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Tag: Babar Azam

  • Exclusive | Pakistan Voting Against Jay Shah Will Have Implications: Danish Kaneria | cricket news

    Bangladesh recently scripted test history by outplaying Pakistan 2-0 series, recording a comprehensive victory by restricting the hosts to 172 in the second innings of the second Test. The Bangla Tigers achieved the target of 185 with four wickets remaining, finishing their series victory in style. A lot of fans and former cricketers castigated the Pakistan team for their below-average performance against Bangladesh. In the list of unhappy former cricketers, one name that stood out the most was Danish Kaneria who has taken 261 wickets in Test for Pakistan and was one of the crafty leg spinners the world has ever seen.

    In an exclusive conversation with ZEE News, Kaneria highlighted the reasons why Pakistan lost against Bangladesh. He also spoke about the current scenario of the Pakistan team.

    “This discussion has been going on for the past fortnight the way Bangladesh defeated Pakistan on their home soil is very shameful. Pakistan has given so many star players over a while but the way they got outplayed by Bangladesh is disgraceful. Bangladesh batted well, bowled well and their team selection was also good. They came up with a proper plan and executed it in a sleek manner. Pakistan team failed to exploit their home conditions and they looked clueless against Bangladesh that too on their home soil. This is the sheer downfall of Pakistan cricket.”

    Former Pakistan cricketer Danish Kaneria did not mince his words and bluntly targeted the Pakistan Cricket Board for spoiling the cricketing ecosystem. He feels the system is responsible for everything.

    “I think we should not blame players, it is the system that has been failing time and again and as a result, Pakistan cricket is going down. Pakistan Cricket Board is only focusing towards PSL rather they should take domestic cricket seriously. They have made Test cricket secondary. Their downfall started when they removed Sarfaraz Ahmed from captaincy, he was a perfect skipper. There has been a lot of politics going on in the Pakistan Cricket Board and as a result, the aura, and the ambiance of the team have been pathetic”, Kaneria said.

    Kaneria said that the ongoing politics and people with vested interests have spoiled Pakistan cricket. “They told Shaheen that he is the biggest bowler and without him, it’s not possible for them to win matches. Talking about Shan Masood, as a player it’s difficult for him to get a place in the playing XI. He has not been consistent with the bat over the years and you made him the captain. They asked Shaheen to take up the captaincy and later removed him. If we lose a series then we will make a pure playing XI captain, Shaan Masood needs to go back to domestic cricket, learn how to do captaincy and then come back to play for the national side. Kaneria added.

    Kaneria also shared his school of thoughts on the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi. According to Kaneria, Naqvi does not deserve to hold the post. He dissected his statements by referring to former PCB chairmen.

    “The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board Mohsin Naqvi does not deserve to hold the post. When I used to play for Pakistan, I saw chairmen who had a great vision of uplifting Pakistan cricket. Arif Ali Khan Abbasi who used to head the Pakistan Cricket Board was a great administrator. He used to handle the team in a smooth manner. You should select someone as the chairman who at least knows about cricket”, the 43-year-old told ZEE News.

    The former Pakistan spinner reckons that the Indian team will not go to Pakistan to take part in the upcoming Champions Trophy. He said there are a lot of security concerns plus the infrastructure and facilities are not there to organize the Champions Trophy.

    “The Indian team will not go to Pakistan and they should not. There are a lot of security concerns. As per the PCB chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, the grounds are getting ready for the Champions Trophy which clearly states that currently, Pakistan does not have that infrastructure. See, the Indian team is one of the top tier teams across the world, why would they come to such a country that does not have even peeper international facilities?”

    Over a while, a lot of news and reports have surfaced which said that the Hindus of Pakistan are forced to convert to Islam. A lot of temples have been destroyed by the locals in Pakistan to torment Hindus. After being asked about the same, Kaneria agreed and said, “Yes, it happens. These are the reasons why India does not go to Pakistan. The conversion rate is way too high there. Pakistan needs to respect Hindus and other religions. A lot of temples in Pakistan have been sabotaged. If Pakistan wants to do well, they will have to get rid of their egos, they need to talk to BCCI on a friendly note. As of now, Pakistan always looks for topics to fight with India and this is not healthy at all.”

