Cricket

Pakistan's captain Babar Azam has faced intense scrutiny following the team's dismal performances at the ODI and T20 World Cups. In the 2023 ODI World Cup, Pakistan failed to reach the semifinals, while in the recently concluded T20 World Cup, they failed to advance beyond the group stage.Despite his struggles, Babar Azam remains a highly respected figure in Pakistan cricket. All-rounder Hassan Ali has come to his defense, expressing unwavering support for the embattled batsman. In an interview with Cricket Pakistan, Ali hailed Azam as "the King of Pakistan.""He is my king, he is the king of Pakistan cricket, and he will always remain so because of the kind of batsman he is," Ali said. "I know maybe people will abuse me again and speak ill of me. But he is the best batsman of Pakistan, and he has proved it."Ali acknowledged that Azam has yet to lead Pakistan to a major trophy, but he emphasized that the batsman's talent is undeniable. "He should win trophies and series for Pakistan. But he is the best," Ali added.Ali also pointed out that Azam's emergence has elevated the "Fab Four" of Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, Steve Smith, and Joe Root to the "Fab Five." "He is the king of Pakistan's batting lineup. He has performed everywhere, except in India where we went once last year and he didn't score a hundred there (in the World Cup)," Ali said. "You must have heard of the 'Fab Four', and now because of Babar Azam, it's the 'Fab Five'. Babar Azam is that fifth player."Despite Azam's poor form in the T20 World Cup, Ali believes that he will bounce back. "I still stand by that statement," Ali said. "He is the best."

Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has ignited a firestorm of controversy by leveling serious allegations against the current management of the Pakistan cricket team. Ali accuses the management of favoritism towards captain Babar Azam and a sinister plan to scapegoat star players Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohammad Rizwan for the team's dismal performance in the recent T20 World Cup.In a video that has gone viral on social media, Ali claims that the management is preparing a report to pin the blame on Afridi and Rizwan for the team's failures. He warns that such actions could have disastrous consequences for Pakistan cricket."The report that is being prepared is against Shaheen Shah Afridi and Rizwan. They have formed a group, which is wrong. Those who are making this report, who have the intention of shifting their blame onto them, should not do so. Pakistan's cricket will be destroyed," Ali said.Ali emphasizes the gravity of the situation, stating that if Afridi and Rizwan are not on the same page with Babar, all three should be removed from the team instead of making two scapegoats and one a hero."I am saying this now because God forbid, if this happens, it will be your fault. If you believe that Rizwan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Babar Azam are not on the same page, then remove all three of them. Don't make two of them scapegoats and make the third one a hero," he added.Ali also criticizes Babar Azam's captaincy, not only in the recent T20 World Cup but also in previous matches. He highlights a controversial decision where Babar chose to bowl Nawaz in the final over in Melbourne."Babar's captaincy has been wrong. Not just in this tournament, but in the World Cup as well. The way he made Nawaz bowl the last over in Melbourne, didn't he have eyes then?" Ali remarked.Ali expresses empathy for Afridi, who was removed from the captaincy after just five matches, acknowledging the natural frustration such a decision would cause."Tell me, when a boy is removed from the captaincy after just five matches, won't he feel bad? Even if we are sitting on TV and our chairs are changed, we feel bad - 'why did you change my chair, am I not speaking correctly?' This is a natural thing," he said.These allegations come in the wake of Pakistan's early exit from the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024, where they failed to progress beyond the Group Stage, suffering losses to the USA and India.

