Durham hope to complete the signing of Stephen Cook as an overseas player within the next few days

George Dobell06-Jan-2017Durham hope to complete the signing of Stephen Cook as an overseas player within the next few days.While Cook, the South Africa opening batsman, has not yet signed a contract and any deal is subject to approval from the ECB due to Durham’s straitened circumstances following their bailout last year, it is anticipated that he will be available to the county for the first three months of the English season before he joins his South Africa teammates for the Test series against England.There will be relief in South Africa that Cook has resisted the temptation to sign as a Kolpak registration. Aged 34, there might have been a temptation to secure his financial future with a long-term deal but, having waited a long time for his opportunity in international cricket – he made his debut only a year ago, scoring a century on debut against England – Cook has clearly decided he has not had his fill of it yet.Durham are not keen on the Kolpak option, either. Despite losing 10 players over the last few months – most due to their financial troubles that has seen their salary bill cut by 50% in five years – their head coach, Jon Lewis, told ESPNcricinfo that the club still took pride in producing players for England and would be reluctant to go down the Kolpak route.”We have taken a hit in recent times, but it doesn’t change what we are about as a club,” he said. “I’m not going to completely rule out the Kolpak option for us, but nothing is planned now and it isn’t something we would do in an ideal world. We are more likely to look at a loan deal to bring a young English player into the club.”2016 was a tough year for us. It was brutal. And we had to say goodbye to some good players – including some good young players – that we wouldn’t have done in other circumstances. But if there is any club that could cope, it was us and we are through that not. We are looking forward and we are optimistic about the future.”The club also lost one of their brightest young talents – Asher Hart – to Hampshire at the end of last season. “They offered him a lot more money,” Lewis admitted phlegmatically. “What can you do? We didn’t want to lose him at all, but you can’t blame him.”While declining to confirm Cook as the club’s new signing, Lewis did provide a brief character outline. “We needed the right character,” he said. “We needed the right quality as a player and the right quality as a person. We have scoured lone and hard and we think we have that now.”The club are also talking to overseas players about filling Cook’s position while he is on international duty. Tom Latham, the New Zealand batsman, is currently a favoured candidate though it is understood no contract has yet been agreed.Due to the loan agreed by the ECB in October to keep Durham afloat, any signing will have to be agreed by officials at Lord’s before it can be confirmed.But with the club having lost two of their top three (Scott Borthwick and Mark Stoneman both left for new opportunities with Surrey) and Hampshire, who finished below Durham at the end of the Championship season, having just signed two Kolpak registrations and one of Durham’s better young players, it would seem monstrously harsh not to allow them to sign a replacement. Having already been relegated, though, and facing a 48-point deficit at the start of the Championship season, some might suggest Durham are used to being treated harshly.

أوضح أحمد الشناوي المحلل التحكيمي، مدى صحة قرارات حكم مباراة الزمالك والجونة، التي أقيمت أمس الثلاثاء، ببطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.

الزمالك خسر أمام الجونة، بثلاثة أهداف مقابل هدفين، في المباراة التي جمعت بينهما، ضمن منافسات الجولة الـ 15 لمسابقة الدوري بملعب خالد بشارة بالغردقة.

وقال الشناوي خلال تصريحات عبر قناة أون تايم سبورت: “هدف الجونة الملغي، كان هناك تسلل واضح على لاعب الجونة، القرار صحيح بإلغاء الهدف”. هدف الجونة الملغي أمام الزمالك

طالع | حمادة عبد اللطيف: هزيمة الزمالك أمام الجونة استمرار لـ “العكننة ووجع القلب”

وأضاف: “توجد ركلة جزاء لم تحتسب لصالح نادي الزمالك، المخالفة تمت داخل منطقة الجزاء وليست خارجها كنت أتمنى من تقنية الفيديو أن تتدخل في هذه اللعبة”.

وكان ناصر ماهر لاعب الزمالك تعرض للشد من جانب لاعب الجونة وسقط داخل منطقة الجزاء ولكن الحكم احتسب المخالفة من خارج منطقة الجزاء.

