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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is not pleased that Fakhar Zaman questioned the selection panel's decision to sideline Babar Azam from the Test side. The panel dropped former captain Babar Azam when they announced the squad for the remaining two Tests against England in Multan and Rawalpindi. Zaman took to X to question the decision, inviting the ire of the PCB. "The top board officials are not pleased with the tweet sent out by Fakhar and relevant persons are having a word with him about it," a well-informed PCB source said. "It's concerning to hear suggestions about dropping Babar Azam. India didn't bench Virat Kohli during his rough stretch between 2020 and 2023, when he averaged 19.33, 28.21, and 26.50, respectively. "If we are considering sidelining our premier batsman, arguably the best Pakistan has ever produced, it could send a deeply negative message across the team. There is still time to avoid pressing the panic button; we should focus on sa...

India captain Suryakumar Yadav reaffirmed the stance that no one is "bigger than the team" and having a "selfless" approach after the hosts handed Bangladesh a shellacking in the final T20I. On the final night of the tour, India dished out a thumping 133-run defeat to the visitors, but this one will be remembered for ages. On Saturday, a selfless approach that has been a constant theme since the inception of head coach Gautam Gambhir's era. Sanju Samson epitomised the selfless and fearless approach with a dashing performance. From 62 off 29 balls, Samson raced to 92 off 35 balls with five consecutive towering maximums in the 10th over bowled by wrist-spinner Rishad Hossain. With four runs away, Samson drilled the ball over Mahedi Hasan Miraz to celebrate his 40-ball hundred. His heroics laid the foundation for India to slam 297/6, the second-highest total in T20I history. "I think we have achieved a lot as a team. Most importantly, as I said at the start...

India lost to defending champions Australia by nine runs in their last group match to find themselves in a difficult position to qualify for the semifinals of the women's T20 World Cup, on Sunday. Chasing 152 for a win, India ended at 142 for 9 with captain Harmanpreet Kaur top-scoring with 54 not out off 47 balls. Deepti Sharma and Shafali Verma chipped in with 29 and 20 respectively. India ended their Group A campaign on four points after two wins and two losses. Australia, who topped the group with all four wins, qualified for the semifinals while New Zealand (4 points) need a win against Pakistan on Monday to make it to the last-four stage. Opting to bat, Australia were restricted to 151 for 8 with opener Grace Harris top-scoring with 40 off 41 balls. Stand-in captain Tahlia McGrath and Ellyse Perry chipped in with 32 each. For India, Renuka Singh and Deepti Sharma took two wickets apiece while Pooja Vastrakar, Radha Yadav and Shreyanka Patil got one each. Brief Scores: Aus...

Sanju Samson's ebullient maiden T20 International hundred dotted India's resounding 133-run victory and 3-0 series sweep over a listless Bangladesh in Hyderabad on Saturday. Once India broomed away records like rotten twigs while posting 297 for 6 after electing to bat, it was always a case of eventual margin of win and Bangladesh never really offered a meaningful fight, ending up at 164/7 in the third and final T20I. Pacer Mayank Yadav (2/32) and leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi (3/30) led the hosts' bowling effort. Samson (111, 47 balls, 11x4, 8x6), who hammered the second fastest T20I century by an Indian after Rohit Sharma (35 balls), and skipper Suryakumar Yadav (75, 35 balls, 8x4, 5x6), biffed 173 runs during an electrifying second wicket stand, propelling the hosts past several records. The total was second in the all-time list of the highest T20I team totals behind Nepal's 314 and ahead of Afghanistan's 278/3, and also India's highest in the shortest format. ...

England registered a dominant win over Pakistan in the first Test in Multan on Friday. The Three Lions won by an innings and 47 runs to take an early lead in the three-match series. The win was England's fourth consecutive Test triumph on Pakistan soil, after a 3-0 whitewash two years ago. England had only won two away Tests against Pakistan in the previous 61 years. It was also filled with several new milestones for England. Opting to bat first, Pakistan posted 556, thanks to captain Shan Masood 's 151 and centuries from Agha Salman and Abdullah Shafique . In reply, Harry Brook smashed 317 and Joe Root a record-setting 262 in England's mammoth 823 for 7 declared, giving the visitors a 267-run lead. The Ollie Pope-led side then bundled out Pakistan for mere 220 to win the game by an innings and 47 runs. A Test match that kept the record-keepers on their toes England win the first #PAKvENG Test match by an innings in Multan Scorecard href="https://t.co/60exXWg...

Defending champions Australia delivered a commanding performance to bowl out Pakistan for 82 and then cruised to a nine-wicket victory, virtually sealing a spot in the women's T20 World Cup semifinals in Dubai on Friday. Playing without their captain Fatima Sana, who returned home following her father's death, Pakistan struggled and were dismissed in 19.5 overs after Alyssa Healy opted to bowl. Healy led Australia's chase with a 23-ball 37 (5x4) before retiring hurt due to cramps while running between the wickets. Ellyse Perry (22 not out) and Ashleigh Gardner (7 not out) then overhauled the target with nine overs to spare. With three wins in as many matches, the six-time champions have a commanding NRR of 2.786, virtually sealing their record-extending ninth semifinal appearance. For Pakistan, this was their second loss from three matches. Only four batters reached double-digit figures, with No. 6 Aliya Riaz top-scoring with 26. The team managed just four boundaries, re...

Premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah was on Friday named vice-captain of India for the upcoming three-match home Test series against New Zealand, strongly indicating his possible elevation to the leadership role when the team travels to Australia from next month. The three-match series against the Kiwis will start on November 16 in Bengaluru, followed by the second Test in Pune from October 24 and third game in Mumbai from November 1. As reported by PTI on October 10, regular captain Rohit Sharma could skip one of the first two Test matches in Australia owing to personal reasons. The five-match Test series in Australia starts on November 22 in Perth and the second match will be held at Adelaide from December 6, and there is a possibility that Rohit could give either the first or the second game a miss. Adding strength to that thought is the fact that India did not name a vice-captain for the recent home series against Bangladesh, which they won 2-0. Bumrah has prior experience of leading t...