Mason Greenwood has generated plenty of transfer talk, but a "look forward to more" message has hinted at the Marseille forward staying put.

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Enjoyed impressive debut campaign in FranceAttracted interest from teams across EuropeLigue 1 giants have no intention of sellingFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The 23-year-old forward enjoyed the most productive campaign of his career to date in 2024-25. On the back of moving to France from Premier League giants Manchester United, Greenwood registered 22 goals and six assists through 36 appearances in all competitions.

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His 21 efforts in Ligue 1 were enough to earn a share of Golden Boot honours alongside Champions League winner and Ballon d’Or favourite Ousmane Dembele of Paris Saint-Germain. He also rewrote the history books at Stade Velodrome.

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Greenwood’s debut season with Marseille saw him better some club legends, including ex-Chelsea striker Didier Drogba. A collection of match-altering performances helped to deliver Champions League qualification.

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Interest is said to have been attracted from across Europe, with La Liga heavyweights Barcelona and Atletico Madrid reportedly keen on the former Getafe loanee, but Marseille have no intention of parting with a player that they have tied to a contract through to 2029.

Dean Foxcroft and Adithya Ashok have earned their maiden call-ups to the senior New Zealand men’s squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against UAE, which is scheduled to be played in Dubai from August 17 to 20. The squad is also notable for the return of Kyle Jamieson, who has been out of action since undergoing back surgery in February.New Zealand are travelling to the UAE with a somewhat second-string squad, which is without regulars Finn Allen, Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips and Ish Sodhi.Related

• Duffy replaces Tickner in NZ squad for UAE T20Is

• Boult, Jamieson back in New Zealand ODI squad for England series

• Olly Stone ruled out of Hundred with hamstring injury

• Jamieson set to be out for 'three to four months' after back surgery

• Amelia Kerr, Daryl Mitchell win top NZC awards

Those players, however, will return to the squad when New Zealand move to England for a four-match T20I series (August 30 to September 5) that immediately follows the UAE tour. Foxcroft, Ashok and five other players – Chad Bowes, Dane Cleaver, Cole McConchie, Henry Shipley and Will Young – will also travel to England, where they won’t be part of the T20I squad but will be in contention for the two warm-up T20 games against Worcestershire and Gloucestershire.According to the NZC release announcing the squads, allrounders James Neesham and Mitchell Santner, who have been picked on both tours, have secured short-term contracts that will allow them to play the closing stages of The Hundred in the UK between the UAE and the England T20Is.Kane Williamson (knee) and Michael Bracewell (achilles), who are recovering from injuries, were not available for selection.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Foxcroft, a 25-year-old batting allrounder who bowls offspin, was named domestic player of the year at the NZC awards in March. He was the top run-getter in the Super Smash T20 competition, scoring 424 runs for Otago at an average of 47.11 and a strike rate of 131.26, and also took nine wickets in the tournament with an economy rate of 7.15. Foxcroft also performed strongly in the Plunket Shield first-class competition, in which he was Otago’s top run-getter with 631 at 45.07 while also picking up seven wickets at 29.71.Ashok is a 20-year-old legspinner who was part of New Zealand’s squad at the Under-19 World Cup. He made his first-class debut in the 2022-23 season and made a significant impact, picking up 19 wickets for Auckland in the Plunket Shield at an average of 27.84.Both Foxcroft and Ashok were part of the New Zealand A squad that played two first-class matches against Australia A in Lincoln in April.”It’s always exciting to introduce new players to the BlackCaps environment and especially so when they’re on the younger side, as Adi and Dean are,” New Zealand coach Gary Stead said. “Dean’s been a really consistent performer domestically and that was acknowledged by the awards he picked up in March. He’s a talented and adaptable batter who also bowls useful offspin – so will add to our spinning stocks which is always valued in white-ball cricket.”Adi’s only in his second year of professional cricket, but we’ve been impressed with his consistency and attitude with the Aces and when he’s joined New Zealand A and the winter camps. With Ish Sodhi not on the UAE tour it’s an opportunity to develop our next legspinner.”Stead was also pleased with Jamieson’s return.”Kyle’s worked really hard and made great progress to be available for this tour and we’re delighted to see him return after such a challenging year,” he said. “We’re all aware of his world class skills and I know he’s really excited to get back with the group.”

