Page 49 - Pakistan Cricket Team

Asia Cup 2023: Top five wicket-takers in the history of the tournament

It would be hard to guess that no Indian bowler features in the list of top-five wicket-takers in the history of the Asia Cup. Harder would be to believe that there is no Pakistani pacer on the list

Tilak Varma to Gulshan Jha: Top 5 youngsters to watch out in Asia Cup 2023

This Asia Cup will see many youngsters face the test of international cricket in a multi-lateral ODI format, having shone in their bilateral and league matches so far. But few are primed to shine

Asia Cup: Shadab Khan reacts to Ajit Agrakar's comment 'Virat will handle'

Shadab Khan said that whether or not Virat Kohli will handle all Pakistan bowlers, will be decided on match day in the Asia Cup 2023

Asia Cup 2023, India vs Pakistan: Top five battles in tournament's history

India-Pakistan rivalries have been fierce and the Asia Cup is no stranger to it. From Harbhajan Singh-Shoaib Akhtar's fight to Virat Kohli's heroics, it contains everything in it

Ahead of Asia Cup, Pakistan go top of ODI rankings, beat Australia

Following their 3-0 ODI series sweep over Afghanistan on Saturday, Pakistan sealed the top spot in the ODI rankings

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

Asia Cup 2023 full schedule, match timing, venues, live streaming in India

Asia Cup 2023 will be played in a 50-over format. Pakistan will host 4 matches, one in Multan and the other three in Lahore and Sri Lanka will host 9 matches

Asia Cup 2023: Top five run-getters in the history of the tournament

From India, none among Dhoni, Sehwag or Virat feature in the list of the top five run-getters in the history of the Asia Cup. Then who leads the chart? It's not Sachin by the way

Haris Rauf's 5-18 dismisses Afghanistan for 59, Pakistan earn big ODI win

Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf grabbed 5-18 as Afghanistan succumbed to a 142-run loss in their one-day international on Tuesday. After bowling out Pakistan for 201 on a tricky, slow pitch, Afghanistan was all out at 59-9 in less than 20 overs. Afghanistan suffered its second lowest ODI total. Shaheen Shah Afridi rattled Afghanistan's top order with the wickets of Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmat Shah off successive deliveries in his second over, then Shadab Khan took a brilliant catch of captain Hashmatullah Shahidi that left Afghanistan limping at 3-4. Rauf's fiery pace and swing then routed the middle order. Only Rahmanullah Gurbaz (18) and Azmatullah Omarzai (16), who retired hurt, reached double figures for the Afghans before Rauf claimed the last wicket and fell to his knees following the best figures of his ODI career. The spell of Haris was game-changing, Pakistan captain Babar Azam said. We just wanted to bowl as many dot balls as possible and hit hard lengths in the powerplay.

World Cup: HCA informs BCCI of security challenges for back-to-back games

Hyderabad Cricket Association has alerted BCCI about the challenges that have risen due to late changes in the World Cup 2023 schedule

Pak players reluctant to sign central contracts, ask PCB for bigger share

: Pakistani players are reluctant to sign a long-term central contract with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after differences over sale of licensed digital rights of players between the two parties. Though the last set of central contracts of the players expired on June 30, the PCB has so far not been able to convince them to sign the new contracts. The Pakistan squad has already reached Sri Lanka for their One-Day series against Afghanistan and for the subsequent Asia Cup. A reliable source close to the players said the dispute centered around the demand of the players for a bigger share and say in the sale of their digital rights, handled by the board. The players' point of view is that other cricket boards either are not involved in the sale of players digital rights / NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) or have a proper agreement with them on the sharing of revenues from this avenue, the source said. He said with companies like Rario headed by two Singapore-based Indians or Dream Spor

IND, PAK will struggle to match power hitting skills of other teams: Latif

Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif believes that Asian teams including Pakistan and India will find it tough to match the power hitting skills of other teams in the upcoming ODI World Cup. In an interview to the Cricket Baaz Youtube channel on Wednesday, Latif said the likes of England, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa would bring something new with their approach in the 50-over showpiece scheduled in India from October 5-November 19. The one area where I feel Asian teams will struggle to match these sides are particularly in the middle overs when a fast strike rate is required even in 50-overs, said the former wicket-keeper batter. "The English, Australian and New Zealand batters have turned to reverse sweep and switch shots against the spinners into something very lethal nowadays. He also noted that England in particular were also well versed in using their spinners in the middle overs. A bowler like Adil Rashid or someone like Moeen Ali buy their wickets whereas our ..

