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West Ham United have now submitted an offer of around £20m for a “natural goalscorer”, with Nuno personally a big fan.

West Ham targeting new striker with Fullkrug heading for exit

It has recently been revealed that Niclas Fullkrug is heading for the exit door this winter, having struggled to find the back of the net consistently since arriving from Borussia Dortmund, scoring just three goals in 28 appearances for West Ham.

Callum Wilson has been the man leading the line as of late, and the Englishman has impressed, bagging a brace in the 2-2 draw against AFC Bournemouth, but there are also question marks over his long-term future at the London Stadium.

Given that Wilson is set to turn 34 in February, and his contract expires at the end of the season, it would be a shrewd move to bring in a younger striker, and the Hammers are desperate to sign at least one new centre-forward in the upcoming window.

That is according to a report from Hammers News, which states West Ham have failed with an opening bid of £20m for Al-Hilal striker Marcos Leonardo, with the Saudi Pro League side adamant they won’t sanction a departure.

However, the Irons may return to the negotiating table with another offer, such is their determination to get a deal done, with Nuno personally a big fan of the Brazilian, who was linked with a move to Nottingham Forest during the manager’s time in charge there.

Nuno has made bringing in a new striker the number one priority for the January transfer window, and if the Hammers were able to get a deal for the 22-year-old done, they would be signing a player in red-hot form.

West Ham and Tottenham get Ivan Toney response after holding discussions

The Al-Ahli striker is fielding enquiries ahead of January.

By
Emilio Galantini

Nov 29, 2025

"Natural goalscorer" Leonardo on fire in Saudi Arabia

Indeed, the Al-Hilal star has been fantastic since the Club World Cup in the summer, scoring four goals in five matches in the new-look competition, and he has since impressed considerably domestically too.

The former Santos man also earned high praise from scout Jacek Kulig courtesy of very impressive attacking numbers during his time in Brazil.

With Fullkrug heading for the exit door, West Ham undoubtedly need to bring in a new striker this winter, and Leonardo could be capable of leading the line for Nuno’s side for years to come.

Dele Alli has suffered another injury setback, leading to suggestions that Everton may have given up on the ex-Tottenham star by Christmas.

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• Midfielder is now a free agent
• Has been allowed to train with Toffees
• Patience will run out eventually

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Toffees have been allowing the former England international to train with them after seeing his contract at Goodison Park expire. A door was being left open for the 28-year-old midfielder to earn fresh terms on Merseyside and start rebuilding his career.

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  Dele, though, is nursing another knock – on the back of undergoing more surgery at the start of the year – and is struggling to put himself in a position where Everton can find any use for him. With that in mind, the clock is ticking on efforts to prove his worth.

• WHAT EX-EVERTON SCOUT SAID

  Former Everton scout Bryan King has told of patience potentially running out at a time of the year in which goodwill is supposed to be in plentiful supply: “I think they have shown a lot of loyalty to Alli. He lost his way in football, and it’s a long road for him to come back. I do hope he does get back to playing because he was a very talented player. However, the way he lost his way and his form, I don’t think that will come back easily. It will be a long rehabilitation.

  “I think the club are slowly moving on, and they’re looking at both sides of it. If he gets himself fit, okay, but the club can’t bank on him being a player who will win them matches and save them from relegation because he hasn’t played. If there isn’t movement by Christmas, then I think Everton might have to call it a day.”

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  WHAT NEXT FOR DELE ALLI?

  Dele has taken in just 13 appearances for Everton since first joining them from Spurs in the January transfer window of 2022. His last competitive outing of any kind came in February 2023, during a loan spell at Besiktas, with 20 months being spent out of action since then.

Erling Haaland matched an incredible Cristiano Ronaldo record by opening the scoring for Manchester City against Arsenal.

