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Lalit Rajbanshi, who missed the Top End T20 series in Australia, is also back in the side

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Sep-2025Nepal have recalled allrounder Mohammad Aadil Alam and middle-order batter Sundeep Jora for the historic three-match T20I series against West Indies in the UAE later this month. This will be Nepal’s first bilateral series against a Full Member.Alam last played for Nepal in August 2022, and Jora in June 2024. Rohit Paudel will lead the squad, which was announced last week; Dipendra Singh Airee will be his deputy. The bowling attack will revolve around legspinner Sandeep Lamichhane. Left-arm spinner Lalit Rajbanshi, who missed the Top End T20 series in Australia last month, is also back in the side.”We are confident and positive,” Paudel said. “The last two years of exposure playing against Test nations has also brought good experience, and the team is balanced with the presence of Jora and Aadil Alam.”Related

• Five uncapped players in Akeal Hosein-led WI squad

In April 2024, West Indies A had toured Nepal for a five-match T20 series, which they won 3-2. For the upcoming series, West Indies have included five uncapped players in their squad, and will be led by Akeal Hosein.The series starts on September 27, with all three games to be played in Sharjah. After that, Nepal will head to Oman for the Asia and East-Asia Pacific Qualifier for the 2026 T20 World Cup.

Nepal squad for West Indies T20Is

Rohit Paudel (capt), Dipendra Singh Airee (vice-capt), Aasif Sheikh (wk), Sandeep Lamichhane, Kushal Bhurtel, Lokesh Bam, Kushal Malla, Mohammad Adil Alam, Aarif Sheikh, Sundeep Jora, Karan KC, Nandan Yadav, Gulsan Jha, Lalit Rajbanshi, Sompal Kami, Shahab Alam

Kylian Mbappe’s withdrawal from France’s squad due to ankle inflammation has ignited controversy once again after the Real Madrid star was spotted in Dubai during the international break. Instead of returning to Madrid for medical checks, the forward spent several days at a luxury hotel and visited a local padel club, reopening old debates in France about his absences.

• Mbappe sparks new storm after Dubai trip

  French captain Mbappe’s absence from France’s final World Cup qualifier in Azerbaijan has created renewed tension after the forward travelled to Dubai shortly after being released from national team duty. Declared unavailable by Didier Deschamps, the Real Madrid star was expected to undergo medical examinations in Madrid before rejoining his club’s training schedule. Instead, luggage tags posted by the Instagram account Drikcfootball showed the forward departing Paris for Dubai last Saturday morning.

  As reported by Mbappe stayed several days at the luxurious Atlantis The Royal hotel and visited the “Padel One” club, though it remains unclear whether he played or simply attended. His trip came just 24 hours after the French Football Federation (FFF) issued a statement explaining that he was suffering “from inflammation in his right ankle, which requires further examination,” following his brace against Ukraine, a match that secured France’s qualification for the next World Cup.

  This sudden detour to Dubai, without stopping in Madrid for evaluation, has posed tough questions, recalling the autumn of 2024 when Mbappe’s recurring absences for Les Bleus had already caused friction shortly after he signed for Real Madrid. It has once again left many in France questioning the management of his fitness, his communication, and the timing of his personal activities during international breaks.

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• AFP
  

  Deschamps explains injury concerns amid ‘chronic’ issue

  France coach Deschamps attempted to calm tensions but ended up adding more layers to the debate. Speaking to, he clarified the long-standing ankle problem that forced him to release the player, saying: “He has almost chronic inflammation because he's had this ankle problem for a while now. Even if it doesn't prevent him from playing. I believe there's no risk to take given that we've already qualified, and I've made him available to Real Madrid.”

  The president of the FFF, Philippe Diallo, added historical context when reflecting on the forward’s importance, saying at the time: “He is currently going through a delicate sporting moment. When he is the best player in the world, he becomes an irreplaceable asset for the French national team. My only wish is for him to return to his best and rejoin us in March for the next call-up, bringing everything he has always given us.”

• Recurring issues, distractions and national team frustration

  Mbappe has been managing ankle discomfort since October 4, when he suffered a knock against Villarreal. While he has continued playing, the pain has not fully subsided, and Deschamps admitted the issue is prone to relapses.

  But the controversy extends beyond injuries, as the Real Madrid star also endured a six-month spell without playing for Les Bleus coinciding with an alleged sexual assault case in Stockholm, an accusation he has firmly denied. For French authorities, such off-field turbulence, combined with the recurring “ankle problem,” continues to place the player under intense scrutiny at a time when every absence becomes part of a larger narrative.

  This latest incident, withdrawing from France due to inflammation only to appear in Dubai days later, has deepened frustration

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  Real Madrid return for Elche showdown

  Despite the noise around his absence, Real Madrid are not expected to conduct any further medical examinations on Mbappe, as nothing has been planned yet. The forward is due back at Valdebebas on Wednesday for treatment. If he trains as planned on Friday, with no session scheduled Thursday, he is expected to start against Elche on Sunday, as Xabi Alonso aims to manage workloads during a demanding season.

  Inside Real Madrid, the focus appears less on the ankle complaint and more on the psychological strain linked to Mbappe’s ongoing legal dispute with Paris Saint-Germain. Still, in sporting terms, Mbappe remains crucial as Madrid navigate a packed run of fixtures in La Liga and Europe.

