Cricket

Pakistan's Test woes continue to draw criticism from former players, with legendary batsman Younis Khan launching a scathing attack on the team's captain, Shan Masood.Younis, without naming Masood directly, questioned his leadership abilities, stating that he lacks the necessary qualities and was appointed primarily due to his communication skills. "There are no qualities to lead a team in an individual, neither he is a leader material... still he has been given the responsibilities," Younis said.He criticized the mindset of appointing captains based on their ability to communicate effectively rather than their leadership potential. "Just because the people feel that ye hamari sunta hai, achha padha likha hai, ye English, Urdu, Pashto achhi bolta hai toh isko kaptaan bana do (He may not be a good player but if he listens to us, and speaks good English, Urdu and Pashto, so let's make him the captain). Please, get rid of this thinking," he added.Younis's comments come after Pakistan's heavy defeat to England in the first Test in Multan, which extended their losing streak to six consecutive Tests. The team's performance has raised concerns about their ability to compete at the highest level.In a further blow to Pakistan, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has dropped former captain Babar Azam from the squad for the second and third Tests against England. Azam, who has been struggling for form, managed just 35 runs across both innings in the first Test.The PCB has also rested frontline pace duo Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah for the Tests. The selection committee's decision to rest key players has raised questions about Pakistan's strategy for the remaining matches of the series.

Pakistan's cricket team has come under fire from former batter Basit Ali following their humiliating defeat to England in the first Test of the three-match series in Multan. The loss marked Pakistan's sixth consecutive Test defeat, extending their winless streak to 10 matches in the format.Ali, in a viral rant on his YouTube channel, expressed his disgust with the team's performance, labeling it as "shameful." He questioned the place of star batter Babar Azam in the team, urging the selectors to drop him. Azam has not scored a Test century in over two years, and Ali believes that any other player would have been dropped long ago."Babar Azam needs rest. He should be the one saying, 'I need to rest'. It's been 18 innings without a significant performance. Any other player would have been dropped after three games, like Fawad Alam. This is the harsh reality. Babar should reduce his stance. It's too wide now. The whole world is laughing. Is this how you play?" Ali said.Ali also criticized captain Shan Masood, suggesting that he should be opening the batting instead of playing at number three. He questioned Masood's credentials as captain, saying, "I've always maintained that Shan is an opener and should be opening. But he played at number three. Now what will happen? Who will you drop? He should play in his rightful position. He doesn't even understand captaincy. What has become of this cricket team? It's shameful."The loss to England continues a painful stretch for Pakistan and will likely increase the pressure on Masood, who is reportedly set to be sacked by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The win is England's fourth consecutive Test triumph on Pakistan soil, after a 3-0 whitewash two years ago. England had only won two away Tests against Pakistan in the previous 61 years.

Pakistan's Test woes continue unabated as they succumb to a humiliating innings and 47-run defeat against England in Multan. This marks their 10th consecutive Test loss, extending their winless streak to 1,331 days. The last time Pakistan tasted victory in the longest format was in February 2021 against South Africa in Rawalpindi.Veteran batter Ahmed Shehzad has expressed his frustration over Pakistan's dismal performance, criticizing the Shan Masood-led side for their lack of character and accountability. Shehzad, who last played for Pakistan in 2019, questioned the team's winning attitude and effort on the field."Every day is a new low for the Pakistan cricket team," Shehzad said on his YouTube channel. "You can lose to any team at the moment. There is no winning attitude in this team. The pitch might be flat, but no one was putting an effort."Shehzad also accused the current crop of players of lacking accountability and being complacent in their positions. "These players don't have any accountability," he said. "They know that their place in the team is not under any kind of threat. PCB doesn't want to give opportunities to the youngsters."Pakistan's defeat in Multan is particularly embarrassing as they became the first team in Test history to lose by an innings despite scoring over 550 runs in their first innings. The loss extends Masood's captaincy record to six consecutive defeats.As Pakistan's Test struggles continue, they will look to bounce back in the second Test against England, which begins on Tuesday in Multan. However, with their confidence shattered and their opponents in dominant form, the task ahead seems daunting.

