Cricket

Pakistan's recent victory over England in the second Test at Multan has sparked a mix of jubilation and controversy. The triumph ended a string of Test defeats, but it also reignited criticism of former captain Babar Azam and alleged favoritism during his tenure.After Pakistan's loss in the first Test, the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) new selection panel, led by former pacer Aaqib Javed, dropped Babar from the Test squad. Other notable omissions included fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah, as well as wicketkeeper Sarfaraz Ahmed.The move proved fruitful as debutant Kamran Ghulam scored a century, while the spin duo of Noman Ali and Sajid Khan played a pivotal role in Pakistan's 152-run victory within four days. Noman and Sajid claimed all 20 English wickets, with Noman taking 11 and Sajid claiming nine.However, the win has fueled further criticism of Babar, prompting veteran pacer Mohammad Amir to speak out. "Please end these petty talks that the team won because Babar or other players were not in the team," Amir wrote on social media. "We played with better planning, took the home advantage, and won."Amir urged fans to focus on performance rather than personal attacks on players. The three-match series is now level at 1-1, with the deciding Test scheduled to begin on October 24 in Rawalpindi.

Mohammad Rizwan, the seasoned wicketkeeper-batter, has emerged as the frontrunner to lead Pakistan's white-ball teams in the upcoming tours of Australia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is expected to announce the touring squad by Sunday, October 23rd.The decision to appoint Rizwan as captain comes after Babar Azam stepped down from the role earlier this month, citing a desire to focus on his batting. Rizwan's experience and leadership qualities have made him a strong candidate for the position."Rizwan is a front runner to become white-ball captain because of his seniority, reliability as a player, and experience of leading teams well in domestic cricket and PSL," said a reliable source within the PCB.The selectors have consulted with PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and white-ball head coach Gary Kirsten in the past two days. They are likely to include Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Naseem Shah in the white-ball squad after they were rested for the last two Tests against England.The source also indicated that the selectors are keen to include some new young players in the squad to provide exposure and rest to senior players. Pakistan is scheduled to play nine ODIs and as many T20 internationals during the three tours.Rizwan's appointment as captain would mark a significant shift in Pakistan's white-ball leadership. He is known for his calm and composed demeanor, as well as his ability to inspire his teammates. His experience in leading teams in domestic cricket and the Pakistan Super League (PSL) will be invaluable in his new role.

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has endorsed the decision by the newly formed selection committee to drop Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Naseem Shah from the squad for the remaining two Tests against England. The move has sparked debate, with some questioning the rationale behind dropping three of Pakistan's most talented players.Afridi, however, believes the decision is a wise one that will ultimately benefit both the players and the team. He argues that resting these players will prolong their careers and allow them to return refreshed and rejuvenated. Additionally, it will provide an opportunity for the PCB to test and groom new talent, building a stronger bench strength for the future."Supporting the selectors' decision to give Babar, Shaheen, and Naseem a break from international cricket. This move not only helps protect and extend the careers of these champion players but also gives a great opportunity to test and groom emerging talent, building strong bench strength for the future," Afridi posted on Twitter.The decision to drop the trio has also been met with some criticism, with some arguing that it sends the wrong message to the players and could damage their confidence. However, Afridi believes that the players will understand the rationale behind the decision and will use it as motivation to improve their performances."I am confident that Babar, Shaheen, and Naseem will come back stronger than ever. They are all world-class players, and they will use this break to work on their game and come back even better," Afridi said.The decision to drop the trio is part of a wider shake-up of the Pakistan cricket team following their disappointing loss to England in the first Test in Multan. The PCB has formed a new selection committee, comprising Aqib Javed, Azhar Ali, Aleem Dar, Hasan Cheema, and advisor Bilal Afzal, and has given them the power to make all selection decisions, including the finalizing of the playing eleven.This move has reduced the powers of captain Shan Masood and head coach Jason Gillespie, who previously had the final say in selection matters. However, the PCB believes that this change will allow the selectors to make more objective and informed decisions, free from any external pressure.

