Sixteen-year-old batter Deeya Yadav has been left out of all three India A squads for the upcoming home series against Australia A, despite featuring for India A in two T20 matches against England A earlier this year. Yadav, who has also played for Delhi Capitals in the Women's Premier League, represented India A during the T20 leg of the England tour in Northampton in June. However, she has not been selected for the T20, one-day or multi-day squads for the Australia A series. Anushka Sharma will captain the India A women's T20 side. The 23-year-old had also led the team during its 2-1 T20 series victory over England A in June. She has been named vice-captain to Yastika Bhatia for the one-day and four-day fixtures. Bhatia will lead India A in the one-day and multi-day formats, with Anushka serving as her deputy. Former India Under-19 captain Niki Prasad has been selected in all three squads. Prasad earned her place in the T20 team after leading Hubli Tigers to the Maharani T20 title recently. Harleen Deol, who captained India A during the one-day leg of the UK tour in June, has not been included in the one-day squad this time. Meanwhile, left-arm wristspin-bowling allrounder Amandeep Kaur has received her maiden India A call-up. The 23-year-old has been selected only for the one-day series. Shubha Satheesh, who has played two Tests for India, has been included in the squad for the multi-day fixture. The four-day match will be played in Dharamsala from September 29 to October 2. The three T20 matches between India A and Australia A will be played in New Chandigarh on September 12, 15 and 17. The one-day series will follow at the PCA Stadium in Mohali on September 20, 23 and 25. India A T20 Squad Anushka Sharma (captain) Sayali Satghare (vice-captain) Vrinda Dinesh Sujata Dey Tejal Hasabnis Niki Prasad Shipra Giri (wicketkeeper) Shweta Sehrawat Uma Chetry (wicketkeeper) Tanuja Kanwer Minnu Mani Vaishnavi Sharma Jintimani Kalita Shabnam Shakeel Simran Dil Bahadur India A One-Day Squad Yastika Bhatia (captain, wicketkeeper) Anushka Sharma (vice-captain) Vrinda Dinesh Priya Punia Tanisha Singh Tejal Hasabnis Niki Prasad Uma Chetry (wicketkeeper) Minnu Mani Amandeep Kaur Vaishnavi Sharma Sayali Satghare Jintimani Kalita Shabnam Shakeel Akshita Bhagat India A Multi-Day Squad Yastika Bhatia (captain, wicketkeeper) Anushka Sharma (vice-captain) Shubha Satheesh Priya Punia Tanisha Singh Tejal Hasabnis Niki Prasad Mamata Madiwala (wicketkeeper) Sushree Dibyadarshini Shuchi Upadhyay Vaishnavi Sharma Sayali Satghare Jintimani Kalita Shabnam Shakeel Akshita Bhagat The Australia A series will offer several emerging players an opportunity to strengthen their claims for higher honours, while Yadav's omission is notable given her recent exposure to India A cricket and experience in the WPL.

Sri Lanka 429 for 9 declared drew with India 503 for 9 declared; Sri Lanka 290 and 429 for 9 declared Sonal Dinusha produced another outstanding batting performance as Sri Lanka held India to an epic draw in the second Test at the SSC, completing a remarkable fifth day in which India managed just three wickets. Dinusha, playing only his fifth Test, remained unbeaten on 133 to follow his first-innings century of 103. His performance helped Sri Lanka bat for long periods and frustrate India's bowlers after the hosts were forced to follow on. Sri Lanka made India bowl a staggering 243.4 overs across their two innings. Dinusha alone faced a combined 426 deliveries, displaying remarkable patience and control on a slow SSC pitch. His approach against India's spinners was particularly impressive. Dinusha relied heavily on sweeps and their variations, rarely moving outside his preferred range of strokes. He also avoided expansive drives, which proved a sensible tactic on a surface offering little pace. India's bowlers continued to toil after lunch, with Manav Suthar finally breaking the seventh-wicket partnership when he dismissed Keshara Nuwantha at gully. Nuwantha and Dinusha had added 112 runs from 246 balls, but Sri Lanka were still only 117 runs ahead at the time. Sri Lanka's lower order then played a crucial role in securing the draw. Prabath