Trent Alexander-Arnold revealed that he has been taking Spanish lessons for a "few months" after his unveiling ceremony with Real Madrid.
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TAA surpised fans by spekaing fluent SpanishRevealed he has been learning for a "few months"Lavished praise on new manager Xabi AlonsoFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Alexander-Arnold’s switch to Real Madrid has officially begun with the defender unveiled as the Spanish giant’s latest summer acquisition. Although his contract with Liverpool was due to expire on June 30, Real Madrid paid a fee to bring the England international to the Spanish capital ahead of schedule, enabling him to feature in the upcoming Club World Cup.
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Alexander-Arnold has signed a six-year contract with the La Liga titans. His deal also includes a staggering €1 billion (£840 million) release clause, which has been the standard for all marquee signings at Real Madrid.
WHAT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD SAID
During the unveiling ceremony, Alexander-Arnold surprised many by delivering his entire speech in fluent Spanish. It was a polished performance that showcased his effort to integrate into Spanish life and Real Madrid culture from day one. He later revealed in a press conference that he had been studying the language for "a few months" in preparation for the move.
"I think he [Perez] was happy with the amount of Spanish I was able to speak, which I think surprised a lot of people," said Alexander-Arnold.
"For me, it was important to be able to do that and it shows that the intent I have got is to come here and have a good start, to get off on the right foot and to achieve something straight away, starting with the Club World Cup."
DID YOU KNOW?
In his first media appearance in Madrid, Alexander-Arnold also took time to reflect on one of his idols and the current Real Madrid manager, Xabi Alonso.
"He is someone who probably impacted my game a lot growing up, seeing him pass a ball. I explained this to him as well," he said.
"Watching him pass a ball – seeing it influenced me to go and train harder at that and have a great hunger to be able to do that and to set standards. Of course, we have not had chance to formally meet yet. We will have a proper chat I am sure over the next few days and be able to talk about what he expects from me.
"It's not just me who is new here. He is a new manager who has got to get his ideas across to the whole team, which might take some time. But he has shown how amazing he is – managerial wise and as a player. His knowledge of football is there in abundance. I am excited. I will be a sponge around him, trying to soak up all the information I can to learn from him."
Despite sparkling knocks by Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers, Royal Challengers Bangalore remain win-less in IPL 2019 after five matches
Sruthi Ravindranath in Bengaluru06-Apr-2019A couple of coincidences basically wrote the script for Friday’s match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders. Two weeks ago, Andre Russell had helped Knight Riders get 53 off 18 in the chase against Sunrisers Hyderabad. He faced a similar equation on Friday night against Royal Challengers. Last season, MS Dhoni hunted down 105 off 48 balls against the home team in Bengaluru. This time, Knight Riders were were also chasing a target of 206, with Russell in the middle.After AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli’s fireworks had kept the fans on their feet for most of Royal Challengers’ innings, it seemed like the side was finally going to taste their first win this season. But it took just one Russell innings, and some blunders in the middle from Royal Challengers, to undo their batsmen’s efforts as Knight Riders stole a stunning win in the 19th over. Here’s how it all turned the wrong way for the hosts.Sloppiness on the fieldDropped catches, misfield, conceding too many extras: Royal Challengers did it all. During Knight Riders’ innings, Navdeep Saini missed a chance to pluck the dangerous Chris Lynn out for 1 after he had top-edged a ball over the keeper’s head. With Lynn going on to lay the foundation for Knight Riders’ big chase, the missed chance proved to be a costly one.Much later, Lynn had raced to a 28-ball 42 when Marcus Stoinis tempted him with a wide delivery which he hit over Mohammed Siraj at sweeper cover, who failed to hold on to it. At this point, Knight Riders were very well on course, with their run-rate close to 10. While the drop itself wasn’t costly – Lynn added only one more run before he was dismissed in the next over – the missed opportunity came at a time when Royal Challengers were losing momentum and under the pump, and it left captain Kohli fuming.Where was Moeen?Lynn’s vulnerability to spin is no secret. In T20s since 2015, he’s been dismissed 33 times by spinners and averages just about 30 against them. Yet, Kohli brought in legspinner Yuzvendra Chahal only in the sixth over, and by then, Lynn had