Cricket

Chris Gayle, the legendary West Indian batsman, has urged Pakistan to regroup and bounce back after their unexpected loss to the USA in the T20 World Cup. The defeat has put immense pressure on Pakistan ahead of their crucial clash with India on Sunday.Gayle emphasized the significance of the upcoming match between India and Pakistan, two cricketing giants who have a long-standing rivalry. He noted that Pakistan's loss to the USA has made the match even more important for them."Pakistan have no time to waste. They have to re-group for the biggest game of the tournament against India in New York City – that's just got even bigger. Their backs are up against the wall and coming off a loss like that straight into playing a team like India, who traditionally have the upper hand in these games, is a huge challenge," Gayle wrote in his column for the International Cricket Council (ICC).Gayle also praised the USA team, which has emerged as a surprise package in the tournament. He lauded their victory over Pakistan and highlighted the talent within their squad."Like the rest of the cricketing world, I was gripped by the USA's victory over Pakistan. It is a huge result which is not only incredible for them but massive for cricket as a whole," Gayle said."USA look very well organized and the way they stood up to that Pakistan attack, one of the best bowling units at the World Cup, you have to give huge kudos to them. They will now look to cash in on this result and they can absolutely reach the Super 8s – what a story that would be."Gayle believes that the USA has the potential to make a deep run in the tournament. He singled out Aaron Jones, Andries Gous, Steven Taylor, Nitish Kumar, and Corey Anderson as key players for the team."USA are making the most of home advantage so far and my hope is that the West Indies can do the same. It's never easy playing at home, especially on a big occasion like a World Cup, because the expectation is so high," Gayle said."It is actually quite rare for a home team to win a T20 World Cup but hopefully this year will be a change of fortune. We can lift the trophy on June 29 in Barbados, for sure. Having not qualified for the last ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, this tournament is so important for cricket in the Caribbean. This is a huge thing for the players to step up and be counted."

Pakistan's hopes of a strong start to their T20 World Cup campaign have been dealt a blow with the ongoing injury concerns surrounding all-rounder Imad Wasim. Despite initial reports suggesting a precautionary absence, it has emerged that Imad's rib injury is more severe than initially disclosed.The 33-year-old missed Pakistan's opening match against USA, which they narrowly lost in the Super Over, and his absence has left a significant void in the team's balance. In his stead, Pakistan opted for Azam Khan and Shadab Khan as their specialist spinners, but both struggled to make an impact.Azam was dismissed for a golden duck, while Shadab's bowling performance drew criticism from captain Babar Azam. The lack of wicket-taking options from the spin department has been a major concern for Pakistan, who have traditionally relied on their spinners to control the middle overs.Imad's injury history is a cause for concern. He has battled a chronic knee injury throughout his career, which has limited his ability to play longer formats. Ahead of the 2019 World Cup, he was given extra time to pass a fitness test due to his knee injury.In 2023, Imad initially retired from international cricket but returned earlier this year with the sole aim of participating in this World Cup. However, his participation in the tournament is now in doubt, and his absence would be a major setback for Pakistan.With Pakistan already facing an uphill battle to qualify for the Super 12 stage, Imad's potential unavailability could prove to be a decisive factor in their hopes of progressing in the tournament.

Shaheen Shah Afridi, Pakistan's left-arm pace spearhead, has emerged as a formidable force in international cricket, particularly in limited-overs formats. Known for his exceptional ability to swing the ball both ways and generate significant pace, Afridi has been instrumental in Pakistan's success in T20Is and ODIs.Against arch-rivals India, Afridi has played two T20Is, with his best performance being a match-winning spell of 3/31 in the 2021 T20 World Cup clash in Dubai. Pakistan went on to win that match by 10 wickets.Ahead of the highly anticipated clash between India and Pakistan on Sunday, a video has surfaced online showing Indian fans interacting with Afridi in New York. The fans expressed their excitement about the upcoming match and jokingly asked Afridi not to bowl well against India.Afridi responded with composure and humor, acknowledging the fans' request and wishing for the best team to win. The video highlights the camaraderie and sportsmanship between the two nations despite their intense rivalry on the field.India and Pakistan will face off at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on Sunday. India began their campaign with an eight-wicket win against Ireland, while Pakistan suffered a shock defeat via the Super Over against the United States.Afridi's performance in this match will be crucial for Pakistan's chances of victory. His ability to swing the ball and generate pace could prove decisive against India's formidable batting lineup.

