All posts by h716a5.icu

The South Africa captain suffered an acute lumbar disc injury in the third ODI against Bangladesh on Sunday

Firdose Moonda24-Oct-2017Faf du Plessis will be sidelined for six weeks after suffering an acute lumbar disc injury in the third ODI against Bangladesh on Sunday. Du Plessis had to retire hurt on 91 and could not return to lead the team in the field.He had already been ruled out of the two-match T20 series, which starts on Thursday, but will now also miss most of the domestic T20 competition with the aim to be fit for the inaugural four-day, day-night Test against Zimbabwe on Boxing Day.In du Plessis’ absence, JP Duminy will lead the T20 side, which also includes AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla.Du Plessis’ injury should not impact any international commitments with South Africa’s calendar empty until Boxing Day. Thereafter, they will play eight home Tests, including three in a full visit by India that also features six ODIs and three T20s. As South Africa’s all-format captain, du Plessis will be eager to be fully fit for that series.He was also due to captain the Stellenbosch Kings in the inaugural edition of the T20 Global League, which was scheduled to start on November 3, but the tournament has been postponed. Instead, CSA have moved the franchise T20 competition into the same slot.Du Plessis is the first high-profile player who won’t take part in that event. According to the timeline, du Plessis should return in the first week of December, by which time the competition will be in its final two rounds. He may be able to take part in the playoffs in mid-December.His franchise, Titans, are laden with international talent. Test opener Dean Elgar, recent international debutant Aiden Markram, de Villiers, wicket-keeper batsman Quinton de Kock and limited-overs regular Farhaan Behardien all play at SuperSport Park, while they also have Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Chris Morris. All three quicks are expected to make their comebacks from injury in the T20 tournament, alongside Lungi Ngidi, who returned from a back problem to take 6 for 37 in an ongoing first-class match against Lions at the Wanderers.

Liverpool are expected to submit an offer for young Fluminense midfielder Andre in "the next few days", according to a new transfer update.

Have Liverpool been linked with Andre?

The Reds' incoming transfer business has gone quiet of late, leading to an element of frustration from the fanbase, considering the beginning of the new Premier League season is now just over a week away.

With Fabinho and Jordan Henderson joining James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain out of the exit door, Liverpool suddenly look short of options, especially in defensive midfield, where Curtis Jones has recently been filling in during pre-season.

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

One player who has been linked with a move to Anfield in that area of the pitch is Andre, who is considered an impressive young prospect in his homeland, making 145 appearances for Fluminense and winning one cap for Brazil.

The 22-year-old is seen as a strong option to come in, potentially as an alternative to Southampton youngster Romeo Lavia, but hopefully as an addition to him, should he complete a move to Merseyside in the near future.

Now, a new update has emerged surrounding Liverpool's interest in Andre – one that suggests he is a genuine target who could be on the way to England very shortly if Jorg Schmadtke and Jurgen Klopp get their way.

Are Liverpool signing Andre?

According to Gazeta Esportiva [via Sport Witness], the Reds are preparing to make a bid for Andre in "the next few days", with a €25m (£21.5m) offer set to be tabled. He sees the move with "good eyes", according to the report, and Liverpool themselves are confident that an agreement can be reached.

This is a positive update regarding the summer business at Anfield, with the club now needing to act quickly, in order to avoid a sticky midfield situation going into their Premier League opener away to Chelsea on August 13th.

Granted, Andre wouldn't be likely to be thrown straight into Liverpool's starting lineup for that game, considering he would need to take time to adjust to his new surroundings, but he would still come in as an immediate important figure who could make up for the loss of Fabinho and Henderson, hopefully along with Lavia.

The Brazilian has been lauded for being "capable of doing everything" on the pitch by a scouting report from Breaking The Lines, while football talent scout Jacek Kulig has hailed him as a "high-quality roaming playmaker".

At 22, there would be so much more to come from Andre, too, and he really could be an long-term signing, assuming he makes a seamless transition from Brazilian football to the Premier League.

If Liverpool can sign him and Lavia, it could solve their No.6 issue for many years to come, while a left-sided centre-back is also required – one who can shine at left-back, too, and be adept at thriving in a back-three at times, when Trent Alexander-Arnold moves from right-back into midfielder when Liverpool are in possession.

