Cricket

Pakistan cricket legend Zaheer Abbas has expressed his concerns over the decline of the sport in his country, citing the excessive focus on T20 cricket and the influx of money as major contributing factors.Abbas, who played a pivotal role in elevating Pakistan cricket to great heights during his playing days, believes that the proliferation of T20 cricket has created an imbalance in the game. He lamented that players have become overly focused on the shorter format, neglecting the fundamentals of Test cricket."There's too much T20 cricket being played in Pakistan, and because of that, our players have forgotten the essence of Test cricket," Abbas said. "This is why we're not performing well in the longer format."The former Pakistan captain also criticized the growing emphasis on financial gains among modern players. He believes that the pursuit of money has diverted their attention from the game itself."So much money has come into cricket that the players today are only focused on making money, and their attention is diverted from the game itself," Abbas remarked.Abbas also took aim at the leadership within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), accusing them of lacking understanding of the game. He expressed frustration with the cricket administration in the country, which he believes is more concerned with personal interests than with the development of the sport."It is the misfortune of Pakistan cricket that those who run it do not understand cricket," Abbas said. "We took Pakistan cricket to great heights. The world admired our cricket. But today, those in charge are only concerned with their own interests, not with cricket or the players."Despite the challenges facing Pakistan cricket, Abbas remains optimistic about the future. He believes that the upcoming 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, which is set to take place in Pakistan, could provide a much-needed boost to the sport in the country.Abbas called for smooth cricketing relations between India and Pakistan, emphasizing the importance of the Indian team as a great ambassador of the sport. He expressed hope that India's participation in the Champions Trophy would help revive cricket in Pakistan."The Indian team is a great ambassador of cricket," Abbas said. "If they come and play in Pakistan, it will take cricket forward in our country."

Pakistan and Sri Lanka kicked off the Women's Asia Cup 2023 in Sharjah with a thrilling encounter. Pakistan captain Fatima Sana opted to bat first, citing the slow wicket and low bounce. Sri Lanka's Chamari Athapaththu, on the other hand, was content to chase, given her team's recent success and the abundance of spin options in their arsenal.Pakistan's batting lineup featured Muneeba Ali, Gull Feroza, Sidra Amin, Nida Dar, Aliya Riaz, Fatima Sana, Tuba Hassan, Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal, Diana Baig, and Omaima Sohail. Sri Lanka's team included Vishmi Gunaratne, Chamari Athapaththu, Harshita Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshika Silva, Hasini Perera, Anushka Sanjeewani, Sugandika Kumari, Inoshi Priyadharshani, Sachini Nisansala, and Udeskhika Prabodani.Despite Pakistan's slight edge in the head-to-head record, Sri Lanka had won the last three matches between the two sides. The match was poised to be a close contest, with both teams eager to start the tournament on a positive note.

Usman Qadir, the 31-year-old legspinner, has bid farewell to Pakistan cricket, ending a four-year journey that began with a return from Australia and a commitment to his homeland.Qadir's international debut came in a T20I series against Zimbabwe, where he made an immediate impact with eight wickets in three matches, earning him the Player of the Series award. At his peak, he was considered Pakistan's primary legspinner, briefly eclipsing Shadab Khan in the T20I side.However, Qadir's career was marked by inconsistency and disciplinary issues. In 2018, he expressed his desire to represent Australia, making his debut for Western Australia and playing for the Perth Scorchers and Sydney Thunder in the BBL.In a surprising turn of events, Misbah-ul-Haq named Qadir in a Pakistan squad for a series in Australia in late 2019, even before he had publicly committed to playing for Pakistan. The decision came shortly after the passing of Qadir's father, Abdul Qadir, Pakistan's most famous legspinner.Qadir's inconsistency continued with Pakistan, and his last international appearance came at the Asian Games in October 2023. In recent months, his relationship with the PCB deteriorated, with Qadir accusing the board of mismanaging his injury.In his retirement announcement, Qadir expressed gratitude for the support he received throughout his career and paid tribute to his father's legacy. He did not specify his future plans but hinted at continuing his involvement in cricket.Qadir's retirement marks the end of an era for Pakistan cricket, as he was one of the last remaining players from the generation that followed the golden era of the 1990s and early 2000s.

Pakistan cricket has been in a downward spiral, with lackluster performances at the 2023 ODI World Cup and T20 World Cup, as well as their first-ever Test series defeat to Bangladesh on home soil. Former Pakistan opener Mudassar Nazar blames the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the escalating tension between senior players Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi, which he believes has contributed to the team's decline.Nazar believes the PCB should have provided Babar with ample support and time to assert his leadership. He criticized the board for constantly changing the captaincy, which has created instability and uncertainty within the team. He also pointed out that Pakistan has an abundance of talented players, but they are becoming lost within the system.Nazar compared Babar Azam to Indian cricketer Virat Kohli, stating that Kohli is undoubtedly one of the greatest in the history of the game, while Babar still has a long way to go to make a name for himself. He praised Indian skipper Rohit Sharma and Kohli, expressing that he could watch them bat for hours.Nazar's comments highlight the need for the PCB to address the mounting issues within Pakistan cricket. The board must provide its captain with the necessary support and stability to lead the team effectively. It must also address the systemic issues that are hindering the development of talented players. Only then can Pakistan cricket regain its former glory.

