As reported by the Scottish Sun, Rangers will use this month’s transfer window to ship out a large portion of their summer business, with up to five Pedro Caixinha signings set to leave the club.
What’s the story?
The Ibrox side invested heavily in Caixinha’s vision for the club last summer, allowing him to make huge changes to the Light Blues squad. The Portuguese ended up making a massive 11 signings, but failed in his aims for the season and was eventually sacked by the end of October.
Sadly for supporters, many of those signings haven’t quite worked out and Rangers are set to show no mercy by axeing them from Graeme Murty’s squad.
The Scottish Sun report that Bruno Alves, Fabio Cardoso, Carlos Pena, Eduardo Herrera and Dalcio are all on the brink of a mid-season exit.
The paper say that while the club are attracting suitors for the likes of Alves and Pena from their respective homelands, they could have more difficult offloading flops like striker Herrera.
Another window of upheaval
There’s been quite the revolving door at Ibrox in recent transfer windows. Accompanying all the players coming into the club last summer were as many players going in the opposite direction with no less than 11 first team stars shipped out by Caixinha.
It’s all been a rather expensive and arduous process, with little tangible benefit on the field, still trailing behind Celtic and failing to reach finals of domestic cup competitions.
However, getting rid of these Caixinha flops is better than the alternative of them clogging up the wage bill at Ibrox while under performing or not playing at all.
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Supporters will be hoping that any incoming transfers this month will prove to be more successful than these five players.
Free kicks hold a special place in a football fan’s heart, but why is that? Could it be because they create heroes, such as David Beckham’s shot against Greece back in 2001, or is it that one kick might just save the day for our favourite team, such as Gareth Bale’s goal against Lyon this year? Or could it be that goals scored from set pieces walk hand-in-hand with the term ‘beauty’? Well we at Football FanCast decided we would concentrate on the ‘beauty’ part. So ladies and gents, here is FCC’s list of the top 10 best free kick goals ever scored in Premier League history.
10. THIERRY HENRY (ARSENAL) VS NEWCASTLE
Thierry Henry is no stranger to beautiful goals and his free kick against Newcastle seven years ago which was the equaliser after a goal from Kieron Dyer is no different. It was the 70th minute when a free kick from the left hit Shay Given’s cross bar, crossed the line and hit the net. There was no way the Magpies’ keeper could save that.
9. MATT LE TISSIER (SOUTHAMPTON) VS WIMBLEDON
A true Premier League and Saints’ legend, Matt Le Tissier was one of a kind and some could say that he made football look easy thanks to his skills. Nineteen years ago Southampton played Wimbledon and Le Tissier scored a 20-yard free kick that left everyone wondering how outrageously skillful that goal was. Jim Magilton laid the ball back to the Guernsey-born attacking midfielder who lifted the ball and then casually shot it to the left of the keeper’s net. There was no chance that shot would be saved but Le Tissier made it look like a practice kick. That was one of the reasons they remember him at St. Mary’s stadium as ‘Le God’.
8. JOHN ARNE RIISE (LIVERPOOL) VS MANCHESTER UNITED
These kind of goals always help on a heated derby between sworn rivals. It was back in 2001, the year Liverpool won the UEFA Cup, where the Norwegian scored an incredible free kick for the Reds against Manchester United. Liverpool were already in the lead when during the last six minutes of the first half they got a free kick on the right. Dietmarr Hamann laid the ball slightly to the left where Riise kicked it all the way to Fabien Barthez’s top right corner and doubled the Reds’ goals. That goal was very important as it helped Liverpool win 3-1.
7. CRISTIANO RONALDO (MANCHESTER UNITED) VS PORTSMOUTH
Of course the Portuguese superstar could not be absent from that list. He is a natural on free kicks as he was always the taker back in his Manchester United days, and still is in Real Madrid. Five years ago, when United won the Champions League, the Red Devils were playing Portsmouth, that year’s FA Cup winners, at Old Trafford. At that night, CR7 opened the score at the ninth minute and took a free kick just three minutes later. The execution was superb as the ball landed right on the left corner of a still David James. It is not easy to send the ball exactly where you want to after a free kick, except perhaps when you are Cristiano Ronaldo.
