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Amid a babble of storylines emerges the narrative of Archer playing his first international game in Barbados

Melinda Farrell04-Jun-2024Yes, this is the start of the defending champions’ campaign. Yes, this is the first time England and Scotland will meet in a T20I. Yes, the last time these two sides met, in an ODI, Scotland humbled England with a six-run victory. Yes, the fact that it was six years ago, when they share a common border, is both astonishing and pretty sad.A babble of storylines demands attention in the Barbados fixture and yet the narrative of Jofra Archer’s first international match in the country where he was born and raised will surely be front and centre at the Kensington Oval.Sport loves personal connections, whether a curious coincidence or deeper links, and a homecoming tale has always captured attention, from Lassie to E.T.Related

• Archer's smooth comeback gives England a 'different level mood'

• England and Scotland grudge match set to break new ground

• England have 'no preconceived ideas' about used Barbados pitch

In Archer’s case, the connection is pronounced; a child of Barbados who took England to the top of the world in a Super Over in 2019. A Bajan export who bowled one of Test cricket’s most memorable and thrilling spells in an Ashes series, the contest that looms largest in English cricket lore.His story has been oft told, his English father, his Barbadian mother, his move across the Atlantic after drifting out of the local system, his accelerated rise through the ranks of Sussex to the glories of the summer of 2019.The interest in Archer is not purely inspired by the romance of his tale. It’s always been about what he is rather than where he is from; a sleek and mesmerising human catapult equally capable of felling the best batters in the world or zeroing in on their stumps.For a while, his plot veered into the what-could-have-been genre, as the injuries mounted and kept him off the field for lengthy periods; the elbow stress-fracture chapter of 2020, its recurrence in 2021 along with a bio-bubble breach and a freak fish-tank-cleaning hand injury, the lower-back stress fracture that struck the following year, more elbow woes in 2023.His latest comeback had checkpoints in the two countries that have moulded him: a match-winning performance for the Wildey Club in Barbados in early April followed by a six-over spell in a Sussex second XI match in May. The subsequent series against Pakistan was merely an appetiser; this T20 World Cup 2024 is the highly-anticipated main course.Beach bums: Both Jofra Archer and Chris Jordan were born in Barbados•Getty ImagesBut while the focus has often been on his past, Archer’s future path is far fuzzier. He chose a two-year deal over a three-year central contract. His reasonings remain as enigmatic as the man himself; might he feel his value will increase, as Ben Stokes does? Perhaps, more likely is the suspicion that next summer, with India’s tour of England, and a shot at the Ashes in Australia might prove to be his last Test hurrahs before the troublesome elbow claims him as its victim. A world of lucrative T20 offers awaits. Perhaps Archer already knows where he is heading. Perhaps he doesn’t.Archer’s past and future may be background noise for England’s opening match, but his importance to the present campaign will take the spotlight as soon as he takes the ball. His breathtaking pace and ability to create uncertainty for the batter and break sides apart will be key to England’s chances.Throughout Barbados, there are metaphors for his attributes. The brooding intensity of the oppressive humidity echoes the menace he builds with each delivery. The storms that strike suddenly trigger relief and dismay as sweaty tourists find respite from the clammy heat but have their sunbathing sessions ruined; whether you are overjoyed or disconsolate by an Archer blow depends on which side you’re supporting.The morning traffic that snakes along the azure coastline summons the frustration of those lengthy layoffs; the chill of the locals in dealing with them reflects Archer’s own laid-back demeanour.And one wonders if a young Archer honed his skills at any of the nondescript cricket grounds passed on the way to the Kensington Oval, where he will run in from the top of his mark in England colours for the very first time.The occasion will undoubtedly be poignant for Archer and those who are there to support him; many here still claim him as one of their own. His past will be present but the present is everything in England’s mission.His own future? It remains a mystery.

What do the selectors’ decisions suggest about the immediate future in the two formats?

