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Uthappa announces retirement from international and Indian cricket
Uthappa, a member of India's 2004 Under-19 World Cup team, made his international debut in 2006 and played 46 ODIs and 13 T20Is, and was part of the team that lifted the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007 in South Africa. He also won several domestic titles with Karnataka and won the IPL twice: with Kolkata Knight Riders in 2014 and with Chennai Super Kings in 2021.
Uthappa, now 36, started his domestic career in 2002-03 with Karnataka and ended it with Kerala in the truncated 2020-21 season. He also represented Saurashtra during the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons. He played 142 first-class matches, scoring 9446 runs with 22 centuries while averaging nearly 41, and scored another 6534 runs with 16 hundreds in 203 one-day games at an average of 35.31. In 291 T20 games, the last of which he played in the 2022 IPL for Super Kings, he scored 7272 runs while striking at 133.08.
He played all 15 seasons of the IPL and represented as many as six teams in the tournament: Super Kings, Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians, Pune Warriors India, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals. He amassed 4952 runs in 205 IPL games, striking at 130.35 and averaging 27.51.
Uthappa was known for his aggressive batting, which earned him an international debut in 2006, but he was dropped soon after the 2007 T20 World Cup because of poor form. The year before playing his last few matches for India in 2015, he achieved a rare treble with Karnataka, who won the Ranji Trophy, the Irani Cup and the Vijay Hazare Trophy in the 2013-14 season. He followed that up with a prolific IPL for Knight Riders in 2014, ending the season as the tournament's leading run-scorer with a tally of 660 runs at a strike rate of 138.
He was rewarded with a return to the Indian side for tours of Bangladesh and Zimbabwe in 2014 and 2015 but modest returns meant he was out again. In between, he led the run chart in the 2014-15 Ranji Trophy season as Karnataka became the first domestic team to repeat their title-winning treble.
Sriram wants Bangladesh's T20I players to create 'impact', not focus on 'performances'
In his first press conference in Dhaka, Sriram - essentially brought on board for the T20I side - said that he believes a good performance can even be detrimental to a side, unless it has a direct influence on the outcome of a T20 game.
Sriram said that Bangladesh's struggles in closing out games from tight situations as an area that needs improvement. In nine T20Is this year, Bangladesh have lost seven matches, following on from doing poorly in the T20 World Cup last year in the UAE. Sriram believes that it could be a lack of skill or mentality, or both, that is holding the team back.
"We want to win critical moments in the game. Bangladesh have lost a lot of close T20 games. The overall results would have looked a lot better had we won half of these games. Why we are losing close games is something I am really keen to understand.
"We need to have critical-moment awareness. If we win small moments, overall we can string those results together. Chances are, we will win close games. It could be skills, execution or it could be mental as well. What is he thinking in those situations? These conversations are ongoing with the leadership group of the team. We do one-on-one and also small groups too," Sriram said.
"Litton Das is an established cricketer and Nurul has good knowledge of his own game," Sriram said. "I am quite eager to see more of Yasir. He has the power that Bangladesh lacks as a T20 team. Somebody who can clear the ropes and find the boundaries. I think Rabbi [Yasir] is a very exciting prospect.
Sriram shot back at a suggestion that a good performance by Bangladesh in the T20 World Cup, in Australia next month, will give him a contract extension. Rather, he said, that he wanted to focus on the positives from the Asia Cup, where he felt that the team showed fighting qualities despite losing to Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.
"I am not here to extend my contract. I am here to do my job to the best of my ability for the time I am contracted," Sriram said. "Thinking of an extension is not the right way to operate. I will do the best for Bangladesh. I wear heart and soul for this team.
"There was a huge positive in the way we played in the Asia Cup. We needed to win both games but it doesn't mean we didn't play good cricket. I please request everyone not to be results driven. Results are everything in sport but there needs to be a process and plan in place. As long as we have that direction, that's all I am accountable for."
