All posts by n8rngtd.top

Chelsea are set to try and ship out a host of different fringe players over the coming two months, as BlueCo look to trim their wage bill and keep in line with PSR regulations by raising funds.

Enzo Maresca’s side have done excellently to navigate their way around financial roadblocks to strengthen the squad consistently, ever since Clearlake Capital’s takeover of the club three years ago.

Chelsea looking to negotiate cut-price deal for £68m star who Maresca wants

The Blues appear poised to open talks.

By
Emilio Galantini

Jun 25, 2025

However, if they’re not successful in offloading certain squad members, this task will be made all the more difficult.

Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell, who are on a combined salary of around £525,000-per-week, are back at Cobham after their 2024/2025 loan spells at Arsenal and Crystal Palace respectively.

Chelsea will want to find new homes for the England international duo sooner rather than later, and they could be joined by Lesley Ugochukwu, João Félix, David Datro Fofana, Carney Chukwuemeka, Armando Broja and Axel Disasi, who are all thought to be on the club’s ‘for sale’ list (The Athletic).

Chelsea could even sell Noni Madueke this summer, despite the Englishman being called one of Maresca’s “best players”, while striker Nicolas Jackson’s future is also up in the air.

There is also the curious case of Renato Veiga, who left Chelsea for Juventus on a loan deal midway through the season, mainly due to his determination to play as a centre-back rather than a full-back in Maresca’s system.

“I had a chat with Renato. I told him playing in the position he’s playing with us, it’s given him the chance to join the national team and created speculation around him, which only happens when you’re playing well,” said Maresca on Veiga’s dissatisfaction in the full-back role earlier this season.

“If there is a player that wants to play in just one position, they are going to struggle. They have to learn to play in different positions because it’s a good thing for the player and the club.”

Renato Veiga "surprised" by Chelsea decision with sale possible

As per journalist Graeme Bailey, after returning from his loan spell at Juve, Veiga was left “very surprised” by Chelsea’s decision to omit him from the Club World Cup squad.

What’s more, it hasn’t been ruled out that the defender could be one of a five-man defensive exodus before deadline day – with Veiga, Trevoh Chalobah, Tosin, Benoit Badiashile and Disasi all on the chopping block.

“It’s a fascinating situation with Veiga, he was very surprised he wasn’t included in the Club World Cup squad,” said Bailey.

“There were indications from Chelsea that he would get a chance in a left-sided centre-back role — but Chelsea have so many centre-backs it’s staggering, and they still want more.

“It’s not beyond the realms of possibility that Chalobah, Tosin, Badiashile, Disasi and Veiga could all be sold.

“People keep asking why Chelsea can spend so much money, well, there’s five reasons why PSR isn’t a concern.

“But Veiga had a really good time at Juventus, playing at centre-back. And that’s why he left Chelsea on loan in the first place, he didn’t want to be a left-back, even if he was quite good at it.

“Chelsea were happy with him on the left but he turned up at Stamford Bridge wanting to be a centre-back. Now he’s gone to Juventus, played well, and he thought he’d done enough to warrant a spot at the Club World Cup to prove himself as a centre-back.”

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin hit out at La Liga’s plan to stage Barcelona vs Villarreal in the USA, but admits the organisation can't stop it.

• Ceferin opposes Spanish fixture abroad
• Says fans deserve games in Europe
• Admits UEFA legally powerless to stop

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  UEFA president Ceferin has spoken out strongly against La Liga’s proposal to stage Barcelona’s clash with Villarreal in Miami this December. The idea, backed by La Liga chief Javier Tebas and both clubs, would see Spanish football head to the U.S. after earlier failed attempts to export fixtures overseas. UEFA, however, has admitted their hands are tied, as the Spanish federation has already approved the plan alongside Italian authorities, who are working on a similar project to host a Serie A fixture between AC Milan and Como in Australia.

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  At the heart of the debate lies the growing tension between football as a cultural institution and football as a global business. For leagues like La Liga and Serie A, exporting high-profile matches to the United States or Australia represents a massive opportunity for revenue growth, broadcasting rights, and new fan engagement.

  But for UEFA, the move undermines the very traditions that make European football unique. If Villarreal vs Barca does go ahead in Miami, it risks setting a precedent where commercial interests outweigh supporters’ access to the game, and could further widen the rift between clubs chasing global exposure and fans wanting local loyalty respected. 

• WHAT CEFERIN SAID

  Ceferin has voiced his displeasure over European clubs staging competitive fixtures abroad: “We will open this discussion also with FIFA and with all the federations, because I don’t think it’s a good thing,” he told . “OK, if it’s an exception, fine; if there’s a reason, fine. But, in principle, European teams should play in Europe, because the fans that are supporting them live in Europe. It’s a big tradition."

