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They are the first confirmed cases of the new variant in the country

PTI13-Dec-2021The Bangladesh health minister has confirmed the detection of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 in two players of the women’s cricket team, which recently returned from Zimbabwe from the suspended Women’s World Cup Qualifier.”Both the cricketers are in quarantine at a hotel. They are in good health,” Bangladesh health minister Zahid Maleque said on Saturday evening. Maleque said the two are the first confirmed cases of the Omicron variant in the country.Everyone who came in contact with them has tested negative for Covid-19, he said. “The whole (cricket) team is also in quarantine. So there is no cause for worry,” Maleque said.According to health officials, the two cricketers appeared to have contracted the viral infection during their stay in Zimbabwe. They had tested positive for Covid-19 while under institutional quarantine upon their return from Zimbabwe on December 1. All the cricketers underwent Covid-19 tests on December 6, and samples from the two Covid-19 positive players were sent to laboratories for genome sequencing to determine if they contained the Omicron variant.The squad members were supposed to be released from quarantine on December 6 itself, after which they were scheduled to meet the BCB president as part of their celebrations for qualifying for the Word Cup. The programme had to be cancelled due to the positive cases.

Real Madrid players and fans alike were stunned after a controversial penalty was awarded to Atletico in the city derby on Saturday.

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Penalty awarded for Tchouameni 'foul'Spot-kick given after VAR interventionFans and played stunnedFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Carlo Ancelotti's team went 1-0 down in the 35th minute of Saturday's derby as Julian Alvarez scored from the penalty spot. The spot kick proved a controversial one, however, as Aurelien Tchouameni had seemingly attempted to play the ball as it came across the box, and accidentally stepped on the foot of Samuel Lino. Lino went down, though, and after a VAR review, a penalty was awarded, leaving the home side's players stunned and their fans raging.

AdvertisementAFPWHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING

@WolfRMFC said: "Atletico Madrid tweeted in support of the referees yesterday, today they get one of the most ridiculous penalty you will ever see in your life. If this league isn’t corrupt then I don’t know what is. My head is spinning man."

@Bastiandotnet added: "Absolute perversion of the rules to give a penalty there. Just tuned in as well. The ball is already gone when the minimal (!) contact occurs, so there’s zero disadvantage for Atletico."

@Ali_TBO said: "Okay so it's not just English refs that are sh*t because how was that a penalty for Atletico?"

@Nabhuto added: "For the first time ever, Real Madrid have been done dirty by a referee lol. That's NOT a penalty for Atletico Madrid man, the ball wasn't even touched."

@Viqforlan said: "That's a funny penalty given to Atletico. Ball wasn't even in contention and he ran into Tchouameni's outstretched leg."

@TheHasKarim observed: "Not a single Atletico player actually contested that for that penalty. That should tell you all that you need to know."

@ViwePotelwa concluded: "If you want to see how far gone the game has gone, please go see the penalty awarded to Atletico. Absolutely ridiculous."

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The reigning La Liga champions made an official complaint to the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) this week about the standard of officiating in La Liga, after they lost to Espanyol. The letter being sent appeared to stem from a challenge, which they described as "brutal", on Kylian Mbappe from behind.

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Madrid face Manchester City in the Champions League in midweek and will hope to remain in contention to retain their European crown.

After Shaheen’s five-for, Abid Ali and Abdullah Shafique wiped out more than half of target

