West Indies skipper praises Jomel Worrican’s work but urges his batters to be braver for the second Test

Danyal Rasool19-Jan-2025

Brathwaite fell to Sajid Khan in both innings•AFP/Getty Images

West Indian captain Kraigg Brathwaite did not ignore the elephant in the room, but did not hide behind it, either. He said straightaway that Pakistan “prepared a dry spinning pitch from day one”, while acknowledging it was their right to do so, and challenging both his batters and his bowlers to adapt to it better in the second Test.”We expect the same type of pitch in the second Test and we’ve got to come better,” Brathwaite said at the post-Test press conference. “It was a difficult pitch to bat on for sure. But it’s their decision how they want the pitch. We’ve just got to come good.”What encouraged Brathwaite was West Indies’ ability to, for the most part, match their hosts toe-to-toe. While Sajid Khan and Noman Ali found themselves in the wickets, the best bowling figures of the Test belonged to West Indian left arm spinner Jomel Warrican, whose figures of 7 for 32 in the second innings are the third best ever by a visiting bowler in a Test in Pakistan. With the bat, too, West Indies’ efforts of 137 and 123 weren’t worlds removed from Pakistan’s second innings score of 157, with a first innings fifth wicket stand of 141 between Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan the sharpest point of difference.”It’s great to see. Jamal has worked extremely hard over the years and it’s good to see he got his first five-wicket haul. His hard work has paid off. He bowled well; he was consistent. I wish him all the best in his second test match.”I do think we could improve bowling wise. We gave them 50-60 runs too much in the first innings because the pitch spun from ball one and we could have created enough pressure on the batters to get more wickets. Saying that, we also didn’t bat as well as we could. I think Alick [Athanaze, whose fourth innings 55 was West Indies highest individual score] showed us today how easy it can be. You’ve got to be braver in your shot selection. But I think a better all-round performance and we could win the second Test.”Jomel Warrican took 10 for 101 in the match•AFP/Getty Images

With the pitch tricky and the Test match short, smaller differences were always going to prove decisive, and Brathwaite was keen to stress that, despite the margin of victory, he felt the disparity between the two sides was small. With Pakistan’s strategy certain – both captains effectively confirmed they expected a similar turner for the second Test – which also takes place in Multan, starting on January 25 – surprise is not something that can catch West Indies out.”I think we could be better with the ball in the first innings. We gave them 50 runs too much, and on top of that, we didn’t bat as well as we could have, especially in the first innings. Both innings the top order didn’t get any runs. So I think batting wise the top six should be able to bat at least a session.”Pakistan only batted one session in their second innings, too, and I think bowling wise once we stay consistent in bringing batters onto the front foot, we’ll have a better chance of limiting that first innings total. And we’ve got to bat better, we’ve got to find a better way.”While he didn’t commit to that strategy, perhaps judicious aggression, a measure of which West Indies began to introduce into their batting as each innings wore on, is something West Indies might look to do more of next week. Some batters found the use of reverse sweeps from outside the line a fruitful scoring option, while West Indies’ most destructive phase with the bat came when the tenth wicket partnership put on 46 in 21 balls, taking the spinners on when they flighted the ball.”The ball was ragging, so one is going to have your name on it regardless. The pitch was difficult as you could see. It was very dry before even the game started. So I’m not surprised with the game finishing early.”

The Kolkata Knight Riders batter on his call-up to the national squad, his long journey so far, and the people who have helped along the way

Interview by Shashank Kishore and Nikhil Sharma17-Nov-20214:00

‘Harbhajan predicted I will be KKR’s find even before the season began’

When he walked out to open the innings for Kolkata Knight Riders in the second leg of the IPL in September, most hadn’t heard of Venkatesh Iyer. That isn’t the case anymore, not after the role he played in turning Knight Riders’ season around. It wasn’t just the runs but his attitude, and his approach, and he has now been rewarded with a national call-up for the T20Is against New Zealand. Iyer, 27, talks about his journey, the struggles of a domestic player, changing perceptions, meeting his idols, and more.Did the opportunity in the second half of the IPL take you by surprise?
I think I was supposed to play in the first leg as well, Baz [Brendon McCullum, KKR coach] had spoken with me regarding my role in the team, but unfortunately I couldn’t, because our top order was packed. But as the second leg approached, he thought we needed a change in the top order. He felt we needed some intent, a style of play that could take on the opposition, and I was asked to do that. In all the practice matches that I played, I scored well, scored quickly, and Baz liked that intent. So at the beginning of the second leg, he told me that I’m going to play. Both the nets and practice matches were beneficial for me as it allowed me to get into that role.Related