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• Haaland opens scoring against Arsenal
• Norway star netted 100th Man City goal
• Equals insane Cristiano Ronaldo record

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Haaland opened the scoring for City in their Premier League clash against Arsenal on Sunday, racing on to Savinho's through-ball and beating David Raya in the ninth minute. The goal was Haaland's 100th for City in just 105 appearances, and he's now matched Ronaldo's record of scoring a century of goals in 105 games for Real Madrid.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Per Squawka, Haaland and Ronaldo now hold the record of fewest games needed to reach 100 goals for a top-five European team in the 21st century. Haaland's opener took his tally for the season to 10 goals in just five matches, and meant Arsenal trailed away from home in the Premier League for the first time in 2024.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  City's lead didn't last long, though. In the 22nd minute, Riccardo Calafiori, handed his full debut after Mikel Arteta was "forced" to drop Ben White, scored a wonderful equaliser from outside the box to level the match.

• WHAT NEXT?

  Haaland will be eyeing the next hundred after reaching three figures for City. The 24-year-old is on a historic run right now and more records will continue to fall, with Alan Shearer's Premier League record surely on his mind should he stay in England for long enough – and City avoid expulsion from the top flight.

Simon Jordan just revealed that he put a “consortium” together in a bid to buy Sheffield Wednesday, revealing his next steps in the takeover race.

Mike Ashley submits offer to buy Sheffield Wednesday

It’s set to be a busy week for Sheffield Wednesday as they close in on their soft deadline of December 5. The Owls have not been short on interest and are now reportedly set to whittle that interest down to serious bidders.

A number of names have been mentioned along the way on that front, including John McEvoy and Ryan Howsam, but it’s Mike Ashley who’s reportedly submitted an opening bid.

The former Newcastle United owner has supposedly tabled an offer worth £20m, only to be turned down by administrators who have had bids in the region of £30m.

With so much interest, Sheffield Wednesday must ensure that they’re not simply accepting the highest bid, however. They’ve already had to tell Sheffield United where to go amid rumours that their American owners were set to propose a shock merger and must take that same stance with any other unacceptable proposals.

That said, if Ashley does return with an offer to match the £30m bid set by others, then he should be someone to consider. The 61-year-old was often criticised at Newcastle, but there’s no denying that he brought financial stability – clearing their debts – and that’s exactly what Sheffield Wednesday need.

Sheffield Wednesday respond to £20m takeover bid as Mike Ashley plots next step

The former Newcastle United owner has made his move.

By
Tom Cunningham

Nov 27, 2025

Alas, Ashley’s not the only ex-Premier League owner who’s had interest in the club since they’ve entered administration. Former Crystal Palace chief Jordan has now revealed where he stands in the race to buy the club.

Jordan reveals "consortium" to buy Sheffield Wednesday

Speaking to talkSPORT, Jordan revealed that he put together a “consortium” to buy Sheffield Wednesday, before deciding to drop out of the race to complete a takeover amid concerns that he’d be “rewarding” Dejphon Chansiri.

With Jordan out of the race, Sheffield Wednesday have seen their options whittled down even further ahead of the deadline, but there’s no doubt that they’ve still got enough interest.

Whether that means they’ll turn towards Ashley is the big question. He has experience in the world of football, yet he is behind in the bidding war as things stand.

Sheffield-born takeover candidate makes key contact in race to buy Sheffield Wednesday

We run the rule over all the teams featuring in the inaugural Women’s Hundred

Matt Roller20-Jul-2021

Birmingham Phoenix

Coach: Ben Sawyer
Captain: Amy Jones
Overseas players: Shafali Verma (India), Erin Burns, Katie Mack (both Australia)Significantly weakened by withdrawals of Ellyse Perry, Sophie Devine and Ashleigh Gardner but the signing of Shafali Verma is perhaps the most exciting of the whole competition, on the back of her top-order pyrotechnics against England. Exciting young seam-bowling attack with Central Sparks’ new-ball combination, Issy Wong and Emily Arlott – likely to open the bowling together, while Kirstie Gordon has a point to prove after losing her England central contract.Verdict: Verma can win them games on her own but will need support from the middle order.Possible XI: Shafali Verma, Katie Mack, Amy Jones (capt/wk), Erin Burns, Georgia Elwiss, Evelyn Jones, Marie Kelly, Ria Fackrell/Abtaha Maqsood, Issy Wong, Emily Arlott, Kirstie Gordon