Ganguly, Jay Shah eligible to helm BCCI till 2025 as SC agrees to amend cooling-off period
The court agreed to tweaking the existing rule on the cooling-off period by allowing an office bearer to hold office for two terms at one place - the state association or BCCI - while removing the clause of combination of both. Ganguly and Shah had already served one term each at the state and BCCI levels and would have been disqualified under the existing rule. They can now serve an additional term at the BCCI.
In 2018, the BCCI adopted a newly drafted constitution, which was finalised post the court's judgement by Justice Chandrachud, that an office bearer who has held any post for two consecutive terms (six years) either at a state association or in the BCCI, or a combination of both, shall not be eligible to contest any further election without completing a cooling-off period of three years. During the cooling-off period, the person cannot serve in any capacity at both the BCCI or state level.
In 2019, the BCCI administration approached the court seeking several significant amendments to the board's constitution, which if approved by the court would roll back the sweeping reforms passed by the court in 2016 on the basis of the RM Lodha Committee recommendations. The changes sought by the BCCI comprised: tweaking the cooling-off period of the board's office bearers, modifying the disqualification criteria, giving unprecedented powers to the BCCI secretary, and stopping the court from having any say if the board wants to alter the constitution.
In its 2019 plea, the BCCI said the existing cooling-off period was a "restriction", which was "proving to be a big blow to selecting talented and experienced hands". The BCCI said the cooling-off period must be applied only after the individual has finished six years at one place - the BCCI or the state association, separately.
That clause, it said, would be applicable to its two most senior office bearers: the president and secretary. As for the three remaining office bearers - treasurer, joint-secretary and vice-president - the BCCI said those three should be allowed to finish the maximum tenure of nine years (three terms), instead of having to take the three-year break after two consecutive terms (six years) in the job.
"Existing position is by using the word combination, even if you have done one term in state and one term in BCCI then you are out," Justice Chandrachud said in the hearing. "But what we are proposing is that if you have done six years at the state level then you are subject to a three-year cooling-off period (at state). If you have not done six years at the same level then you are not subject to a cooling-off period."
Justice Chandrachud said another "format" the court could "possibly consider" was "a person can be a member at the most for two consecutive terms either at the state or at the BCCI. But if you have two completed two consecutive terms each of three years at the state and BCCI then you must have a cooling-off period of three years. That is two different proposals. Our first proposal was three in state, six in the BCCI (or) six in the state three in the BCCI, after which cooling-off period will apply.
"Second, we are giving a more liberal thing: you can do six in the state, you can then immediately do six in the BCCI because they are two different levels. But after completing two consecutive terms at two different levels then take a break of three years."
Justice Chandrachud also said that once the person had finished six years at one place - state or BCCI - he could not return to the same for three years. And in case the person had finished 12 years at a stretch - six each at state and BCCI - he could not return for a period of three years to either.
Justice Chandrachud pointed out that these were his observations at this stage before he and Justice Kohli put out the order. Both justices agreed that such an approach would be more "balanced".
If the court does pass the same in its judgement, that would allow the current BCCI office bearers to continue for another term of three years. It was in October 2019 that former India captain Ganguly was elected as BCCI president and Shah, who is the son of India Home Minister Amit Shah, as secretary. Arun Dhumal, brother of former BCCI president Anurag Thakur, who is also the Indian Sports and Youth Affairs Minister, was elected as BCCI treasurer while Jayesh George took charge as joint secretary.
The BCCI is due for fresh elections, which was originally scheduled for the end of this month, but eventually postponed as the board wanted to wait for the court take a call on the amendments sought.
Nagraj Gollapudi is news editor at ESPNcricinfo
Source: Jets stick with Flacco as Week 2 starter
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- New York fans chanted Mike White's name during Sunday's season-opening loss to the Ravens, but the Jets aren't planning a quarterback change for Week 2.
Veteran Joe Flacco, who replaced injured Zach Wilson, will start Sunday against the Cleveland Browns, a source told ESPN.