Should all three pieces of business be completed, the Reds will have had a very successful summer, but it remains to be seen if that will happen.

Round-up of the first set of fixtures from the 2017-18 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Sep-2017The Duke’s debutThe PCB inducted English Duke balls on their premier first-class circuit in a bid to prepare for the two-match Test series in England next year. However, several players – bowlers and batsmen alike – complained about the quality of the ball. According to players, it is ‘extraordinarily hard’ on the bat and in the hands for the fielders, specifically in the slips. Bowlers also complained that the ball was difficult to shine, with the leather looking somewhat coarse.At the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, in the opening round of fixtures, Water And Power Development Authority dismissed Lahore Blues for 198. The balls had to be changed no less than three times after losing their shape, supporting players’ accounts that the quality was substandard. Those who have played league cricket in England claimed that the balls used in the QeA over this week were much harder than the ones used on the domestic circuit in the UK.Departments dominate regionsThe PCB recently introduced a draft system for selecting players in regional sides in a bid to make the tournament more competitive. But the opening round saw departmental teams, boasting sizeable international quality, continue to be in command, beating regional teams by significant margins. Sui Southern Gas Corporation beat Islamabad by 360 runs, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited thrashed Peshawar by 154 runs, WAPDA tamed Lahore Blues by 120 runs, Habib Bank Limited thumped FATA by 335 runs, United Bank Limited toppled Karachi Whites by an innings and 73 runs, and National Bank of Pakistan saw off Faisalabad by 6 wickets. The only victories for the regions came for Rawalpindi and Lahore Whites, who turned over Khan Research Laboratories and Pakistan TV respectively.Sohail successWeeks after Mickey Arthur leapt to Sohail Khan’s defence following a tense defeat against the World XI in Lahore, the bowler repaid his coach’s faith, kicking off his QeA season with an 11-wicket haul, helping his side, United Bank, to an innings victory against Karachi Whites. He followed up a six-wicket haul in the first innings – including five of the top six – with a five-for in the second innings. It was a thoroughly all-round performance, too: in the one innings in which he batted, he scored 63 at No. 9, bolstering his all-round credentials.The comeback kidRaza Hasan, who was banned for two years for testing positive for a prohibited substance in 2015, returned with cracking match figures of 4 for 112 and 8 for 76 to help National Bank of Pakistan rip through Faisalabad’s batting line-up. He was the young sensation of the 2012 World T20, but hadn’t played first-class cricket since 2014 before being banned from playing all forms of cricket. The 25-year-old played 10 T20 matches and a solitary ODI for Pakistan, and remained in isolation before Lahore Qalandars director Aaqib Javed helped him revive his career. His contract with NBP – revoked after his suspension – was reinstated earlier this year, and he will be hoping to make up for lost time.Fawad WatchContentious selections often make the news for all sorts of reasons; Vernon Philander’s inclusion in the 2015 World Cup semi-final to apparently meet a transformation quota, James Pattinson’s brother Darren’s shock call-up to the England XI for a Test against South Africa in 2009. But you would have to wade through the archives to come up with a non-selection as perplexing as Fawad Alam’s from the Pakistan team. He played the last of his three Tests in November 2009 – the same series in which Umar Akmal made his debut.Over the last three seasons, he hasn’t so much been knocking on the selectors’ doors as barging in, helping himself to a cup of tea and putting his feet up on the comfy chair by the fireside. He ticks so many boxes for an international call-up you’d get bored if they were all listed. He’s averaged nearly 60 over the past three domestic seasons, has the experience Pakistan so require in the wake of Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan’s retirements, and has come through the same domestic set-up the PCB uses for bowlers with alacrity.In the opening QeA game, as captain of Sui Southern Gas, he scored 23 and an unbeaten 43-ball 50 (his strike rate has been one of the reasons selectors have offered for overlooking him). He could be forgiven for feeling, however, that he should have been batting in the UAE capital against Sri Lanka, instead of Pakistan.

West Bromwich Albion are finally off the mark with their first signing of the summer transfer window as they ramp up their pre-season preparations ahead of the new Championship campaign.

Who have West Brom signed?

The Baggies confirmed the arrival of winger Jeremy Sarmiento on loan from Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion on Tuesday, providing manager Carlos Corberan with some extra quality out wide.

