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Bangladesh cricket seems to always be embroiled with off-field distractions, with Shanto’s reluctance to lead the latest one

Mohammad Isam28-Oct-2024Another Test match for Bangladesh, another major distraction. Shakib Al Hasan’s farewell-that-wasn’t and the messy handling of Chandika Hathurusinghe’s exit dominated the headlines around their previous Test, while the Test prior to this series, in Kanpur against India, had Shakib’s retirement news all over it. And now, they will play the second Test against South Africa in Chattogram with a reluctant captain.The situation is far from ideal – as if being 1-0 down at home wasn’t bad enough.Bangladesh aren’t great at recovering after losing a first Test either. The only time they have done it against a noteworthy opponent was eight years ago, when England were over. For them to get their act together will take a big effort, particularly from that same reluctant captain, Najmul Hossain Shanto.Related

• De Zorzi and Stubbs hit maiden tons to make it South Africa's day

• Mehidy pulls up Bangladesh's top order after Dhaka defeat

• Shanto wants Bangladesh to focus on cricket

Shanto has informed the BCB that he wants to give up captaincy, across formats. It was only eight months ago that the BCB appointed him. He has reportedly said that among the reasons for his reluctance to continue is his own batting form. Since February, he has averaged 20.92 in seven Tests with just one half-century.So far, from the BCB, only director Nazmul Abedeen has spoken on the matter. He said that the board is open to discussing the issue with Shanto once president Faruque Ahmed returns to Dhaka on Monday evening.Now, the Test starts on Tuesday. So the discussions between Shanto and Faruque will have to be during the Chattogram Test. This is because Bangladesh have an ODI series against Afghanistan starting November 6 in the UAE, four days after the Chattogram Test’s scheduled fifth day.

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Shanto’s drop in form since becoming captain has been stark. He had said earlier this year that he has the ability to detach his leadership role when he is batting. Shanto’s batting during these last eight months hasn’t reflected that.It started in fairy-tale fashion, though. Shanto hit 105 in over four hours against New Zealand in his first Test as captain, in Sylhet last year, leading Bangladesh to a 150-run win. At the time, he was a stop-gap appointment as then captain Shakib was injured and Litton Das was on paternity leave. Shanto was impressive again on the white-ball tour to New Zealand later in the year in December. Hathurusinghe backed him as the permanent captain.

Bangladesh’s players showed that they can ignore distractions and thrive in nothing-to-lose situations, like in Pakistan. If they are to do it again, Shanto, for a last time perhaps, has to show them the way

But then things changed. His form and Bangladesh’s results both went downwards since March this year. Their T20I series defeat against USA was followed by a lukewarm T20 World Cup, and that put pressure on Shanto. The Test series win in Pakistan this year changed things again, and while it might be fair to overlook the team’s performance in India thereafter, the pressure has come right back after the Dhaka Test defeat against South Africa.Shanto made 7 and 23. South Africa got their first Test win in the subcontinent in ten years.For a young man – Shanto is just 26 – everything going on around the team must be tough to deal with. The Shakib saga – his political connections, the murder charge, and now his inability to return to Bangladesh because of security threats – since August has been exhausting to keep up with. Shanto didn’t appear too worried about the political side of things, but he has had to deal with Shakib, Bangladesh’s best cricketer, being mostly unprepared ahead of two major Test series. Shakib’s lack of overs in both the Chennai and Kanpur Tests raised eyebrows. Shanto pointed to the conditions by way of explanation, but Shakib’s bowling form was a concern.Shanto also witnessed Hathurusinghe’s exit up close. Faruque had spoken about wanting a new coach on his first day in office. The pressure on the coach continued until six days before the Dhaka Test against South Africa. BCB suspended Hathurusinghe and appointed Phil Simmons, and then sacked Hathurusinghe two days later. For a captain who was planning the next Test match with the coach, this must have been confusing if not worse. Shanto made the right noises, but that was only for the wider world. It was, like much else, far from ideal.

