Renuka, Wareham and Bisht bowled out Capitals for 141 before Mandhana and Wyatt-Hodge made short work of the target

Vishal Dikshit17-Feb-20255:16

Experts laud Mandhana, Renuka in RCB’s dominant win

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) made short work of a full-strength Delhi Capitals by keeping their batting line-up to 141 and then chasing the total down with ease to continue the trend of the chasing side winning, for the fourth game in a row. Even though RCB were without the trio of Sophie Molineux, Shreyanka Patil and Asha Sobhana, which brought them glory in last year’s final against DC, the trio of Renuka Singh, Ekta Bisht and Georgia Wareham combined to bundle out DC to a below-par total.In reply, RCB openers Smriti Mandhana and Danni Wyatt-Hodge put on their second century stand, having earlier done so for Southern Brave in the Hundred in 2021. Mandhana scored her fastest WPL half-century, off 27 balls, and Wyatt-Hodge peppered the off side with six fours out of her seven during her 42 off 33. By the time she fell in the 11th over, RCB needed only 35 off 55 and they cruised over the line in the 17th over.

Rodrigues leads DC in the powerplay, Lanning scratchy again

Renuka landed DC the first big blow when Shafali Verma struck her first ball for the simplest of catches to mid-off for a golden duck. With Meg Lanning looking scratchy at the other end, just like she did against Shabnim Ismail two days ago, it was Jemimah Rodrigues who led DC in the powerplay. Rodrigues herself didn’t start too well – she survived a review on zero and took six balls to get off the mark – but she launched into the RCB attack at first sight of spin, gloriously lofting Ekta Bisht over the covers for a six. DC were also helped by plenty of byes and extras in the powerplay which Rodrigues combined with another six and two fours off VJ Joshitha in the sixth over to give DC their second 50-plus powerplay in as many games.Jemimah Rodrigues struck a quick 22-ball 34•BCCI

DC crumble again after the powerplay

RCB, however, made inroads through the introduction of Georgia Wareham in the seventh over. Once Rodrigues missed a reverse sweep to be stumped in a flash by Richa Ghosh for 34 off 22, DC lost Lanning as well in the next over when the captain miscued Kim Garth to Ellyse Perry at deep-backward square leg. Annabel Sutherland soon launched Bisht for a big six on the leg side to show that DC weren’t going to be bogged down by the double blow but her attacking approach handed a catch straight to cover in Renuka’s second spell. New batter Jess Jonassen miscued Bisht to midwicket five balls later and DC had suddenly slipped from 60 for 1 to 87 for 5.It could have been 95 for 6 had Kanika Ahuja not put down Marizanne Kapp at short fine leg and even 103 for 6 if the mix-up between Kapp and Sarah Bryce had not been followed by a fumble, also by Ahuja, but it did become 105 for 6 when Kapp holed out to long-off off a 69.2kph delivery from Bisht. Bryce chipped in with another useful cameo with a 23 off 19 that saw RCB past 125 but they needed a lot more to make a match out of this. Wareham handed them a double blow in the 18th over and Garth wrapped things up in the last over to finish with 2 for 19, while Renuka bagged 3 for 23 and Wareham 3 for 25.Renuka Singh picked up 3 for 23•BCCI

Mandhana, Wyatt-Hodge cruise through

Even with Kapp and Jonassen back in the XI after recovering from sickness, DC hardly posed any challenges for the RCB top order. Mandhana cashed in on the wayward lines from Kapp in the first over and turned the tide of her record against offspinners (she’s been out to them 10 times in the WPL) when she swept Minnu Mani for two fours in the third over. Wyatt-Hodge pierced the gaps square on the off side, especially against Shikha Pandey, for four fours in the powerplay.At 57 for 0 in the powerplay, RCB’s asking rate was just over six an over. Even bowling changes didn’t work for DC. Both Jonassen and Annabel Sutherland were carted for fours by both batters in their first overs, and when the reliable Rodrigues dropped Wyatt-Hodge on 34 after Mandhana had collected back-to-back boundaries, the game was all but over.Mandhana dispatched Kapp for six over midwicket and continued to attack Jonassen with lofted strokes on the off side to take her for 27 runs off 14 on the night. Even though both openers fell towards the end, Ellyse Perry and Ghosh ensured there were no jitters to seal the eight-wicket win and top the table.

