Afghanistan, Pakistan and UAE will get more matches to prepare for the men’s T20 Asia Cup when they compete in a T20 tri-series hosted by the Emirates Cricket Board in Sharjah in August-September.The Asia Cup runs from September 9 to 28, also in the UAE.As such, based on the ICC’s future tours programme, Pakistan were expected to host Afghanistan for three T20Is in the window that has now been allotted to the tri-series.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Each team will play the other twice in the round-robin stage of the tournament, with the top two contesting the final. All the games will be played from 7pm local time. Pakistan are the highest-ranked side among the three on the ICC rankings at No. 8, with Afghanistan at No. 9, and UAE at No. 14.Pakistan are currently engaged in a bilateral white-ball series, where they have won the first game, against West Indies, and play their first match of the Asia Cup, against Oman on September 12. Afghanistan have not played a T20I since their bilateral series in Zimbabwe at the end of last year, and play their opening match of the Asia Cup, against Hong Kong on September 9.Both the teams qualified directly for the T20 World Cup in 2026, to be played in India and Sri Lanka – Afghanistan as one of the top-seven teams (excluding the hosts) in the previous T20 World Cup and Pakistan based on their ranking on the ICC table at the cut-off date of June 30, 2024. UAE, meanwhile, have not yet confirmed their spot at the World Cup. They have to go through the Asia-East Asia and Pacific qualifiers, to be played in Oman from October 8 to 17, to get there if they can.

Pant was the main attraction on Tuesday before Kohli hit the nets on Wednesday afternoon

Tristan Lavalette13-Nov-20242:06

Straight Talk: Will the lack of warm-up matches cost India?

While the shiny 60,000-seat Optus Stadium, the site of the series-opener in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, takes centre stage in Perth these days, the WACA ground – that old warhorse located on the opposite bank of the Swan River – remains the spiritual home of Western Australian cricket.Walk along Braithwaite Street in East Perth and you pass the famed WACA nets where there is the familiar sight of cricketers – ranging from state to junior players – going through the paces.But on Tuesday it was rather an eyesore, with the nets completely covered by black shade cloth that snaked around near a construction site amid the ground’s major redevelopment, which is expected to be completed before next season.Related

• Fast and furious: A spicy pitch awaits India in Perth

• India shelve intra-squad match in favour of training, centre-wicket

It was day one of India’s tour of Australia and the secrecy was reminiscent of their last visit to Perth during the 2022 T20 World Cup when a similar effort to thwart prying eyes took place. On that occasion, however, India did play two matches against a WA XI side that attracted near capacity crowds with the entry fee donated to the WA Cricket Foundation.This time around India have opted for total privacy, though the BCCI clarified* that no instruction was given by the team to the WACA stadium authorities or the media that Wednesday’s training would be behind closed doors.As ESPNcricinfo had reported earlier in the month, India opted to scrap a three-day intra-squad game – which would have been played behind closed doors – at the WACA from November 15 to 17 and instead the squad will train during those three days.It was unclear exactly what their training plans are this week, but India decided to get to work quickly having had staggered arrivals into Perth at the weekend. After the WACA ground staff spent Tuesday morning getting the nets into shape, India arrived in the early afternoon to a quiet reception with only a sprinkling of fans greeting them off the team bus.The WACA was in a state of “lockdown”, as splashed around the media, although perhaps slightly alarmist as its front gates were open and staff strolled in and out. But staff – with the ground doubling as WA Cricket’s headquarters – and construction workers have been told not to film or take photos of the training sessions.India have been training behind a black cloth at the WACA in Perth•Tristan LavaletteWhile the massive tarp obscured most of the public view, there were several vantage points along Nelson Crescent – right behind the batters in the nets. The secret training session suddenly became a free for all although onlookers had to take turns standing along a retaining wall with limited space.India’s net session lasted a few hours on Tuesday, but experienced players such as Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin were not present. Among those in the nets were Rishabh Pant, Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul. They faced around six deliveries at a time and spent about an hour in total in the nets.With fast and bouncy conditions expected at Optus Stadium, the WACA nets are hoped to acclimatise India’s batters. Several local Perth club quicks, undoubtedly selected for their pace, unleashed hostile bowling with a back of a length seemingly encouraged. But bouncers were rare.Jaiswal was intent on aggression and one of his mighty blows cleared the nets and sailed onto Braithwaite Street which at that time of day is usually teeming with cars and students around the nearby school. Fortunately, the street was momentarily quiet as a keen fan scurried to pocket a memento. Pant was in fluent touch but did cop a blow to his body, while another fierce delivery also hit his bat flush and flew out of his hands. He glanced at the onlookers, some of whom giggled, and sported a wry smile.With Kohli not around on Tuesday, Pant became the main attraction although perhaps in an indication of cricket’s standing in an Australian-rules-football-obsessed city, many locals didn’t seem to know who he was.”Do you know which one is Pant?” an exasperated photographer asked me. “I thought I’ve been shooting him, but it’s actually Jaiswal!”