Karthik Krishnaswamy22-May-202211:36

Shastri: On current form, India might just play Malik against SA

A recall, and a farewell?
Cheteshwar Pujara is back in the Test squad, and he pretty much forced that decision on the selectors with his rollicking form in the County Championship. How do you ignore 6, 201*, 109, 12, 203, 16, 170* and 3? The selectors possibly factored another reason into his recall as well: in the first four Tests of the series that will end in Edgbaston, he was arguably India’s best-performing middle-order batter, his series average of 32.42 masking the vital contributions he made. His third-innings knocks of 45 (off 206 balls) and 61 helped India claw their way back to victory after conceding first-innings leads at Lord’s and The Oval respectively, and he top-scored for India with 91 in their defeat at Headingley.Another senior stalwart, however, isn’t part of the squad, and you may wonder whether there is a way back now for Ishant Sharma. For so long an ever-present face in India’s attacks overseas, he has slipped behind both Mohammed Siraj and Umesh Yadav in the fast-bowling queue over the last year-and-a-half, and now it would seem Prasidh Krishna as well, as India look for a successor in the tall, hit-the-deck department.There was no way anyone was leaving Cheteshwar Pujara out of the Test squad after his run for Sussex•Getty ImagesA lack of match practice, however, could be a more immediate reason behind Ishant’s non-selection; he hasn’t played any competitive cricket since a pair of Ranji Trophy games in February-March, and those were his only matches since India’s home Test series against New Zealand in November 2021. But with India’s pace reserves constantly growing, you wonder where Ishant will get his next opportunity to turn heads and demand a recall.Intent machines ignored
Over the last three IPL seasons, Prithvi Shaw has managed a strike rate of 152.84 in the powerplay. In the middle overs, meanwhile, Sanju Samson has achieved strike rates of over 150 against both pace and spin. No other India contender comes close to matching those records.But that sort of intent always has a flip side – both Shaw and Samson average under 30 in IPL 2022, and this, perhaps, is the reason why neither is part of India’s T20I squad even though Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been rested and Suryakumar Yadav is out injured.Instead of powerplay enforcers and intent machines, the selectors seem to have preferred – as they have over a number of years – top-order batters with a penchant for big scores, even if it entails slow starts. The likely opening combination of KL Rahul and Ruturaj Gaikwad says as much.Prithvi Shaw has scored at a strike rate of 152.84 in the powerplay in the last three IPL seasons•BCCI/IPLEqually, though, the selectors could point to Ishan Kishan and Deepak Hooda – whose approach could be termed similar to those of Shaw and Samson respectively, even if their phase-wise IPL numbers don’t necessarily match up – as counter-examples to suggest they aren’t entirely wedded to an old-school approach.Long rope for long-term prospects
Kishan (strike rate of 120.11) has been far from at his fluent best during IPL 2022, while Venkatesh Iyer (average of 16.54, strike rate of 107.69) has had a horror season. But both have kept their places in the T20I squad, suggesting that the selectors are backing the players they have identified as long-term prospects, and that IPL form is neither a guarantee of selection nor a deal-breaker.It helps, too, that both are left-handers who can bat in multiple positions, and that one offers a wicketkeeping option and the other a sixth bowling option.New quicks on the block
IPL 2022 has been a goldmine for India’s selectors in terms of the sheer number of uncapped fast bowlers who have made an impact with their pace, skill, and execution under pressure. Out of that group – which also includes the likes of Mohsin Khan and Mukesh Choudhary – two have earned first-time call-ups to the T20I squad.4:40

Ravi Shastri: ‘Central contract straightaway for Umran Malik’

The two bring dissimilar but equally exciting skillsets to the table. Umran Malik’s sheer pace – consistently upwards of 150kph – and nose-or-toes lengths offer India a bruising middle-overs option that can upset any line-up in the world. Arshdeep Singh isn’t as quick, but he’s a left-armer with superb defensive skills, as his death-overs economy rate of 7.31 in IPL 2022 (the best in the league among bowlers who have sent down at least ten overs in that phase) would suggest.With these two in the mix alongside Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan and Harshal Patel, India’s squad has a fast bowler for nearly every situation.How do you fit Hardik and Karthik into the same XI?
Hardik Pandya was always going to be back in India’s white-ball plans the moment he resumed bowling. And he hasn’t just resumed bowling; his speeds have often veered past 140kph, he’s used hard lengths and changes of pace most cleverly, and he sent down his full quota of overs in his first four matches of IPL 2022. A groin issue has reduced his bowling output since then, but India don’t necessarily need him to bowl four overs every game. If he can bowl two while striking the ball at even 80% of his potential, he would walk into most T20 line-ups in the world.2:40

Manjrekar: ‘Don’t think Pant is under pressure from Karthik’

Speaking of ball-striking, have a look at Dinesh Karthik’s death-overs numbers from IPL 2022: 91 balls, 206 runs, a best-in-the-league strike rate of 226.37. At nearly 37, Karthik probably reckoned his best chance of knocking on the selectors’ doors was to take an axe to them. He’s long been one of the best finishers in Indian cricket, and was distinctly unlucky to have been out of the T20I squad for so long despite boasting world-class numbers during his most recent run in the side; but then again, where do you fit him into the XI?If Karthik’s other skill was part-time spin rather than keeping wicket, India would have no trouble answering that question. They would simply bat Rishabh Pant, Hardik and Karthik at Nos. 5, 6 and 7. As things stand, however, Karthik is a specialist finisher who is significantly less comfortable batting up the order, and he isn’t the first-choice keeper. With Hardik not a guaranteed deliverer of four overs, Karthik is left competing with a second allrounder (Axar Patel in the current squad) for the No. 7 slot, which is a difficult contest to win.If he can grab the chances he gets during the series against South Africa, however, Karthik could still make a major case to be picked as India’s reserve keeper for the T20 World Cup.

