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An out-of-form India captain vs a spinner who’s among the top three wicket-takers but is nowhere close to making the Indian team. Why? Because it’s complicated

Andrew Fidel Fernando12-May-20242:20

Moody: ‘Chakravarthy has grown in confidence with the team’

In a dream sequence for the players who have been picked for India’s T20 World Cup squad, they ease themselves into form against IPL teams in May, and then go on to sweep all before them in the Caribbean and USA in June, storming through the competition, devouring oppositions, playing innings that reverberate for generations, bowling spells that snap top orders in two.As far as dreams go, it is not completely unrealistic. We are in the 17th year of the IPL being the biggest franchise show in a world that has increasingly begun to favour franchise shows. Where in the earliest days of this competition, you might have sniggered at the quality of cricket, but no one has sniggered for many years now.In fact, the IPL has become such a resounding showcase of India’s primacy in the cricket market, that perhaps it has given rise to one of cricket’s ironies. India has the world’s greatest bank of cricketing talent in the world*; India has not won a global cricket title in eleven years. In that time, the Australia men’s team have won four, England two, and even West Indies and New Zealand one apiece.Related

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Rohit Sharma’s progress in the tournament this year is turning out to be a perfect peek into this dichotomy. He is captain of his national team, but no longer leads the franchise, which sought fresher ideas and regeneration through Hardik Pandya. Rohit had rocked the ODI World Cup last year, batting in a gloriously selfless vein that helped power India to that final.But right now, he’s not quite rocking the only franchise tournament he plays in. He’d made an unbeaten 63-ball 105 in a match his team lost by a sizeable margin. (Read that sentence again – it’s not one you are likely to read in the context of any other T20 tournament.) But in the last six matches, his scores have been 6, 8, 4, 11, 4, 19.This 19, against Kolkata Knight Riders, was kinda torturous. Against seamers, Rohit was beaten frequently, particularly when he tried to hit square of the wicket. When KKR’s excellent spin duo of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy came on, Rohit was visibly uncomfortable, venturing failed flicks, unconvincing sweeps, and when those didn’t work, reverse sweeps that he kept missing. In the end, a top-edged sweep off Varun had him out for 19 off 24. (This sentence you don’t need to read again; that’s a bad innings in almost any T20, let alone one that was 16-overs-a-side from the outset.)Varun Chakravarthy celebrates after getting Rohit Sharma out•AFP/Getty ImagesAnd so we come back to this irony that Indian cricket and the IPL has created. Varun is a 32-year-old wristspinner with 18 wickets this IPL (third on the tournament charts right now), as he frequently turns matches for his franchise. Varun hasn’t made the India T20 World Cup squad, or its reserves. But he’d likely have played many more than his six international matches if he’d represented almost any other team. He was outstanding in this match against Mumbai Indians, taking 2 for 17 off his four overs despite this being a rain-shortened match.”I’d never taken Rohit ‘s wicket, and I meticulously planned for it, and it worked out,” Varun said after the match. Things tend to work out when you’re on as bright a run of form as Varun is.Meanwhile, national captain Rohit, the first name on the squad sheet, is currently skidding through a tournament in a team playing like it wishes its season was already over. His franchise captain Hardik, who will be his deputy in the World Cup if you haven’t been following, hasn’t had a massively fun time in the IPL either, having experienced substantial ire from crowds that resent him for either leaving Gujarat Titans, or replacing Rohit at the helm of Mumbai Indians, or both.Elsewhere in India squad member news, Yuzvendra Chahal is having a rough run himself. Virat Kohli is being questioned for his strike rate, even as he leads the league in run volume. You begin to wonder how good a lead-in to the World Cup a two-month-long T20 competition is for India players.It has been often thought by administrators in other countries, that when India gets its machine in full swing, they will almost inevitably dominate the sport, perhaps for decades.Right now, though, what we know for sure is that India is dominating the cricket economy almost as completely as any nation has ever dominated it. Is it just a matter of time until they start rolling in the global trophies too? Watch how Rohit and Varun are going right now. It’s complicated.

