Pakistan

Babar Azam expresses confidence in Gary Kirsten’s appointment, assures team unity ahead of T20 World Cup | Cricket News

Danijones9 months ago04 mins

NEW DELHI: Pakistan‘s limited overs captain, Babar Azam, shared his positive outlook on the recent appointment of Gary Kirsten as the head coach of Pakistan’s white-ball side, expressing optimism about the potential impact on the team’s performance.“Gary Kirsten is a very experienced coach, and his presence should be beneficial for us all. He is already taking a lot of interest in the planning for the World Cup and discussing strategy with the team management,” Babar stated during a media conference in Lahore.Babar emphasized Kirsten’s active involvement in strategizing for the upcoming World Cup, highlighting his regular communication with the team management and indicating a collaborative approach towards planning and preparation.”Babar assured that Kirsten’s arrival would enhance the team’s coordination and planning, with a clear focus on optimizing the squad’s performance in the global tournament. He dismissed concerns over selection issues, affirming that decisions would prioritize the team’s interests and cohesion,” the captain added.Addressing the integration of young players into the squad, Babar stressed the importance of providing them with ample opportunities to settle into international cricket, reaffirming the team management’s commitment to supporting and nurturing emerging talents ahead of the World Cup.“I think there is little time for rotation now because the World Cup is around the corner, and in the remaining matches. We will try to give the team we want to play with in the World Cup a proper opportunity,” Babar commented.Looking ahead to potential matchups, Babar acknowledged the challenge posed by India’s Virat Kohli but affirmed the team’s comprehensive planning against all opposing players, emphasizing the team’s collective strategy and preparation to counter the strengths of each opponent.“The thing is, we plan against all eleven players of a team, and we don’t know much about how the conditions will be in New York. But yes, he [Kohli] is one of the best players, and we will plan against him as well,” Babar said.Babar also dispelled any rumors of internal rifts within the team, emphasizing unity and mutual support among players. Expressing his excitement for his second stint as Pakistan captain, Babar credited the team’s success to collective effort and emphasized the backing received from the cricket board.(With inputs from PTI)

Fixing-Tainted Pakistan Pacer Faces Visa Issues For Travelling To This Country

Danijones9 months ago02 mins

Pakistan’s first T20 international against Ireland is on May 10.© AFP Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir may not be able to leave with the national squad on Tuesday morning for the three-match T20 series in Ireland due to visa issues. A reliable source in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said that while the rest of the squad had got their visas for Ireland, there was a delay in Amir’s case due to the jail term he served for the 2010 spot-fixing scandal. “Because of the spot-fixing case of 2010 and his subsequent jail term and ban his visa is still being processed,” the source said. He said a similar problem was faced by the PCB in 2018 as well when Pakistan went to Ireland and England but Amir was later issued a visa. “We are hopeful he will get his visa in a day or two and he can join them later,” he said. Pakistan’s first T20 international against Ireland is on May 10. (This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Topics mentioned in this article

“There’s Terror Threat To T20 World Cup”: Trinidad And Tobago PM Reveals; ICC Reacts

