Cricket

Pakistan's cricket team has undergone significant changes ahead of the second Test against England, with star batter Babar Azam being dropped from the squad. The decision was made by the newly formed selection committee, which met in Lahore and Multan after Pakistan's chastening innings loss in the first Test.Babar's omission is a major blow to Pakistan, as he is their most experienced and successful batter. However, the selection committee felt that he would benefit from time away from the national side, as he has not scored a Test half-century since December 2022.The selection panel comprises Aaqib Javed, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Aleem Dar, Hassan Cheema, and the captain and head coach of the format for which the squad is being selected. It is understood that neither Masood nor Gillespie were part of the selection committee meeting on Friday.While some of the mentors were in favor of keeping Babar in the squad, the majority opinion was in favor of dropping him. It is not yet clear whether Babar will make himself available to play the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, which is scheduled to begin on October 20.Babar's form has been under scrutiny for some time, and his struggles against England on a flat wicket only intensified the pressure on him. He has now gone 18 innings without a half-century in Test cricket, and his average in nine Tests since the start of 2023 is under 21.The loss of form has coincided with a turbulent time in terms of Babar's leadership status. He resigned as captain from all formats after Pakistan's elimination at the ODI World Cup in 2023, but was reappointed as T20I and ODI captain just four months later. However, he quit captaincy once more in June 2024, citing a desire to focus on his batting.Babar's omission is not the only change to the Pakistan squad. Abrar Ahmed remains in hospital and is unlikely to recover in time for the second Test. Selectors are considering Noman Ali and Sajid Khan as potential replacements. There is also a chance that Shaheen Afridi does not play the second Test, as he continues to struggle to return to his pre-knee injury form.The second Test against England begins on October 15 in Multan. England won the first Test by an innings and 47 runs, putting Pakistan at the bottom of the World Test Championship table.

Pakistan's Test woes continue unabated as they succumb to a humiliating innings and 47-run defeat against England in Multan. This marks their 10th consecutive Test loss, extending their winless streak to 1,331 days. The last time Pakistan tasted victory in the longest format was in February 2021 against South Africa in Rawalpindi.Veteran batter Ahmed Shehzad has expressed his frustration over Pakistan's dismal performance, criticizing the Shan Masood-led side for their lack of character and accountability. Shehzad, who last played for Pakistan in 2019, questioned the team's winning attitude and effort on the field."Every day is a new low for the Pakistan cricket team," Shehzad said on his YouTube channel. "You can lose to any team at the moment. There is no winning attitude in this team. The pitch might be flat, but no one was putting an effort."Shehzad also accused the current crop of players of lacking accountability and being complacent in their positions. "These players don't have any accountability," he said. "They know that their place in the team is not under any kind of threat. PCB doesn't want to give opportunities to the youngsters."Pakistan's defeat in Multan is particularly embarrassing as they became the first team in Test history to lose by an innings despite scoring over 550 runs in their first innings. The loss extends Masood's captaincy record to six consecutive defeats.As Pakistan's Test struggles continue, they will look to bounce back in the second Test against England, which begins on Tuesday in Multan. However, with their confidence shattered and their opponents in dominant form, the task ahead seems daunting.

James Anderson, the legendary English bowler, has heaped praise on young batsman Harry Brook, comparing him to the likes of Joe Root and Kevin Pietersen. Anderson believes that Brook has the potential to surpass both Root and Pietersen as England's greatest Test batsman.Brook made history in the first Test against Pakistan in Multan, becoming the first English batter in 34 years to score a triple century. His 308-run knock was instrumental in England's innings and 47-run victory.Anderson, who retired from Test cricket in July after taking 704 wickets in 188 matches, was impressed by Brook's all-round ability. "He's on the way to being in the top three that I've played with," Anderson said on the Tailenders podcast. "It's Root, Pietersen and him. He's definitely got all the attributes to overtake them."Anderson believes that Brook possesses the perfect blend of Root's technique and temperament with Pietersen's attacking instincts. "He's got the shots of both Root and Pietersen. He can destroy an attack if he wants to, he can play a longer innings if he needs to," Anderson added.Anderson also highlighted Brook's love for batting, which he believes is similar to Root's. "They literally couldn't care less what format it is. They just want to bat," Anderson said. "As much as Brook's the younger player and will be learning loads from Rooty, I still think Rooty learns from him as well."If Brook continues to perform at his current level, he has the potential to become one of the greatest English batsmen of all time. Anderson's praise is a testament to the young batsman's talent and potential.

