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A statistic has cropped up online in recent weeks regarding Liverpool’s running in the Premier League this season – or lack thereof.

While Liverpool have adopted a cooler approach since Arne Slot replaced Jurgen Klopp in the dugout over a year ago, it is inexcusable that the Reds are being outworked so often this term, emphasising a haggardness that is shaping this frustrating campaign.

Mohamed Salah’s work rate has been questioned this season, accentuated by the 33-year-old’s startling drop-off in front of goal, but he is only one part of a malfunctioning system, and it’s clear that something needs to change.

Slot has the tools to make it an internal fix, but with the January transfer window fast approaching, rumours have emerged concerning Liverpool’s desire to sign a robust new wide forward.

Liverpool's search for a new winger

With Cody Gakpo and Florian Wirtz both leaving something to be desired down the left channel this season, Liverpool may be interested in signing a more Luis Diaz-esque forward this winter.

This likely wasn’t pre-planned in the FSG offices, but desperate times call for desperate measures, and there’s no question that the Merseysiders are missing the Colombian’s energy and electric presence.

Salah is ageing, and so it’s understandable that he should lack his one-time athleticism. However, that does not alter the problem at hand for Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes.

Salah has always been conservative with his energy, though, and Liverpool actually need a profile tuned more toward that of Sadio Mane.

Well, they may have found their man, with Caught Offside revealing that Antoine Semenyo is right at the top of FSG’s shortlist. However, Liverpool will find thick competition in the shape of Manchester United, who are ready to pip their arch-rivals to the Ghanaian’s signature.

Semenyo, 26, would cost at least £65m to prise away from Bournemouth, though it’s felt that a more accurate figure falls toward the £80m ballpark.

Why Liverpool want to sign Semenyo

With six goals and three assists to his name in the Premier League this season, Semenyo has been one of the most in-form players around, his efforts leading content creator Liam Canning to praise his “world-class” technical ability.

Fast and furious and two-footed, this is a maverick of a forward who has sharpened his skills in the Premier League across the past several years and is now ready for a role at a team like Liverpool, with Semenyo actually described as “the closest you’ll find to peak Mane right now” by Reds analyst Josh Williams.

Indeed, Semenyo is really showing himself to be a superstar, ranking among the top 1% of positional peers in the Premier League this season for goals scored and the top 9% for ball recoveries per 90, as per FBref.

Such metrics show why he could be such a Mane-esque player for Liverpool, and looking at how he’s doing this term when such statistics are collated against the Senegalese’s final year under Klopp’s wing in the Premier League, you begin to see why Liverpool – and Man United – are so keen.

Liverpool have missed Mane ever since selling him to Bayern Munich in 2022, and with Salah now getting on, Semenyo could provide the injection of energy and positivity that the club so clearly need.

The Anfield side might have won their opening-day clash against the Cherries, but Semenyo set his own tone with a stunning two-goal performance, causing Slot’s backline any number of issues throughout the evening.

Diaz was a fine player for Liverpool, but Mane was a cut above. There is a player profile that Liverpool dearly miss, and if they pull off a deal for Semenyo, they will sign a star with a similar skillset who could restore Liverpool’s equilibrium.

FSG sold an "incredible" Liverpool talent & it's a bigger mistake than Diaz

Liverpool are already starting to regret this £15m sale.

By
Angus Sinclair

Nov 14, 2025

Fast bowler says he is unable to commit to all formats “mentally and physically” at this stage of career

