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Newcastle United are now keen on signing a Manchester United star on loan, but the Red Devils are looking for a permanent transfer instead, according to a recent report.

Newcastle hold talks for Premier League stars

The Magpies are back in the Champions League next season, and given they will want to be competitive in both that and the Premier League, it can be expected that they will have their eye on making a few signings this summer to bolster their depth.

Related Newcastle talks held over "brilliant" £75m forward, PIF have the cash ready

The Magpies are looking to conduct a deal.

Posts BySean Markus Clifford Jun 18, 2025

Signing a new centre-back could be high on the agenda, given the ages of the likes of Fabian Schar and Dan Burn and the fact that Jamaal Lascelles looks set to be leaving St James’ Park at the end of the month.

It’s been reported this week that Newcastle are in fact in talks with Brighton & Hove Albion’s Jan Paul van Hecke over a transfer to the North East this summer. Talks have begun with the player’s representatives ahead of the club making contact with the Seagulls, who are looking to get around £60 million for the defender.

As well as holding talks over signing a new defender, The Athletic have reported that Newcastle have held internal talks over signing Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United.

The forward has a release clause worth £75 million, and it is believed the Hammers are open to selling Kudus, given he has fallen out of favour under manager Graham Potter. The pursuit of Kudus could be seen as an alternative to Bryan Mbeumo, and they are not the only forwards on their list, as the Magpies are also weighing up a move for another Premier League attacker.

Newcastle want to winger Man Utd ace on loan

According to The Sun, Newcastle are interested in signing Marcus Rashford from Manchester United on a season-long loan deal.

The Englishman looks set to leave Old Trafford this summer, and the Magpies are now ready to make their move, as they believe they can offer him the right stage to get his career back on track. Rashford isn’t seen as a player to replace Alexander Isak, who has been linked with a move away.

However, there is a stumbling block, as the Red Devils would prefer a permanent exit, following his loan spell at Aston Villa.

Rashford himself meanwhile, who has been dubbed “world-class” by his United teammate Luke Shaw in the past, is believed to see Barcelona as his preferred destination, but the Spanish side have their eyes on other targets. Villa decided against the option they had to buy, and that means he is now set to return to United pre-season training next month as things stand.

Marcus Rashford’s Premier League stats

Apps

297

Goals

89

Assists

52

It’s been claimed that United would like to sell Rashford this summer if they receive a fee of £40 million, but as of yet no club has come forward. Rashford’s potential arrival at Newcastle would not only see him fight for a spot alongside Isak, but he would also have the likes of Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes to deal with, both players who have been key under Eddie Howe.

Throughout the 2024/25 Premier League campaign, Arne Slot has utilised a strong core of players to help his Liverpool side claim the Premier League title.

The Reds have to ensure that work is done over the summer to bolster the squad and ensure that he has enough depth to mount another charge for top spot.

It was unthinkable that the Dutchman would be able to achieve such a feat during his debut campaign at the helm, especially after taking over from fan favourite Jürgen Klopp.

However, next season presents a whole new prospect, going from the hunters to the hunted, with the former Feyenoord boss setting the bar as to what’s expected during his spell in charge.

With the transfer window now just around the corner, work has already commenced behind the scenes to hand the manager the best chance of retaining their crown.

The latest on Liverpool’s hunt for new talent this summer

Left-back Milos Kerkez has been on their radar over the last couple of months, with the Hungarian enjoying a season to remember in the Premier League with Bournemouth.

It’s been confirmed in recent days that talks are progressing for the 21-year-old star who could be available for around the £45m mark during the off-season.

However, the defender isn’t the only player in England’s top-flight that’s caught the hierarchy’s attention, with Brighton’s Joao Pedro a target, according to Ben Jacobs.

The journalist confirmed that the Reds are big admirers of the 23-year-old forward after notching ten goals and six assists in just 27 games for the Seagulls.

He also stated that the Brazilian is seen as a potential replacement for Darwin Núñez, who’s been linked with a move away from Anfield, but any transfer could set them back around £60m.

Why Liverpool’s £60m target could be Slot’s next Mac Allister

Midfielder Alexis Mac Allister has been a key component to Liverpool’s success this campaign, cementing his place at the heart of the side alongside Ryan Gravenberch.

The Argentinian international has featured in 35 of the 37 league outings to date, having a huge impact in attacking areas – as seen by his tally of five goals and five assists.

However, he’s also starred without the ball, winning 61% of the tackles he’s entered, along with 5.9 duels won per 90 – offering Slot the perfect box-to-box option in his midfield.

Such performances have led to calls for him to be included in the division’s Team of the Season, highlighting the impact he’s had in the Reds’ title triumph.

His £35m deal from Brighton in the summer of 2023 now appears to be a bargain, with Slot having the opportunity to replicate such a deal with Pedro this summer.

