Cricket

England captain Heather Knight has urged her team to "put on a show" with the bat in the third and final T20I against Pakistan at Headingley. The hosts have already secured the series after winning the first two matches, but Knight is keen for her side to maintain their momentum."We were back to our best in Northampton," said Knight, referring to England's 65-run victory in the second T20I. "That was a proper performance."England have made one change to their team, bringing in the extra pace of Lauren Filer for Lauren Bell. Knight believes the pitch at Headingley may offer some assistance to the seamers, but she expects it to dry out quickly on a sunny afternoon.Pakistan, meanwhile, have also made one change, adding opener Ayesha Zafar to their batting lineup in place of spinner Nashra Sandhu. Captain Nida Dar acknowledged that her team needs to improve their batting performance."We have been doing well in the fielding and bowling," said Dar. "We need to work on the batting side."

The Pakistan Super League (PSL) is set to expand to eight teams from 2026, marking a significant milestone in the league's history. This expansion was officially confirmed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in a media release, with the upcoming 2025 season being the "last six-team event."The expansion will be the first time new teams have joined the PSL since 2018, when the Multan Sultans were added. The process for selecting the cities that will represent the new teams has yet to begin.The year following the tenth season could bring significant changes to the PSL, as the ten-year lease ownership agreements with franchise owners expire in 2025. All six current owners have the right of first refusal, meaning they can match any offers for their franchises.However, a more contentious issue is the timing of the PSL in relation to the Indian Premier League (IPL). The Champions Trophy will be played in the traditional PSL window in February-March, and with the ILT20 and SA20 also competing for attention, the PCB is seeking a more reliable window.The PCB's preferred solution is to move the PSL to April and May, creating a six-week window from April 7 to May 20 next year. This would directly clash with the IPL, and the PCB aims to make this the PSL's permanent window.Most PSL franchises initially opposed this idea due to concerns about player availability and the potential for the PSL to be overshadowed by the IPL. However, the PCB remains confident that the franchises will eventually agree.To address concerns about player availability, the PCB has offered to tweak player recruitment rules and allow franchises to sign one marquee player independently of the draft. The league's expansion to eight teams would also necessitate a larger window, with the three-month window currently carved out for the IPL providing enough time for a slightly extended PSL.However, this also means that the PSL will likely only have overseas players available who go unselected at the IPL, given the large financial disparity between the two leagues.The PCB is also exploring the possibility of hosting the playoffs and final of PSL 2025 in the UK if the April/May window is finalized. This move would mitigate against the unseasonably hot weather in Lahore in mid-May and also globalize the reach of the PSL.

Pakistan's star fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has vehemently denied any internal strife or discontent within the national team regarding the captaincy issue. In a recent interview on the PCB podcast, Afridi emphasized the paramount importance of unity and harmony for success in major tournaments.Afridi, who briefly captained Pakistan in one series before being replaced by Babar Azam, acknowledged that minor disagreements are inevitable in any team. However, he stressed that such issues should not be blown out of proportion. "Sometimes, small disagreements happen in every family, even among brothers. But there's nothing like that in our team," Afridi asserted.The left-arm pacer highlighted the importance of open communication and mutual respect among players. "Our players listen to each other, and we listen to them too. Our job is to play cricket and bring joy to our nation," he said.Afridi emphasized that every player understands their responsibility to perform with focus, determination, and unity, while avoiding internal conflicts that could hinder their performance. "We aim to play with unity, and this is not the time for arguments or disputes. It's the time for everyone to be on the same page," he added.Pakistan will kick off their T20 World Cup campaign against the USA on June 6. Afridi expressed confidence in the team's preparations and dismissed concerns about his workload, form, and fitness. He praised the team's resilience in rallying to win the series against Ireland after losing the opening match."I am bowling with rhythm and pace, and I am enjoying my spells. Unfortunately, nowadays in T20 cricket, every bowler ends up having a bad day in one match or another. That is the nature of the challenges bowlers face now," Afridi stated.

