Emi Martinez has revealed why he is giving up the No.1 shirt at Aston Villa and taking on a “really special number” that means so much to him.
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Argentine is a World Cup winnerHas claimed two Copa America crownsWants to land silverware at club levelGettyWHAT HAPPENED?
The World Cup winner has enjoyed another productive summer with Argentina, as he claimed a second Copa America crown. He helped the Albiceleste to global glory at Qatar 2022 and has been enhancing his reputation as a penalty-saving specialist.
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Martinez was prevented from forming part of Argentina’s squad at the Olympic Games in Paris, but is raring to go ahead of the 2024-25 Premier League season. He will be sporting a new jersey for that campaign, with the decision taken to trade No.1 for 23.
GettyWHAT MARTINEZ SAID
The 31-year-old goalkeeper has told of why he is swapping squad numbers: “Well, it’s been, I think, four seasons with the number one. I won all the trophies with the national team with the number 23. [It’s’] the day my boy was born. I want to bring silverware to the fans, to Villa. I’m really superstitious to be fair, so changing to 23, it’s a really special number.”
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Martinez has been with Villa since 2020, taking in over 150 appearances for the club. He contributed to a top-four finish being secured last season, meaning that Unai Emery’s side now have Champions League football on the agenda.
Jude Bellingham has landed another huge brand deal, as he has been signed up to Louis Vuitton by music mogul Pharrell Williams.
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Bellingham models for Louis VuittonAlready has a deal with adidasReal Madrid superstar building profile outside gameWHAT HAPPENED?
The Real Madrid midfielder has been announced as the front man of a new Louis Vuitton campaign, having been signed up to the iconic fashion house by music megastar Pharrell Williams. Bellingham joins the fashion company as a "Friend of the House who captures this uniquely cultivated spirit of individuals who are champions in their field and beyond".
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On their Instagram page, Louis Vuitton wrote: “I’m excited to welcome Jude to the House, his charismatic personality and what he has already achieved in his inspiring journey will add so much to our LVers community.”
THE GOSSIP
Bellingham has already signed with adidas but their main competition, Nike, are apparently keen to sign the England international, and the sportswear giants have a plan to make him as big as basketball legend Michael Jordan.
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Real Madrid play Mallorca in La Liga this weekend and Bellingham will turn his attentions to matters on the pitch, as the club begin their title defence. The former Birmingham City midfielder will be hoping his latest venture into the fashion world won't upset his team-mates, with some of his England colleagues reportedly unhappy with the 'Hey Jude' adidas advert that was released during Euro 2024.
West Ham United have now reportedly made a final decision on the future of manager David Moyes, according to one journalist this week.
West Ham boss David Moyes' contract situation explained
The Scotsman is out of contract on June 30, and if he is indeed to leave, it will mark the end of one of West Ham's most successful eras in recent history.
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The east Londoners are moving very early.
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Moyes has guided West Ham to their first piece of major silverware since the 1980s, winning the UEFA Europa Conference League in Prague last year, as well as achieving European qualification in each of his full campaigns since 2020/2021.
The Scotsman arrived for his second stint when West Ham were right in the thick of a relegation dogfight, and their transformation with limited resources has been nothing short of remarkable.
Mohammed Kudus
7.19
Lucas Paqueta
7.16
Jarrod Bowen
7.09
James Ward-Prowse
7.05
Alphonse Areola
6.91
However, there have been some complaints by sections of the fan base over Moyes' dogged style of play, and West Ham appear to be finishing 23/24 on a whimper as things stand. They face crashing out of the Europa League with Bayer Leverkusen holding a 2-0 first-leg advantage in their quarter-final tie, and they've won just once in their last five league games.
Moyes actually claimed earlier this season that a new deal offer was on the table.
"I've had really good conversations with the owners, with David Sullivan and Karren Brady," said Moyes on his contract situation.
"There's a contract there for me and I'm the one deciding I want to wait until the end of the season. There are plenty of reasons [to wait]. I've got to make sure it's the right thing for the club, for me and my family. I've spoken to the board. I've had a fabulous four years. We'll sort it out but I'm happy to wait."