6. PATRIK BERGER (LIVERPOOL) VS MANCHESTER UNITED
Riise was not the only Liverpool player to score an absolute beauty against Manchester United. The only difference is that Patrik Berger’s goal was scored at Old Trafford. Back in 2000 people were talking about the Apocalypse; however the only apocalyptic thing Man United goalkeeper Raimond van der Gouw witnessed was the Czech’s unstoppable shot on the 27th minute. The former midfielder kicked a thunderous shot with his left foot from the right corner of the box, almost 30 yards out, and sent the ball crushing into United’s bottom left corner of the net. Would you like some fries with that Berger?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2NwBugozA4
5. MAYNOR FIGUEROA (WIGAN) VS STOKE
Don’t you just hate it when you watch an uninteresting match? But don’t you just love it when something amazing happens out of nowhere? Four years ago Wigan drew Stoke 2-2 in an away match, however the game was remembered thanks to the Goal of the season (2009-2010) scored by Maynor Figueroa. The former Wigan defender scored an absolute stunner from a half-way free kick that put the Latics ahead again. Stoke keeper Thomas Sorensen saved a late penalty at that match but was not exactly careful or ready for the Honduran’s free kick.
4. CHRISTIAN ZIEGE (TOTTENHAM) VS ARSENAL
What a way to start the North London derby. Back in 2002 the former Germany international scored an absolute stunner on the 15th minute at White Hart Lane from 30 yards. The left-footed former Bayern Munich player gave the ball an unbelievable curve and sent it to Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman’s top left corner. By the end of the first half, Arsenal’s sorrow swayed away after a successful penalty kick by Robert Pires. Ziege was always a man of big games as he has also scored at a Liverpool, North East, Munich and Milan derby and he also scored a semi-final penalty kick against England at the 1996 Euro.
3. MICHAEL TARNAT (MANCHESTER CITY) VS BLACKBURN
Another former Germany international and the outside of his left foot make the list. It was August 2003 when the Citizens were playing Blackburn away where the former Bayern player scored the first of many goals to come with style. At around 40 yards, Tarnat was obviously going for a shot as he gave himself a lot of steps beforehand and launched an unstoppable rocket all the way to the bottom right corner of the Rovers’ net. That free kick was also very critical as Man City got away with a close win of 3-2.
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2. CRISTIANO RONALDO (MANCHESTER UNITED) VS BLACKBURN
Him again. Usually when a team gets a free kick at the left flank the kicker thinks about crossing the ball. However, CR7 begs the differ. Just a year after their Champions League triumph in Moscow, the Red Devils were playing Blackburn at Old Trafford where (seemingly soon to be ex United player) Wayne Rooney opened the score at the 23rd minute. Paraguayan striker Roque Santa Cruz evened it up nine minutes later. During second half though, United got a free kick from the left just outside the box. Ronaldo hit it with his right foot, as usual, and sent the ball to Paul Robinson’s top left corner and gave his team the victory.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjon8IKl_nI
1. DAVID BECKHAM (MANCHESTER UNITED) VS EVERTON
Did you really think we left him out? Football Fan Cast’s best free kick ever scored in the Premier league is the one by the former England captain against Everton at Goodison Park. Everton were already ahead thanks to a goal by Kevin Campbell early on however United got a free kick close to the right flank just before the half-time whistle. Toffees’ goalkeeper, Richard Wright, stood on the right of his post and placed the wall on the left but Becks was able to outsmart the former England international. Just a moment before the shot, Beckham lured Wright to his left but instead shot it to his right corner. This kick was not just an absolute beauty; it was also genius which showed exactly why Beckham will go down in history of one of the best footballers ever. That was the last match of the 2002-2003 season and was also the last match ever for David Beckham in a Man United shirt.
