'Extraordinary story' – Wrexham co-owner Rob McElhenney excited to make documentary series about controversial pro-doping competition Enhanced Games

Wrexham co-owner Rob McElhenney says he is excited to make a documentary showcasing the "extraordinary story" of the Enhanced Games.

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  • Enhanced Games to be launched in mid-2025
  • Athletes can take performance-enhancing drugs
  • McElhenney to produce documentary on event
  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    Ahead of the Enhanced Games taking place in mid-2025, where athletes can take performance enhancing drugs, Hollywood actor McElhenney's More Better Productions and Ridley Scott Associates will co-produce the documentary series about the upcoming championships, the actor confirmed to .

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    WHAT ROB MCELHENNEY SAID

    He said: "More Better is honoured to partner with RSA to help tell the extraordinary story behind the Enhanced Games. From the moment we discovered this competition was in the works, we knew this deserved a deep exploration through a thoughtful docuseries lens."

  • THE BIGGER PICTURE

    The Enhanced Games, conceived by Aron D'Souza and Christian Angermayer, is the world's first sporting event that allows doping. The report states the competition aims to become a competitor to the Olympics.

    The founders released a statement that reads: "Launched in response to what Aron and his partners view as a broken system, where cheating is too sophisticated to control, the new competition is set to become the most talked about sporting event of the century to date."

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    WHAT NEXT?

    While McElhenney will be preparing for this docuseries in the not so distant future, his Wrexham side, who sit third in League Two, travel to relegation-threatened Colchester United on Saturday; looking to boost their chances of securing promotion to League One.

MLB Told Player 'Dead' Baseballs Will Not Be Fixed in 2025

Baseballs are seeing increased drag during flight this season, found in a review of MLB's available data. According to review, there has been more drag on baseballs in 2025 than in any of the other nine seasons that MLB has tracked this data, causing baseballs to come an average of four feet shorter than usual.

The MLB recently responded to the issue:

"We are aware of an increase in average drag this season and have provided information to the Major League Baseball Players Association on this issue as our experts continue to study any potential causes beyond normal variability in a product made by hand with natural materials," spokesperson Glen Caplin said. "There has been no change to the manufacturing, storage or handling of baseballs this year, and all baseballs remain within specifications."

Pittsburgh Pirates designated hitter and five-time All-Star Andrew McCutchen offered further insight on the increased drag, noting that a MLB rep informed him that "higher seams" have led to more drag. McCutchen added he was told the issue will not be fixed this year.

"I was told by a rep for MLB that the balls are indeed different this year," McCutchen wrote on X. "They stated 'higher seams' which produces more drag on baseball, causing baseballs to not travel as far as they should. When asked why, I was told 'every baseball is hand sewn so no ball is the same.' When I asked if there is something that can be done about correcting the current performance of this years baseball, I was told there was 'nothing' that can be done about it this season BUT, they are 'working hard on getting to the bottom of why the seams are higher.'"

Халява: в EGS запустили новую бесплатную раздачу и рассказали о следующих подарках

В Epic Games Store стартовала новая бесплатная раздача. На этот раз в магазине можно забрать симулятор винодела Hundred Days и бонусный набор для «королевской битвы» Realm Royale Reforged. Акция продлится до 15 сентября 18:00 по МСК.

В Hundred Days игроки возьмут полный контроль над винодельческим заводом. Чтобы собрать лучший урожай, нужно знать многие нюансы: характеристики почвы, лечение болезней, особенности разных дрожжей и бактерий. Также игрокам предстоит заниматься дизайном этикеток и рекламой бренда.

Начальный набор Epic для Realm Royale Reforged включает облик убийцы «Острие смерти», облик цыпленка «Берсеркур» и скакуна Ногарда. Обычно он стоит 649 рублей.

На следующей неделе Epic Games раздаст Spirit of the North и The Captain.

Следить за скидками на игры и халявой можно также в нашем Telegram-канале.

