Leeds United may have just been handed a major boost on the personnel front with one man ready to commit his future to Elland Road, as per the latest reports, and lilywhites boss Daniel Farke has to take plenty of the credit.

Leeds keep up winning ways

Another Championship win on Friday night, this time a 2-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough, kept Leeds in the hunt for automatic promotion in their first season out of the Premier League.

Goals from Patrick Bamford and Wilfried Gnonto ensured that Leeds leapfrogged Ipswich Town into second place, with the Tractor Boys then falling to a dramatic 2-1 deafeat at Cardiff City on Saturday afternoon.

Leeds United top goalscorers 23/24

Crysencio Summerville

16

Dan James

11

Joel Piroe

11

Patrick Bamford

8

Georginio Rutter

7

Wilfried Gnonto

7

Sat on 79 points with nine games still to play, it is looking likely that a record points tally will be required to ensure automatic promotion from the English second tier this season, with 93 points the previous record to make it into the Premier League in second place.

Leeds' fortunes in the coming months will have a major effect on their transfer business, but there is one man that they may well be picking up regardless of which division they begin 2024/25 in.

Rodon makes decision on Leeds future

TeamTalk report that Joe Rodon has been 'advised' by Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou that he has no future in north London. Valued by the Lilywhites at around £15m, they add that Leeds are seemingly ready to make a move for the Welshman irrespective of whether or not they manage to secure a return to the English top flight come the end of the campaign.

Rodon is out of contract in 2025, which will only further Leeds' hopes of landing their star defender on a permanent basis at a cut-price fee. Most importantly, the player himself is said to be very happy in Yorkshire and keen to sign a long-term deal, regardless of what division they are in, due largely to how much he is loving life under Farke.

Arriving at Elland Road for the 2023/24 campaign, Rodon has been a star for Leeds United. Appearing 34 times already this season, he has been a major part of a Leeds side that boasts the meanest defence in the division, conceding just 28 goals all season. He played another 90 minutes in their impressive 2-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday on Friday night and is a firm favourite in west Yorkshire.

Earlier in the campaign, ex-Leeds man Jon Newsome hailed Rodon as 'outstanding' following a 3-0 win over Millwall.

"Outstanding. Absolutely outstanding. Joe Rodon was man of the match for me. He got his head on everything. He was a different class, he really, really was", he eulogised of the Welshman.

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Despite his impressive campaign, however, Rodon's future appears to lie away from parent club Tottenham. In the months since Postecoglou has arrived at the club, he has already signed two new central defenders (Micky van de Ven and Radu Dragusin) and Rodon is now further down the pecking order than ever in north London, opening the door for a long-term switch to Leeds.

After a rare window without any major incomings, Chelsea look set to spend big once more in the summer, as they look to finally find the formula to ensure their return to the Premier League's top four, which could see one European star arrive.

Chelsea transfer news

Despite signing several fresh faces in a major summer overhaul last summer, the Blues have failed to improve on their results and currently sit as low as 10th in the Premier League – just two places above where they finished in the previous campaign. It's so far been a case of new stars, new manager but same Chelsea under Todd Boehly's ownership. From Champions League winners in 2021, the Blues, under Mauricio Pochettino, now find themselves a world away from Europe's elite.

One problem that those in London have consistently faced since the days of Diego Costa, however, is a player to lead the line and find the back of the net week in, week out. Alvaro Morata once tried, before failing. So too did academy graduate Tammy Abraham, before finding the exit door. And now the responsibility has fallen on the shoulders of Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson, with the former struggling with injuries and the latter remaining unconvincing in front of goal.

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So the attention turns to the summer once again and a player who could finally fill the golden boots of Costa. According to Rudy Galetti, Chelsea are prepared to trigger main target Victor Osimhen's €130m (£111m) release clause this summer and are set to speed up their plan to secure the Napoli forward over fears that Paris Saint-Germain could make their move.

The French giants will be on high alert when it comes to top strikers this summer with reports indicating that Kylian Mbappe is set to leave the club as a free agent at the end of the season. If they come in for Osimhen, Chelsea may face a tough battle.

