Mesmo tendo um compromisso no meio do caminho pelo Campeonato Brasileiro, o Athletico-PR indica, em seu planejamento, que as atenções estão voltadas de maneira mais intensa para o confronto da próxima terça-feira (23), pela Libertadores, diante do Atlético-MG.
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No próximo sábado (20), contra o Bragantino, a tendência é que o técnico Paulo Turra poupe alguns jogadores que acumulam sequência mais pesada de compromissos em 2023, tentando, assim, dosar o desgaste de suas peças e evitar problemas de lesões mais complexas.
Dentro dos nomes à disposição do treinador do Athletico e diante do contexto, o único jogador que tem boas chances de figurar entre os titulares é o zagueiro Pedro Henrique.
Entretanto, o trabalho de ‘proteção’ em relação a quais seriam os nomes a serem preservados para o compromisso marcado para às 18h30 (de Brasília), em Bragança Paulista, tem sido muito bem feito no Furacão. Ao ponto, aliás, das informações darem conta de que somente no dia da partida, algumas horas antes do confronto.
>Não perca nenhum lance do Furacão na Liberta. Assine o Star+ por apenas R$40,90 por mês e torça onde quiser!
Após sentir dores musculares no Atletiba da rodada anterior, Pedro não foi utilizado no confronto de meio de semana, pela Copa do Brasil, mesmo sem apresentar um quadro clínico de lesão em exames posteriores. Dessa forma, a tendência é que ele vá para o jogo no interior do estado de São Paulo.
Neste momento, o Furacão ocupa a quinta colocação com 12 pontos ganhos, estando apenas a três do atual ponteiro da competição, o Botafogo.
Beth Mooney will take the gloves for the three-match series but the opening match is threatened by the weather
AAP and ESPNcricinfo staff18-Dec-2024Australia captain Alyssa Healy’s niggling knee will prevent her from keeping wicket in the ODI series against New Zealand.But she is hopeful she can play as a batter in all three games to ready herself for the Ashes in January. Beth Mooney will continue filling in for Healy behind the stumps, starting in Thursday’s series-opener at Basin Reserve in Wellington.”I won’t be wicketkeeping this series … but there’s not a lot of cricket leading into the Ashes, so for me, it’s an opportunity to try and get back on the park, as a batter, and try and find some runs more importantly,” Healy said on Wednesday.”I feel like I’ve hardly played any cricket for the last eight or nine months and there’s a good opportunity to do that. The knee’s tracking well, it’s just a day-by-day thing, and we’ll just assess as we go.”Healy’s frustrating run with injury opened the door for Australia to debut Georgia Voll in the recent home series against India. Voll, who hit scores of 46 not out, 101 and 26 in her first three ODIs, is set to be the unlucky player to drop out with Healy returning.”We’ve been transitioning for a little while, getting some youth in the side,” Healy said. “But obviously forced hand with some injuries at the moment. I think we’re in a really great space, the depth in Australian cricket is really strong.”And everyone who keeps stepping in, to take my job in particular, seems to make my runs or take wickets, so we’re in a good space at the moment.”New Zealand will enter the battle for the Rose Bowl on a high after winning the T20 World Cup in October with this their first home cricket since that historic moment. However, they have not beaten Australia in a bilateral one-day series 1999 or in an ODI since 2017.”I just remind them we pumped them in the round game, but they’re okay to have the trophy,” Healy said. “There is an air of disappointment around our group after the World Cup, I don’t think there is any way to beat around that.”I think the discussions that have come post that have been really promising, and where we want to take our cricket moving forward and how we want to play our style of game, as sad as that may seem.”New Zealand are in danger of missing direct qualification for next year’s ODI World Cup with this three-match series their last of the current Women’s Championship. They are currently sixth in the table with two automatic spots to claim alongside hosts India and already-qualified Australia, England and South Africa. Bangladesh and West Indies, who are below them, still have matches to play.A crowd of 4000 is expected at the Basin Reserve on Thursday although the forecast is poor before being more promising for the matches on Saturday and Monday.”It’s well overdue [beating Australia], but we also know the challenge we’re up against and we know that we’re going to have to be at our best to win at least two games to get that cup back,” New Zealand captain Sophie Devine said. “This is our first opportunity to play back up at home as T20 world champions…so now we just need the Wellington weather gods to play ball as well.”
Given Tottenham Hotspur’s lowly Premier League finish of 15th place last season, investment is massively needed from the hierarchy during the off-season.
Thomas Frank has been appointed as the Lilywhites’ new boss this summer and has been tasked with the job of transforming their fortunes within England’s top-flight.
