A slew of records were broken as Pakistan recorded a six-wicket win over Sri Lanka after chasing down a mammoth 345 in their ICC World Cup match in Hyderabad on Tuesday.
Pakistan are 1-0 up in the two-Test series having won the opening match in Galle by four wickets.
New Zealand set Pakistan a tricky target of 319 and then landed two late blows to boost their hopes of a series-clinching victory in the second Test on Thursday.
Abdullah Shafique, who has replaced Zaman as opener, made 113 against Sri Lanka and 20 against India.
Even a whiff of an incident like the violent 1989 shirt-ripping attack on Krishnamachari Srikkanth by a Karachi spectator would be ruinous. It would set back the ties further, derail an ongoing tournament, and harden Indian attitudes on playing Pakistan anywhere at all, asserts Shekhar Gupta.
IMAGES from Day 3 of the 2nd Test played between Pakistan and England in Multan, on Thursday.
Marsh, Smith dig Australia out of a hole in Pakistan Test
IMAGES from Day 3 of the 3rd Test played between Australia and Pakistan at SCG on Friday.
Virat Kohli was on Saturday forced to leave the field after the Indian batting maestro, inadvertently, wore the wrong jersey ahead of their high-profile World Cup clash against arch-rivals Pakistan in Ahmedabad.
Saim Ayub and Khurram Shahzad received their debut call-ups to Pakistan's squad for the three-match Test series against Australia.
Pakistan registered a comfortable seven-wicket victory to keep their semi-final hopes alive.
Wickets fell at a steady rate thereafter, with Jayasuriya striking three times, claiming the wickets of Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam and Sarfaraz Ahmed to leave Pakistan struggling at 101 for five.
PHOTOS from a memorable chase and a famous win...
Pakistan's experienced wicketkeeper-batter Sarfaraz Ahmed laid out the team's plans to ruin Australia's star batter David Warner's farewell Test series.
IMAGES from the Asia Cup Super 4 match played between Sri Lanka and Pakistan in Colombo on Thursday.
'That was proper (batting) from those two, it set the tone for how we want to play our cricket, take the game on.'
Babar Azam's side had been in charge after claiming a handy first-innings lead of 149 in the first match of the two-Test series.
Aiming for their second Cricket World Cup title, Pakistan will be led by Babar Azam and are armed with a strong batting unit that includes Fakhar Zaman, Imam-Ul-Haq, Mohammed Rizwan, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Salman Agha.
Virat Kohli advanced four slots to ninth position after scores of 38 and 76 in the first Test against South Africa.
Australia batter Usman Khawaja heaped praise on Pakistan skipper Babar Azam by calling him "one of the best batsmen" ahead of the first Test clash between the two cricketing giants.
Opener Abullah Shafique says Pakistan must make the best of good starts and finish off matches at the ongoing World Cup.
'First 34 overs in the field cost us. We dropped Warner and such batters ensure they cash in'
Shafique and Salman pummel Sri Lanka, Pakistan eye series sweep
Dominant Pakistan took charge of the second Test against Sri Lanka after bundling out the hosts in two sessions for a paltry 166.
Pakistan would be desperate to plug the gaping holes and hope their star players regain form when they open their World Cup campaign against a free spirited Netherlands in Hyderabad on Friday.
Sehwag poked fun at Pakistan's history of losses to India in World Cups.
Australia's cricketing DNA is constructed by meticulousness and Pakistan's by explosiveness.
Australia make solid start to Boxing Day Test in rainy Melbourne
Pakistan finished Day 4 on 222/3, needing 120 more to grab the lead in the two-Test series.
Mohammed Rizwan will fondly remember the local curator in his prayers for producing a batting beauty
Pat Cummins leads Australia fightback after Pakistan take early honours
IMAGES from the ICC World Cup match played between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Hyderabad on Tuesday.
England's David Willey took the decision to quit international cricket with "deep regret", the seamer said after his team's consolation victory over Pakistan at the World Cup on Saturday.
Pakistan showcased resilience with Rizwan contributing a powerful 88 runs
Babri has in the past also worked with some players helping them understand how to handle pressure situations and get through bad performances and personal issues.
Pakistan completed a 2-0 series sweep against Sri Lanka after left-arm spinner Noman Ali bowled the tourists to a comprehensive victory by an innings and 222 runs in the second Test.
Rohit's men start overwhelming favourites but Shaheen, rain pose threat
Pakistan wrapped up victory in the second session to go 1-0 up in the two-Test series.
Babar Azam is set to return as Pakistan skipper for their home series against New Zealand, starting April 14.
IMAGES from the ICC World Cup match played between Australia and Pakistan in Bengaluru, on Friday.
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