Imran Butt

Imran Butt led the way for Pakistan with a dogged 71 not out but it was slow going on the second morning of the first Test against Zimbabwe on Friday as the batsmen added just 59 runs in 32 overs.

Opener Imran Butt missed a maiden Test hundred by just nine runs but Pakistan ground their way towards a big lead over Zimbabwe on the second day of the first Test in Harare on Friday.

New Zealand duo of Dean Couzins and Andrew Hayward will replace Muhammad Rizwan Sr and Muhammad Rizwan Jr in the Delhi Waveriders squad.

The Pakistan selectors on Sunday retained six uncapped players in the pruned 17-man squad, named for the first Test against South Africa.

Melbourne Stars pacer Haris Rauf will miss the Melbourne Derby clash against Renegades after being selected in the Pakistan Test squad for the first time.

Veteran Pakistan goalkeeper Imran Butt has accepted that India have an edge going into the mouth-watering clash between the arch-rivals in the Commonwealth Games on Saturday.

Abid Ali and Azhar Ali shared an unbeaten 60-run partnership as Pakistan recovered from the early loss of Imran Butt on the first day of the second Test against Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club on Friday.

Pakistan's sacked hockey coach Hanif Khan is seething after being made the scapegoat for the national team's poor performance in the recent World Hockey League.

On paper, Punjab were one of the strongest teams along with Delhi Waveriders before the start of the Hockey India League.

The Pakistan Hockey Federation has appointed Muhammad Imran as the captain for next month's Champions Trophy that will be held in Melbourne, Australia.

Mumbai Police assured full security during the upcoming IPL-style Hockey India League matches in wake of Shiv Sena's protest against participation of Pakistani players.

The simmering tension on the Indo-Pak border spilled over to the sporting arena with a rattled Hockey India deciding to send back all the nine Pakistani players.

Players from Pakistan are unlikely to figure in Mumbai Magicians' first Hockey India League home game against Jaypee Punjab Warriors at the MHA Mahindra Stadium on January 20.

Shiv Sena workers staged a protest on Sunday at Mumbai Hockey Association's stadium here against the participation of four Pakistani players in a scheduled practise session.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam and opener Imam-ul-Haq were on Monday ruled out of the upcoming first Test against New Zealand with thumb injuries, prompting the tour selection committee to include rookie Imran Butt in the 17-member squad.

Faizal Saari scored twice as hosts Malaysia rallied to stun defending champions Pakistan 4-2 in the opening match of the fourth Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament in the Kuantan Hockey Stadium, on Thursday.

With just four days to go for the Hockey India League to begin, a question mark has cropped up over the participation of the Pakistan players in the league.

Fawad Alam and Imran Butt are among 10 top- performing cricketers, who have been awarded the newly-introduced 'A' plus agreement as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday announced contracts for 192 domestic players for the upcoming season.

The Indian High Commission has issued visas to nine Pakistani hockey players, clearing the decks for their participation in the Hockey India League.

The Mumbai franchise of the HIL, which was abandoned by the Dabur group, has now been taken up by DoIT Sports Management.

The Mumbai Magicians team, which is part of the Hockey India League, was shifted to Delhi this morning, following the Shiv Sena protest that disrupted its practise session due to the involvement of Pakistani players.

Four-time champions Pakistan lost to Olympic bronze medallist Germany in their opening Pool D match of the Men's Hockey World Cup with 0-1. Currently ranked World No. 13, Pak gave a tough fight to the World No. 6 Germans by holding them till the 36th minute. There were doubts over Pak's participation due to lack of funds.A last-minute sponsorship deal allowed them to participate.

Seamers Shaheen Afridi and Hasan Ali took four wickets each as Pakistan seized control of the first Test against Zimbabwe on the opening day at the Harare Sports Club on Thursday.

Following the growing tension between India and Pakistan, some shows and matches in India involving Pakistani singers and sportsmen, have been called off or are facing cancellation.

Fawad Alam notched his fourth Test hundred as Pakistan built an imposing first innings lead over Zimbabwe on the second day of the first Test in Harare on Friday.

Pakistan have made just two changes to their national hockey squad for the Asian Champions Trophy to be held in Doha, Qatar from December 20 to 27.

The Pakistan Hockey Federation on Tuesday announced a 19-member squad for the Holland tour to be played from September 1 to 20.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday said it has conducted COVID-19 tests for five reserve players and a backup player support personnel.

With Pak players being sent back home, HIL match between Delhi Waveriders and Mumbai Magicians scheduled on Wednesday will certainly lose its sheen.

The disruption of Mumbai Magicians' practice session has left the team rattled. Four Pakistan players - Mahmood Tousiq, Mahmood Rashid, Fareed Ahmed and Imran Butt - were rushed to safety via a back door exit.