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Erik ten Hag’s tenure at Manchester United came to an end in October last year. Things ultimately did not work out for the Dutchman, despite winning two trophies in his two full seasons at the club. He guided United to their lowest-ever Premier League finish, eighth, last term, although that seems like it will be beaten this time around

The former Ajax boss was certainly backed in the transfer market, too. He spent a reported £616m on new signings over the course of his time at the club, reshaping the squad. Sadly, not many of those signings have ended up working out.

However, one player Ten Hag signed – under the INEOS regime – who seems to be finding his best form in a United shirt is Joshua Zirkzee.

Zirkzee’s United career so far

It has been a mixed debut season in Red for Netherlands international Zirkzee. He made the move to Old Trafford from Bologna in the summer for £36.5m, and initially struggled to find his best form, despite showing glimpses of what he can do.

So far, the former Bayern Munich star has scored six times and registered two assists in 41 games in that famous Red shirt, and has been particularly excellent of late, playing as one of the two number 10s in Ruben Amorim’s system.

Goals were a bit hard to come by for the attacker at the start of his United career. However, he has been finding the back of the net more consistently of late, and scored for United away to Real Sociedad in the Europa League.

He got the Red Devils’ only goal of the game to get a crucial 1-1 draw in the Round of 16 first leg.

As United social media presence Adam McKola said on Stretford Paddock, the United number 11 is “an intelligent footballer”, and possesses excellent close control. His ability on the ball is second to none.

So, Zirkzee may turn out to be one of the success stories of Ten Hag’s and INEOS’ transfer business. However, the new regime have made a handful of poor decisions in the market too, including selling one of United’s most important players last season, who is now outscoring Zirkzee this term.

The former United player outscoring Zirkzee

One of the rare things in modern-day football is to become a one-club player. Well, before his summer move to Napoli, Scott McTominay was on his way to doing just that at Old Trafford. He cost the Naples club £21m up front, with a further £4.2m in add-ons.

Where Are They Now

McTominay departed his boyhood club after making an impressive 255 appearances, scoring 29 goals and grabbing eight assists. Once described as a “hero” by Statman Dave last season, he scored some vital goals throughout his time at Old Trafford.

Last season in the Premier League, the Scotland international scored seven times. That included two goals against Brentford and Chelsea in match-winning causes at home, to earn United some big wins.

This season, the former United number 39 is thriving under Antonio Conte at Napoli. With Gli Azzurri pushing for the Scudetto, he has seven goals and four assists in all competitions, with ten of those 11 goal involvements coming in Serie A.

McTominay has made a brilliant start to life in Italy, and is even outscoring Zirkzee, who is starting to find his best form in Red for United.

Some of his stats on FBref show just how well he has played this term. For example, the Napoli midfielder averages 0.26 goals per game, ranking him in the top 95% of midfielders in Italy’s top flight.

Looking back on it, perhaps United regret selling McTominay. As well as Zirkzee is playing now, having their former academy star’s goal threat to add to the dynamic up front could have been deadly.

Even though they sold him for just £25m including add-ons, it seems United could have got an even better deal, or just kept him at the club instead.

Man Utd can ditch Dalot for 18-year-old who's "banging" on Amorim's door

Man Utd could have another Carrington gem on their hands

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By
Joe Nuttall

Mar 7, 2025

Glasgow Rangers’ domestic season is all but over. Defeat in the League Cup final to Celtic ended their defence of the trophy, while the Ibrox side suffered an embarrassing loss to Queen’s Park in the Scottish Cup a few weeks ago.

Now, all of Philippe Clement’s eggs will be placed in the Europa League basket as the club were drawn to play Fenerbahce in the last-16 of the competition.

It won’t be an easy task, especially away from home, but if the Light Blues play like they have done on the continent this season, they have an excellent chance of going through.

Much will depend on whether they turn up or not, however, as performances have been shaky, to say the least.

There have been very few bright sparks throughout the season. Hamza Igamane has been one, but even he has struggled since last scoring against Aberdeen on January 15.