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The BCB’s main reason for appointing Shanto full time was to lead Bangladesh’s transition from the era of the senior players into the next. Shanto was appointed vice-captain during the 2023 ODI World Cup, amid the messy change of baton between Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan. He was Bangladesh’s best batter in 2023, and brought with him calm and composure, so he seemed the natural choice.When Shakib was injured, Shanto stepped up. Litton was the other choice but the BCB said that Litton was reluctant to lead the side. Now, in less than a year, Shanto and Litton are seemingly speaking the same language.Najmul Hossain Shanto’s runs have dried up of late•PTI Much of this is down to the price a Bangladesh captain has to pay.Like Shanto, Mominul Haque lost form after becoming Test captain and nearly lost his place in the team in 2022. He resigned after that. Shakib never really warmed up to the Test captaincy even though he was appointed a few times since 2018. Mushfiqur Rahim was the last captain who enjoyed a favourable Test run as a batter, but his tenure also ended when his batting form dipped.Shanto is also unlikely to be the last to be in the position.The BCB could talk him out of resigning. If they don’t, or can’t, Shanto’s long-time friend Mehidy Hasan Miraz might be the front-runner to take over at least in Tests, while Towhid Hridoy’s name is dong the rounds in the media for the T20I job. There is no clear candidate for ODIs at this stage.But Mehidy has just started to make meaningful all-round contributions in the last 12 months, while Hridoy is quite new to the international arena. Do they have it in them to be Bangladesh’s long-term captain, in one format or another? Questions, debates, discussions… it will all go on parallelly to the Chattogram Test. Bangladesh’s players showed that they can ignore distractions and thrive in nothing-to-lose situations, like in Pakistan. If they are to do it again, Shanto, for a last time perhaps, has to show them the way.

Cristiano Ronaldo endured a nightmare evening on Thursday as he was shown a straight red card in the second half of Portugal's World Cup qualifier with Ireland at the Aviva Stadium. The hosts took a 2-0 lead in the match, thanks to two goals from Troy Parrott, and their hopes of snatching a famous victory were boosted further when the Portugal superstar was handed his marching orders.

• Ronaldo rages after red card

  Ronaldo saw red just after the hour mark for a petulant elbow on Dara O’Shea. He was originally awarded a yellow card but the decision was upgraded following a VAR review. The decision was met with delight by the home fans who were happy to let the Portugal star know their thoughts. He responded by ironically applauding the fans as he walked off and went straight down the tunnel. Ronaldo's departure left Portugal with a mountain to climb in the match, already two goals down and now a man light for the final half hour. The sending off is Ronaldo's first for the Portugal national team and means he now faces a ban.

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  Portugal star had promised to be a 'good boy'

  Ronaldo had promised to be a "good boy" ahead of the match as he previewed his team's World Cup qualifier. He told reporters: "‘It’s a pleasure to come and play here again. Of course, it will be tough. I hope they don’t boo me too much tomorrow. I swear that I’m going to try to be a good boy. But of course, I do my job. I try to win the game and try to score to help my team. I’m sure that the game will be difficult."

  The Al-Nassr star had also admitted before the game that next year's competition will be his final World Cup. He explained: "Definitely, yes, because I will be 41 years old and I think it will be the moment in the big competition. I'm enjoying the moments, but when I mean soon, it's really soon because I give everything for football. I'm in the game for the last 25 years. I did everything. I have many records in different scenarios for the clubs and the national teams. I’m really proud, let's enjoy the moment, live the moment."

• Ronaldo now facing ban

  Ronaldo's red card means he will now face a suspension which will be a blow to the superstar and his team. The forward is expected to receive at least a two-match ban, meaning he will miss Portugal's final World Cup qualifier on Sunday against Armenia and, should Roberto Martinez's side qualify automatically, his team's first match of the tournament proper, as reported by BBC Sport's Dale Johnson.

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  What do Portugal need to qualify for World Cup 2026?

  Portugal had flown out to Ireland aiming to secure their place at World Cup 2026 with a win but return home pointless and still with work to do. Martinez's men return to action on Sunday against Armenia in Lisbon and will be hot favourites to take all three points. A win will be enough to secure top spot in the group, regardless of results elsewhere, while Ireland take on Hungary in their final group fixture. A win for either side will secure the runners-up spot in the group.

