The United Kingdom has launched a joint bid to host the 2035 Women's World Cup. England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales are hoping to host the tournament in just under a decade, with the proposal including 22 stadiums. The competition would be the largest single-sport event ever staged in the UK and the first FIFA World Cup hosted on these shores since 1966.

• 'All Together' Women's World Cup vision

  The English, Irish, Scottish, and Welsh Football Associations have banded together to put forward this World Cup bid. Of the 22 proposed stadiums, 16 will be in England, three in Wales, two in Scotland, and one in Northern Ireland across 16 host cities. The English FA says the bid is built on the vision of 'All Together' – a rallying cry for women's football and 'sport more broadly to empower worldwide'.

  A joint statement from the CEOs of the FA, Irish FA, Scottish FA, and FA of Wales reads: "Hosting the FIFA Women’s World Cup would be a huge privilege for our four home nations. If we are successful, the 2035 tournament will be the biggest single-sport event held on UK soil with 4.5 million tickets available for fans. We are proud of the growth that we’ve driven in recent years across the women’s and girls’ game, but there is still so much more growth to come, and this event will play a key role in helping us deliver that. Working together with FIFA, a Women’s World Cup in the UK has the power to turbo charge the women’s and girls’ game both in the UK and globally. Our bid also demonstrates our commitment to leaving a lasting legacy, in the run up to 2035, and the years afterwards.  Together, we want to welcome the world to the UK to celebrate and enjoy an unforgettable tournament."

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• AFP
  

  Four nations' three key pillars

  As part of this plan, the four countries are committed to a lasting legacy of women's football. And they want to deliver that through the three pillars of Participation, Leadership, and Commercial Growth. For one, this involves increasing access locally and worldwide, and focusing on underrepresented communities. Secondly, the goal is to empower women in leadership, to double female officials by 2035, and deliver global mentoring and education programmes. Finally, they hope to transfer the sport's commercial potential, attract new fans and partners, and reinvest revenues into grassroots and elite pathways.

  Prime Minister Keir Starmer added: "Our bid to host the 2035 FIFA Women’s World Cup shows the UK’s passion for football. The Lionesses’ success has inspired girls across our country, and we’ll build on that momentum by welcoming millions of football fans from around the world to a tournament that will benefit communities and businesses in host cities up and down the UK. With significant investment in school sport and grassroots facilities through our Plan for Change, we’re creating opportunities for girls to play for their national team."

• What stadiums will be included?

  While it has not been built yet, Manchester United's proposed new Old Trafford Stadium is one of the 22 venues included in the UK's bid to host the 2035 World Cup. The full list of stadiums are below. Birmingham City's newly proposed ground has also been included. If United's redevelopment plans don't go ahead, Old Trafford will still be considered in its current iteration.

  1. Windsor Park (Belfast)
  2. Sports Quarter Stadium (Birmingham)
  3. Villa Park (Birmingham)
  4. American Express Stadium (Brighton & Hove)
  5. Ashton Gate (Bristol)
  6. Cardiff City Stadium (Cardiff)
  7. Principality Stadium (Cardiff)
  8. Easter Road (Edinburgh)
  9. Hampden Park (Glasgow)
  10. Elland Road (Leeds)
  11. Hill Dickinson Stadium (Liverpool)
  12. Chelsea Stadium (London)
  13. Emirates Stadium (London)
  14. Selhurst Park (London)
  15. Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (London)
  16. Wembley Stadium (London)
  17. Etihad Stadium (Manchester)
  18. St James' Park (Newcastle)
  19. City Ground (Nottingham)
  20. Stadium of Light (Sunderland)
  21. Old Trafford (Trafford)
  22. Stok Cae Ras (Wrexham)

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  Any rival bidders?

  According to BBC Sport, the UK's joint bid is currently unopposed. This could be ratified by a vote in a FIFA congress next year. So it may not be long before the four nations find out if their proposal is successful. Incidentally, from 2031, the Women's World Cup will be contested between 48 teams.

