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It would be fair to say that this season was something of a disappointment for Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta’s side ended up ten points off Liverpool in the Premier League, failed to make a dent in the FA Cup, and, with better finishing, could have realistically been in a Champions League final.

However, while it’s easy to focus on the negative, there have been at least a few positives, such as the development and performances of Jurrien Timber, who seriously stepped up in the absence of Ben White.

The Dutchman is now unquestionably one of the manager’s best signings, and based on reports, it looks like he could soon have himself another younger version of the international.

Arsenal transfer news

Before getting to the player in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other young talents Arsenal have been linked with in recent weeks, such as Adam Wharton and Konstantinos Karetsas.

Transfer Focus

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

The former is reportedly available for close to £80m this summer, and while that is a lot of money to spend on someone who is just 21 years old, he’s more than proven his ability at Crystal Palace and played a key role in their FA Cup triumph this year.

Karetsas, on the other hand, is a little harder to justify at a whopping £38m, as while he’s seriously impressed in Belgium this season, he is still just 17 years old, and that sort of money would probably be better off being spent on someone who could play for the team next year.

With that said, while these two youngsters are incredibly talented, neither one can be described as anything like Timber, unlike Jorrel Hato.

Yes, according to a recent report from Caught Offside, Arsenal are one of several teams incredibly interested in the Ajax star.

The report has revealed that Arsenal, alongside the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea and Newcastle United, have already made contact to find out more information about a possible transfer.

However, on top of having to contend with some serious competition, Andrea Berta and Co would have to stump a fee of up to €50m to get their man, which is about £42m.

It could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but it is one Arsenal should be fighting for, especially as he’d be the club’s next Timber.

Why Hato would be Arsenal's next timber

Now, it might sound like a bold claim to suggest that a teenager from outside the top five leagues could develop into a full-back who was impeccable against Real Madrid home and away in the Champions League.

Yet, that is exactly what we are suggesting, and there are a number of reasons why.

Firstly, the Eridivise might not be one of the best leagues in Europe, but it’s only just outside the top five, sitting in sixth place, and crucially, Timber made his way to North London from the Netherlands.

In fact, not only did the Gunners’ ace join Arteta’s title challengers from the same country, but he did so from Ajax, which is where Hato is currently plying his trade.

Furthermore, the pair are both Dutch and on top of coming up through the Ajax academy, they also share the ability to play in more than one position, depending on what the manager wants and needs.

Left-Back

68

3

6

Centre-Back

41

1

3

Left Midfield

1

0

0

Centre-Back

170

9

6

Right-Back

82

4

5

Left-Back

22

1

1

Defensive Midfield

2

1

0

For example, we all know that Timber is at his best at right-back, but he’s already played at centre-back and left-back since moving to England, just as the in-demand youngster has primarily played at left-back in his career but is more than comfortable at centre-back as well.

Finally, it’s not just us who see the parallels, as respected analyst Ben Mattinson has described the 19-year-old gem as “Timber 2.0.”

Ultimately, he might not be cheap, but Hato looks destined to be a monster of a defender, and for that reason, Arsenal should do what they can to bring him to the club, as he could be their new Timber.

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Arsenal are closing in on the signing of Martin Zubimendi.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 10, 2025

As Manchester City’s summer clear-out commences, Diego Simeone and Atletico Madrid could reportedly come calling in pursuit of one particular player in the coming months.

Man City set for summer clear-out

It’s been a season to forget for Manchester City, who will be desperate to secure Champions League qualification this Sunday and finally put the current campaign behind them. For the first time in Pep Guardiola’s time at The Etihad, the Citizens have it all to do in the summer transfer window.

No longer are they the dominant champions capable of dispatching 19 other Premier League sides with ease. That’s an era which is ruthlessly and rapidly coming to an end. Instead, the Manchester club need to write a new chapter with new heroes and fresh characters, starting with a number of emotional farewells to several players who will be deemed undeniable legends.

Man City preparing to step up deal to sign £50m star they want done by June

He could be the first signing of their midfield rebuild.

ByTom Cunningham May 24, 2025

Already, of course, Kevin De Bruyne has said his goodbyes. The Belgian – one of the best to ever play for Manchester City – bid an emotional farewell to The Etihad last week to begin a summer of departures for the Citizens.

