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.

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

October was certainly a month to remember for Manchester United, with Ruben Amorim enjoying the best month of his tenure after taking the reins 12 months ago.

His Red Devils side won all three of their Premier League outings, even beating defending champions Liverpool at Anfield for the first time in just under a decade.

As a result, Amorim has been handed the Premier League Manager of the Month award, with the 40-year-old claiming the trophy for the first time at Old Trafford.

Such a record has catapulted the club up England’s top-flight in 2025/26, with the first-team finally heading in the right direction after getting to grips with the 3-4-2-1 system.

The success of the team is certainly credit to the manager and his tactics, but there’s no denying that he has one player to thank for the recent upturn in league form.

Why Mbeumo won October’s Premier League Player of the Month

As part of the £200m summer spending spree, United landed the signature of Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford – forking out a staggering £71m for his services.

The Cameroonian arrived with huge expectations after scoring 20 league goals last season, with the attacker already starting to come good after his big-money transfer.

He scored his first top-flight goal in the win against Burnley back in August, but his career at Old Trafford has ignited after his form over the last month.

The 26-year-old played three times in October, scoring three times and registering one assist – subsequently achieving a goal contribution in every game he played – helping him win the division’s Player of the Month award.

He scored within the first two minutes of the victory over Arne Slot’s side on Merseyside, undoubtedly playing a vital role in the triumph and making himself a fan-favourite.

Mbeumo’s goalscoring tally for the month ended with a double against Brighton and Hove Albion, helping Amorim’s side make it three wins in a row for the first time in his tenure.

The United star who should have won Player of the Month

During the last few weeks, numerous United players have managed to catch the eye and are deserving of more credit for their impact in the Premier League.

Senne Lammens made his Red Devils debut in the first triumph over Sunderland at the start of October, with the Belgian since cementing his place as a regular starter between the sticks.

The 23-year-old has already kept a clean sheet in the Premier League, whilst also playing a vital role in the historic victory at Anfield – as he made a total of five saves.

He’s not been alone in impressing, with Amad Diallo also massively thriving despite operating in a somewhat unnatural right-wing-back during the recent run.

However, central midfielder Casemiro has gone somewhat under the radar, especially after his poor form at the start of the campaign, which led to fans questioning his future at the club.

The Brazilian international has since resurrected his career at Old Trafford, with Amorim starting the experienced star in all of the victories during October.

Such a period has allowed the 33-year-old to prove some incredible numbers, many of which should have seen him being named the Player of the Month over Mbeumo.

Casemiro, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by one analyst, has registered two goals and assists in as his three matches – with both of his efforts coming against Brighton.

However, other numbers such as 90 passes completed and 148 touches showcase his ability to dictate the play despite his deep-lying midfield position.

Casemiro’s stats for Man Utd in October 2025

Statistics

Tally

Games played

3

Goals & assists

2

Minutes played

213

Passes completed

90

Touches

148

Defensive contributions

31

Tackles won

9

Recoveries made

13

Duels won

16

Stats via FotMob

Out of possession, he’s been just as impressive, as seen by his tally of 13 recoveries and 16 duels won, with such numbers allowing Bruno Fernandes to operate in a more advanced role.

The revival of Casemiro over recent weeks is nothing short of sensational, with huge credit needing to be directed his way after his recent performances.

Mbeumo has also done superbly well to win the award, but his teammate will no doubt feel aggrieved that he wasn’t able to get his hands on the trophy.

Related Not Bruno or Mbeumo: Man Utd star is becoming one of the "best in the world"

Manchester United have already unearthed a new world-class under Ruben Amorim.

