Kusal Mendis had been at the PSL until last week but has now pivoted to playing in the IPL, a league in which he has never previously appeared
Andrew Fidel Fernando15-May-2025
ESPNcricinfo has confirmed he will not travel to Pakistan for the remainder of the PSL•AFP/Getty Images
Sri Lanka wicketkeeper-batter Kusal Mendis will replace Jos Buttler in the Gujarat Titans squad for the IPL playoffs.Kusal Mendis had been at the Pakistan Super League (PSL) with Quetta Gladiators until last week, playing as their wicketkeeper-batter. He’d last played for them on May 7. But ESPNcricinfo has learned he will not travel to Pakistan for the remainder of the PSL due to perceived safety concerns, and has now pivoted to playing in the IPL, a league in which he has never previously appeared.Buttler’s unavailability for the playoffs is down to his having been named in England’s ODI squad for the home series against West Indies, which starts on May 29. The IPL’s playoffs begin the same day.GT have two other wicketkeeping options in their squad, in Anuj Rawat and Kumar Kushagra. However, Kusal Mendis has been in good form for Gladiators, hitting 143 runs at a strike rate of 168 in five PSL matches.Merely being approached by an IPL franchise as a replacement is something of a career fillip for Kusal Mendis, who had entered his name in the IPL auctions repeatedly, but had never been bought. He is understood to be currently awaiting his India visa, and is likely to join the GT squad on Saturday.GT currently sit atop the IPL table, equal on points with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, but with a better net run rate. They need only one more win to confirm their place in the playoffs.
Mohammed Kudus’ second-half strike earned Tottenham a 2-1 win at Elland Road as Leeds lost a home league game for the first time in over a year.
Ghana forward Kudus fired the winner shortly before the hour-mark after Leeds winger Noah Okafor had cancelled out Mathys Tel’s opener for Tottenham before the break.
It was Leeds’ first home league loss since a 1-0 defeat to Burnley in September 2024 and their third in the top flight this season, while Tottenham notched their fourth Premier League win under Thomas Frank.
The Londoners, who began the day in fifth place, have lost only one of their 11 matches in all competitions since Frank replaced Ange Postecoglou in June, while they have won on their last three visits to LS11.
And Tottenham reporter Alasdair Gold spotted an emotional scene at the full time whistle, as former Elland Road wonderkid Archie Gray finally got the chance to wave goodbye to his boyhood club in person, where he was met with applause from the home support.
Leeds 1-2 Tottenham: As it happened
Leeds, unchanged for four successive matches, quickly showed their intent through Sean Longstaff’s crunching tackle before Joe Rodon’s header from Anton Stach’s free-kick hit a post.
Joao Palhinha was wayward with a first chance for Spurs, who made five changes after Tuesday’s 2-2 Europa League draw against Bodo/Glimt in Norway.
The visitors threatened again as Destiny Udogie’s angled shot was blocked by Leeds goalkeeper Karl Darlow and more incisive play saw them take the lead in the 24th minute.
Kudus slipped Tel away down Leeds’ left channel and after racing to the edge of the box, the French winger unleashed a powerful shot into the top corner via a deflection off Pascal Struijk.
Kudus should have doubled Tottenham’s lead soon after when he fired wide from inside the penalty area as Leeds began to look ragged.
But Farke’s side regrouped. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was wayward after creating space inside the area and 10 minutes after falling behind they hauled themselves level.
Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario was only able to parry Brenden Aaronson’s deflected low effort and summer signing Okafor turned home the rebound for his second goal of the season.
Longstaff lashed over from the edge of the box as Tottenham began to creak, but in a see-saw encounter, the visitors went close to a second when Tel’s header from Wilson Odobert’s cross struck the crossbar before half-time.
The two sides resumed in pouring rain and half-chances continued to flow.
Darlow blocked Pedro Porro’s cross and at the other end Vicario was at full stretch to keep out Calvert-Lewin’s low strike.
A slip by Leeds defender Gabriel Gudmundsson helped Tottenham regain the lead in the 57th minute.
The Sweden left-back was dispossessed near the penalty are by Kudus, who darted inside and arrowed a low left-footed inside Darlow’s near post, via another deflection off Struijk.
