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MatériaMais Notícias

Presidente, atacante, senador e modelo. Estas são as funções de Romário no America, segundo o próprio. Nesta segunda-feira (6), o clube carioca lançou os novos uniformes visando a temporada de 2024 e contou com a presença do Baixinho. Confira a coleção no player acima.

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Durante o evento, Romário revelou a dificuldade que é acumular funções, brincou com os jogadores que foram os modelos e ainda se emocionou ao falar de Romarinho, seu filho.

– É muita função, muita situação. Realmente não sei se vou conseguir administrar tudo isso – brincou Romário.

Ao falar de Romarinho, Romário foi aos prantos. O desejo maior desejo do Baixinho era poder atuar ao lado do filho. Confira o vídeo abaixo.

É um orgulho ver você vestindo a camisa do America e, por causa de você, vou voltar a ter oportunidade de jogar. Cinco, dez, 15 minutos, depende do treinador. A gente já tá conversado, aquele papo que a gente já sabe como é que funciona (risos). Enfim, cara. Que orgulho poder ter você no America. Tenho certeza que quando você entrar em campo, independente de qualquer coisa, você vai dar a vida pelo teu pai e pelo teu avô

---

afirmou o Baixinho

Nova parceira do clube, a Inove Mais Benefícios oferece uma variedade de serviços, descontos e seguros com enorme percepção de valor a um preço acessível, reforçando a fidelidade dos clientes empreendedores. E conta com um marketplace que tem milhares de opções em saúde, educação, lazer e bem-estar.

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– É uma honra ver a marca da Inove Mais Benefícios estampada numa camisa de tanta tradição quanto a do America. Estamos muito felizes por apoiar esse projeto que vai levar o America de volta à elite do futebol carioca, que é onde o clube merece estar – afirma Patrick Burnett, CEO da empresa. E completou:

– A Inove Mais Benefícios está aqui porque existe sinergia com a nossa estratégia de marketing e porque acredita muito no America: na instituição, na liderança do presidente Romário, na diretoria e, acima de tudo, na equipe e na torcida.

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O primeiro desafio do America será na Série A2 do Campeonato Carioca será contra o Petrópolis. O Mecão viaja nesta terça-feira para a Granja Comary, onde fará um período de treinos e volta na véspera da estreia.

Tudo sobre

AmericaFutebol NacionalRomário

Fakhar Zaman, who suffered a hamstring injury in the first week of August, has recovered and is part of the squad

Danyal Rasool17-Aug-2025Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have not been selected in Pakistan’s T20I squad for the upcoming Asia Cup in the UAE. Fakhar Zaman, who suffered a hamstring injury in the first week of August, has recovered and is part of the side.Salman Agha will lead the 17-member squad, which will also participate in the tri-series against UAE and Afghanistan in the lead-up to the Asia Cup.Babar last played a T20I in December 2024. In PSL 2025, he scored 288 runs in ten innings for Peshawar Zalmi. It included knocks of 56*, 53* and 94 but his overall strike rate was 128.57. He was part of the recent ODI series against West Indies where he had scores of 47, 0 and 9.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Rizwan, like Babar, has not been part of Pakistan’s recent T20I squads for the home and subsequent away series against Bangladesh, followed by the T20Is in the West Indies. He made 53 in the opening game of the ODI series against West Indies, followed by scores of 16 and 0.Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson said Babar had been challenged with improving his T20 game. I think it’s really harsh to challenge a player on their form on three games,” he said at a press conference. “Babar played nicely in the first ODI but missed out on the next two. There’s no doubt Babar’s been asked to improve in some areas around taking on spin and in terms of his strike rate. Those are things he’s working really hard on.”But at the moment, the players we have have done exceptionally well. Sahibzada Farhan has played six games and won three Player of the Match awards. A player like Babar has an opportunity to play in the BBL and show he’s improving in those areas in T20s. He’s too good a player not to consider.”Shaheen Afridi, who had also found himself out of favour in T20 cricket of late, retained his place for the tri-series and the Asia Cup, though Naseem Shah missed out once again. Naseem is currently in action in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).Lahore Qalandars fast bowler Salman Mirza, who was Pakistan’s leading wicket-taker with eight against Bangladesh in the away T20I series, was included in the side. Ahmed Daniyal, who also impressed briefly, though was not part of the squad. Both specialist wristspinners – Abrar Ahmed and Sufiyan Muqeem, kept their place.The squad is something of an amalgamation of the sides that have played T20I cricket under Hesson in the three T20I series over the summer. The recent ODI series – which Pakistan lost 2-1 in the Caribbean – appears not to have influenced decision making either way. Hesson said he intended to stick to the aggressive top-heavy approach he has championed in the format, and repeated that Pakistan’s game was suited to such a style.”We were challenged with three different surfaces [in each of the three series]” Hesson said. “In Lahore, the surfaces were flat and the batting excelled. We went to Bangladesh where they were incredibly challenging and low-scoring games. Our top order sets the game up. All the games we won the top order performed really well. The third game in the West Indies, our openers put on 140 [138]. We need that at a run rate that gets us ahead of the game. T20 is all about setting the game up and being ahead of the game all the time in case you get yourself out. From a batting point of view we’ve got a line-up that can continue to do that.”The tri-series in the UAE between the hosts, Afghanistan and Pakistan will serve as a warm-up to the T20 Asia Cup, which will begin on September 9. Pakistan have never won the T20 version of that tournament; they reached the final when it was last played in 2022.

