Archer’s arrival for training was delayed after a household member was unwell
Matt Roller25-Jun-2020Jofra Archer has tested negative for Covid-19 and will join the rest of the England squad at the Ageas Bowl on Thursday afternoon.The other 29 players in England’s enlarged training squad arrived in Southampton on Tuesday, and began training on Thursday ahead of the first Test against West Indies on July 8.Archer’s journey was delayed after a member of his household began to feel unwell over the weekend. They had all tested negative for Covid-19, but Archer underwent an additional test on Wednesday as a precaution and will travel to Southampton on Thursday afternoon after receiving a negative result.Archer’s first training session will be on Friday. The rest of England’s players have been split into two groups for training, with one half having their first session on Thursday morning and the other in the afternoon.ALSO READ: Ashley Giles ‘concerned’ by Pakistan trio’s positive Covid-19 testsEarlier this week, Archer used his column to declare himself fully fit, and Sussex have posted videos on social media of him bowling at full pace against Zak Crawley in the Hove nets.So far, no player or support staff member from either the England or West Indies groups has tested positive, with the ECB confirming on Wednesday that all 702 tests so far had been negative.Ten of the Pakistan players due to tour England in August have tested positive so far, plus one member of the team’s support staff. The PCB announced on Thursday that five reserve players and a back-up member of support staff would be tested for the virus, while those who have previously tested positive will undergo a second round of tests on Friday.
A "very important" Celtic player is expected to be fit for his side's Scottish Premiership clash with Motherwell, manager Brendan Rodgers has confirmed.
Celtic fall behind in Old Firm title race
The Hoops face another important clash in the title race this weekend, making the trip to Motherwell on Sunday lunchtime, with pressure building on them. It feels like a must-win game, following two draws in their last three league matches.
A below-par run of form by Celtic's usual high standards has allowed Rangers to go top of the table, and Rodgers will know that both he and his players will have to up their game in the coming months.
Celtic defenderCameron Carter-Vickers.
One thing that isn't helping the Hoops at the moment is injuries, with the Scottish giants having to make do without some key players around, including Cameron Carter-Vickers and Alistair Johnston, among others.
Those issues do appear to be easing, however, and an important update has now emerged regarding one player who has been absent of late.
Cameron Carter-Vickers boost for Celtic
Speaking to the media ahead of the Motherwell game [via 67hailhail], Rodgers was in good spirits as he confirmed that Carter-Vickers is back in the fold for Celtic after injury.
Celtic defender Cameron Carter-Vickers.
"He’ll be available. I think with that level of player we’ve missed a lot over the course of the season, there’s no doubt about that. Him coming back at this stage is obviously very important for us. He brings an authority and an assurance to the game for us so hopefully he can stay injury-free now until the end of the season."
Having Carter-Vickers back available is a massive boost for Celtic, considering what a rock he has been at the heart of the defence down the years, starting 14 Scottish Premiership matches this season and averaging 3.8 aerial duel wins per game. Former Hoops man Moritz Jenz's comments show exactly what the former Spurs player brings to the side.
Appearances
14
Aerial duel wins per game
3.8
Clearances per game
3.1
Pass completion rate
92.1%
Tackles per game
0.7
Interceptions per game
0.6
Total minutes played
1094
Carter-Vickers' aerial dominance and experience are both going to be so key between now and the end of the season, among other key attributes, and having him available again acts as a huge a boost for Rodgers, in terms of having plenty of defensive options to choose from.
Celtic now racing to sign in-demand gem labelled a "prolific forward"
He’s been in truly devastating form over the past couple of years.
Danny Rohl might well have initially injected life back into proceedings when first arriving on the scene at Sheffield Wednesday, but the Owls were dished out a harsh reality check courtesy of Huddersfield Town last match in terms of beating the Championship drop.
With the game finely poised at 0-0 as the second half dragged on, the Wednesday defence then buckled in a 12-minute horror show that saw the Terriers race into an emphatic 4-0 lead.
Rohl now has the almighty task of picking up his downtrodden troops for the game against Coventry City away on Tuesday night in the FA Cup, with the German manager scrambling in his head as to what starting lineup could pull off an unlikely victory against Mark Robins' men.
Djeidi Gassama could well be just one Owls player amongst many that is sacrificed for the trip to the Sky Blues, with this predicted lineup seeing Wednesday make five changes…
1 GK – James Beadle
Rohl won't want to completely destroy James Beadle's confidence after a disastrous display against Huddersfield, sticking by the Brighton loanee despite the young goalkeeper leaking four goals.