MatériaMais Notícias

da betway： O Fortaleza está rebaixado para a Série B do Campeonato Brasileiro. O zagueiro Emanuel Brítez, ausência na derrota por 4 a 2 contra o Botafogo, lamentou a queda e se desculpou com a torcida tricolor.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasFortalezaRebaixamento interrompe marca histórica do Fortaleza na Série AFortaleza09/12/2025FortalezaFortaleza é rebaixado e cumpre apenas uma meta em 2025Fortaleza08/12/2025FortalezaImprensa argentina reage ao rebaixamento do Fortaleza de PalermoFortaleza08/12/2025

da 888： ➡️ Tudo sobre o Leão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Fortaleza

Brítez foi submetido a um procedimento cirúrgico no último domingo (7). Depois do quadro de pneumonia que teve em novembro, o defensor precisou passar por essa cirurgia para drenar líquido do pulmão.

Conforme divulgado pelo Fortaleza, o jogador está “clinicamente bem e estável” e deve ter alta nos próximos dias. A continuação do tratamento será sob supervisão do departamento médico do Fortaleza e de uma equipe médica especializada.

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➡️ Fortaleza é rebaixado e cumpre apenas uma meta em 2025

O zagueiro utilizou as suas redes sociais para se desculpar com a torcida e assumir a responsabilidade pela queda. A declaração do argentino indicou uma possível permanência para 2026, já que seu contrato vai até 2027.

— Às vezes, o fim da temporada é o mais importante. Lutamos até o último jogo, até nossa última esperança, e com muita fé, demos tudo nesta etapa final. Choramos, sofremos, acreditamos até o fim. Não foi o suficiente, mas preferimos sempre nos manter de pé, nunca de joelhos. Também não podemos esquecer o resto do ano, todas as coisas que fizemos de errado — não apenas os jogadores, mas como líder do elenco, tenho que aceitar que todos cometeram erros, do Emanuel Britez, o mais velho, ao mais novo – publicou.

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➡️ Rebaixamento interrompe marca histórica do Fortaleza na Série A

Queda interrompe marca histórica do Fortaleza

Com o rebaixamento, uma marca histórica do Fortaleza na Série A foi interrompida. Isso porque, como estava no Brasileirão desde 2019, o Tricolor permaneceu na elite por sete temporadas consecutivas. Esse é o recorde de uma equipe nordestina desde 2003, quando teve início o formato de pontos corridos.

O Leão ficou no G4 em duas oportunidades ao longo dessas sete edições. Além de frequentar a Copa Libertadores, as campanhas renderam idas à Copa Sul-Americana.

Tudo sobre

BrasileirãoFortalezaFutebol Nacional

Adi Birrell to take over in 2025 as Hampshire strengthen ties with local Hundred team

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Jan-2025

Stephen Fleming has stepped down as Southern Brave’s head coach in the men’s Hundred, citing family reasons. Fleming replaced Mahela Jayawardene in the role ahead of the 2023 season and twice led the Brave to the knockout stages, losing the eliminator in his first year in charge and the final last season.He will be replaced by Adi Birrell, the Hampshire head coach, for the 2025 season, with Hundred franchises growing stronger ties with their host clubs as part of the ongoing privatisation process. Birrell has enjoyed recent success in franchise cricket, leading Sunrisers Eastern Cape to back-to-back SA20 titles.Birrell will become the first county head coach also taking charge of a men’s Hundred team, though several have served as assistant coaches. He will be replaced as Hampshire coach during the Metro Bank Cup, the 50-over competition which runs parallel to the Hundred, but remains in charge for the County Championship and the T20 Blast.Fleming’s resignation avoids a situation in which he would coach a team part-owned by a rival IPL franchise, given his long-running association with Chennai Super Kings. Hampshire were sold to the GMR Group – co-owners of Delhi Capitals – last year and are set to become majority shareholders in the Brave this year.Related

