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Arsenal defenders William Saliba and Gabriel are poised to stay at the Emirates Stadium after they both committed their futures, with Mikel Arteta gifted a huge boost by their ongoing presence in the Gunners backline.

William Saliba agrees new Arsenal deal after Gabriel

Gabriel put pen to paper on an extension all the way back in June, which will keep him at the club until 2029, and it was one of Andrea Berta’s first major contract announcements after he replaced Edu in March.

Now, after months of uncertainty, talks and a rejected first proposal, his central defensive partner Saliba has also agreed to pen a new deal.

Appearances

4

Minutes played

275

Clean sheets

2

Tackles made

8

Interceptions

3

Ground duels won

21/29

Aerial duels won

10

Clearances

18

via Footy Stats

Real Madrid were lingering in the background with the Frenchman’s previous contract due to expire in 2027, but Arteta was handed some very good news this week when news broke of Saliba’s decision to stay.

The 24-year-old is set to sign an extension until 2030, with journalist Dean Jones reporting that it could make Saliba the club’s highest earner on around £300,000-per-week.

It is a serious statement of intent from Berta, who has sent a clear message to the rest of Europe that Arsenal will no longer be bullied into selling their best players.

Since the very start of 2022/2023, Saliba and Gabriel have established themselves as one of the best centre-back partnerships in world football, and keeping both of them comes as an absolutely massive boost for Arsenal.

Now, as per reliable club insider ‘HandOfArsenal’ on X, the pair actually had a secret pact all along, and Berta is lining up another statement move immediately after securing Saliba.

Saliba and Gabriel's secret Arsenal pact as Berta lines up Saka deal

It is believed that the centre-backs agreed to stay at Arsenal and win trophies for many years, with the pact happening as far back as the summer. Meanwhile, Berta is swiftly set to commence work on agreeing a new deal with star winger Bukayo Saka.

With Saliba and Gabriel’s intentions crystal clear, it is believed that Arsenal won’t run into too much trouble with regard to Saka either.

According to journalist Ben Jacobs and GiveMeSport, Saka has made it clear he wants to sign an extension with Arsenal, so it is up to Berta to negotiate the required terms and keep their £195,000-per-week star.

Noni Madueke’s knee injury means that Arteta will need to call upon Saka much more regularly than he’d like, considering the England international is only just back from injury himself, but his importance to Arsenal cannot be understated.

Manchester City are known for their ties to the Middle East, with Sheikh Mansour’s Abu Dhabi United Group (ADUG) owning the majority of the club after buying 90 per cent from Thaksin Shinawatra back in 2008.

As one of the biggest wage spenders in the Premier League, the Citizens currently have a whopping annual payroll of £219,845,000, with the average player earning more than £6.6m per season.

With that being said, we at Football FanCast have ranked every Manchester City player in the first-team squad in order from highest to lowest in terms of wages for the 2025/26 season, with the help of Capology.

Disclaimer – only the club and the players themselves truly know their wages, so take each of these figures as you will.

