Given that he’s so willing to discuss his northern heritage when it suits, it’s likely that even someone as detached as Sir Jim Ratcliffe is aware of the acclaimed Jimmy McGovern TV drama, ‘Cracker’. He could do with a watch, if not.
In the first episode of the series most famous storyline, the ‘To Be A Somebody’ arc primarily about the social and psychological effects of Hillsborough, there’s a scene when the premises of a white nationalist group in Manchester are raided.
Amid the chaos, the character played by Christopher Eccleston, DCI David Billborough, spots a squad photo of the 1993-94 Manchester United squad on the wall. The detective accosts a bare-chested skinhead and starts gesturing to the players in the picture.
“Ince is black, Parker is black, Dublin is black, Schmeichel’s a Dane, Kanchelskis is a bloody Ukrainian and Cantona is French.”
Point made.
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While this obviously isn’t to equate Ratcliffe’s clumsily ill-advised comments on immigration with fictional white nationalists, or imply he holds anything like such views, what does it say that the billionaire’s “disgusting” comments – to use the description of Chancellor Rachel Reeves – make it feel like he could do with a similar lecture about the team he co-owns?
Many of United’s own supporters have already made it clear, with multiple banners and memes about loving immigrants and hating billionaires. In one, Roy Keane and Eric Cantona happily stride above an image of Ratcliffe and the Glazers.
A football column like this obviously doesn’t need to re-state the basic errors that Ratcliffe made, or relay political arguments demonstrating the positives of immigration.
And if such a column is about the game itself, it is important to acknowledge that Ratcliffe’s views will be shared by many on the Old Trafford stands, despite much of the support’s inclusive leanings. His comments lamentably reflect the political era we’re in, where many of the very themes explored by ‘Cracker’ have only become more relevant.
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The fact that many football fans will share Ratcliffe’s views only reflects the mass popularity of the sport, and how it cuts across more sectors of the population than any other pursuit.
Jim Ratcliffe’s comments lamentably reflect the political era we’re in (AP)
That fact doesn’t, however, reflect football’s true power here and what is actually relevant about this.
Ratcliffe’s sentiments are actually the complete antithesis of what the game is really about: happiness, inclusivity, coming together.
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A simplistic view, sure, but also an easily demonstrable truth.
This is what that episode of Cracker so archly illustrated.
It’s not just that there’s no sector of society as popular as football. It’s that there’s no sector as powerful in breaking down the same barriers.
This is a wider point that should be made as regards the billionaire’s comments in his profile as a notional football figure.
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Leave aside the politics for a moment, and even the suspicions the United co-owner was possibly just seeking to cozy up to Reform sentiments.
What Ratcliffe said was actually anti-football.
There are countless examples you could use to illustrate why, starting with United’s own team and history. A migrant, Billy Whelan, died in the Munich air disaster commemorated last week.
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Billy Whelan, a migrant, died in the Munich air disaster commemorated last week (Getty Images)
Across town, Manchester City celebrated Germany’s Bert Trautmann as a club legend, just 11 years after the Second World War.
Come to now, and around 70 percent of the Premier League’s players are migrants and 79 percent of its managers.
The writer of this very column is a migrant, even if comments like Ratcliffe’s are no longer usually intended to mean the Irish given the common travel area.
And while none of this is to deny that serious racism or exclusionary views are challenges within the game and around it, the crucial point is that football itself serves to change minds.
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Think about it in the most basic terms.
Many of us will have been in the company of supporters who hold even stronger views than Ratcliffe, only to express adoration for migrants in the same breath.
This gradually has a tangible positive effect, too.
In 2019, a Stanford University study showed that Mohammed Salah’s performances had reduced both Islamophobia and hate crime rates in Liverpool.
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Islamophobia and hate crime rates in Liverpool reduced as a result of Mohamed Salah’s performances (Peter Byrne/PA Wire)
And they obviously did. That is how this works.
There are few sectors that encourage understanding and integration as much as football. The game has many problems, but this is one it actively works against in the most direct and persuasive way.
The one true global game serves to bring people together, even amid its many issues and the way it is often politically misused.
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In the latter sense, the Ratcliffe controversy raises another crucial theme.
It is striking that United themselves felt the need to release a statement re-asserting the club’s inclusive ethos, and yet they find themselves co-owned and consequently represented by a man whose comments go against that. It has long been the same with the Glazers’ capitalist outlook, not least the manner their conference calls have discussed benefitting from dramatic Trumpian tax reforms, and how that so goes against the idea of a club founded by railway workers.
