Kevin Pietersen’s return home for Christmas turned sour on the flight back to Australia when his profuse thanks to Emirates turned into anger as they left his luggage behind
ESPNcricinfo staff29-Dec-2017Kevin Pietersen’s dash back to the UK to spend a happy Christmas with his family turned into a full-scale tirade on the return flight to Australia when Emirates Airlines mislaid his luggage during his connection in Dubai.Pietersen described himself as “FUMING!!!!!!” as he tweeted to his 3.57m followers:
1. YOU FORGET TO PICK ME UP FOR MY FLIGHT. 2. YOU’VE JUST LEFT ALL MY LUGGAGE IN DUBAI. How do I work on international TV in a few hours with no clothes? 1st Class FULL paying passenger & PLATINUM member. @emirates @EmiratesSupport @Busta569
— KP (@KP24) December 28, 2017
It was all a far cry from his earlier tweet when he thanked Emirates for waiting for the delayed flight from London.Emirates responded by giving him a credit card – presumably his own was maxed out with all that Christmas shopping? – so he could buy some clothes to look presentable on screen, ahead of a stint of Big Bash commentary for the game between Melbourne Renegades and Perth Scorchers.He later praised Emirates’ wonderful service, but added that he was “gutted” because the credit card spending limit was reached before he could buy some socks.And his research might not have been entirely up to scratch as he also complained he could not watch BBL on live TV on the 13-hour flight.Pietersen, who was part of Channel 9’s commentary team for the first three Ashes Tests, plays for the Melbourne Stars in the BBL. He featured in their opening fixture, on December 20, before making a flying visit home over the Christmas period.
Burnley are now ready to make a move for FC Nordsjaelland forward Ernest Nuamah, and a new report has now revealed how much they will have to pay in order to beat some of Europe's top clubs to his signature.
Who are Burnley signing this summer?
Vincent Kompany has already strengthened his squad considerably this summer, having mainly focussed on bringing in young players with high ceilings, with almost all of the arrivals at the age of 25 or under, and he is still seeking further reinforcements.
20-year-old Sporting CP midfielder Renato Veiga has recently been named as a target, with journalist Dominik Schneider reporting the Clarets are currently in talks over a deal, which could amount to €6m (£5.1m).
Burnley are also on the verge of signing Aston Villa attacking midfielder Aaron Ramsey, in a deal worth £14m, although the move is yet to be confirmed, as Unai Emery's side are finalising the add-ons and insisting on a buy-back option.
Not only is Kompany keen on bolstering his midfield in the final two weeks of the summer transfer window, but he is also still in the market for a new forward, and The Daily Mail report that Nuamah is now a target.
However, the Clarets will have to be willing to shell out a sizeable fee for the 19-year-old, as he is valued at £22m by Nordsjaelland, and he is being targeted by a whole host of top European clubs.
Paris Saint-Germain, Ajax, AC Milan and Tottenham Hotspur are all credited with an interest in the youngster, so Burnley will have to see off stiff competition if they are to get a deal over the line, but they are now ready to make their move.
Despite the interest from across the continent, Kompany's side are currently said to be "the most advanced in their interest", signalling they are leading the race and could stand a good chance of securing the starlet's signature.
Who is Ernest Nuamah?
Born in Kumasi, Ghana, Nuamah is a versatile forward, who is capable of playing across the front three, but he has most commonly featured at right-wing throughout his career so far, having broken into the Nordsjaelland starting XI at a young age.
The Ghanaian has spent his entire professional career with the Danish club, and he has recorded a very respectable goal return, weighing in with 20 goals and five assists in a total of 49 first-team appearances.
Not only has the right-winger impressed at club level, but he has also done enough to impress Ghana manager Chris Hughton, having already earned his first cap for the Black Stars, making a substitute appearance against Madagascar back in June.
Vincent Kompany
Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has praised the Nordsjaelland star for the progress he has made since establishing himself in the first team, claiming he is "getting better and better", and has "huge potential".
Having made an "outrageous" start to the season for the Danish club, Nuamah could be a very exciting signing for Burnley, but it would be a big risk to shell out £22m on a player unproven outside of Denmark.
