PTI17-Oct-2025Former India women captain Shantha Rangaswamy has been elected president of the Indian Cricketers’ Association (ICA), and former Delhi men opener Venkat Sundaram named secretary.Sundaram had served as the ICA’s president since December 2024, when he was elected unopposed following the death of the former president Aunshuman Gaekwad.Deepak Jain is the treasurer, while the member representatives are Jyoti Thatte and Santhosh Subramoniam.The ICA board has nominated former India women captains Sudha Shah and Shubhangi Kulkarni as its representatives in the BCCI’s Apex Council and the IPL Governing Council.The male representative to the BCCI Apex Council is V Chamundeswara Nath from the Hyderabad Cricket Association.”This election marks a notable moment for the ICA, with two women now serving on the ICA Board, and for the first time, a female president and a female nominee to the IPL Governing Council – reflecting the Association’s commitment to inclusive representation and progressive leadership,” a release stated.
David Miller has been ruled out of South Africa’s T20I series in Pakistan, while fast bowler Gerald Coetzee will miss the entire white-ball leg of the tour due to injuries.Miller was named stand-in captain for the T20I series with regular captain Aiden Markram rested, but he has been sidelined after scans conducted on Wednesday confirmed he had suffered a grade-1 right hamstring strain during training in the build-up to the tour. “He will now begin a phased rehabilitation program,” CSA said.Allrounder Donovan Ferreira will captain the side in the three-match T20I series, which begins on October 28 in Rawalpindi. Ferreira had recently led South Africa in a one-off T20I against Namibia, which South Africa lost by four wickets.Coetzee was ruled out of both the T20I and ODIs in Pakistan due to a pectoral muscle injury. The 25-year-old sustained the injury during the T20I against Namibia. He bowled 1.3 overs in that game before he left the field and did not return.”Subsequent scans revealed the extent of the injury and following specialist consultation, he has commenced a structured rehabilitation program under the supervision of the Cricket South Africa High Performance and Momentum Multiply Titans medical teams,” CSA said.Left-arm seamer Kwena Maphaka had also been ruled out of the Pakistan tour with a hamstring strain, which he sustained while playing in a domestic first-class match in early October.South Africa have included batters Matthew Breetzke and uncapped Tony de Zorzi in the T20I squad, while fast bowler Ottneil Bartman was named as Coetzee’s replacement in the ODI squad. Breetzke had earlier also been named captain of the ODI side. The three-match ODI series begins right after the T20I leg, on November 4 in Faisalabad. The T20I squad will depart for Islamabad on October 23.
South Africa’s squad for Pakistan T20Is
Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Tony de Zorzi, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Quinton de Kock, Donovan Ferreira (capt), Reeza Hendricks, George Linde, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Andile Simelane, Lizaad Williams, Ottneil Baartman
South Africa’s squad for Pakistan ODIs
Matthew Breetzke (capt), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Donovan Ferreira, Bjorn Fortuin, George Linde, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Sinethemba Qeshile, Ottneil Baartman
Jamie Carragher has named the one team that can stop Arsenal from ending their Premier League title drought this season. The Gunners thrashed Tottenham 4-1 on Sunday to extend their lead at the top of the table. They have finished second in the English top-flight for three straight campaigns but this term represents a golden opportunity to finally top the pile for the first time since 2004.
Arsenal put Tottenham to the sword
An Eberechi Eze hat-trick inspired Arsenal to a resounding victory at Emirates Stadium on Sunday over their bitter rivals. The result took them six points clear of second-placed Chelsea and seven ahead of Manchester City, following their shock loss to Newcastle United. It was not just that Mikel Arteta's side claimed all three points it was the manner of their victory that will make the rest of the division sit up and take notice. They have the best defence in the league and the joint-best attack with City. If they keep this up, they may finally end their league title hoodoo.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportArsenal's title to lose
Liverpool legend Carragher believes that the side most likely to stop Arsenal from winning the league this season is themselves. In previous years, they seemed primed to end their barren run, only to fall short at the last. But with Liverpool languishing down in mid-table and City being a bit inconsistent, Arsenal are the big favourites for this race.
He said on Sky Sports: "The only team that can stop Arsenal winning the league is Arsenal; they are the best team. They are the best squad. The only thing that can stop them is their own heads, their own mentality. Maybe this crowd getting nervous in March and April, if the league is still up for grabs by then. This would be the one. If they didn't win it, I think we'd all point the finger at them and say, 'You threw this away’. I don't think that's ever been the case before. I always think the case has been that there has been a team slightly better than them in the Premier League, but that is definitely not the case this season."
