US Ambassador Sergio Gor on Saturday landed in Mumbai to cheer for his team for the T20 World Cup.
Gor said it was a big day for his team.
In a post on X, he said, “Just landed in Mumbai for the T20WorldCup game! Big day for team USA. Go Team USA”
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Indian cricketers Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy, along with members of the support staff, visited the Shri Siddhivinayak Ganpati Temple in Mumbai ahead of Team India’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign opener against the USA at Wankhede Stadium on Saturday.
The Indian cricket team members also offered prayers at the Shri Siddhivinayak Ganpati Temple. India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, will be defending their T20 World Cup title in the 2026 edition.
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The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is starting today (February 7) and is set to conclude on March 8. The first match of the 20-team tournament features Pakistan and the Netherlands, who are playing the campaign opener at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo on Saturday.
The USA is a part of Group A in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 and will start against India at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai from February 7 onwards. In the previous edition, the USA put the entire world on notice with a Super Eight finish in their debut World Cup across both formats and even went on to defeat Pakistan. Besides this win, they also had close matches with India and South Africa, the eventual champions and runners-up, almost chasing down 195 set by the Proteas in the Super Eight stage but falling 18 runs short.
USA T20 WC Squad: Monank Patel (C), Jessy Singh, Andries Gous, Shehan Jayasuriya, Milind Kumar, Shayan Jahangir, Saiteja Mukkamala, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Harmeet Singh, Nosthush Kenjige, Shadley Van Schalkwyk, Saurabh Netravalkar, Ali Khan, Mohammad Mohsin, Shubham Ranjane.
This week’s 2026 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am will see Rory McIlroy, in his season debut, taking on World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler. But it will also feature a full field of amateur golfers sporting much higher handicaps than the Tour pros.
Golf-obsessed celebrities, star athletes, politicians and business executives will compete in a concurrent pro-am tournament alongside the pros. Fortunately, the PGA Tour has provided handicaps for all amateur participants, giving us an insight into just how good these stars are at golf.
Here’s what you need to know.
Notable celeb handicaps at Pebble Beach Pro-Am
While there are no true hackers in the Pebble Pro-Am field this week, handicaps run the gamut from 0 to 18. There are a whopping 11 amateurs with an 11-handicap.
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But first, let’s start with the scratch players. Three amateurs are sporting 0-handicaps at Pebble Beach this week: Brian Ferris, Johno Harris and Chris Solomon.
There’s only one entrant holding a 1-handicap, country music star Jake Owen, but he carries more star power than the trio of scratch golfers.
Prominent business executives dominate the best handicaps at the pro-am, so we have to jump further down the list for our next celebrity. That would be former NFL quarterback Alex Smith, who will play with a 7-handicap this week.
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NFL star Travis Kelce is also in the field, and he’s rocking a 10-handicap, the same as former NBA star Pau Gasol. NFL Hall of Famer Steve Young will play to a 13.
Two major politicians are also in the field. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a 10-handicap, is playing this week, as is former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Rice, a 13-handicap, is a member of Augusta National.
Check out the full list of amateur participants at the 2026 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, along with their handicaps, below.