Posts 1 ByEthan Lamb Nov 7, 2025

India have appealed the guilty verdict against Suryakumar Yadav, who was fined 30% of his match fee

Danyal Rasool and Nagraj Gollapudi26-Sep-20254:11

Suryakumar: ‘A few things in life are ahead of sportsman spirit’

India captain Suryakumar Yadav has been found guilty by the ICC of breaching the code of conduct for his comments that alluded to the military skirmish between India and Pakistan, after their group match in the Asia Cup on September 14.It is understood Suryakumar’s not-guilty plea was rejected by ICC match referee Richie Richardson and that he was fined 30% of his match fee. India have appealed against the verdict.Two Pakistan players, Sahibzada Farhan and Haris Rauf, also faced disciplinary hearings on Friday, following their actions in the Super Four game between the two sides on September 21. Farhan was pulled up for his gun celebration after reaching his fifty, while Rauf was captured on camera making gestures that alluded to the downing of aircraft. They are still waiting to hear what sanctions, if any, they face.The PCB had complained to the ICC that Suryakumar’s remarks following the game on September 14 – both at the presentation ceremony and the post-match press conference – constituted a breach of the ICC regulation to avoid political messaging.In its complaint to the ICC, seen by ESPNcricinfo, the PCB quoted Suryakumar’s remarks where he “dedicated today’s victory to our armed forces”. He later specified this dedication was made to India’s armed forces who took part in a military operation against Pakistan in May, which triggered a skirmish between the two sides.Related

SKY fall: Suryakumar's slump becomes starker amid off-field controversies

Suryakumar told to refrain from making political comments

BCCI lodges complaint with ICC against Farhan and Rauf

Abhishek: Didn't like Pakistan 'coming at us without any reason'

The PCB had demanded the ICC impose a Level 4 sanction – reserved for the most serious breaches of the ICC Code of Conduct – on Suryakumar. It cited past examples of players who were either prevented from what was deemed political messaging or fined for deploying it. The PCB pointed out that in the past the ICC had deemed messages calling attention to the humanitarian disaster caused by Israel’s war in Gaza to be political in nature, most recently when it blocked Usman Khawaja’s attempt to wear shoes with the message “Freedom is a human right” inscribed on them.It could not be confirmed whether the appeal by India has been heard, or when it will take place. Generally, the match referee decides on a time and venue but India face Sri Lanka in the last Super Four match on Friday evening and then play Pakistan in the final on Sunday. If Suryakumar is found guilty after the appeal too, his sanction will be increased accordingly.There was heightened tension between India and Pakistan before their group game began on September 14, with India refusing to shake hands with Pakistan at the toss and after the game, which India won by seven wickets. In the Super Four match between the sides, there were a number of confrontations between Pakistan’s bowlers and India’s openers. Abhishek Sharma later accused Pakistan of “coming at us for no reason”.In that game, Farhan celebrated his half-century by miming the firing of a gun, which he later said was a “spur of the moment” decision. Rauf, meanwhile, made numerous gestures depicting the downing of aircraft while fielding on the boundary, in apparent reference to the recent military conflict.ESPNcricinfo understands Farhan and Rauf also pleaded not guilty and contested that the gestures were not political in nature. While no official verdict has been reached on the two players, the PCB privately accept that they are also likely to cop fines.

Cubs second baseman Nico Hoener wasn't expecting to hit a low slider by Reds relief pitcher Yosver Zulueta in the eighth inning of Wednesday afternoon's game. He attempted a check swing, but ended up hitting the ball instead of avoiding contact.

Luckily for Hoerner, his swing had enough power behind it for him to hit a single to left field. As he eyed the ball to make sure it dropped, Hoerner got extremely excited when he realized his mistaken hit was turning into an RBI for him and a run for the Cubs. He was able to bring in his teammate Matt Shaw from second base to home.

Marquee Network caught the perfect shot of Hoerner's reaction once he realized his hit was a happy accident.

Hoerner's RBI single brought in the sixth and final run of the day for the Cubs. Chicago beat Cincinnati 6-1, pushing the Cubs to a 66-48 record to secure a stronger second-place hold in the NL Central behind the MLB-best Brewers.

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:

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Big picture – How will Shafali-Mandhana bat?

