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ESPNcricinfo presents the Plays of the Day from the first day of the first Test between South Africa and Australia, in Cape Town

Brydon Coverdale and Firdose Moonda at Newlands09-Nov-2011A perfect start
Vernon Philander has faced questions over his inclusion in the squad but justified his selection in the starting XI with his very first ball. Philander opened the bowling with Dale Steyn and started with a delivery that landed on the seam and moved away from Shane Watson. An impressive first three overs ended with the scalp of Phil Hughes who Philander dismissed with a short-of-length delivery that took the edge as it seamed away. His celebration – a sprint faster than his run-up, a leap, a punch in the air, a little kick and a loud cry – said what his backers have been for weeks: 94 wickets in just over two seasons of first-class cricket is enough to merit a place in the team.The torrid welcome

Dale Steyn, who appeared off the pace in the limited-over matches, bowled a first spell of accuracy and aggression but returned after lunch with fire in his belly. With his second ball, he had Ricky Ponting out lbw after a review and in the over after got stuck into Michael Clarke. First, he bowled a gentle length ball, then a spirited bouncer, and then a short ball which Clarke did not spot immediately. Steyn followed up with a length ball but had a few words of advice for Clarke, who was having none of it. He walked towards Steyn, two-thirds of the way down the pitch and gave it right back to him. Steyn let the ball do the talking in reply. A snorter, aimed at the helmet, had Clarke playing awkwardly and he somehow managed to avoid edging it to the slips.Milestone of the day
Mark Boucher seems to have been around forever, and his figures are starting to look like that as well. When he caught an edge off Vernon Philander’s bowling to remove Phil Hughes, Boucher became the first man in Test history to register 500 catches. It’s impossible to predict how long such a record will remain but Boucher certainly has plenty of breathing space. His nearest rivals among current players are Kamran Akmal with 184 catches and MS Dhoni with 176.The needless delay
Half an hour before the toss was due, the weather at Newlands was fine, if a little cloudy. But the rain can blow in rapidly over Table Mountain and a heavy shower pushed back the start of play by 105 minutes. Not even then could Dale Steyn run in with the new ball to get the series under way. A naming-rights sponsor for the series was only found last week and perhaps their advertising boards were rushed into place; one fell down behind the bowler and play couldn’t start until it was resurrected. Another five-minute delay ensued, in perfect sunshine.The poor advertisement for cricket
Taking a 40-minute lunch break after the start of play was delayed by nearly two hours was bad enough, but cricket continues to do itself no favours with the way bad light is handled. Forty minutes before the scheduled close of play, the umpires decided the conditions were too gloomy and the players were asked to leave the field. The floodlights had been on for some time and while it was a bit dull, it was hard to imagine that conditions were dangerous for the players. In fairness, rain arrived 20 minutes later, but surely the more cricket that can be squeezed into a day’s play, the better.

Shami came away with 4-0-75-0, the most-expensive spell by an Indian bowler in the IPL

Shashank Kishore12-Apr-20253:42

How can SRH turn it around from here?

A peerless 36-ball 82 from Shreyas Iyer, an early turbocharge from Priyansh Arya that brought him 36 off just 13 balls in a 66-run opening stand with Prabhsimran Singh were the key drivers in another dominating batting performance from Punjab Kings (PBKS) against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in IPL 2025 in Uppal.PBKS threatened to blaze past 250 halfway into the innings, but then appeared to fall well short of that mark at one point as Harshal Patel picked up the big wickets of Iyer and Glenn Maxwell in a gun 18th over – he finished with 4 for 42.Then Marcus Stoinis, who hadn’t made much of an impact with the bat until Saturday, got stuck into Mohammed Shami, hitting him for four consecutive sixes in the final over that went for 27 as PBKS finished with 245 for 6.Shami’s 4-0-75-0 is the most expensive spell by an Indian bowler – and the second-most expensive spell overall – in the IPL. This meant SRH needed to pull off the second-highest run chase in IPL history to break their sequence of four straight losses in IPL 2025.PBKS had raised their fifty in just three overs – the joint-fastest with RCB in IPL 2025 – courtesy the openers. Prabhsimran hit Shami for three back-to-back fours in his first over, and Arya followed suit when he nonchalantly flicked Cummins for six in his first.Harshal, generally used at the death, was brought on early to try and stem the run flow, and he delivered in his very first over when he had Arya hack an offcutter to the longer leg-side boundary with Nitish Reddy taking the skier at mid-on. At the other end, Eshan Malinga gave a good account of himself on IPL debut, picking up an early wicket by removing Prabhsimran, shortly after he was dropped by Abhishek Sharma at extra cover on 38.Eshan showed versatility by bowling 140kph and also dropping his pace. He also bowled reverse-swinging yorkers to Iyer, who looked in imperious form. Pulling, cutting and hitting spinners on the rise, and clearing the boundaries effortlessly, Iyer brought up a 22-ball fifty, his fastest in the IPL.Iyer made the most of a reprieve on 42 when legspinner Zeeshan Ansari was unlucky to not have him caught at long-off, where Abhishek misjudged a catch and came too far in, before running back to catch, only to palm the ball over.Iyer put together 73 off just 40 balls with Nehal Wadhera, who used the arcs behind square to good effect during his 27, before he was lbw to Malinga who finished with 2 for 45 in his four overs.Shashank Singh’s promotion ahead of a struggling Maxwell didn’t pay off as Harshal had him lbw, before Maxwell and Iyer also fell in his final over. Stoinis then muscled four sixes to give them the momentum they seemed to have lost earlier at the death.

