Cricket

Pakistan's recent Test series defeat to Bangladesh has sparked widespread criticism, with captain Babar Azam facing the brunt of the backlash. The team's poor performance has raised questions about Azam's leadership, temperament, and ability to deliver under pressure.Azam's struggles have been particularly evident in recent months, including the T20 World Cup 2024 and the Bangladesh Test series. His inability to meet expectations has led to doubts about his suitability as captain and his overall skill level.The criticism has extended beyond the field, with Pakistani YouTubers mocking Azam's performance. Some have even suggested that he would not be worth a bid of Rs 130 in the Indian Premier League (IPL), where Pakistani players are not allowed to participate.Meanwhile, Pakistan Test skipper Shan Masood has acknowledged the team's shortcomings and apologized to the nation. He admitted that the team was not prepared for the rigors of red-ball cricket and that they need to improve their fast bowling stocks.Masood emphasized the need to develop a pool of fast bowlers who regularly play red-ball cricket. He also acknowledged the absence of Shaheen Afridi in the second Test and the failure of the team's new faces to step up.Going forward, Masood believes the team must focus on improving their Test cricket performance. He stressed the importance of tolerating failures and giving consistent chances to players who are committed to the red-ball format.

Zaka Ashraf, the former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, has vehemently denied allegations of player groupings and rifts within the national team during his tenure. Ashraf's comments come amidst ongoing scrutiny of his decisions, particularly the appointment of Shaheen Shah Afridi as T20 captain and Shan Masood as Test captain after the 2023 ODI World Cup.Ashraf maintains that there were no divisions between Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi following his decision to appoint Afridi as T20 captain. "There were no differences between Babar Azam or Shaheen even after I decided to have the latter as the T20 captain," Ashraf asserted.He further claims that the team's unity improved after Babar Azam was relieved of his captaincy duties. "No, the unity didn't end (after removing Babar Azam as captain). In fact, the unity improved. When we told him to play as a player, which is his talent, but as a captain, his performance is not good, he agreed," Ashraf explained.However, Shaheen Afridi's tenure as T20 captain was short-lived, as he was sacked after a single series in New Zealand. He was also dropped for the second Test against Bangladesh due to poor form. The PCB subsequently reinstated Babar Azam as T20 skipper.Ashraf also defended his decision to appoint Shan Masood as Test captain and Muhammad Hafeez as team director. He described Hafeez as "a very honest man" and denied any player groupings. "The team was good. And, we brought Shan Masood as the captain. He was a very good captain. He is still a very good player. He is still a captain in England's counties," Ashraf said.Regarding Shaheen Afridi's appointment as T20 captain, Ashraf stated, "I made Shaheen Shah the captain of the T20I team. That was also a very good decision."Ashraf, who headed the interim cricket management committee from June to January, believes he made the right decision to bring in Hafeez as team director. "Mohammad Hafeez is an excellent cricketer and a very honest person, we brought him along. Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, and these players, we brought them along so that the coaching staff is with the team," he added.

Pakistan's batting mainstay Babar Azam has come under fire on social media for his recent underwhelming performances in international cricket. In the recently concluded two-Test series against Bangladesh, Azam managed a meager 64 runs across four innings, continuing a string of poor batting displays that have failed to yield victories for Pakistan.Azam's struggles have sparked a barrage of criticism and false memes on social media, with some even resorting to spreading fake news about his retirement. Following his scores of 31 and 11 in the second Test in Rawalpindi, a fabricated retirement post gained traction on social media.Despite relinquishing his captaincy after the 2023 ICC ODI World Cup, Azam was reinstated for the 2024 T20 World Cup. However, his recent Test performances have been dismal, with only 190 runs in his last 10 innings at an average of 19. His average in the 50-over format has also declined to 34.In T20Is, Azam has maintained an average of 38 over the past year. Under his captaincy, Pakistan suffered a disappointing group-stage exit at the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies, losing to the USA and India.Azam's poor form has raised concerns among fans and experts alike, who are questioning his ability to lead Pakistan's batting lineup. The pressure on the 29-year-old is mounting, and he will need to find his form quickly to silence his critics and restore Pakistan's fortunes on the international stage.

