Pakistan vs England: In what proves to be an interesting development, Pakistan?s Cricket Governing-Body, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have planned to prepare are spin-friendly surface for the forthcoming 3rd Test-Match versus England in the city of Rawalpindi. The move is a part of a larger plan to help Pakistan's spinners perform better and boost the success of the national squad.



A team of national-selectors, including former pacer Aqib Javed, will be visiting the Cricket Stadium of Rawalpindi to meet well-known pitch-curator Tony Hemming. Their motive is to ensure that the the track of Rawalpindi is prepared to provide assistance to the spin bowling duo of Nauman Ali &amp; Sajid Khan, similar to the conditions that proved advantageous for the Green Shirts in the second Test-Match.



Although seam bowlers are thought to benefit more from the surface at the Cricket Stadium of Rawalpindi, the Pakistan Cricket Board is eager to change this belief and take full use of the available home conditions.



Another significant development is that the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Mohsin Naqvi, has given the Men's National Cricket Team's selection committee, consisting of five members, total authority to choose the best starting eleven for the third and final Test match of the series.



The ultimate call will be made by the selectors, who will likely confer with captain Shan Masood and head coach Jason Gillespie for Test cricket.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Pakistan secure comfortable victory in the 2nd Test-Match versus England, level the series 1-1</h2>



 The Shan Masood-led outfit finally ended their really long losing-streak at home, having previously won a Test-Match at home in 2021. The new-faces of the Green Shirts helped their team secure a win after their squad underwent some tough changes following their embarrassing defeat in the opening Test-Match of the series versus England.



29-year-old Kamran Ghulam, who replaced experienced campaigner Babar Azam at the number four spot in the batting-unit, led Pakistan's batting effort with a 224-ball 118 run inning on his debut, which helped them reach the score of 366 runs on the same worn-out Multan surface as the previous game. The visitors were reduced to 225-6 on day two by Off-break bowler Sajid Khan, who was making his comeback, after England had taken a commanding lead at 211-2 on the second day. Among his victims were Joe Root (34) and Harry Brook (9) in particular.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/2024/10/389308.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-148726" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Noman Ali and Sajid Khan took 20 wickets to help Pakistan win the 2nd Test-Match versus England | Image: Getty Images</figcaption></figure>



The home team grabbed a commanding 75-run lead as Sajid claimed seven wickets. England had to chase 297 to win on a worn-out and dangerous surface after Pakistan scored 221 in the first innings. The fourth innings saw England bowled out for 144 runs, giving Pakistan a 152-run victory. Noman Ali, a left-arm spinner, concluded with astounding statistics of 8-46. Throughout the innings, he and Sajid Khan bowled without alteration for 33.3 overs.



Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/pak-vs-eng-updated-wtc-points-table-following-pakistans-win-in-the-2nd-test-match-pakistan-rise-to-the-8th-spot/" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/pak-vs-eng-updated-wtc-points-table-following-pakistans-win-in-the-2nd-test-match-pakistan-rise-to-the-8th-spot/">PAK vs ENG: Updated WTC Points-Table following Pakistan?s win in the 2nd test-match, Pakistan rise to the 8th spot</a>



For more information, visit the official websites of <a href="https://www.icc-cricket.com/index">ICC</a> and <a href="https://www.pcb.com.pk/">Pakistan Cricket</a>

Pakistan vs England: PCB likely to prepare a spin-friendly surface for the 3rd Test-Match

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PAK vs ENG: Pakistan has finally broken the jinx at home as they secure their first Home Test series win after a long wait of 3 years. Shan Masood wins his first red-ball series as the Pakistan skipper. England, the team who are often known to feature in the highest number of test matches in a WTC, were touring Pakistan as a final series away from home. England began their campaign with a thumping win in the first test at Multan. England, the dominant batters, overpowered Pakistan on their home ground in Multan, where they posted a historic 823/7 inning total, a set of records shattered in the opening game. Pakistan made some tough calls in order to better their results at home, as they dropped the likes of veteran batter Babar Azam and even faced a huge surge of anger vented by their fans and spectators. 



