Cricket

Gary Kirsten, the head coach of the Pakistan cricket team, has expressed his profound disappointment and frustration with the team's performance in the ongoing T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies. In a scathing criticism, Kirsten stated that there is "no unity" within the team, and he has "never seen such a situation" throughout his extensive coaching career.Pakistan's dismal showing in the tournament culminated in a group stage exit, a far cry from their runner-up finish in the previous edition. The team's lackluster performance was marked by a shocking defeat against tournament debutants USA, followed by a loss to their arch-rivals India. Pakistan managed to salvage some pride with a consolation victory over Ireland, but it was too little, too late.According to PTI, reports from Pakistani media outlets suggest that Kirsten, who famously led India to their ODI World Cup victory in 2011, did not mince his words when assessing the team's shortcomings after their elimination from the T20 World Cup. His candid remarks underscore the urgent need for the Pakistan cricket team to address the apparent lack of cohesion and unity within their ranks if they hope to bounce back from this disappointing campaign."There's no unity in Pakistan's team. They call it a team, but it isn't a team. They aren't supporting each other; everyone is separated, left and right. I've worked with many teams, but I've never seen such a situation," Kirsten said as per reports quoting a senior scribe.According to sources cited by Geosuper.tv 4, Kirsten conveyed his dissatisfaction regarding the players' fitness levels. He also mentioned that the team's skill level is significantly lower compared to other teams worldwide. Following Pakistan's loss against India, Kirsten attributed the team's defeat to subpar decision-making on their part."Disappointing loss, that's for sure," Kirsten had said. "I knew 120 was not going to be an easy target. If India got only 120, it was always going to be not the easiest. But I think we had the game at 72 for 2 with six or seven overs left. Disappointing not to get across the line from the position we got ourselves into."Pakistan emerged victorious against Ireland by a margin of three wickets in their final encounter of the T20 World Cup on Sunday. Prior to their last group stage match, Pakistan had already been knocked out of the tournament due to their losses against the USA and India. By securing a win against Ireland, Pakistan managed to claim the third position in Group A, having achieved two victories out of their four matches played in the event.

Amidst the backlash following Pakistan's disappointing T20 World Cup exit, former captain Younis Khan has extended support to skipper Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi, hailing them as Pakistan's pride.Khan's words of encouragement come as the team faces criticism for their early elimination from the tournament. Pakistan's campaign began with a shocking defeat to debutants USA, followed by a loss to arch-rivals India. The team's hopes were dashed when the USA-Ireland match was abandoned due to rain, resulting in their earliest-ever exit from a T20 World Cup.Khan acknowledged the team's struggles but emphasized that the blame should not be solely placed on Babar Azam. "It is not just Babar Azam's fault, or the coach's. It is everyone's fault," he said. "We as a nation did not reach the semi-finals."However, Khan raised concerns about Babar's decision not to bat at the No. 3 position from the start of the tournament. He believes that both Babar and Rizwan have the ability to bat in the middle order. "If the team needs you, you should open or play at number 3," he said.Khan also highlighted the need for the team to address their batting concerns. "We speak about only 2 batters (Babar and Rizwan), can they not bat anywhere in the line-up? They can, right? They need to enhance only a little, evolve just a little (to improve their power game)," he added.Khan's comments provide a balanced perspective on Pakistan's performance, acknowledging the team's shortcomings while also recognizing the individual brilliance of Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Pakistan's T20 World Cup campaign has come to an abrupt end after two consecutive losses to India and the United States. This disappointing exit has sparked outrage among fans and former players, including Danish Kaneria.Kaneria expressed his dismay at the team's performance, calling it "a shameful thing in the history of Pakistan cricket." He criticized the team's management for neglecting talented players and relying heavily on Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan."There are tons of players who have been making headlines with their performances but are not getting a chance to play for the national team," Kaneria said. "Players like Ahmed Jamal and Shahnawaz Dahani who performed well are not getting opportunities."Kaneria also questioned the appointment of Gary Kirsten as Pakistan's coach, arguing that he needs more time to understand the team's dynamics and the political landscape."Gary will need a lot of time to understand the politics and accordingly, he will start working," Kaneria said.He criticized the team's decision to refuse warm-up games in the United States, where the World Cup is being held."You are going to play the World Cup despite knowing the fact that it's in the USA, we have never played cricket here, and it requires a lot of time to get used to the conditions," Kaneria said.Kaneria expressed frustration with the team's reliance on Azam and Rizwan, who have failed to deliver in major tournaments."They only score runs against teams like Zimbabwe and Ireland, and then they start comparing Babar Azam with Virat Kohli," Kaneria said.Kaneria's comments reflect the widespread disappointment and anger among Pakistan cricket fans. The team's exit from the World Cup has raised serious questions about the future of Pakistan cricket and the need for significant changes in the team's management and selection process.

