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With the first-choice players and the incumbents struggling, the BCB is forced to look at the next set of cricketers

Mohammad Isam23-Jun-2022Bangladesh currently have the worst-performing Test batting line-up in 2022. It is an unenviable position for those in Bangladeshi cricket, and those working in the background are particularly concerned about the lack of runs among the top four batters.What’s the reason behind their lack of runs? Mominul Haque’s dreadful form and Najmul Hossain Shanto taking so long to live up to his promise are just a couple of concerns.BCB’s cricket operations chairman, Jalal Yunus, said that the performance of the Test side is the “main worry” and the board is thinking of offering financial incentives to those who focus more on Tests. He expressed surprise over Mominul and Shanto’s dipping forms as they spend a good amount of time in training throughout the year.Related

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“We are planning to increase [the] match fees for the Test team,” Yunus told ESPNcricinfo. “We want the players to take Tests more seriously. If we see dedication towards Tests, we will give more incentives to the players. We are trying our best to facilitate them so it is tough to understand why the Test team isn’t doing well.”Our main worry is the Test side. It is surprising that players like Mominul and Shanto could not be stable. They aren’t supposed to go in decline. They are supposed to get much better. It is just the start of their career. We are expecting their service for the next five years. They work with our coaching staff, apart from training under local coaches like Salahuddin, Fahim and Babul. We fail to understand how they can have technical problems when they are always sorting out their technical side with these coaches.”Mominul Haque has bagged two ducks after arriving in the West Indies•AFP/Getty ImagesYunus, who took over from Akram Khan as the cricket operations chief last December, said that the inability of players like Imrul Kayes, Soumya Sarkar and Mohammad Mithun to establish themselves as solid Test players forced the BCB’s decision makers to look at options from the Under-19 side.”We tried Mithun and brought back Mosaddek [Hossain],” Yunus said. “They should have established themselves in the Test side. These two and Soumya Sarkar were among the next batch, the ones who were originally supposed to [be] back-up[s] for Shakib [Al Hasan] and Tamim [Iqbal].”We recalled [Anamul Haque] Bijoy for his superb domestic performance in the last couple of seasons but even he should have established himself long ago. Imrul Kayes should have continued in the national team. It is quite alarming that they couldn’t make themselves stable at the highest level. We had to fast-track someone like [Mahmudul Hasan] Joy who should have come to this stage much later.”The BCB has also decided to send the Bangladesh A side for a tour to the West Indies next month. It will be the team’s first series in nearly three years. Their last tour was to Sri Lanka in September-October 2019, while the Bangladesh Emerging team – comprising predominantly Under-23 cricketers – last played a series in March 2021.The absence of A-team tours, as well as first-class cricket and other representative camps, in the last two years was due to the pandemic. The BCB’s decision makers believe that the younger lot who will be eventually considered for the next batch in Tests should be given at least another couple of years to prepare themselves.”The uncapped players – who we can call our next batch at the international level – need another couple of years to be fully prepared,” a board official, who requested anonymity said. Shahadat [Hossain] Dipu and Towhid Hridoy are in the High Performance (HP) squad, but we need at least a year to prepare him before taking them to the next level. Ideally, we should have spent another year working on someone like Joy in the High Performance or Bangladesh Tigers level.”Ebadot Hossain’s dismissal didn’t paint a pretty picture•AFP/Getty ImagesAt the domestic level, newcomer Amite Hasan’s 912 runs at 60.80 in both the first-class competitions in the 2021-22 season earned him the selectors’ attention. He is training with the HP side at the moment.The selectors ended up picking Anamul Haque in all three formats for the West Indies for his sheer run-making: he broke the world record for most runs in a one-day tournament, apart from being the top scorer in first-class cricket in the last five years.Since November 2019, Saif Hassan, Yasir Ali, Joy and Mohammad Naim are the only batters who have been handed Test debuts. Saif and Naim are no longer in contention while Yasir, currently suffering a back injury, is preferred as an understudy to middle-order stalwarts Shakib and Mushfiqur.Yasir, and to some extent Nurul Hasan, have patiently waited for their turns after going through several tours only as squad members. They finally got their chances, while the likes of Fazle Mahmud, who went to New Zealand and did not get a game, were dropped. Anamul may return to the Test side if the team management decides to give Shanto a break.It all equates to the lack of resources in Test batting in Bangladesh. Now that the incumbents are failing, the BCB is forced to look at the next set of cricketers.

