Cricket

Pakistan's Test captain, Shan Masood, has defended his team's selection and performance, particularly in light of comparisons between Abdullah Shafique and Indian batting legend Virat Kohli.Masood faced a barrage of questions at a press conference on Monday, where he was grilled about his captaincy and the selection of underperforming players. Despite retaining Masood as captain for the upcoming home series against England, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and selectors have faced criticism, leading to the resignation of selector Mohammad Yousuf.Addressing the media, Masood acknowledged Pakistan's poor performance in 2024 but emphasized the need for objectivity in assessing the team. He pointed out that Shafique's statistics in his first 19 Tests are superior to Kohli's at the same stage of his career."I don't think your question is accurate," Masood said in response to a query about inconsistent players. "I agree that Pakistan hasn't played good cricket in 2024, but we shouldn't mix and compare Tests with T20Is."Masood's comparison of Shafique's record to Kohli's drew attention, although Shafique has played four more innings than Kohli did in his first 19 Tests.

Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood has expressed his disappointment over the team's recent home defeats to Bangladesh but remains optimistic about their upcoming three-match series against England in October. Masood emphasized the importance of the England series for both Pakistan cricket and the players themselves."The series is crucial for us to regain the confidence of our fans and supporters of Pakistan cricket," Masood said. "It is frustrating the way we have performed in recent times, but our preparations for the England tests are on track."Pakistan suffered a shock 0-2 series loss to Bangladesh at home last month, a result that Masood described as "very disappointing." However, he stressed the need for continuity and security for the players."We are at a critical juncture as a team and we have to remain optimistic," Masood said. "The losses hurt, but it's important to support the team, especially during tough times."Masood emphasized that building a strong Test team takes time and requires backing players. "It's easy to make changes after a loss, but if we want to move forward, we must support our players," he said.The Pakistan captain noted that the team has reflected on recent performances and recognized the need for top fitness and mental readiness, especially with the Champions Trophy approaching."We have to be mentally and physically prepared for the challenges ahead," Masood said. "We have to be ready to fight and give our best on the field."Masood acknowledged that England would be a formidable opponent, having won in Pakistan two years ago and being familiar with the conditions."England is a strong team and they will be a tough challenge," Masood said. "But we are confident in our abilities and we are determined to give them a good fight."Regarding his own form, Shan expressed frustration at leading the team through defeats, stating that as captain, he always wants to contribute on the field."Accountability is for everyone in the Pakistan team," he added.Masood also said that selectors had announced the squad only for the first Test, as some players were returning from injuries and would be assessed during the match in Multan, starting October 7."For now, we've built the squad for one Test, considering the players' fitness levels," he explained. "Meanwhile, If required, Zahid Mahmood would be brought into the squad."

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has issued a stern warning to several centrally contracted players, demanding significant improvements in their fitness levels. The ultimatum comes after a series of fitness tests conducted earlier this month, where some players failed to meet the required benchmarks.The PCB's fitness trainer and physiotherapist will conduct another round of fitness assessments on Monday in Lahore. Players who fail to meet the standards risk losing their central contracts. "The players with central and domestic contracts have been told in clear terms that there will be no compromise on fitness," a board official stated.The warning stems from concerns raised by foreign head coaches Jason Gillespie and Gary Kirsten, who have emphasized the importance of fitness in international cricket. The tests assess stamina, endurance, muscle strength, and other crucial factors.The PCB has delayed the announcement of the list of players eligible for central contracts for the 2024/2025 period, which typically runs from July to July. Last year, the announcement was postponed until September due to changes in board leadership.This year, the board is expected to reduce the number of players receiving central contracts from the current 27. The new coaches are also placing a strong emphasis on performance and behavioral evaluations.The official revealed that players who struggled in the previous fitness tests have been given two months to improve. The upcoming tests on Monday will determine their progress.The Pakistan team has faced criticism in the past for its fitness standards compared to other international teams. After the World Cup in India last year, team director Muhammad Hafeez and former captain Misbah ul Haq alleged that former head coach Mickey Arthur and captain Babar Azam had instructed the trainer to ease up on fitness demands, allowing players to focus on performance.The PCB's latest move signals a shift in approach, prioritizing fitness as a non-negotiable requirement for players representing Pakistan.

