Pakistan vs England final Test Archives

‘We’ve to build team’ Babar backs new players after England whitewash

KARACHI: After Pakistan’s dismal 0-3 series whitewash against England, skipper Babar Azam has taken complete responsibility for the disappointing results, saying as a captain he will be at the forefront to defend the team.

Speaking at a press conference after England sealed a comprehensive eight-wicket win in the final Test on Monday, Babar said his side lacked experience players, especially the injuries to their bowling mainstays remained a major blow for the team.

“We played some good cricket in patches, but overall we could not finish the games properly,” he said. “And we too are very disappointed over the results and the series loss”

Babar added that his team perceived batting as their strength since their key bowlers were unfit but losing back-to-back wickets on several instances proved costly for the team and caused the defeats.

“Pitches were equal for both teams. We’ve to give credit to the English team for the way they played and utilized the conditions” he added.

Pakistan captain expressed that the team is in the building phase and he could not change things drastically in a week or two.

“We’ve to build the team,” he said.”We have to back the new players and give them proper chances and some time,”

Talking about his captaincy, Babar dispelled the impression there was any additional burden on him due to the role, saying: “I enjoy the captaincy and try my best to do whatever I can for the team.”

Moreover, the Pakistan captain also put his weight behind team management and said they had vast experience and services for the team.

“Their job is to share their experience and plans with us, in the end as players it is our responsibility to execute those plans,” he added.

READ: England beat Pakistan in final Test to complete 3-0 series whitewash

Brook’s century takes England on top as Pakistan trail by 29 runs

KARACHI: Centurion Harry Brook and Ben Foakes played astounding knocks to help England gain a vital lead in the first innings as they were bowled out for 354 before the close of the second day’s play, here at National Bank Cricket Arena on Sunday.

Brook smashed his second hundred in consecutive innings to help England close in Pakistan’s first innings total of 304 and stitched a valiant 117-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Ben Foakes to elevate the batting side after were stuck at 145 for the loss of five wickets.

Wicket-keeper Foakes contributed 64 from 121 balls while tailenders Mark Wood and Ollie Robinson chipped in with 35 and 29, respectively to help England finish on a 50-run lead in the first innings.

Pakistan openers, on the other hand, trod very cautiously and denied England a breakthrough before the day’s end as Abdullah Shafique and Shan Masood remained unbeaten on 14 and 3, respectively.

At 21 without loss, Pakistan will resume the play on day 3 with a deficit of 29 runs.

With Brook and Foakes on the charge for the most part of the day, spinners topped the bowling charts for Pakistan as Abrar Ahmed and Nauman Ali bagged four wickets each while Mohammad Wasim took one wicket.

After finding three key wickets in the morning session, Pakistan went through a submissive second session with Ben Stokes’ chaotic run-out proving to be the lone cherishing moment for the team.

Stokes and Brook ended up on the same end of the wicket following a miscommunication for the third run.

Earlier, Ollie Pope starred with an impressive half-century in a spin-dominated first session that helped Pakistan keep England under control.

Nauman Ali struck back-to-back wickets, dismissing Ben Duckett and veteran Joe Root on consecutive deliveries to jitter England’s top order and aided Pakistan to contain England on 140/4 before Lunch.

At 58 for three, overnight batter Pope and Harry Brook braced England for a while before Abrar Ahmed provided a breakthrough to Pakistan and dismissed Pope soon after he made his fifty.

England, who are already 2-0 up in the series, were petrified by the mystery spinner Abrar when he removed Zak Crawley on the stroke of day close after Pakistan were bowled out for 304 in the first innings.

Skipper Babar Azam and Salman Agha notched-up fifties while retiring Azhar Ali managed 45 on the opening day of the Karachi Test when England spinners were on the charge.

Jack Leach and debutant Rehan Ahmed shared six wickets between them with a wicket to part-time Joe Root’s credit as well.