The quartet stepped up to make up for the lack of penetration from spinners and delivered a 1-0 series win

Mohammad Isam27-May-2022The power cuts and long fuel queues sent the Test series in Bangladesh down the priority list of many Sri Lankans. However, there might be a little smile on their faces when they see the highlights or the scorecard of their ten-wicket win in Dhaka. A joyful moment in an otherwise bleak period in Sri Lankan history.For the cricket team, this is a significant series win sandwiched between a horrible India tour and the upcoming home series against Australia and Pakistan. In the past, Sri Lanka used to ease past Bangladesh in Tests. However, now with an improved side as their opponent, Sri Lanka had to face a few challenges before eventually defeating the hosts 1-0 in the two-match series.Though most batters had a good outing, it was particularly heartening to see seniors Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal deliver, when Sri Lanka were in a spot of bother.Sri Lanka benefited from a good mix of experience and youth. Senior players gave them big runs with match-defining partnerships while the rookie fast bowlers delivered match-winning performances. Mathews deservedly won the Player-of-the-Series award after his best Test series in seven years. Chandimal was among the runs in both Tests, notably scoring his first hundred in four years.But it wasn’t just about individual brilliance. Mathews and Chandimal defied Bangladesh twice in crucial junctures. Mathews put together two big partnerships in Dhaka, including the 199-run stand for the sixth wicket with Chandimal. The pair batted in contrasting fashion, with Mathews trusting his defense above everything. He has a strong defensive technique and he prefers playing straight, which is a recipe for success in Bangladesh, where the pitches are slower and lower. Batters who play straight are often rewarded.Chandimal, on the other hand, is trying to rediscover his aggressive streak, often charging at the Bangladesh spinners to bunt them down the ground. It was demoralising for the bowlers, and he balanced it with solid square-cuts and drives. Dimuth Karunaratne, a usually heavy scorer, also got important runs while Oshada Fernando, Kusal Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva pitched in with handy contributions as well.Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews were the top two run-getters for Sri Lanka•AFP/Getty Images”With their experience, Angelo and Chandimal are greedy for their runs,” wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella said. “They knew this is the best opportunity to go for big scores. They did a great job and are taking the pressure off the youngsters. They are doing their job properly.”However, the most remarkable aspect of Sri Lanka’s victory was their bowling. Asitha Fernando became only the second fast bowler in their history to take a ten-wicket haul. The first was their fast-bowling coach Chaminda Vaas, who had two such hauls in 1995 and 2001. Fernando and Kasun Rajitha, who took his maiden five-wicket haul in the first innings in Dhaka, combined to take 17 wickets in the second Test.Rajitha and Asitha used the new ball superbly on the first morning of the second Test. In less than seven overs, they exposed Bangladesh’s inability to tackle subtle seam movement. There wasn’t visible swing but there was enough seam movement as the duo picked up five early wickets. Fernando’s use of the short ball, reverse-swing and skiddiness was compelling to watch. Rajitha was slightly more experienced but he too kicked things up a notch.Only Mushfiqur Rahim and Litton Das resisted them with their batting skills and intelligence. The rest of the Bangladesh line-up scored only 32 runs out of their 365 in the first innings.Related

Kasun Rajitha and Asitha Fernando show their mettle

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“These are not the wickets we played on last time, when the ball was spinning and turning,” Dickwella said. “This time it was dead and flat tracks, good for batsmen. Our fast bowlers came up with their plans. Their execution was good. In both Tests, there wasn’t much for spinners but the fast bowlers did well. Our batsmen also made the job easier for our bowlers.”In the first innings, there was something for the seamers – a bit of movement and swing. We took five early wickets but we couldn’t quite take the other five wickets [quickly]. In the second innings, [the bounce] was going up and down. Seam movement was there. We stuck to our basic line and length. We wanted to bowl stump line in the second innings.”We knew the top-order was struggling in the first innings. We wanted to bowl line and length first. With Asitha’s pace and tactics with the short ball, we knew it would be hard for them. We wanted to spread the field, not to give easy runs, and then attack when possible.”We had a calm dressing room. We knew we were just one wicket away from the tail-enders. We kept our nerves. I think Asitha came up with a brilliant catch. It was the turning point.”Kasun Rajitha created massive impact after coming in as a concussion sub in the first Test•AFP/Getty ImagesThe spinners took only one wicket, taking their tally to just three wickets in the Test series, Sri Lanka’s second-lowest returns by a spin attack (when they have bowled more than 181 overs in a series).Ramesh Mendis played both games and they alternated between Lasith Embuldeniya and Praveen Jayawickrama, but none of the options worked. Jayawickrama bowled brilliantly against Bangladesh last year, but was a pale shadow of his former self this time.The fact that Bangladesh still couldn’t get into advantageous positions in both Tests is a huge tribute to Rajitha and Asitha.In the next couple of years under Silverwood and Vaas, there’s potential for Asitha and Rajitha to keep improving, while more robust bowlers can come through the system.But it is hard to assume that Sri Lanka still doesn’t have their house in order. After Kamil Mishra’s ejection midway through the tour, Silverwood has to address disciplinary issues among the young players. Undoubtedly, fitness, too, will be near or on top of his laundry list. But in his first series in charge of Sri Lanka, Silverwood also must have found many positives to work with in the coming months.

