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Ruben Amorim was frustrated and angry with his Manchester United players after failing to beat West Ham at home and blowing the chance to move into the Premier League's top five. Diogo Dalot gave United the lead in the second half, only for Soungoutou Magassa to grab a late leveller following a corner and snatch a point for the relegation-fighting Hammers.

• United unable to beat 18th-placed West Ham

  United slumped to a second successive disappointing result at home following their shock 1-0 defeat against 10-man Everton in their last outing, failing to see off a West Ham side who have only won once away from home this season. Favourable results in the other mid-week games gave United the opportunity to move into fifth but they struggled to create many chances against Nuno Espirito Santo's side, with Bruno Fernandes failing to inspire the hosts and Ayden Heaven looking shaky in his first Premier League start of the season. 

  Amorim was in a spiky mood after the game, looking unimpressed with the questioning but also appearing to be running out of patience with his players.

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  Amorim: We should have closed the game out

  Amorim told a press conference: "Frustrated, angry, that is it. After the first goal, we lost some second balls. We tried to defend all the time far from the goal. It happened long ball, they win the second ball against three guys of us so we need to be better in the second half. We are losing because of the second balls, sometimes it is not more men in front. We are really inconsistent but if you look at the goal, we have a long ball, we have everything under control, we need to do better. I always have the feeling that we have to score more goals and I'm sure about that."

  The coach was particularly annoyed with his team for losing control of the game after Dalot had broken the deadlock. "We should have closed the game with the ball because the game was there to win," he told . "I think the overall performance was not perfect. We had our moments but we lost control in the game in some minutes in the first half and in the second half, especially after the goal. The game was clearly ours to win and we had an opportunity with Cunha to finish the game off. It is really frustrating because you look at the game, you have the game under control and we didn't win."

• Heaven taken off as on a yellow card

  Amorim made a surprising decision before kick off by handing 19-year-old Ayden Heaven his first league start of the season, dropping Leny Yoro following his shaky display in the recent win at Crystal Palace. But the coach then chose to haul Heaven off at half-time and replace him with Yoro. Heaven had been given an early yellow card for a rash tackle on Jarrod Bowen and had struggled against West Ham's centre-forward Callum Wilson.

  "Of course it was the yellow card," Amorim explained. "And we tried to press high and leave one centre back with a striker all the time so any foul there could be a yellow. And we missed Ayden in the set pieces, so we need to be smarter when we play the game."

  Goalscorer Dalot added: "Obviously we are disappointed. We have to control much more of the game, especially at Old Trafford. We cannot get as anxious as we got after the goal, we were more sloppy with possession. We had the game there, it shouldn’t be like this. We knew they would be looking for counters and set plays and it’s more our fault than credit to West Ham. We cannot drop too many points – we want to be in the top four or five, we have to be there. That’s why the disappointment is even bigger."

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  United must respond to setback against winless Wolves

  United four days to lift themselves after the disappointment of the West Ham draw and try to make amends when they visit Wolves, who have taken just two points all season and are on course to accumulate the lowest points total of any team in Premier League history. United have a patchy record against Wolves, however, with Amorim losing both games against the west Midlands side last season.

Jasprit Bumrah hadn’t conceded 20 or more runs in an over since 2020 before Josh Inglis tore into him in Ahmedabad on Sunday night

Sampath Bandarupalli02-Jun-20252:30

Why didn’t Hardik and Santner complete their quota of overs?