‘Own mistakes, not England’s brilliance cause defeats’ argues Imam

KARACHI: Opener Imam-ul-Haq believed that the Pakistan team lost the first two matches of the Test series against England because of its own mistakes rather than anything extraordinary from England’s side.

Speaking to a scheduled press talk on Thursday after Pakistan’s first training session in Karachi, which will host the third and final Test from December 17, Imam said at present England were the only team playing a T20-style and fast-paced Test cricket, arguing Pakistan would continue with their own approach.

“England are the only team who are playing that way. We will play (Test) in our own way. In the end, what matters is if you are winning or not,” he said.

“If we are losing, it is because of our own mistake, not because England are playing too well”

Pakistan have already lost the three-match series by 2-0 after consecutive defeats against the Ben Stokes-led English side following dramatic finishes in both, Rawalpindi and Multan Tests.

Pakistan opener added England had struggled a lot under the captaincy of Joe Root in the past which took them to sixth and seventh position on the ICC Test Championship standings.

“They have changed their style since then and it is yet to be seen if they can continue with this (aggressive) style, especially when they have Ashes and other tours in the next year,” he said.

Talking about England’s tense victories in the first two Tests, Imam said both the games were in our hands at one point but then they slipped away owing to our own errors, adding they would try to keep those mistakes on the backseat and play Karachi Test with new and positive energy.

” We have performed well in Karachi in past as well. We will try not to repeat the same mistakes here” he said.

“Karachi is a bit warmer than Multan and Rawalpindi but the wicket seems similar to that of Multan” he expressed.

He insisted that a win in Karachi was crucial to uplift the team’s morale as it would be playing Test series against New Zealand later in December as well.

New Zealand are scheduled to tour Pakistan for two Tests and three ODIs with the first Test set to commence on December 26 in Karachi.

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Pakistan, England teams reach Karachi for final Test

KARACHI: The squads of Pakistan and England have landed in the city to partake in the upcoming final Test of the historic three-match series, commencing on December 17.

According to the details, both teams reached Karachi on a chartered flight from Multan.

Foolproof security arrangements have been ensured around the airport and on the travelling routes as the teams have left the Jinnah International Airport and headed towards the hotel.

No training session is scheduled today as the players will rest before engaging in the practice from tomorrow at the National Bank Cricket Arena, the venue of the last Test.

England have an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series after they beat Pakistan in Multan and Rawalpindi Tests.

It is pertinent to mention here that England’s Test side is currently touring the country for the first time in 17 years.

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

KARACHI: The tickets for the final Test between Pakistan and England, scheduled from December 17 to 21 at National Bank Cricket Arena Karachi, will be available for purchase from Tuesday.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday announced it had kept the ticket prices at nominal rates, starting from Rs150, in order to ensure that the action would be accessible for all cricket fans.

According to the details, the ticketing price for the General enclosure – Nasim-ul-Ghani, Iqbal Qasim, Muhammad Brothers, Intikhab Alam and Wasim Bari- has been set ticket at PKR150, and a First-Class enclosure – Asif Iqbal, Waqar Hassan and Majid Khan – ticket is for PKR250.

Meanwhile, a Premium enclosure – Imran khan, Quaid, Wasim Akram and Zaheer Abbas – is for PKR300 and a VIP enclosure – Hanif Muhammad, Javed Miandad and Fazal Mehmood – is for PKR500.

The physical tickets can be purchased from Asghar Ali Shah Stadium in Nazimabad, RJ Mall (Pakistan Physical disability cricket association) and Sector-35-F, Korangi n0.4.

Furthermore, van booths at Do Talwar Clifton and Numaish Cowrange will also be set up by the PCB, through BookMe, to further facilitate the fans in obtaining the tickets.

It is pertinent to mention here that the visiting side has an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series after they sealed a dramatic win by 26 runs in the second Test in Multan earlier today and also triumphed over Pakistan in a tense finish in Rawalpindi in the first game.

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