Former Chelsea star and Brazilian midfielder Oscar has been discharged from the hospital after discovering a heart issue earlier this week. The 34-year-old had fallen ill during a bicycle test at his current club Sao Paulo, and since then, he has been diagnosed with vasovagal syncope, a condition where the blood pressure drops too low, causing people to faint.

• What happened to Oscar?

  The former Chelsea midfielder was diagnosed with vasovagal syncope. According to the , vasovagal syncope is common, can affect anyone, and is often a temporary problem affecting the body's autonomic nervous system. It is a common cause of fainting that occurs due to a sudden drop in heart rate and blood pressure, leading to reduced blood flow to the brain. 

  Certain triggers affect the nerve messages, and as a result of this issue, you can feel weak, sick, sweaty, and light-headed – and that can lead to losing consciousness. If you have this problem, people are encouraged to drink plenty of fluids, not to stand still for long periods, and to avoid overly warm environments. If you get warning symptoms, sufferers should lie down and squeezing firmly on a ball may be helpful.

  Following his admission to the hospital, Sao Paulo released a statement which read: "Midfielder Oscar remains hospitalised at Einstein Hospital Israelita, where he was admitted on Tuesday afternoon after presenting an intercurrence with cardiological changes during exams carried out at SuperCT. An extensive investigation carried out at the hospital confirmed the diagnosis of vasovagal syncope. Oscar remains clinically well and stable, hospitalised in a cardiology unit, and this Friday will undergo an electrophysiological study."

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• AFP
  

  Oscar discharged from hospital

  After spending three days at the Einstein Hospital Israelita and receiving necessary treatments, Oscar was released on Sunday. A statement from Sao Paulo read: "Extensive investigation carried out at the hospital confirmed that the player experienced an episode of vasovagal syncope. He will now follow a medical rest programme for the next few days".

• Will Oscar continue his professional career?

  Following the incident, the 34-year-old Brazil star remained upbeat about his condition as he wrote on his Instagram story: "Everything will be alright, God willing."

  However, a report from claimed that Oscar is considering retirement from football. They add that it may be more likely he hangs up his boots, rather than continuing. Their report stated: "According to a specialist heard by Globo, the problem is not life-threatening and can be solved with medication or simple surgical intervention, where a ganglion is cauterized to avoid getting out of control. Also, according to the expert, Oscar may be able to return to football if everything goes well and he feels comfortable to do so. For now, Oscar still has no discharge forecast. At the age of 34, he evaluates with his family whether he will announce his retirement or continue in football. The biggest tendency is for him to leave professional football."

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• AFP
  

  What comes next for Oscar?

  Football fans in Brazil and across the world is now eagerly wait to hear from Oscar after his condition has calmed. The former Premier League star, who played 203 times for Chelsea and scored 38 goals between 2012 to 2017 before joining Shanghai Port, now has a huge decision on whether or not he will continue his playing career. 

  After making more than 500 appearances in club football and earning 48 international caps for Brazil, plus winning trophies in England, China, and his home country, he may decide that, for the good of his health, it is time to move on to something different. However, the Brazilian may still have another chapter to write in his footballing journey.

  Earlier this year, Oscar returned to his homeland after 13 years and signed for his boyhood club Sao Paulo. His existing deal runs until 2027. He now faces the most difficult decision of his professional life.

Abject. It is, painfully, an accurate way of summing up Liverpool’s form this season. The Premier League champions will not retain their belt, not like this, not with such deep tactical cracks and incoherent players and non-existent belief in Arne Slot’s plan.

The most concerning part of the recent 3-0 defeat in Manchester against Pep Guardiola’s resurgent outfit is that Liverpool were outplayed across the park. Be it physical, mental or tactical metrics, Manchester City shone, and the Reds were blinded by their opponent’s superiority.

Jeremy Doku stood out, darting this way and that, scoring a stunning goal in the second half after breaking away from Ibrahima Konate. The Belgian winger completed seven of eight dribble attempts and created three chances, as per Sofascore.

Liverpool have got so many problems, and the recent wins over Aston Villa and Real Madrid provided only the veneer of a revival as City hit the Merseside club with a sobering reality check.

Among Slot’s biggest concerns is the enduring slump of Mohamed Salah. For so many years, the Egyptian has been an unstoppable force for Liverpool, but, aged 33 and at the front of a sinking ship, he is struggling to recover more than a flicker of his former greatness.