Our correspondent hangs out with the World Cup winner and his family (plus dogs) at his home in Barbados

Alexis Nunes20-Apr-2020It’s always funny when you get to interview a close friend. You almost work extra-hard to highlight that special thing that makes them your friend.For months, Jofra Archer and I had tried to coordinate our schedules to give this video feature the time I felt it deserved.”How about this Saturday?” I would ask.”Nah, I have training and then I gotta pack for New Zealand. What about the Sunday?” he would ask.”Nah, I’ve gotta go to Liverpool for football,” I would reply.Then the cycle would repeat itself until it was time for him to head to South Africa, where, unfortunately, his tour was cut short when he picked up a stress fracture in his elbow. After that, I knew he was set to head back to see his family in the Caribbean.ALSO WATCH: Getting a Jofra Archer-designed tattoo blindfolded!”Why don’t you guys just come to Barbados?” Jof suggested.We landed in Barbados on a Thursday, four days before Jof was due to head back to England to continue rehab on his injury.I felt like I was visiting a close relative – and in a sense, I was.The only issue we faced was explaining to my English producer just how Caribbean time works. It was only the morning of the shoot that Jof messaged to give us the green light to pop by to his place. My producer had written up a perfectly detailed production plan, times included, prior to the trip. I was certain we wouldn’t stick to any of those times, but I wasn’t complaining. I was back in my natural habitat, having left behind London and its nine-degree weather with a side of fog and rain.Jofra Archer with his mum Joelle•ESPNcricinfo LtdWe set out to get the most important thing for the day, apart from the camera equipment – food. The idea was to have a chat, looking back at the last year with Jof, over a meal with his family. I took orders, which Jof’s sister relayed on text message.”Just waiting for Jofra’s order now,” she said.”I bet he’s gonna ask for the ribs,” I replied.”Yeah, he said get the ribs and chips, please.”Order almost complete, I realised we were missing one side. I texted Jof to see what he preferred between a side of steamed veggies or coleslaw.”Veg,” he said. “I only like my mom’s coleslaw.”Fair enough. After all, moms know everything, right? Well, almost everything, as I soon found out.We pulled up to Jofra’s family home where he paused his intense game of out of Jof to understand what it was like for him to be living through each situation.”But you know, he gives you nothing,” she said with a laugh.Don’t I know it? Even though I’m a few years older than Jof, I always joke that he’s like an older cousin or something. He has been a welcome peace after many storms, whether he’s trying to be or not.I can remember chatting with him during the 2018 IPL. He had a slight injury concern but looked set to take the field again. People wanted to know why the Rajasthan Royals had paid $1.125 million for a player who hadn’t played any international cricket. It felt like everyone was watching and Jof had to cope with the pressure of playing in the world’s top T20 league.Jof’s response? He asked for my prediction for an upcoming Manchester United match. Calm, cool and collected as ever.Fourteen ODIs old and already a World Cup winner•Getty ImagesAs excited as I was to see everyone in his family again, there was one face I was extra-happy to see – Blu, Jofra’s dog, who had made the trip from England to Barbados just a few weeks before our visit. If you haven’t noticed by now, Jof is a huge dog lover. That, along with the fact that we both support Manchester United, is how we got chatting in the first place, sending each other dog memes and videos on a daily basis.Last summer I was looking forward to watching the Ashes live now that I was living in England. That a friend was actually going to be a part of it felt surreal.Jof had missed the first Test while undergoing treatment for a side strain, but now he was raring to go for the second Test, at Lord’s. I made sure I was free to go to the ground on day one. The usual critics had been raising questions about him: sure, he can handle one-day cricket, but can he handle Test cricket?Day one came and we got rain, rain and more rain. Play was abandoned without a ball being bowled. I went to the mall with Jof’s sister. Later that day, we got a text.”When you guys finishing? I wanna go look about a puppy,” Jof said.Before I knew it, we had all jumped into his car and were headed to this mystery location to “view” this puppy. When we got there and he picked up this grey puppy with the most beautiful blue eyes.Jof turned to me and asked, “You have plenty work to do this week?” As we got into the car and headed back to London with the puppy in my lap, I wondered how I was going to explain to my dog, Zlatan, about our new house guest.Over the next couple of days, I managed to make it to Lord’s for the cricket, but only until lunch since I had to keep rushing back to take care of my new Godpup (yes, that’s a thing.) During those days, a lot happened on the pitch. Jofra made his Test debut, took five wickets in the match, and was involved in Steve Smith concussion.In his debut series, in four Ashes Tests, Archer took 22 wickets at 20.27•Getty ImagesJof was back in the headlines once again, but after becoming the Super-Over hero in the World Cup final, this was just a standard day in the office, right? As a fan and a reporter, I tried to pry for details, but he would answer every question in his chill manner, as if his Test debut were just another match, and then follow up with a request to call around to see little Blu.”We were supposed to actually just see him,” he said while we sat on a beach near his family home, with a now not so little Blu. “But when I got there and I saw him in the litter, it was really hard to not take him with me.”Fair enough, I thought. After all, I was there too and I knew at least one of us was leaving with a puppy, whether we planned to or not! I had learnt the day before that at one point Jof had considered becoming a veterinarian if the whole cricket thing didn’t work out. And his mum said he all but enrolled for a course in agriculture in Barbados before he left for the UK to pursue the cricket dream. That other back-up plan would probably have worked out well too.As we sat under the palm trees on the white sands of a perfect beach a stone’s throw away from where he grew up, I noticed a massive rock in the sea in the distance.”That rock wasn’t always in the sea, you know,” Jof explained while our camera crew framed the shot for our interview. “It was a part of that cliff, but fell off maybe four or five years ago.””That’s mental. It’s massive – it must have felt like an earthquake! I wonder what causes that,” I said.”Soil erosion,” Jofra answered.”Okay, Mr Agriculture!” I replied and we all broke out into laughter.That’s Jofra – multitalented, multidimensional and all wrapped up in the most chilled out exterior. So whether you want tips on playing Call of Duty, or on banking with Natwest or HSBC (I’m speaking from experience here), or maybe you want someone to bowl a crunch over on the way to winning a World Cup, Jofra is your guy. His ability to take even the most mind-blowing moments in stride might just be his best weapon yet.

