Cricket

Pakistan's cricket team is facing a crisis after their humiliating defeat to Bangladesh in the first Test. The loss has raised questions about the team's captaincy, form, and overall direction.Captain Shan Masood, who took over the reins just four Tests ago, is under fire after losing all four matches. His decision-making has been criticized, particularly his failure to declare early in the first Test, which allowed Bangladesh to escape with a draw.Pakistan's batting has also been a major concern. Babar Azam, the team's star batsman, has been in a slump, averaging just 21.15 in his last 13 Test innings. Other batsmen have also failed to step up, with only Abdullah Shafique and Saud Shakeel showing any consistency.The bowling attack has also been disappointing. Shaheen Afridi, Pakistan's pace spearhead, has been ruled out of the second Test with an injury. Naseem Shah and Mohammad Ali have been inconsistent, while the spinners have failed to make an impact.Bangladesh, on the other hand, have been the epitome of resilience and determination. They outplayed Pakistan in all departments, showing superior technique and game management. Mushfiqur Rahim, the veteran wicketkeeper-batsman, played a key role in Bangladesh's victory, anchoring the innings and guiding the younger players.The second Test will be crucial for both teams. Pakistan must win to avoid a series defeat at home, while Bangladesh will be looking to seal a historic series victory. The weather could play a factor, with rain forecast for the first day.Pakistan will need to make some tough decisions, including whether to include a spinner in the team. They will also need to find a way to get Babar Azam back in form and inspire the rest of the team.Bangladesh, on the other hand, will be confident of continuing their good form. They have shown that they are a team that can adapt to different conditions and outplay their opponents.

Bangladesh's historic 10-wicket victory over Pakistan in the first Test of the two-match series in Rawalpindi marked a significant milestone for the team. This triumph was Bangladesh's first-ever Test win against Pakistan, a testament to their growing prowess in the international cricket arena.Amidst the series, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) faced a legal challenge regarding star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan. Shakib was accused of involvement in a murder case, prompting a legal notice demanding his recall and ban from the team.The BCB initially stated that a decision on Shakib's status would be made after the first Test. However, recent reports from Cricbuzz indicate that the BCB has allowed Shakib to continue playing in the series."He [Shakib] will continue playing. We received a legal notice regarding bringing him back and we replied them saying this [that he will continue to play]," BCB president Faruque Ahmed told Prothom Alo, a leading Bengali daily.Ahmed emphasized that Shakib's guilt has not been established and that he will continue to play until proven otherwise. The BCB also expressed its intention to provide Shakib with legal assistance if necessary.Despite the ongoing legal proceedings, Shakib will not return home after the Pakistan series. He is scheduled to travel to England to participate in a four-day match for Surrey. The BCB has granted him a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for this purpose."He [Shakib] has not played red-ball cricket for a while and that is why we have given him an NOC to play for Surrey as it will help him to adjust with red-ball cricket more than anything else," a BCB official confirmed to Cricbuzz.Following his stint with Surrey, Shakib will join the Bangladesh team for the two-match Test series against India, commencing on September 19.

Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam's recent batting struggles have sparked widespread criticism, with his performance in the first Test against Bangladesh drawing particular scrutiny. Azam's scores of 0 and 22 contributed to Pakistan's dramatic batting collapse on the final day, resulting in a 10-wicket defeat.The loss marked Bangladesh's first-ever Test victory over Pakistan, prompting former captain Ramiz Raja to express his disappointment on his YouTube channel. Raja lamented the team's inability to maintain consistency and questioned Azam's form."It seems the entire country doesn't have a problem with anything except the form of Babar Azam," Raja said. "Cricket is in our blood, but I don't know for how long if we continue to lose matches like this in Test cricket."Pakistan conceded a 117-run lead to Bangladesh in the first innings and were then bowled out for just 146 on day five, leaving the visitors with a mere 30 runs to chase for victory. Saud Shakel (141) and Mohammad Rizwan (171 not out) had earlier starred in Pakistan's first-innings total of 448 for 6 declared.However, Bangladesh's veteran Mushfiqur Rahim's epic 191 and contributions throughout the batting card helped the visitors post 565 all out in response.Raja emphasized the importance of success in building fan following and acknowledged Azam's past achievements. However, he also highlighted the intense scrutiny that comes with being a high-profile player in the era of social media."When you lose a match and you haven't scored runs, and if you are Babar Azam, then you become a headline," Raja said. "This is the era of social media, where anyone can criticize and ridicule anyone."Raja advised Azam to avoid social media, stay in the moment, and focus on his batting technique. He suggested that Azam work on his footwork, practice hook and pull shots, and play with a positive intent."Scoring runs is one thing, but is he happy with the way he is batting?" Raja asked. "The last innings he played, he was bowled off an inside-edge. It means your bat angles are not right, you lose your frame because you aren't spending much time on the crease."Raja emphasized the importance of mental toughness and the need for Azam to forget past failures and focus on the present moment. He also stressed the critical role of character in overcoming adversity.