Henry sends Arsenal rallying cry
Arsenal icon Thierry Henry believes his old team needs to "embrace" their status as favourites for the title. He also wants the Gunners to put together displays that make other teams "scared of us".
The Frenchman added: "At some point, you have to embrace it. People are talking about the process. It's not believing in the process anymore. It's happening. We put ourselves in the situation where we believe we have the best squad. So you need to make sure that you can win the league. I'm not saying they are going to win it but you need to act like you are the favourite. Embrace it. It's not me trying to put pressure. If I were coming back in the summer, I would have said, 'It's time to stop messing around'. We now need a performance this year where people are scared of us."
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Getty Images SportArteta wants more from Arsenal
Arteta was delighted with his team's victory, and, in particular, how they dismissed Tottenham with ease. Ahead of a crunch Champions League encounter with Bayern Munich in midweek, followed by a trip to Chelsea next weekend, the Spaniard says they cannot rest on their laurels.
He told BBC's Match of the Day: "It's a very special day for us. We knew the importance of the match and what it means to our fans. To be able to give them that joy, it's a beautiful day. We dominated every part of the game. We created massive chances and had a lot of actions that we were very close to scoring. We stayed patient. Whoever we put in there they do the jobs for us. This squad has the belief and quality to deliver consistently. We have really good momentum but you can see how difficult every game in the Premier League is. It's a long run, let's go game by game. Let's enjoy tonight, then we have Bayern here and Chelsea away. We have a tough week."
Manchester United’s defeat against Everton on Monday night once again highlighted the issues of Ruben Amorim’s reluctance to move away from his 3-4-2-1 system.
The Red Devils spent 77 minutes playing against just 10 men, but he refused to budge from his philosophy, which no doubt cost the side a chance of claiming all three points.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s first-half strike was enough to secure all three points for the Toffees, with the hosts’ impressive five-game unbeaten run coming to an abrupt end.
Since the final whistle, the manager has come under fire for his stubbornness in implementing a more attacking system, especially after the visitors’ early dismissal.
During the loss to David Moyes’ men, one first-team member massively failed to take advantage of the rare starting opportunity that was handed his way in the Premier League.
Joshua Zirkzee’s stats against Everton for United
After Benjamin Sesko’s knee injury against Tottenham Hotspur, Joshua Zirkzee was handed his first Premier League start of the campaign against Everton yesterday.
The Dutchman had previously had to settle for minutes off the substitutes bench, but the clash at Old Trafford was his maiden start of the 2025/26 league season.
However, he was unable to take advantage of the opportunity that was handed his way, with the 24-year-old struggling to match the demands of the manager’s system.
He featured for the entirety of the contest, but was only able to post a measly tally of 35 touches, with only five of his total touches coming within the opposition’s penalty area.
Zirkzee also completed just 15 passes at a success rate of just 60%, which resulted in the forward gifting the ball back to the opposition on 12 separate occasions.
His lack of quality was further outlined in his tally of one big chance missed and just four duels won, with James Tarkowski often pocketing the stand in centre forward.
Not just Zirkzee: United star must not start again under Amorim
In the 12 months since Amorim’s arrival, many United players have often struggled to match the expectations placed upon them – ultimately leading to their lowly Premier League finish last season.
Their performances, as seen by Zirkzee yesterday, will have led to the £200m spending spree during the summer window, but it should only be the start of the overhaul.
The midfield department should be next on the hierarchy’s agenda, with the manager no doubt wanting added reinforcements in such an area of the pitch.
Casemiro is getting towards the end of his current deal at Old Trafford, with Kobbie Mainoo seemingly not fancied by the manager after failing to start a single league game in 2025/26.
However, the defensive unit should also be one that the board are targeting, especially given the failures in that area over the past couple of seasons at Old Trafford.
Luke Shaw is one player who remains in such an area, but like Zirkzee, he’s often failed to deliver when called upon by Amorim over the last 12 months.
The Englishman has now spent over a decade on the books of the Red Devils, but ultimately, he’s entering the latter stages of his career – something which is starting to show.
He’s started every league game to date in 2025/26, but that’s not without question, with his performance against Everton one that failed to catch the eye for the right reasons.
The 30-year-old featured for the entire contest, but was only able to win 50% of the aerial duels he entered and was even dribbled past on two separate occasions.
Minutes played
90
Touches
110
Passes completed
83
Aerials lost
50%
Dribbled past
2x
Interceptions
1
Clearances
1
Crosses completed
0
He also only made one interception and one clearance, subsequently being unable to keep the side’s second clean sheet of the Premier League campaign.
