Pakistan

‘His fitness is always going to be under the scanner’: Salman Butt’s blunt take on Pakistan’s Azam Khan | Cricket News

Danijones8 months ago04 mins

NEW DELHI: After Pakistan‘s seven-wicket loss to England in the fourth T20I match, former cricketer Salman Butt advised wicketkeeper-batter Azam Khan to improve his fitness, warning that it will be “very difficult” for him to continue playing otherwise.Azam had a poor performance in the fourth T20I, getting dismissed for a five-ball duck in the 11th over by Mark Wood.Speaking on his official YouTube channel, Butt noted that Azam’s eyes were closed when he was dismissed by Wood, and emphasized that Azam’s fitness will always be under scrutiny.“People are going to speak about him. The way he got out today, his eyes were closed while facing the short ball, and then his wicketkeeping. His fitness is always going to be under the scanner. I think he has to decide on his career. He should work on his fitness, otherwise, it is going to be very difficult for him to play,” Butt said.Butt added that the Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter invites criticism due to his fitness levels.“Everything related to Azam Khan will be criticized whenever he doesn’t perform. This is because what he presents is open to criticism. He invites criticism with the kind of fitness he carries. He had problems against the short ball,” he added.Recapping the match, the hosts won the toss and decided to field first. The England bowlers faced some aggressive batting from the opening pair of skipper Babar Azam (36 off 22 balls, with five fours and a six) and Mohammed Rizwan (23 off 16 balls, with three fours).However, spinners Adil Rashid (2/27) and Moeen Ali (1/23) applied pressure, reducing Pakistan to 86/5. A brief fightback from Usman Khan (38 off 21 balls, with three fours and two sixes) and Iftikhar Ahmed (21 off 18 balls, with two fours) helped Pakistan reach 157/10 in 19.5 overs.In addition to Rashid and Moeen, Mark Wood (2/35) and Liam Livingstone (2/17) also performed well with the ball.Chasing 158 runs, England dominated with a powerplay assault by Phil Salt (45 off 24 balls, with six fours and two sixes) and skipper Jos Buttler (39 off 24 balls, with seven fours and a six), making 78 runs in the powerplay.A brief comeback spell from pacer Haris Rauf (3/38) delayed England’s victory. However, Jonny Bairstow (28* off 16 balls, with a four and three sixes) and Harry Brook (17* off 14 balls, with a four and a six) finished the match in 15.3 overs, with seven wickets remaining.Adil Rashid was awarded the ‘Player of the Match’ for his outstanding spell.(With ANI inputs)

Pakistan targets right T20 combination against understrength New Zealand | Cricket

Babar Azam should bat at number 3: Former Pakistan skipper Shoaib Malik

Danijones8 months ago04 mins

London [UK], : After Pakistan’s disappointing seven-wicket loss against England in the fourth T20I match at the Kennington Oval, former cricketer Shoaib Malik said the ‘Men in Green’ skipper Babar Azam should bat at number three. Babar Azam should bat at number 3: Former Pakistan skipper Shoaib Malik Babar scored 36 runs from 22 balls at a strike rate of 163.64 in the fourth T20I match. He slammed 5 fours and 1 six during his time on the crease. Unlock exclusive access to the latest news on India’s general elections, only on the HT App. Download Now! Download Now! Malik took to his official X account and said that it was a tough series. He added Pakistan need someone in the batting order who can rotate the strike in the middle overs of a game. He also asked Azam Khan and Shadab Khan not to lose confidence since they play a vital role in the ‘Men in Green’ squad. “Tough series! Remember: we’ve been in tough spots before & came out stronger! IMO Babar should bat at no 03! We need someone in the middle overs to rotate strike, you are our best option, with your guidance our middle order will do alot better. Azam & Shadab, you two are vital for our team, don’t lose confidence, play with heart, you are match winners. Going into the World Cup, keep you morale high, We’ve got this,” Malik wrote on X. Recapping the match, the hosts won the toss and decided to field first. The England bowlers were subjected to some fine hitting by the opening pair of skipper Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan , but the spinners Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali turned the pressure back on Pakistan batters, sinking them to 86/5. It was only a brief fightback by Usman Khan and Iftikhar Ahmed , that took Pakistan to 157/10 in 19.5 overs. Besides Rashid and Moeen, Mark Wood and Liam Livingstone also did fine with the ball. In the run-chase of 158 runs, England blew the visitors away with a powerplay assault by Phil Salt and skipper Jos Buttler , who made 78 runs in the powerplay. A brief comeback spell from pacer Haris Rauf delayed the victory for England. But Jonny Bairstow and Harry Brook , finished off the proceedings in 15.3 overs, with seven wickets left. Rashid got the ‘Player of the Match’ award for his spell. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.

