The Resurrection of Pakistan Cricket: From Multan’s Graves to Rawalpindi’s Heights

Two weeks ago, Pakistan cricket lay seemingly dead and buried. The obituary was written, the body interred beneath the scorching Multan sun. But in true, mythical Pakistani fashion, what seemed like the lifeless remnants of a once-proud side stirred. It clawed its way back from the grave, shedding decay with every stride, not just to haunt England but to bewilder critics and revive the legend that defines Pakistan cricket—the art of impossible comebacks.

As the series progressed, the ashes of a fractured side scattered over Multan were swept up by a rising storm. A transformation was underway. Like a phoenix, Pakistan cricket emerged—beating wings of grit and unpredictability—soaring to heights only they dare to dream. When the battle concluded in Rawalpindi, England, the aggressors, stood bewildered and broken, reduced from record-breakers to vanquished travellers in unfamiliar terrain. It was Pakistan at its quintessential best, reminding the world why they remain the most enigmatic and dangerous side in world cricket.  

From Bazball to Baffled: Unmasking England’s Kryptonite

England had arrived armed with their flamboyant, fearless “Bazball” strategy—a revolution of relentless aggression. But revolutions, too, have their undoing. Pakistan dismantled Bazball not with brute force, but with subtle mastery. The key was an audacious gamble: abandon pace, embrace spin. On home soil, they rolled out turning tracks from Day 1, entrusting the outcome to wily spinners and dogged batsmanship rather than pace-heavy Twenty20 bowlers.  

Pakistan’s response was anything but predictable, turning to forgotten soldiers like Noman Ali and Sajid Khan. It was a high-risk, high-reward manoeuvre—and it worked. On surfaces designed to erode the visitor’s confidence, England’s batters faltered, undone by turn, drift, and guile. As the dust settled, Pakistan had not only levelled the series but also clinched a momentous win in Rawalpindi, securing a long-awaited home series victory after three and a half years.

The Phoenix Rises: Grit and Glory in the Crucial Moments 

Pakistan cricket’s biggest challenge over the past year was not talent but temperament. They had stumbled in critical junctures, surrendering from seemingly winning positions—a pattern that demanded change. And this time, when the moment came, they chose *resilience.* In the second and third Tests, where collapse seemed imminent, the batsmen rediscovered the value of patience and grit.  

None embodied this transformation more than Saud Shakeel. His stoic 134 off 223 balls was an innings of survival and defiance. It wasn’t just another hundred; it was an assertion that Pakistan would no longer squander opportunities. Shakeel’s innings was crucial, not just because of the runs, but because it anchored the team during troubled waters. Lower-order contributions from Noman Ali (45) and Sajid Khan (48 not out) provided the perfect support, stitching partnerships of 88 and 72 to propel Pakistan to a vital first-innings lead of 77.  

The bowlers, in turn, played their roles to perfection. Noman and Sajid—armed with the knowledge that every turn of the ball would bite into England’s resolve—tore through the visitor’s batting line-up. The third day witnessed a collapse that exemplified Pakistan’s mystique: their spinners ran rampant, England crumbled, and Pakistan clinched victory with panache.

Unpredictable but Unrelenting: The Way Forward

Pakistan’s story is one of defiance. It is a side that thrives in chaos yet remains maddeningly inconsistent. They are a team capable of genius and disaster in the same breath, and unpredictability remains both their strength and their Achilles' heel. This series win is a reminder that the phoenix has risen again, but the real challenge is sustainability.  

Too often, Pakistan has dazzled with fleeting brilliance only to sink back into mediocrity. The victories earned here were forged through discipline, strategic thinking, and hard work—qualities that cannot be taken for granted. If Pakistan are to reclaim their place among cricket's elite, they must now build on these triumphs with consistency and purpose.  

The phoenix may have soared over Rawalpindi, but the blue skies of international cricket demand more than momentary flights. The future lies in nurturing this momentum, shedding complacency, and mastering the delicate balance between flair and discipline. Only then can Pakistan truly escape the gravitational pull of inconsistency that has long been their undoing.  

This is Pakistan cricket—maddening, majestic, and mythical. They are not just survivors but shape-shifters, capable of turning defeat into triumph at will. And as history shows, those who underestimate Pakistan do so at their peril. After all, they remain what they have always been—the most unpredictable, thrilling force in world cricket.

Thank You 

Faisal Caesar 

Real Madrid's Eternal Script: A Night of Defiance, Drama, and Destiny

Real Madrid entered the dressing room trailing 2-0, reeling from the sharp blows inflicted by Dortmund’s youthful dynamism. Donyell Malen’s finish had drawn first blood, followed by a goal from Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, the Reading-born prodigy who played with the audacity of a veteran. It was a lead Dortmund had thoroughly earned, embodying a performance both elegant and efficient. Yet, as the two teams retreated at halftime, questions lingered: Could this finally be Dortmund’s night? Or would history, so often punctuated by Madrid’s defiance, once again lean toward the familiar?

