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Former internationals Junaid Khan and Abdur Rehman will serve as assistant coach and spin-bowling coach, respectively

Danyal Rasool26-Jun-2024Mohammad Wasim, the former Pakistan batter and men’s chief selector, has been appointed head coach of the women’s national team, with the T20 Asia Cup a little under a month away. Junaid Khan and Abdur Rehman, both former Pakistan bowlers, will serve as assistant coach and spin-bowling coach, respectively. No batting coach has been appointed, and it is understood that Wasim will act in that role himself.A PCB statement confirmed that the appointments were only for the Asia Cup, to be played in Dambulla from July 19 to 28. There has been no word on whether the appointments could extend beyond the tournament.The bulk of Wasim’s coaching experience has been with Northern, a side that existed in the Pakistan domestic structure for four years when the PCB revamped the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy at the behest of Imran Khan, then the Pakistan prime minister and the patron of the PCB.Related

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Wasim led Northern to successive runners-up finishes, with his side noted for bringing young players through. He also won silverware at the National T20 Cup, with Northern triumphing in the tournament in 2019-20. Wasim was later appointed chief selector of the men’s team, before being abruptly sacked when Najam Sethi briefly took over as PCB chairman in December 2022.For the last few series, Pakistan have played under an interim head coach Mohtashim Rasheed, with former international cricketers Taufeeq Umar and Salim Jaffar serving as batting and bowling coach, respectively.The T20 Asia Cup comes at a challenging time for the Pakistan team after a pair of difficult tours. They won just one of eight T20Is in the West Indies and in England, and went winless in both ODI series. Those followed a year where extended dry runs were interspersed with encouraging results, most notably a home T20I series whitewash of South Africa, and becoming the first Asian women’s side to win a T20I series in New Zealand.A women’s PSL appears a bleak prospect even as the PCB has notionally committed to it, and there were no exhibition women’s matches held in concurrence with the 2024 men’s PSL, as was the case in 2023.While no squad has been named for the Asia Cup, the PCB has named a 28-member group for a four-day training camp in Karachi.

Celtic are already probing for reinforcements this summer and have now set their sights on a talented gem who could offer a towering presence at Parkhead, per a report.

Celtic look to kickstart summer transfer business

The Bhoys are marching towards the end of the season in style and could finish the campaign with a domestic treble should they defeat Aberdeen at Hampden later this month.

Brendan Rodgers has once again shown his managerial prowess, domestically and in the Champions League, which he will hope can help his case in earning significant backing from the Hoops’ hierarchy this summer.

Looking ahead to the window, Celtic could make a surprise move for Aberdeen goalkeeper Ross Doohan to help fill their homegrown quota for European competitions next term.

Scott Bain could leave Parkhead in search of first-team football, and the Lennoxtown academy graduate fits the bill as a club-trained asset ready to step in.

Sarpsborg winger Sondre Orjasaeter is also on the list at Parkhead, though it remains to be seen whether Celtic will firm up interest in the Norwegian once the window opens for business.

"Very good" £3 million Brendan Rodgers signing now wants to leave Celtic

The Bhoys could offload him this summer…

BySean Markus Clifford May 5, 2025

Despite excitement over potential arrivals, Celtic aren’t assured of their place in next year’s Champions League league phase and need to navigate the final qualifying round to certify a spot in the competition.

Nevertheless, speculating to accumulate has to be the aim for the reigning Scottish Premiership champions. They have enough money in the bank to make a statement, so expect some exciting new faces to strengthen Rodgers’ talented group.

Casting an eye to the continent, Celtic are now in the mix to sign a towering young defender who could add further strength to their backline.

Celtic very interested in signing Veljko Milosavljevic

According to Max Sport, Celtic are ‘very interested’ in giant Red Star Belgrade defender Veljko Milosavljevic as Rodgers looks to add further solidity heading into next season.

For now, the Bhoys have been told the 17-year-old isn’t for sale, which is a stance that could change as clubs from England and France position themselves to sign the Serbia Under-19 international, who stands at 6ft 4.

Veljko Milosavljevic’s season for Red Star Belgrade – all competitions

Appearances

28

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0

Assists

3

Prioritising the future, Celtic are always in the market for talent with sell-on value. While experience is always a bonus, the scope to develop stars of the future is a major avenue towards the club earning significant capital to reinvest.

Carrying the ball from deep, Milosavljevic has completed an average of 1.9 dribbles per match in the Serbian top-flight, illustrating a degree of comfort in possession that would fit Rodgers’ high-octane tactical framework.

Nevertheless, growing competition for his signature will leave Celtic with work to do as they look to convince another prodigious star to commit their future at Parkhead.

