Saturday, December 28, 2024

Saud Shakil - being the lone fighter at last test match of the year for Pakistan

Tea at day three of the penultimate test match of 2024,
and Saud Shakil is short on partners

Right now, while I am typing these lines, I have been reading the scoreline, Pakistan has lost 8 wickets with just 112 runs ahead, where if Pakistan achieves lead of at least 150 runs, Pakistan might have some chances of winning the last test match of the 2024 year, for which Pakistan would definitely want to end on the high, after winning the ODI series 3-0, because after that Pakistan is going to go to New Zealand to play 3 ODI's and 3 T20I's in their own backyard, afterwards Pakistan is going to host New Zealand and South Africa at Multan before ICC Champions Trophy formally starts on Pakistani soil.

May 2025 - Bangladesh's tour to Pakistan - expecting a repeat of test match series recently concluded

This series comprises of 3 ODI's and 3 T20I's on Pakistani soil, where I believe it is continuation of recently concluded test match series, although the form Pakistan is in, I am not expecting similar scoreline as Pakistan consumed during concluded test match scoreline, but still nothing could be deemed impossible when Pakistan cricket team is involved.

August 2025 - Pakistan tour to West Indies

West Indies in current form, will surely going to pose challenge for Pakistan, unlike previous tour, where Pakistan won comprehensively, and similarly when West Indies toured Pakistan in installment, first for T20I and afterwards ODI series, (2023), but this time, it is in their home and right now when Pakistan is going to visit WI, it is high time for WI to recover some respect and dignity.

August 2025 - Afghanistan tour to Pakistan

This is 3 T20I series which is contra series to what Pakistan played in UAE, against Afghanistan, for which Afghanistan would be licking their tongue in order to recover some pride amid 2023 heroics at Chennai.

September 2025 to November 2025

Asia Cup following with home series against Ireland citing 3 ODI and 3 T20I series, which follows with a long series against South Africa which comprises 2 test matches, 3 ODI matches, with 3 T20I's, which follows with Sri Lanka which comprises with 3 ODI's and 3 T20I's on Pakistani soil, from where Pakistan is going to (tentatively) finish 2025.