Radha Yadav says “only the fielding part changed the momentum” in the fourth T20I where India restricted England to 126 with a supreme performance in the field

Valkerie Baynes10-Jul-2025Charlie Dean was face down and covered in dirt, so you couldn’t read her lips or hear her voice over the celebrating Indian fans, but the violent jerk of her head suggested an expletive or two may have been uttered.Her dismissal, and frustration at it, summed up England’s woes and India’s strength in the fourth T20I all at once; England failed to mount a challenge and their opponents were hungry, as illustrated by their superb fielding display.So, when Dean reverse-swept Radha Yadav straight to short third, yet set off for a single only to be sent back by partner Sophie Ecclestone, N Shree Charani fired the ball to the keeper’s end with speed and accuracy and Richa Ghosh whipped off the bails as Dean dived in vain.Related

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'One more ball, please' – The quiet rise of N Shree Charani

Spinners set up historic series win for India

Charani, who only made her T20I debut at the start of this series and is the leading wicket-taker, already had two wickets for the match and England were 101 for 7 after electing to bat. They added 25 more runs as Ecclestone and Issy Wong attempted to give themselves something to bowl at.But India took the spoils, thanks firstly to Charani and fellow left-arm spinner Radha, who was named the Player of the Match for her 2 for 15 and contributions to India’s efforts in the field, which was a big improvement on the previous match at The Oval, which England won by five runs in the last over.In the fourth T20I at Old Trafford on Wednesday, India’s batters also showed what could be done on a pitch they had exploited with their spin-heavy attack when openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma put on a strong powerplay and Jemimah Rodrigues finished their pursuit of 127 with three overs to spare.”We spoke in the last meeting that we have to cut down the twos and we actually did that today and we were really pumped up to do that,” Radha said. “Only the fielding part, I thought, changed the momentum.”

“She probably would’ve batted through that on that wicket and got us to a score that we could have defended”Tammy Beaumont on the missing Nat Sciver-Brunt

Just as important for India had been delivering on a promise to themselves to take home a maiden T20I series victory on English soil, which they can now do with an unassailable 3-1 lead with one match to play on Saturday.”The day we came here, we spoke about eight matches and we were like, we will go absolutely hard at them no matter what,” Radha said. “The belief and the dedication this time is really different. I don’t know about the past, but this time, this team, this atmosphere, magical this is, and we are actually onto something. We want to create something big going forward.”So this is the path we want to go [on] and there’s still a lot of things we have to correct. We have that in our minds, but… this is a different team and we are going to dominate no matter what. Batting-wise, we are doing so well, but particularly bowling and fielding sets the tone for us. Batting has been really good, but bowling and fielding we touched upon and it is showing in the results.”Radha Yadav was named the Player of the Match•Getty ImagesSave for two minor blemishes – when Sophia Dunkley beat Deepti Sharma at cover point for the first boundary of the match, off the 15th ball, and when Amanjot Kaur, seeming blinded by the sun as she ran the wrong way from deep backward square leg and failed to stop a four off Tammy Beaumont – India were flawless in the field.Arundhati Reddy took three cool-as-you-like catches in the deep to remove Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Beaumont and Paige Scholfield, and Radha took a sharp, low catch at backward point to dismiss Dunkley, reaching for a slower, wider delivery as Deepti pulled her length back to the advancing batter.Radha also did brilliantly running and diving to her left to stop what had looked like a certain four as Scholfield attempted to pierce the gap between deep midwicket and long-on. Amanjot took a blow to her right wrist fielding off her own bowling as Scholfield struck the ball firmly back at her but she took a wicket two balls later, pinging the top of middle and off as Amy Jones backed away to give herself room.Charani trapped Alice Capsey lbw for 18 off 21 deliveries and Scholfield’s dismissal left England six wickets down before they had reached the 100-run mark. Dean followed and the hosts walked off at 126 for 7.Jemimah Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh sealed the chase•ECB via Getty ImagesBeaumont, England’s stand-in captain while Nat Sciver-Brunt is injured, conceded that was 20 runs too few.England have lost 22 wickets to spin so far in this series, as India have persisted with the same four-spinner, two-seamer attack throughout, and Beaumont also acknowledged the hole left by Sciver-Brunt in offering a counter to that.”Nat Sciver-Brunt is irreplaceable, isn’t she, really? She’s come off as the leading run-scorer in the WPL, so she would’ve known the bowlers we’re facing inside out,” Beaumont said. “Her experience through that middle order and how aggressive she is and particularly the way she plays spin, it’s really aggressive, and she’s a real boundary-hitter for us. She probably would’ve batted through that on that wicket and got us to a score that we could have defended.”We’re so lucky to have someone like Nat, but her workload’s incredibly high and, unfortunately, these things happen. We’ve got three games where people need to step up into those shoes for just a little bit and hopefully she’s back and raring to go for some 50-over cricket for the next few months.”The final T20I will be played at Edgbaston on Saturday followed by a three-match ODI series starting in Southampton on July 16.

