Cricket

Pakistan's Test woes continue to draw criticism from former players, with legendary batsman Younis Khan launching a scathing attack on the team's captain, Shan Masood.Younis, without naming Masood directly, questioned his leadership abilities, stating that he lacks the necessary qualities and was appointed primarily due to his communication skills. "There are no qualities to lead a team in an individual, neither he is a leader material... still he has been given the responsibilities," Younis said.He criticized the mindset of appointing captains based on their ability to communicate effectively rather than their leadership potential. "Just because the people feel that ye hamari sunta hai, achha padha likha hai, ye English, Urdu, Pashto achhi bolta hai toh isko kaptaan bana do (He may not be a good player but if he listens to us, and speaks good English, Urdu and Pashto, so let's make him the captain). Please, get rid of this thinking," he added.Younis's comments come after Pakistan's heavy defeat to England in the first Test in Multan, which extended their losing streak to six consecutive Tests. The team's performance has raised concerns about their ability to compete at the highest level.In a further blow to Pakistan, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has dropped former captain Babar Azam from the squad for the second and third Tests against England. Azam, who has been struggling for form, managed just 35 runs across both innings in the first Test.The PCB has also rested frontline pace duo Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah for the Tests. The selection committee's decision to rest key players has raised questions about Pakistan's strategy for the remaining matches of the series.

Pakistan's cricket team has come under fire from former batter Basit Ali following their humiliating defeat to England in the first Test of the three-match series in Multan. The loss marked Pakistan's sixth consecutive Test defeat, extending their winless streak to 10 matches in the format.Ali, in a viral rant on his YouTube channel, expressed his disgust with the team's performance, labeling it as "shameful." He questioned the place of star batter Babar Azam in the team, urging the selectors to drop him. Azam has not scored a Test century in over two years, and Ali believes that any other player would have been dropped long ago."Babar Azam needs rest. He should be the one saying, 'I need to rest'. It's been 18 innings without a significant performance. Any other player would have been dropped after three games, like Fawad Alam. This is the harsh reality. Babar should reduce his stance. It's too wide now. The whole world is laughing. Is this how you play?" Ali said.Ali also criticized captain Shan Masood, suggesting that he should be opening the batting instead of playing at number three. He questioned Masood's credentials as captain, saying, "I've always maintained that Shan is an opener and should be opening. But he played at number three. Now what will happen? Who will you drop? He should play in his rightful position. He doesn't even understand captaincy. What has become of this cricket team? It's shameful."The loss to England continues a painful stretch for Pakistan and will likely increase the pressure on Masood, who is reportedly set to be sacked by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The win is England's fourth consecutive Test triumph on Pakistan soil, after a 3-0 whitewash two years ago. England had only won two away Tests against Pakistan in the previous 61 years.

Pakistan's cricket team has undergone significant changes ahead of the second Test against England, with star batter Babar Azam being dropped from the squad. The decision was made by the newly formed selection committee, which met in Lahore and Multan after Pakistan's chastening innings loss in the first Test.Babar's omission is a major blow to Pakistan, as he is their most experienced and successful batter. However, the selection committee felt that he would benefit from time away from the national side, as he has not scored a Test half-century since December 2022.The selection panel comprises Aaqib Javed, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Aleem Dar, Hassan Cheema, and the captain and head coach of the format for which the squad is being selected. It is understood that neither Masood nor Gillespie were part of the selection committee meeting on Friday.While some of the mentors were in favor of keeping Babar in the squad, the majority opinion was in favor of dropping him. It is not yet clear whether Babar will make himself available to play the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, which is scheduled to begin on October 20.Babar's form has been under scrutiny for some time, and his struggles against England on a flat wicket only intensified the pressure on him. He has now gone 18 innings without a half-century in Test cricket, and his average in nine Tests since the start of 2023 is under 21.The loss of form has coincided with a turbulent time in terms of Babar's leadership status. He resigned as captain from all formats after Pakistan's elimination at the ODI World Cup in 2023, but was reappointed as T20I and ODI captain just four months later. However, he quit captaincy once more in June 2024, citing a desire to focus on his batting.Babar's omission is not the only change to the Pakistan squad. Abrar Ahmed remains in hospital and is unlikely to recover in time for the second Test. Selectors are considering Noman Ali and Sajid Khan as potential replacements. There is also a chance that Shaheen Afridi does not play the second Test, as he continues to struggle to return to his pre-knee injury form.The second Test against England begins on October 15 in Multan. England won the first Test by an innings and 47 runs, putting Pakistan at the bottom of the World Test Championship table.

