Litton Das, Bangladesh’s T20I captain, had questioned the decision of the selectors after Shamim Hossain had been dropped for the T20I series against Ireland

Mohammad Isam30-Nov-2025Bangladesh have added Shamim Hossain to the squad for the third T20I against Ireland, to be played on Tuesday.The move came after captain Litton Das had criticised the selectors for leaving Shamim out of the squad for the series, saying that neither he nor coach Phil Simmons had been informed about it. Chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain said last Friday that Shamim was being dropped to give Mahidul Islam Ankon a run in the middle order.”I think it would have been better if [Shamim] was in the team. But this is not my call, [it is] totally the selectors’ call,” Litton, known to be a mild-mannered man, had said before the first T20I. “I don’t know why, but the selector dropped Shamim without giving us notice. I have known that a captain would know which player would be in the team, and which player would be out of the team. I don’t see any reason behind Shamim getting dropped. It would have been better if he was in the team.”Ashraf countered Litton later the same day, saying that he didn’t need the captain’s permission to select or not select a player, though there has clearly been a change of heart now.The relationship between the two has reportedly been frosty since Ashraf dropped Litton during the ODI series against Sri Lanka last year.For the record, Shamim had recorded scores of 0, 0, 1 and 1 in his last four T20Is.The T20I series is level at 1-1 going into the decider.Bangladesh squad for third T20I against IrelandLitton Das (capt, wk), Saif Hassan (vice-capt), Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali, Nurul Hasan, Mahidul Islam, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Shoriful Islam, Mohammad Saifuddin, Shamim Hossain

Beth Mooney continued her outstanding form, and Alana King came to the fore with the ball, to lead Perth Scorchers into the WBBL final, where they will face Hobart Hurricanes on Saturday.Mooney’s 76, the second-highest score in WBBL finals, was the centrepiece of Scorchers’ total, which proved too much for Sydney Sixers. The home side lost Ellyse Perry, Alyssa Healy and Sophia Dunkley in quick succession, although were given some hope by a 53-run stand between Ash Gardner and Amelia Kerr.However, King produced a superb second over in the power surge, conceding just six runs and having Gardner taken at mid-off. King struck again to remove a dangerous Maitlan Brown, and finished with match-winning figures of 3 for 17 as 21 runs needed by Sixers from the last over gave Scorchers a cushion.It has been another impressive WBBL from Mooney, who had struck a century in the second match, and then made an unbeaten 94 to lead Scorchers into the finals. Against Sixers on Thursday, she was given a life on 9 when Healy missed a leg-side stumping, and made Sixers pay despite at times not having a vast amount of the strike. At the end of the four-over powerplay, Mooney had faced only three deliveries.But once Katie Mack, who had also been dropped on 9, fell for a well-constructed 40, Mooney took charge. She launched Gardner for six, and then next ball moved to her fifty off 27 deliveries.As Mooney took consecutive boundaries off Kerr at the start of the 17th over, there was an outside chance of a remarkable century. But she fell lbw to Brown in the 19th over as part of a late stutter by Scorchers.When Paige Scholfield slog-swept Kerr for consecutive sixes, Scorchers looked set for an onslaught. But Kerr, who has struggled this season, gained some revenge when Scholfield fell to a top edge. Scorchers then lost 5 for 21 late in their innings.Sixers started promisingly in the chase as Perry and Dunkley, given a life on 15 when she skied King in the covers, added 58, although the asking rate was rising.Perry, who scored a magnificent century in the final regular-season game to book Sixers’ spot in the finals, chipped King to midwicket. Healy was then cleaned up by exciting young quick Chloe Ainsworth.After back-to-back ducks, Healy had at least managed to get off the mark, but couldn’t go any further in what has been a difficult season for her, which ends with 119 runs at 13.22.Gardner and Kerr started to rebuild, and they took the power surge with 75 runs needed from 36 balls. When the first over of it cost 16, a Sixers comeback appeared possible. King, though, ensured it was Scorchers’ night.

