Jos Buttler has called legspinner Adil Rashid England’s “most important player” and also lauded “class player” Jonny Bairstow for playing a “senior player’s innings”.England registered a commanding eight-wicket win in their Super Eight match against West Indies at T20 World Cup 2024 in Gros Islet. Set a challenging 181 to win, England got home with Phil Salt finishing unbeaten on 87, with Bairstow in tow with a 26-ball 48 not out. The two added 97 off 44 balls to see England home with eight wickets and 2.3 overs to spare.”That was a really good performance from us,” Buttler said at the post-match presentation. “We planned really well, we’ve been practising well and executed both with the bat and ball and deserved to win. I thought we bowled really well to restrict such a powerful batting line-up, such great six-hitters especially. [It was a] decent score, and you had to play well to chase it down.Related

• Jofra Archer on crucial West Indies over: 'One of those times when you just nail it'

• WI coach Sammy: 'This loss will not dampen our spirits'

• Phil proves he is worth his Salt

• West Indies wait on King scans after 'worrying' side strain

• Salt and Bairstow take West Indies down with ease

“I thought we were very smart with the bat. Guys were very calculated when they took their options on. The Bairstow and Salt partnership was so good. Jonny came in with great intent and took the momentum straight back. Salty tucked in behind him for a bit and when he got that one big over, he broke the back of it.”A lot of people say you learn when you lose, but I truly believe you learn when you win as well. [It is] important to reflect on what we did well today. We had a good performance, put that to bed and focus on the next performance.”Talking about Bairstow, Buttler said: “He is a class player, he has been for a really long time. That’s what we decided to do, you just keep backing class players. He hasn’t had many opportunities but today was an incredibly impressive innings. A really mature, senior player’s innings. With a lot of power, he scored at a great gear when the game was just in the balance.”Adil Rashid dismissed Andre Russell for 1•Getty Images

Earlier, riding on a fluent start from Brandon King, who retired hurt with a side strain, Johnson Charles and Nicholas Pooran had helped West Indies race to 72 for 0 in eight overs. But the next five overs – bowled by Rashid and Moeen Ali in tandem – saw them score just 34 for the wicket of Charles. Rashid bowled the 17th over too, for just two runs and the wicket of Andre Russell to finish with figures of 4-0-21-1.”We keep saying [Rashid] is our most important player, he really has been for a long time,” Buttler said. “He’s got so much variation and so much threat of taking wickets and also restricting runs.”

Powell: We strayed away from our plans to Salt

Meanwhile, West Indies captain Rovman Powell felt they were 15 to 20 runs short and strayed away from their plans against Salt.”We left 15-20 runs out there as a batting group,” Powell said. “I will say that we should have put up a better display as a bowling group. We are normally very good in the last five overs, but credit has to be given to the England bowling unit. They had clear plans, and the execution was good.”After their under-par finish with the bat, they offered lives to Salt and Moeen, with wicketkeeper Pooran unable to hold on to thin deflections on both occasions.”Those chances are always difficult,” Powell said. “But credit has to be given to Phil, he seems to like playing against West Indies. Every time he plays against West Indies, he always hurts us. We strayed away a little bit from our plans to Phil. It’s just for us to look back at those plans and re-evaluate.”Our destiny is in our hands. Once we win well, it will bring us back. We are playing good cricket.”

