Cricket

Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has sparked a humorous debate by suggesting that Pakistan's struggling captain, Babar Azam, should be replaced by former Pakistan cricketer and ex-PCB chairman Ramiz Raja. Manjrekar's tongue-in-cheek remark came during a discussion on Star Sports about Pakistan's disappointing performance at the 2024 T20 World Cup, where they failed to advance beyond the group stage.Manjrekar's suggestion stems from Raja's successful tenure as PCB chairman from September 2021 to December 2022. Under Raja's leadership, Pakistan reached the semi-finals of the 2021 T20 World Cup and the final of the 2022 T20 World Cup. Manjrekar quipped, "Maybe he can become a CEO for the team, who knows? Babar Azam could be replaced by Ramiz Raja as captain. He still looks fit."Manjrekar's playful suggestion highlights the growing criticism surrounding Babar Azam's captaincy. Many experts have called for his removal, citing Pakistan's recent struggles and Azam's inconsistent performances.Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar also weighed in on Pakistan's unpredictable nature. "You can never tell what is going to happen (with Pakistan)," said Gavaskar. "Babar was the captain six months ago in the ODI World Cup, and then he was removed. Shaheen Shah Afridi came for about two or three months, but they didn't have a good tour of New Zealand, and Babar comes back again."The saga surrounding Pakistan's captaincy is likely to continue in the coming weeks. The team's disappointing performance at the 2024 T20 World Cup has raised questions about the future of Babar Azam as captain.

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.

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.

Pakistan's T20 World Cup Super 8 hopes suffered a major setback after their disappointing loss to arch-rivals India in New York. Despite restricting India to a modest total of 119, Pakistan's batting lineup faltered, falling short by six runs.Former PCB chairman Ramiz Raja expressed his frustration over Pakistan's inability to chase down the small target. He believes India's poor batting performance inadvertently benefited Pakistan by preventing them from reaching a more challenging total.Raja criticized wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan for his reckless shot selection at a crucial moment. With Pakistan in control of the chase, Rizwan attempted a risky pull shot over midwicket, resulting in his dismissal.Raja emphasized the importance of temperament in such situations, stating that Pakistan only needed a solid partnership to secure victory. He believes Rizwan's unnecessary shot-making cost Pakistan the match.Pakistan now face a must-win scenario in their upcoming game against Ireland. A defeat would eliminate them from the group stage, while India needs a win against USA to advance to the next round.

Pakistan's historic victory over India in the 2021 T20 World Cup marked a significant turning point for the team. Prior to that triumph, Pakistan had never defeated India in a World Cup match, either in the 50-over or T20 format.Mohammad Rizwan, a key member of the victorious Pakistan squad, recently shared his insights into the impact of that win. He recalled how former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) president Ramiz Raja instilled a belief in the team that they could overcome their Indian rivals."He had started developing this thought in the team from right then," Rizwan said. "As we got closer to the World Cup, he said, regardless of whether you win the trophy or not, just don't lose to India."Rizwan also revealed the message from then-coach Matthew Hayden ahead of the high-profile clash. "He put his arms around me and the captain and asked how we are feeling. The captain said that we have worked hard and now we leave it all in the hands of God."The victory had a profound impact on the Pakistani players and the nation as a whole. Rizwan described how people refused to let him and his teammates pay for goods and services, expressing their gratitude for the team's achievement."In Pakistan, say I go for shopping somewhere, people won't take money. Then I stopped going out for shopping because they just weren't taking money from us, they were all commending us for beating India. Everyone I met was commending us for the win."The India-Pakistan rivalry is one of the most intense in world cricket, and the 2021 T20 World Cup match was no exception. Rizwan acknowledged the pressure that comes with playing in such a high-stakes encounter."India vs Pakistan always comes with pressure. People may not watch all matches in a tournament but this is a game everyone sits down to watch, regardless of which country they belong to."Pakistan and India are set to face off again in the 2024 T20 World Cup on June 9. The match promises to be another thrilling chapter in the storied rivalry between these two cricketing giants.

Pakistan's cricket team has faced intense scrutiny from critics at home, particularly in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup. After losing the T20I series against England 0-2, former PCB chairman Ramiz Raja criticized the team management.Now, a video of a talk show in Pakistan has gone viral, featuring former cricketer Ahmed Shehzad challenging current skipper Babar Azam to win the 2024 T20 World Cup. Shehzad questioned the team's discipline and urged Azam to prove his worth by winning a major tournament.Imam-ul-Haq, another former Pakistan cricketer, was also present on the panel. Pakistan, led by Azam and coached by Gary Kirsten, will begin their World Cup campaign against USA on Thursday. Their highly anticipated clash with India is scheduled for Sunday.Despite the criticism, Pakistan remains a formidable team. Azam is one of the world's top batsmen, and the team boasts a talented squad. However, they will need to overcome their recent struggles and prove their mettle on the biggest stage.The pressure is mounting on Azam and his team to deliver a strong performance at the T20 World Cup. With critics baying for their blood, Pakistan's cricketers will need to rise to the occasion and silence their detractors.

