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Zimbabwe dealt an early blow on Bangladesh, after they bowled out the home side for 191 runs on the first day of the Sylhet Test. Wellington Masakadza and Blessing Muzarabani led the charge with three wickets each while Victor Nyauchi and Wessly Madhevere provided impressive support with their two wickets apiece.The visitors finished the day on a good note too, as their openers Ben Curran and Brian Bennett saw off the 14.1 overs unscathed, with 67 runs on the board. Zimbabwe couldn’t have asked for a better start in a venue where they also beat Bangladesh seven years ago. Bangladesh’s batting woes continued despite a five-month break from Test cricket. They have now been bowled out for under 200 for the sixth time in their last ten Test innings.Bangladesh’s top order once again didn’t provide them the start. The middle order collapsed too, from 98 for 2, to lose four wickets for 48 runs, after a bit of recovery. Mominul Haque top-scored with 56 while captain Najmul Hossain Shanto made 40, but neither converting to big scores after making starts.It was Nyauchi who provided Zimbabwe with their first pair of breakthroughs in the first hour. He broke Bangladesh’s opening stand with his fourth ball, when Shadman Islam edged Nyauchi’s wide delivery to gully. Brian Bennett took a splendid catch diving forward. Nyauchi removed Mahmudul Hasan Joy in his next over, bowling an impeccable line, to get the right-hander caught behind for 14.At the other end, Mominul was dropped before opening his account. Wicketkeeper Nyasha Mayavo couldn’t hold on to the chance that came off Mominul’s bat when he tried to avoid Muzarabani’s short ball. Bangladesh still went to lunch on 84 for 2, after seeing off Zimbabwe’s threat with the new ball.The visitors however weren’t done yet. Muzarabani peppered Shanto with plenty of short deliveries after lunch. The break lasted an extra thirty minutes due to rain. Shanto, having struck six fours in his knock, couldn’t keep another Muzarabani short ball down, giving Wessly Madhevere a simple catch at point.Still there was hope for Bangladesh’s two most experienced batters – Mushfiqur Rahim and Mominul – to steady the ship. Instead, their dismissals sparked a collapse.Mushfiqur followed the captain back to the pavilion after making four, when he gave Mazakadza a gift of a wicket in his first over. Mushfiqur couldn’t quite believe it when he struck Masakadza to short midwicket where Bennett completed the catch.Mominul was next to go, swiping Masakadza to short midwicket after making 56. It was perhaps Mominul’s push for quicker runs that prompted the shot, but it looked too soft in the circumstance. Muzarabani brought back his short-ball prescription for Mehidy Hasan Miraz, knocking him out almost with a brute of a delivery. Mehidy was caught napping in his fourth ball, awkwardly gloving the ball to wicketkeeper Mayavo for a simple catch.The tail caved in quickly with Jaker Ali on the other end. Taijul Islam was caught behind down the leg-side giving Masakadza his third wicket. Muzarabani clean bowled Hasan Mahmud, before Madhevere removed Jaker and Nahid Rana in the same over to bowl out Bangladesh in the 61st over.

Jon Lewis has left his role as England Women’s head coach.Amid a review of England’s 16-0 Women’s Ashes defeat in Australia, which followed their group-stage exit at the T20 World Cup in October, the ECB announced on Friday that Lewis had left his position.”I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as England Women’s head coach,” Lewis said in a statement. “Unfortunately I won’t be able to finish this incredibly challenging but enjoyable job of developing this young team, whilst winning and growing the women’s game in this country.”I have worked tirelessly with this group of young players to develop their skills and understanding of modern-day white ball cricket, whilst still making good progress in 2024, winning 83% of all our games.”I am proud that we have seen unprecedented bumper crowds in 2023 and 2024 and I am determined to continue to help drive women’s cricket forward in whatever comes next for me. I wish all the players the best and thank them for letting me be part of their journeys.”Related

• Jon Lewis appointed London Spirit Women's head coach

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• 'Like the English Graeme Smith' – Grace Scrivens, future England captain?

