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A decision to allow a further 10% will be taken after the group stage of the tournament

Umar Farooq04-Feb-2021

Following the government’s official go-ahead, the Pakistan Super League 2021, which starts on February 20, will not be a closed-door event. Spectators will be allowed up to 20% of the ground’s seating capacity, meaning Karachi can accommodate 7,500 people per match and Lahore 5,500.”Fans are the PCB’s biggest asset and we are delighted that no matter a small number, but some will be able to have access to the matches,” board chairman Ehsan Mani said. “Their presence will add flavour and excitement to one of the biggest and most challenging leagues in the cricket calendar. We understand not everyone will get an opportunity to watch the matches due to the limited number of seats, but these are baby-steps and considering that most of the sport events are being played in empty stadium, this is a positive achievement and a step in the right direction.”In September, Pakistan’s National Health Centre gave a green light for sporting activity to resume at grassroot and recreation level provided adequate safety measures were in place. In that same update there was a provision which read: “Spectators should be allowed for sports/games with outdoor pavilions while ensuring six feet of distancing between them.”Related

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Colin Munro to miss PSL 2021 for Islamabad United

It was then that the PCB approached the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) to discuss how many people could safely be allowed to watch the upcoming season of the PSL from the ground. Although the board had asked for 30% capacity initially, it eventually settled for 20%.The PCB and NCOC will continue to monitor the situation and a decision to allow a further 10% will be taken after the group stage of the tournament is complete.”I am optimistic that if we can maintain strict protocols during the PSL 2021 matches we will have a strong case for more fans in the 2021-22 season in which we have to host high-profile internationals teams such as New Zealand, England and the West Indies as well as quality domestic events, including the National T20 Cup, Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and the Pakistan Cup,” Mani said.Pakistan did experience a surge of Covid-19 cases over the winter, though they began to track downwards after the closure of schools last month. The government has urged people to take necessary precautions, but enforcement remains low and most public places – shopping malls, marriage halls and public transportation – are fully open.The cricket season in Pakistan resumed in September, after a 24-week hiatus due to the pandemic. It began with the National T20 Cup – played over two legs in Multan and then Rawalpindi – followed by the first-class tournament Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, held fully in Karachi. Four games of the fifth edition of the PSL were also held in Karachi followed by a home series against Zimbabwe. The National T20 Cup and the home series against Zimbabwe were not open to crowds. Nor is the ongoing Test and the T20I series against South Africa. The PSL is scheduled to start on February 20 with 34 matches in total, divided between Karachi and Lahore.

Chelsea superstar Sam Kerr has signed a new contract with the Women's Super League champions, despite a bizarre announcement suggesting she'd leave.

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• Blues hinted at Kerr leaving with 'thank you' message
• Later announced her new contract
• Will remain with WSL champions till 2026

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  On Thursday morning, the Blues posted a video on social media in which Kerr appeared to be bidding an emotional goodbye to the London club. However, that video was followed shortly by the confirmation that the Australian forward has signed a new contract.

  Kerr has now committed to a new deal that runs until 2026, with the attacker saying: "It’s really exciting and a very proud moment for me. Having the opportunity to stay at a club like Chelsea means a lot to me. I’m really excited to continue to push and to try to win trophies."

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  The initial video had a rather sombre tone to it as Kerr said: "I didn't know how to have this conversation with you guys, but I think it's just best saying it." Although she did not state she was leaving, it certainly had the feel of a goodbye message.

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  In what has turned out to be a PR stunt from the five-time straight WSL champions, Kerr, who has been the club's top scorer in three of the last four seasons, will now remain at the club as they look towards building an era post-Emma Hayes' departure to the USWNT.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR KERR?

  The Australian spent most of last season out injured after a devastating ACL tear sidelined her from action, she will now look to have a good pre-season and hit the ground running under new boss Sonia Bompastor.

Conor Gallagher's situation at Chelsea remains uncertain with multiple Premier League sides showing interest in the midfielder for a summer move.

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Gallagher invites interest from Aston VillaContract renewal talks with Chelsea hit brick wallNewcastle and Tottenham also interestedGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

Gallagher has been one of the few consistent performers for Chelsea in what has been a rather inconsistent season under Mauricio Pochettino. With the 24-year-old's contract set to expire next summer, the Blues have undertaken contract talks with Gallagher, which have hit a brick wall. As such, a number of Premier League sides have shown a fleeting interest in the midfielder. As per The Telegraph, one of those clubs is Aston Villa, who look to prepare for their participation in the Champions League next season with the addition of more quality in their ranks.