So there you have it, Football FanCast’s Top 10 free kicks ever scored at the Premier League. Tell us, what do you think of our list? Who would you include and who would you scrap? Would you change the order?
With the sight of Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini generously handing out fruit pastels just after half time during the City game, it made me wonder not just about why Mancini has a fondness for the sweets, but about the other traits managers have become famous for over the years.
Of course we are all used to seeing managers of just about every level getting irate and swearing on the touchline – even getting sent to the stands on occasion, with their job just about the most pressurised one in football. Every substitution is analysed and focused on, every word spoken in a press conference, so is it really any wonder that from time to time a manger loses it or does something slightly out of the ordinary on the side-lines?
Here is a look at the top ten traits of a manager – from ones so recognised they should be copyrighted by the manager who originated them to ones that all manager have been guilty of from time to time.
Click on Rafa Benitez below to unveil the 10
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Newcastle United produced an outstanding performance on the final day of the English Premier League season, defeating last season’s champions 3-0 at St James’ Park.
Chelsea had been motivated to secure a victory, needing three points to have any chance of qualifying for next season’s UEFA Champions League, but it was Newcastle who looked the hungrier side across the 90 minutes.
The win ensured the Magpies finished the season in 10th position, higher than any of the teams they were promoted with from the Championship last term.
Fans were delighted with the performance and had particular praise for Mohamed Diame, who was again superb in the middle of the park.
His form since the turn of the year has been a key reason for Newcastle’s strong finish to the season and supporters were quick to shower him with compliments in the wake of his latest display on Sunday.
Poor Gonzalo Higuain. He’s the guy we all feel sorry for, the guy struck by lightning twice. He had the chance to win the World Cup for Argentina in 2014. In the Maracana no less, the Argentinian invasion of the Brazilian homeland, the raiders in the temple. But he fluffed his lines.
For a year it played on his mind. He had an up and down season for Napoli in the meantime. Personally he did well, 29 goals in all competitions. But Rafael Benitez’s side failed to make it into the Champions League, knocked out in the play-off, and then failed to make it back into the competition through their league position this season, finishing fourth.
And then lightning struck our poor, feckless unfortunate for a second time. Gonzalo missed another chance to land his country a major international trophy as he missed a sitter in the Copa America final against Chile. Yet again the Albiceleste were the invading pillagers, hoping to beat Chile right in their own back yard. But Higuain once again stepped right into the dog-do. That miss under pressure is becoming an alarming trope in the career of such a wonderful striker.
But no matter. Onwards and upwards. Rafael Benitez has shown that you can have a disappointing season with Napoli and still move onto better things – incidentally, his agent is Charles Manson – so maybe we’ll see Higuain depart the San Paolo in Naples for pastures new in the Premier League.
And if he does, where should he go?
He’s been linked with a move to Manchester United, he’s been linked to Arsenal, and now Liverpool are rumoured to be interested in spending all of their Sterling money in one sweet shop.
So assuming poor Gonzalo wants to exorcise his ghosts in England, and assuming all three can offer him the wage he desires, which club should he choose?
You’d bet that he’d be a starter at all three. He’s a world class striker and more than that he has the profile for the Premier League. All big and burly and powerful. He’s a classy finisher with an eye for goal, and luckily for our trio of Premier League suitors there’s no big international final in sight.
And all three are making waves in the transfer market already this summer.
Arsenal look to be well on track with their squad, with perhaps only a defensive midfielder needed for a full-on assault on the title. Maybe Coquelin will be trusted to do it himself, but another strong midfield presence is surely needed. And then a real world class striker like Higuain would really push them on. Giroud is good, but Higuain and Giroud is much better!