This is the world football has willingly moved into, without its fans having any say whatsoever.
It’s not hard to imagine some of football’s other billionaire owners privately expressing sympathy with Ratcliffe’s views, rolling their eyes with how the public just won’t get it. They move in a completely different world.
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In another extreme, two other ownerships – those of Manchester City and Newcastle United – are key figures or funds from autocratic states who have migrant labour laws described as “modern slavery” and based on racial hierarchies.
All of this just forms another simple argument as to why such social institutions should be owned by supporters, not private or state interests. That is who they really represent, after all.
And yet this dismal situation perhaps has one positive when it comes to the ownership problem.
One of the main reasons that some billionaires get into football is fame, and social capital. They enjoy the increased profile, in ways that their other businesses just can’t afford. It also allows them to indulge what some industry figures describe as “billionaire idiot syndrome”, where individuals who are financially successful in one specific area become convinced they can easily translate this to anything else. As one example, when Ratcliffe made a pitch to buy Chelsea in 2022, those involved had the perception that he thought it would be easy because he’d run Ineos.
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When Ratcliffe made a pitch to buy Chelsea in 2022, those involved had the perception that he thought it would be easy because he’d run Ineos (PA Archive)
And duly, if Ratcliffe said this still just a petrochemicals owner, it likely wouldn’t have made anything like the same headlines.
Saying it as the co-owner of Manchester United, however, has just publicly exposed the poverty of thinking. A man frequently described as arrogant has been forced into a partial apology.
The game has that power, as well as so much more.
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Ratcliffe could do a bit more to understand the sport he’s actually in, not least its inclusive nature.
He could start by trying to understand his own club.
England’s Tom Banton celebrates his fifty (AP Photo/Bikas Das)
Adil Rashid starred with the ball before Tom Banton finished the job with the bat as England defeated Scotland by five wickets in a crucial T20 World Cup Group C clash on Saturday to keep their Super Eights hopes alive. After their shock defeat to West Indies, England needed a win. Opting to field, they bowled Scotland out for 152 in 19.4 overs. Rashid (3/36) and Liam Dawson (2/34) turned the game around dramatically in the middle overs. Scotland were cruising at 113 for 3 in 12.3 overs and looked set for 180-plus. However, a collapse of five wickets for just 14 runs changed everything. Rashid, after conceding 26 runs in his first two overs, switched ends and struck three times, including the key wicket of skipper Richie Berrington for 49 off 32 balls. He then removed Matthew Cross and Mark Watt in quick succession. Dawson chipped in with two wickets in two overs as Scotland slumped from 113/3 to 127/8. Earlier, Jofra Archer (2/24) had struck inside the powerplay, dismissing George Munsey and Brandon McMullen in three balls. Michael Jones made 33 off 20 but Scotland were restricted to 42/3 at the end of six overs. Berrington and Bruce revived the innings with a 71-run stand off 41 balls, but England’s spin duo halted the charge. Jamie Overton also kept things tight with 1/23. Archer reached a milestone, becoming the third English quick after Stuart Broad and Mark Wood to claim 50 wickets in all three formats. Chasing 153, England stumbled early to 13 for 2. Phil Salt and Jos Buttler fell cheaply. Banton then steadied the innings, scoring an unbeaten 63 off 41 balls, with four fours and three sixes. He survived on 7 when Cross dropped a tough chance standing up to the stumps. Banton found support from Jacob Bethell, who made 32 off 28 balls. The pair added 66 runs off 45 balls. After Bethell departed and Harry Brook fell attempting a scoop, England were 86 for 4 in 10.4 overs. Banton brought up a 33-ball half-century, his first after three single-digit scores, and added 46 runs with Sam Curran, who scored 28 off 20. Will Jacks sealed the chase with a six and a four off Brad Wheal as England reached the target in 18.2 overs. England moved to second place in the group with four points and will now face Italy on Monday to confirm their place in the Super Eights.
Swiatek and Sabalenka withdraw from Dubai WTA 1000
Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka have both withdrawn from the Dubai Tennis Championships.
World No. 1 Swiatek confirmed her decision was due to a scheduling change, opting to skip the tournament as she looks ahead to the next phase of the season.