Pakistan squad for the UAE tri-series and Asia Cup

Salman Agha (capt), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem

Those of a Liverpool persuasion will feel battered and bruised after Arne Slot’s side’s staggering drop-off this season.

The slew of defeats have forced a retreat from their position at the top of the Premier League ladder, and as Alexis Mac Allister said after arresting the losing run at West Ham United on Sunday, the title is not on anyone’s mind; rather, finding a measure of consistency and fluency on the pitch is the incentive right now.

Liverpool might have spent a bucketload this summer, but they also parted with key players, with writer Eddie Gibbs saying, “Liverpool right now look like a side caught between three different ideas of themselves, with none taking root.”

A few tweaks are needed, to be sure. And Liverpool are considering a new wide forward to restore balance across the frontline.

Why Liverpool want a forward

When Liverpool capped off their summer spending spree with the British-record addition of Alexander Isak from Newcastle United, the Premier League was in concert: Liverpool had signed a host of elite players.

And while Isak scored his first Premier League goal for the club on Saturday, it’s been a testing start to the season, with injuries and a lack of fluency a by-product of Liverpool’s wider struggles.

Florian Wirtz, too, looks like he is starting to click into gear, but the Reds have been imbalanced in the final third, and adding width would open up a new dimension from which Slot could rebuild his side’s form.

Well, according to TEAMtalk, Liverpool are frontrunners in the race for Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, who has been among the standout forwards in the Premier League this season.

The Ghana international, 25, has a £65m release clause which becomes active in January, and so Liverpool are not alone in their interest, with Manchester City and Tottenham also ready to lodge bids if the right opportunity presents itself.

In fact, Pep Guardiola’s side have initiated contact, so it’s time for Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes to roll up his sleeves.

Why Semenyo would be a better signing than Isak

Semenyo has only gone from strength to strength since joining Bournemouth from Bristol City in the Championship in January 2023. Andoni Iraola has taken that promising skillset and sculpted it into something special.

Now, Semenyo is considered to be “one of the best players in the league” by BBC writer Umir Irfan and it’s a sentiment many would agree with after a prolific start to the campaign, six goals and three assists posted in the Premier League already.

Two-footed and effortlessly dynamic, Semenyo has proved too tricky to handle for many Premier League defenders in recent memory, something of a monster in the duel and a fearsome, rip-roaring asset down the wing. He is a big-game player besides.

The thing is, Semenyo is conservative in his athletic application; he does not prance about with the force of an uncoiled spring. In this he echoes Luis Diaz, who brought a different flavour to Slot’s title-winning team and has not been directly replaced.

Perhaps Semenyo could be the signing that Liverpool need, one which would prove even more impactful than Isak, who has yet to prove he is worth the record sum, even when banked by such illustrious heights in black and white over the past several years.

Matches (starts)

13 (11)

12 (12)

Goals

4

6

Assists

3

3

Touches*

43.5

49.6

Shots (on target)*

2.5 (0.5)

2.2 (1.2)

Accurate passes*

19.1 (79%)

19.9 (77%)

Chances created*

1.9

1.3

Dribbles*

1.2

1.8

Recoveries*

2.7

5.2

Tackles + interceptions*

0.9

1.8

Duels won*

5.2

6.3

Gakpo has enjoyed a quietly effective season on the left so far for Liverpool, even against the current of their crisis. However, he is far less mobile than Semenyo, and he lacks the clarity and sparkle on the ball that Semenyo imbues the Cherries flanks with.