England captain Ben Stokes is poised to make a timely return for the second Test against Pakistan, providing a major boost to the tourists' hopes of securing a series victory.Stokes missed England's historic triumph in the first Test in Multan due to a torn hamstring sustained in August. However, his deputy Ollie Pope hinted that the all-rounder is on track to feature in the second Test, which begins in Multan on Tuesday."He's looking to come back," Pope told Sky Sports during the first Test. "He's been training really well this week. He's as keen as ever to get playing again, so fingers crossed he's all good."Stokes' return would be a significant addition to an England side that has already shown its resilience and adaptability in Pakistan. The tourists overcame a first-innings deficit to secure a thrilling 74-run victory in Multan, with Pope leading the way in Stokes' absence.The England captain has been a key figure in the team's recent resurgence under coach Brendon McCullum. His aggressive batting and inspirational leadership have played a pivotal role in England's transformation from a struggling side to one of the most exciting teams in world cricket.If Stokes is fit to play, he will likely slot back into his usual position at number six in the batting order. He will also be expected to contribute with his medium-pace bowling, which has proved effective in both Test and limited-overs cricket.Stokes' return will be a major blow to Pakistan, who will be looking to level the series in Multan. The hosts will be hoping that their bowlers can exploit the conditions and restrict England's batting lineup, which has been in impressive form in recent months.The second Test promises to be a fascinating contest between two evenly matched sides. England will be aiming to build on their momentum from the first Test, while Pakistan will be determined to bounce back and prove that they are a force to be reckoned with in their own backyard.

England's emphatic innings victory in Multan has set the stage for a thrilling conclusion to their tour of Pakistan. With two Tests remaining, the hosts are expected to prepare "result wickets" in an attempt to level the series.The groundstaff at Multan, which will host the second Test, began watering a fresh pitch within an hour of England's victory. The pitch is expected to be prepared over the next three days, with a greener surface likely to favor Pakistan's fast bowlers.Pakistan captain Shan Masood has repeatedly expressed his desire for pitches that assist his pace attack. However, the lifeless surface in Multan proved to be a disappointment, allowing England to amass a mammoth 823 for 7.England believe Pakistan may gamble on a green pitch in an effort to secure a series victory. "There was talk about green surfaces," said Chris Woakes. "We'll see."Masood downplayed the role of the pitch, instead blaming his bowlers for their inability to take wickets. "We take discussion of the pitch too seriously," he said. "You can't control every aspect of the pitch."England are hopeful that Ben Stokes will return to the side for the second Test after missing the first due to a hamstring injury. Stokes has stepped up his rehabilitation this week and is expected to be fit to play.If Stokes returns, England could face a selection dilemma. They may replace one of their three seamers with Stokes, or they could leave out one of their two spinners and give Joe Root a greater role with the ball.Woakes, who made a successful return to Test cricket in Multan, believes England can adapt to any surface. "I'm never going to average 25 in these conditions," he said. "But I'm pretty pleased I contributed."

Joe Root, the English batting maestro, continues to dominate the Test arena, etching his name among the all-time greats. With his 35th Test century in Multan against Pakistan, Root has extended his lead as the active batter with the most Test runs.Former England captain Michael Vaughan believes Root has the potential to surpass Sachin Tendulkar's all-time record of 15,291 Test runs. However, Vaughan emphasizes that Root must maintain his longevity in the game."Joe's love of the game means he will not be like Alastair Cook. Cook retired six years ago, at almost exactly the same age - 33 - that Joe is now. But I see Joe going into his forties, like Anderson has," Vaughan wrote in his column for The Telegraph.Root's current tally of 12,500 Test runs places him just over 3,000 runs behind Tendulkar. The 33-year-old has played 147 Tests, while Tendulkar played 200 during his illustrious career.2024 has been a remarkable year for Root, who has amassed runs against India, West Indies, Sri Lanka, and now Pakistan. He became the first batter to cross 1,000 Test runs in 2024.Vaughan heaped praise on Root, stating, "Root is already cricketing royalty and there is no doubt in my eyes that he has become England's greatest batsman already. No one has played the different forms of the game better than him, and he has got the runs to show for it."Root also trails Tendulkar in another elite list. He has crossed 1,000 Test runs in five separate calendar years, while only Tendulkar has achieved this feat in six calendar years.Root's unwavering determination and exceptional batting skills make him a formidable force in Test cricket. If he continues to play at his current level and maintain his longevity, he has the potential to break Tendulkar's record and become the leading Test run-scorer of all time.

