Every so often, sports fans are reminded of just how entertaining hot mics are during sports games.

Fox's nationally-televised broadcast of the Houston Astros' 5-4 win over the Texas Rangers on Saturday served as one such reminder, as the mics briefly gave fans a fly-on-the-wall experience for an exchange between home-plate umpire Phil Cuzzi and the Astros dugout.

It was the top of the eighth inning with two outs, Astros righthander Bryan Abreu on the mound and Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien at the plate. On the first pitch of the at-bat, Abreu threw a four-seam fastball in on the hands that appeared to catch the inner half of the plate. Semien checked his swing and Astros catcher Yainier Diaz appealed to first-base umpire Clint Vodrak, who ruled that Semien didn't swing, a somewhat controversial call.

The Astros certainly didn't agree and let home-plate umpire Phil Cuzzi know it. But Cuzzi, who was uninvolved with the call, didn't want to hear it.

"What are you yelling at me for?!" Cuzzi loudly asked the Astros dugout. The veteran umpire then appeared to indicate that the Astros should be directing their complaints to Vondrak, who made the call. We're sure Vondrak appreciated that!

In all seriousness though, as the broadcast went on to point out, the Astros' gripe with Cuzzi was that he didn't initially rule the borderline pitch a strike, putting the call in Vondrak's hands. Had Cuzzi ruled the pitch a strike, there would be no need for the check swing appeal.

Semien went on to belt a solo homer two pitches after the controversial first pitch of the at-bat, but the Astros ultimately prevailed in 11 innings.

Hooray for hot mics!

Rapper Snoop Dogg has opened up about investing in Celtic, also talking up the idea of one manager he wants to see at Parkhead.

The Hoops’ search for their next boss is ongoing, as they look to find the perfect successor to Brendan Rodgers, following a disappointing end to his reign.

Club Brugge manager Nicky Hayen has arguably emerged as the front-runner to take charge at Parkhead, with Celtic willing to give him big wages, enticing him to the club in the process.

Hayen is far from the only contender to come in, though, with England Under-21s boss Lee Carsley mentioned as an option, having been praised by Roy Keane in the past: “For England, it’s all positive. The big players performed, young players stepped up. Lee Carsley deserves huge praise. They really looked like they enjoyed it. They didn’t seem to be under that much pressure and played with freedom.”

Meanwhile, Ange Postecoglou is currently out of work and has been linked with a return to Celtic, and now a new claim has dropped regarding a potential reunion.

Snoop Dogg wants Postecoglou back at Celtic

In quotes provided by The Daily Record, Snoop Dogg discussed Postecoglou coming back to Celtic, as well as opening up about investing in the club.

Opinion may be split regarding Postecoglou coming back to Celtic, although it does look unlikely, not least because his reputation has been damaged compared to when he left Parkhead last time around.

The Australian may have won the Europa League with Tottenham, but he also finished 17th in the Premier League, which ultimately cost him his job, before lasting no time at all at Nottingham Forest.

For that reason, this could be a sensible time for Celtic to avoid Postecoglou, instead looking at Hayen or someone else, bringing new ideas to the club in the process.

Celtic chiefs line up Lee Carsley approach amid "huge praise" from Roy Keane

Would he be the ideal choice for the Hoops?

ByHenry Jackson Nov 1, 2025

Of course, some would love to see him back with the Hoops, given the success he achieved there, and the football he played, but there would be a risk in rehiring him after a tough few years.

Celtic chiefs readying drastic action in Nicky Hayen pursuit with huge wages on offer

MatériaMais Notícias

Técnico interino do Botafogo, Fábio Matias concedeu entrevista coletiva após a vitória sobre o Boavista, que rendeu ao clube a conquista da Taça Rio. O treinador avaliou a participação alvinegra no Campeonato Carioca e falou sobre o período à frente do Glorioso, que espera a chegada de Artur Jorge, novo comandante do time.

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➡️ Tudo sobre o Fogão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso canal Lance! Botafogo

– Uma das coisas principais que a competição nos deu foi a minutagem dos atletas. Um clube como o Botafogo tem que ter atenção à base, sou suspeito para falar. Essa questão da rodagem dos meninos, atletas que estavam no DM, atletas que precisam de ritmo, hoje tivemos atletas que têm condição de serem titulares na quarta-feira. Isso é fundamental para o Botafogo e fundamental para o tamanho que o Botafogo terá daqui para frente, com Copa do Brasil e Libertadores – comentou Fábio Matias.

– Todas as situações relacionadas a quem virá a melhor pessoa para responder é o John, é concentrado tudo nele. Sou funcionário do Botafogo, não de treinador. Fiz o meu melhor para o Botafogo, fazemos tudo pelo clube. Sou funcionário do clube, sou staff permanente. Em situações de crise, você tem o permanente para sustentar – falou o interino do Glorioso, sobre a chegada de Artur Jorge.

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– Tem quarta-feira, você tem que entregar bem. Posteriormente, você tem que perguntar para o John. Se eu elogiar mais, vão achar que é conveniência (risos). Tem que deixar tudo organizado, e fizemos isso. Cabe dizer ao John como as coisas vão funcionar daqui para frente – continuou Fábio Matias.

