Tag: Multan Test

DUBAI: The disappointing outcome of the Multan Test which cost Pakistan a 2-0 series loss against England, also took a heavy toll on Pakistan’s aspirations to play the 2021-2023 World Test Championship (WTC) final.

Prior to the series, Pakistan had a decent chance of earning one of the top two slots in the WTC standings, but back-to-back defeats in the first two games slipped Pakistan to no.6 on the table.

With a percentage of 42.42 after the recent defeats, Pakistan’s Test Championship run is virtually over. In addition to winning the final Test against Pakistan, they must also defeat New Zealand when they visit Pakistan next month and still hope that other outcomes in the championship go their way.

Australia are currently sitting at the top of the WTC table with 75 PCT and it will be nearly impossible to displace them from the top position. Meanwhile, South Africa also seem firm on no. 2 with 60 PCT but has a crucial away series in Australia which will decide their fate.

England, on the other hand, with very little to no chances to play the Test Championship final has jumped ahead of Pakistan in the standings with Sri Lanka and India on third and fourth, respectively.

New Zealand are the reigning World Test Champions after they beat India in the WTC final in Southhampton in 2021.

READ: PAK v ENG: PCB puts tickets on sale for final Test in Karachi

MULTAN: Pakistan skipper Babar Azam has put forward his stance on Saud Shakeel’s controversial dismissal, saying that it seemed like the ball had made the ground first but one has to accept the umpires’ decision.

The dismissal, which apparently cost Pakistan a 26-run defeat against England in the second Test, occurred on day 4 when Saud was batting at 94 with Pakistan just 65 runs away from the target. He gloved the ball behind stumps off Mark Wood and wicket-keeper Ollie Pope dived to carry an edge that went too low but still managed to get his gloves underneath the ball.

Was it out or not out?#ASportsHD #PAKvENG #UKsePK pic.twitter.com/HHjVvlmCQ3

— ASports (@asportstvpk) December 12, 2022

On-field umpires referred the decision to third umpire Joel Wilson who took a while to check the catch and declared it out at last.

“To us, it seems like the ball has touched the ground first,” said the Pakistan captain in a post-match press conference on Monday. “But as a professional, you have to accept the umpire’s decision.

Following Saud’s dismissal, England pacers ran through the tailender to bundle out Pakistan for 328 in the second innings and took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series after a dramatic win in Multan.

“We made some mistakes. The game was well in our hands like the previous one, but, unfortunately, we couldn’t finish it properly,” said Babar.

He added that the lack of experience especially the absence of the team’s key fast bowlers due to injuries led to the team’s disappointing loss in the match.

“We were a bit unlucky that our main bowlers got unfit before the game which cost us this series. But this cannot be an excuse because as a team we didn’t play good cricket” he said.

Pakistan team had rested its bowling mainstay, Naseem Shah after he suffered discomfort in his shoulder before the start of the second Test match while Haris Rauf was ruled out of the series after pulling a quad injury in the first Test.

The final Test of the historic three-match series will take place from December 17 to 21 in Karachi.

READ: England seal series after dramatic win over Pakistan in Multan Test

MULTAN: Pakistan batting coach Mohammad Yousuf asserted Multan Test to be equally balanced between the two sides as Pakistan finished at 198/4 at the conclusion of the third day’s action.

Yousuf, while talking to the media following the conclusion of the third day’s play and predicted the outcome of the ongoing Multan Test.

“What I’m seeing right now is that this match is 50-50. Look, a Test match goes this way, in the first session we lost three wickets and in the next session we got a partnership between Imam and Saud, both played very well and put England under pressure,” said Yousuf.

“But, the wicket that fell four overs before the stumps, brought England back in the game. Otherwise, if you look at the situation of this match, if Imam didn’t get out then England would be under even more pressure and even it will not be a 50-50 situation.

“It is a part of the game and the beauty of Test cricket is that it goes session by session and more importantly, such tense matches are important to keep Test cricket alive.”

On a question regarding whether it was a conscious effort from the hosts to play with a better run rate, Yousuf claimed that it has always been discussed in the camp but in the end, we have to play according to the situation of the match.

“Look, it is often discussed in the camp with the players and we offer them since they all are professional players but sometimes the situation or wicket is such that you can not score freely,” Yousuf shared.

“If you look at this series, for example, they have been playing at a much higher rate than us but if we consider our requirements then we’ve been going accordingly in the last four innings and that is a good sign for everyone,” he maintained.

On a question regarding wicket-keeper batter, Mohammad Rizwan’s struggling patch in his last five Tests and whether he should be rested for the Karachi Test and replaced by former captain Sarfaraz Ahmer, batting coach Yousuf claimed it is not in his domain.