Shaw’s tally of zero completed crosses out of his attempted four showcases his inability to find a teammate in attacking areas, which led to criticism from Gary Neville.
Manchester United's Luke Shaw.
The former United star, now turned pundit, stated that the player is becoming a “waste of time” at United and that his performances at Old Trafford aren’t fooling anyone.
His latest showing under Amorim is further evidence that he’s unable to match the levels he did during the early years of his career – with Amorim needing to exclude him from his starting eleven.
Shaw and Zirkzee are certainly nowhere near the levels the club need if they are to be successful in the Premier League, with the hierarchy needing to offload them to free up funds in January.
Not just Zirkzee: Man Utd man who was among the 'world's best' must be axed
Manchester United’s flaws were brutally exposed in Monday’s dismal defeat to Everton.
South African’s ability to go hard from ball one has produced eye-popping returns from just 69 balls this tournament
Vithushan Ehantharajah29-Aug-2025Donovan Ferreira has only faced 69 balls in 2025’s Men’s Hundred which, on a £52,000 deal, works out at just over £750 per delivery.Yet speak to anyone at Oval Invincibles and they will tell you the South African batter is a bargain. One they initially acquired last season for the second of their back-to-back titles and who has now played a pivotal role in their quest for a three-peat.In Tom Moody’s finely cultivated Invincibles batting order, Ferreira brings the disorder. He is a finisher by trade; a batter lower down who has to start, as he puts it, “on the heater” to make the most of the few deliveries left in an innings. Of the 69 sent his way this season, he’s managed 169 runs, striking at an absurd 244.92.Only 17 of those runs have been on foot – that’s the same number of sixes he’s managed this competition. He is clearing the boundary once every four balls, broadly in line with his work since the start of the year. Among the 66 batters with 15 or more sixes across the four major leagues Ferreira has graced in 2025 – SA20, IPL, MLC and Hundred – he sits fourth, with one every 6.23 deliveries.The career T20 numbers speak of a man keener on the aerial route, with one more six (145) than fours across 98 innings. And while such feats can blur into one on the T20 treadmill – Ferreira has played 79 short-form games since the start of last year – there is one of those blows for which he can close his eyes and feel it all over again.Donovan Ferreira crashed a 24-ball fifty against Birmingham Phoenix•Getty Images”It’s one in this year’s SA20,” Ferreira tells ESPNcricinfo. “Against Naveen-ul-Haq – I hit him out of The Wanderers. He bowled a slower ball and… well, everyting just clicked. Straight on the roof.” It went 109 metres.”In fact, my next favourite six was three balls after, when I hit him on the other roof on the square leg boundary.” That one sailed 105 metres.It was midway through this season’s SA20 that Ferreira embarked on a remarkable purple patch. In all he managed a relatively modest 163 runs struck at 155.23 for Joburg Super Kings, alongside eight dismissals with his canny offspin (he can keep wicket, too). But that was followed by a brutal 248 runs at 213.79 for Texas Super Kings, while averaging 41.33.He arrived in south London a man in form, and better equipped to deal with the novelty of 20 fewer balls and the increments of 10 from each end.”In the last six months, I think my game has definitely gone to the next level,” Ferreira says. “If you look at SA20, it started getting better. And then MLC, I was fortunate to consistently dominate over there. In this year’s Hundred, be it five-ball, 20 or whatever the case is, my contributions were significant in most of the games.”Playing in the Hundred for the first time last year (122 runs in seven innings), it was a tricky format. I know the ball played a part, with with the ‘H’ on the ball making it swing a lot. But second season, you know the pitches, the grounds, the ins and outs. It makes it a lot easier.”You’re never really out of the game with the bat or the ball. And with the ten balls from one side, you can use that (as a batter). If you’re hitting it well, you don’t need to take a single or change your mindset as often in terms of the dimensions of the ground. Momentum-wise, it just massively favours whoever’s on top. At the back end, if you’re hitting it well, I don’t think many bowlers want to be bowling to you in that second five if you’ve dominated the first five. The bowler’s on the back foot from ball one because you’ve already been going and you’re not gonna slow down.”Ferreira sees no mystery to his craft. Long before these heady days, back at the age of 23 when he had to take on a full-time job as sales rep for cricket brand IXU after being released by Titans, he knew he had the ability to win games on his own. That, he believes, is something he was born with.Ferreira hit some of his biggest sixes of the year at the SA20•SA20″It’s similar to bowling 150kph. You can coach a guy as much as possible to pick up one or two yards, but if he’s got that natural ability, he’s got the natural ability. I think I’m fortunate enough to have that on my side.”Such birthrights seem to come with an ingrained belligerence. Now with Titans full-time, Ferreira left a post-season review two years ago with one point to work on – that his numbers against spin, specifically the ball turning away from him, were poor. Ever since, his strike-rate against