Two wins from South Africa’s last eight ODIs against England does not make for pretty reading but allrounder Chloe Tryon isn’t bothered by that record.Ahead of her team’s Women’s World Cup opener in Guwahati on Friday, Tryon said those results don’t reflect the reality of a South African side that has reached two T20 World Cup finals since they last met England in the 50-over version, including a memorable semi-final victory at Newlands in 2023.”The team has changed a lot over the last couple of years,” Tryon told the media on Wednesday. “We’ve got some young players coming in and we’ve got a lot of experienced players, and everyone’s just taken up their role really beautifully. And the way that we’ve worked behind the scenes has been really good, so I’m not looking at too much of the stats.”South Africa’s World Cup squad is missing three of the players that lost 2-1 to England in their home ODI series last year. But they have five changes in personnel from the squad that beat England in the group stage of the 2022 World Cup before losing to them in the semi-final.Since then, South Africa have a new captain, a new wicket-keeper, a new pace spearhead, a new coach and most importantly, a new frame of reference, thanks to their progress in the shorter format. They’ve also got far more experience of their opposition than was the case three years ago. Tryon is one of three South Africans in this squad – Laura Wolvaardt and Marizanne Kapp are the others – who are fresh off the Women’s Hundred.Though Tryon herself didn’t have a good tournament, making just 31 runs in nine matches, she benefitted from first-hand experience of her English opponents which she hopes she can use to South Africa’s advantage.”It’s a really good tournament to be part of and I obviously got to play with a couple of the England girls, which was pretty exciting,” she said. “Just watching them, how they go about their skill and how they go about their business is really good, so hopefully I can give a lot of insight to the team.”Tryon and Wolvaardt’s team-mates at Southern Brave included Lauren Bell and Danni Wyatt-Hodge, two of the “matchwinners” of which Tryon is wary, in an England side laden with superstars.”As a unit they’re just really that strong,” she said. “They’re led by one of the best all-rounders in the world (Nat Sciver-Brunt), and everyone just feeds off her. Every single one of them are matchwinners. We have to make sure that we show up with a lot of presence and we give 200%. We’ve shown that we can beat them in the past and we have, so we need to be really positive going into the first game.”Related

• South Africa women pick Tumi Sekhukhune and retain strong core for England Test

• Dercksen 104, Tryon 74 and hat-trick hand South Africa consolation win

• From Kappie to Dercky: South Africa's pace-bowling allrounder's torch is being passed

• Gardner upstages Devine as Australia kick off with a win

• Charlotte Edwards takes confidence from England's strong warm-up displays

South Africa have turned their 50-over fortunes around since losing eight out of 10 ODIs between June 2024 and May 2025, and have won four of their last six games. Admittedly, these came against West Indies (who are not at this tournament) and Pakistan (who had to qualify) so they need to be understood in context, but they also hinted at a succcessful adjustment to a new style under coach Mandla Mashimbyi.Mashimbyi has been in charge for nine months now, in which time the team has bought into his aggressive style of cricket. They have bulked up their middle order with Anneke Bosch, Annerie Dercksen, Sune Luus, Tryon, Nadine de Klerk and the option of Karabo Meso from No.3 to 7 or 8. “We bat really deep which is really important in a 50-over tournament like this,” Tryon said. “As a batting unit, we’ve come a lot of strides over the last couple of months, you can see that there’s a big difference in our batting and our approach in our batting department.”On flat pitches, this is expected to be a World Cup of high scores. However, South Africa’s early observations from the India-Sri Lanka match were that “it takes a little bit of turn,” as Tryon put it.Her allround abilities could be crucial to South Africa’s fortunes, but so too her experience. Tryon and Luus are both playing at their fourth World Cup, while Kapp is entering her fifth. Each has the knowledge that this could be their last, and they want to make a statement.”As a senior group we just want to lead the way for the team,” Tryon said. “We’ve got some girls that haven’t played a 50-over World Cup before, so for us, it’s making sure that we’re taking a lot of the responsibility in the middle and creating really good environments within the squad. It’s been really good so far. The way that everyone has gelled together has been so good. We’re really excited for the first game and we want to lead the way as a senior group by just making sure that we keep everyone as a tight unit.”