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 Alongside Azam, the likes of pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah were also dropped, while spinners Sajid Khan and Noman Ali were picked, sighting the slow and flatter pitch across Multan and Rawalpindi. The first test marked a commanding rise of Noman Ali and Sajid Khan as both batters picked 20 wickets between them as they defeated the English to level the series. 



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 The final Rawalpindi test marked the two spinners picking 9 wickets, as Jamie Smith, the only recognized scorer for England, was dismissed by Mehmood. After Suad Shakeel posted a huge hundred and helped them alongside Noman Ali and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sajid_Khan_(cricketer)">Sajid Khan</a>, who also played vital innings? with the bat. 



ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/if-i-had-my-way-the-pitches-would-be-pat-cummins-drawing-up-for-the-border-gavaskar-trophy-2024-25/">?If I had my way, the pitches would be?? Pat Cummins Drawing Up for The Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25</a>



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 Noman Ali with a 6-for and Sajid Khan with another four-for led England to a very timid lead of 35, as Pakistan had to chase a score of 36 in their final innings. Either of these teams does not stand a chance in the WTC, as Pakistan win a series at home after 3 years as they win by a great 9-wickets.

PAK vs ENG: Pakistan won a home test series after 3 long years; Noman Ali and Sajid Khan share 39 wickets across 2-Tests to bring smiles to the Pakistani faces

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After Pakistan lost the first Test-Match of the three-match Test-Series versus England in a really embarrassing manner in the Cricket Stadium of Multan, many fans and Cricket enthusiasts thought that the Green Shirts will lose yet another home Test-Series.



However, to the surprise of many people across the globe, the Shaheens showcased their top notch game and class and after making a couple of key changes to their Starting XI, Shan Masood &amp; co clinched the series 2-1 versus a resilient England team on Saturday in the city of Rawalpindi.



Following the humiliating defeat in the opening fixture of the series, the PCB took a couple of huge and bold decisions of dropping the experienced trio of Naseem Shah, Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi from the squad for the remaining two contests and prepared a spin-friendly surface to counter the baz-ball approach of the Englishmen.



The Result - the Shan Masood-led team executed a remarkable and historic comeback in the series as they secured comfortable victories in the remaining two matches and clinched the series 2-1.



The spin bowling duo of Noman Ali and Sajid Khan turned out to be the heroes for the home side, as the duo picked up 19 English wickets across the two innings and wrecked havoc with their unpickable variations.



The Englishmen were not able to find any answers to the dominant bowling display of the Pakistani spinners as the Shan Masood-led team clinched the series despite suffering a defeat in the opening fixture.



Now the huge question which arises is, with this series win versus England, can Pakistan still qualify for the final of the WTC 2023-2025 cycle?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Does Pakistan have any chance of making their way to the final of the WTC 2023-2025 cycle?</h2>



Unfortunately for Pakistan, their race for qualifying for the trophy-deciding clash is over and they have been eliminated from that race. Despite winning their last two five-day format matches versus England, the Green Shirts have suffered from a poor run of form in the current cycle of the WTC and thus, it has cost them the chance to play in the all-important Final.



The Shaheens are currently lying in the bottom half of the overall standings at the 7th spot, with a poor PCT of 33.33.



They are scheduled to play three more Test-Matches versus South Africa, but even if they secure victories in those three-contests versus the Proteas, their win-percentage will still be less than the teams sitting in the top-half of the points table.



The Shaheens had an embarrassing outing in the three-match Test-Series versus Bangladesh, a few months ago. They ended up losing the series by a margin of 2-0 and if they would have performed in a good manner versus the Tigers, then things would have been different for them.



Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/pak-vs-eng-updated-wtc-points-table-following-pakistans-historic-victory-in-the-3rd-test-match/" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/pak-vs-eng-updated-wtc-points-table-following-pakistans-historic-victory-in-the-3rd-test-match/">PAK vs ENG: Updated WTC Points Table Following Pakistan?s Historic Victory in the 3rd Test-Match</a>



For more information, visit the official website of <a href="https://www.icc-cricket.com/tournaments/world-test-championship/standings">ICC</a>

Can Pakistan still qualify for the WTC 2023-2025 Final after clinching the series vs England?