already dominated the Powerplay.And even though spinners, specifically left-arm spinner Pawan Negi, impeded the scoring in the middle overs, Kohli was still persistent about bowling his quicks even with the experienced Moeen Ali – who did not bowl a single over – in the mix.Negi, who was introduced only in the 10th over of the chase, went on to pick Robin Uthappa and Lynn and had 2 for 20 at the end of his third over. Royal Challengers’ have left themselves open to questions about their lack of planning but Kohli, speaking to the host broadcaster after the match, suggested that just giving his team-mates some space would help them come back stronger.Fast bowlers show no chill at deathDeath bowling has always been one of Royal Challengers’ major concerns. The Knight Riders’ win was the ninth time a team had won an IPL game when over 90 runs were needed off seven overs. And surprisingly – or perhaps not – Royal Challengers were the bowling side on six of those occasions.Particularly on Friday, Royal Challengers’ quicks seemed to lack composure towards the end, even when the opposition needed a steep 66 runs off 24 balls.It all started when Mohammed Siraj bowled his second beamer on the fourth ball of the 18th over, which meant he couldn’t bowl any more in the match. Russell had smoked that ball for a six. Stoinis replaced Siraj, and from there, the home side lost whatever control they had. Two more sixes were smashed in the next two balls and the game turned in Knight Riders’ favour.Tim Southee, who was brought in to bowl the next over, with 30 required off 12, was misfiring throughout. Russell feasted on ones that were short, wide too full or on a length. Southee also didn’t try and cramp Russell for space, offering generous width instead. That over pretty much sealed it – 29 runs came off it and Knight Riders then needed just one to win off the final over.
It is almost a foregone conclusion that Liverpool will win this year’s Premier League. With the Reds boasting a 12-point lead with nine games to go, all signs are pointing to a record-equalling 20th league title.
While there is plenty of football to be played and nearest challengers Arsenal are still to visit Anfield, Liverpool being crowned champions may not happen for a few weeks yet.
But when could Arne Slot’s side put the title beyond mathematical doubt? And which clubs could face the daunting prospect of handing the Anfield giants a congratulatory guard of honour? Here, we look at the most likely scenarios.
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ByStephan Georgiou May 20, 2024 How many points do Liverpool need to win the Premier League title?
As it stands heading into April, Liverpool have a 12-point advantage at the top with 27 still up for grabs. This means the Reds can accumulate a maximum total of 97 points for the season – which would be far more than enough to claim their first title since 2020.
Meanwhile, their closest challengers, Arsenal, can only achieve a maximum of 85 points if they win all of their remaining games – which includes a trip to Anfield in the second week of May.
Assuming the Gunners go on a run at the business end of the campaign, Liverpool would require 86 points. That means five wins and a draw from their final nine games is all it will take.
Rank
Team
P
W
D
L
GD
PTS
Liverpool
29
21
7
1
+42
Arsenal
29
16
10
3
+29
When can Liverpool win the title?
Liverpool star Curtis Jones celebrates
Liverpool can seal the title within their next six games regardless of Arsenal’s results. If they were to win at least five of their next six games, this currently marks their clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge as a potential party date.
Of course, if Arsenal drop points between now and then, Liverpool could already be celebrating a deserved title triumph.
One slip from the Gunners could pave the way for an Anfield coronation with fans against Tottenham Hotspur on 27th April.
If all of Liverpool’s closest challengers were to fully implode, the Reds could become champions in as little as two weeks when they face West Ham on 13th April – though Arsenal would have to lose to Fulham, Everton and Brentford for that to happen.
And with lots of points to be won and lost, there are still a number of possibilities when it comes to being confirmed as champions, including sealing the championship against Arsenal themselves.
Date
Liverpool
Arsenal
1st April
Fulham (H)
2nd April
Everton (H)
5th April
Everton (A)
6th April
Fulham (A)
12th April
Brentford (H)
13th April
West Ham (H)
20th April
Leicester (A)
Ipswich (A)
26th April
Crystal Palace (H)
27th April
Tottenham (H)
3rd May
Bournemouth (H)
4th May
Chelsea (A)
10th May
ARSENAL (H)
LIVERPOOL (A)
18th May
Brighton (A)
Newcastle (H)
25th May
Crystal Palace (H)
Southampton (A)
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ByStephan Georgiou Mar 29, 2025 Who could be giving Liverpool a guard of honour?
Should Liverpool win every match between now and the end of the season, at least three teams will be giving them a guard of honour to mark their title success.