The Brewers turned one of the most improbable double plays in MLB postseason history on Monday night, thanks to some abysmal baserunning from Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández.

An attempted home run robbery from Sal Frelick ultimately resulted in an incredibly rare 8-6-2 double play, the first of its kind in the history of the MLB playoffs, thanks to an abundance of confusion on the base paths during the fourth inning of Game 1. In short, Hernández failed to score from third base despite the ball being live at the center field wall after Frelick failed to come up with the heroic home run robbery.

Hernández addressed the incident on Tuesday, and he didn't mince words while taking ownership of his mistake.

"I f—ed up," said Hernández, via Bob Nightengale of . Hernández said that he's watched the replay of the incident and said he was entirely to blame for the mistake he made on the bases.

On the play in question, Hernández was thrown at out the plate after Frelick gathered the ball and rifled it to the cutoff man, Joey Ortiz. Hernández should have left third base the moment the ball hit Frelick's glove, but he remained on the base for far too long, enabling the defense to throw him out at home.

Milwaukee was then able to get the force out at third base, because catcher Will Smith had run back to second as if the runners needed to tag up.

It was a confusing play, to say the least, but Hernández acknowledged the significance of his mistake and took accountability for not getting the run home. Ultimately, the Dodgers were able to edge out a 2–1 victory over the Brewers, but they'd have gotten some crucial insurance runs in the fourth had Hernandez been more alert on the base paths.

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O West Ham já prepara o anúncio de contratação de Luís Guilherme, joia do Palmeiras. Segundo o jornalista italiano Fabrizio Romano, o atacante desembarcou em Londres, na Inglaterra, para fazer os exames médicos e assinar seu contrato como novo jogador dos Hammers.

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A venda do jogador de 18 anos pelo clube paulista ao West Ham chegou ao valor fixo de 23 milhões de euros (cerca de R$ 130,97 milhões), mais 7 milhões de bônus por metas contratuais (cerca de R$ 39,86 milhões), totalizado a negociação em 30 milhões de euros (R$ 170,83 milhões).

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Mesmo não atuando mais pelo Palmeiras caso a operação seja concluída, o Verdão ainda irá permanecer dono de 20% dos direitos de Luís Guilherme, o que implicará em mais dinheiro para o clube no caso de uma futura venda do atleta.

As negociações entre o atual campeão brasileiro e o time da Premier League estão bem encaminhadas. O atleta viajou neste domingo (9) e deve ser anunciado ainda nesta semana.

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Luís GuilhermePalmeirasPremier LeagueWest Ham

The Yankees and Red Sox will face off in an elimination Game 3 on Thursday night at Yankee Stadium as the fierce AL East rivals look to compete for a spot in the ALDS.

New York's lineup was released ahead of first pitch, and there was a notable change to the lineup that took the field in Game 1, when the Yankees faced Boston's star lefty Garrett Crochet. With fellow southpaw Connelly Early toeing the rubber for the Red Sox in Game 3, it was expected that Aaron Boone would insert Paul Goldschmidt back into the lineup for a more favorable matchup. It's something he'd said he planned to do ahead of Game 1 when there was a lefty on the mound.

Instead, however, Ben Rice drew back into the Yankees' starting lineup after his impressive performance in Game 2, and Boone had a perfectly succinct explanation for the change.

"Ben Rice," Boone said, when asked what led him to change his mind on Goldschmidt being at first base against lefties (via Bryan Hoch of MLB.com)

While New York might miss Goldschmidt's defensive prowess at first base, keeping Rice's bat out of the lineup was simply not an option in a do-or-die Game 3. Rice homered on the first pitch he saw on Wednesday night, which was also the first pitch he faced in the postseason in his career. Rice went 2-for-4 and drove in two runs in his postseason debut, and he's done enough to warrant a place in the Yankees' lineup for Game 3.