Pakistan's Test skipper Shan Masood and opener Abdullah Shafique etched their names into the history books on the opening day of the first Test against England in Multan. On a grassy surface that belied its dryness, the duo forged an indelible partnership that shattered records and tested England's inexperienced bowlers to their limits.After Pakistan lost young opener Saim Ayub early to Gus Atkinson, Masood and Shafique embarked on a sensational 253-run stand for the second wicket. Their partnership became the fourth-highest for the second wicket in Pakistan Test cricket history, surpassing the previous record held by the legendary duo of Mushtaq Mohammad and Zaheer Abbas.Masood played the role of aggressor, scoring at a strike rate of 100 for much of his innings. Shafique, on the other hand, adopted a more cautious approach, especially when England resorted to a barrage of short balls in the second session.The record-breaking partnership came to an end after both players began to show signs of cramping up. Shafique's tired shot in Atkinson's over resulted in his dismissal for 102(184). Masood soon followed suit, caught by Jack Leach after misjudging a tossed-up delivery. He departed with a score of 151(177).The 253-run partnership was the second-highest ever witnessed at the Multan cricket stadium in Test format, behind only the iconic 336-run stand between India's Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar. It was also the first time in five years that England had conceded a 250-plus runs partnership in Test cricket.Masood and Shafique's record-tumbling stand set the tone for Pakistan's innings and gave them a commanding position in the match. Their partnership showcased their resilience, determination, and ability to adapt to challenging conditions. It will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the most memorable partnerships in Pakistan Test cricket history.

Babar Azam's struggles in Test cricket continued unabated as the former Pakistan captain once again failed to capitalize on a golden opportunity to silence his critics during the first Test against England in Multan on Monday.Despite Pakistan's strong showing on Day 1, with Shan Masood (151) and Abdullah Shafique (102) putting up a mammoth 253-run stand, Babar failed to capitalize on a comfortable position, scoring only 30 off 71 balls before being trapped lbw by England's Chris Woakes in the final session of the day.Woakes set him up brilliantly, beating him on both the outside and inside edges before delivering a full-length ball that nipped in just enough to hit Babar in front of the stumps. Babar reviewed the decision, hoping for a reprieve, but ball-tracking showed it was crashing into leg stump.The dismissal extended Babar's poor run in Test cricket, leaving fans disappointed once again. What added salt to the wound was the reaction of fans in the stadium. Several spectators were caught on camera sleeping during Babar's innings, a moment that quickly went viral on social media.Fans expressed their frustration online, trolling the Pakistan skipper for his continued lacklustre performances.Despite Babar forging a 61-run partnership with Saud Shakeel, his inability to convert starts into big scores is becoming a pattern that has fueled criticism, especially given Pakistan's dominance earlier in the day.Pakistan still ended Day 1 in a commanding position at 328/4, thanks to Masood and Shafique's heroics. But with every failure, the pressure mounts on Babar to regain his form and silence the growing voices of doubt.

Pakistan's Shan Masood Breaks Four-Year Century Drought in Emotional Return to FormAfter a grueling 1524-day wait, Pakistan captain Shan Masood finally ended his Test century drought, reaching the milestone against England in the first Test in Multan on Monday. This century marked a significant moment for Masood, who has endured a challenging four-year period marked by inconsistency and setbacks.Masood's last Test hundred came in 2020, when he scored a magnificent 156 against England in Manchester. Since then, he has faced a turbulent period, being dropped from the national squad before eventually taking on the added pressure of leading the side as captain.Despite the challenges, Masood remained determined to regain his form. He worked tirelessly on his technique and mental approach, and his efforts paid off in Multan. The left-hander reached his century in style, clipping a ball behind square off Chris Woakes to collect a single.The crowd erupted in applause as Masood raised his bat to acknowledge the moment. His batting partner, Abdullah Shafique, embraced him to share in the special occasion. Masood's century was a testament to his resilience and unwavering belief in his abilities.Masood's Test centuries:* 100* vs England, Multan, 2024* 156 vs England, Manchester, 2020* 100 vs Bangladesh, Karachi, 2019* 135 vs Sri Lanka, Karachi, 2019* 125 vs Sri Lanka, Pallekele, 2015Masood's century has given Pakistan a solid foundation in the first Test against England. The hosts will be hoping to build on this momentum and secure a victory that would boost their confidence ahead of the upcoming World Test Championship matches.

