The Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates was opened in May 2004 and staged its first first-class match when Scotland played Kenya in the Intercontinental Cup in November the same year.

The Sheikh Zayed Stadium made its international debut with an India-Pakistan ODI match on April 18, 2006, which Pakistan won by six wickets.

With a seating capacity of 20000, the Sheikh Zayed Stadium is dominated by two large stands at either end. The areas to the square of the wicket offer large grass banks for spectators to sit.

Four years after its ODI debut, the Sheikh Zayed Stadium made its T20I bow in February 2010 in a World T20 Qualifier between Afghanistan and Scotland, a match Afghanistan won by 14 runs. 

A few months later in November the same year, the venue hosted its first Test match, between Pakistan and South Africa which ended in a draw.

With that said, let us glance through all the ODI records and stats at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium.

Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi ODI records and stats

Most runs

Pakistan’s Misbah-ul-Haq has the most runs in ODIs played at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The middle-order batter accumulated 585 runs from 15 innings at an impressive average of 48.75.

Misbah has a total of six fifties at the venue with the unbeaten 79 in Pakistan’s 31-run win over the West Indies in 2008 being his highest score. Mohammad Hafeez of Pakistan is second on the list with 576 runs from 18 matches.

Most wickets

Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal is on top of the bowlers�charts with 29 wickets from 18 ODIs at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium. He averages 23.79 and has an economy of 4.05 in ODIs at the venue.

Ajmal registered his best figures of 5/43 at the venue in Pakistan’s 130-run loss to England in 2012. Ajmal’s former teammate Umar Gul is second on the list with a tally of 28 wickets from 16 matches.

Highest Total

Pakistan’s 313/9 against Sri Lanka in an ODI in 2007 is the highest total by a team at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. 

Pakistan opener Salman Butt top-scored in the match with 74 runs off 81 balls, which included 11 fours. Yasir Hameed also supported well scoring a 53-ball 50 with seven hits to the fence. Entertaining cameos from captain Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Sami powered Pakistan past the 300-run mark. 

In response, Sri Lanka could manage only 215 before getting all out. Shahid Afridi picked up 3/37 for Pakistan while Mohammad Asif, Sami and Umar Gul got two wickets each.

Lowest Total

Afghanistan had the ignominy of registering the lowest total in ODIs at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium when they were skittled out for 63 in a 150-run loss to Scotland in 2015. Batting first, Scotland got to a respectable total of 213/7 with half-centuries from Richie Berrington and Josh Davey.

In response, Afghanistan could not pose a challenge as Josh Davey and Iain Wardlaw picked up 6/28 and 4/22, respectively. Only three batters were able to reach the double-figure mark for Afghanistan in that match.

Highest individual score

Alastair Cook’s 137 in England’s 130-run win over Pakistan in 2012 is the highest individual score in ODIs at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. 

The England skipper led from the front with his majestic knock which came in 142 balls to help his side post a challenging 260/7 while batting first. Cook’s innings was laden with 14 boundaries and he received good support from Ravi Bopara who scored 50 off 69 balls.

Pakistan were bowled out for 130 in the chase and Cook was deservingly adjudged the Player of the Match.

Best bowling figures in a match

Josh Davey’s 6/28 in Scotland’s 150-run rout of Afghanistan in 2015 is the best bowling figures recorded by a player in an ODI at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium. Davey’s career-best bowling figures in ODIs also subjected Afghanistan to the lowest ODI total recorded at the venue.

Davey had a dream match as he had earlier scored an unbeaten fifty to guide Scotland to a respectable total of 213/7 in the first innings. The medium-pacer won the Player of the Match for his all-round efforts in the contest.

Highest Partnership

Misbah-ul-Haq and Kamran Akmal’s unbeaten association of 198 runs for the fourth wicket against Australia in 2009 is the highest partnership in ODIs recorded at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium.