Albion's only other business this window has seen Dara O'Shea join Burnley in a £7m deal and Karlan Grant join Cardiff City on loan, while Jake Livermore and Tom Rogic were both released at the end of last season.

Corberan recently stated that he intends to make full use of the loan market, as was the case with the signing of Sarmiento, and West Brom could repeat the trick by moving for Aston Villa's Kortney Hause.

According to journalist Darren Witcoop, Albion are among the Championship clubs interested in signing the central defender, who would effectively be brought in as a replacement for O'Shea.

Is Kortney Hause injured?

Hause was hoping to use a spell on loan in the Championship with Watford last season as a chance to kick-start his career, but instead, he made only three appearances due to a knee injury that saw him return to Villa midway through the campaign.

The knee issue now appears to have cleared up and the 28-year-old will hope to join a team where he can play regular football, which will not be the case at Villa Park under Unai Emery.

It would be unfair to use Hause's numbers from last season to gauge exactly what West Brom can expect from him should he arrive at The Hawthorns, given he was on the field for a total of just 191 minutes.

Indeed, you have to go back to the 2019-20 season for the last time Hause played more than seven times in a single campaign. The Englishman played 18 times in the Premier League that season and stood out in a number of areas.

How good is Kortney Hause?

There are plenty of similarities between Hause – who is on wages of £8k-a-week at Villa, according to Capology – that season and O'Shea last season for West Brom, particularly in the defensive metrics.

For example, they registered 2.38 and 2.89 tackles and interceptions combined per 90 minutes respectively, according to FBref, while they won 0.52 and 0.62 tackles per 90.

O'Shea boasts a better pass-completion percentage across those respective seasons (82.9 v 73.6), but Hause comes out on top for aerial duels won (73.9% v 61.3%) and recoveries (6.34 per 90 v 5.57).

Described by Paul Lambert as an "excellent" defender during his time at Wolverhampton Wanderers, it remains to be seen whether Hause can put his injury issues fully behind him and return to those previous levels.

Signing a player with so little action under his belt over the past few seasons would of course be a risk, but considering West Brom's lack of funds, Hause may be as good an option as any to bolster their backline and replace the outgoing O'Shea.

A maiden Somerset century from Steve Davies against his former club put the hosts in a good position at the end of a rain-affected second day against Surrey at Taunton

ECB Reporters Network08-Aug-20171:06

County Championship round-up: Warwickshire secure first win

A maiden Somerset century from Steven Davies against his former club put the hosts in a good position at the end of a rain-affected second day against Surrey at Taunton.On a day when 33.1 overs were lost because of the weather, overnight batsmen Davies and Tom Abell extended their scores to 142 and 96 respectively as the home side ran up 436 in their first innings. Dom Bess contributed a career-best 55. By the close, Surrey had replied with 69 for 1, with Mark Stoneman unbeaten on 34, and trailed by 367 in a match that could have a significant impact on the fight to retain Division One status.Somerset began the day on 234 for 4 and Abell, who began on 88, square drove Stuart Meaker to the boundary to move into the 90s. The home skipper looked to be heading towards his first century of the season, when he was caught down the leg side by wicketkeeper Ben Foakes off Rikki Clarke.Abell’s partnership with Davies added 155 for the fifth wicket to take Somerset onto 251. Davies, who set out on 68, was lucky to survive a chance down the leg side to Foakes when he also edged Clarke. Meaker then struck twice from the River End when he had Jim Allenby caught by Foakes for 9 and two balls later accounted for Craig Overton, leg-before to a delivery that straightened.Bess quickly got into his stride and his first two shots found the boundary. The 20-year-old was the perfect foil for Davies, who apart from his one lapse, batted fluently. The wicketkeeper went to his first century for Somerset when he drove Tom Curran to the midwicket boundary, his runs coming off 147 deliveries and containing 11 fours and one six.Steven Davies made his maiden Somerset hundred against his old county•Getty ImagesBy the time lunch was taken Somerset had moved on to 357 for 7, Davies unbeaten on 128 and Bess on 41. Immediately after the break Bess came out and hit three successive boundaries off Clarke’s first over to go his maiden fifty for Somerset, which came off 66 balls and contained 10 fours.Shortly afterwards Gareth Batty accounted for Bess, bowled by a quicker delivery after adding 110 with Davies, a new highest eighth-wicket partnership for Somerset against Surrey.Davies had taken his own total onto 142 when he drove Sam Curran straight to Jason Roy at short cover leaving Somerset needing 12 more runs to reach maximum batting points. Last man Tim Groenewald wasted no time in setting about the task and his first shot found the boundary at midwicket off Sam Curran. However, then the rain started to fall and the players left the field for an early tea, with Somerset on 394.When they returned an hour and 40 minutes later Leach took the crucial single off Sam Curran to see up the 400, but Somerset weren’t done yet as the last pair added 48 together before Groenewald was caught by Scott Borthwick off his own bowling for 31 off 23 balls.With a possible 32 overs remaining in the day, Surrey had moved onto 58 when a mid-pitch mix-up with Stoneman led to Rory Burns being run out by Tim Rouse for 30.

