Alzarri Joseph and Daren Sammy (Agency Image)

West Indies fast bowler Alzarri Joseph has responded to head coach Daren Sammy’s comments regarding his absence from the ongoing home Test series against Pakistan, insisting that the public narrative surrounding his decision lacked important context.When Cricket West Indies announced the squad for the two-match series, the board stated that Joseph would miss the matches due to personal reasons. However, Sammy later told reporters that the pacer had been selected but chose not to accept the call-up, saying Joseph had “declined selection.”Speaking on the Antigua Observer’s Good Morning Jojo Sports Show, Joseph said Sammy’s remarks created an unnecessary perception about his commitment to the team.“We had a chat, myself and the head coach. I’ve also had a chat with CWI, and if you realise the statement CWI released said personal reasons. Mr Sammy, being around for a long time, he knows exactly what that statement would have done so, to be honest, I have nothing to say to Mr Sammy in terms of his statement,” Joseph said.“As I said, he knows exactly what that statement would have done and the narrative it would have pushed in the public. Obviously, I’ve been out for an entire year. I haven’t played at international intensity for so long after having a second stress fracture,” Joseph added.The 29-year-old explained that his decision was influenced by concerns over his physical condition after recently returning from a lengthy injury layoff.“We spoke about me playing the two Test matches here, playing five back-to-back ODIs [against New Zealand earlier this month], and how my body was feeling, and I knew to myself, my body was not ready to go into another Test series. So, the statement in itself is controversial, without context,” he said.Joseph spent close to a year on the sidelines after suffering a second stress fracture in his lower back, an injury that ruled him out of the West Indies’ tours of India and New Zealand. He only returned to international cricket during the Test series against Sri Lanka earlier this year.Having only recently resumed playing at the highest level, the right-arm quick said he wanted to carefully manage his workload to avoid another setback.The contrasting explanations from Joseph and Sammy have also sparked discussion over the state of their relationship. The fast bowler, however, insisted that personal equations would not affect his commitment to representing the West Indies.“I’m a professional, so I’m going to go to work. I am representing the West Indies. I’m not representing Daren Sammy, so for me, I’m neither here nor there in terms of a relationship,” Joseph said.“I don’t go there to make friends. I go there to work and do a job and represent the people of the West Indies,” he added.

The Tampa Bay Rays announced Friday that they’ve placed ace Shane McClanahan on the 15-day injured list after the left-hander experienced lower back pain during his Thursday outing against the Texas Rangers.

Rays president Erik Neander expressed in an interview on 95.7 WDAE & AM620 that McClanahan’s injury is “pretty minor” and the two-time All-Star should only miss “two starts.”

Right-hander Alex Cook was called up from the Triple-A Durham Bulls to take McClanahan’s roster spot. In Triple A, Cook, who’s yet to pitch in MLB, has recorded a 3.78 ERA over 33 ⅓ innings this season, managing to strike out 28.5% of the batters he’s faced. Cook is expected to provide bullpen depth, as opposed to simply filling McClanahan’s rotation spot.

McClanahan’s injury comes against the backdrop of him not pitching for the Rays since 2023 prior to this season. In 2023, McClanahan underwent Tommy John surgery, which ultimately sidelined him for the entirety of the 2024 season. Then, prior to 2025 spring training, McClanahan experienced nerve irritation in his triceps, causing him to undergo surgery that August, as well.

Through 20 starts this season, McClanahan owns a 3.09 ERA and a 9-6 record across 99.0 innings pitched. Overall, he has a career 3.04 ERA across four major-league seasons.

Could the Rays make a trade for a pitcher in the wake of McClanahan’s injury? They’ve been mentioned in trade rumors for Detroit Tigers superstar left-hander Tarik Skubal and New York Mets right-hander Freddy Peralta. The trade deadline is Aug. 3 at 6 p.m. ET. 

As we count down to the first college football game of the 2026 season, we continue our new series: The records of each top CFB program in the West against all the others in the region.

Some schools have met many times over the years, while others are beginning new rivalries in the wake of recent realignment.

For each opponent in the table below, we provide the total games played, wins, losses, ties, winning percentage, first year played, and most recent contest.

We continue with Stanford, which has played 878 games against regional foes, winning 471, losing 378, and recording 29 ties, for a winning percentage of 553.

