Tag: Pakistan vs England

RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official on Friday provided an update regarding right-arm speedster Haris Rauf’s injury scare during the post-match press conference after the conclusion of Day 2 of the ongoing Rawalpindi Test.

According to the PCB spokesperson, Haris underwent Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) at a local hospital here as a precautionary method to examine a likely injury that the former sustained on the first day of the Rawalpindi Test.

Haris rolled over the ball in a fielding attempt on the first day of the match and felt discomfort in his right quad. He is under observation by the team’s medical staff despite showing no signs of injury.

The PCB spokesperson further confirmed that the right-arm pacer will be available for the remainder of the first Test against England.

It is pertinent to mention that Rauf is among four Pakistan debutants in the Rawalpindi Test against England. Besides him, Zahid Mahmood, Saud Shakeel and Muhammad Ali are playing their first match.

Meanwhile, Pakistan scripted a much-needed fightback as their openers Imam-ul-Haq (90) and Abdullah Shafique (89) stitched an unbeaten 181-run partnership before the stumps on Day 2.

Earlier, in the day, England posted their highest Test total against Pakistan (657) and bettered their previous best of 589-9 at Manchester in 2016.

Meanwhile, on the opening day of the Rawalpindi Test, England batters put on a dominant show and tumbled various records including scoring more than 500 runs on the first day of a Test match – the highest score of the first day.

READ: ‘I tried to give my best,’ Zahid on unwanted record on Test debut 

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan’s debutant leg-spinner Zahid Mahmood commented on his unwanted record on his Test debut and asserted to have given his best in the ongoing Rawalpindi Test against England.

On a question regarding the legacy of Pakistan leg-spinners like Abdul Qadir and Mushtaq and his dismal Test debut in which he registered the worst bowling figure of four for 235 in 35 overs, Zahid claimed to have given his best on the field.

“Look, we play domestic cricket so that we can play for Pakistan one day. So, from my end, I strived to the fullest and bowled,” said Zahid.

“No doubt they played well but it was my first match and I tried my best,” he added.

The leg-spinner then responded to a question regarding the unresponsive nature of the pitch and emphasized as a professional he is determined to prove himself regardless of the conditions.

“Obviously the wicket is good, there is no doubt about that but regardless of how the pitch is, as a bowler it is our responsibility to prove ourselves and we tried to do the same,” said Zahid.

The debutant then went on to predict the nature of the pitch in the last two days by sharing that it has already started to act better than the first day.

“Definitely, it was different to that on the first day as it was offering something. So, I think, on the fourth or fifth day it would help the spinners,” he concluded.

It is pertinent to mention that England finished their first record-breaking first innings against Pakistan on a mammoth 657 before Pakistan openers Imam-ul-Haq (90) and Abdullah Shafique (89) bolstered the hosts to a fighting start.

The duo put on an unbeaten 181-run partnership before the stumps on Day 2 to cut Pakistan’s deficit to 476 runs.

READ: Imam-ul-Haq completes thousand runs in Test cricket

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan’s left-handed opener Imam-ul-Haq completed 1,000 runs in Test cricket amid the ongoing first Test against England at the Pindi Cricket Stadium on Friday.

Imam, who was just 27 runs away from the milestone, cut behind the first delivery of the 18th over by Will Jacks to complete the 1000-run landmark in his 17th Test.

Besides the recently-achieved landmark, Imam has two Test centuries and four fifties to his name in 16 matches with the highest score of 157.

.@ImamUlHaq12 completes 1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ Test runs ✅#PAKvENG | #UKSePK pic.twitter.com/rJoKGccywA

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) December 2, 2022

The left-handed batter then went on to score unbeaten 90 runs and stitched a match-saving 181-run partnership with his partner Abdullah Shafique, who scored 89 not out before the stumps on Day 2.

Earlier, in the day, England posted their highest Test total against Pakistan (657) and bettered their previous best of 589-9 at Manchester in 2016.

Meanwhile, on the opening day of the Rawalpindi Test, England batters put on a dominant show and tumbled various records including scoring more than 500 runs on the first day of a Test match – the highest score of the first day.

READ: Pakistan solid after England’s record total as openers dominate Day 2

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan openers Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique raised a solid 181-run partnership as the home side wrestles to take down England’s mammoth 657-run lead in the first innings, here at Pindi Cricket Stadium on Friday. 

Both the opener piled up brilliant fifties and were on the march to their respective centuries as they dominated England bowlers in the second and third sessions of day 2 of the first Test.

Imam completed his 1000 runs in Test cricket when he cut behind the first delivery of the 18th over by Will Jacks for two.

Trailing by 476, Pakistan still have a long way to go in the match and still require 277 runs to avoid the follow-on. Imam and Abdullah will continue with their respective knocks from 90* and 89* when the play resumes the next day.

The flat Rawalpindi surface continued its favours upon batters as England’s bowling attack found no help from the pitch too. Ben Stokes utilised spinners for 35 out of 51 overs in the quest to get some turn of the wicket but to no avail.