204 – The target that Punjab Kings (PBKS) chased down on Sunday, is the highest by any team in the IPL playoffs (or knockouts). The previous highest was 200 by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) against Kings XI Punjab (now PBKS) in the 2014 final.1 – PBKS became the first team to successfully chase down a 200-plus target against Mumbai Indians (MI) in the IPL. The previous highest was 196 by the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in 2020.MI won all the previous 18 instances where they set a 200-plus target in the IPL, and the record was 19-0 in all T20s. Before Sunday’s defeat, they were the only team in the IPL not to lose while defending a 200-plus target.ESPNcricinfo Ltd87* – Shreyas Iyer’s score on Sunday is the second-highest by a captain in the IPL playoffs behind David Warner’s 93* against Gujarat Lions in 2016.8 – Number of successful 200-plus target chases for PBKS in the IPL. No other team in T20 history has successfully chased down 200-plus targets more than five times.Australia, India and South Africa in international cricket, and MI (all IPL), RCB (three in IPL, two in CLT20) and Quetta Gladiators (PSL) all have five successful chases of 200-plus targets.9-2 – MI’s win-loss record while defending a total in the IPL playoffs (or knockouts). Sunday’s defeat was their second in 11 matches while batting first, following the seven-wicket loss to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Eliminator in 2014.8 – 200-plus totals for PBKS in IPL 2025, the joint-highest for any team in a men’s T20 tournament, alongside Gujarat Titans (GT), who also had eight in this year’s IPL.3 – Number of teams that Iyer has led into the finals in the IPL – Delhi Capitals (2020), Kolkata Knight Riders (2024) and PBKS (2025). No other captain has led more than one team to the IPL finals.2:31

‘Such a big over’ – Aaron on Inglis taking 20 off Bumrah in the fifth

1271 – Sixes hit in IPL 2025 so far, the most in an edition, surpassing 1260 sixes in 2024. PBKS batters hit 159 of those 1271, only behind 178 by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and 165 by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in 2024.717 – Runs scored by Suryakumar Yadav in IPL 2025, the highest for any player while batting at No. 3 or lower in a men’s T20 tournament. He bettered the mark of AB de Villiers, who scored 687 runs in IPL 2016.242* – Runs scored by Iyer without being dismissed across the three IPL matches in Ahmedabad. He had unbeaten fifties in all three games, all coming at a strike rate of over 200.20 – Runs that Josh Inglis scored off Jasprit Bumrah in the fifth over on Sunday. Only two other batters have scored as many in an over off Bumrah in the IPL – 26 by Pat Cummins in 2020 and 20 by Dwayne Bravo in 2018.

Over the last couple of years, Tottenham Hotspur have splashed the cash in the attacking department to try and soften the blow of Harry Kane’s departure in 2023.

The Lilywhites spent £55m on the services of Mohammed Kudus this summer, with the Ghanaian occupying a starting role under Thomas Frank off the right-hand side of the frontline.

He’s already made an immediate impact in North London, as seen by his tally of one goal and four assists in the Premier League – with the latter the joint-highest of any player in the division.

However, club-record signing Dominic Solanke has struggled for fitness this campaign, with the £65m addition currently being restricted to just 31 minutes of league action due to an ongoing ankle issue.

Despite the struggles of the Englishman, one first-team member who’s been injury-free has often struggled to meet the high expectations he’s set for himself at the club.

How Johnson compares to Premier League wingers in 2025/26

Last season was arguably the best of Brennan Johnson’s professional career, with the winger ending the campaign on a total of 18 goals across all competitions.

Such a tally was the highest in the first-team squad, which undoubtedly helped catapult the Lilywhites to Europa League glory under Ange Postecoglou’s guidance.

However, many expected the Welshman to kick on after scoring the winner in the final, but Kudus and Frank’s arrival has seen a huge decline in his numbers during the first few months of 2025/26.

The 24-year-old has only registered a total of 0.9 shots per 90 in the league this season, with such a tally ranking him in the 12% percentile – meaning 88% of wingers have managed more in the Premier League.

He’s also created just 0.7 chances per 90 to date, placing him in the 18th percentile, which has restricted him to registering zero assists for his teammates at present.

Johnson has massively struggled to get past the opposition, with his tally of 0.5 dribbles completed per 90 showcasing his lack of impact – subsequently placing him in the 23rd percentile compared to other wingers.

As a result of his dismal form in North London, the club have been constantly on the lookout for other talents, which has resulted in one player appearing on their radar.

Frank's answer to Semenyo

In recent weeks, Spurs have been just one side touted with a potential winter move for Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo after his incredible start to the current campaign.

The Ghanaian has been Andoni Iraola’s shining light to date, as reflected in his remarkable tally of six goals and three assists in just his first 11 matches of 2025/26.

Such form has captured the attention of numerous Premier League outfits, with Arsenal, Liverpool and the Lilywhites just three clubs on red alert for his signature.

