Mais de R$ 220 milhões em reforços entre os anos de 2023 e 2024. Sem técnico. Sem patrocínio máster. Sem Diretor Comercial. Promessas de grandes melhorias no CT Moacyr Barbosa. Três pontos de 12 disputados no Brasileirão. Este é o panorama atual do Vasco.
continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasFora de CampoNarrador da Globo viraliza ao falar da torcida do Vasco: ‘Aplaude o momento histórico que vivemos’Fora de Campo27/04/2024Fora de CampoJornalistas e influenciadores detonam Vasco após derrota: ‘Ridículo, péssimo’Fora de Campo27/04/2024Fora de CampoJornalista dá forte declaração após goleada do Criciúma em cima do Vasco e detona equipe: ‘Desprezível’Fora de Campo27/04/2024
➡️ Tudo sobre o Gigante agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso canal Lance! Vasco
Panorama fora de campo que se reflete nas quatro linhas e sugere ao torcedor, o maior patrimônio do Vasco, que o clube terá mais um ano de sofrimento. São muitos “sem” para uma gestão, que aparentemente, não aprendeu com os erros de um passado recente. 2023 foi logo ali.
O Vasco vai para o quarto técnico no comando e para o terceiro diretor executivo de futebol. Antes de Ramón Díaz, Jorginho e Barbieri foram os treinadores. Como dirigentes cruz-maltinos, Paulo Bracks e Alexandre Mattos antecederam Pedro Martins, que tem o acerto encaminhado.
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Quais são os reforços da “Era SAF”, dentro dos mais de R$ 220 milhões gastos, que são unanimidade? Apenas Léo Jardim, Lucas Piton, Paulinho e Vegetti.
Há responsáveis no Rio de Janeiro, sim. No entanto, os maiores culpados estão nos Estados Unidos. Por que a 777 Partners e a 777 Football Group não se manifestam? Porque os donos da SAF não se comunicam com o torcedor? Qual o protejo esportivo do grupo? São essas e tantas outras perguntas que os vascaínos se fazem e estão sem respostas até então.
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Quem vê se questiona se foi para isso que o Vasco se tornou SAF, que de fato foi uma solução financeira para o clube. Porém, não é o dinheiro que entra em campo.
Grande parte dos que cobram não estão torcendo contra, muito menos estão sorrindo com o caos. Na verdade, só querem parar de ver o Vasco agonizando por mais alguns anos.
يستعد فريق ليفربول، بقيادة المدرب آرني سلوت، لخوض مباراة جديدة في بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز يوم الأحد، وذلك ضد نظيره فريق وست هام.
ويستضيف ملعب “لندن الأولمبي” مباراة فريقي ليفربول ووست هام، في إطار منافسات الجولة الثالثة عشر من بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي، موسم 2025/26.
وتنطلق المباراة التي ستجمع بين ليفربول ووست هام في تمام الساعة 2:05 ظهرًا بتوقيت إنجلترا، 4:05 بتوقيت القاهرة و5:05 بتوقيت السعودية.
وكشفت شبكة “thisisanfield” الإنجليزية السبب وراء الموعد الغريب لمباراة ليفربول ووست هام وعدم إنطلاقها على رأس الساعة المذكورة.
اقرأ أيضًا.. محمد صلاح يسعى للتفوق على نفسه في مباراة ليفربول ووست هام
وأوضحت أن كثيرين لاحظوا ذلك التغيير الطفيف في موعد إنطلاق المباراة، الذي بلغ 5 دقائق، ويعود ذلك أساسًا لأسباب البث، بما في ذلك بث مباريات الأحد عبر قناتي TNT Sports وSky Sports.
ويستضيف كريستال بالاس مانشستر يونايتد الساعة 12 ظهرًا بتويت إنجلترا، مباشرة على قناة TNT Sports في المملكة المتحدة، وفي أفضل الأحوال تنتهي المباراة حوالي الساعة 1:45 ظهرًا بتوقيت إنجلترا، وهو وقت كاف للجماهير لتغيير القناة إلى أخرى.
وفي حال تأخر انطلاق المباراة عن وقتها المعتاد، فإن الفاصل الزمني بخمس دقائق يهدف إلى إتاحة فترة إضافية للإعلانات أو التحضيرات قبل المباراة لمن ينتقلون إلى تغطية سكاي سبورتس.
