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YouTuber Mark Goldbridge has claimed that if Manchester United are bought by Qatari-linked Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, “there might be a situation” where Kylian Mbappe joins in the future, while the likes of Harry Maguire go to Paris Saint-Germain.

What’s the latest on the Qatar-linked bid for Man United?

The Glazers may well be looking to sell the Premier League club in the near future and so a number of interested parties have been tipped as possible new Man Utd owners.

Indeed, alongside Sheikh Al Thani’s bid, British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe and a third “mystery” US bidder have all been reported in the media as having made offers for the Glazers to consider.

Of course, the ownership group already have strong ties to PSG and it remains to be seen if the Qatar-based consortium can get passed UEFA rules to own both clubs who of course regularly play in the Champions League.

While speaking about it all on The United Stand, Goldbridge pointed out that the Red Bull-owned clubs in Salzburg and Leipzig often both play in the same European competition and are allowed to do so despite being owned by the same company.

He explained: “That’s my point. There’s already two clubs in Europe that play in the same tournament in Europe and they feed each other players, so I don’t think it would be unprecedented.”

Goldbridge then suggested that the club would have to be “subtle” to avoid “dodgy” transfers but could end up agreeing to some exciting deals with PSG if a relationship was established.

He said: “It won’t happen anyway, it will be way more subtle than that. We won’t have a situation where [Marco] Verratti and Mbappe come to Man Utd for £5m and Maguire and [Scott] McTominay go to PSG for £100m. That would be dodgy.

“But you might have a situation where Mbappe leaves PSG and comes to Man Utd because of the relationship he’s got with the Qatari ownership of PSG and they’ve got close ties with our ownership – that might happen.”

What could a Qatari bid mean for Mbappe to MUFC and Maguire to PSG?

Interestingly enough, there have already been reports in The Sun that Harry Maguire could end up joining PSG in the summer for a touted £50m transfer fee.

That rumour, as far-fetched as it sounds, might be something the Ligue 1 outfit want to pursue regardless of any relationship with Man Utd – especially seeing as the Glazers may not even end up selling.

But if there is any truth to the report, then you can see how negotiations could be made less complicated in the summer if the Red Devils are owned by the Qatari-linked Sheikh Al Thani.

And so, in theory, if a deal was sorted this could then open the door for other future transfers, potentially such as Mbappe, who has been urged to join the club in recent times, so perhaps it wouldn’t be too out of the ordinary if United can put themselves in a position to fund such a move.

Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has come under fire from former Toffees man Martin Keown for his attitude towards his teammates on the pitch.

The Lowdown: Pickford staying at Everton

Pickford made headlines earlier this week after agreeing a new deal at Goodison Park – though some of the reaction to his contract extension saw the 28-year-old’s ambition come into question.

The England No 1’s four-year deal means he will take his stay at Everton to 10 years, though having joined from Sunderland in 2017, his club career has been dominated by relegation battles, with the Toffees at the lower end of the Premier League table in recent years.

And despite vowing to ‘build a legacy’ similar to that of club legend Neville Southall, it is a certain aspect of his performances that has annoyed TalkSport pundit and ex-Everton ace Keown the most.

The Latest: Keown would hate playing with Pickford at Goodison Park

Speaking on TalkSport, while Keown insisted that Pickford’s extension is a positive sign for the club, he decided to use the opportunity to pick on a specific quirk of the goalkeeper’s game.

He said: “This is really good news to get him to sign a new deal, but he looks almost offended when the opposition have a shot.

“I find that quite tricky to deal with. He’d make me particularly angry as a player, as a central defender.”

The Lowdown: Pickford is England No 1 for a reason

Keown had previously been asked whether he felt Pickford was the best goalkeeper in the country, which perhaps makes his comment somewhat more relevant.

However, we don’t see his displays of anger as a problem nor as an indication of Pickford’s ability.

Despite their struggles this term, Everton headed into the weekend with the fourth-best defence outside the so-called ‘big six’ based on goals conceded, having let in five fewer than Tottenham Hotspur. Therefore, Pickford – and his defenders – must be doing a lot of things right.

That said, having just five clean sheets to his name prior to their clash against Aston Villa must be a source of frustration for the World Cup semi-finalist, particularly given the relatively impressive rate at which they have kept the opposition out this season.

We would think that Pickford’s attitude – which is hardly a newfound thing – is simply in his nature, and that if Keown was playing alongside him, he’d get used to it before too long.