Mohammad Isam29-Nov-2021Stumps After Shaheen Shah Afridi blew Bangladesh away in the second innings, Abid Ali and Abdullah Shafique dashed the home side’s hopes of making a comeback in the Chattogram Test. Afridi took 5 for 32 before Abid and Shafique added 109 runs for the unbroken opening stand, leaving Pakistan with just 93 runs to win on the final day.Abid, who made 133 in the first innings, finished day four unbeaten on 56 while Shafique became the fifth Pakistan player to score two fifties on Test debut. He was unbeaten on 53 off 93 balls with six fours and a six. The pair had put on 146 for the opening stand in the first innings. It was only the second time Pakistan openers put on a century stand in both innings of a Test.Abid and Shafique hardly drove the ball forcefully down the ground, instead focusing on playing shots square of the wicket. They were steady since before the tea break, after Afridi – who picked his fourth five-wicket haul in Tests – helped bowl out Bangladesh for 157. Afridi took out the top three on the third evening, when he had Shadman Islam lbw, Najmul Hossain Shanto caught at slip and Saif Hassan stunned by a chest-high bouncer. In between, Mominul Haque, too, got out playing a soft shot, leaving Bangladesh at 25 for 4.Mushfiqur Rahim’s dismissal off the third ball of the morning compunded Bangladesh’s problems. Hasan Ali bowled Rahim, who shouldered arms to a delivery that nipped back in, following which Liton Das and Yasir Ali tried to revive Bangladesh’s fortunes, but they hardly looked settled. Liton survived a missed stumping and a miscued hoick, while Yasir nearly ran himself out, and inside-edged a couple of boundaries.Shaheen Shah Afridi ended with 5 for 32•AFP/Getty ImagesAfridi put paid to Bangladesh’s recovery at that stage when he struck Yasir on the back of his helmet with a bouncer, around the first hour mark. A concussed Yasir walked off after seven deliveries, and was sent for scans.His concussion substitute, Nurul Hasan, struck three fours before playing a needless lofted shot, straight to long-on. Liton followed him back to the pavilion shortly, trapped lbw by Afridi, who then removed Abu Jayed with another rip-snorter that struck him on the gloves and grille, before reaching wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan.Offspinner Sajid Khan wrapped up the innings with his third wicket, when Taijul Islam was stumped for a duck.

Wayne Rooney slammed Pep Guardiola for his "strange" Kyle Walker transfer call after Manchester City's Champions League collapse against Real Madrid.

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Man City conceded late to lose 3-2 vs RealRico Lewis struggled to keep a check on ViniciusRooney can't fathom Walker's loan move to AC MilanFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The former England and Manchester United star found it perplexing that Manchester City sanctioned Walker's loan move to AC Milan in January. The right-back was missed as Manuel Akanji and Rico Lewis struggled to handle Vinicius Jr. in City's 3-2 loss at the Etihad Stadium in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 playoff tie. It seemed Walker could have been the key to neutralising Real Madrid’s lethal attack.

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Lewis was put to the sword by Vinicius during stoppage time as the Brazilian emerged as the architect for Jude Bellingham's winner, leaving Manchester City in a precarious position heading into the second leg at the Bernabeu. This led Rooney to call out Guardiola's squad management as he went on to emphasise how crucial Walker has been for City over the years.

WHAT ROONEY SAID

Speaking on , Rooney said: "I think you see the importance of Kyle Walker over the last seven, eight years for Manchester City. I think it’s so strange to see Walker go out on loan to AC Milan. Akanji’s obviously not a right-back, Rico Lewis is still a young player and playing in different positions. At this point in the season, where Manchester City are struggling, Kyle Walker’s the captain of the football club, to allow him to go on loan is really odd.”

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Getty Images/GoalWHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER CITY?

City’s loss to Real Madrid means they now face an uphill battle in Spain if they want to keep their Champions League hopes alive. Goals from Mbappe, Brahim Diaz, and Bellingham secured the victory for Carlo Ancelotti’s side, despite Erling Haaland’s brace keeping City in the contest. Already eliminated from the Carabao Cup and currently sitting fifth in the Premier League, only a victory in Spain will quell the growing discontent among fans.

Enzo Maresca is now insisting that Chelsea move on from Victor Osimhen and sign a different striker to complement Nicolas Jackson at Stamford Bridge, according to a fresh report.

Chelsea's striker situation unclear

Jackson has enjoyed an excellent start to the season, grabbing six goals in ten Premier League outings so far and a further three assists. His form has been rewarded with a new contract, which ties him to the club until 2031, and his future in west London appears set in stone just 12 months after his arrival from Villarreal.

But beyond the Senegal international, Chelsea’s striker situation is far less clear. David Datro Fofana has been sent out on loan, but has started just two games so far in Turkey, while the signing of Marc Guiu from the Barcelona academy over the summer has had similar results, with the Spaniard not having been in any of Maresca’s last six Premier League squads.

Christopher Nkunku has also been overlooked regularly, with the Frenchman not having started in the top flight since the opening day of the season, and summer signing Joao Felix is yet to start a Premier League game.

