Allrounder Arafat Minhas struck a maiden half-century and grabbed a career-best six wickets to anchor Pakistan's convincing 87-run win over England in the tri-series in Rawalpindi on Tuesday. Minhas hit 59 off 58 balls and was ably assisted by Hasan Nawaz, whose 74-ball 79 lifted Pakistan to a solid 302-9 at Pindi Stadium.&nbsp;The versatile Minhas then took 6-40 with his beguiling left-arm spin as England were reduced to 215 all out in 38.4 overs. He also ran out the last England batter to cap a superb showing.&nbsp;England lost their last nine wickets for 95 runs after being well set at 120-1, with Tom Banton (57) and Ben Duckett (45) giving them a confident start.&nbsp;Minhas grabbed three crucial wickets, getting Banton caught off a miscued pull, bowling Harry Brook for five with a sharp turner, and then trapping Jordan Cox for 18.&nbsp;Minhas completed his second five-wicket haul when he dismissed Will Jacks for 19 and then had Jamie Overton for one.&nbsp;Banton smashed five boundaries and two sixes in his 53-ball knock.&nbsp;Naseem Shah snared the prized wicket of Joe Root for 33, and Haris Rauf removed a dangerous Sam Curran for 27 as England's run chase faltered.&nbsp;Nawaz and Minhas earlier lifted Pakistan from a precarious 133-5. Nawaz, who hit four sixes and five boundaries, added 78 for the sixth wicket with Minhas as England struggled to break their stand, dropping three catches.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-vs-new-zealand-t20i-series-2026-complete-schedule-match-timings-squads-and-live-streaming-details-1792498820613">India vs New Zealand T20I Series 2026: Complete schedule, match timings, squads and live streaming details</a>&nbsp;Minhas then added an invaluable 72 for the seventh wicket with Faheem Ashraf (39) as Pakistan added 91 runs in the last 10 overs.&nbsp;Minhas hit nine fours, while Ashraf's knock included a six and five boundaries.England's Gus Atkinson jolted Pakistan with the very first ball of the match to dismiss Fakhar Zaman, caught by Root at short mid-wicket.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-w-vs-zim-w-shafali-verma-reprimanded-by-icc-for-breach-of-code-of-conduct-1792491702099">IND-W vs ZIM-W: Shafali Verma reprimanded by ICC for breach of Code of Conduct</a>&nbsp;Sonny Baker made it 2-31 with the wicket of Saim Ayub for eight before Babar Azam (34) and Saad Baig (35) steadied the innings.&nbsp;England's Baker took 3-65, while Atkinson finished with 2-35. England meet Sri Lanka in the third match on Thursday, also in Rawalpindi.

Arafat Minhas shone with a maiden half-century and a career-best six-wicket haul as Pakistan registered a commanding 87-run win over England in Rawalpindi.

Allrounder Arafat Minhas struck a maiden half-century and grabbed a career-best six wickets to anchor Pakistan's convincing 87-run win over England in the tri-series in Rawalpindi on Tuesday. Minhas hit 59 off 58 balls and was ably assisted by Hasan Nawaz, whose 74-ball 79 lifted Pakistan to a solid 302-9 at Pindi Stadium. The versatile Minhas then took 6-40 with his beguiling left-arm spin as England were reduced to 215 all out in 38.4 overs. He also ran out the last England batter to cap a superb showing. England lost their last nine wickets for 95 runs after being well set at 120-1, with Tom Banton (57) and Ben Duckett (45) giving them a confident start. Minhas grabbed three crucial wickets, getting Banton caught off a miscued pull, bowling Harry Brook for five with a sharp turner, and then trapping Jordan Cox for 18. Minhas completed his second five-wicket haul when he dismissed Will Jacks for 19 and then had Jamie Overton for one. Banton smashed five boundaries and two sixes in his 53-ball knock. Naseem Shah snared the prized wicket of Joe Root for 33, and Haris Rauf removed a dangerous Sam Curran for 27 as England's run chase faltered. Nawaz and Minhas earlier lifted Pakistan from a precarious 133-5. Nawaz, who hit four sixes and five boundaries, added 78 for the sixth wicket with Minhas as England struggled to break their stand, dropping three catches. Also Read - India vs New Zealand T20I Series 2026: Complete schedule, match timings, squads and live streaming details Minhas then added an invaluable 72 for the seventh wicket with Faheem Ashraf (39) as Pakistan added 91 runs in the last 10 overs. Minhas hit nine fours, while Ashraf's knock included a six and five boundaries. England's Gus Atkinson jolted Pakistan with the very first ball of the match to dismiss Fakhar Zaman, caught by Root at short mid-wicket. Also Read - IND-W vs ZIM-W: Shafali Verma reprimanded by ICC for breach of Code of Conduct Sonny Baker made it 2-31 with the wicket of Saim Ayub for eight before Babar Azam (34) and Saad Baig (35) steadied the innings. England's Baker took 3-65, while Atkinson finished with 2-35. England meet Sri Lanka in the third match on Thursday, also in Rawalpindi.