“I am sorry to announce that I will not be playing Dubai this year due to a change of schedule,” Swiatek said. “I hope I will come back next year to experience the great tournament. See you guys in Indian Wells.”
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Sabalenka also announced her withdrawal, citing fitness concerns after a busy run of matches.
“I’m really sorry I have to withdraw from Dubai,” she said.“I have such a special connection with the tournament, the fans and the city. Unfortunately, I am not feeling 100%. But I hope to be back next year and wish the tournament a great event.”
The double withdrawal removes two of the biggest names from the Dubai draw and reshapes the field ahead of the WTA 1000 event.
Dec 25, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell reacts after a play against the Detroit Lions in the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
PurplePTSD works in partnership with Vikings Territory, similarly doing their utmost to offer top-notch coverage of the Minnesota Vikings. As a result, we’re promoting five of their top articles of the past month in “The P/PTSD Perspective.” Take a peek at some of their best stuff.
The P/PTSD Perspective: February 14th, 2026
1) ESPN Reveals Who’s Really Running the Vikings: At no point has there been too much mystery, folks. Vikings co-owner Mark Wilf said that Rob Brzezinski would be leading things and that’s what’s taking place. Speculation exists about Kevin O’Connell having the power but the reality appears to be that Brzezinski has the final call.
Jan 4, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell is seen during warmups prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.
2) Justin Jefferson Breaks Silence on Bills Trade Speculation: In theory, anything is possible. Could the Bills trade for Justin Jefferson? Sure, that could happen. Just know that it’s a two-way street. Minnesota could trade for Josh Allen, but it doesn’t mean it’s going to happen.
3) The Vikings’ QB Search Just Added an Unexpected Name: At this stage, the lone surprise would be if Kevin O’Connell came out of retirement to try being an NFL passer yet again. Basically every available passer (alongside some passers who aren’t available) has been linked to the Vikings.
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Dec 25, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell reacts after a play against the Detroit Lions in the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
4) The Vikings’ Salary Cap is a Mess for 1 Central Reason: No team can fully live up to the ideal, but the goal is nevertheless out there: having a constant supply of young, cost-controlled players from the draft is the best way to keep a budget balanced. Minnesota too often failed to draft players who could help the team win on Sunday.
5) Aaron Jones Slams the Vikings: The veteran runner has been around and is a well-respected leader. Listening to him when he speaks is wise. No matter who ends up as the Vikings’ QB1, the performance from last season can’t be replicated. Too much talent on Minnesota’s roster.
Nov 9, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) hands the ball off to running back Aaron Jones Sr. (33) against the Baltimore Ravens in the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
Welcome! Where are you, you ask. I’m calling this the Weekend 9. Think of it as a spot to warm up for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. We’ll have thoughts. We’ll have tips. We’ll have tweets. But just nine in all, though sometimes maybe more and sometimes maybe less. As for who I am? The paragraphs below tell some of the story. I can be reached at nick.piastowski@golf.com.
Tiger Woods is back next week.
Not back back, as his return from injury is still unknown. (Should you be curious, he is listed among the Masters entrants on the Masters website.) But in some capacity, he’ll be around the Genesis Invitational at venerable Riviera CC, where he’s the tournament host. Maybe he’ll be on the grounds all week. Maybe for just a few days. Maybe no days, though you’ll still see and hear his name. Whatever the case may be, you’ll probably be interested. If he talks, you’ll wonder about his opinions, even though his words are by and large carefully measured. If he walks, you’ll study his gait in an attempt to get a read on when he might come back. In short, Woods’ presence is enormous.
And that’s occasionally made me think of Scottie Scheffler, who’ll also be at Riv, and who also is playing this week.
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And then I start to think of the NBA, which, notably, is hosting its all-star game on Sunday.
Maybe there’s something here, or maybe it’s just cabin fever, but here goes: The thought deals with mega stars — and following the mega stars. When mega stars leave, mega-star voids are created, and folks almost immediately measure potential mega stars against the mega star they’re replacing, in the process perhaps ignoring that the replacements may be doing something great. The NBA felt that post-Michael Jordan. Put another way, it’s much easier to follow a non-mega star.
And I’ve wondered if that’s why there’s such a conversation around ‘what makes Scottie’ great, when in fact he’s coming directly after Woods. Last week, I asked Dave Berri about it all. He’s an author and teacher on sports economics, and my question was whether Woods’ standing was so enormous that it was diminishing current players.