Before the match, a banner declared the stage belonged to Madrid—"This is our crown, our cup, always has been, always will be." And yet, for 45 minutes, that crown looked perilously close to slipping. Dortmund seemed poised to defy both script and expectation. But the Santiago Bernabéu, with its atmosphere thick with legacy, knows only one plotline. The improbable is ordinary here; the miraculous, routine. Madrid's history doesn’t just suggest comebacks—it demands them.

What unfolded in the second half was both an assertion of Madrid’s myth and a performance that reaffirms their unique relationship with chaos and glory. Within 103 seconds, the impossible was undone. Antonio Rüdiger crashed home the first goal, and before Dortmund could even comprehend the blow, Vinícius Jr. restored parity. What had seemed a lost cause moments earlier was now suddenly, and predictably, within Madrid's grasp.

Lucas Vázquez added a third with seven minutes remaining, a swift counterpunch just as Dortmund had dared to threaten again. Thibaut Courtois had moments earlier denied Dortmund a lead with a save that felt as crucial as a goal itself. And then, as if completing a familiar dance, Vinícius struck twice more—his second a thunderous finish that embodied not just skill but inevitability. With that, he completed his hat-trick, sealing yet another comeback in a stadium that thrives on them.

The crowd erupted in delirium, chants filling the night air: "Así gana el Madrid!" – This is how Madrid win! It wasn’t just a victory; it was a reaffirmation of identity. Only one team in history had overturned a two-goal deficit to win by three in the Champions League—and that team, of course, was also Madrid. The Bernabéu doesn’t simply host games; it stages epics, where no lead is safe, and no opposition triumphs without first surviving Madrid’s final, furious act.

In the end, the match was all thunder, a storm unleashed in the second half. Yet, the spark that ignited it was delicate—a touch so subtle it felt almost absurd in the chaos to follow. Serhou Guirassy’s flick, gentle as if delivered in carpet slippers, had opened the game’s story. But Madrid, true to form, had seized the narrative, reshaping it in their image.

Madrid do not merely win; they conjure victories, reminding the world that for all the tactics and talent in football, there is no substitute for the belief that the story will always bend to your will. And in Madrid’s hands, it always does.

Thank You 

Faisal Caesar 

Pakistan Cricket: A Legacy of Triumphs, Chaos, and False Dawns

Pakistan cricket has long embodied a paradox—oscillating between brilliance and bewilderment. It is a team that, historically, has needed crisis as a catalyst for revival. The pattern is familiar: humiliation precedes resurgence. Time and again, it takes a crushing defeat—what one might metaphorically call a punch to the face or a kick to the gut—for Pakistan to reawaken. 

Consider the state of affairs before the second Test at Multan against England. The team was in shambles, still reeling from their World Cup misadventures the previous year, and their defeat in the opening Test only deepened the despair. Drastic changes followed: key players were dropped, sparking heated debate and confusion. Yet, by the close of Day 4 in Multan, the narrative had shifted dramatically. Pakistan had secured a convincing victory, momentarily quelling the chaos. But was this triumph a genuine turning point or just another fleeting glimmer of hope? 

Since the departure of Imran Khan from cricket, Pakistan has perfected the art of masking deep-rooted issues. They falter one week, bounce back the next, and create the illusion of stability. In reality, the problems are swept under the carpet, only to resurface later. What Pakistan cricket has lacked—and continues to lack—is a robust system that fosters resilience and consistency. Too often, they rely on bursts of individual brilliance rather than the reliability of a structured approach. 

A System Built on Whims, Not Wisdom

For over three decades, Pakistan cricket has thrived on unpredictability, depending on raw talent to carry the day. While this has resulted in some spectacular victories, the credit goes to gifted individuals rather than any coherent system. The team’s inability to cultivate dependable cricketers who can sustain their form across series reflects the absence of long-term planning. Players emerge, dazzle briefly, and then vanish without a trace. 

This tendency was exemplified in Multan, where the veteran spin duo of Nauman Ali and Sajid Khan reminded the world of Pakistan’s tradition of producing exceptional spinners. At a combined age of 69, both thrived on a pitch tailored to their strengths, securing seven-wicket hauls and etching their names in the record books. Their efforts joined the ranks of iconic performances such as Glenn McGrath and Michael Kasprowicz's feats at The Oval in 1997 and Fazal Mahmood’s heroics against Australia in 1956. 