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Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has picked his two finalists for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The Punjab Kings head coach didn't shy away from naming India and Australia as two finalists but also stressed that Pakistan will be top contenders too. 
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is less than 20 days away from now. The eight-nation event will be taking place from 19th February, with hosts Pakistan taking on New Zealand in the opening game at the National Stadium in Karachi. 
All 8 teams participating in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 have been playing a consistent brand of cricket for the last few months. With the kind of form they are in, it is expected that it will be a breathtaking tournament to see. 
<h2>It's hard to go past India and Australia again - Ricky Ponting picked his finalists for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025</h2>
With all the teams set to give their best in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Ricky Ponting picked his finalists for the tournament. He said that it's hard to go past India and Australia, highlighting how both teams have fared in ICC events. Speaking to ICC, he said: 
“It's hard to go past India and Australia again. Just think about the quality of players in both countries right now, and you look back in recent history when these big finals and big ICC events have come around, and inevitably, Australia and India are there somewhere." 
India and Australia also played in the final of the ICC World Cup 2023. Both the teams were exceptional in the tournament as they entered the final based on winning streaks before the Pat Cummins-led side won the game and lifted their 6th title in history. 
Ricky Ponting also went on to say that Pakistan will be one of the teams to watch out. He said that the Mohammad Rizwan-led side has sorted most of their things and will be dangerous in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/most-runs-most-wickets-in-ind-vs-aus-t20i-series-2025/">Most Runs, Most Wickets in IND vs AUS T20I Series 2025</a>

Ricky Ponting names finalists for ICC Champions Trophy 2025  {PC:X}

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has picked his two finalists for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025

With all the teams set to give their best in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Ricky Ponting picked his finalists for the tournament

India, Pakistan, Australia or South Africa? Ricky Ponting names finalists for ICC Champions Trophy 2025

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India head coach Gautam Gambhir talked about the team's game against Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. He said that they won't go into the tournament focusing on just one game as they want to win every game in the event. 
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is all set to begin from 19th February in Pakistan, and India will be playing all their games in Dubai. The Rohit Sharma-led side will be opening their campaign in the tournament against Bangladesh as the match will be taking place on 20th February. 
After that, one of the biggest matches of India will come as they are all set to lock horns with arch-rivals Pakistan. The match will be taking place on 23rd February, and the stakes no doubt will be high as both the teams have engaged in some enthralling battles over the years. 
India vs Pakistan game arguably is one of the biggest games in cricket. The match in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will be a blockbuster as India surely has some unfinished left. In the last Champions Trophy, Pakistan thumped India in the final to claim to win the tournament. And this time would be hoping to do same. 
<h2>We don't go to the Champions Trophy thinking the 23rd is the most important game - Gautam Gambhir </h2>
India head coach Gautam Gambhir was asked about the game against Pakistan. He said that they aren't going to ICC Champions Trophy 2025 thinking that game against Men in Green will be most important. He said that although they will take the game seriously and admitted that emotions will be high. Speaking to reporters, he said: 
"We don't go to the Champions Trophy thinking the 23rd is the most important game. All 5 matches are important. Our mission is to go to Dubai to win all the matches, but if that is one game in the middle of winning the Champions Trophy, we're going to take it as seriously as possible. 
"Also, when India and Pakistan play, the emotions will be high, but the contest remains the same. It is between bat and ball. For me, it remains the same." 
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will be extremely important for Gautam Gambhir as a head coach. He hasn't been at his best as a coach in the last few months, and there were reports that his fate as a coach will be decided on how India performs in the tournament.
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Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/watch-virat-kohli-hilariously-drops-ball-as-he-attempts-to-throw-it-bowler-during-ranji-trophy-2024-25-/">Watch: Virat Kohli hilariously drops ball as he attempts to throw it bowler during Ranji Trophy 2024-25</a>
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The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is all set to begin from 19th February in Pakistan, and India will be playing all their games in Dubai.