England Overwhelm Pakistan In Final T20I Match Before World Cup Defence

Danijones8 months ago05 mins

Reigning champions England produced a fine all-round display as they beat Pakistan by seven wickets at The Oval on Thursday in their last competitive match before they begin the defence of their Twenty20 World Cup title. England restricted Pakistan to a modest 157 after winning the toss, with leg-spinner Adil Rashid, the player-of-the-match taking 2-27 from his maximum four overs. They then made a rapid start to their chase as Phil Salt (45) and skipper Jos Buttler (39) shared a blistering opening stand of 82 inside seven overs. Harry Brook ended the game with a six off paceman Haris Rauf, the pick of the Pakistan attack with 3-38, as England finished on 158-6 to win with more than three overs to spare. Victory gave England a 2-0 triumph in a four-match T20 series where games at Headingley and Cardiff were both washed out without a ball bowled. “We have worked hard in training and there is a good feeling around the squad,” Buttler told Sky Sports. Buttler was leading England after his wife gave birth to the couple’s third child following his dashing 84 in the hosts’ 23-run win in the second T20 at Edgbaston. “It would have been nice to get two more games in to expose a few guys to different situations,” Buttler added. “But we have really good experience in the group and a lot of guys have been playing in the IPL (Indian Premier League), so we are not short of cricket.” Both England openers launched Naseem Shah for huge sixes before Salt holed out off Rauf for a quickfire 45. Earlier, Pakistan had been well-placed at 59-0 after losing the toss at an overcast Oval. But they slumped to 86-5, the collapse starting when captain Babar Azam was caught at slip for a brisk 36 off fast bowler Jofra Archer. “It went well for five or six overs but then I got out,” said Azam. “The middle order needs to step up. “We need to sort out those things for the World Cup. We have a few injuries but there are a lot of positives. Our play is good in patches.” Pakistan were also undone by a disciplined England attack, with Rashid telling reporters: “As a unit I thought we bowled exceptionally well. I know they (Pakistan) got off to a great start, but that’s T20 cricket.” Rashid was also enthused by the sight of injury-prone quicks Archer and Mark Wood, who took wickets with sharp bouncers, bowling in tandem. “Jof and Woody, when you watch them bowl it is exciting,” he said. “Seeing the ball zip off the pitch, the keeper taking it really high and it’s exciting to have two quality, world-class bowlers in our squad.” England launch their T20 World Cup campaign against Scotland in Barbados on June 4, with 2009 champions Pakistan in action two days later against co-hosts the United States in Dallas. (This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Topics mentioned in this article

England vs Pakistan 4th T20I Live Score and Latest Updates

Danijones8 months ago01 mins

England vs Pakistan 4th T20I Live Score and Latest Updates© AFP England vs Pakistan 4th T20I Live Score: Pakistan slumped to 91/5 before rain stopped play in the fourth and final T20I against England. The match had resumed after some light showers. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan gave Pakistan a brisk start after they were put to bat first in London. Babar hit 36 off 22 while Rizwan scored a 16-ball 23 as Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid and removed them in the space of five balls. Earlier, England captain Jos Buttler won the toss and elected to field. The first and the third England vs Pakistan T20Is were washed out due to rain. The second T20I of the four-match series was won by England. (LIVE SCORECARD) Here are the LIVE Updates of England vs Pakistan 4th T20I from London Topics mentioned in this article

Vaughan’s ‘better preparation to play IPL than face Pakistan’ statement receives approval from ex-PAK star

