Cricket

Pakistan's recent victory over England in the second Test at Multan has sparked a mix of jubilation and controversy. The triumph ended a string of Test defeats, but it also reignited criticism of former captain Babar Azam and alleged favoritism during his tenure.After Pakistan's loss in the first Test, the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) new selection panel, led by former pacer Aaqib Javed, dropped Babar from the Test squad. Other notable omissions included fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah, as well as wicketkeeper Sarfaraz Ahmed.The move proved fruitful as debutant Kamran Ghulam scored a century, while the spin duo of Noman Ali and Sajid Khan played a pivotal role in Pakistan's 152-run victory within four days. Noman and Sajid claimed all 20 English wickets, with Noman taking 11 and Sajid claiming nine.However, the win has fueled further criticism of Babar, prompting veteran pacer Mohammad Amir to speak out. "Please end these petty talks that the team won because Babar or other players were not in the team," Amir wrote on social media. "We played with better planning, took the home advantage, and won."Amir urged fans to focus on performance rather than personal attacks on players. The three-match series is now level at 1-1, with the deciding Test scheduled to begin on October 24 in Rawalpindi.

Mohammad Rizwan, the seasoned wicketkeeper-batter, has emerged as the frontrunner to lead Pakistan's white-ball teams in the upcoming tours of Australia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is expected to announce the touring squad by Sunday, October 23rd.The decision to appoint Rizwan as captain comes after Babar Azam stepped down from the role earlier this month, citing a desire to focus on his batting. Rizwan's experience and leadership qualities have made him a strong candidate for the position."Rizwan is a front runner to become white-ball captain because of his seniority, reliability as a player, and experience of leading teams well in domestic cricket and PSL," said a reliable source within the PCB.The selectors have consulted with PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and white-ball head coach Gary Kirsten in the past two days. They are likely to include Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Naseem Shah in the white-ball squad after they were rested for the last two Tests against England.The source also indicated that the selectors are keen to include some new young players in the squad to provide exposure and rest to senior players. Pakistan is scheduled to play nine ODIs and as many T20 internationals during the three tours.Rizwan's appointment as captain would mark a significant shift in Pakistan's white-ball leadership. He is known for his calm and composed demeanor, as well as his ability to inspire his teammates. His experience in leading teams in domestic cricket and the Pakistan Super League (PSL) will be invaluable in his new role.

Pakistan's Test victory over England in Multan has brought a sense of relief to captain Shan Masood and the team, who had endured a four-year home winless streak. Masood emphasized the importance of the win, stating that it was a step towards addressing the unacceptable recent results.The victory was achieved through a bold strategy that involved overhauling the team's template and bringing in three uncapped spinners. The decision to reuse the same pitch as the first Test also proved crucial. Masood reiterated the team's unwavering commitment to taking 20 wickets in Test matches, regardless of the conditions.The gamble paid off as spinners Sajid Khan and Noman Ali shared all 20 English wickets, marking the first time since 1972 that two players have been responsible for all opposition wickets in a Test match. Masood praised the spinners' performance, acknowledging that they bowled like seasoned campaigners.Masood emphasized the need to take risks in order to achieve the desired results. He acknowledged that Pakistan had lost many matches while pursuing this approach, but the recent victory justified the strategy. However, he also recognized the need to adapt to different conditions, leaving open the possibility of a different approach in Rawalpindi.Despite the victory, Masood remained cautious, acknowledging that the team's journey was far from over. He expressed hope that the win would mark the beginning of a new era for Pakistan cricket, where they could consistently perform well in their home conditions.

