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A major Newcastle United claim has emerged regarding PIF’s plans for the upcoming summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

The Telegraph reporter Luke Edwards has revealed how many additions the Magpies are hoping to make to their squad ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

PIF showcased their ambition in January as they brought in Matt Targett, Bruno Guimaraes, Dan Burn, Chris Wood and Kieran Trippier, and now they are set to dip into the market again.

Edwards tweeted: “Multiple sources have confirmed the plan for #nufc this summer is to bring in between four and six signings to boost first team strength. Will depend on how much money raised through sales but also looking closely at loan market with at least one likely towards end of window.”

Supporters will be excited

Toon supporters will surely be left feeling excited by this claim from Edwards, as it shows that the club will be looking to improve the squad in several areas this summer.

This was far from the case at this point last year, as Joe Willock ended up being the only senior arrival at St James’ Park in summer 2021 when he joined on a permanent deal from Arsenal. Mike Ashley was prudent with his cash and gave Steve Bruce little in the way of help to build a strong squad.

The noises coming out of the club now suggest that Howe will not find himself in that position with PIF at the helm, as the owners are keen to progress the club in the coming years. Newcastle are on course to comfortably avoid relegation from the top flight and are only one point off the top half of the Premier League table, which may be the aim for next season – 10th and higher.

Fans will surely want to see progression on and off the pitch, and bringing in new talent to improve the team is one way of going about achieving that. They will be excited to see what kind of players Howe wants to bring in and who he wants to axe from the squad, as some duds will need to be offloaded in order to make way for additions.

Supporters will be buzzing to see deadwood players who are deemed to not be good enough cut from the squad in the summer, as it means that they will not have to worry about watching them in action again in the Premier League.

It is now over to PIF to put their plan into action and enjoy a successful summer of ins and outs on Tyneside…

AND in other news, Craig Hope drops worrying worrying £50m NUFC claim, it’s a first major disaster for PIF…

The biggest reason that he is able to score big – with the rest of the line-up crumbling around him – is the extreme pressure he puts himself under when he trains

Mohammad Isam15-Sep-20181:41

Dasgupta: Rahim knew when to attack and when to defend

Over the next two weeks there will be more red-faced batsmen like Mushfiqur Rahim, sapped of energy, taking large gulps of water as they play long innings battling the heat of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Flat pitches, average bowling or poor fielding – nothing should take the sheen away if a batsman pulls off a coup like Mushfiqur did on Saturday.His 144 contributed more than half of Bangladesh’s total – 55.17% to be exact, which is a national record – and it rescued them from not one but two collapses. They were effectively 3 for 3 in the second over – Tamim Iqbal had retired hurt with a broken wrist – before Mushfiqur and Mohammad Mithun added 131 runs for the third wicket to steady the ship. But with none of the other batsmen and semi-allrounders offering support, Mushfiqur left at the mercy of the tail-enders – that is until Tamim’s courageous re-appearance at No. 11.His innings now stands second among Bangladesh’s highest scores in ODIs, behind Tamim’s 154 against Zimbabwe in 2009, and it was his 15th fifty-plus score in a winning cause.Mushfiqur’s century was a sign of his experience, solidity of technique and attacking skill. The biggest reason that he is able to play like this – with the rest of the line-up crumbling around him – is the extreme pressure he puts himself under when he trains.In a recent interview to ESPNcricinfo, Mushfiqur explained how practicing that bit harder improves his on-field performance. “If you can finish a lap in 50 seconds instead of 60, that extra motivation in my fitness level translates into similar confidence in the skills part. I always try to prepare well ahead of time, and imagine what I may be facing,” he said.Mushfiqur Rahim steers a shot down to third man•ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP/Getty ImagesHe must have imagined himself batting in the extreme heat of Dubai when he opted for additional training sessions in hot and humid Dhaka (which would seem mild compared to the UAE) over the last five weeks. He was at it even during Eid, alongside Tamim and the captain Mashrafe Mortaza, going through fitness drills and skills training.On another day, Mushfiqur put himself through an hour-long running session in the morning and then – despite being exhausted – joined his team-mates for a match simulation in the evening. It isn’t the first time he’s done extra work, and it won’t be the last.Mushfiqur has based his entire international career – which began when he was 17 – on working the hardest. While there remain questions over his finishing of chases and his captaincy, he certainly has mastered pacing an ODI innings, be it a long one or a short burst, and soaking in the chaos around him.In Dubai, he saw two early wickets and Tamim walking off with injury. Instead of counter-attacking – as he had done in similar situations in the past, with some success – Mushfiqur waited till the eighth over to look for Bangladesh’s first boundary. Not until the 11th did he and Mithun start attacking, and when they did, they quickly raised the pace.For most of their partnership, Mushfiqur let the returning Mithun do all the running, preferring to play the anchor role. Mahmudullah, Mosaddek Hossain, Mashrafe and Mehidy Hasan falling in a short span also meant he had to marshal the tail. Already tired and sweating profusely, Mushfiqur seemed to get an extra gear seeing a heavily-strapped Tamim walking out to bat at nine down. The three sixes and three fours in the last three overs exemplified how Mushfiqur, like Tamim, Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah, has advanced as a batsman.This progress will have to reflect once again in Bangladesh’s must-win game against Afghanistan on September 20. It will be yet another physical examination but Mushfiqur certainly looks prepared for the worst chaos. He has practiced for it all.