Perhaps things might have been different if Danilo and Nedim Bajrami had both been playing to the best of their abilities, as the pair have qualities that can change games in an instant.

It hasn’t been plain sailing for either due to several reasons.

Danilo & Bajrami's struggles for Rangers this season

In Danilo’s case, injuries have largely been his downfall. Since joining the Gers in the summer of 2023, the Brazilian has missed a total of 58 matches for the club due to several injuries, including a broken cheekbone and a serious knee injury.

When he has featured this term, the centre-forward has been solid in the final third. Across 19 games, he has scored seven goals and chipped in with three assists.

His goal against Celtic in the festive Old Firm tie looked as though it could be the catalyst for Danilo to emerge as a key player under Clement. A few weeks later, he sustained a shoulder injury that once again kept him out for a few weeks.

In Bajrami’s case, injuries haven’t been a problem at all, but he has failed to live up to the £3.4m fee that the club paid to secure his services last summer.

On the surface, it appeared to be a solid signing. Not only could Bajrami play across multiple positions, but he had experience of playing in Serie A, while scoring for Albania against Italy at Euro 2024.

A goal against Malmo on his first European start was certainly a confidence boost, and he shone on the continent for the Gers.

Since the start of 2025, however, the former Sassuolo midfielder has recorded just three assists in all competitions, with two coming against non-league side Fraserburgh in the Scottish Cup.

Where Are They Now

He has scored just one Premiership goal since arriving in Scotland while registering just one assist and averaging 1.2 key passes per game.

Hardly the sort of numbers that justify the transfer fee and if he doesn’t improve between now and May, Clement may look to offload the Albanian when the summer transfer window opens.

Rangers have sold their fair share of players over the years who appear to suddenly shine once they leave Ibrox. One such player is currently starring in the Championship with Sheffield Wednesday this season – Josh Windass.

Josh Windass’ Rangers statistics

Windass joined the Light Blues ahead of the 2016/17 season, the club’s first back in the top flight since their financial troubles began in 2012.

Mark Warburton was trying to build a team capable of challenging Celtic for the title, but this proved to be a false dawn. The Englishman suffered a succession of injury problems during his maiden campaign, restricting him to just 27 appearances and a solitary goal.

The following year was far better for Windass. Not only did he establish himself as a key member of the starting XI, but the attacking midfielder also netted 18 goals and grabbed eight assists in all competitions throughout the campaign.

It didn’t do the team much good as they failed to win any silverware for the second season in a row since their promotion. In May 2018, Steven Gerrard took over as manager, and it resulted in a fresh start for everyone at the club.

For Windass, it was clear the former Liverpool captain didn’t take to him. During the final few weeks of the summer transfer window in 2018, Windass finally left Ibrox and joined Wigan Athletic for a transfer fee in the region of £2.5m.

This represented a solid piece of transfer business for the Gers, especially as they required funds to bolster the squad.

He only lasted a year and a half at Wigan, with his spell at the Owls being far more productive indeed…

Windass' record at Sheffield Wednesday

Across 170 matches for the Championship club, Windass has scored 50 goals while registering 21 assists in all competitions.

The 2024/25 campaign has been especially positive for the 31-year-old. Not only does he have ten league goals this term, more than Bajrami and Danilo put together, but he has even recorded three assists.

Windass has also created four big chances in the second tier for the Owls while averaging 0.6 key passes and registering 2.4 shots per game.

It appears as though the Championship is certainly his level, as he failed to truly demonstrate his best during his two-year spell in Scotland.

The Englishman was right to leave in 2018, especially considering the fee was so good for a player who wasn’t going to be in Gerrard’s plans.

The fact he has scored more league goals than Danilo and Bajrami, however, proves that the club have sold so many players over the previous few years who seem to find that extra gear at a new club.

For both Danilo and Bajrami, the next few weeks could be important indeed. That’s for sure.

49ers could seal a dream first Rangers signing in £4m SPFL starlet

Rangers could be set to undergo a takeover from the 49ers this summer.

