Birmingham Phoenix appoint Shane Bond as men's head coach

Birmingham Phoenix have appointed Shane Bond as their new men’s head coach on a two-year deal. Bond, the former New Zealand fast bowler, will replace his compatriot Daniel Vettori, who is set to join the newly-rebranded Sunrisers Leeds as Andrew Flintoff’s successor.Bond is a highly-rated coach within the franchise world who has worked as an IPL bowling coach for the last decade, with both Mumbai Indians (2015-22) and Rajasthan Royals (since 2023). He has also previously worked as a head coach, with experience at Paarl Royals in the SA20 and Sydney Thunder in the BBL.His appointment marks the first major change at Phoenix under their new ownership model, with the franchise now run jointly by Warwickshire and the American investment firm Knighthead Capital, which also owns Birmingham City Football Club.James Thomas, who joined Warwickshire from Manchester City as performance director in June, has emerged as a key figure at Phoenix and ran the recruitment process for a new coach after Vettori’s departure.”We’re thrilled to appoint Shane as head coach,” Thomas said. “His elite coaching experience, proven success in global franchise leagues, and passion for player development will be a major asset.”Throughout a competitive selection process, his vision, tactical insight, and ability to build high-performing environments really stood out. He understands the demands of modern franchise cricket and what it takes to perform at the highest level.”Bond had a brief stint as an overseas player at Warwickshire in 2002, taking 12 wickets in four appearances, and said that he has a “strong connection to the club and the city of Birmingham” as a result.”I know what it means to walk out onto the Edgbaston pitch and represent the people in the stands,” Bond said. “I want to instil that into our players and create an environment which breeds success… I want my team to play a fearless, exciting brand of cricket which ultimately delivers success for the Birmingham Phoenix.”Bond’s appointment extends Phoenix’s New Zealand connection, with Vettori signing Trent Boult, Adam Milne and Tim Southee as his three overseas players last season. It remains to be seen whether any of them will return for 2026, with teams only permitted to make a maximum of four signings and retentions before the inaugural auction in March.There has already been significant movement among men’s Hundred coaches as new investors make their mark on the tournament: Andy Flower has joined London Spirit from Trent Rockets, Tom Moody has left Oval Invincibles for a global role with Lucknow Super Giants (including the Manchester franchise) and Flintoff has left Sunrisers after turning down a new contract.Vettori is expected to be confirmed as Flintoff’s replacement in the coming days, while former Hampshire coach Adi Birrell is set to take charge of Sunrisers’ women after coaching Southern Brave men in 2025.

Hampshire dodge relegation nightmare despite Surrey defeat

South-coast club handed reprieve by Durham after Rahul Chahar takes ten in the match

