In the Super Eights at the World Cup, Bangladesh were expected to win one match – against Ireland. They didn’t. On the eve of the series against India, living up to expectations remains the biggest challenge for them. Now that they have been allowed the company of big teams – mainly after wins over India and South Africa at the World Cup – it’s up to them to stay there. They are somewhere at a set and a break up in the course of making an upset in a tennis match. Winning a series against India will give them the second set.Saqibul Hasan, one of Bangladesh’s left-arm-spinner trio and more than a handy batsman, admitted today that there was a lot of expectation from their side, and playing in front of home crowds added to the pressure. “We won against India at World Cup; that’s past. And this is home ground. There is big pressure, because there’s lot of expectation.”The joke that they didn’t get enough time to practise has become a serious question from the Bangladeshi press. But Saqib said it was not a major concern for them. “The last tour, the World Cup was good for us, so we do not need much time to practice.”The team, according to Saqib, are trying to not think about the expectations. Their practice session at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium was one of a team at peace with themselves. The first ones to walk out of the dressing room shouted in glee as they saw a game of football being set up. The bowlers played against the batsmen for 20 minutes. Mashrafe Moratza scored for the bowlers, and Aftab Ahmed equalised and then scored the winner for the batsmen. This was followed by fielding drills; one mini-stump was hit regularly by Bangladeshi fieldsmen throwing on the run. Fielding, as it should be, was enjoyed as much as batting or . The nets focused at big-hitting too – they are not big power-hitters, most of the Bangladeshi batsmen.The looks of the team do no suggest they have put too much pressure on themselves, but to prove – in front of home crowds – that their exploits at the World Cup were not a fluke has to be at the back of their minds.This series is also the last series for Dav Whatmore as their coach. Bangladesh have spent a memorable time with Whatmore at the helm, so they would also want to give him a suitable farewell.When Saqib said they would be under pressure, and looking at the way Bangladesh played against Ireland, one can’t help but feel that they themselves are their first competition. India will feature later – after an inner battle is won.The ground where they practised today so joyously will undergo a metamorphosis on May 10. Around 35,000 pairs of eyes will be watching them. They will be playing an Indian team which the people now believe they can beat. This will be an entirely new pressure for them. On paper, man for man, India are still a stronger team and Bangladesh will have to bring more than their A game. Welcome to the big league.
England’s stand-in captain Andrew Flintoff and Katherine Brunt were named the Vodafone England Cricketers of the Year for 2006 at a dinner in London on Monday night.”To be named as one of the Cricketers of the Year is a great honour,” said Flintoff. “It’s been a fantastic year for English cricket and I’m very proud to have been able to play a part in regaining the Ashes.”The support I’ve received from the British public has been very humbling and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their words of encouragement. I’m now looking forward to building on this success during what promises to be a very exciting summer for English cricket as we head towards another Ashes series and a World Cup campaign this winter.”Katherine Brunt was equally thrilled. “I love playing for my country and am very honoured to have won this award. As a team we’ve enjoyed a fantastic 12 months and I’m delighted to have been able to play my part in ensuring we regained the Ashes. The women’s game in England is gaining in strength year on year and I’m looking forward to another successful summer.””Last summer’s Ashes series proved that cricket holds a special place in the hearts of the British public,” explained Lord MacLaurin, Vodafone’s chairman, “and we’re delighted to be able to officially recognise the talents and performances of two outstanding cricketers, both of whom were instrumental in ensuring England emerged victorious, in both series, at the end of what was a fantastic year for English cricket.”
Shoaib Malik, the Pakistani allrounder who admitted to throwing a domestic Twenty20 game, is likely to be banned for either a Test or two one-day internationals after the Pakistan Cricket Board took a decidedly dim view of his antics. After a hearing on Saturday that lasted about 150 minutes, a three-member commission appointed by the board recommended that Malik, touted by some as a future captain, be punished according to clauses 2.9 and 2.11 of the International Cricket Council’s Code of Conduct.In addition to the ban, Malik is also likely to be docked a full-match fee. Malik, who was due to play his 100th ODI in St Vincent on May 18, admitted to engineering a four-run defeat for his Sialkot Stallions side against the Karachi Zebras, a result that he thought would knock the Lahore Eagles out of the competition.On being shown video footage, Malik owned up to his error of judgement. The inquiry commission was headed by Haroon Rashid, a former Test player and manager of the team, and a board source told Reuters, “He said he was sorry for what had happened and he had reacted in the heat of the moment and would not repeat such a thing again.”Shaharyar Khan, the PCB chairman, was said to be so incensed by the incident that Malik’s participation in the West Indies tour was in doubt, but with the one-match ban likely to come into force during the Barbados Test in late May, he could yet play that 100th ODI in St Vincent. While the squad for the West Indies has already been decided on, it will be rubber-stamped by the board’s ad hoc committee only on Monday.
