Cricket

Pakistan's cricket captain, Babar Azam, faces an uncertain future following the team's disappointing exit from the T20 World Cup. Despite recently reassuming the captaincy, Babar has come under intense scrutiny for the team's performance.Babar has stated that he will not make any decisions regarding his captaincy until after meeting with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to review the World Cup. He emphasized that he had previously relinquished the captaincy due to personal reasons and that the PCB's decision to reinstate him was their own.When asked about his responsibility for the team's early exit, Babar acknowledged that the team's performance was a collective failure. He stressed that he cannot play in every player's place and that all 11 players have a role to play.Babar refused to single out any individual for blame, stating that the fault lies with the entire team. He expressed disappointment in the team's inability to meet expectations and acknowledged that they had not played well as a unit.Babar emphasized that he will provide feedback to the PCB decision-makers and that the ultimate decision regarding his captaincy rests with them. He reiterated that he will not hide behind anything and will announce any decision openly.The PCB has not yet made any official statement regarding Babar's future as captain. However, the team's performance in the World Cup has raised questions about his leadership and the direction of Pakistan's white-ball teams.

Pakistan's Babar Azam has etched his name into the annals of T20 World Cup history by surpassing legendary MS Dhoni as the tournament's leading run-scorer among captains. During Pakistan's narrow three-wicket victory over Ireland in Lauderhill, United States, Babar's unbeaten 32 propelled him to the top of the all-time list.Despite chasing a modest target of 107, Pakistan's batting woes continued as they stumbled to 62 for six in 11 overs. However, Babar and Abbas Afridi's crucial 33-run partnership rescued the team, guiding them to a hard-fought victory.Babar's remarkable achievement is a testament to his exceptional leadership and batting prowess. With 549 runs in just 17 innings, he has established himself as a formidable force in the T20 format. His elegant stroke play, impeccable timing, and ability to handle pressure have made him a cornerstone of Pakistan's batting lineup.Dhoni, who retired from international cricket in 2020, remains a revered figure in the game. His 529 runs in 29 innings as captain showcase his finishing prowess and strategic acumen. Dhoni's calm demeanor and ability to guide India through tight contests made him one of the most feared finishers in the world.New Zealand's Kane Williamson, with 527 runs in 19 innings, is another notable name on the list. His tactical brilliance and ability to adapt to different match situations have been key to New Zealand's success. Williamson's composed and technically sound batting style has made him a reliable leader and a vital run-scorer for his team.Sri Lanka's Mahela Jayawardene, with 360 runs in just 11 innings, showcased his class and elegance. Despite playing fewer matches, his impact was profound, often leading from the front and guiding his team through challenging phases with his experience and skill.South Africa's Graeme Smith, with 352 runs in 16 innings, rounds off this elite group. Smith's aggressive and fearless approach set the tone for his team, providing quick starts and building solid foundations for South Africa's innings.These captains have demonstrated remarkable skill and composure under pressure, etching their names into the history of the T20 World Cup with substantial run tallies. Babar Azam's achievement is a testament to his exceptional leadership and batting prowess, solidifying his status as one of the greatest T20 players of all time.

Legendary Indian cricketer Kris Srikkanth has launched a scathing attack on Pakistan captain Babar Azam, urging him to consider retiring from T20 cricket. Srikkanth's criticism stems from Azam's poor form and slow approach in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024."I don't think Babar should play T20 cricket," Srikkanth said on Star Sports. "You can't do this tuk-tuking all the time. They say Babar scored 4,000 runs like Virat or Rohit, but his strike rate is only 112-115. What are you talking about?"Srikkanth's comments come after Pakistan's disappointing exit from the T20 World Cup. The team suffered consecutive defeats in their opening games against the USA and India, failing to qualify for the Super 8 stage.Azam's captaincy has also come under scrutiny. Sources have indicated that Shan Masood will retain the Test captaincy for Pakistan's upcoming series against Bangladesh, while Jason Gillespie will take over as the red-ball head coach.Azam's brief tenure as T20I captain ended in April this year after a 4-1 series defeat to New Zealand. He was reinstated as the white-ball skipper before the T20 World Cup, but the team's poor performance has led to renewed calls for his removal.Srikkanth's criticism is not the first time Azam's approach has been questioned. Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has also expressed concerns about his slow batting style."Babar Azam is a very good player, but he needs to improve his strike rate," Afridi said. "He needs to be more aggressive and take more risks."It remains to be seen whether Azam will heed the advice of his critics and make changes to his game. However, it is clear that his captaincy and batting form are under intense scrutiny.

