Cricket

Bangladesh Opt to Bowl First in Rain-Hit Rawalpindi TestAfter a rain-soaked opening day, the second day of the second Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh commenced under a warm and sunny sky in Rawalpindi. Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and elected to bowl first, citing the moisture in the pitch that could aid his seamers.Bangladesh made one change to their victorious team from the first Test, with Taskin Ahmed replacing the injured Shoriful Islam. Pakistan, already missing Shaheen Shah Afridi, also rested Naseem Shah, bringing in legspinner Abrar Ahmed and left-arm seamer Mir Hamza.Bangladesh currently hold a 1-0 lead in the two-match series, having secured their maiden Test victory over Pakistan in the previous game. A win or draw in this match would seal a rare away series triumph for the Tigers.Pakistan Team:1. Abdullah Shafique2. Saim Ayub3. Shan Masood (capt)4. Babar Azam5. Saud Shakeel6. Mohammad Rizwan (wk)7. Salman Ali Agha8. Abrar Ahmed9. Mir Hamza10. Mohammad Ali11. Khurram ShahzadBangladesh Team:1. Shadman Islam2. Zakir Hasan3. Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt)4. Mominul Haque5. Mushfiqur Rahim6. Shakib Al Hasan7. Litton Das (wk)8. Mehidy Hasan Miraz9. Taskin Ahmed10. Hasan Mahmud11. Nahid Rana

India's T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav's hopes of a Test comeback have been dealt a blow after he suffered a hand injury while fielding for Mumbai in the Buchi Babu tournament. The extent of the injury is yet to be determined, but it is a significant concern for the hard-hitting batsman with the Duleep Trophy set to commence on September 5.Yadav, who has played only one Test for India, was eager to impress the selectors in the red-ball format. He had expressed his excitement about the upcoming Duleep Trophy, which would have given him a chance to stake his claim for a place in the Test team.However, his injury has cast a shadow over his plans. The injury occurred while he was fielding in Mumbai's match against Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) XI. Mumbai could only manage 156 in reply to TNCA XI's 379, and now face a daunting target of 510 to win.Yadav is part of the Ruturaj Gaikwad-led Team C squad in the Duleep Trophy. India's home season kicks off with the two-Test series against Bangladesh in September-October. If Yadav's injury is serious, it could jeopardize his chances of making a comeback to the Test team.The injury is a setback for Yadav, who has been in excellent form in white-ball cricket. He was the leading run-scorer in the recently concluded T20I series against West Indies, and has also been impressive in the Indian Premier League (IPL).Yadav's injury is a reminder of the physical demands of cricket. Even the most talented players are susceptible to injuries, and it is important for them to manage their workload carefully. Yadav will be hoping that his injury is not serious, and that he will be able to recover in time for the Duleep Trophy and the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh.

Pakistan's Test squad for the ongoing second Test against Bangladesh has undergone a significant change, with the release of left-arm fast-bowling spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi. The decision was made to allow Afridi to spend time with his family following the birth of his son, Aliyaar, during the first Test.Afridi's absence from the 12-man squad is a blow to Pakistan's hopes of leveling the two-match series. In the first Test, which Bangladesh won by ten wickets, Afridi claimed two wickets in the first innings but failed to take any in the second. His recent Test form has been inconsistent, with 16 wickets from five Tests at an average of 40.81 since the start of 2023.To fill the void left by Afridi, Pakistan has included left-arm pacer Mir Hamza and leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed in the squad. Hamza has played one Test for Pakistan, while Ahmed is yet to make his debut.Pakistan must win the second Test to square the series and avoid a historic first Test series defeat to Bangladesh. However, rain is forecasted for days four and five, which could lead to a draw and hand Bangladesh the series victory.Both teams are currently in the bottom half of the 2023-2025 World Test Championship standings, with Bangladesh at number seven and Pakistan at number eight. Pakistan has not won a home Test match since beating South Africa in December 2021.

