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UAE are returning to their favourite format after a poor run in ODIs, while Bangladesh are gearing up for a busy season against some strong teams

Mohammad Isam16-May-2025Are Bangladesh too top-heavy?Bangladesh have picked five batters that have to be fitted into the top four. Tanzid Hasan is likely to open with Soumya Sarkar with captain Litton Das and Najmul Hossain Shanto likely to come in next. They will get first dibs before Parvez Hossain Emon, who is still in a development stage as a T20 opener. Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain and Jaker Ali have strong strike rates that should come in handy in the later overs, before Rishad Hossain and Mahedi Hasan come in as the designated hitters.Bangladesh’s pace attack is also quite full, with Mustafizur Rahman the most experienced, and Tanzim Hasan the most versatile. Nahid Rana, Hasan Mahmud and Shoriful Islam are also in the squad, while left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam is the back-up spinner to Rishad and Mahedi.Jaker Ali has been Bangladesh’s key batter in the middle order across formats•AFP/Getty ImagesJaker the in-form batterJaker has already bailed out the Bangladesh batting several times in his first year in international cricket. He made a bright start against Sri Lanka last year before losing his way during the T20 World Cup, but made important runs in both Tests and T20Is on the West Indies tour, striking the ball sweetly, especially on the leg side.Related

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Litton: 'Not going to talk about a particular brand of cricket'

Jaker is a heavy run-getter in the middle-order in domestic cricket, which has now translated into good form at the highest level. There are more attractive strokemakers in the middle order, like Shamim and Hridoy, but Jaker is the one Bangladesh rely on the most these days. He has earned that reputation.UAE would welcome T20 returnUAE will have little time to recalibrate to T20 mode after their trip for to the Netherlands for the Cricket World Cup League 2 matches, where they were beaten by both the hosts and Scotland, winning just one game in the last two weeks. Rahul Chopra’s century and Simranjeet Singh’s four-wicket haul in a match against Scotland were the only real high points from the tour for UAE. They should, however, feel better playing T20Is, their best format.Their good form in the format helped them qualify for this year’s Asia Cup after they dominated the Asian Cricket Council’s Premier Cup last year. But UAE haven’t really played a lot of cricket against the Full-Member teams. Afghanistan beat them 2-1 in their bilateral series in 2023-24. They also beat New Zealand in 2023, while they lost a similar two-match series against Bangladesh in 2022.Muhammad Waseem has been one of the star T20I batters since his debut•SLCCan Waseem live up to his reputation?Muhammad Waseem is the highest run-getter in T20Is in the world since his debut in 2021, but it hasn’t gone too well for him of late. Waseem went through the ILT20 without scoring a half-century – the last time he did was in December last year, against Qatar. He has also scored just a single ODI fifty in the last two years.Waseem, the UAE captain, had a very brief stint in the BPL, when he appeared for Chattogram Challengers in one game in the 2023-24 season. He made just one run then. However, Waseem is the most prominent UAE batter, so the Bangladesh analysts will rev up their laptops to show his footage to the bowlers. Waseem on song is a treat to watch, but it has been a long time since he has really taken on a top attack.Sharjah is steamingNight games will be welcomed by the players in Sharjah, which is very hot at the moment. The temperatures are in the high 30s (Celsius) this week.Bangladesh, though, have some idea about the Sharjah pitches, where they played the three ODIs against Afghanistan last year, while UAE don’t play much of their home T20Is in Sharjah. Generally, 170-180 would be seen as competitive totals; the two 180-plus scores were both comfortably defended in Sharjah in the last two years.

Arne Slot heaped praise on the Liverpool fans at Anfield after some were spotted leaving early during their Carabao Cup defeat to Crystal Palace on Wednesday.

The under-fire Dutchman does not believe Liverpool’s sixth loss in seven matches has increased the pressure on his team ahead of this weekend’s clash with Aston Villa. The Premier League champions won seven straight matches in all competitions as they bounced back from their shoot-out loss to Crystal Palace in the Community Shield.

But that run came to a halt with a late defeat to the Eagles at Selhurst Park a month ago, sending the Reds into a spiral that they have yet to climb out of.