1

Erling Haaland

£525,000

£27,300,000

2

Bernardo Silva

£300,000

£15,600,000

3

Omar Marmoush

£295,000

£15,340,000

=4

John Stones

£250,000

£13,000,000

=4

Gianluigi Donnarumma

£250,000

£13,000,000

=4

Ruben Dias

£250,000

£13,000,000

7

Tijjani Reijnders

£230,000

£11,960,000

8

Phil Foden

£225,000

£11,700,000

9

Rodri

£220,000

£11,440,000

10

Josko Gvardiol

£200,000

£10,440,000

11

Rayan Cherki

£180,000

£9,360,000

12

Nathan Ake

£160,000

£8,320,000

=13

Mateo Kovacic

£150,000

£7,800,000

=13

Kalvin Phillips

£150,000

£7,800,000

15

Matheus Nunes

£130,000

£6,760,000

16

Rayan Ait-Nouri

£120,000

£6,240,000

17

Stefan Ortega

£90,000

£4,680,000

=18

Nico Gonzalez

£75,000

£3,900,000

=18

Jack Grealish

£75,000

£3,900,000

=20

Jeremy Doku

£50,000

£2,600,000

=20

Oscar Bobb

£50,000

£2,600,000

=20

Abdukodir Khusanov

£50,000

£2,600,000

=20

James Trafford

£50,000

£2,600,000

=20

Savinho

£50,000

£2,600,000

25

Marcus Bettinelli

£35,000

£1,820,000

=26

Rico Lewis

£25,000

£1,300,000

=26

Nico O’Reilly

£25,000

£1,300,000

Here's a detailed look at Man City's top 10 earners… 9 Josko Gvardiol £200,000 per week

Josko Gvardiol is one of 10 City stars who collect £200,000 per week or more, with the Croatia international signing from RB Leipzig in 2023.

Gvardiol has proven his versatility by starring at centre-back and left-back and scored some important goals during his first campaign to help City to a fourth Premier League title in a row.

8 Rodri £220,000 per week

You could argue that defensive midfielder Rodri should be higher up on this list as he is one of, if not, the most influential Man City player. The Spaniard has starred in recent seasons and even scored the winning goal in the club’s historic Champions League final win over Inter Milan.

He missed the majority of the 2024/25 season through injury, though.

7 Phil Foden £225,000 per week

Academy graduate and boyhood Blue, Phil Foden signed his most recent City contract back in 2022 where he picks up a reported £225,000 per week.

The England international has quite the trophy haul at the age of 25 and who knows, he could look to stay at the Etihad for his entire career.

6 Tijjani Reijnders £230,000 per week

Tijani Reijnders caught the eye of Man City after starring for AC Milan, and those at the Etihad made their move in the summer of 2025 in a deal worth an initial £46.3m.

The Dutchman took the number four shirt in Manchester, previously worn by another central midfielder, Kalvin Phillips.

5 Gianluigi Donnarumma £250,000 per week

Replacing Ederson over the summer, Gianluigi Donnarumma arrived at the Etihad after helping Paris Saint-Germain to a historic treble.

Named the best goalkeeper in the world in 2025 by winning the Yashin Trophy, Donnarumma signed a five-year deal and is in line to earn £65m in wages as a Man City player.

4 John Stones £250,000 per week

John Stones is under contract until 2026, where he will hit his 10th anniversary after joining from Everton back in 2016.

The centre-back has won it all with City and has made more than 250 appearances in all competitions during that time.

3 Omar Marmoush £295,000 per week

Omar Marmoush was Man City’s marquee arrival in January 2025, with the free-scoring forward arriving from Eintract Frankfurt.

Since then, the Egyptian star has filled the void left by Julian Alvarez and has already formed a partnership with Erling Haaland in attack.

2 Bernardo Silva £300,000 per week

Arguably one of Man City’s most underrated players during this golden era under Guardiola is Bernardo Silva. The Portuguese midfielder’s tireless running and quality on the ball has seen him become a mainstay after arriving from Monaco in 2017.

He is out of contract in 2026.

1 Erling Haaland £525,000 per week

Goal machine Erling Haaland has found the back of the net for fun in a Man City shirt since 2022 after leaving Borussia Dortmund.

The Norway superstar could go on and break plenty more records in a Sky Blue shirt, and his new huge nine-and-a-half-year contract signed in 2025 sees him take home £525,000 per week.

Barcelona still owe a staggering €159 million (£138m/$184m) to several clubs for past transfers, including deals for Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres. Despite generating nearly €1bn (£870m/$1.16bn) in revenue, Barca’s mounting short-term debts and delayed transfer payments reveal that the club is still struggling to regain its financial footing after years of reckless spending.

