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The left-arm swing bowler is Maharashtra’s highest wicket-taker in the Ranji Trophy

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Jun-2024

Samad Fallah picked up 272 Ranji wickets for Maharashtra•Dainik Dabang Dunia

Samad Fallah, Maharashtra’s highest wicket-taker in the Ranji Trophy, has formally announced his retirement. The left-arm swing bowler picked up 272 Ranji wickets for Maharashtra, and 287 first-class wickets overall, in 78 matches, at an average of 28.48.Fallah also took 75 List A wickets and 62 in T20s. He was instrumental in delivering Maharashtra their only silverware at the senior level since 1940-41, picking up a match-winning four-wicket haul in the final of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (T20) in March 2010.Fallah’s last official match was a Vijay Hazare Trophy (50-overs) game for Uttarakhand in March 2021. Having moved to Uttarakhand for the 2020-21 season, he returned to Maharashtra and made himself available for selection in all three formats, but didn’t get a chance to resume his career.Related

The free jazz of Samad Fallah's bowling

Now 39 and head coach of Nashik Titans in the Maharashtra Premier League, Fallah has made his retirement official. Fallah traced an unusual path to professional cricket, never playing any representative age-group cricket, and making his way into club cricket via eye-catching performances in tennis-ball tournaments. He made his Maharashtra debut at 22 and immediately made an impact, picking up a match-winning second-innings six-wicket haul against Himachal Pradesh in November 2007. He quickly established himself as the leader of Maharashtra’s attack, picking up 20-plus wickets in every Ranji season from 2007-08 to 2014-15.As he reached his peak, Maharashtra built one of the best seam attacks in Indian domestic cricket, with Fallah, Anupam Sanklecha, Domnic Muthuswami and Shrikant Mundhe combining to lead the team to the Ranji final in 2013-14 and the semi-finals in 2014-15. Fallah’s high point came in the semi-final in Indore in January 2014, when he picked up 7 for 58 on the first morning to help bowl Bengal out for 114.The unconventional trajectory of Fallah’s career found expression in his bowling too. He enjoyed long spells of nine or ten overs, and seldom marked a fixed run-up, preferring to begin his run from wherever his mood took him. He constantly varied his angle and approach to the crease too, sometimes even running in zigzag to try and unsettle batters.At the time of retirement, Fallah is the second-highest wicket-taker in the Ranji Trophy among left-arm fast bowlers, with only Jaydev Unadkat (316) above him. Hiralal Gaekwad, whose Ranji Trophy career stretched from 1941 to 1963, picked up 278 wickets, but he bowled a mixture of left-arm spin and seam.

Is it set to be a busy summer at Celtic?

After missing out on the treble, beaten on penalties by Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup Final, the Hoops are expected to heavily reinforce their squad this summer.

Well, with a crucial Champions League play-off tie circled in red on the calendar, taking place at the end of August, Brendan Rodgers will want his summer business to be done early, so are the Premiership champions about to land a new recruit?

Celtic targeting a new midfielder

Defenders are certainly the order of the day for the Celts this summer with Kieran Tierney’s return to Parkhead one of Scottish football’s worst-kept secrets.

However, the full-back isn’t the only player who could be closing in on a move to Paradise according to reports.

As per Portuguese outlet A Bola, Celtic have ‘opened initial talks’ to sign midfielder Demir Ege Tıknaz.

They outline the fact that the 20-year-old spent this season on loan at Rio Ave from Beşiktaş, and the Portuguese club have an option to make this move permanent for €5m (around £4.2m).

However, given interest from Celtic, as well as Lille, Rio Ave are preparing to make a quick profit on Tıknaz, placing a €10m (around £8m) price-tag on his head.

So, would he be a good signing for the Scottish champions, and which former Celt is he reminiscent of?

Demir Ege Tıknaz: the next Nir Bitton?

Writer Ryan McGinlay believes that Tıknaz’s ‘resemblance in play-style to Nir Bitton is uncanny’ and, should he arrive, if the Turkey international had even half as successful a Celtic career, he’d be doing well.

Bitton signed from FC Ashdod in 2013 and would remain at Celtic for nine years, making 271 appearances and winning 18 major trophies.

Naturally a defensive midfielder, the Israeli international would frequently fill in at centre-back too, with Kieran Devlin of the Athletic praising Bitton’s ‘reading of the game’ and ‘composure in possession’, with Joe Sullivan labelling him ‘versatile and highly reliable’.

So, could Tıknaz be something similar?

Well, analyst Ben Mattinson believes the Turkiye U21 international ‘reads the game well’ allowing him to ‘step up and intercept​​​​​​​’, praising his ‘timing of tackles​​​​​​​’ and ability to ‘steal the ball’, adding that he possesses a ‘decent passing range’ too.

Meantime, in an interview with Sarah Shephard of the Athletic, Tıknaz​​​​​​​ himself says he has a similar playing style to that of Sergio Busquets, stating “I always want to have possession… I’m kind of a playmaker… I can play box-to-box too”.