Plays of the Day from the second Twenty20 International between Pakistan and West Indies in Dubai

Shashank Kishore24-Sep-2016Badree makes it two in two
Samuel Badree’s modus operandi takes the surface out of the equation most times. He relies more on drift than turn, but what makes him a threat is the quick-arm action that helps him get the ball to skid through quickly. Sharjeel Khan’s modus operandi revolves around camping back and playing the pull, which he does so effectively most times. In the first T20I, he tried to pull Badree, only to see the ball skid on faster and beat his swing to hit leg stump. On Saturday, Badree, bowling with a relatively dry ball, kept it fuller to force Sharjeel to play off the front foot, and a string of dots in the first two overs forced him to attempt a jabbing drive which he chopped on. Badree’s smile at having Sharjeel’s number for the second time in as many matches was as telling as any send-off.The misjudgement
Nicholas Pooran may have fond memories of playing in Dubai. It was here that he made a sparkling 143 against Australia at the Under-19 World Cup in 2014. For a brief while on Saturday, though, he could have been excused for wanting to run out of the venue as fast as possible. Fielding at long leg, he was guilty of charging in a little too much to completely misjudge a whip from Khalid Latif. While it isn’t clear if Dubai’s “ring of fire” floodlights may have affected his sight, the manner in which Pooran scampered back in an attempt to recover suggested he was just caught completely off guard. He eventually leapt high to take it, but only landed on his behind as the ball plonked a few inches behind him.The celebration
West Indies captain Carlos Brathwaite struck off the next ball following Pooran’s dropped chance. He got the in-form Babar Azam, and the relief was palpable. Even as Azam was making the walk back, Brathwaite invited attention with a unique mid-pitch jig that, at first, seemed like an angry gesture. Then he laughed and repeated the jig: both feet off the ground and his left forearm covering his eyes as he hopped repeatedly. His team-mates soon joined in to complete what was later termed “the dab”.Malik gives up, Taylor misses
Shoaib Malik was sent a yorker when he stepped out to Jerome Taylor, but he managed to squeeze it out. The ball squirted towards the bowler, with Malik still nearly halfway down the pitch. The batsmen thought it would be futile to attempt to dash back to safety. Taylor had all the time in the world to run up to the stumps and knock the bails off, but decided to throw at the wicket. As it turned out, he could not hit any of the three stumps from less than 10 yards away. He could not even get close.

