Page 4 - Pakistan Cricket Board

Hosting rights agreement of 2025 Champions Trophy signed with ICC: PCB

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday said it signed the hosting rights agreement of the 2025 Champions Trophy with the International Cricket Council (ICC) in Dubai. The agreement for the 2025 mega event was signed by Zaka Ashraf who heads the Cricket Management Committee running the PCB affairs at the moment. "Chairman PCB Management Committee Mr Zaka Ashraf was joined by ICC General Counsel Jonathan Hall in the signing of the hosting rights to Pakistan at the ICC headquarters," the PCB said in a statement. Pakistan last hosted an ICC event in 1996 -- the ODI World Cup. Pakistan was guaranteed to host the 2009 Champions Trophy and also matches of the 2011 World Cup at home but the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team in March 2009 in Lahore led to both events being moved from the country due to security concerns. The biggest challenge surrounding Pakistan hosting the Champions Trophy remains whether the Indian government would allow its team to travel to Pakistan for its ...

PCB waives off match fee fine imposed on Azam for displaying Palestine flag

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday completely waived off the 50 per cent match fee fine it had imposed on Azam Khan for displaying the Palestine flag on his bat during the ongoing National T20 Championships here. Azam, the son of former Pakistan captain Moin Khan, was fined 50 per cent of his match fee by the PCB match referee two days back after he refused to remove the Palestine flag sticker from his bat. The wicketkeeper-batter was found to have violated Article 2.4 of the PCB Code of Conduct For Players and Players Support Personnel for repeated failure to comply with the instruction or directive of an umpire during a Match. The PCB did not give any reason for completely waiving off the fine nor did it explain whether Azam had agreed to take off the sticker from his bat for the remaining matches of the tournament. "Azam Khan's 50 per cent fine imposed by match officials has been reviewed and waived off by the Pakistan Cricket Board," the PCB said in a brief release. "The

PCB in deadlock with ACC on additional compensation for chartered flights

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was on Tuesday caught in a deadlock with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) for demanding additional compensation on organising chartered flights between Pakistan and Sri Lanka during the Asia Cup, which it co-hosted in August-September. The Asia Cup 2023 was organised in a hybrid model in Pakistan and Sri Lanka after the ACC accepted PCB's hybrid model, with majority of the matches organised in the island nation. A reliable source in the PCB informed PTI that apart from seeking the tournament hosting fees around $250,000 as well as shares from ticketing and sponsorship fees, they have also demanded additional compensation. The source said, The additional money is for expenses incurred on renting chartered flights for teams between Pakistan and Sri Lanka and other extra expenses like additional hotel and transport fees, which were not included in the initial budget for the Asia Cup." The source, however, informed that the ACC is not willing to pay ...

Compensate if India refuses to travel to Pak for CT 2025: PCB urges ICC

: The Pakistan Cricket Board urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) to sign the Champions Trophy 2025 hosting rights agreements with it, stressing that the PCB should be compensated if India refuse to travel to the country citing political and security reasons. A highly reliable source in the PCB told PTI on Sunday that while the ICC has marked Pakistan as the host of the tournament, the global body is yet to sign the important hosting agreement with it. The source disclosed that PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf and COO Salman Naseer had met the ICC executive board in Ahmedabad to discuss the hosting of the Champions Trophy in Pakistan in February-March, 2025. Pakistani officials discussed the probability of the Indian board (BCCI) again refusing to send its team to Pakistan and made it clear that in any given situation the ICC must avoid taking unilateral decisions on the tournament, the source said. He said the PCB officials had told ICC that if India refuses to play in Pakistan o

ICC introduces stop clock in men's ODI, T20Is; 5-run penalty on 3rd offence

Bowling teams in men's ODI and T20Is will be imposed a five-run penalty if the bowler exceeds the 60 second limit of bowling the next over for the third time in an innings, the sport's governing body ICC said on Tuesday. It will be used on a trial basis initially. The decision was taken at the International Cricket Council (ICC) Board meeting here. "The CEC agreed to introduce a stop clock on a trial basis in men's ODI and T20I cricket from December 2023 to April 2024. The clock will be used to regulate the amount of time taken between overs. "If the bowling team is not ready to bowl the next over within 60 seconds of the previous over being completed, a 5-run penalty will be imposed the third time it happens in an innings," said the ICC in a statement. The ICC also made a change to its process of banning a pitch from international cricket. "Changes to the pitch and outfield monitoring regulations were also approved, including a simplification of the criteria against which a pitc

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

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

Zaka Ashraf to remain PCB chairman till end of World Cup, confirms Pak PM

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Zaka Ashraf's tenure, which was about to come to an end, has been extended at least till the end of the ongoing World Cup, according to ESPNcricinfo

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

ICC World Cup IND-PAK: India bowling coach avoids question on PCB complaint

ICC unlikely to take action on PCB complaint on Ahmedabad crowd behaviour as many reported that a group of Indian fans allegedly hurled religious remarks and abuses on Pakitan batter Mohammad Rizwan

World Cup 2023: PCB complaints of 'inappropriate conduct' in Ahmedabad

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday lodged a complaint with the ICC over "inappropriate conduct" of the fans during its team's high-profile World Cup match against India in Ahmedabad. The PCB also lodged a protest with the International Cricket Council over lack of visas issued to Pakistani journalists and fans hoping to attend the 2023 World Cup. "The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has lodged another formal protest with the ICC over delays in visas for Pakistani journalists and the absence of a visa policy for Pakistan fans for the ongoing World Cup 2023,' the PCB posted on X, formerly Twitter. "The PCB has also filed a complaint regarding inappropriate conduct targeted at the Pakistan squad during the India vs Pakistan match held on 14 October 2023." After Pakistan's defeat to India, head coach Mickey Arthur complained that the World Cup "seemed like a BCCI event" due to lack of Pakistan support at the stands. During the marquee match that ended in a convincing win for Ind