Jayasuriya spent 71 balls alongside Dinusha before edging Ravindra Jadeja to gully. Lahiru Kumara followed with a determined defensive effort. Having been dismissed while attempting an aggressive shot in the first innings, Kumara showed far greater restraint this time, scoring only 12 runs from 90 balls during a two-hour stay at the crease. His 47-run partnership with Dinusha consumed 170 deliveries and took Sri Lanka closer to safety. Jadeja eventually dismissed Kumara at short leg, but by then Sri Lanka had moved firmly into a position from which defeat was virtually impossible. Dinusha then partnered Asitha Fernando for another 56 deliveries before Sri Lanka declared, leaving India no realistic opportunity to force a result. Their lead had reached 216 runs when the teams shook hands. India's spinners carried the bulk of the workload. Suthar, Jadeja and Saransh Jain each bowled more than 35 overs in the second innings and over 55 in the match. Although they occasionally extracted sharp turn and bounce, the slow nature of the surface meant that many deliveries either turned too much to threaten the batters or arrived slowly enough for them to adjust. India's seamers also struggled as the assistance available earlier in the Test disappeared. Mohammed Siraj's pace dipped below 130 kph for much of the series, while the second new ball offered little sustained threat. Siraj came closest to dismissing Dinusha during the post-lunch session when a short delivery was fended wide of short leg, but it was hardly a clear-cut chance. For the most part, Dinusha remained in complete control. His two centuries in the match capped a magnificent series in which he scored 419 runs at an average of 139.66, establishing himself as one of Sri Lanka's standout performers. The final result reflected Sri Lanka's remarkable resistance: India had made 503 for 9 declared after centuries from Devdutt Padikkal and Dhruv Jurel, while Sri Lanka replied with 290 in the first innings before Dinusha's unbeaten 133 anchored their second-innings 429 for 9 declared. With the lower order providing vital support, Sri Lanka successfully survived India's prolonged assault and secured a hard-earned draw in a Test dominated by patience, endurance and Dinusha's outstanding batting.

UAE batter Asif Khan has been handed a 15-month ban after admitting to an anti-doping violation involving a banned substance, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Thursday. The 36-year-old tested positive for a metabolite of mesterolone during an out-of-competition test conducted in September 2025. Asif admitted to violating Article 2.1 of the ICC Anti-Doping Code and accepted the sanction under a case resolution agreement reached with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the ICC. The ban is effective from September 8, 2025, until December 7, 2026. As part of the sanction, Asif will be permitted to return to team training and use club or ICC Member facilities from October 8, 2026, but he will not be eligible to play until December 8. There will be no right of appeal against the sanction, according to the ICC. Matches and results to be disqualified The ICC also confirmed that all of Asif's individual results from September 8, 2025, until his provisional suspension on December 29, 2025, have been disqualified. This includes any resulting consequences such as the loss of medals, points, prize money and prizes. His final three T20I appearances, against India, Oman and Pakistan during the 2025 T20 Asia Cup, came after September 8 and will therefore be removed from his record. Asif's UAE career A former Pakistan Under-19 cricketer, Asif made his UAE international debut in March 2022 in an ODI against Oman in the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2. He went on to represent the UAE in 38 ODIs and 56 T20Is between his debut and September 2025. The right-handed batter became an established member of the UAE's limited-overs setup during that period. His suspension now rules him out of international cricket until December 2026, with his return to competitive action dependent on the completion of the full period of ineligibility.

