Cricket

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is dispatching a delegation to Pakistan this month to assess preparations for the upcoming Champions Trophy. The delegation will engage with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to finalize the tournament's schedule and address logistical matters.The PCB has submitted a tentative schedule to the ICC, proposing Lahore as the base for the Indian team. However, the schedule remains subject to approval from participating boards and the Indian government's decision on whether to allow its team to play in Pakistan.The ICC delegation will conduct site inspections at Champions Trophy venues in Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi. They will evaluate infrastructure development, security arrangements, broadcasting facilities, team accommodations, and travel plans.With Jay Shah, the BCCI secretary, set to assume the role of ICC chairman on December 1, the announcement of the Champions Trophy schedule may be delayed, similar to last year's World Cup in India.The delegation's visit underscores the ICC's commitment to ensuring a successful Champions Trophy in Pakistan. The tournament is scheduled to take place in September 2023 and will feature the top eight ODI teams in the world.

Sachin Tendulkar's Unforgettable Field Day for Pakistan: A Tale of Cricket's UnpredictabilityIn the annals of cricket history, Sachin Tendulkar's name is etched in gold as one of India's most revered cricketers. However, few know of a lesser-known chapter in his illustrious career, where he briefly donned the Pakistan jersey and fielded for the arch-rivals.During Pakistan's 1987 tour of India, a festival match was organized at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. As Javed Miandad and Abdul Qadir left the field during the lunch break, a 15-year-old Sachin Tendulkar, not yet the cricketing legend he would become, was called upon to serve as a substitute fielder for Imran Khan's team.Eager and energetic, Tendulkar took up a position in the outfield, donning a Pakistan jersey for a brief time. Imran positioned him at long-on, and it wasn't long before Kapil Dev hit a high ball in his direction. Despite his best efforts and a 15-metre sprint forward, Tendulkar was unable to reach the ball.In his recently published autobiography, 'Playing it My Way', Tendulkar recalled that incident, expressing his belief that had he been positioned at mid-on instead of long-on, he would have been able to catch the ball.While this event may seem anecdotal, it remains a testament to the spirit of cricket and its unpredictable nature. It showcases Tendulkar's passion and dedication to the game from a very young age, even if it meant playing for his cricketing rivals.This brief stint as a Pakistan fielder remains a fascinating footnote in Tendulkar's illustrious career, highlighting the camaraderie and sportsmanship that can transcend national boundaries in the world of cricket.

England's Test squad for their upcoming three-match series against Pakistan has been announced, with Brydon Carse and Jack Leach making notable returns.Carse, 29, has been included despite serving a ban for betting irregularities earlier this year. The fast bowler has impressed since his return to action, scoring a century for Durham against Somerset. His inclusion adds another 90mph option to England's bowling attack, alongside Gus Atkinson and Olly Stone.Leach, meanwhile, is back in the squad for the first time since the tour of India in February. The spinner has recovered from a knee injury and has been in good form for Somerset, claiming 12 wickets in his most recent match. He will partner Shoaib Bashir, who has established himself as England's first-choice spinner in home conditions.Chris Woakes has also been recalled for his first overseas engagement since March 2022. Despite concerns about his effectiveness away from home, Woakes has responded well to the responsibility of leading England's bowling attack since James Anderson's retirement.The squad also includes several other notable players, such as Ben Stokes (captain), Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Josh Hull, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, and Olly Stone.England will be hoping to build on their recent success against West Indies and Sri Lanka, and will be confident of a strong showing in Pakistan. The series gets underway next month, with the first Test scheduled to begin on December 1.

Babar Azam's Controversial Gesture Sparks Criticism Amidst Form StrugglesPakistan's star cricketer Babar Azam has come under fire after a video emerged showing him pushing away a fan's hand while taking a picture. The incident occurred ahead of the Pakistan Champions One-Day Cup 2024, where Babar is set to represent Stallions.In the viral clip, a fan attempted to place his arm around Babar's shoulder for a selfie, which the cricketer did not appreciate. He promptly removed the fan's hand but still posed for the picture. This incident has drawn widespread criticism on social media, with fans and pundits questioning Babar's behavior.The incident highlights the pressures and expectations that come with fame, especially during a challenging phase in Babar's career. On the field, he has been struggling with his form. Pakistan's recent defeat in a two-Test series against Bangladesh on home soil has only added to the frustration.Babar's performances—scoring just 0, 22, 11, and 31 in the series—have seen him drop out of the ICC top 10 rankings for batters for the first time in years. This dip in form has further intensified scrutiny over his leadership abilities, particularly after Pakistan's failure to progress beyond the group stage of the T20 World Cup 2024.With Pakistan set for a three-match Test series against England in October, Babar hopes to regain his form and silence critics. His fans will be eagerly watching to see if he can bounce back and lead Pakistan with renewed vigor.

Pakistan's cricket team has faced intense scrutiny after their humiliating Test series defeat against Bangladesh, marking a historic low for the side. Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly has expressed concern over Pakistan's decline, attributing it to a lack of star players.Ganguly highlighted the absence of legendary players like Javed Miandad, Wasim Akram, and others, who once defined Pakistan's cricketing prowess. He emphasized the need for Pakistan to produce exceptional talent to compete in modern cricket."I see a genuine dearth of talent in the country," Ganguly said. "Every time we think of Pakistan, we remember Miandad, Wasim, Waqar, Saeed Anwar, Mohammad Yousuf, and Younis Khan. That's the memory of Pakistan for us, but that doesn't win matches in the modern generation of cricket."Ganguly urged Pakistani cricket authorities to address the issue, stating that the current squad lacks the caliber of past greats. He believes that Pakistan's decline is a matter of concern for the sport.Meanwhile, Ganguly praised Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, who is set to return to the Test side against Bangladesh. Ganguly believes Pant has the potential to become an all-time great in Test cricket but needs to improve his performance in shorter formats."I consider Rishabh Pant one of India's best Test batsmen," Ganguly said. "I'm not surprised that he's back in the side, and he will continue to play for India in Tests."

