Bangladesh are three wickets away from a famous Test series win at home after spinner Taijul Islam took 4-113 to rattle Pakistan despite a rearguard by the opposition batters on Tuesday. Pakistan ended day four on 316-7, needing another 121 runs for victory in what would be a record chase of 437 on the fifth and final day in Sylhet. Mohammad Rizwan, on 75, and Sajid Khan, on eight, were unbeaten at the close of play. Left-arm spinner Taijul struck key blows, including Babar Azam for 47 and Salman Agha on 71, to keep Bangladesh in the hunt for their first-ever Test series win over Pakistan at home. Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan plays a shot during the fourth day of the second Test cricket match between Bangladesh and Pakistan at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium in Sylhet on May 19, 2026. — AFP Bangladesh, who won the opener of the two-match series, also closed in on back-to-back Test series victories over Pakistan —having whitewashed them 2-0 on Pakistani soil in 2024. Pakistan slumped to 162-5 and were h...
Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir on Tuesday asserted that “propaganda, fake news or externally-sponsored terrorism” could not derail Pakistan’s progress. The field marshal made the remarks while interacting with officers and troops of formations deployed in Balochistan during his visit to Quetta, according to the military’s media affairs wing. “The field marshal emphasised that Pakistan’s destined rise cannot be obstructed through propaganda, fake news or externally sponsored terrorism,” Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) quoted him as saying. “He reiterated that hostile forces attempting to derail Pakistan’s progress through proxies and propaganda will ultimately fail due to the resilience of the state and the unity of its people,” the statement added. Highlighting the contours of the prevailing security environment, the military chief reaffirmed that the armed forces, with the “steadfast support of the people, remain fully committed to the eradication of...
Veteran batter Mushfiqur Rahim hit a glittering century as Bangladesh set Pakistan an imposing target of 427 to win the second Test after another commanding day for the hosts on Monday. Bangladesh posted 390 all out in their second innings on day three with Mushfiqur, who made 137, and Litton Das, who hit 69, putting together 123 runs for the fifth wicket. The 39-year-old Mushfiqur rolled back the years as he scored his 14th Test century, surpassing Mominul Haque’s record of 13 for Bangladesh. Pakistan openers Azan Awais and Abdullah Fazal survived the last two overs of the day without scoring before bad light ended play. The visitors will need a record chase to level the two-match series after Bangladesh won the opener. Bangladesh’s Taijul Islam plays a shot during the third day of the second Test match between Bangladesh and Pakistan at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium in Sylhet, Bangladesh on May 18, 2026. — AFP West Indies currently hold the record for the 418 they scored to beat Australia in Anti...