• Heather Knight's captaincy ends but her work as a leader goes on

• Knight's inglorious exit exposes limits of England women's evolution

Clare Connor, ECB managing director, England Women, and deputy chief executive officer – who announced the review in the immediate aftermath of the Ashes whitewash – said: “I’d like to thank Jon for all he has given in his time as head coach.”He came into the role after a very challenging period for cricketers during the pandemic, and one of his priorities was to create the right conditions for the team to flourish and develop. Under his leadership the team held off Australia to draw a thrilling 2023 Women’s Ashes – attracting record crowds with an entertaining brand of cricket – while the team’s consistent success in bilateral cricket included a remarkable eight consecutive ODI series wins for which he should take real credit.”While the recent ICC Women’s T20 World Cup and Women’s Ashes in Australia have been disappointing, there is no doubt about the talent we have available and we will look to appoint a successor shortly. We must be ready for an exciting summer of international cricket and to challenge for two World Cups over the next 15 months, including the T20 World Cup in this country next year.”Lewis had been in charge since November 2022, during which time England Women won 52 of their 73 matches.He has just finished his third season as coach of UP Warriorz, who finished bottom of the WPL table in the 2025 season.While the drawn 2023 Ashes series, in which England won both white-ball legs, was seen as a mark of progress for the team, they took a backward step when a hapless fielding performance against West Indies cost them a place in the knockout phase of the T20 World Cup and the recent Ashes drubbing brought Lewis’s position under intense scrutiny, particularly once the review was announced, details of which are yet to be made public.Charlotte Edwards is a potential successor for Jon Lewis•Nathan Stirk/ECB via Getty Images

Speaking immediately after the Ashes Test at the MCG, which Australia won by an innings and 122 runs to keep England winless for the entire multi-format series, Lewis said he felt “I haven’t finished the job that I came here to do”, indicating a desire to stay on in the role.His comments earlier in the tour raised eyebrows when, after England had slumped to their fifth defeat of the tour in the second T20I, he suggested that Australia’s active, outdoors lifestyle was more conducive to producing athletes.The England team had already become embroiled in controversy after former team-mate turned commentator Alex Hartley had said that a handful of players were “letting the team down” with their fitness levels. Lewis repeatedly defended the squad’s training efforts, although Connor said all aspects of their preparation – including physical and mental – would be examined in the review, which has sought input from players.The ECB said it would provide an update on plans to appoint a new head coach “in due course” with visits by West Indies and India looming, followed by the 50-over World Cup in India and a home T20 World Cup next year.Charlotte Edwards stands out as a potential successor, having just coached Mumbai Indians to their second WPL title in three years.Edwards, the former England captain, offered to help the ECB in its review while not ruling herself out from taking over as head coach should the role become available.Having initially said she was interested in taking the England Women’s job in 2022, Edwards decided against applying, choosing to focus on her burgeoning franchise coaching career with Southern Brave in the Women’s Hundred and WBBL side Sydney Sixers, as well as leading Southern Vipers in the domestic women’s competition, which included a T20 competition named in her honour.Edwards has led Southern Vipers to five titles, including two Charlotte Edwards Cup victories – the second as part of a domestic double in 2023 – and Southern Brave to three Women’s Hundred finals, winning the 2023 edition. She also led Sydney Sixers to the WBBL final in her first season in charge in 2022-23. She has been appointed head coach of Hampshire Women under the new domestic structure in England and Wales beginning this season.Before becoming England Women’s head coach, Lewis had been ECB’s elite pace bowling coach since 2021, working alongside the England Men’s Test and white-ball teams. He was previously head coach of the Young Lions, having joined the ECB from the coaching staff at Sussex. As a player, Lewis took more than 1,200 professional wickets in a 19-year professional career at Gloucestershire, Surrey and Sussex, and played 15 times for his country.

Former Italy coach Cesare Prandelli praised AC Milan’s Luka Modric and Napoli’s Kevin De Bruyne, insisting that class has no age amid the veteran midfielders' bright starts in Serie A. The duo moved to the Italian top-flight from Real Madrid and Manchester City respectively after their contracts expired and Prandelli says they bring an excitement to the league.