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As per the report, Unai Emery is fond of Gallagher and the Villains may look to offer striker Jhon Duran to Chelsea to sweeten the deal to sign the midfielder this summer. Chelsea's goalscoring troubles in the first half of the season saw them target Duran before his injury ruled him out of contention. Aston Villa will likely have to battle with Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur in order to sign Gallagher this summer.

GettyDID YOU KNOW?

Early in the year, the Chelsea ownership came under heavy fire from fans with reports suggesting that the Blues were looking to actively part ways with the Epsom-born midfielder due to their concerns regarding the Premier League's Profitability and Sustainability rules. The sale of Gallagher would reportedly show up as a 100% profit on the Blues' books with the midfielder having come up through the youth ranks at Chelsea.

WHAT NEXT FOR GALLAGHER?

Gallagher will likely wear the captain's armband for Chelsea later today when they take on Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge, in what could be the midfielder's last appearance for the club.

Ruben Amorim will reportedly not succeed Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool with West Ham also set to miss out on the Sporting CP boss.

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Amorim no longer in frame for Liverpool & West Ham jobsCould potentially stay on at SportingLiverpool have De Zerbi on their shortlistWHAT HAPPENED?

According to Portuguese outlet, Amorim won't be joining either of the Premier League clubs as he seems poised to remain at Sporting beyond the current season. Both Liverpool and West Ham had expressed interest in Amorim to solve their managerial crisis. While Klopp is set to depart Anfield at the end of the season, there are lingering doubts over David Moyes' future at West Ham after an underwhelming season.

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Amorim's recent trip to London, where he reportedly held talks with West Ham, did not lead to positive outcomes. Whereas, reports that talks between Amroim and Liverpool have stalled "since last week". It is also alleged that the Hammersoffered him a more lucrative financial package than Liverpool but the manager is "keeping his options open" and could even settle for a club outside England if he chooses to leave Sporting.

DID YOU KNOW?

Sporting Lisbon, under Amorim's leadership, have enjoyed a successful season, as they currently sit seven points clear at the top of the Portuguese top flight. Additionally, the club is in contention for the Taca de Portugal, with a final match against Porto scheduled for May 26th.

getty imagesWHAT NEXT?

With Amorim likely to stay at Sporting Lisbon, both Liverpool and West Ham may need to explore alternative options for managerial appointments. Among the potential candidates for the Reds is Brighton head coach Roberto De Zerbi and Feyenoord manager Arne Slot. Meanwhile, former Roma head coach Jose Mourinho sparked speculation about his potential return to the English Premier League when he made a surprise appearance at Craven Cottage to watch Liverpool defeat Fulham.

The captain has said it has been made clear to Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul that their controversial comments made on an Indian TV show are not acceptable and the personal opinions are not the view of the India team

Andrew McGlashan in Sydney11-Jan-20191:40

They were purely individual opinions – Kohli

Virat Kohli has said it has been made clear to Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul that their controversial comments made on an Indian TV show, which has left them facing a suspension, are not acceptable and the personal opinions are not the view of the India team.Pandya and Rahul appeared on a talk show on Sunday where their comments – Pandya’s in particular – came in for widespread criticism and raised concerns over the team culture. The BCCI issued the players a show-cause notice to which Pandya responded with an apology to the board.”From the Indian cricket team point of view, any inappropriate comments that are made in that scenario are something that we definitely don’t support and the two concerned players felt what has gone wrong and they have understood the magnitude of what’s happened,” Kohli said at the SCG ahead of the opening ODI against Australia. “Definitely it has to hit anyone hard, they will definitely understand the things that have not gone right.”We, definitely, as the Indian cricket team do not support views like that and that has been communicated. I can definitely say that as the Indian cricket team and responsible cricketers we definitely don’t align with those views and those are purely individual views.”We are still waiting for a decision to be made but from the Indian cricket team point of view this changes nothing in terms of our beliefs in the change room. It does nothing to the spirit that we’ve been able to create within the change room and these are purely individual opinions and something as I said which is inappropriate.”While the controversy is dealt with by the Committee of Administrators (CoA), which is overseeing the BCCI, it creates a headache for Kohli ahead of the first ODI on Saturday, especially the uncertainty around Pandya’s availability given how key he is to balancing the India line-up as the seam-bowling allounder in the middle order.Kohli acknowledged the outcome of the process may require the team to rethink their plans, but was confident that with Ravindra Jadeja in the squad, they had the options to cover for Pandya even though Jadeja is a spin-bowling allrounder.”From the combination and team balance point of view, yes, you’ll have to think about the combination you’ll need now,” Kohli said. “You don’t have control over these things so you have to address it the way it unfolds. That’s how we are looking at it, the combinations will have to be looked at when the decision comes out and from there on we’ll see what needs to be done about the whole situation.”

