Having already welcomed Lukas Nmecha and Jaka Bijol, Leeds United are now reportedly targeting a move to sign an alternative option to recent target Noah Sadiki.
What Leeds are planning next after Bijol
After splashing out to sign Bijol from Udinese, reports suggest that the 49ers are not done. Names such as Habib Diarra and Sadiki have found themselves on Leeds’ radar as of late and it looks as though adding another midfielder to Daniel Farke’s squad will be among the priorities in the coming months.
The Whites have even reportedly made an official offer worth as much as £24m to sign Diarra and could be closing in on their target sooner rather than later if reports are to be believed. Meanwhile, Sadkiki has also been the subject of a reported bid with the 49ers clearly ready to follow up the signing of Bijol by spending big again.
The Union St.Gilloise star would be another impressive signing and could partner Ao Tanaka at the heart of Farke’s side to form a midfield duo capable of achieving Premier League survival and more next season.
What may help their pursuit to sign Sadiki is the news that rivals Lyon have been relegated to Ligue 2 amid financial problems. Without a direct rival for the midfielder’s signature, those in the Midlands could have a simple route towards his arrival.
He'd be unstoppable with Tanaka: Leeds make offer to sign "complete" star
Leeds are looking to sign a new midfielder this summer
ByJoe Nuttall Jun 26, 2025
If that does not prove to be the case, however, then it could be another interesting midfield talent who arrives to offer those at Elland Road an instant boost.
Leeds targeting Mahdi Camara
According to Footen France, the 49ers and Leeds are now targeting a summer move to sign Mahdi Camara, who could arrive as an alternative to Sadkiki. The Stade Brest midfielder is reportedly available for as little as £13m this summer in what could quickly turn into a bargain deal in Yorkshire.
Minutes
3,584
2,659
Goals
5
5
Progressive Passes per 90
7.04
3.76
Ball Recoveries per 90
5.90
3.32
Whilst Camara struggled to match Tanaka in possession last season, the Frenchman did showcase his goalscoring ability from midfield in what could offer Farke an unexpected threat going forward.
Forming a midfield partnership capable of scoring 10 goals between them would certainly go a long way towards survival for those at Elland Road given how the Premier League has a history of blunting previously sharp Championship frontlines.
Mahdi Camara for Stade Brest.
What’s more, the fact that Camara is represented by the same agent as Sadiki may help any deal this summer. If the latter fails to complete a summer move to Elland Road, then it could be an easy transition to negotiate for Camara, who would be an excellent alternative option.
Everton are leaving Goodison Park this weekend; David Moyes will lead the Toffees out to play against Southampton on Sunday afternoon, and it will be the final time the Men’s team play competitively at their historic stadium.
It’s fitting that Moyes should have returned in January to steer Everton through the final months of his long chapter, but it’s also apt that he should lead the club into a new era on the Bramley-Moore Dock.
Having steered the struggling side away from the Premier League’s relegation zone, Moyes has been handed the keys to the transfer chest by new owners, The Friedkin Group, ahead of the summer window.
Everton manager DavidMoyesbefore the match
But before we look at who’s been earmarked as the 2024/25 campaign draws a close, let’s first look at the overload of first-team stars set to depart when their contracts expire at the end of the season.
The players Everton might retain
Everton are expecting an exodus. Many contracted players will not survive the drive to a new home. Some, however, have played excellent seasons and should be offered new deals.
Idrissa Gueye might be 35, but he’s definitely one of them after his brilliant season in the centre, anchoring Everton’s midfield. A few weeks ago, Football Insider published a report that he is in talks over an extension.
1.
Idrissa Gueye
Everton
125
2.
Daniel Munoz
Palace
115
3.
Noussair Mazraoui
Man Utd
109
4.
Moises Caicedo
Chelsea
107
5.
Joao Gomes
Wolves
105
Elderly right-backs Ashley Young and Seamus Coleman might not earn reprieves, and that’s probably for the best. However, Michael Keane’s performance at Fulham last weekend, as he scored in the 3-1 win, suggested there’s more in the tank from him.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Abdoulaye Doucoure, who earn a combined wage of £230k per week, may also leave.
Right-sided loanees Jack Harrison and Jesper Lindstrom have failed to cover themselves in glory this season, but Charly Alcaraz has shown much promise, with the Flamengo player’s permanent clause, worth £15m, sure to be activated.
