Cricket

Pakistan's seasoned off-spinner Sajid Khan has employed a unique strategy to unsettle England players during the ongoing third Test in Rawalpindi. Beyond his trademark mustache twirling and thigh thumping, Sajid has leveraged his bilingualism to gain an edge.While Sajid's bowling prowess stems from his spin angle and delivery flight, his batting exploits are a different tale. During the 86th over, Sajid engaged in a conversation with vice-captain Saud Shakeel, oblivious to the stump mic capturing their exchange.Sajid's subsequent six over midwicket into the Javed Miandad stand was a deliberate ploy, as he revealed. The intended targets were Pakistan-origin spinners Rehan Ahmed and Shoaib Bashir."We were only doing that [speaking loudly in Urdu] to deceive the bowlers. Rehan and Shoaib understand Urdu, so to fool them, we wanted them to hear we were only looking for the single. When we did that, they brought the field up, and the bowlers flighted it. Saud told me once they do, no half measures: just go for the big shot as hard as you can," Sajid explained.In the following over, Sajid unleashed two sixes and a four against Bashir, again targeting the midwicket region. His unbeaten 48 off 48 balls propelled Pakistan to 344.Rehan acknowledged Sajid's impressive batting but denied being misled by the Urdu conversation."He didn't fool me at all. He just said it for the media. I didn't even hear him. He said something like he's going to run down this ball, and I knew he was going to try and scoop me, and it didn't really work. I think he batted well, and he hit some big blows, but he didn't really fool me or Bash," Rehan said.Sajid's tactics have added an intriguing dimension to the Test match, showcasing his ability to influence the game both on and off the field.

Pakistan's first innings faltered on day two of the third Test in Rawalpindi, as England's Rehan Ahmed claimed three crucial wickets to leave the hosts trailing by 80 runs. Resuming on 73 for 3, Pakistan's hopes rested on Saud Shakeel and skipper Shan Masood. However, Masood's dismissal for 26 off Shoaib Bashir's bowling set the tone for a challenging session.Shakeel, who resumed on 16, remained defiant, reaching his 11th Test fifty-plus score. However, a missed catch by Jamie Smith on 26 could have altered the course of the innings. Despite the setback, Shakeel and Masood consolidated their partnership, adding 53 runs in 130 deliveries.The introduction of Rehan Ahmed proved pivotal for England. The legspinner trapped Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Agha leg before in quick succession, before dismissing Aamer Jamal with a googly. Ahmed's impressive spell of 3 for 24 from eight overs, including two maidens, put England in the ascendancy.Pakistan's hopes now rest on Shakeel, who remains unbeaten on 72. However, the hosts face an uphill battle to avoid a significant deficit. England's bowlers, led by Ahmed, have shown their class, and Pakistan will need to dig deep to salvage the innings.

England's white-ball squads for their upcoming Caribbean tour have been bolstered by the additions of Jordan Cox and Rehan Ahmed. Both players are currently with the Test team in Pakistan, but will join the white-ball squad in Antigua on Monday.Cox, the Essex wicketkeeper-batter, is set to make his Test debut in New Zealand and may leave the Caribbean early. He is likely to miss the five-match T20I series but will arrive in New Zealand in time for England's warm-up match on November 23.Rehan, who has been named in England's XI for the third Test in Pakistan, will arrive late in the Caribbean and is unlikely to feature in the first ODI against West Indies on November 31.Cox made his international debut in England's T20I series against Australia last month and is likely to win his first ODI cap in the Caribbean. He will also deputise as England's keeper in the New Zealand series, with Jamie Smith set to miss at least one Test on paternity leave.Rehan's involvement in the third Test in Pakistan is likely to rule him out of at least the first ODI, and he may not be considered until the T20Is. He is one of three wristspinners in England's squads along with Adil Rashid and Jafer Chohan.England announced that Liam Livingstone will captain them in their three ODIs in the Caribbean, with Jos Buttler missing that leg of the tour due to injury. Essex's Michael Pepper has also been added to the squads as cover.West Indies are 2-0 down in an ODI series in Sri Lanka ahead of the final match on Saturday and are yet to announce their squads for the series against England. The first ODI takes place in Antigua on November 31, with the tour running until the fifth T20I in St Lucia on November 17.