In pursuit of 251, the partnership helped Pakistan out of a precarious situation as they were reduced to 56/3. Akmal top-scored for Pakistan with an unbeaten 116 while Misbah remained not out on 76 at the other end as the Men in Green pocketed the contest by seven wickets with three overs to spare.

Photo credit: Imago

The India vs Pakistan, World Championship Legends League Cricket 2024 final will be played at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham, England on Saturday, July 13.

The India vs Pakistan World Championship Legends League Cricket 2024 final will start at 9:00 PM IST.

Under the leadership of Yuvraj Singh, India Champions thrashed Australia Champions by 86 runs in their World Championship of Legends 2024 semi-final clash at County Ground in Northampton on Friday.

Put in to bat, India rode on blitzkrieg fifties from wicketkeeper-batter Robin Uthappa (65), captain Yuvraj Singh (59), Yusuf Pathan (51 not out) and Irfan Pathan (50) to post a mammoth score of 254/6 in their 20 overs.

Later, Dhawal Kulkarni and Pawan Negi bagged two wickets each to help India Champions restrict Australia Champions to 168/7 in their allotted overs to register a dominant victory in Northampton.

Earlier, India qualified for the WCL 2024 semi-finals after finishing fourth in the league standings with two wins and three losses.

On the other hand, Pakistan Champions defeated West Indies Champions by 20 runs in their WCL 2024 semi-final encounter at County Ground in Northampton to set-up a mouth-watering World Championship Legends League Cricket 2024 final.

Pakistan Champions captain Younis Khan led from the front with 65 off 45 balls along with contributions from wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal (46), Aamer Yamin (40) and Sohail Tanvir (33) to post 198/8 in their 20 overs.

Right-arm pacer Sohail Khan later scalped four wickets for just 21 runs in his 3.5 overs to help Pakistan Champions bowl out West Indies Champions for 178 in 19.5 overs.

With four victories and one defeat, the Younis Khan-led Pakistan earlier finished second in the WCL 2024 league standings to qualify for the semi-finals.

India vs Pakistan World Championship Legends League Cricket head-to-head 

Pakistan Champions defeated India Champions by 68 runs in their previous meeting in the ongoing World Championship of Legends 2024 at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham.

Fifties from Kamran Akmal (77), Sharjeel Khan (72) and Sohaib Maqsood (51) powered Pakistan Champions to a huge score of 243/4 in their 20 overs.

Chasing a mammoth total, the Yuvraj Singh-led India Champions could only manage 175/9 in their allotted overs.

Where to watch India vs Pakistan World Championship Legends League Cricket 2024 final live in India 

The India vs Pakistan World Championship Legends League Cricket 2024 final will be telecast live on Star Sports 1 Hindi and Star Sports 1 Telugu TV channels in India.

Live streaming of the India vs Pakistan World Championship Legends League Cricket 2024 final will be available on the FanCode app and website.

Photo credit: Imago

The record for the fastest fifty in cricket history is held by Nepal's Dipendra Singh Airee, who smashed a nine-ball half-century against Mongolia in the 2023 Asian Games. His knock helped set up a 273-run win for Nepal.

Ashutosh Sharma from Railways hit the second-fastest fifty in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2023. Playing against Arunachal Pradesh, Ashutosh achieved the record in 11 balls. 

Meanwhile, the record for the third fastest fifty in cricket history by balls faced is 12 deliveries, and five cricketers have achieved the feat to date.

Among the five, Yuvraj Singh is the only Indian to feature as the quickest half-centurion in cricket history.

Here we take a look at the record batters who have scored the fastest fifty in cricket history.

Fastest fifty in cricket history

Player	Balls faced	Year	Format
Dipendra Singh Airee	9	2023	T20
Ashutosh Sharma	11	2023	T20
Yuvraj Singh	12	2007	T20
Wayne White	12	2012	First-Class
Chris Gayle	12	2016	T20
Hazratullah Zazai	12	2018	T20

Fastest fifty in First-Class cricket

Wayne White is the record holder for the fastest fifty in First-Class cricket, having hit an unbeaten 12-ball 50 against Essex in 2012.

