All posts by h716a5.icu

There's bad news for MLB teams that lost Game 1 of their wild-card series on Tuesday. Based on past results, it's unlikely that they'll come back to win the series.

As USA Today's Bob Nightengale noted, since MLB moved to its current postseason format in 2022, there have been 12 wild-card series. Ten of those 12 series have ended in sweeps. In addition to that, no team that lost the first game has wound up advancing to the next round.

That's really bad news for the Guardians, Padres, Yankees, and Reds, who all lost the opening games of their respective matchups on Tuesday. All head into Wednesday facing elimination, and the numbers suggest they'll all wind up on vacation soon.

The only teams to force a third game under the current format were the Mets in 2022 and the Brewers in 2024.

The 2022 Mets were hosting the Padres at Citi Field, but lost the opener of the series 7-1. They won Game 2 7-3, but lost Game 3 6-0 in the infamous Joe Musgrove ear game.

Last season, the Brewers lost Game 1 of their wild-card series against the Mets 8-4 at American Family Field. They bounced back in Game 2 to win 5-3, but New York bested Milwaukee 4-2 in Game 3.

We'll see if any of the trailing teams can reverse the trend this year.

Varun and Kuldeep shared six wickets in the final against Pakistan, before Sanju Samson steadied India’s chase

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Sep-20253:23

‘Clueless batting from Pakistan’

Varun: “Yeah, I feel great. Definitely, at that time, I was going for the wickets, and Fakhar [Zaman] and Sahibzada Farhan were going well. Yes, I had done some plans, and it worked out and the way Kuldeep came and finished – yeah, it gave me memories of KKR, when we were playing together. He’s always a star. He’s the best one of the best spinners.”If you see the trend in the last few matches, [in] the first ten overs, everyone is going berserk if they don’t lose wickets. After that, we knew that if we bowl on the right space, and [on the] right line and length, we can curtail them. And obviously, I would like to mention Hari [team analyst]. He’s a guy who’s done a lot of work behind the scenes, and due credit to him also.”Kuldeep: “Of course, it’s very important to bowl [well] in the middle overs. And, of course, me, Varun and Axar playing together is obviously a luxury to have. Everyone has a different role, so obviously they started really well, after 10-11 overs, they were like 100 for 1. We knew that if we get a couple of early wickets; probably not early, but after ten overs, we got a couple of wickets from him [Varun]. Obviously, it’s not going be easy for [a] new batter to come and score runs easily. Obviously, when I was bowling in the fourth over, I was looking to get them out.”Before the game, he [Hari] just sent the screenshot of the lengths of the lengths where we’re going to bowl to the batters. Especially, big thanks to Hari, and obviously [a] masterclass from Tilak – he was unbelievable today.”Sanju Samson: “Yeah, I really enjoyed the pressure actually. I have not played many India-Pakistan games, but today, I think the pressure was all over there. Three wickets down in the powerplay, so I just had to use my experience, calm the nerves down, and just watch the ball and react. That’s what I did, and it came off nicely. I think I had a really good partnership with Tilak, and really enjoyed playing the game today.”As you all know that the game dictates what type of cricket you need to play, and according to the conditions, you have to respect the conditions, you have to respect the situation. I think that’s what we have learned. Years and years of IPL, years and years of cricket, and that’s what cricket has taught us. So I just had to go out there and then look to time the ball, and that’s what really helped me.”Closer ones [games] are really good. That’s when your characters are being tested and that’s when you also get to test your own mental abilities. So I think that’s a really good awareness which we had just before the World Cup. I think this game was really crucial. Some of these knockout games do actually prepare us for the big games coming a few months ago [later]. And you’ve made some potent contributions.”Shubman Gill: “[Feels] pretty amazing. The whole tournament unbeaten, so it feels pretty amazing to be here in this position. Pretty amazing [to play with Abhishek Sharma]. We have played almost all our cricket together, and I think we know each other pretty much inside out, and it’s amazing to be able to bat with him. The way he bats, [he] takes off the pressure off the non-striker, whosoever is there, and he’s been phenomenal this tournament.”The conversation was to take it as deep as possible. The target wasn’t much, but it was important to soak in the pressure in the start. Losing three wickets early, [it’s] never easy, but I think the way first the partnership for us with Sanju and Tilak, how they batted, and then how Dube came in and hit those big sixes for us was very important.”[In the] final, playing against them, 30 runs in three overs, there wasn’t much panic, but the game can go both ways. You have seen, especially on a slow kind of a wicket, the boundaries are big here, so you really need to connect to be able to get those sixes and, like I said, the way both of them batted, first soaking in the pressure and then got the balls in the zone and they made sure that they hit it out of the park.”

