Cricket

Pakistan's Wahab Riaz Requests Six-Hitting Contest, Coach IntervenesFormer Pakistan fast bowler Wahab Riaz recently made a lighthearted request to current captain Babar Azam, asking to participate in a six-hitting competition before the fourth T20I against New Zealand. The request, captured in a video shared on Pakistan Cricket's official social media account, drew a chuckle from Azam and the team.However, Pakistan's head coach Azhar Mahmood stepped in to remind Riaz that management was not permitted to join the contest. Undeterred, Riaz quipped, "I would've hit bigger sixes."The video highlights the camaraderie between the former and current players of the Pakistan cricket team. Riaz's request, though denied, served as a reminder of his competitive spirit and the close bond he shares with the team.Injury Woes for Pakistan Ahead of Fourth T20IPakistan's preparations for the fourth T20I against New Zealand have been hampered by injuries to wicketkeeper Mohammed Rizwan and all-rounder Irfan Khan. Both players sustained hamstring injuries during the third match in Rawalpindi.The injuries are a significant blow to Pakistan, who are already without Azam Khan, who was ruled out before the series began due to a muscle tear. Haseebullah Khan, who was called up as a replacement, is expected to take on the wicketkeeping duties for the remaining two matches in Lahore.New Zealand Level Series with Victory in Third T20INew Zealand's second-string team emerged victorious in the third T20I by seven wickets, leveling the five-match series at 1-1. The first match of the series was abandoned after just two balls due to rain, while Pakistan won the second match by seven wickets.The fourth T20I will be played in Lahore on Friday, with the fifth and final match scheduled for Sunday. Pakistan will be looking to regain the lead in the series, while New Zealand will be aiming to secure their first series win in Pakistan since 2003.

Pakistan and New Zealand will face off in the fourth T20I of their five-match series on Thursday at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The series is currently tied at 1-1 after the first game was washed out and New Zealand won the second game by seven wickets.Pakistan will be looking to regain the momentum in the series after their loss in Rawalpindi. They will be boosted by the return of captain Babar Azam, who missed the second game due to a thumb injury. Azam is one of the best batsmen in the world and his presence will be a major boost for Pakistan.New Zealand, on the other hand, will be looking to build on their victory in the second game. They will be confident of their chances, especially after Mark Chapman's brilliant 87 in the previous match. Chapman is a dangerous batsman and he will be one to watch out for in the fourth T20I.Both teams are using this series as preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup in the United States and the West Indies, which starts on June 2. Pakistan and New Zealand are both contenders for the title and they will be looking to use this series to fine-tune their preparations.The fourth T20I is expected to be a close and exciting contest. Pakistan will be looking to regain the momentum in the series, while New Zealand will be looking to build on their victory in the second game.

Pakistan's T20I Series Against New Zealand Hit by Injuries to Rizwan and NiaziPakistan's T20I series against New Zealand has been dealt a significant blow with the news that Mohammad Rizwan and Irfan Khan Niazi have been ruled out due to injuries. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed the news in a statement, stating that radiology reports had revealed the extent of their injuries.Rizwan, Pakistan's wicketkeeper-batter, is believed to have suffered a hamstring injury while batting in the third T20I. He received extensive on-field attention before retiring hurt. The PCB has downplayed the severity of his injury, indicating that he is expected to be sidelined for no more than a week to ten days. However, the injury does not pose any immediate threat to his availability for future tours.Niazi, on the other hand, is also believed to have sustained a hamstring niggle, despite showing no signs of discomfort during the third T20I. The PCB has decided to withdraw him from the series as a precautionary measure.The absence of Rizwan and Niazi is a major setback for Pakistan, especially with the series on the line in Lahore. New Zealand bounced back from a heavy defeat in the second T20I with a dominant performance in Pindi, leveling the series. The final two games will be played in Lahore, where Pakistan will be looking to secure a series victory.In Rizwan's absence, Pakistan has several wicketkeeping options. Haseebullah, who made his international debut in a T20 against New Zealand earlier this year, has been called up as cover. Usman Khan, who kept wicket for the Multan Sultans in the PSL earlier this year, is another potential option.The injuries to Rizwan and Niazi come at an inopportune time for Pakistan, who are looking to build momentum ahead of the T20 World Cup later this year. The team will be hoping that the duo can recover quickly and be available for selection in the near future.

