Page 31 - Pakistan Cricket Team

Muhammad Rizwan replaces Babar Azam as Pakistan's white-ball skipper

Wicketkeeper-batter Muhammad Rizwan was on Sunday named Pakistan's ODI and T20 captain, replacing Babar Azam, as the selectors announced the squads for the white-ball tours of Australia and Zimbabwe beginning November 4. Salman Ali Agha was made vice-captain for all future ODI and T20 international assignments. Pakistan will play three ODIs and as many T20Is in their Australia tour, beginning with the first match in Melbourne (ODI) on November 4, and that will be Rizwan's first assignment as captain. Agha will lead the T20I side in Zimbabwe as Rizwan is rested under a workload management plan, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a statement. Pakistan's tour of Zimbabwe -- for three ODIs and three T20Is -- is from November 24 to December 5. The first match -- an ODI -- will be played in Bulawayo. Babar, pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah returned to the Pakistan team for the Australia tour after being sidelined for two Tests against England. However, they have been res

WTC 2023-25 points table: India's chances for final dented after NZ loss

India need to win five of their remaining six Test matches to keep their final hopes alive

PAK vs ENG: Pakistan end their 3-year no-win streak with home Test series

Pakistan last won a Test series at home when they beat South Africa 2-0 in February 2021

Test coach Gillespie cautions ex-players against harsh Pakistan criticism

Pakistan's red-ball format head coach, Jason Gillespie has urged former cricketers to avoid unwarranted criticism of the national team as he believes it can deeply affect the players. Gillespie admitted that the comments former players made in TV shows and Youtube channels indeed bruised the cricketers. I'm very protective of players and very protective of staff I work with and just want to make sure that the environment that we're trying to create is a safe space for everyone and if that gets eroded then that can lead to a bit of frustration, Gillespie told Sky Sports. The former Australian quick asked the players of yesteryears to be more judicious while airing their opinion, especially in social media. A lot of former players have their own space on social media YouTube, whatever, and they're paid to have an opinion. One thing that I have noticed here is that the players notice everything and if they get some positive feedback from former players they idolised as kids, that goe

Pakistan, England to bank on spin during the third Test at Rawelpindi

Have England pulled an ace by playing mind games with Pakistan and pushing them into fielding three spinners on a pitch which could end up not being a slow bowlers paradise at the Rawalpindi cricket stadium? With the three-match Test series poised at 1-1 and the decisive third match, beginning here from Thursday, both the teams seemed to be unclear about the pitch's nature. It is definitely not going to spin from day one like we say when they used the same first Test pitch for the second Test in Multan, a senior ground staff at the Pindi stadium said on condition of anonymity. Pakistan would have been better off playing with two proper pace bowlers. England have the advantage of having two proper pacers (Ben Stokes, Gus Atkinson) but Pakistan will have to rely on just Aamer Jamal, he offered. The staff said the pitch could assist the spinners, but during the last two days. Before that it will be good for batting and pacers will get some help and reverse swing, he said. He also ..

Pakistan vs England 3rd Test playing 11, live telecast and streaming

England announced their Playing 11 for the 3rd Test two days before the scheduled start of the match. Pakistan is likely to reveal their Playing 11 today

Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman to escape with a reprimand for criticising PCB

Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman is likely to escape with a reprimand for criticising the PCB ahead of the squad announcement, where it planned to drop former skipper Babar Azam for two Tests against England. Azam, along with several senior players, got eventually dropped for two Test days after Fakhar expressed his displeasure on social media. Fakhar was issued a show-cause notice by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after he tweeted his views where he compared Azam's run drought with India's Virat Kohli, who went through a lean patch between 2020 and late 2022. "It's concerning to hear suggestions about dropping Babar Azam. India didn't bench Virat Kohli during his rough stretch between 2020 and 2023, when he averaged 19.33, 28.21, and 26.50, respectively," Fakhar wrote on 'X'. "If we are considering sidelining our premier batsman, arguably the best Pakistan has ever produced, it could send a deeply negative message across the team. There is still time to avoid pressing the panic butt

