Cricket

Pakistan's dismal performance at the T20 World Cup 2024 has prompted all-rounder Imad Wasim to call for a fundamental reset in the team's approach to white-ball cricket. Wasim, who came out of retirement for the tournament, believes that Pakistan's mindset and approach have fallen behind the rest of the world."We used to rule T20 cricket," Wasim said. "But I think we have moved back a little now. Maybe our mindset needs a change - in all three areas: batting, bowling, and fielding."Wasim emphasized the importance of shedding the fear of failure, which he believes has hindered Pakistan's progress. "We have to get rid of the fear of failure," he said. "Personnel change doesn't change anything, just changing the mindset can change a lot of things."The all-rounder also pointed to the personal attacks that players face after poor performances as a potential factor contributing to the fear of failure. "We are human beings, we can make mistakes and we also get affected by these things," he said.Wasim suggested that a dispassionate analysis of Pakistan's performance, similar to the type he provided as a TV analyst before his retirement, could be beneficial. "Cricketers have to do their job and analyze the cricket," he said. "They have to tell you what is right and what is wrong without getting personal."Despite the disappointment of the World Cup exit, Wasim expressed hope that it could serve as a catalyst for positive change. "This is bad but who knows this could be big for Pakistan?" he said. "We could revamp, revisit and start playing white-ball cricket the way it should be played."

Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) decision to reinstate Babar Azam as captain has backfired spectacularly, leading to the team's premature exit from the T20 World Cup 2024. Babar's reappointment, following a brief stint by Shaheen Afridi, has drawn widespread criticism, with former players questioning his leadership abilities.Amidst the ongoing debate, former Pakistan batter Basit Ali has launched a scathing attack on Babar, accusing him of neglecting to inform Shaheen about PCB's offer to him. "If Babar Azam wanted to become captain again, he should've called Shaheen Afridi and said that I've got the offer," Basit said on ARY News.Basit also highlighted the example of Younis Khan, who declined the captaincy offer after Misbah-ul-Haq's removal. He believes Babar should have followed suit or at least consulted Shaheen, as his actions have strained their friendship.PCB is reportedly considering drastic measures in the wake of the T20 World Cup debacle, with reports suggesting that up to 9 players, including Babar and Shaheen, could be axed from the squad. The board's decision-making process has come under scrutiny, with many questioning the rationale behind Babar's reappointment and the subsequent sacking of Shaheen.As the dust settles on Pakistan's disappointing World Cup campaign, PCB faces a crucial task in rebuilding the team and restoring its former glory. The board's decisions in the coming months will shape the future of Pakistan cricket and determine whether they can regain their status as a cricketing powerhouse.

Pakistan's disappointing exit from the T20 World Cup has sparked widespread criticism and calls for a major overhaul. The team's performance has been marred by defeats to minnows USA and arch-rivals India, leading to questions about the leadership of captain Babar Azam.Former England captain Michael Vaughan believes that Pakistan should retain Babar as captain despite his shortcomings in the T20 format. Vaughan argues that the team needs consistency and cannot afford to keep changing leaders. He acknowledges that Babar is not among the top 15 T20 batters in the world, but emphasizes the importance of stability.Vaughan also highlights the need for a comprehensive review of Pakistan's cricket system. He believes that the coaches, selectors, and administrators must work together to create a pool of talented players for the captain and coaches to choose from.Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has acknowledged the need for changes, stating that the team requires "major surgery." He has expressed disappointment with the team's performance and vowed to make improvements.The PCB is expected to announce changes in the team and management in the near future. Pakistan is set to host the Champions Trophy in 2025, and there is a sense of urgency to rebuild the team and restore its competitiveness.