The first of these teams could be Arsenal, who would be Liverpool’s first opponents should both title rivals win all their matches from here on in until the Reds become uncatchable.
Even more likely to commemorate Liverpool’s glory pre-kick-off are Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace, with the latter visiting Anfield on the final day, when the home side should be presented with the trophy.
Can Arsenal catch Liverpool?
Arsenal manager MikelArteta
It would take a catastrophic collapse from Liverpool for the Reds to be denied from here – on a par with Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle United side from the mid-1990s.
Mikel Arteta’s team would also likely have to achieve perfection to keep the pressure on the league leaders, and the Gunners have hardly been consistent this term despite their current placing in second.
One omen that could give the Gunners hope is that Liverpool also led the table with nine games to go last year (albeit by just two points), only to dramatically drop out of the title race by claiming just 15 points in the run-in.
Such a return could let Arsenal in if they were to win nine on the spin, but with so much room for error and the Premier League the only thing for the Reds to focus on, it would be a monumental failure if Liverpool were not the new kings of England come the end of May.
Date
Opponent
Result
4th April 2024
Sheff Utd (H)
W 3-1
7th April 2024
Man Utd (A)
D 2-2
14th April 2024
Crystal Palace (H)
L 0-1
21st April 2024
Fulham (A)
W 3-1
24th April 2024
Everton (A)
L 0-2
27th April 2024
West Ham (A)
D 2-2
5th May 2024
Tottenham (H)
W 4-2
13th May 2024
Aston Villa (A)
D 3-3
19th May 2024
Wolves (H)
W 2-0
Will there be a trophy parade?
While a trophy parade has not been confirmed, Liverpool will almost certainly take the opportunity to celebrate their prospective title win with their supporters having been denied the chance to do so in 2020 amid the pandemic.
As far as a date is concerned, there appears to be a couple of obvious options open to the Reds.
With the season ending on 25th May – the day they could officially be handed the trophy – the day after (Monday 26th May, which is also a bank holiday) could be an ideal parade date, particularly with the Reds out of all other competitions.
Manchester City held a parade through the city a day after pipping Liverpool to the title in 2022, while last year, the Citizens celebrated a fourth successive title triumph a week after the season ended, so the following Sunday (1st June) could be an alternative.
Liverpool also held a parade in 2022 seven days after the end of the domestic season and upon their return from their Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid, having been denied a possible quadruple in the final weeks of the campaign.
Joe Root’s reliance on his two best seamers demonstrated how England had erred in their selection
George Dobell at Kensington Oval25-Jan-2019At least with batting collapses the pain is over quickly. At least with batting collapses, the dismissed batsman can escape to the dressing room to lick their wounds and nurse their regrets in private.There’s no hiding place for bowlers. No hiding place in the field. So while England’s suffering on the third day might not have been dramatic as their suffering on the second, it was every bit as brutal.Here England’s pain was endless. As the runs and records mounted – never before have England conceded such a large seventh-wicket stand, never had they conceded such a high score to a No. 8 batsman and never had they been hit for eight sixes in an innings by a West Indies player – the holes in the England team and the errors in their selections were laid bare. This was torturous and inexorable.It is understandable in such circumstances that Joe Root should rely on James Anderson and Ben Stokes. They are, by a distance, his most reliable bowlers. So it was not surprising that he turned to them when he needed a wicket, when he needed control and when he didn’t know what else to do.But he has to look after them. And the sight of them starting new spells long after West Indies’ lead passed 500 was worrying. By the time he took his fourth new ball in two-and-a-half days, Anderson was reduced to bowling in the mid-70s mph. And while Stokes’ pace and energy remained high – really, you couldn’t fault either man for their efforts – you wondered at what cost: he is as precious an asset as England possess; it would be a mistake to ask him to carry too onerous a burden.The game, by that stage, was gone and the damage limitation should have been done by the spinners and support bowlers. Instead Anderson bowled 48 overs in the match and Stokes 50.3; only the second time in his career he had bowled 50 in a Test. By the end, they had spent 14-and-a-half hours in the field, broken only by England’s own two-and-a-half hour innings.Perhaps history offers us a lesson here. In the first year or two of the 1980s, Ian Botham – as a swing bowler not so different to Anderson and as an allrounder not so different to Stokes – found himself bowling in a game against Oxford University. He should never have been required to do so but, at some stage during it, he sustained a back injury. Some believe he was never quite the same