Pakistan's dismal performance at the Twenty20 World Cup has resulted in their earliest-ever elimination from the tournament. The 2009 champions suffered a humiliating first-round exit after the USA-Ireland match was abandoned due to rain.Pakistan's campaign began with a shocking defeat against the debutant USA team, leaving fans and experts in disbelief. Their struggles continued as they succumbed to a loss against arch-rivals India.Former India opener Virender Sehwag has criticized Pakistan's performance, highlighting their inability to win against first-timers and chase down 120 against India. "You can't blame the rain. Even if you had won, you didn't deserve to go ahead," Sehwag said.Sehwag also questioned the ICC's strategy of keeping India and Pakistan in the same group during World Cups. "In 2007, neither India nor Pakistan qualified for the second round. We were in different groups back then. Now, ICC will rethink on keeping India and Pakistan in a group," he said.The ICC's decision to group India and Pakistan together is influenced by the massive television audience that tunes in to watch these high-stakes matches. However, Sehwag believes that the ICC needs to reconsider this strategy to ensure that teams that perform well are not eliminated early.Pakistan's early exit from the tournament has raised questions about the team's preparation and strategy. The team's inability to adapt to different conditions and play consistently has been a major factor in their poor performance.As Pakistan looks ahead to the next T20 World Cup in 2024, they will need to address these issues and make significant improvements to their team if they want to avoid a similar fate.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan delivered a witty retort to a Pakistani fan who attempted to troll him on social media. The exchange unfolded ahead of the crucial Namibia vs England match in Antigua, where heavy rain threatened to delay the toss and potentially eliminate England from the Super Eight race.As the rain persisted, a Pakistani fan named Nawaz tweeted, "Hey, @MichaelVaughan karma is real. #ENGvsNAM." However, fate intervened, and the rain subsided, allowing England to take on Namibia. The English team emerged victorious, defeating Namibia by 41 runs (DLS method) and keeping their hopes of reaching the Super Eight alive.Meanwhile, Australia's victory over Scotland in St Lucia paved the way for England's advancement. Scotland's loss meant that both Scotland and England finished with 5 points, but England secured the second spot in the table due to a superior net run rate.With England's entry into the Super Eight, Vaughan seized the opportunity to respond to the Pakistani troll. "Morning Nawaz .. looking forward to the Super 8s .. Are you ?" he tweeted.Pakistan, placed in Group A, had already been eliminated from the tournament, while India had secured their spot in the next round. Vaughan's response highlighted the irony of Pakistan's elimination and England's progression.It is noteworthy that Pakistan's exit from the tournament was sealed by the United States, who finished second in Group A with five points. The United States' performance further emphasized the competitive nature of the tournament and the unpredictable nature of the sport.

Pakistan's hopes of qualifying for the T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 were dashed after the match between USA and Ireland was abandoned due to rain on Sunday. India and USA emerged as the two teams to advance from Group A.Pakistan's path to the Super 8 became arduous after defeats to USA and India. The team's performance has drawn widespread criticism, with former England captain Michael Vaughan expressing concerns about their lack of "swagger.""They can't blame the weather. They should have beaten US and India. If they did, they would have been through to the Super 8s," Vaughan said. "I just don't see Pakistan at the moment as a great white-ball team."Vaughan questioned the quality of Pakistan's T20 players, suggesting that captain Babar Azam may not be a guaranteed starter in the T20 teams of top nations like India and England."I don't think they have the skill set of what I've seen in the past from Pakistan cricket in T20 cricket," Vaughan said. "I honestly don't think they've got many great T20 players."Vaughan also highlighted Pakistan's mental fragility against India, noting their inability to chase down targets against their arch-rivals."Mentally, they have no clue how to beat India. That's true. I could see it in the chase. They should have absolutely strolled that game," Vaughan said. "There's only one winner because India knows how to win, and they have the mentality to get over the line. For whatever reason, Pakistan just doesn't seem to have that kind of swagger."Pakistan's failure to qualify for the Super 8 has raised questions about the team's direction and the leadership of Babar Azam. The team will need to regroup and address these concerns if they are to regain their status as one of the top T20 nations in the world.

