Cricket

Babar Azam's tenure as Pakistan's white-ball captain is under scrutiny following a string of batting failures and the team's recent Test series loss to Bangladesh. According to Geo News, wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan is emerging as the frontrunner to replace Azam as skipper in ODIs and T20Is.Rizwan's impressive performances in the Test series against Bangladesh, where he led the batting charts with 294 runs at an average of 98.0, have strengthened his case for captaincy. In contrast, Azam struggled with the bat, scoring only 64 runs at an average of 16.00.The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is reportedly considering appointing Rizwan as captain ahead of the Australia tour in November. This move could also see Rizwan take over the captaincy in all three formats, potentially putting Shan Masood's position as Test skipper in jeopardy.Azam relinquished the captaincy after Pakistan's disappointing ODI World Cup campaign last year but was reappointed for white-ball formats in March. However, the team's recent struggles have raised questions about his leadership abilities.Rizwan's appointment as captain would mark a significant shift in Pakistan's cricket strategy. The 30-year-old is known for his aggressive batting style and his ability to lead from the front. He has also been praised for his work ethic and his commitment to the team.If Rizwan is appointed captain, he will face the challenge of rebuilding a team that has struggled for consistency in recent years. Pakistan was eliminated from the T20 World Cup in the group stage and suffered a humiliating Test series defeat to Bangladesh.Rizwan will need to find a way to inspire his team and improve their performances on the field. He will also need to work closely with the PCB to develop a long-term plan for the team's success.

Pakistan cricket is facing a severe crisis, with the national team's recent 0-2 Test series defeat to Bangladesh at home being labeled as their worst performance in the longest format. One of the primary reasons for Pakistan's struggles has been the underperformance of star batter Babar Azam.Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has advised Azam to get married, believing it will improve his performance. "Babar Azam, talk to your parents and get married. He will be a completely different man after that," Ali said. "I know how a player feels when he is not performing well. I request Babar's parents to get him to marry."Azam's poor form has been evident in recent series. In the three-match Test series against Australia last year, he scored 126 runs at an average of 21. In the four T20Is against England before the T20 World Cup, he managed 68 runs at an average of 34.00. In the T20 World Cup, he scored 122 runs in four matches at an average of 40.66, but was criticized for his low strike rate of 101.66.In the recent Test series against Bangladesh, Azam scored just 64 runs in four innings. Former cricketer Rashid Latif believes this defeat should serve as a wake-up call for Pakistan cricket. "This is a wake-up call for Pakistan cricket. They can't go lower than this. Now, it's the time to rise and open your eyes," Latif said. "If you still don't open your eyes after losing to Bangladesh, play Test series only against Nepal and Afghanistan."Azam's struggles have raised concerns about his leadership and the team's overall direction. Pakistan cricket is at a crossroads, and it remains to be seen whether Azam and the team can turn things around.

Sri Lanka's batting woes have been a persistent issue throughout the ongoing Test series against England. Captain Dhananjaya de Silva has emphasized the crucial need for top-order runs, highlighting the team's inability to reach 350 or have any of their top seven batsmen score a century.In the first Test, Sri Lanka collapsed to 72 for 5 in the first innings, while in the second Test, they were dismissed for 83 for 5. De Silva believes these early setbacks have been detrimental to their chances of victory."Our batters have to score runs, and that's the biggest issue we've had," de Silva said. "Those who got starts didn't turn them into hundreds and 150s. If you look at Joe Root on their side, he's consistently made runs and it's around him that others made runs. That's what someone on our side needs to do as well, so we can get to 300 or 350. First-innings runs are what's crucial to victory."Kamindu Mendis has been the only Sri Lankan batsman to make significant contributions on tour, scoring 113 in Manchester and 74 at Lord's. Despite his impressive form, de Silva has opted to keep him at No. 7 in the batting order."I think if Kamindu plays well down there there's no reason to change what he's doing and put him in trouble," de Silva explained. "If he's scoring there, it's good for his career as well. In the future, maybe we will talk to him, about his plans as well and see what changes we can make. But right now we're thinking of him as a No. 7."The rest of the Sri Lankan batting order has struggled against England's seamers, with de Silva attributing this to their discipline and control."They [England] have a lot of control in addition to their experience," de Silva said. "They have great control of line and length and we don't get many loose balls in England. We need to be prepared for that and our plans have to take that into account. That's just what you get in England. In the two previous matches they didn't let us execute our plans. That's why they were successful."Joe Root's exceptional batting has also contributed to Sri Lanka's 2-0 deficit in the series. De Silva hopes that his team has devised a plan to surprise Root in the upcoming match."It's not that our plans against him didn't work - he just very quickly recognised what we were trying to do and countered it," de Silva said. "That's what world class players do, and that's why he scored runs. We've hopefully come up with something now that he won't expect."