Sri Lanka Cricket has organised the special training programme featuring 23 ODI cricketers, to allow Chandika Hathurusingha to have “quality time” with the preliminary squad
Andrew Fidel Fernando23-Dec-2017Sri Lanka Cricket has asked 23 ODI cricketers to take part in a special training programme ahead of the Bangladesh tour, so new coach Chandika Hathurusingha can have “quality time” with the preliminary squad. Those cricketers, as a result, will not play in the ongoing domestic tournaments.”The players were asked not to play domestic cricket following a request made by the head coach Chandika Hathurusingha and we complied with that,” SLC president Thilanga Sumathipala said.Hathurusingha has earned a reputation as a coach who likes to have close control over his team, and the training programme may be a means of establishing the culture he wishes to usher in. ODIs have also been Sri Lanka’s most problematic format over the past two years.The squad itself holds no major surprises, save perhaps for the re-inclusion of Kusal Mendis, who was left out of all Sri Lanka’s outfits for the India tour. This does not necessarily mean Mendis is back – eight of the players in this preliminary squad will be cut before the team travels to Bangladesh. However, it is an indication that Mendis remains in Hathurusingha’s long-term plans.Lahiru Thirimanne (who has been modest across formats over the past two tours), and Dhananjaya de Silva (who has produced outstanding Test innings, but has not quite warmed to the limited-overs formats) have been excluded from this squad. Sachith Pathirana, the left-arm spinning allrounder, has also been omitted, following a string of mediocre limited-overs outings.The only uncapped member of the squad is Shehan Madushanka – a 22-year-old right-arm quick who has played just five domestic matches so far.The training programme begins on December 28. The ODI schedule for the Bangladesh tour has not yet been released.Squad for training programme: Thisara Perera, Upul Tharanga, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Kusal Perera, Asela Gunaratne, Niroshan Dickwella, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Dasun Shanaka, Lahiru Gamage, Vishwa Fernando, Dushmantha Chameera, Shehan Madushanka, Lahiru Kumara, Akila Dananjaya, Jeffrey Vandersay, Amila Aponso, Lakshan Sandakan, Chaturanga De Silva
Zero goals, zero points, three games played, it's fair to say that Everton have got off to a worrying start in their bid to secure survival in the Premier League this season.
Their three defeats without a single goal is the worst start to a season that the Toffees have ever had, and they have been left desperately scrambling for further reinforcements before the transfer window slams shut, as a result.
If they get it wrong, then Sean Dyche and co may well see Everton's top-flight status finally come to an end this season. Experience could be the key to survival, however, and they're reportedly eyeing a move for a forward with exactly that.
What's the latest Everton transfer news?
Everton's list of problems is growing by the week, but one thing has remained top of that list since last season. And that's their struggle in front of goal.
With Dominic Calvert-Lewin's injury issues not going away anytime soon, given that the England international has already been forced off once this season, the Toffees must seek other options when it comes to forwards.
That search for goals has at least landed them on Udinese forward Beto, who is set to complete a €30m (£26m) move to Goodison Park, according to Fabrizio Romano, but the striker must get going straight away.
Last season, the pending arrival scored an impressive 10 goals in Serie A, which would have been enough to make him Everton's top goalscorer in the Premier League. And, at 25 years of age, he could improve even further after the move.
Following Beto's arrival, however, Everton are ready to turn their attention towards West Ham United's Danny Ings, according to The Daily Mirror, via Goodison News.
It is understood that the London club would be willing to part ways with Ings before the deadline if they managed to sign a striker of their own in the coming days. Ings, of course, has plenty of experience in Merseyside, having previously played for Liverpool.
Should Everton sign Danny Ings?
West Ham striker Danny Ings
Getting an experienced option alongside Beto could prove to be a smart piece of business from an Everton point of view. Ings wouldn't just be there to add that veteran-like mentality to the dressing room, either. The former Burnley man, at his best, is capable of reaching double figures in goals.
Even though he struggled at times last season, Ings still managed to reach 10 goals in all competitions, scoring six for Aston Villa, and a further four for West Ham after making a January switch.
The Toffees know all about the forward's threat, too, given that he's scored seven goals against them in his career. All of a sudden, if Everton welcomed both Beto and Ings, they could have an extra 20 goals per season, which would help in their bid for survival.
Read the latest Everton transfer news HERE…
When in his best form, the 31-year-old has earned plenty of deserved praise, too, including from former Villa teammate Matty Cash, who said, via The Express & Star:
“I was delighted for Danny. He is one of the smartest players I have played with. His record speaks for itself. He’s scored goals at the highest level. Any striker needs goals and he got them at Brighton.