Yankees Lineup for Game 3 vs. Red Sox

1. Trent Grisham – CF
2. Aaron Judge – RF
3. Cody Bellinger – LF
4. Giancarlo Stanton – DH
5. Ben Rice – 1B
6. Amed Rosario – 3B
7. Jazz Chisholm Jr. – 2B
8. Anthony Volpe – SS
9. Austin Wells – C

Rice had a .752 OPS against lefties across 106 at-bats in 2025, well lower than Goldschmidt's .981 (149 at-bats). Still, Boone opted to roll with the hot hand on Thursday night.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. was also not in the starting lineup against Crochet in Game 1, but he has also returned to the mix for Game 3 against Early. The other lineup change for Game 3 will be Ryan McMahon being replaced at third base by Amed Rosario.

First pitch is scheduled for 8:08 p.m. ET.

علق عدى الدباغ لاعب منتخب فلسطين، على تأهل بلاده إلى دور ربع النهائي من بطولة كأس العرب 2025، المقامة في قطر.

حسم التعادل السلبي نتيجة مباراة فلسطين وسوريا، التي أقيمت على ملعب استاد المدينة التعليمية، ليتأهلا سويًا لدور ربع النهائي من بطولة كأس العرب 2025.

وقال عدى الدباغ في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر قناة “بي ان سبورتس”: “ألف مبروك التأهل التاريخي للاعبين والجهاز الفني والإداري والجماهير الفلسطينية، شعور لا يوصف لأنه تأهل تاريخي لفلسطين للدور المقبل في كأس العرب”.

طالع.. فيديو | التعادل السلبي يحسم مباراة سوريا وفلسطين ويتأهلان لربع نهائي كأس العرب

وأكمل: “كانت مجموعتنا صعبة، أن نتصدر المجموعة في ظل تواجد منتخبات كبيرة مثل تونس، فهذا فخر وتطور كبير للرياضة الفلسطينية”.

وأردف: “سنفرح اليوم وبداية من غدًا سنفكر في المباراة المقبلة ومن الذي يتأهل والخصم المقبل”.

وأتم: “الشوط الأول كنا أفضل من منتخب سوريا، حاولنا وأتيحت لنا فرص ولكن لم نوفق فيها، الشوط الثاني كان يوجد حذر لأن النقطة تؤهلنا”.

With Kagiso Rabada missing the Kolkata Test with a rib injury, the visitors have bolstered their fast bowling stocks

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Nov-2025

Lungi Ngidi has played just three Tests since the start of 2024•AFP/Getty Images

Fast bowler Lungi Ngidi has been added to South Africa’s squad for the second Test against India in Guwahati which starts on Saturday.Ngidi’s inclusion suggests Kagiso Rabada, who missed South Africa’s sensational victory in Kolkata with a rib injury, is a doubtful starter again. The visitors’ other fast bowling options on tour are Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch and Wiaan Mulder.Ngidi joined the team at their Kolkata hotel on Tuesday before their scheduled departure to Guwahati on Wednesday.Ngidi has played 20 Tests in his career so far, but only three since making a comeback in Cape Town against India in January 2024. His last red-ball appearance was the World Test Championship final against Australia in June. He has played just one Test match in India, going wicketless in Ranchi in 2019.Related

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Ngidi does have overs in his legs having been part of South Africa’s ODI and T20I series in Pakistan in October and November. Last week, he played a game for Titans in the CSA T20 Challenge.At Eden Gardens, South Africa’s quicks sent down 40 overs and returned six wickets as the team registered their first Test win in India since 2010. That Kolkata pitch provided enough assistance for the seamers but it is still unclear what the conditions in Guwahati will be like given the venue has never hosted Test cricket before.

Australia’s dominance with the bat masked a surprisingly sloppy day in the field as they dropped six chances

Vishal Dikshit16-Oct-20253:44

Review – Watch out, Healy is back!