كما تعرض سكاي مباراة أستون فيلا ضد وولفرهامبتون ونوتينجهام فورست ضد برايتون مباشرة الساعة 2:05 ظهرًا بتوقيت إنجلترا، إلى جانب تغطيتها لرحلة ليفربول إلى وست هام.
وشددت على أن هذا التعديل الطفيف على الجدول لزيادة نسبة المشاهدة في مباريات متعددة، وليس لشيء آخر.
Rahul anchored the chase, ending up unbeaten on 58; India still at No. 3 on WTC points table
Sidharth Monga14-Oct-2025
India sealed the series 2-0 after an hour’s play•BCCI
It took India a little over an hour on the final day and a further loss of two wickets to knock off the 121-run target to seal the 2-0 series win against West Indies. The win took them to 61.9% points on the World Test Championship points table, still at No. 3.KL Rahul anchored the chase, ending up unbeaten on 58, taking his series tally to 192, only behind Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 219. Kuldeep Yadav was the leading wicket-taker with 12 strikes. This was also the first series win for captain Shubman Gill after drawing 2-2 in England.India began the day needing 58 runs to win after they had declared their first innings in only 4.5 sessions and then enforced the follow-on. They ended up bowling 200 overs on the trot and were set 121 to get.India lost B Sai Sudharsan and Gill on the final morning. Sudharsan, whose No. 3 position is not yet sealed, might leave the series with some doubt still. He scored 87 in the first innings, but got out playing a loose drive in the second, resulting in a stunning slip catch by Shai Hope.Gill looked in a hurry to end things, hit a six and a four in a Roston Chase over, and then ended up skying one.Rahul was more solid, and punctuated his effort with two sixes, one a straight loft against Khary Pierre and the other a slog-sweep off Jomel Warrican, who got him out in the first innings.This was India’s tenth straight win against West Indies. This was also India’s 122th Test win, going past South Africa to No. 3.
Former Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers made several additions to the playing squad during the summer transfer window, and Wilfried Nancy is tasked with getting the best out of them.
The Northern Irish boss made 11 signings to bolster his options across the pitch before he eventually resigned after a 3-1 defeat to Hearts at the end of October.
Nancy has to try to get the best out of those signings in the coming months and years, as many of them have failed to live up to the hype so far this season.
Ranking Celtic's summer signings
Whilst this may say more about the rest of the business done in the summer, Benjamin Nygren has been the club’s best signing of the season, as he is currently Celtic’s top goalscorer in all competitions, per Transfermarkt, with seven goals in 25 games.
Kieran Tierney, who arrived on a free transfer, and Marcelo Saracchi, who joined on loan from Boca Juniors, have also been solid additions in the left-back position, sharing duties in that role.
Callum Osmand joined from Fulham after his contract expired with the English side and scored one goal and won a penalty in three first-team matches before picking up an injury, which suggests that he is an exciting talent to watch out for when he is back fit.
Ranking Celtic’s summer signings
Rank
Player
1
Benjamin Nygren
2
Kieran Tierney
3
Callum Osmand
4
Kelechi Iheanacho
5
Marcelo Saracchi
6
Ross Doohan
7
Sebastian Tounekti
8
Jahmai Simpson-Pusey
9
Hayato Inamura
10
Shin Yamada
11
Michel-Ange Balikwisha
Ross Doohan, who joined on a free transfer as a third-choice goalkeeper, is the dividing player between poor and good signings in the rankings above, as the most average addition to the squad.
We have Sebastian Tounekti in the lower half of the rankings because he is starting to look like one of the biggest wastes of money since Albian Ajeti.
Why Sebastian Tounekti looks like a waste of money
After creating four chances, completing five dribbles, and scoring one goal in his first two matches, per Sofascore, the Tunisia international looked primed to be a star for the Hoops. Rodgers even claimed that he “excites the crowd”.
Celtic paid £5.2m to sign the forward from Hammarby to make him the most expensive signing of the summer, falling just shy of the £6m mark that would have taken him into the club’s top ten most expensive signings in their history.
Unfortunately, three months later, Tounekti has recorded two goals and zero assists in 18 appearances in all competitions for the Hoops, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he has struggled to make an impact at the top end of the pitch.