It was reported this week that the 25-year-old has a £65m release clause that becomes active from January 1st, which could see one of the aforementioned sides grab themselves a bargain.

However, with competition being fierce for his services, it’s unclear how much of a chance Frank’s men will have in completing a deal for one of the country’s hottest prospects.

Should the Lilywhites miss out on a deal, the fans shouldn’t worry, with the club already having their answer to Semenyo in the form of winger Wilson Odobert, a player described as “a mixture of [Bradley] Barcola and Aaron Lennon” by one Sky Sports analyst.

The Frenchman joined the club in a £25m deal from Burnley last summer, but has had to bide his time in North London, often resorting to minutes off the substitutes bench.

However, in recent weeks, he’s made a major impact on Frank’s side, registering an assist against Manchester United and subsequently securing a point in the 2-2 draw.

Despite his lack of action, Odobert has been labelled a “super talent” by former boss Postecoglou, with Frank needing to hand him a more consistent starting role.

When comparing his stats to those of Semenyo, the 20-year-old has managed to outperform the in-form star in numerous key areas – subsequently showcasing the talent he possesses.

Odobert has managed to achieve an average of 4.5 progressive carries and 4.3 progressive passes per 90 – with both of the aforementioned tallies higher than the Cherries star.

How Odobert & Semenyo compare in the PL (2025/26)

Statistics (per 90)

Odobert

Semenyo

Games played

10

11

Goals & assists

1

9

Progressive carries

4.5

3.1

Progressive passes

4.3

3.5

Pass accuracy

84%

69%

Key passes made

1.4

0.9

Passes into final third

26

1.1

Take-ons completed

54%

42%

Carries into final third

1.9

1.8

Stats via FBref

He’s also completed more of the passes he’s attempted, with more of his efforts being key passes per 90 – subsequently offering a more creative threat in attacking areas.

The Frenchman’s dominance is further reflected in his higher take-on success rate, with Frank desperately needing to place more faith in the youngster.

£65m for Semenyo would still be an excellent deal in the current climate, but ultimately, the Lilywhites should look to avoid a move for the winger in the near future.

Such a transfer would only halt Odobert’s progress in North London, with the youngster still having bags of potential to fulfil during his period under Frank’s guidance.

Related Spurs have their new Parrott in academy star who's been "compared to Kane"

This Tottenham Hotspur youngster could be a future star in North London despite his struggles this season.

Posts ByDan Emery Nov 20, 2025

Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola has refused to rule out a future return to Barcelona, stressing that the club has given him everything both as a player and as a coach. However, the former Barcelona manager believes that younger coaches will emerge who will be eager to take on the job, just as excited as he was in his time.

• Guardiola's glittering career at Barcelona as player and coach

  Guardiola’s story at Barcelona is marked by two remarkable chapters that highlight his influence as both a player and a coach. As a player, he came through La Masia and became the key midfielder in Johan Cruyff’s Dream Team. Playing as a deep lying playmaker, he controlled the tempo, kept the ball moving, and started attacks with calmness and intelligence. His sharp reading of the game and understanding of space made him the ideal player for Cruyff’s style. During his years at the club, he won six La Liga titles, the 1992 European Cup and several domestic trophies.

  When he stepped into the first team coach role in 2008, Guardiola took Barcelona to a new level. He improved the club’s positional play, brought in intense pressing, and moved Lionel Messi into the false nine role, which changed modern attacking football. He also trusted young players, giving opportunities to Sergio Busquets and Pedro who became important parts of the team. In four seasons, he won 14 trophies, including two Champions League titles and three La Liga titles, and left a style of football that still guides Barcelona and influences the world game.

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  Guardiola refuses to rule out a return to Barcelona

  In an interview to Spanish outlet , Guardiola emphasised that the club have given him everything both as a player and as a coach and for this reason he refuses to rule out a return to Barcelona. “I am not ruling out Barca,” he said.

  However, he also noted that there are younger coaches who would feel the same excitement he once did about taking the job. “Life is about stages and right now there are surely young coaches who have the same excitement I had for them at that time,” he added.