After playing out a knock of 53 runs in 111 deliveries in the first innings of the 2012 County Championship Division 2 match, White raced to his half-century in the second innings in record time.

His knock was infused with four boundaries and four sixes as he helped Leicestershire give Essex a target of 270 runs to chase. The match was eventually drawn.

Player	Team	Opponent	Balls faced	Year
Wayne White	Leicestershire	Essex	12	2012
Michael van Vuuren	Eastern Province ‘B�/span>	Griqualand West	13	1985
Ned Eckersley	Leicestershire	Essex	14	2012
Khalil Mahmood	Gujranwala	Sargodha	15	2000
Bandeep Singh	Jammu and Kashmir	Tripura	15	2015

The same match would see Wayne White’s team-mate Ned Eckersley hit a 14-ball fifty and remain unbeaten with a 19-ball 70 alongside White.

Meanwhile, in India, Bandeep Singh scripted a historic record of his own in 2015. Representing Jammu and Kashmir in the Ranji Trophy match against Tripura, Bandeep smashed a 15-ball 50 to help his side set a target of 368 to win the match.

Bandeep Singh’s knock still stands as the fastest fifty in Ranji Trophy history. To know about Ranji Trophy records, click here.

Fastest fifty in Test cricket

In the international format, former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq holds the record for the fastest fifty in Test cricket.

Misbah took a record 24 minutes to reach his Test half-century in the 2014 Pakistan vs Australia Test in Abu Dhabi and broke the previous record held by Jacques Kallis in 2009 against Zimbabwe.

Player	Team	Opponent	Balls faced	Year
Misbah-ul-Haq	Pakistan	Australia	21	2014
David Warner	Australia	Griqualand West	23	2017
Jacques Kallis	South Africa	Essex	24	2005
Shane Shillingford	West Indies	New Zealand	25	2014
Shahid Afridi	Pakistan	India	26	2005

Rishabh Pant holds the record for India with a 28-ball fifty against Sri Lanka in 2022.

Fastest fifty in List A cricket

Kaushalya Weeraratne is credited as the player to score the fastest fifty in List A cricket, with his 12-ball effort coming in a List A game for Ragama Cricket Club against Kurunegala Youth Cricket Club in the 2005 Premier Limited Over Tournament.

The Sri Lankan all-rounder remained unbeaten on 66 runs off 18 balls as his knock, which included two fours and eight sixes, propelled Ragama to 219/5. The match eventually finished without a result.

Player	Team	Opponent	Balls faced	Year
Kaushalya Weeraratne	Ragama Cricket Club	Kurunegala Youth Cricket Club	12	2005
Thisara Perera	Sri Lanka Army Sports Club	Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic Club	13	2021
Rory Kleinveldt	Western Province	KwaZulu-Natal	14	2011
Adam Hollioake	Surrey	Yorkshire	15	1994
Salman Butt	National Bank of Pakistan	Lahore Eagles	15	2005

Baroda’s Atit Sheth hit the fastest fifty in List A cricket during the 2020-21 Vijay Hazare Trophy Elite Group A match against Chhattisgarh. The then-25-year-old hit seven maximums in his blitzkrieg to drive Baroda to a match-winning score of 332/6.

Fastest fifty in ODIs

AB de Villiers holds the record for the fastest fifty in ODIs. The legendary South African batter took just 16 balls to reach his fifty in a 2015 ODI against West Indies and finished his innings with a 44-ball 149 at a rate of 338.63.

Player	Team	Opponent	Balls faced	Year
AB de Villiers	South Africa	West Indies	16	2015
Sanath Jayasuriya	Sri Lanka	Pakistan	17	1996
Kusal Perera	Sri Lanka	Pakistan	17	2015
Martin Guptill	New Zealand	Sri Lanka	17	2015
Liam Livingstone	England	Netherlands	17	2022

Ajit Agarkar hit the fastest fifty in ODIs for the Indian cricket team in 2000. His 21-ball fifty helped India beat Zimbabwe by 39 runs.

