Cricket

Bangladesh's historic 10-wicket victory over Pakistan in the first Test of the two-match series in Rawalpindi marked a significant milestone for the team. This triumph was Bangladesh's first-ever Test win against Pakistan, a testament to their growing prowess in the international cricket arena.Amidst the series, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) faced a legal challenge regarding star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan. Shakib was accused of involvement in a murder case, prompting a legal notice demanding his recall and ban from the team.The BCB initially stated that a decision on Shakib's status would be made after the first Test. However, recent reports from Cricbuzz indicate that the BCB has allowed Shakib to continue playing in the series."He [Shakib] will continue playing. We received a legal notice regarding bringing him back and we replied them saying this [that he will continue to play]," BCB president Faruque Ahmed told Prothom Alo, a leading Bengali daily.Ahmed emphasized that Shakib's guilt has not been established and that he will continue to play until proven otherwise. The BCB also expressed its intention to provide Shakib with legal assistance if necessary.Despite the ongoing legal proceedings, Shakib will not return home after the Pakistan series. He is scheduled to travel to England to participate in a four-day match for Surrey. The BCB has granted him a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for this purpose."He [Shakib] has not played red-ball cricket for a while and that is why we have given him an NOC to play for Surrey as it will help him to adjust with red-ball cricket more than anything else," a BCB official confirmed to Cricbuzz.Following his stint with Surrey, Shakib will join the Bangladesh team for the two-match Test series against India, commencing on September 19.

Pakistan is set to host the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, marking the return of an ICC event to the country after nearly three decades. However, speculation has been rife regarding India's reluctance to travel to Pakistan for the tournament.Despite the election of BCCI Secretary Jay Shah as the new ICC Chairman, former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif believes India's participation in Pakistan is still possible. Latif suggests that Shah's unopposed election indicates support from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and that he is unlikely to approve a decision for India to play at a neutral venue."I think we have received 50% confirmation that India is coming to Pakistan," Latif stated.Latif also praised Shah's contributions to cricket, both at the BCCI and ICC levels.Pakistan has not hosted a major ICC event since co-hosting the 1996 Cricket World Cup. While they hosted the 2023 Asia Cup, India opted to play their matches in Sri Lanka. India's last visit to Pakistan for a cricket match was in 2008 for the Asia Cup.India-Pakistan matches are highly anticipated in ICC tournaments, often drawing massive viewership. After Pakistan's visit to India for the 2023 Cricket World Cup, India's potential return to Pakistan in 2025 would be a significant development.Interestingly, Pakistan and India are the two most recent winners of the Champions Trophy. Pakistan defeated India in the final of the 2017 edition, while India won the title in 2013 under MS Dhoni's leadership.

Pakistan's humiliating defeat to Bangladesh in the first Test has ignited a firestorm of criticism, prompting former cricketer Basit Ali to urge the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to emulate India's domestic system. Ali lamented the PCB's decision to host a One-Day tournament after the Bangladesh Tests, emphasizing the need for a stronger focus on red-ball cricket."Pakistan has copied systems from England, Australia, and New Zealand in the past, but right now, they should look at India and try to mimic their domestic system," Ali said. "India is right next to us, please copy their system too. You need intelligence in copying as well. Just copy what India is doing. The Duleep Trophy is about to begin. Is it a T20 or One-Day tournament? It is a four-day tournament. They are focused on making their base stronger, which is why they are so successful."In response to the criticism, the PCB has recalled Abrar Ahmed and Kamran Ghulam to the Test squad for the second Test against Bangladesh. Both players had been released from the squad for the first Test but have since impressed in a four-day match for Pakistan Shaheens against Bangladesh 'A'.Abrar, a leg-spinner, is expected to provide Pakistan with additional spin options, while Kamran, a middle-order batsman, brings depth and stability to the batting lineup. Shaheen Shah Afridi, Pakistan's spearhead fast bowler, has also rejoined the squad after being released at the conclusion of the first Test.The second Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh will be played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from August 30 to September 3. Pakistan will be desperate to level the series and avoid a humiliating defeat to their neighbors.

Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam's recent batting struggles have sparked widespread criticism, with his performance in the first Test against Bangladesh drawing particular scrutiny. Azam's scores of 0 and 22 contributed to Pakistan's dramatic batting collapse on the final day, resulting in a 10-wicket defeat.The loss marked Bangladesh's first-ever Test victory over Pakistan, prompting former captain Ramiz Raja to express his disappointment on his YouTube channel. Raja lamented the team's inability to maintain consistency and questioned Azam's form."It seems the entire country doesn't have a problem with anything except the form of Babar Azam," Raja said. "Cricket is in our blood, but I don't know for how long if we continue to lose matches like this in Test cricket."Pakistan conceded a 117-run lead to Bangladesh in the first innings and were then bowled out for just 146 on day five, leaving the visitors with a mere 30 runs to chase for victory. Saud Shakel (141) and Mohammad Rizwan (171 not out) had earlier starred in Pakistan's first-innings total of 448 for 6 declared.However, Bangladesh's veteran Mushfiqur Rahim's epic 191 and contributions throughout the batting card helped the visitors post 565 all out in response.Raja emphasized the importance of success in building fan following and acknowledged Azam's past achievements. However, he also highlighted the intense scrutiny that comes with being a high-profile player in the era of social media."When you lose a match and you haven't scored runs, and if you are Babar Azam, then you become a headline," Raja said. "This is the era of social media, where anyone can criticize and ridicule anyone."Raja advised Azam to avoid social media, stay in the moment, and focus on his batting technique. He suggested that Azam work on his footwork, practice hook and pull shots, and play with a positive intent."Scoring runs is one thing, but is he happy with the way he is batting?" Raja asked. "The last innings he played, he was bowled off an inside-edge. It means your bat angles are not right, you lose your frame because you aren't spending much time on the crease."Raja emphasized the importance of mental toughness and the need for Azam to forget past failures and focus on the present moment. He also stressed the critical role of character in overcoming adversity.

Pakistan's humiliating 10-wicket defeat to Bangladesh in the first Test match in Rawalpindi has sparked widespread criticism and dissatisfaction within the team management. The team's performance, particularly that of the four fast bowlers, has come under intense scrutiny.According to sources, the team management has expressed its disappointment with the performance of Shaheen Afridi, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali, and Naseem Shah. The bowlers failed to exploit the conditions to their advantage, and the lack of a quality spinner proved to be a major issue.Senior players have also voiced their concerns, expressing disappointment over the fast bowlers' inability to utilize the grass on the pitch and their declining pace. These issues were reportedly discussed in the dressing room after the match.In the match itself, Bangladesh's Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Shakib Al Hasan took seven wickets between them to secure their maiden win over Pakistan in five-day cricket. Mehidy grabbed 4-21 and Shakib 3-44, triggering a Pakistan collapse on the fifth day.Pakistan was dismissed for 146 runs in 55.5 overs, leaving Bangladesh with a target of just 30 runs. Openers Zakir Hasan and Shadman Islam reached the target in 6.3 overs, with Zakir hitting the winning boundary.Mohammad Rizwan top-scored for Pakistan in the second innings with 51, but the home team was staring at defeat at lunch. A holiday crowd of nearly 5,000 expected Pakistan to fight out a draw, but Mehidy's bowling proved too strong.The defeat has raised serious questions about Pakistan's bowling attack and the team's overall performance. The team management will need to address these issues quickly as they prepare for the second Test match in Dhaka.

South Africa's women's cricket team will embark on a crucial tour of Pakistan in September as part of their preparations for the upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup. The Proteas will play three T20I matches against Pakistan in Multan from September 16 to 20, providing them with valuable match practice ahead of the global tournament.The tour will mark South Africa's second visit to Pakistan in just over a year, following their successful ODI and T20I series in September 2021. The Proteas emerged victorious in the ODI series, while Pakistan swept the T20Is.CSA director of cricket Enoch Nkwe emphasized the importance of the Pakistan tour for South Africa's World Cup preparations. "This T20I series against Pakistan is a critical part of our preparations for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup," Nkwe said. "It offers the team the invaluable opportunity to gain match practice, allowing us to refine our strategies and ensure that our players are in peak form."Nkwe also expressed gratitude to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for their collaboration in arranging the series. "We are incredibly grateful to the PCB for their collaboration and efforts in arranging this series," Nkwe said. "This series not only helps us prepare for the World Cup but also strengthens the relationship between our two cricket boards as the Proteas Women visit Pakistan for the second time in a year."The Women's T20 World Cup will be held in Dubai and Sharjah from October 3 to 20. Pakistan has been drawn in Group A alongside Australia, India, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka, while South Africa is in Group B with Bangladesh, England, Scotland, and West Indies.The South African team will arrive in Multan on September 13 and depart for the UAE on September 21, the day after the final T20I against Pakistan. The Proteas will be looking to build on their recent success in Pakistan and gain valuable experience ahead of the World Cup.

