Matheesha Pathirana, who last played at the Asia Cup this September, has been hampered by injuries in recent times
Nagraj Gollapudi15-Nov-2025In a late move, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have decided to release Sri Lankan fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana from their squad ahead of IPL 2026. ESPNcricinfo has learned that CSK have been deliberating their future with Pathirana, who they had bought ahead of IPL 2023 and retained before the 2025 mega auction for INR 13 crore.This emerged on Saturday – the IPL retention window closes at 3pm.With his slingy action and ability to find swing consistently at 140-plus clicks, Pathirana announced himself at IPL 2023, when CSK won the title, picking 19 wickets in 12 matches at an economy of 8.01. Then captain MS Dhoni, though, had warned that Pathirana would need to be carefully managed by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) in order for him to have a long career. Dhoni’s words were not far off the mark – Pathirana has struggled with various injuries over the years.Related
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Pathirana, who last played at the Asia Cup this September, had a curtailed IPL 2024 owing to a hamstring injury and then left for home midway into the SA20, where he playes for Joburg Super Kings. In IPL 2025, he was under par, taking 13 wickets in 12 matches at an economy of 10.13.CSK’s head coach Stephen Fleming had said during the season that the franchise was concerned by Pathirana’s drop in impact, which he suspected had to do with the SLC tweaking the bowler’s release point which was causing him troubles.CSK have now decided to release Pathirana with a possibility of buying him back at the auction, which will take place in Abu Dhabi on December 16.CSK had been the only team Pathirana has played for in the IPL, with his overall numbers in the three seasons being 47 wickets in 32 matches at an average of 21.61 and economy of 8.68.CSK are set to be among the few teams to go into the auction with a big purse, having also decided to release a host of players including the New Zealand pair of Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra. They have also traded Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran to Rajasthan Royals for Sanju Samson.
Antony was caught on camera taunting Sevilla supporters during Real Betis’ derby victory over their arch-rivals. The Brazil international was unable to play any part in said contest as he served a suspension. The former Manchester United winger did, however, make a point of winding up fans that were sat in his vicinity, with objects being thrown in his direction.
Why Antony missed Andalusian derby through suspension
Antony was restricted to a spectator role as Betis lined up against old adversaries at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan. He took up a seat in an executive box after picking up a red card during a La Liga clash with Girona – with the South American having caught Joel Roca with a high boot.
While being prevented from taking to the field, the 25-year-old made a point of joining his team-mates at Sevilla’s home stadium. Antony was never going to let his presence go unnoticed, with the Samba star taking great delight in winding up opponents – on and off the field.
AdvertisementWatch Antony taunt Sevilla fans from box in the stands
Two goals, a red card & game delay: Eventful derby clash
He caused quite a stir when Sevilla fans spotted him in the crowd. As bottles and other missiles were thrust in Antony’s direction, he waved his arms around and bellowed back at his derby foes. Antony was never under any threat of being harmed as he was safely housed behind a box window.
Antony had the last laugh as Betis claimed a 2-0 victory over Sevilla, with Pablo Fornals and Sergi Altimira getting their goals. The hosts finished said contest with 10 men after winger Isaac Romero was dismissed for a reckless challenge on Betis defender Valentin Gomez.
He saw red with six minutes remaining, with angry home supporters throwing objects onto the field. Referee Jose Luis Mubuera Montero was forced to suspend the game, leading to players spending 15 minutes in the dressing rooms before play could resume.
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GettyMan Utd flop Antony is loving life with Real Betis
Antony will be delighted to have seen his side prevail without him, having registered six goals and three assists for Betis through 13 appearances this season. He has rediscovered a lost spark since initially moving to Spain in the January window of 2025.
A permanent transfer from Manchester United was completed over the summer, following a protracted chase, with a disappointing spell in English football being brought to a close. Antony managed just 12 goals for the Red Devils after joining them from Ajax for £85 million ($112m) in 2022.
