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Venkat Sundaram has been named secretary

PTI17-Oct-2025

Shantha Rangaswamy was the first captain of India women•Annesha Ghosh/ESPNcricinfo

Former India women captain Shantha Rangaswamy has been elected president of the Indian Cricketers’ Association (ICA), and former Delhi men opener Venkat Sundaram named secretary.Sundaram had served as the ICA’s president since December 2024, when he was elected unopposed following the death of the former president Aunshuman Gaekwad.Deepak Jain is the treasurer, while the member representatives are Jyoti Thatte and Santhosh Subramoniam.The ICA board has nominated former India women captains Sudha Shah and Shubhangi Kulkarni as its representatives in the BCCI’s Apex Council and the IPL Governing Council.The male representative to the BCCI Apex Council is V Chamundeswara Nath from the Hyderabad Cricket Association.”This election marks a notable moment for the ICA, with two women now serving on the ICA Board, and for the first time, a female president and a female nominee to the IPL Governing Council – reflecting the Association’s commitment to inclusive representation and progressive leadership,” a release stated.

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe will be chewing on his pencil over the November international break as he works toward solutions that are so badly needed.

Fortunes have gone somewhat askew at St. James’ Park this season, with the club’s away form laying waste to Howe’s hopes of progress after a testing summer transfer window.

But it may be that the ramifications of that Alexander Isak-dominated summer are still being felt. However, tactically, things aren’t right, and the wider struggle of the summer market has led to the current issues which must be overcome if the Magpies hope to make it another positive campaign.

Where PIF have gone wrong in the transfer window

Newcastle have fallen by the wayside, but it’s hardly too late for them to pick themselves back up. But there’s no question that PIF have to learn from their recent transfer struggles, with those brilliant windows of Howe’s early reign something of a distant memory.

In 2024, Newcastle failed to sign a right-sided forward, a glaring gap in the squad. That has now been amended through the £55m addition of Anthony Elanga from Nottingham Forest, but Elanga has blanked across 16 matches for the club, and with concerns over his form, questions must be raised over the extensive scouting that led to his signature being obtained.

Interestingly, Nick Woltemade’s fine form at centre-forward has eased the Isak blow, and before the season, that would have been viewed as the biggest issue. Newcastle’s attacking problems stretch more toward the creative side, with Anthony Gordon joining Elanga in having failed to register a goal contribution in the Premier League this season.

For a team whose 97 big chances created were bettered only by Liverpool in 2023/24, this is a real concern. This year, United have only created 14 from 11 matches, placing them 12th for that statistic. Gordon and Elanga must be doing a lot more, with the recruitment having felt they had hit the jackpot when shaping this wide duo.

While Newcastle have added exciting talents to their ranks this summer, Malick Thiaw and Jacob Ramsey among those with plenty of scope for growth, this is frankly an ageing squad and one whose freshen-up needs to go a lot further.

Tactical issues this season have been suggestive of this, and considering the company Newcastle are keeping in regard to the average age of their starting 11, it wouldn’t be unfair to suggest that younger profiles are needed for balance and continuity.

Premier League 25/26 – Oldest Average Starting XIs
Team	Position	Av. Age
Everton	13th	28.0
Aston Villa	6th	27.9
Newcastle	14th	27.6
Fulham	15th	27.6
Burnley	17th	27.1
Data via Transfermarkt

The need for depth and quality on the defensive flanks is alarming. Kieran Trippier at right-back is 35 years old and out of contract at the end of the season, and Tino Livramento has been unfit at times and deployed as a makeshift left-back at others.

This is largely because of Lewis Hall’s own unavailability this season. But with the 22-year-old drawing strength and fitness once again, we are turned toward the situation of one of Howe’s mainstays.

The Newcastle star now on borrowed time

Newcastle comprise players of myriads shapes and sizes and skills. Some are renowned as being among the best in the world, but some are of a shrewder nature, like Dan Burn, who returned home from Brighton for around £12m at the start of the manager’s reign and has since become one of his mainstays.

