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The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has made clear that bilateral contests are off but matches in multi-nation tournaments can go ahead

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Aug-2025India will not host or visit Pakistan for bilateral contests, but their athletes and teams can take part in multi-nation events that also involve Pakistan, clearing the path for their upcoming fixtures in the men’s Asia Cup in September and the women’s ODI World Cup in October.Pakistan sportspersons can also participate in multilateral events hosted by India.The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports set down these guidelines in a statement, clarifying the Indian government’s position on sporting relations with Pakistan at a time of strained political relations between the two South Asian countries. The statement left one question unanswered: whether Indian athletes can take part in multilateral events hosted by Pakistan.Related

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The statement comes less than three weeks from the scheduled start of the Asia Cup in the UAE, where India and Pakistan, drawn in the same group, are set to meet at least once (on September 14 in Dubai), and potentially up to three times. It will be India’s first cricket match against Pakistan since the two countries exchanged cross-border hostilities following the Pahalgam terror attack in April.There have been calls, in this climate, for India to boycott all sporting contact with Pakistan. During July’s World Championship of Legends, a tournament featuring retired players, both matches between the teams from the two countries had been abandoned, with the India Champions forfeiting their semi-final against the Pakistan Champions.With the Indian government making its stand clear, India now have official sanction to play Pakistan in the Asia Cup, which was originally to be hosted by India before being moved to the UAE in July.”In so far as bilateral sports events in each other’s country are concerned, Indian teams will not be participating in competitions in Pakistan. Nor will we permit Pakistani teams to play in India,” the ministry’s statement said.In a time of heightened geopolitical tensions, calls for India to boycott all sporting contact with Pakistan have grown louder•Associated Press

“With regard to international and multilateral events, in India or abroad, we are guided by the practices of international sports bodies and the interest of our own sportspersons. It is also relevant to take into account India’s emergence as a credible venue to host international sports events.”Accordingly, Indian teams and individual players will take part in international events that also have teams or players from Pakistan. Similarly, Pakistani players and teams will be able to participate in such multilateral events hosted by India.”To position India as a preferred destination for hosting international sporting events, the visa process for sportspersons, team officials, technical personnel, and office-bearers of International Sports Governing Bodies shall be simplified. In respect of office-bearers of International Sports Governing Bodies, a multi-entry visa shall be granted on priority basis for the duration of their official tenure, subject to a maximum period of five years. This shall facilitate their smooth movement into and within the country, in accordance with international norms. Due protocol and courtesies, as per established practice, shall be extended to the Heads of International Sports Governing Bodies during their visits to India.”The statement lays down in unambiguous terms what have been the Indian government’s unwritten guidelines for cricketing engagements with Pakistan for more than a decade. The two countries have not met in a bilateral series in any format since 2012, but they have faced off multiple times at the ODI and T20 World Cups, the Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup.Pakistan have visited India for the T20 World Cup in 2016 and the ODI World Cup in 2023, but India did not visit Pakistan for the 2025 Champions Trophy. Their matches, including their semi-final and final, were played in Dubai. The BCCI and the PCB have agreed on this hybrid model for all remaining ICC events in the 2024-27 cycle.

Quinton de Kock reversed his white-ball retirement earlier this year, and scored 239 runs at 119.5 during three ODIs in Pakistan

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Nov-2025Quinton de Kock has had a little bit of fun already in his second stint as an ODI cricketer. Having initially retired after the World Cup in 2023, he made himself available for South Africa again earlier this year and had a good run in Pakistan, scoring 239 runs in three matches at an average of 119.5.”I think he’s big, he’s massive,” South Africa batting coach Ashwell Prince said. “With Rohit [Sharma] and Virat [Kohli] coming to the Indian team, I think Quinny probably has a similar effect coming into our team with his experience, with his quality that we saw in Pakistan.”His presence definitely boosted the dressing room and we got quite a few young left-handers and just quite a few young players in the team. For them to sit around and have a few conversations with him and also be out with him in the middle and bat with him, I think that does a lot for their growth – being able to bat with him out in the middle. So he is a big influence for us.”Related