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay27-Sep-2025Surrey 147 (Washington 3-5, Abbott 3-27, Fuller 3-46) and 281 (Albert 63, Abbott 5-72) beat Hampshire 248 (Washington 56) and 160 (Orr 48, Chahar 8-51) by 20 runsHampshire were given an unlikely reprieve from relegation to Rothesay County Championship Division Two after Durham fell apart at Yorkshire.The south-coast county were resigned to the drop after losing to Surrey by 20 runs, which left Durham only requiring a draw at Headingley. But they sensationally slumped to 85 all out to allow Hampshire to stay in Division One for the 2026 season.Ironically, Hampshire’s last brush with the drop, in 2016, saw them finish in the relegation places but be reinstated after Durham were sent down over financial issues.Surrey only needed one wicket on the final day, which Rahul Chahar managed with the 42nd delivery of the day when he had James Fuller caught behind. In doing so, the India spinner claimed a career-best 8 for 51 – Surrey’s third best bowling figures of the 21st century – and ten wickets in the match.The defeat, with relegation seemingly nailed on, looked like it would compound Hampshire’s horror September. The county had been deducted eight points in the Championship for breaching the ECB’s pitch regulations, before losing in two men’s finals and a women’s final.They also saw popular head coach Adi Birrell announce he would leave the club after seven years at the helm. The South African was gifted a bull for his farm back in his homeland by the players on the final morning of the Surrey match.Instead of Hampshire, Durham will now join Worcestershire in playing in Division Two next season.Ben Brown, who took over the four-day captaincy at short notice after James Vince stepped away from red-ball cricket before the start of the season, said it had been “a really challenging year”, topped off by the Cricket Discipline Panel’s decision to dock points for a poor Utilita Bowl pitch in May – described by Brown as “unjust”.”It has been a really challenging year, off the field as well as on it,” Brown said. “There has been a lot to manage.”Then there is the points deduction on the wicket, which I stand by that it was unjust. That I feel difficult to cope with as a player. People work hard in professional sport and to have essentially clipboard stuff take eight points off us… You want sport to be decided as sport not someone deciding whether grass is right or wrong.”We have been playing under pressure for the last month with no time to think or train, and it has ended up with us losing two finals and looks like we will be going down. Everyone will need time to get their head around it before making a plan to make things better.”Requiring 33 runs to beat Surrey, 32 runs – ie. a tie – would likely have been enough to see Hampshire them remain in Division One on their own steam.Fuller and Brad Wheal were the only Hampshire batters left – the former had shaken off the collapse and dealt with Chahar carefully for 29, while Wheal had stoically blocked 22 balls before bad light brought an unsatisfactory end to the third day, and left plenty with a sleepless night.Chahar bowled the first over of the day and Fuller almost edged the first ball. A swept four eased the nerves, before Wheal nicked his first delivery to first slip – but it narrowly fell short.Fuller and Wheal looked at ease, albeit turning down a bounty of singles, until Fuller attempted to cut Chahar and edged behind to Ben Foakes.Only Kemar Roach’s 8 for 40, and Martin Bicknell’s 9 for 45 were better since the turn of the Millennium. Chahar, on Championship debut, also took ten wickets in the match.”A lot of the disappointment was last night and then today there was just a small chance in a tough situation for Fuller. It was more runs than it looked and was a tall order today,” Brown said. “We should have made a better fist of it. The new hard ball spun quite a lot and we didn’t deal with it. We were a lot of pressure in the run chase and we couldn’t stem the tide of wickets in the middle of the innings.”

Jack Haynes century keeps Notts' qualification chances in reach

Nottinghamshire 282 for 3 (Haynes 124, Hameed 58*) beat Glamorgan 278 for 9 (Byrom 62, Root 56) by seven wicketsJack Haynes starred with a century as Notts Outlaws kept their qualification chances at arm’s length with a comfortable run chase against winless defending champions Glamorgan.The 24-year-old Haynes struck a well-timed 124 with some late acceleration to chase the sub-par 278 for 9 set by the hosts.Ben Slater and Haseeb Hameed played supporting roles in the seven-wicket win, the latter combining with Haynes for a 141-run third-wicket stand.Eddie Byrom notched up back-to-back half-centuries with 62 while Billy Root also passed 50 to hold together the Glamorgan innings. One positive for the winless side was 18-year-old Romano Franco picking up a first professional wicket at the third time of asking.After being inserted, Glamorgan got off to a racing start, as has tended to be their way in this competition. Byrom and Asa Tribe’s 71-run opening stand left Notts’ bowling attack – hit by the absence of players in the Hundred – with cause for concern before Tribe’s fun was ended by 18-year-old debutant Byron Hatton-Lowe.Byrom, the steadier of the two openers in terms of strike rate, continued calmly as he watched on for Henry Hurle, playing a first Glamorgan game of 2025, to be dismissed.Kiran Carlson was unable to kick on, as was Will Smale who suffered a ball-watching run out to leave the hosts with just five wickets in hand with more than 20 overs to bat, a theme too common in their campaign.Root held the fort in a knock of few boundaries for 56 before Dan Douthwaite’s blistering cameo added some impetus, the hosts still left short.Zain Ul Hassan was able to contain in a seven-over new-ball spell while Ned Leonard leaked at the other end, Slater enjoying a rather comfortable start.After Ben Martindale was dismissed, a period of experience was due with Slater and Haynes adding 75 before Hameed struck an unbeaten 58 to ice the run chase.Franco impressed in his 10 overs but poor fielding, including a drop by Andy Gorvin with Haynes on 68 proved costly.Tribe followed as the third player in the game to take a first wicket for his club, after Hatton-Lowe and Franco, although the damage was done.