Luckily for the two-time Premier League winner, their careers at Goodison Park were some 24 years apart, and we imagine Pickford to be a totally different player from the more mild-mannered David Seaman.

Hopefully, Pickford will allow Everton’s success to do the talking for him in the years to come.

Journalist John Gibson believes that at any other club, Newcastle United ace Dan Burn would be dropped from the first team.

The Lowdown: Howe is short of options

A lot has been made about Newcastle’s lack of depth in the centre of midfield due to Joe Willock’s injury, Bruno Guimaraes’ suspension and Jonjo Shelvey leaving last month.

However, that is arguably not the only problem area in which Eddie Howe has concerns, with Dan Burn – a natural centre-back – playing out of position for the majority of the season due to the injury Matt Targett sustained earlier in the campaign.

Many Newcastle fans may well want Burn out of the side after showing signs of carelessness during last weekend’s display against Bournemouth, including when he lost possession near his own box and required a goalline clearance from Kieran Trippier to spare his blushes.

The Latest: Burn lucky to keep his spot

While Burn has been a mainstay in the meanest defence across the Premier League, Gibson claimed on the Everything is Black and White podcast that any other side would drop Burn to the bench after his display last weekend.

He said: “I thought Dan Burn was horrendous last week, and that display of a left-back – who is not essentially a left-back – would normally see him dropped the next week at any other club. You’re not going to drop Dan Burn one week before the cup final and knock all the stuffing out of him completely, that’s not going to happen.”

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The Verdict: Eddie Howe shouldn’t start tinkering

Given the importance of the game this weekend against a top-four rival in Liverpool and also how impeccably well his trusted back four have performed this season having conceded just 13 goals, Howe should be sticking with what he knows.

If he was to thrust someone such as Jamal Lewis in at left-back then it would be an incredibly bold decision given that the Northern Ireland international hasn’t started a game all season, whereas Burn hasn’t missed a single league fixture.

While Burn certainly didn’t have his best of outings down on the south coast last weekend, his presence on and off the pitch has seen him become a ‘well-liked member of the dressing room’ and also allows Trippier to venture forward on the right knowing Burn will slot into a back three with Fabian Schar and Sven Botman.

Presenter and YouTuber Conor McGlligan has slammed ex-Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch for getting his players to watch a show on Netflix after their defeat this weekend.

The Lowdown: Leeds in turmoil; Marsch sacked

It’s safe to say that things are far from ideal at Elland Road at the moment with the Whites earning just two wins since domestic football resumed in December.

Both of those wins came in the FA Cup against Cardiff City and Accrington Stanley, whereas their league form has been atrocious – losing to the likes of Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa in recent weeks.

And Sunday’s defeat was indeed the final straw for the Leeds board, who dismissed Marsch less than a year after taking over from Marcelo Bielsa.

The Latest: Marsch’s desperate measures ridiculed

Marsch will have been looking for any way he can to get his players back on form and hitting the heights they did at the start of the season when they took points off the likes of Liverpool and Chelsea.

According to Phil Hay, Marsch asked his players to watch The Redeem Team, a story about the US Olympic basketball team from 2008 and their journey to the gold medal, and unsurprisingly, that doesn’t appear to have gone down too well, as McGilligan led the way with a simple reply to this revelation.

He said: “We are a comedy sketch. Embarrassing.”

The Verdict: Leeds looking for another boss

It appears that these efforts from the American have been in vain, as Leeds are now looking for another manager to save their flagging season.

It’s not as if Leeds are getting unlucky, as last time out against Forest, they failed to impose themselves on the game, managing to muster up a measly ratio of 0.8 expected goals against a fellow relegation rival.

Sending out film recommendations while fans were chanting for him to be sacked certainly suggests Marsch had the self-belief to continue trying to get his message across to the team, but Victor Orta will have felt enough is enough, and despite the ex-Leipzig boss masterminding a relegation escape act last season, the chairman could not take the risk of Marsch failing to repeat the trick – especially having ended a prolonged stint in the second tier just a few years ago.

While the effects of this particular attempt to kickstart Leeds’ season will now never be known, it certainly seems as if patience throughout the club and its fanbase had run out for Marsch.

While there may still be hope among Manchester United supporters that manager Erik ten Hag is handed funds to further strengthen this month, one of the Dutchman’s primary concerns will be to try and get a tune out of those already at the club, including summer signing Antony.