Pakistan's former wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal has launched a scathing attack on the national team management and captains for their lack of faith in spinners during home Test series. Akmal believes that spinners have been consistently marginalized and denied adequate opportunities to showcase their abilities over the past three years.Akmal's criticism comes in the wake of Pakistan's 0-2 loss to Bangladesh in their recent home series. He pointed out that Pakistan has a strong track record of winning home matches when they employ a balanced attack of fast bowlers and spinners. However, he believes that the team has been overly reliant on pacers in recent years, which has led to their downfall.Akmal expressed concern over the exclusion of experienced spinners from the team. He mentioned players like Yasir Shah, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Bilal Asif, Zahid Mahmood, and Usman Qadir, who he believes should not have been overlooked without proper justification."When Babar (Azam) was captain, he kept some spinners in the squad but never bothered to play them regularly. Unless spinners get constant exposure, how will they come through?" Akmal said.Akmal also highlighted the struggles of Pakistan's batters against fast bowlers. He believes that the batters are comfortable facing pacers bowling at 130-140 kmph, but they struggle against bowlers who bowl at 140 kmph or more."Our batters are comfortable against pacers bowling at 130-140 kmph, but when they face a pace of 140 kmph or more, and they see that on the scoreboard during the match, their legs start to give way," he said.Akmal emphasized that players should prioritize domestic cricket rather than solely focusing on overseas leagues. He believes that the lack of commitment towards domestic cricket is leading to inconsistent performances at the international level."They prefer to go and play in useless foreign leagues to earn money and this is not helping them develop their skills. This lack of commitment towards domestic cricket is leading to inconsistent performances at the international level," he said.Akmal also commented on Babar Azam's recent form slump. He believes that Azam is struggling due to some technical flaws."He is unsure of himself and his off-stump early on and has this tendency to leave his leg stump exposed. Balls that should be played towards cover are being played straight, and the bat doesn't go towards the ball's direction," he said.

Joe Root's exceptional batting performance in the ongoing Test series against Sri Lanka has left the hosts scratching their heads for a solution. With scores of 42, 62 not out, 143, and 103, Root has been the cornerstone of England's dominance.Root's mastery against Sri Lanka is evident in his impressive average of 67.55 against them. In his previous series against the same opposition, he notched up scores of 186 and 228, showcasing his ability to dominate on Sri Lankan pitches.His technical prowess is evident in his skillful sweeps and reverse-sweeps, as well as his proactive approach against seamers. When he chooses to defend, Root's technique is considered one of the best in the game.Sri Lanka's team discussions have been dominated by the question of how to dismiss Root. Senior batter Dimuth Karunaratne revealed that they have tried various plans but have been unsuccessful due to Root's consistent excellence."We've tried a few things against Joe but they were always unsuccessful," Karunaratne said. "I think the turning points in the matches have been those Joe Root innings."Karunaratne believes that Sri Lanka may need to adopt a less aggressive approach against Root. "Maybe sometimes we attack him too much and he takes advantage of that," he said. "Some players don't like it when we ask them to be less aggressive. Sometimes boring batters out can also be a tactic."However, Sri Lanka's problems extend beyond Root's dominance. Their senior batters have failed to make significant contributions, with only six fifties in 16 combined innings. Karunaratne, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, and Dhananjaya de Silva have all had fifty-plus scores but have not made a lasting impact."The seniors have talked a lot about how to perform and ease the pressure on the juniors," Karunaratne said. "The juniors have been doing well, especially Kamindu Mendis. Some people adapt very fast to conditions and some struggle."Karunaratne emphasized the difficulty of batting in Sri Lanka, citing the struggles of England's openers and No. 3 batter. "In England the conditions are tough for batters, and we saw that even their openers struggled, as well as their No. 3," he said. "Apart from Joe Root the others also struggled despite this being home conditions for them."

Pakistan cricket has hit a new low after suffering a humiliating 2-0 whitewash at the hands of Bangladesh in a recently concluded Test series. The defeat marks the first time Bangladesh has ever won a Test series against Pakistan, and it has sent shockwaves through the cricketing world.Shan Masood, Pakistan's Test captain, has become the first captain from the nation to lose his first five Test matches. He was appointed as skipper in November last year after Babar Azam stepped down from the role. Masood's record is even worse than that of Javed Burki, who lost his first three Test matches as Pakistan captain.Masood has acknowledged the need for consistency in selection and the importance of finding players who can be automatic selections based on current form. However, he has also expressed confidence in his ability to make the necessary changes to improve the team's performance."I am not worried for my job security," Masood said. "I took this job to make the changes we believe will help this team. If I believe this team can go in a certain direction, even if my personal failure takes Pakistan in that direction, I will be content."Pakistan's Test ranking has also plummeted to its lowest point in nearly six decades, falling to eighth place after the defeat to Bangladesh. The team now has no bowlers ranked in the top 10, and only one batter, Mohammad Rizwan, remains in the top 10.The defeat has raised serious questions about the future of Pakistan cricket. The team has struggled for consistency in recent years, and the loss to Bangladesh has exposed some deep-seated problems. Masood and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will need to work together to find solutions and rebuild the team's confidence.

The highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia is set to commence on November 22 in Perth, marking the first five-Test series between the cricketing giants since 1991-92.Former Australia coach John Buchanan has tipped the home team as favorites, citing the lack of warm-up games for touring teams as a significant factor. India will play a two-day pink-ball match against the Prime Minister's XI before the day-night Test in Adelaide, but Buchanan believes it may not be sufficient preparation for the fast and bouncy conditions in Perth.Buchanan emphasized the importance of touring sides playing practice matches to adjust to local conditions, a trend that has declined in recent years due to the proliferation of lucrative T20 and T10 leagues. He believes this has contributed to the dominance of home teams in major series.The fate of India in the series could hinge on the performance of young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who has impressed in domestic cricket but has yet to face the challenges of Australian wickets. Buchanan sees Jaiswal's ability to adapt to the pace and bounce as a potential barometer for India's overall success.The five-Test series will test the endurance of both teams, with Buchanan predicting a classic encounter. He also expressed his preference for Steve Smith to continue batting at No. 4, despite the opener's recent success at the top of the order.

Bangladesh's head coach Chandika Hathurusingha remains committed to fulfilling his contract with the national cricket team despite the recent political turmoil in the country. Amidst the possibility of a major shakeup in the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), Hathurusingha expressed his willingness to continue in his role."I have signed a contract till whatever the date and I'm looking forward to serve that term," Hathurusingha stated. "If the board (is) changed and the new people want to make a change, I'm OK with that. (If) they want me to continue, if they're happy with me, I'm happy with that."Hathurusingha's focus remains on preparing his team for the upcoming two-match Test series against Pakistan, starting Wednesday in Rawalpindi. The former Sri Lankan international was appointed as Bangladesh's all-format coach in early 2023 on a two-year contract. This is Hathurusingha's second stint as Bangladesh coach, having previously served from 2014-17 before leaving to coach Sri Lanka.The political unrest in Bangladesh disrupted the team's preparations back home, prompting them to seek additional training in Lahore upon their arrival in Pakistan. Six Bangladesh Test players, who came with the country's "A" team, also participated in a four-day practice game against Pakistan Shaheens in Islamabad.The Bangladesh Test squad includes star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who was a lawmaker in ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government. However, Shakib was playing in Canada at the time of her resignation earlier this month.Pakistan has named a strong bowling attack for the first Test, including pace bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shehzad, and Mohammad Ali. The selectors have released leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed and uncapped batter Kamran Ghulam.Hathurusingha expressed his condolences for the families who lost loved ones in the political turmoil. He emphasized that his "thoughts and prayers are with them."

Pakistan's star batter Babar Azam faced a challenging net session ahead of the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh, as pacer Khurram Shahzad rattled him with an inswinging delivery that struck him near the abdominal region. The incident, captured on video and shared on social media, has sparked concern among fans.Shahzad's delivery left Azam visibly in pain, and he struggled to time the ball effectively throughout the session. The video shows Azam getting clean bowled on the very next delivery he faced from the same bowler.The incident occurred during a training session in Rawalpindi, where the Pakistan team is preparing for the two-match Test series against Bangladesh, starting August 21. The series will mark the first assignment for Jason Gillespie as Pakistan's Test coach.Pakistan has opted for a pace-heavy lineup for the series, with five fast bowlers and just one frontline spinner, Abrar Ahmed. Saud Shakeel has been appointed as the new vice-captain.The Pakistan squad for the Test series includes: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel, Aamir Jamal (subject to fitness), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Hurraira, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed, and Shaheen Shah Afridi.Bangladesh, on the other hand, will be led by Najmul Hossain Shanto. Their squad includes Mahmudullah, Zakir Hasan, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nazmul Hossain, Nurul Hasan, Ebadot Hossain, Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed, and Khaled Ahmed.The first Test will be played at the Pindi Cricket Stadium from August 21 to August 25, while the second Test will be held in Karachi from August 30 to September 3. Spectators will not be allowed during the second Test due to ongoing renovations at Karachi's National Stadium.