Hanuma Vihari has questioned Team India’s decision to continue backing Abhishek Sharma despite his poor run of form in the ongoing T20I series against Zimbabwe. The former India batter believes the selectors have applied different standards to Abhishek and Sanju Samson, especially after Samson lost his place despite performing well in major tournaments.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Vihari pointed out that Samson was dropped after a few poor games before the T20 World Cup but returned strongly to become one of India’s standout performers.

He said, “Before the World Cup, Sanju Samson did not perform in five games and lost his spot in the starting 11. He then made a comeback and became Player of the Tournament. In that same tournament, how many runs did Abhishek Sharma make?”

He also highlighted Abhishek’s recent numbers, saying, “In the UK series, apart from one fifty, there were no scores at all. Not even 20s and 30s, no significant score. One fifty in the last eight matches. If you include the World Cup, three half-centuries in the last 18 matches.”

Vihari argued that Samson proved himself when it mattered by scoring three consecutive fifties during India’s T20 World Cup-winning campaign, but still lost his place in the side as youngster Vaibhav Sooryavanshi emerged as a preferred option.

Questioning the selection policy, he said, “How many matches Samson played in the World Cup? Three. And fifties in all three. Abhishek’s highest score in the five matches is 16. Why is no one talking about it? When it comes to Samson, they say he is inconsistent. Fair enough. But he can win high-pressure matches on his day.”

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Vihari concluded by adding, “Abhishek is a player with a lot of hype, but Samson is also equal. He has also performed in the IPL. Why different rules for different players?”

Man Utd have announced the signing of a young goalkeeper, who last played for Championship club Swansea.

Manchester United have announced the signing of young goalkeeper Kit Margetson on a free transfer. Margetson’s contract at Swansea City expired at the end of last season, opening the door for United to make an offer.

The 20-year-old had played for Swansea since Under-15, meaning the Championship club will receive a compensation fee for his development.

Margetson will initially join up with United’s U21 team with a view towards pushing for first team opportunities, but United’s senior goalkeeper department includes Senne Lammens, Karl Darlow and Tom Heaton.

United signed Darlow from Leeds this summer for the role of second-choice goalkeeper.

The club’s signing announcement of Margetson read: “Manchester United have agreed the signing of exciting young goalkeeper Kit Margetson, subject to registration.

“The 20-year-old was most recently at Swansea City, a club he’d been with since under-15s. Last season, he had his first taste of senior football on loan at Connah’s Quay Nomads and kept 10 clean sheets in 34 appearances, helping the Welsh side to qualify for European competition.

“Margetson has also earned youth international caps for Wales and made his Under-21s debut against Belarus in March. Everyone at United would like to welcome Kit to the club and wish him the very best of luck for the future.”

United are expected to sell Radek Vitek after his successful loan in the Championship with Bristol City. Vitek wants to play regular football, and United will insist on sell-on clauses, potentially including a buy-back, in any sale.

Altay Bayindir is also set to leave Old Trafford. The Turkey international was given an extended post-World Cup break.

The signings of Margetson (20) and Charlie Hardy (16) at academy level point to departures from the current goalkeeper union at youth level.

Magomed Ankalaev didn’t set the stage alight with his performance against Bogdan Guskov at UFC Abu Dhabi. The Russian made his UFC return after losing the light heavyweight gold to Alex Pereira in his previous fight, and ultimately finished his opponent in the final round.

While the result was in Ankalaev’s favor, many were’t impressed with his performance. The fight was a little boring, and the crowd also booed the clash during the latter rounds.

However, former UFC champion and current commentator Daniel Cormier, didn’t blame Ankalaev for the fight being boring. ‘DC lauded the former champion for changing his tactics midway through the fight.

While speaking on his YouTube channel, Cormier said (h/t MMA Junkie):

“We were judging him pretty harshly in the fight watching, because it was a slow affair. But then midway through the second round he realized Bogdan Guskov was not engaging with Magomed Ankalaev. Ankalaev was pursuing him. He was trying to make it a fun fight. Guskov was unwilling to do that by backing up and skirting the outside of the octagon.”

Cormier also touched upon the loss to Pereira, and claimed that Ankalaev had made major changes to his game:

“Ankalaev lost his belt in devastating fashion to Alex Pereira at UFC 320. He’s been gone for a very long time, said he made a bunch of changes to his training camp, and honestly, his aggressiveness in the octagon showed he felt like he could get a finish, or he’s done something differently to try to pursue finishes.”

Cormier then brought up that Ankalaev’s win could have set him up for a fight against Carlos Ulberg, the champion:

“Ankalaev getting that finish might have legitimately gotten him another opportunity to fight for the UFC championship against the new champion, Carlos Ulberg, when he comes back. He says he wants to be back early next year.”

Cormier also touched upon how the landscape of the light heavyweight division had changed. Former champions Alex Pereira and Jamahal Hill have moved up to heavyweight while Ulberg, the current division king, is out with an ACL injury and won’t be back in action for a while.

Magomed Ankalaev wants trilogy with Alex Pereira

While Daniel Cormier believes Magomed Ankalaev could fight for the gold after his UFC Abu Dhabi win, the Russian has Alex Pereira on his mind.

The Brazilian knocked Ankalaev out cold in their last meeting, and the former champion wants to get his revenge on Pereira.

Speaking to the press after his win, Ankalaev called out Pereira:

“One more thing I’d like to say before I forget. There’s somebody who calls himself ‘Chama’, that put a picture of me up and said something like, ‘What, are you still alive?’ Well, if he wants to come down here, and if he wants to take on this fight, I’m sure the UFC also will be very happy to make that fight happen.”