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Although the expression “Decision Day for England” has been used with monotonously repetitive regularity over the last week, there is no doubting today’s qualifications for such a tag.The World Cup technical committee is meeting in Johannesburg to decide whether England should play their World Cup Pool A match against Zimbabwe in Harare. The England and Wales Cricket Board hope that new evidence will persuade the committee that death threats received from an organisation called the “Sons and Daughters of Zimbabwe” cannot be dismissed as a hoax, as claimed by the Deputy Commissioner of South African Police, Andre Pruis.He said that the organisation was not known to pose a serious threat and that he received several such letters himself on a personal basis. However, it was later revealed that the organisation was known to Interpol.There appears to be little sympathy for England’s cause outside the country. Indeed, two of the Boards’ top brass, Jagmohan Dalmiya (India) and Percy Sonn (South Africa) have gone well beyond the mere unsympathetic in adding their respective verbal fusillades.Dalmiya suggested that far from just forfeiting the match if they don’t play in Harare, England should actually be docked an additional four points for failing to do so. In a letter to International Cricket Council chief executive Malcolm Speed, he stated: “The ICC should come to a firm and final decision whether Zimbabwe is a safe country or not for playing World Cup matches.”If Zimbabwe is not a safe country, then shift all the matches from there. But if it is safe, award full points to Zimbabwe for the England match and levy a penalty of four minus points on England.”Meanwhile the president of the United Cricket Board of South Africa, Percy Sonn, has now been called to account by his own organisation. Sonn, who some observers claimed was drunk at the game between India and Holland at Paarl, was heard to launch into a tirade about English cricket in front of ECB chairman David Morgan, who was attending the game as Sonn’s guest.The UCBSA chief executive Gerald Majola is planning to talk to Sonn about the alleged incident. The ECB has maintained a dignified silence.”I have spoken with Percy and he will get the opportunity to discuss the matter with the UCB general council in the next few days,” said Majola. “Until that discussion has taken place, it is inappropriate for the UCB to make any further comment on the issue.”Sonn later apologised for his behaviour, in response to requests from several South African politicians.Sonn said in a statement: “I realise that my conduct at Boland Park on Wednesday fell short of standards which people find acceptable for a person in my position and, if I offended anyone with my behaviour, I sincerely apologise.”Earlier this week Sonn told a press conference that South Africa might boycott this summer’s tour of England in retaliation for the ECB’s refusal to honour their World Cup fixture in Zimbabwe on security grounds.It is against this unedifying background that the technical committee will decide whether to abandon England’s match on safety grounds and split the points between the countries, relocate the game or hand the points to Zimbabwe.It is not just millions of pounds that are riding on the decision. So, it seems, is almost an entire summer programme of international cricket in England.

Hampshire have suspended Zac Morris for three games after he pleaded guilty to a drunk and disorderly charge.The left-arm bowler, a former England U19 player, was arrested by police after being spotted urinating on a roundabout in Southampton. He was fined £120 and £55 costs.”We have warned him about the future and told him his behaviour must improve,” Tim Tremlett, Hampshire’s director of cricket, said. “We told all the players at the start of the season that such incidents will not be tolerated.”

The Saudi PIF have changed Newcastle United forever, with their investment handing a generation of supporters memories that will no doubt last a lifetime.

Their spending in the transfer market may have been excessive in certain stages, but it’s handed Eddie Howe the platform he’s needed for success on Tyneside.

He led the side to the Carabao Cup last season, subsequently winning their first trophy in 56 years, something which would have been unthinkable under the previous ownership group.

Their consistent finishes in the top five of the Premier League have led to numerous Champions League campaigns, which has seen the Magpies come up against the best Europe has to offer.

However, the January transfer window could present another opportunity for the board to flex their muscles and invest once again into the first-team squad.

Newcastle enter talks to sign former PL sensation

Ahead of the January transfer window, Newcastle have no doubt been targeting added defensive reinforcements amid the recent injury struggles facing the Magpies.

Tarik Muharemovic, who plays for Serie A side Sassuolo, has been firmly on their radar over the last few weeks, but a transfer battle for his signature could well be on the cards.

Juventus are also said to be interested in the 22-year-old’s services, but it’s currently unclear how much the Bosnian youngster could cost in the winter window.

However, the midfield department could also be subject to investment, with Ruben Neves a player who the Magpies are interested in completing a move for.

