Author: Zahid Noor

CANTERBURY: Alice Capsey struck an unbeaten 67 to help the England women’s cricket team clinch a close win over New Zealand in the third T20I to seal the series at The Spitfire Ground here on Thursday.

England Women captain Nat Sciver-Brunt won the toss and invited New Zealand to bat first.

New Zealand made a strong start before Sophie Ecclestone removed Suzie Bates and Amelia Kerr in her first over, reducing the White Ferns to 62-3.

Skipper Sophie Devine top-scored with an unbeaten 58 runs from 42 balls with the help of seven boundaries and two sixes as New Zealand managed 141-8 in their 20 overs.

For England, Sophie Ecclestone took 4-25 while Lauren Filer (2-17) and Sarah Glenn (1-14) were also impressive.

In response, England lost Maia Bouchier on the first ball of the innings before Capsey and Sophia Dunkley added a 66-run stand for the second wicket.

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However, Fran Jonas forced New Zealand’s comeback as she removed Dunkley (35) and Sciver-Brunt (0) in successive balls to leave reeling at England 66-3.

Capsey remained unbeaten with 67 off 60, while Freya Kemp hit 16 off eight balls to seal the six-victory for England in the last over.

The two teams will next meet at the Kia Oval on Saturday for the fourth match of the series.

England Women vs New Zealand Women T20I Series Schedule

6 July: 1st Women’s IT20 – The Utilita Bowl, Southampton – England won by 59 runs

9 July: 2nd Women’s IT20 – The 1st Central County Ground, Hove – England won by 23 runs (DLS method)

11 July: 3rd Women’s IT20 – The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence – England won by six wickets

13 July: 4th Women’s IT20 – The Kia Oval, London

17 July: 5th Women’s IT20 – Lord’s, London

READ: Lockie Ferguson stars as Washington Freedom edge past Seattle Orcas

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi did not mince his words while criticising the national white-ball captain Babar Azam, indirectly demanding a change in leadership.

Afridi is currently in London, representing Pakistan Champions in the World Championship of Legends.

He spoke to the media after Pakistan’s match against South Africa Champions yesterday and stated that Babar Azam has been given more chances than any captain in the history of Pakistan cricket.

“We have also led Pakistan, but hardly any captain got as many chances as Babar Azam. In the past, after every World Cup, the captain used to be the first one to be sacked,” said Shahid Afridi.

“Babar has got ample opportunities, ODI World Cup, Asia Cup, T20 World Cup. I think it is time to take a decision.”

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Afridi also reacted to the removal of Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq, both part of the Pakistan Champions’ squad, as the selectors of the national men’s cricket team.

“I have come to know about the expulsion of Wahab and Razzaq. To be honest, this kind of surgery is beyond my comprehension,” he stated.

“The selection committee was comprised of seven members, why the surgery has been done on two?” he concluded.

Meanwhile, Wahab Riaz has also been removed from his post as senior team manager of the national team, along with team manager Mansoor Rana, according to sources.

The shakeup in the national men’s team’s selection committee is a part of the “major surgery”, hinted at by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi.

READ: Pakistan head coaches, assistant coach hold meeting at PCB headquarters

England women’s cricket team secured a 23-run victory on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method in a rain-curtailed second T20I against New Zealand at the County Ground in Hove.

The home side took a 2-0 lead over New Zealand in the five-match T20I series, having won the first match by 59 runs.

The match was reduced to nine overs per side after a two-hour rain delay. England while batting first scored 89-6, with the help of Alice Capsey’s 15-ball 28, laced with two fours and two sixes.

Opening batter Maia Bouchier scored 23 off 15, while Heather Knight added 15 runs to the total. New Zealand’s Lea Tahuhu and Amelia Kerr picked two wickets each.

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In response, New Zealand lost Sophie Devine and Amelia Kerr in the powerplay to slip to 12-2. Charlie Dean dismissed Suzie Bates and Brooke Halliday in her solitary over to reduce New Zealand to 31-4 in 4.5 overs.

Meanwhile, Lauren Bell, Nat Sciver-Brunt and Sophie Ecclestone also took a wicket each before a spell of heavy rain brought a premature end to the contest with the White Ferns ending on 42-5 in 6.4 overs, 23 runs behind the DLS par-score.

The two teams will now meet in Canterbury on Thursday for the third T20I.

