Cricket

Former Pakistan pacer Sikander Bakht has vehemently criticized Babar Azam's decision to step down as the captain of the white-ball team. Bakht believes that Babar should have resigned immediately after Pakistan's humiliating exit from the T20 World Cup in June.Pakistan's failure to qualify for the knockout stage of the tournament, including a shocking loss to tournament debutants USA, was widely regarded as one of the most embarrassing moments in the country's cricketing history. Bakht believes that Babar should have taken responsibility for this debacle and stepped down as captain."He should have resigned on June 16th, as soon as our World Cup was over," Bakht told Geo News. "The whole nation was saying that he should have resigned. But he was stubborn. He thought he was king."Bakht also questioned Babar's performances as both a captain and a batter, suggesting that he has not been up to the mark in recent times. "His performance was not good, neither was theirs," Bakht said. "They should have realized that we were being removed in two ways."Bakht went on to claim that Babar did not resign voluntarily but was told to do so. He also alleged that the atmosphere in the dressing room is not conducive to success, with three players—Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, and Mohammad Rizwan—vying for the captaincy."He was told to resign," Bakht said. "We have three captains in our base. There are groups of three captains. One is Babar, another is Rizwan. They want to become captains. Shaheen wants to become captain again. And there is also Shan Masood."Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) released a statement acknowledging Babar's decision to step down. The PCB stated that it had backed Babar as the white-ball captain but respected his decision to focus on his batting."This decision is a testament to his professionalism and commitment to Pakistan cricket," the PCB said. "He believes that dedicating himself fully to his batting will enable him to play a more decisive role in the team's success in the shorter formats."

Pakistan cricket has been plunged into further turmoil after Babar Azam announced his resignation as captain of the limited-overs format. The decision comes after a string of disappointing performances, including an embarrassing defeat to the USA in the T20 World Cup.Azam's resignation has been met with mixed reactions. Some, like former captain Rashid Latif, believe it is a sign of a leadership crisis in Pakistan cricket. Others, like Basit Ali, believe it is a sensible decision that will allow Azam to focus on his batting.Azam's decision to step down as captain is the latest in a series of setbacks for Pakistan cricket. The Test team was recently swept aside by Bangladesh at home, and the morale of the international side remains low.The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has yet to announce a replacement for Azam. However, it is clear that the team is in need of a new direction.

Pakistan's Test skipper, Shan Masood, has expressed confidence in star batter Babar Azam's ability to regain form during the upcoming home Test series against England. Masood believes that Azam, despite recent struggles, remains the team's premier batter.Azam's performances in his last eight Tests have been below par, with an average of 21.13 and no half-centuries. However, Masood emphasized that Azam is not out of form and is still getting starts. He attributed Azam's struggles to the long gap between Tests and the pressure of being the team's leading batter."Babar is among the world's best batters," Masood said. "You have to give your players time, not just Babar. He is getting starts. There was a 10-month gap between the Australia and Bangladesh Tests, which does not help us."Masood pointed to Azam's impressive performances in the recent Champions Cup, where he scored 230 runs at an average of 76.66 and a strike rate of almost 99. He believes that Azam's ability to absorb pressure and change gears in that tournament will benefit him in Tests.Masood also dismissed any concerns about a lack of unity within the team. He stated that the players are putting in effort and that he has no complaints."Every captain has their own style," Masood said. "I focus on keeping the environment in the dressing room well; that is my primary concern. I have never seen a lack of unity or effort by the boys."Pakistan's Test record at home has been poor in recent times, with their last win dating back to February 2021. They are under pressure to perform well against England, especially after their series loss to Bangladesh.The Pakistan squad for the first Test against England includes:* Shan Masood (c)* Saud Shakeel (vc)* Aamir Jamal* Abdullah Shafique* Abrar Ahmed* Babar Azam* Mir Hamza* Mohammad Huraira* Mohammad Rizwan* Naseem Shah* Noman Ali* Saim Ayub* Salman Ali Agha* Sarfaraz Ahmed* Shaheen Shah Afridi

Mohammad Rizwan is poised to succeed Babar Azam as Pakistan's white-ball captain, according to Geo News. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is reportedly set to hold meetings with Rizwan to discuss team selection.Azam's resignation as captain came after Pakistan's disappointing performance in the T20 World Cup 2024, where they failed to progress beyond the group stage. Despite being the tournament favorites, Pakistan suffered a shock defeat to co-hosts USA in their opening match.During Azam's tenure as captain, Pakistan failed to win a major tournament. They were eliminated from the Asia Cup in the Super 4 stage in 2022 and failed to reach the knockout stage of the ODI World Cup in India later that year.Azam's decision to step down as captain is seen as a move to prioritize his batting performance. He has been a prolific run-scorer for Pakistan, amassing over 5,000 runs in ODIs and 4,000 runs in T20Is.Rizwan, who has been Azam's deputy in the white-ball formats, is a natural leader and a respected figure within the team. He has been in excellent form with the bat, scoring over 1,000 runs in T20Is in 2023.Pakistan will face England in a three-match Test series on home soil in October. The first Test will begin on October 7 in Multan, followed by the second Test on October 15, also in Multan. The final Test will be held in Rawalpindi from October 24 to 28.

