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ESPNcricinfo previews the latest round of matches in the NatWest Blast

Freddie Wilde05-Jun-2015North Group
Yorkshire v Lancashire, Headingley, Leeds, 6.30
Headingley is sold-out for the blockbuster Roses match between third-placed Yorkshire and Lancashire, last season’s beaten finalists, who lie seventh. In a round replete with England players, Yorkshire possess a squad teeming with international quality after Joe Root and Adam Lyth have been released to join the likes of Jonny Bairstow, Tim Bresnan, Adil Rashid and Glenn Maxwell. Andrew Hodd and Will Rhodes miss out on selection.Lancashire do welcome back Jos Buttler but are without James Anderson who was not released by the ECB. Alviro Petersen is also not in the squad having attended a Cricket South Africa player-of-the-year event on Wednesday. Tom Smith is left out.Northamptonshire v Worcestershire, The County Ground, Northampton, 6.30
Worcestershire add international pairing Moeen Ali and Saeed Ajmal to their squad, with Sachithra Senanayake ending his brief stint at the county. Northamptonshire meanwhile welcome Olly Stone back into the squad after an injury for what will be Shahid Afridi’s last match with the county before he departs for the Caribbean Premier League. Both Northamptonshire and Worcestershire have played just two games, with Northamptonshire having lost them both and Worcestershire winning one and losing one.Nottinghamshire v Leicestershire, Trent Bridge, Nottingham, 6.30
Leicestershire will be pleased with their start that sees them sitting fourth in the table after four matches but they face a tough challenge away to Nottinghamshire who have added Stuart Broad and Ben Hilfenhaus to an experienced and high-quality squad already boasting Alex Hales, James Taylor and Darren Sammy.Leicestershire welcome overseas signing Umar Akmal for his first match of the season. Akmal comes into the T20 Blast on the back of some excellent form for the Lahore Lions in the Super 8 T20 in Pakistan. Andrea Agathangelou and Matthew Boyce also come into a 14-man squad that is without Kevin and Niall O’Brien who are on international duty as well as Grant Elliott whose spell at the county is over.Derbyshire v Durham, The 3aaa County Ground, Derby, 6.30
Derbyshire will be looking to build on their impressive victory over Lancashire last week when they host Durham. Durham have named Ben Stokes in their 14-man squad but are without Calum MacLeod who is on national duty and have left out Graham Onions and Barry McCarthy from last week’s squad.Derbyshire meanwhile have named Nathan Rimmington in their squad for the first time after his introduction was postponed by injury. Rimmington replaces Hashim Amla in the squad. He has also ended his stint at the county.Sam Northeast is skippering a Kent side who have become the season’s surprise packet•Getty ImagesSouth Group
Kent v Gloucestershire, The Kent County Ground, Beckenham, 5.30
High-flying Kent, who have won four from five, host Gloucestershire, who haven’t played since Michael Klinger’s hundred carried them to victory over Essex in Game Week 2. Kent have added Matt Hunn and Ryan Davies to their squad that beat Somerset and have left out David Griffiths. James Tredwell is still out with injury. Gloucestershire meanwhile haven’t included Robbie Montgomery in their squad.Somerset v Hampshire, The County Ground, Taunton, 5.30
Hampshire moved to second in the South Group with a strong win against Middlesex on Thursday and will take a big stride towards the quarter-finals if they can win a tough fixture away to Somerset. Somerset have added Tom Groenewald to their squad from their thrilling defeat against Kent. All eyes will surely be on Chris Gayle who has plundered 243 runs from his two innings in the T20 Blast this season.Glamorgan v Middlesex, The SWALEC Stadium, Cardiff, 6.30
Both these counties have shown glimpses of promise this season but both have been beaten twice and a third defeat could quickly turn a promising start sour. Glamorgan, who have won the last four encounters between the two sides have not yet named their squad. Middlesex, meanwhile, have added Kyle Abbott to the squad that was beaten by Hampshire on Thursday.Surrey v Essex, The Kia Oval, London, 6.30
Only five matches into the season it is already approaching must-win time for Essex who are at the bottom of the South Groups having lost four matches. Essex have, in fact, lost eight of their last nine matches having won all of the eight preceding that. They face a Surrey side also in need of a win having lost two of their three matches.England Test captain Alastair Cook will make a rare appearance for Essex having been released by England and is joined in the squad by Aron Niijar and Jamie Porter with Nick Browne, Mark Pettini and Callum Taylor making way. Surrey have added Aneesh Kapil to last week’s squad and may add Gary Wilson depending on the outcome of Ireland’s Intercontinental Cup match against the UAE which is taking place in Dublin.