The Cardinal have recorded the most wins (66), played the most games (129) against Cal, and has lost the most games (66) against USC.

Here is a breakdown of Cardinal’s records vs. the region’s teams.

Our writers have had their say on how United should line up today:

Tyrone Marshall

It feels like this is about partnerships at the moment for United and I would keep to the script on that front in a lot of positions, although I would give Heaton the start this week. He will be around longer than Vitek.

Yoro has started twice at right-back and it feels like that is worth sticking with, although I would want to see him at centre-back from next week onwards. Being able to do a job at right-back is just a bonus.

Santos and Mount have developed a good understanding in midfield and they can play again and ideally get more than an hour in the tank next to each other. Lacey did a good job as the No.10 last week and deserves another chance to shine in a strong team.

It’s too soon for Amad so Mbeumo starts on the right and Dorgu can continue on the left. Zirkzee can go through the middle again in what is the same team that started last week. I’d be bringing JJ Gabriel on for the last 20 minutes at least.

Read the rest here >>>

Goalkeepers: Marcus Bettinelli, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Jack Wint, Max Chabot

Defenders: Rayan Ait-Nouri, Vitor Reis, Josko Gvardiol, Abdukodir Khusanov, Kaden Braithwaite, Max Alleyne, Rico Lewis, Matty Henderson-Hall, Stephen Mfuni

Midfielders: Tijjani Reijnders, Mateo Kovacic, Nico Gonzalez, Claudio Echeverri, Floyd Samba, Jaden Heskey, Xavier Parker

Forwards: Savinho, Jeremy Monga, Antoine Semenyo, Phil Foden, Ryan McAidoo, Divine Mukasa, Divin Mubama, Mahamadou Sangare

Read more about the selections and who had missed out here>>>

Magnolia Hotshots’ Zavier Lucero during a game vs Ran or Shine Elasto Painters in the 2026 PBA Governors’ Cup. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Magnolia forward Zavier Lucero was humble in defeat in the Hotshots’ heartbreaking 98-97 loss to Rain or Shine in the 2026 PBA Governors’ Cup at Mall of Asia Arena on Friday.

Instead of playing the blame game, Lucero owned up to his mistakes and said he could’ve done better to help quell the Elasto Painters’ fourth-quarter rally.

“Today, I feel like I let the guys down a little bit,” he told the Inquirer. “I didn’t produce as much as I hoped I would.”

“My role in this team is to defend… Tonight, I don’t think I did too good of a job but that’s basketball.”

Lucero finished with a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds, along with a steal and a block.

However, he couldn’t help stop not one, but two clutch baskets from Adrian Nocum in the paint that ultimately spelled doom for the Hotshots.

Still, Lucero vowed to learn from the loss while tipping his hat to import KJ Buffen, who picked up the slack offensively.

“He draws so much attention as expected, he’s the import. He’s a really good player,” he said of Buffen, who also ended up with a double-double of 31 points and 17 rebounds.

“He’s really good and I’m just trying to pick up the pieces.”

Lucero looks to bounce back on Sunday when Magnolia takes on Barangay Ginebra in the newest chapter of the “Manila Clasico” rivalry at Araneta Coliseum.

Meralco Bolts’ Chris Newsome and Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings’ Riley Grigsby during a game in the 2026 PBA Governors’ Cup. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Meralco guard Chris Newsome knows the Bolts can’t afford to dwell on another setback in the 2026 PBA Governors’ Cup.

The veteran guard stressed the importance of moving on quickly after the Bolts fell to Barangay Ginebra, 84-75, at Mall of Asia Arena on Friday.

“We got to have short-term memory. It’s tough when you lose a game like that. We didn’t have momentum, we didn’t shoot well, it was one of those nights that you want to try and forget quickly,” he told the Inquirer.

“With a game on Sunday, that’s exactly what we have to do. We have to find a way to erase this one.”

Playing with a depleted lineup, the Bolts trailed from start to finish after falling behind, 18-10, at the end of the first quarter and never matched the Gin Kings’ intensity.

With a 2-3 card and a long break looming, Newsome hopes Meralco quickly shifts its focus to Sunday’s matchup against a surging Rain or Shine squad at Araneta Coliseum.

“We have to stay positive in the things that we do. We have to continue to trust what we do even if it didn’t show up today,” he said.

“Things aren’t gonna go your way all the time but we have to stay strong and keep pushing forward.”