again.The decision to bowl Anderson and Stokes for long might also have encouraged Holder to bat on. If he could exhaust England’s best bowlers it was not impossible he could rule them out of the rest of the series and he later admitted he saw a chance to “grind them down and keep them out in the heat”.It is, remember, just six days until the start of the second Test. Anderson is 36 and managing a shoulder problem that may well be causing him more pain than he makes out. Stokes, too, has undergone an operation on his left knee and suffers from ongoing back pain. There was no game at stake here; no hope that a magical spell could make the difference.Long before the end of West Indies’ second innings, factory-farmed chickens were getting together and muttering about the appalling conditions in which Anderson and Stokes are expected to work. Asking them to bowl in these conditions is like asking Picasso to pop round and paint your bathroom ceiling; like using a Ferrari to deliver rubble to the dump; like using Pegasus as a pit pony.Ben Stokes endured a frustrating morning•AFPPart of Root’s problem was the performance of his other bowlers. Sam Curran, for all his youthful promise, is not a Test opening bowler at this stage of his career. Perhaps, one day, he may be. But at present he is too reliant on swing and not quite able to compensate with control or other skills. He may well have a role to play in a four-man seam attack but, as one of three, he leaves too much required of his colleagues.The performance of the spinners was more worrying. They should have taken the main bowling workload, but Root didn’t seem to feel he could trust either of them. Moeen Ali’s first over of the day saw Holder thrash him for three successive boundaries, while Adil Rashid struggled with both his length and his pace in conceding nearly seven an over including five sixes. For him to bowl only nine overs in the innings – fewer than Root – is a damning indictment of his performance and the confidence the captain had in him.Rashid didn’t impress in the field, either, with Trevor Bayliss seen slapping his leg in frustration after a misfield gave away a single. It will be a surprise if he plays in Antigua.So it was understandable that Root didn’t trust some of his bowlers much. But he was party to the decision to pick two spinners. And he was party to the decision to prefer the wicket-taking potential of Rashid to the reliability of Jack Leach. He was also party to the decision to pick a left-arm swing bowler instead of a hit-the-deck seamer. In asking Stokes and Anderson to carry so much of the burden, he was tacitly admitting he and the other selectors had erred.There were some encouraging moments for England. Even towards the end, Jos Buttler and Root pulled off fine stops in the field. After every wicketless over, Anderson was applauded back to his position on the boundary by spectators who recognised his hard work. And despite his own disappointments, Curran made some diving stops on the boundary to save a run or two. There’s no faulting the spirit or the efforts. The opening batsmen started well, too. The weekend brings them opportunity.And there, perhaps, is the mitigation for England. For this pitch that looked so troublesome when 18 wickets fell on day two, suddenly appeared becalmed. Local knowledge suggests it may remain becalmed for much of day four, too, though some deterioration is likely on day five. It will be interesting to see if West Indies bowlers – faster or taller though most of them are – will be able to coax any more life out of it.But days like this expose holes. And West Indies have found a few in this England side.
AC Milan have now submitted a £33m offer for a “fantastic” Chelsea player, having identified him as a major target, and they are confident that a deal will be done, according to a new report.
Chelsea's summer transfer plans
The Blues have developed a reputation for stockpiling talented young players, and they are showing no signs of slowing down, having completed an out-of-window double swoop for Sporting CP’s Dario Essugo and Geovany Quenda.
It seems like the west Londoners have no plans to stop there, either, having already made an enquiry over a move for Juventus winger Kenan Yildiz, while they are also looking at AFC Bournemouth centre-back Dean Huijsen.
As such, in order to fund their own transfer business, Enzo Maresca’s side may be forced to cash-in on some players during the summer window, and the manager is willing to sanction the permanent departure of Aston Villa loanee Axel Disasi.
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Maresca is also ready to let Arsenal loanee Raheem Sterling leave on a permanent basis, with Juventus eyeing the 30-year-old, and he is not the only winger being targeted by one of Italy’s biggest clubs.
According to a report from Spain, AC Milan have now made a €40m (£33m) bid for Noni Madueke, having identified the 23-year-old as one of their main targets for the summer transfer window.
Chelsea's NoniMaduekein action with Brighton & Hove Albion's Tariq Lamptey
Milan are eyeing replacements for Rafael Leao, who has been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge, and they believe Madueke could be the perfect candidate.