The midfielder told the fans after waving goodbye: “I wanted to play with creativity, I wanted to play with passion. I wanted to enjoy football and I hope everyone enjoyed it.

“Everybody has pushed me so hard inside and outside the club to be the best version of myself and these guys in front of me have made me better than I was before. It’s an honour to play with these guys. I’ve made so many friends for life.”

In the coming months, it will be a question as to who joins De Bruyne out the exit door at Manchester City. There are certainly a few candidates who are coming to the end of their peaks, whilst another name has also reportedly been targeted by Atletico Madrid.

Atletico Madrid now targeting Grealish

According to reports in Spain, Simeone and Atletico Madrid are now targeting a summer move to sign Jack Grealish, who could leave Manchester City this summer in a bid to gain a starting place elsewhere. The England international has often been forced to watch on from the bench this season and desperately needs a fresh start.

Of course, Grealish wouldn’t be the first English player to complete a move to the Spanish club either. Just last summer, Conor Gallagher decided to leave Chelsea in favour of the Metropolitano and has thrived ever since. Now, a year on, it could be Grealish’s turn to join Simeone in La Liga.

Despite a difficult spell at The Etihad, the £300,000-a-week midfielder has still found himself at the centre of praise from Guardiola, who told reporters following Grealish’s performance against Leyton Orient in the FA Cup earlier this season: “I’m happy for him. I know it’s not easy when you don’t play regularly. In the last game in the FA Cup he played very good, much better than today.”

Whether that praise is enough to keep hold of Grealish seems unlikely at this stage, but only time will tell if Atletico Madrid come calling this summer.

Rangers may have to brace for the departure of one of their key players, as two clubs could soon table serious bids for his services, according to a report.

Summer of change on the horizon at Ibrox

It is set to be a summer of major change at Ibrox, with the 49ers on course to complete their takeover of the Scottish club, and the prospective new owners are also tasked with installing a new manager to replace interim boss Barry Ferguson.

Not only that, but with the Gers currently 17 points behind Celtic in the Scottish Premiership table, there are clear signs the new manager will need to make major changes to his squad in the summer window, and potential targets have already been identified.

The 49ers are plotting the statement signing of a new midfielder, with Troyes’ Metinho in their sights, amid concerns over the future of Nicolas Raskin, who the Light Blues are determined to keep hold of despite growing interest in his signature.

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Posts 2 ByDan Emery May 15, 2025

There has now been a new update on Raskin’s Rangers future, with a report from TEAMtalk revealing they have been rocked by major interest in the midfielder, having attracted the attention of soon-to-be Premier League side Leeds United.

Aston Villa, who made it to the Champions League quarter-finals this season, have also registered their interest in the Gers star, and there is now a feeling that a serious bid could be made for his services over the next few weeks.

The Belgian’s current £19k-a-week contract is set to run until 2027, and the Ibrox outfit are now ready to offer him a new deal, in an attempt to ward off the interest from elsewhere, and to make sure his market value is protected.

Rangers must keep hold of "phenomenal" Raskin

Having barely managed to even compete in the Scottish Premiership title race this season, the Gers may be looking to re-shape their squad this summer, but the Belgian maestro is undoubtedly one of the players they should be looking to keep hold of.

Scottish football analyst John Walker has been particularly impressed by the 24-yerar-old’s performances, having lauded him as “phenomenal” earlier in the campaign, while also claiming the central midfielder improved the entire team after returning from injury.

The Liege-born maestro has four goals and ten assists to his name in all competitions this season, most notably scoring in his side’s 3-2 victory against bitter rivals Celtic back in March.

That said, while Rangers should be looking to tie Raskin down to a new deal, he may be unwilling to commit to fresh terms, which means it could make sense to cash-in at the end of the campaign, as they should be able to command a good fee for his services this summer.

Chelsea have not held back in signing wingers over the last few years since Todd Boehly took over as owner of the club.

Last summer, they signed two from within the Premier League, bringing in Jadon Sancho on loan from Manchester United and Pedro Neto from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Of course, in the prior transfers window, they brought in Cole Palmer and Rahemm Sterling, both from Manchester City and England international Noni Madueke, who signed from Dutch side PSV Eindhoven. It has really been a point of focus for the Blues.