• Barca face upheaval as election nears

  Barcelona are heading toward a pivotal presidential election in 2026, scheduled to take place between March and May, with Joan Laporta set to seek re-election. His main challenger will be Victor Font, who has returned to the political scene with a renewed campaign and a strong message of reform. Font has gained significant momentum after receiving public backing from Xavi Hernandez. The former Barcelona coach attended Font’s campaign launch alongside several club dignitaries and ex-players, signalling a clear divide within the Barcelona community.

  Font has openly criticised Laporta’s administration, accusing the club of hiding €80 million (£67m/$87m) in financial losses and questioning the transparency of the board’s decisions. He has also taken aim at Laporta’s handling of the Camp Nou renovation, particularly the decision to award the project’s renewal to Turkish company Limak despite strong internal disagreement and concerns raised by members of the club’s management.

  With Laporta defending his legacy and Font positioning himself as the candidate of structural change, Barcelona’s 2026 elections are shaping up to be a contest that could shape the long-term sporting and financial direction of the club.

  Guardiola weighed in on the elections believing that opposition to Laporta highlights a strong democratic system when he said “‘That's why Barça is the biggest club in the world. We can do this here.”

  He added “Barca is a living club; everyone has their say. Everyone wants to be its president, play for it and manage it.”

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  Guardiola hits 1,000 milestone

  Since leaving Barcelona, Guardiola has gone on to manage German giants Bayern Munich and English club City, where he remains to this day. City’s 3–0 win over Liverpool marked his 1,000th match as a manager. The 54-year-old former Barcelona and Spain midfielder has won 716 of those games, collecting numerous honours at every club he has coached.

  When asked to pick which game he remembers the most, Guardiola said: “I don't know which one to choose… From my time at Barca, there's the 2-6 at Madrid in the first league. There's also the second Champions League final [3-1 win vs Manchester United].

  “With City, I'd go for the semi-final against Madrid at home, which was the high point of this decade.”

  City are set to take on Newcastle United when club football resumes after the international break, while Hansi Flick's team will finally play their first game at Camp Nou in over two years when they take on Athletic Club.

Tottenham Hotspur have some painful attacking teething problems under Thomas Frank. Everything is relative, and there are variables at play, but the struggle to impress on the playmaking front is becoming an unwelcome narrative for the club this season.

But that aside, there is also the sense that purses may need to be pulled out for a new centre-forward in 2026. It feels like Richarlison’s days are numbered at number nine, and Dominic Solanke hasn’t fared all that well since his £55m move from Bournemouth last year, too often injured and too often unconvincing.

Both strikers are 28 years old, and while service has proved thin in recent months, Tottenham will need to consider their options in January.

There is another solution, of course. Randal Kolo Muani appears to have replaced Richarlison as Frank’s first-choice frontman, having started two games in a row in the Premier League.

But, unless a formula is discovered to support him, the Frenchman’s season-long loan spell is going to be a forgettable one.

Randal Kolo Muani's opportunity to shine

Tottenham have more than their share of issues at the moment. It’s an interesting one. They are more stable with Frank at the helm, competitive at the upper end of the Premier League and unbeaten on their return to the Champions League, three games in.

But we cannot ignore the depletion of creativity that has left things feeling rather pedestrian, and even with James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski sidelined since the start of the campaign and a distance away from returning, there is much to improve upon down N17.

Kolo Muani has not scored or assisted across his six outings in a Spurs shirt so far, and the 26-year-old may well feel somewhat aggrieved by the lack of service that came his way against Chelsea, taking only 16 touches across 76 minutes of action, creating a chance and getting stuck in but failing to unleash a single shot (as per Sofascore).

One content creator acknowledged the Les Bleus star for his exciting, progressive efforts when on the ball. However, such efforts were, as stated, few and far between, and he said it “must be absolutely horrible playing up front for this team”.

(1) Crystal Palace

13

18.2

(2) Man City

18

17.8

(3) Man United

15

17.5

(4) Chelsea

18

17.1

(5) Arsenal

18

16.9

(=5) Liverpool

18

16.9

(15) Tottenham

16

10.1

Tottenham don’t create enough chances, and this is impeding Kolo Muani in his desire to get going in white. However, given that he’s only here for the season, it’s unlikely a permanent deal would be explored if things continue as they are.