Virat Kohli has started his Test preparations. He’s in the nets along with India’s other senior players.

Kohli is looking sharp against some short of a length quick bowling pic.twitter.com/JcTTpza7Ga

— Tristan Lavalette (@trislavalette) November 13, 2024

Victory over Derbyshire not enough to qualify for knockouts as Hampshire’s win at Bristol denies Essex third place

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay26-Aug-2025Essex 366 for 6 (Westley 118, Benkenstein 74, Allison 64) beat Derbyshire 322 for 9 (Came 139, Montgomery 108, Critchley 3-63) by 44 runsHarry Came’s highest List A score of 139 from 120 balls was in vain as Derbyshire Falcons lost to Essex by 44 runs in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup Group A game at the Central Co-op County Ground.But victory for Essex was not enough to qualify for the knock-out stages as Hampshire’s win at Bristol denied them a third-place finish.Came shared a second-wicket stand of 225 from 178 balls with Matt Montgomery, who made 108 off 91, but once Simon Harmer (2 for 45) broke through, the Falcons’ chase of 367 stalled as former Derbyshire all-rounder Matt Critchley claimed 3 for 63.The home side finished on 322 for 9 with all-rounder Martin Andersson unable to bat after injuring a hand in the field.Essex’s 366 for 6 was built around Tom Westley’s 118 from 110 balls, 74 off 48 by Luc Benkenstein and Charlie Allison’s 64 with Zak Chappell taking 2 for 64.Essex chose to bat on a pitch which was used for Friday’s high-scoring game against Surrey and lost Critchley in the second over.Critchley made only 2 on his return to Derby for the first time since he left the county four years ago when he missed a full length ball from Ben Aitchison.Paul Walter marked his first List A game since 2021 by flicking Rory Haydon over the deep square leg boundary and pulled the young spinner Joe Hawkins for two sixes in the 14th over.The Falcons were relieved to see him get a big leading edge to mid-off in the next over but Westley and Allison were soon finding the ropes or clearing them with regularity.After Westley went to his 50 from 60 balls, Allison reached his off 46 by dispatching Hawkins for successive sixes.Hawkins failed to cling on to a difficult chance running back from mid-off when Allison was on 57 but the Falcons broke the stand three overs later.Allison tried to drive the medium pace of Amrit Basra over cover but Caleb Jewell took a good catch above his head.Westley edged a drive at Jack Morley to reach his 100 which came off 98 balls and contained 14 fours and a six but was well caught at deep midwicket off Haydon in the 42nd over.Benkenstein initially struggled to beat the fielders but when he found his range, he did so spectacularly, driving and pulling Haydon for six to reach 50 from 38 balls.He dispatched Morley for two more sixes before a mistimed pull was taken at long on but Harmer’s unbeaten 29 off 20 balls took Essex to an imposing total.The Falcons’ chase started badly when Charlie Bennett moved one in to bowl Jewell in the third over but Came and Montgomery got them back on track.Came advanced to drive Jamie Porter for six and then Montgomery dismissed a free hit over wide long on for another maximum.Montgomery nudged Harmer to the third boundary to reach 50 from 37 balls with Benkenstein’s leg-spin coming in for some harsh treatment.Came completed his 50 off 61 balls and after 25 overs, the game was in the balance with the Falcons on 168 for 1, needing another 199.Essex were struggling to exert any control with Came driving Critchley for six, the pair reaching their hundreds in consecutive overs as the 200 stand came up off 163 balls.Harmer made the breakthrough when Montgomery dragged a drive into his stumps and four balls later he turned one through Basra’s defence.Came drove Shane Snater for six but Essex struck again when Walter’s throw from cover ran out Brooke Guest, leaving the Falcons to score 90 from the last 10 overs.Critchley gave the contest a decisive twist when he bowled Chappell and with the asking rate above 10 an over, Came was stumped to end the Falcons hopes.