Captain Ronald Araujo has been granted indefinite leave by Barcelona following a request for a period of absence. The Uruguay international's representatives held discussions with club sporting director Deco on Monday after the defender was not part of the matchday squad for Saturday's 3-1 La Liga victory over Alaves at Spotify Camp Nou.

Araujo was sent off in Barcelona's Champions League loss at Chelsea

After being sent off in Barcelona’s 3-0 defeat against Chelsea in the Champions League last Tuesday, Araujo was absent as his side secured a victory over Alaves which sent them top of La Liga. 

A double from Dani Olmo and a strike from Lamine Yamal helped Hansi Flick’s side rise to the summit ahead of Real Madrid, who stayed in second place after drawing 1-1 with Girona on Sunday. With Araujo missing, left-back Gerard Martin had to step into the centre of defence alongside youngster Pau Cubarsi.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportReport states Spanish giants have granted defender's request for absence

And according to Araujo has now been allowed to take a break following a request from his agents. The report states Barcelona chief Deco granted the 28-year-old’s wish to step away from football as the club remain committed to giving him the time he needs to recover.

Spanish publication reported earlier on Monday that Araujo lodged the request because he does not believe he can deliver for Barcelona at the moment. The report added the centre-back feared he would “hurt” the team if he tried to force himself to play.

While refusing to go into detail as to why Araujo requested a period of absence, Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick said ahead of Tuesday’s clash with Atletico Madrid: “It is a private situation, I don’t want to say more. And please, if you can respect it I’d appreciate it.”

Barcelona president Laporta says Araujo has been treated unfairly of late

Flick’s comments came after Barcelona president Joan Laporta said Araujo had been treated unfairly in recent weeks and that the club were “behind him”.

Speaking at an event in Andorra on Friday, Laporta said: “He has been heavily criticised, and I don’t think that’s fair. He gives his all on the pitch, he’s our captain, and now he needs to get through this difficult period because he’s a very emotional person with strong feelings.

“He’s had a tough time, and I want to tell him that we’re behind him, that he needs to turn the page because here we all win and we all lose, and no one person is responsible for defeats or victories.”

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AFPBarcelona boss Flick expecting tough test against 'fantastic' Atletico

Barcelona are gearing up for a highly-anticipated fixture with Atletico in what will be just their third match at the renovated Camp Nou, following the earlier games against Athletic Club and Alaves. While the reigning champions are hoping to secure a win which would keep them above fierce rivals Real – who travel to Athletic on Wednesday – Diego Simeone’s Atletico should provide a strong test for Flick’s men.

Currently fourth in the table, Los Rojiblancos could go level on points with Barcelona with a victory at Camp Nou. Simeone’s side have lost just one of their 14 league matches in 2025-26, winning nine and drawing four.

Previewing the fixture, Barcelona boss Flick said: "We know we are up against a fantastic team with a lot of quality, one of the best in Europe with one of the best coaches. For that reason it will be a tough encounter.

"We are back at the top and we are happy about that, it's where we want to be but the important thing is to stay there until the end of the season. We have to keep working hard and give our best. We are leaders but at the moment we are not at our best. We need to move forward to to get back playing our best football.

“I think we are committing too many mistakes, despite having the quality to control matches. It's something we have missed in recent matches but we can do it and we are working towards that.”

The India fast bowler, who has the raw materials to succeed in Test cricket, is working on his control

Sidharth Monga28-Jun-20252:01

How will India work their bowling options for Edgbaston?

