Cricket

Pakistan announced its test squad for its upcoming series against Sri Lanka in UAE on Sunday and while the team wore a familiar look, there were a few notable inclusions and omissions. Aizaz Cheema, who impressed on his debut in Zimbabwe recently, got the nod ahead of Tanvir Ahmed in the 15-man team. Ahmed, who has been a consistent performer for Pakistan in the absence of the banned Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir and has played a good foil to Umar...

Pakistan cricket is facing one of the darkest days in its history with the match-fixing revelations involving several members of the Pakistan cricket team. While the allegations have not yet been proven, the evidence on hand suggests all is not well in the Pakistan camp. Dawn.com’s sports desk will keep an eye on the developments as the day goes on. We also invite our readers to debate the imbroglio, its implications and what the future holds for...

Pakistan saw at least two vital and easy dismissals drop out of their hands thanks to shoddy wicket-keeping from Kamran Akmal. Andrew Strauss’s straightforward caught-behind chance in the fifth over could have proved much costlier than it did. The second chance that he missed was one of the easiest stumping opportunities one can recall. Here, Paul Collingwood had walked such a long way down the crease that had Kamran caught the ball in the second...

March 25, 1992 will always be remembered as one of the most glorious days in the history of Pakistan cricket. It was on this day, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, that Imran Khan’s ‘cornered tigers’ completed their fairytale journey at the cricket world cup. Wasim Akram’s magic, Ramiz Raja’s flight of victory, Aamir Sohail’s sajda, Imran Khan’s controversial speech are the various moments that spring to mind when one recollects the magical...

The Pakistan Cricket Board has dropped a bombshell: Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Shoaib Malik, and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan have been banned. While Yousuf and Younis have been banned indefinitely for causing in-fighting, Malik and Naved will only be eligible to play for Pakistan after a year. Meanwhile, Shahid Afridi’s ball-biting antics have landed him a six-month probation and a three-million-rupee fine. Kamran Akmal and Umar Akmal have also been...

Pakistan captain Younis Khan has resigned from his post, citing the match-fixing allegations and constant meddling of affairs as the reasons. While we await the response of Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Ijaz Butt, Dawn.com invites its readers to voice their opinion on this breaking news.

The Pakistan cricket team has failed to show the same character and spirit during the Sri Lanka series that helped it lift the ICC World Twenty20 title. The series loss in both Tests and ODIs has once again forced the Pakistan team’s fervent followers to lose faith in the side’s ability and commitment. Is it too early to call the T20 triumph a fluke? Does the Pakistan team deserve more international matches to regain its form in the longer versions...

Pakistan’s World Twenty20 hero, Shahid Afridi, is all the rage with cricket fans world over. As attention shifts to Test cricket, Afridi takes out time to answer Dawn.com’s readers’ questions. What is it that you have always wanted to know? Why he blew that kiss to Kallis or how, finally, he decided to build an innings? Do you have questions about Afridi’s training regimen, or his favourite moments in cricket history? Or do you want to...

People gathered around giant screens on roads and in front of televisions in hotels and restaurants in all the main Pakistani cities hours before the match. They clapped and danced on the beat of drums at the fall of every Sri Lankan wicket. They watched Kamran Akmal’s opening salvos with bated breath, too tense to enjoy the fact that the openers were playing a safe game. When Shahid Afridi, with his eagle-eyed look and bring-it-on walk, came...

Cricket pundits never imagined that Pakistan would overcome the formidable Kiwis and South Africans and make it all the way to the T20 finals. Since the experts keep getting it wrong, we thought we’d allow you take a shot at guessing what will happen in tonight’s match. If Pakistan wins the toss, should they bat or field? What will be the target? Is Malinga going to sling us off the field or will Gul beguile the Lankans? And will Afridi be able...