimming.The south west coast of Sri Lanka was ravaged by the tsunami in 2004, and there are numerous reminders of the destruction when you look out of the train. But for a quirk of fate, Muttiah Muralitharan would have been driving into the brunt of the sea’s fury that day. His agent, Kushil Gunasekera, was not so lucky and had to seek refuge in a local temple, having just witnessed the destruction of his family home in the village of Seenigama, 25km north of Galle.From the tragedy emerged a mission “to narrow the gap between urban and rural life in Sri Lanka, by tackling poverty through productive activities”, and Murali joined Gunasekera in managing the Foundation of Goodness, which the agent had first set up in 1999.Eight years later, the results are startling. Thirty empowerment centres benefitting 25,000 people and covering 50 local villages, all free of charge, have brought hope to a part of the world that needed it badly. Projects include business and computing classes, healthcare and emotional support, language development programmes, and of course sport, which lies at the heart of the foundation, in the form of the MCC-sponsored cricket ground, built on Gunasekera’s ancestral landWhile a dedicated team of local “stakeholders” runs the foundation, the support and generosity of volunteers has played a huge part in the continued success of the project, according to Gunasekera. “Many volunteer for up to a month, but we know through experience that even a day or two of volunteering can change for the better the volunteer and the beneficiaries. It can be a life-changing experience, and many volunteers and visitors who have come for the day have become long-term friends of the foundation.”Volunteers or day visitors can expect a warm welcome and a personal tour from one of the stakeholders. Basic accommodation can be provided if the foundation is pre-warned. It is advisable to speak to them first about what aspect of volunteering you would like to get involved in.Muttiah Muralitharan talking to people made homeless by the tsunami, January 2005•Giuseppe Cacace/Getty ImagesTo get to Seenigama, take the exit for Hikkaduwa on the highway. Those travelling by train should get off at Hikkaduwa and take a tuk-tuk, which will cost around $5. Signs on the road will lead you to the foundation.For those coming from Colombo, the languid pace of life will be in direct contrast to the capital. The family-friendly watersports hub of Bentota lies about 15km north and Hikkaduwa, a livelier, surf-dominated place, which was the original 1970s Sri Lankan hippy hangout, is to the south.One of the foundation’s most tangible success stories is Pulina Tharanga, who was born into a poverty-stricken family and was orphaned at 11 when his mother died in the tsunami and his father, a fisherman, drowned two weeks later. Through the guidance of the foundation and with an MCC scholarship (the MCC has been a vital and long-standing supporter of the foundation), Tharanga is now establishing himself in top-level Colombo cricket and has represented his country at numerous age-group levels.”Cricket provides me with the reason to live and fight,” said Tharanga. “This game is all that I have. I do not allow my ghosts to haunt me on the field. But the moment I step off it, I become the same scared boy who lost everything at a very young age. Murali is my hero and friend, and the foundation has given me a chance to succeed in the game I love. I will repay him by giving every ounce of effort I have to representing the full Sri Lankan team.”On the occasion of Murali’s retirement, his team-mate Kumar Sangakkara said of him: “He is a national hero for more reasons than just his wickets. The greatest tribute I can pay him is that I have met no finer man. He’s great as a cricketer and even better as a human being.”Murali and Sangakkara have been instrumental in the foundation’s new and even more ambitious project in Mankulam in northern Sri Lanka. When the war finished in 2009, the inhabitants of the areas that saw the brunt of the fighting were still faced with poverty. The foundation’s work started with the supply of essential equipment to schools, and then gained momentum with Sangakkara’s and the foundation’s “Bikes for Life” project, in which so far 2000 bicycles have been handed out to people in the northern communities.Bryan Adams sponsored the foundation’s swimming pool after a visit to Seenigama•Foundation of Goodness”In the short-term, the aid relief has enabled us to empower 7000 beneficiaries through our many programmes,” Gunasekara said. “Mid-term, we have helped to develop the infrastructure of Mankulam Maha Vidiyalam, including a computer training centre and many other requirements of the school. The long-term project is to replicate the Seenigama rural holistic community model in Mankulam on the land gifted by the president to Murali.”The inaugural Murali Cup last year brought young cricketers from Sri Lanka, Malaysia, England and Australia to compete at the foundation’s picturesque ground. This year, though, it is all about integrating school children from the north and south of the island.”Hosting the Murali Harmony Cup in the north [just before the World Twenty20] is yet another initiative to foster goodwill and unity through the medium of cricket, building bridges of friendship between the south and the north, and promoting further reconciliation and peace. Such an event may attract others to support, as nothing multiplies so much as kindness,” said Gunasekera.If you would like to be one of these supporters or would like further information on the Foundation of Goodness, visit their website.

