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Although conditions in Perth should suit the quicks, Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga looms as a threat

Tristan Lavalette24-Oct-20224:41

What makes the SL spinners a threat even in Australia?

Allrounder Mitchell Marsh has declared himself fit to bowl in a much-needed confidence boost for Australia, whose T20 World Cup title defence is on the line against Sri Lanka at Optus Stadium on Tuesday.While fellow favourites India and England started their campaigns with statement wins, albeit in contrasting fashion, hosts Australia are on the back foot after a thumping 89-run opening defeat to New Zealand at the SCG.It has meant Australia’s net run rate is already an eyesore and winning their remaining four games might not be enough to get into the semi-finals given the cut-throat nature of the tournament.Having finally recovered from a lingering ankle injury, Marsh should add much-needed versatility for an Australian attack still reeling from a pummeling by rampant openers Finn Allen and Devon Conway.Related

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Finch: Australia's 'fate out of our own hands to a point' following heavy defeat to New Zealand

Blazing Allen writes new chapter in Trans-Tasman rivalry at World Cups

He has not bowled since the Zimbabwe ODI series in August, playing as a specialist No. 3 batter in the lead up matches and against New Zealand.”I’m available to bowl. I love preparing as an allrounder and making sure I’m in the game the whole time,” Marsh told reporters in Perth on Monday.His seam bowling will provide another option for skipper Aaron Finch in the powerplay after Australia leaked 65 runs against New Zealand. To balance the attack, Finch prefers utilising an allrounder – either Marsh, Marcus Stoinis or offspinner Glenn Maxwell – in the opening six overs.Against New Zealand, Stoinis, who himself had only recently returned from a side strain, conceded 10 runs in the fourth over as Finch only used five bowlers with Maxwell strangely overlooked on an SCG pitch that gripped as the game wore on.”I think with me bowling, it gives us that added flexibility of myself, Maxi or Stoin can get four overs out. And we can bowl anywhere,” Marsh said.After such a disastrous start to their title defence, question marks continue to hover over Australia with Steven Smith and young allrounder Cameron Green, who replaced the injury Josh Inglis, on the outside looking in.Mitchell Marsh would be a valuable bowling option for Aaron Finch•AFPBut Australia are expected to back the same line-up, packed with big-hitters, as they attempt to lift off the canvas much like they spectacularly did 12 months ago in the UAE.In the aftermath of Saturday’s defeat, spinner Adam Zampa said Marsh attempted an ice breaker in the team’s dejected changing rooms by saying: “Perfect, this is right where we wanted to be – backs against the wall”.While a smiling Marsh doesn’t recall the quip, jokingly saying he was “thrown under the bus” by Zampa, he did believe it was an approach worth adopting.”We don’t really have a choice,” he said. “The nature of the tournament…you lose one game, your back is up against the wall and we know what’s in front of us. It’s just really important to stick together.”Even though Perth has experienced inclement weather in recent days, fortunately not impacting the tournament, there is no forecast for rain on Tuesday with the Optus Stadium pitch expected to again be bouncy and fast.England speedster Mark Wood bowled the fastest spell recorded in T20Is during Saturday’s game against Afghanistan, whose batters consistently holed out on the deep square boundaries on a ground with the same dimensions as the MCG.Marsh tipped Australia quicks Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood to bowl rapidly. “We’ll certainly have an aggressive approach. We know that the three big bowlers when they get going, theý’re very hard to stop,” he said. I think certainly after the other night we’ll see a big response from them.”Even though Optus Stadium, which essentially mimics the WACA’s iconic pitch, has characteristics perfectly suited for quicks, spinners can be effective in the middle overs by bowling back of a length, stymying batters on the vast square boundaries.England’s high-octane batting order was tied down by Afghanistan’s spin-heavy attack as they made hard work of chasing 113, which they reached with 11 balls to spare.After being stunned by Namibia in their opener in Geelong, Asia Cup champions Sri Lanka have steadily improved with three straight wins led by legspinner Wanindu Hasaranga who has taken nine wickets at an average of just 9.78 in the tournament.”He’s obviously a very good bowler and someone we’ll have to counteract,” Marsh said of Hasaranga, who has taken 10 T20I wickets at 16.40 this year against Australia in five matches over two series in Australia and Sri Lanka.”Hopefully spin doesn’t play a huge factor at Perth Stadium and we can really attack them [Sri Lanka’s spinners]. We play spin very well in Australian conditions.”After Sri Lanka, Australia face England at the MCG which is still probably heaving after last night’s epic game between India and Pakistan.England allrounder Sam Curran has lit fuel to the high stakes contest by saying he wants to put Australia in a “tricky position”.Marsh, however, said Australia’s focus was solely on Sri Lanka. “That’s all that matters to us,” he said of the clash expected to attract around 25,000 fans to the 60,000-seat stadium.”Hopefully we play well, get past that and then move on to England.”