However, this has since been refuted by credible media sources like insider ExWHUemployee.
“There have been provisional talks over a new deal for David Moyes,” stated Ex.
"However, I’ve been advised that at no point it’s been put forward for signing. The manager possibly was referring to an agreement but that’s provisional, but not in front of him to sign."
Now, as per journalist Pete O'Rourke, it appears West Ham have made a decision over whether or not to move forward with Moyes.
West Ham "set to part amicably" with Moyes
According to his information, in a report for Football Insider, West Ham and Moyes are "set to part amicably" at the end of this season.
Chiefs are keen to go down a different avenue to Moyes' defensive brand of football, while the manager himself is also eyeing up a fresh challenge after his memorable second stint in charge at the London Stadium.
David Moyes
As such, West Ham are believed to be kickstarting their contingency plans to find a replacement.
Kohli has indicated that India will be looking to tinker with their XI with the series already decided in their favour
The Preview by Ankur Dhawan30-Jan-20206:10
Bangar: Jadeja has worked well on varying his pace
Big PictureAre New Zealand the new South Africa? Luck has deserted them in close finishes and Super Overs and, much like big-ticket semi-finals for South Africa, such games are becoming a portent of national heartbreak for New Zealand. They have lost tie-breakers with alarming consistency: three across formats in the last seven months, and six out of seven overall.Although, as Kane Williamson admitted later, the match probably shouldn’t have gone into the Super Over at all.On the upside for New Zealand, they played their best game of the series, even outplayed India for most part. On the downside, they still lost. It goes to show the narrow margin for botch-ups in T20s compared to the longer formats. It also goes to show the gulf between the two sides.India always had the better hand, even if they didn’t always play their cards right in Hamilton. Eventually, their depth came to the fore as they broke out of jail not just once, but twice, through the efforts of Mohammed Shami and Rohit Sharma. With the series in the bag, experimentation is on the cards starting in Wellington. While India would want to give the likes of Navdeep Saini, Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav some game time, they may equally want to rest someone like Shami who has by far bowled the most number of overs by an Indian quick since the start of the home season in 2019: 192.3 overs, followed by Umesh Yadav who is more than hundred overs behind.For New Zealand, barring the possibility of an odd change, the onus is likely to be on continuing the good work they put in in Hamilton, and trying to get across the line if they get close again.Virat Kohli is pumped after India forced the match to a Super Over•Getty ImagesForm guideNew Zealand LLLLL (last five completed matches, most recent first) India WWWWW In the spotlightMitchell Santner, who played a key role in New Zealand’s World Cup win over India last year, hasn’t had the best series with the ball so far. With just two wickets and an economy rate touching nine, he needs to step up. The one thing in his favour going into the fourth T20I in Wellington is his excellent record at the venue: nine wickets in five matches at an economy rate of under six. He will hope to feed off past success and rediscover his best with New Zealand’s bowling unit struggling to tie down the Indian batsmen.Jasprit Bumrah was miserly as ever•Getty ImagesOnly four times in 47 innings has Jasprit Bumrah been taken for more than 40 in a T20I, and Hamilton was one of those rare occasions. In addition to the 45 he conceded in four overs of the tied match, he also went for 17 in the Super Over. Most of these runs came from Kane Williamson’s bat, as he cracked the Bumrah code. How Bumrah responds in Wellington will make for compelling viewing, as this match-up gathers momentum ahead of the ODIs and Tests.Team newsVirat Kohli has already indicated that India will be looking to change things up with the series decided in their favour. The possible changes could include Navdeep Sani coming in for Mohammed Shami and at least one of Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav replacing either Yuzvendra Chahal or Ravindra Jadeja. While there may not be too many changes on the batting front, there’s always a chance that India might tinker with the batting-order to give the likes of Manish Pandey a proper go.India: (probable) 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 KL Rahul (wk), 3 Virat Kohli (capt), 4 Shreyas Iyer, 5 Manish Pandey, 6 Shivam Dube, 7 Ravindra Jadeja/Washington Sundar, 8 Shardul Thakur, 9 Yuzvendra Chahal/Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Mohammed Shami/Navdeep Saini, 11 Jasprit BumrahFor New Zealand, the one possible change could be the inclusion of seam-bowling allrounder Daryl Mitchell. He could be a near like-for-like replacement for Colin de Grandhomme, who was only available for the first three matches, and had an ordinary series.New Zealand: 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Colin Munro, 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Daryl Mitchell 6 Tim Seifert (wk), 7 Mitchell Santner, 8 Scott Kuggeleijn. 