West Ham United have entered a new era, with Julen Lopetegui anointed as the London Stadium's new manager and tasked with taking a talented squad and lifting them back into European competition.

Having risen from 14th in 2022/23 to ninth during David Moyes' final year, despite selling Declan Rice to Arsenal, the Hammers showcased their quality but, ultimately, ran out of steam, and a change in managerial structure could provide the club with the clean slate needed to attack the upper end of the Premier League with renewed vigour.

Lopetegui has been hard at work, with United signing 18-year-old winger Luis Guilherme for £25.5m and working on several more deals. Mohammed Kudus, who has an £85m release clause in his contract, is eyeing a move away, while a brooding cloud remains sheeted over Lucas Paqueta's footballing future.

Still, Tim Steidten and Co will be working feverishly toward adding the perfect signings to the squad. Let's take a look at how Lopetegui's squad could look come September.

1

GK – Alphonse Areola

Alphonse Areola will hope to keep his place between the sticks for West Ham.

The 31-year-old played second fiddle to Lucasz Fabianski through his first two Premier League campaigns in east London, but featured prominently last year, starting 31 matches.

One of the sharpest shot-stoppers last term, he could prove to be an invaluable figure under Lopetegui as the West Ham defence transitions.

2

RB – Vladimir Coufal

Ben Johnson is closing on a move to Ipswich Town and Vladimir Coufal is nearly 32. The latter will expect to play a big role next season but expect Lopetegui to assess his options at right-back.

Still, Coufal's reliability and dynamism have established him as one of West Ham's most underrated transfers in recent years, playing 155 matches, placing 20 assists, winning a European trophy. All for the not-so-steep price of £5m.

3

CB – Jacob Greaves

Konstantinos Mavropanos has his strengths but if Kurt Zouma and Nayef Aguerd are both to depart the club as anticipated this summer, high-quality replacements must be brought in.

And according to Football Insider, Hull City centre-back Jacob Greaves could be headed to the capital. The 23-year-old – who is valued at around £20m – has enjoyed an excellent campaign in the Championship and boasts the modern ball-playing style to succeed within Lopetegui's system.

As per FBref, Greaves ranked among the top 8% of centre-backs during the 2023/24 Championship season for assists, the top 11% for shot-creating actions, the top 16% for pass completion, the top 10% for passes attempted and the top 4% for aerial duels won per 90.

4

CB – Max Kilman

Will he, won't he? West Ham are pushing to sign Max Kilman from Wolverhampton Wanderers. Valued at £45m, the left-sided defender starred during Lopetegui's tenure at Molineux and would be the perfect replacement for Aguerd, averaging 4.7 ball recoveries and 4.7 clearances per game in the league last year and winning a whopping 71% of his aerial battles.

The Wolves captain – who didn't miss a minute in the English top flight last year – would grow into an important and influential role for the Hammers.

5

LB – Emerson Palmieri

No full-back made more tackles than Emerson Palmieri's 106 in the Premier League last season. The Italian has been a dependable member of the Irons squad.

