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Manchester City are said to be leading Real Madrid and Barcelona in the race to sign Claudio Echeverri, who has been dubbed 'the next Lionel Messi'.

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Man City favourites to land EcheverriWill face competition from top European clubsWas part of Argentina's 2023 U17 World Cup squadWHAT HAPPENED?

Reigning Premier League champions Manchester City are considered favourites to sign River Plate and Argentina sensation Echeverri. Despite interest from a host of other top European clubs like Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona, the Cityzens are poised to win the transfer race because they share a good relationship with River Plate after the transfer of Julian Alvarez in 2022, according to the .

Advertisement@ArgentinaTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The 17-year-old attacking midfielder has a keen eye for goal. He was part of the Albiceleste squad that reached the semi-finals of the U17 World Cup. Echeverri was the team's second highest scorer in the competition with five goals to his name, which included a hat-trick in the quarter-final against arch-rivals Brazil.

Getty Images/GoalDID YOU KNOW?

Like several other young Argentine footballers, Echeverri grew up idolising Messi and revealed in an interview before the U17 World Cup that he wants to follow in his idol's footsteps and join Barcelona in the future.

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WHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER CITY?

Alvarez has proved to be a successful signing for City, becoming an integral part of Pep Guardiola's squad in his two seasons at the club. He has started in all 14 Premier League games the club have played so far in 2023-24, scoring four goals and providing six assists. The Argentina forward's success will surely encourage the club officials who are once again set to do business with River Plate for Echeverri's services.

Kumar Sangakkara has called for England and Kevin Pietersen to “iron out their differences” and find a way for him to return to international cricket

David Hopps in Cardiff20-Apr-20151:03

Sangakkara: Want to see KP play for England again

Kumar Sangakkara has called for England and Kevin Pietersen to “iron out their differences” and find a way for him to return to international cricket – perhaps in time for this summer’s Ashes series.Sangakkara’s comments might be regarded as a predictable show of support for Pietersen now that he has joined forces as a Surrey team-mate, a recognition of the value that a constructive relationship can bring to Surrey’s season at the start of his two-year contract with the county.But, in his years with Sri Lanka, Sangakkara has experienced the murkiest depths of cricketing politics and his view that the best team must be fielded – sometimes against the odds – is unlikely to have been expressed glibly. Sangakkara is not known for doing glib.”It is not just an English media obsession,” he said. “It is a case where you have a fantastic player and you have had some controversy and some strain in the relationship between him and the ECB. I think everyone is wishing – the spectators, I’m sure, want to watch KP out there in the middle.”When you have a batsman of that ability I reckon even the side would like him there. It’s not my call to make or my place to comment on it but at the end of the day I just hope that they iron out their differences.”Sangakkara still has vivid memories of Pietersen’s exceptional hundred in searing heat in Colombo, an innings that sustained England on their last Sri Lanka tour.”I know from playing against Kevin when he came to Sri Lanka the last time. Wiith England 1-0 down, the way Kevin Pietersen came into that last Test with that hundred was magnificent.”He is an out-and-out matchwinner. I want to watch a matchwinner out there, I would want a matchwinner in my side so hopefully they can iron out their differences and Kevin Pietersen can come back and play.”

A round-up of all the games played in Group A of the World Twenty20 Qualifiers on November 18, 2013