Jets coach Robert Saleh indicated Monday that Flacco would "likely" start the game, but he created some doubt by saying all positions were under review. A source said the Jets never seriously considered benching Flacco for the popular White, who became a fan favorite with a 405-yard passing performance last season in an upset of the Cincinnati Bengals.
Flacco, 37, struggled against the Ravens, as the Jets didn't score a touchdown until the final minute of the game. His lack of mobility was glaring, as he was sacked three times, hit 11 times and pressured 19 times, according to Next Gen Stats data.
Flacco completed 37 of 59 passes for 307 yards with one touchdown and one interception. In fairness, the run-pass balance was out of line, as the Jets called 62 pass plays out of 79 total plays. The former Super Bowl MVP also played behind a reshuffled offensive line, with George Fant returning to left tackle and rookie Max Mitchell starting at right tackle. Those changes were made last week due to a shoulder injury to left tackle Duane Brown, who was placed on injured reserve.
Wilson, who had arthroscopic knee surgery Aug. 16, is expected to miss at least two more games. He's still not practicing but will do some light individual drills this week.
London Marathon to include non-binary option
Organisers want new year’s TCS London Marathon to be more inclusive after extensive review
A non-binary option will be offered to applicants in the 2023 TCS London Marathon ballot.
The ballot, which will open on October 1, will include three gender options – male, female and non-binary – but will only be included in the mass participation element of the London Marathon.
That means if you are applying to run for yourself or a charity then that option becomes available.
The change follows an extensive review and consultation period by London Marathon Events, organisers of the London Marathon, in an attempt to make the event more diverse, equitable and inclusive.
For the first time, a non-binary gender option will be offered to applicants in the 2023 TCS London Marathon Ballot.
Read more ?#LondonMarathon #WeRunTogether
— TCS London Marathon (@LondonMarathon) September 14, 2022
However, elite races plus Championship and Good for Age categories, which all operate under World Athletics rules, will not offer a non-binary option.
London follows the Boston Marathon in creating a non-binary category for the mass participation part of the event.
In July, London Marathon Events announced new entry policies for the 2022 London Marathon which included entries for assisted participants, enhanced policies for participants who are pregnant or postpartum and special considerations for participants in the virtual marathon.
Hugh Brasher [Bob Martin]
“This is a significant step forward for the TCS London Marathon as we continue our journey to make our event truly inclusive,” Hugh Brasher, Event Director of the London Marathon, said.
“We know there is still much more to be done, but changes such as this demonstrate our commitment to making the TCS London Marathon an event that is for everyone.”
The 2023 London Marathon will take place on Sunday 23 April.
England’s Declan James and George Parker through in Nantes but Lucy Turmel suffers shock defeat
By ALAN THATCHER – Squash Mad Editor
England’s Declan James and George Parker made it through to the men’s quarter-finals in the Open de France de Squash in Nantes but Lucy Turmel suffered a shock defeat in the women’s tournament.
James, champion here in 2018, had to fight from behind to get the better of US No.1 Shahjahan Khan in three games. James lost the first 11-4, but then showed his qualities to send the match into a deciding third game.
At 10-9 up in the third, and with match ball, the match was halted due to a blood injury to the American after James’ racket caught him above the right eye. After a short break, the Englishman took the first point back on court to seal the deal, and move through to the last eight where he will play top seed Marwan ElShorbagy.
James said: “Very happy to win. I wasn’t playing my best and I felt very flat, especially in the first game. I wasn’t moving amazingly well, but that’s the way it goes sometimes! You’ve got an early match, and you don’t feel amazing.
“I felt I fought my way through it in the second game, tried to be a bit more clever, play the court and how I was feeling. The third was then just brutal all the way. I got ahead and then he came back.
“I got my second wind halfway through it and then towards the end, it’s always a flip of a coin really. It was unfortunate that I just clipped him in the face there, so obviously I am sorry to him for that!
“A five-minute break at match ball is really difficult because you’ve gone cold, you don’t know what is going to happen, but I took my chance, and I am very happy to get through.