At Headingley, Prasidh Krishna became the first bowler in Test cricket to go at more than a run a ball in both the innings (minimum 15 overs bowled in each innings). He also registered the highest match economy for an India Test bowler. It in part contributed to India becoming the first team in first-class cricket to lose after scoring five hundreds in the match.It is not difficult to see why Prasidh didn’t get the desired results in Leeds. In the first innings, he bowled just 24 balls in the 6-8m good length band, one in five balls. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj bowled half their deliveries on a good length. His economy when he pitched there was 3.75.Instead he kept veering into short of a good length: 51 balls in 8-10m band for 53 runs and a wicket and 17 balls in 10-12m zone for 34 runs and no wicket. The first of these is just the limited-overs hard length, which is used as a defensive ploy with defensive fields. At Headingley, it just got hammered. The latter is a short ball, but not like you mean it. It didn’t quite rise to the shoulder. When he went to the proper bouncer, in the 12-14m zone, Prasidh drew the results: two wickets of set batters in 11 balls.It made for frustrating viewing because you know Prasidh has the ingredients to be a Test bowler. He has the highest release among the India bowlers, giving him the best chance to draw seam movement and disconcerting bounce. He is not express, but an average pace of 136.54 kph can be harnessed through accuracy. He did crank it up to 147.46 kph at one point.Prasidh made improvements in the second innings, bowling half his deliveries in the 6-8m band for one wicket and an economy of 4.93. He looked more threatening than in the first innings, but by now the pitch had lost its juice and it wasn’t deteriorating either. Still Prasidh has to find a way to not concede so many runs: be it get better on the line or work with his fields or come up with better plans for specific batters.Prasidh Krishna is still very new to Test cricket and has the attributes to find success•Getty ImagesIt is easy to forget this was just his fourth Test but Prasidh is not hiding behind any excuses. “If I look at the first innings, I was a little too short than where I wanted to be,” he said. “Definitely 6-8[m] is ideal. That’s what I would say. I think second innings it got slightly better, but because again the wicket was slightly slower, I had to pitch a few slightly behind it and then go slightly fuller when I’m trying to get a wicket. So, yeah, I definitely did not bowl the lengths that I wanted to.”There were other factors at play. “Not wanting to float it up there is definitely one of the reasons,” Prasidh said. “And also, it honestly took me some time to get used to the slope that side. But I should be able to do it as a professional. I take complete responsibility about it, and then maybe I do it better next time.”It could be noticed in the nets that bowling coach Morne Morkel and Prasidh are working at getting the default length slightly fuller without actually floating the ball up. Ishant Sharma, another tall fast bowler, had similar issues until he worked with Jason Gillespie at Sussex. Gillespie made him move away the traditional practice of hitting the cones on the pitch. He asked Ishant to forget the pitch but try to hit the knee roll on the batters’ pads as hard as he could. That is something Prasidh could perhaps look at doing.The processes can go on, but the economy can’t be this high. Prasidh needs to be able to exert better control on the flow of runs. “I had a few conversations with a few of them about this particular match,” he said. “I definitely would want to bring that down to whatever best I can do. I think I’m learning as well. It’s up to me. It’s my responsibility to get better, and that’s what I’m trying. That’s what I’m working on, and I just want to make sure I put in the right kind of work and come back here and put up better numbers.”Coach Gautam Gambhir supported Prasidh wholeheartedly minutes after the Headingley defeat. He pointed out to his lack of experience, but said he had all the ingredients to become a good Test bowler. The challenge won’t get easier: Bazball pitches will remain flat, Bazballers will continue trying to dominate him, and he won’t even have Jasprit Bumrah for two of the remaining Tests. It is up to Prasidh now to find a way to hit those good lengths without floating the ball. The rest can only flow from there.

Thomas Frank’s appointment at Tottenham Hotspur has seen a new era begin at the football club, with the Dane tasked with taking the side to the next level under his guidance.

The 52-year-old has already formed numerous impressive partnerships across the first-team squad, with centre-backs Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero nailing their places down as regular starters.

The duo have started all but three league games together in 2025/26, with the pair no doubt playing a crucial role in the Lilywhites’ away record – which is the joint-best in the division at present.

Spurs’ latest fixture against PSG saw Frank unleash a midfield duo of Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray, an opportunity which both players took full advantage of, potentially making them the manager’s long-term pairing at the heart of the side.

However, the Dane will no doubt be wishing that he could rely upon a couple of players who set the Premier League alight during their period together in North London.

The success of Kane & Son’s partnership at Spurs

Back in the summer of 2015, Spurs completed the £23m signature of winger Heung-min Son from Bayer Leverkusen – subsequently arriving as an unknown quantity to many supporters.

Such a move came at around the same time as academy striker Harry Kane was making his mark in the first-team ranks after various loan spells across the Football League.