In the next transfer window, more wingers will join, namely 17-year-old wonderkid Estevao and Kendry Paez, who can also play as a number 10. Incredibly, the West Londoners are seemingly looking to add a world-class winger to their ranks, according to a recent report.

Chelsea target new winger

It is no secret that Real Madrid are blessed with an embarrassment of riches in forward areas. The likes of Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior are two of the best players in the world, as is Brazilian international Rodrygo.

Transfer Focus

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Well, according to reports from Spain, Chelsea are planning a summer move for the Los Blanocs number 11 and are hoping they can ‘to lure him away from Real Madrid’ with an enticing offer in the next few months.

This will not be a cheap deal for the West Londoners. They are willing to put a reported £103m on the table to complete what would be their third most expensive signing ever.

Chelsea are thought to be ‘confident that a substantial financial offer’ will be enough to convince Rodrygo and Real Madrid to complete the move.

Why Rodrygo would be a good signing

Rodrygo’s quality is undeniable. The Brazilian is a key player for Los Blancos, alongside the likes of Mbappe, Vinivus and Jude Bellingham. Naturally a left winger, he can often be seen playing on the right-hand side, where he has excelled again this term.

Across all competitions for Carlo Ancelotti’s side in 2024/25, the 24-year-old has scored 13 times and grabbed ten assists in 45 appearances.

As good as the Brazilian has been, it is not his best year in the famous white shirt. Last term, he scored 18 times across competitions, registering nine assists along the way as Madrid won the Champions League once again.

If Chelsea do manage to get this deal over the line, then they could well sign a hybrid of Estevao and Vinicius. Firstly, the similarity between Rodrygo and Chelsea’s new winger Estevao are clear to see.

Both players are exciting young Brazilian talents who are full internationals for the five-time World Cup winners. Estevao has already played for Brazil four times, despite being just 17 years of age. Not only that, the par are both right wingers, although Rodrygo can, of course, play on the left, too.

However, there are also stylistic similarities between the 23-year-old and his Los Blanocs teammate Vinicius. The Real Madrid number seven has 19 goals and 14 assists in 43 appearances this term.

The pair are certainly similar players. Direct and tricky wingers with an eye for goal and plenty of flair. That is certainly reflected in the stats via FBref.

For example, Rodrygo averages 5.08 shot-creating actions and 5.23 progressive carries per 90 minutes compared to Vinicius’ 5.21 shot-creating actions and 6.78 progressive carries.

Rodrygo and Vinicius key stats compared

Stat (per 90)

Rodrygo

Vinicius

Goals and assists

0.56

0.78

Key passes

2.44

2.15

Progressive passes

5.28

3.37

shot-creating actions

5.08

5.21

Progressive carries

5.23

6.78

Stats from FBref

Rodrygo would be an astounding coup for Chelsea if they can bring him in over the summer. Not only is he versatile, able to play on the right wing or the opposite left flank, but he would add directness and flair in the final third.

There is no doubt that £103m is a lot of money. With that being said, for someone who is a “future icon” as football talent scout Jacek Kulig believes, it might well be worth it.

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Head coach Gambhir and batting coach Kotak have done it in the past but they can only share the experience, not make time move faster

Sidharth Monga26-Jul-20252:29

Kotak: ‘Credit to Gill’ for changing his batting approach

There is perhaps nothing more absolute and objective than time. It takes one second for one second. Sixty of them will make a minute. There is no way around it. You can’t do anything to make the earth move faster or slower. It is never more apparent than when you are so far behind in a Test that a draw is the only result possible for you, and you have to bat five sessions to earn it.Against modern Test attacks, it is generally not possible to bat five sessions for a draw unless the conditions are your friend. You need it to be either devoid of lateral movement and uneven bounce, or you want it to run out of life so that things are happening too slowly off the surface. A bowler, the best of the series, down for two sessions helps.Then, and only then, begins the battle with time, which can also be extremely subjective. How you perceive time can make it seem stress-inducingly quick or painfully slow. It perhaps seems so only to those on the outside, but time can move extremely slowly during such situations.Related

