Page 24 - Pakistan Cricket Team

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

Even someone like MS Dhoni cannot do anything with this PAK side: Sana Mir

Former Pakistan women's captain Sana Mir has joined the chorus of criticism against the men's cricket team for its early exit from the Champions Trophy, saying that even a talisman like Mahendra Singh Dhoni cannot change the fortunes of the embattled side. Hosts Pakistan were eliminated from the ongoing eight-team Champions Trophy after humiliating defeats to New Zealand and arch-foes India. "The 15 that have been selected (in Champions Trophy squad), even if you make MS Dhoni or (former Pakistan skipper) Younis Khan captain, nobody can do anything to the team because it has not been selected on the basis of the playing conditions," said Mir on 'Game On Hai' programme. The Mohammad Rizwan-led Pakistan team has also received flak from the fans in Pakistan for the way they capitulated to a six-wicket loss to India in the marquee clash in Dubai. "I was watching the match when I got a message from a friend that India are 100 for 2 'I think it's over'. So, I said the match was over when

Over 100 Pakistani policemen dismissed for refusing Champions Trophy duties

In an unprecedented move, over 100 policemen of Pakistan's Punjab Police have been dismissed from service for refusing to perform assigned security duties during the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025, police said on Tuesday. The dismissed personnel were associated with various wings of the police force. According to an official of the Punjab Police, more than 100 police officials and officers have been removed from their positions for being found absent from duty on numerous occasions, with several others refusing to perform their assigned tasks during the Champions Trophy. "The police officials were assigned to provide security for teams travelling between Qaddafi Stadium Lahore and designated hotels but either remained absent or outright refused to take up their responsibilities," he said. The official said IGP Punjab Usman Anwar has taken notice of the matter and ordered strict action against the cops in question. "There is no room for negligence when it comes to the security of

Akhtar slams Pakistan cricket team after loss against India in Dubai

Pace legend Shoaib Akhtar didn't pull any punches as he blasted Pakistan's "brainless, and clueless" team management following the six-wicket loss to India in the Champions Trophy, saying the side entered the tournament without any "clear direction". Pakistan suffered their second consecutive loss in the event on Sunday. They had lost to New Zealand in the opener and their chances of advancing are now hanging by a thread. "I am not disappointed at all (by the defeat to India) because I knew what would happen," Akhtar said in a short video on his X account. "You can't select five bowlers? the whole world is playing six bowlers you go with two all-rounders, this is just brainless and clueless management." The former quick blamed the management for selecting a side that lacked the necessary skills and understanding to compete at the highest level. "I am really disappointed. We can't blame the kids (Pakistan players); The players are just as clueless as the team management is! They d

New Zealand beat Bangladesh, knocking Pakistan out of Champions Trophy 2025

New Zealand and India are the two teams that booked their place in the semifinals from Group A

Champions Trophy S/F: Group A qualified teams, points table and key stats

The four semifinalists will face each other in the two semifinals of ICC Champions Trophy 2025 on 4 and 5 March

PCB set to reshuffle coaching staff after Champions Trophy disaster: Report

The backlash due to the poor show in the Champions Trophy, including the humiliating defeat to India, hit the Pakistan team hard and its support staff led by former fast bowler Aaqib Javed is set to be overhauled, according to a cricket Board source. Pakistan lost to arch-rivals India by six wickets in Dubai on Sunday, after their 60-run defeat to New Zealand in the Champions Trophy opener in Karachi on February 19. A well-informed source in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said that Aaqib will be relieved of his duties as interim head coach after the Champions Trophy. Obviously there is backlash over the team's performance in the CT. The Board hasn't decided as yet on whether the team will have separate head coaches (for red and white ball teams) but one thing is certain the current support staff will be overhauled now after the poor show in the Champions Trophy, the source told PTI. "But the way the Board has been changing coaches and selectors since last year, it will be a ...