Well, according to Aryan Suraj Chadha of Goal, the Turkish youngster is one of the most ‘sought-after talents across Europe’, so let’s assess his statistics in the Primeira Liga this season.

Minutes

1,976

107th

Completed passes

826

82nd

Pass completion %

85.1%

45th

Passes into the final third

99

34th

Progressive passes

96

62nd

Tackles

35

15th

Interceptions

47

3rd

Ball recoveries

132

21st

​​​​​​​

Worth stating first and foremost that, according to a study by Bernd Frick, Tommy Kweku Quansah and Markus Lang, the Primeira Liga is one of the ‘least balanced leagues’ in European football, so the fact that Tıknaz was playing for Rio Ave, who finished 11th, makes his statistics all the more impressive.

Demir Ege Tıknaz (Tiknaz)

The Turkish midfielder ranks highly for metrics both in and out of possession, sat third when it comes to interceptions, while also registering noteworthy numbers when it comes to his pass completion percentage as well as passes into the final third.

Thus, all available evidence suggests Tıknaz is a high-quality, high-potential player, one that Celtic should absolutely be looking to snap up.

​​​​​​​

Celtic could strike for "excellent" 85-goal hero who wants Parkhead return

The Bhoys are on the lookout for more firepower.

5 BySean Markus Clifford Jun 7, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur face the very real prospect of losing a key member of their squad when the summer window reopens, despite their Europa League triumph last week, with an elite club set to open imminent talks over his signature.

Tottenham preparing for summer with Ange Postecoglou future uncertain

The main topic at N17 right now is manager Ange Postecoglou and his long-term future.

Related Salah-like forward considers joining Tottenham as contract expires in 2025

Spurs have an opportunity to strike a bargain deal.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini May 28, 2025

The Australian guided his side to a first European trophy since 1984, ending their 17-year wait for any major trophy in the process and securing a spot in the Champions League for next season – which comes as an almighty transfer boost for the Lilywhites.

However, Postecoglou’s domestic campaign told an entirely different story.

The 59-year-old oversaw Tottenham’s largest number of Premier League defeats in a single season (22), with the north Londoners finishing just one place above the relegation zone.

Tottenham’s best-performing regulars in the Premier League – 2024/2025

Average match rating

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

2024/2025 was an extremely mixed bag for Postecoglou, and if they hadn’t narrowly squeezed past a lacklustre Man United side in the Europa League final, it’d be a no-brainer that the tactician should be given his marching orders.

The joyous celebrations and emotions that come with the end of Tottenham’s trophy drought have given Levy some serious thinking to do, with Spurs chiefs currently ’50/50′ about sacking Postecoglou, according to some reports.

A decision must be made soon, as this summer’s first mini-transfer window opens in just three days.

Tottenham have been handed a significant financial windfall from their qualification from the Champions League, not to mention more pull in the transfer market overall, with Spurs suddenly a more appealing destination for out-of-contract Bayern Munich star Leroy Sané (Sport Bild).

There is a consensus within the club that they need to bring more experienced players in to bolster their young squad (Sami Mokbel), and while their Europa League glory will help in that aspect, there is still a very real possibility that they lose some imperative stars as well.

Atletico Madrid to open imminent talks for Cristian Romero

According to Sky Sports reporter Lyall Thomas, Tottenham defender Cristian Romero remains high on the agenda of Atletico Madrid heading into June 1.

The Argentine played a crucial role in helping to deliver Spurs their Europa winners’ medal, being crowned the tournament’s Player of the Season, all while putting in a Man of the Match display against United in the final.

However, Spanish media sources believe Romero still has every intention of leaving Tottenham this summer, despite their memorable night in Bilbao, following other previous reports that the £165,000-per-week centre-back is keen to quit the club for Atletico (Marca).

Postecoglou’s side value him at around £60 million, and won’t sell for any lower than £44 million (Marca), even if the La Liga side wish to negotiate an agreeable fee.

Following these reports, Thomas has claimed that Atletico could open talks for Romero as early as this week, with Diego Simeone’s side competing in next month’s Club World Cup and potentially wanting to get business done early.

Given the “underrated” Romero’s importance to Tottenham, and Levy’s well-known stubbornness when it comes to negotiating transfers, we don’t expect this saga to be resolved quickly.

Crystal Palace are believed to be interested in completing the signing of a “wonderful” player in the summer transfer window, according to a new report.

Crystal Palace set for busy summer

The Eagles will hopefully finish this season by winning the FA Cup, with Oliver Glasner’s side preparing to take on Manchester City in the final later this month, but either way, a busy summer is expected at Selhurst Park. Young Eintracht Frankfurt defender Tamiou Kpebane has been linked with a move to Palace at the end of the season, likely being seen as one for the future rather than an immediate key player.