  The Slovenian admitted UEFA’s hands are tied for now, with both the Spanish and Italian federations greenlighting the idea, adding “We’re not happy but, as much as we checked legally, we don’t have much space here if the federations agree, and both [Spanish and Italian] federations agreed.

  "But I think that for the future we’ll have to discuss this very seriously because the football should be played in Europe, fans should watch football at home. They cannot travel to Australia or the U.S. to watch their teams."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR UEFA?

  The final decision on Villarreal vs Barcelona in Miami is expected on 11 September, when UEFA’s Executive Committee meets in Albania. While UEFA are exploring legal avenues, Ceferin has all but confirmed that their options are limited. Even if these fixtures go ahead, his comments suggest this is not the end of the debate.

England face Andorra this weekend and will do so at Villa Park instead of Wembley for a very simple reason.

• England play Andorra in the Midlands
• Wembley usually the home of the Three Lions
• England have played at Villa Park previously

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  England begin their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign this weekend and will face minnows Andorra on their first step towards the tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. However, instead of playing at Wembley, they will welcome the minnows to Villa Park in Birmingham. 

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHY ENGLAND ARE PLAYING AT VILLA PARK

  The reason behind the game taking place in Birmingham instead of London is simple: Coldplay are playing a show at Wembley on the same night. As a result, England will head on the road. Earlier this year, the Three Lions' clash with Senegal was moved for the same reason, and was played at Nottingham Forest's City Ground. 

• WHAT THOMAS TUCHEL SAID

  Asked about playing at Villa's stadium, boss Thomas Tuchel said: "We are excited to play at Villa Park, another stadium full of history.

  "I know from my own visits to the stadium this season that it is capable of creating an outstanding atmosphere and is located close to St. George's Park which is a positive for our preparation.

  "We hope to be able to generate another special atmosphere and create a memorable occasion for all fans."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  England play Andorra on Saturday, and it will be their first fame at Villa Park since 2005, when they played the Netherlands in a 0-0 draw.

The 22-year-old Namibia batsman is facing the pressure Associate players go through almost every time they take the field – it’s either win, or lose your cricketing career