• Milan face Napoli on Sunday in Serie A

  Milan will host reigning Scudetto champions Napoli at the San Siro on Sunday. Napoli, unbeaten in their first four games of the season, sit at the top of the table, while Milan have recovered from their opening defeat to Cremonese with three consecutive clean sheets, building positive momentum. The spotlight will be on midfielders Modric and De Bruyne, as the two stars go head-to-head after earning widespread praise from pundits.

  While De Bruyne is tipped to play a decisive role in Napoli’s push for the Serie A title, Modric has been hailed for his adaptability, with praise for the way he adjusts his game to elevate both himself and those around him.

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  Prandelli's praise for Modric & De Bruyne

  In an interview with , Prandelli praised the qualities of Modric and De Bruyne, saying: "They're very welcome when it comes to champions with such exaggerated talent. Class knows no age, and both players' intelligence is so developed that they both know when to accelerate and when to control themselves. They also have feet and vision that make you fall in love with football. A champion is the one who decides, and Modric and De Bruyne have done just that and will continue to do just that."

• Conte and Allegri: The decisive factors

  However, Prandelli believes the real battle in the weekend's showdown clash will be between coaches Antonio Conte and Massimiliano Allegri. Explaining why, he said: "About Allegri and Conte, charismatic and with a leadership that becomes a driving force. Both must be recognized for their strength, which stems from their knowledge. Their differences are often discussed, while to me, in many respects, they seem to have enormous similarities."

  Conte arrived in Naples after Napoli’s disappointing 10th-place finish in the 2023-24 season, and he went on to guide them to their second title in three years, edging Inter by a single point on the final matchday. Prandelli praised his impact, highlighting his extraordinary ability to improve players: "Conte is extreme in his arrival at a club, with that ability to get inside the players' heads and improve them. For example: Politano has always been a quality player, but thanks to Antonio, he has added a consistency that makes him an essential element."

  Similarly, Allegri took charge of Milan after their eighth-place finish last season. Their 3-0 win over Lecce in the Coppa Italia on Tuesday gave them four consecutive clean sheets in all competitions. Prandelli also applauded Allegri’s ability to solve problems and argued that Milan are playing entertaining football despite criticisms of his style.

  "I'm incredibly happy with Allegri's impact; he deserved it because he had to endure undeserved criticism," he added. "Max is dominant, he has the ability to absorb the most delicate situations and handle them with mastery. He takes on problems and solves them. And Milan are playing well; against Udinese he was entertaining."

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  Modric and De Bruyne's challenge on Sunday

  Both Modric and De Bruyne will look to use their experience and technical ability to give their team a competitive edge when Milan and Napoli take on each other on Sunday.

Aston Villa have entered pole position for their potential first major signing of the summer, ahead of both Man City and Leeds United, according to a new report.

Duran 2.0: Aston Villa in contact with “one of the best strikers in the PL”

Aston Villa have an opportunity to land their next Jhon Duran by signing this attacking menace.

ByKelan Sarson Aug 1, 2025

Unai Emery’s side have just two weeks to go before their first Premier League game of the season against Newcastle, and barring goalkeeper Marco Bizot, Villa have been one of the least active top flight clubs in terms of recruitment.

Their transfer window has been dominated by PSR concerns, financial constraints and more rumours linking key men with moves away than stars actually coming through the door.

Youri Tielemans

7.08

Morgan Rogers

6.92

Marcus Rashford

6.82

Tyrone Mings

6.81

Ollie Watkins

6.80

via WhoScored

Emery, and supporters in particular, will be hoping for a late-window surge from the club’s president of football operations, Monchi, in preparation for what is an absolutely vital 2025/2026.

Villa are paying the price for missing out on Champions League qualification, but if they fail to reinforce the squad, it is unlikely they can mount a more successful top four push next term.

NSWE have been tipped as contenders for some high-profile upgrades from now until deadline day on September 1, though, with Emery reportedly keen on a move for Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson among others.

As well as the Senegalese, Villa are believed to be top contenders to sign former Norwich City star Gabriel Sara, who’s fresh off the back of a promising debut season with Turkish champions Galatasaray.

The Brazilian hit double figures for assists in 45 appearances across all competitions, including two against Besiktas, with Sara also scoring in a 3-1 derby win over arch rivals Fenerbahçe at the beginning of 2024/2025.