The Brazilian, who’s been labelled “ridiculous” by one analyst, has been a key reason in the success endured under Fabian Hürzeler this campaign, able to transfer such a skillset to Anfield.

His underlying stats highlight how impressive he’s been at the AMEX, registering 2.2 shots per 90, with one of which per game directed on target – handing the manager the added attacking presence he desires.

Joao Pedro’s stats for Brighton in the PL (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

27

Goals scored

10

Assists

6

Pass accuracy

75%

Shots taken

2.2

Shots on target per 90

1

Chances created

1.4

Dribbles completed

1.4

Aerials won

1.9

Stats via FotMob

The Brazilian also managed to complete 75% of the passes he’s attempted, along with 1.4 chances created per 90, offering other attacking players around him the chance to thrive.

Pedro’s talents don’t stop there, completing 1.4 dribbles per 90 and winning 1.9 aerial duels per 90, with his all-round talents aiding the club in their quest to retain the title in 2025/26.

£60m may seem a hefty fee for the striker, but he’s already showcased that he’s capable of being a success in the Premier League – subsequently not needing to adapt to the demands it presents.

Should he get close to the levels produced by Mac Allister on Merseyside in recent months, it would be yet another super deal and one that could be a key factor in any future success.

Related Slot's own Firmino: Liverpool in talks for "monster" £84m Isak alternative

Liverpool could land a star who could replicate the talents of Roberto Firmino at Anfield.

Posts ByEthan Lamb May 21, 2025

Victory in the Merseyside derby appears to have been a false dawn, with Liverpool’s late-season decline very much still here after an error-strewn display saw Fulham claim victory over Arne Slot in the Premier League.

It was actually the first time that Liverpool and Slot had tasted defeat on the road in this term’s top flight, but stepping into the bracing summer air feels a distance away yet, for Fulham benefitted from some elementary defensive mistakes from the away side’s experienced and successful defenders.

Virgil van Dijk’s concerning but perhaps overblown dip in form continued, rarely at ease against the Londoners’ frontline and notably turned inside out by a Bergkamp-esque touch from Rodrigo Muniz, who proved to seal the win by scoring Fulham’s decisive third goal before the break.

However, Van Dijk, 33, is still one of the – if not the – best centre-backs in Europe; tying Liverpool’s captain down to one final contract is crucial.

The same can’t be said for Andrew Robertson, whose unwavering belief in his ability is admirable, but not enough given errors and a startling drop in athleticism and creativity have put his performances under a microscope this year.

Why Andy Robertson needs to be replaced

Robertson joined Liverpool way back when. Hull City’s talented full-back couldn’t save the Tigers from relegation in 2016/17, and so Jurgen Klopp saw an opportunity, swooped in and snapped him up for a cool £8m fee.

Now, he’s entering the twilight stage of his trophy-adorned career. Aged 31, Robertson has spent many years playing expertly in a high-octane, big-expectation outfit, but he’s past his best, with the defeat at Fulham the latest game in which he’s been culpable for a “dreadful error,” as was remarked by The Athletic’s James Pearce.

The Scotland captain also ceded possession on 12 occasions despite failing to complete a single key pass to help Liverpool’s attacking fluency, as per Sofascore.

It would be unfair to rebuke Robertson too harshly. He might be something of a weak link but he’s still been an important part of Liverpool’s campaign and is heading toward his second Premier League title.

But he needs replacing, for sure.

Plans have been mapped out already, it seems like Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez is one of FSG’s most pressing transfer targets ahead of the summer window.

However, Robertson’s not the only player who showed in the capital that they need to be sold, with a ‘world-class’ star potentially having played his last.

Liverpool need to sell "world-class" star

Replacing Robertson would be for the greater good of Slot’s project, but there are one or two more regular starters on Merseyside who might also be cashed in this summer.

Caoimhin Kelleher being one of them. The goalkeeper has been brilliant as Liverpool’s back-up between the sticks, featuring 67 times in total for the first team, but his unconvincing performance against Fulham underscored the reasoning behind FSG’s decision to allow him to move away, to sign a replacement.

Fulham put three past their opponents at the weekend despite only accumulating an xG total of just 0.79, which basically means that Liverpool should really have prevented two, if not all three, of the strikes.

It’s becoming clear that Kelleher needs to be sold, having risen from Liverpool’s academy graduate to achieve a sort of cult status, so instrumental in winning domestic cups over the past few seasons.

Praised as a “world-class” shot-stopper by his skipper, Van Dijk, Kelleher cannot abide another campaign playing second fiddle and fair enough to him. A swarm of clubs were intrigued in signing the £35m-rated star last year, but he ultimately stayed put.

However, the Irishman has pulled no punches in expressing his desire to take the next step in his career and “leave and be a number one.”

