Cricket

England's Test debutant Ben Duckett faces an anxious wait to determine his availability for the remainder of the first Test against Pakistan in Multan. Duckett suffered a suspected dislocation of his left thumb while fielding at slip on the opening day, casting doubt over his ability to bat.The incident occurred when Pakistan's No. 11, Abrar Ahmed, steered a short ball from Joe Root straight into Duckett's thumb. Duckett initially held onto the catch but immediately grimaced in pain and received treatment from England's doctor.Ollie Pope replaced Duckett as opener alongside Zak Crawley, but England remained cautious in their batting approach, reaching 96 for 1 at the close of the 20-over stint. An England spokesperson expressed hope that Duckett's injury would subside overnight, but it remains uncertain whether he will be fit to bat on the third day.Duckett's absence would be a significant blow for England, who have opted to field a six-batter, five-bowler lineup in the absence of Ben Stokes. Duckett was England's second-highest run-scorer in their 3-0 series whitewash in Pakistan two years ago and has emerged as a key player since his recall.Stokes, who is targeting a comeback in the second Test, stepped up his recovery on Tuesday. He took slip catches, ran at high intensity, and bowled three overs at tea, with James Anderson observing.England's resources for the second Test are already stretched, with Olly Stone unlikely to feature after returning home for his wedding. If Duckett is unavailable, he could be replaced by Jordan Cox or Stokes, necessitating a reshuffled batting order.

Salman Agha's heroics propelled Pakistan to a commanding position on Day 2 of the first Test against England in Multan. The 30-year-old batsman played a pivotal role in Pakistan's charge, scoring an unbeaten 104 off 119 balls to guide his team past the 560-mark.Agha's innings was not without controversy, however. During one of his sixes off Jack Leach, a contentious decision by the third umpire, Chris Gaffaney, sparked debate. As Agha went after Leach, Chris Woakes, stationed at long-off, dived back to catch the ball on the ropes. However, Woakes' momentum carried him outside the boundary line before he threw the ball back into play. Upon jumping back to complete the catch, Gaffaney ruled that Woakes' right foot was grounded when he made contact with the ball, deeming it a six.The decision divided the cricket world, with many questioning the validity of the call. Replays showed that Woakes' foot appeared to be in the air when he caught the ball, but the third umpire's ruling stood.Despite the controversy, Agha continued to dominate the English bowlers. He reached his eighth Test fifty with a flurry of boundaries, including 10 fours and two sixes. His partnership with Saud Shakeel added an invaluable 57 runs for the seventh wicket, further solidifying Pakistan's position.Earlier in the day, Agha had survived a close call when Woakes lobbed the ball from behind the boundary line and caught it inside the ground. However, the third umpire ruled that Woakes' foot touched the ground beyond the rope, giving Agha a six.Agha's century marked a significant milestone in his career, as he surpassed 1,000 runs in his 15th Test. His innings was a testament to his resilience and determination, as he weathered the English bowlers' attack and played a crucial role in Pakistan's dominance.

Olly Stone, the English fast bowler, will depart from England's tour of Pakistan on Wednesday to attend his wedding this weekend. His return date remains uncertain, making his availability for the second Test doubtful.Stone's departure was initially planned for after the first Test, but he has been granted an early release due to his wedding on Saturday. The 29-year-old has been a key member of England's Test squad since his return to the side in the summer, taking seven wickets in two Tests against Sri Lanka.However, Brydon Carse was preferred as England's high-pace option for the first Test in Multan, which began on Monday. This has allowed Stone to return home earlier than expected.The date of Stone's return is unclear and will depend on the fitness of England's other fast bowlers after the first Test. With a tight turnaround between his wedding and the second Test on Tuesday, it is unlikely that he will be available for selection.Carse, Gus Atkinson, and Chris Woakes are the three seamers selected for the first Test, with Matthew Potts as the reserve fast bowler.England's management has expressed their support for Stone's decision to leave Pakistan, considering that he was not included in the latest batch of central contracts and that his wedding was planned before his recall.Stone had previously discussed his wedding plans with England's managing director, Rob Key, and coach, Brendon McCullum, who agreed to his request to attend his wedding."We booked the wedding on the basis of me only playing for Notts at the time," Stone told the BBC. "Jess said she was happy to move the wedding, but I was adamant on keeping it where it was if possible. For what she has given up and sacrificed for me, I thought the least I could do was to try and make it work."In the past, players have made significant sacrifices to prioritize their cricket careers. Tony Pigott postponed his wedding to play his only Test for England in 1984. More recently, contracted players have rescheduled weddings due to clashes. Joe Root, England's Test captain, revealed that he and his wife, Carrie, had rearranged their wedding three times due to tours.Root expressed his support for Stone's decision, saying, "It's a special time in anyone's life. I'm really excited for him. I'm sure he is all over the place with everything that's going on, but it'll be very special for him - and his wife - starting a different chapter in his life. We'll all be raising a cold water to him at some point, celebrating."