PAK vs ENG: Selectors camping in Rawalpindi to oversee pitch preparation

Pakistan's cricket selectors, Aaqib Javed, Aleem Dar, Asad Shafiq and Azhar Ali, are camping here to oversee the preparation of a pitch that offers ample turn in the decisive third and final Test against England starting on Thursday. "The ground staff has been instructed to prepare a pitch that offers plenty of assistance to the spinners as Pakistan wants to attack England again with slow bowlers," a source close to the selectors said. The series is keenly poised with Ben Stokes' England winning the opening Test by an innings and 47 runs, while the hosts, riding on the success of their spinners, Noman Ali and Sajid Khan, won the second game by 152 runs. The two Pakistan slow bowlers took all 20 England wickets in the match. The source said that on the instructions of the selectors, the ground staff was using several methods to prepare a dry, spinning track. "They (ground staff) are using large fans, heaters and black cloth to soak the moisture in the surface and keep it as dry as

Women's T20 WC 2024: What is the prize money for winners & runners-up?

Before the start of the tournament, the ICC announced that the women's tournament would have a similar prize money to the men's tournament for the first time ever

India A edge Pakistan A by 7 runs in thrilling ACC Emerging Asia Cup clash

India A excelled in all three departments, clinching a thrilling seven-run victory over Pakistan to kick off their ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup campaign on an exhilarating note here on Saturday. India's top order fired in unison as it posted 183 for 8 with Tilak Verma top-scoring with a 35-ball 44 after opting to bat. Pacers Anshul Kamboj (3/33) and Rasikh Salam (2/30) and spinner Nishant Sindhu (2/15) shared eight wickets amongst themselves to restrict Pakistan to 176/7. Not only did India shine with the bat and ball, they also delivered an impressive performance in the field, particularly through Ramandeep Singh, who made a stunning catch and saved vital runs in the closing moments. Openers Abhishek Sharma (35 off 22) and Prabhsimran Singh (36 off 19) unleashed an aggressive assault on the pace attack, sending the ball flying across the field. Abhishek slapped consecutive boundaries in the first over, while Prabhsimran followed suit by dispatching Zaman Khan for a four and a six

WTC 2025 points table: India, New Zealand, Pakistan's latest rankings

India, despite a loss against New Zealand at home, continues to lead the ongoing WTC cycle points table

Champions Trophy: Play in Pak, return home same day, PCB proposal to India

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reached out to the BCCI and proposed an arrangement allowing India to return to either New Delhi or Chandigarh in between matches during the Champions Trophy next year if the team is not willing to stay in Pakistan due to security reasons. The PCB has "verbally" suggested to the BCCI that the Indian team can set up a camp in either New Delhi or Chandigarh/Mohali and use chartered flights to travel to Lahore for their matches. A PCB source though confirmed to PTI on Friday that the the board had not made any suggestions in writing to their Indian counterparts. "But yes it is true that these options have been discussed verbally between officials as a way to ensure that India plays its matches in Pakistan," the source said. The Champions Trophy is slated to take place from February 19 to March 9, with matches scheduled in Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Karachi. Due to its proximity to the Indian border and logistical ease, the PCB has planned India's mat

PCB not willing to move Champions Trophy 2025 final out of Lahore

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is mentally prepared for India's refusal to travel to the country for the Champions Trophy but it won't move the title clash of the tournament from Lahore even if the arch-rivals qualify for the final on March 9, sources said on Friday. The PCB's stance on hosting the final is up for debate when the International Cricket Council (ICC) Board members meet in Dubai from October 18 to 21. "The PCB's first choice and priority is to host entire Champions Trophy in Pakistan and they are counting on this but internally the Board is also mentally prepared to hear about the Indian government not allowing its team to play in Pakistan and India's matches being held in UAE," a PCB source said. "But the PCB has decided even in the event of India not playing in Pakistan they want the final to be held in Lahore. Even if India qualifies for the final the PCB wants the ICC to hold the match at the Gaddafi stadium in Lahore," the source said. The bilateral cricketing