وتلقى فريق الزمالك الهزيمة الرابعة له في الدوري المصري هذا الموسم، حيث يحتل المركز الثالث عشر في جدول ترتيب المسابقة برصيد 15 نقطة من 11 مباراة.

As the Big Bash League wallows in praise after another successful year, the financial challenge facing English professional cricket remains as stark as ever as it seeks to increase the capacities of its stadia with an eye to the crowd potential of Twenty20 cricket.That challenge is illustrated by Warwickshire’s financial results for 2015-16, which have just been announced.Edgbaston has become the accepted home of Twenty20 Finals Day and a once unimpressive ground has been transformed into an appealing 24,000-capacity stadium but it has not been without financial pain.Warwickshire have reported turnover of £14.3m and an operating profit of £785,761 for 2015-16. That county cricket has the potential to prosper – admittedly thanks to a hefty central contribution from international revenue – is therefore apparent.But once the paying off of debts, interest, tax and depreciation is taken into account – most of them arising from the £32 million redevelopment of Edgbaston, which was completed in 2011 – the situation is more challenging.Factor in a payment of £1.1 million to Birmingham City Council to service a loan and the situation worsens. Add depreciation charges of £1.4 million, tax and other costs and the bottom line loss is £2.26m. Quite a difference.Warwickshire’s story is far from unique. Durham needed an ECB bail-out. Yorkshire are desperate to fund the replacement of a dilapidated main stand at Headingley and already have debts of £23m.The 18 English counties are indebted to a total of £150m-plus and the ECB is sitting on offshore reserves which rose as high as £73m before falling last summer because Test series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan did not attract particularly lucrative TV deals.Those reserves are jealously guarded. The former ECB chief executive, David Collier, justified the stockpiling as a contingency should the death of the Queen, and a resulting 12 days of mourning, cause heavy financial losses.Even more disturbing for English cricket would be a shift of the balance between international and club cricket. Should that occur, the English counties would have to become more self-sufficient and only a lucrative T20 tournament can deliver that.Warwickshire had a relatively successful year in 2016 season. They won the Royal London Cup and attracted more than 80,000 spectators across five days of England’s Test victory over Pakistan.The club also achieved ticket and hospitality sell-outs for its one-day international – England versus Sri Lanka – and NatWest T20 Blast Finals Day.Off the field, Edgbaston increased its share of the West Midlands’ conference and events market by developing year-on-year sales from £2.2 million to a record £2.5 million. Revenue from commercial advertising also increased.Twenty20 cricket, however, has yet to set Birmingham alight – attendances at Birmingham Bears’ home matches in the NatWest Blast are growing but not spectacularly.That makes it no surprise that the club is strongly in favour of a move to a more marketable new T20 competition based upon the biggest grounds in the country. A 25,000-seater stadium needs to be filled not just for international cricket but for T20, too.Craig Flindall, Warwickshire’s chief operating officer, said: “The 2015-16 financial year was always forecast to be the most challenging in our 2016-2019 financial cycle, and the results are in line with our budgets set at the start of the year.”The quality and volume of our major match days remains the primary driver of revenue and profit and a significant fall in both was expected in 2016 because of the comparative demand for the Investec Test match against Pakistan.”However, the transformation in the business since 2010, when England last hosted Pakistan in a Test at Edgbaston, is reflected in the comparison in the results, with turnover and EBITDA [earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation] in 2016 being £6.5m and £2.4m higher than 2010 respectively.”English cricket is pinning hopes over the next few years on a major financial inflow from the Champions Trophy in 2017 and from the 2019 World Cup. If 50-over cricket is conceding ground to T20, the process is slower at international level where T20 international fixtures are deliberately underplayed. The ECB are desperate that this trend persists for a few years yet.Flindall captured that mood. “We expect to see EBITDA and bottom line revenues grow significantly over the next three years as Edgbaston hosts up to 28 days of major match cricket,” he said. “We have an 11-day programme in 2017, which includes five matches in the ICC Champions Trophy, England’s first day/night Investec Test match and NatWest T20 Blast Finals Day.”Beyond the coming season, Edgbaston’s major match allocation includes a Test against India, a T20I and T20 Blast Finals Day in 2018, and an Ashes Test match and five matches in the World Cup in 2019.Financial pressures at Sky TV, however, where Premier League football viewing figures have dropped markedly, will leave the ECB nervous as they conduct negotiations for the next TV rights deal.Measured against the value of those rights is the recognition that cricket’s popularity has waned in the UK as it has disappeared from State schools and free-to-air TV and there has been a shrinking of the amateur game.Filling Edgbaston for a domestic NatWest Blast fixture will remain a challenge unless there is a major jolt to the system.At a time of flux in the broadcasting market, there are new markets to be explored, but until that flux settles, and a new TV rights deal is delivered that can sustain the future of English cricket, disquiet will remain.Warwickshire are an example of that. Most of the 18 first-class counties know the feeling.

