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Australia and New Zealand are in town as the city ends a 28-year wait

Vishal Dikshit30-Sep-2025A lanky girl in her late teens wraps her batting gloves around her bat handle on the concrete pavement beyond the worn-down fence of the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium under overcast skies in Indore. She whacks the under-arm half-volley straight to me and sticks her tongue out instantly, with a cheeky grin, implying that it wasn’t intentional at all.The once-iconic stadium, which started exclusively as a cricket venue under the Indore Municipal Corporation in 1964, now wears a dilapidated look. It hosted nine men’s ODIs and two women’s ODIs but hasn’t hosted competitive cricket matches since 2001. It has since been turned into a multi-sports complex, with patches of overgrown grass covering a majority of the ground, and its corners occupied by aspiring athletes honing their skills in football, cricket, basketball and volleyball.When former India opener Sandhya Agarwal was in her late teens, she used to dabble in kite flying, games of marbles and later on cricket with boys of her age in the gullies outside the same Nehru Stadium, where she grew up watching the likes of Sunil Gavaskar, GR Viswanath, Dilip Vengsarkar, S Venkataraghavan, and others in Ranji Trophy and international matches. Growing up in the vicinity of the ground sparked a fire in her to become an India international herself, and despite retiring in 1995, she is still the leading scorer for India in women’s Tests and holds a storied place as one of only a handful of batters to score hundreds, including a 190 against England in 1986, which was then the highest individual score.The Nehru Stadium is best remembered for witnessing Sachin Tendulkar become the first player to cross 10,000 ODI runs, on his way to 139 against Australia in 2001, and infamously for the three-over farce between India and Sri Lanka in 1997, when the match was called off as the dry and crumbling pitch was judged unsafe for the players to continue. That was the beginning of the end for the ground.Sachin Tendulkar scored his 10,000th ODI run in Indore•ALLSPORTThere was a match here that went largely unnoticed in 1997. It was a World Cup match. Between India women, who weren’t under the wings of the BCCI, and New Zealand women. The ICC wasn’t involved in the tournament either.Agarwal had retired by then and was on commentary for Doordarshan, India’s state-owned and only television broadcaster at the time. She recalls the ground had fairly “nominal” facilities, where New Zealand posted a modest 176 for 9 and India were just six runs away when they lost their ninth wicket, with 15 balls to go.”Until then it felt like India were going to win easily,” Agarwal reminisces while talking to ESPNcricinfo. “It was me and Sushil – Sushil Doshi (journalist and sports commentator from Indore) – and we said to each other, ‘ tak aane lagi hai (we can smell the victory till the commentator’s box now),’ I still remember.”Related

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She estimates there must have been just under a thousand people in the crowd, but they were very vocal in their support for the players who were still miles from becoming household names.Opener Emily Drumm, New Zealand’s top-scorer with 69, was on her first tour of the subcontinent, adjusting to “pretty average” hotels and facilities, and a crowd that was obviously supporting the home team.”It was a tense one,” Drumm says, jogging back her memory, “It ebbed and flowed. It was quite noisy with the crowd, good atmosphere. We didn’t get enough runs, so I knew that was probably going to be really tight.”Wickets fell at good intervals, and then India would get a little bit of parity and then we would break a partnership. It was one of those matches. It was a really funny game. There was a bit of bite between the teams, a little bit of chat. No love lost at all. So I think we got out of there alive just.”Nehru stadium, once an exclusive cricket ground, now a multi-sports complex•ESPNcricinfo LtdNeetu David getting bowled in the last over with the scores level meant New Zealand finished above India in the league stage and ultimately reached the final where they lost to Australia in Kolkata. Three years later the trans-Tasman rivals met each other once again, in Lincoln, and this time Drumm, the captain, lifted New Zealand’s maiden World Cup trophy, edging out Australia by just four runs.Now, another 25 years later, New Zealand return to Indore to kickstart their 2025 World Cup campaign against Australia. Both teams have gone through several transitions since then, the game has gone professional, and Indore also has a new ground – the Holkar Stadium – which started hosting international matches in 2006 but is yet to host a women’s international. This World Cup, it’s the venue for five games, including the India vs England clash – a rematch of the 2017 final – on October 19, which is likely to be the biggest crowd-puller of the lot.Of the four Indian cities that will play host this World Cup, the rapid rise of Indore best mirrors the growth of the women’s game. The city has developed expeditiously – proudly called “Mini-Mumbai” by the locals – just like the dizzying rise of the women’s game, most recently proven by the record prize money this time of US$ 13.88 million, more than what the Australian men received ($10 million) for lifting the 2023 ODI trophy.A number of players who have played pivotal roles in the transformation of the women’s game will take the field in the coming weeks in Indore. If young girls – whether they train at Nehru Stadum or Holkar – want to get inspired, this is their best chance to see them in the flesh and light the fire in themselves.