Barcelona need to pay €140m by next year

Barcelona’s latest financial report for the 2024–25 season reveals a total debt of €159.1m owed to other football clubs from previous transfer dealings. Out of this, €140.6m (£122m/$163m) must be paid within the next year, showing that the club’s financial burden remains heavy despite improved revenue. These figures further highlight that while the Catalan side have managed to stabilise performance on the pitch, the balance sheet continues to feel the strain of past spending sprees.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportHow did Barcelona’s accumulate €160m in debt

Leeds top the list as they are still waiting for €41.9m (£36m/$48m) from Barca for the transfer of Raphinha in 2022. Bayern Munich are owed €20m (£17m/$23m) for Lewandowski, while Sevilla have €24.5m (£21m/$28m) pending for Jules Kounde, whom they acquired in 2022. The list goes further on with Manchester City yet to receive €13.3m (£11m/$15m) for Torres, and Real Betis are due €8m for Emerson Royal. In addition to these payments, smaller amounts remain unsettled with clubs like Girona, Valencia, Sporting CP and Rennes, proving that Barcelona’s unpaid commitments reach across Europe and have them neck-deep in financial struggles.

Clubs that owe Barcelona

The financial report also states that Barca are owed €64.1m (£55m/$74m) by other clubs for their own outgoing transfers. Porto owe €6.7m for Nico Gonzalez, Al-Ahli have a €4.1 million outstanding debt for Franck Kessie's transfer and Shakhtar Donetsk still need to pay €3.1m for Marlon. Other clubs, including Braga, Chelsea and Real Betis, have smaller balances which are due to be paid. Even if these payments are made by next year, Barca will still be in €100m (£87m/$116m) debt. These pending receivables further reflect how deeply modern football relies on deferred transfer payments, which in turn burdens the club with financial struggle if the move doesn't stage out in the planned way.

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Getty Images SportHow does Barcelona plan to repay their debts?

Barcelona recorded €994m (£864m/$1.1b) in total revenue and a narrow €2m profit for the last financial year, but the club also reported €965m (£839m/$1.12b) in expenditure, erasing any progress that had been made. The management has called a general assembly on October 19 to discuss the next budget and future spending plans. Despite some positive financial indicators, the debt figures reveal that Barcelona’s journey to stability is far from complete.

Australian overseas takes four wickets on debut but visitors construct solid first innings

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay04-Apr-2025Durham 370 for 9 (Ackermann 116, Lees 52, O’Neill 4-74) vs NottinghamshireColin Ackermann posted the first century of the Rothesay County Championship season as Durham recovered to 370 for 9 on the opening day against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.Australian pace bowler Fergus O’Neill took 4 for 74 on his debut for the home side but it was Ackermann – celebrating his 34th birthday – who delivered the outstanding performance in the Nottingham sunshine as the visitors battled back from 171 for 5 after being asked to bat first.On what looked a good pitch, the South African-born allrounder enjoyed a moment of freakish good fortune on 80 when a ball from Lyndon James clipped his off stump only for the disturbed bail to drop back into its groove, but otherwise did not offer a chance until he was dismissed on 116, having hit 17 fours and a six.Alex Lees marked his first match as Durham’s club captain with a half-century, while Josh Tongue took two wickets on his much-delayed Nottinghamshire debut, although he looked nowhere near the form that catapulted him into England’s Test side in 2023. Graham Clark and George Drissell each made 45.O’Neill arrived at Trent Bridge in outstanding form after taking 38 wickets at 21.07 for Victoria in the Sheffield Shield and struck here in just his third over as Durham’s 20-year-old England prospect Ben McKinney nicked behind.O’Neill, 6ft 4ins but with a slingy action, backed up his maiden success in his next over, dismissing Emilio Gay in similar fashion, leaving the former Northamptonshire batter to reflect on an eight-ball duck.If O’Neill was the standout bowler in the opening session, the dismissal of Lees by Farhan Ahmed for 52 felt like an important breakthrough.Lees was dropped on 17 at first slip off Dillon Pennington and looked in the mood to make Nottinghamshire pay heavily, reaching 51 from 60 balls. But when Farhan, the 17-year-old offspinner, sat one up to tempt the left-hander to clear the short Bridgford Road boundary, his mistimed shot merely found the fielder at mid-on.After taking 25 wickets in five first-class matches in his debut season last year, Farhan has quickly overtaken Calvin Harrison and Liam Patterson-White as Nottinghamshire’s first-choice slow bowler. As the bowler who also dismissed Ackermann, caught at slip pushing at a ball that drifted away to find the outside edge, and maintaining impressive economy to boot, he justified his selection.With Ollie Robinson and Will Rhodes falling cheaply in the first hour of the middle session, Ackermann’s innings proved vital to keeping Durham’s innings from falling away.His moment of good luck apart, he rarely looked in any difficulty and after stands of 78 with Lees and 93 with Clark was furious with himself for not sticking around to cash in even more against an ageing ball.Robinson gave Tongue his maiden wicket as a Nottinghamshire bowler, edging to first slip, while Rhodes, making his debut for Durham after his winter move from Warwickshire, fell to an outstanding catch by Joe Clarke, one-handed low to his left, as O’Neill claimed a third.Clarke is covering behind the stumps for new signing Kyle Verreynne, who like Durham’s leading runscorer David Bedingham remains in South Africa as Western Province bid for domestic glory.Tongue, who joined Nottinghamshire from Worcestershire 20 months ago only to be out of action for the whole of that time with pectoral and then hamstring injuries, picked up a second wicket as a fine catch by second slip Freddie McCann accounted for Clark, before O’Neill removed Drissell to raise his tally to four.The 27-year-old Tongue is centrally contracted with England, whose plan was for he and Olly Stone essentially to alternate appearances in Nottinghamshire’s early championship rounds, although Stone is now himself sidelined following a knee operation and is not expected to return before August.