It has been six long years since England last embarked on a tour of the Caribbean. In that time West Indies have hit rock-bottom, bounced a couple of times, and now – typically – are beginning to show signs of that long-awaited renaissance, just in time for England’s arrival. True, they haven’t exactly set the world alight on their current tour of South Africa, but with Brian Lara in his best form for a decade, and a host of young and free-spirited batsmen following in his wake, the next couple of months promise to be a torrid time for England’s bowlers.John Etheridge was sounding particularly sceptical in . “England have unveiled the men they believe can tame the genius of Brian Lara,” he declared, before adding: “They are a mixed bag of confidence-challenged, injury-prone bowlers with just 326 Test wickets between them.” But, in keeping faith with the 15 men who were originally selected for the tours of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, Etheridge was at least satisfied that the selectors were being consistent.”The Master Blaster’s current form is as sobering as a New Year detox,” announced Mike Walters, who feared that Lara’s “ramrod-straight bat” could cause England as much heartache as Muttiah Muralitharan’s “corkscrew arm” did before Christmas. “So reinvigorated is his appetite for harvesting runs,” added Walters, “that bookies William Hill are offering only 33-1 against Lara to break Matthew Hayden’s world-record 380 this year.””[England’s bowlers] will need to show as much nerve as verve to come out on top,” suggested Derek Pringle in . “Grounds in the Caribbean are small with demanding, urgent crowds and games can quickly slide away when batsmen throw the bat. Bowlers will need character and control, something in short supply since Andrew Flintoff’s workload was cut to save his groaning body.”Much of the comment surrounds the probable selection of Simon Jones – assuming he comes through England A’s trip to India and Malaysia without any further problems from the knee he injured so horrifically in the first Ashes Test last winter. “Jones could easily find himself playing in the opening Test at Sabina Park, Kingston, the quickest track in the West Indies,” said Pringle. “If he does, it would rank as one of the greatest returns from injury in any sport, given the grotesque angle that his leg bent at the Gabba.” Pringle, however, was less convinced about Jones’s fellow speedster, Steve Harmison: “He has the height and pace to be as effective as Curtly Ambrose, but will have to win over the sceptics within his team, who feel he does not always savour the ‘hard yards’.”England’s answer to Ambrose on that 1997-98 tour, Angus Fraser, was understandably tub-thumping about the need for accuracy as well as out-and-out speed. Writing in , he extolled the time-honoured virtues of line and length. “Pace has to be combined with accuracy if it is to be effective against batsmen who love playing shots against anything short and wide,” he preached. “And this is the challenge for Jones. In Brian Lara, Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Dwayne Smith – who scored a magnificent century on his Test debut against South Africa on Tuesday – the West Indies possess five batsmen who can take apart a wayward attack.”Christopher Martin-Jenkins of agreed. “The lesson of Fraser’s success in the West Indies six years ago, and indeed of all cricket played on flat pitches down the years, is that against the best batsmen it is accuracy, extra bounce and an ability to move the ball through the air or off the seam that gets results.” But, with the experience of Martin Bicknell once again overlooked, CMJ feared for the success of England’s greenhorn attack. “Rapid improvement will be necessary,” he intoned, “both if England are to win in the West Indies for the first time since Harold Wilson was Prime Minister, and if a credible attack for the next Ashes series is to be developed.”The last word, however, must go to The Guardian, who were so unenthused by the squad announcement that they hardly saw fit to mention it at all. Instead, they offered a full-page feature on how tough life has been for Test bowlers in the last 12 months. “If you meet a Test bowler in the street, do not ask him how he is,” warned Tanya Aldred. “Do not seek to look at his figures or invite him home to watch a 2003 highlights package. This is a bad time for bowlers.”The worry for England, is that the good times remain some way away yet.