Mohamed Salah is becoming a problem

Will we see the best of Salah in a Liverpool shirt again? There’s every chance that the right winger expended incredible amounts of mental and physical energy driving his club to the league title last season, and across all competitions, he scored 34 goals and supplied 23 assists.

Almost three months into the new campaign, Slot’s second in the dugout, Salah has recorded eight goal involvements, but his general play and the accuracy of his shooting have paled in comparison to the many years behind him. Salah is not himself.

This is a worry, to be sure. Not just because Liverpool are playing without their talisman in his groove, but because Slot has shown a hesitance toward unleashing Federico Chiesa right from the start of last season, and that doesn’t look like it’s going to change any time soon.

How much longer can it go on like this? Man City reduced Liverpool’s superstar to half-chances and a role within the defensive press. How many times has Salah picked Pep apart? How often has he been the leading light against this arch-rival of modern times?

Mohamed Salah vs Man City

Competition

Apps

Goals (assists)

Premier League

19

9 (6)

Champions League

2

2 (1)

Community Shield

2

1 (1)

FA Cup

2

0 (0)

Carabao Cup

1

1 (0)

Data via Transfermarkt

There is, of course, the caveat to all this that Salah would be far better placed in a system of greater fluency. This has been anything but the case for the Anfield side this season.

But Father Time is not on the Premier League legend’s side, and, having penned a new two-year extension worth £400k per week in April, Salah has around 18 months to show that FSG have received more than bang for their buck one final time.

But there’s a very real possibility that Salah is past his prime, and that Liverpool need to find a successor.

An onerous task if ever there was one. However, Liverpool actually have a Kirkby prospect who has what it takes to swipe the icon’s shirt.

The Liverpool teen who can take Salah's #11

Slot needs to find a solution to Liverpool’s current woes, but let’s all take a breather, just for a moment. Liverpool have so much talent. Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz will come good. But, more excitingly, there’s a wealth of teenage talent soon to be at Slot’s disposal, with one prospect a cut above the rest.

Rio Ngumoha knew he was headed to the upper crust of the Premier League, and a youth system that has shown itself since Jurgen Klopp came along to be a hothouse for those immensely gifted young stars.

Chelsea’s loss was Liverpool’s gain. Ngumoha was poached from Cobham in 2024 and made his professional debut against Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup midway through his maiden year on Merseyside.

A left-sided winger with incredible speed and dribbling, the 17-year-old Ngumoha has the potential to become a superstar at Liverpool, with his physical, athletic and fierce playing style offering shades of that man Doku, Anfield villain last weekend.

You could say Ngumoha is preternaturally talented. After all, journalist Kieran Gill is among those to have singled him out as a “generational talent”, and he certainly illustrated his potential with an incredible strike on his Premier League debut, netting the winner against Newcastle United at St. James’ Park in August.

Since then, he has featured sporadically for the Redmen, playing seven games in all competitions but only starting in the Carabao Cup, among that youthful group who were brushed aside by Crystal Palace last month.

Ngumoha’s time will come. He is so fast, so sure of himself when on the ball. He is among the youngest goalscorers in Premier League history, and that goal is sure to be the first of many.

Youngest Scorers in Premier League History

#

Player

Age

1

James Vaughan

16 yrs, 8 months, 27 days

2

James Milner

16 yrs, 11 months, 22 days

3

Wayne Rooney

16 yrs, 11 months, 25 days

4

Rio Ngumoha

16 yrs, 11 months, 26 days

5

Cesc Fabregas

17 yrs, 3 months, 21 days

Time must be afforded to one so young. Take Doku. Criticised often at Man City for being endowed with such ferocity and fleet-footedness, but lacking end product and elite decision-making.

Doku is only 23, and his performance against Slot’s beleaguered lot last weekend was the display of a winger reaching new levels of maturity and technical understanding.

Ngumoha will only get better and better as the years go on, and while he can contribute this season, these foundational years could see him bloom at the end of next term, when Salah supposedly leaves, and he could take his shirt, stepping up as Liverpool’s new wide talisman.

Can Nghumoha reach those heights, take that #11 from Salah himself? You’ll have to stay tuned. But Ngumoha will make it easy to do that. Watching him play football is a treat, and he has the capacity to not just emulate a stylistic peer like Doku but become one of the very best in world football.