England Women vs New Zealand Women T20I Series Schedule

6 July: 1st Women’s T20I – The Utilita Bowl, Southampton – England won by 59 runs

9 July: 2nd Women’s T20I – The 1st Central County Ground, Hove – England won by 23 runs (DLS method)

11 July: 3rd Women’s T20I – The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence

13 July: 4th Women’s T20I – The Kia Oval, London

17 July: 5th Women’s T20I – Lord’s, London

READ: Two members removed from Pakistan men’s selection committee – reports

England have announced their Playing XI for the first Test match against the West Indies, starting at the iconic Lord’s 10 July.

This match will mark pacer Chris Woakes’ return to the England Playing XI for the first time since last summer’s Ashes against Australia. Meanwhile, Surrey players Gus Atkinson and Jamie Smith will make their Test debuts.

Somerset spinner Shoaib Bashir will play his first Test match on home soil after debuting in India earlier this year.

It is pertinent to mention that legendary pacer James Anderson will take the field as England player for the last time in this match, at the same venue where he made his debut 21 years ago against Zimbabwe.

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Anderson is the only pacer in history to take more than 700 Test wickets. He achieved the milestone during England’s fifth away Test against India, in March this year.

He is also the third in the list of players with the most Test wickets, only behind spinners Muttiah Muralitharan (800 wickets) of Sri Lanka and the late Shane Warne (708 wickets) of Australia.

The second match between England and West Indies will be played from 18 to 22 July at Trent Bridge in Nottingham, while the third match is scheduled to be played in Edgbaston in Birmingham from 26 July.

England Playing XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith, Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, James Anderson

READ: Pakistan Whites-Pakistan Greens practice match called-off due to rain

Former Pakistan captain Younis Khan has discussed the crucial role and necessary traits for a successful captain after Pakistan Champions’ victory over India Champions in the World Championship of Legends.

While addressing the media after the match, Younis Khan dedicated the victory to Pakistan fans, who were left heartbroken after the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 debacle.

He advised the fans to remain patient and back the team in crucial times.

“The advice to the fans is to stay patient as change cannot happen overnight. We cannot just remove the current players and bring players from outside, this cannot work,” said Younis Khan.

Babar Azam-led Pakistan team is facing massive criticism from fans and former players alike over their disastrous performance in the T20 World Cup, with many calling for a change in leadership.

Talking about the captaincy, the former captain shed light on the qualities of a good captain.

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“A captain should be someone who is capable of leading the side, who can handle the pressure. It’s not just about batting or bowling, a captain should think of every player, even if the player is on the bench,” Khan stated.

“You should know the player’s technique, his energy and skills. Only then, you can get the best out of them,” he added.

Moreover, he cited the examples of former Pakistan captains Imran Khan, Javed Miandad and Wasim Akram, who took the best of their players and built a team that served the nation for years.

“We talk about the great Imran Khan, Javed bhai (Javed Miandad), or Wasim Akram. Why were they good coaches [or captains]? Because they gave us players like Saqlain Mushtaq, Abdul Razzaq, Azhar Mahmood, and Shahid Afridi. According to me, a leader should be a good motivator alongside being a good batter or bowler,” Khan concluded.

Younis Khan-led Pakistan Champions are currently sitting at the top of the World Championship of Legends standings with eight points from four games.

READ: Mushtaq Ahmed joins England U19 coaching panel

SOUTHAMPTON: Danni Wyatt’s quickfire half-century, followed by Sarah Glenn’s brilliant bowling figures of 3/16 led England Women to a thumping 59-run victory over New Zealand in the first T20I here at The Utilita Bowl on Saturday.

Put into bat first, England Women notched up a massive total of 197/3 on the board, courtesy of a marathon second-wicket partnership between Wyatt and Nat Sciver-Brunt.

Earlier, openers Maia Bouchier and Wyatt gave England women a solid start with a 61-run stand.

The opening partnership ended when Lea Tahuhu dismissed Bouchier on the fourth delivery of the eighth over.

Bouchier made 32 off 26 balls with the help of five fours.

Wyatt was then joined by Nat Sciver-Brunt at the crease and the two combined to form a match-defining partnership.

They added 82 runs to the total, conceding just 45 deliveries, before Edan Carson got rid of Sciver-Brunt in the 16th over.

Nat Sciver-Brunt fell agonizingly short of her well-deserved half-century as she scored a quickfire 47 off just 23 deliveries, hitting nine fours.

