Cricket

Salman Butt Defends Babar Azam Amidst Resignation and CriticismFormer Pakistan captain Salman Butt has come to the defense of Babar Azam following his resignation as the team's white-ball captain. The move came after ex-pacer Sikander Bakht criticized Azam's leadership and performance during the recent T20 World Cup.Bakht had suggested that Azam should have stepped down immediately after Pakistan's group stage exit, saying, "You finally felt ashamed!" However, Butt believes that such criticism is unwarranted."Respect is given to those who have earned it," Butt said on a TV show. "It's unfortunate to criticize a player who has been Pakistan's best for the past five years."Butt highlighted Azam's consistent contributions to Pakistan cricket, including his impressive batting record and leadership qualities. He emphasized the need to recognize Azam's accomplishments, regardless of personal opinions."You can like or dislike any person, but you should consider the player's stature while criticizing," Butt concluded.Azam's resignation has sparked mixed reactions within the cricket community. Some have questioned his decision, while others have expressed support for his leadership. Butt's defense underscores the importance of acknowledging Azam's significant contributions to Pakistan cricket amidst leadership changes.

Pakistan Cricket's Leadership Crisis: Ashwin Expresses ConcernRavichandran Ashwin, the renowned Indian cricketer, has voiced his concerns over the current state of Pakistan cricket, which has been plagued by leadership instability and poor performance.Following Pakistan's disappointing exit from the 2023 World Cup, Babar Azam resigned as captain, triggering a series of leadership changes. Shaheen Afridi briefly took over the T20I captaincy before Babar was reinstated, only to step down again.Ashwin likened the situation to a game of "musical chairs," highlighting the detrimental impact of frequent captaincy changes on team morale and cohesion. "I am speaking the truth when I say that the current state of Pakistan cricket and the phase they are going through makes me feel a little sorry," Ashwin said.He emphasized that despite Pakistan's abundance of talented players, the instability has shifted the focus from team success to individual performance. "Every cricketer will be so unstable inside the dressing room that he will start thinking about himself and will think less about the team," Ashwin added.Ashwin also pointed to Pakistan's poor recent record, particularly in Test cricket, where they have not won a home Test match in nearly three years. "In the 2023 World Cup, they lost, and then Babar resigned. Then Afridi was made captain, but Babar was reinstated for limited overs, and Shan Masood was made the Test captain. And look at the situation now – Pakistan hasn't won a Test match at home for more than 3 years," he stated.Ashwin's remarks echo the concerns of many cricket experts who believe that Pakistan's ongoing leadership issues and lack of stability are hindering their international performance. The team's inability to find a consistent and effective leadership structure has created an environment of uncertainty and instability, which is affecting the players' confidence and focus.

Pakistan's cricket team is facing a dilemma as they consider splitting the captaincy across the three formats of the game. The heavy schedule and workload on the current white-ball skipper, Babar Azam, has prompted the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to explore alternative options.Despite expectations that Azam would retain the ODI captaincy, he surprisingly resigned late Wednesday night, citing a desire to focus on his batting. This has left the PCB, head coach Gary Kirsten, and the selection committee with the task of finding a suitable replacement.Muhammad Rizwan, the wicketkeeper-batter, is considered the frontrunner for the white-ball captaincy. However, concerns have been raised about his workload, as he is an automatic selection in all formats. The team's hectic international schedule, which includes 18 ODIs and T20Is in Australia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, followed by two Tests in South Africa, has raised concerns about Rizwan's ability to handle the additional responsibility.Sources within the PCB suggest that the board may consider appointing separate captains for ODIs and T20Is, or naming a strong vice-captain to Rizwan who would lead the team in his absence. Shadab Khan, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood, and Shaheen Shah Afridi are among the candidates being considered for these roles.Kirsten has reportedly expressed reservations about any player taking on the captaincy in two formats, especially after Azam's recent loss of form and confidence. The PCB is now tasked with finding a solution that balances the need for strong leadership with the players' workload management.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is facing criticism for failing to pay its players' salaries for four months. The issue affects both the men's and women's national teams, including star players like Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Afridi.The men's team, which recently awarded 25 senior players three-year contracts, has not received their salaries from July to October. According to reports, the contracts are under review due to the team's poor performance. Despite repeated reminders, the players have been left waiting for their payments.The women's team, which is on a 23-month contract since August 2023, is also facing salary delays. Their contract was set to be reviewed after 12 months, but the process is still ongoing. The PCB has stated that the contracts will be offered with effect from July 1, 2024, once the lists are finalized and approved.The salary delays have come at a crucial time for both teams. The men's team is set to face England in a three-match Test series at home, starting October 7. The women's team is currently in the United Arab Emirates for the Women's T20 World Cup 2024, which kicked off on October 3.The PCB's financial struggles have been attributed to a lack of sponsorship and revenue. The board has been criticized for its handling of the situation and for failing to prioritize the welfare of its players. The salary delays have raised concerns about the future of Pakistani cricket and the morale of the national teams.

