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Pakistan A swept to a remarkable eight-wicket win over Sri Lanka A in Worcester, riding on the back of belligerent half-centuries from captain Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel to mow down a target of 148 in 19.1 overs

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Jul-2016
ScorecardPakistan A captain Babar Azam led his side’s final-day victory charge•Getty ImagesPakistan A swept to a remarkable eight-wicket win over Sri Lanka A in Worcester, riding on the back of belligerent half-centuries from captain Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel to mow down a target of 148 in 19.1 overs, with time running out on the final day.With a maximum of 23 overs to chase down the target, Pakistan went for the win right from the outset. They were reduced to 37 for 2 in the fifth over as Sharjeel Khan and Mohammad Nawaz both fell to new-ball bowler Vishwa Fernando in the quest for quick runs. But Azam (66 not out) and Shakeel (51 not out) then combined for an unbeaten partnership of 111 off 86 balls, hitting eight fours and three sixes between them to complete a thrilling chase.Pakistan’s task could have been easier but for Sri Lanka’s stubborn tenth-wicket partnership in the second innings. Half-centuries from opener Dhananjaya de Silva (88) and captain Ashan Priyanjan (66) had taken them to 309 for 9, before Minod Bhanuka, who scored an unbeaten 54, and Asitha Fernando combined for a 49-run stand that kept Pakistan’s bowlers at bay for 7.3 overs. When Fernando, who contributed just 2, finally perished to give right-arm medium pacer Hasan Ali his fourth wicket of the innings and seventh of the match, Sri Lanka were all out for 358 to set up the pulsating climax.Pakistan’s stranglehold of the match, however, had been established in the first innings. After Sri Lanka opted to bat, Mir Hamza (4 for 62) and Hasan (3 for 70) inflicted the bulk of the damage to bowl the side out for 250, with only Roshen Silva (57) and Udara Jayasundera (53) registering fifties. Pakistan responded by piling on 461 for 8 before declaring. Most of their batsman made solid contributions, with Shakeel top-scoring with 86.Battling a first-innings deficit of 211, Sri Lanka never really managed to claw back. Coming into the final day two down for 83 and still 128 behind, any hopes Sri Lanka may have had of saving the match came crashing down, thanks to a spirited effort from Pakistan.

Crystal Palace youngster Michael Olise is wanted by Paris Saint-Germain during the summer transfer window, according to a worrying new report.

How is Olise doing at Crystal Palace?

The Eagles have managed to pull away from the relegation zone since the arrival of Roy Hodgson, but it has still proved to be a disappointing season overall, with bigger things expected under Patrick Vieira.

Someone who continues to catch the eye is Olise, however, with the 21-year-old's technical ability up there with the best at Selhurst Park currently. He has registered nine assists in the Premier League in 2022/23 to date, highlighting his creativity, and he has also scored twice, including a stunning last-gast free-kick at home to Manchester United.

The Englishman's quality means that other clubs are sure to be interested in making a move for him this summer, although his current Palace doesn't expire until 2026, which does at least put them in a strong bargaining position. It looks as though one of Europe's biggest teams are eyeing up a move, following a fresh update.

Could Olise be off to PSG this summer?

According to L'Equipe, PSG see Olise as a potential summer target, as they look to change up their approach in the transfer market and bring in young talent. Lionel Messi will leave at the end of the season and supporters also want Neymar to move on, and the Palace starlet is an option to come in.

It remains to be seen if a formal offer is tabled for the attacking midfielder, but all this does is highlight what a special prospect the Eagles have in their ranks. As mentioned, his current contract situation does at least mean that Palace can demand a huge amount of money for Olise's services, but losing him at this point in his career would be a massive blow, with so much more hopefully come from him in south London.

He has been hailed as a "special" player by Vieira in the past, with his wand of a left foot capable of changing a game with a moment of magic, as shown by his aforementioned free-kick against United, which earned Palace a 1-1 draw back in January.

Hopefully, Olise's head won't be turned by PSG's rumoured interest and he will continue to ply his trade at Palace for as long as possible, but a player of his calibre may not be content to stay put for too much longer unless things improve, which should act as an incentive for everyone at the club.

Rangers are exploring the conditions of a potential deal to sign Aston Villa 'sensation' and QPR loanee Tim Iroegbunam, according to journalist Wayne Veysey.

What's the latest Gers transfer news?

Gers boss Michael Beale could be about to oversee a major summer overhaul with a plethora of Ibrox players about to leave on a Bosman deal.

Indeed, many members of the first team squad are out of contract this month and look set to depart Glasgow for nothing after a disappointing season for Rangers.

Arch rivals Celtic could be about to seal a domestic treble with Rangers having nothing to show for the 2022/2023 campaign, yet the next transfer window could be an opportunity to change that for next season.

