All posts by h716a5.icu

Alisha Lehmann was happy to “back her boys” when wading into a heated handball argument during the latest round of Baller League fixtures. The Swiss forward, who is plying her club trade in Italy for Como Women, has teamed up with Maya Jama again – the Love Island-presenting partner of Manchester City defender Ruben Dias – to oversee events at MVPs United.

Baller League UK: Big personalities involved

Emotions can run high at the Copper Box Arena in London when Baller League action takes centre stage. With ultra-fast six-a-side competition pitting former Premier League players and ambitious semi-professionals against one another, tempers can boil over at times.

Nobody is willing to take a backwards step, with wins and points the ultimate goal. There are some big personalities involved – on and off the pitch – with few of those looking to bite their tongue when lively debates are sparked.

AdvertisementWatch Lehmann join handball argument at Baller League

Controversial call: MVPs United slipped to defeat

Lehmann is one of the more reserved characters, but the former WSL star – who represented the likes of West Ham and Aston Villa before heading to Italy – is prepared to fight her corner when required.

That was the case during a meeting with Wembley Rangers for MVPs United. A controversial handball call, in what turned out to be a 3-2 defeat for Lehmann and Co, led to words being exchanged on the field. Lehmann, who was back in England for said encounter, made sure to get her point across.

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Back for more? Lehmann and Jama could reunite in 2026

Lehmann, with Jama not by her side on this occasion, led MVPs United out at the Copper Box. She was joined by Birmingham-raised rapper Wohdee – who is famed for her viral freestyle performances on TikTok.

MVPs United are in danger of missing out on a place in the final four of Baller League, meaning that the ultimate prize will elude them. Interest in season two has, however, remained high – with I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here winner Angry Ginge among the celebrity managers – and it could be that Lehmann and Jama reunite for a third campaign in 2026.

Tottenham Hotspur improved after the break, but the damage had been done following Fulham’s early flurry in north London, two goals to the good after six minutes.

Thomas Frank spoke before the game about the importance of starting with confidence, but the performance was anything but assured, with Sky Sports co-commentator Alan Smith remarking that it was “chaos in Tottenham’s defensive line” early on.

It wasn’t just the defenders who flattered to deceive, though, with Guglielmo Vicario’s ill-judged rush from his box to deal with a clearance leaving Harry Wilson to curl home and double the Cottagers’ lead just moments into the match.

Guglielmo Vicario is letting Spurs down

Vicario has been an astute piece of business for Tottenham over the past several years, but he has left plenty to be desired this season, with his error-strewn performance against Fulham sadly not an outlier, his costly mistake the third of the Premier League campaign, and 11th since he arrived in 2023.

There is a case to be made that the Lilywhite defenders needed to drop back and protect the yawning goalmouth, but Vicario, 28, has much to answer for, only making one save besides, as per Sofascore.

Whether Vicario reprises his starting berth between the sticks going forward is another matter, but it’s certainly one Frank will chew on as he looks to arrest this slump and bring Spurs back into the ascendancy, stringing together some strong winter form to challenge for a reprisal of their ongoing Champions League campaign.

However, changes clearly need to be made, and Frank does not have long to enact any shuffling, with Newcastle United awaiting at St. James’ Park on Tuesday evening.

There may actually be an outfield Tottenham star who must be dropped for that crucial top-flight clash, having lacked dynamism in the middle of the park this season.

5/10 Spurs star was as poor as Vicario

The boos chorused around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at full-time, and Joao Palhinha was among the dejected players in white after a disappointing midfield display that saw him hooked on the hour mark.

The loanee, brought in from Bayern Munich in the summer, was ineffective against his former London outfit, with football.london criticising ‘one of his shakier performances’ and branding him with a 5/10 match rating.

Vicario might suffer from crises of judgement, but Palhinha is beginning to solidify as a centre-midfielder lacking in key areas; namely, he is limited in possession and he is not mobile enough.

As per FBref, the Portugal international ranks among the bottom 9% of Premier League midfielders for progressive passes and progressive carries per 90.

These flaws were accentuated against Marco Silva’s side, who only had 37% of the ball but made it count. Palhinha’s inability to break lines and influence in the attacking half played into this.

