Page 3 - Babar Azam

Pakistan played better cricket than Australia, says team director Hafeez

Despite succumbing to a 79-run series-losing defeat to Australia here on Friday, Pakistan team director Mohammed Hafeez said his side played better cricket than the Aussies in the second Test. Australia captain Pat Cummins took five wickets as Pakistan were bowled out for 237 runs in their second innings while chasing 316 for a win at the MCG. "We played better cricket as a team. I'm proud of that. The way the team had the courage to attack this game in the best possible way. Our batting intent was better, and while bowling, we were hitting the right areas. "We made some mistakes that cost us the game but as a team I believe that there were a lot of positives, enough to win the game but unfortunately at the end we didn't win the game," Hafeez was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo. In Australia's second innings, Abdullah Shafique had dropped Mitchell Marsh at slips when the home side was 46 for four. Marsh was 20 then. Marsh went on to make 96 and added 153 runs for the fifth wicket

It can't rain forever: Yousuf extends support to out-of-form Babar Azam

Former Pakistan batter and captain Mohammed Yousuf extended his support to out-of-form star batter Babar Azam, amid a poor run of form and a string of low scores in the Test series against Australia

AUS vs PAK 2nd Test preview: Will Pakistan end 15-match losing streak?

Pakistan goes into Tuesday's Boxing Day match against Australia on a 15-match test losing streak, not having won Down Under since November 1995. The team's ever-expanding injury list heading into the Melbourne Cricket Ground test won't make ending the streak any easier. Pakistan spinner Noman Ali became the second player in two days to withdraw from the touring squad for the remainder of the three-test series due to illness and injury. Left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz will replace Ali in the squad, the selection committee said on the weekend. Ali, who didn't play in the 360-run defeat in the first test at Perth last week, underwent surgery for appendicitis in Melbourne on Saturday. "Noman Ali complained of sudden and severe abdominal pain yesterday, leading to examinations and scans in emergency that confirmed a diagnosis of acute appendicitis," a Pakistan team statement read. "Post-surgery he is stable and doing fine. He will be discharged later (on Saturday)." The latest blow fo

ICC rankings: Shubman Gill loses top ODI batters spot to Babar Azam

India opener Shubman Gill's reign at the top of of the ODI batters' list was short-lived as he was replaced by former Pakistani skipper Babar Azam in the ICC Player Rankings issued on Wednesday. The Indian attained the top spot during the ODI World Cup last month, but since then he has not played any ODI. Babar is back at the top with 824 rating points, while Gill (810) is the second spot followed by teammates Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Shreyas Iyer has dropped to 12th, while KL Rahul has moved a spot to 16th. In the bowlers' chart, South African spinner Keshav Maharaj remains at the top followed by Australia pacer Josh Hazlewood. Fast bowler Mohammed Siraj (3rd), Jasprit Bumrah (5th) and Kuldeep Yadav (8th) are the other Indians to feature in the top 10. Mohammad Shami is at the 11th spot, while spinner Ravindra Jadeja is ranked 22nd. The all-rounders' list remains relatively unchanged, with Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan staying at the top spot. Jadeja (12th) and Hardik Pand

Buttler to Bavuma: Top five disappointments of ICC Cricket World Cup 2023

Big names like Jos Buttler and Temba Bavuma failed to impress at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. But apart from them, there were a few others as well

Pakistan cricket: Shaheen to lead in T20Is, Masood gets Tests captaincy

Former cricketer Mohammed Hafeez has been appointed as the Director of Cricket for Pakistan

World Cup: Babar Azam resigns as Pakistan captain from all 3 formats

Babar Azam resigned from captaincy of Pakistan in all three formats after they failed to reach the knockout stage of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023

World Cup 2023: Shadab backs skipper Babar, calls for change in mindset

Calling for a change in "cultural" mindset, Pakistan's vice-captain Shadab Khan has voiced his support for skipper Babar Azam, who is being blamed for the team's disastrous showing in the World Cup. There has been a growing demand from several former Pakistan cricketers for the removal of Babar as captain after the team could not qualify for the World Cup semifinals. However, Shadab indicated the responsibility for the defeats doesn't rest solely on the captain. "This represents a cultural difference. When we emerge victorious, it is attributed solely to the captain's triumph. But in times of defeat, the responsibility for the loss falls squarely on the captain's shoulders. This should change," Shadab told reporters after Pakistan's 93-run defeat to England in their last World Cup match here on Saturday. Babar, who started the World Cup as the world's No. 1 batter, failed to bring his A-game to the fore and his captaincy came under scrutiny. Back home, there has been talk about ...

