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Bangladesh recently beat Afghanistan in the Asia Cup, but they still have plenty of work to do with their batting

Mohammad Isam01-Oct-2025

Bangladesh under new leadership

Jaker Ali will captain Bangladesh in the absence of Litton Das, who has been ruled out of the series with a side strain. Jaker had also led Bangladesh in two matches in the Asia Cup, when Litton wasn’t fit, with Bangladesh losing both games. Before leading Bangladesh in the Asia Cup, Jaker had not captained at any level – domestic or Under-19. In those two matches in the Asia Cup, against India and Pakistan, Jaker managed scores of only 4 and 5, respectively.Related

• Soumya Sarkar returns for T20I series against Afghanistan

• Farooqi, Naib, Janat left out of for Bangladesh series

• Bangladesh finally see the power of hitting sixes

There seems to be dearth of leadership options in Bangladesh’s T20I side, especially after the BCB discontinued with Mahedi Hasan as vice-captain after the UAE series in May.Senior fast bowler Taskin Ahmed might have been a leadership option, but he probably missed out because of workload management. There will be scrutiny on how Jaker juggles captaincy, wicketkeeping and batting against Afghanistan. Bangladesh have the option of reducing his load by handing the wicketkeeping duties to Nurul Hasan.Jaker Ali has had to juggle captaincy, wicketkeeping and batting•ICC via Getty Images

Bangladesh need to find the balance

Bangladesh have finally understood the value of sixes in T20 cricket, but are they going too hard? They need to blend their six-hitting with strike rotation to make their batting work in the format. Against Pakistan, with a spot in the Asia Cup final at stake, they kept going for sixes and kept finding the boundary riders on the Dubai pitch that perhaps wasn’t conducive to that style of play.Bangladesh, though, had found the balance against Sri Lanka, when they chased 169, with Saif Hassan and Towhid Hridoy scoring half-centuries. Bangladesh also tend to fare better in bilateral series, and recently, they also beat Afghanistan in the Asia Cup.

Afghanistan’s big selection calls

After failing to qualify for the Super Fours in the Asia Cup, Afghanistan have rung in the changes, leaving out Gulbadin Naib, Karim Janat and Fazalhaq Farooqi for both the T20Is and ODIs against Bangladesh in the UAE.Janat has managed only 68 runs in eight T20I innings this year, and hasn’t done much with the ball either. Naib, too, has slipped down the pecking order. Mystery spinner AM Ghazanfar is also not part of the main squad, but has been named as a reserve. Ghazanfar, however, has made the ODI squad.Rashid Khan will be leading Afghanistan’s spin attack against Bangladesh•Asian Cricket CouncilBut watch out for the uncapped pair of Wafiullah Tarakhil and Bashir Ahmad. Bashir is a tall left-arm seamer, who could be a like-for-like replacement for Farooqi, while Tarakhil has been rewarded for his strong domestic form. In the 2025 Shpageeza Cricket League, Tarakhil emerged as the third-highest scorer, with 298 runs in nine innings at an average of 37.25 and a strike rate of 155.20.

Spin is king

Despite the changes, Afghanistan have immense spin-bowling depth in their T20I side, with Rashid Khan the leader of the attack, of course. Legspinner Rishad Hossain’s emergence has given Bangladesh’s attack a potent point of difference, but Afghanistan’s spinners have a better strike rate, economy rate and average than Bangladesh’s in T20Is since 2020. The battle between the two spin attacks could be a mouth-watering one.

Afghanistan’s home venue

Afghanistan have won 20 of the 30 T20Is they have played in Sharjah. They have won 14 out of 18 games batting first there, including the last six outings when they batted first. On the other hand, Bangladesh have won only one out of six T20Is in Sharjah. The severe heat in Sharjah will test the fitness of the players.