The thought of winning regular silverware and competing in European football may well be a tempting one for Milosavljevic, but you get the impression he will also need first-team guarantees.

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta is currently waiting to find out a player’s feelings about joining the club this summer, following Gunners talks with him in January, and it is even believed he visited the Emirates Stadium that month.

Arsenal urged to sign new midfielder amid Berta arrival

The Italian has a few key tasks on his agenda following his official appointment last weekend.

Arsenal set for talks to sign "underrated" star after Berta decision this week

The Italian is stamping his mark as Edu’s replacement.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Apr 4, 2025

As per GiveMeSport, Berta and the Arsenal recruitment team could splash up to £300 million on seven new arrivals, including a new “second-choice goalkeeper, left-back, defensive midfielder, left-winger and striker”, with the north Londoners also pondering an alternative for Bukayo Saka.

While supporters will be eager to see Berta finally bring the club’s long wait for a prolific striker to an end, the need for a centre-midfielder will be prevalent, as Mikel Arteta is set to be minus two solid options in the middle of the park.

Everton (away)

Today

Brentford (home)

April 12th

Ipswich Town (away)

April 20th

Crystal Palace (home)

April 23rd

Bournemouth (home)

May 3rd

Thomas Partey and Jorginho will leave upon the expiry of their contracts on June 30th as things stand, leading to Arsenal’s talks over a deal for Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi.

The Spain international is apparently “very likely” to join Arsenal and is “almost definitely” happening, according to Sky Sports’ Dharmesh Sheth, with talkSPORT pundit Darren Bent suggesting that it is imperative for Berta to reinforce Arteta’s engine room.

“Another midfielder, a holding midfielder,” said Bent when asked what Arsenal need most this summer.

“I love Thomas Partey, I think this season his form has been brilliant but you have to look long term. There’s talk about Zubimendi, I have reservations. I know he’s a good player.

“I thought he was brilliant in the second half of the Euros final when he came on for Rodri but the Premier League is a different animal. You have to be able to run, be strong, get your foot in. But that’s an area I’d look at as well.”

There are suggestions that Arsenal could move for Newcastle United star Bruno Guimaraes as well as Zubimendi, with the Brazilian’s contract also including a release clause.

Another midfield technician they’ve been seriously interested in, with talks already held, is Rosenborg sensation Sverre Nypan.

Andrea Berta waiting on Sverre Nypan decision to join Arsenal

As per GiveMeSport and reliable journalist Ben Jacobs, Berta is waiting for Nypan’s final decision on potentially joining Arsenal.

The Norwegian, rumoured to command a price tag of £20 million, visited the Emirates in January and reliable news outlets at the time reported that Arteta’s side held winter talks with Rosenborg over a deal.

The teenager bagged eight goals and 10 assists in all competitions across the 2024 campaign for Rosenborg, even drawing comparisons with Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, but he has many other suitors – including Man City (Fabrizio Romano).

“Sverre Nypan is extremely exciting,” said Norwegian pundit Jesper Mathisen to TV2 last year.

“I get a bit of the same feeling as when I saw Martin Ødegaard break through as a boy.”

After losing their way against Australia and England, India finally produced the complete batting performance that was expected of them

Sruthi Ravindranath24-Oct-20254:10

Review – India’s stellar batting display

Too many dot balls. Low strike rates. Middle-order collapses. A batting line-up that doesn’t finish well.Those were some of the phrases that had trailed India into the crucial clash against New Zealand. By the end of the evening at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, each one had been crossed off the list. On Thursday, India didn’t just start well but stayed the course.When Smriti Mandhana missed a sweep and was given out lbw on 77, there was that familiar feeling. Would this be another wasted start and shift of momentum? Not this time. An almost reluctant review showed the ball had brushed the bat. Mandhana survived.It wasn’t long ago that India had watched commanding starts wilt under pressure. Against Australia, Mandhana and Pratika Rawal had added a 155-run opening stand, only for the innings to falter after Mandhana was dismissed for 80. A late collapse limited them to 330 with seven balls left in their innings.Against England, Mandhana had again stood tall amid early wickets, but her dismissal, trying to up the ante, triggered another slide. Three wickets fell quickly, and India ended up falling short by four runs.Related