Gaby Lewis carried her bat for the visitors with an unbeaten 95 off 121, but it went in vain

Hemant Brar02-Jul-2023Contrasting half-centuries from Stafanie Taylor and Chinelle Henry helped West Indies beat Ireland by six wickets in the third ODI in Gros Islet, and wrap up the series 2-0.Chasing a modest 204, West Indies were 94 for 4 around the halfway mark when Taylor and Henry joined hands. The pair added 110 in an unbroken fifth-wicket stand to take the side home with 8.5 overs to spare. For both batters, it was their second half-century in as many innings, and for Taylor, her 40th in ODIs.As a result, West Indies pocketed five points from the series – the second ODI was washed out – to improve their position on the Women’s Championship table. They now have seven points from nine games and are placed fifth. Ireland are still at the bottom with a solitary point from their nine outings.After opting to bat, Ireland kept losing wickets at regular intervals and were all out for 203 on the last ball of the innings. Gaby Lewis was the only one to show some fight and cross 20. Opening the innings, Lewis scored an unbeaten 95 off 121 balls, thus becoming the sixth batter in women’s ODIs to carry her bat.Having said that, Ireland were in a decent position at one stage. After Cherry-Ann Fraser dismissed Leah Paul for 2, Lewis and Orla Prendergast took the side to 44 for 1 in the ninth over. But then Fraser struck again, having Prendergast caught down the leg side for 16 off 17 balls. Following that, Afy Fletcher and Hayley Matthews reduced Ireland to 110 for 7 as the visitors lost six wickets for 66 runs.Lewis, though, was firm at one end. She was on 39 off 72 at one point, but with wickets tumbling around, she accelerated and scored 56 runs off her next 49 deliveries. That resulted in Ireland adding 43 and 50 for the eighth and ninth wickets, respectively, as Ava Canning (20) and Cara Murray (19) offered support to Lewis.Rain interrupted the match in the 30th over of Ireland’s innings and again in the fifth over of the West Indies’, but neither delay was long enough to cause any loss of overs.In the chase, West Indies lost openers Matthews and Zaida James cheaply and were 42 for 2 in the 14th over. It could have become 62 for 3 when Taylor hit a full toss from Murray straight to short midwicket but Sophie MacMahon grassed the chance.Taylor was on 18 at that point. She got another life on 29 when Murray dropped her at short fine leg off Laura Delany. The second reprieve was just after left-arm spinner Aimee Maguire had Rashada Williams stumped for 17. Maguire would dismiss Shemaine Campbelle in the same manner in her next over but that would be the last time Ireland would pick up a wicket in the game.Henry, who had smashed an unbeaten 53 off just 37 balls in the first ODI, was at it again. While Taylor took 85 balls to bring up her half-century, Henry reached there in just 53 deliveries.With the target just nine runs away, Taylor hit two fours and a single in three balls to seal the win.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Botafogo terá um estande na CBF EXPO, considerada a maior feira e congresso de futebol da América Latina. Além de participar dos paineis e palestras por meio de seus executivos, o Clube também terá um ponto interativo para relacionamento com os visitantes.

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+Parceiro do Botafogo, Molenbeek bate Grupo City e se torna o mais valioso da segunda divisão da Bélgica

O clube será representado por Thairo Arruda, diretor geral da SAF e um dos braços direitos de John Textor, proprietário do Alvinegro.

– É um evento estratégico para a SAF e interessante por apresentar o novo posicionamento do Botafogo no mercado nesse novo modelo de gestão. Estaremos presentes com um estande interativo, ativações de marketing e nos debates sobre o produto futebol – destacou Thairo.

O clube enxerga o evento como uma boa oportunidade de criar parcerias e conexões com empresas e outros executivos do continente.