Pakistan's recent 2-0 T20I series loss to England has raised concerns among cricket enthusiasts, with former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja expressing his dissatisfaction with the team's management. Raja criticized the team's experimentation and lack of a consistent approach, which he believes has hindered their performance.In the fourth T20I at Kennington Oval, England dominated Pakistan in all aspects of the game, chasing down a target of 158 with ease. Pakistan's batting lineup lacked power in the middle order, while their pace bowlers failed to provide the necessary support.Raja expressed his concerns about the constant changes in Pakistan's white-ball setup. He criticized the management for experimenting with the team's composition, which has led to a lack of stability and consistency."They should stop experimenting with the team. Go into a game with a proper combination. You need to get out of the phobia of strike rate because you don't have that kind of players. Aapne is team ka satyanash kar diya hai (You have completely made a cock-up of this team)," Raja said on his YouTube channel.Raja also questioned the decision to introduce Saim Ayub as an opening batsman, which disrupted the successful partnership between Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan. Ayub's performance at the top of the order has been underwhelming, and Pakistan's middle-order batsmen have also struggled to contribute consistently."You have ruined the team by breaking the opening pair (of Babar and Rizwan). The role of the middle order is not defined. You have put all-rounders in the middle and two wicket-keepers are playing. You are changing the fast bowlers. Your spinners don't spin the ball and don't have the confidence. You put Imad Wasim out of the playing XI. There is no sideways movement and you have completely dismantled the team just before the T20 World Cup," he added.Pakistan's batting woes were evident in their recent T20I series against New Zealand. Ayub struggled to find form initially but showed some improvement in the first match. However, his overall performance was underwhelming, and Pakistan's middle-order batsmen failed to step up.Heading into the upcoming T20 World Cup, Pakistan finds itself in a challenging position. They are placed in Group A alongside India, Canada, USA, and Ireland. Their journey begins with a match against the USA at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Texas on Thursday.

Pakistan's Bowling Line-Up: A Force to Reckon With at T20 World CupFormer Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi has hailed Pakistan's bowling attack as the most formidable in the upcoming T20 World Cup, scheduled to commence on June 1. Afridi's assertion stems from Pakistan's impressive performance in the previous edition, where they emerged as runners-up.In a video released by the International Cricket Council (ICC), Afridi lauded the exceptional talent and depth of Pakistan's pace battery, which boasts the likes of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf. "No other cricket team in the world possesses such a potent bowling line-up," Afridi declared. "Our four fast bowlers are highly skilled, and even those on the bench, like Abbas Afridi, have exceptional abilities, including a deceptive slower ball."Afridi expressed unwavering confidence in the bowlers' ability to outclass world-class batters. However, former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja has raised concerns about the team's bowling strategy. Raja emphasized that while Shaheen Shah Afridi has been a standout performer, he needs to diversify his bowling tactics, particularly when the ball is not swinging."Shaheen Shah Afridi's bowling is a concern," Raja remarked on his YouTube channel after Pakistan's recent 23-run defeat to England in the second T20I. "If the ball isn't swinging and he bowls at full length, he becomes vulnerable. He must develop a shorter length and vary his pace, especially when the pitch offers little assistance."Pakistan will face England in the third T20I in Cardiff on Tuesday, a crucial encounter for the team to address these concerns and refine their strategies ahead of the World Cup.

Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja has expressed concerns over Shaheen Shah Afridi's bowling, particularly when the ball doesn't swing. In the second T20I against England at Edgbaston, Pakistan suffered a 23-run defeat, with Afridi's bowling coming under scrutiny.Despite taking three wickets in his four-over spell, Afridi struggled to make an impact in the early stages of the game. Raja believes that the pacer needs to develop more variations to become more effective in the T20 format."Shaheen Shah Afridi's bowling... if the ball isn't swinging and he bowls at full length, then he gets bashed," Raja said on his YouTube channel. "He needs to develop length ball and change of pace especially when he is not getting much from the pitch."With the pitch offering little swing, Afridi found it difficult to trouble England's opening pair in the powerplay. He picked up most of his wickets in the middle and death overs when England were looking to accelerate their innings.Afridi's struggles were evident in his two overs of the powerplay, where he conceded 21 runs. England's Jos Buttler then took charge with an 84-run blitz off 51 deliveries, helping England post a competitive total of 183/7.In reply, Pakistan's batters struggled to build partnerships and lost wickets while attempting to clear the boundary rope. England's bowlers executed their plans effectively to secure a 23-run victory.Raja's concerns highlight the need for Afridi to adapt his bowling to different conditions and situations. As one of Pakistan's key bowlers, he will be crucial to their success in upcoming matches and tournaments.