Tag Futebol

Tottenham Hotspur are flying at the moment, but it seems the international break could have done more than just damage momentum. After all, a long-term injury to Cristian Romero could prove devastating…

How long is Cristian Romero injured for?

Having cultivated a reputation for rash recklessness since making his £42m move, with Darren Bent having branded him a "liability" back in May, it is outstanding the speed with which the Argentina international has shifted such a narrative, rebranding himself as one of the squad's leaders and a reliable asset once again.

He has been a true rock at the back this campaign alongside Micky van de Ven, and played a huge role in their unbeaten Premier League status, of which only one other side boasts.

Whilst his two goals have aided positive results massively, it is the defensive control he exerts at the back that has allowed them to dominate, boasting a 92% pass accuracy in the league supported by his 2.5 tackles, 4.4 clearances and 5.6 ball recoveries per game, via Sofascore.

The former Atalanta ace would be a hard man to replace, but one that could need a successor now given his substitution whilst out playing with his national team.

When quizzed about his half-time removal against Peru, the World Cup winner suggested that his right ankle had swollen too much, and that he had to look ahead to "an important home game with Tottenham Hotspur on Monday against Fulham".

Whilst his forethought is both flattering and refreshing for a South American often renowned for favouring country over club, it could still prove a step too far for him to be fit for that clash.

Who could replace Cristian Romero?

Given that Ange Postecoglou's revolution is still in the early stages, the Australian has hardly had plenty of time to bolster his squad sufficiently to add the necessary depth to mitigate such potential disasters.

As such, he will be forced to simply survive with what he inherited, with Davinson Sanchez and Joe Rodon's departures now seemingly like a potential blunder.

Especially because that only leaves one outstanding name to step into the vacancy, with Eric Dier the only real senior option for a right-sided centre-back.

Having been the target of much scrutiny across his nine years in England, the 29-year-old is actually a loyal servant to Spurs, having featured 360 times for them despite never claiming any silverware.

Although his powers have waned more recently, there have been fine campaigns to boast of, the likes of which Postecoglou will seek to usher out. After all, if he can turn Romero from a liability into a superstar, then he may be able to perform a similar trick with the 49-cap ace, who too was branded a "liability" by writer Mitch Fretton.

After all, as recently as the 2021/22 season saw the £85k-per-week titan impress, even if he can remain somewhat shaky in possession. Despite that, he remained more than impressive enough to deputise now in Romero's absence, posting an 86% pass accuracy alongside 1.1 interceptions and 3.3 clearances per game, via Sofascore.

The former Sporting CP man has the defensive credentials to shine, and alongside Van de Ven and under Postecoglou, it could mark the perfect environment for this confidence-shy star to reignite his career in what could be one of his last chances to impress.

Former Barcelona star Arda Turan has received a one-year prison sentence after he was convicted of tax fraud in Spain.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Turan guilty of tax fraud
• Has been convicted in two separate cases
• Played in Spain for Atletico Madrid & Barcelona

• GOAL
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Turan has been found guilty of committing two counts of tax fraud in 2015 and 2016, resulting in a fine of €630,000 (£583607/$684,000). However, the sentence has been suspended since first-time offenders in Spain can choose to suspend the prison term if it is less than two years.

Advertisement

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Turan's career trajectory saw him join Barcelona in 2015 from Atletico Madrid, where he had established himself as a prominent figure in the midfield. During his tenure at Barcelona, Turan made significant contributions to the team's performance before being loaned out to Basaksehir in January 2018. Subsequently, he transitioned to Galatasaray, where he concluded his professional career upon retirement in 2022.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The case against Turan underscores a broader trend of tax-related legal challenges faced by notable figures in football. Over the past decade, Spanish tax officials have targeted several soccer stars, including luminaries such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Jose Mourinho, for alleged tax evasion or fraud. Despite the severity of the accusations, none of these individuals have served time in prison.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  The charges against Turan highlight the scrutiny faced by high-profile athletes regarding their tax obligations, with Spanish authorities frequently cracking down on instances of financial misconduct within the sports industry.

Liverpool have reportedly been boosted in their efforts to sign a hugely exciting Premier League player, with a new update now emerging in the saga.

