Cricket

Pakistan cricket is set to undergo a major overhaul following a string of disappointing performances in recent international tournaments. The team's poor showing in the 2023 ODI World Cup and the 2024 T20 World Cup has raised serious questions about the leadership of Babar Azam and the overall culture within the team.The latest criticism comes from former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez, who has revealed an incident involving several players sleeping in the dressing room during a Test match. Hafeez expressed his shock and disappointment at the lack of professionalism and focus among the players."If a player is sleeping in a dressing room and we are playing Test cricket. If 4-5 players are sleeping in the dressing room, should I allow that as a selector?" Hafeez said in an online interaction with Adam Gilchrist and Michael Vaughan.Hafeez's comments echo those of coach Gary Kirsten, who previously stated that there was a lack of unity within the Pakistan team. These revelations have raised concerns about the team's preparation, motivation, and overall approach to the game.The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has acknowledged the need for change and has announced plans for a major restructuring of the team. This includes the appointment of a new selection committee and a review of the coaching staff.The PCB is also considering implementing stricter disciplinary measures to ensure that players maintain a high level of professionalism and commitment. The board is determined to create a winning culture within the team and restore Pakistan's status as a cricketing powerhouse.

Pakistan's disappointing exit from the 2024 T20 World Cup group stage has sparked a firestorm of criticism and revelations. Former cricketers and experts have expressed their concerns, but none have been as damning as the leaked comments from Pakistan head coach Gary Kirsten, who exposed a deep-seated lack of unity within the team.Led by Babar Azam, who regained captaincy from Shaheen Afridi before the tournament, Pakistan crashed out after suffering defeats to USA and India. Rumors of groupism and internal divisions have plagued the team, and Kirsten's leaked outburst has only served to confirm these suspicions."There's no unity in Pakistan's team. They call it a team, but it isn't a team. They aren't supporting each other; everyone is separated, left and right. I've worked with many teams, but I've never seen such a situation," Kirsten reportedly said, according to a leak by Geo News.Kirsten's comments have painted a grim picture of Pakistan's team dynamics, suggesting a lack of cohesion and support among the players. This revelation has raised questions about the team's leadership and the ability of the players to perform as a unit.Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has weighed in on the situation, highlighting the ease with which secrets are leaked in the Pakistani media. "It worked like ghee on fire," Chopra quipped, referring to the fact that anything can be leaked in Pakistan, making it difficult to keep secrets after a poor tournament."Gary Kirsten has probably said that he didn't say anything like that, but Pakistan cricket is like a strainer. Whatever you put, it leaks from the other end," Chopra added.The leaked comments have also exposed the insecurity within the Pakistan team, according to renowned journalist Harsha Bhogle. "When a private conversation within a dressing room is leaked... it exposes the insecurity within," Bhogle tweeted.Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who was part of India's 2011 World Cup-winning team under Kirsten, has urged his former coach to return to India. "Don't waste your time there Gary, come back to coach Team INDIA," Harbhajan posted on Twitter.Pakistan's struggles have continued despite Kirsten's appointment as head coach. The team's lack of unity and poor performances have raised concerns about their future prospects. It remains to be seen whether Kirsten can turn things around and help Pakistan regain its former glory.

Pakistan's T20 World Cup Exit: Gary Kirsten's Alleged Remarks Fuel ControversiesFormer Indian cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra has weighed in on the reported remarks made by Pakistan head coach Gary Kirsten following the team's disappointing exit from the 2024 T20 World Cup. Kirsten, who was recently appointed as the limited-overs head coach, has allegedly criticized the team's lack of unity and cohesion.According to Chopra, Kirsten's purported comments have further ignited the controversies surrounding the Pakistan team. "Allegedly Gary Kirsten has said the Pakistan team is not a team at all, that they are looking to pull each others' legs, there are groups created and everyone is divided, they play together but don't do anything like playing together, the five fingers don't combine to make a fist," Chopra said in a video shared on his YouTube channel.Pakistan's T20 World Cup campaign ended in the group stage with losses to co-hosts USA and India in Group A. Several former cricketers have voiced their concerns about the team's apparent fragmentation. Despite Kirsten denying making those remarks, Chopra believes that leaks are common in Pakistan cricket, especially after a poor performance."Gary Kirsten has probably said that he didn't say anything like that but Pakistan cricket is like a strainer. Whatever you put, it leaks from the other end. Since it's about Pakistan cricket and a bad campaign, you are reminded of one thing - success has many fathers and failure is an orphan. It worked like ghee on fire," Chopra elaborated.The alleged remarks by Kirsten have added fuel to the ongoing debate about the state of Pakistan cricket. The team's performance in the T20 World Cup has raised questions about their unity, leadership, and overall direction. It remains to be seen how the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will respond to these controversies and whether they will take any action to address the team's issues.