Arsenal have now reportedly joined Liverpool in the race to sign Jean-Philippe Mateta from Crystal Palace, as contract talks continue to drag on between the striker and the South London club.

The Gunners return from the international break looking to get back to winning ways after entering it off the back of a dramatic 2-2 draw against Sunderland and it doesn’t get much bigger than the North London derby. Up against rivals Tottenham Hotspur, Mikel Arteta’s side will be aiming to prove their title credentials once again and at least maintain their four-point lead at the top.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the derby, Arteta reiterated just how big a rivalry it is, saying: “It’s just different. it’s a big city, but it’s a big rivalry; it’s a part of London that we want to conquer, and they want to do the same.

“There’s been a lot of shifts as well over the years, we’ve been more dominant and it’s just beautiful, especially when we play at home in front of our people, we know what it means to them.

“The energy that they’re going to bring, the energy that the team is going to bring in every single action, it’s just a privilege to play those kind of games. We cannot wait to get to Sunday.”

Arteta must axe Eze & unleash Arsenal star who's "very similar" to Bergkamp

With Eberechi Eze failing to catch fire at Arsenal, Mikel Arteta could seek a replacement against Spurs.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 22, 2025

It marks the beginning of a crucial week for Arsenal, who have the small task of playing host to Bayern Munich just days after the Tottenham clash before then travelling to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea. Three points from three in such a run would highlight just how serious the Gunners are about winning major honours.

In their current run, it would also be difficult for many players to turn Arsenal down and that may even be the case for Palace star Mateta.

Arsenal join race to sign Mateta

According to Caught Offside, Arsenal have now joined the race to sign Mateta from Crystal Palace in what could be their second major signing from the Eagles following their recent move for Eberechi Eze.

The Frenchman is set to become a free agent in 2027 and with contract talks yet to reach a resolution, the South London club may be forced to cash in sooner or later – allowing the Gunners to make their move.

A player who’s already been on the scoresheet at the Emirates in the past, Mateta could yet get the chance to wheel away in celebration every week in North London. Such a move would certainly be well-earned, too. From initial struggles, the 28-year-old has become one of the best strikers in the Premier League.

Minutes

959

800

Goals

6

4

Assists

0

0

Expected Goals

8.1

4.6

There’s a reason why Palace boss Oliver Glasner has dubbed his star striker “excellent” in the past and the comparison with Gyokeres shows the level that he’s operating at. If Arsenal want to ensure that their goalscoring problems are ended for good, then they should sign the Palace star.

Arsenal hold talks with £71m ex-Man Utd star after post-Old Trafford transformation

The left-hander will play for South Australia in the Sheffield Shield next week ahead of the first Test

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Nov-2025Travis Head will miss the final two matches of the T20I series against India as he switches to Ashes preparation with an appearance for South Australia in the Sheffield Shield.Head will be available to face Tasmania in Hobart next week in what will be his first first-class match since the tour of West Indies in July. He has had a relatively lean run in white-ball cricket over the last month with a top score of 31 in eight innings across T20Is and ODIs after making 142 against South Africa in August.Related