Peter Della Penna in Windhoek12-Feb-20181:48

‘Win keeps us in the mix’ – Erasmus

Imagine this scenario. You’re on strike with six runs to win off the final six balls of the match, with two wickets in hand. You’ve already been batting for just under two and a half hours trying to salvage a near hopeless situation. After the batting partner who was with you for much of that rescue mission gets out in the previous over, you decide singles aren’t an option with the No. 10 at the other end. You have to finish the job yourself.But this is no ordinary match. No, there are far greater implications than just six runs and a win or loss at stake.At 22, you are in your final year of university with an important life decision to make in the not too distant future. If your team wins this match, you and your team-mates maintain hope of more funding for professional contracts while pursuing a spot in the World Cup and ODI status. If you lose, the team might forego that funding, resulting in amateur or at best semi-pro status, and perhaps being forced to leave the game to get a job in the real world.Oh, and your dad, who is an Associate director at the ICC, is watching from the boundary, among the few hundred hometown fans in attendance.This is what it was like being in the shoes of Namibia batsman Gerhard Erasmus in the final moments of a tense finish on Sunday against Oman at World Cricket League Division Two in Windhoek. Which makes it all the more remarkable how clear-headed he actually was while coming up with a strategy for what to do before facing the first ball of that final over from Oman medium pacer Mohammad Nadeem.”Needing six off six, I thought I had to do it myself,” Erasmus told ESPNcricinfo after his 63 not out saw his side to a two-wicket win. “I didn’t want to leave it up to the bowlers. I do have confidence in their ability but it’s my job to win it for us. The pitch was playing quite difficult from that end so it was tough to clear [the] straight [boundary]. Both men straight were back as well and the wind was blowing in from long-off side.”With fine leg up in the ring, he decided the best course of action was utilising the stiff breeze and premeditating a scoop to clear him. Hit it right and it’s an automatic four. Hit it wrong and you end up like Misbah-ul-Haq in the 2007 World T20 final.”The wind is going that way, so I just thought, well, why not back myself. If I get some wood on it, I’ll back myself against a medium pacer.”Unlike Misbah, Erasmus didn’t get too far under it to the point of the ball popping straight up in the air. But he also didn’t get the ramp angle totally right either, nailing it firmly but a bit too flat, creating a chance for the man at fine leg to reach out with fingers pointed up.”It wasn’t close, it was close,” Erasmus said. “He dropped it and that’s the margins in cricket. The other day against Nepal, Sarel Burger bowled a ball and it just went over mid-off by [fingertips] and the left-hander from Nepal [Basant Regmi] finished the game [to win by one wicket]. So that’s the margins of cricket and in a tournament like this that’s so close, you just hope and pray that the luck goes your way on the day.”Gerhard Erasmus gambled successfully in the final over with a scoop over fine leg for four•Peter Della PennaFor a brief moment, while the ball was headed toward the fine-leg fielder, Erasmus’ thoughts raced to what his dad would have said if the chance stuck.”My dad doesn’t like me playing laps and sweeps like that, so I was thinking about my dad’s cross face to be honest,” Erasmus said with a grin. “And when it rattled through his hands, I was just like, ‘It’s my day and not Oman’s.’ So that’s probably a bit of luck. I think our team has been due a bit of luck. You probably create your own luck. We batted well. We probably deserved it to go for four. I still think I executed the shot correctly, so that’s that. It’s the nature of the game.”Erasmus was equally calm and calculated in weathering the storm of left-arm quick Bilal Khan’s searing spell earlier in the game. Coming around the wicket, Namibia’s right-hand batsmen struggled with the angle as well as the extra pace with the wind at his back. Bilal’s burst of 5 for 11 in 12 balls, including being on a hat-trick twice, wrecked Namibia’s start of 44 for 1 to leave them decimated at 65 for 7 in the 16th, chasing a target of 166.”I think Bilal’s spell was phenomenal. Bowling around the wicket and straightening the ball, making the batsmen play all the time was absolutely phenomenal. I guess the key was then just to sort of absorb for a while, just play the ball kind of late and make the nicks go down to the ground. The pitch was moving all day. It was probably a bit of luck; some balls just passed the edge.”The key was just to play the ball late, get in line, and hopefully it comes off and you can survive those two or three overs of Bilal’s spell, numb the attack a little bit. After the attack is numbed, 160 is probably not enough.”That Erasmus analysed the situation quickly, realising that time was on Namibia’s side with 34 overs left if he and JJ Smit could see Bilal off, shows the maturity that has entered the 22-year-old’s game. On paper, that may sound young, but Erasmus has been heralded for close to a decade as Namibia’s next great batting hope. A former Under-19 national captain, he made his senior team debut as a 15-year-old against a touring MCC side in February 2011 before making a true international debut against Ireland later that year in the Intercontinental Cup.

“It wasn’t close, it was very close. He dropped it and that’s the margins in cricket.”Erasmus on his premeditated scoop in the final over against Oman

But through his teenage years, he struggled to fulfil that promise. He finally started showing signs of being a dependable scoring option at WCL Division Two on home soil in 2015, with 241 runs at 48.20 including two half-centuries. Erasmus blossomed even more at the start of the southern summer in Dubai when he was Namibia’s standout batsman against WCL Championship winners Netherlands, scoring 52 and 81 while showcasing his impressive skills against spin.Seven years after entering the senior team, Erasmus delivered when Namibia needed him to most. When asked if he could recall a tipping point in his coming-of-age as a batsman, Erasmus shrugged and said it was simply down to the third word in the expression.”I guess it’s just age,” Erasmus said. “I’ve been around the senior set-up for quite a few years. I guess 16 or 17 was probably a bit too young for me. I still actually had to grow out of my shoes. It was probably too early for me. In the set-up around here, I got chances quite early which in other countries I probably wouldn’t have. But I’m maturing as a batsman and rounding my own game. That’s probably the key to now getting scores that are substantial and winning matches.”The previous Division Two tournament, I made my first sort of telling [contributions]. That might be seen as a turnaround event in my batting career. But I just put it down to age and becoming a bit older, broadening my shoulders and actually being confident now in myself.”Gerhard Erasmus walks off exhausted but exultant after taking Namibia to victory•Peter Della PennaBut just as Erasmus may be approaching his prime years, his cricket career might be closer to nearing its end. Making small talk before the cameras started rolling on his post-match interviews with various outlets in attendance, Erasmus mentioned that he’s currently a fourth-year law student at Stellenbosch University just east of Cape Town.”What does that mean for your cricket career?” he was asked.Erasmus let out a nervous laugh, and said: “What happens at this tournament might help decide that I guess.”His father, Francois, is an Associate member representative on the ICC board and also a former president of Cricket Namibia, but his main trade is running a family law firm in Windhoek. If Namibia can’t advance to next month’s World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, it might mean a professional pathway for Gerhard is no longer possible with reduced fixtures by virtue of no ODI status and possibly no place in the next edition of the WCL Championship anticipated to start in 2019.These are the pressures Associate players are under practically every time they take the field. It’s not just win or lose a match on the day. It might be win or lose your career. That’s what makes the clear-headed composure of Erasmus in the final moments of his 151-minute knock so marvellous. It’s what makes the context-heavy environment of the World Cricket League the most entertaining cricket never seen on TV.Recovering from the nail-biting opening day one-wicket loss to Nepal, Namibia are still very much alive in the promotion hunt at 1-1; three more matches await them at Division Two. For Erasmus, that successful scoop for four means he can also put off making a decision about continuing his career path in cricket instead of law for at least one more day.