In the game just before this collapse on the road, Beadle had shown himself to be a competent shot-stopper – keeping a clean sheet as the Owls drew 0-0 with Watford, making two saves in the process.
Moreover, the Wednesday boss won't be too confident about starting Cameron Dawson over Beadle owing to Dawson's recent fragilities when played. In his last match before Beadle took the reins, the Sheffield-born keeper conceded four himself versus Southampton.
2 RB – Pol Valentin
Rohl will also cast his eye back to the Watford stalemate when sticking by Pol Valentin at right-back, the Spanish defender excelling against the Hornets after a stop-start life adjusting to South Yorkshire prior.
Only losing one duel in that draw, on top of completing all two of his dribbles, Valentin will want to just brush his display versus the Terriers under the carpet and push on to get back to his best tomorrow night.
3 CB – Michael Ihiewke
Coming into the side to replace Akin Famewo against Huddersfield, Michael Ihiewke had some moments of promise on a bleak day for the Owls at the John Smith's Stadium.
Making nine clearances in total, alongside winning three of his five duels, the former Rotherham United centre-back was arguably let down by the likes of Di'Shon Bernard and new Wednesday recruit Kristian Pedersen in the humbling defeat.
The experienced defender could well have even scored when the game was still 0-0, only for a headed attempt to be cleared off the line.
4 CB – Akin Famewo
Bernard will most likely be the first casualty from the horror show at Huddersfield, with Akin Famewo coming back into the side at the heart of defence to partner Ihiewke.
The former Manchester United man was at fault for the Terriers' misery compiling fourth goal of the game, a shocking back-pass leaving Beadle and Ihiewke in no man's land for Josh Koroma to then slot home.
Rohl will know he can rely on Famewo to come in and shore up the defence away from Bernard, with previous manager Xisco Munoz even labelling the 25-year-old as an "animal" at the back.
5 LB – Reece James
Bernard wasn't alone in having an afternoon to forget, with Kristian Pedersen way off the pace on his Owls debut in the 4-0 demolition job.
Sorba Thomas and Josh Koroma had field days coming up against the Owls back four and Pedersen, seen in Huddersfield's third goal of the game with a long ball over the top catching Pedersen cold before Thomas confidently tucked the chance away.
Pedersen might well need time to bed into the Owls group and get back up to sharpness, with Reece James coming in for the nervy Danish defender as a result.
6 CDM – Liam Palmer
Liam Palmer walked off the pitch with his held high on a personal level away from the shocking loss as a collective, the seasoned Wednesday number two enjoying his new role at defensive midfield.
Plying his trade as a right-back usually, Rohl's ingenious tweak to play Palmer as a holding midfielder has worked wonders for the 32-year-old.
Palmer attempted to give the Owls steel before the four-goal collapse occurred, winning six of his eight ground duels on top of launching himself into four tackles.
7 CDM – Mohamed Diaby
Mohamed Diaby could well be afforded a rare start in the Wednesday first-team away at Coventry tomorrow night, the imposing 27-year-old midfielder only starting one game all season long after joining on loan from Portimonense in the summer.
That could well change for the trip to the Sky Blues however, Diaby impressing in a short but sweet cameo against the Terriers when replacing a tiring Barry Bannan.
Managing to make one key pass from just eight minutes on the pitch, alongside winning 100% of his duels, Diaby could form a dogged partnership with Palmer in defensive midfield to help out a leaky Owls back four.
8 RM – Ian Poveda
Leeds forward Ian Poveda.
Rohl could really shake things up in attack for the game at Coventry tomorrow evening, dropping Owls top-scorer Anthony Musaba to give Leeds loanee Ian Poveda his debut.
Musaba was snatching at chances away at Huddersfield and cut a frustrated figure at the end, with Poveda – who was once described as "crazy" by Daniel Farke in terms of his showboating skills – coming in to potentially take the Sky Blues by surprise for his new side.
9 CAM – Barry Bannan
Bannan has predominantly played in a holding midfield role this campaign, but with Diaby potentially being handed a rare start, Rohl could shoehorn his exciting Scotsman into an attacking midfield spot for the away trip to Coventry.
Managing to still make four key passes from deep last game in a match that saw Huddersfield cruise to a win, Bannan's immense creative powers could be heightened even more by being pushed forward.
10 LM – Mallik Wilks
Sheffield Wednesday forward Mallik Wilks.