Nottingham Forest aren't in talks to sign former Arsenal and Manchester United forward Alexis Sanchez this summer despite reports, according to an update from journalist Fabrizio Romano.

How old is Alexis Sanchez?

The Chilean is now a 34-year-old veteran, having enjoyed a wonderful career for club and country that has brought so much success along the way. At one point, he was arguably one of Europe's best-attacking players, hitting a magnificent level during his Arsenal days. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola once spoke of his admiration for him as a player, saying:

"He is a fighter with character and spirit, and he is a winner. He is a class, class player but now I think he is playing really well. With Chile he has won two South American cups, that shows what a good player he is."

Sanchez has made an incredible 153 appearances for Chile, scoring 51 goals in that time, and he has won the La Liga and Serie A title with Barcelona and Inter Milan respectively, not to mention two Copa America crowns, among other trophies.

The South American attacker was most recently plying his trade at Marseille, scoring 14 goals in 32 appearances in Ligue 1, and he was handed six Man of the Match awards by WhoScored in that time. He has now left the French side, however, and is a free agent this summer.

With Forest looking to make key additions in the current transfer window, Sanchez has emerged as a potential target for the Reds, in what would be a high-profile piece of business.

What's the latest on Alexis Sanchez to Nottingham Forest?

There have been reports that the player had even agreed on a move to the City Ground ahead of the upcoming campaign. However, taking to Twitter, Romano gave an update on Forest's potential pursuit of Sanchez this summer, admitting that a move isn't on the cards despite recent speculation.

"Nottingham Forest never had any talk or conversation with Alexis Sanchez – no negotiations taking place at this stage despite reports. Forest remain focused on Dean Henderson and Ismail Jakobs deals."

The arrival of Sanchez could certainly cause plenty of excitement among Forest supporters, considering the stellar career he has enjoyed, the world-class ability he can still possess on his day, and the winning mentality that he could bring to the squad.

It does look as though the transfer could be nothing more than wishful thinking, however, and the Reds may instead need to look at other options. In truth, that could be no bad thing, considering Sanchez's age and the fact that his best days could be behind him.

Forest need to be in a position where they are thinking of the future and not buying quick fixes, with the former option giving them more chance of long-term success in the Premier League, something which appears to have already been shown with a move for 21-year-old winger Anthony Elanga.

It could still be one to keep an eye on, should the player remain a free agent, but for now it doesn't look as if a deal is on the cards.

David Miller has certainly gone the extra mile to be available for Glamorgan’s T20 Blast quarter-final against Leicestershire

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Aug-2017David Miller has certainly gone the extra mile to be available for Glamorgan’s T20 Blast quarter-final against Leicestershire…actually he’s gone the extra thousands of miles.Miller, the powerful left-hander, has made an overnight journey from South Africa back to the UK so he can line up against Leicestershire on Wednesday evening.On Tuesday he was playing for South Africa A in their second four-day match against India A in Potchefstroom which is about 90 minutes from Johannesburg. Straight after the match, he went to the airport and caught a flight back to London before being driven to Wales for the crucial T20 match.Miller played in four of Glamorgan’s group matches, scoring 117 runs at a strike-rate of 150.

