Tickets for the Guwahati semi-final are priced at INR 100 while those for the Navi Mumbai game are priced at INR 150
ESPNcricinfo staff11-Oct-2025The sale of tickets for the semi-finals of the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 will start from 6pm IST on October 11, the ICC has announced. Google Pay users have an exclusive two-day pre-sale window before the general sale goes live at 7pm IST on October 13.The release stated that tickets are available for the first semi-final on September 29 in Guwahati. The first semi-final will be played at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo if Pakistan qualify. In that case, there will be a 100% refund for fans who had booked tickets in Guwahati. The chances of Pakistan’s qualification are slim with them losing each of their first three games, including one against Bangladesh.The tickets for the first semi-final are priced at INR 100 while those for the second semi-final at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai are priced at INR 150. The Navi Mumbai stadium has attracted big crowds for women’s games in the recent past.Tickets for the India vs Australia match in Visakhapatnam on October 12 and for the India vs England game on October 19 in Indore have already been sold out. Tickets for India vs New Zealand on October 23 and India vs Bangladesh on October 26 are close to being sold out as well.The tournament opener had seen 22,843 spectators, the highest for a league stage game for any ICC women’s competition. The previous record was an attendance of 15,935 in Dubai for the India vs Pakistan match at the Women’s T20 World Cup last year.
Celtic are spending the international break hunting for a new manager and have now found their number one candidate, someone who already has internal approval at Parkhead.
Brendan Rodgers’ departure from the Scottish Premiership champions last month provoked plenty of drama as the Bhoys languished eight points behind Heart of Midlothian in the table.
However, Martin O’Neill has steadied the ship with three victories from four matches since taking interim charge, the highlight being a 3-1 triumph over Rangers to reach the Premier Sports Cup final.
At 73 years of age, the former Aston Villa boss has been linked with an extended stay in Glasgow, and few would argue that he isn’t deserving of a run until the end of the season.
Conversely, O’Neill admitted that he will simply be at the club for as long as he is required, maintaining that he will be informed of developments concerning the Hoops’ manager search at some point during the international break.
He said after the Bhoys defeated Kilmarnock on Sunday: “I have to go back down to London again, I’m going to go into a darkened room and come out on Thursday and say, ‘has this really happened. So I should imagine at some stage or another during the course of the next week, whether it be tomorrow, whether it be Saturday or Sunday of next week, that somebody will let me know what’s happening.”
Despite the brief club football pause, Celtic supporters will be desperate to know of latest developments from Parkhead, and they may now be ready to move for a successor to O’Neill.
Columbus Crew manager Wilfried Nancy is Celtic frontrunner
According to The Scottish Sun, Columbus Crew manager Wilfried Nancy is the shock frontrunner to take over at Celtic after the Major League Soccer outfit bowed out at the playoff stage of the competition against Cincinnati.
His strongest rival for the post is Bodo/Glimt boss Kjetil Knutsen. However, Nancy’s assistant Kwame Ampadu is a close friend of Hoops recruitment chief Paul Tisdale, and the latter even managed his son Ethan (now of Leeds United), providing Nancy with the backing in the boardroom.
Wilfried Nancy’s managerial record
Columbus Crew – MLS Cup winners (2023), Leagues Cup winners (2024)
Matches – 132 Wins – 71 Draws – 32 Losses – 33
CF Montreal – Canadian Championship winners (2021)
Matches – 79 Wins – 38 Draws – 16 Losses – 25
Ampadu Sr is said to be almost certain to go to Celtic with Nancy, who is known for his firebrand 3-4-2-1 formation which launches attacks from everywhere and has earned comparisons to Ange Postecoglou during the Bhoys’ managerial search.
Of course, there is still plenty of work to be done before a new successor is appointed, and O’Neill will hold talks with the club hierarchy in the coming days to ascertain whether he will stay on for an extended period in charge.
Celtic could sign a Premier League winner in January for £500k
Either way, there are exciting days ahead for Celtic supporters that could culminate in a permanent hire being made after a lengthy search.