Ange Postecoglou's summer rebuild at Tottenham Hotspur looks to be getting underway, with various reports suggesting that the Lilywhites are now closing in on a deal for Brentford's David Raya.

That impending arrival comes as part of what could be a sizeable squad shake-up at N17 over the coming weeks and months, with Postecoglou set to oversee something of a mass clearout ahead of next season, amid the prospect of a host of notable departures.

With regard to those who could follow Raya in bolstering the squad, the Daily Star recently reported that the north London outfit are considering making a £50m move for Manchester United winger, Jadon Sancho, albeit with the Red Devils set to demand close to £60m if they are to part ways.

This follows a previous report from the Guardian that claimed the Englishman's place at Old Trafford is now 'under threat' due to his lack of impact in recent seasons, while Manchester Evening News has revealed that United boss Erik ten Hag is said to be growing 'increasingly impatient' with the former Borussia Dortmund ace.

Having been signed for £73m back in the summer of 2021, the 23-year-old has since gone on to score just 12 goals and provide only six assists in 79 games in all competitions, with those woes notably seeing the winger miss out on a place in Gareth Southgate's World Cup squad last year.

That seemingly paints a picture of a player who is simply struggling to perform at present, although Postecoglou and co may be hoping that they can coax the best out of a talent who previously caught the attention during his stint in Germany…

Should Tottenham sign Sancho?

It is easy to forget – amid his current woes – that Sancho was once earning rave reviews due to his consistently stellar displays at Dortmund, having notably been hailed as the "perfect player" by German legend, Lothar Matthaus back in 2018.

Also lauded as "superb" by Bayern Munich star, Thomas Muller, the former Manchester City starlet certainly made his mark in the Bundesliga, having ultimately racked up 114 goals and assists in just 137 games in all competitions while plying his trade at Westfalenstadion.

The aim will be for the 23-cap trickster to try and get back to those heights if he is to make the leap and join Postecoglou's side this summer, with it potentially set to prove a notable coup if the Greek-Aussie can get Sancho fit and firing again.

The wide man's ability to perform at the elite level may also be shown by the fact that he is said to share a number of statistical and stylistic similarities with compatriot, Jack Grealish – according to FBref – with the latter man only recently playing his part in City's remarkable treble-winning campaign.

That likeness between the two wingers – who both operate typically off the left flank – is shown by the fact that the pair can both glide forward with the ball at their feet to devastating effect, with Grealish ranking in the top 3% for progressive carries among his European peers, while Sancho ranks in the top 13% in that regard.

Equally, the two men are also alike due to their ability to impact proceedings in the final third, with the latter man ranking in the top 8% for touches in the attacking penalty area, while the City ace ranks in the top 10% in that regard.

The former Aston Villa man is evidently still riding high following that glittering campaign – as his recent celebration antics would suggest – having notably played a vital role in that glorious success after providing five goals and 11 assists in 50 games in all competitions.

It would then, therefore, be a wise move for Postecoglou to land his own version of the "unplayable" ace – as described by pundit Rio Ferdinand – with the signing of Sancho, with the United man perhaps just in need of a change of scenery in order to get back to his best.

Fulham are among the clubs eyeing a move for Coventry City's Viktor Gyökeres, according to Fabrizio Romano, as the forward enters the last year of his contract at the Championship club.

