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As the only Omani national in their Asia Cup squad, he faced different challenges on his way to the top

Shashank Kishore14-Sep-2025For Sufyan Mehmood, 33, playing in the Asia Cup carries an extra layer of pride. He is the only Omani national in the current squad, a distinction that fills him with great honour.A seam-bowling allrounder known for his accuracy and lower-order hitting, Mehmood would have been in the UK studying – perhaps he might have even had a corporate career – if his father had his wishes. But Mehmood chose to decline an admission to Loughborough University to pursue business administration because he wanted to play cricket.”Unlike others who come to Oman to make a career, I didn’t have those challenges,” Mehmood told ESPNcricinfo. “I had all the comforts, and didn’t have to worry about building a life. But my challenges were different.Related

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“Everyone in my family were academically inclined. My older brother is a dentist at the health ministry, my younger brother is a petroleum engineer, [and] my younger sister is also a dentist who runs a private practice. My father grew up the ranks from being a salesman to now being CEO of a company he joined nearly 30 years ago.”Now, I guess you can understand what my challenges were: how to convince my family I wanted to play cricket in a country that didn’t have a culture. But ever since I started, I saw kids in school taking up this new sport, and wanted to play it.”Mehmood first made the Oman Under-15s, he said, in “2005 or 2006 – I can’t remember”. What he does recall, though, is that on his first tour, to Thailand, he was the Player of the Match in just his second outing. “It was against Iran, I was 14 years old.”From there, he made the Under-17s, and was finally part of the national squad in 2009. “The depth wasn’t as much, so if you did well in one or two games, you could progress,” he said. “Straight off that Under-19 tour, I played for the senior team.”Sufyan Mehmood: “Domestic cricket in Oman is basically corporate cricket”•Sufyan MehmoodThat must have been a massive moment in his young career, but because games were far and few, the significance of that moment dissipated very quickly.”When I started playing cricket, I didn’t know that we would play a World Cup one day,” he said. My parents wanted me to study. So after rejecting my offer from Loughborough University, I enrolled in an Omani university that was affiliated to another UK university – at least temporarily my dad was pacified,” he said with a laugh. “I would manage my classes, speak to my professors, tell them I had matches, and cover it up later. They supported me well.”But staying back in Oman meant figuring out an alternate career too, outside of cricket.”Domestic cricket here is basically corporate cricket,” he said. “Companies will have their teams in the premier division, they will hire you and give you a job.”In my first year, I couldn’t find any job, so I just found one job outside cricket, in an event management company. I played after working [for] hours. After that year, I got an offer from Enhance, who had a cricket team. I worked for them for four-five years in the HR department before moving to Renaissance Services, where I lead the cricket side. We’ve won two trophies in the last two years under me.””Against India in the Emerging Asia Cup [in October 2024], I took Nehal Wadhera’s wicket and got him bowled”•Sufyan MehmoodIn 2015, Mehmood had his first big taste of top-flight cricket when he was part of the Oman squad that qualified for the 2016 T20 World Cup in India. In 2021, too, he was part of the squad when Oman hosted the first leg of the tournament. In last year’s T20 World Cup, Mehmood was part of the reserves. That he was in the reserves is because much of his 2023 went in recovering from a meniscus tear, which meant he didn’t have much game time.”And I didn’t have enough form to carry with me in the limited games,” he said. “In Oman, most doctors told me to get operated. But I went to Mumbai to meet Dinshaw Pardiwala, the same doctor who had treated Rishabh Pant after his accident. He told me I didn’t need surgery. I just had to do strengthening, and be meticulous with my physiotherapy and rehab for two-three months. I followed his advice, and I was fine.”Through all this, Mehmood held on to one belief: never give up. “It would have been easy for anyone to give up at any stage I went through, both career-wise, [and] cricket-wise – especially in a country where cricket is not a national sport,” he said.