Minutes played

60′

Goals

0

Assists

0

Touches

45

Accurate passes

31/35 (89%)

Chances created

0

Dribbles

1/2

Recoveries

1

Tackles won

0/1

Interceptions

3

Duels won

4/6

You would hope, at least, that the tough-tackling midfielder would win his tackles, but Palhinha’s one attempted tackle saw him come up short, lunging into the grass.

The fact that the 30-year-old failed to create a chance and made just the one recovery further emphasises the poor display, too one-dimensional and sedentary in the middle of the park.

Tottenham need more energy and electricity and enthusiasm. Sure, key playmakers are sidelined, but this isn’t good enough.

Change is needed, and it might be time for Frank to repackage his engine room with a new combination.

Frank can unearth his own Dembele by unleashing "generational" Spurs gem

Tottenham can unearth their next Mousa Dembele against Fulham this weekend by unleashing this star.

ByDan Emery Nov 29, 2025

Pete Alonso’s decision to sign with the Orioles could represent a massive shift in the American League East.

After Baltimore landed Alonso on a five-year, $155 million deal, Jeff Passan made a pretty big claim. ESPN’s MLB insider took to X and tweeted the following:

While that claim is bold, it really isn’t hard to see it being correct.

While there could still be moves coming, Baltimore’s lineup is absolutely loaded after adding Taylor Ward and Alonso. Here’s a look below.

Pete Alonso is set to take over at first base, and the 31-year-old is coming off an outstanding year in which he slashed .272/.347/.524, with 38 home runs and a wRC+ of 141.

Former No. 1 overall pick Jackson Holliday has yet to hit his stride in the majors, but the second baseman has all the tools to become elite. In 2025, he slashed .242/.314/.375 with 17 home runs and a wRC+ of 96. He’s only 22 and is poised for a breakout.

Shortstop Gunnar Henderson should be a perennial MVP candidate, who carries a lifetime 132 wRC+, with a peak of 154 in 2024.

Third baseman Jordan Westburg slashed .265/.313/.457 with 17 home runs and a wRC+ of 115 in 2025, and the 26-year-old should only improve.

Catcher Adley Rutschman is coming off a down year, and his hitting numbers have trended in the wrong direction since he posted a 134 wRC+ as a rookie in 2022. He’s sure to be pushed by top prospect Samuel Basallo, who made the big leagues in 2025. Last season, Rutschman slashed .220/.307/.366 with nine home runs and a wRC+ of 91.

Basallo is currently penciled in at DH. The 21-year-old sac action in 31 games as a rookie in 2025, he slashed .165/.229/.330, with four home runs and a wRC+ of 55. But in 76 games at Triple A, he posted a .966 OPS, with 23 home runs, and had 44 walks against 76 strikeouts. He consistently crushed the ball in the minors, and his bat should catch up eventually.

Baltimore landed 31-year-old Taylor Ward in a trade this offseason, and the left fielder should boost the team’s outfield offense. In 2025, the 31-year-old slashed .228/.317/.475, with career-highs in home runs (36) and RBIs (103), while posting a wRC+ of 117. With more protection surrounding him in the lineup, those numbers could jump up.

Right fielder Dylan Beavers is another young guy poised to break out. In 35 games as a rookie in 2025, he slashed .227/.375/.400, with four home runs, but did post a wRC+ of 125. In 94 Triple A games, Beavers slashed .304/.420/.515 with 18 home runs and a wRC+ of 152. At 24, he has plenty of room to grow.

Colton Cowser is set to take over in center field, and stop me if you’ve heard this before, he’s a young top prospect poised to make a jump. In his first full season in 2024, Cowser slashed .242/.321/.447, with 24 home runs and a wRC+ of 119. He took a step back in 2025 (as did much of the lineup), and those numbers dropped to .196/.269/.385, with 16 homers and a wRC+ of 83. His season got a late start due to a fractured thumb and was later stalled by a concussion. A full, healthy season should see him back on the right trajectory.

Passan is right, that is a loaded lineup. While changes could still be coming, Baltimore should enter the 2026 season with one of baseball’s best offenses. Adding Alonso was just the icing on an already attractive cake.

Newcastle United supporters are frustrated at the moment, and justifiably so.