Remarkably, this was only the third instance in Pakistan’s history where spinners took all 20 wickets in a Test match. Yet, the question lingers: why weren’t bowlers like Nauman and Sajid given such opportunities earlier on home soil? The answer lies in Pakistan’s penchant for inconsistency—using players sporadically and discarding them just as quickly. 

The Role of Intelligence in Team Building

Intelligence in cricket isn’t just about reading the pitch; it’s about selecting players best suited for each format and nurturing them with consistent opportunities. Pakistan’s long-standing tendency to rotate squads haphazardly—without a clear strategy—has hindered the development of a cohesive unit. In the longer formats, patience is essential. Players need to feel secure in their place, free from the constant fear that each match might be their last. 

A prime example of Pakistan’s potential lies in Kamran Ghulam, who could emerge as the solution to the team’s middle-order woes in both Tests and ODIs. Similarly, the likes of Asad Shafiq, Saud Shakeel, and Salman Ali Agha offer promise. With a blend of experience and youth, these players could form the backbone of the batting order, while Aamer Jamal and Mohammad Rizwan provide the finishing touch. But this vision will only materialize if Pakistan cricket embraces a culture of consistency and planning. 

Leadership and Legacy: Beyond Short-Term Success

A key factor in Pakistan’s future success will be leadership. The captain must lead by example, guiding the team through rough patches with composure and clarity. More than ever, the need for capable backups is vital, ensuring that the team has depth across all formats. Yet leadership alone cannot solve systemic issues—it must be accompanied by institutional reforms that prioritize long-term growth over short-term fixes. 

Levelling the series against England may offer temporary relief, but for Pakistan cricket to truly rise, it must transcend its reliance on spontaneous brilliance. A system built on consistency, intelligence, and foresight is the only sustainable way forward. 

The Road Ahead: From Chaos to Consistency

Pakistan’s cricketing history is punctuated with moments of glory, but those moments have often been followed by periods of decline. This cycle of chaos and resurgence has become all too familiar. The challenge now is to break free from this pattern and build a system that nurtures talent methodically. Pakistan must learn from its past—not merely celebrate victories or lament defeats but strive for consistency across all formats. 

In the end, it’s not enough to survive on gifted talent alone. Pakistan cricket needs to cultivate a culture where success isn’t a product of whim but the result of strategy, patience, and vision. Only then can Pakistan move from being a team of mercurial highs and lows to one that dominates the cricketing world consistently and meaningfully.

Thank You

Faisal Caesar   

New Zealand’s Bangalore Masterclass on Day 2: Seam, Bounce, and India’s Collapse

Beneath the overcast skies of Bangalore, a deceptive dry deck lay in wait, promising a battlefield for spinners. Yet, what unfolded was a masterclass in seam bowling. The initial read of the pitch proved to be a fatal misjudgment by India, as they opted to bat first, only to be undone by an unexpected storm of seam movement and bounce.

The first session revealed an anomaly—the median seam movement reached 0.87 degrees, a marked increase from the average 0.5 over the past three years. Adding to the challenge was a lively bounce, which made even defensive strokes treacherous. New Zealand’s pacers, led by Matt Henry and the rising star William O'Rourke, exploited these conditions with surgical precision, dismantling India for just 46 runs—their lowest total at home and the worst by any Asian team in familiar conditions.

Misreading the Pitch and Tactical Missteps

India’s modern batting philosophy emphasizes counterattacking when under pressure, aiming to disrupt the opposition's rhythm and force bowlers into a defensive mode. But this tactic, which has worked so well on familiar surfaces, backfired spectacularly. The batters played too early, lunging at deliveries instead of using soft hands or trusting their defense. The result? A staggering 75 false shots, exposing their misjudgment of both the pitch and the bowlers.

India had prepared for a spin-friendly contest but found themselves grappling with disciplined seam bowling instead. The combination of seam movement and extra bounce unsettled even their most experienced players, and their instinctive aggression only compounded the damage.

Matt Henry: A Renaissance in Test Cricket

At the heart of New Zealand’s assault was Matt Henry, a bowler whose Test career has flourished since 2021. Until then, Henry's returns were modest—31 wickets from 13 Tests at an average of 51.5. However, post-2021, his transformation has been remarkable: 63 wickets from just 12 matches at an average of 21.5. His resurgence reflects not only technical refinement but also an ability to read conditions better and bowl with intent.

Henry’s contributions with the bat have also become valuable, scoring 364 runs at an average of 26 and a strike rate of 83.5 during this phase. On this Bangalore morning, it was his spell that set the tone, leaving India reeling under relentless pressure.

