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Moroccan captain announces international retirement
Romain Saiss of Morocco during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations ACON Morocco Training at the Mohammed VI Complex in Rabat, Morocco on 28 December 2025 ©Majt Esseddik/BackpagePix
Tuesday Feb 24, 2026. 11:12
Moroccan international captain Romain Saïss has announced his retirement from international football.
The 35-year-old released a heartfelt statement on social media on Monday, bidding farewell to the Atlas Lions less than four months from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“Today, I close the most beautiful chapter of my footballer life. After careful consideration, it is with great emotion that I announce my international retirement,” wrote Saïss.
The defender described putting on the Moroccan jersey as the “greatest honour” of his career and that came with a feeling of “indescribable pride”.
Saïss offered thanks to all staff involved in his stint with the Atlas Lions, the Moroccan supporters, King Mohammed VI, as well as his family.
“The future of our national team looks bright […] I will now be your number one supporter, loyal and passionate, no matter what. Leaving the [nation al team], but I will forever be a Lion,” he wrote.
Currently playing for Al -Saad in the Qatari Stars League, Saïss made his debut for Morocco in an international friendly against Togo on 14 November 2012. His next appearance for the national team came in March 2016.
He was given the captain’s armband in 2019 during the Atlas Lions’ Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign.
His last appearance for his country came at the recent 2025 AFCON on Moroccan soil, where he captained the hosts in the opening fixture against the Comoros. Saïss was forced off the field due to injury in the 19th minute and missed the rest of the campaign, which saw the Atlas Lions claim the silver medal after falling to Senegal in the final.
Perhaps Saïss’ biggest achievement was leading Morocco to the semi-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, setting a new best-ever performance for an African country at the global showpiece.
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Commonwealth Games 2026: Gymnast Ruby Evans wins first gold for Wales
Gymnast Ruby Evans has won Wales’ first Commonwealth Games gold in Glasgow with victory in the floor final.
Evans, 19, performed the final routine of the women’s programme and defeated England’s Abigail Martin into silver, with her team-mate Shantae-Eve Amankwaah securing bronze.
Evans left the arena in tears on Sunday after her disappointing sixth in the all-round individual competition, that after Wales finished fourth in the team event.
Now, after Welsh identical twins Abigail and Emily Roper won bronze medals within a couple of hours of each other on Monday, Evans has delivered gold.
It was the first victory for Team Wales in Scotland and a ninth medal alongside two silver and six bronze.
There is also a guaranteed podium position for boxer Connor Williams after he reached the semi-finals.
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Saltburn-Norton match investigated over alleged ‘finger clicking’ cheating
An amateur cricket match has made global headlines after a fielder was accused of cheating by clicking his fingers to get a wicket.
The North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League has started an investigation into a second XI Division 2 game between Saltburn and Norton.
A viral video on social media appears to show a Saltburn fielder clicking his fingers as the ball passes Noman Shabir’s bat before being caught by wicketkeeper Josh Bowes. Saltburn appeal and the umpire gives Shabir out.
It has been suggested that the finger-clicking was designed to trick the umpire into thinking the batter edged the ball.
Saltburn won by 159 runs and are top of Division 2 by 17 points.
“The league have received a formal complaint regarding alleged incidents in a Division Two game on Saturday,” the league said in a statement on X.
“A full investigation has been initiated and until such time as the formal processes are complete no further comment will be made.”
Last week Bowes took eight catches in Saltburn’s 22-run win over Shildon Railway. The men’s Test record for catches by a keeper in an innings is seven.
Bowes leads the league standings with 31 catches, 10 more than any other player.
Rory Cotterill, who captained Middlesbrough second XI during a 29-run defeat by Saltburn last month, responded to a social media post containing the video and alleged two further incidents of cheating by Saltburn in that match.
The original video of the incident has had more than three million views on X, with publications in Australia and New Zealand among those to report it.
The BBC has contacted the league and Saltburn. Norton declined to comment.
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West Indies v Pakistan: Justin Greaves takes five wickets for none in incredible spell
First Test, Tarouba (day three of five)
West Indies 311 (Hope 92; Ali 4-50) & 126-7 (Chanderpaul 35, Abbas 3-14)
Pakistan 282 (Masood 109; Greaves 5-27)
West Indies lead by 155 runs
West Indies all-rounder Justin Greaves took five wickets without conceding a run in an incredible spell of bowling on day three of the first Test against Pakistan.
Greaves, who is playing in his 17th Test, claimed his maiden Test five-wicket haul to help dismiss Pakistan for 282 in response to West Indies’ first-innings total of 311.
The 32-year-old Barbadian’s spell – five consecutive wicket maidens – was all the more remarkable given he had bowled six overs earlier in the day for 27 runs without taking a wicket.
“When I came on captain Roston Chase just said ‘continue to be disciplined in what you are doing’ and to see if I can get some wickets for the team,” Greaves said.
“The ball nipped around and I got some reward. Anytime I get the ball in hand the team looks to me to be that solid player for them [and] try to dig us out of situations.
“To get five wickets for the first time in Test cricket, I’m really happy, but there’s still a lot of work to do in the game.”
Pakistan captain Shan Masood was Greaves’ first wicket at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad when he was bowled for 109 in the 64th over following a superb set-up.
Greaves had pushed the ball wide to the left-hander from over the wicket before he tailed a delivery back into Masood who played down the wrong line and inside edged on to his stumps.
Aamer Jamal had his middle stump uprooted in Greaves’ next over as the seamer speared one through his defences.
Greaves then trapped Ali Usman lbw before he had Mohammed Rizwan and Mohammad Abbas both caught behind as Pakistan lost their last seven wickets for just 38 runs.
West Indies reached stumps on day three on 126-7 in their second innings – a lead of 155 runs – to leave the match finely poised.
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CK Updates21 hours agoCommonwealth Games 2026: Scotland’s Archie Goodburn on battling brain cancer
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CK Updates9 hours agoSaltburn-Norton match investigated over alleged ‘finger clicking’ cheating
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CK Updates15 hours agoWest Indies v Pakistan: Justin Greaves takes five wickets for none in incredible spell
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CK Updates2 hours agoCommonwealth Games 2026: Gymnast Ruby Evans wins first gold for Wales

