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Barcelona are dealing with a mounting injury crisis with key defender Andreas Christensen joining forwards Raphinha and Ferran Torres on the sidelines ahead of Tuesday's crucial Champions League tie against Olympiacos. The growing absentee list, which already includes Robert Lewandowski and Dani Olmo, heaps pressure on Coach Hansi Flick as the Blaugrana prepare for the season's first El Clasico against Real Madrid on Sunday.

Fresh defensive concern for Barcelona ahead of El Clasico

Barcelona completed their final training session this morning ahead of hosting Olympiacos in the Champions League on Tuesday, but the session brought fresh defensive issues for the Catalan giants. According to , Denmark international Christensen missed training and returned home due to general discomfort, building concerns around his fitness and uncertainty surrounding his availability in time against the Greece side. This defensive worry compounds a severe crisis in the attacking third, as forwards Torres and Raphinha did not participate in Flick's morning session and are expected to be dropped from the squad. The club are prioritising caution to maximise their chances of being available for Sunday's crucial El Clasico against Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesBarcelona's troubling injury list and its impact

The list of unavailable players now poses a major challenge for Flick's tactical plans. Torres's return from the Spain camp due to a strained left hamstring was initially optimistic, but his continued discomfort ruled him out of the recent Girona match, despite his excellent form this season, where he's been directly involved in six goals across 10 La Liga games. Raphinha, who suffered an injury to the middle third of his right hamstring, faces a longer layoff, now heading for a month out after an initial three-week estimate. These setbacks follow injuries to Lewandowski and Olmo, whose calf injury is expected to sideline him for three to four weeks, almost certainly ruling him out of El Clasico. The coaching staff has voiced deep frustration with the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) over the handling of players like Olmo, who reportedly continued to train despite initial discomfort.

However, Flick in his pre-match press conference ahead of their match against Olympiacos, said: "We hope [Ferran Torres] be in the Clásico, and so will Raphinha. We're expecting him. When he came back from the national team, we did an MRI and saw a different situation. We have to minimize the risks, and him playing tomorrow would be a risk. We'll do another MRI on Thursday and we'll see. We have to take care of the players. The situation is difficult. When everyone is back, the situation will be different."

Lewandowski's injury came across as a surprise disappointment for the Catalan side after they showed discontentment towards him for continuing playing for Poland in the World Cup qualifiers despite feeling uneasiness in the first half of the match against Lithuania. Barcelona officials are furious as they argue given the fixture schedule, the Pole could have acted more in line with the priorities at the club level.

Flick's tactical shuffle and the youth injection

Given the depleted attack, Flick is forced into a major tactical reshuffle. All signs point to loanee Marcus Rashford being positioned at the top of the attack, flanked by Lamine Yamal on the right wing and Fermin Lopez on the left. Yamal's return from a persistent groin injury is a much-needed lift; the 18-year-old winger even provided an assist for Pedri’s opening goal in his return to the starting lineup against Girona. To ensure sufficient depth, Flick again called up seven Barca youth academy players – including Diego Kochen, Eder Aller, Toni Fernandez, and Juan Hernandez – all of whom are now on standby for their Champions League debuts against Olympiacos.

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GettyEl Clasico challenges and Flick's absence

Both sides will enter the season's first El Clasico with depleted squads, adding unpredictability to the fixture. While Barcelona manage absences like Torres, Olmo, and the potential loss of Christensen, Real Madrid are also without key defenders, including Dani Carvajal, out for a month with calf injury and Trent Alexander-Arnold, out with biceps femoris problem. However, Barcelona face an additional with Coach Flick being absent from the touchline at the Santiago Bernabeu. Flick received a red card for arguing with officials over the amount of added time during the dramatic 2-1 victory over Girona. With Madrid leading La Liga with 24 points from nine matches to Barcelona's 22 points, the absence of the coach in the dugout for the critical match will test the team's ability to maintain focus and tactical discipline.

An unhittable 19th over from Hazlewood yanked a third successive match away from RR’s grasp

Shashank Kishore24-Apr-20252:12

What makes Hazlewood a much-improved T20 bowler?