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Nov-2013
ScorecardFile photo: Gareth Berg’s 67 was in vain as Uganda squeaked through by one wicket•ICC/GettyUganda pulled off a surprise victory over Italy to register their first win of the qualifiers in Abu Dhabi. Italy batted first, with the openers putting on a decent stand of 35. Wicketkeeper Andy Northcote was the first to go in the fifth over when he was trapped in front by offspinner Frank Nsubuga. Peter Petricola joined opener Gareth Berg to put on a further 39 runs by the 11th over. A couple of more small partnerships later, Italy were able to reach 148 for 4, with Berg top-scoring with 62 off 34 balls, which included seven fours and two sixes. This continued his good run of form, where he had scored 90 off 47 balls in the previous match against USA.In reply, Uganda started rather abjectly, with opener Roger Mukasa falling off just the second ball of the innings. Abram Mutyagaba and Hamza Saleh then put on 33, before Saleh was bowled by Vince Pennazza. Arthur Kyobe came in next and smashed a 15-ball 36, which comprised five sixes, to help Uganda stay on par with the required rate.But they also lost wickets at regular intervals. At 97 for 8 in the 14th over, there was still another 52 required for victory, with about six overs to go. Cameos from Richard Okia (33*) and Charles Waiswa (21) took them close, and Uganda were able to hold their nerve and score the winning runs with just one wicket in hand, and one ball to spare.
ScorecardAn Irfan Ahmed century, combined with Munir Dar’s 4 for 17, helped Hong Kong make it three out of three as they defeated Canada by 53 runs in Abu Dhabi. Canada won the toss and put Hong Kong in to bat, which proved a significant miscalculation as Ahmed and Waqas Barkat flayed Canada’s rather insipid bowling attack to the tune of 102 runs inside of 12 overs. After Barkat fell for 31, wickets began to fall more regularly, with Irfan plundering on to reach a maiden century in any format, finishing with 100 off 53 balls which included four fours and eight sixes. Hong King finished their quota of overs on 168 for 5.Canada’s innings did not start promisingly as their top three were gone with just 44 on the board in the 10th over. None of the batsmen were able to capitalise on their starts, with Jimmy Hansra (26) and Raza-ur-Rehman (23) being the only ones to cross into the twenties. Dar put on a splendid show with the ball, taking 4 for 17, as Canada stumbled to 115 for 8. This now means that Canada has lost both their opening matches, making qualification an uphill battle from here on.

On the day Glamorgan announced a change to their traditional one-day name, they closed the season, and Robert Croft’s career, with a win to deny Kent promotion

Paul Edwards at Cardiff13-Sep-2012
ScorecardJim Allenby claimed three second-innings wickets as Glamorgan won in Robert Croft’s final game•PA PhotosAnyone with ambitions of foisting franchises on domestic cricket might profit by studying the experience of Glamorgan over the past twelve months. On the day when Mark Wallace and his team ended Kent’s hopes of promotion by inflicting a seven-wicket defeat on Rob Key’s team, the county announced that its limited-overs side was reverting to the name “Glamorgan” after a year in which it had been known as the “Welsh Dragons”.Explaining the change back to the old name, Glamorgan chief executive Alan Hamer said that an attempt to “stir up the passion” of supporters by rebranding the team hadn’t worked. People in Wales were not even sure what sport the renamed team played.”If you go anywhere in Wales the majority of people will say that Glamorgan is a cricket county,” said Hamer. “When you asked people who the Welsh Dragons were, they got confused as to whether that was a cricket team, a rugby union team, a rugby league team or a football team. We’ve got to be honest and go back to something which has worked and means a lot to our supporters. The decision we have now taken has been very well received.”The Glamorgan brand is well-established and is known throughout the cricket world,” continued Hamer. “It’s apt that we move back to key principles, so as well as simply calling ourselves Glamorgan, the logo will revert back to the daffodil and we are going to spend time and money developing more of our home-grown players.”I’ve been here six years but it’s in the last twelve months that I’ve realised more than ever before the feelings and passions that people have for the Glamorgan brand. If you try to introduce a franchise, it will be up against a very powerful beast and it’ll need to be very powerful if it’s going to work.”Glamorgan’s announcement was pleasantly complemented by events on the field on what turned out to be the last day of the season at Cardiff. For one thing, the county’s bowlers and fielders showed the sort of passion and persistence which are needed to win important cricket matches against teams chasing honours. Their defeat of Kent confirmed that Derbyshire and Yorkshire would be promoted from Division Two. More significantly for cricket followers in the principality, this third Championship win of the season means that Glamorgan will avoid the wooden spoon and should finish at least seventh in the second division.There were also personal reasons for joy, albeit mixed with some sadness. Most notably, these concerned Robert Croft who, after taking 2 for 76 from 22.4 overs, left the field as a Glamorgan cricketer for the last time. There was a standing ovation, a presentation and a raft of interviews, none of them less moving for being fairly predictable. Croft had the honour of dismissing the last Kent batsman, Charlie Shreck, and thus finishing his 24-year career with 1,175 first-class wickets against his name. Croft is a proud Welshman but he has been an equally proud Glamorgan cricketer. He has never needed rebranding.”I’m delighted we’re reverting back to the traditional name,” said Croft. “I’ve always known us as Glamorgan and I’m pleased with the decision that’s been made. The badge should be the biggest thing on your chest and I’m pleased it’s going to be Glamorgan’s badge again.”Yet Croft’s personal achievement had to take its place within the architecture of a game which saw Kent’s batsmen mount a courageous rearguard as they sought to make good the damage of the previous evening. Beginning the day needing 187 to make Glamorgan bat again, they eventually carved out a mere 60-run lead, although Mark Wallace’s side lost three wickets reaching their target in the evening gloom.Geraint Jones led Kent’s fight by batting over three hours for his 81 runs before he was ninth out, top-edging a pull off Jim Allenby straight to Nick James at deep square leg. Until Jones was dismissed it was never quite clear that Glamorgan had the game under control and Croft himself expressed relief that his side had not been chasing 150.Three wickets in eight balls for the impressive seamer John Glover in the second hour of the morning session had seemed to put Glamorgan in control of affairs. The loss of Sam Northeast for 40, Brendan Nash for a well-made 50 and Darren Stevens lbw first ball left Kent struggling on 96 for 5. But a 91-run stand between Jones and the former Glamorgan batsman Mike Powell restored Kent’s fortunes. It took Croft’s last vital contribution to remove his old mucker, taken by Allenby at slip for 41.Allenby then offered further evidence of his all-round skills which have been on view during almost every session of this game by claiming the decisive wickets of James Tredwell, Matt Coles and Jones to finish with 3 for 47. When Shreck lofted Croft to Nick James at long off, Kent had been dismissed for 280 and Glamorgan’s target seemed close to paltry.The loss of three cheap wickets and two breaks for bad light served to delay matters a little but at least they afforded David Lloyd the chance to make his first runs in first-class cricket by cutting Matt Coles to the backward point boundary. Lloyd had walked to the crease with three noughts to his credit but made 11 before Ben Wright punched Charlie Shreck through midwicket to complete a win that was as well-received in parts of Chelmsford and Derby as it was in Cardiff.

