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First-choice wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha is out of the tour because of a hamstring injury

Nagraj Gollapudi16-Jan-20182:34

Chopra: India should have picked Rishabh Pant or Ishan Kishan

India wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik has been named as a replacement for the injured Wriddhiman Saha in the squad for the third Test against South Africa in Johannesburg. Saha suffered an upper left hamstring tendon injury during training on January 11, and was replaced by Parthiv Patel in the starting XI for the ongoing second Test in Centurion.As a result, Karthik will be in South Africa a couple of weeks earlier than planned because he had already been picked for the six ODIs that will follow the Test series.Karthik, who made his Test debut in 2004, played his last Test nearly eight years ago, against Bangladesh. Since then, he has been in and out of India’s limited-overs squads. Karthik, however, has managed to be on the selection panels’ shortlist with impressive displays in domestic arena. In the ongoing domestic season, Karthik scored 296 runs in four first-class matches at 59.20, which included three Duleep Trophy fixtures and one Ranji game. He has carried on his robust form into the T20s, making 211 runs including three half-centuries, in five innings in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.In Centurion, Saha’s replacement Parthiv has not had the best of Tests. While he scored 19 in the first innings, he dropped two catches and failed to attempt a third regulation chance. Hashim Amla was dropped on 30 off Ishant Sharma down the leg side in the first innings and went on to score 82. Later in the innings, Faf du Plessis was on 54 when Parthiv failed to hold on to an outside edge off R Ashwin.In a tense second innings, Dean Elgar was on 29 and South Africa 70 for 2 when Parthiv did not go for a catch to his left. Elgar ended the day unbeaten on 36, and South Africa 90 for 2, which took their lead to 118 with eight wickets in hand.

Pakistan A romped to an eight-wicket win with 97 balls to spare against Sri Lanka A in the opening game of the triangular series, also involving England Lions, on Monday

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Jul-2016
ScorecardFile photo: Sharjeel Khan hit seven fours and three sixes in his 74-ball 90•Associated Press

Pakistan A romped to an eight-wicket win against Sri Lanka A in the opening game of the triangular series, also involving England Lions, in Cheltenham on Monday.Pakistan A’s bowlers backed Babar Azam’s decision to field as Sri Lanka A were dismantled for 199 in 37.5 overs. In reply, Fakhar Zaman (74) and Sharjeel Khan (90), their openers, shared a 155-run stand that helped Pakistan cruise. They eventually sealed the win with 97 balls to spare.Pakistan’s bowlers hunted in packs, but it was Mohammad Asghar, the left-arm spinner, who inflicted the bulk of the damage, taking 4 for 41 in 10 overs.Asghar, introduced in the 14th over with Sri Lanka A reduced to 94 for 3 after a blazing start, struck in consecutive overs to remove Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Ashan Priyanjan, the captain. Angelo Perera then resisted with 35, but there was little contribution of note otherwise.Abbas, the right-arm pacer, took three wickets, but was expensive and leaked 50 runs in seven overs. Bhatti took 2 for 40 in eight overs, while left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz took the last wicket to fall – Lakshan Sandakan.Any hopes Sri Lanka’s bowlers may have had of picking early wickets and bouncing back were emphatically shattered by Zaman and Sharjeel, who kept them at bay for 23.1 overs, scoring at well over a run-a-ball. Zaman hit seven fours and three sixes in his 77-ball knock, while Sharjeel was equally aggressive by striking at 121.62 courtesy 12 fours and four sixes.Both batsmen were dismissed in the space of 25 deliveries by Kasun Rajitha, the right-arm medium pacer, but Umar Siddiq and Abdul Rehman Muzammil made sure to avoid further losses.The second match of the series takes place on Tuesday, with Pakistan facing off against England Lions at the same venue.

Queensland’s pace trio of Michael Neser, Luke Feldman and Mark Steketee reduced Victoria to 153 for 3 after the visiting team piled on 452 for 5 declared

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Feb-2018Getty Images

An unbeaten century from Queensland youngster Sam Heazlett helped the Bulls pile up a huge first-innings total against Victoria on a batting paradise at the MCG.Heazlett nearly doubled his overnight total to register his second first-class hundred, 24 hours after Matt Renshaw made 170. Jack Wildermuth fell agonizingly short of his third first-class century when he was bowled by Peter Siddle for 94.The Bulls made early inroads, removing both Victorian openers cheaply. Marcus Harris fell to a stunning one-handed catch from wicketkeeper Jimmy Pierson. Michael Neser and Luke Feldman claimed the early wickets, before Mark Steketee later removed Eamonn Vines for 34.But youngster Will Pucovski and veteran Cameron White steadied the innings with an unbeaten 94-run partnership. Pucovski, coming off a double century in the Futures League last week, scored his first Sheffield Shield half-century, and moved to 64 not out at stumps on day two.