The stakes couldn’t be higher.Australia are here with a clean slate. They have been pushed back multiple times during this World Cup, and they’ve found a way back each time. Two of their batters, Alyssa Healy and Ashleigh Gardner, have scored two centuries each. Two of their bowlers, Annabel Sutherland and Alana King, have taken more than ten wickets each. And apart from everything else that makes them such intimidating opponents, Australia have not lost an ODI knockout game since they lost to India in the the semi-finals of the 2017 World Cup.Related

• How to beat Australia in three easy steps (step 1 – invent a miracle)

• Tactics board: Mandhana's level-up, Sutherland's steady hand

• Shafali tunes up for Australia, a day after destiny's call

• What will Harmanpreet vs Australia bring us this time?

India are riding a wave of emotion. They recovered from a three-game losing streak to sneak into the semi-finals. In their last full game, played at the same venue, they posted their record World Cup total. No team has pushed Australia harder than India in recent times. And they are now two wins away from doing what no India women’s team has ever done.Their key player Smriti Mandhana has scored 105, 58, 117, 125 and 80 in her last five ODIs against Australia. But she’ll start from 0 again, and this time she’ll have an adjustment to make, with her usual opening partner Pratika Rawal, with whom she added a record 212 against New Zealand, ruled out of the World Cup. Mandhana is all set to open with Shafali Verma, and the new combination could have an effect on how she bats.In ODIs involving Shafali, Mandhana averages 51.83 and strikes at 85.55. When these two opened together, Shafali was usually the early aggressor. Mandhana took on that role when Shafali went out of the side, however, as her numbers in matches involving Rawal suggest: an average of 62.65, a strike rate of 108.75. How will the new (old) opening combination bat on Thursday?For Australia, there is a fair bit of intrigue around Healy’s availability. A minor calf strain sidelined her ahead of the game against England, and she missed two matches subsequently. Australia would not want to be reminded of the T20 World Cup semi-final from last year; Healy missed the clash and South Africa romped to an eight-wicket win.The second semi-final, for which the cheapest tickets were priced at INR 150 (as opposed to INR 100 for the Guwahati semi-final), is a sell-out. You can expect all of Navi Mumbai to cram itself into the DY Patil Stadium. They could get to witness an epic.Shafali Verma waits for her turn at the nets•ICC/Getty Images

Form guide

Australia WWWWW (last five completed ODIs, most recent first)
India WLLLW

In the spotlight – Phoebe Litchfield and Deepti Sharma

Phoebe Litchfield loves playing India. She has one century and four fifties in just eight ODI innings against them, and averages 63.50. She has a wide range of sweeps that could potentially upset the rhythm of India’s spinners. After a pair of low scores against England and South Africa, Litchfield may feel she is due some runs too.Deepti Sharma has been India’s leading wicket-taker at this World Cup with 15 at 22.46. There will be a lot of focus on her during this game, because she has a fine record against Australia’s middle-order batters. She has dismissed Beth Mooney and Ashleigh Gardner twice each in ODIs, while going at less than a run a ball against both, Ellyse Perry three times, and Tahlia McGrath five times in nine innings. Only Perry and Annabel Sutherland from the current side have managed to hit Deepti for a six in ODIs.

Team news – Australia sweat on Healy’s availability

While Healy batted and kept wicket during Tuesday’s training session, she opted out of optional training on Wednesday, with Georgia Voll batting in partnership with Litchfield. Head coach Shelley Nitschke said Australia would give Healy “as much time as she needs” and will take a call on her participation on Thursday. That aside, expect Sophie Molineux to come back into the spin attack for Georgia Wareham, who played against South Africa but did not get a chance to bowl.Australia (probable): 1 Alyssa Healy (capt & wk), 2 Phoebe Litchfield, 3 Ellyse Perry, 4 Annabel Sutherland, 5 Beth Mooney, 6 Ashleigh Gardner, 7 Tahlia McGrath, 8 Sophie Molineux, 9 Alana King, 10 Kim Garth, 11 Megan Schutt.Shafali is likely to swap straight into India’s XI in Rawal’s place at the top of the order. Richa Ghosh, who was rested against Bangladesh after injuring her finger during the match against New Zealand, did not look in any discomfort during her keeping drills and batted a fair bit on Tuesday. Sneh Rana and Kranti Gaud, both of whom were also rested against Bangladesh, could come back into the XI.India (probable): 1 Smriti Mandhana, 2 Shafali Verma, 3 Harleen Deol, 4 Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), 5 Jemimah Rodrigues, 6 Richa Ghosh (wk), 7 Deepti Sharma, 8 Sneh Rana, 9 Kranti Gaud, 10 N Shree Charani, 11 Renuka Singh.2:15