Palace got the better of Liverpool for the third time this season in Wednesday’s 3-0 Carabao Cup fourth round win at Anfield as Slot’s decision to leave out stars and make 10 changes backfired.

Joe Gomez, Wataru Endo and Alexis Mac Allister were the first-team players deployed in a team of mostly youngsters, but the senior stars were some of Liverpool’s lowest rated players against Palace.

Liverpool player ratings v Crystal Palace: Slot's first-team stars worse than youngsters

It was an evening to forget for a young Liverpool side.

ByTom Cunningham Oct 29, 2025

Fans were spotted leaving the stadium as early as the 70th minute, but the Dutchman said he had no regrets and brushed aside the suggestion it had increased the pressure heading into Saturday’s return to Premier League action at home to Villa, with Man City and Real Madrid also to come in the next ten days.

“I don’t think it’s possible if you lose five out of six that there’s now after six out of seven even more pressure,” Slot said.

“If you’re on a run of results like this, if you play for Liverpool, if you manage Liverpool, you know the pressure is there and I don’t think it has changed much after this loss.

“But if it did then maybe the most positive thing about tonight was that the position we were in, 2-0 down and we weren’t really pushing for a goal because we weren’t able to, the fans were behind the team, were supporting us.

“That gives me the feeling that Saturday when our players will show how much it means to them, our fans will be incredibly supportive for us Saturday.

“But, again, we face a team that has rested in the week to play us, and that’s Villa.”

Liverpool could be boosted by the return of midfielder Ryan Gravenberch against Villa following an ankle issue, but British record signing Alexander Isak remains a doubt with to a groin complaint.

Slot's treatment of Liverpool star is a "sackable offence"

On Sunday, the Mariners won a home playoff game for the first time since 2001 by defeating the Tigers 3-2. Seattle won Game 2 of the American League Division Series, and plays Game 3 of the series in Detroit on Tuesday.

It was a special moment for a franchise that recently overcame a 21-year playoff drought in 2022 and is now looking to go on a run.

As the Mariners pursue a World Series title, here's a look at Seattle's postseason history.

Have the Mariners Ever Won the World Series?

The Mariners have never won the World Series or even been to a World Series at that. Seattle is the only MLB team that has yet to reach the World Series, and is one of five teams that has never won it, along with the Padres, Brewers, Rays and Rockies.

What Is the Furthest the Mariners Have Gone in MLB Playoffs?

The furthest the Mariners have advanced in the postseason is the American League Championship Series, which they have reached three times, in 1995, 2000 and 2001. The Mariners fell to Cleveland in 1995, and then to the Yankees in both 2000 and 2001, keeping them from reaching the World Series already.

Seattle Mariners Full Playoff History

The Mariners do not have a great track record in the postseason. Not only has Seattle never been to the World Series, but it took the franchise nearly 20 years to finally make the postseason for the first time, and they've only been to the playoffs a total of six times. Here is a look at their rather unfortunate playoff history.

Can the Mariners Win a World Series This Year?

The Mariners can win the World Series this year. While they are not the odds-on favorites at the moment, they are tied with the Tigers at 1-1 in the ALDS, and are one of MLB's final eight teams. If the Mariners advance, they will face either the Blue Jays or Yankees for a shot at their first World Series appearance, both teams Seattle is capable of beating.

To have a shot at winning it all, the Mariners will likely need continued strong production from two of their stars—Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodríguez. Both players came up clutch in their Game 2 ALDS win, and will need to keep doing so going forward.

تحدث إيميل هيسكي مهاجم ليفربول ومنتخب إنجلترا السابق عن وضع محمد صلاح في الريدز، بعد ابتعاده عن المشاركة بشكل أساسي في آخر مباراتين بالدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وكان المهاجم الإنجليزي القوي السابق هيسكي قد ارتدى قميص ليفربول في الفترة بين عامي 2000 و2004.

وقال هيسكي في تصريحات نشرتها شبكة “جول” العالمية عن الانتقادات التي يتعرض لها محمد صلاح: “ليفربول أصبح يستعد لفترة ما بعد صلاح”.

وأضاف: “سأتفاجأ إن لم يكونوا بدأوا الاستعداد لذلك منذ بداية الموسم، لأنه على الأرجح لم يتبق له سوى أقل من عامين في عقده وهو في الثلاثينات من عمره”.