Danijones8 months ago05 mins

England and Pakistan are preparing for the 2024 T20 World Cup by facing each other in a four-match T20I series. However, the preparations have been hampered somewhat with two of the three matches that have taken place thus far being washed out. The second T20I, the only game in the series that could take place thus far, was a rather one-sided affair with England comfortably winning it by 23 runs. While much of the league stage of the tournament was done, captain Jos Buttler, Will Jacks, Phil Salt and Reece Topley could have all played a part in the playoffs England pulled their players out of the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) for playing in this series. While much of the league stage of the tournament was done, captain Jos Buttler, Will Jacks, Phil Salt and Reece Topley could have all played a part in the playoffs. In the case of Salt, he could have played in the final as well, where his side Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) beat the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) to win their third IPL title. Former England captain Michael Vaughan said that playing in the high pressure environment of the IPL playoffs would have been better preparation for the players instead of playing a T20I series at home against Pakistan. Unlock exclusive access to the latest news on India’s general elections, only on the HT App. Download Now! Download Now! The comment caused a bit of a stir among Pakistan fans but former wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal has now said that he agrees with Vaughan, even though his opinion is a “painful” one. “Over the past few days, I have wondered why a former England captain is commenting and taking Pakistan cricket non-seriously. It has been a painful thought, but I think he was correct in his assessment,” Akmal said on his YouTube channel. “Everybody knows the level of Pakistan cricket. We are losing against smaller teams like Ireland and in that sense Vaughan said that it is not a tough series. So the fault is ours. Had it been any other team like New Zealand, South Africa and India then Vaughan would not have said it,” he added. “We need to understand that in IPL, the best bowlers and batters are participating with crowds of 40 to 50,000. So it is tough cricket and quality cricket,” he explained. The absence of England players made a significant difference to the IPL teams with Rajasthan Royals missing the services of Buttler at the top of the order. KKR also missed the solidity provided by Salt and Sunil Narine at the top of the order. Jacks played a significant role in RCB’s extraordinary revival in the league stage. Catch every big hit, every wicket with Crick-it, a one stop destination for Live Scores, Match Stats, Quizzes, Polls & much more.Explore now !. Stay updated with the latest cricket news, T20 World Cup 2024 updates, and match highlights. Explore the World Cup Schedule 2024, track the World Cup Points Table, follow Virat Kohli’s performance, and stay ahead with the stats on World Cup Most Wickets and World Cup Most Runs on the Hindustan Times website and app. News / Cricket News / Vaughan’s ‘better preparation to play IPL than face Pakistan’ statement receives approval from ex-PAK star

Virat Kohli finally departs for USA amid T20 World Cup buzz | Cricket News

Danijones8 months ago03 mins

NEW DELHI: Amidst widespread speculations, Virat Kohli has finally departed for the United States on Thursday to join the Indian squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup.However, it remains uncertain if Kohli will be able to participate in the only warm-up game against Bangladesh on Saturday following his long flight.Kohli’s experience and form are crucial for India’s campaign as they aim to reclaim the T20 World Cup title after their inaugural 2007 edition triumph.Fans and cricket analysts alike eagerly anticipate his performance on American soil, where he is expected to play a pivotal role in India’s quest for glory in the prestigious tournament, starting on June 1. Kohli is the only player from India’s T20 World Cup squad who has yet to arrive in the USA. The other 18 cricketers, including four reserves, started their training session in New York on Wednesday.Kohli showcased his exceptional batting prowess in the recently concluded IPL, amassing an impressive 741 runs in just 15 matches. His outstanding performance earned him the prestigious Orange Cap for the second time in his career. Kohli’s strike rate of 154.70 further highlighted his dominance throughout the season.The Indian team is set to embark on their T20 World Cup campaign, starting with a match against Ireland on June 5 in New York. Following that, they will face their arch-rivals Pakistan in a highly anticipated encounter on June 9.The team will then take on the host nation, USA, on June 12 before heading to Lauderhill, Florida, where they will compete against Canada on June 15.

Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Says Strategy In Place For T20 World Cup, Urges Fans To Fully Back Team

Danijones8 months ago04 mins

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has said that the team has a strategy in place for the T20 World Cup and appealed to supports and fans to back the team irrespective of whether it wins or loses matches. With two days left before the commencement of the tournament in the USA and the West Indies, Pakistan are gearing up for the marquee event. They are currently touring England for a four-match T20I series. Ahead of the 4th T20I to be played in London on Thursday, Naqvi made an appeal to the fans to support the team through the tournament. “Support the team and assure them that we [the fans] are with you [the team] whether you win or lose. I just want to request one thing which we really need for the next four weeks. Let us all support our players,” the PCB chairman told the media in London, according to Geo News. The first and the third T20I matches of the ongoing series were washed away due to rain without a ball being bowled. In the second T20I England took a 1-0 lead with skipper Jos Buttler’s 84-run blitz playing a pivotal role. Pakistan have tweaked their team combination during their series against Ireland and England. Unlike other teams, who have opted to bring in more spinners, Pakistan decided to name a pace-laden 15-player squad for the tournament. With the combination undergoing constant changes, Naqvi was asked about Pakistan’s combination for the World Cup. He affirmed that a strategy is in place and the players need to give their best on the field. “Overall, a strategy is in place that they don’t have to panic and give their best [on the field],” Naqvi noted. Pakistan are placed in Group A and will play their first match against the co-hosts USA on June 6 at the Grand Prairie Stadium, Texas. Pakistan Squad for T20 World Cup: Babar Azam (c), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan. (This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Topics mentioned in this article