spin outright has improved by almost 30 (141.32 pre-2024, to 169.1 post). Last summer, he almost single-handedly pulled Invincibles out of the mire against Northern Superchargers by taking apart Adil Rashid and Mitchell Santner, striking two sixes off each having come in at 59 for 4 in pursuit of 146. He was the penultimate batter to fall, for 49 off 24, with only two of his teammates making it into the teens.His ability to go hard so early is another trait. In five of his six innings for Invincibles this term, he has struck at least one boundary in his opening three deliveries. On three occasions, they have been sixes, including his first ball against Welsh Fire, which was followed by a four. “Funnily enough, I did my side in SA20 doing that,” he laughs when asked if it is as simple as swinging wildly out of the gates.The science, for what it’s worth, happens not just before he steps on the field, but before he leaves his hotel room. Before one MLC match, Ferreira found cleaning his room therapeutic and decided to make that a routine. It is his way of maintaining order, literal decluttering for its figurative benefits, before indulging his own chaos out in the middle.”I’d just wake up and clean my room in the morning. It never really bothers me prior to game-day, but game-day, I just want everything to be… aligned. All of a sudden it feels like I’m OCD, which I’m not at all! But it’s a weird thing.”The role I have, it’s never the same. So, if I can control my environment to be neat and tidy, it… actually, I don’t know psychologically what it does, but I think it just keeps me nice and calm.
I’d just wake up and clean my room in the morning. All of a sudden it feels like I’m OCD, which I’m not at all! But it’s a weird thing
“I also listen to music, maybe for an hour, when I’m getting ready, packing my clothes, before we have to meet. Sometimes it’s some sing-along, some days I listen to some club music. Nothing specific that I listen to, but it’s when I’m getting ready in the hotel. It’s just literally just headphones on, just zoning in. It gets me away from the world, gets me away from distractions.”Strip away the role and there is a 27-year-old who still regards himself as young and is both aware he needs to evolve as a cricketer and that cricket does not define him as a person. He has lost all this once before. Even riding this wave, Ferreira knows it could go in a flash, and he is at peace with that.The one wave Ferreira has yet to truly get on has been with the national team. To date, he has six T20I caps for South Africa. He was omitted from their white-ball tour of Australia but will join up with the Proteas for the T20I series against England next month.Ferreira was told to throw his lot in with the Hundred for August by Rob Walter, South Africa’s white-ball coach before stepping down in April. Invincibles’ penchant for a settled line-up meant they were more than happy to retain him, having released Spencer Johnson, in the expectation that he would be playing for Australia in those matches before back soreness ruled him out.Related
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Nevertheless, Ferreira was a little surprised when he saw the squad picked for that tour, unsure whether the agreement with Walter had been passed on to new all-encompassing head coach Shukri Conrad. He decided against seeking clarification: “It’s not really my position to pick up the phone and ask what’s happening – I’ve only played six games, right? It’s just me knowing my place.”As it happens, his “place” in the current South Africa XI is well-stocked. Even with the retirement of Heinrich Klaasen, the middle order overflows with power – the experience of David Miller and the exciting young duo of Dewald Brevis and Tristan Stubbs. Stubbs is also the reason Ferreira was limited to a supersub cameo for Delhi Capitals in the latest edition of the IPL.What gives, South Africa – why all the finishers? Is it something in the braai?”I’m not sure why it is like that,” Ferreira replies, somewhat miffed. “I reckon we just hit the ball nice and hard. It’s similar to the West Indians, they’ve got that style of play.”I think it is something that we’ve been taught from a younger age, to hit nice and straight. You get private coaching when you’re younger, so it’s very technical. I’m not sure if the school grounds are bigger. I think we’re just blessed as a country to have all these power hitters in that role.”Klass bats a bit higher. Stubbs sometimes in domestic cricket bats a bit higher, but he’s successful at the finishing role as well. When Miller goes back, he bats four. I’ve stuck at six. I just think maybe we get an opportunity at that (finisher) role first. When you get into the team, if you look at all those players, they’re all started at six, seven.”Even with a T20 World Cup at the turn of the year, Ferreira maintains his focus on where he is right now, which is preparing for another Hundred final on Sunday at Lord’s. And then, he affords himself a moment to think ahead.”I would love to go and it would be an amazing experience. I think that’s the ultimate, to win a World Cup. If I get selected or not, it’s, it’s in their hands.”It’s similar in the leagues. All you can do is try and perform so that you hope to get selected the next year. As long as you give the coaches no reason to let you go, or not to come back, that’s all you can control. There’s no straightforward answer to any of selection questions, and I don’t think there’s a right or a wrong answer, you know?”