Pakistan's disappointing exit from the T20 World Cup has sparked a wave of criticism, with former captain Rashid Latif pointing the finger at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Latif believes that the constant changes in leadership and coaching staff have created an unstable environment within the team, leading to a lack of unity and poor performance.Latif highlighted that the team's attitude has changed since the previous World Cups, suggesting that the players are no longer as united as they once were. He attributed this to the lack of proper leadership and guidance from the PCB."The manner in which the dressing room feels and behaves is always the deciding factor," Latif said. "When there is a change in the higher authority/management, the coaching staff changes as well. It shouldn't be like that, the dressing room should remain stable."Latif's comments echo those of Pakistan coach Gary Kirsten, who recently stated that there is a lack of unity within the team. Kirsten described the situation as "unprecedented" and said that he had never seen anything like it in his coaching career.The PCB has been under fire for its handling of the team, with many critics calling for a complete overhaul of the organization. Latif believes that the PCB needs to take a more proactive approach in fostering a positive and supportive environment for the players."Education plays an important part that who is your chairman, who is he talking to," Latif said. "All the cricket boards, especially the Test playing nations have prepared well for the T20 World Cup, except Pakistan."Pakistan's early exit from the World Cup has raised serious questions about the future of the team. Latif believes that the PCB needs to address the underlying issues within the organization and create a stable environment for the players to thrive.

Pakistan's disastrous T20 World Cup campaign has sparked outrage among fans and experts, with former batter Ahmed Shehzad calling for strict action against the underperforming players. Pakistan's failure to qualify for the Super 8 stage, after losses to India and the USA, has raised serious questions about the team's unity and fitness.Head coach Gary Kirsten's scathing assessment of the team, alleging a lack of unity and poor fitness levels, has further fueled the controversy. Sources close to the team have revealed Kirsten's dissatisfaction with the players' skill level, which he believes lags behind the rest of the world.Shehzad, who has been vocal in his criticism of the team, has echoed Kirsten's concerns. He has accused the team of being plagued by groupism and has demanded a crackdown from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). "It's time for accountability," Shehzad wrote on social media. "The players involved must be punished and an example should be set for the next generation of cricketers."Shehzad's call for action comes after he previously urged the PCB to remove senior players, including captain Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Mohammad Rizwan. He believes these players have been given ample time to improve but have failed to deliver.The PCB has yet to respond to Shehzad's demands, but the pressure is mounting on the board to take decisive action. The team's poor performance has not only disappointed fans but has also raised concerns about the future of Pakistan cricket.

Gary Kirsten, the head coach of the Pakistan cricket team, has expressed his profound disappointment and frustration with the team's performance in the ongoing T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies. In a scathing criticism, Kirsten stated that there is "no unity" within the team, and he has "never seen such a situation" throughout his extensive coaching career.Pakistan's dismal showing in the tournament culminated in a group stage exit, a far cry from their runner-up finish in the previous edition. The team's lackluster performance was marked by a shocking defeat against tournament debutants USA, followed by a loss to their arch-rivals India. Pakistan managed to salvage some pride with a consolation victory over Ireland, but it was too little, too late.According to PTI, reports from Pakistani media outlets suggest that Kirsten, who famously led India to their ODI World Cup victory in 2011, did not mince his words when assessing the team's shortcomings after their elimination from the T20 World Cup. His candid remarks underscore the urgent need for the Pakistan cricket team to address the apparent lack of cohesion and unity within their ranks if they hope to bounce back from this disappointing campaign."There's no unity in Pakistan's team. They call it a team, but it isn't a team. They aren't supporting each other; everyone is separated, left and right. I've worked with many teams, but I've never seen such a situation," Kirsten said as per reports quoting a senior scribe.According to sources cited by Geosuper.tv 4, Kirsten conveyed his dissatisfaction regarding the players' fitness levels. He also mentioned that the team's skill level is significantly lower compared to other teams worldwide. Following Pakistan's loss against India, Kirsten attributed the team's defeat to subpar decision-making on their part."Disappointing loss, that's for sure," Kirsten had said. "I knew 120 was not going to be an easy target. If India got only 120, it was always going to be not the easiest. But I think we had the game at 72 for 2 with six or seven overs left. Disappointing not to get across the line from the position we got ourselves into."Pakistan emerged victorious against Ireland by a margin of three wickets in their final encounter of the T20 World Cup on Sunday. Prior to their last group stage match, Pakistan had already been knocked out of the tournament due to their losses against the USA and India. By securing a win against Ireland, Pakistan managed to claim the third position in Group A, having achieved two victories out of their four matches played in the event.