The Italian giants are confident that a deal will be done for a fee of around £33m, and the huge competition for places at Stamford Bridge could make the move more likely.
"Fantastic" Madueke enjoying impressive campaign
It would be a shame to see the former PSV Eindhoven man leave this summer, given that the current campaign has been his best to date in a Chelsea shirt, picking up seven goals and three assists in the Premier League.
Maresca has also been impressed by the attacker’s contributions going forward, despite admitting there are still plenty of things he could improve.
The Blues are blessed with a lot of attacking options, but the forward was among their most consistent players prior to his recent hamstring injury, and he has admitted striking up a good relationship with Cole Palmer.
“He is cold and I am fire, so it mixes well. He has always got the ability to play the right pass at the right time, so it’s brilliant.”
As such, Chelsea should knock back the alleged bid from AC Milan, given that it doesn’t reflect Madueke’s value to the team.
Barcelona are considering the possibility of bringing back Alejandro Grimaldo from Bayer Leverkusen, with Real Madrid also eyeing the left-back.
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Grimaldo could leave Leverkusen this summerBarca open to bringing back ex-academy starReal Madrid also have him on their radarFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
According to , Barcelona continue to closely monitor Grimaldo as a potential reinforcement for the left-back position as they aim to provide an adequate back-up to Alejandro Balde. The Leverkusen star, who developed in La Masia, is highly valued for his quality and understanding of the club’s playing philosophy.
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Although Barca are satisfied with Balde and Gerard Martin, there are concerns over the squad’s depth in high-stakes matches. Balde is the undisputed starter, excelling on both ends of the pitch, while the younger Martin impressed notably with two assists against Inter in the Champions League semi-final. However, relying on an inexperienced player like Martin in crucial matches is seen as a risk by the technical staff at the club. Given Grimaldo's adoption of the club's unique philosophy during his formative years, the Catalans believe that signing the Spanish international would be a sensible move.
DID YOU KNOW?
One thing that could complicate the deal for Barcelona is the fact that Grimaldo's ex-boss Xabi Alonso, who coached him for over two seasons, has recently become the head coach of Real Madrid. With Los Blancos hitting a stumbling block in their pursuit of Alvaro Carreras from Benfica, Grimaldo could be tempted to accept a call from Madrid and Alonso with the guarantee of becoming a starter.
gettyWHAT NEXT FOR ALEX GRIMALDO?
Grimaldo has a contract with Leverkusen until 2027 but is open to returning to La Liga. He reportedly has a release clause significantly lower than his €40 million (£34m/$46m) market value — estimated to be around €18m (£15m/$20m). It remains to be seen where the full-back heads next season.
India began each session of day three knowing the best they could do was stay alive, and they did just that. Still, Australia’s grip had tightened by stumps
Sidharth Monga09-Jun-20231:15
Manjrekar: Not a flash in the pan from Shardul
India hung in admirably on the third day of the WTC final through fighting runs from Ajinkya Rahane and Shardul Thakur and a better bowling effort than in the first innings, but by the end of the day it was apparent they had lost too much ground on the first two days. They began the day 318 behind with half their side gone, took body blows to somehow reduce the deficit to 173, but ended the day 296 behind with six Australian wickets still standing.India began each session of the day knowing the best they could do was stay alive. They managed to not get blown away, but in the long, final session, Australia progressed steadily to leave India somewhere between just alive and out of the game.Related
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Scott Boland began metronomically and snuck past KS Bharat’s inside edge to bowl him second ball of the day. Pat Cummins and Boland then proceeded to torture the two batters, Rahane and Thakur, with uneven bounce out of the pitch. For the best part of the first hour, they were relentless and quick. Thakur was forced to take a painkiller and wear padding on both his forearms.However, it was still not a perfect display in the field from Australia. Cummins ended up with six no-balls with wickets off three of them. Following Ravindra Jadeja and Rahane on day two, he missed out on Thakur’s wicket on day three. Three catches went down in the slip cordon. Mitchell Starc struggled for control.Once they saw off the threat of Cummins and Boland, Rahane and Thakur began to score freely. By lunch, Rahane was 11 short of what would have been a special century on Test comeback, and Thakur 14 short of a third fifty in three innings at The Oval. The 60-over-old