Musaba isn't the only casualty from down the channels, with Djeidi Gassama axed from the Owls lineup alongside Musaba after a torrid display versus the Terriers.
Losing possession a grand total of 20 times in the game, one of those instances coming when Huddersfield broke away for their decisive second goal, Gassama could be dropped for Mallik Wilks to come in tomorrow night.
The ex-Hull City attacker impressed as the lone centre-forward from off the bench last match – successfully completing two out of three dribble attempts – but the skilful 25-year-old is far more adept at causing havoc playing as a gung-ho winger.
Southampton are believed to be "slightly ahead" of their Championship rivals in the race to sign a "fantastic" player, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.
Southampton transfer news
Russell Martin will be delighted with how his side are looking currently, with their form making them strong contenders to achieve automatic promotion this season. However, the Saints manager will also be aware that new signings could provide even more quality and depth within his squad, increasing their chances of making a speedy return to the Premier League.
Lots of different players have been linked with moves to St Mary's in recent weeks, with Juventus playmaker Matias Soule an audacious option with a hefty price tag. Another player who has emerged as a target is Liverpool's Calvin Ramsay, with the young right-back recently returning from a loan spell at Preston North End.
Burnley attacking midfielder Manuel Benson has been backed to join Southampton, too, with the 26-year-old struggling for playing time in the Premier League for the Clarets this season, starting only once in the competition. West Ham defender Ben Johnson has been another player eyed up and seen as a possible replacement for Kyle Walker-Peters, should the influential Saints right-back move on this month.
Southampton favourites to sign Manuel Benson
Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jacobs claimed that Southampton could be edging the race to sign Burnley's Benson, with Leeds United providing stern competition.
Manuel Benson for Burnley.
"By Championship standards, he's obviously a top-quality player, very confident in the league and it's no real surprise therefore that both Leeds and Southampton are in the race. Some sources say Southampton are slightly ahead of Leeds, but I think with nothing done, we're just going to have to wait and see because it's two attractive offers on the table for the player."
Benson could be just what Southampton are looking for during the January transfer window, providing that extra sprinkling of attacking magic that could make all the difference when crunch matches arrive at the business end of the season.
Granted, he hasn't hit the ground running in the Premier League, but he knows the Championship well and played a big role in their title win last season, scoring 11 goals and registering three assists as Vincent Kompany's side cruised back into the top flight. His current manager thinks highly of him, saying last year:
"I can’t be handing solutions of how to deal with him, but it’s just the things he’s been doing since he was a kid. I’m still pushing him for tap-ins – I want tap-ins. In the end, it’s something he’s comfortable doing and he will get goals that way. What he’s done for us is fantastic and from our side, that’s all we want."
Southampton now want to sign "clever" club captain for Russell Martin
This could be a major coup.
ByTom Cunningham Jan 24, 2024
At 26, there is still so much more to come from Benson in his career, and he will surely jump at the chance to play more regularly this season. Should Southampton beat Leeds to his signature, it would be an added bonus, snapping him up from under the noses of their promotion rivals.
GOAL US unpacks the main weekend storylines from the Premier League, La Liga and other top competitions in The Euro XI
The European season is unfolding in style. Finally, pictures are starting to form. One game is a fluke, two games is perspective, three, though, is when shapes become clearer, lines are drawn. We now know, for example, that Arsenal aren't that much different from last year. We know, too, that Liverpool have a bit more bite to them than we thought.
It is clear, too, that Xabi Alonso might be a good manager, Barcelona lack depth, and Man City will be up-and-down and then end up finishing third. There's a lot to break down: storylines to follow, sketches to make sense of, goals to enjoy.
GOAL US presents The Euro XI, with 11 key observations from the weekend.
Getty Images Sport1Serves you right, Mikel
So Mikel Arteta decided to show up and play for a draw. Snooze. We've heard this story before. But this was a seriously painful way of playing football, when Arsenal showed up to Anfield with four centerbacks and three defensive midfielders, as well as a Victor Gyokeres up front.
What, exactly, are you supposed to do with that in an attacking sense? Well, Arsenal were very, very good defensively. But everything else was fiercely unwatchable. Seriously, did anything happen for most of that game? Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai delivered the right foot of karmic justice, absolutely one into the top corner from 35 yards to secure a 1-0 win. Good.
AdvertisementGetty Images Sport2Man City are so done
Right? The Cityzens looked like world beaters when they put four past Wolves to open the season. In Tijjani Reijnders they had Kevin De Bruyne 2.0. Erling Haaland was back scoring goals. Title on. Except it's very much not.