By
Ross Kilvington

Feb 21, 2025

تمكن بريان جرودا، لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي برايتون من إحراز الهدف الثاني لصالح فريقه أمام مانشستر سيتي بالمباراة ضمن منافسات الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

ويواجه مانشستر سيتي نظيره برايتون ضمن منافسات الجولة الثالثة من بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز “بريميرليج”.

وجمع مانشستر سيتي بقيادة بيب جوارديولا 3 نقاط من مباراتين، بعد فوز ثمين على ولفرهامبتون برباعية نظيفة، وخسارة أمام توتنهام بثنائية نظيفة على ملعب “الاتحاد”.

وجاء الهدف الثاني في الدقيقة 89 من عمر اللقاء بعد تمريرة رائعة من ميتوما لينفرد جرودا بالمرمى الذي يحرسه الحارس ترافورد واستطاع أن يراوغ مراوغة رائعة ويسكن الكرة الشباك. هدف برايتون الثاني أمام مانشستر سيتي بالدوري الإنجليزي

برايتون يسجل في الوقت القاتل#الدوري_الإنجليزي_الممتاز#PremierLeague pic.twitter.com/CtHmUU9ytl — beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) August 31, 2025

Yet another chapter was written into the story of subcontinental cricket’s most engrossing rivalry, in which Bangladesh came away deserved winners against Sri Lanka, winning by three wickets and, crucially, 53 deliveries in Delhi. The margin of victory means Bangladesh have leapfrogged Sri Lanka on the points table on net run rate, while Bangladesh, Netherlands and Sri Lanka are all on four points and all three – and England – are still vying for the two remaining spots at the 2025 Champions Trophy.This, though, was a game where a solitary incident overshadowed all else. The now customary controversy associated with the “Naagin Derby” was this time a historic first, as Angelo Mathews was dismissed timed out – the first instance of the rare dismissal in international cricket.The incident took place midway through Sri Lanka’s innings after Mathews’ faulty helmet strap meant that it had been over two minutes since the fall of the previous wicket without the new batter being ready to take strike. Shakib Al Hasan appealed. Mathews was out.Related

• Mathews on timed-out dismissal: 'Never seen a team or a player stoop so low'

According to the tournament playing conditions: “After the fall of a wicket or the retirement of a batter, the incoming batter must, unless Time has been called, be ready to receive the ball, or for the other batter to be ready to receive the next ball within 2 minutes of the dismissal or retirement. If this requirement is not met, the incoming batter will be out, Timed out.”An incensed Mathews was sent back, and Sri Lanka played the rest of the game with a chip on their shoulder. But to focus solely on that would take away from a solid all-round effort from Bangladesh, and from Shakib.On a belter of a batting surface, Bangladesh had sent Sri Lanka in to bat and then limited them to a sub-par 279. The pacy young Tanzim Hasan went for 80 in his ten overs, largely because of Charith Asalanka – whose 105-ball 108 would go in vain – taking the attack to him, but he picked up three wickets, including the key wickets of Pathum Nissanka and Asalanka himself.The rest of the bowlers, though, ensured Sri Lanka were not allowed to cut loose, and aided by some loose batting, they kept their opponents well in check.Then a 169-run third-wicket stand between Shakib and Najmul Hossain Shanto underpinned their chase, even as Sri Lanka became the first side this World Cup to truly struggle with the evening dew. The bowlers struggled with control, while some dropped catches didn’t help their cause either.When the partnership was eventually broken, the requirement was just 70, but Sri Lanka kept picking up wickets to make for a nervy finish. Bangladesh, however, bat deep and they kept their cool to secure a hard-fought win.2:09

How good was Charith Asalanka’s innings?