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    New Daniel Farke sack update now shared from Leeds before Man City

    Leeds United are keen to revive their Premier League fortunes after a poor start to the season under Daniel Farke, who has now found out where he stands ahead of their trip to face Manchester City.

    Leeds United and Daniel Farke caught in awkward situation

    There is no point in beating around the bush. Farke has come under significant pressure recently at Elland Road, and a run of five losses in his last six matches has done little to win fans over in West Yorkshire.

    On the face of it, the German is a talented coach who deploys an exciting brand of football that has won plenty of adulation, albeit the Whites have been undone too often by the fine margins of the top-flight.

    Facing Manchester City is a daunting task at the best of times, not least when they managed to give a rest to key players during their Champions League exploits in midweek.

    Another misstep and Farke could be in serious trouble, with former Union Berlin boss Bo Svensson and ex-Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers on Leeds’ shortlist should they decide to call time on his spell at Elland Road.

    Survival is a difficult ask for any newly-promoted side, and nobody was expecting the Whites’ return to the Premier League to be straightforward. However, results are critical, and they appear to be in short supply at the moment.

    Ultimately, only time will tell whether Farke gets an extended period to turn things around. As supporters hunt for clarity, a new update has now emerged regarding his future.

    Daniel Farke given Leeds United sack ultimatum

    According to sources from Football Insider, Leeds boss Farke has two matches to save his job at Elland Road, and the 49ers Enterprises are now ‘exploring new manager options amid growing fan discord over the performances and results under Farke’.

    Carlos Corberan and Marcelo Bielsa are also mooted as options alongside Rodgers and Svensson, though whoever takes on the mantle, should the 49-year-old be relieved of his duties, will face some tough festive fixtures in the cold light of day.

    Leeds United’s tough upcoming matches

    Manchester City (A)

    Premier League

    Chelsea (H)

    Premier League

    Liverpool (H)

    Premier League

    Brentford (A)

    Premier League

    Crystal Palace (H)

    Premier League

    For now, Farke remains in post, but the fact that his club are already on the lookout for alternatives paints a bleak picture for his future unless Leeds can string together a run of meaningful results in the near future.

    Leeds have a "laughable" signing who's a bigger waste of time than Perri

    Leeds United fans must now be scratching their heads as to why their beloved side ever signed this dud.

    ByKelan Sarson Nov 28, 2025

    Truthfully, the Whites’ boss has been uncompromising in his methods and is willing to go down on his own terms rather than be forced to deviate from his tactical style.

    While that is admirable in theory, it remains to be seen if he can evade doubters over the coming weeks with his job well and truly on the line.

    Been there, done that, going nowhere?

    Cameron White’s criticisms of Australia’s selection processes have raised the question of whether performances in the Sheffield Shield and Matador Cup are losing relevance