Pant vs Karthik is India’s major selection debate in a contest full of star-studded match-ups

Vithushan Ehantharajah09-Nov-20226:53

Key match-ups: Kumble feels Suryakumar will put Curran under pressure

Big picture
The self-anointed big boys of world cricket are going at it at the Adelaide Oval. The neutrals may struggle to pick a side, but one thing is certain – it will be a blockbuster occasion.Familiarity will breed competition in this instance, given what’s at stake. Just a few months ago these two sides spent a concentrated fortnight at one another’s throats, with India taking the T20I leg with a pretty convincing 2-1 series win. But things are different now, very much in a good way. Jos Buttler is a more accomplished captain, settled in the rigmarole of the job and his tactics. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli has rediscovered his mojo.England will feel they have an edge of sorts, what with two must-win games ticked off against New Zealand and Sri Lanka to get them out of Group 1. There is a renewed confidence about them as setters having long been chasers, to the extent that the toss may be academic provided evening dew is minimal.Related

How Sam Curran evolved to become England's go-to death bowler

India vs England at World Cups: From Amarnath's heroics to an Adelaide cakewalk

AB de Villiers approves of 360-degree comparisons with Suryakumar

Tactics Board: Bhuvneshwar vs Buttler, Wood vs Suryakumar

Hardik Pandya: the gold standard for a T20 allrounder

As for India, the only team to have won four matches in the Super 12 stage, the pressure to go on to a reunion with Pakistan at the MCG in Sunday’s final will be great, though no greater than what their players usually contend with. Quite apart from their obvious strength is a cerebral approach to their T20 work that gives them a unique edge over opponents before they have set foot on the park. Much of England’s public preparation has been on bigging that up while privately racking their brains to take them down a few pegs.The shorter square boundaries in Adelaide, as detailed in our Tactics Board, will play to the strengths of both batting line-ups. That no Englishman other than openers Buttler and Alex Hales have hit more than one six in the tournament speaks of a middle order that hasn’t quite come to the party. And while it’s tempting to say they are “due”, India will no doubt be focussing on keeping them quiet. One expects Sam Curran’s emergence as Buttler’s go-to death bowler will also face its sternest test against a side who are striking at 11.90 at the death.Wherever you look, there are match-ups that could be regarded as game-changing bouts. Don’t miss any of them.1:14

