كشفت تقارير صحفية موقف الدولي الفرنسي دايوت أوباميكانو، لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي بايرن ميونخ، من الرحيل عن البافاري خلال الصيف المقبل.
ولا يزال مستقبل مدافع منتخب فرنسا صاحب الـ26 عامًا دايوت أوباميكانو، مع بايرن ميونيخ، غامضًا، إذ لم يحدد حتى الآن موقفه من الاستمرار.
ويرغب تشابي ألونسو، المدير الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم، في تعزيز الفريق على مستوى خط الدفاع، بسبب سوء مستوى البعض وكثرة الإصابات التي يتعرض لها آخرون.
ووفقًا لشبكة “سكاي سبورتس ألمانيا”، فإن المدافع الفرنسي ووكيله متمسكون بمطالبهم خلال مفاوضات تجديد عقده والذي سينتهي بنهاية الموسم الجاري.
ولا يبدو اللاعب ولا ممثلوه مستعدين لتقديم أي تنازلات للنادي البافاري، والقرار الآن بيد متصدر الدوري الألماني الذي يتعين عليه اتخاذ قرار بشأن قبول أو رفض الشروط التي تتعارض مع سياسته الحالية في تحديد الرواتب.
اقرأ أيضًا | تشافي: برشلونة أراد ضم صفقة مستحيلة من ليفربول في ولايتي
لا تقتصر مطالب أوباميكانو على زيادة كبيرة في راتبه، بل تشمل أيضًا مكافأة تجديد التعاقد، قدرها 17 مليون يورو، وهو رقم يتعارض مع سقف الرواتب والنظام المالي لبايرن ميونخ.
على الرغم من ذلك، يعتبر المدير الرياضي ماكس إيبرل، استمرار عقد قلب الدفاع البالغ من العمر 26 عامًا مع الفريق أولوية قصوى، لكن هناك أصوات داخل النادي تدعو إلى اتخاذ موقف قوي حتى لو كان ذلك يعني خسارة اللاعب مجانًا العام المقبل.
وفي سياق متصل، ووفقًا لصحيفة “آس” الإسبانية، فإن نادي ريال مدريد اعتبر دايوت أوباميكانو هدفًا له، من أجل التعاقد معه خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية المقبلة.
ريال مدريد يرغب في اتباع نفس نهج التعاقد مع كيليان مبابي وترينت ألكسندر أرنولد، وهو جلب صفقات للاعبين تنتهي عقودهم مع أنديتهم في وقت قريب.
After missing out on the signature of Morgan Gibbs-White this summer, Tottenham Hotspur have been trying to secure a new attacking midfielder ahead of the new campaign.
The signing of Joao Palhinha in a deep-lying position has solved one of the underlying problems in the side, allowing them to focus on other areas of the pitch as a result.
James Maddison has for so often been the player who’s occupied the number ten role in North London, but new boss Thomas Frank will be unable to rely upon him during the first few months of the campaign.
FFC Spurs – James Maddison
The Englishman sustained an ACL injury in the pre-season clash against Newcastle United, which is expected to rule him out for the majority of the 2025/26 season.
Such a setback has highlighted the further need for additions in the middle of the park, which could see numerous players being pursued before the September 1st deadline.
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Buy Premium Now The latest on Spurs’ hunt for a new attacking midfielder
Over the last couple of days, it’s been confirmed that Spurs have entered talks with Crystal Palace over a potential deal to sign midfielder Eberechi Eze.
However, if they are to secure the signature of the England international this summer, they will have to battle North London rivals Arsenal – in what could be a two-horse race.
He’s not the only player they’ve been considering as of late, with Leicester City star Bilal El Khannouss also in their sights, according to TheBoyHotspur.
Their report claims that the Lilywhites are set to trigger his £22m relegation release clause in his contract, after the Foxes suffered an immediate return to the second tier last season.
It also states that the player himself would be keen on a move to join Frank’s side, with their Champions League status seen as a huge bonus in their pursuit of the Moroccan international.
