Cricket

Former Pakistan cricket star Kamran Akmal has endorsed Michael Vaughan's controversial statement that the Indian Premier League (IPL) offers a superior playing experience to facing Pakistan. Vaughan's comments sparked a debate about the state of Pakistan cricket, with Akmal acknowledging the team's recent struggles.Akmal expressed his agreement with Vaughan, citing Pakistan's disappointing performances against weaker opponents. He emphasized that the IPL provides a more challenging and competitive environment, featuring top-quality bowlers and batters. Akmal believes that Pakistan should use Vaughan's criticism as motivation to improve their performance in the upcoming T20 World Cup.Akmal also criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for its handling of the team, suggesting that it has contributed to the current state of affairs. He urged the PCB to take steps to revamp the system and restore Pakistan's competitiveness.Akmal's comments highlight the growing concern over the decline of Pakistan cricket. The team has struggled to maintain its former glory, losing to teams it would have once easily defeated. Vaughan's statement has reignited the debate about the quality of Pakistan cricket and the need for urgent action.Pakistan's upcoming T20 series against England will be a crucial test for the team. A strong performance could silence critics and restore confidence, while a poor showing could further damage the team's reputation. Akmal's call for motivation and the PCB's need to address the team's weaknesses will be key factors in determining Pakistan's future success.

The Pakistan cricket team has announced its squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup, with Babar Azam returning as captain after a brief stint by Shaheen Afridi. The squad features a blend of experienced players and rising stars, but former captain Shaheed Afridi has expressed concerns about the fitness of wicketkeeper-batsman Azam Khan.Afridi, known for his outspoken nature, believes that Khan's fitness is not up to the mark for international cricket. He pointed out that Khan's body language on the field, particularly while batting, bowling, and fielding, indicates a lack of fitness."Fitness is the main thing," Afridi said. "If you are fit, your body language gives it away on the ground. You can't compromise on fitness."Afridi also raised concerns about Khan's wicketkeeping abilities in the West Indies, where the ball tends to stay low. He believes that Khan may struggle to keep against spinners in those conditions."In England, the ball carries behind the stumps," Afridi explained. "But when they'll go to the West Indies, the ball won't carry as much there, it will keep low. I hope he doesn't struggle, but I am worried about his keeping against spinners in West Indian conditions with this fitness."Despite his concerns, Afridi emphasized that he supports the team and wants to see them succeed at the World Cup. He urged the players to focus on their performance and not be distracted by outside criticism."As a senior, my wish is to support every player as the team is going for the World Cup," Afridi said. "After the World Cup, we can discuss and criticize. But for now, I only want to support the boys and want to make sure that they don't get any such message where they feel, 'We are going for the World Cup and this is what Shahid bhai is talking about.'"The Pakistan squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup is as follows:* Babar Azam (captain)* Abrar Ahmed* Azam Khan* Fakhar Zaman* Haris Rauf* Iftikhar Ahmed* Imad Wasim* Mohammad Abbas Afridi* Mohammad Amir* Mohammad Rizwan* Naseem Shah* Saim Ayub* Shadab Khan* Shaheen Shah Afridi* Usman Khan

Pakistan Players' Reaction to IPL Final Sparks Online DebateThe Pakistan cricket team's recent tour of England has sparked a heated online debate after a video emerged showing the players walking past a television airing the Indian Premier League (IPL) final. The video has ignited a war of words between fans from India and Pakistan, with some expressing resentment over Pakistan players' absence from the lucrative league.Strained relations between the two countries have prevented Pakistani players from participating in the IPL for several years. This has led to frustration among some Pakistani fans, who believe their players are missing out on a valuable opportunity to showcase their skills and earn substantial financial rewards.In the viral video, Pakistan players can be seen walking through a lounge as the IPL final between Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad plays on a television in the background. The players appear to ignore the match, leading some Pakistani fans to claim that they "ignored the IPL final."This has sparked a backlash from Indian fans, who have accused Pakistan players of being disrespectful towards the IPL. Some members of the Pakistani media have also joined in the fray, poking fun at the league's popularity.However, the IPL remains the most popular and competitive T20 league in the world, attracting top players from around the globe. Pakistan has its own T20 franchise tournament, the Pakistan Super League, but it has not yet achieved the same level of recognition or financial success as the IPL.The online debate highlights the ongoing rivalry between India and Pakistan in cricket. While the two countries have not played a bilateral series since 2012, their fans remain fiercely passionate about the sport and eager to engage in friendly banter.