Arafat Minhas shone with a maiden half-century and a career-best six-wicket haul as Pakistan registered a commanding 87-run win over England in Rawalpindi.

PAK vs ENG: Arafat Minhas, Hasan Nawaz shine as Pakistan beat England by 87 runs

Pakistan's left-arm spinner Kashif Bhatti has been allowed to rejoin the squad after coronavirus scare.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/eng-vs-pak-can-pakistan-defeat-england-in-the-test-series-ramiz-raja-gives-his-take-313738" hreflang="en">Can Pakistan defeat England in the Test series? Ramiz Raja gives his take</a>

Before travelling to the UK, tests were conducted under PCB's protocols where he was first tested positive, however, the following to tests have turned out to be negative. So the player was allowed to travel for the tour.&nbsp;

After arriving in the UK, the player was tested again under the ECB protocols and was tested positive. He had to isolate himself, but later tests confirmed that he was negative and was allowed to join the squad in Worcester.&nbsp;

There was confusion over the initial positive test in the UK but an ECB spokesperson said it was "for the remnants of a previous Covid-19 infection".

"The player had returned a positive test result for the remnants of a previous Covid-19 infection and in consultation with Public Health England and a virologist, a safety-first approach was taken to isolate the player," the spokesperson said. "The player has now returned a second negative test with no risk of infection to other players and staff."

Bhatti arrived in the UK on July 8, he travelled with Haider Ali and Imran Khan. While self-isolating, Bhatti remained in the same hotel where the squad stayed but did not train with them. He trained separately.&nbsp;

Pakistan's left-arm spinner Kashif Bhatti has been allowed to rejoin the squad after coronavirus scare. Also read: Can Pakistan defeat England in the Test series?

Pakistan's left-arm spinner Kashif Bhatti has been allowed to rejoin the squad after coronavirus scare. Also read: Can Pakistan defeat England in the Test series? Ramiz Raja gives his take Before travelling to the UK, tests were conducted under PCB's protocols where he was first tested positive, however, the following to tests have turned out to be negative. So the player was allowed to travel for the tour. After arriving in the UK, the player was tested again under the ECB protocols and was tested positive. He had to isolate himself, but later tests confirmed that he was negative and was allowed to join the squad in Worcester. There was confusion over the initial positive test in the UK but an ECB spokesperson said it was "for the remnants of a previous Covid-19 infection". "The player had returned a positive test result for the remnants of a previous Covid-19 infection and in consultation with Public Health England and a virologist, a safety-first approach was taken to isolate the player," the spokesperson said. "The player has now returned a second negative test with no risk of infection to other players and staff." Bhatti arrived in the UK on July 8, he travelled with Haider Ali and Imran Khan. While self-isolating, Bhatti remained in the same hotel where the squad stayed but did not train with them. He trained separately.

In a COVID twist, Pak spinner Kashif Bhatti rejoins squad after testing negative

Pakistan cricket captain Misbah-ul Haq hopes the upcoming test series in England will help spur the return of international cricket to the South Asian nation after a seven-year absence due to security fears. 
 
Pakistan has not staged test matches since a 2009 gun attack on Sri Lanka&#39;s team bus in Lahore killed six Pakistani policemen and a van driver. Some players and a local umpire were injured. 
 
Improved security in Pakistan in recent years has prompted calls for international teams to return but test playing nations have so far refused to tour a country where Islamist militants still pose a threat. 
 