NZ’s openers Conway and Young surpassed Zimbabwe’s total of 125 on their own
Firdose Moonda07-Aug-2025Matt Henry’s sixth Test five-for eclipsed Brendan Taylor’s international comeback, and entrenched questions over Zimbabwe’s batting in the longest format. Zimbabwe were bowled out for their lowest total in nine innings, and second-lowest since 2023, with Taylor’s 44 and Tafadzwa Tsiga’s 33 the only individual scores over 11. That Taylor and Tsiga never batted together further underlines the issue, as Zimbabwe mustered a best partnership of only 29 on a surface where they chose to bat first.There was some early movement but with less bounce on offer than last week, and the quality of New Zealand’s seamers shone through. Henry led the attack, but debutants Zakary Foulkes, Jacob Duffy and Matthew Fisher were also impressive. They varied lengths well, and bowled tight lines to a plan to give New Zealand’s line-up the best of the batting conditions.In response, Devon Conway and Will Young put on New Zealand’s third-highest opening partnership against Zimbabwe, and New Zealand’s first opening stand of over 150 in almost three years. It was their fourth century stand together, and first for the opening wicket. Though separated late in the day, Conway and Young put New Zealand ahead, and memories of Taylor’s slog earlier in the day already far from mind.Related
Brendan Taylor grateful for second chance with Zimbabwe
Taylor was called into action immediately on his comeback after a three-and-a-half-year ban when he was elevated to open the batting – something he had only done six times before – in place of Ben Curran. The reason for that became obvious as Taylor looked, by a distance, the most aware of his off stump, left well, and defended solidly.With all those qualities on display in the morning, he will be livid with the manner of his dismissal shortly after lunch. Taylor became Henry’s third wicket when he popped a tame catch to stand-in captain Mitchell Santner at extra cover to end a two-hour-and-23 minute stay at the crease.By then, Zimbabwe were in all sorts of trouble. They had already lost the rest of their top order thanks to poor shot selection in the face of excellent bowling. Brian Bennett, who partnered Taylor, was out as early as the ninth ball when he chased a delivery that shaped away and edged Henry to second slip, and will have to address his technique going forward.Brendan Taylor scored 44 on his return to Test cricket•Zimbabwe CricketHenry should have had Nick Welch off the next ball when he edged a good-length delivery. But Will Young, who took the catch that dismissed Bennett, could not hold on. Welch was beaten on the outside edge at least twice more by Henry, who then beat his inside edge and had him out lbw.Zimbabwe would have hoped an experienced middle order would stabilise them, but Sean Williams and Craig Ervine went cheaply. Williams was worked over by Foulkes, who moved the ball away late, and edged to third slip, where Young took a diving catch to his right. Then, on the stroke of lunch, Ervine reached for a full, wide ball, and handed Young a third catch. Zimbabwe went to the break on 67 for 4, with Taylor on 33 and well set. His shot of the session was an upper cut off Duffy that was struck powerfully and placed well.The same could not be said of the shot Taylor played in the afternoon, when Henry bowled on a good length outside off, and Taylor tried to drive off the back foot but chipped the ball to Santner. At the start of the next over, Foulkes set a leg-side trap for Sikandar Raza, and banged it in short and Raza walked straight in. He moved to the off side, and guided the ball into Rachin Ravindra’s hands. That was the third time in as many innings in this series that Raza was dismissed by the short ball.Foulkes had Trevor Gwandu lbw three balls later, and Zimbabwe had crashed to 83 for 7. The end of the innings was only a matter of time. Henry picked up his fourth when Vincent Masekesa played down the wrong line and the ball hit the top of off stump, and his fifth when Blessing Muzarabani backed away and was bowled. Foulkes also chased a fifth, but Tsiga and Tanaka Chivanga resisted with a 25-run last wicket-stand.Will Young remains without a century one inning into his 22nd Test•Zimbabwe CricketTsiga played a couple of well-timed shots through deep third and midwicket, and offered a rare glimmer of hope for Zimbabwe’s batting. But he ran out of partners when Chivanga failed to use his feet and drove Fisher to mid-off to give him a wicket on debut. Zimbabwe were bowled out inside 49 overs.In response, New Zealand raced to 57 without loss after ten overs, and 40 of their runs came in boundaries. Conway got hold of fuller deliveries from Chivanga, while Young, who was struck on the glove, took on Muzarabani’s short ball. Zimbabwe’s new-ball pair then adjusted their lengths, but when Muzarabani and Chivanga went full, it was too full, and Conway cashed in. Chivanga’s fourth over cost 14 runs as Young cut him twice and then edged a back-of-a-length ball over the slips to bring up New Zealand’s fifty.Gwandu’s introduction quietened things down, but only a touch, as New Zealand accumulated with ease. Chivanga changed ends, and it was off him that Young brought up his 11th Test fifty and New Zealand’s hundred with a flick through midwicket.Zimbabwe’s best chance came shortly after the day’s final drinks break when Muzarabani drew Conway’s edge, but the chance died on Ervine at slip. Muzarabani also found the inside edge, but the ball raced away for four. Conway rode his luck, and then brought up his 13th Test fifty. New Zealand were in the lead with 14.4 overs left to play on the opening day.They were 33 runs ahead when Masekesa thought he had the breakthrough. He hit Conway, on 72, in front of middle and leg, and appealed for lbw but it was turned down. Zimbabwe finally had some joy when Young tried to pull Gwandu but chopped on. Young remains without a century one inning into his 22nd Test. Conway finished the day on 79* alongside nightwatcher Duffy.
