Tag: Rawalpindi Test

The upcoming first Test of the two-match series between Pakistan and Bangladesh, scheduled to be held at Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi is likely to be affected by rain.

According to Weather.com, Rawalpindi is likely to receive rain on the first, second and fifth day of the aforementioned Test.

Furthermore, Rawalpindi’s weather has been far from the best for the preparation of the first Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh as the ground staff is yet to start working on the pitch.

Reports further suggested that the decision regarding which pitch to be used for the opening Test is also facing delay.

Earlier today in Islamabad, coined as the twin city of Rawalpindi, the first four-day match between Pakistan Shaheens and Bangladesh A ended in a draw after being majorly affected by rain.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

The match which was largely affected by rain, saw only 39.2 overs bowled on the fourth day, as play resumed at 2 pm PKT today. The third day’s play on Thursday was completely washed out due to rain.

Pakistan: Shan Masood (c), Saud Shakeel, Aamir Jamal (subject to fitness), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Hurraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Bangladesh: Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mahmudullah, Zakir Hasan, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nazmul Hossain, Nurul Hasan, Ebadot Hossain, Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed and Khaled Ahmed.

Series schedule

First Test: August 21 – 25 at Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

Second Test: August 30 – 4 September at National Bank Stadium, Karachi

READ: Pakistan Shaheens complete hat-trick of victories in Top-End T20I series

RAWALPINDI: The pitch used in the Rawalpindi Test – the first of the three-match series between Pakistan and England – has been rated below average by the International Cricket Council on Tuesday. 

The pitch which yielded around 1768 runs throughout the course of five days, has earned its second demerit point within a year for providing little to no assistance to the bowlers.

According to the ICC, match referee Andy Pycroft released his findings on Tuesday and the venue received its second consecutive rating of ‘below average’ since the same rating was given to the pitch after the first Test between Pakistan and Australia in March, earlier this year.

“It was a very flat pitch which gave almost no assistance to any type of bowler. That was the main reason why batters scored very fast and both sides posted huge totals. The pitch hardly deteriorated during the course of the match.” Pycroft said.

“Since there was very little in it for the bowlers, I found the pitch to be “below average” as per the ICC guidelines.” he added.

Pycroft’s report has also been forwarded to the Pakistan Cricket Board

After receiving consecutive demerit points under the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process, the venue is at serious risk of getting suspended from hosting any international cricket if more demerit points are lost.

According to ICC guidelines, when a venue accumulates five demerit points (or crosses that threshold), it will be suspended from hosting any international cricket for a period of 12 months, while a venue will be suspended from staging any international cricket for 24 months when it reaches the threshold of 10 demerit points.

It is pertinent to mention here that many batting records were tumbled on the flat Rawalpindi surface during the first Test, including the highest total scored and four centurions on the opening day of a Test match. England smashed 506/4 with help of astounding hundreds from Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Harry Brook and Ollie Pope on the first day.

England sealed a sensational 74-run win against Pakistan in Rawalpindi Test following a tense final session on the final day.

RAWALPINDI: England all-rounder Liam Livingstone has been ruled out for the remainder of the ongoing three-match series against Pakistan after facing a knee injury in the first Test in Rawalpindi.

Livingstone injured his right knee while fielding on day two of his debut Test and was taken off the field for the rest of Pakistan’s innings. He visibly looked in discomfort while running between the wickets on day four when he scored an unbeaten 7 before England declared their second turn.

The team management has now decided to send him back to the UK on Tuesday where he will begin a rehabilitation programme.

“England all-rounder Liam Livingstone has been ruled out of the rest of the Test series against Pakistan with a right knee injury,” the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on Monday.

“He will return to the UK on Tuesday and commence rehab with the ECB and Lancashire medical teams respectively.” it added.

However, the decision on whether to call up his replacement or not has yet to be made by England.

The ongoing Rawalpindi Test entered a crucial stage as England struck down strong-looking Imam-ul -Haq, who was just two runs short of his fifty, early on day 5 to set the alarm bells ringing for Pakistan. The home side needs another 245 runs while England require seven wickets to win the first Test.

READ: Rawalpindi Test: Azhar Ali fit to bat on final day says PCB

RAWALPINDI: Experienced batter Azhar Ali, who sustained a blow to his index finger the other day, has been declared fit to bat on the final day of the first Test as Pakistan are striving to chase 343 runs posted by England with three wickets down so far. 

According to the PCB spokesperson, the medical board declared the right-handed batter fit for play on the last day.

On Sunday,  Azhar underwent an X-Ray at a local hospital here as a precautionary method to examine a likely injury that the former sustained on the fourth day of the Rawalpindi Test.

Ollie Robinson’s short ball struck Azhar hard and hurt his index finger. The physio treated the right-handed batter on the field, but he made the decision to return to the pavilion.

The Rawalpindi Test entered a crucial stage as England struck down strong-looking Imam-ul -Haq, who was just two runs short of his fifty, early on day 5 to set the alarm bells ringing for Pakistan. The home side needs another 245 runs while England require seven wickets to win the first Test.

READ: England thrash Senegal 3-0 to book quarter-final clash with holders France

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan’s left-handed opener Imam-ul-Haq commented on the team’s batting approach in response to England’s mammoth total of 657 in the first innings of the ongoing Rawalpindi Test.