Related More than Wirtz: £36m Liverpool star is becoming a "serious issue" for Slot

Liverpool were condemned to a fifth defeat in six Premier League matches at the Etihad.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Nov 10, 2025

Chelsea captain Millie Bright made history after breaking the Women's Super League appearances record in her side's 1-1 draw at Liverpool on Sunday. Initially, it looked like the former England international would enjoy a day of celebration over playing her 211th game in the division but Alyssa Thompson's opener was cancelled out by Beata Olsson's individual effort.

Plaudits pour in for Bright

Before Bright broke the WSL appearance record, which would take her past the previous mark held by former England team-mate Jordan Nobbs, former Chelsea manager and current United States women's team boss Emma Hayes heaped praise on her former charge. The 32-year-old, who won a hatful of trophies with Hayes over the past decade, was hailed as "superhuman" and one of the most determined people she had ever met. 

Hayes told Sky Sports: "It's what she puts herself through. I mean, she's like a superhuman. She's an iron lady. She is so diligent. She'll do everything she possibly can to stay on the pitch. I think she's one of the most persevering people I've ever met. Demanding as a leader, drives the team, like absolutely drives the team. Fans and everybody else might not see the impact she has when she's on the pitch for the team, but she's immense as a leader. She's colossal. And a big softy, big heart, big softy. I think, I mean, that's an unbelievable achievement. Another one for her, like she's got, she's done so much in her time, the amount of winning, just truly remarkable."

When asked if Bright challenged Hayes, she replied, "Yeah, every day. Every player challenges me. That's what they do. Sometimes they want a decision that's taken or something that's happened. That's part and parcel, like building the right relationships so that they can say those things. And it's not perfect. I've made millions of mistakes, and there's lots of things that do not get right. But someone like Millie, I've listened to and I trust her perspective, and she'll always be straight up with me. And I've always valued that." 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportBright likened to John Terry

Former Lionesses ace Izzy Christiansen believes that Bright shares similar qualities on the football pitch as Chelsea legend John Terry. The ex-Everton player also stated the defender deserves more credit for what she has achieved.

"I think she's really impressed me over the last 10 years of her career in terms of the consistency. Since joining Chelsea, she's settled in so well, taking on the armband, taking on a huge role," she said. "I don't think people give her enough credit for how hard it is to continuously win and drive the standard. She's been very vocal that she is the person sometimes who suffers because she's driving standards every day, and that's what it takes to win. There's a bit of John Terry about her."

Former Scotland international Rachel Corsie added: "When you're in that role for such a long time as captain, you're always second to the team. It's a huge task, and she's done it with huge respect from, I think, everyone in the game. I think she does drive those standards that, for me, the reason Chelsea have been so successful is because, psychologically, they have that little bit extra than everyone else, where they just know the most important thing is winning at all costs, and we see them do that in so many different ways."

Bright struggles on historic day

On another day, Bright's record-breaking appearance would have been the headline story. But the experienced centre-back had an uncharacteristically shaky performance in Chelsea's 1-1 draw with lowly Liverpool at St Helens Stadium. Wright was outpaced by Olsson for Liverpool's goal and was subbed off at half-time for Naomi Girma. The Blues extended their unbeaten WSL run to 34 matches but the scenes at full-time were not one of celebration for Sonia Bompastor's side. The Frenchwoman will hope her skipper gets back to her best soon as they now sit three points behind league leaders Manchester City after nine games.

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Getty Images SportCrunch game for Chelsea nears

Chelsea face, arguably, the toughest task in women's domestic football when they host Barcelona in the Champions League on Thursday night. The Spanish side destroyed the Blues in the semi-finals of the competition last season, so Bompastor's team will be seeking revenge this time out.

South-coast club handed reprieve by Durham after Rahul Chahar takes ten in the match