2026 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am amateur handicaps: Full list
Brian Ferris (0) Johno Harris (0) Chris Solomon (0) Jake Owen (1) David Abeles (2) Ted Fike (2) Ryan Smith (2) Thomas Laffont (3) Charlie Allen (4) Pat Battle (4) Stu Francis (4) Kris Galashan (4) Dan Rose (4) Ernesto Bertarelli (5) Murray Demo (5) Jimmy Dunne (5) Doug Mackenzie (5) Stephen Reyes (5) Jeff Rhodes (5) Ping Duan (6) David Hudson (6) Charles Kelley (6) Derek Larson (6) Nathaniel Taylor (6) Jerry Yang (6) Julie Frist (7) Philippe Laffont (7) Phillip McCrorie (7) Fred Perpall (7) Hank Plain (7) Jamie Sahara (7) Alex Smith (7) Barry Sternlicht (7) Bryce Currie (8) Donald Harrison (8) Annesley MacFarlane (8) Pat Monahan (8) Shantanu Narayen (8) Tom Nelson (8) Paul Salem (8) Geoff Yang (8) Nikesh Arora (9) Egon Durban (9) Lee Styslinger III (9) Andrew Wilson (9) Ron DeSantis (10) Pau Gasol (10) Patrick Hamill (10) Travis Kelce (10) Todd Wagner (10) Harris Barton (11) Edward Herlihy (11) Matt Horner (11) Greg Johnson (11) Rob Light (11) Anthony Noto (11) Greg Penner (11) Chris Reyes (11) George Roberts (11) Bill Rogers (11) David Solomon (11) Kelly Grier (12) Joe Kernen (12) Jin Roy Ryu (12) Jerry Tarde (12) Heidi Ueberroth (12) BJ Jenkins (13) Mary Meeker (13) Condoleezza Rice (13) Steve Young (13) Jeff Paraschac (14) Greg Henslee (15) Robert Isom (15) Bob Sternfels (15) Chuck Schwab (16) Michael Xie (16) David Kohler (17) Ralph LaRossa (17) David Beam (18) Guru Gowrappan (18)
Nov 23, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Jaylen Watson (35) is introduced before the game against the Indianapolis Colts at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
The Minnesota Vikings featured a pretty scanty cornerback room in 2025, consisting of Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, Jeff Okudah, and Fabian Moreau, getting away with it as Brian Flores’s group finished the season ranked No. 3 in defensive efficiency. Now, with free agency 26 days away, CBS Sports‘ Ryan Wilson believes the group could add another prominent name: Kansas City Chiefs corner Jaylen Watson.
Watson fits the Vikings’ free-agent radar as Flores seeks steadier cornerback play in 2026.
Watson will hit the open market in March if the Chiefs don’t re-sign him, and there’s a small chance that Minnesota takes the plunge.
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Jaylen Watson Could Fit Brian Flores’ Cornerback Blueprint
After the Vikings clear cap space, defensive backs could be in their purview for free agency.
Sep 28, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Jaylen Watson (35) jogs onto the turf at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium before kickoff against the Baltimore Ravens, locking in as the Chiefs’ secondary prepared for another high-profile matchup in front of a charged home crowd. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Ryan Wilson: Watch for Vikings in Jaylen Watson Sweepstakes
Wilson took to CBS Sports airwaves this week, outlining ideal landing spots for some of the league’s top free agents.
For Watson, he said, “I love the idea of Brian Flores getting his hands on Jaylen Watson in Minnesota. There will be competition, and that will only drive his price up.”
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Kansas City drafted Watson in 2022 from Round 7, and he’s blossomed into a true success story. Money is tight, though, for the Chiefs, and they may not have that cash to offer him a second contract.
The Stats for Watson
Playing for the Chiefs in four seasons, Watson has accrued 53 games while starting 29. In 2025, he became a full-time starter, logging 15 inside Kansas City’s first down year in eons. Here’s Watson’s passer-rating-against resume:
2025: 79.0 2024: 75.4 2023: 103.6 2022: 103.9
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The man also played 868 snaps in 2025, the mark of a dependable defender. He’s also tall at 6’2″ and 200 pounds.
Chiefs analysts don’t expect Watson back in 2026. Arrowhead Addict‘s Braden Holecek opined last week, “Like many defensive backs, the Chiefs are unlikely to offer Watson a second contract. He has been a valuable asset to their defense, but with several other roster holes, limited salary cap space, and a history of addressing the cornerback position through smaller moves, it’s likely that Watson will be paid handsomely elsewhere.”
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“Of course, that could change depending on the team’s approach to Trent McDuffie’s future. There should be a healthy mix of contenders and rebuilding teams showing interest in Watson.”
The Contractual Price
If the Vikings are interested in Watson — many teams will pursue him — the price is right between affordable and expensive.
Spotrac projects his next contract to pull down $12.5 million per year, meaning a deal for three years and $38 million likely awaits him on the open market. Per the statistics mentioned above, Minnesota or any other team would get a true bang for their buck.
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For now, the Vikings’ salary cap situation is messy, starting the offseason about $40 million in the red. Once they release a few players and restructure some veterans’ contracts, players like Watson can become fair game.
Watson’s isn’t as young as one might expect for a 2022 draftee; he’ll turn 28 in the fall.
Los Angeles Rams-themed media seems to believe Watson could end up on Sean McVay’s team. Turf Show Times‘ Evan Craig wrote last week, “Watson will be a hot commodity in free agency this offseason and is likely to sign a rich deal with whichever team is interested. He has undoubtedly priced himself out of K.C., who probably won’t miss him much, given their recent history of replacing important pieces at CB without skipping a beat.”
