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Tag: pakistan cricket

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Babar Azam is not a quick learner, he lacked aggression as a captain: Junaid Khan

Former Pakistan pacer Junaid Khan said that Babar Azam was not a “quick learner” and despite leading the team in all three formats for four years, there was no sign of improvement in his captaincy. “Babar had not improved as a captain. If you see Saifi bhai (Sarfaraz Khan), he kept improving day by day. We won the Champions Trophy under his leadership, become World No 1 in the T20Is,” Junaid said on Nadir Shah’s podcast. “People say we become ODI No 1 team under Babar Azam’s captaincy. But we became No 1 by playing against weak teams. Babar is not a quick learner. He is a world class batter but his captaincy was not up to the mark,” he said. The left-arm pacer backed Shan Masood and Shaheen Shah Afridi, who had been appointed as the captain on Test and T20Is, respectively. “Shaheen...
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Cops suspended after star Pakistan cricketer says they threatened, asked for bribe | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: In an unusual turn of events, four Pakistan police officers were charged with corruption hours after top Pakistan cricketer Sohaib Maqsood complained of being shaken down for bribes during a recent road trip.In a social media post, Maqsood hit out at Sindh police, saying that on his way from Karachi to Multan he was stopped while driving and asked for bribes. The 36-year-old pointed out he had to pay 8000 rupees to the cops and lebelled them 'corrupt'."Sindh police is so corrupt that they stop you after 50 km and ask for money or they threat you to go to the police station...," he posted.Later Tuesday, a statement from Sindh police said four police officers had been found to have been involved in the incident."Legal action has been initiated," the statement said, adding that ...
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Pakistan cricketers unhappy with chief selector for not issuing NOCs to play in foreign leagues | Cricket News – Times of India

KARACHI: Several Pakistani cricketers are reportedly unhappy with PCB chief selector Wahab Riaz for delaying the issuance of NOCs to players to compete in foreign leagues, such as the Big Bash League in Australia, leading to tension between the two sides.Sources close to the players said that all-rounder Imad Wasim had decided to end his international career because of the tension prevailing between the chief selector and the cricketers over the issuance of NOCs.Wasim had announced his retirement on Friday, bringing curtains to his eight-year international career."(Chief selector) Wahab has made it clear to all centrally-contracted players that their first priority is to play for Pakistan and also insisted that anyone wanting to be considered for selection to the national team has to ma...
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Pakistan all-rounder Imad Wasim retires after World Cup snub | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Pakistan's white-ball all-rounder Imad Wasim on Friday announced his retirement from international cricket following his omission from the 50-over World Cup squad.Despite being born in Wales and aged 34, Imad found himself replaced by Mohammad Nawaz for the World Cup held in India. Unfortunately, Pakistan's campaign in the tournament ended prematurely as they faced an early exit in the initial round."In recent days I have been doing a lot of thinking about my international career and I have come to the conclusion that now is the right time for me to announce my retirement from international cricket," Imad wrote on X.A left-handed middle-order batsman and a quality left-arm spinner, Imad played 55 one-day internationals and 66 Twenty20 internationals for Pakistan.He scored 986...
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‘World Cup final result means that cricket won’: Ex-Pakistan cricketer Abdul Razzaq in India’s defeat to Australia

Former Pakistan cricketer Abdul Razzaq has implied that Australia’s victory over India in the World Cup final was a win for the sport of cricket, because of how lopsided the advantage was towards the Men in Blue, who were hosting the showpiece event. The all-rounder’s comments came just days after he had to apologise to making disparaging comments about an Indian actress on stage at an event. “Indians were over-confident (in the final),” Razzaq started as he analysed India’s performance in the World Cup final and what went wrong for the overwhelming favourites. Australia won the toss and against conventional wisdom, chose to field first. But Pat Cummins was proved right in the big decision as Australia, who were rare underdogs in a World Cup final, claimed their sixth trophy. “Aga...
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Mohammad Yousuf appointed Pakistan junior team head coach – Times of India

NEW DELHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) continued its streak of new appointments by naming former captain Mohammad Yousuf as the head coach of the national U-19 team in preparation for the upcoming Asia Cup and World Cup early next year. Yousuf's selection follows closely after the PCB's appointment of former fast bowler Sohail Tanvir as the head of the junior selection committee.In a series of decisions made in the wake of Pakistan's early exit from the World Cup in India, the PCB also announced the induction of former pacer Wahab Riaz as the chief selector of the national selection committee. Additionally, Mohammad Hafeez, who recently resigned from the technical committee, has been appointed as the director of cricket (men's team) and is expected to take on a coaching role during...
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Pakistan names Wahab Riaz as head of national selection committee; Sohail Tanvir to head junior selection panel

The overhaul in Pakistan cricket’s top echelons continues after the team’s ouster from the ongoing Cricket World Cup after a fifth-place finish in the group stage. Just two days after former Test captain Mohammad Hafeez was entrusted the role of Team Director for the Pakistan men’s cricket team and Shan Masood and Shaheen Shah Afridi took over the reins of the national team from Babar Azam, the Pakistan Cricket Board picked two former Pakistan pacers to lead two crucial selection committees. While former left-arm fast bowler Wahab Riaz was appointed as the chief selector of the national men’s selection committee, Sohail Tanvir was named as the head of the junior selection committee. Riaz’s first assignment will be the selection of the national men’s squad for the three-match Test seri...
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Wahab Riaz named Pakistan’s new chief selector – Times of India

