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A sensação de que o Fluminense tem sua rota cada vez mais traçada pelos pés de Paulo Henrique Ganso marca a equipe de Fernando Diniz às vésperas de encarar o Fla-Flu pelo jogo de ida das oitavas de final da Copa do Brasil. A serenidade com a qual o camisa 10 tem surgido bem para a criação de jogadas da equipe de Fernando Diniz se tornou ainda mais latente devido à maneira como o atleta se impôs nos primeiros jogos no Campeonato Brasileiro.

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Nos seis primeiros jogos do Tricolor das Laranjeiras, o jogador de 33 anos marcou dois gols e deu três passes para que seus companheiros estufassem as redes, de acordo com dados do Sofascore. Nesta terça-feira (16), o meia dividirá com Lima a missão de municiar Arias, Gabriel Pirani e Cano.

+ Veja os próximos jogos da Copa do Brasil!

+ Fluminense x Flamengo: onde assistir, prováveis escalações e desfalques das duas equipes no clássico pela Copa do Brasil

Ganso vem se aproximando dos números que obteve em todo o Brasileiro anterior. quando em 33 partidas marcou cinco gols e deu passe para colegas anotarem em cinco oportunidades. Seu embalo também foi refletido na única partida que disputou na atual Copa do Brasil até o momento.

+ Todos os jogos do Brasileirão você encontra no Prime Video. Assine já e acompanhe o seu time do coração

Diante do Paysandu, o camisa 10 teve tranquilidade para fazer o Tricolor das Laranjeiras ditar o ritmo da partida e garantir que os comandados de Diniz consolidassem a vitória por 3 a 0 no Mangueirão. Sua maturidade tem se tornado fundamental para que saiba reconhecer o momento no qual a equipe precisa atacar de maneira mais intensa.

Em um clássico diante do Flamengo, cercado de expectativa, caberá a Paulo Henrique Ganso tentar abrir caminhos diante da defesa adversária. Ciente da habilidade de Arias e da eficiência de Germán Cano, o camisa 10 se aprimora para ser o mais certeiro possível.

We’re just a week away from the return of the Premier League, and Chelsea are looking like a scary proposition.

Enzo Maresca’s side finished last season in fine form, and the board have only made them stronger with their work in the transfer market this summer.

The likes of Jamie Gittens, Liam Delap and Joao Pedro will make them far more dangerous in attack, while Jorrel Hato looks like he could be one of the next great defenders.

The Blues aren’t done there, though, as they also appear intent on adding Xavi Simons to their squad, as well as another international who’d be brilliant alongside the Dutchman.

Chelsea target Simons' perfect partner

Simons has been one of the more prominent names linked to Chelsea over the last few weeks, and while it started as nothing more than an interest, it now looks like they’re dead set on signing him.

Transfer Focus

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

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Reports from the last week or so have gone as far as claiming that personal terms have already been agreed and that an offer of around £61m would be enough to seal the deal.

It would be a brilliant bit of business if the Blues could get it done, and yet, they still want to do even more, as they’re now closing in on someone who could end up being unplayable alongside Simons.

At least that’s according to a recent report from transfers expert Fabrizio Romano, who has reaffirmed that Chelsea want to sign Alejandro Garnacho this summer.

The Italian journalist goes further than that, though, revealing that the Argentine ace has now agreed to “every detail of personal terms” with the Blues and that he “only wants” a move to Stamford Bridge.

Romano doesn’t mention how much the 21-year-old could end up costing, but based on stories from the last few weeks, it would appear that the Pensioners do not want to pay much more than £40m.

While Garnacho could still end up costing a little more than that, this feels like a deal that’s worth pursuing, as he’s got plenty of potential, and alongside Simons, he could become unplayable.

Why Garnacho could be unplayable with Simons

While it might have seemed unlikely a few weeks ago, Romano has made it quite clear that Chelsea want to sign Simons and Garnacho this summer, and though some might see that as overkill, we reckon they could be perfect teammates.

The first reason stems from their raw output last season, as an attacking player is always judged on their goal-scoring or chance-creating abilities.

For his efforts, the RB Leipzig star scored 11 goals and provided eight assists in 33 appearances, totalling 2763 minutes, which comes out to an impressive average of a goal involvement every 1.73 games, or every 145.42 minutes.