“If Matthew Stafford does return in 2026, the Rams’ front office must do everything possible to maximize the roster around him. Los Angeles hasn’t quite made a blockbuster move to put the team over the top in several seasons. Now is the time to (reasonably) break the bank and take advantage of the rest of Stafford’s career.”
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Nov 23, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Jaylen Watson (35) reacts alongside safety Jaden Hicks (21) after a defensive stop versus the Indianapolis Colts at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, energizing the Kansas City sideline during a second-half swing in momentum. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
The Rams fell one step short of the Super Bowl last season, losing to the eventual champion Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship.
Craig concluded, “Adding Watson to the mix would be essential to the defense, as the cornerback position has been a problem area for years. The Chiefs’ retooling this offseason could be a godsend for the Rams if they opt not to re-sign the Washington State product.”
Alternatives if Not Watson
Suppose the Vikings wish to add another cornerback, but Watson doesn’t tickle their fancy. Several alternatives will be available, whether in free agency or the draft. The list might look like this:
Montaric Brown (JAX)
Brandon Cisse (Rookie, South Carolina)
Mansoor Delane (Rookie, LSU)
Cordale Flott (NYG)
Colton Hood (Rookie, Tennessee)
Jermod McCoy (Rookie, Tennessee)
Greg Newsome II (JAX)
Alontae Taylor (NO)
Aveion Terrell (Rookie, Clemson)
Tariq Woolen (SEA)
Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores studies the action from the sideline at State Farm Stadium, where January 13, 2025 set the stage for a tense NFC wild-card clash in Glendale as he tracked personnel rotations, coverage disguises, and situational adjustments against the Rams. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.
That list represents players who could reasonably start Week 1 alongside Murphy Jr. and Rodgers.
Watson is most known for size and length, which could fit in well inside Flores’s defense.
Live Telecast: USA – Tennis Channel | UK – Sky Sports | Canada – TSN
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Alex De Minaur vs Stan Wawrinka preview
De Minaur ABN AMRO Open – Day Two – Source: Getty
Alex De Minaur will take on Stan Wawrinka in the second round of the Rotterdam Open.
De Minaur has made a good start to the season. After a quarterfinal exit in the United Cup, he reached the last eight of the Australian Open in Melbourne. The 26-year-old defeated Frances Tiafoe and Alexander Bublik in the initial few rounds, but lost to Carlos Alcaraz, 7-5, 6-2, 6-1.
The Australian started his campaign in Rotterdam by cruising past Arthur Fils in the first round. He defeated the Frenchman in straight sets, 7-6(3), 6-2. De Minaur is the top seed this year and will be expected to make a deep run.
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Wawrinka at the ABN AMRO Open – Day Three – Source: Getty
Meanwhile, Stan Wawrinka has made an amazing start to the new calendar year. Apart from a runner-up finish in the United Cup, he also reached the third round in Melbourne. The Swiss star defeated Laslo Djere and Arthur Gea, but lost to Taylor Fritz in four sets.
Wawrinka entered Rotterdam after a second-round exit in Montpellier. He started his campaign with a confident win against Thijs Boogaard, 6-3, 6-4. The 40-year-old won 90% of his first serve points and saved three break points in the previous encounter.
Alex De Minaur vs Stan Wawrinka head-to-head
De Minaur leads the head-to-head against Wawrinka 1-0. He defeated the Swiss veteran at the 2024 Monte-Carlo Masters.
Alex De Minaur vs Stan Wawrinka odds
Player Name
Moneyline
Handicap Bets
Total Games
Alex De Minaur
Stan Wawrinka
BetMGM sources all the odds. (To be updated)
Alex De Minaur vs Stan Wawrinka prediction
De Minaur has secured runner-up finishes in Rotterdam consecutively for the last two years. He lost to Jannik Sinner in 2024 and Carlos Alcaraz in 2025. The Australian will be eager to achieve success this time around.
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Meanwhile, Wawrinka is competing in Rotterdam for the last time in his career. He won the event in 2015 and also secured a runner-up finish in 2019. The Swiss star will be determined to go out on a high.
De Minaur will bring his exceptional court coverage and shot-making ability to the fore. Meanwhile, Wawrinka will rely on his serve, tactical acumen, and fighting spirit on the court.