The edges were flying off Bangladesh left-hand opener Rubya Haider’s bat against the new ball, off both Megan Schutt’s swing as well as Darcie Brown’s pace. One landed short of first slip, one flew wide, another just managed to get out of a diving Phoebe Litchfield’s hands in the slips, and one leading edge fell safe not far from the pitch.At the start of the tenth over, Brown drew another edge off Haider’s bat and this time the ball was headed straight into Alyssa Healy’s mitts. Healy barely had to take a step to her left for the catch around waist height, her gloves right behind the ball, but when she clasped her hands around it, the ball just popped out. Healy wore a rueful look while stealing a glance at her team-mates. She couldn’t seem to believe she had put down a sitter.Healy wouldn’t have blamed herself as much when she sprinted to the stumps to try and get her gloves under a Shorna Akter leading edge in the 28th over – she couldn’t make it, but this was the toughest of the lot. The list, however, kept getting longer for Australia. Three overs later, the safe hands of Beth Mooney couldn’t hold on to one at first slip, and by the time the Bangladesh innings ended, Australia had put down six chances in all, four of them requiring diving efforts.Related

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Healy was the first to admit after Australia’s ten-wicket thrashing of Bangladesh that she “was a little bit poor behind the stumps” and their overall fielding effort was something to “reflect on” as they head to Indore for their last two league matches.Player-of-the-Match Alana King, who finished with 10-4-18-2, said, “I think they were all probably tough catches. I don’t think there was an easy catch. And no doubt we’ll definitely review that. We pride ourselves on our fielding and something that we want to be putting on display. So I think just with those high balls and us probably being a bit aggressive in the field, we wanted to get the players to hit over us. So to have an attacking option and players diving for the ball, we love to see that. I think that creates great energy amongst the group and a positive mindset as well. So no doubt we’d love every catch to stick, but unfortunately the nature of cricket, that doesn’t happen too often.”Just cricket – despite your best attempts, the laurels of the past, and all the trophies in the cabinet, some off-days slip in without a major reason.Healy had gone through her intensive keeping drills each time Australia have turned out for a nets session. Yet, the ball had been evading her in strange ways. When King was turning the ball viciously from outside leg to around off, one just went straight past the batter’s pads down leg and Healy was left watching with a sheepish grin. Against India too, one went right through her. Healy had more time to collect that ball off Annabel Sutherland. The ball went on to rattle the helmet behind her for five penalty runs.Alyssa Healy hit 20 fours in her century•ICC/Getty ImagesJust like her keeping sessions, Healy had been sweating it out in the batting nets too, calling it a “frustrating experience” earlier because she had “no rhythm whatsoever”. Since the last ODI World Cup, which Australia won under Meg Lanning in 2022 with Healy hitting back-to-back hundreds in the knockouts against West Indies and England, she hadn’t scored the kind of runs she was used to.Australia didn’t play any more ODIs in 2022 after that World Cup, and when they returned to action in early 2023, Healy picked up a calf injury. When she turned out in the 2023 Ashes, she lasted all of 28 deliveries in three ODIs for scores of 8, 13 and 7. It took her another six innings to score a half-century. Though she started 2024 on a slightly better note, a foot injury at the T20 World Cup, a knee issue, and a recurrence of the foot injury kept her out of action for much of 2025.After intense rehabilitation, she made it in time for this World Cup, but scored 30, 9 and 27 in the three bilateral ODIs against India in the lead-up. The big scores were still proving elusive when she fell for 19 and 20 in the opening two games, against New Zealand and Pakistan.Sobhana Mostary was dropped by Alyssa Healy•ICC/Getty ImagesBut like she did in the 2022 edition, it was only a matter of time before she brought out her best, in a high-profile game against India in front of a sold-out crowd in Visakhapatnam while chasing a record 331. She appeared a bit watchful for the first four overs, but took off with her trademark short-arm jab for four and soon dispatched Kranti Gaud, who had dismissed Healy three times in 35 balls in the bilaterals, for 6, 4, 4 and 4 for a 19-run over. Healy went on to knock the stuffing out of the India attack for her seventh ODI century that finally made her feel “it was my day today” after over three years.She had to wait three years for that century but the next one took just three days, this time while chasing a modest 199 against Bangladesh. That she was now at ease and back in her rhythm was evident in how she let out a beaming smile from under the helmet after her 43-ball half-century. She made room with ease, shuffled across the crease for sweeps, raced from 50 to 100 in just 30 balls, and there were signs of the fear she used to make her oppositions feel. And she’s back at the top of the run chart at this World Cup, like it was 2022.”[It’s] just incredible to see what she’s done,” King said of her captain after the game. “First of all, to do it against India, it was massive and she was pretty bloody determined to do so. But then to not let the foot off the throat and do it again tonight just shows where her mindset’s at. And she’s pinged the ball beautifully and to have Phoebe [Litchfield] down the other end in tandem, hitting the ball as clean as I’ve seen her, and to chase down a pretty big total, none down, I think that’s something that’s going to ooze confidence in our whole line-up.”Who knows how much Bangladesh would have scored had Healy taken that catch early on; who knows what would have happened if Fargana Hoque had held on to one at short fine-leg when she misjudged one completely with Healy on 67. For now, even though Australia are not at their best, they wouldn’t want to take the “foot off the throat” of opponents, but hope that the catches stick – it’s not really Australia till that happens.