Farhan Ahmed, the prodigious offspinner and younger sibling of England Test debutant Rehan Ahmed, has inked a three-and-a-half-year contract with Nottinghamshire, marking his first professional deal with the county.At just 16 years of age, Farhan has emerged as a rising star in the English cricket landscape. He has been a standout performer for Nottinghamshire's Second XI, showcasing his exceptional skills and maturity beyond his years."Farhan is an incredibly talented player with immense potential," said Peter Moores, Nottinghamshire's head coach. "He possesses a natural ability and a strong work ethic, which will serve him well as he embarks on his professional journey."Farhan's signing follows in the footsteps of his elder brother, Rehan, who made history as England's youngest Test debutant in December 2022. Like Rehan, Farhan has already represented England at the Under-19 level, participating in the World Cup campaign in South Africa earlier this year."I'm thrilled to have signed this contract with Nottinghamshire," said Farhan. "It's a dream come true to represent my home county and be part of such a prestigious club. I'm eager to learn from the experienced players and contribute to the team's success."Farhan's journey to professional cricket began at Nottinghamshire's academy in 2022. His impressive performances for the county's Under-18s, where he claimed 86 wickets in 57 games, caught the attention of the club's coaching staff."Farhan has been a standout talent in our academy for several years," said Matt Wood, the Elite Pathway Manager. "He's a highly intelligent bowler with a mature approach to the game. We're confident that he has the potential to make a significant impact at the professional level."Farhan's signing is a testament to Nottinghamshire's commitment to developing young talent. The club has a proven track record of nurturing promising players and providing them with the platform to succeed.As Farhan embarks on his professional career, he will undoubtedly face challenges and setbacks. However, with his talent, determination, and the support of Nottinghamshire, he has the potential to become a future star of English cricket.

Leicestershire Foxes emerged victorious in a thrilling North Group encounter against Worcestershire Rapids in the Vitality Blast, securing their second win in four matches.The Foxes posted a competitive 176 for 8, recovering from a precarious 119 for 5 in the 16th over. Rishi Patel's 48 from 42 laid the foundation, while Ben Cox (29 off 21) and Ben Mike (24 off 11) provided crucial late impetus.Worcestershire's chase began promisingly, with Matthew Waite hitting 40 from 35. However, England's Rehan Ahmed's 2 for 27 and a vital catch halted their momentum. Scott Currie also chipped in with two wickets, while debutant Lewis Goldsworthy claimed one.Ethan Brookes' 37 off 16 balls threatened to turn the tide for the Rapids, but Ahmed's catch and Currie's dismissal of Brookes extinguished their hopes. Despite a no-ball in the final over, Worcestershire fell five runs short of their target.The Foxes' victory was built on a disciplined bowling performance, with Nathan Smith (3 for 39), Adam Finch (3 for 43), and D'Oliveira (2 for 24) sharing the wickets. Worcestershire's bowlers had earlier restricted Leicestershire, with Finch and D'Oliveira claiming three wickets each.

Nathan Lyon, Australia's premier off-spinner, has expressed admiration for the performances of England's inexperienced spinners in India, despite their 4-1 series defeat. Lyon, who will join forces with one of those spinners, Tom Hartley, at Lancashire for the upcoming county season, believes that Hartley, Shoaib Bashir, and Rehan Ahmed have shown great promise.Hartley, who played in all five Tests, impressed with 22 wickets at an average of 36.13, including a stunning 7 for 62 on debut in Hyderabad. Bashir, who arrived late due to visa issues, claimed 17 wickets at 33.35, including a maiden five-wicket haul in Dharamsala.Lyon, who closely followed the India-England series, praised the trio's resilience in facing a formidable Indian batting lineup. He believes that Bashir, in particular, has the potential to be successful in Australia due to his ability to spin the ball over the back."All three of them stood out for me," Lyon said. "They had a tough introduction to Test cricket, but they showed great character. I'm looking forward to playing with Tom and learning from his experiences as a left-arm orthodox spinner."Lyon also acknowledged the upcoming Ashes series in Australia in 2025-26, where England will aim to win down under for the first time since 2010-11. While there is speculation about potential retirements in the Australian team, Lyon believes that the current group can continue playing for several more years."We're definitely getting closer to the end, but we're still doing the hard work and preparing well," Lyon said. "There's no reason why we can't keep playing for three to four or five years. The skill is always going to be there, and Pat Cummins understands the importance of managing our bowlers."