test cricket

The 39-year-old is already Bangladesh’s leading run-scorer in test cricket with 6763 runs. His innings in Sylhet included 12 fours and one six.

Michael Vaughan has voiced concerns over England's player contracts, questioning why centrally contracted players like Jofra Archer can prioritize IPL commitments over test cricket. He argues international duty should always come first, especially when players are on lucrative ECB deals. Vaughan believes this system risks undermining the importance of Test matches.

Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood has been named in the ICC jury selecting the greatest international cricketers of the last 25 years, alongside Wasim Akram. His inclusion surprised many amid Pakistan’s struggles in Bangladesh. Reports suggest Masood, whose captaincy is under pressure, could reconsider accepting a senior PCB administrative role previously offered to him.

There is still no confirmation on the three T20 Internationals that were earlier expected to be part of the tour.

Pakistan face a double blow after their shocking Test defeat to Bangladesh. The ICC has fined the team 40% of their match fee and deducted eight crucial points from their World Test Championship standings due to a slow over-rate. This significant penalty pushes Pakistan down to eighth place, impacting their championship aspirations.

Pakistan faced severe online backlash after a crushing 104-run defeat to Bangladesh, marking their third consecutive Test loss to the hosts. Despite a late fightback led by debutant Abdullah Fazal, Bangladesh's Nahid Rana's exceptional bowling secured a historic home victory. The loss also saw Pakistan drop two places in the World Test Championship standings.

Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar believes Virat Kohli is “very sensitive to criticism” despite often saying he ignores outside noise. Manjrekar revealed Kohli sometimes became “cold” towards him after negative remarks. He added criticism may motivate Kohli to perform better. Manjrekar also praised Kohli’s aggressive leadership in test cricket, calling him one of India’s greatest captains during his successful tenure.

England captain Ben Stokes made a strong return to cricket after a cheekbone injury, bowling 20 overs and taking two wickets for Durham. This comeback, his first match since January, offers a significant boost to England's bowling options ahead of a busy summer of test cricket, including upcoming series against New Zealand and Pakistan.

AB de Villiers lauded Rajasthan Royals' 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's white-ball prowess, but cautioned that his long-term success hinges on adapting to multi-format cricket. While Sooryavanshi's IPL and U19 numbers are exceptional, de Villiers stressed the need for exposure to ODIs and Tests to truly test his mettle and uncover new layers of his game.

Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi faced scrutiny during the Bangladesh Test for allegedly tampering with the ball, though umpires found no issue. The match saw Bangladesh build a lead of 179 runs by stumps on Day 4, with key partnerships and individual milestones reached. Both teams expressed confidence in chasing victory on the final day.

Pakistan's Hasan Ali suffered a head injury after a nasty blow while attempting a return catch on day one of the second Test against Bangladesh. He was taken off on a stretcher but thankfully returned to the field later. Earlier, Pakistan's seamers had a strong start, taking early wickets.

Masood has led Pakistan in Tests since December 2023. Under him, Pakistan have lost 11 of their 15 matches.

Virat Kohli expressed his desire to not constantly prove his value to the Indian team, stating he will play if he adds value and the team believes in him. Ravichandran Ashwin supported Kohli, asserting the former captain has nothing left to prove after his extensive achievements.

Pakistan's Test defeat to Bangladesh has ignited dressing-room friction, with captain Shan Masood reportedly clashing with pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi over bowling speed and batting collapses. The loss, compounded by an ICC slow over-rate penalty, is expected to lead to significant team changes for the next Test.