Shahid Afridi, the former Pakistan all-rounder, has called for the removal of Babar Azam as Pakistan's captain following the team's disappointing performance in the T20 World Cup. Afridi, who is currently playing for Pakistan Champions in the World Championship of Legends, believes that Babar has been given ample opportunities to prove himself as a captain but has failed to deliver."As far as Babar's captaincy is concerned, I have also captained, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, all have captained. No other captain has been given such an open chance. As soon as the World Cup ends, the captain is blamed. He has had 2-3 World Cups, 2-3 Asia Cups, T20 World Cup, he has had enough chances. Babar has been given enough chances. In our times the captain was under the knife. Now whatever surgery needs to be done, it needs to be done once, and whoever is coming new should be given full time," Afridi told Geo News.Babar had previously stepped down as Pakistan's captain following the team's poor performance in the ODI World Cup in India last year. However, he was reinstated by the Pakistan Cricket Board after his replacement, Shaheen Shah Afridi, was removed from captaincy after just one series against New Zealand.Pakistan's early exit from the T20 World Cup was a significant disappointment for the team and its fans. They suffered an upset defeat against the USA and lost to their archrivals, India, in the initial group stage of the tournament. Since Pakistan's exit, several former Pakistani cricketers, including Afridi and Shoaib Akhtar, have questioned Babar's credibility as the captain of the team.India went on to win the tournament undefeated, securing a seven-run victory over South Africa in the final and ending the nation's 17-year drought for the T20 World Cup.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has summoned white-ball head coach Gary Kirsten to discuss the team's future in the wake of their disappointing T20 World Cup campaign. The meeting will review Kirsten's report on the team's performance, which includes assessments of player discipline, game awareness, and fitness.A key topic of discussion will be the future of Babar Azam as white-ball captain. Azam's leadership has come under scrutiny following Pakistan's early exit from the World Cup. Former players have criticized his decision-making and tactical acumen.Naqvi has previously stated that no decision has been made regarding Azam's captaincy. However, the PCB is expected to consider the feedback from Kirsten and other stakeholders before making a final determination.The meeting will also address the broader issue of Pakistan's domestic cricket structure. Around 30-35 international cricketers are scheduled to meet with Naqvi to provide their input on how to improve the system.Pakistan's T20 World Cup campaign was a major disappointment. They lost their opening match to the USA in a Super Over and were then defeated by arch-rivals India in a low-scoring thriller. Despite victories over Canada and Ireland, Pakistan failed to qualify for the Super 8 stage.The PCB has a significant gap before Pakistan's next white-ball series against Australia in November. This provides ample time for the management to make necessary changes and address the team's weaknesses.

Pakistan's former captain and PCB chairman, Ramiz Raja, has staunchly defended the opening partnership of Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam despite Pakistan's disappointing performance in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024.In a video posted on his YouTube channel, "Ramiz Speaks," Raja expressed unwavering support for the duo, stating, "The Rizwan-Babar opening pair—we kept insisting on removing them without any real reason. I know there is nothing else after them. When there's nothing, if not them, don’t mess with what is already working."Raja emphasized the duo's crucial contributions, highlighting their roles in Pakistan's journey to the final of previous tournaments. "Their techniques might need some fine-tuning, but you can't split them up because they took us to the final in Australia and the Asia Cup—it was these two who did that," he asserted. "So, what led to these doubts about them? (Bohot zyada khich khich hua hain) There has been too much unnecessary fuss, and that's why we saw these results in the World Cup."During the T20 World Cup 2024, Babar Azam scored 122 runs from four matches, while Mohammad Rizwan amassed 110 runs in the same number of innings.Following Pakistan's early exit from the tournament, both Babar Azam and the team as a whole have faced significant criticism from various quarters. The scrutiny has been particularly intense, questioning the team's strategy and individual performances.Looking ahead, Pakistan's schedule includes challenging fixtures. They are set to host a five-Test series against Bangladesh and England, followed by a white-ball tour of Australia. Subsequently, the team will embark on a tour to South Africa, where they will compete in a comprehensive series featuring both Test and white-ball formats.

Pakistan's disappointing T20 World Cup campaign has sparked criticism of captain Babar Azam's batting approach. Despite scoring 122 runs in four games, Azam's strike rate of 101.66 has been deemed too slow.Former Pakistani cricketer Mushtaq Ahmed defended Azam, comparing him to Indian star Virat Kohli. Ahmed argued that Azam's cautious approach is his strength, similar to Kohli's. He also highlighted the need for other Pakistani players to contribute more runs."If one person gives you a score, but the rest of our players don't go on to score in the remaining 7-8 overs, then there's a problem," Ahmed said.In response to the team's recent setbacks, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is prioritizing strategic planning for upcoming tournaments. The PCB aims to leverage the expertise of white-ball head coach Jason Gillespie and Gary Kirsten to formulate effective strategies for the ICC Champions Trophy in February-March next year.Pakistan will play a series of challenging fixtures in preparation for the Champions Trophy. They will host Bangladesh and England for five-Test series, tour Australia for white-ball matches, and travel to South Africa for a comprehensive series encompassing both Test and white-ball formats.