• Short outlines clear pathway to next T20 World Cup

• Green helps Western Australia to safety, then gets into bowling work

• Ashes tracker: Key questions remain around Australia's squad

• Arshdeep and Washington help India level the series against Australia

Head shapes as a crucial cog in Australia’s Test line-up where he will slot in at No. 5 with the ability to change games with his counterattacking approach. It’s understood that it was largely left for Head to decide whether he wanted a four-day game before facing England.His appearance for South Australia will add to a star-studded round of Sheffield Shield ahead of the first Test with most, if not all, of the squad – which will be named later this week – expected to appear.Josh Hazlewood, who departed the T20I series after the second game in Melbourne, and Mitchell Starc are set to play for New South Wales against Victoria in an attack that will feature Nathan Lyon. Sean Abbott, who will also leave the T20I squad following the Hobart game, is also available for NSW. Steven Smith will play the second of his two matches after making 118 against Queensland at the Gabba.Victoria are expected to have Scott Boland for his third Shield outing of the season after he was rested for the match against Tasmania in Melbourne.Cameron Green will feature for Western Australia against Queensland in a game that should see him return to bowling for the first time since the opening match of the season.Marnus Labuschagne will likely be keen for another outing before the Test series, where he is certain to earn a recall, while Matt Renshaw has been in the opening conversation.Beau Webster will play for Tasmania against South Australia who will have Alex Carey available alongside Head. Brendan Doggett, who could have been named among the back-up quicks by then, is also due to play for SA.Meanwhile, legspinner Tanveer Sangha has been released from the T20I squad to play for NSW in the One-Day Cup match against Queensland in Sydney on Monday. He has been providing cover for Adam Zampa who is awaiting the birth of his second child.As previously announced, left-arm seamer Ben Dwarshuis will come into the squad for the final two matches on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane having overcome a calf injury.The T20I series is level at 1-1 following India’s five-wicket victory in Hobart.

Rishabh Pant’s return to competitive cricket following a foot injury will begin with him captaining India A in the two four-day fixtures against South Africa A in Bengaluru starting October 30.Pant has received a ‘return to play’ clearance from the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence following two stages of rehab for the fractured foot that he suffered during the fourth England vs India Test in Manchester in July. Pant’s India A selection means he will not be playing for Delhi in the second round of the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy from October 25 as earlier envisaged.

India A vs South Africa A fixtures

1st four-dayer – Oct 30 to Nov 2
2nd four-dayer – Nov 6 to Nov 9

Pant and vice-captain B Sai Sudharsan are set to feature in both the matches, while the likes of KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel, Prasidh Krishna ad Mohammed Siraj will feature in only the second four-day fixture, to be played from November 6. It’s likely that all of them will make the cut for India’s Test squad for the South Africa series, which starts on November 14 in Kolkata.The Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel has had to balance out the squads to ensure there’s also a bit of continuity with those featuring for their respective state teams in the ongoing Ranji Trophy season.This is possibly why Rajat Patidar (captaining Madhya Pradesh), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Abhimanyu Easwaran (captaining Bengal) and Akash Deep, among others, are part of the squad for just one of the two matches. Meanwhile, the likes of N Jagadeesan, Manav Suthar, Saransh Jain and Harsh Dubey have been rewarded for their domestic form.KL Rahul is among a host of internationals who will come in for the second game•AFP/Getty Images

If the selectors are convinced with his form and fitness, Pant is likely to make his Test comeback at the first India vs South Africa Test.

India squad for first four-day match

Rishabh Pant (capt, wk), Ayush Mhatre, N Jagadeesan (wk), Sai Sudharsan (vice-capt), Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian, Manav Suthar, Anshul Kamboj, Yash Thakur, Ayush Badoni, Saransh Jain, Gurnoor Brar, Khaleel Ahmed.

India squad for second four-day match

Rishabh Pant (capt, wk), KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Sai Sudharsan (vice-capt), Devdutt Padikkal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian, Manav Suthar, Khaleel Ahmed, Gurnoor Brar, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep.

Manchester United’s £200m spending spree over the summer window was a huge statement by INEOS in an attempt to help lead the club back up the Premier League.

The vast majority of the funds were invested into the Red Devils’ forward line, which has handed Ruben Amorim a deadly trio within the final third of the pitch.

Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha were all added to the first-team ranks, with the former of the trio currently sitting as the club’s top goalscorer.

However, other areas of the pitch are also in need of investment in the near future to help Amorim in his quest for success during his tenure in charge at Old Trafford.

The midfield department looks set to be the next area to be improved in the coming months, with additions expected to be made during the upcoming January window.

Man United looking to sign £100m + midfielder

Over the last couple of weeks, United have been just one side tipped with an interest in securing a move for Wolverhampton Wanderers star Joao Gomes ahead of January.

It has been reported that the player himself would be open to a move to Old Trafford this winter, leading to a £44m price tag being mooted for his signature.