Fakhar Zaman and KL Rahul became the new No. 2 and No. 3 respectively, while Babar Azam, Colin Munro and Glenn Maxwell slipped to occupy the spots right below the top three

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Jul-2018Australia T20 captain Aaron Finch has jumped three places to vault to the top of ICC T20I rankings for batsmen, while Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman and India’s KL Rahul rose to the No. 2 and No. 3 spots respectively. Finch also became the first player ever to break the 900-point barrier in the T20I rankings but ended the series with a final tally of 891 points.The new top three in the ICC rankings for T20 batsmen•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Babar Azam, Colin Munro and Glenn Maxwell all slipped, occupying the three spots below Finch, Zaman and Rahul.Finch had a prolific run in the tri-series against Pakistan and hosts Zimbabwe, piling on 306 runs in five games at a strike rate of over 200, which included a world record 172 off 76 balls.Zaman moved up 44 places on the table and reached 842 points following his own incredible form in Zimbabwe, which featured a career-best 91 off 46 balls in the final that helped Pakistan seal a record chase against Australia in Harare.Rahul touched a career-high 854 points following the first match of the T20I series in England – which the visitors won 2-1 – where he scored a match-winning 101, but a dip in the next two games saw him finish with 812 points.D’Arcy Short, Finch’s opening partner, entered the top 10 rankings for the first time. He made 165 runs at an average of 41.25 in the tri-series, including a 53-ball 76 in the final. The others who garnered career-best rankings following the two series were Jason Roy (No. 15 with 641 points), Jos Buttler (No. 17 with 614 points) and Zimbabwe’s Solomon Mire, who rose a staggering 202 spots to 25th place on the table.Among the bowlers, legspinners Rashid Khan and Shadab Khan retained the top two positions but there were movements down the table. Andrew Tye rose 41 places to seventh spot and Adil Rashid moved up four places to ninth.

A new report has put Manchester United under the microscope when it comes to contract negotiations with Mary Earps and Alessia Russo's exit.

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• Problems around Man Utd's women's team revealed
• Includes reasons why club failed to keep Russo
• And Earps' contract limbo as end of deal looms

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Russo left the club last summer, joining Women's Super League rivals Arsenal on a free transfer, and there is a chance that Earps could follow suit in a few months' time as her current deal is set to expire at the end of the season. With Man Utd under-performing on the pitch as well as seeing key players leave, there is growing unrest among fans.

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• WHAT HAS BEEN SAID

  These problems have been detailed by , which claims that during January of last year, Man Utd "shook hands" on a new deal with Russo, only to "renege on several conditions", which led to it collapsing. The report also says that, in other contract negotiations, United have been "pushing hard bargains, made disrespectful lowball offers and tried to find ways to save nominal figures here and there".

  Earps is one of several players out of contract at the club this summer, with negotiations for a new one having dragged on for over 18 months. writes: "Poor communication from those in charge regarding budget and strategy for contract renewals, signings and transfer fees are said to have delayed negotiations and led to United missing out on players."

• Getty
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Man Utd drew at West Ham on Sunday, meaning they have now dropped points in eight of their 15 WSL outings this season. It leaves them a distant fourth in the table, nine points off the European spots and 12 behind pacesetters Chelsea with just seven games remaining.

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Head coach Marc Skinner is another out of contract at the club this summer and new owners INEOS will need to decide whether he is the man to take the women's team forward.

India have rested several first-choice players, including Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni, while Sri Lanka will miss Angelo Mathews and Asela Gunaratne, who are unavailable through injury

The Preview by Mohammad Isam05-Mar-20184:10

Pant has improved a lot behind the stumps – Dasgupta

Big Picture

India going into the Nidahas T20I tri-series without many of their first-choice players has somewhat levelled the playing field. Captain Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Hardik Pandya and Kuldeep Yadav have all been rested.Sri Lanka will also miss some of their key players: Angelo Mathews, Asela Gunaratne and fast bowler Shehan Madushanka, who bagged a hat-trick on ODI debut in Bangladesh, are unavailable through injury.Suranga Lakmal and Nuwan Pradeep return to bolster the pace attack, but Sri Lanka will have to be wary of India’s strong bench strength. Allrounders Deepak Hooda, Vijay Shankar and Washington Sundar, fast bowler Mohammed Siraj, and wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant have only played five T20Is among them, but are used to playing under pressure in the IPL. Rohit Sharma, the stand-in captain, meanwhile will look to hit form after an underwhelming tour of South Africa. The return of Suresh Raina adds meat to the middle order, which also includes Manish Pandey.Sri Lanka will aim to build on the gains made in the limited-overs series in Bangladesh. Kusal Mendis has bedded in at the top while Thisara Perera and Dasun Shanaka have boosted the middle order. Akila Dananjaya, who can bowl offbreaks as well as legbreaks, and Isuru Udana are capable of supporting Lakmal and Thisara with the ball.