“After the World Cups, they saw cricket was growing in Oman. Now they ask me how much I scored, [and] how many wickets I took. They might even come [to] watch me in the Asia Cup. They are excited.”Sufyan Mehmood on his family getting interested in cricket

Even now, the Asia Cup feels like a new chapter. “The last year has been really good. In the ODI series in the USA [in the Cricket World Cup League 2], I scored 72 against them and took three wickets. Against India in the Emerging Asia Cup [in October 2024], I took Nehal Wadhera’s wicket and got him bowled.”Against Pakistan, I dismissed Umair Bin Yusuf, and hit a six off Imran Khan Jr. I even spoke to players like Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma. Just sharing thoughts on cricket felt special.”His family, once hesitant, is now firmly behind him. “After the World Cups, they saw cricket was growing in Oman,” he said with a smile. “Now they ask me how much I scored, [and] how many wickets I took. They might even come [to] watch me in the Asia Cup. They are excited.”For Mehmood, being a cricketer is no longer about proving anyone wrong. As the only Omani-born player in the team, he knows what his presence means.”See, it feels great because I know how much struggle I went through to reach this stage, not the typical struggle to settle and be financially independent, but the struggle to prove myself and get an identity. I never had a proper coach, [and] no real facilities. I learned by watching YouTube videos. That is why I am proud of this journey.”

Mohamed Salah was left on the bench as much-maligned summer signings Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz helped Liverpool to a vital three points in Sunday's 2-0 win over West Ham. The Swedish forward scored his first Premier League goal for the club since his big-money switch to Anfield this summer, while the German provided the heartbeat for the Liverpool attack.

Reflective of their respective sluggish starts to the Premier League campaign, West Ham and Liverpool failed to set the London Stadium alight from the off. The hosts, set up by Nuno Espirito Santo to absorb pressure and attack on the break, were pinned back by the Reds who were unable to press home their dominance on the ball in the first half. Alphonse Areola did well to produce a fine stop from an Isak spectacular and cut out a dangerous Joe Gomez cross, but was otherwise untroubled by a blunt Reds attack in the opening exchanges.

Wirtz had impressed in the first half and looked most likely to make a difference for the Reds in the second period. On the hour mark, the German jinked to his left and, with the outside of his boot, threaded the ball through a compact Hammers defence to Cody Gakpo, who cut back to Isak to fire first-time into the bottom left corner.

The Reds continued to keep hold of the ball and stifle any West Ham attacks, and despite only holding onto a one-goal advantage, the Reds never looked like forfeiting maximum points, and did not even have to bring on Salah to strengthen their grip on the game. A ridiculous red card from Lucas Paqueta only snuffed out the chance of a possible Hammers recovery, before Gakpo fired home from a Gomez cross in the 92nd minute to seal a vital victory.

GOAL rates Liverpool's players from the London Stadium…

Getty Images SportGoalkeeper & Defence

Alisson Becker (6/10):

The Brazilian had little to do, but will be pleased with his clean sheet.

Joe Gomez (7/10):

The England defender, playing on the right of the defence, had a strong performance and offered a real threat going forwards.

Ibrahima Konate (6/10):

A much-needed uneventful day for the Frenchman who bounced back from recent struggles to hold firm.

Virgil van Dijk (6/10):

A dominant presence in both boxes, the Dutchman helped lead the defence in the closing stages.

Milos Kerkez (6/10):

Still not quite at the level he showed at Bournemouth last season, but the left-back was solid for the Reds.

AdvertisementAFPMidfield

Ryan Gravenberch (7/10):

An understated, but impressive performance at the base of the Liverpool midfield as the visitors dominated.

Alexis Mac Allister (7/10):

Helped the Reds take the majority of possession and provided composure in the middle of the park.

Getty Images SportAttack

Dominik Szoboszlai (7/10):

We have become accustomed to Szoboszlai's relentless running and he was everywhere in east London. A great help for Gomez down the right-flank too.

Florian Wirtz (8/10):

Arguably the German's best performance in a Liverpool shirt so far, he played a crucial role in the Reds opener.

Cody Gakpo (8/10):

Worked tirelessly for Slot's side and provided the all-important assist for Isak, before sealing the win late on.

Alexander Isak (7/10):

After some wayward finishing in the first-half, the Swede finally ended his 381-minute goal drought with a fine finish.

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AFPSubs & Manager

Hugo Ekitike(5/10):

Replaced Isak, but did not offer too much of a threat.

Curtis Jones (6/10):

Had demanded his team-mates raise their levels earlier in the week and they responded. A late cameo appearance in midfield.

