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Cult figure released from final year of contract to spend more time with family in South Africa

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Mar-2025Roelof van der Merwe has left Somerset by mutual consent after agreeing an early exit from his contract, bringing a long association with the county to an end.Van der Merwe first played for Somerset in 2011 as an overseas player, then returned as a local in 2016 after switching national allegiance from South Africa to the Netherlands. He has played for the county 185 times across formats and was due to return for white-ball cricket in 2025, but has terminated his deal ahead of the next season.He said in a club statement that, at 40, he felt unable to commit to spending the summer in the UK and away from his family, who are based in South Africa. Van der Merwe still intends to play internationally for the Netherlands.”With the English white-ball season now running from May until September, that’s a long time to be away from my wife and children,” van der Merwe said. “At this stage of my career, I feel that it’s time to put my family first whilst still looking to pursue my international career. I spoke with the club, and they agreed to release me one year early and I’m grateful for that.”There’s a great group of players here and we had some great success together. Somerset will always have a special place in my heart, and I’ve loved every minute. The club, the members and supporters have been phenomenal. Somerset hasn’t just been about cricket for me, it’s been a real part of my life for nine years.”Van der Merwe was part of two trophy-winning squads at Somerset, playing in their win over Hampshire in the 2019 Royal London Cup final and making 10 appearances as they won the T20 Blast in 2023. Last year, he played 12 games in the Blast, including all three knockout games as Somerset lost to rivals Gloucestershire in the final.His finest moment in a Somerset shirt came in 2017, when he walked in at 22 for 5 in a chase of 291 in a televised 50-over game against Surrey and thrashed 165 not out off 152 balls. Another highlight was a 15-ball 48 not out to rescue a three-wicket win in a rain-reduced T20 game at Bristol in 2022.Andy Hurry, Somerset’s director of cricket, said that the club “totally respect and understand” van der Merwe’s decision. “To say that he has been a tremendous servant to the club would be something of an understatement,” Hurry said. “To put it simply, he is the absolute personification of the model professional.”During his time with Somerset, he has put in countless match-winning contributions with the bat, the ball and in the field. His work ethic has been exemplary from day one and he is a genuine role model as well as being an incredibly popular member of the dressing room.”Roelof will rightly be remembered as one of our most important players of recent years and everyone associated with the club wishes him all the very best as he seeks to end his career positively with the Netherlands. He will forever receive a warm welcome at the Cooper Associates County Ground.”

After taking four wickets, he scored the winning run in the chase as Nepal won with one ball to spare

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Jun-2025After an unprecedented three Super Overs were needed to decide the winner between Nepal and Netherlands on Monday, Nepal and Scotland threatened another Super-Over finish in Glasgow on Tuesday. It came down to Nepal needing four off six balls, with three wickets in hand. After picking off singles off the first three balls, Kiran Thagunna fell for 10 off 16 balls, leaving Nepal needing one off the last two balls. Sandeep Lamichhane, who had bagged figures of 4-1-11-4 earlier in the day, found a single to finish it off with one ball to spare.Having suffered a heartbreaking defeat against Netherlands, Nepal adjusted fairly well to the quick turnaround, skittling Scotland for 97 in 19.4 overs, their second-lowest T20I total at home. In 2018, in Edinburgh, they had been dismissed for 82 against Pakistan.Nepal suffered a collapse of their own during the small chase of 98, but eventually scraped home. It was legspinner Lamichhane who had set up the win with his four-wicket haul after experienced seamer Karan KC and Dipendra Singh Airee had made early inroads. Lamichhane picked up four of the last five Scotland wickets that fell. Scotland’s innings ended when Airee bowled Michael Leask for a run-a-ball 46 in the final over of their innings. Apart from Leask, captain Matthew Cross was the only Scotland batter to pass 10.In response, Nepal lost both Lokesh Bam and Anil Sah within the first four overs of the chase. What was 24 for 2 soon became 38 for 3 when captain Rohit Paudel was bowled by Safyaan Sharif for 7 off 14 balls. Kushal Bhurtel, though, briefly stabilised the chase, scoring 14 of the 31 runs Nepal made in the powerplay.Bhurtel moved to 30 off 35 balls before he was trapped lbw by Mark Watt in the 13th over. Airee and Basir Ahamad then departed soon after, causing jitters. When Rupesh Singh was dismissed for 4 off nine balls, Nepal needed another 10 off 12 deliveries. The requirement then came down to four off six balls. Despite Thagunna’s dismissal in the final over, Nepal got the job done, handing Scotland their first defeat in the tri-series.