The Blues were linked with a move for Napoli star man Victor Osimhen over the summer, only for a deal to fall through and the Nigerian striker to join Galatasaray on loan instead, where he has scored four times in five Turkish Super Lig outings.

Chelsea have reportedly remained in contact over a potential January move, but other options are also under consideration, and Maresca is pushing to sign an alternative.

Maresca wants Spanish star

Now, a fresh report from Spain has claimed that Chelsea boss Maresca is pushing hard to try and get Chelsea to sign new Porto star Samu Omorodion in place of Osimhen. Chelsea were in talks to sign the Spanish U21 international over the summer as part of the deal to sell Conor Gallagher to Atlético Madrid, but the deal fell through, and they moved to sign Felix instead.

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It would be a bold decision to part ways with him.

ByBen Browning Nov 4, 2024

Omorodion still left the Wanda Metropolitano, heading to Porto in a deal worth £12.7m plus potential add-ons, and handing Atleti a mammoth 50% sell on clause for any future deal.

He has hit the ground running in Portugal too, netting seven times in seven outings for Porto as well as four times in three Europa League outings, delivering on the “elite” label placed upon him by Football Analyst Ben Mattinson, who warned on X that he was “far too good” for the Portuguese league.

Omorodion’s Porto career to date

Appearances

11

Goals

11

Assists

0

Minutes per goal/assist

69

Yellow Cards

2

Now, Maresca is ‘insisting’ that Chelsea push to sign him once more as they look to bolster their frontline, but they will have to pay almost seven times what Porto paid to sign him, with the striker having a €100m (£84m) release clause, of which Atletico are due to get half.

It is added that “Samu is very happy with the Portuguese team”, but that should an offer come in, he could see his head turned by the prospect of a new project.

A deal in January seems unlikely, but with Omorodion having slipped through Chelsea’s net once already, they may be keen to avoid a repeat if he continues to perform.

Dayot Upamecano is set to follow three team-mates in signing a new long-term deal with Bayern Munich.

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Bayern tying down key playersNeuer, Davies and Musiala recently signedUpamecano set to followFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The central defender is close to penning new terms until 2030, report in Germany, with only the finer details still to be finalised. He was initially out of contract in 2026 but will now be in Munich for the long term.

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Upamecano joins three team-mates in agreeing an extension. Manuel Neuer, Alphonso Davies and Jamal Musiala have all committed their futures to the Bundesliga leaders, who are establishing a core of impressive young talent.

WHAT FREUND SAID

Bayern sporting director Christoph Freund said recently: "Upa knows that we definitely want to extend his contract. We have had very good discussions with him. We would like to extend his contract with him as soon as possible."

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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR BAYERN?

Bayern are in a strong position this season, sitting eight points clear at the top of the Bundesliga and this week beating Celtic to progress to the last 16 of the Champions League. Tying some of their best young talent down to new deals, the future looks bright beyond this campaign, too.

Nottingham Forest have launched a move to try and sign a new striker in January, it has emerged, and they have already had a response.

Nottingham Forest still pursuing a striker

Nuno Espírito Santo’s side have enjoyed an excellent start to the 24/25 Premier League campaign, even with a defeat to Newcastle United in their most recent outing leaving them fifth in the Premier League at the quarter stage, after they had been as high as third.

Behind Arsenal and Chelsea only on goal difference, the Garibaldi have been spearheaded by the form of New Zealand striker Chris Wood, who has found the net a mammoth eight times and has the best conversion rate of any striker in the Premier League since Nuno arrived.

Now well beyond a traditional purple patch, the 32-year-old has emerged as one of the top flight’s most lethal marksmen, and accounts for over 50% of Forest’s goals this season so far.

Chris Wood under Nuno Espírito Santo

Appearances

28

Goals

18

Assists

1

Minutes per goal/assist

125

However, they remain keen to sign an alternative striker to provide cover and competition for the ex-Newcastle man, with the reliable John Percy explaining: “I think a striker has got to be the priority.”

“They obviously looked in the summer and sort of rained back a bit and thought, let’s just wait, which we’ve all said at the time was another sign of the evolution of the club and maturity. But I think that’s going to be the number one priority.”

Now, they appear to be trying to land one ahead of the January transfer window.