Manchester United have been known for their incredible youth setup over recent years, with many talents progressing through the ranks and making an impact on the first-team.

Kobbie Mainoo is the biggest example in Ruben Amorim’s current squad, rising up the ranks and making a huge impact on the side after making his debut back in the 2022/23 campaign.

He’s since racked up 74 appearances for the Red Devils – scoring on seven separate occasions, with various of his efforts coming at key moments for the club.

The midfielder has already bagged against rivals Liverpool, also against Lyon in the Europa League – but his most important strike came against Manchester City in the FA Cup final back in 2023/24.

Whilst he looked set to leave at one stage this summer, he could now partner various players who completed big-money moves to Old Trafford during the off-season.

Sesko & Mbeumo’s moves to United this summer

The need for new attackers at United this summer was evident last campaign, after the side netted a measly tally of just 44 goals in their 38 Premier League outings.

Benjamin Sesko has been signed as the club’s new centre-forward, joining in a £73.7m deal from RB Leipzig after scoring 21 times in his 43 appearances throughout 2024/25.

However, he’s yet to find the net for the Red Devils, but the same can’t be said for fellow summer addition Bryan Mbeumo, who’s already wasted no time in having an impact in Amorim’s side.

The Cameroonian, who cost £71m from Brentford, opened his account for his new side last weekend – netting the second goal in the 3-2 triumph over Burnley at Old Trafford.

If the Red Devils are to be a success in the years ahead, the pair will likely play a key role, but such a responsibility could’ve fallen the way of one other attacker had the hierarchy kept hold of him.

The former United star who’s now worth more than Mbeumo & Sesko

Despite Mainoo being a presence in the first-team at the Theatre of Dreams, not every youngster who rises through the ranks is able to become an established member of the squad.

Anthony Elanga may have racked up over 50 appearances for United, but he was sold by Erik ten Hag to Nottingham Forest in the summer of 2023 – for a fee in the region of £15m.

The Swede’s move to the City Ground would take his career to the next level, with the winger subsequently able to thrive with regular minutes in the Premier League.

He made 36 appearances in England’s top-flight throughout 2023/24, notching a total of 14 combined goals and assists – but it was his performances from last season which saw the Swede catch the eye.

Elanga featured in every single league game for Nuno Espírito Santo’s outfit, playing a huge role in the Reds’ ability to claim European football for the first time in a generation.

The 23-year-old scored six times and registered 11 assists, with his tremendous solo effort against United at the City Ground highlighting the talent they let slip through their fingers.

However, he would depart Forest during the recent summer window, but not for a return to Old Trafford – subsequently joining Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United in a package worth up to £60m.