“His movement in front of goal is brilliant. He knows when to run and when to get in the middle of the goal. That is why he has scored so many goals in his career. Any striker needs to watch him and his movement because he is brilliant.”
CSA has not given up on the idea of hosting the T20 Global League yet and will spend the next “couple of months” assessing and deciding whether the tournament will go ahead
Firdose Moonda02-Feb-2018CSA has not given up on the idea of hosting the T20 Global League yet and will spend the next “couple of months” assessing and deciding whether the tournament will go ahead. Crucially, the Members’ Forum, a body made up of the 12 provincial affiliate presidents and the president and vice-president of CSA will make the final decision on future of the proposed T20 competition.Previously, decisions were taken at board level or, if insinuations from sources close to CSA are to be believed, made primarily by one person: the former CEO Haroon Lorgat.CSA and Lorgat parted ways in October last year, weeks before the inaugural T20 Global League was due to kick off, after Lorgat’s position became untenable due to disagreements over the logistics of the tournament. Lorgat had failed to secure a broadcaster and title sponsor and the suddenness of his departure left CSA unable to do the same. After forecasting losses of US$25 million in the first season, CSA opted to postpone the tournament but still lost US$14 million, most of it in player payouts.Now, CSA will adopt what it has termed a “three-tier” approach to deciding on the future of the tournament. The firsts step will be for a task team – made of the CSA acting CEO Thabang Moroe, CFO Naasei Appiah, three Member presidents and three Member CEOs, who have not been named, to “interrogate the concept” of the T20 Global League. CSA was thought to be doing this already, after several employees were tasked with drawing up new business models for the tournament following its postponement, but the last three months appear not to have presented any viable solutions.Once the team have compiled a report, they will hold a workshop with all Member presidents and CEOs and all board members of CSA. Then, the Members’ Forum will take a final decision. “I envisage that the whole process will be completed in a couple of months as there is an obvious urgency to get the matter completed,” CSA president Chris Nenzani said.That means CSA ends this weekend’s board meeting in Durban in pretty much the same position it started – with no certainty over the future of the T20 Global League. It also did not announce any set date for confirming a new CEO – Moroe has been in office in an acting capacity since Lorgat’s departure four months’ ago and CSA appears no closer to confirming a permanent successor.The only thing it is sure of is a Transformation Indaba, which will be held after all fixtures are completed this summer, from April 13 to 15. The last indaba (conference) held at the end of 2013 resulted in the implementation of a black African quota for franchise teams, requiring them to field at least one player from the country’s majority race group and financial incentives for any team who exceeded that. In the years since, the transformation target has been increased and franchises have now been told to field six players of colour, including at least three black African. At national level, the team is required to field a minimum average of six players of colour including two black Africans over the course of a season.
Newcastle United are back. One of the most exciting and fast-rising outfits in Europe, Eddie Howe's side have returned to prominence after decades of mediocrity and look set to stay at the forefront of the game.
The Premier League club have risen from relegation danger since the affluent PIF takeover in 2021 to now await the imminent 2023/24 Champions League campaign, having qualified for the continental competition last season after finishing fourth, ahead of the likes of Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea.
It's the first time the Magpies have qualified since 2003, with a foray into the Europa League in 2012/13 the only time the St. James' Park side has tasted European football since 2005.
To propel Newcastle into Europe over a decade ago, fans will eternally wax lyrical over the sensational striking partnership of Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse, with the Senegalese forwards combining superbly to spearhead that rise.
How good were Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse for Newcastle?
Newcastle were enjoying their finest campaign in years. Led by Alan Pardew, the Magpies were indeed flying, and finished fifth in the English top flight after sustaining a season-long purple patch that secured qualification to the Europa League, sending a proud fanbase into a din of adulation.
As Newcastle started the season on fire, they were headed they by electric striker Demba Ba, who was signed on a free transfer that summer after Pardew's side beat divisional rivals Everton to his signature.
He was simply superb, praised for his "terrific" performances by his boss and indeed blitzing into form after a slow start.
Having failed to clinch a strike across his first four outings, Ba would score 16 goals and supply three assists across his following 16 outings – including hat-tricks against Blackburn Rovers and Stoke City – electric in his frontal feats before fizzling out around the season's midpoint.
But as his prowess waned, another stepped up to the plate.
