Cricket

On the opening day of the third and final Test match between England and Pakistan, the pitch at Karachi's National Stadium presented a challenging surface for batters, resulting in a dramatic collapse of wickets.Pakistan's Sajid Khan emerged as the star performer, claiming six wickets for 128 runs in 29.2 overs. This marked the third time in his career that he has taken five or more wickets in an innings.England captain Ben Stokes, who won the toss and elected to bat first, saw his team make a solid start, reaching 56 without loss. However, the pitch's unpredictable behavior soon became evident, and Zak Crawley's dismissal for 29 triggered a rapid collapse.England lost five wickets for just 42 runs, slumping from 56-0 to 98-5 within 12.5 overs. The pitch's uneven bounce and variable pace proved to be a nightmare for the batters.Despite the difficult conditions, Jamie Smith emerged as a beacon of hope for England, scoring a gritty 89 runs. He formed a crucial 107-run partnership with Gus Atkinson, who contributed 39 runs, helping England recover from their precarious position of 118-6.By lunch, England had reached 110-5, and by tea, they had progressed to 242-8, thanks to Smith and Atkinson's efforts. England's innings eventually concluded with a total of 267 runs.Sajid Khan's impressive bowling performance was a major factor in Pakistan's dominance on the first day. His ability to extract bounce and movement from the pitch proved to be a handful for the English batters.The match is poised for an intriguing contest over the remaining days, with Pakistan holding a slight advantage after the first day's play.

England fought back on the opening day of the series-deciding third Test in Rawalpindi, reducing Pakistan to 73/3 at close. Home spinner Sajid Khan starred with a six-wicket haul, while Jamie Smith's rearguard 89 helped England post 267.On a dry and spin-friendly pitch, 13 wickets fell on day one, with all but one going to the spinners. Pakistan's Sajid and Noman Ali dominated the morning session, bowling unchanged for 42 overs and taking 9 wickets between them.England's spinners came to the fore in the final session, with Shoaib Bashir dismissing Abdullah Shafique and Jack Leach accounting for Saim Ayub. Gus Atkinson was the only fast bowler to grab a wicket, dismissing Kamran Ghulam.Smith's 89, which included six towering sixes and five fours, enabled England to add 149 for their last four wickets. He shared a 105-run partnership with Gus Atkinson (39) for the seventh wicket.Sajid completed his third five-wicket haul by removing Rehan Ahmed and Jack Leach. England lost captain Ben Stokes early in the afternoon session, but Smith and Atkinson's partnership kept them in the game.The morning session was dominated by Sajid and Noman, who exploited the turning and low-bouncing pitch. Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett made a confident start, but England lost three wickets in quick succession.Noman had Crawley caught off a miscued drive, while Sajid removed Pope and Root leg before. Duckett was trapped lbw by Noman for 52, and Harry Brook was bowled behind his legs by Sajid for five.Both teams included three spinners on a grassless pitch, which Pakistan dried with fans and heaters. Sajid and Noman shared all 20 wickets in Pakistan's second Test win to level the series at 1-1.

The 2023-25 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle is nearing its conclusion, with India and Australia emerging as the frontrunners for a rematch of the previous WTC final, which Australia won. Former Pakistan batsman Basit Ali believes that the final will once again feature India and Australia, but he has a suggestion for the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding future WTC cycles.Ali suggests that the ICC consider hosting India-Pakistan Test matches at neutral venues such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Dubai, or Abu Dhabi to include these two teams in the WTC cycle. He emphasizes that India and Pakistan should be part of the competition, as they are the only teams that do not play bilateral series against each other."The Indian government always says no, but they play in ICC events like the World Cup," Ali said. "If PCB gives a suggestion, then they (ICC and BCCI) don't take it seriously, which is wrong."Currently, India leads the WTC table, followed by Australia and Sri Lanka. New Zealand's recent victory over India in the first Test of their series in Bengaluru has kept their hopes of finishing in the top two alive. India will face Australia in a five-Test series after their three-Test series against New Zealand.Ali believes that the WTC final will likely be between India and Australia, given their current form. "Four teams are in the top half (of WTC table) -- India, Australia, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand. But according to me, there are only three -- India, Australia, and Sri Lanka. But the kind of cricket India and Australia are playing, the WTC final should be between these two teams," he said.