However, not many people could have foreseen the impact they would have alongside one another, with such a partnership being one of, if not, the best, in England’s top-flight.

The pair linked up for 47 goals between one another – the most of any duo in the division’s history – with many of which handing the fans memories to last a lifetime.

A two-year spell between 2020 and 2022 was by far and away their most successful, as the duo linked up on 21 separate occasions for goals – a simply staggering feat.

One game will no doubt stand out, as Kane registered all four assists for Son in the 5-2 demolition of Southampton back in 2020/21 – with such a record putting the Englishman joint-top for most assists in a single English league game.

However, in 2025, Frank is unable to rely upon either of the aforementioned talents, with both moving on to pastures new over the last two years – undoubtedly leaving a huge hole in the Lilywhites’ attack.

The Spurs duo who are becoming Frank’s own Son & Kane

During his time as a manager, Frank has not been alien to iconic duos at the top end of the pitch, with the Dane fortunate to work with multiple elite attackers at Brentford.

In the Championship years and the first few seasons in the Premier League, he was able to rely upon the likes of Ivan Toney and Bryan Mbeumo at the GTEC.

The pair scored 29 combined goals back in 2022/23, 11 goals shy of the tally produced by Kane and Son, but still managed to cement themselves as one of the division’s most threatening pairs.

In the present day, the Spurs boss has none of those players at his disposal in North London, but the Lilywhites hierarchy have handed him the opportunity to improve the options in his current squad.

He took full advantage during the summer window, splashing a reported £55m on the signature of winger Mohammed Kudus from fellow Premier League side West Ham United.

Such a fee will have raised eyebrows, but the Ghanaian international has already made an immediate impact in North London after his controversial transfer.

He’s already managed to register four assists in the Premier League to date, with such a tally putting him joint-top in the division alongside the likes of Jack Grealish and Yankuba Minteh.

The numbers produced by Kudus are similar to Son’s, leading to similarities being drawn due to their ability to create endless opportunities for their teammates in North London.

Their playstyles are also extremely similar, with both talents loving to take on their opponents, before cutting off their respective flanks and getting shots off on goal.

Games played

11

Goals & assists

5

Pass accuracy

87%

Successful crosses

1.8

Successful dribbles

3.3

Dribble success

48%

Chances created

1.5

Duels won

7.1

The other half of Frank’s duo at the top end of the pitch is made up by loanee Randal Kolo Muani, who joined the Lilywhites on a season-long loan from PSG.

The striker has often had to bide his time to regular minutes since his switch, as Richarlison has often been ahead of him in the pecking order, or he’s been sidelined with fitness issues.

However, his showing against his parent side on Wednesday night highlighted his impressive ability within the final third when given an opportunity to thrive.

The 26-year-old netted twice and registered an assist in the 5-3 defeat in the Champions League, but his clinical finishes certainly did show glimpses of what Kane produced in North London.

The pair, who earn a combined £300k-per-week at Spurs, will need time to gel and form a deadly partnership, but the early signs appear positive for the individuals.

If they can click together in the near future, there’s no reason why they can’t star together in the remainder of 2025/26 and potentially lead Frank to a successful first season at the helm.

Romero upgrade: Spurs "ready to make" £35m bid for "world-class" defender

Tottenham Hotspur look set to make a huge January move for a new centre-back.

1 ByEthan Lamb Nov 28, 2025

Every member of the Dodgers bullpen was put on notice Monday night when K-Pop star V from the blockbuster boy band BTS threw a surprisingly epic first pitch at Los Angeles's game vs. the Reds.

The left-handed pitch—which was deemed a strike—sent stan Twitter (as it is still colloquially known) into a frenzy, as surprised Dodgers fans, meanwhile, called on the front office to sign him.

MLB's initial post has an eye-watering 72,000 retweets. That's the power of the BTS Army, baby.

Take a look at that reaction below:

Leeds United desperately need to pick up form in the Premier League or risk being pushed deeper into the relegation mix in the unforgiving division.

Indeed, looking back at the Whites’ recent fortunes, it’s been four defeats from their last five clashes in the intense league, which has left Daniel Farke walking a very fine tightrope in terms of keeping his job post.

For the moment, though, he has kept his employment, even as whispers emerge that an out-of-work Brendan Rodgers is in line to replace the under-fire German.