After all, it is only the skipper, Bruno Guimaraes, who has featured more prominently for Howe’s Newcastle than him.

Howe’s Most-used Players at Newcastle
Rank	Player	Apps
1	Bruno Guimaraes	170
2	Dan Burn	165
3	Fabian Schar	163
4	Jacob Murphy	150
5	Joelinton	145
Data via Transfermarkt

The 32-year-old has done more than endear himself to the Toon fanbase since arriving, but he’s getting on a bit and has been guilty of some suspect performances at left-back this season.

Naturally a central defender, Burn ranks against Premier League full-backs this term among the bottom 6% for shot-creating actions, the bottom 29% for progressive passes and the bottom 4% for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref.

In the first five matches of the season, he was in the centre. Six appearances since have seen the England international deployed as a left-back, and this is inhibiting Newcastle’s flow and overarching connectivity.

Quite simply, Burn is not a natural left-back, even though he has played ample football in the moonlit role. He is a centre-back. 6 foot 6 and cool and composed.

Hall is far more dynamic and energetic in his role, and this will not only widen and add a dimension to Newcastle’s backline, but it could revive the likes of Gordon up ahead.

The boy from Blyth has been a revelation at Newcastle, and, pound for pound, “one of Newcastle’s best signings” since Howe arrived, as has been said by reporter Andy Sixsmith. A small fee and an immortalising contribution at Wembley last season have made sure of that.

But Howe will be putting a spoke in his own wheel if he continues to persist with Burn on the flank, limiting his side’s progression and mobility and dynamism at the back.

With this in mind, the modern legend might find himself slipping into his obscurity over the coming months, and perhaps that will lead to a departure to make way for this new chapter on Tyneside.

Newcastle must regret signing £100k-per-week flop who's cost £3.2m per game

Newcastle United must already rue signing this expensive flop, who is draining them dry.

By
Kelan Sarson

Nov 13, 2025

He wasn’t picked for Sri Lanka’s upcoming series against Zimbabwe, but has been named in the 16-member squad for the Asia Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Aug-2025Legspinning allrounder Wanindu Hasaranga has been picked in Sri Lanka’s 16-member squad for the Asia Cup. He had injured his hamstring during their previous series against Bangladesh and was left out of Sri Lanka’s upcoming T20I series against Zimbabwe, but it is hoped he will be fit for the competition in the UAE.Hasaranga replaces Dushan Hemantha from the squad announced for the Zimbabwe series, while uncapped batter Vishen Halambage has been left out in the only other change from that squad.With Hasaranga’s return, it means the squad going to the Asia Cup has four changes from the one that lost to Bangladesh at home, with Avishka Fernando, Dinesh Chandimal, Jeffrey Vandersay and Eshan Malinga left out. Batters Nuwanidu Fernando and Kamil Mishara come into the squad, along with fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera.Among the other seam options is Chamika Karunaratne, who is making a comeback into the limited-overs teams. Dasun Shanaka has been picked again as a seam-bowling allrounder as well. Angelo Mathews’ absence suggests the selectors are unlikely to look to him for the T20 World Cup next year. He had retired from Tests earlier in the year, but remained available for white-ball cricket.As left-arm spinning allrounder Dunith Wellalage is also in the squad, Sri Lanka have three major spin options, Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana being the others.Sri Lanka will play their first Asia Cup game on September 13 against Bangladesh. They had made the final of the previous Asia Cup, in 2023, and won the 2022 edition.Sri Lanka squad for Asia CupCharith Asalanka (capt), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Nuwanidu Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, Kamil Mishara, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana

Tyler Glasnow isn't with the Los Angeles Dodgers anymore.

Glasnow suffered a sprained right elbow and is likely to miss the rest of the season. He had been out since August 11 with elbow tendinitis but suffered a setback while warming up for a simulated game. He was diagnosed with a sprained elbow and is almost certain to be shut down for the year.