Filer, Wellington, Knight star for Storm but skipper prevails for hosts

ECB Reporters Network09-Jun-2024Southern Vipers 137 for 9 (Adams 55, Knott 37, Filer 3-8, Wellington 3-17) beat Western Storm 119 (Knight 69, Adams 3-23, Dean 3-24) by 19 runsGeorgia Adams produced a superb all-round performance with bat and ball to guide Southern Vipers to a 19-run victory over Western Storm in an enthralling Charlotte Edwards Cup contest at Bristol’s Seat Unique Stadium.Heather Knight had scored 69 from 56 balls and was threatening to win the game for Storm when Adams struck a crucial blow by claiming her wicket in the penultimate over. The Vipers captain finished with figures of 2 for 23, while fellow spinner Charlie Dean took 3 for 24 as the home side were bowled out for 119 in 20 overs.Adams had earlier top-scored with a 40-ball 55, mustered six fours and a six and helped stage a progressive stand of 55 in 6.1 overs with Charli Knott as the visitors posted 137-9 after losing the toss.Lauren Filer produced her best performance of the season, taking 3 for 8 in four overs, while overseas leg spinner Amanda Jade Wellington returned figures of 3 for 17 and Sophia Smale claimed 2 for 28 to keep Storm in with a chance at the halfway stage.But Vipers held their nerve in a close finish, spinners Adams, Dean, Knott and Linsey Smith making the difference to keep the defending champions on course for a place in the knockout stages.Vipers posted 41 in the powerplay for the loss of Maia Bouchier and Georgia Elwiss. Restored to Storm’s attack, pace spearhead Filer made an immediate impact, having England team-mate Bouchier held at mid-on without scoring, while Elwiss succumbed to Smale’s slow left arm, chipping to short extra and departing for nine.Fortunately for the visitors, Knott and Adams were able to harvest sufficient boundaries from the other bowlers to remain in credit, the former carving Ellie Anderson over cover point and then straight-hitting her for an imposing six on a ground where she made a magnificent hundred in a 50-over contest only last month.Storm deployed spin at both ends in a bid to stem the flow, only for Adams and Knott to each plunder a six at the expense of Chloe Skelton as the eighth over yielded 20 runs. The 50 partnership occupied just 32 balls and the home side no doubt breathed a collective sigh of relief when Knott, having raised 37 from 29 balls with four fours and two sixes, advanced down the pitch to fellow Australian Wellington and was comprehensively stumped in the tenth with the score on 78.That quickly became 81 for 4 in the next over when Freya Kemp, playing back to a fullish delivery from Filer, dislodged a bale and was given out. Wellington then had Charlie Dean caught at the wicket in the act of cutting, at which point Vipers were 84 for 5, having lost three wickets in the space of 12 balls. Well and truly back in the game, Storm piled on more pressure, Filer clean bowling Nancy Harman to further reduce Vipers to 96 for 6 in the fifteenth.Alice Monaghan holed out to long-on off the bowling of Wellington for 11, but the redoubtable Adams remained at large, pulling Smale to move to a 37-ball 50 via her fifth four. By the time she departed in the penultimate over, caught on the long-on boundary off Smale, Vipers were assured a competitive total.Storm made a shaky start to their chase, Nat Wraith and Fran Wilson falling to successive deliveries from slow left armer Smith in the third over, but Knight remained unfazed as she plundered six boundaries in a powerplay that yielded a healthy return of 43 runs.Cast in a supporting role in a third-wicket stand of 54, Sophie Luff was pinned lbw by Dean with the the score on 54 in the ninth, but Knight continued to trade ostensibly in boundaries as Storm reached the halfway point on 71-3, requiring a further 68 from 60 deliveries.Knight went to 50 from 43 balls, but Knott had compatriot Wellington caught at short fine leg and Dean bowled Niamh Holland and Issy Wong with successive deliveries to reduce Storm to 93 for 6 in the fifteenth as Vipers deployed spin to build pressure during the middle overs.Requiring 45 off the last five overs, Storm were now almost totally dependent upon experienced campaigner Knight. But the England captain was rapidly running out of partners, Smale holing out to long on off the bowling of Adams, who then put down a tough return catch to afford Knight a life on 62.Storm still needed 24 off two overs when Knight attempted to straight-drive Adams for six and was brilliantly held by Monaghan on the boundary. Adams then removed Filer with the next delivery to put the outcome beyond doubt.

Aston Villa are still looking to fill the void left by Jhon Duran as the summer transfer window enters its embryonic stage.

The Colombian was sold for £71m in January after scoring 12 goals for the club during the first half of the season.

While Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford contributed well between January and May, scoring 12 goals between them, both have since returned to their parent clubs.

This means Unai Emery enters the market looking for a forward who can make a difference. Might he turn to Ligue 1 again?

Aston Villa lead the race for Belgian sensation

It appears as though Rashford won’t return to Villa next season. The club have shown interest in Tyler Dibling and Jadon Sancho in a bid to improve their wide options next season.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Rather than focus on Premier League talent, the manager also has eyes on the continent. According to TEAMtalk, Villa are among the clubs leading the race for talented Lyon winger Malick Fofana.