The T20 finals were the first time Smith had captained a team since the controversy in South Africa

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Dec-2018

Steven Smith led his grade side Sutherland to the New South Wales Premier T20 title at the SCG on Sunday.While the Australia Test team was going head-to-head with India in Perth, Smith made scores of 42 and 19 in the semi-finals and final at a venue he has lit up during his international career.The T20 finals were the first time Smith had captained a team since the controversy in South Africa which saw him stripped of the Australia captaincy. He won’t be eligible to return to that role for a further 12 months after his initial ban finishes, but that does not extend to club cricket.His next chance to play for Australia at the SCG won’t come until next season as he sees out the remainder of his year-long ban after the Newlands ball-tampering.

Nashville SC midfielder Anibal Godoy hopped on his bicycle to score a brilliant overhead kick vs the Columbus Crew Saturday evening.

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• Nashville draw Crew 2-2
• Godoy scores insane bicycle kick
• Panama legend's first goal of season

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Panama international timed his effort perfectly, leaping into the air and flipping his body to nail home the overhead kick. His first goal of the season, Godoy's effort ended up being the strike that earned his side a brilliant 2-2 draw against the reigning champs.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Godoy's effort put Nashville up 2-1 right before the halftime break, with the 34-year-old scoring their second goal of first half stoppage-time. However, a late Crew goal in the 79th minute drew them level, with the two sides playing out the remainder of the match at a stalemate.

  The Crew could have taken three points on the night, but a missed penalty kick in the 49th minute by Diego Rossi set them back farther than they would have hoped.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR GODOY AND NASHVILLE SC?

  Nashville will take on the Philadelphia Union next Saturday as they look to climb the table in the Western Conference. Godoy, meanwhile, will look to his brilliant goal against the Crew as a once-in-a-lifetime effort, remembering it forever!

Let’s all just take a moment to breathe. At Aston Villa, Liverpool succumbed to their second 2-2 draw in three Premier League matches but also moved eight points clear at the top of the table, albeit with Arsenal holding a game in hand.

Recent performances have cast a blanket of uncertainty over the red of Merseyside, but Arne Slot’s side are well worth their table-topping position and will continue to fight tooth and nail for the title over the next few months.

The caveat is that Liverpool face Manchester City at the Etihad on Sunday before welcoming dangerous Newcastle United to Anfield.

But Arsenal are beset with a mountain of injury issues and face their own tough run in the next few weeks. Liverpool will endure. And then, restore their fluency, their verve.

Man City (A)

West Ham (H)

Newcastle (H)

Nott’m Forest (A)

Southampton (H)

Man United (A)

Everton (H)

Chelsea (H)

Fulham (A)

Fulham (H)

However, certain questions need to be raised, with Darwin Nunez’s role in this all-important campaign raising important questions.

Darwin Nunez misses the mark – again

There’s only so much a fan can take. Energy, tenacity, drive, chaos. Nunez embodies it all – all pertaining to the good and the bad, of course.

Nunez was introduced in the second half and failed to notch a goal, stretching his run to 35 matches in all competitions this term with just six goals to his name.

Having played only 25 minutes, it shouldn’t feel like the burden of Liverpool’s dropped points at Villa Park lay on his shoulders, but the 25-year-old was thwarted by the charging Emi Martinez when played through and, more agonisingly, skewed a glorious open goal opportunity when deftly played in by Dominik Szoboszlai.

Social media has been awash with the Uruguay striker’s latest blunder, and perhaps the most telling part was Slot’s reaction, turning to the assistant referee and questioning if his player was offside.

It didn’t matter, for Nunez had missed a simple finish to make it 3-2 to Liverpool, building on the momentum from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s rifled finish to restore parity.

Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr begged the question of Nunez’s availability in January and transfer authority Fabrizio Romano confirmed that his sale was a genuine possibility, but FSG ultimately didn’t want to leave title-chasing Liverpool short at the season’s midpoint.

Nunez’s own misfiring has propagated the idea that he’s not fit for purpose over three campaigns now. It’s clear that Slot needs to cut ties with his exciting and infuriating player – sadly, it hasn’t worked out.

He’s not the only striker to have let his team down. Diogo Jota has endured another injury-hit season, and while he’s a first-class finisher, this certainly wasn’t the case against Unai Emery’s men.

