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A Rangers player who was “big” under Barry Ferguson has now reached an agreement to join another club, according to their sporting director.

Gers manager Russell Martin was left hugely unimpressed after Saturday’s 1-1 draw away to Motherwell, during which the hosts managed more shots despite seeing far less of the ball: “Some of them have to drop their ego, I’ll look at us tactically and accept my responsibility in it. But today, it’s not really tactical, it’s a mentality problem, and we got more than what we deserved actually.”

TalkSPORT presenter Jeff Stelling has since accused Martin of going over the same script he did during his time in charge at Southampton last season: “Listen to this. Russell Martin, and I quote, ‘there was no aggression, no courage, no intensity, I saw self-preservation on the pitch. If you don’t want to run and fight, we have a big problem’.

“Now that wasn’t yesterday…that was October 2024, when his Southampton side had lost against Bournemouth. “So this is almost a little speech that he’s got there when his team don’t perform.”

It feels like Martin wouldn’t be unhappy to see certain players leave Rangers this summer, and an exit update has now emerged regarding one member of the squad.

Club reach agreement to sign "big" Rangers player

According to a fresh claim Sports Digitale [via Sport Witness], Besiktas sporting director Serdal Adali claims Rangers left-back Ridvan Yilmaz has reached an agreement to re-join the club. This comes after Sabah [via Sport Witness] reported earlier in the day that they have made contact over the signing of the Turk this summer.

The Gers are thought to be demanding £4.3m for his services, although a loan move is the Turkish club’s preferred option, with the defender open to leaving Ibrox before the end of the transfer window.

Yilmaz departing this summer makes complete sense, considering he isn’t part of Martin’s plans, despite Ferguson talking highly of him earlier this year when he was manager.

“He’s played in a position which is pretty foreign to him. He’s played right back for us. His natural position is left back. But he’s one player I can rely on. He doesn’t moan. I’ve asked him to play different positions. He’s become a big player. I like his attitude. His attitude has always been first class.”

Yilmaz wasn’t part of the matchday squad against Motherwell over the weekend, and it is hard to see his situation changing as the season goes on, so he needs to leave Rangers.

Appearances

77

Goals

2

Assists

6

Ideally, the Gers would receive a fee for him, however, using those funds to go towards new signings between now and the end of the window. A loan exit is the next-best option.

تحدث البرتغالي المخضرم، جوزيه مورينيو، المدير الفني السابق للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي فناربخشة التركي، عن إمكانية تدريب بنفيكا البرتغالي.

ورحل مورينيو عن فناربخشة بعد فشل الفريق التركي في التأهل إلى منافسات دوري أبطال أوروبا، موسم 2025/2026، بعدما خسر في مرحلة التصفيات الأخيرة، أمام بنفيكا البرتغالي.

وخاض فناربخشة الجولة الفاصلة الأخيرة أمام بنفيكا، وتعرض للهزيمة بهدف دون رد، ليفشل في التأهل إلى دوري أبطال أوروبا، ويكتفي بتحويله إلى الدوري الأوروبي.

وكان نادي بنفيكا قد أعلن رحيل مدربه السابق برونو لاجي بعد بداية متواضعة للموسم، حيث يتطلع النادي إلى التعاقد مع مدرب جديد قبل مباراة نهاية هذا الأسبوع ضد فيلا داس أفيس.

اقرأ أيضًا | دربه منذ 25 عاما ورحل بعد 10 مباريات.. مورينيو يقترب من العودة لناديه السابق ويستعد لمواجهة مثيرة

ووفقًا لصحيفة “ريكورد” البرتغالية، فإن جوزيه مورينيو قريب للغاية من تدريب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي بنفيكا خلفًا لبرونو لاجي.

ووصل المدرب صاحب الـ 62 عامًا إلى البرتغال وسط توقعات كبيرة بأنه سيصبح المدير الفني الجديد لبنفيكا، حتى أنه تقدم له وشاح الفريق وارتداه.

وقال مورينيو في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “ريكورد”: “ليس لدي ما أقوله قبل صعودي إلى الطائرة، سألوني إن كنت مهتما، فأجبتُ بنعم”.

وأضاف: “تواصل معي بنفيكا رسميًا وأخبروني أنني سأكون سعيدًا بالتحدث عند عودتي إلى البرتغال، أي مدرب سيرفض بنفيكا؟”.