Double-century stand with Luke Procter defies Lancashire attack at Old Trafford

Paul Edwards25-Jul-2023

Emilio Gay laid the foundation for Northants with 144•Getty Images

Sporting fashion is so contagious that every time a county has departed from cricket’s orthodoxy this season or sought to force the pace in a match, local commentators have sought to label it some variety of England’s current tactics. Lancashire have not been immune from this piffle – Chazball is a current favourite, even though Glen Chapple, their head coach, is about as funky as a saint’s sock-drawer. Nevertheless, even on a day when Northamptonshire enjoyed one of their best days of the Championship season, it should be noted that Jack Morley and Tom Hartley were bowling in tandem at 2.10pm this afternoon.It is rare enough for Lancashire to select two spinners for a first-class game but no one can remember the last time two twisters were operating together half an hour after lunch on the first day, certainly not at Old Trafford. That it should have been so was partly testament to the quality of a Test match wicket that was going to help the twirlers if anyone but today showed little deterioration on its fifth day of use and no ill-effects from 48 hours under cover. Principally, however, it showed how Lancashire’s marquee seamers, Tom Bailey and Will Williams, had been tamed by a slim opener from Bedford, Emilio Gay, whose classically correct strokeplay was to make our day memorable.By the time he was dismissed six overs before the close when attempting a tired drive at a ball from the excellent George Balderson, Gay had made 144, his fourth first-class century and one run short of his career-best. His languid drives between point and mid-on, mixed with secure defence, had also offered some confirmation of a talent that was blighted by a knee injury at the start of the season and then cursed by the worms of uncertainty that can slither into any cricketer’s head when he wonders if and when the next big innings is coming.So the impressive thing about Gay’s hundred today was that his batting reflected none of this self-doubt. Yes, he was to offer one chance, to Keaton Jennings at slip off Jack Morley when he’d made 60, but he took boundaries off both the new-ball bowlers and Balderson early in his innings and came into lunch unbeaten on 35 having played with the sort of care that threw the dismissals of his colleagues into shaming relief. Indeed, Gay had watched as Ricardo Vasconcelos and Justin Broad had both fallen to Balderson when they failed to execute well-chosen attacking strokes. Steven Croft at backward point and Morley at midwicket had gobbled up smart catches and Northamptonshire were 29 for 2. Ten overs later Sam Whiteman was stumped by Phil Salt off Morley when he came down the wicket to a ball that turned inside his drive. That left the visitors on 59 for 3 and we thought a familiar story was about to be told to travelling supporters tired of hearing the bloody tale.Instead, though, Gay was joined by his skipper, Luke Procter, who once plied his trade in these parts and has often reminded his old muckers of a talent they probably underestimated.True, Procter’s crouching stance at the wicket still recalls that of the ancient Private Godfrey in “The Test”, a cricket-themed episode of , and of course, Northamptonshire’s 35-year-old captain is becoming something of a veteran himself. Yet when his moons align, he remains a mightily effective cricketer, coming down the wicket to the spinners and transforming himself from an arthritic pensioner into a model of orthodoxyPerhaps more significantly here, however, he gave Gay precisely the sort of encouragement the 23-year-old needed as he progressed beyond fifty towards the century he would eventually dedicate to his recently deceased and much beloved Uncle Gladstone. The pair had put on 207 by the time Procter was pinned on the back foot for 75 by Will Williams, whose aggression and economy have been one of the features of a Lancashire season that has not been whelmed in triumph.All the same, elements of Gay and Procter’s achievement are unlikely to have prompted street parties in Wellingborough or Brackley. For example, this was only Northamptonshire’s third century partnership of the season and the pair’s achievement in batting through from lunch till tea gave the county their first wicketless session since May 2022. Jennings’ bowlers, meanwhile, can reflect that they allowed Northamptonshire to collect only their second and third batting bonus points of their year. But at least one more venerable and certainly more respectable landmark was reached. Gay and Procter’s 207-run stand is their county’s highest for the fourth wicket against Lancashire, beating the unbroken 158 put on by Mushtaq Mohammed and Jim Watts at Liverpool in 1972.But if this was an indifferent day for Lancashire’s cricketers, even less could be said for the county club or “Lancashire cricket” as some officials crassly like to compress it. All gates near the Metro station on Brian Statham Way were closed this morning, parking was limited and non-members were expected to sit square of the wicket, although this resulted in a group of splendidly stubborn souls invading A Stand and letting the devil take the consequences. Not for the first time, Lancashire’s arrangements for a first-class match at Emirates Old Trafford had been made with the Operations Team thinking what they could get away with rather than what supporters might reasonably require. An Ashes Test is a prized honour west of the Pennines but if the consequence of holding one is not giving a toss about the faithful folk who turn up through fat years and lean ones, loyal Lancastrians are entitled to be a tad thankful Australia will not play here again until 2031.

Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez was shown a straight red card in Argentina's feisty 1-1 draw with Colombia after kicking an opponent in the head.

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• Argentina held to 1-1 draw
• Fernandez shown straight red card
• Argentina equalised with 10 men

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Fernandez saw red in the second half after his attempt to control a bouncing ball saw make contact with Kevin Castano's head. He was subsequently shown a straight red card, as Castano required treatment due to blood being drawn, albeit his reactio was very dramatic.

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  Argentina were 1-0 down when Fernandez was sent off, after Luis Diaz scored a superb goal for Colombia, but without the midfielder, the World Cup holders fought back, as Thiago Almada equalised while a man down. Still, the fractious nature of the game was summed up by Lionel Messi's clash with James Rodriguez. Messi and Co. remain top of the World Cup qualifying group in South America, and are 10 points clear of both Ecuador and Brazil.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Argentina return to action in September against Venezuela and Ecuador, but Fernandez will be suspended. The midfielder could next be in action at the Club World Cup, with Chelsea kicking off their tournament against LAFC on June 16.

يعتقد ليفي كولويل قلب دفاع تشيلسي أن فريقه يملك القدرة على مواجهة أي فريق في كرة القدم العالمية قبل لقاء باريس سان جيرمان في نهائي كأس العالم للأندية.

ويستعد كولويل بجانب زملائه لمواجهة باريس سان جيرمان غدًا الأحد في تمام الساعة العاشرة مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، على ملعب ميتلايف، وسيصبح الفائز بطلاً لنسخة كأس العالم للأندية بالنظام الجديد.

أقرأ أيضاً.. إنريكي: ديمبلي الأفضل بإنجازاته لـ باريس سان جيرمان.. ولا أؤمن بالنجم الأوحد

وقال كولويل في تصريحات للموقع الرسمي لنادي تشيلسي :”نحن جميعاً متحمسون جداً للتأهل إلى النهائي، إنها بطولة ضخمة وأن نكون من أوائل المتأهلين للنهائيات، إنه أمر مذهل”.

وأضاف :”كان هذا هدفنا منذ بداية البطولة، إن وصولنا إلى هذه المرحلة إنجاز رائع، لكن الأمر لم ينته بعد، لم نأت إلى هنا لمجرد التأهل للنهائي بل جئنا للفوز، هذا ما نتطلع له جميعاً ونستعد له جيداً”.

وحول باريس سان جيرمان، فقد أشاد بهم كولويل قائلا :”هم فريق جيد جداً ونحترمهم لذلك، شاهدنا مباراتهم ضد ريال مدريد ورأينا مدى جودتهم، هي مباراة كرة قدم ونؤمن تماماً بأنفسنا لتجاوزها”.

وواصل :”هم فريق جيد حقاً في نصف النهائي لكن ريال مدريد مختلف تماماً عنا، نحن لسنا إنتر أو ريال مدريد وسنقدم شئ مختلفا، إنهم لا يضغطون مثلنا ولا يلعبون مثلنا، لا يمكنهم أن يتوقعوا منا أن نقدم لهم نفس الأداء، سنقدم أداء مختلفا”.

وتابع :”يجب احترام باريس لكن لن نغير أسلوب لعبنا، لدينا خطتنا وهويتنا وسنلتزم بها وسنقدم الأفضل، أسلوبنا ساعدنا في الوصول لهذه المرحلة لماذا نغيره الآن؟ نريد أن نؤمن بقدراتنا وقادرون على الفوز على أي فريق وسنستغل هذه الثقة”.

وختم كولويل :”تعلمنا الكثير في هذه البطولة وهذا هو أجمل ما في كرة القدم التنافسية، مباراة واحدة قادرة على تغيير كل شيء وسنكون واثقين جداً، نشعر وكأننا في قمة مستوانا في وقت رائع، قدمنا أداء قويا للغاية في نصف النهائي ونأمل أن يكون النهائي أفضل لكننا متحمسون جداً له، نهائي كأس العالم يتنافس فيه أفضل اللاعبين لذا نحن سعداء وهي مجرد مباراة ولا نخشى أي أحد”.