Pakistan's Test squad for the first match against England has been announced, with all-rounder Aamer Jamal making a long-awaited return. Jamal's inclusion allows Pakistan to field a balanced attack, featuring Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Abrar Ahmed. This is the first time in over a year that Pakistan's full first-choice bowling contingent is available.The batting lineup remains unchanged, with Abdullah Shafique retaining his place despite recent struggles. Captain Shan Masood expressed confidence in Shafique, stating that the team is leaving the pitch preparation to the groundsman.Pakistan's batting has been a concern, with several batters underperforming. The match-up against England's inexperienced bowling unit in these conditions presents an intriguing challenge. England's decision to field a bowling combination of Brydon Carse, Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Jack Leach, and Shoaib Bashir has raised eyebrows, but it aligns with their aggressive "Bazball" approach.Masood acknowledged the impact of "Bazball" on world cricket, emphasizing the importance of finding new ways to play. However, Pakistan has vowed not to be drawn into England's style, preferring to absorb pressure and make amends for a difficult year."There is a lot of hurt within the players," said Masood. "We want to see our fans happy. We believe in this set of players and with Jason Gillespie, we wanted to create a squad mentality."Pakistan's squad for the first Test:* Saim Ayub* Abdullah Shafique* Shan Masood (capt)* Babar Azam* Saud Shakeel* Mohammad Rizwan (wk)* Salman Ali Agha* Aamer Jamal* Shaheen Afridi* Naseem Shah* Abrar Ahmed

Pakistan's Shan Masood Urged to Counter England's Tactics with Bold DecisionsFormer Pakistan batsman Basit Ali has advised national team captain Shan Masood to adopt a more aggressive approach in countering England's tactics in the upcoming Test series. Ali's suggestion comes after England announced their playing eleven two days before the start of the first Test in Multan.Ali believes that Masood should have followed England's lead and announced Pakistan's team in advance. "It's still not late," he said. "Do it in the morning after assessing the pitch."Ali drew comparisons with India captain Rohit Sharma, who made bold decisions in the second Test against Bangladesh in Kanpur. Despite rain washing out two days, India counter-attacked in their first innings and declared early to keep the game alive. India eventually won by seven wickets, sweeping the series 2-0."If you want to be brave like Rohit in captaincy, then make decisions," Ali said. "If you take brave calls, then only you will win."Ali emphasized that Masood needs to instill confidence in his players and turn them into match-winners. "You don't have a Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, or 'Boom Boom' Bumrah," he said. "So raise the confidence level of those you have with you. Tell them 'you are my match-winner.'"Pakistan will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing 0-2 whitewash at home against Bangladesh. The first Test against England begins in Multan on October 7.

Pakistan's Test skipper, Shan Masood, has expressed confidence in star batter Babar Azam's ability to regain form during the upcoming home Test series against England. Masood believes that Azam, despite recent struggles, remains the team's premier batter.Azam's performances in his last eight Tests have been below par, with an average of 21.13 and no half-centuries. However, Masood emphasized that Azam is not out of form and is still getting starts. He attributed Azam's struggles to the long gap between Tests and the pressure of being the team's leading batter."Babar is among the world's best batters," Masood said. "You have to give your players time, not just Babar. He is getting starts. There was a 10-month gap between the Australia and Bangladesh Tests, which does not help us."Masood pointed to Azam's impressive performances in the recent Champions Cup, where he scored 230 runs at an average of 76.66 and a strike rate of almost 99. He believes that Azam's ability to absorb pressure and change gears in that tournament will benefit him in Tests.Masood also dismissed any concerns about a lack of unity within the team. He stated that the players are putting in effort and that he has no complaints."Every captain has their own style," Masood said. "I focus on keeping the environment in the dressing room well; that is my primary concern. I have never seen a lack of unity or effort by the boys."Pakistan's Test record at home has been poor in recent times, with their last win dating back to February 2021. They are under pressure to perform well against England, especially after their series loss to Bangladesh.The Pakistan squad for the first Test against England includes:* Shan Masood (c)* Saud Shakeel (vc)* Aamir Jamal* Abdullah Shafique* Abrar Ahmed* Babar Azam* Mir Hamza* Mohammad Huraira* Mohammad Rizwan* Naseem Shah* Noman Ali* Saim Ayub* Salman Ali Agha* Sarfaraz Ahmed* Shaheen Shah Afridi