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Pak vs Aus: Pakistan take momentum to Lahore as Australia rue another near-miss

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  • The wicket at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium will be something of an unknown as it hosts its first Test since 2009.
  • “(Batting) five sessions in a Test match against Australia is no joke,” says wicketkeeper Rizwan.
  • Pakistan have now twice foiled Australia’s vaunted attack.

Pakistan and Australia head to the third and final Test in Lahore with the series locked and all to play for but the home side will feel they have the momentum after pulling off a brilliant save in Karachi.

Inspired by a majestic 196 by captain Babar Azam and 104 by Mohammad Rizwan, Pakistan’s 171.4-over stonewall was the longest any team has batted in the fourth innings of a Test, barring England’s epic 654 for five in the ‘Timeless Test’ against South Africa in Durban in 1939.

“(Batting) five sessions in a Test match against a world-class team like Australia is no joke,” said wicketkeeper Rizwan.

“This match is definitely a benchmark for our team to rise above.”

Pakistan have now twice foiled Australia’s vaunted attack, though the lifeless Rawalpindi pitch aided the home side’s cause in the series-opener.

Read more: T20I, ODI matches shifted from Rawalpindi to Lahore, Sheikh Rasheed says

Australia, meanwhile, spoke of disappointment in falling three wickets short of victory but may quietly feel relieved to leave Karachi with the series tied.

Pakistan were motoring toward what would have been a record 506-run chase for victory until spinner Nathan Lyon dismissed Babar and all-rounder Faheem Ashraf in consecutive balls.

Australia’s inability to close out matches from dominant positions on day five has become a problem.

They have now racked up five such failures in their last 19 Tests, having let England off the hook in Sydney during the recent Ashes and India twice in the 2-1 series defeat in the previous home summer.

While Australian media questioned whether skipper Pat Cummins might have enforced the follow-on rather than making his team bat again, the tourists’ sloppy fielding on day five ultimately paved the way for disappointment.

Mitchell Swepson, Australia’s first Test legspinner in more than a decade, may feel particularly aggrieved after finishing with figures of 0-156 from nearly 54 overs’ work in the fourth innings of his debut Test, with four chances going begging off his bowling.

“I thought ‘Swep-o’ bowled fantastically today,” Cummins said.

“I don’t know how he’s ended up with those figures.”

The wicket at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium will be something of an unknown as it hosts its first Test since 2009.

Selecting an attack has been a virtual guessing game for Australia on their first tour of Pakistan in 24 years and Lahore may be no different.

Cummins said they will at least have a full complement of bowlers to choose from, with him and his fellow pacemen sparing themselves a bigger workload in Karachi by routing Pakistan for 148 in their first innings.

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Unveiling of the PSL X trophy in the Arabian Sea

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With the stunning introduction of its historic 10th edition trophy, Luminara, in Karachi’s coastal waters, the HBL Pakistan Super League has created history.
This extraordinary action, which represents creativity, tenacity, genius, and the essence of Pakistan’s top T20 league, is a new turning point in the league’s history.
The PCB released a video showing Colombian cliff-diving sensation Orlando Duque, aided by the Pakistan Navy, plunging into the Arabian Sea to retrieve the PSL X trophy, “Luminara,” which is picked up by former captain Sarfraz Ahmed and PSL CEO Salman Naseer on the Karachi shores.
Made from a single sheet of solid silver that has been expertly machined to create its elaborate stone settings, Luminara is a stunning work of art. The trophy, which weighs 10 kg and is embellished with 22,850 high-luster zircon stones, is a reflection of the HBL PSL’s competitive prowess, passion, and exceptional stars.
The Latin words “lumens,” which means “light,” and “luminare,” which means “torch,” are the sources of the name Luminara, which means illumination. It represents the league’s ten-year history of setting the standard for entertainment and cricket excellence.
With the assistance of the Pakistan Navy, a professional diver unearthed a treasure box from the deep sea during the revealing, which took place in the open waters of the Arabian Sea. The prized trophy was then presented to HBL PSL stakeholders in Karachi. The story describes an amazing performance that embodies the league’s richness, development, and unflinching attitude. Cricket players, franchise representatives, and HBL and PCB officials all witnessed this extraordinary spectacle, which increased the anticipation for HBL PSL X.
In his remarks on the momentous occasion, Chairman PCB Mohsin Naqvi stated that the league’s dedication to innovation and quality is demonstrated by the introduction of “Luminara” at sea. “This trophy symbolizes the league’s illuminating history and its promising future as we commemorate ten years of the HBL PSL,” he continued.
“The HBL Pakistan Super League has always been about pushing boundaries, both on and off the field,” stated Salman Naseer, CEO of the HBL PSL. The HBL PSL has been a rich source of skill, tenacity, and sportsmanship, just like the sea is full of secrets and depth. This special reveal demonstrates the intense enthusiasm that our players and supporters have for the game.
The 10th edition of HBL PSL is set to take place in four cities – Karachi, Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi from 11 April to 18 May. The opening match will be played between the defending champions Islamabad United (IU) and Lahore Qalandars (LQ) at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