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India’s dressing room has two men who have achieved these feats at different levels. Their head coach Gautam Gambhir once batted 643 minutes for just 137 runs while following-on to help India save a Test in Napier in 2008-09. Not long before that, the batting coach Sitanshu Kotak resisted Mumbai at the Wankhede Stadium for 796 minutes for a draw. Kotak’s bringing of Mumbai down to their knees is part of Ranji Trophy folklore.The experience is out there, they can perhaps tell the formula to those going out: four overs equal 15 minutes, eight overs is half-an-hour, double that and you get a drinks break. One more drinks break, and there is a session break. You need these landmarks on the way.It still can’t help time move faster. The biggest challenge when attempting such draws is to not get ahead of yourself. You can’t think, “yeah, this looks easy now” and start thinking of the next challenge: Ben Stokes, or the second new ball, or overcast skies. You can get away with doing that in a chase. You can perhaps take risks when you are confident and make sure that even if you get out, you leave the rest a manageable task.There is no such concept here. It has to be done one ball at a time. There is no get-out-of-jail-free card, except to wait for the sentence to get over. You have to find the sweet spot between concentrating and relaxing. Too focused, and you can exhaust yourself. Too relaxed, and you can make a mistake. And if you get out, your team is no closer to finishing the task than the objective passage of time.KL Rahul plays the short ball comfortably despite a packed leg-side field•Getty ImagesKL Rahul and Shubman Gill have the techniques and the temperament. Gill is naturally an even-tempered person. Rahul has seen enough ups and downs in cricket to know better than to get swayed by outcomes. They have both had one infamous meltdown on a Test field each. Rahul in South Africa, Gill at Lord’s.However, with bat in hand, a natural extension of their bodies, they have the kind of game that can take care of them as they go about batting time. They have seen through a hat-trick ball, the tricky three overs before lunch, the new ball, then a drinks break, then sets of 15 minutes to tea, then repeated it to stumps.They have had other landmarks. Perhaps a Jofra Archer spell. Then making him bowl bouncers. Then switch off and switch on as he went around the wicket. Same with the other end. Liam Dawson switching to over the wicket. Kick them away. One ball at a time. Move around, get one to kick and beat the outside edge, but play the next ball for the angle because not many will turn. As Gill did in the 62nd over, having faced 162 balls by then.2:11

Manjrekar: Second new ball will be the next big challenge for India

Rahul, who faced his first ball after Gill had already played one, went into stumps having negotiated 210, which was 33 more than Gill. At one point, he was so engrossed in just defending the ball and switching off that he forgot to run. Gill had to shout at him.Runs were immaterial and were scored only when the ball was really bad or when played instinctively. Or, at times, just to buy time, that wonderful concept. When you keep defending, defending, defending, even though time is moving too slowly, you are concentrating so hard you can feel hurried. So you hit a four, move your legs, knock gloves with the non-striker, switch off, and switch on again.The job is only 40% done. Day five will move at its objective pace again. It will feel too slow and too quick at times. There will be landmarks. Get yourself in, then new ball in 17 overs, then proper switch on, personal milestones perhaps. If you get close to erasing the deficit, you can sense time move faster because every run you score will also take time for England to score it back. For England, it will start rushing out of their hands if India get close to saving the match.Such Test innings are perhaps appreciated more by eccentrics, but there is every bit of the competitiveness that makes sport a spectacle. On a beautiful Saturday evening, as the shadows at Old Trafford lengthen, time is moving smoothly. It will find its own rhythms on Sunday morning: slowly for some, quickly for some others. It will, in actual fact, move only one second at a time.

With the ODI World Cup looming, our correspondents weigh in on the big questions facing the teams during the Asia Cup

25-Aug-20232:11

Rohit on Chahal’s exclusion: ‘Wanted someone who can bat at eight or nine’

Wanted: bowlers who can batIndia are taking 17 players to the Asia Cup – so they are yet to finalise their World Cup 15 – but if the recovery of key personnel has gone well, their squad is now close to full strength. With Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja playing together, India no longer need a batter who can bowl, but their most severe headache is that none of their four first-choice bowlers can hit sixes.India’s four best specialist bowlers are Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj, with Mohammed Shami as back-up, which severely limits the risks that the top seven can take. This issue has necessitated the inclusion of Shardul Thakur and Axar Patel, one of whom will most likely play as the No. 8 depending on conditions and opposition.Still, in a big match in the Asia Cup, India must try to see how the batters react to playing with four No. 11s, who in turn become a potent threat with the ball.Related