    Brydon Coverdale02-Feb-2017On Tuesday, Cameron White pointed out a few things during an interview on Melbourne radio station RSN.He pointed out that he was worried about the future and strength of Australian cricket due to the national selectors, in his eyes anyway, overlooking strong performances at state level. He pointed out that the BBL seemed to be the be-all and end-all, and that players could get selected out of the BBL for any format.He pointed out that the Australia side sometimes resembled a “development team”, and that player development should happen in domestic cricket, not at international level. He pointed out that it was futile searching for “the one”, the next Ricky Ponting, say, because such players would emerge naturally anyway.On Wednesday, the interim chairman of selectors, Trevor Hohns, pointed out a few things during a press conference in Adelaide, where he was announcing Australia’s T20 squad.He pointed out that Cameron White himself was a very young man when he was first picked in Australia’s ODI team. He pointed out that it was the charter of the selection panel not only to pick players for now but also to have an eye to the future.He pointed out that White had indeed been given plenty of opportunities, and that “it’s probably fair to say he performed okay without being earth-shattering”.On Thursday, the Australian Cricketers’ Association pointed out a few things in a press release. It pointed out that White was entitled to his opinion, and Hohns to his, but “to reduce the discussion to a negative critique of Cameron White’s career is playing the man, not the ball”.It pointed out that White, as a long-time servant of the game and former captain of his country, deserved better. It pointed out that there was “a growing sense amongst players and the ACA that any public comment would be met with a disproportionate response by Cricket Australia”.One could point out that for a selector to say a player has had “plenty of opportunities” is perilously close to saying he will not be given another. One could point out that this sends a negative message to all players who have had a few matches and then been dropped: your cards are marked. One could point out that this is in stark contrast to the idea that cricketers should aim to improve every day.One could point out that, so far in the current Sheffield Shield round, only two batsmen have scored centuries: Ed Cowan and Chris Hartley, both of whom are 34.One could point out that Hohns, of all people, should know that cricketers often improve with age. One could point out that at 32, Hohns had a first-class bowling average of 42.21. One could point out that it was only after this that everything clicked for Hohns, and that Australia’s captain Allan Border said he had “become a more complete bowler”.One could point out that Hohns did not play for Australia until he was 35, and that White is still only 33.One could point out that while it is true that White has played 88 ODIs, he has been virtually exiled from the side since 2011, apart from a single match in 2015. One could point out that only since then has White peaked as a 50-over player, and that he has averaged 50-plus in three of the past four domestic one-day tournaments, and 70-plus in two of those.One could point out that although Hohns is correct in saying White was young – 22 – when first chosen for Australia, he had by then already played 38 List A games, and over the previous two ING Cup tournaments was equal seventh on the wicket tally (he was at the time a bowling allrounder).One could point out that Sam Heazlett has been chosen for Australia’s ODI side without ever having played a one-day game for his state, rather was fast-tracked via the National Performance Squad. One could point out that Billy Stanlake was rushed into Australia’s ODI side with only four List A games to his name. One could point out they were both picked out of the BBL.

    One could point out that if Cricket Australia is forward-thinking enough to appoint independent board members to see policy matters objectively, perhaps it would do well to appoint selectors who likewise will view players with fresh eyes

    One could point out that, in any case, White did not mention any player by name during his radio interview, did not highlight any individual’s selection as unjustified.One could point out that at no point did White suggest he himself should be in the team. One could point out that this debate is, in fact, not about White the individual at all, but rather about the priorities of Australia’s selectors.One could point out that two of the national selectors have come directly from talent management positions: Hohns was Queensland’s state talent manager and Greg Chappell the national talent manager. One could point out that they only relinquished these roles – in which they were responsible for identifying and fostering young talent – in November. One could point out that another selector, Mark Waugh, still holds his position as “governor” of Sydney Thunder.One could point out that Heazlett and Stanlake came through the Queensland pathways system that Hohns managed, and the national pathways system that Chappell managed. One could point out that if Cricket Australia is forward-thinking enough to appoint independent board members to see policy matters objectively, perhaps it would do well to appoint selectors who likewise will view players with fresh eyes.One could point out that of Australia’s ODI squad currently in New Zealand, only two players are aged over 30 – Aaron Finch, who turned 30 two months ago, and Shaun Marsh, who is 33. One could point out that this hardly constitutes an ageing side desperately crying out for an injection of youth.One could point out that, for all the selectors’ protests that domestic form is respected, none of the top 18 run scorers in this summer’s Matador Cup have been rewarded with selection in Australia’s ODI side since the tournament.One could point out any or all of these things, but Cameron White did not: he simply made general observations about a trend he had observed, naming no names and pushing no personal barrow.One could point out that players of his experience – men like Cowan, Hartley, George Bailey, Doug Bollinger, Daniel Christian, who have been there and done that, year after year after year, for their states and in some cases for their country – are the ones who make the young players prove their worth in the Sheffield Shield and the Matador Cup, and thus make these young players better.And one could point out that, when they hear messages like White has this week, players in such a position might wonder: what’s the point?

