Cricket

Pakistan's Shan Masood Breaks Four-Year Century Drought in Emotional Return to FormAfter a grueling 1524-day wait, Pakistan captain Shan Masood finally ended his Test century drought, reaching the milestone against England in the first Test in Multan on Monday. This century marked a significant moment for Masood, who has endured a challenging four-year period marked by inconsistency and setbacks.Masood's last Test hundred came in 2020, when he scored a magnificent 156 against England in Manchester. Since then, he has faced a turbulent period, being dropped from the national squad before eventually taking on the added pressure of leading the side as captain.Despite the challenges, Masood remained determined to regain his form. He worked tirelessly on his technique and mental approach, and his efforts paid off in Multan. The left-hander reached his century in style, clipping a ball behind square off Chris Woakes to collect a single.The crowd erupted in applause as Masood raised his bat to acknowledge the moment. His batting partner, Abdullah Shafique, embraced him to share in the special occasion. Masood's century was a testament to his resilience and unwavering belief in his abilities.Masood's Test centuries:* 100* vs England, Multan, 2024* 156 vs England, Manchester, 2020* 100 vs Bangladesh, Karachi, 2019* 135 vs Sri Lanka, Karachi, 2019* 125 vs Sri Lanka, Pallekele, 2015Masood's century has given Pakistan a solid foundation in the first Test against England. The hosts will be hoping to build on this momentum and secure a victory that would boost their confidence ahead of the upcoming World Test Championship matches.

Pakistan vs England 1st Test Day 1: Pakistan Aims to End Home Test Losing StreakPakistan and England will clash in the first Test of a three-match series in Multan, Pakistan. The hosts, Pakistan, are eager to break their dismal streak of losing their last 10 home Tests. They will face an England team without their star all-rounder and captain, Ben Stokes, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury.Pakistan's batting lineup will be led by Babar Azam, the world's top-ranked Test batsman. He will be supported by Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood, and Saud Shakeel. The bowling attack will be spearheaded by Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah, who will be looking to exploit the Multan pitch's expected spin-friendly conditions.England, under the leadership of Ollie Pope, will be aiming to continue their impressive form in Test cricket. They will rely on the experience of Joe Root and the in-form Harry Brook to anchor their batting. The bowling attack will be led by Chris Woakes and Jack Leach, who will be tasked with containing Pakistan's dangerous batting lineup.The match is expected to be a closely contested affair, with both teams having their strengths and weaknesses. Pakistan will be determined to end their home Test losing streak, while England will be looking to extend their dominance in the format.

England and South Africa will face off in a highly anticipated clash at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Monday, October 10, at 6 pm local time. Both teams are coming off impressive victories in their tournament openers and will be eager to continue their winning ways.England, led by Heather Knight, will rely on their experienced bowling attack, which features four spinners: Sophie Ecclestone, Charlie Dean, Sarah Glenn, and Linsey Smith. The slow nature of the Sharjah pitch is expected to favor their spin-heavy approach. However, the team will need to improve their batting performance after struggling to reach a modest total against Bangladesh in their first match.South Africa, captained by Laura Wolvaardt, will be looking to build on their dominant win over West Indies. Their bowling attack, led by Nonkululeko Mlaba and Marizanne Kapp, was exceptional in that match, taking all six wickets. Chloe Tryon and Sune Luus are also expected to play key roles with the ball. The batting lineup, which features Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits, remains untested, but they will be confident after their unbeaten partnership in the previous game.The match will be a rematch of the semi-final from the 2023 edition of the T20 World Cup, which South Africa won. However, England will be determined to avenge that defeat and maintain their dominance over their opponents.All-rounders Nat Sciver-Brunt for England and Marizanne Kapp for South Africa will be crucial players to watch. Sciver-Brunt provides balance with her ability to bowl and bat, while Kapp is a versatile performer who can swing the new ball and contribute with the bat.With both teams in good form and eager to prove their worth, the match promises to be a thrilling contest. England's experience in Sharjah could give them an edge, but South Africa's recent victory over West Indies will boost their confidence.

Chris Woakes, once known for his humble-brag about his impressive home record, now finds himself leading England's bowling attack in Pakistan. Despite his previous struggles overseas, Woakes has been recalled due to injuries and retirements.Woakes' selection is based on his strong performance in England's home summer and the belief that he has become a more complete bowler. His ability to open the bowling and bat at No. 7 provides balance to the team.England's coach, Brendon McCullum, believes Woakes can replicate James Anderson's control, which was crucial to England's success in Pakistan two years ago. Woakes' experience and leadership qualities also make him a valuable asset.Ollie Pope, who will captain in Ben Stokes' absence, expects Woakes to use his reverse swing and movement off the pitch to challenge Pakistan's batters. The conditions in Multan are expected to be different from England's previous tour, with higher temperatures and a grass-covered pitch.Woakes acknowledges that his overseas record is not flattering, but he is determined to prove his worth. If he succeeds, this tour could mark a late-career resurgence and lead to a place in next winter's Ashes squad.

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 Shan Masood Urged to Counter England's Tactics with Bold DecisionsFormer Pakistan batsman Basit Ali has advised national team captain Shan Masood to adopt a more aggressive approach in countering England's tactics in the upcoming Test series. Ali's suggestion comes after England announced their playing eleven two days before the start of the first Test in Multan.Ali believes that Masood should have followed England's lead and announced Pakistan's team in advance. "It's still not late," he said. "Do it in the morning after assessing the pitch."Ali drew comparisons with India captain Rohit Sharma, who made bold decisions in the second Test against Bangladesh in Kanpur. Despite rain washing out two days, India counter-attacked in their first innings and declared early to keep the game alive. India eventually won by seven wickets, sweeping the series 2-0."If you want to be brave like Rohit in captaincy, then make decisions," Ali said. "If you take brave calls, then only you will win."Ali emphasized that Masood needs to instill confidence in his players and turn them into match-winners. "You don't have a Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, or 'Boom Boom' Bumrah," he said. "So raise the confidence level of those you have with you. Tell them 'you are my match-winner.'"Pakistan will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing 0-2 whitewash at home against Bangladesh. The first Test against England begins in Multan on October 7.