India head coach Gautam Gambhir talked about the team's game against Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025

IND vs PAK: "It is between..." Gautam Gambhir issues warning to Pakistan ahead of ICC Champions Trophy 2025

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India head coach Gautam Gambhir has come under the radar of the BCCI. This is because he travelled with his personal assistant during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 and now the governing body is all set to take a huge action against the coach. 
Gaurav Arora, the PA of Gautam Gambhir, had access to areas that were there only for team officials, selectors, and players. The reports claimed that he also travelled in the same car with selectors and was present in the BCCI's hospitality box in Adelaide. 
Gautam Gambhir's PA also was present in the breakfast areas which were there only for players. This all hasn't gone well with BCCI, who recently issued strict guidelines, and one of the SOPs mentioned that players won't be allowed to have their personal assistant along with them. 
<h2>BCCI has barred Gambhir's PA from staying in the same hotel as the Indian team - Source</h2>
Now it has been revealed that it was Gautam Gambhir, who was travelling with the personal assistant. But now, as per the reports in Crickblogger, it is learned that the BCCI has banned India's head coach's PA from staying in the same hotel as the Indian team. 
A source close to BCCI confirmed the same and stated: "In response, the BCCI has barred Gambhir's PA from staying in the same hotel as the Indian team, accessing VIP boxes in stadiums, and using the team bus. He can't travel with the team," 
"Why was his PA sitting in the car specified for national selectors? They can't even discuss things in private with an unknown third person in the car. Why was he allotted space in the BCCI's hospitality box inAdelaide? How did he have breakfast in the cordoned-off area of a five-star facility that is just earmarked for the team members?" 
Gautam Gambhir has come under massive scanner ever since he was appointed as the head coach of the team. The performances of the team have been well below par. It remains to be seen what will be his future as the head coach of the team.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/watch-virat-kohli-hilariously-drops-ball-as-he-attempts-to-throw-it-bowler-during-ranji-trophy-2024-25-/">Watch: Virat Kohli hilariously drops ball as he attempts to throw it bowler during Ranji Trophy 2024-25</a>

India head coach Gautam Gambhir has come under the radar of the BCCI

Gautam Gambhir has come under massive scanner ever since he was appointed as the head coach of the team.

Gautam Gambhir exposed! BCCI bans India head coach from…

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IND vs ENG 5th T20I: The thrilling five-match T20I series between India and England is set for an exciting conclusion at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Despite India securing the series win, both teams will aim to end on a high note. While England will look to salvage pride, India might experiment with their bench strength. Fantasy cricket enthusiasts can expect another high-scoring contest, making team selection crucial for Dream11 players.
<h2>Match Details</h2>
Date: Sunday, February 2   Time: 7:00 PM IST   Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai   Live Streaming: Star Sports, Hotstar
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<h2>Pitch Report &amp; Weather Conditions  </h2>
Wankhede Stadium is known for its batting-friendly surface, where teams generally prefer chasing due to the dew factor. Fast bowlers might get an early swing, but overall, a run-fest is expected. The average first-innings score in recent T20s here has been around 170-180. With clear skies and moderate temperatures, weather conditions are ideal for cricket.
<h2>Team News &amp; Possible Playing XIs</h2>
<h3>India</h3>
India might give opportunities to players who haven’t played much in this series. Mohammed Shami is expected to feature, while Washington Sundar and Dhruv Jurel could also get a look-in. The focus will be on Sanju Samson, who has struggled with form in the series.
Predicted XI: Sanju Samson (WK), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube/Ramandeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy, Mohammed Shami/Arshdeep Singh, Ravi Bishnoi/Harshit Rana
<h3>England</h3>
England might rotate their pacers, with Jofra Archer likely to be rested ahead of the ODI series. Gus Atkinson could replace him, while Rehan Ahmed may get a chance if England decides to include an extra spinner.
<img class="img-additional" src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/images/202501/image_430x256_679cfa1641ee7.jpg" alt="">
Predicted XI: Phil Salt (WK), Ben Duckett, Jos Buttler (C), Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Jamie Overton, Brydon Carse, Gus Atkinson, Adil Rashid, Saqib Mahmood
<h2>Key Players to Watch</h2>
Suryakumar Yadav (India) The Indian skipper returns to his home ground, where he has an excellent record. He has struggled in the series so far, but a match-winning performance in familiar conditions could be on the cards.  
Ben Duckett (England) Duckett has played a couple of impressive knocks in the series. His ability to counter spin and pace makes him a key player in England’s batting lineup.  
<h2>Dream11 Fantasy Tips</h2>
Captain Choices: Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav   Vice-Captain Choices: Jos Buttler, Liam Livingstone   Differential Picks: Varun Chakravarthy (for spin-friendly conditions), Brydon Carse (for his all-round abilities)   Risky Picks: Sanju Samson (due to inconsistent form), Mark Wood or Jofra Archer(maybe rested)  
<h2>Dream11 Team – Grand League  </h2>
Wicket-Keeper: Jos Buttler (vc) Batters: Suryakumar Yadav, Ben Duckett, Tilak Varma (C) Allrounders: Hardik Pandya, Liam Livingstone, Jamie Overton, Brydon Carse Bowlers: Arshdeep Singh/Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy, Mark Wood
With both teams looking to finish strong, the IND vs ENG 5th T20I promises to be another exciting contest. Fantasy players should consider the pitch conditions, team combinations, and key player form before finalizing their Dream11 lineup. Stay tuned for live action from Wankhede as India and England battle it out for one last time in this series!