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Your IPL success has come at the top of the order, but you could be a floater in India’s T20I set-up. How prepared are you?
It’s not new territory for me, batting in the middle order or lower down. I’ve done that for Madhya Pradesh, not just in age-group cricket but also at senior level, so it’s not going to be difficult to adapt to that position. It’s one thing to prepare your body, but another thing to train your mind to accept a role, and I’ve already accepted that I will be available for any role that is given to me. So, I’m mentally prepared to give my 100% wherever they ask me to bat or bowl.Last year you opened in domestic cricket for the first time. You have come a long way since then.
Huge credit for my success must go to Chandu sir [Chandrakant Pandit, Madhya Pradesh coach], the way he has handled me. He has all the experience in the world. He has seen thousands of cricketers blossoming in front of him. The way he tackled me, and the MP team, has been outstanding. We’ve now come to a point where we want to win a trophy for him. That’s the level of commitment he is showing. I think it’s sometimes good to have a regimented role, where he asks us directly to do things – that is when you don’t have any doubts. When he asked me to open the innings, I didn’t have anything in mind; I wasn’t skeptical. It was just me going out there and doing what the coach asked me to do, and that has worked for me.”Just because I wasn’t playing in the IPL or knocking on the doors of the Indian team doesn’t mean I wasn’t competing at that level”•BCCIHow did you find out about your India call-up?
We’d just lost a match to Kerala. I was sitting in my room and reflecting on what went wrong when Avesh Khan came to my room and broke the news. He also said he was picked, and I was happier for him because I’ve seen him closely for many years. No one deserves it more than him. Then I called my parents and sister to tell them I’d been selected. Then all my team-mates came over to congratulate me. It was a nice little moment where I felt things are getting clearer [for me].It must be special to have him alongside you now in the Indian side also.
I think as we came into the senior level, we became room partners randomly. Since then, our friendship has blossomed. The good thing is, we always talk about improving each other’s cricket. He’s also the kind of character, like me, who thinks about cricket on the ground and enjoys life off the field. We don’t talk too much cricket, but when we do, we ensure it’s a fruitful conversation. I’ve seen his progress, his rise. That’s why when he was picked I felt happier for him. It feels good when people talk about our friendship.What was it like being part of the Indian camp at the T20 World Cup as a back-up player?
I attended two net sessions but got to learn a lot. I spoke to the coaches, MS [Dhoni], Virat [Kohli], [Jasprit] Bumrah. All of them said, just give the same importance to your bowling as you do with your batting, and if I did that, I’d become an asset. I also spoke to B Arun [India bowling coach] about approaching bowling in different formats. It was time well spent.”I’ve seen Avesh Khan’s progress, his rise. When he was picked [for the national squad] I felt happier for him than me”•BCCITell us about meeting Dhoni, and Sourav Ganguly, your idol.
I walked up to meet Mahi after the match [against Chennai Super Kings]. He says, “Keep your eyes and mind open to learning. You will evolve as a cricketer when you play these games, you will learn something or the other from every game.” Obviously, I want to learn from every game, but when a big player tells you this, it has a better effect on you. And Dada, I’ve been a big fan. It was a fanboy moment when I met him, I forgot what to talk even!Lots of former players have praised you. Is there one compliment that you particularly cherish?
One thing that Harbhajan Singh told me when the IPL began, after he saw me in just a couple of net sessions, when I wasn’t part of the set-up: “You will be KKR’s find this season. I have complete faith in you and when you get the opportunity, you will definitely be able to do it.” To be honest, I didn’t believe it. I thought, why is this guy telling me so much when he hasn’t even seen me in practice games? I thought he was just [being] a good person and comforting me. But I’m happy that it turned out to be slightly true. That’s something that warms my heart.Three months ago, you were unknown to many. Now, you’re on the cusp of an India debut. How do you look at this swift rise?
I think it seems swift for those who are watching me now, but I have worked hard for more than a decade. I’ve put in a lot of effort. Just because I wasn’t playing in the IPL or knocking on the doors of the Indian team, it doesn’t mean I wasn’t competing at that level.”The India coaches, Dhoni, Kohli, all said, just give the same importance to your bowling as you do with your batting and you’ll become an asset”•BCCII was playing domestic cricket, which I believe is a wonderful achievement. If you’re playing domestic [cricket] continuously, it’s full of competition, it’s amazing. For people who just know me now, they feel it’s a short stint and quick rise, but I have put in the hard steps that every domestic player does. There are a lot of good domestic players who deserve to play [for the national side] but are not playing. It’s like only half the story is visible. I already feel that I should have been here a couple of years earlier, but unfortunately due to my inconsistency or other things – so many reasons are there – I wasn’t. But I’m happy that I’m getting to play at this level, and I hope it’s a prolonged journey for me.You’ve had to juggle your studies and cricket, and you turned down a lucrative job to pursue cricket. Did it seem like a big risk then?
It’s very unfortunate that we are judged on our results, but I’ve never felt the urge to score a lot of marks or score a lot of runs to show people that I’m doing well. I’m fortunate to carry a mindset that [is not focused on] numbers. So what I feel continuously is to keep trying and sticking to the process. I didn’t have in mind that I should be a big corporate officer. Even with CA [chartered accountancy], I took it one exam at a time, one lecture at a time. Even if it’s cricket, I just take it one match at a time and nothing else.Has there been a go-to person for you for cricketing matters through your career?
My club coach, Dinesh Sharma, has been one of the cornerstones of my journey. The way he has handled me, I’m blessed to have him as my coach. The best thing about him is, he always keeps me grounded. Whether I’ve played at the highest level or club level, he’ll treat me similarly and bring me back to the basics, which is very important. When there was no one to support me in Indore, he put his hand up and told me, “I’ll groom you to be someone that you potentially should be.” I really trusted him on that, and it came to a point where I felt if I applied everything he said, I’ll do well. More than a coach, he’s been a father figure, a well-wisher who has selflessly given everything to my progress.”Harbhajan Singh saw me at a couple of net sessions and told me, ‘You will be KKR’s find this season. I have complete faith in you'”•BCCIYour mother said when you were a child there have been many days where you’ve walked long distances to the club grounds. Tell us about that.
It’s not just me, all the cricketers who want to make a name in cricket have worked hard. I don’t want to say I’m special because I’ve worked really hard. I’ve seen players who have struggled much more, and in front of their struggles, mine are nothing. Whoever aspires to play for the country must struggle, it’s just that the magnitude of the struggle varies. [When I was growing up] we didn’t have the resources that allowed me to take a cab or auto. The desire to play was so high that, carrying my kit, I used to walk. It’s no big thing. Whoever has no resources does this. What matters is it helps increase your hunger when you get out onto the field. I’m blessed I had to struggle to understand the value of cricket. How has life changed in the last two months?
It’s definitely been a change, [but] not something that I didn’t expect. It’s been a beautiful change, but I haven’t found it hard to cope. I am not the person who goes around and talks to a lot of people. I’m very reserved that way, but whenever I speak, I ensure I speak with my brains. I am educated, I feel like I should bring out the right things, [make the] right choice of statements, but talking of the change, it comes with the territory. I’m not paying much attention to it. The most important task is to play the game and do it well.

The defending champions’ middle order is largely untested and that might be crucial in the quarter-final

Sreshth Shah in Potchefstroom27-Jan-2020After 24 games across seven venues in nine days, the knockout phase of the Under-19 World Cup 2020 is upon us. Teams like Sri Lanka, England and Zimbabwe are already out of the running for the top honour, and on Tuesday, one of India and Australia will join that list.Both sides found themselves under pressure in their final group game, although the circumstances were vastly different. Australia needed a final-ball win over England to set up the quarterfinal date. In a sense, it was a knockout game – they would have been eliminated had they lost. India thwarted New Zealand in a rain-hit game to finish top of the table – not knockout-level stress, but they did want the top spot.ALSO READ: ‘The Secret’ and the success of Ravi BishnoiCan such a smooth ride through the group stage and never really having their backs to the wall actually harm India, though? That said, most of their players play either first-class or List A cricket for their states, so they are not strangers to the trials of balancing pressure and performance. And when New Zealand’s batsmen briefly put India on the back foot in that game, their spinners rose to the occasion, sharing seven wickets between them, to restore order.They have been clinical, high on intensity, and electric on the field. But only once have they had a chance to bat more than 25 overs in a game – only seven of them have batted at all so far, four of them for more than 50 balls – and leaves India’s middle order largely untested.ALSO READ: ‘Legspinners aren’t meant to be defensive’ – Tanveer SanghaThat’s perhaps where their pre-competition series against South Africa and the subsequent quadrangular series will play a key role. They have been in South Africa since mid-December, and the lessons from the games played in local conditions before the World Cup must have an effect. Priyam Garg, the captain, has struck four 50-plus scores in his last seven games in the country, Tilak Verma has hit four in his last five, wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel has three in his last four, while Siddhesh Veer, their finisher, has consistently ended innings well.India’s bowling also looks sorted, though they might want even more from their fast bowlers. They have been quick, with short deliveries whizzing past the ears and yorkers crushing into the base of middle stumps, but few of those wickets have been of top-order batsmen. In their games against Sri Lanka and New Zealand, only left-arm seamer Sushant Mishra – who hasn’t played since India’s tournament opener – has taken a wicket of a top-three batsman. While the pace of Kartik Tyagi and Akash Singh, who are expected to start, has been too much for the lower-order batsmen, they are still searching for a strike with the new ball (apart from against Japan).Tanveer Sangha is mobbed by his team-mates•ICC via GettyAs for Australia, their tournament has been up and down. Their two-wicket win over England was a reminder to the rest of the teams that Australia can bat till No. 10 at least. Against West Indies, a game they lost by three wickets, luck simply wasn’t on their side: two of their top-order batsmen were run-out at the non-striker’s end off the bowlers’ body.Tanveer Sangha, their legspinner, is joint-second on the list of highest wicket-takers for the tournament, while the rest of their bowlers, too, have struck at crucial points. Australia’s ability to take wickets across an innings did not make it easy for West Indies, and in their must-win game against England, Australia had reduced the opposition to 192 for 7 following a combined effort from their bowlers.The bottom line is that games such as these give us major pointers for the future, give us an idea of who will go on to greater things and who might not. A sizeable crowd is expected at Potchefstroom’s Senwes Park for the clash. Form makes India the favourites, but on this rare occasion, an Australian team won’t mind starting off as underdogs in a World Cup knockout fixture. Barring the Japan game – when they chased 42 – India haven’t batted second, and it might be in Australia’s best interest to bat first, post a total and see whether India can deal with scoreboard pressure.It was India who beat Australia in the final of the 2018 edition. Although no one from the current team featured then, payback will be very sweet if they manage to pull it off. If they can, they will also become team to beat in the tournament.

