Cricket

In a controversial turn of events, an lbw decision against Antigua And Barbuda Falcons batter Imad Wasim sparked chaos and a lengthy delay in the CPL match against Trinbago Knight Riders in Port of Spain.Umpire Christopher Taylor initially ruled Wasim not out, but a review by TKR captain Kieron Pollard showed the ball hitting leg stump. However, Wasim insisted he had edged the ball, and replays on the big screen seemed to support his claim.The third umpire reversed the decision to not out, prompting an animated discussion between Pollard and the on-field umpires. TKR coach Phil Simmons also expressed his displeasure from the dugout. The delay lasted nearly 12 minutes, with the TKR camp clearly unhappy with the outcome.Falcons coach Curtly Ambrose protested from the dugout, while Wasim himself appeared confident in his innocence. Despite the controversy, Wasim went on to hit the winning runs for the Falcons.TKR, despite the loss, remain second in the points table but have yet to secure a playoff berth. Pollard declined to comment on the incident, saying, "If I speak, I'll get into trouble."Falcons captain Chris Green was more vocal, describing the situation as "absolute chaos." He questioned the initial decision and the subsequent reversal, but ultimately expressed satisfaction with his team's victory.The incident highlights the complexities of umpiring decisions in cricket and the potential for controversy when technology is involved. It also underscores the importance of clear communication and consistency in decision-making.

Pakistan's all-rounder Imad Wasim has expressed his surprise over the decision to reinstate Babar Azam as captain of the national team in white-ball cricket. The decision came after Pakistan's disappointing performance at the 2024 T20 World Cup, where they failed to progress beyond the group stage.Babar Azam had initially resigned from captaincy in all formats following Pakistan's failure to reach the semi-finals of the 2023 ODI World Cup. However, he was reappointed as captain just before the 2024 T20 World Cup, a move that raised eyebrows among many.Imad Wasim, speaking on the PakPassion YouTube channel, admitted that he was taken aback by the decision. "Yes, I was surprised. But what can I say? It's ultimately the selector's call," he said. "Whatever they thought was the best option, (based on that) they picked the team, they picked the captain."Wasim emphasized that the change in captaincy was not the sole reason for Pakistan's poor showing at the T20 World Cup. "I don't believe in that. I think you can make anyone captain, it's just how you play inside the ground, it's just the performance that matters," he said. "Obviously, captaincy and management plays a part, but ultimately it's all individual (performance of the players)."Pakistan lost their opening two games in the 2024 T20 World Cup, first to co-hosts and debutants USA in a dramatic Super Over and then to arch-rivals India. The defeats effectively ended their hopes of reaching the knockout stage.Wasim acknowledged that Pakistan's performance at the tournament was disappointing, but he refused to blame it solely on the captaincy change. "I can't put this or that on the captaincy or management. At the end of the day, it's my personal performance as well," he said.The decision to reinstate Babar Azam as captain has been met with mixed reactions. Some believe that he is the best player to lead the team, while others question whether he has the necessary leadership qualities. Only time will tell whether the decision will prove to be the right one for Pakistan cricket.

Pakistan's Mohammad Amir Fumes at Imad Wasim's Lackluster Fielding in CPLPakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir expressed his frustration during the Caribbean Super League after a lackluster fielding effort by his compatriot Imad Wasim. The incident occurred during a match between the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons, where both Amir and Wasim play, and the Barbados Royals.Amir bowled a short-pitched delivery to Quinton De Kock, who guided it towards the third-man boundary. Wasim, fielding at deep backward point, initially ran towards the ball but then eased up, allowing it to go for a four. Amir was visibly agitated and was heard shouting at Wasim to run. His fielding position was changed on the next ball.The Royals ultimately emerged victorious, with De Kock scoring 87 runs off just 45 deliveries. The incident sparked criticism on social media, with many questioning Wasim's commitment to the game.Pakistan's Test Coach Explains Exclusion of Shaheen Afridi and Naseem ShahMeanwhile, Pakistan's Test head coach Jason Gillespie has revealed the reasons behind the exclusion of star pace duo Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah from the playing XI for the second Test against Bangladesh.Bangladesh is in a commanding position after Day 4, needing just 143 runs to complete a historic clean sweep. Despite a strong performance in the first innings, Pakistan's bowling attack struggled against Bangladesh's openers.Gillespie explained that the team selection was based on an analysis of the pitch conditions. "We looked at conditions and what we thought was the best combination," he said. "We had Bangladesh in a bit of trouble in the first innings, but we need to improve our line and length."