What caused the India captain to have one of his worst-ever Test series?

Karthik Krishnaswamy in Christchurch03-Mar-20203:27

Won’t be in denial about what went wrong – Kohli

Sometimes, you get a ball that’s just too good. Sometimes, you get two in a Test match.Virat Kohli got two devilishly good balls in Christchurch – one from Tim Southee, and one from Colin de Grandhomme. Both threatened to swing away from him, and both nipped back off the pitch. Both were pitched on the fuller side of a good length, bringing the batsman forward but still leaving him far enough from the pitch of the ball for the seam movement to do maximum damage.Maximum damage is exactly what took place. Kohli looked to drive Southee down the ground in the first innings and to defend de Grandhomme in the second, and on both occasions, the ball went past his inside edge and hit his front pad, bang in line with the stumps.Both balls were starting to curve away from the batsman until they pitched and abruptly changed direction. It’s the physics of backspin – inswing bowlers usually tend to bowl the legcutter as a variation, and outswing bowlers the offcutter – but sometimes it’s not even in the bowler’s control when it happens.ALSO READ: A bowler for each batsman – how New Zealand plotted Virat Kohli & Co’s downfall“I think that’s a question for Tim or for Colin,” Trent Boult said in his press conference at the end of the second day’s play, when was asked whether they meant for the ball to nip back in like it did. “But I think they call that natural variation, pretty much, it’s just one of those things.”You’re trying to bowl a certain ball, and you slightly get a bit of variation with whatever, but yeah, the bowling group as a whole, I think the approach is to not give them too many soft deliveries, group the balls nicely, and then almost let that natural variation take care of itself. Yeah, we’re lucky to get two that lined up and hit him on the pads nicely, and yeah, it was a good feeling to see the back of him.”Sometimes you get a ball that’s just too good, and sometimes it’s not even wholly intentional on the bowler’s part. But could Kohli have played them better?Replays of both dismissals suggest Kohli could have.Against Southee, his head was falling over to the off side, ending up on a roughly fifth-stump line for a ball that pitched a fraction outside off stump and struck him in front of middle and off. He ended up slicing across the line of the ball in an attempt to drive down the ground, with his bat a long way in front of his body. Playing with a straighter bat, and closer to his body, might have allowed Kohli to survive.Kyle Jamieson is pumped up after getting rid of Virat Kohli•Getty ImagesKohli’s head was in a much better position against de Grandhomme, over the line that the ball may have ended up in had it followed its initial outward trajectory. He was also playing a lot closer to his body, so there was more reason for him to feel he simply got an unplayable delivery.But on both occasions, Kohli did something he almost never does when he’s batting fluently and scoring lots of runs, a little thing that was more easily observable from side-on. Usually, Kohli’s head is on top of the ball, roughly above his front foot. It allows him to play on-drives or flicks through midwicket even when he looks a little off-balance from front-on. It allows him to cover drive safely even when he’s not necessarily got his front foot close to the pitch of the ball.In Christchurch, his weight wasn’t going forward, and his head was ending up behind his front foot, forcing him to play around his front pad. And if your head isn’t getting on top of the ball, there’s one other consequence: you end up playing your drives, whether through on or off, away from your body, with your weight not fully forward.Think back to Kohli’s first-innings dismissal in the first Test in Wellington. The cover drive he attempted off Kyle Jamieson there was perhaps not on, given the ball’s line and length – it was closer to a wide length ball than a wide half-volley – and also India’s match situation. But as risky as it seems, he often drives similar balls for four. What was different, again, was his head position, well behind his front foot, forcing him to throw his hands at the ball.If Kohli’s head position has indeed been the issue dogging him right through this Test series, and perhaps the whole tour of New Zealand, what could have caused it? It’s hard to say, but one thing leaps out as a possible reason. Right through this tour, New Zealand’s use of the short ball has been spoken about and analysed endlessly, and there’s a reason for it: they bowl a lot of short balls, Neil Wagner in particular. India must have planned extensively for it as well; as early as the eve of their three-day warm-up match in Hamilton, a player as inexperienced as Shubman Gill mentioned in a press conference that India would need to be wary of giving New Zealand too many wickets off the short ball.When you have the short ball in the back of your mind, it can’t be easy to get your weight moving forward when the ball is full. Perhaps this is what has held Kohli back, and caused him to endure one of his worst-ever series.