With Eberechi Eze potentially moving on in the summer, a top-quality replacement could be needed for the Englishman, and Lyon star Rayan Cherki has been mentioned as a target. The 21-year-old has scored 29 goals and registered 44 assists for the Ligue 1 side.

Burnley have sealed promotion from the Championship to the Premier League, incredibly conceding just 16 goals in their 46 league matches, and centre-back Maxime Esteve has been a big reason for the Clarets’ success. Palace are said to be interested in signing the 22-year-old, as Glasner looks to bring in defensive reinforcements.

Crystal Palace set to move for "wonderful" Jobe Bellingham

According to The Boot Room, Crystal Palace ‘will push’ to sign Sunderland star Jobe Bellingham once the window opens in the coming weeks, with Manchester United also battling to acquire his signature. His current club are demanding at least £20m for him.

The 19-year-old has enjoyed a superb season for the Black Cats, helping them reach the Championship playoffs and winning the league’s Young Player of the Season award.

Bellingham stands out as a hugely exciting option for Palace, as the teenager looks to forge his own impressive career alongside his brother Jude.

Crystal Palace now looking to beat Wolves to signing of £8.5m striker

Crystal Palace now face a battle to secure the signing of a promising player.

ByBrett Worthington May 1, 2025

At just 19, he already has 87 appearances to his name for Sunderland, performing with maturity at the heart of their midifeld and being hailed by teammate Luke O’Nien.

“Listen, Jobe’s a wonderful player. I’m one of his biggest fans, more than his dad. Don’t tell him that. I think Jobe’s wonderful. He’s a wonderful addition. He even comes in at half-time to give his perspective. That’s how much he’s grown into the game. Even though he’s not playing, he’s in at half-time. We’re asking for his perspective on the game because he’s a leader in our team.”

If Palace could pip United to Bellingham’s signature, it could be a major coup, with the midfielder having the potential to be a key man for the next decade, even though future interest could admittedly emerge from huge clubs.

Australia thumped 13 sixes to two against South Africa despite slumping to 75 for 6 after batting first for the first time in their new power-based era

Alex Malcolm11-Aug-2025

Tim David launched eight sixes in his 83•AFP

. It hasn’t been an edict that has been formally declared either internally or publicly by Australia’s T20I team, but the actions of their batters are speaking loudly at the moment. No matter the scenario, no matter the number in the wickets column, Australia’s batters are trying to hit their way to victory with spectacular results so far.On Sunday in Darwin, Australia’s foot-to-the-floor method was put to its sternest test to date, having not batted first in any of the games in the Caribbean.Mitchell Marsh, with a moon shot that might as well have been a bat signal, launched the first ball of the match for six over mid-off to set the agenda for the night.When they lost two wickets in three balls across the second and third overs, Marsh kept going. When Marsh fell to leave Australia 30 for 3 after 3.1 overs, Cameron Green and Tim David showed no sign of slowing. David skipped down the track to his second ball from Kagiso Rabada and lofted him straight for six. Green smashed four fours and three sixes in a 13-ball 35. When he skied one, Australia were 70 for 4 after 5.5 overs.Related

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More than a finisher: David soars to new heights