Liverpool and Arsenal are also in contention for the player and the report states that Lyon’s financial troubles could see Fofana available for just £40m this summer.

A young, left-footed talent ready to make his mark in the Premier League. Can Emery sign his new Duran in a move for Fofana?

Why Villa must sign Malick Fofana

Duran certainly had the potential to become Emery’s main attacking option, but the offer from the Middle East was too good to turn down.

The youngster dazzled with his displays off the bench for the Midlands side, eventually scoring 20 goals in 78 appearances, yet only 17 of those were starts.

Metric

Ligue 1

Europa League

Goals

5

6

Assists

4

1

Big chances created

6

1

Key passes per game

0.9

1

Successful dribbles per game

0.8

0.9

Emery has been craving a talent like Duran ever since he departed, and in Fofana, the Belgian starlet could become his next exciting young forward. Indeed, journalist Antonio Mango has lauded him for his “frightening speed” and “game-changing potential” – remind you of anyone?

The 20-year-old made his debut for Gent during the 2022/23 campaign, impressing sufficiently to secure a move to Lyon in January 2024.

His spell with the French giants has been a major success. Across 62 games, the youngster has registered 22 goal contributions – 15 goals and seven assists – particularly impressing last term.

Indeed, in April, talent scout Jacek Kulig hailed the winger for “showing flashes of his enormous potential” and he was especially dangerous in the Europa League.

When compared to his positional peers in the competition, Fofana ranked in the top 1% for non-penalty goals (1.05), progressive carries (7.88) and touches in the attacking penalty area (8.23) per 90 in the Europa League.

His explosiveness and desire to make things happen in the final third make him an excellent prospect, and he could continue his development under Emery at Villa.

Like his fellow left-footer, Duran, he would be an exciting young signing with potential, and there is no doubt Fofana could have a similar sort of impact as the Colombian forward.

With Villa playing in the Europa League – a competition Fofana excelled in – then bringing the Belgian sensation to the Midlands this summer could turn out to be one shrewd move by the manager.

Better than Watkins: Aston Villa ready offer for £28m "pure goalscorer"

Aston Villa are eyeing up a swoop for a striker

1 ByRoss Kilvington Jun 6, 2025

Potential investors will gather at Lord’s on July 5 for world cricket symposium

Nagraj Gollapudi18-Jun-2024

Five IPL franchises have expressed a “soft” interest in buying a stake in London Spirit, the Lord’s-based Hundred team, according to Mark Nicholas, the MCC president who is set to take over as the club’s chairman in October.Nicholas was speaking at Lord’s to announce plans for the inaugural “World Cricket Connects” symposium – an event due to be hosted by MCC on July 5, and intended to “help shape cricket’s ongoing global success and provide balance across its huge spectrum of stakeholders”.The initiative reflects MCC’s intention to “improve its global contribution” by offering a neutral canvas on which the sport’s most influential figures can meet and discuss the future of the game. BCCI secretary Jay Shah, whom Nicholas described as “the most powerful man” in world cricket, is expected to be among the 110-plus attendees, alongside other senior figures from the sporting and administrative sides of the game, including senior IPL figures and a host of influential current and former cricketers including Ben Stokes, Brendon McCullum and Rahul Dravid.MCC’s own ambitions are a crucial part of cricket’s changing landscape, with the chief executive, Guy Lavender, recently writing to its members to ask whether the club should accept the ECB’s offer of a 51% stake in London Spirit as part of the drive to privatise the Hundred.Under the proposed model, the eight Hundred “hosts” – seven counties plus MCC – will be given majority stakes in their respective teams, with the ECB selling the remaining 49% to private investors, which will be finalised through a bidding process.Although the club’s rules allow a final call without a vote, Nicholas stressed MCC wanted to ensure it had the backing of its 24,000-strong membership, describing the move towards private equity as a “monumental” step which would eventually prove beneficial for the growth of game at all levels.”What we are putting to a vote is to accept the ECB’s offer of a 51% share of this franchise,” Nicholas said. “We will always be a members’ club. The first target is membership harmony [because] as a member you are entitled to a view. It’s very easy to knock people back because they’re difficult, but actually there is quite a lot of good thinking that comes out of activism. You have to treat people with respect, and hear their view.”Nicholas pointed out that cricket across the globe was a “booming franchise opportunity”, so it was only wise for the English game, MCC included, to cash in, especially having failed to capitalise on the original Twenty20 Cup concept more than two decades ago.”We missed out on T20 in 2003 where we could have grabbed it,” Nicholas said, recalling how English cricket squandered its first-mover status, with the IPL coming into being in 2008. “India thought quicker than us and were smarter than us, as India often is. India moves at an extraordinary pace to make things work.Related