Garnacho & Simons in 24/25

Players

Garnacho

Simons

Appearances

58

33

Minutes

3568′

2763′

Goals

11

11

Assists

10

8

Goal Involvements per Match

0.36

0.57

Minutes per Goal Involvements

169.90′

145.42′

All Stats via Transfermarkt

Then, in his 58 appearances last season, totalling 3568 minutes, the Madrid-born “superstar,” as dubbed by journalist Liam Canning, scored 11 goals and provided ten assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.76 games, or every 169.90 minutes, which is very impressive considering he was playing in a historically bad Manchester United team.

Not only do these numbers suggest that both players would be able to contribute in a meaningful way for the Blues next season, but they also make it clear that they’re both as good at scoring goals as they are at creating chances.

In other words, when playing together, opposition defenders will be unsure which one of them will be the creator and which one will be the finisher, and those minute moments of hesitation could allow them the space to thrive.

On top of this, both youngsters are more than comfortable playing as a ten or out wide on the wings.

This would allow them to play more games together, interchange with relative ease on the pitch, and crucially, cover for one another when one needs to be rested.

Ultimately, on their own, Simons and Garnacho would be excellent signings, but together they could become unplayable at Chelsea.

Related The next Cole Palmer: Chelsea "keep working" to sign £61m "game-changer"

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Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 7, 2025

It would be something of an understatement to say this summer has been a busy one for Chelsea.

Enzo Maresca’s men hardly had a moment to catch their breath after winning the Conference League before they were thrown into the Club World Cup, which they then won.

Likewise, even though the board have made plenty of signings over recent years, they’ve been just as busy this summer, picking up some genuinely exciting talents like Liam Delap, Joao Pedro and Jamie Gittens.

However, they aren’t done there, as they’ve also been linked with another international star, someone who’d be a far better signing than another player touted for a move to Stamford Bridge: Alejandro Garnacho.

Chelsea target massive Garnacho upgrade

While most of Chelsea’s business this summer has been conducted without much controversy or fan backlash, it wouldn’t be unfair to suggest that there is a portion of the fan base who wouldn’t be overjoyed with the potential signing of Garnacho.

Transfer Focus

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

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After all, the Argentine international has a massive public falling out with Ruben Amorim at Manchester United, and while he’s talented, the supposed price tag of around £40m might be too much for someone who could disrupt the dressing room.

So, it’s good news that it now appears as if the club are closing in on someone else, someone who’d be a far better signing.

At least that is according to a recent report from Sports Zone, which claims that Chelsea are now rapidly advancing with their interest in Xavi Simons.

In fact, the report has revealed that the Blues have now reached an agreement on personal terms for the RB Leipzig star, and that a first bid is expected sometime today.

While the report makes no mention of how much the Dutchman might cost the West Londoners, other stories from this month have claimed that the German outfit want around £61m.

It could therefore be an expensive transfer to get over the line, but given Simons’ ability and potential, it’s one worth fighting for, especially as he’d be a way better signing than Garnacho.

Why Simons would be a better signing than Garnacho

So, if we ignore all the potential off-the-pitch problems and focus solely on what they can do on the pitch, why would Simons be a far better signing than Garnacho?

Well, first and foremost, the Dutchman is simply the far more dangerous attacking outlet, and that is clearly shown in their respective output from last season.

In his 33 games for Leipzig, totalling just 2763 minutes, the 22-year-old “game-changer,” as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, scored 11 goals and provided eight assists.

That means the former Paris Saint-Germain gem managed to average a goal involvement every 1.73 games, or every 144 minutes.

In contrast, the Madrid-born ace scored just 11 goals and provided ten assists in 58 appearances, totalling 3,568 minutes, for the Red Devils last term.

Garnacho vs Simons in 24/25

Players

Simons

Garnacho

Appearances

33

58

Minutes

2763′

3568′

Goals

11

11

Assists

8

10

Goal Involvements per Match

0.57

0.36

Minutes per Goal Involvements

144′

169.90′

All Stats via Transfermarkt

In other words, the Argentine international averaged a goal involvement every 2.76 games, or every 169.90 minutes.

Unfortunately for the United ace, the one-sided nature of this comparison only continues when we take a look at their national team statistics as well.

For example, the former PSV Eindhoven superstar has already won 28 senior caps for the Netherlands, in which he’s scored five goals, provided four assists, made one World Cup appearance and six at the European Championships.

For his efforts, the Argentine has won just eight caps, one of which was a substitute appearance at the Copa América, and he’s only provided one assist in that time.

Ultimately, while Garnacho has undeniable talent, Simons is simply the better and more complete player, and therefore, Chelsea should be looking to sign him over the United ace.

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Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 30, 2025

Newcastle United will play Champions League football once again next season, but Eddie Howe will certainly know that first-team signings are needed if his side are to make headway after an extraordinary year.