Rangers are apparently expected to make several headline signings this summer with reports suggesting that they have made contact with the likes of Jose Cifuentes and have Kieran Dowell in their sights.

Jack Butland is also said to be nearing a move to Ibrox, and now reporter Veysey has shared another target in an article for Football Insider.

The journalist claims Rangers are exploring the conditions of a potential deal to sign Villa statlet Iroegbunam, who is currently on loan at QPR in the Championship.

Beale knows the midfielder well from his time at Loftus Road earlier in the campaign, having signed him on a temporary deal from Villa Park himself.

The Gers boss is apparently a huge admirer of Iroegbunam and thinks he'll have a 'big future', with the report describing him as a 'sensation'.

The 19-year-old is subject to interest from Rangers as a result and it is believed they are eyeing both a possible loan deal or permanent deal.

Should they sign Iroegbunam?

The teenager has been a mainstay for QPR over the 22/23 campaign, ranking among their top 10 most regularly-selected players in the Championship (WhoScored).

As well as this, Iroegbunam has been a tenacious tackler in the middle of the park – registering their fourth-highest rate of successful challenges per 90 and holding his own (WhoScored).

At just 19, these are promising signs for such a young player in a very tough, competitive division like the Championship – leaving little wonder why Beale is apparently keen to bring the youngster up north.

The Scottish Premiership giants having some catching up to do with Celtic yet Iroegbunam could be exactly the kind of player with huge potential they need.

Chelsea are still confident of securing the signing of Napoli striker Victor Osimhen during the summer transfer window, according to a new report.

Is Osimhen on fire this season?

The Blues are badly in need of signing a world-class centre forward this summer, with Kai Havertz arguably not at his best in that role and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang frozen out.

One player who has possibly been heavily linked with a move to Chelsea is Osimhen, who is enjoying a superb season for Napoli, inspiring them to within touching distance of a first Serie A title since 1990. The Nigerian, before yesterday's match with Verona, scored 21 goals in just 22 league starts, as well as finding the net four times in the Champions League.

Injury saw him miss Napoli's 1-0 defeat away to AC Milan in their quarter-final first leg clash earlier this week, with the result highlighting both how important he is and how badly they need him available for the return fixture.

Osimhen is likely to be a man in demand come the end of the season, and it looks as though Chelsea still believe he could end up at Stamford Bridge.

Are Chelsea confident of getting their man?

According to 90min, the Blues are "confident they can win the race" to snap up the 24-year-old this summer, even if they fail to qualify for the Champions League. It is claimed that the west Londoners think they can "outbid their rivals", with Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United all mentioned as possible suitors.

Osimhen's idol is Chelsea legend Didier Drogba, which could work in their favour, although Napoli will clearly be reluctant to sell arguably their most prized asset.

The Blues must do all they can to acquire the 23-cap and 15-goal Nigeria international's signature in the summer window, in what could be a huge statement signing. This season, few strikers in Europe have been as deadly – he was seven goals clear of anyone else in the Serie A Golden Boot race before Verona – and at 24, he still has so many years ahead of him to improve further and become an even more formidable prospect.

Granted, not having Champions League football could certainly work against Chelsea, but if Osimhen wants to emulate Drogba and generally likes the appeal of moving to Stamford Bridge, it could be a game-changing signing, with former United striker Dimitar Berbatov recently hailing him as "unbelievable".

Manchester United recorded a tight 1-0 win over Real Betis in their Europa League last 16 clash on Thursday to set up a quarter-final tie against Sevilla.

Erik ten Hag finds his side still in with a slim chance of winning four trophies this term and with the games coming thick and fast, the Dutchman will need to rotate his squad well in order to maximise performances.

An FA Cup tie this afternoon against Fulham will present United with another tough challenge and the Dutchman might want to utilise a few players who came off the bench against Betis on Thursday, with Jadon Sancho someone who might well be unleashed.

Will Jadon Sancho start for Man United against Fulham?

He played the final 30 minutes against the La Liga side, averaging a Sofascore rating of 7/10 and showcasing his abilities by succeeding with two dribble attempts, making three key passes and taking 30 touches while chipping in with two tackles.

While the £73m man operated in a playmaking berth in that late cameo appearance, the loss of Alejandro Garnacho to injury – as well as Antony's recent bout of illness – could potentially see Sancho return on the flanks.

The Englishman has had a mixed campaign under Ten Hag, in truth. The 5 foot 11 dynamo started off well, scoring against Liverpool and Leicester City, however, he trained away from the first team between November and January as Ten Hag looked for him to regain his mental and physical fitness, and it appears to have worked.

Since returning to the first-team fold, the “dangerous” winger – as previously dubbed by writer Drake Hills – has scored twice and looks like he is returning to the form he showed at Borussia Dortmund.