Especially when the Lilywhites have an exciting up-and-comer making his way toward the surface.

The Spurs talent who could end Kolo Muani's stay

Tottenham have long boasted one of the most efficient production lines in Europe, and Mason Melia is set to make his way as the latest in this long line of hopefuls.

However, while the pathway from youth to professional football is long and treacherous, Melia is regarded as a rising star with the potential to nail down a place under Frank’s wing, with The Athletic’s Connor O’Neill saying he’s “easily the best young talent I have seen in the League of Ireland”.

The 18-year-old striker has already played 98 senior matches for St. Patrick’s Athletic, scoring 25 goals and registering eight assists. Across the 2024/25 campaign, he posted 14 goals and four assists. As a Republic of Ireland U21 international, he has bagged three goals from just four caps so far.

Both confident in front of goal and athletic enough to drive into the danger area himself, not reliant on his creative teammates, Melia could provide a tonic to Spurs’ current tactical pecadillos, lacking as they are in attack.

He is very young, of course, and could hardly be expected to waltz in and prove an instant upgrade on an established European star like Kolo Muani, but Harry Kane proved in the past that a young striker stands a chance of succeeding where senior peers fail.

Tottenham signed the teenager earlier in 2025 for a record-breaking £3m fee, making him the most expensive footballer to leave Ireland’s top flight. However, he has yet to wear the Spurs shirt in a professional capacity, having agreed to leave his homeland in January 2026.

St. Pat’s’ Young Player of the Year last season, he is widely regarded as one of the most exciting talents in Irish football, with his touch and speed and awareness in the final third all suggesting he has the bearing of a Premier League-level striker.

Given the paucity of reliable options in the final third at Tottenham right now, and with Richarlison among those slated to leave next year, Melia could find himself fast-tracked under Frank’s wing, earning regular opportunities in the first team and potentially even outperforming someone like Kolo Muani, who must continue adapting to the English game himself.

Tottenham might need to play the waiting game for now, but with Melia set to arrive in just a few months, he may find himself earning a string of opportunities before the end of the campaign.

And should he impress as if talent suggests is within his capacity, then it’s hardly out of the question to imagine that Melia could be leading the line in the not-too-distant future.

Not just Simons: Spurs dud is becoming one of their worst-ever signings

Tottenham Hotspur appear to have got it all wrong with the addition of one first-team member.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 3, 2025

Rangers boss Danny Rohl was left to settle for what he described as a “fully deserved point” at Tannadice on Wednesday night, although for a club of such stature, these are the type of games that the Ibrox side simply have to win.

Just a few days on from the drab stalemate against Falkirk, the Light Blues were left relying on a last-gasp Nedim Bajrami penalty to bail them out of trouble this time around, having been abject at both ends of the pitch on the night.

Indeed, Bojan Miovski’s dry spell continued, having scored just one Premiership goal since his return to Scotland, while the centre-back pairing of Nasser Djiga and Emmanuel Fernandez were all at sea up against a lively Dundee United forward line.

Rohl, undoubtedly, is paying the price for the chaos that came before him under both Russell Martin and Kevin Thelwell, with the summer recruitment yet again under the microscope.

With question marks over how much will be available to spend in January, the German coach will largely have to make do with what he’s got for now, albeit with key decisions needing to be made.

Record of every Rangers summer signing

Perhaps it is still too early to judge the business that was carried out this summer, although the transfer failures have already helped claim one manager and could well prove fatal for another, unless Rohl can turn things around.

Of course, the biggest backfire appears to be the £8m investment in Everton’s Youssef Chermiti, with a player who failed to score in two years at Goodison Park having since scored just once in his new surroundings.

Former Aberdeen talisman Bojan Miovski hasn’t exactly fared much better, it must be said, with just two goals himself in all competitions for the Glasgow side, ensuring that – perhaps unsurprisingly – captain James Tavernier still leads the way with seven goals from right-back this season.

Despite looking brighter since the change in the dugout, more was certainly expected of Tottenham Hotspur’s teenage sensation, Mikey Moore, with the Englishman joining Thelo Aasgaard and Lyall Cameron in having scored just once in 2025/26 thus far.

