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Luis Enrique's side were made to rue missed opportunities at Signal Iduna Park as they slipped to defeat in Germany

Kylian Mbappe was kept quiet while a wide forward on the opposition dominated proceedings as Paris Saint-Germain were left to rue missed chances in their 1-0 first-leg loss to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League semi-final.

Jadon Sancho, enjoying his finest game since re-joining Dortmund on loan in January, wowed on the wing for the hosts, overshadowing Mbappe, who was all-but marked out of the game, and the Parisians will now have to overturn an aggregate deficit if they are to keep up their hopes of lifting a first European Cup before their all-time top scorer departs this summer.

Dortmund took the lead after 35 minutes, as Niklas Fullkrug darted in behind the Parisian defence, corralled a lofted pass and fired past a sprawling Gianluigi Donnarumma.

PSG created more after the break, and peppered Gregor Kobel's goal early in the second half, as. Mbappe and Achraf Hakimi both hit the inside of the post, before Fabian Ruiz nodded wide with the goal gaping. Ousmane Dembele was also responsible for a couple of misses of his own, twice failing to find the net from inside the box.

Dortmund, too, had their chances, with Julian Brandt and Fullkrug both squandering opportunities – the excellent Sancho serving as their point of inspiration throughout. Still, neither side found another goal, and the Parisians find themselves in a hole ahead of what seems set to be an enticing second leg.

GOAL rates PSG's players from Signal Iduna Park…

Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defence

Gianluigi Donnarumma (6/10):

Made a smart stop to keep it 1-0 shortly before the break. Could do nothing about the goal.

Achraf Hakimi (6/10):

Engaged in an enthralling duel with the lively Adeyemi. Hit the post when he should have scored in the second half.

Marquinhos (5/10):

Given a hard time by Fullkrug, and couldn't cope with the big German's physicality. Made a crucial sliding intervention to prevent Dortmund taking a 2-0 lead late on.

Lucas Hernandez (4/10):

Lost track of Fullkrug on the Dortmund goal, and was then forced off with yet another injury.

Nuno Mendes (5/10):

Couldn't get anywhere near Sancho, and was constantly made to look silly by the Manchester United loanee.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesMidfield

Warren Zaire-Emery (7/10):

Full of energy in central areas. Did a lot of the running while Vitinha and Ruiz went about the creative stuff.

Vitinha (6/10):

Orchestrated play effectively, able to play short and long. Didn't track his runners defensively, though.

Fabian Ruiz (6/10):

Missed an open goal with a chance to level it at 1-1. Squandered another opportunity later on. He may rue those errors.

Getty ImagesAttack

Ousmane Dembele (4/10):

Caused problems with some dangerous runs and nifty turns, but seemed allergic to putting the ball in the net.

Kylian Mbappe (7/10):

Constantly constricted when he had the ball, but still managed to carve out a few openings for himself. Deserved an assist from a lovely scooped pass to Dembele, and also hit the inside of the post.

Bradley Barcola (5/10):

Asked to play very wide, and didn't really get in the game. Subbed after an hour.

Getty ImagesSubs & Manager

Lucas Beraldo (6/10):

Introduced for the injured Hernandez shortly before the break. Held his own at the back.

Randal Kolo Muani (5/10):

Lively on the wing, but didn't really change the game.

Luis Enrique (6/10):

What more could he have done? PSG played reasonably well for long stretches, and the former Barcelona boss pieced together a side that created plenty of chances. At the end of the day, he can only blame the guys who failed to hit the back of the net.