It really cannot be understated how unique Semenyo is. This is a winger who is making incremental gains, a winger who could now bloom into a true superstar not only in the Premier League but in Europe’s elite club competition too.

Liverpool have been imbalanced this season, and this is the profile that Liverpool need. It has the potential to be the best signing of the season for the Reds, albeit one which should have been completed back at the start of the campaign.

Better move than Semenyo: Liverpool set to table bid to sign £53m "machine"

Liverpool and FSG are considering a host of positions ahead of the January transfer window.

ByAngus Sinclair Dec 1, 2025

Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso has adamantly denied that his team have "fallen apart" despite a recent string of disappointing results, culminating in a 2-2 draw against Elche. While admitting that they "can't be happy" with their latest setback, Alonso insisted that the connection between his coaching staff and the players is "improving" and that the team spirit remains good.

• Real Madrid held to dramatic draw by Elche

  Madrid endured another frustrating evening as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Elche on Sunday. Despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances, Los Blancos found themselves trailing twice in the match. Aleix Febas opened the scoring for Elche in the 53rd minute, only for Dean Huijsen to equalise for Real Madrid in the 78th minute.

  However, Elche regained the lead through Alvaro Rodriguez just six minutes later, threatening to inflict a shock defeat on the Spanish league leaders. It took an 87th-minute equaliser from Jude Bellingham to rescue a point for Real Madrid, ensuring they avoided a second league defeat of the season. The result leaves Real Madrid still at the top of the La Liga table with 32 points from 13 matches, but their lead over rivals Barcelona has been cut to just one point.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Alonso insists team spirit is good despite recent setbacks

  Following the match, Alonso addressed the media and faced questions about his team's recent form, which has seen them draw their last two league games. When asked if the team had crashed, Alonso was defiant in his response.

  "We haven't fallen apart," Alonso insisted. "We're still competing; the context of each match is different. The result is what matters, and we're aware of that and self-critical. The spirit is good; we have to respond to adversity. This is Real Madrid. We live with criticism; we want to improve."

  Despite his positive outlook on the team's spirit, Alonso acknowledged the disappointment of the result. "After a good run, we've had several results we didn't want. We know what we want; we have to keep pushing forward. We're not happy; we always want to win. We can't be. There are many games left, so we need to focus on the next one by analyzing what we did today."

• Player-coach connection is 'improving'

  Another key topic addressed by Alonso was the relationship between his coaching staff and the players. Amidst the recent dip in form, there have been questions about the connection within the squad. However, Alonso maintained that the relationship is strengthening over time.

  "The connection is improving; we have more time and interact more, we know each other better," Alonso stated. "We're all in the same boat, we celebrate victories. We suffer if we don't win. The connection is good. We need to turn this situation around, starting with Athens."

  The Madrid manager also clarified the situation regarding Vinicius Jr, who has seen reduced playing time recently and started on the bench against Elche. Alonso assured that he has open communication with the Brazilian winger and that Vinicius understands his current role.

  "No, we had discussed it. We talk about it often," Alonso explained. "He understands; he knew the role he could play. We've done it before, like in Getafe. Today we're not happy, but everyone is eager to get back on track."

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• AFP
  

  What next for Real Madrid?

  Madrid will need to quickly put this disappointing result behind them as they turn their attention back to the Champions League. They face Olympiacos in Athens on Wednesday, where they will be looking to secure a victory to boost their morale and solidify their position in the group stage. Following their European commitment, they will return to La Liga action next Monday with a home fixture against Girona, who are 18th in the table. Alonso and his players will be aiming for a return to winning ways in both competitions to silence the critics and get their season back on track.