Andrew Flintoff, the former England all-rounder, will join the Test squad as a batting consultant ahead of the third Test against Sri Lanka at The Oval. Flintoff's appointment comes as Marcus Trescothick, the current batting coach, takes a short break before assuming the role of interim white-ball head coach for the upcoming series against Australia.Flintoff has been involved with England's white-ball setup for the past year, including the T20 World Cup in June. However, he will not be part of Trescothick's coaching staff for the three T20Is and five ODIs against Australia next month. Flintoff recently gained experience as a head coach with the Northern Superchargers in the Hundred, where his team narrowly missed out on qualification.Flintoff is expected to join the Test squad on Wednesday for two training days and will assist Brendon McCullum's staff throughout the third Test. His role is short-term, and he is not expected to be involved in the winter tours of Pakistan and New Zealand.Trescothick will take a few days off after the second Test at Lord's before joining the white-ball squad ahead of the first T20I against Australia on September 11. His backroom staff will largely remain the same as Matthew Mott's, with the addition of England Under-19s coach Michael Yardy.Trescothick has not yet decided whether he will apply for the white-ball head coach's role on a permanent basis. He stated, "I'm still very focused on the batting stuff with the Test team. I'm going to let this play out and see what happens for this period of time, and see how much I enjoy doing the head coach's role and then go from there really."Trescothick will work alongside Jos Buttler, his former Somerset teammate, who is expected to continue as captain but may relinquish the wicketkeeping gloves in the T20Is. Trescothick said, "It's definitely something we'll think about, because we can try different options, give it a go for a period of time and see what reaction it has on his captaincy and on the team."Despite recent setbacks in World Cups, Trescothick believes England's one-day cricket is in a good place. He added, "Jos is going to lead that forward for a period of time at the moment - and I don't see it changing."

England's Gus Atkinson has etched his name into the annals of Lord's history by becoming only the second player to achieve both a Test century and a 10-wicket haul at the iconic venue in the same season.Atkinson, 26, followed up his match-winning 118 with the bat on Day 2 of the second Test against Sri Lanka with a five-wicket haul on Day 3. He is now part of an exclusive club that includes Gubby Allen, Keith Miller, Ian Botham, Stuart Broad, and Chris Woakes.Atkinson's bowling performance was as impressive as his batting. He bowled with great accuracy and control, consistently finding the right line and length to trouble the Sri Lankan batsmen. He dismissed Dimuth Karunaratne, Nishan Madushka, and Asitha Fernando to put England in a commanding position.Sri Lanka's only resistance came from Angelo Mathews, who scored a gritty 52. However, Atkinson's relentless pressure eventually proved too much, and he was caught behind off the bowling of Chris Woakes.Atkinson's heroics have put England on the verge of a series victory. They need just four more wickets to secure a 2-0 lead and retain the Pataudi Trophy.

The outgoing Cricket West Indies (CWI) CEO Johnny Grave has expressed skepticism about the proposed ICC Test fund, suggesting that it will not significantly impact the state of Test cricket. The fund, which aims to provide a minimum match fee of US $10,000 for players in Test matches, has been met with mixed reactions.Grave believes that the fund is insufficient to address the challenges facing Test cricket, particularly in the West Indies. He argues that the focus should be on increasing the number of three-match series, establishing dedicated Test windows, and supporting 'A' team programs."I think the idea of paying a Test fee of US $10,000 is not even window dressing," Grave said. "We pay our players US $10,000. So, I sort of smiled when I saw that come out in the press."Grave acknowledges that the Test fund is a "significant amount of money" for CWI, but he believes it is a "rounding error" for other boards. He suggests that the ICC should prioritize measures that will improve the quality and competitiveness of Test cricket, such as providing more opportunities for players to develop their skills.Despite his skepticism about the Test fund, Grave welcomes the "slight change in mindset" from the Big 3 (Australia, India, and England). He believes that the willingness to host major events outside of their own countries and to support the development of cricket in other regions is a positive step."We've got to get jeopardy back in, we've got to get competitive balance," Grave said. "To a certain extent, some of that has changed."Grave's comments highlight the ongoing debate about the future of Test cricket. While some believe that the format is in decline, others argue that it remains the pinnacle of the sport. The ICC Test fund is one of several initiatives aimed at preserving and promoting Test cricket, but it remains to be seen whether it will have the desired impact.

Persistent rain has washed out the entire first day of the second Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh in Rawalpindi, leaving the teams frustrated and the series in limbo.The umpires made an inspection at noon, despite the relentless downpour, and decided to abandon play for the day. The chances of any cricket being played were so slim that the teams had not even bothered to leave their hotel.The forecast for the remainder of the day is equally bleak, with more rain expected. The outlook for tomorrow is also not promising, with overcast conditions predicted for much of the day.The teams had already been forced to cancel their practice sessions on Thursday due to the inclement weather.Bangladesh currently hold a 1-0 lead in the two-match series after securing their maiden Test victory over Pakistan in the previous encounter. Pakistan had fielded an all-pace attack in that match, but have included legspinner Abrar Ahmed in their squad for this Test.Bangladesh, meanwhile, are expected to recall Taskin Ahmed to replace fellow fast bowler Nahid Rana. However, the final playing XIs will not be known until at least Saturday morning.Originally scheduled to be played in Karachi, this Test was shifted to Rawalpindi due to ongoing construction at the National Stadium.With the first day of the Test washed out, the series is now in jeopardy. The teams will be hoping for a break in the weather on Saturday, but the forecast is not encouraging.

Pakistan's star batter Babar Azam has witnessed a significant drop in his ICC Test rankings, falling to the ninth position. This decline comes amidst a string of poor performances in the longest format of the game. In the recent Test against Bangladesh, Babar managed scores of 22 and 0, contributing to Pakistan's stunning defeat.Former Pakistan batter Basit Ali believes that Babar's ranking drop could serve as a catalyst for improvement. He suggests that the former Pakistan captain will be motivated to perform well in the series-deciding second Test against Bangladesh. Basit also advocates for a reduction in Babar's ODI ranking, arguing that he is not the number one batter in that format.Basit criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for organizing the Champions Cup, a domestic 50-over tournament, after the Test series against Bangladesh. He urged the PCB to emulate India's approach by organizing more red-ball tournaments."India is right next to us, please copy their system too," Basit said. "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."Basit's comments highlight the need for Pakistan to prioritize red-ball cricket and develop a stronger foundation for its Test team. The upcoming second Test against Bangladesh will be a crucial opportunity for Babar Azam to regain his form and inspire his team to victory.

Ravichandran Ashwin Baffled by Pakistan's Collapse Against BangladeshIndian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has expressed his astonishment at Pakistan's dramatic defeat to Bangladesh in the first Test at Rawalpindi. Pakistan's capitulation on the final day, losing for the first time ever to Bangladesh in Tests, has left Ashwin perplexed.Pakistan captain Shan Masood's decision to declare the first innings at 448, despite losing only six wickets, has been a major talking point. On a flat wicket, Bangladesh went on to post a higher total, before Pakistan's batting collapsed in the second innings."Teams don't surrender on a pitch like this. In first-class cricket, strong teams will bat first and hit big," said Ashwin on his YouTube channel. "When I saw the highlights of the match, I understood that it was a proper, tiring collapse on the final day. I haven't seen that for a long time."Ashwin was particularly critical of Pakistan's lower order, who failed to provide any support to Mohammad Rizwan, who was the star of Pakistan's batting throughout the match."In the end, when Mohammad Rizwan was staging a fight, Naseem Shah played a shot and got out cheaply. I did not understand what happened. There was nothing on the pitch," said Ashwin.Former South Africa performance analyst Prasanna Raman, known as 'PDogg', who often joins Ashwin for his videos, was equally scathing in his critique of Pakistan's batting."Bangladesh have no mystery spinners or wrist spinners. There is no threat. If you can't bat for four sessions on a pitch like that at home, it can mean only one thing. Division 1 and Division 2 cricket needs to be brought in. Otherwise, Test cricket in Pakistan will be destroyed," said Raman.Pakistan will have a chance to redeem themselves in the second Test against Bangladesh, which begins on August 30 at Rawalpindi. However, they will need to show a significant improvement in their batting if they want to avoid another embarrassing defeat.