Fastest fifty in T20 cricket

As mentioned earlier, the fastest fifty in cricket history record belongs to Nepal's Dipendra Singh Airee after he hit a nine-ball half-century against Mongolia in the 2023 Asian Games to set up a 273-run win for his country.

Meanwhile, amongst the many accolades in his career, Yuvraj Singh is fondly remembered as the player with the third fastest fifty in T20 cricket.

The knock came against England in the 2007 T20 World Cup. Yuvraj smashed three fours and seven sixes in his 16-ball 58, and six of those came off a Stuart Broad over. This made the flamboyant Indian all-rounder the second player in international cricket and the fourth in cricket history to slam six sixes in an over.

Player	Team	Opponent	Balls faced	Year
Dipendra Singh Airee	Nepal	Mongolia	9	2023
Ashutosh Sharma	Railways	Arunachal Pradesh	11	2023
Yuvraj Singh	India	England	12	2007
Chris Gayle	Melbourne Renegades	Adelaide Strikers	12	2016
Hazratullah Zazai	Kabul Zwanan	Balkh Legends	12	2018
Marcus Trescothick	Somerset	Hampshire	13	2010

Yuvraj Singh’s feat, which is a record in the international format, would be matched by Chris Gayle (2016) and Hazratullah Zazai (2018) in 20-over franchise cricket.

While Gayle’s 12-ball fifty came in a Melbourne Renegades vs Adelaide Strikers match in the 2016 Big Bash League, Zazai achieved the feat in a 2018 Afghanistan Premier League match between Kabul Zwanan and Balkh Legends.

Featured photo: AFP / ALEXANDER JOE

Former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq leads the list for the fastest fifty in Test cricket, with his record 21-ball half-century against Australia in an Abu Dhabi Test in 2014.

Misbah, who played 75 Tests for the Pakistan cricket team, slammed four boundaries and four sixes as he reached the milestone in just 24 minutes, a record for the fastest fifty in Test cricket by minutes.

The middle-order batter would go on to score an unbeaten 101 in the Test and join a list of cricketers to score centuries in both innings of a Test match.

Australian opener David Warner is the second player to hit the fastest fifty in Test cricket. The southpaw took 23 balls to reach 50 in the third Test between Australia and Pakistan at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in 2017.

Warner’s effort helped Australia to a confident start of 53/0 in 13 overs as he broke a 39-year-old national record previously set by Bruce Yardley against West Indies in 1978.

Since David Warner’s 23-ball fifty, Jacques Kallis (24 balls vs Zimbabwe, 2005), Shane Shillingford (25 balls vs New Zealand, 2014) and Shahid Afridi (26 balls vs India, 2005) have registered the fastest fifty in Test cricket among international cricketers.

Fastest 50 in Test: The top five list

Player	Opponents	Balls faced	Year
Misbah-ul-Haq	Australia	21	2014
David Warner	Pakistan	23	2017
Jacques Kallis	Zimbabwe	24	2005
Shane Shillingford	New Zealand	25	2014
Shahid Afridi	India	26	2005

Bangladesh’s Mohammad Ashraful (Bangladesh v India, 2007) and Dale Steyn (South Africa v West Indies, 2014) matched Afridi’s 26-ball feat of the fastest fifty in Test cricket.

Fastest 50 in Test for India: Rishabh Pant the new record holder

Rishabh Pant broke Kapil Dev's 40-year-old record for the fastest fifty in Test cricket by an Indian batter in a Pink-ball Test between India and Sri Lanka in 2022.

Pant slammed seven fours and two sixes to reach his fifty in just 28 deliveries in the second innings of the second Test at the M Chinnaswamy in Bengaluru. In doing so, the wicketkeeper-batter surpassed Kapil Dev’s effort of 30 balls against Pakistan in Karachi in 1982.

Rishabh Pant also broke MS Dhoni's record for the fastest fifty by a wicket-keeper batter in Test cricket. Pant’s 28-ball effort broke Dhoni’s record of 34 balls that the former shared with former Australia gloveman Ian Smith.