Pakistan's star batter Babar Azam has been enduring a prolonged batting slump, particularly in Test cricket. Since his 161 against New Zealand in December 2022, Babar has failed to reach triple figures in the longest format. His struggles continued in the ongoing first Test against England, where he managed scores of 30 and 5.Babar's inability to capitalize on a pitch described as a "batting paradise" has drawn criticism from fans and experts. The nickname "Zimbabar" or "Zimbu," once used to mock his tendency to score against weaker teams, has reportedly become prevalent within the Pakistan dressing room.A viral video on social media has fueled speculation that pacer Shaheen Afridi used the term "Zimbu" to tease Babar. While the video lacks audio, fans believe Shaheen's gestures indicate the use of the nickname.The alleged rift between Babar and Shaheen stems from Shaheen's removal as T20 World Cup captain in favor of Babar. Babar subsequently relinquished the role, leaving Pakistan without a permanent captain.Meanwhile, Pakistan faces an imminent Test defeat in Multan. England's mammoth 823-7 declared gave them a 267-run lead, which they have extended to 382 runs. Pakistan's batting collapse has left them needing 115 runs to avoid an innings defeat on the final day.Harry Brook's 317 and Joe Root's record-breaking 262 were instrumental in England's dominant performance. Pakistan's bowlers have struggled to contain the English batters, who have amassed a massive total.

Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has expressed his disappointment over the team's performance in the ongoing Multan Test against England. Pakistan's batters failed to capitalize on their strong start, allowing England to take control of the match.On the fourth day, Pakistan faced a daunting task in the second innings, trailing by 267 runs. However, their top six batters failed to deliver, with Babar Azam dismissed for just 5 runs. This continued Azam's poor form in Test cricket, leading Ali to suggest that the 29-year-old may need a break."Babar Azam needs rest," Ali said on his YouTube channel. "He should say that I need to rest. It has been 18 innings since he has performed. If some other player was playing, then he would be out of the squad after three games, like Fawad Alam."Ali also criticized Azam's technique, saying that he needs to reduce his stance. "The whole world is laughing," Ali said. "Is this how to play?"Ali also questioned the captaincy of Shan Masood, who opened the batting in the second innings. "I have been saying that Shan is an opener, he should open," Ali said. "But he played at number three. Now, what will happen? Who will you drop? He should play at his number. He doesn't even know captaincy. What has happened to this cricket team? It is shameful."England's dominance was highlighted by the record-breaking partnership between Harry Brook and Joe Root, who put on 454 runs for the fourth wicket. Pakistan's bowlers were unable to contain the English duo, and their confidence took a hit.England eventually declared on 823 for 7, setting Pakistan a target of 579 runs to win. Pakistan ended the day on 152/6, still trailing by 115 runs.

Babar Azam's struggles in Test cricket continued unabated as the former Pakistan captain once again failed to capitalize on a golden opportunity to silence his critics during the first Test against England in Multan on Monday.Despite Pakistan's strong showing on Day 1, with Shan Masood (151) and Abdullah Shafique (102) putting up a mammoth 253-run stand, Babar failed to capitalize on a comfortable position, scoring only 30 off 71 balls before being trapped lbw by England's Chris Woakes in the final session of the day.Woakes set him up brilliantly, beating him on both the outside and inside edges before delivering a full-length ball that nipped in just enough to hit Babar in front of the stumps. Babar reviewed the decision, hoping for a reprieve, but ball-tracking showed it was crashing into leg stump.The dismissal extended Babar's poor run in Test cricket, leaving fans disappointed once again. What added salt to the wound was the reaction of fans in the stadium. Several spectators were caught on camera sleeping during Babar's innings, a moment that quickly went viral on social media.Fans expressed their frustration online, trolling the Pakistan skipper for his continued lacklustre performances.Despite Babar forging a 61-run partnership with Saud Shakeel, his inability to convert starts into big scores is becoming a pattern that has fueled criticism, especially given Pakistan's dominance earlier in the day.Pakistan still ended Day 1 in a commanding position at 328/4, thanks to Masood and Shafique's heroics. But with every failure, the pressure mounts on Babar to regain his form and silence the growing voices of doubt.