During my playing and broadcasting career, I saw the toxic effect prejudice and ignorance could have on people and the game

Ian Chappell21-Jun-2020As racism is playing a prominent role in the current turbulent times, it’s worth reflecting on my experience of prejudice in and around cricket.As a youngster growing up in a family where there was no notable prejudice, despite being in the era of the White Australia Policy, I wasn’t really aware of racism. I had the good fortune to commence my Sheffield Shield career in the same team as champion West Indian allrounder Garry Sobers. That was a wonderful education in both cricket and life.My first overseas tour was to South Africa in 1966-67 and it was an eye-opener. The apartheid regime was in power and we got a taste of its abhorrent nature after winning the second Test in Cape Town. “Why don’t you pick Garry Sobers? Then you’ll have a team full of blacks” was the offensive comment directed at Australian batsman Grahame Thomas by an ignorant patron in the team hotel. Thomas has Native American lineage dating back to the days of slavery. Sensibly he walked away from any confrontation.ALSO READ: ‘I refuse to allow any other person to make me feel mentally less’ – Daren SammyAs captain in 1972-73, prior to commencing a home series against Pakistan and then touring the Caribbean, I spoke to the Australian players. I warned them if there were any terms of address prefixed by the word “black”, there would be trouble. I said: “You don’t call someone a lucky white bastard, so why include the word ‘black’ in any outburst?” I never heard any such comments from those Australian players.In 1975-76, my brother Greg captained Australia against West Indies. In a book published after the series, Viv Richards suggested there had been some racially prejudiced comments. I asked Greg, who had a similar outlook to me, if he’d heard any such and he said, “No”. I later spoke to Viv on the subject and he said he was referring to one player and assured me that it had all been sorted out.In 1972 I played in a double-wicket contest in Zimbabwe. On a rest day a few players were drinking in the back bar at the Victoria Falls hotel. We had been there a while when the proprietor suddenly told Basil D’Oliveira, a South African-born Cape Coloured man who played for England, that he had to leave the bar. I asked why.

I said: “You don’t call someone a lucky white bastard, so why include the word ‘black’ in any outburst?”

“Because he’s been swearing in front of my wife,” came the unconvincing reply. “Turn it up, mate,” I responded. “There’s a few of us been swearing, why pick on Basil?” The man insisted that Basil was the only one swearing, so we all put our unfinished beers on the bar and walked out.During the 1975-76 tour of South Africa by a mixed-race International Wanderers side managed by Richie Benaud and captained by Greg, we travelled to a ground outside Port Elizabeth to watch players of colour who weren’t allowed to compete in the Currie Cup competition because of South Africa’s apartheid laws. John Shepherd, who played for West Indies and Kent, and is of the most gentle people on this earth, was part of our side. As we were leaving, a member of the crowd shouted out: “Why don’t you paint yourself white, Shepherd, and then you can be like the rest of them.”ALSO READ: Sambit Bal: It’s time we South Asians understood that colourism is racismShep stopped abruptly and turned to face the crowd with a withering glare. I happened to be next to him. I grabbed his arm and said: “You don’t have to put up with this – let’s leave.”Shep’s arm was as firm as a steel rod, but without redirecting his glare he simply said: “You keep going. I’ll be there in a minute.” Then as a reassurance he added: “There won’t be any trouble.”I had another experience of the harmful effects of racism in Jamaica in 1991. At a television forum there, the moderator introduced the subject of the ICC. In answer to a question I said the power of veto that Australia and England held over ICC decisions was a disgrace and should have been abolished long ago. I did not anticipate that many in the audience would be aware there was a power of veto, but the crowd burst into applause. That made a mockery of the standard reply from Australian cricket administrators when that particular issue was brought up: “The power of veto has never been used, so why would it upset anyone?”This is the sad reality of racism. What is implied often cuts deepest.

A few contenders have to be thrilled after what they were able to accomplish this week.

The 2025 MLB trade deadline is behind us, and after 24 of the wildest hours Major League Baseball has ever seen, several teams emerged far better than they began the day. Despite sky-high prices, there were blockbusters galore with a number of All-Stars changing hands and teams across the league deciding to throw caution to the wind and go all-in.

Here are the teams that made the biggest upgrades at the deadline.

Seattle Mariners acquire third baseman Eugenio Suárez

The Mariners entered the month of July desperately needing to upgrade their corner infield positions. They did just that in two trades with the Diamondbacks, landing Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suárez a few days apart. Suárez is the real upgrade here.

As the deadline crossed, Seattle’s third basemen had combined to produce 0.2 WAR, a .664 OPS, five home runs, and 35 RBIs. Suárez arrives slashing .248/.320/.575 for an OPS of .895, with 36 home runs, 87 RBIs, and a wRC+ of 143. That’s a big improvement from Ben Williamson’s wRC+ of 76. Suárez is a massive upgrade for a team that wanted to go all-in and take advantage of catcher Cal Raleigh’s historic season.