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Jul-2015Van Zyl was given good company by Dean Elgar, and together they put on 58 runs for the opening wicket•AFPMahmudullah, however, struck halfway into the first session to have van Zyl caught behind down the leg side•BCBFaf du Plessis, though, ensured there was no further hiccup for South Africa, as they went to lunch on 104 for 1 in 28 overs•AFPBangladesh broke the 78-run partnership in the 47th over after Taijul Islam induced an edge off Elgar, Liton Das juggling the ball before holding on to it•BCBTwo balls later, Shakib Al Hasan trapped du Plessis in front two runs short of his half-century. However, Hashim Amla and Temba Bavuma hung on as South Africa went to tea on 165 for 3•AFPSouth Africa didn’t begin well after tea as they lost Hashim Amla to Mustafizur Rahman 13 balls into the final session•AFPMustafizur trapped JP Duminy in front the very next delivery•AFPMustafizur missed a hat-trick, but was nevertheless successful in cleaning up Quinton de Kock the following delivery. His three-wicket burst in four balls reduced South Africa to 173 for 6•AFPTembu Bavuma scored his maiden half-century – the only batsman to pass 50 – and tried to hold the lower order together•AFPJubair Hossain picked up three wickets to wipe out the tail and Mustafizur, who finished with 4 for 37, removed Bavuma to end South Africa’s innings on 248. Bangladesh, in reply, were 7 for 0 at stumps•AFP

Encouraging innings from Kithuruwan Vithanage and Lahiru Thirimanne suggested Sri Lanka can handle the Jayawardene-Sangakkara succession issue

Andrew Fidel Fernando20-May-2014Sri Lanka had worked towards this match for some time. Not for the game at The Oval, in particular. Not for the foreign conditions, the opposition, nor even the tour as a whole. Sri Lanka have spent much of the last 18 months consumed in the quest to secure their future. A future beyond Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara.This reality is only one match old. Things happen quickly in cricket, including the unraveling of seemingly capable sides. The team may not even discover exactly how successfully they have regenerated until the end of next year’s World Cup. But in this victory over England, they have suggested there is no cause for alarm. It is not that the seniors were not missed. It is just that even without the juggernauts in the top order, Sri Lanka possessed so much substance.Sri Lanka’s batting was a whirl of kinetic energy; a raw, writhing mass, lacking the shape and finesse Jayawardene and Sangakkara provided but forceful enough to bash through to a daunting score. As batsmen came and swung hard at the ball, the self-belief that had bloomed during the team’s successful run in Bangladesh was evident. Kithuruwan Vithanage bludgeoned an important innings, spoiling the impetus England had gained from two early dismissals. He threw his heart at every ball, but used his brain as well, reading the field each over, and shaping only to hit to the open spaces, perilous though many strokes were.It is too early to suggest this batting unit will achieve the success it had with Jayawardene and Sangakkara, but lately, the signs have largely been encouraging. Lahiru Thirimanne is being groomed as a like-for-like replacement for Sangakkara at No. 3, and his studious method has begun to pay off in 2014. He lacks the power of most of his team-mates, and that vector alone would have seen him left out of many international T20 teams. But he drives himself to collect the singles and twos efficiently, and possesses enough insight into his own cricket to discern the balls he can flay.He has many mountains to scale before he can match Sangakkara’s record – perhaps he never will. But at 24, Thirimanne has a wider range of strokes and a steadier temperament than a young Sangakkara did. The older man had said as much last year. Thirimanne has now been installed as vice-captain in all three formats, and his challenge will be to maintain his rise, as he shoulders more responsibility. Sri Lanka had appointed two young leaders last year as well and, of those, Angelo Mathews grew in stature, while Dinesh Chandimal seemingly regressed.While Thirimanne held the innings together, others would begin their knocks with ambition. Perhaps it was the assurance they had batting down to No. 8 or maybe it is because even the batsmen had caught some of their new captain’s fire. A 17th over formed entirely of slower balls revealed something of Lasith Malinga’s soaring self-confidence. Alex Hales, England’s best batsmen of the match, anticipated the offcutter and walloped the third ball to the midwicket fence, but Malinga was unperturbed. The next one, even slower, clattered into the stumps and sent Sri Lanka to touching distance of the win.After the World T20, Malinga had returned to Sri Lanka with his swagger embellished, even suggesting on a television show that he should have been T20 captain a year ago. Sri Lanka fans value humility more than most but they will forgive him his ego if it continues to drive him to success. If his attitude affects the collective mood, then perhaps all the better; a fearless approach has rarely let Sri Lanka down in its limited-overs past.Sri Lanka were far from perfect on Tuesday. On other evenings, they will have fewer runs off the outside edge. Most games, the opposition will hold their catches. It might have been tougher if they had been asked to chase a good score without the newly retired men there to guide the effort but, through pure white heat, Sri Lanka earned their first win outside Asia this year.