Manchester United are in the market for reinforcements, and INEOS may now use their negotiation powers to bring a talented midfielder through the door at Old Trafford.

Ruben Amorim will be the first to acknowledge that his side are a work in progress at this moment in time. However, they are now five matches unbeaten in the Premier League after their draw at Tottenham Hotspur yesterday.

From the jaws of defeat, Matthijs De Ligt secured a deserved point for Manchester United in injury time to cap off an enthralling encounter. However, the Red Devils’ Portuguese boss did confirm that Benjamin Sesko could be absent for a period after being hauled off due to an injury.

He stated post-match: “It’s the knee, and we never know. Right now, I’m not thinking about form or selection. I’m more concerned about the injury because it’s in the knee, and I don’t know how serious it is.”

Either way, a minor blot on a credible day at the office won’t distract Manchester United fans from the fact that their side appear to be headed in the right direction, finally, something that is bound to appeal when aiming to secure signings in January.

Looking towards the future, Hertha Berlin youngster Kennet Eichhorn is someone the Red Devils are keen to land, potentially filling a hole in the engine room long-term if they can see off Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona to land his signature.

La Liga is also a market Manchester United are looking to exploit by signing Barcelona winger Raphinha if they secure Champions League qualification.

Nevertheless, he could cost over £100 million. In contrast, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS have eyes on a target based in Spain that could arrive in a financially advantageous deal.

Man Utd could land Valencia star Javi Guerra in cheap deal

According to reports in Spain, Manchester United could land Valencia star Javi Guerra for £21.9 million if they can see off competition from both Atletico Madrid and AC Milan for his signature.

The Spain Under-21 international has a release clause valued at £87.8 million, creating a scenario where he could end up at Old Trafford for up to £65 million less than his asking price.

Starting the campaign off, he has registered two assists in 12 appearances across all competitions for Valencia. However, they view a cut-price sale as an ideal solution for all parties due to what they believe is a drop in form from Guerra over recent months.

No longer guaranteed a starting spot, Carlos Corberan could offload the Valencia-born man, and the January window is set to become a defining point when determining his future.

Man Utd could also sign a proven striker for a bargain figure

It is an open secret that Manchester United want new midfielders, especially with Casemiro coming towards the end of his career, and Guerra could be a cost-effective solution for Amorim should he enter the market in mid-season.

Cristiano Ronaldo was among the first to congratulate Portugal on their World Cup qualification after seeing his international colleagues book tickets to that 2026 showpiece in a nine-goal showing against Armenia. CR7 sat that game out through suspension, but will get to grace another major international tournament after barely being missed in a resounding win.

• Portugal thrash Armenia without Ronaldo

  Ronaldo was forced to watch that contest from afar after being released early from the Portuguese camp. There was no need for him to hang around while serving a ban. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner saw red during a 2-0 defeat in Dublin against the Republic of Ireland.

  He tangled with Irish defender Dara O’Shea during that fixture, elbowing the Ipswich centre-half in the back, and is now waiting to discover how many matches he will have to miss. The hope is that one game will be enough for him to learn his lesson.

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• Ronaldo sends out message after Portugal win

  Portugal proved, against limited opposition, that they can cope without their talismanic captain. They wobbled briefly against Armenia, with Renato Veiga’s early effort being cancelled out, but ultimately eased over the line at Estadio do Dragao.

  Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes bagged a hat-trick, including two penalties, while Goncalo Ramos, Joao Neves and Francisco Conceicao were also on target. Portugal knew a positive result would be enough to see them top Group F. They finished three points clear of Ireland after making light work of Armenia.

  Ronaldo had posted ahead of Portugal’s final qualification fixture: “Go team! All together today and forever! For Portugal and for our flag!” CR7 was left smiling at the final whistle as he added: “WE'RE IN THE WORLD CUP! LET'S GO, PORTUGAL!”

  Ronaldo is now preparing to grace his sixth World Cup finals. He will be 41 by the time that tournament rolls around, but has signed a new contract at Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr and shows no sign of slowing down.