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وواصل: “سيشكل توقف صلاح عن المشاركة بشكل أساسي بانتظام في تغيير كبير داخل ليفربول، حيث سيجري سلوت تغييرات على تشكيلات وأساليب لعب مختلفة بمجرد خروجه بالتدريج من التشكيل الأساسي”.

ويعتقد هيسكي أيضاً: “صلاح ليس من نوع القادة مثل كاراجر أو ستيفن جيرارد، ليعترف بسوء أدائه لوسائل الإعلام، بعد الانتقادات التي وجهت له مؤخراً”.

وختم: “أمثال فيرجيل فان دايك أو حتى كورتيس جونز سيخرجون ويتحدثون ويعالجون الموقف بشكل مباشر ، لكن هذا ليس صلاح، حتى عندما كان في قمة مستواه، لا أعتقد أنه كان يتحدث كثيراً، لكن بصفته لاعب كبير فإنه يجب أن يخرج ويواجه الانتقادات لأن هذا من واجبه”.

Richard Thompson insists 100-ball format will not change before end of current rights cycle

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Sep-2025

The tight turnaround between England’s international and the Hundred is a “short-term issue” which ECB chairman Richard Thompson has pledged will be solved for the next TV rights cycle.England’s men played one day before the start and two days after the end of the Hundred this year, leaving all-format players short on relevant preparation for the ongoing ODI series against South Africa. The same scenario will play out in 2026, with the Hundred expected to start two days after an ODI series against India and three days before the first Test against Pakistan.New investors in the Hundred will expect their England players to be available throughout the tournament. Jamie Smith, Jamie Overton and Ollie Pope missed London Spirit’s first game of this season, the day after the fifth Test at The Oval, which their incoming co-owner Nikesh Arora described as “disappointing” while calling for “better planning” by the ECB.Thompson acknowledged that the schedule is too crammed, speaking in his capacity as an ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Society during England’s third ODI against South Africa on Sunday. “There are no easy answers, but the reality is we can’t have our cake and eat it,” Thompson told Sky Sports.”We want England players to play. This is our premium white-ball competition and we want England players to play in it. What we have to do is find a way of ensuring the schedule before and after the tournament [is better]. Take this year: the gap was a day or two days… That can’t be right.Related

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“If we’re going to get this level of investment, we’ve got to commit to ensuring our England players are available. We don’t want that to be at the expense of the success of England. We need to find a balance, and ultimately we can look at the schedule and we can try and free up time.”We’ve done this deal in the middle of a rights schedule. Come ’28, when we then cut the next deal for the next four years, we can cut this in a different way. We might have a short-term issue here, but we can overcome that.”Ultimately, if a player feels they’re injured, they’re going to rest themselves. They won’t want to play on an injury. England is still everything here. But we are not prepared to accept that you can’t find a halfway house and work with the owners to ensure that the owner will get what they need, and England will get what it needs.”Thompson also said that the tournament’s format will not change from 100-balls-a-side to T20 during the current broadcast cycle, which runs to the end of the 2028 summer, and denied that the sale of stakes in the eight Hundred franchises equates to selling the month of August to private investors.”I can categorically tell you it’s 100 balls next year,” he said. “I don’t think anything will change in this rights cycle. Sky [the Hundred’s main broadcaster] have bought 100 [balls a side]. Sky are not going to want to change that. It’s up to the owners and the ECB to decide what that might be in the future.”This is not English cricket selling off the family silver. This is English cricket bringing in investors to enable us to have a tournament that could challenge the IPL.”

After being scratched from the Atlanta Braves' lineup on Tuesday due to a back issue, Ronald Acuna Jr. returned on Wednesday with a bang. Acuna led off the game with a rocket home run, a long ball that apparently landed in uncharted waters at Sutter Health Park, as neither ESPN nor Statcast could get a good reading on the distance the ball traveled. But that arguably wasn't even Acuna's most impressive homer of the contest.

That came later in the top of the fourth inning.

Facing Athletics right-hander Mitch Spence, Acuna took the first two offerings for strikes, then opted to swing at a slider that was well out of the strike zone, but one that Spence hung nonetheless. The Braves' superstar somehow reached out and crushed the ball the opposite way to right field at 106 mph for his second homer of the game.