Everton midfielder Charly Alcaraz
Alcaraz, 22, has ebbed and flowed since arriving in January, but his talent is unquestionable, with one goal and three assists from just six Premier League starts, and the Toffees could benefit from having his attacking talent in their squad once again when next season kicks off.
He’s been a dynamic addition to the midfield, and now Moyes is looking to bring in another to fuse excitingly with the Argentine prospect.
Moyes lining up former favourite
It’s important that Everton retain a few valuable signatures and that several more are relinquished to make way for new talent. Doucoure, 32, is Everton’s highest earner and is no longer justifying the wage.
That’s why Moyes is determined to replace the Malian with a former favourite in Tomas Soucek, an instrumental part of the Scotsman’s success at West Ham United but at odds in the new system, led by Graham Potter.
Tomas Soucek scores for West Ham
As per transfer insider Graeme Bailey, for The Boot Room, Soucek has been told he can leave the London Stadium. Despite the Irons’ struggles, the 30-year-old has enjoyed a strong season, and it’s felt a £20m bid would convince West Ham to sell, with Leeds United also keen.
The reporter claims that five Premier League teams have opened talks with the Czechia international, including the Toffees and Leeds, ahead of the summer transfer window.
Why Tomas Soucek would be a shrewd signing
With Alcaraz providing a degree of attacking relief from attacking midfield areas, typically central or tilted to the left, Soucek could be an excellent partner when making those bursts into the danger area from the centre.
Soucek isn’t the most creative midfielder on the block, but he’s effective at what he does: providing a physical presence and a consistent attacking threat. He’s been called a “machine” by former West Ham correspondent Tom Clark
West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek
This season, the Czech Republic international has scored nine goals across 33 Premier League appearances this season, also providing two assists.
As you can see from the table below, Soucek certainly knows how to score a goal, with his consistent prolificness across the five years spent in East London seeing him nestle into fifth place on the Hammers’ all-time midfield scoring charts.
1.
Martin Peters
355
98
2.
Sir Trevor Booking
514
81
3.
Mark Noble
550
62
4.
Billy Bonds
645
49
5.
Tomas Soucek
240
41
Though he’d add an attacking dimension to Everton’s set-up, Soucek has plenty more in his locker. As per Sofascore, the £90k-per-week midfielder has also averaged 5.2 duels won per game, denoting a combative and industrious approach.
But the goalscoring is and always will be his flashiest metric. FBref have recorded that he ranks among the top 3% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues this season for goals scored, the top 4% for touches in the box and the top 1% for aerial battles won per 90.
Tomas Soucek for West Ham
The 6 foot 3 star might not be the slickest on the ball, which is why Potter wants rid of him, but that hardly matters when Moyes is at the Everton helm. Especially so when his contrasting ability could weave against Alcaraz’s to create something balanced and layered behind the frontline.
Alcaraz’s impressive assist record this season has been created through a consistent focus on his playmaking, not just relying on his passing but also his ability to win back possession and start transitional sequences. He’s made six big chances in the Premier League, one per start, averaging 1.1 key passes per game.
It’s perhaps exciting that Alcaraz has yet to really get going, either, and with a pre-season behind him and Soucek added to the mix, this could be a real treat for Everton fans next season.
Soucek, after all, featured more prominently than any other player for West Ham across the span of Moyes’ reign, with the manager’s trust in the rangy veteran something that could help advance his tactical implementation at Bramley-Moore next season.
Evertonmanager David Moyes withEverton's CarlosAlcaraz
This truly is a signing that Everton need to see over the line. Soucek would help spark a new level of goalscoring quality for Everton while concurrently upholding Moyes’ strong defensive values.
He’s tried and tested in the tactician’s system, and could help Alcaraz come into his own by using his physicality to allow the former Southampton man to thrive in possession.
Amazing Delap alternative: Everton in the race for "phenomenal" £40m star
Everton are looking to sign a new striker for David Moyes this summer.
Tottenham Hotspur and their search for a new manager continues to take plenty of twists and turns, with a big-name now under discussion in N17 as chairman Daniel Levy plans for life without Ange Postecoglou.
Tottenham's reported candidates to replace Ange Postecoglou
Spurs are staring down the barrel of their worst domestic season in decades, and are just one game away from equalling their record number of league defeats in a single campaign since the Premier League’s inception.