Salman Butt Slams Haris Rauf's Performance in Pakistan's T20 World Cup Loss to USAFormer Pakistan captain Salman Butt has launched a scathing attack on fast bowler Haris Rauf following his underwhelming performance in Pakistan's T20 World Cup match against the USA. Rauf, entrusted with bowling the final over with the USA needing 15 runs to win, conceded a boundary on the last ball, leading to a dramatic finish.Butt, speaking on the 'Cricket Baithak' podcast, expressed his frustration with Rauf's lack of awareness and failure to bowl to the field. "It is not a surprise that he conceded so many runs because he is that kid who doesn't look at his field at all," Butt said. "Mid-off is inside the circle, and yet he bowls full and gets hit for a boundary on the last ball. You can see the captain also screamed at him. When you have mid-off up, then you don't bowl full balls. This is a basic of cricket."Rauf's erratic bowling drew further criticism from Butt, who questioned his professionalism and ability to learn from his mistakes. "He (Haris Rauf) has some weird style when he bowls a ball and just sits on his knees with his hand on his head," Butt continued. "It is as if he incurred a loss in shares or someone robbed him. I don't know what he tries to portray but that is so unprofessional. You never learn anything. They lacked common sense and game awareness."Butt's criticism comes as Pakistan prepares for a high-stakes clash against India on Sunday in New York. The former captain's comments highlight the pressure on Rauf and the Pakistan team to perform in the crucial match.

Pakistan's humiliating defeat to the United States in the T20 World Cup has sent shockwaves through the cricketing world. Former cricketer Kamran Akmal has lambasted the team, calling it the "biggest insult" in Pakistan cricket history.Akmal slammed Pakistan's performance, stating that there could not be a greater humiliation than losing to a team ranked far below them. He praised the USA for their exceptional play, noting that they outplayed Pakistan in all aspects of the game."The USA played exceptionally well. They didn't feel like a low-ranked side. It felt like they were ranked above Pakistan. That is the level of maturity they showed," Akmal said.Akmal also criticized Pakistan's team selection, claiming that it was based on personal preferences rather than merit. He pointed to the inclusion of players who had not performed well in recent series."Players are selected on liking and disliking. A player performed in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), but what about the past three series in which he wasn't able to perform?" Akmal questioned.Pakistan's defeat has raised questions about the team's preparation and strategy. Former PCB chairman Ramiz Raja has also criticized the team selection process, calling it "unprofessional."Pakistan will now face arch-rival India in a crucial match on Sunday. The match will be a test of Pakistan's character and resilience after their embarrassing defeat to the USA.

Pakistan's T20 World Cup campaign has hit a major roadblock after star pacer Haris Rauf was accused of ball tampering during their humiliating defeat against the United States. The allegation, made by former South African pacer Rusty Theron, has cast a dark shadow over Pakistan's hopes of salvaging their tournament.Theron, who is now a member of the USA national cricket team, took to social media to tag the International Cricket Council (ICC) and accuse Rauf of scratching the ball with his nails. He claimed that Rauf was attempting to reverse the ball and gain an unfair advantage over the American batters."Are we just going to pretend Pakistan aren't scratching the hell out of this freshly changed ball? Reversing the ball that's just been changed 2 overs ago? You can literally see Harris Rauf running his thumbnail over the ball at the top of his mark," Theron wrote on X (formerly Twitter).The accusation has not yet been officially lodged by the USA team, but it remains a serious allegation. If proven true, it could result in severe sanctions for Rauf and the Pakistan team.Pakistan's performance against the USA was dismal, with Rauf conceding 37 runs in four overs and taking only one wicket. Captain Babar Azam criticized his bowlers for failing to deliver, despite defending a mediocre total of 159."We are better than that in bowling, we were not able to take wickets in the first six overs. In the middle overs, your spinner is not taking wickets then pressure is on us. After 10 overs, we did come back but I think the way they finished game in the Super Over, the credit goes to the US team," Babar said in the post-match press conference.Pakistan's next match is against arch-rivals India, a crucial encounter that could determine their fate in the tournament. However, the ball-tampering allegation has cast a pall over their preparations and raised questions about the integrity of the team.

