Cricket

Pakistan's cricket team has finally broken a three-year drought on home soil, defeating England by 152 runs in the second Test in Multan. The victory levels the three-match series 1-1.The win is a significant achievement for Pakistan, which has struggled in recent years. The team's new selection committee made some bold changes to the squad for the last two Tests, dropping star batter Babar Azam and pacer Shaheen Afridi. The decision was met with mixed reactions, but it ultimately proved to be the right call.Noman Ali and Sajid Khan were the heroes for Pakistan, taking 8-46 and 2-93 respectively to wrap up England's second innings for 144. The visitors were set a daunting target of 297, which proved to be too much.The 152-run victory is Pakistan's first home win since February 2021. It is also a major boost for the team's confidence, which had been dented by a heavy defeat in the first Test.The final Test of the series will start in Rawalpindi on October 24. Pakistan will be hoping to complete a famous series victory over England.

Pakistan's valiant efforts on day three of the second Test against England in Multan have set the stage for a thrilling finish. After conceding a 75-run first-innings lead, Pakistan's second innings looked in jeopardy at 156 for 8. However, a crucial 65-run partnership between Agha Salman (63) and Sajid Khan (22) rescued the hosts.Salman's gritty knock, which included 10 fours, and Khan's resolute contribution helped Pakistan post a respectable 221 in their second innings. This gave England a daunting target of 297 to win, the highest fourth-innings chase in Pakistan Test history.Before the crucial partnership, a light-hearted moment was captured on the stump microphone. After Noman Ali played a single off his hips, Salman inquired, "Did you play it?" Ali responded with a playful reference to cricket legend Brian Lara, saying, "Yes, just like Lara. Didn't you see it?"As the match resumed, England's openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett fell cheaply, leaving the visitors in a precarious position. Ollie Pope and Joe Root steadied the ship with an unbeaten 36-run stand, but England still face an uphill battle with 261 runs to chase on the final day.Pakistan's bowlers, led by Naseem Shah and Mohammad Ali, will be eager to exploit the conditions and secure a series-leveling victory. England, on the other hand, will need a monumental effort to pull off a historic chase and maintain their 1-0 series lead.

Pakistan's Salman Agha has expressed his determination to secure a historic home Test victory against England in Multan, as the hosts seek to level the series. With England needing 261 runs to win and Pakistan requiring eight wickets, the match is poised for an exciting conclusion.After suffering an innings defeat in the first Test, Pakistan made significant changes to their team, opting for a spin-heavy attack on a worn pitch. Agha praised the team's response to the upheaval, highlighting the contributions of new players like Sajid Khan and Noman Ali.England, meanwhile, face a daunting chase in challenging conditions. Assistant coach Paul Collingwood acknowledged the difficulty of the task but expressed confidence in his team's ability to pull off an upset. He cited their remarkable victory in India last year as evidence of their resilience.Pakistan's recent home Test record has been dismal, with no wins in their last 11 matches. Agha emphasized the importance of ending this streak, stating that a victory in Multan would be a significant achievement.The match is set to resume on the fourth day, with Pakistan aiming to secure the eight wickets they need to level the series. England, on the other hand, will need to produce a remarkable chase to secure a 2-0 lead.

Ben Duckett Breaks Record, England Faces Collapse in Multan TestEngland opener Ben Duckett has etched his name in cricketing history by becoming the fastest batter to reach 2,000 Test runs in terms of balls faced. On Day 2 of the second Test against Pakistan in Multan, Duckett's brilliant knock of 114 off 129 balls propelled him to this remarkable milestone.Duckett's innings was a masterclass in batting, showcasing his exceptional technique and aggressive strokeplay. He surpassed the previous record held by New Zealand's Tim Southee, who had reached the 2,000-run mark in 2,418 balls. Duckett achieved the feat in just 2,293 deliveries, leaving behind renowned batters like Adam Gilchrist, Virender Sehwag, and Rishabh Pant.In reply to Pakistan's first-innings total of 366, Duckett and Zak Crawley provided England with a solid start, adding 73 runs in just 12 overs. Duckett was particularly effective against spin, using sweeps and reverse sweeps to disrupt Pakistan's bowlers. He brought up his fourth Test century with ease, showcasing his class and composure.Duckett went on to stitch another important 52-run partnership with Ollie Pope, further consolidating England's innings. However, his individual brilliance wasn't enough to prevent a dramatic England collapse later in the day.Pakistan's off-spinner Sajid Khan engineered a stunning fightback, dismantling England's middle order with a four-wicket haul. Sajid's spell included key dismissals, such as Duckett, Joe Root, and Harry Brook. Duckett, who seemed untouchable, eventually nicked one to slip while attempting to drive a sharply turning delivery, leaving England vulnerable at 239/6 by stumps.Duckett's record-breaking knock will be remembered as a moment of brilliance in a challenging Test match. Despite England's collapse, his innings has given them a glimmer of hope as they look to salvage the match and level the series.