Title-winning manager would love to join Tottenham with Daniel Levy "aware"
He’s apparently pretty keen.
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Liverpool host the Lilywhites at Anfield on Sunday, where Arne Slot’s side could officially be crowned champions of England, so Postecoglou can expect them to throw the kitchen sink at his vulnerable Spurs team during a difficult afternoon on Merseyside.
Liverpool (away)
April 27th
West Ham (away)
May 3rd
Crystal Palace (home)
May 10th
Aston Villa (away)
May 18th
Brighton (home)
May 25th
Meanwhile, in the background, uncertainty continues to surround Postecoglou and his long-term future.
Tottenham’s dismal domestic campaign could spell the end for him, even if they end up winning the Europa League and clinching their first major trophy since 2008 (The Telegraph).
Following 18 league defeats, with Postecoglou’s men sitting a lowly 16th in the table, it is widely believed Levy and co are already doing their due-diligence on potential replacements for the former Celtic boss.
Andoni Iraola (Bournemouth), Marco Silva (Fulham), Oliver Glasner (Crystal Palace), Thomas Frank (Brentford) and Scott Parker (Burnley) are all managers on Tottenham’s rumoured shortlist, while the likes of Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi and Borussia Dortmund’s Niko Kovač have been linked from further abroad.
Spurs are admirers of Inzaghi (Fabrizio Romano) and some contact has also been held with Kovac (Bild), while it is believed that former boss Mauricio Pochettino would love a return to Tottenham, and he’d be Levy’s personal first choice.
Tottenham hold internal talks over appointing Jürgen Klopp
More recently, a report from GiveMeSport has lifted the lid on Tottenham’s wish to be more ambitious in their chase for Postecoglou’s replacement.
As per their information, former Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp, who guided them to their first Premier League title in decades during his tenure in charge, as well as a Champions League triumph, is now being considered.
Red Bull's Global Head of Soccer JuergenKlopp
The German is currently Red Bull’s head of Global Soccer, earning around £192,000-per-week in his new role and contributing towards his £39 million net worth. Klopp will go down as one of the Premier League’s greatest ever coaches, and now Spurs are thinking about tempting him back to England.
GMS report that Tottenham have held internal talks over appointing Klopp, alongside other prestigious names, with the board determined to be “bold” and go after a proven winner.
The jury is out on whether he’d even consider leaving Red Bull so soon, and for one of Liverpool’s Premier League rivals, but there is little doubting he’d do an excellent job there based off his phenomenal CV working with fairly limited budgets.
“The reason why I give incredible credit with the five Premier Leagues we won is because we were battling with unbelievable football club like Liverpool,” said Pep Guardiola on Klopp.
“Incredible manager and his staff and incredible players. I will never forget these battles, never ever in my life. It’s an honour, for all my career everybody knows Klopp made me a better manager and Liverpool made me a better manager. There is no doubt about that.”
There is also a battle of wristspinners to look out for
Shashank Kishore and Danyal Rasool13-Sep-20251:12
Chopra: Varun and Kuldeep’s eight overs are key
The superstars face offWhen Shaheen Shah Afridi dismissed Shubman Gill with 100,000 people watching in Ahmedabad at the 2023 World Cup, he felt “you could’ve heard a fly buzzing, such was the silence.”Gill, now India’s all-format superstar, is touted to be a captain-in-waiting across formats, having slipped almost effortlessly into the role in Test cricket.Related
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After two difficult years battling back injuries, form slumps, and seeing T20I captaincy come and go, Afridi seems to have rediscovered the menace that once made him Pakistan’s most feared quick: the late in-swing, the skiddy pace, the ability to rip out top orders, like he famously did when Pakistan beat India at the 2021 T20 World Cup on these shores.The two, no strangers to stare downs or sharp words stretching back to their Under-19 World Cup days, will cross paths again on Sunday, for the first time in T20Is.The battle of the wristspinnersIn any other team, Kuldeep Yadav would be an all-format player. In India, though, he has had to make peace with being a white-ball specialist. His four-wicket haul against UAE, after spending the entire summer on the sidelines in England, may have been a neat little prelude.Kuldeep knows this stage well. No one can forget that ball to Babar Azam at the 2019 World Cup, bowling him through the gate and leaving even the late Shane Warne guffawing in admiration.Abrar Ahmed gives Shubman Gill a send-off at the Champions