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MCC begins search for new chief executive as Guy Lavender steps down

ECB secures counties agreement on Hundred 'direction of travel'

Mark Nicholas steps down from Southern Brave board ahead of MCC executive role

ECB finalises process for Hundred private investment

“So the Hundred has given us another opportunity. The [MCC] membership quite likes being part of the chat, not being consigned to a piece of history. The members I talk to really love the idea of having a team, love the opportunity that it brings. There will be financial opportunity, either in growth of the equity or in sale of the equity.”The ECB has appointed Raine Group and Deloitte as advisors for the Hundred privatisation. While there’s no formal deadline, the ECB is eager to finalise terms by the end of the year, but as Nicholas conceded, there are a number of issues that still need resolving.”The real truth is that not everything is clear yet,” he said. “For example, how would the bidding process take place? What’s the rollout of these franchises in the bidding? We don’t know that yet. The ECB haven’t declared that. We have met the investment bank – I’m not sure they even know yet. There’s still a lot for us to learn.”Some of the potential bidders will be present at the World Cricket Connects event, which takes place on the eve of the MCC World Cricket Committee meeting, and Nicholas said it was important to listen to those voices.”They have dominated to this level by owning teams, driving forward a new financial model, and developing it extraordinarily,” he said. “There’s a very wide list of attendees, and I think that’s the advantage of the event. They would never otherwise come together.”

England will hand debuts to the Surrey duo of Gus Atkinson and Jamie Smith for the first Test against West Indies at Lord’s, which begins on Wednesday.Chris Woakes also returns to the XI, his first Test appearance since being named player of the series in last summer’s Ashes, while offspinner Shoaib Bashir makes his home debut after three Tests in India at the start of the year.Atkinson, who has made 12 appearances for England in white-ball cricket, was unused on the tour of India but has been earmarked as a long-term pace option, registering in the late 80s and early 90s mph at his most fluent. A breakthrough 2023 summer saw him earn selection for the ODI World Cup, though he was omitted for this summer’s T20 World Cup. This season, he has taken 14 County Championship wickets at 29.78 for Surrey, who lead Division One.England XI to play West Indies•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Smith, meanwhile, will assume the gloves as England move beyond Ben Foakes and Jonny Bairstow. The 23-year-old has been in fine form across all formats and marked his maiden call-up with his second first-class century of the season. He is currently Surrey’s top-scorer with 677 Championship runs at 56.41 with a strike rate of 76.67. He earned two ODI caps against Ireland at the end of last summer and will slot in at No. 7 with Harry Brook returning to the No. 5 position having missed the India series following the death of his grandmother.Ben Stokes slots between the pair at six, and is back to fulfilling his allrounder duties, which has allowed for the selection of Bashir. After impressing with 17 wickets in India, England underlined their faith in the spinner by selecting him in the squad ahead of Jack Leach, despite the fact Bashir had to move on loan to Worcestershire for first-team opportunities with Leach the No. 1 spinner at Somerset.Related

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• James Anderson 'at peace' with retirement despite bowling 'as well as ever'

Woakes adds to that balance as an option with the bat, and will likely be an ever-present this summer in what is set to be a transitional period for England with the impending retirement of James Anderson.England XI: 1⁠ ⁠Zak Crawley, 2⁠ ⁠Ben Duckett, 3 ⁠Ollie Pope, 4⁠ ⁠Joe Root, 5 ⁠Harry Brook, 6⁠ ⁠Ben Stokes (capt) 7⁠ ⁠Jamie Smith (wk), 8⁠ ⁠Chris Woakes, 9⁠ ⁠Gus Atkinson, 10⁠ ⁠Shoaib Bashir, 11 ⁠James Anderson

Chelsea are fighting hard on the market despite being away at the Club World Cup and could now be about to take the next step in their pursuit of a winger, according to Simon Phillips.