It might not have led to a Premier League title, but Arsène Wenger still had some sensational players in his later years at Arsenal.

The likes of Alexis Sanchez and Aaron Ramsey, for example, became some of the most entertaining players in the league.

However, arguably the best of the lot was Mesut Özil, who sent the fan base into delirium when he joined the club on transfer deadline day in 2013.

The World Cup winner was an artist with the ball at his feet, capable of things most would only dream of, and now, based on reports, it looks like Arsenal could be going after someone who could become Mikel Arteta’s version of Ozil.

Arsenal target their new Ozil

Arsenal went big in the summer window, signing more players than perhaps even the most optimistic of fans would’ve expected.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

However, with a title on the line, the club appear to be in the market for more reinforcements ahead of the winter window, and have been linked to a host of players.

For example, Nottingham Forest’s Murillo has been touted for a £79m move to the Emirates, as has Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola.

However, while both players would be excellent additions to Arteta’s squad, neither could really be described as the next Ozil, unlike Arda Güler.

Yes, according to a recent report from Caught Offside, Arsenal are one of several sides interested in signing the Turkish international.

In fact, the report has revealed that the Gunners are now stepping up their pursuit of the 20-year-old, although the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United appear to be doing the same.

In addition to the competition, a potential roadblock for this deal is that, per reports last month, it could cost as much as £88m to get the playmaker out of Real Madrid.

However, while it could be a costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, it’s one Arsenal should fight for, as Güler is an extraordinary talent and could be Arteta’s own Ozil.

Why Güler could be Arsenals new Ozil

Now, while it’s still early in Güler’s career, and it will take some time before he reaches the heights Ozil did, there are still apparent similarities between the pair.

Firstly, were this transfer to happen, then, like the World Cup winner over a decade ago, the young talent would be swapping the white of Real Madrid or the red and white of Arsenal.

Secondly, the 20-year-old is a sensational talent who still has so much room to grow and, like the Gunners’ former star, is someone whose future appears to be more central than out wide.

For example, while he has played on the right and several other positions, attacking midfield is where he has played most of his football and where he has been thriving this season.

Speaking of this season, the Ankara-born wonderkid is proving he is both a goalscoring threat and a creative force for his teammates.

In his 21 appearances, totalling 1365 minutes, the “generational talent”, as described by journalist Dean Jones, has scored three goals and provided seven assists, averaging a goal involvement every 2.1 games, or every 136.5 minutes.