Trophy•Associated PressAlongside him is Varun Chakravarthy, whose career arc could fill a Tamil blockbuster. The ex-architect and film hopeful was dropped soon after India’s early exit at the 2021 T20 World Cup. He wondered if he would ever wear India colours again. But since the last T20 World Cup, which he didn’t even make, no bowler has taken more T20I wickets than Varun’s 32.Pakistan have their own mystery spinners. Sufiyan Muqeem, the left-arm wristspinner, came through the ‘A’ system, has been one of their brightest prospects and is the first Pakistani, at No. 10, in the above list. He is quicker through the air than Kuldeep, more in the mould of Noor Ahmad.Muqeem was instrumental in Pakistan’s win over India at the 2023 Emerging Asia Cup and now has a chance to do it on the big stage. He isn’t a regular yet, but one dazzling ball or spell, like Abrar Ahmed’s ripper that breached Gill’s defence at the Champions Trophy earlier this year, could change that.Varun-and-Kuldeep versus Muqeem-and-Abrar is a fascinating subplot.It will not be easy for Mohammad Haris to take on Jasprit Bumrah•Getty ImagesBumrah against Haris – facts or feelings?Mohammad Haris, like Sam Konstas, is not better at his craft than Jasprit Bumrah is at his. But the Australian rode his luck in an astonishing Test innings on debut against Bumrah, reverse-scooping him twice for a six and smashing 18 in the most expensive over of the fast bowler’s Test career and Haris could do something similar here in the T20 format.Like Konstas, Haris too will be facing Bumrah for the first time and, like Konstas, he too has a penchant for high-risk shot-making. In just his second T20I, Haris reinvigorated Pakistan’s flagging T20I World Cup campaign in 2022. He took on South Africa’s elite pace bowlers, smashing Kagiso Rabada for 17 in an 11-ball knock that produced 28.Scoring only 54 runs in 11 innings before Friday’s Asia Cup game against Oman demonstrates how that approach fails more often than not. However, Haris’ conventional technique is nowhere near good enough to take on a bowler of Bumrah’s quality. So expect him to try to lash, thrash, paddle and scoop his way to a cameo, because that is all Pakistan need from him, just like they did at the SCG three years ago. But if facts and logic have their way, it might not come off.Can Hasan Nawaz tackle elite spinners?•Associated PressHasan Nawaz vs India’s spin eliteHasan Nawaz has emerged as Pakistan’s bludgeon outside of the powerplay. Having tinkered around with his batting position, Pakistan have begun using him when the field spreads out, where his 2025 T20 strike of 174.09 is below only Dewald Brevis and Tim David’s.Notably though, Hasan’s strike rate drops down to 150 against spin, as opposed to 173.48 against pace. He takes on each kind of bowling – he has his 17 T20I sixes against each – so the quality of spin appears to be making a difference.Against Afghanistan in the recent tri-series, he scored 33 in as many balls across three innings, with Noor and Rashid Khan taking turns to dismiss him. India’s spin trio of Axar Patel, Varun and Kuldeep is very much in the same elite mould, and adept at asphyxiating an innings through those middle overs.We’re likely to see spin come on as soon as Hasan comes to the crease, and whether he can prove himself against that colossal challenge may be a hinge point for this contest.
ESPNcricinfo staff22-Aug-2025Newlands will host the opening match as well as the final of the SA20 2025-26. The tournament begins on December 26 with defending champions MI Cape Town taking on Durban’s Super Giants. The final will be played on January 25.The Qualifier 1 will take place in Durban on January 21, the Eliminator in Centurion on January 23, and the Qualifier 2 in Johannesburg the following day.”The SA20 season 4 is shaping up to be an incredibly exciting summer of cricket, kicking off on Boxing Day and running through the holiday period,” Graeme Smith, the league commissioner, said. “Last year Newlands sold out all five matches at the venue and with the final taking place on a Sunday, it sets up an incredible afternoon with great weather, entertainment and a lively atmosphere to crown our season 4 champions.Related
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“Durban will host a playoff for the first time. We are hoping this will excite the fans, especially because the two best teams of the competition will be playing in that Qualifier 1. We’re also excited to go back to Centurion and Wanderers on Thursday and Friday nights. It’s always key to have the venues close together because the matches are a day apart.”For now, the teams will be focused on the player auction scheduled for September 9, where they will finalise their 19-player squads.Sunrisers Eastern Cape won the first two editions of SA20, and were runners-up in the previous edition, where they fell short against MI Cape Town.
