Category Uncategorized

The former New Zealand has asthma and needed more than the usual dose of his medicine while playing in Delhi during IPL 2016, which had triggered scrutiny

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Jun-2018

Brendon McCullum has cleared the air about a positive drug test during his time with Gujarat Lions in IPL 2016.The former New Zealand captain has asthma and, in light of heavy pollution in Delhi at the time, he needed more than the usual dose of his medicine. As a result, McCullum’s urine sample was found to have exceeded the allowable limit for salbutamol, a drug that is part of inhalers used to treat asthma. The BCCI approached McCullum with these findings following which he secured a retroactive therapeutic use exemption from a panel of independent medical experts in Sweden to close the matter and clear his name.”There was a bit of a process to go through to make sure they had all the information and ticked off the areas they wanted to see, but we went through it all and [the BCCI] were actually pretty good to work with in the end,” McCullum told .”I certainly don’t see it as a failed drug test. It was just a case of we just need to seek clarification and apply for this. I have no ill-feeling about [the process] and I also have no guilt or remorse about it because I needed a puff of my inhaler at that time.”McCullum hit 60 off 36 at the top of the order in a one-run win for the Lions against Delhi Daredevils in the game that day. But a test after the game resulted in an “adverse analytical finding” because the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules state any dosage that is not consistent with therapeutic use will be considered a violation.McCullum’s doctors and legal team then prepared his defence, which had proven successful last January itself, but he chose to go public with the information now because he wanted to quash the rumours.”I’ve heard this sort of rumbling around in the background for a while and I actually said to my wife, ‘I don’t know why we don’t just deal with this now, I’ve got nothing to hide and it is better off just talking about stuff rather than having other people talking about it’. Otherwise it just grows and festers.”As far as I am concerned it was just a matter of making sure we got everything signed off properly, rather than it being a failed drug test.”McCullum, who has had asthma since childhood, found the going particularly tough in Delhi whose pollution levels have touched dangerous levels in recent years. In November 2016, a first-class match between Gujarat and Bengal had to be abandoned due to smog, and in December 2017, a Test between India and Sri Lanka was severely affected by pollution, with several Sri Lankan players taking ill.

There were no airy slashes, few high-risk shots, and yet Virender Sehwag’s innings had the same effect as so many of his cavalier knocks

George Binoy in Mirpur10-Jun-2008
Virender Sehwag’s running between the wickets along with Gautam Gambhir was exceptional © AFP
A fleeting glance at the scorecard will tell you that Virender Sehwag scored 89 off 76 balls with 13 fours and a six. While the strike-rate – 117.10 – will suggest a typical Sehwag sizzler, this was a different sort of innings. There were no airy slashes, few high-risk shots, and yet this innings had the same effect as so many of his cavalier knocks.If the change in Sehwag’s approach was a conscious decision, there would have been reasons for it. Inconsistent form in ODIs – his last 50-plus score for India was against Bermuda in the 2007 World Cup – cost him a place in the XI. He was picked for the CB Series earlier this year, but after five failures, India preferred Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa to partner Sachin Tendulkar. Sehwag’s form in the Indian Premier League might have given him the edge over Uthappa for today’s match, but it was Tendulkar’s injury that really opened the door for him.The problems that led to most of Sehwag’s ODI failures – the inability to find the right pace of scoring, or attempting to hit the ball with might – were missing today. His approach was measured and though he cut down on risk, the damage caused was as severe.He began cautiously against testing deliveries from Umar Gul and Sohail Tanvir. His initial forceful shots, off his pads through midwicket and square drives through point, were all played along the ground. When Wahab Riaz pitched short on leg stump on two occasions, Sehwag merely moved inside the line and lapped the ball deftly to the long-leg boundary. Only when the ball was really loose, such as the wide one Gul offered him, did Sehwag go over the top. A significant absence among the shots Sehwag played was his trademark slash over third man – a stroke that has fetched him sixes and dismissals.”That [shot selection] is why he [Sehwag] scored 80 [89] runs,” Mahendra Singh Dhoni, his captain, said later. “You have to pick and choose. A batsman like him can score easily at one run per ball. He just has to pick and choose.”A batsman like him [Virender Sehwag] can score easily at one run per ball. He just has to pick and chooseMahendra Singh Dhoni, India’s captainIt wasn’t just about the boundaries, though, as Dhoni put it. Sehwag’s running between the wickets along with Gambhir was “exceptional”. There was an instance in the 17th over, when Gambhir pushed the ball to cover off Iftikhar Anjum. He didn’t go for the single immediately but Sehwag had sprinted towards the danger end, putting pressure on the fielder. The throw was off target – Sehwag may have been home – and the batsmen were able to run an overthrow. His urgency and application today presented a stark contrast to his lackadaisical attitude in a match against Sri Lanka in February 2007, which resulted in one of the most ridiculous run-outs.His innings, however, wasn’t flawless. On 43, he edged one to Kamran Akmal but was dropped; and when on 58, he closed the face of the bat too early but the leading edge lobbed over Shahid Afridi’s head at point. By and large, his shots were orthodox, his timing terrific and placement precise. The outcome was that India began their first ODI after the IPL in Twenty20 mode. They were 43 after five overs, 76 after ten and 143 at the end of the 20th with Sehwag’s contribution being 71 off 63. His first attempt at clearing the boundary, off Riaz, paid off soon after.It took a freak delivery to get him out – a slower one out of the back of Riaz’s hand that bounced awkwardly and took the edge. By that time India were 174 for 2 in just the 24th over. “It’s really important in conditions like this to score off the new ball,” Dhoni said. “Wait for the bad deliveries but still look to score off the new ball. As the game progresses it gets really slow and it’s very difficult to rotate.”The contenders for India’s opening slots are many but if Sehwag continues to blend his aggression with judicious shot selection, he’s a shoo-in for the role. A sentiment Dhoni expressed when he said, “Hopefully, if he’s at his best he will continue to open.”