Sri Lanka made their second World Twenty20 final after being through a dogfight against Pakistan

Andrew Fernando in Colombo04-Oct-2012Nothing came easy for Sri Lanka in their semi-final against Pakistan. After five overs, they had made 24 – easily their slowest start of the tournament. An opener renowned for his aggression couldn’t find the boundary, heaping inadvertent pressure on the men around him on a difficult track. Kumar Sangakkara rarely looks comfortable attacking, but that’s exactly what he had to do from his first ball. He landed a few punches, but was knocked out sooner than he would have liked.Still, he can console himself that has never made a score so vital for Sri Lanka that superficially reads so poorly on the scorecard.Each cog in Pakistan’s bowling attack was secure. There were few loose balls and even fewer mistakes in the field. Perhaps Pakistan released some pressure when Umar Gul’s final over went for 16, but Gul had done exceedingly well to build up much of that pressure in the first place, in an 18th over that cost just 3.In the field, Sri Lanka knew they had to save every run. Lasith Malinga had a shocker, but as a unit Sri Lanka were unrelenting. Tillakaratne Dilshan set the standard when he dived full length to intercept two balls heading for the boundary inside the Powerplay, and the young guns in the circle followed suit. Two or three fielders backed up every throw, and when the ball dribbled into the infield, it was swarmed from every direction. They were defending only 139, but they threw themselves around as if they hadn’t even made 100. The result was a Pakistan Powerplay that was less productive than their own.Sri Lanka’s captain – a man who bats so beautifully his blade appears to be made of liquid – dutifully played an innings that was as ugly as any that he has played. In the fifth over, Mahela Jayawardene ran down the pitch to Sohail Tanvir, looking for his release shot over midwicket, but the heave he ended up playing would have drawn blushes from a rusty gate. Jayawardene top scored for his side, but the channel outside off stump was a battlefield in which he copped repeated blows from Tanvir, but somehow evaded the coup de grace.In 2009, Jayawardene was having so much trouble timing reverse strokes that he resorted to using the back of the bat to open up that part of the field. Two World Twenty20 tournaments later, those shots brought him more than a quarter of his runs in a semi-final. To look at his strike rate of only 117 is to do injustice to the fire in his innings, and the preparation that had gone into it. He will think the 12 runs he scored with the reverse sweep were more than just reward for all the hours he has spent in the nets practicing the stroke.Then there is Rangana Herath. A man with spirit so indomitable that being held at arm’s length for a decade by the selectors only amplified his drive to deliver for Sri Lanka. Having stared from a distance for so long, what was a few matches in one tournament? He had played only two of Sri Lanka’s five games leading into this one, but bowled the over that took the hosts to the final.Pakistan are said to have a weakness against left arm spin, but Herath has not been among their tormentors. He averages over 30 against them in all forms. Each fresh battle, however, is an opportunity. In two balls he brought Pakistan to their knees. Herath doesn’t fret over past injuries, he just puts every ounce of himself into every game he plays. That he returned to make that double strike immediately after having bowled the most expensive over of the innings spoke volumes about his character and the trust his captain puts in him.Angelo Mathews and Thisara Perera didn’t watch from a distance either. The pair had failed to propel Sri Lanka home once in the tournament, but they were determined to finish well with the bat, even if Gul had rediscovered his gift for yorkers. Their 16 off the last over was another crucial factor in Sri Lanka’s win. Mathews then returned with the ball to bag two invaluable scalps of his own. Before his second over, Pakistan had built a terrific platform from which to launch and the crowd had lost its voice almost entirely. When he took two in four balls, the Premadasa began believing again.Throughout this campaign, Sri Lanka have proved they will not back down when the going is difficult. In the Super Over against New Zealand, there were no boundary balls to hit, yet somehow they managed 13. Under threat of having their captain suspended, the team produced a piece of tactical genius to circumvent the law. In their own home tournament, they are the only team who have had to play at all three venues. The powdery brute they encountered against Pakistan is worlds away from the fast southern seamers they began their tournament on.In the 2011 World Cup, it was said Sri Lanka had the easy path to the final. This time around, they have scrapped their way there. Every man down to the youngest player has proved himself. The scorecard of the first semi-final may suggest an unremarkable affair, but Sri Lanka know they have been in a dogfight, and the triumph here will add more steel to a side who have been burned at the last hurdle too many times before.