On a surface well suited to batting, Sri Lanka were largely architects of their own downfall.After yet another early exit for Kusal Perera – caught acrobatically behind the stumps by Mushfiqur Rahim – a 61-run stand between Nissanka and Kusal Mendis settled the Sri Lanka innings. An aggressive Nissanka accounted for 40 runs in that stand, frequently finding boundaries to relieve the pressure being built at the other end, while an out-of-sorts Mendis searched for form.It took 14 balls for Mendis to get off the mark, and despite finding two boundaries – a four and a six – in his 30-ball stay, he looked a pale shadow of the man that had taken the early part of the tournament by storm. A loft down the ground lacking in power brought about his eventual demise.Nissanka followed soon, chopping Tanzim on, before another solid stand threatened to pull Sri Lanka clear. It was here that Asalanka entered the fray alongside Sadeera Samarawickrama, himself new at the crease. Their left-right pairing served to make life particularly difficult for the Bangladesh bowlers, while their run-scoring was largely risk-free.This is what made Samarawickrama’s dismissal all the more jarring, as he found deep square-leg with an aerial flick, having been unflustered up until then. It was this wicket that preceded the flashpoint in the innings – and the game – as Mathews strode out, not knowing the fate that was to befall him.Angelo Mathews tells Shakib Al Hasan it’s time to go, but it was far too late to do any good to Sri Lanka•ICC/Getty Images

Up until that point, Sri Lanka’s batters could perhaps even have been accused of complacency in terms of the way they had lost wickets. But, just like that, the perceived injustice of Mathews’ dismissal instilled resolve that might have served them a lot better earlier in the tournament.Having barely strung together any partnerships of significance lower down the order all tournament, Sri Lanka suddenly found two of genuine quality. The first between Asalanka and Dhananjaya de Silva brought 78 – Sri Lanka’s best stand for the sixth wicket since their opening fixture against South Africa. After Dhananjaya fell, stumped off Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Asalanka stitched another stand of 45 with Maheesh Theekshana – this one easily Sri Lanka’s best seventh-wicket stand of the tournament.Asalanka scrounged together another 20 with Dushmantha Chameera, before himself holing out at deep point. It brought an end to a marvellous innings that was replete with smart strike rotation and calculated risks. However, it would be a bittersweet day for him as he was the one to drop a sharp chance off Shakib when he was on seven. Mathews was the bowler.That wicket might have been karmic retribution for Sri Lanka, but Shakib would have the last laugh. While Mathews eventually got his man – giving Shakib a send-off as well, tapping his wrist, signalling that it was “time” to go – it was not before Shakib had scored 75 more runs.Mathews wasn’t done yet, though, removing Shanto shortly after as Sri Lanka were offered a whiff of an unlikely chance. Theekshana then picked up a couple and Dilshan Madushanka added another, to go with his two scalps at the start of the chase, to take his World Cup tally to 21. But, in the end, it was a case of too little, too late as some lusty blows brought the game to a swift close.

It’s been a dozen years since his debut, but the Australia captain admits he’s still coming to grips with the format

Firdose Moonda11-Oct-20231:39

Cummins: ‘It’s a clash of two very similar teams’

The strategies involved in structuring a spell in ODIs still present Pat Cummins with a conundrum he is keen to conquer, 12 years after making his debut in the format. That may seem a strange takeaway from an engagement with an Australian captain under some pressure after his team’s defeat to India and their struggles against spin, but it’s a small example of a bigger picture that we will be talking about all tournament: the future of this format.We don’t even need to go through the proposals to scrap bilateral ODIs and confine the format to World Cups only, because in Cummins, we have a ready example. He had only played 19 matches between the last World Cup and this one; and including Australia’s defeat to India in their World Cup opener this time, he has played only three this year, and just 78 across a dozen years. The consequence is that it has taken him longer than it may otherwise have to feel confident in his tactical approach to ODIs.”Early in my career, I found it a hard balance between Test cricket and T20, and I was getting too funky,” Cummins said at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, the day before Australia prepared to play South Africa. “With one-day cricket, your roles can be very different – from being an opening bowler with a ball that swings, to coming on first change and maybe bowling cross-seamers where you are trying to defend and get your wickets through pressure. It’s a different kind of challenge to the other formats.”Related

