Page 5 - Babar Azam

Babar Azam applauds warm reception upon arrival in India for World Cup

This is the first time in seven years that the Pakistan Cricket team has arrived in India

Miandad, Misbah back Pakistan skipper Babar Azam after Asia Cup debacle

Pakistan legends Javed Miandad and Misbah ul Haq on Tuesday defended Babar Azam, saying the captain should not be squarely blamed for the below-par performance in the just-concluded Asia Cup as cricket is a team game. Talking to the media here at a match of the 40's Global Cricket Event, Miandad and Misbah both advised the country's cricket authorities to not press the panic button. "Why blame Babar Azam only when the rest of the team didn't perform as well in the Asia Cup matches against India and Sri Lanka," Miandad said. Both the stalwarts, who have played World Cups in India, also advised the players to not let the thought of playing the mega-event in India affect them psychologically. "Look our team is not as bad as it played in the Asia Cup. It has plenty of potential to do well in the World Cup. Only thing is how quickly our players cope and adjust to playing in Indian conditions before big crowds and in a country where they will encounter some hostility," Miandad said. The

Asia Cup 2023: Gill and Pathirana lead top batters and bowlers chart

India's Shubman Gill is the top batter in the Asia Cup 2023 while Matheesha Pathirana of Sri Lanka is the top bowler ahead of the final on September 17, 2023

Pakistan quick to miss entire World Cup due to shoulder injury: Reports

Naseem Shah might miss the entire ODI World Cup 2023 as the latest scans have revealed a severe shoulder injury

Asia Cup 2023 Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Playing 11, toss result, live streaming

Sri Lanka have made two changes in their Playing 11. Pramodh Madushan replaced Rajitha and Kusal Janith came in for Dimuth Karunaratne.

ICC latest Rankings: Shubman Gill climbs second spot in ODI batting charts

India opener Shubman Gill jumped to second position, among batsmen, in the latest ICC ODI Players' Rankings on the weight of his performances in the ongoing Asia Cup.India are yet to taste defeat in the Asia Cup and much of their success has to do with handsome contributions from batsmen, especially the top order comprising skipper Rohit Sharma, Gill and talisman Virat Kohli.Gill isn't the only Indian on the move up the rankings for batsmen, with Kohli rising two places to eighth and Rohit jumping two spots to ninth in the latest standings. For the first time in more than four and half years, three Indians feature inside the Top 10 of the latest rankings for batsmen.Gill already has two half-centuries in the tournament, aggregating 154 runs.His handsome returns in the ongoing tournament has taken him to a career-best second place in the rankings for batsmen. He trails Pakistan skipper Babar Azam, who sits top of the pile currently.According to the ICC standings, Gill has closed the ...

Asia Cup IND vs PAK Highlights: Kuldeep, Virat and Rahul shine in India win

Asia Cup 2023, India vs Pakistan Highlights: Indian team defeated Pakistan by 228 runs to climb to the top of the points table. Virat Kohli, KL Rahul with the bat, Kuldeep Yadav shone with the ball

Asia Cup 2023, IND vs PAK: Reserve Day live match time, playing conditions

The India vs Pakistan clash has been moved to the reserve day after the actual match-day was washed out. India's score was 147/2 after 24.1 overs. Playing conditions for reserve day have been revealed

Asia Cup 2023, IND vs PAK Playing 11: Rahul replaces Shreyas in India's XI

India made two changes in their line-up from the one that played against Nepal. KL Rahul has replaced Shreyas Iyer, who is suffering from back spasms

Recent Sri Lankan experience gives Pakistan an edge over India: Babar

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam on Saturday said the recent experience of playing in Sri Lankan conditions will give his side an edge over India in Sunday's Asia Cup Super 4 clash. Several Pakistan players have been playing in Sri Lanka since the Test series in July, followed by the Lanka Premier League and the bilateral ODIs against Afghanistan. Given the continuous cricket we are playing both in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, you can say that we hold an edge (over India)," said Babar in the pre-match press conference. We have been playing here in Sri Lanka for the past two months or so. We have played Tests, we played a series against Afghanistan and then the LPL... So it can be said that we have an advantage. Babar's side had to shuttle between Sri Lanka and Pakistan because of the tournament scheduling, but the right-handed batter did not read too much into it. We always knew the schedule and how much we have to travel. So, it's become important how we look after our players. We have pla

Asia Cup 2023: Pakistan vs Bangladesh Playing 11, toss result, streaming

Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan won the toss and decided to bat first in the Super Four opener at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. Litton Das is back for Bangladesh and Faheem Ashraf for Pakistan

Pakistan vs Bangladesh: Faheem Ashraf replaces Mohammad Nawaz in Pak 11

Pakistan continues the trend of naming playing 11 one day in advance of the match. They have brought in Faheem Ashraf in place of Mohammed Nawaz for Bangladesh clash

Asia Cup 2023 IND vs PAK: Wasim Akram rates Shaheen, Bumrah and Babar-Virat

Former Pakistan player Wasim Akram gave his verdict on the debate surrounding who is better among India's Jasprit Bumrah and Pakistan's Shaheen Afridi as well as between Babar Azam and Virat Kohli

Asia Cup 2023, IND vs PAK Playing 11: Shardul preferred over Shami in XI

India have gone with two genuine pacers --Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj -- and two fast bowling all-rounders in Shardul Thakur and Hardik Pandya.