As for Liverpool, they’ve brought in quite a few signings, and they look like good ones. But Ings and Milner, even Firmino… they don’t look like signings to bring the team much further than their current level, they look like great squad players who’ll give the side a bite, a work rate and a little bit of extra in terms of man-power. Admirable things no doubt, but when you’ve already got that adding some pizzazz and Hollywood sexiness to your team is next. Higuain can do that very well indeed. Ok, he’s not exactly Brigitte Bardot, but you get what I mean.
And then there’s Manchester United. Deprived of Falcao, Van Persie and probable Chicharito too next season, United probably need a striker. And Van Gaal might not necessarily want to use one regularly. After all, Rooney can do that job, but he’s not really a ‘number 9’. Neither would someone like Thomas Muller fit that bill. Though both would surely score goals.
Surely if you’re going to play false 9 – especially in the Premier League where teams are powerful and will take no prisoners – you need a number 9 as a backup. Spending upwards of £60m on ‘backup’ is utter madness, but if any team is going to do it this summer it’s Manchester United. Still, I can’t really see Higuain as backup in any team. If they sign him they’ll play him. It’ll just add to Van Gaal’s options and play into his new ‘power and technique’ fad which has seen him buy the likes of Schweinsteiger and Schneiderlin.
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If it were me, I’d choose Arsenal. Simply because they look more like the finished article. United are making waves and they look like they’ll be close to challenging next season, but you just don’t know. They’ve bought quite a few players and Van Gaal is sure to want them to play a certain way. It’s an exciting time, but there’s just no guarantee it’s going to come off. It’s a similar story with Liverpool – lots of new faces and plenty of excitement, but a bad start and the wheels can come off even before the first bend.
It just looks like a safer bet to join Arsenal, and if he does he’ll be one of the final pieces of the jigsaw.
But that doesn’t mean it’s the best option. Nor do we, on the outside looking in, have any indication that any of these clubs are preparing a serious bid for Higuain. But the talk certainly is hotting up. And if all are interested then all have a chance of landing him. All that remains to be seen is which route he chooses.
It is testimony to not only Borussia Dortmund as a club but Jurgen Klopp as a coach that while many were writing the team off as `one hit wonders`, for replacing Bayern Munich as Bundesliga champions, they got on with the job of taking another giant leap forward. That would entail transferring their domestic dominance on to the stage of Europe`s premier club competition, a tough ask considering their poor showing 12 months earlier when they bowed out, with a whimper, after the group stage.
The task became even more daunting when the draw for the Champions` League qualifying group was made putting the champions of Germany, Spain, Holland and England into Group D. Very few pundits outside Dortmund`s home in the industrial heartland of the Ruhr expected Germany`s team of the moment to emerge from the group, let alone unbeaten but that`s exactly what happened. And top of the group for good measure.
Jurgen Klopp`s team made the best possible start to what many considered the toughest of groups with a 1-0 home victory over Ajax. They could have made the winning margin more emphatic but for a missed penalty from Mats Hummels. But they stuck at the task with typical patience and were rewarded three minutes from time with the only goal of the game when the player who was to prove their talisman on the way to the final at Wembley, Robert Lewandowski, scored.
Matchday 2 took Dortmund to the Etihad where their reduced level of expectation was the polar opposite of Manchester City`s cash-fuelled Champions` League dream. Borussia went ahead through German Footballer of the Year Marco Reus, a surprise capture from Borussia Monchengladbach, and would have secured back to back wins but for a late penalty equaliser from the enigmatic Mario Balotelli.
Such was the high quality of Dortmund`s performance on the night that coach Jurgen Klopp said afterwards.
“We were almost terrified out there at how perfectly our plan came together.”
The next fixture would, in many peoples` eyes, be the most testing as far as how well Borussia would fare in this season`s Champions` League.
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Quietly and confidently Dortmund went into that, their third group fixture, at home to Real Madrid, and it was the eventual 2-1 victory that made the rest of Europe stand up and take note as the German champions served notice they would be no respecters of Real`s history and standing. Robert Lewandowski opened the scoring late in the first half before Cristiano Ronaldo restored parity. Marcel Schmelzer`s goal shortly after the restart not only gave Dortmund the platform for eventual victory over Madrid but sent them top of the table, a position they were not to relinquish.