Only last weekend, Eddie Howe’s side put in a herculean performance, a display of great resilience and strength, to see off Manchester City in the Premier League.

But that was at St. James’ Park, and the Magpies’ issues on the road deepened against Marseille in the Champions League, going ahead through the in-form Harvey Barnes but succumbing to defeat after two second-half strikes from Roberto De Zerbi’s side.

11

Games

8

8

Wins

1

0

Draws

3

3

Losses

4

16

Goals scored

8

8

Goals conceded

10

2.18

PPG

0.75

As Barnes goes from strength to strength, with three goals from his past two Premier League matches too, Anthony Gordon’s struggles on Tyneside have been accentuated.

The England international is among the most talented players in Howe’s squad, but he’s not been at the races this season.

Anthony Gordon's form for Newcastle

Gordon took some time to get going at Newcastle after joining from Everton for £45m in January 2023, but he thrived across the 2023/24 campaign, winning the club’s Player of the Year after recording 11 goals and ten assists in the Premier League.

Last season was a testing one for the 24-year-old on an individual level, though, and he’s sunk deeper into his struggles this season, yet to score or assist in the Premier League.

Though Gordon is impressing in front of goal on the continent, he’s been out of sorts as a whole this season, with Newcastle blogger Thomas Hammond saying “a summer sale is looking more and more favourable” given clubs like Liverpool have been interested in the £100m-rated winger in the past.

Matches (starts)

7 (7)

5 (5)

Goals

0

4

Assists

0

1

Touches*

35.4

39.2

Shots (on target)*

2.0 (0.7)

2.2 (1.0)

Accurate passes*

14.7 (80%)

16.4 (77%)

Chances created*

1.0

0.4

Dribbles*

1.4

1.4

Ball recoveries*

2.6

3.2

Tackles + interceptions*

0.7

1.4

Duels (won)*

4.7 (49%)

4.0 (41%)

There’s a tenacity and will to win embedded in Gordon’s footballing brain, but this has led to some questionable decision-making, with the £150k-per-week talent sent off three times across 120 appearances as a Magpie.

And with Barnes getting better and better, it could be that PIF look to cash in on their profitable asset going forward. After all, if he continues to struggle, his market value will only depreciate.

Against Marseille, Howe opted to field Gordon as his central striker. This is nothing new, but the versatile forward toiled away. Considering the different variables, there might be cause for Gordon to be sold, especially when considering another Newcastle star’s form this season.

The Newcastle star who could end Gordon's stay

Since arriving on Tyneside at the end of August, Nick Woltemade has been a revelation for Newcastle.

The 23-year-old completed a club-record move from Stuttgart to St. James’ Park after establishing himself as one of German football’s most exciting up-and-coming strikers, and while Howe’s side have problems, six goals from his first 16 games for the club suggest the jackpot has been struck.

The 6 foot 6 star is far more than just a goalscorer, of course, and his ability to drop deep and influence across different areas of the pitch suggests that Woltemade could play alongside Yoane Wissa when the DR Congo star returns to fitness.

And he’s thriving for Germany too. Woltemade is nailing down his claim for the number nine spot ahead of the 2026 World Cup in North America, having posted four goals from his past three matches for his nation.

Hailed as a “world-class talent” by content creator Adam Pearson, Woltemade cannot be expected to haul all this weight by himself each week. He needs players like Gordon to step up.

But with Barnes establishing himself as United’s clear-cut left winger and Wissa soon to enter the equation as he nears the end of the recovery from a knee injury that has kept him out since signing for the club from Brentford last year, there’s a sense that Gordon may find regular minutes from the outset hard to come by down the line.

Woltemade is not a winger, of course, but he does bring many dynamic qualities to the table that emphasise his protean attacking ability. As per data-led site FBref, the German ranks among the top 9% of strikers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for successful take-ons and the top 6% for shot-creating actions per 90.

His knack at finding space to shoot and then doing so clinically is the staple of his skillset, but Woltemade is also a menace in that he has different creative and athletic attributes that help him transcend his striking role.

Could we see a scenario in which Woltemade plays alongside Wissa, flanked by Barnes and Anthony Elanga? It might be the case, and with Newcastle eager to strengthen across the park next summer – notably with a deal for academy product Elliot Anderson in the pipeline – there’s a case to be made that Gordon’s days on Tyneside could be numbered.