“There’s a certain audience that came to golf because of Tiger Woods,” Berri started. “You can’t replicate that if you’re not bringing in other people who are similar to him, so that audience may not stay with you. So there’s that. I don’t think you can change that easily. …
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“You can’t make a Tiger Woods. That was a pretty unique event, right? A father who desperately wanted his son to be a pro golfer. But how do you get that to happen? In order to get that to happen again, you’ve got to go find somebody. Who wants to go invest in that, right? Who wants to train somebody from a very early age to be a pro golfer, and they have to have the resources to do that.”
Still, Berri said, stars come, stars go and stars come again.
“In sports, there’s always going to be another winner,” he said.
“And therefore the winner attracts the audience. Like Tom Brady leaves the NFL, well, what’s going to replace him? Well, next year there’ll be another Super Bowl winner and there’ll be a quarterback on that team and then they’ll be the Tom Brady.
Should Scheffler continue his dominant run, we’ll see if that’s true.
Let’s see if we can find eight more items for the Weekend 9.
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2. I also asked Berri if a player being thought of as being ‘nice’ would affect their appeal.
“‘Very nice’ doesn’t work,” he said.
An instruction tip for your weekend
3. I thought the exchange below between Justin Rose and GOLF’s James Colgan was good. It came before this week’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, and Colgan’s question is in italics.
Justin, knowing what you know now about your career, I’m just curious what your advice would be to yourself at the very beginning.
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“Yeah, well, at the very beginning I think obviously there was definitely — well, let’s call it the moment where I finished fourth in The Open as an amateur and turned pro off the back of that.
“Although I didn’t turn pro off the back of that, there was a decision that had been made quite a long time before the Open to turn pro. But I think off the back of that Open Championship, I think obviously expectations went up and suddenly there was such an importance in my own head of getting a European Tour card, like being on Tour.
“I think that if I look back at it now, 45 years old, didn’t quite appreciate how long a career is. I think at a tender young age of 17, 18, 19, 20, wherever you’re playing your golf, you want to be playing in an environment that’s obviously challenging you to be better. You want to be playing at a level where you’re still being pushed, but you want to play in an environment that maybe is kind of still giving you that freedom to play the game, that freedom to grow.
“I felt like I just maybe put too much emphasis on having to have it right there and now and not really thinking, OK, this is just what’s good for my game, what’s good for my progression, what’s good for my learning, because if you keep stacking the little gains on top of one another over time, like the compounding of that takes you to a pretty good place.
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“So just my advice to myself would be a career’s a long time.”
Another instruction tip for your weekend
4. I thought the video below, from GOLF Top 100 Teacher Cameron McCormick, was good.
A golf story that interests me
5. I thought the video below, featuring longtime pro Steve Flesch from a recent episode of the “Second Shot All-American” podcast, was interesting. In the video, Flesch said he played with Woods all four rounds at the 2000 National Car Rental Golf Classic Disney — and they had an exchange on the 72nd hole.
“One of the easiest, nicest guys in the world to play with because he was a guy who recognized good shots and he would compliment you,” Flesch said. “It isn’t visible so much when you see him on TV — it looks like he’s Mr. Stoic and game face and all that, but you’d be walking down the fairway and he’d be like, ‘Hey, nice shot, Fleschy,’ or ‘Good putt,’ or ‘Good birdie.’ Very subtle.
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“But the 2000 Disney tournament, I played great the first two days. It was at the Magnolia course at Disney World and I think I shot a pair of 66s or something starting out and I’m paired with Tiger on Saturday. And I’m like, well, OK — it’s only my third year on tour — I’m like, this is what it’s about. But I figured in my head at night, if I can beat Tiger the next two days, I’ll win the golf tournament. Fair enough assumption, right? Like, OK. Well, the next day I go out and I think I shoot five- or six-under and I’m two ahead of Tiger. So, I mean, he shot probably 67 on Saturday. We’re in the final group again on Sunday. And I’m again, can I beat Tiger? Well, going to the back nine, I played well. I was two or three ahead of him and I get to the last hole and I’m two or three ahead of him.