Ellie Anderson produced a career-best List A performance with the ball before Charlie Dean and Niamh Holland guided Somerset to a three-wicket victory over Durham at the Cooper Associates Ground in the Metro Bank One Day Cup. The result strengthened Somerset's hopes of reaching the knockout stages, with Anderson's outstanding spell helping restrict Durham to 248 for 9 before the hosts completed the chase with 5.2 overs to spare. Anderson returned impressive figures of 5 for 40, including three early wickets, while Lola Harris claimed 2 for 53. Emma Marlow top-scored for Durham with 71, supported by Eleanor Larosa's aggressive 44 and Grace Thompson's 41. Anderson makes early impact After Somerset won the toss, Anderson immediately put Durham under pressure. The former England Under-19 seamer removed Mia Rogers, Hollie Armitage and Mady Villiers during a devastating opening spell of 3 for 25. Durham slipped to 95 for 5, but Marlow and Thompson helped turn the innings around. Marlow was given a reprieve when Holland dropped a difficult chance at square leg on 27, while Thompson survived a close run-out decision. The pair took full advantage, adopting an attacking approach to build Durham's total. Their partnership pushed the visitors to 163 before Harris finally dismissed Marlow, who holed out to long-off. Larosa then launched a counterattack, smashing six fours and a six during a rapid 44 from 31 balls. She added 51 with Thompson in just 6.2 overs before Anderson returned to dismiss her, with the batter chopping onto her stumps. Sophie Luff subsequently ran out Thompson for 41, before Anderson completed her five-wicket haul by bowling Katherine Fraser. It was Somerset's first List A five-wicket haul since Nicole Harvey took 5 for 22 against Surrey in 2017. Dean and Holland take control Somerset's chase initially suffered a few setbacks. Luff fell to Larosa and Bex Odgers was dismissed by Lauren Filer before Katie Levick bowled Emma Corney for 22. Villiers then had Dani Gibson caught at extra cover, leaving Somerset struggling at 84 for 4. Dean and Holland responded with an excellent 104-run partnership that completely shifted the momentum. The pair rotated the strike effectively, ran hard between the wickets and punished loose deliveries. Holland reached her half-century from 68 balls, while Dean matched the milestone in just 49 deliveries. Their partnership moved beyond 100 and put Somerset firmly in control. Holland eventually fell for 70 from 90 balls while attempting a slog sweep against Fraser, with the ball finding mid-wicket. Jess Hazell was then dismissed by Filer for 17, leaving Somerset 217 for 6. Dean, however, remained composed and saw Somerset over the line. The England captain finished unbeaten on 76, including six fours, as Somerset reached 251 for 7 with more than five overs remaining. The victory gives Somerset valuable momentum in their pursuit of a place in the Metro Bank One Day Cup knockout stages, while Durham will reflect on a promising start with the bat that ultimately could not withstand Somerset's bowling attack and disciplined chase.

Lakshya Raichandani will captain India Under-19 in the three-match one-day series against Australia Under-19, with Yashbardhan Chauhan appointed vice-captain. The leadership roles will be reversed for the multi-day fixtures. India Under-19 have named their squads for the upcoming home series against Australia Under-19, with the selection attracting attention for the inclusion of Aaryavir Sehwag and Anvay Dravid, sons of former India captains Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid. Raichandani will lead the Indian side in the one-day series, while Chauhan will serve as his deputy. For the two multi-day matches, Chauhan will take over as captain, with Raichandani becoming vice-captain. Anvay Dravid, a wicketkeeper-batter, returns to the Under-19 one-day squad after featuring in India's tour of Sri Lanka in July. He impressed during that series, scoring 87 in the second one-day international. He will share the wicketkeeping duties with Rajat Baghel. Aaryavir Sehwag, meanwhile, earns his place in the one-day squad as India prepare for a three-match series against Australia. The one-day matches will be played on September 18, 21 and 23. The two multi-day fixtures are scheduled for September 27-30 and October 5-8. All matches will be held in Rajkot except the second multi-day game, which will take place in Ahmedabad. Raichandani enters series in prolific form Raichandani heads into the Australia series after a standout tour of Sri Lanka. He was the leading run-scorer in India's two-match four-day series, accumulating 307 runs at an impressive average of 153.50. He scored a remarkable 207 in Galle before following it up with an unbeaten century, 100 not out, in Colombo. His recent form also includes experience at senior level, having represented Uttarakhand in four first-class matches and scored 223 runs, including three half-centuries. Several other India Under-19 batters also impressed in Sri Lanka. Sagar Virk scored 134 in the first four-day match, while Manal Chauhan and Kushagra Ojha contributed 150 and 111 respectively in the second. Chauhan was another standout performer, scoring 201 runs across the two matches and taking six wickets. Legspinner Rohit Yadav also claimed six wickets, while fast bowlers Chigurupati Venkata and Pranav Ragavendra took five wickets apiece. India Under-19 one-day squad Lakshya Raichandani (captain), Yashbardhan Chauhan (vice-captain), Rajat Baghel (wicketkeeper), Aaryavir Sehwag, VK Vineet, Kushagra Ojha, Arjun Rajput, Manal Chauhan, Anvay Dravid (wicketkeeper), V Yashveer, Rohit Yadav, Shavin Vinodh, Mohit Ulva, Chigurupati Venkata, Kavya Patel India Under-19 multi-day squad Yashbardhan Chauhan (captain), Lakshya Raichandani (vice-captain), Sagar Virk, Kushagra Ojha, Manal Chauhan, Kush Patel, Manav Krishna (wicketkeeper), Abhipray Biswas (wicketkeeper), Rohit Yadav, Ishan Om, Ayaan Akram, Pranav Ragavendra, Priyanshu Singh, Mohit Ulva, Aryan Yadav With a blend of promising performers from the Sri Lanka tour and emerging youngsters such as Aaryavir Sehwag and Anvay Dravid, the series against Australia will provide another important opportunity for India's next generation to make their mark.