Watch: India tune up for the semi-final

Form guide
India WWLWW (last five completed T20Is, most recent first)
England WWLWWIn the spotlight
In a team of superstars, Suryakumar Yadav strides above them all as the man of this World Cup. No one has had a more profound effect on his team – and opponents – quite like this 32-year-old phenom equipped with more scoring options than Erling Haaland. The numbers he’s posted so far – 225 at a strike rate of 193.96 – are remarkable, the strokeplay drawing admiration from all quarters, even AB de Villiers who is the only one that springs to mind when it comes to the consistent destruction this man is serving up. Can he be stopped?Reliable with the ball, the usual excellence in the field and, against Sri Lanka, finally a score of note with the bat. Picking Ben Stokes in this section is as clear as the blue’s SKY. But in Dawid Malan’s likely absence, the allrounder is the only batter likely to hold the innings together and take things deep in the event of early losses. They say the big moments find him, and few come bigger than this.Team news
The only debate for India is whether to play Rishabh Pant or Dinesh Karthik. Pant can upset Adil Rashid being a left-hand batter but Karthik is the finisher who can hit from ball one. Also Pant will have Moeen Ali’s offspin to deal with. Going by India’s training session, it looks like Karthik will play, having engaged in keeping drills while Pant did not. It is touch and go.India (possible): 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 KL Rahul, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Suryakumar Yadav, 5 Hardik Pandya, 6 Dinesh Karthik/Rishabh Pant (wk), 7 Axar Patel, 8 R Ashwin, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Mohammed Shami, 11 Arshdeep Singh.Neither Mark Wood nor Dawid Malan were fully fit at the time of the captain’s press conferences but England are willing to give them as much time as possible. Malan batted for a bit with one pad on, while Wood bowled about two overs max – with England understood to be ready to play Chris Jordan in his stead. It was notable that Phil Salt batted for a long period in the nets. Those changes in themselves will bring a degree of uncertainty given England have named unchanged XIs for their World Cup games so far.England (possible): 1 Jos Buttler (capt & wk), 2 Alex Hales, 3 Dawid Malan/Phil Salt, 4 Ben Stokes, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Liam Livingstone, 7 Moeen Ali, 8 Sam Curran, 9 Chris Woakes, 10 Chris Jordan, 11 Adil Rashid.In the possible absence of Dawid Malan, Ben Stokes could play a key role in holding England’s batting together•AFP/Getty ImagesPitch and conditions
Yes, this will be a used pitch, but it was last used on November 4 for the match between Australia and Afghanistan. The groundsman has assured Jos Buttler that he has had enough time to prepare what should not behave like a tired pitch. Buttler said: “I think having talked to the groundsman, his team is really confident that he’s had a lot of time to get some really good work into the wicket. He seems very comfortable that it’s going to be a really good surface and a consistent surface. At the moment I have no worries about the pitch.”For what it’s worth, the pitch for Australia vs Afghanistan started off slow and inconsistent in bounce, but it skidded on nicely at night. Afghanistan came close to chasing down 168. Chasing upon winning the toss might be a good idea, though much of the week leading up to this match has been quite hot so there might be more pace in this pitch. The forecast is fine, albeit with a morning shower predicted. Nevertheless, this should be an uninterrupted match.Stats and trivia
India have won their last four bilateral T20I series against England – two in England, two in India, all four by one-match margins. The two teams have not met at a T20 World Cup in this period, though. The last of their three meetings came in 2012, when a Rohit Sharma half-century and a four-wicket haul from Harbhajan Singh led India to a 90-run win in Colombo. In all, India have a 2-1 lead in T20 World Cup meetings. Virat Kohli needs 42 runs to become the first batter to 4000 in T20Is. Alex Hales, meanwhile, is 13 short of the 2000 mark. Quotes
“These guys are quite dangerous. They’ve played some really good cricket in the tournament as well, which is why they’re here. So we’ve got to be at our best to win the game.”
“Well, we certainly don’t want to see an India-Pakistan final, so we’ll be trying all we can do to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

Barcelona superstar Raphinha has claimed that former boss Xavi Hernandez did not trust him as he explain his 2023 outburst against Manchester United.

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Raphinha in fine form under Hansi FlickSays former boss Xavi didn't trust himExplains his 2023 meltdown against Man UtdFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Raphinha joined Barcelona from Leeds in the summer of 2022 ahead of Xavi's first full season in charge at Camp Nou. The Brazilian did not have a major role in the early parts of his stay with the Catalan side, but he slowly grew in importance for the club with Ousmane Dembele having left for Paris Saint-Germain.

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Raphinha has had a super season following Hansi Flick replaced Xavi at the helm last summer, and is now one of the favourites to win the Ballon d'Or as Barca chase a third European treble. The Brazilian has now explained what went wrong with Xavi and explained why he threw punches on the bench after being substituted against Manchester United in the Europa League quarter-final in 2023.

WHAT RAPHINHA SAID

Speaking to YouTuber Isabela Pagliari, Raphinha said: "I felt like neither he nor the coaching staff trusted me. When there was no one else, I was there and played the full 90 minutes. I gave everything I had to and won games, but when there was someone else who could play in my place, I did it without thinking. Sometimes, I'd be doing everything in 60 minutes and they'd take me out.

