Cricket

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.

Wahab Riaz's Dropped Catch Sparks Criticism as Pakistan Triumphs in WCLFormer Pakistan pacer Wahab Riaz faced online backlash after dropping a straightforward catch during the World Championship of Legends (WCL) match against India at Edgbaston. Riaz, who currently serves as the chief selector of the Pakistan men's senior team, was visibly disappointed after failing to secure the catch.The incident occurred during the final over of India's innings, with Pakistan already assured of victory. Anureet Singh lofted Aamer Yamin's delivery high into the sky, giving Riaz ample time to settle and pouch the ball. However, the ball somehow slipped through his hands, leading to widespread criticism.Fans questioned Riaz's suitability as chief selector, citing his inability to execute a basic fielding task. Social media erupted with comments mocking Riaz's performance, with some suggesting that he should reconsider his role.Despite the dropped catch, Pakistan Champions secured a convincing 68-run victory over Yuvraj Singh-led India Champions. This marked their third consecutive win in the ongoing WCL 2024 at Edgbaston, Birmingham.Earlier, Pakistan posted a formidable total of 243/4, thanks to a 145-run opening partnership between Sharjeel Khan and Kamran Akmal. Khan scored a blistering 72 off 30 balls, while Akmal contributed 77 off 40 balls. Sohaib Maqsood also chipped in with a quickfire 51 off 26 balls.In reply, India started their chase aggressively but lost wickets at regular intervals. Suresh Raina top-scored with 52 off 40 balls, but his efforts were not enough to prevent Pakistan from securing a comfortable victory.

Former Pakistan fast bowler and current national chief selector Wahab Riaz has come under fire for his poor fielding effort during the 'World Championship of Legends' match against India in Birmingham on Saturday.Riaz, who led the selection committee that picked Pakistan's squad for the recently concluded ICC T20 World Cup, dropped a simple catch while fielding for Pakistan Champions. The incident occurred in the last over of India Champions' innings, with Pakistan on the verge of a massive victory.Chasing Pakistan Champions' mammoth total of 243/4, India Champions were struggling at 169 for 9. Aamer Yamin was bowling the final over when Anureet Singh hit the ball high into the air. Riaz got underneath it but spilled the catch, much to the disappointment of Pakistan fans.The dropped catch drew heavy criticism from fans on social media, who accused Riaz of lacking focus and commitment. Some even questioned his suitability for the role of chief selector, given his poor fielding display.Despite the fielding error, Pakistan Champions secured a significant 68-run victory over the Yuvraj Singh-led India Champions. However, Riaz's performance on the field has raised concerns about his ability to lead Pakistan's selection process.Under Riaz's tenure as chief selector, Pakistan failed to progress to the Super 8s of the T20 World Cup. The Babar Azam-led side lost to co-hosts United States and India in the Group stage of the tournament.The Pakistan Cricket Board appointed Riaz as the head of the selection committee in November last year, replacing the legendary Inzamam-ul-Haq. Riaz's appointment was met with mixed reactions, with some questioning his experience and qualifications for the role.The dropped catch incident has further fueled doubts about Riaz's suitability for the position. It remains to be seen whether the Pakistan Cricket Board will take any action in response to the criticism.

Bangladesh's chief selector, Gazi Ashraf Hossain, has expressed confidence in the 15-member squad selected for the upcoming T20 World Cup, despite their recent series loss to the United States. The team has been finalized ahead of the ICC's May 25 deadline for submitting final squads.After consulting with captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and coach Chandika Hathurusinghe, Hossain stated, "We are hoping they do well in the T20 World Cup. We are keeping faith in the existing squad." He acknowledged the team's disappointing start to the tour but emphasized the need to move forward.The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has also called up 21 players for the Bangladesh Tigers' training camp from May 26. Six of these players are designated as T20 World Cup reserves, including Mohammad Saifuddin, who has opted out for the first two weeks due to a family emergency.Hossain explained that the camp aims to prepare players for white-ball cricket and provide replacements in case of emergencies. He highlighted the importance of having specialists for opening batting, stating that "facing the new ball is a challenge everywhere."Regarding the team's opening batting combination, Hossain expressed confidence in finding suitable options from those who performed well in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). He also provided an update on Taskin Ahmed's recovery from a side strain, indicating that he could resume full training by June 5.Bangladesh's T20 World Cup campaign begins on June 7 against Sri Lanka in Dallas. They will also face South Africa, Netherlands, and Nepal in the group stage. Prior to the main tournament, they will play warm-up matches against the United States and India.