Juventus back in for Man Utd target Morten Hjulmand with Italian giants eyeing January move for Sporting CP midfielder

Juventus are eyeing a move for Sporting CP midfielder Morten Hjulmand in the upcoming winter transfer window. The Bianconeri had shown interest in the Danish midfielder during the summer, but Sporting rejected their approach, as well as a reported offer from Manchester United. Juventus are also monitoring Sandro Tonali and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic as alternative options.

  • Sporting CP rebuff interest in Hjulmand

    According to , Hjulmand has a €60 million (£50m/$72m) release clause in his contract, which has drawn interest from several top European clubs. Juventus have been closely monitoring the Danish midfielder as an alternative to Douglas Luiz, viewing him as a strong addition to bolster their midfield. However, they were unable to make a move for Hjulmand as they needed to offload Luiz first to finance the transfer. 

    Meanwhile, United have already made an approach, submitting a €40m (£34m/$46m) offer in the summer that Sporting promptly rejected. United manager Ruben Amorim, who previously coached Hjulmand at Sporting, is reportedly keen to reunite with the midfielder at Old Trafford. The club sees Hjulmand as an ideal fit for their system and a potential alternative to Brighton's Carlos Baleba, who has also been on their radar. United are expected to return with an improved offer as they look to strengthen their midfield ahead of the next transfer window.

    Juventus are planning to make a significant investment in midfield, either in the upcoming January transfer window or in the summer of 2026. Juve to structure the deal by taking the player on loan with an option or obligation to buy, allowing them to defer the payment and manage their finances more effectively.

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    Juventus eyeing alternatives

    One of Juventus’ alternatives to Hjulmand is Newcastle United midfielder Tonali. The Italian spent three successful seasons at AC Milan, where he played a crucial role in helping the club win the Serie A title. His consistent performances made him one of Italy’s most promising midfielders, leading to a 2023 transfer to Newcastle. Since joining the Premier League side, Tonali has become a key figure in Eddie Howe’s midfield, playing an instrumental role in Newcastle’s qualification for the Champions League last season. However Given his importance to the team and his long-term potential, Newcastle are unlikely to part ways with Tonali easily, making any potential transfer a difficult and expensive pursuit for interested clubs.

    Another potential target is Milinkovic-Savic, who currently plays for Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia. The Serbian midfielder’s contract with the club runs until 2028, making any move challenging for interested European sides. Before his transfer to Saudi Arabia in 2023, Milinkovic-Savic spent eight successful seasons at Lazio, where he established himself as one of Serie A’s top midfielders and won two Coppa Italia titles. His experience and physical presence make him an attractive option for clubs like Juventus. However, his current salary poses a major obstacle with the midfielder reportedly earning around €20m net per year (£17m/$23m) at Al-Hilal, a figure that would be extremely difficult for Juventus to match under their current financial structure.

    Another option could be Franck Kessie of Al-Ahli, who is reportedly open to a return to Europe. Juventus showed interest in signing the Ivorian midfielder during the summer transfer window, but his high salary of €10m (£9m/$11m) per year proved to be a major obstacle.

  • New horizons for Juventus after change in coach

    Juventus began the season strongly, winning their first three matches, including a thrilling 4-3 victory over Inter in the Derby d’Italia. However, their momentum started to fade after a 4-4 draw against Borussia Dortmund, which marked the beginning of a difficult run. Following that match, Juventus drew five games, including the one against Borussia Dortmund, and went on to lose three consecutive fixtures. Worryingly, the team failed to score in their last four matches during this poor spell, raising concerns about their attacking form. As a result, the club decided to part ways with Igor Tudor and appointed Luciano Spalletti as the new head coach. Spalletti’s arrival brought an immediate boost, as Juventus secured a much-needed 2-1 win over Cremonese in his first match.