A round-up of the Plunket Shield matches that ended on February 18, 2014

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Feb-2015Dean Brownlie’s triple hundred was the highlight of a high-scoring draw at Pukekura Park, from which Northern Districts picked up six points for their first-innings lead over Central Districts. Brownlie sprinted to 334 from 398 balls, hitting 40 fours and eight sixes, as Northern Districts declared on 556 for 9 after being sent in to bat. Brownlie’s innings was the first triple-century by a Northern Districts player and the fifth in the history of New Zealand’s first-class competition. He scored his first 222 runs on the first day.Brownlie apart, the top order failed as Northern Districts slipped to 165 for 4. Brownlie then added 85 for the fifth wicket with BJ Watling and 217 for the sixth with Mitchell Santner, who made 101 from 171 balls. For Central Districts, left-arm spinners Ajaz Patel and George Worker picked up two wickets each.Greg Hay led Central Districts’ response with a 381-ball 157, assisted by half-centuries from Tom Bruce and Doug Bracewell, but Northern Districts kept chipping away the wickets – Scott Kuggeleijn picking up three – to bowl them out six runs short of the follow-on mark.By the end of the third day, Central Districts were in deep trouble at 17 for 2, still 138 runs away from avoiding innings defeat. The run-out dismissal of Will Young made it 49 for 3, before Hay and Bruce came to their rescue once again, putting on 144 for the fourth wicket in 41 overs. Hay fell for 80 but Bruce carried on batting for a further 13.3 overs before he was out for 94. Kruger van Wyk and Kieran Noema-Barnett then made unbeaten 20s to seal the draw and three points.

Who would make a Dream Team of the two Nations Cup finalists?

BackpagePix.Goalkeeper: Edouard Mendy

Endured a tricky spell against Equatorial Guinea, but beyond that, has done little to dent his reputation as the finest African goalkeeper in the game.

Mendy has kept clean sheets in four matches, although he was breached in both the quarter-final and the semi.

AdvertisementBackpagepixRight-back: Omar Kamal

Squeezing out Bouna Sarr in the toughest decision of the lot, Kamal only made his full Egypt debut in the Pharaohs’ second group game, but has excelled defensively, averaging 3.6 tackles per match.

It’s not bad going for a player who made his name as a winger.

Getty ImagesCentre-back: Kalidou Koulibaly

Like Mendy, had a few nervous moments against Equatorial Guinea, but he remains one of Africa’s finest defenders of his generation and isn’t going to be squeezed out of this dream team by any of Egypt’s options.

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Getty ImagesCentre-back: Abdou Diallo

Left-back: Saliou CissMaking the team ahead of the likes of Ahmed Hegazy or Mohamed Abdelmonem, Diallo has taken to international football seamlessly after being coaxed away from a future with France.

He complements Koulibaly well, offering technical poise and composure, and also opened the scoring as Burkina Faso were defeated in the semi-finals.

Jose Mourinho says he was “eliminated” as Roma manager by an ownership group that “knows little about football”.

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Portuguese dumped by Serie A giantsHad enjoyed success in EuropeTaken aim at American owners in ItalyWHAT HAPPENED?

The charismatic Portuguese was relieved of his duties at Stadio Olimpico on January 16. He had delivered Europa Conference League glory to the Italian capital, while also guiding the Giallorossi to the Europa League final in 2023.

Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

His departure left many supporters disappointed, despite struggles for consistency this season, and Mourinho has pointed the finger of blame for his departure firmly in the direction of The Friedkin Group – who are headed up by American billionaire businessman Dan Friedkin.