This season, the 22-year-old ranks second in the United squad for key passes per game (1.6) and successful dribbles (1.2), even though he has played just 14 league matches, having been hailed as someone who can "make the difference" by his manager.

Ten Hag will be taking the cup tie seriously and given his side are playing less than 72 hours after their Betis victory, changes will be likely.

Sancho deserves to be given a chance, especially with his recent breakthrough back into the first-team fold and having been given some runouts as of late, he will be able to make a key impact from the first whistle and power the club to the semi-finals of the FA Cup for the first time since 2020.

Newcastle United have reportedly made contact over the potential signing of young Fleetwood Town goalkeeper Stephen McMullan this summer.

The Lowdown: McMullan profiled

McMullan is a rising star in Irish football, having been capped by both Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland at youth level.

He is yet to make a first-team appearance for Fleetwood Town, but has played twice in the FA Youth Cup, keeping two clean sheets, and made ten appearances for Northern Irish side Warrenpoint Town FC (Transfermarkt).

The Latest: Newcastle interest

As per The Sun, Newcastle are keen to poach McMullan from Fleetwood, and Toon chiefs have already ‘made contact’ over a potential move.

They hope to offer the 18-year-old a path into the first team, but he could draw a bidding war with other clubs this summer.

Fleetwood’s academy head Jack Higgins rates McMullan highly, calling him a ‘great character’ who is ‘very self-motivated and determined’.

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The Verdict: Get it done

The Magpies already have four goalkeepers in their senior squad, but three of them are in their 30s, while Loris Karius will turn 30 in June.

Thus, a younger option between the sticks will be needed for their long-term project, and McMullan fits the bill.

Hailed as a ‘really exciting’ player by Higgins, he certainly has a bright future ahead of him, and has already shown his qualities as a goalkeeper, with journalist Josh Bunting noting his ‘absolutely sensational’ shot-stopping while playing in the Irish league.

Nonetheless, there is expected to be plenty of interest in him this summer, so the Tynesiders need to wrap a deal up fast.

Liverpool are closely monitoring Mason Mount’s developing contract situation at Chelsea and could make a swoop for the Premier League gem later this year…

What’s the latest on Mount to Liverpool?

According to ESPN, the Reds will rival Manchester City and Manchester United for the 24-year-old Englishman, who is out of contract at the end of next season.

Jurgen Klopp’s team have fallen by the wayside this season, with their midfield problems having been well-documented, and Mount could provide the requisite skill set to reinvigorate that area of the pitch.

This follows earlier claims dating back to November that the Chelsea star has been on Liverpool’s radar, and a more concrete proposition could materialise over the coming months if Mount and the Blues remain polarised in their respective stances on his future.

Could Mount be Klopp’s next Gundogan?

Rated at £70m by CIES Football Observatory, Mount has been an integral cog in the Chelsea squad since his emergence from the Cobham Youth Academy and after thriving in subsequent loan spells at Vitesse Arnhem and Derby County.

Having made 190 appearances for the west London outfit, scoring 33 goals and providing 37 assists, Mount has indeed become one of the most dependable central forces in England, winning the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup with the Blues.

He has featured 30 times during the current campaign, scoring three goals and supplying six assists, although he was dropped for the previous Premier League match against West Ham United amid concerns over his “poor” form, according to one sport writer.

Under Graham Potter, Chelsea are struggling for form and have won just three games from the past 15 across all competitions, despite having spent more than £550m in the past year under new owner Todd Boehly.

While Mount is perhaps an epitome of the Blues’ recent woes, he is a player with “world-class” credentials – as previously dubbed by Sam Inkersole – and could still be nurtured into achieving his full potential.

With a move to Liverpool, Klopp could unleash his next Ilkay Gundogan, with the 32-year-old Manchester City phenomenon working his way into prominence under the German manager at Borussia Dortmund many years ago.

Indeed, Klopp signed Gundogan from Nurnberg for €4m (£3.5m) in 2011 and he would go on to make 157 appearances at Signal Iduna Park, winning the Bundesliga and DFB Pokal in his first season at the club.

Both players possess the technical prowess that Klopp craves when moulding talent at his disposal with his own clay.

With Mount ranking among the top 6% of midfielders for rate of non-penalty goals in Europe’s five main leagues, compared to the top 7% for his German counterpart, and both players likened to Kevin De Bruyne by FBref’s ‘similar players’ segment, the Reds’ manager could already have the perfect blueprint to get the very best out of Mount.

Mount is a robust, energetic and dynamic midfielder, and he embodies the qualities desired by Klopp as the 55-year-old looks to revitalise his once-unrelenting Liverpool side.