Each of the five is believed to be paid salaries that are more than what all but the most elite Pakistan players are paid

Danyal Rasool30-Aug-2024While Pakistan look to stave off a first series defeat against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi, much of the PCB’s focus has been 300 km south in Lahore. Having announced five mentors for the Champions Cup, an upcoming series of domestic tournaments which begin with a one-day competition from September 12, the PCB lined them up for press conferences to outline their vision, and, to some extent, clarify their roles.On Friday, it was the turn of former Pakistan captain and coach Misbah-ul-Haq, who will mentor the Wolves. “My thinking is you need to try and maximise a player’s potential. If a player is well-equipped and technically good, he can play all formats. We have to look at how he manages his fitness and potential, and not have any pre-conceived notions about any player. Then we can look at which player specifically fits into our team. That doesn’t mean we limit a player’s ceiling. As mentor and coach, we need to explore their potential to the full.”The vision is to reduce the gap between domestic and international cricket. I feel it and players feel it too. When I came to the international side, it took three to four years to believe that I belonged to international cricket. The vision of the mentors is to prepare the players to raise them to that level, so they adjust with it. This requires a lot of hard work, and it will only happen if we do it.”Misbah is one of five mentors, alongside Sarfaraz Ahmed, Saqlain Mushtaq, Waqar Younis and Shoaib Malik. Only one – Sarfaraz – is set to participate in the upcoming one-day cup, while Malik, who conducted a press conference on Thursday, said he planned to play “select” games in the T20 iteration of the tournament, for which the window has not yet been finalised.”As a mentor, my role goes beyond just providing guidance from the dugout,” Malik, affiliated with the Stallions, said in a statement released by the PCB. “I will also take to the field in select matches to impart my first-hand knowledge and experience. This will enable our upcoming cricketers to refine their skills and elevate their game, ultimately supporting the Pakistan Cricket Board’s efforts to bridge the gap between domestic and international cricket.”In addition to his role as mentor, Shoaib Malik will also play the T20 version of the Champions Cup•PSLThough the teams don’t have geographic affiliation, Malik’s pairing with Stallions is symbolic, given his success as captain of the Sialkot Stallions in the mid-2000s. Malik created one of the first successful T20 dynasties, leading his side to five successive domestic titles in the days before the PSL. To a lesser degree, so is Misbah’s with Wolves, the former Pakistan captain a key player in the successful Faisalabad Wolves sides of the early 2000s.The mentor roles have come under scrutiny not least for the salaries involved. Each of the five is believed to be on three-year contracts, earning in the range of PKR 5 million (approx. USD 18,000) per month. Those salaries have raised eyebrows because they are higher than what is paid to all but the most elite Pakistani cricketers – the category A players, Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohammad Rizwan, in the central contracts pool. The Champions Cup has yet to announce a tangible commercial inflow. A broadcaster has not been announced either. The PCB has advertised for team partners/sponsors to come in but has not yet said whether any have come on board.For perspective, just the mentor salaries will total about half the PCB’s entire broadcast deal for bilateral international cricket at home over the next 30 months. From August 2024 to December 2026, the PCB’s broadcast deal is worth between USD 6 to 6.5 million. Salaries for the five mentors in that time will amount to approximately USD 2.7 million.The roles are separate from coaching – each side will have a separate yet-to-be-announced coaching set-up – and do not require coaching qualifications. Three of the five mentors have served as Pakistan’s head coach in the recent past and the PCB has not made public what metrics the mentors will be evaluated by, or why they believe the outlay will offer a return on investment. In a statement to ESPNcricinfo, the PCB said that it “as a responsible organisation, never discusses in public salaries of its staffers and consultants, which remain a matter between the employer and the employee”.The Lahore and Karachi stadiums are currently undergoing significant renovation, with minor upgrades scheduled for Rawalpindi as well, the cost for which is understood to run into billions of Pakistan rupees. This lines up with a generally heavy spend rate since Mohsin Naqvi assumed the PCB chair, which has coincided with annual revenues from the ICC that have doubled in this international rights cycle, thanks to the global body’s new deal with Disney-Star. However, there will invariably be concern around whether the spend rate is sustainable, especially because the PCB does not receive any public money for its operations.Naqvi made clear early on his goal was to spend the PCB’s money on improving Pakistan cricket, rather than save it.”I have told the PCB our job is not to save money or keep it hoarded away, but to spend it on cricket, from grassroots right through to the national team,” Naqvi said in March, addressing the Pakistan players. “The money will be spent on your fitness, training and coaches rather than keeping it locked away.”