Allrounder suffers injury while chasing ball to boundary, as West Indies toil in the field

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Feb-2019West Indies suffered a significant injury blow on the third morning of the third Test in St Lucia, when Keemo Paul, their impressive young allrounder, had to be stretchered from the field after damaging his right quadriceps. He is not expected to bat in their second innings*.The incident occurred in the fourth over of the morning, when Paul set off in pursuit of a Joe Denly cover-drive off Shannon Gabriel. After initially sprinting at full tilt, Paul pulled up suddenly ten metres from the rope, and fell to the ground as soon as he had left the field of play.He continued to receive treatment behind the boundary as play continued, before being wheeled around the perimeter of the ground to sympathetic applause, and was replaced by the substitute fielder, Jomel Warrican.West Indies announced soon afterwards that Paul had suffered a right quadriceps strain, and later said he had been sent for scans, along with Darren Bravo, who did not take to the field all day after injuring his finger earlier in the match.Those scans revealed a significant tear which is likely to prevent Paul playing any part in the ODI series that follows the Test series. While West Indies said he could bat in an emergency in the second innings of the Test, he is most unlikely to do so with the match situation rendering such a gesture largely futile.It was a cruel end to a very impressive performance from Paul, who came into the St Lucia match as a replacement for West Indies’ captain, Jason Holder, following his suspension for a slow over-rate in Antigua.Paul struck with his first ball of the Test to remove Keaton Jennings in England’s first innings, en route to creditable figures of 2 for 58, and he repeated the dose with his first ball on day three, as Rory Burns clipped a loosener to square leg.*February 12, 1615 GMT – This story was updated with news of Paul’s scan

Virgil van Dijk has urged Liverpool to gear up for the "last push" following dismal Europa League exit as Premier League title race reaches climax.

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Liverpool beaten by Atalanta by a 3-1 agg. scoreAll to fight for in the Premier LeagueVan Dijk wants his team-mates to step up and show characterWHAT HAPPENED?

Liverpool managed a 1-0 victory against Atalanta in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final clash, but it was too little to overturn the 3-0 deficit from the first leg at Anfield. After the consolation win, Van Dijk has called on his teammates to regroup and focus on the final stretch of the Premier League title race, starting with a match against Fulham on Sunday.

AdvertisementGetty WHAT VAN DIJK SAID

Speaking to after the match, Van Dijk said: "First, credit to Atalanta, the damage was done last week and we were very poor. They had the perfect game and they deserved to go through. We made it far too difficult for ourselves last week.

"Today was a good game, a great fight and we won but it does not feel like it. It's an improvement but the reality is that we are out and we have to very quickly turn this around and travel to London on Sunday. We all have a responsibility to be ready for it physically and mentally. We are disappointed to be out of the competition as we really wanted to win it.

"We need everyone for the last push and that is the feeling that I am getting now. We tried to [capitalise on the early goal]. We had some opportunities as well. Maybe at times, we wanted to play too quickly and everyone was keen to get the second and eventually then the third. Overall, it was a better game than last week but it wasn't enough."

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The victory against Atalanta halted Liverpool's three-game winless streak, which included a draw against Manchester United, a defeat by Atalanta in the first leg of the Europa League tie, and a disappointing loss to Crystal Palace in the Premier League. After the shock loss to Palace, Liverpool currently trail leaders Manchester City by two points in the Premier League table, with six games left to play.

Getty WHAT NEXT?

Moving ahead from their Europa League disappointment, Liverpool will look to channel their energy and focus into their pursuit of Premier League success, with Van Dijk leading the charge from the backline. Following a trip to Fulham this Sunday, the Reds will be in action at Goodison Park in the Merseyside derby on April 25.

Kraigg Brathwaite, John Campbell stood firm for West Indies after their bowlers rolled England out for 187 on a lively surface

