Cricket

Pakistan's star batter Babar Azam has been enduring a prolonged batting slump, particularly in Test cricket. Since his 161 against New Zealand in December 2022, Babar has failed to reach triple figures in the longest format. His struggles continued in the ongoing first Test against England, where he managed scores of 30 and 5.Babar's inability to capitalize on a pitch described as a "batting paradise" has drawn criticism from fans and experts. The nickname "Zimbabar" or "Zimbu," once used to mock his tendency to score against weaker teams, has reportedly become prevalent within the Pakistan dressing room.A viral video on social media has fueled speculation that pacer Shaheen Afridi used the term "Zimbu" to tease Babar. While the video lacks audio, fans believe Shaheen's gestures indicate the use of the nickname.The alleged rift between Babar and Shaheen stems from Shaheen's removal as T20 World Cup captain in favor of Babar. Babar subsequently relinquished the role, leaving Pakistan without a permanent captain.Meanwhile, Pakistan faces an imminent Test defeat in Multan. England's mammoth 823-7 declared gave them a 267-run lead, which they have extended to 382 runs. Pakistan's batting collapse has left them needing 115 runs to avoid an innings defeat on the final day.Harry Brook's 317 and Joe Root's record-breaking 262 were instrumental in England's dominant performance. Pakistan's bowlers have struggled to contain the English batters, who have amassed a massive total.

Former Pakistan cricket captain Ramiz Raja has expressed his disappointment over the pitch prepared for the first Test match against England in Multan, which has resulted in a high-scoring affair with over 1,500 runs scored and only 23 wickets falling across four days.Raja, who is now a commentator, questioned why the pitch was not designed to assist Pakistan's bowling attack, especially considering the team's struggles in recent times. He pointed out that the bowlers have toiled hard but have not been rewarded with wickets."I'm sure bowlers will be questioning the quality of this track because they bend their back and nothing has happened," Raja said. "You start questioning why such a surface was provided and why are we playing on such a surface at home."England took full advantage of the flat pitch, posting a record-breaking first innings total of 823/7 declared. Harry Brook smashed a triple century, while Joe Root scored a double century. The duo helped England overtake Pakistan's first innings total of 556.Raja's criticism echoes the concerns raised by former Pakistan seamer Wasim Akram, who has previously denounced Raja's influence over the types of Test match pitches prepared in Pakistan.The second Test between Pakistan and England will also be played in Multan, before the final Test shifts to Rawalpindi. Given the high-scoring nature of the first Test, the groundstaff may undertake significant work during the gap days to ensure a more balanced contest in the remaining matches.

Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has expressed his disappointment over the team's performance in the ongoing Multan Test against England. Pakistan's batters failed to capitalize on their strong start, allowing England to take control of the match.On the fourth day, Pakistan faced a daunting task in the second innings, trailing by 267 runs. However, their top six batters failed to deliver, with Babar Azam dismissed for just 5 runs. This continued Azam's poor form in Test cricket, leading Ali to suggest that the 29-year-old may need a break."Babar Azam needs rest," Ali said on his YouTube channel. "He should say that I need to rest. It has been 18 innings since he has performed. If some other player was playing, then he would be out of the squad after three games, like Fawad Alam."Ali also criticized Azam's technique, saying that he needs to reduce his stance. "The whole world is laughing," Ali said. "Is this how to play?"Ali also questioned the captaincy of Shan Masood, who opened the batting in the second innings. "I have been saying that Shan is an opener, he should open," Ali said. "But he played at number three. Now, what will happen? Who will you drop? He should play at his number. He doesn't even know captaincy. What has happened to this cricket team? It is shameful."England's dominance was highlighted by the record-breaking partnership between Harry Brook and Joe Root, who put on 454 runs for the fourth wicket. Pakistan's bowlers were unable to contain the English duo, and their confidence took a hit.England eventually declared on 823 for 7, setting Pakistan a target of 579 runs to win. Pakistan ended the day on 152/6, still trailing by 115 runs.