At some point, you’d think the toss gods would show Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) a little mercy at home. But once again, the coin turned its back on Rajat Patidar. This time, though, the bad luck ended right there as they posted 205 for 5, their highest total at home this season. For all that, another heartbreak loomed, but RCB turned it around sensationally to clinch their first home win – and perhaps their most dramatic win at any venue – of IPL 2025.The losing side were Rajasthan Royals (RR), who came into this contest having let back-to-back games slip out of their control in the final over. Their tension seemed to have defused when Dhruv Jurel, having scratched his way to 18 off 23, found his hitting range, and when he and Shubham Dubey ransacked 22 off Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the 18th over, the equation came down to 18 off 12.Related

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Then came Josh Hazlewood. He was ice-cold in the moment, producing a masterful 19th over of unhittably steep bounce – conceding just one run and taking two wickets, of Jurel and Jofra Archer in successive balls.It was left to Yash Dayal, the same man who had held his nerve in a now-legendary last over to deliver their previous home win, against Chennai Super Kings last season. And he delivered as RR lost by 11 runs after having the chase in their grasp for so long.The M Chinnaswamy Stadium erupted. RCB had finally found their voice at home and, with it, a long-overdue win that put them in the top three. For RR, this was a fifth straight loss that left them on the brink.1:28

Rayudu: ‘This is the exact template RCB would love Kohli to play’

Hazlewood’s knockout blowsWith 17 needed off ten, Hazlewood conjured a moment of magic – a pinpoint wide yorker that Dhruv Jurel shaped to scythe but appeared to miss. With little conviction, Patidar opted for a caught-behind review. Technology confirmed what only Jurel might have known – a faint under edge that carried low to Jitesh Sharma. A seemingly innocuous dot turned into a game-changing strike.Jurel, who had weathered a slow start and was just beginning to ignite, walked back, and with him went RR’s best hope. But Hazlewood wasn’t done. He cranked up a hard-length ball next that cramped Archer for room. It was as if Archer had been served a dish of his own, cold. The ball ballooned to cover, where Patidar pouched it gleefully.If Hazlewood’s final over, the 19th, was theatre, his penultimate over was no less telling. Having seen balls angled across the left-handers disappear, he went around the wicket to Shimron Hetmyer and pounded the surface with venom. Hetmyer tried to nudge him away but only managed a feather of an inside edge through to Jitesh. Only six runs came off that over, the 17th, and RCB’s grip got firm.Krunal tightens the screwsLong before the chaos of the death overs, RR were cruising. Yashasvi Jaiswal had lit the Chinnaswamy up with a power-packed 49 off 19, and Nitish Rana was stroking it with finesse. At 110 for 2 in nine overs, the chase seemed to be on autopilot.It’s here that Krunal Pandya was summoned and he delivered a breakthrough first ball when Riyan Parag, looking to muscle a slog sweep, only managed a top edge that settled into Jitesh’s gloves.At the other end, Suyash Sharma was equally impressive. Mixing up quick, skiddy legbreaks with the odd wrong’un, he kept the pressure on. RR managed just one boundary from the tenth to the 13th overs. Under rising pressure, Rana went for a release shot in the 14th, only for Bhuvneshwar to pluck a catch on the second attempt at short fine leg. Krunal now had figures of 3-0-19-2. The strangle was on.Virat Kohli scored his first home fifty of IPL 2025•Getty Images

Kohli, Padikkal fuel RCBHalf-centuries from Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal laid a strong foundation after Phil Salt’s scratchy 26 off 23, while a late dash from Tim David and Jitesh lifted RCB to 205 for 5. Kohli overcame a streaky start to get to a composed fifty in 32 balls. His early duel with a fiery Archer was, in particular, thrilling. Meanwhile, Padikkal made the most of two dropped chances to notch up a second straight half-century.Just as the platform was set for a lift-off, RR struck back, removing Kohli, Padikkal, and Patidar in quick succession. But David and Jitesh picked up 42 runs in just 19 balls to cap the innings with a flourish. In a match that swung wildly from one side to the other, those closing overs turned out to be the difference between a defendable total and yet another heartbreak.