Newcastle United have struggled for consistency so far this season, with some seriously impressive wins and some thoroughly disappointing defeats all within the first months of the campaign.

They have beaten Manchester City in the League Cup, Manchester United and Arsenal in the Premier League, and Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. Still, they have also lost to Borussia Dortmund home and away, drawn with West Ham and Wolverhampton Wanderers and most recently lost to Bournemouth on the south coast.

Eddie Howe will be hoping that his side can refind their form following the international break and that their injury list starts shrinking as soon as possible.

Football FanCast has previewed and predicted their next six encounters, including four Premier League games and two Champions League games.

Newcastle United v Chelsea

25th November, Premier League, St James' Park

Howe's side welcome the visiting Chelsea in their final league match of November.

The pair couldn't be split in their last meeting, which came at Stamford Bridge on the final day of last season. Kieran Trippier's own goal cancelled out Anthony Gordon's opener that afternoon, as the West Londoners were resigned to a 12th placed finish.

Five months on, the Blues are all changed, having appointed a new manager to the dugout. Former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino has replaced interim manager Frank Lampard whilst the club brought in several new additions over the summer.

One of those being Cole Palmer, who has impressed since joining from Manchester City in a £42.5m deal. The left-footed playmaker has scored four goals and provided two assists in six league starts so far this season, so the hosts will need to be wary of his threat.

Additionally, an away win over London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and a 4-4 draw with treble-winning Manchester City in their previous two games is sure to have given the side a confidence boost after their abysmal start to the season.

However, with home advantage, the Tynesiders could just edge this one in a cagey affair as the goal-shy visitors may find it difficult to break down one of the division's best defences.

Prediction: Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea

Paris Saint-Germain vs Newcastle United

28th November, Champions League, Parc de Princes

The tests keep coming in November as just a few days after hosting Chelsea, Newcastle will be jetting off to Paris for their Champions League group match against the French champions, Paris Saint-Germain.

While the Toon did lose to Borussia Dortmund home and away, they should be full of confidence for this encounter given their total domination of the side last time they met at St James' Park.

That game saw the hosts emerge as 4-1 winners in a result that stunned the Parisian side and the wider footballing community.

However, with their home win over AC Milan, PSG now find themselves one point off the top of the group and with home advantage, it's hard to see the game going the same way it did in England.