William O'Rourke: A Debut in India to Remember

While Henry's resurgence was impressive, it was William O'Rourke's debut that stole the spotlight. At just 23, the towering 6'3" pacer etched his name into the record books by becoming the New Zealand debutant with the most Test wickets in a single match. His height enabled him to extract extra bounce from a good length, a weapon that proved lethal against India’s top order.

O’Rourke's dismissal of Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and KL Rahul was a statement—this was not just a promising debutant but a bowler with the skill and temperament to thrive on the biggest stage. His sharp lines, ability to exploit natural variations, and knack for maintaining pressure transformed a testing surface into a minefield for India’s batters.

The Momentum Shift: New Zealand on the Ascendancy

For India, this debacle at Bangalore will be remembered as a tactical and psychological misstep. Their inability to adapt to the changing dynamics of the pitch—trusting spin but facing seam—revealed vulnerabilities that New Zealand exploited ruthlessly.

On the other hand, New Zealand's seamers have given their team renewed belief. To bowl out one of the world’s strongest batting line-ups for 46 runs, in their own backyard, is an achievement that could galvanize their entire Test campaign. In cricket, momentum is an intangible force, and New Zealand’s bowlers now hold the reins of this match.

While a Test match is a long game, full of twists and reversals, New Zealand have drawn first blood with an emphatic statement. As the game unfolds, India must regroup and rediscover their rhythm. For now, however, New Zealand are riding a wave of confidence, with their pace attack turning what was supposed to be a trial of spin into a seam-bowling spectacle.

Thank You

Faisal Caesar 

Brazil’s thrashing of Peru: A Statement of Intent

At the Mane Garrincha stadium in Brasília, Brazil delivered a 4-0 rout of Peru that was more than just a victory it was a bold declaration. With this win, the Seleção not only registered back-to-back triumphs in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers but also gained much-needed momentum after some uneven performances earlier in the campaign.

Though Brazil remains in fourth place with 16 points—level with Uruguay and trailing Argentina by six - this victory radiated promise. For a team seeking to restore its former glory, the emphatic display against Peru seemed like a step in the right direction, a night where ambition met execution. Meanwhile, Peru’s struggles deepen, their six points leaving them second to last, perilously close to elimination from the qualifying race.

 A Cautious Beginning 

The first half was a slow dance between two sides still figuring out their rhythm. Brazil controlled possession and crafted a handful of opportunities, but the spark was missing. Peru, hesitant yet organized, tried to keep their defence intact. The closest they came to disrupting the script was when Edison Flores found the net in the 11th minute, only for his effort to be rightfully ruled offside. It was a rare warning shot from the visitors, who otherwise posed no real threat—zero shots on target in the first half told their story.

Brazil, despite moments of lethargy, grew into the game. Raphinha rattled the crossbar in the 23rd minute, a precursor to what was to come. The breakthrough arrived in the 37th minute, courtesy of a penalty awarded after a handball by Carlos Zambrano. Raphinha stepped up with ice-cold composure to convert the spot-kick, and the floodgates began to creak open. 

 Brazil Finds Its Groove 

The second half was an entirely different affair. With the early jitters gone, Brazil rediscovered its swagger, turning the game into a one-sided spectacle. Speed and precision emerged on the wings, and their intent became clearer with every passing minute. Just eight minutes after the restart, Raphinha doubled his tally with another penalty, cementing his influence on the match.

Now, the Brazilian engine was purring. The match’s highlight came in the 70th minute when Andreas Pereira volleyed in a stunning strike, a goal that felt like poetry in motion—a perfect synthesis of control and flair. And before Peru could recover, Luiz Henrique struck again in the 73rd minute, delivering the final blow and sealing the 4-0 victory.

 A Timely Reminder

Brazil’s dominance in the second half was as much a mental shift as it was tactical. They attempted 13 shots in the last 45 minutes, nearly three times their first-half output. It wasn’t just the number of attempts - the renewed intensity, the sense that every pass and run carried purpose. The national team looked, at last, like it had broken free from the malaise that haunted its earlier performances in the qualifiers.

This win, however, is not merely a statistic or a morale booster. It’s a glimpse of what this squad could become when it plays without hesitation - when it believes in its own potential. There’s still a long road ahead, and Argentina’s lead remains daunting, but this performance whispered possibilities.

The Road Forward

Consistency will be the true measure of Brazil’s resurgence. They must carry this verve into every match to challenge Argentina and Uruguay at the top of the table. There is little room for complacency in the relentless world of South American qualifiers, where form ebbs and flows as unpredictably as the Amazon’s rivers.

For now, though, Brazil can savour the night - a night when they rediscovered not just their winning ways, but also a bit of their soul. Amid the turbulence of qualification campaigns, this victory against Peru is a reminder: that Brazil is still capable of brilliance when it chooses to believe.

Thank You

Faisal Caesar