Naylor and Suárez will combine to bring a ton of offense to a team that is 12th in the majors in runs scored and 10th in OPS (.730). Seattle did what it needed to do at the deadline to give itself a boost in the race for the American League West crown.

San Diego Padres land left fielder Ramón Laureano

A lot can be said about the Padres’ trade deadline—and I've said some of it—but they did manage to fill their biggest need, and get more on top of it. After the truly puzzling blockbuster for Mason Miller, San Diego made one of the best moves of the day, landing Ramón Laureano and Ryan O’Hearn from the Orioles in exchange for six prospects.

Padres left fielders currently rank 29th in baseball, having generated -0.7 WAR this season. They rank 28th in OPS (.613) with a collective slash line of .229/.283/.330 and seven home runs. The position has been a turnstile since the season kicked off. Jason Heyward started things off, then a laundry list of guys followed—all failing spectacularly one after another.

Laureano immediately upgrades the position. He’s slashing .290/.355/.529 with an OPS of .884, 15 home runs, 46 RBIs, and a wRC+ of 144. Given his career track record, it’s fair to expect some regression before the end of the season, but even so, he’s a massive improvement over the current group at the position.

A few days ago, I called for the Padres to chase Laureano and fill their most obvious need. He will fit perfectly in a lineup surrounded by Manny Machado, Fernando Tatís Jr., Jackson Merrill, Luis Arráez, a re-emerging Xander Bogaerts and O’Hearn. And to make things even better, his contract carries a cheap club option for 2026. This was a great move for San Diego.

VERDUCCI: MLB Trade Deadline Reflects Desperate Need for Postseason Bullpen Arms

Big picture – Bumrah returns

While ODI series had relatively little meaning other than both teams taking some early steps on the road to the 2027 World Cup, the five-match T20I series beginning in Canberra on Wednesday night is of far greater significance for the near term.The No. 1 and 2 teams in the world face off in the final throws of their preparations for February’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. The conditions will bear no relevance, but the chance for each side to test themselves and their game style against each other so close to a World Cup will be highly beneficial to both teams.India are unequivocally the No.1 team in the world. The reigning World Cup winners stormed to the Asia Cup title without being defeated and they were only run close once by Sri Lanka in the Super Fours and to an extent by Pakistan in the final. They have lost just three matches since winning the World Cup in 2024 and have arguably become an even stronger and more dynamic group with an influx of young IPL talent under Suryakumar Yadav.Related

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Jasprit Bumrah returns after being rested for the ODI series and will likely enjoy the early season conditions in Australia given his exploits with the red and pink balls down under last summer. One challenge facing India will be how to best balance the XI in Australian conditions, something they struggled with in the ODIs, having won the Asia with a spin-heavy team in spin-friendly conditions.Meanwhile, Australia have turned over a new leaf since their disappointing exit from the 2024 World Cup at the hands of India. Back-to-back mediocre showings in the 2022 and 2024 editions force a rethink from Australia’s hierarchy about their approach. The results have been spectacular since going to an all-out power-hitting method of playing under Mitchell Marsh. They have lost just two of their last 20 T20Is on the back of some electric batting led by Marsh, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Cameron Green, Tim David, Mitchell Owen and Glenn Maxwell. They are without Green against India as he prepares for the Ashes but Marcus Stoinis and Matt Short fill the breach.”There has been a shift,” coach Andrew McDonald said on Monday in Canberra.”We’re 11 games in now from the initial conversation. When we set out on this journey, we’d failed in a couple of World Cups previously, so we wanted to shift and stretch the boundaries on what we thought we could do.”So yeah, we have been more aggressive, we’ve played people in different positions. Tim David has batted a little bit higher than previously.”Our admission was that we haven’t been successful in a couple of campaigns. We’ve got to change things up. We’ve got to stretch ourselves.”Is it the style that can win a World Cup? We believe so. Will we have to pivot and nuance it slightly, depending on whether we’re in Colombo or Delhi or Kolkata? There’s no doubt about that.”In the short term they get to test their new style against the best team on the planet.”You’re playing against India, so it’s a really good test on whether this style will hold up,” McDonald said. “They’re the number-one ranked team in the world, I think we’re number two. We’re excited to test ourselves against the best.