Both Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund may soon go head-to-head in a bid to secure Markus Krosche with his track record drawing serious interest.

• Bayern and Dortmund are targeting Krosche
• Krosche’s transfer record at Frankfurt has elevated his profile
• Krosche’s transfer record is nearly €300m in sales

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to and multiple other outlets, both Bayern and Dortmund have expressed concrete interest in appointing Eintracht Frankfurt’s Krosche as sporting director. Pressure is mounting on Bayern’s current sporting director Max Eberl following a series of failed transfer pursuits and internal discussions about the club’s future direction. Dortmund, meanwhile, are considering Krosche as a replacement for Sebastian Kehl. Both clubs are closely monitoring the situation, and Krosche’s contract is believed to contain a release clause.

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• Getty
  

  WHAT IS THE BACKGROUND?

  Krosche has been Frankfurt’s sporting CEO since 2021 and has been instrumental in the club’s recent successes, including their Europa League triumph in 2022 and securing Champions League qualification. Dortmund explored a move for Krosche during their sporting crisis last season, but negotiations reportedly stalled as he chose to focus on Frankfurt’s campaign. Bayern’s recent transfer struggles – including big-money pursuits of Nick Woltemade and Luis Diaz – have put Eberl’s position under increased scrutiny. Internal tension and restructuring discussions at Bayern mean significant changes remain possible before the transfer window closes.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Krosche has a proven record of engineering lucrative transfers. Under his leadership, Frankfurt generated nearly €300m (£255m/$327m) in transfer revenue from relatively unknown players such as Randal Kolo Muani, Omar Marmoush and Hugo Ekitike. His knack for spotting talent and negotiating high-value deals has made him a sought-after executive across Europe, with Premier League interest previously reported.

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  A LOOK AT THE FIGURES

  His name has already been mentioned in the supervisory board, but there are also doubts about his suitability for the job in Munich despite his impressive numbers. Krosche negotiated the €95m (£81m/$104m) sale of Kolo Muani to Paris Saint-Germain, secured around €75m (£64m/$82m) from Manchester City for Marmoush and orchestrated Hugo Ekitike’s sale to Liverpool for €95m. Bayern’s annual payroll is reported to be €308m (£262m/$336m).

Former Bangladesh coach on his sacking: “The brave decision wasn’t taken, they took the easy decision”

Mohammad Isam21-Feb-2022How was the experience of winning a BPL trophy?
I haven’t won many trophies during my coaching career, (so) it was absolutely wonderful to be part of a trophy-winning campaign with Comilla. It was hugely important to win a trophy in Bangladesh. We had success in Bangladesh. I had a tiny bit of success in Worcestershire. I was very proud of the way the Comilla boys fought. [Fortune] Barishal were a very strong side during the campaign. It was fitting that we played against each other (in the final).Two tough teams, however, didn’t play very well on the day. There were lots of mistakes. I can only put that down to pressure of the final, and the build-up of the whole four weeks of intense cricket. I think that whilst, as a coach, you see so many mistakes, but to the public, what an entertaining game of cricket it was!Your coaching debut in Bangladesh cricket was far from memorable, though.
I don’t think anybody has had an international coaching debut like that. We lost the toss on a green bouncy wicket against some very good West Indian fast bowlers. We were 45 all out on the first day. But from then on, we nearly won the next Test. Then we won the ODI series in the West Indies. We were 1-0 down in the T20Is, but won the two games in Florida to win the series. Suddenly, we left the tour on a real high, winning two series and losing one.

“If you sit and watch from the BCB’s president box, you wouldn’t understand the workings of what’s going on there (at the ground). You just say, ‘Well, he didn’t do very well, let’s get rid of him’.”Steve Rhodes

Apu (Nazmul Islam), the left-arm spinner, started to call me the “lucky coach”. By which he meant, maybe, things are going our way a little bit. We lost a lot of games in the journey towards the World Cup. But we also won some other series. We beat the West Indies here (in Bangladesh) where we didn’t play a seamer in any of the Tests. Some of our tactics were clever. They were not all my tactics. I am not the egotistical coach who puts my hand down for everything. I had a wonderful captain in Shakib Al Hasan, who had some great thoughts and ideas about beating the West Indies. I think there were great things happening in the dressing room.How would you describe the 2019 World Cup campaign?
If things went our way, we thought we had a squad that could possibly squeak a bit further than we got. So, we were all disappointed by how we finished. We started really well. I thought Bangladesh fought hard against a lot of good opposition. When some of those teams played their good game, we couldn’t win. No matter how hard we tried, we weren’t quite good enough. That came as a surprise to a lot of people in Bangladesh.Related

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Our only bad game was the last one against Pakistan, but we were already out of the tournament. Against the likes of England, India and Australia, we got plenty of runs. Even in the bad games, we competed hard. We could have won against New Zealand. We had some great wins against South Africa and West Indies. The best win was against Afghanistan. We had a tremendous campaign overall.I found it a little bit disappointing to be told that that poor performance in the World Cup is the reason why I was to be released from my contract. I felt it wasn’t true. To me, it looked flimsy. There must be some other reason. Where we were at the end of the World Cup in the points table looked poor. But the truth was, we played so much better than what our end position showed. I wasn’t there for arguing, because you can’t argue with your employers if they want to get rid of you. To this day, I don’t really know the actual reason.What was your coaching philosophy?
I was trying to do something new in Bangladesh, to drive forward in improvement. It revolved around the style of the coaching and the support staff. It was how we could make the players grow by getting them to be more responsible for their own game. Trying to get them to think more on the field, so that when a situation happens, there’s no coach around to ask “what do I do now”.It was quite a change from the normal culture of the way things are in the subcontinent. I accepted it was always going to be a difficult thing to drive through. You are up against a culture. But I have seen in the Indian team how it changed.The coach is there to assist, help and push along. We are not there to totally drive their careers. I call certain coaches as “satnav coaches”. To explain, you think about trying to go from Worcester to Newcastle in your car. I press in “Newcastle” in the satnav, and it tells me how to go, by giving me details about every turn I have to take, how long I have to go before the next junction. All you do is listen to the satnav and look at the map occasionally. When I reached Newcastle, it tells me that I have reached my destination. If someone asks me how I got there, I have not learned anything about that journey. I have been told, “do this, do that”. In coaching terms, a lot of people in the subcontinent thinks that’s how you coach. This is how you play the forward defensive, on this wicket you have to do this, on that wicket you do that, when you are bowling at him you do this. A player tries to do that.