Zinedine Zidane surprisingly ignored Real Madrid players and instead chose Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain stars when naming the current players who 'excite' him the most. The man who lifted Champions League trophies with Real Madrid and orchestrated some of their greatest modern triumphs has openly hailed Barcelona’s 18-year-old prodigy Lamine Yamal as the player who excites him the most in world football.

• Zidane drops a bombshell: Praise for a Barca teen!

  For a man so deeply intertwined with Real Madrid’s identity, Zidane’s words have landed like a thunderclap in the Spanish capital. Barcelona have long been the cradle of football geniuses. From Xavi and Iniesta to Messi, the club’s identity has been built on flair, intelligence, and artistry. Now, in Yamal, fans believe they’re witnessing the next great embodiment of that philosophy. Zidane’s words have only reinforced that belief. For Barca supporters, it’s validation from one of Madrid’s most revered figures, and that makes it all the sweeter.

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  Zidane: Yamal excites me

  Zidane, speaking in a recent media appearance, was asked which current stars capture his imagination. Without skipping a beat, Zidane pointed straight to the Catalan wonderkid.

  "Regardless of position, one player who excites me when he touches the ball is Lamine Yamal," he said. "Against Inter last year in the Champions League at San Siro, he did it all on his own. Then I think of Vitinha or Joao Neves. They never lose the ball."

  It’s not the first time Zidane has waxed lyrical about Yamal, and judging by his tone, it won’t be the last. Back in May, during a promotional event, Zidane was just as effusive about the teenage winger. He couldn’t stop himself from reliving Yamal’s stunning display against Inter Milan in the Champions League semi-final.

  “When you see him play, for example, the semi-final against Inter Milan. In the second half… I’ve never seen anything like it in my life," he said. “It’s enough to see someone who is so dominant on the pitch. It’s fabulous to see him like that. So we all enjoy ourselves and that’s why, for all these young people, Lamine is the one to watch."

• Injury relief: Yamal back in training at last

  Yamal has made a timely return to training after recovering from a groin issue that ruled him out of Spain’s recent international fixtures. The 18-year-old was all smiles at the club’s training ground this week, taking part in light drills as the Catalans prepare for a crucial run of fixtures. The plan is to ease Yamal back gradually. He could make a cameo against Girona this weekend before potentially starting the Champions League clash with Olympiacos. 

  But as Barca welcome back their teenage star, PSG are quietly watching from the shadows. Reports in France claim the Parisian giants have not given up hope of one day luring Yamal to the Parc des Princes. Having lost Messi to Inter Miami, the Ligue 1 champions see Yamal as the next big global face of football, and they’re one of the few clubs with the financial firepower to approach. The Catalan youngster recently signed a lucrative new deal after turning 18, tying him to Barcelona for the long term. But whispers persist that a blockbuster bid could one day test Barca’s resolve, much like Neymar’s record-smashing €222 million (£193.5m/$257m) move in 2017.

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  Barca’s fixture nightmare, and why Yamal holds the key

  Barcelona’s schedule over the next few weeks is nothing short of brutal. They face Girona on October 18 in La Liga, then a high-stakes Champions League clash with Olympiacos just three days later. And looming at the end of that run is the season’s first El Clasico on October 26, a fixture that could define their campaign. The Catalans are two points behind Real Madrid after eight matchdays in La Liga, and their trip to the Bernabeu will be crucial to their championship chances. However, they had a stellar 2024-25 campaign against their arch-rivals as they won all four of their Clasicos. They scored 16 goals in those four matches and became the first team to score that many goals against Real Madrid in a single season. 