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The team’s failure to capitalize against India is acknowledged by Mohammad Rizwan.

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After losing to India in Sunday’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 match, Pakistan captain Muhammad Rizwan acknowledged that his team did not take advantage of winning the toss.

According to Rizwan, India’s bowlers controlled the middle overs, limiting Pakistan to 240 runs after they had set a goal of 280.

“When Saud Shakeel and I were batting, our plan was to take the game deep, but our shot selection was poor, which cost us wickets at crucial moments,” Rizwan said. He admitted that India’s bowling attack limited Pakistan’s ability to reach a competitive score.

Rizwan also praised the efforts of India’s hitters, especially Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli, who stole the match from Pakistan with their outstanding batting. Rizwan said, “In ODI cricket, you have to perform in all three aspects,” highlighting his team’s general inability to win the match.

The skipper of Pakistan also emphasized the necessity to strengthen their fielding by highlighting persistent errors. “We have been consistently making the same errors, particularly when fielding. Going forward, we must work on these,” he continued.

Indian captain Rohit Sharma, meanwhile, commended his team’s teamwork in the victory and gave bowlers Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and Ravindra Jadeja credit for holding Pakistan to a low score.

“Our bowlers performed admirably in keeping Pakistan’s score down. Things were difficult because of Saud Shakeel and Rizwan’s alliance, but we followed our plan,” Sharma stated.

“Virat batted brilliantly today, but none of us in the dressing room are surprised by his performance,” Sharma said in reference to Virat Kohli’s game-winning innings.

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Shaheen Shah Afridi acknowledges difficulties during the death overs.

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Following Pakistan’s triumph over South Africa in the tri-nation series, Shaheen Shah Afridi acknowledged the issue of death bowling.

In response to the injury concern, the left-arm pacer stated, “My finger is fine; I underwent an X-ray.” Some swelling persists, but I anticipate improvement shortly. These matches are essential for preparation for the Champions Trophy 2025.

Commenting on his interaction with a South African batsman, Shaheen stated, “For the first time, he remained silent.” I was the one instigating him to lose his wicket.

Prioritizing collective effort over personal achievements, Shaheen stated, “This is not about Babar or Shaheen—it is about Pakistan.” “The presence of negativity will hinder progress in any context.”

During Wednesday’s match, tensions escalated when Shaheen Shah Afridi confronted Matthew Breetzke, necessitating intervention from the on-field umpire and other players to separate them.

During a crucial tri-series encounter at Karachi’s National Stadium, South African batsman Matthew Breetzke and Pakistani pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi engaged in a contentious confrontation. Matthew Breetzke and Shaheen Shah Afridi were engaged in a confrontational exchange in a video that gained widespread attention on social media.

Matthew Breetzke, who scored a century in the previous match against New Zealand in Lahore, edged a delivery to the onside in the 28th over of the innings. Shaheen Afridi appeared displeased when the 26-year-old nearly collided with the left-arm fast bowler while dashing between the wickets to converse with Breetzke.

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