Iron, indeed, is Emerson's watchword, and he will be tasked with adding balance and mettle to a new-look backline.

6

DM – Edson Alvarez

Manchester United are interested in signing Edson Alvarez this summer, though Lopetegui is unlikely to sanction the tough-tackling Mexican's sale.

As The Athletic's Roshane Thomas puts it, he was the main man during his first term in east London claret, the steely, metronomic presence. He must remain at the London Stadium.

7

CM – Tomas Soucek

What a stalwart. Tomas Soucek is an industrious and tenacious member of the West Ham midfield, important for inculcating balance into the team.

Last year, the Czech star scored ten goals from 52 appearances. The 6 foot 3 midfielder is imposing and committed and he will be crucial, whether he ends up cementing a regular starting berth under Lopetegui or not.

8

CM – James Ward-Prowse

Signed from Southampton for £30m, West Ham have made good use of James Ward-Prowse's talents, with the midfielder scoring seven goals and adding 11 assists across all competitions.

In the Premier League, as per Sofascore, he completed 90% of his passes and averaged 1.7 key passes per game. He will be the playmaking linchpin in Paqueta's absence, centrally at least.

9

RW – Jarrod Bowen

Guilherme brings prodigious talent to the Premier League, flicks and tricks that will serve West Ham well over the coming years, but he's not going to take Jarrod Bowen's place on the attacking right flank.

The Three Lions star's 20-goal haul was his personal best in an Irons shirt and provided English football with another illustration into the skill set of a first-rate forward.

Lopetegui will seek to stamp more possession and more attacking intent into his side and Bowen will be the architect on the field, shooting on goal himself and playing quick exchanges with the man in the middle.

10

LW – Crysencio Summerville

With Kudus likely to leave and Paqueta's future uncertain, securing a talented new winger is paramount for Lopetegui and West Ham. Crysencio Summerville, the 2023/24 Championship Player of the Year, could be that man.

According to reports relayed by Claret and Hugh, the 22-year-old Dutchman is attracting his fair share of Premier League attention after scoring 20 goals and supplying nine assists as Leeds United finished third and narrowly missed out on promotion.

He could be the catalyst in attack for Lopetegui, praised for his "relentless" running by analyst Ben Mattinson to complement his sharp attacking abilitiy.

Namibia have the edge having beaten Scotland in both their most-recent outings this month

Varun Shetty26-Oct-2021

Big picture

Scotland’s unbeaten run at this year’s World Cup came to a crashing halt against Afghanistan on Monday. Several dubious records were bagged on the way as they lost nine wickets to Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan, a signal that quality spin is an Achilles heel for this team.Their first shot at leaving that performance firmly in the past will come on Wednesday against Namibia, the only other Associate team remaining in the World Cup. With three teams from the subcontinent in their group, and New Zealand to boot, both Scotland and Namibia will have earmarked this fixture as the place to pick up two sure points.For Namibia, it is the first match of this stage, and a chance to get started with a win before any thoughts of upsetting the bigger teams later on. For Scotland, it’s a little more urgent than that. They were the most dominant side in the first round and starting with losses to the two teams they would consider closest to them in stature will sour what has already been a historic campaign.The teams have already played each other twice this month before the World Cup began, and have won one game each.*

Form guide

Namibia WWLWW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Scotland LWWWL
Scotland would want to prove the loss to Afghanistan was an aberration•ICC via Getty

In the spotlight

Gerhard Erasmus has already sealed his status as a Namibia great, as the captain who has led them to what will now be back-to-back T20 World Cups. His fifty against Ireland brought them into this stage of the tournament, and was described by Player-of-the-Match David Wiese as the more important of the two knocks that helped seal qualification for them. He’s been out cheaply against Scotland the last two times they’ve met, and will be looking to set the straight when it matters the most. Erasmus is Namibia’s top-scorer in this format and will be expected to set the tone on WednesdayGeorge Munsey has been looking like a man in form without yet making a big score. At the top of the order, Munsey has shown shades of his destructive best, and will be looking to go deeper in the innings as Scotland look to put behind their batting failure from earlier in the week. Munsey bats in what is the best phase in these conditions and Namibia will consider him one of the main threats.

