Cole Palmer has played down the penalty row that overshadowed Chelsea’s thumping 6-0 win over Everton, insisting the players were “laughing and joking” about the incident afterwards. An otherwise excellent night for the Blues in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge on Monday was marred by a squabble that preceded a 64th-minute penalty awarded for quick-fire fouls on Palmer and Madueke, who wanted to take the spot-kick. A row between Madueke and Nicolas Jackson then ensued, with man-of-the-match Palmer - Chelsea’s hat-trick hero and highly successful designated penalty taker this season - then weighing in after dusting himself down.
Babar Azam makes his return as Pakistan captain in a five-match Twenty20 series starting Thursday against an understrength New Zealand with the World Cup weeks away.Pakistan suffered major upheaval following their first-round exit from the one-day World Cup last year.
Willett had feared he would be sidelined for at least a year following shoulder surgery in September last year.