Nottingham Forest try audacious swoop for teenage star

That comes as reports in Germany [Via Sport Witness] claim that Nottingham Forest have approached Bayern Munich over a potential deal to sign Mathys Tel.

The teenager has seen his gametime limited at the Allianz Arena, racking up just 224 minutes under new boss Vincent Kompany despite his evident potential, with Football analyst Ben Mattinson describing him as an “Elite level goal-scorer” on X, before adding that he is a “2-footed ball-striking machine” who is also a “clinical finisher” with “top movement”.

Barcelona and Real Madrid now tracking "lovely" £15m Nottingham Forest star

Nuno and Forest may have a fight on their hands to retain one of their best players this January.

ByBrett Worthington Nov 13, 2024

And after reports that he could be available on loan in January, it appears that Forest wanted to test the waters over a potential mid-season switch. It is claimed that they offered to take the Frenchman on loan, but that Tel himself “rejected” the move to the City Ground, explaining that “he wants to join a top club” if he leaves Bayern this winter.

Tel himself is in no rush to leave, with the France U21 international still having almost five years left to run on his £80,000 a week deal in Bavaria, and keen to remain at the Allianz Stadium to eventually replace Harry Kane.

Though he is undoubtedly a quality striker, he would be a major change from Chris Wood and other physical strikers that Forest have chased in recent transfer windows, which could have had a knock on effect on their results across the remainder of the season. Perhaps, then, missing out on the teenager is for the best.

Kane Williamson unavailable as he recovers from long-standing elbow problem

Deivarayan Muthu22-Dec-2021In the injury-enforced absence of Kane Williamson, Tom Latham will stand in as New Zealand’s captain for the forthcoming two-Test series against Bangladesh, which begins with the first match in Mount Maunganui on New Year’s Day.After Williamson was sidelined from the Mumbai Test earlier this month with a long-standing elbow injury, head coach Gary Stead indicated that he could be out of action for a sustained period although he is unlikely to undergo surgery.Williamson’s elbow problem had flared up in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup in the UAE, where he cut short his stints at the nets to manage the injury, and troubled him in India as well.New Zealand Test squad for the Bangladesh series•ESPNcricinfo Ltd”It’s obviously disappointing not to have Kane available for this series but, as we noted in India, he is undergoing a sustained period of rest followed by rehabilitation, strengthening and gradual batting loading,” Stead said. “We have every confidence in Tom leading the side – he’s done an excellent job in the past when called upon.”Devon Conway, who had been ruled out of the T20 World Cup final against Australia in the UAE and the subsequent India tour with a bizarre self-inflicted hand injury, returned to the squad. However, there was no place for Ajaz Patel, who made history by bagging all ten wickets in the first innings of the Mumbai Test.Wellington allrounder Rachin Ravindra, who made a strong first impression in India, was the only spin-bowling option in the 13-man squad.”You do feel for Ajaz after his record-breaking display in India,” Stead said. “However, we’ve always applied a horses-for-courses selection policy and believe the players selected best fit the way we want to take on Bangladesh here at home.”Trent Boult, who had opted out of the India tour because of bubble fatigue, was also back in the side as New Zealand ponder unleashing their four-pronged pace pack on Bangladesh. The left-arm seamer had recently returned to action in the 20-over Super Smash competition where he came away with 0 for 19 in four overs for Northern Brave against Auckland Aces in Hamilton.Neil Wagner, who hasn’t played competitive cricket since the inaugural World Test Championship (WTC) final in June earlier this year, will get an early look at the Bangladeshis, having also been named in the New Zealand XI for the two-day tour match from December 28 at the Bay Oval’s No.2 ground.”I love getting the red ball in my hand and this match presents a perfect opportunity to get some miles in the legs ahead of what should be a hard-fought Test series against Bangladesh,” Wagner said.Conway is the other notable name in the New Zealand XI for the tour game but his place in the XI will be subject to full recovery from injury.”I’m really looking forward to getting back into some competitive cricket and hopefully I’m passed fit to play,” Conway said. “I’ve just started batting again and testing out my hand so I’m hopeful of making my return for the New Zealand XI. There’s nothing like a match situation to really test it out and help build some confidence.”Ross Taylor, who had a horror tour of India, managing a mere 20 runs across four innings, retained his place in the Test squad. He is three Tests away from surpassing Daniel Vettori as New Zealand’s most capped player in the format.Colin de Grandhomme, who had also opted out of the India tour, was omitted from this squad altogether, with Daryl Mitchell getting the nod after a breakout winter across formats.

