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Bangladesh vs Pakistan Test series: Sarfaraz named head coach; four uncapped players included in squad  Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has been named head coach of the Pakistan Test team as selectors named four uncapped players on Saturday for next month’s two-Test series in Bangladesh.Sarfaraz, who won the Champions Trophy in 2017, retired from international cricket last month. The Pakistan Cricket Board also appointed former Test batter Asad Shafiq as the new batting coach while Umar Gul will be bowling coach.Left-handed batter Shan Masood will continue to lead the Test team with Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq the other experienced batters in the side.Abdullah Fazal, Amad Butt, Azan Awais and Mohammad Ghazi Ghori are the four uncapped players in the Test side.ALSO READ: Pakistan’s Salman Ali Agha considering break from T20 format to focus on 2027 ODI World CupFazal and Awais are both left-handed batters and have been rewarded after impressing the selectors in domestic cricket. Butt, who made his first-class debut in 2015, is a seasoned all-rounder and carries over a decade of playing in domestic cricket.The first Test will be played in Dhaka from May 8-12 with Sylhet hosting the second Test from May 16-20.The series is part of World Test Championship (WTC) where Pakistan stands at No. 5 after drawing the home series against South Africa 1-1 last October.Bangladesh lost its opening WTC series in Sri Lanka 1-0 and is eighth in nine-team even.Pakistan squad:Shan Masood (captain), Abdullah Fazal, Amad Butt, Azan Awais, Babar Azam, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel and Shaheen Shah AfridiPublished on Apr 18, 2026  #Bangladesh #Pakistan #Test #series #Sarfaraz #named #coach #uncapped #players #included #squad

Bangladesh vs Pakistan Test series: Sarfaraz named head coach; four uncapped players included in squad

Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has been named head coach of the Pakistan Test team as selectors named four uncapped players on Saturday for next month’s two-Test series in Bangladesh.

Sarfaraz, who won the Champions Trophy in 2017, retired from international cricket last month. The Pakistan Cricket Board also appointed former Test batter Asad Shafiq as the new batting coach while Umar Gul will be bowling coach.

Left-handed batter Shan Masood will continue to lead the Test team with Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq the other experienced batters in the side.

Abdullah Fazal, Amad Butt, Azan Awais and Mohammad Ghazi Ghori are the four uncapped players in the Test side.

ALSO READ: Pakistan’s Salman Ali Agha considering break from T20 format to focus on 2027 ODI World Cup

Fazal and Awais are both left-handed batters and have been rewarded after impressing the selectors in domestic cricket. Butt, who made his first-class debut in 2015, is a seasoned all-rounder and carries over a decade of playing in domestic cricket.

The first Test will be played in Dhaka from May 8-12 with Sylhet hosting the second Test from May 16-20.

The series is part of World Test Championship (WTC) where Pakistan stands at No. 5 after drawing the home series against South Africa 1-1 last October.

Bangladesh lost its opening WTC series in Sri Lanka 1-0 and is eighth in nine-team even.

Pakistan squad:

Shan Masood (captain), Abdullah Fazal, Amad Butt, Azan Awais, Babar Azam, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel and Shaheen Shah Afridi

Published on Apr 18, 2026

#Bangladesh #Pakistan #Test #series #Sarfaraz #named #coach #uncapped #players #included #squad

Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has been named head coach of the Pakistan Test team as selectors named four uncapped players on Saturday for next month’s two-Test series in Bangladesh.

Sarfaraz, who won the Champions Trophy in 2017, retired from international cricket last month. The Pakistan Cricket Board also appointed former Test batter Asad Shafiq as the new batting coach while Umar Gul will be bowling coach.

Left-handed batter Shan Masood will continue to lead the Test team with Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq the other experienced batters in the side.

Abdullah Fazal, Amad Butt, Azan Awais and Mohammad Ghazi Ghori are the four uncapped players in the Test side.

ALSO READ: Pakistan’s Salman Ali Agha considering break from T20 format to focus on 2027 ODI World Cup

Fazal and Awais are both left-handed batters and have been rewarded after impressing the selectors in domestic cricket. Butt, who made his first-class debut in 2015, is a seasoned all-rounder and carries over a decade of playing in domestic cricket.

The first Test will be played in Dhaka from May 8-12 with Sylhet hosting the second Test from May 16-20.