Davis Schneider blasted the most important home run of his life on Wednesday night, taking the first pitch he saw from Blake Snell over the left-field fence for a leadoff ambush to start Game 5. Vladimir Guerrero would follow suit with a homer of his own, allowing Toronto to enjoy a 2-0 lead before most fans had settled into their seats. The Blue Jays then cruised to a 6-1 victory as Trey Yesavage confounded the L.A. offense and Canada is one victory away from bringing the World Series trophy north of the border as the series shifts back to Toronto.

Schneider's long ball could very swell prove to be the moment the Blue Jays finally wrestled away control and overcame Shohei Ohtani's ridiculous one-man show. And if that happens, the highlight will have a helpful second angle thanks to Schneider's dad, who chose to record his son's first plate appearance even though Fox and other international broadcast rights partners also had cameras on the game.

But it's a good thing he did because the elder Schneider's reaction could not have been more pure. He also classily edited his language so the official account of Major League Baseball could share the clip more widely on its large platform.

This is exactly the type of thing one would expect from someone whose handle is "bballdadd44745." Years and years of doing GameChanger hones a baseball dad into a machine when their kid is at the plate, you can rest assured that the at-bat will be chronicled for internal use. And credit to pops for keeping it together as well as he did. There are tons of other dads out there who have larger reactions to a play in the third inning of an 11U game.

How can you not be romantic about baseball?

Mohamed Salah has reportedly been given the chance to link up with the Egypt squad earlier than planned amid the furore around his uncertain Liverpool future. The 33-year-old grabbed the headlines when he accused the Reds of "throwing him under the bus" after being left out of the starting XI. While speculation has mounted about an Anfield exit, it seems a January departure is very unlikely.

Salah vents his frustration

Shortly after Liverpool's thrilling 3-3 draw with Leeds on Saturday, a game where Salah was an unused substitute, the former Roma star said that someone at the Reds wanted him to "get all of the blame" and that he no longer had a relationship with manager Arne Slot. The Dutchman later said that he had "no clue" whether the forward had played his last game for the Anfield outfit, while club legend Jamie Carragher branded Salah a "disgrace" and accused him of trying to get the former Feyenoord boss sacked.  

Salah told reporters after the Leeds game, "I think it is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame. I said many times before that I had a good relationship with the manager, and all of a sudden we don't have any relationship. I don't know why but it seems to me, how I see it, that someone doesn't want me in the club. It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus. That is how I am feeling. I think it is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame. This club, I will always support it. My kids will always support it. I love the club so much and I always will. It [the situation] is not acceptable to me, to be fair. I don't get it. It's like I'm being thrown more under the bus. I don't think I'm the problem. I have done so much for this club. I don't have to go every day fighting for my position because I earned it. I am not bigger than anyone but I earned my position. It's football. It is what it is."

AdvertisementGetty Images SportSalah wants Liverpool stay

Despite Salah's outburst and being left out of Liverpool's Champions League clash away to Inter on Tuesday night, claims he has 'no intention' of leaving the club in the January transfer window. The veteran, who has been an unused substitute in two of Liverpool's last three Premier League matches, is said to be 'disappointed' by this turn of events, especially as he hoped to retire at the Merseyside outfit. Salah feels someone at the club is trying to push him out, and he himself is aware he would not be short of suitors should he choose to leave the club next month. Incidentally, his comments came as 'no surprise' to some of his team-mates, who have noticed he has cut an 'unhappy figure' in recent weeks.

Salah gets Egypt FA's support

The report adds that Salah has held talks with Egypt's national team coach, Hossam Hassan, who assured him he would be happy to welcome the ex-Chelsea player into the Pharaohs' camp this week. The Egyptian international is available for selection for the Reds' Premier League clash against Brighton this weekend but Hassan has reportedly offered him a chance to get away from this intense situation ahead of their tournament opener against Zimbabwe on December 22.

Incidentally, Egyptian FA football director Ibrahim Hassan added, "Mohamed Salah is a great player and he will return stronger and better, as we have always known him to be, in the upcoming matches. Salah will continue to make history with Liverpool after becoming one of its legends. Mohamed Salah will also make history with the Egyptian national team in the Africa Cup of Nations, along with the coaching staff and his teammates, by winning the championship."

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Getty Images SportWhat comes next for Salah?

adds that Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal are monitoring Salah's situation ahead of the January window but are more hopeful of launching a successful bid next summer. Salah's ambition reportedly remains a 'far stronger' driving force than 'financial incentives', so he could stay at Liverpool for the foreseeable future. 

Barcelona’s long-awaited Camp Nou rebirth has stretched a full year beyond schedule, yet the club will not enforce the €1 million-per-day penalty clause against construction firm Limak. Between bureaucratic hurdles, structural surprises, financial strain, and internal dissent, Barca now prioritises finishing the stadium over reclaiming hundreds of millions in fines as fans grow increasingly frustrated.