Mohd Rizwan could be Pakistan cricket team's new white-ball captain

Seasoned wicketkeeper-batter Muhammad Rizwan has emerged as a front runner to become Pakistan team's captain in the white-ball formats when the PCB announces the touring squad for series in Australia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. The Pakistani selectors have held meetings with the PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and also consulted white-ball head coach, Gary Kirsten in the last two days. "The third Test against England finishes on 28th October and the squad has to leave for Australia the next day so the selectors would be announcing the white ball squad by Sunday," a reliable source in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said. "Rizwan because of his seniority, his reliability as a player and because of his experience of leading teams well in domestic cricket and PSL is a front runner to become white ball captain, the source said. Babar Azam had quit as Pakistan captain early this month, saying he wants to focus on his batting. Pakistan are due to play nine ODIs and as many T20 internationals

PAK-ENG 2nd Test highlights: Pakistan snap 11-match losing streak at home

Pakistani spinners Nauman Ali and Sajid Khan shared all 20 wickets of England in the second Test to level the three-match series 1-1

There was pressure to perform after replacing a player like Babar: Ghulam

Pakistan batter Kamran Ghulam, who on Tuesday scored a resolute century on Test debut, said there was immense pressure on him to perform after taking Babar Azam's place in the team, adding that his perseverance in domestic cricket for the last four years had finally paid off. Ghulam's ton came on a tricky recycled wicket here as Pakistan scored 259 for 5 at stumps on Day 1 of the second Test against England. Replacing Babar at No. 4, Ghulam made a patient 118 off 224 balls and became the 13th Pakistan batsman to score a century on Test debut and the first to do so against England. "It has been frustrating waiting for nearly four years to finally get a chance to play for Pakistan. I had so much passion and wanted to do well when I got the chance," Kamran told the media. "I waited patiently as I knew sooner or later I would get my chance. I think years of grinding it out in domestic cricket has given me the temperament and skills to play on all sorts of pitches and all types of ...

Shan Masood, head coach Gillespie's selection powers curtailed by new panel

Pakistan captain Shan Masood and head coach Jason Gillespie will no longer have final say in selection of the team or the playing eleven after the nation's cricket board (PCB) new selectors have cut down their powers, according to a source. A reliable source in the PCB told PTI that the role of the captain and head coach had been changed with neither of them having final say in selection matters or even finalising the playing eleven. "The playing eleven for the second Test (against England) has been finalised after consulting Shan and Gillispie but like until the first Test they no longer have final say in the selection of the playing eleven," the source said. Masood and Gillispie were inducted on the national selection committee as voting members with white ball head coach Gary Kirsten in August, but apparently the source said things have changed now. "It appears after the first Test defeat in Multan the PCB chairman, Mohsin Naqvi decided to give complete authority to the revamped

PCB show causes Fakhar Zaman after batter comes out in support of Babar

Pakistan Cricket Board has issued a show cause notice to its centrally contracted player Fakhar Zaman for an alleged breach of the players code of conduct. Fakhar had questioned the decision to exclude Babar Azam from the Pakistan squad for the second and third Test against England in a social media post on Sunday. Fakhar has been asked to submit his reply to the show cause notice by October 21 after the PCB informed him in a notice that he had committed a breach of his contract by criticising the board policies and selection. It's concerning to hear suggestions about dropping Babar Azam. India didn't bench Virat Kohli during his rough stretch between 2020 and 2023, when he averaged 19.33, 28.21, and 26.50, respectively. "If we are considering sidelining our premier batsman, arguably the best Pakistan has ever produced, it could send a deeply negative message across the team. There is still time to avoid pressing the panic button; we should focus on safeguarding our key players rat

Pakistan vs England 2nd Test playing 11, live telecast and streaming

Pakistan has decided to rest Babar Azam for the rest of the series, while Ben Stokes is set to return for the English side in the second Test

Women's T20 World Cup 2024: NZ-W vs PAK-W live time, playing 11, streaming

The place for the semifinal will be on the line when New Zealand and Pakistan take the field in Dubai