Throughout MLS history, there have been fierce rivalries, steeped in tradition and territorialism – GOAL ranks the top five

Matchday 12 of the MLS season is in the books, and now? It's MLS Rivalry Week. There's a midweek slate of games, but then it's Matchday 14 – and some of the most anticipated games of the regular season.

These aren't just normal matches. They're games fueled by genuine distaste – or worse – for one another, contests in which physicality takes center-stage on the pitch, temperatures rise and tempers flare.

Throughout MLS' history, there's been fierce rivalries, highlighted by tense affairs. There are many factors that define a proper rivalry. There's history, iconic moments, geographical borders, sporting conflicts across different leagues, and most importantly, fanbases.

From El Trafico in Los Angeles to Canadian Classique, GOAL takes a look at the league's best.

Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games now

• Imagn
  

  5Texas Derby

  FC Dallas and the Houston Dynamo are institutions in the league. They know a thing or two about intrastate rivalries – and remember, this is Texas. It's a match fueled by a combination historical competition, ideology and identity, as well as dominance for the state.

  It has one of the league's most iconic moments, too – but not necessarily in a good way. In 2007, Ricardo Clark and Carlos Ruiz came together for a tackle that it still remembered to this day. Late in the match on a set piece, Ruiz drilled his knee into the back of Clark – and as the duo fell to the ground, Clark jumped up and smashed his boot into the chest of Ruiz. Both were sent off, but Clark was suspended for nine matches and fined $10,000.

  The teams have met in the postseason just once, in 2007, but have clashed in the U.S. Open Cup and across MLS regular season action.

  It's a rivalry fueled by history, but more importantly, cultural significance of what makes each city better – in the eyes of the fans, anyway – in the great state of Texas. There's a true sense of territorialism in this match, which makes it a riveting contest each year.

Advertisement

• Imagn
  

  4Canadian Classique

  History nerds, this one is for you. This one goes back hundreds of years (and who knows, maybe there was some version of soccer played then?) Montreal and Toronto share more than a dislike for each other. American fans might genuinely not understand the depth and capacity for distaste that these two cities share for each other – and as a result – their MLS franchises feel the same.

  There are political implications, there are geographical ties, there is genuine tradition – across all sports – in this rivalry. It's a known heated affair in the NHL, with the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs – and in MLS, it's had its moments, too.

  Notably, the 2016 postseason brought what is widely viewed as one of, if not the best, two-legged matches in league history. In total, 12 goals were scored as Toronto advanced via aggregate 7-5 – but it was a doozy of an affair.

  Montreal won the first leg 3-2, but in a rain-soaked second leg, TFC put five goals past them to win 5-2 – after extra-time. At the end of regulation, things were all tied up at 5-5, but two goals within a two-minute span in the first half of ET gave TFC the victory, and a spot in MLS Cup 2016.

  Canadian Classique is an MLS rivalry might not be as familiar as others, but its a game fueled by history that extends off the pitch. It's a beautiful mess.

• Imagn
  

  3Hell Is Real

  Hands-down, the best name for a rivalry in MLS – and potentially, American sports (no, seriously, find a better name – you won't). The Columbus Crew and FC Cincinnati have unexpectedly created one of the most intense rivalries in the league. These Ohio fanbases despise each other.

  It's a clash in which supporters do not hold back – picture the New York Jets and New York Giants, the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears, Ohio State and Michigan – this is a match that lives up to the hype every time.

  These two teams are only separated by 102 miles on I-71. Hell Is Real comes from an iconic billboard on the highway that links the two Ohio-based cities. The iconic roadside billboard with the message "HELL IS REAL" is roughly at the halfway point between the two cities.

  The rivalry itself began in 2017 in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup – two years before FCC's expansion to MLS – and has since become one of the league's most anticipated matches each year. Both have been elite teams in the Eastern Conference in recent years, making this a star-studded match as well – highlighted by some of the league's best players.