Form guide

Australia WWWLW
India WWWWWSuryakumar Yadav’s form has been a worry•AFP/Getty Images

In the spotlight: Matthew Kuhnemann and Suryakumar Yadav

In any Australian white-ball team, Adam Zampa is the first name written on the team sheet and the rest are selected from there. For the first time since the 2023 tour of India, where Australia picked a second XI post their ODI World Cup triumph, Zampa won’t be in an Australian T20I XI having played every game in the past two years. He will miss the entire series for paternity reasons. It presents a great opportunity for Matthew Kuhnemann, who has played just one of Australia’s last 16 T20Is despite being in every squad. Australia want the option of playing two spinners in the same XI in the World Cup, particularly in Sri Lanka. Kuhnemann can lock himself into the final 15 with a good series against some of the best spin-hitters in the world that will put him under severe pressure.Suryakumar Yadav’s fall from being the No.1 ranked T20I batter in the world in the first half of 2024 to struggling for runs in 2025 has been startling. He has not scored a half-century in his last 14 innings and has averaged 10.50 and struck at just 100.80 in that time. How or why is somewhat of a mystery given he had an outstanding IPL earlier this year as the second leading runscorer across the tournament with five half-centuries at a strike rate of 167.91. It seems incomprehensible that he wouldn’t be a key pillar in India’s top four heading into the World Cup but he would love some runs against Australia to ease any pressure he might be feeling.

Team news: Inglis back, Short out, India to add pace options

Matthew Short’s hopes of bedding down his spot in the T20I side have taken another blow after he had surgery on the cut he sustained on his finger in the second ODI in Adelaide. He will remain with the squad but will be unavailable until the wound heals. Inglis missed the entire T20I tour of New Zealand and the ODI series against India with a calf strain that has taken some time to get right. He has been ramping up the intensity of his running since rejoining the squad in Sydney and looks set to return to the line-up. He will likely return at No.3 where he has had great success. How Australia structure their middle order remains to be seen as Glenn Maxwell does not return until game three. They are thin for options with backup keeper Josh Philippe set to play as a batter in Canberra while Ben McDermott has been called into the squad as extra cover. Australia do not have Ben Dwarshuis for the opening three T20Is due to a calf issue.Australia (possible): 1 Mitchell Marsh (capt), 2 Travis Head, 3 Josh Inglis (wk), 4 Tim David, 5 Josh Philippe, 6 Mitch Owen, 7 Marcus Stoinis, 8 Sean Abbott/Xavier Bartlett, 9 Nathan Ellis, 10 Matt Kuhnemann, 11 Josh HazlewoodIndia had a spin-heavy line-up in their last T20I outing in the Asia Cup final but will likely add some pace to their attack for the five matches in Australia. Arshdeep Singh is almost certain to return alongside Jasprit Bumrah but Harshit Rana may also come into the mix after his career-best ODI performance in Sydney on Saturday. If those two are added, then Shivam Dube could miss out. Nitish Kumar Reddy is fit again after missing the final ODI with a left quad issue and could be an allround seam-bowling option if needed.India (possible): 1 Abhishek Sharma, 2 Shubman Gill, 3 Suryakumar Yadav (capt), 4 Tilak Varma, 5 Sanju Samson (wk), 6 Rinku Singh, 7 Axar Patel, 8 Shivam Dube/Harshit Rana, 9 Kuldeep Yadav/Varun Chakravarthy, 10 Arshdeep Singh, 11 Jasprit Bumrah

Pitch and conditions

It is expected to be cool in Canberra on Wednesday with a medium chance of showers during the day but the evening is expected to be clear and a full game is expected. Manuka Oval has tended to be a lower scoring ground in men’s T20I and BBL cricket with spin playing a role and the boundaries being large.

Stats and trivia

• There have been five men’s T20Is in Canberra, with the most recent in 2022, with the record split 2-2 between defending and chasing teams
• India won their only T20I in Canberra against Australia in 2020, defending 161
• Suryakumar’s streak of 14 T20Is without a half-century is the longest of his career
• Australia have not beaten India in a T20I series in Australia since 2008

Quotes

“The opportunity to play in front of sold out crowds in pretty much all three one-day games, and what’s looking like the next five T20 games, it’s fantastic. I think building into the World Cup, where there’s going to be big crowds and perceived pressure, it can only be beneficial for us.”
“I have had good few sessions back home, good two to three sessions here, so I am in a good space. I think that is really important. Runs… it will come eventually but I think working hard towards the team goal, it’s more important what team wants from you in different situations and I take it one game at a time. If it starts, then I think it will be a good thing.”

Manchester City and Manchester United have entered a fierce battle to sign Burkina Faso sensation Mohamed Zongo, the 15-year-old attacking midfielder who dazzled at the U17 World Cup. Both clubs have already held talks with the Tenakourou Academy as Europe’s elite begin circling for a prodigy who produced goals, assists and man-of-the-match displays to lead Burkina Faso to the quarter-finals.