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's star fast bowler Shaheen Afridi has dismissed concerns about his workload, stating that legendary bowlers like Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis bowled significantly more in their time. Afridi's comments come after head coach Gary Kirsten expressed concerns about the potential impact of Afridi's heavy workload across formats."If I'm said to have bowled the most in the world, that's three times more, but in the past, our legends like Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis bowled much more," Afridi said. "I don't understand why workload has become such a big issue in the past year."Afridi emphasized the importance of mental and physical fitness for cricketers. "It depends on the individual how they approach each format," he said. "You need to be mentally strong and fit. If you're lazy, you won't perform. Your body will tell you when you're not performing well. That's when you need support from management and loved ones."Meanwhile, Pakistan opener Ahmed Shehzad has denied reports that Babar Azam will continue to lead the team in white-ball cricket until the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. "The reports about Babar Azam leading Pakistan in white-ball cricket until the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 are false," Shehzad said.In September, speculation about a change in Pakistan's captaincy emerged, with Mohammad Rizwan tipped as Babar's successor in limited-overs formats. However, recent developments suggest that Babar may retain the white-ball captaincy.

Pakistan's Selection Committee Undergoes Further Restructuring as Mohammad Yousuf ResignsThe Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the resignation of Mohammad Yousuf from its restructured selection committee. Yousuf, a former Pakistan captain and batting legend, was one of the five remaining voting members on the committee.In a statement on social media, Yousuf cited "personal reasons" for his decision to step down. He expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve the Pakistan team and wished them well in their future endeavors.The PCB thanked Yousuf for his contributions and stated that he had "voluntarily stepped down...to focus on other key responsibilities within the cricket board." Yousuf remains a batting coach at the PCB's National High Performance Centre.Yousuf's departure follows a period of volatility within Pakistan's selection setup. Wahab Riaz was appointed chief selector late last year but was sacked along with Abdul Razzaq after Pakistan's disappointing performance at the T20 World Cup in June.The current selection committee, which has no chief selector, now consists of the captains and coaches of the national team, as well as Asad Shafiq and Yousuf. With Yousuf's resignation, Shafiq is the only voting member outside of the captains and coaches remaining on the committee.The committee's next task will be to announce the squad for the remainder of Pakistan's Test series against England. The first Test of the series will begin on October 7 in Multan.

Pakistan's Test team head coach, Jason Gillespie, has emphasized his commitment to providing players with ample opportunities to prove their worth in the traditional format. However, he has also made it clear that this support will not be indefinite."If performances are not at the required level over a prolonged period, we may consider making changes," Gillespie stated in a video released by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).For the upcoming first Test against England, Pakistan has retained the same squad that suffered a 2-0 defeat to Bangladesh at home. Left-arm spinner Noman Ali has been added as a second specialist spinner, joining leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed.Gillespie expressed confidence in his players' understanding of his selection philosophy. "We want to back and support players," he said.Pakistan enters the three-Test series against England with a dismal home record, having lost six of their last ten matches and drawn the remaining four. Their poor performance includes a 3-0 whitewash by England in 2022, with one of those defeats occurring in Multan, which will host back-to-back Test matches starting on October 7.Gillespie's tenure as head coach began with a disappointing series against Bangladesh, who dominated Pakistan in both Tests held in Rawalpindi.Pakistan's batting lineup has been struggling, particularly star batter Babar Azam, who has only managed a top score of 41 in his last 16 Test innings. Despite this, Shan Masood has been retained as captain for the first Test against England, even though he has lost five straight Test matches since his elevation to captain last year."A lot of people are writing us off (against England), and that's OK, that's fine," Gillespie said. "It will only motivate our boys a little bit more. We'll go out and do our jobs as best we can, and hopefully, the results will take care of themselves."Gillespie acknowledged England's aggressive 'Bazball' approach, which has seen them scoring runs at a rapid pace against various bowling attacks. "We've seen them evolve their game ... (but) we will play our way, striving to be a consistent and disciplined team that hangs in there and strikes at the right moment to drive the game forward and exploit gaps," he said.In the second Test against Bangladesh, Pakistan failed to capitalize on an advantageous position when they allowed the visitors to recover from a precarious 26 for 6 and eventually lost the match by seven wickets. Gillespie emphasized the need for Pakistan to maintain their advantage once they gain it."Once you gain the advantage, you have to find a way to maintain it and not let the opposition back into the game," he said. "We must shut that door and stay well ahead."Kamran Ghulam, top scorer in Pakistan's domestic cricket, was not picked for the first Test, and fast bowler Mohammad Ali was dropped from the squad. "Look, all players are disappointed when they miss out. I'd be surprised if they weren't," Gillespie said. "I'm relatively new to this role and I've only been involved in two Test matches. That's not a big enough sample size to make long-term decisions on players. I'd rather show my support and backing for them at this stage."