South Africa seamer signs seven-match contract with Middlesex after leaving Nottinghamshire

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Feb-2025

Dane Paterson has taken five-fors in his last two Tests•AFP/Getty Images

South Africa’s Dane Paterson will spend April and May playing for Middlesex in the County Championship, a move which will give him the chance to play at Lord’s and pitch his case for selection ahead of the World Test Championship final on June 11.Paterson, 35, took five-wicket hauls in both of the Tests he played in South Africa’s home summer, against Sri Lanka in Gqerbha, and against Pakistan at Centurion. He has signed a contract which covers Middlesex’s first seven Championship fixtures – including four games at Lord’s, where South Africa will face Australia in the WTC final.Across four seasons with Nottinghamshire, Paterson took 180 Championship wickets at 23.25, including seven five-wicket hauls, but the club have opted not to renew his contract. He will instead join Middlesex, and will hope to spearhead their attack after Ethan Bamber’s departure to Warwickshire over the winter.Related

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“It’s an honour to be joining Middlesex,” Paterson said. “I will do my best to give Middlesex the best chance of getting promoted back to Division One again, where the club belongs. I can’t wait to be playing at Lord’s – such a prestigious ground – and I’m just really excited about the challenge that lies ahead.”Whilst obviously I’m sad not to be returning to Trent Bridge after what has been an amazing four years, I’ll always treasure the time I’ve spent there. It quickly became a home away from home for me and I made friendships in the dressing room which I’m sure will last a lifetime.”Paterson joins Kyle Verreynne (Notts) in signing for a county ahead of the WTC final, with David Bedingham also due to back at Durham. Rassie van der Dussen revealed on Thursday that he has turned down a move.Australia’s Cameron Green (Gloucestershire) and Beau Webster (Warwickshire) will also use the Championship to prepare for the final, with many other likely participants involved in either the IPL or PSL during the April-May window.Kane Williamson is also due to play for Middlesex this year, though will not overlap with Paterson•Associated Press

Middlesex did not sign an overseas player last year due to financial constraints but Paterson is the third they have announced this month, after Kane Williamson and Josh Little. They have also brought in Zafar Gohar, the Pakistan-born spinner, as a local player thanks to his British passport, and signed Ben Geddes from Surrey as a replacement for Mark Stoneman.Alan Coleman, Middlesex’s director of cricket, said: “We are really pleased to get this signing secured as Dane is a player that will bring an enormous amount of quality to our pace attack and is someone that can make a real impact for us in the first half of the season.”He has proven throughout the four-years he spent with Nottinghamshire that he has all the attributes needed to succeed in English conditions, and he brings with him a wealth of experience, built up over many years on both the domestic and international stages.”Elsewhere, Durham have announced the signing of Brendan Doggett, the South Australia seamer who recently played for Australia A against England Lions. Doggett is only eligible for a short-term visa but is due to arrive in time to face Warwickshire on April 11 and will be at Durham for the early weeks of the 2025 season.

أكد ناثان آكي، نجم نادي مانشستر سيتي، على أن فريقه لا يزال يتمتع بروح قتالية عالية، وذلك قبل لقاء برينتفورد اليوم الأحد بالدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

مانشستر سيتي سوف يحل ضيفًا على نظيره برينتفورد بعد أقل من ساعة من الآن، ضمن الجولة السابعة من بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

ويسعى مانشستر سيتي إلى الفوز على برينتفورد من أجل مواصلة تحقيق نتائجه الجيدة خلال الفترة الأخيرة.

اقرأ أيضًا .. برناردو سيلفا يعلق على إمكانية العودة إلى موناكو

وقال آكي لموقع مانشستر سيتي الرسمي: ”أظهرنا مرونة كبيرة هذا الموسم، ربما يعتقد الكثيرون من الخارج أننا لا نستطيع تحقيق البطولات لكننا نؤمن بأنفسنا، نعلم أن لدينا العديد من اللاعبين المختلفين، لذا من الواضح أن الأمر سيكون جديدًا”.

وأضاف: ”ما أظهرناه حتى الآن هو أننا مستعدون للعمل والقتال، لقد حققنا بعض النتائج الجيدة ولم نخسر في المباريات القليلة الماضية، نأمل أن نواصل ذلك”.

وأوضح آكي: “الأمر يتعلق بالتماسك، لقد واجهنا بعض الصعوبات بعد المباراة الأولى، مع ذلك لم نشكك في أنفسنا، بل حافظنا على قوتنا وثقتنا بأنفسنا هي سر النجاح”.

وأردف: “لقد أثبتنا ذلك في المباريات القليلة الماضية، إذا حافظنا على هذا الإيمان فسنظل فريقًا قويًا جدًا، كل ما نحتاجه هو مواصلة التقدم والتحسن”.