The Report by Valkerie Baynes31-Jan-2019West Indies 30 for 1 (Campbell 16*, Brathwaite 11*) trail England 187 (Moeen 60, Bairstow 52, Roach 4-30) by 157 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsAgain England were dismissed inside a day, again West Indies’ strike bowlers were damaging and again the home side capitalised on winning the toss, this time on a green and lively pitch that provided an entertaining start to the second Test in Antigua.While on the subject of deja vu, once again a pair of West Indies batsmen proved stubborn, thwarting England’s bowlers to end the day on 30 without loss, Kraigg Brathwaite unbeaten on 11 and John Campbell 16 not out.But it is worth noting the differences between England’s latest first-innings performance and their dismal collapse for 77 that set the stage for a 381-run defeat in Barbados to put this match in context so far.Moeen Ali’s timely score of 60, after a pair in the first Test and a nervy start to the second, Jonny Bairstow’s rapid-scoring half-century while wickets tumbled around him, and a couple of almost unavoidable dismissals thanks to the challenging pitch and some menacing bowling were in sharp contrast to England’s rank capitulation of the previous match.That is not to say there were not some soft dismissals as well. Opener Joe Denly sabotaged his maiden Test innings by reaching for a short, wide Alzarri Joseph delivery that was sailing well outside off stump to connect with the toe of his bat and send a simple catch to wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich.Having narrowly survived an appeal for lbw off Kemar Roach, which the DRS conferred back to the original umpire’s call of not out despite the ball looking fairly perilous for Denly, the debutant faced 15 deliveries for his first run and added just five more before his dismissal.Denly and fellow opener Rory Burns had endured four maiden overs before Burns was finally off the mark with a four, clipped through square leg off Roach. But Roach struck two balls later with a good line and length that tempted an outside edge from Burns, which was collected low at second slip by Jason Holder.England were in trouble at 55 for 4 and 93 for 6, but Moeen and Ben Foakes gave the innings some respectability. Foakes eventually mistimed a pull shot off Shannon Gabriel and gloved the ball on to his stumps via his hip after sharing an important 85-run partnership with Moeen. The blow to his hand resulted in Bairstow taking his place behind the stumps for the West Indies innings while Foakes received treatment.Moeen’s dismissal shortly after tea when he skied a Roach delivery to Gabriel, who had all the time in the world to take the catch at midwicket, looked soft but it was in fact indicative of the tricky bounce off the pitch.However, even more helpless was Joe Root, who could do little about his dismissal to a vicious Joseph delivery that hit the top of his bat handle and bobbled up towards Campbell who, reeling back at third slip, parried the ball high behind his head to Shai Hope, who ran across from gully to collect the catch.Bairstow faced just 64 balls for his 52, which included nine fours and a six, before he was trapped lbw by Roach with the second ball after lunch. His dismissal meant it looked like Ben Stokes would be forced to take up the rescue mission with England struggling on 78 for 5, but Gabriel had other ideas.Gabriel appeared to have broken down in his first over of the match, limping off with some apparent leg pain before returning gingerly in time for his second. But he returned from lunch with plenty of venom, sending down some brutal deliveries and engaging in a brief but notable verbal battle with Stokes.While the chat ended in a good-natured bump of fists the bowling barrage continued. Gabriel whacked Stokes on the thumb with a spitting delivery that elicited a yelp of pain, though Stokes responded well with a straight drive for four on the next ball.In his next over, Gabriel struck Moeen on the helmet with a short ball the batsman should have ducked but tried to pull instead. Just four balls later, Gabriel delivered another pearler that forced a defensive prod from Stokes, only to be caught behind by Dowrich for 14.Roach, the architect of England’s first-innings collapse in Barbados, finshed with 4 for 30, while Gabriel took 3 for 45 and Joseph 2 for 38.But perhaps most frustrating for England was that, despite the pitch only being subjected to a light rolling at the change of innings, their bowlers – including veteran strike duo James Anderson and Stuart Broad – were unable to make inroads on the West Indies’ batting after 21 overs with Brathwaite and Campbell offering stubborn, if static, resistance.Some individual performances aside, it begs the question, are England really in much better shape this time around?

Harry Kane has given his verdict on facing Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals, with Bayern Munich dashing Arsenal’s European dreams.

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Bundesliga giants battled past GunnersLa Liga giants next up in the last fourEngland star desperate to land a trophyGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

The Bundesliga giants are marching on into the last four after securing a 3-2 aggregate victory over the Gunners at the quarter-final stage. Former Tottenham star Kane lined up against familiar north London opposition in a thrilling encounter that was settled by Joshua Kimmich’s goal in an absorbing second-leg encounter at the Allianz Arena.

AdvertisementWHAT KANE SAID

Kane had been on target in the first leg at Emirates Stadium, as he converted from the penalty spot, and has 39 goals to his name this season through 40 appearances in all competitions. He is looking forward to testing himself against 14-time winners in the semi-finals, telling : “Real Madrid is of course a big club with an impressive history in the Champions League. It will be a difficult semi-final for us, but that's what the semi-finals of the Champions League are about: playing against the biggest clubs. We will now enjoy this victory and then prepare for the games.”