The series is part of World Test Championship (WTC) where Pakistan stands at No. 5 after drawing the home series against South Africa 1-1 last October.

Bangladesh lost its opening WTC series in Sri Lanka 1-0 and is eighth in nine-team even.

Pakistan squad:

Shan Masood (captain), Abdullah Fazal, Amad Butt, Azan Awais, Babar Azam, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel and Shaheen Shah Afridi

Published on Apr 18, 2026

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Deadspin | Emmanuel Sabbi, Whitecaps cruise to victory over Sporting KC <div id=""><section id="0" class=" w-full"><div class="xl:container mx-0 !px-4 py-0 pb-4 !mx-0 !px-0"><img src="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28755394.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28755394.jpg" alt="MLS: Sporting Kansas City at Vancouver Whitecaps FC" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">Apr 17, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Whitecaps FC midfielder Thomas Muller (13) celebrates scoring with defender Mathias Laborda (2) during the first half against the Sporting Kansas City at BC Place. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-Imagn Images<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>Emmanuel Sabbi scored one goal and assisted on another as the Vancouver Whitecaps continued the best start in club history with a dominant 3-0 victory over visiting Sporting Kansas City on Friday night.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>Bruno Caicedo added his first MLS goal in the 21-year-old’s third appearance — and first start — in the league as the Whitecaps raced out to their three-goal lead by the half-hour mark.</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>Thomas Muller added his fourth goal of the season for Vancouver (7-1-0, 21 points), which has played all but one of its first eight league matches at home while building an exceptional +18 goal differential.</p> </section><section id="section-4"> <p>The Whitecaps will have one more home game on April 25 against the Colorado Rapids. Then they will play eight straight on the road while BC Place is prepped and used as a 2026 World Cup venue.</p> </section><section id="section-5"> <p>Kansas City (1-6-1, 4 points) lost its fourth straight in MLS and fifth straight overall. Manager Raphael Wicky’s Sporting squad have been outscored 13-3 combined in those four league defeats.</p> </section><section id="section-6"> <p>Vancouver outshot Kansas City 25-3 and led 6-1 in efforts on target in a game that quickly tilted in the hosts’ favor.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-7"> <p>Sabbi scored in the 13th minute on an attack that began when Vancouver intercepted a Kansas City goal kick at midfield.</p> </section> <section id="section-8"> <p>Eventually it was White who got into the right side of the penalty area and chipped it over charging goalkeeper John Pulskamp but not into the net.</p> </section><section id="section-9"> <p>The ball arrived to Vancouver’s Mathias Laborda on the opposite post, who couldn’t direct an effort goal-bound under defensive pressure. Sabbi cleaned up the loose ball with a finish through the scrambling SKC defense, off a defender, off the crossbar and in.</p> </section><section id="section-10"> <p>Caicedo created the second goal in the 23rd minute. He snuck up field and intercepted Cielo Tschantret’s ill-advised square pass, then finished low from the edge of the area off the inside of the far right post.</p> </section><section id="section-11"> <p>Another long clearance intercepted at midfield led to the hosts making it 3-0 in the 28th minute.</p> </section><section id="section-12"> <p>This time it was Sabbi providing the service from the right wing after doing excellent work to keep the ball in play. His outswinging ball fell at the back post for Muller, who headed it firmly past the flailing Pulskamp.</p> </section><section id="section-13"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section></div> #Deadspin #Emmanuel #Sabbi #Whitecaps #cruise #victory #Sporting