Considering their recent results and match intensity in the last few months, De Minaur should be able to solve this round. He’ll be up against one of the best timers of the tennis ball, but should be able to stamp his authority and come out on top.
Pick: De Minaur to win in straight sets.
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Alex De Minaur vs Stan Wawrinka betting tips
Tip 1: Match to have fewer than 20 games.
Tip 2: Wawrinka to save more than five break points.
Former world champion Tony Bellew and top heavyweight David Price are set to support a charity boxing event that sees former footballers step into the ring on April 17 at the Titanic Hotel, Liverpool.
Organised by Pro Project Promotions, the initiative was founded by former Arsenal goalkeeper Graham Stack and aims to provide ex-players with renewed structure and purpose post-retirement while raising significant funds for good causes. The first event raised £127,500, with organisers now targeting more than £120,000 for Children’s Charity Merseyside and Autism Merseyside. On the event – billed A Night to Remember II – Stack said:
“The city will be bouncing during the Merseyside derby weekend, and I can’t wait to showcase 10 ex-professional footballers battling it out once again in the ring. This event will have a mixture of Scouse boxers and other northern-based fighters. We’ll have some of this country’s best ever boxers in attendance, including Tony Bellew, The Smith Brothers, David Price, and Natasha Jonas.
“Johnny Nelson will host a boxing Q&A and judge the bouts alongside Steve Bunce, with Ian Saint John refereeing. Plus, a football Q&A with our ambassador and Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher alongside Everton legend Francis Jeffers. We’re raising money for Children’s Charity Merseyside and Autism – our goal is to raise in excess of £120,000 and get closer to our £500,000 target.”
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Bellew and Price will attend alongside Natasha Jonas and the Smith brothers, offering guidance and adding boxing pedigree to the occasion.
On the card, former Stoke City, Wolves and Burnley striker Chris Iwelumo meets Swansea favourite Lee Trundle, while ex-Wolves goalkeeper Carl Ikeme faces former QPR and Blackburn defender Bradley Orr. Former Leeds, Fulham and Aston Villa forward Ross McCormack also features against ex-Leeds and Sheffield United defender Matthew Kilgallon.
The white-collar bouts will see the former professionals test themselves physically once more, this time switching boots for boxing gloves, with the focus firmly on fundraising and community impact. The event is open to fans, with ticket details available via the organisers.
Dec 14, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell before a game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images.
After the dust settles, Cardinals QB1 Kyler Murray is likely to venture to a team like the New York Jets. He’s super talented but flawed, in large part due to injury alongside some bizarre past concerns about preparation (or lack thereof).
Going toe-to-toe with the Jets in a battle of cap space and coveted picks means Minnesota will lose. So, a trade bidding war won’t end in the Vikings securing the Arizona passer.
Nevertheless, there’s still the possibility of the Minnesota Vikings. After all, these two teams have been somewhat linked in recent history, most notably in the 2018 free agency competition for Kirk Cousins. Furthermore, there has been the Sam Darnold situation since he was a Jet before becoming a Viking (and then doing something special as a Seahawk). After leaving New York, Aaron Rodgers wanted to move to the Twin Cities. Is Murray just another link in the chain of connected QBs?
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Buzz Builds Around Kyler Murray as Vikings Search for QB
The simple declaration that Murray is going to find a new employer in 2026 isn’t breaking news. There is, nevertheless, some fascination relating to how that (seemingly inevitable) eventuality materializes.
Over on the NFL’s website, there has been further confirmation. Author Bobby Kownack relays the update courtesy of league insiders Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero, and Mike Garafolo: “A new head coach is likely to usher in a new era at quarterback for the Cardinals […] Such a decision seemed like more and more of a possibility as Murray’s 2025 season with the Cards progressed. The two-time Pro Bowler made just five starts.”
Nov 27, 2022; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) scores a touchdown against the Los Angeles Chargers in the first half at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Consider, as well, at least some general background on Murray’s career.
The NFL piece: “Murray, the 2019 NFL Draft’s No. 1 overall pick, was never able to sustain success even before his most recent lost season, having gone 38-48-1 in his career with only one campaign above .500 and a lopsided loss in his lone playoff appearance.”
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Switching from former Head Coach Jonathan Gannon to new hire Mike LaFleur appears to be the final straw on the camel’s back.
Consider the cap implications of a swap: “Murray has a cap number of $52.7 million in 2026. He’s guaranteed $36.8 million regardless of what happens, but if he’s on the team’s roster past the first week of the new league year, which begins March 11, he is guaranteed an extra $20 million going into next season, per Rapoport.”