"There's an iconic video of me exploding when I get to the bench and punch. I think it was the game against Manchester United, where I'd been doing really well, scoring a goal and providing an assist. I think we were 2-2 and he brought me off. I'd just created a really clear chance. I was feeling comfortable and playing really well. And I was the first substitution. When I saw it, I couldn't believe it.

"I tried to fix it, I had several conversations with him, but I saw that they didn't make any difference. He had his way of thinking."

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR RAPHINHA?

Raphinha had been linked with an exit over the summer as Barcelona hedged their bets on signing Nico Williams from Athletic Club. However, remaining at the club has worked out for everybody as Barcelona target the Champions League crown.

Tottenham Hotspur are now closely monitoring two Premier League players ahead of the summer transfer window, with a “sensational” £60m midfielder on their radar, according to a report.

Spurs struggling amid injury crisis

Tottenham’s season has undoubtedly been hampered by the scale of the injury crisis in N17, and Ange Postecoglou bemoaned the number of players currently sidelined in the wake of his side exiting the EFL Cup at the hands of Liverpool.

“Vicario, Romero, Destiny, Van de Ven, Solanke, Odobert… I could go on and on. We had 10 senior players missing. If you take seven or eight key players from any team and you’re playing the best team in the league at the best, I don’t think you make judgements in these moments.”

After crashing out of the EFL Cup as a result of the 4-0 drubbing at Anfield, Postecoglou is undoubtedly under increasing pressure, with recent performances not good enough, regardless of the number of players currently on the sidelines.

However, the Australian continues to work on potential signings for the summer, with the injuries this season perhaps indicating the manager needs a bigger squad to work with if he is going to continue to play such an intense style of football.

According to reports from Spain, Tottenham are now closely monitoring two Premier League players for the end of the season, namely Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and Southampton’s Tyler Dibling.

The English duo have attracted Spurs’ attention after putting in some impressive performances for their respective clubs, with Dibling enjoying a breakout season at St Mary’s, despite the fact his side are at serious risk of relegation.

The report claims the Lilywhites are looking to sign young players for the future, rather than focusing on big-name signings, and the Premier League duo fit the bill in that regard, with Dibling just 18, while Wharton – valued at £60m in the summer – is 21.

Tottenham dealt Mathys Tel summer transfer blow after Man United claim

The Frenchman was one of Ange Postecoglou’s silver lining players on his debut against Liverpool.

ByEmilio Galantini Feb 8, 2025 Dibling and Wharton impressing in the Premier League

It is no wonder Tottenham are looking to sign the talented English youngsters given that they have been in good form this season, with Dibling solidifying his place in the Southampton first team, picking up four goals and two assists in all competitions.

Crystal Palace star Wharton has been impressing for quite some time now, receiving a call-up to the England squad for Euro 2024, and he has been the subject of high praise from members of the media.

Dibling and Wharton are showing signs of great promise, so it is exciting news Tottenham are in the running for their signatures, although it may be difficult to lure them to north London if they fail to qualify for Europe next season, which is looking increasingly likely.

Mir Hamza and uncapped fast bowler Shahnawaz Dahani also included

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Dec-2022Pakistan have strengthened their bowling resources by adding fast bowlers Shahnawaz Dahani and Mir Hamza and offspinner Sajid Khan to their squad for the two-match Test series at home against New Zealand.Sajid has played seven Tests so far and was part of the Pakistan squad for the three-match series against Australia in March. Hamza played just a solitary Test back in 2018 against Australia, while Dahani is uncapped.Related

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Second Test moved from Multan to Karachi because of weather concerns

PCB overhaul – chief selector Wasim sacked, all committees formed after 2019 disbanded