Andy Robertson (N/A):

A late substitute to see out the win.

Arne Slot (6/10):

His decision to leave Salah on the bench proved successful and the Dutchman will be delighted with three points.

Both players were off the field for large portions of the second innings against Sri Lanka

Shashank Kishore26-Sep-20252:05

Is captaincy affecting SKY’s form?

Morne Morkel, India’s bowling coach, has allayed concerns around the fitness of Hardik Pandya and Abhishek Sharma leading into Sunday’s Asia Cup final against Pakistan in Dubai.Hardik held his left hamstring and walked off the field after bowling the first over of Sri Lanka’s innings on Friday, in which he dismissed Kusal Mendis for a first-ball duck. Hardik didn’t return to take the field for the remainder of the innings.”Hardik had cramps, he will be assessed tonight and tomorrow morning, we’ll then take a call on that,” Morkel said at the post-match press conference. India’s bowling coach was merely reiterating what India captain Suryakumar Yadav said at the post-match presentation.Meanwhile, Abhishek too spent the entire second half of Sri Lanka’s innings off the field. Abhishek showed signs of discomfort in the ninth over, when he clutched onto his right thigh while running. He eventually left the field in the 10th over, just before a Pathum Nissanka six was signalled dead ball because he hadn’t left the field before Varun Chakravarthy began to run in to bowl.Like Hardik, Abhishek too spent the rest of the innings being iced and treated with pickle juice to ease cramps. Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube and Jitesh Sharma came on as substitute fielders at different points. At one point, even Tilak Varma was briefly off the field, but he soon returned after a hydration break.With the Sri Lanka game stretching way beyond its scheduled close due to the Super Over finish, India are left with an even shorter turnaround time before they take the field on Sunday. Morkel stressed on the need for the players to recover, and stay away from training on Saturday.”The key for the boys is to rest,” he said. “They’re in an ice bath already. The recovery started straight after the match. The best way to recover is sleep and stay off your feet. Hopefully they can get a good night’s sleep.”There will be individual pool sessions for the guys organised. Then some massages before they get mentally ready for the big battle on Sunday. It’s a quick turnaround, and playing smart is going to be the key. There will certainly be no training.”‘Arshdeep, Harshit are X-factors’Morkel also touched upon the challenges players like Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana face when being called upon to deliver at a crucial stage in the competition. On Friday against Sri Lanka, the pair returned combined figures of 2 for 100 of eight overs in India’s defence of 202, before a nerveless Arshdeep delivered in the Super Over to seal victory.”In our environment we want to move away from an excuse culture,” he said. “The effort they put in at training, we expect them to go out there and deliver. Yes, sometimes lack of game time is a factor. You can bowl as many overs as you like in the nets, but nothing beats game time.”The quality of work we put in, we expect the guys to deliver. At the moment, things aren’t happening for them but the team is winning, they’re all X-factor players and real match winners.”

MatériaMais Notícias

Fernando Diniz elogiou a atuação de Martinelli como zagueiro. O técnico do Fluminense também fez pontuações sobre a vitória sobre o Colo-Colo. Esta foi a primeira do Tricolor nesta edição da Libertadores.

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Martinelli foi muito bem como zagueiro. Ele só não joga de goleiro comigo. Já jogou de atacante, de 10… Essa versatilidade dele é importante. Com ele, nós ganhamos mais ritmo na saída. Ganhamos mais agressividade. Então acho que funcionou. Isso não significa que ele vai jogar todos os jogos dessa forma. Obviamente a gente fica mais exposto

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brincou Diniz. E completou analisando a partida:

– Foi um jogo que o adversário soube valorizar a nossa vitória. Tínhamos treinado das duas formas, com eles subindo a marcação e marcando em bloco médio. Eles tentaram de tudo para dificultar as coisas para a gente. Fizemos um gol dentro das nossas características. Tivemos dificuldade de encaixar a marcação alta no começo do jogo. No primeiro lance de perigo deles, levamos o gol. Se isso não acontecesse, controlaríamos o ritmo da partida. No segundo tempo, fizemos o gol e tivemos outras chances para marcar. Poderíamos ter feito o terceiro, mas não fizemos e o jogo ficou perigoso.