“This is one of my favourite tournaments, you know. I was desperate to make it to the glass court, and to be able to play in front of what is always a wonderful crowd. It is like a fresh start – the tournament starts again, so I am really happy to get to the glass and play in front of that crowd once again!”
Parker beat India’s Mahesh Mangaonkar 11-3, 12-10. Parker won the first game comfortably but had to fight back from a mammoth deficit to win the second.
Parker meets Auguste Dussourd in the quarters and said: “I am still a bit rough from Qatar, really. That was my first hit with someone since then. I felt good to start with but then when I got into it, my technique…
“I wasn’t hitting my corners right, but I was able to force him to hit a few errors. I think he got a bit tired towards the end as well, but it’s good to just get through and move into the next round.
“The stadium looks really good and it’s always nice to play in front of a big crowd, so I am looking forward to that occasion.”
Top seed Marwan ElShorbagy was in top form to beat England’s Nick Wall 11-4, 11-7 in just 19 minutes on the club courts at Maison du Squash.
The Egyptian explained: “To be honest, I was a bit nervous. I know how good a player Nick is, best of three as well, a bit tricky always on the higher seed.
“Today the second game was crucial. He had a decent lead and I had to focus to make the rallies as long as possible – even if I lost the rally, putting a lot of work into him, to get to him a bit physically. The longer the rallies go, the better for me. I didn’t want to go for any cheap shots, but build the rallies and control them before I do anything.
“It paid off at the end when I won six or seven points a row. I’m happy to get the win, and looking forward to tomorrow. I’m excited to finally play in that court I have heard everybody talking about!”
New French No.1 Victor Crouin delighted the home crowd in Nantes with a sublime performance to come through in straight games against former college rival Aly Abou Eleinen in the last match of the evening’s action.
Crouin took the first game 11-3, before then winning the first 10 points of the second game as well. Eleinen saved six match balls as Crouin tried to finish it with some flair, but he got through to clinch victory 11-67 in 26 minutes.
Crouin said: “It was a tricky first round. Aly, I could have played in the final. He is an incredibly talented player – I played him so much in college. He is only 60-something in the world rankings, but he is definitely going to be in the top ten one day.
“I wasn’t taking that match lightly at all, as you could see on court. I was very focused on what I had to do. I just wanted to play squash and have fun out there because it has been a crazy few weeks! I need to really stay in the moment and perform on the court and I’m super happy to finally get a win here in Nantes.
“A lot of people have asked me what it would feel like to be French No.1 But that was not my goal, I knew if I performed well on the PSA World Tour then I would get to that point. Now that I am French No.1, it feels different but I was just trying to avoid feeling that pressure.
“It is an honour because there have been so many good players for our country, and there still are. There are still many players that I wouldn’t like to be on court with. It is tough competition, but I guess I earned it, and I hope I can stay there for a long time now!”
The biggest surprise in the men’s draw came in the afternoon session at the traditional courts as Auguste Dussourd came through the all-French battle against Gregoire Marche, winning 11-6, 6-11, 11-0.
The match was evenly poised at the start of the third game but Dussourd began well and went on to win it without dropping a point, taking down his nation’s former No.1 to move into the quarter finals on home soil.
Dussourd admitted: “I feel great! After a victory, it always feels great. I was playing well tactically. At the start of the match, I was controlling the rallies and the pace, but then in the start of the second, I was 4-2 up and I completely changed and made so many bad errors.
“At the start of the third, I had to make zero mistakes. If he was going to beat me, then he had to win all 11 points.
“When I don’t make mistakes, I am tough to beat and that is what happened, I was consistent, hitting it tight, and I think at 6-0, he started to break a bit. I felt it and I pushed more, going to win it quite comfortably in the end. I am proud of the mental part, and to be consistent feels really good!”
Indian No.1 Saurav Ghosal got the better of England’s Charlie Lee in straight games at Hangar 24.
The Englishman began strongly, winning six of the first eight points with some great winning shots. However, Ghosal proved why he has been a top ten player in the past, fighting back to take the first game 12-10.