  Perhaps the most iconic moment between the two teams was the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals in MLS Playoffs. The Crew won 3-2 on the road in Cincinnati, scoring twice in the final 15 minutes to send the match to extra-time, and then with five minutes to spare, Christian Ramirez scored the winner to send them to MLS Cup – where they claimed the championship.

  Recency bias absolutely factors into the landing spot of this rivalry, but each team shows up and their supporters go all-out if the opportunity is presented to them. It's exactly what makes a rivalry the intense game it should be – from geographical location to genuine distaste for one another, Hell Is Real has become a must-watch spectacle.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  2Cascadia Cup

  The Portland Timbers, Vancouver Whitecaps and the Seattle Sounders make up one of the most historic derbies in the league, simply because this is a rivalry that transcends MLS. Geographically adjacent in the Pacific Northwest, this rivalry never disappoints. But wait – three teams? How does that work?

  Welcome to the Cascadia Cup – a made-up tournament by Supporters' groups from all three clubs from years back – that has become MLS tradition. None of these teams particularly like each other. Portland and Seattle specifically have an intense rivalry, and Vancouver? They're like the friendly, yet annoying, neighbor.

  The Timbers are the current holders of the trophy after winning it in 2024, but with all three teams excelling of late in 2025, who knows what to expect for this year's iteration?

  The Cascadia Cup trophy follows tradition, presented to fans, who then pass it to the players. The cup is awarded to the club that amasses the most points across all games against their other Cascadia opponents. This series has been played for 50 years, dating back to the NASL in 1975.

  It's about bragging rights, it's heated, it's the crown for Cascadia. Seattle leads history with five Cups, while Vancouver and Portland have four each.

Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City's hopes of Champions League qualification will go down to the final minutes of the season.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• City in danger of missing out on UCL
• Face Fulham in decisive last game
• Guardiola says it will go to last minute

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  City head into the final game of the season in danger of missing out on a place in Europe's most prestigious club competition, despite sitting third in the table. City, Newcastle, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest could all qualify for the tournament, though one will miss out depending on the results this weekend.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Guardiola's team will travel to Craven Cottage to take on Fulham knowing that a positive result will secure a place in the Champions League, a significant consolation prize for last season's English champions, who missed out on all trophies apart from the Community Shield this term.

• WHAT GUARDIOLA SAID

  Despite his team's promising position approaching the visit to London, Guardiola says nothing will be guaranteed until the referee blows the final whistle on the game and their campaign.

  "I knew this already, that it will be the last moment, when 95 minutes are up it will be decided if we will play in the Champions League. And I’m not wrong. So I know we have to arrive at the end, the last corner, and we have to be ready," he told reporters.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR MAN CITY?

  City will be confident of getting a win against 10th-placed Fulham to secure a Champions League spot. Just over three weeks later, they begin their Club World Cup campaign with a clash against Moroccan side Wydad.

The two uncapped batters are most likely competing for one spot in India’s playing XI for the Visakhapatnam Test against England

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Feb-20242:39

Manjrekar: ‘Selecting Sarfaraz over Patidar would be an over-reaction’

Rajat Patidar grew up hoping to be a fast bowler. But an ACL injury in 2014 forced him to shift to batting. A decade on, he’s on the cusp of a Test debut, as a middle-order batter. With Virat Kohli and KL Rahul unavailable, Patidar could well slot in at four or five.If that happens, it will be the start of another chapter for Patidar, the 30-year-old from Indore in Madhya Pradesh, who earned an ODI cap in South Africa in December. Patidar still wonders how life has turned around in the last few months, after he spent nearly eight months away from the game for an Achilles injury that required surgery in London.”It’s always tough when you get injured,” Patidar told bcci.tv. “I told myself that I couldn’t do anything about the time it would take me to recover, I couldn’t change that. So I stayed in the present and did whatever I could. Getting a call-up [to the Test team] so soon after recovering from the injury is my happiest moment, because my biggest dream was always to play Test cricket for my country. So when the call came, I was very happy. I was with India A, and was happy that what I had dreamed of had happened.”Related