Pakistan's Test squad for the second Test against Bangladesh has undergone significant changes, with the recall of Abrar Ahmed, Kamran Ghulam, and Aamir Jamal. The trio had been released from the squad for the first Test but have now been brought back to bolster the team's performance.Abrar Ahmed, a leg-spinner known for his exceptional control and ability to extract turn on subcontinent pitches, is expected to provide Pakistan with additional spin options. He has been in impressive form, contributing in a four-day match for Pakistan Shaheens against Bangladesh 'A' at the Islamabad Club from August 20 to 23.Kamran Ghulam, a middle-order batsman, brings depth and stability to the batting lineup. He has also been in good form, contributing to Pakistan Shaheens' performance in the four-day match.Shaheen Shah Afridi, Pakistan's spearhead fast bowler, has also rejoined the squad after being released at the conclusion of the first Test. His return will provide a significant boost to the bowling attack.Aamir Jamal, an emerging all-rounder with promising potential, has been recalled to the squad, although his participation in the second Test will depend on his fitness clearance. He had been working on his fitness at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) after being released from the squad earlier.The changes to the squad come after Bangladesh scripted history by registering their first-ever victory over Pakistan in Test cricket through a ten-wicket win in the series opener at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The victory was largely due to the stellar show from spinners Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz.Pakistan will be hoping to bounce back in the second Test and level the series. The match is scheduled to take place at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from August 30 to September 3.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has taken a proactive step towards preparing for the 2025 Champions Trophy by appointing five legendary cricketers as mentors for domestic and international players. This move aims to bridge the gap between domestic and international cricket and identify and nurture future stars.The Champions One-Day Cup, scheduled to commence on September 12, will serve as a platform for domestic players to showcase their skills alongside senior team members. To ensure the tournament's success, the PCB has enlisted the expertise of Waqar Younis, Shoaib Malik, Misbah-ul-Haq, Sarfaraz Ahmed, and Saqlain Mushtaq as mentors.These former stalwarts will provide guidance and support to the teams, focusing on strategic planning, team-building, leadership development, and personal growth. Their vast experience and knowledge will be invaluable in shaping the next generation of Pakistani cricketers.PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi emphasized the importance of these mentors, stating, "They will play a pivotal role in the development and progression of our emerging cricketers. Their expertise will help us identify, develop, and nurture the next generation of cricketers across all formats."The Champions One-Day Cup will be held at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad, marking the return of One-Day cricket to the venue after a two-year hiatus. The tournament will provide a competitive environment for domestic players to impress the selectors and earn a spot in the national team.The PCB's decision to appoint these mentors reflects its commitment to improving the quality of domestic cricket and preparing for the upcoming Champions Trophy. With their combined experience of over 32,000 runs and 1,500 wickets in international cricket, these mentors will undoubtedly make a significant contribution to the development of Pakistani cricket.

Pakistan's cricket team has come under intense scrutiny after suffering a humiliating 10-wicket defeat to Bangladesh in the first Test of their two-match series. This marks Pakistan's first-ever loss to Bangladesh in the longest format of the game.The defeat has reignited concerns about the team's performance, which has been plagued by poor decision-making and questionable team selection. Pakistan has undergone significant changes since their disappointing performances in the ODI and T20 World Cups, but these changes have yet to yield positive results.Former England captain Kevin Pietersen expressed shock at Pakistan's dismal display, questioning the current state of cricket in the country. He praised the high standard of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) but wondered what had gone wrong since then.Ahmad Shehzad, a former Pakistan star who was overlooked for the Test series, also criticized the team's performance, calling it an "all-time low." He blamed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the team's struggles, accusing them of favoring established players over domestic talent.Shehzad questioned the PCB's decision-making, arguing that they have failed to develop a strong domestic system that can produce players capable of replacing the current underperforming squad. He believes that the PCB's short-term decisions have contributed to the team's decline.Pakistan's batting, bowling, and fielding have all been criticized for their poor performance in the first Test. The team's inability to adapt to the conditions and execute their plans effectively has raised concerns about their preparation and tactical awareness.The defeat to Bangladesh has dealt a major blow to Pakistan's confidence and has put the team under immense pressure. They will need to regroup and find a way to bounce back in the second Test if they want to avoid a series defeat and further damage to their reputation.