9 Tim Southee, 10 Ish Sodhi, 11 Hamish BennettPitch and conditionsThe team batting first has won four of the last five at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington. The average score of the team batting first in the last five matches is 178. Pacers have taken more wickets at the venue since January 2018 but spinners have been marginally more economical.A typically blustery but clear day is in the offing, although that’s usually more of a factor at the open Basin Reserve.Stats and trivia Rohit Sharma has played in 99 T20I innings in 107 matches. Only Shoaib Malik, with 105, has played more T20I innings. New Zealand have won their last six T20Is at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington, a run dating back to 2014 New Zealand’s eight wins at this venue is their most at any ground in the world
Ilkay Gundogan has announced his retirement from international football, with his future at Barcelona up in the air.
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Gundogan retires from Germany dutyHas asked to leave BarcelonaFuture currently uncertainWHAT HAPPENED?
The Barcelona midfielder announced on Twitter that he will not continue to play for Germany amid uncertainty over his future. The former Manchester City star is said to have asked to leave the Camp Nou and has been linked with a sensational return to the Etihad Stadium.
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Gundogan has won 82 caps for Germany and has scored 19 goals. Now, at the age of 33, he has taken the decision to step back from playing for his country in a bid to focus on his club career.
WHAT GUNDOGAN SAID
Gundogan posted on X: "Dear football Germany, After a few weeks of consideration, I have come to the conclusion that it is time to end my national team career. I look back with great pride on 82 international matches for my home country – a number I could never have dreamed of when I made my debut for the senior national team in 2011.
"My highlight was definitely the huge honour of being able to lead the team as captain at our home European Championships last summer! After all these years, we finally managed to make the nation proud again – I'm very happy that I was able to play a part in that. But even before the tournament, I felt a certain tiredness in my body and also in my head, which got me thinking. And the games at club and national level are not getting any less.
"I will definitely continue to be a fan of this national team and I really hope that we can continue the upward trend together – and then there is nothing to stop us from being one of the closest contenders for the title at the 2026 World Cup.
"We have a fantastic coach, a really strong team and a great team spirit. Thanks to all the fans, staff, coaches and teammates who have accompanied me on this journey. It was an honor! Thank you, Germany! Your Ilkay"
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It remains to be seen if Gundogan will be able to find himself a move this summer as he bids to leave Barcelona. They are next in action against Athletic Bilbao this weekend.
“It hasn’t been an easy road to the final but I wouldn’t have had it any other way,” captain Lanning said
Andrew McGlashan in Melbourne07-Mar-20202:43
‘We haven’t played our best game of cricket yet’ – Lanning
Meg Lanning is hoping that Australia have saved their best game for last, in front of a potentially record-breaking crowd, as they seek to claim the T20 World Cup title in a tournament that has stretched them physically and mentally.Only their group match against Bangladesh was without drama as they overcame their opening defeat against India, a batting wobble against Sri Lanka, a brave chase by New Zealand and the Sydney rain to reach the final at the MCG.Harmanpreet Kaur not perturbed about long break
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur does not believe their momentum has stalled heading into the final, despite an eight-day gap between their last match – against Sri Lanka on February 29 – and the final on Sunday. The gap was widened after India’s semi-final against England was washed out on March 5. “We all were doing training indoors,” Kaur said. “I know they are not something that give you full confidence because the surface is totally different but everybody was in great touch and everybody was there to think about what they needed to do for the team and with that we definitely got that rest also because when you’re playing for a long time you need a break from the cricket. “I think still everybody was keen [to play] and nobody wanted to take rest. Everybody was on the ground and everybody was ready to take on whatever situation. “One thing we have to keep in mind is it’s a fresh game and a fresh start and we have to start everything from ball one,” Kaur said, when asked whether their win over Australia in the group stage could be a factor.