He has, of course, proven himself at Newcastle before, but time is running out for Gordon to reestablish himself as one of Howe’s talismanic forwards, and while Barnes appears the most direct threat to his place in the starting line-up, Woltemade’s continual growth adds another chapter to the story.

PIF have signed an "explosive" talent who can end Gordon's Newcastle career

Newcastle United already have an exciting attacker up their sleeve who can end Anthony Gordon’s stalling Magpies career.

ByKelan Sarson Nov 27, 2025

Arsenal handed Bayern Munich their first defeat of the season with a commanding 3-1 Champions League win at the Emirates, ending the German champions’ 18-game unbeaten run. Vincent Kompany admitted his side were deservedly second best, while Arsenal strengthened their position as the competition’s only perfect team after five group-stage victories.

Arsenal outclass Bayern to end their unbeaten run

Arsenal and Bayern arrived at the Emirates stadium as Europe’s two most in-form sides, both unbeaten in the Champions League and dominating their domestic leagues. But from the opening whistle, it was the Premier League leaders who showed greater intensity, control and aggression in key moments.

The hosts struck first through Jurrien Timber, who rose above Manuel Neuer to nod in Bukayo Saka’s corner. Bayern equalised when 17-year-old Lennart Karl reacted quickest in a crowded box, but the Bundesliga champions struggled to build on that moment. Too many attacks broke down in midfield, and Arsenal constantly regained control through quick combinations and wide overloads.

The second half was even more one-sided. Noni Madueke’s clever movement allowed him to turn in Riccardo Calafiori’s low cross, restoring the Gunner's lead. The Bavarians pushed for a response, but their biggest chance, a Serge Gnabry acrobatic attempt went begging. Moments later, Neuer’s misjudged rush off his line allowed Gabriel Martinelli to score from distance, wrapping up Arsenal’s first victory over Bayern in 10 years.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportKompany accepts defeat, Gnabry highlights Arsenal’s strength

Kompany didn’t hide behind excuses after the final whistle, acknowledging that Arsenal were fully deserving of the result. "I don't like excuses," the Belgian said to reporters. "We've lost now, and let's be honest: Arsenal were better today, and we have to fix that from Saturday onwards."

Former Arsenal academy product Serge Gnabry echoed his manager’s honesty, pointing to moments where Bayern simply couldn’t cope with Arsenal’s constant pressure. "You have to accept that you lose sometimes," said Gnabry to "Arsenal are a very strong opponent; they haven't won all their games so far for nothing. They had a period where they pressed us back with a lot of corner kicks. We didn't manage to do much in the second half."

Arsenal’s perfect run continues as Bayern's ends

The Premier League leaders' performance underlined why they remain the Champions League’s last team with a 100 per cent record. Their pressing structure suffocated Bayern’s build-up, their set-piece dominance caused repeated problems, and their transitions exploited every defensive gap left by Kompany’s side.

For Bayern, the defeat ends an 18-match unbeaten run and exposes cracks that had not been punished in earlier European fixtures. After impressive wins over Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea, they were second-best in intensity and duels, areas usually considered Die Roten's strengths. Even with 12 points from five matches, their hold on top spot in the group is no longer guaranteed.

The Gunners, meanwhile, have now established themselves as genuine contenders for the Champions League’s latter stages, the only club still boasting 15 points from 15.

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Getty ImagesBayern turn attention to St. Pauli as Arsenal prepare for Chelsea

Arsenal will ride the confidence of this statement victory straight into a Premier League showdown with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, a fixture that could further strengthen their grip at the top of the table. Mikel Arteta’s side look increasingly balanced, and the win over Bayern will only deepen belief within the squad.

For Bayern, the focus is now on a swift response. Kompany’s side face St. Pauli in the Bundesliga this weekend, aiming to put the defeat behind them and reinforce their commanding league position. With 31 points from 11 games and only one draw so far, Bayern remain in control of their domestic campaign — but this loss will serve as a reminder of the margins at the highest level. A convincing performance at the weekend would help steady the mood as the Champions League group stage nears its conclusion.