SEATTLE — The most dangerous hitter in the Detroit Tigers lineup has never hit 30 homers, driven in 70 runs or made an All-Star team. Injuries and left-handed pitchers have kept Kerry Carpenter from elite statistical thresholds and acclaim. But don’t do what the Seattle Mariners did in Game 1 of the ALDS: overlook him.
Carpenter is a career .507 slugger who mashes high fastballs. This year he slugged .571 against high fastballs (at least 33 inches off the ground), the 12th best mark among hitters who saw at least 350 such heaters—ahead of Shohei Ohtani, Jose Ramirez and Cal Raleigh.
“One thing about Carp,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said, “is he can be streaky. But no matter what, he’s looking to get off his A swing. Even if it’s two strikes, he can do damage. And that’s why he is so dangerous.”
The Mariners did not respect the danger ever present in Carpenter’s bat, and that is why they suffered a brutally painful 3–2 loss Saturday. They burned their closer for six outs and still lost, knowing they are staring at seeing the best pitcher on the planet, Tarik Skubal, two of the next four possible games, including Game 2 Sunday. Ouch.
Yes, a 73-mph, 15-hop single from Zach McKinstry plated the winning run in the 11th inning, a run set up by two egregious mistakes by Seattle reliever Carlos Vargas at such a juncture: a leadoff walk and a wild pitch.
But it was one swing by Carpenter that changed everything, a swing that should never have been permitted by the Mariners. Seattle manager Dan Wilson, running his first postseason game, held a 1–0 lead in the fifth with one on, two outs and first base open with George Kirby on the mound. Wilson had his best lefty, Gabe Speier, up in the pen with Carpenter due to bat with another lefty, Riley Greene, behind him.
Wilson sent pitching coach Pete Woodworth to the mound for a conversation with Kirby.
“Yes, in the back of my mind I thought they weren’t going to pitch to me,” Carpenter said, adding with a laugh, “Maybe my first two at-bats convinced them.”
Hinch had set a trap for Wilson by batting Greene and Carpenter back-to-back. By showing he will pitch-hit for either one with lefty masher Jahmai Jones, Hinch puts the onus on the other manager early in a game. No matter what option you choose, Hinch will have the platoon advantage.
Wilson chose to have Kirby pitch to Carpenter, even though Carpenter had four home runs in 10 at-bats against Kirby. Even though Carpenter is a high fastball hitter.
“Yeah. It’s a tough one,” Wilson said, “and you do the best you can and try to take the information that you have and what you’re seeing. And we thought George continued to throw the ball pretty well there and still had pretty good stuff and a lot left in the tank, and he had been in a couple of tough spots earlier, but really pitched out of it well.”
Kirby, a high-fastball pitcher, has the stuff to better attack Greene, not Carpenter.
“With Carpenter,” Wilson said, “you're trying to keep it down in the zone or trying to get him to chase up in the zone.”
Said Carpenter: “I always feel like the more I face people, the more opportunity I have to have success. And so yeah, I was hoping to get another opportunity off him.”
Mariners pitcher George Kirby has struggled mightily against Tigers slugger Kerry Carpenter. / Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images
Kirby opened with a slider in the zone that Carpenter fouled. The next pitch was an elevated sinker that was inside but was mistakenly called a strike.
“That ball called a strike probably changed the at-bat,” Carpenter said.
Now the count was 0-and-2. Carpenter had one homer all year after falling behind 0-and-2. It was easy now for Wilson and Kirby to throw caution aside and think they could finish him off.
Kirby missed with a sinker in. He decided to throw a third straight fastball. This one headed straight to Carpenter’s power zone: elevated over the plate. Carpenter crushed it harder than any home run he’s ever hit in his life: 112.5 mph.
He has hit only two home runs at 110 mph or harder, both in the postseason: one off Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase last season (110.8) and this one off Kirby (112.5), his fifth home run in 11 at-bats against the righthander.
“That’s what Carp does in the postseason,” McKinstry said. Carpenter has a postseason slash line of .294/.385/.500.
You simply cannot lose a lead by letting Kirby throw another elevated fastball to Carpenter. You knew that going into the game.
Carpenter typifies what the Tigers are about. Other than Skubal, they are low on star power. They strike out way too much. In Game 1 they became only the fifth team to win a postseason game with 16 strikeouts over 11 innings or less. They went 2-for-18 with runners on base, with eight of those at-bats ending with strikeouts. Empty at-bats galore.
And yet they won the game on swings from Carpenter and McKinstry. They used eight pitchers, the last of whom, Keider Montero, secured a save for the first time since pitching for the while playing Little League ball in Venezuela.