Owner Daniel Levy has previously stated his desire to build the club into title contenders, but if he is to see the club at the top of the table, he will need to put his hand in his pocket.
Tottenham Hotspur managerThomasFrankcelebrates after the match
Whilst Mohammed Kudus has already made the move to North London, further additions are to be expected with various areas of the pitch needing investment.
Numerous players have been on their radar in recent weeks, leaving the recruitment team to make the right choice as to who would be the right fit for Frank’s side.
The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new additions this summer
Morgan Gibbs-White is a player who looked set on a move to join Spurs after they triggered the £60m release clause within his contract at Nottingham Forest.
However, the Reds have blocked any move, subsequently claiming that the Lilywhites have made an illegal approach for the England international’s signature.
Nottingham Forest's MorganGibbs-Whitereacts
He’s not the only player who’s been in their sights over recent days, with Bayern Munich talent Joao Palhinha a player of interest, according to journalist Florian Plettenberg.
The Sky Sports journalist claimed that Frank’s side have been showing interest in the 30-year-old star, but no concrete offer has yet been made for his services.
He also states that his agent is aware of the interest in his signature, looking almost certain to depart the Bundesliga side after making just six starts last season after joining in a £47m deal from Fulham.
Why Spurs’ latest target would be their answer to Rice
Declan Rice has been one of the Premier League’s leading midfield talents over recent years, but unfortunately for Spurs fans, he’s been plying his trade for North London rivals Arsenal.
The 26-year-old cost a staggering £105m back in the summer of 2023, a figure that to this day remains the highest fee paid for an Englishman in the history of football.
He’s proved his worth despite the mammoth transfer fee, registering 35 combined goals and assists for the Gunners in the last two seasons – a simply staggering feat for a deep-lying midfielder.
Spurs fans must wish they had their own version of the England international, but they could be about to land just that with a move for Palhinha during the current window.
The Bayern star has been labelled as a similar player to Rice by FBref, showcasing how highly rated his, despite his lack of action in Germany in recent months.
Bayern Munich's Joao Palhinha in action against Bayer Leverksen.
When comparing the pair’s respective stats, the Portuguese international has managed to outperform him in key areas, potentially making him the missing piece in Frank’s midfield puzzle.
Palhinha, who’s been labelled “sensational” by former footballer Steve Sidwell, completed more of the passes he attempted, whilst finding more of his teammates in the final third – having the tools to add further creativity to the side.
Games played
17
35
Pass accuracy
92%
83%
Passes into final third
6.3
4.3
Tackles won
1.9
0.8
Tackles success rate
69%
41%
Blocks made
1.7
0.8
Take-on success
50%
48%
Aerials won
65%
59%
His dominance without the ball is just as impressive, winning more tackles and making more blocks, adding the needed defensive presence needed within the Lilywhites’ midfield.
The former Fulham star has been just as dominant in the air as he has on the ground, winning more of the aerial battles he’s entered, potentially adding an added threat in the opposition’s penalty area.
It’s unclear if a deal for Palhinha would be a temporary or permanent addition, but it’s evident that his addition to the side would be a sensational piece of business.
Should he move and match the levels produced by Rice in England’s top-flight, it would be one of the signings of the window, helping Frank in his quest for success in North London.
Big Sarr upgrade: Spurs make approach to sign £33m Gibbs-White alternative
Tottenham Hotspur appear to have turned their attention to another player instead of Morgan Gibbs-White.