Team news

Neither side is likely to change their XIs.Namibia: (possible) 1 Zane Green (wk), 2 Craig Williams, 3 Gerhard Erasmus (capt), 4 David Wiese, 5 JJ Smit, 6 Jan Frylinck, 7 Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, 8 Pikky Ya France/Stephen Baard, 9 Ruben Trumpelmann, 10 Michael van Lingen, 11 Bernard ScholtzScotland: (possible) 1 Kyle Coetzer (capt), 2 George Munsey, 3 Calum MacLeod, 4 Richie Berrington, 5 Matthew Cross (wk), 6 Michael Leask, 7 Chris Greaves, 8 Mark Watt, 9 Josh Davey, 10 Safyaan Sharif, 11 Brad Wheal

Pitch and conditions

The forecast has Abu Dhabi’s temperature hovering about 30 degree celsius during the start of this evening fixture, among the coolest evenings in the tournament so far. It’s a pitch that’s shown assistance for fast bowling as well recently, but evening fixtures have generally taken the pitch out of the equation at this venue, with dew being a much bigger factor. Four of the last five wins have been for the team batting second. It is, however, among the friendlier venues for bowlers in this format due to the long boundaries.

Stats and trivia

• These teams have played each other in Abu Dhabi previously, but that was in the World Cup qualifiers back in 2012. Scotland lost that game as well
• Safyaan Sharif is set to play his 50th game for Scotland. He is their top wicket-taker in T20Is with 57, 30 of which have come in the UAE in 22 innings
• With seven sixes, Wiese is currently tied at the top with Evin Lewis for most sixes in the tournament

Quotes

“Financially we weren’t where we wanted to be, but as a team we weren’t really performing. And to think of tournaments like qualifying tournaments, we tend to just fall away at the end. We knew we really had to turn around, and it’s really been an effort to do that. It had to be some great role play within Cricket Namibia – from the coaching staff to the board members to the administration itself – that have followed to buy into one vision and go some way. And now we sort of I guess at the peak and reaping those rewards which is great. And hopefully continue going upwards.”
“Namibia are a very good team. I actually said before the Cup started that I expected them to go through. I’m kind of pleased that they did. They’ve got everything covered – they’ve got experience, they’ve got a really good fielding unit and very tidy bowling. So we know enough about them, we’ve played against them three or four times in the last, maybe three years now. There’s no real surprises but at the same time we do expect to go out there and win.”