India and England face off in the final T20I at Wankhede. With key players returning and changes expected, Dream11 users must strategize wisely. Fantasy picks include Suryakumar Yadav, Jos Buttler, and Mohammed Shami.

India and England clash in the 5th T20I at Wankhede, with Dream11 fantasy players eyeing key picks for a high-scoring contest.

IND vs ENG 5th T20I Dream11 Prediction, Match Preview, Fantasy Tips & Grand League Team

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India batter Virat Kohli was back in the Ranji Trophy after 12 long years as he played for his state team, Delhi, in the game against Railways. The match between the two teams concluded on Saturday (1st February) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. 
Virat Kohli playing for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy seemed like a festival as a huge amount of people arrived at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi to see their favourite batter play. More than 15000 people were in the stands, and it was the first time that the Ranji game witnessed such huge crowds. 
Virat Kohli grabbed all the spotlight as he fans every moment to cheer and made the crowd chant "Kohli, Kohli". The batter was also seen getting engaged with fans as he involved two different sections of crowds in a competition of who would be shouting louder. 
With a lot of fans turning up to see him, it was expected he would set the stage on fire with the bat and give his fans a gift in return. But that wasn't the case as the batter failed to get going and score just 6 runs before he was removed by Himanshu Sangwan. 
Himanshu Sangwan sent the offstump of Virat Kohli for a ride as the batter got bowled. The India batter didn't get to bat in the second innings as Delhi won the game by a massive margin of innings and 15 runs to bag important points in the Ranji Trophy 2024-25. 
Even though Virat Kohli struggled to score runs, he made sure that he entertained the crowd. The batter also came up with a hilarious gesture during the match, and it left many in splits as the video went viral on the internet within seconds. 
In the video that has gone viral on the internet, Virat Kohli can be seen throwing the ball to the bowler. However, as he attempts to throw the ball, it slipped out of his hands and went back. This even made the batter laugh as the ball went past him. 
Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/most-runs-most-wickets-in-ind-vs-aus-t20i-series-2025/">Most Runs, Most Wickets in IND vs AUS T20I Series 2025</a>
<h2>Watch: Ball slips out of the hands of Virat Kohli, makes batter laugh </h2>

Virat Kohli playing for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy seemed like a festival as a huge amount of people arrived at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delh

India batter Virat Kohli was back in the Ranji Trophy after 12 long years as he played for his state team, Delhi, in the game against Railways.