Pakistan's disappointing exit from the T20 World Cup has sparked widespread speculation about the future of several key players, including captain Babar Azam. Former Pakistan captains Wasim Akram, Salman Butt, and Shahid Afridi have openly criticized Babar's leadership and form, leading to rumors that the selection committee is considering dropping him and other senior players.However, legendary all-rounder Shahid Afridi has strongly opposed the idea of dropping Babar, arguing that Pakistan lacks a suitable replacement. "I don't know what's the reality, but this can't happen," Afridi said in a video uploaded on his YouTube channel. "You can drop players when you have the next lot ready to take over. Do we have anyone to replace Babar? Do we have any performer like him?"Afridi also criticized the PCB's selection policy, which he believes favors players based on a few good knocks rather than consistent performances in domestic cricket. "If we continue to select players on the basis of 2-3 innings and ignore stars of domestic cricket, it's harsh on those who perform for years," he added.Pakistan's elimination from the T20 World Cup was confirmed after the match between USA and Ireland was washed out due to rain. Babar and his team will play their final group stage match against Ireland on Sunday.The PCB is expected to make a decision on the future of the team after the tournament. However, Afridi's comments suggest that Babar's position as captain is unlikely to be under immediate threat.

Pakistan's disappointing exit from the T20 World Cup has sparked widespread anger and dismay among the cricket fraternity. The team's lackluster performance, particularly in the crucial matches against India and the USA, has drawn heavy criticism from former players and experts.The tournament debutants, USA, dealt Pakistan a major blow in the opening match, triggering a downward spiral that ultimately led to their elimination. Despite a hard-fought victory against India, Pakistan's hopes were dashed when the USA vs Ireland match was abandoned due to rain. This result allowed the USA to advance to the Super 8s alongside India, while Pakistan was left to rue their missed opportunities.Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja has been particularly vocal in his criticism, accusing the team of mismanagement and a lack of clear leadership. He criticized the decision to recall retired players, arguing that it undermined the development of younger talent. Raja also questioned the team's decision-making and discipline, suggesting that it was being run from the sidelines rather than by the players themselves.Another former player, Saqlain Mushtaq, echoed Raja's concerns, emphasizing the need for a strong and decisive leadership. He argued that the team's captain, Babar Azam, should be given the authority to make decisions and enforce discipline. Mushtaq also called for a merit-based approach to team selection, rather than relying on past reputations.Pakistan's early exit from the T20 World Cup has raised serious questions about the team's future. The team's reliance on aging stars and a lack of clear direction have been identified as major weaknesses. As Pakistan prepares for the upcoming matches, it is imperative that they address these issues and develop a long-term strategy for success.

Afghanistan-Pakistan Rivalry: Intensity Surpasses India-Pakistan MatchesFormer India all-rounder Ajay Jadeja, who served as Afghanistan's mentor during the 2023 ODI World Cup, has revealed that the intensity between Afghanistan and Pakistan during matches is significantly higher than that of India and Pakistan.Jadeja recalled Afghanistan's historic eight-wicket victory over Pakistan in the World Cup, describing the winning team's behavior as "bin piye sharaabi" (intoxicated without alcohol). Afghanistan chased down a target of 283 runs in 49 overs, securing their first-ever ODI win against Pakistan."That day, I witnessed players getting high without consuming alcohol," Jadeja said on Caught Behind.Jadeja's appointment as Afghanistan's mentor coincided with the team's historic victory. Ibrahim Zadran was named Player of the Match for his 87-run knock off 113 balls."When friends asked me how I felt, I told them to multiply the intensity of an India-Pakistan match by 10. Everyone is surprised when they hear this," Jadeja added.Former Pakistan player Rashid Latif echoed Jadeja's sentiments, recalling a similar experience when he coached Afghanistan at the 2023 Asian Games. "After Afghanistan's victory over Pakistan, I also saw players getting high without alcohol," Latif said.In the Asian Games semi-finals, Afghanistan defeated Pakistan by four wickets, chasing down a target of 116 runs with 13 balls to spare.In the ongoing T20 World Cup, Afghanistan is placed in Group C alongside West Indies, Uganda, Papua New Guinea, and New Zealand. Pakistan, meanwhile, is in Group A with India, Ireland, Canada, and the United States.