Add to that the fact that Kylian Mbappe is unlikely to have as bad a game as he did that day, and the ferocious home fans, we are struggling to see how the Toon can come away as winners from this one.

It'll be an entertaining game, with plenty of goals, but we think it might just be a step too far for this Newcastle side.

Prediction: Paris Saint-Germain 3-2 Newcastle United

Newcastle United vs Manchester United

2nd December, Premier League, St James' Park

There is no chance for Newcastle United to catch their breath after a hectic November, as their first game of an equally challenging December sees them welcome Manchester United to St James' Park in the Premier League.

We reckon it would be fair to say that while the Toon have had a few issues so far this campaign, Erik ten Hag's side haven't exactly had the best of seasons either.

Historically, it would usually be the Red Devils that go into this fixture as the favourites, but with how they have been playing this season and how good the Toon have looked when they are in full flow, the home side should be full of confidence for this one.

If they want some extra encouragement, they only have to think back a few weeks as they blew United away in the Carabao Cup, beating them 3-0 at Old Trafford.

That said, there is no such thing as an easy game against Manchester United, and the one thing ten Hag's team will have on their side is history.

In their last ten encounters, United have emerged victorious five times, while the Toon have won just three times. Although, they have won the two most recent.

Ultimately, it should be an enthralling encounter, and given that it's a Saturday night game, you can be sure that the fans will be in full voice. It might not be as good a result as they picked up at Old Trafford, but the Toon will have enough to pick up all three points.

Prediction: Newcastle United 3-1 Manchester United

Everton vs Newcastle United

7th December, Premier League, Goodison Park

Newcastle United will have five days to recover from their game against Manchester United on 2nd December before making the 119-mile trip to Goodison Park to take on a resurgent Everton side.

Now, had this game been taking place a month or two earlier, we might have predicted an easy win for the Toon, but with the Toffees' recent performances, we reckon this will be more of a challenge than it was last season.

The men in blue have started to look genuinely quite good under the management of Sean Dyche in recent weeks, and their results have backed that up. Three wins, one draw and one loss from their last five games is a vast improvement compared to where they were last season and is the kind of form they'll need to stay up this season.

Additionally, their recent points deduction could end up firing up the team and making them even more of a threat for travelling teams who aren't ready for the cauldron that Goodison is now sure to become.

That said, the Toon currently sit in seventh place with six wins to their name, and they have already beaten Arsenal, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City this season, so while it won't be an easy game, they should have just about enough to get the job done.

Prediction: Everton 1-3 Newcastle United

Tottenham Hotspur vs Newcastle United

10th December, Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Just three days after their game at Goodison Park, Eddie Howe's Newcastle United will have to travel down to London to take on the Premier League's surprise package this year: Ange Postecoglou's high-flying Tottenham Hotspur.

The Lilywhites have gone from struggling in mid-table under the likes of Antonio Conte and Ryan Mason to spending most of this season atop the table and scoring for fun.

There is no doubt that the north Londoners have looked like one of, if not the best team in the league so far this year, but following their 4-1 loss to Chelsea that saw Micky van de Ven pull up with what looked like a hamstring problem and a potential injury to James Maddison, they could well be at their weakest when they host the Toon.

That said, the Magpies certainly have their own injuries to worry about, but with the memory of what they did to Spurs last time the two sides met still fresh in the memory, Howe's men could come away from this one with all three points yet again.

The prospect of Maddison not featuring should only further encourage the Toon, especially considering they have won two of the last three encounters between the two sides; we still think they'll have just enough to edge it, even away from home.

Prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 2-3 Newcastle United

Newcastle United vs AC Milan

13th December, Champions League, St James' Park

Three days after their trip to north London, Newcastle United play host as Italian giants AC Milan come to St James' Park in what could be a must-win game for both sides.

Should the Toon lose to Paris Saint-Germain on November 28th, their chances of reaching the knockout stages of the Champions League will become slim to none, but that doesn't mean there is nothing to play for against Milan.

While they wouldn't be able to go further in this competition, they would have the chance to drop into the Europa League instead, and if anything, that might be the better option at this point in time, as they would undoubtedly be one of the favourites to win that, and what better way to end a trophy drought than with a European one?

