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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

• TKR appoint Dwayne Bravo as new head coach

• Five rookies who could make a splash in CPL 2025

• 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.

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.

Celtic were provided with a timely reminder of the task ahead of them this season after they were hammered 3-1 by FC Midtjylland in the Europa League on Thursday night.

The Hoops found themselves 3-0 down at the break after a dismal first half that saw the Scottish giants register two shots, while giving up 15 on their own goal, per Sofascore.

It was a dismal performance from the Scottish Premiership champions as they were far too easy to create against, as shown by the second goal that was scored in the clip above.

Martin O’Neill was brought in as an interim manager after Brendan Rodgers tendered his resignation at the start of last week, and the experienced boss did win his first two games in charge, against Falkirk and Rangers.

Unfortunately, though, the Hoops were way off the level required in their clash with their Danish counterparts on Thursday night, which may raise question marks over how long O’Neill’s interim spell will last.

The latest on Martin O'Neill's future at Celtic

Speaking to Football Insider earlier this week, scout Mick Brown suggested that the Northern Irishman could take the job until the end of the 2025/26 campaign.

Brown said: “Based on what he’s said about the job and the fact he’s gone in there as an interim, I can’t see him taking on the permanent job, even if he does well during this spell.

“It might be that he could extend his stay on a short-term basis, maybe until the end of the season. From the directors’ point of view, that might be a decision which suits them because they don’t end up with somebody making demands of them like Rodgers did.”

Football Insider also recently reported that O’Neill’s chances of landing the job until the end of the season would depend on the team’s performance in his matches in interim charge.

Possession

61%

39%

xG

2.49

0.98

Shots

24

5

Shots on target

12

3

Big chances

4

1

Passes completed

430

293

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Celtic were outclassed in their defeat to Midtjylland in the Europa League on Thursday night, which may leave the board wondering whether or not to stick with the experienced manager for the rest of the season, as it may impact their progress in Europe.

If they do decide to make an external appointment during the international break coming up after the weekend, Johan Mjällby has told the club who to go for.

Johan Mjällby tells Celtic who would be a perfect fit

The former Celtic central defender, who spent six years in Glasgow, has suggested that Bodo/Glimt head coach Kjetil Knutsen would be “the perfect fit” for the club.

Manager Focus

Who are the greatest coaches in the land? Football FanCast’s Manager Focus series aims to reveal all.

Speaking on TNT’s live coverage of the defeat on Thursday night, Mjällby hailed the job that the Norwegian manager has done with Bodo/Glimt and said that his style of play would be a mix of what Brendan Rodgers and Martin O’Neill want from their teams.

The former Sweden international said that he could be “the perfect fit” for Celtic because his style is a mix of O’Neill and Rodgers, as he wants to dominate possession, but to be quick and aggressive with his side’s use of the ball.

It remains to be seen whether or not the Hoops will make a move for the Bodo/Glimt head coach, but it was recently reported that he is one of a number of managers on the club’s radar.

This shows that Knutsen is a manager the club are aware of and are considering as a potential long-term successor to Rodgers at Parkhead. However, it is not known how high or low he is on the shortlist at this moment in time.

Why Celtic should appoint Kjetil Knutsen

The Hoops should swoop to appoint the Bodo/Glimt manager as their new head coach because he could arrive in Glasgow as an upgrade on O’Neill this month.

Celtic’s dismal showing in Europe on Thursday was, perhaps, a sign of the experienced manager’s lack of experience in management in recent years, as this is his first club job since the 2018/19 campaign, per Transfermarkt.

O’Neill also managed in Europe for the first time since the 2009/10 Europa League qualifying campaign for Aston Villa when he was in the dugout on Thursday, which illustrates how long it has been since he has coached on the European stage.

Knutsen, on the other hand, has had recent success in both European and domestic action as Bodo/Glimt’s manager, which could make him a ‘perfect’ option for Celtic, as Mjällby suggested.

The 4-3-3 tactician’s team are currently one point off first place in the Eliteserien season, with three matches left to play, and he could claim his fifth league title in six seasons.

2025

27

61 (2nd)

2024

30

62 (1st)

2023

30

70 (1st)

2022

30

60 (2nd)

2021

30

63 (1st)

2020

30

81 (1st)

As you can see in the table above, he has made Bodo/Glimt a winning machine in the Eliteserien over the past five years or so, which shows that he has the credentials to continue Celtic’s dominance of Scottish football.