Multiple delay's in Camp Nou's renovation

Barcelona’s Camp Nou renovation, once positioned as a flagship achievement of the Espai Barca project, spiralled into a saga of delays, criticism and missed milestones. The project has now drifted a year beyond the original November 29, 2024 deadline, yet the club will not enforce the €1m-per-day penalty clause included in Limak’s contract, reports.

This decision arrives after months of concerns surrounding the project’s management. One of the earliest internal ruptures occurred when Jordi Llaurado, the board member overseeing Espai Barca, resigned following president Joan Laporta’s choice of Limak as the construction partner. Llaurado opposed the selection – he believed Camp Nou’s reconstruction warranted a top-tier, perhaps publicly traded firm subject to strict regulatory oversight. Limak, in contrast, submitted its bid late, failed to meet certain formal criteria, and reportedly scored the lowest in technical evaluations. The former board member also refused to attend the vote, signalling his disapproval, and resigned weeks later in protest.

Now, the club face the consequences of that choice. Camp Nou remains partly closed, its phased reopening far slower than promised. Having just returned to Camp Nou for their first game last week, Barcelona continue to play matches in a stadium still surrounded by cranes, incomplete roofs and unfinished concourses, undermining the initial pledge of a sparkling return for the club’s 125th anniversary. And despite the long delay, Laporta has made it clear that invoking the penalty clause is “out of the question,” insisting that the project’s setbacks stem from circumstances beyond Limak’s control.

AdvertisementAFPWhy Barcelona refuses to demand the fines

Barcelona argue that many of the delays arose from factors that no contractor could have fully prevented – bureaucratic bottlenecks, permitting challenges, and labour inspections that caused repeated stoppages. The City Council’s prolonged approvals forced work to halt for weeks at a time, while EU safety requirements and municipal restrictions on continuous construction shrank operational hours.

Beyond the red tape, the site itself produced new complications, according to various reports. Construction teams discovered high-voltage cables requiring a full rewiring, hazardous materials that mandated specialised removal, and significant drainage issues in the pitch area that pushed the turf regrowth back by months. Meanwhile, global disruptions, from a major steel supplier’s bankruptcy to shipping delays linked to geopolitical tensions, further slowed progress.

Extreme heat waves in Catalonia brought mandatory labour stoppages under new Spanish regulations, and noise-control laws blocked the possibility of 24-hour shifts that could have accelerated work. Subcontracting delays in the VIP zones, still incomplete and without final facades or luxury seating, extended the timeline further. The enormous roof which required 1,400 tons of steel cabling remains one of the biggest components now pushed into 2026.

Laporta insists these conditions make litigation unwinnable, and that pursuing over €200 million in fines would damage the relationship with Limak and jeopardise completion. The club argues that its priority must be guaranteeing the stadium’s full 105,000-seat reopening by mid-2026, not entering a lengthy legal battle that could stall progress.

Adding to the controversy, the Catalan Labour Inspectorate recently fined an Extreme Works subcontractor €1m for employing 79 undocumented workers on site, an incident that has sparked further scrutiny of oversight standards and casts another shadow over the project’s execution.

Fan outrage and internal pressure mount

Barcelona has repeatedly missed the self-imposed return dates. From the 2024 anniversary target to the 2025 Joan Gamper Trophy and a planned reopening for the Valencia match that was abruptly transferred back to the Johan Cruyff Stadium over last-minute permit complications. Montjuic’s Estadi Olimpic, the temporary home since 2023, has offered little comfort: reduced capacity, muted atmospheres, and away supporters frequently out-chanting the home crowd.

Frustration reached boiling point when a viral video showed a fan confronting Laporta directly, accusing the leadership of making empty promises. Online forums have produced forensic breakdowns of the delays, with some analyses attributing a majority of setbacks to preventable planning errors rather than uncontrollable externalities.

Internally, the strains are equally evident. Fixture scheduling for La Liga and the Champions League has become a logistical ordeal, with multiple departments forced to react to each shift in construction timelines. VIP clients are now voicing dissatisfaction due to unfinished lounges and premium zones, jeopardising key revenue streams.

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Getty Images SportFinancial consequences for Barca and the road ahead

Reduced capacity at Montjuic has cost Barcelona tens of millions annually in lost matchday revenue – money desperately needed amid ongoing debt and salary-cap constraints. Delays also erased potential earnings from events such as Champions League openers and commercial activations tied to the stadium’s reopening. Overrunning material and labour costs have inflated the renovation budget well beyond initial projections, intensifying the strain on a club already navigating a €1.3 billion debt.