Pakistan's veteran batter Ahmed Shehzad has expressed outrage over the exclusion of domestic stalwart Kamran Ghulam from the team for the first Test against England. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced a 15-man squad for the series opener in Multan on October 7, but Ghulam was conspicuously absent.Ghulam has been in prolific form in the domestic circuit, amassing seven centuries in 13 first-class matches for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) since September 2023. Five of those centuries have come this year alone. Despite his impressive performances, Ghulam was overlooked for the Bangladesh Test series earlier this month and has now been dropped from the squad for the England series.Shehzad, who has played 13 Tests for Pakistan, slammed chief selector Mohammad Yousuf for Ghulam's exclusion. He questioned Yousuf's logic, suggesting that Ghulam's omission may be due to the presence of Babar Azam, who also bats at number three."Kamran Ghulam has been ignored because Mohammad Yousuf didn't make him a part of the 15-member squad," Shehzad said in a video posted on social media. "It's hard to understand. How will you justify not picking Kamran and Sahibzada Farhan in the squad? What sin did they commit? Is it because they bat in the same position where Babar bats?"Shehzad also criticized the PCB's selection policy, which he believes is based on fear of failure. "If Saim and Abdullah can be given chances, then why not Kamran and Mohammad Ali?" he asked. "This is a mindless strategy by the Pakistan Cricket Board."Ghulam, 28, has played just one game for Pakistan, an ODI against New Zealand last year, where he did not bat or bowl. However, he has been in impressive form in the ongoing Champions One Day Cup, scoring 248 runs at an average of 49.60 and a strike rate of 100 in five games.Despite his recent performances, Ghulam's exclusion from the Test squad has raised questions about the PCB's selection criteria. Shehzad's criticism highlights the growing frustration among some players and fans over the board's decision-making process.

Pakistan's humiliating Test series loss to Bangladesh has sparked outrage among cricket fans and former players alike. Former leg-spinner Danish Kaneria has launched a scathing attack on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the team, calling them "worse than a mohalla team."Kaneria's criticism stems from Pakistan's dismal performance in the two-match series. Bangladesh dominated the first Test with a resounding 10-wicket victory, while in the second Test, they chased down 185 runs with six wickets in hand. This marked the third-highest successful run chase by a visiting team on Pakistani soil.Kaneria believes the PCB is to blame for the team's poor showing. He highlights the disconnect between the leadership and the performance on the field, stating that "the luxuries of the captain's 'kursi' (chair) and the chairmanship at the PCB spoil minds."Kaneria also questions the decision to replace Sarfaraz Ahmed with Babar Azam as captain. He believes Sarfaraz was a more capable leader and that the current leadership lacks the ability to handle pressure situations."I don't know why Babar Azam was given the leadership responsibility despite Sarfaraz Ahmed's good captaincy," Kaneria said. "Currently, there is no captain material in the Pakistan team. A captain is someone who takes the pressure on his shoulders and carries the team forward with his performance, which both Babar and Shan Masood have failed to do."Kaneria draws a comparison between Pakistan and India, emphasizing that Indian players have consistently stepped up to the plate when required. He praises Rishabh Pant, India's dynamic wicketkeeper-batter, and suggests that he could be a future leader for India, especially in Test cricket."When you look at the current Indian team, everyone takes responsibility and performs when it is needed," Kaneria said. "Shubman (Gill), Rishabh (Pant), (Ravichandran) Ashwin — everyone contributes, and that is why they are a world-class team."Kaneria's criticism reflects the growing frustration among Pakistani cricket fans and experts. The team's recent performances have raised serious concerns about the direction of the team under Babar Azam's leadership. The PCB must take immediate action to address the issues plaguing the team and restore Pakistan's status as a cricketing powerhouse.