“Well, this guy Duffy Waldorf, who you’ve all probably heard about, he shot 62 that day. I’m like, son of a — I’m like, you got to be. Here I did what I thought I needed to do — beat Tiger — but Duffy’s a shot ahead of me. So I got to birdie the last hole to get in the playoffs. So I hit a decent drive, hit a good shot in there — I think I hit like a 6 or 7 on there, about 8 feet, 10 feet behind the hole. And I’m big on reading the putts from the other side of the hole. I don’t get as good a read from behind the ball as I do from the other side of the hole. And I’m always reading my putts while other guys are putting so I’m not taking a lot of time.
“Anyway, I walk around the other side of the hole to read my putt. And Tiger’s kind of about 15 feet on the same line as me and he walks around too. So he’s right behind me. He’s kind of right over my shoulder. And I have a picture of this somewhere. But all I’m thinking about is my line, right? And all of a sudden I hear him say, ‘Hey, knock it in, Flesch. You’ve played great. You deserve it.’ And I’m like, ‘What?’ I’m looking like, ‘Did he just say that?’ He knew he wasn’t going to win. And he was just like, ‘Dude, knock it in. You deserve it. You played well.’ And I’m like, ‘Man, that’s pretty freaking cool.’”
Another golf story that interests me
6. I thought the video below, taken from the Bob Does Sports YouTube page, was interesting. In it, host Robby Berger asked about Scheffler’s arrest before the second round of the 2024 PGA Championship and whether Scheffler knew it would be a big story.
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“So, when I was sitting in the cell — like they put me in like a holding cell, I think — and so, I’m in a cell by myself and that was the cell that I stretched In,” Scheffler said. “But if you went to the front of the cell and looked out that way [points], I could see a TV and I saw myself on the TV.
“So that’s when I was like, “Holy smokes.’ First, my head’s still spinning. I’m like, ‘How the heck am I in here?” But then I saw myself on the TV and then I saw they delayed it and I was like, ‘Oh, maybe I can get out of here in time and I can still play.’”
Good news for your weekend
7. The video below, taken from the “Good Inside with Dr. Becky” podcast, was good. In it, Tony Finau described an interaction he had with his dad while growing up.
“My dad was tough on us,” Finau said. “He was a drill sergeant. There was no throwing clubs. There was no attitude. That was the first thing — clean up the attitude. So anyway, I’m a freshman in high school and I’m playing in the state championship of golf, high school golf. And I’m in the final group. I’m leading the tournament and I get to the last hole with — I’m a freshman and a senior I’m playing with and we’re neck to neck for the state title. We both hit it in the fairway.
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“Anyways, I have a 5-foot par to tie and go to a playoff as a freshman to win state championships. I proceed to miss the putt. I knew the situation. I missed the putt and because I missed the putt, I was extremely disappointed in myself. I tried to backhand the next one in and I missed that. And then I try and tap in the next one and I missed that. So I five-putted the last green of the state championship tournament of my freshman year to win state. And so I finished second place, which for most freshmen, that’d be a really nice finish. For me, I looked at it and said, ‘You’re supposed to win this.’ Everybody was around the green watching and I was just totally embarrassed by how I acted and what I did.
“I’ll never forget the drive home. I got in the car and pretty much silence all the way home. And my dad just said to me, ‘Son, are you OK?’ That’s pretty much all he said. He may have thrown in a couple other things, but I’m getting a little emotional just because I still remember that moment. And it was like, I’m waiting for him to scold me. I’m just waiting for him to lay the law down. And I was embarrassed because of how I acted and feeling like I should have won the tournament. I was defeated. I defeated my own self and I’m expecting this thrashing in the car and just an absolute scolding and it was the opposite.
“And so I think what I learned from that and that I try to take with me as a parent is your kids need you there as someone that can help them recover and heal and strengthen them.”
More good news for your weekend
8. I thought this story here, written by the BBC’s Ethan Gudge, was good. It tells the story of how Dougie Haynes, a caddie, is walking the entire length of New Zealand while carrying two bags to raise money for charity.
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One more piece of good news for your weekend
9. I thought this story here, written by Science News Explores’ Maria Temming, was good. It tells the story of how 15-year-old Brady Sage won an engineering fair thanks to a project that found ideal tee heights.
What golf is on TV this weekend?
10. Let’s do 10 items! Here’s a rundown of golf on TV this weekend:
– Saturday
10 p.m. (Friday)-midnight ET: LIV Golf Adelaide third round, FS2
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Midnight-3 a.m. ET: LIV Golf Adelaide third round, FS1
4:30 a.m.-8:30 a.m. ET: PIF Saudi Ladies International final round, Golf Channel
Australia’s Jakara Anthony becomes the first ever women’s dual moguls Olympic champion, beating the Team USA duo of Jaelin Kauf and Elizabeth Lemley into silver and bronze.