The Blaze booked their place in the knockout stage of the Metro Bank Women's One-Day Cup with a convincing 70-run victory over Warwickshire at Edgbaston. Batting first, The Blaze posted a competitive 282 for 7, with Orla Prendergast and Georgia Elwiss playing key roles in building the innings. Prendergast scored a composed 69 from 73 balls, while Elwiss added 57 from 54 deliveries. Kathryn Bryce also made a valuable contribution with 45. The Blaze made a cautious start after losing former Warwickshire batter Marie Kelly in the opening over. Tammy Beaumont and Bryce then steadied the innings, sharing an 80-run partnership before Phoebe Brett dismissed both batters in the space of 12 deliveries. Elwiss and Prendergast subsequently increased the scoring rate, putting together a 93-run partnership in 18 overs. Both reached their half-centuries before Issy Wong broke the stand, dismissing Elwiss caught behind and Prendergast at deep square leg. Emma Jones provided a late boost with an unbeaten 19 from 12 balls to push The Blaze towards the 300 mark, although they eventually finished on 282 for 7. Warwickshire's chase got off to a difficult start as former Warwickshire seamer Grace Ballinger removed both openers. Davina Perrin was trapped lbw before Meg Austin edged behind to slip. However, captain Katie George and Brooke Halliday revived Warwickshire's hopes with an impressive 125-run partnership from 22 overs. Halliday reached a half-century from 64 balls, while George continued to anchor the chase. The Blaze then produced a decisive turnaround. Halliday was dismissed for 52 when she pulled Prendergast towards deep midwicket, where Kathryn Bryce held an excellent catch. Charis Pavely soon followed, caught by Lucy Higham. Em Arlott briefly threatened to accelerate the chase but was dismissed by Charley Phillips, lifting the ball to mid-off. Higham then took control of the innings, claiming three wickets in nine balls as Warwickshire collapsed. Nat Wraith was caught at cover, Issy Wong was bowled through a cut and Alexa Stonehouse was caught at mid-on. George, who had played an excellent captain's innings of 89, was the final wicket to fall after drilling a return catch to Kathryn Bryce. Warwickshire were bowled out for 212 in 43.3 overs, giving The Blaze a comfortable 70-run victory. The result was The Blaze's 11th win in 13 games, confirming their place in the knockout stage and keeping their impressive campaign firmly on track. Warwickshire, meanwhile, remain in a tightly packed group of teams battling for a top-four finish and qualification.

Kate Cross made an immediate impact at the start of her farewell season, claiming four wickets as Lancashire edged past Hampshire by four wickets in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup. Cross, who recently announced that she will retire from professional cricket at the end of the season, produced her best bowling figures of the campaign. The England great finished with 4 for 33, helping Lancashire restrict Hampshire to 223. Playing her first match since announcing her retirement, Cross struck three times with the new ball. She dismissed Ella McCaughan and Georgia Adams in quick succession before removing Maia Bouchier to leave Hampshire struggling at 29 for 3. Her opening five-over spell yielded an impressive 3 for 15, putting Lancashire firmly in control. Freya Kemp then provided Hampshire with much-needed momentum, smashing 61 from 54 balls with powerful strokeplay on the leg side. Alongside Rhianna Southby, Kemp helped rebuild the innings before both batters departed. Abi Norgrove carried the fight into the closing stages, scoring an unbeaten 70. It was her fourth half-century of the One-Day Cup campaign, and her composed innings helped Hampshire reach a competitive 223. However, Cross returned at the crucial stage to prevent Hampshire from pushing beyond 223, bowling Bex Tyson to complete her four-wicket haul. Lancashire’s chase was steady rather than spectacular, but they remained close to the required rate throughout. Emma Lamb was the key figure, producing a composed 68—her third score above 50 in the competition. Eve Jones contributed a patient 16 from 45 balls before being bowled by Georgia Adams, while Gaby Lewis fell leg-before-wicket to Amanda-Jade Wellington. Lamb kept Lancashire on course before her dismissal, caught after attempting a scoop. Tilly Kesteven and Ellie Threlkeld also made useful starts but failed to convert them into substantial scores. Despite the late pressure, Lancashire held their nerve to reach 224 for 6, securing a four-wicket victory and a third consecutive win. The result keeps the defending champions firmly in contention for a place in the knockout stages, while Cross’ four-wicket performance provided a memorable start to the final chapter of her 21-year association with Lancashire and Emirates Old Trafford.

