Cricket

Pakistani Fan's Placard for 'Dropped' Babar Azam Sparks Social Media FrenzyIn an unexpected twist during the Pakistan vs England series decider at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, a Pakistani fan displayed a placard expressing support for the recently dropped Babar Azam. The placard, which read "I skipped school to see King Babar," drew attention on the opening day of the third and final Test.Babar Azam, Pakistan's captain and star batsman, was surprisingly omitted from the team for the second and third Tests against England due to a poor run of form. In the first Test in Multan, he scored a disappointing 30 and 5, following a string of low scores against Bangladesh at home.The fan's placard sparked a flurry of witty comments on social media. Some users questioned the fan's decision to skip school, while others praised his unwavering support for Babar Azam.Meanwhile, on the field, England struggled to 110 for five at lunch on the opening day. Sajid Khan and Noman Ali wreaked havoc on the English top order, with Sajid claiming three wickets and Noman taking two. Ben Duckett (52) and Zak Crawley (29) provided a steady start, but Ollie Pope (3), Joe Root (5), and Harry Brook (5) were dismissed cheaply.Skipper Ben Stokes and Jamie Smith remained unbeaten at the break on 6 and 5, respectively, as England faced an uphill battle in the series-deciding contest.

England's white-ball squads for their upcoming Caribbean tour have been bolstered by the additions of Jordan Cox and Rehan Ahmed. Both players are currently with the Test team in Pakistan, but will join the white-ball squad in Antigua on Monday.Cox, the Essex wicketkeeper-batter, is set to make his Test debut in New Zealand and may leave the Caribbean early. He is likely to miss the five-match T20I series but will arrive in New Zealand in time for England's warm-up match on November 23.Rehan, who has been named in England's XI for the third Test in Pakistan, will arrive late in the Caribbean and is unlikely to feature in the first ODI against West Indies on November 31.Cox made his international debut in England's T20I series against Australia last month and is likely to win his first ODI cap in the Caribbean. He will also deputise as England's keeper in the New Zealand series, with Jamie Smith set to miss at least one Test on paternity leave.Rehan's involvement in the third Test in Pakistan is likely to rule him out of at least the first ODI, and he may not be considered until the T20Is. He is one of three wristspinners in England's squads along with Adil Rashid and Jafer Chohan.England announced that Liam Livingstone will captain them in their three ODIs in the Caribbean, with Jos Buttler missing that leg of the tour due to injury. Essex's Michael Pepper has also been added to the squads as cover.West Indies are 2-0 down in an ODI series in Sri Lanka ahead of the final match on Saturday and are yet to announce their squads for the series against England. The first ODI takes place in Antigua on November 31, with the tour running until the fifth T20I in St Lucia on November 17.

England skipper Ben Stokes faced a moment of confusion during a press conference ahead of the third Test against Pakistan. A Pakistani reporter struggled to articulate a question about England's impressive 823-run total in the first Test, leading to Stokes requesting the question to be repeated three times.Despite the language barrier, Stokes remained composed and later apologized to the reporter for any miscommunication. England, looking to bounce back from their defeat in the second Test, will face a spin-friendly pitch in Rawalpindi. Stokes expressed confidence in his trio of spinners, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir, and Rehan Ahmed.Pakistan, on the other hand, have retained their spin-heavy bowling lineup, including Sajid Khan, Noman Ali, and Zahid Mahmood. With Pakistan hoping to build on their spin success from the previous match and England looking to dominate again, the pitch conditions will be crucial.Stokes emphasized the importance of batting first, as spin will become more significant as the match progresses. Pakistan head coach Jason Gillespie echoed Stokes's sentiments, stating that the near-bald pitch is expected to favor slower bowlers.A victory for Pakistan would signal a significant turnaround in fortunes after a disappointing year in international cricket. Both teams will be looking to take advantage of the home conditions and secure a crucial win in the decisive encounter.