Australia coach Nitschke: Not underdogs, but also not favourites’

Pitch and conditions

The game will be played on the pitch on which Sri Lanka played Bangladesh. That track was devoid of grass and had a bright brown look to it. It is expected to be a high-scoring game. There has been rain in Navi Mumbai in the lead-up to the match, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a yellow alert for Wednesday and Thursday, but the forecast for matchday has cleared up somewhat. The match will go into a reserve day should it not finish on Thursday.

Stats and trivia

• Mandhana and Shafali have opened together 25 times in ODIs, adding 893 runs at an average of 37.20 and a run rate of 5.38. Mandhana and Rawal, who have opened together 23 times, are India’s most successful opening pair in ODIs, having put on 1799 runs at 78.21 and 6.06.
• Alana King’s average of 34.63 and economy rate of 5.93 against India are her worst by a distance against any opposition in ODIs. Mandhana (160.00), Harleen Deol (116.66), Harmanpreet Kaur (114.58), Jemimah Rodrigues (113.23) and Deepti Sharma (105.40) have 100-plus strike rates against the legspinner.
• Australia are on a 15-match winning streak in ODI World Cups. They had also won 15 in a row across the 1997 and 2000 editions.
• Megan Schutt is one wicket away from becoming the leading wicket-taker for Australia in ODI World Cups. She has 39 now, on par with Lyn Fullston

Quotes

“Ash [Gardner] has been unbelievable. We all know what she’s capable of with the bat, but to take her game to the next level, and do that in a World Cup, has been fantastic. She’s someone who is very diligent in everything she does; she’s a hard worker. When she’s at her best, it’s about making sure that she’s enjoying the game and enjoying the environment and she’s getting in the contest.”
“I was playing domestic cricket and was in good touch. [Semi-finals] are not something new for me because I’ve played many semi-finals before. It’s just a matter of keeping my mind clear and giving myself confidence. I’ve been in such situations earlier, so it’s nothing new. I’ll keep telling myself to stay calm and believe in myself. So absolutely, I’ll do well, 200%.”

Martin Guptill has joined the West Indies camp to provide specialist support for the two T20Is at Eden Park

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Nov-2025Tim Seifert has been ruled out of New Zealand’s upcoming home T20I series against West Indies with a broken finger. Mitchell Hay has been called in to the squad as Seifert’s replacement and joined the team on Monday night.Seifert retired hurt after being hit on the finger while batting for Northern Districts in Monday’s Ford Trophy match against Wellington Firebirds, and a subsequent X-ray revealed a fracture to the right index finger.”We’re all feeling for Tim,” Rob Walter, New Zealand’s head coach, said in a statement. “He’s a key member of this T20 unit given his power at the top of the order and his role as keeper, so he’ll be missed over the next five matches.

NZ vs WI, T20I series

Nov 5 – 1st T20I, Auckland
Nov 6 – 2nd T20I, Auckland
Nov 9 – 3rd T20I, Nelson
Nov 11 – 4th T20I, Nelson
Nov 13 – 5th T20I, Dunedin

“He showed in the recent T20 series’ that he’s building up to top form, so it’s disappointing that that has been halted as we continue to prepare for a pinnacle event.”We’re hoping Tim’s recovery will be quick and he’ll be back on the park as soon as possible.”A wicketkeeper-batter like Seifert, Hay is not as experienced as the man he has replaced but has featured in 11 T20Is since making his debut against Sri Lanka in Dambulla in November last year and holds the world record for the most dismissals (six) in an innings in the format.”Mitch has shown in his international opportunities so far that he’s a top-quality wicketkeeper batter and is more than capable of contributing at this level,” Walter said. “We’re lucky to be able call on another player of his ability which shows the level of depth we currently have in the T20 format.”<!–#cricinfo_insert
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A familiar face in different colours at Eden Park

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.

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