Chelsea no longer look like a frightening Premier League title challenger.

Indeed, after beating Barcelona with ease 3-0 in the Champions League at the end of November, and then battling well with league leaders Arsenal 1-1 to close out the month, Enzo Maresca’s Blues came across as credible rivals to the Gunners.

However, fast forward just a few weeks, and the West Londoners have now lost on the road at Leeds United and were made to settle for an unsatisfactory stalemate away at AFC Bournemouth.

If Antoine Semenyo hadn’t fallen victim to a VAR check early on, too, it might well have been back-to-back defeats.

There’s nowhere to hide, either, for Maresca and Co. as the fixtures come thick and fast in December. Thankfully, the January transfer window is also just around the corner, as Chelsea begin to eye up some reinforcements…

Chelsea looking to sign another South American talent

After only scoring one meagre goal against the Whites and the Cherries, Chelsea will surely look to January to fix their striker woes.

As per reports from Germany, the goal-shy Blues are keen on a deal for Borussia Dortmund forward Serhou Guirassy, with current options at Maresca’s disposal in Liam Delap and Joao Pedro, not “of the level” to steer the faltering Premier League side to a title, as per the harsh words of Sky Sports’ Gary Neville.

That said, the Blues could also look to bolster their side in defensive areas.

Indeed, according to Caught Offside, Chelsea could put their connections with RC Strasbourg, another club owned by BlueCo, to good use once more by going after Valentin Barco in January, with it being stated that the Blues are still closely monitoring the versatile 21-year-old, who can fill in at left-back, after holding interest in his services in the summer.

Yet, it’s his varied ability to be able to line up as a central midfield talent, away from his energetic defensive duties, that has also attracted the likes of Bayern Munich to his services.

Chelsea will hope they can come out on top in any battle that pops up, as the Stamford Bridge titans potentially win their next Estevao by landing another South American treasure who can instantly burst into life in the Premier League.

How Barco could be Chelsea's next Estevao

Like Barco, Estevao was on the radar of many an elite club before Chelsea swooped in, with both Real Madrid and Paris St Germain once eyeing up the exhilarating Brazilian.