All-rounder Shardul Thakur initially came close to breaking Kapil Dev’s record when he hit a 31-ball fifty against England in an Oval Test in 2021.

Player	Opponents	Balls faced	Year
Rishabh Pant	Sri Lanka	28	2022
Kapil Dev	Pakistan	30	1982
Shardul Thakur	England	31	2021
Virender Sehwag	England	32	2008

Author: William Paul

Featured photo: AFP / ISHARA S.KODIKARA

The Indian cricket team will lock horns with arch-rivals Pakistan in their opening encounter of ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021 at the Dubai International Stadium on October 24.

This will be the first meeting between India and Pakistan in the shortest format since the two cricketing giants clashed in the last edition of the T20 World Cup at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata in 2016.

India and Pakistan have faced each other five times in ICC T20 World Cup tournaments, with the Men in Blue clearly dominating the rivalry with a 5-0 superiority.

The MS Dhoni-led young Indian side defeated Pakistan in the final at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg to win the inaugural edition of ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2007. Interestingly, Pakistan avenged their loss by claiming the next edition of T20 World Cup by beating Sri Lanka in the final at Lord’s in 2009.

Here’s how India vs Pakistan matches panned out across all editions of the T20 World Cup till date.

ICC T20 World Cup 2007, Group stage: India beat Pakistan via bowl-out

India faced Pakistan in a Group D encounter in the first edition of T20 World Cup at Durban in 2007. Put into bat, Robin Uthappa’s fifty powered the Men in Blue to a respectable total of 141/9 in their 20 overs. In reply, Pakistan rode on Misbah-ul-Haq’s half-century to finish 141/7 in 20 overs as the match ended in a tie. The winner of the match was decided by a bowl-out where India defeated Pakistan 3-0. 

Virender Sehwag �br />Harbhajan Singh �br />Robin Uthappa �/p>

India and Pakistan's wild bowl-out finish from the 2007 #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/sW7sJJHKnr

�T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) October 9, 2021

ICC T20 World Cup 2007 final: India beat Pakistan by 5 runs

The two sides once again met in the final of ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in South Africa in 2007. Electing to bat first, India rode on opener Gautam Gambhir’s 54-ball 75 and Rohit Sharma’s 30 off 16 balls to post a fighting total of 157/5 in their quota of 20 overs. Pakistan looked on course to chase down the target before in-form Misbah-ul-Haq gave his wicket away while playing a ramp shot as India became inaugural champions of the T20 World Cup.

#OnThisDay14 years ago, India won an epic first ever T20 World Cup final.

Pakistan needed 13 to win off the last over. After Misbah hit the second legal delivery for six, the equation was reduced to six runs off four balls.

The rest is history. pic.twitter.com/o4xJJ0CPpK

�Wisden (@WisdenCricket) September 24, 2021

ICC T20 World Cup 2012, Super 8s: India beat Pakistan by 8 wickets

India and Pakistan locked horns in the super eight stage of ICC T20 World Cup 2012 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Opting to bat first, Pakistan lost wickets at regular intervals as they were bundled out for 128 in 19.4 overs. In reply, Virat Kohli scored an unbeaten 78 runs off 61 balls to chase down the total with three overs to spare.

ICC T20 World Cup 2014, Super 10s: India beat Pakistan by 7 wickets

This was once again a one-sided affair as India thrashed Pakistan by seven wickets in the Super 10s of ICC T20 World Cup 2014 in Dhaka. Chasing a modest target of 131, Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina powered the Men in Blue to a comfortable victory. Earlier, Pakistan could only manage 130/7 in their quota of 20 overs.

ICC T20 World Cup 2016, Super 10s: India beat Pakistan by 6 wickets

Ahead of the mouth-watering encounter, rain played spoilsport as the match was reduced to 18 overs each. MS Dhoni won the toss and decided to field first considering the weather conditions. Pakistan batters struggled to get going on a slow Eden Gardens pitch and could only post 118/5 in 18 overs. In reply, India lost three quick wickets before Virat Kohli scored a 37-ball 55 to take India over the line.

