While Everton have endured a turbulent few months with off-the-field issues resulting in a 10-point deduction, manager Sean Dyche has worked miracles this season with the Toffees still in a good position to maintain their Premier League status.

The club currently occupy 18th place, just a single point behind Luton Town. However, if they hadn't received their punishment for their FFP breach, the Toffees would be sitting in 12th and comfortably clear of the drop zone.

With the current financial problems going on behind the scenes at Goodison Park, it's allowed Dyche to work closely with his players and give more frequent first-team opportunities to some of the younger members of the Everton squad.

Lewis Dobbin, Youssef Chermiti and Nathan Patterson have all been beneficiaries this season, with the trio gaining valuable Premier League minutes so far this campaign.

However, Jarrad Branthwaite has been the star for Everton so far this season, starting in 20 out of the 23 Premier League outings for Dyche's side, with his tally of appearances so far this campaign already surpassing that of the 2021/22 season.

The fee Everton paid for Jarrad Branthwaite

Remarakbly, Branthwaite joined Everton for a fee in the region of £1m back in 2020 from Carlisle United. However, he joined the club aged 17 – spending time out on loan and in the U23s before making an impact at Goodison.

The central defender joined Blackburn Rovers on loan for the second half of the 2020/21 campaign, making ten appearances at Ewood Park before a European loan spell that fast-tracked his first-team career.

The 6 foot 4 central defender joined PSV Eindhoven on loan for the entire 2022/23 campaign – a loan move that would allow the English youngster to flourish. Branthwaite made 36 appearances in all competitions for the Dutch giants, scoring four times in a season that would catapult him straight into Everton's first-team setup.

During his stint in the Netherlands, then PSV boss Ruud van Nistelrooy claimed that Branthwaite was "a very complete defender" and "great talent", with the youngster continuing his great form in the North-West of England throughout this campaign.

Jarrad Branthwaite's current market value

Since his first Premier League start of the season against Wolverhampton Wanderers back in August, the 21-year-old has started 20 league games in a row – highlighting his importance to the Toffees so far this season.

The defender, who earns £35k-per-week as per FBref, has been brilliant defensively this season, averaging two tackles per game and 1.6 interceptions per 90 – with the latter being the highest of anyone within the Everton squad.

His recent good form has sparked interest in the England U21 international, with clubs such as Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid admirers of the centre-back. However, any deal for the former Carlisle man would reportedly cost any of the interested parties at least £50m.

Not only does the £50m market value reflect a brilliant deal orchestrated by the Everton board in a period of poor dealings in the transfer market, but also a testament to the faith that Dyche has put in the "absolute monster" – as hailed by football scout Jacek Kulig. This is a move they truly struck gold with.

يعد ترينت ألكسندر أرنولد لاعب فريق ليفربول الإنجليزي، هدفًا لريال مدريد الإسباني، بحسب ما ذكرت تقارير الصحف.

وينتهي عقد أرنولد مع ليفربول بنهاية الموسم الجاري، والنادي لم يصل بعد لاتفاق لتمديد عقده، وفقًا للأنباء المتداولة.

وبينما يخطط ريال مدريد للمستقبل، فإنهم يرون ألكسندر أرنولد كبديل محتمل لداني كارفاخال، الذي تعرض لإصابة بقطع في الرباط الصليبي والتي أنهت موسمه.

ويُقال إن ريال مدريد يتطلع إلى الانقضاض على أرنولد وتأمين خدماته بمجرد فتح نافذة الانتقالات في يناير.

وتمثل فترة يناير الأشهر الستة الأخيرة من عقد أرنولد، مما يجعل من المسموح قانونًا للأندية خارج الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز بالتفاوض مباشرة مع اللاعب.

وفي خضم هذه التكهنات حول الانتقالات، عادت مقابلة قديمة من عام 2020 إلى الظهور، أعرب ألكسندر أرنولد خلالها عن إعجابه ببرشلونة، وكشف عن أنهم كانوا أحد فرقه المفضلة.

اقرأ أيضًا | ديشامب وتشواميني يوضحان حقيقة ضغوط ريال مدريد على مبابي

وقال في برنامج El Chiringuito (بحسب ما نشرت صحيفة ماركا): “أود أن أقول إن فريقي المفضل الآخر هو برشلونة”.