Maresca and Co will be over the moon that they snapped up the teenage winger when they did, with the “utterly brilliant” forward – as pundit Pat Nevin labelled him after his outrageous solo effort versus Barcelona – already up to five goals and one assist from just 20 Chelsea appearances.

The expectation will be that Barco would arrive on English soil and be as impactful as instantly, considering the 21-year-old already has plenty of European experience under his belt with Strasbourg, away from also undergoing his early football education in South America.

Games played

13

Goals scored

1

Assists

4

Touches*

69.8

Accurate passes*

42.8 (84%)

Big chances created

7

Ball recoveries*

5.3

Total duels won*

6.8

Noted as being one of “South America’s biggest jewels” when on the books of River Plate by scout Jacek Kulig, with Estevao, of course, also heralded as “world-class” when just 17 years of age in Brazil by the aforementioned Kulig, Barco has come into his own even more in Ligue 1 with Liam Rosenior’s men, as shown in the table above.

With one goal and four assists for the season in the French top-flight, Barco looks more than ready to leap into the Premier League shortly, with the likes of Marc Cucurella no doubt scared for his starting spot at left-back, as the much-talked-about 21-year-old has created seven big chances and won 6.8 duels per game this campaign as a full-throttle force.

On the flip side, Chelsea’s number three only has only created three big chances and won 4.1 duels par match from his collection of league appearances to date, with Barco keen to shake up the Stamford Bridge first team ranks, much like Estevao did instantly on his arrival from Palmeiras.

Capable of also offering Maresca another body centrally, this does really feel as if it has all the makings of being a top-drawer acquisition from South America, much like Estevao was.

0 dribbles, 0 tackles: Maresca must now bench Mudryk-esque Chelsea star

Chelsea dropped points yet again in the Premier League after a draw against Bournemouth on the south coast.

ByAngus Sinclair Dec 7, 2025

Sunderland have now reportedly made contact in the race to sign a teenage sensation, who is on course to leave his current club as a free agent next summer.

Le Bris praises "demanding" Premier League ahead of Liverpool clash

Sunderland just do not know when they’re beaten in the Premier League. They are writing a blueprint that every newly-promoted side must follow to secure survival and their comeback victory against Bournemouth followed that plan to perfection.

The Black Cats came from two goals behind to secure a dramatic victory and keep hold of their place in the top six after 13 games. With Liverpool at Anfield up next, things don’t get any easier, but Sunderland have relished the challenge of upsetting the odds so far this season.

Regis Le Bris was full of praise for both his side and the Premier League itself following Sunderland’s victory over Bournemouth, telling reporters: “This league is really demanding. You make two mistakes and are punished.

“With the ball, we are good, so just keep pushing. We are able to hit their defence, and it was important to be clinical in the box. I think here we have a great energy in the stands. If we give a lot on the pitch, then they will react. We deserved to win in the end.

“It’s important to play game after game. We went to Fulham last week and we lost. We were dominated. We go again. It’s positive to start this week with three points. It’s an exciting league with tough challenges but we want those challenges.”

Survival, which almost looks guaranteed already, would be a major achievement on the pitch, but it would also make an impact away from the action. The Black Cats are already thinking about the future on that front, targeting Rangers teenager Bailey Rice.

Sunderland make contact to sign Bailey Rice

According to the Daily Mail’s Simon Jones, Sunderland have now made checks on Rice, who is on course to leave Rangers as a free agent next summer after rejecting the Gers’ contract offers.

The 19-year-old became the club’s youngest post-war player to make a Scottish Premiership appearance in 2023, but now looks destined to leave Ibrox with Sunderland, Aston Villa, West Bromwich Albion and Cardiff City all queueing for his signature.

Manchester City were also tracking the young midfielder when he decided to leave Kilmarnock, only for Rangers to jump in and secure his arrival.

Better than Xhaka: Sunderland flop is one of "the best" in the PL after leaving

Sunderland once had a star who is now more exciting than Granit Xhaka and one of the best players in the Premier League.

ByDan Emery Dec 2, 2025

For Sunderland, it would therefore be a major coup to land a player of Rice’s potential. Man City’s initial interest highlights how highly he’s rated in England and praise from Rio Ferdinand echoed that earlier this year.