That form continued into the second game, and he was able to shut the game down, and restrict Lee’s shot-making abilities. The Indian won it 11-4 to advance to the quarter finals, where he will face Spanish No.1 Iker Pajares Bernabeu.
“First of all, we have to give credit to Charlie. he came out quick out of the blocks, let his arm go, and hit some very good shots, which I wasn’t reading,” Ghosal explained.
“When I was down, I was just trying to find my way back onto the match, lengthen the rallies, and get good length and width as much as possible. Even if I did lose the first, i was going to make him work for it, thankfully I won it which is always a help so the second was better. It is good to get into the match and the tournament, so it is good to get through today!
“If I am playing, I want to play with the top guys, beat the top guys and play in the deep end of events. I am working hard to achieve that goal and that is the ambition, the goal. Mentally and physically, I want to push myself! I think when I was younger, I didn’t have as many matches as some of the other guys, which is an advantage for me now. i have to keep putting the work in, and doing the right things and the wins will come for me soon!”
Women’s No.5 seed Lucy Turmel lost 13-11, 3-11, 11-5 to Egypt’s Nardine Garas, who got into the second round after a late withdrawal saw her receive a walkover through the opening day’s action.
Garas won the first on a tie-break, and then saw the second slip away from her following an injury break. However, she regrouped to win the third game to advance to the quarters.
Garas said: “I’m training with Nasr Magdy and my fitness coach is Ahmed Faraghallah. I’ve been working with them for three, four years, and they improved every aspect of my game, physically, technically and mentally.
“Today, I was very nervous, I only knew I was in the tournament on Friday! It went so fast! I just kept attacking, trying to get rid of my nerves, it’s my first bronze event, my first time in Nantes, my first time playing best-of-three, my first match in the event, and my first interview with you! It’s my first of everything!”
Canada’s Nicole Bunyan, the No.7 seed, beat England’s former World No.20 Millie Tomlinson 15-13, 11-9.
The women’s top two seeds, sisters Nele and Tinne Gilis, both won through. Nele beat Marie Stephan (France) 11-6, 11-7 at the club but Tinne had to come from behind to beat Japanese No.1 Satomi Watanabe 8-11, 11-4, 11-5 in an exciting contest at Hangar 24.
Nele said: “I find the best-of-three very stressful, because everyone is playing so well so you have to focus from the very beginning until the end. There have been so many upsets already so anything can happen.”
Tesni Evans (Wales) came up against Spain’s Cristina Gomez in her second round match, and her first since the Commonwealth Games. She was on top form to win 11-6, 11-2 in 18 minutes and now meets Egypt’s Nardine Garas in the quarter-finals on Thursday.
Evans said: “It has been a hard summer! A lot of us are in the same boat – I took a short break after the Games and then got straight back into a few weeks of training. I am feeling pretty good and hoping for a better season than last year.
“I have heard so much about this event, so this year I knew I had to play here. The people are so nice and the venue looks awesome. I went down last night to have a little watch, and that gave me motivation to get through.
“They are exposing squash to another level, the fans love it, and the atmosphere is something I love. They’re doing great things for the game and I can’t wait to get out there!”
Egypt’s Fayrouz Aboelkheir stunned the home crowd by taking out French No.1, and the tournament’s No.4 seed, Melissa Alves, 11-9, 15-13 in two tight games.
Open de France de Squash, Hangar 45, Nantes, France.