مضيفًا في ذلك الحين: “أشعر أن برشلونة لديه نفس القيم والمعتقدات مثل ليفربول، إنهم يحبون الاعتماد على لاعبيهم الشباب”.

وأكد: “نشأت وأنا أشاهد ميسي وفريق برشلونة الخاص مع إنييستا وتشافي وهنري وإيتو”.

على الرغم من ذلك، من المتوقع أن يكون ريال مدريد هو الأكثر تحركاً لضم أرنولد، حيث يعتبره عنصرًا أساسيًا في مستقبل فريقه.

With Manchester United working to appoint him as their sporting director, Dan Ashworth has been placed on gardening leave by Newcastle United. Ashworth is already believed to have agreed terms with the Red Devils and informed Newcastle of his intention to depart.

However, the Magpies could demand more than £20m in compensation before they let him go, a figure that Jim Ratcliffe and Co have thus far deemed excessive. As such, talks could well drag on for a while.

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If United do end up appointing Ashworth, then it could lead to renewed uncertainty around the future of manager Erik ten Hag. It's been reported that neither he nor Ratcliffe view the Dutchman as a viable "long-term" option for the club, which puts his position "under threat" heading into next season.

While the 13-time Premier League champions are currently enjoying a five-match winning streak across all competitions, they remain five points off the guaranteed Champions League qualification spots and exited this year's competition in the group stages.

It may be significant, then, that former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel will be available at the end of the season. It was confirmed earlier this week that Tuchel will leave Bayern Munich this summer even though he only took charge last March.

The German pipped former club Borussia Dortmund to the title last season but they find themselves eight points adrift of leaders Bayer Leverkusen this term having recently lost 3-0 to Xabi Alonso's side. They're also in danger of crashing out of the Champions League after a 1-0 round of 16 first-leg defeat to Lazio, and they were knocked out of the DFB-Pokal by third-tier Saarbrucken.

Man Utd role appeals to Tuchel

According to Sky Sport Germany's Florian Plettenberg, Tuchel is "definitely taking a look" at the possibility of taking over at Manchester United. He believes he has unfinished business in the Premier League and he can "imagine" coaching the club "someday".

Meanwhile, he also finds the prospect of taking over at Barcelona "interesting" ahead of the already-confirmed exit of Xavi. Significantly, he's "on the list" of candidates for the position at the Nou Camp.

Tuchel's mixed track record

Many United fans may rate Tuchel highly after watching him win the Champions League at Chelsea only a matter of months after taking over from Frank Lampard mid-season in 2020. Dubbed "sensational" by Emerson, one of his players, he then led the Blues to third place and two cup finals in 21/22, suffering a dramatic 5-4 quarterfinal defeat against Real Madrid in the defence of his European crown. However, he would be sacked just six games into the 2022/23 campaign, one of the swiftest exits in the competition's history.

Rank

Manager

Club

Season

Days

=1

Christian Gross

Spurs

98/99

21

=1

Ruud Gullit

Newcastle

99/00

21

=3

Howard Wilkinson

Leeds

96/97

23

=3

Graeme Souness

Blackburn

04/05

23

5

Gianluca Vialli

Chelsea

00/01

24

6

Scott Parker

Bournemouth

22/23

25

7

Javi Gracia

Watford

19/20

29

8

Frank de Boer

Crystal Palace

17/18

31

9

Thomas Tuchel

Chelsea

22/23

33

10

Graham Potter

Brighton

22/23

34

Previously, he'd lost his job at PSG, despite winning two league titles and taking them to a Champions League final, after falling out with sporting director Leonardo. It was a similar story at Dortmund, where his relationship with CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke became strained despite his triumph in the German Cup.

You could argue that Bayern are the only club justified in dismissing Tuchel for on-field reasons, but equally, it may be problematic that he has a track record of upsetting key members of a club's hierarchy.

Ferran Torres has joked that 16-year-old Spain wonderkid Lamine Yamal “should be banned” and that he’ll report the teenager to police after Euro 2024.

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Youngster rewriting the history booksConsidered to be hottest of prospectsLa Roja chasing down continental crownWHAT HAPPENED?

Yamal and Torres, who are club colleagues at Barcelona, are currently looking to lead their country to continental glory in Germany. Positive steps have been taken down that path, with La Roja the only side to make it into the last-16 with a 100 per cent record in the group stage.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT TORRES SAID

Yamal, who continues to break records at his first senior tournament, has been catching the eye, with Torres telling of his history-making team-mate: “He should be banned. What this kid is doing at 16 years of age!”