The allrounder replaces Ellyse Perry as the club look to the future after just one finals appearance in six seasons
Tristan Lavalette07-Nov-2025Ashleigh Gardner will further her leadership development after taking the reins from Ellyse Perry as captain of Sydney Sixers, a WBBL franchise hoping to recapture their former standing.The transition signals a new era after Perry had captained Sixers since the inaugural season in 2015-16, yielding back-to-back titles in the second and third seasons of WBBL. But Sixers’ status as an on-field powerhouse has faded away having failed to qualify for the finals in five of the past six seasons.Related
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It is a major reset for Sixers under the fresh leadership of Gardner and new head coach Matthew Mott, the former coach of the Australia women’s team and England men’s white-ball sides.Gardner, 28, has been an integral part of the Sixers from the start, holding the club record for games (135) and wickets (102), while also sitting third for runs (2607). She has long been viewed as an Australia captain in the making, particularly impressing over the years in promoting Indigenous culture and history.Gardner should be in the mix to succeed Alyssa Healy, who confirmed the recent ODI World Cup would be her last in that format. Earlier this year, Gardner was the vice-captain on the T20I tour of New Zealand, where Tahlia McGrath captained in Healy’s absence.Her Sixers appointment follows being handed the captaincy of Gujarat Giants in the Women’s Premier League and Trent Rockets in the Hundred.”I’m honoured to be appointed captain of the Sydney Sixers, a club I’ve proudly represented for my whole career,” Gardner said. “Over the past decade I’ve learned from some amazing leaders, including Pez [ Perry] and Midge [Healy] at the Sixers, and I can’t wait to lead the team.”Perry, 35, will remain at Sixers for at least the next three seasons. “It’s been an immense pleasure to have the opportunity to lead the Sixers over the last ten years,” she said.”Ash has offered so much to Sixers on-and-off the field and her strong interest in giving her best as a leader will be an exciting starting point for our team this season.”Healy will miss Sixers’ season-opener due to a minor thumb injury sustained in the World Cup semi-final. The injury will be monitored when she returns to training next week.Sixers start their campaign against Perth Scorchers on Sunday at the WACA.Meanwhile, Melbourne Renegades captain Sophie Molineux will miss the opening two matches as she manages a minor quad strain. Georgia Wareham will take the captaincy in her absence.
He has the bouncer, he swings the ball, he also has the slower ball in his artillery. Can he be the next big thing in Indian fast bowling?
Deivarayan Muthu28-Sep-2025Gurjapneet Singh is yet to play an IPL or List A game, and has played just five T20s, but has bolted into the India A squad for the upcoming unofficial ODI series against Australia A in Kanpur from September 30. Having made his Ranji Trophy debut for Tamil Nadu last October, the left-arm quick has since had a stint with the senior India side as a net bowler, earned his maiden IPL gig, with Chennai Super Kings (CSK), and entered the BCCI’s pool of targeted fast bowlers.Things have happened quickly for Gurjapneet in the past year, but he has taken a long and winding road to get to India A. Born in Ludhiana in Punjab and raised in Ambala in Haryana, he moved to Chennai when he was around 17. After toiling away in Chennai’s sapping heat in league cricket for around seven years, the step up has been swift.Most recently, the 26-year-old emerged as the highest wicket-taker among seamers in the Duleep Trophy, with ten strikes in two games at an average of 24.10, including two four-wicket hauls.Related
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At six feet four inches, he hits the deck and generates extra bounce. He also swings the ball both ways. India’s selectors and even IPL franchises have cast their nets wide for tall fast bowlers in the recent past. Prasidh Krishna has graduated to the Test team while Punjab’s Gurnoor Brar has now been fast-tracked into the India A set-up along with Gurjapneet. Jammu & Kashmir’s tall fast bowler Yudhvir Singh Charak has also made the India A squad though his List A and first-class averages are not flash.In his short career at the senior level, Gurjapneet has dismissed Cheteshwar Pujara on Ranji Trophy debut, and Virat Kohli, albeit at the Chepauk nets when he was a support bowler during India’s Test series against Bangladesh last year. He’s now preparing to front up to some international batters from Australia in the unofficial ODI series.”My rhythm has been good in the Duleep Trophy and [I] have also been working with Troy Cooley and others in Bengaluru,” Gurjapneet tells ESPNcricinfo. “They spoke to me about the bowling approach in days’ cricket and one day-cricket and [the] mindset. I’ve also been doing my rehab and gym. Right now, I’m not thinking too much about who the batsman is or how the situation [at India A] will be. It’s important to follow your process and habits and just keep doing that.””I started bowling in TNPL and I was getting better day by day,” Gurjapneet says. “I’m getting the rhythm again. I also played a few league matches in Chennai before the Duleep Trophy. I was ready for the Duleep Trophy and right now mentally and physically I can say I’m getting better.”Gurjapneet has also been working on his batting and showed improvement there during TNPL 2025 where he clattered ten boundaries in 33 balls, including six sixes. He then played out 81 balls for 29 runs from No. 9 for South Zone in the Duleep Trophy semi-final.”Whatever the coaches suggested to me, like I was working with Mike Hussey also at CSK,” Gurjapneet says. “I then batted in the TNPL and even in my first Duleep match against North, I scored something like 29. It’s about adding to your game and contributing with the bat too. Hussey gave me some points and I’m also trying to get better at batting.”With a whirlwind year now under his belt, Gurjapneet is now ready for the step up against the Australians in Kanpur.