Pakistan's disappointing exit from the T20 World Cup has sparked a fiery outburst from former batsman Ahmed Shehzad, who has launched a scathing attack on the team's senior players. In a viral rant, Shehzad has called for the removal of captain Babar Azam, star pacer Shaheen Afridi, wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan, and others, accusing them of underperformance and groupism.Shehzad's tirade stems from Pakistan's failure to qualify for the semi-finals of the tournament, despite being one of the favorites. He believes that the senior players have been given ample time to prove their worth but have consistently failed to deliver."For the past 4-5 years, Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Rizwan, and Haris Rauf have been playing regularly for Pakistan," Shehzad said. "They've been given ample time to perform. Because of the groupism in the team, they've been defending each other and saying 'we are learning from our mistakes.' What are you exactly learning?"Shehzad specifically targeted Babar Azam, accusing him of indulging in favoritism and protecting his close friends within the team. He also criticized Azam's leadership abilities and fitness levels."You speak about leadership, but you don't have any," Shehzad said. "You are just a social media generated king. You got 4-5 years to improve, but you didn't win us anything. Your fitness levels are also not up to the mark. You guys are playing politics in the team. Your cricket is declining."Shehzad also took aim at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), accusing them of mishandling the situation and blaming young players for the team's failures. He urged the PCB to take strict action against the senior players and break up the alleged groupism within the team."You are only good at making friendships," Shehzad said to the PCB. "Since becoming the PCB chairman, Mohsin Naqvi has made two big blunders. First, by re-appointing Babar as captain. Secondly, making Wahab Riaz as chief selector. He has been very unprofessional in his decision making and management."Shehzad's outburst has sparked a heated debate in Pakistan, with many fans and experts weighing in on the issue. Some have supported Shehzad's call for change, while others have defended the senior players and criticized Shehzad for his harsh words.

The T20 World Cup 2024 has witnessed a shocking turn of events, with Pakistan being eliminated in the first stage after the washout of the Group A match between USA and Ireland. This disappointing exit has sparked widespread criticism and scrutiny of Babar Azam's team.Amidst the backlash, former wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal has made a bold statement, suggesting that Pakistan's past mistakes have cost them dearly. Speaking on a TV show, Akmal claimed that if his brother, Umar Akmal, had received the same support and promotion as India's batting legend Virat Kohli, he could have achieved similar success despite not possessing Kohli's exceptional talent.Akmal presented statistics comparing Umar Akmal's performance in T20 World Cups to that of Kohli. He highlighted that Umar Akmal had a better strike rate and had scored more runs than Kohli in the tournament. Akmal attributed this to Pakistan's lack of a strong PR strategy to promote their players' achievements."If these stats (of Umar) were part of these 15 players (Pakistan's T20 World Cup squad), is waqt tak tabahi aa jani thi (it would have created mayhem)," Akmal said.Pakistan's elimination from the tournament was a bitter pill to swallow, as they desperately needed the USA vs Ireland match to go ahead and for Ireland to beat USA to qualify for the 'Super 8s' from Group A. However, the no-result gave USA the one point they needed to push Pakistan out of the competition.Even if Pakistan manages to defeat Netherlands on Sunday, they will only end up on four points compared to tournament debutant USA's five. The upset defeat against USA in their first match proved to be the catalyst for Pakistan's embarrassing early exit.The history-making US team has advanced to the next stage along with group toppers India, who remain unbeaten after three matches.

The United States cricket team has made history by qualifying for the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup in its maiden appearance. The team's success is a testament to the growing popularity of cricket in the United States and the dedication of its players.The USA team, composed primarily of men who work in other fields, stunned the cricketing world by defeating former champions Pakistan in their opening match. They followed that up with a convincing win over Canada, securing their place in the next round.The team's success is particularly remarkable considering that many of its players are not full-time cricketers. Most of them work in various professions, including software engineering, finance, and medicine. However, their passion for cricket has driven them to achieve remarkable results.The USA team's journey to the Super Eight stage has been a rollercoaster ride. They faced a setback in their final group match against Ireland, which was washed out due to rain. However, their earlier wins against Pakistan and Canada were enough to secure their qualification.The team's success has been fueled by a combination of factors. Firstly, the players have shown great determination and resilience. They have overcome challenges and setbacks to achieve their goals. Secondly, the team has benefited from the support of the Indian-American community, which has provided financial and logistical assistance.The USA team's success is a major boost for cricket in the United States. It has captured the attention of the American public and inspired a new generation of cricket enthusiasts. The team's performance has also helped to raise the profile of cricket in the country and attract new sponsors and investors.As the USA team prepares for the Super Eight stage, they will face even tougher competition. However, they have already proven that they are capable of surprising their opponents. With their determination and passion, they have the potential to continue their historic run and make a deep impact on the tournament.