Gary Kirsten, the newly appointed Pakistan white-ball coach, has expressed his concerns about the challenges facing the team and the state of Test cricket.Kirsten, who has yet to join the Pakistan camp in person, has identified potential "blockages" within the squad. He believes his role is to unlock the players' natural abilities and address the issues that have hindered their success.Pakistan's recent performances have been disappointing, with a poor ODI World Cup followed by Test and T20I series losses to Australia and New Zealand. The team also struggled against a weakened New Zealand side and only narrowly defeated Ireland.Kirsten acknowledged the negativity surrounding Pakistan cricket, attributing it to the knock-on effects of poor on-field results. He emphasized the importance of building relationships with the board and accepting the limitations of his powers.Kirsten's experience with India has prepared him for the administrative challenges of working with a South Asian cricket board. He believes in focusing on winnable battles and building relationships with the board to gain their support.One of Kirsten's key concerns is the over-reliance on captain Babar Azam. He believes Babar should not feel the pressure to carry the team and that other players need to step up and make match-winning contributions.Kirsten's appointment alongside Jason Gillespie, who will coach the Test side, has coincided with Pakistan's 2-1 T20I series win against Ireland. Kirsten will join the team in England for their upcoming T20I series against England ahead of the T20 World Cup.While Kirsten has set his sights on winning one of the three upcoming ICC white-ball events, he expressed concerns about the frequency of these tournaments. He believes it could lead to a lack of context in matches and potentially harm Test cricket.Kirsten's appointment is a significant step for Pakistan cricket. His experience and insights will be crucial in addressing the team's challenges and unlocking their potential.

Former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq has urged current skipper Babar Azam to adapt his batting approach to match situations and maintain an optimal strike rate in T20 cricket. With the T20 World Cup approaching, Misbah emphasized the need for Babar to adjust his batting style according to the team's requirements.Misbah praised Babar's recent innings of 75 off 42 balls against Ireland in the third T20I, showcasing his ability to play explosive knocks when needed. However, he stressed that Babar must be versatile and capable of shifting gears in modern-day T20 cricket."We saw, he [Babar] improved his strike rate against Ireland. Hopefully, he will bat like that when the team requires that sort of an innings from him. If an anchor role is required, then anchor it is. But you have to be potentially ready to play at 160-170 or even a strike rate of 200 if the team needs it. It will be an important thing for Babar to not bat at 130-140 strike rate if the team is chasing 200," Misbah stated.Misbah acknowledged the pressure faced by players, but emphasized the importance of mental strength and resilience in handling criticism and external expectations. He highlighted the ability of top cricketers to channel criticism into motivation and use it as fuel to perform better on the field."Outside noise does affect a player, but good players, who are mentally strong, top cricketers in the world, they take motivation from criticism. They write down those noises that yes, I have to answer them on the ground. Somehow, they take motivation from those voices and criticism," Misbah elaborated.As Pakistan prepare for the T20 World Cup, Misbah's insights underline the importance of Babar Azam's adaptability and mindset in leading the team's batting lineup effectively, with the aim of achieving success in the upcoming tournament.