Top five was secured, as was the Carabao Cup trophy after an incredible performance against Liverpool, who so dominantly won the Premier League.

Somehow, Howe achieved the feats with limited attacking options, but he’s seeking to rectify that in the summer transfer market.

Newcastle looking at Elanga alternative

Indeed, despite a slow start, The Athletic’s David Ornstein has revealed on Wednesday that the Magpies have seen a £45m offer rejected for Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga.

The Tricky Trees have no intention of selling, and while Antoine Semenyo of Bournemouth and West Ham United’s Mohammed Kudus have been also discussed, there’s another winger on British shores who could move to Tyneside this summer.

As per Football Insider, Celtic are determined to keep Nicolas Kuhn beyond the summer transfer window, although it’s anticipated that Newcastle and German club RB Leipzig will push to swipe his signature.

Brendan Rodgers considers the 25-year-old one of his most valuable players, but offers in and around £20m would likely be accepted by the Scottish champions.

Given the amount of money offered to Forest for Elanga, this might prove an incredibly shrewd piece of business for a Newcastle side boasting the fluent tactical conditions for such a player to flourish.

What Nicolas Kuhn could bring to Newcastle

Kuhn, who played for Ajax and Bayern Munich in his youth, joined Celtic from Rapid Vienna for just £3m in January 2024, and his stock has since risen considerably.

With 42 goal involvements from 68 matches across all competitions, the German winger hasn’t done too badly, even hailed for his “breathtaking” technical quality by Marvin Bartley.

With such sharp pace and dribbling skills, Kuhn fits the bill from a tactical perspective, with Howe questing for such a profile to add competition for the industrious Jacob Murphy on the right flank.

As you can see below, the Celtic star definitely boasts faculties that rival those of Elanga, albeit having performed his duties at a level of lower quality in the Scottish Premiership.

Matches (starts)

32 (24)

38 (31)

Goals

13

6

Assists

9

11

Shots (on target)*

1.9 (0.8)

1.2 (0.6)

Big chances missed

9

6

Pass completion

77%

78%

Big chances created

11

9

Key passes*

1.6

1.3

Dribbles*

1.8

0.7

Tackles*

1.2

0.5

Duels won*

3.5

3.0

But even so, the winger takes things in his stride and likes to be in the thick of the action, making things happen. Moreover, his tenacious approach has led to impressive defensive metrics, always chipping in with tackles and duels.

He also carries the ball forward with regularity, although it must be said that Elanga’s low average in that regard is largely due to the pragmatic nature of Nuno Espirito Santo’s tactics.

Ultimately, Newcastle could find that they could sign a dynamic forward in Kuhn who is capable of special things, and for a portion of the price that Elanga would be available for.

Given the underlying strengths that point in the Hoops man’s favour, it might not turn out to be a bad thing for a Newcastle side in need of reinforcements across a wealth of positions.

He's an Isak clone: Newcastle start discussions to sign £50m "superstar"

Newcastle have enquired about signing their next Alexander Isak.

1 ByRoss Kilvington Jun 23, 2025

Leeds United are looking to bolster the ranks ahead of their return to the Premier League and have designs on signing a full-back known for his ability to get forward, according to reports.

Leeds United look to build on triple signing spree

Elland Road will be a cauldron of noise in the top flight this season, and supporters will be delighted at Jaka Bijol, Lukas Nmecha and Sebastiaan Bornauw making their way into the club to work under Daniel Farke.

However, it does feel like there is a lot more to come in the way of transfer activity, with Leeds likely to need a sequence of additions with pedigree to establish themselves as a Premier League outfit.

After his contribution last season, Paul Robinson believes Leeds should pull out all the stops to land Manor Solomon permanently after he went back to Tottenham Hotspur with no deal agreed to see the former Fulham man remain in Yorkshire.

He stated: “I expect Thomas Frank will take a look at him in pre-season; I don’t think Leeds will go straight back in and do a deal for him.

“From a Leeds point of view, I’d like to think they could because he’s proven he can do it at Premier League level and was excellent last year. To take him out of the Leeds team will be a big miss, so I think they will do all they can to bring him in.”

Better signing than Diarra: Leeds lead race to sign "outstanding" £18m star

Leeds United could soon purchase this outstanding £18m star in a deal that might be better than securing Habib Diarra.

ByKelan Sarson Jul 4, 2025

In light of their off-field problems, Leeds could look to sign goalkeeper Lucas Perri from financially troubled Lyon. Away from their search for a new number one, the Whites are now in the hunt to complete a slightly more complicated deal, per reports.