Latest Liverpool transfer news…

The Reds saw their squad significantly change during the summer transfer window, with the midfield the sole era that Jurgen Klopp focused on revamping completely. Out went Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, while Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch all arrived at Anfield, adding youth and dynamism in the middle of the park that has already stood out this season.

The time will eventually come when other areas of the pitch need addressing, however, with Virgil van Dijk now 32 years of age and Mohamed Salah only a year younger, for example. The latter has already been strongly linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, with Al-Ittihad seeing a £150m approach turned down for Salah, and a 2024 exit isn't out of the question. Should that happen, Liverpool may look to sign a replacement, and one player who has emerged as a potential target is Wolves ace Pedro Neto.

The 23-year-old is being backed to join various Premier League clubs, and while he is contracted with Wanderers until the summer of 2027, that doesn't appear to be putting off potential suitors.

Do Liverpool want to sign Pedro Neto?

According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool could be handed a boost in their quest to snap up Wolves star Neto, with the Midlands club now "ready to cash in on him while his stock is high". The report goes on to add that the Reds are "firmly in the mix" to sign the 23-year-old, but "they are not alone as interest also stems from Tottenham, Newcastle United and Aston Villa", as well as Arsenal.

Pedro Neto strengths

Pedro Neto weaknesses

Superb dribbler

Injury-prone

Expert crosser

Lacking in aerial duels

Can play on either flank

Finishing can be erratic

This is a clear boost for Liverpool, who may well be having one eye on life without Salah at some point in the near future, even if his time at Anfield doesn't come to an end next summer. The 31-year-old is almost an irreplaceable figure, considering he has been one of the best players in the world over the past five years or so, but in Neto, the Reds could have a fantastic option.

The Wolves man, who shares the same agency as Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota, has made a fantastic start to this season, chipping in with four assists in just seven Premier League appearances, one of which came in his side's 3-1 defeat at home to Liverpool, when he gave Joe Gomez a torrid time. At 23, he is still a young player who should only get better, and while injuries have dogged him in the past, the hope is that he has overcome the worst of them.

Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has lauded Neto as a "huge talent" in the past, and he is one of the most impressive wide players in the league at the moment. His directness, pace and end product are all attributes that are similar to Salah's, and that could well appeal to Klopp, making this one to watch.

Journalist Pete O'Rourke has shared how Tottenham Hotspur are planning to replace the out-of-favour Eric Dier in the January window.

Who have Spurs signed 2023?

Popular new Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou moved to bring in goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, young centre-back Ashley Phillips, defender Micky van de Ven, playmaker Maddison, winger Manor Solomon, striker Alejo Veliz and forward Brennan Johnson over the summer.

The aforementioned stars, while not all set to be an immediate part of the first team, come in as the first crop of new players tailored towards Postecoglou's new-look, open and attack-minded Tottenham system.

Thus far, Tottenham and Postecoglou's off-field decisions have proved totally justified, with Spurs currently sitting second in the Premier League table after a run of three wins over their opening four top flight matches.

In that time, the Lilywhites have racked up 11 goals over what has been a very impressive unbeaten streak; a run which showcases Postecoglou's exciting philosophy to devastating effect.

Who is leaving Tottenham?

Chairman Daniel Levy, before Chief Football Officer Scott Munn's arrival, also offloaded striker Harry Kane, Sergio Reguilon, Joe Rodon, Djed Spence, Harry Winks, Alfie Devine, Troy Parrott, Dane Scarlett, Davinson Sanchez and Tanguy Ndombele during what was a busy summer transfer period.

Other members of the Spurs squad face uncertain futures, as the likes of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Hugo Lloris and Dier are all repeatedly linked with departures.

The latter defender, who is yet to play a single minute of Postecoglou's debut campaign, is reported to have even held talks with Levy over his future at the club.

This is despite being a previous favourite of ex-Spurs boss Antonio Conte, who lavished him with praise last campaign.

"What I can tell you is that Eric has improved a lot since I arrived," said Conte.

"I can also tell you he is a really good guy, with great will, desire to work and improve. He knows he has space for improvement and I see every day in his eyes the desire to become stronger, to become a top defender."

Dier's contract expires in 2024 and Spurs couldn't find a suitor before September 1, meaning they could look to January for a solution.

