Cricket

Pakistan's Noman Ali has been crowned the ICC Men's Player of the Month for October, a testament to his exceptional performance in the recently concluded Test series against England. Ali's stellar bowling displays played a pivotal role in Pakistan's historic series victory, making him the first Pakistani male player to receive the honor since Babar Azam in August 2022.Ali's impact was undeniable in the two Test matches he featured in during October. In the first Test, he claimed impressive figures of 11/147, helping Pakistan bounce back from an early defeat. His exceptional bowling performance laid the foundation for Pakistan's eventual series triumph.The second Test witnessed Ali's career-best Test figures of 8/46, a game-changing performance that propelled Pakistan to their first Test victory on home ground since 2021. His exceptional bowling display restricted England to a mere 112 runs, setting the stage for Pakistan's dominant nine-wicket victory.Ali's contributions extended beyond his bowling prowess. In the final Test match, he played a crucial innings of 45 runs, helping Pakistan establish a crucial 77-run lead in the first innings. His resilient knock proved invaluable in Pakistan's eventual victory.Ali's outstanding performance has earned him widespread recognition and praise. He expressed his gratitude to his teammates for their contributions to Pakistan's series victory, acknowledging their collective effort in achieving this historic win on home soil."I am delighted to be named the ICC Men's Player of the Month and deeply grateful to all my teammates who helped me put my best performances forward to help Pakistan win a historic home Test series against England," Ali said. "It is always exciting to be a part of such memorable wins for your country."Ali's performance has not only earned him individual accolades but has also contributed significantly to Pakistan's resurgence in Test cricket. His exceptional bowling skills and unwavering determination have made him a vital cog in the team's success, and his contributions will undoubtedly continue to play a crucial role in Pakistan's future endeavors.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled the nominees for its Player of the Month awards for October, honoring exceptional performances in both men's and women's cricket.Men's Nominees:* Noman Ali (Pakistan): The Pakistani pacer impressed in the Test series against England, claiming 20 wickets at an average of 13.85 in two matches. His performance played a pivotal role in Pakistan's 2-1 series victory.* Mitchell Santner (New Zealand): Santner's impactful bowling in the second Test against India in Pune earned him a nomination. His figures of 7 for 53 in the first innings and 6 for 104 in the second innings were instrumental in New Zealand's historic series win.* Kagiso Rabada (South Africa): Rabada's outstanding bowling performance in South Africa's Test series victory against Bangladesh secured his nomination. He reached the milestone of 300 Test wickets and played a crucial role in South Africa's victory in the first Test with figures of 9 for 72.Women's Nominees:* Amelia Kerr (New Zealand): Kerr played a key role in New Zealand's victory at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup in the UAE. She set a new record for wickets taken in the tournament, claiming 15 wickets and scoring 135 runs, earning her the Player of the Tournament award.* Deandra Dottin (West Indies): Dottin's impactful return to the West Indies team during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup earned her a nomination. Her all-round performance helped the team reach the semi-finals, with notable contributions against Scotland, Bangladesh, and England.* Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa): Wolvaardt's consistent performance as captain of the South African women's team during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup earned her a nomination. She finished as the tournament's highest run-scorer with 223 runs at an average of 44.60, leading South Africa to the final.The ICC Player of the Month awards recognize outstanding individual performances in international cricket. The winners will be announced in due course.

Pakistan's spin duo of Noman Ali and Sajid Khan wreaked havoc on England's batting lineup, leading Pakistan to a resounding nine-wicket victory in the third and decisive Test in Karachi. The triumph secured a memorable 2-1 series win for the hosts.Pakistan seized the initiative early on, establishing a crucial 77-run first-innings lead on a pitch that favored spinners from both sides. Noman and Sajid then turned the screws in England's second innings, bowling them out for a paltry 112.Noman claimed six wickets for 42 runs, while Sajid chipped in with four for 69. The duo accounted for 19 of England's 20 wickets in the match, with Pakistan's lone seamer, Aamer Jamal, remaining unused.Since being drafted into the team mid-series, Noman and Sajid have taken 39 of England's 40 wickets in the last two Tests. Their dominance has highlighted the spin-friendly conditions in Pakistan and exposed England's vulnerability against turning tracks."If you give England players even a slightly spinning track, they get nervous," Sajid remarked in a viral video. "Because the conditions they usually dominate make us nervous, but here it's they who get nervous."Pakistan's victory in the Test series is a significant boost ahead of their upcoming tour of Australia, where they will play three ODIs and three T20Is. The limited-overs series begins on Monday in Melbourne.