“I don’t pay attention to the name on the back,” Montero said after dispatching Randy Arozarena, Cal Raleigh and Josh Naylor for the save. “No matter when I pitch, I attack.”
Detroit, with all the strikeouts in its lineup and not enough whiffs in its bullpen, somehow is the best team in baseball at winning one-run games (23–12).
The Tigers became the first team to lose five straight series entering the postseason and advance. The wild-card Game 3 win restored their confidence. The dread of blowing a 15.5-game lead to Cleveland and the potential of being sent home by Cleveland has been replaced with the swagger they had in the first half after eliminating the Guardians. Their airways are fully open again. The Tigers are dangerous again, and not just on the days Skubal pitches.
India’s batting hero spoke about the challenges she has been through during the World Cup
Sruthi Ravindranath31-Oct-2025
Emotional Jemimah Rodrigues waves at the crowd after her sensational innings•Getty Images
Jemimah Rodrigues revealed the mental battle she faced in the weeks leading up to her match-winning unbeaten 127 against Australia in the World Cup semi-final, describing a period of anxiety that left her feeling “numb” and brought her to tears. Rodrigues broke down during the post-match press conference, saying she hoped sharing her experience could help others facing similar struggles.”I will be very vulnerable here because I know if someone is watching, this might be going through the same thing and that’s my whole purpose of saying it. Nobody likes to talk about their weakness. I was going through a lot of anxiety at the starting of the tournament,” she said, pausing to hold back tears.”It was a lot, you know, before few games also, I used to call my mom and cry the entire time, let it all out. Because when you are going through anxiety, you just feel numb. You don’t know what to do. You are trying to be yourself. And also in this time, my mum, my dad, they supported me a lot. And also there was Arundhati [Reddy], who I think almost every day I have cried in front of her.Related
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Rodrigues completes her redemption arc as the silence turns to roars
The greatest chase: how India kept their cool amid the drama
“Later I was joking, saying ‘you don’t come in front of me, I will start crying.’ But she checked on me every single day. There was Smriti [Mandhana], who helped me. She also knew what I was going through. Few of the net sessions, she was just standing there. Even yesterday she came, she just stood there, just because he just knows that her presence is important for me.”There has been Radha [Yadav], who has, always been there, taking care of me. I am so blessed to have friends, I can call family, that I didn’t have to go through it alone. And it’s okay to ask for help.”Rodrigues had entered the semi-final on the back of a 76 not out against New Zealand, but her tournament began with a few low scores, including two ducks. She had also been dropped for the match against England as India opted for an extra bowler, a bold call given Rodrigues’ status as one of India’s top batters. She said it was difficult to stay patient, but she chose to hang in and trust that her moment would come.”My family went through a lot, but everyone stood by me, and believed in me when I didn’t, when I couldn’t,” she said. “And it started with the anxiety thing. Then I was dropped from the team [for the match against England]. That really hit me.”When you are dropped, you have a lot of doubts because I always want to contribute to the team. But that day, I couldn’t do much sitting out. And then, when you come back in, it’s a lot more pressure, than everything that was happening in the past month.’I am very grateful for the people who believed in me when I couldn’t, and were there for me and understood me because I couldn’t do this on my own’•ICC/Getty Images
“But sometimes all you need to do is, just hang in there and, things fall into place. So, I am very grateful for the people who believed in me when I couldn’t, and were there for me and understood me because I couldn’t do this on my own.”During India’s chase of 339, Rodrigues was at the crease for nearly the entirety of the innings after entering at No. 3 in the second over. She remained unbeaten on 127 off 134 balls, guiding India to victory with five wickets in hand and nine balls to spare. Her innings, however, included a reprieve when she was dropped by Alyssa Healy on 82. Asked how she would rate her innings, Rodrigues reflected on her mindset.”I mean, how do I rate this innings? Actually, I have not let it sink in,” she said. “All I would say was I didn’t play for my 100. I didn’t play to prove a point at No. 3. I didn’t play for my 50. I just played to make sure India win. I wanted to see India win at the end and that was my only motivation.”I think when you have that thought process, I think God also favours you. You do it for the team, you don’t do it for yourself. And I think I have always played my cricket that way. I’m short of words actually.”Rodrigues also revealed that during a team discussion on the eve of the match, she had expressed a clear goal for the game.”We were just saying what all we could do better in this World Cup and all I said was that I want to be there till the end and finish the game. Whether we are batting first, I know if I am there, I can make a partnership. And get those 20-30 runs extra because I run well, pick gaps, unusual gaps.”And the second thing was if we are chasing, then I want to make sure I take the team through. And this just feels like a dream actually. It just felt like everything was such a set up. Because the last month wasn’t the easiest, but it just felt like a set up for this moment.”