The Manchester United legend said on commentary when Rangers squared off against Manchester United last year: “I tell you what, I’m liking Rice by the way, he’s come on and looked composed, the kid’s got something about him, he’s got a lovely left foot on him.”

Sunderland star who Speakman was "excited" to sign is the new Jermain Lens

Liverpool have now launched their first approach to sign a much-needed right-back target, who could arrive at Anfield or in North London as a free agent.

Arne Slot admits shock at "ridiculous" Liverpool form

It has been a disastrous run for Liverpool, with their 3-0 loss against Nottingham Forest proving to be their most shocking result yet. After eight defeats in 11 games, the champions are on course for one of the worst title defences in Premier League history, despite spending over £400m in the summer.

With PSV Eindhoven up next, Arne Slot has admitted just how shocked he’s been by his side’s form and went onto describe it as “ridiculous” in his pre-match press conference.

The Champions League has often been a saving grace for Liverpool this season. Their victory over Real Madrid last time out proved to be somewhat of a false dawn before their Premier League return, but the Reds now have the chance to pick up where they left off in Europe, at the very least.

They will, however, be without an out-and-out right-back yet again following Conor Bradley’s injury to join Jeremie Frimpong on the sidelines. It is a problem that Liverpool must solve and one that could yet see Zeki Celik arrive.

Liverpool launch approach to sign Zeki Celik

According to TeamTalk’s Rudi Galetti, Liverpool have launched an approach to sign Celik in a transfer battle with Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea, all of whom have made contact.

The right-back is on course to become a free agent when his contract expires next summer and could yet provide a solution for Slot by finally replacing Trent Alexander-Arnold.

The 28-year-old, at the peak of his powers, recently earned the praise of Turkey manager Vincenzo Montella, who told reporters: “He’s the perfect player for any coach.

“Celik is professional, reliable, does his job wherever you play him. In a locker room it is always needed to have guys like him.”

Perfect for Isak: Liverpool make £122m sensation their "dream target"

Liverpool need to make changes in the transfer market once again.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 25, 2025

The AS Roma man is also capable of playing centre-back in what would kill two birds with one stone for Slot, who currently has just three senior centre-backs to choose from which includes the injury-prone Joe Gomez.

Instead of Gakpo: Liverpool can unlock Isak by unleashing homegrown Semenyo

About five months after his death, MLB appears to be considering former first baseman, third baseman and outfielder Pete Rose's reinstatement.

Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred has received a petition from Rose's family to remove him from MLB's permanently ineligible list, according to a Saturday evening report from Don Van Natta of ESPN. Rose, who was banned from baseball amid allegations that he bet on the Cincinnati Reds while managing them, died at the age of 83 on Sept. 30.

"The commissioner was respectful, gracious, and actively participated in productive discussions regarding removing Rose from the ineligible list," family lawyer Jeffrey Lenkov told Van Natta.

Rose has been banned from baseball since 1989, when he cut a deal with commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti to avoid further punishment by voluntarily joining baseball's permanently ineligible list.

News of the petition's reported delivery comes a day after President Donald Trump suggested he would pardon Rose for non-specific offenses (Rose served five months in prison in 1990 for tax evasion).

Rose played 24 years for the Reds, Philadelphia Phillies and Montreal Expos—collecting an MLB-best 4,256 hits.

Sahibzada Farhan’s 63 finished Pakistan’s tour with an improved batting performance

Mohammad Isam24-Jul-2025

Salman Mirza ran through Bangladesh’s top order•AFP/Getty Images

Pakistan ended their Bangladesh tour with a 74-run win in the third T20I in Dhaka. They bowled out the home side for 104 runs, after posting 178 for 7, a marked improvement from the last two games when their batting hardly stood up.Sahibzada Farhan, who took Fakhar Zaman’s place, top scored with 63 off 41, with 54 runs coming from boundaries. He provided Pakistan with a blistering start, after which Hasan Nawaz and Mohammad Nawaz struck quick runs to take them to the highest total at the Shere Bangla National Stadium since 2021.Later it was newcomer Salman Mirza, the left-arm quick, who blew through Bangladesh’s top-order, as the home side slipped to 34 for 6. Bangladesh’s batting was in sharp contrast to that of Pakistan who finally got their groove upon being sent to bat first.Farhan blitzkrieg in MirpurFarhan got Pakistan off to a flyer that lasted beyond the powerplay. He clattered Mahedi Hasan for a six in the third ball of the match, before sweetly flicking Shoriful Islam in the next over. Farhan laid into Taskin Ahmed in the sixth over, that went for 15, including a beautiful straight six.Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub put on 82 for the first wicket•AFP/Getty Images