Chelsea chase Jamie Gittens deal and could sanction surprise exit

Following the Blues’ early spree in the window, Enzo Maresca has set his eyes on Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens and it has now been confirmed that Chelsea are still well in the fight for his signature.

Taking to social media platform X, Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that the Londoners have remained in contact to sign the England Under-21 international. Most importantly, out of all transfer options, he only wants a move to Stamford Bridge.

Intriguingly, Noni Madueke could be someone that could make way at Chelsea this summer if the price is right, with Phillips, who we will hear more from later on, stating: “Maybe they even look to end up bringing in two more out-and-out wingers, and they may well need them depending on the future of Noni Madueke as well, who Chelsea will listen to offers for.”

Most supporters wouldn’t be delighted at the prospect of the England international getting sold. From a fan perspective, Joao Felix and Raheem Sterling walking through the exit door would be far more productive amid their poor loan spells at AC Milan and Arsenal.

With the transfer merry-go-round now heating up, Chelsea may now be advancing for a star who could send shockwaves around the Premier League if he were to move to West London.

Phillips: Chelsea stepping up Alejandro Garnacho pursuit

Writing in his Si Phillips Talks Chelsea Substack, Phillips has detailed that Chelsea are now discussing a loan-to-buy agreement for Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho in light of their desire to secure reinforcements out wide.

He explained: “Until now, our sources had not heard too much on Garnacho other than tentative interest. However, we have been hearing more and more noise on this one throughout this week, and fresh info has also just come in on him.

“SPTC sources have heard that Chelsea have been discussing signing Garnacho on a loan to buy deal, just as they did with Jadon Sancho.

“Of course, both players are Manchester United players, so it would not be a deal that would be unfamiliar to either club and could suit both if the fee is right. I’m not sure if it would be a permanent buy with an option to send him back with a fee, or a straight loan with an option/obligation.”

Seemingly forming a similar fashion to their arrangement involving Jadon Sancho, it remains to be seen whether Manchester United would allow what is essentially a ‘try before you buy’ deal after the Blues sent the former Dortmund man back to Old Trafford via a £5 million penalty fee.

Nevertheless, Garnacho, who was praised for his “brilliant” assist for the Red Devils against Real Sociedad earlier this year by Paul Scholes would definitely be a player that would come into starting contention at Stamford Bridge if he were to join this window.

There are plenty of intriguing transfer stories doing the rounds involving Chelsea right now, but this one may be one of the most complicated and multi-faceted deals to conclude, especially with his price tag reportedly sitting at £70 million.

أصدر نادي باريس سان جيرمان الفرنسي بيانًا رسميًا، منذ قليل، بشأن إصابة ثنائي الفريق عثمان ديمبلي وديزيري دوي، ومدة غيابها المتوقعة، بعد مباراة منتخب فرنسا أمس ضد أوكرانيا.

وشارك ديمبلي مع منتخب بلده فرنسا أمام أوكرانيا يوم الجمعة، في تصفيات أوروبا المؤهلة إلى كأس العالم 2026، وتعرض الجناح الفرنسي للإصابة.

وتم تشخيص إصابة ديمبلي، في عضلة الفخذ الخلفية اليمنى، والتي جاءت قوية، ومن المتوقع غيابه عن الملاعب لمدة ستة أسابيع تقريبًا، بحسب ما ذكر بيان باريس سان جيرمان.

اقرأ أيضًا | من الدوري السعودي.. ديشامب يضم بديل ديمبلي ودوي في منتخب فرنسا

كما تعرض ديزيري دوي لإصابة خلال المباراة، حيث عانى من شد في عضلة الساق اليمنى، وسيغيب عن الملاعب لمدة أربعة أسابيع تقريبًا، وفقًا للبيان نفسه.

وبالتالي سيغيب كل من ديمبلي وديزيري دوي عن مباراة باريس سان جيرمان المرتقبة في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا أمام برشلونة.

وتأتي مباراة برشلونة وباريس سان جيرمان يوم 1 أكتوبر المقبل ضمن مواجهات الجولة الثانية لمرحلة الدوري.

فيما يخوض باريس سان جيرمان مباراته الأولى بدوري أبطال أوروبا يوم 17 سبتمبر الجاري أمام أتالانتا الإيطالي.