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay27-Sep-2025Surrey 147 (Washington 3-5, Abbott 3-27, Fuller 3-46) and 281 (Albert 63, Abbott 5-72) beat Hampshire 248 (Washington 56) and 160 (Orr 48, Chahar 8-51) by 20 runsHampshire were given an unlikely reprieve from relegation to Rothesay County Championship Division Two after Durham fell apart at Yorkshire.The south-coast county were resigned to the drop after losing to Surrey by 20 runs, which left Durham only requiring a draw at Headingley. But they sensationally slumped to 85 all out to allow Hampshire to stay in Division One for the 2026 season.Ironically, Hampshire’s last brush with the drop, in 2016, saw them finish in the relegation places but be reinstated after Durham were sent down over financial issues.Surrey only needed one wicket on the final day, which Rahul Chahar managed with the 42nd delivery of the day when he had James Fuller caught behind. In doing so, the India spinner claimed a career-best 8 for 51 – Surrey’s third best bowling figures of the 21st century – and ten wickets in the match.The defeat, with relegation seemingly nailed on, looked like it would compound Hampshire’s horror September. The county had been deducted eight points in the Championship for breaching the ECB’s pitch regulations, before losing in two men’s finals and a women’s final.They also saw popular head coach Adi Birrell announce he would leave the club after seven years at the helm. The South African was gifted a bull for his farm back in his homeland by the players on the final morning of the Surrey match.Instead of Hampshire, Durham will now join Worcestershire in playing in Division Two next season.Ben Brown, who took over the four-day captaincy at short notice after James Vince stepped away from red-ball cricket before the start of the season, said it had been “a really challenging year”, topped off by the Cricket Discipline Panel’s decision to dock points for a poor Utilita Bowl pitch in May – described by Brown as “unjust”.”It has been a really challenging year, off the field as well as on it,” Brown said. “There has been a lot to manage.”Then there is the points deduction on the wicket, which I stand by that it was unjust. That I feel difficult to cope with as a player. People work hard in professional sport and to have essentially clipboard stuff take eight points off us… You want sport to be decided as sport not someone deciding whether grass is right or wrong.”We have been playing under pressure for the last month with no time to think or train, and it has ended up with us losing two finals and looks like we will be going down. Everyone will need time to get their head around it before making a plan to make things better.”Requiring 33 runs to beat Surrey, 32 runs – ie. a tie – would likely have been enough to see Hampshire them remain in Division One on their own steam.Fuller and Brad Wheal were the only Hampshire batters left – the former had shaken off the collapse and dealt with Chahar carefully for 29, while Wheal had stoically blocked 22 balls before bad light brought an unsatisfactory end to the third day, and left plenty with a sleepless night.Chahar bowled the first over of the day and Fuller almost edged the first ball. A swept four eased the nerves, before Wheal nicked his first delivery to first slip – but it narrowly fell short.Fuller and Wheal looked at ease, albeit turning down a bounty of singles, until Fuller attempted to cut Chahar and edged behind to Ben Foakes.Only Kemar Roach’s 8 for 40, and Martin Bicknell’s 9 for 45 were better since the turn of the Millennium. Chahar, on Championship debut, also took ten wickets in the match.”A lot of the disappointment was last night and then today there was just a small chance in a tough situation for Fuller. It was more runs than it looked and was a tall order today,” Brown said. “We should have made a better fist of it. The new hard ball spun quite a lot and we didn’t deal with it. We were a lot of pressure in the run chase and we couldn’t stem the tide of wickets in the middle of the innings.”

A look back at the five-time IPL champions’ worst days with the bat

Omkar Mankame11-Apr-2025Put in to bat for the first time in IPL 2025, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) crumbled against Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) spin-heavy attack at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, slumping to their lowest-ever total at their fortress of many years. Here are the five-time champions’ five lowest totals in the IPL.79 all out vs MI, Wankhede, IPL 2013CSK were riding high on a seven-match winning streak and faced a modest target of 140 against Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Wankhede. But instead of sealing an eighth successive victory, they crumbled to their lowest-ever IPL total. Mitchell Johnson landed the early blows with a triple-wicket over that left CSK tottering at 9 for 3. The collapse continued as they slipped to 18 for 4. R Ashwin’s promotion to No. 6 failed to turn the tide, and CSK kept throwing away their wickets, and eventually folded for a record low.1:36

Bangar: ‘CSK are in tatters at the moment’

97 all out vs MI, Wankhede, IPL 2022MI’s fast bowlers made the most of the lateral movement under lights to dismantle the CSK batting line-up. The slide began with a contentious lbw decision against Devon Conway – one he couldn’t review because of a power failure. Daniel Sams made the early strikes, and the rest of the MI attack kept landing blows, bundling CSK for under 100. Though CSK fought back to reduce MI to 33 for 4, the middle order held firm to complete a five-wicket win.103 for 9 vs KKR, Chennai, 2025Related