As per Football Insider and journalist O'Rourke, a transfer plan has come to light on how the club may seek to replace the Englishman.

Indeed, it is believed the north Londoners, and by extension Postecoglou, are "plotting to sell" Dier and sign Fulham centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo as a replacement.

Tottenham were interested in signing the 25-year-old this summer, O'Rourke writes, and are likely to revisit a move for him in January – on either a pre-contract agreement or there and then for a cut-price fee.

Adarabioyo's deal expires in 2024, meaning Fulham aren't exactly in a position to demand high figures for his signature.

How good is Tosin Adarabioyo?

Adarabioyo has played just a one solitary league minute under Marco Silva this season, but did stand out as one of Fulham's best performers by average match rating over 2022/2023, according to WhoScored.

He's even been called "magnificent" by members of the media for some of his displays over the years.

كشفت تقارير صحفية إسبانية، أن كارلو أنشيلوتي المدير الفني لفريق كرة القدم الأول بنادي ريال مدريد، يرغب في تمديد عقد أحد لاعبيه، الذي ينتهي بنهاية يونيو الجاري.

ريال مدريد يواجه مهمة صعبة في التخلص أو التجديد لعدد من اللاعبين الذين تنتهي عقودهم بنهاية يونيو الجاري.

طالع أيضًا | صدمة جماهيرية.. تقارير: ريال مدريد محروم من بيع قمصان مبابي

صحيفة “ماركا” الإسبانية، أكدت بأن كارلو أنشيلوتي، طلب من ناتشو فيرنانديز قائد الفريق البقاء، والتمديد لموسم إضافي، رغم أن اللاعب يريد الرحيل.

الصحيفة الإسبانية، أكدت بأن كارلو أنشيلوتي كان حريصًا بالتحدث لـ ناتشو فرنانديز قبل الذهاب لعطلته الصيفية، ووجه له رسالة أكد من خلالها رغبته في أن يستمر مع النادي الملكي لمدة موسم إضافي.

المدرب الإيطالي أبلغ اللاعب الإسباني بالفعل منذ أسابيع، لكنه اصر مرة أخرى في توجيه رسالة قال له فيها حسب ما كشفت الصحيفة: “لا تفعل شيئًا مجنونًا، ابق هنا معنا في ريال مدريد، أنت القائد”.

تلك الرسالة، قد تجعل اللاعب يعيد التفكير في قرار رحيله، خاصة وأن المدرب الإيطالي يثق في خدماته، وقرر إشراكه في المباراة النهائية ضد بوروسيا دورتموند، مثلما حدث أمام بايرن ميونخ في مباراتي نصف النهائي، رغم عودة إيدير ميليتاو.

اللاعب الإسباني لديه عروض من النصر السعودي وكذلك في الدوري الأمريكي، ولكن حتى الآن لم يتم حسم أي شيء بشأن الرحيل أو الاستمرار، خاصة وأنه حقق كل ما يريده مع ريال مدريد من ألقاب على المستوى المحلي والقاري والعالمي.

ناتشو الآن يستعد لخوض منافسات بطولة يورو 2024 مع منتخب إسبانيا بعدما استدعاه المدرب دي لافونتي، لكنه لن ينضم للمعسكر قبل أن يحصل على راحة، بعد مباراة نهائي دوري أبطال أوروبا.

Joe Root has been withdrawn from England’s T20 squad in Australia and New Zealand next month, as he prepares to enter the IPL auction

