Pakistan

CENTURION, South Africa: A century by Babar Azam set up a three-wicket, last-ball win for Pakistan in the first one-day international against South Africa at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Friday (Apr 2). The Pakistan captain hit a stroke-filled 103 off 104 balls but his dismissal started a collapse in which fast bowler Anrich Nortje took four wickets in four overs. Rassie van der Dussen hit 123 not out, his maiden international century. But South Africa's total of 273 for six did not

ISLAMABAD  - Pakistan has left out veteran batsman Mohammad Hafeez from its Twenty20 squad for the series against South Africa because he would not meet the Pakistan cricket Board's deadline for players to enter a bio-secure bubble. The PCB had said that all players had to be in the team's bubble by Feb. 3 ahead of the three-match series against the Proteas that starts on Feb. 11. Hafeez, who is not among the PCB's centrally contracted players, is currently playing in the T10 League

KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) — Spinners Nauman Ali and Yasir Shah rattled South Africa to help Pakistan win the first test by seven wickets inside four days on Friday. Nauman, a 34-year-old left-arm spinner making his test debut, returned 5-35 and Shah took 4-79 to dismiss South Africa for 245 in the second innings before lunch on day four. It set up a small target of 88 and despite Anrich Nortje’s (2-24) twin strike in one over, Pakistan reached 90-3 before tea in 22.5

Pakistan captain Babar Azam is aware that his side has a poor a record against South Africa in tests but he is confident that the past will count for nothing when the two teams meet in the opening test in Karachi from Tuesday. South Africa, led by Quinton de Kock, will play their first test in Pakistan since 2007 and have lost only four out of 26 matches against their opponents. "We should not think about past, we should focus on what's ahead

Babar gains valuable rating points to move closer to leading Indian pair of Kohli and Sharma; Taylor, Williams and Raza gain in latest rankings update Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Afridi has achieved a career-best 16th position in the ICC Men’s ODI Player Rankings after a notable performance in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League series against Zimbabwe that they won 2-1. Shaheen, who shot into international prominence in the ICC Under 19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2018 in New Zealand, has

Mickey Arthur has been officially confirmed as Sri Lanka’s Consultant Head Coach. The 51-year old coach from South Africa will take over the reins of the national cricket team from Rumesh Ratnayake who was an interim appointment throughout the limited-overs tourney in Pakistan. He had been appointed after Chandika Hathurusinghe was released in a scenario where the Sri Lankan Sports Ministry was immensely disappointed with the results garnered by the national team in H1 2019. This is Mickey Arthur’s 4th big-time international cricket

New Zealand ended the wait of 49 years as they completed an away series win versus Pakistan at UAE. Defending 280 runs in 79 overs, New Zealand side ran through the Pakistani batting lineup in just 56.1 overs. By virtue of winning the third Test match, the Blackcaps secured their first away series win against Pakistan since 1969. Pakistan had gained the lead of 74 runs in the first inning but was defied by the scintillating knocks from Kane Williamson and Henry Nicholls. Williamson was out on the first ball of the fifth day as he was back for his overnight score of 139. Nicholls and Colin De Grandhomme then accelerated the run rate and brought 62 runs from the next 39 balls. The visitors eventually declared for 353/7, setting a target of 280 to be chased in the remaining 79 overs. Pakistan

Pakistan’s leg-spinner Yasir Shah smashed the 82-year old Test record by registering his 200th wicket in just 33 Test matches. He enjoys the privilege of being the fastest to achieve the milestone. The much-awaited moment arrived in the ongoing third Test between Pakistan and New Zealand being played at Abu Dhabi, UAE. New Zealand commenced day four of the Test in a delicate position at 26/2. Will Somerville, the debutant left-arm spinner, sent as the night-watchman was one of the survivors from the third day. He was trapped in front of the stumps early by Yasir Shah and the wicket earned the bowler an important record in Test cricket. Clarie Grimmett, the Australian leg-spinner, had reached the milestone of 200 wickets in 36 Tests and was the

The international cricket season in full bloom right now. England and Sri Lanka, India and Australia, Bangladesh and the West Indies and Pakistan and New Zealand are all engaged in battles in different formats of the game. By the end of the year, more important tours and matches would have commenced. As so many teams battle it out, there will be a lot of records and landmarks achieved. Here is a look at five interesting approaching milestones in international cricket. Shikhar Dhawan approaching

Pakistan’s phenomenal 4-run loss to New Zealand in the 1st Test was one of the Test wins in history. It will be talked about for months. A thrilling Test match that had the fans rooted till the very end. Throughout Test history, there have been similar Tests which have gone down to the wire and ended with unexpected results. Here is a look at the five closest Test victories in terms of runs. West Indies beat Australia by 1 run, Adelaide, 1993 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HezgwT8fBU In

Despite falling short by two runs in the first T20I of the series, the visiting New Zealand side would be hopeful for a turnaround in the second and all-important T20I at Abu Dhabi. The Black Caps have shown that they will not be pushovers and this series is very unlikely to go like the one between Pakistan and Australia last month. New Zealand are a very good T20 side and ran Pakistan close in the first game. A more polished performance in the

Former Pakistan captain Azhar Ali has announced his retirement from ODI cricket. The 33-year-old wants to focus only on Test cricket and hence called it quits from ODIs to prolong his Test career. Azhar’s last appeared for Pakistan in white-ball cricket was against New Zealand in January. The opener has never played dT20Is for his nation. "It is not a decision that I have taken suddenly. I had been considering this for quite some time. I think the time is right for me