Why Spurs’ latest target would be their answer to Eze
There’s no denying that Eze would be a phenomenal addition for Spurs this summer, but it’s currently unclear as to whether he would want to join Frank’s side.
Crystal Palace's EberechiEzereacts
The 27-year-old has been one of the Premier League’s most potent forwards in recent times, as seen by his superb tally of 16 goal contributions in his 34 appearances throughout 2024/25.
He’s registered three goals and one assist in his seven outings against the Lilywhites, potentially landing a star who has constantly caused havoc against them in England’s top-flight.
Having a player of his talent would hand the new boss the added quality he needs to build on the Europa League success achieved last season, whilst also denting their rivals’ ambitions in the process.
However, whilst he may remain as many of the supporters’ first choice this window, El Khannouss could be an excellent alternative to Eze, following a similar trend should he move to North London.
The 21-year-old would replicate the Englishman in joining the club from a Championship outfit, before developing into one of the biggest threats in England’s top-flight.
Despite suffering relegation to the Championship last season, it didn’t stop the youngster from outperforming Eze in numerous key areas – arguably being a better addition for the club this summer.
Games played
33
34
Goals & assists
6
16
Progressive passes
5.4
3.3
Progressive carries
2.9
2.4
Goals per shot on target
0.3
0.2
Pass accuracy
75%
74%
Passes into final third
3.8
1.7
Take-on success
57%
48%
Carries into the final third
1.9
1.6
El Khannouss, who’s been labelled “elite” by analyst Ben Mattinson, achieved a better goal per shot on target rate last season, arguably being a more clinical option for the Lilywhites within the final third.
He also notched higher tallies for progressive passes and passes into the final third per 90, able to create more chances for his potential new teammates throughout 2025/26.
The Leicester star’s dominance is further highlighted in his higher take-on success and tally of carries into the final third, subsequently able to single-handedly create an opportunity out of nothing for Frank’s men.
£22m would be a sensational piece of business by the club, able to land a talent with bigger potential for a fraction of the cost if they decide to move for the Moroccan instead of Eze.
Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White in action with Leicester City'sBilalEl Khannouss
Given the lack of quality in such a department, given Maddison’s injury, it’s vital the club make the right addition, with El Khannouss able to fill the void and continue his development and become a leading Premier League talent in North London.
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Better signing than Rodrygo: £60m star is ready to join Spurs alongside Eze
Tottenham Hotspur have received the green light over a deal to land a top-level talent this summer.
Tom Bischof is emerging as Bayern Munich’s breakout star this season, blending youthful energy with relentless ambition. The German midfielder, who calls himself a “mentality monster,” has quickly adapted to the rigors of Allianz Arena, thriving under Vincent Kompany and embracing Bayern’s winning mentality as he aims to make an immediate impact on both the domestic and European stage.
Bayern’s dominant season and Bischof’s bright start
Bayern continues to dominate the Bundesliga, securing their sixth consecutive victory defeating Eintracht Frankfurt 3-0 and maintaining a perfect start to the campaign. The squad’s mix of seasoned stars and rising talent has created a formidable force on the pitch. Among the newcomers making waves is 20-year-old Bischof, who joined Bayern this summer from Hoffenheim. Bischof has adapted seamlessly to the team’s high standards, fitting into Kompany’s dynamic system and contributing meaningfully to the club’s ongoing success.
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“I’m a mentality monster,” says Bischof
In an interview with Bayern’s Sabener51 magazine, Bischof shared insights into his decision to join the club and the mindset he brings to the squad. He carefully considered the move, listening to advice from Kompany, Max Eberl, and Christoph Freund, while also studying Bayern’s style of play.
"I spent a long time thinking about what the right step would be for me. I didn’t just decide because we’re Bayern fans in my family. I also listened carefully to Vincent Kompany, Max Eberl, and Christoph Freund about what they wanted and expected of me. I watched a lot of Bayern. All of that played a role," Bischof said.