However, he’s hardly failed to earn any attention at Anfield. Slot, to whom Alisson is “the best goalkeeper in the world,” has been forced to make do without his number one on many occasions this season. In fact, the 26-year-old’s skills have been called into play regularly over the past couple of years.

24/25

20

9

23/24

26

5

22/23

4

2

21/22

8

4

20/21

5

2

19/20

4

2

With Alisson unable to shake persistent injury problems, Kelleher has featured 46 times since the start of last season. His Brazilian counterpart has featured 60 times over the same period.

The Liverpool Echo certainly weren’t impressed, handing Kelleher a 5/10 match rating. While correspondent Ian Doyle noted that the Ireland international could do little about Ryan Sessegnon’s parity-restoring strike, there’s a case to be made that the following strikes could have been prevented, albeit with Iwobi’s shot taking a nicking deflection off the guilty Robertson.

With Giorgi Mamardashvili set to arrive from Valencia in the summer, it makes perfect sense to bank a fee for Kelleher before his deal expires in 2026.

Especially when the Georgian goalkeeper, still only 24, is putting in performances like that of last weekend, when Real Madrid was foiled in their own backyard.

Football is a fickle game and revisionism must be ignored as Liverpool enter this final stretch of the campaign a little sapped and disjointed.

If anything, such a dip would have told Slot more about his tools than the hitherto strength that allowed him to carve through so many of his club’s opponents for the lion’s share of the season.

Liverpool have suffered a few blots on the copybook of late, but make no mistake, this is an extraordinary feat acheived down Anfield Road. The Reds are heading toward the Premier League title, but change is sure to be afoot in the market this summer.

In west London, Kelleher, like Robertson, may well have shown why he needs to be sold this summer.

Worse than Salah: Slot must axe 5/10 Liverpool ace who made just 2 passes

Liverpool suffered just their second Premier League defeat of the season this afternoon.

2 ByEthan Lamb Apr 6, 2025

They meet United in Qualifier 1, while Qalandars and Kings face off in the Eliminator