By waiving over €200 million in possible penalties from Limak, Barcelona has sacrificed a potential revenue buffer. Meanwhile, the €1m government fine over undocumented workers added yet another financial burden to a project already plagued by unforeseen expenses.

Yet the Espai Barca renovation is not without progress. Partial reopening has allowed Barcelona to host select La Liga and Champions League matches at Camp Nou once more, and an open training session earlier this month offered a glimpse of life after the cranes are gone. Sustainability objectives, such as 18,000 square metres of solar panels, large-scale material recycling, and water-reuse systems, remain on track despite delays to their installation. Still, the road to full completion stretches into 2026.

Shamar Joseph and Gudakesh Motie are in both ODI and T20I squads after missing the Test tour of India

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Oct-2025Ackeem Auguste has earned a first call-up to West Indies’ ODI squad for the white-ball tour of Bangladesh in the second half of October, as replacement for Evin Lewis who has been ruled out with an injured wrist.Khary Pierre, who made his Test debut in the first match against India earlier this month in Ahmedabad, has earned a recall to the ODI side as the third spinner alongside Gudakesh Motie and allrounder Roston Chase, while Alick Athanaze has also made a return to the squad after playing his 13th and last ODI in December last year.”The selection of Ackeem reflects the pathway Cricket West Indies is creating for our emerging players who have shown the qualities to perform at the international level,” head coach Daren Sammy said in a CWI statement. “He is a player for the future, one who has progressed from Under-15s to the senior level, and another Academy graduate to feature in an international squad this year.”West Indies tour of Bangladesh

1st ODI – October 18, Dhaka
2nd ODI – October 21, Dhaka
3rd ODI – October 23, Dhaka
1st T20I – October 27, Chattogram
2nd T20I – October 29, Chattogram
3rd T20I – October 31, Chattogram

Also included for both the ODIs and the T20Is is Shamar Joseph, who missed the Test tour of India, along with Alzarri Joseph, because of an injury, the nature of which CWI didn’t disclose at the time. Motie is another player who missed the Test tour of India as West Indies wanted to manage his workload in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup early next year.The Bangladesh series will be the penultimate one of the year for West Indies.”The squad assembled will strive to maintain a winning mentality and strong team cohesion, essential components for long-term success ahead of the World Cup,” Sammy said. “Facing Bangladesh provides another opportunity to earn crucial points in our push for automatic qualification to the showpiece event.”Ramon Simmonds has been on the rise in recent months•CPL T20 via Getty ImagesFor the T20Is, left-arm quick Ramon Simmonds and Amir Jangoo have been included in the squad. While Jangoo has been picked as the back-up wicketkeeper-batter to captain Shai Hope, it’s a continuation of a steady rise for Simmonds, who picked up 13 wickets for Barbados Royals in the recent CPL 2025 and then returned 4 for 15 in only his second T20I, against Nepal last month.Related

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Lara asks West Indies players to 'find a way'

In what CWI called “a concerted effort to provide players with valuable exposure to subcontinent conditions in advance of the series”, Motie, Keacy Carty, Sherfane Rutherford, Auguste and Jangoo will train at the Chennai Super Kings Academy prior to the Bangladesh series.”With the 2026 T20 World Cup around the corner, it is important for our players to get as much practice as possible in these conditions, with that tournament being held in India and Sri Lanka,” CWI director of cricket Miles Bascombe said. “In addition to the important aspect of acclimatisation, the camp will feature skill and tactical training and development specific to those conditions, which is critical to preparing the players ahead of this series as well as next year’s World Cup.”The tour of Bangladesh will start with the three ODIs, on October 18, 21 and 23, all in Dhaka, followed by the three T20Is in Chattogram on October 27, 29 and 31.West Indies ODI squad for tour of BangladeshShai Hope (capt), Alick Athanaze, Ackeem Auguste, Jediah Blades, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Justin Greaves, Amir Jangoo, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Gudakesh Motie, Khary Pierre, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales, Romario ShepherdWest Indies T20I squad for tour of BangladeshShai Hope (capt), Alick Athanaze, Ackeem Auguste, Roston Chase, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Amir Jangoo, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Gudakesh Motie, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd, Ramon Simmonds

USMNT icon Landon Donovan expressed disappointment over Ricardo Pepi’s limited minutes during the November 2025 window, saying the young striker has slipped in the team’s forward pecking order – now behind Folarin Balogun and Haji Wright – and that the coach’s selections make that clear. Donovan expressed particular concern about Pepi's complete absence in the USMNT's impressive victory over Uruguay.

ImagnDonovan highlights Pepi's absence against Uruguay

The former USMNT captain noted that despite the team scoring multiple goals and having a comfortable lead, head coach Mauricio Pochettino still opted not to give Pepi any playing time. 