Diniz também se mostrou chateado com a lesão de Lelê. O atacante sofreu uma entorse no joelho direito e será reavaliado pelo Fluminense.

– A nota triste foi a contusão do Lelê. As vezes, um jogador para jogar num time como o Fluminense, de massa, de torcida, ele leva tempo para se adaptar. Muito provavelmente ele vai ficar um tempo afastado – lamentou o técnico.

🎙️ MAIS RESPOSTAS DE FERNANDO DINIZ:

TORCIDA DO FLUMINENSE
– O reencontro com a torcida foi maravilhoso. É muito bom jogador aqui no Maracanã. É importante que eles nos apoiem do início ao fim. É difícil ser campeão e mais ainda bicampeão. Tivemos uma melhora física muito grande. Na Data-Fifa, treinamos bastante. Fizemos ajustes com treino, com vídeo e estamos nos reencontrando em todas as frentes.

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AGRESSIVIDADE DO ADVERSÁRIO
– Temos que nos preparar pelo Fluminense ser o atual campeão. O adversário joga de uma maneira mais agressiva. Da maneira positiva da palavra. Nos jogos do Colo-Colo, eles não jogaram como jogaram hoje. Mudaram a maneira de jogar, a formação, para tentar se ajustar ao nosso jeito de jogar. Existe uma fome natural de enfrentar o atual campeão. Temos que nos habituar com isso.

RETORNO DE CANO E GANSO
– É importante tê-los de volta. São jogadores que são peças fundamentais. Conhecem o nosso jeito de jogar. Ficam muito à vontade. É sempre muito bom pode contar com os dois. A qualidade técnica e característica de cada é exímia. Temos um dos maiores goleadores do mundo e um jogador que tem uma qualidade técnica que dispensa comentários.

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MARQUINHOS
– É um jogador que eu subi ele no São Paulo. Ele teve uma lesão no ligamento cruzado e voltou a jogar só depois que saí de lá. Na Europa, não conseguiu ter uma sequência de jogos. Mas sempre teve um potencial muito grande. O que ele está fazendo não me surpreende. Para mim, o Fluminense é um lugar certeiro para ele. Ele jogou muito bem nesses dois jogos e contra o Flamengo.

Tudo sobre

Fernando DinizFluminenseFutebol NacionalLibertadores

That was about as perfect a return from the international break Arsenal could have hoped for.

Mikel Arteta’s side played host to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon and, following losses for Liverpool and Manchester City, had a chance to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table.

Fortunately, and unlike last season, the Gunners made the most of the opportunity, bulldozing their bitter rivals 4-1.

4

Goals

1

57%

Possession

43%

3

Big Chances

0

17

Total Shots

3

8

Shots on Target

2

1

Saves

4

4

Corners

1

448

Passes

330

There were exceptional performances across the entire pitch for Arsenal, but one player really stood out, a player who could be on his way to becoming the new Ian Wright.

Arsenal's standout performers against Spurs

While every single player performed brilliantly for Arsenal on Sunday afternoon, Lenadro Trossard was once again one of the clear standouts.

The in-form Belgian was a huge attacking threat from the first minute to the 78th, when Noni Madueke replaced him, and it was his brilliant touch and strike that saw the Gunners take the lead.

He then provided an assist for the final goal of the game and made it abundantly clear that he should remain the starting left-winger for the foreseeable future.

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Likewise, even if Viktor Gyokeres is fit to face Chelsea next week, there is a strong argument, made even more so by his display on Sunday, that Mikel Merino should keep his place leading the line.

The Spaniard didn’t score against Spurs, but it was his incredible pass over the top of their backline that led to the opening strike.

Moreover, his constant dropping back into the midfield constantly gave Arteta’s side a numerical advantage there and allowed his attacking teammates to find space further up the pitch.

Finally, he didn’t get on the scoresheet either, but Declan Rice was utterly superb in the middle of the park and looked every bit the £105m monster the Emirates faithful hoped he’d be when they signed him.

The former West Ham United captain was here, there and everywhere. One minute he was winning the ball off a Tottenham player, and the next he was marauding through the middle of the park before laying it off for one of his teammates.

In fact, he provided the assist for the Gunners’ second, and with three key passes on the night, could have easily picked up another.