Danyal Rasool20-May-2025PSL 2025 is nearing an end, having completed the group stages in Rawalpindi following a brief suspension two weeks ago. The game between Lahore Qalandars and Peshawar Zalmi was an effective knockout – the most consequential of the four group games since the league’s resumption. The tournament now moves to Lahore, where it will stay till the final on May 25. Quetta Gladiators and Islamabad United kickstart the playoffs with Qualifier 1, while arch-rivals Qalandars and Karachi Kings face off in the Eliminator. ESPNcricinfo looks at how each team’s campaign has unfolded, and what it tells us about the season’s denouement.Quetta GladiatorsThere was a sliding-doors moment for Gladiators two weeks into the tournament. They had played just three games due to a quirk of the scheduling, having lost two convincingly, and were on track to make it three losses in four against Kings. Kings needed 66 runs off the remaining 69 balls with nine wickets in hand when the Gladiators bowlers somehow found a second wind. Gladiators eventually pulled out a five-run win, which forced the Kings captain David Warner to remark that his side had handed the opposition the game.Catalysed, Gladiators have become an unstoppable behemoth since. They won all their remaining completed matches, finishing three points clear of the field at the top of the table. Abrar Ahmed has been arguably the best legspinner this season, second on the wickets charts with an economy rate under 7.50. Mohammad Amir and Khurram Shahzad have each made match-winning contributions, while Faheem Ashraf has rediscovered some of his better all-round form.At the top, captain Saud Shakeel opening the batting is arguably a point of weakness, but there is significant power hitting among Gladiators’ ranks elsewhere. Finn Allen and Rilee Rossouw will return for the playoffs, while local players Hasan Nawaz and Khawaja Nafay can inflict damage in their own right. With two bites at a spot in the final, Gladiators look well-poised for a first final since they won their only title six years ago.United’s Sahibzada Farhan and Alex Hales form arguably the best opening combination this PSL•PCBIslamabad UnitedMaybe what separates United’s genius from their madness is just hindsight. The defending champions were heavily criticised for throwing away their momentum after they appeared to be running away with the league after winning their first five matches. They then rested five players for the sixth game, and duly got pounded by Qalandars. That lightning in a bottle they had captured suddenly gone, United lost four on the bounce, and were in slight danger of missing out on the playoffs altogether.The break, though, has done them good. The old United was back in its full pomp in a dismantling of Kings that saw them claim a place in the qualifier alongside Gladiators. In this kind of form, there is perhaps no side that can truly live with United.Alex Hales showed himself to be the perfect replacement with Colin Munro no longer available, and alongside Sahibzada Farhan, forms arguably the best opening combination in the league. Shadab Khan is having another excellent all-round season, while no bowler with as many wickets as Imad Wasim is nearly as economical as his 7.06. With Ben Dwarshuis, Tymal Mills and Salman Irshad as the frontline quicks, United’s weakness perhaps lies in the absence of a truly premium fast bowler, but they have plenty of cover elsewhere to compensate. United are a team that can blow hot and cold, though Monday, when they thumped 251 batting first against Kings, suggests, ominously for the league, that there will be more of the former than the latter.Kings captain David Warner has taken to the PSL with surprising enthusiasm, while James Vince is the second-highest run-scorer this season•PCBKarachi KingsKings missed out on each of the last three playoffs, so there’s progress already. It has been something of a stop-start season as Kings alternated between wins and losses for the first six games, before doing just enough to secure passage to the playoffs ahead of the league’s temporary suspension. The hammering at United’s hands, though, was a reminder of the gap that exists between Kings’ average performances and the very best at the top of the league.Kings have never truly managed to build up a head of steam this season, and just as they strung three wins together, they found themselves railroaded into the Eliminator by United. Their top three is as imposing as any in the league, with Warner, who has taken to the PSL and this Kings project, with surprising enthusiasm. Tim Seifert and James Vince, the second-highest run-scorer this season, flank him. Mohammad Nabi is the most economical spinner, while Abbas Afridi is the highest wicket-taker, and Hasan Ali is not far behind, even if they have tended to be expensive.It is Kings’ domestic core in the middle order, though, that may expose a soft underbelly. Khushdil Shah has exploded into life from time to time, but there is an air of vulnerability beyond the top three which Kings haven’t quite shaken off. It is what led to that infamous collapse against Gladiators early in the season, and, on Monday against United, Kings lost seven wickets for 34 runs – they went from 80 for 1 to 114 for 8 – to seal their fate.Fakhar Zaman has a strike rate of 155.04 in PSL 2025Lahore QalandarsQalandars came within one match of exiting in the first round for the seventh time in ten years, but produced a clutch performance in a rain-shortened game to ward off that fate. Much like Kings, Qalandars’ season has waxed and waned. Consistency has proved elusive, but enough individuals in their squad have come up with performances when points on the board were needed.Qalandars remain heavily dependent on the timeless Fakhar Zaman, the third-highest run-scorer in the league; he has a superior strike rate to the top two. After an uncertain start, his opening partner Mohammad Naeem’s flashes of brilliance give Qalandars firepower up top without needing to turn to overseas players. Rounding off the domestic top three is Abdullah Shafique, who also ranks among the top eight for runs. Throw in a strike rate of 147.15, and flying powerplay starts are almost guaranteed.Qalandars’ major worry lies at the other end. Their charge to successive PSL titles came courtesy of a world-class bowling attack in Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Zaman Khan and Rashid Khan. They still have three of those four, but none has proved remotely as effective. Haris’ economy is a staggering 10.66, the highest of all specialist bowlers in the tournament.Qalandars have also been most affected by player departures. Daryl Mitchell, Sam Billings and Sikandar Raza, all key contributors at various stages, will not be available during the playoffs, and though the Qalandars have drafted in Kusal Perera, Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Shakib al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, it remains to be seen whether those shoes have been filled.

After the WPL, 30 cricketers were picked for an intense camp in Bengaluru to improve fitness levels