A “superb” Celtic player is reportedly the subject of a potential £3m bid from a club, as they look to sign him permanently in the summer transfer window.

Celtic pursuing summer signings

The Hoops were stung by last weekend’s 3-2 defeat at home to rivals Rangers in the Scottish Premiership, but there is no need for an overreaction. Brendan Rodgers’ side still look almost certain to be crowned champions yet again this season, as well as potentially winning both the Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup.

When the summer arrives, however, it is important that freshness is added to Celtic’s squad, as they look to become an even bigger force next season and beyond, especially in the Champions League. New signings are being linked with moves to Parkhead, which is a promising sign.

Mathias Kvistgaarden has been backed to join the Hoops numerous times in recent months, and they are reportedly continuing to pursue a move for the Brondby attacker. He has scored 11 goals in just 16 Danish Superliga starts this season, showing what a great addition he could be.

Meanwhile, a reunion with former Celtic centre-back Kristoffer Ajer has also been mooted, with Rodgers possibly looking to bring him back to the club from Premier League side Brentford. He would be a potential replacement for Cameron Carter-Vickers, should the American move on at the end of the season.

Club could bid £3m for Celtic defender who is open to exit

According to a new claim from AD [via The Daily Record], FC Twente are looking to make Gustaf Lagerbielke’s loan move from Celtic permanent this summer.

The 24-year-old joined the Eredivisie side on a temporary basis last summer, in order to enjoy more regular playing time, and a £3m bid has now been mooted. Lagerbielke appears to be keen on a permanent exit, recently saying: “I want to play and I feel very comfortable in Holland. I can definitely imagine a future there.”

Lagerbielke doesn’t appear to have a long-term future at Celtic, hence Rodgers’ decision to loan him out to Twente, so it makes sense for all parties to allow him to leave this summer.

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This is despite Rodgers speaking of his admiration for the Swede in the past, seemingly valuing him more after a 2-1 win over Feyenoord back in 2023, saying:

“It was a great moment for [Lagerbielke], because he hasn’t been involved in a lot of the squads, but his attitude in training has been superb and he’s always been ready. It was a really nice moment.”

Lagerbielke is still contracted to Celtic until the summer of 2028, which puts them in a strong bargaining position, and if Twente are willing to spend £3m on him, the Hoops could accept the bid.

Appearances

17

Starts

12

Minutes played

1226

Goals

1

Assists

1

Clearances per game

5.6

Aerial duel wins per game

2.8

Tackles per game

1.8

Admittedly, the defender is still a fairly young player, so there would be some risk in parting company with him, but with players like Ajer linked with summer moves to Celtic, it is hard to see how he is going to feature prominently moving forward.

Liverpool have a striking problem. It’s funny, in a way, that there is so much negative noise around Arne Slot’s frontline, top scorers in the Premier League and firm favourites to lift the title by May.

But the hard truth is such concerns carry substance. Liverpool have tapered off in recent weeks, no longer playing the slick and dizzying football in the early months of the campaign, when teams of all shapes and sizes were put to the sword.

In the end, Liverpool were well beaten by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final. And that’s okay. It’s football.

But Slot and FSG know where they can improve next season. Anfield’s commanding lead at the top of the table is great enough to be called unassailable, but the frontline will still need to be chopped and changed during the off-season, for sure.

What's going on at number nine for Liverpool

Below, you’re going to see a rather concerning table. It tells the tale of Liverpool’s attacking success since the turn of the calendar year, with Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo the only two who can hold their heads high as far as goal threat is concerned.

Liverpool’s Frontline in 2025 (all comps)
#	Apps (starts)	Goals	Assists
Mohamed Salah	17 (17)	12	5
Cody Gakpo	13 (9)	5	1
Luis Diaz	18 (15)	1	2
Diogo Jota	14 (9)	2	1
Darwin Nunez	16 (4)	3	4
Federico Chiesa	5 (2)	2	1
Data via Transfermarkt

Luis Diaz has only scored one goal across his past 18 matches, Diogo Jota just two – one of which came against Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup.

Then there’s Darwin Nunez, who remains an unsolvable conundrum. He’s actually registered more goal involvements than everyone bar Salah in 2025, but the 25-year-old still flatters to deceive through the bulk of his time at Liverpool.