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Kane has also posted a celebratory video on social media, in which he praises Bayern for “finding a way” against Arsenal. He admits that a meeting with Madrid is going to be a “tough game” but is urging Bayern fans to “celebrate” for now as they remain in the hunt for continental glory.

WHAT NEXT FOR KANE?

The Champions League remains Bayern’s last chance to land major silverware this season, in what has been a frustrating campaign for the Bavarian giants, with England international striker Kane hoping to get his hands on a long-awaited trophy.

Leicester have allegedly breached the Premier League's Profitability and Sustainability rules but will not receive a deduction this season.

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Leicester allegedly breach Premier League PSR rulesWill not be docked Championship points this season Foxes may receive deduction in Premier League Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

The Premier League's PSR rules have seen a lot of the headlines in the media this season amid a crackdown on breaches, with teams like Everton, Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United being hit with points deductions. However, despite Leicester having allegedly breached the rules as well, they will not be docked points from their Championship tally due to legal restrictions.

AdvertisementTHE EXPLANATION

After being charged for the breach last month, the Foxes took up legal action against the English Football League (EFL) by claiming that a points deduction in the Championship for their offenses in the Premier League would be unlawful. Following the legal recourse, the EFL has now agreed that the limitations in the regulations will not allow them to dock points from the Championship league leaders.

WHAT THE EFL SAID

In a statement, the EFL announced: "Having taken legal advice, the EFL has confirmed to all parties that whilst it would want to respect any decision of a Premier League disciplinary commission (and vice versa) to deduct points in the EFL, it does not have the power under the regulations as currently drafted."

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GettyDID YOU KNOW?

Earlier this month, Leicester confirmed losses of £89.7 million ($112.7m) for the 2022-23 season which took their total losses over the last three seasons, all of which they spent in the top-flight, to a total of £215m ($270.2m). The Premier League permits under £105m ($132m) of losses over a three-year period which brought around their breach of the PSR rules.

The fast bowler also singled out the difference Australia’s lower order made in the second Test

Melinda Farrell19-Dec-20183:55

‘We play our best cricket when we put emotion aside’ – Paine

Mitchell Starc expects the MCG pitch to be “a surprise” for both teams in the Boxing Day Test a year after it earned a “poor” rating from the ICC. During the Ashes the iconic Test of the summer subsided into a dreary draw on a surface that offered little assistance to bowlers.During the early rounds of the Sheffield Shield, head curator Matt Page has attempted to inject more life into the drop-in wicket by putting a layer of sand between the concrete base and the pitch trays and leaving more grass on the pitch, methods expected to be repeated for the Test. But while the drop-in block is due to be replaced in March, Starc admitted that, for now, conditions remain a mystery.”I don’t know what to expect,” Starc said. “I didn’t play last year. I had to watch from the side and it didn’t do a thing for five days so hopefully they’ve sorted it out. It sounds like they’ve been trying a few things with the Shield cricket there in the first few rounds.”I think it may be a surprise, what they actually dish out next week, but I think we’ll just sort of review this week and enjoy a moment of reflecting on the hard work we’ve had to do this week and then we’ll focus on Melbourne when we get there.”The hard work shouldered by Australia’s bowlers included their efforts with the bat and the respective depths of the two sides batting line-ups has been a significant factor in the series, keeping them in the contest in Adelaide and then helping set up a winning total in Perth.ALSO READ: MCG drop-in pitch to be upgraded to Perth standard”It’s an interesting one,” Starc said. “It’s something that we all work really hard at and we have done for a long time. Pat’s obviously fantastic at eight. He plays a bit more like a batter than the other three of us he can bat for long periods of time.”I think it just showed in Adelaide how many balls he can face and really he looks comfortable at the crease. He may not at times feel that way but he looks very comfortable and, when he’s batting with someone like Painey or other batsmen, it’s just fantastic. Those partnerships make India bowl a lot more overs and then the other three of us we just try and hang around a bit and score a few runs and face a few balls.”It’s something that I think our tail takes a lot of pride in. And then with the ball we’re trying to do the exact opposite for them and try to get them out really quickly.”To illustrate the importance of the tale of the tails, Australia’s Nos. 8-11 have made 227 runs off 520 balls in the opening two Tests, while India’s equivalents have made 51 off 228 deliveries. India’s decision to replace the injured R Ashwin with fast bowler Umesh Yadav lengthened their tail and put more onus on the top order to fire.”They had a longer tail this week,” Starc said. “Obviously bringing in an extra fast bowler, I guess someone like a Bhuvneshwar or a Jadeja who probably bat a bit better than perhaps maybe Umesh did this week, could have made things interesting – or another spinner.”But I think we probably over attacked a little bit in Adelaide and so I think we learned from that in the second innings in Adelaide and then this week. It was obviously a different wicket, we bowled a little bit differently to the tail this week.”We probably repaid a few favours which they did to us in the third innings so it’ll be a different story again next week I guess in Melbourne depending on what the wicket is.”