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Jan-2018Joe Root has been withdrawn from England’s T20 squad to play in the inaugural tri-series against Australia and New Zealand next month, as he prepares to make his IPL bow after being entered in the auction that takes place in Bangalore on January 27 and 28.Root, who had initially declined the opportunity to sit out the tournament after a draining winter of international cricket, including captaining England to a 4-0 defeat in the Ashes, will instead return home for a break before resuming his place in the squad for the ODI series against New Zealand that gets underway on February 25.Root, who is an automatic pick for England across all three formats, admitted his unease at missing out on international duty, especially given that his stated intention is to make his first foray into the IPL in April and May, at a time when he could instead be taking a break.The financial allure of the IPL is a significant factor in Root’s choice. However, with England fully focussed on the 2019 World Cup, the opportunity for the team’s integral members to broaden their experience by taking part in the world’s foremost T20 league is now considered a vital part of their development, and Root’s decision was made in consultation with the head coach, Trevor Bayliss.”I hate missing games of cricket for England,” Root said. “It is something that doesn’t really sit well with me either. It was a long, hard decision that me and Trevor had to come to.”You look at the amount of cricket that we have got coming up and the opportunity that the IPL brings and you almost have to look at it as more of an investment for my game and for all the England team moving forward.”If being involved in that block of cricket, with everything that tournament brings, is going to add more to my game for the next four or five years then missing a few games here might be worthwhile.”Root has entered the IPL auction at the highest reserve price of £170,000, and could be one of a raft of prominent England players to be picked up by franchises for the first time this year.However, he has never before played in an overseas league, and due to his England commitments, he has featured in just five T20 Blast matches since 2012. Part of his reasoning for wanting to remain a part of the England T20 squad was that he feared the shortest form of the game was evolving without him, but he admitted the monetary side of the IPL is a significant draw too.”Of course, there is a money side to it, there is no point lying about it,” he said. “That is obviously a benefit of playing in the IPL but that is not why I went into the auction. I really believe playing a block of Twenty20 cricket with that scrutiny, being under pressure for long periods of time against the world’s players in that format would be a great opportunity to develop and learn my white-ball game.”With the two major tournaments in white-ball cricket around the corner that is what going there is all about, to gain experience in the short form and work with other players around the world who have had a huge amount of exposure to Twenty20 cricket, and see some different coaches.”

Tottenham Hotspur are now among the main contenders to sign FC Porto's Mehdi Taremi, but there is a clause in the striker's contract that is causing problems, according to a report.

Who are Tottenham signing this summer?

Spurs are still keen on strengthening their squad this summer, particularly in attacking areas, and they could stand a good chance of winning the race for Nottingham Forest's Brennan Johnson, with the winger recently telling friends he wants to join.

Gent striker Gift Orban is also of interest to Spurs, although they are hesitant to meet the Belgian club's asking price of €30m (£25.5m), and they are set to face competition for his signature from Fulham and Lille.

Speaking on the Last Word on Spurs podcast (via Spurs Web), journalist Ben Jacobs explains the Lilywhites do not think the 21-year-old is worth more than £25m, given that he is yet to play in a major European league, but the player himself is keen on the move.

Taremi has been a target for Tottenham for quite some time now, with some reports even suggesting they submitted a bid of €24m (£21m) for the Porto man earlier this month, and there has now been an update on their pursuit.

According to a report from CalcioMercato (via Sport Witness), there is still a possibility the 31-year-old moves to the Premier League this summer, with Spurs "in particular" keen on signing him, indicating they are among the main contenders for his signature.

Although Ange Postecoglou currently has Alejo Veliz and Richarlison at his disposal, the duo are deemed unlikely to fill the void left by Harry Kane, and there is a feeling a move could still be made for the Iran international.

However, the Lilywhites will need at least €30m (£26m) if they are to prise the veteran striker away from Porto, and they may face competition from AC Milan, although a deal is proving difficult for both clubs due to the Portuguese club's demands.

As Porto only own 85% of the forward, they are determined to hold out for as big a fee as possible, having turned down Milan's most recent offer of €15m (£13m) plus bonuses.

Read The Latest Tottenham Transfer News HERE

How good is Mehdi Taremi?

As a result of Heung-min Son's poor form last season, the Iranian was lauded as "the best Asian player in football" by journalist Zach Lowy, justifying that description with a series of brilliant performances in the Portuguese league.

In the 2022-23 campaign, the Bushehr-born forward scored 31 goals in all competitions, while also showing his creative side by weighing in with 11 assists, and he places in the 89th percentile for assists per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers.

However, the 6 foot 1 striker appears to be hitting his peak at a late stage in his career, and it is difficult to justify paying a fee of £26m for a player who has never proven himself in a major European league.

If Porto drop their asking price, Taremi could prove to be a solid short-term replacement for Kane, but they could be better off not pursuing a deal if his current club are unwilling to negotiate.

Everton are interested in making a move for Leicester City striker Patson Daka in the summer transfer window, according to a fresh update from journalist Alan Nixon.

How old is Patson Daka?