WHAT MOURINHO SAID

Discussing the knockout stages of this season’s European competitions, Mourinho has told : “The European competitions are about to begin, in particular the Champions League, perhaps the most important competition on the world calendar. I won’t be there at these final stages, not because I’ve already been eliminated, but because I was ‘eliminated’ by someone who knows little about football. That’s life, full of ups and downs, and I’m growing, despite the unexpected and unfair dismissal. But I will return, with even more enthusiasm and confidence, for these UEFA matches.”

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Getty ImagesDID YOU KNOW?

Mourinho added when asked what advice he would offer to those chasing down continental glory in 2024: “I’ve participated in many matches and have reached the final several times. They are truly special matches, for us coaches, for the fans and, obviously, for the players. I therefore have enough experience and knowledge to know how to move forward, even when we have opponents with a much greater potential than ours. At this stage I always keep in mind, in the first game you always play to win, in the second, you know what you need to go to the next round. Win with one goal, draw or even lose by one or two goals. And knockout matches are managed on this basis.”

Mikel Arteta claims that Arsenal have missed Jurrien Timber's "leadership and versatility" during his injury layoff.

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Timber recovering from cruciate ligament tearDefender hasn't played since first game of seasonNow on the road to return for GunnersWHAT HAPPENED?

Arsenal spent £40 million ($52m) to sign Timber from Ajax in the summer and were dealt a bitter blow when the defender suffered a cruciate ligament tear in the first game of the season, against Nottingham Forest. Now, Arteta has revealed that the 22-year-old is finally closing in on a return, and has talked up the qualities the Gunners have missed while he has been out.

AdvertisementWHAT ARTETA SAID

Arteta said: "First of all, his leadership, his versatility, the quality that he has to play in different positions, especially in an attacking phase, the spaces that he can occupy and certain qualities that nobody else in the squad has to do that. As you could tell he was fitting in; he’s really liked around the boys, and he’s been a big miss."

Asked about his recovery, he replied: "It’s been a joy and all the physios and the medical staff are really happy with his attitude, and his commitment, especially with the way things have gone. It’s not a coincidence the way he applies [himself], how determined he is, his willingness to put every effort in everything that he’s demanded to do and he’s in a really good place. Now we have to manage [him] because it’s the last stage of that difficult injury that is complicated, but I think he’s on the right way."

Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Timber also played in the Community Shield win over Manchester City but has not been seen since August. He made 121 appearances for Ajax before the move, and has also won 15 caps for the Netherlands.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?

Timber is unlikely to be playing for Arsenal this weekend against Sheffield United but he may be eyeing the following Saturday's clash with Brentford as a potential returning point.

There's few more beautiful sights in football than a player finding the back of the net after defying gravity – but who did it best?

Premier League fans have been treated to hundreds of amazing goals since the competition's inception back in 1992, with some of the best players in the world producing moments of wizardry that defy belief. There is one specific type of goal that elicits more joy than any other, though, because of the technical ability and sheer audacity that is required to pull it off.

Instant hero status is bestowed on those that manage to execute a perfect overhead kick. They are rarely seen during normal passages of play, not least because of the inherent risk of embarrassment that comes with the shot selection.

But there is no defence against it when its done right. For a player to get a strong enough connection to beat a goalkeeper with their back to goal everything has to be perfect, from their positioning and timing to their concentration and general poise.

The English top-flight has probably seen more of these wondrous goals than any other league in Europe, and picking out the best of them for a top-10 list is no mean feat. But every so often a return to the archives becomes a necessity.

There will always be those who take to the skies in a bid to write their name into Premier League folklore, and GOAL is here to rank the greatest overhead kicks in the competition's history to date…

10Sebastian Haller (West Ham vs Crystal Palace, 2021)

West Ham supporters never really saw the best of Sebastien Haller, who arrived at the London Stadium from Eintracht Frankfurt in a club-record £45 million ($57m) deal back in July 2019. A modest return of 14 goals from 54 appearances highlights the fact that the Borussia Dortmund striker wasn't settled in England, but one of those efforts still ranks among the best of his entire career.

It came when Crystal Palace visited West Ham in December 2021, as David Moyes' side found themselves in dire need of inspiration after falling behind to a first-half header from Christian Benteke. Haller provided it as he swivelled in mid-air to meet a Vladimir Coufal cross from the right wing, with his powerful effort nestling perfectly into the top corner.