In terms of the game itself, the Toon will be hoping to do one better than their draw away in Milan and considering how they have dispatched PSG, Manchester City, Arsenal and several others at home this season, we don't see why they can't do the same to an inconsistent Milan side.

The Italians are third in Serie A but have only collected three more points than Newcastle, so we reckon that the Magpies will have just enough to come away with all three points from this one and qualify for the Europa League if progressing from the group is out of the question.

Prediction: Newcastle United 2-1 AC Milan

Manchester United now “fully expect” to sign a “sensational” £70m star soon, as they want him to take part in their pre-season tour, according to transfer expert Graeme Bailey.

Man Utd looking to sign new forward

It has been a slow start to the summer transfer window for Man United, with Matheus Cunha their only high-profile arrival to date, and they have also faced issues getting some of their own players off the books.

There has been a great deal of speculation surrounding the futures of Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford, with Liverpool even reportedly coming forward to sign the England international, although Barcelona seems like a more likely destination.

However, United legend Teddy Sheringham has now weighed in on Rashford’s situation, making the bold claim that he hopes Rashford doesn’t end up at the Spanish side, as he doesn’t deserve the move.

The other main transfer saga surrounding Man United this summer centres around Bryan Mbeumo, with Ruben Amorim identifying the Brentford forward as a player who could help solve his side’s attacking issue.

There has now been a new update on United’s Mbeumo pursuit, with Bailey telling The Boot Room that the Cameroonian is growing frustrated by the lack of progress.

The transfer expert said: “United are very frustrated, as is the player. But again, they are keeping pretty quiet. Officially.

“The guaranteed money is the main obstacle still… this was seen as a minor issue two weeks ago, yet that is still the main problem. Man United are telling Mbeumo they still fully expect him to be on their pre-season tour.”

It is little wonder that the Red Devils are starting to grow tired of the negotiations, given that Brentford have recently raised their asking price to around £70m, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe determined to pay no more than £65m.

Man Utd line up move for "talented" £25m+ PSG star who's been told to leave

United are now interested in signing a defender who is desperate for more playing time.

1 ByBrett Worthington Jul 17, 2025 Man Utd must finalise deal for "sensational" Mbeumo soon

While Ratcliffe should not be pressured into forking out an amount above his valuation of the Brentford star, the saga needs to come to an end soon, especially with the player himself now growing frustrated by the lack of progress.

£70m is, of course, a lot of money to spend on a player who is unproven at the highest level, but the former Troyes man performed remarkably well in the Premier League last season, amassing 27 goal contributions in 38 outings.

Lauded as “sensational” by Sky Sports commentators, Mbeumo could be a fantastic signing for United, so it is promising news they expect him to take part in their pre-season tour, with Amorim’s side set to take on Leeds United in Sweden in two days’ time.

What a hectic transfer window it has been so far for Newcastle United. The Magpies have been embroiled in a crazy transfer saga with Liverpool surrounding Alexander Isak and Eintracht Frankfurt star Hugo Ekitike, which is yet to come to a conclusion.

Indeed, the exact makeup of Eddie Howe’s squad next season is still not clear, and with a few players out of the door, which will soon include Leeds-bound Sean Longstaff, he may have to rely on youngsters if signings are not made soon.

This has previously not been an issue for the Englishman, with Lewis Miley rising through the ranks to become an important player.

The Magpies seem set to add another young talent to their squad in the coming days.

Newcastle’s pursuit of young talent

Signing an exciting young player and thinking ahead to the future is something the Magpies have done before. Young Australian winger Garang Kuol joined the club in 2023 and has since gained experience on various loan spells.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Well, perhaps the North East giants are about to repeat the masterclass. They are said to have ‘won the race’ to sign South Korean talent Park Seung-soo, having agreed a deal for the youngster.

That is being reported by website Football Asian, who claim he will be in Newcastle this week to ‘complete a medical’ ahead of the move. What makes this acquisition so impressive for the Magpies is the fact that they beat off fierce competition to sign Park.

Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich, French side Marseille, as well as RB Salzburg and FC Midtjylland, were all interested, but Newcastle won what was described as a ‘year-long pursuit’ of the winger.