وتابع: “الفرق الأخرى هذه الأيام تلعب بشكل فردي أكثر، لذا فهم يتقدمون في الملعب ويرغبون في الضغط علينا بشكل أكبر”.

وواصل: “أحيانًا وبشكل تلقائي، تكون المباراة أكثر ديناميكية لأن الاحتفاظ بالكرة أصعب من اللعب ضد فرق تعتمد على الدفاع ونسيطر على الكرة بشكل كامل”.

واختتم آكي: “هذا أحد أهم التغييرات هذا العام، عندما تلعب الفرق أكثر في وضع لاعب ضد لاعب، يجب أن نكون أكثر مباشرة، هذا ليس من وجهة نظرنا فقط، بل من وجهة نظر الفرق الأخرى أيضًا”.

Everton are believed to be in talks over the signing of a “fantastic” Premier League hero this summer, with the player in question even called better than Harry Kane in the past.

Moyes wants "five or six" new signings at Everton

The Blues have had a productive summer in the transfer market to date, not least acquiring the signature of big-money attacking signing Thierno Barry from Villarreal.

David Moyes will want to build on an excellent start to life back at Everton, however, with the Scot admitting that he still wants plenty of new faces through the door before the window slams shut on September 1st.

“Well, we’ve signed three, so if you take that off, we’re still in the need of maybe five or six players. That’s what we have to try and do. I’ve never had one of these times. In the past I have had to sign a lot of players, but I’ve never had to do so many in one window.”

While Barry has come in as an exciting new striker for Everton, they may well feel the need to add further depth there, especially following the exit of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and the potential departure of Beto. Now, an intriguing name has been thrown into the mix to add more firepower to Moyes’ squad.

Everton in talks with Premier League legend Vardy

According to a report from Spain, Everton are in talks with Jamie Vardy over a move to the club this summer, in what would arguably be a shock piece of business. The Blues are the club who have “taken the initiative most seriously”, while the conversations are said to be “on the march” with the striker’s representatives.

The 38-year-old is a free agent after leaving Leicester City at the end of last season, following a legendary stint there that included winning the Premier League title back in 2015/16.

Vardy may not be the force he once was, given his age, but it is easy to see him being a good squad player at Everton for a year or two.

The Englishman still possesses plenty of pace and an eye for goal, and Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca even once claimed he is better than Kane and Wayne Rooney among the leading strikers of their generation, having worked with him at Leicester.

“Vardy is fantastic and people don’t realise how good he is. I know that England has been quite lucky with strikers, like Kane, Rooney and many others, but if you ask me he has been the best one. He can do many things, like run in behind and finish, but the best thing for me is his open mind.”

The fact that Vardy would be available on a free transfer almost makes him a gamble worth taking, and if he joins Everton and simply doesn’t have the impact of the past, it would be no disaster.

Moyes' new Declan Rice: £42m star is pushing to sign for Everton

Everton are closing in on signing a new midfielder

1

By
Ross Kilvington

Jul 29, 2025

On the flip side, though, he could be a great option off the substitutes’ bench, popping up with goals in key moments and becoming a crowd favourite with his infectious personality, having scored seven times in 16 appearances against the Blues.

After news emerged earlier this week that Nicolas Raskin’s agent has offered his signature to Real Betis, Glasgow Rangers now face the threat of losing another star man amid reports that Besiktas are preparing a second bid.

Real Betis offered Raskin move

It’s been a busy summer for Rangers so far. Having kicked things off by welcoming new ownership in the form of the 49ers before welcoming Russell Martin in the technical area, the Gers have since been busy with incomings on the pitch. So far, a total of seven fresh faces have arrived, while Oscar Cortes has also made his loan move permanent.

But it’s not all good news. As arrivals begin to settle in, Rangers could yet suffer some frustrating exit news. Already, Martin has seen the likes of Hamza Igamane flirt with the exit door at Ibrox, before his proposed move to LOSC Lille broke down, and now the new manager faces the threat of losing Raskin.

