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Fast bowler will stay with the squad and is expected to take full part in the series as required

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Nov-2025Pakistan fast bowler Naseem Shah will stay with the squad for the upcoming ODI series against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi despite an attack on his house in Lower Dir. Unknown assailants fired at the gate of his family home; no one at the residence was reported to be injured.The assailants fled immediately after firing at the gate, with an investigation opened by police. It is not known who was at the residence at the time, with the attack taking place in the early hours of Monday morning. reported that Naseem’s father met with a police officer, who assured him the assailants would be brought to justice quickly.ESPNcricinfo understands the incident does not affect Naseem’s plans or schedule for the series, with the fast bowler staying with the squad and expected to take full part in the series as required. Pakistan and Sri Lanka begin a three-match ODI series in Rawalpindi on Tuesday, followed by a T20I tri-series that also involves Zimbabwe later this month. Naseem is part of both squads.It is not known whether any of Naseem’s two younger brothers, who are also professional cricketers, were at the residence. Hunain, who hit the winning runs for Islamabad United in the 2024 Pakistan Super League final, last played a Quaid-e-Azam trophy match last week, where he scored a half-century and took six wickets in a ten-wicket win. Ubaid, who plays for Multan Sultans in the PSL, most recently played a game for his Quaid-e-Azam Trophy side Lahore Whites at the end of last month.

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A CBF decidiu adiar jogos do Brasileirão que envolvem clubes gaúchos até o próximo dia 27, em razão da tragédia que assola o Rio Grande do Sul (RS), causada pelas chuvas intensas na região. A medida também vale para as equipes do estado que disputam outras divisões e modalidades do futebol nacional.

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A entidade optou por manter o andamento da competição para os demais clubes. A principal alegação para a decisão é o calendário da temporada, segundo apuração do Lance!.

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A CBF monitora os eventos climáticos no estado e planeja tomar decisões de acordo com o desenvolvimento dos acontecimentos. A instituição reforça o apoio e participação nas ações em benefício à população gaúcha.

O principal impasse alegado por pessoas da CBF é o calendário da temporada. No momento, não haveria como realocar tantas partidas adiadas, ainda com competições paralelas, como Libertadores, Sul-Americana, Copa América e Mundial de Clubes.

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As diretorias de Internacional, Grêmio e Juventude tinham a intenção de que todo o campeonato fosse paralisado. Contudo, não teria ocorrido uma união com a maioria das equipes da Série A para pressionar pela medida.

O Athletico-PR foi citado como um dos que, enfaticamente, foi contra o adiamento geral. Em contato com Flamengo, Palmeiras, São Paulo, Corinthians e Bragantino, o Lance! ouviu que os clubes não tornarão público um posicionamento favorável ou contrário ao tema. Todos promoveram ações em prol dos equipes e da população gaúcha.

Flamengo, Palmeiras e São Paulo colocaram estádios e centros de treinamento à disposição de Inter, Grêmio e Juventude. O Verdão vai reverter a arrecadação da bilheteria da partida diante do Athletico-PR, no final de semana, em doações. Corinthians e Vasco foram outros clubes que disponibilizaram suas estruturas para equipes gaúchas.

Veja a nota oficial da CBF:

“Em virtude do estado de calamidade pública no Rio Grande do Sul, decretado pelos Governos Federal e Estadual, decorrente dos eventos climáticos extremos ocorridos,a CBF manifesta sua total solidariedade à população gaúcha e reforça que o foco atual é o atendimento às suas necessidades imediatas e emergenciais.

A CBF, na condição de entidade organizadora das competições nacionais, e atenta às suas funções institucionais, bem assim ao esforço humanitário que o momento reclama, reafirma seu irrestrito apoio às autoridades para que todas as medidas e ações sejam adotadas em benefício da população gaúcha, cujo socorro é a prioridade máxima.

Diante do atual cenário, tendo recebido na noite de 06 de maio de 2024 o ofício no. 57/2024, oriundo da Federação Gaúcha de Futebol (FGF), que encaminhou e endossou o pleito dos seus clubes filiados,a CBF informa que ficam adiadas todas as partidas envolvendo equipes do Rio Grande de Sul nas competições nacionais, como mandante ou visitante, previstas até o dia 27 de maio de 2024.”