India bowled, batted and fielded better than Sri Lanka, but that’s just part of the story

Sidharth Monga07-Dec-2009

Review system

India may still have gone on to win the series 2-0, but who knows? Kumar Sangakkara believes the absence of the Umpire Decision Review System system cost his side “over 500 runs and a lot of wickets”, but that’s not the point either. The point is, in two other series going on simultaneously, the review system is – reluctantly or willingly, successfully or otherwise – being used. It is but natural for Sri Lanka to feel frustrated. Cricket is moving into an era when the on-field umpire’s word will not be final, so why be coy about it?TV rights in India are bought for exorbitant prices, and there is no way it should be the broadcasters’ responsibility to install new technology for a new system that the ICC is implementing. How much the world body, or BCCI, a part of that body, care about their own decisions is evident from this series. And in the final analysis, the umpiring decisions did hurt Sri Lanka, although Sangakkara will be the first one to admit they were outplayed too.

Sri Lanka were outfielded

Whisper it lightly, but they were. By India, that too. Virender Sehwag, the Man of the Series, was the biggest beneficiary of the Jayawardenes’ generosity, both wicketkeeper and first slip dropping him regularly. The Sehwag drops alone cost them 40 in the second innings in Ahmedabad, and all of his 131 in Kanpur. Psychologically it adds up to much more than just 171 runs. Add to it the countless missed chances on the third day in Mumbai. It could be argued Sri Lanka were a defeated side by then, and they will know their dropped catches hurt them more than the umpires did. And MS Dhoni just rubbed it in at the presentation ceremony: “Our catching was very satisfying. We held on to everything that came our way.”

MnM were mastered

In 2008 Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis took 47 wickets between them. This time they managed 11. Mendis played only one game, and was found to not be up to scratch. Murali has never looked this mortal. At times it seemed Sehwag read the doosras not from the hand, but from the bowler’s mind. Murali’s talking of retirement was reminiscent of another offspinner’s career that Sehwag ended: Saqlain Mushtaq.

Before Sehwag, there was Dravid

It was Rahul Dravid who ensured India didn’t repeat their Ahmedabad disaster from last year. At 32 for 4, against the swinging ball, India had looked set for an encore. As Dravid later said, this was the most fluent he had played, and the good form would continue through the series, getting him 433 runs at 108.25.

After Dravid, there was Sehwag

It’s not just his 491 runs at 122.75. It’s the amount of time Sehwag gave the bowlers to take 20 wickets, it’s the demoralising effect he had on the opposition, it’s the uplifting effect he had on his team-mates. Given how the bat dominated in the series, India needed all of that.

Runs, runs, runs

Even from 32 for 4, India managed 385 runs on the first day in Ahmedabad. And that was one of the saner days. India would set their record for most runs in a day, and then go on and better it. Sri Lanka broke the record for most runs in a day by a side visiting India, and most runs in an innings by any side in India. Even though the series produced two results, each wicket cost 50.19 runs, and each over 3.83. That run-rate is despite three of the nine innings being played in match-saving mode.

Deep point should be banned in Tests

At least when Tillakaratne Dilshan or Sehwag has just walked out to open an innings. Both the captains seemed to look for excuses to set defensive fields, generally lacked imagination, and – apart from Sreesanth – fielding sides failed to pull something special out of the hat. There were full sessions when Mahela Jayawardene batted with a deep point in place, and didn’t hit a single ball in that direction.