The answers to all your questions about the 2012 IPL auction

Tariq Engineer03-Feb-2012Why is there a player auction this year? Didn’t the franchises just create new teams through an auction last year?
The IPL has held smaller, supplementary auctions in the past (2010). This particular auction was also necessitated by the termination of the Kochi Tuskers Kerala franchise. Roughly half the players who were signed by the franchise have been included in this auction so other teams have a chance to pick them up. Among those who turned out for the Tuskers and are in the auction are VVS Laxman, Mahela Jayawardene, Ravindra Jadeja, Muttiah Muralitharan and Brendon McCullum.The rest of the pool is made up of players who were undrafted last year and those who have decided to come forward this year e.g. Graeme Swann and Stuart MacGill. In all there are 144 players from 11 countries in the auction.What happened to the Kochi Tuskers franchise?
The Kochi Tuskers Kerala IPL franchise was terminated in September 2011 by the BCCI for breaching its terms of agreement. The trigger for the decision was the franchise’s inability to furnish a new bank guarantee for 2011. It is understood that the deadline for the franchise to submit the bank guarantee was March 26, 2011. So the BCCI felt it had every right to terminate the contract once the franchise had failed to produce it.What happens to the Kochi Tuskers Kerala players who are not in the auction, or those who aren’t bought by any of the other teams?
As far as payment goes, the BCCI says it has guaranteed that it will honour the contracts with the Tuskers and pay the players who are not signed by other teams. If a player is signed, the board says it will also make up any difference between the value of the player’s new contract and his old one. However, those players that remain unsold will miss out on playing in the IPL.What happens to the players signed as replacements last year e.g. Chris Gayle? Do the teams retain them or do they go into the auction?
Franchises have the first right of refusal for players signed as replacements. So Royal Challengers Bangalore were able to sign Chris Gayle to a new contract worth $550,000 before the auction. Had they not done so, he would have been in the auction. Other players who have signed in this way include Sourav Ganguly, who was retained by Pune Warriors for $400,000, and David Miller, who was retained by Kings XI Punjab.How much money can the teams spend at the auction?
Each team can spend up to $2 million at the auction. However, those teams that have chosen to retain their replacement players from last season will have their auction budget reduced by the value of their contract with that player. So, since Pune Warriors re-signed Sourav Ganguly for $400,000, they will have $1.6 million to spend at the auction.If two teams bid the maximum amount for a player, how does the IPL decide who gets the player?
The IPL relies on a tie-breaker to decide who gets the player. The franchises that have submitted the maximum bid must then submit a blind cheque to the BCCI. The franchise that provides the biggest cheque gets to keep the player. The money, which is undisclosed, goes to the BCCI and does not count against the salary cap.Have there been any changes to the team composition rules for this auction?
Yes. The allowed squad size for each team has been increased from 30 to 33, with 11 foreign players per squad, up one from the previous limit of 10. However, the number of foreign players that can be part of the final XI remains four.

Former England striker Alan Shearer has backed fellow pundit Micah Richards to win 'I'm a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here' in the future.

Article continues below

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• Richards backed to become King of the Jungle
• Wright won't participate in the show again
• Coleen Rooney to take part in the reality show in 2024

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Newcastle United and England legend claimed that Richards can win ITV's flagship reality television show, I'm a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here if he takes part in the future. Shearer believes that the ex-Manchester City star has what it takes to become the 'King of the Jungle', although he clarified that he would never take part in the reality series himself.

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• WHAT ALAN SHEARER SAID

  Speaking to Betfair, Shearer said: "I’m a Celeb is due to start later this month and other than Wrighty, who we know has been in the jungle – and he's told me all about it and how he won't be going back in – there's only Micah Richards of my punditry colleagues I could see in there! If it was between him or Martin Keown, it would have to be Micah Richards. He could be the King of the Jungle, and it would sure be entertaining seeing him in there. I can't see myself going in there though, absolutely not!"

• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE GOSSIP

  The Premier League's all-time record goalscorer also revealed that ex-Arsenal star Ian Wright, who participated in season 19 of the show in 2019 and finished eighth, has told him that he will never go back to the reality show. Wayne Rooney's wife Coleen is among the 12 participants who will head to Australia for the brand new season of the show.

• WHAT NEXT?

  The Premier League will be back this weekend with Chelsea and Arsenal locking horns in the marquee clash of the gameweek at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Meanwhile, the new series of 'I'm a Celebrity' is due to begin on November 17.

Aston Villa could look a rather different team when they take to the pitch for their first Premier League game against West Ham United compared to the final game of last term.

This is due to the club having to sell players in order to comply with profit and sustainability rules (PSR) before June 30, otherwise, they could face various sanctions.

Unai Emery is clearly working hard to avoid such penalties, as Douglas Luiz, Omari Kellyman and Tim Iroegbunam are either close to departing or have already left the Midlands side in recent weeks.

These sales will allow the manager to complete a deal for players such as Ian Maatsen, who looks set to join from Chelsea, with plenty more in the pipeline over the coming weeks.