Pakistan's national bureau of statistics hosted its inaugural 'Data-Fest' conference this week, just a stone's throw away from England's hotel in Islamabad. Under Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes, this England set-up has shown minimal interest in numbers, but there is one figure that stands out ahead of their series decider in nearby Rawalpindi: 101.25, Harry Brook's batting average in Pakistan.Two years have passed since Brook announced himself as a Test cricketer with an outrageous maiden hundred in Rawalpindi. He was England's fourth centurion as they racked up 506 for 4 on the opening day of their series against Pakistan, eventually falling for 153 off 116 balls on the second morning after looting 27 off an over from Zahid Mahmood.He followed that innings with subsequent hundreds in England's victories in Multan and Karachi, an extension of a stunning run of form in Pakistan that had started with a century in the 2022 PSL and continued with a breakthrough T20I series. Not since Kevin Pietersen had an England batter made such a compelling start to their Test career.Brook started the series with 317 in Multan on his return this month, a mammoth innings that was England's highest in 34 years. But more than 500km away in Peshawar, Sajid Khan was watching closely on TV, and noticed Brook hanging back against spin. When he was called up for the second Test, Sajid hatched a plan to turn the ball sharply out of the rough."There was a small patch outside off stump," Sajid explained. "When he faced his first ball, I told Rizi bhai [Mohammad Rizwan] that if he plays like this again, I will get him out." Brook stayed back as Sajid predicted, looking to punch through cover, but was beaten on his inside edge by a ball that kept low and had his leg stump knocked back.Brook was out playing off the back foot again in England's second innings, too, this time to the left-armer Noman Ali. He sat deep in his crease to a fullish ball, looking to swing it over midwicket, but was deceived by the low bounce and trapped lbw. With scores of 9 and 16, this was Brook's least successful Test in Pakistan: his first without a hundred, and his first defeat.Brendon McCullum, England's coach, smirked after the second Test when he heard Sajid had been revealing his plans to Brook. "Did he? Well bowled," McCullum said. "He is such an exciting cricketer, and such a big player for us as well, and he's trying to put pressure on the opposition… Sometimes, when you're doing that, you make mistakes and you get out."One quiet Test immediately after a triple-hundred is not enough to prompt any long-term concerns, but Brook said on Tuesday that he has been discussing gameplans against Sajid and Noman ahead of this week's decider. "They're obviously both going to play a massive part in their team," he said. "Hopefully, it pays off and I play a big part in the game."Brook agreed with Sajid's assessment about his preference to play spin off the back foot. "I do like to," he said. "It gives you a lot more time to play the spinning ball. It gives you different areas to play in. I'm not saying I'm not going to do that: I'm going to look to play off the back foot, and I'm going to look to put him under pressure."It is hardly an issue that has plagued him across his Test career: to date, Brook averages more against spin (67.81) than seam (57.70). But the reason that his twin failures were notable was that, having missed England's tour to India on compassionate leave, this was the first time he had played on a pitch weighted firmly in the spinners' favour.England staged a six-hitting competition ahead of their final training session in Rawalpindi on Wednesday morning, with Brook finishing a close second to Rehan Ahmed. Stokes said the aim was to "get the good vibes going" after three weeks largely confined to two hotels and two stadiums, but it also served as a reminder of Brook's devastating power.It is easily forgotten that Brook has still only played 20 Tests, such was the speed with which he became an all-format regular for England. He has a stellar record, averaging a shade below 60, but remains a work in progress. "He's a baby in the greater scheme of things," Jason Gillespie, Pakistan's coach, said. "He'll work things out in all conditions: the good players tend to do that."This has been a long season for Brook: since the start of April, he has played more or less non-stop, with 35 matches across formats including eight Tests, five ODIs as a stand-in captain, and a T20 World Cup. Thursday's Rawalpindi Test will finally bring it to a close, even if he will only have a short break before England travel to New Zealand.As a three-format player, Brook is growing accustomed to the relentlessness of the international schedule and will soon become used to opponents targeting what they perceive to be potential weaknesses. If he can overcome both pitfalls and maintain his remarkable three-figure average in Pakistan, it will go a long way towards England clinching this series.