• Man City and Man Utd interested in Burkina Faso wonderkid

  City and United have both made formal approaches to the Tenakourou Academy as interest intensifies in Burkina Faso wonderkid Zongo as per Africa Foot. The 15-year-old attacking midfielder burst into global prominence during the U17 World Cup, where his two goals, three assists and standout performances placed him among the tournament’s top breakout stars. City and United held discussions with his academy as recently as Friday, joining Villarreal and Anderlecht in assessing the rising talent.

  Zongo’s displays in Qatar captured attention across Europe, especially his decisive strike in the 1-0 victory over Germany and multiple man-of-the-match honours. Clubs are now evaluating potential development pathways and financial proposals, but his current academy has not yet committed to any agreement. All options remain open as interest grows, with both Manchester clubs determined not to miss out on a rare profile in the age group.

  With no deal close and the player still developing domestically, the race has entered an early scouting and negotiation phase rather than a formal bidding stage. The teenager is permitted to continue at the academy while clubs prepare long-term plans for his progression into European football. For now, the situation remains fluid, with both clubs confident they can present the most attractive project for the prodigy’s next step.

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  Zongo viewed as a 'next-gen Yaya Toure'

  Zongo’s emergence comes at a time when both Manchester clubs are aggressively expanding their youth recruitment networks. Manchester City, who have built a reputation for signing elite young talent worldwide, view Zongo as another high-upside midfielder who could either break into their first team or generate long-term value within their City Football Group model. His combination of creativity, drive and defensive intelligence aligns with their emphasis on multi-functional, technically strong academy players.

  United, meanwhile, are undergoing a structural rebuild under INEOS and see youth recruitment as central to restoring the club’s identity. The success of recent prospects and the signing of former U17 World Cup star Sekou Kone highlight the club’s commitment to securing elite young profiles before their value skyrockets. Zongo’s positional versatility as a No. 10, box-to-box midfielder or wide playmaker fits well within Ruben Amorim’s long-term system, which values intelligence, mobility and ball-carrying ability.

  The rivalry between the two clubs adds a competitive edge, with both understanding the symbolic and sporting significance of winning battles at the academy level. Losing a talent like Zongo to their city rivals would be viewed as a major missed opportunity, particularly given his growing reputation as a “next-gen Yaya Toure” based on his physical maturity and all-round influence. As a result, both clubs are preparing stronger cases in the expectation that negotiations will intensify in the months ahead.

• Zongo's spectacular U17 World Cup campaign

  Zongo became one of the defining figures of the U17 World Cup, demonstrating a blend of technical quality and tactical maturity that far exceeded his age. His direct running, incisive passing and ability to dictate games allowed Burkina Faso to reach the quarter-finals, where he came close to scoring twice against Italy. His return of two goals and three assists established him as one of the most productive midfielders of the tournament.

  His development at the Tenakourou Academy has been tracked closely by scouts, who have highlighted his comfort in multiple roles across midfield. He has been praised for his game awareness, work rate and ability to take responsibility in high-pressure knockout matches, which is rare for a player at just 15.

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  Man City and Man Utd have competition in race

  Manchester City and Manchester United are expected to continue discussions with the Tenakourou Academy in the coming weeks as they refine their proposals. Both clubs will present detailed development plans, outlining how Zongo would be integrated, whether through academy progression, loan pathways or targeted mentorship. With no agreement yet in place, the next stage will revolve around establishing which environment best suits his long-term growth.

  Tenakourou Academy are in no rush to finalise a decision and intend to evaluate every option before committing to a transfer plan. Their priority is securing the right project for the player's development rather than the fastest or most financially appealing deal. European interest from Villarreal and Anderlecht also ensures the Manchester clubs cannot afford to hesitate.

“Where’s my cake?” birthday boy Suryakumar Yadav asked, as he fielded questions at the press conference after India’s seven-wicket win against Pakistan in Dubai on Sunday night.Suryakumar was, quite obviously, asked about India’s decision to not shake hands with Pakistan after the match. He was asked about sporting spirit, and if India’s actions were politically motivated. But beyond that, Suryakumar also gave more than just a peek into India’s thinking as they prepare for the Super 4s and beyond.For starters, Suryakumar was himself coming off a neat, little unbeaten 47 to see off India’s modest chase of 128 after Abhishek Sharma set the foundation. But Suryakumar deflected all his attention to the frontline spinners, and how they have made his job easier after they returned combined figures of 6 for 60 in 12 overs to restrict Pakistan to 127 for 9.Related

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• Agha skips presentation after India refuse handshakes