With all that said, while every Arsenal player impressed against Spurs, one stood out above the rest, a player who could become the club’s new Wright.

Arsenal's new Ian Wright

When it comes to the best player on the pitch against Spurs, it’s impossible to ignore Eberechi Eze.

Thomas Frank might’ve been jokingly asking who he was before the game, but by full-time, he was well aware.

The Gunners’ “unpredictable” summer signing, as dubbed by Rio Ferdinand, etched his name in North London Derby history with the first hat-trick in the game since Alan Sunderland in December 1978.

All three goals were excellent as well, with the first requiring some tidy footwork, the second coming off his weaker foot, and the third coming from the edge of the penalty area.

It was the sort of display that could truly kickstart his career at the club, and one that shows he can be just as effective as he is entertaining.

This is just one of the traits he shares with Gunners legend Wright, who not only became the club’s top goalscorer during his playing days, but was also one of the most thrilling strikers to watch.

Moreover, like the North Londoners’ new number ten, he played with a smile on his face and was clearly as in love with the club as the supporters were in love with him – just look at the reaction to his hat-trick.

On top of that, there is the Crystal Palace connection, with both players representing the South London club before making their move to N5 later in their careers than most.

Finally, both have played for England, and so long as he keeps his form up, the Gunners’ new mercurial midfielder should play a key role for the Three Lions at the World Cup next year.

Ultimately, Arsenal have signed an exceptional game-winning player in Eze, and thanks to his personality, playstyle and love of the club, he could become a modern-day Wright.

"Worst I've seen" – Gary Neville not entirely happy with Arsenal's Tottenham rout

The Gunners prevailed 4-1 in the North London derby on Sunday afternoon.

ByDominic Lund Nov 24, 2025

Three wickets apiece from Henry Thornton and Ben Manenti gave South Australia the advantage against Western Australia in their Sheffield Shield match.After the opening day of the pink-ball fixture was washed out, SA’s Thornton and Manenti both claimed three wickets as WA struggled to 188 all out on Sunday.South Australia reached 100 for 1 at stumps at Adelaide Oval, with Henry Hunt not out 42 and captain Nathan McSweeney on 33.In WA’s innings, Jayden Goodwin top-scored with a fighting 53 from 106 balls and Cooper Connolly (33) and Aaron Hardie (31) chipped in.But the trio were the only three batters to pass 17 amid a miserly display from SA quick Thornton, who returned superb figures of 3 for 25 from 14 overs.Thornton took the initial two wickets, removing Sam Whiteman and Cameron Bancroft. And when Jordan Buckingham dismissed Hilton Cartwright for 5 which a terrific delivery which took off stump, the visitors were wobbling at 51 for 3 in the 25th over.Spinner Manenti captured three of the next four wickets, including ending an innings-high 68-run partnership between Goodwin and Connolly. The WA duo fell within a three-over span and the visitors lost their last seven wickets for 69 runs.SA openers Hunt and Connor McInerney navigated a dozen overs before WA quick Liam Haskett broke their stand when McInerney edged an outswinger.Skipper McSweeney immediately showed intent by hitting a four from his first ball and was in fine touch, striking three more boundaries in his 56-ball knock and combining with Hunt for an unbroken 67-run partnership.

Melbourne Renegades duo Georgia Wareham and Courtney Webb have produced a match-winning partnership to sink Sydney Sixers and keep the defending WBBL champions in finals contention.The win had significant ramifications ahead of next week’s finals, ending Sixers’ three-game winning streak and meaning Hobart Hurricanes will finish top of the ladder.That means Hurricanes will host the final on Saturday week. Adelaide will host Hurricanes tonight at Karen Rolton Oval, with Strikers needing an upset win to stay in the top-four hunt.By winning their last regular-season game Renegades also improved to fourth, while Sixers are third. But Renegades must sweat on other results to find out whether they play in the finals.Chasing 131 for victory, Wareham (49 not out) and Webb (33 not out) took Renegades to 134 for 4 from 16.2 overs on Friday in Melbourne.The pair put on a whirlwind unbroken 85-run stand, rescuing Renegades from a wobbly 49 for 4 in the tenth over.Wareham, who earlier took three wickets, finished with a furious flourish, cracking five fours and two sixes from her 29 deliveries. And Webb also found the boundary four times as Renegades (five wins, five losses) climbed from sixth to fourth on the table.Sixers (five wins, three losses) remain third after failing to capitalise on an Ellyse Perryspecial with the bat.Perry top-scored with 65 from 47 balls but Sixers struggled to 130 for 9. The allrounder dominated Sixers’ innings, hitting nine fours and a six, despite frequently losing partners.Only one other team-mate – Ash Gardner (16) – reached double figures amid some excellent legspin bowling from Wareham (3 for 21 from four overs).Alyssa Healy made a six-ball duck and the middle order failed to fire around Perry, who was dismissed in the 18th over when caught at long-on from the bowling of Alice Capsey (2 for 27).Ellyse Perry put on a one-woman show with the bat for Sixers•Getty Images