The decision was taken by the Shahid Afridi-led men’s interim selection committee on Saturday.”We had a good discussion on the squad and agreed we needed to strengthen our bowling department to give ourselves the best chance of taking 20 wickets in a match,” Afridi said in a PCB media release.”I am confident the inclusion of three additional bowling resources will give Babar Azam more options to field the best available squad for the first Test.”While Sajid did not have the best of times during the Tests against Australia, returning only four wickets in three matches, he fared much better in the 2022-23 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Pakistan’s premier first-class competition. The offspinner picked up 21 wickets in seven first-class matches at 34.04 for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He had recorded the fourth-best figures in an innings for a Pakistan bowler in 2022, when he took 8 for 42 against Bangladesh.Hamza, too, has shown decent form in the tournament, having picked up 16 wickets in four games at an average of 24.00. Dahani played only two games for Sindh this season but has been involved with the Pakistan white-ball sides.The two-Test series against New Zealand will get underway on Monday in Karachi. Earlier on Saturday, it was announced that the second Test will be moved from Multan to Karachi because of weather concerns. The entire series now – two Tests and three ODIs – will now be staged in Karachi.

Lucas Paqueta has been told he will either be banned or acquitted when the verdict on his spot-fixing trial is finally announced next month.

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Paqueta awaiting verdict on trialCould be hit with life-time banDecision expected in JuneFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Brazil star has been charged by the Football Association over allegedly breaching betting rules and picking up bookings intentionally for financial gain. Ahead of that decision, Paqueta has been told to expect only two outcomes. According to journalist Fred Caldeira from TNT Sports Brasil, Paqueta will either be acquitted or will be hit with a ban. There is no option for a suspension and a verdict should be heard in the first half of June.

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If he is found guilty, Paqueta is expected to be handed a lifetime ban from football. The strain of the situation has shown recently, with Paqueta left in tears after being booked during West Ham's draw with Tottenham. The West Ham star's wife, Maria Eduarda Fournier, spoke out afterwards about how Paqueta has been "living this nightmare for two years" as he waits to discover his fate.

WHAT HAS BEEN SAID

West Ham boss Graham Potter also spoke about Paqueta's tears after the Tottenham clash. He told reporters: "I think he's just a player that's trying his absolute best and wants the situation to be better and probably got a bit frustrated with the action. And then you see a human being, not perfect, but I love Lucas. He's given everything and in difficult circumstances, he's in as well. He's given everything and he's absolutely fine now."

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT

Paqueta will finish the season with West Ham and must then wait to discover the verdict from the trial. West Ham's final game of the season is against Ipswich on May 25.

Manchester United are in dire need of improving their poor form this season having now slumped to 15th in the Premier League, and although relegation seems unlikely, they are set for a record-low finish in the Premier League.

United’s most recent game saw them make their final trip to Goodison Park to face Everton. The Toffees were the better side for much of the 90 minutes, but United managed to claw back a 2-0 deficit to draw, thanks to an inspirational performance from Bruno Fernandes.

It was not just United’s captain who stood out, with new signing Patrick Dorgu also impressing.

Dorgu's time at United so far

The Red Devils made Dorgu the first major signing of the Ruben Amorim era at the back end of the January Transfer window. They signed him from Serie A strugglers Lecce, for £25m up front and a further £4.1m in add-ons.

So far, the wing-back is just three games into his United career. His debut came in the FA Cup against Leicester City, where he featured for the first half. He has also played two games in the Premier League, getting 90 minutes under his belt against Tottenham Hotspur and, most recently, Everton.

The Denmark international was certainly one of the better United players against the Toffees. The Manchester Evening News journalist Samuel Luckhurst was impressed by his performance, giving him a 7/10. He explained that Dorgu ‘has not been ground down by the pressure of playing for United’ so far.

Goals and assists will surely follow soon, too. Before his move to Old Trafford, the young wing-back scored three times and grabbed one assist for Lecce this season, showing his threat in front of goal.

In fact, that is as many goal involvements as a former United full-back, who perhaps Amorim wished he could call upon if he was still in his prime.

Former Man United star is now on par with Dorgu

There are plenty of former Red Devils stars performing well since leaving the club. One of the best recent examples of this is Antony, who has five goal involvements in six games since his loan move to Real Betis.

Well, another player who is doing well after leaving United is Ashley Young. Make no mistake about it, the former club captain was exceptional during his time wearing the famous red shirt, and only left in 2020 on a free transfer to Inter Milan, when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was in charge of the club.

The former England international made more appearances for United than he did any other club over his career.