Being in a high-profile position in Bangladesh cricket, my neck was on the line. So was Mashrafe [Mortaza] as captain. So were the senior players. If they decided the performance wasn’t good enough, then somebody had to go”Steve Rhodes

You’d say that’s coaching. No, that’s coaching to a degree. That’s satnav coaching. The player won’t improve. On the flipside of that, you go back to the time when we have to go to Newcastle. When I was a 25-year-old player, there was no satnav. The night before the journey, I’d open the map and take notes. There was no Google, so I’d ask winding the window down where Newcastle Cricket Club was. When I was on my way back to Worcester, I learned a lot more about the journey. I was responsible for my focus and concentration. Next time I went to Newcastle, I knew the route. I didn’t need the map.This is an example of how somebody improves without being told. Working things out for yourself. I was doing that style of coaching with the Bangladesh team. I encouraged the same with the other coaches. I even told them, “if you are unsure about saying anything, don’t say it; you don’t have to prove to me that you’re coaching and earning your money”. Sometimes, less is more.A culmination of this was when I had a visit from one of the board members during the World Cup. He was saying that they were unhappy with my coaching style. I needed to be more like a satnav-type coach. I explained fully to this board member how my style was going to improve people quicker. I gave him an example with his son, who is abroad. He admitted that his kid was growing up fast being on his own. But he went back with the news that the coach won’t change. I think that had something to do with it. I wasn’t coaching in the manner they were used to.Was there a feeling that you could lose your job?
As a Bangladesh coach, you are forever on a vibe of how long it will last. I think that’s life. Nobody has the right to be cushy in their job.We had a great tournament in Ireland as a build-up. We won the tri-series. I thought we were going the right way. At that stage, I didn’t expect that I would be gone after the World Cup. When we couldn’t qualify (for the semi-final), I thought there was a chance of change. I was, whilst surprised, not surprised as well. I really didn’t know what to expect, to be honest.Cricket is so big in Bangladesh that when a World Cup campaign is perceived as average, something has to go.
Being in a high-profile position in Bangladesh cricket, my neck was on the line. So was Mashrafe [Mortaza] as captain. So were the senior players. If they decided the performance wasn’t good enough, then somebody had to go. Scapegoat, or sacked. I don’t know what you want to call it, you are there to be knocked down in that sort of role.The senior players “can play a huge part in driving the next generations,” Steve Rhodes feels•AFP/Getty ImagesYou said yourself that something had to go. But did it go? Was it that bad? Could it be said that the way things had been building, winning around 50% of the matches, we were moving in the right direction? Apart from the Pakistan game, we weren’t doing badly in the tournament.Maybe a brave answer to those people calling for scapegoats would have been: we don’t really need one at the moment, we are okay. We would have loved to go forward but we didn’t. We played some good cricket. Shakib did brilliantly. Litton Das played a marvelous innings against the West Indies. [Mohammad] Saifuddin had shown his quality as well. But the brave decision wasn’t taken. They took the easy decision: we haven’t done well, so the coach is going.From a Bangladesh perspective, why does the World Cup always feel like the end of something?
Wrongly, people expect too much. Now people are saying to me, Bangladesh are in the same place they were 15 years ago. It is probably true. Maybe the expectation of being a top-four side is beyond them. They ought to be looking at it a little bit differently. What about, let’s get into the top six or seven first? The focus should be on general progression. Maybe the board and supporters should realise, are we going to improve first, than being in the top four?What did you think of the BCB’s approach, was it professional at all?
To a certain extent, yes. I got no qualms with the administrative staff. They were professional. They did a lot for me. I was very grateful. I think some things needed changing. The style of coaching was one thing. You need support from your board. They need to understand what you are doing. In this area, I wasn’t given the support as they didn’t understand it.The other angle might be, the players play under absolute pressure and not trusting people. It can affect their performance badly. To bring out the best in the player, take pressure off them as much as you can. Only a few players revel in pressure. You have to get through most when they are under pressure. The coaching staff and I got to know the players so well, we knew what made them tick.If you sit and watch from the BCB president’s box, you wouldn’t understand the workings of what’s going on there. You just say, “well, he didn’t do very well, let’s get rid of him”. Sadly, young players and medium-term players (those who have been around for a while but not quite done it) feel that pressure. There’s an immense sense of “what will they do next, will I be the one dropped?” How can you perform your best when you have that in your mind?

“Maybe the board can sometimes also get out of the way when something good is happening”Steve Rhodes

It comes down to whether the selection policy is right. I would question whether it is right. The president [Nazmul Hassan] does sign off the team. I think he is not a bad man. He listens to reason. Sometimes he’d say coach, or captain, “if that’s what you want, let’s do it”. But there are other times, because of his power and veto, that he can listen to other people around him that might persuade him differently. You then question the cricketing knowhow of those people. That system isn’t quite right.Do you think if you had the right kind of time, you could have made the players more self-reliant?
I really do. We were doing something that India have done. It was to give importance to every person in the team. The likes of [Virat] Kohli, [MS] Dhoni and the senior players came to the conclusion that everyone is equally important in their team.The proper analogy is whether the racing car driver is more important than the guy who puts one of the nuts on the tires. The answer is, there’s nobody more important. If the guy doesn’t put the nut on right, the wheel falls off, and the driver is no good. The person who takes that one catch is as important as the others. People might be surprised to know that it doesn’t often happen in the Bangladesh team. I think it is holding things back a little bit.What do you think worked against you?
I think they have had different styles of coaches in the past. [Chandika] Hathurusingha was a feisty character who got the best out of some people. I think it had more to do with the lack of understanding of how I wanted to coach. I think that’s where they didn’t really get it.It could have been easier. It would have been nice if they (BCB) understood the way I wanted to coach. It wasn’t the case, and you have to try to make the best of it. I wasn’t going to coach in the way they wanted me to coach.It was our way of getting the team and the players better. You must empower the players. They are out there batting and bowling for Bangladesh. They need to think clearly under pressure, and what’s best for them and the team. It is not about getting instructions from the captain or coach. You take decisions by being given responsibility.How was your relationship with the board president?
I did enjoy working with him. I had a better conversation with him one-to-one. There were two or three occasions when I had very, very good one-to-one conversations at his house. It was very difficult to get the president one-to-one. He had quite a few people who he works closely with. Then it becomes chaotic. You don’t concentrate on each other’s words. Too many people talk at the same time, and you don’t really achieve anything.We might not have agreed on some selection issues but I knew my place as well. As board president, they were employing me. I knew there were some fights you can’t win, but there were some fights worth fighting for.Courtney Walsh and Steve Rhodes worked together with the Bangladesh team•Getty ImagesHow do Bangladesh go forward, and get better given the present system?
I don’t know if they will get better. They will always compete really well. One thing about Bangladesh is, they have gifted, wonderful cricketers. I have seen some tremendous cricketers playing in the BPL. But they are not given the chance to think for themselves. I think they have to do what I was trying to do.The local coaches have to realise that there’s another way of coaching, one that might be beneficial. I am not pointing the finger at the Bangladeshi coaches. They are just used to the system of doing it.What do you make of Bangladeshi coaches?
Bangladesh have good coaches. I have experience with (Mohammad) Salahuddin, who has a good cricket brain. He keeps things relatively simple. There’s definitely a Bangladeshi guy who could be Bangladesh’s head coach. They would have to make compromises – the board and the coach – to make it a working relationship. Salahuddin could do the job really well. It could be the start of something.It is wrong of me talking of new coaches when you have got one in place. But I am not so sure that international coaches is the way forward all the time. I was one. The poor players get used to a coach, and he is gone. Then they get used to another coach, and he is gone. The players then go back to their own local coaches from years ago. He is here all the time, and someone they trust. They try to trust the international coaches, but they get moved on. It doesn’t give continuity, which doesn’t do good for Bangladesh cricket.Part of how Bangladesh are going to go forward, is how the careers of the five senior players are managed from this point.I think they are all different characters. You approach them in different ways – that’s the skill of man management. All of them were terrific. But the one area that used to wind me up, and it wasn’t their fault, is that the media called them the Magnificent Five. I was quoted somewhere saying that we are the Magnificent Eleven. I think that’s important: the team.How can they help going forward?
They can play a huge part in driving the next generations. Shakib, [Mahmudullah] Riyad, Mushi [Mushfiqur Rahim] and Tamim [Iqbal] have a lot of cricket left in them. They have a wealth of experience. They are all good cricketers. Shakib has one of the most magnificent brains I have come across in cricket. But does Shakib get the right respect for what he has achieved in cricket? Or is he just our employee and we will control him?He has so much to offer, so it will be such a waste if he finishes without giving more knowledge and experience. Mashrafe, too, has contributed a lot. He led from the front. He has been a passionate champion and warrior of Bangladesh cricket. He has lot of tactical nous. He can make people listen.Maybe the board can sometimes also get out of the way when something good is happening.Don’t overcoach by trying to warrant your salary. The board member is watching, so I better coach, coach, coach. You are ruining players doing that. The same [sits] with the board. Don’t over-instruct. If things are going okay, just relax. Don’t get too involved in it all. You don’t have to prove you are a board member. If things are going in the right direction, your worth as a board member might be to say less.