Ruben Amorim has stuck by his infamous 3-4-2-1 system at Manchester United and it appears as though it is finally yielding results.

The Portuguese manager has been in charge at Old Trafford for a year now, and although things have not gone exactly to plan, his side have now gone unbeaten in their last four Premier League games.

Amorim has finally begun to settle on his best lineup. That has seen summer signings Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha lock down the two number 10 positions in his system, with Mason Mount providing excellent competition.

However, those two signings have ensured Bruno Fernandes will remain in his deeper pivot role, rather than closer to goal.

Where Fernandes is best suited under Amorim

It has certainly been a topic of hot debate in Amoirm’s year-long tenure in the hot seat at Old Trafford. Fernandes is a number 10 by trade, and played his best football as close to goal as possible, in and around the penalty box.

That season came in 2020/21, when he scored and assisted 29 Premier League goals in 37 games. He was one of the deadliest attackers in world football at that stage. So, you might think it is logical for Amorim to play him as a number 10.

Well, that is not how the United manager sees it. In fact, he explained that his skipper operates in the pivot because he “is the right man to start with the tempo of the play.”

United legend Paul Scholes sees it differently, and says “there is no doubt” Fernandes should be playing as a 10 because he “is the most creative player on the team.”

In 51 games under the tutelage of Amorim, the Red Devils’ number 8 has played 30 games in the pivot, and 21 as a number 10. That certainly shows just how much their manager favours him in a deeper role.

Interestingly, United have another player coming through in a similar mould to Fernandes, and it will be interesting to see where Amorim chooses to play him.

Man United's in-house Fernandes successor

It is clear that Fernandes is viewed as a pivot player by Amorim, despite Scholes’ view and the success he has achieved in previous seasons. With the two number 10 positions nailed down by Cunha and Mbeumo, players may have to adapt.

That could certainly be the case for United academy star Jack Moorhouse. The 19-year-old is currently on loan at Leyton Orient, but has previously impressed for the Red Devils’ youth sides.

It has been an impressive start to life in professional football for Moorhouse. Described as a “deadly” player by United academy page on X, Academy Scoop, the Republic of Ireland U21 international has played 14 games for Orient, scoring and assisting one goal apiece.

As it happens, Moorhouse has already been described as someone who is “ideal for Amorim’s left 10 role” at United by football analyst Ben Mattinson. He has operated behind the striker more often than not for the U23s at the club, too, making five appearances in that role, scoring twice and assisting one.

Interestingly, he’s played a bit deeper for Orient this season, showing excellent versatility. He shone in a box-to-box role against Peterborough United, creating two chances and completing three out of three dribbles.

Touches

33

Pass accuracy

86%

Ball recoveries

6

Duels won

4/6

Dribbles completed

3/3

Key passes

2

Goals

1

There are certainly similarities between Moorhouse and Fernandes. Both creative midfielders, they can operate in advanced roles and a bit deeper. It would be intriguing to see where Amorim would utilise him in the first team.

One thing is for sure, the 19-year-old possesses great talent. If the Red Devils are looking for an in-house successor to their “Portuguese Magnifico,” they might be able to find him in their famous Carrington academy.