  For France, all eyes now turn to March’s international window, and Should Mbappe return fully fit and available, this controversy will fade. But if more absences follow, old tensions will resurface once again.

Tottenham Hotspur produced one of their best performances of the 2025/26 campaign on Tuesday night when they smashed Copenhagen 4-0 in the Champions League.

Thomas Frank’s side strolled to a comfortable victory in North London, despite Brennan Johnson’s second-half red card, and could have had a fifth when Richarlison missed a penalty late on.

The pick of the goals on the night was, undoubtably, the unbelievable solo run from central defender Micky van de Ven, which will

surely be in contention for the Goal of the Season award next year.

In terms of performances, Dutch attacking midfielder Xavi Simons will be pleased with his personal contribution after an impressive outing.

How Xavi Simons may have kickstarted his season

The £52m summer signing from RB Leipzig ended a run of 11 matches without a goal contribution in all competitions for Spurs with his assist for Johnson’s opening goal.

Xavi played a brilliant pass through to the Wales international, which allowed him to slot into an empty net after rounding the goalkeeper, and that was his second assist of the season.

The Netherlands international created three ‘big chances’ for the team in total, per Sofascore, and was the first Spurs player to create three chances in a Champions League half since the 2016/17 campaign.

Xavi, now, needs to use this impressive performance as a platform to kick on and provide consistency on a regular basis for the Lilywhites.

The Dutchman was not the only star player who could use Tuesday night’s match as a platform, though, as Wilson Odobert had his best night for the club.

Why Copenhagen was Wilson Odobert's best performance for Spurs

Since his move to Spurs from Burnley in the summer of 2024, Odobert has only managed two goals and no assists in the Premier League and the Champions League, with the second of those two goals coming against Copenhagen.

The French winger, who earned the same player rating (8/10) as Xavi from GOAL, remained incredibly composed to finish his chance, as shown in the clip above, when it would have been easy to snatch at it or try to smash it towards goal.

On top of scoring, the former Burnley man also completed three dribbles and created one chance, per Sofascore, which speaks to how direct and effective he was with the ball at his feet.

The Athletic’s Jay Harris suggested it was his “best performance in a Spurs shirt”, and that is hard to argue with, when compared to the only other game in the Premier League or Champions League that he has contributed to a goal in.

As you can see in the table above, Odobert was better in duels, as a dribbler, as a creator, and as a passer against Copenhagen than he was against West Ham when he scored his first league goal for the club.

These statistics suggest that the French sensation, who was as effective as Xavi on Tuesday night, did play his best match for the Lilywhites against the Danish outfit.

He can revive Simons: Spurs favourites to sign "one of Europe's best CFs"

The impressive goalscorer could be just what Spurs and Simons need this season.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Nov 4, 2025

Like the Dutchman, Odobert should look to use this performance as a platform to build from for the rest of the season to kick on and become a star for Tottenham.

All the big numbers from South Africa’s collapse to 106 against Afghanistan in Sharjah

ESPNcricinfo stats team18-Sep-20244 Totals lower than South Africa’s 106 for which Afghanistan have bowled out a current Full Member side in ODIs. They have bowled out Zimbabwe under 100 three times in the format and Ireland for exactly 100 once. South Africa’s total in this match is the lowest against Afghanistan by one of the first eight Full Member teams in ODIs. The next lowest is West Indies’ 149 in Gros Islet in 2017.7 Wickets lost by South Africa inside their first 10 overs. This was the first time they had lost as many inside the first 10. Their previous worst (where information is available) came when they lost their seventh wicket inside 13 overs against India in Johannesburg last year.0 Lower scores at which South Africa have been seven down in an ODI. South Africa were 36 for 7 in this match. This was also the first time they had lost seven wickets before getting to 50 in ODIs. Their previous worst had come against Australia in 2002, when they lost their seventh wicket at the score of 50.ESPNcricinfo Ltd2 Lower totals than today’s 106 by South Africa while batting first in ODIs. Their lowest totals batting first are 83 against England at Trent Bridge in 2008 and 99 against India in Delhi in 2022.32 Runs scored by South Africa’s top six in this match – their lowest in an ODI when all of them have been dismissed. Their previous lowest was 45 against Australia in 1993-94 in Sydney.0 Fifty-plus scores in 43 innings in international cricket by Wiaan Mulder before his fighting 52 in this match. Coming in at 29 for 5, Mulder scored nearly 50% of South Africa’s total. In fact, South Africa’s 106 is the second-lowest all-out total in ODIs with at least one individual fifty. The lowest is their own 101 against Pakistan in 1999-00 when Herschelle Gibbs top-scored with 59.102 Wickets by Fazalhaq Farooqui in international cricket. He became just the third seamer from Afghanistan to take 100 wickets when he dismissed South Africa’s captain Aiden Markram in this match. Dawlat Zadran and Gulbadin Naib are the other two Afghanistan seamers with 100 or more international wickets.144 Balls that went unused in Afghanistan’s first ever win in international cricket against South Africa. This was Afghanistan’s fifth-biggest win in terms of balls remaining in ODIs and third biggest against a Full Member team. For South Africa, this ranks as their tenth-worst defeat in ODIs.1 Full-member teams Afghanistan haven’t yet beaten in international cricket. Post their win against South Africa, India are now the only team they haven’t defeated yet. They have come close twice, though. The first instance was a tied ODI during the 2018 Asia Cup. The second instance came earlier this year in a T20I in Bengaluru, where they lost in the second set of Super Overs.