Renegades hit early trouble in their chase when Maitlan Brown snared two wickets in the second over.Opener Davina Perrin (28 from 27) and Capsey (10 from 15) briefly steadied before both fell in a three-over patch, leaving Renegades in serious strife four down.But Wareham and Webb launched a power-packed counter-punch with Brown (2 for 45) the only multiple wicket-taker for Sixers.All three games over the weekend will affect the top-four finishing order. The Melbourne Stars are second and on Saturday cannot afford a slip-up when they host the Sydney Thunder, who are out of finals contention.The late Saturday game will feature fifth-placed Perth Scorchers at home against bottom side Heat, while Sixers host Adelaide Strikers on Sunday in a massive end to the regular season.Only three points separates Stars from the sixth-placed Strikers.Tuesday’s knockout final will feature the third-placed team at home against fourth.The winner of that game travels to the second-placed team on Thursday for the challenger final and that will decide who faces Hurricanes for the title.

With his double-ton in the Duleep Trophy, the 21-year-old Vidarbha batter has nine fifty-plus scores in 16 innings

Himanshu Agrawal29-Aug-2025Danish Malewar is soft-spoken. So his bat does the talking for him. For a 21-year-old who is just ten first-class matches into his career, there is immense clarity and versatility. And runs too. Big runs. He hit a double-century in the Duleep Trophy quarter-final for Central Zone and the North EastMalewar loves hitting boundaries but knows the importance of the defensive game as well. He feels his strength is playing off the front foot, but one look at his batting would tell us how solid he is with the punch and the pull shots off the back foot as well.All of that and more were on display at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. Malewar amassed 198 runs on the opening day of the domestic season, and duly went on to complete his maiden double-century in first-class cricket on Friday morning. The landmark came up with an assured cut shot for four through cover. Malewar’s words after the second day’s play, when he retired out on 203 after walking out to bat in the third over of the match, spoke of a young man who knows his stuff.”There was some moisture on the pitch when I started batting. I just saw the new ball through, and the wicket had started to settle after lunch [on day one],” he told ESPNcricinfo. “I was confident enough given the practice I had had.”Danish Malewar scored his maiden first class double-century on Friday•Himanshu Agrawal/ESPNcricinfo LtdMalewar made his first-class debut for Vidarbha in last season’s Ranji Trophy, and averages 61.62 after 16 innings. Nine times he has passed fifty, and three of those, he has converted into hundreds. Malewar thumped 150 runs in boundaries during his career-best knock, albeit against an inexperienced North East attack, and batted at a strike rate of 91.44.With 783 runs in nine matches, he was Vidarbha’s third-highest run-getter in their title-winning Ranji season. Malewar looks up to and admires the work ethic of Yash Rathod, one of the two team-mates who got more runs than him in 2024-25.Related

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“I’ve been watching and following Yash for a long time,” he said. “I’ve learnt from him how to defend a ball right at the stumps. I also practice with him at the nets, and watch how he leaves the deliveries outside off stump as well as how he drives at the ball. I think we have a similar batting style too.”Karun Nair, the other batter who scored more than Malewar, returned to Karnataka ahead of this domestic season. So there is a bit of slack that needs picking up at Vidarbha.”I did well last year,” Malewar said. “I think I fit well at No. 3. [Nair’s absence] does mean more responsibility, and as a top-order batter, I need to lay a solid base for those coming in to bat after me. It’s my job to see off the new ball, and to bat for as long as possible.”No wonder then that he has faced a hundred or more deliveries in eight of his 16 innings so far. Malewar wants to develop his own style of batting, and says he likes to play all the shots in the book – the drive, the flick, and the sweep. He has three idols, and, like his batting, is sorted about what to ask whom.”Sachin [Tendulkar] sir, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul are my favourites. I’ve seen Sachin sir from a distance, but have never got the chance to meet him. I know what I’m going to ask the three batters whenever I get to have a chat with them: I’m going to ask Sachin sir about how to play the drive well, KL Rahul about my overall batting, and Virat about mental toughness. I’m going to prepare well before going to meet them!”Talk about clarity, clear-headedness and goals. Talk about young Danish Malewar.