• Portugal defend Ronaldo after red card

  It does, however, remain to be seen whether he will be forced to miss the opening games of that event in Northern and Central America. Martinez said of Ronaldo’s dismissal against Ireland: “The red card is just a captain that has never been sent off before in 226 games. I think that just deserves credit and today, I thought it was a bit harsh because he cares about the team. He was 60 minutes or 58 minutes in the box being grabbed, being pulled, being pushed, and obviously, when he tries to get away from the defender…I think the action looks worse than what it actually is. I don't think it's an elbow, I think it's a full body, but from where the camera is, it looks like an elbow. But we accept it.

  “The only thing that leaves a bitter taste in my mouth is at the press conference [Wednesday], your coach was talking about the aspect of the referees being influenced, and then a big centre-half falls on the floor so dramatically at the turn of Cristiano's body.”

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  Ronaldo facing World Cup ban?

  Martinez went on to say, with it possible that FIFA’s disciplinary committee will sting Ronaldo with a three-match ban: “After the game it’s a difficult time because emotions can be unclear. I saw his reaction to a provocation. It started at the beginning of the game, in every play in the penalty area. It even started the day before in the press conference.

  “And it was a reaction of trying to continue playing. Others might fall to the ground and look for a penalty. It’s not a violent action, it’s not a red card for violence, but a reaction to a provocation. We need to try to show the case and prepare well. I would say it would be very unfair to impose a long suspension.”

  Ronaldo has already stated that the 2026 World Cup will be his last. He has sought to clarify comments in which he said that retirement could happen “soon”, with there still at least a couple of years left in the evergreen all-time great.

The MLB playoffs have officially begun and with it, the quest for some fortunate clubs to capture a championship. But for the other unfortunate clubs who missed out on October baseball, the month can bring change, particularly in leadership at the manager position.

Already, MLB has seen some clubs part ways with managers. To help keep track of the comings and goings, here's a running list tracking the manager status of every MLB team eliminated from the postseason.

Which MLB managers have been fired?

Bob Melvin

San Francisco endured a disappointing campaign that saw the Giants race out to a 41-29 start and seem poised for the postseason, only to stumble to a 40-52 record the rest of the way to miss out on October. And unfortunately for Melvin, the underwhelming finish cost him his job. The Giants, after seemingly endorsing him by picking up his option for 2026 in July, made an about-face and opted to instead fire the three-time Manager of the Year. In two seasons managing San Francisco, Melvin went 161-163.

Rocco Baldelli

Rocco Baldelli's tenure in Minnesota started out with a bang, as the then first-year manager led the slugging Twins to just the franchise's second-ever 100-win season back in 2019. While the Twins never again eclipsed the century-win mark under Baldelli's stewardship, the club did go on to win two more American League Central titles, bowing out in the first round of the playoffs in each year while missing out on the postseason in his four other seasons at the helm. The firing of Baldelli, who had his 2026 option picked up earlier in the year, signals a reset on the field for a Twins team that gutted its roster at the trade deadline during the summer.

The "parted ways" category

Bruce Bochy

Bruce Bochy, a four-time World Series champion who led the Rangers to the franchise's first and only championship in 2023, mutually agreed with the club to part ways. Texas reached the pinnacle of the sport with Bochy perched on the top stoop of the dugout in 2023, but limped to 78-84 and 81-81 records in 2024 and 2025, respectively. Bochy himself even acknowledged that the club "underachieved" in '25, perhaps appreciating his and the club's shortcomings. But after coaxing him out of retirement, the Rangers can't look back at Bochy's tenure as anything but a smashing success.

Ron Washington

The Angels on Sept. 30 declined to pick up the 2026 options of manager Ron Washington and interim manager Ray Montgomery, a disappointing end to the Washington tenure. The 73-year-old Washington, who led the Rangers to two AL pennants in the 2010s, stepped away from managing duties on June 20 due to a health issue, which he later revealed to be quadruple bypass heart surgery, a procedure he underwent on June 30. Washington had hoped for the opportunity to return to manage the club in 2026, but it was unfortunately not to be. Washington went 135-189 in two seasons managing Los Angeles.

