Cricket

Pakistan Captain Shan Masood Dismisses Rift Rumors with Shaheen Shah AfridiPakistan cricket captain Shan Masood has vehemently denied rumors of a rift between him and star fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi. The speculations arose after Afridi was omitted from the playing XI for the second Test against Bangladesh.The rumors intensified when a video clip from the first Test emerged, showing Afridi seemingly brushing off Masood's hand from his shoulder. However, Masood has clarified that there was no disagreement between the two."There are no issues between us," Masood said. "Shaheen had his arms around my back, but he politely removed my hand from his shoulder because it was sore after being hit by a ball during our innings."Masood also refuted claims that Afridi was dropped for the second Test due to the incident. "We had a good discussion with Shaheen," Masood explained. "We told him he remains our best bowler and needs to work on finding his best rhythm and form."The Pakistan captain also dismissed suggestions that he was concerned about his future as Test captain. "I don't think about these things," Masood said. "Being made captain is a privilege, and until I am captain, my only focus is to take the team forward."Masood acknowledged the team's disappointing performance in the Bangladesh series, which they lost 2-0. "Losing to Bangladesh is totally unacceptable for us," he said. "We need to improve our performance and work hard to regain our winning ways."

Zaka Ashraf, the former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, has vehemently denied allegations of player groupings and rifts within the national team during his tenure. Ashraf's comments come amidst ongoing scrutiny of his decisions, particularly the appointment of Shaheen Shah Afridi as T20 captain and Shan Masood as Test captain after the 2023 ODI World Cup.Ashraf maintains that there were no divisions between Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi following his decision to appoint Afridi as T20 captain. "There were no differences between Babar Azam or Shaheen even after I decided to have the latter as the T20 captain," Ashraf asserted.He further claims that the team's unity improved after Babar Azam was relieved of his captaincy duties. "No, the unity didn't end (after removing Babar Azam as captain). In fact, the unity improved. When we told him to play as a player, which is his talent, but as a captain, his performance is not good, he agreed," Ashraf explained.However, Shaheen Afridi's tenure as T20 captain was short-lived, as he was sacked after a single series in New Zealand. He was also dropped for the second Test against Bangladesh due to poor form. The PCB subsequently reinstated Babar Azam as T20 skipper.Ashraf also defended his decision to appoint Shan Masood as Test captain and Muhammad Hafeez as team director. He described Hafeez as "a very honest man" and denied any player groupings. "The team was good. And, we brought Shan Masood as the captain. He was a very good captain. He is still a very good player. He is still a captain in England's counties," Ashraf said.Regarding Shaheen Afridi's appointment as T20 captain, Ashraf stated, "I made Shaheen Shah the captain of the T20I team. That was also a very good decision."Ashraf, who headed the interim cricket management committee from June to January, believes he made the right decision to bring in Hafeez as team director. "Mohammad Hafeez is an excellent cricketer and a very honest person, we brought him along. Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, and these players, we brought them along so that the coaching staff is with the team," he added.

Pakistan's recent Test series loss to Bangladesh has sparked criticism of captain Shan Masood's leadership. However, head coach Jason Gillespie has expressed support for Masood, attributing the team's performance to broader issues rather than individual leadership.Gillespie emphasized that the team's performance, not Masood's leadership, was the primary concern. He stated, "We just haven't played well as a team and that's the reality. We need to sharpen up on certain areas and we will sharpen up."Masood himself acknowledged the criticism but remained committed to long-term improvement. He said, "I am not worried for my job security. I took this job to make the changes we believe will help this team."Masood highlighted the need for more experience and exposure in red-ball cricket for his team. He pointed to Bangladesh's seasoned players as an example, stating, "We need the same level of red-ball exposure. Test cricket is the ultimate format of the game. You need experience."Gillespie echoed Masood's sentiments, emphasizing the importance of gaining experience and refining skills. He said, "We need to back and believe in these players, they are good enough."Both players and management appear focused on addressing these issues to improve future performances. The emphasis seems to be on gaining experience and refining skills to better compete in the red-ball format.

