Sports
Saudi government offers Messi $400m/year deal to join their league
Saudi Arabian officials are reportedly making a strong push for Lionel Messi to join the Saudi Pro League this summer.
The Telegraph reports that the Saudi government is preparing a contract offer that would exceed Cristiano Ronaldo’s deal at Al-Nassr and become the most lucrative in football history, with officials willing to give Messi £320 million per year ($400m). Talks are underway between the Saudi officials and Messi’s father and agent, Jorge, as the footballer prepares to become a free agent in the summer when he leaves Paris Saint-Germain.
It remains unclear which club in the Saudi Pro League Messi would join, but Al-Nassr’s rivals, Al-Hilal, have been touted as a possibility. Messi’s recent trip to Saudi Arabia, which resulted in his suspension from PSG, came with numerous perks designed to convince him to move to the country permanently. A press release from the nation claimed that he was “enchanted” by a trained falcon that perched on his shoulder, while his wife, Antonella Roccuzzo, wore the Saudi hama on her head as part of local tradition.
Although Saudi Arabia is likely to offer the best contract terms, Messi is still considering his options and reportedly waiting for more specifics from Barcelona and Inter Miami. PSG is set to lose Messi for free this summer, and it appears that Saudi Arabia is willing to pay whatever it takes to secure his services. The Saudi government is expected to keep in close contact with Messi in the coming months.
Bangladeshi cricketer Tanzim Hasan Sakib has been fined 15% of his match fee for violating Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during Sunday’s T20 World Cup match against Nepal at Arnos Vale Ground.
The incident occurred at the end of the third over of Nepal’s innings when Tanzim, after delivering a ball, aggressively approached Nepali batter Rohit Paudel and made inappropriate physical contact.
As this was Tanzim’s first offense within a 24-month period, one demerit point was added to his disciplinary record.
The pacer, who took four wickets in the match, admitted to the breach and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee Richie Richardson, negating the need for a formal hearing.
The on-field umpires, along with the third and fourth umpires, leveled the charge. Level 1 breaches carry penalties ranging from an official reprimand to a maximum fine of 50% of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points. Accumulating four or more demerit points within 24 months can lead to suspension points, resulting in a ban from matches.
Despite the incident, Bangladesh secured a comfortable victory over Nepal, further solidifying their position in the tournament.
Eight venues in South Africa have been confirmed for the 2027 Cricket World Cup, according to Cricket South Africa chief executive Pholetsi Moseki.
In addition to the South African grounds, matches will also be played in Zimbabwe and Namibia, who will co-host the tournament.
Moseki told the South African News24 website that the eight South African venues had been chosen for what he described as “scientific” reasons, including proximity to an airport and the availability of hotel rooms.
South Africa’s regular Test venues – the Wanderers in Johannesburg, SuperSport Park in Centurion, Newlands in Cape Town, Kingsmead in Durban and St George’s Park in Gqeberha – will all host matches.
The Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein, Boland Park in Paarl and Buffalo Park in East London will be the other venues.
All eight grounds were used when South Africa previously hosted the World Cup in 2003.
Benoni, Potchefstroom and Kimberley also staged matches in 2003 but were not included for the 2027 edition.
The tournament is scheduled for October and November 2027.
Venue guide
Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg: South Africa’s premier venue with a capacity of about 30,000. Hosted the finals of the 2003 World Cup and inaugural 2007 T20 World Cup and a semi-final of the 2009 Champions Trophy.
Newlands, Cape Town: The scenic ground with a backdrop of Table Mountain has hosted more Test matches (60) than any other South African ground. Was the venue for the 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup final and a 2007 T20 World Cup semi-final.
SuperSport Park, Centurion: The purpose-built stadium outside Pretoria hosted the 2009 Champions Trophy final.
Kingsmead, Durban: Semi-final venue for the 2003 World Cup and 2007 T20 World Cup.
St George’s Park, Gqeberha: South Africa’s oldest Test ground. Hosted a semi-final in the 2003 World Cup.
Boland Park, Paarl: Another scenic venue in the Cape Winelands. Along with the five grounds above, a centre for a team in the SA20 franchise competition. Hosted three matches in the 2003 World Cup.
Springbok Park, Bloemfontein: Five Test matches have been played in Bloemfontein as well as two matches in the Super Six stage of the 2003 World Cup.
Buffalo Park, East London: Infrequently used for men’s international matches in recent years but it has hosted one Test match as well as being a Super Six venue in 2003.
Star cricketer and Member of Parliament Shakib Al Hasan is set to venture into the footwear business with the launch of a new brand, “SAH 75,” in collaboration with Step Footwear, one of the country’s largest non-leather footwear companies.
Under this joint venture, Step Footwear will handle the manufacturing, selling, and marketing of wearable products for the “SAH 75” brand. The products will be available in 95 Step Footwear showrooms nationwide. Shamim Kabir, Managing Director of Step Footwear, confirmed this collaboration.
The formal announcement of the new business venture is scheduled to take place at a hotel in the capital on Sunday.
Sources indicate that Step Footwear will produce certain shoes under the “SAH 75” brand, while additional products will be sourced from both domestic and international markets. These products will be sold through Step’s showrooms.
The product range under the “SAH 75” brand will include shoes, sandals, boots, bats, pads, sportswear, and other wearables.
Step Footwear operates three factories in Narsingdi, where two of them focus on producing trolleys, bags, backpacks, and the third factory specializes in shoemaking equipment. All three factories are currently in full production.