It has been a far cry from the dominating performances they put in through 2019 but nothing less than Lanning expected.”It hasn’t been an easy road to the final but I wouldn’t have had it any other way,” she said. “We are match and battle-hardened, all our games have been cut-throat, must-win clashes and have all been close. We’ve had to deal with that pressure, needed to stand up when you are under the pump.””We haven’t played our best game of cricket yet and that’s still out there somewhere and hopefully it happens tomorrow. We’ve shown that we’re able to cope and be really calm under pressure and that’s what is going to be needed tomorrow. Often in finals, you don’t need to go above and beyond what you’ve already presented.
“On the field it’s always a great contest, we have a lot of respect for each other and I’ve no doubt that’s what will happen tomorrow.”Meg Lanning
“We’ll be going out there to play our style of cricket and just getting the basics done really well. Especially early in the game where there are a lot of nerves flying around. That’s going to be the most important thing. I think the team that settles the quickest will give themselves a really good chance in this game.”One of the major adjustments they will have to make from the opening game of the tournament is how they played Poonam Yadav who took 4 for 19 at Sydney Showgrounds as Australia collapsed to a defeat that left their campaign forever on a knife-edge. It was clear during their net session on Saturday that plenty of onus was going into how they would combat Yadav’s threat with a collection of net bowlers of various heights sending down legspin.”We will be facing some slow spinners today at training,” Lanning said. “Their spinners can change their pace. It’s not just Poonam we need to worry about. They’ve got some really good left-armers like Rajeshwari Gayakwad and that’s really important as well. They’ve got a really strong line-up right through their bowlers. We’ll be covering all bases and making sure we’re as ready as we can be.”There remains a good chance the final will take place in front of a record crowd for a women’s sporting event with 75,000 tickets sold as of Thursday and stand-up tickets made available on Friday. It is within touching distance of the 90,185 that attended the 1999 FIFA World Cup final.ALSO READ: Stage set for blockbuster finale as mighty India meet top-ranked AustraliaAt the Showgrounds the crowd was around a 50-50 split between the two teams and Lanning was unperturbed by any thoughts that blue could outnumber green and gold as her team seek a home World Cup title.”You saw in Sydney they have a really big fan base, they are really passionate about cricket and really love it and the atmosphere in Sydney was amazing. It’s probably got nothing on what it will be tomorrow, I hope there’s a lot of India fans there, I hope there’s a lot of Australia fans there to pack out the MCG.”On the field, it’s always a great contest, we have a lot of respect for each other and I’ve no doubt that’s what will happen tomorrow. We understand there’s one more challenge to come tomorrow, and it’s going to be our toughest one so far so we’re really bracing for that and looking forward to the chance to play against an excellent team.”
Fulham have been handed an update on the future of one of their transfer targets after submitting an opening bid, it has been revealed.
Cottagers set for summer of change
It has been a mixed season for Fulham, who have won just one of their last five outings but are well clear of relegation.
With a Premier League campaign that began shrouded in uncertainty around Marco Silva amid links to Saudi Arabia, and without Aleksandar Mitrovic, who had already made the move to the Middle East, the Cottagers have kept their heads above water for much of the season without ever looking like a standout side in the division.
They have discovered new talent in the form of goalscoring star Rodrigo Muniz, and managed to keep hold of Joao Palhinha amid interest from Bayern Munich, with a deal collapsing at the 11th hour before the summer deadline.
Sky Sports: West Ham considering exciting new manager not being mentioned
Tim Steidten is thought to be a massive fan.