Palace goalkeeper Vicente Guaita could only watch on helplessly as it flew past him, and it earned West Ham a valuable point in their pursuit of European qualification. Moyes described Haller's strike as a "wondergoal", which was more than fitting, and served as a reminder of his superb natural instincts in the box.

Advertisement9Gary Cahill (Aston Villa vs Birmingham City, 2006)

Gary Cahill is best remembered as a quick, reliable defender who rose to the top because of his impressive ability to the read the game. But the former Chelsea and Bolton star also had an eye for goal. He bagged 28 Premier League goals in total, including a sublime bicycle kick to open his account when he was on the books of Aston Villa.

Villa hosted Birmingham City in April 2006 with both sides struggling at the wrong end of the table, and Villa ended up taking the spoils with a 3-1 victory, as Cahill grabbed their all-important second goal after an incredible leap.

The ball was headed in his direction after an ugly goalmouth scramble, but Cahill's finish was a thing of beauty as he rose to turn home an unstoppable first-time volley. It was a piece of athleticism that no one knew he had in his locker at the time, but it set the tone for him to go on and become a genuine goalscoring centre-half.

8Rory Delap (Southampton vs Tottenham, 2004)

When most football fans hear the name Rory Delap, they think of Stoke City's throw-in specialist who successfully riled up legendary Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger on multiple occasions. But the Ireland midfielder was also very capable of conjuring up something spectacular.

Delap delivered his career-best strike for Southampton against Tottenham at St Mary's in March 2004, after going exactly two years without a goal. No one expected to see Delap running into the box to try and latch on a loose ball, but that's exactly what he did, and he had the speed of thought to adjust his body for a bicycle kick after realising it was dropping behind him.

Delap couldn't have hoped for a cleaner connection as his shot then rocketed past Kasey Keller in the Spurs net. It proved to be the difference between the two sides and ensured that Delap will always have a special place in the hearts of Saints' supporters.

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7Andy Carroll (West Ham vs Crystal Palace, 2017)

Andy Carroll was once considered to be the brightest talent in English football. The Newcastle academy graduate was unplayable on his day, a big brute of a centre-forward who caused nightmares for defenders in the air, but injuries prevented him from reaching his full potential.

After a failed spell at Liverpool, Carroll joined West Ham on a permanent deal in 2013, and went on to score a respectable 34 goals for the club. His standout effort came in a 3-0 home win against Crystal Palace in January 2017, which to this day probably remains the best goal ever scored at the London Stadium.

Michail Antonio stood up a cross for Carroll to meet at the back post and he turned his body perfectly to execute an acrobatic overhead kick, which was barely visible as it flashed into the net. The crowd was left stunned, but it came as no surprise to then-West Ham boss Slaven Billic, who said after the game: "He does it in training, although he is normally hitting the post! I am afraid he will get injured when he does it in training."

Australia’s young allrounder Glenn Maxwell has declared he will be his side’s “x-factor” in the World Twenty20