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    Juventus and Sporting go head-to-head

    Juventus are set to face Sporting today in the Champions League as they look to build on their recent victory under new manager Spalletti. The Italian coach will aim to make it two wins out of two since taking charge. The match will also give Juventus a chance to closely monitor their transfer target Hjulmand, as they get a first-hand look at the midfielder’s qualities.

Alex Carey has another eventful outing at Lord's

Alex Carey’s previous day of Test cricket at Lord’s was interesting. So was this one against South Africa.Missing a reverse sweep against Keshav Maharaj, and then spilling a regulation edge offered by Wiaan Mulder meant he was in the spotlight. However, Australia’s strong finish, which left them ahead of the game despite being restricted to 212, has perhaps lessened the significance of the two moments.The reverse sweep has been a regular theme of Carey’s career. A few years ago, his wife, Eloise, made clear her thoughts on it. “My wife is the harshest critic of the reverse. She says, ‘don’t play the bloody reverse sweep, not again’,” Carey joked in 2022 when it was a focal point of a tour of Sri Lanka. “But I just politely tell her, ‘you haven’t played the game; yes, you’re going to get out to reverse sweeps and sweeps… but it can also produce some success as well’.”Related

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  • The best of Rabada wasn't in the balls that got the wickets

  • Australia's quicks follow Rabada's start as wickets tumble

His decision to play it when he did on the opening day at Lord’s will come under scrutiny. He used it to excellent effect in Sri Lanka earlier this year, but conditions at Lord’s were certainly not Galle. From 192 for 5, and the prospect of reaching 300 if he and Beau Webster could continue under clearing skies, suddenly turned into a lower-order collapse of 5 for 20 from 34 balls.But there was a gap in the field and, as for so many modern players, Carey sees it as just another of his shots. It went wrong, but it’s unlikely to stop him doing it again if he feels the moment is right.Carey’s numbers with the reverse sweep illustrate the risk-reward factor. In Test cricket, he has scored at more than a-run-a-ball with it (129 runs from 113 balls) and been dismissed on six occasions.Alex Carey loses his stumps to Keshav Maharaj attempting a reverse sweep•AFP/Getty Images

Since ending a period of limited returns with a series-winning, unbeaten 98 in New Zealand last year, Carey has been on a wonderful run across formats, so there is plenty of credit in the bank. He has also been outstanding behind the stumps, which made his dropped catch perhaps the more surprising mis-step.In the fifth over of South Africa’s innings, Mulder edged a drive against Mitchell Starc, Carey only had to move fractionally to his right but the ball burst through his gloves. Starc had started celebrating in anticipation of the wicket but had to hastily abort.”I think it was just one of those ones that swung a little bit on him, which can happen with the Dukes ball,” Steven Smith said. “You quite often see the ball go past the bat and swing late. It was one of those ones that just swung a little bit on him and got himself in a bit of an awkward position with where it got to his chest.Alex Carey started at a high tempo•ICC/Getty Images

“It’s a tricky place to catch behind the wicket sometimes when the ball does that. He’s been keeping so well the last two years. We’re all allowed to drop one every now and again.”Meanwhile, Smith did not expect batting to become too much easier as the game progresses after the opening day produced 14 wickets, nine of which came in the last session.”It might take a bit more spin as the game wears on,” he said. “It’s pretty dry. The seam might go down as the game goes on as well, potentially. I think the bounce is going to be variable throughout the game, as we’ve seen already on day one.”I think we’re in a good spot, we probably had a few missed opportunities with the bat to try and get a bigger total but I think the wicket’s offered something all day as we’ve seen and we’re in a pretty good position, 169 in front when they’re four down. Hopefully it does a little bit in the morning like it did today.”