• De Kock's relationship with ODIs is complicated, but it's clear he cares

• Storied World Cup rivals joust again but it is Australia under pressure

• Maxwell: Australia ready for 'unknown' from relaid Lucknow surface

• Defensive Australia burnt by India's spin trio in Chepauk furnace

It is also what Cummins called “the most physically taxing” of the three formats, because as we know from the ICC slogan – it really, truly takes one day. One. Whole. Day. Although the duration of a Test and the intensity of an T20 can’t be matched in an ODI, the amount of time spent on the feet and the kilometres run in the legs will be more than both the other versions of the game.”The biggest challenge is that you’ve got ten overs [to bowl]. It’s quite a physical format,” Cummins said of ODIs. “I find it the most physically taxing if you are doing two or three games in a week. We are doing 15k (kilometres) in a 50-over match.”And then there’s the trade-off between consistency and creativity that must come into play in one-day cricket, where some level of patience is required alongside a touch of all-out attack.”In T20, if you bowl one really good over that can be match-winning. But in one-day cricket, it’s not normally the case,” Cummins said. “And it’s rare that conditions are in the bowlers’ favour, which is fine. It’s just a challenge you’ve got to try and deal with. It’s tough but I do enjoy it.”Cummins expects at least one of those things will get easier on Thursday, when he thinks there will be pace and bounce on offer on a surface that remains something of a mystery. Only four ODIs have been played at the Ekana Stadium so far, with the highest score batting first being 249 in a full 50-over innings. Three of those ODIs were played in 2019, with one held last October, but the pitches have since been dug up and relaid.On Thursday, Australia play South Africa in Lucknow, where the pitches have been dug up and relaid•Getty Images

Cummins also feels his own form is “in as good a place as it’s ever been”, and backs himself to be “almost be prepared for anything”, including maybe “death bowling”. Against a South Africa line-up that is in good form, he also expects that he may have to try “to create a wicket out of nothing”, even as unorthodoxy is also something he has been working on.All that does not take away from his inexperience as ODI captain – since being named ODI captain in October last year, he has played only five out of Australia’s 15 ODIs – and the problems Australia have to solve in the middle overs. That’s where they lost the game against India, after they slipped from 110 for 2 in the 28th over to 199 all out.It’s something the batting group, under the guidance of Andy Flower, who has also been Lucknow Super Giants’ coach – the IPL team whose home ground is the Ekana Stadium – have been discussing, and much like Cummins’ own conclusions about bowling, it’s a balance between formats they’re seeking.”It’s no secret that the [middle-overs] period of the game seems to be the most important in one-day cricket,” Cummins said. “How do we create partnerships? If they’re bowling well, how do we shift the pressure back on to their bowlers, and try and force their hand to make some changes? It’s a real delicate balance in one-day cricket of not taking huge risks, but it’s not like Test cricket where you can wait it out. You have to keep the run rate ticking over.”The middle overs are also thought to be the hill on which ODI cricket may die, unless the narrative that unfolds in that passage is captivating even if nuanced. As Cummins hinted, those overs are the Goldilocks of the game where players are required to not do too much of one thing or too little of another, and for Australia, it’s about finding out how much is just right.

England make 273 for 8 in 31 overs after rain delay, then close out series in style