وسيغيب ديمبلي ودوي كذلك عن عدة مباريات في الدوري الفرنسي، خلال فترة تعافيهما من الإصابة، حيث سيواجه باريس سان جيرمان كل من لانس، مارسيليا، أوكسير وليل.

وستطول مدة غياب ديمبلي عن الملاعب، أكثر من دوي، حيث قد يلحق الأخير بمباراة ستراسبورج في الدوري الفرنسي يوم 17 أكتوبر، قبل لقاء باير ليفركوزن في الجولة الثالثة من دوري أبطال أوروبا يوم 21.

Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Ali and Mohammad Huraira called up after consistent performances in domestic cricket

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Aug-2024

Fast bowler Naseem Shah has returned to the Pakistan Test squad after more than a year out, as selectors announced a 17-member squad for the two-Test home series against Bangladesh. The Tests will be Pakistan’s first since a series loss in Australia at the start of the year and sees four changes from that touring squad. Shan Masood continues as captain with Saud Shakeel promoted to vice-captain for the Tests. The selectors have called up Kamran Ghulam, fast bowler Mohammad Ali and batter Muhammad Hurraira after a combination of consistent domestic performances as well as for the Pakistan Shaheens side on a recent tour of Australia.Shakeel takes over as deputy from Shaheen Shah Afridi as “part of the selectors’ strategic decision” to manage Afridi’s workload across one of Pakistan’s busiest seasons in recent years. Between the end of August and start of April next year, Pakistan is scheduled to play nine Tests, 14 T20Is and, at least, 17 ODIs.Aamer Jamal, the find of that Australia tour where he took 18 wickets and averaged nearly 30 with the bat, has been named in the squad subject to fitness. Jamal had to cut short his county stint last month with Warwickshire after a back injury. At the time, Jamal posted on X (formerly Twitter) that he was fully fit.In all, it is a significantly different squad than from Pakistan’s last Test assignment, with seven changes in all. The biggest omission is arguably Imam-ul-Haq, who had been a fixture in Pakistan’s Test XI since the start of 2022. He was dropped in Australia for the final Test in Sydney, replaced by Saim Ayub. Faheem Ashraf and Mohammad Nawaz also miss out, cementing Jamal’s role as the allrounder in the line-up. Spinners Noman Ali and Sajid Khan have also been dropped, Pakistan signalling their intentions of how they expect to play this series with only one specialist spinner in Abrar Ahmed. Hasan Ali and Mohammad Wasim, who both toured Australia, are out with injuries.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Pakistan will not fret unduly about those, however, given they can finally welcome back Naseem to the Test side. He last played a Test just over a year ago, starring with six wickets in an innings triumph in Colombo. But a shoulder injury in the Asia Cup soon after meant he missed the ODI World Cup in India and the tour to Australia. He has since played plenty of white-ball cricket but Jason Gillespie, Pakistan’s new red-ball head coach, will savour the opportunity to unleash Naseem and Afridi together again.Ghulam, meanwhile, has hovered close to selection, without breaking through to the Test side. He was part of the squad for the home Tests against New Zealand in 2022-23. He has made his case stronger this time by amassing 1025 runs in 11 first-class matches in the 2023-24 season and also scoring 100 not out and 48 in three innings against Bangladesh A in Darwin last month. Mohammad Ali, a first recall since his debut against England in December 2022, is one of five specialist fast bowlers in the squad.He took 47 wickets in 14 first-class matches in the last season and against Bangladesh A in Darwin last month, as part of Pakistan Shaheens, he took nine wickets, including 6 for 63 in the second innings of the second match.Hurraira, 22, is expected to open alongside Abdullah Shafique and ahead of Saim, who debuted in Sydney. Hurraira has been in irrepresible form recently, including a sparkling double hundred against Bangladesh A last month for the Shaheens. He is already averaging 56.24 in his first-class career and has scored nearly 2000 runs over the last two first-class seasons. He was part of the Test squad for the Sri Lanka tour in July 2023 but didn’t get a game when Pakistan won the series 2-0.The Pakistan squad will start training in a camp from August 11 in Rawalpindi under Gillespie and assistant coach Azhar Mahmood, while the Bangladesh side will arrive in Islamabad on August 17. The two Tests, part of the World Test Championship, will be played from August 21 to 25 in Rawalpindi and August 30 to September 3 in Karachi.Squad and revised dates for Pakistan Shaheen seriesThe selectors also named a Pakistan Shaheen squad for the first four-day game against Bangladesh A, for which revised dates were announced hours later.*Given the political unrest and turmoil in Bangladesh, the BCB had to postpone their A team’s departure for Pakistan initially by 48 hours. On Wednesday afternoon, a PCB statement said: “The Bangladesh ‘A’ men’s cricket team will arrive in Islamabad on Saturday, 10 August, for two four-day and three 50-over matches against Pakistan Shaheens. The matches will be played at the Islamabad Club.”The series was originally scheduled to begin on August 10. The first four-dayer will now begin on August 13, and the second on August 20, followed by the one-dayers on August 26, 28 and 30.Shakeel will lead the Pakistan A side in the series. The squad includes Naseem, Ghulam, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Hurraira, Saim Ayub and Sarfaraz Ahmed among others. The Shaheens will start training on Wednesday under head coach Umar Gul. Gillespie and Mahmood will assist Gul before moving to the national side’s camp.Once the first four-day game is over, the eight Test probables will join the main Test squad and the selectors will name their replacements in the Shaheens squad for the remaining matches.Pakistan Test squad for Bangladesh seriesShan Masood (capt), Saud Shakeel (vice-capt), Aamer Jamal (subject to fitness), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Hurraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Agha Salman, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Shaheen Shah AfridiPakistan Shaheen squad for the first game against Bangladesh ASaud Shakeel (capt), Kamran Ghulam, Mehran Mumtaz, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rameez Jnr, Mohammad Huraira, Naseem Shah, Saad Baig (wk), Saad Khan, Saim Ayub, Sameen Gul, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Umar Amin