Right-arm quick Matiullah, left-arm spinner Simranjeet are additions to the squad playing ongoing T20I tri-series

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Sep-2025

Muhammad Waseem will lead UAE’s 17-member squad at the 2025 Asia Cup.Right-arm quick Matiullah Khan and left-arm spinner Simranjeet Singh are the two additions to UAE’s side from the ongoing T20I tri-series against Pakistan and Afghanistan, with the rest of the players retaining their places.Matiullah, 32, has played one ODI and five T20Is so far. The last of those T20Is came against Nigeria in the Pearl of Africa Series in July. Thirty-five-year-old Simranjeet has played five ODIs and 11 T20Is. He last represented UAE at the Gulf T20I Championship last December.UAE previous Asia Cup appearance was in 2016 in Bangladesh, when the tournament was played in the T20 format as well.Related

Pakistan seal final berth as Fakhar and Abrar headline commanding win

Asia Cup: Ind-Pak to go ahead after Indian govt clarifies stance

Oman pick four uncapped players for maiden Asia Cup

Asia Cup: Matches pushed back by half an hour due to UAE heat

UAE are part of Group A in this year’s Asia Cup, which starts on September 9, and will be held in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The other three teams in their group are India, Pakistan and Oman. UAE start their campaign on September 10, when they face India in Dubai. While they are yet to beat India or Pakistan in any format, they have beaten Oman in five T20Is.The top two teams from the group will progress to the Super Fours stage.UAE squad for Asia CupMuhammad Waseem (capt), Alishan Sharafu, Aryansh Sharma (wk), Asif Khan, Dhruv Parashar, Ethan D’Souza, Haider Ali, Harshit Kaushik, Junaid Siddique, Matiullah Khan, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Zohaib, Rahul Chopra (wk), Rohid Khan, Simranjeet Singh and Saghir Khan

One of the big issues Ruben Amorim has faced at Manchester United during a tough first season in charge at the club is the number of goals his side have conceded.

United have let in 100 goals in just 53 matches, only five more than they’ve scored.

This is certainly a huge concern for their boss, who, as a result, doesn’t have the strongest record despite going unbeaten in their last four games. Amorim has won 22 games and lost 21 during his year-long tenure so far, with a big reason for that such a shaky defensive record.

That is in spite of the strong performance of Matthijs de Ligt this season.

Why De Ligt has been so important for Man Utd

Despite their unbeaten run of four Premier League games, United’s defence have left a lot to be desired once again this term. The 16 top-flight goals they have conceded is better than just five teams.

However, De Ligt’s performances as the central centre-back in Amorim’s infamous back three have been excellent. The 26-year-old has been a key member of Amoirm’s backline with United’s number 4 having racked up 90 minutes in all ten of their Premier League games.

H, football analyst and host of The Overlap: The Breakdown, has been full of praise for the Dutchman. He described him as a “great box defender” and said he “steps up in the press so well.”

In some instances, he has put up better numbers than one of the best centre-backs in world football, Arsenal star Gabriel.

The Brazilian, described as the Premier League’s “number one” centre-back by pundit Paul Merson, averages 2.1 tackles and interceptions and wins 3.3 aerial duels per 90 minutes. In comparison, De Ligt has made 2.7 tackles and interceptions and won 3.7 aerial duels each game.

Both defensive warriors for their teams, the similarities between the two are clear to see, but there is a United player who has been even more similar to Gabriel this term.

Man United's own Gabriel

One of the big upsides to Gabriel’s game is not just his defending, but his set-piece threat. The Brazilian has “been the main exponent” from set pieces for the Gunners, with his side bagging 12 this season already.

Whilst that is double the number United have managed, they do rank joint-fourth in the top flight for set-piece goals with six.

Casemiro has been one of the biggest threats from those situations, with football content creator Lyes describing him as “one of the best setpiece threats we’ve [United] had in years.”

Indeed, the Brazilian’s most recent strike came from a set-piece. He headed home a Bruno Fernandes corner against Nottingham Forest last Saturday, the third goal he has scored this season. His first strike of the campaign against Chelsea was not directly from a set piece, but was a header from the phase after.

Standing at 6 foot 1 and with a powerful leap on him, it is easy to see why Casemiro dominates from set pieces. His 2.31 aerial duels won per 90 minutes rank him in the top 5% of Premier League midfielders.

However, is not just from deadball scenarios that the vastly experienced 33-year-old has shone for United.

The former Real Madrid star has been excellent in the pivot alongside Fernandes, with his 5.03 tackles and interceptions each game placing him in the 98th percentile for English top-flight midfielders.

Passes into penalty area

1.08

80th

Blocks

2.34

99th

Tackles and interceptions

5.03

98th

Clearances

2.46

89th

Aerial duels won

2.31

95th

As important as De Ligt has been for United this season, their number 18 has been equally as vital. With his set piece threat, you can easily draw comparisons to Brazil teammate Gabriel, and his work off the ball in the pivot has been second to none.