Earlier Naseem Shah pulled out a sensational comeback with three early wickets in the morning as England were bundled out after scoring a massive 657 runs – their highest innings total against Pakistan.

England, who earlier made 598/9 in the second innings at Abu Dhabi back in 2015, have bettered their own record against Pakistan in Rawalpindi Test with help of four individual centuries on day one.

The touring side added another 151 runs to the total when they resumed the play on the second day as Harry Brook carried his phenomenal overnight knock and reached 153 off 116 before falling prey to Naseem.

As Naseem took down skipper Ben Stokes, Liam Livingstone and Brook inside the first nine overs on a new day, Will Jacks and Ollie Robinson stitched a valiant 65-run partnership for the eighth wicket and steered England to 641 before debutant Mohammad Ali clawed in with a breakthrough.

Jacks batted at a strike rate over 100, scoring 30 off 29 while Robinson remained the most sluggish in England’s otherwise ferocious batting line as he made 51-ball 37.

Zahid Mehmood, who was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan with four wickets, produced the most expensive debut bowling performance when he conceded 235 runs from 33 runs. He struck down Robinson before getting rid of tail-ender James Anderson, which finally ended England’s staggering run.

Earlier on the opening day, England wreaked havoc on Pakistan’s bowling attack as they piled up a record 506 runs – the highest by any team on the first day of a Test match – for the loss of just four wickets thanks to the blistering centuries by Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope and Brook.

RAWALPINDI: Leg spinner Zahid Mahmood produced the most expensive debut bowling performance in the history of Test cricket during the ongoing first Test between Pakistan and England, here at Pindi Cricket Stadium.

Mahmood, who has so far conceded 227 runs from 31 runs while bagging two wickets, when visitors are still not finished with their first innings, has relieved the burden from England’s Adil Rashid for holding Test cricket’s most unflattering figures on debut.

Rashid’s unimpressive figures of nought for 163 from 34 overs in the first innings of the Abu Dhabi Test against Pakistan in 2015 was the most unwanted start of a Test career before Mahmood took this dubious record from him.

The match eventually ended in a draw as Rashid earned his honour back in the second innings when he took a five-wicket haul while offering just 64 runs from 18.5 overs.

Mahmood can also hope for a majestic comeback in the later innings as England currently looks solid on the second day of the Rawalpindi Test as they have scored 646/8 so far in the first innings.

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RAWALPINDI: Various records were set as England batters baton-charged Pakistan on the opening day of the Rawalpindi Test as they raised a record 506/4 before stumps, here on Thursday.

English openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, who laid a solid foundation for an incredibly dominant first day over host Pakistan, put on a massive 233 runs partnership as both scored centuries.

The duo took on Pakistan bowlers amid their stand and set various records with their quickfire opening stand.

Crawley, who was going through a rough patch since scoring his career-best 267 against Pakistan in August 2020, regained his form as he scored his third century overall. His 86-ball hundred was the fastest by an English opener in Test cricket.

Meanwhile, the 233-run opening stand between Crawley and Duckett marked the fastest double century by any pair in Test cricket as the duo conceded just 183 balls to register themselves in the record book.

Earlier, the duo of Crawley and Duckett powered England to a flying start as they gathered 174 runs in the first session – the highest score in an opening session of a Test match.

For the first time in England’s Test history, both openers have scored a fifty off as many balls or less (Crawley 38 balls and Duckett 50 balls). England scored 14 runs in the first over of the match – the highest they scored in a Test match.

Following the openers’ magic, it was Harry Brook who lit up the Pindi Cricket Stadium with a quickfire century on just 80 balls, the third fastest for England in Test cricket.

Moreover, for the first time in Test cricket history, four batters amassed centuries on the first day of the match for the first time as Ollie Pope, Crawley, Duckett and Brook all scored tons.

Their centuries powered England to raise a mammoth 506/4 on an opening day despite bad light reducing the day’s play to 75 overs. England, however, managed to pose enough runs to break a 112-year-old record of the most runs on the first day of the match. They also became the first team to cross the 500-run mark on an opening day.

READ: ‘Pitch should’ve been more supportive,’ Saqlain on England carnage 

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan head coach Saqlain Mushtaq commented on England’s baton charge on host bowlers as they amassed a mammoth 506/4 on the first day of the Rawalpindi Test and suggested that the pitch should have been more supportive. 

Saqlain, in a press conference, following a dominant first day by the English team as four of their batters scored centuries before putting up the highest total on the opening day of a Test match, credited them for their brilliance before complaining about the nature of the pitch.

“England played very well today and we could not bowl according to our plan. There was also a problem with the pitch and I think it should have been more supportive. They just outclassed us and we must credit them,” Saqlain said.

On a question regarding Pakistan’s bowling attack and its struggle against aggressive English batters, Saqlain once again emphasized ace pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi’s absence and asserted these were the best available bowlers.

“Shaheen was injured, all we had were these bowlers and we were relying on them. They are also good, their performance was also good but we just couldn’t bowl as per plan,” said Saqlain.