West Indies head coach Daren Sammy explains the recalls of Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Alick Athanaze, saying they expect the two to excel in spin-friendly Indian conditions
Vishal Dikshit19-Sep-2025West Indies head coach Daren Sammy believes the seam attack they have picked in the Test squad for the two-match tour of India next month has the “variety” to “operate in any conditions” and “pick 20 wickets”.The West Indies pace attack features Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Anderson Phillip and Jayden Seales, along with allrounder Justin Greaves. West Indies haven’t won a Test series in India in 42 years but Sammy said they would take inspiration from the way New Zealand blanked India 3-0 towards the end of 2024 and try to “emulate” that.”We have found ourselves in a position where our seam attack could operate in any conditions,” Sammy said in a press conference. “That six-to-eight-metre length works across the world. But in our fast-bowling department, we’ve got four different guys who have their own variety.Related
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“You have Shamar Joseph, who’s very skiddy, Jayden, who has a strong front leg and can swing the ball both ways, then you have Alzarri Joseph with his height and the bounce he could extract. So, again, we take confidence in that, especially the way they’ve been bowling over the last year. The ability to take 20 wickets, because that’s what you will need in India. If you can’t take 20 wickets in India, you are on the back foot and we have a bowling line-up of that, especially from the seam department, that could take 20 wickets.”The process remains the same. The lines and lengths don’t change in terms of that six-to-eight-metre length. Maybe it’s just adjusting whether it’s a touch fuller or touch further back into the pitch. I have full confidence in that and it makes me smile knowing that we go out bowling and we take 20 wickets. And that’s the first objective in the Test match.”
“New Zealand went there and did incredibly well and that we should take inspiration from. But again, it’s understanding the things that New Zealand did in those conditions and try to emulate it with our guys as well”Daren Sammy
Sammy, who is also the coach of St Lucia Kings in the ongoing CPL 2025, said he had utilised the last six weeks he had spent with Test captain Roston Chase in the Kings dressing room to discuss and plan for the India tour and their attempt would be “to continue instilling that belief matched up by the work we put in to bring the technical aspects of the game up to where we could compete and win matches”.He also said that they had looked at “a lot of data” to come up with the “best squad” to identify the players for specific roles with their skill sets.”From my end, the ten days leading up to the [first] Test match [in India], we’ll be drilling in all these things and planning very well as to how we’re going to beat India in India,” Sammy said. “We’re definitely going down there with the mindset to win. We’re not just going to go down there and think, “oh, it’s India”. No. New Zealand went there and did incredibly well and that we should take inspiration from. But again, it’s understanding the things that New Zealand did in those conditions and try to emulate it with our guys as well.”Sammy also said former captain Jason Holder was “considered” for the tour but “the role that we’d love for him to play is being played by Justin Greaves.” West Indies also took the big decision of dropping their former captain Kraigg Brathwaite from the 15-man squad and have brought back Alick Athanaze and Tagenarine Chanderpaul. Sammy said recalling Chanderpaul, who last played a Test in January 2024, was down to many factors, such as numbers, form, and the other options available to the selectors.Tagenarine Chanderpaul is back after last playing a Test match in January 2024•Associated Press”Before Tage got injured in the 4-Day Championship, he was averaging, I think, 47 [42 in the 2024-25 season, batting well and just looking at our depth chart, who we have with the opening spot over the last few series, not really giving us the numbers and the results that we want,” Sammy said. “When we look at the role needed for one of these openers, Tage brings that sort of clarity of thought that we’re looking at in terms of the skillset and what that role requires. And his experience, the ability to play spin, he was probably right up there as one of the better contenders for that role. So [he’s a] young man, you speak about transitioning, he made a very strong case for the opening spot.”And in the absence of Kraigg, the next best person that played that type of similar role would have been Tage. And we’re hoping that the build-up before, what he’s been doing here in Guyana, preparation he’s been putting in would be would be good enough to be executed in India.”Explaining the recall of Athanaze, Sammy said, “The return of Alick, again, looking at the conditions, looking at what we’ll face, Alick, we knew before Australia that Alick was always going to come back into the set-up, based on the conditions that we will face and the skillset that would require us to be successful. So again, we don’t just stay there and just pick and pluck players from nowhere. We do a lot of information, a lot of data collected, and we try to come up with the best squad in terms of the roles and the skillset required.”West Indies’ spin attack features Jomel Warrican, the uncapped Khary Pierre and Chase. They have rested left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie keeping in mind his workload in the lead up to the T20 World Cup early next year as he recently played the full CPL season. But Sammy said, “Motie is a very strong contender in all formats.”