Sri Lanka are yet to win in India

Or in Australia and South Africa. After all the good work that took them to No. 2 in the ICC’s Test rankings, Sri Lanka are back to square one. You’ve got to feel for Murali, the highest wicket-taker in the world by a distance, who is part of a side with lots to disprove still. The FTP hasn’t been kind either. Sri Lanka last went to South Africa in 2002, and Australia doesn’t give them more than two Tests.

Sreesanth was inhabiting the wrong place all this while

If only he gets into less trouble, and produces spells like the one in Kanpur more often. It was good to have back the man with one of the best releases in the world. It was his spell that broke the monotony of run-scoring in the series, and on a pitch that was still flat.

David Warner, Kane Williamson, Meg Lanning and Smriti Mandhana are among the overseas players available in this month’s Hundred draft.Warner, who has twice previously withdrawn from playing in the competition, is listed in the £100,000 (US$127,000) bracket, while Williamson – signed by Birmingham Phoenix for the first season but unable to play through injury – can be picked up for £75,000 (US$95,000).In the women’s draft, Mandhana is one of four players with the top reserve price of £50,000 (US$63,500), alongside Ashleigh Gardner, Jemimah Rodrigues and Deepti Sharma. Lanning, another who has pulled out in the past, will be available for £40,000 (US$50,500), as will Beth Mooney and Annabel Sutherland.Related

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Richa Ghosh, Renuka Singh and Shikha Pandey are also among the 15 India players included for the women’s Hundred.In the men’s, seven players are listed in the top £125,000 (US$158,500) price band, including Sunil Narine, Nicholas Pooran, Josh Inglis and Daryl Mitchell. Kieron Pollard, Shamar Joseph, Sikandar Raza, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Naseem Shah are all in the £100,000 bracket.A number of England players are also confirmed among the 890 names in the draft, including Jason Roy, Dawid Malan, Ollie Pope, Amy Jones and Lauren Filer.Malan was a winner of the men’s competition with Trent Rockets in 2022 and could be retained by them using their Right-to-Match card.”I’ve really enjoyed playing in the competition across the last three years and I’m excited about getting the chance again this year,” he said. “You look at the names involved, both those retained and those in list for the draft, and there’s world class talent in The Hundred across both competitions.”Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu, who was Player of the Tournament at the 2023-24 WBBL, is among those looking to be picked up in the Hundred for the first time.”I am really excited about being in the Hundred draft,” she said. “There are so many good players in this competition and I would really love to be a part of it. It has looked very fun over the last three years, with big crowds at big stadiums, and it would be very exciting to play in the Hundred this season.”The draft will be held on March 20 at the Shard in London, and broadcast over YouTube, TikTok and the Hundred website. Birmingham Phoenix will have the first pick in the women’s draft, with Northern Superchargers kicking things off for the men.

Giants have just two points from three games but a win on Saturday will put them back in contention for playoffs