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Thursday’s contest was also a high-stakes one: a win would confirm India’s place in the semi-final. The chatter before the game was more around India’s credibility with the bat. Could they live up to their promise? The DY Patil Stadium, a venue that India are familiar with, with its quick outfield and batting-friendly surface, felt like the perfect stage for a revival.However, it wasn’t a smooth start for India after they were put in. Mandhana and Rawal admitted after the match that the first few overs were tricky. New Zealand’s new-ball pair found movement, and India crawled to six runs after four overs.Rawal then pounced on a few loose deliveries from Rosemary Mair, and Mandhana found her first boundary in the seventh over, dropping to one knee to sweep spinner Eden Carson for four and then hitting her for a six in her next over. From thereon, India were in consummate control.”I like pace more than spin for sure. I like to dominate pace,” Mandhana said after the match, when asked if she had planned to take on spin. “But it was an important game. There were a few nerves in there for the first three-four overs. We were trying to give a good start. I saw the scoreboard and there were three-five odd runs. I was like, ‘okay, we can’t do that.’ Then I said [to myself], just back yourself and try and play the ball.”Rawal’s strike rate has often come under scrutiny, raising questions about whether it added to the pressure on Mandhana and the middle order. India head coach Amol Muzumdar had dismissed the concern on match eve, insisting that India didn’t see it as an issue and wanted her to “continue the way she bats”.After matching Mandhana’s tempo on her way to a fifty, Rawal briefly slowed down before finding her rhythm again, notably taking on the experienced Lea Tahuhu. Perhaps the most defining moment of Rawal’s innings came when she launched Tahuhu straight down the ground with a clean, straight-batted loft. She held the pose for a second as if to let everyone know she had found her rhythm.”Initially, yes, there was a bit of struggle with me personally,” Rawal said. “I was not able to middle the ball as well as I could do in the previous matches. But I’m very happy [with] the way I kept my nerves. I held my head down and just focused on everything that come my way. With Smriti obviously, on the other hand, it makes my job easier. Whatever the calculations that we do out in the middle, you don’t have to do much. You just get it by just talking that what areas to target – what all the bowlers that we can target.”Mandhana blended grace with aggression and showed her range: a pulled six off a waist-high no-ball over deep backward square leg, a signature six down the ground, and even a hint of innovation when she shaped to scoop Sophie Devine before pulling out at the last second.Muzumdar had also spoken about the need for a three-digit score, asking India’s batters to convert their starts. India hadn’t produced a century in five games. On Thursday, they produced two. After scores of 80 and 88 in her last two games, Mandhana reached her hundred off just 88 balls.”The first three games did not go my way,” Mandhana said. “Especially the second and the third one [against Pakistan and South Africa]. After getting to 20, I [used to tell myself that I] will back myself to play a longer innings after 20. But I was getting out. In the World Cup, you have to keep a lot of things in the past. You have to understand if you are feeling good, you have come off a good form, you just need to keep continuing and not complicating. That’s the only thing I kept telling [myself], it doesn’t matter when there will be the later stage. I am feeling good and that’s what matters.”She departed for 109 off 95 balls in the 34th over but there was no slowdown this time, with Jemimah Rodrigues, who was promoted to No.3, hitting an unbeaten 76 off 55 balls. Her promotion was a bold call, considering she had been dropped in the previous game and had endured a lean patch in recent months. Harleen Deol had been a fixture at No. 3 for 25 ODIs running. But the move worked.Rodrigues walked out brimming with intent, timing her drives sweetly, perhaps an evidence of the long training session a day before where she had mostly practiced that stroke. Alongside Rawal, she maintained the high tempo. Rawal soon brought up her own century, adding flourish with two sixes after reaching the landmark – it was the first time in her 23-match career she had hit two sixes in an innings. Rodrigues, meanwhile, hit 11 fours to give India the strong finish they needed.India had finally batted the way they’d been expected to – without panic, or a mid-innings lull, or a collapse. It was as complete a batting display as they’ve produced all tournament.The middle order wasn’t tested, but for once, it didn’t need to be, as India’s batters showed they could dictate a game from start to finish. It was also a sign that this batting group has both the depth and the freedom to experiment. The win secured their semi-final spot and provided the kind of commanding statement India had been waiting to make.

The seamer picked up 4 for 53 to help India bowl the visitors out for just 219 on the opening day

S Sudarshanan21-Dec-2023First women’s Test at the Wankhede Stadium in close to 40 years. Tenth ball. An early message from India.Ellyse Perry’s faded helmet gives away her longevity in the sport, and how much she loves scoring runs. She gets off the mark with a thick outside edge through the cordon. Surely it is her day? Sun shining, ball seaming – nothing she has not countered in her 11 Tests spanning a 16-year international career.Pooja Vastrakar has other plans, though. She runs in hard, gets a good-length ball at 109.1kph to nip back in to make a mess of Perry’s stumps. Gone for 4, the lowest Test score Perry has been dismissed for. Memories of what Vastrakar did to Nat Sciver-Brunt last week come rushing back.Related