Manchester United are now moving to land one of their primary striker targets after being dealt a blow over Benjamin Sesko, it has been reported.

Mixed 24 hours for Red Devils

United and some of their rivals were left clutching thin air after it emerged that Benjamin Sesko penned a new deal with RB Leipzig rather than make the move to the Premier League.

The Red Devils were one of the clubs thought to be pushing for the Slovenian's signature this summer, alongside the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea, as they looked to land a future superstar ahead of the new season.

Report: INEOS scouts think £100k-a-week target is exactly what Man Utd need

He could be such an exciting summer addition.

ByHenry Jackson Jun 12, 2024

However, the 21-year-old frustrated them all by penning fresh terms in Germany, extending his contract until 2029 and commiting his short-term future to Leipzig.

In better news, however, the Manchester United hierarchy finally came to a decision over their manager, and opted to keep Erik ten Hag in his post despite seemingly having spent the fortnight since the FA Cup final courting replacements.

Indeed, the club are set to reward him with a fresh contract, though they will be demanding better than an eighth placed finish in the Premier League this time around. To do that, they will need more firepower, and now that is precisely what they are looking to add.

Joshua Zirkzee transfer update

Now, it has been reported that Manchester United are hoping to strike a deal for Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee, who was seemingly AC Milan bound just last week.

However, the Rossoneri have failed to complete the deal yet and as a result, other parties may yet swoop in. As per TEAMtalk, that is precisely what Manchester United and Sir Jim Ratcliffe intend to do.

They report that Zirkzee has become "club’s primary striker target" and that "United chiefs have now made clear" that they are willing to meet the Dutch striker's buyout clause, though it is added that any move is complicated by the 10m-15m euro commission agent Kia Joorabchian is demanding on top of the release clause. Sir Jim Ratcliffe has made a "firm approach" to Joorabchian.

Still just 22-years-old, Zirkzee enjoyed a breakthrough campaign with Bologna, helping steer them into a spot for next season's Champions League.

Joshua Zirkzee's Serie A season

Appearances

34

Goals

11

Assists

4

Shots on target per 90

0.95

Key passes per 90

1.40

Mins per goal/assist

184

Thiago Motta was keen to highlight his impact on Bologna back in February, likening it to that of Ronaldinho and Ibrahimovic.

“I remember Ronaldinho from Barcelona, ​​​​he was something extraordinary. I’ve never seen a player of this level when he was in form. Ibra the same, given the career he’s had. Joshua is Joshua, he’s special, I hope he continues like this and I won’t compare him to anyone.

"He plays well but above all he works, I will never stop saying that from the first day of training camp, he has always been the first to work and has become a leader. He must continue like this and we must help him continue like this because this is on the right path.”

Now, that path could be at Old Trafford, in the footsteps of Ibrahimovic.