‘Durability’ brings veteran Khary Pierre rare opportunityExplaining the inclusion of Pierre, who will turn 34 next week and has never played Test cricket, for his maiden tour of India, CWI’s senior talent manager Jamal Smith said, “This year, Pierre was able to average just 13.56 and [had an] economy of 2.37 [at the WI Championship],” Smith said. “He’s actually topped the West Indies Championship list, followed closely by Joshua Bishop. I want to say here or insert here that Pierre, obviously, I like to title these cricketers as journeymen, who has been around for first-class domestic set-up for quite a while.Khary Pierre is a familiar face in T20 line-ups, but has never played Test cricket for West Indies•Getty Images”He’s always been a consistent enough performer in terms of the areas that he bowled. Then he’s been afforded the opportunity to play just a level above the A team or I think the solitary ODI tour. He’s always just shown just enough. But last year in particular, or this season, I should say, we felt that he bowled really, really well.”Pierre has so far played 35 first-class matches for 111 wickets at an average of 22.81, with four five-fors. His last red-ball outing was for West Indies A against the touring South Africa A side in June earlier this year.”You take the extra spin in Khary Pierre because of his experience, first of all, and his durability, his consistency,” Smith said. “If you have managed to watch some CPL last night, for instance, you’ll be seeing him when they’re on the field, quite expertly, to be honest, taking the safest catches as well, to augment with the way that he struck the ball and also how he bowls. He’s the kind of guy that you can give the information to, especially on a tour to India.”Hopefully, he will be able to execute, basically back on his experience, his durability over a long first-class career. You’re hoping that he can put all those things together. At this stage, you’d prefer to go with a guy like Khary Pierre as opposed to probably a youngster.”The series will start on October 2 in Ahmedabad, with the second Test scheduled from October 10 in Delhi.
Martin O’Neill marked his Celtic homecoming with a comprehensive win at Parkhead, and there has been a claim on the chances of him landing the Hoops job on a permanent basis.
O’Neill Celtic return begins with 4-0 win over Falkirk
The 73-year-old former Hoops manager was installed along with ex-Celtic player Shaun Maloney as the interim management team following the stunning resignation of Brendan Rodgers on Monday night.
Irish striker Johnny Kenny scored twice in the first half before goals after the break from midfielder Benjamin Nygren and wide-man Sebastian Tounekti took the Hoops to within six points of William Hill Premiership leaders Hearts, who drew 2-2 at St Mirren. O’Neill, who was Hoops boss between 2000 and 2005, said:
O’Neill joked about being nervous before the game. He added: “Well, first of all, I jokingly said – maybe true – I have not been as nervous since I sat my 11-plus but, again, I think I passed that when I was 48.
“But honestly, really concerned about the game, naturally. Concerned about the usual thing about letting myself down, which is I’ve done so many times it’s untrue, and letting other people down here at the football club.
“Just coming in a bit of a whirlwind and to play in the manner which we did when I thought was great and obviously most important thing was winning the game. Naturally, I couldn’t be more pleased. I thought the players did really brilliantly.”
Martin O’Neill’s record as permanent Celtic manager
Games
266
Wins
200
Draws
26
Losses
40
Trophies
7
Players used
56
Next up for O’Neill and Maloney is Sunday’s League Cup semi-final against rivals Rangers, who are also showing early promising signs under new manager Danny Rohl.
Chances of Celtic making Martin O’Neill permanent manager
Talking to Sky Sports, Tino Callaghan from the Celtic Exchange said that conversations could be had over O’Neill staying on as permanent Celtic manager if the Hoops defeat Rangers on Sunday.
However, Callaghan also added his personal opinion, believing those at Parkhead need to ‘go in a different direction’.
A number of managers have been linked with the permanent job, such as Club Brugge’s Nicky Hayen, Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna and Wales’ Craig Bellamy.
How Nicky Haven feels about taking Celtic manager job
O’Neill looks set to be in the dugout at Hampden Park, and if Callaghan’s claim is correct, another positive result may see Celtic chiefs take note and explore the idea of keeping the Irishman on.
رد جيمي كاراجر، محلل قنوات سكاي سبورتس ولاعب ليفربول السابق، على التصريحات التي أدلى بها محمد صلاح، نجم الريدز، عقب التعادل مع ليدز يونايتد، ضمن منافسات الدوري الإنجليزي.
وخرج صلاح مساء أمس بعد انتهاء المباراة وتحدث لوسائل الإعلام وفتح النار على الجميع وعلى رأسهم مدربه آرني سلوت، بسبب جلوسه على دكة البدلاء لثلاث مباريات متتالية.
كان ليفربول قد تعادل أمام ليدز يونايتد بثلاثة أهداف لمثلها، بعدما كان الريدز متقدمًا بنتيجة 2/0 وكل الأمور كانت تسير بشكل إيجابي.
وكان من ضمن التصريحات التي قالها صلاح: “أنا في ليفربول منذ سنوات وأعلم ما سيحدث وأتوقع أن ينتقدني كاراجر غدًا لكن لا بأس”.