Pakistan's Babar Azam has etched his name in the annals of cricket history by surpassing Virat Kohli as the leading run-scorer in T20 Internationals. This remarkable feat was achieved during Pakistan's T20 World Cup encounter against USA in Dallas.Before this match, Kohli held the record with 4038 runs from 118 matches. However, Babar's steady 44-run knock off 43 balls pushed his total beyond Kohli's, marking a significant milestone in his illustrious career. With this, the Pakistan captain now has 4067 runs to his name.Babar's journey to the top was marked by key moments in his innings. Despite Pakistan's challenging start, losing early wickets, Babar navigated through a tricky pitch and a determined USA bowling attack. His innings included three boundaries and two sixes, each stroke exemplifying his class and determination.Babar's ability to anchor the innings while accelerating at the right moments was on full display. His performance was a masterclass in balancing aggression with caution, a hallmark of his batting style.Rohit Sharma joined the elite club of 4000 T20I runs with his recent performance against Ireland. Meanwhile, Kohli, unfamiliar with New York's playing conditions, fell early for just one run against Ireland, missing the chance to extend his lead.India are set to face Pakistan for their second match of the T20 World Cup in New York on Sunday.

Pakistan's wicket-keeper batter Azam Khan faced severe criticism on social media after being dismissed for a golden duck in the T20 World Cup 2024 match against the United States. Khan's poor form has been a subject of scrutiny, with fans and experts alike expressing their disappointment.During the T20I series against England, Khan's low scores and fielding errors drew criticism. In the T20 World Cup opener, he came to the crease with Pakistan under pressure and was trapped LBW by Nosthush Kenjige on the first ball.Social media users were quick to blast Khan for his performance, with some referring to the "nepotism" debate surrounding him. Khan is the son of former Pakistan captain Moin Khan, and some have questioned whether his selection is based on merit."If Nepotism & forced entry had a face..Azam Khan.. BUT PCB has no shame..," tweeted one user.Another user commented, "Azam Khan is a player whom cricket history will never forget."Despite the criticism, Pakistan captain Babar Azam defended Khan's selection, stating that he plays on merit."Azam Khan plays on merit," Azam tweeted.The United States, led by Monank Patel, won the toss and elected to bowl first. The US had a strong start to the tournament, having defeated Canada in their opening match.Pakistan, on the other hand, entered the tournament after a disappointing T20 series loss to England. The "Men in Green" were not in their best form but were determined to start their campaign on a positive note.Patel expressed his team's desire to play their best cricket, while Azam confirmed that Imad Wasim had suffered an injury and would not be playing against the US.

Pakistan's Dismal Powerplay Performance in T20 World CupsPakistan's batting woes continued in the ongoing T20 World Cup as they recorded one of the worst powerplay totals in the tournament's history against the USA. In their Group A match in Dallas, Pakistan managed a meager 30 runs in the first six overs, losing three wickets in the process.This dismal performance is not an isolated incident. Pakistan has a history of struggling in the powerplay during T20 World Cups. In 2014, they were bowled out for just 13 runs against the West Indies in Mirpur. In 2022, they managed only 28 runs against Zimbabwe in Perth. In 2021, they scored 29 runs against Namibia in Abu Dhabi and 30 runs against New Zealand in Sharjah.The reasons for Pakistan's powerplay struggles are multifaceted. One factor is the quality of opposition bowling. Teams like the West Indies, Zimbabwe, and New Zealand have pace and precision, which can unsettle even the best batsmen.Another factor is Pakistan's own batting approach. They often rely on big-hitting in the powerplay, which can lead to reckless shots and wickets. Additionally, they have struggled to adapt to different conditions, such as the slow and low pitches in Sharjah.Pakistan's powerplay woes have had a significant impact on their overall performance in T20 World Cups. In the 2022 tournament, they lost all three of their matches and were eliminated in the group stage. In 2021, they reached the semi-finals but were outplayed by Australia in the powerplay.If Pakistan wants to improve their performance in future T20 World Cups, they need to address their powerplay struggles. This means finding a way to counter the quality of opposition bowling and developing a more balanced batting approach. They also need to improve their adaptability to different conditions.