Barcelona star Pedri says Lionel Messi is “without doubt” ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo in the GOAT debate, despite the Portuguese being “great as well”.

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All-time greats spent careers locked in battleBlaugrana star a big fan of Argentine iconCurrently working his way back from injuryWHAT HAPPENED?

Two iconic figures of the modern era have spent their respective careers battling with one another for the right to be considered the best player on the planet, and potentially the greatest of all-time. Messi now has eight Ballons d’Or on his roll of honour, compared to Ronaldo’s five, but both have countless records and major trophies to their name.

AdvertisementGetty/GOALWHAT PEDRI SAID

Pedri, who worked alongside Messi at Camp Nou prior to the Argentine’s move to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021, has told when asked for his take on the long-running GOAT discussion: “Messi, without a doubt. But Cristiano is a great player as well.”

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Pedri is considered to be a potential Golden Ball winner himself, with there more to come from him at 21 years of age, but he has bizarrely stated when asked what he hopes to be doing in 10 years time – with a nod of sorts being offered to playmaking idol Andres Iniesta: “Playing football, and bald. I have always wanted to go bald.”

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GettyWHAT NEXT?

Pedri is currently out of action again at Barcelona, with there “no specific date” in place for his latest return from injury, but he will be hoping to aid the Blaugrana’s efforts to land another Champions League crown in 2024.

Three Pakistan batsmen hit fifties but rain had the final say in the deciding contest in Dubai