Mitch Owen tried to launch his fourth ball out of Darwin. Glenn Maxwell tried to do the same with his fifth. Australia were 75 for 6 in the eighth over and in danger of being bowled out for under 100.David got a little more selective as the lone specialist batter left standing when he was joined by Ben Dwarshuis. But with Dwarshuis good enough to feed him the strike with minimal risk, David was able pick his match-ups and club eight sixes in total to score 83 from 52 and help Australia post a match-winning total of 178.”It’s obviously not the team plan to be four down within six overs, but that happens at times,” David said post-game. “We’ve got what we believe is a great calibre of batters in our batting order, and we back each guy to make the right decisions.”We’ve been playing together as a group now for a while, so there’s not a great deal of instruction from the coaches. They trust the players. We trust ourselves to go out there and we understand the game situation and we make decisions on the fly, because that’s the nature of T20 cricket.”I think if you’d watched our guys bat over the last period, wherever they bat around the world and when they play for the Australian team, it’s close to all guns blazing. So, yeah, you can probably expect to see that a little bit from our team. That’s how we think we play best.”Start as you mean to go on: Mitchell Marsh hit the first ball of the match for six•Getty ImagesThe sight of David turning down singles with plenty of balls left in the innings, and a capable batter at the other end just as he had done in the Caribbean, might have looked odd at the time. But there is a clear method to it. David believes that even two sixes, three dots and a single off the last ball in an over where he faces all six deliveries is a better use of his talent and a better mathematical outcome than five singles and one six in the over.Australia struck 13 sixes in total to South Africa’s two on Sunday. And while South Africa faced 13 fewer dot balls during their chase – 46 to Australia’s 59 – the net outcome was a 17-run win to the home side. In the Caribbean, they hit 64 sixes to West Indies’ 53 across the series to win 5-0. They hit more sixes in three of the five games, were level in one and one short in another, but also never faced the full allotment of overs compared to West Indies given they chased in every game.This is not a new method of playing T20 cricket. Australia aren’t proclaiming to have reinvented the wheel. But it is a different method for a team that has been traditionally quite conservative in the shortest form and it’s led them to nine-straight T20I wins, a record for Australia in the format.They took lessons from the most recent T20 World Cup in the Caribbean, where the batting fell well short of the mark. The retirement of David Warner, who had become a T20 anchor in his latter years, and the non-selection of Steven Smith have led to a clear shift in method. There was once a desire to have a left-hander, like the retired Matthew Wade, permanently positioned in the middle-order for fear of being exposed by a legspinner or a left-arm orthodox, and that conservative thinking has also been shelved.Cameron Green has shown his power in the middle order•Randy Brooks/AFP via Getty ImagesPacking the middle order with long levers and brute power to the point where Maxwell was listed at No. 7 on Sunday has been eye-opening. Green’s intent at No. 4 has been jaw-dropping. David has made his two highest T20I scores for Australia in his last three matches since moving to No. 5, including a 37-ball century and facing the most balls he ever has in a T20 game against South Africa. Owen has applied his successful powerplay hitting from the BBL into a new role at No. 6 without changing a thing.It is no coincidence too that the style is similar to what Sunrisers Hyderabad have done in the two recent IPLs, given Australia’s bowling coach Daniel Vettori is Sunrisers head coach, Pat Cummins is their captain and Head is their opening batter. Vettori is not with Australia in this series as he is coaching Birmingham Phoenix in the Hundred, another team that has pushed to be a higher boundary percentage batting unit than their opponents at various stages in recent years.If the coming T20 World Cup were to be played on Australia’s bouncy pitches and huge boundaries, it might be a method that could leave them vulnerable more often as it did last night. But Australia are looking at the conditions in India and believing this is a method that will bring them the success they crave. The 2021 T20 World Cup title currently sits as a one-off. Australia did not advance beyond the group stage or the Super Eights in the two editions since.The major question, as it was with Sunrisers and Phoenix in 2024, is can it stand up in knock-out finals? The other question that Australia are keen to find an answer to is whether it translates to lower-scoring spinning surfaces in Sri Lanka, given they could be drawn to play there more often in the World Cup compared to some of the pristine batting surfaces in India.They’ll find out at some point. In the meantime, it’s all guns blazing.

He was happy with the batters’ progress as the series went on, but said “it was an eye-opener for the bowling unit”