Sara has built upon his fine last campaign at Norwich, where he was included in the 2024 Championship Team of the Year, attracting praise from ex-Canaries boss David Wagner.

“He is an outstanding player. Not only for us but in this division – no one has a doubt about this. It’s crystal clear,” Wagner said in February last year.

“Nobody should underestimate that he has played more or less every game from the first to the final minute, and he has put on numbers that, in terms of goals and assists, are near the top of our team.

“He works very hard.”

Now, Villa are looking to offer him a route back to England, and they appear to be serious.

Aston Villa leading race to sign Galatasaray midfielder Gabriel Sara

According to CaughtOffside, Villa are currently the “most advanced” side for Sara, taking pole position at the expense of City, Leeds, Everton, Nottingham Forest and Wolves.

NSWE are also ready to hold talks over signing the South American, who can play both as a traditional centre-midfielder and number 10, with Sara also capable of playing out wide.

Statistically, it’s clear as day why Villa are this keen. Sara recorded a whopping 5.1 shot-creating actions per match and averaged 7.64 progressive passes, placing him in the top 10% of midfielders in Europe (Fot Mob).

His flair and versatility would be a fantastic asset for Emery, and Galatasaray will apparently do business for around £35 million. While Villa are only prepared to go as high as the £17 million mark right now, as per CaughtOffside, it is definitely worth consideration to raise their offer.

Real Madrid want Franco Mastantuono to miss out on the Under 20 World Cup with Argentina, with Xabi Alonso saying he will stay with the La Liga side.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Los Blancos are determined to prevent Mastantuono from joining Argentina’s U-20 squad for the World Cup in Chile. The 18-year-old youngster only arrived at the Santiago Bernabeu this summer after the club triggered his €45 million (£38m/$49m) release clause at River Plate, signing him on a six-year deal. Argentina’s federation have been pushing to secure his participation, but Alonso has shut the door on any chance of a call-up.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

If released, Mastantuono would miss up to seven matches for Madrid in La Liga and the Champions League. The winger is viewed as one of Madrid’s brightest long-term investments, having already been handed starts in La Liga this season. Argentina see him as a natural fit for their youth setup, but Madrid believe keeping him in Spain is vital for his development. This tug-of-war reflects a wider trend, with elite European clubs increasingly reluctant to release teenage stars for youth tournaments that clash with the senior calendar.

WHAT XABI ALONSO SAID

“If it’s up to us, he’ll stay with us,” Alonso told reporters ahead of the clash with Real Sociedad.

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Despite being left out of Diego Placente’s preliminary U-20 squad, Argentine newspaper suggest officials are ready to travel to Europe in a last-ditch attempt to convince the club. The Albiceleste are desperate to include the teenager, especially after he made his international debut earlier this year in Messi’s potential farewell game against Venezuela.

Sweden national team boss Jon Dahl Tomasson has provided a fitness update on new Liverpool signing Alexander Isak.

Isak signs for Liverpool in £125m dealMissed Sweden's draw with SloveniaUpdate provided on striker's conditionFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

After months of speculation, Isak finally swapped Newcastle United for Liverpool in a British record deal worth £125 million ($169m). Now, attention has turned to when he will make his Reds debut. The striker was an unused substitute in Sweden's 2-2 draw with Slovenia on Friday but the 25-year-old could be back playing very soon.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT TOMASSON SAID

"He [Isak] had only done three training sessions with the team," Tomasson told Viaplay after the game. "No pre-season with the team and of course no playing time. The risk is probably a bit too great to use him today (Friday)."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

As Tomasson alluded to, Isak has not had the benefit of a pre-season campaign, partly due to going on strike at Newcastle to force through a Liverpool move. Despite that, it seems a Liverpool debut will not be too far away as he aims to hit the ground running at the Reds, potentially starting with a trip to Burnley next Sunday.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT?

Sweden are now preparing to face Kosovo in their next 2026 World Cup qualifier on Monday night. When asked if the former Real Sociedad man could play in that game, Tomasson added, "Hopefully, hopefully. As a game-changer."

