Cricket

India's T20 World Cup Triumph: Nida Dar's Delayed Congratulatory Message Sparks ControversyOn June 29, 2024, India emerged victorious in the T20 World Cup, defeating South Africa in a thrilling final. The triumph marked the end of a 13-year wait for an ICC title for the Indian team. However, over two months later, a post by former Pakistan women's cricket team captain Nida Dar has sparked controversy.In her post, Dar congratulated the Indian men's cricket team on their victory and praised star players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. However, the timing of the post raised eyebrows, as it came more than two months after the final.Dar later clarified that she had initially made the post on June 30, 2024, but due to restrictions on Twitter in Pakistan, it was posted on August 11 instead. Despite her explanation, Indian fans were not impressed and proceeded to troll the former Pakistan captain.The controversy surrounding Dar's post highlights the intense rivalry between India and Pakistan in cricket. The two nations have a long history of political and sporting tensions, and any interaction between them is often met with scrutiny and criticism.Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are set to return to action in the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh. The series opener will take place at Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium on September 19, followed by the second Test at Kanpur's Green Park Stadium on September 27.

Former Pakistan women's cricket team captain Nida Dar's belated social media post congratulating the Indian men's team on their T20 World Cup victory has sparked amusement and confusion among fans.On September 5, 2024, Dar posted on Twitter, "Congrats to India on winning the @T20WorldCup 2024! A special shoutout to @ImRo45 @imVkohli for their immense contributions to world cricket. Your leadership, skill, and dedication have inspired millions around the world. Happy retirement, legends!"The post, which included photos of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Rahul Dravid, caught everyone by surprise as the T20 World Cup had been won by India on June 29, 2023.Dar's post was met with a flurry of comments, with many users questioning her tardiness. "Nida Dar travelled back in time and got stuck there?" tweeted Saba S. Sheikh. "Nida Dar has just now landed from Mars!!" exclaimed Amitava.Dar later deleted the post from her social media account.Meanwhile, in men's cricket, Pakistan's Test team has dropped two places in the ICC rankings to eighth position after a 0-2 series defeat at home to Bangladesh. This is Pakistan's lowest rating points in the Test rankings since 1965.Pakistan was ranked sixth before the series against Bangladesh, but back-to-back losses on home soil have seen them slide below the West Indies. Pakistan has now lost six and drawn four of their last ten home Tests, with series defeats against Australia, England, and Bangladesh.

Bangladesh's historic victory over Pakistan in the second Test at Rawalpindi has dealt a significant blow to the hosts' hopes of reaching the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final. Pakistan's consecutive Test losses have dropped them to eighth place in the WTC points table, leaving them with an uphill battle to qualify for the prestigious event.Despite their recent setbacks, Pakistan still has a mathematical chance of finishing in the top two, which would secure their place in the WTC final. However, this requires them to win all their remaining matches in the current WTC cycle.Pakistan's upcoming challenges include a three-match Test series against England at home, followed by two-match series against South Africa and the West Indies. If they can secure victories in all seven upcoming Tests, their PCT% will rise to 59.52.However, the upcoming five-match series between India and Australia could potentially open up an opportunity for Pakistan to finish in the top two. If India and Australia draw or lose any of their matches, it could create a scenario where Pakistan can qualify with a strong performance in their remaining fixtures.On the other hand, if Pakistan fails to win any of their remaining seven Tests, their chances of qualifying will be severely jeopardized. They may be eliminated from contention if other teams perform well in their respective series.Pakistan's recent Test defeats have highlighted the need for improvement in their batting and bowling departments. The team has struggled to post competitive totals and has been unable to consistently take wickets.As they prepare for their upcoming challenges, Pakistan will need to address these weaknesses and find a way to regain their winning form. The WTC 2025 final remains a distant dream, but it is still within their reach if they can turn their fortunes around.