• Batters could have a party on traditional Visakhapatnam pitch

• Patidar vs Sarfaraz takes centre stage at India nets

• India's battle is with themselves

Patidar has been in sensational form lately. He struck a back-to-the-wall 151 in his most recent first-class outing, for India A against England Lions. Prior to that, he made 111 in a two-day game against the same opponents. That culminated in his maiden call-up to the Test squad last week. And at his first net session with the national team in Visakhapatnam, he had an opportunity to interact with someone he hadn’t spoken a whole lot with.”I have played with many of the players [who are in the Test team] in domestic cricket. I have been speaking to Rahul [Dravid] sir when I have been around him,” Patidar said. “I hadn’t spoken much with Rohit [Sharma] earlier, but got a chance to speak to him about batting on this tour. He shares his experience. That’s given me confidence.”Patidar is a free-stroking batter with a strong technique and good base. He’s known for his ability to play spin well and, in general, take the attack to the bowlers while being consistent. A first-class average of 45.97 in 93 innings is testament to that.Rajat Patidar showed promise during his 16-ball 22 on ODI debut in South Africa•Gallo Images

“I have always been an aggressive batter, from the time I started in domestic cricket, I have always played these shots,” he said. “It’s my habit, it’s about preparation – I have prepared for it, so it’s become a habit now. I study opposition bowlers, the patterns in their bowling, their fields, and also watch people like Rohit , how he tackles those fields. I have tried to add all that to my game.”I always observe, from behind the nets or wherever I can, when he [Virat Kohli] bats. I especially observe his footwork for over-pitched deliveries and his body movements. I enjoy watching him, and try to add all that in my game. It’s not easy, but I am giving it a good shot.”

Sarfaraz: ‘I was not sure I had actually been selected’

Patidar isn’t the only uncapped player in the Test group. Another one knocking on the doors for a while now is Mumbai’s Sarfaraz Khan. No batter in the world who has aggregated 2000 or more first-class runs since 2020 averages more than Sarfaraz’s 82.40. His call-up has taken a while coming, and Sarfaraz couldn’t be happier.”This game is about patience. If I have to play Test cricket, I have to be patient,” he told bcci.tv. “There are times in life when we try to rush into things. I would have tears in my eyes [when I wasn’t selected]. My [father] told me, ‘keep working hard, no-one can stop you’. I feel it’s very important to believe in yourself and be patient. More than myself, I am happy for my father. It’s a matter of great pride that in a country of over a billion people, I am in the team.”Like Patidar, Sarfaraz is coming off a century (a 160-ball 161) in his most recent first-class outing, also for India A against Lions. He was gearing up to play for Mumbai against Bengal in Kolkata, starting Friday, when he received the big call.No batter in the world who has aggregated 2000 or more first-class runs since 2020 averages more than Sarfaraz Khan’s 82.40•Getty Images

“I didn’t believe it at first, I was not sure I had actually been selected,” he said. “Then I told people at home; my father wasn’t at home at the time, he was at our village, so I called him, and everyone – my wife, , [mother]. Everyone was so happy and emotional.”Sarfaraz’s younger brother Musheer is also currently making waves in junior cricket, having hit two hundreds in the ongoing Under-19 World Cup in South Africa. Naushad Khan, who received a BCCI award on Sarfaraz’s behalf last week in Hyderabad, has been a major influence on his sons.”Everyone knows my father has been my coach, so I have always tried to make sure his efforts don’t go in vain, I wanted to be selected for India one day,” Sarfaraz said. “Now I think all the work I have put in hasn’t been wasted. I am in the team now, I am thrilled.”I have had a dream that all my India A team-mates are congratulating me, shaking my hand, coming to greet me. The dream of being selected to the national team would keep visiting me – I am playing for India, I am scoring runs… whatever happens, happens for the best. It’s a dream come true now.”

Wrexham are looking to bolster their defensive ranks for the Championship with two signings, including a £3 million move for Hull City man Alfie Jones.

• Move for Hull's Jones
• Wrexham looking to stabilise in Championship
• Relegated Serie A defender also targeted

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  report Wrexham are readying a move for 27-year-old Jones, who has also attracted interest from Middlesborough. The Hollywood-owned Welsh outfit are preparing a £3 million (€3.5m/$4m) offer for Hull's 2023 Player of the Year. Meanwhile, a £2.5m (€2.9m/$3.4m) deal for New Zealand international Liberato Cacace from relegated Serie A side Empoli is also under discussion.

Advertisement

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  A move for Jones could be significant not only in how he could improve Wrexham, but in how a deal would also weaken a potential relegation rival. Hull are under a transfer embargo and could be dragged deep into trouble in 2025-26, having only just stayed up last season. Newly-promoted Wrexham will know that Championship survival is the primary objective before they begin to aim higher.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Despite Wrexham's well-known riches and Hollywood backing by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, their transfer business has been relatively quiet so far this summer with just two incomings. Ryan Hardie has signed from Plymouth Argyle, while goalkeeper Danny Ward has arrived on a free transfer from Leicester City. Potential moves for defensive pairing Jones and Cacace would both break Wrexham's record transfer fee.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR WREXHAM?