The reigning Bundesliga champions cemented their leadership of Group D with a 2-2 draw away to Real Madrid. They would have claimed an historic double over the Spanish side but for a late equaliser, in the 89th minute, from a Mezut Ozil free kick. Marco Reus opened the scoring for the visitors before an equaliser from the unlikely Pepe got Real back into the game. Alvaro Arbelo then put through his own goal to put Dortmund in the driving seat before Ozil saved Jose Mourinho a few blushes with a point saver.
In week five Dortmund went to former European Cup giants Ajax and swept them aside with a 4-1 win. Goals from Reus, Goetze and two from Lewandowski rendered a late Ajax goal mere consolation and set up a final group game with winless Manchester City. The Premier League champions needed victory for more reasons than just three points as no team had ever gone through a Champions` League qualifying group without securing at least one win. But that was the albatross Mancini`s men were burdened with as Julian Schieber scored the only goal of the game in the second half to secure top spot on Group D and send the German champions through to a last 16 showdown with Shakhtar Donetsk.
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Rather prophetically, in the aftermath of Champions` League exit, Roberto Mancini likened City`s situation to that which Dortmund suffered the year previously when they too went out after the group stage. The Italian said that.
“This year I think Dortmund can win the Champions` League.”
Parthiv Patel and Mohit Thadani were out to controversial decisions by umpire Virender Sharma on day three of the Irani Cup clash between Gujarat and Rest of India in Mumbai
Arun Venugopal in Mumbai22-Jan-2017There was controversy surrounding two umpiring decisions made by Virender Sharma during Gujarat’s second innings on the third day of the Irani Cup at the Brabourne Stadium. First, in the 48th over, Gujarat captain Parthiv Patel was adjudged caught at short leg – a fine, diving effort from Akhil Herwadkar – after the ball lobbed off his pads, with his bat and gloves nowhere near the ball.As he walked off, a visibly annoyed Parthiv was seen looking at Sharma’s direction and heard on the stump microphone saying: “” (why do you officiate?). He was later also seen having a word with the match referee, Chinmaya Sharma. “I can’t do anything about it,” Parthiv said when told his comments were picked up by the stump mic. However, he refused to comment on the umpiring decision.”I cannot make any comment on it because I will obviously get charged for what I have done,” he said after the day’s play. “Everyone has seen it. I don’t think I can make any comment on the decision; it’s under the rule.” Parthiv also said he wasn’t aware that he was five short of 10,000 first-class runs when he was given out.The other contentious decision came when Mohit Thadani was adjudged caught at slip off left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem in the final session. Nadeem’s delivery appeared to hit Thadani’s pads on the half volley before deflecting to Manoj Tiwary at first slip.The initial assumption among everyone, including the television commentators, was there was no bat involved, and that Thadani was rightly adjudged lbw. However, it was later confirmed that umpire Sharma had given him out caught. The commentators now discussed the possibility of an under edge, but the batsman would have been not out in that case, as the ball bounced after passing the bat.Nadeem said he didn’t think the ball hit the bat and that he was appealing for an lbw all along. “The batsman said, ‘It hit my bat’. So, I said: ‘If it has hit the bat, you are caught at slip. If not bat, then you are lbw. Decide what you want,'” hesaid. “I didn’t even know what the umpire ruled it as.”The knock-on effect of both these dismissals was the fall of another wicket almost immediately. Manprit Juneja got out within four overs of Parthiv’s dismissal, and Thadani’s wicket was followed by Chintan Gaja’s inside four overs. Parthiv admitted they could have been better placed – especially considering how Rest of India had chased down 480 to beat Mumbai last year – but wasn’t too unhappy.”See, we are ahead by 359. Chasing it in the fourth innings is obviously not easy, so yeah things definitely would have been better but we are happy with whatever we have,” Parthiv said. “I wasn’t there last year. I didn’t even see the game; I just know the scores. But any team will take