Why Park would be a good signing

Despite being just 18 years of age, Park has clearly made a huge impression playing for his club, Suwon Bluewings, where he has become an important player. Korean football expert Ross Davis described him as an “exciting” talent, which Newcastle seem to agree with.

The teenager, who is an international for South Korea at under-20 level, has played 28 times in professional football so far. He has one goal and three assists, all of which came last year in the K League 2 for Suwon, the club whose academy he graduated from.

One of the biggest benefits of Park’s game is the fact that he can play on both the left and right flanks. That certainly gives Howe options if he chooses to integrate him into the squad straight away. It also makes him an attractive prospect for sides looking to bring him in on loan, if that is the route Newcastle choose to take.

Howe would surely be hoping that Park can have an impact on the first team just like Miley did. The 19-year-old, who is a boyhood Geordie, has struggled with injuries in recent months, but has still made an impactful start to his Newcastle career.

Miley, who is from Stanley, just south of St James’ Park, has played 46 games for Newcastle so far, scoring three goals and grabbing four assists. One of his standout moments was this magical assist for Isak against Chelsea last season.

It is that sort of magic that Howe would surely want Park to recreate in the long run. In many ways, the Magpies boss might want him to become the second coming of Miley, in the sense of a young player stepping up in the first team.

Well, if his numbers via Sofascore from the 2024 K League 2 are anything to go by, he has the ability. Not only did he contribute to an average of 0.5 goals each game, but he averaged 2.2 key passes and 5.4 successful dribbles per 90 minutes.

Minutes played

586

41.9

Goals and assists

4

0.5

Key passes

14

2.2

Dribbles completed

35

5.4

Tackles and interceptions

5

0.8

Expected goal involvements

4.34xGI

0.67xGI

Described as a “lanky dribbler” by Davis, and standing at over six feet, the physical tools might well be there in the long run for Park to succeed in the Premier League. It certainly seems like he has the technical ability to do so.

Howe would surely love to have another exciting young talent stepping up in the same way Miley did, who can be a huge benefit for Newcastle in the short and long term. Park certainly has the tools to do that.

Isak heir: Newcastle in talks to sign "exceptional" £40m Ekitike alternative

Newcastle are still on the hunt for a striker this summer

ByJoe Nuttall Jul 17, 2025

Calum MacLeod boosted Derbyshire in the battle of the winless teams but for Northants a miserable season refused to relent

ECB Reporters Network19-Jul-2018
ScorecardCalum MacLeod’s 58-ball century led Derbyshire to their first win in this season’s Vitality Blast with a 31-run win at Wantage Road that kept Northamptonshire winless from five matches.MacLeod’s second T20 hundred, with 12 fours and four sixes, saw Derbyshire rack up 211 for 2 – their joint-second highest T20 total – that was defended very easily after Lockie Ferguson removed Ben Duckett and Richard Levi in the Powerplay.MacLeod, the Glaswegian right-hander who was the scourge of England as they lost to Scotland in Edinburgh earlier this season, became the first Scotland player to hit an ODI hundred against England. This time he became just the third century-maker for Derbyshire in T20s after Greg Smith and Wes Durston. He finally fell for a career-best equalling 104, miscuing a drive to extra-cover.Northants skipper Alex Wakely said: “It’s a similar story for us, we’ve gone for 200 four times and you’re not going to win too many games doing that. We’re just not doing it out on the field, I’m not sure why, we’ve got bowlers who are good enough they’re just not executing and you can see how guys have got big runs against us.