– John está muito feliz do que está sendo feito, o Alessandro (Brito, head scout) é nosso interlocutor principal nas conversas. John tem confiança. Se ele não tivesse confiança, não ficaríamos tanto tempo à frente. Sem sombra de dúvidas, é um voto de confiança – encerrou.

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Fábio Matias deve fazer seu último jogo como comandante do Botafogo na quarta-feira (3), no primeiro compromisso da fase de grupos da Libertadores, contra o Junior Barranquilla, no Nilton Santos. Depois disso, o portguês Artur Jorge – que se despede do Braga em partida contra o Portionense nesta segunda-feira (1) – irá assumir o time. Contudo, apesar de ter sete vitórias e um empate em oito partidas, o interino diz que não existe sentimento de “missão cumprida”.

– O trabalho continua, independente de estar à frente como treinador. Nunca é dever cumprido, nossa obrigação é entregar da melhor forma. Tenho que dar suporte para as pessoas que estão vindo. É um início bom com todos os percalços que tivemos. Olha quantos meninos jogaram, isso vale muito. O lateral-esquerdo que jogou hoje estava na Dallas Cup, tiramos ele de lá e ele jogou, olha quanto ganho. Dever cumprido é o que você entrega e larga, eu não sou assim. Minha forma de ser é ajudar. Hoje temos dois profissionais da base, Rafael e Lucas. Além de formar jogadores, estamos formando profissionais dentro do clube para que as pessoas reconheçam o DNA do clube. O Botafogo está fazendo isso.

Diante do Boavista, o Botafogo teve retornos de jogadores importantes que estavam no departamento médico. Luiz Henrique, Jeffinho e Patrick de Paula (este não entrava em campo há 400 dias) participaram da partida após períodos de lesão. Além disso, Rafael fez sua segunda partida de volta do DM.

– Tiveram um ritmo muito bom, mas temos que tomar cuidado porque não queremos que esses jogadores voltem para o departamento médico. Hoje combinamos que seriam 45 minutos para Rafael, Jeffinho e Luiz Henrique. Foi determinado pela performance. Não posso mudar de ideia dentro de campo, aí eu coloco o jogador em risco.

Confira outras respostas de Fábio Matias na entrevista coletiva após Botafogo x Boavista.

– Não estava aqui no ano passado, é difícil comparar (os títulos da Taça Rio). Temos que tirar proveito das situações, mas nós tiramos proveito da Taça Rio. Tinham meninos da base que a torcida não conhecia, serviu para isso. Comparar com o ano passado eu acho ruim. O clube está cada vez mais com uma estrutura maravilhosa, com grandes jogadores, temos jogadores do cenário nacional aqui, que daqui a pouco estarão no nível de Seleção. Mas tudo depende dar continuidade ao processo, também tem que valorizar o que foi feito antes. Hoje nós preparamos para quem vem, minha função é essa. Sempre deixei isso claro durante os 30 e poucos dias que fiquei no Botafogo.

– Temos cinco ou seis meio-campistas que estão entre os melhores do Brasil. Para quem quer ser campeão, são competições difíceis, há essa ideia de equilíbrio. Em jogo tal, joga fulano, no outro, joga ciclano. Temos hoje os melhores meio-campistas, melhores atacantes. Temos um grande trabalho de scout. A missão que os atletas têm está muito clara. Os caras são acima da média, ótimos em termos de trabalho e dia a dia. Eles compram tudo e são ótimos jogadores. Não vejo problema em relação a isso, quanto mais jogadores bons, melhor.

– Precisava quebrar a barreira da base para o profissional. Tínhamos um trabalho muito sólido na base, trabalhei com bons jogadores na base, mais de 20 que estão na Europa, é um privilégio isso. Meu momento é ótimo, sou auxiliar técnico permanente do clube, mas minha ideia a médio e longo prazo é ser treinador. Essa é a experiência que eu preciso hoje. O auxiliar técnico tem que servir hoje, e isso não é fácil. Você tem que ter humildade, compreensão e saber falar. Tudo isso está me capacitando para em médio prazo dar um salto na carreira. Mas muito pelo o que o Botafogo faz por mim.

– Tudo que a gente construiu foi relacionado à questão da Libertadores. Quando a gente vai para o jogo do Boavista lá foi para ter dias de treinos, mas para transferir situações de jogo. Tivemos uma situação facilitada no segundo jogo pelo resultado. Nosso plano era zerar o departamento médico e dar ritmo de jogo a esses jogadores, então é um processo de organização interno que conseguimos executar. Quanto mais jogadores bons tivermos, melhor somos. Vejo como acréscimo. Quanto mais dúvidas tivermos, melhor. Temos 24 atletas de nível alto. Hoje faz você ter condição de brigar por título, e mais de um. Não vejo problema, vejo solução.