Ahsan Ali 73, Will Smeed 97 in vain for Quetta Gladiators

Danyal Rasool28-Jan-2022
Quetta Gladiators opened sensationally, while Peshawar Zalmi kept the fireworks going right through the chase. In a match that didn’t dignify either bowling attack or fielding performance much, a straight power-hitting shootout between the two sides ended with Zalmi hunting down 191 with two deliveries and five wickets to spare.If 42-year-old Imran Tahir was the hero in the opening game, 39-year-old Shoaib Malik played a starring role on Friday night. Alongside Hussain Talat – whose sensational 29-ball 52 helped drag Zalmi back into a chase they had begun to falter in – he took the game deep, and waited for his moment to strike. It came in the 19th over, with James Faulkner the hapless target. Malik and Sherfane Rutherford plundered 22 off it, and all of a sudden, the game had been killed off.It all began swimmingly for Gladiators after being sent in to bat, with Will Smeed and Ahsan Ali amassing 155 for the opening partnership in 15.3 overs. They capitalised on some ordinary powerplay bowling from Sameen Gul and Sohail Khan – and even worse catching – to ride their luck and play their shots. Smeed was put down early twice, and thereafter combined sumptuous timing with masterful power-hitting to make his debut PSL game a memorable one, finishing with 97 off 62 deliveries.Ahsan Ali and Will Smeed struck up a 155-run opening stand•PSLAhsan, at the other end, was not to be outdone. He came into this tournament in fine domestic form and launched an assault that matched Smeed’s destructiveness. The 28-year-old excited Gladiators and Pakistan fans alike, scoring a blistering 46-ball 73. It was perhaps telling that when he finally holed out (a shade contentiously; Rutherford’s body language suggested he had touched the rope with his foot) Gladiators’ momentum stalled, and what should have been a score in excess of 200 ended up at 190.But Sarfaraz Ahmed’s men appeared to lack sufficient intensity at the start of the second innings, perhaps cocooned in a false sense of security surrounding the size of the target. A lusty little cameo by Yasir Khan brought him 30 off 12 balls and got Zalmi ahead of the asking rate early. Mohammad Nawaz pulled things back, and seemed to put his side back in control once that opening partnership was broken, striking three times in his first three overs.But Zalmi continued their onslaught, thanks to a knock of relentless belligerence from Talat, aided by some bowling decisions that seemed to fly in the face of analytical match-ups. The decision to bowl out Nawaz’s final over with a warmed-up left-handed Talat on strike seemed an odd one, and was duly punished with 17 in the 12th over to bring the asking rate back down under 10.After Naseem Shah bowled a splendid 18th over to turn the equation into 26 needed off two overs, Malik lay in wait against the medium pace Faulkner, timing his assault to perfection against the Australian. It left Naseem with just three to defend off the final over in which Zalmi completed a remarkable heist.

Mohamed Salah has been told to forget about winning the Ballon d'Or this year as Sam Allardyce is convinced it will go to Vinicius Junior.

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Salah considered Ballon d'Or contenderAllardyce convinced it will go to Vini JrSays organisers want to avoid Madrid boycottFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Salah's incredible performances for Premier League leaders Liverpool have seen him touted as a candidate to claim the top prize for 2025.

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However, ex-England manager Allardyce believes France Football, the magazine that organises the Ballon d'Or, will be desperate to appease Real Madrid this year. The Spanish giants boycotted the ceremony last year after being told that Manchester City star Rodri was to be crowned the winner instead of Vinicius, an upset the 70-year-old says they will be desperate to avoid this time around.

WHAT ALLARDYCE SAID

Discussing Salah's hopes on the, Allardyce said: "There’s no chance. It’ll be Vinicius Jr because of what Real Madrid did last year. They will be absolutely sh*tting themselves because they won’t turn up again if one of them doesn’t win it, so one of them will win it. You might as well have a bet on it now."

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR SALAH?

Salah has an incredible 30 goals and 21 assists from 38 games in all competitions for Liverpool this season and will be out to add more to his record against Newcastle on Wednesday.