How indeed. The pitch was 1.19 feet from the center of home plate, which is tied for the furthest outside pitch that Acuna has homered on in his career, according to Sarah Langs of MLB.com.

Acuna certainly looks Home Run Derby-ready. The Braves' superstar will be swinging for the fences in the competition in front of the hometown fans at Truist Park on July 14 at 8 p.m. ET.

Major League Baseball’s winter meetings kicked off on Sunday, as representatives from 30 teams gather in Orlando this week. It is the unofficial start of the hot stove portion of baseball’s offseason and typically winds up being the launching point for trades and free agent deals.

This offseason could see a ton of movement. With the league’s collective bargaining agreement set to expire on Dec. 1, 2026, teams are not only positioning themselves for next season but also for a future that could look much different.

With all of that in mind, here’s a look at the latest rumors popping up as the week begins.

Ketel Marte draws trade interest from Red Sox, Tigers

Ketel Marte has often been brought up as a trade target entering this offseason. The 32-year-old is entering the second season of an affordable, six-year, $116.5 million contract and is under team control through 2030, with a player option for $11.5 million in 2031. The Diamondbacks’ second baseman is coming off a season in which he slashed .283/.376/.517, with 28 home runs, 72 RBIs, and a wRC+ of 145. He produced 4.6 fWAR, one season after notching a career-high 6.3. It’s no shock that several contenders have checked on his availability.

USA Today’s Bob Nightengale is reporting the Red Sox, Tigers, and Rays have all called to check on his availability. They almost certainly won’t be the only teams interested as the winter meetings heat up. Arizona general manager Mike Hazen claims a Marte trade is “mostly unlikely”, but we’ll see if his feelings change as offers are exchanged.

Kyle Schwarber suitors line up

No player increased his value more during the 2025 season than free agent designated hitter Kyle Schwarber. The 32-year-old, who is almost certainly still celebrating Indiana’s Big Ten championship game win over Ohio State today, is on the verge of a massive payday.

In 2025, Schwarber slashed .240/.365/.563, while setting career-highs in home runs (56), RBIs (132), hits (145), runs (111), games (162), and fWAR (4.9). He’s been invaluable to Philadelphia during his four seasons with the team.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan thinks Schwarber is the most likely hitter to sign during the winter meetings. The Phillies want him back, but the Red Sox, Reds, and Mets are also expected to be in the mix. Philadelphia remains the most likely destination, but things can get wild during the winter meetings, and no one should rule anything out.

Cubs willing to spend big

After several years of sitting on the sidelines when big free agents have been available, the Cubs might finally be willing to spend this offseason. The Athletic’s Patrick Mooney and Shadev Sharma report Chicago is “targeting a higher level of the free-agent market” this year.

The Cubs were involved in discussions with Dylan Cease before he signed with the Blue Jays, and have also had talks with third baseman Alex Bregman. Chicago is also interested in righty Michael King and Japanese free agent Tatsuya Imai.

One player not expected back with the Cubs is outfielder Kyle Tucker, who is expected to command a deal in the $400 million range.

A Brazil international says his friends and family members are now urging him to join Arsenal, describing the Gunners as the ‘perfect’ club.

Arsenal prepare for Chelsea after statement Bayern Munich win

Arsenal’s commanding 3-1 victory over Bayern Munich on Wednesday night has set the stage perfectly for Sunday’s blockbuster Premier League clash with second-placed Chelsea this weekend.

Mikel Arteta’s side maintained their perfect Champions League record with a dominant second-half performance that overwhelmed the previously unbeaten German champions.

Jurrien Timber’s header from Bukayo Saka’s corner opened the scoring before teenage sensation Lennart Karl equalized with a composed volley to end Arsenal’s clean sheet streak in the competition.

However, the second period belonged entirely to the hosts. Substitute Noni Madueke, after returning from two months out with a knee injury, broke the deadlock with his first Arsenal goal before Gabriel Martinelli capitalized on Manuel Neuer’s catastrophic error to seal all three points.