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استغل كاراجر الفرصة للرد وقال في تصريحات نقلتها صحيفة “آس” الإسبانية: ”اسمع يا صلاح، أنت ملك مصر، أفضل جناح في تاريخ الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، وأتفهم شعورك بالإهانة”.
وأكمل: “لكن الحقيقة هي أنك كنت سيئًا للغاية والآن لا تغضب إلا عندما يتعلق الأمر بنفسك”.
وأردف: “أساطير مثل كيني وراش وآخرين ما كانوا ليتصرفوا بهذه الطريقة، وهو يتصرف تصرفات طفولية في رأيي”.
واختتم كاراجر حديثه قائلًا: “لماذا يقول هذا الآن؟ عليه الآن أن يخجل من نفسه ويعتذر لآرني سلوت عن سلوكه”.
India A 234 and 119 for 4 (Pant 64*, Patidar 28, Moreki 2-12, van Vuuren 1-20) need another 156 runs to beat South Africa A 309 and 199 (Hamza 37, Senokwane 37, Kotian 4-26, Kamboj 3-39)A few hundred fans lined the boundary wall of the BCCI Centre of Excellence, peering through barbed-wire fences for a glimpse of Rishabh Pant in action. Spectator entry was barred, but that didn’t deter them as a lot of them spent hours watching from outside.Their patience was richly rewarded as Pant made a fluent and an unbeaten half-century that carried the promise of much more to come on Sunday. His third-wicket stand of 87 with Rajat Patidar steadied India A after a top-order wobble in pursuit of 275 in the first four-day fixture against South Africa A.But with nine minutes left for stumps, left-arm quick Tiaan van Vuuren prised out Patidar as he attempted an upper cut but only managed a tickle through to the wicketkeeper. India A finished on 119 for 4, with South Africa A visibly unhappy with Pant taking his own time to receive treatment for cramps from the physio. This helped shave off four minutes from the clock. Ayush Badoni then played out six nervous deliveries, surviving a sharp bouncer that lobbed off the glove and had short leg scrambling a dive to almost pull off a stunner off the final ball of play.For the early part of the final session, this wasn’t the typically belligerent Pant innings. After starting with back-to-back boundaries off his third and fourth balls on walking in at 32 for 3, he settled into a period of restraint, defending solidly and dead-batting his way through the next 24 deliveries.Zubayr Hamza followed his first-innings 66 with an attractive 37 in the second•PTI
Even with mid-off and mid-on up, Pant resisted the temptation to go aerial against offspinner Prenelan Subrayen, who was spitting venom in the first innings while picking up a five-wicket haul. Then, just when South Africa A seemed to have contained him, Pant broke free, skipping down the track to loft Subrayen inside out for a majestic six.Once he found his rhythm, Pant’s big hits became a regular feature through the afternoon. This change in approach offered South Africa A a golden chance when a half-flick, half-sweep off van Vuuren went straight to Okuhle Cele at fine leg. But Cele went low with his palms facing upward, and the ball slipped through.Pant, on 46 at the time, made the most of the reprieve, soon bringing up his half-century off just 65 balls when he crashed Subrayen on the up to the extra-cover boundary. And in what seemed like the biggest indication that he was well and truly back, he danced down a ball later to whip him from outside off to the deep midwicket fence.Like Pant, Patidar too had a very early reprieve soon after the tea interval. On 7, he should’ve been out poking to second slip, where Jordan Hermann put down a sitter off Cele. For much of the final session, Patidar quietly accumulated runs, and denied himself even when opportunities to drive were there with cover open.His only real flourish came when he leaned into a crisp on-the-up drive through cover off van Vuuren, during a spell when Pant was already taking the attack to the bowlers. But with stumps approaching, an ill-judged attempt at a cheeky upper cut brought his downfall.Tanush Kotian finished with eight wickets in the match•PTI
Earlier, India A had been in deep trouble. Ayush Mhatre, fresh off a first-innings half-century, chopped on while attempting a cut; Devdutt Padikkal was bowled neck and crop by an in-ducker; and Sai Sudharsan fell lbw playing across the line. That was when Pant arrived, first to weather the storm, and then to seize control with trademark flair.While Pant impressed with the bat, Anshul Kamboj and Tanush Kotian shared seven wickets between them in the second innings, where South Africa A were bowled out for 199 after pocketing a 74-run first-innings lead.Zubayr Hamza was the only batter to display any kind of flair, hitting an attractive 30-ball 37, which included five fours in a single over off pacer Gurnoor Brar. Kotian, who picked up a four-for in the first innings, finished with a match haul of 8 for 109.