'It is totally performance-based' – Bangladesh's sports adviser on Faruque's removal

Bangladesh’s sports adviser Asif Mahmud has said that the ICC welcomed the change in leadership in the BCB after they were communicated of the decision. On Friday, the BCB’s board of directors elected Aminul Islam as the new president after the sports ministry removed Faruque Ahmed as its representative.”We have properly contacted the ICC. The new president also worked in the ICC for a long time,” Asif said in a press briefing in Dhaka on Saturday. “There’s no communication gap. ICC knows the situation here, so they have welcomed the decision.”Asif said that Faruque didn’t perform well in the nine months that he was in charge, while he was also linked to irregularities in the sports ministry’s fact-finding committee report. Eight BCB directors also sent a no-confidence motion against Faruque, which the sports ministry considered in its decision as well, Asif added.”We have seen in the report from the BPL’s fact-finding committee that there were instances of irregularity and negligence of responsibility,” he said. “We found Faruque’s link with them. Eight out of the nine BCB directors sent the NSC (the National Sports Council) a no-confidence motion.”Related

  • Anatomy of a fall: How the BCB presidency changed hands

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  • Faruque Ahmed removed as BCB president

The BCB constitution allows the sports ministry to have a quota of five councillors (members) and two board directors. The ministry had nominated Faruque and Nazmul Abedeen Fahim as their directors on August 21 last year, shortly after which the BCB directors unanimously elected Faruque as the new president. Nine months later, the ministry removed Faruque, and replaced him with Aminul. Asif said that the ministry has the right to pick and drop their nomination as councillor or director.”I spoke to Faruque personally. It is not like we removed him because we found corruption charges against him,” he said. “It is totally performance-based. Just like a selection committee wouldn’t pick an out-of-form player, it is the same for us.”NSC has the jurisdiction to give or take a [BCB director] nomination. We didn’t remove the president. We took his directorship, which is why his presidency was gone. We nominated another director. The board followed the ICC guideline and BCB constitution to elect the next president.”Asif said that Faruque’s decision-making during the BPL, particularly in selecting the Durbar Rajshahi franchise for the 2025 edition, was costly. He said that the payment issue was so embarrassing that Dr Muhammad Yunus, the country’s Chief Advisor, didn’t attend the BPL final.”The BPL’s fact-finding committee spoke to BPL’s stakeholders, including Nazmul Abedeen Fahim, the BPL’s member-secretary. The sports ministry had informed our concerns about the owners of Durbar Rajshahi,” Asif said. “[Selecting them as a franchise] was an individual’s decision. In the end, even the government had to be involved to solve the players’ payment and hotel bill issue of that team. It was an undesirable situation. Our head of government couldn’t attend the BPL final, which was quite shameful for everyone.”

Better than Kolo Muani: "Incredible" £43m star wants to join Spurs late on

Tottenham Hotspur’s antics in the transfer window over recent days have been constant, pulling off numerous high-profile additions throughout the summer.

Xavi Simons made his £52m move to join the Lilywhites at the end of last week, finally ending the club’s long-standing pursuit of a new attacking midfielder this summer.

Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze were Thomas Frank’s main targets for the position, but the hierarchy decided to turn to the Dutchman to help bolster the club’s attack.

Mohammed Kudus and Mathys Tel have both already arrived in such an area this window, strengthening the options at the manager’s disposal ahead of his debut campaign in the role.

However, with just a few hours left in the window, the board could be set to back the manager once again, subsequently targeting a move for another top-level forward.

Spurs’ hunt to land a new attacker on deadline day

Despite having an offer rejected earlier this summer, Spurs haven’t given up hope on a move for Manchester City star Savinho before tonight’s 7pm deadline.

It’s been reported that the Brazilian youngster still remains as a priority target for Frank, with a £70m transfer being mooted for the 21-year-old’s signature.

Manchester City'sSavinhoin action with Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister

However, he’s not alone on their list, with Atalanta star Ademola Lookman another option for the Lilywhites this evening, according to GIVEMESPORT’s latest update.

They claim that the player himself is pushing for a move to North London, after previously stating his desire to depart the Italian outfit before the end of the window.

It’s also been suggested that the Nigerian forward could be available for around £43m – a potential bargain for a talent who registered 20 goals throughout the 2024/25 campaign.

Why Spurs’ £43m target would be even better than Kolo Muani

In an attempt to bolster the front line, Spurs have turned their attention to PSG forward Randal Kolo Muani in recent hours – with a deal rapidly progressing throughout the day.