Pakistan's all-rounder Shadab Khan's recent form has raised concerns ahead of the T20 World Cup. In his last two T20I outings, Shadab has conceded 109 runs at an economy rate of over 12 without taking a wicket. With only one official game remaining before their tournament opener against the USA on June 6, Pakistan's preparations have been hampered by weather disruptions.On Tuesday, Shadab faced an awkward encounter with a female fan in Cardiff. In a viral video, the fan questioned Shadab's recent performances, urging him to improve his wicket-taking ability and reduce his run concessions.Meanwhile, Pakistan's World Cup preparations suffered another setback due to inclement weather. The third T20I in Cardiff was abandoned without a ball being bowled, following a similar washout in the first match of the series at Headingley. England currently lead the series 1-0, with one match remaining at The Oval on Thursday.The latest abandonment comes just a week before England's T20 World Cup title defense begins against Scotland in Barbados on June 4. Rain in Cardiff started falling an hour before the scheduled start, forcing the umpires to abandon the match due to a saturated outfield and persistent rain.Pakistan, the 2009 T20 World Cup winners, will now travel to London for Thursday's finale at The Oval, hoping for a chance to gain some competitive action before the tournament. The team will face co-hosts the United States in their opening match in Dallas on June 6.

Pakistan's star all-rounder Shadab Khan faced an unexpected and embarrassing moment when a fan confronted him with a blunt question about his recent poor form. The incident occurred during Pakistan's ongoing T20I series against England, where the team has struggled to find its footing.In a video that has gone viral on social media, a female fan approached Shadab for a picture. However, after posing for the photo, she abruptly asked, "Aaap chhakke kyu kha rahe hain itne (why are you getting hit for so many sixes)?"Shadab, known primarily for his leg-spin bowling, was visibly taken aback by the question. He remained silent and embarrassed, unable to respond to the fan's direct criticism. The fan continued, "Form mei wapis aayein, perform karein. Wickets leni hain aapne (return to form, perform, you have to take wickets)."The incident highlights the pressure and scrutiny that professional athletes face from fans. Shadab has been under fire for his inconsistent performances in recent matches, particularly his inability to contain the opposition's batsmen. The fan's question served as a stark reminder of the expectations placed on him as a key member of the Pakistan team.Despite the embarrassing encounter, Shadab remains a vital part of Pakistan's squad. His all-round abilities, including his batting and fielding, make him a valuable asset to the team. However, he will need to find his form quickly if Pakistan is to have any chance of success in the upcoming T20 World Cup.The T20 World Cup, co-hosted by the USA and West Indies, is scheduled to begin on June 2. Pakistan will be hoping to put their recent struggles behind them and perform well in the tournament. Shadab's form will be crucial to their chances of success.

Nat Sciver-Brunt's all-around brilliance propelled England to a resounding 178-run victory over Pakistan in the third and final ODI at Chelmsford. Sciver-Brunt's unbeaten 124 from 117 balls anchored England's innings of 302 for 5, while her two wickets in her designated five-over spell, including Pakistan's top-scorer Muneeba Ali, showcased her return to bowling after a knee niggle.Despite leaving the field with a slight hamstring niggle, Sciver-Brunt expressed satisfaction with her performance. "I had a great time, and it's a great way to finish the series," she said. "The body is pretty sore! It's probably not my quickest five overs ever, but I was happy to bowl in a consistent area."England's bowling attack was spearheaded by Lauren Bell's two wickets in the powerplay, while Sophie Ecclestone's 3 for 15 included her 100th ODI wicket in a record-breaking 64 matches. However, Sciver-Brunt's batting heroics overshadowed the team's overall performance.Sciver-Brunt's ninth ODI century, her fourth in her last nine innings, was a testament to her exceptional skill and mental fortitude. She negotiated the loss of openers and played second-fiddle to Danni Wyatt before taking the initiative in the final overs, smashing consecutive sixes off Diana Baig."I'm pretty happy with the level of skill, but the mental game of it as well," Sciver-Brunt said. "I managed to get through those tougher patches today and communicate well with my batting partner."Despite her self-proclaimed scratchiness, Sciver-Brunt's only clear-cut chance came on 86, when she was dropped by the wicketkeeper. Her ability to battle through adversity resonated with Heather Knight's pre-series assessment that England needed to improve their management of challenging moments in 50-over innings.Sciver-Brunt acknowledged the need for players to adapt between formats, with the 20-over World Cup looming and the 50-over version approaching in 2025. "At the end of the day, the skill is pretty much the same," she said. "It's just elongated, or you might use different things in your armoury at different times."