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South Africa are also looking forward to seeing the heights Marco Jansen can reach after the allrounder played a starring role in helping them beat India 2-0 in the Test series. Prince broke down key elements of Jansen’s contributions in Guwahati – 93 off 91 with the bat, and 6 for 48 with the ball.”I think what’s important for Marco is clarity about how he bats. When you’re batting at No. 8, No. 9, generally you don’t have a lot of partners. So for him… once he gets in, he needs to score quickly, because he’s only got one or two partners to come. So playing an aggressive role is something that we discussed.And then to follow that up with the ball in the way that he did. Again, we talk about assessing the conditions. When we come to India, we don’t expect the pitches to bounce as much as that one did. So we assess this communication between our batters and our bowlers. And our batter’s feedback was that the bounce is quite steep. Maybe we should look to use the bounce more than what we anticipated. And the bounce was quite steep and it was difficult to handle… Therefore, we say adapting to what is in front of us is the most important thing.”

A Manchester City star who Pep Guardiola recently called “incredible” now wants to leave in the January transfer window, and a Premier League club have emerged as potential suitors.

Man City could be rocked by multiple departures this winter

The January transfer window is now less than a month away, but Guardiola has insisted it is “too early” to start thinking about potential additions to the squad, with a busy month ahead, as his side look to keep the pressure on Arsenal in the Premier League title race.

With the north Londoners being held to a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge, following City’s 3-2 victory against Leeds United on Saturday, there is now a five-point gap, and the games are coming thick and fast, with Guardiola’s side set to play seven games this month, including a trip to Fulham tonight.

In truth, there are signs that some additions could be needed this winter, given that the Blues arguably aren’t the side they once were, having only managed to scrape past Leeds, after suffering back-to-back defeats against Newcastle United and Bayer Leverkusen.

However, Man City could also be rocked by a couple of departures, according to a report from The Daily Mail, which states James Trafford wants out just five months after moving to the Etihad Stadium, while fellow goalkeeper Stefan Ortega is also open to a move.

Trafford was originally told he would be joining as the new first-choice goalkeeper, but the former Burnley man has found game time hard to come by recently, with Gianluigi Donnarumma emerging as the preferred option between the sticks.

The 23-year-old’s chances of going to the World Cup with England are under threat, with Thomas Tuchel only willing to take players receiving regular minutes, which means a January move would make sense, and Newcastle United are expected to make an approach.

"Incredible" Trafford needs to be playing consistently

Guardiola recently made it clear he is a big fan of the Englishman, saying: “With Trafford, I see the training sessions and for a long time I haven’t seen a goalkeeper as good as James. We have two incredible keepers.”

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Having equalled the record for clean sheets in a single season in English football during 2024-25, it is little wonder the £50k-a-week shot-stopper is eager to be playing consistently, particularly considering his chances of going to the World Cup are in jeopardy.

Guardiola’s side are in safe hands, with Donnarumma making a solid start to life at City, keeping six clean sheets in all competitions, while also ranking highly across some key metrics for goalkeepers over the past year.

Gianluigi Donnarumma’s key statistics

Average per 90 (past year)

Goals against

0.89 (95th percentile)

Save %

50% (87th percentile)

Clean sheet percentage

35% (80th percentile)

Letting Trafford leave could be risky, given that the goalkeeper could be a quality back-up option for Donnarumma if the Italian were to get injured, but the Englishman is simply too good to play second fiddle, and City shouldn’t stand in his way this January.

Arsenal handed Bayern Munich their first defeat of the season with a commanding 3-1 Champions League win at the Emirates, ending the German champions’ 18-game unbeaten run. Vincent Kompany admitted his side were deservedly second best, while Arsenal strengthened their position as the competition’s only perfect team after five group-stage victories.

• Arsenal outclass Bayern to end their unbeaten run

  Arsenal and Bayern arrived at the Emirates stadium as Europe’s two most in-form sides, both unbeaten in the Champions League and dominating their domestic leagues. But from the opening whistle, it was the Premier League leaders who showed greater intensity, control and aggression in key moments.

  The hosts struck first through Jurrien Timber, who rose above Manuel Neuer to nod in Bukayo Saka’s corner. Bayern equalised when 17-year-old Lennart Karl reacted quickest in a crowded box, but the Bundesliga champions struggled to build on that moment. Too many attacks broke down in midfield, and Arsenal constantly regained control through quick combinations and wide overloads.