Igor Tudor has been appointed as interim Tottenham manager until the end of the season following the sacking of Thomas Frank.
The Independentreported Tudor, the former Croatia and Juventus centre-back, had emerged as the leading candidate for the role after Spurs assessed a range of options, with the club opting for an experienced short-term solution.
Spurs have now confirmed the appointment, choosing to bring in Tudor before landing on a long-term successor for Frank after the end of the campaign. It’s understood there is no option to extend the deal past the summer.
“It is an honour to join this club at an important moment,” Tudor said, with the club currently sitting 16th in the Premier League and just five points above the relegation zone.
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Igor Tudor has agreed to take charge of Tottenham until the end of the season as they battle to avoid relegation to the Championship (AFP/Getty)
“I understand the responsibility I have been handed and my focus is clear. To bring greater consistency to our performances and compete with conviction in every match.
“There is strong quality in this playing squad, and my job is to organise it, energise it and improve our results quickly.”
Sporting director Johan Lange added: “Igor brings clarity, intensity and experience of stepping into challenging moments and producing impact.
“Our objective is straightforward – to stabilise performances, maximise the quality within the squad and compete strongly in the Premier League and Champions League.”
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Tottenham’s next game is not until 22 February but it comes against Premier League leaders and north London rivals Arsenal. Frank was dismissed on Wednesday, following the 2-1 defeat against Newcastle.
Tudor’s last role ended in the sack when Juventus dismissed the 47-year-old in October after just seven months in charge.
Despite the sour end in Turin, Tudor succeeded in his interim spell in charge of the Italian side as he led them to Champions League qualification after replacing the sacked Thiago Motta.
He was handed a two-year deal in the summer, but results dipped after the start of the next campaign and he was sacked amid an eight-game winless run where Juventus failed to score in four games.
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Prior to Juventus, Tudor’s coaching career includes spells at Lazio, Marseille, Udinese, Hellas Verona, Hadjuk Split, Galatasaray, PAOK and Turkish side Kardemir Karabukspor.
Tudor emerged as the leading candidate as Tottenham decided to name a short-term interim until the end of the season (AFP via Getty Images)
Frank was sacked after just eight months in charge and following a run of just two wins in 17 Premier League games. Results were better in the Champions League, with Spurs qualifying for the last-16 in fourth place of the league phase.
Former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino is among the candidates for the permanent role, following the 2026 World Cup where he will take charge of the United States.
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Marco Rose, the former RB Leipzig boss, and Edin Terzic, who took Borussia Dortmund to the Champions League final in 2024, are also contenders ahead of what is expected to be a competitive managerial market in the summer.
Pakistan’s captain Salman Ali Agha during a practice session ahead of an ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 cricket match between India and Pakistan, at R Premadasa Stadium, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. (PTI)
TimesofIndia.com in Colombo: The marquee India vs Pakistan match on February 15 will take place on a used pitch in Colombo, with the surface expected to be slow and testing for batters, the TimesofIndia.com can confirm. The match will be played on the same pitch, where Zimbabwe defeated Australia by 23 runs on Friday.Interestingly, it was the fast bowlers who called the shots. Blessing Muzarabani (4/17) starred with the ball, registering the best bowling figures for Zimbabwe in a T20 World Cup match. Muzarabani and fellow pacer Brad Evans (3/17) shared seven wickets between them. The duo were superb with the new ball, slicing through Australia’s top order.
Salman Agha press conference: Pakistan captain on hand shake, India and Playing XI
Batting first, Zimbabwe scored 169 for 2 and, in reply, the 2021 champions were bundled out for 146.At the pre-match press conference, Salman Ali Agha hinted that the spinners might play a big role on Sunday.“It’s possible that spinners dominate here,” Agha told reporters in Colombo.“I feel fast bowlers will also have a role to play. Fast bowling is such a skill that on any surface you can’t write it off. So I think they will surely have a role. We have good spinners but also quality pacers who can be called upon if needed,” he added.The big boundaries and the used surface could test India’s belligerent batting line-up. Pakistan might opt for a five-prong spin attack against India. It is likely they will field Abrar Ahmad, Usman Tariq, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan and Saim Ayub.India could also be tempted to add either Washington Sundar or Kuldeep Yadav to their playing XI.After all these years, this could be the first time the focus shifts to Pakistan’s spinners versus Indian batters. Earlier, it used to be Pakistan’s pace attack against India’s batters. Times have changed, and the used surface could make the contest more balanced.