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Sep-2025Jamie Overton, the England and Surrey fast bowler who was a permanent member of the Test squad during this summer’s series against India, has announced an “indefinite break from red-ball cricket”. The decision effectively rules him out of this winter’s Ashes campaign, a development that has left his white-ball captain and Test team-mate, Harry Brook, “shocked”.Overton, 31, played the second and last of his two Tests at The Oval in July, claiming two second-innings wickets in England’s thrilling six-run loss. His previous match had come at Headingley in 2022, when he made a match-turning 97 in partnership with Jonny Bairstow, in the first summer of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum’s stewardship of the England team.Despite his infrequent appearances, Overton was a near-certainty to feature in England’s Ashes squad, given his sturdy build, strong action and ability to bowl at 90mph – all attributes that the selectors have been identifying in their bid to win in Australia for the first time since 2010-11.However, in an interview with the Telegraph, he spelt out his reasons for the shock decision, saying that at this stage of his career, it was “no longer possible to commit fully to all formats at every level, both physically and mentally”. He will be in Australia this winter, but as part of Adelaide Strikers’ squad in the Big Bash, a team with whom he has spent the past two seasons, and for whom he was named MVP earlier this year for his haul of 11 wickets and 191 runs at 95.50.Related

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“After a great deal of thought, I have decided to take an indefinite break from red-ball cricket,” Overton said. “I feel very fortunate to have played 99 first-class matches, including two Test matches for England. Red-ball, first-class cricket has provided the foundation for my professional career and has been the gateway to every opportunity I’ve had in the game so far. It’s where I learnt the game, and it fuelled the goals and ambitions that have driven me for so long.”However, at this stage of my career, with the demands of cricket across a 12-month calendar, it’s no longer possible to commit fully to all formats at every level, both physically and mentally. Going forward, my focus will be on white-ball cricket, and I will continue to give everything to play at the highest level for as long as I can.”Overton is currently at Headingley, as part of England’s white-ball squad, with their first ODI against South Africa coming up on Tuesday. Speaking on the eve of the match, Brook admitted he was taken aback by the announcement, and its timing.”A little bit shocked to be honest,” Brook said. “I thought he did well in that last Test, he bowled quick. Obviously you’ve got to respect that decision that he’s going to have a little bit of a break from red-ball cricket. Hopefully at some point we’ll see him again in the future.Overton arrives at training ahead of the Headingley ODI•Getty Images

“I’d heard rumours but I hadn’t heard it from him until today. You’ve just got to respect the decision, he obviously doesn’t feel like he wants to play red-ball cricket at the minute and we can’t do anything about it. He’s made the decision now but it’s unfortunate. I thought he did really well in that last Test match and it would have been nice to have him there in the Ashes.”From his perspective as white-ball captain, however, Brook acknowledged that the singular focus could be of benefit to his team. “Absolutely,” he said. “When he is fully fit and firing he bowls thunderbolts and he can whack it out of the park. Hopefully he can upskill even more from what he’s got now and be the best white-ball player he can be.”Overton had only played once in the County Championship for Surrey this season before being recalled to the Test squad. Overall, he has made four first-class appearances for his county since the start of 2024, with injuries limiting his availability.Rob Key, England Men’s director of cricket, said: “Jamie’s news came unexpected and it is sad to see, as he would have been part of our red-ball plans for the foreseeable future. That said, it serves as a reminder of the cricketing landscape we now operate in. We respect his decision and are grateful to him for informing us when he did.”

Manchester United have now reportedly launched a stunning £100m+ offer to sign an England superstar who has already earned the praise of David Beckham.

Man Utd targeting England superstar

INEOS are looking to make a statement in 2026, having already showcased their spending power by revitalising Man United’s frontline last season. Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha all arrived in an attempt to transform Ruben Amorim’s side.

Now, the focus is turning towards the manager’s midfield. With Casemiro edging past the peak of his powers, Manuel Ugarte struggling in possession and Kobbie Mainoo frozen out by Amorim, Man United have already reportedly drawn up a shortlist of options.

So far, two of the biggest names on that shortlist in the Premier League are Adam Wharton and Elliot Anderson. Two of United’s biggest targets, both have enjoyed excellent campaigns so far.

There’s plenty of competition for the two England stars, however, and Champions League qualification is likely to be the key to unlocking any potential move for Man United.

The same can be said for another England star. If it’s not Wharton or Anderson, then it could be Jude Bellingham. Sensational reports are now claiming that Man United have made their first move to sign the Real Madrid superstar ahead of 2026.