  The Red Dragons have been linked with big-name players across the transfer window and it will be intriguing to see which ambitious moves the club attempt to make before the end of the summer. They begin their first campaign in the second tier for 43 years with a tough trip to Southampton on August 9, before they face Jones' current employers the Tigers in the Carabao Cup three days later.

The inexperienced Tshepo Moreki and Dane Paterson initially tested the hosts, before their third-wicket pair went undefeated

Vishal Dikshit03-Feb-20242:55

‘He’s a model cricketer’ – Ravindra in awe of Williamson

Centuries from Kane Williamson and Rachin Ravindra at entirely different stages of their careers – and both of varying styles – made South Africa pay for the lack of experience and pace, and the chances they put down of both batters. The duo had put on 219 runs for the unbroken third wicket by the end of the first day to deflate a spirited South Africa line-up that had reduced the hosts to a tricky 39 for 2 in the first session.Williamson was the more patient and circumspect of the two as he put a scratchy start behind him, whereas Ravindra smoked a six on his 11th ball to get going for his best Test score as both batters picked up pace in the last session to just about touch the run rate of three an over.Ravindra and Williamson had to steer New Zealand out of troubled waters after debutant Tshepo Moreki started his Test career with a first-ball wicket by trapping Devon Conway lbw for 1 in the second over of the game. In his accurate first spell of 5-1-10-1, Moreki beat Williamson three times in 15 balls for just five runs.Dane Paterson also tested the batters with his seam movement with wobble seam, and he soon drew Tom Latham’s outside edge for 20. The jitters continued as Williamson was nearly run-out when Ravindra tapped his fifth ball towards cover point for a quick single, only for the throw to be wayward. Had Williamson been dismissed, the hosts would have been 44 for 3 then.Ravindra’s start was much more confident, as he welcomed Moreki back for a second spell with a six over the long-leg boundary. Moreki continued to impress nonetheless, and even drew Ravindra’s edge three balls later, but it fell well short of second slip. Ravindra enjoyed some more luck off Moreki on 23 when his inside edge just missed the stumps which made him a bit more watchful.The duo batted patiently through a wicketless second session of 27 overs for just 60 runs, with plenty of leaves and blocks because of the tight bowling from the four South Africa quicks. South Africa were fielding an all-pace bowling attack and six debutants in Mount Maunganui, including their captain Neil Brand. Since 1995, it was the first instance by a Test nation apart from Ireland and Afghanistan who had their captain on debut when the side wasn’t playing its first Test.1:54

Moreki: We knew it would be difficult against NZ

But the conditions started to get better for batting after the initial swing subsided and once the ball got older. Williamson opened up with imperious boundaries off Moreki in consecutive overs, and Ravindra soon caught up when he broke the shackles against Paterson with a cover drive and a mighty pull for a one-bounce four.While Williamson played the ball very late and used soft hands to ensure his edges weren’t carrying, Ravindra drove, scythed and pulled the loose deliveries with hard hands and a lot more punch. Williamson got a life on 45 just minutes before tea when he uncharacteristically slogged against Ruan de Swardt’s medium pace, but the leading edge was shelled by Edward Moore while running back from extra cover.And Williamson reached his fifty in the next over with a boundary, while Ravindra reached his own in the over after the break. Both scored a lot more freely with boundaries to tick at above four runs an over in the half hour after the tea break as Ravindra closed in on his partner. By then, Duanne Oliver’s pace had started to drop below 125kph, and South Africa’s captain Neil Brand came on to bowl left-arm spin but for no success.Soon after, Ravindra got a life on 80 when his top edge flew to deep backward square leg where Olivier ran in and dived forward, and got both hands to the ball, but couldn’t hold on. As South Africa started bowling shorter consistently before the second new ball was taken, Williamson pulled to reach his 30th Test century – off 241 balls – while Ravindra’s landmark moment came in the next over, off 189 deliveries.South Africa’s fortunes didn’t change even after the second new ball, which was slapped straightaway for a four by both batters. Ravindra continued to collect boundaries off Moreki, whether he pitched it full or short, to overtake Williamson and finish the day unbeaten on 118, ten ahead of the former captain.