Carrington's "best talent" is a big Sesko upgrade in the making at Man Utd

Manchester United could yet improve further in attack under Amorim’s wing.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 3, 2025

The England batter has been mightily prolific this year, making a century about every four innings

Ian Chappell20-Oct-2024The England selectors did Joe Root a huge favour when they unburdened him from the captaincy and released him to become a run-making machine.He was already an exceptional batter – as a struggling skipper he still made 14 centuries in 118 innings – but let’s face it, captaincy and Joe Root shouldn’t appear in the same sentence. Since becoming solely a team member two and a half years ago, Root has regularly amassed big scores with an amazing ten centuries in just 54 innings.Incredibly, in this calendar year he has already sped past the thousand-run mark whilst piling up centuries at the incredible rate of around one every four innings. That is a superhuman performance.On this run rampage he passed the defiant opener Sir Alastair Cook as England’s highest Test run-scorer. Root is now in the process of increasing his advantage. He will only enter his 35th year as the calendar flips over, so the difference will likely be substantial by the time he retires.Related

Joe Root, the Peter Pan of batting, has pulled ahead of Cook and Pietersen. Will he reel Tendulkar in?

Duckett defends Root dismissal: Reverse-scoop to slip the same as nicking off

Joe Root notches record 34th Test hundred as England close in

Alastair Cook hails 'genius' Root after England-record 34th Test hundred

Joe Root reaches the batting heights for which his career was destined

Root was born to make runs and posted a highly respectable 73 in his first Test innings, in India. He’s a joy to watch, as he balances a solid technique with the desire to score at every opportunity.Some of his partnerships with fellow Yorkshireman Jonny Bairstow were exhilarating, as both players ran brilliantly between wickets and continually looked to keep the scoreboard ticking over.As England entered the Ben Stokes captaincy era and some of the batting became frenetic, Root occasionally succumbed to the idea of adopting modern shots. Not surprisingly, he handled the change comfortably but one ill-judged scoop that landed in the hands of an opposition slip fielder made him re-evaluate his priorities.Root sensibly went back to his old ways and has become an even more difficult batter to dismiss. I’m not sure why he temporarily changed his approach because scoring rate has never been an issue for Root.The glue to England’s rapid scoring has been Root, who is prepared to compile big innings while some of his team-mates take the wrecking ball to the opposition attack.One of the few anomalies in Root’s record is his failure to score a Test century in Australia despite having played 27 innings there. His last chance to rectify that statistic will likely come in 2025-26, when – barring injury or retirement – he will play another Ashes series.

Root was born to make runs. He’s a joy to watch, as he balances a solid technique with the desire to score at every opportunity

It’s not as though Root has performed poorly in Australia, as his average of around 35 is respectable. However, the lack of a century despite making nine scores in excess of 50 is most unlike Root.In Australia, the four main bowlers have dismissed Root a number of times and this could be pointed to as a weakness. Nevertheless there’s an easy answer: if you’re going to be dismissed, it’s preferable to get out to a good bowler.The more worrying Root statistic in Australia is the number of times he’s been caught behind. Keepers have had a bonanza as ten times they’ve clasped Root’s edges in just 27 innings. While he could counter with “you’ve got to be good enough to nick ’em”, it does suggest he needs to re-assess the extra bounce Australian pitches provide.Root’s phenomenal run-making will again be tested when first he faces India at home and then Australia away. In those two series Root will be facing the best attacks in Test cricket, and his technique against both pace and spin will again be fully scrutinised.Those are difficult challenges that Root and England will face in the future. Currently they’re desperately involved in a bid to win after Pakistan levelled their three-game series with a spin-revolution victory against a clueless England.As the most technically gifted, Root will have the task of convincing his fellow team-mates that numerous versions of the sweep shot aren’t the ideal way to combat good spinners. Despite Root’s proven talent, that will be a very difficult task.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Vasco largou atrás do Nova Iguaçu para chegar na grande final do Campeonato Carioca. Isso porque a Laranja da Baixada tem a vantagem de dois resultados iguais. Diante do cenário, é possível que o Cruz-Maltino seja um dos finalistas? O Lance! lista abaixo cinco motivos para os vascaínos acreditarem.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasVascoPiton curte fase artilheira pelo Vasco, mas descarta rótulo de heróiVasco15/03/2024Fora de CampoNão é o Palmeiras! Leila Pereira revela que pai e irmãos torcem para outro gigante da Série AFora de Campo15/03/2024Futebol NacionalConsórcio Maracanã critica comportamento do Vasco: ‘Vitimização’Futebol Nacional14/03/2024