Meanwhile, Wyatt carried her bat till the 18th over until Tahuhu struck again to draw curtains on her brilliant.

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Danni Wyatt remained the top-scorer for England women with a 51-ball 76 which featured a dozen boundaries including a six.

Tahuhu was the pick of the bowlers for New Zealand with two wickets while Carson took one.

In response, New Zealand only managed 138/9 in the allotted overs despite Suzie Bates’ gutsy innings up the order.

Bates remained the top-scorer for the White Ferns with a 33-ball 43, laced up with five boundaries and a six.

Besides her, Emilia Kerr was the other notable run-getter for New Zealand with a 26-ball 38 while the rest made modest contributions in the run chase.

Notably, the second Women’s T20I of the five-match series between England and New Zealand will take place on June 9 in Hove.

England Women’s T20I Series Schedule against New Zealand Women

9 July: 2nd Women’s IT20 – The 1st Central County Ground, Hove
11 July: 3rd Women’s IT20 – The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence
13 July: 4th Women’s IT20 – The Kia Oval, London
17 July: 5th Women’s IT20 – Lord’s, London

READ: Nissanka, bowlers aid Jaffna Kings to thump Dambulla Sixers

The Pakistan Cricket Board today announced the full match schedule for the Pakistan Men’s Test Series against England in October 2024.

The tour begins with the First Test in Multan from October 7-11, before moving to Karachi for the Second Test from October 15-19. The Third Test will be in Rawalpindi from October 24-28.

The three-match series forms part of the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25. It will be the second time England Men have played Test series in Pakistan in under two years, with England having won the last series 3-0 in December 2022.

Richard Gould, ECB Chief Executive Officer, said: “We’re really excited to be returning to Pakistan for this three-match Men’s Test tour in October.

“Our last Men’s Test tour of Pakistan produced some memorable matches and I’m sure fans can look forward to more exciting cricket across this forthcoming series.”

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It is worth mentioning here that the three-match home Test series against England is part of the Pakistan men’s cricket team’s busy home international season 2024-25.

Besides England, Pakistan will host Bangladesh for a two-match Test series in August, followed by a three-match series against West Indies in January next year while they will play two away Tests against South Africa in December-January.

The nine Tests against Bangladesh, England, South Africa and the West Indies will be part of the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25. To date, Pakistan has played five Tests in two series against Sri Lanka and Australia, winning two and losing three.

This has placed them in fifth position on the points table with 22 points. India leads the table with 74 points after three series, followed by Australia (90 points from four series), New Zealand (36 points from three series), and Sri Lanka (24 points from two series).

With each of the top nine Test-playing nations scheduled to play six series (three home and three away) in the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle, strong performances in the upcoming four series could put Pakistan in contention for a place in the final, scheduled for Lord’s in June 2025.

SERIES SCHEDULE

7-11 October, 2024 – First Test, Multan

15-19 October, 2024 – Second Test, Karachi

24-28 October, 2024 – Third Test, Rawalpindi

READ: Pakistan to play ODI tri-series amid home international season 2024-25

England dropped experienced wicketkeepers Ben Foakes and Jonny Bairstow as well as bowlers Jack Leach and Mark Wood from their 14-member squad for the first two Test matches of the three-match Test series against West Indies.

Nottinghamshire seamer Dillon Pennington and Surrey wicketkeeper batter Jamie Smith have earned their maiden call-ups in Test cricket. Both have been standout performers in the County Championship Division One this season.

Surrey seamer Gus Atkinson is the only other uncapped player. He was part of the squad for the Test tour of India earlier this year.

Pennington, 25, who joined Nottinghamshire this year from Worcestershire, has been showing his promise with the ball, taking 29 Championship wickets at an average of 23.03 in the top flight.

Meanwhile, the attacking right-hand batter Smith, who has been in spectacular form this campaign, helping Surrey consolidate their top spot in Division One, has scored 507 runs at an average of 50.70.

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He is set to be rewarded with his Test debut next week at Lord’s and add to his England ODI credentials when he debuted last summer against Ireland.

Seamer Chris Woakes also returned to the Test squad for the first time since July 2023, when he was awarded the Player of the Series during the Ashes series against Australia.

“The first Test of the summer is always a special moment, but it will be extra poignant with it being Jimmy’s (Anderson) last Test before he retires,” ECB Managing Director for England Men’s Cricket, Rob Key.

