Page 15 - Pakistan Cricket Team

Pakistan star batter Babar Azam opts out of National T20 Championship

Dropped from the Pakistan T20 squad for the series in New Zealand, former Pakistan captain Babar Azam has decided to skip the National T20 Championship. Babar, Muhammad Rizwan and fast bowler Naseem Shah were all dropped for the five-match T20 series starting March 16 in Christchurch, but have been retained for the three ODIs against New Zealand. While announcing the team, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had indicated that Babar, Rizwan, Naseem, who are all centrally contracted players, would be taking part in the National T20 in Faisalabad starting this week. But on Thursday it was confirmed that Babar and Naseem had withdrawn from the National T20 event citing workload management and upcoming international commitments. A reliable source in the PCB said that with the Pakistan Super League due to begin in mid April it was obvious that they were prioritising the franchise event. "Given the inconsistent policies of the national selectors these players are aware they will be back in

Ahead of IPL 2025, New Zealand rest regulars for T20 series against Pak

New Zealand have rested a majority of their T20 regulars for the home series against Pakistan with the IPL around the corner. The series, comprising five T20Is, begins March 16 while the IPL begins March 22. Michael Bracewell, who was one of the main performers for New Zealand in the Champions Trophy, will lead the side in the absence of Mitchell Santner. Besides Bracewell, six more players in the T20 squad featured in the 50-over Champions Trophy. New Zealand lost the final to India on Sunday. Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra and white-ball captain Santner were unavailable for selection due to IPL commitments. Kyle Jamieson and Will O'Rourke have been included only for the first three games of the series, as the selectors seek to manage the workload of the pace bowlers returning from the Champions Trophy. Matt Henry, who finished as the leading wicket-taker in the tournament despite missing the final through injury, has been selected for games four

ICC Champions Trophy winners and runners-up list with their captains

In 2002, India were joint winners with Sri Lanka after the final was washed out. Under the captaincy of MS Dhoni, India won their second Champions Trophy in 2013. Rohit & Virat were part of 2013 team

Wasim Akram reveals why PCB chief missed Champions Trophy final ceremony

As far as I know, Chairman Saab (PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi) wasn't well, former Pakistani pacer Wasim Akram said in a television show, named Dressing Room

Champions Trophy 2025 prize money: How much do India, New Zealand receive?

The winner (India) of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 receive $2.24 million (Rs 20 crore). Check the breakdown of how much teams earned based on their performance here

They couldn't win in ICC events: Mohd Hafeez attacks former PAK stars

In contrast, Hafeez praised Pakistan's more recent successes, specifically the 2009 T20 World Cup and the 2017 Champions Trophy victories.

India's stance on cricket with Pakistan is clear and categorical: Shukla

BCCI vice president Rajeev Shukla on Wednesday said it is very categorical and clear that resumption of bilateral cricket between India and Pakistan is subjected to Indian government's clearance. The senior BCCI official, who is here on the invitation of the Pakistan Cricket Board to watch the Champions Trophy semifinal between New Zealand and South Africa, also said India team doesn't depend on favourable pitches to excel. As far as you are asking about (cricket) between the two countries, it is very categorical and clear that it is the (Indian) government's decision. Whatever the government of India says, we will go as per them," Shukla told the Pakistan media on Wednesday. Pakistan is hosting an international tournament after a long time and it is a good thing. They have organised it well, he added. While Shukla agreed the fans from both countries want bilateral ties to be resumed, he did not sound positive on the idea of playing at a neutral venue. It is true that fans from bo

Pakistan cricket row: Gillespie slams Aaqib Javed, calls him a 'clown'

Gillespie, who quit abruptly as Pakistan's Test coach late last year, accused Javed of plotting to take over as head coach while undermining both him and Gary Kirsten behind the scenes.

Cricket boards should stop sending their players for IPL: Inzamam-Ul-Haq

Inzamam-Ul-Haq highlighted how exposure to international stars in the IPL had benefited young Indian players by teaching them how to handle pressure and improve their skills.

Pakistan fans lose interest in Champions Trophy after team's early exit

Pakistani cricket fans have more or less lost interest in the ICC Champions Trophy after the early exit of their team from the competition and the onset of Ramadan. On Saturday, there were hardly a few thousand people at the National Stadium here for the England-South Africa match, and security personnel posted at the venue heaved a sigh of relief that the tournament was as good as over for them. "It has been a hard and tense last two weeks for us so we are hugely relieved now. It was also relatively peaceful in the England match," SSP Imran Jamil, deputed at the stadium, said. At least 7000 police personnel, paramilitary rangers and even some military units were on duty in Karachi for the Champions Trophy matches, which started on February 19 in Karachi. But Jamil said the work to provide state-level security for the teams, officials, media and fans had begun before the commencement of the mega event because of the three-nation tournament involving Pakistan, New Zealand and South

PCB announces full refund for two rain-cancelled Champions Trophy matches

The Pakistan Cricket Board on Saturday announced full ticket refunds for the two Champions Trophy matches in Rawalpindi that were washed out by rain. The affected matches -- Australia vs South Africa on February 25 and Bangladesh vs Pakistan on February 27 -- were abandoned without a ball bowled. As per the PCB ticket refund policy for Champions Trophy, ticket holders are eligible for a full refund if the match was abandoned before the toss. All enclosure tickets will be refunded, the PCB said in a statement. Ticket holders of hospitality tickets (boxes and PCB gallery) will not be eligible for a refund, it said. Eligible ticket holders can claim their refund at select TCS outlets between March 10 and March 14. To process the refund, ticket holders must present an original, undamaged ticket as proof of purchase and must personally visit the TCS outlet, as refunds cannot be claimed on behalf of someone else.