On Sunday, reports surfaced that Glasnow's locker had been cleared out and he was no longer with the team in Atlanta. When asked about his ace pitcher's whereabouts Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Glasnow "flew out" today, then said, "I don't know where he flew to. But he's not with the team, no."

That feels weird. If Glasnow was going somewhere for medical treatment, Roberts would certainly have been informed. The fact that he's out of the loop is really strange.

The Dodgers traded for Glasnow in the offseason, sending Ryan Pepiot and Jonny DeLuca to the Tampa Bay Rays to acquire the power righty and Manuel Margot. They quickly signed him to a five-year, $136.5 million contract. The Southern California native has been dominant at times this season but, as with much of his career, he has also dealt with injuries.

If Glasnow is done for the season, the 31-year-old will finish 9-6 with a 3.49 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 168 strikeouts in 134 innings.

Mohamed Salah has been left out of Liverpool's starting line-up to face Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League on Wednesday, as Arne Slot has taken action following the Premier League defeat at home to Manchester United last Sunday. Hugo Ekitike has replaced the Egyptian winger in the Reds' XI after starting on the bench against the Red Devils.

• Salah dropped amid poor form

  Salah has finally been dropped from the Liverpool team after a series of poor performances in the 2025-26 campaign. Since the start of the new season, the Egyptian goal-machine has scored only three goals across all competitions and provided as many assists. The loss against United at Anfield after nine years last Sunday was the final straw for Slot, who took the tough call of starting Salah on the bench in the crucial Champions League fixture against Frankfurt.

  Ekitike returned to the line-up, replacing Salah in the attack, while another underperforming star Florian Wirtz also made it into the team. Defenders Jeremie Frimpong and Andy Robertson have also been drafted into the 11 in Germany

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Carragher wanted Salah to be dropped after United defeat

  After going seven games in the English top flight without registering a non-penalty goal – his longest barren run in that department since joining Liverpool in 2017 – Reds legend Jamie Carragher had urged Slot to drop Salah from his starting line-up.

  Following the loss at Anfield at the weekend, Carragher said on : “I think we're at that stage now where Mo Salah shouldn't be a guaranteed starter every week. I do think this is a real conundrum for the manager going forward."

  The former defender then said on the : "I don't think Salah should be like a Virgil van Dijk where it's like 'first name on the team sheet'. Liverpool have got two away games – in the Champions League at Frankfurt and then they go to Brentford. I don't think Salah should start both of those games. He should always start at Anfield because Liverpool will be on top, around the edge of the box and more often than not he scores in those situations today.

  "But I do think in the away games and helping your full-back, I don't think Salah should be starting every game right now, certainly away from home, with the form he's in. Would he be OK with that? Probably not. But when you get to a certain age you have to understand that, especially when you're not playing well, where's your argument? It's different if you're banging in the goals and your manager makes a tactical decision and you're frustrated. I don't think Mo Salah's in any position to complain if he was left out of one of the next two away games."

• Slot isn't bothered about slump in form

  After winning their first seven matches across all competitions, the reigning English champions have experienced a sudden slump in form as they have now lost four successive matches, including three in the Premier League. However, despite the poor run, Slot isn't too worried, as he insisted to "It should not matter if we win or lose a game of football for the next one. The aim is if you play for Liverpool if you wear this shirt, the aim is to win every single game. So if we win seven in a row, how we started this season, then we want to win the next three. And we didn’t, now we’ve lost the last four, so now of course we want to see Liverpool winning again. But like I said, that is not different than when you’ve lost four in a row or won four in a row."

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• Getty Images
  

  Wirtz under the scanner

  After failing to make the Reds' starting line-up in their last two Premier League outings against Chelsea and United, Wirtz has finally made a comeback. The German midfielder has made a slow start to his journey in the Premier League, having just one assist across all competitions. The former Bayer Leverkusen star will be eager to start delivering for the English champions, starting with the Champions League fixture against an opposition from the Bundesliga. 