  The second half was even more one-sided. Noni Madueke’s clever movement allowed him to turn in Riccardo Calafiori’s low cross, restoring the Gunner's lead. The Bavarians pushed for a response, but their biggest chance, a Serge Gnabry acrobatic attempt went begging. Moments later, Neuer’s misjudged rush off his line allowed Gabriel Martinelli to score from distance, wrapping up Arsenal’s first victory over Bayern in 10 years.

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  Kompany accepts defeat, Gnabry highlights Arsenal’s strength

  Kompany didn’t hide behind excuses after the final whistle, acknowledging that Arsenal were fully deserving of the result. "I don't like excuses," the Belgian said to reporters. "We've lost now, and let's be honest: Arsenal were better today, and we have to fix that from Saturday onwards."

  Former Arsenal academy product Serge Gnabry echoed his manager’s honesty, pointing to moments where Bayern simply couldn’t cope with Arsenal’s constant pressure. "You have to accept that you lose sometimes," said Gnabry to "Arsenal are a very strong opponent; they haven't won all their games so far for nothing. They had a period where they pressed us back with a lot of corner kicks. We didn't manage to do much in the second half."

• Arsenal’s perfect run continues as Bayern's ends

  The Premier League leaders' performance underlined why they remain the Champions League’s last team with a 100 per cent record. Their pressing structure suffocated Bayern’s build-up, their set-piece dominance caused repeated problems, and their transitions exploited every defensive gap left by Kompany’s side.

  For Bayern, the defeat ends an 18-match unbeaten run and exposes cracks that had not been punished in earlier European fixtures. After impressive wins over Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea, they were second-best in intensity and duels, areas usually considered Die Roten's strengths. Even with 12 points from five matches, their hold on top spot in the group is no longer guaranteed.

  The Gunners, meanwhile, have now established themselves as genuine contenders for the Champions League’s latter stages, the only club still boasting 15 points from 15.

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  Bayern turn attention to St. Pauli as Arsenal prepare for Chelsea

  Arsenal will ride the confidence of this statement victory straight into a Premier League showdown with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, a fixture that could further strengthen their grip at the top of the table. Mikel Arteta’s side look increasingly balanced, and the win over Bayern will only deepen belief within the squad.

  For Bayern, the focus is now on a swift response. Kompany’s side face St. Pauli in the Bundesliga this weekend, aiming to put the defeat behind them and reinforce their commanding league position. With 31 points from 11 games and only one draw so far, Bayern remain in control of their domestic campaign — but this loss will serve as a reminder of the margins at the highest level. A convincing performance at the weekend would help steady the mood as the Champions League group stage nears its conclusion.

  All eyes will now be on how both sides respond, with knockout qualification approaching and momentum in Europe more valuable than ever.

Celtic have roughly two weeks to decide what they want to do with the manager position at the club before they are back in Scottish Premiership action after the international break.

Martin O’Neill is currently in place as the interim manager of the Scottish giants and has won both of his league matches in charge of the club, including a 4-0 win over Kilmarnock on Sunday.

The experienced head coach did, however, lose 3-1 to FC Midtjylland in the Europa League and needed extra time to secure a 3-1 win over Rangers, who went down to ten men in the first half, in the semi-final of the League Cup.

It, therefore, remains to be seen whether or not it would be the right call to give O’Neill more time after the international break to take charge of the team, until a permanent successor to Brendan Rodgers can be found.

The Northern Irish boss won the Premiership title in his two full seasons back at the club, but the Hoops are currently seven points adrift of Hearts in the league table, and need someone to turn it around.

One manager who has been touted with a potential move to Glasgow to save the club’s season is Bodo/Glimt head coach Kjetil Knutsen, who is among the contenders for the job.

The latest on Kjetil Knutsen to Celtic

TEAMtalk have reported that the Hoops are preparing to make an approach to appoint the Norwegian head coach to be their long-term successor to Rodgers at Parkhead.

The outlet claimed that Knutsen is keen to take the next step in his career and that the prospect of European football and a decent budget in Glasgow matches his ambitions for his next job.