All eyes will now be on how both sides respond, with knockout qualification approaching and momentum in Europe more valuable than ever.

It was a battle of wills and wants on a final day where both teams danced on knife-edge. And it couldn’t have set up the next two Tests better

Mark Nicholas23-Jul-2025Nobody saw it coming – not a whole afternoon with barely a run scored. In truth, hardly anyone saw an afternoon with cricket as an option. When play began on the fifth day of the third Test at Lord’s, the consensus was that it would be done and dusted either side of lunch. Then, as Indian wickets fell like confetti from the hot, blue sky, most of us wondered if we’d get any lunch at all.But cricket has rarely behaved as expected. It is a game of unpredictability, driven as much by human frailty as by the strength of character that gets the players there in the first place. Think how often you have settled into your seat to watch your favourite take guard or mark out his run-up and how quickly you have been let down. Cricket, and especially Test cricket, is a game of patience for us all. It is frequently difficult and frustrating. It is a game of instinctive skill that relies on method for its excellence. No cricketer is remotely the same. There are imitations, but no clones, mainly because so much of it is played in the mind. And, of course, cricket is fragile – one minute you have it, the next it is gone.If Ravindra Jadeja had his time again, would he play that remarkable, out of character innings the same way? Or would he go for broke from the outset, before England retreated to the field settings that denied him the oxygen of boundaries? Remember that when he arrived at the crease there were still recognised batters in hand, which gave him options. Once KL Rahul, Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy had gone, the options went with them.Related

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Jadeja, and the curse of being so good

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Battered players leave bits of hearts and spirits behind after bruising Lord's Test