"Fantastic" Osimhen could solve Chelsea problem

The deal would cost a hefty fee, but it is one worth paying for a player of Osimhen's calibre. The Napoli man has become the star man in Italy, helping his side to win the famous Scudetto last season, whilst also earning the praise of former AS Roma boss Jose Mourinho. The former Blues man still couldn't help but aim some criticism at the forward, however, saying:

"I told him that he scored a wonderful goal and needs to stop diving so much. His goal was fantastic, he did the same thing when we met earlier this season, so he’s a fantastic player. But he mustn’t dive."

Osimhen's stats, meanwhile, show just how much of an upgrade he'd be on Jackson at Stamford Bridge:

As Chelsea look to get back to their best, Osimhen could quickly prove to be the key if the Blues complete a deal to welcome the forward to Stamford Bridge this summer.

Chelsea's dressing-room rift is out in the open as Enzo Fernandez's video leaves the club's pre-season plans in "total meltdown".

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Fernandez led chants about FranceChelsea players furious with the ArgentinePublic apology is not enough to ease tensionWHAT HAPPENED?

Fernandez was filmed singing an alleged racist song with his Argentina teammates in the team bus during their celebrations after winning the Copa America. This incident has caused significant unrest among the Chelsea squad, with Wesley Fofana labelling the chants as "uninhibited racism."

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The fallout from the video has been severe, leading to a division within the team. According to up to ten players have reportedly unfollowed or snubbed Fernandez on social media, highlighting the deep rift caused by the incident. Despite Fernandez issuing a public apology, an insider told that his apology was deemed insufficient by many within the club. One of them even said: "People are saying ‘what the f*** was he thinking?’”

The chant in question allegedly also included derogatory and transphobic references to French star Kylian Mbappe, which has been condemned by many. This has exacerbated the tensions within Chelsea’s diverse squad, further complicating the efforts to restore unity and focus ahead of the new season.

DID YOU KNOW?

The incident has particularly affected Chelsea's French contingent, which includes Benoit Badiashile, Axel Disasi, Malo Gusto, Malang Sarr, Christopher Nkunku, Lesley Ugochukwu, and Fofana. These players, along with three other non-French teammates, are reportedly upset by the offensive content of the chant. The situation has led to increased tensions and disharmony within the squad.

Striker Nicolas Jackson attempted to mediate the situation by posting a picture of Fernandez greeting a young black Chelsea fan and another of himself holding up Fernandez's shirt. However, this gesture backfired and was later removed. A source close to Jackson explained: “Nicolas had no intention to create controversy or disrespect people. It was a kind gesture to support a team-mate and acted in good faith.”

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GettyWHAT NEXT?

Both Chelsea and FIFA have taken up the matter and are investigating the controversial video. The club is working to address the issue internally while also cooperating with football’s governing body to resolve the matter. The investigations aim to determine the full context and impact of the video, as well as any potential disciplinary actions that may be necessary.

da premier bet： Following the success of Jeremy Doku – a classic winger who thrives in one-on-one situations – Manchester City have reportedly turned their attention towards repeating that piece of transfer genius this summer.

Man City transfer news

da bet7： The Manchester club have signed a number of wingers over the years, with Pep Guardiola's search often going back and forth between players who are more disciplined and wingers who are more eccentric such as Leroy Sane, Riyad Mahrez and now Doku.

Related "Can confirm" – Fabrizio Romano namechecks Man City in Florian Wirtz update

He would flourish under Pep Guardiola.

Posts ByTom Cunningham Mar 20, 2024

The latter's arrival last summer suggests that, as things stand, Guardiola has turned his system towards players more capable of driving forward rather than those who slow things down and pick out the perfect pass. And we could see even more signs of that change this summer, as City look to sign another player of Doku's calibre.

The slight adjustment doesn't come as too much of a surprise given that Guardiola very rarely isn't in the middle of developing his own system, but those at The Etihad will hope to see it at least play a part in a return to dominance after struggling to get a full grip on the Premier League title race in the current campaign.

What's more, part of that adjustment could yet include the arrival of Johan Bakayoko. According to Sacha Tavolieri, Manchester City scouts have been impressed with Bakayoko and the Premier League champions could secure a deal for as little as €35m (£30m) for the PSV Eindhoven winger this summer.