He will have to make some crunch selection decisions moving forward to continue to hold onto his spot in the Elland Road dug-out, with Jaka Bijol surely one presence who will be dropped as his relegation-threatened outfit do battle with Aston Villa this coming Saturday.

Bijol's woes for club and country

The Slovenian would have hoped that a breather with Slovenia during the international break would be able to distract him from the misery being served up in West Yorkshire.

Across his last two starts back on English soil, the former Udinese defender would give up six goals to both Brighton and Hove Albion and Nottingham Forest in porous showings, with just one tackle won on the road at the Seagulls and the Tricky Trees.

Unfortunately for the 6-foot-3 centre-back, who was once hailed as an “absolute rock” for his nation by European football expert Zach Lowy, no such respite would arrive.

Instead, Bijol’s domestic horrors would follow him to the international stage, as Kosovo got the better of his nation 2-0 to rip up their hopes of World Cup qualification.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Bijol even came out after the 2-0 defeat to lament the loss as a “painful” one to take, with Farke likely now even more willing to drop him for the test of Villa up next, with Unai Emery and Co no doubt wanting to prey on his frail nature, having put four goals past a usually formidable AFC Bournemouth just before the break.

The real question remains – who would come into the side to replace the shaky £15m recruit? Pascal Struijk feels like the obvious candidate, owing to his long-standing Premier League experience, which saw him win a commanding 12 duels against Burnley back in October.

Yet, the Dutchman has only featured in one league win for the Whites this season, which might well alarm Farke as he desperately hunts down all the victories he can get, with a left-field option perhaps taking his fancy more.

Leeds' surprise Bijol replacement

Farke could be prepared to be more risky with his team selections in the near future, as he scrambles to find whatever winning formula is out there.

Starting some promising Leeds youngsters could well be a viable option, as he attempts to instil some fresh blood into his tired set-up.

Alfie Cresswell is perhaps one U21s regular now deserving of some senior minutes, ahead of a declining Bijol.

After all, last season, Cresswell picked up the U21s Player of the Season accolade for his strong defensive performances, with the ex-Norwich City manager also going out of his way recently to label the young captain as a “very talented” gem to keep around for the future.

With seven goals also under his belt at U21 level for the West Yorkshire giants, he would surely complement Joe Rodon well at the back, who has remained in the good books with two league strikes himself.

Games played

36

Minutes played

3,066 mins

Goals scored

7

Assists

2

Tipped to only get “stronger and stronger” in the Thorp Arch youth system by player agent Hayden Evans, it could be deemed a surprise that Cresswell hasn’t been utilised at all in the senior picture yet, knowing Farke’s previous successes in this department with the likes of Archie Gray.

Gray sorted out the Whites during the 2023/24 season when they were short on options in the right-back spot, and with Cresswell also being well accustomed to lining up as a defensive midfielder and as a full-back for the U21s, he would be a worthwhile presence to have around in the current bleak camp, away from just being tipped to oust Bijol.

While Cresswell continues to earn rave reviews, Bijol has failed to settle in England and was noted by Slovenian outlet RTV SLO for contributing to a Slovenia defeat against Kosovo, where “everything went wrong.”

For Farke’s job security, he should ditch the former Serie A titan for the test of Villa, with Cresswell in line for some senior opportunities shortly.

Leeds and 49ers keen to sign Troy Parrott in January after Ireland heroics

This would be much-needed for Daniel Farke.

ByHenry Jackson Nov 17, 2025

Afghanistan will be particularly concerned by the form of Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who endured a rough week in the recently-concluded tri-series

Danyal Rasool08-Sep-20254:10

What was the biggest turning point in Rashid Khan’s career?

Big picture: First of three big tasks for Hong KongMeasured by eyeballs, this is the largest non-ICC international tournament cricket has to offer, even if an opener between Afghanistan and Hong Kong doesn’t help make the case for that argument. But in a tight format, there is little bloat, and Hong Kong have the misfortune of being grouped with three legitimate contenders for the trophy.They have played 16 T20Is this year, but nothing that comes close to the sharp uptick in quality they will need to reckon with in a group that also includes Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. They got to the UAE almost three weeks in advance, and booked themselves four warm-up games to get into tune ahead of the tournament: a pair against Oman, as well as two against local club sides. That they split the fixtures with each opposition is perhaps suggestive of their level, as well as the task that lies ahead of them against last year’s T20 World Cup semi-finalists.Related