Manchester City and England defender John Stones revealed he briefly considered retiring amid his injury nightmare last season.

The 31-year-old’s 2024/25 campaign was decimated by foot and hamstring injuries, which saw him make just 24 appearances for club and country and none after February.

Stones considered retirement amid Man City injury struggles

He is back fit again this season and looks set to make his first appearance under England boss Thomas Tuchel in the upcoming games against Wales and Latvia.

Despite his injury woes last season, Stones, on £250,000-a-week at the Etihad, was invited to Tuchel’s summer camp for the games against Andorra and Senegal, which showed the German’s intention for the defender to be part of his plans.

“I love England so much and I love playing for England,” Stones said. “Some of the best moments in my career have been playing for England at tournaments.

“And when he said to (me), would I come out and be with the guys and continue my training, it was a no-brainer. For me to come and show my face to the guys, offer advice, be a good team-mate, I suppose – it was a special moment.

“I had not thought about it since, because everything moves on so fast. But it was a big sign and something that I was really happy to

do.”

Wrexham AFC have enjoyed a phenomenal rise up the leagues under the ownership of Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney and are now splashing the cash as a Championship side.

As a result, their annual payroll has increased dramatically to an eye-catching £18.2m, with the average Red Dragons’ player picking up more than £550,000 per season.

Wrexham's most expensive signings of all time

Football FanCast takes a look at Wrexham’s record signings.

ByCharlie Smith Dec 30, 2024

But who earns what at The Racecourse Ground? Here is what Wrexham are paying their players for the 2025/26 season, as per Capology.

Disclaimer – only the club and the players themselves truly know their wages, so take each of these figures as you will.

1

Kieffer Moore

£30,000

£1,560,000

=2

Conor Coady

£25,000

£1,300,000

=2

Jay Rodriguez

£25,000

£1,300,000

4

Lewis O’Brien

£17,500

£910,000

=5

Josh Windass

£15,000

£780,000

=5

Ben Sheaf

£15,000

£780,000

=5

Callum Doyle

£15,000

£780,000

=5

Matty James

£15,000

£780,000

=5

Liberato Cacace

£15,000

£780,000

=5

Sam Smith

£15,000

£780,000

=5

Issa Kabore

£15,000

£780,000

=12

Danny Ward

£12,500

£650,000

=12

Nathan Broadhead

£12,500

£650,000

=12

Ollie Rathbone

£12,500

£650,000

=12

Dominic Hyam

£12,500

£650,000

=16

James McClean

£10,000

£520,000

=16

Ryan Hardie

£10,000

£520,000

=16

George Thomason

£10,000

£520,000

=19

George Dobson

£8,500

£442,000

=19

Dan Scarr

£8,500

£442,000

=21

Lewis Brunt

£7,500

£390,000

=21

Ryan Longman

£7,500

£390,000

=23

Eoghan O’Connell

£6,000

£312,000

=23

Andy Cannon

£6,000

£312,000

25

Elliot Lee

£5,500

£286,000

=26

Ryan Barnett

£5,000

£260,000

=26

Callum Burton

£5,000

£260,000

28

Arthur Okonkwo

£3,000

£156,000

29

Max Cleworth

£1,200

£62,400

30

James Rainbird

£1,000

£52,000

=31

Harry Ashfield

£900

£46,800

=31

Aaron James

£900

£46,800

33

Max Purvis

£750

£39,000

Here's a detailed look at Wrexham's top 10 earners… 10 Sam Smith £15,000 per week

Sam Smith is just one of seven Wrexham players picking up £15,000 per week at The Racecourse, with the forward arriving in January 2025 from Reading.

He scored some vital goals to help Wrexham win promotion to the Championship and is under contract until 2028.

9 Liberato Cacace £15,000 per week

Liberato Cacace was Wrexham’s only 2025 signing made outside of England, with the New Zealand intermational arriving from Italian side Empoli.

The left-back cost just over £2m and put pen to paper on a three-year deal in Wales.