    Danish Kaneria praised BCCI Secretary and the newly made ICC Chairman, Jay Shah for his impeccable work with the Indian cricket. “Jay Shah has been doing a tremendous job with Indian cricket. The way he has evolved domestic cricket is commendable and this is the reason why he has been made the ICC chairman. There are a total of 16 members and 15 of them have voted for Jay Shah. Pakistan did not vote in Jay Shah’s favor and it will not make any difference to him. Pakistan should have voted for him in order to show that they want to have a healthy relationship with India. They are egoistic and this will have a major impact on Pakistan cricket. The BCCI produces 90% of revenue when it comes to cricket, and IPL is one of the richest franchise leagues in the world. Pakistan should have learned something and should have supported Jay Shah if they wanted to do well or host bigger events”, Kaneria stated.

    One of the major concerns why the Pakistan cricket team is consistently failing is Babar Azam’s poor form. The star batter has been going through a rough patch for quite some time now. According to Kaneria, “If Babar Azam wants to do well, he should keep aside that feeling that he is the best. People should not compare Babar with Virat. I mean there is no comparison. Virat is the legend of the game and he has been consistent for so many years now. Babar is nowhere in the race to get compared to Babar. Virat is the king of cricket. The system and administration of Pakistan cricket have spoiled Babar as he was constantly told by them that he is a legend and without him the team cannot function.”

    “Pakistan management should tell Babar to go, take a break start playing domestic cricket and then come back. I remember, when Inzi Bhai (Inzamam-ul-Haq) was going through a poor form, he went back to play domestic cricket, scored runs there and then came back to play for Pakistan”, he said.

    Kaneria believes if Pakistan cricket wants to do well, they should bring in veteran player Sarfaraz Ahmed back in the squad. “Pakistan should bring in Sarfaraz Ahmed as the skipper rather than opting for a new captain. Sarfaraz has made Pakistan win a lot of series, he knows how to lead the team. Shaan should be made Sarfaraz’s deputy so that he can be groomed by him. This is how Pakistan cricket can get some benefit”, Kaneria opined.

  • Virat Kohli, Babar Azam To Play For Same Team? Here’s What Top Official Says | cricket news

    In the mid-2000s, a series of charity matches was played called the Afro-Asia Cup. It was played between the Asian XI and African XI with the first cup being held in 2005 while the second was played in 2007. The likes of Virender Sehwag, Irfan Pathan, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Zaheer Khan, Shoaib Akhtar, Anil Kumble, and Shahid Afridi got to play in the same team for Asia. On the other hand, for Africa big names like Shaun Pollock, Jacques Kallis, and Tatenda Taibu played for the same team.

    As per a report in Forbes, the Afro-Asia Cup is likely to be revived as “it is being looked at again”. “Personally, I am very hurt that it (Afro-Asia Cup) didn’t happen,” Damodar told me.

    “There was not adequate momentum through the ACA, but it is being looked at again. I think it was basically a lack of understanding and not buying into the concept,” ex-African Cricket Association chair Sumod Damodar told Forbes.

    “Our members are regretting it. It needed to be pushed by Africa.”

    If at all the tournament resumes, there’s a chance that Virat Kohli and Babar Azam can play together or Shaheen Afridi and Jasprit Bumrah can partner in the middle while bowling. It was back in 2012-13 when India played a bilateral series against Pakistan. The two teams have not taken part in Tests against each other since 2007.

    “These matches could break down barriers that are there politically,” Damodar said.

    “Cricket can help build the bridges rather than burn it up. I don’t personally believe that players are antagonistic against each other, so I’m sure they would be up for it.”

    One of the reports that emerged in 2022 said that there was a proposal between Jay Shah, the Asian Cricket Council chair, and then African Cricket Association chair Sumod Damodar to resume the tournament.

    “With Mahinda now on the ICC board and Jay Shah running the ICC, that could bring a bit more momentum to this cause,” Damodar said.

    “Both of them have always been proactive in trying to make this happen.”

  • ‘World-Class Player’: Jason Gillespie Backs This Pakistan Player Amidst Series Against Bangladesh | cricket news

    Former Australia cricketer Jason Gillespie who is currently serving as red-ball coach of Pakistan cricket team said that star batsman Babar Azam is very close to getting his best form back. Pakistan’s star batsman has been going through a rough patch for a very long time now. The 29-year-old batsman has collected only 317 runs from eight Tests at an average of 21.13 with a top score of 41 since 2023.

    In the ongoing red ball series against Bangladesh, Babar has amassed only 64 runs at an average of 16. Babar made 31 runs on Day 4 of the second Test in Rawalpindi.