➡️ Tudo sobre o Gigante agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso canal Lance! Vasco

1️⃣ CONFIANÇA EM RAMÓN DÍAZ
O técnico do Vasco pediu para os torcedores acreditarem na equipe. Inclusive, Ramón Díaz bateu na mesa mais uma vez, que nem no episódio do “no va a abajar!”.

2️⃣ ATMOSFERA
O Vasco vai entrar em campo com o Maracanã lotado. A promessa é de casa cheia com mais de 60 mil vascaínos empurrando o time.

3️⃣ NOVA IGUAÇU DESGASTADO
A situação foi invertida. No primeiro jogo da semifinal, o Vasco jogou pela Copa do Brasil no meio da semana. Agora, o Nova Iguaçu que disputou a competição e foi eliminado pelo Internacional.

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4️⃣ TALENTOS INDIVIDUAIS
O Vasco conta com diversos nomes de peso que podem decidir a semifinal. Dentre eles está o goleiro Léo Jardim, que vive uma grande fase e foi convocado para a Seleção Brasileira.

Além disso, o Vasco também conta com Lucas Piton, que tem salvado o time de derrotas. O camisa 10, Dimitri Payet, que é o melhor jogador cruz-maltino na temporada e o “Pirata” Pablo Vegetti, que gosta de balançar a rede.

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5️⃣ RETROSPECTO FAVORÁVEL
Ao longo de todos os anos, Vasco e Nova Iguaçu se enfrentaram 14 vezes e o Cruz-Maltino é soberano. No total são oito vitórias, três empates e três derrotas.

Tudo sobre

cariocaNova IguaçuVasco

قام آرني سلوت، المدير الفني لنادي ليفربول، بتفسير سبب جلوس محمد صلاح على مقاعد البدلاء أمام وست هام يونايتد، وذلك ببطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وست هام سوف يستضيف ليفربول بعد أقل من 30 دقيقة من الآن، وذلك لحساب منافسات الجولة الثالثة عشر من منافسات الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وقام سلوت بمفاجأة الجميع حيث أبقى محمد صلاح على مقاعد بدلاء ليفربول، ودفع بدلًا منه بفلوريان فيرتز في مركز الجناح الأيمن، إلى جانب كودي جاكبو كجناح أيسر وفي مركز المهاجم ألكسندر إيزاك.

وتعتبر هذه هي المباراة الثانية التي يتواجد فيها محمد صلاح هذا الموسم على مقاعد البدلاء، بعد مباراة آينتراخت فرانكفورت في دوري أبطال أوروبا.

اقرأ أيضًا.. تشكيل ليفربول أمام وست هام في الدوري الإنجليزي.. موقف محمد صلاح

وفسر سلوت سبب جلوس محمد صلاح كبديل اليوم، بسبب ضغط المباريات الذي يعيشه ليفربول خلال هذا الموسم.

وقال سلوت في تصريحات نقلها صحفي شبكة “سكاي سبورتس”، الموثوق فابريزيو رومانو: “نلعب 4 مباريات في 10 أيام، أحيانًا يكون ألكسندر إيزاك على مقاعد البدلاء وأحيانًا فلوريان، هذه هي التشكيلة التي اخترتها اليوم وليس قرارًا سهلًا أبدًا، وليست هذه هي المرة الأولى التي أفعل فيها ذلك”.