On top of his domestic success, Knutsen also led his team to the semi-finals of the Europa League last season, becoming the first Norwegian side to ever reach the semi-final of a European competition.

Knutsen, who has forged a strong relationship with his club’s fanbase, as shown in the clip above, also reached the quarter-finals of the Conference League in the 2021/22 campaign.

Rodgers, meanwhile, never reached past the last 16 in any European competition across his two spells at Celtic, and O’Neill managed in Europe on Thursday for the first time in 15 years.

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Celtic are reportedly keen on a manager who could make Sebastian Tounekti a superstar.

ByDan Emery Nov 5, 2025

Therefore, Knutsen could be a brilliant hire for Celtic as an upgrade on O’Neill, due to his recent success in domestic and European football, whilst having a play style, per Mjällby, that would be a ‘perfect fit’ for the Hoops.

Wolverhampton Wanderers supporters will already be fearing the worst regarding their side’s bottom-of-the-table position in the Premier League.

Only a sorry two points have been accumulated so far this season, with the Old Gold hierarchy ultimately left with no choice but to sack Vitor Pereira, after Wolves slipped to their disastrous eighth loss of the campaign already away at Fulham on Saturday.

Now, the hunt is on to appoint a miracle worker in the West Midlands, who can turn around this awful start, with a whole host of names being tipped to take on the vacancy.

The latest on Wolves' hunt for a new manager

The only certainty at the moment is that Gary O’Neil will not be re-entering the Molineux dug-out.

Indeed, rumours had begun to circulate that O’Neil was the favourite to take over from Pereira and return in dramatic circumstances. But, the ex-AFC Bournemouth head coach has since withdrawn himself from the race, after holding advanced talks.

Moreover, Michael Carrick is also on Wolves’ radar, with the former Middlesbrough manager still looking for work after being let go by Boro.

With three caretaker matches in charge of Manchester United also under his belt, he could potentially relish the chance of being a saviour for Wolves in the top division.

Carrick’s replacement at the Riverside Stadium in Rob Edwards is also high up the alleged priority list, having previously lined up for Wolves as a player, before earning his managerial stripes at Luton Town and beyond.

Yet, the most out-there name being linked to the Wolves vacancy right now could be viewed as Erik ten Hag, with reports from ESPN indicating that the Dutchman is ‘interested’ in holding talks with the Molineux outfit over the vacant job.

It’s stated that Ten Hag would like to return to the Premier League after his torrid spell at Manchester United, having had his already tattered managerial reputation put through the wringer again when axed three games into his Bayer Leverkusen stint this season.

Still, even with his back-to-back failures hanging over him, ten Hag has been a success in his career elsewhere, as Wolves potentially prepare to welcome a new Nuno Espirito Santo-style figure to Molineux.

How Ten Hag can be Wolves' new Nuno Santo

Despite his sketchy recent track record, the ex-Ajax manager would also be seen as an upgrade on O’Neil walking through the door.

Indeed, despite being the butt of many a Red Devils joke by the time of his dismissal, the 55-year-old guided United to 44 top-flight wins from his 85 games in charge. O’Neil has only 25 league wins next to his name on the contrary.

With other high-profile managers also struggling to get a tune out of the Premier League giants, since he left the Theatre of Dreams, it’s clear the problems run far deeper in Manchester than just who occupies the stressful dug-out.

Nuno has also been up against it in the top division since exiting Wolves, with spells at Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest not exactly going to plan. But, having overseen 73 wins in charge of the Old Gold in the top-flight, he is still heralded as one of the finest bosses they have possessed in the elite division in recent memory.

Despite his wobbles, Ten Hag will hope he will be seen as a similarly ambitious appointment, like when Nuno entered the Wolves dug-out in the Championship after successful stints in La Liga and Liga Portugal, when taking in his glittering managerial numbers above.

The unemployed boss collected three Eredivisie titles as manager of Ajax, with a Champions League semi-final run also being spearheaded by the Dutchman, who has been noted as being a “world-class” operator by his former United midfielder in Fred.

An FA Cup success also came his way during his hot-and-cold reign in Manchester, as the 55-year-old attempts to become a much-loved name at Molineux by steering Wolves away from certain relegation.