Oliver Rathbone stole the limelight after coming on as a late substitute as Wrexham held Watford to an exciting 2-2 draw at the Racecourse Ground on Saturday. The Red Dragons scored but they soon gave up on the lead as Watford went ahead just before the break. Phil Parkinson's decision to put Rathbone on the pitch late in the game, however, proved to be a masterclass as his team walked away with a point.

• Wrexham show grit in Watford draw

  Wrexham started the match on a positive note and looked motivated to get back to winning ways after their seven-match unbeaten streak ended against Hull City earlier this week. The hosts also drew motivation from the presence of their Hollywood owners, Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac, as the actor duo were present at the Racecourse Stadium to cheer for their team.

  The Welsh outfit broke the deadlock in the 21st minute as Josh Windass followed a long ball down the middle from Matty James. The forward fired past goalkeeper Egil Selvik with a clinical finish to hand his side the all-important opening goal. 

  The Red Dragons looked positive in their intent following the opener but suffered a setback around the half-hour mark when, against the run of play, Mamadou Doumbia equalised for Watford. The 19-year-old Mali international's shot from the edge of the box got deflected off Max Cleworth before lobbing over Arthur Okonkwo.

  Three minutes before half-time, Watford went ahead and took the lead as Othmane Maamma stepped up and converted his effort. Phil Parkinson's side had the opportunity to restore parity towards the end of the first half, but one of their chances came off the post, while Lewis O'Brien's strike from close range went wide.

  The Red Dragons looked underwhelming in their approach to equalise throughout the second half as Parkinson made a few changes after the break to inject fresh legs. Making the substitutions, however, proved to be a masterstroke, particularly Oliver Rathbone's introduction. The English midfielder was brought on the pitch in injury time, and within a minute, Rathbone scored the equaliser from outside the box to seal a point for his side. 

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  The MVP

  Rathbone was the star of the show for the hosts as his cameo appearance earned Wrexham a crucial point against Watford. The Englishman was introduced in the 90th minute but he made the most of the opportunity he got by scoring a brilliant late equaliser. 

• The big loser

  Watford defenders did well throughout the second half to keep a firm check on the Wrexham attack and hardly allowed the opponent to threaten them inside their box. However, the backline failed to keep up the level of concentration as Rathbone scored the late equaliser and robbed them of an opportunity to pick up all three points.

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  Match rating (out of five): ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Cole Palmer has downplayed talk of him being back to his best despite scoring in Chelsea's 2-0 win over Everton. The 23-year-old scored his first goal in three months as the Blues climbed to fourth in the Premier League table. And although the England international seems to finally be injury-free, he is keeping his feet firmly on the ground.

Chelsea back to winning ways

Palmer has had an injury-hit season but starred in a goalscoring display against the Toffees at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. The former Manchester City man appeared to capture some of the swagger Blues fans have come to know and love over the past two years but he himself is not getting carried away following his side's victory. 

He told BBC Match of the Day: "I wouldn't say I'm at my best yet. I'm still dealing with an injury. Hopefully, it gets better and better but there's still a bit to go. It is getting better. The stuff I've been doing with the physios at the club. It's just a matter of not doing too much too soon. Literally, it's just a day-by-day thing. Hopefully it gets better."

Incidentally, England boss Thomas Tuchel was in the stands to see Enzo Maresca's side, with the playmaker very much in the German's plans ahead of the 2026 World Cup. But Palmer is taking it one game at a time.

He added: "I've not been looking too far ahead to be honest. I've been injured for three months, I just need to get back to full fitness. I know what I can offer when I'm fully fit so hopefully I get there soon."

AdvertisementAFPMaresca praises Palmer

Previously, head coach Maresca said that Palmer is Chelsea's best player, with the Englishman topping the club's goal contributions charts in recent years. And he didn't deviate a huge amount from that stance after the game.