The Sri Lankan batsman will replace Australia’s Beth Mooney in Yorkshire’s top order

Shashank Kishore27-Jul-2017Chamari Atapattu has become the first Sri Lankan woman to sign a contract with a franchise-based T20 league. She will represent Yorkshire Diamonds in the second edition of the Kia Super League that kicks off from August 10. Atapattu has been picked as a replacement for Beth Mooney, the Australia opener, who pulled out citing injury concerns.”I was on holiday with my family in Anuradhapura when I got a call, asking if I’m available. I said yes immediately. it was a pleasant surprise,” Atapattu told ESPNcricinfo. “I didn’t expect to play in the T20 league because most of the teams had already announced their squads.”Playing in the Women’s Big Bash League was my original target, but this is a great opportunity. I wasn’t expecting it, but now I’m looking forward to learning a lot. This is a great step, not just for my career but also for women’s cricket in Sri Lanka.”Atapattu left her imprint in a disappointing World Cup campaign – Sri Lanka won just won one game in seven attempts – when she smashed an unbeaten 178, the third-highest score in women’s ODIs, against Australia in Bristol. That knock, she says, transformed her outlook towards batting.”I used to always fear playing big shots and getting out, but that knock changed my approach,” she said. “To do it against a champion team gave me and the team so much belief. We used to think we have to fight and compete, but after that performance, we slowly started talking about looking to win. When I went out to bat in the next game, I felt a different batsman.”In England, Atapattu hopes to put into practice words of advice from her idols Sanath Jayasuriya and Kumar Sangakkara. “Just hearing them speak highly about your game is a big boost,” she said. “I felt great when I heard of their appreciation. I’ve learnt a lot from them. Sanath has taught me how to not lose my style of play, Kumar has often spoken about trying to build an innings. I want to have Kumar’s consistency.”Atapattu also hopes to learn from her ‘friend’ Stafanie Taylor, who will play for Western Storm in the Super League. “We both bat alike,” she laughed. “When I see her play, I think ‘I should also play those kinds of shots.’ I’ve asked her about it and she has been very kind. We also spoke during the World Cup. I’ve also spoken a bit to Mithali Raj. Hopefully whatever I have learnt I can put to practice in England.”After her knock against Australia, Meg Lanning, the Australia captain said that she had already earned a potential bid from Melbourne Stars, even if it was only in jest. “If she’s going to bat like that every time, I’d be happy to have her,” Lanning said. Her exploits in England could well be a pathway to Australia, but Atapattu doesn’t want to put herself under pressure.”It was nice of hear that comment,” she said. “I don’t want to think about that at the moment. I’m excited to leave on Saturday. Mingling with some of the best players will help me train and prepare better. If I do well in England, I will definitely get many more chances. My family is more excited than I am. I hope to make them even happier.”

Nottingham Forest pursuing both Manchester United goalkeeper Dean Henderson and Wolverhampton Wanderers stopper Jose Sa 'might open up problems' as it will be hard to keep both players satisfied if one is not getting regular minutes, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

Are Dean Henderson and Jose Sa heading to Nottingham Forest?

According to Telegraph Sport, Nottingham Forest are in talks with Henderson over trying to lure him to the club permanently following his loan spell at the City Ground in 2022/23.

Last term, the £100k-a-week earner made 20 appearances for Nottingham Forest in all competitions and managed to keep six clean sheets in total, as per Transfermarkt.

Renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano recently spoke to GIVEMESPORT regarding Henderson's future, stating: "I think in the end Henderson will become a Nottingham Forest player and they [Manchester United] will bring in a new backup goalkeeper.”

The Telegraph report also states that Wolves goalkeeper Sa, who earns £25,000 per week on the books at Molineux, is another option that the Tricky Trees are evaluating, as Henderson may not be ready to feature from the start of the Premier League season.

In light of interest in Sa, Wolves have turned towards Liverpool substitute goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher as someone who could fill the prospective void between the sticks at the West Midlands-based outfit, according to The Daily Mail.

Kelleher is believed to want to play regularly, which has proved tough to achieve due to the presence of Alisson at Anfield; nevertheless, Liverpool would command a fee of £20 million for the Republic of Ireland international before sanctioning his departure.

Speaking to Football FanCast, transfer insider Jones thinks that bringing both Henderson and Sa to the City Ground this summer could prove problematic if their minutes aren't evenly distributed by Steve Cooper.