A new Amad: Man Utd could sign "one of the best LWs in Europe" in swap deal

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ByKelan Sarson 4 days ago

Bellingham is undoubtedly one of the best midfielders in world football and would instantly become the best signing that INEOS have made.

Man Utd launch £100m+ Bellingham offer

According to reports in Spain, Man United have now launched an offer to sign Bellingham worth as much as €150m (£131m) in what would break their transfer record. Alas, Real Madrid reportedly believe that the Englishman is worth more than that and have turned the Red Devils down.

Whether INEOS return with a second offer remains to be seen. It would simply be a sensational move for a player who’s already got the approval of Beckham.

Praise does not get much better than that from a Man United point of view, but the idea of watching Bellingham follow in Beckham’s footsteps at Old Trafford very much remains a dream for the time being.

He's "like Reijnders": Old Trafford chiefs pushing Man Utd to sign "elite" star

Tottenham Hotspur’s Europa League triumph at the end of the 2024/25 campaign has brought added expectations, after finally ending their 17-year wait for a piece of silverware.

Ange Postecoglou’s triumph in Bilbao ended a generational wait for a trophy, but he was sacked after such victory, handing the responsibility to Thomas Frank in the process.

The Dane was handed a huge sum of money to try and build on the triumph, with the hierarchy backing the new manager after taking the reins ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Over £100m was spent on new additions, which has led to the Lilywhites already making an impact in the Premier League – as seen by their fifth-placed standing after the third international break.

Mohammed Kudus has already hit the ground running, registering one goal and one assist in the league, but the same can’t be said for one of their big-money summer additions.

How Simons compares to other PL midfielders in 2025/26

During the summer transfer window, Spurs forked out a total of £52m for the signature of attacking midfielder Xavi Simons, with the youngster joining the club from RB Leipzig.

The move ended their summer-long pursuit of a new attacking midfielder, with numerous options being targeted before completing a deal for the Dutch international.

Premier League options such as Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze were both considered, but various factors saw the Lilywhites miss out on both of the player’s signatures.

As a result, Simons was the man chosen to fill the void, with such a move generating huge excitement within the fanbase – undoubtedly aided by the sizable transfer fee.

However, a couple of months on from his big-money transfer to North London, the 22-year-old has ultimately failed to deliver, as seen by his tally of just two assists in his first 14 outings.

His underlying stats further showcase his lack of quality, with the youngster being massively outperformed by numerous players also in a single position in England’s top-flight.

He’s only created an average of 1.01 chances per 90, with such a tally ranking him in the bottom 25% of all other midfielders in the league, with right-back Pedro Porro creating more chances in the same time period.

Simons has also been dispossessed an average of 2.1 times per 90, subsequently placing him in the bottom 18% of all players in the division for the same category.

He will certainly need time to settle into life in England after his big-money transfer, but there’s little denying that he’s been a huge disappointment in recent months.

As a result, he could find himself struggling to nail down a starting role in the near future, especially if one player continues his phenomenal development at the club.

The Spurs star who could end Simons’ Spurs career

Over the years, the Spurs faithful have been blessed with countless talents who have operated in the attacking midfield role – subsequently handing the fanbase moments to last a lifetime.

James Maddison was the latest player in the role before his ACL injury, with the Englishman achieving some phenomenal levels during his spell in the first team in North London.

He’s racked up 16 goals and 19 assists in his 75 appearances for the Lilywhites, with his tally of 12 goals in 2024/25 the highest he’s managed after his £40m switch.

Dele was another Englishman who filled such a role in the years prior, with the former first-team star managing to win the PFA Young Player of the Year award on two separate occasions.

However, whilst he failed to match the expectations over a sustained period, Frank could be about to rely on Luca Williams-Barnett during his spell in North London.

The 17-year-old has generated huge excitement over the last couple of months, with the youngster making huge waves within various age categories in the academy.

He’s been starring way above his age group over the last few seasons, with the youngster featuring in the U18s side for the vast majority of the previous campaign.