Legspinner Abrar Ahmed, who has been a key figure in Pakistan's recent Test resurgence, is currently undergoing treatment in a Multan hospital after falling ill during the ongoing first Test against England.Abrar, who bowled 31 overs on day three of the match, complained of a high fever and body aches on the morning of the fourth day and did not take the field with the rest of his team-mates. A PCB statement said he had undergone a number of tests, and a further update would be issued once results were received.Abrar's illness is a major blow to Pakistan, who are already without several key players due to injury. The 25-year-old has been one of Pakistan's most consistent performers in recent months, taking 24 wickets in his last four Tests.He endured a difficult time with the ball against England, with the tourists singling him out for attack. For much of the second half of the day, he was reduced to bowling outside leg stump from around the wicket to Joe Root and Harry Brook. It did drag his economy rate down, but he was the only frontline bowler to go wicketless, with his final figures reading 35-0-174-0.It is in stark contrast to his debut on this very ground against the same opposition in 2022, when he took 11 wickets in the game - and five before lunch on day one - to catapult him to the top of Pakistan's red ball spin pecking order.But injuries have dogged him consistently throughout his career. He made his professional debut for Peshawar Zalmi in the PSL as an 18-year old but then spent a number of years out of the game with a persistent back injury. He sustained a nerve injury during a tour game ahead of Pakistan's three Test tour of Australia, ultimately missing all of them, as well as the first Test against Bangladesh in August.Pakistan named Noman Ali and Zahid Mahmood in the squad for the ongoing first Test against England, but released them ahead of the start of the game.

Pakistan Women's Cricket Team Captain Fatima Sana Returns Home Due to Father's DeathPakistan Women's Cricket Team captain Fatima Sana has returned home to Karachi following the sudden demise of her father. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed the news in a statement, stating that Sana will miss Pakistan's upcoming match against Australia in Dubai on Friday.Sana's absence is a significant blow to Pakistan's hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals of the Women's T20 World Cup 2024. The team is currently placed third in Group A with one win and one loss from their two matches. They need to win at least one, preferably both, of their remaining games to have a chance of advancing.Muneeba Ali will take over as captain in Sana's absence. Sana has been a key figure for Pakistan in the tournament so far, leading the team to an upset victory over Sri Lanka in their opening match. She also played a crucial role in Pakistan's narrow loss to India, taking two wickets and scoring 30 runs.Since taking over as captain, Sana has implemented a new mindset for the team, emphasizing data analysis and a more aggressive batting approach. Her absence will be a major setback for Pakistan, who will need to find a way to fill the void left by their inspirational leader.

England's Harry Brook Escapes Miraculous Dismissal in Multan TestIn a moment of sheer luck, England's Harry Brook narrowly avoided a game-changing dismissal during the first Test against Pakistan in Multan on Wednesday. During the 75th over, Pakistan's Aamer Jamal bowled a delivery that nipped back in as Brook attempted a late stab. The ball deflected off Brook's body and trickled back towards the stumps, but despite hitting them, the bails remained stubbornly in place.This stroke of fortune for Brook came in stark contrast to the stellar performance of his teammate Joe Root, who stole the show with a majestic hundred. Root broke Alastair Cook's record to become England's highest run-scorer in Test cricket, surpassing Cook's total of 12,472 runs. Root's masterclass innings of 119 not out helped steer England to 351/3 at tea on day three.Unfazed by his near miss, Brook went on to register a gritty half-century, ending the session unbeaten on 64. Together with Root, the pair put on a 102-run stand, frustrating the Pakistani camp on a flat Multan surface.Brook's escape and Root's record-breaking century have put England in a commanding position in the first Test. With two days remaining, England will be looking to build on their advantage and secure a crucial victory in the three-match series.