Mehidy Hasan wasn’t spared either. Farhan smacked him for two sixes in the seventh over, one straight and slogged over midwicket. He finished the over by reaching his fifty, the second of Farhan’s career. Saim Ayub got into the act a little later, but soon after striking his first six, he fell to Nasum Ahmed. It broke the 82-run opening stand.Haris can’t cash in on luckFarhan fell for 63 in the twelfth over, having struck five sixes and six fours in his 41-ball stay. There was hope that Farhan’s start would help the rest of the Pakistan’s batters. However, Mohammad Haris couldn’t quite capitalize despite getting three lives in his short time at the crease. Litton Das missed a difficult stumping chance in the tenth over, before Nasum dropped Haris at fine-leg. He also survived a lbw decision, before Taskin removed him with a catch at deep third. Haris finished with 5 off 14 balls.The Nawazes’ fine finishHasan Nawaz slammed three sixes in his 17-ball stay, one of them a slice over cover, but Mahedi’s tumbling catch from mid-off stopped him on 33. Hussain Talat then fell cheaply, before Mohammad Nawaz creamed two sixes and as many fours, in his 16-ball 27. Both his sixes came off Mohammad Saifuddin, one struck over deep square-leg, and the next one the cover boundary.Mirza cuts through top orderPakistan’s first wicket was slightly fortuitous, but all credit goes to Mirza. Tanzid swished at a wide delivery outside off-stump, but wicketkeeper Haris didn’t appeal. Mirza insisted he heard something, which convinced Pakistan captain Salman Agha. A healthy deviation was spotted upon review.Faheem Ashraf then struck twice in his next two overs, first removing Litton for 8, before Mehidy holed out to mid-on for 9. Mirza then bowled two superb deliveries in the fifth over to reduce Bangladesh to 25 for 5. Both times, he got the ball to cut through Jaker Ali and Mahedi and rattle their stumps.Saifuddin doesn’t get supportSalman bowled Shamim Hossain with one that spun into the left-hander, as Shamim tried to play back. Mohammad Naim holed out to a simple catch at mid-off.Saifuddin’s 34-ball 35 took Bangladesh past their lowest total of 70 and while Nos 9 to 11 all got boundaries, they didn’t hold on for long. Talat removed Nasum for 9. Hasan Nawaz took a fine catch running in from backward square leg to remove Taskin Ahmed, before Saifuddin struck couple of sixes off Ahmed Daniyal. Shoriful was the last man to go with Abbas Afridi taking a superb catch at long-on.

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Nesta quinta-feira (28), o Palmeiras entra em campo para enfrentar o Boca Juniors, na Bombonera, pela primeira partida da semifinal da Libertadores. Além de ser um dos adversários mais temidos da competição, o clube argentino tem dois elementos que fazem a diferença na mística do futebol: o “carrasco” Benedetto e a “lei do ex” com Merentiel. E o Verdão também precisará superar ambos nessa decisão.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasAbel Ferreira recebe visita de velho conhecido durante treino do Palmeiras em Buenos AiresPalmeiras27/09/2023PalmeirasPalmeiras encerra a preparação para pegar o Boca Juniors; veja provável timePalmeiras27/09/2023PalmeirasBoca Juniors x Palmeiras: onde assistir ao vivo, escalações e horário do jogo da semifinal da LibertadoresPalmeiras28/09/2023

+ Condição especial para matrícula no curso Gestor de Futebol, aprovado por Dante, Petković, Léo Moura e outros craques. Saiba mais!

Em 2018, na semifinal da Libertadores, o Alviverde também teve o Boca pela frente e acabou eliminado depois de uma derrota fora de casa e um empate no Allianz Parque.

+ Fé no maestro! Na Lance! Betting, a odd é de 6.25 para Veiga marcar e o Palmeiras vencer na Argentina. Sua aposta de R$10 retorna R$62,50!

No jogo da Bombonera, os mandantes venceram por 2 a 0 com dois gols de Benedetto, que precisou de aproximadamente 15 minutos levar o resultado positivo. Até a entrada do atacante e a primeira bola na rede, o duelo caminhava para um empate em 0 a 0.

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+ Se você acredita em Cavani e companhia, a Lance! Betting te ajuda a lucrar com isso! A vitória do Boca Juniors em casa paga 3.00, ou seja, sua aposta de R$10 retorna R$30!