Richard Gould: ECB 'unapologetic' about attracting top talent to Men's Hundred

GMR Group 'keen' on Southern Brave investment after securing Hampshire deal

He has coached Chennai since 2009, and has also taken charge of their affiliated franchises in Major League Cricket (Texas Super Kings) and the SA20 (Joburg Super Kings), where he is currently. Fleming said in a statement that stepping down from his role with the Brave would allow him to spend more time at home.”I absolutely loved my time at Southern Brave, working in the Hundred and working with a great group of people at Utilita Bowl,” Fleming said. “We got close to winning a couple of times so it’s difficult to step down but for family reasons I need to be able to dedicate more time to being at home this season. I wish everyone at Southern Brave the best for 2025.”Giles White, who is director of cricket at the Brave and Hampshire, said: “Stephen created an excellent environment for the players and it has been an enjoyable and successful stint with us… In his place we are delighted to welcome Adi Birrell and look forward to seeing him build on the team’s success in 2025.”White and Birrell have until February 24 to work out the core of their squad for 2025, with each team permitted to retain up to 11 players (including one designated central contract player). These can include one direct overseas signing for 2025, with the ECB hopeful that a new top men’s salary of £200,000 will attract some of the world’s best players to the Hundred.The Brave are the fifth Hundred team to recruit a new coach this winter. Justin Langer has replaced Trevor Bayliss at London Spirit’s men, while Ali Maiden (Birmingham Phoenix), Michael Klinger (Manchester Originals) and Lisa Keightley (Northern Superchargers) have taken over from Ben Sawyer, Stephen Parry and Dani Hazell respectively in the women’s competition.

من المعروف عن أندية القمة في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، أنها تتنافس دائمًا على ضم أفضل اللاعبين، بجانب تنافسها على الفوز بالمباريات والألقاب 

وقد أكد نادي تشيلسي، تعيين ديف فالوز مدير التعاقدات السابق في نادي ليفربول، ليكون مديراً رياضياً لتطوير كرة القدم في النادي اللندني.

وغادر فالوز ليفربول في أكتوبر 2024 بعد 12 عاماً قضاها في النادي، وقد ترأس فريق التعاقدات وكان له دور محوري في التعاقد مع لاعبين مثل محمد صلاح وفيرجيل فان دايك وساديو ماني.

ونشرت “ليفربول دوت كوم” ان فالوز انضم إلى تشيلسي بعقد مدته ست سنوات وسيقود فريقاً يضم خمس أعضاء في النادي ويشمل عدة أسماء.

اقرأ أيضاً.. دروجبا: أنا معجب بالملك المصري محمد صلاح

وكان فالوز قد شكل عاملاً محورياً في نجاح ليفربول خلال فترة تدريب يورجن كلوب للنادي وقد استخدم تحليلات وبيانات في سياسات الانتقالات، وهو نهج إبداعي غير مسبوق.

وكان فالوز قد أجل رحيله عن ليفربول ليساعد الفريق في مرحلته الانتقالية من يورجن كلوب إلى عهد آرني سلوت، وسبق له العمل مع مانشستر سيتي ونيوكاسل وبولتون.

وقال فالوز في بيانه: “يسعدني الانضمام إلى تشيلسي والعمل بشكل وثيق مع شخصيات مثل بول ولورانس وجو وسام وغيرهم من الشخصيات الموهوبة في فرق تشيلسي رجال وسيدات وشباب”.

وأضاف :”لقد أعجبت كثيراً بالعمل المبذول في استراتيجية تطوير وجذب اللاعبين على جميع المستويات وأتطلع للمساهمة في تعزيز الأسس التي أرساها النادي مع الفرق الموهوبة التي طورها الملاك”.