Jonathan Campbell, the son of former Zimbabwe captain Alistair Campbell, is poised to make his international debut in the upcoming five-match T20I series against Bangladesh, commencing on May 3. The 26-year-old all-rounder, who bowls legspin, was a key member of Zimbabwe's emerging team that triumphed at the 13th African Games in March 2024.Campbell's impressive performance at the African Games included 115 runs from four innings at a strike rate of 126.37. While he was not required to bowl extensively, he did claim a wicket in his two overs. Two of Campbell's teammates from the African Games, Clive Madande and Brian Bennett, have already represented Zimbabwe at the senior level and have retained their places for this tour.Sikandar Raza will continue to lead the Zimbabwean squad, which boasts experienced players such as Craig Ervine, Sean Williams, Richard Ngarava, and Blessing Muzarabani. Top-order batter Tadiwanashe Marumani and all-rounder Faraz Akram have been recalled to the side after missing the T20Is in Sri Lanka, which Zimbabwe lost 1-2.The series against Bangladesh will commence in Chattogram, which will host the first three games on May 3, 5, and 7. The final two matches will be played in Dhaka on May 10 and 12.

Imad Wasim's Exclusion from Pakistan T20I Team Raises QuestionsFormer Pakistan cricketers have expressed their bewilderment over the omission of all-rounder Imad Wasim from the team for the first T20I against New Zealand. Wasim, who recently came out of retirement, was expected to play a key role in the team's preparations for the upcoming T20 World Cup.Despite his impressive performances in domestic cricket, Wasim was left out of the playing eleven, sparking criticism from former players. Iqbal Qasim, a former Test player, questioned the logic behind the decision, stating that Wasim should have played instead of Shadab Khan.Mohsin Khan, a former player and chief selector, emphasized the importance of giving players like Wasim and Mohammad Amir, who also came out of retirement, ample playing time to regain their form. He believes that they need to overcome the "rustiness" of not playing international cricket for an extended period.It is speculated that the decision to exclude Wasim may be related to his strained relationship with Pakistan captain Babar Azam. Azam is said to have left the Karachi Kings franchise in the Pakistan Super League due to Wasim's presence.Former captain Mohammad Hafeez has claimed that Wasim retired from international cricket after feeling mistreated by the team management, including Azam.Despite the controversy surrounding Wasim's omission, cricket analyst Omar Alavi believes that Azam must make decisions based on merit and situational requirements. He emphasized that Azam has a second chance to create his legacy as Pakistan captain and must ensure that selections are made fairly.Pakistan will face New Zealand, Ireland, and England in a series of T20Is in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup. The team will be looking to maximize their preparations and build momentum ahead of the tournament.

India's women's cricket team has announced a 16-member squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series against Bangladesh, scheduled to commence on April 28. The squad features two notable inclusions in S Sajana and S Asha, who have earned their maiden India call-ups.Sajana, a hard-hitting batter, emerged as one of Mumbai's breakout stars in the recently concluded Women's Premier League (WPL). Her ability to accelerate the innings in the latter stages was instrumental in Mumbai's success. Asha, on the other hand, became the first Indian to claim a five-wicket haul in the WPL. She finished as the second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament, showcasing her impressive bowling skills.The squad also includes the return of experienced all-rounder D Hemalatha and left-arm spinner Radha Yadav. Hemalatha last played a T20I in September 2022, while Yadav's last appearance came at the T20 World Cup in South Africa last year.The composition of the squad aligns with captain Harmanpreet Kaur's stated goal of providing opportunities to top performers ahead of the T20 World Cup, scheduled for September-October in Bangladesh.Jemimah Rodrigues, a key member of the Indian team, will miss the Bangladesh tour due to a back niggle. She is currently undergoing treatment at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. The decision to rest Rodrigues is precautionary, considering the upcoming T20 World Cup.The squad is predominantly spin-heavy, reflecting the expected conditions in Bangladesh. Deepti Sharma will lead the spin attack, supported by Shreyanka Patil, Saika Ishaque, Asha, and Radha Yadav. Renuka Singh Thakur and Titas Sadhu are the two frontline pacers, with Pooja Vastrakar and Amanjot Kaur providing seam-bowling options.Richa Ghosh is expected to be the first-choice wicketkeeper, while Yastika Bhatia, who has impressed as a pure batter, is likely to serve as a backup.India will be aiming to continue their dominance over Bangladesh in T20Is. In their previous encounter in July 2022, India won the series 2-1.

