The ECB could be about to lose one of the key architects of their new T20 competition more than two years before it is launched

George Dobell20-Feb-2017

The ECB could be about to lose one of the key architects of their new T20 competition more than two years before it is launched.ESPNcricinfo understands that Gordon Hollins, the ECB’s chief operating officer, has been shortlisted for the role of chief executive at MCC. Derek Brewer, the current MCC chief executive, has already announced his intention to retire at the start of 2018.Hollins has been with the ECB since 2007. In that time, he has performed the role of Head of Venue Partnerships (2007-2012), Managing Director – Professional Game (2012-14) and, since 2014, the COO role which gives him responsibility for professional and recreational cricket in England and Wales.In those roles, he has been heavily involved in the major match allocation process as well as the Morgan Report (2011-12), which saw the revival of 50-over cricket, the re-scheduling of T20 cricket on an ‘appointment to view’ basis and recommended a cut to the County Championship programme. Before joining the ECB, he was commercial director at Durham CCC.Often acting as the bridge between the ECB executive and the counties, it was noticeable that the relationship between them deteriorated sharply during a period when Hollins was absent due to ill health. Now fully recovered, he has been heavily involved in thrashing out something approaching an agreement between the ECB executive and the counties over the introduction of the new T20 competition in 2020.With his experience across the game and his relationships with those in power at the ECB, the attraction of Hollins to MCC is not surprising. Concerned at the prospect of losing one of the two Tests they currently host most years, MCC seem increasingly keen on being at the forefront of the new domestic T20 competition.Others favoured for the MCC role are understood to be John Stephenson, who is currently head of cricket at the MCC, and Guy Lavender, who is currently chief executive at Somerset CCC.

When we think of the greatest moments in Premier League history, the same, legendary voice comes to mind. And that’s Martin Tyler’s.The commentary legend recently hung up his mic at Sky Sports, calling an end to 30 years on the gantry as English football’s main voice. Thankfully, he is not retiring completely, however, which means we could still here his famous “and it’s live” catchphrase elsewhere across football.Though occasionally accused of being biased, Woking FC supporter Tyler remains one of the best commentators that the sport has ever seen.Where there was a big moment, there was a famous Tyler line.Things will certainly take some getting used to without him, that’s for sure, as the puns dwindle away – some, admittedly, better than others – and the veteran’s endless knowledge is no longer heard on Sky Sports.With that said, however, we’ve ranked Tyler’s most iconic moment, including, of course, a certain Manchester City title win.

5 2012: Chelsea leave it late in Champions League final

Ah, yes, the combination of a questionable Gary Neville noise and Tyler simply screaming the name of the goalscorer. That’s what we call an underrated duo.

With Chelsea heading for Champions League final defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich, Didier Drogba, as he often did, rose to the occasion to equalise in the 88th minute. The Blues then went onto famously win their first ever Champions League trophy, defeating Bayern on penalties.

A special moment deserved special commentary, and it was exactly that from Tyler.

4 2009: Macheda’s late winner

It’s almost difficult not to laugh at this one, but it’s Tyler’s voice break which makes it so special, as a 17-year-old Federico Macheda turned and unleashed an inch-perfect effort into the corner to secure a 3-2 win for Manchester United against Aston Villa late on.

It may have been a false dawn for Macheda’s United career, but the moment at Old Trafford remains one of Tyler’s best in the gantry.

3 2012: Ji shocks Manchester City

The only thing better than an underdog victory is when there’s commentary to match the league-wide shock at the result we’ve all just seen.

In 2012, Sunderland shocked the rest of England’s top flight to defeat league leaders Manchester City on New Year’s Day of 2012, with Ji Dong-Won wheeling away in celebration as the clock hit the 93rd minute.

The goal signalled a famous piece of commentary from Tyler, who screamed Ji’s name, before shouting: “He’s round the keeper, and he’s done it!”

2 2015: Welcome to the Premier League, Anthony Martial

There’s not many Premier League debuts better than Anthony Martial’s. The Frenchman introduced himself to the Premier League in style, slaloming past Liverpool’s Martin Skrtel who never really looked like standing a chance, before expertly firing home.

Tyler made sure to give him the welcome he had earned, too, screaming, “ohhhh yes”, before saying: “Welcome to the Premier League, Anthony Martial!”

It’s the kind of moment that can still give you goosebumps, courtesy of Tyler’s legendary line.