London Spirit

Coach: Trevor Griffin
Captain: Heather Knight
Overseas players: Deandra Dottin (West Indies), Deepti Sharma (India), Chloe Tryon (South Africa)The Knight-Griffin combination that has enjoyed success in both the KSL and the WBBL takes on the Hundred, with a strong top order that should see them score consistent runs throughout. Their bowling attack is a little lighter, with Freya Davies the spearhead, but Knight and overseas players Deepti Sharma and Chloe Tryon offer useful spin options, particularly on slower surfaces, while Charlie Dean is the leading wicket-taker in this season’s Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.Verdict: Strong squad which should be eyeing a top-three finish, especially if the batting line-up clicks.Possible XI: Tammy Beaumont, Deandra Dottin, Heather Knight (capt), Deepti Sharma, Chloe Tryon, Naomi Dattani, Amara Carr (wk), Grace Scrivens/Dani Gibson, Charlie Dean, Freya Davies, Sophie Munro

Manchester Originals

Coach: Paul Shaw
Captain: Kate Cross
Overseas players: Harmanpreet Kaur (India), Mignon du Preez, Lizelle Lee (both South Africa)Emma Lamb is the in-form allrounder in the country, leading both the runs and wickets charts in the early rounds of the Charlotte Edwards Cup, and could form a powerful opening partnership with Lizelle Lee, while Harmanpreet Kaur and Mignon du Preez add quality to the middle order. The spin attack of Sophie Ecclestone, Alex Hartley and Hannah Jones is strong but Kate Cross carries a heavy burden in the seam department.Verdict: Emirates Old Trafford’s spinning pitches and big boundaries should boost their chances.Possible XI: Lizelle Lee, Emma Lamb, Harmanpreet Kaur, Mignon du Preez, Georgie Boyce, Cordelia Griffith, Ellie Threlkeld (wk), Sophie Ecclestone, Kate Cross (capt), Alex Hartley, Hannah JonesKate Cross will lead Manchester Originals after a successful ODI series against India•Getty Images for ECB

Northern Superchargers

Coach: Dani Hazell
Captain: Lauren Winfield-Hill
Overseas players: Laura Kimmince (Australia), Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa), Jemimah Rodrigues (India)Strong, deep batting line-up but bowling attack looks light on paper and will need either plenty of runs to play with or an unheralded domestic player to step up. Tough calls to make over batting order: should the silky Laura Wolvaardt open or continue at No. 4, where she has batted for South Africa, and will the specialist finisher Laura Kimmince face enough balls to make an impact?Verdict: Batting strength offset by bowling attack’s lack of international quality.Possible XI: Lauren Winfield-Hill (capt), Laura Wolvaardt, Jemimah Rodrigues, Holly Armitage/Sterre Kalis, Laura Kimmince, Alice Davidson-Richards, Beth Langston, Bess Heath (wk), Linsey Smith, Phoebe Graham, Katie Levick

Oval Invincibles

Coach: Jon Batty
Captain: TBC
Overseas players: Shabnim Ismail, Marizanne Kapp, Dane van Niekerk (all South Africa)Different squad composition to the majority of the tournament, with all three overseas players – all South Africans – offering bowling options. Lacking a star-name England player but Tash Farrant, Mady Villiers and Fran Wilson are all regular squad members and Georgia Adams is pressing for inclusion. New-ball attack of Farrant’s left-arm swing and Shabnim Ismail’s genuine pace should be potent.Verdict: Competitive squad that can challenge for a top-three finish, especially if South African core performs.Possible XI: Georgia Adams, Sarah Bryce (wk), Marizanne Kapp, Dane van Niekerk, Fran Wilson, Alice Capsey, Grace Gibbs, Mady Villiers, Tash Farrant, Shabnim Ismail, Dani Gregory