Despite raising some funds already, could Emery perhaps cash in on another one of his prized assets this summer? Particularly as there is a chance he could receive a fee which might be too hard to turn down.

Aston Villa could sell Ollie Watkins this summer

Why would Emery want to sell Villa’s highest goalscorer from last season? A player who is currently in England’s Euro 2024 squad and still has so much to offer.

Well there are a few reasons. Firstly, there appears to be no shortage of interest in the centre forward.

Arsenal are a club who have shown plenty of admiration for the player in recent months as Mikel Arteta seeks to bolster his attacking options, while Chelsea were showing some interest late last year in a bid for the Englishman.

He will turn 29 midway through the 2024/25 campaign, which indicates that he might not get much better than what he is now. Could this give Emery a licence to sell him during the current window?

Watkins currently has a market value of €52.6m (£44m) according to Football Transfers, which has been rising steadily ever since the start of last season.

There is no doubt Emery will want a higher fee than that should interest in Watkins remain over the next few weeks, especially going by his record last season.

Indeed, the 28-year-old found the back of the net 27 times last term, chipping in with 13 assists as he emerged as one of the biggest stars in a Villa team which secured fourth place in the Premier League.

Not only does he know the league, but his finishing skills could prove to be a game-changer for the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea.

Should an offer arrive, Emery must surely strike when the iron is hot. Especially considering there could be a perfect replacement available…

Aston Villa's dream Ollie Watkins replacement

According to i News, Villa are among a host of English sides eyeing up a move for LOSC Lille striker Jonathan David this summer.

Manchester United currently lead the race as they have already made contact with his representatives, but with Champions League football to look forward to, could this potentially swing the odds in Villa's favour?

With just one year left on his current deal, it appears he could be departing the French side this summer. Lille president Olivier Letang has confirmed that bids of around £25m could be enough to secure his services ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

There is no doubt the Midlands side need some added quality and bringing a player such as David to the club in the summer could give them a massive boost.

Why Jonathan David would be a good signing for Aston Villa

His statistics from last season prove that the Canadian is one of the finest centre-forwards on the continent.

Across 47 games in all competitions during 2023/24, the 24-year-old scored an impressive 27 goals while grabbing nine assists too.

Across Europe’s top five leagues, David ranked in the top 17% for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.58) when compared to his positional peers, while also ranking in the top 3% for pass success rate per 90 (82%), which shows that he is more than comfortable linking the play with those who are playing behind him, which could prove useful for Emery next season.

U23 scout Antonio Mango lauded David for being “absolutely insane” when it comes to his scoring record, while further praise came from Canadian journalist Tony Marinaro, hailing the Lille marksman as "one of the best strikers in the world", no mean feat in today’s game.

Among his teammates last season in the French top flight, David ranked highly in a number of metrics, notably first for goals and assists (23), shots on target per game (1.4) and penalties won (two), while ranking fourth for key passes per game (0.9) and third for big chances created (eight), showcasing his all round game.

Not only would David be a solid presence in the final third for Villa next season, but he is also able to drop slightly deeper to link up well with fellow teammates, creating chances for them going forwards.

Cashing in on Watkins might be the last thing on the minds of supporters, but it is clear that David can offer a well-rounded game.

Combine this with the fact he would cost just £25m, not yet reaching his prime, and a move for the Canadian centre-forward is looking more and more attractive.

He is currently representing his nation at the 2024 Copa América, scoring the winner for Canada in a 1-0 win against Peru, which puts them in a good position to reach the quarter-finals of the event.

If he continues to impress in the competition, Villa may have to battle against more than just Man United with regard to signing the talented striker, as there are plenty more European heavyweights out there who could certainly do with a player just like him.

If Emery can bring him to the Premier League, it would be seen as a massive statement of intent, that’s for sure.

Aston Villa want to sign a "monster" who's similar to Bellingham

Unai Emery eager to sign this talented midfielder this summer.