Pakistan's seasoned spinner Sajid Khan has become a sensation with his witty response to a question about the "scare" he was giving to England batters in the third Test at Rawalpindi.Khan, along with fellow spinner Noman Ali, wreaked havoc on England's batting lineup, reminiscent of the legendary Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis duo. When asked about this comparison in a post-match press conference, Khan delivered an epic reply."I didn't scare anyone," Khan said with a chuckle. "You guys are saying that I did. God has given me such a look that even if I laugh, people get scared."Khan's humor aside, his partnership with Ali proved decisive in Pakistan's first series win in four attempts. The duo combined for 39 wickets in the second and third Tests, including crucial contributions with the bat.Khan praised Ali as Pakistan's most experienced spinner and declared that he deserved the Man of the Series award alongside him. "Noman bhai is a great mate and has served well," Khan said. "He deserved this award with me."Pakistan's captain, Shan Masood, also expressed his delight at the series victory, which ended his wait for his first as Test captain. "Thankful to God for the series win," Masood said. "There was no pressure as such. I was making a comeback, but there were people who backed me."Khan's return to the side was a major factor in Pakistan's success. He thanked God for the 2-1 series win and expressed gratitude to those who supported him. "I was making a comeback, but there were people who backed me," Khan said.

England's Test series against Pakistan ended in disappointment as they suffered a 2-1 defeat, with a humiliating 112-all out in the second innings of the third Test. Captain Ben Stokes, who returned from injury in the second Test, endured a dismal series, culminating in an embarrassing dismissal in the final innings.Stokes, batting on three runs, opted to leave a delivery from Noman Ali in the 22nd over. However, the ball kept low and turned back in, trapping Stokes plumb on the pads. The dismissal left England reeling at 70/5, and they proceeded to lose their remaining wickets for just 42 runs.Pakistan's spinners, Noman Ali and Sajid Khan, proved to be England's undoing, claiming 39 of the 40 English wickets in the second and third Tests. England's successive defeats have severely dented their hopes of qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 cycle final.Stokes's return from injury has been far from impressive, with the all-rounder managing only 53 runs in four innings. Apart from a knock of 37 in the second Test, he has failed to cross 15 in an innings.England's batting woes have been compounded by the absence of key players such as Jonny Bairstow and Jofra Archer. The team's inability to adapt to the spin-friendly conditions in Pakistan has been a major factor in their downfall.Pakistan, on the other hand, have been buoyed by the performances of their spinners. Noman Ali and Sajid Khan have been virtually unplayable at times, and their ability to extract turn and bounce from the pitches has been a major advantage.The series win is a significant boost for Pakistan, who have been struggling in Test cricket in recent years. It also marks a disappointing end to England's tour of Pakistan, which began with a dramatic victory in the first Test in Multan.

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 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.

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.

Pakistan's cricket team celebrated a resounding victory over England in the second Test in Multan, leveling the series 1-1 and ending an 11-match winless streak at home. The triumph marked the first win for Shan Masood as captain, who took over the reins last year.Masood's leadership was instrumental in Pakistan's strategic changes after their loss in the first Test. The team dropped Babar Azam and opted to play three spinners on a reused pitch. This move proved effective as England, resuming at 36-2, could only add 108 more runs.Spinner Noman Ali emerged as the hero for Pakistan, taking eight wickets in England's second innings with figures of 8-46. Sajid Khan supported him with 2-93, wrapping up England's innings at 144. Noman finished with a match haul of 11-147, while Sajid had 9-204. This was only the second time in Pakistan's history that two bowlers took all 20 wickets in a Test match.Noman Ali's performance was particularly impressive, as he dismissed key England batsmen Joe Root and Harry Brook. He also took the wickets of Jamie Smith, Captain Ben Stokes, Brydon Carse, Jack Leach, and Shoaib Bashir. This performance surpassed his previous best of 7-70 against Sri Lanka last year.Pakistan's bowlers dominated throughout the match, with Sajid Khan dismissing Ollie Pope early. England's position worsened at 78-5 when these key players were dismissed. Noman Ali continued to dominate, taking the remaining wickets to secure Pakistan's first home win in over three years.The decisive third and final Test will start on October 24 in Rawalpindi, where Pakistan will aim to seal the series victory.