Are Chelsea outside challengers for the Premier League title this season?
Based on the weekend’s results, they are, as Enzo Maresca’s Blues comfortably got the better of Burnley 2-0 on the road to remain second spot in the early league standings, while Liverpool and Manchester City fell to unwanted defeats.
Maresca’s men managed to pick up that routine win, even with Moises Caicedo out of the starting lineup at Turf Moor, as Chelsea’s standout £115m midfielder was rested after a gruelling international break with Ecuador.
Thankfully, the defensive midfield partnership that did start in Lancashire in Enzo Fernandez and Andrey Santos rose to the occasion, with Santos stealing many of the plaudits at the full-time whistle, despite Fernandez’s late strike sealing all three points.
Santos' standout performance vs Burnley
Fernandez rightfully received plenty of praise at the final whistle, with the World Cup winner now up to 11 goals and ten assists in 2025 for the Blues as a forward-thinking midfield spark.
But, with Caicedo out of the starting XI, Chelsea also needed a talent prepared to dig deep and do the required defensive work that the South American does week in week out, with the 24-year-old averaging 5.2 ball recoveries and winning 5.4 duels per Premier League contest this season, away from also chipping in with three goals and an assist.
Thankfully, Santos stepped up into his role effortlessly against Scott Parker’s hosts, with two tackles won, seven duels won, and four ball recoveries amassed, showing off the 21-year-old’s full-blooded approach.
On top of that, Santos also ended the game with one big chance created from his 34 accurate passes, with analyst Raj Chohan even stating that he provides a “lot of value” to the team as a stellar stand-in option for the likes of Caicedo.
The promising number 17 will hope he can get more first-team minutes soon, away from being in the shadow of the ex-Brighton and Hove Albion man.
But, he isn’t the only midfield asset being directly compared to Caicedo now.
Chelsea's next Caicedo
It’s clear that Chelsea have great faith in the youngsters rising the ranks at Stamford Bridge currently, with Maresca prepared to start a whole plethora of exciting, young talents, away from just throwing Santos into the first-team spotlight.
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Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
Indeed, in attack, Estevao has been handed chances galore this season to impress, with a Premier League goal and assist coming the hotly tipped Brazilian’s way subsequently.
Moreover, Marc Guiu would gift Fernandez his goal at Turf Moor on a plate, with the 19-year-old now becoming a regular impact player off the bench. Could Dario Essugo be the next starlet to make a wild impression?
Already, the £18.5m summer purchase – despite only being 20 years of age – has shone in some challenging environments for two loan sides in Chaves and Las Palmas in Liga Portugal and La Liga respectively.
His attritional, yet polished displays, have even led to scout Jacek Kulig hailing the Portuguese enforcer as a “one-man army.”
Moreover, Kulig also boldly labelled Essugo as “one of the most exciting DMs in Europe” for his continued excellence with Las Palmas, even as they succumbed to relegation.
In the current Chelsea set-up, based on his numbers last season in that relegation-troubled camp, he would surely shine as bright as Caicedo has managed in West London.
Games played
18
27
Goals scored
0
1
Assists
0
0
Touches*
40.8
48.4
Accurate passes*
24.5 (85%)
30.0 (86%)
Tackles*
1.7
2.2
Ball recoveries*
4.2
4.4
Clearances*
1.7
1.6
Total duels won*
5.3
4.9
Looking at the table above, it’s clear that Essugo will be prepared to battle and tussle for Chelsea when first-team chances eventually arrive at his door, winning 4.9 duels per game last season in La Liga action, not a million miles off Caicedo’s 5.4 tally this campaign back in England.
Unfortunately, the only drawback for Essugo so far is that he is sidelined with a nasty injury at the moment, but he did shine briefly in Caicedo’s place against AC Milan in pre-season, with 100% of his ground duels won from just 17 minutes of action.
Thankfully, Maresca has Santos to fall back on in defensive midfield for the time being, if Caicedo continues to look fatigued.