The result sends Arsenal three points clear at the top of the Champions League table and represents their first victory over Bayern in a decade, ending a winless run against the Bavarians dating all the way back to October 2015.

Martin Odegaard’s late comeback appearance off the bench provided even more encouragement ahead of the weekend’s crucial encounter at Stamford Bridge.

The captain’s return offers Arteta additional midfield creativity just when Arsenal need it most, facing a Chelsea side riding high after their own impressive European victory over Barcelona.

Sunday’s clash represents a genuine title race test. Arsenal arrive in excellent form, having thrashed Tottenham 4-1 in the North London derby before dispatching Bayern, and they’re currently on a phenomenal 16-game unbeaten streak.

Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest

Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 1-1 Man City

Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal

Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

Fulham 0-1 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-0 Atlético Madrid

Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace

Arsenal 2-0 Brighton

Burnley 0-2 Arsenal

Slavia Prague 0-3 Arsenal

Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-1 Tottenham

Arsenal 3-1 Bayern Munich

Chelsea, meanwhile, sit just six points behind the league leaders following their Champions League demolition job.

Mikel Arteta confirms Arsenal star will miss Chelsea clash through injury

The Spaniard is gearing up for one of their biggest games of the season.

ByEmilio Galantini Nov 28, 2025

Away from the pitch, sporting director Andrea Berta continues to weigh up how best to strengthen Arteta’s squad for the long-term.Reports suggest that Arsenal have already held ‘initial’ talks over Elche sensation Rodrigo Mendoza, amid his comparisons to Pedri, but someone else has now opened the door for a potential N5 move.

Luiz Henrique makes Arsenal transfer admission

That man is Zenit St. Petersburg winger Luiz Henrique.

The Brazilian, who boasts 11 caps for his country, joined the Russian Premier League side back in January following a brief stint in his homeland at Botafogo.

Before that, he was at Real Betis in La Liga after coming through the ranks at Fluminense, and he’s been discussing his next career moves in an interview with Globo Esporte.

Speaking to the outlet, as translated by Arsenal News, Henrique claims that his close circle have told him to join Arsenal, expressing how he is a “huge fan” of that idea.

The 23-year-old, who’s bagged one goal and three assists in 14 league appearances this season, is in Carlo Ancelotti’s thinking for the 2026 World Cup.

He was included in the Brazil squad for recent friendlies against Senegal and Tunisia, making appearances off the bench, and Henrique’s versatility to play almost anywhere in attack would appeal to Arteta.

However, as yet, there’s been no links to the forward from an Arsenal perspective, at least not this year.

That being said, Henrique has clearly invited the north Londoners to make a move, so the door is wide open.

Chelsea are making transfer plans ahead of the looming January transfer window that opens in just over one month’s time, with Enzo Maresca and co setting their sights on a Real Madrid player who wants out of the Bernabeu.

The Blues have made a respectable start to the 2025-26 season under Maresca, currently sitting third in the Premier League table with 20 points from 11 matches.

Their position represents a solid foundation for Champions League qualification, sitting just six points behind league leaders Arsenal and level on points with Tottenham and Aston Villa. However, the campaign has been significantly hampered by a mini-injury crisis that has tested the depth of Maresca’s squad to its limits.

The injury problems have been particularly concentrated in specific positions, most notably defence, and that has created selection headaches for Maresca whilst forcing him to constantly rotate his lineup.

Levi Colwill, Cole Palmer, Benoit Badiashile, Enzo Fernández, Pedro Neto, Dario Essugo, Liam Delap, Reece James, Wesley Fofana, Tosin Adarabioyo, Andrey Santos and Josh Acheampong have all spent time on the sidelines at various points already this term, and some are still a way off recovering.

Roméo Lavia also returned to the treatment table yet again recently and will be out for at least a month after injuring his quadriceps (Fabrizio Romano).

The Belgian launched his water bottle in frustration after being hauled off inside eight minutes away to Qarabag in the Champions League last week, and it’s not hard to see why considering the sheer amount of games he’s already been forced to sit out.

Taking their plethora of absentees from this campaign into account, Maresca has done fairly well to steer them towards a top three place, but reports suggest that he’s still not satisfied with the overall Chelsea squad despite being backed with a near-£300 million warchest last summer.