Sri Lanka started well but were all out for a mere 211, a target Pakistan chased down comfortably
Danyal Rasool16-Nov-2025
Mohammad Wasim picked up three wickets•AFP/Getty Images
Pakistan eased to a six-wicket win over Sri Lanka to seal a 3-0 series whitewash. Three wickets from Mohammad Wasim and contributions from others bowled Sri Lanka out for 211, before a half-century by Fakhar Zaman took much of the jeopardy out of the chase. Sri Lanka fought hard through the middle, getting rid of Babar Azam and Salman Agha in quick succession, and though it succeeded in slowing Pakistan down, the visitors ultimately had too few runs to play with as Pakistan cantered to the win with 5.2 overs to spare.When Sri Lanka began their innings, they appeared to have designs on a total above 300. Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara were timing the ball particularly sweetly, racing along to a 50-run partnership inside the first eight overs. Shaheen Shah Afridi, in particular, was punished early by Mishara, who exploited the gaps as an opposition side racked up a 50-run opening partnership against Pakistan for the sixth ODI in succession.But as has been so often the case for the visitors, wickets derailed their progress significantly. Mishara had chopped a few early on and survived, but Nissanka’s first inside edge clattered into the stumps, and from there Pakistan started to squeeze. Wasim found a bit of extra bounce to draw Mishara’s outside edge, and the free-flowing runs were suddenly no longer coming.Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama rebuilt, but not nearly at the speed Sri Lanka needed on a wicket that looked like it would only continue to get better. Left-arm wristspinner Faisal Akram, replacing Abrar Ahmed in the side, enjoyed an excellent first spell, deploying his variations to great effect and keeping the batters honest. He had Samarawickrama trapped in front in single digits, but the batter got the decision reversed on review because the ball was turning too much.Kusal Mendis scored 34•Getty Images
But the pressure was invariably building up. It had taken 75 balls to score just 43 runs, and by the time Wasim returned to the attack, the urgency to score quickly had been amplified. He knocked them off course with a yorker that cleaned up the stand-in captain Kusal Mendis before a double blow from Akram blew the innings wide open. It included a splendid delivery that sliced through Samarawickrama’s defences two runs shy of a half-century, as well as a soft return catch that did for Kamindu Mendis.Sri Lanka have set much store in 23-year-old batting talent Pavan Rathnayake, even if he was batting a tad too deep for their liking. The debutant showed impressive temperament as he shepherded the tail, and arguably played the shot of the day with a back-foot punch that flew over cover for a six. But he got limited support from the tail as Pakistan chipped away at the other end, and with nine wickets down, his desperation to get back on strike cost him his wicket. He had put up a spirited 32, but the 211 Sri Lanka ended up with never looked near enough.Zaman drove that point further home as he started off in a hurry. It was almost as if he was making up for lost time after Haseebullah Khan’s brief tortured stay at the crease resulted in a 12-ball duck, the young wicketkeeper-batter getting more desperate with each ball before ultimately smearing one straight to mid-on. Babar Azam’s arrival lifted the crowd’s spirits while Zaman took care of the run-scoring, freeing his arms and finding the gaps either side of the wicket with regularity in the powerplay. Babar, meanwhile, looked like a man with rediscovered confidence, timing the ball beautifully as Pakistan cruised through the first 15 overs.Fakhar Zaman scored a rapid fifty•AFP/Getty Images