Karun Nair has been granted the NOC to return to the side he played most of his domestic cricket for

Shashank Kishore22-Jul-2025Karun Nair, currently with the India team playing Test cricket in England, is set to return to Karnataka three seasons after his last appearance for the team. Nair, who was with Vidarbha the past two seasons, received a no-objection-certificate (NOC) from the Vidarbha Cricket Association on Monday evening, allowing him to turn out for his original state team.”I’d like to thank VCA for everything they’ve done for me in the last two years,” Nair said in a statement. “Whatever I’ve achieved in the last two years is credit to how they managed me and took care of me like I was their own. Grateful to the VCA, and all the players and support staff.”As a team, we achieved special things. The atmosphere was so positive. The opportunity to lead such an amazing bunch during the Vijay Hazare and achieving success in the Ranji Trophy is something I’ll look back on very fondly.”Nair’s return to Karnataka comes at a time when his stocks have risen considerably from the time he had left. Having been a central figure in Vidarbha’s run to their third Ranji Trophy title earlier this year, Nair earned a recall to India’s Test squad after more than eight years on the back of his 863 runs in 16 innings with four centuries at 53.93. This included a match-winning century in the final against Kerala – Kerala, interestingly, had been keen on signing Nair around the time he was left out of the Karnataka squad in 2021-22.Nair also had a record-breaking run in the 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy, where he captained Vidarbha to a runners-up finish. He made a chart-topping 779 runs in eight innings, with five consecutive hundreds, while striking at 124.01. During the tournament, he set a new List A record of scoring the most runs (542) without being dismissed.Related

• Nair takes his long-awaited chance to light up big stage again

He hasn’t produced anything near the same volume of runs on tour in England so far. Having warmed up for the series with a double-century for India A against England Lions in Beckenham, Nair has so far produced scores of 0, 20, 31, 26, 40 and 14 in the three Tests; his four most recent knocks coming at No. 3.Nair returns to a Karnataka set-up teeming with talented batters. R Smaran, KL Shrijith and KV Aneesh all had breakout seasons in 2024-25. Smaran topped the runs tally for Karnataka, hitting 516 runs in ten innings during the Ranji season, while Shrijith hit a century on first-class debut. With Mayank Agarwal likely to continue as captain and Devdutt Padikkal a definite starter, there could be a healthy selection dilemma for the team management. There might also a slight deviation from the Karnataka State Cricket Association’s stance of looking to the future, something the departure of senior players K Gowtham and Manish Pandey were examples of.Meanwhile, seamer V Koushik has obtained an NOC from Karnataka to shift to Goa for the upcoming season. A late bloomer who gave up a corporate job to make his Ranji debut in 2019-20 at 27, Koushik emerged as one of the key members of Karnataka’s pace attack following the retirements of R Vinay Kumar, Abhimanyu Mithun and S Aravind. Koushik was Karnataka’s leading wicket-taker in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy; his 23 wickets across seven matches came at 18.73. This included two five-wicket hauls.