    “Babar is a quality player, and he’s got a couple of starts. A bit like quite a few of our players, he hasn’t been able to convert starts. But Babar is a world-class player he’s very close, I feel it. I am really confident that we are going to see Babar scoring big runs very soon. He’s too good a player and looking forward to seeing him doing well,” Gillespie said.

    As of now, Babar has gathered 3,962 runs across 54 Tests, averaging 44.51. He has clubbed nine hundreds and 26 fifties. According to ESPNcricinfo, Babar has managed to collect 1,555 runs at home at 62.20. Gillespie also pointed out why star pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi was rested from the second Test.

    “There are obviously a few things we were hoping Shaheen can work on. He’s obviously had a very eventful time in his personal life as well. So, all that are being considered, we want Shaheen Afridi to be at his very best for as much cricket as possible,” Gillespie said.

    Earlier, the Men in Green lost the first Test by 10 wickets and are in danger of losing the second Test as well. The Bangla Tigers need only 143 runs to win the game with all their 10 wickets in hand in their second innings.

  • Shaheen Afridi Should Go And Play First-Class Cricket: Former Pakistan Cricketer Basit Ali Blasts After Big Loss To Bangladesh | cricket news

    Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali feels Shaheen Afridi should be rested after he delivered yet another underwhelming performance in the 10-wicket loss against Bangladesh in the opening Test. In the opening Test against Bangladesh, Shaheen picked up two wickets in the first innings while giving away 88 runs.

    After failing to make an impact with the new ball, Shaheen’s two scalps came towards the tail end. He opened his account by removing Mehidy Hasan Miraz and sent Hasan Mahmud back for an 18-ball duck.

    His dwindling form stretches back to the T20 World Cup earlier this year. The 24-year-old failed to deliver the goods and ended the campaign with five wickets in four matches, averaging 21.00.

    “Shaheen Afridi should be rested 100 per cent. He should go and play first-class cricket. He should be rested. Ali S put in a lot of effort. Pakistan failed in bowling, fielding and batting. They beat us in all departments. It is wrong to say that the team had a bad day,” Basit said on his YouTube channel.

    While Pakistan tried to figure out the various aspects that went wrong for them, Bangladesh celebrated a landmark moment in their history. Bangladesh’s win came after 14 encounters with Pakistan, where the Tigers had suffered 12 defeats and managed just one draw.

    India and South Africa are now the only teams that Bangladesh has yet to defeat in Test cricket.

    The match had a delayed beginning caused by a wet outfield, but by the fifth day, the entire affair had transformed into an enticing action-packed thriller.

    The emphatic 10-wicket triumph provided Bangladesh with a significant boost in the ICC World Test Championship standings. They leapfrogged Pakistan and South Africa to the sixth spot, tied on point percentage with Sri Lanka (40 per cent). As a result of the loss, Pakistan slipped down to eighth place with a 30.56 point percentage.

    After trailing 1-0, with an aim to go level in the series, Pakistan will face Bangladesh in the second Test at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on August 30.

  • PAK vs BAN: Rizwan’s Camaraderie With Babar Steals The Show In Pakistan’s First Test Against Bangladesh- WATCH | cricket news

    PAK vs BAN: The camaraderie between Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam was evident on Day 2 of the first Test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh on Thursday. This moment of friendship unfolded after Pakistan declared their first innings at a formidable 448/6. Rizwan, the star of the innings, had delivered an unbeaten 171 off 239 balls. As Rizwan made his way back to the dressing room, the Pakistan players lined up near the boundary to applaud his stellar performance. Rizwan playfully tossed his bat towards Babar Azam, who caught it with a smile, and the two shared a light-hearted laugh. A viral video circulating on social media also captured Rizwan and Babar sharing another laugh while fielding against Bangladesh, highlighting their strong bond.

    Love em pic.twitter.com/NU9bB7yzsF

    — Zahra (@itsZahra2_0) August 22, 2024

    Focusing on the match itself, Rizwan, along with Saud Shakeel, played pivotal roles in guiding Pakistan to an imposing total of 448/6 declared. Rizwan’s unbeaten 171 was his highest score in Test cricket and marked his third century in the format, while Shakeel impressed with a composed 141. Their efforts helped Pakistan recover from a shaky start on the first day, where they were struggling at 16-3. Shakeel, combining with Saim Ayub, forged a crucial 98-run partnership for the fourth wicket, stabilizing Pakistan’s innings. Following this, Rizwan and Shakeel shared a massive 240-run partnership, effectively blunting Bangladesh’s bowling attack and putting Pakistan in a commanding position.