Eight Days Later: evolved England are in the hunt for statement display

Shane Warne played his part in “finding” Jadeja when he captained Rajasthan Royals in the first IPL. Jaddu was just a kid – a rough diamond, really – but Warne immediately identified the quality in his bountiful gifts and the flair, so much so that he christened him “Rock Star”. Almost unbelievably that is 17 years ago. After which, Warne did many things, the last of them too final to bear. Jadeja too, has done many things, not the least of which is to become one of the best, most entertaining and popular cricketers in the world.Which led me to wonder what Warne would have said about his innings had he been commentating. Probably Warne would have said he should have gone hard out of the blocks; that the counter attack is easier when the field is up and the opposition are looking to take your wicket. Once they sit back, happy to give you a single and bowl at the other guy, it gets a whole lot more difficult. Which isn’t to say Warne would have been right. There were 22 runs and a back-spinning defensive shot in it. That, over five days, is precious little.And at the moment of the back spin, with Siraj batting, as the ball rolled gently back onto the stumps and a bail tumbled off, what would Jadeja have thought? That he got it right or wrong? And in that question, is a truism: that the greatest gift in high-level performance is to make the right decisions under pressure.Trickle-down effect: the moment that ended Siraj’s resistance, and the match•Getty ImagesAt the time, I felt he got it right. Rahul had fallen ten runs after his arrival. The pitch was difficult, irascible in its variable bounce and pace, and therefore hard for the batters to make the play. Washington followed Rahul in the blink of an eye but Reddy was to be trusted, and had after all made a wonderful hundred in Melbourne last Christmas on a tricky pitch against a mighty attack.Together Jadeja and Reddy batted for 15 overs, like cowboys weighing up the odds in the last-chance saloon, knowing full well that there was no one out there to help. They would have talked about pulling the trigger, but figured they were better together, chipping away at a tiring attack. They could not have predicted the extent of the Ben Stokes superpower or the level of his team’s desire. And then, when Reddy took a bullet, Jadeja was left with Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and another 81 runs to find. England set deep, biding their time and playing on nerves. For two hours, as next to nothing happened, no one left their seat. And so it was we saw Test cricket’s greatest trick, the ability to make next to nothing into theatre.Bumrah fell to the bouncer tactic and Siraj to the arrows of fortune. Jadeja stood unbeaten, dumbfounded, gutted and alone. The England players went warmly to each of them, knowing what it takes when the stakes are so high. Jadeja would have done the same. There was honour in defeat and no guilt. Jaddu made his choice, fulfilled his part of the deal and ran short of partners. Would he do the same again? Maybe, maybe not. Perhaps even he doesn’t know.That story, those vignettes are a part of history now, not to be dwelt upon in the days ahead. Jadeja is in good form and surely has crucial roles to play. He is a savvy cricketer, both adaptable and adventurous. you would never back against him rising up to play the winning hand in the match directly after the one in which he finished so forlorn.What of Stokes, this great warrior. A friend who played first-class cricket himself thinks Stokes the greatest leader England has had in any sport. If that is an exaggeration, it cannot be by much. For a start, he is an incredible cricketer. The run-out of Rishabh Pant in the first innings, the influential batting while not at his best, the titanic bowling – that phrase about not being able to get the ball out of a bowler’s hand has rung true this series all right. He pretty much literally bowled until he dropped at Lord’s, hammering the ball into a hard length that gave the power players in the Indian line-up no respite. Yes, he leads from the trenches but does so with both a plan and a message. His players know where they stand and exactly what part they must play. They are a team in the collective sense, chosen to realise a series of mini-ambitions that collate as the whole.Take Zak Crawley, who so many are always so keen to drop. Ben loves Zak because Zak is tough; because Zak looks the opponent in the eye; because Zak is not intimidated; because Zak is “team”; because Zak is spirit, harmony and consistency of plan; because Zak can catch everywhere; because Zak can bat and because Zak doesn’t flinch.Zak of all trades: can bat, can catch, can intimidate the opposition•Getty ImagesCrawley made 22 in the second innings, when Bumrah kept hammering his gloves with thunderbolts that burst from the surface. The margin of victory was 22. England could have lost a couple of wickets that niggly evening but Crawley punched back at those hits as if he were a boxer on the ropes. Then he used small and reasonable excuses – advertising on the sight screen and a glancing blow to the hand – to use up a big chunk of time, thus saving England another over at the stroke of 6.30pm. Ben likes Zak because he doesn’t wilt, whatever the provocation. And Ben wants Zak in Australia, the land where many Englishmen have wilted.Crawley explains why Stokes is the leader he is. This criteria in selection may not have been a path well trodden. In the old days, players were dropped for staying out late or batting too slowly or failing twice. Then, more recently, it turned full circle and became easier to stay in the team than get out of it. Now these decisions are based on character and personality every bit as much as performance. Stokes knows exactly what he wants and Crawley is that soldier, for many reasons other than averaging 40.To England, this eight-day break has been gold. For India, a frustration. Shubman Gill and his men would have preferred to get right back on the horse. Defeat needs closure, but while the mind has time to wander, it tends to wander where you don’t want it to go. England have had a breather, simple as that, and then they go again with an eager and combative Liam Dawson back amongst itJofra Archer and Bumrah are playing: of course they are, it’s the witching hour. What a sight each of them is – so different, so impressive. People are saying Bumrah is the best fast bowler ever. Who knows? But he’s up there. Nature plays its part in these things and, in Bumrah’s case, gave him a late release of the ball from a position fractionally past the perpendicular. This gives him an angle to work with and the gift of delivery closer to the batter than is usual. And boy does it show. Everyone’s in a hurry against Bumrah, even on slow pitches, and most play and miss as a matter of course. This is wonderful to watch and horrible to play against. For a time, and in a more bombastic way, Freddie Flintoff had a bit of Bumrah about him, and in that time he too spat the ball from the pitch with the sort of violence that very few have managed before or since. Ask Ricky Ponting.Then there’s Archer, who makes fast bowling look absurdly easy, which it isn’t. His snorter of a ball to Pant in the second innings at Lord’s could have made for a highlight show of its own. The throat bouncer that roughs them up is a wicked thing, cruel in its physical threat and unerring accuracy. We all remember Steve Smith at Lord’s in 2019. We doubted we’d see it again but perhaps we are. Fast bowling is one of cricket’s great spectacles. Well performed, it is the game’s greatest weapon. We have a real good ‘un in an England shirt and great ‘un in an Indian shirt. What’s not to like. Welcome to Manchester, folks.