– Clube está vivendo um momento muito bom. Temos o foco na Libertadores. A equipe está em uma boa fase, o período de Data Fifa é muito bom para se treinar, avalio que a equipe está em crescimento. Ainda há coisas para melhorar. Fisicamente, vejo os caras um pouco mais soltos. Estamos em um momento bom, mas com margem de crescimento. Ainda temos mais dois cilcos de três para fechar o ano, não adianta dar tudo agora, temos que terminar o ano bem.

Tudo sobre

BotafogoCampeonato CariocaFábio Matias

Jeff Stelling has criticised Unai Emery as a result of one moment in Aston Villa’s 1-0 victory against Manchester City on Sunday afternoon.

Cash leads Villa to victory over Man City

Emery continued his stellar record at home against Man City on Sunday, with the manager overseeing his third straight victory against Pep Guardiola’s side at Villa Park, courtesy of Matty Cash’s first-half strike from just outside the box.

It was a stellar performance from the full-back, who was voted the Player of the Match, and the Poland international has since put pen to paper on a new contract which lasts until 2029.

The Villans have really turned a corner in recent weeks, having picked up victories against some top teams, defeating Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 on the road earlier this month, and the Premier League table now makes for much better viewing, having moved up to eighth.

The manager has also silenced the talk about his future, after it was reported last month that Ollie Watkins, Emiliano Martinez, Emi Buendia and Morgan Rogers were all unhappy with the Spaniard, given the slow start they made to the campaign.

The 53-year-old has certainly turned the corner, but Stelling was still left unimpressed with some of the decisions he made on Sunday, calling out the decision to substitute Jadon Sancho in the second-half, having only introduced the winger just before the 30-minute mark.

Speaking on talkSPORT, Stelling came to Sancho’s defence, saying: “He’s a soft target, because over the years it’s been easy to point the finger at him, but I think on this occasion it was wrong to point the finger at him.”

Sancho's Villa career yet to truly take off

It was always going to be a risk signing the 25-year-old, given that he was unable to live up to his huge price tag at Manchester United, and his Villa career is yet to take off, having only featured for 226 minutes across five matches in all competitions.

Emery defended the decision to substitute the former Man United man by pointing out he has done the same thing with other players before and wants to introduce the Englishman slowly: “Yes, sure he’s (Sancho) not happy but I did it before with Morgan Rogers, with Emiliano Buendia, with Leon Bailey, and he played 60 minutes on Thursday,”

Aston Villa take hilarious swipe at Haaland after victory against Man City

The Villans defeated Pep Guardiola’s side 1-0 at Villa Park on Sunday.

ByDominic Lund Oct 27, 2025

“Today when he (Buendia) was injured, my plan was maybe in case he (Sancho) was going to play 30 minutes, but I decided to play more and he played 45 minutes.”

That said, given the scale of media attention Sancho received at Man United, it was a strange decision from Emery, who risks damaging his summer signing’s confidence, even if the manager didn’t substitute him due to being unhappy with his performance.

Crystal Palace have now identified Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa as a target, amid the uncertainty surrounding Marc Guehi’s future at Selhurst Park.

Guehi was expected to leave Palace in the summer transfer window, with the captain’s move to Liverpool falling through on deadline day, but he has remained a consummate professional, most recently putting in a stellar performance at Anfield.

Indeed, the centre-back was solid at the back as the Eagles progressed to the EFL Cup quarter-final with a 3-0 victory against Liverpool on Wednesday night, making five interceptions and two tackles to help his side pick up a clean sheet.

The south Londoners will have their work cut out in the next round, however, having been handed arguably the most difficult tie possible, with Oliver Glasner’s side set to travel to Premier League leaders Arsenal in the week commencing on the 15th of December.

Should Crystal Palace manage to defy the odds and add the EFL Cup to their trophy cabinet, there may be some feint hope that Guehi will pen a new deal, but his future remains very much in doubt, with Liverpool and Real Madrid eyeing moves.

Crystal Palace join race for Ezri Konsa

As such, Glasner is likely to be tasked with bringing in a replacement for the 25-year-old, and Crystal Palace have now joined the race for Aston Villa defender Konsa, who is attracting interest from a plethora of Premier League clubs.

Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United have also expressed an interest in the centre-back, as there is now a feeling that Villa may be forced to cash-in, given their need to comply with PSR regulations.

The Villans are extremely reluctant to sell the 28-year-old, as he is one of their key players, but if they have to sanction a departure, it is suggested they will look to hold out for between £40m – £45m.

The Englishman has started to establish himself at international level, having amassed 16 caps for the Three Lions, with teammate Luke Shaw being left very impressed by his performance in the Euro 2024 quarter-final against Switzerland.

No Palace fan will want to see Guehi leave, but if the 25-year-old does move on, it would make sense to bring in a replacement who is proven in the Premier League, and the Villa star fits the bill, having now made 205 top-flight appearances.

Last season, the former Brentford man also cut his teeth in the Champions League, scoring the Villans’ third goal as they nearly completed a dramatic comeback against Paris Saint-Germain.

Konsa’s top-level experience could make him the ideal heir to Guehi, but it could be difficult to win the race for his signature, amid interest from some top clubs.