Ahmed Shehzad, the former Pakistan cricketer, has sparked controversy once again with his bold statements about Virat Kohli and Babar Azam. During the 2024 T20 World Cup, Shehzad has consistently expressed his admiration for Kohli, while simultaneously criticizing Azam.In a recent interview, Shehzad was asked about the comparisons made between him and Kohli during their early playing days. Shehzad acknowledged that Kohli's legacy is unmatched, not only compared to him but also to Azam."Comparisons are fine when it comes to appearances, but let's be honest, Virat Kohli has gone far ahead with his career and records," Shehzad said. "There's no one like Virat Kohli, let alone me or anyone else. Many like to compare Babar Azam with him, but even those don't make sense."Shehzad's comments come after Kohli's match-winning knock of 76 in the T20 World Cup Final against South Africa. The Indian star announced his retirement from T20Is after the tournament, leaving a void in the Indian cricket team."In my opinion, Virat Kohli is leaving behind a huge legacy for India and for the rest of the world," Shehzad said. "Good luck to the Indian cricket team to fill his shoes."Shehzad's criticism of Azam has been a recurring theme throughout the tournament. He has questioned Azam's batting and captaincy, arguing that he is not on the same level as Kohli.Despite Shehzad's criticisms, Azam remains one of the most highly-rated batsmen in the world. He has led Pakistan to numerous victories and is considered a future star of the game.However, Shehzad's comments have sparked a debate about the relative merits of Kohli and Azam. While Kohli has a more impressive record and has achieved greater success, Azam is still a young player with the potential to reach even greater heights.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has stated that no decision has been made regarding Babar Azam's future as captain. The board will consult with former players and head coach Gary Kirsten before determining the best course of action.Naqvi plans to meet with Kirsten and his assistant Azhar Mahmood to discuss the team's disappointing performance at the T20 World Cup. He emphasized the need for a thorough analysis before making any hasty decisions.Following Pakistan's elimination from the Super 8 stage, Naqvi had criticized the team and called for a "major surgery." He believes that the team's recent losses, including humiliating defeats against India and the United States, necessitate a comprehensive overhaul."I have asked Kirsten and Mahmood to provide a detailed report on the World Cup," Naqvi said. "Their insights will be invaluable in shaping our future plans."Regarding Babar Azam's captaincy, Naqvi stated that no decision has been made. He has received a comprehensive report from a former player outlining areas for improvement in Pakistan cricket. However, he stressed that he will not make any decisions based on emotions or social media commentary."Decisions made in haste often lead to complications," Naqvi said. "I want to avoid that in our cricket."Naqvi has been consulting with former players and seeking their suggestions. He emphasized that he is only interested in working with those who genuinely care about the betterment of Pakistan cricket."I have been with the board for four months and have identified areas that need improvement," Naqvi said. "However, I will not rush into any conclusions or make hasty decisions."

Pakistan's disappointing T20 World Cup performance has prompted former captain Rashid Latif to issue an ultimatum to star batters Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan. Latif believes that both players must adapt their batting approach or face being dropped from the team.Latif criticized Babar's decision to accept the captaincy again after resigning last year. He believes that the added responsibility has weakened Babar's batting and that he should focus solely on his role as a batsman."Babar Azam's biggest mistake was to accept the captaincy again," Latif said. "He shouldn't get involved in this politics. Pakistan has found a great batsman after so many years who is dominating the world."Latif also urged Babar and Rizwan to emulate the example of Indian veterans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who recently announced their retirement from T20Is."Rohit has changed himself 190 degrees," Latif said. "His IPL strike rate used to be 130-140, but this year it went up to 160. He changed himself. Virat Kohli did the same thing. If these two batsmen can change, then anyone can."Latif gave Babar and Rizwan a five-match ultimatum to improve their batting approach. If they fail to do so, he believes they should be dropped from the team."I would give Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan 5 matches to change their batting approach in T20Is, and if they won't, then there should be no place in the team for them," Latif said.Latif's comments highlight the growing pressure on Babar and Rizwan to perform. Pakistan's recent T20 World Cup exit has raised questions about the team's direction and the role of its star players.