Firdose Moonda03-Sep-2023The South African season is only five days old but they have already seen how much work they need to do to match up to the top teams in the world.Yes, South Africa were testing some new combinations, but they were blanked 3-0 in the T20I series by an experimental Australian side. After the third match, their white-ball coach Rob Walter admitted “our next best have got work to do”.”The game is riddled with risk,” he said of the T20 format. “Sometimes it’s going to pay off and other times it isn’t. I was happy with the progress we made.”That statement applied specifically to the batting: after being bowled out for just 115 in the first T20I, South Africa made 164 for 8 and 190 for 8 in the second and third, respectively. But across the three matches, Reeza Hendricks was the only South Africa batter to make a half-century; Australia batters scored five, two of them by their new captain Mitchell Marsh. Still, Walter saw “some light at the end of the tunnel” in terms of how South Africa went about their innings in the third T20I, specifically in the way they recovered from 12 for 2.But, the only newcomer to contribute with the bat was Donovan Ferreira, who struck 48 off 21 balls on debut, while Matthew Breetzke (one innings) and Dewald Brevis (two innings) scored five runs each. Brevis’ much-anticipated arrival to the international stage, after he topped the run charts at last year’s Under-19 World Cup, did not go as expected. He holed out in the opening game looking to clear long-off and was caught behind for a first-ball duck in the second before being benched for the third.Walter, however, is looking forward to his future involvement with the senior side.”Dewald didn’t get many runs in his two opportunities but there is no doubting his quality and ability,” he said. “The positive was to give him an opportunity to test the waters in international cricket, so he has now got a good sense of playing a good team – what does that feel like.”Breetzke, who came out to bat in the first over on Sunday – after Temba Bavuma got a first-baller – and fell trying to take on the boundary fielder, also received praise from Walter for his approach.Donovan Ferreira made an impressive debut•Gallo Images/Getty Images”Matthew didn’t get many runs but it was great to give him an opportunity to make his debut,” he said. “Watching him go through his work and his training throughout this series, I am excited about what he has to offer. Even his dismissal – the courage to make a play in that situation is sometimes worth more than the actual result.”Ferreira’s knock was the standout as he “showed something special on debut”, as Walter put it. “To play like that and to hit the ball like that – it is exciting if we have these types of players in the ranks.”South Africa’s only bowling debutant was Gerald Coetzee. He has already been capped at Test and ODI level, but here he had a tough time. He picked up three wickets in as many outings but conceded 10.98 per over.By contrast, Australia’s new caps all impressed individually, starting with 21-year-old legspinner Tanveer Sangha. He took 4 for 31 on debut, barely more than 24 hours after arriving in South Africa, and was the joint second-highest wicket-taker in the series despite sitting out the second game. Matthew Short scored a match-winning 66 off 30 balls in the second match as Australia chased down a target of 165 with 31 balls to spare. Spencer Johnson took 2 for 33 in the first match and was the most economical bowler on either side in the third.The difference in the quality of contributions from the younger players was not lost on Australia’s batting coach Michael di Venuto. “Maybe our fringe players are slightly ahead of where the Proteas players are at the moment,” he said, but quickly cushioned his answer with a confidence booster for the hosts. “That’s not to say they can’t catch up quickly. I wouldn’t be panicking if I was in their dressing room.”Among the mitigating factors for South Africa appearing undercooked is that they have not played international cricket in almost five months since hosting West Indies at the end of last summer. It’s oft-repeated that what takes place in training cannot replicate the intensity in the middle, and this series was further proof of that. Though South Africa’s batting line-up was the most untested department, it was their bowling attack that struggled to consistently threaten Australia despite its experience.Lungi Ngidi, the leader of the attack in the absence of Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje, went wicketless across the series. His variations proved ineffective as he ended up with an economy of 13.78. Lizaad Williams, Coetzee, Marco Jansen, Tabraiz Shamsi and Bjorn Fortuin all conceded more than ten an over; Aiden Markram (8.33) was the only one from the South African camp to go for less than ten. As a result, the bowling attack never looked like one that could win a series, and Walter did not shy away from that reality.”There’s no running away from it – their batting skill was better than what we had to offer with the ball,” he said. “We got a hard lesson in terms of not executing our skills. It was an eye-opener for the bowling unit.”South Africa are yet to appoint a bowling coach for their white-ball outfits after using former internationals Rory Kleinveldt and Quinton Friend in bit-part capacities but Walter confirmed that Eric Simons will accompany them through the ODI series and the World Cup. Simons is a former national coach and has years of experience with Chennai Super Kings in the IPL and their franchise subsidiaries across the world, and South Africa will lean heavily on his knowledge of subcontinent conditions as they prepare for the ODI World Cup.Their squad for the tournament will be named on Tuesday.