Shashank Kishore21-Jun-2023Remember Ellyse Perry’s acrobatic save on the boundary to deny India in the T20 World Cup semi-final in February?Here’s a recap: she sprinted along the rope from deep square leg, covered at least 20 metres, threw herself towards the ball at full stretch and pushed it back while airborne. It saved Australia two crucial runs in the penultimate over in a game they won by five runs.Four months have passed since that heartbreaking day for India in Cape Town. The women’s team is preparing for a new bumper season that begins with a limited-overs tour to Bangladesh in July, followed by home white-ball series against South Africa and New Zealand in September and October. Then England and Australia also visit for a full tour that includes Tests on either side of the new year.Given the volume of cricket coming India’s way, it’s fair to say that moment of athletic brilliance from Perry has had significant impact on their approach towards fitness and fielding.In May, the senior women’s selection panel picked 30 “targeted players” for an intense camp in Bengaluru. The notable highlights were the implementation of the Athlete Monitoring System (AMS) and Injury Prevention (IP).These systems aren’t new. Teams across sporting landscapes have used them in high-performance environments. That it’s being embraced in women’s cricket in India, starting with the Women’s Premier League (WPL), is noteworthy. With two world events – the 2024 T20 World Cup in Bangladesh and the 2025 ODI World Cup in India – in the next 24 months, the BCCI hopes the steps they have taken will help the team finally win that trophy.So, what is AMS?It’s a software that monitors fatigue, sleep, mood, menstrual cycle and non-sport stressors to mitigate injury risks and maximise performance. It helps monitor data, workloads, past injuries, rehab cycles, performance post-injuries.Why is it significant for women’s cricket now?It has helped the National Cricket Academy tailor roadmaps for each player to ensure their fitness levels continue to remain optimum. For starters, the yo-yo test has been replaced by the one-mile test, a DEXA scan to measure body-fat percentage, vertical jumps, broad jumps, 10- to 20-metre dash, and several endurance routines.”Because it was the off season, we went heavy,” explains Vidarbha’s Disha Kasat, one of the top domestic T20 run-getters in the past two seasons who was part of the camp. “With the lifts in gym, with our runs. Even fielding, we were taking 50 catches in every session. Everyone’s parameters improved from day one to the end of the camp.”Australia have been undisputed leaders when it comes to fitness standards•AFP/Getty ImagesJhulan Goswami, the former India captain, believes this new outlook can be pathbreaking. She had a ringside view of these processes as a bowling coach with Mumbai Indians in the WPL. This, she thinks, can help narrow the gap with Australia, the undisputed leaders in the women’s game.”There’s no comparison [with Australia] on the fitness front,” Goswami says. “They’ve set the benchmark in women’s cricket and it’s a start for us in India to try and aspire to match those standards. Today, players realise skills alone aren’t enough.”It can only take you to a certain level. But to have long-lasting careers and take your game beyond, fitness is very important. You need that ruthlessness, the aggressive mindset. And for that your fitness plays a key role. Hopefully the preparation for next year’s T20 World Cup has started with this.”‘Hiring full-time S&C coaches a turning point’A significant step in this fitness revolution is the formation of a core group of strength and conditioning (S&C) coaches for the women’s set-up. Anand Date coming on board full-time has been a game-changer. Date has over a decade’s experience in S&C, having worked under Rahul Dravid at the NCA and with various men’s India A and age-group squads.Date’s responsibilities now include working with several franchise S&Cs and other coaches that women’s players work with to help maintain continuity in monitoring fitness.”Earlier, we didn’t have a full-time S&C coach. They were all appointed on a series-by-series basis. Now, having Anand Date on board full-time has helped push fitness pedals,” says former India batter VR Vanitha. “He used to build on the fitness parameters of players once they came back to the NCA or national camps after a break.”AMS has ensured players aren’t under-training or over-training. Each player’s workload is mapped and it ensures there’s accountability from their part, even when they aren’t at the NCA. Now even the state teams are embracing this system. The data helps bring everything under one roof.”

“There’s no comparison [with Australia] on the fitness front. They’ve set the benchmark in women’s cricket and it’s a start for us in India to try and aspire to match those standards. Today, players realise skills alone aren’t enough. To have long-lasting careers and take your game beyond, fitness is very important.”Jhulan Goswami, former India captain and Mumbai Indians bowling coach

Workload management is just one aspect. There’s injury prevention too, a system that determines through a series of tests – on shoulders, hip flexors, and hamstring for example – certain markers that are then assessed to tune workloads.”This system determines the extent of injuries, what the fitness levels of a player is at any given time,” Vanitha explains. “It monitors a player’s physical state even before they break down. Essentially, it’s an alarm to those monitoring. It helps tapering workloads if there are markers that suggest potential injury.”While fitness was the focus of the camp, the players did skill-work too. They were divided into groups, handed specific tasks and put through a series of match simulations. They were assisted by experienced net bowlers and side-arm specialists.”Hrishikesh Kanitkar sir [interim head coach of India Women] made me work on my batting, find my own way to do it,” Kasat explains. “He was very flexible. He told me ‘these are your options, see what works for you and find your way out with this as your end goal,’ rather than saying ‘this is the only way you should go about it’. Practice sessions were intense.”‘WPL will close gap between domestic and international cricket’Goswami believes the WPL will have a wide impact on the women’s game in India. “This year, we didn’t have time to prepare for WPL. Teams just went with the flow, picked players on raw numbers,” she says. “Next year, teams will have an opportunity to prepare, conduct camps, scout players, shortlist performers. That will automatically lift the domestic tournaments because players know there’s an added incentive to get noticed.”Previously, the gap between domestic and international cricket was massive. Players found it too steep and took time to bridge this gap. This won’t be the case going forward, because there’s a massive platform now.”Disha Kasat (far left): ‘If I have to go to my training venue, which is at least an hour from my gym, I have to ensure I’m spending my time productively when I’m at the nets’•BCCIThis is where preparatory tournaments play a massive role. Currently, a high-performance squad, comprising several age-group players that featured in India’s victorious Under-19 Women’s World Cup campaign and WPL performers, is in Hong Kong to play in the Emerging Nations’ Asia Cup. Most of the games have been washed out, but the tournament held significant potential because the previous women’s A tour was before the pandemic.”Tournaments like the Emerging Nations Cup is good, but India’s level is way above, say, the A team of Sri Lanka, Pakistan or any of the other teams,” Vanitha says. “What we need is exposure to the A sides of England, Australia. Also, we need to expand our base. While the focus should be on the Under-19s, we shouldn’t lose sight of those who are in the 20 to 23 age group.”Goswami has noticed players having that motivation to be a part of the franchise system, now that they’ve seen what the WPL offers, both in terms of opportunities and money. Vanitha has also seen players go out of their comfort zone.”I’ve seen some people joining better training centres, more people taking their nutrition seriously, which is vital for athlete progress,” Vanitha says. “Cricketers are going and accessing top coaches in India. This itself speaks there’s internal motivation from the girls to invest in themselves.”Kasat is an example of someone who has gone the extra mile. The Vidarbha captain, who hails from Nagpur, lives in Bengaluru during the off-season to train under a private coach. Kasat, who played for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the WPL, also has access to training facilities set up by Rajasthan Royals in Talegaon.”In Nagpur, everything comes too easy,” she says. “In Bangalore, there’s a price you put on everything. Time spent in traffic to go from A to B can be exhausting. There’s a sense of purpose. If I have to go to my training venue, which is at least an hour from my gym, I have to ensure I’m spending my time productively when I’m at the nets. You want to get something out of every session. I’ve lived and trained in Bangalore for two years now. It’s not easy, but it’s made me a better cricketer.”Kasat had the opportunity to train with Perry at RCB and observe her work ethic. Her takeaway from that experience is simple: “If she can, I can too.”

