Cricket

Pakistan's historic ODI series triumph in Australia, their first in 22 years, was a testament to their resilience and determination. The team's 2-1 victory in the three-match series was sealed with an emphatic eight-wicket win in the decider at Perth.Pakistan's coach, Jason Gillespie, expressed his delight with the team's performance but also raised concerns about the lack of promotion for the ODI series in Australia. "I saw no promotion of our one-day series by Cricket Australia," Gillespie said. "It's pretty obvious that they're prioritizing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series against India."Gillespie acknowledged that Australia's decision to rest key players for the series, including Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Steve Smith, and Marnus Labuschagne, gave Pakistan an advantage. "We knew that there was probably going to be some change," he said. "We anticipated that, and that's the nature of modern cricket."Despite the lack of promotion and the absence of Australia's top players, Pakistan played with unwavering determination. They bowled out Australia for a paltry 140 in the decider, with Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf sharing seven wickets between them. Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq then led Pakistan's chase with half-centuries, guiding the team to victory with eight wickets in hand.Gillespie praised his team's performance, saying, "It was pleasing not just to beat Australia but beat them pretty convincingly. The reality is we should have won the first game as well."Pakistan's ODI series win in Australia is a significant achievement for the team and a testament to their growing strength in the format. It also highlights the need for greater promotion and recognition of ODI cricket in Australia.

Pakistan's historic ODI series victory against Australia in Perth marked a significant milestone for the team. The 2-1 series triumph was Pakistan's first ODI series win on Australian soil since 2002.Australia, prioritizing their upcoming Test series against India, fielded a less experienced lineup. Pakistan, opting to field first, capitalized on this opportunity. Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah led the pace attack, claiming three wickets each. Haris Rauf and Mohammad Hasnain also contributed with crucial wickets, bowling Australia out for a mere 140 runs.Pakistan's chase was clinical and controlled. Openers Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique laid the foundation with an 84-run partnership. Despite Lance Morris's brief resistance, Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam guided Pakistan to a comfortable victory, reaching the target with eight wickets in hand.This dominant performance serves as a confidence booster for Pakistan ahead of their upcoming T20 series against Australia. The team's impressive pace attack and solid batting lineup have set the stage for an exciting series.

Pakistan's Shaheen Afridi Suffers Thumb Injury, Babar Azam Provides First AidPakistan's star pacer Shaheen Afridi endured a painful blow to his left thumb during the third and final ODI against Australia in Perth on Sunday. The incident occurred in the 26th over when Sean Abbott's shot to deep mid-wicket resulted in a hard, flat throw on the bounce. As Afridi attempted to stop the ball at the non-striker's end, it grazed his thumb, causing visible discomfort.Captain Babar Azam swiftly intervened, pulling Afridi's thumb to alleviate the pain. Commentators initially feared a dislocation, but Azam's prompt action prevented further damage. The physio arrived shortly after, ruling out dislocation and administering magic spray to ease the pain.Despite the discomfort, Afridi resumed bowling, much to the relief of Pakistan fans. His resilience proved crucial as Pakistan's pacers dominated the Australian batting lineup, restricting the hosts to a mere 140 runs. Afridi and Naseem Shah claimed three wickets each, while Haris Rauf and Mohammad Hasnain also contributed to the bowling effort.The injury scare added to the drama of the series-deciding match. Australia had won the series opener by two wickets, but Pakistan responded with a resounding nine-wicket victory in Adelaide to force a decider. The final ODI in Perth was a tense affair, with Pakistan ultimately emerging victorious by 11 runs.Afridi's injury is a concern for Pakistan, who are scheduled to face New Zealand in a two-match Test series starting on December 26. The extent of his injury remains unclear, but his determination to continue bowling despite the pain is a testament to his commitment to the team.