Ex-player fears that current cricketers will be reluctant to speak out about colleagues

George Dobell01-Oct-2020Azeem Rafiq says that anonymity needs to be granted to witnesses in the investigation into allegations of racism within Yorkshire cricket.Rafiq, who triggered the review after claiming that “institutional racism” at the club had left him on the brink of suicide, believes potential witnesses may be prevented from sharing their experiences by a fear of damaging their on-going hopes for inclusion within the game.He has received numerous responses to his allegations. While some former team-mates have phoned to apologise for their behaviour, others have phoned to apologise for not doing more to stop inappropriate behaviour when they witnessed it. In all cases, Rafiq has requested they share their comments with the investigation panel. But it seems not all are prepared to do so.”There’s been an interesting response,” Rafiq told ESPNcricinfo. “Some people have been in touch to apologise and others to offer their support. A few have said ‘I’ve experienced the same things, but I don’t want to complain as it will jeopardise my future with the club’.”One guy – the one who said ‘there’s too many of you lot’ when I was in the team with Adil Rashid, Ajmal Shahzad and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan – unfollowed me on Twitter. Another, who was outright racist, called the morning after that piece was published and apologised. He said he had no filter.”I respect that. Obviously it shouldn’t have happened, but I can respect the fact he had the humility and bravery to pick up the phone and acknowledge his faults.”A current player was similar. He was in tears. He hadn’t done anything himself, but he’d seen things go on and had done nothing to stop them. I said ‘That’s fine, mate, but if you really want to make it better, you’ve got to tell the investigation team’. I don’t know if he will or not.ALSO READ: Gillespie condemns Yorkshire league chairman for Rafiq comments“Several people have been in touch and said ‘we’ve experienced the same things’,” he said. “But when I’ve asked if they will come forward, they’ve said ‘I can’t. My shop will suffer; my son will never be picked again for the youth team’ or something like that.”So I hope people who give evidence to the investigation team can do so in secret so there are no repercussions for them. That’s the only way we’ll get to the bottom of these things.”Hanif Malik will no longer appear as part of that panel.Malik, an independent director at Yorkshire and former non-executive director at Sport England, had been the subject of complaints from Rafiq, who claimed he had previously outlined his concerns to him but that no action had been taken.It’s understood that Malik has also suffered a family bereavement. It is not clear which of these factors, or both, contributed to him no longer appearing on the sub-committee. The precise terms of reference of the investigation are yet to be published.”I’d actually reported my concerns to quite a few people,” Rafiq said. “The PCA have been great, but I reported these things to Matthew Wood [the PCA rep], the chief executive [Mark Arthur] and director of cricket [Martyn Moxon] at Yorkshire a couple of years ago. I reported it to Hanif Malik and the National Asian Cricket Council. I reported these things through every channel that was available to me. Not much progress was made until I spoke to the media.”

Marcus Rashford has been going the extra mile in private training sessions in a bid to rediscover his best form at Manchester United.

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Rashford training away from Utd during international breakHasn't scored in his last nine Premier League gamesMan Utd next face SouthamptonWHAT HAPPENED?

The out-of-form Manchester United star uploaded a video on Instagram showing highlights from his private training sessions during the international break. With Rashford failing to make Lee Carsley's first England squad for the Nations League, he has been working hard to sharpen his skills by training away from United with the RH Elite Coaching team in Manchester.

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Rashford posted the clip on Instagram with the caption: "Raw material." The United forward can be seen finding the net with a number of long-range shots and working on his one-touch passing around the box.

Getty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The 26-year-old, who was once hailed as one of United's brightest stars, has come under fire in recent times for what many perceive as a lack of effort on the pitch. The England international, who was instrumental during the 2022-23 campaign with an impressive 30 goals in 56 appearances across all competitions, has experienced a dramatic dip in form since then.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR MARCUS RASHFORD?

The attacker will aim to end his nine-game Premier League goal drought this weekend as Erik ten Hag's side take on Southampton in an away fixture on Saturday. United have slipped to 14th in the table after losing two of their opening three games, and need Rashford to step up if they are to start climbing back towards the top half.

Despite Newcastle United's injury crisis this campaign, it has come with a positive as it's allowed boss Eddie Howe to give valuable first-team minutes to multiple youngsters within the club.

Lewis Miley and Elliot Anderson have been the main beneficiaries for the Magpies, with the duo making 36 Premier League appearances between them this season.

18-year-old Miley has impressed under Howe despite his tender age, becoming a real key part of the Newcastle side, after the injuries and suspension to Joelinton and Sandro Tonali, respectively.

He's contributed with four goals and assists combined, a respectable return for such a young player in his breakthrough campaign as a professional.

After Miley's brilliant start to life in the first team under Howe, the Magpies boss and Saudi PIF should step up the chase for another teenage talent who has been linked with a move to the club.

Newcastle interested in 16-year-old talent this summer

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, Newcastle are battling fellow Premier League side Manchester United for the signature of 16-year-old Sunderland talent Chris Rigg – who looks "increasingly likely" to leave his current side.