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Torres added on the reports that Spain could be fined for fielding Yamal in any game that goes beyond 11pm local time, with German labour laws preventing those under the age of 18 from working at such times: “I’ll report him to the police after 14 July. Let him help us win it first. I didn’t know that; I’m going to go and tell him now, wind him up: there’s a joke to be played here. Off the pitch, we spend all day, all together: there aren’t groups. I play darts. I learned in Manchester with Phil Foden and all that lot. I’m not bad, but not as good as them: they’ve been playing years; in the pub with the beer.”

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GettyDID YOU KNOW?

Spain are a happy camp at present, with Torres adding on collective desire to get over the line by any means possible: “I don’t watch a lot of football normally but at the Euros I am because they are opponents we could face. We watched Georgia against Portugal. We beat Georgia 7-1 and 3-1 in qualification but those results are a bit false and things change now. The group is finished. We can expect anything. And we’re going to take it game by game. If we get to the 90th minute against Georgia and we’ve won then OK. Now you just have to win, any way you can. God willing on 15 July everyone everywhere says we played like shit and won it.”

MatériaMais Notícias

O Santos recebeu uma proposta de US$ 3 milhões (cerca de R$ 16,5 milhões) do Vancouver Whitecaps, do Canadá, por 80% dos direitos do atacante Gabriel Pirani, uma das revelações do clube na temporada. No entanto, a negociação não deve evoluir. O clube canadense também fez proposta por Jean Pyerre, do Grêmio (US$ 6 milhões por 50% dos direitos).

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O LANCE/DIÁRIO DO PEIXE conversou com pessoas do clube e ligadas ao jogador. O Santos entende que o valor não é satisfatório, aposta na evolução do garoto e espera que ele continue por mais tempo no clube. Os representantes do jogador acreditam no desenvolvimento da Major League Soccer, mas também querem ver Pirani ganhar minutos e experiência no Santos. Existe a expectativa de que o atleta possa se valorizar no futuro.

A proposta apareceu em um momento delicado das conversas para a renovação de contrato com o clube. Gabriel Pirani tem contrato com o Santos até o final de 2022 e já estava conversando com a diretoria para a renovação. As duas partes caminhavam para um acordo, mas a negociação travou e foi “congelada”.

O Santos acredita que a divulgação dos valores do contrato do zagueiro Sabino tenha colaborado para a queda na temperatura das conversas. Com a rescisão do vínculo do defensor, o clube acredita ter provado não só para Pirani, mas como para outros atletas em negociação que a diretoria atual, de fato, adotou uma nova política para os contratos com atletas do clube.

Last month, Manchester City talisman Kevin De Bruyne returned from injury to produce a masterclass from midfield at St. James' Park, sinking Newcastle United in a fleeting but phenomenal performance.

This weekend, Mohamed Salah decided that he wanted the limelight, coming off the bench for Liverpool against Brentford to place a deft assist and send the hapless Nathan Collins into a haze of confusion as he weaved his way into space and trickled a shot into the goal.

The Egyptian King is back, and while a spate of injuries is threatening to hinder a thrilling campaign, the significance of the 31-year-old's return from injury cannot be understated.

Of course, it came at a price as the oh-so-impressive Diogo Jota picked up a knee injury in the first half.

Only time will tell if fears will be quelled, but Jurgen Klopp was not exactly optimistic in his grim-faced assessment after the 4-1 victory.

The latest on Diogo Jota's injury

Salah's successful return will have no doubt galvanised a squad seeking success across multiple fronts, but Jota has posted six goals and four assists since the new year and an extended period on the sidelines could be detrimental for the Reds as they chase down silverware.

Speaking about the player post-game, Klopp commented: "Diogo looks probably the worst; I didn’t see it back but I heard the pictures didn’t look great as well, so we have to see there."

The Portugal international has been sensational and while his clinical output surpasses most in the Premier League, he has been hailed as a “pressing monster” by assistant coach Pep Lijnders and charges the fluency in the Reds' attack.

He ranks among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals and the top 9% for aerial battles won per 90, as per FBref, so Liverpool do need a tried-and-tested goalscorer to take his place.

Salah might appear to be that man, and while the £350k-per-week ace is one of the game's most deadly offensive outlets, he will not quite replicate Jota's dynamism and fluidity across the frontline, instead dominating from the right flank as usual.