In January 2012, Pardew and co came to the decision that Ba could not possibly assume such a paramount role on his own for the duration of the year, especially with the prospect of securing European football so palpable as the results kept on coming.
To alleviate the burden, Papiss Cisse was signed for around £10m from German side Freiburg after impressing for the Bundesliga outfit and posting nine goals and three assists from 17 displays that term, but no one envisaged the calibre of cutting edge that was headed for Tyneside.
In the latter phase of the campaign, Cisse plundered 13 goals and two assists from 14 games at Newcastle, scoring 'that' goal against Chelsea as he spearheaded the club's successful pursuit of European football.
Since that fondly remembered time, Newcastle never really unearthed a new starring talisman – Alexander Mitrovic and Ivan Toney both played for the club in the interim, but neither enjoyed their most fruitful periods on Tyneside.
Callum Wilson, who was signed from Bournemouth in 2020 for £20m, has cemented himself as a reliable goalscorer and enjoyed a most prolific season last year, bagging 18 goals and five assists from 31 league matches, but it is Howe's star signing Alexander Isak who could develop into one of Newcastle's most heralded strikers ever as the club continues to rise over the coming years.
Why did Newcastle sign Alexander Isak?
In August 2022, Howe welcomed the man to serve as Newcastle's talisman for a period that tantalises great success, with Swedish striker Isak completing a club-record £63m transfer from LaLiga side Real Sociedad.
It was off the back of a productive time in Spain that saw him score 44 times from 132 appearances, including 17 goals from 34 league matches in the 2020/21 term.
After gleaning his signature, Howe said: "He is an outstanding talent who is capable of making a big contribution to the team.
"He is technically very good, with a mix of attributes that will complement us, but he is also at a great age to grow with this club."
Still only 23-years-old, Isak has been hailed "as a unicorn for his mixture of size & technical ability" – as relayed by presenter Kev Lawson – and could be set for a massive season for the trophy-chasing Magpies after enjoying a successful, if injury hampered first season in England last year.
How good is Alexander Isak?
After switching scorching Spain for the cooler climate of England's North East, Isak swiftly asserted himself as a clinical presence and netted on his debut in the Premier League against Liverpool at Anfield.
Despite suffering an injury-hit maiden year in England – sidelined for 16 matches – Isak managed to post an impressive return of ten goals and two assists from 22 outings in the English top-flight – including just 17 starts – and earned praise from journalist Chris Waugh as he "petrified" defences.
This term, the 6 foot 4 sensation started in the finest possible fashion and netted a clinical brace against Aston Villa as Howe's side opened their seasonal account with aplomb, dispatching their opposition 5-1 at St. James' Park.
He has yet to add to his tally after a trio of defeats for Newcastle, but the cogs are undoubtedly going to click again for the Toon sooner rather than later, with the 42-cap international relishing the chance to lead the line under European nights after over ten years without continental football at the distinguished outfit.
As the FBref chart above shows, Isak is one of the most competent forwards across Europe's top five leagues in possession, while also ranking among the top 23% for non-penalty goals and the top 18% for shot-creating actions per 90.
This is largely the reason why Howe signed him; a devastating focal frontman, the £120k-per-week phenom's technical quality also allows him to thread the play together and aid the continuity of the offensive flow.
Isak is bearing all the signs of etching his name into perpetual Newcastle folklore, but he will need to spearhead the club to silver-laden success in order to truly eclipse the likes of Ba and Cisse, who have left lasting legacies themselves.
However, the way things are going on Tyneside right now, the Swede looks likely to lead the line for a sustained period of success unlike anything the club has bore witness to in an age, putting him on a pedestal among the likes of Alan Shearer as one of Newcastle's greatest ever forwards.