Pakistan's T20 World Cup campaign ended in disappointment, with the team failing to qualify for the Super Eight stage. Following their underwhelming performance, skipper Babar Azam and five other players have opted to extend their stay in London before returning home.Mohammad Amir, Imad Wasim, Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan, and Azam Khan will join Azam in London for a brief vacation. The players intend to spend time with loved ones and potentially participate in local cricket leagues in the UK.Meanwhile, head coach Gary Kirsten and assistant coach Azhar Mahmood will return to their respective homes, as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has granted them leave due to the lack of upcoming engagements.Pakistan's T20 World Cup journey was marred by inconsistent performances. They suffered defeats to India and the United States before narrowly defeating Canada. Their tournament ended with a three-wicket victory over Ireland, but it was not enough to secure a Super Eight berth.India and the USA finished first and second in Group A, respectively, while Pakistan finished third with four points from four matches.Despite their disappointing World Cup campaign, Pakistan has a busy schedule ahead. They are set to host Bangladesh for a two-match Test series in August, followed by a tour of England in October.

Pakistan's dismal performance at the T20 World Cup 2024 has prompted all-rounder Imad Wasim to call for a fundamental reset in the team's approach to white-ball cricket. Wasim, who came out of retirement for the tournament, believes that Pakistan's mindset and approach have fallen behind the rest of the world."We used to rule T20 cricket," Wasim said. "But I think we have moved back a little now. Maybe our mindset needs a change - in all three areas: batting, bowling, and fielding."Wasim emphasized the importance of shedding the fear of failure, which he believes has hindered Pakistan's progress. "We have to get rid of the fear of failure," he said. "Personnel change doesn't change anything, just changing the mindset can change a lot of things."The all-rounder also pointed to the personal attacks that players face after poor performances as a potential factor contributing to the fear of failure. "We are human beings, we can make mistakes and we also get affected by these things," he said.Wasim suggested that a dispassionate analysis of Pakistan's performance, similar to the type he provided as a TV analyst before his retirement, could be beneficial. "Cricketers have to do their job and analyze the cricket," he said. "They have to tell you what is right and what is wrong without getting personal."Despite the disappointment of the World Cup exit, Wasim expressed hope that it could serve as a catalyst for positive change. "This is bad but who knows this could be big for Pakistan?" he said. "We could revamp, revisit and start playing white-ball cricket the way it should be played."

Pakistan's cricket team has faced a tumultuous start to the T20 World Cup 2024, losing its first two matches against the USA and India. However, they managed to secure their first victory by defeating Canada on Tuesday. Despite this win, Pakistan's qualification for the Super 8 remains uncertain, as they rely on favorable results from other teams.Amidst the team's struggles, accusations have been hurled at the players by the Pakistani media and former cricketers. A TV anchor recently criticized Iftikhar Ahmad for liking a video that praised Imad Wasim's slow innings against India. The video's caption labeled Wasim's performance as a "masterclass," despite Pakistan's failure to chase a low target of 120.Former Pakistan captain Saleem Malik has also accused Wasim of deliberately wasting balls during the match against India. Malik claimed that Wasim's 23-ball 15 appeared to be an attempt to sabotage the team's run-chase. However, former Australia wicketkeeper-batter Adam Gilchrist has criticized Malik's comments, calling them ironic given Malik's own history of match-fixing.The accusations against the Pakistan team have sparked controversy, with former captain Rashid Latif sharing Gilchrist's video and condemning Pakistani ex-cricketers for their "international embarrassment." The team's performance and the ongoing allegations have cast a shadow over Pakistan's hopes of advancing in the tournament.