Unsurprisingly, the young dynamo’s underlying numbers also help to justify such labels.

xAG: Exp. Assisted Goals

0.38

Top 1%

Progressive Passes

7.98

Top 1%

Key Passes

3.27

Top 1%

Passes into Final Third

6.49

Top 1%

Live-ball Passes

59.32

Top 1%

Touches

77.43

Top 1%

Pass Completion %

85.3%

Top 2%

Through Balls

0.95

Top 2%

Shot-Creating Actions

6.08

Top 2%

Carries

47.71

Top 3%

Assists

0.41

Top 5%

Tackles Won

1.16

Top 7%

Switches

0.54

Top 8%

Crosses

5.42

Top 9%

Goal-Creating Actions

0.70

Top 10%

According to FBref, he ranks in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for expected assisted goals, progressive passes, key passes, touches and more, all per 90.

Finally, if you still aren’t convinced, just listen to İlkay Gündoğan, who in 2023 made a clear link between the two midfielders.

“If there is a Turkish football player who is similar to Mesut Özil, the first name is Arda Güler. I see his future bright.”

Ultimately, while there is still a long way to go for Güler to reach the level Ozil did at his peak, he is clearly on his way. He was ranked second in the 2025 Golden Boy awards, living up to writer Neal Gardner’s billing that he is “the single best midfield prospect in world football.”

Therefore, Arsenal should do all they can to sign him

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ByJack Salveson Holmes 3 days ago

ITV presenter Laura Woods was taken ill during ITV's broadcast of England Women's friendly against Ghana on Tuesday. While speaking with Ian Wright and Anita Asante, Woods fell forward, and the Arsenal legend appeared to try to catch her. The broadcaster then cut to an extended break, with Woods replaced by Katie Shanahan ahead of kick-off.

Woods falls ill on air

Woods is one of ITV's flagship presenters and was working alongside Asante and Wright while presenting the opening moments of the broadcast of England's friendly against Ghana. While introducing the game, she was speaking with Asante and Wright, and appeared to fall forward, before hitting the ground. Wright attempted to catch her, and a hot microphone revealed that he asked if she was okay, before ITV cut to a lengthy advertising break. 

Woods was replaced after the advertising break by Katie Shanahan, who said the popular host was "taken ill" and that "she's in really good hands and we're wishing her a speedy recovery." At half-time, she gave a further update, adding: "Laura Woods fell ill at the start of the programme but we want to reassure you that she's doing okay and we all send her our love."

AdvertisementGettyTsunami of love sent to Woods

Shanahan has stepped in at short notice to take Woods' place, having previously been expected to work as the pitch-side reporter for the fixture. The Lionesses will hope to put on a glittering performance to distract fans from the scary scenes, which saw Woods lurch forward and attempt to catch herself, before being held up by her presenting colleagues. 

Fans on social media have been quick to send their best wishes to Woods, who works primarily for TNT Sports, presenting the Champions League, but has frequently fronted ITV's coverage of the England Women's team.

Woods' impressive CV

Woods has blazed a trail in sports broadcasting, and has twice been voted the Sports Journalists' Association Presenter of the Year. She began her career as a runner on Sky Sports before working her way up to present some of the biggest fixtures in world football.

In 2022, she encouraged young women to be themselves, as they aspire to follow in her footsteps in an interview with The Guardian.

She said: “When you look at broadcasting from the outside in it can look quite daunting and as if it is a very difficult nut to crack, and it is. You have to be in the right place at the right time but you also have to be ready for it and be confident as well. And confidence comes from practice, it really does. You are never going to wake up one day and be very, very good at something straight away.

“The one thing I learned is that a listener or a reader or a viewer can all smell any inauthenticity and I figured that out really quickly. It wasn’t that I wasn’t trying to be me; it was more that I was struggling with the confidence a bit. But eventually I kept doing it over and over again and I got much more comfortable in my own skin. And that is the only thing you have got that no one else has – your own personality, your own way of doing things. It sounds like a cliche – just be yourself – but you really have to do that.”