“I gave all of them 12 overs combined – it was a return gift from me,” Suryakumar joked when asked if India’s spin trio of Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel and Varun Chakravarthy had given him the perfect birthday gift.”They’re all working hard; you can see it at practice. They want to prepare really well. Once you come to the ground, you can see how well they’re prepared. And they’re very clear with their plans – that’s what I want. It makes my job very easy when I’m on the ground. They’re happy with fields, [and] happy with ends they’re bowling from. It’s good to see all three spinners firing, very well supported by Hardik [Pandya] and Jasprit Bumrah.”While some of the on-field decisions can be instinctive, Suryakumar said part of India’s planning on how to bowl spin and whom to target was often planned keeping in mind the opposition. On Sunday, for example, the call to bowl Axar even with a left-hand batter like Fakhar Zaman at the crease was part of a plan even if it went against what he referred to as a “traditional match-up”.”We prepare well for every team. The coaches – we all sit together, see if there are left-handers, right-handers, how to bowl in the middle, how to start in powerplay,” Suryakymar said. “All this comes with preparation, so when we go on the field, everything moves on autopilot.”The other aspect to India’s bowling performance was how they used Bumrah. When he bowled three overs up front against UAE, it was presumed the move may have been to get some miles under him, ahead of bigger challenges. But Bumrah was used similarly against Pakistan too, which Suryakumar highlighted as part of India’s plans in trying to make all their bowlers take ownership.”Till today, we’ve bowled him two overs in the powerplay, he’s never bowled three in the powerplay,” Suryakumar said. “We’re very happy using him as an attacking option. If he picks two wickets, even if he bowls a tight spell of his overs, later on we can have a good cushion for all the spinners to come over and make our job a little easier.2:02

Bangar: Axar doesn’t really try too many things

“He’s very happy with it [this plan]. Few days, if he has to bowl only two overs, he’ll bowl only two overs, but at least me and the management want to use him as an attacking option. That gives a good platform to someone like Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube to raise their hand to bowl crucial overs in the end and also in the middle. So we’re very happy with that.”Suryakumar was also asked about his own game, and if it was a relief to finally come good in a T20I against Pakistan after managing just 64 runs in five previous innings prior to Sunday’s unbeaten 47 off 37 balls.”Whichever team you play, there’s pressure. If there’s no pressure, no butterflies in your stomach, you won’t have fun in being able to overcome it after going to the ground,” he said. “Numbers are up and down, but what can you do? You’ve got to see how you can be better. If today hadn’t gone right, no problems; I would’ve gone back to the drawing board and focused on doing well in the next match.”It felt good to finish the match. It was important to stay there in the moment. [With regards to] batting position, we’re clear with management. Apart from openers, all other batters will be flexible, got to prepare in such a way where you can bat anywhere. If you play seven batters, it’s important for everyone to make a small impact. Everyone has accepted it. Everyone is flexible. If you are flexible to bat anywhere, the team becomes even more dangerous.”

Marcus Rashford has been told that he can steal Lamine Yamal’s crown as Barcelona’s best player, with the England international proving during a loan spell in Catalunya that he remains a “fantastic player”. Dwight Yorke expects the Manchester United outcast to create his own “legacy” with La Liga giants, much like Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho and Xavi once did.

• Lost spark: Why Rashford finds himself at Barcelona

  Rashford is a long way from occupying that talent pool at present, but has enjoyed a productive start to his spell with Barcelona. He showed signs of rekindling a lost spark during a loan stint at Aston Villa last season.

  With no slate being wiped clean at Old Trafford in the summer of 2025, the 28-year-old was forced to find another new challenge. He stepped out of his comfort zone when doing that, with the decision taken to join Yamal, Robert Lewandowski and Pedri in Spanish football.

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  Just like Messi: Rashford tipped to eclipse Yamal & emulate icons

  Rashford has registered six goals and eight assists through 16 appearances for Barca, with the expectation being that a purchase option will be triggered in his loan agreement. Once a permanent transfer is completed, Yorke believes that Rashford will go from strength to strength.

  The 1999 Treble winner has told of the United academy graduate potentially rising above teenage wonderkid Yamal at Camp Nou: “I'm surprised they haven't already paid that £35 million ($46m), as he’s a really good player.

  “I think it’s great for Rashford. I’ve defended him. There’s a whole saga around him and after some people questioned his role at United, credit to him for doing well at Barcelona. I think he became very unhappy at United, it’s as simple as that. It doesn’t matter who you are. If you’re in an unhappy place, how can you perform? He’s gone over to Barcelona, he’s enjoying his football again, he’s in a happy place, and we see the impact on his performances.

  “He’s not become a fantastic player at Barcelona. He is a fantastic player. He has always been a fantastic player. But if you’re unhappy, you’re not going to perform. I don’t think he has covered himself in glory either, but man for man there was no player more talented than Rashford in the United ranks. Now we’ve got a happy Rashford playing the way he can, he’s showing at Barcelona that the rest is history, and now he has some big boots to fill.

