Cricket

Bangladesh has seized control of the second Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi, thanks to a dominant bowling performance on Day 2. After Pakistan's solid start, Bangladesh's bowlers chipped away at the wickets, restricting the hosts to 274 all out.Taskin Ahmed set the tone early, dismissing Abdullah Shafique in the first over. Shan Masood and Saim Ayub steadied the innings, but Mehidy Hasan's twin strikes shifted the momentum. Saud Shakeel and Babar Azam fell cheaply, leaving Pakistan in trouble.After the break, Nahid Rana dismissed Mohammad Rizwan, opening the door for Bangladesh. Agha Salman played a defiant knock of 54, but Mehidy Hasan's five-wicket haul ended Pakistan's resistance.Bangladesh's bowlers were relentless, with Taskin Ahmed taking 3-57 and Mehidy Hasan claiming 5-61. The visitors finished the day on 10-0, despite a dropped catch off the first ball.Pakistan, trailing in the series, faces an uphill battle to force a result. With rain expected on the last two days, they need to make the most of the new ball and early movement on Day 3.

Bangladesh Dominates Pakistan with Miraz's Five-Wicket Haul in Rawalpindi TestOn the rain-affected second day of the second Test in Rawalpindi, Bangladesh's Mehidy Hasan Miraz emerged as the star performer, claiming a five-wicket haul to restrict Pakistan to 274.After the first day's play was washed out, Taskin Ahmed struck early, dismissing Abdullah Shafique in the first over. Shan Masood and Saim Ayub steadied the Pakistani innings, scoring half-centuries. However, Miraz's introduction proved pivotal, as he dismissed Masood for 57.Bangladesh's bowlers maintained a tight grip on the game, with Miraz and Taskin Ahmed (3/57) leading the charge. Ayub's 58 was ended by a stumping, while Saud Shakeel's dismissal exposed Pakistan's middle order.Pakistan's captain, Babar Azam, and wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan fell cheaply, leaving the hosts in trouble at 211 for 6. Khurram Shahzad and Mohammad Ali departed in quick succession, as Miraz continued to torment the Pakistani batsmen.Salman Agha's 54 provided some resistance, but Ahmed's dismissal of the all-rounder increased Pakistan's woes. Miraz wrapped up the innings by having Abrar Ahmed stumped, completing his five-wicket haul.Bangladesh ended the day at 10 for no loss, with Shadman Islam and Zakir Hasan at the crease. The visitors will be aiming to secure a 2-0 series victory after their triumph in the first Test.

Bangladesh Opt to Bowl First in Rain-Hit Rawalpindi TestAfter a rain-soaked opening day, the second day of the second Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh commenced under a warm and sunny sky in Rawalpindi. Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and elected to bowl first, citing the moisture in the pitch that could aid his seamers.Bangladesh made one change to their victorious team from the first Test, with Taskin Ahmed replacing the injured Shoriful Islam. Pakistan, already missing Shaheen Shah Afridi, also rested Naseem Shah, bringing in legspinner Abrar Ahmed and left-arm seamer Mir Hamza.Bangladesh currently hold a 1-0 lead in the two-match series, having secured their maiden Test victory over Pakistan in the previous game. A win or draw in this match would seal a rare away series triumph for the Tigers.Pakistan Team:1. Abdullah Shafique2. Saim Ayub3. Shan Masood (capt)4. Babar Azam5. Saud Shakeel6. Mohammad Rizwan (wk)7. Salman Ali Agha8. Abrar Ahmed9. Mir Hamza10. Mohammad Ali11. Khurram ShahzadBangladesh Team:1. Shadman Islam2. Zakir Hasan3. Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt)4. Mominul Haque5. Mushfiqur Rahim6. Shakib Al Hasan7. Litton Das (wk)8. Mehidy Hasan Miraz9. Taskin Ahmed10. Hasan Mahmud11. Nahid Rana