Leeds United eye quickfire Nuno Tavares transfer

According to Calciomercato, Leeds are keen on signing Lazio full-back Nuno Tavares and are said to be monitoring his situation with the window ongoing alongside West Ham United.

Intriguingly, the Portugal international has only just signed permanently at the Serie A giants from Arsenal. However, Maurizio Sarri would be willing to sell him for a fee between £17.2 million and £21.5 million.

Nuno Tavares – why do Leeds United want to sign the full-back? (FBRef)

Shot-creating actions

74

Goal-creating actions

14

Progressive passes per 90 mins

5.90

Progressive carries per 90 mins

5.08

Successful take-ons per 90 mins

2.68

Backing up his encouraging offensive statistics, Tavares, previously been labelled “excellent” by Claudio Letito, registered nine assists in 30 appearances across all competitions last term, making him an ideal candidate to replace Junior Firpo at Elland Road.

The Dominican Republic international has left following the expiration of his deal in Yorkshire, leaving Farke with the challenge of securing a successor who can replicate his output at both ends of the field.

Tavares looks to have all the pre-requisites needed to take on the challenge, though it remains to be seen if Leeds can push a deal over the line amid rival interest.

Rangers are “very keen” to sign an England international after making an approach over a transfer, according to Sky Sports.

Rangers want defenders and attackers after Cameron signing

The Gers secured the services of Dundee midfielder Lyall Cameron back in February, with the 22-year-old penning a pre-contract agreement at Ibrox.

Cameron has now been pictured in a Rangers shirt and described a move to Glasgow as a “no-brainer” earlier this week.

Martin can replace Hagi with Rangers move for "explosive" £10m "weapon"

Rangers can brilliantly replace Ianis Hagi by signing this reported transfer target.

ByDan Emery Jun 17, 2025

“It’s amazing to walk in the door, it’s a privilege really. I have been looking forward to it for a long time. It was a no-brainer as soon as Rangers came in, I was desperate to be here. It is obviously a massive club and the history and everything about it is just amazing. Being from Scotland, I know what the club stands for, so I just wanted to jump at the chance.

“It is a new project, they are looking to build, improve and win leagues again and I really wanted to be a part of it. I want to come here, make an impression, do as well as possible and get this club back to where it belongs.”

With a new midfielder though the door, Rangers and Russell Martin are now looking to bolster the defensive and attacking ranks.

In regards to specific defensive targets, Bournemouth right-back Max Aarons is a wanted man at Ibrox, and in attack, the Gers are keen on Peterborough United’s Kwame Poku when his contract expires at the end of the month.

Rangers “very keen” to sign Leicester City’s Conor Coady after approach

As reported in Sky Sports’ live transfer blog on Tuesday evening, Rangers have made an approach to Leicester City over a deal to sign Conor Coady. The Foxes are open to selling the centre-back after their relegation from the Premier League, and those at Ibrox “are very keen” on a move.

Coady, who picks up £3.9m per year at The King Power Stadium, made 26 appearances for Leicester in all competitions last season, captaining on three occasions.

Best known for his time at Wolves, Coady has plenty of Premier League experience, has won 10 caps for England and has even played in the Europa League 12 times.

Called a player with a “real infectious personality” by Gareth Southgate, Coady is an out and out centre-back who Martin will be well aware of during his time as a player and manager in England.

Games

22

Goals

1

Pass completion %

91.5%

Clearances per 90

3.1

Blocks per 90

1.1

Average WhoScored match rating

6.17/10

A move looks like one to keep an eye on, and if Coady does move north, that may see Robin Propper seal a return to FC Twente following recent rumours.

Manchester City may have one eye on the Club World Cup this summer, though they are refusing to relent in their pursuit of additions and could now be in a position to land one of PSG’s leading stars.

Man City's changing dynamics this summer

The end of a trophyless campaign for Pep Guardiola at Manchester City appears to have only fueled his desire to ensure his side doesn’t end up empty-handed next time out.

Fortunately, the Club World Cup will offer a quickfire chance to atone for a year without silverware alongside a bounty of nearly £100 million for the eventual winners of the competition.

Of course, Manchester City are hardly struggling for cash. Still, a sizeable extra windfall would allow more room for manoeuvre in their quest to rejuvenate a squad that will see some experienced figures depart over the summer.

Kevin De Bruyne appears to be on his way to Napoli and bows out as possibly the Citizens’ greatest ever player, leaving a void to be filled not only in the engine room but in terms of leadership.

Jack Grealish could be on his way to Tottenham Hotspur after becoming a spare part. Although his influence has waned in recent times, there is no doubt that his experience has helped to set a culture of success inside the Manchester City dressing room.