Having worked under Ten Hag at Ajax, the fleet-footed Brazilian followed his former boss to Old Trafford during the previous window, joining for a rather hefty fee of around £86m.

That price tag didn’t appear too great of a burden initially as the 22-year-old netted in each of his first three Premier League games, although the winger has struggled to perform consistently since then, with his two further goals having come in the FA Cup and League Cup, respectively.

Although those efforts have illustrated the youngster’s undoubted talent – having notably curled home in emphatic fashion in the recent win over Charlton Athletic – they have failed to mask the 15-cap gem’s inability to make a difference in matches for a sustained period.

Those struggles were evident in the defeat to Arsenal on Sunday, as the Sao Paolo native was unable to combine his commendable work ethic with an end product.

The mercurial talent did win six of his nine duels in what was a combative performance on the flanks, although his woes in an attacking sense were epitomised by one moment in the second half as he attempted to surge forward into space with the ball at his feet, only to see a heavy touch gift possession back to the Gunners.

The sight of the 5 foot 9 maverick trudging off after being substituted has been a familiar one this season, with the club nor United supporters yet to be convinced of his suitability for English football.

While it is far too early to write Antony off, the wide man may find himself in a position later this year in which his place in the side could be directly threatened, with Amad Diallo showing signs out on loan at Sunderland that he could still be able to force his way into the first-team reckoning at Old Trafford in the near future.

The 20-year-old has been on the periphery since joining the Red Devils on an initial £19m deal from Atalanta back in January 2021, having notably endured an underwhelming spell on loan at Old Firm giants Rangers in the second half of last term, scoring three times in only 13 outings for the Ibrox club.

The Ivorian’s subsequent move to the Stadium of Light has since proved particularly fruitful, however, with the three-cap international having scored seven goals in his 22 Championship outings this season, including in the recent win over Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough.

That devastating finish saw the £29k-per-week gem brilliantly lash home after cutting in onto his stronger left foot from the right flank, having showcased himself as a truly “unbelievable” talent during his time with the Black Cats thus far, as per manager Tony Mowbray.

Such form also earned praise from the aforementioned Carrick ahead of that recent meeting, with the United legend stating:

“I know Amad very well from United. He’s a terrific footballer and seems to have jumped up a level again from the start of the season.

“His performances have improved and he is a threat.”

Even though Amad is thriving in the second tier rather than the top flight, it would appear that he is continuing to make great strides at present, with his hot streak in stark contrast to that of Antony’s.

Those displays have also seemingly impressed Ten Hag, with the Dutchman even stating that a loan recall could be under consideration, albeit while also acknowledging that a mid-season return could harm his development:

“We consider everything but I have a little bit of reservation about that because I don’t want to stop the process. He has made really good progress there so I’m happy with that. But young players need experiences and when we decide for him to come back, he has to be a player who can compete for the starting XI or minimum to come on for a lot of games and make an impact.

“But I see and value his potential and capabilities. What I saw is that he needs experience in men’s football, senior football. I think there are many aspects of football to get strong physically and mentally, and also skills-wise to improve and develop that so he can have value for us.”

It would appear the hope is for Amad to be primed and ready for the start of next season, with the sparkling talent – who typically lines up on the right flank – no doubt hoping to rival his fellow left-footer, Antony, for a starting berth.

On the evidence of the pair’s differing form this season, that could well be a very tight battle indeed.

Phil Hay believes that Jesse Marsch wouldn’t leave Leeds United even if the United States national team came calling.

The Lowdown: Future appears secure

Marsch has been in charge for almost 12 months now and it’s safe to say that it has been a period of mixed success so far, having secured a dramatic final-day victory to keep Leeds up last season, while they may well end up in a similar position this term considering how his first full campaign has panned out to this point.

Leeds currently find themselves just two points above the bottom three which will have fans, Marsch and Victor Orta all sweating over the club’s long-term future, but something else that appears more certain is the future of the manager.

It seems as though the USA national side could soon be looking for a new head coach given the controversy surrounding Gregg Berhalter, who recently guided his country to the round of 16.

The Latest: Marsch not edging for an exit

The USMNT have an interim head coach in place at the moment while Berhalter is under investigation by the U.S. Soccer Federation, which could mean Marsch is a target for the future. However, while speaking on The Phil Hay Show, Hay doesn’t believe he’ll be leaving anytime soon.