"The game is never finished. We had many chances, we missed. But overall I'm happy with the clean sheet and the performance," said the Italian. "We said many times with Cole [Palmer] we are a better team. Unfortunately he was out for many games for us, but now he's back and for sure he will help us."

Maresca was also quick to laud the performances of Reece James and Malo Gusto – who scored and bagged an assist against Everton. 

He added: "They are good players and when they are good players they can play in every position. They can play full-back and midfielder. [Malo Gusto] took the chance and his assist for Cole, so I am very happy for Malo. If we are not able to win, win, win that still doesn't mean we're not ready to compete for titles. "When you don't concede it's not just about one player, it's about all the team. Joao Pedro's press, Alejandro Garnacho's press."

Toothless Everton

After Everton had leapt up the Premier League table in recent weeks, expectations were high among Toffees fans that they could pull off a result. But after a strong 20-minute opening, they struggled to make an impact, something that wasn't helped by losing Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to injury. 

On the defeat, manager David Moyes told Sky Sports: "I thought there were some really good moments, we played really well today. We've played well away from home [this season] and today we played well. I know you can't say that when you lose 2-0 but today we did well. Maybe in the final third we needed it [a bit of luck], they were clinical in the one or two moments they got, we weren't as clinical when we got in on goal. That was the difference.  

"They did so many good things. We played well, but ultimately we didn't get three points. You can say well done as much as you like but we've got to pick up the three points."

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Getty Images SportWhat comes next for Palmer?

Chelsea's busy run of games continues as they travel to League One side Cardiff City in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday, before making the trip to Newcastle United next Saturday in the Premier League.

So, will Palmer play two games in a week?

Maresca replied: "In this moment, he can't play."

He added that Palmer "probably" won't feature against Cardiff. 

The Padres-Dodgers rivalry had another heated moment Tuesday night that saw Shohei Ohtani getting hit by a pitch in what seemed like an act of revenge and led to the ejection of Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.

It also led to Ohtani sharing an amazing picture of the moment on Instagram after the Dodgers' 8-6 win at home.

Ohtani was drilled in the leg in the bottom of the third inning. The first pitch of his at at-bat by Randy Vasquez brushed Ohtani back off the plate and then the next pitch hit him in his left knee. This came after Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. was hit by a pitch in the top of the inning.

Look at this photo Ohtani posted:

The NBA Finals and Stanley Cup Final are in the books and summer is officially here, which means baseball takes center stage for a few months until the start of the NFL season in the fall. 

Over the last couple of weeks alone, we’ve seen a stunning blockbuster trade, a switch-hitting catcher make history and several divisional races heat up as the temperatures have done the same. 

After sweeping the New York Mets and winning a series against the MLB-best 49–30 Detroit Tigers, are the Tampa Bay Rays a legitimate contender? Did the Boston Red Sox make a mistake by trading away Rafael Devers? We’ll answer those questions and more below.

The Mets have reason to worry

Verdict: Fact

Cue the theme. The Mets were riding high on that fateful day entering play against the Rays on June 13, boasting the best record in the National League and a 4 ½ game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies. Since that point, the Mets have played nightmarish baseball and won just one of their last 10 games. Making matters worse, the Phillies overtook them for the NL East lead after taking two of three from the not-so-Amazins’ during a June 20–22 series at Citizens Bank Park. 

Let’s be clear here. It’s a long season, and the Mets are still 13 games above .500 and firmly in the mix for the division title; at worst a wild-card spot. There’s no need to panic. But worry? There are several reasons to worry. 

During the Mets’ losing skid, only one team, the Texas Rangers, has scored fewer runs than New York. The Mets lineup, which features $765 million man Juan Soto, slugger Pete Alonso and star shortstop Francisco Lindor, has been shut out twice and has scored two runs or fewer four times in those 10 games. 