Crystal Palace targeting Yann Bisseck to replace Marc Guehi Related Crystal Palace now keen on "insane" £22m defender who pocketed Erling Haaland

Palace are looking to sign a new centre-back, with Marc Guehi heading for the exit door.

Posts ByDominic Lund Oct 16, 2025

Overlooked for West Indies series, opener sets up 202-run win at Northampton

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay08-Aug-2025

Pakistan international Imam-ul-Haq struck a superb, classy 159, his highest List A score to set up a comprehensive Yorkshire victory over Northamptonshire by 202 runs in the Metro Bank One Day Cup at Wantage Road.Imam, 29, averages 47.04 across a 75-match ODI career, with nine hundreds, but has been overlooked for Pakistan’s three-match series against West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago, which starts on Friday night. His 159 was a reminder of his talent to their selectors.His innings propelled Yorkshire to a mammoth 374 for 5, their highest ever team total against Northamptonshire in List A cricket – and just five short of their highest against any first-class county. It also helped inflict the highest ever home defeat on Northamptonshire by any team in List A cricket.Facing 130 balls, Imam hit 20 fours and two sixes, passing 5,000 career List A runs and beating his previous highest score of 151 against England in 2019. It follows his half-century to steer Yorkshire to victory against Warwickshire at Scarborough on Tuesday.While Imam cashed in against a frequently wayward Northamptonshire seam attack, his innings was full of delicate timing, perfect placement and silky cover drives before growing more aggressive. He was well supported in stands of 83 with Will Luxton (41), 158 with James Wharton (66) and 75 with a belligerent Matt Revis who smashed 69 from just 33 balls, his highest List A score. Liam Guthrie’s bowling figures suffered in the run-fest but he picked up 3 for 87.In reply, Northamptonshire were never in the chase, a tight spell from Yorkshire opening bowlers Matt Milnes and Ben Cliff setting the tone. While the hosts will count themselves unlucky to have lost two early wickets, they scored at just 4.4 an over throughout the innings. While George Bartlett (30) and Justin Broad (24) forged an enterprising partnership of 49 in eight overs, no-one else contributed anything of substance. Dan Moriarty was the pick of the bowlers with 4 for 38.Earlier, Guthrie struck quickly when Adam Lyth slashed straight to cover, but Northamptonshire’s seamers strayed in line and length, allowing Yorkshire to rattle along at over six runs an over, Luxton driving consecutive wide deliveries from Guthrie for boundaries.Imam played a beautiful straight drive and a couple of stylish backfoot punches, but Northamptonshire missed a chance to remove Luxton when Luke Procter dropped a sharp catch at point.Bowling in tandem, spinners Rob Keogh and Yuzvendra Chahal stemmed the flow of runs but the breakthrough came via a mix-up between the batters. Imam cut square and started to run before sending Luxton back, Bartlett and Keogh affecting the runout.Imam reached 50 off 58 balls before playing two silky cover drives off Dom Leech to take Yorkshire to 142 for 2 at the halfway stage. A pull off Leech perfectly bisected the field as he moved into the nineties before reaching 100 off 95 balls.Dan Moriarty (file photo) was the pick of the Yorkshire attack•Getty Images

At the other end Wharton grew becalmed, his first boundary not arriving until the 53rd ball he faced when he hooked Guthrie for six. Shackles released, he made up for lost time, powering Guthrie down the ground, while Imam went through the gears too, slog-sweeping Chahal for six. Chahal finally broke the stand, tossing one wide, Wharton reaching for it and slicing to cover.Imam targeted Leech, taking 15 off one over including six down the ground. Revis was severe on former Yorkshire bowler Leech too, garnering two legside boundaries off short balls and swinging Procter for six.Imam’s long innings finally ended thanks to a stunning bit of boundary fielding off Guthrie when Tim Robinson held a brilliant boundary catch, throwing it up before he crossed the rope and holding on as stepped back in.Revis tucked into Guthrie, smashing two sixes over the infield before carving square for six more. His wicket was scant consolation for Guthrie when he holed out in the deep.Northamptonshire’s first powerplay was positively sedate, just six boundaries shared equally between Ricardo Vasconcelos (23) and Lewis McManus (25) as they reached 41 after 10 overs.The hosts then lost two wickets in an over as McManus was adjudged caught behind off the inside edge off Ben Cliff, although the ball looked to have hit his pads. Next Aadi Sharma’s List A debut ended in a runout at the non-strikers’ end, Cliff deflecting the ball onto the stumps in his delivery stride.Yorkshire picked up a third when Moriarty beat Vasconcelos, bowling him as he advanced down the pitch, attempting to force the pace. George Hill then nipped one back sharply to knock back Robinson’s stumps.With the required rate above 10, Bartlett and Broad looked to score against the spinners, Bartlett striking a straight six off Dom Bess. But the drinks break brought two wickets, Broad chipping Bess to Revis at mid-on after the resumption, before Bartlett skied Moriarty to long-on.Rob Keogh and Luke Procter both made starts, but after Procter was bowled by Bess, Moriarty had both Leech and Guthrie caught in the deep, while Keogh (23) was bowled by Cliff.