Valkerie Baynes14-Sep-2023Ever ask yourself: “What am I doing here?” Cricket fans – at least those who take our privileged position of being able to watch the game regularly for granted – surely do. Especially sitting through interminable rain delays, mopping-up, pitch inspections… repeat. Then you witness another fairytale and realise, this is what I’m doing here.This time, it was Nat Sciver-Brunt’s turn. Playing her 100th ODI and captaining the side after Heather Knight was forced to return to the team hotel feeling unwell, she plundered 120 off 74 balls, including a 66-ball century – which was the fastest by an England Women’s player in ODIs – to lead her side to a thumping 161-run victory over Sri Lanka in the third and final match in Leicester for a 2-0 series win.Maia Bouchier was far more than just a bit-part character with her blistering 95 from 65 balls as the pair rescued their side from 18 for 2 with a 193-run partnership for the third wicket. Between them they set Sri Lanka a daunting target of 274 in a match reduced to 31 overs a side, after rain delayed the start by more than three hours (along with mopping-up efforts and pitch inspections). Then Charlie Dean appeared, taking a maiden international five-wicket haul to put the ending beyond doubt.This entire tour by Sri Lanka has produced some gripping narratives. The visitors’ 2-1 upset in the T20I series, including their first victories in the format against England – ranked six places higher – was built on captain Chamari Athapaththu’s stellar year with the bat and exposed the hosts’ weakness against spin. Then followed the dream ODI debuts of young seamers Mahika Gaur and Lauren Filer in the opening match as the hosts turned things around before taking a stranglehold of the second fixture which was ultimately washed out.Yes, this victory also came against a side ranked considerably lower than England in the 50-over format but that takes nothing away from the performance of Sciver-Brunt.It was less than a week ago that Sciver-Brunt returned to the England side, having been rested for the T20I series after being England’s Player of the Women’s Ashes, although she helped Blaze to victory over Central Sparks with an unbeaten 66 in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy during that time. Her comeback match came in a seven-wicket win in Durham, a year after she left an England training camp in the same city to take an extended mental health break.Just as Ben Stokes did with England Men, Sciver-Brunt has led by example in terms of enabling players to speak up when they need to care for their mental wellbeing. And, just as Stokes did with his 182 in the third ODI against New Zealand the previous day, Sciver-Brunt again highlighted her indispensability to any side she is part of, taking charge of the storyline after a fraught start when the visitors won the toss and opted to bowl under heavy skies.Maia Bouchier made her maiden ODI fifty•PA Photos/Getty Images

Tammy Beaumont survived on 1 when she struck Udeshika Prabodhani hard but straight to Harshitha Smarawickrama, who fumbled the chance at deep midwicket. Achini Kulasuriya then beat Beaumont’s outside edge with an excellent ball which also just missed off stump, then tempted Beaumont to advance on the next ball, only to be caught by Hasini Perera at slip.Bouchier, opening alongside Beaumont with Emma Lamb out with a back spasm, despatched Prabodhani over deep midwicket for six next over. Prabodhani responded by castling Alice Capsey, who managed just 6 batting in Knight’s place at No. 3, and England were struggling inside the six-over Powerplay which they ended at 28 for 2.But by the 10-over mark that had become 72 for 2, thanks in no small part to Sciver-Brunt, who helped herself to 15 of the 16 runs conceded by Inoka Ranaweera in her first over, her back-foot drive through cover followed by a thunderous pull to the rope at deep midwicket and a monstrous six into the stands beyond long-off.Bouchier, who made her ODI debut in Durham having played 22 T20Is, kept pace beautifully, launching a free hit of Hansima Karunaratne following a no-ball for height, over the fence with disdain at cow corner for her second maximum. She brought up her maiden 50-over fifty with the second of three fours in a row as she peppered the leg side off Oshadi Ranasinghe.Sciver brought up her half-century in just 32 balls with four off Ranaweera and she raised England’s 150 with a nonchalant scoop to the fine leg boundary off Kavisha Dilhari, one of three fours conceded by the young off-spinner in her first over as the England batters continued picking them off at will.Prabodhani did her best to end their union just before they reached the 200-mark in the 23rd over with one that beat Sciver-Brunt’s back-foot swipe and somehow evaded off stump. Sciver-Brunt brought up her century moments later with a single off Kulasuriya, but then Dilhari pinned Bouchier lbw to end a brilliant innings.Sciver-Brunt didn’t flinch, peeling off three fours from the same Dilhari over and another off Ranaweera through extra cover, but she perished next ball, picking out long-off.That brought debutant Bess Heath to the crease and she managed 21 off 14 balls, including a six over deep midwicket off Kulasuriya and a reverse-sweep for four off Dilhari, who then ended Heath’s cameo as she holed out to Karunaratne.Gaur and Filer again combined to make inroads on the Sri Lanka line-up and when off-spinner Dean trapped Athapaththu lbw for just 12 in the ninth over, Sri Lanka were in deep trouble at 46 for 4.Dean, called upon to lead the spin-bowling attack alongside Sarah Glenn with Sophie Ecclestone sidelined initially through workload management but now because of a shoulder injury, then produced the epilogue, snaring three wickets in five balls to all but close the book on the match. Her return catch to remove Karuanaratne was followed by Perera, Sri Lanka’s top-scorer with 32, caught behind and then an excellent delivery that turned between bat and pad and crashed into Dilhari’s off stump. Her fifth wicket came as Prabodhani dragged on and Filer sealed victory with her third, rearranging Kulasuriya’s stumps to end her breakout season on a high.So ended England Women’s international summer, with progress made, talent unearthed, lessons learned and work still to do, all the while leaving that empty feeling that you get at the end of a real page-turner, because we won’t see the results for months to come. That’s what we’re doing here.