    "منفتح على كل الخيارات".. سيبايوس يلوح بالرحيل عن ريال مدريد

    فتح داني سيبايوس، لاعب وسط ريال مدريد، الباب أمام إمكانية مغادرة الفريق خلال سوق الانتقالات الصيفية الحالية، في ظل تراجع دوره تحت قيادة المدرب تشابي ألونسو خلال كأس العالم للأندية.

    وأدلى سيبايوس بتصريحات نقلتها صحيفة “ماركا” الإسبانية: “سنتحدث عن مستقبلي في الأسابيع المقبلة، بيتيس كان بيتي وسيظل دائمًا كذلك”.

    ورغم تجديد عقده حتى صيف 2027، أوضح سيبايوس أنه لم يغلق الباب أمام العودة إلى ريال بيتيس، حيث قال: “آمل أن يكون الباب مفتوحًا دائمًا، لم أتحدث معهم بعد، نحن منفتحون على كل الخيارات”.

    اقرأ أيضًا | ماركا: فينيسيوس في مأزق.. والموسم الجديد قد يكون حاسمًا مع ريال مدريد

    ابتعاد سيبايوس عن التشكيل الأساسي في كأس العالم للأندية، وتفضيل ألونسو الاعتماد على أسماء مثل أوريلين تشواميني وفيدي فالفيردي وأردا جولر، زاد من الغموض حول مستقبله داخل ريال مدريد.

    ورغم حاجة ريال مدريد إلى لاعبين بصفات سيبايوس بعد رحيل توني كروس ولوكا مودريتش، إلا أن استبعاده من المباريات قد يدفعه للتفكير في خطوة جديدة.

    عودة سيبايوس إلى بيتيس تظل خيارًا مطروحًا، لكنه يتطلب اتفاقًا ماليًا، خاصة أن عقده ما زال ساريًا، وتبدو صفقة انتقاله معقدة من الناحية الاقتصادية بالنسبة للنادي الأندلسي.

    Real Madrid must pay up! Los Blancos learn asking price for Xabi Alonso as they aim to source replacement for Carlo Ancelotti after Champions League humiliation

    Real Madrid will have to pay a double-digit buyout fee in order to sign Bayer Leverkusen's Xabi Alonso as manager this summer.

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    Alonso heavily tipped to join MadridLaLiga outfit likely to part ways with Carlo AncelottiLos Blancos must pay a buyout fee to sign AlonsoFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

    Alonso is the hot favourite to replace Carlo Ancelotti as the manager of Real Madrid, especially following the Spanish giants' humiliating 5-1 quarter-final defeat to Arsenal in the Champions League. However, BILD reports (h/t Football Espana) that Los Blancos will have to pay a double-digit figure to Bayer Leverkusen in order to sign Alonso before his current deal, valid until June 2026, expires.

    AdvertisementAFPTHE BIGGER PICTURE

    Alonso is believed to have an agreement with Leverkusen CEO Fernando Cerro to allow him to leave for Real Madrid, but the German club will demand at least €10 million as fees for his release. Los Merengues are likely to negotiate the cost down, given their historical reluctance to pay large fees for managers. The timing, with the Club World Cup approaching, adds urgency to the decision. Indeed, there is just a 24-day gap between Madrid's final LaLiga fixture and the start of the Club World Cup. Not just that, but a host of Madrid players are expected to be on national duty in between, giving Alonso little to no time to work with the squad.

    DID YOU KNOW?

    Speculation surrounding a potential managerial change at Madrid has intensified in recent days. According to reports from Cadena SER, an intermediary from the Confederation of Brazilian Football (CBF) was spotted in the stands of the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday, fueling rumours of a possible managerial shake-up. Additional reports have suggested that former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp could be enticed by the prospect of returning to management with the 15-time European winners, should the opportunity arise.

    AFPWHAT NEXT FOR XABI ALONSO?

    Leverkusen's sporting director hinted last month that Alonso could remain at the BayArena for another season. "No, he's staying, that's it. He told me that there was nothing. He has a contract with us," said Rofles.