He played 261 games, scoring 19 goals and grabbing 32 assists. Perhaps his best game came against Arsenal in the famous 8-2 win in 2011, where he scored two and assisted three.

The further he got into his United career, Young’s role in the side changed. He went from dynamic and tricky winger to marauding full-back, capable of playing either side. His versatility became key for the managers he had at Old Trafford.

Left midfield

74

12

10

Right-back

56

2

4

Left-back

55

1

7

Left-wing

29

3

9

Right midfield

20

0

1

Right-wing

6

0

0

Second striker

3

0

0

Central midfielder

2

0

0

Centre-back

1

0

0

Now plying his trade for Everton, Young also has four goal involvements this season, just as Dorgu does for Lecce. However, the former England international has one goal and three assists for the Toffees, playing as a flying full-back. At 39 years of age, the former United number 18 is still going strong.

It does make you consider how much Amorim would have appreciated Young this season if he was still at Old Trafford. Given the versatility of the former United skipper, the ability he has to whip in a deadly cross, and the fact he is still contributing to goals, he could have been an ideal wing-back.

Better than Dorgu: Man Utd must regret selling "monster" star for just £5m

Manchester United once sold a defender who is even better than Patrick Dorgu.

4 ByDan Emery Feb 24, 2025

With the summer transfer window approaching, Nottingham Forest have now reportedly set their sights on a defensive addition who’s been back to his best form this season.

Nottingham Forest transfer news

Those in the City Ground boardroom will be keen for the summer transfer window to arrive perhaps just to put their potential Champions League status to the test. As things stand, Forest still sit as high as third in the Premier League and on course to seal the shock of the season by qualifying for Europe’s elite competition. And that should open several new doors for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side.

A number of potential additions have already threatened to steal the headlines on that front too, from Bright Osayi-Samuel all the way to Inter Milan’s Davide Frattesi, and it looks as though the Reds are ready to be bold when the summer arrives.

Of course, the aim should be to maintain their surprise Champions League place and welcome reinforcements in search of a permanent top four place. Whether that comes through signing the likes of Frattesi remains to be seen, however. Instead, before anything, those in the Midlands could turn towards a defensive addition.

According to TeamTalk, Nottingham Forest are now plotting an opening bid to sign Hugo Bueno from Wolverhampton Wanderers, but face competition from Championship promotion contenders Leeds United.

Nottingham Forest eyeing move to sign £8m star with 7 goals in last 7 games

Nottingham Forest are looking to bolster their attacking options with a signing from the EFL.

ByBrett Worthington Mar 7, 2025

The left-back has enjoyed a much-improved campaign on loan at Feyenoord, attracting plenty of interest as a result and the admiration of those higher up at the City Ground. Now, Wolves could cash in as Nottingham Forest look to benefit from signing another rival star.

If those in the Midlands cast their minds back, it wasn’t so long ago that they were welcoming Morgan Gibbs-White from Wolves and if Bueno completes a similar move before enjoying a similar rise then Forest are in for quite the treat this summer.

"Exciting" Bueno could earn Premier League redemption

In a race to become Wolves’ main man down the left-hand side, it was ultimately Rayan Ait-Nouri who came out on top as Bueno was forced to seek a starting spot out on loan. Just one season later, whilst no one is doubting Ait-Nouri’s own ability, Bueno has gone on to steal headlines of his own and could come back to haunt his parent club next season.

Whether Wolves sell to Nottingham Forest once again will certainly be interesting to see, especially given that they’d be selling a player who Matt Hobbs has had plenty of praise for.

The Wolves sporting director told the club’s official website when asked about Ait-Nouri and Bueno in 2023: “It’s interesting because we are blessed in that area of the pitch. We’ve got two young, exciting left-backs/left wing-backs, who are slightly different, but both have huge talent, so it’s a nice little battle between them.

“Hugo played a lot last year, Rayan has started this season exceptionally well and has kept his shirt through his performance. It’s good for them that they’re competing against each other, they’re really close as well, so it’s a healthy competition, and we will see the benefits of that from both of their performances.”