Bakayoko, still only 20-years-old and one year younger than Doku, has played with the Manchester City man on international duty with Belgium and represents the next era of their stars following the likes of Kevin de Bruyne and Vincent Kompany. Following Doku's success on the left-hand side, Guardiola could now land a similar player on the opposite flank in Bakayoko this summer.

"Electric" Bakayoko is similar to Doku

Two Belgian wingers of similar age, Bakayoko has more than earned the chance to follow in the footsteps of Doku this summer. The latter has enjoyed an excellent debut campaign in Manchester, scoring three goals and assisting a further five whilst lighting up the Premier League with his impressive one-on-one ability.

League Stats 23/24 (via FBref)

Johan Bakayoko

Jeremy Doku

Goals

6

3

Assists

8

5

Take-ons Completed

70

73

Key Passes

53

37

Ball Recoveries

79

69

Lighting up European football, it's no shock that Bakayoko is reportedy attracting interest from the likes of Manchester City. If they are looking to replicate Doku on the opposite side, then they should turn to the PSV star, who has earned high praise from Football Talent Scout's Jacek Kulig.

When the transfer window swings open, City may get themselves one of the bargains of the summer if they manage to land Bakayoko for as little as £30m to repeat their Doku genius.

اكتسح باير ليفركوزن نظيره فينورد برباعية نظيفة في المباراة التي جمعت بينهما ضمن الجولة الأولى من مرحلة الدوري ببطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

تقدم فلوريان فيرتز في الدقيقة 4 من الشوط الأول للضيوف، قبل أن يعزز الإسباني أليخاندرو جريمالدو النتيجة في الدقيقة 29.

وفي الدقيقة 35 عاد فلوريان فيرتز، وسجل الهدف الثاني له والثالث لفريقه من صناعة جيرمي فريمبونج.

وعند الدقيقة 43 وقبل نهاية الشوط الأول، زاد تيمون فيلينرويثر من معاناة فريقه بعدما سجل هدفًا بالخطأ في مرماه.

طالع أيضًا.. فيديو | أبوتريكة يكشف نقاط قوة برشلونة مع هانز فليك

في الشوط الثاني، حافظ ليفركوزن على النتيجة ليبدأ وصيف الدوري الأوروبي بداية مثالية لبطولة دوري الأبطال.

وحقق ليفركوزن 3 نقاط، استمرارًا لتألق الفرق الألمانية بعد فوز بايرن ميونخ وبوروسيا دورتموند خلال اليومين الماضيين.

ولإطار نفس الجولة، حقق بنفيكا فوزًا هامًا على ملعب راجو ميتيش أمام ريد ستار الصربي، تحت قيادة الحكم الإنجليزي مايكل أوليفر.

سجل كريم أوجلو الهدف الأول في الدقيقة 8، ليضاعف أوركون كوكتشو النتيجة للضيوف، ولم يستفد ريد ستار من هدف ميلسون المتأخر في الدقيقة 85.

بهذه النتيجة يحقق بنفيكا 3 نقاط هامة، بينما يبقى ريد ستار بدون رصيد من النقاط. أهداف مباراة باير ليفركوزن وفينورد في دوري أبطال أوروبا

أهداف مباراة بنفيكا وريد ستار في دوري أبطال أوروبا

Manchester United bounced back from their consecutive Premier League defeats to Fulham and Manchester City with a victory over Everton yesterday.

The score line ended 2-0 for Erik ten Hag’s team, but the result isn’t a true reflection of how the game unfolded or United’s performance.

The hosts were gifted two penalties in the first half due to clumsy challenges by the Toffees, which Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford both dispatched with confidence.

Nevertheless, there was one player who thrived yet again in his new role, arguably becoming just as good as Fernandes.

Bruno Fernandes’ 23/24 campaign

There’s no two ways about it: Fernandes has been United’s most consistent performer since his arrival, thriving under every manager. The Portuguese midfielder is always a threat, whether he is performing extremely well or poorly. He has the ability to create a moment of magic from nothing.

Despite playing in a false nine role over the last two league matches, Fernandes’ goal against Everton was his eighth of the campaign and the 72nd of his United career, alongside 63 assists.