Form guide

Sri Lanka: WWLLL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
India: WLWWW

In the spotlight

After making back-to-back fifties in Bangladesh, Kusal Mendis repeated the feat at home in the domestic T20 tournament for Colombo Cricket Club. Can he continue his excellent form in the Nidahas Trophy?Sri Lanka might have nightmares of Rohit Sharma, who slammed 118 off 43 balls in the last bilateral T20 series between the two sides in December. In all, Rohit has hit 278 runs in 11 innings against Sri Lanka at a strike-rate of 146.31.

Team news

Kusal Perera, Suranga Lakmal and Dushmantha Chameera might return to the XI. Having secured a thumping series win in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka might not tinker too much with their team.Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Kusal Mendis, 2 Danushka Gunathilaka, 3 Kusal Perera, 4 Upul Tharanga, 5 Dasun Shanaka, 6 Thisara Perera, 7 Dinesh Chandimal (capt & wk), 8 Akila Dananjaya, 9 Amila Aponso, 10 Suranga Lakmal, 11 Dushmantha ChameeraDinesh Karthik will tussle with Pant for the wicketkeeper’s spot. Yuzvendra Chahal and Jaydev Unadkat are likely to return to the XI despite being left out for the third T20I in Cape Town. Sundar will compete with Hooda for the allrounder’s spot, while KL Rahul, who hasn’t played a T20I since December 2017, might get a game in the absence of key players.India (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Shikhar Dhawan, 3 Suresh Raina, 4 KL Rahul, 5 Manish Pandey, 6 Rishabh Pant/Dinesh Karthik (wk), 7 Washington Sundar/Deepak Hooda, 8 Yuzvendra Chahal, 9 Shardul Thakur, 10 Axar Patel, 11 Jaydev Unadkat

Pitch and conditions

The Premadasa pitches are known to be low and slow, but they are likely to help the fast bowlers at the start of the T20I tri-series. There is a slim chance of a thunderstorm in the evening.

Stats and trivia

• Two of the top-ten scorers in T20 cricket feature in this tournament – Suresh Raina (7275) and Rohit Sharma (6587)
• India newbie Vijay Shankar bowled offspin until he was 20 but switched to medium-pace in a bid to break into his spin-heavy state side, Tamil Nadu
• Deepak Hooda, the other India rookie, has a strike-rate of 143.48 in 79 T20 matches

Quotes

“We will open with whoever we feel will play the best. We’ll look at the other teams’ strengths and limitations before coming to that decision also.”

Warwickshire need 519 to beat Kent – a figure never achieved – but at 229 for 1, and Ian Bell again in sumptious form, anything is possible at Tunbridge Wells

