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World Cup: Pakistanis believe Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan to be top run scorers

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As the thrill of the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 has taken over the country, Pakistani fans have revealed who they think will take the crown for “Batsman with Most Runs” this year.

A recent survey carried out by Ipsos, a multinational market research firm, reveals that the majority of Pakistanis have predicted that Babar Azam will make the most runs in this year’s ICC Cricket World Cup amassing a whopping 42% of votes, despite his below average performance in the mega event so far.

Mohammad Rizwan follows the team’s skipper with 37% votes while 7% of Pakistani cricket fans believe India’s Virat Kohli will take the title.

The survey also included predictions for other titles including “Most Wicket-Taking Bowler”, “Wicket Keeper with Most Catches”, “Best Fielder”, and more.

Fans abuzz with cricket fever have been closely observing and analysing every move made by their favourite players on the pitch.

Based on their analysis or sheer admiration for the players, Pakistanis have predicted that Shaheen Shah Afridi, the young speedster, will become the “Most Wicket-Taking Bowler” with a whopping 47% of votes.

He is followed by teammates Haris Rauf with 19% of votes, Hassan Ali with 14% and Shadab Khan with 8%.

Pakistans Shaheen Afridi celebrates after taking the wicket of Indias Shubman Gill, caught by Shadab Khan (not seen in the picture) during India v Pakistan match in ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, India on October 14, 2023. — Reuters
Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi celebrates after taking the wicket of India’s Shubman Gill, caught by Shadab Khan (not seen in the picture) during India v Pakistan match in ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, India on October 14, 2023. — Reuters

According to the survey, it seems that 65% of Pakistanis believe Rizwan, who is a keen wicket-keeper, is the “Wicket Keeper with Most Catches” for this year’s World Cup.

For the title of “Best Fielder”, 21% fans predicted that Shahdab Khan will be winning the title, with the most catches and run-outs in the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup.

Additionally, for the “Best Player of World Cup”, Babar once again takes the lead, this time getting 34% of the votes in the survey.

He is followed by Muhammad Rizwan with 26% votes and Virat Kohli with 14%.

Furthermore, it is important to note that cricket matches are incomplete without commentators and fans charged with the cricket frenzy.

As cricket commentators have a fandom of their own, the survey included a “Preferred Commentators” category and it revealed that Ramiz Raja stood out to be the preferred commentator for 58% of respondents.

He was followed by Waqar Younis with 19% votes, Ravi Shastri with 6% votes, and any other commentator with 3% votes.

At last, the Ipsos survey revealed that a whopping 82% of respondents favoured Pakistan in response to the question about who would win if Pakistan and India ended up in the World Cup final against each other.

Additionally, 15% respondents favored India while 3% are uncertain of the outcome of this scenario.

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“He must demonstrate that he is Viv Richards.” Regarding Babar Azam, Ramiz Raja

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High expectations were set for star batsman Babar Azam by former Pakistan Test cricketer and PCB chairman Ramiz Raja, who said he should demonstrate his potential like Sir Vivian Richards.

Babar is now going through a difficult time. The ace batsman’s string of poor showings in the longest format also led to his exclusion from the final two Test matches of the just finished three-match series against England.

Although Babar has amassed 3,997 runs at a respectable average of 43.92 in 55 Test matches, he hasn’t reached a half-century in the format since 2022.

Babar Azam’s numbers in white-ball cricket were praised by Ramiz Raja, who pointed out that he needs to work harder in the longest format given his red-ball statistics.

Citing the legend’s propensity to perform well in pivotal games, he further counseled the star batter to demonstrate he is Sir Vivian Richards through his disposition.

“I think Babar needs to do much more in Test cricket. His average in both T20I and ODI is over fifty, and he excels at the white-ball format.On his YouTube channel, Raja stated, “Babar Azam has a lot of potential.”

He must now demonstrate to the world that he is Vivian Richards by his attitude. “The more innings Richards used to play, the bigger the contest,” he continued.

For those who are unaware, Babar Azam is presently touring Australia for the three-match ODI and T20I series.

With 271 runs needed to reach 6000, the star batter is about to reach a significant ODI milestone.

Additionally, he has a good chance of breaking the record held by South African great Hashim Amla for the fastest journey to 6000 ODI runs.

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Regarding Gary Kirsten’s resignation as head coach of Pakistan, Ramiz Raja said, “It’s not great news.”

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The sudden resignation of Gary Kirsten as head coach of the white-ball cricket team has prompted a warning from Ramiz Raja, the former chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

In April 2024, Kirsten was appointed by the cricket board for a two-year term. He did, however, leave the position on October 28 after only six months.

During Pakistan’s four-match T20I series against England in preparation for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, the South African took the lead.

Pakistan lost the series against England and were eliminated from the T20 World Cup group stage while he was the white-ball head coach.

Kirsten’s resignation, according to the sources, followed his arguments with the cricket board on central contracts and white-ball teams for the forthcoming tour of Australia and Zimbabwe.

Notably, in the past, the selection committee included voting members who were head coaches and captains of the various versions.

Nevertheless, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) restructured the selection committee after Pakistan’s crushing loss to England in the first Test match, eliminating the coach and captain from the process. This did not sit well with Gary Kirsten.

In a statement to the media, Ramiz Raja predicted that the cricket board will have trouble in the future recruiting elite international coaches.

“Hiring international talent won’t be an easy, straightforward task for Pakistan, especially when you consider the kind of backlash that Gary Kirsten’s resignation is likely to cause,” Ramiz stated.

It is imperative that you provide clarity regarding the role to the person you have engaged and involved. Gary Kirsten may or may not have received that clarity.

Pakistan needed an experienced hand, therefore her departure is not good news. Just before a tour, it doesn’t appear very well from a distance.

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Shahid Afridi endorses Mohammad Rizwan’s selection as captain for white-ball formats.

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Shahid Afridi, the former captain and all-rounder of Pakistan, endorsed the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) decision to designate Mohammad Rizwan as the white-ball captain of the national men’s side.

On Sunday, Rizwan succeeded Babar Azam as Pakistan’s white-ball captain after Babar resigned from the position earlier this month to concentrate more on his playing responsibilities.

Rizwan’s inaugural assignment as captain will be the white-ball series in Australia, commencing on 4 November.

Rizwan, who commenced his white-ball cricket career in 2015, has participated in 74 ODIs and 102 T20Is, amassing 5,401 runs, including four hundreds, and has had 143 dismissals as a wicketkeeper.

Rizwan will assume the role of Pakistan’s 31st captain as he leads the side in the opening ODI against Australia in Melbourne on 4 November. He will be the 12th individual to captain Pakistan in the T20I format during the first match in Brisbane on 14 November.

Concurrently, the esteemed all-rounder Shahid Afridi expressed his enthusiasm for the PCB’s decision to appoint wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan as the team’s captain. He conveyed assurance in Rizwan’s capacity to elevate the white-ball team to unprecedented levels.

Afridi stated on X, formerly Twitter, “If you seek a captain who exemplifies strategy, courage, optimism, vitality, and fervor, Rizwan is your ideal choice.”

“I am delighted that @TheRealPCB has assigned him this significant responsibility.” I am fully confident that he would advance this white-ball team and fulfill the elevated expectations of people who desire the prosperity and success of Pakistan cricket,” he added.

The 32-year-old wicketkeeper will commence his captaincy during the matches against Australia and the ODIs against Zimbabwe, but will be rested for the T20Is against Zimbabwe.

In his absence, vice-captain Salman Ali Agha will command Pakistan in the T20I series against Zimbabwe.

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