His impact on the team is enormous, with his five chances created, three shots on target, and ten touches in the opposition box on Saturday proving that he’s the main driving force behind the Red Devils attacking play.

However, there is another individual in the attack who is on his way to becoming just as influential as the United captain.

Alejandro Garnacho’s stats in his new role

With Antony massively underperforming this season, registering zero goal contributions in 22 Premier League games, Ten Hag has been forced to deploy Alejandro Garnacho in a new role as a right winger.

The Argentine typically plays on the left, cutting inside onto his stronger right foot, where he can strike at goal, but his statistics on the opposite flank suggest that he’s thriving in front of Diogo Dalot.

Garnacho’s first major game on the right was the 3-2 victory over Aston Villa on Boxing Day, where he netted a brace to overturn a two-goal deficit.

The 19-year-old also scored two in the 3-0 win against West Ham United last month, proving that he is much more of a goal threat, netting four times in 12 matches on the right and three goals in 25 games on the left.

However, it’s his creativity that has also improved, as highlighted by his 8/10 performance – as per Manchester Evening News – against Everton this weekend.

Minutes

83

xG

0.29

Shots

3

Penalties won

2

Chances created

2

Touches in opposition box

10

Without Garnacho, the chances are that United would not have picked up three points, with the “stupendous” attacker, as called by football creator Liam Canning, winning both penalties after drifting across the field with excellent movement on the first and dribbling on the second.

The number 17 also created two chances and showed intent to get himself into goal-scoring positions, as highlighted by his three shots in the box and 0.29 xG.

In truth, Garnacho has well and truly made the right-wing role his own in 2024, the position he is set to play in for the rest of the campaign.

But for Kolpaks and injury, South Africa could and should have fought fire with fire at the Wanderers

Firdose Moonda at the Wanderers26-Jan-2020When you imagine a dream South African attack to operate at the Wanderers, the home of fast bowling since Australian pitches died, who do you picture running in? Is it Dane Paterson? Or Dwaine Pretorius? Or Beuran Hendricks?Let’s be honest, given what we’ve seen from this Test, it’s probably none of them. Which begs the question: What, without Kolpak, without injury, without anything, would South Africa’s dream attack be right now?For this exercise, we’re not harking back to the glory days of Allan Donald or Makhaya Ntini or even the more recent firestarters like Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel. We’re only going to consider players who are active on the current circuit and see if we can come up with a better bowling group than the one playing in this match.We’ll start with the pick of the existing lot, Anrich Nortje, who has tirelessly and single-handedly ensured South Africa have salvaged some pride from this series. Nortje has all the qualities of an old-fashioned South African quick: he is fast and aggressive, his stock ball is short and he has stamina. Nortje has been the seam-bowler putting in the heaviest workloads with more overs than any of his colleagues, and he is also having the most success.His 18 wickets include those that have come late in an innings or the day, like the ones of Ollie Pope and Jos Buttler – both caught behind playing nothing shots to back-of-a-length balls – which created a small opening for South Africa. Nortje left England on 160 for 6. Had the lead not already ballooned to 377, it would have been a handy position for the hosts to be in. All he needs is someone else in the team to put their hand up at the same time.Imagine if Kagiso Rabada had not been suspended for this match and could have bowled alongside Nortje. South Africa would have been able to apply pressure through pace from both ends, the way England did. That said, Rabada is an automatic pick for the dream attack, even if he hasn’t come up with ways to channel his emotions when celebrating better. Hopefully with a more potent pack around him, Rabada’s frustrations will not build to the point where he needs to release them as recklessly as he did at St George’s Park.The question now is who will open the bowling with Rabada. Nortje is one option but it would be difficult to look past Kyle Abbott, who has taken 182 wickets in three seasons in the County Championship, at an average of 18.62. Abbott’s ability to move the ball, through the air and off the seam, would offer a Vernon Philander-esque partner to Rabada.This series, SuperSport Park aside, has not been the best example of how Rabada and Philander can work in tandem, but we can still consider the theory of it. On one end, batsmen would be rushed by Rabada, on the other, contained and tested by Philander and/or Abbott. It would mean they would face contrasting challenges as their innings began and on a Wanderers pitch, it would make it difficult for them to settle. It’s also likely that Abbott would not be as much of a green-track bully as Philander has been accused of, because he has the skillset for other surfaces. Abbott could enhance South Africa’s attack significantly and if there is a way to bring him back, it should be on top of acting director of cricket, Graeme Smith’s to-do list.Kyle Abbott walks off after taking nine wickets•Getty Images