England vs Pakistan Live Streaming 4th T20I Live Telecast: Where To Watch Match Live

Danijones8 months ago03 mins

England vs Pakistan Live Streaming 4th T20I Live Telecast: Where To Watch Match© AFP England vs Pakistan 4th T20I Live Streaming: The England vs Pakistan 4th T20I is here. This is the two team’s last match before the T20 World Cup 2024.. In the four-match T20I, the first and third T20Is were washed out while the second T20I was won by England. It means that to enter the T20 World Cup on a winning note, Pakistan face a tough challenge. Pakistan captain Babar Azam said his team didn’t finish well and faltered in the batting department after a 23-run loss against England in the second T20I on Saturday. Both teams played against each other in the Final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Australia, 2022. Pakistan are coming to the series after winning the three-match T20I series against Ireland 2-1. (LIVE SCORECARD) When will the England vs Pakistan 4th T20I match be played? The England vs Pakistan 4th T20I match will be played on Thursday, May 30. Where will the England vs Pakistan 4th T20I match be played? The England vs Pakistan 4th T20I match will be played at the Kennington Oval, London What time will the England vs Pakistan 4th T20I match start? The England vs Pakistan 4th T20I match will start at 11:00 PM IST. The toss will take place at 10:30 PM IST. Which TV channels will telecast the England vs Pakistan 4th T20I match? The England vs Pakistan 4th T20I match will be telecast in India on the Sony Sports Network. Where to follow the live streaming of the England vs Pakistan 4th T20I match? The England vs Pakistan 4th T20I match will be streamed live on FanCode and SonyLiv app and website. (All the details are as per the information provided by the broadcaster) Topics mentioned in this article

T20 World Cup 2024 Full Schedule, Warm-Up Matches, Venues, Live Streaming Details

Danijones8 months ago07 mins

India play their first 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup group game on June 5, facing Ireland in New York. That will be the first of four group games for Virat Kohli and co. If the men in blue finish in the top two, they progress to the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup. The first game of the tournament sees hosts USA face fellow debutants Canada, on June 2. The final takes place on June 29. Following over two months of riveting IPL 2024 action, cricket fever resumes immediately with the T20 World Cup. Team India will aim for their second 20-over title. Before the main tournament, the warm-up matches are already in progress. India will play their one and only warm-up game against Bangladesh on June 1. Full 2024 ICC T20 World Cup Group Stage Schedule: June 2, 2024: Match 1- USA v Canada, Texas (6 AM IST, 7:30 PM local) Match 2- West Indies v Papua New Guinea, Guyana (8 PM IST, 10:30 AM local) June 3, 2024: Match 3- Namibia v Oman, Barbados (6 AM IST, 8:30 PM local) Match 4- Sri Lanka v South Africa, New York (8 PM IST, 10:30 AM local) June 4, 2024: Match 5- Afghanistan v Uganda, Guyana (6 AM IST, 8:30 PM local) Match 6- England v Scotland, Barbados (8 PM IST, 10:30 AM local) Match 7- Netherlands v Nepal (9 PM IST, 10:30 AM local) June 5, 2024: Match 8- INDIA v Ireland, New York (8 PM IST, 10:30 AM local) June 6, 2024: Match 9- Papua New Guinea v Uganda, Guyana (5 AM IST, 7:30 PM local) Match 10- Australia v Oman, Barbados (6 AM IST, 8:30 PM local) Match 11- USA v Pakistan, Texas (9 PM IST, 10:30 AM local) June 7, 2024: Match 12- Namibia v Scotland, Barbados (12:30 AM IST, 3:00 PM local) Match 13- Canada v Ireland, New York (8 PM IST, 10:30 AM local) June 8, 2024: Match 14- Afghanistan v New Zealand, Guyana (5 AM IST, 7:30 PM local) Match 15- Bangladesh v Sri Lanka, Texas (6 AM IST, 7:30 PM local) Match 16- Netherlands v South Africa, New York (8 PM IST, 10:30 AM local) Match 17- Australia v England, Barbados (10:30 PM IST, 1 PM local) June 9, 2024: Match 18- West Indies v Uganda, Guyana (6 AM IST, 8:30 PM local) Match 19- INDIA v Pakistan, New York (8 PM IST, 10:30 AM local) Match 20- Oman v Scotland, Antigua (10:30 PM IST, 1 PM local) June 10, 2024: Match 21- Bangladesh v South Africa, New York (8 PM IST, 10:30 AM local) June 11, 2024: Match 22- Canada v Pakistan, New York (8 PM IST, 10:30 AM local) June 12, 2024: Match 23- Nepal v Sri Lanka, Florida (5 AM, 7:30 PM local) Match 24- Australia v Namibia, Antigua (6 AM, 8:30 PM local) Match 25- USA v INDIA, New York (8 PM, 10:30 AM local) June 13, 2024: Match 26- West Indies v New Zealand, Trinidad (6 AM IST, 8:30 PM local) Match 27- Bangladesh v Netherlands, St. Vincent (8 PM, 10:30 AM local) June 14, 2024: Match 28- England v Oman, Antigua (12:30 AM IST, 3 PM local) Match 29- Afghanistan v Papua New Guinea, Trinidad (6 AM IST, 8:30 PM local) Match 30- USA v Ireland, Florida (8 PM IST, 10:30 AM local) June 15, 2024: Match 31- Nepal v South Africa, St. Vincent (5 AM IST, 7:30 PM local) Match 32- New Zealand v Uganda, Trinidad (6 AM IST, 8:30 PM local) Match 33- Canada v INDIA, Florida (8 PM IST, 10:30 AM local) Match 34- England v Namibia, Antigua (10:30 PM IST, 1 PM local) June 16, 2024: Match 35- Australia v Scotland, St. Lucia (6 AM IST, 8:30 PM local) Match 36- Ireland v Pakistan, Florida (8 PM IST, 10:30 AM local) June 17, 2024: Match 37- Bangladesh v Nepal, St. Vincent (5 AM IST, 7:30 PM local) Match 38- Netherlands v Sri Lanka, St. Lucia (6 AM IST, 8:30 PM local) Match 39- New Zealand v Papua New Guinea, Trinidad (8 PM IST, 10:30 AM local) June 18, 2024: West Indies v Afghanistan, St. Lucia (6 AM IST, 8:30 PM local) June 19-24, 2024: Super Eight The Super Eight stage will see with top two teams from the four groups playing. The teams will be divided in two groups of four sides each. June 26 and 27, 2024: Semi-finals The Semi-final stage will see the top two sides from each group of Super Eight playing each other. June 29, 2024: Final The Final will see the winning semi-finalists play each other for the ultimate prize. Where to watch? The entire T20 World Cup will be televised live in India on Star Sports and shown digitally on Disney+ Hotstar. India’s warm up game against Bangladesh will also be shown on these platforms. Topics mentioned in this article