The most concerning part for the Mets? The trio of Lindor-Soto-Alonso has mostly been highly productive in June. The rest of the batting order? Not so much. Catcher Francisco Alvarez, once the top prospect in the majors, has scuffled to a career-worst .652 OPS and on Sunday was optioned to Triple A to work through his struggles. Alvarez is far from the only underachiever, with others like Brett Baty, Luisangel Acuña and Tyrone Taylor also bringing down the offense. Simply put, if Lindor, Soto, Alonso or Brandon Nimmo aren’t hitting, the Mets are probably in trouble. 

And it’s not just the lineup. The previously stout pitching staff has yielded the second-most runs in MLB since June 13 while Mets starters have pitched the seventh-fewest innings during that span, prompting manager Carlos Mendoza to lean more and more on an increasingly taxed bullpen. As you can see, it’s been a perfect storm for the Mets during this less-than-stellar stretch.

Plus, the injury bug has landed in Queens. Ace Kodai Senga, outfielder Jesse Winker and starting pitchers Tylor Megill and Sean Manaea are all either sidelined or working their way back from injuries. 

In their division, the Mets have to contend with the playoff-tested Phillies and the resurgent Braves. New York is too talented to continue playing like this. But it would be a lie to say that this wasn’t a worrying stretch. 

With Bangladesh languishing near the bottom of the ODI rankings, Mehidy Hasan Miraz has his task cut out as they eye direct qualification for the 2027 World Cup

Mohammad Isam01-Jul-2025

Keep the team united

Mehidy has the unenviable task of uniting the Bangladesh team at a time of great upheaval – not something that’s new to Bangladesh captains.Related

• Khettarama bites back as Bangladesh unravel in magnificent fashion

• Asalanka expects seam and batter-friendly pitch at Khettarama

• Settled SL meet a Bangladesh in transition for ODI series opener

• Mehidy appointed Bangladesh's ODI captain

• Shanto steps down as Bangladesh Test captain

Najmul Hossain Shanto was sacked as ODI captain in Mehidy’s favour, and has also resigned as the Test captain. He said the decision to step down as Test captain wasn’t “personal”, but also said he wasn’t sure “three captains in three formats” would be ideal. Shanto might be hurting, even if he hasn’t said it. He had ambitions with both the Test and ODI teams but now will be expected to adjust under a different captain in ODIs.Mehidy might have to remove all the eggshells strewn around the dressing room before figuring out a way to take the ODI team in his desired direction.

Decide his own batting position

Where Mehidy chooses to bat in the ODI series against Sri Lanka will give an early glimpse into his mindset as captain. While a permanent fixture in the ODI side, he has been a floater in the batting line-up, even though he has learnt to pace his innings better whatever the position. He must now choose his batting position, or at least a role, to give the rest of the team a sense of stability.Tanzid Hasan and who? Eyes will be on the opening pair•AFP/Getty Images

Who will open with Tanzid?

Tanzid Hasan is one of Bangladesh’s incumbent openers. But with Litton Das and Mohammad Naim back, there are questions around the second opener’s spot.Soumya Sarkar has been left out to work on his fitness, while Parvez Hossain Emon, part of the ODI squad, is still work in progress in this format.Litton had been going through a lean patch before he was dropped for the Champions Trophy – he only has six runs in his last five innings. But his experience and seniority may give him the edge over Naim and Emon. Litton’s keeping will also allow for a bit more balance in the line-up.Shanto, meanwhile, is likely to return to his No. 3 role, despite opening in Bangladesh’s last ODI and scoring 77.

Rebuild the engine room

Bangladesh’s biggest challenge would be to rebuild their middle order. Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah are retired, Shakib Al Hasan had planned Champions Trophy 2025 to be his international swansong, but his political connections have meant that his future remains uncertain. Bangladesh have a void in their middle order, one that is worth about 760 ODIs in experience. But there is promise.Towhid Hridoy has played 35 ODIs, while Mehidy has made improvements to his white-ball batting. Jaker Ali has impressed in all three formats, but has played only seven ODIs. Shamim Hossain, a T20 basher, is the middle-order back-up. This is where Bangladesh perhaps could have looked towards Afif Hossain, Nurul Hasan or Mosaddek Hossain.Previous head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe lost patience with Afif but the left-hand batter remains a young and viable option. Nurul and Mosaddek have international experience plus List A numbers to back that up. Even the uncapped Irfan Sukkur has racked up impressive runs in the middle-order in the Dhaka Premier League in the last three years.