Head coach Jonathan Trott’s contract has been extended until the end of the 2023 ODI World Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Jan-2023UAE will host Afghanistan for three T20Is in Abu Dhabi starting February 16 as part of the agreement signed by the two cricket boards last November, wherein the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) will be offering the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) logistical and infrastructure support for the next five years, including hosting their “home” matches for the period. As a result, Afghanistan committed to playing UAE in a three-match T20I series annually until the deal expires.”We are honored to be [a] part of this partnership, and are pleased with the results of our recent talks and negotiations with the Emirates Cricket Board,” Naseeb Khan, CEO of the ACB, said. “Playing this T20I series is the first step in our long-term commitment, and we are looking forward to a continued relationship with ECB.”The teams will be meeting across formats for the first time since March 2018. However, this series isn’t a part of the ICC’s FTP during the 2023-27 cycle, where they are slotted to play 21 Tests, 45 ODIs and 57 T20Is. This will also be Afghanistan’s first assignment this year, with another three-match T20I series to be played against Pakistan in March. That series might be held at a neutral venue, with the Afghanistan and Pakistan boards to equally split the revenue.Related

UAE to host Afghanistan's home games for next five years

CA withdraws from scheduled ODIs against Afghanistan in March

Women's cricket in Afghanistan: Lack of progress 'a concern' for ICC

For the UAE series, Afghanistan have selected a preliminary list of 22 players for a preparation camp in the UAE. Rashid Khan will be leading the visitors, who will be departing for the UAE next week for a conditioning camp in Abu Dhabi before the series. The squad will then be trimmed to 17 members.Meanwhile, the contracts of head coach Jonathan Trott, bowling coach Umar Gul and fielding coach Ryan Maron had come up for extension last month. The ACB has been deliberating on the matter – in which time the team had been in the care of assistant coach Raees Ahmadzai – and green-lit Trott and Maron to stay on till the end of the 2023 ODI World Cup*. Gul’s deal has run out.The timing of the UAE series means several Afghanistan players will be missing the first week of the Pakistan Super League, which starts in Multan from February 13.Given the political situation in Afghanistan, it has remained a no-go zone for international teams. The situation escalated with the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021, following which several ACB staff fled the country. Thereafter, even getting visas for Afghanistan players to play abroad became a challenge.The ACB subsequently arranged UAE residency visas for about two dozen players and staff, making UAE as their home away from home. In fact, Australia even cancelled a three-match ODI series against Afghanistan scheduled for March after the Taliban banned university education for girls.Afghanistan’s 22-member squad: Rashid Khan (capt), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Abdul Rahman Rahmani, Afsar Zazai, Azmatullah Omarzai, Bilal Sami, Farid Ahmad Malik, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Gulbadin Naib, Hazratullah Zazai, Ibrahim Zadran, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Najibullah Zadran, Nangyal Kharoti, Naveen Ul Haq, Nijat Masoud, Noor Ahmad, Rahmat Shah, Sediqullah Atal, Shahidullah Kamal, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Zahir Khan*

Eddie Howe has sent a message to Arsenal by revealing his frustration at rumours linking Alexander Isak with a move from Newcastle.

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Arsenal sent Isak messageGunners keen to sign strikerHowe reveals speculation frustrationFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Gunners have been linked with a move for the Swede this summer as they search for a new centre-forward but Newcastle are not under pressure to sell and Howe has stated the stories are "a source of frustration".

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Howe told reporters: "It’s a source of frustration because I don't see why our players are getting linked, here, there and everywhere with other clubs. I'd like to think the players are happy here. I'd like to think again that they're seeing us grow and develop into a team that hopefully can compete at the top end of the division. Our ability financially to compete during the last few years has been hampered by profit and sustainability rules, but those issues aren’t there for the coming transfer window. So I don’t see any reason why we can’t strengthen, not weaken, ourselves.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Newcastle could beat Arsenal for the fourth time this season when the two sides meet at the Emirates on Sunday and have made huge progress this term, including ending their 70-year wait for silverware in the Carabao Cup. In that context, Howe expects to be able to keep his best players this summer.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR NEWCASTLE?

The Magpies would all-but secure their place in next season's Champions League by winning that Arsenal clash. They then face Everton at St James' Park to finish the campaign next week.