South Africa’s former captain Dane van Niekerk is “definitely not part,” of their plans for the upcoming World Cup despite coming out of retirement and being included in an ongoing pre-tournament training camp. National coach Mandla Mashimbyi confirmed that van Niekerk will only be considered for future series “when she ticks all the boxes.”That means van Niekerk, who is 32, may not play at another 50-over World Cup after missing out in 2022 as she recovered from a broken ankle. She has appeared in three previous editions and led South Africa in 2017, where they suffered a semi-final defeat to England. She has also played in seven T20 World Cups but did not feature in the home event in 2023 after failing to meet Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) fitness requirements. It was then that she announced her retirement from international cricket.Van Niekerk has since come back to domestic competition, u-turned on her international retirement and was called up to a 20-player squad for a week-long camp in Durban ahead of South Africa’s World Cup squad selection. But her name will not be among the final fifteen that will be announced next week. “She’s just part of the bigger or broader base of players that we’re trying to bring into our environment,” Mashimbyi said. “She’s definitely not part of this World Cup. She’s not going.”Related

• Van Niekerk in line for SA comeback after u-turn on retirement

• 'Want to play again and have fun' – Dane van Niekerk signs for Western Province

So why was van Niekerk brought into a squad specifically put together, “in preparation for the upcoming Pakistan tour and the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 held in India and Sri Lanka,” according to a CSA press release? To see what she needs to do in order to get back in.”We wanted to bring her in and actually expose her to the environment so that she can understand what the expectations are,” Mashimbyi said. “Hopefully she can carry on from here onwards and really understand how she wants to go about things. And then one day when she gets a call up, you know, she can come in and have an impact immediately.”Strictly monitored running times are no longer part of the expectations, which will come as a relief to van Niekerk who was left out of the 2023 T20 World Cup squad because she could not run two kilometres in under 9:30. Now, CSA leaves selection to the coach and convener’s discretion but there is still an implicit understanding that fitness standards need to be at a high level and van Niekerk knows it. “I’ve seen the standards in the last two years. I’ve been in and around the team, commentating and even though I was really not involved I knew how the team was evolving when it comes to the physical sides of things,” she said. “There’s a massive difference from two years ago. The players have evolved, got stronger, smarter you can really see the work ethic around the group as well.”Van Niekerk, who plays for Western Province but does not have any franchise deals at the moment, conceded that she still has some work to do to catch up. “I know I’m probably not where everyone’s at at the moment. I understand where I need to be for the team. It’s going to be a lot of hard work, but I definitely wouldn’t have gone through all of this if I’m not willing to put that in,” she said. “This is almost a baseline for me to really gauge where I’m at when it comes to the physical side, when it comes to the skill side, and all those things. Hopefully, I can have a clearer view after this camp. I’d know with the conversations we’ve had where I need to be in the next few months.”While she will not be part of the action over September and October, van Niekerk may be eyeing a home comeback later this year. After the Women’s World Cup, the South Africa’s women’s team’s series against Ireland and Pakistan will headline the international summer as the men only host West Indies for five T20Is next year. The women’s team will play at all the country’s big grounds including Newlands, the Wanderers and van Niekerk’s home venue – St George’s Park – where she has never played an international. That will be followed by preparations for next year’s T20 World Cup, which both her and Mashimbyi may also have in their sights for her future.Mashimbyi acknowledged that it would be “false of us to not think that Dane is an important cog in the bigger scheme of things,” because of her experience. “She’s captained the team. She’s played for a long time, and she was successful in doing that. Bringing a player like that back into the environment for me was a no-brainer,” he said.But he also made it clear that she won’t receive any special treatment based on that history. “She’s like any other player now. You know, she needs to work her way up again. She needs to earn a place as well.”

A strategy based on spin, players plucked from domestic cricket, individuals rising to the occasion – the story of how Pakistan turned the series

Danyal Rasool26-Oct-2024Months after they’d hit the reset button, Pakistan were ready to burn it all down again. Aleem Dar, freshly announced as a member on Pakistan’s latest selection panel, glowered at the Multan surface. It had played host to a game where England racked up the fourth-highest total in Test history before dispensing swiftly with Pakistan. The curators believed it would have started taking spin sometime on day four. Pakistan’s specialist spinner Abrar Ahmed was already ill in hospital by then, with the promised turn nowhere to be found.He glanced across at the surface two strips across. It would host the second Test. Under the blazing Multan sun, which hadn’t let up all game, the surface had a veneer that made it look like a sheet of glass; Dar could have combed his beard in the reflection. He looked back at the used pitch, dry as a tinder box waiting for a spark. The seed of an idea was beginning to form in his mind.