Shashank Kishore11-Mar-2023Big picture: Giants eye back-to-back winsGujarat Giants were in the news for all the wrong reasons at the start of the WPL.First the mystery around Deandra Dottin’s “medical condition”, which was followed by her rebuff on social media. Then Beth Mooney’s injury in their tournament opener, followed by long suspense over her availability.Then, Sneh Rana was named stand-in captain before a social-media gaffe that suggested Harleen Deol might be the new captain sent tongues wagging. Some teams go through that much drama over an entire season. But, that’s all in the past.Rana has been firmly handed the reins, Laura Wolvaardt has come in as Mooney’s replacement, and there seems to be a settled look about the team that an emphatic victory can bring about.Sophia Dunkley, who may have not played had Mooney been fit, set the stage alight with an 18-ball half-century in their previous game, while Harleen and D Hemalatha have shown spark in each of the three games they’ve played. If S Meghana can fire at the top of the order, the collective batting might they have could challenge Delhi Capitals as they aim for back-to-back wins.Royal Challengers Bangalore losing a fourth straight game has meant the gulf between them and the other four teams has become bigger. If Giants win on Saturday, they will firmly be back in contention for the playoffs.Capitals have one of the most well-rounded units in the competition, but they were given a massive reality check by Mumbai Indians. Meg Lanning battled hard, but the rest of the batting unit collapsed around her. That said, they would rather have that one off game out of the way now than during the knockouts.Shafali Verma’s approach has largely been refreshing, far different to the diffidence we saw at the T20 World Cup. Jemimah Rodrigues, who helped deliver their opening win, has been putting together key contributions. But there is a soft underbelly to their lower middle order. In Minnu Mani, Taniya Bhatia and Radha Yadav, there’s not much batting depth beyond the superstars. There in lies a chance for Giants.Players to watch: Pandey and MeghanaRemember that devious inswinger to clean bowl Alyssa Healy from a couple of years ago? That’s the version of Shikha Pandey the Capitals would love to see with the new ball. So far, there has been little swing and movement on offer for her. And without those two elements, Pandey has struggled a bit. She takes great pride in reinventing herself every time she is challenged, so how she bounces back against Giants could be worth watching.S Meghana has the reputation of being an explosive batter in Indian domestic cricket. So far, opportunities to exhibit that with the Indian team have been rare, because of the presence of an established top order in Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues. That has meant she has mostly been in the reserves. Now is her opportunity to bring that explosive game to the fore and show the selectors what she can potentially offer going forward.Likely XIsDelhi Capitals: 1 Meg Lanning (capt), 2 Shafali Verma, 3 Jemimah Rodrigues, 4 Marizanne Kapp, 5 Alice Capsey, 6 Jess Jonassen, 7 Taniya Bhatia (wk), 8 Shikha Pandey, 9 Radha Yadav, 10 Tara Norris, 11 Titas Sadhu/Minnu ManiGujarat Giants: 1 Sophia Dunkley, 2 S Meghana, 3 Harleen Deol, 4 Ash Gardner, 5 D Hemalatha, 6 Annabel Sutherland, 7 Sneh Rana (capt), 8 Kim Garth, 9 Sushma Verma (wk), 10 Tanuja Kanwar, 11 Mansi JoshiQuotes”You can’t go out there and look at 180 right from the start. You get yourself into a bit of trouble if you do that.”
“Sneh Rana has had very good support from her vice-captain, her deputy Ash Gardner – both of them worked together. Sneh has done well because she also has the experience of leading Indian Railways in the domestic season.”

Rasmus Hojlund’s anticipated loan switch to AC Milan is hanging by a thread, with the Italian giants reportedly closing in on Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface instead. The 22-year-old Danish striker had been poised for a season-long loan to the San Siro after falling down the pecking order at Manchester United following the club’s signing of Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig.

• Hojlund’s AC Milan loan deal set to collapse
• Milan pivot to Victor Boniface from Leverkusen
• Striker faces uncertain future at Manchester United

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Negotiations for Hojlund faltered because the loan structure had an obligation to buy, something Milan were not ready to accept. This hiccup has given Victor Boniface, 24, a golden opportunity to step into the spotlight. reports that the Rossoneri are now moving decisively for Boniface under a similar framework: a loan with only an option to buy, avoiding any long-term financial commitment.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Boniface, who previously starred when Xabi Alonso won the title at Leverkusen, has been warming the bench lately, including as an unused substitute in Bayer’s DFB-Pokal clash against SG Sonnenhof Grobaspach. Meanwhile, back at Manchester United, Hojlund’s situation grows murkier. The Dane was not even included in Ruben Amorim’s matchday squad for United’s Premier League opener against Arsenal.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Despite the Milan deal stalling, Hojlund’s Serie A ambitions may still be realised. Napoli are reportedly exploring options to bring him in on loan to bolster their frontline after Romelu Lukaku suffered a thigh injury expected to keep him out for four months. If Hojlund joins Napoli, he could reunite with former Red Devils teammate Scott McTominay, giving him a familiar face in the dressing room.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR HOJLUND?

  Earlier this month, Hojlund declared his intent to fight for his place at United, hoping to recover from two inconsistent campaigns at Old Trafford. However, his omission against Arsenal may send a stark signal that opportunities this season will be limited. Now, with Sesko leading the line, Hojlund faces an uphill battle for regular minutes. The Red Devils will be back in action for a Premier League clash against Fulham on Sunday, followed by a League Cup trip to Grimsby next Wednesday.