He further added: "“I think the kind of football Bayern plays suits me perfectly. Playing around the box, the high pressing, all of that suits me very well. And besides, I’m a bit of a ‘mental monster. I’m super ambitious, I want to win titles, I want to win every game, absolutely. And that’s FC Bayern’s identity."
Bischof's journey from Hoffenheim to Bayern
Bischof’s rise has been swift. A product of Hoffenheim’s youth academy, he impressed in his breakthrough 2024-25 season, scoring six goals and providing three assists across 42 appearances. His Bundesliga debut for Bayern has already seen him feature in four matches and record one assist, quickly proving his ability to compete at the highest level. Internationally, he has represented Germany at various youth levels and earned his senior debut during the 2024-25 Nations League against France, signaling a promising future for both club and country.
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Bayern's form is the result of collective strength
Bayern's current form is a testament to a squad firing on all cylinders. Harry Kane leads the Bundesliga scoring charts with 11 goals, while Luis Diaz tops the assists table with four, highlighting the potency of Bayern’s attacking and creative play. After the international break, Bayern will test their strength against rivals Borussia Dortmund on October 18.
قلّص فريق أولمبياكوس الفارق أمام نظيره فريق برشلونة، بتسجيله هدف في شباك الفريق الإسباني في مباراتهما الجارية حاليًا في إطار منافسات بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.
ويستضيف ملعب “مونتجويك” مباراة فريقي برشلونة وأولمبياكوس، في خضم لقاءات الجولة الثالثة من دوري أبطال أوروبا، مرحلة الدوري موسم 2025/26.
وتمكن أولمبياكوس من تسجيل هدف أول أمام برشلونة، في مباراتهما الجارية في الوقت الحالي، في الدقيقة 50.
جاء الهدف عن طريق اللاعب أيوب الكعبي برأسية مميزة هزت شباك تشيزني، ولكن الحكم لجأ إلى تقنية الفيديو لوجود شك في ضربة جزاء في بداية الهجمة بسبب لمسة يد على إريك جارسيا.
وقد تقرر إلغاء هدف أيوب الكعبي لوجود تسلل، واحتساب ضربة جزاء لصالح أولمبياكوس، ونفذها اللاعب نفسه وحولها إلى هدف أول للضيوف. هدف أولمبياكوس الأول أمام برشلونة في دوري أبطال أوروبا
Everton’s summer has already been one of major transition, with several familiar faces moving on and David Moyes reshaping his squad in key areas.
The Toffees opened the new campaign with a frustrating defeat at Leeds but quickly steadied the ship with back-to-back wins – including a confident home victory against Brighton and safe passage through the EFL Cup against Mansfield.
It was a timely reminder that, while this is a squad in flux, the structure Moyes is putting in place has the potential to deliver steady progress.
Recruitment has been central to that process. High-profile arrivals such as Jack Grealish from Manchester City and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from Chelsea have given supporters optimism, while Thierno Barry and Tyler Dibling offer fresh energy.
But if Everton are to truly evolve into a side capable of competing consistently in the top half of the Premier League, there is still work to be done in central midfield.
The departure of Abdoulaye Doucouré to Saudi Arabia has left a sizeable gap.
For years the Malian was Everton’s engine, a player who could carry the ball forward, cover ground tirelessly, and chip in with goals at crucial moments.
Replacing him is no easy task.
Moyes has already tested the waters for Tomas Soucek, but West Ham have so far rebuffed Everton’s approach.
West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek
That has shifted attention elsewhere.
Benfica now are bracing themselves for an approach from Merseyside for one of their midfielders – a 26-year-old who has long been on Everton’s radar and who may now finally be available for the right price.
Everton set to bid for Benfica midfielder
The player in question is Florentino Luis, with the Lisbon outfit said to be expecting an offer from the Toffees, according to Portuguese outlet, Mais Futebol.
The Portuguese defensive midfielder came through Benfica’s academy system and has since established himself as a dependable figure in their first-team squad.
At 26, he is entering his prime years and fits the mould of the disciplined, ball-winning option that Moyes has been searching for since Doucoure’s exit.