The Pakistan cricket team's tour of Ireland has been marked by a series of controversies and incidents. In a historic upset, Pakistan lost to Ireland in a T20I match for the first time. This was followed by an incident where fast bowler Shaheen Afridi was verbally abused by a fan.Now, another incident has emerged from the tour that has sparked reactions on social media. In a video that has gone viral, Pakistan's star wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan is seen signing an autograph on a photo of former Prime Minister Imran Khan with the caption "Release Imran Khan."Imran Khan, who led Pakistan to victory in the 1992 Cricket World Cup, was ousted from power in 2022 and sentenced to prison in January. The photo signed by Rizwan has become a symbol of support for Khan, who remains a popular figure in Pakistan.The incident has drawn mixed reactions. Some fans have praised Rizwan for his support of Khan, while others have criticized him for using his platform to promote political views.Meanwhile, former Pakistan captain Younis Khan has advised current skipper Babar Azam and other senior players like Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman to adapt to the demands of modern cricket. Speaking at an event in Karachi, Younis emphasized the need for batters to improve their strike rates and bowlers to perform under pressure.Former national team colleague Rashid Latif believes that frequent changes in captaincy have created a negative atmosphere in the Pakistan dressing room. He criticized the decision to remove Shaheen Shah Afridi as captain after just one series.The Pakistan cricket team's tour of Ireland has been a rollercoaster of emotions, with unexpected results, controversies, and now a political statement. It remains to be seen how these incidents will impact the team's performance in the remaining matches of the series.

In a thrilling encounter in Dublin, Pakistan's captain Babar Azam etched his name into the record books, surpassing Indian batting maestro Virat Kohli's milestone in the third Twenty20 International (T20I) against Ireland.After losing the series opener, Pakistan bounced back with two consecutive victories to clinch the series. In the third T20I, they triumphed over the hosts by six wickets, thanks to a scintillating performance from Babar.The Pakistani skipper was in imperious form, smashing five maximums and six boundaries in his blistering 75 off just 42 deliveries. With this knock, he became the batter with the most T20I runs in excess of 50.Babar's 39th T20I fifty surpassed Kohli's tally of 38 and India captain Rohit Sharma's 34. The Pakistani star also became the first batter from his country to score 25 runs in an over. He achieved this feat by hitting four sixes off Benjamin White's over, adding a single to complete the remarkable feat.Babar and Mohammad Rizwan (56) shared a mammoth 139-run partnership for the second wicket, laying the foundation for Pakistan's victory. This was the 10th century partnership between the two Pakistani batters in T20Is, making them the first pair to achieve this milestone. They also became the first pair to accumulate 3,000 runs in partnership.In comparison, India's opening pair of Rohit and KL Rahul have five-century partnerships in the shortest format, while Ireland's experienced duo of Paul Stirling and Andrew Balbirnie have amassed 2,043 runs together.Pakistan will now head to England for a four-match T20I series, their final opportunity to fine-tune their squad before the World Cup. The series against England will commence on May 22 at Headingley Carnegie, with the final match scheduled for May 30 at The Oval in London.

Pakistan's T20 World Cup squad announcement delay has raised concerns among cricket enthusiasts, with former PCB chairman Ramiz Raja expressing his dissatisfaction. Pakistan remains the only team yet to reveal its lineup for the highly anticipated tournament, scheduled for June.Raja criticized the management's indecisiveness, stating that every player seems to be on trial as they struggle to assess their potential. He emphasized the need for a swift squad announcement, as the team cannot afford to experiment indefinitely.The Pakistani pacers have faced challenges in finding rhythm throughout their recent tour of Ireland. Shaheen Shah Afridi, despite taking wickets, has been expensive, while Mohammad Amir and Naseem Shah have struggled to make an impact. Hasan Ali's performance in the third T20I was particularly disappointing, conceding 42 runs in just three overs.Raja also questioned the body language of some bowlers, particularly Hasan Ali and Mohammad Amir. He expressed concerns about the role of Abbas Afridi, who has conceded 43 runs in two matches.Despite the bowling woes, Pakistan managed to avoid a series defeat in Ireland, winning the third T20I by six wickets. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan played key roles with the bat, scoring 75 and 56 runs respectively.Raja praised Azam's strike rate but questioned the inclusion of Saim Ayub, who has failed to provide a solid start for the team. He suggested that Ayub's confidence could be damaged if he continues to struggle.With the T20 World Cup approaching, Pakistan faces pressure to finalize its squad and address its bowling concerns. The management must make decisive decisions to ensure the team's competitiveness in the tournament.