Ricky Ponting will play for Tasmania in the Ryobi Cup final on Saturday after being told his one-day international career was over

Brydon Coverdale21-Feb-2012Ricky Ponting will play for Tasmania in the Ryobi Cup final on Saturday after being told his one-day international career was over. Ponting will join the Tigers in Adelaide on Friday morning ahead of the decider against South Australia, which gives him a chance to win silverware with his state side for the first time after debuting for them nearly 20 years ago.Ponting’s desire to play on in Test cricket means that he needs to take every opportunity he can to keep match fit and in form by playing for Tasmania. That begins on Saturday, in what will be his first domestic one-day match since December 2007, and his seventh in the past decade. The Tasmania coach Tim Coyle said the Tigers would be thrilled to have him in the side.”He’s very keen to play,” Coyle told ESPNcricinfo. “He rang me this afternoon to have a chat about the make-up of our team. The team has obviously been going pretty well. We had a conversation around him being available to play. One thing he’s not done in his career is he hasn’t played in a winning Tasmanian title team. That’s really high on his agenda. He’s very excited by the fact that he’s going to get this chance.”The only domestic final Ponting has played in was the 1993-94 Sheffield Shield decider, the first time Tasmania had reached the first-class final. But it wasn’t a memorable occasion for Ponting: he scored 1 and 28 and was part of a side that lost to New South Wales by an innings and 61 runs at the SCG.Despite having played in the past two one-day finals, Tasmania will enter this game as the underdogs, playing away from home against the Redbacks. And although the Tigers have won six of their eight one-day matches this summer, Coyle said Ponting’s return would be easy to accommodate, with Ed Cowan and George Bailey the only Tasmanians to have scored 200 runs in the Ryobi Cup campaign.”We’ve actually got a spot in our team that’s been thrown around,” Coyle said. “A few people have been tried. It is a batting spot that we’ve experimented with. We haven’t had someone really put their hand up and grab that spot. There is a spot in our top six, no doubt about that. It’s one area of our cricket that has been a little bit inconsistent at times. To have one of the greatest players of all time, that’s a great result for our team.”Ponting’s appearances for Tasmania have been few and far between since he established himself in Australia’s Test and one-day sides, but when he has returned, Coyle has been impressed with his dedication to the state cause. Although Ponting lives in Sydney, he has refused to switch state allegiances and spends time with the younger members of the squad, passing on what he has learnt in a 17-year international career.”His commitment to the team stuff is really important,” Coyle said. “He commits a lot of time to others in the team. He’s also very professional in his own preparation. It’s great to sit back and watch him prepare for games. His experience will be a fantastic bonus for us. I’m sure he’s very keen to do well. He’ll come into this game with nothing hanging over his head, which has probably been an issue for him in the last couple of weeks with the one-day series that he’s been involved in.”Tasmania will also benefit from Ponting’s presence in their final two Sheffield Shield matches as they aim to move up from third position on the table and earn a place in the decider. Ponting will be available for Tasmania’s last two matches, against South Australia in Adelaide and at home to Western Australia, and then for the final should they make it.”His red-ball cricket has been tremendous this summer so it’s a huge inclusion for us to have a player of his calibre coming back into our team,” Coyle said. “We’re very fortunate. We’ve gone a lot of years not having him around so this is maybe a little bit of time that was due for Ricky to give some time to Tasmanian cricket. He’s had that desire – he’s often said that he would love to play more cricket for us. He’s going to get an opportunity to do that over the next couple of weeks.”