Some players have been affected more than others, and some have been more creative than the rest

Matt Roller and Danyal Rasool19-May-2020It is 5:30am. The birds are chirping more than usual, and the air, in a city whose population now exceeds ten million, is markedly fresher than it was until recently. In the heart of Chennai, R Ashwin, who has just woken up, is keen to enjoy the dawning day. Along with his younger daughter, an early riser like him, he heads up to the terrace.Their terrace doubles as a home fitness centre and an organic garden. While his daughter listens to music, Ashwin gets to work on the cycling machine and weights. By the time they are done, his wife and older daughter are up. With his parents also living in the same house, loneliness is unlikely to afflict Ashwin. Life in confinement has been, in his own words, “idyllic”.Not everyone is coping in lockdown with that sort of level-headedness. Nor do most cricketers have the resources to maintain the kind of fitness their job demands.In Pakistan, strength and conditioning coach Yasir Malik speaks about the challenges of keeping on top of players’ online fitness tests. “We needed a system that not only gauged their fitness levels,” Malik says, “but took into account the limited resources of the players, something that’s a problem for many of our players. That means limitations in terms of access to quality gym equipment, good training facilities and even the diet they need to follow. Above all, we need to ascertain whatever system we bring in ensures they maintain the professionalism that would be necessary in ordinary fitness tests.”In England, confirmation of a start date for the resumption of cricket cannot come soon enough. “Ideally we would want anywhere between four to six weeks’ training, but it depends a bit on the format we go into,” explains Rob Ahmun, the ECB’s strength and conditioning lead. “In Test cricket, if we’re looking at the bowlers, for example, it will take anywhere between six to eight weeks to build up enough volume in their bowling loads before they’re appropriately prepped to go and play. They can’t go from nothing to bowling 40 overs in a two-week period – that’s going to be a recipe for disaster.

“If you don’t have that end goal, then you feel like the training is a bit aimless, a bit pointless. You don’t know how to time that intensity as well”James Anderson

“At the same time, T20 poses a challenge because the intensity is so much higher: we know from our GPS data that players sprint more frequently [in T20], that the distances of their sprints are longer, and the time between their sprints is a lot less. You can’t have a two-week build-up period between sprinting once or twice a week to playing in a T20I – the jump is too high.”Players who were hoping to return from injury face setbacks. In England’s case, Rory Burns and Jofra Archer were looking to play early-season County Championship fixtures to ease themselves back towards fitness. Instead, they have both been left frustrated.”We need Jofra to be back bowling again, so as soon as we get the nod, we can start building up his bowling loads,” Ahmun says. “For Rory with his ankle, we need to progress his running to get up towards match intensity. It’s definitely posed a challenge – when we set rehab schedules and timetables, we factor in a building period of playing second-team cricket and being gradually exposed to the demands of international cricket, so that we know when they come back, they’re ready not just to play but to perform. There’s a big difference between the two.”ALSO READ: Space constraints could hamper Indian players’ training – John GlosterEquipment has been a problem for some cricketers. At one extreme, Andre Russell has been able to use the nets and bowling machine in his back garden to keep in shape, regularly posting Instragam videos of his training sessions with close friend Jermaine Blackwood. At the other, England batsman Keaton Jennings – often used as a medium-pace option in county cricket – found himself unable to follow the bowling drills given to him: he has no cricket or tennis balls in his apartment in Manchester. “I’ve scoured the house and I don’t have any tennis balls, only golf balls,” Jennings told the Lancashire Hot Pod. “I’ll have to get a potato out or something.”These constraints are magnified depending on lockdown restrictions, which vary significantly in different parts of the world. In the UK, for example, an hour of outdoor exercise a day had been permitted, allowing for runs outdoors; this has since been relaxed to unlimited exercise. But in India, the public were ordered to stay at home without exception. In Pakistan, parks and recreational centres across the country have been closed. While that is no major concern for players with home gyms or outdoor space, it is difficult for those stuck in small apartments.0:40

The PCB’s online fitness tests

“The physical constraints that the Indian players are now having seems to be a lot greater than that of the guys in say, South Africa, Australia or the UK, because space is an incredible constraint here,” Rajasthan Royals physio John Gloster told ESPNcricinfo in March. “I’ve seen some fantastic footage coming out of the players in the UK where they’re in their own gyms and they’ve got lots of space, and I think the Indian boys are going to be perhaps at a physical disadvantage there.”In England, most counties managed to split equipment from their gyms to their squad before the lockdown was imposed, but with the vast majority of players now on furlough, their contact with their clubs has been limited. Instead, the onus is on the individual knowing that they will be expected to be in shape when they arrive for the first day of training, whenever that may be: at Leicestershire, for example, players have been told that the start-of-season fitness tests will take place on their first day back.For centrally contracted players, resuming training will typically involve a day or two at the National Performance Centre at Loughborough, but that will be difficult to achieve while adhering to social-distancing guidelines. Instead, it is hoped that one-on-one sessions at county grounds might be possible before the end of May.ALSO READ: Video fitness tests for locked-down Pakistan playersIn Pakistan, meanwhile, the PCB wants to ensure centrally contracted players are able to have their fitness monitored over the lockdown. Players are being tested via video chat services and scheduled phone calls.”We observe six players at any one time,” Malik said to the PCB website. Players are told what the technique of the push-ups, sit-ups and other exercises needs to be; they meet international standards. We carry out a number of other tests – chin-ups, standing broad jumps, burpees, Bulgarian squats, reverse planks and the rest. For the yo-yo test, if someone can get to a park, well and good. If that is not an option, then they can use the street in front of their house. If that’s not convenient, they can use their roof. The monitoring equipment we have will take into account all these factors. The ultimate target is to make someone run.”The home-remedy feel to these stopgap solutions sits somewhat awkwardly with the high-performance culture of modern cricket. When the PCB conducted fitness tests on April 18, Sohaib Maqsood’s had to be interrupted when the glass top of a table shattered and pierced his knee. While it is unclear what precipitated the accident, it isn’t surprising that it happened to Maqsood rather than Russell or Ashwin.