WA were 133 for 3 chasing 167 but lost 7 for 31 with McAndrew taking a career-best 5 for 40. Earlier, Bryce Jackson took the best-ever 50-over figures for WA of 6 for 31
AAP24-Sep-2024Western Australia have suffered an almighty collapse of 7 for 31 against South Australia, sparked by Nathan McAndrew’s five-wicket haul, to eventually lose by two runs and remain winless in the One-Day Cup after two games.Two days after being upset by New South Wales, Western Australia looked set for victory at 133 for 3 in pursuit of South Australia’s 166 at Sydney’s Cricket Central.But the three-time defending champions fell apart miserably, with McAndrew claiming career-best List A figures of 5 for 40 as Western Australia were all out for 164 in the 38th over.The loss leaves Western Australia with their worst start to a season since 2015, and the first time they have suffered back-to-back 50-over defeats in nine years.The defeat came despite the best efforts of quick Bryce Jackson, who claimed 6 for 31 and the best figures for Western Australia in the competition’s history.Jackson has long been touted as a potential talent in Western Australia, but a series of major back injuries denied him a debut until age 24 last summer.In just his second List A match, Bryce Jackson walked back with figures of 6 for 31•Getty ImagesThe right-arm quick took 3 for 67 in his maiden match against Tasmania in February, before taking his chance on Tuesday with Jhye Richardson rested.He had Henry Hunt caught behind with a ball that swung away in his first over, before getting Mackenzie Harvey and Daniel Drew in his next over.And after Liam Scott (46) and Daniel Drew (49) steadied the ship for South Australia, Jackson returned to get rid of both of them before beating McAndrew for pace on the hook shot.While Western Australia wobbled early in their chase, the competition heavyweights appeared to have the match under their control.With Ashton Turner going after Henry Thornton by cutting him for six and taking 16 off another over, a bonus-point win looked the most likely scenario.But the match swung viciously after Sam Whiteman pulled Wes Agar down the throat of Thomas Kelly at deep square leg on 48.Ashton Agar and Baxter Holt followed in similar fashion to McAndrew as the West Australians lost all control of the match.And when McAndrew had Matthew Kelly caught behind and clean bowled AJ Tye for a duck in his next over, Western Australia still required 10 for victory.Ben Manenti then landed the killer blow when he nicked off Turner on 53, leaving Lance Morris and Jackson six runs to get for the final wicket.Jackson was ultimately stumped trying to drive Manenti, denying him a dream day and handing South Australia their first win over Western Australia since 2017.
As Thomas Frank looks to welcome the second signing of his Tottenham Hotspur tenure after Mathys Tel, the Lilywhites have reportedly submitted a big-money offer to sign a top target.
Tottenham seeking Mbeumo alternative
Amid reports that Manchester United are pushing to sign Bryan Mbeumo to leave Spurs settling for second place in the race for his signature, those in North London have been forced to seek alternative options. And whilst there’s no doubt that Frank would have wanted a swift reunion with his Brentford star, the reported alternative could prove to be just as effective.
It’s clear to see why the new manager and Daniel Levy instantly set his sights on attacking reinforcements too, given that Heung-min Son looked past the peak of his powers last season and Dominic Solanke remained unreliable on the injury front. Just who arrives is the big question now that it’s unlikely to be Mbeumo.
Already, reports have mentioned the likes of Daizen Maeda and Evann Guessand have both been mentioned, with the former particularly standing out following an excellent period at Celtic.
Daizen Maeda
The Japan international was once again in electric form in Scotland last season and could yet arrive to hand Spurs the replacement for Harry Kane’s output that they’ve needed ever since he swapped North London for Bayern Munich.
Appearances
51
Goals
33
Assists
12
Of course, the step from the Scottish Premiership to the Premier League wouldn’t be a routine one, but Maeda has the quality to become a top star under Frank if he does make his move this summer.
The Celtic star isn’t the number one target in North London, however. Instead, the Lilywhites have reportedly set their sights on signing an attacking option who’s far closer to home in the coming months.
Tottenham submit £50m Kudus bid
According to David Ornstein, Tottenham have now submitted a bid worth £50m to sign Mohammed Kudus from London rivals West Ham United, who have already turned that offer down.
Even after rejection, however, Spurs aren’t giving up. As reported by Fabrizio Romano, Frank has already given his approval and the Lilywhites are set to submit a second offer to sign the winger as they look to accelerate talks to secure his signature.
Even during a difficult campaign last time out in a struggling West Ham side, Kudus earned plenty of praise from Graham Potter, who described his star man as “fantastic”.
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Now potentially on the move, the 24-year-old may well be the perfect fit for Frank as he looks to rediscover his best form away from the London Stadium. Before the Lilywhites get the chance to see Kudus’ talent up close, however, Spurs must hope to see their second bid accepted by West Ham.
Celtic are looking to bolster their squad during the summer transfer window in order to bring even more trophies back to Parkhead in the 2025/26 campaign.
The Hoops have already officially confirmed their first signing of the window, with Kieran Tierney due to return to Glasgow after his contract with Arsenal expires at the end of this month.
The Scotland international will join the club on a free transfer to compete for a spot at left-back in Brendan Rodgers’ team next season, whilst Greg Taylor is out of contract this summer and looks to be on his way out of Parkhead.
Tierney will not be the only player to come through the doors before the window slams shut, though, as the Hoops are also reportedly closing in on a new striker.
Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph reports that Fulham centre-forward Callum Osmand has agreed terms to join the Scottish Premiership champions from the Premier League side, and the English team will be due compensation for the 19-year-old attacker.