Ultimately, Pakistan’s overnight hope was built on a bed of straw. South Africa did not even need to huff or puff particularly hard to blow the house down. It took them five balls to dismiss an ostensibly back-to-form Babar Azam, nine runs to take four wickets that put the conclusion beyond doubt, and one session to dispatch the paltry 68 they had been set for victory. Along the way, Simon Harmer took six wickets to take his tally to exactly 1000 first-class wickets, becoming the fourth South African to do so.It took South Africa to a thumping eight-wicket series-levelling win, their first in their defence of the World Test Championship title. For Pakistan, it is their first home defeat after winning the toss since they resorted to spin-friendly tracks at home, their recent third innings malaise coming back to haunt them in its full splendour. Babar’s little tickle into the onside off the day’s second ball got him to a first home Test half-century since 2022, but what should have been the bedrock of his innings was instead its culmination point. Three balls later, he stepped back into his crease off a similar, gentle off spinner, but this one kept slightly low, and rapped him just below the knee roll to begin Pakistan’s slide.A superb Harmer kept the pressure on, but there was assistance aplenty from a Pakistan side that immediately began to go to pieces. Harmer gave Rizwan generous flight, who stretched out well beyond his crease try and get to the pitch to defend. Instead, he got an inside edge onto the pad, which looped up to Tony de Zorzi at short leg, and Harmer went to 999.Related

• South Africa are selecting based on character rather than just stats now

• Mahmood bemoans another Pakistan collapse: 'This is not acceptable'

• South Africa prove they can win with spin on the subcontinent

• De Zorzi and Stubbs – SA identify their horses for Asian courses

• Deja Vu for Masood as SA's tail wags and Pakistan's plans unravel

The four-figure dismissal was all about Harmer, though, and a microcosm of what has made him so successful for so long. He went around the wicket to Noman Ali, flighting it well and landing on a sixpence into some of the footmarks the left-arm bowlers have created. It spat up and away from Noman, kissing the outside edge on its way into Kyle Verreynne’s hands. Harmer threw his head up into the sky and let out a roar to rouse any part of Pindi that might still have been asleep.But Pakistan kept hoisting themselves by their own petard. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Salman Agha worked themselves up into calling for a run, taking on Ryan Rickelton who dived forward to effect a direct hit that sent Shaheen on his way, and Pakistan had gone from 105 for 5 to 105 for 8 – yet another middle and lower order collapse in a series they have been sprinkled like confetti.Ryan Rickelton collided with Shaheen Shah Afridi while running him out•AFP/Getty Images

At the other end stood Agha, not so much like a rock of resistance as a young oak waiting to be felled. Maharaj duly did the honours in his first over, the arm ball cutting Agha in half as he chopped back on. Sajid Khan tried to take him on the following over, only to find himself well adrift of his crease for Verreynne to do the honours.Pakistan turned immediately to spin, but there was no intimidating South Africa with a target this shallow. They were off and away with an Aiden Markram mow across the line for four, and Rickelton began to get his kicks in shortly after. Pakistan kept recycling through some combination of their three finger spinners, and South Africa kept putting them away for four, speeding towards the target as lunch approached.Noman got Pakistan the dubious consolation prize of a late couple of wickets when South Africa’s target was in single digits. Markram was trapped in front as he went for another one of his productive sweeps that had fetched him six of his eight fours in the innings, and found Tristan Stubbs’ outside edge for a duck three balls later. But Rickelton made the ignominy official with a whack over long-off for six in the following over.After the previous Test, Pakistan captain Shan Masood had talked about how Pakistan would look to play if they lost the toss to try and stay competitive. South Africa showed they had been listening carefully, and across these four days, executed that plan to perfection.

West Ham are looking at signing Fulham winger Adama Traoré in the January transfer window, but they’ve now been told to avoid a deal by someone who’s worked with the player.

Nuno Espírito Santo knows Traore very well from their time together at Molineux, and it was at Wolves where the 29-year-old made a serious name for himself.

Traore was near-unplayable in the 2019/2020 season especially, finishing the Premier League campaign as their best performer statistically, all whilst completing a truly incredible five successful dribbles on average per game (WhoScored).

By comparison, the best dribblers in the Premier League right now are far short of that number, with both ex-West Ham winger Mohammed Kudus and Man City’s Jeremy Doku averaging 3.4 and 3.1 take ons per 90 respectively.

Sunderland 3-0 West Ham

West Ham 1-5 Chelsea

Nottingham Forest 0-3 West Ham

West Ham 0-3 Tottenham

West Ham 1-2 Crystal Palace

Everton 1-1 West Ham

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

West Ham 0-2 Brentford

Leeds 2-1 West Ham

West Ham 3-1 Newcastle

West Ham 3-2 Burnley

Jurgen Klopp famously branded Traore’s speed as being ‘undefendable’ at times, but that being said, the 19/20 campaign was now over half a decade ago.