“They can’t go from nothing to bowling 40 overs in a two-week period – that’s going to be a recipe for disaster”Rob Ahmun, England strength and conditioning lead

Even within the Pakistan side, there will be enormous variation in the inconvenience players face. A few weeks ago, Babar Azam posted a video of him working out in a room that appeared to have been designated specifically as his workout space. It is hard to imagine, say, Naseem Shah, having similar access to equipment and physical space at this nascent stage of his career.Physiotherapist Andrew Leipus, who worked with the Indian national side, as well as a number of T20 franchises, made the point in starker terms. “I saw a picture on Facebook of Chris Lynn training in his garage, and he looks sensational,” he says. “He’s training very, very hard, but there are guys in smaller towns in Pakistan, and they won’t have anywhere near those facilities. This is happening all around the cricketing world, make no mistake. The guys who have access to high-quality sports science, sports medicine and support staff are probably going to be better off than those who don’t.”Despite the limitations, Leipus points out, “the ability to communicate has never been better, with WhatsApp, Skype and Zoom calls. It’s not ideal. But everybody’s in the same position at the moment. The main concern is that guys don’t drift and become Netflix couch potatoes. They’ve got to maintain a certain level of fitness. It doesn’t have to be specific to cricket. Athletes train very hard to achieve a certain level of fitness in strength, flexibility, aerobic endurance, all those parameters. You take the stimulus away and the body, being a very, very lazy machine, will drop off to the next level of stimulus, which is nothing.”Players fail fitness tests even when access to facilities isn’t a problem. Stress injuries, which strength and conditioning coaches spend their careers trying to reduce, continue to happen, often because a player may not have hit the fitness goals their coaches expect of them. Not all cricketers are similarly wired; some need a coach constantly in their ear, and it is easy to imagine those players emerging from lockdown significantly less primed for elite competition.”The research tells us if you can do one or two high-intensity training sessions a week – and that could be anything from shuttle runs down your driveway or a stationary bike – you are doing well,” says Leipus. “If they’ve got a pool, they could do sprints in the water. You can do body-weight exercises like squats or lunges, and do lots of reps.Some cricketers, like Ollie Pope, have turned their garages into ad hoc workout spaces•Getty Images”That’s only half the battle, though. The other half is when they do come back, they should ramp up their training gradually. They mustn’t overdo it. That spike in stress or load to the body will put you at very high risk of getting injuries. Those that don’t have the more contemporary sports-science controls and advice, or access to guys who can help programme their return workloads, you’re going to see a spike in soft-tissue injuries. Hamstrings, shoulders, calves, and lower back problems.”* * *”I’m someone who needs aims and guidelines for my mind, to motivate me,” Stuart Broad told James Anderson in a recent Instagram Live Chat.”If you don’t have that end goal, then you feel like the training is a bit aimless, a bit pointless,” Anderson replied. “You don’t know how to time that intensity, as well.””I just bought off Amazon a little net – not a cricket net, just a little net to put by the hedge, but I don’t know whether to keep bowling a little bit,” Broad continued.ALSO READ: England set to resume training as ECB lay groundwork for West Indies Tests“At 21 or 22, if we went eight weeks without bowling, it probably wouldn’t be an issue. But I just feel at my age, our age, if I go six or seven weeks without getting the load through the bones in the body, I just don’t know how I’ll react when I want to get bowling again… I’m trying to tick over as much as I can, so that if we get a nod this summer to bowl and train together as a group, I don’t feel way behind. Although whatever anyone does, we know that it’s going to take a few weeks to get anywhere near match fitness, because bowling is such a unique thing.”The absence of a clear start date has been a common challenge. After the IPL’s initial postponement by a month, players were unsure how likely the tournament was to go ahead, yet they felt that had to train towards that date. Even as it became clear that it would be pushed back further, players felt the need to state publicly that they were training for a mid-April start – though they privately admitted that was not the case.”Goal-setting is critical in sports psychology,” says Leipus. “And if you don’t know what that end goal is, it’s very hard to set those small goals on the way to a big goal.

“The main concern is that guys don’t drift and become Netflix couch potatoes. They’ve got to maintain a certain level of fitness. It doesn’t have to be specific to cricket”Andrew Leipus, physiotherapist

“I do think it’s worth saying these guys earn millions of dollars so I would just tell them to suck it up. That’s their job; they have to do their training every day, and they have to listen to their sports staff. They can set smaller goals. There’s an opportunity to work on weaknesses. Say one guy’s got a weakness with regards to shoulder strength. The fitness trainer can say, ‘We’re going to test you in four weeks, and get you up to the requisite parameters.'”There is one positive aspect to the lockdown: rest. The most recent edition of the ‘s global workload survey found that Joe Root had played 81 days of international cricket between October 2018 and September 2019; several others spent well over two months on the field for their countries. Including domestic cricket, Marnus Labuschagne spent 129 days on the pitch out of 365, and plenty of the balance training or travelling. Only three weeks into the lockdown, Virat Kohli said to Kevin Pietersen on their Instagram Live chat that he had never spent so long in the same place as his wife Anushka Sharma.”If you look at some of the England guys,” say Ahmun, “they would have got back from Sri Lanka [the tour was postponed mid-way in March] and then gone straight out to the IPL, and if they weren’t in the Test team, they’d have been in the PSL after the white-ball series in South Africa [in February]. For some of them, this is probably the biggest break that they’ve had for a number of years. We will get some benefits from that, from the mental perspective, of not having to get up and play at the highest level every morning, and spending time with families instead. Any kind of break that they get is a bit of a blessing in disguise.”Players have used the break to find ways to lighten the mood of their training. Ben Stokes and Paul Collingwood – England’s assistant coach – spent the early weeks of lockdown filming their attempts to beat each other in the “Bring Sally Up” challenge, which involves slow press-ups in time with the lyrics of the Moby song “Flower”. Collingwood took an early lead, but Stokes had soon managed to get through the full three and a half minutes.

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A post shared by Ben Stokes (@stokesy) on Apr 20, 2020 at 11:33am PDT

Mayank Agarwal’s partner Aashita has accompanied him in home workouts, while Jos Buttler’s wife Louise had half of his England team-mates joining her pilates classes on Instagram in the early weeks of the lockdown. Scotland keeper-batsman Matthew Cross’ golf trick shots and Somerset legspinner Max Waller’s teabag challenges might be less relevant to their fitness regimes, but have continued to keep their hand-eye coordination active.The flip side of this break, though, is that when cricket does return, the calendar will be busier than ever. New Zealand, for example, faced a jammed summer schedule even before Covid-19, with five Tests, nine ODIs and 18 T20Is, plus the T20 World Cup, between October 2020 and March 2021. Throw in the possibility of a delayed tour of Europe and the Caribbean immediately after, and there will not be a moment’s rest.This further raises the risk of fatigue injuries. “When everything opens up, everyone will want to train every day,” Leipus worries. “And the body’s just not going to be able to recover in time to adapt to those new loads because it doesn’t have the fitness.”With different countries currently at varying stages of the pandemic, the only guarantee is that uncertainty is here for the foreseeable future. While in England, Prime Minister Boris Johnson believes the peak of the pandemic has passed, the numbers have been rising in India, which remains in cautious lockdown.The deep-rooted inequalities in world cricket are only likely to be exacerbated by the pandemic, but it remains important not to lose sight of a bigger picture that is as grim as it is unpredictable. Ashwin may have a lot more use for his terrace and Russell his bowling machine, while Jennings continues to scramble for cricket balls, and cricketers in Pakistan look for empty side-streets and abandoned rooftops they can use.