A similar argument could be made for the inclusion of Simon Harmer, whose 212 wickets in three county seasons have come at an average of 20.25. Harmer would present some interesting problems for the selectors, who have anointed Keshav Maharaj the first-choice spinner, with good reason. Until his omission at the Wanderers, Maharaj had done South Africa’s dirty work throughout this series, and before, often holding up an end for an entire day. He is disciplined and occasionally dangerous, which is exactly how South Africa like their spinners. If Harmer was to return immediately, given some of the things he has said about the South African system, it’s more likely he would be an understudy with Maharaj worthy of his retention in this dream attack.That leaves space for an allrounder, a position to which South Africa have committed themselves by blooding Dwaine Pretorius in this series and including Andile Phehlukwayo in the squad. Neither of them offers anything more than medium-pace so South Africa may want to cast the net wider. Wiaan Mulder is the option that would turn the quality attack we have now into a dream. Mulder is young and talented with a first-class batting average that sits just under 40 and a first-class bowling average that is a shave over 23. He is a genuine two-in-one-player and, at 21, has time on his side. Why isn’t he in the squad now, you may ask?ALSO READ: Philander suffers hamstring tear, nine balls into final Test inningsWell, he has spent the last six weeks recovering from a lower-back stress fracture and is due to bowl for the first time tomorrow. If there’s one warning that comes with Mulder, it’s the injury one. He has already struggled with an ankle problem and an Achilles injury and would need to be monitored and managed if he was to play regularly.So there we have our dream attack: Rabada, Abbott, Nortje, Mulder and Maharaj.But we still need some back-ups. If fit, Lungi Ngidi would immediately come into consideration for his pace and bounce. So would Duanne Olivier, another Kolpak player who left when he was excelling. Olivier was the leading wicket-taker against Pakistan early last year where he used barrages of short balls to set South Africa up for a series win. Olivier’s departure opened the door for Nortje, so you could argue that he should be considered ahead of Nortje, but we’ll send him to the back of the queue if he returns. Other names that would come into contention are Lutho Sipamla, who is fourth on the first-class wickets charts and Gerald Coetzee, South Africa’s tearaway at the Under-19 World Cup.So when you are faced with the situation in South African cricket right now, and you’re struggling to find anything in what looks like an empty cupboard, come back to this little exercise. Picture this dream attack on this Wanderers pitch and think about how differently things could have been. And then wake up.

Glasgow Rangers manager Philippe Clement will have enjoyed the fact the international break came precisely at the right time for his squad, especially with the sheer volume of injuries they have suffered recently.

The two-week hiatus will have given the likes of Danilo, Abdallah Sima, and Oscar Cortes time to recover and work on building their match fitness ahead of the final furlong of the season.

Several players were in action for their national sides over the weekend. Cyriel Dessers scored for Nigeria as they defeated Ghana, while John Souttar came on as a sub during Scotland’s 4-0 loss to the Netherlands on Friday evening.

Ridvan Yilmaz also made an appearance for Turkey following his fine form at the Light Blues since the turn of the year, yet he had to come off with an injury, something that could give Clement a major selection headache.

The latest on Ridvan Yilmaz's injury

The left-back was making his first appearance for Turkey since March 2022, and it was nothing short of deserved after becoming the first-choice option for the Belgian coach on the left side of the Rangers defence.

What should have been a night where Yilmaz cemented his position in the team ahead of Euro 2024 soon turned into a nightmare, as he suffered an upper thigh injury in the 27th minute and had to be replaced.

A statement from Turkey explained that he had been sent home from the squad due to the issue and would play no further part in their second match against Austria on Tuesday night.

This is a significant blow for Rangers, as Yilmaz was emerging as a key player under Clement.