What Callum Osmand could bring to Celtic
It was reported earlier this week that the teenage attacker is set to be a part of the first-team set-up because Rodgers rates him and wants to provide the youngster with an opportunity to stake a claim for a spot in the squad next season.
That is despite the fact that Osmand has yet to make a single senior appearance in his career to date. He has not been out on loan and has not been selected in the first-team by Marco Silva in Fulham, as he has had Carlos Vinicius, Rodrigo Muniz, and Raul Jimenez ahead of him, three seasoned Premier League number nines.
Rodgers has clearly seen something in the young striker, as he did when Moussa Dembele arrived from the Cottagers in a similar deal back in 2016, and Osmand’s statistics at youth level may explain what the manager has seen in him.
The Wales youth international scored 11 goals and provided four assists in 22 games for the Premier League side’s academy teams during the 2024/25 campaign, and he has been prolific throughout his youth career.
Callum Osmand’s U18 & U21 form for Fulham
Season
Appearances
Goals
Assists
24/25
22
11
4
23/24
29
21
6
22/23
21
11
2
21/22
1
0
0
Total
73
43
12
Stats via Transfermarkt
As you can see in the table above, Osmand has been a reliable goalscorer at youth level for Fulham for several years, and now he is set to have an opportunity to showcase his quality at first-team level in Scotland.
This means that he could bring a goal threat off the bench for Celtic, as a back-up to the likes of Adam Idah and Daizen Maeda, if he can adapt to senior football.
Meanwhile, though, the Hoops are also eyeing up a deal for another player from England who could be an even more exciting addition for Rodgers.
Celtic in the running to sign Championship wing wizard
Pink Un journalist Connor Southwell has revealed that Celtic are one of a number of clubs in the running to land Blackburn Rovers winger Tyrhys Dolan in the summer transfer window.
In the Pink Un’s Q&A, a Norwich City supporter asked reporters if the English attacker was an option for the Canaries this summer, and was met with an unfortunate response.
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Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Southwell answered: “One they like. But so does most of the Championship and the big two in Scotland. I think the level of competition around him has made that a very unlikely prospect, if I’m being honest.”
The journalist stated that Liam Manning’s team are unlikely to sign the 23-year-old winger, whose contract at Ewood Park is due to expire at the end of this month, due to the level of interest from elsewhere.
Celtic and Rangers, along with a host of other teams in the English Championship, are in the running to land the winger, and their interest looks set to end Norwich’s chances of signing him.
Why Dolan would be more exciting than Osmand
Whilst Osmand looks set to be an exciting addition to the club due to his academy record, the young Fulham striker is very much an unknown quantity due to his lack of senior experience in football.
Dolan, on the other hand, has played 210 matches for Blackburn by the age of 23. This means that he is an incredibly experienced operator, despite his relatively young age, and that Celtic would know what they are getting from him.
The English wing wizard, who was hailed as “terrific” by journalist Elliott Jackson, has been there and done it at a good level in the Championship in England, which is why he would be an even more exciting signing than Osmand.
Dolan’s performances in the second tier for Blackburn were very promising in the 2024/25 campaign, and suggest that he could make a big impact at the top end of the pitch for the Hoops immediately if they were to sign him this summer.
24/25 Championship
Tyrhys Dolan
Appearances
44
Touches per game
38.1
Goals
7
Conversion rate
14%
Big chances created
7
Key passes
44
Assists
6
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Dolan racked up 14 goals and ‘big chances’ created combined for Rovers this season, and that is despite them not being one of the top teams in the division.
Blackburn only averaged 49.1% per game in the Championship, compared to Celtic’s 75.1% possession per match in the Premiership. This suggests that the winger would have more chances to showcase his quality in the final third due to the share of the ball that the Hoops have week-in-week-out.
Tyrhys Dolan in action for Blackburn Rovers.
Now, imagine what Dolan could do in a dominant and front-footed team after he has already proven that he can deliver goals and assists in a midtable team in the Championship. That is an exciting thought!
That thought is also why the Blackburn star would be an even more exciting signing than Osmand, who is yet to prove himself at senior level, as he could hit the ground running by making an instant impact in the Premiership next season.
Sinclair 2.0: £4.6m star who "wins games on his own" is Celtic's top target
Celtic are eyeing up a deal for a winger who could be their next Scott Sinclair.
Celtic want to move on a £16,000-a-week player this summer who feels hurt by manager Brendan Rodgers, and three clubs have been named as possible options.