Pakistan's T20 World Cup campaign has come to an abrupt end after two consecutive losses to India and the United States. This disappointing exit has sparked outrage among fans and former players, including Danish Kaneria.Kaneria expressed his dismay at the team's performance, calling it "a shameful thing in the history of Pakistan cricket." He criticized the team's management for neglecting talented players and relying heavily on Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan."There are tons of players who have been making headlines with their performances but are not getting a chance to play for the national team," Kaneria said. "Players like Ahmed Jamal and Shahnawaz Dahani who performed well are not getting opportunities."Kaneria also questioned the appointment of Gary Kirsten as Pakistan's coach, arguing that he needs more time to understand the team's dynamics and the political landscape."Gary will need a lot of time to understand the politics and accordingly, he will start working," Kaneria said.He criticized the team's decision to refuse warm-up games in the United States, where the World Cup is being held."You are going to play the World Cup despite knowing the fact that it's in the USA, we have never played cricket here, and it requires a lot of time to get used to the conditions," Kaneria said.Kaneria expressed frustration with the team's reliance on Azam and Rizwan, who have failed to deliver in major tournaments."They only score runs against teams like Zimbabwe and Ireland, and then they start comparing Babar Azam with Virat Kohli," Kaneria said.Kaneria's comments reflect the widespread disappointment and anger among Pakistan cricket fans. The team's exit from the World Cup has raised serious questions about the future of Pakistan cricket and the need for significant changes in the team's management and selection process.

Pakistan's T20 World Cup campaign has hit a major roadblock after two consecutive losses, prompting head coach Gary Kirsten to issue a stern warning to his players. Kirsten emphasized the need for improvement, stating that players risk being left behind if they fail to adapt to the evolving demands of the game.The team's struggles were evident in their recent defeat to India, where they failed to chase a modest target of 120. Kirsten acknowledged the pressure on the players but stressed that they must take responsibility for their performances. He pointed out that many of the players have extensive T20 experience and need to find ways to enhance their game.Kirsten's concerns extend to the team's batting approach, particularly the lack of intent and strike rate from openers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan. He expressed concerns about the team's ability to construct and structure their innings effectively.The bowling unit, while generally performing well, has been affected by the decline in Shadab Khan's legspin. Kirsten acknowledged the need for time to assess the situation but emphasized that players must continue to develop and adapt to the changing demands of the format.Former captain Wasim Akram called for a clear-out of the current team, suggesting that six to seven players be replaced. He criticized the team's performance and questioned their ability to progress to the Super 8s. Shahid Afridi also expressed disappointment, calling for changes to the batting lineup and the inclusion of Salman Ali Agha and Abrar Ahmed.Despite the setbacks, Kirsten and Afridi both emphasized that Pakistan is not out of the tournament yet. They urged the team to make tough decisions and find ways to improve their performances.

Pakistan coach Gary Kirsten has defended the playing surface at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium following his team's narrow six-run defeat to India in a low-scoring T20 World Cup match.Despite India's modest total of 119, their lowest ever against Pakistan in a T20 game, Pakistan fell short in their chase, sparking discussions about the pitch conditions. The venue, featuring a 'drop in' square laid a month before the tournament, has seen all five games produce low scores, raising concerns about the pitch's quality.After India's previous win over Ireland, former Zimbabwe international and ex-England team director Andy Flower labeled the pitch "dangerous" due to its uneven bounce. However, Kirsten downplayed these criticisms, suggesting that the pitch, while challenging, was not hazardous."I think it wasn't dangerous, I mean the odd one rose up, but not many. Generally, it kept a little bit lower, it was difficult to score from both batting sides and also a fairly slow outfield so it was never going to be a big total," he stated.Kirsten acknowledged that a score of 140 would have been competitive, indicating that Pakistan had a strong chance to win after restricting India to 119. "I would have said 140 would have been a really good score on that pitch, so India didn't get that and so I thought we had the game," added the South African.He also emphasized that low-scoring games could be equally entertaining and offered a different kind of contest compared to the high-scoring encounters typical of T20 cricket. "We knew it was going to be tight, but you know sometimes it's fun seeing games like that as well, it's not always about sixes and hitting, getting 260 and 240's, you can actually have a really entertaining game on a 120 chase, so I don't think it's bad for the game," Kirsten explained.In response to the criticism, the International Cricket Council (ICC) admitted that the pitches at the venue had not met the expected standards and committed to improving them for the remaining matches. Three games remain at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, with the final match scheduled for Wednesday, when India will face co-hosts USA.