Outdated CSK near a point of no return

Edge or no edge – MS Dhoni lbw stirs up debate

Dhoni's demands: 'A bit more partnerships, a bit more runs, a bit more application'

CSK suffer fifth loss on the trot as KKR register monster win

At Chepauk, KKR unleashed their spin trio to dismantle CSK, restricting them to their lowest total at the venue. Varun Chakravarthy, Sunil Narine and Moeen Ali combined for 12-1-55-6, controlling the middle overs. The home side never got going, crawling to 31 for 2 in the first six — the second-lowest powerplay score of IPL 2025. An out-of-form middle order, including impact player Deepak Hooda, failed to adapt to the sluggish pitch. A last-wicket stand of 24 was all that helped CSK limp past 100.109 all out vs RR, Jaipur, 2008A red-hot spell from Sohail Tanvir – 6 for 14, the second-best bowling figures in IPL history – blew CSK away for 109 in Jaipur. Exploiting seamer-friendly conditions, Tanvir gave Rajasthan Royals (RR) a dream start by dismissing both CSK openers for ducks in the opening over. Albie Morkel came in at 44 for 5 and offered some resistance with 42, but Tanvir returned to clean up the tail and bowl CSK out with an over unused.109 all out vs MI, Chennai, 2019Riding on Rohit Sharma’s 67 at the top, MI set CSK a target of 156. On a tired surface, five of CSK’s top six batters failed to reach double-digits. Lasith Malinga struck early with Shane Watson’s wicket and returned in the end overs to dismantle the lower order with a steady dose of slower balls. The defeat ended CSK’s five-match winning streak at Chepauk and marked their first loss while chasing at the venue since 2013.

Shea Langeliers just joined an exclusive group.

On Monday night, the Athletics catcher led off his team's game against the Washington Nationals with a 402-foot home run to center field. It was the 27-year-old's 20th home run of the season, and helped him hit a major milestone.

According to MLB Stats, Langeliers is only the fifth catcher in major league history to hit 20 or more home runs in three of his first four seasons in the big leagues. A caveat is the player has to have played a minimum of 50% of games at catcher to qualify for the list.

The other players to do it are Cal Raleigh, Mike Piazza, Earl Williams, and Rudy York. That's it. To give you an idea of how rare it is, York made his MLB debut in 1937, Williams broke through in 1970, and Piazza won NL Rookie of the Year in 1993. In an odd twist, all of those players except for Raleigh played on the Athletics at some point during their careers.

Langeliers is having a career year in 2025. He entered Tuesday's game slashing .261/.313/.507, which are all career highs. In 2023 he hit 22 home runs, last season, he hit 29, and this year he's at 20. Meanwhile, his OPS has climbed from .681 in 2023 to .793 in 2024 and now to .820 in 2025.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Vitória anunciou a contratação do técnico Thiago Carpini. O treinador chega para substituir Léo Condé, que foi demitido nesta terça-feira (14).

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasInternacionalInternacional retorna aos treinos no Rio Grande do Sul visando o Brasileirão e Sul-AmericanaInternacional14/05/2024Futebol NacionalClube paulista abre portas, e Grêmio conversa sobre ‘mudança’ para São PauloFutebol Nacional14/05/2024CorinthiansCorinthians terá retorno de lesionados contra Argentinos Juniors; veja provável escalaçãoCorinthians14/05/2024

➡️Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte

Thiago Carpini chega ao Vitória junto dos auxiliares técnicos Estephano Djian e Josué Romero, assim como o preparador físico Caio Gilli. O treinador será apresentado na quinta-feira (16), às 14h.

A tendência é que Thiago Carpini comande o Vitória contra o Atlético-GO. O novo técnico rubro-negro está na Europa, onde acompanha os treinos do PSG, na França, e do Real Madrid, na Espanha.

continua após a publicidade

CONFIRA A NOTA PUBLICADA PELO VITÓRIA:
“Novo professor 👨🏻‍🏫 🦁
O Esporte Clube Vitória deseja boas-vindas ao novo técnico do Leão, Thiago Carpini. Junto com ele chegam o auxiliar técnico Estephano Djian e o preparador físico Caio Gilli.
O técnico tem passagens por diversos times brasileiros e estava no São Paulo até abril desse ano.
A coletiva de imprensa de apresentação do técnico será na quinta-feira (16), às 14h00.
Desejamos que seja uma caminhada de VITÓRIA! 🔴⚫️”

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Futebol NacionalThiago CarpiniVitória

تحدث مدرب ليفربول، آرني سلوت، عقب الفوز أمام وست هام في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، وأوضح سبب تواجد محمد صلاح على مقاعد البدلاء، وأشاد بمهاجم الفريق، ألكسندر إيزاك.