Karachi Blues skipper Mohammad Javed claimed five wickets for 81 runs as Bahawalpur were dismissed for 237 on the opening day of the last round match of Quaid-i-Azam Trophy at the National Stadium Monday.Bahawalpur hit back when they picked up two early wickets to leave the home team at 17 for two at close.Javed sent down 23 tight overs to be highly deserved with a five-wicket haul. He was well supported by leggie Riaz Sheikh who picked up three for 34 and fell pacer Rajesh Ramesh who snapped up two for 75.For Bahawalpur, Bilal Moin was the top scorer with 65 that included nine hits to the fence. He faced 116 balls during his 145 minutes of batting.Together with Mohammad Rashid (32), Bilal added 42 runs for the third wicket while for the fourth wicket, he put on 64 runs with Rehan Rafique (26).The most enterprising innings came from No 8 batsman Faisal Elahi who clobbered a rapid 74-ball 51 with seven boundaries.Karachi’s both the wickets were picked by paceman Imran Adil who has the rare distinction of claiming all 10 wickets in an innings. Both the teams are playing for pride after having lost the race for final.
A patient unbeaten 85 by opener Nischal Gaur helped Himachal Pradeshfinish the first day of their North Zone Ranji Trophy clash againstJammu & Kashmir on 222/5 from 90 overs.After winning the toss and taking first strike at the Maulana AzadStadium in Jammu, the visitors lost wicketkeeper Arun Verma in thefourth over of the innings. Gaur and skipper Rajiv Nayyar consolidatedwith a slow but steady 73-run association in all of 38.5 overs.Nayyar, who entered the record books against the same opponents lastseason with a 1015-minute occupation of the crease in scoring 271,was bowled for 45 to give Surinder Singh his second wicket of theinnings.Although Amit Sharma was dismissed in the succeeding over, Gaurcontinued the good work in the company of middle order bats SangramSingh and, in particular, Virender Sharma who struck a swift 44 offjust 48 balls. Both the latter batsmen were scalped by J&K skipper andmediumpacer Abdul Qayoom but Gaur, who struck 14 boundaries in a 267ball knock, saw Himachal safely through to stumps in the company ofRichi Kapoor.
ScorecardRoss Whiteley, seen here against New Zealand, battled hard to set a testing target•Getty Images
Nottinghamshire edged towards their third win in four LV= County Championship games when set to make 232 after a battling third-day performance by Worcestershire at New Road.The relegation-threatened home side fought hard to post a second innings total of 292 and an upset was on the agenda when Charlie Morris and Joe Leach put Nottinghamshire in trouble at 37 for three.Nerves were only settled as James Taylor and Riki Wessels made up for their first innings disappointments by putting on an unbroken 120 and trimming the target to 75.Nottinghamshire will begin the last day at 157 for 3 with Taylor unbeaten on 49 from 82 balls and Wessels well set with 70 not out, having completed a half-century with seven fours from 122 deliveries.Even a sizeable partnership by two of their best players did not guarantee Nottinghamshire a comfortable ride. Jack Shantry made sure of that in a testing spell of 8-7-2-0, the only scoring shot a two by Wessels from the first ball of the left-arm seamer’s fourth over.However, Worcestershire were unable to stem the flow at the other end once Nottinghamshire had repaired the damage done at the start of their innings.Brendan Taylor was leg-before to Morris’s fifth ball and in his fourth over the new-ball bowler had Alex Hales snapped up at second slip.When Leach took his 50th championship wicket of the season, Steven Mullaney’s leading edge flying off to point after making 24, it seemed there could be another twist on top of Worcestershire’s recovery with the bat.Only 54 ahead with four wickets down at start of play, they prolonged their resistance for half of the day.Impressive teenager Joe Clarke made his fourth half-century in eight championship appearances and Ross Whiteley followed up a hundred in the last match against Yorkshire with another accomplished batting display.The former Derbyshire left hander reached 78 and extracted full value by putting on 68 with Clarke until his partner was bowled by Jake Ball for 61 and then 73 in 21 overs with wicketkeeper Ben Cox).For a while Nottinghamshire were struggling for an answer but a switch to spin paid off when Cox pushed forward to Imran Tahir and tickled a catch to slip, but as soon as Worcestershire met with a setback, they were up and running again.Leach came in to make a punishing 40 and even with Whiteley bowled by Samit Patel, after hitting 10 fours and a six, the innings still had some momentum as the last three wickets yielded 59 runs.Shantry was quickly caught at short mid-wicket off Tahir but Saeed Ajmal cheerfully made 19 before Ball (four for 67) took the last two wickets.