1 2012: Aguerooooooooooo

It was always going to be this one, wasn’t it? Quite possibly one of the most famous pieces of commentary in football history, let alone just the Premier League. It’s almost as if Tyler had written the script for the perfect climax to an incredible season, himself.

It feels fitting that it was the gantry legend who had the pleasure of voicing the most iconic moment of all time in the Premier League.

It’s a moment that we could watch again and again.

There has been an update regarding Manchester United's pursuit of Chelsea playmaker, Mason Mount…

What's the latest on Mount to Man United?

According to journalist Rudy Galetti, the Red Devils are set to make another offer in the region of £50m for the signing of the England international, with Erik ten Hag's side having previously seen a £40m bid rejected by their Premier League rivals.

Writing on Twitter, the transfer insider stated: "#Mount, talks between #Chelsea and #ManUTD are progressing. MUFC are ready for the new bid: as told, they are confident to convince #CFC with ~£50m. The Blues – who are working also on some exists – want to sell to unlock the incoming market."

It remains to be seen if that potential new offer would be enough to tempt the Blues into a sale, amid reports that the west Londoners have set an asking price of around £70m for the academy graduate, despite the fact that the 24-year-old has just a year left on his current contract.

Would Mount be a good signing for Man United?

The one-time Derby County loanee did endure a dismal 2022/23 campaign – in which he chipped in with just five goals and assists in 24 league games – although the Portsmouth-born ace does appear to be a real talent, having registered double figures in both of those two metrics in the previous season.

Dubbed a "complete player" by Stamford Bridge legend, Gianfranco Zola, Mount could well prove to be United's answer to Arsenal skipper, Martin Odegaard, with the Norwegian maestro also possessing the ability to thrive in an advanced midfield berth or in a number eight role.

The ex-Real Madrid man played a starring role in the Gunners' attempted title challenge last season after registering 15 goals and seven assists in 37 league games, having subsequently been hailed as a "super footballer" by former Red Devils man, Owen Hargreaves (Premier League Productions, 12/11/2022, 21:55).

The 24-year-old's likeness to Mount can be seen by their immense creative quality and their ability to provide incisive, forward passes, as the Englishman has averaged a standout record of 5.95 progressive passes per 90 across the last 365 days, as per FBref, while Odegaard is just ahead having averaged 7.74 per 90 for that same metric.

The duo are also somewhat alike due to their early career paths, having both found their feet out on loan at Eredivisie side Vitesse Arnhem, with Mount first shining with the Dutch outfit after bagging 14 goals and ten assists in just 39 games in all competitions in the 2017/18 campaign.

That remarkable form not only reportedly caught the eye of Ten Hag at the time, but also saw the then-teenager named the club's Player of the Year as a result, with Vitesse then subsequently lining up Odegaard as his natural successor for the following campaign.

The current Emirates ace was undoubtedly able to emulate Mount's brilliance to help truly kickstart his senior career, scoring 11 goals and providing 13 assists of his own in that 2018/19 season, prior to sealing another loan move to Real Sociedad.

With the latter man now shining under Mikel Arteta's tutelage, a move to United could also help the Chelsea magician to get back the type of form that he showcased in the Netherlands, ensuring that Ten Hag could have his own version of Odegaard on his hands next season – if an agreement with Todd Bohely and co can be reached.

تحدث وليد الركراكي، المدير الفني لمنتخب المغرب، عن اللاعب إبراهيم دياز وتفضيله الانضمام إلى أسود الأطلس بدلًا من إسبانيا، وإمكانية مشاركته في أولمبياد باريس 2024.

وقال الركراكي في تصريحات نشرتها شبكة “بي إن سبورتس” في نسختها الإنجليزية: “لقد أعطانا كلمته ولم يكذب، لقد أوفى بوعده عندما كان يلعب مع ميلان”.

وأكد الركراكري أن الأمر لم يتعلق بما إذا كان دياز قد وافق على اللعب لـ المغرب أم لا، بل تتعلق بالتوقيت، حيث اختار اللعب مع المنتخب العربي في وقت صعب.

وأضاف: “رغم أن إسبانيا استدعته، إلا أنه اختار اللعب للمغرب، من دواعي سروري أن يكون هناك لاعب من ريال مدريد في المنتخب الوطني”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. مبابي يراوغ بشأن مستقبله مع باريس سان جيرمان ويعلق على إمكانية مشاركته في أولمبياد 2024

وواصل: “في المغرب، نحن سعداء للغاية بوجود لاعب مثل إبراهيم، ونحن على يقين من أنه سيقدم أشياءً عظيمة لمنتخبنا الوطني”.