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In April, Pakistan had appointed Jason Gillespie as head coach to much fanfare, with chairman Mohsin Naqvi organising a press conference at the Gaddafi Stadium to personally announce the appointment. Weeks later, Australian Tony Hemming was roped in as the chief curator, understood to have been tasked with improving the quality of the surfaces over a long-term period.Related

• Aaqib Javed set to replace Jason Gillespie as Pakistan head coach

• Sajid Khan claims Urdu misdirection aided his batting exploits

• 'We had a clear plan' – Azhar Mahmood puts his spin on Multan pitch

• Stats – Pakistan's first Test series win at home since 2021

• Pakistan turn it around to clinch series 2-1 after Sajid, Noman special

But it wasn’t either of them that Dar called, when the idea to reuse the surface from the first Test struck. Aaqib Javed was brought up to speed, and was immediately on board, while the rest of the selection panel, comprising Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq and analyst Hassan Cheema assented. Neither captain Shan Masood nor Gillespie – who, at that time, were still officially listed as members of the selection panel on the PCB’s website – were spoken to; they would soon have that power taken from them anyway.Giant industrial fans were brought in over the weekend to dry the surface out in an effort to induce spin as early as possible. The only problem? Pakistan’s only spinner was still in hospital with suspected dengue fever, and so the selection panel soon put their sweeping powers to good use.Zahid Mahmood, released from the squad before the first Test, was called back. Sajid Khan was summoned from Peshawar where he was presumably sat twirling his moustache – given the full splendour of its glory once it, and Sajid, arrived in Multan. Noman Ali, seemingly lost to the sands of time, also got the call.But the selectors weren’t done yet. Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah were deemed surplus to requirements, but the bombshell lay at the other end of the order. The out-of-form Babar Azam was dropped, a call no Pakistan selector had made thus far, and one Gillespie opposed. Veteran of the domestic circuit Kamran Ghulam was called up. As Sajid said after the series, these were “the kinds of pitch I have played on in first-class cricket”. A Quaid-e-Azam Trophy squad for a QeA-style pitch, it was reasoned, wasn’t a bad idea.Industrial fans were used to dry the Multan pitch•PA Images via Getty ImagesPrivately, some of the selectors wondered if three spinners was overkill, but Aaqib was adamant; this was the way forward. Aaqib has become the public face of this selectorial coup in an astonishingly short span of time, seen as the man who effectively runs Pakistan cricket right now. To reflect that elevated status, he resigned from his role as director and head coach at Lahore Qalandars, a position he had held for eight years. On the second day in Pindi, Mohammad Rizwan, ever the astute judge of where the balance of power lies in Pakistan cricket, chirped into the stump mic as one spun sharply into Harry Brook, “This is Aaqib-ball now, we are members of Aaqib-ball.”***Ben Stokes always calls tails, and that surface in Multan did Pakistan one more favour; it made sure the coin that landed on it had heads facing upwards. Ghulam, who had seen surfaces like these in the QeA for the best part of a decade, understood how to navigate them on day one, his hundred getting Pakistan the runs they needed.Masood has made clear Pakistan’s problems were never about the runs. The overhaul had happened because Pakistan required a way of picking up 20 wickets, but by the time England sped to 211 on day two, just two had fallen. In the last home series Sajid played, he averaged just under 120 runs per wicket; figures of 1 for 70 in 13 here seemed appropriate explanation for why he’d played one Test in the following three years.Being in the wilderness comes naturally to Sajid. He says he has tended to the last-in, first-out through his career stretching back to his junior days. If he failed to deliver when Pakistan had ripped up their long-term plan and publicly declawed their coaches to create bespoke conditions for him, there might just be no way back.He found an area of rough on what was by now a day-seven pitch, and flighted it wider into the degraded dirt. Joe Root didn’t appreciate the changed length and went for the sweep anyway. It is a shot that batters have put away gradually over the past two Tests, and this was the first moment its perils became apparent. Root dragged on, Sajid and Noman ripped through the middle order, and the series turned on a dime.

“Pakistan have performed a weird interpretive dance, insisting it’s a team game in a series that has been all about individuals. Masood and Gillespie, who had their wings clipped. Aaqib, who has become cricket director, selector and coach in all but name. Sajid and Noman, of course, but also Shakeel and Salman”