Arsenal’s attack in 2025/26 has been nothing short of exceptional, with such performances playing a massive part in the club sitting top of the Premier League table.
Mikel Arteta’s side have already netted 30 goals in their first 16 league outings this campaign, with only Manchester City currently scoring more at this stage.
However, no player has yet scored five goals or more, subsequently showcasing the importance of having countless players who can chip in within the final third.
Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze, Leandro Trossard and Viktor Gyokeres all currently sit top of the goalscoring charts with four strikes – highlighting the strength in depth available to the manager.
Such numbers may be impressive to many, but the Gunners’ hierarchy appear to be wanting to inject further quality into such a department during the upcoming window.
Arsenal actively pursuing move for £62m superstar this January
Over the last couple of weeks, a new winger has seemingly become the priority for Arsenal and Andrea Berta ahead of the January transfer window.
As a result, Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo has become just one player touted with a switch to the Emirates, with his £65m release clause set to become active on the first day of the new year.
They aren’t alone in the pursuit of the 25-year-old attacker, with Manchester United and Liverpool just two other clubs who could pull the trigger and land him this winter.
However, Semenyo isn’t the only winger in the sights of the Gunners hierarchy, with Athletic Club star Nico Williams once again appearing firmly in their sights.
According to one Spanish outlet, Berta and Co are actively pursuing the 23-year-old, who’s already racked up five combined goals and assists in the 2025/26 campaign.
The report also states that the Spaniard could be available for a reported £62m this window, but it’s unclear if the Gunners would match such a price after their summer spending spree.
Why Williams joining would be bad news for Martinelli
Back in the 2022/23 campaign, Brazilian winger Gabriel Martinelli cemented himself as one of Arsenal’s most important players due to his impact in the final third.
The 24-year-old ended such a season with 15 goals and six assists across all competitions, but he’s been unable to get anywhere near close to such numbers in the last two years.
He’s only registered 16 goals in his last two seasons combined, whilst subsequently coming under fire for his lack of clinical nature when bearing down on the opposition goal.
As a result, Martinelli has only started a total of five league games out of a possible 16 this season, with Arteta often preferring the likes of Trossard in such a position.
However, it could be about to get a whole lot worse for the attacker should Williams join, with the Spaniard no doubt pushing him further down the pecking order.
The £62m fee would certainly suggest that he’d be a regular starter, with the comparison of their respective stats from the ongoing campaign, undoubtedly showcasing that the Athletic star is a bigger talent.
Williams, who’s been dubbed “electric” by one analyst, has achieved more goal contributions, whilst also achieving a better shot on target accuracy rate.
How Williams & Martinelli compared in 2025/26
Statistics (per 90)
Williams
Martinelli
Games played
13
12
Goals & assists
5
1
Shot on target accuracy
38%
26%
Pass accuracy
71%
67%
Progressive passes
2.8
2.2
Key passes
1.9
0.6
Take-on success
42%
33%
Progressive carries
5.7
2.7
Crosses completed
2.9
1.8
Stats via FBref
Such numbers in LaLiga showcase that the 23-year-old is certainly more of a clinical option in the final third, which could bolster Arsenal’s already impressive goalscoring record.
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He’s also completed more progressive passes and key passes per 90, subsequently having the creative nature which could allow the other attackers around him to bolster their own tallies.
Williams’ dominance with the ball at his feet over Martinelli is further demonstrated in his hierarchy tallies of take-ons and progressive carries completed per 90.
However, he’s also been able to offer the end product to his mazy runs this campaign, as seen by his tally of 2.9 crosses completed per 90 – a tally nearly double than that of the Brazilian.
£62m would certainly be yet another huge investment for the Gunners board, but it’s one that could allow for an immediate and long-term option off the left-hand side.
As for Martinelli, any move this winter could be catastrophic for his career in North London, which could even lead to a departure away from the Emirates as a result.
Bad news for Nwaneri: Arsenal have already agreed to sign their next Dowman
Nwaneri could have some serious competition for game time at Arsenal in the future.