Brian Snitker

It was reported on Oct. 1 that Snitker, who was mulling a potential retirement, informed the Braves he would not be returning to manage the team in 2026. In a press release, the club announced that the veteran manager will be transitioning to "an advisory role" within the organization, adding that he'll be inducted into the Braves Hall of Fame next season. Snitker led Atlanta to six division titles, a pair of 100-win seasons and managed the club to a World Series title in 2021. Snitker, the 2018 Manager of the Year, won the third-most games in franchise history. But the '25 campaign, an injury-riddled season in which the Braves started 0-7 and never fully recovered, was undoubtedly a disappointment.

Which MLB managers have been retained?

Don Kelly

The Pirates on May 8 fired Derek Shelton and named then-bench coach Don Kelly the interim manager. Kelly led the club to a 59-65 record, including a winning record at home, while overseeing a pitching staff that recorded the fourth-best ERA in all of baseball since the All-Star break. The Pirates were obviously not pleased that the franchise endured its 10th straight losing season, but they were impressed enough with Kelly to extend his contract on Sept. 29.

Carlos Mendoza

The Mets, despite enduring one of the most inexplicable collapses for a seemingly postseason-bound club, on Sept. 29 announced that manager Carlos Mendoza would be returning as the skipper in 2026. It's not too surprising, given that president of baseball operations David Stearns had multiple times expressed his confidence in Mendoza in August. Despite the team's stunning fall from grace in 2025, Mendoza and the Mets are still just a year removed from reaching the National League Championship Series, and Stearns expressed his belief that the skipper is a "very good manager." However, Mendoza's coaching staff will be further "evaluated", suggesting there could be changes coming.

Oliver Marmol

Cardinals new president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom on Sept. 30 announced that manager Oliver Marmol will return in 2026. Marmol led the Cardinals to a 93-win season and National League Central title in 2022, but hasn't reached those heights since, as St. Louis has finished below .500 in two of the last three seasons. But the club is transitioning to a new leader in the front office and looking to get younger on the field, so it appears patience is being exercised with Marmol.

Which MLB managers have been hired?

Skip Schumaker

Schumaker, the former National League Manager of the Year award winner with the Marlins, on Oct. 3 was announced as the 21st manager of the Texas Rangers. Schumaker, regarded as one of the best young managers in the game, replaces a legend in four-time World Series champion Bruce Bochy, who led the Rangers to its first World Series title in franchise history.

Kurt Suzuki

The Angels on Oct. 21 hired Suzuki, a former 16-year MLB veteran, to be the club's next manager. The Angels had expressed interest in former MLB star Albert Pujols, whom they interviewed, as the next skipper, but they instead shifted their focus to Suzuki. A former big-league catcher, Suzuki has spent the last two seasons as a special assistant to general manager Perry Minasian. Suzuki, who has never been a manager, will attempt to help Los Angeles end a postseason drought that extends to the 2014 season.

Tony Vitello

The Giants took a leap of faith and hired former Tennessee Volunteers coach Tony Vitello to be their 40th manager. While the hire has raised eyebrows around baseball, Vitello's track record at the college level is for real. He turned the Volunteers into an SEC power, leading the program to the College World Series three times from 2021 to 2024, the final year of which resulted in the program's first national championship. Vitello takes over a Giants club that has missed the postseason in each of the last four seasons.

Craig Albernaz

The Orioles on Oct. 27 announced the hiring of Albernaz as the club's 21st manager in team history. He has never been a manager at any level, but has a wealth of experience to draw from, having began his coaching career with the Tampa Bay Rays, having served as a bullpen and catching coach for the Giants and then a bench coach and associate manager for the Cleveland Guardians. Albernaz inherits a young Orioles core that won 91 games just a year ago.

Derek Shelton

After parting ways with Rocco Baldelli in September, an experienced hand appealed to the Twins. Minnesota reportedly chose former Pirates manager Derek Shelton, who had managed the Pirates earlier in 2025 and served as the Twins bench coach in 2018 and 2019. Shelton compiled a 306-440 record in six seasons as Pittsburgh's skipper. He returns to Minnesota at a time of seeming transition, as the Twins are fresh off of a massive fire sale at the trade deadline and their second consecutive season missing the playoffs.