ECB Reporters Network22-Jun-2018
ScorecardEngland Test stalwart Ian Bell appears intent on inspiring a momentous Warwickshire run-chase at Tunbridge Wells after Kent set the visitors a mammoth victory target of 519 in a shade over five sessions.In a topsy-turvy Specsavers County Championship match between the second division’s top two sides, Bell posted his third unbeaten hundred in four red-ball innings to take Warwickshire into the final day on 229 for one, requiring a further 290 for victory. The previous two were unbeaten; if this one remains so, Warwickshire would doubtless make history with the biggest successful run chase in Championship history. It is quite a run in the month when he conceded that his England days were realistically over.Bell and his second-wicket partner Dominic Sibley came together after the departure of left-hander Will Rhodes soon after lunch. Rhodes, back on his stumps to a Harry Podmore off-cutter went leg before for 25 leaving Bell and Sibley to bat out the remaining 55.4 overs of the day.Despite numerous Kent bowling changes, the visiting partners reached stumps with aplomb, rarely looking in trouble as they batted throughout the third day’s final session.The home bowlers switched ends in trying to make best use of Keith Barker’s day-two follow-through marks, but in truth off-spinner Adam Riley and rookie seamer Ivan Tomas offered little threat, Indeed Riley, in his last two championship starts, has now sent down 55.2 wicketless overs.Bell, prodding somewhat at his 164th ball, was slightly fortuitous to move to his 55th first-class hundred with a 15th boundary that ran through to the unguarded ropes at fine leg via a thick inside edge against the bowling of Matt Henry.Two deliveries later, Henry dropped to his haunches in exasperation after umpire James Middlebrook turned aside the Kiwi’s strenuous leg before plea.At the other end Sibley, who was downed in the cordon shortly before lunch, looked sound in defence and restrained in his stroke play in reaching 82 from 197 balls faced.The pair will likely need to extend their stand well into the final day if they are to beat the highest ever fourth-innings run chase in championship history set by Middlesex in beating Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge in 1925.Warwickshire’s own best last innings chase came far more recently however, when they pursued 427 to beat Somerset at Taunton in 2013.At the start of the day, promotion-chasing Kent batted on for a further 22 overs as seventh-wicket pairing Zak Crawley and Harry Podmore frustrated Jeetan Patel’s side for an hour in adding a further 53 runs.Crawley, the 19-year-old former Tonbridge School opener, posted his maiden championship half-century from 87 balls and with four fours, but, with his score on 24, Podmore aimed to force a short, loose delivery from Oliver Hannon-Dalby and succeeded in edging to the keeper Tim Ambrose.Crawley, dropped at slip when on 89 by Jonathan Trott, lasted only two more balls before Hannon-Dalby finally got his man lbw for 93. Having just nicked a streaky boundary to third man, Crawley was undone by an off-cutter that thudded into his front pad.After a lusty 20 from Matt Henry, Kent’s acting skipper Joe Denly declared at 12.25pm, leaving Warwickshire to face a mammoth, first-class record run chase of 519 for victory. By the close, Denly may have already been wishing he’d have batted on a tad longer.

Chelsea could still sign more players before deadline day, even if this hinges on their quest to offload an array of surplus squad members.

PSG "prepared" to smash transfer record with £217m bid for Chelsea star

The claim emerges days after they lost the Club World Cup final to Enzo Maresca’s side.

By
Emilio Galantini

Jul 15, 2025

The world champions, fresh off their Club World Cup triumph over PSG at the MetLife Stadium, have just banked a substantial £87.5 million financial from winning the tournament, but there is still a need to balance Enzo Maresca’s squad through player sales.

After being fined by UEFA for breaching FFP rules recently, the governing body and Chelsea reached an agreement that they need to sell and trim their bloated squad, or Maresca will be unable to register new players for the Champions League next season (Kaveh Solhekol).

According to journalist Simon Phillips, via his Substack, the prospect of more new signings still isn’t entirely ruled out, but any business will be directly tied into Chelsea’s outgoings.

“A new goalkeeper is still on the agenda for Chelsea this summer, but we have to wait and see exactly what action Chelsea do end up taking there,” wrote Phillips.

“A new defender is also being targeted still and sources believe it is going to be another flexible option. They are looking at Marc Cucurella cover as well, but we are uncertain whether they will get a centre back and a left back, or a player like Jorrel Hato, who we are still looking at, who can play both positions.

“So these are the three positions that Chelsea are still actively looking to sign in, but they will depend on sales at this point.”

João Félix is already said to be in talks over a return to Benfica, right after Noni Madueke sealed a £52 million move to Arsenal and Djordje Petrovic agreed to join Bournemouth in a £25 million deal.

The latter duo are set to join goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, defender Basir Humphreys, midfielder Mathis Amougou and Marcus Bettinelli, who’ve also sealed permanent moves away from Stamford Bridge.

With Chelsea making significant progress on the exit front, perhaps there is more room to add another centre-back to Maresca’s squad.

Chelsea could offer Renato Veiga in a swap deal for Kim min-Jae

According to TUTTOmercatoWEB and journalist Dimitri Conti, £200,000-per-week Bayern Munich defender Kim min-Jae is on BlueCo’s shortlist of defensive targets.

The 69-cap South Korea stalwart was a mainstay of Vincent Kompany’s back line for the majority of last season before injury problems limited his game time towards the back end of 2024/2025.

Bayern are open to selling the 28-year-old, who boasts years of top-level experience, and Chelsea are interested in potentially doing a deal for him.

It is believed that Chelsea could even use Renato Veiga in a swap deal for Kim, given the Portuguese has long had admirers at the Allianz Arena. However, Maresca faces competition from both Atlético Madrid and Tottenham, with the latter holding an historic interest in Kim dating back to José Mourinho’s tenure in charge.

“I wanted to sign Kim Min-jae when I was at Tottenham,” said Mourinho in 2023, via Fabrizio Romano. “I had some FaceTime calls with him — our bid was €5m, Fenerbahçe wanted €10m for Kim and for Tottenham that wasn’t possible at that point.