Jones told FFC: "In terms of chasing both of these, they really like Dean Henderson and they want him back at the club, but he's not apparently fully ready to start the new season yet and so that's why they're looking at Jose Sa as well right now. If they were to both come in, you're obviously getting to a point later on in the season, one of them is going to be frustrated and that might open up problems that you don't necessarily need for a club of Forest's level."

Who else could Nottingham Forest target this summer?

Nottingham Forest boss Cooper has several targets in his sights as he looks to consolidate his side in the Premier League for a second successive campaign.

Chelsea left-back Ian Maatsen has emerged as a target to fill the left-back position at the City Ground; however, the Reds will face competition from top-flight newcomers Burnley, where he spent last season on loan, as per The Athletic.

Dutch outlet HLN via Nottingham Forest News claim that Nottingham Forest will battle with Bournemouth for the signature of Genk captain Bryan Heynen, who is weighing up an exit from his current employers.

The Tricky Trees have also looked at Chelsea forgotten man Callum Hudson-Odoi and Manchester United winger Anthony Elanga as momentum starts to take shape regarding potential incomings at the City Ground, according to a separate report from The Athletic.

Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed in principle to play T20 friendlies – as opposed to internationals – as part of their efforts to renew ties with each other

ESPNcricinfo staff27-May-2017Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed in principle to play T20 friendlies – as opposed to internationals – as part of their efforts to renew ties with each other. The matches are set to take place in Kabul and Lahore sometime in July and August.A delegation led by ACB chairman Atif Mashal met with his counterpart in the PCB Shaharyar Khan in Lahore on Saturday. After lengthy discussions, the Pakistan board expressed willingness to provide Afghanistan with venues for training and conditioning camps and laid the groundwork for both their youth and senior teams to play reciprocal tours.Major talking points

Organise two friendly T20 matches between the two countries in Kabul and Lahore tentatively in July-August.

A preparatory camp for the ACB Under-19 team in Karachi, followed by a bilateral series between the Under-19 teams of both countries

Future bilateral series between the two emerging and ‘A’ teams, Under-16 teams, and explore the possibility of matches between regional teams of both countries.

PCB providing technical support through the training of ACB curators, scorers, umpires, analysts and coaches.

PCB to work on providing a stadium in Pakistan which ACB would use as a home venue.

Making PCB’s biomechanical facility available for testing Afghanistan cricketers.

PCB will push for greater interaction of ACB in the Asian Cricket Council and in world cricket in general.

“The relationship between the two boards and the two nations is historic. It is not new,” Mashal said. “I am here to renew our commitment and sports should not be influenced by the politics of two governments.”I am happy to have great discussion with Pakistan Cricket Board and agreed on various plans. We are renewing this relation with a friendly match between Pakistan and Afghanistan in Kabul and then we will return to Pakistan to play one. We have also agreed to play a bilateral series for which dates will be decided later.”The ACB had arranged a similar deal in 2013 which the Afghanistan cricketers were given access to the National Cricket Academy in Lahore. But, after the first few visits, complications arose. Eventually, the ACB had to find an alternative venue – Greater Noida in India – to help their players prepare and host international teams.Afghanistan were the first international team to visit Pakistan since the 2009 attacks in Lahore and had been part of the domestic T20 competition in Karachi in 2013. They were in talks to play in Pakistan in April 2016 but the Pakistan government had reportedly advised against the series after an attack in a recreational park in Lahore.Mashal is aware of the challenges before both the ACB and the PCB but was eager to renew ties. “We know there is tension in the border but it’s my job as chairman of Afghanistan cricket board to keep this interaction between two cricketing nations going and to help governments start something positive.”We are trying our best to keep sports, especially cricket, away from politics as well as looking for our national interest. Still, sports is sports and we should use this as a tool to influence the politics arena positively and create a good atmosphere between two friendly and brotherly nations.”These talks, Mashal said, won’t have any bearing on Afghanistan’s existing ties with India. “Relation with Pakistan doesn’t mean we don’t have relation with India. They are also a strategic partner, a friend and they also support Afghanistan cricket. Pakistan did a great job in the development of Afghanistan cricket and we value both nations.”