But after edging back in front, Tottenham were unable to dictate the tempo and Leeds went close when Longstaff thundered a low shot narrowly wide.
Leeds swept forward in the closing stages, but substitute Joel Piroe was foiled by Vicario’s low save and Struijk’s header was deflected narrowly over.
تمكن الرويجي إيرلينج هالاند، مهاجم الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي مانشستر سيتي من تسجيل الهدف الثاني لصالح فريقه أمام بوروسيا دورتموند، في المباراة التي تجمعهما ضمن منافسات دوري أبطال أوروبا.
ويستضيف مانشستر سيتي بقيادة بيب جوارديولا، نظيره بوروسيا دورتموند، على ملعب “الاتحاد”، ضمن منافسات بالجولة الرابعة من مرحلة الدوري لبطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.
ويملك مانشستر سيتي وبوروسيا دورتموند، 7 نقاط في دوري أبطال أوروبا بعد خوض 3 مواجهات في البطولة.
اقرأ أيضًا | جوارديولا يوضح سبب غياب رودري عن تشكيل مانشستر سيتي أمام بوروسيا دورتموند
واستطاع هالاند تسجيل الهدف الثاني في الدقيقة 29 بعد عرضية رائعة من الدولي البلجيكي جيريمي دوكو، سددها هالاند ببراعة داخل شباك حارس الفريق الألماني.
كان فيل ودين قد نجح في تسجيل الهدف الأول لصالح الفريق السماوي في الدقيقة 22 ليكتب التقدم لفريقه بعد تمريرة رائعة من تيجاني ريندرز.
إيرلينغ هالاند يواصل التألق ويضيف الهدف الثاني لمانشستر سيتي ⚽️💥 #دوري_أبطال_أوروبا #مانشستر_سيتي #دورتموند pic.twitter.com/z1mGXSbDBG — beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) November 5, 2025
Despite picking up an injury a few weeks ago, new Manchester United number ten Matheus Cunha has made a positive start to life at Old Trafford.
The 26-year-old has only played seven games for the club so far, missing the Manchester derby defeat away at the Etihad with the hamstring issue he had earlier in the season.
He’s yet to score or assist, but his impact in the final third has been felt. He’s created seven chances so far, and averaged 1.4 per 90 minutes. He certainly shone on debut against Arsenal.
The Brazil international has performed well for Carlo Ancelotti’s side in the international break this month.
Cunha’s form for Brazil
With the form he showed for Wolverhampton Wanderers throughout his time at Molineux, it was always going to be a matter of time before Cunha became a regular in the national team.
After making his debut back in 2021, he broke into the side as a key player earlier in 2025.
The 26-year-old is currently away with Brazil on international duty. In their recent game against continued his excellent form for Selecao, where he managed to score and assist in four games this calendar year.
Well, he added to that tally, which is now three goal involvements in five games, after he assisted Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior against South Korea in a 5-0 win.
Playing as a centre-forward for Ancelotti’s team, he managed 44 touches, created three chances and won four from seven ground duels.
Cunha vs. South Korea
Stat
Number
Touches
44
Pass accuracy
83%
Passes in oppostion half
16/21
Ground duels won
4/7
Ball recoveries
3
Chances created
3
Assists
1
Stats from Sofascore
The 26-year-old has a good relationship with Los Blancos star Vinicius. The pair have played together 11 times for the national team, combining for two goals in that time.
Both of those came in the last two games they played alongside each other in that famous Yellow shirt.
With Cunha’s form threatening to explode for United, too, it will be encouraging for Ruben Amorim that he has a howgrown version of the Brazilian brewing.
United’s homegrown Cunha
United have some incredibly exciting academy players. They’ve produced some sensational talents over the years, and currently on the books, some rising stars can eventually fit that mould.
In The Pipeline
Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.
It is no secret just how talented 15-year-old forward JJ Gabriel is, with the Red Devils academy diamond tipped for a huge career ahead of him.
Yet, he is not the academy star who could be the homegrown Cunha. Instead, that is Samuel Lusale, an 18-year-old winger who moved to Old Trafford last summer from Crystal Palace. He’s already impressed for the academy sides.