ByBen Browning May 1, 2024
But this summer looks likely to be one of change in west London, with Tosin Adarabioyo already confirmed to be leaving as a free agent and seemingly likely to end up at Premier League rivals Newcastle United.
There are also contract concerns over Willian, Bobby De Cordova-Reid and Kenny Tete, with all three on deals set to expire at the end of the season as things stand, while 12 of their squad are 28 or older.
Now, it seems that the Cottagers may be trying to address that with a teenage addition to their ranks.
Bid rejected as club demand "irresistible offer"
That comes in the form of Besiktas attacker Semih Kılıçsoy, who has shot to prominence in recent months.
The 18-year-old, who has come through the Turkish side's academy, forced his way into the side over the course of this season and has been finding the back of the net with increased regularity in recent months.
He has scored 10 times this season, with nine of his goals coming in 2024, and is capable of playing on the wing and as a central striker.
Appearances
20
Goals
10
Assists
2
Minutes per goal
143.5
Shots on target per 90
1.32
As per Turkish outlet Sabah (via Sport Witness), his performances have been impressive enough for Fulham to place a bid for his services already.
It is claimed that they have sent chief scout Brian Talbot to Turkey to handle negotiations, and that he has offered €15m (£12.9m) to take Kılıçsoy to Craven Cottage.
However, Besiktas have not responded directly to the offer on account of it being too low, but have informed the west Londoners that they "would consider a sale if there was a higher offer".
A higher offer is precisely what is expected, too, with Fulham keen to get a deal over the line. The report adds that they "are likely to return with a new and improved offer", though it adds that Besiktas are also likely to stand firm unless an "irresistible offer" were to be tabled.
It remains to be seen exactly what constitutes irresistible, but given that the club's current record sale is the £19.5m Everton paid for Cenk Tosun, Fulham may not be too far away from it.
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has explained why he took Casemiro off at half-time in his side's 3-0 loss to Liverpool.
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Man Utd lose 3-0 at home to LiverpoolCasemiro subbed at half-time after errorsTen Hag explains decision to take him offGetty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?
The Brazilian international was replaced by 20-year-old Toby Collyer – who made his Premier League debut for the second half – after a poor opening 45 minutes. Casemiro lost possession twice in the build-up for Liverpool's first and second goals and now Ten Hag has had his say on his performance. The Dutchman said the 32-year-old "knows the game", in response to why he was hooked and backed him to bounce back.
AdvertisementAFPWHAT ERIK TEN HAG SAID
On Casemiro being substituted, he told Sky Sports: "It is what the team needed. You know when you are 2-0 down against Liverpool you have to take more risks, it will be open. When you are losing you have to take more risks. I have to give compliments to the team. You have to keep fighting and sticking together."
When asked how he took being taken off, Ten Hag added: "You know the game and he knows the game. He will go on and we will go on. He's a great player. We will continue this season to improve the team and the players."
The Dutchman was then asked if Casemiro is still able to play at the highest level. "He improved and has shown so often that he is a great character. We all have seen great moments from him and him be decisive in midfield. He will show that again and will bounce back," said the ex-Ajax boss.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Despite spending approximately £180 million on transfer signings this summer, United still are very much a work in progress and questions will be asked if Ten Hag is the right man to lead them forward. While it is still very early days in the season, the Red Devils need to return to winning ways as soon as possible. Incidentally, many will also ask if Casemiro is good enough to be making their starting XI.
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United and Liverpool are not in Premier League action again for the next two weeks due to the international break. When they return, the Red Devils will travel to the south coast to take on Southampton on September 14.
Crystal Palace's genuine struggles earlier in the season feel like a million miles away today, as new boss Oliver Glasner has transformed the south London outfit since his arrival.
Instead of dull, soul-draining football that inevitably led to more defeats than victories under the old guard, the Austrian has his side playing to the very edge of their abilities and has been picking up points as a result.