The Multan Sultans batter talks about his preference for batting in the top order, and how, despite a series of injuries, he couldn’t bring himself to give up cricket

Interview by Umar Farooq24-Jun-2021Since the start of 2020, Sohaib Maqsood has the highest T20 strike rate among Pakistan batters and is ninth on the global list (among those with a minimum of 500 runs and 20 innings). It has been a period of transformation for the 34-year-old middle-order batter who was striking at 125.79 previously.Ahead of playing the 2021 PSL final for the Multan Sultans against Peshawar Zalmi, Maqsood, the third-highest run scorer in the tournament, spoke about how he developed his game after his career nearly ended in 2016.Multan Sultans are playing the PSL final for the first time. How has the journey been for everyone in the camp?
The best part about Andy Flower’s coaching style is that he never allows negativity to come close to the team. Otherwise, with the sort of performances we gave in Karachi [losing four out of five games], it would have been very easy for any coach to come and shout [at the players], but he doesn’t work like that.When we came here to Abu Dhabi, 90% of our team thought we are here to play a few games and go back. But credit to him and our skipper [Mohammad Rizwan]. He [Flower] calls us champions even when we lose games. He calls us champions in training sessions, in the dressing room. Sometimes we used to laugh, saying we are more losers than champions, but he had that self-belief.After one victory here, we started to get our belief back and take one game at a time. We never thought we will end up in the top two. Not only did we make it to the qualifier, but it was remarkable how we won it so comfortably.I think in the final, the pressure will be more on Zalmi than us. They are playing their fourth final and they have lost the final twice already. It’s a kind of pressure to not lose a third final in a row.This PSL season, the Multan Sultans went from losing four of their first five games to winning five of their next six to qualify for their first final•Fareed Khan/Associated PressWhat have you done to evolve your white-ball game in the last year?
I have been consistent in domestic cricket for the last two years, but the turnaround came only in the PSL for a reason. I always said that I am a top-order batsman but I never got an opportunity in the PSL to bat higher until this [second] leg in Abu Dhabi. I was playing at Nos. 5 and 6 or sometimes at four. Even in the first leg, in Karachi, I was playing at Nos. 4 or 5, so my performance was irregular.In Abu Dhabi I got to bat at No. 3 and all I did was to bat exactly as I do in domestic cricket. At the same time, form also matters. There is hard work behind [my performances] and it came with my entire focus on white-ball cricket, so it’s paying off well.Who did you have to persuade to make you play at No. 3?
I didn’t convince anyone and I didn’t talk to the captain or management. Shahid [Afridi] ).You have had your fair share of injuries. How are you working to keep yourself fit?
I have suffered nearly every injury other than to my knee. In 2011 I had a ligament rupture in the ankle. I couldn’t play for almost two years. I also had a long history of a back injury. But the worst came when I was at the peak of my career, at the end of 2014, when I picked up a wrist injury that broke the hamate bone in my hand. It was a career-threatening injury. I played the 2015 World Cup with the injury and had surgery after. I feel that injury set my career back the most.How did you bounce back from it?
My family and friends know there was a time when I might have quit cricket. I had other career opportunities as I have a good educational background, but cricket was something I thought I could not live without, so I had to push myself. It was actually not about playing for Pakistan. It was [just] about playing cricket.I know if I am not playing cricket, I might not enjoy anything in life. If I had left cricket because of the injuries and was working in some other profession, I’d still be playing club cricket at least, because it’s my life and I can’t live without it.Did you come close to quitting elite cricket?
I can’t complain about the lack of opportunities in my career, either with the national team or in domestic cricket – I always got a chance. Even in the PSL, despite bad performances, I was still selected for the next edition. Obviously there were a few good performances to back my selection.It was just injuries that made me think of quitting. You can’t do much about injuries, especially when you pick them up when you are doing well. In Under-19, I was a star and then my back injury made me sit out for nearly one and half years. That was frustrating. The injuries were hindering my progress and every step forward I took, I was coming backwards all over again.You know cricketers in Pakistan mostly come from lower-middle-class families. It’s rare that they come from the elite class. So it’s very important for a cricketer to have some [alternative] career when you are 20-22 in case anything goes wrong in your cricketing career. With this mind, I thought I should go to England to study or work.With Mohammad Irfan (left) at the 2015 World Cup. “If I could have taken care of my fitness, my international career would have been a lot better than it is”•Fiona Goodall/AFP/Getty ImagesAt some point, after recovering from my wrist injury, I felt helpless. My game was changed and I wasn’t the player I used to be. No power, no shots, and I felt embarrassed playing cricket because I was not able to do the things I wanted to. Then I thought I should do something else, but there was a voice in my head that I can’t do anything else, so I just had to carry on and keep believing.I learned some hard lessons. In fact, I would like to tell every young player that I wish I can go back and train harder and look after myself better as far as my fitness is concerned. If I could have taken care of my fitness, my international career would have been a lot better than it is.Were you the type of player who relied on natural ability instead of focusing on your fitness?
When I was around 17, I was not a natural athlete. I was a chubby kid and never a quick runner either. Sometimes a player will tell me that when they were 16, they used to fly [around the field], but I can’t say that. When I was 17, I was 110kgs. But when you are over 30, you have to take care of your body. If you can’t train, you can’t play. I still give myself some credit, because with so many career-threatening injuries and surgeries, I still had belief.You are totally right that I used to believe in my natural ability more than hard work. I believed I was naturally blessed, and despite the laziness and avoiding training, I still carried on playing and had a reasonable career.Do you have any ambitions of playing for Pakistan again?
Obviously, if you are playing cricket, your dream is to play for the country. I am 34 now but I still think I can contribute in the T20 format. There are a couple of World Cups coming up in a year and a half. I am in good form and have the belief that if the opportunity comes my way, I will grab it. I know there are a few people who whine about not being selected, but I am not that kind of a guy.I think if people are doing well in the national team, that also needs to be considered. I know whenever I score runs, people start talking about putting me in the team to fill in the No. 5 or 6 spots, but I am afraid if I play [in those positions], I won’t be able to deliver much. I know you have to bat for your country wherever you are asked to, but I believe if I bat in the top order, that’s where I can do better for the country.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will be quietly thrilled by his side’s start to 2025/2026, and particularly their response after the defeat at Liverpool.

Arsenal enjoy impressive unbeaten streak in chase for Premier League title

Since losing on Merseyside, the Gunners have enjoyed a nine-game unbeaten streak in all competitions, boasting the most imperious defence in England and a 100 per cent win rate in the Champions League so far.

Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest

Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 1-1 Man City

Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal

Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

Fulham 0-1 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-0 Atlético Madrid

Atlético Madrid were Arsenal’s latest victims as Arteta’s side put the Spaniards to the sword in a 4-0 demolition job, with summer signing Viktor Gyokeres bagging a brace and putting an end to his barren run without a goal.

Arsenal showcased their imperious attacking flair inside 14 exciting second-half minutes against Diego Simeone’s side, and Paul Merson was simply blown away by how the north Londoners swept Atlético aside in that manner.

After spending close to £270 million in the summer transfer window, Arsenal are in pole position to win their first Premier League title in over 20 years, but it is still very early doors.

So far, Andrea Berta’s major investments are paying dividends, but supporters have two key things to thank for their side’s exceptional form on paper right now.

Arsenal’s solidarity at the back and major threat from set pieces have been vital, with Gabriel and William Saliba showing exactly why they’re two of the best centre-halfs in world football.

The former has already tallied four goal contributions as a direct result of dead-ball situations, including a header and an assist against Atlético on Tuesday, with teams failing to find an answer to Arsenal’s gorilla tactics.