Such a figure is a four times increase on the fee the Red Devils sold him for just two years ago, with the Swede the latest player the hierarchy let leave the club for a bargain fee.

As a result of his transfer, Elanga has seen his market value soar in the last couple of months, leading to FootballTransfers now valuing the attacker at £65.1m.

Elanga’s value since leaving

Month

Value

July 2023

£13.9m

September 2023

£19.4m

March 2024

£18m

June 2024

£15.6m

December 2024

£17.5m

April 2025

£39.6m

July 2025

£47.1m

September 2025

£65.1m

Stats via FootballTransfers

His subsequent valuation is now higher than those of Mbeumo and Sesko, with the pair now only valued at £36.9m and £54.5m respectively – despite their big-money transfers to join Amorim’s side.

Based on their respective numbers, it’s clear that the Red Devils would have been better off keeping hold of Elanga and putting faith into a player already on their books.

However, he will now forever remain a case of what could’ve been, with the hierarchy needing to remember such a deal when selling other youngsters in the years ahead.

Related Amorim must axe Man Utd flop who earns more than Wharton & Baleba

Manchester United desperately need to clear some players off the wage bill in the months ahead.

Posts 1 ByEthan Lamb Sep 3, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

Conhecido como uma ‘fortaleza’ de bons resultados, a Arena Grêmio não tem sido eficiente para o time de Renato Gaúcho nos últimos jogos.

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Nos últimos quatro jogos dentro de casa, o Tricolor só empatou e frustrou o torcedor que compareceu ao estádio.

A única vitória como mandante no Brasileirão não foi conquistada na Arena. Com o estádio suspenso, o Grêmio venceu o Santos no Alfredo Jaconi, em Caxias do Sul.

Gauchão 

Na Arena, a última alegria foi no dia 8 de abril. Na ocasião, o Grêmio bateu o Caxias por 1 a 0 e faturou o hexa do estadual.

Confira abaixo os jogos na Arena: 

Grêmio 1 x 0 Caxias – Gauchão 2023 (última vitória)

Grêmio 1 x 1 ABC – Copa do Brasil

Grêmio 3 x 3 Bragantino – Brasileirão

Grêmio 1 x 1 Cruzeiro – Copa do Brasil

The left-arm spinner has been one of Sydney Thunder’s key weapons after emerging from a career low

AAP26-Nov-2024Sam Bates’ secret to her best ever WBBL season at the Sydney Thunder was convincing herself her career was almost certainly over.Bates will enter Wednesday night’s knockout final against Hobart Hurricanes at Drummoyne as one of Thunder’s key weapons and leading wicket-taker with her left-arm finger spin.The 32-year-old will also do so with a fresh two-year deal in her pocket, ensuring Thunder’s most-capped player will be around until 2026. But for most of the past year, Bates believed her career was about to be finished.Related

