Cricket

Pakistan and Bangladesh are set to face off in the second Test match in Rawalpindi, with the visitors aiming to secure their first Test series victory over the hosts. Pakistan, on the other hand, will be looking to level the series after losing the first Test by 10 wickets.The home team has recalled spinner Abrar Ahmed to their squad after opting for an all-pace attack in the first Test. Former Australian pacer Jason Gillespie, who is in his first series with Pakistan, admitted that it will be a challenge to square the series."We want to go out there and play positive," said Gillespie. "It's about scoring lots of singles and with our bowling we want to be ruthless and challenging the opposition batters."Gillespie also backed under-pressure skipper Shan Masood, who failed with the bat in the first match. "Shan is a very positive captain," said Gillespie. "He wants to play and win games .... we showed that with our intent in the first game but it didn't quite work out and that's credit to our opposition."Bangladesh, meanwhile, will be hoping to continue their impressive form after their clinical performance in the first Test. The visitors upset Pakistan with a ten-wicket display, their first win in over 14 encounters against the hosts.Star pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi has been left out of Pakistan's squad for the second match to spend time with his new-born son and family. Afridi struggled to find his rhythm in the first Test, and his absence will be a blow to Pakistan's bowling attack.The second Test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh promises to be an exciting contest, with both teams eager to secure a series victory.

Pakistan's cricket team, reeling from a humiliating defeat in the first Test against Bangladesh, will seek redemption in the second and final Test at Rawalpindi, starting August 30, 2024. The hosts suffered a historic 10-wicket loss in the series opener, prompting a shake-up in the squad.Marquee pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi has been ruled out of the second Test due to the birth of his son. Khurram Shahzad or Mohammad Ali is expected to replace him in the lineup.Bangladesh, on the other hand, has received a boost with the inclusion of all-rounder Shakib al Hasan, who was initially doubtful due to an ongoing murder case against him.The second Test will be a crucial encounter for both teams. Pakistan will be desperate to avoid a series whitewash, while Bangladesh will aim to consolidate their historic victory and secure their first-ever Test series win over Pakistan.The match will be played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, starting at 10:30 AM IST. It will not be telecast live in India, but fans can follow the live streaming on the TamashaWeb app and website.

Joe Root's record-equalling 33rd Test century propelled England to a commanding position on the opening day of the second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord's.After Sri Lanka opted to field first, England's openers Ben Duckett and Dan Lawrence fell cheaply. Ollie Pope, captaining the side in place of the injured Ben Stokes, also struggled, dismissed for just one.However, Root, batting at number four, steadied the innings with a masterful display of batting. He shared partnerships of 48 with Harry Brook, 62 with Jamie Smith, and 92 with Gus Atkinson.Root reached his century in 162 balls, with 13 fours, moving into joint-tenth place in the all-time list of Test century-makers. He also tied Alastair Cook's record of 33 Test centuries, becoming the only active cricketer in the top ranks of Test century-makers.Atkinson provided valuable support to Root, scoring an unbeaten 74 in a seventh-wicket partnership of 92 runs. The 26-year-old hit two sixes off Prabath Jayasuriya and pulled Lahiru Kumara for another six over midwicket.England ended the day on 358 for 7, with Atkinson and Jack Leach at the crease. Root's century and Atkinson's aggressive batting have put England in a strong position to build a substantial first-innings lead.

Joe Root, England's talismanic batsman, has etched his name into the annals of cricket history by equaling Alastair Cook's record of 33 Test centuries. This remarkable achievement came during the first day of the second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord's, a hallowed ground that has witnessed countless cricketing legends.Root's journey to this milestone has been nothing short of extraordinary. In just 145 matches, he has matched Cook's tally, who took 161 games to reach the same mark. This feat places Root in joint-tenth position on the all-time list of Test century-makers, alongside some of the greatest names in the sport.What sets Root apart from his illustrious peers is his longevity and consistency. At 33 years old, he is the only active player among the top ten century-makers. This underscores his exceptional talent and his potential to further cement his place among the all-time greats.Root's achievement is a testament to his unwavering determination and unwavering focus. He has consistently performed at the highest level, scoring runs in all conditions and against all opposition. His ability to adapt to different situations and his mastery of all aspects of batting make him a formidable force in the world of cricket.The list of most Test centuries is dominated by legends from the past, but Root's presence among them is a reminder that the game continues to produce exceptional players. His achievement is a source of pride for England and inspiration for aspiring cricketers around the world.