Pakistan's star batsman Babar Azam has been facing a prolonged batting slump, raising concerns among fans and experts. Despite his struggles, Pakistan's Test coach Jason Gillespie has expressed unwavering support for Azam, believing that the right-hander is on the cusp of a resurgence.Azam's struggles began after the ODI World Cup in India last year. He briefly relinquished the captaincy but resumed leadership in the white-ball format ahead of the T20 World Cup. However, his batting form has remained elusive, leading to criticism from fans and former players.In the ongoing Test series against Bangladesh, Azam has managed only 64 runs in four innings. This has intensified the scrutiny on his form, with many questioning his ability to lead Pakistan's batting lineup.Despite the criticism, Gillespie remains confident in Azam's abilities. "Babar is a quality player. He is a world-class player. He is very close. I feel it. I am confident that we are going to see Babar scoring some big runs very soon," Gillespie said after the end of Day 4.Gillespie believes that Azam is not far from rediscovering his prolific scoring ability. "He probably hasn't converted the start he has got," Gillespie added.Azam's struggles have coincided with a challenging period for Pakistan's cricket team. After a series whitewash in Australia, Pakistan's batting lineup was exposed as vulnerable. Azam's poor form in England and the T20 World Cup further highlighted the team's batting woes.Pakistan will face England in a Test series next, and the pressure will be on Azam to deliver. The team will rely heavily on its premier batsman to make impactful contributions and guide Pakistan to victory.

Former Pakistan batter Mohammad Wasim has shed light on the challenges he encountered as chief selector of the team, particularly in dealing with former all-format captain Babar Azam. Wasim, who served as head coach from December 2020 to December 2022, described Babar as "very stubborn" and prone to frustration when the selection committee made changes to the squad."It was a pain to make him accept changes. He was very stubborn and sometimes, I had to overstep my boundaries just to get him on board with certain decisions," Wasim said, as quoted by PakPassion.Wasim's comments come amidst Babar's recent struggles in the ongoing Test series against Bangladesh. After managing scores of 0 and 22 in the first Test, Babar scored 31 in the first innings of the second Test in Rawalpindi.Meanwhile, Wasim has taken on a new role as head coach of the Pakistan women's team. He is joined by former Pakistan bowlers Junaid Khan and Abdur Rehman as assistant coach and spin-bowling coach, respectively. Notably, no batting coach has been appointed, with Wasim expected to take on that role himself.Wasim's coaching credentials stem from his successful tenure with Northern, a team in Pakistan's domestic structure. Under his leadership, Northern achieved successive runners-up finishes in the revamped Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. His focus on nurturing young talent culminated in a National T20 Cup victory in the 2019-20 season.

Pakistan's all-rounder Salman Ali Agha has come to the defense of star batter Babar Azam following another disappointing innings in the second Test against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi. Babar's struggles in the series have raised concerns, but Agha remains confident in his teammate's ability to bounce back.Babar's lean patch in Test cricket has seen his average dip below 45, with his last score over fifty coming in late 2022. In the ongoing series, he has been dismissed for a duck, 22, and 31, contributing to Pakistan's struggles.Despite Babar's poor form, Agha believes it is only a temporary phase. "Babar Azam is a world-class player," Agha said. "As a cricketer, you go through these phases. He has scored consistently throughout the last five years. Soon, we will see him scoring big runs for Pakistan again."Agha emphasized the importance of supporting Babar during this difficult period. "There are 10 other players in the team, you should focus on them," he said. "It's fine if he's struggling. He will return to scoring big runs very soon."Babar's struggles have coincided with Pakistan's poor performance in the series. After losing the first Test by 10 wickets, Pakistan collapsed from 179/4 to 274 all out in the second Test, highlighting the team's batting woes.Despite the setbacks, the team management and Babar's teammates remain confident in his abilities. Head coach Saqlain Mushtaq has backed Babar to regain his form, while captain Azhar Ali has praised his work ethic and determination.Babar Azam is regarded as one of Pakistan's finest batters, and his return to form is crucial for the team's success. With the third and final Test of the series still to come, Babar will have an opportunity to prove his critics wrong and lead Pakistan to a series victory.