So, who could replace such a player? Well, while there are some promising youth prospects pressing for increased responsibility among the seniors, it's unlikely Klopp to hand any a starring role with so much on the line, but Jota's injury does mark a great opportunity for Cody Gakpo to take his nice performances this term and ascend to the next level.

Jota's perfect replacement at Liverpool

Gakpo capitalised on a catalogue of errors in the late phase of play at the Gtech Community Stadium to shift into space and fire into Mark Flekken's net, taking his tally to ten goals in all competitions this term.

The Netherlands star has been a good option for Klopp's side since completing a £35m transfer from PSV Eindhoven over one year ago, but he is used sporadically and has been downgraded on occasion for some ineffective showings.

Still, hailed for his "special skill set" by Lijnders, Gakpo's positional fluidity and awareness make for a great Jota alternative, with his first-rate finishing ability only furthering the case, having scored four goals from only ten starts in the top-flight, averaging 1.3 shots per fixture.

Gakpo has often been a victim of his own versatility this season and has found consistency hard to come by with the overall level of his displays, having completed five-plus appearances across four different roles.

Evidently, this is going to create a wave-like level of performance, finding himself requiring a shift in focus and understanding to properly slot into the tactical duty handed to him by Klopp.

To underline this point, Gakpo ranks among the top 16% of forwards for assists, pass completion and progressive carries, the top 5% for progressive passes, the top 20% for successful take-ons, the top 1% for tackles and the top 13% for interceptions per 90.

1.

Gabriel Jesus

Arsenal

2.

Antoine Griezmann

Atletico Madrid

3.

Matheus Cunha

Wolverhampton Wanderers

4.

Lautaro Martinez

Inter Milan

5.

Rodrygo

Real Madrid

Source: FBref

Gakpo is an excellent finisher and this is why his return is so impressive this year despite not often finding a result role from the outset, but his ball-playing skills and defensive application are what complete his skill set, making him such a singular tool for Klopp to wield.

He differs from Jota, sure, but no other player in Liverpool's squad can emulate the Portuguese sensation's style to the same degree as Gakpo, with legendary Dutch forward Robin van Persie agreeing with his claim.

The Premier League icon said of his compatriot: "He is not really an out-and-out striker. He can play as a No.10, he can play on the wing, or as a false striker, he can play in those four positions in front. He has a good physique, he is strong, fast, he can dribble. He is an all-round player."

The Liverpool gem is still only 24 and has plenty of room left for growth – while nothing is certain in football, it would not be ill-judged to muse that his brightest days have yet to arrive.

# Finishing

# Passing

# Dribbling

# Defensive contribution

Source: WhoScored

Considering the impact on Jota's knee, it's unlikely that he has done significant anterior cruciate ligament damage, but there's rightly cause for concern and a spell on the sidelines is likely forthcoming.

Liverpool have some delicious options across the frontline and while the world-class Salah is back, now is the chance for Gakpo to prove himself as an invaluable member of the squad.

This might sound like he's underperforming at present, but that is hardly the case. Gakpo has been a fine forward under Klopps' stewardship but there is simply more talent to eke out and he must now unleash the full scope of his powers on the pitch.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has reportedly made a decision over the future of a £300,000-a-week Manchester United player – one who has been hailed as "world-class".

Sir Jim Ratcliffe's influence growing

It's fair to say that Ratcliffe is a hugely popular figure at Old Trafford right now, with his 25% stake in the club approved last week, not to mention making an instant impact with key decisions.

One of those is trying to bring in Dan Ashworth from Newcastle United, making him United's new sporting director in the process, whereas exciting plans to 'regenerate' an area neighbouring MediaCity and Old Trafford have also been announced.

New signings are also being looked at, with the Red Devils being linked with plenty of players of late, including Juventus centre-back Gleison Bremer, who could look to move away this summer. Journalist Fabrizio Romano has also claimed that United are interested in signing exciting Benfica midfielder Joao Neves, scouting him a number of times, with Bayern Munich youngster Mathys Tel emerging as a target in recent days, too.

There will also be speculation over the futures of certain current players at Old Trafford, and a big update has now emerged regarding one such figure.