Chelsea chiefs are prepared to ship off a fair few players this summer after already spending around £140 million on new signings, with BlueCo intent on balancing the books to ensure they’re in line with FFP regulations.

Related In talks: Chelsea identify "next top target" in £60m star, he's keen to join

The Blues could yet another new attacker to their ranks.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini Jul 2, 2025

Jamie Gittens and Joao Pedro are both poised to join Enzo Maresca’s side, with the latter having his medical in the US before his £55 million switch from Brighton, which has now been officially confirmed. Chelsea also agreed a deal for Gittens at that same price.

Chelsea’s best performers in the Premier League last season

Average match rating

Cole Palmer

7.33

Moises Caicedo

7.02

Enzo Fernández

6.95

Nicolas Jackson

6.88

Noni Madueke

6.82

via WhoScored

This follows their £30 million move for Ipswich Town star Liam Delap, and it is believed that Chelsea are in talks over a move for West Ham winger Mohammed Kudus as their next top attacking target (Simon Phillips).

If they do land Kudus next, the west Londoners will need to start selling players for significant fees, with goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga coming as their only senior exit so far.

Kepa joined Arsenal for around £5 million, which was announced earlier this week, and Chelsea are fully expected to orchestrate a few more high-profile exits.

Lesley Ugochukwu, João Félix, Renato Veiga, Ben Chilwell, David Datro Fofana, Armando Broja and Axel Disasi could all leave Stamford Bridge this summer, according to The Athletic, alongside more first-team regulars.

Christopher Nkunku is allegedly pushing to leave, while the likes of Noni Madueke and Nicolas Jackson are attracting reported interest from London rivals Arsenal.

Maresca’s backlog of surplus wingers will need some trimming, and that includes England international Raheem Sterling, who’s now back after a lacklustre loan spell at the Emirates Stadium.

Chelsea ready to sell Raheem Sterling and Noni Madueke

Journalist Pete O’Rourke, sharing an update for Football Insider, says that Chelsea are ready to accept offers for both Sterling and Madueke.

The latter, who cost around £30 million to sign from PSV Eindhoven in 2023, has played a key role under Maresca in recent months – earning praise from England boss Thomas Tuchel for his performances at international level too.

However, Madueke will be allowed to leave for the right price, and it could very well be for Arsenal, given the serious links and their extremely productive business relationship over the last few transfer windows.