Stepping up their push to seal his signature, Bayern Munich have now reportedly submitted their opening offer to sign a Liverpool star who is now keen on an Anfield exit.

Latest Liverpool exit news

Having already spent big to welcome Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong as well as picking up Freddie Woodman on a free deal, it could now be time for Liverpool to balance the books with a number of exits.

Already, both Jarell Quansah and Caoimhin Kelleher have sealed departures to Bayer Leverkusen and Brentford respectively, but the exit news may not be done there. After forming a squad now filled to the brim with talent, Liverpool could also sanction exits for the likes of Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott this summer.

For Nunez, all signs point towards a move to Napoli if he is to leave Liverpool ahead of next season. The Serie A champions reportedly see the South American as their dream Victor Osimhen replacement and talks are ongoing over a deal between the two clubs.

Elliott, meanwhile, is another player who could leave. The young, versatile midfielder enjoyed an excellent tournament with England at the U21 Euros – winning the Player of the Tournament – and has now reportedly attracted interest from the likes of Newcastle United and Wolverhampton Wanderers as a result.

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Although the Reds are willing to let their young gem leave in pursuit of game time this summer, the same can’t be said for another player even as Bayern Munich step up their reported chase.

Bayern Munich submit opening £45m bid to sign Diaz

According to Christian Falk of Sport Bild, Bayern Munich have now submitted an opening offer to sign Luis Diaz worth €52m (£45m). Liverpool, however, have reportedly told the German giants that the winger is not for sale this summer and will reportedly demand around €80m (£69m) if that stance does change.

Into the final two years of his current contract with no fresh deal on the table, Diaz is reportedly keen on an Anfield exit to join the Bundesliga winners this summer in what could cause quite the clash with Liverpool’s sale stance. Whether the Colombian now pushes to join Bayern this summer will be the big question in the coming weeks.

Whilst a new contract remains unlikely, Diaz is still an important member of Arne Slot’s Liverpool squad after an excellent campaign helped the Reds win the Premier League title last time out.

Appearances

50

Goals

17

Assists

8

Dubbed “really special” by former manager Jurgen Klopp, it’s no surprise that a side of Bayern’s calibre are interested in Diaz’s signature, but it’s also, therefore, no shock that Liverpool have so far retained their stance that he is not for sale this summer.

Jordan Cox has been ruled out of England’s Test series against New Zealand after sustaining a fractured right thumb during a nets session ahead of the final day of their tour match against Prime Minister’s XI.The incident occurred on Sunday morning in Queenstown where England have been preparing for the first Test, which begins on Thursday at the Hagley Oval. Cox was taken to a local hospital for a scan that revealed the extent of the damage. The 24-year-old was all set to make his Test debut with regular keeper Jamie Smith missing the tour for the birth of his first child.A replacement will be announced in due course, with Durham’s Ollie Robinson expected to be handed a maiden call-up, ahead of England’s white-ball regular Phil Salt and Essex’s Michael Pepper, who toured the Caribbean with the limited-overs side. Other keeping options included Somerset’s James Rew and Lancashire’s Matty Hurst, both of whom are due to tour South Africa with the Lions. Jonny Bairstow, still with a year remaining on his central contract, is unlikely to be recalled at this juncture.Related

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Ollie Pope stood in for Cox for the culmination of the warm-up fixture, but England will not want to burden him with more responsibility on top of his duties at No. 3. Having averaged 11 on last month’s tour of Pakistan, a strong showing from Cox might have tested the selectors’ loyalty to the vice-captain.Cox will now have to wait a little longer to complete the set of caps having debuted in the ODI and T20I formats in the last two months. He will remain with the squad in Christchurch and may opt for a break in Australia before returning home having had little time off since the end of the English summer.”I’m gutted for Jordan (Cox),” Test head coach Brendon McCullum said. “He has been shaping up nicely, both with the bat and gloves, since we got to New Zealand.”That’s sport, and unfortunately, these things happen. We will get around him and look after him. He is resilient, and his time will come at some point in the future.”The immediate aftermath of Cox’s injury left England short of bodies for play on Sunday, resulting in James Anderson donning the whites four months after he was pushed into international retirement. With three players opting out of the match for extra time in the nets, Anderson subbed in the field, alongside captain Ben Stokes who had chosen to sit out the first day’s play.Jacob Bethell and Rehan Ahmed will join the rest of the squad in Christchurch on Monday after a few days off following the white-ball tour of the Caribbean which finished last week. Cox’s replacement should be on deck in the next 48 hours.

Tottenham Hotspur’s rooted strategy in signing exciting young talents and developing them into high-class players capable of thriving in the Premier League preceded the glittery early days of Ange Postecoglou’s tenure.

But perhaps the Londoners lacked a bit of experience to help guide them through the stormy spells any season will bring. The lowly top-flight finish ended Postecoglou’s frenzied spell at the helm, a two-year stint that elicited every range of emotion from the Spurs faithful and culminated with triumph in the Europa League, thus restoring Tottenham’s place in the Champions League.

While the Lilywhites have created a foundation with their historic victory over Manchester United, it’s crucial that the secured silverware is used as a springboard for sustained success over the coming years.

In order to do this, Tottenham are going to need to hit the mark with their transfer priorities, piecing a team together that is fit for purpose at the highest level of the Premier League.

Spurs' transfer priorities this summer

Uncertainty continues to reign over Cristian Romero’s future in the English capital. The Argentina centre-back is being chased by Atletico Madrid, who are willing to spend around £60m to bring him over to La Liga.

Frank is desperate to keep hold of his defensive anchor. However, the Danish tactician does seem keen on bolstering his ranks with a slick attacking full-back – the £45m-rated Antonee Robinson is on the radar – and a winger to replace Heung-min Son, should the iconic captain leave.

While he wouldn’t have strictly been a direct replacement, the powers that be down at N17 were desperate to sign Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo as Tottenham’s new goalscoring winger supreme, but he’s rejected advances from all but United and is edging closer to a transfer to Old Trafford.

Midfield is in less need of reinforcements, but the pursuit of Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze denotes an interest in signing a creative midfielder to contest for a starting berth with the likes of James Maddison.

However, with Eze fixed in Arsenal’s sights, Daniel Levy seems to have shifted his attention elsewhere.

Spurs join race for sought-after midfielder

According to Caught Offside, Tottenham have joined the race for SL Benfica midfielder Orkun Kokcu, who is anticipated to be available this summer for the right price.

Kokcu would fetch a €40m (£34m) fee, having impressed across his two terms with Benfica. Spurs are alongside Manchester United, Tottenham and Inter Milan in their interest; however, the player is thought to favour a move to Premier League champions Liverpool.

The 24-year-old worked under Arne Slot at Feyenoord, but Frank’s new project, offering the promise of Champions League football, could see the Londoners sign an exciting new creative presence.