Men’s Second Round:
[1] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) bt Nick Wall (ENG) 2-0: 11-4, 11-7 (19m)
Declan James (ENG) bt [7] Shahjahan Khan (USA) 2-1: 4-11, 11-5, 11-9 (51m)
[6] Iker Pajares Bernabeu (ESP) bt Lucas Serme (FRA) 2-0: 11-8, 11-5 (39m)
[3] Saurav Ghosal (IND) bt Charlie Lee (ENG) 2-0: 12-10, 11-4 (31m)
[4] Victor Crouin (FRA) bt Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY) 2-0: 11-3, 11-6 (26m)
Leonel Cardenas (MEX) bt [5] Omar Mosaad (EGY) 2-0: 11-8, 11-9 (30m)
[8] George Parker (ENG) bt Mahesh Mangaonkar (IND) 2-0: 11-3, 12-10 (28m)
Auguste Dussourd (FRA) bt [2] Gregoire Marche (FRA) 2-1: 11-6, 6-11, 11-0 (41m)
Men’s Quarter Final (Top Half, Wednesday, September 14):
[1] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) v Declan James (ENG)
[6] Iker Pajares Bernabeu (ESP) v [3] Saurav Ghosal (IND)
Men’s Quarter Finals (Bottom Half, Thursday, September 15):
[4] Victor Crouin (FRA) v Leonel Cardenas (MEX)
[8] George Parker (ENG) v Auguste Dussourd (FRA)
Women’s Second Round:
[2] Tinne Gilis (BEL) bt Satomi Watanabe (JPN) 2-1: 8-11, 11-4, 11-5 (30m)
[7] Nicole Bunyan (CAN) bt Millie Tomlinson (ENG) 2-0: 15-13, 11-9 (33m)
Nour Aboulmakarim (EGY) bt [6] Enora Villard (FRA) 2-0: 11-6, 11-9 (22m)
Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY) bt [4] Melissa Alves (FRA) 2-0: 11-9, 15-13 (33m)
[3] Tesni Evans (WAL) bt Cristina Gomez (ESP) 2-0: 11-6, 11-2 (18m)
Nardine Garas (EGY) bt [5] Lucy Turmel (ENG) 2-1: 13-11, 3-11, 11-5 (35m)
Salma Eltayeb (EGY) bt [8] Cindy Merlo (SUI) 2-0: 11-5, 11-4 (13m)
[1] Nele Gilis (BEL) bt Marie Stephan (FRA) 2-0: 11-6, 11-7 (25m)
Women’s Quarter Finals (Top Half, Wednesday, September 14):
[2] Tinne Gilis (BEL) v [7] Nicole Bunyan (CAN)
Nour Aboulmakarim (EGY) v Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY)
Women’s Quarter Finals (Bottom Half, Thursday, September 15):
[3] Tesni Evans (WAL) v Nardine Garas (EGY)
Salma Eltayeb (EGY) v [1] Nele Gilis (BEL)
Pictures courtesy of Lauranne Rochais, Nathalie Goossens, etienne.now and PSA World Tour
PHF's Riveters to play at home in N.J. megamall
The Premier Hockey Federation's Metropolitan Riveters will play their home games inside American Dream, a mega shopping mall in New Jersey, beginning this season, the team announced Wednesday.
The Riveters have reached a three-year agreement to hold all practices and home games on American Dream's NHL-sized rink, which can hold around 2,000 spectators. The rink is located near an indoor water park, a Ferris wheel and several corridors of retail stores.
"They have an enormous number of attractions," Frank Supovitz, a fan experience consultant for the Riveters, told ESPN. "It's an entertainment center geared toward every member of the family. And that's what the experience of a Riveters game is going to fold so neatly into."
American Dream is in East Rutherford, next to the arena where the New Jersey Devils played from 1982 to 2007. The Riveters have played their home games at the Devils' practice rink in Newark since 2016.
Riveters president Digit Murphy said the relationship with American Dream started when the team held practices there last season, but she initially had some reservations about using the mall for home games.
"I'm like, 'Our team is not playing in a mall,'" Murphy said. "But then I went down there and it was like being at Disney [World]. I was like, 'We're definitely playing here next season.' The Devils' training facility was great, but this was an offer we couldn't refuse."
Ticket plans are still being formed. On the first floor near the rink will be two rows of seats. The second floor will have "premium seating" at tables, with tickets that could include food, merchandise and player meet-and-greets as perks. The Riveters expect the third level of the mall to be open to pedestrians and onlookers.
"There's the opportunity to spread excitement among people who didn't know they were going to have a hockey experience when they woke up that morning," Supovitz said.
