United States star Christian Pulisic is on the brink of another Bundesliga record when Borussia Dortmund host FC Schalke 04 at the weekend.

The future Chelsea midfielder can become the youngest player ever to win 50 Bundesliga games if he features in a Dortmund victory over Schalke in the Revierderby on Saturday.

Pulisic, who would be 20 years and 221 days old at the time of kick-off, would assume the record from Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Julian Draxler, who was 11 days older when he accomplished the feat with Schalke in May 2014.

Plagued by injuries, Pulisic has made only 16 Bundesliga appearances in the 2018-19 season. However, 12 of those 16 matches were victories.

Second-placed Dortmund won the reverse fixture at Schalke, 2-1, on December 8.

Pulisic, who debuted for Dortmund as a 17-year-old in January 2016, became the youngest non-German to score in Germany's top flight and then the youngest ever to score two goals in April of that year.

This January, he joined Chelsea for €64 million, which is a record transfer fee for a U.S. soccer player. He was then loaned back to Dortmund where he will finish out the season.

Frank Lampard would not be scared off taking the Chelsea job even if the club's transfer ban is upheld, sources have told ESPN FC.

Chelsea legend Lampard, managing Championship side Derby, has been linked with a possible return to Stamford Bridge if Maurizio Sarri leaves at the end of the season.

In February, FIFA banned Chelsea from signing players for the next two transfer windows after finding them guilty of breaching rules related to the signing of players under the age of 18.

The club are appealing against the decision, which would mean they cannot bring in players until summer 2020 but would not affect their ability to release players or bring back loan players.

But sources told ESPN FC that Lampard, whose Derby side are in contention for the Championship playoffs with two games remaining, would not be scared off even if the ban is upheld.

Last month, Chelsea reacted angrily to FIFA's decision to deny a formal request to pause the transfer ban.

The club had hoped they would have the opportunity to buy players in the summer while they appealed against the punishment.

However, they can still ask the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to grant an interim ruling that would allow them to register new players until their appeal is completed.

FIFA did not say why it had denied Chelsea's request. Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid were all granted provisional measures ensuring that bans were not immediately enforced in similar cases.

MANCHESTER, England -- Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has said he has no intention of dropping goalkeeper David De Gea.

De Gea, yet to sign a new deal at Old Trafford, has made key mistakes in the last four games as United have lost seven of their last nine matches, but Solskjaer said he would start against Chelsea on Sunday.

Asked whether he has considered dropping De Gea, the manager said: "No, not at all, because I trust David and he's, for me, been the best player United have had in last six or seven years, absolutely outstanding.

"Going through tough patches is part of a footballer's career, and David will be fine."

De Gea has not kept a clean sheet for two months, and the 2-0 home defeat to Manchester City on Wednesday saw him become the first United goalkeeper to concede 50 goals in a league season for 40 years.

The 28-year-old, Player of the Year in four of the last five seasons, is in a contract stand-off with the club, but Solskjaer said that was not a reason for a loss of form.

"That's something you have to deal with as a footballer," he said. "You don't always have a contract for five or 10 years or three years. It's a situation, David's coming in every single day doing what he should be doing."

Paul Pogba's future is also uncertain, with sources telling ESPN FC that the midfielder is open to a move to Real Madrid.

But United have no intention of selling the France international and, with three years left on his deal, are under no pressure to cash in.

Solskjaer has spoken of his desire to build his new-look team around Pogba and the United boss is confident the 26-year-old will be at Old Trafford next season.

"You can't guarantee anything in football but yes, I think Paul's going to be here," he said. "I can assure you he's very determined to succeed at Man United.

"We want him to do well. He's a leader in that dressing room and on the pitch for us and back to if I can guarantee, he will be here as far as I'm concerned."

United are on their worst run of form since 1962 and face Chelsea at Old Trafford on Sunday -- a game they must win to retain any hope of finishing in the top four.

Ander Herrera, who has not played since the win over Watford on March 30, could feature despite looking likely to leave in the summer, but sources have told ESPN FC Ashley Young is a doubt after picking up an ankle injury against City.

"Ander has been training," Solskjaer said. "He's enthusiastic and will probably be involved on Sunday. You can't guarantee, but he's trained the last two days."

The professional knowhow of Premier League footballers was loudly questioned when Paul Pogba was named in the PFA's team of the season this week. It's true that he's the only player not from Liverpool or Manchester City in there, but some perspective is needed, please. The votes were cast when Pogba was in form during the three-month bounce after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took charge.

Critics point to Eden Hazard's impressive statistics in the wake of his omission, but Pogba's stats aren't bad either. No midfielder has scored more than his 13 goals -- though seven were penalties -- and he's not playing for a high-scoring team, either. Manchester United have been in sixth place more than any other position this season.