Featured photo: ALEXANDER JOE / AFP

Pakistan coach Misbah-ul-Haq has urged his side to get off to a flying start in their Test series with England, saying they must be at their best "right from the word 'go'".

England are notoriously sluggish starters and have lost the opener in eight of their past 10 Test series, including a recent 2-1 home success against the West Indies that marked international cricket's return from the lockdown.

They now return to Old Trafford, the scene of their two victories over Jason Holder's men, for the first Test in another three-match series, against Pakistan, starting on Wednesday.

• England’s love affair with Old Trafford and Stokesâ€?incredible form

Misbah, suggesting England would have the advantage of momentum, told reporters on Monday: "We should be ready for an England team that have already had three matches of experience and they won their last two Test matches. 

"We have to really come in this Test series right from the word 'go' at our best if we want to win a Test series or a Test match here. 

"We are aware that England have a slight advantage but if we are alert and go 100 percent in the first Test match, that is the only way we can beat England, otherwise we will find ourselves in difficulty."

Both England and Pakistan, who have played two intra-squad warm-up matches, boast talented pace attacks but Misbah, Pakistan's captain when they drew a four-match series in England four years ago, believes his side also have the batsmen to give their bowlers enough runs to defend.

Batting 'fight'

"It's always tough with the Duke ball in England where the ball moves around off the seam and also in the air," Misbah said.

"But this is where you can really fight and our batting looked in great shape in the last two series. We played in Pakistan but even in Australia, we managed to score good runs in almost every innings. 

"Shan Masood, Abid Ali scored centuries in the previous series (at home to Bangladesh in February and at home to Sri Lanka in December). Conditions are different but still confidence plays a huge role in your mind when you're coming from a series where you scored runs. 

"Azhar (Ali) got a hundred (too, against Sri Lanka).

"In 2016 Asad Shafiq scored runs here, Babar Azam last time performed here in 2018 (when Pakistan drew a two-match series in England 1-1) and the way he's batting at the moment, he's confident and playing well."

England's attack, however, is set to feature James Anderson, closing in on 600 Test wickets, and Stuart Broad, who took his 500th in the third Test against the West Indies.

"It's a challenge for us against an experienced and very good seam attack of England but I think we've got potential," said Misbah. 

"Mentally at the moment, the guys are in good shape because they are coming from good performances.

"When you are confident mentally and in good shape, then you always can deliver on the field."

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Arif Ali

Test cricket is synonymous with playing calm strokes instead of the blistering pace of the limited-over formats. While we have seen many an innings from the likes of VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid, and Matthew Hayden, all of whom were known for their strong performances in Test cricket, there were some batsmen who took advantage of favourable pitch conditions or subpar bowling and managed to hit quickfire runs to help their team across the line.

On that note, we take a look at five players who have written their names in the annals of history books by quickfire centuries in Test cricket:

Jack Gregory vs South Africa �67 balls (November 1921)

While touring South Africa in 1921, Jack Gregory had established himself as a legendary icon. In the first Test, he became one of two players to pick up a half-century, a five-wicket haul and five catches in a game. He backed that up with a century in the second Test, a record which took more than six decades to break, when Viv Richards did it in 1986, but more on that later below.

Gregory’s knock included 19 fours and two sixes, eventually losing his wicket for 119. Moreover, he achieved this feat in 70 minutes, a record which is yet to be broken in Test cricket. 

Adam Gilchrist vs England �57 balls (December 2006)

The Aussies have a knack for etching their names in record books and Adam Gilchrist is no different. Former skipper and World Cup winner with the team from Down Under, Gilchrist has many an innings to boast his prowess, including the fourth fastest Test century against England at home.

Achieving the feat in 57 balls, Gilchrist went on to score an unbeaten 102 at a strike-rate of 172.88. Ironically, he lost his wicket for a duck in the first innings of the game.

