Cricket

Former Pakistan captain Younis Khan has urged star batsman Babar Azam to emulate Indian cricketing icon Virat Kohli's approach to leadership and performance. Younis's comments come amid growing pressure on Babar, who has faced scrutiny both on and off the field.Younis emphasized that Babar's appointment as captain was based on his exceptional talent. However, he stressed that players must prioritize performance over social media presence. "Players should use social media wisely, but their real answers should come through their performances with the bat and ball," Younis said.He highlighted the importance of fitness and work ethic, noting that opportunities like Babar's captaincy do not come often. "He has achieved a lot at such a young age, but what he needs to know what he wants to achieve in the future. Captaincy is a small thing, performance is what matters," Younis added.Drawing a parallel with Kohli, Younis praised the Indian batsman's decision to step down from captaincy to focus on his performance. "Look at Virat Kohli. He chose to step down from captaincy on his own terms, and now he’s breaking records worldwide. This shows that playing for the country should be the priority. If there’s any energy left, then play for yourself."Babar's recent form has been a cause for concern, with his scores in the recent Test series against Bangladesh leading to his drop from the ICC top 10 rankings for batters. This slump has intensified scrutiny over his leadership in white-ball cricket, particularly after Pakistan's disappointing exit from the group stage of the T20 World Cup 2024.Younis urged Babar to focus on his fitness and work ethic, and to learn from the example of Kohli. "He needs to focus on his fitness and work ethic because opportunities like these don't come around often," Younis said.

In a resounding victory at the Champions Cup in Faisalabad, Stallions crushed Lions by 133 runs, led by a dominant batting performance and a clinical bowling display.Stallions captain Mohammad Haris opted to bat first, and the team's openers, Shan Masood and Babar Azam, provided a solid foundation with a 39-run partnership. After Masood's dismissal, Babar took charge, scoring a steady 76 runs to anchor the innings.Tayyab Tahir's blistering 74 off 72 balls propelled Stallions' total, while Haris and Hussain Talat contributed valuable cameos towards the end. The team's aggressive approach in the final ten overs yielded 118 runs, setting a daunting target of 336 for Lions.Lions' chase faltered from the outset as Mohammad Ali's early wickets removed Sajjad Ali and Abdullah Shafique. Imam-ul-Haq emerged as the lone warrior, scoring a valiant 78, but the asking rate proved insurmountable.Haris Rauf's three wickets and Ali's economical spell of 2 for 18 stifled Lions' progress. Shaheen Shah Afridi, despite a late flurry with the bat, could not prevent his team's collapse.Stallions' comprehensive victory was a testament to their collective strength. Babar Azam's leadership, the contributions of multiple batters, and the effectiveness of their bowlers proved too much for Lions to overcome.

The captaincy carousel in Pakistan cricket has been spinning rapidly in recent months, with Babar Azam relinquishing his leadership duties across formats after the 2023 ODI World Cup. Shaheen Afridi was initially appointed as T20I captain, while Shan Masood took over the reins in Test cricket. However, Pakistan's disappointing 4-1 T20I series loss to New Zealand ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup prompted a swift change, with Babar being reinstated as white-ball captain.Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Moin Khan, a member of the 1992 ODI World Cup-winning team, has expressed his disapproval of Shaheen's removal as T20I captain, arguing that he should have been given more time."Shaheen Afridi has the ability to lead the team and is highly respected by the players," Moin told Cricket Pakistan. "He is an excellent choice for captaincy in T20s. In white-ball cricket, I don't see anyone else suitable for the role. Removing him from the captaincy was unjust. He is one of the best T20 players, and I've noticed his performance has slightly declined since he was removed from the captaincy. How can you expect good performance if you don't give players confidence? They should be given some time as captain."Moin also weighed in on the possibility of Mohammad Rizwan replacing Babar as white-ball captain."A single captain can be appointed for all formats of cricket, but it's crucial for any player to perform across all formats to achieve this," Moin said. "Whoever becomes captain should have the responsibility for a long term. There is no doubt about Mohammad Rizwan's abilities; any criticism against him might be due to his age. It's also important to consider how long he can represent the team if given leadership. Mohammad Rizwan could be a great short-term captain, but you would need to groom a young cricketer to take over in the future. We often appoint captains but fail to prepare a suitable deputy."The captaincy debate in Pakistan cricket is likely to continue in the lead-up to the 2024 T20 World Cup, with the team seeking stability and success under a consistent leadership structure.

Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal has strongly advised the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) against making any changes to the team's captaincy. Akmal believes that the focus should be on improving the team's fundamental skills rather than replacing the captain.Akmal's comments come amidst reports that Babar Azam could potentially lose his role as captain of Pakistan's white-ball cricket team. Mohammad Rizwan is reportedly being considered as a leading candidate to replace Azam.Akmal questioned the timing of the potential change in leadership, especially considering Pakistan's recent setbacks under Azam's captaincy. He pointed out that the team has failed to perform well in major tournaments such as the Asia Cup, ODI World Cup, and T20 World Cup."Why they wanted to bring a change now if they did not do that after losing the Asia Cup, ODI World Cup, and T20 World Cup? What difference does it make [by the way]," Akmal said.Akmal believes that appointing a new captain will not solve the team's problems. He emphasized the importance of players performing their basic tasks correctly to avoid mistakes."Is it because the captain is not their favourite, and they want one of their choice? Do you think the new captain will bring Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, or Mitchell Starc into the team to boost its performance? If they do not get their basics right, then such blunders will continue to happen, and replacing captains will make no difference," he suggested.Akmal also criticized the PCB's decision to reappoint Babar Azam as captain of the white-ball format just before the T20 World Cup. He believes that the move was a "strategic mistake" that did not benefit the team."Babar Azam has stepped down as the captain of Pakistan's cricket team in all formats after the team’s early exit from last year's ODI World Cup. Recently, he was reinstated as the captain for the white-ball format, just before the T20 World Cup. This move replaced Shaheen Shah Afridi, who had led Pakistan in a single series against New Zealand, where Pakistan faced a 4-1 series defeat. The PCB explained reappointing Babar as a 'strategic move'," Akmal said.Akmal concluded by urging the PCB, the captain, the coach, and the selectors to set their direction right and reform their thinking. He believes that this is the only way to improve the team's performance and achieve success in future tournaments.

Pakistan's beloved white-ball captain, Babar Azam, recently showcased his humility and approachability during a training session ahead of the Champions One-Day 2024. While preparing at Iqbal Stadium, Babar had a heartwarming interaction with a fan who had managed to bypass security to meet his idol.The 29-year-old skipper's warm gesture was captured in a viral video. The fan, thrilled to have met his cricketing hero, was invited by Babar for a brief chat and a photo. The image of Babar and the fan, both smiling, soon made the rounds on social media, garnering widespread admiration from cricket enthusiasts.The fan's bold move and the ensuing viral photo got applauded by his friends and cricket fans alike outside the stadium in another viral video. Babar's genuine connection with his supporters is evident in this gesture, which adds to the buzz surrounding the Champions One-Day 2024.The tournament, scheduled from September 12 to September 29, will see Babar Azam leading the Stallions, a star-studded lineup including Shan Masood, Haris Rauf, and Abrar Ahmed. Under the captaincy of Pakistan's white-ball specialist Mohammad Haris, the Stallions are poised to make a significant impact.Babar Azam's humility and approachability, coupled with his exceptional cricketing skills, make him a true role model for aspiring cricketers and fans alike. His genuine connection with his supporters is a testament to his character and the respect he has earned in the cricketing world.

Babar Azam's Controversial Gesture Sparks Criticism Amidst Form StrugglesPakistan's star cricketer Babar Azam has come under fire after a video emerged showing him pushing away a fan's hand while taking a picture. The incident occurred ahead of the Pakistan Champions One-Day Cup 2024, where Babar is set to represent Stallions.In the viral clip, a fan attempted to place his arm around Babar's shoulder for a selfie, which the cricketer did not appreciate. He promptly removed the fan's hand but still posed for the picture. This incident has drawn widespread criticism on social media, with fans and pundits questioning Babar's behavior.The incident highlights the pressures and expectations that come with fame, especially during a challenging phase in Babar's career. On the field, he has been struggling with his form. Pakistan's recent defeat in a two-Test series against Bangladesh on home soil has only added to the frustration.Babar's performances—scoring just 0, 22, 11, and 31 in the series—have seen him drop out of the ICC top 10 rankings for batters for the first time in years. This dip in form has further intensified scrutiny over his leadership abilities, particularly after Pakistan's failure to progress beyond the group stage of the T20 World Cup 2024.With Pakistan set for a three-match Test series against England in October, Babar hopes to regain his form and silence critics. His fans will be eagerly watching to see if he can bounce back and lead Pakistan with renewed vigor.