Celtic gear up for summer with another treble on the cards
The Hoops and Rodgers are on course for another domestic treble after already sealing the Scottish League Cup and winning the Scottish Premiership ahead of rivals Rangers.
A Scottish Cup final triumph next Saturday against Aberdeen at Hampden Park will see Celtic seal another memorable campaign. However, after that, attention behind the scenes will quickly turn to the 2025/26 season.
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Left-back Kieran Tierney has already agreed to return to Celtic Park on a free transfer when his Arsenal deal expires, and he could be the first of many through the door in Glasgow.
Brøndby striker Mathias Kvistgaarden is once again being linked with a move to Celtic, whereas right-back Veljko Milosavljevic from Serbian champions Crvena zvezda is also of interest.
A plethora of incomings may see some players exit the club, and one who looks certain to depart is Luis Palma. The winger sent on loan to Olympiacos with an option to buy back in January, however, the Greek side won’t be making a move permanent in the summer.
Talking back in March, Palma said: “I’m still with them [Celtic]. As long as there’s no transfer, I’ll continue to be grateful to Celtic, but it’s time to defend Olympiacos.”
Now, a fresh report has suggested that the attacker may not be on the books at Celtic Park much longer.
Celtic transfer update on Luis Palma exit with 3 clubs potential destinations
With Olympiacos not exercising their option to sign Palma, Celtic need to work out what to do with the £16,000-a-week winger this summer.
A new update from Greece, relayed by Sport Witness, states that Celtic are no longer counting on Palma for next season and want to move him on ahead of the 2025/26 season, with the player himself also looking to leave as he feels he has been mistreated by Rodgers.
Panathinaikos, AEK Athens and PAOK FC, are all named as potential destinations for the Honduras international and a return to Greece ‘shouldn’t be ruled out’. During his time with Olympiacos, Palma hasn’t exactly caught the eye, managing just one goal and one assist in 12 appearances.
Games
48
Goals
10
Assists
10
Minutes played
2,208
Trophies
4
Celtic paid £3.5m to sign the 25-year-old back in 2023 from Aris FC, and with his Parkhead contract not expiring until 2028, the Hoops will be looking to recoup as much of that figure as possible over the coming months, making this one to keep an eye on over the coming weeks.
Leeds United have fallen into a sticky predicament within their promotion push, but that hasn’t stopped the club in pushing to land a high-profile summer target, per reports.
Leeds United risk failing to claim automatic promotion
Despite claiming a point at Luton Town courtesy of Daniel James’ first-half strike in a 1-1 draw, the Whites have won one of their last six Championship matches under Daniel Farke.
Frustratingly, Burnley now sit at the summit following their narrow victory over Coventry City, while Sheffield United remain in contention even after a shock loss to Oxford United on Saturday lunchtime.
On the eye, a sense of fragility has crept in at the wrong time for Leeds United. The situation is still salvagable as it stands, but they will certainly want to rectify their on-field issues to put forward the best picture possible to potential targets come the summer window.
Providing a marker of their ambitions in the market, the Yorkshire giants have made an opening approach for West Ham star Tomas Soucek in a deal that could see the Czechia international earn £120,000 per week.
Premier League promotion would need to be a certainty for the veteran to entertain the possibility, and the same goes for Leeds United’s pursuit of Chelsea goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic.
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Illan Meslier has been dropped due to a string of erratic performances, so it only makes sense that their recruitment team begin to do their homework on stoppers far and wide that could replace the Frenchman.
Looking to rectify the problem, Farke and company have now cast their eye on a Premier League veteran who could be on the move this summer.
Leeds United eye surprise move for Newcastle United stopper Nick Pope
According to The Sun, Nick Pope is being lined up by Leeds United as a replacement for Meslier following question marks over his form since recovering from injury.
Intriguingly, the Magpies’ pursuit of James Trafford could put the England international under ‘serious pressure’ at St James’ Park. However, the Whites also have Trafford in their sights should promotion occur at Elland Road.
Nick Pope key statistics in 2024/25 – Premier League
Saves
61
Save percentage
69.3%
Goals conceded
27
Error which leads to goal
2
High claim
28
Labelled “brilliant” by Pep Guardiola, there is no doubt Pope has lived up to that billing since arriving in the North East. The former Burnley man has kept 31 clean sheets in 86 appearances, playing his part in a top-four finish and EFL Cup triumph under the stewardship of Eddie Howe.
Nevertheless, the 32-year-old, who is a CAA Stellar client alongside Leeds United pair Joe Rodon and Jayden Bogle, may feel his best chance of continuing to receive first-team football could come elsewhere amid Newcastle’s desire to land a younger profile.