Southern Brave

Coach: Charlotte Edwards
Captain: TBC
Overseas players: Stafanie Taylor (West Indies), Smriti Mandhana (India), Amanda-Jade Wellington (Australia)Destructive opening combination between Smriti Mandhana and Danni Wyatt, and head coach Charlotte Edwards was particularly pleased to secure Sophia Dunkley’s services before her England breakthrough this summer. Versatile seam attack with Lauren Bell’s height, Anya Shrubsole’s swing and Tara Norris’ left-arm angle while Amanda-Jade Wellington’s legbreaks and Charlotte and Stafanie Taylor’s darts are all useful spin options.Verdict: Top three should be the minimum expectation.Possible XI: Smriti Mandhana, Danni Wyatt, Stafanie Taylor, Sophia Dunkley, Maia Bouchier, Carla Rudd (wk), Anya Shrubsole, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Tara Norris, Charlotte Taylor/Fi Morris, Lauren BellSmriti Mandhana forms half of an imposing opening duo with Danni Wyatt•Getty Images

Trent Rockets

Coach: Salliann Beams
Captain: Nat Sciver
Overseas players: Rachel Priest (New Zealand), Sammy-Jo Johnson, Heather Graham (both Australia)Ellyse Villani, Annabel Sutherland and Sophie Molineux’s withdrawals have hit the Rockets hard: veteran keeper-batter Rachel Priest starred in the KSL for Western Storm but Sammy-Jo Johnson and Heather Graham have a single Australia cap between them. But with three of England’s best T20 players in Nat Sciver, Katherine Brunt and Sarah Glenn, they have more than enough talent to overcome those losses and compete for a top-three spot. Expect a fluid batting line-up, with Glenn an option as a pinch-hitting opener.Verdict: Remarkable batting depth and all-round quality of England stars means they should be in contention.Possible XI: Rachel Priest (wk), Nat Sciver (capt), Michaela Kirk, Heather Graham, Sammy-Jo Johnson, Katherine Brunt, Abi Freeborn, Sarah Glenn, Kathryn Bryce, Teresa Graves, Lucy Higham

Welsh Fire

Coach: Mark O’Leary
Captain: TBC
Overseas players: Hayley Matthews (West Indies), Piepa Cleary, Georgia Redmayne (both Australia)Perhaps the weakest squad in the competition on paper but with enough talent to cause a few upsets: Georgia Redmayne had a dominant 50-over season in Australia, Hayley Matthews comes into the competition on the back of an ODI hundred, and Sophie Luff and Bryony Smith have been dominant in domestic cricket. Sarah Taylor’s return adds intrigue while Piepa Clearly will lead the seam attack with Katie George’s injury meaning she has played as a specialist batter for most of the summer.Verdict: Bowling attack lacks international quality of other sides, while batting isn’t strong enough to compensate.Possible XI: Georgia Redmayne, Bryony Smith, Hayley Matthews, Sophie Luff, Sarah Taylor (wk), Katie George, Georgia Hennessy, Piepa Cleary, Lissy Macleod, Alex Griffiths, Nicole Harvey

It has been a disappointing year for India in the shortest format but they have a positive record against in-form West Indies

Sruthi Ravindranath14-Dec-20242:52

Harmanpreet: Australia series was learning experience for young bowlers

Can India end their gloomy T20 year on a high?

Despite winning 13 out of 20 T20Is they’ve played so far this year, it’s been a disappointing year for India in the format. After starting the year with a series loss to Australia in Navi Mumbai, India bounced back with a dominating 5-0 win against Bangladesh away. In July, they went unbeaten into the final of the Asia Cup but suffered a heartbreaking loss to Sri Lanka. The heartbreak continued in the T20 World Cup in October when they were knocked out in the group stage after losses against New Zealand and Australia. The next World Cup, in the ODI format, is set to take place next year in India, but this T20I series is not without context, especially for the hosts. It is a chance for them to rethink their approach in T20Is, especially in crunch games, and also start building their squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup in England.Related