وتغلب ليفربول على وست هام بهدفين دون رد، في إطار مباريات الجولة الثالثة عشر للدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز “البريميرليج” موسم 2025-2026.

وقال سلوت لشبكة “سكاي سبورتس”: “هناك شعور بالراحة بالتأكيد، لأنه إذا خسرت مرات عديدة، فإن الفوز مهم، لم نتلقَّ أي فرصة تقريبًا، لقد خلقنا فرصًا بأنفسنا، في مباريات أخرى، أهدرنا فرصًا أكثر بكثير مما فعلنا اليوم”.

وأضاف: “من المفيد ألا تتأخر 1-0 بعد خمس دقائق، لأن ذلك يُتيح لك فرصةً أكبر، لعبنا المباراة التي أردتُها”.

وواصل: “ما رأيته كان له معنى كبيرٌ بالنسبة للاعبينا وجماهيرنا، اضطرت الجماهير للسفر مسافاتٍ طويلة لدعم فريقٍ كان أداؤه ضعيفًا”.

وواصل: “يوم الأربعاء، سنواجه سندرلاند، إنه جدول مزدحم للغاية للجميع، هذه خطوة أولى جيدة لنا، الفوز والحفاظ على شباكنا نظيفة”.

اقرأ أيضًا | إيزاك بعد ثنائية ليفربول أمام وست هام: علينا أن نكون متواضعين

وسُئل هل يُعد هدف ألكسندر إيزاك الأول في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز مع ليفربول لحظةً مهمة، وأجاب: “نعم، أعتقد أنه يبدو مهمًا، لم أكن أخطط لمنحه دقائقَ لعبٍ إضافيةٍ كثيرةٍ قبل استبداله”.

وأشار: “إنه مهاجم من الطراز الرفيع، كانت هذه اللمسة الأخيرة رائعة، أبقيته في الملعب لفترة كافية ليُسجل هدفًا للفريق ولنفسه”.

وأكمل: “الفوز كان ما كنا نحتاجه بشكل أساسي، وحافظنا على نظافة شباكنا أيضًا، وهو أمر مفيد دائمًا، لم نُقدم أي شيء للفريق المنافس كهدية كما فعلنا مرات عديدة هذا الموسم، لم يُخلق المنافس أي فرصة تُذكر إلا في الدقيقة الأخيرة عن طريق جارود بوين”.

وأكد سلوت: “وست هام جعل المباراة صعبة علينا، لكننا قدمنا ​​أداءً دفاعيًا رائعًا، لحسن الحظ، لم تُتح لهم سوى فرصة واحدة”.

وعن تواجد محمد صلاح على مقاعد البدلاء، أوضح: “نلعب الكثير من المباريات، في 10 أيام لعبنا أربع مباريات، هؤلاء اللاعبون يتمتعون بجودة عالية، كان محمد صلاح مهمًا جدًا للنادي وسيظل كذلك، لذا دعونا نرى ما سيحدث يوم الأربعاء (ضد سندرلاند)”.

Contrasting sides meet in spin-friendly conditions as Test cricket returns to Gaddafi Stadium

Danyal Rasool11-Oct-2025

Big picture

This is a series of opposites and inversions. South Africa, the side that won the World Test Championship this year, visit Pakistan, the team that finished bottom. Two sides historically known for their legendary fast bowling prowess will look to manufacture alternate means of taking 20 wickets, with the conditions set to favour each team’s less decorated spin bowlers. South Africa will look to complete a record-extending 11th straight Test win, while Pakistan have triumphed in just three of their previous 12.Even the venue is a bit incongruous for the occasion. Despite Test cricket returning to Pakistan after a decade-long hiatus in 2019, the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore hasn’t seen much of it, with just one five-day game played here, three years ago. All told, this will be just the second Test since 2009 to be played in Lahore, with the Gaddafi Stadium regaining its original position in Pakistan after the stadium was knocked down and rebuilt ahead of the Champions Trophy this year.South Africa are in a somewhat unprecedented position, beginning a world title defence. An ICC trophy was elusive enough for the side to put any notions of defending one into uncharted territory. But a credible defence will have to go through this awkward test in Pakistan. They will do so without the services of their talismanic captain Temba Bavuma, whom his stand-in Aiden Markram termed “irreplaceable”. As importantly, they will miss Keshav Maharaj for the first Test, needing the internationally less experienced Simon Harmer, Senuran Muthusamy and Prenelan Subrayen to step up.Related