Zaman took on Jeffrey Vandersay, who was playing his first game this series, but the legspinner dragged his side back into the contest. After smacking him for his second boundary, Zaman went after Vandersay again, only for Kamindu Mendis to take a spectacular catch diving forward in the deep. Shortly after, he did for Babar with a googly that beat the batter all ends up, sneaking through the gate and making a mess of his stumps.With their tails up, it was the first time since the opening powerplay in the game that Sri Lanka placed any kind of pressure on Pakistan. Vandersay beat Agha with a lovely legbreak that drifted in and then ripped away to trap him in front, and suddenly, the 97 runs Pakistan still needed seemed very far away.But Rizwan and Hussain Talat hunkered down. For a while, run-scoring seemed a secondary thought; the next ten overs produced just 32 runs. But most importantly, Sri Lanka were being kept out of the wickets column, and with the asking rate far too modest to have any impact on the game, Pakistan, bit by bit, dragged themselves towards the finish line.It left the last hour of the game in a holding pattern where the outcome was all but certain, but Talat and Rizwan were in no hurry to put Sri Lanka out of their misery. Rizwan coasted towards his half-century while Talat saw an opportunity to amass a few more runs in what has been a successful series for him. In the 43rd over, Maheesh Theekshana had Talat lbw but the batter got the decision overturned as the ball-tracking showed the ball bouncing over the stumps. It just about summed up Sri Lanka’s stuttering series in the Rawalpindi cold before the hosts finally limped over the finish line.
Nottingham Forest’s revival since Sean Dyche’s arrival at the club has been nothing short of sensational, with the 54-year-old having an immediate impact at the City Ground.
He’s led the Reds to four wins out of a possible five in the Premier League, taking the side out of the relegation zone and now looking upwards rather than over their shoulder.
Dyche has allowed numerous players to recapture their best form in the East Midlands, but none more so than Morgan Gibbs-White, as seen by his form in November.
The Englishman scored three times in his four appearances last month, resulting in the 25-year-old being nominated for the division’s Player of the Month award.
He could be joined by multiple other attacking options after the January window, with owner Evangelos Marinakis once again preparing to invest in the first-team squad.
Forest’s hunt for added reinforcements in the January window
Over the last couple of days, Forest have been just one English side touted with a potential move to land Lyon star Tyler Morton in the upcoming transfer window.
It’s been reported that Dyche’s side could see the 23-year-old as a possible replacement for Elliot Anderson should the England international leave in the winter market.
However, it’s also been reported that Marinakis is unwilling to sanction a January exit for their star player, with a £100m valuation already being slapped on his head.
Morton isn’t the only player on their shortlist at present, though, with Parma striker Mateo Pellegrino another option currently being considered by the hierarchy.
According to Sport Witness, the Reds are just one of multiple Premier League sides considering a move for the 24-year-old forward, who’s already netted seven goals this season.
The report also states West Ham and Spurs have also tracked his progress, with an unnamed English outfit already making a £13m bid for his signature in the summer.
Why Forest’s latest target would be an upgrade on Jesus
During the recent spending in the summer, Forest completed a deal for Botafogo striker Igor Jesus, after the Brazilian impressed at the Club World Cup during the summer.
Such a move generated huge excitement among the fanbase, with the 24-year-old already making an immediate impact in England after his transfer during the off-season.
He’s already found the net on six separate occasions to date, with three of his efforts coming in the Europa League during the club’s first European campaign in 30 years.
Jesus finally netted his first Premier League goal of the season against Wolves on Wednesday night, with his effort hopefully the first of many during the 2025/26 campaign.
However, he could find himself further down the pecking order after January, especially if the hierarchy complete a deal for Pellegrino during the upcoming window.
When comparing the pair’s respective stats from the ongoing campaign, the Argentine has outperformed him in key areas, showcasing why he would be an upgrade in the Brazilian.
Pellegrino, who’s been labelled a “freight-truck” by Serie A commentator Jose Rodriguez, has registered more league goals in 2025/26 to date, whilst also achieving a better goal per shot on target rate.