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Celtic are now reportedly tracking Evan Ferguson ahead of a potential 2026 move as the Brighton & Hove Albion forward continues to struggle out on loan at AS Roma.

Celtic have faced several problems so far this season, but their frontline has been their biggest issue. Parkhead chiefs failed to replace the impact of Nicolas Kuhn in the summer and part of the reason why Brendan Rodgers resigned was that lack of investment. It’s left them adrift of shock leaders Hearts in the Scottish Premiership and on the hunt for a new manager.

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Things are unlikely to get any easier for the Hoops anytime soon, either. Recent reports have claimed that Daizen Maeda is now looking to leave the club in the January transfer window and has Premier League sides interested.

The Japan international may force Celtic’s hand this time around too, having revealed to reporters earlier this season that he was denied an exit in the summer transfer window.

Whether that is the reason behind Maeda’s poor form is the question that Celtic will be asking. The forward scored 33 goals in all competitions last season, but has so far managed just four in the current campaign.

If his current struggles continue, then it may be best for all parties to move on and for Celtic to shift their focus towards the likes of Ferguson.

Celtic now tracking Evan Ferguson

According to Graeme Bailey, via 67 Hail Hail, Celtic are now tracking Ferguson and could yet make their move in 2026 with Roma looking to cut his loan spell short and send him back to Brighton in January.

It’s been a frustrating year or so for the young striker. From undeniable, he has become unwanted in Italy after failing to score once in 10 appearances. If anyone needs a next move to work out, it is Ferguson.

Whether Celtic is that move is the big question. The Irishman is still just 21 years old and still so full of potential. If the right deal presents itself, the Bhoys should take a chance on Ferguson in the hope that both parties solve their respective problems.

It’s also worth noting that it wasn’t so long ago that Ferguson found himself at the centre of praise from the likes of Jamie Carragher.

The Liverpool legend dubbed the forward “special” whilst also praising then-Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi, saying: “I think that lad he has got up front, I think he’s pretty special. He is only going to get better with him as his manager.”

Celtic keeping tabs on "brilliant" Serie A gem who starred vs Rangers last season

Mumbai presented an opportunity for New Zealand, and they rallied around Ajaz to script some serious history

Alagappan Muthu04-Nov-20241:24

Manjrekar: Have to take your hats off to Ajaz

For the majority of the 23.1 overs that they bowled together, Glenn Phillips and Ajaz Patel were in sync. But there was this one moment where one got the other in a little bit of trouble.Phillips, for some reason, decided he needed a warm-up. He’d been holding one end up for most of the three-match series but just after the afternoon drinks break on Sunday, his shoulders needed some loosening up. Ajaz offered to help and quickly regretted it because unlike most bowlers, who lob it into the hands of a team-mate, Phillips just fired one in.Poor Ajaz. He had to track back at top speed to avoid being hit. Finally, he was struggling, like every other spinner that’s ever toured India. Muthiah Muralidaran had to shell out 574.5 overs to scrape the 40 wickets he has in this country. His offbreaks had a habit of playing non-consensual ding-dong-ditch. Those sweet batters. They’d be there one minute and, whether they liked it or not, gone the next.Related

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Ajaz’s overs count is still in the 100s – 197.1 – and yet he’s already got his name on 32 dismissals. He took a third of that in one innings in Mumbai in 2021, and now another third in one match, ahead of which he had the cheek to thank his hosts for giving him the opportunity to work his magic at the Wankhede again. He was sure they’d have the good sense (aka superstition) never to let New Zealand play a Test here for as long as he was still active.”To be honest, after my ten-for, I wasn’t sure whether I’d get another opportunity to play out here again throughout my career,” Ajaz said last Wednesday, “So I’m very grateful that the BCCI have scheduled a game out here.”So is a country whose entire population can fit inside Mumbai with space to spare. Former New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond was following the game as it ebbed and flowed. “I gave a little fist pump when Ajaz went through the gate–” his face broke into a smile at this point, almost as if he was picturing Washington Sundar’s stumps hitting the floor again. “– on that last wicket. I’m absolutely delighted for the players.”ESPNcricinfo LtdThey were delighted for themselves too. Ajaz was lost inside a group hug from two Toms and a Daryl. Matt Henry, from short fine, was running up to join them, but took a detour towards the other spinner who had been fielding at deep midwicket. Phillips received his own group hug and eventually the two group hugs became one long huddle.Henry had dropped a catch off Phillips in the first innings. Even when it happened – with the mistake and its potential repercussions still fresh – New Zealand made sure to pull Henry back from the void. They’d done the same when substitute Mark Chapman dropped a catch just minutes before. This wasn’t just about camaraderie. New Zealand knew that cricket in the subcontinent changes on a dime. So they needed their players to be focused. They understood that catches can sometimes go down but shoulders simply cannot.On Sunday, with Rishabh Pant leading a little recovery and the Wankhede willing him on, Tom Latham stood next to Ajaz and instigated a low-five. Pant vs Ajaz was the whole match and Pant was winning. He was 53 not out and India had gone from 29 for 5 to 92 for 6 and the target was only 55 runs away. But Latham knew his best bet was still his left-arm spinner and so as he began his spell after lunch, he did his bit at lifting him.8:53