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Posts BySean Markus Clifford May 30, 2025

AC Milan star Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Ait-Nouri could arrive to work under Guardiola. Nevertheless, their prospective moves don’t undermine the need for stars capable of producing match-winning moments to arrive, no matter where they may feature on the pitch.

Man City eye surprise Gianluigi Donnarumma move

According to CaughtOffside, Manchester City have made contact over a move for Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma if number one Ederson is sold this summer.

The Brazil international is attracting interest from clubs in the Saudi Pro League and could be allowed to leave for just over £25 million if appropriate offers come in.

Gianluigi Donnarumma in 2024/25 – all competitions

Appearances

40

Clean sheets

12

Goals conceded

39

On the other hand, former AC Milan star Donnarumma is in the middle of a contract wrangle with Paris Saint-Germain and is also being tracked by Arsenal, Manchester United, Inter Milan and Juventus, with City also registering their interest.

Intriguingly, he has been labelled a “top goalkeeper” by Guardiola back in 2017 and won’t have done himself any harm after picking up the Champions League trophy last weekend.

Speaking about his future at the French giants, Donnarumma stated: “New deal or leaving? We will see what happens… I don’t know.

‘It’s time to enjoy this magic season now. I will go on holiday and then we will see.”

From a Manchester City standpoint, that doesn’t sound like a man who has completely ruled out the prospect of playing elsewhere next term. Now, it is over to their recruitment staff to try and tempt the £205,000 per week earner to English shores.

Both teams had equal support as the Champions Trophy arrived at Gaddafi Stadium and England seemed like they had killed off the game, but who could ever really bet against Australia?

Danyal Rasool22-Feb-20252:04

Agar: Inglis controlled the innings, the rest could bat around him

The crowd had left their seats, preparing to head out. It had been a long day, and they had seen by far the best game of the tournament. They pooled up at the front of the stands; perhaps they’d catch one more over. And then Alex Carey clothed one to mid-off. Glenn Maxwell was coming in, so they couldn’t leave before giving him the biggest cheer of the evening and watching a little show.Mark Wood came straight into the attack, the tournament’s fastest bowler who had bowled England’s quickest-ever opening ODI spell at the top of the innings. This, perhaps, was the contest distilled to its most electric – matchwinner pitted against matchwinner, the outcome of this mini-context potentially decisive to the larger result.Wood set three men on the rope on the leg side, including a square leg, for the first ball to Maxwell. For someone who had bowled more balls in excess of 150kph than anyone else in this tournament combined, it didn’t take a great deal of imagination to work out what he was threatening. Instead, he went full. But Maxwell doesn’t need time at the crease to recognise a bluff when he sees one. He latched onto it, pummeling it through the cover region left vacant to lend credibility to that bluff. Four.There was no pretense for the next ball as Wood arrowed it in search of the yorker, but once more, Maxwell wasn’t backing down. He lifted this one over mid-on. Four more. The crowd didn’t move, not even to go back to their seats. Lahore’s post-match traffic may be a nightmare to deal with, but missing any of this would be worse.

****

Every seat at the Gaddafi was sold out for this game, and yet it was never quite clear what the people wanted. There is veneration in Pakistan for Australia’s relentless assault on the biggest trophies, while England’s white-ball revolution over the past decade has brought with it a new generation of young fans, especially as the country is one of the biggest exporters of talent to the Pakistan Super League.Related

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Duckett delivers but England fall flat again to put tournament on the line