He said: “The fact that it’s the assistant taking charge of the friendlies that the USA have got coming up at the end of this month suggests to you that we’re going to see a change of head coach for the USMNT.

“Marsch would seem to me to be a very obvious and leading contender for that if the US’s next move was to stay domestic, ie to appoint another American coach to it.

“But my reading of it is that he’s still minded to try and make a go of coaching in the Premier League before he goes for that, or before he puts his name in the hat for it.”

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The Verdict: Change may not be a bad thing for Leeds

Marsch only managed to win four league games when he took over last season, and this campaign it’s no better, having tasted victory the same amount of times in the Premier League, so a change in the dugout may not be the worst thing in the world.

However, Leeds certainly don’t appear to be planning for the post-Marsch future given that Orta has handed him yet another Red Bull Group player and looks set to bring in another under the American’s watch in the form of striker Georginio Rutter.

From Marsch’s point of view, the fact he’s still being backed by Orta should be enough of an indication that he is sticking around, while throwing away a Premier League management job would be crazy for anyone, especially to take up an international role when all Marsch has done thus far is be a club manager.

However, just how big of a pull it would be for his country to come calling remains to be seen.

Celtic could announce the signing of Tomoki Iwata “in the coming days”, according to journalist Sacha Pisani. 

The Lowdown: Celtic linked with Iwata

Last week, it was reported that the Premiership champions are eyeing a move to sign the Yokohama F. Marinos midfielder during the upcoming January transfer window.

The latest J1 League season saw the 25-year-old make 40 appearances for Marinos across all competitions, playing as a defensive midfielder and as a centre-back.

With the winter market opening next week, a significant update has emerged regarding the Hoops’ reported move for the versatile midfielder.

The Latest: Iwata signing imminent

Pisani took to Twitter on Tuesday morning to relay the news that Iwata seems bound for Celtic, with “no doubt” over the move going through.

The journalist tweeted: “Update on Tomoki Iwata: From what I’ve heard, no doubt about his move from J1 League holders F.Marinos to Scottish champions Celtic. It’s all done. Should be announced in the coming days.”

The Verdict: Useful signing for Celtic

Celtic have shown an aptitude for signing little-known gems from Japan under Ange Postecoglou’s management. For example, after joining the Hoops from Vissel Kobe in 2021, Kyogo Furuhashi has gone on to score 34 goals in 56 appearances at Parkhead.

Having made 32 appearances in the latest J1 League campaign, Iwata played more minutes than any other outfield player at his club, showing how important he is to Marinos. The Japan international also ended up winning more tackles (25) than any of his team-mates.

This highlights how difficult he can be to play against and what he’d be able to offer Postecoglou’s side, with a move to Parkhead now looking likely.

With that in mind, and his versatility to be able to play in midfield and defence, this would make Iwata a very useful player for the Bhoys as they seek to retain their Premiership crown.

Celtic could well have Hibernian defender Ryan Porteous ‘on the list’ of transfer targets after being linked with a move next year, according to BBC pundit Alan Hutton.

The Lowdown: Porteous linked to Parkhead

The Scottish Premiership star has now entered the final 12 months of his contract with Lee Johnson’s side, and despite being offered a new deal, his future at Easter Road remains uncertain.

Hibs legend Tam McManus recently suggested that the 23-year-old would be a ‘great’ fit for the Hoops, and believed that they would be open to landing him on a free transfer in 2023.

The Latest: Hutton’s comments

Speaking to Football Insider, Hutton claimed that whilst Porteous has all the attributes that Celtic would be looking for, another centre-back being added to the ranks is not what they need.

“I think he is a really good player, he has shown that at such a young age.

“Do Celtic really need him at this moment in time? I am not so sure. I think the partnership with [Moritz] Jenz and [Cameron] Carter-Vickers is very strong, [Carl] Starfelt is there and [Stephen] Welsh as well.

“They have got a lot of competition within that area. But you never shut the door on a player that can come in and enhance your squad.

“So I am sure Ange will be looking at certain areas. He could possibly be on the list but he definitely has the attributes to step up.“

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The Verdict: Get it done…

Ange Postecoglou does already have solid senior options at his disposal, but bringing Porteous into the frame surely wouldn’t hurt, especially as he’ll soon be a free agent.