By
Angus Sinclair

Jun 26, 2024

West Ham United are readying a fresh bid for a player Julen Lopetegui loves as they look to hand their new boss his dream signing this summer, it has emerged.

Hammers set for change under Lopetegui

The departure of David Moyes at the end of the 2023/24 Premier League season is set to usher in plenty of change this summer, both in personnel and in transfer strategy at West Ham.

They have already begun a new approach under Sporting Director Tim Steidten, and have signed one of Brazil's most exciting talents in the form of Luis Guilherme, with the teenager signing a five-year contract at the London Stadium.

“I’m very happy to be signing with West Ham United, a Club that trusted in my work,” Guilherme told the club media.

West Ham could speed up move for £15k-p/w midfielder after Alvarez injury

Lopetegui could be welcoming a new signing soon.

By
Ben Browning

Jun 24, 2024

“They presented the project, and both my family and I liked it. So, I'm very happy to be signing with this Club and hope to contribute as much as possible. If things go well, we have a beautiful journey ahead.

“The Head Coach and I already had a conversation. He showed me his project and I believe I’ll learn a lot from him. He’s coached at the national level in Spain and managed big clubs."

But as well as young stars, the Londoners have their eye on some Premier League experience.

West Ham ready third bid for Kilman

Now, it has emerged that the Hammers have seen a second bid turned down for Wolves captain Max Kilman, but are readying a third. Kilman is a favourite of Lopetegui, who managed him at Molineux and made him club captain, and the Spaniard is keen to sign the 27-year-old this summer.

However, Wolves are not willing to let him go, with Kilman still having four years left to run on his £50,000-a-week deal in the Midlands.

The Hammers have already seen a £25m rejected, while Fabrizio Romano revealed that a second bid had also been made which included a player in part exchange, but that too has been turned down by the Old Gold. Now, he adds, the London side are set to make a third approach for the 27-year-old, while "talks continue" over a potential move for the defender.

Kilman is a reliable presence for Wolves and came in for praise from pundit Micah Richards for his performances under Bruno Lage, with an outing against Southampton drawing particular enthusiasm. Richards explained on Match of the Day:

“I just liked the way he approached the game today. He’s a left-footed centre-half who plays on the right of a three. He’s played futsal before and that’s why he might be so comfortable on the ball.

“He looks really good in the Premier League. He looks assured, he’s played every minute this season. Everything about his game is mature. He was the one who caught my eye, especially with his body positions. His all-round performance was really good.”

He has missed just nine Premier League games since that point and continues to impress for the Old Gold, making it easy to see why West Ham want him. For now, though, they are finding it a tough deal to complete.

Acting chief executive Geoff Allardice says ICC will likely discuss how to approach bilateral cancellations, and how they affected the WTC