Manchester United might be in a bad spot at the moment, but the way in which Palace tore them to shreds on Monday is indicative of how Glasner wants his team to approach games, and if he gets the proper backing going forward, he could lead a serious charge up the table in the coming seasons.
Crystal Palace star Michael Olise.
That said, while additions will have to be made, several players have proven themselves invaluable over the last few months, such as Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze. However, there is another star who deserves just as much praise.
Olise and Eze's performances this season
Even though they have received plenty of justified praise lately, the incredibly talented pair's season hasn't been easy, as both have had to endure their own injury problems.
Eberechi Eze for Crystal Palace.
For example, the former has made just 17 appearances so far due to a hamstring problem, while the latter has been slightly more available, making 29 appearances but suffering from a muscle injury at the start of the year.
Yet, despite injuries disrupting their respective campaigns, the pair have been truly scintillating whenever they've made it onto the pitch, with the Frenchman racking up nine goals and four assists so far, while the Englishman has an equally impressive haul of eight goals and five assists to his name.
Appearances
17
29
Goals
9
8
Assists
4
5
Goal Involvements per Match
0.76
0.44
The pair haven't just scored the third in a 3-0 win or consolation goals either; they have scored some massively important goals for the team.
For example, Olise found the back of the net in the Eagles' 3-2 win over Sheffield United, their 2-2 draw with Manchester City, twice in their 3-1 win over Brentford, and the 4-0 drubbing of United earlier this week. For his part, Eze scored in the 1-0 win over Liverpool, bagged a brace against the Blades, and scored the other goal in the 2-2 draw at the Etihad.
In essence, for as good a job as Glasner is doing at Selhurst Park, he owes a lot to the incredible talent of these two superstars in the making, and yet there is another regular starter who should be getting just as much praise for his displays since the turn of the year.
Jean-Philippe Mateta's performances this season
The player in question is none other than French striker Jean-Philippe Mateta. He's been in imperious form in 2024, and while he is winning plenty of plaudits, he should be getting even more.
Last season, the 26-year-old endured a terribly disappointing campaign in South London, scoring two goals and providing no assists in 32 first-team appearances – 24 off the bench – so there was very little expectation that he would come good this year.
In fact, former manager Roy Hodgson still favoured fellow Frenchman Odsonne Edouard for the early part of the season until injury saw him leave the team and never really come back in due to the former Mainz man's form.
Appearances
32
37
Goals
2
15
Assists
0
4
Goal Involvements per Match
0.06
0.51
In his 37 first-team appearances this season – 11 of which have been off the bench – the "superb" Palace ace, as described by journalist Daniel Hussey, has scored 15 goals and provided four assists, meaning he is currently averaging a goal involvement every 1.9 games.
This incredible upturn in form has led to the club awarding the 6 foot 4 titan their Player of the Season Award. So, while he might not fetch a fee as hefty as Olise or Eze, he has proven to be just as crucial to Glasner's current side.
Crystal Palace could already have the perfect Olise replacement in teen gem
The youngster has “blistering pace” and could save the club millions.