The Lilywhites have struck an agreement with Luis Enrique’s side to land the 26-year-old attacker, which will see the Frenchman join Frank’s side on a season-long loan.

It’s been reported that Spurs will pay a €5m (£4.3m) loan fee for his signature, with the deal not including any option or obligation to buy this time next year.

His tally of 10 goals in 22 appearances last season highlights the quality he possesses when in front of goal – hopefully handing the manager an option amid Dominic Solanke’s ankle injury.

However, a move for Kolo Muani may even be trumped in the remaining hours – especially if the hierarchy can strike up a late agreement for former Fulham star, Lookman.

The Nigerian has excelled in recent months – as seen by his goalscoring tally – which could make him a superb proposition for Frank and the rest of the frontline.

When comparing his underlying stats to those of Kolo Muani from 2024/25, he managed to outperform him in numerous key areas – highlighting why he’d be a better addition.

How Lookman & Kolo Muani compared in 2024/25

Statistics (per 90)

Lookman

Kolo Muani

Games played

31

26

Goals & assists

20

12

Pass accuracy

73%

70%

Key passes made

2.4

1.3

Passes into final third

1.2

0.4

Take-ons completed

1.5

1.4

Progressive carries

5.7

1.7

Aerials won

57%

38%

Stats via FBref

Lookman, who’s been labelled “incredible” by Squawka Sport, outscored the PSG star, whilst also achieving a better goal per shot on target rate – subsequently highlighting his added threat in front of goal.

However, in terms of chance creation, the Atalanta star has further dominated, completing more key passes per 90 and more passes into the final third – offering more of an all-round threat in attacking areas.

His talent in possession is further showcased in his higher tallies of take-ons completed and progressive carries made – which could allow him to beat the opposition before finding the back of the net.

£43m for a player of Lookman’s quality in today’s market is an excellent price, subsequently handing Frank the added attacking quality he’s craved throughout the summer window.

If he does join, he could potentially form a deadly partnership with Kolo Muani in North London – which could allow the Lilywhites to build on their Europa League triumph.

Imagine him with Kolo Muani: £70m star Spurs' top target on deadline day

Tottenham Hotspur look set to make another move after agreeing a deal for Randal Kolo Muani.

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By
Ethan Lamb

Sep 1, 2025

Former Real Madrid and PSG star Keylor Navas transforms Pumas into Liga MX’s stingiest defense with just four goals conceded in seven matches

Keylor Navas’ arrival has transformed Pumas' defense, with the veteran goalkeeper providing much-needed leadership for their backline. Since the former Real Madrid goalkeeper took over in net, Efraín Juárez’s side has surged. The Universitarios stretched their unbeaten run to seven with a 1-1 draw against Tigres, climbing to seventh in the table.

AFPA top-tier signing

Although Pumas currently sit outside Liga MX’s top five and would be facing the play-in round if the Apertura 2025 ended today, Navas’ impact between the posts gives the club plenty to celebrate. Since making his debut in Week 3, Pumas have the stingiest defense in the league, conceding only four goals across seven matches. The team hasn’t lost since his arrival.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportNavas by the numbers

Pumas’ rocky start, which saw them allow six goals in the first two games with young keeper Rodrigo Parra, now feels like a distant memory. Pumas' defensive resurgence is far ahead of their closest competitors, Cruz Azul and Tijuana, who have conceded seven goals each in the same span. Out of the seven matches Navas has started, Pumas has recorded three shutouts. Only Tigres surpasses them with four clean sheets, though they’ve played one extra game due to the postponed Week 1 fixture.

Overall, Pumas have posted three wins and four draws since Navas became their starting goalkeeper, placing them solidly in the top eight. 

AFPGetting praise from legends

Pumas' legendary goalkeeper Miguel Alejandro Palacios, known as “Pikolín,” highlighted Navas’ outstanding form in Mexico.

 “He’s a great goalkeeper, a historic one. He’s arrived at the best team in Mexico, and I hope he enjoys it. Enjoy playing for Pumas, guarding that goal, and having that connection with one of the best fanbases,” Palacios told ESPN.

Palacios made 206 league appearances for Pumas between 2003 and 2017, winning four Liga MX titles. 

