England's chances of reaching the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy have received a boost after Australia's match against South Africa was called off due to rain. With both teams now on three points, England will only need to win their remaining two matches against Afghanistan and South Africa to advance to the next round, but a defeat in either match will mean an early exit for Jos Buttler's side. Despite their strong start to the tournament, Australia and South Africa will have to wait for their fate to be decided with only two more games left to play.
After joining the International Cricket Council in 2012 and being appointed CEO in November 2021, Geoff Allardice has announced his resignation just weeks before the Champions Trophy. While the official statement mentioned pursuing new challenges, a board member revealed that one of the reasons behind his departure was his failure to present a clear picture of Pakistan's readiness to host the tournament. The lack of progress in Karachi and Rawalpindi, along with the budget overrun of the T20 World Cup in the US, led to the decision, raising questions about Pakistan's ability to host a successful event.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced the squads for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka 'A' at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in November. Mohammad Huraira has been appointed as the captain for both the four-day and 50-over matches. Test bowlers Mohammad Wasim Jr and Khurram Shahzad and international player Hussain Talat have also been included in the squad. Additionally, several newcomers, including Muhammad Ghazi Ghori and Ahmed Safi Abdullah, have earned their maiden call-ups to the team. The series is set to begin on November 11, with the red-ball squad starting their training on November 6 and the white-ball players assembling on November 22.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has denied reports claiming that the Champions Trophy 2025 final will be moved to Dubai if India qualifies for the summit clash. While there have been doubts over India's participation due to political tensions, PCB remains confident that all matches, including the final, will take place in Pakistan. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi expressed confidence and emphasized that preparations for the tournament are on track, with plans to improve stadiums in Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi. He also remains optimistic about India's participation in the tournament.
In the ongoing first Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh in Rawalpindi, former captain Babar Azam's dropped catch of Mushfiqur Rahim, who was on 150, has been exposed to severe criticism. With the series opener heading towards a draw, Bangladesh's strong response to Pakistan's total of 448/6 has challenged the hosts repeatedly. Babar's underwhelming performance in the match has not helped his case either, making him an easy target for social media trolls.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) will be taking a decision on veteran all-rounder and former captain Shakib Al Hasan's future after the ongoing first Test against Pakistan. 37-year-old Shakib was recently named in a murder case filed in Bangladesh, and a lawyer from the Supreme Court has requested for his immediate removal from all forms of cricket. BCB president Faruque Ahmed stated that the board will discuss Shakib's situation before the second Test, which is set to start on August 30 in Rawalpindi.
Pakistan's assistant coach, Azhar Mahmood, revealed that they made a strategic decision to not field any spinners on the third day of the first Test, banking on the grass on the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium pitch to favor their seamers. However, the wicket dried out sooner than expected, making it difficult for the seamers to take advantage. Pakistan's batting, led by Mohammed Rizwan's unbeaten 171, had given them a big score of 448/6 on the first day, but Bangladesh have made a strong comeback on day three with Mushfiqur Rahim and Litton Das steadying the innings.
Bangladesh's star batsman, Mushfiqur Rahim, shined on the fourth day of the first Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi, scoring a massive 191 runs and helping his team to a first-innings total of 565, their highest against Pakistan. As the visitors took a lead of 117 runs, they now have an outside chance of securing their first-ever victory over Pakistan in Tests. With the home team trailing by 94 runs and hoping for their spinners to turn the tables, the final day of this exciting test match promises to be a nail-biting affair for cricket fans.
In a stunning performance, Mushfiqur Rahim led his team to a 47-run lead against Pakistan in the first Test match in Rawalpindi. His unbeaten score of 173 runs shattered the previous record set by Javed Omar in 2003. Despite a strong display by the home team, Bangladesh now has a chance to claim their first win against Pakistan in their 14 matches.
Bangladesh's Mushfiqur Rahim scored an unbeaten 173 against Pakistan in Rawalpindi, breaking the record for the highest individual score by a Bangladesh batter in Pakistan. His partnership with Mehidy Hasan Miraz helped Bangladesh take the lead in the first Test, giving them a chance to secure their first ever win against Pakistan. Mushfiqur's marathon knock also set a new record for the highest seventh-wicket partnership for Bangladesh in Test cricket. The two teams will continue to battle it out on a pitch that has been favoring the batsmen.