Brisbane Heat secure victory but Melbourne Renegades host WBBL final

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After an underwhelming 2023-24 season where she was cut by Victoria and took only five WBBL wickets, Bates moved back to Newcastle ready to finish her paramedics degree.She began training with NSW in the pre-season, but even when she was called up to play for the Breakers in September she still believed this summer could be her last.”It put life in perspective,” Bates told AAP.  “I actually decided early on, if this was my last season of cricket, that was going to be OK.  It took a huge weight off my shoulders, not putting any pressure on me to try and be someone different or bowl something I am not good at.”If I was going to not have a contract it would suck, but I would still be okay. I think that’s what’s also put a real big clarity on where I was going to bowl and led to good bowling performances.”Bates’ 2023-24 summer was impacted by injury, and she came into last year’s WBBL underdone after a foot issue. But she is also the first to admit concerns over her future had impacted her cricket.”There was definitely a mental drain last year,” Bates said. “What I came up with I was just putting so much pressure on myself to be someone I wasn’t, to be a cricketer that I wasn’t.”I was able to work with Lisa Sthalekar a little bit in the pre-season this year to work out who I was and what I wanted to bowl. And I just wanted to own that.”Bates has absolutely done so. She claimed four-wicket hauls in two separate matches this year, while her 19 scalps at an average of 12.10 make her the WBBL’s second-leading wicket-taker and earning a spot in the team of the tournament.Her form had helped Thunder sit first on the ladder with one round to play, but they now face the task of needing to win three straight games to clinch the title after a last-start loss to the Melbourne Renegades.They do at least carry a home-ground advantage at Drummoyne into Wednesday’s knockout with Hurricanes, with the winner to go to Brisbane for a grand-final qualifier against Heat.”It’s mixed feelings,” Bates said.  “We haven’t hit out straps yet, we haven’t played our best game yet going into finals when it is a do-or-die situation.”Official WBBL team of the tournamentEllyse Perry (Sydney Sixers), Lizelle Lee (Hobart Hurricanes), Beth Mooney (wk, Perth Scorchers), Georgia Voll (Sydney Thunder), Phoebe Litchfield (Sydney Thunder), Hayley Matthews (Melbourne Renegades), Sophie Molineux (capt – Melbourne Renegades), Alana King (Perth Scorchers), Chloe Ainsworth (Perth Scorchers), Shikha Pandey (Brisbane Heat), Samantha Bates (Sydney Thunder) 12th: Georgia Wareham (Melbourne Renegades)

Everton’s summer rebuild is gathering pace. The £27.6m signing of Thierno Barry from Villarreal has handed David Moyes a towering centre-forward to lead the line, one capable of dominating defences with his aerial prowess, strength, and movement.

But with both Jack Harrison and Jesper Lindstrom returning to their parent clubs, Everton’s attack is short of width and creativity.

Moyes now needs a player who can stretch defences, beat his man, and crucially, supply the service Barry will thrive on.

Everton open talks to sign Harrison and Lindstrom replacement

That search has led them to one of La Liga’s standout performers, whose skillset may be the perfect match for their new No. 9.

According to reports, Everton have already made first contact.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Via TEAMtalk, Everton have started talks with Real Sociedad over a potential deal for 24-year-old Japanese international Takefusa Kubo.

The former Real Madrid prospect is open to a new challenge, and the Premier League is believed to be a major draw.

Kubo is currently under contract at Sociedad until June 2029, with a release clause reportedly around £50m.

Everton are not the only side interested. Clubs from the Bundesliga and La Liga are also monitoring the situation, but the Toffees are hopeful that the promise of regular minutes and a key role under Moyes could help sway the player.

Kubo joined Sociedad permanently in 2022 and wasted no time making an impression. In his first full season, he was named the club’s Player of the Season, showcasing his ability to both score and create from wide areas.

Zinedine Zidane, who played a role in his development at Real Madrid, once called him “a very interesting player for the present and the future.”

Meanwhile, former Mallorca CEO Maheta Molango, reflecting on Kubo’s two loan spells at the club, praised his character and focus:

“I was very impressed by Kubo when I met him. He’s super humble, super down to earth. His talent is obvious, but the reason why he will one day be a football superstar is his head. He sees things that other people don’t see, the ability to see a pass and pick a long ball. His intelligence is outstanding.”

Why Kubo could be Barry’s perfect supply line

Kubo’s profile fits exactly what Everton lack. A right-footed winger who prefers starting from the right, he thrives in one-on-one situations, cutting inside to create chances or drive at goal.

He combines dribbling flair with precision delivery, making him a natural partner for a striker like Barry.

In 2024/25, Kubo played 36 games, scoring five goals and assisting several more.

According to FBref, he completed 75 take-ons, created 45 chances, produced 14 shots on target, and made 129 touches in the opposition box.

His crossing numbers are particularly impressive, averaging 3.32 per 90, ranking him in the 86th percentile among wingers in Europe’s top leagues.

For Barry, who stands at 6 foot 5 and thrives on service, those numbers are gold.

Last season, the French forward scored 11 goals from an expected goals (xG) tally of 11.7 and added four assists.

The same data reveals that he ranks among the top percentiles for runs in behind and crosses received and won nearly two-thirds of his aerial duels in the penalty area.