The Toffees were linked with Luis as far back as January 2024, and Benfica are now open to a sale.
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The midfielder has slipped down the pecking order following the arrivals of Enzo Barrenechea and Ricard Ríos this summer, and with his contract running until 2027, this window presents the Lisbon club with a logical chance to cash in.
Benfica have already rejected advances from Marseille and Burnley, while Luis himself turned down a lucrative €5m (£4m)-a-year proposal from Saudi Arabia to keep his focus on securing a Premier League move.
That determination to play in England puts Everton in a strong position, with a fee in the region of £22m likely to be enough to tempt Benfica into negotiations.
The Portuguese international, who has also enjoyed loan spells at Monaco and Getafe, made 26 league appearances last season, contributing two goals and an assist.
While his attacking numbers may not leap off the page, his value comes in his ability to win the ball back, maintain possession under pressure, and distribute intelligently – qualities Everton lacked at times in their midfield last season.
Why Luis is the perfect upgrade on Doucoure
The comparison between Doucouré and Luis is intriguing.
On paper, the former Waford man delivered more goal contributions in the 2024/25 campaign – five compared to Luis’ three – and his willingness to break forward into attacking areas was a defining feature of his game.
But beneath the surface, Luis offers a profile that appears far more aligned with Moyes’ tactical vision.
According to FBref, the 26-year-old averaged 44.7 passes per 90 minutes last season, at an accuracy of 87.1%. Doucoure, by contrast, attempted just 25.4 passes per 90 with a lower completion rate of 80.3%.
Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure
That gulf highlights how Luis can act as a metronome at the base of midfield, helping Everton retain possession in high-pressure Premier League encounters.
Defensively, the Portuguese midfielder’s numbers stand out even more.
Tackles
83
Tackles Won
47
Defensive Third Tackles
27
Dribblers Tackled
37
Blocks
34
Aerial Duals Won
28
He averaged 3.74 tackles per 90, more than double Doucoure’s 1.68, and was particularly effective in the midfield third, registering 2.01 tackles per 90 compared to the Doucoure’s 0.70.
His ability to break up play and shield the back four would give Everton a stability they have often lacked when stretched by stronger opponents.
Luis also brings value in blocking passing lanes and covering ground.
He recorded 1.51 blocks per 90 and won more aerial duels than Doucoure on average (1.23 vs 1.05).
While Doucoure was a more direct attacking threat – averaging over a shot per game compared to Luis’ 0.32 – Moyes may feel that creativity and goalscoring responsibilities can be shouldered by his new attacking additions, while midfield solidity comes from players like Luis.
Where Doucoure was a box-to-box presence, Luis is a controller.
His progressive passing distance of 229.5 per 90 dwarfs Doucoure’s 79.1, showing a clear willingness to move the ball into dangerous areas rather than carrying it himself.
Combined with his high shot-on-target percentage of 42.9% (compared to Doucoure’s 29%), he offers technical quality when stepping forward without overextending his role.
Crucially, at 26, Luis arrives with years ahead of him to grow, while offering Everton the immediate reliability of a player who has competed regularly in both domestic and European competitions.
In essence, Luis represents the evolution of Everton’s midfield: a younger, more technically secure, and defensively dominant option who can provide balance to a squad undergoing rapid change.
Doucoure’s crucial goals and driving runs will be missed, but with Luis anchoring the centre of the pitch, the Toffees would gain a platform that allows their attacking talents – from Grealish to Dewsbury-Hall – to flourish.
The new Barry: Everton chasing late move for another "special" English star
Everton are interested in signing an England U21 star.
With Manchester City set to host Manchester United in the 197th Manchester derby on Sunday, we’ve taken a look at who could come out on top, the likely line-ups and injury concerns for both sides heading into the all-important affair.
Man City vs Man Utd team news
Starting with Man City, to say that it’s been a frustrating international break would be an understatement. The Citizens have come back with further injury woes and now have as many as 10 players on the treatment table. Given that Pep Guardiola’s side have just suffered back-to-back defeats at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton, it’s the last thing that they needed.