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Are Pakistan undercooked?Simply put, Pakistan are short on game time. They have arguably never gone into an ODI World Cup as undercooked as they are right now. Since the end of the 2019 World Cup, Pakistan have played just 28 ODIs, a little more than the 25 they played between the 1979 and 1983 World Cups. The quality of opposition they have faced was also not great. Six of Pakistan’s ODIs were against teams who failed to qualify for the tournament in India, with a further three against Netherlands.By the time the Asia Cup begins, they will have played another three matches against Afghanistan, but so far their only ODI cricket this year has been eight matches against New Zealand, who were significantly depleted for the last five of those games. While Pakistan have beaten most teams with relative ease, winning 19 of those 28 matches, their ability to step up against higher-quality oppositions will be scrutinised.Pakistan haven’t played many ODIs against high-quality teams since the previous World Cup•AFP/Getty ImagesCan Afghanistan convert potential into progress?Afghanistan have the quality to challenge every team in this Asia Cup, but is it accompanied by a resolute mentality? Despite the turmoil in the country over the past couple of years, Afghanistan’s cricket team has seen steady, incremental improvement, and they appear to come into each series and tournament stronger than the last.They have globetrotting T20 stars Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, as well as the steadying influences of Mohammad Nabi and Hashmatullah Shahidi that should serve them well in 50-overs cricket. But defeats in several previous Asia Cup campaigns – especially against Pakistan in 2022 when they snatched defeat from the jaws of victory – are bound to leave scars. A T20I series win over Pakistan in March – even though it was against a second-string side – should help, and three ODIs against the same opposition in the week before the tournament begins will offer match practice. How they perform there and whether they can put together an Asia Cup run that truly reflects the progress they have made should be a point of intrigue leading into the ODI World Cup.Should Bangladesh play seven batters or eight? With two allrounders in their XI in Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Bangladesh have the option of playing an extra specialist batter or bowler. Former captain Tamim Iqbal believes the extra bowler gives their attack security, but an eighth batter could mean precious extra runs.Bangladesh have lately tended to play the extra batter, and it brought them stunning results when Mehidy made match-winning contributions from No. 8 – 38* and 100* – in successive ODIs against India last December. The same combination, however, featured in series defeats to England and Afghanistan, so there is still scepticism over whether the extra batter is the right way to go.One school of thought is that playing one fewer specialist batter will place more responsibility on the top seven and more trust in Mehidy’s improved batting. It’s still not clear which way Bangladesh will go at the World Cup, and results during the Asia Cup may well dictate their choice.Afghanistan have been impressive in bilateral series, but are yet to produce a stirring performance in a global tournament•AFP/Getty ImagesCan Sri Lanka’s batters pull their weight?Twice this year, across two continents, Sri Lanka have been all out for less than 80 in ODIs. They have passed 300 four times, but one of those occasions was after India had amassed 373 for 7 on the same Guwahati pitch.At the World Cup Qualifier, facing – on average – significantly worse opposition than they are expected to come across at the Asia Cup and the World Cup, they were restricted to 245 all out by Scotland, then 213 all out and 233 all out by Netherlands. Sure, Sri Lanka went on to defend all those scores. But that was only because their varied attack bailed the batting out.Perhaps there is an argument that in the 21st century, at least, Sri Lanka have relied more on their bowling to get them deep into major tournaments than their batting. Their run to five global tournament finals between 2007 and 2014 was driven largely by the likes of Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekara, Muthiah Muralidaran, Ajantha Mendis and, later, Rangana Herath.But their batting lacks top-order dynamism, has little heft through the middle (save for Charith Asalanka at No. 5, perhaps), and when Dasun Shanaka fails, as he often has in the last few months, they cannot finish strong.Against batting orders such as India’s, Pakistan’s, and Bangladesh’s, good bowling may not be able to perform major rescue operations.