Aston Villa have now joined the race to sign Abde Ezzalzouli, at Unai Emery’s request, and Real Betis’ asking price has been revealed.

Villa’s interest in signing a new forward comes amid doubts surrounding Harvey Elliott’s future, with widespread reports suggesting Liverpool could recall the attacking midfielder from his loan spell in the January transfer window.

Elliott has failed to establish himself as a first-team regular, featuring for just 97 minutes across four matches in the Premier League this season, and Fabrizio Romano has now provided an update on whether there is any way back for the Englishman.

The transfer expert said: “At the moment, it depends on his performances in training. The situation is still not changing and of course, Elliott is not happy.”

Should the 22-year-old exit Villa Park this winter, there may be room in the squad to bring in another attacker, and the Villans are now looking to sign a new winger…

Aston Villa join race to sign Abde Ezzalzouli at Unai Emery's request

According to a report from Spain, Aston Villa have now joined the race to sign Real Betis star Ezzalzouli, with the forward being monitored closely ahead of the January transfer window, although there could be competition for his signature from Crystal Palace.

The Betis board’s asking price is ‘significantly’ in excess of the Moroccan’s current value of €12m (£11m), with the Spanish club eager to retain one of their key players, and manager Manuel Pellegrini has made it clear he wants to keep hold of him.

The 23-year-old has been personally requested by Emery for January, with the manager setting out to sign a new winger in order to strengthen his side’s chances of winning the Europa League.

It is little wonder Pellegrini is keen to keep hold of the 25-time Morocco international, given that he has impressed at Real Betis for quite some time, with scout Ben Mattinson waxing lyrical about the left-winger during the 2024/25 campaign.

The former Osasuna man has also made a flying start to the season, chipping in with three goals and two assists in his opening eight games, which has helped propel his side to fifth in the La Liga table.

Emery strengthened his options at left-wing in the summer, signing Jadon Sancho, but the Manchester United loanee is yet to make an impact, failing to register a single goal or assist in his opening eight matches in all competitions.

As such, it would make sense to bring in a new winger in the January transfer window, and Ezzalzouli could be a fantastic long-term addition to the squad.

Aston Villa targeting Ansu Fati alongside Abde Ezzalzouli Aston Villa prepared to make Ansu Fati offer but face complicated roadblock

The Villans are willing to make a bid for a new forward, after Emery’s plea to the board.

ByDominic Lund Nov 4, 2025

College’s international alumni show how cricket is still the ticket in the Caribbean