Journalist Graeme Bailey, though, recently claimed that Knutsen wants to finish the Champions League campaign with Bodo/Glimt, which could see their season run until the end of January.

This means that O’Neill would have to stay in place for another couple of months, at least, as the interim manager, which would also mean that he would be in charge for the rest of the league phase of the Europa League.

Celtic, therefore, have to weigh up whether or not landing Knutsen in the long-term is worth potentially not qualifying from the league phase of the Europa League, given that O’Neill lost his first European game fairly comprehensively.

Kjetil Knutsen’s Bodo/Glimt in the Eliteserien

Season

Matches played

Goals scored

2025

28

78

2024

30

71

2023

30

78

2022

30

86

2021

30

59

2020

30

103

2019

30

64

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Knutsen’s Bodo/Glimt side score plenty of goals and his style of play would be exciting for supporters to watch if it works in Scotland, which is one reason why the wait may be worth it.

He has also won the Eliteserien title in four of the last five full seasons, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he can win domestic titles on a consistent basis.

Celtic want to interview Championship manager

Knutsen is not the only manager in the club’s sights, though, and they are interested in a head coach who could come in as a dream alternative to the Norwegian.

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According to TEAMtalk, Celtic are also looking at Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna as a possible option to be their long-term successor to Rodgers.

The report claims that the Premiership champions want to interview the Northern Irish head coach, who is currently managing the Tractor Boys in the Championship.

It adds that he is the ‘domestic dream’ for the Hoops, whilst Knutsen is said to be their preferred foreign candidate, which suggests that McKenna and Knutsen are the two favourites for the job.

TEAMtalk also reveals that it would cost at least £5m in compensation to snap the former Manchester United youth coach up, but it remains to be seen whether or not that would be a stumbling block for the club from a financial perspective.

Why McKenna would be a dream alternative to Knutsen for Celtic

McKenna, who was described as “incredible” by Ipswich winger Wes Burns, would be the dream alternative to Knutsen for several reasons, not least because this latest report names him as the club’s ‘dream’ domestic target.

Unlike the Norwegian, who wants to stay at Bodo/Glimt well into January, and possibly beyond, the Tractor Boys head coach does not have a Champions League campaign that would mean he is not available in the here and now.

This means that Celtic would be able to bring him to the club immediately, rather than having to wait two months, and he would be in the dugout for the league phase of the Europa League, the final of the League Cup, and plenty of crucial Premiership matches in the title race.

McKenna, who got Neil Lennon’s backing in the clip above, would be a better option than Knutsen in the short-term because of that, whilst he also has experience in British football.

As good as Knutsen has been with Bodo/Glimt, he has never managed outside of his home country and it would be a risk to expect him to hit the ground running when he has no prior experience in British football.

Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich career

Season (games managed)

Points

League finish

25/26 Championship (14)

23

TBC

24/25 Premier League (38)

22

19th

23/24 Championship (46)

96

2nd

22/23 Championship (46)

98

2nd

21/22 League One (23)

41

11th

Stats via Transfermarkt

McKenna, as you can see in the table above, has plenty of experience in England across the top three divisions, taking Ipswich from League One up to the Premier League with back-to-back promotions.

Whilst they were relegated from the Premier League at the first time of asking, the Northern Irish boss has still progressed the Tractor Boys as a club, as they are currently fighting for promotion in the Championship, after he took them over as a midtable League One side in the 2021/22 campaign.

This shows that he can progress a club, whilst achieving success on the pitch, which is why he could be a good option for Celtic, despite having never won a league title in his career as a coach so far.

McKenna may not have the titles under his belt that Knutsen has, but the Ipswich boss has an impressive track record with Ipswich, knowledge of British football and markets, and would be available two months earlier, which is why he would be a dream alternative.

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Afghanistan needed just 10 Tests to post their maiden 600-plus total, as they broke a host of records against Zimbabwe

Sampath Bandarupalli30-Dec-2024699 Afghanistan’s total against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo is their highest in the format, bettering the 545 for 4 they posted in 2021, also against Zimbabwe in Abu Dhabi.10 Test matches that Afghanistan needed to post their maiden 600-plus total, the fewest among the ten teams with a 600-plus total in this format. The previous fewest was by Pakistan, who made 657 for 8 against West Indies in 1958, their 19th match.