According to TEAMtalk, Howe’s men have already reached out to Al Hilal over a move for the Portuguese international who wants a return to the Premier League.

The report also states that the Magpies could hold an advantage in the race for the 28-year-old’s signature, given their links to the Saudi Pro League through their current owners.

Why Neves could be Newcastle’s next Guimaraes

Spending big money on a midfielder in January hasn’t been alien to Newcastle, as seen by the £40m move to land Bruno Guimaraes back in the winter window in 2022.

Such a move was one of the first pieces of huge business conducted by the hierarchy after their takeover, with the deal still standing as one of their best to date.

The Brazilian has now racked up 178 appearances for the Magpies in the last four years, often being the shining light in the club’s recent success across various competitions.

Guimaraes has also been in fine form throughout the early stages of 2025/26, as seen by his tally of five goals and two assists in his first 15 league games of the season.

However, the board could replicate a move for the 28-year-old with a move for Neves in the weeks ahead – a deal that could prove to be a really shrewd piece of business.

The former Wolves star has previously spent five years in England’s top-flight, subsequently having the tools to provide a superb experienced option at the heart of the side.

His stats from his current season in Saudi Arabia showcase his talents, with the Portuguese international undoubtedly a man who would improve the options at Howe’s disposal.

Ruben Neves – stats in 2025/26

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

9

Goals scored

4

Passes completed

91%

Chances created

1.4

Touches per game

97

Times dispossessed

0

Duels won

67%

Recoveries made

5.1

Stats via FotMob

He’s currently boasting a 91% pass completion rate in the Middle East, whilst averaging 71 passes per 90 – with both ranking him in the top 5% of all players in the division.

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Both tallies highlight his incredible ability with the ball at his feet, something which Guimaraes has become known for during his own spell at St James’ Park.

However, out of possession, Neves has been just as impressive, as seen by his tally of 1.1 tackles won and 59% duels won – subsequently offering a dominant presence.

Other tallies, such as 67% aerials won and 5.1 recoveries made per 90, also showcase his all-round talent – leading to huge praise being directed his way as a result.

Football Doctor Raj Chohan has previously been singing his praises, even claiming that the former Wolves star is now “the most underrated player in world football”.

It’s unclear how much a deal for the midfielder could cost this winter, but it’s certainly a move that would bolster the squad and strengthen the club’s chances of success.

If he can get anywhere near the levels produced by Guimaraes on Tyneside, he will certainly become a fan-favourite and have the chance to add further silverware to his resume.

Related Not just Willock: Howe must drop Newcastle star who lost the ball 25 times

Newcastle United secured their place in the semi-final of the Carabao Cup with a win against Fulham last night.

Posts ByEthan Lamb

	Mohammad Hafeez receives the prestigious Quaid-e-Azam Trophy © Waseem Alam

As Shahid Afridi conceded the match from Habib Bank Limited’s (HBL) dressing-room balcony, the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) team, post the handshakes with the umpires and the departing batsmen, formed a huddle in the middle. No wild celebrations, no hugs, no team officials running onto the field to congratulate the team. It was for a good two minutes or so that Mohammad Hafeez, SNGPL’s captain, spoke to his young team on a job well done. It was only after the verdict that there was a roar from the middle and plenty joined in at the boundary line.With the prize ceremony out of the way, Hafeez was quick to point out that the success was all a team-effort. There was no Afridi, Danish Kaneria, Hasan Raza or Abdur Rehman, They did have Hafeez and Misbah-ul-Haq, who may have won them the final but according to Hafeez, the team owed much to the young guns that had carried them to the final after a convincing loss in the first match of the season.”We started really badly,” Hafeez told Cricinfo. “Losing our first match of the season [to PIA] was not the ideal of starts to the season. However, our young boys lifted their spirits from then onwards and here we are.”It has been a total team effort. Our batsmen scored runs when it was required. Our bowlers took wickets where it was necessary. We all backed each other and stood up for one another. We were short on big names [Misbah was away on international duty] but the likes of Umar Akmal and Khurram Shehzad made it possible for the team to reach the final.”SNGPL impressive first-innings effort laid the foundations of the draw. Put into bat in overcast conditions, the team was guided past the 250-mark thanks to Hafeez and Misbah but then Adnan Akmal, the young wicketkeeper, scored a resilient 55 to enable his side to reach 351.”Adnan played a very, very useful knock. It was a prime example of our players delivering when it was of the utmost importance. We were five down for under 250 and without Adnan’s effort, taking such a big first-innings lead would not have been possible.”Satisfied with his own performance – he scored 69 in the first innings after three consecutive centuries during the last three matches – Hafeez was quick to praise Misbah, the Man of the Final.”The return of Misbah made all the difference. He made a useful contribution in the first-innings and carried us to a decent score. However, second innings we were in a bit of a stutter at 14 for 3. What followed was simply amazing and to keep scoring runs the way he is doing is simply amazing.”Obviously I would have loved to add a fourth consecutive century to my name, but winning the league with such a young team is something. I am more thrilled holding this trophy then having four centuries to my name.”