Vettori: ‘New Zealand’s win is great for Test cricket’

Four balls later, Ajaz got rid of Pant. He had 4 for 197 on this tour coming into the Mumbai Test. Over the last three days, he’s picked up 11 for 160 and a fairly high-profile admirer as well.”I think he’s just really consistent,” former New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori told ESPNcricinfo. “His action is repeatable. The ball he bowls is repeatable. And he gets a lot of revolutions on it. He has a lovely seam position and for him to be consistently be able to put pressure on these great Indian batsmen, I thought New Zealand set some amazing fields to allow that pressure to maintain. All those things in combination put together another incredible Wankhede performance from him.”As everybody was preparing for the presentation, Ajaz was looking up at the stands, raising the ball up high, a smile made all the more visible by its contrast with that incredible beard. He has roots here in Mumbai. He keeps making history here as well.”Everyone knew how hard it was with only two Test match wins [for New Zealand in India] in 80 years and a lot of trying,” Vettori added. “You’d have to go back to the great Sir Richard Hadlee’s era to get one win. So he could only get one win. So for this team to come here to get that first one and then to win a series is probably one of New Zealand cricket’s greatest achievement.”

The upturn in form for Leeds United has shown they have what it takes to stay in the Premier League. The Whites have now gone unbeaten in their last two games, against two of the so-called ‘big six’ sides.

During the round of midweek top-flight fixtures, Daniel Farke’s side toppled Chelsea at Elland Road, securing an outstanding 3-1 victory against the Club World Cup champions.

On Saturday night, once again at a raucous Elland Road, they secured a late draw with champions Liverpool, with Ao Tanaka scoring in the 96th minute.

It has been a brilliant week for Leeds, with a change in Farke’s system certainly helping the Whites.

How Farke has got the best out of Leeds

For most of the season, Leeds, who find themselves in 16th place in the Premier League, two points clear of the drop, have deployed a 4-3-3 system.

However, the German manager switched things up in the second half against Manchester City, a game which they lost in stoppage time.

Instead, the West Yorkshire side played a 3-5-2 system, aiming to offer more defensive solidity and an issue for opponents in the final third with two strikers and a threat from the high and wide wingbacks.

It is fair to say that Leeds have managed to adapt to this system very well. Of course, they beat Chelsea and drew against Liverpool.

In those games, they had less possession each time, but were dangerous in transition and looked to be direct and bring their two strikers into play.

Someone who praised Farke’s side for the way they have taken to this system is Gary Neville. He said, “it looks to be a blueprint” for the club, praising the “legs in the middle of the pitch” who really make things tick.

Indeed, one of those men in midfield has become a key player for Farke.

The Leeds midfielder showing shades of Klich & Dallas

Since moving to the back three system, Farke has rotated a little bit in midfield with Sean Longstaff on the sideline. Tanaka started against Chelsea, and Ilia Gruev played from the start against the Merseysiders.

Club captain Ethan Ampadu has been a consistent starter, as has Anton Stach. The German joined in the summer and has nailed down a place in the middle of the park next to the Wales international.

The two-cap German national team player, who has previously been described as a “ball-winning monster” by Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Kyle Newbould, has shone for Farke’s side.

Stach has made 13 appearances in the Premier League this term, chipping in with two goals and two assists.