By the time the game drew near its enthralling finale, though, the overwhelming sense that gripped this ground was one of inevitability. The stadium may not have held an ICC event for the best part of 30 years; indeed, the last such game at this ground was perhaps the last of an era where an Australian triumph on these occasions wasn’t fait accompli.A lot has happened in the three decades since, and plenty of it has happened to this crowd. As Australia clawed their way back into a game England thought they had finished off, no one would have felt surer of an Australian win than those gathered around this venue.It was Australia that came in with an attack that was part Sheffield Shield part Big Bash League; it would be something of a mathematical violation to maintain the whole added up to an ODI bowling unit. It was their best bowler – Adam Zampa – who Ben Duckett had thoroughly bested, plundering 50 off the 36 balls he faced en route a Champions Trophy record 165, leaving Australia comprehensively deprived of wicket-taking options.Josh Inglis’ innings was laden with boundaries•Associated PressWhen, in defence of 351, Wood and Jofra Archer breathed early fire to send back Australia’s most explosive batter and their best one in quick succession, the remainder of the game threatened to become an English victory procession. They even did what Australia couldn’t in the middle overs, spinners Adil Rashid and Liam Livingstone combining to remove Marnus Labuschagne and Matthew Short, who had built up a sneakily menacing 95-run stand which kept Australia in touch with the asking rate. Now, alongside Carey, it was all up to Josh Inglis, ODI average a tick above 23.However, Australia follow a strategy of personal incredulity in these events, as if Real Madrid had suddenly descended on a cricket field and dyed their kit canary yellow. For this side, there isn’t so much regression to the mean as there is eternal servitude to history, where past success guarantees future triumph. Two overs after that double-blow, Carey lifted Livingstone – one of England’s two compromise bowlers, the price they were paying for an extra batter – for two boundaries, and at the halfway mark Australia were just ten runs behind England at the same stage. The game entered a tug of war as England, still notionally with the upper hand, remained content as long as the floodgates didn’t open.But with wickets suddenly drying up, Australia were always destined to be in control of the final sprint. England had done exceptionally well not to let their middle overs with the bat – a recent Achilles heel – derail their innings, prioritising wicket preservation while milking the middle overs. ODI sides have averaged 151 dot balls in full innings since the 2023 World Cup, or just over half their full quota. For England, this was down to just 107, a near 15% drop. However, they had not made the most of the platform they constructed, only 83 coming off the final ten overs even as Australia turned to their fifth and sixth bowlers at the death; Labuschagne bowled two of the last three overs.Glenn Maxwell helped add the finished touches•Associated PressSo, by that time the crowd were stealing a few late peeks at Maxwell against Wood, they stood not to see an outcome decided, but an inevitable heist completed. The following over, Inglis slapped Brydon Carse for one six before scooping him for another, and he whacked an Archer slower ball into the Imtiaz Ahmed Stand at midwicket three balls later to bring up his hundred. Maxwell, now primed against Wood, whacked him for another six and a four; he would finish with 31 off 11 balls from Wood and Archer. The coup de grace came from Inglis, of course, a six off Wood when just two were needed; he had added almost a fifth of his runs tally built up over 28 ODIs across one Lahore evening. The last 70 runs of the chase had taken just 33 balls.It was only after that final Inglis blow that Gaddafi Stadium, in unison, turned around and began to walk away. It remained impossible to say if this was the outcome they wanted; St George’s Cross and the Southern Cross had been seen in equal measure in the stands. But even as the foe that has dealt them more pain than any other inaugurated their gleaming new stadium by laying their dreaded hex on it, they had smiles on their faces. It felt much nicer when it was happening to someone else.

History for Bangladesh but Jos Buttler and Matthew Mott will move on quickly from 3-0 loss

Matt Roller14-Mar-2023As Hasan Mahmud’s full toss scudded into Chris Woakes’ front pad to seal Bangladesh’s whitewash-clinching 16-run victory in Mirpur, it marked the end of a long and winding English winter. Exactly six months prior, the first squad of the offseason boarded their plane to Karachi via Dubai for the first of six tours; on Wednesday, the last men standing will return home from Dhaka.Little wonder, then, that England’s performance in Tuesday night’s dead-rubber T20I lacked focus. They were slipshod in the field, with Rehan Ahmed and Ben Duckett both dropping straightforward catches; the first prompted Jofra Archer to put his hand over his face, while the second drew a resigned laugh. Only a substitute teacher wheeling a VCR player onto the outfield could have added to England’s end-of-term vibe.The gap in intensity between the sides was most apparent in the run chase, when the game turned on Jos Buttler’s run-out. The ball after Dawid Malan fell, slashing Mustafizur Rahman behind, Buttler ran through for a single after Ben Duckett had chopped into the covers. Buttler scampered through, but was ball-watching just long enough that Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s athletic pick-up-and-throw caught him just short of his crease.Related

