Former pacer Shoaib Akhtar congratulated Pakistan for register a series win over West Indies after a “consistent” performance here at the National Stadium.Pakistan overcame their batting blip as well as a maiden half-century by Brandon King and a Romario Shepherd cameo to clinch their seventh successive victory over the West Indies on Tuesday. This was Pakistan’s 19th overall win in this calendar year when they won the second T20I by nine runs that gave them 2-0 unassailable lead on Tuesday.

“Congratulations Pakistan for another T20i series victory. Going great. Loving the consistency,” Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar tweeted. Pakistan slipped from 86 for two in 11 overs to 141 for seven in 18 overs before a late flurry by Shadab Khan (28 not out of 12 balls) helped them reach 172 for eight after they had elected to bat first.

Brandon then struck a career-best 67 in his 13th match and Shepherd scored a 19-ball 35 not out as the two-time former T20 world champions were bowled out for 163 in 20 overs after being 85 for two in the 11th over at one stage.Brandon struck six fours and three sixes in a 43-ball 67 and added 54 runs for the third wicket with Nicholas Pooran (26), while Shepherd struck two fours and two sixes.

Fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afrdi took three wickets in an over to finish with three for 26, while Mohammad Wasim Jnr followed up his Monday’s figures of four for 40 with two for 39, Mohammad Nawaz bagged two for 36 and Haris Rauf scooped two for 40. Shadab Khan remained wicketless, but conceded only 22 runs in his four overs.

While this was Pakistan’s seventh successive victory over the West Indies since the April 2, 2017 T20I at the Queen’s Park Oval, this was also the 2009 T20 world champions’ 19th victory in this calendar year.

England Test skipper Joe Root has admitted that he expected too much out of all-rounder Ben Stokes in the first Ashes Test. England and Australia will lock horns in the second Test, beginning Thursday at Adelaide. Australia won the first Test by nine wickets to gain a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. “It was a huge ask and I’m probably as guilty as anyone; I expected too much of him. It’s because I see him almost as a bit of a superhero. Look at what he’s done in the last few years when he’s played; at least once a series, maybe twice a series, he’s done something extraordinary which has won us a game on its own. And you do get a little complacent about expecting that,” ESPNcricinfo quoted Root as saying.

“It’s easy to forget on a big occasion like that, whether it’s because he’s not played a huge amount and also what he’s had to go through recently as well, I think there was a bit too much on him. But you know the character he is, it’ll have motivated him even more now to put in one of those magical performances. Whether that comes this week or further down the series, I know it’s going to come,” he added.

Stokes scored 5 and 14 in his two innings at the Gabba in the first Test, and he also seemed to be hampered with a knee injury. “I think the only thing I’d probably say – and it sounds ridiculous – is not to try too hard. They’ve not played the first game but they’re world-class performers, they know what they’re doing and should trust what they’ve done for so long. Just go and be Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad if you get your opportunity,” said Root.

Indian Test skipper Virat Kohli on Wednesday cleared the clouds of uncertainty over his availability for the ODI series in South Africa. India’s tour of South Africa, 2021-22, consists of two series: the Test and One-Day International series, taking place from December 26 to January 23, 2022, across four venues. The Men in Blue will participate in a three-match Test series followed by a three-match ODI series. While the squad for the Test series has been announced, India’s squad for the ODI series is yet to be announced.

Talking about his availability in the ODIs squad, former ODI and T20I captain Virat Kohli, in the press conference while replying to the query of ANI said, “I was and I am available for selection all this time.”

“You shouldn’t be asking me this question honestly, you should ask the people who are writing about the things based on their sources because as far as I am concerned, I was always available,” Kohli continued.

“I didn’t have any communication with BCCI to say that I want to rest. So there were a few things that came in the past as well where it was said I was attending some event or something which was also not true either. So all these people who were writing all these things on their sources to me they are absolutely not credible. So as I said I am available for selection in ODIs for South Africa and I was always keen to play,” he added.

Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma will miss the upcoming Test series against South Africa due to a hamstring injury and Priyank Panchal was named as the replacement. Last week, Rohit was handed the reins of ODIs along with the T20I formats.

India Test skipper Virat Kohli on Wednesday said no prior communication happened between him and the selectors before he was removed as the captain of the ODI team.

Rohit Sharma was named India’s new ODI skipper last week and he takes the reins from Kohli as India gear up for the South Africa series. Kohli said he was just contacted one and half hours ago before the selection meeting on December 8.“Whatever was said about the communication that happened during the decision that was made was inaccurate. I was contacted one and half hours before the selection meeting on 8th for the Test series,” said Kohli while replying to a query from ANI.

“And there was no prior communication with me since I announced the T20I captaincy decision up till December 8. The chief selector discussed the Test team to which we both agreed. Before ending the call, I was told the five selectors decided that I would not be told that I will not be ODI captain. Which I replied ‘okay fine’,” he further said.

“And in the selection call afterwards we chatted about it briefly this is what happened, there was no communication prior to that at all,” he added. Kohli will lead India in the South Africa Test series from December 26.

Indian Test skipper Virat Kohli on Wednesday clarified regarding his relationship with opening batter and white-ball captain Rohit Sharma. Rohit Sharma was named India’s new ODI skipper last week and he takes the reins from Kohli as India gear up for the South Africa series. There were reports that alleged a rift between Kohli and Rohit but the Indian Test skipper said there was no strain between him and Rohit.

“There is no rift between me and Rohit Sharma. I have clarified multiple times in the last 2.5 years and now I am tired of clarifying things. I can guarantee you that my communication will never be to take my team down till I am playing cricket. It is my commitment towards Indian cricket,” said Kohli in a virtual press conference.

Kohli said his responsibility is to push Team India in the right direction and both white-ball skipper Rohit and head coach Rahul Dravid will have his full support.“My responsibility is to push the team in the right direction, along with Rahul Bhai and Rohit, both of them will have my full support moving forward,” said Kohli.Meanwhile, Rohit will miss the upcoming Test series against South Africa due to a hamstring injury. Kohli will lead India in the South Africa Test series from December 26.

India’s squad for South Africa Tests: Virat Kohli (Captain), Priyank Panchal, KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wk), Wriddhiman Saha (wk), R Ashwin, Jayant Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Mohd. Shami, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj.

Kohli said his responsibility is to push Team India in the right direction and both white-ball skipper Rohit and head coach Rahul Dravid will have his full support.“My responsibility is to push the team in the right direction, along with Rahul Bhai and Rohit, both of them will have my full support moving forward,” said Kohli.

England Test skipper Joe Root on Tuesday said that spin has played a big factor at the Adelaide Oval in the past, so the team needs to consider playing Jack Leach in the second Ashes Test.

Australia and England will square off in the second Ashes Test, beginning Thursday at Adelaide. The match would be contested under lights. Stuart Broad and James Anderson had missed the first Test which Australia won by nine wickets to gain a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

“From our point of view, it’s not over-thinking that night-time part of it. There will be two sessions of the game where the sun will be out, then it might not do as much. Not falling into the trap where it will swing around corners for five days, understanding the different challenges that a pink-ball Test at this ground takes. Also, as a batting group, managing those different phases and finding ways to make big totals,” ESPNcricinfo quoted Root as saying.

“The most important thing from a batting element is recognising when those periods come along. It could be very good for batting, sun out, for large portions of the day then it’s making sure if it does start moving around you adapt and don’t lose three wickets in ten overs and let the turn Test on its head,” he added.

Talking about spinner Jack Leach, Root said: “Spin has generally played a good factor in recent times on this ground, especially as the game progresses, so it’s something we’ll have to look at. See where we are physically as a bowling group and how we can be balanced out.”

“I’m sure he [Leach] will want to respond and get back into the series. I don’t think it’s as straightforward as looking at that as a concern, actually you look at it, they [Australia] took an opportunity, played it pretty well, and if they try to do that on a wicket that’s a bit more responsive then it brings him into the game even more.”