Govt official to ask PM Sharif to address Pakistan's debacle in Parliament

A senior Pakistan government official has said that he will request Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to take up the matter of the country's cricket team's disappointing performance in the Champions Trophy in Parliament and the Federal Cabinet. The (Pakistan) Cricket Board is an independent institution. They can do as they please, which they have. And what they've done, I will request the Prime Minister to discuss the matter in the Cabinet and Parliament, Rana Sanaullah, the advisor to the PM on Political and Public Affairs, told Geo TV channel. Hosts Pakistan's campaign in the marquee tournament ended prematurely with big defeats to New Zealand (by 60 runs) and India (by six wickets). Their inconsequential last group match against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi was called off without a ball being bowled due to incessant rain. Sanaullah, a former federal and provincial minister, and a senior member of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (N) party, made it clear that the caretaker government ...

Champions Trophy, PAK vs BAN: Check Pakistan, Bangladesh playing 11 today

Pakistan is expected to exclude Haris Rauf from the playing 11 for the final game against Bangladesh after two underwhelming outings so far in the competition

Champions Trophy 2025 live streaming: Where to watch PAK vs BAN live match?

JioHotstar will live stream the match between Pakistan and Bangladesh from Rawalpindi in India

Champions Trophy Pakistan vs Bangladesh: Head-to-head records in ICC events

Pakistan lead Bangladesh three wins to two in their last five ODI encounters since 2015

Champions Trophy PAK vs BAN: Pitch report, key stats of Rawalpindi stadium

Pakistan and Bangladesh will face each other for only the second time in Champions Trophy history on Thursday

Champions Trophy 2025: PAK vs BAN playing 11, live match time, streaming

Pakistan and Bangladesh will aim to win their match on Thursday in Lahore to end their campaign in the 2025 Champions Trophy with at least something to celebrate

PCB advises Fakhar to reconsider his decision regarding ODI retirement

Pakistan Cricket Board has advised Fakhar Zaman to reconsider any hasty plans of retirement from ODI cricket after reports emerged that the experienced opener was contemplating quitting the format following his injury-enforced exclusion from the Champions Trophy. According to sources, Fakhar, who was sidelined from the ICC event after sustaining an injury in the opening game against New Zealand, is contemplating retiring from ODIs to focus on T20 cricket. "He is basically upset and down because of his recent fitness and health issues, a source close to the batsman said. The left-handed opener, who made his return to the national squad after a lengthy absence following the 2023 World Cup, has been grappling with multiple fitness setbacks. It is understood that Fakhar wishes to retire from 50-over cricket in order to prolong his career and focus exclusively on T20 formats. Fakhar, who has not played Test cricket for Pakistan since early 2019, is primarily regarded as a white-ball ..

Pakistan's head coach believes absence of Fakhar, Ayub hurt the team in CT

Pakistan's interim head coach and national selector Aaqib Javed on Wednesday said that injuries to Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman adversely impacted the national team's campaign in the Champions Trophy. Aaqib said that despite being out of the semi-finals contention, the team was very much focussed on ending its tournament campaign on a winning note. Pakistan play Bangladesh in their last group game on Thursday. There is no worry about lack of motivation for the players, he said. Aaqib also defended the selection of the squad for the Champions Trophy insisting the best available players were picked. The team management and selectors have faced a lot of backlash over the selected squad. Aaqib noted that except for three changes ,the Pakistan squad was the same that had won ODI series in Australia, Zimbabwe and South Africa before the Champions Trophy. Certain players who are crucial for the team in specific games were missing. For example, players like Saim and Fakhar create a posit

Pakistan's cricket decline began under PM Imran Khan's tenure: Najam Sethi

Ex-PCB chairman Najam Sethi has indirectly blamed former Prime Minister Imran Khan for triggering the downslide of Pakistan cricket. In a post on X, Sethi whose last PCB stint was from December 2022 to June 2023, said the nation is justifiably angry at the performance of the national team. Champions Trophy hosts Pakistan are out of the tournament after back to back defeats. The cricket fraternity says Pakistan has hit rock bottom. How come a cricket team that was once no 1 in T20s (2018) and Tests (2016) and ODIs (1990 and 1996), which won the WC in 1992 and CT in 2017, is today equated with Zimbabwe? According to Sethi, the downfall started in 2019 when a new management under a new PM/Patron (Imran Khan was prime minister at that time and had brought in Ehsan Mani as PCB chairman) changed the domestic cricket structure that had served Pakistan reasonably well for decades and replaced it with an ill-suited Australian hybrid model. Political interference continued; contradictory PC