Danijones9 months ago05 mins

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has said it is working closely with Men’s T20 World Cup host countries – the West Indies and the USA – to ensure appropriate plans are in place amidst a terror threat to the showpiece event. The men’s T20 World Cup is scheduled to take place in the West Indies and the USA from June 1-29. Reports emerged from various sections in the Caribbean media that the World Cup hosting islands in the region received terror threats from an organisation in North Pakistan. “ICC is working closely with the host countries to ensure appropriate plans are in place. We immediately spoke to the authorities as the reports emerged, and the Cricket West Indies has assured everyone that a comprehensive security plan is in place to address any risk,” an ICC official told IANS when asked about the terror threat to the Men’s T20 World Cup. Dr Keith Rowley, the Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago, said to Daily Express that the security agencies are working to combat terror threats to the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean. “Unfortunately, the threat of terrorism in its many and varied expressions is an ever-present danger in the world of the 21st century. It is against this backdrop that all nations, like our region, when hosting large or vulnerable gatherings, make an extra effort in national security preparations and response readiness to take seriously, all threats, expressed or implied. “Given the fact that bad actors can choose to misbehave in any way possible it makes it virtually impossible to completely seal off all opportunities. However, in order to ameliorate these dangers, we at the local and regional levels have remained alert to many threats and singularly or together have our intelligence and other security agencies working to protect the population in countries and at venues throughout the tournament,” said Rowley. In the Caribbean, Kensington Oval in Barbados, Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad, Providence Stadium in Guyana, Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua, Darren Sammy Cricket Ground in St Lucia and Arnos Vale Stadium, St Vincent will be the hosts for matches of T20 World Cup. In the USA, Eisenhower Park in New York; Broward County in Lauderhill, Florida and Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas, Texas, will be the venues. 20 teams will be divided into four groups of five each for the first round. Top two teams from each group will qualify for the Super eight stage. In Super Eight, teams will be split into two groups of four each. Teams seeded first and second in their groups in the first round will retain that seeding in the Super Eight, provided they qualify. A1, B2, C1 and D2 finishers will be in one group, while A2, B1, C2 and D1 will be slotted in the other group. Top two sides from two groups of the Super eight will advance for the semi-finals. The semi-finals will be held in Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago on June 26 and 27 respectively. The final will be held in Barbados on June 29. Reserve days are in place for both semi-finals and the final. (This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Topics mentioned in this article

Pakistan announce USD 100,000 reward per player if team wins T20 World Cup 2024

Danijones9 months ago02 mins

Each member of Pakistan’s T20 World Cup squad will get USD 100,000 if the team wins the ICC event in June in Americas, the country’s cricket board announced on Sunday. The announcement was made by the PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi after spending nearly two hours with the players here before their departure for the away T20 series against Ireland and England on Monday night. Naqvi also said that the prize money held no importance compared to lifting the trophy, expressing the hope that the team would raise the Pakistan flag. “Chairman PCB Mohsin Naqvi announced to give 100,000 dollars prize to every player for winning the T20 World Cup,” the PCB posted on social media. He also told the players “not to care about anyone” but to just play for Pakistan and demonstrate teamwork, and, “God willing”, victory will be gained by the team. Naqvi further said that all the players were united while also expressing the hope that fast-bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi would deliver a great performance in the tournament. “The country has a lot of expectations from you. You have to fulfil them,” he told the players. During his visit, the PCB chairman also handed out special shirts to players for achieving milestones. Wicketkeeper-batter Mohamad Rizwan was awarded a shirt for completing 3,000 T20 runs while pacer Naseem Shah was awarded a shirt for taking 100 T20 wickets. Published By: sabyasachi chowdhury Published On: May 6, 2024

PCB Announces Massive Reward To Each Player If Pakistan Win T20 World Cup 2024 Trophy

Danijones9 months ago02 mins

Representative image© AFP Each member of Pakistan’s T20 World Cup squad will get USD 100,000 if the team wins the ICC event in June in Americas, the country’s cricket board announced on Sunday. The announcement was made by the PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi after spending nearly two hours with the players here before their departure for the away T20 series against Ireland and England on Monday night. Naqvi also said that the prize money held no importance compared to lifting the trophy, expressing the hope that the team would raise the Pakistan flag. “Chairman PCB Mohsin Naqvi announced to give 100,000 dollars prize to every player for winning the T20 World Cup,” the PCB posted on social media. He also told the players “not to care about anyone” but to just play for Pakistan and demonstrate teamwork, and, “God willing”, victory will be gained by the team. Naqvi further said that all the players were united while also expressing the hope that fast-bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi would deliver a great performance in the tournament. “The country has a lot of expectations from you. You have to fulfil them,” he told the players. During his visit, the PCB chairman also handed out special shirts to players for achieving milestones. Wicketkeeper-batter Mohamad Rizwan was awarded a shirt for completing 3,000 T20 runs while pacer Naseem Shah was awarded a shirt for taking 100 T20 wickets. Topics mentioned in this article