8 Matty James £15,000 per week

Wrexham didn’t pay a penny to sign Matty James in 2024 after he became a free agent following his Bristol City exit.

The central midfielder’s experience was key in the League One promotion run in.

7 Callum Doyle £15,000 per week

Callum Doyle is actually one of Wrexham’s most expensive signings of all time, but he’s down the list when it comes to the club’s highest paid players.

Signed from Premier League giants Manchester City for £5m, Doyle picks up £780,000 per season in Wales.

6 Ben Sheaf £15,000 per week

After starring for Coventry City over four years, Ben Sheaf swapped the Midlands for Wales, joining Wrexham on deadline day in September 2025.

He reportedly cost Reynolds and McElhenney £6.5m and is under contract until 2028.

5 Josh Windass £15,000 per week

After leaving Sheffield Wednesday at the end of the 2024/25 season, attacker Josh Windass penned a three-year contract at Wrexham.

The forward actually scored Wrexham’s first goal back in the second-tier away at Southampton.

4 Lewis O'Brien £17,500 per week

Another marquee signing following the club’s promotion to the Championship was Lewis O’Brien, who arrived from Nottingham Forest in a £3m transfer.

His £910,000 per season deal in Wales runs until 2028.

3 Jay Rodriguez £25,000 per week

Signed at the beginning of 2025 to help Wrexham to promotion, Jay Rodriguez is on a deal worth £1.3m per season at The Racecourse.

A striker with Premier League experience, Rodriguez’s contract expires in 2026.

2 Conor Coady £25,000 per week

An England international, centre-back Conor Coady signed for Wrexham from Leicester City in a deal worth £2m.

He signed a two-year contract and was made a key part of Phil Parkinson’s plans straightaway.

1 Kieffer Moore £30,000 per week

Top of the list as Wrexham’s highest paid player is Wales international Kieffer Moore.

An experienced Championship striker who has scored goals for Cardiff City, Bournemouth, Ipswich Town and Sheffield United in recent years, Moore is under contract until 2028.

Tottenham have rejected Romania's bid to call up injured defender Radu Dragusin national team for their fixtures next month. Dragusin sustained an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tear during an Europa League match in January and has not played competitive football since then. Romania are scheduled to face Moldova in a friendly match, before taking on Austria in a World Cup qualifier.

Dragusin suffered dreadful injury in January

The 23-year-old sustained a serious knee injury during Tottenham’s 3-0 victory over Elfsborg in the Europa League in January this year. Coming on as a substitute at half-time, Dragusin landed awkwardly while trying to clear his lines and in the process damaged his knee.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportRomania named Dragusin on preliminary list of overseas-based players

Romania manager Mircea Lucescu kept Dragusin in his preliminary list of overseas-based players for their two October international games, first a friendly against Moldova on October 9 and three days later a World Cup qualifier at home against Austria. If Romania lose against Austria and Bosnia-Herzegovina also beat Cyprus, their dreams of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup will be shattered. 

Spurs reject Romania's plea

Tottenham, however, are not keen on releasing the defender for international duty as the Premier League side want Dragusin to focus on his day-to-day rehabilitation plan, training and building his fitness steadily under the scrutiny of their medical team.

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Getty Images SportRomania accept Spurs' decision

While Romania could force the issue under FIFA rules, they have accepted Spurs' decision and won't push for Dragusin. Speaking to , Lucescu said: "I spoke with him. He was very happy for the national team comeback but I don't think I will call him. Tottenham wasn't so happy to let him come now at the national team. He needs one more month to play again. Radu wants to come, but others warned us it is better to let him train with Tottenham now."

Benfica manager Jose Mourinho has cheekily admitted he is “happy” Cole Palmer will be absent when he makes an emotional return to his former club Chelsea next week. The Special One heads back to his old stomping ground when he takes the Portuguese giants to Stamford Bridge in the Champions League on Tuesday evening.