On potential criticism, she added: “I used to read all my tweets, when I had much fewer followers, and I used that for instant feedback, whether it was good or bad, and I found it addictive. I went on it straight away after I had done something and it became a bit like a sounding board for whether or not I had made a mistake. But I once interviewed a football manager who said: ‘You can’t get too high with the highs and you can’t get too low with the lows’ and I now use social media in that way too.

“You know, let it be. If someone has something bad to say about you, you don’t actually have to let it in. I take time away from it, I don’t read all of it. I find myself typing a response and then I delete it and go: ‘Why get involved in this now?’ It is a bit like seeing a fight or an argument and you don’t need to get involved. You can just walk away and have a great day.”

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Getty Images SportWhat next?

Woods will hope to make a swift recovery to our screens. First, the Lionesses face Ghana in a friendly, fresh from a thumping 8-0 win over China in their most recent outing. Another result of that calibre would surely make Woods feel better.

Shakib said he wants to play a full series across formats in Bangladesh to say goodbye to the fans

Mohammad Isam07-Dec-2025Former Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan has reversed his retirement from Tests and T20Is, and has said that he wishes to play all three formats. Shakib has not played international cricket in over a year and had announced his retirement from Tests and T20Is last year.”I am officially not retired from all formats,” Shakib said on the podcast, which features Moeen Ali, on Sunday. “This is the first time I’ll be revealing that. My plan is to go back to Bangladesh, play one full series of ODI, Test, and T20, and retire.”I mean, [I can] retire from all formats in a series. So it can start from T20I, ODI and Test, or Test, ODI, T20I. Either way, I’m fine, but I want to play a whole series and retire. That’s what I want.”Related

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Bangladesh sports advisor won't 'allow Shakib to wear Bangladesh jersey' again

Shakib on his illegal action: 'I was doing it a little bit intentionally'

Shakib hasn’t returned to Bangladesh since May 2024, once the Awami League government was dethroned on August 5. Shakib was an MP for that party. He was named in an FIR in an alleged murder case, although he was not in the country at the time. He then went on to play Tests in Pakistan and India. The second Test against India in Kanpur was his last international game.When asked whether he will return to Bangladesh, Shakib said, “I am hopeful. That’s why I’m playing [T20 leagues]. I think it will happen.”Shakib further said that he will not be burdened by results and he wants to “give something back to the fans” for years of support in a home series.”I think when a player says something, they try to stick to their words,” he said. “They normally don’t change it all of a sudden. It doesn’t matter if I play well or not. I might play a bad series after that, if I want to play. But I don’t need to do that.”I think this is enough. It’s just a nicer way to say bye to the fans that they supported me always, give something back to them, playing a home series.”Shakib Al Hasan last played a Test in late 2024•AFP/Getty ImagesAhead of the Kanpur Test in September last year, Shakib announced he wasn’t going to play T20Is anymore, while expressing his desire to play his last Test in the home South Africa series that was scheduled for October.There were some protests and clashes around the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka ahead of the Test series, after which Shakib issued an apology for his silence during the students-led protest which led to hundreds of deaths in July and August.The BCB then dropped Shakib for the Tests against South Africa, mainly because Bangladesh’s interim government couldn’t guarantee his safe exit from the country.Earlier this year, a BCB official said that Shakib was welcome to return to the Bangladesh team. In September, Bangladesh’s sports adviser Asif Mahmud declared that Shakib would not be allowed to play for the country after Shakib wished former prime minister Sheikh Hasina on her birthday.Shakib, who was elected as an MP from his hometown Magura in January 2024, also suggested that he wasn’t done with his political career when he was asked what legacy he wants to leave. “[I have] done my cricketing part. Maybe political side is left,” he said. “It’s something I want to do for the people of Bangladesh and people of Magura. That was my intention, and it is still my intention. Let’s see where Allah takes me.”