If he pulls that unbelievable feat off, he will definitely be seen as the second coming of Nuno – with Ten Hag also regularly setting his teams up in the Portuguese’s preferred 4-2-3-1 make-up – as another bold coup of an appointment potentially goes down a treat.

After all, landing Ten Hag would surely be seen as a more exciting development than retreading old ground with O’Neil.

Wolves want Rob Edwards after Gary O'Neil snub, timeline of appointment revealed

Is the former Luton Town boss the right man for the job?

ByHenry Jackson Nov 4, 2025

The board elections will be held on October 6 after plenty of controversy in the lead-up

Mohammad Isam05-Oct-2025BCB president Aminul Islam has said he operated within the board’s constitution in the election process last month. His statement was in reference to a letter he issued to the country’s sports secretary on September 18, in which he asked to cancel the previous councillor nomination forms and instructed them to submit new forms.A writ petition challenged the validity of Aminul’s letter, and on September 22, the country’s High Court had issued a ruling along with an interim order suspending the effectiveness of the letter.On Sunday, the chamber judge of the appellate division, Justice Farah Mahbub, ruled that the High Court’s suspension order would remain in force. It paves the way for the BCB election to be held on October 6 amid a cloud of controversy, including manipulation and interference.Aminul explained he had issued the letter as he had not received sufficient names of cricketers or organisers from the country’s districts and divisions.Related

• Dhaka cricket clubs officials call BCB elections 'illegal'

• Tamim withdraws from BCB elections: 'I cannot be a part of this'

• BCB elections on October 6; Tamim accuses board president of 'interference'

• Faruque Ahmed removed as BCB president

“I want to clarify one thing. There was a writ against my letter,” Aminul said. “The letters that were addressed to me as the BCB president had mentioned clearly the three important areas in the BCB election. The chairman of the district or divisional sports body, who is usually the district or divisional administrator, has to sign it. Since these sports bodies don’t exist now, there are ad-hoc committees which must have a cricketer and an organiser in the body.”When these lists reached me, I saw only three [districts/divisions] qualified [in the criteria]. Shariatpur and Jamalpur were among those that qualified. So we couldn’t do an election with three individuals. I was forced to send the letter [on September 18], based on the constitution. Thereafter, there was a writ against the letter. It was cleared today. This election is such that a lot of things came against my name. I want to defend myself [by saying] that I was always within the constitution.”Aminul also ruled out government influence or interference and said that the country’s sports adviser was trying to “ensure a fair election”.”I don’t remember exactly when I said that the sports adviser requested me [to participate in the elections]. The sports adviser always helped me during my tenure [as BCB president]. I want to thank him for it,” Aminul said. “He is a person at the ministerial level but I know that he spent night and day, going to different places so that we can have a fair election and we can form a good board.”I didn’t think there was any influence. I feel I need to continue for Bangladesh cricket. If anyone feels I am not good enough, I am ready to leave any time.”Aminul Islam was named BCB president in May•BCB

Aminul did not answer questions about Tamim Iqbal’s withdrawal from the election and Faruque Ahmed’s return to the BCB, after being ousted from the president’s position in May. Tamim had alleged interference in the election process, particularly referencing Aminul’s letter.Faruque’s return has come as a surprise, as he reportedly had a falling out with the country’s sports ministry. He then became a BCB councillor, which was also controversial as he had sent his nomination form a few hours after the deadline. Aminul said that if he gets re-elected as president on Monday, he will have zero tolerance against conflict of interest, a problem that has plagued the BCB for years.Aminul, at the start of his BCB presidency on May 30, had said his term was going to be a “quick T20 innings”. At the end of his tenure [on October 5], he used another cricketing term to describe his experience.”[On the field] there is a technique. You can’t bowl more than one or two bouncers in the over. You can’t bowl a no-ball. Here, there were plenty of no-balls. Beamers were not judged as no-balls.”