“Now look at Kim and his level, he’s a top player”.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is “King of Kings”, with the AC Milan icon set to watch the 2024 Kings World Cup from his throne before handing over a $1m prize.

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• Swedish legend is now retired
• Will be involved in Kings League spectacle
• 32 teams competing for global crown

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Swedish legend is now officially retired, with an advisor role being filled at San Siro. He is, however, still passionate about football and has been drafted in to work alongside the likes of Gerard Pique, Neymar and Sergio Aguero when the Kings League takes a global competition to Mexico.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Ibrahimovic, with over 500 career goals to his name, will crown the winning team as a seven-figure cash reward is handed out. He is joining a number of celebrity team presidents – with that list including streamers, content creators and football superstars – at the Kings World Cup.

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• WHAT NEXT?

  The Kings World Cup will involve 32 teams – 10 from Kings Spain, 10 from Kings Americas and 12 foreign guests. FURIA FC, with Brazil’s all-time leading scorer Neymar part of their set-up, have already seen their presence confirmed. Ibrahimovic is now on board, with the promise of more big names to come.

Punishments handed out to two teams over wayward bowling in protest at umpiring decisions will be reconsidered after appeals to the BCB

Mohammad Isam09-Apr-2018The BCB will review its decision to punish Fear Fighters Club and Lalmatia Club, their players, coach and manager, after they admitted to losing Dhaka Second Division Cricket League games on purpose as a form of protest against alleged biased umpiring. The matches produced two of the most bizarre scorecards ever seen.The need for reassessment came after the punished submitted multiple letters to the BCB requesting a pardon to renew their careers over the last 12 months. In January this year, both Lalmatia and Fear Fighters appealed to play in this year’s Second Division League but were denied.Jalal Yunus, the BCB director who was part of the three-member inquiry committee formed in April 2017, said that the BCB would discuss all these appeals later this month.”We have received appeals from some of the players and clubs,” Yunus told ESPNcricinfo. “I think Lalmatia have put in a request recently too, and one of the captains has also submitted a letter. We are going to sit for a review soon.”Last year, the BCB effectively terminated Fear Fighters and Lalmatia from the league and handed 10-year bans to bowlers Sujon Mahmud and Tasnim Hasan. They also banned captains Faisal Ahmed and Tonumoy Ghosh, Lalmatia coach Asadullah Khan and manager Adnan Rahman for five years each.The BCB delivered the punishments within ten days, without much in the way of clarification or due process, and soon enough flaws emerged in the investigation. The committee didn’t meet all those involved in the incident, and were said to be lenient on umpires Shamsur Rahman and Azizul Bari, the central figures in the entire episode.During both games, umpires Shamsur and Azizul were said to have prevented captains from both Fear Fighters (against Indira Road Krira Chakra) and Lalmatia (against Axiom Crickters) from seeing who actually won the toss. They were also alleged to have bullied players from these clubs during the games, and then went on to give several questionable decisions.In the first of the two games in question, frustrated by what had happened during their batting innings, Fear Fighters’ Tasnim gave away 69 runs in 1.1 overs which included eight wides and six no-balls. Following Tasnim’s example, Lalmatia’s Sujon, having allegedly been treated the same way by umpires Shamsur and Azizul, gave away 92 runs in four deliveries that included 13 wides and three no-balls the next day.The BCB’s inquiry committee said later in their report that umpires Shamsur and Azizul should have stopped Tasnim and Sujon from bowling in this manner. For being unable to control the match, Shamsur and Azizul were handed six-month bans which ended in November last year, and they are now eligible to officiate in league games.Both bowling performances made headlines across the cricket world and while on the surface it appeared to be one of those quirky scorecards, scratching slightly below revealed the tale of Dhaka’s lower leagues.Several umpires, including Shamsur and Azizul, are recognised as problematic, with many clubs putting in written complaints against them in previous seasons. In the Dhaka Premier League, umpiring was a major issue in 2016 but it has since reduced in the following two seasons, including this year when only a few incidents have come up.There have, however, been continued calls for better umpiring in this season’s Dhaka’s Second Division League. There is also fear among many clubs that umpiring could again be an issue in the First Division League, the second tier of the Dhaka league system, which began on April 8.The punished players – Sujon, Tasnim, Faisal and Tonumoy – remain out of action, as Dhaka’s leagues form the pinnacle of Bangladesh’s domestic cricket. Over the last 12 months, they have tried to play in unofficial leagues in small towns, although in some tournaments their BCB bans became an issue. One of them has even dabbled with umpiring.