Pakistan’s selection committee will meet on Monday to make a decision on the matter

Danyal Rasool18-Oct-2025Mohammad Rizwan’s status as Pakistan ODI captain has been plunged into doubt by the PCB after a statement released by the board said it was “yet to finalise a captain” for the upcoming series against South Africa. The PCB said the white-ball head coach Mike Hesson had called for a meeting of the selection committee to make a final decision on the ODI captaincy.The statement made no mention of Rizwan, who was appointed by the PCB last year and led the side to ODI series victories in Australia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. Results in 2025 have been less attractive with a loss in a home tri-series final to New Zealand, an early exit from the Champions Trophy, and an away series defeat in the West Indies.While there had been speculation about the fate of Rizwan, no specific cricketing reason was provided for throwing his role into uncertainty. There has been no obvious drop in batting or keeping form; Rizwan is the second highest scorer for Pakistan in ODIs this year with 361 runs at over 36. In Test cricket, the other format he is currently selected for, he scored 75 as part of a 163-run stand with Salman Ali Agha that helped Pakistan take a 1-0 lead against South Africa in the ongoing Test series.Shaheen Shah Afridi previously had to vacate T20I captaincy for Babar Azam•AFP/Getty ImagesWhile Rizwan has not officially been removed yet, the statement makes it all but inevitable. It was a fate suffered by Shaheen Shah Afridi in T20Is shortly after Mohsin Naqvi took over as PCB chairperson. At the time, the newly appointed Afridi had captained just one series, but when asked about him at a press conference, Naqvi pointedly declined to confirm he would continue the role.”Even I don’t know who the captain will be,” Naqvi said at the time. “Whether Shaheen continues or a new captain comes in will be determined after the fitness camp. There are a number of technical factors we will consider, the details of which I do not want to go into. We want a long-term solution, whether it’s Shaheen or a new man. And then we intend to stick by that man, instead of just changing a captain just because you lose a match.”A week later, Shaheen was sacked as captain and replaced by Babar Azam, with further controversy when the PCB published a statement on Shaheen’s behalf which he declined ever having written or approved. While an uneasy truce was reached between player and board at the time, ESPNcricinfo understands that relationship has improved.Hesson is not technically in charge of determining or appointing the ODI captain, and does not sit on the selection committee. However, that Naqvi appears to have agreed to put the matter to the selection and advisory committees either reflects the influence Hesson currently enjoys at the PCB, or the fact the board was not averse to a change in the first place anyway. The committee will convene on Monday, according to the PCB, with a decision expected then.

Captain sets the tone as batting bonus points put Division One leaders out of Surrey’s reach