    At the close of the second day, Bangladesh’s openers showed resilience, reaching 27-0 without any major issues. Shadman Islam was unbeaten on 12, while Zakir Hasan remained not out on 11. Despite initial concerns that the Rawalpindi pitch might favor bowlers, it turned out to be more conducive to batting.

    David Hemp, Bangladesh’s batting coach, expressed hope that his team’s batsmen could match Pakistan’s performance. “It’s a pretty good batting pitch, and we hope it continues like this,” said Hemp. “Our batters need to match Pakistan’s batters, and we need to get closer to their total.”

    Earlier, Pakistan’s lower order added quick runs, with Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi putting together a brisk 44-run partnership. Afridi contributed a quickfire 29 not out, including two sixes and a boundary. This late surge allowed Pakistan to declare their innings 78 minutes after tea, setting the stage for Bangladesh’s response.

  • Pakistan vs Bangladesh: Second Test In Karachi To Be Held Without Spectators- Here’s Why | cricket news

    The Pakistan Cricket Board has decided to hold the second Test against Bangladesh at Karachi’s National Stadium behind closed doors due to ongoing construction work. Ticket sales are suspended, and refunds will be issued.

    |Last Updated: Aug 14, 2024, 05:44 PM IST|Source: PTI

  • Who Is Babar Azam’s Favorite Batsman That He Has Played Against? Pakistan Captain Answers | cricket news

    In a recent interview that has captured the attention of cricket enthusiasts worldwide, Pakistan cricket team captain Babar Azam shared his admiration for South African legend AB De Villiers. During a conversation on De Villiers’ official YouTube channel, Babar was asked to name the best batsman he has played against. Without hesitation, he chose De Villiers, leaving the former Proteas star both flattered and amused.

    I interviewed Pakistan’s @babarazam258 before the T20 World Cup earlier this year, and l’d shared a bit of it back then. Don’t miss out on this chat, and show my friend some love. ,

    Here’s the full interview __

    _: https://t.co/nTA05h4nZY#CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/iy02SXZvn2

    — AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) July 20, 2024

    Also Read: What Is Hardik Pandya’s Ex-Wife Natasa Stankovic’s Net Worth? In Pics

    A Moment of Humble Admiration

    The interaction was nothing short of delightful. When De Villiers, a cricketer revered for his innovative batting and sportsmanship, posed the question to Babar, the Pakistani skipper’s answer was swift and clear. “It’s you, AB,” he said with a smile. De Villiers, known for his humility, tried to steer the conversation towards other active cricketers, but Babar stood firm in his admiration. “My answer remains AB De Villiers,” he reiterated, adding a touch of heartfelt respect to the dialogue.

    Facing the Toughest Bowler

    The interview delved deeper into Babar Azam’s cricketing experiences, revealing intriguing insights. When asked about the toughest bowler he has encountered, Babar named Australian pace sensation Pat Cummins. The recognition of Cummins’ prowess is a testament to the high regard in which he is held within the cricketing community.

    Celebrity Connections and Laughter

    In a lighter vein, De Villiers humorously inquired about the most famous person in Babar’s phonebook. The Pakistani captain’s first thought was, of course, De Villiers himself. However, amid laughter and playful banter, Babar revealed that renowned Pakistani singer Atif Aslam holds that spot in his contacts. This light-hearted exchange added a personal touch to the interview, showcasing the camaraderie between the two cricketing greats.

    PCB’s Decision on NOCs: A Strategic Move

    In related news, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) recently made headlines by refusing No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) to key players Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Mohammad Rizwan for the Global T20 in Canada. This decision followed a similar refusal for Naseem Shah’s participation in The Hundred, where he had a contract with Birmingham Phoenix.

    Prioritizing National Commitments

    The PCB’s decision was based on Pakistan’s packed cricketing schedule from August 2024 to March 2025. This period includes nine ICC World Test Championship matches and preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. A PCB statement emphasized the necessity of keeping these all-format players in optimal. mental and physical condition for the demanding international calendar.

    “The PCB had received NOC requests from Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Afridi for the Global T20 event, amongst other players. After taking into consideration Pakistan’s busy and packed cricket calendar… it has been decided to decline their requests,” read the statement released by the PCB on Friday night.