  “Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho, Xavi and Andres Iniesta, these are the types of guys that came before him like Romario and those types of players. I don’t think Rashford is quite in that bracket yet but he can create his own legacy in the Barcelona shirt.

  “Apart from Lamine Yamal, he’s not going to have much competition in this team. He's now got a chance to believe: 'I can be the number one player here', even ahead of Yamal. Yamal is still in that development stage. Rashford is at his peak right now as a player and he is that good. He can be that good but he must want to have it."

• Transfer poser: Man Utd already made a mistake with McTominay

  United could be wondering whether selling Rashford is the best option, having seen him thrive outside of Manchester. The likes of Antony and Alejandro Garnacho have done likewise, while Scott McTominay is now a Serie A title winner at Napoli.

  There has been talk of the Red Devils trying to bring the Scotland international back, with Yorke saying on that topic: “You know they would have to pay some serious money to go and get him back. It would be difficult to admit they made a mistake, but having said that, he would relish the fact he’s now being backed by the club if they did go back in for him.

  “He wouldn’t answer the problem of not having a number six though. They’d probably get him playing even further up the park which would only make things more confusing. That’s why he wouldn’t come back. In hindsight, like with all these things, he could have been in a top position at United one day but it’s never that easy.”

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  Spend again: Amorim & Man Utd still searching for consistency

  Ruben Amorim will be looking for the United board to spend again in January, with the Red Devils still searching for consistency. They have positioned themselves back in the Premier League top-four race this season, but questions continue to be asked of whether defensive and attacking reinforcements are required in order for former glories to be fully recaptured.

After going unbeaten in their last two matches, Leeds United suffered a home defeat against Tottenham Hotspur. The Whites were beaten 2-1 by the North London outfit, and despite creating some good opportunities, they couldn’t capitalise and ended up losing at Elland Road for the first time this season.

It was the visitors who took the lead in West Yorkshire, through Frenchman Mathys Tel. The former Bayern Munich prodigy got slightly fortunate with his effort from outside of the area, after a deflection took it over Karl Darlow into the back of the net.

Daniel Farke’s side hit back soon after, with new signing Noah Okafor once again getting on the scoresheet. Quick reactions meant the Swiss attacker could get on the end of a parry from Spurs’ goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, who deflected Brenden Aaronson’s effort into his path.

Just before the hour mark, Spurs scored their second through one of their summer signings, Mohammed Kudus. The Ghanaian forward pounced on a loose ball, driving inside and firing a shot goalwards. Again, it took a deflection, leaving Darlow for dead and nestling into the bottom corner.

Kudus’ goal proved to be the difference-maker in a game where a few Leeds players struggled. One of those was Gabriel Gudmundsson.

Gudmundsson’s stats vs. Spurs

It has, generally speaking, been a good start to the season for Gudmundsson. The new Leeds left-back, who is a full international with Sweden, has started every game under Farke so far this season.

Whilst he has been impressive for the most part, as he was against the Lilywhites, Gudmundsson made an error which allowed Kudus the opportunity to score.

He got in a tangle looking to clear the ball, instead letting it bounce awkwardly off his torso and into the path of Kudus.

The stats from Gudmundsson’s efforts against the North London giants don’t cover him in glory. He made one error, which led to a goal, and he only won three out of five tackles. On the ball, he had 46 touches and lost possession 12 times.

Indeed, Graham Smyth, journalist for The Yorkshire Evening Post, gave him a 6/10 for his efforts at Elland Road. He said Gudmundsson had a ‘couple of nice moments’ on and off the ball, but did criticise him for a lack of contact on the ball, which led to Spurs’ winner.

It was certainly a tough day at the office for the left-back, but there was a fellow defender who struggled even more.

The Leeds player who was worse than Gudmundsson

It was certainly not the result Leeds would have wanted at Elland Road, given the fortress they have turned it into under Farke. They had more shots and possession than the visitors on Saturday lunchtime, but a couple of moments meant they didn’t even earn a point.

One of the players who struggled was 26-year-old centre-back Pascal Struijk. The former Ajax youth defender has been crucial for Leeds this season, playing 90 minutes in every Premier League game and skippering the side twice.

Yet, his efforts against Spurs were underwhelming.

There were two “unfortunate” deflections off the Leeds number five for each of the goals, as per The Athletic’s Beren Cross, which took the ball past Darlow to see his side go behind on both occasions.

He received a 5/10 rating for his performances by Smyth. The journalist said Struijk had ‘ropey moments at the back’ and pointed out the fact that he was ‘beaten in the air’ when Spurs struck the woodwork themselves.