Seven from Asian teams figure in a well-balanced XI, complete with three top allrounders

Sreshth Shah in Potchefstroom11-Feb-2020Yashasvi Jaiswal (India)
Five 50-plus scores in the tournament – including a hundred in India’s semi-final win over Pakistan – Jaiswal was by far the most consistent batsman going around. He displayed a solid defence and showed that he becomes more and more fluent the longer he stays in the middle. As a useful add-on, he can bowl a few quick overs too.Ibrahim Zadran (Afghanistan)
The 73* against South Africa in the seventh-place playoff was his best innings, but even outside of it, the Afghanistan Test opener was the rock that almost always led the way in giving the bowlers something to play with. Afghanistan were at their best when Zadran batted long and became the pivot around which the others did their stuff.ESPNcricinfo LtdMahmudul Hasan Joy (Bangladesh)
He really made it count in the semi-final against New Zealand, where his 100 took Bangladesh to their maiden final, which they went on to win. Quite often, he played the role of the anchor, holding the middle-order together, after starting the tournament slowly.Akhil Kumar (Canada)
Kumar finished joint second on the list of highest wicket-takers, his medium-pace bowling accounting for 16 wickets, but he was also Canada’s dependable top-order batsman. In the tournament’s official fantasy cricket system, he had the most points entering the final, before being overtaken by Jaiswal and Ravi Bishnoi. His four-for rocked South Africa in the group stage while his three-for created a flutter in the Zimbabwe ranks in the playoffs, and his 3 for 37 and 37 with the bat helped Canada finish 13th with a win over UAE.Akbar Ali (Bangladesh – captain, wicketkeeper)
He didn’t need to do much with the bat before the final, but when the onus was on him, he delivered, and how. His captaincy and wicketkeeping had been impressive already, and in the final against India, with his team in a hole at 65 for 4, Ali showed the way, and led Bangladesh to the title with an unbeaten 43.Dan Mousley showed off his range of shots•ICC via GettyDan Mousley (England)
The team’s floater, Mousley first struck a 44-ball 51 from No. 7 against Australia, in a game they lost in a thrilling finish. He then opened the batting against Sri Lanka in the Plate final and scored a fluent 111. In between, he crunched a 36-ball 57 against Japan. If he had opened from the start of the tournament, England’s tournament might have been different.Nyeem Young (West Indies)
Two Player-of-the-Match awards in two tough group games made everyone sit up and take notice of Young. Against Australia, the allrounder struck a patient 61 during a testing period to win his team a close game. Then, against England, he hammered a quick 66, leaving a few windows broken in Kimberley while doing so, and followed it up with 5 for 45 – perhaps the best all-round effort of the competition. He played a big role in his team staying unbeaten all the way to the quarter-finals, where they lost.Kristian Clarke (New Zealand)
Clarke took seven wickets in four games, including a four-for against West Indies in the quarter-final, but what he did with the bat in that game stood out more. His unbeaten 46* from No. 10 rescued New Zealand from certain defeat as they eked out a two-wicket win. Earlier, in what was a crucial group-stage game against Sri Lanka, he was the man of the moment again, hitting a six in the final over to knock their opponents out.Shafiqullah Ghafari takes off in celebration•Getty ImagesShafiqullah Ghafari (Afghanistan)
Ten of his 16 wickets came against one team. In the tournament opener, Ghafari lit up the stage with 4 for 15 to defeat South Africa. After that, South Africa won every game, until they met Afghanistan in the seventh-place playoff. There he ran through South Africa again, conceding 15 runs again but this time for six wickets. In between, his 5 for 23 floored UAE in the group stage.Ravi Bishnoi (India)
The tournament’s highest wicket-taker with 17 strikes, and a close contender for Player of the Tournament, Bishnoi certainly made a big splash. Even if you take the legspinner’s 4 for 5 against Japan out of the equation, every time he came in to bowl, you felt a wicket was around the corner. Importantly, he did well in high-pressure matches: four crucial wickets in the middle overs against New Zealand to help India finish group toppers, 2 for 46 in the win over Pakistan in the semi-final, and then, when he nearly won India the final with 4 for 30 against Bangladesh. In between, there was the crucial 30 with the bat against Australia in the quarter-final.Kartik Tyagi (India)
Tyagi was among the wickets in each India game except the final, when he was wayward. But, whenever he had the ball in his hands, you had to save your toes because his yorkers were so accurate. One of the tournament’s fastest bowlers – he hurt Japan with 3 for 10 and was on the money against Pakistan in the semi-final where he collected two important wickets for only 32 runs. But he will remember the Australia game the best – his three wickets in his first two overs pretty much set up India’s victory.