Sri Lanka “not risking” Pathirana after he jarred his shoulder in the third T20I; uncapped seamers Mohamed Shiraz and Eshan Malinga added to squad

Andrew Fidel Fernando01-Aug-2024

Matheesha Pathirana joins Sri Lanka’s list of injured players•ICC via Getty Images

Two further Sri Lanka fast bowlers have been ruled out of the ODIs against India, with Matheesha Pathirana picking up a shoulder complaint, and Dilshan Madushanka injuring a hamstring.Sri Lanka are also without Dushmantha Chameera, who is out with illness, and Nuwan Thushara, who fractured his thumb. Both these players had missed the T20Is as well.For now Sri Lanka have brought uncapped right-arm seamer Mohamed Shiraz into the squad, team manager Mahinda Halangoda confirmed to ESPNcricinfo. Later in the afternoon, a statement from Sri Lanka Cricket confirmed a second uncapped right-arm seamer was added to the squad: Eshan Malinga. Three players were also put on standby: batter Kusal Perera, seamer Pramod Madushan and spinner Jeffrey Vandersay.Related

Jayasuriya: 'Don't see a lack of commitment, but SL players have to tackle pressure better'

'It's not a practice ground, it's an international game' – Rohit Sharma keeps his focus on the present

Will it be another mismatch as Sri Lanka and India switch to ODIs?

Thushara out of India T20Is with broken finger

“Matheesha has jarred his shoulder, and because it is the same issue that he had during the World Cup last year, they have chosen not to risk it,” Halangoda said. Pathirana had picked up the injury while fielding in the third T20I in Pallekele, and had left the field soon after, before he had bowled a single delivery in that game.Madushanka, meanwhile, had sustained the hamstring injury while training, Halangoda said. He had played only one match in the T20I series.Both Pathirana and Madushanka were likely to be in the XI for the first ODI against India, on Friday. Sri Lanka have lost their last 10 matches across formats against India.

Sunderland have now made an approach to sign an international defender who has 25 Champions League appearances to his name, reporter Ben Jacobs has revealed.

Black Cats set to have money to spend after Bellingham sale

Despite the Black Cats securing promotion to the Premier League in dramatic fashion at Wembley, Jobe Bellingham decided to forge a similar path to his brother by opting to move to Borussia Dortmund, in what was a club-record £32m deal.

The departure will no doubt be disappointing for Regis Le Bris, given that the 19-year-old was a crucial player last season, making 43 appearances in all competitions, but there should now be additional funds to bring in a suitable replacement this summer.

Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Tommy Doyle is one of the players who has been earmarked as a potential replacement for Bellingham, but central midfield is not the only area in which Le Bris is looking to strengthen, having also set his sights on a new left-back.

Aston Villa’s Alex Moreno was identified as a potential target earlier this week, following the Spaniard’s return from a loan spell with Nottingham Forest, and Sunderland have now made an approach to sign a different left-back, namely Atletico Madrid’s Reinildo.

That is according to Jacobs, who took to X to reveal that a number of clubs have come forward to sign the Atletico defender, with Leeds United and Forest making approaches of their own, while clubs from Saudi Arabia and Turkey also retain an interest.

Sky Sports: Sunderland now in direct contact to sign £17m Ligue 1 forward

The Black Cats are looking to continue their summer business.

By
Tom Cunningham

Jun 10, 2025

The 31-year-old’s contract is set to expire after the upcoming Club World Cup, potentially opening the door for a move to the Stadium of Light, and given that he currently earns around £13k-a-week, wages shouldn’t be too much of an issue either.

"Talented" Reinildo needs to leave Atletico this summer

The Beira-born defender is still at an age where he should be playing regular first-team football, but that has not been the case at Atletico Madrid for quite some time, having been benched for all of the Spanish side’s La Liga games since the end of March.

As such, the Mozambique international needs to move on this summer, and the Stadium of Light could be an attractive destination, given that the Black Cats have returned to the Premier League.