Pakistan's unwavering faith in their spin-heavy strategy has led them to field an unchanged starting eleven for the decisive third Test against England in Rawalpindi. This decision comes after their resounding 152-run victory in the second Test in Multan, where their triple-spin attack proved highly effective.The decision to retain the same lineup is a testament to Pakistan's belief in the curators' efforts to transform the Rawalpindi surface into a spin-friendly haven. Historically, the Pindi pitch has not been conducive to spin, but the curators have been working tirelessly to alter its behavior.Industrial-sized fans and heaters have been deployed to dry out the surface, while windbreakers have been placed around the pitch to prevent moisture from seeping in. Footmarks are visible on the strip, particularly outside the left-hander's off-stump, indicating that the pitch may offer assistance to spinners.Pakistan's head coach, Jason Gillespie, acknowledged the unique nature of the pitch. "It's an interesting pitch," he said. "We expect it to favor the slower balls here."The series is currently level at 1-1, with both teams eager to secure a series victory. Pakistan is seeking their first series win since their 2-0 triumph in Sri Lanka in July, while England is aiming to avoid a series defeat.Pakistan's unchanged lineup features Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood (captain), Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Salman Agha, Aamer Jamal, Sajid Khan, Noman Ali, and Zahid Mahmood.

England's Test tour of Pakistan reaches its climax in Rawalpindi, a match that will not only determine the series outcome but also provide crucial insights into the team's ability to compete in Asian conditions. After 17 Tests in Asia over the past four years, England will not return for another two, making this match a pivotal moment in their subcontinent journey.Under Ben Stokes' leadership, England's record in Asia stands at five wins and five defeats, with one victory under Ollie Pope's captaincy. While they are not alone in struggling in India, a second consecutive win in Pakistan would bolster their subcontinent credentials.Rawalpindi holds special significance for England, as it was the site of their remarkable victory two years ago, where they amassed 506 runs on the first day and showcased their bowling prowess on a lifeless surface. However, they anticipate a different challenge this time, reflected in their selection of three frontline spinners, including Rehan Ahmed.The pitch has been meticulously prepared to favor spin, with groundstaff using rakes and heaters to create a turning surface. Stokes acknowledges the potential for a "decent wicket" for the first few days, but believes the spinners will come into play as the game progresses.Pakistan's approach to pitch preparation has raised eyebrows, with the recycling of the same strip in Multan and the tailoring of the Rawalpindi surface to suit their spinners. However, Stokes has refrained from criticism, simply stating that the pitch is "good."The toss will play a significant role, as it did in the second Test in Multan. Stokes recognizes the importance of winning the toss in subcontinent conditions, but believes the pitch will not deteriorate as drastically as in previous matches.England has shown a willingness to adapt to overseas conditions, as evidenced by the inclusion of Rehan Ahmed as a wildcard spin option. Stokes believes his "free spirit" and ability to create chances will be valuable, even on a flat pitch.Stokes' own batting in the subcontinent has been underwhelming, with an average of 27.22 and only one century in eight innings in Pakistan. He will be eager to end his century drought and prove his worth in these challenging conditions.The success of the McCullum-Stokes regime will ultimately be judged by their results against India and Australia next year, but this week's match will shape their reputation in Asia. Stokes emphasizes the importance of winning, highlighting their singular focus on securing victory in Rawalpindi.