Manchester United have stepped up their interest in RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko, who is reportedly 'impressed' with the Red Devils’ project under Ruben Amorim. Newcastle United remain firmly in the race, with both Premier League sides vying for the striker’s signature. Leipzig, meanwhile, are holding firm on an €80 million asking price for Sesko this summer.

• Man Utd impress Sesko with clear transfer proposal
• Newcastle ready to meet Leipzig’s €80m asking price
• RB Leipzig open to deal if bonuses and fee are right

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Manchester United have reignited their pursuit of Sesko after missing out on Liam Delap earlier this summer and Viktor Gyokeres. The Slovenian striker is now said to be impressed by the proposal presented by the Red Devils, as per Florian Plettenberg. However, Newcastle United are also keen and are preparing a bid that meets Leipzig’s valuation.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  RB Leipzig are said to be demanding at least €80 milion (£69.4m/$92.7m) for the 21-year-old, with additional bonuses worth €5-10 million (£4.3-8.7m/$5.8-11.5m) on top. Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has reported Newcastle have made quicker progress and already outlined their project, while United are trying to play catch-up. With Alexander Isak’s future uncertain at St. James’ Park, the Magpies are keen to secure attacking reinforcements.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Sesko has long been on United’s radar, dating back to his days at RB Salzburg. Since his move to Leipzig in 2023, the Slovenian striker has scored 39 goals in 87 games and is considered one of the best striker prospects in the game.

• Getty
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR SESKO?

  Both Manchester United and Newcastle are expected to make formal offers soon, with RB Leipzig waiting for the right package. Sesko will take time to weigh up the sporting and personal aspects of each project, and a decision on his future could arrive before the end of the month.

Boult’s No. 300, Latham and Fleming’s exclusive club and more

Sampath Bandarupalli10-Jan-20222 – Number of 250-plus scores by Tom Latham in Tests. He joins Stephen Fleming as the only two New Zealand batters with multiple 250-plus Test scores. Latham’s 252 at the Hagley Oval is now the ninth-highest individual score for New Zealand in Tests.1 – Only one opener has more 250-plus scores in Tests than Latham – Virender Sehwag (four). Sanath Jayasuriya, Graeme Smith, Chris Gayle, Alastair Cook and David Warner – all have two 250-plus scores in this format as openers.3 – Three individuals have racked up scores more than Latham’s 252 against Bangladesh. Kumar Sangakkara is the only triple centurion against Bangladesh, with the 319 he scored in Chattogram in 2014. Ramnaresh Sarwan scored an unbeaten 261 in Kingston in 2004, while Marlon Samuels made 260 in Khulna in 2012.ESPNcricinfo Ltd1 – Latham’s 252 is the highest individual score for a New Zealand skipper while opening the batting in Test cricket, eclipsing Graham Dowling’s 239 against India in 1968. It is the fifth-highest score by a New Zealand captain in Tests. Latham is also one of six captains with 250-plus Test scores as an opener.12 – All of Latham’s 12 Test tons have come as an opener. These are the joint-most Test hundreds by a New Zealand opener alongside John Wright. Latham’s 12 hundreds are also the joint-fourth most by New Zealander.Most Test hundreds for New Zealand•ESPNcricinfo Ltd1 – Devon Conway became the first player in Test cricket with fifty-plus scores in the first innings of his first five Tests. Six batters before Conway had at least one fifty-plus score in their first five Tests, among which Bert Sutcliffe was the only New Zealander.623 – Runs Conway has racked up in Tests so far. Only two others – Sunil Gavaskar (831) and George Headley (714) – have made more runs in their first five Tests.363 Runs aggregated by New Zealand before the fall of the second wicket, the third-most by them in a Test innings. New Zealand lost their second wicket at 482 against West Indies in 1972 in Georgetown and 382 runs against India in Mohali in 2003.301 – The number of wickets Trent Boult has in Tests currently. He is the fourth New Zealander to take 300-plus Test wickets. Boult is also one of the seven left-arm bowlers and the fifth left-arm pacer with 300 Test wickets.19 – Runs by Bangladesh’s top five batters, the joint-fewest runs they have scored in a Test innings. Bangladesh’s top five aggregated 19 runs in the first innings of the 2001 Dhaka Test against Zimbabwe.