Babar Azam's resignation as Pakistan's white-ball captain has sparked a debate about the team's future leadership. Former wicketkeeper-batsman Rashid Latif believes Babar's decision will pave the way for his return to form as the team's premier batsman.Latif praised Babar for stepping down, saying it will alleviate the pressure on him and allow him to focus on his batting. He criticized Babar's captaincy, claiming that it damaged the team's performance in recent World Cups.With Babar's departure, the frontrunner for white-ball captaincy is wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan. However, Latif advised Rizwan against taking on the role, suggesting that he should give others a chance.Latif proposed alternative candidates for ODI captaincy, including Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, and Salman Ali Agha. He emphasized the importance of leadership qualities, citing Imran Khan and Younis Khan as examples of successful leaders who guided Pakistan to World Cup victories.Latif criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for its lack of leadership and division within the organization. He believes that Pakistan will need to wait until the Champions Trophy next year to find a true leader for the team.

Pakistan cricket has been in a downward spiral, with lackluster performances at the 2023 ODI World Cup and T20 World Cup, as well as their first-ever Test series defeat to Bangladesh on home soil. Former Pakistan opener Mudassar Nazar blames the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the escalating tension between senior players Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi, which he believes has contributed to the team's decline.Nazar believes the PCB should have provided Babar with ample support and time to assert his leadership. He criticized the board for constantly changing the captaincy, which has created instability and uncertainty within the team. He also pointed out that Pakistan has an abundance of talented players, but they are becoming lost within the system.Nazar compared Babar Azam to Indian cricketer Virat Kohli, stating that Kohli is undoubtedly one of the greatest in the history of the game, while Babar still has a long way to go to make a name for himself. He praised Indian skipper Rohit Sharma and Kohli, expressing that he could watch them bat for hours.Nazar's comments highlight the need for the PCB to address the mounting issues within Pakistan cricket. The board must provide its captain with the necessary support and stability to lead the team effectively. It must also address the systemic issues that are hindering the development of talented players. Only then can Pakistan cricket regain its former glory.

Former Pakistan opener Mudassar Nazar has hailed Virat Kohli as one of the greatest cricketers in history, dismissing comparisons between the Indian superstar and Pakistan's Babar Azam. Nazar's comments come amidst Babar's recent resignation as Pakistan's white-ball captain and the ongoing turmoil within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).Nazar believes that Babar, despite his impressive batting record, still has a long way to go to match Kohli's legacy. "There is a hell of a difference between the two players," Nazar said. "Virat will be remembered as one of the greatest who has graced the game. Babar has still got to make a name for himself."Nazar also praised India's Rohit Sharma, calling him a joy to watch when in form. "I love to watch Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli," he said. "When they are at the peak and playing well, it is fantastic to watch them. You could sit in front of the TV for hours and just watch those two play."Nazar's comments come as the PCB faces criticism for its handling of the Pakistan cricket team. He believes that the board's constant tinkering with the captaincy has contributed to the team's recent struggles. "It is our own doing (the friction between Babar and Shaheen)," Nazar said. "We shouldn't have messed around with the set-up."Nazar urged the PCB to provide more support to its captain, regardless of who it may be. "There was one set captain, we should have given him a longer term and if somebody else had been made a captain, then he should have had a decent go at it. And not been thrown out straight away."The PCB is yet to name a new white-ball captain following Babar's resignation. Pakistan's next assignment is the home Test series against England, which commences on October 7 in Multan.

Babar Azam Relinquishes White-Ball Captaincy Amidst Critical Report and Lack of SupportPakistan's star batter Babar Azam has stepped down as captain of the national white-ball teams following a critical report submitted by head coach Gary Kirsten and a perceived lack of support from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).Sources within the PCB and close to the team revealed that Azam had lost his enthusiasm for the captaincy after the team's disappointing performance at the T20 World Cup in July. Kirsten's report, which was partially leaked to the public, reportedly criticized Azam's leadership and blamed him for the team's failures.Azam expressed dissatisfaction with the report and felt that he was being unfairly singled out. He conveyed to the PCB that he was no longer interested in continuing as captain.The situation was further exacerbated when the PCB announced Azam as captain of the T20 team but not the ODI squad ahead of the World Cup. This decision was seen as a lack of confidence in Azam's abilities.Kirsten's report also raised concerns about the dressing room environment and the behavior of some players. He questioned whether Azam was equipped to handle the pressures of captaincy and suggested that he should focus on his role as a specialist batter.The PCB is currently deliberating on who will replace Azam as white-ball captain. Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has instructed the selection committee to carefully consider all options and provide a detailed rationale for their decision.

Legendary Pakistani batter Zaheer Abbas has joined the chorus of former cricketers and pundits calling for the removal of Babar Azam from the national team. Abbas's criticism stems from Azam's underwhelming performances as both a batter and captain in recent major tournaments, including the 2023 Cricket World Cup and the 2024 T20 World Cup.Abbas dismissed comparisons between Azam and Indian batting stalwart Virat Kohli, highlighting the vast difference in their consistency levels. "The comparisons are pointless. Virat Kohli scores in every match, the other player (Babar) doesn't score in any match, so then how can you compare? The person who scores, he is the bigger player," Abbas said.After resigning from the captaincy following Pakistan's failure to reach the semifinals of the 2023 Cricket World Cup, Azam was surprisingly reinstated as captain ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup. However, Pakistan's performance in the tournament was even more disappointing, as they failed to qualify for the Super 8s after losses to India and co-hosts USA.Abbas also expressed concern about the overall performance of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the national team. "The performance of PCB and the team is not that good," he said.Abbas emphasized the importance of maintaining the India-Pakistan rivalry on the international stage. "If India don't come to Pakistan, that's no good for cricket. Maybe sometimes Pakistan can also refuse to go to India. But cricket without Pakistan and India playing together is not complete," he said.