Since Nuno’s departure from Wolves, Traore hasn’t managed to re-live those heights on a consistent enough basis, even despite flashes of brilliance at Fulham last term. Traore finished 24/25 with two goals and nine assists in all competitions, making 41 appearances in total, but only managed a modest 1.3 successful take-ons per 90 in the Premier League.

Despite the forward’s best days appearing behind him, the obvious link to Nuno has prompted multiple reports that West Ham are keen on a winter move for Traore, who could also be available for a cut-price fee given his contract expires in 2026.

Following these claims, ex-Everton and Aston Villa CEO Keith Wyness has explained exactly why West Ham need to swerve a deal for Traore this January.

West Ham told exactly why they need to swerve Adama Traore deal in January

Speaking to Football Insider, after having sold the player at Villa, Wyness explains that Traore’s lack of end product really doesn’t serve West Ham in the slightest — urging David Sullivan not to do a deal for the ex-Barcelona man out of respect for the fans.

The winger would attract mixed reviews if he did move to the London Stadium in two months, but if anyone can get the best out of him, it is definitely Nuno.

West Ham’s manager is believed to be personally keen on a reunion with Traore, and given how Nuno has finally managed to steady the ship with back-to-back victories, it is imperative that the club show faith by backing him with desired signings mid-season.

As well as Traore, West Ham want a new defender, midfielder and striker, with AC Milan’s Santiago Gimenez and Al-Ahli’s Ivan Toney rumoured to be on their agenda.

Uruguay's talismanic forward, Luis Suarez, has revealed his plans of making a possible return to his former club, Barcelona, in the near future. The 38-year-old is yet to bid farewell to the sport and could end his career in Catalunya, as he admits he still has connections at the club which he represented from 2014 to 2020 before switching base to metropolitan side Atletico Madrid.

Suarez currently playing with his former Barca teammate

During his tenure at Barca, which spanned six seasons, Suarez shared the dressing room with numerous top players like Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and of course, the Argentine sensation Lionel Messi. After leaving Barcelona, he found himself representing Atletico Madrid, Internacional and Gremio, before shifting base to the USA for the start of a new chapter. There, in Miami, he was signed by David Beckham's co-owned outfit Inter Miami, and shared the pitch with former Barca teammates, out of which only Messi has continued to feature in the sport. Suarez has been an influential figure alongside Messi not only in the Major League Soccer, but also in the Leagues Cup and FIFA Club World Cup, securing 14 goals and 15 assists across 40 appearances. With the MLS season approaching the business end, and Inter Miami confirming their spot in the conference semi-finals, Suarez might be seeking a new adventure at the end of the campaign before he calls it a day.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportSuarez hints at possible Barca comeback

In an interaction with Sport, Suarez stated: "Yes, I am always keeping up with Barcelona –  the children too, because you don’t stop being a fan. You don’t stop having admiration for the club, you have affection for the club and you still have contact with people from the club. We still have a house there. Our planned idea is to return to Barcelona for everything that results for us. We have confirmed it because of everything it gave us and because we always feel at home there."

Suarez, during his tenure at Barcelona, scored 195 goals and registered 113 assists across 283 games. Moreover, throughout his entire career, he has played 857 matches and recorded 515 goals and 278 assists, an immense figure that makes him a revolutionary football icon not only in Uruguay but across the planet. He has also retired from international football after scoring 69 goals in 143 matches for Uruguay.

Suarez speaks about his relationship with Lionel Messi

While Suarez and Messi, along with Neymar, have rocked the pitch on numerous occasions, winning major matches and accolades, the Uruguayan also shares a special off-the-pitch bond with the 2022 World Cup winner. 

He said: "As the years went by, we got to know each other on the pitch. And over the years we also know each other a lot abroad. We each know when one is in a good mood, when the other is in a bad mood. Everyone knows when internal conversations are shared or when one does not feel like talking. We know each other well, and the truth is that children also spend many hours a day here in football. The truth is that it is a beautiful stage that we are living, enjoying… We look at each other sometimes and we start to think that we are fulfilling what we had talked about at that time at Barcelona. To be able to enjoy our last stage as football players together."

The 38-year-old also expressed his views on how Messi has been helping in the transformation of Inter Miami. “On the pitch he is something unique, something unrepeatable and he continues to do incredible things. He still has that obsession of wanting to continue winning like we all have. But of course, you see him, that spirit he has. There are times when the team wins but he wanted one of his teammates to score and if he didn’t score, Leo gets angry because that player didn’t score. If he sets the objectives, he achieves them and that rubs off on all of us," he highlighted.