Batsman expects the side to make up for the absence of Ravi Bopara, last season’s hero

Matt Roller26-Aug-2020It’s easy to glamourise the life of a T20 freelancer, jumping from team to team in idyllic locations and picking up a hefty paycheque – some of the time, at least. But for five months, the short-form economy ground to a halt: the PSL was called off on the day of the semi-finals, and until the CPL started last week, players who rely on leagues have been struggling.But things are slowly beginning to fall back in place. Nobody has represented as many T20 teams (11) as Cameron Delport since the start of 2018, and after he raced back to South Africa just in time to beat border closures following the PSL, he is back in Chelmsford ready to help Essex defend their Vitality Blast title.”I was back home after the PSL got called off on semi-final day,” he told ESPNcricinfo. “South Africa was on quite a strict lockdown, so I was just trying to keep myself busy. It gave me a bit of an opportunity to work on my fitness and shed some kilos: I managed to lose about 12kg, mainly from running up and down a 400m driveway.”Delport was based in Natal, living on the same estate as Hampshire seamer and his “running partner” Kyle Abbott. He found himself running charity half-marathons to keep in shape, but once the ECB had confirmed that the Blast would take place from the end of August, it was all hands on deck to get him back to the UK.”I’m lucky that my ancestral visa [which allows him to play as a local player] has a few more years on it, so unlike some other guys I would be able to get back,” he said. “But looking for flights was a real mission – I had a fair few people trying to help me find one. Airlines would put out an itinerary, and then cancel it at the last minute.”Delport ran a half-marathon for CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation during lockdown, and lost 12kg•Cameron DelportHe eventually made it back, with a lightning-fast turnaround time for his connecting flight in Doha, and after spending two weeks quarantining at a school friend’s house in London, hopped up to his flat in Chelmsford with his partner. Since then, he has been training at the County Ground and playing for Buckhurst Hill CC: “I’ve got a few runs [221 runs in four innings] but I must admit I’ve found it tricky on club wickets.”ALSO READ: Essex ride their luck to make off with T20 spoilsNow, attention turns to the Blast. Essex won their maiden title last year, going on a five-game winning streak after starting the tournament with two wins from their first ten. They are without the star of that triumph this year after Ravi Bopara’s departure to Sussex: he scored 219 runs for once out in their final five games, vindicating captain Simon Harmer’s decision to use him as a finisher.”We had to win our game against Hampshire, which ended up as a tie,” Delport recalled. “We beat Kent at home, and the Glamorgan result had to go our way. I remember the guy on the intercom saying we’d qualified, and there was this massive roar where nobody knew what had been going on. In the quarter, Lancs were banking on a pitch to suit their spinners, but we were clicking so well – there wasn’t a team that could have beaten us. It was a cold night up at Durham, but the toss went our way which was crucial and Ravi and Tendo [Ryan ten Doeschate] finished it for us.”We had a good win against Derbyshire first up on Finals Day – it suited us playing the second game to get the feeling of the day. We knew Worcestershire were champions and had a few world-class players, but things went our way and the rest is history.”Essex lift the Vitality Blast trophy•Getty ImagesEssex were one of several sides in 2019 to win a T20 league after starting poorly, alongside Melbourne Renegades and Barbados Tridents. In all three cases, there were early defeats while teams worked out their best combinations, followed by winning streaks at the back end as teams got onto a roll.”When you play so many group games, you want to play your best cricket towards the end, and then peak during the knockouts,” said Delport. “In most T20 leagues, guys only have a few days to get together, and there’s no guarantee the squad will mix well. You don’t want to panic too early: you want to play your best cricket towards the back end.”ALSO READ: I needed to prove Bopara wrong – HarmerDelport was Essex’s top-scorer last year with 409 runs at a strike rate of 167.62, and in Bopara’s absence, there will be an additional burden on him this year. He insists he is not feeling any added responsibility, and is confident that the squad will cope without last season’s key man.”There were tough decisions last year, but it was about Essex winning, not individuals,” he said. “Harmy is a flipping great leader, and he’s a very strong character. The boys really backed him last year. Ravi eventually did buy into it, and you saw the dividends on Finals Day.”It gives another youngster an opportunity this year. We’ve got great depth with a lot of local boys, and there will be a few guys who are given the chance to showcase their skills: Ravi is a world-class player, but someone else gets a go to fill his role.”