محمد صلاح تراجع مستواه بشدة خلال هذا الموسم وبقى الدولي المصري محل انتقاد من الجميع، على عكس الموسم الماضي الذي ساعد فيه ابن الـ33 عامًا الريدز على تحقيق لقب الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has been handed a fresh boost over Juventus striker Dušan Vlahović, with the player now ready to take one drastic action to leave Turin.

While summer signing Liam Delap is now ready and available once again after weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring problem, the Englishman’s absence somewhat exposed Chelsea’s lack of striker options.

BlueCo were forced to cut short Marc Guiu’s loan spell at Sunderland and bring the Spaniard back to Stamford Bridge as cover for Delap, with Joao Pedro, an arguably more natural number 10, also handed the task of playing up front by Maresca.

Guiu was handed his first Premier League start of the season for Chelsea in their 2-1 loss to the Black Cats last weekend, but failed to make the desired impact, despite scoring against Ajax a few days prior.

While Chelsea forked out nearly £300 million in the summer transfer window, placing them among England’s most lavish spenders, Maresca still finds himself short in key areas.

This is particularly the case at centre-back, and reports suggest that Chelsea are set to prioritise a new defender in January as a result.

The likes of Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi, who could reportedly re-join his former club on a cut-price deal in the winter, and Bayern Munich’s Dayot Upamecano have both been discussed as options by Chelsea in that regard (Graeme Bailey).

Further forward, Chelsea are believed to be considering a new striker as well, as journalist Simon Phillips has reported, but any deal would be in the ‘cheaper’ bracket.

Phillips mentions Vlahovic as one option, and this is backed up by other media sources.

It is believed that Chelsea have already held talks with the Serbia international’s agents given his contract expires at the end of this season, and there’s now been another update.

Chelsea given fresh Dusan Vlahovic boost amid fresh stance

Speaking to The Chelsea Chronicle, reporter Graeme Bailey says that Maresca’s side have been offered the chance to do a deal in January.

Vlahovic, who apparently earns a staggering £370,000-per-week at Juve, is also ready to take a pay cut after renewing his stance in that regard — coming as a boost for Chelsea.

Ever since his breakout campaign in 2020/2021, Vlahovic has managed at least 14 goals per season, often far more.

The ex-Fiorentina “superstar” has also scored in big Champions League games against the likes of Borussia Dortmund and Man City in the last two campaigns, so the prospect of signing him for below £20 million is a pretty enticing one.

If Chelsea do make a move, Vlahovic’s potential wage cut will be key, as Chelsea’s current highest earning first-team player is Reece James on £250,000-per-week.

This doesn’t include ‘bomb squad’ member Raheem Sterling, who takes home roughly £325,000-per-week.

Sterling is among Chelsea's highest earners

Weekly wages: Chelsea FC 2025/26 highest-paid players

Here’s how much Todd Boehly is playing his players at Stamford Bridge…

By
Charlie Smith

Sep 23, 2025

A wrench was seemingly thrown into the Arizona Diamondbacks' trade deadline plans for a brief moment during the club's 5–1 loss to the Detroit Tigers on Monday night. All-Star Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suarez, regarded as the top bat available ahead of the July 31 trade deadline, was hit by a pitch on his right hand and forced to exit the game in the ninth inning.

Fortunately Suarez avoided the worst possible outcome, as the X-rays on his hand came back negative. But Suarez was not in Tuesday's lineup for the second game of the series against the Tigers.

It's the second injury scare Suarez has endured this month, as he was also hit by a pitch—this time on his left hand—during the MLB All-Star Game, with X-rays also returning negative on that occurrence.

Suarez, 34, ranks second in the National League with 36 home runs and leads MLB in RBI with 87. Between June and July, Suarez, the No. 3 player on 's Big Board of trade candidates, has belted 21 home runs and vaulted himself to the top of the shopping list of every contending team in need of a power bat at the trade deadline.

Such teams include the Seattle Mariners, Chicago Cubs and the Detroit, to name a few. It remains to be seen whether Suarez's injury scare will affect his market.