There are also some indications the left-back could be a savvy signing on a free transfer, considering Le Bris would be bringing in a player with a lot of experience at the top level, having made a total of 25 appearances in the Champions League.

Once described as a “talented” player by Zach Lowy, Reinildo could be a solid addition to the Sunderland squad this summer, but there may be some justified concerns that he is now past his best, given that Atletico were willing to let his contract run down.

Everton have scouted a 6 foot 5 defender during this season, and they are now potentially interested in a deal that would cost them a relatively small fee, according to a recent report.

Moyes looking to strengthen Everton’s defence this summer

It is potentially a very exciting summer for the Toffees this year, as they end their long stay at Goodison Park and move into their new ground, where they hope it is the start of a new era for the football club.

Everton pushing to sign £12m ace who has told agent to get the deal done

Everton have turned their attentions to an attacking target who is keen on the move to the Premier League.

ByBrett Worthington Apr 24, 2025

David Moyes’ arrival has really turned things around for Everton, and he will now be hoping he can be backed in the transfer window, bringing in players he thinks are perfect for what he wants to achieve next season and beyond.

One area of the team that Moyes appears keen to address is at the heart of his defence, as the Merseyside club continue to be linked with several centre-backs. Indeed, the Toffees have been linked with a shock move for Jarell Quansah from arch-rivals Liverpool. Quansah looks set to leave Liverpool, and Everton are the latest team to join the race to win his signature.

It then emerged on Wednesday that Everton are also looking at signing David Hancko from Feyenoord but face serious competition from teams such as Juventus, who have agreed personal terms with the defender, as well as Bayer Leverkusen and Atlético Madrid. Hancko would be a costly purchase for the Premier League side, as Feyenoord are looking to get £34 million for their player.

Everton now scouting Ghana international Jerome Opoku

Given the hefty price on Hancko, the Toffees are keeping their options open, and they may have a cheap alternative in mind. According to TEAMtalk, Everton have been scouting defender Jerome Opoku this season, and he could be available on the cheap.

The report states that Opoku has been watched while playing for Turkish outfit Basaksehir in this campaign. It is reported that the centre-back, who can also play as a left-back, is keen on a move back to the Premier League after coming through the academy at Fulham.

Opoku could be a player available for a low transfer fee with his contract ending in Turkey in the summer of 2027, and that may have a part to play. The 26-year-old stands at 6 feet 5 inches, meaning he would fit into what Moyes likes as a, tall, aggressive player who is commanding in both boxes.

Apps

27

Starts

24

Goals

2

Clean sheets

7

Interceptions per game

0.9

Tackles per game

1.0

Clearances per game

3.1

Balls recovered per game

2.7

Michael Keane looks set to leave at the end of the season when his contract expires, and talk of Jarrad Branthwaite leaving is still not going away, so Moyes will want to make sure he has options. Should Opoku, who was born in England but represents Ghana at the international level, move to the Premier League, he will have played in England, Denmark, Portugal, and Turkey during his short career so far, experience which would hopefully help him adjust quickly in new surroundings.

Wrexham are one of a host of EFL clubs interested in signing an “excellent” international player in the summer transfer window, according to a new claim.

Wrexham facing huge period in promotion battle

Phil Parkinson’s side find themselves right in the League One promotion mix heading into the final weeks of the season, as they look to make it an incredible three promotions in a row.

Wrexham have six games remaining in the league in 2024/25, and while they currently sit in second place behind runaway leaders Birmingham City, they only have a three-point advantage over third-place Wycombe Wanderers, who have a game in hand.

Next up for Parkinson’s men is the visit of Burton Albion on Saturday lunchtime, with their opponents languishing in 21st place and desperately battling to remain in League One for another season. A home win is a must, with Wycombe facing a trickier trip to Reading.

New signings will be needed for Wrexham this summer regardless of what league they are playing in next term, and a proven top-level player has now been linked with a move to The Racecourse Ground.

Wrexham want "excellent" Wales and Rangers star Tom Lawrence

According to an update from The Daily Mail, Wrexham are interested in signing Rangers midfielder Tom Lawrence on a free transfer this summer, with the 31-year-old born there before moving to Manchester United as an eight-year-old.

The League One outfit are far from alone in expressing a willingness to snap him up, however, with the likes of West Brom, Middlesbrough and Blackburn Rovers all mentioned, among others.