The box-to-box midfielder, who currently plies his trade in the Championship, has excelled for the Black Cats, despite the club struggling to secure a return to England's top flight.

He's scored twice in 21 appearances this season in what has been an incredible breakthrough season for the youngster despite his tender age.

Despite the Magpies and United's interest, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and Aston Villa have all registered interest in the talent who is valued at £250k, as per Transfermarkt.

Why Rigg & Miley could be the future of Newcastle

Given the fact Rigg and Miley are both still aged just 16 & 17 respectively, the pair could prove to be the future of Newcastle, with the duo not looking out of place so far this season throughout their respective campaigns.

The "Roy Keane-esque" youngster, as described by former boss Tony Mowbray, has produced some excellent stats in England's second tier this season, with Rigg making two tackles per 90, demonstrating his ball-winning abilities.

He's also averaged 4.2 progressive passes per 90 – a tally that is higher than current Magpies player Miley, albeit in a lower-quality division.

Tackles

2

2.5

Successful take-ons

1.6

0.6

Progressive passes

4.2

4

Pass completion

76%

82%

Progressive carries

2.4

1.1

Blocks

1

1.5

Rigg blows Miley out of the water when it comes to progressive carries with the ball, with his tally of 2.4 per 90 more than double than that of the 17-year-old who can only muster 1.1, with the pair seemingly showcasing a complementary mix of talents to make them an effective partnership.

There's no disputing the Sunderland youngster's quality, especially given he is just 16, with the club needing to push hard this summer to invest in a potential gem for the future.

He would be a perfect partner for Miley in the years to come, with the Magpies also needing to keep one eye on the future as well as the present as they try to reclaim a Champions League spot next season.

Whilst the Black Cats may be reluctant to sell such a star to their bitter rivals, should Howe's side produce a reasonable offer for Rigg, the club may be forced to accept it with the midfielder's family known to be huge Newcastle supporters.

A controversial deal, no doubt, but the Magpies would be foolish not to pursue it.

Newcastle eyeing dream Bruno replacement in £50m ace who's like Wijnaldum

He would be a fantastic addition to Eddie Howe’s side.

ByEthan Lamb May 8, 2024

Quick hopes says he would have been fit to play if selected for second Test

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Aug-2020Mark Wood has been spending his time on the sidelines of England’s Test campaigns against West Indies and Pakistan perfecting a new delivery in an attempt to boost his armoury when he returns to action.Wood has not played since the first Test against West Indies at the Ageas Bowl in early July, when he finished with match figures of 2 for 110.Despite bruising his foot while training in Manchester, scene of the last two Tests against West Indies and the first against Pakistan, Wood said he would have been able to play in ongoing match, back in Southampton, if selected.ALSO READ: England a ‘litle bit disappointed’ not to bowl Pakistan out – Broad“I’m trying to work on some wobble seams at the moment,” Wood told Sky Sports. “When you’re learning something new, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.”You feel a million dollars when you get it right, but when you don’t quite get it you keep trying to strive for perfection, I guess, so something I’m working on and something that hope that I can use in a game soon.”Wood may have been keen to experiment in Southampton, with the ball moving plenty under heavy, damp skies. Fellow quick Stuart Broad told Sky after rain had hampered play for a second day in a row on Friday that he had “a clear game plan to try and wobble the ball and hit the stumps as much as possible”.Joe Root said at the toss that Sam Curran had won selection ahead of Wood for the second Test against Pakistan as England looked to boost their batting in Ben Stokes’ absence. He added that Wood would be given another week or so to reach peak fitness ahead of the third and final Test.”It was fine really,” Wood said. “I bruised my foot at Old Trafford because one of the practice pitches, the foot holes were a little bit bad and bit hard. A little bruise underneath my foot but I was training before the game here and fine for the match.”With a long and unfortunate history with injury, Wood credited experience and an understanding coach in Chris Silverwood with helping him to manage his body better.”Three ankle ops, knee surgery, countless injections, I think it does take its toll, ” Wood said. “The hardest thing is obviously when you have to pick yourself back up and think, ‘right, rehab again, get myself back,’ and you’ve got to have that sort of resilience and determination as a fast bowler.”Wood also said he had become more accepting of sitting out games.”I think having Chris Silverwood as a head coach, a fast bowler himself, understanding how you feel, honest conversation with things like maybe, ‘I’m not feeling my best this game’,” Wood said.”There’s been games in the past where I shouldn’t have played and I’ve actually done myself harm, the team harm, but because you don’t want to lose your spot, you end up playing, and you don’t then do yourself justice.”Now I’ve got a much better understanding of myself, my body, and I’m much more mature in the fact that I can go to the head coach and say, ‘I’m not sure my body can stand up to it today’.”

da pixbet： After Manchester United’s appalling performance from the 70th minute onwards against Coventry City on Sunday, the consensus amongst the fanbase is that Erik ten Hag should be sacked.

da dobrowin： The same problems continue to occur, and the boss’ stubborn approach could lead to his own downfall, as the performance and results simply haven’t been good enough.