England captain Ben Stokes has expressed regret for his outburst of frustration during the third evening of the second Test against Pakistan in Multan. The incident occurred as the match slipped away from England due to a series of dropped catches and fielding errors.Stokes, who was making his return to the side after a nine-week absence due to a hamstring injury, admitted to behaving like a "tired and grumpy old man" when he berated his players at a critical juncture of Pakistan's second innings. The flashpoint came during a spell of reverse-swing bowling from Brydon Carse, who had just dismissed Mohammad Rizwan for the third time in the series.However, two overs later, Carse suffered two drops in the space of three balls, first by Jamie Smith and then by Joe Root. Salman Agha, who was dropped on 4 and 6, went on to make a match-defining 63 from 89 balls. Stokes' frustration boiled over when Jack Leach fumbled at point to give away an unnecessary single in Carse's subsequent over."I actually apologized to the group up there last night," Stokes said afterwards. "It's the first time in my captaincy that I've let my emotions show in my body language, with how I was feeling as the game was unfolding. I owned up to that, and I'm very annoyed at myself for letting that out."Stokes acknowledged that the challenge of getting back to match fitness had been tough, having played no competitive cricket since August. "I've worked so, so hard to get fit for this Test match, but nothing can prepare you for standing out on the field in hot weather," he said.Despite the fielding lapses, Stokes praised Carse's performance, calling him "fantastic" and highlighting his heart, pace, and skill. England head coach Brendon McCullum agreed, saying that Carse had been the "standout" of England's attack.McCullum also defended Smith's display, saying that he had been "very disappointed" about dropping the catch but that his overall keeping had been "as good as I've seen in these conditions."

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 recent struggles in Test cricket, coupled with early exits from the last ODI and T20 World Cups, have raised concerns about the management of the sport by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the development of domestic talent.Despite a promising performance in the ongoing second Test against England in Multan, Pakistan lost the first Test despite scoring over 500 runs in their first innings. They were also swept 2-0 at home by Bangladesh in the preceding series.In response to the team's poor form, the PCB has appointed a new selection committee, reducing its size from seven to five members. Led by former pacer Aaqib Javed, the committee includes Aleem Dar, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, and Hassan Cheema. The captain and head coach have been stripped of their voting rights in the selection process.Aaqib Javed, who played in numerous memorable India-Pakistan matches, recently met with India's head coach, Gautam Gambhir. Javed revealed that Gambhir expressed concerns about Pakistan's decline."We met the Indian players during our series against Sri Lanka. Gautam Gambhir asked me, 'Aaqib bhai, what has happened to Pakistan cricket? There is so much talent, we all see it, but what have they done?'" said Javed.Javed believes that Pakistan's fall has diminished the excitement of India-Pakistan encounters. "He (Gambhir) also feels sorry about it, because there are a few (top-level) teams, and the Pakistan-India matches provide the biggest thrill. So if your team (Pakistan) falls like that, then one of the game's biggest matches loses its charm.""People in the ICC laugh about it," he added.The PCB's decision to revamp the selection committee and the concerns raised by Gautam Gambhir highlight the urgent need for Pakistan to address its cricket management and talent development strategies.

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.

Michael Vaughan, the former England captain, has predicted that Pakistan may face another collapse in the second Test against England at Multan, similar to their embarrassing defeat in the first Test. Vaughan's comments came after Pakistan's spinner Sajid Khan pegged back England on Day 2, reducing them to 239 for 6 despite opener Ben Duckett's century.Vaughan believes that if England takes a first-innings lead, it could lead to a similar finish as the first Test, where Pakistan collapsed in the second innings. However, Pakistan is currently 127 runs behind at stumps on Day 2 with four wickets in hand, leaving open the possibility of them taking a first-innings lead and building on it.Vaughan's comments follow his earlier criticism of Pakistan's decision to drop Babar Azam from the Test squad, calling it a "stupid decision." However, Babar's replacement, Kamran Ghulam, proved Vaughan wrong by scoring a century on debut.Former Pakistan batsman Basit Ali responded to Vaughan's comments, saying that "Vaughan should be shown the picture of Kamran Ghulam."The second Test between Pakistan and England is poised for an exciting finish, with Pakistan needing to bat well in the second innings to avoid another collapse and level the series.

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.