However, no contact has yet been made between the two Premier League clubs, but that’s not to say a move could transpire in the weeks leading up to the window.

He’s not alone in being identified as a potential option for the Red Devils, with Real Madrid star Federico Valverde another star currently in the hierarchy’s sights.

According to one Spanish outlet, Amorim’s men are planning to make a club-record £105m bid for the Uruguayan’s signature in the upcoming window amid his struggles at the Bernabeu.

The report claims that he’s been in the middle of a dispute with current boss Xabi Alonso, and could be allowed to depart the LaLiga giants despite making 23 appearances across all competitions in 2025/26.

How Fede Valverde compares to Elliot Anderson

In United’s attempts to improve the options at the heart of the side, one name has constantly been on the tongue of a huge number of supporters – Elliot Anderson.

The Nottingham Forest star has endured quite the rise over the last 18 months, after he joined the Reds in a £35m deal from boyhood club Newcastle United in the summer of 2024.

He’s since racked up a total of 57 appearances for his current side, achieving a total of 10 combined goals and assists during that time – including a superb strike against Tottenham Hotspur last season.

The 23-year-old has gone from strength to strength in recent months, featuring in every minute of Forest’s Premier League campaign to date – leading to a consistent run in the England national team.

Such a feat is a huge credit to the player, but it’s only driven his price tag up further in recent months, with Sean Dyche’s side now valuing the youngster at around the £100m mark.

However, the aforementioned fee may be a risk given his short period of success at the City Ground, which could lead to a move for Valverde instead this January.

When comparing the pair’s respective stats from the ongoing campaign, the Uruguayan international has managed to outperform Anderson in key areas – which could make him a better option this window.

Valverde, who’s been dubbed “world-class” by one analyst, has completed more of the passes he’s attempted this campaign, with more of his efforts being defined as key passes.

Such tallies showcase he’s arguably better in possession than Anderson, handing Amorim that added ball-playing presence he craves at the heart of the side.

How Valverde & Anderson compare in 2025/26
Statistics (per 90)	Valverde	Anderson
Games played	13	12
Goals & assists	4	2
Pass accuracy	89%	83%
Key passes	1.6	1.5
Tackles won	62%	51%
Clearances made	2.1	1.1
Take-on success	50%	46%
Carries into final third	1.7	1.4
Aerials won	59%	48%
Stats via FBref

However, the main responsibility of any new addition will be to regain possession, something which the Real Madrid star has demonstrated in abundance this campaign.

He’s bettered Anderson for tackles won to date, whilst also making more clearances per 90 – subsequently offering a better option out of possession than the Englishman.

Other stats, such as a higher take-on success and more aerials won, showcase his all-round dominance over the Forest star – with the board needing to pursue a move for Valverde’s signature.

£105m would be a huge investment from the board, subsequently breaking the club record, but it’s a deal that would emphatically end their hunt for a new midfielder.

There’s no disputing Anderson is a top talent, but it would be rash of the hierarchy to spend such funds on him, especially when a proven talent of Valverde’s calibre is available for just £5m more.

Not Lammens: Man Utd flop is becoming their biggest liability since Onana

Manchester United have a player who has massively failed to deliver at Old Trafford since his transfer.

1

By
Ethan Lamb

Nov 27, 2025

The Mets are calling up their No. 4 prospect, minor league pitching star Jonah Tong to start Friday's game vs. the Marlins in New York. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza confirmed the news when speaking to media on Tuesday.

"I think it's all about dominating the minor leagues," Mendoza said. "It's hard to keep him there."

Tong's future in MLB will be determined "one start at a time," Mendoza noted.

"Dominating" is definitely the right word to describe Tong's minor league performances this season. Tong leads the minor leagues with 179 strikeouts. On top of that, the 22-year-old has not allowed a run in 11 2/3 innings since being promoted to Triple A Syracuse on Aug. 11. He previously pitched in 20 games for Double A Binghamton. Across both stops this season, Tong is 10–5 with a 1.43 ERA in 22 starts.

The Mets just placed right-handed pitcher Frank Montas on the 60-day injured list, effectively ending his season, on Monday. Additionally, right-hander Reed Garrett was placed on the 15-day injured list on Monday with right elbow inflammation.