Pakistan's cricket team is facing a dilemma as they prepare for their upcoming Test series against England. The batters have reportedly requested coach Jason Gillespie to instruct groundsmen to prepare a flat pitch, while former cricketer Basit Ali claims Gillespie has rejected this request.Pakistan's batting unit has struggled in recent times, particularly in their 0-2 whitewash against Bangladesh at home. The batters believe a flat pitch would increase their chances of scoring runs against England's formidable bowling attack.However, Gillespie is reportedly not in favor of completely removing grass from the pitch. He believes a grassy surface would provide more assistance to Pakistan's bowlers, who have also been underperforming."I will give you an inside story. Jason Gillespie has handed a shut-up call to Pakistan batters. He wants the pitch to remain the same that has been prepared by the groundsman," Ali said on his YouTube channel."Pakistan batters wanted to cut off the grass to make it a flat pitch. The pitch curator and Gillespie want to play on the same pitch. I would be really happy if the match took place on a grassy surface and our bowlers took wickets," he added.England, who swept aside Pakistan 3-0 in their previous visit in 2022, will be looking to replicate their success. Veteran batsman Joe Root believes the team's previous experience in Pakistan will be beneficial."Yes, that series has helped us prepare for the coming matches and we have a plan on how to play here. But this is a new series and we have to play well again to win again in Pakistan," Root said."We learned a few things from that series, but (playing against) Pakistan at home is a challenge. Pakistan can definitely take advantage of their home conditions and we also have a couple of new young players eager to establish themselves. It should be an interesting series," he added.Pakistan's cricket team is under pressure to perform after their recent struggles. The Test series against England will be a crucial test for the team and their coach, Jason Gillespie.

England's Test tour of Pakistan, commencing on Monday, evokes memories of their remarkable 3-0 sweep in 2022. However, the tourists face a Pakistan team reeling from a humiliating defeat to Bangladesh. Here are some key talking points for England ahead of the series:Stokes Factor:Ben Stokes, England's talismanic captain, misses the first Test due to a hamstring injury. His absence alters the team's balance, as he could potentially replace a top-order batsman upon his return. However, England may opt for four specialist bowlers and rely on Joe Root's off-spin.Bazball Mark II:England's "Bazball" approach, characterized by aggressive batting, proved successful in their 2022 Pakistan tour. While they have since refined their style, Stuart Broad believes it will still be effective in Pakistan. England's batting lineup boasts exceptional spin-playing abilities, allowing them to maintain a high tempo.Inexperienced Attack:England's pace attack is undergoing a transition, with Chris Woakes as the senior figure. However, his overseas record is underwhelming, and Mark Wood is unavailable. Gus Atkinson, Matthew Potts, Olly Stone, and Brydon Carse have limited experience, while the spin attack is also inexperienced. Jack Leach returns after being overlooked during the English season, but Shoaib Bashir and Rehan Ahmed have limited Test exposure.Broad's Warning:Stuart Broad cautions that England's inexperience could prove costly. He emphasizes the importance of having experienced bowlers to prevent a rapid collapse in the event of a spinner's failure.

Pakistan's vice-captain Saud Shakeel has revealed his team's strategy for their upcoming Test series against England, echoing the sentiments of head coach Jason Gillespie. Shakeel believes that Pakistan can exploit England's aggressive approach to induce mistakes and gain an advantage."England always play attacking cricket, which gives us an opportunity to induce mistakes in them and use those mistakes to stay in the game," Shakeel said at a press conference in Multan.Pakistan will draw inspiration from their previous series against England in 2022, despite losing 3-0. Shakeel, who was Pakistan's second-highest scorer in that series, believes his team came close to winning on several occasions."The last series we played against England, there were times we were quite close to winning, such as Rawalpindi and Multan, but we couldn't finish it off," Shakeel said.In Multan, where the first Test starts on Monday, Pakistan pushed England to the brink. Needing 355 for victory in the fourth innings, Pakistan were well-placed at 290 with half the side still to bat, and Shakeel on 94. However, two wickets from Mark Wood on the stroke of lunch ended Pakistan's resistance, with England ultimately edging to a 26-run victory.Shakeel acknowledges that Pakistan's recent struggles with both bat and ball, as exposed by Bangladesh, make executing their plan far from guaranteed."We're struggling with the bat from time to time, and unable to convert starts into huge scores," Shakeel said. "That's a point of concern. The series that's over is now in the past. Admittedly we didn't play well there. Our focus is on what's ahead."Despite the challenges, Shakeel believes Pakistan's flexibility and ability to adapt to different situations will be key."We don't follow any particular style playing cricket, we play according to the requirement of any situation, which gives us flexibility," Shakeel said.Gillespie has also emphasized the importance of discipline and patience in Pakistan's approach."The strategy is often decided on the spot depending on how England play," Shakeel said. "Reverse swing may also come into play depending on the weather and the pitch [that is] prepared. If a team is being aggressive, it can be easy to get sucked into their style of play and over-attack. If they're attacking, and we just let them make their mistakes, that might work out better for us."