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‘You rule our hearts’, cricketing fraternity reacts to Babar Azam’s resignation as captain

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With Babar Azam stepping down as the Pakistan team’s captain, the cricketing fraternity including current and former players have praised the 29-year-old for his services which saw the team becoming the top-ranked side in the 50-over format.

On Wednesday, Babar resigned as the national side’s captain in all three formats following months of criticism over the team’s dismal performance first in the Asia Cup and then in the ongoing World Cup 2023.

Appointed as white-ball captain in 2019 and later Test skipper in 2020, the right-hand batter has been facing criticism over the team’s early elimination from the mega-event due to a rather underwhelming performance in all three departments.

Reacting to Babar’s resignation as skipper, his teammate and Pakistan team’s wicket-keeper batsman Muhammad Rizwan took to social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, to laud the 29-year-old batter terming him as “one of the greatest batsmen Pakistan has ever seen”.

“Kaptaaana, aap Dilo k Kaptaan ho” (Captain! You rule our hearts), Rizwan said.

Meanwhile, former Test captain Azhar Ali thanked the right-handed batsman for his efforts as captain.

Ex-allrounder Mohammad Hafeez also lauded Babar for his services as skipper and wished him future success.

“Thank you for your services as captain”, Sohail Tanveer said.

“Thank You so Much for all your services for Pakistan as a Captain✨ And for taking Pakistan’s ODI team to the No.1 spot,” former spinner Saeed Ajmal wrote.

Earlier in the day, Babar, following his meeting with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Management Committee Chairman Zaka Ashraf announced to step down as Pakistan’s captain.

“Today, I am stepping down as the captain of Pakistan in all formats. It’s a difficult decision but I feel it is [the] right time for this call,” Babar said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter.

“I will continue to represent Pakistan as a player in all three formats. I am here to support the new captain and the team with my experience and dedication,” he noted.

Babar, despite being just 29 years old, has had an illustrious career, and he remained the top-ranked ODI batter for more than two years. The ex-skipper was the only batter to achieve the top three positions across all formats.

The batter said reaching the number 1 spot in the white-ball format was a result of the collective efforts of players, coaches, and management.

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Saying goodbye to international cricket, Bismah Maroof

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The decision to leave international cricket was made by Pakistani women’s cricket player Bismah Maroof on Thursday.

According to details, Maroof declared, “I am choosing to say goodbye to the sport, which I really enjoy. I have had a really memorable cricket journey.”

Saying, “The PCB, companions, family, and fans have always supported me,” she highlighted the importance of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and fans to her career.

With an average of 29.55, Maroof had scored 3369 runs in 136 WODIs while playing for Pakistan.

Throughout 140 WT20Is, Maroof averaged 27.55 and scored 2893 runs.

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For the Pakistani team’s T20I against New Zealand, Haseebullah has replaced Azam Khan.

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In a brief press release, PCB said, “The national selection committee has announced wicketkeeper/batter Haseebullah as the replacement player for Azam Khan, who was sidelined from the T20I series against New Zealand due to a tear in his right calf muscle.”

The information indicates that Haseebullah will become a member of the Pakistan team following the third Twenty20 International, and he will be eligible to be selected for the two remaining Twenty20 Internationals, which are slated to take place in Lahore on Thursday and Saturday, respectively.

Earlier in the year, Haseebullah, 21, played in his only Twenty20 international match against New Zealand.

or the unfamiliar, Azam Khan was declared out of the whole series on Saturday after missing the first Twenty20 International because of pain in his right knee and right calf muscle.

According to PCB, “Azam Khan has been advised to undergo a 10-day rest following radiology reports confirming a Grade One tear of his right calf muscle.”

The announcement also stated, “Azam will therefore be unable to take part in the current Twenty20 International series against New Zealand, which concludes in Lahore on April 27.”

Notably, Mark Chapman’s incredible innings helped the visitors to an easy seven-wicket victory in the third Twenty20 International, tying the five-match series between Pakistan and New Zealand at one.

Pakistan team for the Twenty20 Internationals in New Zealand

Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saim Ayub, Usman Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Babar Azam (c), Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Amir, Abbas Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Fakhar Zaman, Irfan Khan Niazi, Usama Mir, Zaman Khan

Mohammad Ali, Agha Salman, Sahibzada Farhan, and Muhammad Wasim Jr. are the reserve players.

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Rain cancels out Pakistan vs. New Zealand’s opening Twenty20 international

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As the rain returned, Shaheen Shah Afridi’s expertly timed in-swinger to dismiss Tim Robinson left only a two-ball match going on at the Pindi Cricket Stadium.

On-field umpires Aleem Dar and Ahsan Raza shook hands with the players and decided to call off the contest as soon as the rain started up again. Additionally, there was a thirty-minute delay in the planned fixture toss. Then, after winning the coin toss, Michael Bracewell, the captain of New Zealand, decided to bat first.

The players from both sides assembled shortly after for the national anthems, but more rain caused the proceedings to be postponed.

The match appeared likely to be called off before a ball was played due to the intensity of the second spell of rain. But after the rain stopped, the ground crew worked extremely hard, and the game might go into five overs.

The second game, which takes place at the same location on April 20, will pit the two teams against one another.

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