the situation we are in. We have the experience of a recent final where we were chasing only 300. We lost a couple of early wickets and we were under pressure. Chasing 400… how many times has it happened? I know they are a quality side, but runs on the board is very important.”When asked about the practice of state captains submitting official reports on umpiring decisions at the end of a game, Parthiv said the system has not been in place since last season. “That report was about umpiring, ground conditions and how the game was handled and everything. But, it is not there since last year,” he said. He said the issues highlighted in the captains’ feedback were usually addressed.”At every captains’ meeting, quite a few senior captains were very vocal about urging all the captains to be fair and try to take the time out and make sure you give a proper report on umpiring decisions, irrespective of the result of the game,” he said. “So, I am sure [from] whatever I have been told by officials, it’s been addressed. Whenever there is an umpiring seminar or anything, whatever concerns we have raised, they have been put across and I am sure all actions have been taken.”This isn’t the first time Sharma’s umpiring has come under the scanner. During this season’s Ranji Trophy semi-final between Tamil Nadu and Mumbai, he ruled Dinesh Karthik out lbw when the ball was missing the leg stump by some distance. Sharma was also one of the two umpires criticised by Vidarbha seamer Shrikant Wagh during his team’s league-stage game against Karnataka last season.
Nuwan Kulasekara, the Sri Lanka fast bowler, has been released on bail after he was involved in an accident that caused the death of a 28-year-old, according to an SLC release
ESPNcricinfo staff19-Sep-2016Nuwan Kulasekara, the Sri Lanka fast bowler, has been released on bail after he was involved in an accident that caused the death of a 28-year-old, according to an SLC release.”Preliminary inquiries have revealed that Mr Kulasekara was returning to Colombo from Kandy, when the unfortunate motorcycle rider who was travelling in the opposite direction had lost control of his bike whilst trying to overtake a bus and got flung into Mr Kulasekara’s path,” the release said.Kulasekara, 34, retired from Test cricket in June in order to focus on his limited-overs career.
The ICC has denied that Sri Lanka Cricket had asked that the costs involved in the Kusal Perera doping case be reimbursed, and it said it had not agreed to compensate the board
Andrew Fidel Fernando16-May-20163:42
Perera and SLC must be compensated
The ICC has denied that Sri Lanka Cricket had asked that the costs involved in the Kusal Perera doping case be reimbursed, and it said it had not agreed to compensate the board. Hours before the ICC’s denial, a SLC official claimed the ICC had said verbally that it would compensate the board.”The ICC can confirm that it has not received any request for compensation from SLC or Mr Perera and it has not agreed (verbally or otherwise) to any such reimbursement,” the ICC said. “Whilst the circumstances of this case are unfortunate, the ICC does not accept that it is responsible for the finding of the WADA-accredited Qatar Laboratory or the consequences that flowed from such a finding, and the ICC will be considering its own position in respect of who should bear the costs incurred by the ICC in its additional efforts and investigation that ultimately resulted in the Laboratory agreeing to withdraw the original finding.”The statement contradicted SLC secretary Mohan de Silva, who had said: “The ICC has agreed to compensate us, but there is nothing in writing. In any case we will be making an appeal for that. I’m quite confident that they will oblige us.”De Silva had said it was SLC president Thilanga Sumathipala who was in direct contact with ICC about the reimbursement. Speaking on the amount SLC had spent on the case, Sumathipala had said on Thursday that SLC “definitely have to get our costs back.”SLC had said it spent over 13 million Sri Lankan rupees (USD $92,000 approx) on clearing Perera’s name, though the board did not quite need the 15 million it had set aside to fight the case.In addition to fees paid to Perera’s UK-based lawyers Morgan Sports Law, SLC also helped fund a polygraph test and separate urine test conducted in London, as well as a hair analysis conducted in a Paris lab. Each of these measures is said to have helped give Perera leverage with the ICC.Perera himself suggested he was