Daniel Brettig17-Sep-2012Glenn Maxwell is headed for a breakout display at the World Twenty20 … or a sobering brush with reality at the same tournament.Having turned heads with a handful of spiky performances in his first appearances for Australia during their recent ODI and T20 series in the UAE, Maxwell has arrived in Sri Lanka flushed with confidence ahead of his team’s opening match against Ireland on Wednesday.He has spoken with plenty of brio about the sorts of displays he is capable of producing over the next three weeks, which in his mind will be match-turning efforts of the kind produced by the world’s very best. They are bold words from a 23-year-old with six international matches to his credit, and Maxwell will now need to back them up with plenty of action.”I’m very confident I can perform now at this level. Hopefully I can be that x-factor that Australia needs to win this tournament,” Maxwell said in Colombo. “I feel like I can become that x-factor in all three facets of the game and hopefully be that flair that Australia really wants to see.”That could mean a run out, a brilliant catch, a breakthrough wicket with the ball or big hitting. I’m really embracing that ‘x-factor’ tag. I don’t really have too many doubts, I don’t think I’m going to try to back down any time soon either.”Among a series of useful cameos in the UAE, Maxwell said he gained most from an unbeaten half century to guide Australia home in the third ODI in Sharjah. That innings clinched the series for Michael Clarke’s team, and gave Maxwell the belief that he could follow it up with even greater things at the World T20.”When I got the boys over the line at the end, that gave me the confidence to do anything in the squad,” he said. “I feel like I can give Australia more runs at the top of the order rather than the bottom. Hopefully a hundred is not too far away and it comes in this tournament.”Running his eye over other teams in the tournament, Maxwell said he expected England to shrug off the loss of Kevin Pietersen, the player of the tournament when Paul Collingwood led the team to victory over Australia in the final of the 2010 edition.”England has been a bit of a powerhouse. KP is one of the world’s best players but they’ve been able to cover for him pretty well,” Maxwell said. “I don’t think they’re going to miss him too much.””Their middle order is quite strong. Eoin Morgan gives them amazing versatility, he’s a great finisher and a really tough player to get out. Their bowling attack is excellent. They’ve got a great bowling coach in David Saker who has drilled them really well.”Maxwell’s words carry as much conviction as some of his strokes have done so far. Australia will hope for more of the same from Wednesday.

Chris Rogers remains hopeful of a recall to the Australian Test side but realises county success may be a more realistic aim for 2013

Alex Winter09-Apr-2013Arthur Coningham, Ken Eastwood, Mick Malone. Three names that are part of a club that Chris Rogers is in danger of joining: the Australian one-Test wonders.All three enjoyed fine first-class careers but were never given the chance on the international stage. At 35 it is quite perceivable that Rogers will end his career with the same footnote.It will be quite puzzling if Rogers never plays another Test. He was considered good enough to break into the Australian side, then the world’s No. 1, in 2008, but four years later continues to be overlooked for a side struggling for runs.Rogers reels off the names of players preferred to him since his only Test in Perth. None of them get close to his near-19,000 first-class runs at a shade under 50.”It has always felt like there’s always been someone else who has come in to take that available spot,” Rogers told ESPNcricinfo. “Whether it’s a Katich or a Cowan or a Hughes. There’s always been someone else. It all comes down to opportunity and it would be nice to have had more than one Test to show people that I can play.”He can most certainly play. Last summer he passed 1,000 runs in an English season for the sixth time (he has passed the mark in two Australian seasons). His 1,086 runs at 40.22 led Middlesex to third place in the County Championship – their best finish since 1995.He cannot be shouting louder in the ears of the Australian selectors. But they continue to allow his case to pass over them. They selected Rob Quiney – only five years Rogers’ junior but with fifty fewer first-class centuries – against South Africa before Christmas. And he was allowed to have a go in two Tests.Selections like Quiney’s are a killer to Rogers who can do no more than keep the mobile phone charged up. “It’s hard to keep getting excited about the prospect of a recall because I have waited a few years for a phone call and it hasn’t come,” he said. “The selectors have gone in a different direction and there are only so many times you can get your hopes up.”But maybe this summer Rogers will be too hard to ignore. Australia’s top-order batting has consistently failed and a proven run-producer is sitting waiting on the shores to which they will tour. John Inverarity, the Australian chairman of selectors, has said Rogers will be seriously considered. Surely cause for positivity?”I’m not sure if positive is the right word,” Rogers said. “I think there’s a chance. Guys who’ve had the opportunity over the past couple of years haven’t really nailed their spot and that has maybe left the door a little bit ajar.”Omission from the Ashes would almost certainly bring a final slump of the shoulders from Rogers, who averages just 0.33-of-a-run below Justin Langer in first-class cricket.If it is not meant to be Rogers can concentrate on helping Middlesex complete their transformation. When he joined the club in 2011, they were at a particularly low ebb having finished second-bottom of the Championship the year before. But his runs rallied them back into Division One and last season’s third sees them installed as contenders for the title in 2013.A tonic for international disappointment perhaps? “As you get older the desire to win things comes much greater and to captain a side – which two years ago was struggling – to a Championship would be something I could be very proud of. But playing for your country is still the ultimate.”