The stats reflect how poor the 26-year-old was against the Lilywhites. He had 74 touches and, on the ball, was generally quite good. He completed 94% of his passes. Yet, he only won 40% of his duels and didn’t attempt a tackle.

With summer addition Jaka Bijol knocking on the door for a spot in the starting lineup, perhaps Farke will decide to drop Struijk.

It is certainly disappointing that he struggled, especially in the air, against Spurs, and he certainly could have done more to prevent the goals.

Bijol has been an unused substitute in the Premier League this season, but perhaps this poor performance from Struijk will be enough to convince Farke to rotate the side ahead of the clash with Burnley.

Leeds had the original Gudmundsson & they let him leave for just £1m

Leeds must regret cashing in on this star who was the original Gabriel Gudmundsson at Elland Road.

By
Dan Emery

Oct 2, 2025

أعلن نادي مانشستر سيتي عبر موقعه الرسمي بشبكة الإنترنت، مساء اليوم، تغيير مواعيد 4 مباريات للفريق في بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، موسم 2025/26.

ويحتل مانشستر سيتي حاليًا المركز الخامس في جدول الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، برصيد 16 نقطة.

اقرأ أيضًا | ليفربول يعلن تغيير مواعيد 3 مباريات في الدوري الإنجليزي.. منها آرسنال

وكشف مانشستر سيتي، عبر موقعه الرسمي، أنه قد تقرر تغيير مواعيد 4 مباريات لكتيبة بيب جوارديولا خلال فترة الأعياد، على النحو التالي:

السبت 27 ديسمبر: نوتينجهام فورست ضد مانشستر سيتي، 2:30 ظهرًا بتوقيت القاهرة، 3:30 بتوقيت السعودية.

الخميس 1 يناير: سندرلاند ضد مانشستر سيتي، 10 مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة، 11 بتوقيت السعودية.

الأحد 4 يناير: مانشستر سيتي ضد تشيلسي، 7:30 مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة، 8:30 بتوقيت السعودية.

الأربعاء 7 يناير: مانشستر سيتي ضد برايتون، 9:30 مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة، 10:30 بتوقيت السعودية.

Revis fights hard on final day but McCann, Patterson-White prise key openings for rare Headingley win

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay26-May-2025Five-wicket pacer Dillon Pennington helped Nottinghamshire complete a fourth win in seven matches, this one against Yorkshire at Headingley shortly before tea on day four, to strengthen their position at the Division One summit in the Rothesay County Championship.Struggling Yorkshire were set a 463-target during the third afternoon and closed on 176 for five, losing four of those wickets in the evening session, including one in the day’s final over to Pennington.Yorkshire started the fourth day well, with top-scorer Matthew Revis and George Hill sharing a 54-run partnership to raise hopes of avoiding a fourth defeat in seven matches. But they needed much more and were later bowled out for 299 inside 121 overs, slipping to a 163-run defeat.The part-time spin of Freddie McCann made the breakthrough by bowling Hill with the first ball of a solitary over shortly before the new ball. Pennington then removed Revis for 45 just after lunch and finished with a superb impressive season’s best five for 106 from 31 overs.Nottinghamshire claimed 19 points to Yorkshire’s three and reach the midway point in the four-day campaign well placed to claim a first Championship title since 2010.Not since 2011 have they won here at Headingley, a venue at which they have only ever won five Championship matches, including this.Pennington claimed three of his wickets today in easing batting conditions to keep Yorkshire second-bottom in the table.Revis and new England Lions all-rounder Hill, who contributed 26, batted pretty comfortably through the first 85 minutes of a gloomy and chilly day.Although the former took a painful blow on the right thumb from the seam of Brett Hutton, he played confidently through the off-side off front foot and back on the way to a season’s best score in his fourth appearance.But all Notts had to do was stay patient, and you felt success would come. And it did, even if it initially came via the most unexpected route.The off-spin of McCann was brought into the attack to bowl the 79th over, the penultimate before the new ball was due.He dragged his first ball down and Hill’s eyes lit up. He went to pull, but the delivery scooted through and uprooted middle stump, leaving the score at 230 for six.Then, seven balls into the afternoon, Pennington forced Revis – playing back – to feather behind to South African Kyle Verreynne with the score on 244.The same combination ousted Yorkshire’s stand-in captain Dom Bess for 21 and then Ben Coad for five.By that stage, at 277 for nine, the outcome of this game was all but certain.With light rain starting to fall, last pair Jack White and Jordan Thompson resisted for more than an hour – and almost 20 overs – to threaten that theory.But Mohammad Abbas got White caught behind by Verreynne, whose sixth catch in the innings and ninth in the match sealed the win.