The numbers behind Stach’s success in midfield for the Whites this season are impressive.

The German is currently averaging 1.98 key passes and 1.71 progressive carries per 90 minutes, placing him in the top 6% and 22% of Premier League midfielders this season, respectively.

Stach’s game certainly has shades of one former Leeds midfield duo. Mateusz Klich, who played 195 times for the club, and Stuart Dallas, who made 267 appearances, were both key players during the Marcelo Bielsa era.

Described as an “industrious” pair, they offered lots of legs in the middle of the park, just like Stach does, as Neville pointed out. They also posed a threat in the final third, with Dallas bagging 28 times and Klich 24 in that famous White shirt.

Given how Bielsa’s team played, a high-octane brand of football with plenty of running, it is no surprise that Stach has shades of the midfield duo from that era.

As Como scout Ben Mattinson pointed out, he “covers a lot of ground” just as the former Leeds duo were required to do under the former manager.

Stach could certainly be considered undroppable under Farke. His performances this season have been impressive, and he has been a key man since they changed to a back three.

The midfielder is a bit of an “all-rounder” according to Mattinson, and with shades of Klich and Dallas in his game, could quickly become a fan favourite.

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Cal Raleigh officially stands alone among catchers in MLB history.

The Seattle Mariners superstar clubbed his 49th home run of the season on Sunday. As such, he now holds the record for most home runs by a catcher in a single season in MLB history, overtaking a record previously held by Royals star Salvador Perez. No player who has been behind the plate for at least 75% of their games has hit more home runs in one campaign.

Raleigh entered play Sunday with 47 home runs. By the time the second inning ended, he'd already smacked two pitches into the seats and made MLB history. Now, he'll look to become the first catcher to ever hit 50 home runs in a season, too.

Raleigh's record-setting home run sent T-Mobile Park into a tizzy, as fans rose to their feet to celebrate their catcher's historic accomplishment. The broadcast was fired up, too, delivering a hearty call of the moment.

Raleigh hadn't hit a home run in any of his previous five games, but he delivered twice in two innings on Sunday to secure the record. An awesome moment for an incredibly deserving player.

Most Home Runs by Catcher in Single Season

Now that Raleigh stands alone with 49 home runs in a season, we'll take a look at some of the players he's passed. Perez's 48-home run season in 2021 stood as the record until Sunday. Prior to that, Johnny Bench held the record for most homers by a catcher in a season with 45, which he achieved in 1970. Javy Lopez hit 43 home runs in 2003, and the only other catchers with 40 or more homers in a season are Todd Hundley, Roy Campanella and Mike Piazza.

Debutant hailed for seam skills at vital juncture of South Africa’s first innings

Firdose Moonda16-Dec-2024Another day, another impressive performance from an England Test debutant in Bloemfontein. This time it was Ryana MacDonald-Gay, the 20-year old seamer, who struck twice even as lightning could not, either side of a 45-minute weather-related interruption, as South Africa’s batting unravelled.Their collapse of 7 for 44 started when MacDonald-Gay, in her second spell and with the old ball, produced a delivery that held its stump-to-stump line, beat Marizanne Kapp’s drive and hit the top of off. It was a dream dismissal for any bowler, nevermind a complete newcomer taking her first wicket and that too, of one of the opposition’s most valuable players and a franchise team-mate. Kapp, who plays alongside MacDonald-Gay at Oval Invincibles, could only accept being undone.”She actually bowled the best out of all their seam bowlers,” Kapp said in the end-of-day press conference. “If you just look at her seam that they keep on showing on TV, that’s a massive standout. And if you are bowling with a seam like that, you’ll always get movement or a bit of nip or something.”Five balls after Kapp was bowled, the players were taken off the field with lightning visible in the distance. They spent 45 minutes waiting for the storm to pass and when they returned, MacDonald-Gay picked up exactly where she left off. New batter Nadine de Klerk had no answers for a back-of-a-length ball that was zoning in on off stump and nicked off.That opened the door to the South African tail with the second new ball still to come. The remaining five wickets fell when England took it, and Lauren Bell was the biggest beneficiary. She picked up three in seven balls and ended with a career-best 4 for 49 but agreed with Kapp that it would not have been possible without “Ree-Mac,” as she called McDonald-Gay.Related