Back-to-back games plus travel 'not ideal' – Asalanka, Rashid on gruelling schedules

Kaushal Silva on coaching Hong Kong: 'No one is going to hand us anything'

'Maybe I have something…' – the phenomenal rise of Noor Ahmad

Stats – Nawaz sets new benchmarks as Afghanistan sink to record low

Asia Cup 2025: Politics, passion and a stage for new rivalries

However, there may not be a better time for Hong Kong to play Rashid Khan’s men. The fixture comes just two days after Afghanistan suffered a bruising defeat in the tri-series final against Pakistan, their batters looking totally ill-equipped against Pakistan’s spinners on a turning track in Sharjah. The emotional toll of that defeat, as well as the quick turnaround, offers Hong Kong a potential opportunity to catch Afghanistan out in Abu Dhabi.Realistically, though, that possibility is remote. Afghanistan are among the best sides in these conditions, and have a win over Pakistan as well as two against UAE from the tri-series under their belt. They boast a well-rounded bowling attack, as well as a batting lineup that combines destructiveness with a more classical poise. They demonstrated their strength in depth by rotating half the side against UAE in a dead rubber before the tri-series final, and still ended up winning. The shorter format and the timing may give Hong Kong the feeling they have a chance, but victory would still make this the greatest upset in Asia Cup history.Form guideAfghanistan: LWWWL
Hong Kong: LWWLW15:43

Can Afghanistan make the final of the Asia Cup?

In the spotlight: Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Hong Kong’s openersAfghanistan’s highest profile players are invariably the bowlers, but Rahmanullah Gurbaz bucks that trend. However, Afghanistan’s biggest batting superstar endured a rough week in the recent tri-series, scoring just 98 runs at under 110, 40 of which came in a dead rubber against UAE. The impact of his early dismissals has been somewhat mitigated by the remarkable consistency of Ibrahim Zadran and Sediqullah Atal, but none have the explosiveness Gurbaz does when in full flow. Simply put, Afghanistan won’t make a deep run without his impact, and a game against Hong Kong represents an ideal opportunity to blast his way back to form.If Afghanistan’s opener has hit a dry patch, that certainly can’t be said for his Hong Kong counterparts Zeeshan Ali and Anshuman Rath. Far and away Hong Kong’s two leading run-scorers, they have demonstrated themselves to be consistent as well as dynamic, with strike rates hovering in the mid 140s. Both boast T20I hundreds this year, while Rath’s consistency, in particular, has made Hong Kong especially dependent on his runs. He has scored a further five half-centuries, and averages just under 50 for the year, the standout innings an unbeaten 59-ball 100 in a mauling of Singapore. Hong Kong need a fast start, and in that department at least, their openers have a track record of taking care of business.Team newsSince reintroducing Noor Ahmad into their side, Afghanistan have favoured the extra spinner. Expect a similar team to the one that played Pakistan in the final.Afghanistan (possible): 1 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 2 Ibrahim Zadran, 3 Sediqullah Atal, 4 Darwish Rasooli, 5 Karim Janat, 6 Azmatullah Omarzai, 7 Rashid Khan (capt), 8 Mohammad Nabi, 9 AM Ghazanfar, 10 Noor Ahmad, 11 Fazalhaq FarooqiHong Kong (possible): 1 Anshuman Rath, 2 Zeeshan Ali (wk), 3 Babar Hayat, 4 Nizakat Khan, 5 Matthew Coetzee, 6 Yasim Murtaza (capt), 7 Ehsan Khan, 8 Aizaz Khan, 9 Ateeq Iqbal, 10 Nasrulla Rana, 11 Ayush ShuklaNoor Ahmad and Afghanistan will be expected to be a formidable force in familiar Abu Dhabi conditions•AFP/Getty ImagesPitch and conditionsAbu Dhabi is considered slightly less conducive to spin than Dubai, which may dull Afghanistan’s edge marginally. It is expected to be warm and humid in the evening, as is routine in the UAE this time of year.Stats and trivia In 21 years of their presence in the Asia Cup, Hong Kong have lost all 11 matches they have played. Afghanistan have a better T20I record in Abu Dhabi – the venue of the match – than at any other ground in the UAE, winning 11 and losing 5. However, they lost their only match against Hong Kong at this venue, in 2015.