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Notwithstanding a 56-ball 50 from Tahlia McGrath, Australia were bowled out for 219 on the first day after opting to bat. Was it a fast bowlers’ paradise? Were the conditions “extreme” like in Navi Mumbai?Just as tea was called, with Australia 180 for 8, Alyssa Healy – with her floppy hat on – wandered towards the pitch with Ashleigh Gardner. Healy was done in by a Deepti Sharma ball that kept low, while Gardner couldn’t resist poking at a wobble-seam length ball from Vastrakar and was caught behind. They looked at the pitch while the ground staff swept the loose soil away and re-marked the batting and bowling crease.McGrath and Beth Mooney had scored most of their 80 partnership runs at a fair clip before slowing down after spin was introduced. Healy and Annabel Sutherland, who added 40 for the fifth wicket, were countering spin easily before Healy’s fall allowed Vastrakar to dismiss Sutherland and Gardner in succession.”Early on, I found the wicket quite nice to play on but then as soon as spin came on, it became quite tricky,” McGrath said later. “I felt reasonably comfortable with pace but as soon as spin came on, it was a big challenge. Partly because we are not used to these conditions; it was shooting low, and the spinners were extremely disciplined.”Sneh Rana, in particular, bowled really well. I struggled a lot with her, but Moons [Mooney] looked slightly more comfortable against her. I constantly felt on edge against Sneh today. She got me in the end, which was a little bit of a poor dismissal on my part.”Pooja Vastrakar was the star of the Indian bowlers on the first day•BCCIWhile Australia may have been spooked by spin – Rana and Deepti picked up five wickets combined – the real damage was done by Vastrakar. She hurried the batters with her pace and always kept the stumps in play. Which is why India didn’t panic when McGrath and Healy were stitching together those partnerships. Vastrakar kept bowling at speeds north of 105kph and got enough lift from a surface that offered uneven bounce. Like when she got a 113.3kph short ball to spit at Mooney, who gloved it to first slip.”Vastrakar bowled extremely well,” McGrath conceded. “The ball she got Pez [Perry] with was an absolute peach. When I was walking out to bat, she was getting sideways movement of the seam both ways, and she just bowls a relentless length that keeps you on your toes and is perfect for Test match cricket.”She was someone we specifically spoke about as a batting unit. Like I said, the length she bowls is perfect for Test cricket. It’s just relentless. And she’s almost robotic. She just runs in and hits the spot time after time and puts so much pressure on the batters. So, for us, it was about capitalising whenever she gave us any width… we had to put it away.”During the domestic T20s, the Indian bowlers were given a task: to clock at least 24 overs in the nets in the first week and 32 in the next. They had to log it and send the data to the bowling coach and the trainers at the National Cricket Academy. It meant they were well-prepared by the time they got to the camp in Bengaluru ahead of the England series.”I bowl outswing naturally, but we saw the videos of both teams [England and Australia] and found that their batters face difficulty with the incoming ball,” Vastrakar, who finished with 4 for 53, said of India’s bowling plans. “Our aim during practice was to bring the ball in with the wobble seam, which makes the ball cut in and makes it tough for the batters.”We saw the pitch during practice and felt it won’t be as easy [for bowlers] as it was at the DY Patil Stadium. Here, we needed to work harder. We had to hit the hard lengths and bowl wicket-to-wicket, set the batters up and get the ball in. I did that and bowled a sharp inswinger to Perry and she got out.”Australia’s last two wickets kept India on the field for over 22 overs. It did not dampen the hosts’ spirit as the openers came out all guns blazing to drive home the advantage by the end of the first day.After stumps, head coach Amol Muzumdar sauntered down from the stairs and walked to the centre. He stood at the striker’s end from the press box end and had a look. No person in either camp knows the conditions at the Wankhede better than Muzumdar. What he thought of the 22 yards was anybody’s guess. But in the two Tests so far during his tenure, India’s message has been loud and clear: underestimate them at your own peril.

They were constantly on the road in a season ravaged by Covid-19, but adversity only galvanised their battle-hardened group

Tristan Lavalette29-Jan-2022Galvanised by daunting road trips
Due to Western Australia’s unyielding hard border which remains in place indefinitely, Scorchers knew they would be on the road for the majority of the season. They hoped to squeeze in a few early games at Optus Stadium, their fortress, but they only managed to host Brisbane Heat on December 8.Then they were away for 50 straight days, enduring various restrictions, and also life away from home for those based in Perth. It was surely tough, but they embraced the challenge head-on. “There has not been an ounce of whinging, everyone has been focused and resilient,” opener Kurtis Patterson had recently told ESPNcricinfo.Related