They’ve also proved menacing from long-throws, a fact which isn’t lost on Sky Sports pundit Jamie O’Hara.

Jamie O'Hara says teams are now trying to copy key Arsenal tactic

Speaking to Sky, O’Hara says that Premier League rivals are trying and failing to replicate Arsenal’s long-throws, but makes a rather bold claim that Arteta’s side are “killing” the division with their style of play.

O’Hara goes on to say that Arsenal are the best at long throws, and no other team can even dare to mimic how effective they are.

When looking back at the 2025/2026 season in years to come, if Arsenal do end up winning their first title in decades, supporters are far more likely to remember this year as a defining moment in both the club’s history and Arteta’s career.

How they manage to clinch the trophy is entirely up to them, and there is absolutely no argument that Arsenal’s use of dead balls is giving opposition teams absolute nightmares right now.

The pressure is well and truly on Arteta to deliver major silverware after a summer of lavish spending, and the Spaniard must use every weapon at his disposal — no matter how pleasing on the eye.

Mitchell battled fitness issues en route to a 118-ball 119 on a two-paced pitch, taking New Zealand to a total beyond West Indies’ reach

Alagappan Muthu16-Nov-2025 • Updated on 17-Nov-2025

Daryl Mitchell made 119 off 118. The next highest score was 55 off 61•Getty Images

Everyone climbed onto the struggle bus in Christchurch, even Daryl Mitchell whose seventh ODI century cost him a little bit of his good health. A groin injury left him inside the dressing room for the entirety of the second innings, which wasn’t the worst thing ever. He could put his feet up and watch New Zealand pull off a seven-run victory.A two-paced pitch that offered sideways movement throughout the day made batting a distasteful exercise. Mitchell seemed immune initially but soon he was battling not just a disciplined West Indies attack but also his own body breaking down from the stress. The fact that he was able to ride those challenges – and take New Zealand to a total of 269 – made the innings all the sweeter.Mitchell must have felt it too. As soon as he reached his hundred, he whipped his helmet off and roared the word “yes” with so much emotion even the veins on his shaved head were popping all over the place. Performances like these were once the purview of Kane Williamson or Ross Taylor, two all-time Black Caps legends. Increasingly though, Mitchell has been putting himself up on their level, this 119 off 118 a prime example. No one else was able to make even half of those runs with Sherfane Rutherford’s 55 off 61 the next best score. Conditions at Hagley Oval on Sunday were not for the faint of heart.West Indies suffered in their chase, the help that was already available in the day now exaggerated under lights. Keacy Carty spent most of his 67 balls as a crash test dummy. He would’ve been fine if it was just swing or just seam or just bounce. But all three kept combining at the behest of New Zealand’s quicks and all the West Indian No. 3 could do was steel himself for the body blows. The first 10 overs produced just 32 runs. The next nine 27. There were 30 balls in between when only seven scoring shots were possible. And this was the change-bowlers – Jacob Duffy and Zak Foulkes – in operation.Matthew Forde helped West Indies start well with the ball•Getty Images

Shai Hope (37 off 45) and Rutherford fared a little better and New Zealand shelled a series of catches in the back end, but West Indies had fallen too far behind to capitalise.They came into this game with five changes – three spinners out, three seamers in. The best of them was Matthew Forde who was on a hat-trick in the seventh over, removing Rachin Ravindra for 4 and Will Young on his 50th ODI for a golden duck.That’s when Mitchell walked in and immediately flipped the game on its head. Till then, New Zealand’s batters were trapped in the crease and Forde was given the leeway to do whatever he wanted. Mitchell, though, walked at the fast bowler, trusting his reflexes to deal with the speed of the ball – which on average was only 122 kph – and negating the biggest thing that Forde had going for him – sideways movement, particularly into the right-hander. West Indies tried to stop that by bringing the wicketkeeper up but that only slowed Mitchell down. It didn’t uproot him.Mitchell was 33 off 37. He needed 24 deliveries to get to fifty. New Zealand were 91 for 2 in the 18th over. Only two of the next 16 would go for even a run a ball. Five of them almost became maidens. West Indies were remarkably tight, particularly Roston Chase, who harnessed the wind blowing across the ground to appear unhittable (just one four from his 10 overs) and mask the loss of Romario Shepherd (4-0-23-0) to a hamstring injury.Kyle Jamieson picked up 3 for 52 on ODI return•Getty Images