not dwelling on the suspension’s personal cost to him, but board president Sumathipala had said the “indirect cost” to Perera had been “colossal”. In addition to missing a full tour of New Zealand, a bilateral series against India, and two major tournaments in the Asia Cup and World T20, Perera was also ineligible for the IPL auction. He had been fixture in all three formats for Sri Lanka prior to the suspension.SLC’s executive committee had not made a firm decision on further legal action, but de Silva confirmed discussions were ongoing in the board about “how to compensate Kusal”.The Qatar-based lab, whose findings were deemed “unsustainable” for “scientific and technical reasons” by the independent expert hired by the ICC, may come under scrutiny. However, that expert had also stated the lab had “correctly identified 19-Norandrostenedione in the samples” taken from Perera.Perera has resumed his training with SLC coaches at Khettarama, after five months of being barred from doing so. He may be in the fray for the limited-overs leg of Sri Lanka’s tour of the UK and Ireland.1400 GMT, May 16: The story was updated with the ICC’s response to the SLC official’s comment
Mohammad Hafeez, the Lahore Lions captain, has praised his team’s effort in winning the Faysal Bank T-20 Cup and stressed that he did not have a point to prove as the leader
Umar Farooq10-Dec-2012Mohammad Hafeez, the Lahore Lions captain, has praised his team’s effort in winning the Faysal Bank T-20 Cup, Pakistan’s domestic T20 championship. Having been handed the Lahore Lions captaincy by Mohammad Yousuf just prior to the tournament, Hafeez brushed aside the notion that he was under pressure to win the championship to protect his reputation as national Twenty20 captain.”It was a great team effort and full credit to my side,” Hafeez said after the final, in which Lahore Lions beat Faisalabad Wolves by 33 runs. “Everyone in the side had gelled and had one goal: to win the championship.”I, being a captain, had to perform and had to contribute in the team success. There is nothing such as I was out there to prove any point.”Lahore Lions, the tournament’s most dominating side, were set to pile up a bigger total than their 154, but lost their way, restricted by some tight, penetrating bowling from Asad Ali and Ehsan Adil. Hafeez gave credit to the Faisalabad bowlers for fighting back, and admitted that the absence of star offspinner Saeed Ajmal – who had played only three games in the tournament for Faisalabad before leaving for Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL) – could have made a difference to the result.”I must give credit to Misbah-ul-Haq and his team, for being so consistent throughout the event despite having minimal resources in the side,” Hafeez said. “It was a final and a pressure game, and I would have liked at least 170 to 180 on the board to defend, but it was Asad Ali and Ehsan Adil who restricted us. Otherwise we were all set for one last big hit.”Apart from this, I think absence of Saeed Ajmal was a big setback for them, but, after all, we managed to get a fighting total and successfully defend it.”Faisalabad didn’t look in control of the chase, and lost wickets at regular intervals. Captain Misbah, who top scored with 37 while the rest failed to find their feet, said the chase was never on track. “They were outstanding right from the start, their bowlers kept us in check,” Misbah said. “We were looking to have one good partnership, but we lost early wickets and never found momentum throughout. We lost our way and were never able to recover.”Faisalabad had been undefeated in the tournament before the final but with Ajmal at the BBL, they had to rely on some inexperienced campaigners. Misbah, though, said it was not the bowling attack that had failed: “His [Ajaml’s] absence did make a difference, but we still managed to take down Lions’ enormous batting line-up. Then we failed to capitalise while chasing, and that cost us the match.”The tournament was played over nine days and had 14 teams competing against each other ahead of the India tour; that gave each player at least six matches to exhibit his skills. Hafeez, as national captain, said he had keenly observed the players on show. “[The tournament] gave a vital opportunity to every player to show his ability and temperament. I have assessed the performances of some of the players, and will discuss them with the selection committee, regarding when and where they can be used in near future.”