Viv Richards vs England �56 balls (April 1986)

When former West Indies stalwart Viv Richards hit a 56-ball century against England, he broke the aforementioned record of Jack Gregory that stood since 1921. Having already sealed the series with four wins, the Windies went full throttle against the English in the fifth Test as well.

Richards�knock came in the second innings, with the Windies legend hitting 110 off 58 balls at a strike-rate of 189.65 before declaring the innings. At the peak of their abilities, West Indies went on to beat England by 240 runs and complete a 5-0 whitewash.

Misbah-ul-Haq vs Australia �56 balls (October 2014)

The former Pakistan skipper is known for his slow innings and had a penchant for rescuing his side from imminent loss on many occasions. When Australia toured Pakistan in the latter’s adopted home in UAE, the Aussies were in for a surprise after losing the first Test. Misbah had hit a century in the first innings and backed up his performance with another century off 56 balls, which set up a massive total of 603 for Australia to chase down.

In response, the Aussies only managed 246 and lost the match by 356 runs.

Brendon McCullum vs Australia �54 balls (February 2016)

Brendon McCullum is synonymous with powerful knocks all through his illustrious career, and his last-ever Test match was no different. McCullum helped his side from 32/2 to a staggering 370 courtesy of a blistering 145 runs off 79 balls at a strike-rate of 183.54, with his century coming in just 56 balls.

His century currently stands as the fastest ever in term of balls as well as the fifth-fastest in term of minutes (78 minutes). Although Australia managed to snatch the victory with a strong comeback, McCullum had already written his name in record books.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Greg Wood

Head coach Misbah-ul-Haq is adamant Pakistan's upcoming tour of England amid the pandemic is not dependent upon a return visit.

International cricket is set to resume next month for the first time since the outbreak as England host the West Indies in a three-Test series staged behind closed doors.

Pakistan are also meant to play three Tests, as well as three Twenty20s, in a series scheduled to start on August 5, although the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have still to confirm the dates.

Major international teams stopped touring Pakistan after Sri Lanka's team bus was attacked by armed militants in Lahore in 2009 and, although some have returned recently, it is 15 years since England last visited the country. 

Cricket West Indies (CWI) president Ricky Skerritt told ESPN Cricinfo on Friday a $3 million loan to CWI by the ECB in May, was not contingent upon his side touring England but rather a "helping hand" from one of the sport's wealthiest major bodies to one of its poorest.

Read | Teenage cricket hotshots break into Pakistan's tour squad

The Pakistan Cricket Board, who announced Friday a touring squad at a time when more than 50,000 people have died from the disease in Britain, are also a financial minnow compared to the ECB.

But Pakistan chief selector and head coach Misbah, in a conference call on Saturday, rejected talk of a reciprocal arrangement.

'Start somewhere'

"It is not in our minds that we are coming and keeping in view something that the ECB has to do for us in return," he said.

"It is important for us to restart international cricket somewhere, get the players back on the ground. That is the most important thing at the moment."

Nevertheless, looking to the longer term, the former Pakistan captain added: "Obviously, in a bigger picture, we are not expecting anything in return but overall, we want not just the ECB but all cricketing nations to help each other so this game can grow. It's important for cricket fans in Pakistan and also for Pakistan cricket that countries start touring Pakistan."

Read | Ex-captain Younis Khan named Pakistan batting coach for England tour

Meanwhile, Misbah said Pakistan's experience of playing 'home' games in the United Arab Emirates without the "energy" provided by fans would stand them in good stead for matches in England where there will be no spectators on health grounds. 

"Nobody understands it better than us because we played much more cricket than any other team in the world with empty stadiums in the UAE," he said.  

"Obviously in a bigger picture, if we want to resume international cricket, we have to start it from somewhere."

Misbah also wished Shahid Afridi well after his fellow former Pakistan skipper tweeted on Saturday he had tested positive for the illness.

"My prayers are with him, all well wishes with him that he gets out of this soon," said Misbah.