    Alonso could lead Die Werkself to a second consecutive Bundesliga title, although with five games to go and with Leverkusen trailing Bayern Munich by six points, only a miracle could see them defend the league. They will take on St. Pauli in their upcoming clash, which will be played on Sunday, April 20.

    Man City preparing hefty £54m opening offer to sign "great" new midfielder

    On an unprecedented run of poor form under Pep Guardiola, Manchester City have unsurprisingly turned their attention towards the January transfer window – and are already reportedly preparing a big-money offer.

    Man City transfer news

    With 1 win in 13, the Premier League champions are no longer just wounded – they’re out for the count. Guardiola has never endured such a run during an almost flawless managerial career.

    Even he – a true football genius – seems out of ideas. Never have the modern-day Citizens needed reinforcements so desperately, with their crown seemingly headed elsewhere and their Champions League status suddenly in danger.

    On that front, the rumours are already underway. The likes of Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz have both been linked, perhaps with Kevin De Bruyne’s contract situation in mind. The Belgian – to compile City’s misery – is set to depart as a free agent when the summer arrives as things stand.

    Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz

    However, before Wirtz or Musiala, it looks as though those at the Etihad could turn their attention towards the Italian Serie A in the January transfer window. According to reports in Spain, Man City are now preparing a €65m (£54m) offer to sign Tijjani Reijnders from Milan.

    The Dutchman has been one of the few bright sparks for the Rossoneri so far this season and could now earn a move away as a result. Given his ability to play in defensive and attacking midfield, City’s interest should come as no surprise.

    Man City can land Savinho upgrade in swoop for "unbelievable" £66m star

    Manchester City are reportedly interested in a deal for the Premier League forward.

    ByDan Emery Dec 27, 2024

    If they’re looking to replace Rodri and find a replacement for the ageing Ilkay Gundogan when the Spaniard returns, Reijnders may well be the man to sign for Manchester City in 2025.

    "Great" Reijnders can replace Rodri and more

    Before anything, Manchester City must replace Rodri. The Spaniard’s absence has been their greatest problem, even amid further injuries within Guardiola’s squad.

    Completing that task should add the control that they’re so desperately lacking – the control that they have become so famous for over the years. And that’s where Reijnders could come in.

    At a struggling Milan side, the Dutch midfielder has often found himself at the centre of praise, including from Ben Mattinson. The analyst dubbed Reijnders a “great ball-carrier and progressor” last season and has watched on like the rest of European football as he has only continued to improve that trait in abundance.

    With eight goals and three assists to his name so far this season, signing Reijnders could even solve Manchester City’s recent goal problem and ease the responsibility on Erling Haaland, who has struggled to reach his best form of late.

    Head recalled for bowling ability, Matt Kuhnemann leapfrogs struggling Ashton Agar

    Australia selector Tony Dodemaide has defended the presence of injured players in the squad

    Alex Malcolm17-Feb-20234:59

    Chappell: Cummins being the only pacer in the XI is a ‘hell of a gamble’

    Australia’s selectors have backflipped on their decision to leave out Travis Head in Nagpur by selecting him in Delhi because of his bowling ability. Matthew Kuhnemann has also leap-frogged Ashton Agar to make his Test debut as Australia select three specialist spinners and one fast bowler for the first time since 2017 with Cameron Green and Mitchell Starc both ruled unfit.Australia’s selector on tour Tony Dodemaide spoke to the media shortly before the toss in Delhi to explain the selectors’ decision-making. Having left Head out in Nagpur as a horses-for-courses selection due to his poor batting record on the subcontinent, and his struggles at the training camp in Bengaluru, Dodemaide explained that Head had been included in Delhi at the expense of Matt Renshaw because Australia felt they were missing a fifth bowling option in Nagpur.”Renners is really stiff,” Dodemaide said. “There’s no slight on him. He’s very much a valued player in our team planning moving forward. He was quite stiff, particularly in the first innings [in Nagpur]. So he hasn’t been dropped for those performances.”The key thing where we see the difference this time around is that Heady does offer quite a valuable option as a fifth bowler and that’s where we felt we were stretched in parts of the game in Nagpur and that fifth bowling option is something that we value, albeit another spinner. But we expect spin to dominate in any case.”

