‘I’ll be back’ vows Haaland after injury blow

Manchester City’s Erling Haaland reacts after sustaining an injury during their English FA Cup quarterfinal match against Bournemouth at the Vitality stadium in Bournemouth, Mar. 30, 2025. (AP)
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Updated 02 April 2025
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‘I’ll be back’ vows Haaland after injury blow

  • The Norway star had missed a penalty and scored his 30th goal of the season
  • Haaland wrote on Instagram: “I’ll be back,” accompanied by a flexed biceps emoji

LONDON: Erling Haaland promised “I’ll be back” after the Manchester City striker learned he will be sidelined for seven weeks with an ankle injury.
Haaland limped off during the second half of City’s 2-1 win at Bournemouth in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Sunday.
The Norway star had missed a penalty and scored his 30th goal of the season before being hurt in a challenge with Bournemouth midfielder Lewis Cook.
City boss Pep Guardiola on Tuesday revealed Haaland would miss the majority of the remainder of the season, saying: “The doctors told me between five and seven weeks, so hopefully for the end of the season and the Club World Cup he will be ready.”

Haaland responded to his injury blow on Instagram on Wednesday, posting a message that read: “I’ll be back” — a quote made famous by Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character in the Terminator movies — accompanied by a flexed biceps emoji.
The post also featured a photo of the 24-year-old with his left foot in a protective boot and each arm raised holding up a crutch.
Haaland’s absence is a major setback to City’s hopes of securing qualification for the Champions League.
Haaland will miss Sunday’s derby at Manchester United in the Premier League, as well as the FA Cup semifinal against Nottingham Forest on April 26 or 27.
The FA Cup final takes place on May 17, a day short of seven weeks after he suffered the injury.
City’s final Premier League game is at Fulham on May 25, with their first match in the Club World Cup against Wydad Casablanca being played on June 18.


Pakistan bowl out Netherlands for 147 in T20 World Cup opener

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Pakistan bowl out Netherlands for 147 in T20 World Cup opener

  • The Dutch looked to be in a good position at 127-4 with four overs to go
  • But Pakistan applied the brakes with the slow men sharing six wickets between them
COLOMBO: Pakistan’s spinners turned the screws to bowl Netherlands out for 147 in the first match of the T20 World Cup at Colombo’s Sinhalese Sports Club on Saturday.
The Dutch looked to be in a good position at 127-4 with four overs to go, but Pakistan applied the brakes with the slow men sharing six wickets between them.
Captain Scott Edwards anchored the innings with a polished 37 off 29 balls, but perished when he tried to take the aerial route against leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed.
Part-time spinner Saim Ayub then struck twice in the 17th over before left-arm quick Salman Mirza’s three-wicket burst dismissed the Dutch with one ball to spare.
Pakistan, who won the toss and chose to bowl, conceded just 20 runs in the final four overs backed up by a razor sharp performance in the field with several outstanding catches in the deep.
Pakistan cannot afford any slip-ups in the group stage after saying they will not play against India on February 15 on government instructions and forfeiting the points in Group A.
Pakistan will play all their matches in Sri Lanka in the 20-team tournament co-hosted by Sri Lanka and defending champions India.