The 24-year-old joined the Foxes from RB Salzburg back in 2021, with big things expected of him after an impressive spell in Austria. He hasn't quite managed to replicate that form in England, though, with only nine goals in 53 Premier League appearances coming his way.

Last season, Daka featured 30 times in the top flight, chipping in with four goals and assists apiece, but he ultimately couldn't do anything about Leicester being relegated to the Championship. This has seen numerous key players move on from the King Power Stadium this summer, including James Maddison, Youri Tielemans and Harvey Barnes, and the striker could also depart in the next new weeks.

Read the latest Everton transfer news HERE…

Everton are badly in need of adding to their current attacking options, following some goal-shy recent seasons and concerns around the long-term fitness of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and it looks as though Daka may have emerged as a possible option for the Blues.

Will Everton sign Patson Daka?

According to Nixon on Patreon [via Goodison News], Sean Dyche is keen on adding pace to his side ahead of the upcoming new Premier League season, and sees the Leicester man as a strong option to come in and provide it.

The update claims that the potential deal could occur at a "reasonable cost", with Everton keen on another two attacking additions this summer, even though talks over a move for Sheffield United youngster Daniel Jebbison have stalled after he picked up an injury last weekend.

As mentioned, Daka hasn't exactly lit up English football since arriving at Leicester a couple of years ago, but he is still a striker with lots of pedigree who could shine being the main man in the Blues' attack.

The former Salzburg man scored 68 goals in 125 appearances for the Austrian outfit, while at international level, he has netted 12 times in 35 caps for Zambia. He has been called "brilliant" by former Leicester striker Iwan Roberts in the recent past, and at 24, he remains a young player still learning his trade.

It seems highly unlikely that Daka will want to remain the Championship this season, so the opportunity to return to the Premier League will surely appeal to him, and if Dyche can get the very best out of the Zambian, he could prove to an inspired signing by Everton.

His current Foxes deal doesn't expire until the summer of 2026, however, putting them in a strong bargaining position, so a sizeable bid could be needed from Everton, in order to prise him away from the King Power.

Daka wouldn't be a nailed-on success story for the Blues, should the move go through, but there is enough evidence to suggest that he could thrive at the club, especially if he is promised regular starts – something that hasn't always happened at Leicester, potentially affecting his rhythm and confidence in the process.

Transfer insider Dean Jones will be 'absolutely amazed' if Arsenal manage to seal a deal to bring in one of the finest talents in La Liga this window.

Is Ansu Fati leaving Barcelona for Arsenal?

According to La Vanguardia via Football London, both Arsenal and arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur have shown interest in offering Spain international Fati a route to the Premier League this summer.

Reports in Spain claim that Arsenal have taken a 'serious interest' in the £231k-a-week ace and have submitted a 'very serious' proposal to Barcelona; however, their advances are believed to have been rebuffed by both the player and his current employers.

Fati is content to stay at Barcelona for the duration of the upcoming campaign and La Blaugrana boss Xavi will respect his wishes despite speculation surrounding his future.

Earlier this year, Manchester City were keen on Fati and it was mooted that Barcelona would accept a bid in the region of £90 million for the 20-year-old in light of financial problems at the Catalan giants, as per Football Insider.

Last term, Fati made 51 appearances for Barcelona in all competitions, registering ten goals and four assists in total, as per Transfermarkt.

Another Spanish outlet has indicated that Barcelona received an offer of €60 million for Fati from Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal; nevertheless, he has no intention of moving to the Middle East despite their football revolution taking shape.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, transfer insider Jones has his 'doubts' over whether Arsenal could facilitate a move to bring Fati to the Emirates Stadium.

Jones stated: "I will be absolutely amazed if Ansu Fati ends up at the Emirates. He’s obviously got a lot of talent but his injury record and valuation brings about other concerns.

"I don’t think Arsenal are finished in the transfer market and I think that an attacking player is actually possible – but Fati? I still have these doubts."

What else could occur at Arsenal in the remaining stages of the window?

Arsenal look to be in good shape to mount a Premier League title challenge this term following the additions of Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz; however, Mikel Arteta may want to fine-tune his squad with one or two more signings before the end of the window, as per Transfermarkt.