ECB Reporters Network25-Sep-2025Warwickshire 258 and 7 for 3 trail Nottinghamshire 374 (Hameed 122, Verreynne 83, Patterson-White 70) by 109 runsLed impressively from the front by captain Haseeb Hameed’s fourth century of the season, Nottinghamshire clinched the 2025 Rothesay County Championship on day two of the final round of fixtures, the Division One leaders putting themselves out of reach of defending champions Surrey as they totalled 374 in reply to Warwickshire’s 258.Needing just two more points at the start of play to deny Surrey a fourth consecutive title, Nottinghamshire achieved that goal at six minutes before five o’clock as Kyle Verreynne, their South Africa international wicketkeeper, pulled seamer Nathan Gilchrist high over the deep midwicket boundary for six, taking their first-innings total past 300 to secure a second batting bonus point.Verreynne, who also hit the winning runs as South Africa beat Australia at Lord’s to be crowned World Test champions in June, raised both arms in the air before embracing batting partner Liam Patterson-White as a Trent Bridge crowd that had grown considerably since lunch rose to their feet.He went on to make 83, with Patterson-White hitting 70 as the two shared a decisive seventh-wicket partnership of 119. Ethan Bamber, Ed Barnard and Gilchrist took three wickets each but at 7 for 3 in their second innings, trailing by 109 runs, Warwickshire, who had their sights on overtaking Somerset to take third place in the table, are in deep trouble.It is Nottinghamshire’s seventh County Championship in all and their first since 2010, one that was effectively won a week ago when victory over Surrey at the Kia Oval made them short-priced favourites to take the crown.Head coach Peter Moores, for many years the only coach to win the title with two counties until Mark Robinson, twice a winner with Sussex, equalled the feat in 2021 with Warwickshire, now stands alone in winning Championships with three counties, having previously done so with Sussex and Lancashire.Yet for all that it was Verreynne, who hit four sixes, and Patterson-White, who struck 11 fours, who grabbed the glory, it was Hameed who made it possible.Haseeb Hameed raises his bat on reaching three figures•Getty ImagesThe 28-year-old sometime England opener’s 122 laid the foundations and took his season aggregate to 1,253 runs in first-class matches, the highest of his career. This is the third time in four seasons he has exceeded 1000 runs.Earlier in the day, he and Ben Slater had put on 56 for the first wicket as Nottinghamshire, who had claimed the final Warwickshire wicket with the last ball of the opening day, came through a difficult morning session at 100 for 2.Slater, caught behind as Michael Booth found some extra bounce from the Radcliffe Road End, and Freddie McCann, who lost his middle stump to Bamber, were the two morning casualties.It would have been 78 for 3 had Hameed not been put down by Rob Yates at second slip on 45. As it was, as conditions for batting became a little easier after lunch, Hameed and Joe Clarke (52) added 122 in 32 overs for the third wicket.Two dismissals in three balls then jolted their progress. Clarke, reaching for a delivery outside off stump, feathered a catch to Alex Davies off Bamber, before Jack Haynes, confident he had let his second ball go past the bat, looked up to find Warwickshire’s appeals for a thin edge to the keeper had been granted.Haynes was the third of six victims in the innings for Davies, a total in a single innings bettered by only two other keepers in Warwickshire’s history.If that was not a reminder to Nottinghamshire supporters to take nothing for granted, then the sight of Hameed completing his fourth hundred of the season flat on his stomach surely must have been.Confident there was a single on as he clipped Bamber towards midwicket, the captain was startled to see Tazeem Ali swooping to field and even his full-length dive might not have saved him had the teenager’s shy hit. As it was, Warwickshire ran out neither Hameed nor new partner Verreynne, who would have been out by a distance without scoring had the throw gone to the keeper’s end.Hameed – dropped at slip in the previous over – was bowled middle stump by Nathan Gilchrist on the stroke of tea, leaving them 218 for 5. The ovation from the spectators was fully deserved. The season has seen him make a double-hundred twice and carry his bat through the innings twice.Warwickshire’s seamers were rewarded again half an hour into the final session as Lyndon James edged Barnard to give Davies a fourth catch. Nottinghamshire, now six down, still needed another 52 for 300 and with the second new ball soon to become available.It might have been a moment of jeopardy, yet any sense of that quickly disappeared. Verreynne and Patterson-White had clearly decided on a glorious finale and it was Gilchrist who felt the full force of it.His first over with the new ball went for 17 after Patterson-White had begun it with three glorious shots for four, his second for 15 as Verreynne took centre stage.It was the cue for the seventh-wicket due to really let rip, stretching their partnership to 100 in precisely 100 balls and 119 from 120 before Verreynne, who hit nine fours and four sixes, became a fifth victim for Davies behind the stumps, a ball from Barnard glancing the bat as the South African tried to pull it clear.Back for another spell after his chastening experience earlier, Gilchrist then obtained the smallest modicum of revenge by bowling Patterson-White, and Barnard picked up his third wicket by bowling Brett Hutton.Gilchrist was the bowler as Mohammad Abbas nicked to Davies, leaving Warwickshire, 116 behind, to face four overs before the close, in which they lost both Yates and Davies leg before to Abbas as the Pakistan international delivered a final flourish to Nottinghamshire’s day, Hutton getting in on the act by having nightwatcher Bamber caught at second slip.

England went down 4-1 in Brendon McCullum’s first series in charge of the white-ball side. Alan Gardner was joined by Matt Roller and Vish Ehantharajah pick through the pieces

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Feb-2025Sunday’s 150-run hammering in Mumbai put the seal on a 4-1 T20I series defeat for England, as Brendon McCullum’s tenure in charge of the white-ball teams got off to a bumpy start. On this week’s pod, Alan Gardner was joined by Matt Roller and Vithushan Ehantharajah to look at what went wrong, as well as look forward to a return to ODIs ahead of the Champions Trophy. On the menu: England’s batters versus spin, questions about the bowling blueprint, and the possibility of a Joe Root return in T20Is.