Continuing his excellent season, he picked up a hat-trick to reduce Meghalaya to 2 for 6 in a must-win game for Mumbai

Vishal Dikshit30-Jan-2025Shardul Thakur has a tendency to surprise you. With his batting, his bowling, and sometimes even with his words. Ask Ian Bishop, who asked Thakur on live broadcast before a 2023 World Cup game how he bowled the wobble-seam delivery. Thakur answer was, “I don’t know. I just hold it like this [seam-up] and bowl. [I] don’t do much, whatever happens happens.”In the last week or so, his all-round performances have surprised everyone yet again. Despite all the limelight on bigger stars returning to domestic cricket, Thakur has overshadowed them with both bat and ball.The most recent of those came on a hazy Thursday morning in Mumbai. In a must-win game against Meghalaya to make the knockouts of the Ranji Trophy, the pre-match talk was centred around Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shreyas Iyer skipping this round for Mumbai. The attention had shifted to Delhi, where a last-minute plan was hatched to broadcast Virat Kohli’s comeback to domestic cricket.Related

Rohit, Jaiswal, Iyer to miss Mumbai's must-win game

Rahane, Pujara near tons; Tamil Nadu's season on the line

Another day, another audacious rescue act by Shardul Thakur

Shardul Thakur on his rescue act: 'I like batting in difficult situations'

Kohli hits the nets as Delhi stadium gears up for his Ranji return

Around 9am, it emerged Delhi would bowl first and the thousands who had turned up at the Arun Jaitley Stadium would have to wait to watch their hero bat. Meanwhile, in one suburb of Mumbai, the home team made six changes to their XI and Thakur took the new ball with no cameras and fans in the vicinity.That he struck in the first over was not really a surprise. The real deal came in his second over, when bowling from over the wicket, he swung the ball into left-hand batter B Anirudh to hit off stump. Next ball he pitched fuller and drew an edge from right-hand batter Sumit Kumar and Shams Mulani pouched the catch at third slip.On one hand, there was a deafening cacophony in Delhi after seeing Kohli just on the field. On the other, Thakur ran in to bowl the hat-trick ball amid the honking of peak-hour traffic around the Sharad Pawar Academy in the concrete jungle of the Bandra-Kurla Complex.Next in was Meghalaya’s No. 4 Jaskirat Sachdeva, another left-hand batter, and Thakur sent down another inswinger to beat the inside edge and hit the stumps. His hat-trick had reduced the visitors to 2 for 6 and Meghalaya were now in danger of breaking Hyderabad’s unwanted record of the lowest team score (21) in the Ranji Trophy.

Balchander Anirudh
Sumit Kumar
Jaskirat Singh Sachdeva

Shardul Thakur is on fire

He's picked up a hat-trick to help Mumbai bowl out Meghalaya for 86 #RanjiTrophy | @imShard | @MumbaiCricAssoc | @IDFCFIRSTBank

Scorecard https://t.co/9ApJe0CgxG pic.twitter.com/B9azjgx1JB

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But Thakur’s feat came at a time that robbed him of the immediate recognition it deserved. Not only was this game not being shown live but also Thakur had hardly finished his spell when there was a commotion beyond the cover boundary. Thakur’s head turned as well to see what the fuss was about. Fans were hanging over the fence and reaching out with their phone cameras. A few of them were screaming. A group of people emerged in the nets with a kit bag, a big umbrella, and a few chairs, and it turned out Rohit had arrived to train ahead of the ODI series against England.It was not for the first time this month that Thakur had done the hard work while the spotlight was elsewhere. It had started against Jammu and Kashmir in the previous round when Rohit and Jaiswal had returned to the domestic circuit. Mumbai had collapsed to 47 for 7 in the first innings and 101 for 7 in the second, before Thakur rescued the team with a half-century and a century, respectively.Stationed at long-off towards the end of his spell of 7-2-19-4, Thakur whistled a couple of times to catch Rohit’s attention. When Rohit finally responded, Thakur pointed to the scorching sun to imply that it was too hot by then, and Rohit should have come earlier. It’s not that Rohit didn’t know this, but Thakur thought he would tell his friend the information he has gathered from all the training sessions and matches he has been playing in Mumbai this domestic season, toiling away and not held back by the lack of an IPL contract and no India comeback on the horizon.Thakur does not know what is next for him after the Ranji Trophy, but that may not stop him from surprising you.