Barry’s combination of size, mobility, and sharp movement inside the box is exactly the kind of profile that can elevate a creator like Kubo. And in turn, Kubo’s ability to beat his marker and pick a final ball could help Barry explode in the Premier League.

Moyes’ system traditionally relies on wide players who work hard defensively but also deliver early, accurate service. Kubo ticks those boxes but adds a level of technical quality that Everton have lacked on the flanks.

With Calvert-Lewin gone, Barry now leads the line. And if Everton can land Kubo, they may have finally found the perfect partner to supply him, creating a dangerous duo built on power, and cutting edge in the final third.

Everton could hijack move to sign hulking £42m striker who'd be Lukaku 2.0

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By
Ross Kilvington

Jul 22, 2025

SA captain said his own country, where race-based segregation ended 30 years ago, can relate to those suffering from human-rights abuses

Firdose Moonda13-Sep-2024

Temba Bavuma: “We want everyone to have a fair chance within society”•Gallo Images/Getty Images

South Africa’s Test and ODI captain Temba Bavuma has added his voice to the South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA)’s calls for an end to the gender-based discrimination, which excludes women in Afghanistan from playing sport and in others areas of public life.Speaking ahead of South Africa’s departure to the UAE, where they will play Afghanistan in three ODIs next week, Bavuma said that South Africans, whose own system of legalised race-based segregation ended 30 years ago, are in a unique position to relate to those who are suffering human-rights abuses. Thus, Bavuma reiterated the call for women’s rights to be respected.”I look at it in my personal capacity. It’s obviously something that is quite strong within my own values,” he said. “I support the idea of inclusivity and caring for women. We want everyone to have a fair chance within society, and we know that that is something that is relevant to us as a country in South Africa. I’m fully behind the sentiments that are expressed by SACA.”Related

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No bilateral cricket with Afg till there's 'a level of progress' – CA chief

On Thursday, SACA issued a statement which both recognised Cricket South Africa (CSA)’s right to seek out fixtures – such as these against Afghanistan – and also asked CSA to “utilise the leverage available to it through this series to highlight that these rights for Afghanistan’s women’s players must be protected and respected”.CSA have not commented on whether there are plans to make any statements or gestures in support of Afghan women, but continue to discuss the issue of women’s cricket in Afghanistan through the ICC. Both white-ball coach Rob Walter, who on Monday said he had no part in deciding whether to play Afghanistan or not, and Bavuma have opted to leave the issue of whether to engage Afghanistan on the field with CSA.”I think I’ve got to respect the fact that there are people in positions who have that responsibility to speak more eloquently and articulate a little bit more of it,” Bavuma said. “In my own personal capacity, I definitely support the stance and the sentiments expressed by SACA. And I can understand where Rob as well is coming from in that we are selected to do a job in the cricketing field. And I think a lot of our energy will generally be dedicated to that at least.”The Afghanistan Cricket Board contracted 25 female players in 2020 but the Taliban takeover a year later left women in the lurch•Afghanistan Cricket Board

So far, the only board that has actively pulled out of competition against Afghanistan is Australia, while the ECB has also indicated it will not schedule series against Afghanistan. Both Australia and England continue to play Afghanistan at ICC tournaments. South Africa have never played against Afghanistan outside of a World Cup – in either ODIs or T20Is.With this being their first bilateral series, it is also the first time the South Africa team and CSA have had to consider the ethics of playing against Afghanistan, who have not had a women’s team since becoming Full Members in 2017, although they contracted 25 women players in 2020. Since then, with the Taliban takeover in 2021, all hopes of a women’s team have deteriorated as women have been eroded from society with little to no access to healthcare and education, among other things.Apart from South Africa’s shared history of legalised discrimination with Afghanistan, the country also has an epidemic of gender-based violence (GBV). This year, the World Population Review rated South Africa and Brazil as the two most dangerous countries for women. In response, there have been various initiatives against GBV, including in cricket. The national women’s team has an annual black day, where they swap their usual green-and-gold kit for black outfits, to raise awareness about the plight of GBV.Two weeks ago, national rugby captain, Siya Kolisi, had this to say after the Springboks beat the All Blacks in Johannesburg: “It’s 30 years of freedom; I want to say congratulations to South Africans. But we still know there are many people who are still not free. Hopefully, the next celebration we celebrate is the women who are free of gender-based violence.”