The debate over who is the better batter between Virat Kohli and Babar Azam has been a hot topic among cricket fans for some time now. While both players have had their ups and downs, the conversation over who is superior continues to rage. However, former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria believes that there is no comparison between the two players and that Virat Kohli is clearly the better player.In an interview with Sports Tak, Kaneria said that people should look at both of their records and it clearly shows that Virat is the better batter. "Who is comparing them? I am tired of hearing that people compare them. When you're talking about comparing, look at the runs Virat has scored. He has scored runs all around the world. He is a massive player," Kaneria said.Kaneria also said that the presence of Kohli is enough to have an impact on the field - something that Babar is currently missing. He added that the comparisons were mainly created by the media. "Look at his stature, when he walks onto the field, his aura itself is different and he (Babar) does not come close, forget comparing them. All that is created by the channels to sell their product. I have had a lot of questions comparing them, but I have never done it. Look at the stats. When both of them retire, do take a look at the stats," he mentioned.Kaneria's comments come at a time when both Kohli and Babar are in good form. Kohli has recently scored a century in the ongoing Asia Cup, while Babar has also been in good touch. However, Kaneria believes that Kohli is still the better player and that there is no comparison between the two.

Pakistan's star batter Babar Azam has witnessed a significant drop in his ICC Test rankings, falling to the ninth position. This decline comes amidst a string of poor performances in the longest format of the game. In the recent Test against Bangladesh, Babar managed scores of 22 and 0, contributing to Pakistan's stunning defeat.Former Pakistan batter Basit Ali believes that Babar's ranking drop could serve as a catalyst for improvement. He suggests that the former Pakistan captain will be motivated to perform well in the series-deciding second Test against Bangladesh. Basit also advocates for a reduction in Babar's ODI ranking, arguing that he is not the number one batter in that format.Basit criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for organizing the Champions Cup, a domestic 50-over tournament, after the Test series against Bangladesh. He urged the PCB to emulate India's approach by organizing more red-ball tournaments."India is right next to us, please copy their system too," Basit said. "The Duleep Trophy is about to begin. Is it a T20 or One-Day tournament? It is a four-day tournament. They are focused on making their base stronger, which is why they are so successful."Basit's comments highlight the need for Pakistan to prioritize red-ball cricket and develop a stronger foundation for its Test team. The upcoming second Test against Bangladesh will be a crucial opportunity for Babar Azam to regain his form and inspire his team to victory.

Pakistan's cricket team is facing a crisis after their humiliating defeat to Bangladesh in the first Test. The loss has raised questions about the team's captaincy, form, and overall direction.Captain Shan Masood, who took over the reins just four Tests ago, is under fire after losing all four matches. His decision-making has been criticized, particularly his failure to declare early in the first Test, which allowed Bangladesh to escape with a draw.Pakistan's batting has also been a major concern. Babar Azam, the team's star batsman, has been in a slump, averaging just 21.15 in his last 13 Test innings. Other batsmen have also failed to step up, with only Abdullah Shafique and Saud Shakeel showing any consistency.The bowling attack has also been disappointing. Shaheen Afridi, Pakistan's pace spearhead, has been ruled out of the second Test with an injury. Naseem Shah and Mohammad Ali have been inconsistent, while the spinners have failed to make an impact.Bangladesh, on the other hand, have been the epitome of resilience and determination. They outplayed Pakistan in all departments, showing superior technique and game management. Mushfiqur Rahim, the veteran wicketkeeper-batsman, played a key role in Bangladesh's victory, anchoring the innings and guiding the younger players.The second Test will be crucial for both teams. Pakistan must win to avoid a series defeat at home, while Bangladesh will be looking to seal a historic series victory. The weather could play a factor, with rain forecast for the first day.Pakistan will need to make some tough decisions, including whether to include a spinner in the team. They will also need to find a way to get Babar Azam back in form and inspire the rest of the team.Bangladesh, on the other hand, will be confident of continuing their good form. They have shown that they are a team that can adapt to different conditions and outplay their opponents.