Misbah told Reuters he hoped the four-test series in England &quot;would help revive cricket series in Pakistan&quot;. 
 
Pakistan last played test matches in England in 2012 and the 42-year-old batsman said he expected an &quot;exciting&quot; tour after such a long gap. 
 
&quot;It is a big tour for Pakistan,&quot; Misbah said late on Thursday during a send-off dinner for the Pakistani team hosted by Britain&#39;s High Commissioner to Pakistan, Thomas Drew. 
 
Britain&#39;s Prime Minister David Cameron also sent a good luck message to Pakistan&#39;s team, saying: &quot;I hope that one day in the not too distant future I will be able to wish the England cricket team a successful tour of Pakistan.&quot; 
 
Pakistan&#39;s formidable pace attack, spearheaded by left-armers Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz, will face a resurgent and youthful England team captained by Alastair Cook, who last month became the first England cricketer to reach 10,000 test runs. 
 
&quot;England cricket team is a strong and balanced one,&quot; Pakistan&#39;s experienced all-rounder Muhammad Hafeez said. &quot;Pakistan team has plenty of talent. We will try to give a quality series to the spectators and cricket fans.&quot; 
 
Since 2009, Pakistan&#39;s national team has been hosting foreign teams in the United Arab Emirates. Pakistan defeated England in a three-test series in 2015, winning two matches and drawing the third. 
 
The coming test series will see the return of Amir to test cricket after serving a five-year ban following a spot-fixing scandal in England. 
 
It will also be the first test series for leg-spinner Yasir Shah since he served a three-month suspension for a doping violation. 
 
Shaharyar Khan, chairman of Pakistan&#39;s cricket board, said he was confident Misbah&#39;s squad would hold its own against England and urged them to show their worth. 
 
&quot;I would say, play hard, giving no quarter to England for under Alastair Cook they are too good an outfit to not make you regret it,&quot; he said. 
 
Pakistan will play four tests, five one-dayers and a Twenty20 International in England between July 14 and September 7.

Country has not hosted a game since a 2009 attack on Sri Lanka's team bus in Lahore killed six Pakistani policemen and a van driver

Pakistan cricket captain Misbah-ul Haq hopes the upcoming test series in England will help spur the return of international cricket to the South Asian nation after a seven-year absence due to security fears. Pakistan has not staged test matches since a 2009 gun attack on Sri Lanka's team bus in Lahore killed six Pakistani policemen and a van driver. Some players and a local umpire were injured. Improved security in Pakistan in recent years has prompted calls for international teams to return but test playing nations have so far refused to tour a country where Islamist militants still pose a threat. Misbah told Reuters he hoped the four-test series in England "would help revive cricket series in Pakistan". Pakistan last played test matches in England in 2012 and the 42-year-old batsman said he expected an "exciting" tour after such a long gap. "It is a big tour for Pakistan," Misbah said late on Thursday during a send-off dinner for the Pakistani team hosted by Britain's High Commissioner to Pakistan, Thomas Drew. Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron also sent a good luck message to Pakistan's team, saying: "I hope that one day in the not too distant future I will be able to wish the England cricket team a successful tour of Pakistan." Pakistan's formidable pace attack, spearheaded by left-armers Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz, will face a resurgent and youthful England team captained by Alastair Cook, who last month became the first England cricketer to reach 10,000 test runs. "England cricket team is a strong and balanced one," Pakistan's experienced all-rounder Muhammad Hafeez said. "Pakistan team has plenty of talent. We will try to give a quality series to the spectators and cricket fans." Since 2009, Pakistan's national team has been hosting foreign teams in the United Arab Emirates. Pakistan defeated England in a three-test series in 2015, winning two matches and drawing the third. The coming test series will see the return of Amir to test cricket after serving a five-year ban following a spot-fixing scandal in England. It will also be the first test series for leg-spinner Yasir Shah since he served a three-month suspension for a doping violation. Shaharyar Khan, chairman of Pakistan's cricket board, said he was confident Misbah's squad would hold its own against England and urged them to show their worth. "I would say, play hard, giving no quarter to England for under Alastair Cook they are too good an outfit to not make you regret it," he said. Pakistan will play four tests, five one-dayers and a Twenty20 International in England between July 14 and September 7.

Misbah hopes England series will lead to Test matches in Pakistan