Since Celtic paid £5m for Ajeti, who scored just nine goals in 48 games as a striker (Transfermarkt), the Hoops have signed six players for more than £5m: Jota (twice), Cameron Carter-Vickers, Arne Engels, Adam Idah, Auston Trusty, and Tounekti.
Jota was sold for £25m, before being re-signed, and Idah was sold for £6m after scoring 20 goals in all competitions last season, which shows that they were not complete wastes of money.
Carter-Vickers, of course, has been a long-serving regular starter for the club and Auston Trusty has made 50 appearances, now established as a regular starter, per Transfermarkt.
Engels, signed for £11m from Augsburg, has been fairly effective at the top end of the pitch, per Transfermarkt, with a return of 12 goals and 17 assists in 76 appearances since the start of last season.
This shows that the five other most expensive signings since Ajeti flopped at Parkhead have either been successful signings or had plenty of positives in their time at Celtic, even if it did not work out perfectly.
Tounekti, though, has one goal and no assists in his last 16 appearances for Celtic, and it remains to be seen whether or not he will be a regular starter under the new manager, after he was the first player to be substituted in the 2-1 defeat to Hearts in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.
Worse than Yang: Nancy must bin 3/10 Celtic dud who once had "the X factor"
This Celtic star who had “the X Factor” should be ruthlessly dropped from the starting line-up on Thursday.
1 ByDan Emery 6 days ago
For a player signed for £5.2m, he has not delivered enough quality at the top end of the pitch to suggest that he was a worthwhile signing, which is why he currently looks like one of their biggest wastes of money since Ajeti flopped at the club with his nine goals in 48 games.
The Australia allrounder is recovering from a shoulder complaint she has been managing for some time
Nagraj Gollapudi27-Nov-20254:35
Chatter: What type of players could attract most attention at this WPL auction?
Australian bowling allrounder Jess Jonassen is understood to have pulled out of the WPL auction due to injury. Jonassen’s exit was disclosed to franchises by the WPL at the pre-auction briefing on Wednesday.The WPL has also told franchises that batter Pratika Rawal, wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia and seamer VJ Joshitha are all injured though their names are part of the auction pool. However, these three players cannot be part of the mandatory 15-person squad. In case any franchise picks these players, they will not be allowed a replacement.Rawal listed her base price at INR 50 lakh while Bhatia at INR 30 lakh. Meanwhile, Joshitha will invite bids from INR 10 lakh.The WPL has also told franchises that India fast bowler Pooja Vastrakar is not fully fit but will be part of the auction. Kashvee Gautam, meanwhile, has been declared fit. Vastrakar has listed her base price at INR 50 lakh while Gautam at INR 30 lakh.Related
WPL 2026 auction – what teams need, what they can do about it
Wolvaardt, Healy, Ecclestone – Which WPL team needs which superstar
Deepti, Wolvaardt, Ecclestone, Healy in marquee set
Jonassen, 33, has made a big impact in the WPL, winning five Player-of-the-Match awards. Only Harmanpreet Kaur has won more Player-of-the-Match awards (7) in the WPL. It is understood that Jonassen is recovering from a shoulder complaint she has been managing for some time.Alyssa Healy, Meg Lanning, Amelia Kerr and Laura Wolvaardt are listed in the marquee set that will open the bidding at the WPL 2026 auction. Allrounder Deepti Sharma and fast bowler Renuka Singh are the two Indian players in the marquee set.
A chegada de Juan Pablo Vojvoda ao Fortaleza mudou, com toda a certeza, a história do Laion. Desde 2021 no comando do clube, o técnico soma, ao todo, 235 jogos pelo clube, com 115 vitórias, 56 empates e 64 derrotas. Relembre como era a história do clube antes da chegada do argentino!
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➡️ Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte
Clique e assista final da Copa do Nordeste na Star+
Um Fortaleza sem títulos de expressão
Antes de Vojvoda, o Fortaleza era um clube com uma torcida apaixonada, mas não possuia grandes títulos ou campanhas. Até 2021, a equipe, que já havia começado sua reconstrução, possuía uma Série B, 43 campeonatos estaduais e uma Copa do Nordeste.