    Workload Management for Peak Performance

    Highlighting the PCB’s commitment to player welfare, the statement continued, “The three are all-format cricketers and their services are expected to be required in the upcoming eight months… it is in the best interest of Pakistan cricket and the players that they skip the upcoming event in Canada so that they are in their best mental and physical shape for the season, which commences with the two-Test series against Bangladesh.”

  • Not Shaheen Afridi Or Babar Azam, This Cricketer Should Captain Pakistan In All Formats Says Salman Butt. cricket news

    Former Pakistan opener Salman Butt has voiced his opinion on the future leadership of the Pakistan men’s cricket team, advocating for Shan Masood to take over as captain across all formats, replacing Babar Azam. Butt’s recommendation follows Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the T20 World Cup 2024, where they failed to advance to the Super 8s.

    Butt bypassed other notable candidates, including star pacer and former T20I captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan, and former T20I vice-captain Shadab Khan, placing his confidence in the 34-year-old Masood. Butt shared his views on his YouTube channel, expressing concerns about the current leadership’s attitude and lack of effective execution despite their evident skills.

    “There is some fuss because of which, despite having skill, players haven’t been able to execute. There is someone who doesn’t have any strategy for planning, but still has a lot of attitude. To silence that attitude, I would definitely make Shan Masood the captain,” Butt said.

    Shan Masood’s appointment as Pakistan’s Test captain came after Babar Azam decided to step down from the role following the team’s early exit in the 2023 ODI World Cup. However, Babar was reinstated as the white-ball skipper ahead of the recently concluded 2024 T20 World Cup, a decision that did not yield the desired results.

    Currently leading Pakistan’s Test team, Shan Masood also captains Yorkshire in the County Championship and Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Babar Azam resigned from Pakistan’s captaincy in all formats following a disappointing performance in the ODI World Cup. Shaheen Afridi briefly took charge of the T20I team but was removed after a series loss in New Zealand.

    Upon becoming the PCB chairman, Mohsin Naqvi reinstated Babar as the white-ball captain. However, Pakistan’s early exit from the 2024 T20 World Cup, with losses to the USA and India, has increased the pressure to replace him.

    Naqvi plans to consult white-ball head coach Gary Kirsten and former players before making a final decision on the leadership. Other captaincy candidates, such as Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Rizwan, remain in consideration. Babar’s performance in the T20 World Cup also drew criticism; he scored 122 runs in 4 matches at an average of 40.66 but with a strike rate of 101.66, which was deemed insufficient by experts.

  • Rohit Sharma Zooms Past Babar Azam, Virat Kohli To Become Leading Run-Scorer In T20Is | Cricket News

    Rohit Sharma’s brutal onslaught obliterated Australia pacers, leaving Aussie bowlers rattled with no answer as he propelled India to 205/5 in their Super 8 Group 1 clash of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024 at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium on Sunday. Put to bat first, India captain Rohit Sharma started off India’s charge with a boundary in the very first over of the match. His knock of 92 got him over Virat Kohli and Babar Azam to become the highest leading run-scorer in T20I cricket.

    Virat has 4103 runs and Babar has 4145 after playing 123 games each in T20 internationals. Rohit now stands on top of the list with 4165 runs.

    It was raining sixes in St Lucia as the captain batted like a dream mixing aggression with pure class while Suryakumar Yadav (31), Shivam Dube (28) and Hardik Pandya’s unbeaten power-pack knock of 27 took India to a formidable total. India hit 15 sixes in the innings, 8 of which came from Rohit’s bat. (WATCH: Rohit Sharma Runs Havoc On Mitchell Starc As Australia Pacer Gives Away 29 Runs In One Over During IND vs AUS)

    Josh Hazlewood gave India a major blow as he outfoxed Virat Kohli in the second over with a bouncer. For Australia, Josh Hazlewood however kept things tight as he conceded just 10 off his 3 overs to ensure the powerplay ended at 60/1. Meanwhile, the Indian batting line-up destroyed Mitchell Starc, who conceded 45, while Pat Cummins gave away 0/48 and Marcus Stoinis returned with a figure of 2/56.

    Hazlewood delivered a short, fastball with extra bounce, which caught Kohli off guard. Kohli attempted a pull shot, but only got a top edge that went wide mid-on and Tim David showed outstanding athleticism by sprinting back from inside the circle for 25 metres to make a well-judged catch, sending Kohli back to the pavilion without scoring from five balls faced.