وعن إمكانية مشاركة دياز في الأولمبياد، أجاب: “إذا كان مدرب المغرب تحت 23 عامًا يريد إبراهيم أو لاعبًا آخر مثل أشرف حكيمي، فسندعمه ليحظى ببطولة أولمبية جيدة”.

واختتم: “سيعتمد الأمر أيضًا على النادي لأنه ليس موعدًا للفيفا، ولكن إذا كان المدرب يريده وريال مدريد يسمح بذلك، سنكون سعداء برؤيته في الألعاب الأولمبية”.

An update has emerged on Sunderland and their plans to bolster Tony Mowbray's attacking options ahead of the 2023/24 campaign…

What’s the latest on Sonny Perkins to Sunderland?

According to TEAMtalk, the Black Cats are one of a number of teams eyeing up a swoop to sign Leeds United striker Sonny Perkins on loan this summer.

The report claims that fellow Championship sides Birmingham City and Blackburn Rovers are keen on landing the teenage talent’s signature.

It states that the Whites are prepared to sanction a temporary exit for the centre-forward and are willing to send him to another team in the division, with Kristjaan Speakman now pursuing his services.

Where would Sonny Perkins fit in at Sunderland?

The 19-year-old gem is a versatile player that could be deployed in a multitude of roles across the frontline for Mowbray next season.

He could, however, feature alongside current Black Cats marksman Ross Stewart to play a part in making the Scotland international unplayable.

The 26-year-old finisher enjoyed an immense partnership with former loanee Ellis Simms as a strike partnership at the start of the 2022/23 campaign, which showcased his potential as part of an attacking duo.

Stewart plundered a stunning five goals and three assists in six Championship starts alongside Simms in August of last year. He averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.65 across those matches, which is higher than Ryan Manning’s league-leading average rating of 7.46 last term.

This suggests that the former Ross County star was one of the best performers in the division, if not the best, whilst playing next to another striker.

Therefore, Perkins could get the best out of Stewart as the Leeds prodigy, who can also play out wide or in midfield, has shown immense potential at youth level.

The £1.6k-per-week prospect scored 11 goals and provided three assists in 18 Premier League 2 matches last term, while the hotshot also managed 12 strikes in 21 league outings for West Ham's U21s in 2021/22.

His former youth boss Michael Skubala once described him as a "goal machine" and the exciting teenager's statistics back that up, with more than a goal every other game over the last two seasons.

This suggests that the potential is there for Perkins to be a prolific forward option for Sunderland, albeit he is yet to prove that at senior level, which could make him the ideal player to slot in alongside Stewart.

As was the case with Simms, who scored seven goals in 14 league starts for the club, opposition defenders would have another number nine to deal with and would not be able to focus all of their attention on the Scotland international, which could then open up the space for the exceptional striker to return to the unplayable form he displayed last year.

Newcastle United are waiting to pounce after Fulham made their left-back, Antonee Robinson, available for transfer this summer, according to recent reports.

What's the latest on Antonee Robinson to Newcastle?

That's according to the Evening Standard, which claim that the Cottages are now prepared to sell the American ace after his refusal to sign a new contract.

Marco Silva's side will conduct business for around £35m, with Newcastle joined in their pursuit by Ligue 1 outfit Marseille; Manchester City and AC Milan have also previously registered an interest.

The 25-year-old would add a fresh dimension to Eddie Howe's side after qualifying for the Champions League with a fourth-placed finish, and the Magpies are indeed determining whether to swoop.

Should Newcastle sign Antonee Robinson?

Newcastle were absolutely exceptional during the 22/23 campaign, ending a two-decade absence from the Champions League and reaching the final of the Carabao Cup, losing a hard-fought match to Manchester United.

With the ascent showing no sign of ceasing, the Tyneside giants must now make the requisite moves on the transfer front to consolidate this new position of power, and Robinson, who made 35 appearances in the Premier League last term to assist newly-promoted Fulham in securing a tenth-place finish, could be their man.

Given his progressive approach and sharp speed, the £25k-per-week ace could make Alexander Isak even better at St. James' Park, with the Swedish striker impressing during his maiden campaign in English football despite being hampered by injury.

Isak's failure to capture the full scale of his qualities when deployed on the left is perhaps partly due to Burn's skills lying outside that of the creativity of a full-back.