Antes do argentino, por exemplo, a equipe jamais havia participado de uma competição internacional e, agora, já tem uma participação em Libertadores e uma final de Copa Sul-Americana no currículo. Com Vojvoda, o Laion conquistou três cearenses e uma Copa do Nordeste, além de ter feito sua melhor campanha no Brasileirão e na Copa do Brasil.
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Clique e assista final da Copa do Nordeste na Star+
Confira todas as informações que você precisa saber sobre o confronto entre CRB e Fortaleza (onde assistir, horário, escalações e local).
✅ FICHA TÉCNICA CRB X Fortaleza Final – Copa do Nordeste 🗓️ Data e horário: domingo, 9 de junho de 2024, às 16:30 (de Brasília); 📍 Local: Estádio Rei Pelé (AL); 📺 Onde assistir: SBT (Nordeste); ESPN e Star+. 🟨 Árbitro: Emerson Ricardo de Almeida (BA); 🚩 Assistentes: Alessandro Álvaro Rocha (BA) e Daniella Coutinho (BA); 🖥️ VAR: Pablo Ramon Gonçalves (RN).
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⚽ PROVÁVEIS ESCALAÇÕES:
CRB (Técnico: Daniel Paulista) Matheus Albino, Hereda, Saimon, Fábio Alemão e Matheus Ribeiro; João Pedro, Falcão e Gegê; Facundo Labandeira, Léo Pereira e Anselmo Ramon.
Fortaleza (Técnico: Juan Pablo Vojvoda) João Ricardo, Brítez, Kuscevic e Titi; Yago Pikachu, Matheus Rossetto, Zé Welison, Moisés e Bruno Pacheco; Lucero e Pochettino.
تحدث أوريلين تشواميني، لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي ريال مدريد حول مباراة مانشستر سيتي ضمن منافسات دوري أبطال أوروبا.
ومن المقرر أن يخوض ريال مدريد مباراة هامة نظيره مانشستر سيتي مساء غدٍ الأربعاء ضمن منافسات دوري أبطال أوروبا، على ملعب “سانتياجو برنابيو” في تمام الساعة العاشرة مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة.
وقال تشواميني، في المؤتمر الصحفي والذي نقلته صحيفة “آس”: إنه لمن دواعي سروري اللعب في دوري أبطال أوروبا، وخاصةً على أرضنا وأكثر من ذلك، ضد مانشستر سيتي، منافسنا القوي، نتطلع إلى ذلك بشوق”.
وأضاف حول طلب ألونسو باللعب بحماس أكثر: “لا أعرف موقفنا ولكن إذا لم نفُز، فذلك لأننا بحاجة إلى تحسين أدائنا، أن نلعب بشكل أفضل دفاعيًا وهجوميًا، علينا أن نتحسن، نأمل أن نتمكن من ذلك، ما يحدث الآن لا يمكن أن يستمر”.
وأكمل: “علاقتي مع ألونسو؟ كلنا في هذا معًا، إذا أردنا الفوز، فعلينا جميعًا القتال من أجل ذلك مع المدرب، مع الفريق، نحن في الملعب وعلينا أن نبذل قصارى جهدنا، غدًا لدينا فرصة جيدة لقلب الأمور”.
اقرأ أيضًا | ألونسو يعلق على معاقبة محمد صلاح ويوضح موقفه من تدريب ليفربول
وعن عدم الضغط العالي على الفرق المنافسة كما كان، أوضح: “علينا التحسن في هذا الجانب، في البداية نرغب في الضغط، أحيانًا نؤدي ذلك بشكل جيد، وأحيانًا أخرى بشكل سيء للغاية، علينا التحسن لاستعادة المزيد من الكرات”.
وتابع حول مواجهة هالاند: “سنناقش خطة اللعب مع المدرب اليوم، لدينا العديد من الإصابات في خط الدفاع لكن لدينا العديد من اللاعبين القادرين على تقديم أداء عالي، علينا جميعًا أن ندافع معًا ونظهر التزامنا، نلعب ضد فريق رائع، هالاند لاعب مذهل لكن إذا لعبنا بكامل طاقتنا، يمكننا الفوز بهذه المباراة”.
واستطرد” النقص في الحدة؟ ضد سيلتا بالطبع، وفي مباريات أخرى أيضًا، إذا لم نلعب بأقصى قوة فسيكون الفوز صعبًا للغاية، علينا أن ندرك أن الفوز بهذه المباريات يتطلب بذل قصارى جهدنا، لم نفعل ذلك ضد سيلتا، ويجب أن نفعله غدًا”.