Since IPL 2023, Shivam Dube has been a casualty of the Impact Player rule that has greatly limited opportunities for allrounders to showcase their dual skills. Over the past three seasons, Dube’s bowling numbers read: 3-0-47-1.In a way, this limitation has been a factor in Dube’s hunger to contribute with the ball, and continue to upgrade his skill sets. To that end, the work he has put in at training, especially with his bowling, has been noticeable.On Wednesday, India didn’t to hand Dube the ball. Suryakumar Yadav did, and Dube picked up three wickets across two overs. There was a seam-up that nipped away to nick off Asif Khan, a nip-backer that trapped Dhruv Parashar, and a slower delivery that had Junaid Siddique slogging to mid-on.Related
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“The captain and the coach told me earlier itself that I will bowl [at the Asia Cup] and that they are confident about me,” Dube said at the press conference after India’s demolition of UAE. “My bowling coach [Morne Morkel] has told me a lot of things. I was preparing for this for a long time, that I will get an opportunity to bowl and when it comes, I’ll be ready. What happened today is because of that preparation.”Dube admitted that while his role with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL has largely been that of a power-hitter, he has used the time away to gather plenty of bowling miles. Even if it doesn’t instantly result in him bowling as many overs as he would like to.”The answer lies in your question itself,” Dube said when asked about the Impact Player rule. “The scheme of an allrounder has been reduced. Because of that, in the IPL, there wasn’t a necessity for me to bowl. But, from my side, I was always prepared. Every match, I was ready to bowl. I was working really hard before the IPL also. I spent two months working on my fitness and bowling.”That effort seems to be paying off. Dube credited Morkel for fine-tuning his action and approach. The two have been in each other’s ears constantly at training. Two days ago, Morkel had even stated the importance of having someone of Dube’s abilities prep in a manner that gives him the confidence to bowl in pressure situations.”At the England series [in January-February], he told me a few things,” Dube said. “He told me to bowl from outside [wider of the crease] and to bowl slower [from a certain angle]. I have been working on that for a long time. He told me a few things about my bowling run-up too. Because of those two-three things, my bowling is getting better. My pace is also improving and I am getting confidence.”Today’s start was very important. As an allrounder, I am always prepared for four overs of bowling. Whenever I get an opportunity to bowl three-four overs, I am ready for it. I will try and do what the team needs.”There aren’t just bowling tweaks that Dube has been working on. Between IPL 2025 and now, he has worked a lot on his batting too, back at home in Mumbai. One of the aspects he identified was working on improving against the short ball bowled at high pace and into his body. The Asia Cup opener was his first competitive outing since the IPL ended in May (barring three middling games at the Mumbai T20 League where he captained ARCS Andheri).1:55
Why did Suryakumar let Siddique bat despite being out?
“About my batting, I was thinking of adding some of the shots,” he said of his tailored training. “Yes, I can hit in certain areas. But certain bowlers are there who come on me with the short balls and all. I worked [on that] in the IPL. And even after IPL, I have been working on some extra shots that I can bring to the Indian team. And yes, I was working on my fitness because I knew that if I become fitter, then I can bowl four overs or whatever the team requires.”Dube’s selection in India’s XI against UAE reflected the team management’s emphasis on extending the batting depth till No. 8 – a call that, in turn, makes his ability to deliver with the ball even more crucial. Dube revealed that there had been a lot of learning from the coaches and off Hardik Pandya, who isn’t exactly like-for-like but someone whose experience he’s been more than happy to dip into.”Hardik is someone from whom I always learn,” Dube said. “He is like a brother to me. As a cricketer, he has a lot of experience in international cricket and IPL. So I feel I have a lot to learn from him with regards to both batting and bowling. I have never thought about comparison. I just thought I should get something from him with which I can improve myself.”2:21
Can UAE take away anything from this thrashing?
Asked to talk about the quality of India’s opponents in their opening game, Dube was sympathetic, especially the UAE batters’ inability to handled the quality of India’s spinners, Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy.”I can’t say whether they were able to pick or not… I’m not going to say they [UAE batters] are not of the same class,” Dube said. “I will never say that to any opponent because I feel it doesn’t send out a good message. Yes, they [Kuldeep and Varun] are mystery bowlers. Even I am not able to pick them up sometimes [in the nets]. So there is nothing in that.”It was only when Dube was inevitably asked about the next game, against Pakistan, that he chose to be slightly more guarded. “Whether it’s a match with UAE or Pakistan, it’s important for me when I go on the ground and for my team that… our coach has said something that has always been in my heart and mind: that whenever you go on the ground, whenever you represent your country, you have a chance to do something big for the country.”Gautam [Gambhir] sir has always said this. So, keeping that in mind, whether it’s Pakistan or UAE, or whoever I’m playing with in the future, I want to do a miracle on the ground so that I can make my country proud.”