According to recent reports, the midfielder’s agent has now offered his signature to La Liga side Real Betis in a worrying sign for Rangers. As things stand, the main obstacle in the way of the Belgian’s exit remains his £8.6m valuation – one that Betis are reluctant to pay – but it seems unlikely that other potential suitors will take the same stance.

With that said, Martin is keen to keep hold of Raskin and has already shared how he wants to get the best out of his midfield star, saying: “We can get more end product out of Nico by doing a bit less.

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ByDan Emery Jul 19, 2025

“He has big character, he wants to take the ball but I think he’s had to do a lot in the previous season, whereas now we’re going to ask him to do a bit less, and when he does have to stuff, to do it with real quality, intensity and aggression. So, hopefully, we’ll be able to bring out a more impactful Nico.”

Alas, Rangers’ exit concern doesn’t end there. Reports are now claiming that the Gers could yet lose another midfielder this summer.

Rangers braced for imminent Diomande offer

According to Turkish outlet Fotomac, Besiktas are now set to submit an improved offer to sign Mohamed Diomande after Rangers rejected their opening bid worth just over £6.5m. The Turkish club are keen to complete a quickfire deal, but must first find a way to reach an agreement with the stubborn 49ers.

Losing both Raskin and Diomande would be a major blow no matter how impressive Rangers have been in the transfer market this summer.

Both played a “brilliant” role in the Gers’ 3-2 win over Celtic in March, according to Rangers Review’s Joshua Barrie, and both should be built around at the heart of Martin’s side.

Glasgow Rangers central midfielder Nicolas Raskin is facing an uncertain future at Ibrox in the summer transfer window, amid interest from a host of clubs.

Plenty of teams south of the border have all been linked with an interest in the midfielder in recent weeks.

It would be a big blow for Russell Martin to lose the Belgian this summer, after the 24-year-old Rangers star racked up five goals and 11 assists in the Scottish Premiership and the Europa League combined last term.

However, Raskin is not the only player who the new Gers boss should be concerned about losing, as an offer has reportedly been made for another one of his key stars.

Offer submitted for Rangers star

Whilst the likes of Mohamed Diomande and Hamza Igamane have also been linked with moves away from Ibrox this summer, there is no interest in one of the club’s defenders.

Transfer Focus

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

According to Turkish journalist Yağız Sabuncuoğlu, Trabzonspor are interested in a deal to snap up Glasgow Rangers central defender John Souttar ahead of next season.

The reporter claims that the Super Lig side, who have John Lundstram and Borna Barisic in their squad, have submitted an offer to tempt the Light Blues into cashing in on the Scotland international.

However, there is no mention of how much money has been put on the table by the European club, or whether or not Rangers would be willing to sell the former Hearts man this summer.

Why Rangers should keep John Souttar

The Gers should reject this offer from Trabzonspor in order to keep Souttar at Ibrox ahead of next season, as he is as important as Raskin to the team.

He is a leader and a strong presence at the back for the Light Blues, as a proven Premiership performer at the heart of the defence, and should be the player Martin builds the defence around.

Souttar, who was hailed for his “vintage” performances for Scotland by Andy Robertson, was the best centre-back at the club in the 2024/25 campaign, ahead of Robin Propper, as a dominant defensive force.

Appearances

24

27

Clearances per game

6.1

4.0

Dribbled past per game

0.1x

0.4x

Long pass accuracy

69%

46%

Ground duel success rate

74%

62%

Aerial duel success rate

66%

64%

As you can see in the table above, the Scottish titan was significantly better than the Dutch flop, as he was dribbled past fewer times per game and dominated opposition attackers with more efficiency.

Souttar also won 68% of his duels across ten appearances in the Europa League, making 6.6 clearances per game, which shows that he was also dominant on the European stage against high-quality opposition.

The 28-year-old colossus, who is in the prime years of his career, may not be as flashy and exciting as Raskin, who scores and assists goals at an impressive rate, but he is just as important to the team because of his reliable defensive work week-in-week-out.

Souttar is experienced, but not old, and can be counted on to deliver consistent performances when he is available to play, which is not something that should be overlooked as Rangers look to build a team to compete for the Premiership title.