Danyal Rasool10-Oct-2021ICC’s acting chief executive Geoff Allardice has confirmed Afghanistan’s participation at the T20 World Cup will continue as normal despite the political regime change that has put the country’s cricketing future into uncertainty. Speaking at a virtual press conference, Allardice also addressed Cricket Australia’s decision to cancel a one-off Test against Afghanistan next month, citing the decision by the Taliban to suspend women’s cricket activities. He said the ICC will likely sit and discuss how to approach bilateral cancellations, and how they affected the World Test Championship.”Since the change of regime took place in Afghanistan in August, we have been in regular contact with the Afghanistan Cricket Board,” Allardice said. “Our primary function is to support the development of cricket in that country through the member board [ACB]. We have said all along we are waiting to see how things unfold under a different regime in that country. The ICC Board will consider it when they next meet, which is looking like at the end of the T20 World Cup. They are a Full Member of the ICC and their team is preparing for the T20 World Cup. In terms of their participation in the event, it is proceeding as per normal.Allardice also confirmed the number of DRS challenges would be kept to two per side per innings, a measure brought in last year because of the practical difficulty of arranging neutral umpires for every series. Despite the tournament operating with neutral umpires from the ICC elite panel, Allardice said the same playing conditions as per DRS challenges will be followed.”It’s very much a country-by-country situation,” he said. “We were able to get all our elite umpires and referees here to officiate this tournament. The UAE is really straightforward to move in and out of. In a number of countries there are still restrictions which make that difficult. Moving umpires in, as individuals, is different to team movements.”The issue is in other countries which have different levels of restriction. We’ve tried to use neutral officials where the circumstances allow. The umpires from home countries have performed extremely well over the last 18 months and supported by DRS. The aim is to get neutral umpires back once the restrictions are lifted but for now it’s very much a country-by-country basis. We’ve continued with the playing conditions that have been in place for T20Is that have been in place for the past 12 months which is two reviews per team. Rather than treat this tournament differently, we’ve continued with what’s been in place for the last 12-18 months.”Allardice also dismissed concerns hosting the tournament in the UAE would lead to too many low-scoring games. The tournament was originally scheduled to be played in India, but a rise in Covid cases in the country led to it, as well as part of the IPL, being shifted to the UAE. Since that shift, average innings scores have dropped significantly, leading to speculation about the nature of the pitches that the T20 World Cup will be played on.”I don’t think it is a worry. The conditions will vary from venue to venue as you would have seen from the recent cricket played there. It is going to be one of the challenges of the event, to adapt to the different conditions which have been presented: some of the recent matches have been high scoring, some have been low scoring across the venues. It is just going to add a different layer of complexity for the teams, but conditions are going to be the same on each match day.”

Franck Ribery was denied Ballon d'Or glory in 2013 and has now come to Vinicius Jr's defence after he was pipped to the award by Rodri.

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• Ribery lost out to Ronaldo in 2013
• He finished third behind second-placed Messi
• Took a dig at the award after Vinicius lost to Rodri

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Vinicius was widely considered the frontrunner for the accolade, particularly after his stellar performances helped Real Madrid secure both La Liga and Champions League titles, as well as the Supercopa de Espana. Meanwhile, Rodri's achievements with Manchester City – notably winning the Premier League – and his contributions to Spain's Euro 2024 victory solidified his position as a serious contender.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  In the hours leading up to the ceremony, the atmosphere turned sour for Real Madrid's delegation after learning of Vinicius' defeat. In a show of discontent, the team chose not to attend the event in Paris. Several Los Blancos players, including Vinicius, took to social media to express their outrage and Eduardo Camavinga even claimed that the result was down to "football politics" rather than sporting merit.

• WHAT RIBERY POSTED

  Ribery did not hold back in his critique of the Ballon d'Or results. The former Bayern Munich star, who has long held a grudge over his own Ballon d'Or snub in 2013, took to social media to express his amusement, as he mocked the award with three laughing emojis.

  @franckribery7

• DID YOU KNOW?

  In 2013, Ribery found himself on the wrong end of a controversial voting process that saw Cristiano Ronaldo claim his second Ballon d'Or, despite playing a crucial role in Bayern's treble-winning campaign Originally, the deadline for submissions was set for November 15, but it was extended for two weeks due to a shortage of eligible voters – a move Ribery claimed was politically motivated. Despite being favoured by bookmakers, he finished third, behind both Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

  "It was unfair," Ribery previously stated in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport. "It was an incredible season for me, and I should have won it. They extended the time for votes, and something strange happened. I felt that it was a political choice."

The crew gets together to answer questions like why is Shami not being picked, is he better than any current fast bowler in the side, how can he make a comeback, and more

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Nov-2025Why has Mohammed Shami – one of India’s top fast bowlers – been sidelined? Join Dustin Silgardo, Sidharth Monga, and Karthik Krishnaswamy as they dive deep into Shami’s legendary career, the chatter around his selection, and what makes him unique in Indian cricket. Hear untold stories from his journey, data-driven analysis, and the inside track on Indian fast bowling with banter and perspective.