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Scorchers had been somewhat here before, having only played four games last season in Perth, but this was an even more daunting task. Obviously, it helps in camaraderie when the team is winning, but the adversity undoubtedly galvanised the group. Perhaps drawing from former coach Justin Langer’s playbook, Scorchers relished a backs-against-the-wall approach which made the triumph the sweetest in their storied history.Depth and continuity
On January 28, 2015, Ashton Turner, Jason Behrendorff and Andrew Tye were celebrating knocking off Sydney Sixers for the title; fast forward exactly seven years, and it’s déjà vu, with the trio of stalwarts playing key roles in Scorchers’ latest success against the same opposition.Andrew Tye was also part of the Scorchers side that beat Sixers in the 2014-15 final•Cricket Australia via Getty ImagesStability is part of Scorchers’ fabric, and they have always built their team around a core of Western Australia players. Even after a couple of unsuccessful seasons in 2018-19 and 2019-20 – when they finished eighth and sixth, respectively – Scorchers stuck with their mantra hoping continuity provides an edge over teams more transient in nature.More than ever, Scorchers’ vaunted depth was needed during a Covid-19-ravaged season and amid the rigours of being on the road. Such was their reservoir of talent that those sidelined for the final included impressive quick Matt Kelly, who claimed 14 wickets at 12.78 in six matches, batter Cameron Bancroft and emerging allrounder Aaron Hardie, who remains worth keeping an eye on in the seasons to come.Every championship team also needs some luck, and Scorchers were fortunate not to have been decimated by Covid-19 and injuries at the wrong time like Sixers. They did have their own dramas later in the season, but Scorchers were reloaded by the finals and further strengthened by inclusions of Marsh, Jhye Richardson and Josh Inglis from Ashes duties.It meant Scorchers fielded their strongest team of the season against Sixers in the qualifying final, and then went into the final unchanged in a far cry to their beleaguered opponents.Kurtis Patterson smashed a team-leading 391 runs at a strike rate of 142.18•Getty ImagesBlueprint of success: bat first
As has been their preference, Scorchers elected to bat first ten out of 11 times that they won the toss this season, eventually going on to win nine of those matches. Scorchers have their formula worked out, and it remains relatively straightforward: set a decent total and then let a star-studded attack do the rest.This season, their batting appeared even bolder than previous versions, thus allowing them to average a particularly healthy 170 when batting first. And that meant that Scorchers’ knack of successfully defending small totals was rarely needed this season.Patterson stars at the top, Marsh brings fear factor
Scorchers had some critics heading into this season, mainly due to having a perceived lack of firepower at the top after losing big-hitting imports Liam Livingstone and Jason Roy. But an unexpected gamble went the Scorchers’ way: left-hander Patterson, who smashed a team-leading 391 runs at a strike rate of 142.18, was converted into a belligerent opener this season, batting at the top in all but one out of 13 innings.Patterson’s pyrotechnics allowed the powerful Colin Munro, who was used as an opener early in the season, to instead find a comfortable spot at No. 4.Scorchers received another fillip with Turner’s return to form after a few lean seasons, having also been bolstered by the success of English import Laurie Evans, who made the No. 6 position his own in his debut BBL season capped by an astonishing Player-of-the-Final performance. It meant Scorchers were loaded at every position in the top six, thus making a mockery of the scepticism that had started before the season.Meanwhile, Mitchell Marsh also left off from his stunning T20 World Cup with a blistering BBL, especially early in the season where his purple patch was instrumental in Scorchers’ six-game winning streak. Those victories in the bank proved pivotal for Scorchers, who had, by then, essentially sewn up the top position early, thus in turn allowing them to navigate eventual injuries and Covid-19 drama.Marsh gave Scorchers an aura, and his intimidating presence made it easy to overlook their wealth of batting talent who could go about their business.Peter Hatzoglou and Ashton Agar combined to pick up 33 wickets in the season•Getty ImagesHandling slower pitches on east coast
Scorchers have traditionally found slower, turning pitches on the east coast difficult. However, that was not the case this season with their batting being more adept against turn. Moreover, their own spinners Ashton Agar and Peter Hatzoglou relished the conditions and developed into a formidable tandem with 33 wickets combined.They often strangled opponents after the four-over powerplay – Agar’s overall economy rate was just 6.79 and Hatzoglou’s 7.26 – and had a knack of taking vital wickets. In the off-season, Scorchers had a punt on Hatzoglou, who crossed over from Melbourne Renegades, ahead of veteran Fawad Ahmed, with the 23-year-old legspinner Hatzoglou repaying the faith.The spin twins Agar and Hatzoglou strengthened an irresistible bowling attack which conceded more than 155 only twice this season, having also impressively dominated the power surge to turn the tables on a ploy designed to favour batters.Strong leadership
It has been a tough ask for head coach Adam Voges ever since he replaced Langer four years ago. He was under pressure after Scorchers missed consecutive finals, but has had them bouncing back emphatically. Voges’ sage leadership has shone through, and he has worked well with a composed Turner, who was named permanent skipper this season after filling the role last year when the then captain Marsh worked his way back from injury.The duo is measured and doesn’t seek headlines, ensuring Scorchers run a tight ship. Both deserve plaudits – especially Voges, who has now won BBL titles as Scorchers’ coach as well as captain – and so too general manager Kade Harvey, who made all the right moves in assembling arguably Scorchers’ greatest ever team.