Before the pair had even finished cleaning England up in the second innings, Aaqib and Dar were speeding along the M-2, making a beeline for Rawalpindi. Until last week, making a spinning track in Pindi was considered impossible; you might as well be planting palm trees in the Arctic Circle.It’s not quite wedding season in Islamabad yet, so the PCB was able to pick up a few of those giant heaters, positioning them close to the pitch five days out from the toss. Giant industrial fans and windbreakers ringfenced the surface, with garden rakes diligently working around the footmarks. People did assume the pitchforks would be out by this stage of the series, but this probably isn’t what they meant. The following day, Dar and Aaqib were among a sizeable group of people working around the pitch; if there were signs asking people not to step on it, they certainly weren’t visible from the media centre.Pakistan had barely used Zahid and Aamer Jamal in Multan, but confidence in the Sajid-Noman duo was so high Pakistan named both in the XI anyway – effectively playing with nine men. The coin landed the other way this time, something Masood had apparently told the group he wanted to happen because winning that way would prove a point. Pakistan opened with spin for the first time in Test history, but even when Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett struck up a 56-run partnership, Masood stuck with Sajid and Noman; they would bowl unbroken for 90 overs across two cities, three innings and eight days.Pakistan have performed a weird interpretive dance, insisting it’s a team game in a series that has been all about individuals. The individuals, like Masood and Gillespie, who had their wings clipped, and those, like Aaqib, who has become cricket director, selector and coach in all but name. Sajid and Noman, of course, but also Saud Shakeel and Salman Ali Agha, who can counter these spinning conditions with the patience that comes with familiarity.Rizwan, perhaps the best keeper in the international game, barely missed a beat in these trying conditions. Jamie Smith’s wicketkeeping credentials were fully put to the test, and missed chances – crucially a drop off Salman’s bat early in his second innings in Multan – began to mount. Individually brilliant players with specific skills in specific conditions, the rest of the team sacrificed to maximise those advantages.Noman Ali and Sajid Khan turned the series on its head•Getty ImagesThe rest of the batters, as Masood pointed out, faced the same problems as England’s did. England’s top four comfortably outscored Pakistan’s over the last two Tests, 118 more runs between them during this time. But contributions through the middle order were scarce, and there was a consistent inability to shoot Pakistan’s lower order out cheaply; four of Pakistan’s seven largest partnerships this series came for the bottom four. Domestic cricket in Pakistan is a scrap, and this very domestic of Pakistani sides was doing just that.***This has been a series played in terrific spirits. England have barely peeped about the spinning surfaces, while Sajid’s boisterous send-offs have been treated as harmless pantomime villainy. No one ever quite mentioned it again, but Pakistan hadn’t forgotten what Duckett had said during the second Test with Pakistan in a position of advantage.”We know that they can crumble and so the pressure is over to them,” Duckett told broadcaster Sky Sports. “We’re 1-0 up in the series, and won the last series 3-0.”He was right, of course. Pakistan had lost each of their last six Tests by falling apart in their second innings, often surrendering a position of relative advantage. In the dying light of the second day in Pindi, though, the tables were turned, and England had to come out in the third innings negotiating a tricky deficit.Pakistan may have produced an overnight formula to come back in the series, but it was far too late for England’s batters to find one that countered Sajid and Noman. They had bowled all but 12 overs since England’s second innings in the second Multan Test, and the rust had been cast off. Before light intervened, Duckett, Crawley and Ollie Pope had their series brought to a close.Pakistan knew better than most how easy it can be to fall apart in the third innings, having made that mistake each of the last five Tests before the turnaround. Now, they were making sure England understood too as they melted away in the face of spin’s ceaseless onslaught. Stokes, for some reason, shouldered arms to an orthodox left-arm spinner from Noman in front of the stumps. Smith tried to take Sajid on as he had in the first innings, never getting to the pitch as he was cleaned up. Root nicked off to Noman, while Rehan Ahmed fell over trying to lap Sajid. An easy stumping gave Rizwan’s series the finish it merited as England fell for 112, their lowest second-innings score since Brendon McCullum and Bazball.This, indeed, as Rizwan senses, is Aaqib-ball. Meet Pakistan’s newest revolution, but keep that matchbox by you.

Mikel Arteta voiced his disappointment after his Arsenal side conceded late on at Sunderland on Saturday evening. Brian Brobbey scored a stoppage-time equaliser in the eventual 2-2 draw as the Dutchman acrobatically finished past David Raya. The result means Arsenal sit just six points clear at the top of the Premier League table following Saturday's action.

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  Arsenal miss chance to open up big lead

  Arsenal went behind through a Dan Ballard goal 10 minutes before the break. The former Gunners trainee rifled past Raya from close range after being played in by fellow defender Nordi Mukiele.

  Mikel Arteta's side pushed hard for an equaliser after the restart and were duly rewarded in the 54th minute as Bukayo Saka beat Robin Roefs at his near post after some good pressing by the visitors to force Enzo Le Fee into a mistake in his own half.

  Martin Zubimendi cannoned an effort off the crossbar as Arsenal looked to go in front and it was Leandro Trossard who came up clutch once more to rifle past Roefs from 20 yards.

  Arsenal looked set for a huge three points but were forced to share the spoils as Brobbey managed to work his way between Raya and Gabriel Magalhaes to bag a late equaliser. 

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• 'I'm upset and frustrated'

  And after the stalemate at the Stadium of Light, Arteta admitted his is 'upset and frustrated' as Arsenal were unable to hold out for what would have been a huge win in the Premier League title race. When asked what his emotions were in that 94th minute, Arteta replied: "Again, unsatisfied because I want to win. And the game was almost there, but you know this is the Premier League and the manner that they play, they're going to hang in there when it's just one goal difference there.

  "I'm upset and frustrated because it's an action that we can defend better, but as well you have to give credit to the opposition to do what they've done, to put the ball there, to head the ball the way they've done it, and then they strike it to do that action and to put the ball in the net and sometimes you have to do that and recognise that as well."

  And on the clean sheet record ending, Arteta said: ""I felt a pain in my tummy. I don't want to concede any goals. It was a goal and put the game in a difficult position."