For all the 6 foot 6 titan's solidness, he is not one to maraud up the flank, instead serving Howe's system by providing stability and composure, indeed evidenced by the club's joint-best defensive record in the Premier League last term, alongside champions Manchester City with 33.

Robinson would open up a whole new dimension, with the USMNT star ranking among the top 13% of full-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries and the top 20% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref – also demonstrating his defensive ability by ranking among the top 10% for interceptions per 90.

This certainly differs to Burn's skill set, who ranks among the top 2% for clearances and aerials won per 90, but also among the bottom 5% for progressive carries and the bottom 16% for successful take-ons per 90.

Isak plundered ten goals from just 17 Premier League starts last season after completing his £63m transfer from Real Sociedad but failed to score across all five of his outings on the left flank.

Given that the £120k-per-week sharpshooter ranks among the top 12% of attacking midfielders and wingers for touches in the attacking box, he is perhaps just searching for some creative support to play him into goalscoring opportunity, and Robinson can do just that.

Editor Alexandre Gangue-Ruzic certainly thinks so, as he said: "Antonee Robinson can BALL. He’s such a dynamic LB. His ball progression is fun to watch. He is electric in his dribble and delivery."

The increase in competition and expectation next year will warrant the inclusion of a new option from the left-back position, and Robinson could play a starring role, helping to make star man Isak all the more unplayable in the process.

Gurkeerat Singh Mann led Punjab to a clinical, five-wicket win with a brisk 91 off 86 balls in their chase of 197 after Haryana had reduced them to 75 for 4. It was Harbhajan Singh’s figures with the ball – 10-0-33-4 – that put Punjab in a position of strength by bowling Haryana out for 196 in the penultimate over. After Siddarth Kaul removed Shubham Rohilla for a 12-ball duck, Nitin Saini and Chaitanya Bishnoi put on 68 for the second wicket in 109 balls, the biggest partnership of the innings. Punjab’s bowlers provided regular breakthroughs thereafter, led by Harbhajan, who had four batsmen lbw. Punjab’s chase got a steady start through U-19 opener Shubman Gill and Mandeep Singh, who added 47 in 81 balls. Legspinner Rahul Tewatia took three wickets and Harshal Patel had Yuvraj Singh bowled to pull Haryana back. Gurkeerat and Nikhil Chaudhary added an unbeaten 71 for the sixth wicket, of which the latter added 14.At the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi, Assam aced their chase of 216 against Railways to register a four-wicket win with 12 balls to spare. After being asked to bowl, Assam restricted Railways to 215. An 85-run third-wicket stand between Akash Verma and Pratham Singh – after Railways were reduced to 8 for 2 – was the only phase in the game that Railways dominated. Arup Das took three wickets, while Pritam Das, Amit Verma and Swarupam Purkayastha claimed two scalps each. Handy contributions from Assam’s top order – Pallavkumar Das (44), Arun Karthik (42), Verma (35) and Riyan Parag (32) – ensured there wasn’t much trouble in the chase.Akshay Karnewar, an ambidextrous bowler, led Vidarbha to a comfortable seven-wicket rout of Odisha with figures of 4 for 21 from 10 overs. Odisha chose to bat, and were given a steady start by Govinda Poddar’s 68-ball 58. However, a score of 87 for 2 in the 23rd over quickly turned to 162 all out in the 46th over as the Vidarbha bowlers took control of the game. No other batsman scored more than 30. After a stable base, Vidarbha’s chase was never in doubt. Jitesh Sharma struck a 71-ball 70 before he was lbw off Rajkishan Patel. A patient 30 from Ambati Rayudu took Vidarbha home with 59 balls to spare.

The Islamabad United captain expressed his disappointment after two of his players were provisionally suspended for alleged breaches of the PCB’s anti-corruption code