Football statistician Statman Dave described him as a “monster” for the Red Devils this season. It is fair to say Casemiro is living up to that praise, with some superb showings.

Man Utd have a "beast" in the academy who's another Casemiro in the making

Manchester United would benefit from the emergence of the next Carrington superstar this season.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Nov 5, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

Os atletas do Palmeiras que encerraram a temporada lesionados passaram por tratamento sob supervisão do Núcleo de Saúde e Performance nesta terça-feira (9), na Academia de Futebol, com o objetivo de acelerar a recuperação para o início do próximo ano.

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+ Palmeiras identifica carências, define prioridades e inicia movimentações na janela

O quarteto formado por Lucas Evangelista, Figueiredo, Felipe Anderson e Paulinho seguirão cronograma personalizado até o dia 23 de dezembro. O restante do elenco alviverde, por sua vez, retorna às atividades no dia 4 de janeiro.

O Palmeiras volta a campo no dia 11 de janeiro, fora de casa, para enfrentar a Portuguesa pela primeira rodada da fase de grupos do Campeonato Paulista.

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Lucas Evangelista trata uma cirurgia na coxa direita feita em outubro. Felipe Anderson sofreu entorse no tornozelo esquerdo na final da Libertadores. Figueiredo, por sua vez, lesionou o joelho direito durante a Libertadores Sub-20, em março. Já Paulinho passou por procedimento na perna direita, em julho, para corrigir uma fratura na tíbia.

➡️Tudo sobre o Verdão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Palmeiras

Palmeiras fecha temporada sem títulos

O Palmeiras encerrou 2025 com três vice-campeonatos e sem títulos pela primeira vez desde a chegada de Abel Ferreira. No início da temporada, perdeu a final do Campeonato Paulista para o Corinthians.

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Na reta final do ano, viu o Flamengo ultrapassá-lo nas últimas rodadas do Brasileirão e, depois, vencer a decisão da Libertadores por 1 a 0, em Lima, no Peru. Apesar dos resultados aquém do esperado, o time terminou o calendário com duas vitórias como visitante, diante de Atlético-MG e Ceará.

+ Leila Pereira rebate críticas do Flamengo sobre gramado e ironiza: ‘Quando tiver estádio’

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Palmeiras

يستعد الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم “فيفا” لسحب قرعة كأس العالم المقررة في العاصمة الأمريكية واشنطن يوم الجمعة، الخامس من ديسمبر.

وأكد الصحفي البريطاني “بن جاكوبس” أن دونالد ترامب رئيس الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية سيحضر قرعة كأس العالم يوم الجمعة.

ومن المتوقع أن يمنح الاتحاد الدولي لدونالد ترامب، جائزة فيفا للسلام، ليكون أول فائز بهذه الجائزة المقدمة من إنفانتينو.

اقرأ أيضًا.. غيابات مهمة عن برشلونة أمام ريال بيتيس في الدوري الإسباني

وكان دونالد ترامب قد سبق وأن صرح بأنه سيشارك في هذا الحدث، وسيكون هناك فقرات ترفيهية عالمية المستوى، خلال إعلان قرعة دور المجموعات في كأس العالم.

ويؤكد حضور ترامب لقرعة الاتحاد الدولي لكأس العالم على علاقته الوثيقة مع جياني إنفانتينو رئيس فيفا، والذي سبق له وأن زار البيت الأبض عدة مرات.

وستقام كأس العالم في هذه النسخة بمشاركة 48 منتخبًا بدلاً من 32 والذين شاركوا في كأس العالم قطر 2022، وستنطلق البطولة في الفترة من 11 يونيو إلى 19 يوليو في الولايات المتحدة والمكسيك وكندا.

Daniel Farke, manager of Leeds United, has been questioned for his side’s performance against Nottingham Forest.

Morgan Gibbs-White produced the perfect response to his England omission by helping Forest to their first Premier League win since the opening day of the season.

Gibbs-White was left out of Thomas Tuchel’s squad for next week’s World Cup qualifiers, but reminded the German of his talent with a decisive goal in Sunday’s 3-1 victory over Leeds.

The midfielder’s second-half header helped end Forest’s nine-game winless streak in the league as they secured three points for the first time under head coach Sean Dyche.

It was far from pretty as they had to come from behind, Ibrahim Sangare cancelling out Lukas Nmecha’s opener for Leeds.

