Cricket

Pakistan cricket has been embroiled in turmoil following the resignation of national selector Mohammad Yousuf. The team's dismal performance in the T20 World Cup and the PCB's alleged neglect of domestic performers have sparked widespread criticism.The fallout from these issues was evident in the press conference of Iftikhar Ahmed, captain of the Markhors team in the Champions Cup. Visibly upset after his team's defeat, Iftikhar lashed out at a reporter's question about emerging young talent."What has the media observed?" he retorted. "Don't hype someone after just one innings. Let them perform in domestic cricket for 2-3 seasons before talking about their prospects for Pakistan."Iftikhar's outburst highlights the growing frustration among players and fans over the PCB's handling of young talent. Former players like Ahmed Shehzad have repeatedly criticized the board for favoring inconsistent performers over promising youngsters.However, Iftikhar emphasized that youngsters should earn their place in the national team through consistent performances in domestic cricket. "Let a player succeed in all formats in domestic cricket before talking about him," he said.Iftikhar also blamed the media for contributing to the negative atmosphere surrounding Pakistan cricket. "You guys hype someone after one innings and then bring them down to earth," he said.The PCB's decision to overlook domestic performers has raised questions about its commitment to developing the next generation of cricketers. The resignation of Yousuf, a respected former player, further underscores the challenges facing Pakistan cricket.

Pakistan all-rounder Iftikhar Ahmed has expressed frustration over his fluctuating batting position in the team, referring to himself as a "tailender" in a recent media interaction. The 34-year-old has been frequently shuffled around the batting order in both T20Is and ODIs, a situation that seems to have left him dissatisfied.Iftikhar, who has primarily batted between No. 5 and No. 7 in his 66 T20Is, stated, "I am not a middle-order batter, I am a lower-order batter. I am not an all-rounder, I am a tailender. If you see, I bat at No. 7 or 8. And if you look at the all-rounders and middle-order batters around the world, you'd see they bat at No. 4 or 5. But I play at No. 7 and 8 and I think of myself as a tailender."His comments suggest a growing discontent with his role in Pakistan's lineup. Iftikhar has faced challenges with his form in recent months, with his last half-century for Pakistan coming in August 2023 against Nepal during the Asia Cup. Despite his experience, he has struggled to find consistency at the international level, particularly with the bat.In his T20I career, Iftikhar has scored 998 runs at an average of 24.34 and a strike rate of 129.10, including four half-centuries. In ODIs, he has amassed 614 runs across 28 matches, averaging 38.37 with a strike rate of 106.59, with one century and one fifty to his name.Primarily known for his power-hitting and off-spin, Iftikhar's statement suggests that his current role does not align with his self-perception of his batting and playing potential. His candid comments highlight his dissatisfaction with his batting order, indicating that he may feel underutilized or misplaced in the team's strategy.The Pakistan team management's decision to frequently move Iftikhar around the order might be an attempt to leverage his skills in different match situations. However, it appears that Iftikhar himself is not content with this approach, as seen from his latest statements.

Pakistan's cricket team has come under fire after a video emerged showing batting stalwarts Mohammad Rizwan and Iftikhar Ahmed struggling against a local net bowler. The video, which has gone viral on social media, has reignited calls for a major reshuffling in the team.Rizwan and Iftikhar, who were key members of Pakistan's squad at the 2024 T20 World Cup, have been criticized for their poor form in recent months. Rizwan, in particular, has been under scrutiny for his slow strike rate and inability to guide Pakistan to victory in crucial matches. Iftikhar, on the other hand, has failed to make a significant impact with the bat.The video, which was captured during a practice session, shows Rizwan and Iftikhar being beaten by pace and bounce multiple times by local bowler Nouman Khan Khaira. The footage has sparked outrage among fans, who have called for the duo to be dropped from the team."These local boys should be taken into the Pakistani team and those playing for the side should be rested," said one user on Twitter."They even struggled against part-time software engineers of USA," joked another user on Instagram.Rizwan's struggles at the 2024 T20 World Cup were particularly disappointing. Despite finishing as Pakistan's second-highest run-scorer, he batted at a strike rate of just 90. Most notably, Rizwan failed to guide Pakistan to a victory against India despite being well set during the run chase.Iftikhar, on the other hand, made just 23 runs in two games and was dropped from the playing XI.Pakistan's early exit from the 2024 T20 World Cup has led to widespread criticism of the team's performance. Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi has promised a "major surgery" in the wake of the team's disappointing campaign.However, recent reports have suggested that Naqvi is unlikely to make large-scale changes in order to avoid conflict with the senior players.