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“I’m really disappointed in myself for not diving,” Buttler said afterwards. “You should be fully committed to making that run… it potentially cost us the game.” From 100 for 1 after 13 overs, England managed 42 runs off the next 42 balls to fall 16 runs short.It was, Matthew Mott admitted, England’s worst performance out of three bad ones in the T20I leg of this tour. “I thought our first 15 overs in the field were nowhere near the level we’d expect,” Mott said. “We really wanted to finish well here… the lead-in was good, everyone was up and about.”But for whatever reason, we just couldn’t get clean hands on the ball, either in the air or on the ground. We showed a bit of ticker at the back end… [but] they were still at least 15-20 over par on that wicket. That one hurts today. To finish the way we did today will leave a bit of a sour taste in our mouths.”Mott’s defence of their decision not to bring a sixth batter echoed Buttler’s own comments after the second game, and underlined the sense that England saw results in this series as an irrelevance. “If you look at how many players we’ve exposed this year alone, we’ve gone a fair way down the depth charts,” Mott said.ESPNcricinfo Ltd”The realisation [was] that we’re probably better off investing in some batters that were put under pressure in these games. You only learn from your mistakes: the opportunities that they’ve been given here will give them time to reflect and when we get into pressure situations in World Cups. I’m confident it was the right decision.”The overall sense is that this tour will be swiftly forgotten by England – if not their hosts, who will justifiably use the result to underline their progress in T20Is and, perhaps, to question why they have not been deemed worthy of a reciprocal visit for the last 13 years.From afar, this series has felt like cricket for the sake of broadcasting commitments and the fulfilment of contracts. The ODIs offered genuine value for both sides, representing competitive cricket in relevant conditions seven months before the 2023 World Cup; England have treated the T20Is like an afterthought.And perhaps they have been right to. These fixtures were initially meant to represent preparation for the 2021 T20 World Cup in India – which was later changed to the UAE – but were postponed by 18 months as part of the pandemic-induced schedule crunch, elbowed out of the way by the second half of that year’s IPL.For the past three years, England have played so often that it can be tricky to remember which series is preparation for which tournament. These T20Is were framed as opportunities for their 50-over squad, but were also their first since they won the World Cup four months ago, yet their title defence is only 14 months away.England have been stretched by tours to five different countries this winter•BCBWho could blame the ECB’s staff for breathing a collective sigh of relief on Tuesday evening? Three years and one day after England abandoned their tour of Sri Lanka, rushing home in time for the UK’s first lockdown, their Covid backlog of fixtures is finally over. In that time, they have played 127 times across formats – only India have played more – of which 72 have been overseas.England have used 35 different players this winter across five different countries, with countless others travelling around the world as support staff, unused squad members and administrators on diplomatic duty. There is hardly time for them to touch base at home before they are off again, back on the county grind or at the IPL.It has been a gruelling treadmill; as double world champions and the world’s must-watch Test team, England have set the pace for so much of this winter that they could afford to slip off right at the end. While every game of international cricket should matter, some matter more than others. In truth, this was not one of them.

Six months after an incident-free tournament overseas, there was no room for error this time given the ground situation

Nagraj Gollapudi05-May-2021A resurgent pandemic with new strains, multiple positive cases within the eight IPL 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. These were some of the key health-related points of difference between IPL 2020, staged in the UAE, and IPL 2021, which was postponed halfway through on Tuesday.Host cities
There were only three venues, all a drive away from each other, 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).By contrast, all six venues in this IPL – Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata and Ahmedabad – were hotspots when the IPL started. Mumbai, one of the first venues in the schedule, itself reported more than 10,000 new cases on April 6 and India’s total number of daily new cases in the week leading up to the tournament start was 100,000. The graph just kept going up: by Tuesday, May 4, when the IPL was postponed indefinitely, India was recording more than 350,000 new cases every day and 3500 deaths; the pandemic’s epicentre had shifted to Delhi, which alone was recording 20,000 cases every day and more than 400 deaths on a daily basis.What this meant was that any departure from the team bubbles would incur a hugely magnified risk – as is likely to have happened with the Kolkata Knight Riders’ Varun Chakravarthy, who tested positive on May 3. It is believed that Chakravarthy left the biosecure bubble (but followed protocols through the official “green channel”) to get a scan on an injured shoulder and that is one possible spot where he might have contracted the virus.Ahead of IPL 2020, every member of every franchise attended a workshop on Covid-19 to understand the guidelines put in place•BCCITravel
Probably the biggest point of concern for several franchises. In the UAE, the eight teams were based in Dubai or Abu Dhabi and travelled across the three venues by road using their own hired transport. At no instance would they have come in contact with someone outside the bubble.This year, though, teams travelled across four different cities, and all of it by air. Though the commute was on charter flights, and using private airports where possible including separate entry and exit points, there were still a lot of potential gaps in the bubble. For example, teams needed to undergo security checks at airports before boarding and after landing, which meant coming in contact with security persons outside the bubble – a loophole the franchises were concerned about.The concerns were first underscored when former India wicketkeeper Kiran More, who is part of the Mumbai Indians’ set-up, tested positive just before the tournament’s start (but while in the team bubble); it is believed he got exposed to the virus at an airport. More had checked into the team bubble in Mumbai in March, before the entire squad flew to Chennai, where they began the defence of their title. That a positive case emerged in a well-prepared franchise like Mumbai, which created its own bubble as early as in February, 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 a workshop on Covid-19 and understand the guidelines put in place in a biosecure environment, which was new to almost everyone at the time. 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 virus is and how it could transmit, and consequently, why it was important to respect rules in the biosecure bubble.There was no such session organised in 2021. This despite fears shared by players and coaches across teams, who were anxious about the surging infection rates across India. Around March 19, all stakeholders were handed the standard operating procedures about the medical protocol.A red carpet at the entrance to a ground is sanitised•Ron Gaunt/BCCIAnother difference from the last IPL was the absence of two key digital applications that helped monitor not just the health of the people in the bubble, but also tracked their movements. 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 an oximeter, 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 failure to do so would prompt a hefty monetary fine for the individual. The person would be denied entry at the three venues, including for training, as the accreditation barcode was synced to the GPS tracker and health data app. 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 necks 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 s/he 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. This tracker was outsourced to a UK-based agency for the 2020 IPL.Related