“Muhammad Ali was performing well in domestic cricket, while Abrar and Zahid were also putting up wonderful performances in the camp. We strive to be fair in the selection of the team.

“Both the players were bowling brilliantly in the camp and were doing what they were supposed to do. We needed a bowler who can bowl in long spells with Haris and Naseem. But credit goes to England who had planned well against us.”

Saqlain then went on to respond to a question regarding the outcome of the ongoing Test and emphasized not to talk about it on the first day.

“No doubt England played well on the first day but we should think much about the future of the Rawalpindi Test. This Test will become interesting in upcoming days. It was their day and they outplayed us,” Saqlain concluded.

It is pertinent to mention that England batters Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope and Harry Brook all scored centuries to power their side broke a 112-year-old record as they finished the opening day at 506/4.

READ: President Alvi attends historic Rawalpindi Test to celebrate England return 

RAWALPINDI: England batters baton-charged Pakistan in the Rawalpindi Test as they raised a record 506 runs – the highest by any team on the first day of a Test match – for the loss of just four wickets before stumps on the opening day of the first Test, here on Thursday.

Four of the England batters smashed centuries as the touring party minted out runs at a brisk run rate of 6.74 throughout the day.

Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett led the charge of England’s assault on a batting-friendly wicket as the opening duo scored a century each before Ollie Pope and Harry Brook wreaked havoc in the final session with their respective hundreds.

Opting to bat first, England’s opening pair capitalized on the favourable batting conditions to the full extent as they attacked the hosts with a brisk stand of 233 runs before spinner Zahid Mehmood earned the viral breakthrough for Pakistan, dismissing Duckett in the second session.

Duckett scored his maiden Test hundred on his return to the England red-ball side after six years. He played a sensational knock of 110-ball 107, including 15 boundaries.

Crawley, on the other hand, raised his third Test century just after Lunch and looked in sublime touch before debutant Haris Rauf castled him down, taking his first international wicket of the format.

Pope and Brook, however, stitched another strong 176-run partnership on the fourth wicket after Joe Root’s dismissal. Pope remained phenomenal with a remarkable 104-ball 108 before while Brook raced to his first Test century in just 80 balls.

England skipper Ben Stokes played a superb cameo later in the day as he made quick fire 34 off 15 balls before stumps with Brook on the other end.

Pakistan bowlers, on the other hand,  looked hapless before England’s batting assault as Naseem Shah remained wicketless along with part-timers Agha Salman and Saud Shakeel, who was charged with six consecutive sixes in the 68th over by Brook.

Despite taking two wickets, Mehmood remained expensive as he conceded 169 runs in 23 overs.

Debutants Haris Rauf and Mohammad Ali also took a scalp each while they maintained an economy of over six.

Earlier, the decision to commence the historic Test as per its original schedule only came out early in the morning as uncertainty had prevailed throughout the other day after several players of the England camp fell ill.

RAWALPINDI: The glittering trophy of the historic three-match Test series between Pakistan and England has been finally unveiled, after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed that the first Test would take place as per its original schedule. 

“The ECB (England Cricket Board) has informed the PCB that they are in a position to field an XI, and, as such, the first PAKvENG Test will commence as per schedule today (Thursday, 1 December) at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium,” tweeted PCB early in the morning.

The ECB has informed the PCB that they are in a position to field an XI, and, as such, the first #PAKvENG Test will commence as per schedule today (Thursday, 1 December) at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) December 1, 2022

The two captains, Ben Stokes and Babar Azam, also looked confident as they posed with the trophy.

Captains unveil the DAFANEWS Presents KFC Pakistan vs England Test Series 2022 trophy 🏆#PAKvENG | #UKSePK pic.twitter.com/BbqFs0Rjf9

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) December 1, 2022

England opted to bat first after they won the toss since captain Ben Stokes found Pindi Cricket Stadium condition favourable for bat. Liam Livingstone is set to make his Test debut for the team while Ben Duckket marks his return to the red-ball side after six years.

Pakistan, on the other hand, have picked four uncapped players in their playing XI. Haris Rauf, Mohammad Ali, Zahid Mehmood and Saud Shakeel are making their Test debut for the national side.

Uncertainty had hit the commencement of the first Test after several players of the England camp fell ill on Wednesday.

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RAWALPINDI: England won the toss and elected to bat first against Pakistan in the opening Test of the historic three-game series against Pakistan, here at Pindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

A delayed trophy unveiling ceremony was held after the toss as English skipper Ben Stokes and Pakistan captain Babar Azam posed with the trophy.

Liam Livingstone and Will Jack received their Test caps for England while Ben Duckett marked his return in red-ball format after six years.

Pakistan included four debutants in their playing XI as star pacer Haris Rauf is set to make his Test debut along with young fast bowler Mohammad Ali while spinner Zahid Mehmood and middle-order batter Saud Shakeel also received their Test cap

Playing XIs:

Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Azhar Ali, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, Agha Salman, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Ali, Zahid Mehmood

England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pop, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (C),Will Jacks, Liam Livingstone, Ollie Robinson, Jack Leach, James Anderson