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“I completely agree (that she was the best),” Bell said. “I think (Lauren) Filer and Ree-Mac both bowled unbelievably today. Filer’s pace and Ree-Mac, she presented the seam amazingly and just nipped it around, so she held length. On debut, yeah, she was outstanding today.”Filer’s 2 for 53 included the big wickets of Annerie Dercksen, whom she peppered with short balls, and Sune Luus and proved the value of England including a fourth seamer. With more resources available to her, Heather Knight could use Filer, especially, in short spells. She had only one five-over spell, split by lunch, but was mostly used in three-over bursts, when she could crank the pace up. “That’s the best way to get the best out of our seamers is short spells, go really attacking, and just keep it ticking,” Bell said.She marvelled at Filer’s barrage to Dercksen which ended when the South African No.3 top-edged an attempted cut and sent a chance to Knight at second slip who parried it to Sophie Ecclestone at first. “Filer’s pace is obviously really attacking and she (Dercksen) didn’t look comfortable,” Bell said. “She holds that pace really well throughout her spell and she got her in the end with that team catch.”After lavishing praise on her team-mates, Bell also had the chance to reflect on her own performance and she was happy to call herself a work in progress, both in this innings and overall.Maia Bouchier and MacDonald-Gay pose with their debut Test caps•ECB/Getty Images”The job I had today was to bowl into the wind and I think I wanted to just hold length and hold line as much as possible,” she said. “With the second new ball, I was happier. It took me a while to work out what my best option was in that pitch but by the end I felt really good. At this current moment in time, it’s a process that I am very much going through.”It’s not that I won’t bowl inswing, or that that inswing that I used to bowl is gone. I just have been practising away-swing so much and it’s what I’m most comfortable bowling at this current moment in time. But my game will hopefully get to a point where I’m really comfortable bowling inswing, I’m really comfortable bowling away-swing, I’ve got my wobble ball will obviously make me, I hope, a pretty challenging bowler to face.”Someone Bell may look to emulate is Kapp, who has been South Africa’s best seamer and bowled four especially tough overs to start England’s second innings. The outswinger is Kapp’s poison and she beat Beaumont’s bat several times on the second evening.That may not concern her as much as what happened in the first innings, when Kapp thought she had Beaumont out lbw second ball after pinning her on the pad but umpire Kerrin Klaaste was not interested.In the absence of DRS (due to CSA prioritising it for white-ball women’s matches because of the cost), Kapp could not review. When asked about it, she did not complain.”It’s a new thing that we have DRS available,” she said. “I don’t believe we’ve had it available for T20s and ODI cricket before so it’s really helped in those series. And if I have to be completely honest, I’d probably prefer having it in those two formats.”Laura Wolvaardt also appeared to want to review when she was given out lbw to Sophie Ecclestone when she was on 65 and indicated she had hit it but had to go. South Africa will hope that, if there is another decision they want to go their way, it’s third time lucky.

Her last India cap came at the final of the T20 World Cup 2020

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Jul-2025Batter Veda Krishnamurthy has called time on her professional career, five years after she last played for India, at the Women’s T20 World Cup final in Melbourne in 2020.Veda retires with 48 ODIs and 76 T20I caps, with the highlight being her role in India’s seminal run to the 2017 World Cup final, where they came within nine runs of a maiden world title. Her final on-field appearance came during WPL 2024, where she represented Gujarat Giants.”Cricket gave me more than just a career,” she wrote in a post on social media. “It gave me a sense of who I am. It taught me how to fight, how to fall and how to keep showing up. It’s now time to give back. Whatever the role, whatever the way, I’m here for the game. I truly believe my second innings will be just as meaningful.”A hard-hitting middle-order batter, Veda also captained Karnataka and Railways in the domestic circuit. In 2023, she led Karnataka to runners-up finish in the Senior Women’s One Day Trophy for successive years in 2021-22 and 2022-23 – they went down to domestic powerhouse Railways by six runs in the title-clash in February 2023.

From a small-town girl with big dreams to wearing the India jersey with pride.
Grateful for everything cricket gave me the lessons, the people, the memories.
It’s time to say goodbye to playing, but not to the game.
Always for India. Always for the team. pic.twitter.com/okRdjYuW2R

— Veda Krishnamurthy (@vedakmurthy08) July 25, 2025