Asia Cup, IND vs PAK: Rohit has strongest Indian side since 2011- Shastri

A seasoned leader like Rohit Sharma understands the "terrain" of an Indo-Pak contest better than most but Babar Azam's unit won't be mere pushovers as it has managed to narrow the gap with the arch-rivals in the past few years, said former India head coach Ravi Shastri. India and Pakistan will be meeting in an ODI game after four years when they face-off on Saturday. "I would say India start as favourites. This is their strongest team since 2011, this mix of players. And a captain who is seasoned, who understands the terrain better than most,' Shastri told ESPN Cricinfo on Friday. "Having said that, Pakistan have narrowed the gap. Seven-eight years (ago), there was a gap if you looked at the strength of both teams and man to man. But Pakistan have narrowed it down. They are a very good side, so you have to be on top of your game." While Indian teams during the last two decades have dominated the proceedings against the cross-border nation, the former head coach wants players not to

Asia Cup, IND vs PAK: Babar backs team's experience in Lanka to do well

Pakistan captain Babar Azam on Friday played down the talks of pressure on his side and said they were banking on their experience in Sri Lankan conditions to do well against India in their Asia Cup match. Pakistan had played a two-match Test series in Sri Lanka in July and then several players, including Babar, stayed back for the Lanka Premier League (LPL). After the LPL, Pakistan took on Afghanistan in a three-match ODI series, which they won 3-0. Babar said the whole trip would stand the side in good stead. "We have been here since July. We have played Test matches, some league (LPL) matches and then the ODIs (against Afghanistan). We are hoping that this will help us to do well against India tomorrow," said Babar during the pre-match press-conference. Babar shot down talks of pressure surrounding an Indo-Pak match, and said they were just concentrating on the game and not on outside noises. "There is no extra pressure. Yes, the India vs Pakistan match is always one of high ..

Asia Cup, IND vs PAK preview: It's Rohit, Gill & Kohli vs Pak's pace trio

Virat Kohli won't mind an encore of that magical moment against Haris Rauf while Rohit Sharma would be ready with his answers for Shaheen Shah Afridi's banana inswingers in India's 'battle royale' against Pakistan, which will be more than just a World Cup dress rehearsal. The Asia Cup has returned to the 50-over format to facilitate an ideal match preparation for five of the six participating teams but for organisers and the fans India versus Pakistan is not just another game, it is 'The Match'. Kohli's lofted check-drive off Rauf under Melbourne skyline last year during the T20 World Cup became a part of Indian cricket fans' muscle memory while Pakistanis rejoiced when Rohit failed to negotiated a lethal tailing-in delivery from Shaheen and was caught plumb. Such performances help players grow into legends and Saturday's Asia Cup game will be another opportunity for cricketers from both the sides to emerge as heroes. However with steady rain predicted in the hilly Kandy region on

Asia Cup 2023: Babar Azam says big win against Nepal boost for India match

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam on Wednesday said the massive 238-run win over Nepal in the Asia Cup opener will give his side confidence ahead of their blockbuster clash against arch-rivals India on Saturday. Pakistan crushed minnows Nepal by a huge margin of 238 runs here in a Group A match to make a winning start to the Asia Cup. Pakistan will now travel to Sri Lanka for the much-anticipated match against India to be played in Pallekele. "This game was good preparation for the India game because it gave us confidence. We want to give 100 per cent every match, hope to do that there as well," Babar said after the end of the match. Babar smashed 151, his 19th ODI century while Iftikhar Ahmed (109 not out) hit his maiden ODI ton to power Pakistan to an imposing 342 for six after opting to bat. Babar was involved in two crucial partnerships after a sedate start -- first stitching 86 runs with Mohammad Rizwan (44 off 50) and then sharing an whirlwind 214 runs for the fifth wicket with ..

IND vs PAK, Asia Cup 2023: Babar Azam's 151 rings the danger bell for India

Babar Azam hit 151 against Nepal in the opening match of Asia Cup 2023. It rang the danger bells for Team India. The two arch-rivals clash on Saturday, September 02, in Babar's next game

Asia Cup today's match: PAK vs NEP playing 11, toss result, live streaming

Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq are the two openers in Pakistan Playing 11 vs Nepal in Match 1 of Asia Cup 2023.