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Getty Images SportSemi-finals ahead of Suarez and Inter Miami

Last season, Inter Miami managed to secure the Supporters' Shield, and this time out, they have a great opportunity to lift their maiden MLS title. On November 23, they will face Cincinnati in the semi-finals, and a win in that fixture will take them a step closer to the coveted accolade.

Pakistan have dropped batter Hasan Nawaz from their upcoming ODI and T20I series later this month. He has been sent instead to participate in the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. No replacement was nominated for him for the ODIs, while Fakhar Zaman is called up to the T20I squad in his stead.Nawaz, who initially rose to prominence when he scored a match-winning T20I hundred against New Zealand at Eden Park in March in his third T20I, was initially marked out as a shining talent. Consequentially, he was allowed an extended run in the side despite numerous failures including five ducks in his first ten games.However, his ability for big hitting, especially during the middle and late stages of T20 innings, was deemed extremely valuable, and his ceiling was considered higher than just about every other player. That reputation was burnished further thanks to a dazzling PSL campaign where he took Quetta Gladiators to the final, finishing as the third highest run-scorer at a strike rate over 162.But over the past two months, he has begun to be viewed as more dispensable. He was dropped from the later stages of Pakistan’s run to the Asia Cup final this year for Hussain Talat, a batter with a much lower explosive profile. He has only played four ODIs – three against the West Indies in August, and averages over 56.Even so, the manner of his dismissal in the first game, when he charged George Linde on a spinning track and ended up stumped, signalled a particular lack of match awareness, and he was not picked for the remaining games. Similarly, his T20I run over the past few months has become a problem for Pakistan. In his last eight matches, he has reached double figures just once, averaging under 7.Pakistan play three ODIs against Sri Lanka from November 11 before commencing a T20I tri-series that also involves Zimbabwe from November 17. It will be the first multi-team T20I tournament ever held in Pakistan.

Pakistan squads

ODIs: Shaheen Shah Afridi (capt), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali AghaT20I tri-series: Salman Ali Agha (capt), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan (wk), Usman Tariq

Mikel Merino salvaged a 1-1 draw for Premier League leaders Arsenal, but they will feel like this was two-points dropped against a Chelsea side who were reduced to 10 men after just 38 minutes when Moises Caicedo was sent off. In an extremely feisty London derby that was littered with early yellow cards, it was no real surprise to see a dismissal, with Caicedo seeing red for a brutal tackle on Merino seven minutes before the interval.

It was a big blow to Chelsea, but they dealt with it well and got themselves in front just after half-time when Trevoh Chalobah flicked on Reece James' corner and his header looped over everyone and into the far corner.

Arsenal hit back quickly, however, and got back on level terms when Merino rose to power Bukayo Saka's cross past Robert Sanchez, and you felt at that point the visitors would go on to make their extra man advantage count.

But they struggled to create any clear cut chances and had to settle for a point which keeps them six points clear of the Blues and moved them five clear of second-placed Manchester City.

GOAL rates Arsenal's players from Stamford Bridge…

AFPGoalkeeper & Defence

David Raya (6/10):

Got caught out a bit by the free-kick that led to the corner which Chelsea scored from. Didn't have much to do in terms of saves.

Jurrien Timer (7/10):

Class act as always. Amid all the chaos, especially in the first half, he was the one calm head in the Arsenal back four.

Cristhian Mosquera (6/10):

Surprisingly named in the XI due to the training ground injury suffered by William Saliba. Looked edgy on the ball as Chelsea pressed, but never hid and played his part,

Piero Hincapie (6/10):

You could see him trying to talk Mosquera through the game at times. Played the senior defensive role quite well. Almost set up a late winner with his cross into the box. Booked.

Riccardo Calafiori (5/10):

Stupid booking in the first half. Chelsea dealt with him quite well, so he wasn't his usual attacking threat. Replaced by Lewis-Skelly at half-time.

AdvertisementAFPMidfield

Martin Zubimendi (6/10):

Booked in the opening minutes so was always walking a tightrope. Found very little as was in a constant battle with Enzo.

Declan Rice (7/10):

Probably the one player who showed any consistent quality for Arsenal. Produced one exceptional tackle to deny Neto. 

Eberechi Eze (5/10):

Never really got into the game. Looked frustrated by the constant fouls and stop-start nature of the game.