Irfan Pathan has been one of the crucial cogs in India’s winning wheel, but Anand Vasu warns against placing too many expectations at Pathan’s feet

Anand Vasu in Delhi29-Oct-2005

Irfan Pathan, in his short career, has had to stave off a few challenges already. There has been the mysterious loss of swing, the most dangerous affliction for any medium-pace bowler. There have been injuries to the groin, another common malaise for men who put their bodies through
unnatural strains and stresses day in and day out. There has been a plain loss of form, a lack of pace. But now the fresh challenge ahead of him is to shake off the allrounder tag that is hastily being thrust on his broad shoulders.The temptation to label a bowler who does a bit with the bat, or the batsman who has occasional success with the ball as an allrounder is all too clear. But doing so at an early stage of a player’s development often has disastrous results. Look at the case of Ajit Agarkar, who has undisputed ability with the bat but has never been able to really make it count. Or Reetinder Singh Sodhi, whose bowling never quite had the bite to go with lusty late-order hitting. Now Irfan is at those crossroads, and must be careful.Early in his career, when success came rather easier than it does to most, Pathan was quickly compared to Wasim Akram. Then, after his first form slump, all those lofty notions were swiftly dismissed. Now, people have begun to compare him with Kapil Dev. Just as England have lost a generation of utility cricketers asking, “Is he the next Botham?” India too could end up placing too much expectations at Pathan’s feet.For starters Pathan is not the average lower-order wielder of the long handle. His big hits are not the product of a rush of adrenaline, nor the knowledge that brute force will carry a hit the distance even if it is not timed well. He is a more organised batsman than many we have seen in the
past. He has a sound defensive technique, a temperament that allows him to leave balls alone. In Test matches, he has shown the ability to spend long periods at the crease. He’s not a pinch-hitter, no matter how he is being currently used in one-day cricket. As he, and Dravid, have said, he is a bowler who can bat.Before this series began, Pathan had a total of 63 ODI wickets from 38 matches, but not a single one at home. All of a sudden, he has played a forcing hand in both of India’s emphatic victories. In the first game, he came in to bat at No.3, at the suggestion of Sachin Tendulkar, and scored a fine 83, ensuring that India’s momentum was always going forward. With the pads on, he did not think like a fast bowler.He batted like a genuine No.3, picking the balls to hit, not getting flustered when there was nothing on offer. And though the scoresheet tells you otherwise, there were times when he was put through a severe working over. Muttiah Muralitharan was ripping his offbreaks so furiously, sprinkling doosras generously, that it was impossible to commit to a drive unless you picked him very early. There was plenty of swishing and missing, but Pathan hung on. The spinners at the other end, Upul Chandana and Tillakaratne Dilshan, while no mugs, are certainly no Murali, and were taken apart. The clean hits over the midwicket easily went the distance and for a second one was reminded of another Indian left-handed top-order batsman who decimated spinners. Soon, buoyed by the batting success, Pathan cleaned up Marvan Atapattu with a peach of a delivery that curled in late and rattled the timber.

It has to be said that the Pathan who showed up to bowl on Friday, a day after his 22nd birthday, was a different man from the one who was dropped from the one-day team in April this year after a game against Pakistan. His control of line, length and swing, on a wicket that was at best sporting and certainly not a track where a team ranked No. 2 in the world should be skittled out for 122, was admirable. He kept the ball in the right areas consistently enough to give Sri Lanka’s strokemakers a whiff of an opportunity, and then moved it just enough to create indecision. He was strong enough to bowl eight overs on the trot, and good enough to pick up four top-order wickets for just 37 and break the back of the Sri Lankan line-up. While Pathan will be the first to admit that he was helped along by the indiscretion of Sri Lanka’s batsmen, there was no taking away the fact that he had put in another match-changing performance.While Bangladesh and Zimbabwe – two teams who Pathan routinely slaughters – struggle against left-arm swing, Sri Lanka have no such excuse. Their batsmen have the benefit of playing Chaminda Vaas, arguably the most crafty left-arm swing bowler of the last decade after Wasim Akram, regularly in the nets. Were they surprised by Pathan’s success? “We have got a lot of respect for him. I’m not surprised at his success,” said Tom Moody, Sri Lanka’s coach. “He’s a terrific allrounder but there was no particular pattern to the dismissals. It was not like he got all batsmen trapped leg before with the ball coming in like the classic left-armer. We were finding different ways to get out to him all over the ground. We handed him a few wickets to go with some good bowling.”Pathan won’t be particularly bothered whether he is handed wickets or he earns them, so long as they keep coming. His job is to do his end of things right, how the batsmen respond is hardly his concern. “We work a lot in training.,” said Pathan. “We pay a lot of attention to fitness. If I am required to bowl long spells, then I’m ready.” If he keeps bowling like this, he certainly will be called on to bowl some long spells.