The Report by Danyal Rasool11-Nov-2018
35 for 1 (Worker 18*, Nicholls 15*, Shaheen 1-18) Match abandoned
Babar Azam plays a square cut•Getty ImagesPakistan played what had looked like a solid enough game to finally win an ODI series against New Zealand, but when luck is out, it finds unique ways of making its presence felt. In this case, it was rain in the desert of Dubai that brought a watery end to proceedings seven overs into the New Zealand chase. Shaheen Afridi had removed dangerman Colin Munro in the first over in a chase of 280, and even though George Worker and Henry Nicholls had begun to rebuild, New Zealand will be much the happier side to shake hands in this manner.It’s hard not to wonder where this Pakistan side has been all along. Batting first against a team that has tormented them recently, Pakistan cast away the trepidation they appear to carry whenever they come up against an elite team of late, bossing the innings throughout as they racked up 279. A 108-run partnership between the irrepressible Babar Azam and an irresistible Haris Sohail today was at the heart of the domination, but in truth, Pakistan had control all along, with nothing that New Zealand did holding them back for long enough.There were three half-centuries for Pakistan, but it wasn’t until Haris Sohail came that they shifted gears. In a magnificent innings just when Pakistan needed to ensure they didn’t fall away, he delivered against his favourite opposition. A glorious cover drive off Ish Sodhi got him off the mark, and was only a harbinger of what was to come. He swiftly took over as the senior partner from Babar as Pakistan’s run rate shot up, each stroke he played more a work of art than a functional tool to get his side going. The best shot perhaps came against Trent Boult , a straight drive over the bowler’s head that perfectly pierced the gap between mid-on and mid-off.Boult was the unlikely man Pakistan chose to target today. The bowler has tormented Pakistan several times over the years, but today, Pakistan shook off any doubts they had and targetted the leader of New Zealand’s pace attack. It didn’t help the left-armer wasn’t having his best day; New Zealand in general were guilty of being too short and wide to batsmen who expertly exploited that. But it was in particular the liking Haris took to Boult that set the tone for Pakistan’s surge. The over after that straight drive, he carted another two boundaries off him, one glided past third man and the other a classy back-foot punch. Even when he came on in the death overs, he couldn’t quite pull things back the way he’s done so expertly of late. His final figures of 10-0-80-1 were the second most expensive of his ODI career.The first hammer blow to the New Zealand solar plexus came before the coin was tossed, with news that Kane Williamson would not be able to play due to a groin injury. Tom Latham captained in his absence, while Matt Henry was chosen to replace Tim Southee. For Pakistan, Mohammad Hafeez was promoted to open the innings after Imam-ul-Haq couldn’t recover from the blow to the head he sustained in the last game, and alongside Fakhar, he got Pakistan off to a crisp start.Expectedly, Fakhar dominated the 64-run opening stand.New Zealand didn’t look like taking a wicket until that point, but Hafeez unwittingly helped them when he stepped too far back to a Lockie Ferguson ball and trod on his stumps. Fakhar kept going, and brought up his second consecutive half-century. His innings, though, ended when he mistimed slog off Colin de Grandhomme.Babar constructed his innings in a classy manner without being noticed. He quietly kept the scorecard ticking when Haris was on fire. He took 68 balls to bring up his fifty but caught up almost effortlessly towards the end of the innings finishing with 92 off 100. He was caught slogging on the boundary in the penultimate over in an innings he had tailored to serve his side’s needs.Lockie Ferguson was the bowler that once more most worried Pakistan, and it was perhaps his efforts that prevented Pakistan from getting to 300, a real possibility at one stage. Alongside de Grandhomme, he ensured Pakistan did not get too far ahead. Their combined figures of 18-0-79-6 helped undo some of the carnage Pakistan had wreaked on some of their team-mates. Three wickets in the final over helped Ferguson pick up his first career five-wicket haul, and will have done his future chances with the national side no harm.For Pakistan, in the end, there is much encouragement to draw from this ODI series, even if a trophy at the end of it continues to elude them.

Pakistan have been dismal against the top ODI sides lately, but a 3-0 sweep in the T20Is, and a proud past ODI record against New Zealand should give them the ideal opportunity to set that right