Travel through airports, protocol inconsistencies, could heighten the risk factor considerably for this edition

Nagraj Gollapudi08-Apr-2021A resurgent pandemic with new strains, multiple positive cases within teams – including a few inside their bubbles, and the variables thrown up by the logistics: venues spread across India and the need for air travel. On the eve of IPL 2021, the air of excitement has been tempered by health concerns.Crucially, there are several points of difference between IPL 2020 and this one. When the teams gathered in the UAE last August, the virus was a known quantity, the first wave was ebbing globally and in any case the UAE was not a hotspot of infection. Six months on, India is in the grip of a vicious surge – the past week has seen its two highest numbers for new daily cases ranging over 100,000 per day – and there is every likelihood this wave will peak next month.Here’s why the IPL 2021 bubble is far more vulnerable compared to the previous edition.Host cities
There were only three venues in IPL 2020: Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. The day the tournament began, the UAE had 674 new cases; it crossed 1000 a week into the tournament and stayed at that level right through (1096 new cases on the day of the final).Related

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An IPL cloaked in a bubble of uncertainty

By contrast all six venues in this IPL – Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata and Ahmedabad – are currently hotspots. Mumbai itself reported more than 10,000 new cases on April 6; Delhi had more than 5,000 and Bengaluru more than 4,200. India’s total number of new cases in the past two days is 200,000. All three cities currently have, or will soon have, a night curfew to try and curb the spread of the virus, though the IPL will be exempt from those restrictions.Travel
Probably the biggest point of concern for several franchises. In the UAE, all 8 teams were based between Dubai and Abu Dhabi and travelled across the three venues by road using their own hired transport. At no instance would they come in contact with someone outside the bubble.This year, though, teams will travel across different cities – and all that travel will be by air. Though the commute will be on charter flights, and using private airports where possible including separate entry and exit points, franchises still remain concerned. Team will still need to undergo security checks at airports before boarding and after landing, which could entail coming in contact with a people outside the bubble.The concerns are underscored by the belief that former India wicketkeeper Kiran More, who is part of the Mumbai Indians’ set-up, is likely to have got exposed to the virus at an airport before he tested positive recently. More had checked into the team bubble in Mumbai in March, before the entire squad flew to Chennai, where they begin the defence of their title. That a positive case has been found in a well-prepared franchise like Mumbai, which created its own bubble as early as February, has put other franchises on high alert.Covid-19 education and management
About a couple of weeks ahead of IPL 2020, every member of every franchise in the UAE dialled into a virtual call to attend an education workshop on Covid-19 and the guidelines put in place in a biosecure environment, which was new to almost everyone in the IPL. This session was conducted by the BCCI’s medical experts, including Dr Abhijit Salvi, the board’s chief medical officer and anti-doping expert, as well as Nitin Patel, the Indian men’s team physiotherapist.The audience didn’t just hear the dos-and-don’ts, but also heard what the coronavirus is and how it could transmit, and consequently, why it was important to respect rules in the biosecure bubble.It is understood there has been no such session organised yet by the IPL. This despite evident fears being shared by players and coaches across teams who, it is believed, have been anxious about the surging infection rate outside the bubble across India.A red carpet at the entrance to the ground is sanitised•Ron Gaunt/BCCIAnother difference from the last IPL is the absence of two key digital applications that helped monitor not just the health of the person in the bubble, but also track their movement. As soon as a person checked into the IPL bubble in the UAE, they had to download a Covid-monitoring app on a digital device. A thermometer, and oxymeter in some team hotels, had been provided to gather the individual’s health parameters, primarily meant to monitor any symptoms for Covid-19. This self-declaration was mandatory, and had to be submitted daily. Repeated failures to do so would prompt a hefty monetary fine on the individual. Such a check-and-balance exercise, franchises have pointed out, was beneficial because if someone had symptoms, it was picked up quickly and the potential spread was curbed.Movement tracker