India's participation in the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan remains uncertain, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) yet to confirm their plans. Last year, Pakistan co-hosted the Asia Cup under a hybrid model, with India playing their matches in Sri Lanka due to security concerns.Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal has expressed his disappointment over India's reluctance to tour Pakistan. He believes that if Australia can visit Pakistan, India should follow suit. "When a team like Australia can visit Pakistan, why not India? The India-Pakistan bilateral series should happen. Both governments need to sit and talk. This will benefit cricket," Akmal told Times of India.The BCCI has consistently stated that the Indian team will only travel to Pakistan with the approval of the central government. India captain Rohit Sharma has also emphasized that the players are willing to play anywhere, but the final decision rests with the government.Akmal, however, believes that the Pakistan government would never prevent their players from playing in India. He pointed out that Pakistan toured India for the ODI World Cup last year. "Pehle aapne Asia Cup le liya, ab Champions Trophy ki baatein kar rahe hain. Kyun kar rahe hain aap aisa? (First you took away the Asia Cup from Pakistan; now talking about the Champions Trophy, why?) ... Pakistan has done a lot of hard work to bring cricket back to the country. If India invites Pakistan, our government will never stop us. They will say, 'Go and play.' The Indian government should do the same. Let's keep politics aside and play cricket," he added.The Champions Trophy is a prestigious tournament that brings together the top eight ODI teams in the world. Pakistan has invested heavily in hosting the event and is eager to showcase its progress in bringing international cricket back to the country. India's participation would be a significant boost for Pakistan and would help to further strengthen the bonds between the two nations through the shared love of cricket.

Persistent rain has washed out the entire first day of the second Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh in Rawalpindi, leaving the teams frustrated and the series in limbo.The umpires made an inspection at noon, despite the relentless downpour, and decided to abandon play for the day. The chances of any cricket being played were so slim that the teams had not even bothered to leave their hotel.The forecast for the remainder of the day is equally bleak, with more rain expected. The outlook for tomorrow is also not promising, with overcast conditions predicted for much of the day.The teams had already been forced to cancel their practice sessions on Thursday due to the inclement weather.Bangladesh currently hold a 1-0 lead in the two-match series after securing their maiden Test victory over Pakistan in the previous encounter. Pakistan had fielded an all-pace attack in that match, but have included legspinner Abrar Ahmed in their squad for this Test.Bangladesh, meanwhile, are expected to recall Taskin Ahmed to replace fellow fast bowler Nahid Rana. However, the final playing XIs will not be known until at least Saturday morning.Originally scheduled to be played in Karachi, this Test was shifted to Rawalpindi due to ongoing construction at the National Stadium.With the first day of the Test washed out, the series is now in jeopardy. The teams will be hoping for a break in the weather on Saturday, but the forecast is not encouraging.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, two of the most celebrated cricketers of the modern era, have a massive fan following worldwide, including in Pakistan despite not playing even a single international match in the country. Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal believes that Virat and Rohit, who have already bid adieu to T20Is, should visit Pakistan before retiring from international cricket."Virat and Rohit should visit Pakistan before they retire," Akmal said in an exclusive interview with TimesofIndia.com. "These two are stars of world cricket, traveling across the globe to play the game. Every single fan loves them. They have a massive fan base due to their batting and match-winning performances."Akmal believes that the fan following Virat and Rohit will experience in Pakistan will surpass anything they've seen elsewhere. "The last series between India and Pakistan took place in 2012-13. Since then, the two teams have only clashed in multination tournaments like the Asia Cup and ICC events. The absence of regular bilateral series has left fans longing for the resumption of the thrilling India vs Pakistan contests," Akmal said."Virat is a role model for many around the world, Rohit is the World Cup-winning captain, and Bumrah is currently the best pacer in the world. When players like Virat, Rohit and Bumrah visit Pakistan, it will evoke unique feelings in every fan. Virat has been to Pakistan during his under-19 days, but he wasn't as popular then," Akmal said."If Virat visits Pakistan now, he will truly see his popularity here. He will receive a different kind of support in Pakistan. No cricketer is more popular than Virat in Pakistan; he has a bigger fan-following than any other cricketer in the world. Pakistani fans love Virat, Rohit and Bumrah more than any of their own cricket team players," the former wicketkeeper said.Virat and Rohit will be back in action in the upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh. The first Test will begin on September 19 in Chennai, followed by the second Test at Green Park in Kanpur from September 27.