وسُئل تشواميني ما هي المشكلة، في الفريق أم ألونسو، فأجاب: “ضد سيلتا، كان لدى المدرب خطة جيدة لكننا نحن اللاعبين من نلعب، إذا خسرنا 2/0 فذلك بسبب مشكلة، مثل نقص التركيز وذلك ليس خطأ المدرب، سنتحسن”.
وأتم: “مانشستر سيتي فريق رائع خاصةً عند الاستحواذ على الكرة، علينا أن نكون متماسكين دفاعيًا، وأن نخلق الفرص لمهاجمينا عند الاستحواذ على الكرة، ستكون مباراة ممتعة للغاية”.
Pep Guardiola remains coy, but the plain truth is that Manchester City have closed ground on Premier League table-toppers Arsenal ahead of the Christmas period, and Sky Blue supporters know they would be wise to buckle in.
But then, another truth would be that this is simply not Pep’s strongest City squad. That said, there is enough quality within the Etihad Stadium to challenge for and potentially win the league title, especially with Erling Haaland in such impudent goalscoring form.
However, Haaland can’t do it alone all year long, with the list of the club’s top scorers underscoring the need for more firepower.
Man City – Top Scorers 25/26 (all comps)
Player
Apps
Goals
Erling Haaland
20
20
Phil Foden
19
9
Jeremy Doku
21
3
Rayan Cherki
14
3
Josko Gvardiol
16
2
Ruben Dias
20
2
Tijjani Reijnders
21
2
Phil Foden is going from strength to strength, and that could be a defining factor in City’s revival, but it’s understandable that Guardiola and the board are hoping to sign a new wide forward.
City's winter transfer plans
Haaland continues to defy expectations. Even his soaring expectations. But there’s no question that Guardiola’s side could pack a few more angles into their punches, and that’s something that may need to be fixed in January if the Premier League title is to return to the blue side of Manchester.
Given that the Norwegian goal machine is fixed into his starting berth at number nine, perhaps a goalscoring wideman could be what Pep needs.
According to TEAMtalk, Man City still have a strong interest in signing Antoine Semenyo despite Liverpool’s ostensible lead in the race. All the pointers suggest the 26-year-old is inching toward an exit from Bournemouth in 2026.
Semenyo has been one of the standout players in the Premier League this season, and with his £65m release clause switching on in January, City will need to pounce quickly to beat off the thick competition for his signature.
Why Pep wants to sign Semenyo
Most of the noise surrounding Semenyo and his future centres around struggling Premier League champions Liverpool, but City know they have it in their power to convince him to join their project.
A big-game player and with six goals and three assists to his name in the English top flight this term, Semenyo is riding the crest of a wave, with a skillset that looks perfect for a team fighting at the top.
His potency and pace could lead him to rival Jeremy Doku as City’s new version of Leroy Sane, who is fondly remembered to this day for his exploits in Manchester.
But, more accurately, Semenyo could actually emerge as Pep’s own version of Sadio Mane, the former Liverpool attacker.
Liverpool analyst Josh Williams has actually suggested that the Ghana international is “the closest you’ll find to peak Mane right now” , and given the terrorising of Premier League defences – including City’s – that the Senegalese winger used to inflict, Pep could do a lot worse than add a new version to his ranks.
Looking at the former Liverpool man during the 2021/22 campaign, leading to a second-place finish at the Ballon d’Or ceremony, in comparison to Semenyo this season, you can perhaps see why such a claim was made, with the Cherries star boasting a completeness that few can claim they have within their locker.
Premier League – Sadio Mane vs Antoine Semenyo
Stats (* per game)
Mane (21/22)
Semenyo (25/26)
Matches (starts)
34 (32)
14 (14)
Goals
16
6
Assists
2
3
Shots (on target)*
2.9 (1.1)
2.4 (1.4)
Big chances missed
13
5
Accurate passes
23.6 (77%)
19.8 (78%)
Chances created*
1.3
1.3
Succ. dribbles*
1.4
1.6
Tackles*
1.0
1.7
Duels won*
4.7
6.5
Data via Sofascore
Both players are combative and dynamic and deadly in the final third, and while Semenyo has the pace and athleticism to rekindle memories of a star like Sane, it is the one-time Liverpool icon, who he bears a more striking tactical likeness.