The ICC’s trophy tour of the Champions Trophy will begin on Saturday from Islamabad in Pakistan but will not go to Muzaffarabad in the first leg of its journey. The BCCI had objected to the trophy’s original route, which included Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan administered Kashmir, a territory disputed by the two countries.The objection caused the delay in finalising a new route, raising the prospects of the tour being delayed altogether. The PCB had announced the launch and route of the tour on its social media channels on Thursday, catching the ICC by surprise; as it is an ICC event, the protocol is that the global body announces those details.But an alternative route was finalised late on Friday, allowing the tour to begin, as originally planned and announced by the PCB, from Saturday. Former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar will accompany the trophy on the first day as it is displayed at well-known landmarks in the capital, including Daman-e-Koh, Faisal Mosque and the Pakistan Monument.From Islamabad the trophy will go to schools, colleges and landmarks in Abbottabad, Murree and Karachi in the opening leg before heading off on an international tour, taking in the seven other countries who are part of the Champions Trophy.The trophy then returns to Pakistan on January 27, three weeks before the scheduled start of the tournament, with another tour of venues around Pakistan.Less than a 100 days before the start of the tournament, however, there remains no clarity about how much of the event will be played in Pakistan. The BCCI has told the ICC its government will not allow the team to play in Pakistan, raising the possibility of a hybrid model tournament that sees India playing its games outside of Pakistan. The PCB has stood firm against that possibility, however, and insists the entire tournament is played in Pakistan.The PCB has written to the ICC asking the BCCI to put down in writing the exact reasons for its inability to visit, as well as asking the ICC when they were informed of the BCCI’s decision.

When Eddie Howe reflected on Newcastle United’s form at the start of the November international break, he would have felt the weight of back-to-back Premier League defeats against Brentford and West Ham United.

He also would have known the significance of a big performance against Manchester City at St. James’ Park when club football returned, and so it was momentous to have battled to victory against Manchester City on Saturday evening, recovering ground in the race for European football.

The season’s still young, and there is optimism regarding the Magpies’ hopes of finding success once again this year, but Howe and technical director Ross Wilson will already be looking toward the future, and they have earmarked Elliot Anderson as the perfect player to take this project to the next level.