• India drop Reddy; Kashyap, Bist, Rawal get maiden call-ups

• WPL 2025 auction: Dottin, Bell, Bist and others to watch out for

• Harmanpreet points to players' 'mindset' for India losing big games

WI’s chance to improve their record vs India

While West Indies arrived in Navi Mumbai a week early to acclimatise, India have been dealt with a rough schedule. They have barely had time to prepare after finishing the ODI series in Australia, which finished on December 11, and took a day off on Friday to rest it out. That they lost 3-0 to Australia in that series also doesn’t help their case. West Indies will want to use this opportunity to improve their record against India.The results between these two sides have been one-sided, with West Indies losing 13 out of the 21 matches they have played against India. In fact, West Indies have lost their last eight games against India. But an overall improved form this year, where they have won six out of their last eight T20Is and also made the semi-final of the T20 World Cup, will add to their confidence.”We’ve been working really hard and been really focused on our game and what we can improve,” West Indies captain Hayley Matthews said on the eve of the first T20I. “Coming up against a team like India, we know it is going to be a tough assignment. But we have been playing some really positive cricket over the last year and back ourselves to hopefully go out there and be able to change things around a bit.”Harmanpreet Kaur keeps an eye on proceedings•PTI

Are India too dependent on their Big Two?

Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur are among the top three for most T20I runs in India this year. That Mandhana and Harmanpreet were the top run-scorers in the Asia Cup final and the T20 World Cup match against Australia, respectively, highlights India’s dependence on the duo. India have also lacked firepower in the middle order, with the likes of Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Deepti Sharma and D Hemalatha (dropped for this series) struggling to score consistently. Rodrigues, Deepti, Mandhana, Yastika and Hemalatha also played in the recently concluded WBBL but none of them had great returns.

Selection questions

India have dropped Arundhati Reddy and Shafali Verma from both ODI and T20I squads. When asked about the reason behind it, Harmanpreet said the question should be directed to the “right people”.Reddy was the joint-highest wicket-taker for India at the T20 World Cup. Shafali, who was dropped for the Australia ODIs as well, has been racking up the runs in the domestic one-day tournament where she’s currently the highest run-scorer for Haryana and second-highest overall with 330 runs in six games with one century and two fifties. She even took three wickets with her offspin in Saturday’s match against Vidarbha to go with her 68 off 39 with the bat.There’s also been plenty of chopping and changing. Hemalatha, who played eight matches, has been dropped from this series. Amanjot Kaur, who last played in the Australia T20Is earlier this year, has not found a spot since. Uma Chetry has been travelling with the team since her call-up for the South Africa series in July but has played just four T20Is so far.The likes of Priya Mishra, Saima Thakor, Minnu Mani and Titas Sadhu have also been named in the T20I squad as well, but whether they will get their chance to play remains a question. Seamer Thakor, who had a breakthrough WPL 2024, may earn her T20I cap and take Reddy’s place having already played six ODIs. India have also handed maiden call-ups to Uttarakhand batters Nandini Kashyap and Raghvi Bist. Both players are known for their big-hitting abilities and are coming off good domestic seasons, and India might want to try them out as they look for fresh faces to build for the next T20 World Cup.Deandra Dottin has been a key figure for West Indies since her international return•Getty Images

The Dottin impact for WI

West Indies have hugely benefited from Deandra Dottin’s return to internationals. She was their top run-scorer at the T20 World Cup, scoring at a strike rate of 162.16 and hitting most sixes (9) in the tournament. She singlehandedly threatened to take the semi-final away from New Zealand, first taking four wickets and then scoring 33 off 22 in the chase. Her wicket was the turning point in the game as West Indies lost by eight runs.She has also had success with the ball, highlighted by her recent performances in the WBBL, where she finished with ten wickets in Melbourne Renegades’ title run. Matthews has been excellent as an opener, but West Indies rely on Dottin’s power game for quick runs in the middle and death overs.”She is an impact player on the whole,” Matthews said of Dottin. “She is obviously a very dangerous player out on the field. When you speak about something in T20 cricket, what’s very important is boundary-hitting and six-hitting and there are probably not many people in the world that can strike a cricket ball like her. So it’s just been great to have her back. She has really enjoyed being back in the group, and I think everyone is taking her in well again. It has just been good to have it back on and off the field.”