“Since I started working with the cricket board, around two years ago and have been with the team for the last eight to ten months, so one thing is really clear that everyone would work by staying in his domain,” answered Yousuf.

“And that is a good thing, I won’t go in anyone’s domain, no one would come into mine. So, I do not think that this question belongs to my domain,” he concluded.

It is pertinent to mention that a vital 108-run partnership between Imam-ul-Haq and Saud Shakeel anchored Pakistan to 198/4 at the stumps on day three, requiring another 157 runs to square off a series-levelling victory.

Pakistan opener Imam, who came out to bat at number five perished in the closing minutes of the third day’s action after scoring a fighting half-century.

Whereas, Saud stood firm with his unbeaten 54 and will resume the run chase with Faheem Ashraf (3*) on an anticipated decisive day of the second Test.

READ: Imam, Saud anchor Pakistan to 198/4 at stumps after brief collapse 

MULTAN: England Harry Brook brought up his second Test century against Pakistan and powered his side to set a commendable 355-run target for Pakistan on Day 3 of the second Test.

England, resuming at an overnight score of 202/5, managed to accumulate a further 73 runs at the cost of their remaining wicket.

Left-handed batter Brook led the way for England, who brought up his second Test century against Pakistan in as many matches after he resumed his overnight 79-run knock.

The touring side had an unwanted start to their proceedings as they lost their skipper Ben Stokes for a vital 41-run knock and could add 54 runs on the third day with Brook.

Following Stokes’ dismissal, England began to lose wickets at a frustrating pace and soon slipped to 270/8.

Brook, however, stood firm and kept the scoreboard ticking single-handedly and went on to smash his second Test century.

The left-handed batter also fell victim to England’s batting collapse and was dismissed by Zahid Mahmood in the 65th over.

Brook top-scored for England in the second innings with his magnificent knock of 108 off 149 deliveries, laced with 14 boundaries and a six.

Besides him, Ben Duckett (79) and English captain Stokes (41) were the notable run-getter for England in their last innings.

Debutant Abrar Ahmer once again was clinical with the ball as he returned with brilliant bowling figures of 4/120, while Zahid picked up three wickets, followed by Mohammad Nawaz, who bagged one.

READ: Kane misses penalty as France oust England to book semifinal berth 

MULTAN: Pakistan’s mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed, who made headlines in his dream Test debut; picking up seven wickets — five of which came in the first session — chose Ben Stokes’ wicket as his favourite.

Abrar, while talking at the post-match press conference after the conclusion of Day 1 of the ongoing Multan Test responded to a question regarding his favourite wicket among the seven wickets he took in his debut Test.

“As I said before making my debut, Joe Root and Ben Stokes’ wicket would be my favourite and by the will of almighty Allah, I was able to achieve it,” said Abrar.

“Meanwhile, I can not describe my happiness in words,” he maintained.

Regarding his goal for the second innings, Abrar shared that he is eyeing to take another five-fer in the second innings.

“Yes, I have a goal for the second innings and that is to take another five-fer and with my performance, my team wins,” Abrar stated.

“International cricket is a bit different but if you keep hitting good areas, it would eventually reward you in the form of wickets,” he maintained.

The debutant then went on to respond to a question regarding how former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed gave him confidence in first-class cricket and stated that the latter has always motivated him.

“Yeah, I have a really good relationship with Saifi bhai, he’s really close to me. So, he was guiding me that whenever I will play, I should not get nervous and perform the way I did for Sindh,” shared Abrar.

It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan skipper Babar Azam raised a valiant half-century to anchor Pakistan to 107/2 at the stumps on the opening day after Abrar stormed through the English batting line-up, who claimed his maiden five-wicket haul and played a significant role in restricting England to 281.

READ: Babar, Saud solid after debutant Abrar cracks England on Day 1 in Multan

MULTAN: The participation of fast bowler Naseem Shah in the second Test between Pakistan and England is under doubt due to shoulder discomfort. 

According to the sources, the right-arm speedster has reported pain in his right shoulder which could possibly lead to his exclusion from the Multan Test starting tomorrow.

With Haris Rauf ruled out of the remainder of the Test series due to a quad injury, Naseem’s possible absence in the second Test appears to be a major blow to the Babar Azam-led side who are already 1-0 down in the series.

Skipper Babar, however, made no mention of Naseem’s fitness concerns during his press conference held earlier in the afternoon.