Thilak Naidu, the former Karnataka wicketkeeper and Ranji Trophy winner, has been named the chairperson of BCCI’s junior selection committee (men). He fills the position left vacant by S Sharath, who was elevated to the senior men’s selection panel in January this year.The rest of the panel, comprising Ranadeb Bose (East Zone), Harvinder Singh Sodhi (North), Pathik Patel (West) and Krishen Mohan (Central) remains the same. The first task for Naidu’s panel will be to identify a pool of players and prepare them in the run-up to the Under-19 World Cup to be held in Sri Lanka early next year.ESPNcricinfo has learnt that the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) comprising Sulakhana Naik, Ashok Malhotra and Jatin Paranjape, formerly a national selector himself, lent weightage to Naidu’s candidature owing to his experience and body of work since his retirement in 2012.Naidu’s first-class career saw 93 matches in which he took 220 catches and effected 18 stumpings. He was also an aggressive lower-order batter, making 4386 run at 34.80, including eight centuries. Naidu chaired Karnataka’s junior selection panel from 2013-16 and was also part of the senior selection committee in 2015-16.The CAC also named Shyama Shaw as part of the women’s senior selection committee. The former allrounder represented India in three Tests and five ODIs in the mid-1990s and has since served in various administrative capacities, most notably as a Bengal selector for two terms. She replaces Mithu Mukherjee in the panel.Shaw joins the panel chaired by former India left-arm spinner Neetu David. Also in the committee are Arati Vaidya, Kalpana Venkatachar and Renu Margarate. Their immediate task will be to pick the India ODI and T20I squads for the limited-overs tour of Bangladesh in July, the team’s first international assignment since the T20 World Cup in South Africa in February.The announcement of the selection panel is likely to be followed by the appointment of a full-time head coach, for which the BCCI had invited applications in May.ESPNcricinfo has learnt the board was keen on appointing Gary Kirsten for the top job. However, Kirsten* confirmed he hadn’t been approached. Among those in contention are Amol Muzumdar, the former Mumbai captain, and Hrishikesh Kanitkar, the former India allrounder and current interim head coach. The search for a “big international name” is believed to be one of the reasons for the delay in appointment.It’s understood Charlotte Edwards hadn’t thrown her hat into the ring until recently; it couldn’t be confirmed if that stand has changed. The World Cup-winning former England captain is currently head coach of Mumbai Indians in the Women’s Premier League.The new coach is likely to be given a two-year term to begin with, especially because there are two ICC events – the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in 2024 and the 50-over World Cup in India in 2025 – within this period.0900GMT The story has been updated with Gary Kirsten’s response.

Brendon McCullum, England men’s Test head coach, will face no action from his employers at the ECB after questions were raised about his advertising arrangements with a bookmaker.The board said last week that it was “exploring” McCullum’s relationship with Cyprus-based betting company 22Bet India after appearances in YouTube adverts and posts on social media came under scrutiny in his home country, New Zealand.New Zealand’s Problem Gambling Foundation had filed an official complaint to the country’s Department of Internal Affairs (DIA), with the DIA confirming that 22Bet’s adverts are misleading because “they are not a registered New Zealand sports bookmaker, nor are they licensed or regulated in New Zealand by the DIA”.The ECB said it had looked at the matter from a “regulatory and employer perspective” and concluded that McCullum had done nothing wrong. It is understood that the anti-corruption code signed up to by players and coaches does not prohibit such brand ambassador roles.However, McCullum is reportedly set to end his association with the bookmaker.An ECB spokesperson said: “Discussions have been ongoing with Brendon over the last few days, and the matter has been considered from an employer and regulator perspective. We can confirm that no further action will be taken.”