Pakistan cricket has been in a state of turmoil in recent times, with a humiliating 2-0 series defeat at home against Bangladesh, reports of dressing room conflicts, and groupism within the team. The constant chopping and changing in PCB administration and teams across formats has further exacerbated the situation.Former players have been vocal in their criticism of the administrators, team management, and players. Former leg-spinner Danish Kaneria has joined the chorus, expressing his concern over Pakistan's recent performances.Kaneria believes that everything is being taken for granted in the team and that Pakistan cricket needs a tough task-master like India's Gautam Gambhir. He emphasized the importance of sticking with a captain and providing them with full support, while also holding them accountable for their performance."Why today other teams are doing so well? Why is the Indian team is doing so well? They had Rahul Dravid who worked with the team very well now they have Gautham Gambhir, a fantastic cricketer and fantastic guy. The way he reacts, he tells on the face. He doesn't go back and do backbiting; he's on the face straight away. This is how you have to be. You have to be strong, and like a strong person, you have to make the decision on the face, not at the back," said Kaneria.Reports in Pakistan media suggest that Babar Azam, who has been struggling with poor form, may be removed as Pakistan's white-ball captain. Wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan has emerged as the potential candidate to lead the team in ODIs and T20Is.The likely development comes after Babar's recent batting failures in the home Test series against Bangladesh. Shan Masood was leading the Test side, which the hosts embarrassingly lost 2-0.

Babar Azam's tenure as Pakistan's white-ball captain is under scrutiny following a string of batting failures and the team's recent Test series loss to Bangladesh. According to Geo News, wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan is emerging as the frontrunner to replace Azam as skipper in ODIs and T20Is.Rizwan's impressive performances in the Test series against Bangladesh, where he led the batting charts with 294 runs at an average of 98.0, have strengthened his case for captaincy. In contrast, Azam struggled with the bat, scoring only 64 runs at an average of 16.00.The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is reportedly considering appointing Rizwan as captain ahead of the Australia tour in November. This move could also see Rizwan take over the captaincy in all three formats, potentially putting Shan Masood's position as Test skipper in jeopardy.Azam relinquished the captaincy after Pakistan's disappointing ODI World Cup campaign last year but was reappointed for white-ball formats in March. However, the team's recent struggles have raised questions about his leadership abilities.Rizwan's appointment as captain would mark a significant shift in Pakistan's cricket strategy. The 30-year-old is known for his aggressive batting style and his ability to lead from the front. He has also been praised for his work ethic and his commitment to the team.If Rizwan is appointed captain, he will face the challenge of rebuilding a team that has struggled for consistency in recent years. Pakistan was eliminated from the T20 World Cup in the group stage and suffered a humiliating Test series defeat to Bangladesh.Rizwan will need to find a way to inspire his team and improve their performances on the field. He will also need to work closely with the PCB to develop a long-term plan for the team's success.

Pakistan cricket is facing a severe crisis, with the national team's recent 0-2 Test series defeat to Bangladesh at home being labeled as their worst performance in the longest format. One of the primary reasons for Pakistan's struggles has been the underperformance of star batter Babar Azam.Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has advised Azam to get married, believing it will improve his performance. "Babar Azam, talk to your parents and get married. He will be a completely different man after that," Ali said. "I know how a player feels when he is not performing well. I request Babar's parents to get him to marry."Azam's poor form has been evident in recent series. In the three-match Test series against Australia last year, he scored 126 runs at an average of 21. In the four T20Is against England before the T20 World Cup, he managed 68 runs at an average of 34.00. In the T20 World Cup, he scored 122 runs in four matches at an average of 40.66, but was criticized for his low strike rate of 101.66.In the recent Test series against Bangladesh, Azam scored just 64 runs in four innings. Former cricketer Rashid Latif believes this defeat should serve as a wake-up call for Pakistan cricket. "This is a wake-up call for Pakistan cricket. They can't go lower than this. Now, it's the time to rise and open your eyes," Latif said. "If you still don't open your eyes after losing to Bangladesh, play Test series only against Nepal and Afghanistan."Azam's struggles have raised concerns about his leadership and the team's overall direction. Pakistan cricket is at a crossroads, and it remains to be seen whether Azam and the team can turn things around.