NEW DELHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board on Friday appointed former pacer Wahab Riaz as the new chief selector after Inzamam-ul-Haq stepped down from the post following allegations of a conflict of interests. Legendary batter and ex-captain Inzamam had resigned as the chairman of the national selection committee on October 30 in the middle of the World Cup. Inzamam's resignation came after the PCB initiated an inquiry to probe if his association with a company that manages a number of national team players amounted to conflict of interest.The 38-year-old Riaz's first assignment will be to select the squads for the Test tour of Australia and the T20I rubber in New Zealand.Pakistan will play their Test series in Australia from 14 December to 7 January and a five-match T20I away series agains...
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Together we will strive for excellence, says Mohammad Hafeez after being appointed Pakistan’s Team Director | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Newly appointed Pakistan Team Director Mohammad Hafeez on Friday vowed to work collaboratively with the coaching staff and players and asserted they together will strive for excellence. Hafeez on Thursday was appointed the Director of the Pakistan team after their league stage elimination at the World Cup.Hafeez has been given the responsibility of reshaping the national team and will also be serving as a coach and will be consulted when the PCB appoints the new support staff of the team for the forthcoming tours to Australia and New Zealand."I am honoured and excited to take on the role of Team Director for the Pakistan Cricket Team. I would like to thank PCB for trusting my abilities and giving me this challenging responsibility," Hafeez said."But, I am committed to work co...
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Pakistan name Shan Masood, Shaheen Afridi as Test and T20 captains after Babar Azam’s resignation – Times of India

NEW DELHI: As Babar Azam stepped down from the captaincy duties across formats following Pakistan's World Cup debacle, the PCB, following his resignation, appointed Shan Masood and Shaheen Afridi as captains for Test and T20I formats.However, there was no communication from the board over who will take the leadership role in the one-day format.Masood and Shaheen were tipped to lead the Test and T20I sides after Babar's resignation.Babar captained Pakistan in all three formats starting October 2019, and led them to number one in ICC One Day International (ODI) rankings for the first time in May.But after Pakistan's disappointing finish at the World Cup, where they couldn't qualify for the knock-outs, Babar and his leadership skills came under severe criticism."Today, I am stepping down a...
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Shahid Afridi slams Babar Azam, says he could not ‘improve as captain and leader in four years’

With Pakistan cricket team crashing out of the ongoing Cricket World Cup in India before the knockout stages, it seems the knives are out for captain Babar Azam. After the Pakistan team lost their final group stage match against England, Ramiz Raja had said that he had spoken to Babar before the game and that he would take a call on stepping down from captaincy after landing back in Pakistan. On Monday, former Pakistan cricketer Shahid Afridi slammed Babar’s captaincy. “I’m a fan of Babar. Babar is a big player, for me he is like a younger brother. I wanted that Babar join the list of top captains in the world. He’s been captain since four years or so, there was never a sword hanging over his head. We all supported him during this phase. We thought in three-four years he would be we...
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‘Babar kya khaak kaptani karega…’: Disappointed Ramiz Raja loses cool, tears into PCB after Pakistan’s World Cup ouster | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: A fuming former Pakistan skipper and cricket board chairman Ramiz Raja lashed out at the PCB for destroying Pakistan cricket after Babar Azam and Co.'s exit from the ongoing World Cup in India.After Pakistan failed to qualify for the semis, finishing fifth in the standings, a disappointed Ramiz defended Babar and even had a slip of tongue in an ill-tempered video on his YouTube channel.“Jab naye ball se wickets nahi lenge, aap expensive hote jayenge toh Babar Azam kya khaak kapataani karega (When bowlers will not take wickets with the new ball and start getting expensive, how would Babar do captaincy then?,” Ramiz said on his YouTube channel.“And then they (PCB) would gather some ex-cricketers and ask them how to fix cricket? Who put them in charge (of the board)? Is their jo...
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Ramiz Raja loses his cool, defends Babar Azam, slams PCB for destroying Pakistan cricket

Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja has defended under pressure Babar Azam and had slammed Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) destroying Pakistan cricket. Pakistan has failed to qualify for the World Cup as they finished fifth on the points table and a lot of fingers has been raised on skipper Babar Azam for his poor captaincy. “Jab naye ball se wickets nahi lenge, aap expensive hote jayenge toh Babar Azam kya khaak kapataani karega (When bowlers will not take wickets with the new ball and start getting expensive, how would Babar do captaincy then?,” Ramiz said on his YouTube channel. Follow all the action from the Cricket World Cup 2023 on our special World Cup section. You can also find the latest stats, like the top scorer and the highest wicket-taker of the current edition, upcoming Worl...
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David Willey speaks after last hurrah: ‘I’ve called time on my career… but it is with deep regret’