Test hopefuls Jake Weatherald and Beau Webster missed out for Tasmania as Australia squad member Brendan Doggett claimed 5 for 66

AAP10-Nov-2025

Australia’s top six for the first Ashes Test became no clearer after Tasmania duo Jake Weatherald and Beau Webster failed to stake compelling claims against South Australia.South Australia pacer Brendan Doggett, also in the 15-man Ashes squad for Perth, showcased why he is regarded as next cab off the rank for Australia with 5 for 66 in a superb exhibition of seam bowling on a green Bellerive Oval deck.Weatherald, hoping to make his Test debut as an opener, fell for 23 in Tasmania’s total of 209 after being sent in to bat.Allrounder Webster has been superb in his opening seven Tests for Australia but his desire to hang onto his No.6 position in Perth next week was not enhanced by his knock of 13. The 31-year-old missed a month of cricket at the start of the summer with a calf injury and made just 11 and six in his only other Shield appearance this season.His chances of featuring in the Australia side for the first Test in Perth could depend on whether selectors opt to bat Weatherald or Marnus Labuschagne as an opener. If it is the latter then Webster would stay at No.6 with fellow allrounder Cameron Green likely slotting in at No.3.Weatherald dispatched Liam Scott for back-to-back boundaries and was aiming for a third but chopped an attempted cut shot onto his stumps.Webster had just struck a fierce pull to the boundary before attempting to hook Henry Thornton. He only succeeded in getting a feather through to Alex Carey.Tasmania skipper Jordan Silk brought up his 6000th Shield run in his innings of 64. Silk was severe through the off side and brought up his 50 with a rollicking slap through point off Nathan McAndrew straight after he had caressed a cover drive to the boundary.Brendan Doggett took 5 for 66•Getty Images

Doggett dismissed Silk with a full delivery that moved off the seam and was brilliantly caught by a diving Carey. He then ripped through the lower order for his second five-wicket haul of the Shield season.South Australia were 88 for 3 at stumps. Australia No.5 batter Travis Head made just nine before falling to Webster. Carey had raced to an unbeaten 25 off just 20 balls and will resume on Tuesday alongside Henry Hunt.Australia chair of selectors George Bailey said there was “still some information to gather” from the fourth round of the Sheffield Shield before settling on the playing 11 against England.Bailey said Weatherald, who was aggressive in his knock on Monday, had the approach Australia’s brains trust admired.”There is a method [about his batting] that we like and that is complementary to the other players around him in the squad,” Bailey said.”We have been chatting a lot to Jake. He has been in quite a few [Australia] A teams and there has been a lot of communication with him throughout the summer. The feedback has always been to keep doing it his way.”That is what is attractive to us, that he scores at a nice rate and puts bad balls away. He is aggressive with his outlook without being over the top.”

The last few months have been a whirlwind for Tottenham Hotspur supporters, especially considering the topsy-turvy nature of the 2024/25 campaign.

The Lilywhites won the Europa League under the guidance of Ange Postecoglou, with the Aussie delivering on his promise of always winning a trophy in his second season.

However, it was somewhat overshadowed by the 17th-place finish in the Premier League, which ultimately cost the 60-year-old his job in North London.

The responsibility of building on the triumph was handed the way of Thomas Frank, with the Dane joining the club from fellow top-flight club Brentford during the off-season.

Despite his arrival, some players have struggled to match the levels they produced last campaign, which will have no doubt been frustrating to the new manager.