Since then, they have lost two in a row, including a 2-1 defeat to a wonderfully well-drilled Brighton team. James Milner, 39, scored the equalizer, which is admittedly funny. City will still probably finish third.
Getty Images Sport3The world is better when Jack Grealish is smiling
Is it possible to dislike Jack Grealish? If it is, no one seems to know how. He is football's perfect court jester – except he's like, really good at this sport. Grealish is an immense talent, a true maverick in an era of robots.
His role in the extended Premier League cinematic universe has always been that of the best player on a mid-table team, the undisputed main man that can convince a manager to make an exception to his system. And he was at it again for Everton, assisting two in a convincing win for the Toffees. Grealish is smiling. So are Everton fans. Somehow, everything just feels fine as a result.
Getty Images4Newcastle need a striker
Stop me if you've heard this one before: Newcastle could use a No. 9. Of course, the Alexander Isak saga has clouded their whole season so far. He was their undisputed superstar. He didn't want to play for them, and now he plays for Liverpool. It's all wonderful content. Now, though, they're left with a big German fella who has to score all of the goals. He didn't play at the weekend, but he will need to start banging 'em in to dispel the ghost of Swedish striker past.
Vincent Kompany believes Nicolas Jackson to be "a perfect fit" for Bayern Munich as the striker prepares for his Bundesliga debut.
Chelsea loanee joins on €16.5m dealKompany expects speed and attacking driveSenegal star eager to learn from KaneFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Bayern unveiled Jackson as their latest signing after securing the Chelsea forward on a season-long loan in a deal that cost the Bundesliga champions €16.5m (£14m/$19m). The agreement also includes a conditional purchase clause worth €65m (£54m/$71m), though the conditions make it unlikely to be triggered. The 24-year-old Senegal international's arrival gives Kompany another attacking option to partner Harry Kane as they aim to defend their Bundesliga crown and compete for the Champions League title.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT KOMPANY SAID
"This first phase is very important for him because he didn't have a proper preparation at Chelsea," Kompany said at a press conference unveiling the striker. "He's a good athlete and it won't take long for him to get back to 100 percent. We have to wait and see when he can play from the start. What I've seen so far is very good. He's a young player with a lot of quality. He'll pose a great threat with his speed and attacking drive."
He added: "We're always very flexible up front, and I think that's a good thing. That's why Nicolas Jackson's profile makes him a perfect fit. That's why he'll play an important role next season."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
With Kane already established as the team’s leading striker, Kompany now has a versatile forward capable of playing alongside or around the England captain. Jackson recently said that he is looking ahead to playing with Kane, who is already top of the Bundesliga goal chart alongside Michael Olise with three goals from two matches.
Jackson said: "Kane is one of the best strikers in the world. I hope to learn from him, complement his game, and build a strong bond on the pitch. We are two strikers who complement each other very well on the pitch, and we will work hard to ensure the results live up to expectations."
Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?
Jackson is expected to make his debut in the Bundesliga clash against Hamburg, and Bayern will hope his integration is smooth, particularly with Champions League fixtures looming. Beyond his immediate adaptation, the loan will also be a test run to see whether Jackson fits Bayern’s long-term vision. If he impresses alongside Kane, the club may yet revisit a permanent deal in the future.
Bangladesh batsman says the team got fewer runs than they wanted, but they can still fight back with quick wickets
Umar Farooq in Rawalpindi07-Feb-2020Bangladesh’s fight in the middle order was bookended by wickets falling cheaply in the first Test against Pakistan, as they were bowled out for 233 on the opening day in Rawalpindi. Bowling first after winning the toss, Pakistan dismantled Bangladesh’s top order to leave them 2 for 3, before the middle order rallied somewhat. But although there were three stands that crossed fifty, none went beyond 59. Najmul Hossain Shanto, playing in just his third Test, rued that the Bangladesh batsmen didn’t capitalise on their partnerships.Shanto (44 off 110) had put on 59 for the third wicket with captain Mominul Haque, while the highest scorer of the innings, Mohammad Mithun, took part in stands of 54 and 53 for the sixth and seventh wickets. Shanto and Mominul were helped by Pakistan’s bowlers spraying the ball a little, perhaps becoming over-eager after the early strikes on a green top. However, the bowlers settled down and found a nagging length, and continued to strike regularly.Six of Bangladesh’s batsmen – from No.3 to No.8 – got starts, going past 20 but Mithun’s 63 was the only fifty-plus score, a fact that Shanto described as disappointing.”There was little bit of movement in the early few overs, but then later it turned into a good batting wicket,” Shanto said. “But I think we needed to be more patient. With early wickets there, we were under pressure but then the way Mominul batted it was good for us to go on. We needed to build on the partnership, have a stand of over 100 or something. Had we had a good partnership, it could have been different. I am disappointing that we didn’t capitalise.”The day belonged to Pakistan, but Bangladesh can take some positives, having batted the whole day against hostile fast bowling. Shanto was optimistic that Bangladesh were still in the match and could learn from their first-innings experience.”To me, the wicket was good for batting with not much seam movement after the first five to six overs,” Shanto said. “But Pakistan’s bowlers were patient kept on hitting the right line and maintained it. We, however, managed to get some runs on the board. We are still short of runs but if we get a few quick wickets then it will give us a chance. Whatever we have done is done, and we have to look ahead now and think about how well we can bowl. It’s challenging, but we obviously have to bowl well. I believe we can still get back in the game.”