Oliver Antman, another marquee summer addition, hasn’t even got off the mark at all, while perhaps the biggest concern lies defensively, with regard to Djiga, in particular.

Rangers’ summer signings (25/26 stats)
Player	Games	Goals (Assists)
Djeidi Gassama	27	6 (2)
Thelo Aasgaard	22	1 (1)
Nasser Djiga	21	0 (0)
Oliver Antman	20	0 (3)
Jayden Meghoma	20	1 (2)
Max Aarons	19	1 (0)
Joe Rothwell	19	0 (2)
Bojan Miovski	18	2 (1)
Mikey Moore	17	1 (2)
Youssef Chermiti	15	1 (1)
Derek Cornelius	12	1 (1)
Lyall Cameron	9	1 (0)
Emmanuel Fernandez	7	2 (0)
Stats via Transfermarkt

Already seemingly looking finished at Ibrox, following a string of errors in recent months, the on-loan Wolverhampton Wanderers man has been this season’s key disaster, epitomising a transfer window that won’t be forgotten in a hurry.

The Burkina Faso international has at least been consistent in struggling right from the off, with there perhaps more confusion over the shifting form of fellow new addition, Djeidi Gassama.

Martin's "shining light" now needs to be benched by Rohl

If there was just one positive from the brief Martin era, it was the early performances of young Gassama, with the ex-Sheffield Wednesday starlet looking particularly impressive in Champions League qualifying.

Four goals in just six games in that early round of European games suggested that Rangers had hit the jackpot with their £2.2m addition, with former England international Chris Waddle among those lauding him as a potential “bargain”:

From looking like the “shining light” under Martin’s watch, in the view of former Gers defender Alan Hutton, the France-born winger has frustratingly failed to kick on since then, with that Champions League form looking like a red herring on current evidence.

Indeed, since then, the underwhelming wideman has scored just once and provided only two assists in the Premiership, alongside chipping in with a further goal in the Europa League against Sturm Graz.

An asset in continental action, Gassama has been unable to replicate that form domestically, even despite reuniting with Rohl in recent weeks, following their prior link at Hillsborough.

The youngster was particularly poor during the draw with the Tangerines, having lost the ball 20 times from just 56 touches, while boasting a dismal pass accuracy rate of just 67%, as per Sofascore.

Part of a forward line that just isn’t clicking into gear, Gassama also squandered two big chances and completed just a solitary successful cross, having perhaps been fortunate to last the full 90 minutes in truth.

With young Findlay Curtis among those waiting in the wings, Rohl must forego any potential favouritism and shake things up next time around.

Gassama just isn’t looking like the player he did back in July and August…

Rangers "passenger" has been so bad that he makes Dowell look good

This Glasgow Rangers flop is currently making Kieran Dowell look like a good player by comparison.

By
Dan Emery

Dec 3, 2025

Bavuma will return to action after a calf injury and will be available for the second of two first-class matches to be played in Bengaluru.

Firdose Moonda16-Oct-2025South Africa Test captain Temba Bavuma is set to return to action from a calf injury on an A squad tour to India later this month. Bavuma is currently sitting out the Test series in Pakistan, and has also not been named in the ODI squad with a view to recovering in time to lead South Africa in India. He will be available for the second of two first-class matches to be played in Bengaluru.South Africa will play two Tests, three ODIs and five T20Is in India between November 14 and December 19. It is their second successive away tour to the subcontinent after the ongoing one in Pakistan, and the second in the 2025-2027 WTC cycle. Bavuma was not able to lead them immediately in defence of their WTC title after he strained his calf during the white-ball series in England in September.The four-day squad will be captained by top-order batter Marques Ackerman, and includes Zubayr Hamza and Prenelan Subrayan, who are both with the Test squad in Pakistan. Subrayen played in the Lahore match, which South Africa lost by 93 runs. Seamer Codi Yusuf, who has played white-ball cricket for South Africa has also been named. The two four-day games will be played at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru from October 30 to November 9.South Africa A will also play three fifty-over matches against India A in Rajkot between November 13 to 19. Teenage left-arm seamer Kwena Maphaka will make his comeback from a hamstring injury, which has kept him out of the white-ball series in Pakistan, in those matches.