In 22 games for the Red Devils under-18s side for far, Lusale has scored once and assisted seven times. This season in particular, the Slovakia under-19 international has been on fire, with four assists and one goal in five U18 Premier League games.
His run of form has been largely unstoppable. The 18-year-old, who was born in Guilford, has only failed to score or assist once, coming against Burnley. He gave Wolves a nightmare, grabbing two goal involvements in a 4-0 win.
Already, you can see how the 18-year-old is similar to Cunha, with the threat he offers in the final third. Described as a “dynamic” attacker by Academy Scoop over on X, he is a threatening ball-carrier, just like Cunha has shown for United this season.
The other similarity comes in the versatility Lusale offers. According to Transfermarkt, he is a winger by trade and has featured on both flanks for the Red Devils. He can also operate as a number ten, which really draws comparisons to Cunha.
The Brazilian is surely going to be an instant hit for United, and has shown glimpses of his best form before getting derailed by injury.
To be brewing a homemade version of Cunha in Lusale is exciting for United fans, especially if he can turn out to be as deadly as their number 10.
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Hugo Mallo foi expulso da partida contra o Atlético-MG no último sábado (30), pelo Brasileirão. O Internacional saiu derrotado por 2 a 0 e o lateral está fora da próxima rodada do campeonato, que será o clássico contra o Grêmio.
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O espanhol foi expulso no final da partida após o árbitro mudar a decisão do cartão no VAR. Hugo entrou aos 14 minutos e jogou apenas por 35 minutos. A entrada forte em Guilherme Arana foi o que credenciou o vermelho para o lateral.
+ Garanta a sua vaga no curso que formou craques como Pet, Dante e Léo Moura! Cupom: LANCE1000
Apesar do foco na Libertadores, o Internacional não pode abandonar o Brasileirão. Com apenas uma vitória nos últimos 13 jogos no campeonato, a zona de rebaixamento está a apenas três pontos de distância e preocupa.
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+ Coudet, do Internacional, dispensa favoritismo e exalta Fluminense e Diniz: ‘Time e treinador do ano’
A partida contra o Grêmio é no domingo (8), às 16h. Mas, antes, na quarta-feira (4), o Internacional decide vaga na final da Libertadores contra o Fluminense, no Beira-Rio.
She picked up a shoulder injury recently but will go on to play until the CPL before she goes for surgery
ESPNcricinfo staff19-Jun-2025
Hayley Matthews played a crucial role in Melbourne Renegades’ title run last season•Cricket Australia/Getty Images
Melbourne Renegades were dealt with a big blow ahead of the WBBL draft on Thursday when their star allrounder Hayley Matthews was ruled out of the upcoming season due to a shoulder surgery. Matthews had been signed as a pre-draft recruit for two years by Renegades, the defending champions, but her unavailability was announced just hours before the draft.Matthews injured her shoulder recently while fielding in the first ODI against England, and she had to sit out of the last two games of the series. She has been playing after that – in the home ODIs against South Africa – and will feature in the subsequent T20I series too, followed by the Women’s CPL in September for Barbados Royals, and will then go for her surgery during the Women’s ODI World Cup as West Indies failed to qualify for the tournament. She won’t be available for the rest of the year after that.”We are clearly disappointed Hayley won’t be with us this season,” Renegades general manager James Rosengarten said. “She’s been instrumental during her time with the Renegades, not just with her performances but with her leadership and professionalism.Related
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“There’s a very close relationship between the Renegades and Hayley and we know it will continue next year and beyond. Hayley loves this club and we share in her disappointment at not being available for this year’s tournament.”Renegades will now have all three overseas slots to fill at the WBBL draft on Thursday in Melbourne.Matthews had played a crucial role for Renegades in their run to lift their maiden title last season. She was their top scorer with a tally of 324 runs and a strike rate of 130.64 and was also their second-highest wicket-taker with 14 scalps, while leaking 6.98 runs an over, again among the best in her team. She was also the Player of the Match in the final against Brisbane Heat with a knock of 69 off 61 and figures of 2 for 24.
Manchester United have had some sensational midfielders over the years. Two of the players who spring to mind are Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick. The England pair formed a crucial midfield pivot in the later years of Sir Alex Ferguson’s dynasty.