Elliot Anderson’s late penalty sealed a vital triumph for Forest, who have now taken four points from their last two games and look to be heading in the right direction.

They are just two points behind Leeds, who have lost four out of their last five matches. Following their latest defeat, manager Farke has been called into question.

Farke should have made earlier changes against Forest

Since arriving at Leeds in 2023, Farke has sometimes been questioned for his decisions surrounding substitutes. Often, the German seems to bring new bodies into the game only after the majority of minutes have been played.

Against Nottingham, Leeds made no changes until the 74th minute. This is despite having lost their one-goal advantage, finding themselves 2-1 down and offering little threat to their hosts. Such a decision was noted by commentator Jon Newsome who at the time of United’s substitutions, as per BBC Sport West Yorkshire.

England midfielder Anderson killed the game from the spot in the 90th minute after the lively Hutchinson, introduced from the bench, was fouled by Jack Harrison, a natural wide midfielder who replaced left-back Gabriel Gudmundsson.

In attack, Leeds were bereft of inspiration. They had just four shots before the 70th minute and of the 10 they had across the game, as per SofaScore, only three were on target. Beren Cross of The Athletic commented on the fact that, despite Farke saying he had been in team training for a fortnight, Italian forward Willy Gnonto, who would offer a much-needed creative spark, was not in the squad against Forest.

With an international break ahead of them, Leeds will face a number of tough fixtures as they look for what will be a needed improvement in form. With four defeats within their past five Premier League games, questions may soon be asked of Farke’s future at Elland Road if such a run continues.

Leeds must unleash their "best finisher"

New Zealand’s domestic T20 competition will kick off on Boxing Day for 32 days and 64 games in all

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Aug-2025The Hagley Oval in Christchurch is set to host the Super Smash women’s and men’s elimination and grand finals games for the upcoming season. It means the teams that make it to the last stage will get together for these finals games in the last three days of January, just like it was done at the Basin Reserve in Wellington last season.New Zealand’s domestic T20 competition will kick off on Boxing Day for 32 days and 64 games in all, starting with Northern Brave hosting Auckland’s men’s and women’s teams at Seddon Park in Hamilton.While announcing the fixtures for the next season, an NZC release stated the 2024-25 season was a “watershed one for Super Smash with TVNZ broadcasts reaching over one million people, along with a record 7.3 million views across Super Smash content on NZC’s digital channels.”Related

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Former New Zealand international Tom Bruce switches to Scotland

Men's Ford Trophy to kick off NZ domestic calendar again

Tom Bruce, Central Districts captain and Men’s Player of the Year last season in the Super Smash spoke of the competitive nature of the season which forced players to constantly evolve.”You’ve got BLACKCAPS and WHITE FERNS scattered across the teams along with plenty of up and coming stars pushing for their chance at the next level,” he said. “With only six teams in the competition, you have to constantly be thinking about evolving your game as you often play similar squads a few times a season.”You’re forced to progress your game as individuals and as a team, otherwise players will figure you out pretty quickly. It’s also great for players to get used to playing in front of a large crowd and a pretty substantial TV audience too.”If they can get a taste of playing in that context, then once they make the step up to BLACKCAPS or WHITE FERNS, they already have some invaluable experience playing in that sort of environment.”Suzanne Pearce, executive manager of the Canterbury Cricket Trust which owns and operates the Hagley Oval, was confident Christchurch hosting the finals games would inspire more youngsters.”We think we have the best ground in New Zealand and it’s a huge vote of confidence in the venue, the city and the cricket community here in Christchurch, so we’re very pleased,” she said.”Our crowds the past few seasons are testament to how loyal the fans are here. It’s a big win, not only for the city but the wider Canterbury region. It’s a chance for our fans to see the best players in the country play some awesome cricket and for those young players coming through to be inspired.”There is something really special about having a world-class international cricket ground in the middle of our city park. You look one way and see the southern alps and see the city and the port hills at the other end.”New Year’s Day will see last season’s finalists – Canterbury and Central Districts – come face to face again, at the Hagley Oval.Canterbury will be chasing their first T20 title in 20 years after coming agonisingly close as runners-up in the past five seasons.The NZC release also said KFC’s “6’s for Surf” will be back too, with KFC pledging $100 for every six hit, with $38,100 donated to Surf Lifesaving NZ last season.