تحدث طارق السيد، نجم الزمالك الأسبق، عن مستوى الأبيض الموسم الجديد تحت قيادة البلجيكي يانيك فيريرا المدير الفني وجون إدوارد المدير الرياضي.

وقال السيد، عبر قناة “إم بي سي مصر 2”: “تجربة الزمالك يجب أن تكتمل حتى النهاية، فالزمالك يغير جلده في كل شيء، وعدد اللاعبين الجدد في الفريق ليس قليلًا، نحن نتحدث عن 11 صفقة”.

طالع.. خاص | مادورا البرتغالي يتقدم بشكوى لـ فيفا ضد الزمالك بسبب شيكو بانزا

وأضاف: “أن تكون البداية بهذا الشكل فهذا أمر عظيم للزمالك، لكن الأهم أن يستمر اللاعبون بنفس الروح والقلب الذي يلعبون به فجميع لاعبي مصر متقاربون في المستوى، وما يفرق بين فريق وآخر، الروح القتالية”.

وتابع: “الزمالك يحتاج إلى جناح أيسر، فهذا المركز يعاني من مشكلة واضحة أما شيكو بانزا فهو لاعب جيد، لكنه يمتلك الكثير من المشكلات”.

ويحتل الزمالك، المركز الأول في جدول ترتيب مسابقة الدوري المصري الممتاز برصيد 16 نقطة، جمعهم من الفوز في 5 مباريات وتعادل وخسارة.

Tottenham Hotspur may end up waving goodbye to another fan-favourite star before the summer transfer window slams shut at the start of September.

At the start of June, The Telegraph reported that club captain Heung-min Son could move on from London after leading the team to the Europa League trophy this season.

The outlet claimed that the South Korea international could be sold by Spurs in order to generate funds to bolster the squad ahead of their return to the Champions League, amid interest from teams in the Saudi Pro League.

Son has racked up an eye-catching haul of 173 goals and 101 assists in 454 appearances in all competitions for the club since signing from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2015.

The experienced forward’s departure this summer would mean that all three of Mauricio Pochettino’s iconic attacking line-up will have moved on, following Dele Alli and Harry Kane’s exits from the club in recent years.

All three stars were key players for the former Spurs head coach at the top end of the pitch, and Alli’s contributions should not be overlooked.

Why Dele Alli was a star for Spurs

The London-based club reportedly splashed out a fee of £5m to sign the attacking midfielder from League One outfit MK Dons in 2015, and Pochettino brought him into the first-team squad for the 2015/16 campaign.

Alli hit the ground running in the Premier League, bypassing the Championship, with a return of ten goals and eight assists in 33 top-flight games in his first season with Spurs.

The England international went on to plunder 67 goals and 59 assists in 269 appearances in all competitions for Tottenham before his move away from the club in 2022.

These statistics show that the former MK Dons talent provided plenty of quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals for Spurs during his time in London, whilst he also offered Pochettino a lot of flexibility in the way that he could be deployed within the starting line-up.

Dele Alli’s positional flexibility for Spurs
Position	Appearances	Goals	Assists
Attacking midfield	158	42	40
Central midfield	48	9	5
Left midfield	36	14	8
Centre-forward	8	2	1
Defensive midfield	2	0	2
Stats via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, Alli was deployed in several different positions for Tottenham, mainly playing as a central or attacking midfielder, or off the left flank.

The 29-year-old midfielder, who now plays for Como in Italy, was a star for Spurs due to both the quality he provided at the top end of the pitch and the versatility he offered the manager.

Spurs may now be about to unearth their next version of Alli, who was a key member of the attack that included Son and Kane under Pochettino, as they are expected to sign a Premier League star.

Spurs expected to sign Premier League midfielder

West Ham United outlet HammersNews reports that the Premier League side expect Aston Villa attacking midfielder Jacob Ramsey to sign for Tottenham this summer.

The Hammers are interested in a deal to sign the former England U21 international to bolster their own squad this summer, but the club believe that the 24-year-old talent is on his way to another team in London.

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Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Speaking to HammersNews, the ‘top spokesman’ for the West Ham owners said: “I think the player (Ramsey) is going to Spurs.”