The Spurs players who have struggled in 2025/26

After arguably his best-ever campaign in 2024/25, Brennan Johnson has endured a dismal current campaign and has often failed to deliver when called upon by Frank.

The Welsh international has only netted two league goals in 2025/26 to date, subsequently dropping down the pecking order and only making five starts since the Dane’s arrival.

He was even sent off in the latest Champions League clash against FC Copenhagen, which pretty much sums up the decline he’s endured over the last few months.

Johnson hasn’t been alone in struggling to match the levels he produced last season, with midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur another who’s been unable to produce on a consistent basis.

The Uruguayan international has only made eight starts to date, but his numbers from the current campaign showcase his dismal form in North London.

He’s ranked in the 43rd percentile for passes completed and has only been able to make 0.5 interceptions per 90 – often struggling to make an effect in and out of possession.

The Spurs star who needs to be offloaded

The decline of some players has led to the recent additions during the summer, with the hierarchy landing Mohammed Kudus in a £55m deal from West Ham United.

The Ghanaian international has since replaced Johnson on the right-hand side of the attack and has already made an immediate impact for the Lilywhites.

He’s scored once and registered four assists in the Premier League to date, with the latter of the two tallies the joint-highest of any player in England’s top-flight.

Kudus would have been joined in the final third by Dominic Solanke, but the Englishman has massively struggled with injuries and has been out of action since the end of August.

He’s been struggling with an ankle issue over the last couple of months, subsequently restricting him to a total of just 31 Premier League minutes in 2025/26.

As a result, the hierarchy decided to delve back into the transfer market to complete a loan deal for striker Randal Kolo Muani from French side PSG.

The 26-year-old’s move generated huge excitement within the fanbase, but after a couple of months, it’s safe to say that the deal so far has been a disaster for everyone involved.

He’s struggled to adapt to the demands of the Premier League, with the loanee subsequently failing to score in any of his eight outings across all competitions.

His underlying stats also showcase his lack of form since his transfer on Deadline Day, with the former Juventus star undoubtedly struggling to meet expectations in England.

Games played

4

Goals & assists

0

Shots taken

0.47

Touches in opposition box

1.4

Aerials won

0.4

Aerial success rate

37%

Fouls committed

1.6

Passes completed per 90

8.2

He’s only registered a total of 0.47 shots per 90 in England’s top-flight – with such a tally ranking him in the lowest 1% of all other attackers in the division this season.

Kolo Muani, who earns a reported £150k-per-week, has also registered just 1.4 touches in the opposition box and 0.4 aerials won per 90, which place him in the first percentile – further highlighting his lack of positive impact to date.

Such form backs up one content creator’s previous claim about the forward, with the Frenchman previously being dubbed “one of the most overrated players in the world”.

It’s evident that the move to date has been a huge failure, with the club desperately needing to cut ties and allow other players to stake their claim for a starting role.

His loan deal shouldn’t be made permanent in either of the two windows before it expires, but it’s crucial the club do invest big and land a new talisman for Frank.

Spurs star was one of the "best in the world", now he's on borrowed time

One Tottenham Hotspur star could be on borrowed time under Thomas Frank in the coming months.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 21, 2025

Manchester United and the FA reportedly plan to stage the 2035 Women's World Cup final at the new £2 billion Old Trafford stadium instead of Wembley. While the club is keeping its cards close to its chest, senior figures across football believe United fully intend to wrestle the biggest match in women’s football away from Wembley.

• A bold plan to steal the showpiece from Wembley

  reports that although United have declined to comment, their internal strategy has become increasingly clear, as they want the world’s premier women’s fixture to headline the opening chapter of a regenerated Old Trafford. The ambitions of both club and city have been given fresh momentum after the first tranche of funding, when £26 million was confirmed for new homes in the Old Trafford Regeneration Area. This initial investment forms part of Greater Manchester’s wider “Growth Plan”, an enormous strategy unveiled by Mayor Andy Burnham to catapult the region into the global spotlight by 2050. Burnham’s vision includes 15,000 homes and a stadium capable of seating 100,000 spectators, part of a sweeping, decades-long transformation of south-west Manchester. He described the plan as a defining moment for Greater Manchester, a declaration that the region intends to rival any major world city in ambition, infrastructure and sporting prestige.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Freightliner talks key to unlocking new stadium blueprint