But, do not rule out Essugo exploding onto the scene when he returns from the treatment room, with Chelsea’s midfield options full to the brim with quality.
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They have received plenty of criticism for it over the last couple of years, but Chelsea seem determined to continue building a team full of exciting young talents.
For example, the West Londoners added Jorrel Hato, Alejandro Garnacho, Jamie Gittens and Estevao to Enzo Maresca’s side this summer.
However, one player who is just that little bit older than them is Liam Delap, who, at 22, is arguably still a prospect, but at the same time, needs to start delivering on a more consistent basis.
If he does do that, there is also more than a passing chance he could establish himself as an England regular; if not, Cobham is already producing an incredible gem who could surpass him for club and country.
Delap's route into the England team
While Thomas Tuchel arguably has the strongest England squad for a very long time, a narrative that has been doing the rounds this international break is that, after Harry Kane, there aren’t many, if any, obvious strikers to take as backup for the World Cup.
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For example, Ivan Toney is still playing in the Saudi Pro-League, Ollie Watkins has just one goal and no assists in 16 games this season, and Dominic Solanke is still out injured.
In fact, the search for a backup number nine has been so desperate that there are now genuine conversations around recalling Danny Welbeck ahead of the summer, and while he deserves to be in the conversation, he’ll be 35 this month, so he is not a long-term option.
This, then, is how, even though he’s not had the best of starts this season, Delap could very realistically find himself on that plane to the World Cup next summer.
After all, even though he was playing for a really relatively poor Ipswich Town side last season, the former Manchester City prospect was still able to rack up a reasonable enough tally of 12 goals and two assists in 37 appearances.
So, if he can rediscover some form this year, there is surely a place in Tuchel’s squad with his name on it, but if not, one of Cobham’s most exciting prospects in a long time could eventually usurp him for club and country.
The Chelsea gem who could usurp Delap
Cobham have long produced Premier League-level youngsters who have gone on to star for Chelsea or other sides, and it looks like Shumaira Mheuka is the next one up.
The 18-year-old goalscoring machine began his footballing journey on the south coast with Brighton & Hove Albion, but made the move to Stamford Bridge in 2022.
In the two and a half years since, the youngster has gone from strength to strength and is without a doubt one of the most exciting up-and-coming centre-forwards in the country.
For example, even though he was just 16 at the start of last season, he ended the campaign with 11 goals and three assists in 30 appearances across the u18s and u21s.
However, while his exploits last year were impressive, what he has been able to do this year has been utterly remarkable.
Appearances
61
Goals
34
Assists
9
Goal Involvements per Match
0.70
So far, the teenage phenom, whom talent scout Jacek Kulig has dubbed “Cobham’s finest,” has scored 13 goals and provided three assists in 12 appearances for the youth sides, totalling 997 minutes.
In other words, he is currently averaging 1.33 goal involvements per game, or one every 62.31 minutes, which is frankly ridiculous.
If that wasn’t enough, the Birmingham-born monster is also doing the business for the national side, racking up a tally of 14 goals and three assists in 20 appearances for the u19s.
With numbers and performances such as these, it’s easy to see why Kulig described the youngster as “the future of Chelsea and English football.”
Ultimately, if Delap doesn’t start performing for Chelsea soon, there is every chance he could be replaced by Mheuka, who could also soon make his way into Tuchel’s plans.