Pakistan continued to dominate England in the second Test in Multan, extending their first-innings lead to 397 runs at lunch on day two. Saud Shakeel remained unbeaten on 67, while Salman Ali was yet to score.Naseem Shah, who resumed his role as nightwatchman, played a crucial role in Pakistan's progress. He scored his highest score in any format, 33 from 81 balls, and frustrated England's bowlers for over 90 minutes. Naseem hit three sixes during his partnership of 64 with Shakeel, ensuring that England had no quick route back into the game.England's only successes with the ball came through Brydon Carse, who dismissed Naseem, and Jack Leach, who removed Mohammad Rizwan for a duck. Pakistan added 69 runs in the session but lost Rizwan just before the interval.England had taken three wickets in the final session on day one, including that of Babar Azam. However, Naseem's resistance and Shakeel's steady accumulation have put Pakistan in a strong position.Shakeel, who has now scored 10 50-plus scores in 13 Tests, is looking to build on his half-century and guide Pakistan to a match-defining first-innings total. England, on the other hand, will need to find a way to break through Pakistan's stubborn batting lineup and regain control of the match.

Sam Curran, the 26-year-old all-rounder, has expressed his disappointment at being overlooked for a Test recall despite Ben Stokes' injury. Curran, who was named Player of the Final and Tournament in England's T20 World Cup triumph in 2021, feels he has not been given a clear role in white-ball cricket and does not "fit the mould" of what England is looking for under Brendon McCullum.Curran's struggles in England's T20 title defense in the Caribbean earlier this year, where he took three wickets at 38.33 and batted for a total of 11 balls in five matches, have not helped his cause. He has also not featured in the ODI format since December 2023.In red-ball cricket, Curran's last Test appearance came against India in August 2021. He believes his physical limitations, particularly his height and pace, may be working against him.Despite his impressive record of contributing to winning causes, with 16 victories in his 24 Test caps, Curran has been unable to break into McCullum's England team. He acknowledges that Stokes' status as England's senior all-rounder is a factor, but also suspects that his physical attributes are not in line with the current trend towards taller, faster bowlers.Curran's omission from the recent Test series against Sri Lanka was particularly disappointing for him. He had hoped to use Stokes' injury as an opportunity to regain his place in the team.However, England's eight-match tour of the Caribbean offers Curran a chance to showcase his abilities. With several multi-format stars absent, he may have the opportunity to bat up the order and play a more central role.Curran remains determined to prove his worth and earn a place in England's Ashes squad and future Champions Trophy victory. He believes that scoring runs, taking wickets, and winning games for England or his franchises is the only way to achieve his goals.

Pakistan's Test skipper Shan Masood and opener Abdullah Shafique etched their names into the history books on the opening day of the first Test against England in Multan. On a grassy surface that belied its dryness, the duo forged an indelible partnership that shattered records and tested England's inexperienced bowlers to their limits.After Pakistan lost young opener Saim Ayub early to Gus Atkinson, Masood and Shafique embarked on a sensational 253-run stand for the second wicket. Their partnership became the fourth-highest for the second wicket in Pakistan Test cricket history, surpassing the previous record held by the legendary duo of Mushtaq Mohammad and Zaheer Abbas.Masood played the role of aggressor, scoring at a strike rate of 100 for much of his innings. Shafique, on the other hand, adopted a more cautious approach, especially when England resorted to a barrage of short balls in the second session.The record-breaking partnership came to an end after both players began to show signs of cramping up. Shafique's tired shot in Atkinson's over resulted in his dismissal for 102(184). Masood soon followed suit, caught by Jack Leach after misjudging a tossed-up delivery. He departed with a score of 151(177).The 253-run partnership was the second-highest ever witnessed at the Multan cricket stadium in Test format, behind only the iconic 336-run stand between India's Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar. It was also the first time in five years that England had conceded a 250-plus runs partnership in Test cricket.Masood and Shafique's record-tumbling stand set the tone for Pakistan's innings and gave them a commanding position in the match. Their partnership showcased their resilience, determination, and ability to adapt to challenging conditions. It will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the most memorable partnerships in Pakistan Test cricket history.