How Bangladesh’s plucky keeper-bat rescued a shaky innings to set up their series win

Mohammad Isam25-May-2021The talk around Dhaka for the last couple of days was about the cyclone brewing in the Bay of Bengal. There was heavy rain on the eve of the match, and plenty more was forecast during the second ODI on Tuesday. Mushfiqur Rahim was aware of his surroundings, and made a mental note of switching on and off, according to the interruptions.An elite sportsperson will tell you when they are in that fabled “zone”, few things can pull them out of it. It could be especially tough for someone who has spent more time in a bio-bubble than at home in the last eight months.When the rain interrupted play for the first time, Rahim had to wait nearly half-an-hour on 84. Shortly afterwards when he moved to 96, there was a second downpour. Then, Bangladesh faced a difficult last 10 overs – they were already seven down with Rahim being the last recognised batter.But he made his final 29 runs off just 16 balls to take the game away from Sri Lanka, who had Bangladesh on the mat at 184 for 7. Rahim went on to score 50 of the 62 runs Bangladesh made from that point.”My main target was to bat for 50 overs, regardless of how much runs we get in the end,” Rahim said. “I felt 246 was a fighting score on this wicket. The more important thing was that I was mentally prepared to switch on and switch off due to the weather. I am happy with the innings, but we missed out on the last eleven balls, and in a close contest, those 10-20 runs becomes crucial for us. I want to improve my batting more.”That it came during a rescue act – Bangladesh were 15 for 2 after losing Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan – must have been more satisfying.
“We always try to lose fewer wickets in the first ten overs but I think it is quite normal to lose early wickets against the new ball,” he said. “We always practice against the new ball, so it wasn’t anything new for me. We looked to bat out the first five or six overs.”There was more pace and bounce on the wicket than the first ODI. The ball was coming on to the bat. I told Liton (Das) that we can shift the momentum by playing to the merit of the ball for those early five to seven overs. We planned to get 20-odd runs at that stage. Liton was batting well but unfortunately got out.”Having spoken about how he approached his knock, Rahim then touched upon how he’d like the next crop of batters, like Das, Afif Hossain and Mosaddek Hossain to approach their innings. He underlined the need to be selective in their shot-making.”I think if a team has seven or eight performers, the team will more often than not come out on top if they perform regularly,” he said. “After Tamim and Shakib got out early, there was an opportunity for Liton, Afif and Mosaddek, who got a chance. They are trying but they have to be more selective. One has to know when to play a low-risk and when to play a high-risk shots on this type of wicket.”I hope they become more matured, but I’d be pleased if they can quickly take a lesson from here. It makes things difficult when the pressure comes upon us in big and normal matches. If they start contributing, Bangladesh will become a stronger one-day team.”These batters don’t have to go too far to find a playbook for such batting. They can have a look at the footage of Rahim’s 84 and 125 in these two matches. Particularly in this innings, Rahim’s wagon wheel was perfectly in tune with what was bowled at him, on a two-paced pitch, and the team’s need.He took singles and twos all around the wicket, but when it came to the boundaries, he understood where to hit hard and when to use the pace. He struck only three fours through the covers and one lofted hit down the ground. The rest came with tickles down third-man, a glide through fine-leg to reach his century, and using Dushmantha Chameera and Isuru Udana’s pace to paddle sweep fours through backward square-leg.”Like every century, this too is a special innings if the team wins,” he said. “It contributed to our first ODI series win over Sri Lanka, so it will inspire me to do better in the coming days.”Rahim however is known for being straightforward, and he didn’t let the chance to pass to talk about his reverse sweep, which garnered some attention after he got out playing the shot in the first game. He didn’t play a single one in the second ODI, but promised there will be more reverse sweeps coming up.”The reverse sweep is one of my favourite shots, and one of my go-to shots. If the situation arises, I can play four or five reverse sweeps, not just one.”

Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. rose to the occasion in Game 6's do-or-die win over the Mariners in the ALCS on Sunday night. So too did one very shrewd cameraman.

Guerrero's solo home run along with the Blue Jays' stingy defense helped Toronto avoid elimination and force a Game 7, their first since 1985 when they played the Royals in the ALCS. Sunday's win marked Toronto's first at home in the ALCS, and it sets up a climactic final game for what has been a thoroughly entertaining Blue Jays-Mariners series so far.

After the Blue Jays' crucial win, Sportsnet reporter Hazel Mae pulled Guerrero aside for a brief interview and, thanks to the help of camera operator Alex Frazao, was able to capture an instantly iconic cinematic moment.

Mae asked Guerrero if he was ready for Game 7 against the Mariners, and as she directed the mic to the Blue Jays star, the camera zoomed in on Guerrero's beaming face. Guerrero soaked it all in and looked around at his home fans at Roger Centre while the camera spun around, giving viewers a cinematic 360-degree view of Guerrero on a special and historic night for Toronto.

The camera then zoomed in on Guerrero again as he addressed the roaring Blue Jays fans: "I was born ready. I was born ready, and I want it all for this city."

10 out of 10, no notes.

MLB fans praised the TV crew for their great storytelling and for living up to the big moment:

The Blue Jays and Mariners will face off in Game 7 on Monday night with a trip to the World Series on the line.

National Baseball Hall of Fame outfielder Dave Parker died at age 74 on Saturday, leaving the baseball world mourning for "the Cobra." Parker had a long battle with Parkinsons.

Throughout Parker's 19-year MLB career, he was most known for his 11 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 1978 with the Pirates, he was named the National League's MVP after combining a .334/.394/.585 slash line with 30 home runs and 117 RBIs.

Parker was already enshrined in the inaugural Pirates Hall of Fame class in 2022, and he was set to be honored at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown next month after being voted in by the Classic Baseball Era Committee back in December.

Tributes poured out for Parker on Saturday shortly after the Pirates revealed the sad news. The Pirates specifically spoke about Parker's legacy ahead of Saturday's game vs. the New York Mets. PNC Park held a moment of silence for their famed star.

The Pirates and the Cincinnati Reds, where Parker spent four seasons after his tenure with the Pirates, and the Athletics, where Parker spent two seasons, all wrote memorials for Parker on social media.

Here's a look at how the rest of the baseball world honored Parker on Saturday.

Afghanistan cruised to a series victory over Zimbabwe, with Ibrahim Zadran backing up a disciplined bowling performance with a half-century of his own. Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, Abdollah Ahmadzai and Rashid Khan had limited the hosts to 125 all out in Harare, setting up a straight-forward chase.

Mujeeb stifles

Zimbabwe tried to do the right thing. Their batters realised the importance of getting set. They attempted to regroup when wickets fell. There was no collapse this time, but there was no redemption either.Opener Dion Myers looked to be doing well against Mujeeb, only to sweep him straight to short fine. He was aiming to clear the fielder because there was no one in the deep. Good plan. Bad execution.Brendan Taylor was less adventurous, perhaps wanting to make amends for a low-percentage shot that led to a first-ball dismissal on Wednesday. But Mujeeb kept building pressure. It was the last over of the powerplay. Zimbabwe were 34 for 2, having only hit three boundaries. Trying to exploit the field restrictions before they ran out, Taylor was caught at mid-off, trying to hit the bowler over his head.Zimbabwe had the best of intentions. It didn’t stop them backfiring.

Abdollah the enforcer

The pitch was slightly on the slower side – except whenever Abdollah came on to bowl. The 22-year-old fast bowler is all hustle and bustle, hitting the deck and troubling batters with bounce. Ryan Burl, who was in the middle of patching things up with his captain Sikandar Raza, fell trying to swat one of Abdollah’s well-directed short balls off his face. Zimbabwe slipped to 57 for 4. They couldn’t score more than a run a ball in seven of the first 10 overs.Sikander Raza held Zimbabwe’s innings together•Zimbabwe Cricket

Raza’s resistance

Raza tried to do his best to shepherd the innings forward. He came in during the fifth over and showed that run-scoring was still possible, hitting two fours off his first two balls – though both of them were overpitched and allowed him the freedom of his super fast hands. His best shot was an inside out, one-bounce four over extra cover, against a yorker gone wrong from Abdollah.All this happened while the Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan was tending to an injury to his right hand in the field. He had only bowled one over till then. When he picked the ball back up in the 17th, he knocked over Raza, which left the score at 104 for 6, and then ran through the tail. Zimbabwe’s highest partnership was just 24 runs.