An all-round bowling performance, followed by a steady half-century from Jonathan Carter gave West Indies A a winning start in the three-match series against Bangladesh A

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Nov-2011An all-round bowling performance, followed by a steady half-century from Jonathan Carter gave West Indies A a winning start in the three-match series against Bangladesh A at the Arnos Vale Ground in Kingstown. The Twenty20 series was earlier tied 1-1.Bangladesh’s top order was in early trouble after being asked to bat, with new-ball bowler Jason Holder making early breaches. They were in a dicey position at 56 for 4, but Nasiruddin Faruque came to their rescue with a cautious 86. Carlos Brathwaite picked up two more wickets in an economical spell to restrict Bangladesh A to 182 for 8.West Indies A were struggling at 72 for four in the 21st over of their chase but Carter steadied the circumstances with two partnerships. He added 41 with Devon Thomas and 30 with Brathwaite, for successive wickets, to steer the home side to victory. Offspinner Shohag Gazi and seamer Kamrul Islam Rabbi picked up a combined 4 for 76 off 23 overs, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the winning runs being scored in the 45th over.

David Masters helped Essex fight back against promotion favourites Derbyshire after a four wicket haul by spinner David Wainwright had secured maximum bowling points for the Division Two leaders at Derby

28-Aug-2012Derbyshire 28 for 3 trail Essex 245 (Napier 52, Wainwright 4-64) by 217 runs
ScorecardDavid Masters helped Essex fight back against promotion favourites Derbyshire after a four wicket haul by spinner David Wainwright had secured maximum bowling points for the Division Two leaders at Derby.Wainwright took 4 for 64 and Mark Turner two wickets as Essex were bowled out for 245 but the visitors hit back by reducing the home side to 28 for 3 at the close.Masters followed a season’s best of 35 with the bat with 2 for 3 in seven overs on his return from a side strain and Graham Napier, who top scored with 42, also claimed a wicket to leave the game in the balance.Derbyshire dominated the first part of the day after their decision to put Essex in was quickly justified as Tony Palladino struck against his former county by having Jaik Mickleburgh caught behind for five in the fifth over. It was the seamer’s 49th Championship victim of the season but he was kept waiting for his 50th as Essex subsided to the spin of Wainwright and two needless run-outs.After Tom Westley had played down the wrong line at Tim Groenewald and Owais Shah had been beaten for pace by Turner, Wainwright got a ball to spit at Mark Pettini who was caught off his glove by Wes Durston at first slip.Ryan ten Doeschate has played some explosive innings against Derbyshire in the past and he briefly threatened to leave his mark on them again when he drove Wainwright over long on for six.But he made a misjudgement on 29 when he went back to Wainwright and was lbw to the arm ball and although James Foster was dropped by wicketkeeper Tom Poynton and saw a top edge hook carried over the ropes by Palladino, he did not make Derbyshire pay.The Essex captain had moved to 31 when he pushed Wainwright to mid on, set off for a single which was never on and was run out by yards thanks to Wayne Madsen’s direct hit.When Adam Wheater was lbw to a full length ball from Turner, Essex were 151 for 7 but Napier and Masters at least earnt their side a batting point with a stand of 74 in 19 overs. Napier fell to Wainwright when he edged a big drive to slip and Maurice Chambers’ attempted slog ended in the hands of backward point, leaving Masters to drive the spinner for six before he was run out going for a second run.Masters continued the Essex recovery when he bowled Madsen, who made a double century in the previous game, for two and had Usman Khawaja well caught low down at second slip by Westley for a 14-ball duck.Palladino was sent in as night watchman but Napier trapped him lbw in the penultimate over to end an absorbing day’s play on a high note for Essex.