Guardiola spoke about his side’s injury woes in his pre-match press conference, saying: “Omar is injured from Egypt [international duty]. John Stones as well is a doubt. [It’s] not a big issue, but he’s a doubt for Sunday. Rayan Cherki [is also injured] but the rest are fine.”
The Spaniard confirmed that Omar Mamoush will be out for a number of weeks alongside Rayan Ait-Nouri, whilst Stones and Cherki are also doubts to face Man United this weekend. There could, however, be a debut for Gianluigi Donnarumma.
In the red corner, meanwhile, things aren’t much better on the injury front. Ruben Amorim confirmed that Matheus Cunha, Mason Mount and Diogo Dalot are all unavailable after taking knocks before and during the international break, handing his side a frustrating blow.
The Man United boss told reporters: “I think they are out for this game. I don’t know how long it is going to take. We need those players to be a very, very competitive team, but we have very good players that are eager to play, so we will be competitive on Sunday, but they are out, they cannot help us in this game.”
The Portuguese manager also remained coy when asked about a potential debut for Senne Lammens, which means that Altay Bayindir could get one last chance to impress.
Man City predicted line-up (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Nunes; Dias; Ake; Gvardiol; Rodri; Reijnders; Silva; Bobb; Haaland; Doku
Man United predicted line-up (3-4-2-1): Bayindir; Yoro; De Ligt; Shaw; Amad; Mainoo; Casemiro; Dorgu; Mbeumo, Fernandes; Sesko
Man City vs Man Utd recent results
The Manchester derby is never an easy one to predict. For all of Man City’s Premier League dominance across the last six years, they’ve not been without games to forget against their local rivals. And that proved to be the case last season.
Even as Amorim’s side stumbled to a woeful bottom-half finish, they managed to take three points at The Etihad in dramatic fashion – scoring twice in the final two minutes to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
Man Utd 0-0 Man City
24/25
Premier League
Man City 1-2 Man Utd
24/25
Premier League
Man City 1-1 Man Utd (7-6 penalties)
24/25
Community Shield
Man City 1-2 Man Utd
23/24
FA Cup
Man City 3-1 Man Utd
23/24
Premier League
What instantly stands out about recent meetings is Man United’s record. The Red Devils have lost just once in five games in normal time against their rivals and will be looking to go five games unbeaten this weekend.
Coming into the game, form would suggest that Man United should actually have the edge. Amorim’s side entered the international break off the back of a last-gasp 3-2 win against Burnley, whilst Man City entered off the back of two defeats in three games.
Man City vs Man Utd predictions and odds
Although recent form says different, the bookies have got Man City as favourites heading into the Manchester derby. At 8/11, the Citizens are being backed to secure their first victory for a month and their first win over their rivals in over a year. Man United, meanwhile, are priced at 10/3 to shock Guardiola and co. at The Etihad once again and a draw sits at 14/5.
Both sides could do with victory here, that is undeniable. A victory for Man United would be a much-needed statement after their nervy showing against Burnley and Carabao Cup upset at the hands of Grimsby.
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As for Man City, they could go without a win in three Premier League games in something that is almost unheard of for Guardiola. In an unpredictable affair, goals and drama can be expected as Manchester rivals clash for the 197th time.
Alejandro Garnacho got inked once again as a new tattoo can be seen on his neck during the latest Chelsea games. Garancho have had a slow start at Stamford Bridge since moving from Manchester United in the last transfer window. He had a fallout with manager Ruben Amorim during the Europa League final last season and was put in Amorim's 'bomb squad' throughout the summer.
Garnacho's slow start to life at Chelsea
Since completing his move from United to Chelsea in August, Garnacho has appeared in just four matches across all competitions, starting in only two of them. While he is yet to record a goal or an assist, it was from his cross that Benfica's Richard Rios scored the own goal that handed the Blues their first win in the Champions League this season.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportMeaning of Garnacho's new tattoo revealed
Lately, fans have noticed a new tattoo that Garnacho has been showing off on his neck. The words that are inked just below his Adam's apple read: "Nunca es suerte, siempre es Dios." It translates to: "It's never luck, it's always God."