After a career marked by both triumph and turmoil, Frank de Boer has ruled out a return to football management, saying he’s had “enough of all that misery.” Once hailed for leading Ajax to four straight Eredivisie titles, the Dutch tactician’s later stints at Inter, Crystal Palace, and the Netherlands national team left him disillusioned. Now, settled in Spain and content with family life, De Boer says he’s done chasing touchlines.

From golden years at Ajax to turbulent times abroad

Few Dutch managers have lived as extreme a managerial journey as De Boer. At Ajax, between 2010 and 2016, he was nothing short of a legend, winning four consecutive Eredivisie titles, the Johan Cruyff Shield, and earning back-to-back Rinus Michels Awards as the best coach in the country. His Ajax side embodied Dutch football’s ideals laced with possession-heavy, attacking, and relentlessly dominant.

But after narrowly missing a fifth league title in 2016, De Boer resigned, bringing an end to an era of domestic dominance. What followed, however, was a sequence of bruising experiences that reshaped his perspective on football management and also his place within it.

His move to Inter in 2016 lasted just 85 days. A low scoring average in games and four losses in five matches saw him dismissed before winter. Months later came his ill-fated Crystal Palace stint with a mere 77 days and five games in the Premier League which all ended in defeats. What began as a mission to modernise teams quickly turned into a pattern of short-lived chaos.

AdvertisementAFPDe Boer is done with the dugout

In a recent interview with , De Boer made it clear that his coaching days are likely behind him. With Ajax in the hunt for a new coach, he was asked if he would be open to step back into the hot seat.

"Not at all. All that misery," he said. "I just hope they get it right. Also for Johnny [Heitinga], a true Ajax man. They could use some improvement in their squad. They certainly have quality, especially for the Eredivisie. Let's hope for some structure. That Ajax, as it should be, dominates almost every opponent. I don't mean 50 minutes, but 70 or 80.  Last week, the first half against Twente. That was embarrassing. It could have been 5-0. It shouldn't be, not at Ajax. You see it with [Liverpool coach Arne] Slot now: they have fantastic players, but things aren't going well. That puzzle just has to fall into place at Ajax too."

Despite his fondness for the club that defined his career, De Boer admits he’s lost the appetite for football’s relentless negativity and pressure.

"Never say never, but I'm not exactly thrilled. I don't miss all that negativity at all. I'm a grandfather three times over, I do things for UEFA and on TV for Viaplay, I have my house in Spain. And I get to play a lot of padel. I'm very happy with my life," said De Boer.

Lessons from failure: Inter, Palace, and the Dutch national team

Each of De Boer’s managerial exits tells a story of promise undone by timing, pressure, or misfit environments. At Inter, he inherited a fractured squad, battling internal politics and inconsistent performances. By November 2016, he was gone.

His brief tenure at Palace became one of the shortest in Premier League history with five league games, zero goals, zero points. Jose Mourinho infamously mocked him afterward, calling him “the worst manager in Premier League history,” a label De Boer has since brushed off.

His stint with Atlanta United in the United States offered temporary respite. He guided them to the 2019 U.S. Open Cup and Campeones Cup, before parting ways in 2020 after a poor tournament run. A year later, as Netherlands head coach, he led the Oranje to Euro 2020, only to crash out in the round of 16. The early exit triggered harsh criticism and before long he was gone again.

By the time he managed Al Jazira in 2023, De Boer’s managerial fire had cooled. A mid-table finish and modest record ended with another dismissal.

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Getty Images SportDe Boer's life after whistle

After leaving Al Jazira at the end of 2023, De Boer has consciously stepped away from full-time coaching and is currently not involved in any managerial position. Having endured the intense scrutiny that follows every setback, he has made it clear that he feels no urgency to return to the dugout.

De Boer has openly acknowledged that the pressures and negativity surrounding modern football management have taken their toll. Instead of chasing another opportunity on the sidelines, he has chosen to focus on a quieter, more balanced life.

Now based in Spain, De Boer divides his time between family life, working on projects for UEFA, and serving as a television analyst for Viaplay, where he provides commentary and tactical insights. Away from the spotlight, he’s also developed a passion for golf and padel, sports he says keeps him active and grounded.