Better than Gassama at Ibrox: Rangers racing to sign "wonderful" £10m star

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The Light Blues need experienced and dependable stars to help the younger players in the squad to settle in and adapt to playing regularly in the Premiership, which is why Souttar is so important for Martin and why the club should reject Trabzonspor’s offer.

Perry hits 65 in chase but can’t prevent Phoenix’s 12th consecutive women’s Hundred defeat

ECB Media27-Jul-2024Meg Lanning won the battle of the Australians at Lord’s, scoring her first half-century in the Hundred as London Spirit overcame Birmingham Phoenix, despite Ellyse Perry’s innings of 65 in reply.The 16,641 crowd – the fifth-highest in the history of the women’s Hundred – were treated to a competitive affair in the sunshine, momentum shifting this way and that as the big names on both sides took it in turns to stand up and be counted.Phoenix – off the back of 11 consecutive defeats in the Hundred – looked set to spring a surprise and take it deep, and perhaps even pull off a memorable upset, but the required run-rate got away from them and three late wickets for Sarah Glenn sealed the deal for Heather Knight’s side, who have now won two from two this season.”It felt like it got a bit more tricky as it went on,” Lanning said. “Birmingham Phoenix took the pace off a little bit, and the wicket was pretty conducive to that, so it felt like it was a bit more difficult than we had thought but it ended up a competitive total.”With the ball it was about bowling pretty straight at the stumps and taking pace off the ball. We thought Phoenix used that really well so we wanted to do that right from the start, and we were able to hold our nerve when Devine and Perry were going. We just had to hold our nerve and we knew a chance would come.”Earlier, Spirit – wearing a special shirt to mark their partnership with Transport for London – set off like a train. Lanning, Georgia Redmayne and Cordelia Griffith all found the boundary with regularity. Griffith’s consecutive sixes off Emily Arlott, one whipped into the Mound Stand with no shortage of flair, a particular highlight.Off the back of her winning half-century at Utilita Bowl on Wednesday, England captain Knight added to her side’s momentum and ultimately Phoenix would have been happy to restrict Spirit to 147 for 9, with a bigger total looking likely earlier in the innings.The smart money would likely have been on Spirit to defend their total with relative ease but Perry and New Zealand captain Sophie Devine jangled a few nerves with their partnership of 89, especially when Devine dispatched Sarah Glenn for two sixes over the leg-side.The equation with 20 balls left was 40 runs required for Phoenix, but the boundaries dried up and Glenn’s last set of five ensured London Spirit ended day five of the Hundred top of the table with a 100% win record.

Weather in Greater Noida in July and workload management the reasons for requesting the change

Mohammad Isam24-Jun-2024

Bangladesh will complete their World Test Championship cycle by December 2024•AFP/Getty Images

The BCB has requested its Afghanistan counterpart to postpone next month’s white-ball series in Greater Noida, and asked for the games to be played as soon as “the two boards find a window”, ESPNcricinfo has learnt.The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) had proposed three ODIs and three T20Is in late July, sending the BCB match dates – between July 25 and August 6 – too. It was a revised schedule after the tour initially also included two Tests.The BCB felt that the weather in that part of India at that time wouldn’t be ideal for an international series. June to September is usually considered off-season in the subcontinent because of the monsoons. The BCB had earlier postponed the series keeping in mind the workload management of its players.Bangladesh’s next assignment is a two-Test series in Pakistan from mid-August, the schedule for which hasn’t been announced yet. Many of the Test players will get busy playing red-ball matches ahead of this series as part of the preparations. They will play three internal matches in Chattogram and Sylhet, followed by four four-day matches against Pakistan Shaheens in Darwin and later in Pakistan.Later, Bangladesh will also go to India to play two Tests and three T20Is from September 19 to October 12. It will be followed by two Tests at home against South Africa, followed by a full tour of the West Indies that includes two Tests, three ODIs and three T20Is in November and December.That workload is the reason why the BCB was always reluctant for the two Tests against Afghanistan. They had also postponed one Test against Zimbabwe earlier this year, turning that tour into five T20Is in May. Bangladesh will complete their World Test Championship cycle by December 2024.