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is embarking on a comprehensive review of its international and domestic cricket operations, aiming to restore the glory days of Pakistani cricket. The "connection camp," scheduled for September 23 in Lahore, will bring together head coaches Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie, chairman Mohsin Naqvi, and key players, including captains Shan Masood and Babar Azam.The camp's primary objective is to redefine Pakistan's cricket philosophy across all formats, from grassroots to international level. The PCB aims to reverse the recent decline in the national team's performances and establish a unified vision and shared purpose.Inspired by England's successful review in 2015, the PCB believes the connection camp is a crucial step towards cultural transformation. England's rapid turnaround, culminating in the 2019 ODI World Cup and 2022 T20 World Cup victories, serves as a model for Pakistan's aspirations.However, the PCB acknowledges the challenges it faces, particularly in terms of talent availability. Naqvi has expressed concerns about the dwindling talent pool in domestic cricket, which could hinder the pace of recovery.To address this issue, the PCB has revamped the domestic one-day competition, now known as the Champions One-Day Cup. Scheduled from September 12 to 29, the tournament aims to identify and nurture emerging talent.Despite the ambitious plans, the PCB recognizes the skepticism among fans. The board understands the need to bridge the trust deficit and demonstrate tangible results on the field. The connection camp is seen as a starting point in this process, but ultimately, the PCB's success will be measured by the performance of the national team.

Pakistan's recent dismal performance in international cricket has sparked concerns about the intrusion of politics into the sport. Critics argue that nepotism and political interference at the top are hindering progress on the field.After a humiliating 0-2 home series loss to Bangladesh, Pakistan dropped to ninth place in the Test rankings, their lowest position in nearly six decades. This followed a string of disappointing results, including early eliminations from the 50-over and T20 World Cups.The current chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Mohsin Naqvi, is also the interior minister, a demanding full-time role in a country facing increased terrorist threats. This dual responsibility has raised questions about his ability to effectively lead the PCB.Over the past two years, Pakistani cricket has witnessed a revolving door of coaches, board chairs, and captains, as well as multiple changes to domestic competition formats. Analysts attribute this instability to political whims."This has a knock-on effect on team performance," said cricket journalist Ahsan Iftikhar Nagi. "When we have chaos and chronic instability within the management of the board, it will reflect on-field performances."Cricket is Pakistan's most popular sport, with players revered as national heroes. The sport transcends social divisions and carries significant cultural and political cachet. Former prime minister Imran Khan, who led Pakistan to victory in the 1992 ODI World Cup, used his cricketing achievements to launch his political career.Khan, who was recently imprisoned on charges he claims are politically motivated, has criticized the current state of cricket in Pakistan. He alleges that "favorites have been imposed" to run the sport and that Naqvi has "annihilated" the team.Nepotism and favoritism are prevalent in Pakistan. Khan, who campaigned on an anti-corruption platform, is accused of using his political influence to appoint his preferred PCB chief and interfere in the game's structure.Journalist Najam Sethi, a former PCB chairman, believes the position has become a "sinecure" for those seeking prestige. "Generals, judges, and bureaucrats with no knowledge of the game have been appointed," he said.Pakistan's last major victory was the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy. Their most recent home Test win was in February 2021. They reached the final of the 2022 T20 World Cup but suffered shock defeats to Ireland and the United States in the first round of the 2024 competition.Naqvi and the system that appointed him have come under intense scrutiny following the Bangladesh defeat. Calls for his resignation have intensified, with the Express Tribune newspaper accusing him of "ruining" the game.The incongruity of Naqvi's dual roles became evident when he presided over a press conference where he discussed both a mass-casualty militant attack and cricket. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's adviser, Rana Sanaullah Khan, hinted that support for the PCB chief was waning at the top.

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 woes have come under scrutiny following Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin's comments on the team's decline. Ashwin expressed surprise at Pakistan's struggles, prompting a sarcastic response from former Pakistan batter Ahmed Shehzad.Shehzad mocked the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for its handling of the national team and infrastructure projects. He questioned Ashwin's surprise, sarcastically suggesting that everything was fine in Pakistan cricket."Can't you see that stadiums are being built over here? Continuous digging is being done. Don't be surprised at all," Shehzad said, targeting the PCB's infrastructure projects.He also criticized the PCB's efforts to organize tournaments like the Champions One-Day Cup, suggesting that it would not solve the team's problems."Are you not seeing that Pakistan is organizing a cup? Just wait and watch the number of players who come out of this tournament. How we get a battery of fast bowlers and produce players. Are you not seeing this? Why are you surprised, Ravi?" Shehzad said.Shehzad did not hold back in his critique, downplaying the team's failure to qualify for the Super 8 round of the 2024 T20 World Cup and acknowledging issues within the squad."So what if we couldn't qualify for the Super 8 round of the 2024 T20 World Cup? So what if there is groupism in our team? So what if the current players in the team are not performing? It's not a big issue, Ravi, so please don't worry," he said.Ashwin's comments echoed the sentiments of many who are surprised by Pakistan's recent decline. He recalled how difficult it was to beat Pakistan in the past with players like Misbah-ul-Haq, Younis Khan, and Yasir Shah."All these guys, to where they are right now, I cannot believe it," Ashwin said.Shehzad's comments and Ashwin's observations paint a troubled picture of Pakistan cricket, highlighting the stark contrast between the team's former glory and its current challenges.