Babar Azam's hopes of regaining the Test captaincy have suffered a significant setback following Pakistan's disappointing performance at the T20 World Cup. Sources within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have indicated that Shan Masood will retain the Test captaincy for the upcoming two-match series against Bangladesh in August.The decision to retain Masood as Test captain is reportedly based on the PCB's dissatisfaction with Babar's leadership abilities, particularly in the wake of Pakistan's early exit from the T20 World Cup. The tournament saw Pakistan suffer consecutive defeats to the USA and India, effectively ending their chances of reaching the Super 8 stage.Masood was initially appointed as Test captain after Babar relinquished the captaincy in all formats following Pakistan's disappointing performance at last year's ODI World Cup. Shaheen Afridi was subsequently named as the T20I captain, but his brief tenure ended in April this year after Pakistan's 4-1 series defeat to New Zealand.Prior to the T20 World Cup, Babar was reinstated as the white-ball captain in a move described by the PCB as a "strategic decision." However, the move failed to yield the desired results, with Pakistan crashing out of the tournament in the group stage.The PCB's decision to retain Masood as Test captain is a clear indication of their lack of confidence in Babar's leadership abilities. The upcoming Bangladesh series will be the first assignment for former Australian pacer Jason Gillespie as Pakistan's red-ball head coach.

Pakistan's disappointing exit from the T20 World Cup has sparked widespread criticism and calls for action from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Reports indicate that the board is considering drastic measures, including sacking up to nine players from the current squad.PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi has hinted at a "major surgery" within the team, suggesting that the board may need to "look beyond" the current players. This follows Pakistan's humiliating defeat to India, which exposed glaring weaknesses in the team's performance.However, former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has defended the players, arguing that the PCB shares equal responsibility for the debacle. He has called for the sacking of all PCB members and the governing body, accusing them of selecting the wrong players and failing to provide adequate training and support.Latif's comments echo concerns raised by many Pakistani cricket fans, who believe that the PCB has mismanaged the team and failed to address long-standing issues. Last year, the PCB announced significant increases in player earnings, but this has not translated into improved performances on the field.PCB chief Naqvi had also promised a bonus payment of USD 100,000 to each player if they won the tournament. However, this incentive has failed to motivate the team, which has struggled to find consistency and cohesion.The PCB is now facing pressure to take decisive action to address the team's poor performance. The board is expected to review the central contracts of the players and potentially reduce their salaries. It is also considering appointing a new selection committee and coaching staff.The future of Pakistan cricket hangs in the balance as the PCB grapples with the fallout from the T20 World Cup debacle. The board must now make tough decisions to rebuild the team and restore its former glory.

Pakistani cricket legend and commentator Ramiz Raja has staunchly defended the opening partnership of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, dismissing calls for their replacement. Raja's comments come in response to former captain Shahid Afridi's suggestion that Fakhar Zaman should open for Pakistan in T20Is instead of Babar.Raja argues that while Babar and Rizwan may not possess the blistering strike rate of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, they provide stability and solidity to the team. He emphasizes the importance of establishing a long-term opening partnership, which takes time to develop."They (Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan) may not give you a strike rate of a Rohit (Sharma) or a Virat (Kohli), but, you know, at least they give you solidity," Raja said. "And this Pakistan team, with the kind of batting lineup that they've got, they've got to play within what they have got."Raja points to Pakistan's success in the 2022 T20 World Cup, where they reached the final with Babar and Rizwan as openers. He believes that breaking up this successful partnership would be a mistake."There's a reason why Pakistan made it to the final of the World Cup (in 2022)," Raja said. "Why break something that is working? This phobia of strike rate must end because Pakistan do not have the luxury of such skills and talent."Raja's comments highlight the ongoing debate surrounding Pakistan's batting approach in T20 cricket. While some argue for a more aggressive style, Raja believes that Pakistan should focus on their strengths and play to their own style.