Ridvan Yilmaz’s statistics in 2023/24

The defender has enjoyed a consistent run in the starting XI, which in turn has given the player the confidence to showcase his true talents.

In the Premiership this season, the former Besiktas defender has created six big chances, averaged 1.7 key passes per game and taken 0.8 shots per match, indicating that he loves bombing down the left flank regularly.

Goals

1

Assists

1

Key passes per game

1.7

Big chances created

6

Successful dribbles per game

1.3

Additionally, the 22-year-old has been solid defensively, winning 3.5 total duels per game – a success rate of 56% – along with making 1.1 tackles per game and being dribbled past on just 0.5 occasions per match, rubberstamping his presence in the starting XI.

Who shouldn't replace Yilmaz

It is unclear how long he will be missing, but Clement will need to find a replacement. The most obvious choice is Borna Barisic, yet his form has been dismal recently for the Ibrox side.

The Croatian has been with the Gers since the summer of 2018, firmly establishing himself as the number one left-back in the squad.

The signing of Yilmaz in 2022 was supposed to give Barisic some competition, yet he struggled during his maiden season in Glasgow, making only 15 appearances in all competitions.

Barisic kept his spot during the opening six months of the current term, but his form has been way below par.

Indeed, he has started just 13 league matches this term, creating only one big chance and succeeding with a measly 0.3 dribbles per game. Considering the defender has made a career out of his attacking abilities, these statistics are poor.

Barisic has also lost possession a staggering 15.5 times per match in the top flight this season, being regularly caught out as he is bombing down the left wing, yet it is clear Yilmaz has been the better player in recent months. It won't come as a surprise, therefore, to learn that the Croat could depart in the summer.

Now, Clement simply cannot risk bringing the 31-year-old back into the starting XI, especially with tough games against Hibs and Celtic fast approaching.

Who should replace Yilmaz

The Belgian should turn towards someone else in his squad who has impressed no matter where he has been deployed – Dujon Sterling.

The 24-year-old endured a slightly difficult start at the Gers despite his "exciting" billing – as per Rangers Review – with former manager Michael Beale playing him just seven times before he was sacked in October.

An injury crisis during the festive season threatened to derail the wonderful progress Clement had made in his first few weeks, but Sterling stepped up to the plate and shone in the heart of the midfield.

He was even given a start in the League Cup final against Aberdeen, delivering a mature performance as Rangers secured a 1-0 win to claim their first silverware since the 2022 Scottish Cup.

Sterling even won the Man of the Match award for his display, while Rangers Review journalist Joshua Barrie hailed the former Chelsea starlet as their “best player so far” during the half-time break in the final.

The versatile 6 foot 1 gem has played at right-back, right-wing and in the centre of the midfield over the previous few months, but he also played at left-back against Celtic during the first Old Firm clash of the season.

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Injuries to Yilmaz and Barisic in September left Beale with no choice but to utilise Sterling there, and he delivered an astute display.

During his 65 minutes on the field, the defender completed 87% of his passes, made three interceptions, two tackles and was only dribbled past once during the match.

He only lost possession seven times too. Considering this was a position outside his comfort zone, there is no doubt he was one of their finer performers in what eventually turned out to be a 1-0 defeat.

With the clash against Celtic being billed as a potential title decider, hopefully Yilmaz is back to full fitness prior to the clash against Celtic. If he isn’t, then Sterling is more than capable of filling the void.

His improvement under Clement has been nothing short of remarkable, with the Englishman able to perform in whatever position he is chosen, always delivering a positive performance.

The Premiership title race could go right down to the wire and Clement will need every single one of his players in the form of their lives to lift a first league crown since 2021.

A win over Celtic could be the catalyst which sees the Ibrox side motor away from their rivals.

Former England allrounder Laura Marsh has announced her retirement from all forms of cricket.Marsh, 33, called an end to her international career late last year after being left out of the England squad and has now cited the postponed launch of the Hundred as one of the key reasons behind her full retirement. She had been due to play for Oval Invincibles in the new format but the Covid-19 pandemic forced the ECB to move the opening season to 2021.”I have made the decision to retire from all forms of cricket. With the cancellation of The Hundred competition this year, I feel that it is the right time to hang up the boots,” Marsh wrote on Twitter. “I want to say a huge thank you to all the teams and organisations I have represented over the years.”I owe a huge amount to both Kent & Sussex for the role they played in my development as a player.”Big thanks also to The Surrey Stars, Sydney Sixers, NSW Breakers and Otago Sparks. Every team I played for developed me as a player and a person and I am fortunate to have made some lifelong friends and memories over the years.”