England's women's cricket team, led by captain Heather Knight, won the toss and elected to bat first in the third and final ODI against Pakistan at Chelmsford. The match marked a welcome change from the dismal weather that had plagued the previous two days of the series, with clear skies and only a slight chance of scattered showers.England made one change to their lineup, bringing in Lauren Bell to lead the attack in place of Lauren Filer. Pakistan, on the other hand, fielded the same XI that had narrowly lost the opening fixture in Derby.England's batting lineup got off to a solid start, with Maia Bouchier and Tammy Beaumont putting on a 50-run partnership for the first wicket. Beaumont continued to anchor the innings, scoring a well-paced 64 before being dismissed by Diana Baig.Nat Sciver-Brunt and Alice Capsey then combined for a 70-run partnership, with Sciver-Brunt scoring a fluent 50. Danni Wyatt and Amy Jones also made valuable contributions, helping England post a competitive total of 261/9 in their allotted 50 overs.Pakistan's chase got off to a shaky start, with Sidra Ameen and Sadaf Shamas falling cheaply. Muneeba Ali and Ayesha Zafar steadied the innings with a 50-run partnership, but England's bowlers kept the pressure on.Sciver-Brunt and Sophie Ecclestone were particularly impressive, taking three wickets each. Pakistan's middle order failed to capitalize on the platform set by Ali and Zafar, and they were eventually bowled out for 190 in the 45th over.England's victory secured a 2-1 series win over Pakistan, a result that will boost their confidence ahead of the upcoming Commonwealth Games.

Pakistan's T20 World Cup hopes rest on the shoulders of skipper Babar Azam, who aims to break the team's semi-final and runner-up jinx. Despite a chaotic build-up, Azam remains optimistic, believing it's their turn to lift the trophy.Pakistan's preparations have been marred by captaincy changes and coaching staff overhauls. However, the appointment of Mohsin Naqvi as PCB chairman and the inclusion of Gary Kirsten as white-ball coach have brought stability.The team has also bolstered its bowling attack with the return of Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah remain key figures, while Abrar Ahmed and Shadab Khan provide spin options.Pakistan's batting, however, remains a concern. Despite the world-record partnership between Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, the team has struggled to post totals over 200. Saim Ayub is expected to break up the opening partnership, while Fakhar Zaman, Usman Khan, Azam Khan, and Iftikhar Ahmed form a formidable middle-order.Consistency has been a major issue for Pakistan, who have shown flashes of brilliance but also inexplicable collapses. If they are to challenge for the title, their batters must step up and match the performances of their bowlers.Pakistan faces a tough group stage, with India, the United States, Canada, and Ireland as their opponents. A potential clash with India in New York could be a pivotal moment, as Pakistan has only won one of seven T20 World Cup matches against their arch-rivals.Despite the challenges, Azam is confident in his team's ability to return with the trophy. With a balanced squad and a renewed sense of purpose, Pakistan will be determined to make the third time lucky at the T20 World Cup.

Pakistan's Fakhar Zaman has vehemently defended young wicketkeeper Azam Khan's inclusion in the T20 World Cup squad, dismissing criticism that he was selected based on "sifarish" (recommendations). Zaman's outburst came in response to a journalist's question about whether other players deserved a spot ahead of the "unfit" Khan.Despite impressive performances in T20 leagues worldwide, Khan has struggled to replicate his form for Pakistan, averaging a mere 11 runs in international matches. However, Zaman believes the selectors made the right choice based on Khan's past achievements."If you make a team, then don't pick him. The team is picked by Gary Kirsten and Babar Azam. What you said is disrespectful towards a player. You've to see how he managed to find a spot for himself in the team. He has been selected due to his performances in the CPL," Zaman asserted at a press conference.Zaman urged journalists to conduct thorough research before making such accusations. "Please do some research on how a player like Azam Khan fought his way into the playing XI. Even I can say that you came here by recommendation. So, do some research before coming to the press conference," he added.Meanwhile, Pakistan's T20 World Cup preparations suffered a setback with a disappointing loss to England in the second T20I of the four-match series. England posted a formidable 183/7, led by Jos Buttler's 84, while Pakistan was restricted to 160, with Reece Topley claiming three wickets. England now holds a 1-0 lead in the series, with the remaining matches scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday.