FIFA World Cup 2026 ticket holders traveling to matches in the United States will be able to receive prioritized U.S. visa interview appointments under a new initiative announced at the White House on Monday. The program – the FIFA Priority Appointment Scheduling System (FIFA PASS) – was introduced by the U.S. Department of State in coordination with the White House Task Force and FIFA.
Chelsea are making transfer plans ahead of the looming January transfer window that opens in just over one month’s time, with Enzo Maresca and co setting their sights on a Real Madrid player who wants out of the Bernabeu.
The Blues have made a respectable start to the 2025-26 season under Maresca, currently sitting third in the Premier League table with 20 points from 11 matches.
Their position represents a solid foundation for Champions League qualification, sitting just six points behind league leaders Arsenal and level on points with Tottenham and Aston Villa. However, the campaign has been significantly hampered by a mini-injury crisis that has tested the depth of Maresca’s squad to its limits.
The injury problems have been particularly concentrated in specific positions, most notably defence, and that has created selection headaches for Maresca whilst forcing him to constantly rotate his lineup.
Levi Colwill, Cole Palmer, Benoit Badiashile, Enzo Fernández, Pedro Neto, Dario Essugo, Liam Delap, Reece James, Wesley Fofana, Tosin Adarabioyo, Andrey Santos and Josh Acheampong have all spent time on the sidelines at various points already this term, and some are still a way off recovering.
Roméo Lavia also returned to the treatment table yet again recently and will be out for at least a month after injuring his quadriceps (Fabrizio Romano).
The Belgian launched his water bottle in frustration after being hauled off inside eight minutes away to Qarabag in the Champions League last week, and it’s not hard to see why considering the sheer amount of games he’s already been forced to sit out.
Taking their plethora of absentees from this campaign into account, Maresca has done fairly well to steer them towards a top three place, but reports suggest that he’s still not satisfied with the overall Chelsea squad despite being backed with a near-£300 million warchest last summer.
Premier League Clubs’ Summer Spending
Rank
Club
Gross Spend
Sales
Net Spend
20.
Bournemouth
£136.7m
£202.5m
+£65.8m
19.
Brighton
£67.7m
£127.5m
+£59.8m
18.
Brentford
£92.8m
£152m
+£59.2m
17.
Wolves
£105.6m
£126.5m
+£20.9m
16.
Chelsea
£296.5m
£314.4m
+£17.9m
According to TEAMtalk, Maresca wanted Chelsea to sign Real Madrid’s Rodrygo during the last window, and he could now have another chance to bring the Brazilian to Stamford Bridge.
Rodrygo 'on the brink' of Real Madrid exit as Chelsea 'push' for January deal
According to their information, after growing ‘frustrated’ under Xabi Alonso, Rodrygo is now ‘on the brink’ of leaving Real in the winter.
The 24-year-old has started just two La Liga matches so far this term, and with the 2026 World Cup looming, he’s growing increasingly tempted by a move to the Premier League as Chelsea and other top English sides circle.
As per TEAMtalk, Chelsea are making a ‘late push’ for Rodrygo despite Man City being the overwhelming favourites for his signature, and Real have slashed his asking price by £35 million.
Once valued at around £88 million by Alonso’s side, Real president Florentino Perez is now prepared to negotiate a fee just above £53 million — which suddenly opens the door for Chelsea and other interested sides to make a move for the ex-Santos sensation.
Rodrygo, who has won La Liga three times and the Champions League twice during his time there, initially seemed out of reach, but a deal could be genuinely possible now given the player’s own frustration and dramatic drop in asking price.
The South American would bring versatility, proven quality and top pedigree to Chelsea’s youthful side.
Rodrygo bagged 14 goals and 11 assists in 50 appearances for Real just last season, including five strikes in the Champions League, but his £283,000-per-week wages could be a sticking point amid Chelsea’s carefully curated wage structure.
The Cincinnati Reds lost to the Miami Marlins 4-3 on Tuesday. The loss was not without highlights for the Reds as Noelvi Marte hit the hardest home run of the season to tie the game in the third inning.
Leading off the third Marte hit a rocket to left field off Edward Cabrera that was clocked with an exit volocity of 116.7MPH. The ball hit an empty seat about eight rows back and bounced back onto the field. Thank goodness for weekday games in Miami because that could have hurt someone.
After the game Reds manager Terry Francona was informed about how hard Marte had hit the ball as a reporter told him it was tied for the hardest hit home run of the year. His response was perfectly old school.
"OK," Francona seemed to ask in response. "We get one run. That's fine."
With opening day third baseman Jeimer Candelario struggling early in the year and moving to first to replace injured Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Marte has found his way into the lineup. After a slow start going 1-for-12 in his first few games, Marte is 7-of-14 over his last three games with three doubles and two home runs, including this one. That's fine indeed.
For the first time in nearly two years, Dustin May took the mound on Tuesday night for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
And May, who struck out the side to begin a start that saw him fan six in five shutout innings, felt a whole host of emotions as he toed the rubber for the first time since a life-threatening incident in July of 2024.
Speaking to reporters after the game, May first joked that he was "pissed" to start the game after the Dodgers played the wrong walkout music. But a more serious May then admitted that "a lot of emotions" were released after he struck out the first batter he faced, Atlanta Braves outfielder Michael Harris II.
"There was definitely a lot of emotions that got let out after the first hitter in the first inning," May said. "Definitely—like I said after my first outing in spring training—it was a huge weight lifted off my shoulders.
"It was just super, super great to be back out there."
May, in his second MLB season during the Dodgers' World Series win in the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign, emerged as a standout young pitcher in the club's rotation. But a torn ligament in his pitching elbow cut short a promising '21 season, and held him to just six starts the following year in '22. After a strong beginning to the '23 campaign, May's right elbow continued to cause him pain, and the Dodgers hurler in July '23 underwent season-ending surgery on his flexor tendon.
In July of last year, as May was continuing his rehab from the surgery, he went out to dinner with his wife. After taking a bite of the salad he had ordered, a piece of lettuce became stuck in his throat. He attempted to drink some water to clear the piece of salad but that was unsuccessful. The lettuce had become lodged in his throat in an unusual—and life-threatening—way. After heading to the emergency room, he received a CAT scan and later that night underwent emergency surgery at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Ariz.
May said in February that he "wouldn't have made it through the night" had he not had the procedure.
Now, he is back on the mound and couldn't be more grateful.
"Yeah, I mean, even if it would have went bad, I still would have been having a good time just being back on a big league mound," May said. "It literally meant the world to me just to be back out on the mound. About eight months ago, I didn't know if I would be."
Since Pep Guardiola was appointed Manchester City manager in 2016, the club have spent around £1.276bn on more than 50 new recruits.
Some have, of course, been a massive success, none more so than Erling Braut Håland, arriving from Borussia Dortmund for £51m in the summer of 2022, so far scoring 143 goals in 164 appearances for the Sky Blues, which isn’t bad.
However, others have not lived up to the expectations set upon their arrival, disappearing into the proverbial wilderness without a trace.
So, is one of Man City’s summer signings, not so long ago labelled one of the best players in the Premier League, in danger of becoming the latest man to follow this path?
Kalvin Phillips' Manchester City career
When Kalvin Phillips joined Manchester City from Leeds United for £42m in the summer of 2022, he was a first-choice starter for England and widely considered to be one of the best defensive midfielders in the Premier League.
However, to date, he has made just 32 appearances for the Sky Blues, totalling a miserly 921, accumulating only six starts, while 12 of his outings have lasted ten minutes or fewer.
After unsuccessful loan spells at both West Ham and then Ipswich, Phillips is back at Manchester City now, featuring in the Carabao Cup in September, entrusted with a seven-minute cameo towards the end of the victory over Huddersfield Town.
This was his first appearance for the Citizens for 645 days, his last before that coming against Urawa Red Diamonds in Jeddah in the Club World Cup semi-finals of 2023.
Having not represented England for over two years, fair to say this move has wrecked Phillips’ career, going from international star to complete obscurity, yet to even appear on a Man City bench in the Premier League or Champions League this season – including in Saturday’s 3-2 win over his former club.
So, which of Guardiola’s summer recruits is in danger of repeating this trajectory?
Manchester City's next Kalvin Phillips
For the majority of Guardiola’s tenure at the Etihad, the left-back spot has been up for grabs.
First, Fabian Delph and Oleksandr Zinchenko were deployed as midfielders in that role while, more recently, a rotating cast of centre-backs have filled the position, including Joško Gvardiol and Nathan Aké.
So, when Rayan Aït-Nouri arrived from Wolverhampton Wanderers for a reported fee of £31.8m in June, supporters were delighted as the left-back conundrum appeared to have been solved.
The Algerian international joined Wolves from Angers in 2020, making 157 appearances for the club, and becoming one of their most outstanding players.
In the Premier League last season, the 24-year-old registered seven assists, a tally only bettered by 16 players and just one defender, namely Antonee Robinson.
As a result, Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley described him as “one of the Premier League’s best players” last season, while Manchester City director of football Hugo Viana praised his “quality” upon his arrival.
Having switched allegiance from France, Aït-Nouri will be looking forward to representing Algeria at both next month’s Africa Cup of Nations, the Desert Foxes among the favourites to triumph in Morocco, as well as the World Cup in the summer, but he may not be going into those competitions all guns blazing.
Despite earning rave reviews for his performances in old gold, the full-back has made very little impact in sky blue thus far, as the table below documents.
Minutes
315
22nd
Appearances
7
21st
Starts
5
20th
Completed passes
153
20th
Tackles
10
10th
Ball recoveries
10
20th
Touches
222
19th
As the table documents, Aït-Nouri is yet to make his mark since joining Manchester City.
Since starting two of three Premier League matches in August, he has seen just one minute of action in the competition, partially as a result of an ankle injury.
He was handed his full Champions League debut against Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday, but was hooked at half-time as Guardiola made a triple substitution, with his team a goal down, ultimately beaten 2-0 by the Bundesliga side.
Aït-Nouri’s performance in that one did not earn rave reviews.
Richard Martin of Goal noted that he lacked ‘awareness defensively or creativity going forward’, awarding him a 4/10, while Simon Bajkowski of the Manchester Evening News believes he was at fault for die Werkself’s opening goal, criticising his ‘heavy touches and poor passes’.
The Algerian was replaced by Nico O’Reilly at the interval, and the form of the 20-year-old is also a problem for him.
The youngster has been outstanding this season, thereby starting both England World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Albania earlier this month, and will not be an easy man to displace at left-back, for club or country.
Thus, unlikely to be given regular starting opportunities any time soon, Aït-Nouri is in danger of slipping into the Phillips vortex of being forgotten and cast aside by Guardiola.
Man City in talks to beat Man Utd to gem who's been "magic at U17 World Cup"
The Citizens are now looking to strike a deal before clubs from England and on the continent.
BySean Markus Clifford Nov 23, 2025
Thomas Frank’s appointment as Tottenham Hotspur boss brought about a newfound sense of excitement, with the Dane tasked with building on last season’s Europa League triumph.
He was brought into the club to replace Ange Postecoglou, even being handed over £100m by the hierarchy to make the desired changes he wanted to his first team squad.
Whilst his tenure in North London started off in excellent fashion, even remaining as the only side unbeaten away from home in the Premier League, but that came crashing down against Arsenal last week.
The Lilywhites have now failed to win any of their last three outings, shipping a total of 11 goals in that time – with five coming against PSG in the Champions League on Wednesday.
As a result, the hierarchy have since been targeting added reinforcements for the January transfer window to try and bolster Frank’s current first-team squad.
During the past couple of weeks, Spurs have been targeting a move for Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo – with the Ghanaian seen as the perfect man to improve the frontline.
He’s already scored six times and registered three assists in the Premier League this campaign, leading to interest from other sides such as Arsenal and Liverpool.
However, his asking price has already been revealed, with the 25-year-old available for £65m as his release clause becomes active from the start of 2026.
He’s not the only player currently in their sights, with Juventus centre-back Gleison Bremer a defensive option being targeted ahead of the upcoming window.
According to TuttoJuve, Frank’s men are “ready to make” a €40m (£35m) bid for the Brazilian, who has been restricted to just four Serie A appearances this campaign.
The report states that the Lilywhites see the 28-year-old as the perfect option to bolster their backline, but it’s unclear if his current employers will sanction his transfer.
After Frank’s appointment in the summer, the Dane made a swift decision to create a leadership group that would lead Spurs forward under his guidance in North London.
Centre-back Cristian Romero was named as one of the players in the aforementioned group, with the Argentine wearing the armband in every game he’s featured in.
Whilst many have heaped praise on the 27-year-old in recent times, he’s endured somewhat of a slump in form over recent weeks – as seen by the club’s poor defensive record.
He was even responsible for two of PSG’s goals on Wednesday night, as he gave the ball to Pape Sarr in a dangerous position, before blocking Vitinha’s shot with his hand – resulting in a penalty for the hosts.
His underlying stats have also taken a hit as a result in recent weeks, which has led to numerous areas becoming a cause for concern to the manager and his staff.
When comparing Romero’s stats to those of Bremer in 2025/26 to date, the Brazilian has managed to better his fellow South American in key areas – highlighting why he’d be an upgrade on the Lilywhites defender.
Bremer, who’s been dubbed “world-class” by Matteo Bonetti, has completed more of the passes he’s attempted, whilst also notching more key passes per 90.
|
How Bremer & Romero compare in 2025/26 |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Statistics (per 90) |
Bremer |
Romero |
|
Games played |
4 |
10 |
|
Goals & assists |
2 |
1 |
|
Pass accuracy |
89% |
88% |
|
Key passes |
0.8 |
0.2 |
|
% of tackles won |
90% |
76% |
|
Clearances made |
5.8 |
3.7 |
|
Recoveries made |
4.7 |
3.7 |
|
Aerials won |
68% |
66% |
|
Stats via FBref |
||
Such numbers highlight his incredible ball-playing ability, with such numbers handing Frank an added option to play out from the back and through the thirds when needed.
He’s also won more of the tackles he’s entered in 2025/26, whilst making more clearances per 90 – offering the needed defensive quality the side has lacked in recent weeks.
Other numbers, such as a higher aerial success rate and more recoveries made, highlight his all-round dominance without the ball – with Bremer looking like an incredible addition at £35m.
Such a move may feel somewhat harsh on Romero, but ultimately, it’s clear that the hierarchy have identified a player who is a level above the Argentine international.
If the board can complete a deal for Bremer, it would be a superb deal and one that could finally hand Frank the answer to their recent struggles in the defensive third.
As bad as Romero: Frank must instantly drop 5/10 Spurs flop after PSG
Thomas Frank will have some huge calls to make on some players after Tottenham Hotspur’s latest defeat.
By
Ethan Lamb
Nov 27, 2025
Manchester United have a conundrum in midfield which needs to be solved sooner rather than later.
Ruben Amorim’s infamous 3-4-2-1 system, which he is insistent on sticking to, operates with a double pivot. Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro are his first choices in that role this season.
That has left a few players out in the cold this season, without regular minutes. The two players who have tended to be left on the sidelines are Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte. The England international is yet to start a Premier League game this season, and former Sporting man Ugarte has not been able to get into the side over Casemiro.
It seems as though the Red Devils are targeting a new midfielder who can slot into the side.
Man Utd looking to sign England international
The Manuncian side have already begun a mini-revolution in the centre of the park. They have recently signed young Colombian Cristian Orozco, who will perhaps start in the youth team but could well be considered a first-teamer in the future.
Elliot Anderson is a name who is regularly linked with a move to Old Trafford but he’s not the only England international in the crosshairs of INEOS.
Indeed, according to a report from Football Insider, Atletico Madrid and England midfielder Conor Gallagher is a player the club continue to ‘monitor’ ahead of the January transfer window.
There has been previous interest in the former Chelsea star from Premier League clubs. Crystal Palace wanted him last summer, and Tottenham Hotspur are also interested.
However, Amorim’s side are described as ‘frontrunners’ for Gallagher. As far as a fee is concerned, it has been reported that a bid in the region of £26m could be accepted.
Why Gallagher would be a good signing
The signing of Gallagher could well be a strong addition to United’s midfield. Described as a “warrior” in the middle of the park by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, he would bring Premier League experience.
Indeed, Gallagher has made 136 appearances in the English top flight, for boyhood side Chelsea, as well as loan spells at Crystal Palace and West Brom. That ready-made experience in the Premier League could be vital for Amorim, as he would need little to no adaptation period.
Of course, over the last 18 months, the former Chelsea star has been plying his trade in La Liga for Atleti. He’s played 69 times for Diego Simeone’s side, chipping in with six goals and six assists. That included a strike against Real Madrid in the Champions League last season.
If the Red Devils were to sign Gallagher this winter, he could prove to be the long-term replacement for Casemiro. United’s Brazilian midfielder is out of contract soon, and it seems like he could be on his way at the end of the campaign.
Indeed, he is a hard man to replace. The former Los Blancos star has been a key figure in that midfield pivot for Amorim, making 12 appearances and chipping in with three goals.
That included this effort against Gallagher’s former side, Chelsea, at Old Trafford.
Replacing Casemiro in that United midfield would not be easy for Gallagher. Aside from his potent threat in the final third, the Brazilian, of course, is a master at breaking up play and winning the ball back.
However, when looking at the stats, it suggests that the Atleti star possesses the skills to do just that. For example, he’s averaged 4.12 tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes this season, compared to just 3.6 each game for Casemiro.
Gallagher & Casemiro key stats compared
Stat (per 90)
Gallagher
Casemiro
Progressive passes
3.73
5.07
Key passes
0.59
0.93
Progressive carries
2.75
0.67
Tackles and interceptions
4.12
3.60
Ball recoveries
4.71
5.60
Stats from FBref
Finding the man who can eventually step into Casemiro’s shoes was never going to be easy for Amorim. Yet, in Gallagher, United may have landed upon the perfect player. He still has plenty of quality on the ball and final third threat, whilst also being an efficient ball winner.
Furthermore, he’s also got energy, something Casemiro lacks. Indeed, he has been described as an “intensity monster” and as “one of the best midfielders in the sport when it comes to running long distances” by one notable analyst on social media.
£26m is a small fee in the current market, and should the Red Devils choose to pay it, they could have finally found the perfect player to replace Casemiro.
The new Garnacho: Man Utd ready £131m bid to sign the "best in the world"
Manchester United could be about to smash their transfer record in the upcoming January transfer window.
ByEthan Lamb Nov 30, 2025
Liverpool’s defence have borne the brunt of the criticism for the club’s landslide in form this season. Such reproval has hardly been undue. However, Arne Slot’s forwards have also struggled to implement his tactics.
The plain truth is that the Reds have so many punctures across their system, and the boss has an increasingly slim period to overturn the plummet in form that has led to nine defeats across 12 matches in all competitions.
Ahead of their trip to West Ham United on Sunday, Liverpool languish in 13th place in the Premier League, and there are so many creases for Slot and his staff to iron out if a turnaround is to be found.
Mohamed Salah has for so long been an unstoppable force for the Anfield side, but he’s been among the most disappointing members of the team this season, and the right wing is becoming a weak link.
Liverpool considering Mo Salah successor
If Salah sees out the £400k-per-week contract he extended back in April, he will leave Liverpool in 2027, marking a decade on Merseyside.
He has scored 250 goals and provided 116 assists across 419 appearances in a Liverpool shirt, and he is one of the greatest players in Premier League history.
Goals scored
0.77
0.34
Assists
0.48
0.17
Shots taken
3.23
2.43
Shot-creating actions
4.51
3.27
Touches (att pen)
9.50
6.21
Pass completion (%)
70.6
68.1
Progressive passes
3.84
4.19
Progressive carries
4.14
3.94
Successful take-ons
1.55
0.92
Ball recoveries
2.70
2.77
But there’s no denying the 33-year-old has been miles south of his usual standards this season, wasteful in the final third and drifting on the edge of Slot’s malfunctioning system.
There remains hope that Salah will rediscover his form, but a success plan needs to be put in place, and Brighton & Hove Albion’s Yankuba Minteh has been earmarked as a possible option.
According to Spanish sources, Liverpool are ‘seriously considering’ a move for the 21-year-old winger, who has established himself in the Premier League since the start of last season.
It’s unclear at this stage what Brighton would demand for their rising star, but he wouldn’t come cheap, certainly more than the £35m figure the Seagulls paid Newcastle to bring him to the south coast in 2024. Some sources suggest discussions could enter the £100m ballpark.
Why Liverpool want Yankuba Minteh
Minteh has actually worked under Slot’s wing before, scoring nine times across 36 matches on loan during the 2023/24 season, assisting five goals too.
Newcastle were then forced into selling their Gambian prospect to ease PSR-related concerns, and he has become a star in the Premier League, hailed by talent scout Jacek Kulig as “one of the standout wingers” in the division back at the start of the term.
While he’s only scored once across 12 matches, Minteh has assisted four goals and maintained the kind of athletic level of performance that would raise the bar at Liverpool, with Sofascore recording that he has averaged 2.5 dribbles and won 6.3 duels per game.
His qualities are further underscored by FBref’s data. In the Premier League this term, Minteh ranks among the top 6% of positional peers for progressive carries and successful take-ons, the top 1% for goal-creating actions and the top 11% for tackles won per 90.
This blend of physicality and potency – the wide forward scored seven goals last year – is almost reminiscent of Sadio Mane in his Liverpool pomp.
This was actually picked up by one football scout, who has said that Minteh can “can reach Sadio Mane[‘s] level” if he continues to foster his natural qualities.
Minteh is still so young. He is 21. Mane, for what it’s worth, was 24 when moving from Southampton to Liverpool in a £34m deal.
Mane didn’t match Salah’s jaw-dropping output, but he certainly came close, and 120 goals and 46 assists over 269 outings during Jurgen Klopp’s golden years is hardly a poor return.
Unlike Salah, the 34-year-old always had a bit more fury in his game, so combative and electric on the ball.
If Minteh could capture even a portion of the form Mane projected at Anfield over so many years, he would more than endear himself to the Reds fanbase.
But, as those in the know would tell you, he has what it takes to emulate the Senegalese icon.
He'd revive Isak: “Best manager in the world” now Liverpool's top target
Arne Slot is losing grip on his position as Liverpool manager after a shocking run of form.
1 ByAngus Sinclair Nov 29, 2025
MatériaMais Notícias
Flamengo e São Paulo se enfrentam nesta quarta-feira (17), pela 2ª rodada do Brasileirão 2024. A bola rola às 21h30 (de Brasília), no Maracanã, em no Rio de Janeiro, com transmissão do Globo (TV Aberta) e Premiere (pay-per-view).
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O Tricolor vem de derrota contra o Fortaleza na estreia do Brasileirão, enquanto o Rubro-Negro venceu o Atlético-GO, em Goiânia.
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Confira abaixo todas as informações que você precisa saber sobre o confronto entre Flamengo e São Paulo (onde assistir, horário, escalações e local).
✅FICHA TÉCNICA
Flamengo x São Paulo
2ª rodada – Brasileirão
Data e horário: quarta-feira, 17 de abril de 2024, às 21h30 (de Brasília)
Local: Maracanã, no Rio de Janeiro (RJ)
Onde assistir: Globo e Premiere
Árbitro: Anderson Daronco (FIFA-RS)
VAR: Rodrigo D Alonso Ferreira (SC)
Assistentes: Rafael da Silva Alves (FIFA-RS) e Thiago Henrique Neto Correa Farinha (RJ)
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⚽ PROVÁVEIS ESCALAÇÕES
FLAMENGO (Técnico: Tite)
Rossi, Varela, Fabrício Bruno, Léo Pereira e Ayrton Lucas; Pulgar, De la Cruz e Arrascaeta; Luiz Araújo, Cebolinha e Pedro
SÃO PAULO (Técnico: Thiago Carpini)
Rafael; Igor Vinícus, Arboleda, Diego Costa e Welington; Pablo Maia, Alisson e Galoppo; Ferreira, Luciano e Calleri.