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.

Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has sparked a humorous debate by suggesting that Pakistan's struggling captain, Babar Azam, should be replaced by former Pakistan cricketer and ex-PCB chairman Ramiz Raja. Manjrekar's tongue-in-cheek remark came during a discussion on Star Sports about Pakistan's disappointing performance at the 2024 T20 World Cup, where they failed to advance beyond the group stage.Manjrekar's suggestion stems from Raja's successful tenure as PCB chairman from September 2021 to December 2022. Under Raja's leadership, Pakistan reached the semi-finals of the 2021 T20 World Cup and the final of the 2022 T20 World Cup. Manjrekar quipped, "Maybe he can become a CEO for the team, who knows? Babar Azam could be replaced by Ramiz Raja as captain. He still looks fit."Manjrekar's playful suggestion highlights the growing criticism surrounding Babar Azam's captaincy. Many experts have called for his removal, citing Pakistan's recent struggles and Azam's inconsistent performances.Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar also weighed in on Pakistan's unpredictable nature. "You can never tell what is going to happen (with Pakistan)," said Gavaskar. "Babar was the captain six months ago in the ODI World Cup, and then he was removed. Shaheen Shah Afridi came for about two or three months, but they didn't have a good tour of New Zealand, and Babar comes back again."The saga surrounding Pakistan's captaincy is likely to continue in the coming weeks. The team's disappointing performance at the 2024 T20 World Cup has raised questions about the future of Babar Azam as captain.

Singer Chahat Fateh Ali Khan, renowned for his viral hit "Bado Badi," has expressed his aspiration to become the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Khan believes that he can guide the team back to success after their disappointing performance in the T20 World Cup.The current PCB chief, Mohsin Naqvi, also holds the position of Interior Minister. Khan suggests that Naqvi should relinquish the PCB chairmanship to him, citing Naqvi's other significant responsibilities."I am confident that I can lead the PCB and the cricket team on the right path," Khan stated. "If appointed chairman, I would personally monitor player performances and coaching four days a week. Discipline will be paramount, and I will not tolerate any interference."Khan emphasized that his offer is not a criticism of Naqvi but rather a suggestion to delegate the PCB chairmanship to someone who can fully focus on the team's progress.Pakistan's T20 World Cup campaign ended with a narrow victory over Ireland, but the team's overall performance was underwhelming. Babar Azam's unbeaten 32 saved Pakistan from further embarrassment, but the team had previously suffered a shock defeat to the United States and a heavy loss to India.Khan's proposal has sparked mixed reactions. Some fans support his ambition, believing that his passion and determination could benefit the team. Others question his qualifications and experience in cricket administration.Regardless of the outcome, Khan's offer highlights the frustration and concern among Pakistani cricket fans. They are eager for a change in leadership and a return to the team's former glory.