Clayton Kershaw will officially make his final MLB regular season start on Sunday when the Dodgers face the Mariners to close out the 2025 season. The three-time Cy Young award winner will retire after this season, but his retirement is delayed as the Dodgers clinched a playoff spot.

Los Angeles begins the wild-card series on Tuesday, Sept. 30 against either the Reds or the Mets, depending on who clinches that postseason spot on Sunday. But, will Kershaw compete for the Dodgers in this series?

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters on Sunday that Kershaw will not be on the wild-card roster for Los Angeles, via ' Jack Harris. However, there is still a chance the veteran pitcher will return to the roster if the Dodgers reach the NLDS.

This decision makes sense since Kershaw is starting on Sunday. He will rest this upcoming week during the wild card. But, will Sunday's start be the final appearance of Kershaw's MLB career? It all depends how the Dodgers do in the postseason.

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Esta será a primeira vez na história do Vasco em que o clube terá no comando um técnico estrangeiro na estreia do Brasileirão. O argentino Ramón Díaz é quem estará na beira do campo na partida contra o Grêmio.

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Ramón Díaz chegou ao Vasco no ano passado para fazer com que o clube escapasse de mais um rebaixamento. O desempenho do técnico foi positivo: dez vitórias, seis empates e oito derrotas em 24 jogos.

Já em 2024, Ramón Díaz acumula seis vitórias, cinco empates e duas derrotas em 13 partidas disputadas.

Apesar do fato inédito, o técnico estrangeiro a comandar o Vasco. Além de Ramón Díaz, o Cruz-Maltino já foi treinado por outros nove treinadores gringos.

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🗒️ CONFIRA OUTROS TÉCNICOS ESTRANGEIROS DO VASCO:
– Henry Welfare (Inglaterra): novembro de 1926 a junho de 1937;
– Carlos Scarone (Uruguai): abril de 1938 a maio de 1939;
– Ramón Platero (Uruguai): maio de 1939 a abril de 1940;
– Ondino Vieira (Uruguai): março de 1943 a julho de 1946;
– Ernesto Santos (Portugal): julho a outubro de 1946;
– Roque Calocero (Argentina): outubro de 1946 até janeiro de 1947;
– Filpo Núñez (Argentina): abril a agosto de 1960;
– Abel Picabéa (Argentina): outubro de 1960 a fevereiro de 1961;
– Ricardo Sá Pinto (Portugal): outubro a dezembro de 2020.

O Vasco enfrenta o Grêmio após um hiato de mais de um mês sem partidas. No entanto, o Cruz-Maltino fez três jogos-treino neste período. A bola rola às 16h, em São Januário.

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Futebol NacionalRamón DíazVasco

Gerald Coetzee, the South Africa pace bowler, suffered a pectoral muscle injury in the one-off T20I against Namibia, which could put his participation in the white-ball leg of South Africa’s tour to Pakistan in doubt. Coetzee bowled 1.3 overs – but 13 balls all told with four wides – before he left the field after delivering one with extra zip.Cricket South Africa confirmed that Coetzee would take no further part in the match and would be assessed on his return home from Windhoek, where the match is being played.Coetzee has had a spate of injuries, especially recently. He was ruled out of the Champions Trophy with a groin injury but made his return to the national side in Zimbabwe in July. He has since played for South Africa A against New Zealand A and has been named in both the T20I and ODI squads for the Pakistan tour – the white-ball leg starts in late October after the two Tests. He has not played a Test since November last year, when he injured his groin and was ruled out of the rest of the Test summer.He is the second prominent South African fast bowler to be injured in the last week. Left-arm seamer Kwena Maphaka was ruled out of the Namibia match and the Pakistan tour with a hamstring strain, which he sustained while playing in a domestic first-class match last weekend.Despite those setbacks, South Africa have a strong pace contingent at their disposal. Both Nandre Burger and Lizaad Williams have made successful comebacks after recovering from a lower back stress fracture and knee surgery respectively. Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch and Wiaan Mulder are their seamers for the Tests in Pakistan, the first of which starts on Sunday, while Lungi Ngidi will play in the white-ball matches. Ngidi has not been selected for the Tests, with South Africa anticipating spin-friendly conditions as they begin their World Test Championship title defence.