What to expect from and who to look out for at the upcoming Faysal Bank T-20 Cup

Umar Farooq30-Nov-2012Sialkot Stallions
Coach: Ijaz Ahmed Jr
Captain: Shoaib Malik
Mohammad Yousuf, captain of Lahore Lions, would be hoping to impress the Pakistan selectors•Getty ImagesDefending champions Sailkot Stallions are the most effective T20 side on the Pakistan domestic circuit. They have missed out on claiming the title only twice, winning it six times. They hold the record for the most number of consecutive wins, being unbeaten for 25 matches between 2006 and 2010. Stallions represented Pakistan in the Champions League in October this year, but failed to qualify for the main event – they lost the opening game against Auckland Aces but won their next game against Hampshire.Opener Imran Nazir leads the solid top order, and the middle order is centred around captain Shoaib Malik. Seamer Naved-ul-Hasan and promising young left-arm spinner Raza Hasan lead the bowling attack. Stallions will miss spinner Abdur Rehman, who is serving a 12-week ban for using a recreational drug during his stint with Somerset in England.Player to watch out for: Left-hand batsman Haris Sohail, one of the in-form Pakistan batsmen on the domestic circuit since 2010. He has scored 673 runs at 134.60, with four hundreds and two half-centuries in the President’s Trophy. He also has a sound temperament, and could be in the national reckoning soon.Lahore Lions
Coach: Mohsin Kamal
Captain: Mohammad Yousuf
Captained by experienced batsman Mohammad Yousuf, Lions possess nine active international players. Nasir Jamshed, Ahmed Shehzad, Kamran Akmal and Mohammad Hafeez, who has left his native side Faisalabad Wolves to join Wolves as a guest player, make up the top order. Umar Akmal, Yousuf and Abdul Razzaq bolster the middle order, and the bowling attack is led by left-arm fast bowler Wahab Riaz, Aizaz Cheema and Under-19 player Zia-ul-Haq. Lions, who claimed the 2010-11 title, are thus a potentially dominant side.Player to watch out for: Thirty-eight-year-old Mohammad Yousuf is among the finest batsmen Pakistan has produced. Though not a big fan of Twenty20 cricket, he still holds a respectable batting strike rate of 110.86 in the domestic T20s. He hasn’t played any domestic tournament since June 2011 and is keen to make a comeback to the national team.Karachi Dolphins
Coach: Tauseef Ahmed
Captain: Shahid Afridi
Captained by Shahid Afridi, the line-up has powerful openers like Shahzaib Hasan and Khalid Latif, and Fawad Alam and Asad Shafique in the middle order. Their bowling is led by fast bowlers Sohail Khan, Mohammad Sami and Tanvir Ahmed.Player to watch out for: There are few who carry the hopes of the public like Shahid Afridi. But he is currently struggling to make an impact with bat and ball. He had scored 30 runs in six matches at an average of six and claimed four wickets at 42.74 at the World Twenty20 in October. In his last ten international innings across all formats, he averages 6.30. He would be eager to find form ahead of the upcoming limited-overs series against India.Rawalpindi Rams
Coach: Sabih Azhar
Captain: Sohail Tanvir
Rawalpindi Rams, the runners-up of the previous tournament in Karachi and the winner of inaugural edition of super-eight T20 in Faisalabad, are the underdogs. The side contains some specialist T20 players like Awais Zia, Sohail Tanvir and Yasir Arafat. Umar Amin and Umar Waheed are in the middle order and can rescue the side from any early wobbles. Mohammad Nawaz, a talented 18-year-old left-arm spinner, and Hammad Azam lead the bowling attack.Player to watch out for: Awais Zia had a productive season last year. He was the leading run-getter for Rams and the fourth-highest overall with 177 runs from five games.Bahawalpur Stags
Coach: Shahid Anwar
Captain: Bilal Khilji
This is the new team that has been introduced into the competition. Most of their local stars, like Bilal Khilji and Kamran Hussain, had featured for Multan in the previous tournaments and have finally landed in their own regional side. Stags made a handful of acquisitions, adding the likes of Kashif Siddique and Mohammad Talha to their line-up as guest players, to make up a formidable side. Former Pakistan wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider from Lahore is another guest player.Player to watch out for: Mohammad Talha has gone out of contention after been a strong prospect for the national side. An injury-prone pacer, he would be looking for an opportunity to regain form.