Why Spurs wants Orkun Kokcu

Kokcu is still young in his professional career, but he has already accomplished so much. Joining Benfica from Feyenoord for around €30m (£25m) in June 2023, he’s chalked up 19 goals and 22 assists over 98 appearances in all competitions.

Once heralded as “one of the best midfielders in the country” by football legend Jaap Stam, while plying his trade in Holland, Kokcu opted against taking a move to one of Europe’s elite and instead focused on fostering his talents with Benfica, now more complete for it.

And given that he’s been praised as a “leader” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, this rising star might turn out to be the galvanising midfield force to spearhead the Frank era.

Who knows, maybe he’ll even come to be an upgrade on Maddison.

Matches (starts)

33 (30)

31 (21)

Goals

7

9

Assists

7

7

Shots (on target)*

1.9 (0.7)

1.3 (0.5)

Big chances missed

2

5

Pass completion

86%

87%

Big chances created

12

6

Key passes*

2.3

1.3

Dribbles*

0.3

1.1

Ball recoveries*

5.6

2.5

Tackles + interceptions*

1.6

1.4

Duels won*

3.0 (47%)

4.3 (53%)

As you can see, Kokcu is more than capable of matching Maddison’s immense creative qualities – an aptitude which has indeed seen the England international hailed as a “magician” by the likes of statistician Statman Dave in the past.

Moreover, the 28-year-old playmaker’s two terms with Tottenham have been frustratingly defined by regular injury setbacks. Given that Kokcu is four years his junior, there’s plenty of scope for growth with Frank might want to take advantage of.

While Spurs’ man is somewhat more combative than Kokcu, the Turkey talent is even more creative and clinical besides. Indeed, having missed just two big chances in the Primeira Liga last season, scoring seven goals, he’s got the goalscoring edge that could be channelled in a similar fashion as his counterpart here.

And the proof is in the pudding, for Kokcu, indeed, has demonstrated his ability to stand out against high-level Premier League opposition.

While Maddison is an incredible, dynamic midfielder, he’s got his flaws, and in Kokcu, Tottenham could get their hands on a pass master with the ever-widening scope that is required for success at the highest level.

After all, he managed to throw down with the heavy hitters in last season’s Champions League, finishing the campaign ranked among the top 15% of midfielders for goals scored and shot-creating actions, the top 19% for progressive passes and the top 13% for completed through balls per 90, as per FBref.

Tottenham might not be able to sign one of their top targets in Eze, but by moving for Kokcu, Frank could get his hands on an astute signing who has so much room for growth – potentially even turning out better, more consistent, than Maddison.

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GOAL previews the knockout round stage of the Leagues Cup

From 36 teams at kickoff, the Leagues Cup field has been trimmed to eight.

Four representatives from MLS and four from Liga MX remain, and a champion will now be crowned over the next two weeks as the knockout round portion of the competition arrives. 

A quarterfinal quadruple-header arrives on Aug. 20 as the remaining teams vying for the third-annual title in the competition meet. A new champion will be crowned as well, following the Phase One exit of the Columbus Crew in the opening round of the competition.

MLS's lone remaining clubs include reigning champions LA Galaxy, the Seattle Sounders, Orlando City, and Lionel Messi's Inter Miami. For Liga MX, it's giants Tigres, 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup winners Pachuca, Clausura champions Toluca, and Puebla. 

Only four will advance this week, though, and only one champion will be crowned. Can Liga MX finally clinch a berth in the final after failing to do so in the first two iterations, or will MLS continue its dominance in the competition between the two leagues?

GOAL previews the knockout round stage…

Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowGetty Images SportInter Miami vs. Tigres

Fans have been treated to what should be a final in the quarterfinals here, as two of the best remaining teams in the competition meet. The defeated both Atlas and Pumas, and took two points vs Necaxa, to make it this far, and now have their biggest test yet in Tigres. The Guido Pizarro-led side defeated both the Houston Dynamo and San Diego FC during Phase One, while narrowly falling to LAFC 2-1 in their opening three matches. 

Now, it's a meeting between two heavyweights and two old friends, as the club's clash.

Messi's international compatriot, Angel Correa, recently joined the Liga MX side's ranks, and now the duo will meet on the pitch on Wednesday evening as two 2022 FIFA World Cup champions go head-to-head in the contest. 

Miami, 2023 champions, will look to return to the final, but they'll have to get past a top Tigres side to do so. It won't be easy, and a lot will depend on the attacking momentum from each club. 

GOAL's prediction: The defense will crack under pressure, and although Messi will find the back of the net, the Correa-led attack of Tigres will be too much for them to overcome. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportOrlando City vs. Toluca

Such an interesting tie here. Orlando are in riveting form in MLS, but Toluca are living luxuriously in Liga MX, and is coming off a stupendous Clausura run.

defeated both Necaxa and Atlas in Phase One of the tournament, and added a point after a narrow draw with PUMAS. Toluca, meanwhile, defeated both CF Montreal and NYCFC and knocked out the reigning champions in the Crew in penalties to clinch a berth here. 

Both clubs have been stupendous domestically this season, but there's an edge to this Toluca side. Forward Alexis Vega is playing brilliant soccer and is coming off a Gold Cup title with Mexico in addition to domestic silverware. Add in that their Portuguese striker Paulinho is on fire with seven-straight matches across all competitions with a goal or an assist, and ot's hard not to see them as competition-wide favorites. 

 However, Orlando has been brilliant in MLS of late, too. They defeated Messi's Miami 4-0 and are unbeaten in their last seven across all competitions. Regardless of who advances here, it's going to be a lights-out contest.

GOAL's prediction: This one goes to Toluca. They're on a fairytale run in 2025 that just doesn't seem close to ending – their story still has more pages to be written. Orlando will fight and put forth a valiant effort, but the Liga MX side will narrowly come out on top. 

Getty Images SportSeattle Sounders vs. Puebla

Puebla are the underdogs from Mexico in the remaining field as they are the surprise outfit from Liga MX remaining, but by all means, they earned their spot here. They defeated both CF Montreal and NYCFC to clinch their spot, and are now going to look to get past an MLS heavyweight into the semifinals. 

The Sounders, meanwhile, are the only team entering this stage of the tournament having won all three of their Phase One matches. Since their return from the Club World Cup, they're undefeated in 10 matches across all competitions, and have to be looked at as the favorites from MLS in the competition – even with Messi's Miami in the fray.

Manager Brian Schmetzer has them playing riveting soccer at the moment.

GOAL's Prediction: Seattle will come out on top here, and by some margin, too. The Sounders will win by three goals here. 

Getty Images SportLA Galaxy vs. Pachuca

Pachuca, by all accounts, are the favorites in this one. They're in first place in the Apertura standings, and in Phase One of the competition, defeated LAFC and took two points vs. San Diego FC – two of the best Western Conference teams in all of MLS.

The Galaxy, meanwhile, made MLS history in 2025 by offering the worst return of a reigning champion in the league's 30-year run. They have been so poor that they've set the most unwanted record in league history. However, for LA, this is all they have left this season to play for, realistically. They are so far down the Western Conference table that they are nearly mathematically eliminated from postseason contention, meaning they have everything to play for here.

Sometimes, a team with nothing to lose is the scariest one left. Pachuca, though, are excellent – so nothing will be a given here.

GOAL's prediction: Pachuca will take this one, but it won't be as big a wide-margin defeat as one might expect. This will be a one-goal decision.