Pakistan's cricket team is facing a crisis after their humiliating defeat to Bangladesh in the first Test. The loss has raised questions about the team's captaincy, form, and overall direction.Captain Shan Masood, who took over the reins just four Tests ago, is under fire after losing all four matches. His decision-making has been criticized, particularly his failure to declare early in the first Test, which allowed Bangladesh to escape with a draw.Pakistan's batting has also been a major concern. Babar Azam, the team's star batsman, has been in a slump, averaging just 21.15 in his last 13 Test innings. Other batsmen have also failed to step up, with only Abdullah Shafique and Saud Shakeel showing any consistency.The bowling attack has also been disappointing. Shaheen Afridi, Pakistan's pace spearhead, has been ruled out of the second Test with an injury. Naseem Shah and Mohammad Ali have been inconsistent, while the spinners have failed to make an impact.Bangladesh, on the other hand, have been the epitome of resilience and determination. They outplayed Pakistan in all departments, showing superior technique and game management. Mushfiqur Rahim, the veteran wicketkeeper-batsman, played a key role in Bangladesh's victory, anchoring the innings and guiding the younger players.The second Test will be crucial for both teams. Pakistan must win to avoid a series defeat at home, while Bangladesh will be looking to seal a historic series victory. The weather could play a factor, with rain forecast for the first day.Pakistan will need to make some tough decisions, including whether to include a spinner in the team. They will also need to find a way to get Babar Azam back in form and inspire the rest of the team.Bangladesh, on the other hand, will be confident of continuing their good form. They have shown that they are a team that can adapt to different conditions and outplay their opponents.

Rashid Khan, Afghanistan's star leg-spinner, has been ruled out of the upcoming one-off Test against New Zealand due to a back injury. The injury occurred while Khan was playing for Speen Ghar Tigers in the Shpageeza Cricket League (SCL), Afghanistan's domestic T20 tournament.Khan played three consecutive matches in the SCL from August 18, taking six wickets at an impressive average of 9.33 and an economy rate of 5.09. However, during his third game, he experienced pain in his back and was forced to miss SGT's next match two days later.This is not the first time Khan has suffered a back injury. He underwent surgery after the World Cup in India last year, which sidelined him for four months. He also suffered a hamstring strain while representing Trent Rockets at the Hundred a week before his recent back trouble.Afghanistan have begun training in Noida for the Test against New Zealand, which will be the first time the two teams have faced each other in the format. The match will also be the first Test to be played at the Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground.After the Test against New Zealand, Afghanistan will fly to Sharjah to play a three-match ODI series against South Africa from September 18.