The Riveters said they expect shoppers at American Dream will sample their games without buying a ticket. Along with the open third floor above the rink, there are obstructed view areas on other levels that are part of the public concourse.
"We're not going to be kicking people out for watching the game, especially because our No. 1 priority is to expose the game [to new fans]," Murphy said.
There are also plans to integrate aspects of the mall into the game experience, and vice versa. Murphy said premium tickets could include discounts into other attractions at American Dream, which include an indoor theme park, water park and aquarium. The Riveters could promote shops inside the mall; Murphy suggested players could take part in on-ice fashion shows, for example. American Dream is expected to have Riveters merchandise available at the rink pro shop and at a kiosk inside the mall.
"American Dream is committed to growing the game and supporting female athletes, and I am beyond excited to call the complex home for many years to come," Riveters captain Madison Packer said. "It will truly redefine the in-game experience for sporting events and expand our reach to fans across the Tri-State area."
The Riveters' home games at American Dream will be announced later this month when PHF releases the 2022-23 regular-season schedule.
Barcelona's teenage midfielder Gavi has agreed to sign a new contract at Camp Nou until 2026, the Catalan club announced on Wednesday.
Gavi's release clause will rise to €1 billion as part of the deal, the same amount as the clauses written into Pedri, Ansu Fati, Ronald Araujo and Ferran Torres' contracts.
- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, MLS, more (U.S.)
Barca have long been optimistic about getting Gavi to agree to new terms, with his previous deal due to expire in 2023, but a series of factors held up the process.
Players under the age of 18 in Spain cannot sign contracts for longer than three years, so Barca had to wait until Gavi turned 18 in August to be able to secure his services long term.
The club also needed to make salary space within their LaLiga-imposed spending limit to be able to register the new deal.
Miralem Pjanic's move to Sharjah FC last week, sources told ESPN, means the club have been able to finalise Gavi's new terms with LaLiga.
During the delay in agreeing a new contract, sources have confirmed that some of Europe's top clubs contacted Gavi's representatives to sound out a deal.
However, despite that interest, Gavi always made it clear that his preference was to remain at Barca, who he joined from Real Betis as an 11-year-old.
After progressing through the La Masia academy, Gavi made his first-team debut last August, just after turning 17, in a league match against Getafe.
In total, he made 47 appearances last season, scoring two goals and earning international recognition with Spain.
He has since won 10 caps for the national team and is expected to be part of Luis Enrique's squad for the World Cup in Qatar later this year.
T20I rankings: Hasaranga, Kohli, Bhuvneshwar move up after Asia Cup heroics
Mike Hussey, David Saker appointed to England's World Cup coaching staff
Hussey, the former Australia international who currently works as batting coach for Chennai Super Kings, and fellow Australian Saker, who was England's Test bowling coach from 2010 to 2015, have been enlisted by Matthew Mott, England's white-ball head coach, to add home-grown insight to the squad's preparations ahead of the tournament in Australia, which gets underway from October 16.
Saker, the former Victoria fast bowler who was a key factor in England's triumphant Ashes tour of 2010-11, will link up with the squad in Pakistan ahead of the seven-match T20I series that begins in Karachi next week. Hussey, meanwhile, will join the squad when it arrives in Australia in October, when England are scheduled to play three T20Is against the host nation before their opening World Cup fixture against Afghanistan on October 22.
The pair will augment the existing coaching structure, with Mott currently working alongside two assistants in Carl Hopkinson and Richard Dawson. The Pakistan leg of the tour - England's first in the country since 2005 - will be captained by Jos Buttler, although Moeen Ali is expected to lead the side for the opening fixtures in Karachi while Buttler recovers from a calf injury.
England are also reportedly close to appointing a new national selector, following the decision to dispense with the formal role that Ed Smith held until April 2021. According to The Telegraph, Nick Knight and Steven Finn are among the leading contenders for the position, with Steve Harmison also believed to have shown an interest in applying.
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