Pakistan launch player conduct investigation during dysfunctional England tour

  • Mobile phones of players confiscated as part of inquiry

  • Nine fined during Pakistan’s recent tour of Caribbean

Pakistan have launched an investigation into “discipline and conduct” during their highly dysfunctional tour of England, with two players understood to have had their mobile phones confiscated as part of the probe.

A spokesperson for the Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed on Monday that an investigation is currently under way and while no individuals have been named, it follows the removal of seven players from their original touring party last week in response to going 2-0 down with one Test still to play.

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Kevin Pietersen gets surprise call-up as mentor for England cricket team

  • First time former captain involved since 2014 sacking

  • Joins McCullum’s backroom staff for the next year

Kevin Pietersen has been appointed as a “specialist mentor” to England’s white-ball teams during the run-up to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in late 2027.

Announced on Monday morning, the move marks the first time Pietersen will have worked with the senior England side since he was controversially sacked as a player in the wake of the 2013/14 Ashes whitewash in Australia.

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Azhar Ali: ‘Pakistan cricket cannot change in the space of a year’

One of the batting stalwarts of the team that reached Test No 1 a decade ago says the current side’s woes go far deeper than this tour of England

As a pillar of the Pakistan team that climbed from the nadir of the Lord’s spot-fixing scandal in 2010 to the top of the Test rankings six years later, all while playing overseas for security reasons, Azhar Ali knows a bit about overcoming a crisis.

But for all that Misbah-ul-Haq’s side offered hope back then – a reminder of Pakistan’s innate ability to overcome hardship and defy expectations – Azhar is currently looking on in despair at the state of their cricket and a tour of England that has pretty much imploded this past week.

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Notts draw with Leicestershire; Kent, Sussex and Durham win: county cricket, day four – as it happened

Leicestershire played out a draw at Trent Bridge, meaning that Notts drop behind leaders Somerset in the Championship table

Meanwhile, things are hotting up at Wantage Road. Chahal (5-84) is too much for the tail and Durham are all out for 261.

I wonder if Scriven and DAvey will have to deal with Olly Stone soon if they get any closer. 31 to avoid the follow-on.

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