“Aukat Se Bahar”: India, Pakistan Fans In War Of Words Over Video Of Stars Walking Past IPL Final Telecast

Danijones8 months ago04 mins

India vs Pakistan – if on the field it’s an intense cricket contest, off the field too things are no less. Sometimes, the fans’ enthusiasm surpass the stars who play on the field. Even the broadcasters capitalise on the same (think about the ‘Mauk Mauka’ ad). The Indian cricket team and Pakistan cricket team will once again face off at the T20 World Cup 2024 on June 9. Though, India enjoy supremacy as far as head-to-head record is concerned, Pakistan are T20 World Cup runner-up of 2022. Ahead of the clash, India and Pakistan engaged in a war of words over a viral video which showed Pakistan players walking past a TV screen, where IPL final was being telecast. Unhe pata hai Aukat se bahar hai to kya matlab dekhkr dil jalane se — Dr. Rahul Jat (@Rahul_jaat001) May 30, 2024 Meanwhile International team players ignore Pakistan tour during IPL — ChauhanSahab (@chauhandwarrior) May 30, 2024 Pakistani Players ignored IPL Final pic.twitter.com/JigwfIFivA — Imran Siddique (@imransiddique89) May 30, 2024 Ahead of the high-octane India versus Pakistan clash in the ICC T20 World Cup on June 9, security cover will be raised at New York’s Eisenhower Park stadium following reports of threats to the match, reported ESPNCricinfo. As per a statement by the governor’s office, the situation is being monitored and according to their intel “there is no credible public safety threat at this time.” Eisenhower Park Stadium, located 25 miles east of Manhattan, is the host of eight ICC T20 WC matches from June 3 to 12, including the battle between two Asian arch-rivals. The governor of New York, Kathy Hochul, said that she is working with the law enforcement authorities to make sure these games go on smoothly. “I have also directed the New York State Police to engage in elevated security measures, including an increased law enforcement presence, advanced surveillance, and thorough screening processes,” she said as quoted by ESPNCricinfo. “Public safety is my top priority and we are committed to ensuring the Cricket World Cup is a safe, enjoyable experience,” she added. ESPNCricinfo has learnt that no corroborative evidence has been found by authorities to back the reported threat. But the International Cricket Council (ICC) has said that security will be “robust” throughout the tournament across all venues. With ANI inputs Topics mentioned in this article