England Dominate South Africa in Women's T20 World CupSHARJAH, United Arab Emirates - England showcased their all-around prowess to secure a convincing seven-wicket victory over South Africa in the Women's T20 World Cup on Monday.England's spin quartet, led by the exceptional Sophie Ecclestone (2/15), stifled South Africa's batting in the death overs, limiting them to a modest 124/6 after the Proteas elected to bat on a challenging wicket.In response, England lost two early wickets, but opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge (43 off 43) and Nat Sciver-Brunt (48 not out from 36b; 6x4) seized control of the chase. The duo forged a match-winning 64-run partnership that propelled England to victory with four balls to spare.South Africa's innings began promisingly, with Laura Wolvaardt anchoring the top order. However, Ecclestone's dismissal of the skipper for 42 triggered a collapse, as the Proteas lost four wickets in the final four overs and managed only 39 runs.Legspinner Sarah Glenn complemented Ecclestone superbly, conceding just 1/18 from her four overs.England's victory marks their second consecutive win in the tournament, while South Africa's hopes of reaching the semi-finals have suffered a setback.

Surrey County Cricket Club has bolstered its bowling attack with the acquisition of Matthew Fisher from Yorkshire on a one-year deal. The 27-year-old seamer joins the reigning County Championship titleholders to address the potential absence of several key bowlers due to international commitments in 2025.Fisher, who has represented England in one Test match, has proven his worth in the County Championship, claiming 144 wickets at an average of 26.58. His impressive performances in Yorkshire's promotion-winning campaign last month, where he took 18 wickets in three games, further solidified his credentials.Surrey's decision to sign Fisher stems from the departure of Conor McKerr to Nottinghamshire and the anticipated unavailability of Gus Atkinson, Sam Curran, Jamie Overton, and Reece Topley due to England call-ups. Additionally, Dan Worrall, Surrey's Australian-born seamer, may also be considered for England selection next year.Alec Stewart, Surrey's outgoing director of cricket, emphasized the importance of strengthening the squad after winning the Championship. He praised Fisher's abilities and experience, noting that he had followed his career since meeting him at a Yorkshire school when Fisher was 15.Fisher expressed his excitement and honor at joining Surrey, acknowledging the club's recent successes and his desire to contribute to future triumphs. He also expressed his anticipation of working with top players and coaches.

England's head coach, Brendon McCullum, has defended the decision of legendary pacer James Anderson to delay his arrival in Pakistan for the ongoing Test series. Anderson, who is now the team's bowling coach, is participating in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, a pro-am golf competition in Scotland.As a result, Anderson missed the pre-series presentation for the three Tests in Pakistan and will not arrive until October 8, the second day of the first Test match. However, he has maintained contact with the English pacers, an inexperienced line-up led by veteran Chris Woakes and featuring youngsters Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse.McCullum defended Anderson's delayed arrival, saying, "Two months ago, you guys were saying he did not deserve to be the coach. Now we are missing him. That is affirmation of how good an impact Jimmy Anderson has made in the short period of time [during] his transition from player to coach."He also emphasized that Anderson has made a huge transition from a bowler to coach following a career over two decades and that his role is not full time.Pakistan is currently playing England in a three-match series, with the first Test at Multan starting today. Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first.England is at the fourth place in the ICC World Test Championship standings with eight wins, seven losses, and a draw after series wins against West Indies and Sri Lanka. Pakistan is eighth in the standings after their series loss to Bangladesh at home.