What's the latest on Viktor Gyökeres to Fulham?

A whole host of Premier League clubs are interested in signing Gyökeres this summer, with the Cottagers, as well as Wolverhampton Wanderers, and West Ham United, all "ready to push" for a move, as per the Italian transfer guru.

"Coventry owner, asking for huge amount with just 1 year left on contract," Romano added.

A fee of around £20m has been touted regularly in the past few months, which is likely the very minimum that the Sky Blues would look for in order to simply start negotiations this summer.

Meanwhile, the London outfit are also looking to sign Manchester United midfielder Fred this summer, according to Jason Burt of The Telegraph.

He would also cost the Cottagers £20m, as per the report, as Marco Silva looks to build a side capable of maintaining their place in the Premier League's top half.

Could Fred and Viktor Gyökeres take Fulham up a level?

Seemingly gone are the days of Fulham fans being forced to endure disappointing summers of transfer deals that will leave them bound for yet another relegation from England's top flight.

These are better days under Silva and, with that, a summer of exciting transfer rumours about players ready to take Fulham up a level.

The fact that the London club are in a position to realistically sign both Fred and Gyökeres this summer should be celebrated. It's a sign that they have stepped things up a gear or two. It would be a statement of intent if both players ended up at the club this summer.

Just the thought of Gyökeres and Aleksandar Mitrovic's partnership should send shivers down the spine of near enough every Premier League defender hoping for a routine day at the office.

If Mitrovic wasn't enough to handle – scoring 14 league goals last season – adding the Coventry striker into the mix could result in one of the best partnerships in England's top flight.

Last season, the Swede scored 21 Championship goals as the Sky Blues shocked everyone by reaching the play-off final, before suffering Wembley heartbreak at the hands of Luton Town.

Having scored 17 goals in the season prior, it is clear that Gyökeres is ready to step into the Premier League.

Speaking about the goalscoring machine last season, Sky Blues manager Mark Robins said (via CoventryLive):

"He came in on the back of a spell at Swansea from Brighton and I knew the raw ingredients were there, and he hadn't played.

"And he came in and wasn't starting in the side and he was fuming, absolutely furious that he wasn't playing. But he wasn't ready to do that and I said to him, 'I'm waiting to see it'.

"From that moment on he's showed me. Fair play to him because he's just phenomenal."

He may well have Manchester United's Fred as a teammate, too, with the Brazilian also linked with a move.

The midfielder could become part of the supply line to the potential new Fulham strike partnership, with his 5.47 progressive passes per 90 only likely to benefit those looking to find the back of the net under Silva next season.

Signing one of the best players in the Championship, as well as an experienced Manchester United midfielder would be a significant sign of how much Fulham have improved on and off the pitch in recent times.

Liverpool could yet swoop in and try to sign Edmond Tapsoba from under Tottenham's noses, with 90min reporting that the Reds are monitoring the situation and have been "informed" of what is going on with the player.

How has Edmond Tapsoba played this season?

With 33 games and 32 starts in the league for Bayer Leverkusen over the 2022/23 season, the defender has now become a key player for the German side. He is a regular feature in their defensive line and is a reliable face at the back for them. In fact, since joining from Vitoria, the player has already racked up a total of 100 top flight games for the Bundesliga outfit. That's despite the fact he is still only 24-years-old – showing just how important he has become to the club.

In addition, he also averages 5.76 progressive passes per 90 and 1.46 progressive carries per 90. They rank him within the top eight percent for both categories amongst other centre-backs across the Men's 'Top Five' big leagues in Europe – and it shows how crucial to a team's build-up he can be from his deep position.

Now, these showings have caught the eye of Premier League teams. Tottenham have seemingly been leading the race to bring him in, but it might not be so straightforward according to a fresh report from 90min. It states that there are several other English sides, including Liverpool, who have now been "informed" about the ongoing situation.

With the Reds looking for another centre-back option, they are now keeping tabs on the Spurs target.

What could Edmond Tapsoba cost?