Talking T20 Podcast

Dan Norcross and David Hopps desperately try to recall the latest news from 18 counties
Listen on ESPN radio
Follow on iTunes

“But the nature of T20, sometimes you just have to say well played and Calum played brilliantly. They then had three guys bowling 85 mph plus, every ball was hip height and above and they made it very difficult for us.”MacLeod began by driving Rory Kleinveldt past cover point and then over backward point, before cutting and sweeping Josh Cobb for further boundaries.A viscous lofted cover-drive was parried for six by a diving Ben Sanderson before a steer past short-third man brought him four more en route to fifty in 33 balls.His hitting set a good platform at 136 for 1 after 14 overs and MacLeod then heaved Brett Hutton over extra-cover for six, turned a high full-toss over long leg for another maximum and slammed his 10th four past mid-off as 22 came from the over. Luke Procter was slapped wide of mid-on before a drive past point brought up MacLeod’s century.MacLeod shared a stand of 126 with Wayen Madsen – a record second-wicket stand for anyone against Northants. Madsen, as ever, played a clever innings with excellent running between the wickets.He reverse-swept Seekkuge Prasanna for his first boundary and twice steered fours past point before heaving Procter onto the pavilion balcony. A slower ball from Kleinveldt was driven past extra-cover and he reached a half-century in 32 balls in the final over that yielded 16.Derbyshire, having been sent in, scored 75 runs in the final six overs. But in the first six, they were given a bright start from Billy Godleman, playing his first T20 this season. He skipped down to the first ball of the innings to lift Sanderson for four before hoisting Hutton for six over long-on. He pulled Kleinveldt for two fours but having got to 29, drove Procter to deep cover.The Northants chase never got into gear. Ferguson, introduced in the third over, produced a spell to put the game beyond doubt. He removed Duckett first ball with one that nipped away, took the edge and was wonderfully held down low at first slip by MacLeod, before a spearing yorker cannoned Levi’s off stump.Kyle Coetzer, playing his first match for Northants since 2015, went to uppercut Hardus Viljoen and was caught at short-third man for a fourth-ball duck as the Powerplay ended at 48 for 3. Cobb was then caught at extra-cover trying to drive Alex Hughes’ first delivery and the same bowler got a slower ball through Alex Wakely to bowl him for 10. Hughes finished with 4 for 42 – his final over being struck for 22.It was part of a brief flurry from Kleinveldt, who blasted four sixes in his 36 from 14 balls. He and Prasanna, with 29 in 14 balls, kept the home support entertained but the lower order were left with far too much to do.

Мы собрали еще пять бесплатных игр в Steam, которые можно добавить в библиотеку без ущерба для своего кошелька. В ней можно найти научно-фантастическую выживалку, фэнтезийный рогалик и другие проекты.

Ocean World: Eden Crafters — пролог кооперативной выживалки с открытым миром, где нужно превратить необитаемую планету в новый дом для человечества. Игроки будут заниматься терраформингом, строительством зданий и выстраиванием логистических цепочек. Страница в Steam.

Pizza Hero — изометрический рогалик в духе Vampire Survivors с кусочком пиццы в главной роли. Страница в Steam.

DeathJack — клон популярной Buckshot Roulette, где игрокам предстоит сыграть в блэкджек. Как и в оригинальном проекте, ставкой станет жизнь главного героя. Страница в Steam.

Rocky Mayhem — научно-фантастическая аркада, вдохновленная Asteroids. Задача игроков — продержаться восемь минут и выбраться из астероидного поля. Страница в Steam.

Koboo: The Tree Spirit — Prologue — демоверсия пиксельного рогалика, который разработчики описывают как смесь Dead Cells, Shadow of the Colossus и «Принцессы Мононоке». Страница в Steam.

Следить за халявой и скидками на игры можно в нашем Telegram-канале.

🤨 Появилось умное кольцо для криптоинвесторов

+5

Поделиться:

PC Новости Shadow of the ColossusНовости Asteroids (1981)Новости Dead CellsНовостиИгровые новостихалявавидеоизображенияскриншоты из игр

Manchester City captain Kevin De Bruyne will leave the club this summer after 11 glory-laden years at the Etihad.

The Belgian has made over 400 appearances for the club, but his contract won’t be extended into the 2025/26 season.

This means Pep Guardiola will be on the lookout for a potential replacement for the 33-year-old when the summer transfer window opens in a few weeks.

There have been a few names linked, and one is starring in the Premier League already; Morgan Gibbs-White.

Manchester City make Morgan Gibbs-White a key target

According to the Daily Mail, City are now considered the frontrunners to sign the Englishman in a mega summer deal.

Any potential move will cost the club significantly, however, as Nottingham Forest value the midfielder at around the £100m mark.