CA said the incident occurred when the players were walking to a cafe on Thursday

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Oct-2025Two Australian players were “touched inappropriately” by a motorcyclist in Indore, where they played South Africa in their final league game of the Women’s World Cup on Saturday. The incident occurred while the players were walking to a cafe on Thursday, the morning after Australia’s victory against England in Indore.”CA can confirm two members of the Australian Women’s team were approached and touched inappropriately by a motorcyclist while walking to a cafe in Indore,” Cricket Australia said in a statement. “The matter was reported by team security to police, who are handling the matter.”Rajesh Dandotiya, the additional district commissioner of police, Indore crime branch, said they had made an arrest. “The security in-charge manager of the Australian team registered a complaint about inappropriate behaviour against two players. We carried out an intensive strategic operation and arrested the culprit, Aqeel. He belongs to Khajrana but now lives in Azad Nagar. He has an old criminal record.”The Indore Police Commissionerate held a meeting with the stakeholders, BCCI and MPCA, after which security protocols were put in place. We are examining where the security protocol was breached. The incident happened on October 23 around 11am and within the next six hours, we carried out an intensive strategic operation and arrested the culprit. The incident happened when they were headed to a cafe from hotel Radisson.”Devajit Saikia, BCCI secretary, described the incident as “very condemnable” and assured to “revisit our safety protocols if required.”The Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) said in a statement that it was “deeply pained and shocked by the disturbing incident of misconduct and inappropriate behaviour with two players from the Australian Women’s Cricket Team in Indore. No woman should ever have to endure such trauma, and our thoughts and support are with those impacted by this distressing incident. This unfortunate event has deeply affected everyone from MPCA who cherishes the values of respect, safety, and dignity of women. It is truly inspiring to see the players rise above this painful experience and continue to compete with courage and determination, carrying the pride of their nation on their shoulders in the match against South Africa.”Over the years, Indore has earned a proud reputation as a safe venue for the visiting teams and dignitaries from other fields. It is deeply painful that the disorderly action of one individual has caused such harm and cast a shadow over the city’s image. As the host, MPCA extends sincere apologies to the Australian Women’s team for this deeply distressing and unfortunate incident while in our city known for safety, grace, and hospitality.”Australia ended the league stage on top of the World Cup points table and will play India in the second semi-final on October 30 in Navi Mumbai. South Africa will travel to Guwahati to play England in the first semi-final on October 29.

Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill has declared that the weight of expectation lies firmly on Italy’s shoulders as his young side prepare for a daunting 2026 World Cup play-off semi-final away to the four-time champions. The March showdown in Italy on 26 March will mark the first step on what could be a remarkable path back to football’s grandest stage for both nations.Should Northern Ireland conjure an upset, they will face either Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina five days later in a decisive, winner-takes-all play-off final for a coveted ticket to North America.

Two teams with ghosts of tournaments past

Italy’s recent record in World Cup qualifiers is nothing short of astonishing for a global heavyweight. They have missed the last two tournaments, Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022, both exits sealed by devastating play-off defeats and the Azzurri have not reached the finals since Brazil 2014. Northern Ireland’s own wait is even longer, stretching almost 40 years, but O’Neill believes that his side’s recent away performances prove they should not be dismissed. Despite away losses in Germany and Slovakia during the group phase, O’Neill believes that his players showed the resilience and quality needed to trouble elite opposition.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportO'Neill ready to take the fight to Italy

Northern Ireland qualified for the play-offs through their Nations League ranking despite finishing behind Germany and Slovakia in their World Cup qualifying group.

However, an upbeat O'Neill told reporters: "It's difficult to win away in international football and that is something this team still has to develop, but I take a lot of encouragement from the performances in Cologne and Slovakia where we were challenged and were missing key players in those games. We still gave a really good account of ourselves and were in the game in Germany for 70, 75 minutes. We were in the game in Slovakia right to the end and felt a little bit aggrieved by the nature of that result."

O'Neill wants his troops to turn the pressure dial up on an Italian squad already grappling with expectation and scrutiny.

"We have to make the game as difficult as possible for Italy and it will be difficult for them with the expectation they carry into the game," he said. "If we can add to that with how we play the game and the level of our performance, then who knows. We have an opportunity to go to a World Cup and we have to do everything possible to try to take it. What I will say to them is 'don't waste the opportunity'."

O'Neill wary of task ahead

The looming possibility of a third consecutive World Cup absence is unthinkable for a nation with Italy’s pedigree. Their previous two failures came in the most painful manner imaginable, play-off losses to Sweden in 2018 and a shocking defeat to North Macedonia in 2022. But O’Neill believes it is vital for his squad to avoid becoming distracted by Italy’s anxieties.

"The Italian team of now is not going to be the Italian team of eight years ago," he said.

"Not all their players are going to carry the burden of having been unsuccessful in play-off games. As a nation, they carry that burden, and the expectation of their crowd will be that they go to a World Cup. They have won it four times and are one of the heavyweights of world football, but those things are out of our control and our focus will be on how we are."

