Cricket

Pakistan's recent Test series against England has been a tale of dramatic twists and turns, with the home side orchestrating a remarkable turnaround after a disastrous start. The key to their resurgence lies in a controversial decision to reuse a heavily spin-friendly pitch from the first Test in Multan, a move that has sparked both praise and criticism.After a humiliating defeat in the first Test, Pakistan's selection panel, led by former fast bowler Aleem Dar, devised a plan to create conditions that would favor their spinners. They consulted with Aaqib Javed, a former coach and current selector, who became the driving force behind the decision to reuse the Multan pitch.Despite objections from captain Shan Masood and head coach Jason Gillespie, the selectors pressed ahead with their plan. They recalled veteran spinner Sajid Khan and brought in Noman Ali, a left-arm spinner who had been out of the national team for several years.The pitch preparation was meticulous, with giant fans and heaters used to dry out the surface and induce spin. The result was a pitch that resembled a "sheet of glass," according to Dar.The gamble paid off as Sajid and Noman ripped through England's batting lineup, taking 10 wickets between them in the second innings of the second Test. The series turned on a dime, and Pakistan went on to win the third Test in Rawalpindi, where they again prepared a heavily spin-friendly pitch.The decision to reuse the Multan pitch has been met with mixed reactions. Some have praised the selectors for their bold move, while others have criticized it as unfair to England. However, the results speak for themselves: Pakistan has won two consecutive Tests and is now level in the series.The turnaround has also highlighted the growing influence of Aaqib Javed, who has emerged as the de facto leader of Pakistan cricket. He has resigned from his role at Lahore Qalandars to focus on his new responsibilities as a selector and coach.Pakistan's success has been built on the individual brilliance of players like Sajid and Noman, but it has also been a team effort. The batters have shown resilience in difficult conditions, and wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan has been outstanding.The series has been played in a positive spirit, with England refraining from complaining about the pitches. However, the controversy surrounding the Multan pitch is likely to continue as the series reaches its conclusion.

England's batting lineup is likely to remain unchanged for their upcoming tour of New Zealand, despite suffering two heavy defeats to Pakistan. Despite being bowled out for 112 in Rawalpindi, captain Ben Stokes expressed confidence in his top six batsmen.After amassing 823 runs in the first Test, England's batting faltered in the subsequent matches, scoring only 814 runs for 40 wickets, with 39 of those dismissals coming to spin. Ollie Pope struggled at No. 3, scoring just 55 runs at an average of 11, while Stokes himself managed only 53 runs in four innings.Despite these setbacks, England are not planning any major changes to their batting lineup. "They're the best players in England," Stokes said. "We play all around the world, and New Zealand will be completely different [to Pakistan]. But there's no doubt in my mind that we have the best top-six players in England."McCullum also indicated that Pope will retain his spot at No. 3. "It is not an easy place to bat," he said. "Popey will be disappointed with his runs, but I expect him to bounce back strongly in New Zealand."England will, however, be forced to make a change at No. 7, with Jamie Smith set to miss at least one Test due to paternity leave. Jordan Cox is expected to deputise for Smith and take over the wicketkeeping duties.Stokes acknowledged that England's fingerspinners had been outbowled by Pakistan's on favorable surfaces, but praised their efforts. "The difference was the understanding of how to bowl in these conditions," he said. "But our spinners have done a fantastic job."Stokes also confirmed that he is fully fit after returning from a torn hamstring in the second Test. "I worked very hard to get back in," he said. "I just didn't feel like my bowling was going to be anywhere near as threatening as the [other] options we had."England's first Test in New Zealand begins on November 27 in Christchurch. Their white-ball squads will depart the UK on Monday for a series against West Indies.

In the twilight of their careers, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal faced off in the 2017 Australian Open final, both battling injuries and fading from prominence. Despite the odds, they delivered an unforgettable match, with Federer emerging victorious. In a poignant moment, Federer expressed his willingness to share the title with Nadal, acknowledging the sport's unforgiving nature.Similarly, Sajid Khan and Noman Ali had faded from view in Pakistan cricket, with no recent first-class appearances and dwindling hopes of a national team return. However, in a remarkable turn of events, they emerged as the stars of Pakistan's recent Test series against England, sharing 39 of the 40 English wickets to fall.Sajid, awarded the Player of the Series, echoed Federer's sentiment, crediting Noman's mentorship and experience. "Nomi bhai is one of the most experienced players on the Pakistan domestic circuit," Sajid said. "We should be sharing these Player of the Series awards. He's a great spinner who has mentored and helped me as well."For England, the series was a disaster, but for Pakistan, it will be remembered for the resurgence of Sajid and Noman. Their dominance over England's batters seemed inevitable in hindsight, but when England reached 211 for 2 in the first innings in Multan, it was Sajid and Noman's reputations that were on the line.Despite Sajid's insistence that he felt no pressure, the weight of expectation was evident. "There wasn't so much pressure [of the series] but [there was] some pressure of the comeback," he admitted. "The captain, the vice captain, the whole team was gelling well together. We play domestic cricket together, on these kinds of wickets, so there wasn't that much pressure."Noman, the elder statesman at 38, recognized the significance of their performance. "We're grateful we had the conditions for the opportunity to win the series this way," he said. "The way we came back is especially pleasing, and we hope we get similar conditions in future and we'll pose difficulties for other teams."However, Noman also acknowledged the shortcomings in Pakistan's spin strategy. "I think if you want to prepare spinners, you need to play more red-ball cricket," he said. "You get all kinds of conditions in first-class cricket with new and old ball. When you do that, it gives you a lot of experience."As Pakistan contemplates the future of their spin attack, the lessons learned from this series will be invaluable. If they are to continue employing a spin-heavy approach, they must invest in developing their spinners through regular first-class cricket.