The ‘composed’ defender, as dubbed by Hearts captain Craig Gordon, averages 3.8 clearances and wins 2.9 of his aerial duels per league game, not to mention that he already has two goals to his name this season (WhoScored).

Porteous would provide another excellent option at the back, and you can never have too many players available given the depth required to fight on four fronts.

North East reporter for The Daily Mail Craig Hope has revealed that Graeme Murty is ‘in talks’ to take over as the new Sunderland U21 manager.

The Lowdown: Left Rangers

Murty left Glasgow Rangers as their Head of Elite Academy Development back in November of last year, as the club hailed him for his ‘outstanding’ service over five years in Scotland.

He had played a leading role in the development of their Academy players and practices, leading their development squad to success in the SPFL Reserve League as well as managing their first steps into the UEFA Youth League in 2019.

The Latest: Sunderland talks

Taking to Twitter, Hope has revealed that Murty is now ‘in talks’ to take over as U21 boss at the Stadium of Light:

“Understand Graeme Murty, the former Rangers manager, is in talks to take over as Sunderland Under-21s boss.”

The Verdict: Smart appointment

Given Murty’s previous success at a big club like Rangers, this seems like a very smart appointment by the Black Cats.

He had a six-month spell as Gers manager in the 2017/18 season, accumulating 1.9 points per game, while for their B team, he managed an even more impressive 2.14 points per match (Transfermarkt).

As a player, Murty made over 80 appearances in the Championship, and so knows the league well.

Nonetheless, the 47-year-old could excel as manager of the U21’s, before potentially being promoted up to the first team’s backroom staff in the near future, or earning himself another significant job away from the club.

His batting suffered after he became the all-format captain. But now he once again has the freedom to express himself as a batter

Mohammad Isam29-Jun-2025Najmul Hossain Shanto was asked to steer the Bangladesh team away from a high-profile feud. He ended up leading the cricket team amid a political upheaval, where he saw both sides of the coin. He tried to quit the captaincy once, but was talked out of it. Eight months later, when he finally stepped down as Test captain following the Sri Lanka series, Bangladesh lost out on a good leader on and off the field. Still, one can’t help but say that Shanto’s exit as captain is a blessing for him and the team. After a 19-month tumult, he can now focus solely on his batting and try to reprise his 2023 form.Bangladesh need arguably their best batter of this generation to get them runs regularly. Shanto spent much of his captaincy dealing with a lot of things out of his control. He is much better off playing drives down the ground and through covers.As captain, Shanto was caught up in an intriguing world, one that was thankless. The last straw was the BCB sacking him as the ODI captain when he had big plans about leading the team for the next few years. Shanto’s captaincy was a breath of fresh air but it is he who now needs to breathe freely as a batter.Related

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Although the BCB bosses said Shanto’s decision caught them off guard, Shanto had followed the correct procedure. He informed the necessary personnel about his decision some time ago, before announcing at the end of the Test series. It was the natural endpoint for such an announcement.Shanto didn’t want to wait too long to tell the public after making up his mind about the captaincy. This was a rational decision with an ODI series, under new captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz, less than a week away. Shanto also could have waited till the end of the Sri Lanka tour but things change fast in Bangladesh cricket.Mehidy Hasan Miraz has replaced Shanto has ODI captain•BCBHad Shanto waited till then, his resignation could have had many more interpretations. Had he resigned after the first Test in Galle, his twin centuries could have been seen as a fitting reply to the BCB, given the way the board’s treatment regarding his ODI captaincy. But he waited till the end of the series.Shanto, like every Bangladeshi cricketer, is aware of the climate in which he operates. The BCB has a long history of sacking captains. On most occasions, it is done without informing the captain. It is preceded or followed by a media trial. It takes a mental toll on the cricketer, as many would vouch.Shanto experienced the sacking just a couple of weeks ago. The following day, when Mehidy was at his first press conference as the new ODI captain, there was a question about the BCB’s treatment of Shanto, and whether he is also prepared for such a fate.”We always work with that sort of thing at the back of our mind,” Mehidy said.