It was a small miracle the offspinner only ended up with one wicket – that of Michael Bracewell – because he created enough opportunities – three against Bracewell alone – to be driven to exasperation. “Jeeeesus,” Chase said when Hope missed a straightforward stumping.New Zealand were 192 for 5 in the 42nd over, but of greater concern was Mitchell pulling up in the middle of running a single and needing repairs to his left leg. He was 78 off 92 at that point, just starting to cut loose. Now, he was hampered running between the wickets and left to just stand and deliver. Good thing he’s six feet and change of pure muscle. Mitchell belted out those straight hits that he’s renowned for, thundering to his seventh ODI century, an innings that had so many phases.The initial acceleration, where he showcased a mutant pull shot, bringing the cross-bat up high and then whirling his wrists on impact with the ball to generate pace and find the boundary in front of square. The slowing down (from 33 off 37 to 56 off 77) because he knew he had to be there till the end. The injury (78 off 92) complicating things. The will to keep going. And the power to finish strong (41 off 26).West Indies could have had Mitchell for 19 and 67 but Chase at point and Jayden Seales at long-on put down two tough catches. New Zealand also benefited from Devon Conway’s persistence at the top of the order, where he scored 49 off 58 despite looking far from his best.Having specialist fast bowlers helped as well. Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson and Duffy all produced standout spells (29-4-146-4). They had the pace and the faith to go short, generating extra bounce. That was a clear a point of difference. West Indies got none of that, a drawback perhaps of having allrounders making up the majority of the seam attack. Justin Greaves, Shamar Springer and Shepherd stuck to the basics and were tidy (21-0-136-1) but in conditions that were often unplayable tidy doesn’t cut it.

MatériaMais Notícias

O goleiro Cássio se despediu do Corinthians após 12 anos vestindo a camisa alvinegra. Em entrevista coletiva realizada no CT Joaquim Grava, o atleta agradeceu o clube pela oportunidade e pelas conquistas que teve, e afirmou que agora é o momento de um novo desafio na carreira, mas negou que ir para o banco de reservas tivesse sido crucial para a decisão de deixar o Timão.

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➡️ Siga o Lance! Corinthians no WhatsApp e acompanhe todas as notícias do Timão

➡️ Acredita que o Timão avançará em primeiro no grupo da Sul-Americana? Se liga nas odds: 1.53

– Acho que foi uma série de situações. Em certo momento, você entende que seu ciclo acabou e estou tranquilo quanto a isso. No começo do ano, tive uma possibilidade de sair e entendi que naquele momento não era a hora. Acho que nesse momento é hora de ter um novo desafio na minha carreira, e sair bem, sabe? Não estou saindo porque fui para o banco, e sim por entender que o ciclo acabou. Eu fui outras vezes para o banco, em 2016, e não saí por isso – disse o goleiro.

➡️ Veja tabela com datas e horários de todos os jogos do Brasileirão

Cássio se diz feliz com a fase da carreira, afirma que sai tranquilo do clube e também como gostaria.

– Honestamente, todas as festas feitas, todas as homenagens, não tenho dúvida que saí pela porta da frente. Jogo de despedida é para quem vai se aposentar, na minha opinião. Não tenho dúvida que saio pela porta da frente, não é o que muitos imaginavam, mas não controlamos o futuro. Até brinquei com alguns funcionários, achava que eles iam sair antes. Agora saio em paz, com tranquilidade, olha todo o carinho que recebi, não tive atrito com ninguém, foi tudo conversado – afirmou o goleiro.

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+ Corinthians oficializa saída de Cássio: veja o que sabemos sobre a rescisão do goleiro

Cássio acertou sua rescisão com o Corinthians e irá atuar no Cruzeiro até o fim de 2027. Para antecipar a sua saída do Corinthians, Cássio e Carlos Leite, representante do atleta, abriram mão de alguns valores que tinham a receber da equipe do Parque São Jorge. 

Sobre a questão financeira em relação a sua saída, Cássio se limitou a dizer que está tudo bem resolvido, e que os responsáveis cuidarão disso.

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– Essa situação foi muito bem gerida com o presidente e diretoria. Isso nunca foi problema, em todo o tempo que estive aqui e tudo foi muito bem resolvida. Essa é uma parte que quem cuida são meus empresários e advogados e tudo correu tranquilamente.

O presidente do Corinthians, Augusto Melo, falou brevemente sobre a saída do goleiro. O mandatário, aliás, prometeu um busto em homenagem ao goleiro, que será eternizado no Parque São Jorge.

– Dia triste para nós corintianos, mas faz parte. Nessas horas, não temos palavras para descrever a emoção e tristeza. Agraço a essa pessoa fantástica que convivi, um grande homem e ídolo que ao longo desses 12 anos aprendi a admirar e torcer. Obrigado, Cássio. Obrigado pelos títulos maravilhosos, por entrar na história, você estará eternamente em nossos corações e será lembrado todos os dias quando entrarmos no CT. É um ciclo que se encerra e que você seja muito feliz.

Com 712 jogos disputados com o manto alvinegro – sendo o goleiro que mais atuou –, Cássio é um dos maiores ídolos da centenária história do clube. Ao todo, foram nove títulos conquistados: quatro Paulistas (2013, 2017, 2018 e 2019), dois Brasileiros (2015 e 2017), uma CONMEBOL Libertadores (2012), um Mundial de Clubes FIFA (2012) e uma CONMEBOL Recopa (2013).

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