    This early exit aggravated Kohli’s problems in the competition, as his performance as an opener failed to provide the required results. In the third over, Rohit went berserk against Mitchell Starc as he hammered the pacer for 6,6,4,6,0,6, gathering 29 runs.

    With fearless and courageous batting approach India captain slammed a 19-ball half-century also the fastest fifty of the ongoing tournament. Leg-spinner Adam Zampa was brought into the attack after the powerplay and the bowler was decimated by the Indian duo of Rohit and Rishabh Pant.

    India lost their second wicket as Pant was out for 15. The wicketkeeper-batter tried to play one to the leg side, but Hazlewood, at mid-off, took a simple catch. India slammed 100 in just 8.4 overs.

    Australia pacer Starc rattled Rohit’s stumps to give a major blow to India. The India captain missed a well-deserved hundred as he fell for 92 off 41 balls. Rohit’s wicket invited Shivam Dube to the crease and the batter deposited four into the mid-wicket region, leaving no respite for Zampa. After all Australia bowlers leaked runs it was Hazlewood, who kept the tight hold, ending his spell with 1/14 where most of his pals are going at 10s and 12s in an over.

    In the 19th over, Shivam Dube fell prey to Marcus Stoinis after scoring 28 runs. Towards the end, Hardik Pandya chipped in with a quickfire cameo and Ravindra Jadeja played a useful hand too to get India past 200. Brief score: India 205/5 (Rohit Sharma 92, Suryakumar Yadav 31; Mitchell Starc 2/45) vs Australia . (With ANI inputs)

  • Will Babar Azam be dropped from Pakistan’s captaincy? Here’s what he said about his future | Cricket News

    Pakistan wrapped up their 2024 ICC T20 World Cup journey with a close three-wicket win over Ireland in their final Group A match in Florida on Sunday. Captain Babar Azam and his team are facing intense criticism after an unexpected early exit from the tournament, with concerns being raised about Babar Azam’s captaincy. He was reinstated as skipper before the tournament after relinquishing the captaincy following a poor ODI World Cup campaign last year.

    Babar Azam’s On His Future Captaincy

    In a post-match press conference after the game against Ireland, Babar addressed the captaincy issue. He stated that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) would review the campaign at home and decide on the team’s future leadership. He emphasized that his reinstatement as captain was a decision made solely by the PCB and noted that one player cannot be blamed for the loss, as it is always a collective failure.

    “As far as captaincy is concerned, when I first stole, I felt I should not do it anymore, so I stole. I had announced it myself. Whatever has been given back, that is PCB’s decision, they have given it. Now we will go, we will sit and discuss whatever has happened here and this decision will be taken later… when I have to steal, I will tell it openly, whatever happens will happen in front of everyone. I have not thought about it yet. Whatever decision is taken, PCB will take it,” Babar said.

    Babar expressed his disappointment about the team’s early exit, acknowledging the collective failure rather than blaming individuals. He noted the team’s struggle to synchronize performances; when the bowlers excelled, the batting line-up faltered.

    “We are more sad than you are. Players, management, everyone is sad. We could not play cricket as expected. We could not perform as well as the players we had. So in my opinion , we did not play well as a team. It is not that we lost because of one person. As a team we lost. As a team we could not click. Sometimes we did well in bowling, sometimes we did not do well in batting ,” Babar added. While discussing the conditions, Babar admitted that the pitches slightly favoured fast bowlers, but the primary issue was their batting failures in critical moments. He pointed out that losing wickets back-to-back put them in a difficult position in crucial matches. “The pitches here were helping the fast bowlers a bit. Our batting didn’t click. When things came in our hands, we lost wickets, due to which they lost two crucial matches. We We were going ahead, the pressure was on the other team but when you lose back-to-back wickets, the pressure comes on you,” Babar said.

    He admitted that while the pitches slightly favoured fast bowlers, the main issue was their batting failures in crucial moments. Losing wickets in quick succession put them in difficult positions during key matches.

    Pakistan’s Shocking Exit

    The rainout match of USA vs IRE was a disaster for Pakistan. USA gained a point automatically, securing their spot in the Super 8s with five points. Pakistan stayed at four points, ending their chances of moving forward. Throughout the tournament, Pakistan’s journey has been up and down. They showed flashes of brilliance mixed with moments of disappointment. Despite playing well in earlier matches, the washout was a harsh way to end their campaign. Pakistani players and fans will surely feel disappointed about what could have been if the weather had not disrupted their chances.