There is no mention of what a potential fee could be for the player, but CIES Football Observatory suggest that he could cost around 30 million Euros (or £26m). If that is the case, then Tapsoba would earn current club Bayer Leverkusen a profit on what they signed him for, whilst also not costing whichever club does snap him up a fortune in transfer fees.

He could be worth that amount too if that does turn out to be his value. Football journalist Josh Bunting has stated that the defender's stock "keeps rising" because of how good he has been in Germany and also added that he is very "attack-minded" for a player who predominantly plays in a backline, while journalist Jack Collins has called him "sensational".

It means that, if Liverpool did decide to act on this interest and try and bring him in, they could land a player that could fit straight into their defence and contribute at both ends of the field.

Azhar Ali’s position as captain of the ODI side seems to be under threat after Pakistan’s 4-1 defeat in Australia

Umar Farooq26-Jan-2017Azhar Ali is likely to be removed as Pakistan’s ODI captain after his side lost the series in Australia 4-1. Pakistan were beaten in the final ODI in Adelaide, slumping to the same score line they had suffered in England last year, and the PCB is keen to use it as an opportunity to replace Azhar with the T20 captain, Sarfraz Ahmed.The move, ESPNcricinfo understands, could be the precursor to eventually appointing a single captain for all formats, though any such decision will have to wait until the Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq takes a call on his future.Leadership issues were discussed in a meeting in Lahore during the fourth ODI of this series by PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan, chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq, and Mushtaq Ahmed, the head coach at the National Cricket Academy. They are thought to be united in their belief that Sarfraz should take over the ODI captaincy but will wait until Misbah retires to name a new Test captain.They differ as to whether Pakistan should move ahead with a single captain, but if they do go down that route it could mean that Azhar is overlooked as the Test successor to Misbah; Azhar is the Test vice-captain and, in Misbah’s absence, led Pakistan recently in a Test against New Zealand in Hamilton. It could also mean the end of an experiment begun after the 2015 World Cup, when, for the first time, Pakistan had three different captains – Shahid Afridi was then the T20 captain.If Azhar is axed, it will end a difficult tenure that began right after the 2015 World Cup. He was not in the squad for that tournament and had, in fact, not featured in an ODI since January 2013. What he did have going for him was a secure position in the Test side, and good form in List A cricket: in the domestic Pentangular Cup that season he was the leading scorer with 302 runs at an average of 60.40 and strike rate of 86.28. In the President’s Gold Cup, he scored 234 runs at a strike rate of 86.98.Under Azhar’s leadership, Pakistan’s slipped to a record-low ninth in the ODI rankings. They have since risen one place to at least be in the running for direct qualification to the 2019 World Cup, but they only scraped into this year’s Champions Trophy. Much of their decline in the limited-overs formats has been building for some time, but it has become much starker under Azhar.Pakistan have won only five out of ten bilateral series under Azhar, two of them against Zimbabwe, and one each against Ireland, Sri Lanka and West Indies. In all, Pakistan won 12 and lost 18 games.The PCB has been thinking of removing Azhar for some time. In September last year, following a 4-1 thumping in England, Shaharyar had asked Azhar to consider stepping down. Azhar decided to stay on, however, and led Pakistan to a 3-0 whitewash of West Indies in the UAE. That win left the PCB no choice but to retain him for the Australia tour. A day before the first Test in Brisbane, however, Shaharyar again raised concerns, telling ESPNcricinfo that Azhar’s place in the ODI side was on shaky ground and that they were considering replacing him.Azhar’s individual performances have not been poor in that time – he has scored 1152 runs at 37.19. He has expanded his limited-overs game, evident in the improvement of his strike rate. In his first 14 ODIs between 2011 and 2013, his strike rate was 64.84 – during his captaincy that jumped to 79.90. However, that improvement might not be enough to save his place as captain, or even in the side. Last year, Pakistan Super League franchise Lahore Qalanders also removed Azhar from the captaincy.What the PCB will be weighing up is the potential impact such a move could have on his position in the Test side. He was Pakistan’s most prolific batsman last year, scoring a hundred in England, a triple hundred in Dubai and then crowning it off with a double at the MCG in the Boxing Day Test; he scored more runs in a three-Test series in Australia than any Pakistan batsman before him.