Former Pakistan captain Saleem Malik has sparked controversy by accusing all-rounder Imad Wasim of intentionally wasting deliveries during Pakistan's T20 World Cup match against India. Pakistan fell short of the modest target of 120 runs, ending their innings at 113 for 7, with Wasim scoring only 15 runs in 23 balls.Malik's allegations have been met with skepticism and criticism from cricket experts. Australia legend Adam Gilchrist dismissed the notion of accusing a player of deliberately underperforming, stating that "a bunch of ex-Pakistan cricketers haven't missed their teams, at all."Malik, however, maintained his stance, claiming that Wasim "made sure that he doesn't get out and keep bettering his batting average." He also questioned Wasim's promotion up the order, given his lack of recent playing time.Wasim's performance has been a subject of scrutiny since the World Cup. He has been criticized for his slow batting and inability to contribute significantly to the team's batting lineup.The allegations against Wasim have raised concerns about the integrity of the game. If proven true, they would represent a serious breach of sportsmanship and fair play. However, it is important to note that these are just allegations at this point, and Wasim has not been formally charged with any wrongdoing.The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has not yet commented on Malik's allegations. It remains to be seen whether the board will investigate the matter further or take any disciplinary action against Wasim.

The Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is set to welcome a new franchise in 2024, the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons. The Falcons have made several high-profile signings, including Pakistan trio Mohammad Amir, Imad Wasim, and Fakhar Zaman.Amir, a left-arm fast bowler, is a veteran of international cricket with over 250 wickets across all formats. Wasim, a left-arm spinner, is known for his economical bowling and ability to take wickets. Zaman, a hard-hitting opener, has been a key player for Pakistan in recent years.In addition to the Pakistani trio, the Falcons have also signed Australia offspinner Chris Green and Afghanistan allrounder Azmatullah Omarzai. Green is a T20 specialist with over 200 wickets in the format, while Omarzai is a rising star who has impressed in international cricket.The Falcons have also added West Indies' Brandon King and Fabian Allen to their squad. King is a destructive batter who has scored over 2,000 runs in T20 cricket, while Allen is a versatile allrounder who can contribute with both bat and ball.Rounding out the Falcons' signings so far is 17-year-old batter Jewel Andrew, who played in the Under-19 World Cup for West Indies earlier this year.The Falcons will need to sign five more players at the draft in July to complete their squad. Other big signings for CPL 2024 so far include Tim David and Jason Roy (Trinbago Knight Riders), Heinrich Klaasen (St Lucia Kings), and Wanindu Hasaranga and Tristan Stubbs (St Kitts and Nevis Patriots).The Antigua & Barbuda Falcons replace Jamaica Tallawahs at the CPL. Antigua previously hosted a CPL franchise named Antigua Hawksbills in the first two CPL seasons, but that was replaced by St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in 2015.The 2024 edition of the CPL will take place from August 28 to October 6 with games taking place in Antigua for the first time in ten years. Barbados, Guyana, St Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Trinidad & Tobago are the other venues. The National Stadium in Providence, Guyana, will host the final.

Former Pakistan captain and coach Mohammad Hafeez has made explosive allegations against the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), accusing them of prioritizing their own interests and engaging in negotiations with players such as Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim to ensure their inclusion in the 15-member team for the upcoming T20 World Cup.Hafeez, who was not included in the squad, claimed that the PCB had "brought them here out of greed" and made "deals" with players who had "ruined Pakistan's cricket." He questioned the selection of Amir and Wasim, who had both retired from international cricket but reversed their decisions in recent months."They (PCB) brought them here out of greed, made deals with such players (Amir and Wasim) who have ruined Pakistan's cricket. I was in the domestic circuit, but no one wanted to play domestic cricket. It is because they were telling me that 'any of us gets selected, we will take it.' How can it be that players who don't even play Pakistan's domestic cricket got selected," Hafeez said.Hafeez also criticized Amir and Wasim for their lack of commitment to Pakistan cricket, claiming that they had only returned to the team because there were no other leagues happening at the moment."When asked to play for Pakistan six months ago, they said they wanted to play in leagues. Since no leagues are happening these days, they are playing in the World Cup. They are playing in the World Cup as if it is just another league," he added.Hafeez's allegations have sparked a storm of controversy in Pakistan, with many fans and experts questioning the PCB's decision-making. The PCB has not yet responded to Hafeez's claims, but it is likely that they will face pressure to address the issue in the coming days.