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Shanto, though, showed that BCB’s mismanagement wasn’t going to be a distraction, with his twin centuries. Rain prevented Bangladesh’s push for victory on the final day, but Shanto walked away with his head held high. It was a display of his wide-ranging ability and overall quality.Mushfiqur Rahim and Najmul Hossain Shanto has a long partnership in the first innings in Galle•Getty ImagesShanto dominated the 264-run fourth-wicket stand with Mushfiqur Rahim in the first innings. It was a counterattack after Bangladesh had lost three early wickets. He drove the ball, at times uppishly early on, before switching to horizontal bat shots, particularly the sweep, against the Sri Lanka spinners.Shanto’s strike rotation was just as impressive as his ability to find boundaries, something he has done in many innings during the last 18 months. His partnership with Mushfiqur was an example for the dressing room of how senior batters should stand up in the hour of need. With his unbeaten 125 in the second innings, he became the second fastest from Bangladesh to reach seven Test hundreds, in 68 innings.

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Shortly before the 2023 ODI World Cup, with then-incumbent captain Shakib Al Hasan rested, Shanto captained Bangladesh in a one-off match against New Zealand. It was a volatile time in the Bangladesh team with Shakib and Tamim Iqbal at loggerheads. There was so much bitterness that the BCB decided it was time to start with a clean break in the leadership group.Coach Chandika Hathurusinghe had backed Shanto for full-time captaincy•BCBShakib’s finger injury in the World Cup made it easier for the board to pivot towards Shanto as the Test captain for the New Zealand series in November 2023. Shanto started with a century and led Bangladesh to their first home Test win against New Zealand. He also impressed in the following white-ball series in New Zealand, where Chandika Hathurusingha said he would back Shanto as the full-time captain.Bangladesh, though, had a bit of a nightmare when the USA beat them 2-1 in a T20I series before the 2024 T20 World Cup. They managed to reach the Super Eights, but performances were unconvincing. Their exit, when they dithered in a shortened chase against Afghanistan, left fans irate. Shanto scored 112 runs in seven games at a strike rate of 95.72, with many calling for his sacking.Bangladesh, however, bounced back in August last year when they beat Pakistan 2-0 in the Test series. Shanto made only 58 runs but was widely praised for the way he handled the team on and off the field, particularly in the immediate aftermath of a regime change back home. Shanto strived to keep the team’s focus on cricket.The prevailing volatility, though, caught up with the cricket team. Shanto was found himself in the middle of the Shakib selection dilemma shortly before the home Tests against South Africa in October. Shakib ultimately couldn’t reach Bangladesh to play the series, which left Shanto disappointed.Shanto led Bangladesh to a 2-0 Test series win in Pakistan•Associated PressShanto’s frustration reached a point when he mulled leaving the Bangladesh captaincy during the South Africa series. The BCB president Faruque Ahmed talked him out of it after a long meeting.When Shanto had a hamstring injury a couple of weeks later, there was a first glimpse of the new leaders in Mehidy (Tests and ODIs) and Litton Das (T20Is). Bangladesh won a Test in the West Indies under Mehidy, and Litton led them to a 3-0 win in the T20Is. The BCB duly noted the two captaincy candidates.

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Shanto didn’t bat particularly badly as the Bangladesh captain, but not having to think about the captaincy henceforth should allow him to fulfil his batting potential. His main reference point will be the 12 months prior to his first match as Bangladesh captain.He was averaging 40-plus in Tests and ODIs and had played several match-winning knocks in T20Is. It began with the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia, where he was Bangladesh’s top run-getter. It was followed by four match-winning knocks against England at home. Then came centuries against Ireland and Afghanistan, followed by a superb ton against Afghanistan in the 2023 Asia Cup.Neither Shanto nor Bangladesh had a great time at the 2024 T20 World Cup•ICC/Getty ImagesAfter he took over the captaincy in all three formats by early 2024, his batting also suffered. But now he once again has the freedom to express himself fully as a batter.Apart from looking at his own performances in the 2022-23 period, Shanto can also take advice from Mushfiqur, who has had a productive post-captaincy career. Since his Test captaincy, Mushfiqur has averaged 42.60 in 40 Tests, with five of his seven 150-plus scores coming in this period. He had similar success in ODIs as well after his captaincy period was over.This is Shanto’s chance to step up his game and join the likes of Aiden Markram, Rishabh Pant and Ben Duckett, who are all from the same Under-19 batch as Shanto. More importantly, an unburdened Shanto will be hugely beneficial to the Bangladesh team. They have lost some big names in the last 12 months, and don’t have any other young batter who has been consistent.Shanto could be the lynchpin of Bangladesh’s batting for the next ten years. Hope the BCB realises that and lets him do his job.