The plans for Pakistan’s proposed limited-overs tour of South Africa in November have been scrapped due to the PCB’s ongoing legal existential crisis that has prevented them from making a commitment to the tour

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Nov-2013The plans for Pakistan’s proposed limited-overs tour of South Africa in November have been scrapped due to the PCB’s ongoing legal existential crisis that has prevented them from making a commitment to the tour. The short series was planned during a two-week window in November after the two sides wrap up their current bilateral series in the UAE on November 15.The PCB currently has no board chairman or any kind of body running its affairs, after the Islamabad High Court suspended chairman Najam Sethi and the five-member Interim Management Committee (IMC) on Thursday, until at least after the weekend. Cricket South Africa (CSA) had requested the PCB to confirm the tour at least two weeks prior to its commencement, in order to sort out the logistics. However, the PCB finds itself unable to sanction the tour, since its top decision-making officials are suspended for an indefinite period.Sethi said that CSA had offered the PCB US$1.5million to host them. “CSA had offered us to play a short series in South Africa. But due to the ongoing legal crisis in the PCB, we cannot extend discussions with them,” Sethi said in his program in Geo News.”The day I had started working on the proposal by CSA, the court suspended me and the IMC, so the idea could not materialise.”The tour was suggested after the original itinerary of India’s tour of South Africa was altered. The seven ODIs were cut down to three, the three-Test series brought down to two, and the two-match T20 series was scrapped altogether.India will begin their tour of South Africa on December 5, with the first ODI. CSA was expected to lose R200 million (US$ 20m approx.) owing to the curtailed India tour, with the proposed home series against Pakistan expected to help recover some of those costs.Pakistan are scheduled to return to the UAE on December 6 to take on Sri Lanka in two T20s, five ODIs and three Tests. The second half of November is the only period in which both Pakistan and South Africa have no other commitments.

James Taylor’s century put Nottinghamshire in a position of strength, with the potential to complete a victory despite the threat of showers on the final day