Saying that, it does feel unlikely that the £60,000 per week earner would drop down to the second tier, making promotion a necessary development before any serious talk of a move can take place.
Puja Pujara talks about how she came to write a book chronicling the career of her famous husband, the former India No. 3
S Sudarshanan26-May-2025A lot happens in a cricketer’s life. The binaries of wins and losses aside, there are various other ups and downs. For a cricketer’s family, they experience these vicariously when they hear from or watch and read about their loved one.Cheteshwar Pujara’s family might have been less aware of the ins and outs of his career than other cricketers’ families. Pujara, by his own admission, is a private person. Sharing his thoughts didn’t come naturally to him, and indeed, he did not want to put second-hand pressure on his family by telling them about the trials and stresses in his life. But he worked on opening up over the years and got better at it.His wife, Puja, did not follow cricket or know who Pujara was before marrying him. Coming to the sport afresh, she wanted to know more about it and took a deep interest in his career. Over time, she learnt more about the game and its various aspects. Inspired by Andre Agassi’s book, , she began journalling her experience as the wife of an India cricketer.An MBA graduate, Puja quit her corporate job, which she loved, after her wedding. When the couple’s first daughter was three, she wanted to get back to work, but decided that as Pujara’s manager, she didn’t have the time to give to a full-time job. On the other hand, accompanying him on long cricket tours would leave her with not a lot to do. Over the years, she had made notes about conversations with the Pujara family. Her father-in-law, Arvind, would describe their struggles from years gone by, talk about the challenges the family went through so Pujara could play cricket, and describe the bond Pujara shared with his mother. Puja would listen keenly, and thanks to her sharp memory, write it all down in her diary later.In 2021, Pujara suggested she collate her notes into a book. That had been Puja’s motive for keeping a journal, which she had not spoken of before – the hope that it might turn into a book someday. That book has now been published: is an unusual memoir, Puja’s account of the bumpy ride the family of a cricketer goes through. It belongs in a sparsely populated genre, of which the best known are perhaps the tour books of Frances Edmonds, wife of former England spinner Phil Edmonds, though those were more by way of humorous travelogues and therefore different in nature and tone from Puja’s book.”I had to be very prepared before suggesting [she] write the book,” Pujara says. “I was a little uncomfortable at times about what people would think about what I was doing or what my thought process was. But I told her I don’t mind [the book] because this is the truth and you have seen my journey.”On watching Pujara fend off body blows in Australia in 2021: “I don’t know if I have it in me to relive it again”•AFPPuja agrees. “I told him I am not going to portray you as a saint. You are a good human being, but the book won’t be just glorifying everything. There will be the hard parts and vulnerabilities. You have an inspiring journey, and I want someone to take inspiration.”I think most [cricketers’] partners would relate to what I’m saying – that you are riding the same highs and the same lows. And while it is easy to say, it is a whole new thing when you are actually experiencing it.”Puja had to get used to being a public figure after their marriage, and become aware that she needed to be careful of her image too, for the effects it might have on her husband’s. Even if she didn’t end up enhancing Pujara’s image, she did not want to damage it.It is relatively easy for a sportsperson to be in the public eye when things are going well. Pujara was in good form around the time of their courtship and marriage. The challenge came when the going got tough. When he was dropped for the Sydney Test in 2015, it was heartbreak for Puja, she says. She felt it like a personal loss and like the world had turned upside down. She was in Australia for the tour and did not want to go to the SCG to watch the match.That experience taught her the value of detachment – that as a family member, she needed to offer her husband support rather than having her own emotional reaction to the incident add to his distress. “I had to gather courage, swallow that news and be there for him in whatever way he needed,” she says. “While it is very disheartening, you have to understand that only 11 players can play. That somebody else’s family is happy that the other person is getting to play. It took time for me to mature… We realised over time that [being dropped] is fine, but I wouldn’t take away any disappointment I had at that point in time.”Perhaps unsurprisingly, it was not Pujara who broke the news of his omission in Sydney to Puja. He found it tough to give his family updates of that sort. He dealt with failures in his own way; instead of opening up, he would withdraw, trying to “protect the family” from disappointment.”He wouldn’t realise that he’s going through something,” Puja says. “I had to tell him, ‘Boss, I think you need to take a step back and just pause for a second. I feel you are not on your A game mentally. Let’s talk about it.’ In a country like India, things like mental health weren’t addressed until recently. You’re so used to the hardships and the difficult times that you don’t realise sometimes [that] you may need to seek help.”Stand by me: from not being a cricket fan before marriage, Puja went on to become her husband’s manager•BCCIPujara credits his wife with helping him deal with failures better. She helped him stick to his cricket routine when he didn’t want to, during a low phase. His county stint with Yorkshire between 2015 and 2018 also enabled him to open up. The mental conditioning coach at the club helped him be less hard on himself, making Pujara realise that scoring a fifty was an achievement too, not just a hundred. “That was the first time I realised that I need to switch off from the game, divert my mind and talk about my failures also,” Pujara says. “When you succeed, you know what you have done has worked for you. But when you fail, it isn’t always about the technique; it could be a very small thing – like, you are not resting well or not sleeping well.”While Puja could help her husband out with his mental battles, the blows inflicted by bowlers on the field were his alone to deal with. During the Brisbane Test in 2021, Pujara stood like an immovable force in the middle, staving off a bowling attack of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon. He repeatedly took blows to his body – elbow, thigh, neck, finger – and on the helmet grille, while scoring a crucial second-innings fifty. As a fan or a viewer, those hits added to the narrative of the Test match. Not for the wife, though.”It was just a nightmare,” Puja says. “Watching it, I had a gush of many emotions all at once. I was worried and got in touch with the physio and team manager. I messaged so many people, because some of [the blows] were closer to the head and that was very scary. I don’t know if I have it in me to relive it again,” she laughs.When Pujara picked up his phone after the match, he saw a flood of text messages from her. “I am fine,” he wrote back. They spoke briefly and he rushed back to join the team celebrations for India’s second successive Test series win in Australia. “I was in pain, but it was a sweet pain because the Indian team had won the game and the series,” he says.A year and four series after his Gabba knock, Pujara was dropped again from the Indian Test side. He was recalled six months later and played eight more matches, the World Test Championship final in June 2023 being the last.Puja suggested a while ago that he look at life beyond playing cricket, and take up coaching or broadcasting, but he wasn’t on board then. Slowly his reluctance gave way and he took up some media work. He has been an expert on ESPNcricinfo’s match-analysis shows, which, he says, has enabled him to explore another side of the game and understand his own game better in retrospect.Pujara is 37. It has been close to two years since he last played for India, but he is not thinking about retirement just yet. The fire in him still burns. He enjoys the grind of preparing for a match, and the routines that help him stay hungry.Irrespective of what happens in his journey from here on, Pujara will know he has a pillar of support alongside him. The one who told his story to the world as she watched and lived it off the field.
Cricket’s biggest prize on offer this week isn’t the Ashes, but a golden ticket to India later this year
Firdose Moonda05-Jul-2023Don’t be fooled by the hype from Headingley. The biggest game in cricket on Thursday – no, perhaps the biggest game in cricket this year – is happening in Bulawayo where Netherlands and Scotland will compete for a place at the 50-over World Cup.Few would have expected that the final contest would be between the team that finished at the bottom of the World Cup Super League, with only three wins from 24 games, and the team that finished at the top of League 2, a division that should receive much more attention than it does. That it has come down to this speaks volumes about the way cricket is developing outside of Full Member countries and rewards those who have spent the last four years slogging away for recognition they had no guarantee would come.Netherlands played series against Ireland, Afghanistan, New Zealand, West Indies, England, Pakistan and Zimbabwe and lost all but one of them. In that time, they were never able to top 300 but conceded over 300 five times, scored just one century in the entire campaign and were bowled out for under 200 nine times. Did it ever get tiring being beaten so often and so comprehensively? No, said Scott Edwards, in more words than that, at his pre-match press conference.Related
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“The confidence we got from coming up against these Full Member teams throughout the Super League was massive for us,” he said. “Look at our youngsters like Aryan Dutt, Shariz Ahmed, Vikramjit Singh. These sorts of guys were thrown in the deep end at the start of the Super League, so where they are now, whether they are coming up against Scotland or Sri Lanka, there’s no spotlight to it. It’s just another game of cricket. They’ve been on top of other batters and we feel like coming into this sort of tournament, we’ve done it all before. We took a lot of confidence from that and it shows where we are now.”That’s why the Dutch don’t use the word “Associate,” to describe themselves anymore. They’ve been around the big boys and, as Vikramjit Singh said two days ago, they simply call themselves “the Netherlands’ cricket team.”They believe in their ability to take down top teams and why wouldn’t they? Eight months ago, they dumped South Africa out of the T20 World Cup. Asked at this event how they digested their giant-killing ways, head coach Ryan Cook was pragmatic. He told ESPNcricinfo that because of the way his team had been preparing, they always knew they would be able to stub out a few of the more star-studded sides and it was a matter of when and not if. He also predicts there’s more to come from other so-called smaller teams and already he’s been proven right, partly about his own camp and partly about someone else’s.While Netherlands dented West Indies in the group stage, it was Scotland who sent them out of contention for a World Cup place. “We’ve put three Test nations out of the World Cup now. What more can we say?” Michael Leask, Scotland’s offspinning allrounder, said.Scotland started their campaign with a one-wicket win over Ireland, then stunned West Indies and most recently robbed the host nation, Zimbabwe, of their chance to complete a dream run to the World Cup and arguably, they’ve done it in tougher circumstances than anyone else. League 2 is gruelling with 36 matches grouped into nine triangulars, and as result, is supremely competitive. Scotland lost a third of their games but still finished top and it was not until the final phase of the tournament, when Scotland and Namibia travelled to Nepal, that they were able to confirm their spots at the World Cup Qualifier.