If Chelsea do fail to tie down the £76k-per-week midfielder to a new long-term deal, the German could have his next ‘world-class’ component to get the Anfield machine whirring at its former high-octane intensity once again.

Celtic’s ‘top brass’ are confident Ange Postecoglou will stay on as manager despite links to the vacant post at Leeds United, according to a new report.

The Lowdown: Postecoglou to Leeds?

Leeds are said to have Postecoglou on their radar to take over as manager, after the Premier League club dismissed Jesse Marsch earlier this week.

Chris Sutton has recently claimed that the Hoops boss will want to ‘finish the job’ at Parkhead before he thinks about leaving, while Anthony Joseph also expressed the view that he will stay until the end of the project.

The Latest: Confident he’ll stay

According to a report from The Daily Record, the Celtic board are confident that their manager will stay, despite being under serious consideration for the Leeds job, as they believe he is happy, motivated and completely committed to the task at hand.

Record Sport also claim that, as of late Tuesday afternoon, no contact has been made by the Yorkshire club asking for permission to talk to the 57-year-old, further indicating that he is set to stay.

The Verdict: Great news

Celtic are well on track to bring home another Scottish Premiership title, after Postecoglou led them to success last season, currently sitting nine points clear of Rangers and winning every single league match at Parkhead so far this season.

The former Australia boss has averaged 2.28 points per match in the dugout for the Hoops, while he has also enjoyed success in cup competitions, with a Scottish League Cup final against Rangers pencilled in for the end of February.

In order to prevent Leeds from going for Carlos Corberan, West Bromwich Albion extended their manager’s contract until 2027, and after Postecoglou’s success at Celtic Park, it would be wise to do the same, given that his current deal expires at the end of the season.

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford won’t be leaving the club during the summer transfer window, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Rashford United’s star man

The 25-year-old wasn’t at his best last season, only scoring four times in the Premier League, but he has more than made up for his in 2022/23 to date.

Rashford has been one of United’s standout players, if not their best, scoring ten goals in 19 league starts, as well as netting three times for England at the 2022 World Cup.

The attacker’s current Red Devils deal expires at the end of next season, however, leading to concerns over his long-term future at Old Trafford.

The Latest: Not going anywhere

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jones eased those fears, saying Rashford will be going nowhere in the summer:

“Rashford, there’s just absolutely no way United are going to let Rashford leave at this moment in time.

“To be honest, I don’t think he’ll want to leave, the way things are going at the moment, the way he’s got himself back into form under Ten Hag, I think he appreciates where he’s at and the club are actually giving him licence to thrill, or if you like, he’s getting to play the role that he wants.

“He’s being given new responsibilities, he’s loving it and I just don’t think that this is the time to be looking at a transfer.”

The Verdict: New deal essential

The idea of Rashford leaving United in the near future doesn’t bear thinking about, considering the electric run of form he has found, being hailed as ‘world-class’ by Luke Shaw.

Now 25, he is at a perfect point in his career, with his prime still hopefully ahead of him but also with enough experience to now be a polished, top-quality all-round footballer.

It would be a huge shock, and blow, if the £200,000-a-week Rashford didn’t end up signing a new deal at United, but his lifelong affiliation with the club and rise under Erik ten Hag suggests that that is highly unlikely.

He can go on to become a genuine legend at Old Trafford, adding to his 112 goals and 65 assists, and helping inspire the Red Devils to a new period of post-Sir Alex Ferguson success.

Leeds United’s move for Angers midfielder Azzedine Ounahi could drag on until the end of the transfer window, Pete O’Rourke has claimed.

What’s the word?

The midfielder, who was a standout player for Morocco at the World Cup, has been coveted in this transfer window, with Barcelona among those linked with a move in recent weeks.

Now, it seems Leeds are one of the frontrunners for his signature, but striking a deal may not be easy, and with less than two weeks remaining in the transfer window, they will be sweating to get it over the line.

Speaking to Football FanCast, O’Rourke claimed that Angers may even want to keep him on loan for the rest of the season – something Leeds may not accept – and that it may be a nervous wait to get this deal done.

He said: “I think Angers, ideally, would like the player back on loan if he was to be sold this window, and I don’t think that’s what Leeds want to do.

“It’s a difficult deal to do, but Leeds are still working on it as well, and this one’s probably going to drag right on to the end of the window.”

An important signing

We feel Leeds must ensure they get Ounahi over the line given their precarious position in the table, as they need all the quality they can get to fight relegation.

Even if they have to spend big on the 22-year-old, it could be argued that he will retain his value even if they do go down given his reputation from the World Cup, and he could become a gamechanger for Jesse Marsch’s side, with Jose Mourinho describing Ounahi as “absolutely incredible” during the World Cup and he could form a young, dynamic midfield trio with Marc Roca and Tyler Adams if he joins.