Cricket

Pakistan's first innings extended by 99 runs on the second morning in Multan, reaching 358 for 8 at lunch. England's bowlers made early inroads, but a ninth-wicket stand of 49 between Aamer Jamal and Noman Ali thwarted their progress.Carse struck early, dismissing Mohammad Rizwan for 41. Agha Salman countered with boundaries off Carse and Potts, but Potts eventually had him caught for 53. Jack Leach claimed Sajid Khan for 19, leaving Pakistan vulnerable at 309 for 8.However, Jamal and Noman showed resilience, adding 49 runs for the ninth wicket. Jamal, despite hip discomfort, remained unbeaten on 37, while Noman played a range of deft sweeps and pulled Brydon Carse for four.England's bowlers, despite a productive start, were unable to break through the Jamal-Noman partnership. Pakistan's innings was characterized by a mix of early wickets and late resistance, setting up an intriguing contest in the second session.

Pakistan vs England 1st Test Day 5: Pakistan Fights Back, Trails by 115 RunsPakistan resumed Day 5 of the ongoing first Test against England from a precarious position of 152/6 in Multan, trailing by 115 runs. The visitors, buoyed by Harry Brook's sensational triple century and Joe Root's 262, were eager to wrap up the innings and secure victory by an innings.However, Pakistan's lower order showed resilience, with Agha Salman (41*) and Aamer Jamal (27*) putting up a defiant partnership to take the game into the final day. The duo weathered the storm, frustrating England's bowlers and keeping their team in the contest.England's bowlers, led by James Anderson and Ollie Robinson, had made early inroads on Day 4, reducing Pakistan to 82/6. But Salman and Jamal's partnership has given Pakistan a glimmer of hope.The match is evenly poised heading into the final day. England will be looking to dismiss the remaining Pakistan wickets quickly and secure a comprehensive victory. Pakistan, on the other hand, will be aiming to bat out the day and set a challenging target for England in the second innings.

Pakistan's Test squad for the first match against England has been announced, with all-rounder Aamer Jamal making a long-awaited return. Jamal's inclusion allows Pakistan to field a balanced attack, featuring Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Abrar Ahmed. This is the first time in over a year that Pakistan's full first-choice bowling contingent is available.The batting lineup remains unchanged, with Abdullah Shafique retaining his place despite recent struggles. Captain Shan Masood expressed confidence in Shafique, stating that the team is leaving the pitch preparation to the groundsman.Pakistan's batting has been a concern, with several batters underperforming. The match-up against England's inexperienced bowling unit in these conditions presents an intriguing challenge. England's decision to field a bowling combination of Brydon Carse, Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Jack Leach, and Shoaib Bashir has raised eyebrows, but it aligns with their aggressive "Bazball" approach.Masood acknowledged the impact of "Bazball" on world cricket, emphasizing the importance of finding new ways to play. However, Pakistan has vowed not to be drawn into England's style, preferring to absorb pressure and make amends for a difficult year."There is a lot of hurt within the players," said Masood. "We want to see our fans happy. We believe in this set of players and with Jason Gillespie, we wanted to create a squad mentality."Pakistan's squad for the first Test:* Saim Ayub* Abdullah Shafique* Shan Masood (capt)* Babar Azam* Saud Shakeel* Mohammad Rizwan (wk)* Salman Ali Agha* Aamer Jamal* Shaheen Afridi* Naseem Shah* Abrar Ahmed

Pakistan's fast-bowling allrounder Aamer Jamal will miss the upcoming two-Test series against Bangladesh due to an ongoing back injury, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed on Monday. Jamal was initially included in the squad with his participation contingent upon fitness clearance. However, his recovery has been slower than anticipated, ruling him out of both Tests.Jamal, who emerged as Pakistan's leading wicket-taker during the 2023-24 away series in Australia with 18 scalps in three Tests, has been battling lower back issues since May. The injury hampered his multi-format stint with Warwickshire in England, where he last played competitive cricket in June.As the lone seam-bowling allrounder in the squad, Jamal's absence leaves Pakistan with a 14-man roster for the first Test. Abrar Ahmed and Kamran Ghulam have also been released to play for the Shaheens. Consequently, Pakistan is likely to field an all-seam attack for the first Test, with Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mir Hamza, Khurram Shahzad, and Mohammad Ali vying for selection.Jamal will now focus on regaining fitness at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore. His aim is to be ready for the Test series against England in October.

Aamer Jamal's brief stint with Warwickshire has ended prematurely due to persistent fitness issues. The Pakistani pacer joined the English county in April but managed only three appearances across formats.Jamal's debut against Nottinghamshire was promising, but he struggled for rhythm and pace in subsequent outings. A back injury further sidelined him, limiting his involvement in the County Championship.In the Blast, Jamal played just one match, conceding 25 runs in a wicketless over and being dismissed for a first-ball duck. Warwickshire's director of cricket, Gavin Larsen, expressed disappointment that Jamal could not showcase his abilities.Jamal's compatriot Hasan Ali has also faced injury setbacks at Warwickshire, missing recent Blast matches due to an elbow problem. The county has been plagued by seam-bowling injuries this season, with Craig Miles, Liam Norwell, and Chris Rushworth all spending time on the sidelines.Despite their bowling woes, Warwickshire has performed well in the Blast, topping the North Group. However, they remain winless in Division One of the Championship.To bolster their bowling options, Warwickshire has signed former England Under-19 seamer Ethan Bamber from Middlesex. Bamber was highly sought after, and his acquisition is a significant boost for the county.

Warwickshire has bolstered its squad with the acquisition of Pakistani all-rounder Aamer Jamal on a multi-format contract until the end of July. Jamal's signing comes amidst his omission from Pakistan's ongoing T20I series against New Zealand.Jamal made a remarkable debut in Test cricket, claiming 18 wickets in three matches against Australia late last year. He has also featured in six T20Is for Pakistan. Despite attending a training camp at the Pakistan Military Academy earlier this month, he was not selected for the T20 World Cup squad.Warwickshire's performance director, Gavin Larsen, expressed excitement about Jamal's arrival, stating that he is eager to make an immediate impact. Coach Mark Robinson will make a late decision on Jamal's inclusion in the team for their County Championship match against Nottinghamshire on Friday.Larsen praised Jamal's impressive performance in Australia, highlighting his pace, bounce, and combative approach. He believes Jamal could have been a strong contender for the player of the series award, which was ultimately given to Pat Cummins.Jamal joins fellow Pakistani Hasan Ali in Warwickshire's squad. Ali was also left out of the New Zealand series and will fill one of the team's two permitted overseas spots until the end of July. His contract includes an option to extend into September.Warwickshire will be without T20 captain Moeen Ali for the first half of the Blast due to his expected inclusion in England's provisional T20 World Cup squad. The club has strengthened its T20 bowling attack with the additions of George Garton and Richard Gleeson, although Gleeson's availability for the start of the Blast is uncertain due to his involvement in the IPL playoffs.Elsewhere, Sam Cook will lead Essex for the first time against Durham, while Ollie Pope and Gus Atkinson are included in Surrey's squad to face Hampshire. In Division Two, Rehan Ahmed returns to Leicestershire's squad after a pilgrimage, and Josh Hull makes his comeback from a side strain.