Umar Farooq in Sharjah18-Feb-2017

Misbah-ul-Haq, who did so much to steer Pakistan away from the 2010 spot-fixing scandal, has spoken of his disappointment at having to face up to another case of corruption in Pakistan cricket. Six years ago, Misbah took over a Test side gutted by the sudden loss of its captain and opener, Salman Butt, as well as its new-ball pair of Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir. This time, he was already captain of the Islamabad United side from which Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif were chargedfor alleged breaches of the PCB’s anti-corruption code.”Nobody wants Pakistan and Pakistani players to be associated with fixing again,” Misbah told ESPNcricinfo. “After six years of hard work such things happening again is a matter of great concern and disappointment. I am really disappointed. But, I think whenever such things happen, you have got to be very strong to face them. Forget about the individuals who are responsible and try to make sure that things are not happening again; move forward, try to perform better, try to be disciplined and improve the reputation around the world.”This latest case, during the ongoing Pakistan Super League, has come as the Lord’s trio stands all but reintegrated into the Pakistan system. Misbah has captained Amir at the international level through the course of 2016, while Butt and Asif are back playing domestic cricket. ESPNcricinfo understands Butt is also in contention to make the national squad for the tour of the West Indies in March. But given what has happened in the PSL, the PCB could be forced to rethink that situation.Frustratingly for the Pakistan board, the latest incident has come after six years of concerted effort to tighten its anti-corruption code and practices. Men’s and women’s teams, at all levels, are given lectures before any tour or series, emphasising the dangers of corruption, as well as the ways in which approaches might occur. Players are given literature in Urdu as well. At the domestic level, apart from the regular programme, Amir, Asif and Butt gave anti-corruption lectures in which they spoke about their experiences.The alleged incidents of corruption in the PSL have come as big blow for the PCB, which had taken great steps to stamp it out of Pakistan cricket•PCB

Both Sharjeel and Latif are Pakistan internationals. Sharjeel, especially, was on the verge of becoming a vital cog in the national side. He has played 25 ODIs and 15 T20Is since his debut in December 2013, and over the last year or so, blossomed into the kind of opener Pakistan needed, especially in limited-overs cricket. He was one of the few bright spots in Pakistan’s chastening tour of Australia recently, from the time he made his Test debut in Sydney to his three fifties in the ODI series. Potentially, under the PCB’s anti-corruption code, he could be facing a life ban.Losing Sharjeel and Latif, along with Andre Russell before the season began for an anti-doping code violation, has hit Islamabad hard as they try to defend their title. At the halfway stage of the PSL, they have two wins and two losses.”It obviously affects you when your match-winners and best players go down, but then, there are other boys on the bench raring to go in, and they are equally good,” Misbah said. “There are tough situations, but it’s about the environment and the winning habit so that it doesn’t matter who comes and goes. The boys take inspiration from every win. They are building up, they are getting the confidence, and with couple of victories, we have a way forward in this PSL. They know their roles, they are always ready to chip in and win us games. Our squad is capable enough to retain the title this year.”Islamabad retained their 17 players this season. The core of their side, however, is an aging one, with several of them over 35 years old. But for Misbah, that is an asset.”Philosophy is just to have players who have better understanding about the game,” he said. “Players who are fit for the game, know their roles, handle pressure very well, and if there are younger players around, then they have good chance in making in our squad as well. It’s not deliberate, but this is actually helping us because we have players from around the world who are mature and experienced in this format. This is actually an advantage for us in many ways as we have players who are mentally strong.”

Arsenal have been linked to a host of talent early on in the transfer window, as Mikel Arteta and Edu prepare for a busy summer in north London.

From Kai Havertz to Declan Rice, the Gunners have been the subject of a potential destination for fellow Premier League stars, with the latest link following that narrative.

What’s the latest on Harvey Barnes' future?

As reported by the Daily Mail, Arsenal have emerged as a club interested in Leicester City sensation Harvey Barnes.

The Englishman suffered relegation with the Foxes and is almost certainly due to depart this summer, favouring against playing in the Championship next term.

The report relates to Tottenham’s chase for Barnes, however, states that the 25-year-old could wait until further into the window to decide his future, with Arsenal and West Ham also interested.

A separate report from the Leicester Mercury that surfaced earlier this month revealed that the Foxes value the winger at £30m.

What could Harvey Barnes offer to Arsenal?

Despite suffering demotion to the Championship, the Burnley-born gem imposed himself on the Premier League, scoring 13 goals in a testing campaign at the King Power.

Lauded as “incredible” by former manager Brendan Rodgers, the 25-year-old would be a worthy introduction for most sides in the league due to his dynamic approach from the wing.

In terms of what he could bring to Arsenal, the Englishman operates almost identically to Brazilian sensation Gabriel Martinelli, deployed as a left-winger that enjoys cutting in on his favoured right foot to cause havoc in the final third.

While the 22-year-old prevails as a higher performer than the Arsenal target this season, their statistics mirror in terms of their strengths and the levels the Foxes star could hit if playing in a better side.