Of course, Scholes was a graduate of the United academy and had plenty of success before Carrick signed for the club in 2006. Once they were playing together week in, week out at the Theatre of Dreams, they formed one of the best midfield pairings in the Premier League.
United have long been searching for a midfielder who possesses as much class as Scholes Carrick did. Kobbie Mainoo is someone who would surely fit that bill.
What Scholes has said about Mainoo
Life under Ruben Amorim this season hasn’t been easy for Mainoo. The 20-year-old has been continuously overlooked, which is strange given the pedigree he comes with, built up in such a short amount of time.
His astronomic rise under Erik ten Hag began with a spellbinding performance on debut away to Everton.
Mainoo’s technical brilliance was on show then, picking up the ball off the back four with ease and carrying forward to progress play.
Mainoo stats on PL debut vs. Everton
Stat
Number
Touches
61
Passes completed
38/46
Ground duels won
3/5
Aerial duels won
2/3
Ball recoveries
3
Long balls completed
2
Tackles won
1/1
Stats from Sofascore
He continued to shine in that United midfield, with Scholes someone who heaped praise on him.
The United great said, “I remember that calmness” Mainoo had on the ball, before going on to admit, “I just couldn’t believe such a young player could do that.”
Mainoo’s excellent performances were capped off last summer. He started and shone in the Euro 2024 final, which England lost 2-1 to Spain.
Given his quick rise and obvious talent, it is baffling that he continues to get ignored for a starting spot by Amorim.
Incredibly, United have a midfielder in the academy who might be even more like Carrick and Scholes than Mainoo, however.
United’s Carrick and Scholes hybrid at Carrington
The Red Devils are no strangers to incredible midfield talent. Of course, Scholes and Carrick are two of them, and Mainoo is the current example, but the likes of Paul Pogba certainly fit into the category.
Well, the next off the incredible production line at Carrington could well be Jim Thwaites. The 17-year-old has shone in the centre of the park for United’s under-18 side this season, under another midfield great, Darren Fletcher.
This season, sitting at the base of the midfield for Fletcher’s team, Thwaites has played six times in the under-18s Premier League. He’s started all of those games, skippering the side once and chipping in with a couple of goals.
Speaking of those strikes, and ones in the past, Thwaites is a bit of a specialist when it comes to free kicks. Look at this effort against Manchester City in what turned out to be a 4-2 defeat for his side.
The United youngster rifled home the set piece into the top left corner, with an inch-perfect effort.
That goal itself showcases Thwaites’ excellent ability. You can’t take a free kick like that without possessing technical brilliance. It is easy to see why he can be such a good controller in midfield, pulling the strings for his side.
In fact, coach Seb Ostergren was full of praise for the youngster. He said Thwaites is like a “hybrid between Scholes and Carrick,” noting he has the “line breaking forward passes” of United’s former number 16 and the “switches” of their academy graduate.
Thwaites is certainly a talent United fans can get excited for. At just 17 years of age, he knows how to make things tick in the centre of the park.
Once he gets used to the pace of senior football, he could become a huge asset for the club.
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O Palmeiras está sem jogar desde o dia 8 de outubro, quando foi derrotado de virada pelo Santos, por 2 a 1, na Arena Barueri. De lá para cá, os campeonatos pararam por conta da Data Fifa, período que o clube utilizou para aparar algumas arestas. Entre elas estão o reforço na blindagem ao elenco e a busca por uma solução aos vazamentos de informação denunciados por Abel Ferreira. A medida tem surtido efeito.
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+ Veja tabela e classificação do Brasileirão-2023 clicando aqui
É verdade que durante todo esse período o noticiário do clube ficou bastante movimentado, principalmente por conta dos holofotes em cima das declarações de Leila Pereira e da atividade incomum do Verdão no mercado de transferências.
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Diante da falta de resultados, da eliminação na Libertadores e do Brasileirão complicado, esse foco fora do time foi bem recebido na Academia de Futebol, que viu o “furacão” passar sem levar problemas para dentro do elenco e da comissão técnica. Os jogadores descansaram, se recuperaram, treinaram e desligaram do “mundo externo”.