Pakistan's first innings extended by 99 runs on the second morning in Multan, reaching 358 for 8 at lunch. England's bowlers made early inroads, but a ninth-wicket stand of 49 between Aamer Jamal and Noman Ali thwarted their progress.Carse struck early, dismissing Mohammad Rizwan for 41. Agha Salman countered with boundaries off Carse and Potts, but Potts eventually had him caught for 53. Jack Leach claimed Sajid Khan for 19, leaving Pakistan vulnerable at 309 for 8.However, Jamal and Noman showed resilience, adding 49 runs for the ninth wicket. Jamal, despite hip discomfort, remained unbeaten on 37, while Noman played a range of deft sweeps and pulled Brydon Carse for four.England's bowlers, despite a productive start, were unable to break through the Jamal-Noman partnership. Pakistan's innings was characterized by a mix of early wickets and late resistance, setting up an intriguing contest in the second session.

England captain Ben Stokes is set to make his long-awaited return to competitive cricket in the second Test against Pakistan in Multan, starting October 15. Stokes, who suffered a hamstring injury while playing in The Hundred, has been named in England's playing XI for the second game at the Multan Cricket Stadium.The 33-year-old all-rounder has been bowling and batting without any discomfort in the nets in the lead-up to the match. In his absence, Ollie Pope led England to a comprehensive victory in the series opener last week.Pakistan, on the other hand, have made some significant changes to their team ahead of the second Test, dropping former captain Babar Azam and star pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi. When asked about these changes, Stokes declined to comment, stating that it was an internal matter for Pakistan cricket.Stokes missed the three-match home series against Sri Lanka and last week's first Test, which England won by an innings. Durham seamer Matthew Potts also returns to the side for the first time since the Lord's Test against Sri Lanka at the end of August. Seamers Gus Atkinson and Chris Woakes have been rested.With England dropping two pacers, Stokes confirmed that he will be "playing as a third seamer" alongside Potts and Brydon Carse, who impressed on his debut in Multan.Pakistan became the first team in Test cricket's 147-year history to lose by an innings after posting a 550-plus total in their first innings. Under pressure to level the series, Pakistan have named three frontline spinners in their team.They have made four changes, including bringing in batter Kamran Ghulam for his debut.

Pakistan's decision to reuse the same pitch for the second Test against England in Multan has raised eyebrows, but the move is not without precedent. The International Cricket Council (ICC) requires only "the best possible pitch and outfield conditions" for Test matches, with no stipulations that the surface must be fresh or unused.Pakistan's decision may be driven by a desire to level the playing field after their innings defeat in the first Test. The pitch in Multan offered little assistance to bowlers, with 1,599 runs scored for the loss of 26 wickets. England's bowlers were particularly frustrated, with Chris Woakes describing the surface as offering "bugger all."By reusing the same pitch, Pakistan may hope to create conditions that favor their spinners. The bowlers' footmarks from the first Test are dry and cracked, and the fans and harsh sun will further dry them out. This could make it difficult for England's batsmen to play spin, especially if Ben Stokes is selected as a third seamer.Stokes has ramped up his bowling workloads over the past week and bowled at full pace in the nets on Sunday morning. His inclusion would give England a potent bowling attack, but it could also backfire if the pitch does not offer enough assistance to spinners.England, meanwhile, are braced for a lower-scoring match. They will be hoping to take advantage of the dry conditions and exploit any variable bounce that may develop. Kevin Pietersen, the former England captain, described the pitch as a "bowlers' graveyard" on Twitter and suggested that Pakistan should re-use it for the second Test.Pakistan's move is unusual, but it is not without precedent. In 2016, India reused the same pitch for two consecutive Tests against New Zealand in Kanpur. The pitch offered more assistance to spinners in the second Test, and India won by an innings and 115 runs.Whether Pakistan's gamble will pay off remains to be seen. The second Test starts on Tuesday, and the conditions will be closely monitored.

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.

Pakistan vs England 1st Test Day 5: Pakistan Fights Back, Trails by 115 RunsPakistan resumed Day 5 of the ongoing first Test against England from a precarious position of 152/6 in Multan, trailing by 115 runs. The visitors, buoyed by Harry Brook's sensational triple century and Joe Root's 262, were eager to wrap up the innings and secure victory by an innings.However, Pakistan's lower order showed resilience, with Agha Salman (41*) and Aamer Jamal (27*) putting up a defiant partnership to take the game into the final day. The duo weathered the storm, frustrating England's bowlers and keeping their team in the contest.England's bowlers, led by James Anderson and Ollie Robinson, had made early inroads on Day 4, reducing Pakistan to 82/6. But Salman and Jamal's partnership has given Pakistan a glimmer of hope.The match is evenly poised heading into the final day. England will be looking to dismiss the remaining Pakistan wickets quickly and secure a comprehensive victory. Pakistan, on the other hand, will be aiming to bat out the day and set a challenging target for England in the second innings.