The annual exhibition of high-flyers will be on display at the 2026 NBA Slam Dunk contest on Saturday night. The four-man field features two rookies in Jase Richardson and Carter Bryant, as well as two vets in Jaxson Hayes and Keshad Johnson. Mac McClung, who has won each of the last three competitions, won’t be going for an unprecedented fourth victory at the Slam Dunk Contest 2026. Each player will have two dunks in the first round, with those with the highest average score advancing to the finals, which will also consist of two dunks.
The Intuit Dome in Los Angeles will host the NBA Slam Dunk contest, the third event of NBA All-Star Saturday Night, which begins at 5 p.m. ET. The latest 2026 NBA Slam Dunk contest odds via FanDuel Sportsbook have Bryant as the +180 favorite, followed by Hayes at +250. Johnson comes in at +320, while Richardson — son of two-time slam dunk champion Jason Richardson — is the biggest longshot at +350. Hayes is looking to become the first 7-footer to win the dunk contest. Before making any 2026 Slam Dunk Contest picks or predictions, you need to see the best bets from SportsLine’s NBA expert Larry Hartstein.
Hartstein is SportsLine’s senior analyst and a founding member of the Early Edge podcast. He’s excelled in multiple sports, and enters the All-Star break having nailed eight of his past 13 NBA prop picks. Anyone following at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen strong returns.
One shocker: Hartstein is fading Bryant, despite being the +180 favorite. The Spurs rookie clearly has lots of promise as an overall player, as just three days before the dunk contest, San Antonio cut former top-10 pick Jeremy Sochan to get Bryant on the court more. But with Bryant’s youthful exuberance also comes a bit of risk, as he’s gone on record in saying one of his planned dunks will “test my limits,” which sounds like a great idea on paper. However, adding complexity to a dunk raises the probability of then missing that dunk, which would hurt his score from the judges.
Missed dunks have been an issue for the rookie in games, as he’s only connected on nine dunks across 14 dunk attempts (64.3%). Granted those came against defenses, but for comparison, those five missed dunks are more than Johnson and Richardson combined this season, while Hayes has connected on 90.4% of his dunks.
Additionally, nearly all of Bryant’s dunks have come in garbage time, so the unknown of how he’ll perform when the spotlight is on him is yet another reason to fade the favorite. You can see who to back here.
Is Man City vs Salford City on TV? Channel, live stream and radio coverage for FA Cup tie – Manchester Evening News
Need to know
How to follow and watch the action and Manchester City face near neighbours Salford City, owned by members of Manchester United’s ‘Class of 92’
Manchester City celebrate during their 8-0 win over Salford in the FA Cup third round last season(Image: Getty Images)
Everything you need to know about watching Manchester City vs Salford City in the FA Cup fourth round
Kick-off time: Because the match kicks off at 3pm on a Saturday, it is subject to the UK’s broadcasting “blackout” and will not be shown live on any domestic television channel. While the BBC and TNT Sports are the primary FA Cup broadcasters, they have selected other fixtures for their live televised slots this weekend.
Radio coverage: BBC Radio Manchester will be providing dedicated live radio commentary of the match for listeners in the local area. You can access this via traditional radio frequencies or by searching for the station on the BBC Sounds app.
National radio: BBC Radio 5 Live and talkSPORT will provide regular updates and live reports from the Etihad. Both stations are also available online.
City platforms: The Official Man City App and website will host a Matchday Centre featuring live text updates, statistics and integrated radio commentary for City+ or Recast subscribers. This digital hub is the most comprehensive way for City fans to follow the game without a video feed.
Salford coverage: Fans of the Ammies can purchase an audio match pass through the official SCFC TV service on the club’s website. This provides a club-specific commentary feed available to subscribers in the UK and worldwide.
Highlights: BBC One will provide a round-up of the day’s action during coverage of the day’s 5:30pm kick-off between Aston Villa and Newcastle. There will be full highlights on Match of the Day from 10:55pm.