'Big' update on Marcus Rashford's Man Utd future

According to a new 'big' update from Football Insider, Ratcliffe wants Marcus Rashford to stay at Manchester United, despite being seen as a possible replacement for Kylian Mbappe at Paris Saint-Germain.

"New Man United minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS outfit are keen to keep Marcus Rashford at the club amid links with Paris Saint-Gerrmain, sources have told Football Insider. Widespread speculation linking the 26-year-old to the French champions has cropped up again with Kylian Mbappe set to exit the club in the off-season.

"It is believed INEOS are keen to keep him at United as their new regime gets into full swing. A well-placed source has told Football Insider that last season’s heroics from Rashford are fresh in the memories of club chiefs – who 'know what he can do' at his best."

Rashford is having a below-par season to date, with his body language often leaving a lot to be desired, and a tally of five goals in 24 appearances in the Premier League is a disappointing return. The £300,000-a-week ace is still a top player on his day, however, and at 26, there could still be plenty more to come from him.

Marcus Rashford's Man Utd stats

Total

Appearances

389

Goals

128

Assists

74

Luke Shaw has described him as "world-class" in the past, such is the level he is capable of playing at, and whether off-field issues are to blame for his slump, or even problems with Erik ten Hag, remains to be seen.

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The fact that Ratcliffe wants him to stay is a good thing, though, and it would be a shock if he didn't come out the other side of his current dip.

Aston Villa have been immense this campaign, as highlighted by their current fourth-place spot in the Premier League.

However, this week they suffered a disappointing 3-1 home defeat to Chelsea, which dumped them out of the FA Cup.

The midfield arguably lost them the tie, but there was a glimmer of quality towards the end of the game via one substitute, whom Unai Emery could look to fully unleash soon.

The rise of Jack Grealish

Having been at his boyhood club since the age of six, Jack Grealish made his Premier League debut for Villa away to Manchester City on 7 May, 2014, in what was just the start of him becoming a Villans legend.

The winger would go on to mainly take on the role of a substitute in the next two seasons, during a time when the club struggled on the field and eventually succumbed to relegation.

However, this is where Grealish developed into the player he is today, taking on the captain's armband and leading the club he supports to the Premier League in 2019.

Grealish contributed to 65 goals over 213 games for Villa, with his best campaign coming in the 2020/21 Premier League season, when he scored six times and registered ten assists. This earned him a move to Man City for £100m, which is the second-most expensive signing in Premier League history.

The 28-year-old has gone on to become a key player for Pep Guardiola's side, helping them win the treble last season while also becoming a regular for England.

Perhaps, Emery could have the biggest prospect since Grealish waiting in the wings…

Tim Iroegbunam's future at Villa

Despite being handed his first Premier League start in the 2021/22 season by Steven Gerrard and impressing, Tim Iroegbunam was sent on loan to QPR last season, where he took on a key role, playing 32 games and helping the side avoid relegation to League One.

This season, he has played 41 minutes under Emery, which has occurred in Villa's last two matches. The 6 foot midfielder can play as a number eight or as a defensive midfielder, and his stats from his time at the Hoops show what type of player he is.

Goals

0.08

Top 47%

Assists

0.00

Bottom 86%

Tackles won

1.74

Top 10%

Passes blocked

1.54

Top 6%

Carries into final third

1.62

Top 20%

The England gem played a handful of roles in the Championship, for a side that often spent long spells without the ball, which prevented most of his on-the-ball qualities from shining, but he still showed his ability to carry the ball with ease.

However, that did allow him to show his ability to hold his own, especially out of possession, as he ranked highly for tackles won and passes blocked, showing his reading of the game is superb.

It is no surprise that analyst and writer PGR described Iroengbunam as the "real deal," and his profile would be the perfect replacement for Douglas Luiz, who has been tipped with a move away from the club, with Arsenal being a potential destination.

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The likeness between the pair can be seen in their shared defensive prowess, with Luiz averaging 2.7 tackles and interceptions per game this season in the Premier League, while his young teammate averaged 2.8 for that same metric in the second tier in 2022/23.

Whether the Brazilian leaves in the summer or not, the youngster deserves a chance to shine.

Arsenal are reportedly looking to sign Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino with Mikel Arteta leading the charge personally.