Lawrence would be an ambitious addition for Wrexham this summer, especially if they can get him for free, with his current Rangers deal expiring at the end of this season. At 31, he isn’t getting any younger, but he is still at a good age to come in and make an impact, having been lauded by David McAllum for his influence on young players at Ibrox.

“Tom was excellent around the group, sharing his experience, and we spoke before the game about that. That’s what some of these games are going to be about, when we get the odd occasion where a player, or two, drops down from the first-team squad to get important minutes.”

Derby County

185

37

25

Rangers

66

12

7

Ipswich Town

36

11

11

Blackburn Rovers

23

2

3

Yeovil Town

19

2

2

Cardiff City

14

0

1

Carlisle United

11

3

2

Rotherham United

6

1

1

Leicester City

4

0

0

Manchester United

1

0

0

Lawrence is a 23-cap Wales international, scoring three times for his country, so his pedigree is undeniable, and his versatility allows him to shine in central midfield, out wide and also as a centre forward.

Wrexham in League One: Latest standings, fixtures, results & key dates

FFC has all the latest Wrexham info as they seek promotion from League One, along with a look at the Red Dragons’ journey to where they are today.

ByStephan Georgiou Oct 8, 2024

The Welshman has huge experience in the EFL too, as well as making a total of 66 appearances for one of Britain’s biggest clubs in Rangers, so the idea of Wrexham signing him is hugely exciting.

Bayern Munich star Leroy Sane is set to be one of the most high-profile free agents up for grabs in this summer transfer window, with an update coming to light on Arsenal and their chances of signing him after “concrete talks”.

Arsenal eyeing bargain summer deal for Leroy Sane

The former Man City forward once commanded a £145 million price tag during his time at Eastlands, but now he’s on the verge of being available at zero cost.

Arteta dealt injury blow with Arsenal "difference maker" out for "weeks"

It is a significant loss for the Spaniard.

ByEmilio Galantini Apr 1, 2025

Sane’s deal expires on June 30th and Vincent Kompany risks losing his ex-City teammate, following four years at Bayern where he’s racked up an impressive 59 goals and 50 assists in 211 appearances across all competitions.

Everton (away)

April 5th

Brentford (home)

April 12th

Ipswich Town (away)

April 20th

Crystal Palace (home)

TBD

Bournemouth (home)

May 3rd

The 29-year-old has started just over half of their Bundesliga matches this term, but Sane’s recent form has played an important role in Bayern’s chase for the German title as they look to wrestle it back from Bayer Leverkusen.

Sane helped Bayern to a crucial 3-2 win over St. Pauli most recently, bagging a brace and adding to his tally of four goals and two assists from his last seven German top flight matches.

Arsenal have been expressing an interest in Sane since during Edu Gaspar’s reign as sporting director and afterward, with the Gunners maintaining their watching brief following the Brazilian’s resignation in November.

Since then, Arsenal have appointed a new sporting director in former Atlético Madrid chief Andrea Berta, and it appears the Italian’s arrival in north London hasn’t altered their fondness for Sane.

Leroy Sane set for imminent Arsenal transfer decision after talks

According to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Arsenal have “already” held “concrete” talks with Sane over joining them on a free deal this summer.

The winger is also expected to make a decision on his future at Bayern, or potentially signing for Arsenal, within the next one to three weeks – so fans can expect some pretty imminent news on whether they can poach Sane from the Allianz Arena.

However, there’s also been a word of caution, as the forward is keen to remain at Bayern and talks are continuing over an extension.

“There have been, and still are, internal sceptics about Leroy Sané’s contract extension,” wrote Plettenberg on X.

“However, his performances and commitment are increasingly being recognised. Max Eberl continues negotiations, and Sané is willing to accept a pay cut. No written offer from Bayern yet – the club must now make a move. Sané wants to stay, with a decision expected within 1-3 weeks.

“Arsenal are seriously interested in signing him as a free agent in the summer. Concrete talks have already taken place.”

One of Berta’s potential aims for the summer is signing an alternative to Bukayo Saka on the right-hand side, according to GiveMeSport, and Sane would be an excellent option considering his star quality and Premier League experience.

A major obstacle would be negotiating his high salary, but if he’s willing to take a pay cut to remain in Bavaria, perhaps he’d be willing to entertain a salary decrease to seal a blockbuster return to England.