“Thus, the Cardinals have a pretty obvious deadline to make a final decision,” Kownack clarifies.
Oct 30, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) scrambles against the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports.
In the NFL, there’s seldom a situation where teams employ bad players. Rather, NFL teams employ players who are operating on bad contracts and/or who are forced into bad roles. Oh, and then there’s bad context, such as trying to be the starting passer for the Cardinals.
Working in Murray’s favor is that he’s a talented quarterback who has a pile of experience. The former No. 1 pick is a playmaker who is accurate and who throws lasers. Playing in Minnesota would easily be his best support structure, possibly allowing him to reach new heights.
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Working against Murray are the injuries alongside the concerns about preparation. Plus, there’s the questionable scheme fit.
The Vikings want to be lethal off of play action, usually demanding a QB who is under center, but Murray often plays out of shotgun. The only season where he played every game over the past five years was in 2024. In that season, Murray was under center for 121 passes. He was working out of shotgun for 420 passes. The overall tally of play-action passes came in at 127 versus 414 for passes not using play action.
Looking at the full season splits for Kirk Cousins from 2022 and Sam Darnold from 2024 means seeing that the situation could work — the difference isn’t staggering — but it’s nevertheless a factor. In the future, Minnesota should be working toward more play action.
Nov 12, 2023; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) celebrates with fans after scoring a touchdown in the first half against the Atlanta Falcons at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Kyler Murray is working on a deal that totals $230.5 million. However, any acquiring team would only be accepting three more seasons that run from 2026 through to 2028. Crucially, there would be smaller cap charges for any team that pulls off a trade since some of the cap charges wouldn’t leave Arizona.
The veteran passer is a good starter. What remains to be seen if he can become a very good or elite passer, a QB1 who pushes his team not just into the playoffs but who thrives once there. So far, Murray has been in the playoffs just a single time, a contest where he lost after completing 55.9% of his passes for 137 passing yards, 0 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions.
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The Vikings trading for Murray would mean demoting J.J. McCarthy even if there would be (largely meaningless) words about a true competition.
The son of 15-time major winner Tiger Woods verbally committed Tuesday to play college golf at Florida State and will be a part of a strong 2027 recruiting class.
A junior at The Benjamin School in Palm Beach, Fla., Woods is the 21st-ranked boys golfer in the Rolex American Junior Golf Association rankings. He was ranked 604th before he won the Team TaylorMade Invitational in May 2025, his first AJGA victory, and vaulted to 14th.
He’s played in five AJGA events since his win, recording one top 10 and three top-20 finishes. He also helped his high school team win a Florida High School Athletic Association Class A state title in November; Woods shot a four-under 68 in the final round.
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By selecting Florida State and heading to Tallahassee, Woods will attend college about 400 miles from home. His dad starred at Stanford in California for two years and was named First-Team All-American both seasons. Sam Woods, Charlie’s big sister, attends Stanford.
“It’s been very different, the recruiting process,” Tiger Woods said at the Hero World Challenge in December. “Now you have cell phones. We didn’t have cell phones. We would have written letters that would show up in the mailbox. ‘Oh, my God, I got a letter.’ It’s just very different how fast coaches can communicate with the family members and the player that they’re trying to recruit. It’s just a different world. Not saying it’s good or bad, it’s just different. It’s fun to be a part of the process with Charlie and go through it and see where the opportunities that he has that he has created for himself by playing better, places that he could play, wants to play and ultimately we’ll decide where he wants to go play.”
Also bound for Florida State is Miles Russell, the top-ranked player in the AJGA rankings who, at age 15 in 2024, became the youngest player to make the cut in a Korn Ferry Tour event when he tied for 20th at the LECOM Suncoast Classic.
Rugby Special pundits John Barclay and Chris Ashton look ahead to this weekend’s Calcutta Cup match at Murrayfield and pick their combined English and Scottish starting XV.
Afghanistan head coach Jonathan Trott described his side’s defeat to South Africa as “devastating”, admitting the narrow loss in a dramatic T20 World Cup contest would linger with his players. The Proteas edged Afghanistan after a gripping encounter that required two Super Overs, leaving South Africa relieved and Afghanistan heartbroken in one of the most remarkable matches since the tournament began in 2007. Addressing the media after the game on Wednesday, Trott reflected on the emotional toll of back-to-back defeats in a demanding group.