In the UAE, every member in the IPL bubble had to wear a GPS-tracking fob device around their neck like a pendant. This device tracked the person’s movements within the bubble and triggered a beep if there was any breach where the individual had crossed over into a zone where he/she was not permitted access. This was done by creating a geo fence within the bubble with pre-defined boundaries. Every individual had a distinct fob, with specified in-built boundaries based on the individual’s occupation.It is understood franchises have not been given any such tracking device so far this IPL.Bubble integrity managers
It might not have yet introduced digital trackers, but the IPL has appointed human trackers in the form of a bubble integrity manager for the first time. Each franchise will be supervised by upto four integrity managers, whose sole job is to report any breaches within the bubble by any team members. However the purpose of these managers has come under the scanner now, as it is understood one of them was caught on camera leaving his room while in hard quarantine at one of the team hotels.Quarantine protocols
The IPL has laid out quarantine rules both for before entering the bubble, and once inside the bio-secure environment. The quarantine rules range from serving a hard week-long period inside the team hotel and clearing mandatory tests before starting to train. In the case of any positive or asymptomatic case, the isolation period varies between a week and 10 days outside the team bubble. The protocols apply not just for squads, but also for the franchise management as well as owners and family members.Devdutt Padikkal not serving a hard quarantine has raised eyebrows•BCCIHowever, franchises remain unconvinced by the protocols, which they believe they are being forced to comply with despite their arbitrariness. The inconsistency of the protocols is highlighted by the case of Royal Challengers Bangalore batsman Devdutt Padikkal, who tested positive recently. It is not known when exactly Padikkal tested positive, but the franchise said he had done home isolation of 10 days.On Wednesday, Padikkal travelled by road from his home in Bengaluru to Chennai, where his team is based, and even participated in training. Rival franchises have questioned the logic behind allowing Padikkal to join the Royal Challengers’ training session without having to undergo the mandatory week-long quarantine and the testing process. They also want to know if the Royal Challengers have given a written undertaking to the IPL that they take responsibility for the home quarantine for Padikkal. By the same token, franchises have asked why the IPL is not allowing senior franchise management or owners to be allowed, subject to them clearing the required tests.Stadiums
The IPL has created different layers within the bubble at the stadiums, with no one allowed to enter the area demarcated for the players and match officials. This includes the groundsmen and the officials of the local state associations. Teams that have been practising in Mumbai and Chennai, where the first set of the IPL’s league phase is being held, confirmed that no outsiders have been present during training sessions. That does not mean they are confident. Only recently a swathe of grounds personnel at the Wankhede stadium, which will host 10 matches in the coming two weeks, tested positive forcing the Mumbai Cricket Association to scamper and find replacements from other venues within the city.It is understood that the governing bodies that manage the venues in Chennai and Delhi have vaccinated their groundsmen, who are allowed to commute back to their home after their work day, thus triggering the risk element. The state associations say that all those present at the venue have to undergo testing every few days, and that these people are not around the dressing rooms.Franchises are not so sure, as Mumbai are understood to not have trained even once at the MA Chidambaram Stadium before they play the tournament opener against the Royal Challengers on Friday.