Pakistan's relentless pursuit of a turning track for the final Test against England in Rawalpindi has reached unprecedented levels. With the second Test in Multan concluding in a predictable manner, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has spared no effort in preparing a surface that will favor their spinners.Before the second Test ended, officials were already dispatched to Rawalpindi to oversee the pitch preparation. Post-match, Shan Masood expressed his desire for a turning surface. Giant heaters and windbreakers were strategically placed around the pitch to accelerate the deterioration process.England, on the other hand, has taken note of Pakistan's tactics. Harry Brook believes the Pindi surface has been "raked" to hasten its breakdown. In response, England has named a playing XI with only one specialist seamer, Gus Atkinson, and legspinner Rehan Ahmed.Pakistan's extreme measures stem from the fact that the Pindi pitch naturally favors fast bowlers. Unlike in Multan, where a used surface was available, the PCB is attempting to alter the surface's behavior. Masood and Saud Shakeel have acknowledged that Pindi has historically not been conducive to spin.However, Pakistan's recent success on a crumbling track in Multan has emboldened them to seek a similar advantage in Rawalpindi. Shakeel emphasized the importance of adapting pitch preparation to the opposition and series.Pakistan's shift towards spin-friendly pitches is a departure from their previous strategy of preparing seam-friendly surfaces to develop their young fast bowlers. However, a prolonged winless streak at home has forced a rethink.The PCB now recognizes the need to tailor pitches to specific series and opponents. Shakeel believes that preparing for SENA conditions can be done through practice and first-class cricket, while home pitches should be designed to exploit the opposition's weaknesses.Pakistan has yet to name their XI for the final Test, but the inclusion of three spinners remains a possibility. Legspinner Zahid Mahmood's ineffectiveness in Multan could slightly increase the chances of a specialist seamer being selected.

England's spin trio of Rehan Ahmed, Shoaib Bashir, and Jack Leach will take on Pakistan's spinners on a Rawalpindi pitch that has been prepared to favor the home team's slow bowlers. The move is a gamble, as it leaves England with only two fast-bowling options in Gus Atkinson and Ben Stokes.Ahmed, who made his Test debut in Pakistan two years ago, has been recalled to the side after a disappointing tour of India earlier this year. He will be expected to provide England with a third spin option alongside Bashir and Leach.Pakistan has gone to great lengths to dry out the pitch in Rawalpindi, using rakes, fans, and heaters. The move is an attempt to replicate the conditions in Multan, where Pakistan won the second Test by 152 runs on a recycled strip.England's decision to field three spinners is a risk, but it is one that they believe is necessary. The pitch in Rawalpindi has historically suited seam over spin, but it has also been among the world's best for batting since its return to staging Tests in 2019.England will need to bat well on the first few days of the Test if they are to avoid falling behind. The pitch is expected to turn earlier than usual, which could give Pakistan's spinners a chance to make early inroads.Harry Brook, who was dismissed for 9 and 16 by Pakistan's spinners in the second Test, believes that Sajid Khan and Noman Ali will play a "massive part" in Rawalpindi. "I've spoken to a few of the lads about gameplans and how we're going to go about it," he said. "Hopefully, it pays off and I play a big part in the game."England's team for the third Test is as follows:1. Zak Crawley2. Ben Duckett3. Ollie Pope4. Joe Root5. Harry Brook6. Ben Stokes (capt)7. Jamie Smith (wk)8. Gus Atkinson9. Rehan Ahmed10. Jack Leach11. Shoaib Bashir

Jos Buttler's return to the helm of England's white-ball team has been further delayed due to a persistent calf injury. The 34-year-old wicketkeeper-batter has been sidelined for four months and will miss the upcoming ODI leg of the Caribbean tour.Buttler's injury woes began in June during England's T20 World Cup campaign. He has not played a competitive match since their semi-final defeat to India. Despite missing the Hundred and the T20I and ODI series against Australia, Buttler was expected to make his comeback in the Caribbean.However, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced that Buttler has suffered a "slight setback" in his rehabilitation. As a result, he will fly directly to Barbados for the five-match T20I series starting on November 9.In Buttler's absence, Liam Livingstone will captain England in the ODIs. It will be his first time leading the team in this format. Harry Brook, who stood in for Buttler against Australia, is currently in Pakistan preparing for the third Test.England will announce a replacement player in due course. Jordan Cox and Rehan Ahmed are potential candidates, as they were originally intended to join the tour as additional players.Buttler's continued absence has raised concerns about his international future. However, incoming white-ball coach Brendon McCullum has assured that Buttler remains a key part of his plans. McCullum has praised Buttler's leadership and ability to inspire his teammates.Marcus Trescothick, England's interim white-ball coach, has also expressed confidence in Buttler's return. He believes that Buttler will seamlessly reintegrate into the team and continue to contribute significantly.