Amanjot, Ghosh, Rawal, Mandhana and others react to India’s maiden World Cup win
ESPNcricinfo staff02-Nov-2025
Amanjot Kaur is engulfed by her team-mates after taking a vital catch•ICC/Getty Images
Shafali Verma, Player of the Match: “At the start, I had said that God has sent me to do something special and that reflected today. I’m very happy that we’ve won the World Cup. I can’t express it in words. It was tough [coming into the tournament midway] but I was confident that if I keep self belief and stayed calm, then I can do anything. My parents, friends and my brother supported me immensely. Today, I was thinking that I need to make runs anyhow and that the team needed to win. My mind was quite clear and I batted according to my plans. I was happy they got executed. Smriti was talking to me continuously, Harman is always a supporter. Team-mates also supported me, they were very welcoming too. Seniors just said to play my natural game, not to move away from my natural game. [Sachin Tendulkar watching from the stands] It is a very memorable moment for me. When I saw Sachin sir, I got a special kind of boost. I speak to him occasionally, he gives me a boost always. Today also I got inspired just by seeing him.”Deepti Sharma, Player of the Tournament: “Honestly, this still feels like a dream. We have not yet got rid of the emptions. I am so happy to contribute in a World Cup final. I feel really glad. We just wanted to take the positive takeaways from every match. On the fans, I will say, they have come in huge numbers. I want to thank the fans, they have supported us in every match. This was not possible without them. As a team, we feel great after this result. I just want to enjoy every department. I like challenges. I had the bat and ball in my hand. I just had to play according to the situation, and I enjoyed a lot. What better a moment, on this stage, to perform as an allrounder for the team… can’t get better than this. [On Laura Wolvaardt] I think Laura played a very good innings. We were not relaxed. We were very calm, kept on cheering everyone up in the drinks break. As a bowling unit, we wanted to take it till the last ball. We just wanted focus on our best balls. and we did that. [On the changes she wants to see] There has been a lot of change after 2017 and I hope we get more matches. So that will be great.”Related
Deepti, Shafali star as India savour World Cup glory
Amanjot Kaur: “Everyone playing knew how important Wolvaardt’s catch was. I guess I fumbled first time ever in my life, glad I got a second chance. That’s all, I don’t have words to express. [What does this mean?] This means a lot. You can see the crowd cheering. We have created history. This is just the starting, Indian cricket will be at the next level. We are going to dominate all over the world in every format. [Message to family] Congrats to everyone. My family, my coaches, whoever has family here or those sitting at home. My grandmother is not well, she is watching at home. [The support] I think it’s their victory as well. Because they came in huge numbers to support us. This is for you Mumbai, this is for everyone, this is for Pratika who missed out due to injury. I know how it feels to miss out a match due to injury. Not everything is good but there’s good in everything. Very grateful.”Pratika Rawal gets off her wheelchair to celebrate with her team-mates•ICC/Getty Images
Richa Ghosh: “[On the importance of the win] This win has a lot of importance. We have been waiting for the World Cup for a long time, [had the lingering feeling of] when we will lift the trophy. And today we have won the trophy. We are champions. I can’t explain this feeling but we are all very happy. You can see how emotional everyone is. It’s totally different. [Talk in the huddle] I think in the huddle, the talk was this is the last day, one more day and we just wanted to give it all. No matter what happens, we just wanted to put our bodies on the line. [On the finish] There was pressure of the final, there is so much crowd and fans. But I wanted to performed well, that was the main thing. Everyone trusted me that I can go out and hit and that helped me a lot.”Pratika Rawal: “Well, I can’t express enough. There’s no words. It’s not going to come out of my mouth. This flag on my shoulder, it means a lot to me. And you know, being here with my team, it’s just surreal. I mean, injuries are part and parcel of the game. I’m very happy that I was a part of this team, this winning team. You know, this team, I just love this team. I can’t express my feelings towards this team. So I’m very happy that we actually made it. And we’re the first [Indian] team who has won the World Cup in so long. And the whole India deserves this. To be very honest, it was very difficult for me to sit out and watch the match because it’s actually very difficult. It’s very easy to play inside, rather than watching from the outside. But seeing this energy, seeing this environment, it just, you know, it gave me goosebumps. Whenever there was a wicket, whenever there was a sixer, you can see the energy. It’s amazing. It’s genuinely amazing.”Jemimah Rodrigues is ecstatic after India’s win•ICC/Getty Images