“He has given everything to the sport since his Test debut in 2003. We all would like to wish him well as he walks out at Lord’s for the last time for England.

“We are looking forward to getting the season underway against a strong West Indies side in what will be an excellent Test series.”

England Test Squad for West Indies series

Ben Stokes (Durham) Captain

James Anderson (Lancashire) (First Test only)

Gus Atkinson (Surrey)

Shoaib Bashir (Somerset)

Harry Brook (Yorkshire)

Zak Crawley (Kent)

Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire)

Dan Lawrence (Surrey)

Dillon Pennington (Nottinghamshire)

Ollie Pope (Surrey)

Matthew Potts (Durham)

Joe Root (Yorkshire)

Jamie Smith (Surrey)

Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)

Series Schedule

1st Test: England v West Indies, 10-14 July 2024, Lord’s Cricket Ground, London

2nd Test: England v West Indies, 18-22 July 2024, Trent Bridge, Nottingham

3rd Test: England v West Indies, 26-30 July 2024, Edgbaston, Birmingham

READ: Emotional Hardik Pandya opens up about ‘unfair’ treatment

In a historic achievement, Pakistani climber Samar Khan successfully scaled Mount Elbrus, the highest peak in Europe, and descended the peak by snowboarding.

Hailing from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Dir district, Samar becomes the first Pakistani to reach the summit of Mount Elbrus, standing tall at 5,642 meters in Russia.

With the support of the Frontier Corps North, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Khan accomplished this remarkable feat and proudly hoisted the Pakistani flag on the summit.

“I’m pleased to announce that I have successfully climbed Europe’s highest peak, Mt. Elbrus, and snowboarded down, becoming the first Pakistani to pioneer this feat in the world of action sports,” she wrote on Instagram.

“I set out for the summit push around 3am and reached the top by 10am with a green flag, followed by an exhilarating snowboarding descent from Elbrus,” she added while thanking everyone for the support.

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It is pertinent to mention here that Samar Khan is also the world’s first woman to cycled the third-largest non-polar glacial system, Biafo Glacier and Godwin Austen Glacier, in the Karakoram mountains of Gilgit Baltistan (GB).

She is also the first Pakistani to have cycled on the roof of Africa, Kilimanjaro, in 2017.

Recognising her achievements, the ESPNW Global Sports Mentoring Program selected Khan to be mentored by top sports executives in the United States (US).

Later, Khan also founded her initiative, ‘Samar Camp’, through which she offers sports camps like mountain biking, backpacking, and snowboarding for girls and women in Pakistan.

The adventurist had also won a silver medal in the Sadia Khan Championship in 2022 and emerged as the winner of the Red Bull Homerun snowboarding category in 2021.

Samar Khan also had a mountain – Shimshal in Gilgit Baltistan (GB) – in her name ‘Ghar e Samar’, which she summited and descended the 5,610-metre peak by snowboarding.

READ: Pakistan edge past Ireland to seal consolation victory in T20 World Cup

DALLAS: The Pakistan Men’s cricket team on Friday reached here to participate in the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, scheduled to take place from June 1 to 29 in the United States of America (USA) and the West Indies.

According to the details, the national cricket team reached here from London after competing in a four-match T20I series against defending champions England.

Pakistan have been struggling to get on the winning track ahead of this year’s mega event.

The Green Shirts played three bilateral T20I series in a bid to prepare for the T20 World Cup 2024 but could not produce the desired results.

The former champions played out a 2-2 draw against an inexperienced New Zealand side in a five-match home series before registering a 2-1 away series win over Ireland.

In their last assignment before the World Cup, Pakistan succumbed to a 2-0 defeat in the four-match away series against England.

But the biggest setback for Pakistan was the shock loss against Ireland in the first T20I.

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Pakistan are placed in Group A alongside arch-rivals India, Ireland, Canada and co-host USA.

The Green Shirts will start their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 campaign against the USA on June 6 before taking on arch-rivals India in a blockbuster clash on June 9 at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York.

The 2009 champions will then take on Canada on June 11 before locking horns with Ireland in their last group-stage fixture on June 16.

Pakistan Squad for T20 World Cup 2024: Babar Azam (c), Saim Ayub, Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, Azam Khan, Usman Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Abbas Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed.

READ: Shoaib Malik boosts Pakistan’s ‘morale’ ahead of T20 World Cup