Why Slot must boldly drop Diogo Jota

Last season, Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher said that Jota is Liverpool’s best-ever goalscorer in the Premier League “in terms of pure finishing.”

Big claim, but not without substance. As per FBref, Jota ranked among the top 1% of Premier League forwards in 2023/24 for goals scored (0.79) per 90.

He’s not enjoyed the same level of potency under Slot’s wing, missing matches due to injury once again. Still, eight goals from 24 matches in all competitions is hardly shameful, but he’s not playing with his usual style at the moment.

Uncharacteristically, Jota summed up Liverpool’s night as he was played through against a gappy Villan backline and sliced so wide that the shot almost went out for a throw-in. Cue the jeers.

Contrasted with the cool composure and smart running of Ollie Watkins, Liverpool’s lack of a top central frontman was illustrated. The England star laid the ball off smartly, darted into space, thundered past Alisson with a well-timed header. The gaps emerged and he snatched his chance greedily.

Nunez did not. Jota did not. Both forwards claimed more attractive chances but failed to make them count, and with Cody Gakpo now set to return from an injury sustained at Goodison Park, Slot needs to make the change.

Chalkboard

Jota might have claimed the assist for Salah’s goal but he didn’t lead the line with the desired confidence. GOAL’s Gill Clark echoed this, branding the Portugal international with a 5/10 match score.

Jota was even branded “dreadful” by The Athletic correspondent James Pearce after his mishap, adding fuel to the fire that Salah – who of course bagged his goal and placed the assist for Trent’s important equaliser – is something of a one-man frontline at times.

While it’s hard to advocate Luis Diaz as being the perfect number nine solution, he does bring fluency to Liverpool’s frontline and facilitates Gakpo and Salah’s successes.

Based on the evidence of this frustrating contest, the Colombian has graduated to Liverpool’s first-choice at centre-forward and must be picked as such against a Man City side that is always going to be dangerous.

It’s important to issue a reminder that Liverpool’s slide in defensive security is every bit as concerning as the profligacy up front. Three clean sheets from 13 Premier League matches is a far cry from Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate’s imperious early form.

It’s not the be-all and end-all. This was a difficult fixture and Liverpool still hold a commanding lead at the top of the table. That said, Slot needs to restore Liverpool’s snap at the top of the ship because, at the moment, things are not looking balanced with Nunez and Jota struggling.

All told, there are problems across the board – but, all the same, Liverpool are eight points clear at the summit as they gear up to race down the home stretch.

Slot is a top-class manager and will be confident in fixing the current out-of-kilter levels. However, he might need to make a few changes, with Jota and Nunez proving at Villa Park that they don’t deserve starting berths against Pep Guardiola’s outfit.

Forget Szoboszlai: Liverpool "monster" is proving to be the next Gerrard

He’s forged a legendary career path for himself.

ByAngus Sinclair Feb 18, 2025

Todd Boehly has certainly backed up his ambitions since taking over Chelsea in May 2022, signing players left, right and centre for the first-team and academy teams.

The American has dropped over £1.2bn on new additions in his near three-year spell in West London, providing Enzo Maresca with all the ammunition needed to be a success in the Premier League.

Undoubtedly, such erratic dealings have seen former managers struggle, but the Italian has walked into life at Stamford Bridge with ease, ultimately creating a settled side for league and cup.

Such a layout won’t favour every player, with numerous having to settle for either minutes off the bench or, at worst, struggling to gain any first-team action at all given the huge number of players currently on the books.

One player has fallen into such a category, with the Blues star almost certain for a move away from the Bridge this month, leading to interest from one European outfit.

Chelsea star wanted by Bundesliga giants

According to Sky Germany journalist Patrick Berger, Chelsea midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka is a target for Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund this month, with a potential loan with an option to buy mooted.

The 21-year-old joined the Blues from Aston Villa back in 2022 for a reported £20m, but his time in the capital has been limited to say the least, finding himself on the fringes of the first team squad as a result.

He’s only featured for a combined 131 minutes in all competitions during 2024/25, starting just one game in the Europa Conference League – with Chukwuemeka pushing for a move come the end of January.

Berger claimed that Dortmund boss Nuri Şahin is a “big fan” of the Englishman, following in the footsteps of Ian Maatsen, who joined the German side on loan this time last year.

However, should the £100k-per-week earner move permanently to Signal Iduna Park, it may be a huge mistake on the part of Maresca to allow him to leave, potentially replicating the mistake made in allowing a former talent to depart and move to Germany.