Garnacho's other tattoos
The neck tattoo is one of many Garnacho has, with the most prominent one being a tribute to the hit TV show 'Prison Break'. He regularly shows off his body art on social media.
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AFPChelsea host Liverpool next
After a morale-boosting win over Benfica on Tuesday, Enzo Maresca's side will now shift their focus to the Premier League again as they host reigning English champions Liverpool on Saturday.
Na noite da última quinta-feira, o Internacional encaminhou a contratação do goleiro Sergio Rochet, que atua no Nacional-URU.
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A chegada de Rochet pegou a torcida de surpresa, já que o atual titular Jonh apresenta uma boa qualidade de jogo.
Invencibilidade
Um dos pontos positivos de John é a sua invencibilidade na meta do Internacional. Nos 12 jogos que atuou, o Colorado venceu nove e empatou três.
Além disso, John foi decisivo em alguns duelos, principalmente contra o Vasco da Gama, onde operou um milagre no chute de Lucas Piton.
Williamson wasn’t considered for selection after making himself unavailable
Deivarayan Muthu24-Mar-2025
Nick Kelly in action for Wellington Firebirds•Getty Images
The Wellington pair of Muhammad Abbas and Nick Kelly has earned their maiden call-ups to the New Zealand squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series at home against Pakistan. Kane Williamson wasn’t considered for selection after making himself unavailable.Fast bowler Kyle Jamieson, whose workload is being managed by the selectors, will also miss the ODIs against Pakistan after playing in the Champions Trophy and the T20Is at home against Pakistan earlier this month. Pace-bowling spearhead Matt Henry will continue to remain on the sidelines as he is undergoing rehab for a shoulder and knee issue.Will O’Rourke, who had returned to the T20I squad for the last two games, will continue to lead the seam attack in the ODIs too, in the absence of seniors. Ben Sears, Jacob Duffy and Nathan Smith will also be part of the seam attack while Auckland legspinner Adithya Ashok has been recalled to the side after having last played for New Zealand in December 2023.Ashok, 22, has been tipped to become Ish Sodhi’s successor in white-ball cricket. In the 50-overs Ford Trophy, Ashok had picked up ten wickets in seven games at an economy rate of under five in Auckland’s run to the final. With Mitchell Santner, Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra currently at the IPL, Ashok will form a new-look spin attack along with Michael Bracewell.Related
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Bracewell, who had captained New Zealand in the T20I series against Pakistan, will hand over the reins to Tom Latham for the ODI leg. Mitch Hay, who smashed an unbeaten 86 off 76 balls in the Ford Trophy final for Canterbury, has been selected as the second wicketkeeper.Kelly will likely open with Will Young in the absence of Ravindra and Devon Conway, who are both with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL. Kelly, 31, has been rewarded for his strong domestic form this season. In the Ford Trophy, he scored 320 runs in nine innings at a strike rate of over 100 and currently tops the four-day Plunket Shield run charts with 749 runs in 14 innings at an average of nearly 58, including four centuries.Kelly also has some white-ball exposure outside of New Zealand, having played for St Kitts & Nevis Patriots in CPL 2020.As for Abbas, the 21-year-old is among the most talented all-format batters in domestic cricket in New Zealand. Abbas is the son of former Pakistani seamer Azhar Abbas, who had also played for Wellington and Auckland after moving to New Zealand with his family. Abbas Sr is currently Wellington’s assistant coach.Abbas grew up in Auckland and was in contention to play for New Zealand in the 2022 Under-19 World Cup in the Caribbean, but New Zealand eventually withdrew from that tournament owing to “extensive mandatory quarantine restrictions for minors on their return home.”More recently in February, Abbas made his maiden List A century against Central Districts in New Plymouth. Abbas can also bowl left-arm seam and add depth to the attack.ESPNcricinfo Ltd
