Cricket

Former Pakistan wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider has hailed Mohammad Rizwan's appointment as Pakistan's white-ball captain, comparing his leadership style to that of legendary Indian skipper MS Dhoni.Rizwan's tenure began with a historic series victory in Australia, where Pakistan overcame a loss in the opener to win the subsequent two ODIs and seal the series 2-1. Haider believes Rizwan's 360-degree view of the field as a wicketkeeper-captain gives him an advantage in setting fields and guiding bowlers."A wicketkeeper-captain is a big help for a team," Haider said. "Rizwan is doing the same. He is an effective batter, a good wicketkeeper, and now, a captain. This can help the team immensely."Haider also noted the positive impact on Babar Azam's batting since relinquishing the captaincy. "Babar Azam was overburdened," Haider said. "The moment he gave up captaincy, his batting improved. Now we can see him playing freely, without any burden."The series also showcased the brilliance of pacer Haris Rauf, who claimed 10 wickets and was named Player of the Series. Haider attributed Rauf's growth to his experience bowling against Virat Kohli in the 2022 T20 World Cup."Bowling to Virat has made Haris Rauf a more mature bowler," Haider said. "That was a huge learning curve in his career, and I am certain he took many lessons from that match."Haider also expressed his desire for India to tour Pakistan for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy. "India should come to Pakistan," he said. "Let's forget everything and start afresh. Fans love India vs Pakistan cricket matches more than anything else in this world. Let's love the game, not politics."

Jos Buttler, England's white-ball captain, has returned to the scene of his World Cup disappointments with a renewed sense of purpose. Five months ago in Barbados, England's World Cup campaign ended in a disappointing defeat to Australia, with Buttler's tactical decisions coming under scrutiny.However, Buttler has revealed that he feared losing his captaincy after England's consecutive World Cup failures. He had candid conversations with Rob Key, the ECB's managing director of men's cricket, and expressed his desire to continue leading the team. Key's belief in Buttler's abilities has given him the confidence to move forward.Buttler's captaincy has been marked by emotional highs and lows. His face often betrays his feelings, and he has admitted that the pressure of leadership has weighed heavily on him. However, a calf injury that sidelined him for four months has given him time to reflect and reassess his priorities.The appointment of Brendon McCullum as head coach has also provided Buttler with a fresh perspective. McCullum's experience as New Zealand's white-ball captain has inspired Buttler, who believes that this stage of his career can be the most rewarding.Buttler is now determined to play as much as possible and help develop the next generation of English white-ball cricketers. He has dropped wicketkeeping for the T20 series against West Indies to experiment with his preferred captaincy position.Winning will be important, but Buttler's primary focus is on creating an environment where players can flourish. He wants to see young players like Jacob Bethell and Dan Mousley seize their opportunities and contribute to English cricket's future success.

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to grant newly-appointed white-ball skipper Mohammad Rizwan a "decent run" to prove his leadership credentials. Rizwan took over the captaincy after Babar Azam stepped down following Pakistan's disappointing T20 World Cup campaign.Ponting expressed concern over Pakistan's frequent leadership changes, stating that it creates instability. He believes that Rizwan's performance during the ongoing tour of Australia will provide valuable insights into his leadership abilities."He's the sort of player that I love watching. Aggressive player that takes the game on, and wears his heart on his sleeve a little bit," Ponting said of Rizwan. "I reckon you can see he gets quite emotional out on the field, out on the ground as well, which I think is a good thing. It tends to show that you really care about what you're doing and what your team's trying to achieve."Ponting emphasized the importance of giving Rizwan a fair chance to demonstrate his leadership skills. "The proof will be in the pudding. I mean, we won't know (until they) give him a decent run at it," he said. "So I think in a few months time, or maybe in a few weeks time, even here in Australia with the one-dayers, the T20Is coming up, we might have a better idea in three or four weeks time."Pakistan's second ODI against Australia will be played in Adelaide on Friday, followed by the series finale in Perth on Sunday. The two teams will then face off in a three-match T20I series starting on November 14 in Brisbane.

Former Pakistani cricketer Basit Ali has revealed that ex-South African cricketer and coach Gary Kirsten was unhappy with the decision to appoint Mohammad Rizwan as the captain of Pakistan's white-ball teams. Ali claims that Kirsten had a different player in mind for the leadership role and believed he had "full authority" over such choices.This revelation comes amidst significant changes within the Pakistan cricket team. Rizwan's appointment as white-ball captain, Kirsten's resignation as T20I and ODI coach, and the hiring of Jason Gillespie as the head coach for all formats have all contributed to a period of transition.Ali explained on his YouTube channel, "When Mohammad Rizwan was named Pakistan's new white-ball captain, Kirsten wanted a different captain and demanded another player in the team. Coincidentally, both of them are not in the team. He thought he had full authority, but he doesn't know that in Pakistan, even the PCB chairman can get changed overnight."Ali further commented on the recent changes in the PCB, stating, "Mohsin Naqvi has come with a lot of power. The coaches, selectors, and managers are being removed. Earlier, the chairman used to be changed from time to time. Now, whoever raises their voice will be sidelined."Kirsten's primary assignment was to guide Pakistan to the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and USA. However, Pakistan's early exit from the group stage after losses to India and the USA led to his departure.The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced that Rizwan would replace Babar Azam as the team's white-ball captain for the upcoming series against Australia and Zimbabwe. Salam Ali Agha has been appointed as Rizwan's vice-captain for these away tours.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has clarified that Babar Azam's resignation from the white-ball captaincy was his own decision, dispelling rumors of pressure from the board.Babar, who took over the captaincy in 2019, announced his resignation on October 2, citing a desire to prioritize his performance. Under his leadership, Pakistan failed to win a major tournament, including the Asia Cup and ODI World Cup.Naqvi emphasized that Babar's decision was not influenced by the PCB. "Babar Azam told me himself that he did not want to continue as captain. No one from the PCB told him to leave the captaincy. He discussed it with the coaches and wanted to focus on his performances," Naqvi said.The PCB chief also explained the appointment of Mohammad Rizwan as the new white-ball skipper. "We spoke to the five mentors of the Champions Cup and the coaches, and the majority agreed that Mohammad Rizwan should be the captain, with Salman Ali Agha as vice-captain," he added.Rizwan, a star wicketkeeper-batter, replaces Babar as Pakistan's white-ball captain ahead of their upcoming tours of Australia and Zimbabwe.Babar's resignation has sparked discussions about the future of Pakistan's cricket team. Some experts believe that the move will allow him to focus on his batting and regain his form. Others argue that it could create instability within the team.The PCB is now tasked with rebuilding the team and finding a long-term solution for the captaincy. Rizwan's appointment is seen as a step in that direction, but it remains to be seen whether he can lead Pakistan to success in major tournaments.