The Danny Röhl era at Rangers begins.

Having been unveiled on Monday, the 36-year-old has not had a lot of time to prepare for his first match in charge, which will be Thursday night’s Europa League tie with Brann.

The Gers travel to Bergen having lost five consecutive European matches, currently pointless in the league phase, following defeats at the hands of Genk and Sturm Graz.

Hosts Brann, meantime, narrowly lost their Europa League opener 2-1 against Lille, Hamza Igamane on target for the hosts in Northern France, but then beat Utrecht 1-0 on home turf earlier this month, Sævar Atli Magnússon the match-winner, so will fancy their chances of another scalp.

Rangers though cannot allow that to happen if they’re to get back in the hunt for a place in the knockout stages, so what lineup should Röhl pick as he aims to leave Norway with all three points?

What Rangers supporters should expect from Danny Röhl

Despite his youthfulness, a year younger than defender Leon Balogun who departed in the summer, Röhl has plenty of high-level experience as a coach.

He worked under Ralph Hasenhüttl as an assistant at RB Leipzig and Southampton, before also being an assistant manager at Bayern Munich to Niko Kovač and then Hansi Flick, joining the latter in charge of the German national team at the World Cup in Qatar.

His first head coach role took him to Hillsborough, overseeing 89 matches in charge of EFL Championship crisis club Sheffield Wednesday, saving the Owls from relegation in his first season in charge, before they finished 12th last year, despite being run into the ground by owner Dejphon Chansiri.

In terms of tactics, as outlined in a piece by the Coaches’ Voice, Röhl ‘utilised a variety of formations’ during his time in Yorkshire, regularly switching between a back three and a back four, noting that in build-up play his ‘central defenders split quite wide’, labelling this a ‘key feature’ of his team.

They go on to note that there would always be a double pivot in front of the back-line, with width provided by wing-backs, allowing wide-attackers to penetrate centrally, making them as much of a goal threat as possible.

Thus, expect Röhl to be quite fluid with his formations, while also making regular changes to his starting lineups, especially considering this is the first of six matches on his agenda in the next 17 days, but we’re going to give predicting his first XI a go!

Rangers predicted XI vs Brann

During Russell Martin’s disastrous tenure, as well as under caretaker boss Steven Smith on Saturday, Rangers have always operated out of a back four.

Thus, in search of defensive stability, many are forecasting Röhl will instantaneously switch to a back three, but who would benefit from this change in shape?

Well, Nasser Djiga would for starters, simply because a third centre-back is needed.

John Souttar and deadline day signing Derek Cornelius have formed an encouraging partnership in recent weeks, while Wolves loanee Djiga has started just two of the last seven matches, not exactly endearing himself to his new supporters by being sent off against Dundee during his home league debut.

Meantime, at wing-back, Jayden Meghoma, on loan from Brentford, is the only natural left-back at the club, but has really struggled, so the vastly more experienced Max Aarons could fill in on that side, despite being naturally right-footed.

On the opposite flank, there has been debate for many years about captain James Tavernier’s defensive acumen, but one cannot argue with his attacking output, considering he is the club’s joint-top scorer this season with five, taking his tally to 135 for the club against Dundee United at the weekend, and a wing-back role could help him get back to his best.

The importance of a midfield duo in Röhl’s system has already been alluded to, so luckily for him Rangers’ best player last season was Nicolas Raskin, back in the team now and playing week in and week out, after a falling out with Martin earlier in the campaign that really saw supporters turn against the manager.

Alongside, none of Joe Rothwell, Connor Barron, Thelo Aasgaard nor Lyall Cameron appear particularly appetising options, if we’re being totally honest.

Thus, Röhl will hope to have Mohamed Diomandé available, after the Côte d’Ivoire international sat out the weekend draw due to a knock, but is expected to be available for the trip to Bergen.

Raskin and Diomandé as a pair certainly boast the athleticism and on-ball quality to be able to dominate matches, even at a high level.

Scout Emir has certainly been impressed by the Ivorian, noting that he is “relentless in duels” while also constantly showing for the ball under pressure, concluding that he is becoming the “complete midfielder”.

Lastly, in attack, Djeidi Gassama will certainly be in the line-up, considering he made 81 appearances for Röhl when the pair were together at Sheffield Wednesday, while he is Rangers’ joint-leading scorer this season with five, all of which have come in Europe, thereby hoping for more of the same in Norway.