Two-footed and able to play across both wings, Semenyo is the real deal, and though Bournemouth are struggling for form at this moment in time, he remains a beaming beacon for Andoni Iraola in the final third, having been named the “best winger in the country” by Chris Waddle for his efforts this season.
How City could do with a fleet-footed winger in their mix like Sane right now, someone to contrast with the electric Jeremy Doku.
Semenyo, with all his hustle and bustle, could be the perfect man for the title-chasing task at hand.
Worse than Nunes: Pep must drop Man City star who "doesn't have the legs"
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola should drop this star who was worse than Matheus Nunes against Fulham.
أعلن اتحاد الكرة المصري، برئاسة هاني أبو ريدة، عن موعد مباراة الأهلي أمام نظيره المصرية للاتصالات، في إطار منافسات دور الـ32 ببطولة كأس مصر.
وأوقعت قرعة كأس مصر، فريق الأهلي أمام نظيره المصرية للاتصالات في دور الـ32 من البطولة الأقدم في مصر.
وسيلعب الفائز من الفريقين أمام فريق فاركو الذي حجز مقعده في دور الـ16 من بطولة كأس مصر.
طالع | طريق الأهلي | فاركو يهزم تليفونات بني سويف بثنائية في كأس مصر
وحجز فريق فاركو مقعده في دور الـ16 من بطولة كأس مصر بعدما حقق الفوز على تليفونات بني سويف في دور الـ32، بهدفين نظيفين. موعد مباراة الأهلي والمصرية للاتصالات في كأس مصر
وستقام مباراة الأهلي والمصرية للاتصالات في دور الـ32 بـ كأس مصر، يوم السبت 27 ديسمبر الجاري، في تمام الساعة الخامسة مساء، على استاد السلام، ولم يحدد اتحاد الكرة موعد مواجهة دور الـ16.
Dasun Shanaka will be leading Sri Lanka in the tri-series after Charith Asalanka had to be withdrawn due to illness
Andrew Fidel Fernando17-Nov-2025
Pakistan have won 17 T20Is to the 12 they’ve lost in 2025•AFP/Getty Images
Big picture: Teams tuning up ahead of World CupTwo-and-a-half months out from the Men’s T20 World Cup, it’s time to get serious. There are squads that need finalising, strategies that need trialing, and players that need tuning into the rhythm and tempo of T20 cricket.For Pakistan, this tri-series series is a chance to build on some T20 advances this year. They have won 17 T20Is to the 12 they’ve lost in 2025. That run includes making it to the final of the Asia Cup, and beating South Africa 2-1 in their most-recent T20I series. Under the leadership of Salman Agha, the batting has had a little more purpose, even if it is the bowling that has tended to win Pakistan games.In that series against South Africa, for example, the bowlers had restricted the visitors to feeble scores twice. Still, the chases were largely smooth, and Pakistan’s two victories were comfortable. The generally-preferred strategy seems to be to put the opposition in, and try to blow them away cheaply.Related
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Sri Lanka, meanwhile, have not been having an especially good time in this format either. Longstanding firepower issues in the batting order persist, although this is less apparent when Pathum Nissanka fires at the top of the order. They are also trying to figure out their combinations – frequently seeming either a bowler or batter short against top opposition.Ahead of a home World Cup, Sri Lanka are desperate to find a working formula. Dasun Shanaka being named acting captain of the side after Charith Asalanka was withdrawn due to illness suggests the selectors want him locked in, in the lower order, at least until the end of the World Cup. And Wanindu Hasaranga’s decent batting form will also help add some depth, provided Hasaranga recovers for the tri-series. Sri Lanka have drafted in legspinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth as cover on the eve of the tournament, but hope Hasaranga recovers to feature in the competition.Zimbabwe haven’t had quite so hot a year. But at least, unlike for the 2024 World Cup, they have bossed the Africa qualifier, and earned themselves a spot in the big show. And it was in that qualifier – played entirely in Harare – that they made their most impressive run of 2025, picking up five successive victories, including in the final against Namibia, who have also qualified for the World Cup.Zimbabwe recently beat Sri Lanka in a T20I•Zimbabwe Cricket