He ended the year with a staggering 23 goals and nine assists in his 24 outings for the Lilywhites, resulting in a jump up once again – now becoming a key member of the U21 side.

At just 17, he’s arguably made himself one of the age group’s biggest stars, with his numbers from the ongoing season further reflecting his star quality despite his tender age.

Luca Williams-Barnett

10

Rio Kyerematen

5

Reiss-Alexander Russell-Denny

4

Tynan Thompson

4

Yusuf Akhamrich

4

Oliver Irow

3

Dane Scarlett

2

Dante Cassanova

2

Williams-Barnett has made just eight appearances, but it hasn’t stopped him from catching the eye, as seen by his remarkable tally of seven goals and five assists.

Back in September, he registered three goals and an assist in the 6-3 victory over Leicester City – with such a display undoubtedly his best in the 2025/26 campaign to date.

As a result of his performances, the youngster was named in the England U17 World Cup squad, with the midfielder already scoring twice during the ongoing competition.

Williams-Barnett has also made his senior debut during Frank’s tenure, as he was brought on in the 87th minute of the Carabao Cup victory over League One Doncaster Rovers back in September.

His performances across various teams in 2025/26 has led to huge praise being directed his way, with analyst Ben Mattinson labelling him as “one of England’s best talents”.

At just 17, the club will certainly have to manage the expectations placed upon him, but it’s undeniable that the Lilywhites have a phenomenal young prospect on their hands.

It’s unclear what his route to first-team success would be, but the hierarchy need to prepare a plan to allow him to match the potential he currently possesses at present.

As for Simons, he will need to rapidly buck his ideas up after his big-money transfer, with his spell in North London certainly being one to forget in recent months.

His future at the club could be in huge jeopardy in the years ahead, especially if Williams-Barnett is able to continue on his current development path in the youth ranks.

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1 ByAngus Sinclair Nov 17, 2025

It might be a little premature, but there is a slight sense of optimism around West Ham United at the moment.

Granted, they are far from safe, but there was plenty to be encouraged by in the win over Newcastle United in the Premier League last weekend, as well as in the latest victory over Burnley.

For example, Freddie Potts – while knocked back injury – has seized his opportunity with both hands after back-to-back starts in the top-flight, showing Nuno Espírito Santo what he had been missing.

Interestingly, there is another overlooked talent in the West Ham squad who, with the proper coaching, could have a Potts-esque impact on the side.

Potts' journey to the first team

With his father and brother playing for West Ham, and him coming up through the academy, it always felt like a matter of when, not if, Potts would earn his first start for the club.

However, it would be fair to say that it’s perhaps taken a little while longer than most expected, but that is mainly down to him proving himself out on loan over the last two years.

His first move saw him join League One side Wycombe Wanderers for the 23/24 campaign, and to say he did well would be an understatement.

In all, the Barking-born ace made 43 appearances for them across all competitions, in which he scored two goals, provided three assists and was named the Player of the Season.

Then, last year, he joined Championship side Portsmouth, where he made 38 appearances across all competitions, scoring one goal and providing four assists.

Season

23/24

24/25

Team

Wycombe

Portsmouth

Appearances

43

38

Goals

2

1

Assists

3

4

The 22-year-old didn’t win an individual award last season, but he clearly impressed enough to go on the Hammers’ pre-season tour in the summer, and then finally, after a few appearances off the bench, make his first competitive start for the club against the Magpies.

Overall, while it’s taken a while to happen, it’s now undeniable that Potts is one of West Ham’s most exciting players, but there is another underused gem in the squad who could be just as good with the proper coaching.

The West Gem who could be another Potts

West Ham are blessed with several genuinely exciting youngsters in the academy at the moment, like Preston Fearon and Josh Landers.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

However, there is another young gem in the first team squad who possesses the raw ability to have an impact similar to the one Potts has had of late: Luis Guilherme.

The 19-year-old gem joined the club from Palmeiras last summer, and while he hasn’t exactly hit the ground running since then, he remains a hugely exciting talent.