ICC World Cup: Facilitating visas for Pakistan media BCCI's duty, says ICC

The BCCI is working hard on procuring visas for the Pakistani journalists waiting to travel to India for the World Cup, the International Cricket Council said after PCB expressed its disappointment again over the delay in visa clearance for its fans and media. Around 60 Pakistani journalists are expected to make the trip across the border. Pakistan had plenty of local support for their World Cup opener against Netherlands here on Friday but no member of their media contingent or fan was present. Karachi-born Mohammad Bashir, who is a US citizen, was seen rooting for Pakistan in the stands. While the ICC is the World Cup organiser, the BCCI is hosting the ODI showpiece. This (visa) is an obligation of our host (BCCI) and they are working hard on it with our full support. Every effort is being made to get this sorted, an ICC Spokesperson told PTI. With a large number of fans expected to travel across the border, the PCB is hoping that the visas will come through before the big game

Doubts over Naseem Shah's fitness for Pakistan's initial World Cup games

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam has cast doubts on the possibility of pacer Naseem Shah's timely recovery for their initial matches in the upcoming World Cup in India. However, their ace pacer Haris Rauf is "recovering well" from a side strain and will be fit in time for their opening match against the Netherlands at Hyderabad on October 6, the skipper has said. The duo picked up niggling injuries during Pakistan's Super Four clash against India in the Asia Cup and were sitting on from the sidelines when the team crashed out of the tournament after losing to Sri Lanka in Colombo on Thursday. The Pakistan Cricket Board has not yet released any official timeline regarding Naseem's rehabilitation process following a right shoulder injury. In light of this, Babar Azam expressed uncertainty regarding Naseem's fitness for the start of the tournament. "I'll tell you later... Not telling you our Plan B now. But, yes, Haris Rauf is not bad. He's just got a little bit of a side strain, but he's

PCB media manager Umar Kalson under scanner for visiting Colombo casino

Pakistan team's current media manager Umar Farooq Kalson and board's GM (International Cricket) Adnan Ali are under scanner after pictures and video footages emerged of the duo visiting a Colombo casino. Both are in Colombo in official capacity as a part of the Pakistani contingent for the ongoing Asia Cup and visiting a gambling den is sure to attract attention of ICC's Anti-Corruption Unit as it is one of the prohibited places as per code of conduct. Many Pakistani fans on social media questioned how officials of the PCB could be so "immature" and "careless" as to indulge in gambling. Many criticised the trend of many PCB officials going on to Colombo during the Asia Cup on official visits. A PCB source said that at least 15-20 PCB officials had travelled o and fro between Colombo and Lahore while some were stationed there permanently as Pakistan was the official host of the Asia Cup. After some Pakistani news channels ran headlines, the two officials in the Casino later clarifi

PCB demands compensation from Asian Cricket Council over Asia Cup schedule

One of the major clashes that was ruled out due to rain in the Asia Cup was India against Pakistan. The arch-rivals entered the field for the first time since 2019 in the ODI format

Asia Cup: Jay Shah explains why Sri Lanka was chosen as venue and not UAE

ACC had been facing flak as all three group-stage matches held in Sri Lanka saw rain breaks, and the most anticipated India-Pakistan clash was washed out

Asia Cup: Former PCB chairman Sethi flays ACC for India-Pak match wash out

Former Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Najam Sethi questioned the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) on its decision to award the hosting rights of the Asia Cup to Sri Lanka as opposed to the UAE

Asia Cup, IND vs PAK: Shaheen Afridi says prepared enough to win the trophy

Shaheen Afridi talks about team spirit, preparations to win the Asia Cup and the Pakistan pace trio that includes him, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah

Asia Cup: Deadlock over PCB's new contracts, players want more freedom

The deadlock between the Pakistan Cricket Board and the national team players over the signing of new central contracts is yet to be resolved ahead of the all-important Asia Cup in Pakistan and Sri Lanka. A well-informed insider in the board on Saturday confirmed that there were still a number of issues to be sorted out and at one stage senior pacer, Shaheen Shah Afridi had refused to sign the new central contract after the PCB denied him an NOC for the Emirates T20 International League. Shaheen got so frustrated at the board's refusal to issue him an NOC that he made it clear it would be best if he didn't sign any contract with the board and played as a freelancer, the insider said. The board then averted a similar situation with some other players by agreeing to issue NOCs for the Emirates League to be held in January-February. Shaheen has secured an USD 400,000 contract for two or three years and an additional USD 150,000 for the league by marketing his NFTs online. The insider

On eve of HC hearing, PCB's Zaka Ashraf calls emergency meet to save chair

In a desperate attempt to save his chair, head of the Pakistan Cricket Board management committee has called an emergency meeting on Sunday on the eve of his hearing in Lahore High Court. Zaka, who was appointed in June by the previous government to hold elections of affiliated units, has moved the High Court to obtain a stay order against any decision by the government and election commission of Pakistan to remove him. Although the PCB has made no official announcement about the meeting, insiders say all the CMC members were called and told about the meeting. The interesting part is that the meeting has been called in Karachi one day before the Lahore High Court hearing at which the PCB has assured the judge they would submit an election schedule for the post of chairman. The caveat is that even if the CMC forms a Board of Governors on Sunday it has to be ratified by the ministry of sports and also by the election commissioner and secondly only the patron in chief (sitting Prime .