The Crew won their third ever MLS cup in Wilfried Nancy's first season at the helm, and are visiting the White House for the second time

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• Introduced to President Biden
• Honored by second gentleman Douglas Emhoff
• Crew Coach Wilfried Nancy "really, really proud"

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Columbus Crew got to celebrate their 2023 MLS Cup one more time, this time at the White House with President Joe Biden and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff.

  The Wilfried Nancy-led club were first formally introduced to President Biden prior to being celebrated in a reception by Second Gentleman Emhoff, who made brief remarks. It is American tradition that U.S. professional and first division college sports teams are celebrated by Presidents in a formal reception. Gotham FC became the first NWSL side to gain a White House reception earlier this week.

  The Crew won their second MLS Cup in four years in the 2023 campaign, and tied a franchise record with 57 points over the course of the season. That appearance kicked off a run of three finals in last nine months – although the Crew went 1-2 in them, losing the Champions Cup Final, winning the Leagues Cup and then falling in Wednesday's Campeones Cup.

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• Columbus Crew
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The Crew could end up making another visit in the White House next year as they are one of the favorites to win MLS Cup this season.

  Nancy's side are third in the Eastern Conference, but boast the best defensive record in the league, having conceded 31 goals. Star player Cucho Hernandez is among MLS MVP contenders, with 15 goals and eight assists in 23 league appearances.

  The Crew are one point away from eclipsing their franchise record in points from last year. The reigning champs are 4-1-1 since securing the Leagues Cup on Aug. 25.

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  WHAT NANCY SAID

  Nancy captured the moment during official remarks to reporters: “This is amazing. I’m really grateful, and it's an honor and a privilege, because when we came in the White House and we saw, we smell and we felt the history behind everything. Yes, we won a trophy. But again, this is part of the journey, and for me, this is the most important. I’m really, really proud, and I was emotional because, again, I’ve traveled a lot, and you know my background, and to be able to to be here at 47 years old in the White House, and because of the sport that we do every day, wow, this is nice. This is really nice.”

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  WHAT EMHOFF SAID

  The second gentleman hailed the Crew for their efforts: "Through your work and dedication you have made the central Ohio community and our entire nation incredibly proud. Part of why I personally love sports so much is, sports brings us together, sports unifies us. And as we all know, we actually have way more in common than what divides us."

All the key numbers from Bangladesh’s epic 10-wicket win in Rawalpindi

S Rajesh25-Aug-20245 – Instances of Pakistan scoring more than 448 in their first innings and going on to lose the Test match, as they did in Rawalpindi. Their highest first-innings total in a defeat also came at the same venue – 579 against England in December 2022. However, four of those five defeats came when they batted second in the Test. When they have batted first, only once have they scored more than 448 and lost: in Galle in 2014, when they made 451 and went on to lose by seven wickets against Sri Lanka.2 – Previous instances of a team losing a Test after a first-innings declaration having lost six or fewer wickets. One of those was under bizarre circumstances in 1976, when India lost five batters to injury against West Indies in Jamaica. The only other instance was in Adelaide in 2006, when England lost after declaring at 551 for 6 in their first innings.Related