Blake Butera

The Nationals, like the Giants, opted to take a leap of faith with the club's managerial hire. Washington reportedly hired 33-year-old Blake Butera, a longtime minor league manager in the Rays' farm system, to be their manager. He is the youngest big league manager since 1972. After winning the Word Series in 2019, Washington endured six straight seasons of missing out on October baseball, resulting in the firing of manager Dave Martinez and a parting of the ways with interim manager Miguel Cairo.

Real Madrid explored the prospect of bringing Achraf Hakimi back on a free transfer in 2026, banking on his stalled renewal with Paris Saint-Germain and strong emotional ties to the club. But everything changed after Kylian Mbappe’s exit opened huge salary space at PSG, leading the Moroccan star to make a dramatic U-turn and sign a long-term extension in Paris instead.

• Madrid’s plan for 2026 return collapses after PSG intervene

  After spending years in Madrid's youth academy, Hakimi left the club in 2020 to join Inter after a positive spell on loan at Borussia Dortmund. He has since blossomed into arguably the best right-back in the world, having since joined PSG and helped fire the French team to Champions League success last season. Naturally, Madrid fancied bringing the Morocco star, who made 17 senior appearances for Los Blancos, back to the Santiago Bernabeu, and with his contract expiring in 2026, there was a period they had high hopes of luring him.

  At the time, Hakimi’s renewal talks with PSG had stalled, and Madrid had privately informed him years ago that if he ever completed his PSG contract and became a free agent in 2026, the Bernabeu doors would be wide open. With relations between Real Madrid and PSG strained, a no-fee return was viewed as the only viable path. That possibility dramatically shifted after Mbappe left and PSG suddenly had significant financial room to manoeuvre, setting up the turning point that derailed Madrid’s plan, according to .

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  PSG shift strategy and give Hakimi an offer Madrid couldn’t match

  The Moroccan future was headed towards a free-agent crossroads until the Ligue 1 giants acted decisively. Mbappe’s departure freed up enormous wage capacity, allowing PSG to table a package Madrid simply could not compete with. The offer, strengthened by Luis Campos’ sporting project and Luis Enrique’s influence in the dressing room, convinced Hakimi to rethink his future and sign a long-term deal in February of this year.

  From PSG’s perspective, retaining one of the world’s best right-backs became a cornerstone of their post-Mbappe rebuild. Hakimi, already deeply integrated into the Paris squad and the club’s long-term vision, chose stability in Paris over sentiment in Madrid.

• Injury recovery, Murcia visits & strong ties to Madrid remain

  Throughout this saga, Hakimi has been recovering from the ankle injury suffered after Luis Diaz’s heavy challenge in the Champions League. PSG allowed him to continue treatment in Murcia, where he works closely with Salinas and the Innova Clinic team. He was recently seen on a rolling mobility device at the CAF awards after winning the 2025 African Player of the Year.

  His regular appearances across Spain in recent weeks also kept speculation alive. Hakimi’s visit to Real Madrid's 2-2 draw against Elche in La Liga last week, where he watched former Madrid academy striker Alvaro Rodriguez score and mimic Hakimi’s “penguin” celebration. Despite his PSG renewal until 2029, those emotional links remain intact. Just as telling: he met his close friend Mbappe after the Elche match.

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  Renewal to 2029 ends Madrid hopes but connection endures

  With Hakimi now tied to the European champions until 2029, Madrid’s long-standing plan to re-sign him has effectively ended. The club always knew that negotiating with PSG’s hierarchy was nearly impossible and once a free transfer was off the table, the window closed.

  For PSG, Hakimi will be a central figure in Enrique’s evolving project, expected to return from injury ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations window. For Madrid, it is the story of a reunion that seemed increasingly possible until PSG’s post-Mbappe rebuild swept him firmly back into the Paris project.

  Even so, his repeated presence in Spain, his Madrid academy past, and his affection for the club ensure that his relationship with Los Blancos will always remain part of his identity even if the comeback will no longer happen.

Manchester United believe they can sign Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson for a cut-price fee in 2026.

Man Utd linked with Anderson amid Tuchel praise

Since making the move to the City Ground from Newcastle in 2024, Anderson has gone from strength to strength and is now viewed as one of the best players in the Premier League.