Premier League Clubs’ Summer Spending

Rank

Club

Gross Spend

Sales

Net Spend

20.

Bournemouth

£136.7m

£202.5m

+£65.8m

19.

Brighton

£67.7m

£127.5m

+£59.8m

18.

Brentford

£92.8m

£152m

+£59.2m

17.

Wolves

£105.6m

£126.5m

+£20.9m

16.

Chelsea

£296.5m

£314.4m

+£17.9m

According to TEAMtalk, Maresca wanted Chelsea to sign Real Madrid’s Rodrygo during the last window, and he could now have another chance to bring the Brazilian to Stamford Bridge.

Rodrygo 'on the brink' of Real Madrid exit as Chelsea 'push' for January deal

According to their information, after growing ‘frustrated’ under Xabi Alonso, Rodrygo is now ‘on the brink’ of leaving Real in the winter.

The 24-year-old has started just two La Liga matches so far this term, and with the 2026 World Cup looming, he’s growing increasingly tempted by a move to the Premier League as Chelsea and other top English sides circle.

As per TEAMtalk, Chelsea are making a ‘late push’ for Rodrygo despite Man City being the overwhelming favourites for his signature, and Real have slashed his asking price by £35 million.

Once valued at around £88 million by Alonso’s side, Real president Florentino Perez is now prepared to negotiate a fee just above £53 million — which suddenly opens the door for Chelsea and other interested sides to make a move for the ex-Santos sensation.

Rodrygo, who has won La Liga three times and the Champions League twice during his time there, initially seemed out of reach, but a deal could be genuinely possible now given the player’s own frustration and dramatic drop in asking price.

The South American would bring versatility, proven quality and top pedigree to Chelsea’s youthful side.

Rodrygo bagged 14 goals and 11 assists in 50 appearances for Real just last season, including five strikes in the Champions League, but his £283,000-per-week wages could be a sticking point amid Chelsea’s carefully curated wage structure.

Nicholas Pooran has been named Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) captain ahead of CPL 2025. He will take over from Kieron Pollard, who has led the team since 2019, when he replaced Dwayne Bravo in the role.”It means a lot, first and foremost, to represent Trinbago Knight Riders. It is a privilege that I’m getting the opportunity to lead this franchise,” Pooran said. “I want to give it my best shot, and hopefully make as many correct decisions as I can. It’s a responsibility that has been passed on from Bravo to Pollard, and now to me.”For me, the most satisfying thing is that Pollard is still playing; Sunil [Narine] and Andre [Russell] are here too. That’s a lot of experience I can bank on. To lead them on the field – it means a lot to me.”Related

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• Bravo bros' reunion, ageless wonders, and more: everything you need to know about CPL 2025

Pooran, who is one of the most sought-after players on the T20 circuit, made his debut in the format as a 17-year-old in the inaugural season of the CPL for TKR, who were then known as Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel. He switched to Barbados Royals (BR) and Guyana Amazon Warriors before returning to TKR in 2022. He’s played in all the CPL seasons so far except for 2015, when he was out injured due to an accident. Overall in the CPL, Pooran has 2447 runs at a strike rate of 152.27 in 114 matches. At present, he is also the captain of MI New York in the MLC and MI Emirates in the ILT20.Under Pollard’s leadership, TKR not only won their fourth CPL title in 2020 but had a record unbeaten season – with 12 out of 12 wins – before making two more playoff appearances. In 2024, they lost the Eliminator to BR. Bravo was named head coach this season after he retired last year.”I believe grooming the next generation is very important,” Pollard said. “With Bravo coming on board this year as the new head coach, we felt this is the right time to get a new captain in. Pooran is homegrown, and I think this is the right opportunity for him. We’ve actually been preparing him for this over the years.”I don’t know how much longer I’m going to be playing for, but I’m happy for the opportunity to still be on the field and help Nicholas ease into this role. He’s someone who we’ve seen grow in front of us and he understands our values and principles. He understands how we want to play cricket, he understands the winning culture that we want to create, and he shares a lot of respect with a lot of players around the world. So for me, it was an easy decision to hand over the captaincy to Pooran.”TKR start their CPL 2025 campaign against St Kitts & Nevis Patriots on August 17.