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However, in 2021, the BCCI engaged an India-based firm; franchises received the GPS trackers, in the form of a wrist watch, only on April 11, two days after the tournament had started and three matches had been played. The device was meant to track the person’s movements as well as log in the body temperature. A person had to download an app, called IPL BioTrack, on his/her personal phone where the data would be collected. But several franchises said that the device started to log in outdated data. One franchise wanted data from their second leg of IPL matches, but the data provided was from the first leg.Due to its unreliability, by the time the second leg of the IPL had commenced, members from several franchises confirmed they had stopped wearing the device because it had either stopped working abruptly or had hung. It is understood that franchises had to return the devices days before the IPL was postponed after being told the batteries would be changed.Bubble-integrity managers
In 2021, for the first time, the IPL appointed monitors in the form of bubble-integrity managers, up to four per franchise. Their sole job was to report any bubble breaches by squad members. However, franchises narrated incidents of their inefficient functioning – in one case, a manager was caught on camera leaving his room while in hard quarantine at one of the team hotels. Another incident involved some of these managers leaving the bubble boundaries during a live match to smoke. It is understood that more than one franchise questioned the IPL about the qualification of the officers, who are believed to have originally served as security liaison officers in previous editions of the IPL.Quarantine protocols
The IPL laid out quarantine rules both for before entering the bubble, and once inside the biosecure environment. The quarantine rules ranged from serving a hard weeklong 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 varied between a week and ten days outside the team bubble. The protocols applied not just for squads, but also for the franchise management as well as owners and family members.Devdutt Padikkal not serving a hard quarantine before the start of IPL 2021 had raised eyebrows•BCCIHowever, the inconsistency of the protocols was highlighted by the case of the Royal Challengers Bangalore batter Devdutt Padikkal, who tested positive on March 22. It is not known when exactly Padikkal tested positive, but the franchise said he had done home isolation of ten days.Subsequently, Padikkal travelled by road from his home in Bengaluru to Chennai, where his team was based during the first leg of the IPL, and even participated in training. Rival franchises questioned the logic behind allowing Padikkal to join the Royal Challengers’ training session without having undergone the mandatory quarantine and the testing process mentioned in the SOP. Franchises asked why the IPL did not allow senior franchise management officials or owners into the IPL bubble, subject to them clearing the required tests.Stadia
Both the 2020 and 2021 editions of the IPL were played behind closed doors. In the UAE, all venues were cordoned off with only authorised personnel allowed in. This edition, too, the IPL created different layers within the bubble at the stadia, with no one allowed to enter the area demarcated for the players and match officials. This included the groundsmen and the officials of the local state associations. The risk was highlighted in early April, when a swathe of groundstaff at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, which hosted ten matches in the first leg of the tournament, tested positive, forcing the Mumbai Cricket Association to quickly find replacements from other venues within the city.It was shown up again in Delhi, where it is understood that two members of the groundstaff at the Feroz Shah Kotla, who were not at the ground over the May 1-2 weekend, had tested positive and had been placed in quarantine.Another example relating the vulnerability of the bubble was narrated by an official at one of the four franchises based in Delhi. This official said when his team was training at the Roshanara ground, owned by a private members-only club, in Delhi, the boundaries were porous and trespassers could easily access the zone where the team was training. There was barely any security to stop them, which was not the case during the first leg in Chennai and Mumbai. It is understood that a few of the club’s members wandered around the training making the squad members apprehensive. By Wednesday, two of the four franchises based in Delhi – the Chennai Super Kings and the Sunrisers Hyderabad – had reported four positive cases.