Sam Wells, the New Zealand selection manager, saw the upcoming series against Pakistan as an opportunity to test out the fringe players.”With the next ICC ODI pinnacle event still two and half years away, the series is a perfect opportunity to introduce, or re-introduce in the case of Adi, these players to international cricket now,” Wells said. “Nick has been the standout domestic batsman the last few seasons. He is a dynamic strokemaker with power, and he can bat anywhere in the top six.”Mo is one of our most promising young batters and he also provides a sixth bowling option which is required in the absence of Rachin [Ravindra] and Glenn [Phillips].”New Zealand head coach Gary Stead is looking forward to working with Kelly and Abbas. “He’s been a very, very strong domestic player for the last couple of years and I think fully deserves his spot in the team. He’ll bat at the top of the order. We’re excited to see what he might bring,” Stead said of Kelly. “Overall, we’re looking to build the depth of our players, and this tour augurs well for us in that regard to be able to do so. Mo Abbas, he’s a younger player. Very, very exciting.”Muhammad Abbas bats in the middle over and bowls left-arm pace•Getty Images
“I think a real, real talent, especially in playing spin bowling. I guess his ability to bowl a little bit of left-arm seam as well is really helpful in terms of us trying to build our depth of allrounders. With the ODI World Cup being two and a half years away in South Africa, it’s a nice opportunity for us to blood some new players and see their credentials as well.””They’ve obviously been in great touch. They’ve been selected to get an opportunity in this group. It’s going to be exciting to see them go about their business,” New Zealand batting coach Luke Ronchi said about the new faces. “It’s doing the stuff they have done so well to get to here – just going out there and enjoying the moment of playing with a BlackCaps cap on and the group around them, and enjoying the whole experience. There will be some nerves and things, but hopefully they can play the game the way they have done to get to this stage and really enjoy the experience.”While Stead will lead the New Zealand support staff, alongside batting coach Ronchi, regular bowling coach Jacob Oram will take a break. Graeme Aldridge, the NZC development coach, will fill in for Oram.This will be New Zealand’s first ODI assignment since they made the final of the Champions Trophy. As the Black Caps begin their prep for the 2027 ODI World Cup, players with national and domestic contracts were prioritised for selection. As a result, Jimmy Neesham, Finn Allen and Tim Seifert were not picked though they are all back in the T20I set-up.New Zealand ODI squadTom Latham (capt, wk), Muhammad Abbas, Adithya Ashok, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Mitch Hay (wk), Nick Kelly, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith, Will Young
Doubts need to be allayed nearly every day in the IPL, but Ajinkya Rahane made a good start to his captaincy stint at Kolkata Knight Riders, scoring 56 off 31, but KKR failed to capitalise on the breathtaking partnership between him and Sunil Narine. Put in, they were 107 for 2 in ten overs when Narine was dismissed for 44 off 26 but added only a further 67 in the second half. The death overs went at under a run a ball.Krunal Pandya led the comeback of Royal Challengers Bengaluru with the wickets of Rahane, Rinku Singh and Venkatesh Iyer in an overall analysis of 4-0-29-3. Suyash Sharma, the former KKR player who got off to a poor start, made a big contribution in his final over with the wicket of Andre Russell with a wrong’un.The drying up of the runs in the end was not too different to how Josh Hazlewood forced KKR into a slow start. The first three overs brought just nine runs and the wicket of Quinton de Kock. The new ball stopped a little and went a little up and down.Once Rahane got started with a gift on the leg side, the next seven overs produced 98 runs. Rahane was brutal, putting a low price on his wicket and taking risks every time he could. Narine went from 1 off eight to score 43 off the next 18 balls he faced. It involved taking down his former team-mate, legspinner Suyash, whom he played like an offspinner.Krunal, though, pulled things back once Narine got out to Rasikh Salam. He even tried a bouncer in a spell in which he kept changing the pace often. Two of his three wickets were bowled, which was a tribute to his accuracy.Hazlewood and Yash Dayal closed out superbly for RCB to give them what looked like an easy target provided Narine and Varun Chakravarthy didn’t cause much damage.