The 3-3 draw against Coventry was just the cherry on top of a disastrous season, even though United progressed on penalties, with Red Devils legend Roy Keane saying they “looked like a Championship team.”

With that in mind, it’s no surprise to see the emergence of rumours surrounding potential replacements for Ten Hag, with one manager in particular regarded highly by Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

Man Utd’s search for a new manager

According to reports from Germany, Man United and Thomas Tuchel have been in contact over a position with the club.

Tuchel is currently managing Bayern Munich, where he will aim to win the Champions League with the German giant.

However, it’s reported that it’s unlikely that the former Chelsea boss will remain at the club beyond the summer, which will make negotiations much easier if United do decide to move for him.

Ratcliffe values Tuchel highly, and he will certainly be on the list of potential replacements for Ten Hag if he does part ways with the Premier League club.

Tuchel would be an upgrade on Ten Hag

Man United fans will be well aware of Tuchel from his time in the Premier League at Chelsea, where he really cemented himself as an elite tactician who knows how to win.

Over his Blues career, the German boss was extremely successful despite not winning the league title, instead lifting the Champions League with the club during the 2020/21 season.

What makes Tuchel such a “top manager,” as dubbed by former United boss Ralf Rangnick, is his record in the Champions League in particular, which stands at 40 wins, 10 draws, and 15 defeats.

He’s made for the big occasion and seems to have a particular affinity with Europe's best competition, steering PSG to their first-ever final and also winning 32 of his first 50 matches, beating Zinedine Zidane's record of 31 wins from their first 50 games in the dugout of a Champions League fixture. In short, he's a genius when it comes to elite knockout tournament football.

The former Paris Saint-Germain boss was even awarded the World’s Best Club Coach award, which truly highlights the pedigree of manager United could hire this summer.

Tuchel's Bayern vs Ten Hag's Man Utd

Stats

Bayern

Man Utd

Wins

21

15

Goals

87

47

Goals conceded

37

48

Clean sheets

10

8

Shots per game

19.7

14

Possession

62.6%

50%

Possession lost per game

125.7

130.3

Saves per game

2.1

3.8

Goal kicks per game

6.2

8.9

Via Sofascore

As can be sen above, Tuchel’s Bayern side are just a level above Man Utd on every single front, and that was also displayed in Europe earlier this season, as they defeated the Red Devils in both group games.

Unlike Ten Hag, who seems to only have a plan A in terms of approach and formation, Tuchel has proven to be tactically flexible over the years, utilising a variety of systems from a 3-4-3, to the 4-2-3-1 variant he uses today.

Not only does this allow the 50-year-old to tweak his tactics depending on the opponent’s strengths and weaknesses, but it also enables in-game changes, which Ten Hag has been called out for a lack of.

Overall, Tuchel would definitely improve Man United and based on this season, he’d be an upgrade on Ten Hag, whose football is simply infuriating at the highest level.

Related 8/10 Man Utd star may have just saved Erik ten Hag from getting sacked

The Man United star was just as important as Bruno Fernandes.

Posts ByTom Lever Apr 22, 2024

MatériaMais Notícias

da brdice： Na tarde deste domingo (23), o Palmeiras foi derrotado pelo São Paulo no Morumbi por 2 a 0 e ficou na vice colocação do Campeonato Paulista desta temporada. Abel Ferreira, que vinha sendo substituído por seu auxiliar nas coletivas do Paulistão, voltou a dar entrevista depois de um jogo da competição e analisou a derrota na final.

O português iniciou sendo enfático ao afirmar que não houve superioridade do rival na decisão e atribui o rumo que o jogo tomou ao primeiro gol do Tricolor.