He’s also now a regular on the international stage under Thomas Tuchel, and it looks as if Anderson and Declan Rice will be the Three Lions’ starting midfield duo at the 2026 World Cup.

Tuchel has recently praised Anderson, calling him an elite player. “Anderson is a key player for us at the moment. He is one of the best midfielders in the Premier League, that’s why he is with us and starting for us. He is an elite player with the right attitude and a lot of talent.”

Anderson’s displays have caught the eye of Man Utd, who have been heavily linked with a move for the midfielder, however, they aren’t the only Premier League side who are keen.

Former club Newcastle are thought to have an interest in bringing Anderson back to St James’ Park, whereas Chelsea have also been linked. Now, a new update has emerged over a transfer to Old Trafford and the potential fee involved.

Man Utd “confident” of signing Anderson for £60m

According to CaughtOffside, Man Utd think they can sign Anderson for a bargain fee of just £60m, which is £40m less than Forest’s initial £100m valuation that has been mooted in the media.

Anderson being under contract at the City Ground for another three-and-a-half years could complicate matters, so if Man Utd do snap him up for £60m as they feel they can, it may prove to be a shrewd deal.

The 23-year-old also shares the same agency as United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, who has actually been linked with the Old Trafford exit.

Casemiro’s contract is also set to expire in 2026, whereas Manuel Ugarte came in for criticism from Amorim after the Europa League final last season.

Man Utd now very keen on signing "amazing" midfielder likened to N'Golo Kante

Ruben Amorim’s side have identified another target in the middle of the park ahead of the January transfer window.

By
Dominic Lund

Nov 20, 2025

All signs point towards a new marquee midfielder being required, and that could be Anderson if the Red Devils get their way.

Man Utd now racing Arsenal to sign "complete" £45m Bundesliga attacker

What the teams in contention need to do to stay alive in the men’s and women’s competitions

Sampath Bandarupalli25-Aug-2025

Men’s tournament

Invincibles, favourites to confirm their place in the final, have a chance at a three-peat due to their superior net run rate. Rockets and Superchargers will now hope Invincibles go down against London Spirit on Monday.It will, however, be difficult for both to go past Invincibles on net run rate (NRR) as the current table-toppers are ahead of Rockets by about 180 runs and further 20-odd runs against Superchargers. Rockets have an edge of about 20 runs on NRR over Superchargers, and playing on a later date will help them determine their equation if Spirit can take down Invincibles.Oval Invincibles are currently on top of the men’s Hundred table•Alex Davidson/Getty Images

Women’s tournament

Northern Superchargers – Wins 5, Points 20Superchargers are clear of every team barring Brave by at least four points, and their net run rate is second only to Brave, at 1.027. But that doesn’t guarantee them a place in the Eliminator. If they lose their last match against Manchester Originals, they could go down to fourth, behind Spirit and Originals.But their strong net run rate could give them a chance to stay in the tournament, as they will have to lose by at least 58 runs to fall behind Originals (assuming Originals bat first and score 140). Superchargers will be safe if Spirit do not win big enough against Invincibles.If Spirit win by 40 runs after making 140 while batting first, Superchargers can afford to lose by 70 runs (if Originals scored 140) and stay ahead of them on net run rate.Related

• Alana King's three keeps Trent Rockets' slim hopes alive

• Root 64* soothes Rockets nerves to book top-three finish

• Phoenix triumph over Originals on awkward Old Trafford pitch

London Spirit and Manchester Originals – Wins 4, Points 16Spirit and Originals are tied on 16 points and separated by only about three runs on NRR. If both win their respective last matches, the team with the bigger win will end up in Saturday’s Eliminator.Both could end up facing each other on Saturday if they secure heavy wins and topple Superchargers’ strong NRR. And if both lose, Rockets, currently fifth in the table, will qualify.But if Rockets also lose, then the team that loses narrowly between Spirit and Originals will qualify. Spirit have a cushion of three runs on net run rate over Originals now, but Originals have the advantage of playing later and knowing what to do.Trent Rockets – Wins 3, Points 12Rockets face Birmingham Phoenix on Wednesday, but to stay in the competition, they will need the results of the two preceding matches to go in their favour: Invincibles defeating Spirit on Monday and Superchargers winning against Originals.If they beat Phoenix on Wednesday, they will finish third, surpassing both Spirit and Originals on net run rate. Rockets are behind Spirit by only around 12 runs and approximately nine runs behind Originals.Even if both Spirit and Originals lose narrowly in their respective matches, their net run rate will fall, that Rockets won’t need to stress about their winning margin.