Pakistan's dismal performance in the recent Test series against Bangladesh has sparked widespread criticism and raised concerns about the state of the team. Former captain Ramiz Raja has called for an explanation from red-ball captain Shan Masood and senior players, while the media has expressed dismay at the team's lackluster display.The series, which Bangladesh won 2-0, marked a new low for Pakistan, who have now slipped to eighth in the ICC World Test Championship standings. Masood, who took over the captaincy earlier this year, has come under fire for his leadership and team selection.Critics have pointed to the team's lack of fitness and long gaps between Test matches as contributing factors to the debacle. Masood himself admitted that the team was not prepared for the challenge posed by Bangladesh, who played with greater intensity and determination.Raja, in particular, has been vocal in his criticism of Masood's captaincy. He believes that Masood has failed to inspire the team and has not held senior players accountable for their poor performances."It's the job of the leader to fight," Raja said. "Agreed he (Masood) is a young captain, agreed the bowling attack was young, but he had picked up this bowling attack."Raja also questioned Masood's own batting form, noting that the left-hander has not scored a century in Test cricket since 2020."He has to answer about his own performance," Raja said. "He is not scoring and the way Bangladesh squeezed, somebody has to be called for explanation, senior players needs to explain."The decline in Pakistan's Test cricket performance has been a cause for concern for fans and experts alike. The team has struggled to find consistency in recent years, and the Bangladesh series has only served to highlight the depth of the problems.With a three-Test series against England looming next month, Pakistan has little time to recover. Raja believes that the players need to take responsibility for their performances and show a greater sense of urgency."They (players) have to take onus," Raja said. "This is the season to make a name. You have to get yourself up mentally and there are no excuses. … When there’s no blame game, only then you can go upward.”

Bangladesh's relentless bowling attack has put Pakistan on the brink of defeat in the second Test in Rawalpindi. Resuming on 9 for 2, Pakistan lost four wickets in the morning session to slip to 117 for 6, leaving them with a slender lead of 129 runs.Fast bowler Nahid Rana was the tormentor-in-chief, claiming three wickets for 22 runs in a devastating spell. He dismissed Shan Masood, Babar Azam, and Saud Shakeel in quick succession, leaving Pakistan reeling.Saim Ayub and Masood had started the day positively, adding 34 runs in the first 6.2 overs. However, Ayub's loose drive off Taskin Ahmed brought about his downfall, with Najmul Hossain Shanto taking a sharp catch at mid-off.Babar Azam, who had been struggling for form, was trapped in front by Mehidy Hasan Miraz, but replays showed the ball was spinning past the leg stump.Rana's introduction into the attack proved decisive. He first removed Masood, who edged a drive to the wicketkeeper. Babar followed soon after, edging to first slip. Shakeel's dismissal, caught by Litton Das, left Pakistan in deep trouble.Mohammad Rizwan, who was dropped on his first ball, has been the lone bright spot for Pakistan. He has played with determination and grit, hitting boundaries to keep the scoreboard ticking. Salman Agha has provided valuable support, ensuring Pakistan did not lose any further wickets before lunch.Bangladesh will be confident of completing a 2-0 series sweep if they can dismiss Pakistan cheaply in the afternoon session. The hosts, on the other hand, need to bat with patience and resilience to save the match.

The upcoming Champions Trophy in 2025 has sparked speculation about whether the Indian cricket team will travel to Pakistan for the tournament. India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series since 2012 due to political tensions, and their only recent encounters have been during international tournaments.Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh has expressed concerns about the security of the Indian team if they were to travel to Pakistan. He believes that the Indian government should only consider sending the team if Pakistan can guarantee their safety."I feel the security concerns are always there and if the security of the players is not ensured there then I don't think that the team should go there," Singh said. "If they say that the teams will get full security and there is no hassle then it's on the government to think and make decisions."Former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria also believes that India should not travel to Pakistan for the tournament. He suggests that Dubai would be a more suitable venue due to the security concerns."Looking at the situation in Pakistan, I have to say that the Indian team should not go to Pakistan," Kaneria said. "The safety of the players is the first priority."The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has not yet made a decision on whether the Indian team will travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. The final decision will likely depend on the security situation in Pakistan and the advice of the Indian government.