  United’s proposed stadium project remains dependent on the acquisition of a critical piece of land, a rail terminal behind the Stretford End currently owned by Freightliner. Negotiations are ongoing and are crucial because securing that plot would give United the footprint needed to build a new super-stadium rather than settle for refurbishing the current Old Trafford. While a renovation of the historic venue has not been dismissed entirely, the club’s preferred option is unequivocal. They want a complete rebuild, one that would take approximately five years to complete and deliver a modern arena fit for global events. And behind closed doors, officials have already mapped out the grandest of goals as they want to ensure the 2035 Women’s World Cup final is staged not in London, but in Manchester.

• United believe a new Old Trafford would outshine Wembley

  Senior United figures believe their proposed venue would surpass Wembley on capacity, technology, comfort and atmosphere. Their argument is simple as they believe if the world’s biggest women’s football match is coming to the UK, then it should be held in the country’s newest, largest and most advanced football stadium. Crucially, they are aware that pushing for the final could unsettle the FA, which traditionally positions Wembley at the heart of England’s major events. Even so, United are prepared to make their case to both the FA and FIFA, insisting that major finals should not be restricted to London and that the North deserves its own world-class showcase.

  Responding to Burnham’s announcement, United’s Chief Operating Officer, Collette Roche, did not hide the club’s enthusiasm for the regeneration initiative.

  He said: "We want to build the world’s best football stadium as a new home for Manchester United and a venue fit for the biggest international events, including the 2035 FIFA Women’s World Cup, surrounded by a vibrant business, leisure and residential district served by excellent transport links. We are determined to play our part, together with other stakeholders, in making this vision a reality, and unlocking the huge benefits it can deliver for the surrounding community and wider region.

  "So our ask of the government is that they support, not the stadium build, but support the infrastructure and the regeneration of the area. And when we've looked at it really closely, it actually ticks so many boxes for the government around their growth strategy. So it's very easy for us to use this as a catalyst to help deliver the government plans.”

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  A once-in-a-generation opportunity for Manchester

  What sits before Manchester, economists say, is nothing short of monumental. Oxford Economics, commissioned to analyse the project’s long-term impact, estimates that the redevelopment could inject a staggering £7.3 billion into the UK economy annually while creating 92,000 jobs across construction, tourism, hospitality and related industries. The same study forecasts the creation of 17,000 new homes and more than 1.8 million additional visitors every year. These figures underscore the wide-reaching benefits that could be realised for the local area, the region, and the broader national economy.

True to form, the 2-0 win in Pakistan came against a backdrop of strife and adversity

Mohammad Isam13-Sep-2024Najmul Hossain Shanto was on his way to the elevator. He had just finished the tour’s final press conference, after leading the side to their maiden Test series win against Pakistan. Bangladesh had completed the six-wicket victory by mid-afternoon on the fifth day. It left them a bit of a breather between arguably their greatest moment in Tests and their evening flight home.The staff and security personnel in the media centre had taken selfies with the Bangladesh captain, and he was walking, relaxed, taking in the compliments. Then the question.”Shanto, what is the secret to this 2-0 win?””One word: belief,” Shanto said, his hand on his heart.Bangladesh went to Pakistan after the T20 World Cup, where they meekly surrendered to Afghanistan in the Super Eight. Their fans turned their backs on them; the rest of the world lost interest. Bangladesh found themselves, ironically, in the kind of position that Pakistan have always prided themselves on fighting their way out of – that of the cornered tiger.Related

• Hathurusinghe: This is the most well-rounded Bangladesh team in my time

• Shanto says Bangladesh unfazed by off-field turbulence: 'We can do special things here'

• Bangladesh dig deep to find glory in a time of upheaval

• Nahid Rana: A new express finds his fame in Rawalpindi

• Litton toasts 'big achievement for Bangladesh cricket'; Mehidy dedicates win to student protestors