Pakistan's Test captain Babar Azam's omission from the second Test against England has sparked a debate about his form and comparisons with India's Virat Kohli. Azam's last half-century in the format came in December 2022, and his average in his last 17 Test innings is a meager 20.70.On Ravichandran Ashwin's YouTube channel, the former India spinner weighed in on the discussion. "Definitely, if he is given a chance, he will score runs. If there is class, that's okay. I feel we should end this debate once and for all," Ashwin said.However, Ashwin drew a clear distinction between Azam and Kohli. "First of all, across the border, Babar Azam and Virat Kohli shouldn't be mentioned in the same line," he asserted. "I am very sorry, I really rate Babar Azam as an outstanding player, but Virat Kohli's credentials are something else. Across terrains, across times, across pressure situations, the kind of heists he has done, no one has done that in world cricket."Ashwin's comments highlight the immense respect he holds for Kohli's achievements. Kohli has amassed over 25,000 international runs across all formats, including 71 centuries. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of all time.Pakistan's Test struggles have extended beyond Azam's form. They have not won a Test at home since 2022, losing six out of ten matches and drawing four. In the first Test against England, they became the first team to lose a Test match by an innings after scoring over 500 runs in the first innings.Ahead of the second Test, Pakistan made the surprising decision to drop Azam, along with pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah. Azam's scores of 30 and five in the first Test were not enough to save his place in the team.Pakistan will be desperate to end their winless streak in the second Test. However, they will face a formidable England side that is brimming with confidence after their dominant performance in the first match.

Pakistan's star pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi has expressed his support for the national team as they prepare for the second Test against England in Multan. Afridi, along with Babar Azam, Naseem Shah, and Sarfaraz Ahmed, was released from the squad for the remaining two Tests of the series.The changes to Pakistan's squad were made by a newly-formed selection committee, formed hours after the hosts suffered an embarrassing loss by an innings and 47 runs to England in the first Test at Multan. Pakistan are 0-1 behind in the three-match Test series against England and are also at the bottom of the ongoing World Test Championship standings.Afridi, who has been struggling with form and fitness, took to social media to wish the team well. "Wishing Team Pakistan the best of luck! Rooting for a strong comeback. We're all cheering for you!" he wrote on Twitter.The second Test between Pakistan and England will be played on the same pitch as the series opener in Multan from Tuesday. Pakistan will be hoping to level the series and avoid a humiliating whitewash.Pakistan squad for second and third Tests:* Shan Masood (captain)* Saud Shakeel (vice-captain)* Aamir Jamal* Abdullah Shafique* Haseebullah (wicket-keeper)* Kamran Ghulam* Mehran Mumtaz* Mir Hamza* Mohammad Ali* Mohammad Huraira* Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper)* Noman Ali* Saim Ayub* Sajid Khan* Salman Ali Agha* Zahid Mehmood

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has issued a show-cause notice to opening batsman Fakhar Zaman for expressing support for former captain Babar Azam, who was dropped from the Test squad after a string of poor performances.Zaman's comments, in which he compared Azam's situation to that of Virat Kohli, who was not dropped by India despite a lean patch, have been praised by former Pakistan batsman Basit Ali. However, Ali has also cautioned Zaman about the potential consequences he may face."Fakhar Zaman has been served a show-cause notice, which means that coming days are not going to be good for him because of the mafia that sits in the PCB," Ali said on his YouTube channel.Ali advised Zaman to speak to PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi to avoid further problems. "I think Fakhar should talk to chairman Mohsin Naqvi. Otherwise, these guys will create problems for him," he said.Zaman's comments have sparked a debate about the treatment of senior players in the Pakistan team. Some believe that Azam should have been given more time to regain his form, while others argue that the team needs to move on from underperforming players.The PCB has not yet commented on the show-cause notice issued to Zaman. However, it is clear that the board is not happy with his public criticism of the team's decision-making.Zaman has been instructed to respond to the show-cause notice by October 21. His comments are considered a breach of his player contract with the PCB.