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With the PSL clashing with the IPL, partial player availability was not a concern for the first time
Danyal Rasool13-Jan-2025The PSL moved into the IPL window this year, to improve the quality and availability of overseas players they’d be able to sign. On that count, the calculated risk they took appears to have paid off, with the roster for the tenth edition of the PSL including the widest array of high-profile overseas players they have managed in the post-covid era.David Warner, Daryl Mitchell, Jason Holder, Rassie van der Dussen and Kane Williamson were among the biggest names the PSL signed up at the draft this year, held at the sprawling Hazuri Bagh at Lahore Fort. While the ceremony itself was a stuttering, protracted affair, which, from start to finish, lasted a whopping seven hours, the cack-handed packaging should not detract from what may be a very decent product after all.For the first time, partial player availability, so often a hindrance during earlier editions, was not a concern. The only other cricket during the time the PSL will be played – between early April and late May – is IPL 2025. The IPL auction has concluded, and any players left over are definitively available, effectively meaning every player in the draft had communicated their complete willingness to participate in the PSL in full.Related
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English players want NOC clarity after signing PSL deals
PSL set for IPL clash after move to April-May window
The decision did not come without trade-offs; Rashid Khan, for example, signed a three-year contract with Lahore Qalandars in 2023, but will instead be at the IPL. But players from Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, so often unavailable because the PSL’s traditional February-March window clashed with their home international season, were signed in droves.New Zealanders, in particular were popular; more than half of the platinum picks at the draft were Kiwis: Finn Allen, Mitchell, Adam Milne, Michael Bracewell, and Mark Chapman were all picked in the highest category, with all of them first-time PSL participants. They were topped up in the supplementary pick with Williamson and Kyle Jamieson, also first-timers.Salman Agha, Shadab Khan and Babar Azam share a light moment on the sidelines of the PSL draft•PSLOver the years, it has been overseas power-hitting the PSL has relished, each franchise comfortable that there was enough domestic fast bowling to go around without being spread too thin. That changed this time: Milne, Sean Abbott, Jamieson, Nahid Rana, Holder, Corbin Bosch, Alzarri Joseph and Josh Little were among the overseas quicks snapped up.That may partially be explained by the availability of players who might otherwise not been options for the PSL, but perhaps also hints at the waning confidence in local fast bowling talent among the franchises.There were departures and farewells for players who have become synonymous with a particular franchise. Faheem Ashraf left Islamabad United having been a one-franchise player until now, winning three titles. If there was a general indication his star was waning, Quetta Gladiators clearly thought otherwise; they used their wildcard on him to pick him in the Platinum category, rather than the Silver he had been assigned.There was movement out of the Gladiators, too. Sarfaraz Ahmed, their captain for the first eight seasons and player for each of the last nine, was not part of the draft; Gladiators owner Nadeem Omar said he would be involved with the franchise in a “new role”.Mohammad Hasnain, meanwhile, also leaves the Gladiators to link up with Multan Sultans. Poignantly, Ihsanullah, Sultans’ quickest bowler until 2023, was left unpicked after an independent review found the PCB’s botched handling of an elbow injury had done him significant harm. Sultans’ owner Ali Tareen said last week medical consensus was he would never hit those speeds again.Meanwhile, there was a splitting up of one family. Last year, Naseem Shah and both of his younger brothers, Hunain and Ubaid, played for United; Hunain went on to hit the winning runs. This time, Sultans plumped for the youngest, with Ubaid leaving the defending champions to join the 2021 winners.Last year, the PCB told ESPNcricinfo was to co-exist with the IPL rather than compete with it. The PSL draft this time around may have wanted organisation and production quality, but did offer a little glimpse into what that might look like once April rolls around.
Sophie Devine made key breakthroughs in the chase•ECB via Getty Images
Southern Brave made it two from two in this year’s competition, as Sophie Devine starred in a 15-run victory over Birmingham Phoenix in front of a record crowd at Utilita Bowl.A crowd of 11,167 turned out in the Hampshire sunshine to see the home side prevail in a game which see-sawed throughout but was ultimately decided by the regular wickets Brave took throughout the Phoenix run chase.Both teams came into today’s game off the back of strong opening wins, with Phoenix winning the toss and opting to field. Danni Wyatt-Hodge’s 59 from 39 balls was the foundation for the Brave’s total of 139, ably supported by Laura Wolvaardt (28) and Devine (27).After a good start from Brave, Phoenix came back into the first innings, restraining the home side in the last 25 balls. At one stage, a big score was on the cards but, led by Megan Schutt (2 for 23 from 20 balls) and then Em Arlott (2 for 19 from 20 balls) at the death, Brave faltered to 139 with only 19 coming from the last 15 balls.Southern Brave took the early wickers of Emma Lamb and Georgia Voll, both of whom had done well in the Phoenix’s first game. Ellyse Perry and Amy Jones then steadied the ship and looked comfortable in their efforts to knock off the total.When Jones was out for 20, Sterre Kalis took over the charge to the finish, with Phoenix needing 45 from the final 30 balls. However, when Perry was caught well in the deep by Mady Villiers for 26 from 21 balls, Kalis accelerated but ultimately ran out of support, and Phoenix were bowled out with two balls to spare, 15 short.The Brave bowling performance was headlined by Lauren Bell taking 3 for 17 from 19 balls, with Devine’s 2 for 28 and Tilly Corteen-Coleman’s 2 for 16 also doing damage.With her 27 runs, two wickets and a run out, Devine, the Meerkat Match Hero said: “I’m really pleased about the result. Danni (Wyatt-Hodge) was outstanding. The way she set up the game, it was trickier than she made it look. It was a great game for us and nice to do it in front of the home crowd.”It is always nice to perform against teams you have previously played for. Every game is on the line and you have to be good. We have to keep sharp and keep learning. I have not played a lot of cricket over the last few months and was probably swinging like a rusty gate. I’ve played enough cricket to know that it will come. When you have someone like her (Wyatt-Hodge), it makes easier. If I can contribute in any way, that is what I am here for.”