‘Babar Azam se meri koi ladai…’: clarifies Pakistan allrounder | Cricket News

Danijones9 months ago03 mins

NEW DELHI: Pakistani all-rounder Imad Wasim addressed concerns about his relationship with captain Babar Azam ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024. Wasim dismissed reports of any rift between them, stating that they have a cordial relationship and are focused on winning the tournament for Pakistan. Speaking to the media, Wasim said. “We were just fighting (laughs). No, there are ups and downs everywhere, but I never had a serious fight with Babar, and communication was never stopped. We have to play for Pakistan. We have a population of 25-27 crore, he is our captain, why would we fight? Whoever is the captain of the Pakistan team, you should respect him the same way. So I respect Babar in every case. “Babar k saath meri koi ladai nhi hai (I have no fights with Babar). We just had a meal together. There is no such tension. We are going to play the World Cup, so we can’t even think about these things,” added the all-rounder, who recently chose to take his retirement back in a bid to feature for Pakistan in the upcoming T20 World Cup. The Pakistani team has undergone several changes, with Wasim and Mohammad Amir reversing their retirements to be included in the World Cup squad. Additionally, Babar Azam has been reappointed as the team’s captain, taking over from Shaheen Afridi.Pakistan are diligently preparing for the marquee event, having recently drawn a T20I series against New Zealand. They will face Ireland and England in additional warm-up matches before the World Cup commences in the United States and the Caribbean in June.

‘Cricket bhi online hi khel lo’: Pakistan fans react to new coach Gary Kirsten’s virtual meeting with team | Cricket News

Danijones9 months ago02 mins

After Gary Kirsten‘s appointment as the head coach of Pakistan‘s white-ball team, the South African addressed the team in an online meeting as he is currently involved in the Indian Premier League as the batting coach of Gujarat Titans. “Pakistan white-ball head coach Gary Kirsten connects with players in virtual meet-up. Let the journey begin,” read the caption, as the Pakistan Cricket Board shared a video from the online meeting on social media. Kirsten, who was India’s coach during the victorious 2011 World Cup campaign, could be seen talking to players and coaches while addressing them online from India. WATCH VIDEO However, it hasn’t gone down well with fans in Pakistan, who reacted strongly on social media to the idea of online meeting. Here are some of those reactions: According to a PTI report, assistant coach Azahar Mehmood will lead the team on the tour of Ireland and England. However, if Gujarat Titans dont’ reach the IPL playoffs, which is highly likely, then Kirsten may join the squad for the T20 series against England.(With PTI inputs)

“Big Mistake, Lost 9 Years”: Pakistan Star, Targetting T20 World Cup Return, On Spot-Fixing Saga