Why Chukwuemeka could be a De Bruyne repeat for Chelsea

Attacking midfielder Kevin De Bruyne joined Chelsea way back in January 2012 for a reported £6.7m, before re-joining Belgian side Genk on loan for the remainder of the season.

He would subsequently spend the following campaign on loan at German outfit Werder Bremen, impressing during his temporary stint, registering ten goals and nine assists in just 34 appearances.

Such form catapulted him into the Blues first-team, but after just nine appearances in the first half of the 2013/14 season, he joined Wolfsburg on a permanent basis for around £16.7m – banking a £10m deal profit, but a decade on, the deal looks to be a huge mistake.

De Bruyne starred with increased game time, notching 20 goals and 35 assists – ultimately leading to a £54m transfer back to England to join Manchester City in 2015 – a move that has since allowed him to become one of Europe’s leading playmakers.

The now 33-year-old has since scored over 100 times and registered over 150 assists under Pep Guardiola at the Etihad, helping the Citizens win five consecutive Premier League titles – something that could have happened to the Blues had they kept hold of the Belgian.

Fast-forward over a decade, Chelsea are faced with a similar prospect in the form of Chukwuemeka who, like De Bruyne, may well be heading to Germany after restricted game time at the Bridge.

The 21-year-old, who’s previously been dubbed a “superstar” talent by scout Jacek Kulig, has never really been given a lengthy run in the side, especially under Maresca, to prove what he’s capable of.

Undoubtedly, given his tender age, he’s in serious need of regular match action to reach the potential he arrived with upon his move, possibly making a loan deal a better option than a permanent one.

Should it be a permanent transfer, Dortmund would be getting themselves yet another top English prospect – potentially following in the footsteps of Jadon Sancho and Jude Bellingham – with Chelsea’s loss undoubtedly their gain.

Dream Nkunku replacement: Chelsea make enquiry to sign £80m PL star

Maresca can finally axe Nkunku by acquiring a well-suited “maverick” for his Chelsea side

By
Connor Holden

Jan 12, 2025

Wolves are looking to sign a new star for Vitor Pereira in the final days of the January transfer window in a bid to help them avoid dropping out of the Premier League come the end of the season, it has emerged.

Wolves struggling in January

January has been a tough month for Wolves both off and on the pitch. The Old Gold have managed just one new signing so far in the first three and a half weeks of the transfer window, signing Emmanuel Agbadou from Stade Reims in a deal worth £18m.

However, it has been dominated by the potential future destination of talisman Matheus Cunha, who has been key to any success Wolves have had so far this campaign but is seemingly stalling over a new contract.

Arsenal, Newcastle and Chelsea have all previously been linked with a move to sign the Brazilian, while Nottingham Forest have now joined the race too, and though Pereira values the forward highly, his immediate future remains unclear heading into the final days of the window.

On the pitch, Wolves remain just above the relegation zone on goal difference, but have conceded the most goals in the top flight to date and have lost all three of their Premier League games in January, though they did edge past Bristol City in the FA Cup third round.

Wolves in the Premier League: January 2025

Games played

3

Wins

0

Losses

3

Goals Scored

1

Goals Conceded

9

They are looking to fix that with a new midfielder, but saw a deal for Manu Silva collapse as he instead headed to Benfica, ironically now managed by ex-Wolves boss Bruno Lage. But now, they appear to be ready to battle it out to sign a potential alternative, with Spurs another club to keep an eye on.

Wolves want "extraordinary" new midfielder

That comes as transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has claimed that Wolves are now pushing ahead with a deal to sign Real Betis midfielder Johnny Cardoso this month, showing “strong interest”.

Wolves already have a Cunha replacement in "gifted" homegrown ace

Wolves can replace Cunha with their “technically gifted” ace already in the pipeline

ByConnor Holden Jan 24, 2025

The 23-year-old USMNT international can play either at the base of midfield or in a more advanced role, and has caught the eye of big clubs in the past. As part of their deal to sell Giovani Lo Celso to Betis, Tottenham agreed an option to buy for Cardoso, believed to sit at €25m, though it is unclear if they will trigger it in the near future.

In the meantime, Wolves are looking to complete a deal for the midfielder, who has started 10 times for the La Liga side this season, before the end of the transfer window. Dubbed “extraordinary” by Betis sporting director Manu Fajardo, Cardoso still has a mammoth five years left to run on his £11,000 a week deal in Spain, making any potential deal difficult to do for the Old Gold, but they remain keen to at least try to do so.

With the £22m option held by Tottenham, it is likely that any bid would have to exceed that to ensure success, with Betis likely to point interested parties to that figure as a benchmark for the US midfielder.