Sport has always drawn crowds, even in the most hostile conditions. Tuesday morning in Canberra was no different with dark grey clouds looming ominously. Rains lashed the Manuka Oval from between seven and half past ten, raising doubts if any game was possible in the first place.That didn’t dampen the hundreds who started gathering outside the oval in little flocks at the scheduled start time (10 am). For them, despite the weather, the game was still on. And like in every crowd, where there is a bunch that stands out with its characteristic fervour, there was one here too making heads turn. Shaking their bodies and tapping their feet, they created a buzz with their livewire intensity.The Appu Army, the latest addition to the existing bunch that includes the Barmy Army (England), Wave the Flag (Australia) and Bharat Army (India), were here to follow their side closely. The pouring rain didn’t matter to them. They had come down from Sydney in droves. Their red coloured T-shirts made them stand out and were joined by their friends in hay-coloured sombrero-hats.They kept playing the distinctive tune that lets you know the Sri Lankans are around. The Appu Army was in full swing and lent a carnival-like atmosphere as they marched up and down the main drag behind the Don Bradman stand inside the ground. The horns and the whistles kept blowing, so did the conch shells and the hand bells. So festive was the atmosphere that it was difficult for the Indians not to soak it in.The Appu Army, under a month old, is the concept of Lal Jacobs, a Sydney-based web designer. Jacobs’ friends had been coaxing him to starting something like the Barmy Army for a while and he decided to do something about it during Sri Lanka’s tour game against the Australian Prime Minister’s XI here last month.”I just wanted to start something that would help the Sri Lankans enjoy the game more,” Jacobs says with a smile, adding that he doesn’t intend to emulate the Barmy Army’s style of traveling with the team around the world. For Jacobs, originally from Sri Lanka, it’s about getting people together whenever there is an opportunity.Interestingly there were a few Tamils wearing red T-shirts with a map of Sri Lanka that had “Voice of Tamils. Where’s humanity” painted across the north and east, which has borne the bulk of the violence over the past few decades. Jacobs agrees sport is one of the best mediums to get the message of peace across. “Cricket is one game that gets both the Tamils and the Sinhalese together which is such a good thing”. It was definitely the case at the Manuka Oval, where ethnic Tamils were seen mingling freely with the Sinhalese. In the aftermath of the Harbhajan Singh-Andrew Symonds affair, where cricket was pushed to the background and the crowds turned partisan, this was a happy turn of events.”It doesn’t matter if it’s a truncated game. We are here to enjoy Sehwag, Tendulkar and Jayasuriya blast, that’s what matters,” a beaming Jacobs said as he emptied his pint of beer. Meanwhile the drum beats carried on as did the rain.
John Buchanan believes Australia will all but eliminate England from the World Cup if they win Sunday’s Super Eights clash. Australia are unbeaten in their five matches and top the second round standings as they bid for an unprecedented third straight title.England have yet to beat a Test nation after losing to New Zealand and suffering an agonising two-run defeat against Sri Lanka in Antigua on Wednesday. However, they did beat the world champions 2-0 during the finals of the CB series in February.”We’re keen to make amends for that,” Buchanan said. “But that’s past history. Now we’re in the West Indies and we’ve got a very important game for us. If we manage to come out on top of that well, we virtually eliminate another side out of the tournament and that’s pretty important for us.”Buchanan said Australia’s win over England in a 13-a-side warm-up match in St Vincent had in part atoned for their shock reverse on home soil. “I still viewed St Vincent as a proper one-day game, although you could play a couple of extra players,” he said. “I thought we played pretty well there. I think both teams have progressed since the CB Series.”He said England’s desperation for victory could work in their favour. “England at this stage are playing knockout cricket,” he said. “Every game for them is a knockout game and that puts them on the razor’s edge.”It will be an exceptional contest. Any side that’s playing for its life in the tournament, it understands fairly well what it has to do.”Buchanan said England had a long batting order and identified Ian Bell as a key figure. “Bell’s come in at No. 3 and played a really pivotal role,” he said. “He plays well with Kevin Pietersen and they’ve put some good partnerships together.”Australia must decide before Sunday’s match whether to play an extra batsman or bowler following a left calf injury sustained by the allrounder Shane Watson during the ten-wicket win against Bangladesh. Queensland’s James Hopes is on standby back in Australia but, in the short term, either Brad Hodge or Mitchell Johnson could come in on Sunday.”We’re still undecided,” Buchanan said of the choice between a batsman or a bowler. “Both combinations present some strengths and some weaknesses. The upside of all of that is that it is making us re-think, although the preference would be to have a fit Shane Watson.”He said it was probably too early to ask Andrew Symonds, who is recovering from an arm injury, to bowl more than his offspin. “Andrew is Andrew and once he takes the field if he feels he needs to bowl medium-pace, he’ll be talking strongly to the captain to say ‘give me the opportunity to do it’.”