• Pakistan prepare for South Africa with precious little first-class cricket

The hosts are in the early stages of an experiment with the surfaces they prepare, one that has brought them results, but also left games heavily dependent on the toss. Pakistan have won three of the four home Test matches played under this system, but three of four have also been won by the side batting first. Pakistan have three finger spinners in their line-up which make their intentions plain, while Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan return to the side after white-ball absences. In theory, Pakistan have a soft enough draw to make qualification for this edition’s final in two years a realistic prospect. But two Test matches, such as the ones coming up, are a long enough time in Pakistan cricket, let alone two years.

Form guide

Pakistan: LWLLW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
South Africa: WWWWW

In the spotlight

Perhaps it says more about Pakistan than it does about Noman Ali, but the man who celebrated his 39th birthday last week is the most important player for the home side this week. With Sajid Khan struggling to overcome a bout of flu, the left-arm spinner needs to take on even more responsibility on the kind of surface Pakistan will prepare almost exclusively suited to his strengths. Noman last played red-ball cricket in February, but he has taken 36 wickets in his last four Tests, making full use of conditions. Sajid just about picked up the other half, but in his absence, Pakistan will ask even more of the man who has entered his 40th year.Ryan Rickelton is still finding his way as an opener in the longest format•Associated Press

Ryan Rickelton has 638 runs in 19 Test innings, and is still finding his way as an opener in the longest format. Nearly half of those runs, though, came in one mammoth innings earlier this year against Pakistan, when he amassed 259 as South Africa ground Pakistan into the Newlands dirt. There is an unbeaten hundred against Sri Lanka, but aside from that, he has yet to cross 42 in 17 other innings. As South Africa begin their defence and Rickelton takes guard in conditions he has not faced before, it remains to be seen whether his happy memories against Pakistan can overcome his otherwise modest Test record.

Team news

Pakistan’s biggest headache is the potential unavailability of Sajid Khan as he battles flu. The offspinner did rejoin the Pakistan camp, but Shan Masood said a decision on whether he plays will be taken last minute.Pakistan (possible): 1 Abdullah Shafique/Imam ul Haq, 2 Shan Masood (capt) 3 Kamran Ghulam 4 Babar Azam 5 Saud Shakeel 6 Mohammad Rizwan (wk) 7 Salman Ali Agha 8 Noman Ali 9 Khurram Shahzad 10 Sajid Khan/Abrar Ahmed 11 Asif AfridiSouth Africa captain Aiden Markram kept his cards close to his chest regarding the eleven, though it is inevitable the visitors will also go spin-heavy.South Africa (possible): 1 Aiden Markram (capt), 2 Ryan Rickelton, 3 Wiaan Mulder, 4 Dewald Brevis, 5 David Bedingham (wk), 6 Kyle Verreynne, 7 Marco Jansen, 8 Prenelan Subrayen, 9 Senuran Muthusamy, 10 Simon Harmer, 11 Kagiso Rabada

Pitch and conditions

The previous week saw unseasonal rains and cool temperatures in Lahore, but that weather system has been washed away. The Test will be played under hot October sunshine. That should help break the surface, almost certainly spin-friendly, up even quicker. It was kept under cover today. The winner of the toss will almost certainly bat first.

Stats and trivia

• South Africa have won 10 Test matches on the trot, their longest streak in history
• Babar Azam is 251 runs away from becoming the 5th Pakistan batter to 15,000 international runs. Inzamam-ul-Haq, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf and Javed Miandad are the only players to have achieved that feat.

Quotes“It’s a good opportunity for us to start against the defending champions. It will be a good yardstick for us to play against them, especially if we can get a good result against them.” “Preparation has been good. We had a camp back in South Africa where we tried to simulate conditions as best as we could. There was a lot of focus on spin play and our spinners getting used to the ball spinning a lot compared to South Africa.” South African captain Aiden Markram reveals what the visitors tried to do to replicate the conditions they are likely to encounter