He came close to signing for Saudi club Al-Nassr in January, and while this didn’t come to fruition, the reliably informed Fabrizio Romano has confirmed the expectation is the Uruguayan will be sold at the end of the season.

Who to bring in his place? Well, Alexander Isak is the name on everyone’s lips, having dazzled for Newcastle this season. The Sweden striker has posted 23 goals and five assists across 32 matches in 2024/25, netting as Eddie Howe’s side beat Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final.

The Athletic’s David Ornstein has confirmed Liverpool are in the running, but at a reported £150m asking price (or even more), it’s not going to be an easy deal to engineer, and FSG’s frugal chiefs appear to be swivelling their heads elsewhere.

So then, without any further ado, let’s take a look at the first-rate centre-forward who may grace Slot’s exciting project this summer.

England star wants to sign for Liverpool

According to Spanish reports, Liverpool have been monitoring Harry Kane’s situation at Bayern Munich, aware that the all-inspiring England captain has an attractive release clause in his contract, active from January 2026.

It’s thought Kane is considering a return to the Premier League and his ‘preferred destination’ is Anfield, which makes sense when considering FSG’s desire to sign a new striker.

Perhaps the most complete number nine in the business, the 31-year-old would be an incredible addition to Slot’s line-up and might just be the best signing sporting director Richard Hughes could make.

How Harry Kane compares to Alexander Isak

Kane may be 31, but exceptions can surely be made for the most incredible of world-class talents. Take Thiago Alcantara, for example, who joined the Reds from Bayern Munich (would you look at that) for £20m aged 29 in 2020, strengthening Jurgen Klopp’s Premier League-winning squad.

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

The Three Lions skipper has never been reliant on his speed either and could thrive as an elite player on the European scene for years yet to come.

The bulk of Kane’s career came in north London, but he hasn’t exactly been shabby in the two campaigns since leaving Tottenham Hotspur. At Bayern, Kane has scored 76 goals and supplied 25 assists across 82 matches.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 1% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goals scored, the top 10% for assists, the top 19% for shot-creating actions and the top 7% for progressive carries per 90.

Kane might be one of the deadliest finishers in the business, but he’s certainly no one-trick pony. Creative, dynamic and a tenacious leader, he embodies Slot’s virtues and would be the perfect central talisman as he chases down the record goals haul in the Premier League alongside teammate Salah.

Premier League All-time Top Scorers
#	Player	Apps	Goals	Strike rate
1	Alan Shearer	441	260	0.59
2	Harry Kane	320	213	0.67
3	Wayne Rooney	491	208	0.42
4	Andy Cole	414	187	0.45
5	Sergio Aguero	275	184	0.67
5=	Mohamed Salah	292	184	0.63
Source: Premier League

Comparatively, Isak’s prowess stems from his athleticism, pace and multi-layered approach to the striking game, but he’s not as complete as Kane. Ange Postecoglou has even called the veteran a “generational player,” and he’s probably got that one about right.

Further to that point, following Kane’s dominant Champions League performance against Bayer Leverkusen, trouncing their Bundesliga rivals, journalist Matt Law hailed him as “the best striker in the world.”

Isak’s haul of 23 goals this season is impressive stuff, but it’s not on par with Kane’s 32-goal haul, whose creativity also knows no bounds and would make considerable success regarding Anfield’s overall attacking fluency.

Just imagine, were Kane in the middle of the line instead of, say, Nunez, Slot wouldn’t just wield a deadly goalscorer but a player who could elevate each of those around him, lessening Salah’s burden to no end.

If there is an inkling of a chance that FSG can get this one over the line, they must pounce on the opportunity and spark a new illustrious era on Merseyside.

Liverpool starlet was once ahead of Trent, then Klopp sold him for just £3m

This former Liverpool player is only 27 but is currently out of a job.