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Deadspin | Royals’ Noah Cameron chases elusive win in clash vs. Cards  Jun 7, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Kansas City Royals pitcher Noah Cameron (65) throws a pitch against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images   Noah Cameron has pitched well against the St. Louis Cardinals during his young career but has nothing to show for it.   The left-hander will look for better fortune when he takes the mound on Thursday as the Royals open a three-game series against the visiting Cardinals.  Cameron (3-4, 4.11 ERA) enjoyed a strong rookie 2025 season, posting a 9-7 record and 2.99 ERA in 24 starts and finishing fourth in the American League Rookie of the Year voting. Though 2026 has been inconsistent, he notched a string of four quality starts in five outings before allowing a pair of two-run homers over 4 1/3 innings in Kansas City’s 8-7 loss to Houston on Saturday.    “Two bad pitches,” Cameron said. “Didn’t execute.”   Cameron hasn’t had much trouble with execution while posting a 1.96 ERA versus St. Louis, which is batting .148 against him.  However, the Royals lost all three of those contests, with Cameron being saddled with two defeats. He yielded the only run of the game on May 17, 2025 — a Jordan Walker homer over 6 1/3 innings in a 1-0 loss. He scattered two hits over six scoreless innings the following month, however Kansas City’s bullpen blew a 3-0 lead in the 6-5 loss at St. Louis.   Then last month, Cameron gave up three runs in six innings of the Royals’ 4-2 setback against the Cardinals.   “Obviously, you can’t be mad about quality starts,” Cameron said.    Kansas City has dropped three straight series at home, where it is mired in a 4-12 rut. However, the Royals have some momentum entering the I-70 series after they avoided being swept at Washington with a 6-2 win on Wednesday afternoon.  Carter Jensen homered among his four hits and Lane Thomas, Michael Massey and John Rave also went deep for the Royals.    “We’ve got to score runs and (the pitching staff has) to prevent them when we are ahead,” Thomas told The Kansas City Star. “You know, as long as we do that, two out of three days a series, I think we will be OK.”    Kansas City dropped two of three last month at St. Louis.  The Cardinals had won nine of 12 before dropping a 6-1 decision to the San Diego Padres on Wednesday.  Scheduled Cardinals starter Matthew Liberatore (3-3, 4.71) did not face the Royals in the previous series and is 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA in four career appearances (two starts) versus Kansas City.  The left-hander hopes to get back on track after he allowed nine runs — seven earned — and four homers over 8 2/3 innings in his last two starts.  Alec Burleson drove in the Cardinals’ run Wednesday and is batting .310 with 18 RBIs during a 17-game hitting streak. He’s a career .302 hitter with 10 RBIs in 14 games versus Kansas City.   “He’s one of those guys who has a really good plan, and commits to it,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said of Burleson, who is 0-for-4 against Cameron.    “That’s what allows him to have success.”   Jensen, meanwhile, is batting .361 with two home runs and nine RBIs in his last nine games. Teammate Salvador Perez is hitting just .200 on the season, but he is 4-for-7 with a homer versus Liberatore.    Kansas City has been ravaged with injuries this season, and All-Star third baseman Maikel Garcia could miss a second straight game with a nagging hand injury.    –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Royals #Noah #Cameron #chases #elusive #win #clash #CardsJun 7, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Kansas City Royals pitcher Noah Cameron (65) throws a pitch against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Noah Cameron has pitched well against the St. Louis Cardinals during his young career but has nothing to show for it.

The left-hander will look for better fortune when he takes the mound on Thursday as the Royals open a three-game series against the visiting Cardinals.

Cameron (3-4, 4.11 ERA) enjoyed a strong rookie 2025 season, posting a 9-7 record and 2.99 ERA in 24 starts and finishing fourth in the American League Rookie of the Year voting. Though 2026 has been inconsistent, he notched a string of four quality starts in five outings before allowing a pair of two-run homers over 4 1/3 innings in Kansas City’s 8-7 loss to Houston on Saturday.

“Two bad pitches,” Cameron said. “Didn’t execute.”

Cameron hasn’t had much trouble with execution while posting a 1.96 ERA versus St. Louis, which is batting .148 against him.

However, the Royals lost all three of those contests, with Cameron being saddled with two defeats. He yielded the only run of the game on May 17, 2025 — a Jordan Walker homer over 6 1/3 innings in a 1-0 loss. He scattered two hits over six scoreless innings the following month, however Kansas City’s bullpen blew a 3-0 lead in the 6-5 loss at St. Louis.

Then last month, Cameron gave up three runs in six innings of the Royals’ 4-2 setback against the Cardinals.

“Obviously, you can’t be mad about quality starts,” Cameron said.

Kansas City has dropped three straight series at home, where it is mired in a 4-12 rut. However, the Royals have some momentum entering the I-70 series after they avoided being swept at Washington with a 6-2 win on Wednesday afternoon.

Carter Jensen homered among his four hits and Lane Thomas, Michael Massey and John Rave also went deep for the Royals.