As per FBref, Barnes averaged 3.32 progressive carries to Martinelli’s 4.00 per 90, as well as recording 8.53 progressive passes received per 90 to the Brazilian's 11.29, showing the similarities in their strengths and desire to cause havoc in dangerous areas.

A similar pattern is identified in their scoring frequency this campaign, with the Leicester star averaging a 0.43 goals per 90 to the Arsenal gem’s 0.48 once again conveying the fuel the winger could add to the Gunners’ attack, via FBref.

As highlighted last season, the north Londoners were stretched for depth in terms of having sufficient quality to allow for consistent results during absences.

In introducing Barnes, Arteta would add significant quality to Arsenal’s ranks in a player that could rival Martinelli to push his game to another level to ensure his spot in the starting XI is maintained.

With Champions League involvement coming next campaign too, it’s imperative that the Gunners have considerable depth to rotate between in order to challenge at the top level.

Quetta Gladiators have secured the services of five foreign players to replace Kevin Pietersen, Rilee Roussow, Luke Wright, Tymal Mills and Nathan McCullum, none of whom were prepared to travel to Lahore for the final

Umar Farooq04-Mar-2017Quetta Gladiators will turn up on the field for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) final with a significantly altered line-up to the one that has seen them through in the first place. On Saturday, the morning after they discovered their opponents for the game in Lahore on Sunday, they secured the services of five foreign players to replace their contracted roster, none of whom were prepared to travel to Pakistan for security reasons.Their XI will feature a combination from Bangladesh’s Anamul Haque, South Africa’s Morne van Wyk, Zimbabwe’s Elton Chigumbura and Sean Ervine, and West Indies’ Rayad Emrit who have all agreed to travel to Lahore. They are not quite like-for-like replacements for Kevin Pietersen, Rilee Roussow, Luke Wright, Tymal Mills and Nathan McCullum but organisers will be relieved that they do at least have an overseas contingent to rely on for the final.Haque, van Wyk (both wicketkeeper-batsmen), Chigumbura and Erive (both allrounders) will join the team on Sunday morning, while logistics are being worked out to get Emrit (also an allrounder) to Lahore in time for the match that begins at 8pm local time. Pakistan pacer Aizaz Cheema has also been added to the squad, a replacement for the injured Umar Gul. Team mentor Viv Richards and fielding coach Julien Fountain – both overseas recruitments – are expected to arrive in Lahore for the game in the early hours of Sunday morning.”KP, Luke, Rilee, Mills would have been great but we respect their decision,” the franchise said. “We are still confident of winning the PSL final despite missing the big stars. For our local players, playing at home is a huge opportunity. The experience of playing in front of the home crowd is massive, and all of them are excited about it.”The local players of the Quetta squad are already in Lahore and have had training sessions at the National Cricket Academy, next to the Gaddafi Stadium where the match against Peshawar Zalmi will be played. As the city prepares for the much-awaited game with various security measures, an estimated 18,000 tickets have already been sold and a full house is expected.Their opponents Peshawar, meanwhile, will be able to call upon nearly all of their first-choice foreign stars, having successfully convinced their quartet to travel to Lahore for the game*. The captain Darren Sammy was asked after Friday evening’s win over Karachi Kings in Dubai about Lahore, but he evaded the question, saying only that he had to discuss the matter with the franchise owner Javed Afridi.Late on Saturday, however, league officials confirmed that Sammy, Marlon Samuels, Chris Jordan and Dawid Malan would be playing and were due to arrive in Lahore early Sunday morning – the delay in confirmation was due to the wait for Jordan’s clearance from the ECB. Their fifth foreign player, England allrounder Samit Patel, has not been given an NOC by his county Nottinghamshire, and will not travel to Lahore. In the squad are also two emerging Afghanistan players.The PCB has been firm on playing the final in Lahore – despite a spate of bombings rocking the city and other parts of the country too last month – as it sees the match as an opportunity to show that it is safe for international cricket to return to Pakistan. Zimbabwe and Afghanistan are the only international teams to play in Pakistan since the attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in March 2009. The Zimbabwe series in 2015 was not incident free, with a bomb blast occurring during the second ODI 800 metres away from the stadium and killing two people.Among the security measures in check this time are three layers of security checks, some as far as two kilometres away from the ground, a new range of scanning and CCTV equipment, and the deployment of over 10,000 security personnel including Pakistan’s paramilitary force, the Rangers.*18.40 GMT – This story was updated with confirmation from the PSL about the status of Peshawar’s overseas players