For example, one of his significant strengths is his ability to play all over the pitch. While he is primarily a winger, he has also spent time playing as a ten, up top, as a second striker, and out on the left.

This ability to play where the manager needs him is just one of the reasons why he could have a real impact on the Hammers this season, and the second is his mercurial style of play.

Described as a “complete” and “electric” attacker with “the world at his feet by respected analyst Ben Mattinson, the youngster is someone who can, at his best, get the fans on their feet, and considering the atmosphere at the London Stadium this season, that sounds like something Nuno could do with.

Moreover, he is not just some one-trick pony either, with Mattinson pointing out that while “shooting from distance is one of Guilherme’s strengths”, he can also “turn past players with ease” thanks to his “elite ball manipulation.”

In more good news for the manager, the teen phenom could also perfectly fit into the counter-attacking style that worked so well at Nottingham Forest, as according to Mattinson, he is a player who “thrives on transitions.”

Ultimately, it’s true that West Ham fans have not seen him at his best, but if Nuno can get the best out of him, then he could have another player capable of impacting the side as much as Potts.

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ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 7, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur have been hunting for a new talisman over the last couple of seasons, but none have been able to emulate the incredible levels achieved by Harry Kane.

The 32-year-old rose through the ranks in North London, even being sent on numerous loan spells in the EFL, before making himself a fan-favourite in the Lilywhites’ first-team.

He would spend a decade scoring goals for fun in the Premier League, subsequently achieving a total of 280 strikes for the club – the most of any player in their history.

Such a feat highlights his incredible goalscoring prowess, but his ability to score 30+ goals in 50% of his ten years in North London further showcases his eye for the back of the net.

However, after numerous failed trophy attempts, the hierarchy were left with no choice but to sell Kane to allow him to further his career, with the forward subsequently joining Bayern Munich for £82m in 2023.

In the years since his move, countless options have tried to fill the void, but many have failed, leading to one player assuming the responsibility under Thomas Frank in 2025/26.

How Kolo Muani compares to other strikers in the PL in 2025/26

With Dominic Solanke, Spurs’ club-record signing, struggling with an ankle issue, the Lilywhites hierarchy decided to back new boss Frank with added reinforcements in the centre-forward area.

Richarlison assumed the role of operating as the number nine, but the Brazilian’s injury record ran the risk of potentially having to call upon an academy star to fill the void.

As a result, French international Randal Kolo Muani was signed on deadline day, with the hierarchy securing his signature on a season-long loan from PSG.

A loan fee in the region of £5m was forked out for the 26-year-old’s signature, with the deal appearing as a potential risk-free and bargain deal until the end of 2025/26.

Such a deal generated excitement within the fanbase, after the centre-forward netted 10 goals in just 24 appearances during a separate spell on loan at Juventus last season.

However, a little over two months on from his move, Kolo Muani has struggled with the expectations placed upon him, subsequently only featuring four times in the Premier League and failing to score a single goal.

His underlying figures also highlight the struggles he’s endured in North London, with the Frenchman ranking lowly in numerous key figures for a lone number nine.

He’s only registered a total of 0.47 shots per 90 in England’s top-flight – with such a tally ranking him in the lowest 1% of all other attackers in the division this season.

Kolo Muani’s other tallies of 1.4 touches in the opposition box and 0.4 aerials won per 90 also place him in the first percentile – further highlighting his lack of positive impact to date.

He suffered a broken jaw in the draw with Manchester United last weekend, potentially seeing him spend time on the sidelines – which could give the striker a period to reflect on his dismal start in England.

The Spurs star who could end Kolo Muani’s Spurs career

Kane’s departure, coupled with Kolo Muani’s lack of form, has certainly rubbed salt into the wounds of the Spurs faithful, with their loss now Bayern Munich’s gain.

The Englishman has carried on his tremendous goalscoring form away from North London, with the striker reaching the next level in his career after his big-money transfer.