The latest on Anderson to Newcastle

As far as Newcastle are concerned, the Anderson situation is twofold: they will absolutely be in the thick of any upcoming battles to bring their academy graduate back home, and they will surely need to make concessions of some description, given the Tricky Trees are set to demand in excess of £100m for their prized player, who is also being chased by Manchester United

Anderson, 23, was sold to Forest in 2024 for a fee in the region of £35m. This was signed off by PIF officials bearing gritted teeth, having felt forced into cashing in for the homegrown talent in order to balance the books and placate PSR.

Ruefulness has since shifted to regret. Anderson has been described as “one of the best midfielders in the Premier League” by England manager Thomas Tuchel, who has designated the star as a regular starter alongside Declan Rice as the 2026 World Cup looms large.

While Newcastle’s vested interest could lead to an exciting and concerted bid – Howe said at the start of October that he “would love him to” come back home – but it’s not as if the Toon engine room is lacking without him.

That said, Joelinton appears to be winding down after years of tireless and robust service. Anderson would surely dovetail into a trio with Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes.

If Newcastle have to shuffle a few things, so be it, and there’s one rather brazen sale PIF could permit to ensure the club have the finances to pull a bid off next year.

The Newcastle superstar PIF could sell

It may well be a controversial move, but Newcastle have floated the possibility of selling Anthony Gordon about for some time, with Liverpool interest in their one-time academy talent in 2024, before United opted instead to cash in on Anderson.

Gordon joined Newcastle from Everton for around £45m in January 2023 and, after a testing start to life on Tyneside, made significant progress across the 2023/24 campaign, winning the club’s Player of the Year after recording 21 goal contributions in the Premier League and serving as a talisman as Howe’s side battled through an injury-hit year.

But last season, as Newcastle went from strength to strength, returning to the Champions League and winning the Carabao Cup, Gordon regressed, only scoring six Premier League goals all year.

Though his playing style has put him in a promising position to beat the likes of Marcus Rashford to a regular starting berth at next year’s World Cup, more is needed from a player of his calibre, whose once untouchable place on Howe’s left wing is looking far more apt for replacement at this stage, especially with injuries and suspensions contributing toward his poor form this year.

Then, of course, we have Harvey Barnes, whose brace against City underscored his worth in this system. That’s three goals in two Premier League matches for the former Leicester winger, whose incisiveness from the wing works well against Nick Woltemade’s unique striking game, willing to drop deep and influence play while also playing the part of a powerful target man.

Gordon’s blistering speed and ability to stick to the flank or weave inside to wreak chaos are two brilliant aspects of his game, but he needs to offer more, and his inability to do this could see Howe sell him to fund a move for Anderson, perhaps making a shrewd winger signing to complement Barnes besides.

Because frankly, Gordon’s form in front of goal hasn’t been good enough for a while. The Three Lions star was said to have entered “Gabriel Obertan territory” after the loss at West Ham, which, for one of the most prominent wingers in England, self-proclaimed as a “nightmare for anyone” he comes up against, is not good enough.

25/26

7

0 (0)

24/25

34

6 (6)

23/24

35

11 (10)

22/23

16

1 (0)

Should Gordon fail to establish prolific form before the end of the season, there will be more than just a few questions placed by his name. Given that Liverpool have expressed an interest over the past couple of years, not dissuaded by Newcastle’s £100m valuation, could there be regret that he was not sold sooner?

Barnes, after all, is beginning to find goalscoring form, and Gordon has failed with 60% of his dribbles in the top flight this term, also missing big chances while failing to break his duck.

Gordon at full speed and potency in the final third and up and down the touchline is a dangerous adversary for even the finest of defenders. But his declaration of a nightmarish playing style can only go so far if he is unable to produce clinical results at the end.

We need only look at the Alexander Isak saga and the potential that Woltemade offers in the box to understand that selling Gordon for the right price would not be detrimental for Howe’s longer-term plans.

And if those funds are used to bring Anderson back home, thus completing what may well become the best central midfield in the whole country, then it would surely be a worthwhile move.

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