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Cummins rues dropped chances as Pakistan hold Australia to draw in 2nd Test

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Australia captain Pat Cummins has blamed the five catches dropped by his team in Pakistan’s second innings ahead of his questionable tactics for allowing Pakistan to escape with a draw in the second Test.

While many experts are questioning Cummin’s tactics — the decision not to enforce follow-up and extended batting on the third day among them, the skipper said things would have been different if they had taken the catches. This is the fifth time in the last 19 Tests that Australia have been unable to bowl out their opponents on the final day, which denied them victory.

Pakistan batters Babar Azam, Abdullah Shafique and Mohammad Rizwan survived a record 172 overs in their second innings to pull off an extraordinary draw against Australia in the second Test here on Wednesday.

Skipper Babar Azam struck a magnificent 196, Shafique contributed a fighting 96 and Rizwan scored an unbeaten match-saving century (104) to seal a draw that keeps the series level going into next week’s decider in Lahore as the Benaud-Qadir trophy is still up for grabs.

All three of them were lucky as the butter-fingered Australian fielders gave them a life early in their respective knocks.

Steve Smith fumbled a chance at slip on day four to let off Abdullah Shafique, Usman Khawaja put down a straightforward chance at short cover off Rizwan while Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne dropped chances offered by Babar Azam — and all these mistakes proved costly.

“Probably disappointing thing this game as well, if we took a couple of those catches it might have been a different scenario,” said Cummins, who vowed that they will work on this aspect of the game.

Cummins was happy with his tactics and said he would not change much in his approach, according to a report in cricket.com.au.

“In terms of tactics, I think overall I wouldn’t change too much, to be honest,” Cummins said at the post-match press conference.

“I thought batting into day three gave us that chance to really have a crack at them on day three … it probably went better than we would have expected. But over here, the wickets are pretty good.

“We try and bat two-and-a-half days on the best time to bat on the wicket, hoping it’s going to break up on days four and five, and it held together pretty well, they batted well so I think overall, happy.”

Cummins was upbeat at Australia’s chances of clinching a first Test series win abroad in six years after the first two Tests ended in draws. The third and final Test will be played from March 21-25 at Lahore.

“We’re showing that we’re able to adapt and play well over here, but of course getting so close, so far ahead in the game and not coming out with a result can feel like it’s a missed opportunity,” he said.

“The good thing is it’s nil-all, we didn’t lose anything, there’s another game next week.

“Coming over here in these conditions at the start of the series, if you said it was going to be nil-all after two games you’d probably take that,” Cummins said.

International

₹136 Crore Per Year To Luxury Suite At Training Ground: All About Kylian Mbappe’s Bumper Deal At Real Madrid

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In a move that has captivated football enthusiasts worldwide, Kylian Mbappe has officially transferred from Paris Saint-Germain to Real Madrid as of Tuesday.

This long-anticipated switch concludes months of speculation and excitement among fans.

Real Madrid’s Exciting Acquisition

Real Madrid announced on Monday that they had secured a deal with the French superstar for the next five seasons, merging one of football’s brightest talents with its most illustrious club.

This deal follows years of interest from Madrid, eager to bring in the player seen as the heir to Lionel Messi’s throne in the sport.

Financial Details of Mbappe’s Move

The 25-year-old Parisian will reportedly earn 15 million Euros net per season at Real Madrid, translating to over ₹136 crores annually. This figure breaks down to an impressive ₹2.6 crore per week.

While this is a significant reduction from the €75 million net per year he received at PSG, the shortfall will be offset by a massive signing bonus. The bonus, around €150 million, will be disbursed over the course of his contract.

Perks and Anticipated Debuts

Aside from his substantial salary, Mbappe will enjoy a private luxury suite at Real Madrid’s training facility and will sport the iconic No.9 jersey, previously worn by legendary striker Karim Benzema.

His anticipated debut for Real Madrid will occur during the preseason, with their first friendly against AC Milan at Soldier Field in Chicago on July 31.

His competitive debut is expected in the UEFA Super Cup, where Real Madrid will take on Europa League winners Atalanta in Warsaw, Poland, on August 14.

Mbappe’s Stellar PSG Legacy

Mbappe joined PSG from Monaco in 2017 for €180 million and has since become the club’s all-time leading scorer.

Throughout his seven-year tenure in Paris, he consistently demonstrated his scoring prowess, netting at least 30 goals in six of those seasons. His move to Real Madrid marks the next chapter in an already illustrious career, as he aims to further his legacy at one of the world’s most storied football clubs.

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ENG vs ESP, Euro 2024 Final: Spain Become The 1st Four-Time Champions Of Europe After Beating England 2-1 In Berlin

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Match Result:

Spain triumphed over England with a 2-1 victory in the Euro 2024 final, held in Berlin, becoming the first team to win the championship four times.

The match saw a tense first half ending goalless, but Spain took the lead shortly after the break. Williams Jr. netted the opener in the 47th minute, capitalizing on a defensive lapse by England.

England fought back, with Palmer leveling the score in the 73rd minute, igniting hopes for the Three Lions. However, Spain maintained their pressure, and in the 86th minute, Oyarzabal clinched the winner with a decisive strike.

This historic win cements Spain’s status as Europe’s most successful team, while England’s wait for a major international trophy continues. The final was a showcase of high-quality football and strategic mastery, ultimately seeing Spain emerge as deserved champions.

This historic win cements Spain’s status as Europe’s most successful team, while England’s wait for a major international trophy continues. The final was a showcase of high-quality football and strategic mastery, ultimately seeing Spain emerge as deserved champions.

Preview of Euro 2024 Cup final:

A strong Spanish outfit will meet a pesky England side in the final of Euro 2024 final at the Olympiastadion in Berlin. Spain battled France and defeated them by 2-1 in the semi-final, while England overcame the Netherlands by the same margin.

However, it wasn’t without a contentious penalty call that went in England’s favour. Despite not starting the contest as favourites, England’s ability to hang in there could work against Spain, who are seeking a 4th Euro title. By contrast, England are yet to lift the trophy.

A crucial stat which is in favour of England is the head to head battle, which the former lead by 13-10 against Spain in 27 outings.

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Violent Clash Erupts Between Rival Supporters During Argentina vs Brazil 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers

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The 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers has been marred in controversy as the match between Brazil and Argentina saw violent clashes between rival supporters before the start of it. The high-profile fixture had to be delayed by 30 minutes as the Marcana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro witnessed ugly scenes, with disturbing visuals emerging on social media.

With the Brazilian and Argentinian players lining up for national anthems, the camera turned towards the stands as a section of rival fans exchanged blows. The local police officials could be seen beating up a section of Argentinian fans with batons and it did not go well with the tourists. By pointing at the violent scenes, Messi and co. decided to walk off the pitch.

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