Grace Harris holds her nerve at the death as Fire make mess of run chase

ECB Media09-Aug-2025London Spirit snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in Cardiff to clinch a last-ball thriller against Welsh Fire in the Hundred and maintain their 100% record at the start of this year’s competition.Having been bowled out for 124, Spirit were staring down the barrel with Welsh Fire well set on 73 for 1 in reply, but the home side stumbled as the finish line approached and ultimately fell short.With just 24 runs needed from the last 20 balls, and eight wickets in hand, the result seemed a formality but Sophia Dunkley and Jess Jonassen fell as Spirit inched their way back into the contest, and Grace Harris held her nerve with ball in hand to defend seven runs from the final five balls.That the visitors were in the game at the halfway mark at all, despite having been bowled out, was predominantly due to Charli Knott, who made 47.Knott’s effort – for which she was awarded Meerkat Match Hero – knitted together what was a strange innings, with wickets falling in clusters. Legspinner Katie Levick took two in two and recorded figures of 3 for 26.Levick and her fellow bowlers would have thought they may have done enough, but while Welsh Fire looked favourites for much of the game – with Hayley Matthews and Dunkley classy as ever – they weren’t able to get over the line.It signals a second consecutive defeat for Tammy Beaumont’s side, but for Charlie Dean’s defending champions it’s top place and two from two.Match Hero Knott said: “I was definitely a little bit nervous out on the boundary there at the end. I think we knew we were in the game, Gracie pulled off a great over, and we’re very excited to get the win there.”It was a little bit tough when I started my innings. I tried to just get into my innings and hit the sweepers hard, and then I was able to cash in a little bit at the end. I think the wicket just held up a little bit, and we got caught out playing across the line a little bit so the gameplan was to hit the sweepers hard and it paid off for me in the end.”I think in close games like that everyone just has to try and stay nice and level. I think we knew we were in the game from the start, it wasn’t a road by any means, so everyone was on their toes hunting from the get-go, which was great to see. To pull off a win like that, everyone will be in high spirits, so we’ll take the momentum for sure and hopefully keep rolling through.”

Rest of India lost a wicket off the first ball of the third day of the Irani Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Oct-2025
Vidarbha strengthened their grip on the Irani Cup fixture by taking a sizeable first-innings lead against Rest of India and then extending it to 224 on the third day in Nagpur.The day began with Rest of India on 142 for 5 in response to Vidarbha’s 342, with their captain Rajat Patidar and Manav Suthar at the crease. Vidarbha fast bowler Aditya Thakare struck with the first ball of the day, dismissing Suthar lbw after successfully reviewing the umpire’s not-out decision.Yash Thakur took the next two wickets, bowling Saransh Jain with a yorker and having Akash Deep caught at cover. Patidar had resumed his innings on 42 and got to 66 with ten boundaries before he was the penultimate wicket to fall – caught off fast bowler Harsh Dubey while trying to clear the long-off boundary.Thakur picked up the final wicket to dismiss Rest of India for 214, finishing with figures of 4 for 66 and giving Vidarbha a first-innings lead of 128.Vidarbha’s openers Atharva Taide and Aman Mokhade put on 42 for the first wicket in the second innings before Taide holed out to deep midwicket off Suthar. Mokhade fell for 37 in the 24th over, caught behind while trying to hook Gurnoor Brar. From 64 for 2, Dhruv Shorey and Danish Malewar steered Vidarbha to 96 at stumps, ahead by 224 runs with eight wickets in hand.

He was not informed of the decision to drop Shamim, and said he has been told he would have little say in squad selection

Mohammad Isam26-Nov-2025T20I captain Litton Das has expressed his unhappiness with the Bangladesh selectors’ decision of dropping Shamim Hossain from the squad for the first two T20Is against Ireland. Chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain said last Friday that they were dropping Shamim to give Mahidul Islam Ankon a chance in the middle order.Litton, however, said that the selectors didn’t inform him or coach Phil Simmons about such a decision.”I think it would have been better if [Shamim] was in the team. But this is not my call, [it is] totally the selectors’ call,” Litton said. “I don’t know why, but the selector dropped Shamim without giving us notice. I have known that a captain would know which player would be in the team, and which player would be out of the team. I don’t see any reason behind Shamim getting dropped. It would have been better if he was in the team.”Related