Spurs were recently linked with an interest in the Villans starlet, who could be on his way out of Villa Park this summer, and this latest update suggests that they are set to win the race for his signature.

Earlier this year, The Boot Room reported that Manchester City are also interested in the attacking midfielder, who is valued at a fee of around £50m by Aston Villa.

However, it remains to be seen exactly how much Spurs will end up paying for the English talent if they do end up signing him, as West Ham expect.

Why Spurs should sign Jacob Ramsey

The Lilywhites should push ahead with a deal to sign the 24-year-old star in the coming weeks because he could arrive at the club as Thomas Frank’s own version of Dele Alli.

Ramsey may not seem like an obvious signing for Spurs, given that he has only scored two Premier League goals since the start of the 2023/24 campaign, but his form in the past for Villa suggests that there is a quality player who could be unearthed.

The Villans maestro’s performances in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 campaigns suggest that he has the potential to develop into a top performer for Tottenham if Frank can get the best out of him.

Ramsey, who was once dubbed “sensational” by Seb Stafford-Bloor, plundered 12 goals and eight assists in those two seasons, and was particularly impressive in front of goal in the 2022/23 campaign, with six goals and seven assists to his name that term.

22/23 Premier League	Jacob Ramsey per 90	Percentile rank vs midfielders
Non-penalty xG	0.20	Top 16%
Non-penalty xG	0.17	Top 14%
xAG	0.17	Top 14%
Assists	0.24	Top 6%
Shot-creating actions	2.77	Top 40%
Progressive carries	3.21	Top 9%
Stats via FBref

As you can see in the table above, the English star caught the eye as both a scorer and a creator of goals for the Villans, ranking highly among midfielders in the Premier League in several key attacking metrics.

Like Alli, Ramsey’s top three most played positions are central midfield, attacking midfield, and left midfield, which means that he can offer Frank the same positional flexibility that the former Spurs star did for Pochettino, as a playmaker who can play centrally or come in off the left.

His form in the 2022/23 season also suggests that he has the potential to provide an impressive threat as both a scorer and a creator of goals from those three positions, which is exactly what Alli did throughout his time in North London.

Therefore, Frank could unearth his own version of the former England international by securing a deal for Ramsey, before helping him to get back to the kind of form he displayed at the start of his Villa career.

A bigger talent than Eze: Spurs make enquiry for "sensational" £40m star

Tottenham Hotspur appear to be making a move for another Premier League talent.

1

By
Ethan Lamb

Jun 28, 2025

Trent Boult, who was part of defending champions MI Emirates last season, has not been retained

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Jun-2024

Kieron Pollard, Nicholas Pooran, Akeal Hosein and Dwayne Bravo have all been retained by MI Emirates•Creimas/ILT20

Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Nicholas Pooran, David Warner and Mohammad Amir are among the 69 players retained by their respective ILT20 franchises ahead of the third season.Captain Pooran, Dwayne Bravo, Akeal Hosein, Kieron Pollard and Fazalhaq Farooqi are also among defending champions MI Emirates’ retainees. Trent Boult, who was part of Emirates last season, has not been retained. Captain Narine and Russell are among the 11 players retained by Abu Dhabi Knight Riders along with the likes of David Willey, Charith Asalanka and USA’s Ali Khan and Andries Gous.Apart from Amir, the likes of Wanindu Hasaranga, Alex Hales and Azam Khan have also been retained by Desert Vipers. The notable absentees from the retention list are fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Matheesha Pathirana, and Colin Munro, who captained the Vipers last season.Captain Warner aside, Dubai Capitals have retained big names such as Rovman Powell, Sam Billings and Jake Fraser-McGurk. England’s Joe Root and Mark Wood, who were part of the squad last year, have been left out. Shimron Hetmyer headlines Gulf Giants’ retention list, along with captain James Vince. USA’s Saurabh Netravalkar and Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rehman haven’t made the list. The likes of Kusal Mendis, captain Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Johnson Charles are among the eight players retained by Sharjah Warriors.Each franchise has also retained two UAE players each, and there was no limit on retention of international players. Teams can now sign new players in the ongoing player acquisition window which will stay open till 15 September. The franchises will also need to complete their quota of four UAE signings after the completion of the ILT20 development tournament which will be held in October.The third season of the ILT20 is scheduled to be played in 2025 from January 11 to February 9 in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah.ILT20 retention listAbu Dhabi Knight Riders: Aditya Shetty, Ali Khan, Alishan Sharafu, Andre Russell, Andries Gous, Charith Asalanka, David Willey, Joe Clarke, Laurie Evans, Micheal Pepper and Sunil Narine.Desert Vipers: Adam Hose, Alex Hales, Ali Naseer, Azam Khan, Bas de Leede, Luke Wood, Micheal Jones, Mohammad Amir, Nathan Sowter, Sherfane Rutherford, Tanish Suri and Wanindu Hasaranga.Dubai Capitals: Dasun Shanaka, David Warner, Dushmantha Chameera, Haider Ali, Raja Akif, Rovman Powell, Sam Billings, Sikandar Raza, Zahir Khan, Jake Fraser McGurk and Oliver Stone.Gulf Giants: Aayan Afzal Khan, Blessing Muzarabani, Chris Jordan, Dipendra Singh Airee, Gerhard Erasmus, Jamie Overton, James Vince, Jamie Smith, Jordan Cox, Mohammad Zohaib Zubair, Rehan Ahmed, Richard Gleeson and Shimron Hetmyer.MI Emirates: Akeal Hosein, Andre Fletcher, Daniel Mousley, Dwayne Bravo, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Jordan Thompson, Kieron Pollard, Kusal Perera, Muhammad Rohid Khan, Muhammad Waseem, Nicholas Pooran, Nosthush Kenjige, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth and Waqar Salamkheil.Sharjah Warriors: Dilshan Madushanka, Johnson Charles, Junaid Siddique, Muhamad Jawadullah, Kusal Mendis, Luke Wells, Peter Hatzoglou and Tom Kohler-Cadmore.

Pakistan captain says lack of rhythm upfront with the bat, and then again in the middle overs, cost his side against India

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Jun-20241:47

Mumtaz: PCB needs to provide leadership skills to players

Babar Azam reckoned not utilising the batting powerplay well enough and then playing too many dot balls in the middle overs were the main reasons behind Pakistan not being able to chase down 120 in their T20 World Cup 2024 match against India in New York.”In our mind, we wanted to play normally, utilise the first six overs in the batting and [if we had done that] we win,” Babar said after Pakistan’s six-run defeat. “But one wicket down and we were not up to the mark in the first six overs. We were targeting like 40 to 45 runs in the first six overs, but we did not capitalise properly and yes after the ten overs also we made the same mistake.”Related

Kirsten bemoans Pakistan's 'poor decision-making'

Bumrah spearheads India's defence of 119; Pakistan on brink of elimination

The curious case of Pakistan's World Cup 15

Having restricted India to 119, Pakistan did not lose too many wickets upfront but also did not score many runs. They managed 35 for 1 in the powerplay and then moved 72 for 2 in 12 overs. Then, Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya orchestrated a collapse. Hardik got rid of Fakhar Zaman with an excellent short of a length ball, before Bumrah breached Mohammad Rizwan’s stumps with the first ball of his second spell.

In the middle overs (6.1 to 15.6), Pakistan played 29 dot balls and scored 50 runs while losing three wickets.”We bowled well after ten overs and we would have taken 120. It’s a better total here. In the batting, we went run-a-ball but unfortunately, but we lost back-to-back wickets and then there were too many dot balls,” Babar said. “Tactics were simple, play normally, just rotate the strike and just try and play one boundary and be normal…get five or six an over. But in that period we had too much dot balls, the pressure was on us. And we lost back-to-back two to three wickets.”Having suffered back-to-back defeats to start this World Cup, Pakistan now find themselves struggling to make it out of the first round. Babar said they will just look to win their last two Group A games, and then take it from there.”Obviously we have to win the last two matches. We will sit and discuss our mistakes but we are looking forward to the next two matches.”Pakistan play Canada on June 11 at this venue and then finish the group stage against Ireland on June 16 in Lauderhill.