Babar Azam, the prolific Pakistani batsman, has relinquished his captaincy of the national white-ball teams for the second time in less than a year. In a heartfelt statement, Babar cited the need to prioritize his batting and reduce his workload as the primary reasons for his decision.Babar's first stint as captain, which began in 2019, was marked by several notable achievements. Under his leadership, Pakistan secured multi-format series victories over South Africa, an ODI series triumph against Australia, and reached the semi-finals and final of two consecutive T20 World Cups.However, his second stint as captain, which commenced in April 2023, proved to be less successful. Pakistan managed to win only six out of 13 T20Is during this period, including a disappointing T20 World Cup campaign where they were eliminated in the first round after defeats to the USA and India.In his resignation statement, Babar expressed his gratitude for the support he received during his tenure as captain. He emphasized that the decision to step down was made in the best interests of his personal growth and the team's performance."It's been an honor to lead this team, but it's time for me to step down and focus on my playing role," Babar said. "Captaincy has been a rewarding experience, but it's added a significant workload. By stepping down, I will gain clarity moving forward and focus more energy on my game and personal growth."Babar's resignation has left a void in Pakistan's white-ball leadership. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has yet to announce a replacement, but the team's next assignment is a tour of Australia in March, where they will play three T20Is and three ODIs.

Pakistan's Test captain, Shan Masood, has emphasized the importance of unity and consistency within the team. Despite a challenging start to his tenure, Masood believes that the players are committed and deserve more time to prove their worth.Masood has faced criticism for Pakistan's recent performances, including a 3-0 series defeat in Australia and a home series loss to Bangladesh. However, he remains confident in the team's ability to improve."I have never seen a lack of unity or effort by the boys," Masood said. "There are some cricketing aspects to how we need to improve, but I have no complaints regarding unity."Masood has also backed Babar Azam, Pakistan's star batter, to regain his form. "Babar Azam is among the world's best batters," Masood said. "You have to give your players time, not just Babar Azam."Masood believes that players in the longer formats deserve more opportunities to prove themselves. "We have to give players a consistent chance," he said. "We want to consistently back our players, and whoever comes in shouldn't feel their spot is under threat from the first day."Masood also defended Abdullah Shafique, who has struggled in recent matches. "When I was out of the team for two years, I averaged over 60 in List A cricket, but Imam [ul-Haq-] and Fakhar [Zaman] were consistently performing," Masood said. "I didn't complain that I wasn't being selected, because I understood the level of competition was high."Masood highlighted the impressive form of Mohammad Hasnain in the One-Day Cup. "Hasnain was bowling really well and [was] a personal standout for me," Masood said. "We should appreciate the skill of fast bowling in Test cricket. It's the hardest skill and you need to be super fit to execute it."Masood emphasized the importance of managing fast bowlers' workloads to prevent injuries. "Fast bowling exerts a huge amount of stress on the body," Masood said. "So we've set certain standards and protocols so our fast bowlers are the fittest players in our team."