• Pakistan and Bangladesh penalised for slow over-rates in Rawalpindi

• Masood: Pakistan made a 'lot of mistakes' over the last four days

• Immaculately prepared Mushfiqur constructs a Bangladeshi epic

• Rawalpindi road prompts Naseem to vent pitch frustrations

0 – Previous instances of Bangladesh winning a Test after conceding a 400-plus total in the first innings. The previous highest was 374, by Zimbabwe in Chattogram in 2014.ESPNcricinfo Ltd14 – Tests taken by Bangladesh to register their first win against Pakistan. They have now won Tests against nine out of 11 teams; they remain winless only against South Africa (14 Tests, 12 defeats) and India (13 Tests, 11 defeats). They have needed more than 14 Tests to register their first wins against two other teams – Sri Lanka (18 Tests), and New Zealand (16).9 – Home Tests without a win for Pakistan, since the start of 2022. Their last home win was against South Africa in 2021.5 – Losses for Pakistan in those nine home games – three against England, and one each against Australia and Bangladesh. This is the first time they have lost five matches in any nine-game stretch at home; their previous worst was four losses. Pakistan’s longest stretch without a home win is 11 Tests, between 1969 and 1975, but they lost only one of those 11 matches. Nine Tests is their second-longest home sequence without a win.ESPNcricinfo Ltd2 – Successive Tests lost by Pakistan in Rawalpindi despite posting 400-plus totals in their first innings. It is the first instance of this happening to any team at home in consecutive matches at a venue.191 – Mushfiqur Rahim’s score in Bangladesh’s first innings, the sixth-highest score by a Bangladesh batter in Tests. Four of Bangladesh’s top six scores, in fact, are by Mushfiqur.9/245 – The combined bowling figures of Bangladesh’s spinners in the match. Mehidy Hasan Miraz took 5 for 101 and Shakib Al Hasan 4 for 144. In contrast, Pakistan, who went in with four fast bowlers, had to rely on Salman Ali Agha for spin, and he returned figures of none for 145 in 42.3 overs. The fast bowlers from the two teams had similar figures – 9 for 374 for Pakistan, and 7 for 322 for Bangladesh.

Brothers Union captain said they played “a bit of mind game” with the batter, after the extraordinary finish

Mohammad Isam07-Jun-20210:28

A leave and a loss – the stunning conclusion to a DPL game

You had to see it to believe it. With his team Old DOHS Sports Club needing three runs to win off the last ball of the match, against Brothers Union, Pritom Kumar decided to leave Sujon Hawlader’s wide yorker. Misjudged leaves are understandable, but this one, especially at a stage of the match when batters are always keen to get the bat on ball, stood out.Kumar looked double-minded when the ball was released and that could have been because of what was going on before Hawlader bowled it.”We played a bit of mind games with the batter,” Brothers Union captain Mizanur Rahman told ESPNcricinfo. “The bowler Sujon knew he was going to bowl a yorker. We spoke about it before the over began, and someone went up to him and reminded him too before the last ball. But from where I was fielding at point, I shouted to Sujon that he should bowl a bouncer. So maybe the batsman was setting up for the bouncer, pulling the ball towards the on side.”Upon his epic oversight, Kumar immediately signalled that it could be a wide, but umpire Ali Arman did not react. The BCB’s single-camera coverage did not catch anyone dissenting about the decision though.Hawlader and the rest of the Brothers Union players had also started celebrating their two-run win. Their second win in four games took them to fourth place in the Dhaka Premier League T20 points table. It was an extraordinary way to finish a game that Old DOHS appeared to have wrapped up leading into the last over.They were left needing seven runs off the final over after opener Anisul Islam Emon’s 50-ball 64 got them into a strong position. Emon fell to a catch at cover in the penultimate over, but in the 3.4 overs leading to his dismissal, he and Mahmudul Hasan Joy blasted 33 runs.Joy was run-out off the second ball of the last over before Kumar and Rayan Rahman took two singles off the next three balls. Hawlader had mixed his bouncers and yorkers quite well throughout the over.Brothers captain Mizanur said that the moment Hawlader bowled a dot in the fourth ball off the last over, he knew the tide had turned their way. “I mean we generally have a confident bowling unit with bowlers like Alauddin Babu and Sujon Hawlader. I felt that the match might go into the Super Over. But after the fourth ball when the ball went back to the bowler, I realised that we could win this game. I think we have done well as a team in the DPL so far, without depending on individual performances,” he said.

It’s been a turbulent 12 years or so in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era at Manchester United, a period dominated by talk of ‘projects’, ‘philosophies’ and ‘transitions’.

In truth, the Red Devils have tried it all, from hiring and firing managers at will, to changing directors and CEOs, to even shaking things up at ownership level.

The result? A worst-ever Premier League finish last season, with things again hanging in the balance this time around.

