Connect with us

Sports

PCB decides to ‘sack’ Babar Azam as captain after World Cup fiasco

Published

on

  • Shan Masood likely captain for upcoming Australia Test series.
  • Shaheen Shah Afridi expected to lead Pakistan in NZ T20 series.
  • Babar Azam to be sacked as captain of all three formats.

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to remove Babar Azam as the captain from all formats, sources told Geo News Tuesday night, ending his years-long stint in the leading position.

The decision comes after Pakistan failed to make it to the semi-finals in the ongoing World Cup, courtesy of their below-par performance in all three departments — batting, bowling, and fielding.

The sources said if Babar decides to submit his resignation, the board would accept it, otherwise, PCB will sack him from the post.

They added that Shan Masood is a strong candidate for the captain’s slot in the upcoming Test series against Australia and Shaheen Shah Afridi for the T20I series in New Zealand.

Shaheen might also lead the Green Shirts in next year’s T20 World Cup, the sources said.

Babar was appointed white-ball captain in 2019 and as Test skipper in 2021, but the Green Shirts have not won any ICC or Asia Cup titles under his leadership.

Although the Pakistan team went into the World Cup ranked as the top side, they failed to prove their mettle and crashed out of the tournament in the group stage.

Throwing his support behind “depressed” Babar after the Green Shirts’ failure in the World Cup, the team’s director Mickey Arthur had said that it’s not a “crime to make mistakes”.

The skipper is scheduled to meet PCB Management Committee Chairman Zaka Ashraf later today and it is expected that an announcement related to his captaincy will be made after it.

Latest News

Sumair Ahmad is named the 2025 Champions Trophy Director by PCB.

Published

on

By

PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi commented on the appointment, saying, “Sumair is a highly organized professional with a wealth of administrative expertise.” He will undoubtedly give players, officials, and fans alike an amazing ICC Champions Trophy 2025, especially when combined with his unshakable love for cricket.

He continued, “The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 promises to showcase Pakistan’s ability to host world-class cricketing events, welcoming players and fans from around the globe to experience the country’s renowned hospitality and passion for the game.”

The BCCI informed the ICC earlier this month that it will not be sending a side to the event, which is set for 2025 in Pakistan during the February–March season.

After the PCB asked for clarity in its letter regarding the BCCI’s unwillingness to tour Pakistan, the ICC requested India’s justifications for not inviting Pakistan to compete for the Champions Trophy.

The broadcasters, meanwhile, reportedly pushed the ICC to make the Champions Trophy 2025 schedule available right away.

Due to the Indian government’s refusal to send a delegation to Pakistan for the event, the schedule that was supposed to be issued on November 12 was postponed.

The broadcasting rights, which were given to broadcasters for a record $3 billion until 2027, are heavily dependent on the success of the main events, especially those involving India and Pakistan, which regularly attract the largest audiences.

Continue Reading

Latest News

India withdraws from the World Cup of Blind T20 Cricket in Pakistan

Published

on

By

Adding to the issue surrounding the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, the Indian government refused to allow their squad to travel to Pakistan for the Blind Cricket T20 World Cup, which is set to start in Lahore on November 23.

According to Indian media, India, the reigning champion, would not go to Pakistan to play in the Blind T20 World Cup 2024 since the government has not given its approval.

Lahore and Multan are set to host the Blind T20 World Cup 2024 from November 23 to December 3.

The general secretary of the Indian Blind Cricket Association (IBCA), Sailendra Yadav, recently discussed the upsetting news about the blind cricket team’s upcoming trip to Pakistan in an interview with India Today.

The team was given a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) by the Sports Ministry, but the Ministry of External Affairs finally refused to allow them to enter the border, Yadav revealed.

Yadav stated, “We have been waiting for the government to give us permission to travel to Pakistan for the past 25 days.”

“We will not be receiving any authorization to travel to Pakistan, and we can cancel your tournament,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) informed us over the phone.

Continue Reading

Latest News

Aaqib Javed designated as interim head coach for white-ball formats of Pakistan

Published

on

By

On Monday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the hiring of former fast bowler Aaqib Javed as the interim head coach of the Pakistan men’s cricket team till the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Throughout this period, Aaqib will maintain his role as a senior member of the men’s National Selection Committee and will be allocated more responsibilities upon the completion of the eight-team tournament.

The PCB will commence the recruitment process for a permanent white-ball head coach, with the objective of finalising the appointment before the conclusion of the ICC Champions Trophy, which is set to take place from 19 February to 9 March.

The white-ball coaching position became available with Gary Kirsten’s departure last month, prior to the current tour of Australia.

In Kirsten’s absence, red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie led the team during the tour of Australia and will now return for the forthcoming two-Test series in South Africa.

The Pakistan men’s team is set to compete in three ODIs and three T20Is in Zimbabwe from November 24 to December 5, followed by an equal number of white-ball matches in South Africa from December 10 to 22.

Prior to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Pakistan will host New Zealand and South Africa for an ODI triangular series from February 8 to 14.

Aaqib Javed had considerable coaching expertise, having formerly held the position of Pakistan’s bowling coach during their triumphant ICC T20 World Cup campaign in 2009. Earlier this year, he served as the bowling coach for the Sri Lanka men’s squad.

Before that, he managed the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in achieving ODI status and qualifying for the ICC World Cup 2015 in Australia during his term as head coach.

Additionally, the right-arm fast bowler served as the coach of Pakistan’s Under-19 squad during their victory in the U19 World Cup in 2004.

Continue Reading

Trending