Já na volta, o Palmeiras precisava de um resultado elástico para se classificar à final. Com muita dificuldade, conseguiu fazer 2 a 1 e colocava pressão para fazer o terceiro. Mas Benedetto novamente saiu do banco e acabou fazendo 2 a 2 para jogar um balde de água fria nos alviverdes.

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+ Abel Ferreira recebe visita de velho conhecido durante treino do Palmeiras em Buenos Aires

Foram dois jogos de Benedetto contra o Palmeiras, três gols marcados e menos de 45 minutos em campo. Atualmente, ele segue como reserva, mas permanece por lá para fazer valer essa mística do carrasco.

+ Veja tabela da Libertadores-2023 clicando aqui

Outro fator que o Verdão vai enfrentar na Bombonera é a “lei do ex”, aquela que raramente falha. E olha que se trata de um ex bastante recente, que é Merentiel, atleta que até outro dia fazia parte do elenco palmeirense.

O uruguaio foi emprestado para o Boca neste ano, e como os argentinos pagam o salário do jogador na totalidade, ele pode enfrentar o Alviverde sem a necessidade de uma multa.

+ Boca Juniors x Palmeiras: onde assistir ao vivo, escalações e horário do jogo da semifinal da Libertadores

Assim, além de carregar essa famosa “lei” do futebol, Merentiel é um agente importante para contar os segredos do trabalho de Abel Ferreira e de seus antigos companheiros.

Para chegar a mais uma final de Libertadores, a terceira nos últimos quatro anos, o Palmeiras terá de superar um adversário e um estádio altamente temidos, a mística do carrasco e praticamente infalível “lei do ex”. A missão do Verdão não é fácil, mas para esse grupo tão vencedor de Abel Ferreira, as coisas podem ser encaradas de outra forma.

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Palmeiras

Tottenham legend Harry Kane could well make a stunning return to Spurs next year, following news of a £54 million release clause in his Bayern Munich contract.

Thomas Frank opens door for Harry Kane to re-join Tottenham

Since bidding an emotional farewell to North London over two years ago, agreeing to join Bayern in an £86 million deal, the 32-year-old has spearheaded Vincent Kompany’s side to a Bundesliga title and German Super Cup, scoring 98 goals across all competitions in the process.

Kane is tantalisingly close to reaching a landmark 100 goals for Bayern, and could well do so against Werder Bremen this evening.

England and Tottenham’s all-time record goalscorer has been a revelation for the Germans, but with just under two years remaining on his contract, and Kane himself not getting any younger, the prospect of him leaving in 2026 is a real one.

Alan Shearer

260

Harry Kane

213

Wayne Rooney

208

Mohamed Salah

188

Andrew Cole

187

Sergio Agüero

184

Frank Lampard

177

Thierry Henry

175

Robbie Fowler

163

Jermain Defoe

156

Interested sides have the option of triggering his clause once it becomes active, potentially in January (BILD), but reports have since suggested that a summer move is far more likely.

Tottenham have ‘first refusal’ rights on any deal for Kane, putting them ahead of other suitors, but it is conditional on both Bayern and the centre-forward agreeing to the move (The Telegraph).

When asked about Kane’s release clause earlier this week, Spurs boss Thomas Frank made his thoughts crystal clear.

Tottenham are reportedly ready to move for Kane, if they are given encouragement that he’d be open to re-signing.

Taking this into account, a new update from journalist Ben Jacobs may come as some very good news for Frank’s side.

Harry Kane's stance on leaving Bayern Munich next summer

The reporter told GiveMeSport that Kane may consider an exit from Bayern after the 2026 World Cup, and if he is to go anywhere, then it is back to the Premier League.

Out of any English destination, Tottenham is surely the standout appeal to Kane. His history at the club and love for Spurs cannot be discounted, and the perfect way to sign off on what has been a glittering career would be to win silverware there.

Man City were once chasing Kane before they opted for Erling Haaland, and Pep Guardiola personally wanted him (Fabrizio Romano). However, the prospect of a move to Eastlands or Liverpool is now off the table, with the latter just completing a British-record deal for Alexander Isak.

Arsenal have just signed Viktor Gyokeres as well, and Chelsea are famed for targeting much younger players as part of their recruitment strategy.

Taking this into account, Spurs is really the only viable destination, and the prospect of a reunion is hugely exciting.