ball had stopped misbehaving by now, and India had a good shout at cutting down the 209-run deficit significantly before the second new ball.Ajinkya Rahane punches Nathan Lyon through the off side•Gareth Copley-ICC/Getty ImagesPost lunch, though, Rahane followed a widish delivery and edged it only for Cameron Green to pull off a spectacular catch at gully. The next three wickets could add just 35, though Thakur did manage to get to his half-century.India bowled with better control than they did in the first innings. Mohammed Siraj, in particular, extracted uneven bounce after nicking David Warner off early. Twice the bat fell out of Marnus Labuschagne’s hands on impact, much like it had done earlier with Thakur. Once he was swept off his feet. Umesh Yadav benefited from the pressure created with his first wicket of the match as Usman Khawaja wafted at a wide delivery.At 24 for 2, India would have hoped for further inroads, especially with Labuschagne struggling, but Steven Smith played a breezy knock to push India back. Having set himself up for a long dig in the first innings, Smith now looked for quick runs, racing away to 12 off his first seven balls. India’s second string of quicks now bowled with spread-out fields as Smith looked set for a big, effortless knock.Steven Smith knew he was in trouble right after miscuing a swipe across the line•Getty ImagesThen Smith tried to charge Jadeja for the third time in the Test. On the first two occasions, in the first innings, he managed to get enough of a half-hit to avoid mid-off, but this time there was enough grip from the surface to take the edge for point to take the catch. To get Smith out for just 34 when he was batting at a control rate of above 90% was a relief for India.Jadeja then used the rough outside the left-hand batter’s off stump to get rid of Travis Head. Labuschagne, standing well outside the crease to face the India quicks, never really looked in control. He ended the day 41 off 118 but, along with Green, he denied India any further success. To their credit, India didn’t allow them easy runs, going at well under three an over.It was half the job done for Australia, who would want to give their fast bowlers at least 24 hours with their feet up before they begin their final push for the title.
“Everything should be on a reciprocal basis,” says Najam Sethi, suggesting that Pakistan’s ODI World Cup matches be held outside India too
PTI21-Apr-2023The PCB has proposed a “hybrid model” for the upcoming Asia Cup to the Asian Cricket Council, where “Pakistan plays its Asia Cup matches at home and India their matches at a neutral venue,” board chairman Najam Sethi said on Friday.The BCCI has refused to allow the India team to travel to Pakistan for the tournament because of the ongoing political differences between the two nations and demanded the continental tournament be shifted from Pakistan to a neutral venue.But, with Pakistan hoping to host as much of the tournament within the country, Sethi hoped that the visit of his country’s foreign minister, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, next month to Goa for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Council meeting will help find a solution.Related
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“We have been told that, maybe, the ice will keep on melting – if this happens when the Champions Trophy is held in Pakistan in 2025, India would consider playing in Pakistan,” Sethi said at a press interaction. “We have been advised to play the Asia Cup at a neutral venue and also go to India for the World Cup.” He didn’t specify who the suggestion had come from.Sethi indicated that the public mood in his country was that Pakistan should play cricket with India on level terms.”Our government has imposed no restrictions about playing against India,” Sethi said. “But I can say right now that public mood is: we are not needy and we can stand on our own feet financially and we want to play cricket with India honourably. We are also negotiating with the ACC.”Sethi: ‘Everything should be on a reciprocal basis’Sethi said that if Pakistan decided to shift all India matches in the Asia Cup to a neutral venue, India should also use the same hybrid experiment during the 50-over World Cup, to be held in India in October-November this year.”We feel this hybrid experiment can also be applied when it is time for the World Cup,” Sethi said. “Our stance is that everything should be on a reciprocal basis. In the old times, yes, there were security issues in Pakistan. But now there are no issues, so what is India’s excuse for not playing in Pakistan?”The ACC, led by BCCI secretary Jay Shah, is yet to respond to the PCB about the proposed hybrid model. Reports say that the other ACC members also want the Asia Cup to be held at a neutral venue to cut costs even though Pakistan will remain the tournament host.The Asia Cup will feature six teams, including Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and one team that will be identified after the qualifiers, which is currently underway in Nepal.