Pakistan's humiliating defeat to Bangladesh in the second Test in Rawalpindi has sent shockwaves through the cricketing world. The loss, Pakistan's first against Bangladesh in Test cricket, has sparked a firestorm of criticism and raised serious questions about the team's captaincy, selection, and future prospects.The match witnessed a dramatic turnaround after Bangladesh, reeling at 26/6 in their first innings, staged a remarkable recovery. Litton Das and Mehidy Hasan Miraz emerged as the architects of Bangladesh's victory, stitching together a match-defining 165-run partnership.Former cricketer Basit Ali has attributed the loss directly to captain Shan Masood's tactical decisions, arguing that they allowed Litton and Mehidy to flourish. Ali has described the team's performance as "third-class" and urged Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi to address the team's shortcomings."It was a third-class performance. Pakistan lost the Test match due to captaincy. Captaincy played a key role in the way Litton Das and Mehidy performed after 26/6. There is no need for surgery. The Pakistan team has done surgery on themselves. Mohsin Naqvi should think about this. In the past six months, Pakistan has lost two big events," Ali said on his YouTube channel.Former opener Ahmed Shehzad has also questioned Masood's place in the team, suggesting that his captaincy was the sole reason for his inclusion.The loss to Bangladesh serves as a stark reminder of the challenges facing Pakistan's Test team. With a crucial series against England scheduled for October, the team management faces the daunting task of addressing the identified weaknesses, reassessing team composition, and devising a winning strategy to regain lost ground.The debate surrounding the captaincy, team selection, and the team's overall performance is likely to intensify in the coming weeks. How the PCB and the team management respond to this defeat will be crucial in shaping the future of Pakistan's Test cricket.

Pakistan's Test woes continued as Bangladesh completed a historic clean sweep in their two-match series, leaving captain Shan Masood deeply disappointed.Bangladesh chased down a target of 143 with ease on the final day, losing just four wickets. The victory marked their second bilateral series win of two or more Tests away from home, the first since 2009 against the West Indies.Masood expressed frustration over his team's recurring failures, particularly their inability to capitalize on dominant positions. He highlighted the need for improved fitness and preparation, especially in the bowling department."We have not learnt our lessons," Masood said. "We thought we were playing good cricket in Australia but not doing the job. We need to work on that."Masood acknowledged missed opportunities in the first innings, where Pakistan failed to capitalize on a strong start. He also emphasized the importance of getting Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah back in the fold, but stressed the need for better fitness and preparation.The defeat extended Pakistan's miserable home record in Tests to 10 matches without a win. Masood has now endured two consecutive clean sweeps as Test captain, having lost 3-0 to Australia previously.Bangladesh's victory is a testament to their growing strength in Test cricket. They have now won four of their last five Tests, including a historic series win in New Zealand.

Pakistan's cricket team continues to face adversity both on and off the field. Amidst ongoing changes in leadership and coaching staff, the team's performance has taken a nosedive, culminating in a humiliating defeat against Bangladesh in the first Test. The second Test in Rawalpindi has brought further embarrassment, with skipper Shan Masood drawing heavy criticism for his abysmal fielding.On Day 3 of the second Test, Masood dropped a straightforward catch that gifted batter Hasan Mahmud a second life. The incident occurred during the 75th over of Bangladesh's first innings, when Mahmud mistimed a shot off Khuram Shahzad's delivery. The low shot went straight to Masood at cover, but the Pakistan skipper fumbled the catch, allowing the ball to drop to the ground.This blunder left Masood's teammates visibly stunned, and the video quickly went viral on social media, sparking a barrage of criticism from fans. The incident marked the second fielding error by Pakistan in the match, following Saud Shakeel's dropped catch of Bangladesh opener Shadman Islam on Saturday.The disappointment was evident on Masood's face as Shakeel missed the catch, and even the commentators expressed disbelief at the "regulation catch" being dropped. Umpire Richard Kettleborough could not conceal his reaction to the missed opportunity.Despite the fielding blunders, Bangladesh fought back on Sunday, with Litton Das scoring a valiant century to lift his team from a precarious 26-6 to a respectable 262 all out. The remarkable turnaround has left the second Test in Rawalpindi evenly poised.At close on the third day, Bangladesh struck back to leave Pakistan on a sluggish 9-2, with opener Abdullah Shafique dismissed for three and nightwatchman Khurram Shahzad falling without scoring, both to pacer Hasan Mahmud.Pakistan's poor performance has raised serious concerns about the team's future prospects. The constant changes in leadership and coaching staff have created instability, while the players' lack of form and discipline has contributed to the team's downfall.Unless Pakistan can address these issues and find a way to improve their performance, they face the prospect of further setbacks and a decline in their international standing.