So many problems, so many people to blame, although one consistent theme remains the inability to acquire a truly consistent, world-class figure to lead the line.

Not since Robin van Persie’s breathtaking debut season in 2012/13 has any United player reached 20 Premier League goals in a season, with the club veering from short-term, Edinson Cavani-shaped fixes, to long-term, expensive gambles like Rasmus Hojlund.

Ruben Amorim and INEOS are crying out for that next Van Persie, or Ruud van Nistelrooy or even Dimitar Berbatov to deliver the goods, with this season again another tale of frustration.

Every Premier League Golden Boot winner at Man Utd

As already stated, it was that man Van Persie – following his controversial switch from Arsenal – who last truly hit the ground running among United centre-forwards, scoring 26 league goals to fire Ferguson to his 13th and final title, while claiming the Premier League Golden Boot as a result.

The Dutchman had also received the honour the year prior during his last campaign at the Emirates, taking the award from the 2010/11 recipients of hero turned nemesis, Carlos Tevez of Manchester City and that man Berbatov.

A maverick talent in every sense, that campaign was the balletic Bulgarian at his very best in a United shirt, scoring 20 times as United romped to the title, memorably scoring that hat-trick to sink Liverpool at Old Trafford.

Far removed from the high-press, relentless talents of the likes of Tevez before him, Berbatov was all silk and intelligence, making up for his lack of pace and power by playing the game at his own speed.

While never truly prolific, the one-time Tottenham Hotspur man remains one of just five players to have won the Golden Boot while playing for United, with that list unsurprisingly completed by Van Nistelrooy (2002/03), Cristiano Ronaldo (2007/08) and Dwight Yorke (1998/99).

Whether anyone will reach such heights again at the Theatre of Dreams remains to be seen, and while patience continues with regard to Benjamin Sesko, time is swiftly running out for Joshua Zirkzee.

Why Man Utd’s new Berbatov is on borrowed time

To defend the modern or current crop, Fergie’s great sides all had a string of forwards who could carry the burden.

For every Yorke, there was an Andy Cole. For every Van Nistelrooy, a Louis Saha. Or for every Van Persie, a great like Wayne Rooney.

That depth, that competition, is no longer there, a fact perhaps best highlighted by the lack of action afforded to Zirkzee of late, with the Dutchman merely a bystander to proceedings this season.

With Sesko the leading number nine, Amorim has also deployed Matheus Cunha through the middle for trips to Anfield and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, thus reducing Zirkzee’s hopes of featuring even further.

While the 24-year-old doesn’t appear to have been too wounded by such a status – having creditably been seen celebrating with his teammates in recent weeks – the writing does appear to be on the wall with regard to his United career.

As journalist Samuel Luckhurst put it, he was “reduced to a fleeting waterboy” against Spurs.

Once hailed as “the modern-day Berbatov” by Billy Meredith, such is his fleet of foot and deft touch, such traits have also been his undoing, with his self-proclaimed ‘nine and a half’ role seeing him become unsuited to Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system.

At a time when the Portuguese coach is looking for his next Viktor Gyokeres, a powerful, pacy forward to run the channels – alla Sesko – the former Bologna man is anything but, instead better served linking play and dropping deep to kickstart attacks.

In a different side and in a different era, Zirkzee may well have thrived as a complementary talent to Rooney, Tevez and co, although in the age of one man up top, he does appear to be the face that doesn’t fit.

Indeed, it isn’t as if the Netherlands international has really made his presence felt when he has featured, scoring just seven times in 54 games for the club, only three of which have come in the Premier League.

Yet to score in 2025/26, albeit while totalling just 90 minutes, the £105k-per-week marksman appears destined to depart in 2026, be it in January or next summer.

From fighting his way back after being jeered off against Newcastle United in December, Zirkzee does appear to be up for the challenge, although such are the demands that Amorim places on his strikers, this might not be one he can win.

Unless something drastic does occur, INEOS’ £36m man will sadly be the latest victim of the post-Ferguson striking curse. Where will that next Golden Boot winner come from?

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