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Ayub smashed an unbeaten 71 off 38 balls after Pakistan’s seamers rolled South Africa over for 110
Firdose Moonda31-Oct-2025From the ruins of Rawalpindi, Pakistan rallied to level the T20I series against South Africa and romped to a nine wicket win in Lahore.The match was all but over in the first 10 overs, when South Africa slipped to 66 for 6 after stunning spells from left-arm quick Salman Mirza, playing in his sixth T20I, Naseem Shah and Faheem Ashraf. Pakistan used pace-off balls to excellent effect and South Africa put on one of their poorer displays of shot selection in a performance they will want to forget. Only one batter, Dewald Brevis, got past 20, and only one partnership did the same. With Lhuan-dre Pretorius on the bench, South Africa may want to rethink their line-up heading into tomorrow’s decider.On the other hand, Pakistan played the situation to perfection. Their bowlers read the surface well before the batters knocked off their target of 111 with 41 balls to spare. An opening stand of 54 between Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub set them up before Ayub and Babar Azam finished things off with an unbroken 58 for the second wicket. In the process, Babar became the leading run-scorer in T20Is.The series is 1-1 with the decider to come in less than 24 hours’ time.Salman Mirza’s figures of 3 for 14 were his best in T20Is•Getty ImagesMirza makes things happenMirza was given an opportunity ahead of fellow left-armer Shaheeh Shah Afridi and made an immediate impact. He set Reeza Hendricks up with an opening delivery that moved away from him and then brought the second one back in and found leg stump to dismiss him for a duck. In the next over, Mirza angled a couple into Tony de Zorzi’s pads, then went for the surprise short ball and de Zorzi missed his pull. That was a warning. Two balls later, Mirza went for a slower-ball bouncer and de Zorzi pulled to Abrar Ahmed at short fine leg.In between those dismissals, Quinton de Kock was caught at mid-off off a slower ball from Naseem Shah and dismissed cheaply for the third time since his comeback, and Naseem could have had more. Matthew Breetzke was dropped at short third off him, which only allowed Mirza to get a third. He delivered another cutter, beat Breetzke’s edge, and bowled him to leave South Africa 23 for 4 in the fifth over.Faheem finishes off Brevis threatened to take control with a quickfire 25 off 16 balls including three sixes, all hit cleanly, but mishit a slower short ball from Faheem to cover point. South Africa were in all sorts at 49 for 5 in the eighth over, and stand-in captain Donovan Ferreria could barely rebuild. He chopped a Faheem short ball onto his stumps at the end of the 10th over. Two overs later, George Linde went almost exactly the same way, playing the pull rather than cut, but also edging onto his stumps. South Africa were 73 for 7 but dragged things into the 20th over before getting bowled out for 110.Faheem Ashraf picked up four wickets•AFP/Getty ImagesSuper SaimSouth Africa had made run-scoring look difficult but Ayub showed that was a fiction as he anchored the chase with his first fifty in a home T20I in a 360-degree display of hitting. He took advantage of any hint of width or anything slightly short and even had a bit of luck with two healthy edges that went for four. But the ninth over belonged to him; after an edge off Baartman went for four, he smashed a slightly short ball over long-on for six, then hit him over point for four, and then produced the shot of the night with a no-look pick-up over deep square leg for six. The over cost Baartman 21 runs and put Pakistan 29 away from victory with 11 overs left to play.All hail BabarAfter a duck on T20I comeback in Rawalpindi, expectation was high on Babar, especially on his home ground, and he was in the mood to deliver. He creamed the first ball he faced through the covers for four to send Lahore into a frenzy. Then he was stuck on 6 off 7 for two overs, with Ayub taking all the strike and carving big chunks off the target. Babar needed three more to overtake Rohit Sharma as the leading run-scorer in T20Is. He got there at the start of the 12th over with a single of Ferreira – his 4232nd run in the format – and the home fans knew exactly what he had achieved. Babar received appreciative applause from a packed crowd, and Ayub sealed the game with a six two overs later. Babar is now three runs ahead of Rohit, who is retired from the format.