Pakistan and Bangladesh are set to face off in the second Test match in Rawalpindi, with the visitors aiming to secure their first Test series victory over the hosts. Pakistan, on the other hand, will be looking to level the series after losing the first Test by 10 wickets.The home team has recalled spinner Abrar Ahmed to their squad after opting for an all-pace attack in the first Test. Former Australian pacer Jason Gillespie, who is in his first series with Pakistan, admitted that it will be a challenge to square the series."We want to go out there and play positive," said Gillespie. "It's about scoring lots of singles and with our bowling we want to be ruthless and challenging the opposition batters."Gillespie also backed under-pressure skipper Shan Masood, who failed with the bat in the first match. "Shan is a very positive captain," said Gillespie. "He wants to play and win games .... we showed that with our intent in the first game but it didn't quite work out and that's credit to our opposition."Bangladesh, meanwhile, will be hoping to continue their impressive form after their clinical performance in the first Test. The visitors upset Pakistan with a ten-wicket display, their first win in over 14 encounters against the hosts.Star pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi has been left out of Pakistan's squad for the second match to spend time with his new-born son and family. Afridi struggled to find his rhythm in the first Test, and his absence will be a blow to Pakistan's bowling attack.The second Test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh promises to be an exciting contest, with both teams eager to secure a series victory.

Pakistan's cricket team is facing a crisis after their humiliating defeat to Bangladesh in the first Test. The loss has raised questions about the team's captaincy, form, and overall direction.Captain Shan Masood, who took over the reins just four Tests ago, is under fire after losing all four matches. His decision-making has been criticized, particularly his failure to declare early in the first Test, which allowed Bangladesh to escape with a draw.Pakistan's batting has also been a major concern. Babar Azam, the team's star batsman, has been in a slump, averaging just 21.15 in his last 13 Test innings. Other batsmen have also failed to step up, with only Abdullah Shafique and Saud Shakeel showing any consistency.The bowling attack has also been disappointing. Shaheen Afridi, Pakistan's pace spearhead, has been ruled out of the second Test with an injury. Naseem Shah and Mohammad Ali have been inconsistent, while the spinners have failed to make an impact.Bangladesh, on the other hand, have been the epitome of resilience and determination. They outplayed Pakistan in all departments, showing superior technique and game management. Mushfiqur Rahim, the veteran wicketkeeper-batsman, played a key role in Bangladesh's victory, anchoring the innings and guiding the younger players.The second Test will be crucial for both teams. Pakistan must win to avoid a series defeat at home, while Bangladesh will be looking to seal a historic series victory. The weather could play a factor, with rain forecast for the first day.Pakistan will need to make some tough decisions, including whether to include a spinner in the team. They will also need to find a way to get Babar Azam back in form and inspire the rest of the team.Bangladesh, on the other hand, will be confident of continuing their good form. They have shown that they are a team that can adapt to different conditions and outplay their opponents.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi has expressed his disappointment over the team's humiliating 10-wicket defeat against Bangladesh in the Rawalpindi Test. This was the first time Pakistan had lost to Bangladesh in the longest format of the game, sending shockwaves through the nation.Naqvi attributed the loss to multiple factors, including skipper Shan Masood's captaincy, team selection, the performances of top batters like Babar Azam, and the inability of pacers like Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah to deliver with the ball.Former Pakistan cricketers have also criticized the selectors for not picking talented players from the domestic pool. However, Naqvi believes that there aren't many quality players in Pakistan's domestic pool to choose from."It was a very disappointing loss," Naqvi said. "The problem is the selection committee has no pool to turn to."Naqvi had promised a "surgery" after Pakistan's early elimination from the T20 World Cup 2024, but the same problems resurfaced in the first Test against Bangladesh. While the PCB chief remains keen to find a solution, he admitted that there aren't many quality players to choose from."We want to fix our problems," Naqvi said, "but when we look at how to resolve them, we don't have any solid data or (elite) players pool which we can draw from."After the first match, Pakistan captain Shan Masood accepted that mistakes were made by him and the team."Never to make an excuse, it (the pitch) didn't play the way we thought it would. Also the weather had been around in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, it rained around 8-9 days before the first day of play. Firstly looking at the pitch, we expected it to do a bit more. With three pace bowlers, they were gonna be pushed to the limit. At the end of the day, we got it wrong," he said.