“We’ve got to score runs and (the pitching staff has) to prevent them when we are ahead,” Thomas told The Kansas City Star. “You know, as long as we do that, two out of three days a series, I think we will be OK.”

Kansas City dropped two of three last month at St. Louis.

The Cardinals had won nine of 12 before dropping a 6-1 decision to the San Diego Padres on Wednesday.

Scheduled Cardinals starter Matthew Liberatore (3-3, 4.71) did not face the Royals in the previous series and is 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA in four career appearances (two starts) versus Kansas City.

The left-hander hopes to get back on track after he allowed nine runs — seven earned — and four homers over 8 2/3 innings in his last two starts.

Alec Burleson drove in the Cardinals’ run Wednesday and is batting .310 with 18 RBIs during a 17-game hitting streak. He’s a career .302 hitter with 10 RBIs in 14 games versus Kansas City.

“He’s one of those guys who has a really good plan, and commits to it,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said of Burleson, who is 0-for-4 against Cameron.

“That’s what allows him to have success.”

Jensen, meanwhile, is batting .361 with two home runs and nine RBIs in his last nine games. Teammate Salvador Perez is hitting just .200 on the season, but he is 4-for-7 with a homer versus Liberatore.

Kansas City has been ravaged with injuries this season, and All-Star third baseman Maikel Garcia could miss a second straight game with a nagging hand injury.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Royals #Noah #Cameron #chases #elusive #win #clash #Cards">Deadspin | Royals’ Noah Cameron chases elusive win in clash vs. Cards  Jun 7, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Kansas City Royals pitcher Noah Cameron (65) throws a pitch against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images   Noah Cameron has pitched well against the St. Louis Cardinals during his young career but has nothing to show for it.   The left-hander will look for better fortune when he takes the mound on Thursday as the Royals open a three-game series against the visiting Cardinals.  Cameron (3-4, 4.11 ERA) enjoyed a strong rookie 2025 season, posting a 9-7 record and 2.99 ERA in 24 starts and finishing fourth in the American League Rookie of the Year voting. Though 2026 has been inconsistent, he notched a string of four quality starts in five outings before allowing a pair of two-run homers over 4 1/3 innings in Kansas City’s 8-7 loss to Houston on Saturday.    “Two bad pitches,” Cameron said. “Didn’t execute.”   Cameron hasn’t had much trouble with execution while posting a 1.96 ERA versus St. Louis, which is batting .148 against him.  However, the Royals lost all three of those contests, with Cameron being saddled with two defeats. He yielded the only run of the game on May 17, 2025 — a Jordan Walker homer over 6 1/3 innings in a 1-0 loss. He scattered two hits over six scoreless innings the following month, however Kansas City’s bullpen blew a 3-0 lead in the 6-5 loss at St. Louis.   Then last month, Cameron gave up three runs in six innings of the Royals’ 4-2 setback against the Cardinals.   “Obviously, you can’t be mad about quality starts,” Cameron said.    Kansas City has dropped three straight series at home, where it is mired in a 4-12 rut. However, the Royals have some momentum entering the I-70 series after they avoided being swept at Washington with a 6-2 win on Wednesday afternoon.  Carter Jensen homered among his four hits and Lane Thomas, Michael Massey and John Rave also went deep for the Royals.    “We’ve got to score runs and (the pitching staff has) to prevent them when we are ahead,” Thomas told The Kansas City Star. “You know, as long as we do that, two out of three days a series, I think we will be OK.”    Kansas City dropped two of three last month at St. Louis.  The Cardinals had won nine of 12 before dropping a 6-1 decision to the San Diego Padres on Wednesday.  Scheduled Cardinals starter Matthew Liberatore (3-3, 4.71) did not face the Royals in the previous series and is 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA in four career appearances (two starts) versus Kansas City.  The left-hander hopes to get back on track after he allowed nine runs — seven earned — and four homers over 8 2/3 innings in his last two starts.  Alec Burleson drove in the Cardinals’ run Wednesday and is batting .310 with 18 RBIs during a 17-game hitting streak. He’s a career .302 hitter with 10 RBIs in 14 games versus Kansas City.   “He’s one of those guys who has a really good plan, and commits to it,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said of Burleson, who is 0-for-4 against Cameron.    “That’s what allows him to have success.”   Jensen, meanwhile, is batting .361 with two home runs and nine RBIs in his last nine games. Teammate Salvador Perez is hitting just .200 on the season, but he is 4-for-7 with a homer versus Liberatore.    Kansas City has been ravaged with injuries this season, and All-Star third baseman Maikel Garcia could miss a second straight game with a nagging hand injury.    –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Royals #Noah #Cameron #chases #elusive #win #clash #Cards

The chase for the Golden Boot.