England pacer David Willey cut an emotional figure after England’s last league match against Pakistan in Kolkata. The medium pacer, who had already announced his international retirement, then talked about the circumstances that led to this decision, in an emotional post-match press conference on Saturday. “My time is done because I’ve called time on it, but it’s with deep regret. I think anybody looking in has probably looked at the way I’ve gone about my business and probably playing the best cricket of my career. I’m 33, as fit as I’ve ever been. So, one of the reasons that I wasn’t offered a contract was them going in a different direction after the World Cup, I don’t know why.,” he said, when asked if there was any frustration of walking out of the team way ahead of his time. Foll...
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World Cup: No miracle at Eden as Pakistan’s sorry campaign ends with a 93-run loss to England

Few outcomes in cricket are influenced so much by a mere toss of a coin. But when England won the toss and Joss Buttler elected to bat, the already-improbable chances of Pakistan making it to the semifinals looked even unlikelier.And when three-and-a-half hours later, England batsmen returned to the dressing room setting a mammoth target of 337, thanks largely to Ben Stokes’ fireworks, Pakistan’s fate was sealed. They had to chase down the total in just six over to displace New Zealand from the fourth spot and sneak into the last four. Even with Pakistan’s unfailing ability to surprise all, this was one miracle too many. Follow all the action from the Cricket World Cup 2023 on our special World Cup section. You can also find the latest stats, like the top scorer and the highest wicket-t...
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‘Pool of players…’: Experts explain what Pakistan need to learn from India after World Cup debacle | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan captains lamented that their team made no improvement in the last four years, from the 2019 World Cup to the ongoing edition, after they found themselves in similar situations of failing to progress into the knockout stages due to inferior net run rate. Pakistan must defeat England in Kolkata by an almost unthinkable 287 runs in order to move up to the No.4 semifinal slot on net run-rate, ahead of New Zealand. The Pakistani team, which has only advanced to one World Cup semifinal (in 2011) after losing to Australia in the championship game in 1999, was in a similar situation at the 2019 World Cup. In order to eliminate the Black Caps from the semifinals, it had to defeat Bangladesh by over 300 runs in the final league game, but it was unable to accomplish that...
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‘Ghatiya harkat’, ‘Pathetic’: Pakistan cricket legends livid as Pakistan news channel airs Babar Azam’s purported WhatsApp chats

Cricket legends Shahid Afridi and Waqar Younis lashed out at a Pakistan new channel and its journalists after it aired a purported WhatsApp conversation with Pakistan cricket captain Babar Azam. The chats are said to be between Babar and PCB’s Chief Operating Officer Salman Naseer. This comes on the heels of former Pakistan cricketer Rashid Latif claiming that Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Zaka Ashraf has stopped answering calls from Pakistan captain. Pakistan cricket is already going through a turbulent time with the Pakistan team in 6th spot in the standings of the ongoing Cricket World Cup, having won just two of their six matches so far. “I saw Rashid Latif reporting that there is a tiff between Babar Azam and Zaka Ashraf. To counter those reports in this way was uncalled for. ...
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Pakistan’s chief selector Inzamam ul Haq resigns over ‘conflict of interest’ allegations

Former Pakistan cricketer Inzamam ul Haq has reportedly stepped down from his post as the chief selector for the Pakistan cricket team over allegations that he was also a shareholder in a prominent player management company. That role had led to conflict of interest allegations. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a statement that it has set up a five-member fact-finding committee to “investigate allegations in respect of conflict of interest reported in the media pertaining to the team selection process. “The committee will submit its report and any recommendations to the PCB Management in an expeditious manner,” the statement said. The news is a fresh blow for Pakistan cricket, which is already going through a turbulent time with the Pakistan team in 6th spot in the ...
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Inzamam-ul-Haq resigns as Pakistan chief selector after team’s poor World Cup outing | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: In a latest development, Pakistan chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq on Monday announced his resignation, according to latest media reports, midway through the ODI World Cup after the team's dismal show in the ongoing tournament.Pakistan have lost four games on the trot after registering two wins and stand on the brink of elimination of the World Cup. Pakistan are currently sixth in the points table with 4 points in six games.Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) also set up a five-member committee to investigate conflict of interest allegations."PCB has set up a five-member fact-finding committee to investigate allegations in respect of conflict of interest reported in the media pertaining to the team selection process.The committee will submit its report and any recommendations to the PC...
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Inzamam-ul-Haq resigns as Pakistan chief selector over conflict of interest allegations | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: In a latest development, Pakistan chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq on Monday announced his resignation midway through the ODI World Cup after PCB initiated a conflict of interest investigation on the former Pakistan captain.Pakistan have lost four games on the trot after registering two wins and stand on the brink of elimination of the World Cup. Pakistan are currently sixth in the points table with 4 points in six games.The emergence of this news comes amidst reports suggesting a possible conflict of interest involving the former Pakistan captain.Allegations have surfaced, claiming that he is a shareholder in "Yazo International Limited," a company owned by Talha Rehmani. Rehmani serves as an agent for prominent players such as skipper Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen A...