A much anticipated series, at least for fans of fast bowling, kicked off in style as Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc began their South African odyssey by knocking over the A team for 220 in only 58.5 overs
ESPNcricinfo staff22-Feb-2018 ScorecardPat Cummins hits his delivery stride•Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images/Getty ImagesA much anticipated series, especially for fans of fast bowling, kicked off in style as Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc began their South African odyssey by knocking over the A team for 220 in only 58.5 overs.The Australian side which took the field in Willowmore Park was filled with first-choice players. In fact, everyone who was part of the final Ashes Test was on show except for David Warner – who, until Wednesday, was in New Zealand, leading the T20 side. And they had little trouble overpowering the hosts.Hazlewood took out three of the top four, including the two highest scorers – Theunis de Bruyn (46) and Zubayr Hamza (44) – in successive overs. And Cummins made short work of the tail, finishing with 4 for 32.De Bruyn, who was with the South African Test side that played against India recently, went at a strike-rate better than 100, but none of the host batsmen could convert a start into a big score. They lost wickets in clumps, slipping from 107 for 1 to 119 for 4 in four overs and then from 203 for 5 to 220 all out in four overs.With Warner missing from the top of the order, Usman Khawaja opened the batting but fell for 22 off 42 balls. Cameron Bancroft went through to stumps unbeaten on 24 off 72 balls and would want to use this tour game to reclaim some of his lost form. The 25-year-old’s scores tailed off in the latter half of the Australian summer – 10, 4, 25, 26, 27 and 0 – after a half-century on debut.Steven Smith, came out in a blaze of boundaries, hitting one roughly every five balls, but he was sent back for only 23, caught behind off an outswinger from Malusi Siboto. Shaun Marsh arrived at the fall of the captain’s wicket.
Variation is not just about bowling different balls but cleverly varying lengths too, says India left-arm fast bowler
Andrew Fidel Fernando in Colombo11-Mar-2018Bowlers have been blasted around the R Premadasa Stadium so far in this tournament, but Jaydev Unadkat has a solution: variations.Twice in the past week, good totals have been chased down. In the six batting innings so far, sides have struck 70 or more inside the Powerplay thrice. Unpredictability on the bowlers’ part may help stem the flow of runs, Unadkat said. His own success against Bangladesh on Thursday, was partly due to his varying of lengths; two of his three wickets came off short balls, the other off a yorker.”Variations are most important part of the game,” he said ahead of the match against Sri Lanka. “To play with batsman’s mind, you need variations. When the batsman is expecting something and you do it differently, we are successful as bowlers. The wicket looks very good for batting from ball one. I haven’t played here before in limited-overs cricket. The ball is coming on nicely, there’s good bounce and that gives batsmen freedom. Variations is not just about bowling different balls, it is important to vary the lengths. Not allowing them to premeditate a shot, I think that’s how we are going to try.”Slower balls have been somewhat effective in the tournament so far, though not as much as they often are at Khettarama. What has more commonly yielded a wicket have been cutters – especially those bowled by Mustafizur Rahman. On Saturday, Mustafizur bowled Danushka Gunathilaka with a leg cutter, and later had Kusal Perera caught off a similar delivery. Though not as proficient in the art as Mustafizur (perhaps no one in world cricket is, presently), Unadkat may himself follow the lead of the Bangladesh quick.”[Cutters] suit my plan. If the wicket is suitable for that, I will do that,” he said. “Having said that, it still is important to vary. Cutters are only useful when the batsman doesn’t expect it. So if the wicket is spicing up a bit – if I see the wicket is gripping a bit – definitely then that’s the way to go. That has been my strength in this format of the game in the past couple of years, I have always banked on that. In the first game also, we tried those, but it is only successful when the batsmen don’t expect. In T20s, you are going to be under pressure 24 times.”Though other spinners have been expensive so far during the Nidahas Trophy, Washington Sundar – India’s offspinner – has maintained an economy rate of under seven. He has been particularly good in the previous match against Sri Lanka, dismissing Kusal Mendis cheaply, before taking the wicket of the marauding Kusal Perera later in the game. The control Sundar has exerted on an innings can sharpen the menace of the bowler at the other end, Unadkat said.”I think what benefits us bowling together is Washington contains the batsmen. As an offspinner, it is difficult at times to contain, because the batsmen just blast from the start. He varies his pace really well, that stands out for me. He keeps it simple, when a bowler is containing from one end, so the batsmen do come under pressure and target you – they try to go harder than they usually should. That benefits us as bowlers.”
Sheffield Wednesday are considering a swoop for a new free agent, and a reliable journalist has confirmed that he’s already in the building at Hillsborough.
What's the latest transfer news at Sheffield Wednesday?
Over the summer, Xisco Munoz was extremely busy in the market bringing in 12 fresh faces, where Djeidi Gassama and Pol Valentin both joined permanently for transfer fees and the likes of Jeff Hendrick and Ashley Fletcher put pen to paper on loans, as per Transfermarkt, but there were also plenty of outgoings.
