Cricket

Pakistan's disastrous T20 World Cup campaign has sparked outrage among fans and experts, with former batter Ahmed Shehzad calling for strict action against the underperforming players. Pakistan's failure to qualify for the Super 8 stage, after losses to India and the USA, has raised serious questions about the team's unity and fitness.Head coach Gary Kirsten's scathing assessment of the team, alleging a lack of unity and poor fitness levels, has further fueled the controversy. Sources close to the team have revealed Kirsten's dissatisfaction with the players' skill level, which he believes lags behind the rest of the world.Shehzad, who has been vocal in his criticism of the team, has echoed Kirsten's concerns. He has accused the team of being plagued by groupism and has demanded a crackdown from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). "It's time for accountability," Shehzad wrote on social media. "The players involved must be punished and an example should be set for the next generation of cricketers."Shehzad's call for action comes after he previously urged the PCB to remove senior players, including captain Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Mohammad Rizwan. He believes these players have been given ample time to improve but have failed to deliver.The PCB has yet to respond to Shehzad's demands, but the pressure is mounting on the board to take decisive action. The team's poor performance has not only disappointed fans but has also raised concerns about the future of Pakistan cricket.

Pakistan's disappointing exit from the T20 World Cup has sparked a fiery outburst from former batsman Ahmed Shehzad, who has launched a scathing attack on the team's senior players. In a viral rant, Shehzad has called for the removal of captain Babar Azam, star pacer Shaheen Afridi, wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan, and others, accusing them of underperformance and groupism.Shehzad's tirade stems from Pakistan's failure to qualify for the semi-finals of the tournament, despite being one of the favorites. He believes that the senior players have been given ample time to prove their worth but have consistently failed to deliver."For the past 4-5 years, Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Rizwan, and Haris Rauf have been playing regularly for Pakistan," Shehzad said. "They've been given ample time to perform. Because of the groupism in the team, they've been defending each other and saying 'we are learning from our mistakes.' What are you exactly learning?"Shehzad specifically targeted Babar Azam, accusing him of indulging in favoritism and protecting his close friends within the team. He also criticized Azam's leadership abilities and fitness levels."You speak about leadership, but you don't have any," Shehzad said. "You are just a social media generated king. You got 4-5 years to improve, but you didn't win us anything. Your fitness levels are also not up to the mark. You guys are playing politics in the team. Your cricket is declining."Shehzad also took aim at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), accusing them of mishandling the situation and blaming young players for the team's failures. He urged the PCB to take strict action against the senior players and break up the alleged groupism within the team."You are only good at making friendships," Shehzad said to the PCB. "Since becoming the PCB chairman, Mohsin Naqvi has made two big blunders. First, by re-appointing Babar as captain. Secondly, making Wahab Riaz as chief selector. He has been very unprofessional in his decision making and management."Shehzad's outburst has sparked a heated debate in Pakistan, with many fans and experts weighing in on the issue. Some have supported Shehzad's call for change, while others have defended the senior players and criticized Shehzad for his harsh words.

Pakistan's T20 World Cup campaign has been thrown into disarray following consecutive defeats against USA and India. Despite a victory over Canada, their fate now rests on the outcome of other matches in Group A. Amidst the turmoil, Pakistan batsman Imam-ul-Haq has come to the defense of under-fire captain Babar Azam.Imam has questioned the criticism directed at Babar, particularly from former teammate Ahmed Shehzad. Shehzad had criticized Babar's record as captain and batter in ICC tournaments, as well as the selection of Azam Khan, who has faced body-shaming on social media.Imam argued that the same respect accorded to Azam Khan should be extended to Babar. He highlighted Babar's impressive international record, including an average of 50 across all three formats. "If he has an average of 50 in all three formats, who will answer (consider) that?" Imam said.Imam also emphasized the importance of respect for the national team captain. "You want to remove him from captaincy, do that, nobody has a problem with that. You don't want to consider him 'King', don't. His fans have made him, what you say doesn't matter," he added.Babar's reinstatement as captain after Pakistan's poor showing at the ODI World Cup last year has been met with mixed reactions. While his batting performances in this T20 World Cup have been respectable, his inability to lead the team to tournament victories remains a concern.Imam acknowledged that Babar should be held accountable for his failures as captain. "He hasn't won you tournaments as a captain, that's the problem, right? So he should be asked questions. If he isn't able to do that, then do change him...but the element of respect should be there," he said.As Pakistan faces the prospect of an early exit from the T20 World Cup, the team's unity and leadership will be crucial. Imam's defense of Babar suggests that the team remains behind their captain, despite the challenges they face.

Ahmed Shehzad, a former Pakistan international batsman, has once again launched a scathing attack on Pakistan captain Babar Azam, accusing him of poor leadership and hindering the growth of young players.Shehzad's criticism came on the heels of Pakistan's disappointing performance at the 2024 T20 World Cup, where they are on the verge of elimination. During an appearance on the Pakistan talkshow "Haarna Mana Hai" (Losing Is Not An Option!), Shehzad mocked Babar's tag of "King" by calling him a "Fake King."Shehzad presented a humiliating comparison between his and Babar's T20 World Cup stats. Babar has scored 517 runs in 16 games at a poor strike rate of 112, while Shehzad has slammed 250 runs in 9 games at a strike rate of 126, including a century."I feel I could've done better than those stats. But your (Babar's) stats are worse than mine," said Shehzad. "You've faced 205 balls in powerplays in T20 World Cups, but you haven't managed to hit one six!"Shehzad also accused Babar of sacrificing good performers in domestic cricket to adjust his friends in the team. He specifically blamed Babar for mishandling 22-year-old batsman Saim Ayub's development."It was your responsibility to take care of Saim Ayub's development, but now his career is over at such a young age. People are criticising Ayub after just 25 games," said Shehzad.Shehzad urged Babar to take accountability for his and the team's poor performances. "The least you can do now is raise your hand, accept that you had the support and apologize for not being able to deliver a trophy for Pakistan," said Shehzad.