Tim Seifert produced a stunning unbeaten century while Roston Chase delivered a game-changing three-wicket over as St Lucia Kings defeated Trinbago Knight Riders by 36 runs in the Caribbean Premier League. Batting first after being asked to score, St Lucia Kings posted an imposing 211 for 4, powered by Seifert’s unbeaten 105 off 61 balls. It was the New Zealand batter’s second CPL century and only the second 200-plus total of the season. Kings made a strong start, reaching 64 for 1 in the powerplay. Seifert immediately found his rhythm, forming a 60-run partnership with Kamil Pooran. Pooran contributed 25 from 17 balls, while Seifert raced to 31 from just 17 deliveries. After Pooran’s dismissal, Seifert continued his assault alongside John Campbell. The pair added 75 runs from 38 balls, with Campbell making 27 off 17. When Campbell was dismissed by Sunil Narine—his 650th T20 wicket—Seifert had already reached 78 from 38 balls. Charith Asalanka then joined Seifert and helped maintain the momentum. The duo added 51 runs from 36 deliveries, with Asalanka striking 33 from 21 balls. Seifert appeared to slow down briefly but accelerated at the finish. With a pull shot off a slower bouncer from Kieron Pollard in the final over, he reached his century in 57 balls and finished unbeaten on 105. Chasing 212, Trinbago Knight Riders began positively. Colin Munro and Sunil Narine added 56 runs during the powerplay, giving the hosts hope of mounting a successful chase. However, the match changed dramatically in the eighth over when Roston Chase struck three times. Narine was dismissed off the third ball, Matthew Breetze followed from the next delivery, and Nicholas Pooran fell off the fifth ball. The sudden collapse left Knight Riders struggling from a promising position. Kieron Pollard then launched a remarkable counterattack. The veteran all-rounder smashed 65 from just 26 balls, including six fours and five sixes. He raced from 23 off 10 balls to 50 off 21 before eventually falling to Matthew Forde, top-edging an attempted pull. Pollard’s dismissal effectively ended Knight Riders’ hopes, and they finished on 175 for 6 after 20 overs, 36 runs short of the target. The victory moved St Lucia Kings back to the top of the CPL standings, becoming the second team after Antigua and Barbuda Falcons to reach eight points. Trinbago Knight Riders, meanwhile, slipped to sixth place. Seifert’s explosive century and Chase’s decisive three-wicket over ultimately proved the difference as St Lucia Kings strengthened their position at the top of the tournament.

Lord’s has played a familiar role in England’s cricket season, but this year the iconic venue has been at the centre of a turbulent period for the national team. While England’s two men’s Tests at Lord’s have produced plenty of cricketing drama, some of the most significant moments surrounding the team have taken place away from the field. In March, ECB chief executive Richard Gould and managing director Rob Key presented the findings of their review into England’s 4-1 Ashes defeat. The review acknowledged unprofessional behaviour during the tour and stressed that greater consequences would follow as England began a rebuilding phase against New Zealand. Then, in June, Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were involved in a late-night incident following England’s opening Test. Both were subsequently left out of the second Test at The Oval. Stokes announced his retirement from international cricket just three weeks later. Joe Root, who succeeded Stokes as England’s Test captain, has since called for a change in culture after another off-field incident involving Brydon Carse. Carse became the eighth centrally contracted England player to be involved in an after-hours controversy. Ahead of the second Test against Pakistan, Root made his frustration clear. While his public comments were measured, he reportedly delivered a far stronger message to the squad behind closed doors. Root reminded his teammates of the responsibility and privilege that comes with representing England and urged them to become better professionals. He also pointed out that he may have only two years left in the England dressing room, highlighting the limited time the current generation has to learn from his experience. Fast bowler Josh Tongue said Root's message had been direct and underlined the team's desire to create a better environment for the next generation. “It's an absolute privilege to play for England,” Tongue said, stressing his determination to focus on cricket and contribute to victories. Tongue's own response to adversity offers a potential blueprint for his teammates. He was involved in the Wellington incident alongside Harry Brook and Jacob Bethell, although he escaped punishment and was not selected for the ODI squad for the final match of that New Zealand tour. Since then, however, Tongue has transformed his fortunes. He has taken 34 wickets in seven Tests, including 18 