Get the spin attack to fire

Bangladesh have had a massive dip in their spin attack since Shakib’s last ODI in November 2023. They have averaged 65.69 in 15 matches and have taken just 23 wickets. Mehidy has taken nine wickets at 71.44, while Rishad Hossain and Nasum Ahmed haven’t stepped up from time to time. Left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam is still uncapped in ODIs. He had a difficult time in the T20Is against UAE in May, picking up just two wickets in two appearances at an economy of 8.37.Bangladesh spinners’ form in ODIs has mirrored that of Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s in recent time•BCBThe bad news for Bangladesh is that they are playing Sri Lanka, who have had the most successful spin attack at home since November 2023.

Recognise ODI specialists among fast bowlers

With spin being work in progress, Mehidy will have to rely more on his pace attack. The return of Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman is a boost, while Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana and Tanzim Hasan have impressed in red- and white-ball cricket.Mehidy has to quickly recognise his ODI specialists, especially with a World Cup in two years. Taskin and Mustafizur are big names but how Mehidy uses Rana and Tanzim will be crucial.

Move up the ODI rankings

Bangladesh could gain a spot in the ODI rankings if they beat Sri Lanka. Mehidy has his task cut out with Bangladesh eyeing direct qualification for the 2027 ODI World Cup. They are in danger of not making the cut-off.Mehidy also has to live up to Bangladesh’s expectations from their ODI captain. This is Bangladesh’s best format. The last captain to have a healthy win-rate was Tamim Iqbal. Shakib and Shanto couldn’t quite carry that forward. Mehidy comes in as captain at a very critical time. He is fighting time, while keeping a close eye on the rankings table.

Key numbers from Henry’s stunning 23-ball 62 that lifted UP Warriorz from 89 for 6 to 177, before Grace Harris’ hat-trick got the job done

Deep Gadhia22-Feb-202518 – Balls taken by Chinelle Henry to get to her fifty, the joint-fewest in the WPL alongside Sophia Dunkley, who also took 18 balls to score her only WPL half-century against RCB at Brabourne in 2023.62 – Henry’s score of 62 is the highest while batting at No. 8 or below in Women’s T20s. The previous highest was an unbeaten 57 by Jersey’s Grace Wetherall against Germany in 2023.It is also the highest score by a batter batting at No. 6 or below in the WPL.Related

Gujarat Giants look for top-order runs and first win in Bengaluru

Chinelle Henry lights up Chinnaswamy with Andre Russell-inspired 'range hitting'

3 – Grace Harris became the third bowler to take a hat-trick in the WPL, after her Warriorz captain Deepti Sharma in 2024 against the same opposition, and Mumbai Indians’ Issy Wong against Warriorz in 2023.8 – Sixes hit by Henry in her 23-ball knock of 62, the most in a single innings in the WPL, alongside Sophie Devine – Devine had done it en route to 99 against Gujarat Giants at the Brabourne in 2023 – and Ashleigh Gardner – Gardner did it during her 79 in this season’s opener at Vadodara.ESPNcricinfo Ltd269.56 – Henry’s strike rate is the third-highest for a batter scoring a half-century in the WPL. Devine’s 275 and Shafali Verma’s 271.42, both against Giants in the inaugural season in 2023, take the top two spots.57 – Runs added by Henry and Sophie Ecclestone for the eighth wicket – the second-most in this tournament for the eighth wicket or lower after the 70 added by Ecclestone and Grace Harris against Giants in 2023.67 – Runs scored by the UP Warriorz in the death overs (overs 17-20), the second-most by a team in the WPL, bettered only by their own 68 against Giants in 2023.21 years, 195 days – Kranti Goud became the second-youngest player to take a four-wicket haul in the WPL after Wong, who dismantled Warriorz in the Eliminator in 2023.3 – Players who have taken four-wicket hauls in this match in Jess Jonassen, Goud and Harris – the most four-fors in a WPL match. No other match had more than one player with a four-for, in 52 matches previously played in the tournament.