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Everything you need to know about the new Barcelona kits for the 2023-24 season

Barcelona and Nike team up once more for another top-drawer kit campaign, as the La Liga heavyweights seek to celebrate their return to the top of the Spanish football pyramid. With Xavi restoring much-vaunted league silverware to Camp Nou, supporters will be ready to celebrate a temporary move to the Olympic Stadium with a fresh fit to suit a champion.

👕 Shop the Barcelona 2023-24 kits at Nike

Nike unveiled the all-new Barcelona 2023-24 home kit on June 15, inspired by the first women’s supporters’ club from 1971 who played the first-ever women’s football match at the Spotify Camp Nou. The new home kit has the classic broad stripes in original blaugrana colours but with a significant detail – the badge set into a diamond. The away kit was unveiled on July 26, releasing an all-white kit for the first time in over 40 years that is inspired by club legend Johan Cruyff.

The American sportswear giant has been the club’s long-term apparel provider, and is extending that partnership across the upcoming season, as the Blaugrana look set to stick with tried-and-tested classic colours for their latest crack at football domination.

So, what new kits will Barcelona wear in 2023-24? GOAL takes a look at the jerseys that are set to be sported by Robert Lewandowski, Gavi and more, while we also give you the lowdown on rumours and leaks alongside details on how to buy them online.

Barcelona 2023-24 kits

Nike unveiled the all-new Barcelona 2023-24 home kit on June 15. The new kit is unique as it is the Club’s first to be inspired by the women’s team.

The home kit features the classic broad stripes – synonymous with Barca – in the original blaugrana colours, the significant detailing coming through with the badge set in a diamond.

The diamond represents the first women’s team to ever play a game of football at the Spotify Camp Nou, an example of Barça’s pioneering spirit, always adopting a leading role in both sport and society, allied with continued success. 

The jersey will feature the men’s and women’s team main partner, Spotify, whose logo is on the front, alongside the Nike logo. The Ambilight TV and Bimbo brands will be on the men’s and women’s first team jersey sleeves respectively. The UNHCR/ACNUR logo will again feature above the number on the back. 

The Barcelona 2023-24 home kit is available to buy right now from Nike, with a replica men’s shirt retailing at £79.95.

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Barcelona has released its first white-away kits since 1979. The innovative design pays tribute to the man who developed Barca's playing style – Johan Cruyff. Based on the second kit worn by the blaugranes during the 1970s. Just like the first kit harks back to the spirit of the Barça Women’s team that played their first-ever game at the Spotify Camp Nou in 1970. The jersey is predominantly white and features red and blue stripes on the sleeve cuffs.

The kit is available to buy now from Nike for £75.00.

As with the away strip, there is not too much known about the finer points of the 2023-24 third kit Barcelona will sport this coming season, though if their anticipated change number sticks to its planned design, it will need a face-lift.

Early leaks and speculation suggest Barcelona’s third option could opt for a colour tone not seen on their alternative options since the 2019-20 campaign, with a return to an aquamarine-eseque hue, alternatively described as mint and turquoise.

Simple block patterns with little deviation bar traditional Barcelona trim are anticipated,, but as it stands, there is no concrete info on both design and collar structure for this option.

As with plenty of other third-choice kits for next season, not much is known about an exact release date, but you can expect it to match the price of their other strips, retailing at an anticipated £75.00 through Nike.

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In line with the expected classy designs of their home and away strips, Barcelona’s 2023-24 training kit looks set to keep the tasteful feel intact, opting for a two-tone number between contrasted shades of grey.

A lighter, soft-steel hue forms the bulk of the main body, while darker, slate-coloured accents cover the arms and shoulders for an impressively deft effect.

The Blaugrana are no stranger to a grey number of course, though it is historically a shade reserved exclusively for their goalkeeper kits, with this season’s change strip for shotstoppers bearing some tonal similarities.

There is no official release date set for the pre-match jersey, but with stock suggested to be close to the shelves, we can expect to see a summer 2023 launch.