The Sri Lanka quick stuck to his strengths against England and, for a change, got the rewards he so deserved

Shashank Kishore27-Oct-2023It’s a story similar to that of many of his team-mates. Lahiru Kumara made his ODI debut as a 20-year-old in 2017, but has managed just 28 games over the years. He’s battled all sorts of fast-bowler injuries in between: knee, back, ankle, hamstring, side… But every time he’s returned, the one constant has been pace, bristling pace.Unfortunately, he’s been prone to waywardness and inconsistency; an ODI economy of 6.48 is some indication of that.He doesn’t swing the ball but can be more than handful if there’s lateral movement. He also has the ability to work batters over with the short stuff. But, at the World Cup, on largely flat surfaces, he has had to work that much harder to execute.Related

• Samarawickrama – Doing it with style, doing it with substance

• Kumara out with thigh injury, Chameera comes in as replacement

• England's lurching between attack and defence leaves them in no man's land

• Are defending champions out of the World Cup?

• Peak Sri Lanka too sharp for England

Kumara didn’t start the tournament and was largely seen as a back-up option. But Sri Lanka’s pace stocks have been depleting faster than the world’s gold reserves. Injured fast bowlers have recuperated and come in to replace other injured fast bowlers as a result. Kumara has been part of this merry-go-round for a while now. At the World Cup, he may well have been on the bench had Dushmantha Chameera been fit, but an injury to Matheesha Pathirana forced Sri Lanka to alter their combination.On Thursday, Kumara was up against England on one of the flattest decks in the country. He came in with a clear plan. He was told clearly to forget about Australia – he managed all of four wicketless overs and got taken for 47. “Just go flat out, bowl short, and be the middle-overs enforcer.”It’s easier said than done. But Kumara had been putting in the long hours in training. His nets sessions have been devoid of much drama. Just three stumps, the bowling coach on the side, and him. The mandate: bowl fast, hit the area marked out between short of length and good length repeatedly, and stick to one line. And Kumara had been at it, 30 minutes non-stop, sometimes 40, every day.

For once, he’s not in the news for a scan or a period of rehab. It’s about a bowling performance that has reinvigorated Sri Lanka’s flagging World Cup campaign

Kumara is strongly built. Broad shoulders, ripping muscles, he generates the strength from his core. The run-up may not be butter smooth, but there’s a hustle, effort, the grunt as he finishes off in a whippy open-chested action.On Thursday in Bengaluru, his pace and seam movement accounted for Jos Buttler. He bowled it just a touch fuller than Buttler probably anticipated as he tried to flay it on the up, the ball decking away and taking the thick outside edge to be superbly grabbed by Kusal Mendis behind the stumps. This was Kumara in his zone. He was simply running in and letting it rip. It’s likely he wasn’t sure how the ball was going to behave after pitching.The ball that got Liam Livingstone lbw ducked back in off a length to trap him lbw as he played all around it. Kumara was simply targeting one spot, give or take a few centimetres this way or that. Most times, this small margin is the difference between good and bad deliveries on flat decks. Against England, Kumara also got a touch lucky that England were on damage-control mode after a top-order meltdown when he got into his act.Kumara’s biggest wicket was yet to come. Ben Stokes had begun to raise hopes of a rearguard of the kind he’s known for. With England’s campaign on the line, he reined himself in for much of his stay. It hadn’t quite got to a point where he had to tee off, but he did nonetheless.1:46

Shane Bond: Hopefully this win kickstarts Sri Lanka’s campaign

But Kumara, by then, was like a four-stroke engine. Bounding in, hitting hard lengths, generating some movement. He beat Stokes twice with balls that held their line. Stokes, though, couldn’t hold back when he finally saw one dropped short. He took him on, pulling it from outside off, but picked out deep midwicket.Kumara was modest enough to admit afterwards that the Stokes dismissal played out accidentally. It was perhaps just the rub of green he needed.”Stokes,” he said spontaneously with a smile when asked after the match which of the three wickets he had enjoyed the most. He led the flag wave with a few Sri Lankan fans, chatted with the press pack, and walked off with the contented smile of a man who had thoroughly enjoyed his moment in the spotlight for all the right reasons.For once, he’s not in the news for a scan or a period of rehab. It’s about a bowling performance that has reinvigorated Sri Lanka’s flagging World Cup campaign.