Joe Root Surpasses Sunil Gavaskar's Test Century RecordFormer England captain Joe Root has etched his name into the annals of cricket history by surpassing Indian batting legend Sunil Gavaskar's record of 34 Test centuries. Root achieved this remarkable feat on the third day of the first Test match against Pakistan in Multan on Wednesday.Root's 35th Test century came in the second session of the day with a single off Abrar Ahmed. The milestone marked a significant moment in the career of the 31-year-old batsman, who has established himself as one of the most prolific run-scorers in modern cricket.Known for his exceptional technique against both spin and pace, Root has been a consistent performer in all conditions. His adaptability and ability to score runs at a high rate have earned him a place among the "Fab Four" (alongside Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, and Steve Smith).Root's achievement is particularly noteworthy considering the stature of Sunil Gavaskar, who was regarded as one of the greatest openers in cricket history. Gavaskar's record of 34 Test centuries stood for nearly two decades until Sachin Tendulkar surpassed it.By scoring his 35th Test hundred, Root also surpassed Mahela Jayawardene, Brian Lara, and Younis Khan, all of whom had scored 34 Test centuries. This achievement further cements Root's status as one of the most prolific batsmen of his generation.Root's record-breaking century is a testament to his exceptional talent and unwavering determination. It is a fitting tribute to the legacy of Sunil Gavaskar and a reminder of the enduring power of cricket's greatest batsmen.

England's batting maestro Joe Root has taken a significant step towards equaling the legendary Sachin Tendulkar's remarkable record of amassing 1000-plus Test runs in the most calendar years.In the ongoing Test match against Pakistan, Root played a crucial role in stabilizing England's innings after the early dismissal of stand-in skipper Ollie Pope. With Pakistan posting a formidable 556 runs on the back of centuries from Salman Ali Agha, Abdullah Shafique, and Shan Masood, England faced an uphill task.Root approached his innings with caution, ensuring that England did not lose further wickets. He rotated the strike effectively, found the boundary twice, and remained unbeaten on 32 runs from 54 deliveries.This performance marked Root's fifth calendar year in which he has crossed the 1000-run mark in Test cricket. He now stands level with cricket icons Brian Lara, Matthew Hayden, Jacques Kallis, Ricky Ponting, Kumar Sangakkara, and Alastair Cook for achieving this feat.To match Tendulkar's record, Root needs to accumulate 1000 Test runs in one more calendar year. Tendulkar currently holds the record with six calendar years in which he achieved this milestone.Zak Crawley played an aggressive role for England, scoring a brisk 64 runs from 64 deliveries. His innings, which included 11 fours, put pressure on the Pakistan bowlers.The duo of Root and Crawley forged an unbeaten 92-run partnership, guiding England to a score of 96/1 at the end of the day's play. They trail Pakistan by 460 runs, with plenty of work still to do in the remaining days of the Test match.

England's Test debutant Ben Duckett faces an anxious wait to determine his availability for the remainder of the first Test against Pakistan in Multan. Duckett suffered a suspected dislocation of his left thumb while fielding at slip on the opening day, casting doubt over his ability to bat.The incident occurred when Pakistan's No. 11, Abrar Ahmed, steered a short ball from Joe Root straight into Duckett's thumb. Duckett initially held onto the catch but immediately grimaced in pain and received treatment from England's doctor.Ollie Pope replaced Duckett as opener alongside Zak Crawley, but England remained cautious in their batting approach, reaching 96 for 1 at the close of the 20-over stint. An England spokesperson expressed hope that Duckett's injury would subside overnight, but it remains uncertain whether he will be fit to bat on the third day.Duckett's absence would be a significant blow for England, who have opted to field a six-batter, five-bowler lineup in the absence of Ben Stokes. Duckett was England's second-highest run-scorer in their 3-0 series whitewash in Pakistan two years ago and has emerged as a key player since his recall.Stokes, who is targeting a comeback in the second Test, stepped up his recovery on Tuesday. He took slip catches, ran at high intensity, and bowled three overs at tea, with James Anderson observing.England's resources for the second Test are already stretched, with Olly Stone unlikely to feature after returning home for his wedding. If Duckett is unavailable, he could be replaced by Jordan Cox or Stokes, necessitating a reshuffled batting order.