MULTAN, Pakistan: Pakistan captain Shan Masood admitted England taught his team a “harsh reality” on how to win a Test with their massive innings and 47-run victory in Multan on Friday.
England’s attack made short work of the last four Pakistan batters on Day 5, dismissing the hosts for 220 and drawing first blood in the three-match series.
England found a way to win despite Pakistan’s first innings total of 556, responding with the fourth-highest Test score of 823-7 in response.
“It can’t be more disappointing than this,” said Masood who has lost all six Tests since being appointed captain last year.
“England taught us the harsh reality on how to find a way to win a Test match which we couldn’t find,” said Masood who scored a hundred to set up Pakistan’s first innings.
“After two days being under the sun and being 556 behind they gave themselves a chance to bat and scored big and when they came back with the ball they had a plan and they executed that well.”
Harry Brook smashed 317 and Joe Root a record-setting 262, giving England a 267-run lead and both players their highest Test scores.
Chris Woakes then dismissed Abdullah Shafique with the first ball of the second innings before Jack Leach led the England attack to victory with figures of 4-30.
Masood said England proved themselves a quality side.
“The harsh reality in Test cricket is that no matter what the pitch is, quality sides will find a way and England did that and for us the learning is to find a way to win Tests,” said Masood.
Pakistan’s batting has been stumbling due to a slump for talisman Babar Azam, who has gone without a half-century in his last 18 Test innings.
“There is no doubt that Babar is Pakistan’s best batsman,” said Masood of Azam who scored a scratchy 30 and five in the match.
“You always believe that your best batsman is just one innings away and we hope that he returns to form soon.”
Meanwhile, spinner Abrar Ahmed remained doubtful for the second Test in Multan starting on Tuesday.
“The condition of Abrar is not good so we all pray that he recovers well and plays cricket again,” said Masood of the spinner who did not take the field on the last two days due to a high fever.
The third and final Test is in Rawalpindi from October 24.
Masood admits England defeat ‘a harsh reality’ for Pakistan
https://arab.news/gk53b
Masood admits England defeat ‘a harsh reality’ for Pakistan
- England’s attack made short work of last four Pakistan batters on Day 5, dismissing hosts for 220, drawing first blood in three-match series
- England found a way to win despite Pakistan’s first innings total of 556, responding with the fourth-highest Test score of 823-7 in response
Pakistan says 12 parties have filed bids for two new PSL franchises
- This year’s Pakistan Super League tournament will feature two new franchises to existing roster of six
- Pakistan Cricket Board says bidders hail from countries such as Australia, Canada, US, UAE, Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Wednesday that it has received bids from 12 interested parties for two new franchises of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) tournament, saying the development reflects the league’s commercial appeal.
The 11th edition of this year’s PSL will be held from Mar. 26 to May 11, with the PCB announcing that two new teams will be part of the tournament this time.
Pakistan held roadshows earlier this month in London and New York to invite investors from around the world to bid for the two new franchises. The PCB allowed interested parties to bid for the new franchises till Dec. 22.
“The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced an exceptional and encouraging response to the tender issued for the sale of two new franchises of the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL),” the PCB said in a statement.
“Within the stipulated deadline, 12 parties have formally submitted their bids.”
The bidders belong to five continents, including the US, Australia, Canada, the UAE and Pakistan, adding that it “clearly reflects the PSL’s growing global popularity and commercial appeal.”
The PCB said that the results of the current phase of the bidding process will be announced on Dec. 27, adding that in the next stage, technically qualified bidders will have the opportunity to buy the two new teams through an open competition bidding process.
This bidding process will be held on Jan. 8, the board clarified.
“The Pakistan Cricket Board is committed to completing this process in a transparent and competitive manner in line with international standards, to ensure the continued expansion and growth of the HBL Pakistan Super League,” it concluded.
The PSL is Pakistan’s premier T20 cricket league that features a mix of local and international players and coaches. It features six teams, each named after a Pakistani city.
With a little over 10 years since it was launched, the PSL has attracted praise from cricket experts and analysts worldwide and competed for viewership with prominent cricket leagues around the world such as the Big Bash League, Caribbean Premier League, Indian Premier League and others.