• Bangladesh look to fine-tune their prep for T20 World Cup

• Saifuddin returns but no Taskin for first two T20Is vs Ireland

Litton also said that he has received a directive that he would have little say in squad selection. Litton, however, did not say where the instructions came from or when he got them.”The selection panel and board has told me that I have to totally work with whatever team they have selected,” Litton said. “I can’t have a say about which player I want or don’t want. I have known for a long time that a captain has a planning for organising the team. Recently, I have been informed that my job is to deliver something good from the field with [the] team that I have been given.”Litton, however, said that he will continue leading the side despite such conditions given to his leadership. “I won’t say it is insulting, but I think the captain and coach must be informed. We don’t know anything about [the selection]. If the same thing happens during the World Cup, I will try to implement with the team to the best of my ability.””Why not Shamim [Hossain]? He performed extraordinarily in some of the series” – Litton Das•AFP/Getty Images

Litton also said “sorry” to Shamim, calling it a disappointment for the player.”It won’t disturb the team but [the situation] is disappointing,” Litton said. “You can’t expect the same performance in every series from every player. We have been trying to build a team for a long time. Why not Shamim? He performed extraordinarily in some of the series. Getting dropped from there, it is disappointing for Shamim.”As a captain, I can’t say anything more than sorry to Shamim. I don’t expect all 15 players in my squad to perform at the same level. We have to back a player when he doesn’t perform in two or three series. I am really sorry that I couldn’t back him.”Shamim has had only single-digit scores in his last three T20I outings for Bangladesh, which may have prompted the selectors to drop him. Shamim, however, has made some important contributions in Bangladesh’s T20I revival this year. He made 48 against Sri Lanka in Dambulla in July. That innings took Bangladesh to a massive win, which is now considered as a turning point for them.Shamim also contributed against Sri Lanka and Pakistan in the Asia Cup. His 22-ball 33 against Afghanistan in early October was the last time he reached double figures, before his run of three successive single-digit scores in T20Is.Meanwhile, chief selector Gazi made a statement after Litton’s comments on the non-selection of Shamim.”Our focus should be on the Ireland series that’s coming up, but because of what our captain Litton Das said at a press meet, I wanted to say a few things,” Gazi said. “We held a brief meeting with the captain and coach before the Bangladesh squad for the Ireland T20Is was announced. When we asked about his opinion about Shamim Hossain, Litton Das told us that he wants Shamim in the team against Ireland. He also informed us that he spoke to the coach [Simmons], who said he also wants the same batters who played against West Indies, in the next T20I squad.”After discussing with Hasibul Hossain [another selector], we decided to leave out Shamim from the squad. We thought that we will announce the squad for the first two matches so that if we win the series by then, we can do some experiment in the third T20I. We announced the team following the rules, after going through cricket operations and the board. The selectors don’t always have to agree with the captain and coach when making selection calls. We don’t have to take any permission. We are accountable to the board.”

Swansea City managed to secure all three points against Millwall in Saturday’s Championship fixture, which helped keep their play-off dream alive. 

The Swans will have their sights set on securing a play-off spot in the current campaign, having enjoyed a rather successful time of things in the Championship recently.

Interestingly, the Welsh club managed to secure a player agreement recently, as according to Swansea City’s official website, Courtney Baker-Richardson has signed a new deal.

The 23-year-old joined the Swans in the summer of 2017 and it’s safe to say that he’s impressed during his time at the Liberty Stadium, scoring three goals in 12 appearances.

Here’s what the forward had to say about signing a new deal:

“I’m delighted to sign with the Swans for another year. I’m pleased to finally put pen to paper,”

“Now, I can concentrate fully on my football and trying to help the team make one final push towards the back end of the season. Hopefully, we can get into the play-offs.”

THE VERDICT:

Courtney Baker-Richardson has been impressive during his limited appearances in the current campaign, and he has a very bright future ahead of him, so the Swans will be delighted to have tied him down to a new deal.

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According to The Express, Manchester United are prepared to pay £50 million for Fulham wonderkid Ryan Sessegnon in the upcoming summer transfer window. 

What’s the story?

Sessegnon was sensational for the Cottagers in the Championship last season, and played a key role in the London club’s promotion to the Premier League.