Smriti Mandhana: “I don’t know how to react to that [being World Champions]. Still sinking in. I haven’t been emotional on a cricket field, but just a very unreal moment. Home World Cup. Just to read ‘Champions – India’, I am still not able to process it. Every World Cup we go in and there’s been so many heartbreaks for all of us. But we always believe we’ve got a bigger responsibility with women’s cricket and genuinely to see the support we’ve got in the last one and a half months… I mean, I don’t know how to explain the last 40 days. But to end it with a World Cup win today, I will take the 45 days of not sleeping every night. [After exit from last T20 World Cup before the semi-final] The last T20 World Cup was a difficult one for all of us, but we had a clear focus on trying to work on our fitness, trying to be better at each aspect. The super-strength of this team – no one will talk about it – is how everyone just stuck in, played for each other. In a World Cup you need everyone’s support, good days and bad days. We enjoyed each others’ success. I can’t tell you how the team environment is… that’s just magic.”Amol Muzumdar: “[Feelings] Absolutely proud, there’s no doubt about it. I don’t know, it’s not sunk in yet. It’s an unbelievable achievement by all the girls. They deserve every credit, they deserve everything that will follow from here because they have worked incredibly hard. I know for a fact that they have done every Indian proud. [On the earlier losses] We did not look at those losses as losses, we just thought we couldn’t get over the line. We dominated a lot of those. There were some hiccups in the campaign, but we were still alive in the tournament and here we are on 2nd November, 2025 as World Champions. [On what this does for women’s cricket in the country] I don’t know, I really don’t know. I am sure they deserve everything what will follow hereon. They have worked extremely hard for this. It is a watershed moment for Indian cricket. [A word on Shafali?] One word… magical. Absolute magical. Turns up in the semi-final, no pressure.. in the finals, home crowd, packed stadiums, turns up a blinder of an innings and then picks up a few wicket with the ball. Absolutely magical.[On the fielding] That was one thing we spoke a lot in the dressing room in the last two years that fielding and fitness was really something we spoke about and focused on it. And here we are… they just turned it up on this day in a World Cup final. I couldn’t have asked for more.”
SA’s spin trio of Muthusamy, Harmer and Subrayen took 4 for 248 on a Lahore pitch already showing signs of turn
Firdose Moonda12-Oct-2025
Shan Masood scored 76, while Imam-ul-Haq fell seven short of a hundred•AFP/Getty Images
A 161-run second-wicket stand between Imam-ul-Haq and Shan Masood, and an undefeated 114-run sixth-wicket partnership between Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Agha bookended a strong opening day for Pakistan against South Africa, the World Test Champions. All four of Imam, Masood, Rizwan and Agha recorded fifties, with Imam falling seven short of what would have been a fourth Test hundred.On a Lahore surface that showed signs of deterioration as early as the third session of the opening day, first-innings runs are considered crucial, and South Africa will be concerned by how many they conceded. Though they took three wickets for no run either side of the tea interval as Pakistan went from 199 for 2 to 199 for 5, South Africa could neither contain Pakistan for any length of time nor close things out. They also put down four catches which changed the complexion of the day.Knowing conditions would be challenging and unfamiliar, South Africa opted for three spinners and two seamers in their bowling attack but it lacked international experience. Between them, the spin trio of Senuran Muthusamy, Simon Harmer and Prenelan Subrayen have played just 16 Tests, but they have 422 first-class wickets, and were made to do the bulk of the work. They combined to bowl 74 overs, and took 4 for 248; enough of their deliveries gripped and turned to suggest batting will become difficult later on.After choosing to bat, Pakistan were rocked immediately when Kagiso Rabada’s third delivery beat Abdullah Shafique’s inside edge and hit him on the back pad. Stand-in captain Aiden Markram reviewed successfully to hand the visitors their first wicket. South Africa had barely finished celebrating when Masood hit Rabada for back-to-back boundaries. Wiaan Mulder bowled just two overs before South Africa turned to spin, and Pakistan’s plan was clear. Masood hit Subrayen over his head for six to assert himself immediately.Senuran Muthusamy struck back-to-back just before tea•Getty Images