Pakistan's Test team has undergone a significant transformation for the second Test against England, opting for a spin-heavy attack on the same pitch that witnessed England's record-breaking performance in the first Test. This drastic change in strategy reflects a shift in Pakistan's approach to home pitches, with assistant coach Azhar Mahmood revealing that they had planned to prepare spin-friendly surfaces for England.Despite the expectation that the pitch would begin to turn from the second day in the first Test, Pakistan's lineup featured only one specialist spinner, Abrar Ahmed. However, for the second Test, they have lined up with three spinners: Zahid Mahmood, Noman Ali, and Sajid Khan. This will be the first time Pakistan has played a men's Test with only one fast bowler, Aamer Jamal.The decision to field three spinners stems from Pakistan's belief that spin is the best way to take 20 wickets against England on this particular pitch. Mahmood emphasized the importance of taking wickets and expressed confidence in the experience of the incoming spinners, despite their lack of recent first-class matches.However, the exclusion of Babar Azam from the team has raised eyebrows. Mahmood insists that it is a "rest" rather than a "drop," citing Pakistan's upcoming schedule. However, some question why the upcoming white-ball tours could not serve as a more appropriate avenue for rotation, given the significance of the home Test series against England.The fielding of three spinners in addition to Salman Agha, who Mahmood previously described as a "specialist spinner," indicates Pakistan's belief that the pitch will take turn. They have left grass on the surface to encourage spin and hope it will work in their favor.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made a bold decision to rest four of its top players for the remaining two Test matches against England. The move, which includes dropping captain Babar Azam, former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed, and pace bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah, has raised eyebrows in the cricket world.The PCB has defended the decision, stating that it is in the best interests of the team. A PCB spokesperson said that the players were "spared from the team to give them rest so that they can come back afresh."The decision comes after Pakistan suffered a humiliating innings and 47-run defeat in the first Test at Rawalpindi. The team's performance was widely criticized, with many calling for changes to the playing XI.The PCB has also announced a new selection committee, which will be responsible for selecting the team for the remaining two Tests. The new committee includes former players Aleem Dar, Aaqib Javed, Azhar Ali, and Hassan Cheema.The four players who have been dropped have been replaced by younger players, including Haseebullah, Mehran Mumtaz, Mohammad Ali, and Kamran Ghulam. These players have limited experience at the international level, but the PCB believes that they have the potential to succeed.The PCB's decision to rest its top players is a gamble. However, it is a gamble that the board believes is necessary to ensure the long-term success of the team.

Pakistan's decision to exclude star batsman Babar Azam from the upcoming Test series against England has raised eyebrows, with former England captain Nasser Hussain expressing his surprise. Hussain believes that while Azam is currently out of form, he is a player who can rise to the occasion when the pressure is on.Azam's exclusion, along with that of strike bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah, was a bold move by Pakistan's new selection panel. Hussain suggests that England may not be too concerned about Azam's absence, given his recent struggles. However, he warns that players of Azam's caliber often find a way to score runs when it matters most.Azam's form has dipped since he was appointed captain and Pakistan's disappointing performance at the T20 World Cup in June. He has not scored a Test half-century since 2022, despite an impressive overall record that includes nine centuries and 26 half-centuries in 55 matches.Meanwhile, Shaheen has struggled to regain his wicket-taking rhythm after recovering from a knee injury. Pakistan's decision to use the same contentious Multan pitch for the second Test has also drawn criticism from Hussain. He emphasizes the need for a more balanced pitch that offers something for both batsmen and bowlers."Test cricket cannot afford another game like the one we had last week," Hussain wrote. "There has to be a balance between bat and ball, and that means the pitch has to offer bowlers something at both ends of the game: movement for the seamers at the start, turn for the spinners at the end."Pakistan will be desperate to level the series against England, but they will need to find a way to overcome the absence of their star players and the challenges posed by the Multan pitch.