Former Pakistan opener Mudassar Nazar has hailed Virat Kohli as one of the greatest cricketers in history, dismissing comparisons between the Indian superstar and Pakistan's Babar Azam. Nazar's comments come amidst Babar's recent resignation as Pakistan's white-ball captain and the ongoing turmoil within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).Nazar believes that Babar, despite his impressive batting record, still has a long way to go to match Kohli's legacy. "There is a hell of a difference between the two players," Nazar said. "Virat will be remembered as one of the greatest who has graced the game. Babar has still got to make a name for himself."Nazar also praised India's Rohit Sharma, calling him a joy to watch when in form. "I love to watch Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli," he said. "When they are at the peak and playing well, it is fantastic to watch them. You could sit in front of the TV for hours and just watch those two play."Nazar's comments come as the PCB faces criticism for its handling of the Pakistan cricket team. He believes that the board's constant tinkering with the captaincy has contributed to the team's recent struggles. "It is our own doing (the friction between Babar and Shaheen)," Nazar said. "We shouldn't have messed around with the set-up."Nazar urged the PCB to provide more support to its captain, regardless of who it may be. "There was one set captain, we should have given him a longer term and if somebody else had been made a captain, then he should have had a decent go at it. And not been thrown out straight away."The PCB is yet to name a new white-ball captain following Babar's resignation. Pakistan's next assignment is the home Test series against England, which commences on October 7 in Multan.

Babar Azam Relinquishes White-Ball Captaincy Amidst Critical Report and Lack of SupportPakistan's star batter Babar Azam has stepped down as captain of the national white-ball teams following a critical report submitted by head coach Gary Kirsten and a perceived lack of support from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).Sources within the PCB and close to the team revealed that Azam had lost his enthusiasm for the captaincy after the team's disappointing performance at the T20 World Cup in July. Kirsten's report, which was partially leaked to the public, reportedly criticized Azam's leadership and blamed him for the team's failures.Azam expressed dissatisfaction with the report and felt that he was being unfairly singled out. He conveyed to the PCB that he was no longer interested in continuing as captain.The situation was further exacerbated when the PCB announced Azam as captain of the T20 team but not the ODI squad ahead of the World Cup. This decision was seen as a lack of confidence in Azam's abilities.Kirsten's report also raised concerns about the dressing room environment and the behavior of some players. He questioned whether Azam was equipped to handle the pressures of captaincy and suggested that he should focus on his role as a specialist batter.The PCB is currently deliberating on who will replace Azam as white-ball captain. Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has instructed the selection committee to carefully consider all options and provide a detailed rationale for their decision.

Legendary Pakistani batter Zaheer Abbas has joined the chorus of former cricketers and pundits calling for the removal of Babar Azam from the national team. Abbas's criticism stems from Azam's underwhelming performances as both a batter and captain in recent major tournaments, including the 2023 Cricket World Cup and the 2024 T20 World Cup.Abbas dismissed comparisons between Azam and Indian batting stalwart Virat Kohli, highlighting the vast difference in their consistency levels. "The comparisons are pointless. Virat Kohli scores in every match, the other player (Babar) doesn't score in any match, so then how can you compare? The person who scores, he is the bigger player," Abbas said.After resigning from the captaincy following Pakistan's failure to reach the semifinals of the 2023 Cricket World Cup, Azam was surprisingly reinstated as captain ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup. However, Pakistan's performance in the tournament was even more disappointing, as they failed to qualify for the Super 8s after losses to India and co-hosts USA.Abbas also expressed concern about the overall performance of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the national team. "The performance of PCB and the team is not that good," he said.Abbas emphasized the importance of maintaining the India-Pakistan rivalry on the international stage. "If India don't come to Pakistan, that's no good for cricket. Maybe sometimes Pakistan can also refuse to go to India. But cricket without Pakistan and India playing together is not complete," he said.

Former Pakistan pacer Sikander Bakht has vehemently criticized Babar Azam's decision to step down as the captain of the white-ball team. Bakht believes that Babar should have resigned immediately after Pakistan's humiliating exit from the T20 World Cup in June.Pakistan's failure to qualify for the knockout stage of the tournament, including a shocking loss to tournament debutants USA, was widely regarded as one of the most embarrassing moments in the country's cricketing history. Bakht believes that Babar should have taken responsibility for this debacle and stepped down as captain."He should have resigned on June 16th, as soon as our World Cup was over," Bakht told Geo News. "The whole nation was saying that he should have resigned. But he was stubborn. He thought he was king."Bakht also questioned Babar's performances as both a captain and a batter, suggesting that he has not been up to the mark in recent times. "His performance was not good, neither was theirs," Bakht said. "They should have realized that we were being removed in two ways."Bakht went on to claim that Babar did not resign voluntarily but was told to do so. He also alleged that the atmosphere in the dressing room is not conducive to success, with three players—Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, and Mohammad Rizwan—vying for the captaincy."He was told to resign," Bakht said. "We have three captains in our base. There are groups of three captains. One is Babar, another is Rizwan. They want to become captains. Shaheen wants to become captain again. And there is also Shan Masood."Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) released a statement acknowledging Babar's decision to step down. The PCB stated that it had backed Babar as the white-ball captain but respected his decision to focus on his batting."This decision is a testament to his professionalism and commitment to Pakistan cricket," the PCB said. "He believes that dedicating himself fully to his batting will enable him to play a more decisive role in the team's success in the shorter formats."

Pakistan cricket has been plunged into further turmoil after Babar Azam announced his resignation as captain of the limited-overs format. The decision comes after a string of disappointing performances, including an embarrassing defeat to the USA in the T20 World Cup.Azam's resignation has been met with mixed reactions. Some, like former captain Rashid Latif, believe it is a sign of a leadership crisis in Pakistan cricket. Others, like Basit Ali, believe it is a sensible decision that will allow Azam to focus on his batting.Azam's decision to step down as captain is the latest in a series of setbacks for Pakistan cricket. The Test team was recently swept aside by Bangladesh at home, and the morale of the international side remains low.The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has yet to announce a replacement for Azam. However, it is clear that the team is in need of a new direction.