O'Neill expects a passionate Italian side to take the pitch and added: "Italy away is going to be a massive game, a great game for us to be involved in. The expectation and pressure is very much on the Italians, so we will need to use that in our favour. I know they've lost home and away to Norway and the bulk of their squad is based in Serie A. Gattuso is their manager, so you will expect them not to be lacking in passion.

"We have four months to prepare for this and look at Italy in close detail, so the work will start today and tomorrow. I suppose we would have preferred one of the other teams in Pot One, but to get to the World Cup, you're going to have to beat two good teams."

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Getty Images SportA defining moment awaits both nations

Two countries with proud football histories now stand on the brink of either redemption or renewed despair. For O’Neill and his young squad, belief is growing. However, for Italy, the stakes could not be higher, as another failure to qualify for the World Cup would be a dark spot. Gattuso has won the golden trophy wearing a blue jersey, and now it remains to be seen if he can inspire them to the main event after more than a decade. 

The New Zealand captain paid tribute to the team’s coaches who had shown faith during a long run of defeats

Shashank Kishore21-Oct-20243:54

Kerr, Halliday deliver World Cup glory to NZ

Long after the remnants of golden confetti and firecrackers that added to New Zealand’s moment of glory had been cleaned up following their trophy presentation, Sophie Devine and her band of women strolled towards the centre of the Dubai International Stadium.Some players kissed the turf as a mark of respect, others simply lay flat on their backs, arms spread out and eyes closed, soaking in the euphoria with the quiet calm of an empty stadium helping them connect with their inner sanctum.Then there were happy phone calls made back home to families who must’ve either stayed up all night or woken up early to watch them play. Melie Kerr played a Kiwi folk song on her guitar, Suzie Bates called for a huddle and made a rousing speech that was applauded wildly, Lea Tahuhu, with a trophy in one hand, a chilled beer in another, was showing off some funky dance moves, while Devine led the singing of their team song.Related

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Devine on New Zealand's T20 World Cup win: 'Hard to put into words what it means'

From schoolgirl dreamer to World Cup champion, Amelia Kerr bridges New Zealand's eras

The joyous mood was a reflection of how it was when New Zealand arrived at the ground for the final. Even if there was pressure, you couldn’t quite tell. Their first act upon entering the arena was to huddle near the boundary with Devine taking out a piece of paper and reading out from it to peels of frenzied laughter and back-slapping.”Well, we have a bit of a tradition before the start of each warm-up, someone gets nominated to do a joke of the day,” Devine revealed later, about their ritual. “I was in charge of a joke, but I had a number of them, but I’m not sure if I can repeat any of them unfortunately. We’ll keep it PG, but it’s just a nice way to lighten the mood and have a bit of a laugh before we get stuck into business.”Only last month, they were thrashed 3-0 by Australia to take their winless sequence to 10 matches. The top order looked wonky and was far too dependent on Kerr and Devine for bailouts that merely kept them in the game. They scrapped to stay alive, picking players on potential, and prayed they would come good.They landed in UAE as rank outsiders, not even dark horses, fully knowing their first match against India could make or break their campaign. It turns out they’d been preparing for it from a year out. The only bit of attention to detail they couldn’t account for was the change in venue. They’d been preparing to play amid tea gardens in Sylhet but ended up plotting India’s downfall around Dubai’s ring of fire.They laid down the marker right there, hitting 160 and using every bit of intel, like Devine’s knowledge of Smriti Mandhana’s propensity to step out to spin, having played with her at Royal Challengers Bengaluru. And then using that intel to set fields to target that weakness, like having a wide long-off and having her caught there inside the powerplay.That win should’ve galvanized them; instead, they were given jolted by Australia in their second game. From there, they went on a roll, gathering unstoppable momentum to beat Sri Lanka, Pakistan and West Indies coming into Sunday’s final, where they went hard from get go, allowing no respite to the South African bowlers.Sophie Devine poses with the T20 World Cup trophy•ICC/Getty ImagesIn this journey of 18 months, mostly comprising new lows they kept plummeting to, like a 3-0 sweep in Australia or going through an entire summer in England without a win, Devine and co fed off crumbs of comfort. Like the satisfaction of bowling out Australia in the second T20I, even though they couldn’t chase it down. Or Georgia Plimmer, a teenage sensation, hitting her first fifty after averaging under 10 in her first year in T20Is.”It’s really hard to pinpoint one moment or one game,” Devine said when asked about the turning point in their journey between the end of the previous T20 World Cup to this one. “Probably most recently is that India game, though. I think that was probably the most complete performance we’ve had since the World Cup in South Africa and everything did come together.”As I said, it showed that belief and confidence in this group, and to put it together and to know that we could do it, I think was a massive moment for us and helped us on our journey to being here tonight with this [trophy] in front of us.