Pakistan's cricket team is set to welcome back key players Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Naseem Shah for the upcoming white-ball series in Australia. The trio had been rested for the two-Test series against England.The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the squads for the One-Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 International (T20I) matches in Australia and Zimbabwe, which begin next month. New faces have been included in the squads, while senior players Fakhar Zaman and Shadab Khan are notable absentees.Fakhar Zaman is under investigation by the PCB for a tweet he posted in support of Babar Azam before the England Tests, which led to his exclusion. The PCB chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, is expected to announce the new captains for the limited-overs formats at a media conference later today.Wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha are anticipated to be named the new white-ball captains. The selectors aim to use the ODIs and T20s in Zimbabwe to evaluate new players.The main players will participate in the three ODIs and T20Is each in Australia. Babar, Shaheen, and Naseem, who were sidelined after the first Test against England, are back for the Australian leg of the tour. They will be rested for the Zimbabwe tour.The Australia tour is scheduled from November 4 to 18. The three-match ODI and T20I series in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, will take place from November 24 to December 5.Pakistan is also set to tour South Africa for three ODIs, three T20Is, and two Tests in December and January.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has finally announced the revised central contracts for the men's cricket team, nearly four months after they were due. The contracts have undergone significant changes, with several players moving up or down the categories.Shan Masood, who recently led Pakistan to their first Test series win since July 2023, retains his spot in Category B. However, his position is uncertain, as the PCB has stated that his retention is "subject to captaincy." This announcement comes amidst speculation about Masood's future as Test captain after Pakistan lost their first six Tests under his leadership.Babar Azam, despite missing the last two Test matches against England due to poor form, remains in the highest category. Shaheen Afridi, on the other hand, drops down to the second tier, leaving Mohammad Rizwan as the only other A category player.Fakhar Zaman, who has been a regular in the central contracts for the past eight years, has been dropped for the first time. Concerns over his fitness and a deteriorating relationship with the PCB are believed to be the reasons behind his omission.The board issued a show-cause notice to Zaman after he criticized the decision to drop Babar Azam on Twitter. The post remains up, and Zaman has not apologized, with the matter reportedly being handled by his legal team.Imam-ul-Haq, Zaman's long-time ODI opening partner, also misses out on a central contract. There has been a general deflation in categories across the board, with only five players out of 25 in the A or B categories compared to 11 last year.Sajid Khan and Noman Ali, who did not feature in last year's contracts, have made a comeback after their impressive performances against England. Both players have been placed in the C category, with Noman's inclusion subject to fitness.Several new players have been awarded maiden central contracts, including Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Hurraira, Usman Khan, and Irfan Khan. All five players have been placed in the D category.The PCB has maintained the same three-year deal structure for central contracts, giving players their highest pay raises in history and a fixed share of revenue from the PCB's earnings at the ICC. The contracts will be backdated to cover the period starting July 1, 2024, and will run for another 12 months before a revision can be made.

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has endorsed the decision by the newly formed selection committee to drop Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Naseem Shah from the squad for the remaining two Tests against England. The move has sparked debate, with some questioning the rationale behind dropping three of Pakistan's most talented players.Afridi, however, believes the decision is a wise one that will ultimately benefit both the players and the team. He argues that resting these players will prolong their careers and allow them to return refreshed and rejuvenated. Additionally, it will provide an opportunity for the PCB to test and groom new talent, building a stronger bench strength for the future."Supporting the selectors' decision to give Babar, Shaheen, and Naseem a break from international cricket. This move not only helps protect and extend the careers of these champion players but also gives a great opportunity to test and groom emerging talent, building strong bench strength for the future," Afridi posted on Twitter.The decision to drop the trio has also been met with some criticism, with some arguing that it sends the wrong message to the players and could damage their confidence. However, Afridi believes that the players will understand the rationale behind the decision and will use it as motivation to improve their performances."I am confident that Babar, Shaheen, and Naseem will come back stronger than ever. They are all world-class players, and they will use this break to work on their game and come back even better," Afridi said.The decision to drop the trio is part of a wider shake-up of the Pakistan cricket team following their disappointing loss to England in the first Test in Multan. The PCB has formed a new selection committee, comprising Aqib Javed, Azhar Ali, Aleem Dar, Hasan Cheema, and advisor Bilal Afzal, and has given them the power to make all selection decisions, including the finalizing of the playing eleven.This move has reduced the powers of captain Shan Masood and head coach Jason Gillespie, who previously had the final say in selection matters. However, the PCB believes that this change will allow the selectors to make more objective and informed decisions, free from any external pressure.