The Frenchman has already shown that he can link up well with fellow new recruit Oliver Antman, the pair combining to score the third goal during a demolition of Viktoria Plzeň during Champions League qualifying, the clear high point of Martin’s ill-fated tenure.

Lastly, despite splashing £10m to sign Youssef Chermiti, thereby making him the club’s second-most expensive signing of all-time, it’ll surely be Bojan Miovski leading the line, the North Macedonian looking to add to his two goals for the club to date.

Rangers predicted XI vs Brann
Position	Players
GK	Jack Butland
CB	John Souttar
CB	Derek Cornelius
CB	Nasser Djiga
RWB	James Tavernier
CM	Nicolas Raskin
CM	Mohamed Diomandé
LWB	Max Aarons
RW	Oliver Antman
LW	Djeidi Gassama
ST	Bojan Miovski

They may not have shown it very much this season, currently pointless in the Europa League and sixth in the Scottish Premiership, but Rangers do boast some good players.

So, if Röhl can turn them into a functioning team, results will exponentially improve for sure, of that there is no doubt.

Former Rangers star reveals similarity between Danny Rohl and Walter Smith

He’s delivered his verdict…

By
Tom Cunningham

Oct 21, 2025

Vote for the best individual Border-Gavaskar Trophy performance by an Indian in Australia since 2000

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Nov-2024Update: This poll has ended. Virat Kohli’s Adelaide 2014 performance goes into the semi-finals. Check the other polls here.ESPNcricinfo LtdVirat Kohli was batting on another level in Perth 2018•Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesVirat Kohli – 123 in Perth, 2018India lost by 146 runs, series level 1-1Virat Kohli was already one of India’s greatest batters before 2018. He stepped up to an even more rarefied level that year, scoring 1322 runs at an average of 55.08 over 24 innings, of which 22 were played in South Africa, England and Australia.Conditions in all three tours were hard on batters, but the more challenging they became, the more Kohli seemed to relish them. When he walked in to bat in Perth, everything must have looked familiar. India had lost the toss and conceded a bigger total than they should have, bowling well but not without spells of releasing pressure. Then they lost early wickets.In similar circumstances, Kohli had scored 153 at Centurion and 149 at Edgbaston. Now, from 8 for 2, he proceeded to play an even better innings. This was a proper trampoline of a pitch, and Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins were routinely getting the ball to rear throat-high from just back of a length. Kohli negotiated the vertical threat expertly, though not without suffering blows to his arm and ribs, but the standout feature of his innings was how well he dealt with Australia’s attempts to sucker him with full balls after pushing him back.Almost every time there was an opportunity to drive, he did so pristinely, down the ground or through the covers with a decisive front-foot stride. A 20th century version of this list would have undoubtedly contained Sachin Tendulkar’s 114 in Perth in 1992. Kohli’s innings came at Perth Stadium and not the WACA, and just as the new ground seamlessly carried forward the old one’s legacy of pace and bounce, a new master had carried forward an old master’s legacy.Karthik KrishnaswamyWatch the highlights of these performances on the Star Sports network at 10am, 1pm, 4pm and 7pm IST, from November 2 onwards.Virat Kohli was only the second batter to score two centuries on Test captaincy debut•Getty ImagesVirat Kohli – 115 & 141 in Adelaide, 2014India lost by 48 runsIn a career full of milestones, Virat Kohli has a very special place in his heart for these two hundreds. He’s made that plain on every subsequent trip to Adelaide. The runs that he made, the way he made them, getting hit on the head by a Mitchell Johnson bouncer early and brushing off the Australians who came up to him to ask him if he was okay just so he wouldn’t have to break out of that bubble he needs to be in to score those big runs, and the path that he put his team on, saying they will not be going for the draw – all played a big role in helping him decide what kind of cricketer and captain he wanted to be.His 114 in the first innings on captaincy debut kept India in the game after conceding 517, and his 141 in the second gave India hope that as long as Kohli was batting, there was a chance of pulling off an outrageous chase of 364. That performance made Kohli the first visiting batter since 1961 to score two centuries in a Test in Australia, and no once has done it since.By Alagappan Muthu

Anthony Volpe didn't have a great showing defensively on Sunday.

The Yankees' shortstop was roasted by the team's fans after a few defensive plays where it looked like his lack effort cost the team outs.

The first came in the top of the second inning and the Cubs holding a 1-0 lead. With Ian Happ at first base and one out, Nico Hoerner hit a ground ball to Jazz Chisholm Jr. at second base in what appeared to be an easy double play for the Yankees.