The New Zealand team having a nice sit down pitch side with the World Cup trophy and some chilled beverages pic.twitter.com/vBRnOMjLxb

— Shashank Kishore (@captainshanky) October 20, 2024

“So hard to pinpoint because there’s so much that goes into it. I mean everyone thinks about the games, but it’s the work that goes on behind the scenes that a lot of people don’t see. But, yeah, I think if you’re talking about performances, that India one probably set the tone for us.”When Devine was crestfallen after a semi-final loss to New Zealand in 2016, she’d candidly reflected on how “not winning a World Cup trophy” despite having come close twice until then gave her sleepless nights. Now, sitting beside one, with a grin that didn’t leave her face from start to finish as she patiently answered questions, Devine doffed her hat to the coaching staff in her moment of glory.”Oh, I think the coaching staff don’t get enough credit,” Devine said. “They’re probably the first ones to get absolutely slammed by critics, media, outsiders, and they get forgotten when a team wins, but they have been outstanding. They’ve stood with every single one of us players and backed us and believed in us, given us the confidence to know that when we play our best, when we play the brand of cricket that we want to, you can win World Cups.”So, the likes of Ben Sawyer [head coach], Dean Brownlie [assistant coach] as well as Craig McMillan [batting coach] who’s recently on board, Paul Wiseman [spin consultant], but I also think back to Craig Howard who had a really important role with the spinners previous to that. I think about Andre Adams [former bowling coach] and his impact around the group.Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine and Lea Tahuhu celebrate New Zealand’s T20 World Cup win•ICC/Getty Images”There’s been so many people that have come into our environment and have added to it and have helped this team grow that to be able to, I guess, sit here with a World Cup trophy, it goes to them as well and everything that they’ve been able to give to the players, to the group, to New Zealand cricket.”I think so much has to go to them. Obviously, we’re the ones that do it out on the park, but the hours that they spend toiling away, planning, preparing players, Yeah, they really are the unsung heroes and so much credit has to go to them.”Devine’s sense of humour was also perfectly intact when asked what it meant to the people of New Zealand. “Yeah, great question,” she laughed. “I don’t know how much it means because, well, firstly it’s about 5am in the morning back in New Zealand, but I think the impact is going to take a bit of time to sink in.”We’ve spoken about it before, the 2000 World Cup [Cricinfo women’s World Cup, won by New Zealand] and the impact that had and that took years to see the numbers swell and the interest in cricket grow, and fingers crossed we can do that too back home as inspire that next generation of players.”But I think the great thing about being a Kiwi is we all get in behind each other. It doesn’t matter what sport you play. I think the amount of support we’ve had from fellow athletes, from members of the public, from celebrities, it’s been pretty cool to have that support and it does, it just shows you how connected New Zealand is and makes you really proud to be a Kiwi.”

Afghanistan legspinner Rashid Khan has replaced England allrounder Jordan Thompson in the MI Emirates squad for the ongoing ILT20 2025-26. Thompson has been ruled out for the rest of the season due to injury.Rashid, 27, is no stranger to the MI franchise. He is the captain of MI Cape Town in SA20 and led them to their maiden title earlier this year against Sunrisers Eastern Cape. He has also played for MI New York in Major League Cricket (MLC) in 2023 and 2024, but opted out this season. Rashid played two games for MI Emirates back in 2023, where he took four wickets.It has been learnt that Rashid will not be available for the entire ILT20, which runs till January 4, 2026 and is likely to be around until December 20 before travelling to South Africa for SA20 2025-26, where MI Cape Town play the season opener against Durban’s Super Giants on December 26.MI Emirates, the ILT20 2024 champions, will start this season against Gulf Giants in Dubai on December 4. Led by Kieron Pollard this season, they have reached the playoffs in each of the previous three seasons.The current season began on December 2, with Desert Vipers beating last year’s champions Dubai Capitals.