He is confident he, Misbah-ul-Haq, Younis Khan and Waqar Younis will work well together on the England tour

Umar Farooq11-Jun-2020Mushtaq Ahmed said it would require clear communication and tactful management to ensure Pakistan’s high-profile coaching team worked smoothly with the players on the team’s upcoming tour of England. The former Pakistan legspinner has been brought in as spin bowling coach, one of two big-name appointments for the England tour, the other being Younis Khan as batting coach.This is the first time since Bob Woolmer’s appointment as head coach in 2004 that Pakistan is travelling with a fully Pakistani backroom staff. The reasons why the PCB had wanted to avoid an all-local environment in that time included internal politics, trust deficits, and infighting that plagued the side in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Besides, the lack of professionally qualified coaches in Pakistan meant the local options were limited.”We all are on the same page with a clear-cut predefined role,” Mushtaq said. “Misbah is our head coach. Younis is going to deal with batsmen as consultant, Waqar [Younis] will be working with the bowlers, and I am doing mentoring and working with spinners. So all of us from the same generation who played modern-day cricket are coming together to work for Pakistan. The problem will arise when there is a communication gap, [so] we have to look out to gel the team. If there is any conflict, it needs to be resolved there and then and move on. We have to play smart.”We all are sensible people and this [combination] is going to work well. I have worked with big coaches and the biggest example is dealing with Andy [Flower] and KP (Kevin Pietersen). Both didn’t have the mutual understanding but England still won big games. I had a role there, I used to mentor KP and at the same time worked with Andy as well to manage the communication gap. So we (the Pakistan dressing room) shouldn’t allow that communication gap to create misunderstandings. We are very optimistic that we will all come together and graciously share our experiences and stay united on tour.”Mushtaq also downplayed the perception that Younis does not get on with the PCB. “Younis Khan is a straightforward guy and people learn with the passage of time,” he said. “With age you learn a lot. Younis is a wonderful guy. Whenever you talk to him sensibly, he always responds positively. His work ethics are great and we give his example to youngsters to follow his lifestyle and how he manages his routines. He is a professional and has a tough mindset and we need people like him. He has the experience playing everywhere in the world in tough situations and coming out fighting against odds.Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq enjoyed a good relationship as players•AFP”His personality of being a tough guy is very useful for players going to England in the ongoing situation. Sometime mental toughness takes more weight than talking technique. With him (Younis) around in the dressing room, players will have a good role model in front of them.”Mushtaq has been in the coaching business for over 10 years, starting in 2008 when he worked with the then England coach Peter Moores. He has since then established himself as a reputed spin-bowling consultant, and his time with the England side coincided with the best years of Graeme Swann, who ended up becoming one of England’s greatest spinners. He worked with spinners in Pakistan for several years following on from that, but it is believed his coaching style made players more dependent on the coach. Pakistan’s high-performance coach Nadeem Khan doesn’t want this to happen.”In the 90s we didn’t have a lot of coaches and I always believed you were your best coach,” Nadeem said. “When you analyse yourself on your own, you have a better prospect of becoming a good player quickly. These days, [the amount of] cricket has increased drastically and players don’t have time to keep a balance between playing matches, fitness [work] and updating themselves with information.”They are playing all formats and are fully engaged series after series. We had more time in the nets on our own, and with less cricket, we had ample recovery time. But in today’s cricket players need coaches, expert coaches to manage [their workload]. Teams these days take a bigger pool of coaches and consultants, and sometimes the support staff easily outnumbers the playing side in the dressing room.”It’s very important to have a relationship with players and you have to take ownership. It’s about communication and a player needs help and information. I used to think that players needed to develop on their own, but they don’t have time to work on their own. They are not even properly enjoying the victories or learning from the failures because they are playing back-to-back cricket. This is exactly where the role of a coach comes in.”