How Pellegrino & Jesus compare in 2025/26
Statistics (per 90)
Pellegrino
Jesus
Games played
13
13
Goals & assists
4
1
Shot on target accuracy
38%
25%
Goals per shot on target
0.4
0.1
Passes into final third
1.1
0.6
Take-on success
64%
27%
Fouls drawn
2.3
1.4
Aerials won
4.6
3.9
Aerial success rate
55%
41%
Stats via FBref
Such numbers showcase his incredible ability when in front of goal, whether that be in the air or on the ground, with the Argentine possessing serious quality in the box.
He could be the perfect Dyche centre-forward, as seen by his tally of 4.6 aerials won at a success rate of 53%, potentially offering the focal point, an area in which Jesus has struggled.
The Parma talisman has also completed more of the take-ons he’s attempted, whilst making more passes into the final third, arguably being a better all-round option than the Brazilian.
It’s unclear if the player himself would be open to a winter switch to the Premier League, but it’s clear Pellegrino would be a perfect fit for the current system at the City Ground.
He and Jesus are two players who could certainly share the responsibility at the top end of the pitch, with the former of the pair the best option to lead the club into the unknown.
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Nottingham Forest look set to target a top European talent in the January transfer window.
Aston Villa are now lining up a January move for a “sensational” £50m striker, with Unai Emery looking to bring in a long-term replacement for Ollie Watkins.
Villa eyeing new striker amid Watkins' slow start
Watkins isn’t having the season he would’ve wanted ahead of the World Cup next summer, having scored just one goal in the Premier League thus far, and Donyell Malen has been doing a lot of the heavy lifting for Villa going forward as of late.
Indeed, Malen is in a rich vein of form at the moment, having scored a brace to secure a 2-1 victory against Young Boys in the Europa League, following on from an impressive cameo against Leeds United, assisting Morgan Rogers’ equalising goal.
However, given that Malen isn’t an out-and-out striker, Emery wants to bring in a more traditional centre-forward in the January transfer window, with one of the Premier League’s breakout stars recently being identified as a target.
That is according to a report from The Mirror, which states Aston Villa are now lining up a January move for Brentford striker Igor Thiago, although it could be a costly operation, with a £50m fee being touted.
Emery is a big fan of the striker, having been keen to bring in a new forward since last summer, while Villa may also need to refresh their forward line due to concerns over Watkins’ form.
Thiago could be "sensational" Watkins heir
It is perhaps a little early to lose faith in the England international, as he is still only 29, but it is important to plan for the future, and the Brentford star has emerged as one of the most prolific strikers in the Premier League this season, scoring 11 goals in 13 outings.
Most recently, the Brazilian bagged a brace to ensure his side overcame Burnley in a 3-1 victory, and he is now behind only Manchester City star Erling Haaland in the Premier League’s goalscoring charts.
Brentford manager Keith Andrews has been left impressed by the 24-year-old’s performances too, saying: “He has been pretty good, hasn’t he? He is growing in stature and confidence and he has been pretty sensational this season,”
Thiago is at the right age to be a long-term success at Villa Park, and having proven himself in the Premier League, Aston Villa should undoubtedly launch a January move.
Aston Villa plotting £18m bid for "tremendous" defender, Martinez is a big fan
The Villans are planning a move for a new centre-back, who is also being targeted by Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City.
By
Dominic Lund
Nov 27, 2025
Emery has never really managed to replace Jhon Duran since the striker signed for Al-Nassr back in January, and with the Villans looking to compete in both the Premier League and Europe, it would certainly be beneficial to bring in another striker this winter.
Dustin Silgardo, Sidharth Monga and Karthik Krishnaswamy get together to discuss India’s Test series against West Indies, Gambhir’s time so far as the India head coach, and more
ESPNcricinfo staff17-Oct-2025Why was India’s decision to follow on in the Delhi Test puzzling? Did India underestimate West Indies’ batting? Why didn’t Nitish Kumar Reddy bowl in the Test? Dustin Silgardo, Sidharth Monga and Karthik Krishnaswamy get together on the Rock and Roll It podcast to discuss India’s Test series against West Indies, Gautam Gambhir’s time so far as the India head coach and whether he needs to manage his bowlers’ workload better.