By
Angus Sinclair

Mar 22, 2025

The veteran Pakistan fast bowler will continue playing franchise cricket

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Aug-2023Pakistan fast bowler Wahab Riaz has announced his retirement from international cricket, officially ending a 15-year career for his country. In reality, the announcement is a formality, as Wahab has not played an international match for Pakistan in over two years, last appearing in a couple of white-ball games at the end of 2020.As is the norm now, he will continue playing franchise cricket.”I have been speaking about my retirement plans past two years, that 2023 is my target to retire from International cricket, and I feel comfortable now more than ever that I have served my country and National team to the best I could have,” Wahab said in a press statement. “It has been an honor and a privilege to represent Pakistan on the international stage. As I bid farewell to this chapter, I am thrilled to embark on a new adventure in franchise cricket, where I hope to entertain and inspire audiences while competing against some of the best talents in the world.”Wahab’s career has taken an unexpected turn of late, after he was named the caretaker sports minister of Pakistan’s Punjab province in January this year.

Stepping off the international pitch

After an incredible journey, I've decided to retire from international cricket. Big thank you to PCB, my family, coaches, mentors, teammates, fans, and everyone who supported me.

Exciting times ahead in the world of franchise…

— Wahab Riaz (@WahabViki) August 16, 2023

The announcement brought to an end a prominent career that never quite hit the sustained heights that had been expected of it at various times. Those expectations were high after a Test debut in 2010 in which he played a starring role in Pakistan’s four-wicket triumph at The Oval against England, on an otherwise ill-fated tour. Wahab’s pace, bounce and angle away produced a five-wicket turn in his first innings, including the dismissals of a formidable England top order of Andrew Strauss, Jonathan Trott and Kevin Pietersen.Such was the tumult of that tour that less than a month later, he was being questioned by Scotland Yard around the spot-fixing allegations that saw three of his team-mates receive long bans and serve time in prison. Wahab was never accused of any wrongdoing, or charged with any indiscretion, however.There would be other highs in that period, notably a five-wicket haul – this time in a losing cause – against India in Mohali, in the 2011 World Cup semi-final. By that time, his effectiveness in white-ball cricket was overtaking his red-ball skills, especially in a Test side led by Misbah-ul-Haq that prized spin and control more than Wahab’s fiery but often erratic bursts. His bad days could be really bad: he conceded 50 off just four overs in an Asia Cup ODI against India in 2012 and was dropped from the side, and when he returned, a year later against South Africa, he had figures of 10-0-93-2.He returned to the Test side in 2014, brought back by then coach Waqar Younis, who wanted an X-factor in his attack. Mitchell Johnson had run through England in the Ashes the preceding winter and in Wahab’s slingy left-arm action and extreme pace, Waqar saw a weapon. It worked for a while, too. He was immense in Colombo, taking six wickets on a slow, low pitch and generating good heat, especially with his bouncers.Related

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That was the start of his most productive and consistent time with the national side, though it is perhaps appropriate that his best-remembered spell was one that ended in a defeat to Australia in the 2015 ODI World Cup in Adelaide. That was his electric duel with Shane Watson, in which he did everything to Watson except take his wicket – though even that could have happened had Rahat Ali not dropped a sitter at deep square-leg.Later that year, however, Wahab played a key part in a Test win against England in Dubai, a searing spell of reverse swing in extreme heat turning the game Pakistan’s way. England were useful opponents – another Wahab intervention at The Oval in 2016 helped secure Pakistan a famous series-levelling win that took them to the top of the Test rankings. It was a typical Wahab spell that turned the game: pace, issues with no-balls, but two moments in two balls of genuine quality, the first an athletic run-out off his own bowling of Chris Woakes and then, next ball, sending back Jonny Bairstow. Not long after, he was out of the attack by the umpires, having followed-through on to the pitch once too often.His international career continued for another couple of years and with some highlights: a second Test five-for in Sharjah, a four-wicket haul in Brisbane (in an otherwise disastrous series for Pakistan’s bowlers, he stood out in Australia) and another short, sharp burst against Sri Lanka in Dubai in what was, eventually, his penultimate Test. He took four wickets in nine overs to help skittle Sri Lanka for 96 and bring Pakistan back into the game, but an equal highlight from the Test was him losing his run-up entirely and aborting his approach five consecutive times in one over in the first innings.He has since forged a solid T20 career, most notably with Peshawar Zalmi in the PSL. He ended with 27 Tests, 91 ODIs and 36 T20Is for Pakistan, taking 83 Test wickets at an average of 34.50, 120 in ODIs at 34.30 and 34 T20I wickets at 28.55, numbers which do not capture the impact he was often capable of making.