According to Calciomercato, Arsenal are keen on sanctioning a deal for Inter Milan star Nicolo Barella and would be willing to include striker Folarin Balogun and defender Takehiro Tomiyasu in a swap deal to entice the Italy international to north London.

The Sun report that Kieran Tierney is wanted on loan by La Liga outfit Real Sociedad; however, Arsenal are only keen to let the Scotland international move for a fee of around £30 million.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has shared updates from Jorginho's agent Joao Santos speaking about his client's future at Arsenal on Twitter X, which read: "Jorginho’s agent João Santos: 'I’m sure, Jorginho will stay at Arsenal. He’s happy in England. Let’s move on'. 'I had some calls from Saudi and also Spanish clubs like him but he’s staying at Arsenal, it’s decided', told TMW."

A majority of overseas players and coaches involved in the Shpageeza Cricket League, Afghanistan’s domestic Twenty20 tournament, has decided to remain in the country, despite an incident last week when a suicide bomber reportedly detonated explosives at a checkpoint en route to the Alokozay Kabul International Cricket Ground in Kabul. Eight foreign personnel, most from South Africa and Zimbabwe, left the country.The blast, which killed three persons including the attacker, took place last Wednesday afternoon, during a league match between Boost Defenders and MIS Ainak Knights.Although the match resumed once security officials gave the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) the nod, there was concern among the overseas players and officials and their respective cricket boards. Cricket South Africa was one of the first boards to revoke the no-objection certificates of its players, while Zimbabwe Cricket, too, asked players to return immediately.Four South Africans (Cameron Delport, Morne van Wyk, Glenton Stuurman and Abdul Razak), two Zimbabweans (Hamilton Masakazda and Solomon Mire), and West Indian Rayad Emrit chose to leave, while former South African batsman Herschelle Gibbs, who was the head coach of Speen Ghar Tigers, was the only overseas official to depart. According to the ACB, Emrit played two further matches after the blast before flying home to Trinidad to be with his wife who is pregnant.Zimbabwe’s Elton Chigumbura, Sikandar Raza, Johnathan Campbell, Ryan Burl, Richard Ngarava, Tendai Chisoro, Luke Jongwe, Richmond Mutumbami and Vusi Sibanda, former Pakistan allrounder Abdul Razzaq, Sri Lanka’s Ashan Priyanjan, and Oman cricketers Bilal Khan and Zeeshan Maqsood were among those who opted to stay back, along with overseas coaches Adam Hollioake, Andy Moles, Gus Logie, Gordon Parsons and Umesh Patwal. Former Australia batsman Dean Jones and former Zimbabwe captain Alistair Campbell, who are part of the commentary team, also opted to stay back.According to Shafiqullah Stanikzai, the ACB chief executive, Afghanistan’s interior minister Wais Bamrak met all the teams on the evening of the blast and conveyed to them the message from president Mohammad Ashraf Ghani that the government would ensure their safety. Last Saturday, Ghani invited the overseas players and officials to his palace in Kabul, which is adjacent to the team hotel. Ghani, who is also the patron-in-chief of the ACB, told players and officials that they would receive presidential-level security.Ghani’s words had a positive effect, and Zimbabwe allrounder Raza also stated that security had been increased around the teams and the team hotel immediately after the blast. “The security has improved. The radius of the safe zone has grown bigger,” Raza told ESPNcricnfo. “After the incident, there are two ways to look at it. One way is that the incident happened close to the ground. The other way to look at it is that the security forces managed to stop that guy from getting in. So, security did work.”Raza admitted that there was a “moment of fear” following the blast as security personnel assessed the situation. “There was a moment of fear, but once we realised that everyone was safe and nobody was hurt or dead, I think it brought us to our feet again,” he said. “The game stopped and we tried to find out what exactly had happened. We managed to find out that the security forces had done their job and the man was stopped. The sound itself was pretty loud and there was a moment of fear. But we got out of it pretty quickly and that’s why we went out and played the game.”Cricket is the most popular sport in a country that has been war-torn for decades. According to Raza, the Shpageeza League had “houseful” crowds for every match. “I just hope the tournament can finish smoothly now and we are hoping such incidents don’t happen again because all lives matter and are worth the same. From the cricketers’ point of view, we certainly don’t want anyone to lose their lives for us.”