Bangladesh have a history of motivating themselves to rise after their worst moments. On an awful tour of England in 2005, where they were battered on the field and blasted by cricket’s greats off it, they summoned all their energy and emotion to beat mighty Australia. There was no cricketing or worldly explanation for that Cardiff game; it was one of cricket’s great miracles.Three years later, when a significant group of Bangladeshi cricketers signed up for the rebel Indian Cricket League tournament, Bangladesh cricket was in tatters. They handed debuts to a few youngsters. The public doubted whether the team could ever win again, but they did, managing to beat New Zealand in their first ODI after the exodus.This pattern has been common enough over the last 15 years or so, and it marked the Rawalpindi wins too. Bangladesh arrived in Pakistan on the back of a prolonged run of poor results, including two disastrous World Cups. In the weeks leading up to the tour, the cricketers lived through a violent revolution at home, many leaving for Pakistan after having defended their homes from dacoits and looters, and having suffered losses of various kinds. There was no cricket board to speak of; the BCB’s president and several directors went into hiding after the Awami League government resigned early in August.Shanto had his work cut out, but he had at his disposal two veterans, a couple of Test specialists, an encouraging group of fast bowlers, an able wicketkeeper, and a hungry allrounder. Off the field it was an interesting mix. Bangladesh’s head coach, Chandika Hathurusinghe, had faced criticism, and chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain had only returned to the BCB earlier in the year after a decade in administrative hiatus. At least Rabeed Imam, the experienced manager, brought a calming presence.One of the things Shanto was especially pleased about was the team-first ethos that marked the tour. He called it one of the hallmarks of the series win. Every batter who got a start made sure he capitalised, in terms of time spent at the wicket, or runs scored. The fast bowlers pounded in all day as a pack.”In the past, we have had many individual performances in the team,” Shanto told ESPNcricinfo in Rawalpindi. “This time, every player contributed to the team’s exact requirement. They thought about the team first. They were only worried about the team. Nobody looked for personal milestones.Shanto (third from right) embraces Litton Das after the win in the second Test•Aamir Qureshi/AFP/Getty Images”The way Mushfiq [Rahim] bhai played during his 191 in the first Test, you could see that he wanted to bat a little more for the team. When Mehidy [Hasan Miraz] made 78 in the second Test, he didn’t think about his century. He had gone out to bat at 26 for 6. It was clear that he wanted to take the team to a better position.”Look at how Litton [Das] batted for so long with Hasan Mahmud. Even after scoring 138, he felt like he could have given more.”Nahid Rana bowled fast all day. Hasan Mahmud held a spot all day. Taskin [Ahmed] returned after a long time – he is trying hard for the team. Everyone is supporting the bowlers. The one who drops a catch gets a pat on the back. It was a great environment. I know that winning a match always brings out positives. I know that big performances become famous. They are talked about. But these small factors were effective for the team.”A member of the touring party who requested anonymity echoed the captain’s sentiments. “Bangladesh were a treat to watch on this tour,” he said. “There’s a definite change in mindset among the younger lot. We had to take nine wickets on the fifth day [of the first Test] when Shoriful [Islam] told everyone loud and clear that we will win the game. It showed that he had the desire [and was ready to work to make it come true].”Mehidy had a huge role. He bowled beautifully, and then made those telling contributions from No 8. The way he looked hungry and eager to be in the wicket safter his half-century in the second Test, it gave a different vibe to the team. When we [came back into] the contest from 26 for 6, it added a new dimension to this team.”We don’t do these kinds of things. The incredible partnership between Litton and Mehidy suggested to the whole dressing room that we can turn the game from any situation.”