Pakistan's cricket team has endured a humiliating defeat in the Multan Test against England, becoming the first Test-playing nation to lose by an innings and 47 runs after scoring over 550 runs in the first innings. This unprecedented setback has cast a dark shadow over Pakistan's cricketing history.Despite their impressive first-innings total, Pakistan's bowlers failed to deliver, allowing England to take a commanding lead. Skipper Shan Masood expressed his disappointment, emphasizing that the team's batting unit cannot shoulder the entire blame."When you put up 550 on the board, it's important to back it up with 10 wickets," Masood said. "220 runs in the third innings can be a good score, but England found a way to get those 20 wickets. We also have to find a way to do that."Masood acknowledged that Pakistan's recent Test performances have been disappointing, including a 0-2 loss to Bangladesh. He stressed the need for consistency and a squad mentality to overcome these challenges."We're in the middle of the series, and we've talked about squad mentality and consistency," Masood said. "No matter how the pitch is, we have to find a way out. England showed that. It's a non-negotiable of Test cricket to perform on a consistent basis."Masood expressed his frustration over the team's inability to deliver the results that Pakistan deserves. "We're obviously hurt by the results, hurt as a nation," he said. "What hurts is that we're not getting the results that Pakistan cricket deserves. We are trying to turn it around."Pakistan's bowlers will need to step up and deliver in the remaining matches of the series if they hope to salvage some pride. The team's batting unit has shown its potential, but it is the bowlers who must now prove their worth.

England's batting maestro Joe Root has hailed the prodigious talent of young batter Harry Brook, predicting that the 25-year-old will continue to produce "monster scores" in the future. Brook's scintillating triple century in the Multan Test against Pakistan has left an indelible mark on the cricketing world, overshadowing even Root's own career-best 262.Root, who has recently surpassed Alastair Cook as England's leading Test run-getter, believes that Brook possesses the complete skillset to become one of the game's greats. "He's got such a complete game. He can score all around the wicket, he plays seam well, spin well, and high pace well. That's a pretty good recipe for scoring runs," Root said.Brook's calm demeanor and ability to pick runs effortlessly have impressed Root, who has witnessed the youngster's growth firsthand. "I'm not surprised at all in him going on and doing something special like that, but I don't think it'll be the last time we see him with a monster score by his name," Root added.The 454-run partnership between Root and Brook shattered numerous records and left Pakistan reeling. Pakistan's bowlers were unable to contain the onslaught, and their confidence plummeted as England piled on the runs.Root is hopeful that Brook's success will inspire other young players to strive for greatness. "You want to create an environment and a team where things are always improving and always getting better. You want the guys that come in to play with that belief that they can go and do really special things... If guys in the future are breaking records, then England are in a good place, and they're scoring a lot of runs, so hopefully that is the case," he said.Root has enjoyed playing alongside Brook, having first shared the crease with him at Yorkshire. "I love playing with Brooky. I've batted a lot together with him at Yorkshire, and seeing him come into this team and fit so seamlessly into Test cricket has been awesome. To get the opportunity to stand there at the other end and watch him go and smack 300 is pretty surreal, really," Root said.England's declaration at 823/7 left Pakistan with a daunting task of chasing down a mammoth total. Pakistan ended the day on 152/6, still trailing by 115 runs. The match remains finely poised, but England will be confident of securing a victory with their potent bowling attack.

Pakistan's star batter Babar Azam has been enduring a prolonged batting slump, particularly in Test cricket. Since his 161 against New Zealand in December 2022, Babar has failed to reach triple figures in the longest format. His struggles continued in the ongoing first Test against England, where he managed scores of 30 and 5.Babar's inability to capitalize on a pitch described as a "batting paradise" has drawn criticism from fans and experts. The nickname "Zimbabar" or "Zimbu," once used to mock his tendency to score against weaker teams, has reportedly become prevalent within the Pakistan dressing room.A viral video on social media has fueled speculation that pacer Shaheen Afridi used the term "Zimbu" to tease Babar. While the video lacks audio, fans believe Shaheen's gestures indicate the use of the nickname.The alleged rift between Babar and Shaheen stems from Shaheen's removal as T20 World Cup captain in favor of Babar. Babar subsequently relinquished the role, leaving Pakistan without a permanent captain.Meanwhile, Pakistan faces an imminent Test defeat in Multan. England's mammoth 823-7 declared gave them a 267-run lead, which they have extended to 382 runs. Pakistan's batting collapse has left them needing 115 runs to avoid an innings defeat on the final day.Harry Brook's 317 and Joe Root's record-breaking 262 were instrumental in England's dominant performance. Pakistan's bowlers have struggled to contain the English batters, who have amassed a massive total.