Cameron Ponsonby15-Nov-2024As the woman on the radio says: “Barbados, the island that always punches above its weight.”It’s a phrase that’s been associated with the nation for decades and been used by the good, the great and the mediocre. It’s used on the radio as a jingle, it’s been used by former Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan and now it’s being used on ESPNcricinfo. What a trifecta.The latest hotspot of talent to come to attention has been Harrison College. A school known more for its academic prowess than athletic, it nevertheless counts among its alumni Jacob Bethell, Phil Salt and Hayley Matthews as active international cricketers to pass through its halls; Bethell and Matthews as students, Salt a cricketing loanee who did his studies at a nearby private school.Salt and Matthews were team-mates at school, while Bethell played in the same Harrison College team as TV broadcaster Nikhil Uttamchandani, who has become a regular presenter of cricket around the world. Uttamchandani played in Bethell’s first school match and ran him out.”Without facing a ball,” Bethell quickly adds when it is brought up.Arguably what makes Harrison College special, though, is its reflection of Barbados as a nation as opposed to its own individual excellence.Because despite the fact you could turn on your TV tomorrow and watch Salt and Bethell batting, as Uttamchandani commentates, Harrison is far from the most prestigious cricketing school on the island.That award would go to one of Combermere, Lodge or Foundation. Lodge was the first ever school team to be promoted to the first division and Foundation is the alma mater of Jofra Archer. Combermere boasts the ultimate alumni top trumps of Kraigg Brathwaite, Carlos Brathwaite, Chris Jordan and, of course, Rihanna.Cricket is still taken exceptionally seriously on the island. Yes, fewer lower-level games take place than previously, but the Barbados Cricket Association Elite Division (the highest level of the club game) is broadcast on national radio and acts as a pipeline to the national team, and more pertinently, a career.Salt and Bethell produced a key partnership in England’s opening victory in Barbados•Getty Images”Let me put it in simpler terms,” says Corey Edwards, a former Barbadian seamer who was the coach of Bethell and Matthews at Harrison College.”Kraigg Brathwaite, Jomel Warrican, Carlos Brathwaite, Jason Holder, Dwayne Smith. I could name another five or ten on this hand here. These people are millionaires, or people that have made a decent amount of money. Cricket is still the ticket. Name me one footballer from Barbados that plays in the Premier League.”It remains a bugbear that the decline of cricket in the West Indies is spoken about so nonchalantly, when the truth is that the sport, even if slightly less popular than it was previously, still sits so far higher in the national consciousness in the Caribbean than almost anywhere else in the world. By way of example, a colleague got into a taxi in St Lucia where the driver bemoaned the fact that Johnson Charles’ return from injury was delayed. When, exactly, was the last time you got into a taxi in the UK and the driver was in a bad mood because Will Jacks’ hamstring scans came back with a grade two, rather than grade one, tear?Related

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“Here’s the thing,” continues Edwards, who himself briefly moved to England in the early 2000s with a view to playing county cricket. “There is no proper system in place for these youngsters – and especially youngsters that have the talent of a Jacob Bethell.”There’s no easy way in Barbados that you could be on someone’s staff to make a living. To be producing stats day in, day out so that you could get picked for West Indies.”So if cricket is the ticket, how do we make sure that ticket keeps ticketing?”The talent-drain from Barbados to England is well-known: Jordan, Archer, Bethell etc. And while no ill will is harboured on the island towards those players who moved abroad, it is nevertheless still galling from an English perspective to be cheering the addition of two generational talents with one breath and then sighing at a weakened West Indies team losing 3-0 across the Test summer. Let me just take your food and then ask why you’re hungry.Nor, if the status quo remains the same, will they be the last. Che Simmons, 20, is currently on Warwickshire’s books and could be the next Windies-qualified talent to swap allegiances.What is needed are playing opportunities … and cash.The cricket square at Harrison College, Barbados•ESPNcricinfo LtdOne solution could be to allow dual nationals, as Archer and Bethell were, to play in the County Championship without having to give up their eligibility for West Indies. We’ve seen that process play out in reverse already, with Ireland’s development as a Test nation built in part due to a raft of players competing in the County Championship, only for their accession to Test status to cause those players to be classified as overseas, which closed off a vital source of experience (and income).If dual nationals were allowed to play as locals, this development pathway would remain open, the standard of county cricket would improve and so too the standard of global cricket, as any player – Bajan, Irish or otherwise – from around the world with a British passport could play domestically. All without having to convince the big boys to reach into their pockets and hand out some more cash.On the other end of the scale, it could also mean players like Daniel Bell-Drummond, who is British-born but qualifies for West Indies through his parents, could play Test cricket without having to revoke his right to play for Kent as a local player. The modern world is increasingly transient. The game could reflect that.”I had conversations with the West Indies six, nine months back before they arrived about what assistance we can provide,” ECB chief executive Richard Gould said in July.”The specific request that came from the West Indies was can you help us with an Under-19 tour so that we can get more of our players accessing red-ball cricket in those [English] conditions. So it’s not always about the money and there are different ways of doing it.”This would provide red-ball cricket. And isn’t about the money.The Caribbean still loves cricket, with Barbados remaining a nation that, as ever, punches above its weight. It is to everyone’s benefit, for any idea however big or small, to let the cricket ticket keep ticketing.