India's quest for a historic third consecutive Test series triumph in Australia will hinge on the ability of their aging batting lineup to withstand the formidable pace attack of the hosts, according to former Australia coach John Buchanan.Buchanan, who guided Australia to unprecedented success in the early 2000s, believes that both India and Australia possess experienced players, but that will not diminish the intensity of the competition. He highlighted Australia's potent bowling lineup, led by Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon, as a major challenge for India's batters."India's top order, including Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and possibly Shreyas Iyer, must perform exceptionally well to establish substantial totals," Buchanan said. "Then, the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj will come into their own."Buchanan downplayed the psychological impact of India's previous series wins in Australia, as key players from those victories, such as Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane, are unlikely to feature in the upcoming tour."The previous series that India won were important, but those games have passed, and the current players are at a stage of their careers where they all want to perform," he said. "Both sides have aging players, with Rohit Sharma at 37, Kohli at 35, and Ravichandran Ashwin at 37. Australia also has only a few players under 30."Buchanan emphasized the importance of India batting for extended periods to tire out Australia's bowling attack. He cited Pujara's marathon innings in the 2018-19 and 2020-21 series as examples of how India can succeed in Australia."Australia plays well at home because they understand their conditions," Buchanan said. "But if India can bat for long periods, it will test the physical capacities of the Australian bowling attack and potentially give them a key to winning the series."Buchanan also acknowledged the challenges that traveling teams face in preparing for tours due to the lack of extended match practice. He believes that India's two-day pink-ball match against the Prime Minister's XI will be insufficient preparation for the day-night Test in Adelaide."Australia is favorite going into the series," Buchanan said. "It's very difficult to tour other countries these days, and traveling teams no longer have that preparation in a country to adjust to the conditions."

Pakistan's star pacer Shaheen Afridi has been omitted from the team for the second Test against Bangladesh, raising concerns about his form and effectiveness. Head coach Jason Gillespie confirmed that Afridi is "working on some things" to improve his bowling, hinting at a potential drop rather than a rest.Afridi's recent performances have been underwhelming, particularly in Test cricket. In Australia, he averaged over 41 in pace-friendly conditions, and in the first Test against Bangladesh, he took only two lower-order wickets for 96 runs. His pace, once consistently in the mid-140 kph range, has also declined since his injury last year.Gillespie acknowledged that Afridi has been given feedback and is working with bowling coach Azhar Mahmood to address his technical issues. "We want to see Shaheen at his best because we've got a lot of cricket in all formats and Shaheen's going to play a really big role in that," Gillespie said.While Afridi's absence from the team is a significant blow, Pakistan has named a 12-man squad for the second Test, including legspinner Abrar Ahmed and fast bowler Mir Hamza. The inclusion of Abrar is likely, as Pakistan's decision to field an all-pace attack in the first Test backfired.Gillespie emphasized that the team's selection is based on weather conditions in Rawalpindi, which have been unfavorable for the past three days. "We're looking at what our best combination is this game," Gillespie said. "We'll look at conditions and decide what the best makeup of our bowling attack looks like."Pakistan must win the second Test to draw the series, after suffering their first-ever Test defeat to Bangladesh in Rawalpindi. The team will be hoping to bounce back with a strong performance, but Afridi's absence will be a major challenge.

Sri Lanka, seeking redemption after their five-wicket defeat in the first Test at Manchester, made two changes to their lineup for the second Test at Lord's. Batter Pathum Nissanka and pace bowler Lahiru Kumara replaced Kusal Mendis and Vishwa Fernando, respectively.England, on the other hand, made only one change, with Olly Stone coming in for fellow fast bowler Mark Wood, who was ruled out with a thigh injury. Ollie Pope, filling in as captain for the injured Ben Stokes, opted to bat first if he had won the toss.Sri Lanka's decision to bowl first proved to be a wise one as they restricted England to a modest 290 all out in their first innings. Prabath Jayasuriya was the star performer for the visitors, claiming 6 for 118, while Asitha Fernando chipped in with 3 for 75.In reply, Sri Lanka posted a competitive 320, thanks to a century from Angelo Mathews (110) and a half-century from Dhananjaya de Silva (61). England's bowlers toiled hard, with Olly Stone taking 4 for 85 and Matthew Potts claiming 3 for 72.England's second innings was a more challenging affair, as they were bowled out for 246, setting Sri Lanka a target of 164 to win. Jayasuriya once again impressed with the ball, taking 4 for 60, while Kumara and Fernando picked up two wickets each.Sri Lanka chased down the target with relative ease, reaching 165 for 4 in just 36.4 overs. Nissanka led the way with an unbeaten 61, while Mathews contributed 49.The victory gives Sri Lanka a 1-1 draw in the two-match series, a significant improvement over their 3-0 whitewash in the previous series against England.