Jon Culley at Derby26-Apr-2013
ScorecardJames Taylor’s 14th first-class century provided the platform for Notts to push for victory•Getty ImagesIf Derbyshire do turn out to be the whipping boys of Division One – not that anyone should wish that upon such well-managed and progressive newcomers – then James Taylor’s century in this match may not be held to be of particular value. On the other hand, if Taylor’s Test career is rebooted sooner rather than later, it could be seen as an important moment.Either way, it has put Nottinghamshire in a position of strength, with the potential to complete a victory here despite the threat of showers on the final day, especially after the fillip of Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s wicket late in the afternoon, soon after he had completed his second half-century of the game and when looking absolutely set. With Wayne Madsen gone too, not much batting remains for Derbyshire to clear their arrears, let alone give themselves anything to work with.If there is a batsman with something to prove in the early part of this summer, then it is Taylor, whose rise from pint-sized wreaker of terror among Division Two bowling attacks to Test-class middle-order batsman might have seemed inevitable to some of his admirers but when it came last August suffered a false start.Taylor, who moved to Nottinghamshire the winter before last after scoring freely for Leicestershire, was picked when Ravi Bopara withdrew from the second Test against South Africa. It did not help his cause to find himself unwittingly caught up in the Kevin Pietersen storm, although he will not fall on that or any other excuse to explain his modest performance. It was not seen as good enough to be retained for the winter tours and his absence from the list of names in the England Performance Squad indicated all too clearly that the selectors want to see more.Taylor, for his part, has no quarrel with that assessment. “It was a disappointment,” he said. “I had a taste of Test cricket and it was amazing to get in that England side in the first place but I didn’t deliver the way I wanted to.”But I learned a lot from last season and in some ways it is good to have a setback to kick you up the backside. There is a difference in quality between second and first division. It is definitely a step up, although I don’t think my own performances were a reflection of that.”Sometimes though you need to take a step back to take two steps forward. I know where I stand with England and it is just down to me to score as many runs as I can.”In the event, it was just the mindset that was needed here, on a slow pitch that has rewarded graft. Taylor’s approach was first not to get out, taking his cue from Chanderpaul. From 67 overnight, he scored only 26 more before lunch, without one boundary, negotiating 77 balls against a Derbyshire attack who maintained their discipline and again offered few easy pickings.When his century came – incongruously from a false shot, an edge between first and second slips that brought only his fifth four – it was the slowest of his 14 so far in first-class matches, from 265 balls and 14 minutes short of six hours. He shared a stand of 52 with Stuart Broad but the support he had from Luke Fletcher was equally important in getting him over the line, the bowler sticking by Taylor more than an hour.Broad’s knock was eventful, to say the least. He can bat when he is of a mind but he rode his luck spectacularly as Derbyshire’s fielders somehow managed to drop him three times in the space of five balls before Tim Groenewald at last clung on to a top-edged hook.The stricken Andre Adams batted with a runner in his last appearance before an anticipated five-week lay-off with a torn calf muscle and though he could contribute no more than a swing and a nick Nottinghamshire did finish with a lead of 187. Taylor fell for 112 when, finally taking a risk or two, he skied David Wainwright to mid-off.Derbyshire were soon up against it, losing two wickets for 24 and though Chanderpaul gave them hope in a partnership of 83 with Madsen the departure of both in the space of five overs put Nottinghamshire back on top. Chanderpaul felt he was unlucky to be given out caught behind, claiming the ball brushed his thigh rather than the bat, but the wicket was one that Fletcher deserved. Broad went wicketless and it was Harry Gurney, an improving left-armer, who struck the second decisive blow when Madsen was leg-before. Then Patel had Ross Whiteley taken at slip to leave Derbyshire hoping for a good last morning and a wet afternoon.

Luke Pomersbach’s brutal assault fired Brisbane Heat to the semi-final of the BBL as they dished out an eight-wicket mauling to Hobart Hurricanes at the Bellerive Oval

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Jan-2013
ScorecardLuke Pomersbach’s brutal assault at the top of the order fired Brisbane Heat to the semi-final of the BBL as they dished out an eight-wicket mauling to Hobart Hurricanes at the Bellerive Oval. Pomersbach smashed 82 off just 42 balls as Heat overhauled the 151-run target in the 15th over to get the much-needed win which put them on equal points with Hurricanes and Adelaide strikers, but their superior run rate helped them set up a semi-final clash with Melbourne Renegades.Pomersbach set about the chase at a frenetic pace on a sticky Hobart pitch and was particularly severe on Doug Bollinger and Jason Krejza. While Bollinger was taken for 27 off his first two overs, Krejza leaked 31 from his two.Pomersbach brought up his half-century off 24 balls, the fastest fifty of this year’s competition, and hit 13 fours and two sixes. Bollinger removed the other opener, Peter Forrest, early, but a 107-run stand in less than 10 overs between Pomerbach and Joe Burns ended Hurricanes’ tournament.”We’re the underdogs now,” Pomersbach said on the team’s entry to the knockouts. “We’re going in there, we’re going to give it everything and I’ve got a really good feeling about it.””We probably misjudged the wicket a little bit although I think it probably suited their bowlers, that sort of slow medium pace,” Hurricanes captain Tim Paine said.Hurricanes chose to bat first and made a steady start with a 47-run opening partnership, but the scoring rate stayed below seven for almost three-quarters of the innings. Only some late aggression by Jonathan Wells – 40 off 24- and Owais Shah, 32 off 28, helped the team to get to 150. James Hopes was miserly in his bowling, giving away 18 off four overs, while Dan Christian picked up two wickets.