Abhishek Sharma in hospital – latest on his recovery and India nets
“Just shows what we have as a side. So we’ve got some amazing players and it’s just really devastating for the guys after a tough loss a few days ago against New Zealand and now against South Africa in a tough group as well,” Trott said. The South African-born former England Test batter acknowledged that such losses can hurt deeply. “These guys are never shy of rising up against the challenges that they face throughout their lives on and off the field. “So today they should be very proud and obviously these types of losses sometimes they can hurt and sting for a while but I think it’s important we look at those areas that we did really well in, but also areas that we could improve and things we could have done better. “I think South Africa fielded pretty well actually as well. The run out, a few catches on the boundary, on the ring, those sorts of things. I think they fielded really well. Maybe that was the difference today a little bit,” the Afghanistan head coach said. Under Trott’s guidance, Afghanistan have made significant strides, reaching the semifinals in the previous edition of the T20 World Cup and the quarterfinals of the 2023 ODI World Cup. Though he is set to step down after this tournament, Trott declined to reflect on his tenure, insisting his focus remains on the remaining fixtures. Trott also reserved special praise for Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who smashed 84 off 42 balls in the chase of 187 and followed it with a blistering 18 off 4 balls in the second Super Over. “Those innings as we saw today, I think he should play more often if I’m honest, with the amount of talent that he has and the physique and the sporting ability and natural hand-eye coordination. “He wears his heart on his sleeve and he’s quite an animated character. I think the years that I’ve been with him now, I’m just trying to get him to be a little bit more consistent in everything that he does.”
Midweek soccer is back, and for Manchester City, they’ll need to keep up their winning ways in order to push league leaders Arsenal in their upcoming match. City are still six points behind the Gunners, but after Sunday’s comeback victory over Liverpool, it was one that meant more as star striker Erling Haaland ended his slump with a goal and an assist. But with a plucky Fulham team coming to the Etihad, City will need to be defensively sound to avoid this clash being like the last time that these two clubs met, a crazy 5-4 win for City where Pep Guardiola’s side flirted with blowing a four goal lead.
How to watch Manchester City vs. Fulham, odds
Date: Wednesday, Feb. 11 | Time: 2:30 p.m. ET
Location: Etihad Stadium — Manchester, England
Live stream: Peacock
Odds: Manchester City -300; Draw +450; Fulham +700
Back in December, the reverse fixture at Craven Cottage saw nine goals find the back of the net as City escaped with all three points. Phil Foden and Samuel Chukwueze both netted braces in the match, but it was certainly a defense-optional affair.
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City’s back line will look different than that one with Marc Guehi in the squad, while Ruben Dias’ own return from injury will give Pep Guardiola a look at what will likely be his first choice central pairing for the foreseeable future.
Young defender Abdukodir Khusanov has had to log plenty of minutes as of late, with Josko Gvardiol, John Stones, and Nathan Ake all dealing with injuries. But as City gets slightly healthier, they can’t be ruled out of the title race just yet. Guardiola will know that dropping any points will lead to falling out of the title race, but that’s also not something that he wants to talk about. What Guardiola wants is for his team to be consistent.
“What I’m saying is what we have to do to beat Fulham, what we have to do to be better and to be closer to make the first half in Anfield and [not] the second. What is the reason why in the second half, we are still dropping our performance?” Guardiola said in his pre-match availability.
If the City manager could answer that question, they wouldn’t be in this situation this season, but it shows how hard it is even for managers at the top of the game to know every answer. With FA Cup and Champions League play around the corner, City will need to balance their priorities while maintaining focus. Stringing together a few wins could do a lot for the squad, and it’ll also be easier to do with Haaland in good form.
Pressure is always on the Norwegian, but it will be lessened after scoring in his last match. With improvement facing Fulham, maybe we can reach a point where City can go on a run and push Arsenal. That run may have already happened, but the only way to find out is by playing the games.
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Get ready for the Knockout Stage like never before with the UEFA Champions League Bracket Games! Create a pool to compete against friends or enter our Bracket Challenge for a chance to win a dream trip to London, including 2 UCL tickets and a tour of the UCL Today set! Plus, see how you stack up against UCL Today’s own Jamie and Micah. Sign up now before brackets are unlocked after the Round of 16 Draw, or play on the CBS Sports App!
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