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Steve Smith annoyed at missing hundred as first Test heads for draw

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RAWALPINDI: Steve Smith said he was annoyed at missing out on a century Monday as Australia’s first Test in Pakistan in nearly a quarter of a century headed for a draw in Rawalpindi.

Mitchell Starc was on 12 and skipper Pat Cummins four as Australia reached 449-7 in reply to Pakistan’s first innings total of 476-4 declared.

But Smith was annoyed with himself for getting out earlier on 78.

“I got a bit greedy with the field they had set. I had worked pretty hard and got myself in a nice position to go on and get a big score.”

Australia are on their first tour to Pakistan since 1998, having previously refused to visit over security fears.

Despite no rain forecast for Tuesday, the likelihood of a result in the opening match of the three-Test series looks bleak, barring a Pakistan batting collapse in the second innings on a wicket that still looks full of runs.

Smith believes there would have been a small chance of a result on the final day if not for the hours of play lost to the weather.

“Perhaps if we were five down we might have been able to push a little harder in the morning and potentially set something up for the fourth innings,” he said.

But the pitch at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium has produced 925 runs for just 13 wickets, and is unlikely to yield the spin needed for a result.

Still, Pakistan grabbed five wickets Monday, including that of top-ranked Test batsman Marnus Labuschagne (90) and Smith, with Nauman taking 4-107 in 37 precise overs.

Nauman broke a stubborn fifth-wicket stand of 81 between Smith and Cameron Green (48) by having the young all-rounder caught off a miscued sweep at leg slip by Iftikhar Ahmed.

Australia were looking for quick runs to go ahead in the first innings, but they were further jolted as Nauman dismissed Smith off a mishit sweep that caught the gloves and landed in wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan’s safe hands.

Smith batted two minutes short of five hours, hitting eight boundaries.

Alex Carey made 19 before he was bowled by quickie Naseem Shah in the fading light.

Earlier, overnight rain had left the outfield at the stadium waterlogged and the umpires only allowed play to start after lunch.

Australia, 271-2 overnight, progressed to 288-2 when Pakistan took the second new ball after 80 overs — and were instantly rewarded.

Left-arm paceman Shaheen Shah Afridi forced an edge off Labuschagne which Abdullah Shafique took diving to his right in the slips.

Labuschagne lasted 190 minutes during which he hit 12 boundaries.

Travis Head, fresh from being man-of-the-series in Australia’s 4-0 Ashes win back home in January, hit two boundaries before he miscued a drive off spinner Nauman and was caught behind by Rizwan.

Shaheen (1-80), Naseem (1-89) and Sajid (1-122) were the other successful Pakistan bowlers.

The second Test of the series is in Karachi from March 12-16 and the third in Lahore from March 21-25.

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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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