    Ashton Agar struggling for form

    Kuhnemann’s Test debut has come in extraordinary circumstances. Last week he was playing his first first-class match since October for Queensland at the MCG in Melbourne, having been biding his time as the second Queensland spinner behind Mitchell Swepson in their Sheffield Shield side.Kuhnemann was not selected in the initial India tour squad but flew into Delhi on Sunday as Swepson went home for the birth of his first child. Agar was picked as Australia’s second spinner in the XI in Sydney in the last home Test before the India tour and as the preferred left-arm orthodox spinner in the touring party.But Agar’s performance in Sydney against South Africa, and at the training camp in Bengaluru, meant that he was not a viable option to be picked in the first or second Test.”His red-ball game is not quite where he wants it to be,” Dodemaide said. “Matt Kuhnemann has come over and impressed. He got a chance in Sri Lanka, albeit in limited-overs form, he’s played well in domestic cricket this season and he’s impressed us in the nets. We just feel his style at the moment is more suited to these conditions.”Matthew Kuhnemann played 13 first-class matches before making his Test debut in Delhi•Getty Images

    Kuhnemann made a similar shock ODI debut last year in Sri Lanka when Adam Zampa missed the tour on paternity leave.Australia have opted to not pick a second pace bowler for the first time since Chittagong in 2017 when Pat Cummins was the lone quick alongside Agar, Nathan Lyon and Steve O’Keefe, although on that occasion that did have Hilton Cartwright’s medium pace.Boland was arguably Australia’s second-best bowler in Nagpur behind Todd Murphy but only bowled 17 overs for the Test. Australia’s selectors believe the conditions in Delhi make a second quick surplus to requirements.”It’s a bit unusual going the three spin and one quick,” Dodemaide said. “We feel the pitch here, the conditions, we feel that spin will dominate the game once again and from what we understand this pitch has been used three times already this year and there’s already substantial cracking in the areas where most of the game is going to be played. That’s the reason for going for the three spinners. The fifth bowler is important too.”We don’t have the seam bowling option of Cam on the table quite yet. We’re very confident and hope he’s continuing to progress and we expect him to be available for the third Test in Indore. That’s the context around selection for this one.”

    Cameron Green and Mitchell Starc hopeful for Indore

    Dodemaide defended the selectors’ decision to bring three players on tour who are not fit enough to be selected in the first two Tests. Josh Hazlewood is still battling an Achilles issue while Green and Starc were pushing to be fit for the second Test but neither were quite right with their respective finger injuries despite training fully on Wednesday.”We brought them over in the expectation they’d be available,” Dodemaide said. “Starcy and Greeny didn’t quite come up for this one. We fully expect them to be online for the third one.”Certainly if [Starc] was 100% we would have had a serious conversation about the bowling structure, about two [quicks] and two [spinners] as opposed to one [quick] and three [spinners]. Certainly, it’s great balance if you’ve got that seam bowling without shortening the batting with Greeny being available. That’s not the case and we deal with what you’ve got.”Cam’s been going through his return to play stuff. He hasn’t really completed all of what he was intended to do. He still hasn’t faced quick bowlers. He hasn’t done a lot of catching as well. He’s trained for quite some time. But there’s just enough reaction and discomfort there that it’s just not ready.”