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will look to extend this positive streak when they visit FC Juárez on Tuesday in Week 10, with a key clash against América scheduled for the following Saturday.

Saim Ayub ruled out of Champions Trophy

He is still recovering from an ankle injury picked up in January and remains a doubt for the white-ball tour of New Zealand after the Champions Trophy

Danyal Rasool07-Feb-2025Pakistan opening batter Saim Ayub has been confirmed out for at least another five weeks owing to injury; he continues his rehabilitation from the ankle injury he sustained in South Africa in January. It further confirms that he will not be available for the Champions Trophy, which runs until March 9, and the extent of his involvement in Pakistan’s white-ball series in New Zealand after that remains uncertain.A PCB statement said Ayub was “progressing well in his right ankle fracture injury”. He remains in England, where he will complete the remainder of his rehabilitation, and has been ruled out for 10 weeks from the time of his injury, which he picked up while fielding in the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town five weeks ago.Ayub had to be stretchered off the pitch in just the seventh over of the match, when Ryan Rickelton edged a delivery through the slips, sending Ayub off on a chase to deep third alongside Aamer Jamal. Jamal pulled it back in as Ayub stood poised to be the relay fielder, but lost his balance and twisted his ankle. He went down immediately and appeared in anguish holding the lower part of his leg as the physio rushed on.Related

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Despite prolonged treatment outside the boundary line, Ayub was unable to put any weight on his right ankle, and appeared to be in tears as he was placed on to a stretcher and taken off. He was later seen on crutches in the medical booth.The PCB initially said he would be ruled out for six weeks, which offered some hope of his availability for the Champions Trophy, which Pakistan host. Last week the board announced the squad for the tournament, with Ayub absent from it.A week after the Champions Trophy final, Pakistan embark upon an eight-match white-ball tour of New Zealand, playing five T20Is and three ODIs between 16 March and 5 April. The Pakistan Super League starts on 8 April.

Harmanpreet, Renuka rested for Ireland ODIs; Mandhana to lead India

Raghvi Bist and Sayali Satghare have been called up for the series

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Jan-2025India’s regular captain Harmanpreet Kaur and fast bowler Renuka Singh have been rested for the three ODIs against Ireland, set to begin on January 10 in Rajkot. Smriti Mandhana has been named captain in Harmanpreet’s absence, while Deepti Sharma is the vice-captain.Raghvi Bist and Sayali Satghare have been called up for the series, while the likes of Arundhati Reddy, Shafali Verma and Radha Yadav continue to miss out. Bist recently made her T20I debut in the T20I series against West Indies in Navi Mumbai in December last year, where she played two games and made scores of 5 and 31. Satghare, meanwhile, received her India call-up for the ODIs against New Zealand in October 2024, but did not get a game.Pratika Rawal and Tanuja Kanwar, who made their India debuts in the West Indies ODIs in Vadodara, keep their places in the squad.Mandhana also stood in as captain when Harmanpreet sat out of the last two T20Is against West Indies. Harmanpreet, however, returned for the ODIs, making 88 runs in three matches.Shafali, who was dropped for the series against Australia and West Indies late last year, misses out on selection despite finishing as the top run-getter in the Senior Women’s One-Day Trophy that concluded on December 30. She scored 527 in seven games at 75.29, including a 197 against Bengal. More recently, on January 5, she scored a match-winning 91 off 71 balls for Team A in the chase against Team B in the ongoing One Day Challenger Trophy.The India vs Ireland series, part of the 2022-2025 future tours programme, will be Ireland’s first-ever bilateral tour of India, and the teams’ first series against each other since 2006. Ireland have lost all of the 12 ODIs they have played against India so far. The sides last met in the T20 World Cup in 2023, when India won by five runs.India women’s squad for ODIs against IrelandSmriti Mandhana (capt), Deepti Sharma (vice-capt), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Uma Chetry (wk), Richa Ghosh (wk), Tejal Hasabnis, Raghvi Bist, Minnu Mani, Priya Mishra, Tanuja Kanwer, Titas Sadhu, Saima Thakor, Sayali Satghare

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