Streaming: There will be highlights on the BBC Sport and TNT Sports websites shortly after the final whistle. The FA’s social media channels will also show the best bits from the day’s action.
International viewers: If you are travelling outside the UK, the match may be available on various local networks depending on your region’s FA Cup broadcast partner. In the US, there will be coverage on the ESPN Deportes network.
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![Heathrow has said passenger numbers were 60% lower in November than before the coronavirus pandemic and there were “high cancellations” among business travellers concerned about being trapped overseas for Christmas as Omicron spreads. The UK’s largest airport said the government’s travel restrictions had dealt a fresh blow to travel confidence and predicted it was likely to take several years for passenger numbers to return to pre-pandemic levels. This week ministers said passengers arriving in the UK would have to take a pre-departure Covid test, as well as a post-flight test, because of fears about the spread of the new variant. “[The] high level of cancellations by business travellers concerned about being trapped overseas because of pre-departure testing shows the potential harm to the economy of travel restrictions,” the airport said in an update. Heathrow said the drop in traveller confidence owing to the new travel restrictions had negated the benefit of reopening the all-important corridor to North America for business and holiday travel last month. Eleven African countries have been added to the government’s red list, requiring travellers to quarantine before reuniting with families. “By allowing Brits to isolate at home, ministers can make sure they are reunited with their loved ones this Christmas,” said John Holland-Kaye, the chief executive of Heathrow. “It would send a strong signal that restrictions on travel will be removed as soon as safely possible to give passengers the confidence to book for 2022, opening up thousands of new jobs for local people at Heathrow. Let’s reunite families for Christmas.” Heathrow said that if the government could safely signal that restrictions would be lifted soon, then employers at Heathrow would have the confidence to hire thousands of staff in anticipation of a boost in business next summer. The airport is expecting a slow start to 2022, finishing next year with about 45 million passengers – just over half of pre-pandemic levels. This week Tui, Europe’s largest package holiday operator, said it expected bookings for next summer to bounce back to 2019 levels. However, Heathrow said on Friday not to expect the aviation industry to recover for several years. “We do not expect that international travel will recover to 2019 levels until at least all travel restrictions (including testing) are removed from all the markets that we serve, at both ends of the route, and there is no risk of new restrictions, such as quarantine, being imposed,” the airport said.](https://wordupnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/shutterstock_1100012546-scaled-400x240.jpg)
![Heathrow has said passenger numbers were 60% lower in November than before the coronavirus pandemic and there were “high cancellations” among business travellers concerned about being trapped overseas for Christmas as Omicron spreads. The UK’s largest airport said the government’s travel restrictions had dealt a fresh blow to travel confidence and predicted it was likely to take several years for passenger numbers to return to pre-pandemic levels. This week ministers said passengers arriving in the UK would have to take a pre-departure Covid test, as well as a post-flight test, because of fears about the spread of the new variant. “[The] high level of cancellations by business travellers concerned about being trapped overseas because of pre-departure testing shows the potential harm to the economy of travel restrictions,” the airport said in an update. Heathrow said the drop in traveller confidence owing to the new travel restrictions had negated the benefit of reopening the all-important corridor to North America for business and holiday travel last month. Eleven African countries have been added to the government’s red list, requiring travellers to quarantine before reuniting with families. “By allowing Brits to isolate at home, ministers can make sure they are reunited with their loved ones this Christmas,” said John Holland-Kaye, the chief executive of Heathrow. “It would send a strong signal that restrictions on travel will be removed as soon as safely possible to give passengers the confidence to book for 2022, opening up thousands of new jobs for local people at Heathrow. Let’s reunite families for Christmas.” Heathrow said that if the government could safely signal that restrictions would be lifted soon, then employers at Heathrow would have the confidence to hire thousands of staff in anticipation of a boost in business next summer. The airport is expecting a slow start to 2022, finishing next year with about 45 million passengers – just over half of pre-pandemic levels. This week Tui, Europe’s largest package holiday operator, said it expected bookings for next summer to bounce back to 2019 levels. However, Heathrow said on Friday not to expect the aviation industry to recover for several years. “We do not expect that international travel will recover to 2019 levels until at least all travel restrictions (including testing) are removed from all the markets that we serve, at both ends of the route, and there is no risk of new restrictions, such as quarantine, being imposed,” the airport said.](https://wordupnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/shutterstock_1100012546-scaled-80x80.jpg)