"I think he was doing a lot of work in the area of Balochistan and the northern areas just to help the people. Throughout the situation he was helping the poor, doing a very good job."

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Arif Ali

England on Tuesday as international cricket slowly returns after the shutdown due to the global pandemic.

Younis, 42, is Pakistan's highest run-scorer in Tests with 10,099 runs in 118 matches in a career that stretched from 2000 to 2017.

Pakistan will also have the services of former spinner Mushtaq Ahmed as spin bowling coach to assist head coach Misbah-ul-Haq during the tour, where they are set to play three Tests and an equal number of Twenty20 internationals.

The national squad will likely kick off training in Lahore before departing for England in early July where they will be held in quarantine for two weeks.

Pakistan are set to play the first of three Tests in Manchester from August 5 while the remaining two Tests will be in Southampton (August 13-17 and 21-25).

The three Twenty20 internationals will all be played in Southampton on August 28, 30 and September 1.

Read | Pakistan players push back boundaries with Zoom cricket

International cricket, halted like other sports because of the pandemic, is finally coming back to life with the West Indies arriving in England on Tuesday for a rescheduled, three-Test tour.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said the two appointments were made to help Misbah and bowling coach Waqar Younis.

"The appointments have been made to provide head coach Misbah and fast bowling coach Waqar the necessary and essential resources that can help them further uplift the performance of the side," said the PCB in a statement.

Pakistan are currently seventh in the Test rankings but they have enjoyed strong tours in England in recent years, drawing 2-2 in 2016 and 1-1 in 2018.

"I am delighted that Younis has agreed to join the Pakistan cricket set-up and his work ethic, commitment to match preparation, game awareness and tactics in the English conditions will be invaluable," said PCB chief executive Wasim Khan.

Younis said he plans to draw on his experience to help shepherd the team during the tour.

"We all know English conditions demand not only precise technique but patience and discipline, and if you can master these, then you will not only excel in England but anywhere in the world," said Younis.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Rizwan Tabassum

Pakistan's newly appointed head coach, Misbah-ul-Haq urged the cricket world to better help his country's efforts to revive international matches, damaged by security problems in the last decade.

Misbah-ul-Haq's request comes two days before Pakistan takes on Sri Lanka in a series of three one-day internationals, the first in the country for four years, and as many Twenty20 internationals.

The Sri Lanka team was attacked in Lahore in 2009 and since then most international teams have refused to tour the South Asian country, leaving Pakistan to play nearly all their "home" games in the United Arab Emirates.

Zimbabwe was the first country to return in 2015, with Pakistan hosting the West Indies, Sri Lanka, and a World XI team since then.

The current series was hit by withdrawals of ten top Sri Lankan players over security fears but Sri Lanka's cricket board received the all-clear from the defence ministry last week.

Read: Sri Lanka squad leave for Pakistan despite security concerns

"Cricket world need to do more, not only for Pakistan but for any country where it is hit," said Misbah, under who Pakistan plays the first one-day international on Friday.

The remaining two matches will also be held in Karachi on Sunday and Wednesday.

The three Twenty20 internationals will be in Lahore on October 5, 7 and 9.

Misbah never captained any of his 56 Tests in Pakistan and he praised Sri Lanka -- who arrived under heavy security -- for the tour.

"I know it would have been a tough decision for Sri Lanka to tour," he said.

"Pakistan is a cricket-loving country and it would be an injustice to deprive them of international cricket, so I hope that the world will support us more and more."

It had been ten years since the attacks, Misbah said, adding he hoped more international teams would consider touring his nation and others like Pakistan.

"Otherwise the survival of cricket will be difficult."

Misbah said his team -- the majority of who will be playing a one-day international at home for the first time -- were excited for the match.

Skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, and Wahab Riaz have featured in an ODI in Pakistan before.

"It's a special moment for all of us and players are excited as well as emotional, playing before their home fans and at home ground, so it's really special."

Read: What's changing in Pakistan cricket with Misbah-ul-Haq's arrival?

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Asif Hassan