Pakistan's cricket team has achieved a remarkable feat by securing a 2-1 series victory against England on home soil. This triumph marks their first Test series win since 2021.After suffering an innings defeat in the series opener, Pakistan displayed resilience and determination to level the series in Multan. They then rolled out a raging turner in Rawalpindi, where their spin twins, Noman Ali and Sajid Khan, wreaked havoc on the English batters.Ali and Khan claimed 19 of the 20 English wickets in the second Test, while also contributing useful cameos with the bat. Their performances vindicated Pakistan's bold selection call to drop three frontline players, including Babar Azam, Naseem Shah, and Shaheen Afridi.Sajid Khan, despite sustaining a cut on his chin while batting, returned to the field and spun a web around the English batters. Pakistan captain Shan Masood praised his team's character and fighting spirit, highlighting the contributions of players who "literally bled for us."England, on the other hand, struggled to adapt to the turning tracks and Pakistan's in-form spinners. Their usual tactics of swashbuckling batting proved inadequate, leading to a meager 112 in their second innings. Only Joe Root managed to offer some resistance with a score of 33.England captain Ben Stokes acknowledged the challenges faced by his team and expressed disappointment with their inability to match Pakistan's intensity. He emphasized the need to move on from the setbacks and prepare for the upcoming challenge in New Zealand.Pakistan's victory is a testament to their resilience and the effectiveness of their spin attack. It also serves as a reminder of the importance of home advantage in Test cricket.

Pakistan is on the verge of securing their first home series victory since 2021 after dismantling England for a mere 112 runs in the third and final Test in Rawalpindi. The hosts now require a modest 36 runs to seal the triumph.Noman Ali and Sajid Khan, the dynamic spin duo, once again proved their mettle, claiming all 10 English wickets between them. Noman, with his left-arm spin, bagged six wickets for 42 runs, marking his sixth five-wicket haul. Sajid, on the other hand, registered four wickets for 69 runs, securing his second 10-wicket match haul in his 10-Test career.England's batting lineup, which had started the day 53 runs behind, initially showed promise with Joe Root and Harry Brook at the crease. However, Sajid and Noman's introduction turned the tide. Brook was dismissed by Noman after a promising start, while Sajid accounted for Ben Stokes and Jamie Smith.Root, who had been England's beacon of hope, was eventually trapped by Noman's guile. The veteran spinner delivered a perfect delivery that dipped onto a length, enticing Root to drive forward and nick the ball to wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan.Sajid then cleaned up the tail, dismissing Gus Atkinson and Rehan Ahmed to secure his second 10-wicket match haul. Shoaib Bashir was initially given out LBW, but a DRS review overturned the decision. However, Noman soon ended Bashir's resistance, while Jack Leach was stumped by Rizwan.Pakistan's victory in this Test series is a testament to the brilliance of Noman and Sajid. Since their inclusion in the squad, they have combined for 39 wickets, with Noman taking 20 at an average of 13.85 and Sajid claiming 19 at an average of 21.01.

England's struggles against Pakistan's tail-enders have once again come to the fore in the ongoing Rawalpindi Test, with former cricketer Nasser Hussain expressing concerns about captain Ben Stokes' workload.After reducing Pakistan to 155/6, England's bowlers lost their way, allowing the hosts to mount a remarkable comeback. Noman Ali and Sajid Khan, Pakistan's experienced spin duo, played pivotal roles in frustrating England's bowlers, scoring 45 and 48* respectively.Hussain believes that Stokes may be carrying too much responsibility as captain and could benefit from some assistance. "Stokes maybe puts so much energy into his captaincy, into the week of captaincy, he may just need a bit of help when England are seven or eight down," Hussain said.The former England captain also questioned the team's tactics against tail-enders. "Even when England have had pace, I think they've slightly lost the plot and gone just for a bouncer ploy," Hussain said. "They do lose the plot a little bit."Hussain also expressed surprise that legspinner Rehan Ahmed, who had taken three wickets before lunch, was not given an over for the first eight overs after the break. "I was amazed Rehan Ahmed didn't start after lunch. A wrist spinner who'd just got three-for before lunch. I'd have gone with the wrist spinner against the lower order," Hussain said.England's inability to dismiss tail-enders has been a recurring issue in recent years. Hussain believes that the team needs to find a more effective strategy to deal with this challenge. "It's not just today or in this series, but in the last two or three years, they have struggled to get through tail-enders," Hussain said.With England facing an unprecedented series defeat in Pakistan, Hussain's concerns about Stokes' workload and the team's tactics against tail-enders are likely to be shared by many fans.