Chisholm got the ball to Volpe to force Happ out at second, but as the shortstop came across the bag towards first base, he floated the ball across the diamond. By the time the ball got into first baseman Paul Goldschmidt's glove, Hoerner had crossed the base and was safe. Volpe's throw clocked in at 62 mph, far below what he's capable of.

Video is below.

In the top of the eighth, with the Cubs leading 4-1, Dansby Swanson was on first with two outs. Matt Shaw stepped to the plate and hit an easy grounder right to Volpe. He didn't charge the ball, opting to stay back and wait for it. When he fielded the ball, he softly tossed it to Chisholm at second, but Swanson beat the ball there. He was initially called out, but replays showed he easily beat Volpe's throw.

The Yankees wound up losing 4-1 and continued their trend of up and down play. Fans of the team were all over Volpe for his defensive lapses.

Through 95 games, the 24-year-old Volpe is slashing .214/.287/.384 with 10 home runs and 49 RBIs. He has 91 strikeouts against 34 walks, and his OPS of .671 leaves a lot to be desired from a former top prospect.

Brazil starlet Estevao Willian has been warned by national team boss Carlo Ancelotti that he must follow instructions or risk losing his place, after the Chelsea sensation was berated in front of his team-mates during training. The teenager has shone for his country, but the former Real Madrid coach has now made it clear he will be ruthless if the winger persistently does his own thing.

• Estevao reprimanded by Ancelotti during training session

  Estevao found out the hard way during the October international break that Carlo Ancelotti's calm exterior does not extend to moments where discipline and concentration are compromised. As Brazil prepared for a friendly against South Korea last month, reports claim the teenager repeatedly ignored instructions to aggressively press the full-back during a tactical exercise. After several warnings, Ancelotti stopped the session and delivered a fierce reprimand in front of the entire squad.

  The Brazil boss allegedly shouted: "I only speak once. Either you do what I'm telling you, or you're out of the team," according to Globo Esporte. It was a clear message that the youngster's spectacular talent would not exempt him from rigorous standards within the Brazil national team setup.

  The tough love had an immediate effect. Estevao responded by scoring twice in the subsequent 5-0 win, and since then has continued to impress in the famous yellow shirt of Brazil. Despite the stern warning, Ancelotti has made it clear he sees the 18-year-old as a major part of his long-term plans, provided that he fully commits to tactical discipline.

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  Ancelotti wants to keep Estevao grounded

  Ancelotti’s approach to elite talent management is rooted in experience, having guided generational stars such as Kaka and Vinicius Jr, he knows the dangers of early hype. Estevao, nicknamed Messinho in Brazil due to his flair and left-footed magic, has quickly become a fan favourite, but expectations continue to grow at a rapid pace. The Chelsea youngster already boasts 10 international caps and four goals despite his young age, and this is why Ancelotti is intent on keeping him grounded. 

  Brazil are undergoing a major transitional phase, and the veteran coach is determined to build a squad with tactical maturity at its core. Estevao's blend of dribbling brilliance and intense work-rate fits that vision perfectly, but only if he continues to embrace defensive responsibilities.

  The winger has quickly shown he appreciates the guidance. He has embraced the challenge of adapting to a more complete role, adding pressing and ball recoveries to his already dangerous attacking game.

• Ancelotti's personal touch wins over Estevao

  Every stern moment appears balanced with trust and encouragement, the hallmark of Ancelotti's man-management. The Italian's relationship with Estevao isn't just demanding – it has a personal touch that has won the teenager's admiration. The Brazil boss recently allowed him to briefly leave camp in Sao Paulo to take his driving test, even waiting outside to celebrate the moment he passed. Ancelotti then publicly announced the achievement at lunch, prompting laughter and applause from team-mates.

  That balance has created the perfect conditions for Estevao to excel as he continues to deliver on the pitch, scoring the opener in a 2-0 win against Senegal at the Emirates Stadium last week. It was further validation that he belongs among the senior elite despite still being in the early stages of his European career.

  The forward only arrived at Chelsea in the summer after Palmeiras agreed a deal worth around £29 million ($38m) the previous year. His early Premier League minutes have been carefully managed, but his form for club and country leaves little doubt that he is already operating at an elite level.

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  Estevao to become a future star for Chelsea and Brazil

  Estevao is expected to continue playing a key role as Brazil face Tunisia next in Lille, looking to build on Ancelotti's encouraging start of four wins in six matches. With each appearance, the teenager grows in confidence, while the coaching staff push him toward becoming a complete attacker capable of changing matches on demand. The next challenge will be consistency, both in performance and tactical discipline.

  For Chelsea, his rapid rise is hugely encouraging. They believe he is a long-term cornerstone of their attack, and his international success only strengthens the feeling that they secured one of world football's brightest young talents.