Of course, that's not to deny there are obvious issues surrounding the midfielder. It could be argued no player is more harshly judged: his record fee and high expectations bring that (and his baffling inconsistency adds to it). But after Jose Mourinho, nobody was on thinner ice with United fans than Pogba in December. He was seen as an out-of-form, negative influence undermining his manager. That was all pushed to the background when he played a starring role in his side's resurgence, but his future is under the spotlight again, as it will be for the whole summer.

Real Madrid -- the club Pogba wanted to join from Juventus before United persuaded him to head back to England, where he'd be the star of the team and not fourth or fifth in some mythical "Galactico" order -- want him. Adding fuel to the situation is the opinion of his compatriot, Zinedine Zidane, who thinks Pogba will be better surrounded by superior footballers, as he is with France.

This saga will naturally rumble on -- reports in France suggest he's already mentioned his desire to leave -- and will be driven by Madrid's attempts to unsettle and flatter him. They'll use their favoured media channels to do this. If you don't like it, you shouldn't sign a player like Pogba with an agent like Mino Raiola.

-- Pogba 5/10 as United lose Manchester derby
-- Pogba in Team of the Year; Hazard misses out
-- Keep or Dump: What happens to United this summer?

United have no current intention of selling Pogba, who just turned 26 in mid-March. Their patience was severely tested at the start of December, but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants to build his team around the French World Cup winner.

Does that make sense for Man United?

Pogba continues to be inconsistent, capable of pinpoint long passes one minute and losing the ball in the next breath. The club know that his agent is going to be along soon with massive wage demands, in service of a player who has done little in United's biggest games of the season over the past month. The view of the majority at Barca is that they can't understand Madrid's interest on the evidence of Pogba's two games against the Catalans.

Among United fans, Pogba doesn't have a terrace song and isn't shown much love by the support during matches, yet his shirts are the best sellers in the Megastore. He's accused of being too cocksure and arrogant, yet in reality Pogba is a polite young man who speaks four languages. He lives like a professional; he's never late, he trains well. He's not a big drinker or socialite. He likes to dance and he's forever active on social media -- where, intriguingly, there's rarely mention of him being a Manchester United player -- and that conduct is often not to the liking of the older generations even though it's surely not as damaging as drinking eight pints of beer on regular nights out as many United footballers did until the mid-1990s.

Furthermore, Pogba's the main man in the dressing room since the departure of Wayne Rooney, the one younger players look up to. The Parisian is rated among footballers and coaches. Brian McClair, a man Sir Alex Ferguson hoped would become the club's director of football in 2012 (the club's owners didn't agree) and someone who saw Pogba arrive at United as a kid and develop, rates him too.

"Pogba's attributes are all about attacking. He's more like Lionel Messi than Patrick Vieira. Pogba can find a pass, beat a player and has fantastic skills. He can score goals. For him to have the best opportunity of success at Old Trafford, Paul Pogba needs to be playing in the final third of the pitch as much as possible, whether that's him on the ball, running into positions or shooting."

Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Complicating matters for Pogba is the fact that he's been playing under different managers in a system that has changed, often drastically, rather than evolved. It's not easy for any player but what is the solution specific to Pogba and what can Solskjaer do? Mourinho, one of the most successful managers in football, couldn't get a handle on Pogba, so who can?

Pogba is operating in a world where he's frustrated because the team are frustrating. Not without reason, either: he feels he's good enough to get into any team in the world, yet the United fans who watch him every week wouldn't agree. The most high-profile critics who hammer Pogba have been successful players, but not successful managers. What would they do? Sell or indulge? And if the answer is to sell, who would replace him?

Top footballers are very hard to sign these days and Pogba is considered globally to be a world-class footballer, especially given his excellent injury record. No United player has started as many games or scored as many goals as Pogba this season. Is it his fault that his former manager played him out of position, or that those around him aren't that good?

At Barcelona, Lionel Messi is the undisputed main man at the club, the one around whom the team is built, the one who is consulted on new signings, the one whom the current, ego-free, coach indulges because he knows he needs Messi. But Pogba is not Messi and hasn't yet earned that level of indulgence. At United, the manager has always been viewed as the most important person. Pogba, the most talented player, is not even the club captain, a role he'd like. United really need an authoritative captain over one who seldom speaks English or an experienced man who is not one of the team's best players. Bryan Robson, Roy Keane and Gary Neville led from the front. United are sorely missing that ingredient.

United fans need to be careful what they wish for this summer. It wouldn't be inconceivable to see Pogba sold and become a world beater -- the one United need -- for someone else.