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Having the right attitude paid off for the Bangladesh batters, who, more than their bowling counterparts, had had an ordinary year in all three formats. So when openers Shadman Islam and Zakir Hasan fought hard in the first innings of the series, it sent a strong message to the dressing room.New blood: Bangladesh’s exciting young fast bowler Nahid Rana•Farooq Naeem/AFP/Getty Images”The majority of the pre-tour preparation was simply focused on making better decisions consistently in the nets,” batting coach David Hemp said. “Being clear about which balls to attack, defend or leave, coupled with judging length – whether to move forward or back.”[Shadman and Zakir] approach the way they bat and their individual innings in different ways, and as such, both had their own particular areas that they were working on pre-series. However, decision-making is vital, and as a batting group we discussed the importance of time and making the opposition bowlers come back for four-plus spells. This was something that we identified after the Sri Lanka series in March.”Shadman and Zakir eked out 250 balls across their opening stands in the series, the most by a Bangladeshi opening pair in an overseas series in more than five years. It gave the middle order less to worry about and more to build on. Between Mushfiqur Rahim, Mominul Haque and Shakib Al Hasan there was just the one century and one half-century, but those three players made valuable contributions on and off the field.Thankfully, Litton and Mehidy stepped up in both Tests. Litton’s taking the attack to Naseem Shah in the first Test – off whom he scored 18 runs in an over at the end of the third day – blunted Pakistan, and then he put on that epic 165-run stand with Mehidy that changed the course of the second Test.”Litton is a very talented and experienced all-round player,” Hemp said. “What was impressive was his discipline and patience to absorb pressure, and then additionally his awareness to exert pressure the other way by attacking the bowling at key moments.”Mehidy again made significant contributions at critical moments with the bat. He is naturally an attacking player, which is a big strength, so it can be a challenge to navigate what to do in certain situations, but this series his decision-making and approach was outstanding.”Opener Zakir Hasan was, along with his partner Shadman Islam, a key contributor to Bangladesh’s series success•Aamir Qureshi/AFP/Getty Images

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Shanto’s on-field presence was noticeable, though his batting form continued to suffer in Pakistan – even if his final innings in the series suggested it might be returning. But there was a spring in his step, and his was often the loudest voice on the field. He spoke to his bowlers regularly, and he was proactive in changing them around. He stuck to his plans and did not shy away from attacking Pakistan’s best batters. Shanto’s clever use of spinners on two occasions – the fifth day of the first Test and the first day of the second – was also impressive. Often, he kept the slip cordon intact but also employed in-and-out fields for set batters. Overall, he and Hathurusinghe read the conditions better than Pakistan.”I am in the slips for a while, then I am at mid-on or mid-off at other times,” Shanto said. “My fielding position depends on who is bowling. Sometimes it is hard to speak to Nahid Rana from the slips. I spend time next to him, to give him instructions. Once he gets it, I can field anywhere. Sometimes I have to stay there for Hasan Mahmud. I don’t have to do the same for Taskin. I thought the bowlers gave me exactly what I wanted from them.”He now possesses arguably Bangladesh’s best bowling attack in years, fast bowlers who can win him matches, and two of the world’s leading spinners. But Shanto’s future as the captain isn’t all rosy. His brief when he was handed the captaincy last November was to take Bangladesh cricket into the future. Stating it that way elides the fact that it will be a future without a golden generation of players who defined Bangladesh cricket – the likes of Shakib and Mushfiqur, Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudullah.

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One of the more unusual things about this tour was the lack of influences from outside the team. For years, it had been common practice for the former board president, Nazmul Hassan, and some BCB directors to travel on tours. They would sit in on team meetings and talk to players and coaching staff every now and then, in the team hotels and elsewhere.This time, however, it was different. Hassan and several board directors with political ties haven’t been seen in public since August 5. Hassan stepped down as president on August 21, and the head of cricket operations, Jalal Yunus, resigned the day before. The team left Bangladesh with the country in chaos, but once in Pakistan, the team focused on the task at hand.”In the team, everyone knew their specific roles,” said Imam, the team manager. “They knew what was expected of them. It was a very cricket-centric tour. We basically stuck to training, matches and hotel. We had our rooms side by side and on the same floor. It created an atmosphere of togetherness. They spent their spare time with each other. It was good to see that cricket was the only thought during a tour.We’ll always have Rawalpindi: old-timers Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib al Hasan seal the deal•Associated Press”News did come through but the focus never wavered. The coaches and support staff, we tried to make them comfortable. We were together all the time. There were no distractions. Rather, we received a lot of encouragement from the board and from home.”That resulted in a relaxed atmosphere, despite the new board chief’s criticism of Hathurusinghe, and Shakib being accused of a murder during the student protests.Not that things didn’t get tense in the dressing room. Rabeed, who has worked at the BCB for close to two decades, spoke of how he got to pacing when the team fell to 26 for 6 in the second Test.”I wasn’t feeling comfortable anywhere. I didn’t feel like standing or sitting anywhere. I was thinking of going towards the dugout. When I was coming down the dressing room stairs, Miraz hit a boundary. He struck one more, and then I just sat midway down the stairs. I decided to sit there throughout [Mehidy and Litton’s] 165-run partnership.