They have paid this fee before, signing Jack Grealish in the summer of 2021, but will they look to splash out again? Especially given their spending spree in January.

Gibbs-White has been impressive this term. Across 31 matches, he has scored five goals and grabbed nine assists, helping Forest into the Champions League places in the table.

Do City have to spend this sort of money to find a De Bruyne replacement ahead of next season? Or do they have one lurking in the academy, waiting to be unleashed in 2025/26?

How City can forget De Bruyne and Gibbs-White

Guardiola has been brewing several young talents over the last couple of seasons. The likes of Phil Foden and Rico Lewis have made great strides under the Spaniard while Nico O’Reilly is now forging a real career for himself at the Eithad.

Yet, he’s not the only youngster looking to make a positive impression heading in the 2025/26 campaign.

Indeed, Divine Mukasa could well be the next one to make the step up and showcase his prodigious talents for the club.

The 17-year-old has been in simply sublime form this term, scoring 17 times while also registering 25 assists across just 37 matches for the U18s and U21s this term, highlighting how effective he has been in the final third.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

Academy scout Antonio Mango has hailed Mukasa as a “game changer” amid his wonderful contributions this season, and it looks like the time has arrived for Guardiola to unleash him at senior level.

He has even gained caps at U18 level for England, making his debut against Portugal in September last year and going on to play a further four times for his country at the time of writing.

A natural attacking midfielder, there is no doubt Mukasa could be City’s very own Gibbs-White should he make the grade at senior level. He has a keen eye for goal, but also loves creating plenty of chances for others in the final third.

If Guardiola wants to save the club around £100m, promoting the 17-year-old and giving him a few minutes here and there could be the best policy ahead of next term.

After a few years, the supporters might even forget about the exploits of De Bruyne with Mukasa himself having compared himself to the Belgian.

It’s safe to say this kid is the real deal. That much is certain.

Man City have found their own Declan Rice in "outstanding" homegrown star

Pep Guardiola might well have his own Declan Rice at Manchester City with this terrific talent.

1

By
Kelan Sarson

Apr 21, 2025

For the third time in their history, Pakistan managed to lose ten wickets for less than a 100 after a century-stand by the openers

Bharath Seervi29-Nov-20163 Instances of Pakistan losing all 10 wickets for less than 100 runs after their first wicket having a century stand. In this match, they lost the 10 wickets for 99 runs after the openers added 131. The previous two instances were: 122 for 0 to 216 (94 runs) against England in Dhaka in 1961-62 and 135 for 0 to 208 (73 runs) in Christchurch in 1995-96.

12 Number of consecutive Test series without a win for New Zealand against Pakistan before this one. The last time they won a series against Pakistan was in 1984-85. Since then, they had lost seven and drawn five. Pakistan’s last series defeat was in Sri Lanka in 2014.2013 The last time Pakistan lost three consecutive Tests – it was in a three-match series in South Africa. Before losing the two Tests in this series, they had lost against West Indies in Sharjah. Prior to this, they had lost only three Tests out of 14 since the start of 2015.5 Instances of teams losing eight or more wickets in a session to lose a Test this year. All of them have come in the last four months. Australia have suffered two such collapses.

5 New Zealand bowlers to pick up 40 or more Test wickets in a calendar year. Neil Wagner is the latest to join the list with 41 wickets in 9 Tests this year.5 Ducks for Asad Shafiq in Tests this year – the joint-most by a player batting at No.6 or higher. Shafiq is the sixth such player to bag five ducks in a year and the last of which was Mark Butcher and Mike Atherton in 1998. No Pakistan player in top-six positions has got more than three ducks in a year. Shafiq had gone 49 consecutive innings without a duck before getting these five ducks in 13 innings.11.25 Average of Pakistan’s No. 4 to No. 6 batsmen in this series – the worst for them in any Test series. In 12 innings from those three positions, only 135 runs were scored with highest of 31. Shafiq scored 56, Misbah-ul-Haq 44, Sarfraz Ahmed 19 and Younis Khan 16.1 Number of longer opening partnerships for Pakistan in terms of balls than the 360 balls between Azhar and Aslam in the fourth innings (where balls information available). The highest was also by the same pair against West Indies last month when they added 215 runs in 407 balls in Dubai. They are also the most successful pair this year with 854 runs so far.2 Number of Pakistan players to get out in 90s twice in a year. First was Inzamam-ul-Haq in 1995 and Sami Aslam this year. Aslam has gone past 50 on six occasions, but hasn’t completed a century yet. Aslam’s six 50-plus scores are the most by any Pakistan batsman this year.