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  Arteta reserves praise for Sunderland

  Arteta was also asked about Sunderland, and whether the other title challengers will have a difficult game at the Stadium of Light this season. The Black Cats have started the season brilliantly following their promotion, with Saturday's draw taking them up into the top four.

  "That's the Premier League, you don't get to any place in the Premier League where you think you're going to have a comfortable afternoon, evening, how you want to call it," Arteta added. "And again, it's not a coincidence what they are doing, and they decide to be where they are and we do as well."

  Sunderland have already claimed some notable results this season as they beat Chelsea, and drew with Crystal Palace and Aston Villa. Regis Le Bris' side are also the first team to score more than once against Arsenal since Liverpool back in May.

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• Tough games to come for the Gunners

  Arsenal will be hoping that title rivals Manchester City and Liverpool play out a draw when they duo meet at the Etihad Stadium. The Gunners' title rivals sit seven and eight points, respectively, off the north London side, and a stalemate in Manchester will see Arteta's men retain their six-point gap at the top heading into the international break.

  Arsenal then face a testing return to domestic duties later this month as they take on London rivals Tottenham and Chelsea to see out November. Sandwiched in between the successive London derbies is a Champions League tie with Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich.

  Bayern, like Arsenal, were also held to a 2-2 draw on Saturday as a late Harry Kane header rescued a point for the Bavarian giants. Vincent Kompany's men are one of three teams, along with the Gunners and Serie A giants Inter, to boast a 100% record in the Champions League this season.

Liverpool are reportedly prepared to initiate contract talks with Dominik Szoboszlai, as the club looks to secure the future of the Hungarian. It has been revealed that Arne Slot is eager to tie down the playmaker, alongside teammate Ryan Gravenberch, with the Reds preparing for the long haul.

Liverpool ready to secure Szoboszlai’s future

According to Liverpool are preparing to open formal negotiations with Szoboszlai over a new long-term contract. Despite Liverpool’s recent inconsistencies, Szoboszlai has maintained his performance levels and been a benchmark of quality and determination. While summer signing Florian Wirtz continues to struggle, Szoboszlai has started every Premier League and Champions League game this season to cement himself as a vital cog in Slot’s evolving midfield system. 

AdvertisementGOAL Szoboszlai contract update from Romano

Romano confirmed on Friday evening that Liverpool have begun early talks over a new deal. Writing on X, he said: "Liverpool have started talks over new deal with Dominik Szoboszlai, after exclusive story 2 weeks ago. The plan was clear: Szobo and Gravenberch to discuss new contracts soon, as talks started with the Hungarian. Club super happy + top performances."

Szoboszlai and Gravenberch are currently believed to earn around £270,000 a week between them, with both contracts running until 2028. The new deal is expected to extend those terms further by a couple of years and also bring a significant pay rise for both.

Gravenberch’s rise from undesirable to undeniable

Gravenberch’s development has been equally impressive. The Dutchman arrived from Bayern Munich for £40m ($53m) and, after a slow start, he has quietly established himself as one of the team’s most reliable performers. The 22-year-old has contributed three goals and two assists in 11 appearances, and he is regarded as one of the most improved players under Slot’s guidance. 

Meanwhile, Szoboszlai’s performance in Liverpool’s recent 1-0 Champions League victory over Real Madrid was hailed by the fans. He put in a brilliant shift while operating as the engine of Slot’s side, and his teammate Virgil van Dijk reserved high praise as he brought out his best against one of Europe’s toughest opponents. 

"What you see is what you get from Dom," Van Dijk told reporters. "He is very important. The energy he brings on the pitch is incredible and the quality that he has is outstanding. Like you said, he is learning each and every game and he is developing into the player we all feel like he could be. He is already showing that for the country he is playing for and it is about keeping on doing it for the rest of the season. So far he has had a great start to the season and he has to keep going. Keep your head down and keep performing."

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Getty Images SportSeveral contract decisions lined up at Liverpool

Slot’s new-look midfield has been a work in progress, but the trio of Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, and Alexis Mac Allister has provided a dynamic foundation. All three are expected to be tied down with fresh deals to fend away suitors, with the Argentine already linked with a move to Real Madrid. This approach is part of a wider strategic overhaul at Anfield as they are prioritising locking down key talents early rather than risking future contract stand-offs; a lesson that they learnt in a bitter way by losing Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid for just £10m before the Club World Cup. 

Beyond the midfield, Liverpool have other pressing contract matters to resolve. Centre-back Ibrahima Konate and vice-captain Andy Robertson are both entering the final year of their current deals. Discussions with Konate are understood to be ongoing, while Robertson’s future remains uncertain as the club weigh their long-term options.

After a brief, turbulent period under Slot, they have begun to find their rhythm again. Liverpool currently sit third in the Premier League table with 18 points from their first 10 matches. They are seven adrift of leaders Arsenal, but within striking distance as the season enters a crucial phase before the festive period. Next up is a monumental clash with Manchester City at the Etihad. Szoboszlai is certain to feature, and his tireless presence coupled with his creative force, will once again be key to Liverpool’s hopes.