“I would say yeah,” Donovan said on his Unfiltered Soccer podcast when asked if Pepi’s lack of minutes was a concern. “I mean, this is a game where you can’t wait to get on the field if you’re watching from the bench because you’re like, there’s going to be chances, especially when they went down to 10 men. You’re like 'Get me on the field, get me on the field!'

“And yeah, I’m not in Pochettino’s head, I can’t speak for him, but [Pepi] had a chance the other night that he fluffed and should have scored.”

AdvertisementPSV striker now third in depth chart for USMNT

Donovan's assessment placed Pepi clearly third in the striker pecking order under manager Mauricio Pochettino.

“It’s pretty clear right now, although this is always changing, but like it goes, Balogun and then Haji Wright. And I think Pepi right now is third and that’s the way he views it,” Donovan said.

Competition up front

Over the last few camps, Folarin Balogun has taken over as the USMNT’s No. 9 with the AS Monaco star leading the charge going into 2026. His form has matched that as he has netted three goals in his last five caps for the USA. The same applies to Haji Wright, who has netted two goals in his last two caps while Pepi has struggled for form and fitness.

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AFPCritical four months ahead as World Cup approaches

With only one international window remaining before World Cup qualifying intensifies, the competition for striker positions continues to intensify. 

Tottenham have now been told what it’s going to take to strike a January deal for Al-Ahli striker Ivan Toney, following the player’s alleged talks with former boss Thomas Frank.

Spurs’ immediate need for a new centre-forward might dwindle in the eyes of some once Dominic Solanke returns to full fitness, with Randal Kolo Muani also steadily getting up to speed after spending most of this season out injured.

Kolo Muani notched an impressive assist against FC Copenhagen in Spurs’ last outing, but missed glorious chances to double the home side’s lead, much to the bewilderment of Xavi Simons, who put the ball on a plate for the Frenchman twice.

However, while Kolo Muani earned Frank’s praise for his overall display at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, it is important to remember that the 27-year-old is only on a dry loan and there is no guarantee he stays beyond 2025/2026.

Meanwhile, Richarlison has been heavily criticised for his form lately, and his abject penalty miss against Copenhagen, immediately after taking the ball off Dane Scarlett, best sums up the Brazilian’s woes right now.

According to some reports, with his contract expiring in 2027, Richarlison could well leave Tottenham in January and there are suggestions that he would jump at the chance to re-join Everton.

However, any transfer for the 28-year-old may well hinge on Spurs finding a winter replacement.

Depending on developments surrounding Richarlison and the long-term future of Kolo Muani, Tottenham could suddenly find themselves needing a new number nine after all.

Ahead of the 2026 World Cup, Toney is being linked as one of their many potential options alongside the likes of Juventus striker Dušan Vlahović.

Vlahovic’s deal expires at the end of this season and Tottenham have reportedly spoken to his representatives about a move, while Frank is believed to have reached out to Toney personally.

The former Brentford star, who scored 20 Premier League goals during his best campaign under Frank, has scored for fun in Saudi Arabia with 41 goals in just 59 total appearances.

However, ever since his switch to the Gulf, Toney has largely been excluded from the Three Lions squad, bar one call-up earlier this year for games against Andorra and Senegal.

The 29-year-old will be eager to challenge for a place in Thomas Tuchel’s plans, but he may have to consider a return to England for this to be possible.

Tottenham told Ivan Toney deal conditions after Frank talks

According to TEAMtalk, Frank has indeed held ‘direct talks’ with Toney about a possible move to Tottenham in the new year.

The Saudi Pro League side, who are still unbeaten this season, lie eight points behind table-toppers Al-Nassr and could be very reluctant to part company with their star striker.

However, they would entertain talks on a few key conditions.

Al-Ahli value Toney at around £30 million for a permanent January deal, but suitors are said to be ‘baulking’ at this asking price, while the player himself faces a hefty tax bill if he departs Saudi for good just under two years after arriving, meaning a loan to buy is the most likely solution.

Making this option an obligation could apparently sweeten the deal and obtain Al-Ahli’s green light, with Tottenham now ‘leading the race’ to sign Toney ahead of the window’s reopening.

Appearances

59

Goals

41

Assists

8

Bookings

7

Red cards

0

Minutes played

4,796

The Lilywhites apparently view him as the ‘ideal’ solution to potentially replace Richarlison, and Frank’s strong relationship with Toney hands Tottenham a secret weapon to beat off competition for his signature.

The Spurs boss has made no secret of his admiration for Toney, though, once branding him the ‘number two’ striker in England.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has made some candid remarks about his side’s plight in recent weeks. He understands the issues in front of him, and yet the Dutchman is struggling to find a route out of this rut.