Pakistan vs England 1st Test Day 1: Pakistan Aims to End Home Test Losing StreakPakistan and England will clash in the first Test of a three-match series in Multan, Pakistan. The hosts, Pakistan, are eager to break their dismal streak of losing their last 10 home Tests. They will face an England team without their star all-rounder and captain, Ben Stokes, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury.Pakistan's batting lineup will be led by Babar Azam, the world's top-ranked Test batsman. He will be supported by Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood, and Saud Shakeel. The bowling attack will be spearheaded by Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah, who will be looking to exploit the Multan pitch's expected spin-friendly conditions.England, under the leadership of Ollie Pope, will be aiming to continue their impressive form in Test cricket. They will rely on the experience of Joe Root and the in-form Harry Brook to anchor their batting. The bowling attack will be led by Chris Woakes and Jack Leach, who will be tasked with containing Pakistan's dangerous batting lineup.The match is expected to be a closely contested affair, with both teams having their strengths and weaknesses. Pakistan will be determined to end their home Test losing streak, while England will be looking to extend their dominance in the format.

Babar Azam's resignation as Pakistan's white-ball captain has sparked a search for his successor, with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) reportedly considering three surprising options.Under Azam's leadership, Pakistan suffered a disappointing exit from the T20 World Cup 2024 group stage, losing to the USA and India. While Mohammad Rizwan remains a frontrunner for the captaincy, Fakhar Zaman, Saud Shakeel, and Salman Agha have emerged as potential candidates.According to a report by GEO Super, head coach Gary Kirsten is hesitant to appoint Zaman as captain due to his role as the team's first-choice wicket-keeper batter in all formats. The PCB aims to preserve Zaman's workload to prevent injuries.Azam announced his decision to step down last month, citing a desire to focus on his batting and reduce his workload. He had previously resigned as captain after Pakistan's poor performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup but was reinstated in March.However, his second stint as captain proved equally unsuccessful, with Pakistan failing to advance beyond the group stage of the T20 World Cup. Azam acknowledged the "significant workload" associated with captaincy and expressed a desire to prioritize his personal growth and family time.The PCB is now tasked with finding a suitable replacement for Azam. Rizwan, who has captained Pakistan in the past, is a strong contender. However, the emergence of Zaman, Shakeel, and Agha as potential candidates adds an element of intrigue to the selection process.The decision will ultimately rest with the PCB, which must weigh the strengths and weaknesses of each candidate and determine who is best suited to lead Pakistan's white-ball teams.

Former Pakistan skipper Sidra Nawaz has weighed in on the long-standing debate between fans of India and Pakistan regarding the superiority of Virat Kohli and Babar Azam. Nawaz expressed her preference for Kohli, citing his exceptional career and achievements.Kohli, a 35-year-old batting maestro, has established himself as one of the greatest batters in cricket history. With over 500 appearances across all three formats, he has amassed an impressive 13,906 runs in ODIs alone. His dominance in ODIs earned him the ICC Men's ODI Cricketer of the Year 2023 award.Nawaz acknowledged Babar Azam's rise to the top of the ODI rankings in April 2021, but noted that Kohli had held the number one spot for an extended period of 1258 days. Azam regained the top spot in December 2023, but Nawaz believes Kohli's legacy remains unmatched.With the Women's T20 World Cup underway, Nawaz expressed her belief that Pakistan's momentum could pose a challenge to India in their upcoming match. Despite India's historical dominance in the fixture, Pakistan's impressive victory over Sri Lanka in their opening encounter has given them an edge.Nawaz emphasized the importance of bilateral series between India and Pakistan, stating that it would benefit both teams. She urged India to visit Pakistan for the 2025 Champions Trophy, highlighting that many countries have recently toured Pakistan, including England.Nawaz's career spanned from 2014 to 2023, during which she represented Pakistan in numerous ODI and T20 World Cups. She captained the Pakistan A team in 2021 and is widely regarded as a leader and icon of the national side.