There are now ten Pakistan players who have tested positive
Umar Farooq and Danyal Rasool23-Jun-2020Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed that seven more cricketers have returned positive tests for Covid-19, taking the total count to ten ahead of their England tour. On Monday, Shadab Khan, Haider Ali, and Haris Rauf had tested positive.The new names on the list are Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Hasnain, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Hafeez, Wahab Riaz, and Imran Khan. In addition, the PCB announced one member from the player support personnel had also tested positive for the virus. According to the PCB CEO Wasim Khan, all seven players who tested positive are – like the three who returned positive tests yesterday – asymptomatic. Shoaib Malik, Waqar Younis and Cliffe Deacon have not yet been tested.That means more than one third of the 29-man squad the PCB announced for a three-Test, three-T20I tour of England are currently positive for Covid-19, and will have to self-isolate for 14 days. The PCB CEO Wasim Khan announced plans for the team to travel to England on June 28th remained unchanged. The four reserves Pakistan named for the tour of England – Bilal Asif, Imran Butt, Musa Khan and Mohammad Nawaz – have been called up for testing.”The tour to England is very much on track and the side will depart as per schedule on 28 June,” Wasim Khan said. “Fortunately, all the first-choice red-ball squad, barring Mohammad Rizwan, are negative, which means they can start training and practicing immediately after they have been tested and given the all clear when they arrive in England. As regards the players, who have tested positive, we will continue to monitor and support them, including conducting antibody tests, and as soon as they test negative, they will be flown to join the squad in England. At the moment, they have been advised to go into self-isolation so that they not only recover quickly but also prevent their other family members from being infected.”The PCB announced that all players who tested negative will assemble in a bio-secure environment on June 24 in Lahore, and undergo a second round of testing the following day. All those who test negative in that second round of testing will depart for Manchester on a chartered flight on 28 June, and be tested upon arrival in England. They will then have to quarantine for a period of 14 days in the country in line with government regulations, but will be permitted to train in a bio-secure facility during this time. Those who have tested positive will self-isolate at home for two weeks, and will only depart for England after returning two negative Covid-19 tests.In the absence of clear, enforceable guidelines, it was evident several players hadn’t been as careful as they might have been. Many were seen using nets even while practice was advised against, and on more than one occasion, a number of them congregated and socialised in unprotected environments. “They haven’t played cricket for four months; they are young cricketers and are sometimes a little too enthusiastic. You look around society, and there has been no social distancing that’s been adhered to. We can only give them guidelines. Now is not the time to come down on them.”Covid-19 and cricket will have to coexist for at least the next 12 to 18 months. It’s not going to disappear. It’s here to stay. So at the moment, all we can do is to keep on guiding them and making sure they are strictly sticking to what they are given as policy. If we find out that these players are not adhering and again test positive, then they are not going to go to England.”ESPNcricinfo understands that Wasim Khan rang Tom Harrison, the ECB’s chief executive, to inform him of the test results before briefing journalists in Tuesday afternoon’s press conference. The ECB are understood to be reflecting on the impact of the news in conjunction with their medical team, but remain confident the measures put in place will enable the tour to proceed. In particular, they point out that these tests have been conducted almost six weeks ahead of the first Test.Today’s results could well have selection implications for Pakistan, with first-choice wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan having tested positive. That boosts the selection prospects of former captain and Karachi native Sarfaraz Ahmed, who was last year removed from captaincy and dropped from all three formats. No player from Karachi returned a positive test, particularly notable since friction between the central government and the provincial government of Sindh – the capital of which is Karachi – prompted the province to impose stricter restrictions than were present in the rest of the country.”The recent positive tests of some of the fittest athletes, who had not shown any symptoms, clearly reflect the danger this virus possesses,” Wasim Khan said. “As such, and on behalf of the PCB, I once again request the public to strictly adhere to all safety precautions as advised and recommended by the federal and provincial governments to ensure their health and safety as well as of their dear and near ones.”Today’s developments further highlight the stark challenges of conducting an international tour in these times, with this not the first time the pandemic has affected Pakistan’s preparations for the tour of England. A fortnight ago, the PCB scrapped plans to host a training camp in Pakistan ahead of the tour, with the rapid growth of cases in the country making it impossible to achieve a bio-secure environment. That necessitated bringing forward the team’s departure to England, with the aim of conducting a camp there, where the virus has passed its peak.Pakistan has seen a surge of Covid-19 cases over the past few weeks, prompting the government to reimpose a partial lockdown earlier this week. The country currently has around 190,000 confirmed cases, which ranks it 13th globally, while it is believed the pandemic has not yet reached its peak.”We are concerned as we see numbers growing in Pakistan. But one thing we do know about England is that conditions there are massively improving. Shops and restaurants are reopening with social distancing. Once we cancelled our camp in Lahore, we were looking to go to England earlier. So we are comfortable with the provisions the ECB put in place. We will protect our players as much as possible and keep them safe to allow them to practice and play matches in a safe environment.”