Pakistan batters had a tough task ahead of them when England batters finished at a massive 657 at the back of four centuries from Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope and Harry Brook.

The hosts, however, did not hold back on what is considered to be a batting paradise as centuries from Imam, Abdullah Shafique and captain Babar Azam put Pakistan in a fighting position as they finished at 499/7 and are still 158 runs behind.

One of Pakistan’s centurions Imam then talked to the media after the conclusion of the third day, which too remained majorly dominated by the batters and shared how Pakistan’s batters approached England’s massive total.

“Sometimes, when you see the opposition team scoring 650 runs it gives you a really tough time mentally as the expectations from us also mount that we too, will play longer,” said Imam.

“Since they have played the first innings and scored a massive total so we were not left with many chances, we can’t take risks and also need to save the team,” he added.

The left-handed opener then responded to a question regarding Pakistan’s approach towards the outcome of the high-scoring match and shared that the team is not thinking yet to go for the draw.

“Again when there are 650 runs on the board, so obviously, first of all, we have to save ourselves. But, we did not think about going for the draw as of yet because their total was around 650 so we had to play four to five sessions at least to get closer to them,” Imam shared.

Imam then went on to predict the nature of the pitch in the last two days by sharing that it has already started breaking and he also experienced a little uneven bounce on the third day.

“I noted the variations in the pitch today. It started to break and bowlers were getting a little more bounce but sometimes it kept low,” shared Imam.

“It was the third-day wicket so in upcoming days it would definitely change and might no longer be a batting paradise,” Imam stated.

“But again I would say, we would play as per the situations we get and play in the present and once we get in a certain situation then we will also be looking at the future that either we have to go for the chase or to fight for the draw,” he maintained.

It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan gave a befitting response to England’s record 657-run total as the home side raised 499/7 before stumps with help of Imam, Abdullah and Babar’s centuries.

READ: Pakistan even response with three tons hangs Rawalpindi Test in balance

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: Former England Test skipper Joe Root ruled out the possibility of his teammates becoming ill as a result of food poisoning ahead of the first Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi on December 1. 

On Tuesday, some of the England players including captain Ben Stokes, reportedly, have fallen ill and were told to restrict their movement to limit the risk of spreading the virus. An ECB spokesperson, however, confirmed that the illnesses were not Covid-19 related, with players experiencing vomiting and diarrhoea.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday at Pindi Cricket Stadium after the team’s final training session before the first Test, Root insisted that there was nothing to be blamed on their team chef as the players’ illness was not related to the food.

“It is unfortunate we are in this situation, but we don’t think it is food-related,” he said. “I don’t think there is any correlation between the two and in fact the chef is ill as well, so I don’t think it is the food.”

England’s team brought their own chef, Omar Meziane, in order to take care of the players’ diet during the historic Test tour of Pakistan.

“The thing is we have been carrying a chef away for a couple of years. If you look at the international teams, especially England, they all have their own chefs. We optimise ourselves and we see it from a nutrition point of view as well,” he said, responding to the reporter’s question.

Moreover, Root denied any possibility of picking up corona virus, claiming that he also felt ill but recovered within a day.

“As far as I’m aware there are a few guys not feeling 100 per cent but – I didn’t feel great yesterday but I woke up better today – so hopefully it’s just a 24-hour virus and I don’t think it’s food poisoning or Covid or anything like that,” he added.

When asked about the player’s readiness for tomorrow’s match, Root said: “It’s hard to say, I’ve not seen anyone this morning, we’ve literally got straight on the bus so the guys will do everything we can to be right in that aspect, so time will tell really.”

“We’ve prepared really well for this game and sometimes life throws things at you but we’ll do everything we can to be right tomorrow and be right and ready to go,” he added.

Pakistan Cricket Board, however, confirmed in a tweet that discussions were underway between the ECB and PCB regarding the commencement of the first Test after some England players reported viral infection.

England and Pakistan will contest a three-match Test series with the second scheduled in Multan beginning on December 9 and the final game in Karachi from December 17-21.

READ: Babar hopeful to compete against ‘full strength’ English side in first Test

RAWALPINDI: The opening Test of the historic series between Pakistan and England is likely to be held with a delayed start after several players of the touring party were struck down by illness on Wednesday.

“The PCB and ECB are in discussions regarding the commencement of the 1st PAKvENG Test as some England players are down with viral infection,” PCB said in a tweet.

An ECB spokesperson confirmed that the illnesses were not Covid-19 related, with players experiencing vomiting and diarrhoea.

The PCB and ECB are in discussions regarding the commencement of the 1st #PAKvENG Test as some England players are down with viral infection. The PCB continues to monitor the situation, is in contact with the ECB and will provide further updates in due course.

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) November 30, 2022

Former England Test captain Joe Root has dismissed the possibility of his team teammates falling ill due to food poisoning ahead of the first Test match in Rawalpindi.

“I don’t think it’s food poisoning or Covid or anything like that,” said Root as he responded to a query at a press talk in Rawalpindi today.

It may be noted that the England team, led by Ben Stokes, landed in Pakistan with its team chef amid food concerns in Pakistan.

England and Pakistan will contest a three-Test series with the second in Multan beginning December 9 and the third in Karachi from December 17-21.

READ: Iran, Wales missed out as England, USA qualify for the Round of 16