Kane has netted a staggering 108 goals in his 113 appearances for the German outfit, with his numbers this season simply eye-boggling and certainly leaving the fans wishing he was still on their books.

He’s already scored 26 times in all competitions in 2025/26, with the entire Lilywhites senior squad only scoring 29 times combined during the same period.

Players like Kane don’t come around very often, with their Spurs faithful extremely lucky to have been able to witness his goalscoring antics first hand between 2013 and 2023.

Kolo Muani has so far failed to live up to the heights many expected, with his temporary deal in North London not expected to turn into a permanent one, given his recent lack of form.

However, the club appear to already have the perfect solution to their long-term centre-forward issues in the form of academy graduate Will Lankshear.

The youngster only joined the club’s youth setup back in August 2022, subsequently making the move from Sheffield United at the tender age of just 17.

Upon his switch to the capital, he linked up with the U21 side, but rapidly caught the eye with his goalscoring ability – with his 2023/24 campaign his best to date.

He found the net a staggering 32 times in just 35 appearances, leading to his first-team debut under Ange Postecoglou during the injury-hit campaign in 2024/25.

Lankshear managed to appear in six separate matches for the Lilywhites, half of which came in the Europa League, with the 20-year-old netting his first senior goal against Galatasaray.

However, he’s followed in Kane’s footsteps in moving into the EFL for valuable senior minutes to continue his development, with the youngster spending the current season on loan at Championship side Oxford United.

He’s already made an immediate impact at the Kassam Stadium, scoring four times in his 14 league appearances to date – leading to one analyst calling him a “Harry Kane regen”.

Lankshear’s underlying stats from the ongoing season highlight his incredible nature in the final third, which could see him be catapulted into the first-team reckoning in 2026/27.

He’s achieved a 43% shot on target accuracy rate and scoring with 50% of the efforts he’s registered – offering the clinical nature that Kane possessed in London.

The youngster is also keen to get on the ball whenever possible, ranking in the 80th percentile for passes completed, whilst also completing 50% of the dribbles he’s attempted.

Whilst Kolo Muani will need to be cut some slack for his lack of impact, he’s ultimately failed to hit the heights expected of him, with other options needing to be considered.

Lankshear will no doubt be chomping at the bit to make an impact in North London, with Frank desperately needing to hand him the chance to impress upon his return from his loan spell in the summer.

Spurs have "one of Europe’s best finishers" & he could end Richarlison's stay

Tottenham Hotspur can offload Richarlison if Thomas Frank shows faith in one other squad member.

By
Ethan Lamb

Nov 14, 2025

The 19-year-old Afghanistan mystery spinner has already made a splash in all three formats since his international debut in 2024, and he’s got the confidence to take on the world

Nagraj Gollapudi15-Sep-2025It was July 2022. The Shpageeza League, Afghanistan’s domestic T20 tournament was being played at the Kabul Cricket stadium. At around 1am in the morning one day, AM Ghazanfar got a call from Atta Mohammad, one of his older brothers, who asked Ghazanfar to be ready to report to the stadium the next day to join the Mis Ainak Knights squad.Ghazanfar was a net bowler for Knights at the time. The team was looking to replace former Pakistan left-arm fast bowler Mir Hamza, who had gone back home. During a nets session, the captain, Asghar Afghan, impressed with Ghazanfar’s bowling, asked if he could bowl with the new ball. Barely 16 then, Ghazanfar said yes, leading to the late-night call-up.The next morning, though, the security at the ground would not allow Ghazanfar to enter as he was not authorised for access. Eventually Knights’ manager secured him entry. Ghazanfar, upon coming in, noticed the team were in a huddle. “I was late and I was worried about what Asghar Afghan would say to me,” Ghazanfar says with a smile on a Zoom chat recorded a day after he made his T20I debut, against Pakistan, during the tri-series between Pakistan, Afghanistan and the UAE earlier this month.Related

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Ghazanfar changed quickly into Knights gear and joined the team. His nerves vanished soon when Afghan told him he was playing. “Uff, ! I was under pressure, but I was proud at the same time,” Ghazanfar says. “My confidence level was high and I told myself I could manage myself and everything else quickly. I told myself, this is your day, this is your opportunity.”He misremembers being Player of the Match on his debut in the Shpageeza league, against Boost Defenders; he took one wicket in his four overs in a four-run win for Defenders. It was in Knights’ next match, against Hindukush Stars, where he took four wickets inside the powerplay, of which three came in the sixth over, that he won the award for his 4 for 15. “The game changed everything for me and my cricket,” he says.