Conversations with Manchester United are to be sought by the Professional Footballers' Association due to growing discontent within the women's team.
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'Growing discontent' within Man Utd women's teamMoved out of training facility to accommodate menPFA ready to speak to club on behalf of playersWHAT HAPPENED?
It's been a tough week for the Red Devils. It began when Sir Jim Ratcliffe caused a stir by admitting there is not yet a detailed plan regarding improvements for the women's team going forward, with the focus of minority owners INEOS having been on the men's team – referred to as 'the first team'.
Since then, news has emerged that the women's side has moved into a temporary facility to accommodate the men, whose own building is being revamped. Two key senior players have also left the club, with Mary Earps and Nikita Parris expected to follow Lucia Garcia and Katie Zelem out of the door in the coming days.
AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE
is now reporting that the PFA is ready to seek conversations with Man Utd on behalf of its players, having learned of the 'growing discontent' when it comes to the management of the women's side. This is the second time in three years that the PFA has been alerted to concerns within the Red Devils' women's team, as players previously reached out in 2021 to try and improve conditions.
DID YOU KNOW?
It's not just off the pitch where there have been concerns for Man Utd. Despite an FA Cup triumph, last season ended in a worst-ever Women's Super League finish of fifth, Marc Skinner's side finishing some 20 points behind eventual champions Chelsea.
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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?
It seems things will get worse before the week is out, too, with Earps in line for a move to Paris Saint-Germain when her contract comes up in the next few days and prolific forward Parris also set to move on.
The proposed plan involves a total of 22 matches, with a maximum of five overseas players in each XI
Nagraj Gollapudi13-Oct-2022The long-awaited women’s IPL is set to become a reality next year with the BCCI planning a five-team tournament for March 2023, immediately after the Women’s T20 World Cup ends in South Africa on February 26.The BCCI’s proposed plan involves a total of 22 matches, with each squad comprising 18 players with a maximum of six from overseas. No more than five overseas players can feature in a playing XI, with four from Full Member countries and one from an Associate nation.As per the plan, which the BCCI sent on Thursday to state associations and which has been seen by ESPNcricinfo, each team will play the others twice during the league phase (20 matches), with the league topper heading straight to the final. The second finalist will be decided via an Eliminator between the second and third-ranked teams from the league phase. The BCCI is yet to finalise the schedule of the WIPL, but it will be wrapped up before the men’s IPL begins, which is likely to be at the end of March.Whether the March window has been pencilled in for the long term remains to be seen, but the BCCI said in a paper on the WIPL that it has identified a “clear 25 days Women’s IPL window in the FTP cycle”. The inaugural WIPL is likely to clash with the inaugural season of the Women’s Pakistan Super League.”It will be a challenge to play the WIPL in the home and away format, because with five to six teams it is not possible to have a match every day,” the BCCI said in its paper on the WIPL, which was sent to the states as part of the wider agenda for the board’s annual general meeting scheduled in Mumbai on October 18. “It is suggested that the tournament can be played in caravan style, where after finishing ten matches at one venue, the next ten matches to be played at the next venue. Therefore, ten matches each to be played across two venues in the 2023 WIPL season, ten each in the next two venues in the 2024 season, and for the 2025 season ten matches in the remaining one venue and the remaining ten in one of the venues from 2023 season.”Where will the teams be from? Unlike the Women’s T20 challenge, the precursor to the WIPL, where the teams were assembled randomly, the BCCI will sell the five franchises. However, unlike the men’s IPL, where franchises bid for teams in a particular city, the BCCI has chalked out two plans for the WIPL. The first one comprises selling teams across six zones spanning the country. A set of cities in each zone has been shortlisted and comprises: Dharamsala/Jammu (North zone), Pune/Rajkot (West), Indore/Nagpur/Raipur (Central), Ranchi/Cuttack (East), Kochi/Visakhapatnam (South) and