Author: Mishaal Mubarak

English pacer Chris Woakes will undergo overnight scans after landing awkwardly on his left shoulder while fielding in the fifth Test match against India. Woakes ran after a ball from mid-off and failed to steady himself outside the boundary line, apparently due to his hand slipping on the wet outfield. He instantly clutched his shoulder, grimacing with his face down. England’s medical team quickly tended to him, and within minutes, he was off the ground with his shoulder wrapped in his sweater. Although England did not reveal the details about his injury, he appeared to have dislocated his left shoulder.…

The last time Pakistan played a T20I in Lauderhill, Florida, they were still nursing their bruises of an early T20 World Cup exit. A year on, when they gear up to play at the venue again, the view is frustratingly similar. Fresh off a 2-1 series loss to Bangladesh, Pakistan have only managed eight wins in 21 games since that last Lauderhill appearance. If the numbers dont already terrorize you, toss in the fact that Pakistan have endured defeats against – in addition to Bangladesh – Ireland and Zimbabwe. For all of Pakistan’s worries, they still look mildly redeemable next…

Indian captain Shubman Gill thinks it will be quite “significant” if he is able to draw the series after having weathered the challenges for the past one and a half month. He had a younger side to lead. He had a cap to utilize India’s numero uno bowler. And most of all, he had a relentless English side to face. His predecessor Rohit Sharma managed to get the same results the last time they were here, with far better men at his command. But could Gill even get to a draw? England, though weakened by injuries and replacements, have played…

England captain Ben Stokes has been ruled out of the fifth Test with a torn shoulder muscle, and his deputy Ollie Pope will stand in for him against India at the Oval. Stokes has bowled 140 overs across four Tests, the most he has in a single series in his entire career. He was fairly confident he would turn up for the final game, despite showing signs of discomfort while bowling on the last day of the fourth Test, and despite scans revealing a significant tear in his muscle. Even if Stokes had played, he was expected to bat only.…

What is there this series hasn’t had so far? There have been on-field altercations, sledging, war of words off the field, and whatnot. But nothing more out of the blue than a spat between the groundsman and the visitors. Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir and the Oval groundsman Lee Fortis had a run-in two days before the fifth and final Test. Fortis was concerned about the presence of training gear and Indian team members on the main square. When he voiced his concerns, it led to a squabble between them. Indian captain Shubman Gill, however, sided with his coach, calling…

Tom Latham has been ruled out of the first Test against Zimbabwe, starting on July 30 in Bulawayo, owing to a shoulder injury. Latham picked up the injury while playing for Birmingham Bears in the Vitality Blast and couldn’t recover in time for the opening Test of the series. He is likely to return for the second Test, which begins on August 7. In his place, New Zealand’s white-ball captain Mitchell Santner will lead the side, marking his first red-ball Test captaincy assignment. “It’s hugely disappointing for Tom to be missing the first Test, as captain but also as an…

The security staff at Old Trafford was seen asking a fan, reportedly named Farooq Nazar, to cover his jersey by “putting a coat on” during the fourth Test match between England and India. Nazar, who was wearing a copy of the Pakistan team’s limited-overs jersey, was able to tape the encounter between him and the security staff, who identified himself as an employee of the Lancashire County Cricket Club. Old Trafford is the home ground of the club, and it played host to the penultimate Test of the series. “I’ve been asked by control [Lancashire] if you can cover that…

England have added pacer Jamie Overton to the squad for the fifth Test against India. The inclusion comes in the wake of a short turnaround between the fourth and the fifth Test, which is scheduled to be played at The Oval on July 31. Overton, who was playing for Surrey last week in the County Championship, has only played one Test for England, his debut against New Zealand at Headingley in 2022. After the toil the England pacers took during the fourth Test, having bowled 257 overs across the match, Ben Stokes said that England could “make a few decisions…

Following the Asian Cricket Council’s (ACC) Annual General Meeting, the venues and dates for the Asia Cup have been finalised. The tournament, which will be played in the T20 format, in view of the upcoming T20 World Cup next year, will run from September 9 to September 28. The ACC chair, Mohsin Naqvi, revealed that the group-stage game between Pakistan and India, both of whom are placed in Group A, will be played on September 14. However, no details about the remaining fixtures were shared. “I am delighted to confirm the dates for the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025 in…

Pakistan have announced their squads for the white-ball tour against West Indies, starting August 1. Both sides will play three T20Is and as many ODIs across two venues. Pakistan have decided to stick with Mohammad Rizwan as the ODI captain for the series, with several main players including Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Naseem Shah. All the mentioned players, barring Shaheen, last played for the side in the New Zealand tour following the Champions Trophy. Only Shaheen from these players has made it to the T20I squad. Opening batter Fakhar Zaman is part of the squad, which will be…