****

Last year was eventful for Ghazanfar. He made his debut for Afghanistan in ODIs, against Ireland in March 2024. In November, he became the third-youngest bowler to take a six-wicket haul in ODIs, after only Waqar Younis and Rashid Khan, when he picked up 6 for 26 against Bangladesh. He followed that up with another five-for against Zimbabwe in December, putting him on another list with those two bowling greats – as only the third bowler in men’s cricket to take more than one five-for before turning 19.Ghazanfar picked up four wickets in his debut Test, against Zimbabwe in December 2024•Zimbabwe CricketEarlier that month Ghazanfar played four matches in three days, shuttling through the UAE, featuring in both the Under-19 Asia Cup in Dubai and the AD T10 in Abu Dhabi. In the last week of the year, he made his Test debut – also his first first-class match – stepping in for Rashid Khan, who missed the first Test, in Bulawayo, due to back and hamstring issues.As Afghanistan prepped for the match, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Afghanistan’s Test captain, checked in with Ghazanfar about whether he was ready to play a Test, considering he had never played red-ball cricket. “He said, ‘You can do it, seriously?’ I said, ‘Yes, I can,'” Ghazanfar said. Later, alone in his room, Ghazanfar stayed up late to strategise and get himself mentally ready for the big game.He speaks about an inner confidence that has allowed him to handle his and others’ expectations across the three formats. “My mind is such that red-ball, white-ball doesn’t matter. The target is to bowl wicket to wicket. My match starts once the batsman engages with me face to face. I will not think this is white-ball, this is red-ball, this is T10. I like to plan and engage with the batsman’s plans.”Bowling in the Test, on a flat deck, was not easy. “They made such a wicket that two or three of their batters went to sleep on it,” Ghazanfar laughs. “Both Hashmat Shahidi and Rahmat Shah also scored double-centuries. The wicket was flat and the ground was heavy, but I got four wickets still.”

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Ghazanfar comes from Zurmat district in Paktia province in eastern Afghanistan. The youngest of ten children, he started playing tennis-ball cricket around 2019. His parents live in Zurmat, while a few of his brothers run the family business, which is spread between Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan.At 13, when he joined the Saleem Karwan Cricket Academy in Kabul, he did everything: opened the batting, bowled fast, bowled spin. His coach at the academy, Roze Khan Zurmetai, suggested he stuck to spin bowling. It was a major turning point. In about three months, Ghazanfar says, he ended up being the highest wicket-taker in the U-16 age group in Afghanistan (though records are unavailable to verify the statistic). “Before that, while I had the skills, I did not know exactly how to use them. But the coach said my skill lies in bowling spin and I should stick to that. I focused on that, worked hard, and with the grace of God, got the results.”Ghazanfar’s many variations make it exceptionally tricky for a batter to read a delivery out of the hand•Emirates Cricket BoardGhazanfar’s bowling run-up comprises nine steps, starting with a hop and skip, and he runs through the crease to deliver with a fastish arm action, in the Rashid or Mujeeb Ur Rahman mould. Batters have found it hard to read his stock ball and his variations out of his hand.Ghazanfar was lured by the magic of the wrong’un early on. “I started bowling the googly and the carrom ball but the googly was my strength. But as I started to train and bowl a lot, I started trialling backspin and offspin with the carrom ball and googly. Slowly, slowly, I started improving with practice.”The offbreak, arm ball and flipper are his other variations. Ghazanfar credits his fast-tracked growth to former Afghanistan fast bowler Dawlat Ahmadzai, who he says helped developed his spin craft and with the mental aspect of the game.Ahmadzai, who has mentored several young Afghan talents, including Rashid, as well as the current opening pair of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, was head coach at the Mohammad Mirza Katawazai Cricket Centre in Kabul in 2022 when Ghazanfar’s brother Atta approached him, keen for him to look at his younger brother. “When I spoke to Ghazanfar for the first time, he told me he had started as a fast bowler,” Ahmadzai, who is currently head coach of East Bay Blazers in Minor League Cricket in the USA, and a former chairman of selectors for Afghanistan, says. “I asked him to bowl in the nets. Then I looked at his hands and felt he had the fingers meant for a good spin bowler. The middle finger on his bowling hand is strong and long and is the key driver of his variations. He also is tall and has strong shoulders.”Ahmadzai worked on Ghazanfar for nearly a year, from the basics of his run-up and action to teaching him the importance of backspin, helping him read cues from batters and telling him how to confound them. “He improved my skills a lot, teaching me how I can utilise my skills and when, and the kind of things I always need to pay attention to during my training and during the match,” Ghazanfar says.

