Sports

After World Cup humiliation, Afridi blasts Babar for failing to prove himself as captain

Published

6 months ago

Farwa

Former cricketer Shahid Afridi said Monday that the Green Shirts’ skipper Babar Azam failed to deliver and prove himself as a leader and captain ever since being handed the highly important responsibility.

The Babar-led side, ranked fifth on the points table, crashed out of the World Cup 2023 after losing five of their nine matches in the tournament showcasing a rather underwhelming performance in all three departments.

“As much of a star Babar is as an individual player, it was my wish that he also makes his way in the list of the top [cricketing] captains,” Afridi said during an event in Karachi.

Flanked by several ex-cricketers including Misbah Ul Haq, Younis Khan, Abdul Razzaq, Kamran Akmanl, Saeed Ajmal and Umar Gul, Afridi said that the 29-year-old batter didn’t deliver as a captain as it was expected of him.

“We believed that in his three to four years [of captaincy] Babar would have groomed and would’ve proved himself as a captain and a leader. But this didn’t happen, we [have] seen a lot of mistakes [from him],” the former allrounder said highlighting that the top batter’s role as skipper was never threatened during this time.

“A leader should be steadfast and must know how to lead the team […] a leader doesn’t have one or two [favourite] players” he added. while stressing that a leader must ensure consensus amongst his teammates.

“Younis Khan didn’t make unilateral decisions [during his captaincy], he used to take all of us in confidence and seek advice [regarding his decisions],” Afridi said while stressing that a leader must ensure consensus amongst his teammates.

“A leader should have such qualities,” he concluded.

Babar, the right-hand batter, has been under scrutiny for Pakistan’s disappointing World Cup run and early elimination from the mega-event.

Meanwhile, the team has returned to the country in groups, as another batch of players — including Agha Salman, Imam-ul-Haq and Shaheen Shah Afridi — already arrived in Lahore from Kolkata via Dubai, while some headed straight to their hometowns.

Babar should lead Green Shirts in Australia tour

Expressing his views on who should lead the national side in the upcoming tour to Australia, Afridi said that Babar should be kept as captain for the highly anticipated tour scheduled to commence on December 14.

The ex-skipper was of the view that one has to know how to handle pressure in major events and one cannot win in light of so many cricketing mistakes.

Afridi’s remarks come as the 29-year-old has been seeking guidance on his future, consulting with former PCB chairman Ramiz Raja and people close to him, sources reported.

Babar’s close aides are advising him to step down from leadership in all three formats with his inner circle suggesting him to step down from captaincy roles in both red and white-ball cricket.

Earlier in the day, Morne Morkel stepped down as the Pakistan cricket team’s bowling coach — becoming the first casualty of the national side’s elimination from the mega event.

The former South African fast bowler — who had signed a six-month contract with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Meanwhile, sources say that former cricketer Umar Gul, who has already served as the team’s bowling coach in the past, is expected to take on the role once again.

“I have represented Pakistan before and will do it again if I get the chance,” Gul said while highlighting that the board has not yet contacted him for the post.

Latest News

Shaheen Afridi and Babar Azam get special jerseys from PCB chairman

Published

3 days ago

Farwa

After the victory over Ireland, Babar Azam surpassed Uganda’s Brian Masaba (44 victories) to become the most successful skipper in T20I history with 45 wins. Since taking over as captain in 2019, Azam has guided Pakistan in 78 games.

In the interim, Shaheen Afridi reached the noteworthy landmark of 300 wickets in international cricket. During the second Twenty20 International, Ireland skipper Paul Stirling became his 300th wicket.

The 24-year-old is also the fifth-youngest bowler to reach the mark.

Since making his international debut in 2018, he has played in 145 matches across all formats for Pakistan. In Test cricket, he claimed 113 wickets, while in ODI and T20I, he claimed 104 and 84 wickets respectively.

Interestingly, in the second Twenty20 International, Pakistan chose to bowl first, and in the fourth over, Afridi dismissed both of Ireland’s openers, bringing the score down to 34-2.

Nonetheless, Ireland reached 193 in their allotted 20 overs thanks to an outstanding 51 runs from 34 balls by Lorcan Tucker, which included five boundaries and two sixes. Gareth Delany also hit a rapid 28 off 10 balls.

Thanks to the half-centuries of Fakkhar Zaman and Muhammad Rizwan, Pakistan was able to successfully chase the 194-run mark with 19 balls remaining.

After early wickets from Babar Azam (0) and Saim Ayub (6), they put up a 140-run partnership in 78 balls to turn the tide of the match in Pakistan’s favour.

With an undefeated 75 off 46 balls that included six boundaries and four sixes, Rizwan top-scored for Pakistan, while Zaman was removed after making 78 runs off of 40 balls.

Another important contributor was Azam Khan, who scored an undefeated 30 off 10 with four sixes. In the seventeenth over, he blasted three sixes off Mark Adair to end the match in spectacular fashion.

Pakistan and Ireland will play their third and final Twenty20 International tomorrow, May 14.

Latest News

PCB will install floodlights for PSL matches at Quetta Stadium.

Published

1 week ago

Farwa

By installing floodlights by September, PCB will keep its word. Following stadium renovations, PSL matches would also be held in Quetta, according to Naqvi, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board.

He stated at a press conference held at Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti Cricket Stadium that the possibility of holding Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches in Quetta was being considered.

In Gwadar and Quetta, he said, the PCB would do its part to promote cricket.
Quetta Stadium will soon have floodlights installed, as announced by the interior minister, which Chief Minister Bugti congratulated for the news.

The province has a wealth of skills, and installing floodlights will help promote sports and cricket in particular. He responded to a query by saying that chances will be given to the province’s youth at the federal level.

Latest News

The women’s team from Pakistan travels to England for a white-ball series.

Published

1 week ago

Farwa

The national squad left Karachi earlier today to play three Twenty20 Internationals and three One-Day Internationals in the series.

Dr. Muhammad Faisal, Pakistan’s High Commissioner in England, greeted the women’s team and management.

The team will soon depart for Leicester to play a practice match on 9 May against the ECB Development XI. On May 11, in Birmingham, the first Twenty20 International will take place.

Notably, this will be Pakistan’s eighth and final series of the current event cycle. The ODIs in the series are a part of the ICC Women’s Championship 2022–25.

Pakistan women squad for England tour

Nida Dar (captain), Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Zafar, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Gull Feroza, Muneeba Ali (wk), Najiha Alvi (wk), Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Rameen Shamim, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Tuba Hassan, Umm-e-Hani and Waheeda Akhtar

Player support personnel: Nahida Khan (manager), Mauhtashim Rasheed (interim head coach), Saleem Jaffar (bowling coach), Taufeeq Umar (batting coach), Hanif Malik (fielding coach), Syed Nazir Ahmed (media manager), Rabia Siddiq (physiotherapist), Zubair Ahmed (analyst) and Hina Munawar (chief security officer)