The 2026 World Cup could see history, given the presence of Kylian Mbappe. In the history of this event, no player has ever won the Golden Boot twice. After winning the Golden Boot at the 2022 World Cup, Mbappe could become the first player to achieve that feat, if he were to win again this year.

Mbappe’s brace against Senegal got his campaign for a second Golden Boot off to a strong start, but Lionel Messi’s hat trick against Algeria put the Argentina legend atop the list after his opening match.

Here are the current standings in the chase for the Golden Boot. You will note that assists and minutes played are listed, as those are the two tiebreakers in determining the winner of the Golden Boot. In the case of ties, the player with the most assists is ranked ahead.

Should there still be a tie, the player with the fewest minutes played is ranked ahead.

Note: Table last updated Thursday, June 18:

#World #Cup #Golden #Boot #goals #standings">2026 World Cup Golden Boot: Most goals, standings  We are almost a week into the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and that means it is the perfect time to start looking at one of the big stories from this tournament every four years.The chase for the Golden Boot.The 2026 World Cup could see history, given the presence of Kylian Mbappe. In the history of this event, no player has ever won the Golden Boot twice. After winning the Golden Boot at the 2022 World Cup, Mbappe could become the first player to achieve that feat, if he were to win again this year.Mbappe’s brace against Senegal got his campaign for a second Golden Boot off to a strong start, but Lionel Messi’s hat trick against Algeria put the Argentina legend atop the list after his opening match.Here are the current standings in the chase for the Golden Boot. You will note that assists and minutes played are listed, as those are the two tiebreakers in determining the winner of the Golden Boot. In the case of ties, the player with the most assists is ranked ahead.Should there still be a tie, the player with the fewest minutes played is ranked ahead.Note: Table last updated Thursday, June 18:  #World #Cup #Golden #Boot #goals #standings

2026 FIFA World Cup, and that means it is the perfect time to start looking at one of the big stories from this tournament every four years.

The chase for the Golden Boot.

The 2026 World Cup could see history, given the presence of Kylian Mbappe. In the history of this event, no player has ever won the Golden Boot twice. After winning the Golden Boot at the 2022 World Cup, Mbappe could become the first player to achieve that feat, if he were to win again this year.

Mbappe’s brace against Senegal got his campaign for a second Golden Boot off to a strong start, but Lionel Messi’s hat trick against Algeria put the Argentina legend atop the list after his opening match.

Here are the current standings in the chase for the Golden Boot. You will note that assists and minutes played are listed, as those are the two tiebreakers in determining the winner of the Golden Boot. In the case of ties, the player with the most assists is ranked ahead.

Should there still be a tie, the player with the fewest minutes played is ranked ahead.

Note: Table last updated Thursday, June 18:

#World #Cup #Golden #Boot #goals #standings">2026 World Cup Golden Boot: Most goals, standings

We are almost a week into the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and that means it is the perfect time to start looking at one of the big stories from this tournament every four years.

The chase for the Golden Boot.

The 2026 World Cup could see history, given the presence of Kylian Mbappe. In the history of this event, no player has ever won the Golden Boot twice. After winning the Golden Boot at the 2022 World Cup, Mbappe could become the first player to achieve that feat, if he were to win again this year.

Mbappe’s brace against Senegal got his campaign for a second Golden Boot off to a strong start, but Lionel Messi’s hat trick against Algeria put the Argentina legend atop the list after his opening match.

Here are the current standings in the chase for the Golden Boot. You will note that assists and minutes played are listed, as those are the two tiebreakers in determining the winner of the Golden Boot. In the case of ties, the player with the most assists is ranked ahead.

Should there still be a tie, the player with the fewest minutes played is ranked ahead.

Note: Table last updated Thursday, June 18:

#World #Cup #Golden #Boot #goals #standings

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