Danijones9 months ago05 mins

Having served five years of suspension and another four years of international hiatus, Mohammed Amir is sick and tired of former Pakistani stars time and again bringing up his involvement in the infamous spot-fixing scandal that rocked the cricket world in 2010. “I have done penance for that big mistake and if you look at my career I was banned from 2010 to 2015 and took retirement from 2020 to 2024 so I have lost nine years but I accept it all as God’s will and I have moved on,” Amir told mediapersons. Amir, who was only 19 back in 2010, had deliberately over-stepped along with fellow pacer Mohammed Asif at the behest of former skipper Salman Butt and they were all caught in a ‘News of the World’ expose. All three were briefly jailed in UK, where fixing is a crime but were later released. The ICC banned them for five years between 2010 to 2015. Only Amir made a successful return to international cricket and was hero of Pakistan’s Champions Trophy triumph over India in 2017 in the UK. However in 2020, he retired from all forms of international cricket after his differences with erstwhile PCB chief Ramiz Raja came out in the open. Ramiz and some of the other Pakistani players have been vocal about Pakistan cricket establishment giving him a second chance after his direct involvement in corruption. He has also faced lot of criticism for being brought out of retirement and directly given entry into Pakistan team without playing domestic cricket. “There has been a lot of criticism by some people on me and Imad being selected without playing domestic cricket,” he added. Amir countered the critics by making it clear that PSL is a domestic tournment where he and another comeback man Imad Wasim have regularly played. “I ask them what is Pakistan’s premier domestic T20 event? The PSL. And both of us (Imad) have played and performed in the PSL besides appearing regularly in other leagues. So what is wrong with selecting us for the T20 format.? Amir said if the selectors had picked them for Tests or ODIs it would have been very wrong. “I myself have always said players must get experience in domestic first class and other events to be considered for the national team. But in our case we are only playing T20 cricket and our form and fitness is there for all to see.” He also confirmed that former Test captain, Muhammad Hafeez had called up him last year and inquired whether he would consider coming out of his retirement. “It was nice of him (he was director of Pakistan team) and he said I could still play for Pakistan but I told him that given the uncertainty in the cricket board and team I would prefer to remain out of international cricket.” (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.) Topics mentioned in this article

‘Refusing An ICC Event Can Backfire’: Ex Pakistan Star’s Warning To India Amid Champions Trophy Uncertainty

Danijones9 months ago03 mins

Team India in action© BCCI Former Pakistan cricketer Rashid Latif said India will have to provide a “logical answer” to the World governing body if they refuse to travel to Pakistan for next year’s Champions Trophy, and the decision of not participating in an ICC event can “backfire”. Sources told IANS earlier that Team India might not participate in the Champions Trophy in Pakistan. There are discussions about potentially shifting the venue for the event or considering a hybrid model, it said. It is learnt that the Pakistan Cricket Board has proposed to the International Cricket Council (ICC) that India’s qualifying round matches during the Champions Trophy next year be scheduled exclusively in one city. Reacting to this, Rashid Latif told IANS, “You can refuse the bilateral series. But it will be tough to refuse ICC events. When ICC chalk out its plan, the teams know where they have to play, like Pakistan knew that they have to go to India to play the World Cup, and contracts are signed accordingly for cricket boards.” “It seems a bit tough to refuse ICC events… In the 1996 World Cup, Australia and West Indies refused to go to Sri Lanka and the entire group changed and Sri Lanka became the champion. This was a very big mistake… If India or Pakistan has signed in, they will have to go for that event. If any circumstances occur on a government level, then you have to provide a logical answer as to why not coming. You can refuse the bilateral series citing the conditions in Pakistan are not right etc etc… In my opinion, refusing an ICC event can backfire,” the former wicketkeeper-batter added. According to information received, the PCB has, meanwhile, selected Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Lahore as the venues for the event, with Lahore hosting the final match. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.) Topics mentioned in this article

Watch: Former Pakistan pacer Umar Gul breaks down revealing retirement reason he didn’t even tell his wife about | Cricket News

Danijones9 months ago02 mins

Pakistan‘s former fast bowler Umar Gul broke down while appearing on a TV show when the anchor asked him if there was any such instance in his life that tore him apart.“Yes, it has happened,” said the 41-year-old who played 47 Tests, 130 ODIs and 60 T20Is for Pakistan. He retired from all forms of cricket in October 2020. However, he said that besides being overlooked by the national selectors, there was another reason behind his decision to retire, which he never told even his wife about.WATCH VIDEO “First reason was that I did not get any contract and the second, (which) honestly I haven’t even told my wife about, was one of my friends,” said Gul as his eyes started welling up and voice choked. “We became friends in 2004. (Then) Covid first year (wave), two days before Eid, he was coming from Karachi and had an accident…When he was longer there, I felt I should take retirement,” said Gul, breaking into tears.Gul was a member of the Pakistan team that won the 2009 T20 World Cup. Gul, along with former Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal, serves as the bowling coach of the Pakistan men’s team.