Pakistan Cricket Legend Basit Ali Condemns On-Field Incident in Asia CupFormer Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has expressed his dismay over an unsavory incident involving Pakistan A's Sufiyan Muqeem and India A's Abhishek Sharma during the ACC Men's T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2024.In a video posted on his YouTube channel, Ali criticized Muqeem's behavior, emphasizing the importance of sportsmanship and respect for opponents, especially among young cricketers."The cricket was top-notch, but one thing that really upset me was the incident involving Sufiyan Muqeem and Abhishek Sharma," Ali said. "If I were sitting in the dugout or the team manager, I would have told Sufiyan, 'Son, pick up your things and go back.' You haven't even played proper cricket for Pakistan yet, and you're already using abusive language—what kind of behavior is this?"Ali referred to Muqeem's send-off gesture after dismissing Sharma, adding, "You're hurling abuses—did you take a hat-trick or something? You're not at that level yet. The management needs to teach young players how to respect the opposition."The incident occurred during a tense clash between India A and Pakistan A at Al Amerat. Sharma had gotten off to a flying start, scoring 35 off 22 balls, but his innings ended when he mistimed a shot off Muqeem's bowling.After the dismissal, Muqeem made a "silence gesture" toward Sharma, which infuriated the Indian opener, leading to a heated exchange. Umpires had to intervene to restore order.Despite the tension, India A held their nerve to secure a narrow 7-run win, posting 183/8 and restricting Pakistan A to 176/7.Ali's comments highlight the importance of maintaining a high standard of conduct on the field, especially for young players who are still developing their skills and character. Sportsmanship and respect for opponents are essential values that should be instilled in all cricketers.

Pakistan's Ihsanullah Sparks Debate: Naseem Shah Better Than Jasprit Bumrah?Pakistan's rising fast bowler Ihsanullah has ignited a heated debate by boldly claiming that his compatriot Naseem Shah is a superior bowler to India's star pacer Jasprit Bumrah. In a recent interview on the Public Digital News podcast, Ihsanullah asserted, "If you look at it, Naseem Shah is a better bowler than Jasprit Bumrah."Despite the host's argument that Bumrah's statistics on paper suggest otherwise, Ihsanullah remained unwavering in his stance. He defended his opinion by highlighting Naseem Shah's impressive performance in the 2022 World Cup, stating that even though players may experience occasional slumps, Naseem's overall ability surpasses Bumrah's.This bold statement has sparked comparisons between two of the most talented pacers in world cricket today. Bumrah, renowned for his pinpoint yorkers and ability to perform under pressure, has been a cornerstone of India's success across all formats. Naseem Shah, on the other hand, has showcased his raw pace and swing, establishing himself as a key figure for Pakistan at a young age.Interestingly, Ihsanullah's preference for Naseem Shah over Bumrah is not an isolated opinion among Pakistani players. In a previous podcast appearance, former Pakistan captain Babar Azam expressed his trust in Naseem Shah to deliver in high-pressure situations, stating that he would entrust him with the final over in a T20 match with 10 runs to defend.However, Bumrah's track record speaks volumes. In the 2024 T20 World Cup, he emerged as the third-highest wicket-taker with 15 scalps and was named Player of the Tournament for the title-winning Team India. His exceptional two-wicket haul in the final against South Africa played a pivotal role in securing India's first major ICC trophy in 11 years.The debate over who is the better bowler between Naseem Shah and Jasprit Bumrah is likely to continue, with both players possessing unique strengths and abilities. However, Ihsanullah's bold statement has certainly added fuel to the fire, sparking discussions and comparisons among cricket enthusiasts worldwide.

Brendon McCullum, England's coach, has dismissed suggestions that his team has been exposed on spinning pitches, despite Pakistan's captain Shan Masood expressing a desire for another turner in the series decider in Rawalpindi.Pakistan's radical overhaul of their strategy in the second Test in Multan, which included the addition of three spinners and the use of the same pitch for a second week, paid off handsomely. Sajid Khan and Noman Ali shared 20 wickets to set up a series-levelling 152-run win.However, McCullum believes that England's defeat was not due to a lack of ability against spin. "We were outplayed in this game," he said. "We'll see what Rawalpindi's got to offer and we'll try and adapt accordingly."Masood, on the other hand, is hoping for a drier pitch in Rawalpindi that will assist the spinners. "I would like to see the ball turn in the third Test," he said. "We want to get 20 wickets wherever we play, and we want to back that up with the bat."McCullum, however, predicted that the surface will be "the antithesis of the green seamer" for the decider. "I actually don't mind," he said. "We said right at the outset that we'll try to adapt to whatever conditions we come up against."Despite England's recent struggles on the subcontinent, McCullum is confident that his team has the ability to handle spinning conditions. "We've got a pretty good record here [in Pakistan]," he said. "Even that Test match we won in India, that was probably the most extreme of the spinning conditions. I don't know: we'll find out. I certainly don't mind if it spins in the next one. I think we've got the artillery to be able to handle it."McCullum also defended England's aggressive approach with the bat during the second Test. "We saw in this Test match that so many wickets fell to people trying to hang in there," he said. "It was those that were prepared to be brave enough to sweep, reverse-sweep, put the opposition under pressure, who were actually able to score runs."