    Hardik to lead India in T20I series against Sri Lanka; Rohit returns for ODIs; Pant not in either squad

    Kohli is not part of the T20Is against Sri Lanka, while Dhawan does not find a place in the ODI squad

    ESPNcricinfo staff27-Dec-2022

    Shikhar Dhawan has been left out for the ODI series at the start of a World Cup year•Associated Press

    Hardik Pandya will lead India in the three-match T20I series at home against Sri Lanka starting on January 3, with Suryakumar Yadav as his deputy, while Rohit Sharma is set to return for the three ODIs that follow.Virat Kohli and KL Rahul are also not part of the T20I squad; and Shikhar Dhawan has been left out of the ODI set-up after a poor run in Bangladesh, where he scored only 18 runs in three innings at a strike rate of 51.42.Rishabh Pant has not been included in either the ODI or the T20I squad against Sri Lanka after he was given a break from the ODI series in Bangladesh. Pant subsequently returned for the two Tests and scored a rapid 93 in the victory in Mirpur.Related

    Gambhir: 'There's no discussion; Kishan should be Rohit's opening partner in ODIs'

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    India's home season to begin with Sri Lanka T20Is

    The BCCI release that followed the selection meeting chaired by Chetan Sharma did not specify which players had been rested, dropped or injured.While Rahul is part of the ODI squad, he hasn’t been named vice-captain, with Hardik taking over as Rohit’s deputy in his first 50-over series since the tour of England in July. Rahul had recently led India in the third ODI in Bangladesh after Rohit was ruled out with a thumb injury.Jadeja’s recovery taking longer than expected
    Ravindra Jadeja did not feature in either squad as he continues his recovery from a knee injury. He last played for India at the Asia Cup in UAE in August-September, and subsequently underwent surgery. Jadeja’s inclusion for the Bangladesh tour was provisional and he was later withdrawn after NCA medical staff deemed him “not fully fit”.ESPNcricinfo understands Jadeja’s recovery is taking longer than expected, and while an exact date for his return isn’t known, the team is keen to have him back for the four-Test series against Australia starting in February. Jadeja could play in a Ranji Trophy game for Saurashtra, subject to permission, to prove his match fitness ahead of that series.The selectors chose a young pace attack for the T20Is against Sri Lanka with both Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami, who were part of the 2022 T20 World Cup squad, missing. Shami, however, is back in the ODI set up for the first time since the tour of England in June-July, after being withdrawn from the recent tour of Bangladesh because of a shoulder injury.Rishabh Pant is not part of the white-ball series against Sri Lanka•Getty Images

    Mavi, Mukesh get maiden T20I call-ups
    After fetching big money at the IPL 2023 auction last week, Uttar Pradesh’s Shivam Mavi and Bengal’s Mukesh Kumar earned maiden T20I call-ups. In the latest Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Mavi had picked up ten wickets in seven games at an economy of 6.64; Mukesh six in six at 7.04.The T20I squad also features Harshal Patel and Umran Malik, whose most-recent T20I was in June against England. ESPNcricinfo understands Harshal had contracted Covid upon his return from New Zealand and was asked to rest from the first two rounds of the Ranji Trophy as a precautionary measure. He was subsequently given a fitness clearance ahead of the selection meeting.Arshdeep Singh is back in the ODI squad after making his debut on the recent tour of New Zealand but missing the subsequent trip to Bangladesh. He is yet to take a wicket in ODIs after going wicketless in two matches in New Zealand.Middle-order batter Rajat Patidar and spin allrounder Shahbaz Ahmed are the other omissions from the ODI squad after the recent series in Bangladesh, where neither played a game. Deepak Chahar, who had pulled out of the tour of Bangladesh with a hamstring strain, was also not part of either squad.At the start of an ODI World Cup year, India begin their home season by hosting Sri Lanka for three T20Is in Mumbai (January 3), Pune (January 5) and Rajkot (January 7), and three ODIs in Guwahati (January 10), Kolkata (January 12) and Thiruvananthapuram (January 15), after which they will also host New Zealand and Australia before the IPL.India’s squad for Sri Lanka T20Is: Hardik Pandya (capt), Ishan Kishan (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (vice-capt), Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Harshal Patel, Umran Malik, Shivam Mavi, Mukesh KumarIndia’s quad for Sri Lanka ODIs: Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya (vice-capt), Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umran Malik, Arshdeep Singh

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