In terms of departures, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Dennis Adeniran, Jack Hunt, Jaden Brown, David Stockdale and Ben Heneghan all completed exits which has created space in the squad for future signings, and the boss has already set his sights on one star in particular.
At Nottingham Forest, Lyle Taylor left Steve Cooper’s side at the end of last season following the expiration of his contract, meaning that he is now a free agent on the market and waiting to be snapped up by a new club, and he could be on his way to the Championship.
On Tuesday evening, Montserrat’s international was spotted at the stadium for the 1-1 draw against Middlesbrough, and if the following update is to be believed, the centre-forward is currently at work behind the scenes in a bid to earn a move to South Yorkshire.
Are Sheffield Wednesday signing Lyle Taylor?
Taking to X, Darren Witcoop revealed that Sheffield Wednesday have offered a trial to Taylor, who has been training with the first-team in the hope of securing himself a permanent deal with Munoz's side in the near future.
“Free agent striker Lyle Taylor is training with Sheffield Wednesday in a bid to win a contract. Taylor, who left Nottingham Forest in the summer, has turned down contract offers from a host of League One clubs as he wants to play in the Championship.”
Nottingham Forest's former striker Lyle Taylor.
How many goals has Lyle Taylor scored?
Since the start of his career, Taylor has racked up an impressive 211 contributions (156 goals and 55 assists) in 463 appearances, form which has seen him described as a “natural finisher” by journalist Josh Bunting, so he could certainly be a fantastic addition for Sheffield Wednesday.
The Greenwich-born talent is also a versatile operator alongside the prolific attacker that he is in the final third having been deployed in four various positions over the attack since the start of his career, including three roles across the frontline and even in attacking midfield.
The Owls target even shares the same agent, SMI Sports Management, as both Barry Bannan and John Buckley, so the fact that his representative already has an existing connection to the club should give chiefs a strong chance at getting a deal over the line should he impress on trial.
The Hillsborough outfit will be aware that Taylor is now 33 years of age so it would make sense for them to only offer him a short-term deal, but nevertheless, he’s definitely a player who could be worth adding to the books for the remainder of the season.
CSA and SACA have also agreed on a 6% annual increase in salary for all national and franchise players and that the revenue-share model with the players will be maintained
Firdose Moonda26-Apr-2018Cricket South Africa has re-committed to the revenue share model with its players and has also reached an interim agreement with the South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA), which will remain in place until the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is completed at the end of June.The MoU between the parties will expire next Monday. Negotiations for a new deal have not been completed in time for a new agreement to come into immediate effect. That carries the risk of leaving most of the country’s professional cricketers – apart from those on two-year deals – out of contract, but the interim arrangement has made a provision for player contracts to move ahead.CSA and SACA have also agreed on a 6% annual increase in salary for all national and franchise players and that the revenue-share model will be maintained. The CSA will have an extension on player commercial rights until the MoU is finalised, which means the CSA can continue to advertise for events, such as the next home summer using players’ images.The longer-term financial arrangements, such as benefits, which will be similar to those in the previous MoU, have not yet been discussed. Crucially, CSA and SACA have agreed on specific dates on which they will negotiate in May and June, which has been absent previously. In the past week, SACA claimed that CSA had avoided communication with them, had not responded to messages and that negotiations had not even started. Now, SACA are pleased with the progress that has been made.”We are satisfied that this Interim Agreement addresses the uncertainty that has existed amongst players regarding the MOU and their contracts and it ensures that no national or franchise player in the system going forward is left without a contract come May 1, 2018,” Tony Irish, SACA CEO, said. “The Interim Agreement also contains commitments to key issues outside the player contracts and commits the parties to further structured negotiation over a two-month period which aims to finalise the full ambit of player benefits, and other player relevant matters, to apply over the longer, four to five-year term of the MoU.”The MoU between CSA and SACA is renewed every four years. This time, CSA are proposing a five-year MoU, which will be in place until 2023. CSA will also look to redefine their relationship with SACA, though they have not outlined what they want to change. “There is still a long way to go in these negotiations but CSA and SACA have both acted in the best interests of the game by setting a clear platform needed to jointly and constructively get this done within a two-month period,” Thabang Moroe, CSA Acting CEO said.There was also no update on the Global T20 League. Moroe has hinted CSA will make an announcement on the tournament’s future within the next week.