Over the course of his Manchester United managerial career, Sir Alex Ferguson managed to sign some wonderful talents. Players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Nemanja Vidic stand out due to their contributions across a significant period of time, winning countless honours.

However, it could be argued that one of his finest signings only won three major honours at the club, yet he had a devastating impact in front of goal – Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Across five seasons, the Dutchman scored 150 goals in just 219 games, displaying his ruthlessness in front of goal, and it’s fair to say his £19m move from PSV Eindhoven was a massive success.

And Erik ten Hag could repeat United’s Van Nistelrooy masterclass, especially since they have shown interest in a young Dutch talent who is currently playing for PSV – Xavi Simons.

Could Manchester United sign Xavi Simons?

According to Voetbal Primeur (via Sport Witness), the Old Trafford side are among those in the hunt for the youngster, alongside teams such as Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Borussia Dortmund. Paris Saint-Germain do have a buy-back clause of just €6m (£5.1m), however, which they could activate in July.

No fee was mentioned regarding a move to any other clubs, yet with Football Transfers valuing him at €34.5m (£30m) it may be that the Eredivisie side would be looking to demand a fee in that region at least, as the prodigy enjoyed a stellar campaign.

Despite his tender years, Simons – under the tutelage of Van Nistelrooy himself – was arguably the standout for PSV last term, managing to register 34 goal contributions (22 goals and 12 assists) across 48 matches, adding some silverware as they won the Dutch Cup.

Ten Hag could get a lot of uses out of the former PSG starlet, as he is able to operate in a variety of positions, including on either wing or in an attacking-midfield role, which is his primary position.

His creative talents would be a dream for United, as he created 11 big chances and made 1.7 key passes per game last season, with only Bruno Fernandes showcasing better figures for United across both metrics in the Premier League during 2022/23, clearly suggesting Simons could fit into their side rather well.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has dubbed the 20-year-old as “magic” previously, and with United having previous success of signing players from PSV, including the aforementioned Van Nistelrooy and Park Ji-sung over the years, they should be ready to raid the Dutch side once again this summer for a player who could turn into a world-class talent.

Chelsea could still launch a move for Aymeric Laporte this summer, with transfer reporter Rudy Galetti stating that the defender remains on the Blues' wanted list.

Is Aymeric Laporte leaving Man City?

The Man City defender did feature for his club during their historic 2022/23 season but not as frequently as he probably would have liked. With the Premier League outfit going on to win the league, FA Cup and Champions League, the centre-back only got onto the field in the top flight on 12 occasions with eleven starts. It's the lowest amount of games he has had yet over the course of his City career.

He still impressed when he was trusted on the field though, ranking in the 99th percentile for attempted passes (86.43 per 90) and progressive carries (2.59 per 90) amongst players in his position in the Men's 'Top Five' big leagues. It shows that his ability hasn't waned and he is still a very capable, ball-playing and offensively driven centre-back.

It appears that a stay in England is a real possibility for Laporte now too. That's because reliable journalist Rudy Galletti has revealed that Chelsea are still keeping tabs on the defender and that despite Bayern Munich also holding an interest, he is still very much a wanted man by those at Stamford Bridge.

No official bid or offer has yet been made for the Spaniard though and he adds that the situation is "evolving" in terms of the interest around the player.

What is Laporte's transfer value?

No potential fee has been mentioned in the report but CIES Football Observatory suggest that Laporte's value could be around the 40 million Euro (or £34m) mark. It means that a deal wouldn't break the bank for the Blues and would mean they have another body in their backline.

He could be worth the fee too considering his experience in the game. Not only has he won Premier League titles and a Champions League with Man City, but has been good enough to earn time with Spain too, after changing citizienship from playing for France's youth sides.

To add to his 281 club appearances in the league over the course of his career, the national side have also given him 21 caps in total. It shows the defender's abilities in that he is trusted on the big stage – and a player like him, labelled "incredible" by Pep Guardiola, could really boost the defence at Stamford Bridge.