Pakistan's humiliating 10-wicket defeat to Bangladesh in the first Test match in Rawalpindi has sparked widespread criticism and dissatisfaction within the team management. The team's performance, particularly that of the four fast bowlers, has come under intense scrutiny.According to sources, the team management has expressed its disappointment with the performance of Shaheen Afridi, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali, and Naseem Shah. The bowlers failed to exploit the conditions to their advantage, and the lack of a quality spinner proved to be a major issue.Senior players have also voiced their concerns, expressing disappointment over the fast bowlers' inability to utilize the grass on the pitch and their declining pace. These issues were reportedly discussed in the dressing room after the match.In the match itself, Bangladesh's Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Shakib Al Hasan took seven wickets between them to secure their maiden win over Pakistan in five-day cricket. Mehidy grabbed 4-21 and Shakib 3-44, triggering a Pakistan collapse on the fifth day.Pakistan was dismissed for 146 runs in 55.5 overs, leaving Bangladesh with a target of just 30 runs. Openers Zakir Hasan and Shadman Islam reached the target in 6.3 overs, with Zakir hitting the winning boundary.Mohammad Rizwan top-scored for Pakistan in the second innings with 51, but the home team was staring at defeat at lunch. A holiday crowd of nearly 5,000 expected Pakistan to fight out a draw, but Mehidy's bowling proved too strong.The defeat has raised serious questions about Pakistan's bowling attack and the team's overall performance. The team management will need to address these issues quickly as they prepare for the second Test match in Dhaka.

Pakistan's Test squad for the second Test against Bangladesh has undergone significant changes, with the recall of Abrar Ahmed, Kamran Ghulam, and Aamir Jamal. The trio had been released from the squad for the first Test but have now been brought back to bolster the team's performance.Abrar Ahmed, a leg-spinner known for his exceptional control and ability to extract turn on subcontinent pitches, is expected to provide Pakistan with additional spin options. He has been in impressive form, contributing in a four-day match for Pakistan Shaheens against Bangladesh 'A' at the Islamabad Club from August 20 to 23.Kamran Ghulam, a middle-order batsman, brings depth and stability to the batting lineup. He has also been in good form, contributing to Pakistan Shaheens' performance in the four-day match.Shaheen Shah Afridi, Pakistan's spearhead fast bowler, has also rejoined the squad after being released at the conclusion of the first Test. His return will provide a significant boost to the bowling attack.Aamir Jamal, an emerging all-rounder with promising potential, has been recalled to the squad, although his participation in the second Test will depend on his fitness clearance. He had been working on his fitness at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) after being released from the squad earlier.The changes to the squad come after Bangladesh scripted history by registering their first-ever victory over Pakistan in Test cricket through a ten-wicket win in the series opener at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The victory was largely due to the stellar show from spinners Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz.Pakistan will be hoping to bounce back in the second Test and level the series. The match is scheduled to take place at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from August 30 to September 3.

Pakistan's dismal performance in the opening Test against Bangladesh has drawn sharp criticism from former cricketer Basit Ali, who has singled out Abdullah Shafique for his reckless shot selection.Pakistan's decision to declare at 448/6 in the first innings proved costly as Bangladesh outplayed them in all departments. The Najmul Hossain Shanto-led side scripted history by clinching a 10-wicket win in Rawalpindi, marking their first Test victory against Pakistan.Pakistan's downfall began after Bangladesh took a 117-run lead. On Day 5, wickets fell in quick succession, but Shafique held his ground and accumulated runs. However, his hopes of a respectable total were dashed when he attempted a reckless shot against Shakib Al Hasan.Basit Ali has slammed Shafique's shot as the turning point of the match. "If I was in the dressing room, I would have told Abdullah Shafique to pack his bags and leave. His shot was the reason Pakistan lost the match. After hitting 37, you are giving away your wicket with such a shot. Shan Masood should punish Shafique. This is Pakistan's team, not your local team," Basit said on his YouTube channel.Shafique was not the only batsman to give away his wicket cheaply. Naseem Shah also attempted a glory shot when holding the fort was crucial. "Look at the way Naseem Shah gave away his wicket. This is Pakistan cricket, not street cricket, this happens in England's league cricket," Basit added.Apart from poor shot selection, Pakistan's failure to read the pitch conditions was another factor in their defeat. The decision to field an all-out pace attack backfired as Bangladesh's spin duo of Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz combined to take nine wickets.Basit believes Pakistan's Test head coach, Jason Gillespie, misjudged the pitch. "Both Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie lost their opening matches. They both made mistakes. Kirsten made a mistake in the Super Over against the US, and Jason made a mistake in reading the pitch," he noted.Pakistan will aim to level the series in the second Test at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on August 30.