Imam had latched on to anything too full or wide early on, used his wrists well, and played the ball late to become the dominant partner in his stand with Masood. He reached fifty off 65 balls and blunted the spin threat, especially as Harmer found turn and bounce, while also surviving a pre-lunch lbw appeal in Rabada’s second spell. Markram had reviewed again, but the impact was outside the line. Pakistan went to the break on 107 for 1.Masood’s half-century came after lunch when he drove Harmer through mid-on, and though he was untroubled to that point, South Africa started to create chances. Masood was on 61 when Subrayen drew him forward and he inside-edged the ball on to his pad. It popped up for Tony de Zorzi at short leg, who went one-handed to his left and could not hold on. In Subrayen’s next over, Imam charged down the track and hit him aerially to mid-off, where Mulder moved to his left first and then had to readjust to his right but spilled the chance.Subrayen was eventually rewarded, four overs later, when he beat Masood’s inside edge with a ball that didn’t turn and had him out lbw.The Pakistan captain left to huge cheers. None of it was for his 76 though. The home crowd was celebrating the arrival of Babar Azam to the crease. But they were soon stunned into silence when Babar was given out caught behind to Muthusamy, who turned the ball just past his outside edge. Babar reviewed immediately, and with no spikes on UltraEdge, the decision had to be overturned. Babar went on to inside edge Muthusamy past Kyle Verreynne for his first runs, but then found his touch with back-to-back boundaries through midwicket. He raced to 21 off his first 22 balls.But South Africa were able to pull him back and then strike twice to end the middle session on a high. Imam inside-edged Muthusamy to de Zorzi at short leg. Saud Shakeel gave South Africa a bonus wicket when he popped a leading edge back to the bowler and leave Muthusamy on a hat-trick at the break. He didn’t complete it, but South Africa picked up a third wicket 14 balls after tea, when Harmer pinned Babar on the pad, Markram reviewed, and ball-tracking showed it would have gone to hit leg stump.Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Agha walked back after an unbeaten 114-run stand•AFP/Getty Images
Harmer had a strong appeal for lbw against Rizwan later in the over as the ball ripped and spun in sharply, but the impact could have been outside the line. Rizwan counterattacked well, hit Muthusamy for six over long-on, and Harmer for fours through midwicket and cover. Agha seemed happy to hold his end, and was on 8 off 13 balls when he reverse-swept Harmer and the ball ended up in Verreynne’s hands, deflected in off his boots. The umpires checked for a catch, but one angle showed it had bounced off the bat and on to the turf before it made contact with Verreynne.The chances kept coming as Rizwan, on 26, edged Muthusamy to Markram at slip. But Markram wasn’t sure whether he had taken a clean catch, and replays showed the ball died on him and bounced in front. Then, Rizwan was on 28 when he was given out lbw to Subrayen but a review showed it was missing leg stump.Rizwan kept accumulating as South Africa wound down to the second new ball, and Markram gave himself an over before it arrived. He thought he had Rizwan, on 47, caught at leg slip but the ball had come off the batter’s arm.Rizwan’s fifty came off the first delivery with the second new ball, which Rabada shared with Muthusamy. The new ball almost brought a breakthrough when Agha edged Muthusamy, but Verreynne initially going for the chance may have distracted Markarm at slip, who put down a simple chance.South Africa’s day got longer when Rizwan swept Harmer powerfully to short leg, but the ball was hit so hard that it did some damage to de Zorzi’s hand as he tried to hold onto the catch. Agha’s fifty came just after that, and he took Pakistan to the close with plenty to be pleased about.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is welcoming his Gunners squad back to training in London Colney ahead of his side’s crucial derby against Tottenham this weekend.
The face-off carries significant weight in this year’s Premier League title race, with Arsenal looking to maintain their position at the summit while Tottenham seek to disrupt their neighbours’ title aspirations.
Arsenal enter the match off a 2-2 draw at Sunderland, which ended their 10-match winning run in all competitions and eight-game run without conceding a single goal.
Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest
Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal
Arsenal 1-1 Man City
Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal
Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal
Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos
Arsenal 2-0 West Ham
Fulham 0-1 Arsenal
Arsenal 4-0 Atlético Madrid
Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
Arsenal 2-0 Brighton
Burnley 0-2 Arsenal
Slavia Prague 0-3 Arsenal
Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal
The Gunners have been in exceptional form this season, averaging over two goals per match and establishing themselves as the team to beat. Their defensive prowess has been particularly impressive, conceding just five goals so far and boasting the best defence in all of Europe’s top five leagues.
Fifth-place Spurs drew 2-2 with Man United in their last outing and currently hold the best away record in the Premier League with 13 points won from a possible 15, having scored the joint-most goals (12) and conceded the fewest (three) on their travels (NBC Sports).
Despite having won just three times at Arsenal since the Premier League’s inception, this remarkable away form makes them dangerous opponents and Arteta will be very aware of the threat Thomas Frank’s side pose.