The Reds hosted the Blue Jays on Monday as part of a full MLB slate on Labor Day. It did not take long for the always-entertaining Elly De La Cruz to ensure the fans got their money's worth on the holiday.

In the top of the first inning Toronto got the action started with a leadoff single by George Springer, who then stole second to put himself in great position to give the visitors an early lead. Unfortunately for the Jays, EDLC had other plans.

In the next at-bat Addison Barger smacked a liner up the middle that, against a normal infield or even other shortstops, would have likely resulted in an RBI single. Instead, De La Cruz leapt into the air to snag the liner to earn the out— then turned around and dove to the second base bag to catch Springer off the base for the double play. It was awesome.

What a slick highlight from the shortstop.

It was also important for Cincinnati. The season is now at the point where every single game matters and the Reds entered Monday four games out of the last wild card spot in the NL. Every out counts. These two just happened to come in the form of a cool highlight from De La Cruz.

Konstas added 53 in the second innings to his century in the first, Sangha and Hatcher take three each to crush Queensland by 341 runs

AAP07-Dec-2025

Sam Konstas has continued his encouraging return to run-scoring form as New South Wales claimed a 341-run Sheffield Shield win over Queensland.Fresh off a first Shield century in 14 months in NSW’s first innings on Friday, Konstas returned to the crease at the SCG on Sunday and made a purposeful 53.The axed Test opener brought up his half century off 53 balls before edging Mitchell Swepson to Hugh Weibgen at first slip.Konstas scored three fours in what was his second best return of the Shield season to date, but the pick of his shots was when he slogged Swepson for six over deep mid-wicket.The 20-year-old, who garnered plenty of attention for his stunning debut in Test cricket last year, appeared to be playing with greater confidence and poise.Konstas’ encouraging knock on day three put NSW on course for victory after the Blues had bowled Queensland out for 92 earlier in the day.The under-strength Bulls had finished day two in a heap after falling to 67 for 7.Swepson was the first Queenslander to fall on Sunday when Charlie Stobo claimed his fifth wicket of the innings and when they were all out the Bulls trailed by 379 runs.The breathing room gave the Blues’ top order a chance to add runs quickly with Konstas top-scoring.Lachlan Shaw finished with 30 not out off 33 balls before NSW declared on 143 for 4, leaving Queensland a target of 523 to win.But Queensland hardly got going with only Hugo Burdon (59) putting up any form of resistance at the top of the order.Burdon was eventually trapped lbw by Tanveer Sangha but NSW had to work to put away Swepson as he led Queensland’s final-wicket partnership with Benji Floros.Swepson (40) was caught when he sliced a Liam Hatcher delivery to Kurtis Patterson at deep third as Queensland were dismissed for 181.

The batter says the Bangladesh Tigers programme helped him regain his form

Mohammad Isam13-Nov-2025

Right at the end of the third day’s press conference, Matthew Humphreys was asked what could be expected from Ireland on the fourth morning. They need another 215 runs to make Bangladesh bat again and have five wickets in hand.Humphreys saw the humour in the question. “I think me and Andy [McBrine] walk off 200 each,” he said.Ireland manager Chris Siddle then referred to Ireland’s previous Test in Bangladesh, when Lorcan Tucker held back the home team that had all but checked out of their hotel on the third day.”I remember the last time we played here in Dhaka,” Siddle said. “The Bangladesh team were checking out of the hotel on the morning of day three, and they still had to come back for day four, so maybe, you never know.”Related

For Shanto, return to form 'a good start, nothing more'

Shanto, Mahmudul and spinners put Bangladesh in command

Ireland can only hope for a miracle that would delay Bangladesh’s charge towards a 1-0 lead. After Bangladesh declared on 587 for 8, the experienced Taijul Islam and Mehidy Hasan Miraz and debutant Hasan Murad reduced Ireland had Ireland on 86 for 5 at stumps.The Bangladesh bowlers generally dominate at home, but their batting has also looked encouraging this year. The top three finally came together with Mahmudul Hasan Joy making a career-best 171 and Shadman Islam and Mominul Haque scoring 80s.Mahmudul, though, was disappointed after missing out on a maiden double-hundred. “I’m happy to return to the Bangladesh team after quite some time,” he said. “I was able to play a big innings for the team. It would have been better if it were a double-hundred. A little disappointed on that front.”Najmul Hossain Shanto completed his century in 112 balls•Bangladesh Cricket Board

Mahmudul, who was dropped from Bangladesh’s previous Test series due to a long lean patch, said that his recent form in domestic cricket helped him recover his confidence.”The NCL T20 hundred helped me boost myself more, because I performed very well there, and then I also had a good performance in the NCL four-day matches,” he said. “I am trying to do the same thing here as I did there – carrying the innings. I won’t do anything different. I’ll just carry on in the same way I played in the last NCL.”Mahmudul said that much of his batting form recovery came in an off-season camp with the Bangladesh Tigers programme.”I worked hard in the Tigers camp. I got a lot of help from the local coaches. [Mohammad] Ashraful has just joined us. I haven’t worked much with him before. He gave a couple of points. [Mohammad] Salahuddin sir knows me well. I didn’t make any big changes. They just told me to play my natural game, and to keep performing the way I have been.”Mahmudul, however, fell quickly on the third morning, though Bangladesh didn’t back down. Najmul Hossain Shanto slammed his eighth Test century, while Litton Das blazed his way to a neat 60.Shanto and Litton added 98 runs at 5.49 per over during their fifth-wicket partnership. It is exactly what Bangladesh wanted from them – particularly after the top three had provided such a solid foundation.”Shanto bats very aggressively whenever he comes in,” Mahmudul said. When we give a good start from the top, it becomes easy for those who bat later, like Mushfiq[ur Rahim] , Shanto , and others. The scoring option is very good then. I’d say his was a very good innings.”