Pakistan's slow over rate during the opening Test match against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi has cost them dearly, with the International Cricket Council (ICC) docking six World Test Championship (WTC) points. The Shan Masood-led side was found guilty of being six overs short during the encounter, resulting in the penalty. Pakistan also lost 30% of their match fee after Masood pleaded guilty to the offenses and accepted the proposed sanctions.Bangladesh, too, faced consequences for their slow over rate, losing three WTC points and 15% of their match fee. Despite the setbacks, Pakistan remains in eighth place in the WTC standings, while Bangladesh has dropped to seventh. South Africa has moved up a spot to sixth.In a separate incident, Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan was fined 10% of his match fee and given a demerit point for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct. Shakib threw the ball at Mohammad Rizwan during the 33rd over of the second innings.On the field, spinners Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Shakib Al Hasan played pivotal roles in securing Bangladesh's historic 10-wicket victory over Pakistan in the first Test. Mehidy claimed 4-21, while Shakib took 3-44, triggering a Pakistan collapse on the fifth day. The home side was dismissed for 146 runs in 55.5 overs, leaving Bangladesh with a modest target of 30 runs.Openers Zakir Hasan and Shadman Islam chased down the target in just 6.3 overs, with Zakir hitting the winning boundary. The victory marked Bangladesh's first-ever Test win over Pakistan, a significant milestone for the team.

The prospect of an India vs Pakistan World Test Championship (WTC) final remains a tantalizing possibility, but recent results have made it an increasingly unlikely scenario. Pakistan's historic defeat to Bangladesh in Rawalpindi has further diminished their already slim chances of reaching the WTC final.Pakistan currently languishes in eighth position on the WTC points table, with just two wins in six matches and a winning percentage of 30.56. This significant decline in form, especially in red-ball cricket, has left them with a steep mountain to climb if they hope to reach the WTC final.Pakistan still have eight Tests remaining in the current WTC cycle. To have a strong chance of making the final, they would need to win all of these matches. This task will be challenging, as they face tough opponents, including England, West Indies, and South Africa, with the series against the Proteas being played away from home.Meanwhile, India and Australia remain the favorites to face each other again in the WTC final next year. Both teams are at the top of the standings with a considerable lead. India lead with six wins in nine matches and a winning percentage of 68.52, while defending champions Australia are just behind with eight wins in 12 matches and a percentage of 62.50. The upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy later this year will be crucial for both teams as they aim to secure their places in the final.Bangladesh's recent victory over Pakistan has moved them up to sixth place in the points table, with two wins in five matches and a winning percentage of 40.00. This victory marks a significant improvement for Bangladesh in Test cricket.In another notable match, England defeated Sri Lanka by five wickets in the first Test, climbing from seventh to fourth in the WTC points table. This result caused Sri Lanka to slip to the fifth position.While an India vs Pakistan final remains a tantalizing prospect, Pakistan's path to the WTC final now appears increasingly improbable given their current position and recent performances.

Bangladesh has achieved a historic triumph in Test cricket, securing their first-ever victory against Pakistan in the first Test match at Rawalpindi on August 25, 2024. This momentous win marks a significant milestone for Bangladesh's cricket team, breaking Pakistan's dominance in the format.Pakistan, batting first, declared their innings at 448 for 6, with Saud Shakeel (141) and Mohammad Rizwan (171) leading the charge. Bangladesh responded with a determined batting performance, led by Shadman Islam (93), Mominul Haque (50), and a brilliant partnership between Mushfiqur Rahim (191) and Mehidy Hasan Miraz (77). Bangladesh's total of 565 gave them a 117-run lead.In Pakistan's second innings, Bangladesh bowlers tightened their grip, dismissing wickets at regular intervals. Mohammad Rizwan (51) once again provided some resistance, but Pakistan's batting collapsed, losing 8 wickets for just 80 runs. Mehidy Hasan Miraz (4 for 21) and Shakib Al Hasan (3 for 44) were the main wicket-takers for Bangladesh.Bangladesh's openers, Tamim Iqbal and Najmul Hossain Shanto, chased down the target of 30 with ease, securing a historic 10-wicket victory. This triumph is a testament to Bangladesh's growing strength in Test cricket and their ability to compete with the top teams in the world.