When Jonathan Trott walked off the field in Barbados, both he and the crowd knew it would be for the final time

Jonathan Trott26-Sep-2016I hardly saw the ball that dismissed me in the first innings. I had walked down the pitch to a short delivery and, instinctively I suppose, raised my gloves to protect my face. The ball lobbed off my hand to the fielder at square leg. Another duck. And another dismissal to a short ball.The second innings wasn’t much longer. I got off the mark – and off a pair – with a nice clip through the leg side off Taylor and actually felt pretty good. My mind was made up; there was a freedom in my play.But it wasn’t to last. Taylor got one to nip back at me, I played across it and they went up for leg before. I knew it was out. Cooky briefly suggested I think about a review, but there was no point wasting it on me at that stage. “Nah, I’m out of here,” I said.As I walked off, a group of Barmy Army supporters at the same end as the dressing rooms stood and gave me a warm ovation that was as appreciated as it was surprising for a man walking off having played his last innings of an unsuccessful tour. But they knew it was over and they were, I reasoned, taking the opportunity to say goodbye and thanks. I couldn’t raise my bat – I had only scored 9, after all, and England were in a hole – but I gave them a little wave.I’ll forever be grateful for their gesture. They proved, in that moment, that they were true supporters; not fairweather types who were only there for the good times.They also proved they had a memory. They remembered the times before I became a stuttering wreck; the times before I wandered towards mid-off before each ball was delivered; the times the only thing people could find to complain about was the manner in which I marked my guard and the time it took us to win Tests.The good old days.I didn’t want to be remembered like this and I was fearful that in my last four or five Tests I had diluted any reputation I had earned. At a time when things seemed pretty hopeless, I really appreciated that they were understanding and compassionate enough to show they weren’t judging me on this version of myself.Some in the media might not appreciate the Barmy Army but you’ll never hear a bad word about them in the dressing room.

“I’d have loved to score a century and win the game but I’d been around for long enough to know that cricket rarely works like that”

As I got into the dressing room, I remember thinking, “Thank God that’s over.” It’s a feeling that has never completely gone away. I have no regrets about making the decision to retire.But I don’t regret playing, either. Very few players have the opportunity to say goodbye and those last days within the England set-up gave me closure both on my international career and on a traumatic episode in my life.An hour or two after the game, with the presentations and formalities taken care of, Peter Moores told the team that I had something I’d like to say.The room fell silent and I could feel apprehension in the air as I stood up. I wasn’t completely sure what I was going to say, but it felt important to mark the occasion. I stood in front of the team, with my cap in my hand, and I started to talk.I told them I had come to a decision about my future. I told them it had become clear I wasn’t able to play at the level I once could and that my time was up. I told them I had been impressed by the talent and spirit I had seen within the squad and that they didn’t need me holding up their progress. I told them I believed in them and that I would be supporting them from afar for the rest of their careers. I told them it was their turn now to build a successful England team.I told them that their England cap was the best thing they would ever wear. I told them how my cap had been soaked in champagne and sweat and tears along the way and that every experience, be it good or bad, had made me appreciate it more.I wanted them to know how much it had meant to me. How much they had meant to me. And I wanted them to know, however hard they might find it in the future, there were people who they could confide in and people who would understand.And I wanted to say goodbye and thank you.We sat together for a few hours that night. It was emotional, but I knew it was right and I knew I was fortunate to leave in that way. Sure, I’d have loved to score that century and I’d have loved to win the game. But I’d been around for long enough by then to know that cricket rarely works like that. My Test career had started with a fairytale; it wouldn’t have been fair if it ended in one, too. It almost always has to end badly or it wouldn’t end.Jonathan Trott’s autobiography, , is available to buy now