The Preview by Danyal Rasool06-Nov-2018Big PictureThe curious case of the disparity between Pakistan’s T20I and ODI form would have Benjamin Button perplexed. While Pakistan’s T20I form over the last two years has defied logic, their ODI record against the stronger teams is almost the other side of that coin. Against Australia, South Africa, India, New Zealand and England over that same period, Pakistan have lost 17 out of 21 ODIs. Three of the four wins came in that mind-boggling run to the Champions Trophy final, which, as far as 50-over cricket is concerned, is beginning to look like the exception to the rule.Against New Zealand, a side traditionally considered whipping boys for them, Pakistan have now lost 11 ODIs on the bounce, stretching back to when Kane Williamson’s men were last on these shores. New Zealand are worlds removed from the side Pakistan were so successful against through much of the 90s and 2000s, but such a lengthy unbroken streak is bound to leave psychological scars. Coming off the back of an ordinary Asia Cup, this is an especially difficult series to begin building towards the 2019 World Cup, even if Pakistan do so off the back of a perfect T20I scoreline against the same opposition.Pakistan have controlled the middle overs superbly in T20Is of late, but they will have to demonstrate the same mastery in the longer format to start seeing more success. While Imad Wasim and Shadab Khan can asphyxiate a side in T20Is due to the pressure for quick runs, New Zealand will be far more content with rotating the strike in the ODIs and keeping wickets in tact for a big finish. How the spinners can adapt to that may shape the direction of the upcoming three games in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.New Zealand’s backroom staff will be drumming these numbers into their head to wash away the T20I memories. In a squad that seems to be just the right mix of experience and youth, there are plenty of players whose games would translate very well to Abu Dhabi’s surface.New Zealand have won both the ODI series they’ve played against Pakistan since the latter relocated permanently to the Emirates. They will also be bolstered by the return of Trent Boult, who was away on paternity leave for the T20I series.With Williamson, Colin Munro, Ross Taylor and Tom Latham at the top of the order, they have both destructors and constructors, and should Tim Southee and Boult struggle to get much swing or seam movement, Lockie Ferguson can try his luck with sheer pace. Ish Sodhi and Ajaz Patel will have slightly more time to settle on their lines and lengths. They are a well-balanced side, and will be confident of making it a dozen in a row against Sarfraz Ahmed’s men.Form guideNew Zealand LWLLW
Pakistan LLWLWIn the spotlightSarfraz Ahmed’s status as Pakistan captain has received a fair bit of attention in the past week, with newly appointed committee chairman Mohsin Khan suggesting Sarfraz be relieved of his duties in at least one format. It provoked mass media coverage and speculation about his role intensified. And while there’s no imminent danger of him losing the armband, the scrutiny around his personal performances will be significant. Sarfraz has rarely been called upon in pressure situations while Pakistan beat weaker teams like Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka over the past year, and when he has been required – as was the case in the Asia Cup – he hasn’t quite got his side over the line. The last time he scored over 15 runs in a match that Pakistan won came all the way back in the Champions Trophy against Sri Lanka. In a series against a fiercely competitive New Zealand side, Pakistan cannot afford to be carrying any passengers, least of all their captain.In his short international career so far, nearly all of Colin de Grandhomme’s highlights have come against Pakistan. It is a fact most Pakistanis haven’t missed, and there has been much self-deprecating humour surrounding it. One meme depicted de Grandhomme transforming into Gary Sobers when facing Pakistan. The history behind that is he has turned in astonishing performances with both bat and ball against Sarfraz’s men. On debut, he took 6 for 41 on the first day in Christchurch in 2016 to help his side beat Pakistan. Earlier this year, he dug New Zealand out of a hole in a tricky ODI chase against the same side, smashing an unbeaten 74 off 40 balls to take New Zealand home comfortably. Whatever it is, he seems to like playing against Pakistan, and Sarfraz Ahmed will be uniquely aware of the threat he poses.Team newsIt’s a bit of a toss-up to see who Pakistan leave out, given how well both T20I series went, and the successful reintroduction of both Mohammad Hafeez and Imad Wasim since the Asia Cup. An abundance of options can sometimes befuddle a team’s thought process, but it’s hardly the worst problem to have.Pakistan (probable XI): 1 Imam-ul-Haq, 2 Fakhar Zaman, 3 Babar Azam, 4 Shoaib Malik, 5, Mohammad Hafeez 6 Sarfraz Ahmed (capt & wk), 7 Faheem Ashraf, 8 Imad Wasim, 9 Shadab Khan, 10 Hasan Ali, 11 Shaheen Afridi/Usman Shinwari/Junaid KhanNew Zealand have come into this ODI series with several all-round options of their own. They also have no less than four out-and-out seamers to choose from, and therefore aren’t short of decisions to make either.New Zealand (probable XI): 1 Colin Munro 2 Tom Latham 3 Kane Williamson 4 Colin de Grandhomme 5 Ross Taylor 6 Henry Nicholls 7 Todd Astle 8 Tim Southee/Trent Boult 9 Lockie Ferguson 10 Ajaz Patel 11 Ish SodhiPitch and conditionsThe afternoon start means dew could be a factor in the second innings, but since it remains uncomfortably hot during the day, teams may find it easier to field at night, as several of them did during the Asia Cup.Stats and trivia Tom Latham has a significantly better record playing away from home as compared to when he bats in New Zealand. In 29 ODIs away from home, he averages 45, with three hundreds. At home, that drops down to 23, with just one three-figure score. In 42 matches at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, only two have seen scores in excess of 300. Both were scored by Pakistan, once against Sri Lanka in 2007, and against West Indies in 2016.