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Embora muitas notícias de contratação e de temperatura do Conselho tenham vazado nesses últimos dez dias, as informações de dentro do CT foram praticamente zero. Ninguém ouviu falar da reação de Abel às falas de Leila, nem do sentimento dos jogadores pelo momento turbulento.
Funcionários, pessoas próximas do elenco e da diretoria têm se mantido fechados com receio da busca interna do clube para saber quem é o X9 denunciado por Abel Ferreira, que vazaria informações de escalações e ambiente.
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O objetivo é retomar o “todos somos um”, lema do técnico português, que parecia estar em desuso. Além de, é claro, dar paz ao elenco e à comissão técnica para voltar aos trilhos no Brasileirão e garantir a vaga direta na fase de grupos da Libertadores de 2024.
Se a tentativa do clube era blindar a Academia de Futebol nessa Data Fifa, aparentemente ela foi exitosa. Resta saber até quando e qual resultado todo esse trabalho interno terá daqui para frente nesses 12 jogos finais da temporada 2023.
Coles half-century not enough for Sussex as visitors take early control with the ball
ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay22-Jul-2025
Khaleel Ahmed celebrates taking the wicket of Danial Ibrahim•Getty Images
Essex 152 for 4 trail Sussex 204 (Coles 52, Porter 4-30) by 52 runsEssex produced an opening day performance against Sussex which belied their disappointing season to date, bottom but one of the championship’s first division, with just one victory. They bundled out Sussex – third in the table – for just 204 in only 52.4 overs and at the close were powerfully placed at 152 for four.Essex’s inability to pair up their opening attack of Jamie Porter and Sam Cook has been a major factor in their poor campaign. Cook has been involved with the England set-up and Porter, on paternity leave, missed the last championship match against Yorkshire.Here, though, they were back in tandem, both hitting a length on a relentless line of third or fourth stump and Porter, with four for 30, was the star of the show. Sussex, though, knowing the Kookaburra ball gets softer, and batting easier, showed a lack of application.Essex won the toss and bowled on a grassy pitch, with a canopy of clouds also promising to assist their seamers.Sussex, who had dropped Tom Clark for the fit-again Tom Alsop, and brought in Ari Karvelas for the rested Ollie Robinson, struggled to overcome the conditions but were also guilty of some indulgent strokeplay.Porter broke through in the ninth over when Daniel Hughes, going for a lavish drive, edged to keeper Michael Pepper. And it was 31 for two in the next over when Alsop, playing forward defensively, edged Cook behind.The relatively inexperienced Khaleel Ahmed replaced Cook at the sea end but there was no let-up for Sussex. Khaleel pitched one up to Tom Haines who went for the drive. But the ball nipped off the pitch and Simon Harmer took the catch at second slip. And it was 64 for 4 in the 18th over when Dan Ibrahim attempted an expansive drive against the same bowler and was caught behind. The players took an early lunch at 69 for four when a second, heavier shower swept over the ground.The in-form James Coles and John Simpson launched a mini-revival with a stand of 56. Coles showed some of the fluency that had brought him 150 against Warwickshire in his previous championship innings. When he played Cook to backward point for a quick single he had reached his half-century from 62 balls, with seven eye-catching fours. But then he played forward to Porter and edged to first slip, and four balls later Fynn Hudson-Prentice nicked off for a duck.Yet again Simpson was required to make the most of diminishing resources. He added 49 for the seventh wicket with Jack Carson, whose five fours included a straight drive off Noah Thain that might have been the shot of the day.The introduction of fourth seamer Thain saw the first drop in the keen accuracy of the Essex attack. But he, too, was good enough to get among the wickets. Carson had made 25 when he edged to Pepper and next ball it was 169 for eight when Simpson prodded only half-forward to Harmer and was caught at slip.When Karvelas flayed to cover for one Sussex had lost three wickets for two runs but last pair Henry Crocombe and Gurinder Sandhu put on 33.When Essex batted Dean Elgar was caught at midwicket, Paul Walter, half forward, was lbw to Carson, Tom Westley was yorked by Sandhu and nightwatchman Cook was caught at leg slip. But they could still be in a very strong position by the second afternoon.