Pakistan's first innings faltered on day two of the third Test in Rawalpindi, as England's Rehan Ahmed claimed three crucial wickets to leave the hosts trailing by 80 runs. Resuming on 73 for 3, Pakistan's hopes rested on Saud Shakeel and skipper Shan Masood. However, Masood's dismissal for 26 off Shoaib Bashir's bowling set the tone for a challenging session.Shakeel, who resumed on 16, remained defiant, reaching his 11th Test fifty-plus score. However, a missed catch by Jamie Smith on 26 could have altered the course of the innings. Despite the setback, Shakeel and Masood consolidated their partnership, adding 53 runs in 130 deliveries.The introduction of Rehan Ahmed proved pivotal for England. The legspinner trapped Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Agha leg before in quick succession, before dismissing Aamer Jamal with a googly. Ahmed's impressive spell of 3 for 24 from eight overs, including two maidens, put England in the ascendancy.Pakistan's hopes now rest on Shakeel, who remains unbeaten on 72. However, the hosts face an uphill battle to avoid a significant deficit. England's bowlers, led by Ahmed, have shown their class, and Pakistan will need to dig deep to salvage the innings.

Pakistan vs England, 3rd Test Day 2 Live Updates: Pakistan Faces Recovery Challenge After England's 267Pakistan's batters face a daunting task on Day 2 of the decisive third Test against England in Rawalpindi, as they aim to recover from a shaky start and build a competitive total. The hosts ended Day 1 on 73 for 3, trailing England's first-innings score of 267.Overnight batters Shan Masood and Saud Shakeel will be crucial to Pakistan's recovery efforts. Masood, the captain, and Shakeel remained unbeaten at stumps, with scores of 30 and 23, respectively.England's bowlers made early inroads on Day 1, with James Anderson dismissing Abdullah Shafique for a duck and Ollie Robinson removing Imam-ul-Haq for 12. Sajid Khan, Pakistan's star performer in the second Test, continued his impressive form, claiming six wickets for 75 runs. He was ably supported by Noman Ali, who took three wickets.England's batting was led by wicket-keeper batter Jamie Smith, who scored a gritty 89. Opener Ben Duckett also made a valuable contribution with 52. However, Pakistan's bowlers kept the English batsmen in check, with Khan and Ali sharing nine wickets between them.Pakistan will need to bat patiently and build partnerships on Day 2 to put pressure on England. The pitch is expected to deteriorate as the match progresses, making batting conditions more challenging.England, on the other hand, will be looking to maintain their momentum and take early wickets to put Pakistan under further pressure. The visitors will be confident of their chances, having won the first Test and drawn the second.The outcome of the third Test will determine the series winner. Pakistan will be desperate to avoid defeat and level the series, while England will be aiming to secure a famous victory on Pakistani soil.

Pakistan Spinners Dominate England on Day 1 of Deciding TestIn a captivating opening day of the series-deciding third Test in Rawalpindi, Pakistan's spin duo of Sajid Khan and Noman Ali wreaked havoc on England's batting lineup.England, opting to bat first, made a promising start with openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley putting on a 52-run partnership. However, Noman Ali broke the stand by dismissing Crawley for 29. Sajid Khan then joined the fray, and together with Noman, they ripped through England's top order.Ollie Pope, Joe Root, and Harry Brook all fell cheaply, scoring just 3, 5, and 5 runs respectively. England slumped to 98 for five in the first session, with Pakistan keeper Mohammad Rizwan teasing batter Harry Brook over the stump mic, saying, "No more Bazball."The collapse continued after lunch as England lost skipper Ben Stokes for 12. At the close of play, England were struggling at 110 for six, with Sajid Khan and Noman Ali having taken three wickets each.Sajid Khan's impressive performance included the wicket of England's star batter Joe Root, who was trapped leg before wicket for just 5 runs. Noman Ali, meanwhile, dismissed Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, and Ben Stokes.Pakistan's dominance with the ball has put them in a strong position in the match. England will need to find a way to counter the spin threat if they are to avoid a series defeat.