Palmer to miss Benfica clash as groin struggles continue

Palmer will miss Chelsea’s next three games in all competitions against Brighton, Benfica and Liverpool in an attempt to recover from the groin injury which has plagued his 2025-26 season. Manager Enzo Maresca confirmed earlier in the week that the Blues have decided to rest their star man after his groin complaint – which previously saw him miss Premier League games against West Ham and Fulham – flared up in his side’s 2-1 defeat against Manchester United last weekend.

AdvertisementMaresca plans to carefully manage Palmer's fitness

Speaking ahead of Chelsea’s clash against Brighton on Saturday, Maresca said: "Yes, we decided to protect a little bit Cole, in terms of not letting his injury get worse. We decided to rest him for two to three weeks until the international break to see if with that rest he can recover 100 per cent and to be fit after the international break. I don't think he needs surgery but it is just to manage the pain in his groin. We have decided to be a little bit conservative with him.”

AFPMourinho cheekily admits he is 'happy' Palmer will miss out

One man who is relieved Palmer will spend a short period on the sidelines is Mourinho, who is due to return to Chelsea with his new side Benfica. The 62-year-old, who was appointed by the Estadio da Luz club on September 18 following the dismissal of compatriot Bruno Lage, managed Chelsea between 2004 and 2007 and again between 2013 and 2015, winning eight major honours including three Premier League titles.

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What Mourinho said about Palmer's spell on the sidelines

In quotes carried by Portuguese publication A Bola, Mourinho said of Palmer’s absence: “I'm happy. My Chelsea team was a winning machine, with a big investment, but a lot of ambition. Then they seemed to lose some direction, and it was tough for those who love the club. Enzo Maresca [Chelsea manager] arrived, and the puzzle is being completed piece by piece, and they won the Conference League. Now I think they have a good, good team, and if Cole Palmer isn't a problem for Chelsea [through injury], that's a big problem for me. If [Heorhiy] Sudakov or [Vangelis] Pavlidis don't play, that's a big problem for me.”

Rangers fans protested against Russell Martin, whom they consider the "worst manager in their history", after a dismal start to the 2025-26 campaign. Rangers faced Hibernian in a Scottish League Cup quarter-final clash on Saturday and after the team's 2-0 win, Martin bizarrely thanked supporters, despite their vehement protest at the Stadium.

Rangers fans protested against Martin

On Sunday, during Rangers' Scottish League Cup quarter-final tie against Hibernian, the supporters of the Scottish giants displayed vehement protest outside the Ibrox as they demanded the ouster of manager Russell Martin and chief executive Patrick Stewart. Inside the stadium, the fans unfurled banners with the words written: "Russell out – worst manager in history." They also hurled balls onto the pitch, which led to a delay in the start of the game. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportMartin thanks Rangers fans

The under-fire Rangers boss was asked about the pre-match protest after the game, to which he said: "Well, it was actually right during the team talk, but it's like I said to the guys, I can't control any of it. And also a bit of perspective, like I said, yesterday in the press conference about some family stuff this week that's been really difficult to put in some perspective.But we had control of the performance and we had control of, not the start of the game, but the fans at the end of the game. And I have to say I thought the fans were brilliant. 

"They made their feelings really clear, and then once that was done, the team started playing with a bit of flow. I think they were really, really good. So I have to thank them for that. At this football club, it comes about one person really quickly. But it's just not. It's not. It's about so many people, staff and the players. It's become about me, not by my choice. So now, hopefully it'll become more and more about the team if we put in performances like that."

Rangers' maiden win in domestic competitions

After going winless in their first five Scottish Premiership matches, which included four losses, Rangers finally registered their maiden win in domestic competitions as they rode on Nicolas Raskin and Bojan Miovski's first-half goals.

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GettyWho could replace Martin at Rangers

Rangers’ hierarchy have publicly backed Martin but are reportedly exploring alternatives if results at Ibrox don’t improve. Among the potential candidates is the son of legendary manager Carlo Ancelotti, Davide, who is currently in charge of Botafogo in Brazil.