Pakistan's star pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi has expressed his support for the national team as they prepare for the second Test against England in Multan. Afridi, along with Babar Azam, Naseem Shah, and Sarfaraz Ahmed, was released from the squad for the remaining two Tests of the series.The changes to Pakistan's squad were made by a newly-formed selection committee, formed hours after the hosts suffered an embarrassing loss by an innings and 47 runs to England in the first Test at Multan. Pakistan are 0-1 behind in the three-match Test series against England and are also at the bottom of the ongoing World Test Championship standings.Afridi, who has been struggling with form and fitness, took to social media to wish the team well. "Wishing Team Pakistan the best of luck! Rooting for a strong comeback. We're all cheering for you!" he wrote on Twitter.The second Test between Pakistan and England will be played on the same pitch as the series opener in Multan from Tuesday. Pakistan will be hoping to level the series and avoid a humiliating whitewash.Pakistan squad for second and third Tests:* Shan Masood (captain)* Saud Shakeel (vice-captain)* Aamir Jamal* Abdullah Shafique* Haseebullah (wicket-keeper)* Kamran Ghulam* Mehran Mumtaz* Mir Hamza* Mohammad Ali* Mohammad Huraira* Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper)* Noman Ali* Saim Ayub* Sajid Khan* Salman Ali Agha* Zahid Mehmood

Pakistan's star batter Babar Azam has been enduring a prolonged batting slump, particularly in Test cricket. Since his 161 against New Zealand in December 2022, Babar has failed to reach triple figures in the longest format. His struggles continued in the ongoing first Test against England, where he managed scores of 30 and 5.Babar's inability to capitalize on a pitch described as a "batting paradise" has drawn criticism from fans and experts. The nickname "Zimbabar" or "Zimbu," once used to mock his tendency to score against weaker teams, has reportedly become prevalent within the Pakistan dressing room.A viral video on social media has fueled speculation that pacer Shaheen Afridi used the term "Zimbu" to tease Babar. While the video lacks audio, fans believe Shaheen's gestures indicate the use of the nickname.The alleged rift between Babar and Shaheen stems from Shaheen's removal as T20 World Cup captain in favor of Babar. Babar subsequently relinquished the role, leaving Pakistan without a permanent captain.Meanwhile, Pakistan faces an imminent Test defeat in Multan. England's mammoth 823-7 declared gave them a 267-run lead, which they have extended to 382 runs. Pakistan's batting collapse has left them needing 115 runs to avoid an innings defeat on the final day.Harry Brook's 317 and Joe Root's record-breaking 262 were instrumental in England's dominant performance. Pakistan's bowlers have struggled to contain the English batters, who have amassed a massive total.

Pakistan Cricket's Leadership Crisis: Ashwin Expresses ConcernRavichandran Ashwin, the renowned Indian cricketer, has voiced his concerns over the current state of Pakistan cricket, which has been plagued by leadership instability and poor performance.Following Pakistan's disappointing exit from the 2023 World Cup, Babar Azam resigned as captain, triggering a series of leadership changes. Shaheen Afridi briefly took over the T20I captaincy before Babar was reinstated, only to step down again.Ashwin likened the situation to a game of "musical chairs," highlighting the detrimental impact of frequent captaincy changes on team morale and cohesion. "I am speaking the truth when I say that the current state of Pakistan cricket and the phase they are going through makes me feel a little sorry," Ashwin said.He emphasized that despite Pakistan's abundance of talented players, the instability has shifted the focus from team success to individual performance. "Every cricketer will be so unstable inside the dressing room that he will start thinking about himself and will think less about the team," Ashwin added.Ashwin also pointed to Pakistan's poor recent record, particularly in Test cricket, where they have not won a home Test match in nearly three years. "In the 2023 World Cup, they lost, and then Babar resigned. Then Afridi was made captain, but Babar was reinstated for limited overs, and Shan Masood was made the Test captain. And look at the situation now – Pakistan hasn't won a Test match at home for more than 3 years," he stated.Ashwin's remarks echo the concerns of many cricket experts who believe that Pakistan's ongoing leadership issues and lack of stability are hindering their international performance. The team's inability to find a consistent and effective leadership structure has created an environment of uncertainty and instability, which is affecting the players' confidence and focus.