Pakistan's limited-overs head coach Gary Kirsten has returned to South Africa, leaving the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to finalize the successor to Babar Azam as white-ball captain. Kirsten's departure follows a period of assessment and consultation in Lahore and Faisalabad, where he observed the Champions Cup and met with selectors and board officials.Kirsten will rejoin the Pakistan squad in Melbourne on October 29 for the upcoming white-ball series in Australia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. Pakistan will play a total of 18 matches, including nine ODIs and nine T20Is, during the tour.Sources within the PCB indicate that wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan and fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi are the frontrunners to replace Azam as captain. Kirsten and former Australia coach Jason Gillespie have reportedly discussed the captaincy issue with the selection committee.The decision will be based on long-term considerations, including the candidates' behavior and recent performances. Rizwan is believed to be the favorite, with a younger player potentially serving as his deputy to manage his workload.The PCB is expected to announce the new white-ball captain later this month. The appointment will be crucial as Pakistan prepares for the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup in India.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) faces a crucial decision in appointing a new white-ball captain following Babar Azam's recent resignation. Amidst Pakistan's recent struggles and mounting criticism, the choice of skipper will be closely scrutinized.Former Pakistan cricketer Mudassar Nazar believes the PCB has limited options and will likely appoint Mohammad Rizwan as the next captain. "They've tried everyone except Rizwan. They'll have to make him the captain," Nazar said. He suggests that appointing a senior player as captain and grooming a successor under them would be a wiser move.Pakistan's poor run in white-ball cricket began with their disappointing performance at the 2023 ODI World Cup, where they failed to qualify for the semifinals. The T20I team under Babar suffered a shock group stage exit from the T20 World Cup, losing to minnows USA. The Test team also endured an embarrassing 2-0 whitewash at home against Bangladesh.Nazar attributes Pakistan's recent struggles to frequent captaincy changes, which have led to divisions within the team. He advocates for Rizwan to lead all three formats, arguing that stability in leadership is crucial.Pakistan's next challenge is a three-Test series against England at home. The performances of senior players will be under intense scrutiny as the PCB seeks to rebuild and regain its former glory.

Babar Azam's resignation as Pakistan's white-ball captain has sparked a debate about the team's future leadership. Former wicketkeeper-batsman Rashid Latif believes Babar's decision will pave the way for his return to form as the team's premier batsman.Latif praised Babar for stepping down, saying it will alleviate the pressure on him and allow him to focus on his batting. He criticized Babar's captaincy, claiming that it damaged the team's performance in recent World Cups.With Babar's departure, the frontrunner for white-ball captaincy is wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan. However, Latif advised Rizwan against taking on the role, suggesting that he should give others a chance.Latif proposed alternative candidates for ODI captaincy, including Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, and Salman Ali Agha. He emphasized the importance of leadership qualities, citing Imran Khan and Younis Khan as examples of successful leaders who guided Pakistan to World Cup victories.Latif criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for its lack of leadership and division within the organization. He believes that Pakistan will need to wait until the Champions Trophy next year to find a true leader for the team.

Babar Azam Relinquishes White-Ball Captaincy Amidst Critical Report and Lack of SupportPakistan's star batter Babar Azam has stepped down as captain of the national white-ball teams following a critical report submitted by head coach Gary Kirsten and a perceived lack of support from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).Sources within the PCB and close to the team revealed that Azam had lost his enthusiasm for the captaincy after the team's disappointing performance at the T20 World Cup in July. Kirsten's report, which was partially leaked to the public, reportedly criticized Azam's leadership and blamed him for the team's failures.Azam expressed dissatisfaction with the report and felt that he was being unfairly singled out. He conveyed to the PCB that he was no longer interested in continuing as captain.The situation was further exacerbated when the PCB announced Azam as captain of the T20 team but not the ODI squad ahead of the World Cup. This decision was seen as a lack of confidence in Azam's abilities.Kirsten's report also raised concerns about the dressing room environment and the behavior of some players. He questioned whether Azam was equipped to handle the pressures of captaincy and suggested that he should focus on his role as a specialist batter.The PCB is currently deliberating on who will replace Azam as white-ball captain. Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has instructed the selection committee to carefully consider all options and provide a detailed rationale for their decision.