A summer of sweeping change was always going to run the risk of taking from Slot’s finely-wrought tactical set-up from last season, when the Premier League was conquered so dominantly in his first year.

Hugo Ekitike aside, it is concerning nonetheless that practically all of the Anfield side’s summer signings have flattered to deceive this far. But it’s more concerning still that so many mainstays are just as far down from the wayside.

The struggling Liverpool mainstays

Liverpool are so open defensively, it is shocking. There is a staggering absence of balance from head to toe, and Slot’s comments, alluding that he is currently unsure how to overcome this issue, have been disquieting for anxious fans.

Even during last week’s resounding Champions League victory over Eintracht Frankfurt, the five-star Reds conceded first and looked wobbly until the hosts’ own defensive fragilities shattered open.

Virgil van Dijk has cut a forlorn figure during post-match interviews, with his side’s four-game skid in the Premier League weighing heavily on his armband.

The 34-year-old has not been at the races of late, needlessly giving away a penalty during the recent league loss to Brentford and altogether failing to marshal his troops, shipping so many goals each game.

Mohamed Salah, too, is toiling, with last season’s leading man reduced in strength and significance this year.

But Salah has still had his moments this season, while Van Dijk remains dominant in the duel and leads the side in an almost understated way: without the Dutchman, this struggling defence would unspool chaotically.

However, another of Slot’s most trusted lieutenants has been in woeful form all year, and he’s beginning to show shades of one Thiago Alcantara, who was immensely talented but frustrating under Jurgen Klopp’s wing all too often.

Liverpool's new version of Thiago

Liverpool signed Thiago from Bayern Munich for over £20m in 2020. Jurgen Klopp and his side had just won the Premier League, and the glittering Spaniard was identified as the perfect technician to open up new dimensions in the centre of the park.

How a fully-fit Thiago would have done for the Merseysiders across a prolonged period, we will never know. Thiago retired after four seasons with Liverpool, making only 97 appearances, all told. His final year, 2023/24, yielded just one off-the-bench display against Arsenal.

It ended up being a disappointment, such was Thiago’s quality, and now, in different circumstances, Alexis Mac Allister threatens to become the club’s new version.

Mac Allister’s current struggles are not of his presence on the sidelines, but rather, the 26-year-old’s inability to impress in Slot’s system thus far.

He was largely immense across his first two terms in red, but the tough-tackling, slick-passing Mac Allister seems to have lost his physicality and athletic robustness. He is a shadow of himself.

For a player whose completeness and control in the engine room has paid such big dividends for Liverpool in the past, this is a concern, and offers shades of Thiago in that he is arguably the most technically gifted midfielder at the club and yet is proving to be a “huge disappointment” in this regard, according to one Premier League analyst, who drew attention to him being the “Thiago-type” in Slot’s team and yet struggling to muster the requisite technical levels.

Thankfully, Mac Allister has been among Liverpool’s most impressive performers since signing, and there is as much an expectation as an anticipation that he will swiftly return to form and spearhead this new chapter.

During the early phase of the 2023/24 campaign, TNT Sports pundit Joe Cole hailed Mac Allister as a “superstar” of a midfielder whose dynamism and sharp-mindedness allowed him to “play anywhere” across the field.

Applying that theory should see the Argentina international thrive as the perfect cog in the middle of the Slot machine, easing Liverpool away from their current bother. Mac Allister has been anything but the solution, with his output on the decline across most every metric in the top flight.

Alexis Mac Allister in the Prem for Slot

Stats (* per game)

24/25

25/26

Matches (starts)

35 (30)

8 (7)

Goals

5

0

Assists

5

1

Touches*

55.8

43.1

Accurate passes*

35.5 (87%)

28.4 (85%)

Key passes*

1.3

0.8

Dribbles*

0.5

0.0

Ball recoveries*

4.2

3.1

Tackles + interceptions*

3.3

1.8

Total duels (won)*

4.9 (48%)

2.3 (44%)

Stats via Sofascore

Right in the thick of things in midfield, Mac Allister cannot be expected to emerge on top across every duel he contests. But he’s proving far less willing to engage in combative situations, with mismanagement, residual issues from an affected early-season setback and the absence of confidence that comes from

The good part is that Mac Allister has proven his quality across a number of campaigns in the Premier League, and he’s a world champions with his nation besides.

But we can’t hide from the fact that he hasn’t been pulling his weight, and what’s more concerning is that Liverpool lack an alternative who can provide Slot’s system with the full package in the way he can.

With this in mind, it’s paramount that Mac Allister revives his quality in the middle of the park and lifts the champions back to the standard they were playing at before. Otherwise, this new Thiago-esque reputation will only harden across the looming wintry months.

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Posts ByAngus Sinclair Oct 26, 2025