Pakistan's cricket team suffered a humiliating 10-wicket defeat against Bangladesh in the first Test match in Rawalpindi. The loss marks Bangladesh's maiden victory over Pakistan in five-day cricket.Bangladesh's spinners, Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Shakib Al Hasan, played a pivotal role in Pakistan's collapse. Mehidy claimed 4-21, while Shakib took 3-44, dismissing Pakistan for a mere 146 runs in 55.5 overs.Pakistan's batting lineup crumbled on a pitch that had been unresponsive for the first four days. However, small cracks began to appear, which Bangladesh's spinners exploited effectively. The hosts also faced criticism for not including a frontline spinner in their team.Pakistan's leading batsmen, Babar Azam and Shan Masood, failed to make significant contributions, scoring only 22 and 14 runs, respectively. First-innings century-maker Saud Shakeel was dismissed for a fourth-ball duck.Bangladesh's victory was a historic moment for the team, as it marked their first win over Australia, England, and Pakistan. The win in Rawalpindi was only their sixth in 143 Tests.Pakistan's loss has raised concerns about the fitness of fast bowler Naseem Shah, who has been criticized for his "bulging belly." Social media users have questioned his fitness and suggested that he may not be taking his training seriously.Pakistan skipper Shan Masood expressed disappointment over the loss, stating that the team did not take Bangladesh lightly but the pitch did not play as expected. Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto dedicated the win to those who lost their lives in the recent political turmoil in Bangladesh.The second and final Test match of the series will be played in Rawalpindi from Friday.

Pakistan's cricket team has suffered a significant setback in the World Test Championship (WTC) standings, dropping to eighth place after a humiliating 10-wicket defeat to Bangladesh in the first Test of the series in Rawalpindi. The loss, coupled with an over rate penalty, has left Pakistan with just 16 points and a winning percentage of 22.22, placing them just ahead of the West Indies.Bangladesh's historic victory in Rawalpindi marks their first-ever Test win against Pakistan, propelling them to seventh place in the WTC standings with 21 points. The win is a testament to Bangladesh's growing strength in the Test arena, having now won two out of their five matches in the current WTC cycle.Pakistan's defeat was compounded by a six-point penalty for maintaining a slow over rate. The team fell six overs short of the required rate during the match, resulting in the penalty. Bangladesh was also penalized for a slow over rate, losing three points for being three overs short.India currently leads the WTC standings with 74 points and a winning percentage of 68.52, after securing six wins in nine matches. Australia is in second place with 66 points, followed by South Africa with 54 points.The second Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh is scheduled to begin on Friday in Rawalpindi. Pakistan will be desperate to improve their standings and avoid further penalties in this upcoming match. However, Bangladesh will be confident of continuing their winning ways and further cementing their position in the WTC standings.

Bangladesh's cricket team has rallied around star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who is facing a murder allegation stemming from recent political unrest in the country. The accusation, made by Rafiqul Islam, alleges that Shakib's actions during the protests led to the death of Islam's son.Despite the allegations, Shakib played a pivotal role in Bangladesh's historic 10-wicket victory over Pakistan in Rawalpindi. The win marked Bangladesh's first-ever Test victory over Pakistan.Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto dedicated the victory to those who lost their lives in the protests. "He's been raising the name of Bangladesh in the world for 17 long years," Shanto wrote on Facebook. "Such a case against Shakib bhai is unexpected. In the new Bangladesh, we all want to see something new. I hope all the darkness will pass off and new light will come."Veteran batsman Mushfiqur Rahim also expressed solidarity with Shakib. "As a teammate and a brother, I will be there during his tough times, and I do not support the false allegations made against him because I know he would never engage in inhumane actions," Rahim stated.Shakib has yet to publicly address the murder allegation. The team's morale remains high following their maiden Test win over Pakistan, achieved under challenging conditions on a flat Rawalpindi pitch.The second and final Test of the series will also be played in Rawalpindi, starting Friday.