كشفت تقارير صحفية إسبانية، أن برشلونة تلقى دفعة معنوية قوية بشأن داني أولمو، الذي يقترب من العودة والتعافي من الإصابة التي أبعدته عن صفوف الفريق.

وبحسب صحيفة “سبورت” الإسبانية، فإنه من المرجح أن يعود داني أولمو للمشاركة مع برشلونة ضد إسبانيول، في 3 يناير، في مباراة تمثل نقطة تحول حاسمة في موسمه.

ويغيب داني أولمو عن الملاعب منذ تعرضه لخلع مؤلم في كتفه الأيسر، خلال فوز برشلونة أمام أتلتيكو مدريد بثلاثية لهدف واحد.

وأشارت تقارير أخرى إلى أن برشلونة قد يستعيد أحد أبرز لاعبيه، حيث من المتوقع أن يحصل الألماني مارك تير شتيجن على التصريح الطبي الأسبوع المقبل، ليعود لقائمة الفريق ضد أوساسونا.

اقرأ أيضاً.. رافينها يحسم الجدل بشأن أنباء رحيله عن برشلونة إلى الدوري السعودي

ويمر شتيجن بالمرحلة الأخيرة من التعافي من إصابة في أسفل الظهر، أبعدته عن الملاعب لعدة أشهر، ويتقدم بشكل رائع وزاد من كثافة تدريباته اليوم بشكل ملحوظ، لاستعادة لياقته البدنية الكاملة.

وستمثل عودة تير شتيجن إلى برشلونة إنجازًا هامًا، بعد أكثر من أربعة أشهر من الغياب، وهي فترة غياب أطول بكثير مما كان متوقعًا وقت خضوعه لعملية جراحية.

ويستعد خوان جارسيا لحراسة مرمى برشلونة بشكل طبيعي، بعد أن أثار القلق بتعرضه لكدمة عقب الفوز ضد ريال بيتيس بخمسة أهداف لثلاثة على ملعب لا كارتوخا، حيث شوهد وهو يعرج قليلاً أثناء صعوده لحافلة الفريق في طريقها للعودة لمطار إشبيلية ومرة أخرى أثناء صعوده للطائرة مع بقية الفريق ليثير تكهنات حول حالته البدنية.

وكانت تدريبات برشلونة قد شهدت مشاركة رافينها بشكل طبيعي قبل لقاء آينتراخت فرانكفورت.

وكان فليك قد فضل إراحة البرازيلي ضد ريال بيتيس كإجراء احترازي في الدوري الإسباني بعد معاناته من إجهاد عضلي طفيف.

The New York Yankees were able to end their six-game skid with a 6-4 win over the New York Mets on Sunday and while the team should be feeling some good vibes after finally winning a game, the dad of one of their players might still be angry over a heated moment he had in the stands at Citi Field.

Anthony Volpe's father seemed to get into it with a Mets fan during the game, as a video caught him yelling a bunch of bad words at him while being held back from possibly escalating it even further.

While "God Bless America" started playing in the seventh inning, Volpe's dad could be heard yelling: "Let’s go! Let’s go! Let’s go! F— you. F— you. F— you. You scumbag."

The Mets fan tried to come things down by saying: "Your son is the best. Your son’s the best. The best," before joining in the singing of "God Bless America."

Here's that moment:

Volpe went 0-for-4 in the win but he did score a run and had an RBI.