Guwahati (North-East).The second plan involves teams being sold but without a solid home base, with matches to be played at six shortlisted IPL venues: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai.The BCCI will present the WIPL plan at the AGM next week but a final decision will be taken by the IPL Governing Council chairman – who that is will be decided at the upcoming AGM – along with the BCCI office bearers.Exponential growth in participation – the reason behind WIPL Women’s cricket in India became a big talking point ever since they reached the final of the ODI World Cup in 2017 at Lord’s, where they lost to England in front of a full house. In 2018, the BCCI launched the Women’s T20 Challenge, but it was restricted to just one match. Over the next three years, it expanded to a three-team competition. Voices across women’s cricket, both in India and globally, were critical of BCCI’s reluctance to launch a women’s IPL at the time.The board and several state associations were originally concerned by the shallow player pool in women’s cricket, but those reservations have gradually receded now.”With the rise in popularity of women’s cricket in the country mainly due to prominent performances by the Indian Senior Cricket team on world stage by qualifying for semi-finals in 2018 T20 World Cup, finals in 2020 T20 World Cup, securing silver medal in recently held 2022 Commonwealth games in Birmingham, we intend to conduct the Women’s IPL on similar lines with the Indian Premier League,” the BCCI said in its paper on WIPL.The growth on the domestic front was massive with the paper listing “an overall increase of 111% in participation of players along various categories” in the eight-year period between 2014-22. A further breakdown listed the number increasing by 129% in the senior women’s category and a 92% increase in the Under-19 category.The WIPL – and the proposed WPSL – will join the FairBreak Invitational, the Women’s Hundred, WCPL and WBBL as T20 leagues that bolster the popularity and growth of women’s cricket globally. The WIPL paper also noted that the BCCI had studied both the WBBL and the Women’s Hundred models before finalising its plan.
It’s understood his vision did not align with that of head coach Justin Langer and team owner Sanjeev Goenka
Nagraj Gollapudi18-Sep-20256:17
‘Zaheer’s vision wasn’t bought by LSG leadership group’
Lucknow Super Giants’ team mentor Zaheer Khan has parted ways with the franchise after just one season. ESPNcricinfo has learned Zaheer informed LSG of his decision on Thursday.It is understood that the primary reason for Zaheer quitting is that his vision for the franchise did not align with that of head coach Justin Langer and team owner Sanjeev Goenka. While Zaheer’s relationship with captain Rishabh Pant remained strong, he was affected by the thought process that played a role in LSG sliding down the points table in the second half of IPL 2025.Zaheer had joined LSG in August 2024, filling the vacancy left by Gautam Gambhir’s exit after IPL 2023. Zaheer had been with Mumbai Indians from 2018 to 2022 and agreed to a two-year contract with LSG, taking charge of scouting, planning and strategy.Related
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Bharat Arun named LSG bowling coach
After making the playoffs in their first two IPL seasons in 2022 and 2023, LSG did not reach the knockouts in the last two seasons. In 2025, they finished seventh with six wins from 14 games. It was a season of contrasting halves: LSG had five wins in their first eight matches but only one in the last six. Of the eight games they played at their home ground, the Ekana Stadium, they won only two.LSG had made headlines at last year’s mega auction when they bought Pant for INR 27 crore (USD 3.2 million approx.), making him the most expensive player ever in the IPL. The team was built around him, but Zaheer put in place building blocks he felt were needed to grow stronger every season. Despite there being a lot of chatter about Pant opening the batting, Zaheer spoke to the wicketkeeper-batter early on and told him that the better strategy would be for Mitchell Marsh to open with Aiden Markram. That strategy, Zaheer impressed on both Pant and the leadership group, would reduce the burden on their best batter, Nicholas Pooran, who was the No. 3.The role clarity allowed the batters to play with freedom and perform consistently. Markram had never opened in the IPL before, while Marsh, despite having been in the IPL for more than a decade, had never made a major impact. The move worked: Marsh was the fifth highest run-getter in IPL 2025 with 627 runs at a strike rate of 163.70, Pooran made 524 runs at 196.25, and Markram 445 at 148.82.