World Cup 2023: Batting to bowling, factors that punctured Pakistan's hopes

An outdated batting approach, dismal performance of the spinners, lack of back-up options and selection blunders have led to another early World Cup exit for the forever unpredictable Pakistan unit. Heading into the Asia Cup that preceded the World Cup in India, Pakistan was the top-ranked ODI side but like it is the case often, the rankings don't paint the whole picture. By the end of Asia Cup, Pakistan were left with major concerns but the management chose to back the same set of players for the World Cup and ended up with an underwhelming campaign. Pakistan's last semifinal appearance in the ODI World Cup came way back in 2011 when India beat them on their way to glory. PTI looks back at the shortcomings of the Babar Azam-led side, which squandered a golden opportunity to make an impact on Indian shores. Top-order performance ============== Pakistan had carried an out of form Fakhar Zaman to the World Cup but he was dropped after the team's opener against the Netherlands in .

Teammates have advised Pakistan skipper Babar Azam not to step down

Skipper Babar Azam has been advised against putting in his papers by his national teammates even as he has rested case with the Pakistan Cricket Board headed by Zaka Ashraf to take a call on his future. Pakistan finished fifth in 10 team table and missed out on semi-final qualification, leading to a lot of criticism from former players, who has sought a change in leadership. "Babar has already spoken to his teammates, and majority of them advised him not to step down himself. He will come out with a clear line of action once he returns home with the team after failing to make the semi-finals of the World Cup in India. But, he will not step down himself," a PCB source told PTI. Babar has a strong following in the team and likes of Imam ul Haq, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf are players considered to be close to the Pakistan skipper. In fact, last year when there were talks about removing Babar from Test captaincy had gained traction on social media, some of the players

Cricket World Cup 2023 PAK vs BAN Playing 11, toss result, live streaming

Pakistan have made three changes in their Playing 11. Imam-ul-Haq, Shadab Khan, Nawaz have been dropped while Fakhar Zaman, Agha Salman and Usama Mir got the chance to end Pak's 4-match losing streak

PAK vs SA Highlights World Cup 2023: Proteas beat Pakistan by one wicket

Pakistan vs South Africa Highlights, ICC Cricket World Cup 2023: In the first thriller of the World Cup, Proteas defeated Babar Azam led Pakistan by 1 wicket and moved to number one in points table

Cricket World Cup 2023 PAK vs SA Playing 11, toss result and live streaming

ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, Pakistan vs South Africa Playing 11: Pakistan made two changes in their Playing 11

Babar, Inzamam were given full freedom to choose World Cup 2023 squad: PCB

The Pakistan Cricket Board released a statement after three consecutive losses of the team which included an 8-wicket hammering against Afghanistan in the ICC World Cup 2023

World Cup: 'They eat 8kg mutton..'- Akram rips into Pakistan cricket team

Pakistan's loss against Afghanistan attracted sharp criticism from former players including Wasin Akrma who lashed out at the poor fielding and attitude of the side in the World Cup 2023

PAK vs AFG Highlights, World Cup 2023: Afghanistan win by 8 wickets

ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, Pakistan vs Afghanistan Highlights: Afghanistan created history once again as they defeated another world champion Pakistan

AUS vs PAK Highlights, World Cup 2023: Warner, Zampa take Australia to win

Australia vs Pakistan Highlights, ICC Cricket World Cup 2023: Courtesy of David Warner's 163 with the bat and Adam Zampa's 4/53 with the ball, the Aussies beat Babar Azam's Pakistan by 65 runs

Cricket World Cup 2023 AUS vs PAK Playing 11, toss result and streaming

ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, Australia vs Pakistan streaming: Pakistan have one change in their Playing 11. Hotstar will live stream the Australia vs Pakistan World Cup match in India for free.

World Cup 2023, AUS vs PAK preview: Bengaluru to witness fight for survival

Australia's cricketing DNA is constructed by meticulousness and Pakistan's by explosiveness. When they meet each other here on Friday, Australia and Pakistan will have to regain those qualities in batting and bowling to infuse a fresh life into their World Cup campaign, which is yet to go into overdrive. Pakistan's strength lies in their ability to play fearless cricket in the face of pressure. Make a quick rewind to their glory year of 1992 for a validation of that remark. But in this World Cup, they caved in at the first hint of real pressure, a match against India. There simply was no fight in their seven-wicket battering by the Men in Blue. That mammoth chase of 345 at Hyderabad in their second match came on a featherbed against a vastly short of quality Sri Lanka, and taking it as a pointer will be sheer naivety. Now, the Aussies offer another genuine pressure point to the Green Brigade. A side immersed in its own turmoil, the five-time champions are no India but they are a r

World Cup 2023: 3 Pakistani players ill ahead of AUS-PAK game in Bengaluru

Pakistani camp has been hit by fever and flu in Bengaluru ahead of their all-important match against Australia in the World Cup