– Nosso adversário não foi melhor do que nós em momento algum, a não ser na eficácia e na sorte do primeiro gol. Não criou mais oportunidade, não transitou mais, não teve ataque posicional melhor. Mas quem conseguisse marcar o primeiro gol iria conseguir desbloquear o jogo, porque uma equipe teria que assumir mais riscos – explicou.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasGustavo Scarpa admite Palmeiras abaixo e lamenta vice no Paulista: ‘Chegar não é suficiente’Palmeiras23/05/2021PalmeirasATUAÇÕES: Palmeiras vai mal, só cria uma chance e perde final do PaulistaPalmeiras23/05/2021Futebol NacionalFim do jejum! São Paulo bate o Palmeiras e conquista o Campeonato Paulista após 16 anosFutebol Nacional23/05/2021

da betway： >> ATUAÇÕES: Palmeiras vai mal, só cria uma chance e perde decisão do Paulista
>> Confira a tabela da Libertadores e faça sua simulação

Dando sequência à análise, Abel ponderou que o duelo foi decidido apenas nos detalhes e que, inclusive, o Palmeiras teve uma atuação melhor na etapa inicial do jogo de hoje.

– Se formos analisar a primeira parte de forma honesta e séria, fomos melhores. O futebol é isto. Um chute que vai na direção da bandeirinha de escanteio e entra no gol. Sabíamos que seria definido por detalhes e foi. O primeiro gol demonstra bem o que é futebol. Você trabalha, gasta um tempo tremendo, e o jogo é decidido por esse tipo de gol.

Por fim, além de valorizar a campanha do Alviverde até a final do campeonato, o treinador elogiou a qualidade da equipe adversária e parabenizou o rival pelo título.

– Há que dar mérito para o adversário. Não custa admitir que tem qualidade, organização, defendeu bem. Marca muito bem. Parabéns ao adversário. E parabéns para a minha equipe. Passamos por um período difícil. Eliminamos o Bragantino e Corinthians fora – finalizou.

Depois do final do Paulistão, o Palmeiras tenta se reestruturar na temporada para o início das competições nacionais. Depois da partida deste meio de semana contra o Universitario-PER, pela Libertadores, o Verdão já enfrenta o Flamengo no próximo domingo (30), às 16h (horário oficial de Brasília) pela estreia do Brasileirão.

continua após a publicidade

PCB chief executive Wasim Khan is confident their new policy will be right for all stakeholders involved

Umar Farooq27-Mar-2020

The PCB has confirmed a massive change to their policy, allowing both international and domestically contracted players to take part in a maximum of four T20 leagues a year, including the PSL.The earlier policy, which was introduced in 2018, had restricted player participation in several leagues, but as ESPNcricinfo reported last month, the PCB decided to put it up for review for the very first time.Pakistan’s players are already among the lowest-paid professionals in world cricket, and aren’t allowed to take part in the IPL. The old policy had added to the uncertainty, with players often given NOCs for an entire tournament, only to be pulled out by the PCB midway to return home and either join national camps or undergo fitness tests. That sparked frustration and discontent among the leading white-ball cricketers and emboldened them to revolt against PCB’s restrictive participation policy on foreign leagues.”I think this is a flexible, balanced and comprehensive NOC policy which addresses as many of the likely scenarios that we will face,” Wasim Khan, the PCB chief executive officer said on Friday. “We have given primacy and importance to player workload, international and domestic commitments, but at the same time it was important that players are given the opportunities to make additional earnings and develop their skills around the world.”The 19 Pakistan national players with central contracts will now go to the International Cricket Operations department to get their NOCs going forward. They will also need permission from the head coach or the team management, who are well placed to assess a player’s workload and international commitments. “As per NOC policies around the world, the Chief Executive of the Board will then be the final approving authority at the final stage of the process,” the PCB’s policy says.Domestic players will have to go through one extra layer of red tape. They will have to reach out to their provincial associations for the initial consent and approval and only then will their cases be taken up by Cricket Operations department. In addition, the PCB policy says, “domestic players, who don’t feature in red-ball cricket but are white-ball regulars, it is has been made mandatory for them to commit to domestic 50-over and 20-over competitions in order to be eligible for NOCs.”One major bone of contention between the players and the board about the earlier policy was about how even retired players had to seek an NOC to play in an overseas league. But now the board has decided it will automatically issues NOCs to everyone who has been “retired for 24 months or more, unless there are compelling reasons which the PCB will provide in writing”.”I am optimistic that moving forward, all the relevant stakeholders will have clarity and a better understanding of the process,” Khan said about the change. “To ensure that we maintain our relationships with cricket boards around the world, once granted, NOC’s will only be revoked if there are any injury concerns, or there are international or domestic playing obligations that need to be fulfilled.”