However, in the top flight this time around, the 18-year-old has been in and out of the team and has struggled to produce his best form on a consistent basis. It should be noted, though, that his own potential success has likely been limited by the lack of cohesion and poor results that Fulham have been suffering from all season as a club.

Watch the video below to see the most insane overhead kick you will see this week…

The Red Devils’ reported interest in the versatile wide man is certainly justified, as Sessegnon has the potential to be a star of the future.

Contract uncertainty opens door

The aforementioned report states that Sessegnon is currently stalling on signing a new contract at Craven Cottage, with only 18 months left on his current deal. Certainly, if Claudio Ranieri’s side are relegated this season, then the England under-21 international is unlikely to want to stay with the Cottagers.

This situation should make it easier to tempt the teenager to Old Trafford and could also weaken Fulham’s resistance to their advances. 

However, making an immediate impact for United could be tricky for Sessegnon, especially with the likes of Anthony Martial and Alexis Sanchez almost certain to be ahead of him in the pecking order if he is purchased to play ahead of Luke Shaw. An initial loan move then, to another top flight side, would be the best way for United to ensure they get a long-term return upon their investment in the teenager.

Marcelo Bielsa’s weaved his magic around Leeds United, who are looking towards promotion to the Premier League after 15 years!

Once a formidable side in England’s top-flight, the Whites now have to climb back to the league where they ran riot in the 90s.

While Bielsa’s primary objective is to get them back into the pinnacle of English football, he surely wasn’t hired just to do that. In his illustrious career, the Argentine manager’s managed all over the world, but not in the Premier League. Knowing his competitive nature, he’ll relish the challenge of the most competitive league in the world.

The Whites are currently sitting two points behind league leaders Norwich City and after being deterred by the controversy of the “Spygate scandal” need to get back to winning ways with comfortable fixtures ahead. Bielsa’s attacking methods have worked wonders for Leeds, who’ve played some beautiful, crisp passing football to dazzle the Championship.

They might not have a squad to light up the Premier League yet, but the summer transfer window will be key to build one if they’re guaranteed promotion. Bielsa needs to sign many Premier League quality players to succeed in it and knowing his ability to elevate talents, his Leeds could be a breath of fresh air in the league.

The likes of Newcastle, Wolves, Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Brighton have all thrived in the proverbial Promised Land after winning the second tier and, with a decent project already in place, there’s no reason Leeds can’t do the same.

The Whites have immersed themselves with the Argentine’s irresistible style, which can take the Premier League by surprise. Having created a compact, hungry unit, Biesla could lead Leeds back into regaining their place in the top half of the Premier League next season.

Celtic’s hopes of progressing in the Europa League were severely dented following a 2-0 defeat against Valencia.

The Scottish champions were well below par at Celtic Park and fell behind on the stroke of half-time when Denis Cheryshev opened the scoring for the visitors. After the interval, their advantage was doubled as Cheryshev turned creator to set up Ruben Sobrino. The Hoops were unable to get on the scoreline meaning they have a mountain to climb in the return leg in order to reach the quarter-final stage.

Despite their impressive form of late, Celtic were simply outclassed by the Spaniards. Their passing was sloppy and conceded from two mistakes that could have easily been avoided. The defeat highlights the need for quality reinforcements when the summer transfer window opens if Celtic are to improve on their woeful away record in Europe next season.

One man Brendan Rodgers could look to sign is Norwich City maestro – Emiliano Buendia. Valued at just £2.25m by Transfermarkt, the Argentine forward signed for the Canaries back in July and has proven to an instant hit with his new employers. Buendia has been one of the club’s most impressive performers during their rise to the top of the Championship table.

The former Getafe man has netted three goals and registered 12 assists in all competitions – he would add another dimension to the Hoops’ forward line. Comfortable on either wing or through the centre, Buendia is the creative force for his side, averaging two key passes per game in the league this season. As well as his attacking exploits, the 22-year-old would be a massive hit with supporters due to his fantastic work-rate, tracking back to win 2.6 tackles on average this season (WhoScored).

Still improving and developing, Rodgers could transform the former Argentina U20 international into Celtic’s next hero.

Celtic fans, thoughts?