He started in fifth gear and largely stayed there even as the rest of his team-mates struggled
Matt Roller16-Apr-20232:43
Moody: Other than Venkatesh, no KKR batter had any rhythm
Venkatesh Iyer writhed around in agony on the Wankhede pitch. He had raced to 19 not out after eight balls, lofting the debutant Arjun Tendulkar for four and six before upper-cutting Cameron Green for six. And he figured that, with fine leg inside the ring, he could shift across to the off side and look to scoop Green over that fielder’s head to pick up his second successive boundary.But, as Venkatesh later put it with a smile: “Unfortunately, I didn’t connect; and the ball connected to my knee.” Kolkata Knight Riders’ medical staff rushed on to give him treatment, causing a lengthy delay as he weighed up the merits of retiring hurt. “Honestly, the first emotion was to go out, because it was unbearable,” he said at the press conference after Knight Riders’ five-wicket defeat to Mumbai Indians.He opted to continue, and inside-edged his next ball past short fine leg for four. In the following over, he twice shuffled down the track to hit Duan Jansen for sixes down the ground; when he miscued, the ball landed just out of the back-pedalling Tim David’s reach.Related
Venkatesh Iyer: 'Fear of failure is always there, but the hope for success is higher, so why not try?'
Kishan and Suryakumar topple Knight Riders despite Venkatesh 104
According to ESPNcricinfo’s metrics, no batter in the last decade of IPL cricket has scored more runs while ‘out of control’ than the 38 Venkatesh managed on Sunday afternoon. But if this was a streaky, chaotic innings, it was one which highlighted the value of attacking intent in this format – particularly on a small ground, and against an inexperienced bowling attack.Venkatesh was measured against Piyush Chawla, who he seemed to mark out as Mumbai Indians’ main attacking threat, but scored at a 200-plus strike rate against their other five bowlers, hitting each of them for at least one six. As his team-mates struggled to find their tempo on a slowish pitch which got better under lights, Venkatesh started in fifth gear and stayed there.He was dropped in the 80s, while attempting to loft Hrithik Shokeen over cover, but scored increasingly heavily square of the wicket, twice pulling Riley Meredith’s slower balls over the leg side for six. “This was a red-soil pitch, so you have to play much squarer and not straighter,” he explained.Venkatesh Iyer copped a blow on his knee•BCCIWhen Venkatesh brought up his hundred off 49 balls, bowing towards his team-mates in the dugout as he celebrated, it seemed to mark his return to the big stage after what has been a difficult year for him; a year which saw him suffer second-season syndrome in IPL 2022, lose his India place and suffer a broken ankle that threatened to rule him out of this tournament altogether.It also brought to an end one of the IPL’s more bizarre statistical quirks. Venkatesh became KKR’s second centurion, 15 years – almost to the day – after Brendon McCullum blitzed 158 on the tournament’s opening night. There was a circularity to it: McCullum, after all, was the man who brought Venkatesh into his side in the second half of IPL 2021, and who retained him ahead of the following year’s mega-auction.There have been moments in which that decision has looked unwise: Venkatesh lost his place in the KKR side last season, struggling to make an impact as he moved up and down the order. Meanwhile, Shubman Gill – who signed for Gujarat Titans for INR 8 crore, the same wage that Venkatesh is on – has made a breakthrough in international cricket, blossoming into a more dynamic T20 batter than the one who once opened alongside Venkatesh.This century – and his brilliant 83 off 40 in Ahmedabad last weekend, an innings which slipped under the radar due to Rinku Singh’s heroics – was a reminder of his ability. With his long, gold chain hanging out of his untucked, long-sleeved shirt, Venkatesh can appear almost insouciant when he bats, but it is clear that he cares deeply.2:28
Iyer: The credit for my century goes to Abhishek Nayar
“I just have gratitude for whatever I have,” he said. “I just want to go out there and explore what I can do on a cricket field. As far as this season goes, it’s Venkatesh Iyer doing what’s correct for the team, not individually. The clarity of role given to me is absolutely amazing, and I’m just looking to go out there and execute that plan.””Shreyas [Iyer] is injured, so someone had to take up the No. 3 role which is a very important role, and I’ve maintained that I want to be flexible as a cricketer. When they told me I’m going to bat at No. 3, obviously the intent didn’t change: you have to go after the bowling in the powerplay, and that’s what I’ve been doing.”He has been used as a specialist batter in every game this season, via the Impact Player rule, as he continues to recover from his broken left ankle, so is yet to take the field with his team-mates. “Injury doesn’t take a toll on your body just physically, but mentally as well. It makes you go through a lot,” he