Manav Suthar took three wickets and Akash Deep two on the opening day of the Irani Trophy

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Oct-2025Vidarbha opener Atharva Taide scored an unbeaten 118 on the first day of the Irani Cup in Nagpur, putting his team on course for a strong first-innings total against Rest of India. He wasHe began the day alongside Aman Mokhade, who hit four boundaries during his 27-ball 19, before nicking an Akash Deep delivery in the eighth over of the match. Akash Deep – returning to competitive cricket for the first time since his Test tour of England – found success at either end of the day’s play. He was the most economical bowler for Rest of India, going at just 2.50 across his 14 overs.Akash Deep capped off the day by having Vidarbha captain Akshay Wadkar caught behind for 5 in the 82nd over. Vidarbha were reduced to 275 for 5, and Taide batted out the remaining overs alongside Yash Thakur to take Vidarbha to stumps on 280 for 5.Earlier in the day, Rajasthan allrounder Manav Suthar had threatened to roll them over for much less. Fresh off an eight-for against Australia A in Lucknow, he took back-to-back wickets in his first over – the 23rd of the innings. First, he cleaned up Dhruv Shorey (18) while the batter was playing down the wrong line, before he had Danish Malewar caught behind just three balls later. The latter was the second of three catches Ishan Kishan completed behind the stumps.Akash Deep impressed on his return to competitive cricket•PTI

At 80 for 3, 25-year-old Yash Rathod walked in. He stopped the slide and continued his good form from the Duleep Trophy, where he had scored 374 runs in five innings at 124.67. Rathod and Taide batted through the second session, and looked all set to bat till stumps.However, after having hit Suthar for a six just the previous ball in the 74th over, Rathod skipped down the track for the second time in a row and holed out to mid-off on 91 against the run of play. The dismissal ended a 184-run partnership for the fourth wicket.While Akash Deep snared the fifth wicket before the close of play, Taide’s presence in the middle will be essential to Vidarbha’s hopes on the second day. In case an outright result cannot be achieved over five days, the team with the first-innings lead will be declared the winner.Vidarbha will thus be looking to bat deep in their first Irani Cup outing since the 2018-19 edition, which they won through a first-innings lead as well.

It all comes down to this.

The Dodgers and Blue Jays have both punched their tickets to the 2025 World Series and will compete to take home the championship. The Dodgers are looking to defend their title after beating the Yankees in 2024, when they snagged their second title this decade and eighth overall. Now, they'll get the chance to add another trophy to the collection, and perhaps become a dynasty in the process.

Meanwhile, the Blue Jays arrived to the World Series in much more dramatic fashion. After defeating the Yankees in the American League Division Series, the Blue Jays went down 0-2 to the Mariners in the ALCS. They eventually forced a Game 7, and despite trailing 3-1 after six innings, grabbed the lead after George Springer hit a three-run home run. They now head back to the World Series for the first time in over 30 years.

Before the World Series begins later this week, here's a look at the schedule.

When does the World Series start?

The 2025 World Series begins on Friday, Oct. 24, in Toronto, Canada. It will run from at least Oct. 24 to Oct. 28, but could go until the start of November if needed.

Full 2025 World Series schedule

The Dodgers and Blue Jays have faced off in one series this year, with Los Angeles edging Toronto 2-1 over those three games in August. The Dodgers also head into the championship with more rest, since they swept the Brewers in four games. They will go a week between games by the time the World Series begins.

The Blue Jays do get homefield advantage in this series, meaning they get to host the first two games and will also host Games 6 and 7 if the series goes that long. Toronto earned homefield advantage after finishing the regular season with a better record than the Dodgers, 94-68 to the Dodgers' 93-69.