USA's Corey Anderson and Nitish Kumar led their team to a 4-0 series sweep over Canada in the T20I series, with a thrilling four-wicket victory at Prairie View.Chasing 169, USA faced an early setback, losing three wickets for just nine runs. However, Anderson and Kumar steadied the innings with a 104-run partnership. Anderson, in his second match for USA, anchored the chase with a 48-ball 55, including two sixes and six fours. Kumar was more aggressive, scoring a 38-ball 64 with four sixes and four fours.After Anderson's dismissal, Nitish and Shadley van Schalkwyk fell in quick succession. But Harmeet Singh and Nisarg Patel calmly guided USA to victory in the final over.For Canada, Harsh Thaker was the standout performer, scoring 38 runs and taking two wickets. Other batters made starts but failed to convert them into substantial scores.Canada's innings was characterized by a series of partnerships, with no batter able to dominate. Thaker's 24-ball 38, which included three sixes, was the highest individual score.Despite Canada's efforts, USA's bowling attack proved too strong. Rishiv Joshi dismissed Andries Gous with the second ball of the innings, while Saad Bin Zafar removed Aaron Jones and Gajanand Singh in the second over.However, Anderson and Kumar's partnership proved decisive, as USA once again demonstrated their superiority over Canada in the series.

New Zealand Cricket Team Arrives in Islamabad for T20I Series Against PakistanThe New Zealand men's cricket team has arrived in Islamabad, Pakistan, ahead of their highly anticipated five-match T20I series against the hosts. The series, which commences on April 18, will serve as a crucial preparation for both teams ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup.Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) extended a warm welcome to the New Zealand team on social media, announcing their arrival in Islamabad. With the T20 World Cup approaching, both New Zealand and Pakistan are eager to fine-tune their squads and evaluate players for the marquee event.New Zealand, currently participating in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, has entrusted the leadership duties to experienced all-rounder Michael Bracewell for this tour. Bracewell, who has been sidelined due to injuries, returns to international cricket after a hiatus since March last year.On the other hand, Pakistan will be led by the prolific Babar Azam, who recently reclaimed the captaincy of the white-ball format from Shaheen Afridi. The inclusion of star pacer Mohammad Amir and all-rounder Imad Wasim, who reversed their retirements, adds significant depth to Pakistan's squad for the series.The T20I series between New Zealand and Pakistan promises to be an exciting contest between two evenly matched teams. Both sides will be looking to gain momentum and build confidence ahead of the T20 World Cup. The series will also provide an opportunity for players to showcase their skills and stake a claim for a place in their respective World Cup squads.

The United States Cricket Team (USACT) has unveiled its 15-man squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series against Canada, with former New Zealand all-rounder Corey Anderson as a notable inclusion. Anderson, 33, last represented New Zealand in 2018 and has since been aiming to qualify for his adopted country.Monank Patel will continue to lead the USACT, with Aaron Jones serving as vice-captain. The series holds significant importance for the team as it prepares for the T20 World Cup, which they will co-host with the West Indies in June.Despite Patel's statement about new players joining the squad, the majority of the team consists of experienced individuals. Anderson, who played 13 Tests, 49 ODIs, and 31 T20Is for New Zealand, brings a wealth of knowledge to the side. He was also part of the New Zealand team that reached the final of the 2015 World Cup.Other notable players in the squad include Gajanand Singh, Jessy Singh, Steven Taylor, Nisarg Patel, Noshtush Kenjige, Saurabh Netravalkar, and Usman Rafiq. While some players like Andries Gous, Harmeet Singh, Nitish Kumar, Milind Kumar, and Shadley van Schalkwyk have not played international cricket, they possess significant first-class and T20 experience.South Africa-born wicketkeeper-batter Gous, who relocated to the USA in 2021, will be eligible to play for the team in April, making him available for the T20 World Cup. He has played 60 first-class games, 57 List-A matches, and 46 T20s, including a stint with Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the ILT20.The matches against Canada will be played at the Prairie View Cricket Complex, with the USACT arriving on April 1 to begin preparations. Both Canada and the USA are in Group A of the T20 World Cup, along with India, Ireland, and Pakistan. They will face each other in the tournament opener on June 2 in Dallas, Texas.