Talking about the team’s playing XI for the upcoming Test, he confirmed that the team had been almost finalized and would soon be revealed once the deliberations on one final change reached the conclusion.

“We just have to decide whether we should go with Faheem Ashraf or Mohammad Wasim Jnr,” he stated.

It is important to note here that any official confirmation from the Pakistan Cricket Board on this matter is still awaited.

Meanwhile, England skipper Ben Stokes revealed his playing lineup for the Multan Test which included spearhead pacer Mark Wood in place of injured Liam Livingstone while the rest of the English side would remain unchanged.

READ: Injured Shaheen on road to recovery, hopes to return to field soon

MULTAN: Despite severe backlash on the team’s defensive mindset, Pakistan captain Babar Azam denied bringing any drastic changes to the team’s long-held planning just to compete with England’s attacking approach.

Speaking at a scheduled press conference ahead of the second Test starting tomorrow in Multan, the Pakistan skipper admitted that the opposition had brought a very different and unique approach to Test cricket.

“They (England) have come with their own unique style and one cannot change the entire game plan after just one game,” he told reporters on Thursday.

“We’ll try to play according to the situation. It’s not like you change your game (plan) at once and try to compete with the opposition’s way of playing.”

He added that they need to stick to their own game plan and mindset with clarity and proper execution.

Talking about the team’s playing XI for the upcoming Test, Babar confirmed that the team had been almost finalized and would soon be revealed once the deliberations on one final change reached the conclusion.

“We just have to decide whether we should go with Faheem Ashraf or Mohammad Wasim Jnr,” he stated.

The national side went with three fast bowlers and one genuine spinner in the Rawalpindi but the injury to one of its pacers, Haris Rauf, will possibly translate into the inclusion of uncapped Wasim or all-rounder Faheem to the playing lineup.

The Pakistan skipper, moreover, has hoped that they will not repeat the same mistakes that cost them a 74-run defeat in the first Test, saying they are confident to make a comeback in the series and the World Test Championship.

“It was our mistake that we didn’t keep the World Test championship in mind while planning for the previous game,” he said.

“Our complete focus is now on the next game. We have made comebacks in the past and can do the same in the future as well.”

Furthermore, Babar maintained that he did not have to prove anything regarding his credentials as a player to anyone.

“I am not bothered about what people say about me. My only aim is to help Pakistan win with my performance,” he said.

It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan are currently trailing the three-match series by 0-1 after they failed to chase 343 runs on a batting surface following England’s bold declaration in the opening Test.

READ: PAK v ENG: Speedster Wood to replace Livingstone for Multan Test

MULTAN: England’s fiery pacer Mark Wood will replace injured Liam Livingstone in the second Test against Pakistan, commencing on Friday at Multan International Stadium. 

England captain Ben Stokes on Thursday confirmed the inclusion of the right-arm pacer into the team, saying he would add to their abilities to take 20 wickets.

“Having someone in the squad who can bowl at 150 km per hour is a great bonus for any team,” he said on Tuesday in a scheduled press conference ahead of the Multan Test.

The spearhead pacer missed the opening Test due to fitness concerns as he was recovering from a hip injury he sustained during England’s successful T20 World Cup campaign. But Stokes has now confirmed that he is fully fit to play the second Test starting tomorrow.

England are leading the historic three-match series against Pakistan, the first in 17 years on the latter’s home soil, by 1-0 after their sensational win in the first Test by 74 runs in Rawalpindi.

MULTAN: Fast bowler Hasan Ali is likely to make a surprise return to the national Test squad for the remainder of the home Test series against England as a replacement for injured Haris Rauf, who was ruled out after sustaining an injury in the first Test. 

According to the sources, deliberations are underway to call upon the pacer Hasan for the Multan and Karachi Test after he was initially dropped from the 18-member squad announced for the series.

The team did not have too many fast-bowling options in their reserves as uncapped Muhammad Wasim Jnr will become an automatic choice to play the Multan Test unless a replacement is called if Pakistan opt to go with three genuine pacers as in the previous Test.

On Tuesday, Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed that right-arm speedster Haris had been unable to recover from the injury he sustained on the opening day of the Rawalpindi Test and would fly to Lahore to start his rehabilitation at the National High Performace centre.

Although his form has witnessed a dip in recent years that forced his exclusion from both red-ball and white-ball squads, Hasan has valuable experience playing for Pakistan in 21 Tests in which he took 77 wickets at a brilliant average of 24.57. He was also named Pakistan’s Test Cricketer of the year for 2021.

It is worth mentioning here that the home side is currently trailing the historic three-match series 0-1 after England sealed a sensational win in the opening Test.

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