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has criticized Babar Azam for accepting the captaincy role after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) removed Shaheen Afridi from the position following a disappointing series loss in New Zealand. Afridi believes that Babar should have supported Shaheen and declined the offer to lead the team at the T20 World Cup, arguing that it would have earned him respect.Afridi's comments stem from the PCB's decision to appoint Shaheen as captain for the New Zealand series, only to remove him after a 4-1 defeat. Babar, who had resigned as captain after the ODI World Cup last year, was then reappointed for the T20 World Cup. However, Pakistan's failure to progress beyond the group stage has led to scrutiny of Babar's leadership.Afridi contends that Babar should have prioritized Shaheen's development as captain and supported him through the difficult period. He believes that Babar could have set an example by demonstrating loyalty and unity within the team."If the decision on Shaheen's captaincy had been made and you [PCB] had stated that he will remain the captain till the [T20] World Cup, then I think Babar [Azam] should have supported Shaheen there and should have said that 'no, if you have made him [Shaheen] the captain, then we are ready to play under his captaincy because Shaheen has been playing with me for a long time. If he is made captain and the selection committee has made him the captain, then yes I will support him and play under his captaincy'," Afridi said on his YouTube channel.Afridi also criticized the PCB's handling of the captaincy situation, suggesting that some selectors had questioned Babar's abilities as a leader. He labeled Babar as a "pathetic" skipper, highlighting the lack of support he received from within the selection committee."But this was not entirely the fault of Babar because some of the blame lies with the selection committee too since some of the selectors on record said that Babar is a pathetic captain and he doesn't know how to do captaincy," Afridi added.Afridi's comments have reignited the debate over Pakistan's captaincy, with many questioning whether Babar is the right man to lead the team. The PCB will need to carefully consider its options and make a decision that is in the best interests of Pakistan cricket.

Pakistan's disappointing exit from the ICC T20 World Cup has prompted former Indian opener Virender Sehwag to call for a strategic overhaul in their approach to the format. Sehwag believes that Pakistan's over-reliance on anchor batters like Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan has hindered their competitiveness in T20 cricket."They have to play differently from the way that Babar Azam plays if they want to play in the next T20 World Cup," Sehwag emphasized. "There are a few players who play with the same strike rate which is not good enough for T20. They have to find those players with high strike rates."Sehwag pointed out that Pakistan's batters often struggle to accelerate the scoring rate, which puts pressure on the team in the latter stages of the innings. He suggested that the team needs to identify and develop players who can play an aggressive game and maintain a high strike rate."They have to give someone enough time," Sehwag said. "It's not like Babar became the player he is today on his first day itself, he also took time to give consistent performances."Sehwag also expressed concern about Pakistan's narrow victory over Ireland in their final group game. He questioned the team's tactics and execution, suggesting that internal issues may be affecting their performance."This is why we call them unpredictable, you can never tell if they will play well or poorly," Sehwag said. "I don't know what their dressing room is like. If things are fine between the players. That also plays a role."Sehwag's comments highlight the need for Pakistan to reassess their strategy in T20 cricket. They must identify and nurture talent that can play an aggressive game and maintain a high strike rate. Additionally, addressing any internal issues within the team could also improve their performance.

Pakistan's disappointing exit from the T20 World Cup has raised concerns about the team's declining performance. Former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has expressed his disappointment and hinted at potential changes within the side.Pakistan's failure to advance beyond the group stage marks the first time they have been eliminated at this stage in the T20 World Cup. Inzamam attributed the team's struggles to a broader decline in their cricket."Our cricket is declining," Inzamam said. "We lost to Ireland before the World Cup, and we lost to New Zealand's third-string side at home. Our performances in T20s have been better than others, but our cricket has been on a downward trajectory of late."Inzamam emphasized the need for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to address the reasons behind the team's decline. "I'm not saying we should sack some players and get new ones, but the PCB needs to have a dialogue on the reason behind such a decline," he said.Pakistan's elimination was confirmed when the United States joined India in advancing to the Super Eight round from Group A. The team's early exit has put the central contracts of its players under review, with the PCB considering potential salary reductions.Pakistan's campaign began with a Super Over upset against the United States, but they suffered a narrow six-run loss to India. They managed to defeat Canada by seven wickets, but it was not enough to secure a spot in the second round.Inzamam's comments highlight the growing concerns about Pakistan's cricket. The team's recent performances have been underwhelming, and the T20 World Cup exit has only amplified the need for introspection and change.