The second Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh in Rawalpindi took a dramatic turn on Day 3, with Bangladesh fighting back from a precarious position to leave the match hanging in the balance.Pakistan had dominated the first session, with Khurram Shahzad and Mir Hamza dismantling Bangladesh's top order to leave them reeling at 26-6. However, Litton Das and Mehidy Hasan staged a remarkable recovery, putting on a 165-run partnership for the seventh wicket.Das, who scored a fighting 165, and Hasan, who contributed a pugnacious 78, defied the Pakistani bowlers for over five hours, bringing Bangladesh back into the match. Their partnership was the highest ever for the seventh wicket after the first six wickets had fallen for 30 runs or fewer in Test cricket.Pakistan eventually broke the stand when Khurram Shahzad dismissed Hasan, but Das continued to fight, reaching his fourth Test century before falling to Agha Salman. Bangladesh were eventually bowled out for 262, giving Pakistan a slender 12-run lead.Pakistan's openers faced a challenging 20-minute period to see out the remaining overs, but Abdullah Shafique struggled and was dismissed in the final over of the day by Hasan Mahmud. Khurram Shahzad, who came in as the nightwatchman, was also dismissed by Mahmud, leaving Pakistan with a 21-run lead and eight wickets in hand.The Test is now poised on a knife's edge, with both teams having a chance to secure victory on the remaining two days. Pakistan will need to bowl Bangladesh out quickly to set up a chase, while Bangladesh will be looking to make the most of the new ball and put early pressure on the Pakistani batsmen.

Liton Das's heroic century and a record-breaking partnership with Mehidy Hasan Miraz lifted Bangladesh from the brink of collapse to a competitive total of 262 all out on Sunday in the second Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi.Das, who came to the crease with Bangladesh reeling at 26-6, played a marathon innings of 333 minutes, hitting 13 boundaries and four sixes to reach his fourth Test hundred. His knock was crucial in Bangladesh's remarkable turnaround, which saw them add 236 runs for the last four wickets.Mehidy, who had taken 5-61 in the first innings, provided valuable support to Das, scoring a pugnacious 78 off 12 boundaries and a six. The pair's 165-run seventh-wicket stand is the highest for Bangladesh in Tests and the first time a pair has added 150 or more runs for the seventh or lower wicket from a team total under 50 runs.Das and Mehidy's partnership frustrated Pakistan's bowlers, who had earlier put Bangladesh in a precarious position. Pacer Shahzad took 6-90, including a four-wicket burst in his first spell, while Mir Hamza chipped in with 2-50.However, Bangladesh's lower order showed great resilience, with Das adding 69 runs with tail-ender Hasan Mahmud (13 not out) in a 24.5-over ninth wicket stand. This equaled the partnership record against Pakistan and left the home team frustrated.At close on the third day, Pakistan were left on a sluggish 9-2, with opener Abdullah Shafique dismissed for three and nightwatchman Khurram Shahzad falling without scoring. Saim Ayub was not out on six as the home team lead by 21 runs.Pakistan will need to bat smartly to clinch a series-leveling win after losing the first Test, also in Rawalpindi, by 10 wickets. Bangladesh's win last week was their first in 14 attempts against Pakistan.

Pakistan's bowling attack dominated the morning session of the third day in the second Test against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi, leaving the visitors reeling at 75 for 6 at lunch. Khurram Shahzad and Mir Hamza wreaked havoc on the Bangladesh top order, claiming six wickets in the first hour.Shahzad, bowling with precision from around the wicket, targeted the stumps and reaped the rewards. He dismissed Zakir Hasan, Shadman Islam, and Najmul Hossain Shanto in quick succession, leaving Bangladesh in tatters at 20 for 4.Hamza joined the party, trapping Mominul Haque in front of the stumps and inducing a thin edge from Mushfiqur Rahim to Mohammad Rizwan. Shakib Al Hasan's dismissal to Shahzad left Bangladesh on the brink of collapse at 26 for 6.However, Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Litton Das showed some resilience, adding 49 runs for the seventh wicket. Mehidy was the aggressor, hitting four boundaries off Hamza and Mohammad Ali. Litton provided support, contributing a neat clip off Shahzad.With the pitch easing and the Pakistani bowlers losing their initial venom, Mehidy and Litton managed to survive until lunch. Bangladesh still trail Pakistan by 199 runs and need 50 runs to avoid the follow-on.