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As a fingerspinner with multiple variations, Ghazanfar has quickly edged out the competition, including some of Afghanistan’s other mystery spinners, to earn places in prominent T20 leagues. He grabbed headlines during the IPL 2025 mega auction, when five-time champions Mumbai Indians bought him for Rs 4.8 crore (US$570,000 approximately). However, he did not feature in the tournament because of a back injury – a lumbar fracture that took several months to heal – that had its origins in the marathon spells he bowled in the Zimbabwe Test.Since 2022, Ghazanfar has been picked in several franchise leagues, including the IPL, LPL, CPL, ILT20, Abu Dhabi T10 and The T20 Blast•Abu Dhabi T10He travelled to India, though and spent time with the Mumbai Indians squad. MI’s scouts had been tracking him for a while by then. “In 2023 I was playing for Afghanistan U-19 in the UAE. Rahul [former India left-arm spinner Rahul Sanghvi, a long-serving senior MI official and scout] wanted me to attend trials at the ICC Cricket Academy. I did well, and they told me they would look at me at least as a back-up bowler during the 2024 season. I was very happy because to play the IPL is every youngster’s [wish]”He could not get a visa as a net bowler for MI, but he did end up going to the 2024 IPL after Kolkata Knight Riders picked him up as a replacement for Mujeeb, who was injured. “I was waiting to get picked as a net bowler but instead I got picked by a team. I couldn’t have been more happy,” Ghazanfar says.He didn’t get a game for KKR that season, but says the experience made him a better cricketer and also got him a good pay packet at the 2025 auction. KKR won the 2024 IPL, so Ghazanfar came back home that year with a medal, but he says his learnings trumped that. He spoke to spin greats like Sunil Narine and R Ashwin that season. “Having been there for big matches, including the IPL final, I saw up close how players were dealing with pressure. That was very significant for me,” he says.Gautam Gambhir, who returned as KKR mentor in 2024. “He gave me a lot of support. He said, ‘Your future is bright.’ [He said] that I should focus on my batting, which will come handy in the long run. He would stand behind me during my bowling at training and offer tips. He also said he would ensure KKR got me back for the 2025 season.”The franchise did bid hard for Ghazanfar but pulled out at the Rs 4.6-crore mark. “My kismet was with Mumbai,” he says with a smile. He expects to be retained by Mumbai for the 2026 season but still has fond memories of celebrating his 19th birthday with the franchise. “Tilak Varma ” [Tilak Varma did me especially dirty] Ghazanfar laughs, running a hand across his face to mimic how the Mumbai and India batter smeared cake all over it.Tilak was already acquainted with Ghazanfar, having played against him in the semi-final of the Emerging Teams Asia Cup in October 2024. Tilak was leading India A, who lost that match by 20 runs. Ghazanfar played a role in that defeat, getting the India opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Prabhsimran Singh out cheaply.