Getty Images SportAttack

Bukayo Saka (6/10):

Was in and out of the game, but found a moment of real quality when he got to the touchline and picked out a perfect cross for Merino to score.

Mikel Merino (6/10):

Not his best game. His touch and passing range was off at times, but still popped up with a crucial goal.

Gabriel Martinelli (5/10):

Had one shot well saved in the first half. Looked rusty, which is no surprise given this was his first start in well over a month.

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AFPSubs & Manager

Myles Lewis-Skelly (5/10):

On at half-time to replace the booked Calafiori, but picked up a yellow himself almost immediately.

Martin Odegaard (6/10):

Good to see him back. Got involved, but was unable to unpick the lock in the Chelsea defence.

Noni Madueke (6/10):

Booed relentlessly on his return to Chelsea. On the fringes of things. 

Viktor Gyokeres (N/A):

Couldn't get into the game, though did look like he was about to score the winner right at the death, but Timber took Hincapie's cross off his head.

Mikel Arteta (6/10):

It felt like his late attacking changes didn't work. It made the game more open and Arsenal lost any control.

Sometimes a win is just that, but other times it feels far more consequential, as was the case for Chelsea on Tuesday night.

Enzo Maresca’s side were handed the challenging task of hosting Spanish champions Barcelona in the Champions League and blew them away.

The Blues emerged 3-0 winners, but so dominant was the display that they could have probably scored another three on a different night.

It also felt like a statement performance from the young Estêvão, so fans should be delighted that the club have already signed another prospect who could be just like him.

Estêvão's statement performance vs Barcelona

As he started Saturday’s Premier League game against Burnley on the bench, there were question marks over whether Estêvão would be given the nod in what should have been such a challenging game.

Fortunately, Maresca opted to hand the youngster his third Champions League start on the bounce, and it was in part thanks to him that the match was so one-sided.

The former Palmeiras gem was a constant threat for the Blues, darting out wide and into the middle with ease, making life particularly nightmarish for Alejandro Balde.

Moreover, it was the 18-year-old who scored the club’s all-important second goal to take the game well and truly away from Hansi Flick’s ten-man side.

It was a sensational effort as well, one that saw him get the better of two defenders with quick footwork before burying the ball into the roof of the net.

However, the “ridiculous talent,” as dubbed by one content creator, did more than just score a goal.

In his 83 minutes of action, he produced an expected assists figure of 0.35, played three key passes, created one big chance, was accurate in 100% of his long passes, took 47 touches, completed two dribbles, and recovered the ball four times.

In all, it was the sort of performance that felt like a statement, as if Estevao was announcing his presence on the world stage and as someone who will be considered among the best in years to come.

So, fans should be delighted that Chelsea have already signed another youngster who could become the next Estêvão.

Chelsea's next Estêvão

It’s no secret that Chelsea have been spending big on some of the most exciting young talents from around the world in recent years.

Chalkboard

The likes of Deinner Ordonez, Kendry Páez and Dastan Sätpaev, for example, could all develop into serious players for the Blues over the next decade or so.

However, arguably the most exciting of the lot, and the one who feels like he could start emulating Estêvão the quickest, is Geovany Quenda.

The West Londoners signed the 18-year-old for an eye-watering sum of £44m in March of this year, and so to say that there are high expectations for him would be an understatement.

Fortunately, the Portuguese gem, whom respected talent scout Jacek Kulig describes as “one of the most exciting teenagers in World football,” already looks on his way to meeting them.

For example, so far this season, he has scored four goals and provided seven assists in 19 first-team appearances, totalling just 1078 minutes.

Moreover, the incredible talent also amassed 11 goal involvements for the senior side last season, and, as journalist Bobby Vincent points out, is on his way to “emulating CR7” at the Lisbon side.

In fact, he actually took Ronaldo’s record of being the youngest player to score in the country’s top flight when he opened his account last year.

Finally, despite being just 18, the game-changing winger has already won 12 caps for Portugal’s U21 side, during which he’s scored five goals and provided five assists.

Ultimately, it’s still early in his career, but Quenda looks like another world-class talent and, in the words of one Chelsea content creator, it’s easy to imagine him having an impact “just like Estêvão” next season.

As good as Estevao: £60m star is on his way to becoming "a Chelsea legend"

Estevao was the star of the show as Chelsea beat Barcelona in the Champions League.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Nov 26, 2025