against Australia during the Ashes. England's decision to select him only for the final three Ashes Tests now looks like a missed opportunity. The 28-year-old has also made his ODI and T20I debuts under Brook and white-ball coach Brendon McCullum. His impressive Hundred campaign with Manchester Super Giants, where he finished joint-top of the wicket-taking charts with 14 dismissals in a title-winning campaign, has further strengthened his credentials. Tongue now finds himself among England's most valuable fast bowlers and enters his 14th international cap with the team likely to remain unchanged. For a player who debuted in 2023, his record also carries a surprising statistic: he has never been part of an England Test series victory. Injuries kept him out of the 2024 home summer, when England won series against West Indies and Sri Lanka. A series win would therefore represent another important milestone for Tongue, while also giving England the chance to move forward on the field after a difficult period away from it. England's last Test series victory came in December 2024 in New Zealand. Now, with Lord’s once again providing the backdrop, the team will hope that Root's call for professionalism can translate into performances and a much-needed step towards redemption.

Babar Azam is set to return to Pakistan's playing XI and captain the side at Lord's, after recovering sufficiently from the hand injury that kept him out of the opening Test at Headingley. The Pakistan captain said he was 90% fit ahead of the second Test and was confident he would be ready to take the field. "I had a couple of practice sessions," Babar said. "I'm 90% fit for tomorrow and the rest of the series." Babar has been carefully managed during his recovery. Pakistan fast-bowling coach Umar Gul said the batter faced pace in the nets on Tuesday, although much of his recent batting practice has come against throwdowns. In the final session before the Test, Babar faced throwdowns and spin but did not face fast bowling. His return nevertheless represents a significant boost for a Pakistan batting line-up that struggled badly in the first Test. Pakistan Look to Recover From Headingley Collapse Pakistan suffered a heavy three-day defeat at Headingley, with their batting collapsing twice inside 86 overs. Their first innings was particularly damaging as they slipped from 97 for 2 to 171 all out, losing their final eight wickets for just 64 runs. Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique had initially given Pakistan hope with a 91-run partnership, but neither batter was able to convert their starts into substantial scores. Babar acknowledged that Pakistan had been below their best in every department and stressed the need for greater partnerships and responsibility from the batting unit. "You need to produce complete team performances," he said. "You have to bowl and bat in partnerships. And you have to take it deep as a batter if you're set." The return of Babar is expected to strengthen a middle order that has struggled to absorb pressure, but the captain knows his presence alone will not solve Pakistan's batting problems. Shafique to Retain His Position Abdullah Shafique is expected to continue in his current batting position rather than moving up the order to accommodate Babar's return. Shafique has been one of Pakistan's few consistent performers recently, scoring 260 runs at an average of 130 across his last four innings. Azan Awais is expected to make way as Pakistan reshuffle their batting line-up. Babar backed Shafique to remain where he has been most comfortable. "The number Abdullah is batting, he should [continue to] play there," Babar said. "He's batted three and four since his comeback. He's got confidence there so he'll continue there." The Pakistan captain also called on the senior batters to prevent the kind of rapid collapses that undermined their performance at Headingley. "We need to [stamp out] the back-to-back wickets we lose. The senior batters need to be more focused and make up for it." Babar to Lead Pakistan at Lord's The second Test will be a significant occasion for Babar, as he prepares to lead Pakistan at Lord's for the first time. This is his third tour of England, and he was appointed Pakistan captain shortly after the team's previous visit in 2020. He will become the 15th Pakistan captain to lead the side at Lord's. "When you lead the Pakistan side on this ground, it's an honour," Babar said. "I do my best on the field as captain and when I'm batting, I just play my game." Pakistan will hope their strong record at Lord's can help them put the disappointment of Headingley behind them. "Our stats here are good and we'd like to continue that," Babar said. "We will forget about the first Test and are looking forward to this one." With their captain back and their batting order reshuffled, Pakistan will be aiming for a much more disciplined performance at Lord's and a chance to level the series.