“We’ve put three Test nations out of the World Cup now. What more can we say?”Scotland’s Michael Leask is confident the team can pull off one more memorable win
They did all that while their organisation was found to be institutionally racist with 448 examples cited in a report, and investigations ongoing. We have seen in South Africa and Yorkshire how damaging and divisive the issue of race can be, and how it can impact results. While the Social Justice and Nation-Building hearings were held in South Africa, the national men’s team stumbled through the World Cup Super League and almost ended up in Zimbabwe themselves. As for Yorkshire, they were relegated at the end of last summer. The rights and wrongs of the cases in Scotland are still being assessed (and it’s not easy to do so because instances of racism don’t come with receipts) but the team has somehow managed to put that to one side and play well, and they recognise how difficult that has been.”We have been through a bit of a tough time but we wear this shirt with a lot of pride, and for us it’s all about leaving the shirt better than we found it,” Leask said. “Yes, there’s been some tough times, but we’re out here competing and we’re doing a very, very good job of it at the moment. The biggest thing is leaving this shirt in a better place than you found it. I believe this group’s going a long way to doing that.”That is true of them over the last five years. Scotland came close to qualifying for the 2019 World Cup but were on the receiving end of some poor decisions in the 2018 qualifier, which was played without DRS in its entirety. Eight members of the squad who participated in that tournament are back to put things right and they’ve come with an attitude of extreme determination and resilience. They treat every match like it matters more than anything else, because in their case, it does. “2018 hurt a lot of us and a lot of the squad are still here. The performances have shown that we’re not going to give up,” Leask said. “We are a side who, every time we play, we play as underdogs. But we play every game like it’s a final. We’ve fought unbelievably hard in every fixture.”Scotland have already dumped out West Indies, but can they plot their biggest victory yet on Thursday?•ICC via Getty ImagesThe Dutch say the same thing. “Going into every game in the tournament, we feel like it’s a must-win game,” Edwards said. Despite the pressure of the situation, he describes his squad as “pretty level-headed,” going into their last, and most important game, and he has good reason to. The Dutch have managed to triumph in these crunch encounters without their entire first-choice bowling attack, the bulk of whom were unavailable due to county commitments (read: need to earn a salary rather than spend three weeks competing for a one-in-10 chance to play in a World Cup). Scotland are in a similar situation, with four frontline players missing. And therein lies the cold, hard, financial truth of Thursday’s match: it could change lives and cricket boards, literally, because of the economics of the game.In English football, the championship playoff game – the match which decides which team will be promoted to the Premier League in the following season – is known as the richest game in football, because of the massive monetary benefits promotion brings. With a guaranteed participation fee of US$1 million – more than most associates get in grants from either the ICC or their governments – reaching the World Cup could prove the cash injection to keep cricket comfortably afloat in the country that gets there. Consider that they could then also attract commercial partners, and the health of the game in the country that qualifies will receive a significant boost.For teams who spend most of their time in the small print, this is their opportunity to do more than just steal a headline: it’s the chance to make a serious statement about cricket in their country and to create the investment into its future. It’s also one of the last chances to really stand out because this is the last 10-team World Cup (the next T20 World Cup is 20 teams and the next ODI World Cup will expand to 14) and, hopefully, the growth of the game will only continue from there. Now, though, it’s about that one chance to “play in a World Cup in India which is a dream for our guys,” as Edwards said.Both Netherlands and Scotland have already experienced that dreams can come true and as far as the promise of a World Cup place goes neither will want to be the one who wakes up first.