Ibrahim anchors the chase

Afghanistan ransacked nine boundaries in the powerplay, three times as many as their opposition. Some of that was good strokeplay. The rest of it was just Zimbabwe offering what every batter wants on a sluggish pitch – width and the chance to get under the ball.Ibrahim Zadran helped himself to back-to-back T20I fifties, though this one was a little more hard work. Afghanistan went 43 balls without a boundary after the powerplay but they’d done enough damage while the field was up, scoring 54 of the required 126.Questions remain over Afghanistan’s middle order. Sediqullah Atal – who had turned his right ankle while fielding and required attention – and Darwish Rasooli combined to score just 25 runs in 32 balls through the middle overs.

Toni Kroos admits he understands the criticism over his former Real Madrid team-mate Vinicius Jr’s behaviour on the pitch, saying the forward’s hot-headed antics can be “annoying”. The Germany icon has weighed in on the conversation surrounding the winger, who issued an apology to Los Blancos’ supporters after reacting angrily to being substituted in last month’s El Clasico with Barcelona.

• Vinicius criticised for angry reaction to Clasico substitution

  Brazil star Vinicius was seething after being taken off in the first Clasico of the 2025-26 season on 26 October. The 25-year-old shouted “always me” towards Real manager Xabi Alonso following his withdrawal after 72 minutes, before adding “I'm leaving the team, it's better if I leave, I'm leaving.”

  Vinicius expressed his frustration by going straight past Alonso and down the tunnel, only to return to the bench to watch his side secure a 2-1 victory over fierce rivals Barcelona. He then attempted to confront Blaugrana winger Lamine Yamal in ugly post-match scenes at the Santiago Bernabeu.

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  Brazil superstar apologised to Los Blancos faithful three days later

  However, Vinicius was full of remorse for his actions, taking to social media to issue an apology to Real supporters. Three days after the match, he wrote on X: “Today I want to apologise to all the Madridistas for my reaction when I was substituted in the Clasico.

  "Just as I have already done in person during today's training, I also want to apologise again to my team-mates, the club, and the president.

  “Sometimes passion gets the better of me because I always want to win and help my team. My competitive character stems from the love I feel for this club and everything it represents.”

  However, Vinicius’ apology did not mention Real boss Alonso, whom he is reported to have a strained relationship with.

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  Former Real midfielder Kroos reveals he tried to keep Vinicius in check

  While the debate continues to swirl regarding Vinicius’ behaviour against Barcelona, former Real midfielder Kroos has since revealed he tried to keep the former Flamengo ace in check when they were team-mates, owing to a feeling that his conduct was causing the club to “suffer”.

  In quotes carried by Spanish publication the 35-year-old said at The Icon League, a Germany-based five-a-side football tournament he co-founded: “At that time, I told him many times that he’d had enough, because you get the feeling that, due to his behaviour, the team ends up suffering. It's understandable that he might annoy an opponent, a referee, or the crowd.

  “As a team, you get the impression that everything is working against the group because of what's happening around him. I've tried many times to calm him down on the pitch, especially so he wouldn't lose his composure, because sometimes that happened. I always told him, 'You're so good you don't need all that’.”

  In a legendary 10-year spell with Real, Kroos lifted 22 trophies including five Champions League titles with the Spanish heavyweights, making 465 appearances in all competitions. He retired from professional football after representing Germany – with whom he won the World Cup in 2014 – at Euro 2024, with Julian Nagelsmann’s side losing to eventual winners Spain in the quarter-finals.

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  Up next for Vini Jr: Real return to La Liga action against Elche

  Despite the criticism being levelled at Vinicius, he has continued to perform well for Real this season. The Rio de Janeiro-born attacker has scored five goals and recorded four assists in La Liga this term. 

  Vinicius also featured in both friendlies as Brazil continued their preparations for the 2026 World Cup with a 2-0 victory over Senegal, before drawing 1-1 with Tunisia. Carlo Ancelotti’s side have already qualified for next summer’s tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

  Meanwhile, Real return to La Liga action this weekend following the conclusion of the international break. Alonso’s side – who have won 10 of their 12 league games this season – are looking to maintain their position at the top of the table when they travel to 11th-placed Elche on Sunday. Second-placed Barcelona will be looking to apply pressure when they entertain Athletic Club on Saturday, with Hansi Flick’s men just three points behind.