Pakistan's dismal performance in the ongoing T20 World Cup has drawn severe criticism from former players, with Imran Nazir and Ahmed Shehzad lambasting the team for their lack of courage and poor statistics.After losing to co-hosts USA and arch-rivals India, Pakistan's hopes of advancing to the Super 12 stage are hanging by a thread. Nazir, a former Pakistan batter, has slammed the team for making excuses after their defeats."I am sorry but I am forced to say that cricket is a game of the fearless. I haven't seen anyone as coward as this team," Nazir said on a Pakistani TV show. "There are no excuses in cricket. No matter what pitch or conditions you are getting, you are bound to perform."Nazir also criticized the team's lack of a solid middle order, saying, "In a team, where there's no middle-order batter who can rotate the strike, how can you expect that team to win the World Cup?"Ahmed Shehzad, another former Pakistan batter, echoed Nazir's sentiments, highlighting Babar Azam's poor record in big competitions. "Your (Babar) scores in big competitions...your average is 27 and strike rate is 112. And 1400 of your runs have come in a losing cause," Shehzad said. "What should I do with this king who can't win us the match?"Pakistan's last hope of salvaging their World Cup campaign lies in their final Group A match against Ireland on Sunday. However, with their confidence shattered and their batting lineup struggling, the team faces an uphill battle to secure a victory.

Pakistan's disappointing performance in the ongoing T20 World Cup has sparked outrage among fans, experts, and former players. The team's narrow defeat to archrivals India has raised questions about captain Babar Azam's leadership and the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) decision-making.Chasing India's modest total of 119, Pakistan appeared to be cruising towards victory, needing just 47 runs with eight wickets in hand. However, India's bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah (3 for 14) led a remarkable comeback, restricting Pakistan to 113 for 7 and securing a six-run victory.The defeat has intensified the scrutiny on Babar Azam, who has been criticized for his conservative approach and lack of aggression. Former Pakistan batsman Ahmed Shehzad has accused Babar of bias and questioned his ability to lead the team to success."Ever since Babar became captain, we have been losing to mediocre teams," Shehzad said. "The kind of progress that was going on, these things were on the cards and bound to happen someday."Shehzad also criticized the team's performance against weaker opponents, accusing them of "fooling the people" with their victories. He pointed to Babar's poor record in big tournaments, highlighting his average of 27 and strike rate of 112."Your (Babar) scores in big competitions...your average is 27 and strike rate is 112. And 1400 of your runs have come in a losing cause, which is at No. 3 in the world in that list. So these stats are of which king, tell me that?" Shehzad said.The former batsman also accused Babar of favoritism, claiming that he selects players based on personal relationships rather than merit."You have fooled the entire public. You are making a team with your friends, keeping your friends in the team," Shehzad said.Pakistan's hopes of advancing to the next round now rest on their upcoming match against Canada on June 11. The team will need to secure a convincing victory to keep their tournament hopes alive.

Pakistan cricketers Imam-ul-Haq and Ahmed Shehzad engaged in a heated debate on live television, sparking controversy over the leadership of Babar Azam and the selection policies of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).Shehzad, who has represented Pakistan in 13 Tests and 81 ODIs, accused Azam of favoritism and questioned the decision to reinstate him as captain after the team's disappointing performance at the 2023 Cricket World Cup. He argued that senior players should be rested against weaker opponents to provide opportunities for younger talent, citing the example of Team India's Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.Imam, on the other hand, defended Azam's captaincy, stating that the board had made the decision to remove and reinstate him without his consent. He emphasized Azam's strong performances in the past, including reaching the semifinals in 2021 and the final in 2022.Shehzad countered by expressing frustration over the lack of opportunities for young players, claiming that some players are given preferential treatment despite poor form. He also questioned the fairness of Shaheen Afridi's removal as captain.Imam responded by asserting that his stance on these issues would remain consistent regardless of his age or contract status. He promised to continue advocating for transparency and fairness in the selection process.The debate has raised concerns among Pakistan supporters, who fear that it could impact the team's performance at the upcoming T20 World Cup. The men in green will face hosts USA in their opening game on June 6, followed by a highly anticipated clash against India on June 9.

Pakistan's cricket team has faced intense scrutiny from critics at home, particularly in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup. After losing the T20I series against England 0-2, former PCB chairman Ramiz Raja criticized the team management.Now, a video of a talk show in Pakistan has gone viral, featuring former cricketer Ahmed Shehzad challenging current skipper Babar Azam to win the 2024 T20 World Cup. Shehzad questioned the team's discipline and urged Azam to prove his worth by winning a major tournament.Imam-ul-Haq, another former Pakistan cricketer, was also present on the panel. Pakistan, led by Azam and coached by Gary Kirsten, will begin their World Cup campaign against USA on Thursday. Their highly anticipated clash with India is scheduled for Sunday.Despite the criticism, Pakistan remains a formidable team. Azam is one of the world's top batsmen, and the team boasts a talented squad. However, they will need to overcome their recent struggles and prove their mettle on the biggest stage.The pressure is mounting on Azam and his team to deliver a strong performance at the T20 World Cup. With critics baying for their blood, Pakistan's cricketers will need to rise to the occasion and silence their detractors.