It wouldn’t be over the top to suggest that next season is Mikel Arteta’s most important since taking charge of Arsenal in 2019.

The Spaniard has helped to utterly transform the club since he was appointed, but after three second-placed Premier League finishes in a row, the expectation from many is that he will finally lead the team to glory next year.

Fortunately, the board and sporting director Andrea Berta seem intent on giving him the tools to do so this summer, with the likes of Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard already through the door, and a deal for Viktor Gyokeres in the works.

Furthermore, the links to Eberechi Eze continue to heat up, and now it looks like the Gunners are looking at someone who’d be the midfielder’s dream forward.

Arsenal target Eze's perfect forward

Eze has long been a player on Arsenal’s radar, as stories linking him with a return to the club that released him as a child started to pop up as far back as last summer.

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However, it’s really been in the last couple of weeks that the reports have become far more serious.

It now looks like the 27-year-old, who has a £68m release clause in his contract, has agreed personal terms with the Gunners and that talks between the two clubs are ongoing.

The Englishman would be an expensive but exciting addition to Arteta’s side, and now it looks like Berta and co are interested in adding another attacker who’d be his perfect forward: Ademola Lookman.

Yes, according to a recent report from Caught Offside, Arsenal are one of several sides interested in the Atalanta star this summer.

Alongside the Gunners, the report has revealed that Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, West Ham United and Napoli are all keen on the Nigerian international.

On top of having to deal with the competition, the Premier League runners-up will have to stump up a fee of around £50m for the former Everton ace.

It’s a lot of money to spend on another attacking player, but Lookman has been incredible for several years now, and would be a dream forward signing for Eze.

Why Lookman would be a dream forward for Eze

There are several reasons why Lookman could end up being a dream teammate for Eze at Arsenal, but the first and most crucial is unsurprisingly related to his output.

While the former Everton and Fulham ace struggled to show how good he really was during his time in England, he has had no such trouble since making his way to Italy.

Across his 118 games for the Bergamo outfit, totalling 7538 minutes, the “world-class” attacker has scored 52 goals and provided 25 assists.

Appearances

33

45

40

Minutes

1858′

2809′

2871′

Goals

15

17

20

Assists

8

10

7

Goal Involvements per Match

0.69

0.60

0.67

Minutes per Goal Involvement

80.78′

104.03′

106.33

In other words, the 29-capped international has averaged a goal involvement every 1.53 games or every 97.89 minutes since joining the Serie A side.

Just imagine the numbers the Palace ace could produce playing behind or alongside someone as dangerous as the Wandsworth-born star.

That brings us to the second reason the former RB Leipzig ace would be a great teammate: his positional versatility.

Due to the 27-year-old’s ability to play across the entire frontline, there will be plenty of minutes available to him at the Emirates next season, and as such, he’d have plenty of time to form a real connection with Eze and learn his game.

Moreover, he’s also able to play in attacking midfield and could therefore offer cover for the Englishman and make sure he is not overplayed.

Finally, Lookman has also proven to be a big game player, someone who can get his team over the line all by himself and is totally unfazed by the big occasion.

You only need to look at the 2024 Europa League final to see this, as he scored a hat-trick and won the final for Atlanta despite them being the clear underdogs.

With one of Eze’s motivations for joining the Gunners likely being the chance to win the biggest competitions, this is especially important.

Ultimately, Arteta and Co need to improve Arsenal’s attacking options ahead of next season, and signing both the Palace and Atalanta stars would be an excellent way to do that.

Saka's dream CAM: Arsenal submit bid for £45m superstar & it's not Madueke

The experienced international could be a game-changer for Arsenal and Bukayo Saka.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 10, 2025