said. “I’m really happy that I’m back on the field, doing what I love the most.”But given Venkatesh’s focus on intent, there was one lingering question: why did it take him seven balls to move from 94 to 100? “The scoreboard was not working so I couldn’t see how many runs I was batting [on],” he said with a smile. “But if that happened, that’s something that I have to correct and keep moving from there.”And in truth, Venkatesh’s slight slowdown was the least of KKR’s problems in their defeat. Following back-to-back wins, they have now lost two games in the space of 48 hours and it is clear that they have major issues which could prove difficult for them to address.With Venkatesh watching from the dugout, their fast bowlers leaked 80 runs in 6.4 overs as Mumbai cruised to their target. And their openers again failed to fire: they have used three different combinations already this season, but their opening partnerships have been worth 70 across five matches.Their other seven batters managed 67 runs off 69 balls between them, with Andre Russell’s unbeaten 21 off 11 only begging the question as to why he was not given the opportunity to face more. Instead, Shardul Thakur was promoted and made 13 off 11, while Rinku struggled when Mumbai took the pace off, eking out 18 off 18.Perhaps moving Venkatesh up to open could solve their opening woes, though he has clearly benefited from the clarity of a settled role this year and such a move would amount to compromising a strength to address a weakness. “In hindsight, we can talk about us scoring 15-20 runs less [than we should have] or the wicket getting better,” he said, “but we have to accept that they batted really well; they outbatted us.”Yet even if KKR fell to a heavy defeat, Venkatesh will look back on this Sunday afternoon with fondness. For several long months, he wondered if he would be fit enough to feature in IPL 2023; now, he is the tournament’s leading run-scorer, back centre-stage after a year in the wings.
Manuel Neuer jokingly dubbed Nick Woltemade “Woltemessi” as Bayern Munich continue their push to sign the Stuttgart striker despite strong resistance.
Bayern clinch Supercup 2-1 Stuttgart firm on their striker's departureNeuer praise fuels ongoing transfer speculationFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Bayern kicked off their season with a 2-1 Supercup triumph over Stuttgart, courtesy of goals from England’s superstar Harry Kane and a high summer recruit from Liverpool Luis Diaz. Yet, the night truly belonged to captain Neuer, who at 39 rolled back the years with a commanding display in his 11th Supercup appearance. The veteran goalkeeper produced decisive saves, showcasing the reflexes and authority that have defined his legendary career.
After the match, Neuer turned the spotlight onto one of Bayern’s long-standing transfer targets, Euro U-21 sensation Nick Woltemade. In a lighthearted but telling moment, the skipper showered praise on the young forward and even dropped a cheeky transfer hint by giving him a playful nickname: “Woltemessi.” The quip not only drew laughs but also fuelled speculation that Bayern is still not yet done with their pursuit of the rising star.
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Speaking about Stuttgart’s U-21 European champion, Woltemade, the Bayern captain was full of praise: "He's a very good player, who's also Woltemessi," said Neuer, smiling as he compared the youngster’s skillset to the Argentine legend.
The German striker is "someone who can do a lot on the ball, is unpredictable, and the same applies to Deniz Undav, for example," Neuer added.
But his comments didn’t stop there. With Bayern still looking to bolster their attack this summer, Neuer appeared to drop a subtle transfer hint, "I have a feeling something else will happen. But as I say every summer: We trust our managers. They'll do their homework, and we'll concentrate on football."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Neuer’s remark carried shades of Thomas Muller’s trademark wit, often used to break tension while also sending subtle messages. Just as Muller has been known to mix humour with insight when commenting on teammates or rivals, Neuer’s playful nickname for Woltemade did more than entertain. It added weight to Bayern’s ongoing pursuit of the 23-year-old forward, reinforcing the idea that even the dressing room leaders see him as a potential addition. With Stuttgart holding firm that “the case is closed,” Neuer’s words put added pressure on the Bundesliga rivals while keeping the rumour mill alive.
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR BAYERN & WOLTEMADE?
For Stuttgart, CEO Alexander Wehrle has been categorical in ruling out Woltemade’s departure, even after putting forward an improved contract club has even offered the striker an improved contract worth up to €2.5m per year, though Bayern’s proposal was reportedly three to four times higher, underlining how serious their pursuit is. For now, Woltemade remains a Stuttgart player, but with the transfer window still open and Neuer’s pointed remarks fresh.