Arsenal also face a real selection headache, with star defender Gabriel Magalhaes poised to be out for at least a month after sustaining a thigh injury on international duty with Brazil.
Arteta’s attacking depth faces a severe test heading into the derby too, with multiple forwards battling to prove their fitness. Viktor Gyokeres is still a doubt for the match, with little certainty around Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz.
Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann revealed that Havertz had a “minor relapse” of his knee injury and is expected to return “towards the end of the year”, casting doubt on his involvement in this weekend’s derby.
Captain Martin Odegaard’s situation remains unclear as well. Norway boss Stale Solbakken said Odegaard is “some distance away”, but the player himself stated the injury is “starting to look better” and will hopefully be back soon (TV2).
Noni Madueke was actually close to making the Sunderland squad, so he could well return to the fold for Spurs, but the game comes too soon for striker Gabriel Jesus.
Gabriel Jesus pictured in Arsenal training with teammates after lay-off
The Brazilian hasn’t played a single minute since rupturing his ACL in an FA Cup defeat to Man United at the start of the year, and reports suggest he’ll be the last in a long line of Arsenal attackers to return from injury (Simon Collings).
However, Jesus is back in Arsenal first-team training, with football.london relaying that the 28-year-old was pictured taking part in a session this week alongside Declan Rice, Eberechi Eze, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ben White.
The former Man City star, once he makes his comeback, is set to play a role under Arteta this season, despite reports of a potential January exit.
Arteta has called Jesus an ‘unpredictable’ weapon he can’t wait to call upon, while the player himself is adamant that he’s not going anywhere.
It is unclear when Jesus will be available for full selection again, but it could well be soon given he’s back with the squad.
Mike Greenwell, the former Red Sox left fielder and franchise Hall of Famer, has died at the age of 62, it was announced Thursday. His death comes only months after he revealed his medullary thyroid cancer diagnosis in August.
In a message on Facebook, his wife, Tracy, said Greenwell died at 10:30 a.m. in Boston's General Hospital, per WINK-TV, a CBS affiliate in Southwest Florida.
“It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Commissioner Mike Greenwell, a lifelong Lee County resident,” said officials from Lee County, Fla., where Greenwell served as county commissioner, in a post on social media. “He was a strong advocate for the people and businesses of Lee County and will be remembered for seeking meaningful solutions to the challenges his community faced. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and all who were touched by his leadership.”
"We are deeply saddened by the passing of Red Sox Hall of Famer Mike Greenwell," added the Red Sox in a statement of the team's own. "'The Gator' spent his entire career in a Red Sox uniform and was a beloved fixture of Fenway and Fort Myers. He gave so much to Lee County and Sox Nation. We send our love to the Greenwell family."
Greenwell, a two-time All-Star and 1988 AL MVP runner-up, was selected in the third round of the 1982 MLB draft and played from 1985 to '96. Over his 12 seasons in the league, he recorded a career batting average of 0.303 with an OPS of 0.831.
In 2022, he was appointed to Lee County commissioner following the death of then-commissioner Franklin Mann, and was re-elected in 2024.
تعادل منتخب مصر أمام نظيره الإمارات، بهدف لكل فريق، في لقاء أقيم اليوم، في إطار منافسات مواجهات دور المجموعات لبطولة كأس العرب 2025.
ولعب منتخب مصر مع الإمارات، في الجولة الثانية من مباريات دور المجموعات لبطولة كأس العرب المقامة في قطر.
منتخب مصر كان قد تعادل مع الكويت في الجولة الأولى بنتيجة 1-1، بينما تلقى منتخب الإمارات الهزيمة من الأردن، 2-1.
طالع | فيديو.. العراق يفوز على السودان ويتأهل رسميًا إلى دور الـ8 من كأس العرب
وانتصر منتخب الأردن على الكويت، بثلاثة أهداف مقابل هدف، في المباراة التي جمعتهما اليوم السبت، ليضمن منتخب النشامي التأهل إلي دور ربع النهائي بشكل رسمي قبل لقاء الجولة الأخيرة.
واستطاع منتخب الأردن تصدر المجموعة الثالثة من بطولة كأس العرب، برصيد 6 نقاط، ثم مصر ثانيًا بنقطتين، والإمارات ثالثًا بنقطة والكويت رابعًا بنقطة. موعد مباراة مصر والأردن في كأس العرب
سيلعب منتخب مصر أمام الأردن في الجولة الثالثة من مجموعات كأس العرب يوم الثلاثاء 9 ديسمبر في تمام الساعة الرابعة والنصف عصرًا بتوقيت القاهرة، الخامسة والنصف بتوقيت مكة.