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has proposed a novel plan to address security concerns and facilitate India's participation in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. Under the proposal, the Indian team would return to India after each match played in Pakistan, either to Chandigarh or Delhi. This arrangement would allow Team India to travel to Pakistan for their games while mitigating concerns about staying in the host country for the tournament's duration.The Champions Trophy is scheduled to take place from February 19 to March 9, with matches to be held in Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Karachi. The PCB has planned all of India's matches in Lahore due to logistical considerations and security concerns. The city's proximity to the border makes it easier for Indian fans to attend the games.The PCB's proposal aims to address the Indian government's reservations about touring Pakistan. The decision on whether the Indian team will travel to Pakistan ultimately rests with the Indian government. However, recent developments, including discussions during External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's visit to Pakistan, indicate ongoing efforts to address security and logistical concerns.The ICC has distributed the tournament schedule to all parties involved, including the participating teams. Local media outlets have reported that the broadcaster has requested a change in the venue for the India-New Zealand match, with the PCB suggesting Rawalpindi as a potential replacement. However, both the broadcaster and the ICC have denied any knowledge of such a request.India's participation in the Champions Trophy is crucial for the global cricketing community. The event's significance would be greatly diminished if India chooses not to participate. The ICC and PCB have devised a backup plan to organize India's matches outside of Pakistan in case the Men in Blue are unable to make the trip.

England's promising start in the second Test against Pakistan was abruptly halted by the brilliance of Sajid Khan, whose incisive off-spin triggered a rapid batting collapse. After reaching a comfortable position of 211/2, England lost four wickets for a mere 14 runs, leaving them reeling at 225/6 at the end of Day 2 in Multan.Sajid's exceptional bowling performance proved pivotal, seizing control for Pakistan at a crucial juncture. The collapse began with the dismissal of England's talisman, Joe Root, who had looked settled until Sajid deceived him with a well-flighted delivery. Root's attempted sweep resulted in an inside edge onto his boot, sending the ball rolling into the stumps.Sajid's next victim was Ben Duckett, who had earlier anchored the innings with a fluent 114. Despite surviving multiple close calls, Duckett eventually succumbed to Sajid's persistent pressure. An aggressive drive off a full-length delivery found a thick outside edge, which Agha Salman at first slip gratefully accepted.With Duckett's departure, England's batting order crumbled. Harry Brook was bowled trying to punch a spinning delivery off the back foot, misjudging the sharp turn and allowing the ball to crash through the gap between bat and pad.England's woes were compounded by Noman Ali, who dismissed captain Ben Stokes for a mere 1. Stokes failed to adjust to Noman's turn, edging a defensive push onto his pad, which Abdullah Shafique at short leg completed with an outstanding diving catch.From a position of strength at 211/2, England were now in deep trouble at 225/6, leaving Jamie Smith and Brydon Carse to steady the ship before stumps. However, the pair managed to stabilize the innings and guided England to 239/6 by the end of the day.Sajid Khan finished the day with figures of 4/86, his devastating spell turning the match on its head. With Pakistan's bowlers firing on all cylinders and England trailing by 127 runs, Day 3 promises to be a pivotal chapter in this thrilling Test series at Multan.

New Zealand's emphatic 54-run victory over Pakistan in Dubai on Monday has sent shockwaves through the Women's T20 World Cup, eliminating India from the tournament and securing the White Ferns a spot in the semifinals for the first time since 2016.India's hopes of reaching the last four rested solely on Pakistan pulling off an upset against New Zealand, given their inferior net run rate. However, despite Pakistan's valiant efforts to restrict New Zealand to a modest 110 for six in 20 overs, their batting lineup crumbled under pressure, collapsing to a mere 56 all out in just 11.4 overs.Australia emerged as the dominant force in Group A, topping the standings with eight points, while New Zealand finished second with six points. India's fate was ultimately sealed by their loss to New Zealand in their tournament opener, a result that proved costly in the end.New Zealand's victory was orchestrated by a stellar bowling performance, with spinner Amelia Kerr claiming three wickets. However, it was the seamers, Lea Tahuhu (1/8) and Eden Carson (2/7), who set the tone for the White Ferns, opening the floodgates for a Pakistani batting collapse.Pakistan's pursuit of the target was hampered by a slow start, as they needed to reach the target in less than 12 overs to qualify. However, the pressure proved too much, and they were dismissed well before the allotted time.Earlier in the match, Pakistan's spinners, Omaima Sohail (1/14 in 4 overs) and Nashra Sandhu (3/18 in 4 overs), applied relentless pressure on the New Zealand batters, delivering 21 dot balls and taking four wickets between them for only 29 runs. Despite the efforts of openers Suzie Bates (28) and Georgia Plimmer (17), who added 41 runs for the opening stand, the Pakistani spinners managed to restrict New Zealand to a modest total.