****

Given the side has eight Tests from August through December, the BCB sent the high-performance team to Australia and the Bangladesh A team to Pakistan in advance to prepare. Several of the Test squad members, like Mushfiqur and Mominul, played for the A team in Islamabad ahead of the first Test. The Test team ultimately had to rely on six days of practice in Lahore and Rawalpindi, but they were well prepared and acclimated to the conditions.Shanto: “I think such a moment has never come in Bangladesh team’s history. Cricketers look for references. Now we have one”•Aamir Qureshi/AFP/Getty ImagesIf Shanto felt vindicated after winning the first Test he looked relieved and content after the second, posting a photo of himself asleep next to the trophy. He reflected later that no matter what direction the team took from there on, they will always have this 2-0 result in Pakistan.”It feels great when you are winning. It is important to enjoy these moments. I think such a moment has never come in Bangladesh team’s history. Cricketers look for references. Now we have one. We know that we have the ability to win abroad.”The next time we play, I don’t know about the result, but we will surely have the belief that we can win. I said the same thing in the press conference on the first day [when asked about Bangladesh’s dismal record in Pakistan] that records are meant to be broken.”It was from my belief after seeing how hard the players worked. The way they showed hunger for the team, it gave me the belief. Results can vary in these situations. If we can stick to this process, work hard, we can do even better.”Bangladesh have had many false dawns. In fact, the win in the first Test of this series seemed like one. But they followed it up with another great effort in the second, a first overseas clean sweep, 15 years after their last. But unlike that 2-0 win against a depleted West Indies side, Rawalpindi has provided them with a blueprint for overseas success.They have a reference. And they also now have the belief.

Manchester United are in the market to bolster their squad in January, and Fabrizio Romano has now delivered a frank update on their pursuit of West Ham United playmaker Lucas Paquetá.

The Red Devils have made themselves a much-improved force under Ruben Amorim in recent weeks, with new signings making their mark across the field after a tumultuous start to the campaign at Old Trafford.

Still, there is much to improve on for his side and supporters will be keen to see that come to fruition during the schedule ahead, though their recent fortunes have been in start contrast to West Ham’s difficult start to the Premier League campaign.

In among it all, uncertainty over Lucas Paquetá’s future has come to the fore, with murmurs starting to accelerate that he could be set for a January move before the 2026 World Cup, where he will hope to start for Brazil and help lead Carlo Ancelotti’s side to glory.

Frustratingly, his campaign hasn’t fully come to life yet, with two Premier League goals to his name against Chelsea and Nottingham Forest coming earlier in the season.

Harking back to Manchester United, it is well known that they are in the hunt for a midfielder, characterised by their pursuit of Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson.

Kobbie Mainoo has found himself struggling for regular minutes under Amorim, so it won’t come as a surprise to hear that alternatives are being considered at Old Trafford.

Now, Romano has delivered an intriguing update on the future of Paquetá, something that involves both Manchester United and West Ham.

Fabrizio Romano delivers update on Lucas Paquetá's future

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano has delivered an update on whether Manchester United could look to make a move for West Ham midfielder Paquetá.

He stated: “In January, if there is the right opportunity, Paquetá could have the possibility to go and leave West Ham. So keep an eye on that one, because it’s a concrete possibility.

“Many asking about Manchester United. At the moment, I am not aware of concrete or advanced negotiations between Paquetá and Manchester United or Manchester United and West Ham.

“That’s what I am told at the moment on the Paquetá story. Let’s see what’s going to happen. Because Paquetá could be very interesting in terms of role, in terms of quality. But financially, West Ham are not going to give Paquetá for free or for small money.”

Conceivably, any notion of an exit could depend on the money West Ham are presented with for the Brazilian playmaker. Although his side haven’t been in good form, he has still shown his creativity and fashioned 13 chances in the top-flight, per Fotmob.

Man Utd have also held talks to sign another midfielder

Manchester United have a hole left to fill in their midfield, creating an intriguing situation that may still have many layers left to unfold.