If there was any anxiety about India’s performance this home season, the first day’s play went some way to allaying them. Weakened they might be with the retirements of three legends, wounded they might be after losing the last series here 0-3, there is still plenty of fire. West Indies came under it and couldn’t really muster up a response. After choosing to bat, they were bowled out for 162 with time to spare for the tea break. At stumps, they were clinging on to a lead of 41.Mohammed Siraj picked up where he left off after his Iron Man efforts in England. He focused on pitching the ball up. He targeted the top of the stumps. He didn’t give the batter any easy reprieves and that was enough for him to pick up four of the first five wickets to fall. He thought he had a fifth – which would’ve been a landmark moment because he doesn’t have a five-for at home – but DRS took it away. Jasprit Bumrah, his new-ball partner, offered him a pat on the back when replays showed the lbw shout against Justin Greaves being struck down but didn’t seem to be so sympathetic when he started ripping out the tail with his yorkers. Eventually Siraj had to settle for figures of 4 for 40.A comfortable day’s play offered opportunity for India to make further gains, particularly their new man at No. 3. But Sai Sudharsan’s dismissal for 7 off 19 only served as a reminder that this team is still transitioning and that without Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, R Aswhin and Rishabh Pant, who is only injured, there are vulnerabilities. KL Rahul papered over them with a no-nonsense half-century. It feels like he knows how to match his output with his ability now. Something West Indies are struggling with.Their XI has nine centuries in it. Two of their top three have yet to contribute to that count. The other one has a double, but he was coming back to international cricket after a 20-month break. Tagenarine Chanderpaul would be sorely disappointed with his return – out for a duck, caught down the leg side. But there were others who had reasons to feel more guilty. Brandon King left a straight ball to knock down his middle stump.KL Rahul led India’s reply with a composed half-century•AFP/Getty Images
Alick Athanaze looked steady, especially after he got through a nervous first few deliveries where it seemed like he was too keen to feel bat on ball. The West Indian No. 3 was just starting to gain confidence in his defence when Siraj decided to prey on his inexperience. He had seen the batter settling in nicely and decided to tease him with a fuller delivery. Had the length been shorter, Athanaze might have been more circumspect with his shot. The fact that it was pitched up had his juices flowing. He went for a big booming drive and was caught at slip.Roston Chase and Shai Hope offered some resistance. Theirs was the longest partnership of the innings – 70 balls – and it pushed India to produce the two best balls of the day. Kuldeep Yadav, who had spent a five-match tour of England on the sidelines, struck with his eighth delivery back, creating gap between Hope’s bat and pad with his drift and surging through it with his dip and turn. It is ridiculous how often wristspinners make the stumps look like an easy target.Chase was the victim of Siraj’s a wobble-seam variation, although the real genius of the wicket lay in the steep angle that the fast bowler created into the right-hander. The West Indies captain was suckered into closing the face of his bat so early that he was caught by the wicketkeeper off the leading edge.India’s bowling wasn’t at its threatening best – there were seven fours in the first 10 overs – but they were better at the basics than their opposition. Bumrah did have one bit of the spectacular in him. At the Asia Cup, he was partly bowling his team to victory and partly testing his fitness out for these Test matches. Early indications were that his rhythm is on point. He spotted Greaves’ tendency to bat with a huge backlift, which also curved to the off side, and knew it would be vulnerable to his yorker and it proved so the very first time he tried.Bumrah now has 50 Test wickets in India and he got there in record time, a full 521 balls quicker than the previous mark set by Mohammed Shami.