Deryck Murray, left, was less than impressed with the manner of some players during the Carib Beer Final © Trinidad & Tobago Express

West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) director Deryck Murray lashed players’ behaviour as the Carib Beer Challenge Final ended yesterday at Guaracara Park.The hot-tempered match – that Trinidad and Tobago won by 49 runs over Barbados – saw repeated acrimonious verbal exchanges between opposing players, and Murray believes the authorities should move swiftly to tackle the problem.”Here are the two best teams in the region, role models for our cricket in the future. We need in the West Indies Cricket Board and the West Indies Players’ Association to address that issue and ensure that it doesn’t happen again,” said Murray, a former West Indies wicket-keeper/batsman and current president of the T&T Cricket Board.Barbados captain Ryan Hinds, and his team-mates Floyd Reifer and Dwayne Smith were all summoned to a meeting — before yesterday’s fourth day — by match referee Clarence Shaffralli for behavioural infractions during the game.Shaffralli’s findings are expected to be handed over to the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).Murray, who played on West Indies World Cup-winning teams in 1975 and 1979, expressed sympathy for umpires Billy Doctrove and Norman Malcolm, suggesting that their job was made tougher because of the conduct of some of the players.”I don’t think I have ever played or been a spectator at a game where the umpires’ job has been made so difficult, and I think in fairness, I have to say that it’s unacceptable for West Indies cricket to put our umpires under the kind of pressure they were,” said the 63-year-old Murray.”There were seven incidents reported to the match referee and that again is not taking into account the other incidents that were not reported,” Murray added.Murray played 62 Tests and 26 One-Day International (ODI) matches for the West Indies between 1963 and 1980 and took over as TTCB president in October 2005.

The combination of Alan Dawson and Thami Tsolekile destroyed theWarriors’ hopes of their first win in the Standard Bank Pro20 Series asthe Cape Cobras won easily by 21 runs.The Warriors had done all the hard work to restrict the Cobras to 144but Dawson, who took a career best 4 for 18, the fourth-best return for abowler in the Pro20, and Tsolekile, who snaffled five catches behind thestumps, equalling Morne van Wyk’s five dismissals in 2003-04, destroyedthe Warriors’ top order to leave them floundering at 15 for 4 after threeovers. Michael Smith, who made 49, and Mark Bruyns (35) were the onlyWarriors batsmen to get into double figures as they finished on 123 for8.Rory Kleinveldt had earlier lifted a troubled Cape Cobras innings to 144for 8 as he hit 46 off 22 balls with the Warriors pressing hard fortheir first win in the series. JP Duminy had given the innings someimpetus with 23 off 18 balls but it was Kleinveldt’s innings thatlifted the Cobras. Justin Kreusch (3 for 31)and Tyron Henderson (2 for 21) were the wicket-takers and they were wellsupported by some disciplined bowling to restrict the Cobras.In Durban, the lights and the rain could not stop the Eagles frombeating the Dolphins by seven wickets in a match which was decided by the Duckworth-Lewis method.The start was slightly delayed with some controversy about theuse of one bank of lights. It was decided to switch them on andtake a chance that they do not fuse. The Dolphins made a blisteringstart as Kyle Smit struck 76 from 41 balls to bring up the 100 in thetenth over. However, the rest of the batsmen failed to take advantage of the platform, as Nicky Boje and Roger Telemachus bowled well, taking three wickets each to restrict the damage. The Dolphins’ total of 190 for 7 was still the highest score of the season, though.The Eagles’ innings got off to a frenetic start as well, with Morne van Wyk hitting 56 not out off 33 balls and Davey Jacobs wading in with 46 off 35. The innings was interrupted twice due to rain, the second delay causing a loss of five overs and a revised target of 145. All the hard work done before the rain paid off as the Eagles cruised home with five balls to spare.

Victoria v New South Wales
Scorecard