Pakistan's Test team head coach, Jason Gillespie, has emphasized his commitment to providing players with ample opportunities to prove their worth in the traditional format. However, he has also made it clear that this support will not be indefinite."If performances are not at the required level over a prolonged period, we may consider making changes," Gillespie stated in a video released by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).For the upcoming first Test against England, Pakistan has retained the same squad that suffered a 2-0 defeat to Bangladesh at home. Left-arm spinner Noman Ali has been added as a second specialist spinner, joining leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed.Gillespie expressed confidence in his players' understanding of his selection philosophy. "We want to back and support players," he said.Pakistan enters the three-Test series against England with a dismal home record, having lost six of their last ten matches and drawn the remaining four. Their poor performance includes a 3-0 whitewash by England in 2022, with one of those defeats occurring in Multan, which will host back-to-back Test matches starting on October 7.Gillespie's tenure as head coach began with a disappointing series against Bangladesh, who dominated Pakistan in both Tests held in Rawalpindi.Pakistan's batting lineup has been struggling, particularly star batter Babar Azam, who has only managed a top score of 41 in his last 16 Test innings. Despite this, Shan Masood has been retained as captain for the first Test against England, even though he has lost five straight Test matches since his elevation to captain last year."A lot of people are writing us off (against England), and that's OK, that's fine," Gillespie said. "It will only motivate our boys a little bit more. We'll go out and do our jobs as best we can, and hopefully, the results will take care of themselves."Gillespie acknowledged England's aggressive 'Bazball' approach, which has seen them scoring runs at a rapid pace against various bowling attacks. "We've seen them evolve their game ... (but) we will play our way, striving to be a consistent and disciplined team that hangs in there and strikes at the right moment to drive the game forward and exploit gaps," he said.In the second Test against Bangladesh, Pakistan failed to capitalize on an advantageous position when they allowed the visitors to recover from a precarious 26 for 6 and eventually lost the match by seven wickets. Gillespie emphasized the need for Pakistan to maintain their advantage once they gain it."Once you gain the advantage, you have to find a way to maintain it and not let the opposition back into the game," he said. "We must shut that door and stay well ahead."Kamran Ghulam, top scorer in Pakistan's domestic cricket, was not picked for the first Test, and fast bowler Mohammad Ali was dropped from the squad. "Look, all players are disappointed when they miss out. I'd be surprised if they weren't," Gillespie said. "I'm relatively new to this role and I've only been involved in two Test matches. That's not a big enough sample size to make long-term decisions on players. I'd rather show my support and backing for them at this stage."

Pakistan's humiliating Test series loss to Bangladesh has sparked outrage among cricket fans and former players alike. Former leg-spinner Danish Kaneria has launched a scathing attack on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the team, calling them "worse than a mohalla team."Kaneria's criticism stems from Pakistan's dismal performance in the two-match series. Bangladesh dominated the first Test with a resounding 10-wicket victory, while in the second Test, they chased down 185 runs with six wickets in hand. This marked the third-highest successful run chase by a visiting team on Pakistani soil.Kaneria believes the PCB is to blame for the team's poor showing. He highlights the disconnect between the leadership and the performance on the field, stating that "the luxuries of the captain's 'kursi' (chair) and the chairmanship at the PCB spoil minds."Kaneria also questions the decision to replace Sarfaraz Ahmed with Babar Azam as captain. He believes Sarfaraz was a more capable leader and that the current leadership lacks the ability to handle pressure situations."I don't know why Babar Azam was given the leadership responsibility despite Sarfaraz Ahmed's good captaincy," Kaneria said. "Currently, there is no captain material in the Pakistan team. A captain is someone who takes the pressure on his shoulders and carries the team forward with his performance, which both Babar and Shan Masood have failed to do."Kaneria draws a comparison between Pakistan and India, emphasizing that Indian players have consistently stepped up to the plate when required. He praises Rishabh Pant, India's dynamic wicketkeeper-batter, and suggests that he could be a future leader for India, especially in Test cricket."When you look at the current Indian team, everyone takes responsibility and performs when it is needed," Kaneria said. "Shubman (Gill), Rishabh (Pant), (Ravichandran) Ashwin — everyone contributes, and that is why they are a world-class team."Kaneria's criticism reflects the growing frustration among Pakistani cricket fans and experts. The team's recent performances have raised serious concerns about the direction of the team under Babar Azam's leadership. The PCB must take immediate action to address the issues plaguing the team and restore Pakistan's status as a cricketing powerhouse.

Pakistan's Test captaincy is expected to remain unchanged, with Shan Masood set to lead the team in the upcoming home series against England. Babar Azam will continue as the white-ball captain during the tours of Australia and South Africa later this year.England's squad will arrive in Pakistan on October 3 for a three-Test series beginning in Multan on October 7. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) selectors will announce the Test squad after the Champions Cup final on Sunday.Masood, who has overseen five consecutive Test losses, will meet with head coach Jason Gillespie and national selectors Muhammad Yousuf and Asad Shafiq in Faisalabad this week to finalize the strategy for the England series.The last time England visited Pakistan, during the 2022/23 season, they swept the series 3-0 under the captaincy of Babar Azam.Sources indicate that few changes are expected in the Test squad that recently lost a series against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi 0-2. The batting line-up is likely to remain stable, with Shan, Babar, Saud Shakeel, Abdullah Shafique, Salman Ali Agha, Muhammad Rizwan, Kamran Ghulam, and Muhammad Huraira being considered for selection.The selectors are considering the inclusion of some new spinners for the three-match series, but the decision will depend on the type of pitches prepared in Multan and Rawalpindi.Since 2022, Pakistan has lost home series to Australia, England, and Bangladesh, managing only to draw the series against New Zealand. The team will be eager to turn things around against England and regain some momentum in the Test format.