Shane Watson has ended his professional career in Australia by announcing his retirement from Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League and been praised as "one of the most exciting short-form players ever."

Watson, who retired from international cricket in 2016, joined the Thunder four years ago having previously been part of Sydney Sixers and Brisbane Heat, although 40 of his 41 BBL appearances came for the Thunder.

He was captain for the last three seasons and finished as the Thunder's leading BBL run-scorer with 1014 at 26.68. During the 2018-19 tournament he struck a 61-ball century against the Heat at the Gabba. Last year Watson signed a two-year extension with the Thunder but has decided to call it a day in Australian cricket to spend more time with his family.

"I want to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart who has been involved with the Sydney Thunder over the last four seasons," Watson said. "I will most definitely miss support that the club gets from the Thunder Nation. Their unwavering support through the ups and downs inspires everyone and I will cherish that support deeply.

"Finally, to my team-mates, I have played with so many great people and cricketers at the club and I sincerely wish everyone the absolute best for the upcoming seasons."

Cricket Australia chief executive, Kevin Roberts, praised Watson's longevity in the game.

"Shane Watson was one of the most exciting short-form players ever to grace a cricket field," Roberts said. "Talented, skillful and powerful, Shane was a devastating batsman at his best.

"In a career which spanned almost two decades Shane made a major contribution to Australian cricket firstly at international level and then in domestic cricket as a significant contributor to the Big Bash."

Thunder's head coach Shane Bond said: "I played against him a little bit and he was an outstanding player, so I was really looking forward to working with him. He was great to work with, he's the ultimate professional. He cared about the team and the players and was hugely respected in the dressing room. We're really going to miss what he brings to the team and he will be a big loss.

"For the young players at the club he was very approachable, honest and you couldn't ask for a better role model. We'd love to have him around in some capacity and there's an open invite to have him join us during the season."

Watson, who is currently playing for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL where he struck 96 in his most-recent outing, will continue to take up overseas T20 roles. The Thunder, who missed out on the semi-finals in last season's competition, will make a decision on their new captain over the next few months ahead of the 2019-2020 tournament.

After suffering his sixth straight defeat, Kolkata Knight Riders captain Dinesh Karthik stated his team-mates "trust in their leader" and admitted that his team's bowling "was found wanting" in recent matches. Knight Riders lost to Rajasthan Royals by three wickets on Thursday and are lagging behind in the playoffs race, placed sixth with only four wins from 11 matches. They now need to win all their remaining games, although even that may not ensure a playoffs berth.

"I think our bowling overall, a lot of times, has been found wanting a little bit, definitely," Karthik said at the press conference after the match. "I think our batting as well a lot of times, and that's why we're not being able to close games which we even end up scoring a lot of runs in. But the fact is that that's something we need to look into, at least it can get better and the boys are aware of it."

Karthik was asked whether or not he was going to continue with his captaincy, maybe seeing the way Royals changed their captain after a similar streak of losses. "Obviously, when the results don't go your way these questions will be asked and I understand that but as a team we're trying to do a lot of things right," he replied. "There are not things we're not attending to, we're trying to make the right changes, we're trying to build the right combination and trying to come in every game believing that we'll win. We're trying to keep everybody in good space and making sure the dressing room is good and they all trust in their leader. It's my job to lead from the front but sometimes results don't go your way so obviously it's a tough thing to kind of mend. But the fact is that we're trying hard as a team and I have belief in my boys that we'll come strong every game."

Graeme Smith also asked Karthik on the host broadcaster's channel how he was taking the six losses as a captain. "A lot of it will boil down to how much they trust me as a leader and it's important that you keep the mood of the dressing room really good," Karthik said on Star Sports. "Those are the things we've done well. I think as a team we've fought, we've been there but just the fact that we're not able to cross the line is obviously not a good feeling."

Knight Riders had an impressive run at the beginning of the tournament, riding on four wins in their first five matches, including a close comeback in a Super Over finish against Delhi Capitals. Since last beating Royals by eight wickets in Jaipur, Knight Riders have slipped down the table.

"That's what this tournament is all about, and I've always said that when we won, it always feels good but when you lose close games like these and somehow don't cross the line and then you feel, 'wow, how are you going to get there?'"

English umpire Ian Gould will retire after the World Cup to finish a 13-year career in the international game.

Gould, who played 18 ODIs for England and was part of the 1983 World Cup, joined the ECB's first-class umpire's list in 2002 and made his debut as an international umpire in a T20 between England and Sri Lanka in 2006. He stood in his first ODI a few days after that and his first Test - between South Africa and Bangladesh in Bloemfontein - two years later.

This year's World Cup will be Gould's fourth and he is one of 16 ICC umpires confirmed for the tournament.