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• Arsenal targeting Mikel Merino
• Arteta personally leading the charge
• Barcelona also targeting the midfielder

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Arsenal have been on the hunt for a new midfielder this summer and they are showing an interest in the highly-touted Spanish midfielder who has impressed over the last few seasons under Imanol Alguacil. As per Spanish outlet Sport, Arteta is personally making an effort to convince the midfielder to sign with the Gunners and also called the 28-year-old to convince him of Arsenal's 'big plans'.

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• (C)GettyImages
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Merino's current deal with La Real runs until the summer of 2025 and Arsenal believe they will be able to sign the midfielder for a reported fee of around €25 million (£21.4m/$26.8m). However, they will face some tough competition from Barcelona who are also looking for a similar profile as Arsenal as they look to rebuild under Hansi Flick.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Merino spent the 2017/18 season at Newcastle United and featured in 24 matches in the Premier League for the Magpies before his eventual move to Real Sociedad.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR MERINO?

  The Real Sociedad man has been selected by Luis de la Fuente in his Spanish national team squad for the Euros and has featured in both of their games as a substitute. He will likely only decide on his future after the conclusion of the tournament.

Fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Hasan Ali are out with dengue and back spasms respectively

Umar Farooq21-Sep-2019Batsman Iftikhar Ahmed, wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan, and spin-bowling allrounder Mohammad Nawaz have made comebacks to Pakistan’s ODI squad. The three of them were part of the first squad announced by Misbah-ul-Haq, Pakistan’s new coach and chief selector, ahead of the three-match series against Sri Lanka that is due to take place later this month in Karachi.Pakistan ODI squad

Sarfaraz Ahmed (capt & wk), Babar Azam, Abid Ali, Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Mohammad Hasnain, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Shadab Khan, Usman Khan Shinwari, Wahab Riaz

Fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Hasan Ali are forced absentees from the squad. Shaheen is out with dengue, while Hasan has been suffering from back spasms. Of the other members of Pakistan’s squad for the World Cup, their last international assignment, Mohammad Hafeez has been left out, and is currently playing for St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the Caribbean Premier League, while Shoaib Malik has retired.Iftikhar, who made the last of his three ODI appearances in November 2015, returns on the back of impressive displays in the Pakistan Cup 50-overs tournament, where he made back-to-back hundreds for Punjab. Nawaz made a pair of half-centuries in the same tournament, playing for Federal Areas.Misbah explained that Iftikhar’s List A batting record, and his ability to bowl a bit of offspin, made him an enticing pick in the post-Hafeez/Malik era.”Iftikhar has a 51 [51.65] average in List A, he has been a top performer in the last three to four seasons,” Misbah said. “He is, I think, our fifth bowler, and you can utilise him, his fitness is excellent. He is a mature player, he is a three-dimensional player, fielding-wise good, he can do bowling, he can bat, he has 91 strike rate and 51 average and that’s the reason we have brought him [into the squad]. Previously he was not coming into the team became of Hafeez and Shoaib, now he is in the team and he can bowl offspin too.”Mohammad Nawaz celebrates a wicket•Associated PressRizwan, meanwhile, was left out of the World Cup squad despite scoring two hundreds against Australia in an ODI series leading up to the tournament, when captain and regular keeper Sarfaraz Ahmed had been rested. He is now back, and possibly not just as back-up to Sarfaraz, with Misbah making a special mention of his batting skills.”Sarfaraz and Rizwan’s roles are different,” he said. “If someone has scored two hundreds at No. 4, you have a chance. You have the added advantage of having two wicketkeepers, fitness-wise he is very good, and he will be in the loop. We are trying to encourage such players and we will try to give them matches whenever we have a chance.”Responding to a question on Sarfaraz’s own form as batsman, and his place in the side, Misbah said: “Future is known to almighty only. Let’s give him a chance. Sarfaraz has worked a lot on his fitness. The biggest mistake was that Sarfaraz didn’t give himself a chance to prove [himself] as a batsman. If he gives 100% chance to himself, he is a player who can give you performances. Sarfaraz should not underestimate himself as a batsman.”Hafeez and Malik, Misbah said, were going to remain in contention for the T20I squad in the lead up to next year’s T20 World Cup in Australia.”Here we had a chance, one or two players [who] were not getting a chance, we should utilise [them],” he said. “Obviously we have a lot of opportunities before the World Cup, we have to go to Australia, we have to make a balanced team, and whosoever is effective we should consider the players.”Shoaib and Hafeez have performed well in the last ten T20s and we can’t ignore them, but this is the opportunity for other players to show their skills.”