Pakistan and Sri Lanka will likely pose a much sterner challenge than the lower-ranked teams Zimbabwe played in Harare, though, and they are just coming off a 3-0 loss to Afghanistan. They have, however, also beaten Sri Lanka in a T20I recently; Sri Lanka lost the second T20I in a three-match series in Zimbabwe in September.Although the tri-series between Pakistan, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka was originally scheduled to move to Lahore after two matches in Rawalpindi, security concerns following last week’s bombing in Islamabad has prompted a change. The tournament will be played entirely in Rawalpindi now.Form guidePakistan: WWLLW Sri Lanka: LLLWW Zimbabwe: LLLWWIn the spotlight: Babar, Nissanka, and BennettIs Babar Azam back? There have been recent signs he is returning to a fuller version of himself, particularly when, on Friday, he struck his first international ton since 2023 even if that was in ODIs. Having been dropped from the T20I side for most of this year, Babar also struck a match-winning 68 off 47 balls against South Africa in Lahore less than three weeks ago. If he can have a successful tri-series, Pakistan will feel a much more menacing unit.Pathum Nissanka got a T20I hundred against India in September•AFP/Getty Images
Sri Lanka may already be over-reliant on Pathum Nissanka, their most improved white-ball batter of the past three years, and owner of a T20I hundred (against India no less), in September. His first week in Pakistan could have gone better. Nissanka got three starts in the ODIs, but could not even breach 30. On what are expected to be flatter tracks in Rawalpindi, he will likely come good at some point. Sri Lanka’s batting feels like a transformed unit on the days in which Nissanka scores heavily.Zimabwe’s run through the T20 World Cup qualifier had partly been fuelled by the form of their opening batters, and Brian Bennett in particular. Bennett crashed 314 runs at a strike rate of 181.50, making three fifties and a hundred in the space of five innings. At age 22, he has never played in Pakistan, but perhaps the greater challenge will be to counter attacks which will now, given his recent success, have spent much more time analysing his game, and devising plans against him.Pitch and conditionsAs we’re heading into winter, expect cold nights in Rawalpindi, where evening temperatures are forecast to drop into the low teens at times. This generally means fielding errors. The surface is expected to be batting friendly, though there is frequently something for the seamers there.SquadsPakistan made a late change to their squad, releasing Hasan Nawaz and bringing Fakhar Zaman, who was in excellent ODI form, in.Pakistan: Salman Ali Agha (capt), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan (wk), Usman TariqFakhar Zaman replaced Hasan Nawaz in Pakistan’s squad•AFP/Getty Images
With Hasaranga’s hamstring tightness a concern, after he sustained a minor hamstring strain in the second ODI against Pakistan, Viyaskanth could get a look-in. Captain Charith Asalanka and Asitha Fernando are returning home due to illness. Top-order batter Pavan Rathnayake has now been brought into the T20I squad. Rathnayake made his international debut in the third ODI of the Pakistan tour.Sri Lanka: Dasun Shanaka (capt.), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Kamil Mishara, Dasun Shanaka (vice-capt), Kamindu Mendis, Pavan Rathnayake, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Janith Liyanage, Wanindu Hasaranaga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushan Hemantha, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Thushara, Eshan MalingaZimbabwe’s one change to the squad that played Afghanistan at home is to add a seamer. The is helpfully named Newman Nyamhuri, who’s a 19-year-old left-arm quick. He’s yet to play an international, and is in the squad because one of their senior bowlers, Blessing Muzarabani, is ruled out with a back injury.Zimbabwe: Sikandar Raza (capt), Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Graeme Cremer, Bradley Evans, Clive Madande, Tinotenda Maposa, Wellington Masakadza, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Newman Nyamhuri, Brendan TaylorSince October 2022, Zimbabwe and Pakistan have won two games apiece against each other•ICC via Getty Images
Stats and trivia Zimbabwe have played five T20Is in Pakistan – most recently in 2020 – and have lost all five. Zimbabwe have a decent recent record against Pakistan, however. Since October 2022, these teams have faced each other four times and won two apiece. Although he has been playing T20Is only since 2021, Nissanka is Sri Lanka’s second-highest run-scorer in the format, with 2211 runs from 73 innings. Kusal Perera, who sits at the top, and is part of Sri Lanka’s squad for this tri-series, is only 65 runs ahead of Nissanka.