"Ian has made an outstanding contribution to the game over a long period, particularly in the last decade as an international umpire for the ICC," Geoff Allardice, the ICC general manager of cricket, said. "He has always put the interests of the game first, and in doing so has earned enormous respect from his colleagues and players across all countries. His presence on the field will be missed, but I am sure his lifelong association with the game will continue."

To date, Gould has stood in 74 Tests (alongside being the TV umpire in a further 25), 135 ODIs and 37 T20Is

ICC umpires for 2019 World Cup Aleem Dar, Kumar Dharmasena, Marais Erasmus, Chris Gaffaney, Ian Gould, Richard Illingworth, Richard Kettleborough, Nigel Llong, Bruce Oxenford, Sundaram Ravi, Paul Reiffel, Rod Tucker, Joel Wilson, Michael Gough, Ruchira Palliyaguruge, Paul Wilson

ICC match referees for 2019 World Cup Chris Broad, David Boon, Andy Pycroft, Jeff Crowe, Ranjan Madugalle, Richie Richardson

South Africa women will be without the services of their regular captain Dane van Niekerk for the upcoming limited-overs home series against Pakistan, as she continues to recover from a stress fracture of the right femur.

Van Niekerk had suffered the injury during the first ODI against Sri Lanka in February this year and Suné Luus, who had stepped in to lead the side for the remainder of that series, has been named captain for the games against Pakistan as well.

The elevation to the captaincy, albeit in a temporary capacity, marked an interesting few months for Luus: she was dropped for the series against Sri Lanka, before being included in place of the injured Chloe Tryon, and then went on to lead the side when van Niekerk picked up her injury. Luus, a legspin-bowling allrounder, took a match-defining 4 for 30 in the third ODI against Sri Lanka, which helped her side sweep the series 3-0.

Two other senior players were recalled after regaining full fitness. Vice-captain Tryon has recovered from a groin injury, while Lizelle Lee was picked after meeting the team's fitness standards. Fitness concerns had resulted in her withdrawal from the series against Sri Lanka.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Sinalo Jafta, who last played an ODI in January 2017, was included in both squads, as was the uncapped Nondumiso Shangase. Shangase, a young allrounder, is a product of the Women's National Academy, and was also part of the South Africa women's emerging team that hosted England and Australia's academies in a triangular series last year. Opening batsman Andrei Steyn and medium-pacer Zintle Mali have only been picked for the ODIs, with Tazmin Brits and Moseline Daniels taking their place in the T20I squad.

The three-match ODI series will begin on May 6, and both South Africa and Pakistan will look to be higher on the ICC Women's Championship table by the end of it. South Africa are fifth on the table with six wins from 12 matches, the same number as Pakistan, who are sixth, but have an extra point following a no-result (against West Indies in September last year). The first two ODIs will be played at Senwes Park, Potchefstroom, with the final ODI in Benoni. The five-match T20I series will be played in Pretoria, Pietermaritzburg and Benoni between May 15 and May 23.

South Africa women's ODI team: Suné Luus (capt), Chloe Tryon (vice-capt), Lizelle Lee (wk), Andrie Steyn, Laura Wolvaardt, Shabnim Ismail, Mignon du Preez, Tumi Sekhukhune, Masabata Klaas, Marizanne Kapp, Nadine De Klerk, Zintle Mali, Nondumiso Shangase, Sinalo Jafta (wk)

South Africa women's T20I team: Suné Luus (capt), Chloe Tryon (vice-capt), Lizelle Lee (wk), Tazmin Brits, Laura Wolvaardt, Shabnim Ismail, Mignon du Preez, Tumi Sekhukhune, Masabata Klaas, Marizanne Kapp, Nadine De Klerk, Moseline Daniels, Nondumiso Shangase, Sinalo Jafta (wk)

Having failed to get a confirmation from Cricket Australia over the participation of its women players for the T20 exhibition matches next month, the BCCI has decided to go ahead and announce the squads for the four-match event to be played in Jaipur.

ESPNcricinfo understands that on April 4, the BCCI sent an email to CA to check whether the Australian women players would be allowed to play in the exhibition matches just like in 2018. Next day, former Australian women's captain Belinda Clark, who is CA'S interim high-performance head, wrote back saying that any decision could only be taken after the two boards sorted the scheduling of Australian men's ODI tour of India next January.

The men's ODI series has emerged as a sticking point between the two boards, with CA facing the prospect of having no ODI series during the home summer for the first time in several decades. It is believed that CA chief executive Kevin Roberts has been trying hard to request his BCCI counterpart Rahul Johri to reconsider the Indian position and allow the three-match ODI series to be deferred.

More to follow...