Wasim Akram asks PCB to delete commemorative video clip without Imran Khan

Legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram on Wednesday asked Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to delete and apologise to fans for making a commemorative video clip without featuring Imran Khan, the 1992 World Cup winning captain. On August 14, the PCB shared a video clip celebrating the best moments of Pakistan cricket and the crowning moment was understandably the World Cup victory 31 years ago. But Imran, who led that team, was not to be seen anywhere in that clip which ran for 2 minutes and 21 seconds. Akram, who played a vital role in that triumph, expressed his dismay over omitting his fast bowling mentor from the video. After long flights and hours of transit before reaching Sri Lanka, I got the shock of my life when I watched PCB's short clip on the history of Pakistan cricket minus the great Imran Khan. Political differences apart but Imran Khan is an icon of world cricket and developed Pakistan into a strong unit in his time and gave us a pathwayPCB should delete the video and apolog

Asia Cup unleashes grandest stage for IND vs PAK rivalry: Ravi Shastri

Former India coach and captain Ravi Shastri feels that Asia Cup will set the stage for the India-Pakistan World Cup rivalry

Wahab Riaz announces international retirement to focus on franchise cricket

Pakistan fast bowler Wahab Riaz on Wednesday announced his retirement from international cricket to focus on playing T20 leagues around the world. The 38-year-old left-arm pacer played 27 Tests, 91 ODIs and 36 T20 Internationals from 2008-2020, claiming 83, 120 and 34 wickets respectively. "After an incredible journey, I've decided to retire from international cricket. Big thank you to PCB, my family, coaches, mentors, teammates, fans, and everyone who supported me. Exciting times ahead in the world of franchise cricket!, he said in a statement posted on social media platform X, formerly Twitter. "As I bid farewell to this chapter, I am thrilled to embark on a new adventure in franchise cricket, where I hope to entertain and inspire audiences while competing against some of the best talents in the world, added the fast bowler. Riaz is the ninth bowler in history of Pakistan to take a five-for on debut, recorded against England as he took 5/63 at The Oval. Riaz also took a famous .

Shaheen Afridi signs three-year deal with ILT20 franchise Desert Vipers

Star left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi has signed a three-year contract with Desert Vipers for the second season of the UAE's ILT20, and will become the first Pakistan player to play in the league in January next year. "I am excited to join the Desert Vipers. I know there are many Pakistan cricket fans in the UAE and I hope they will support our team in the upcoming ILT20," Afridi said in a statement. The next season of ILT20 is scheduled to begin on January 13, and Afridi could join the team after returning from Australia. The Vipers had tried to sign a few players from Pakistan last year as well but those attempts didn't materialise. Last year, Vipers had signed Azam Khan, which would have made him the first Pakistan player in the ILT20, but the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) did not grant him the no-objection certificate to play in the league. The PCB's current chairman Zaka Ashraf has, however, is allowing players to participate in various T20 leagues. "Shaheen is undeniably a play

Asia Cup 2023: Pakistan appoints sports psychologist Maqbool Babri

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed sports psychologist Dr Maqbool Babri to counsel the men's team during ODI series against Afghanistan in Sri Lanka followed by the high-profile Asia Cup before the marquee World Cup comes calling. "Yes, Dr Maqbool Babri who has worked in the past with counselling of some of our players will be accompanying the squad," a PCB source said. He said the board wanted to facilitate the players in every way possible so that they were able to focus completely on their cricket and matches. Babri has in the past also worked with some players helping them understand how to handle pressure situations and get through bad performances and personal issues. A source in the PCB said that Babri was being sent with the team so that the players can always have a qualified psychologist to sit down with and discuss any issues instead of bottling up their feelings. The PCB announced on Sunday that a pre-Sri Lanka departure camp for the players in Pakistan wil

Pak cricket team at ICC World Cup to be treated like any other team: MEA

India on Friday said the Pakistani cricket team will be treated just like any other squad participating in the upcoming ICC World Cup in the country. India is hosting the tournament from October 5. "The Pakistan cricket team will be treated just like the cricket team of any other country participating in the ICC World Cup," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said. On Pakistan seeking better security for its team, he said the questions should be better directed towards the security agencies or the organisers. "Of course, we would hope that all necessary security will be provided not just to them but to all other participating teams." "I hope that there is a good match and I hope this is not war as it seems to be made out to," Bagchi said when asked about Pakistan foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's reported comments that Islamabad does not mix sports with politics and that was the reason why it decided to send the team to the tournament and defeat India in

Pakistan's Asia Cup 2023 squad: Faheem Ashraf, Tayyib Tahir surprise picks

While Tayyib Tahir was rewarded for his performance in the recently concluded Emerging Teams Asia Cup final against India. Fast bowling all-rounder Faheem Ashraf has been called back

How to deal with pressure of Indo-Pak game? Anil Kumble's key suggestions

India are set to play Pakistan in the Asia Cup and the World Cup in the coming two months, and legendary leg-spinner Anil Kumble said on Tuesday that the key will be to take it as just another game of cricket. The former India captain has an outstanding record against Pakistan in both Tests and ODIs, having taken 81 wickets from 15 Tests, including snaring all 10 wickets in an innings (10/74) in 1999 at New Delhi. In 34 ODIs against Pakistan, Kumble has grabbed 54 wickets. "In our times, the word was 'lose even to Kenya but not to Pakistan'. There was pressure and expectation on the players. "That's how the matches between India and Pakistan are being played and the key is to treat it as just another match," Kumble said here while speaking during the launch of Pitchside, the memoir written by veteran cricket administrator Amrit Mathur. The function was also attended by former India batter and the current NCA chief VVS Laxman and former India wicketkeeper Syed Kirmani. The 10-wick