Chelsea are very unlikely to receive a bid close to Sterling’s original £50 million deal from Man City, but it will be a boost for BlueCo to get the 30-year-old’s seismic £325,000-per-week wages off the books.

Reports in Spain last week suggested that Besiktas were in talks to sign Sterling, so there could be an avenue to explore in the Turkish Süper Lig, or perhaps in Saudi Arabia, where sides stand the best chance of getting anywhere near his sky-high salary in terms of a contract offer.

Sri Lanka’s interim coach also says people need to give Asalanka some time as captain before judging him

Shashank Kishore01-Aug-2024Sanath Jayasuriya, Sri Lanka’s interim coach, wants his team to channel the criticism they have received after the T20I series loss to India to turn things around during the 50-overs leg of the tour.”I tell them that I have been at this place too during my 20 years as a player,” Jayasuriya said ahead of the first ODI in Colombo. “A lot of you have just started. You have to be able to accept this criticism, and then be able to come out and play well. If you play well the fans will love you. What they say to you is because of the hurt they are feeling, and that’s temporary.Jayasuriya said the Sri Lankan team was putting in “huge efforts” at training, and the batting collapses they suffered in all three T20Is was simply a case of things not clicking. Two nights ago, they lost 7 for 27 as India took the third T20I into the Super Over despite the hosts cruising towards their 138-run target at one stage. In the first T20I, they lost 9 for 30 after setting themselves up for victory at 140 for 1 in 14 overs while chasing 214.Jayasuriya said it wasn’t a lack of skill or commitment that led to the meltdowns. He felt his players’ “cricket awareness” needed sharpening. “We have created a system where top-order batters could bat for two or three hours during training,” he said. “Kamindu Mendis batted for more than 600 balls during our training. Kusal Perera batted for over 700 balls and that’s quite a number of overs.Related

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“I don’t see a lack of commitment, but they have got to tackle pressure better. Their cricket awareness also needs sharpening. We are taking the responsibility; you can’t go away from that. As long as they realise that, and make sure that, we’ll have to keep giving them the confidence and support.”Jayasuriya elaborated on the “cricket awareness” aspect by citing how it was acceptable to not be a six-hitting team.”When you talk about power hitting, I don’t think you need that much,” Jayasuriya said. “If you hit enough fours and enough twos, you get the total that you need. The [Sri Lankan] grounds are a little bigger. There’s no reason why you can’t hit boundaries, or twos, or threes. If you can do that, you can get by without hitting so many sixes.”Jayasuriya also backed new captain Charith Asalanka to come good, while underlining the importance of giving him time to settle into the new role before being judged. Since his debut in 2021, Asalanka has risen to become one of Sri Lanka’s more consistent ODI batters, averaging 43.59 with a strike rate of almost 90 across 52 innings.”Charith Asalanka is one of our best players in this format, and we need to remember that,” Jayasuriya said. “But when you get the captaincy, there is some pressure. I’ve been there too. You have got to give them a little time in that position.”There are ten more players in the side, and 16 in the squad. We all have to get together and give him the confidence too. At any moment, the captain could click. Charith Asalanka is someone who works really hard. He’s very professional and communicates well.”The Sri Lanka players have been hit by injuries and illnesses in the lead-up to the ODI series. The list is rather long – Binura Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Dushmantha Chameera, Matheesha Pathirana and Nuwan Thushara are all unavailable.”We have brought Pramod Madushan into our squad,” Jayasuriya said. “There’s also a viral flu in the team and we need to account for that. Maheesh Theekshana was sick and he recovered enough to play. Wanindu Hasaranga also had it. There were several who caught it and in the end, we even had to admit Binura Fernando to the hospital.”The absence of key players, though, is not something Jayasuriya wants to use as an excuse. He insists there’s plenty to play for and has spoken to players individually about placing an emphasis on being “mentally in the right place”.”I’m interim coach and I’ve only got these two series, but that’s not how I think,” he said. “When I was playing, and even now, I hate to lose. The players who are around now know that too. When I talk to them, I tell them that fans in this country love the game, and a lot of us, including me, have brought cricket into this country to a certain place.”I’ve spoken about that a lot individually with players and as a team. In terms of facilities and practice, I’ve tried to do as much as I can. What I want is to create a good environment so they can be mentally in the right place and can play with confidence.”