Tristan Stubbs will be backed as South Africa’s Test No. 3 for both his batting approach and intimidating presence, according to Test coach Shukri Conrad. As the sole selector of both the squad and the playing XI, Conrad has made the decision to give Stubbs a “good run” in the position despite his inexperience, because he sees something special in him.”Technique is obviously a big factor because you’re going to be facing the new ball the bulk of the time,” Conrad said from Trinidad, where South Africa will play West Indies in the first of their two Tests from Wednesday. “And he’s quite an imposing character, a big, strong, strapping boy, and I quite like that. I like the fact that at the top of the order, there are quite imposing guys; guys that have got a good aura about them and strong body language.”South Africa’s top three for this series will be: Aiden Markram, who stands at 1.85 metres, is an Under-19 World Cup-winning captain and the only national men’s captain to qualify for a senior World Cup final; Tony de Zorzi, a bubbly character who is not afraid to speak his mind, especially on social media; and Stubbs, who is 1.84 metres tall and broad-shouldered.Related

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Conrad didn’t elaborate on what the advantage of three physically big players would be, but it may have something to do with who they are being followed by: their diminutive captain Temba Bavuma, who is 1.62 metres tall and has not batted in a Test match since March last year.Bavuma was forced to withdraw from the Boxing Day Test against India with a left hamstring injury, a month after he suffered a right hamstring injury at the ODI World Cup. He is fully rehabilitated after a lengthy off-season and last week said he was ready to take on the responsibility of the No. 4 spot, as South Africa’s most experienced batter and one of only three squad members (Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj are the others) with more than 50 Test caps. That doesn’t mean Bavuma needs protecting, but that he needs players who can bat around him and lay a foundation. And Stubbs has been identified as someone who can do that. “His psyche and his technique speak to someone who will do that job really well,” Conrad said. “We’ve got a good one for the future of South African cricket.”The numbers suggest Conrad is on to something. Stubbs has played 18 first-class matches over his career and has an eye-catching average of 50.20. His most notable long-format innings was the 302* he scored against (now-relegated) Kwa-Zulu Natal (KZN) Inland in Pietermaritzburg last February. Although the opposition was the weakest in South Africa’s top tier, Stubbs scored his runs quickly, off 372 balls, to demonstrate his dominance. His first red-ball hundred also came against KZN Inland, in February 2020, in the second tier of South Africa’s domestic system. Stubbs was playing for Eastern Province (EP) and batting at No. 7 when he hit a 232-ball 105 to take EP from 135 for 5 to 327 for 8, and give them a first-innings lead. He has three more centuries in the format, the most high profile being 117 for South Africa A against Sri Lanka A in Colombo last year, when Conrad first decided to try him up the order.It was on that tour that Stubbs was identified as a possible long-term pick for the No. 3 spot and Conrad has all but committed to giving him the rest of this World Test Championship cycle to see if he can make the spot his own. “I’m going to give him a good run,” Conrad said, “I’d be surprised if we didn’t back him throughout the rest of the cycle. I’m pretty confident Tristan is going to come good.”South Africa play eight more Tests in this cycle – two in the West Indies, two in Bangladesh and two at home against each of Sri Lanka and Pakistan – which will give Stubbs a variety of oppositions and conditions to adjust to. He has received no special instructions or expectations from Conrad other than to express himself in the way he feels most comfortable and believes that the results will come. “We do who we are,” Conrad said. “It’s become quite a cliche now being the best version of yourself, but…”But that’s the mantra Conrad is adopting, albeit not in catch phrases. “Whatever that identity is, you couple that with the conditions that you’re confronting and then marry that with what the skills the opposition bring, but ultimately, you still operate with your own identity in mind. That’s the only messaging I’ve given Tristan and the rest of the batters.”