Bangladesh will hope a new format and a new year can rejuvenate their dismal tour of New Zealand as they prepare for the three-match T20I series

The Preview by Mohammad Isam02-Jan-2017Match factsTuesday, January 3, 2017
Start time 7pm local time (0600 GMT)Bangladesh will hope the low scores in the second and third ODIs were blips in Shakib Al Hasan’s batting•Getty Images

Big pictureThe 0-3 defeat to New Zealand in the ODIs has taken some confidence away from the Bangladesh side but the visitors have a chance to salvage their tour in the three-match T20I series, which starts from Tuesday in Napier.Bangladesh will bank on a settled line-up in the format, similar to their ODI team, and Mashrafe Mortaza will hope the side can avoid repeating the mistakes they made in the 50-over format. Their inability to build on a good start has become a recurrent problem. Tuesday’s match offers a chance for Bangladesh to address their weaknesses in batting and start anew.Bangladesh have included Shuvagata Hom and Taijul Islam in the squad for the first T20. The visitors would also hope their continued belief in Soumya Sarkar pays off, given the batsman’s lack of runs for more than a year. Rubel Hossain, who did not play the ODIs, could also find a spot in the T20 line-up, having done well in the BPL recently.The home side, meanwhile, have a strong line-up to pin Bangladesh. The uncapped batsman Tom Bruce, who has a strike rate of 156 in T20s, is expected to bolster the middle order with Corey Anderson and Colin Munro. New Zealand allrounder Ben Wheeler, who played six ODIs between June and August 2015, has been picked in the squad, along with Neil Broom, who was brought in as a replacement for the injured Martin Guptill.Form guide(completed matches, most recent first)
New Zealand LWWWW
Bangladesh LLLLWIn the spotlightTwo low scores don’t quite put pressure on Shakib Al Hasan but he will look to quickly regain consistency. As the team’s most experienced T20 player, Shakib will have a major role to play in reviving their performance in the three-match series. Neil Broom’s successful ODI comeback made him an automatic replacement for the injured Guptill. Broom scored his maiden hundred in the second ODI and nearly got another one in the third match. His fielding, too, could have an impact, given that he changed the course of the third ODI with his catching.Team newsWith Trent Boult rested for the first match, New Zealand could play both Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry. Henry hasn’t played in the format since January last year.New Zealand (probable) 1 Kane Williamson (capt), 2 Neil Broom, 3 Colin Munro, 4 Corey Anderson, 5 Tom Bruce, 6 Luke Ronchi (wk), 7 Jimmy Neesham, 8 Mitchell Santner, 9 Ish Sodhi, 10 Lockie Ferguson, 11 Matt HenryHis prolific ODI comeback made Neil Broom an automatic choice to replace Martin Guptill in the T20I side•AFP

Like New Zealand, Bangladesh last played a T20 at the World T20 in March and are missing a few players from that squad. Mohammad Mithun and Al-Amin Hossain are not in the touring party while Mushfiqur Rahim is recovering from a hamstring injury. Taskin Ahmed and Imrul Kayes could take the place of Al-Amin and Mithun, while Mosaddek Hossain is likely to play ahead of Shuvagata Hom in the XI.Bangladesh (probable) 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Imrul Kayes, 3 Sabbir Rahman, 4 Shakib Al Hasan, 5 Mahmudullah, 6 Mosaddek Hossain, 7 Nurul Hasan (wk) 8 Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), 9 Taijul Islam, 10 Taskin Ahmed, 11 Mustafizur RahmanPitch and conditionsRain is forecast for Tuesday, though the weather is expected to clear in the evening. This will be the first T20 played at McLean Park and the first international match after three years. Usually, pace bowlers have had an advantage with the extra bounce and, on occasion, the wind.Stats and trivia Tuesday’s will be Mashrafe Mortaza’s 50th T20I match, making him the fifth Bangladesh player to reach the landmark. McLean Park in Napier will become the sixth venue in New Zealand to host a T20 international.Quotes”We can clear boundaries here since they are not really that big. It is more important to make sure that we extend our innings after making a start.”