Tag: England series

  • Pakistan Cricket Board announces squad for T20 World Cup

    Pakistan Cricket Board announces squad for T20 World Cup

    Cricket fans are waiting with baited breath as the countdown to men’s ICC T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia has begun while England-Pakistan series is all set to start from September 20.

    Chief selector at Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Muhammad Wasim, unveiled Pakistan’s squad for the series against England and ICC men’s T20 World Cup.

    Babar Azam will be leading the men in green along with Shadab as vice captain. Top-order batter Shan Masood has been included in the team.

    Here is the 18 member squad for ICC T20I World Cup:

    • Babar Azam (captain)
    • Shadab Khan (vice-captain)
    • Asif Ali
    • Haider Ali
    • Haris Rauf
    • Iftikhar Ahmed
    • Khushdil Shah
    • Mohammad Hasnain
    • Mohammad Nawaz
    • Mohammad Rizwan
    • Mohammad Wasim Junior
    • Naseem Shah
    • Shaheen Shah Afridi
    • Shan Masood
    • Usman Qadir

    The travelling reserves include

    • Fakhar Zaman
    • Mohammad Haris
    • Shahnawaz Dahani

    Here is the list of Pakistan squad for England T20I:

    • Babar Azam (captain)
    • Shadab Khan (vice-captain)
    • Aamir jamal
    • Abrar Ahmed
    • Asif Ali
    • Haider Ali
    • Haris Rauf
    • Iftikhar Ahmed
    • Khushdil Shah
    • Mohammad Haris
    • Mohammad Hasnain
    • Mohammad Nawaz
    • Mohammad Rizwan
    • Mohammad Wasim Junior
    • Naseem Shah
    • Shahnawaz Dahani
    • Shan Masood
    • Usman Qadir
  • England to play two additional T20Is during their tour to Pakistan in 2022

    England to play two additional T20Is during their tour to Pakistan in 2022

    England will play two additional Twenty20s during their tour to Pakistan next year, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Chief Executive Tom Harrison announced on Tuesday.

    Pakistani cricket fans were infuriated by ECB’s decision to unilaterally cancel their joint men’s and women’s trip to Pakistan, which had been planned for October, with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ramiz Raja saying that his nation had been “used then binned” as part of a “West versus rest” mentality.

    That visit would have been England’s first since 2005 and came against the backdrop of New Zealand’s prior withdrawal from Pakistan, citing a specific and credible security threat.

    Harrison travelled this week in an apparently successful bid to repair relations, agreeing to extend what had been a five-match T20 series to a bumper seven-match rubber next September and October.

    England will also return for a three-Test series starting in November, after the T20 World Cup in Australia.

    Announcing the deal, Harrison said: “Myself and ECB’s senior director Martin Darlow visited Lahore to talk face to face with the PCB around some of the things that have happened over the past few weeks, leading to the cancellation of our tour in October.

    “We also wanted to discuss the future as the two boards have a historic relationship and want to move the agenda towards a forward-looking one as opposed to one looking back.

    “This is just to reaffirm our commitment to Pakistan cricket to getting England teams, men’s and women’s teams, eventually playing in Pakistan at home.

    “I don’t think there’s a cricketer in England who doesn’t want to test their abilities against the huge talent this country has and in the conditions they know best.”

    It was announced earlier this week that Australia would tour Pakistan for the first time since 1998 when they visit the country in March and April 2022 for three Tests, three ODIs and a T20 international.

    “The ECB have shown their large heartedness to be here for which I am thankful to Tom and Martin. It means a lot to us,” said Ramiz Raja.

  • ‘Massively disturbing this 3-0 score line’: Ramiz Raja reacts to Pakistan getting whitewashed

    ‘Massively disturbing this 3-0 score line’: Ramiz Raja reacts to Pakistan getting whitewashed

    Former captain of Pakistan cricket team Ramiz Raja has reacted to Pakistan’s “disturbing” 3-0 whitewash by England in the three-match One-Day International (ODI) series on Tuesday.

    Taking to Twitter, he wrote: “What started off as an aberration, a momentary glitch became a norm! Massively disturbing this 3-0 scoreline!!”

    Pakistan’s Babar Azam-led unit suffered a three-wicket defeat in the third ODI despite posting a gigantic 331-run total on the scoreboard.

    On the other hand, he was angrier while giving his views on his YouTube Channel. “I’m not surprised with the result in today’s game. This was on the cards as this team had already mentally disintegrated.”

    He said that Pakistan never recovered from the shocking defeat in the first ODI, which led to bad headlines about the team across the globe.

    “It has become a trend that we have stopped learning from our mistakes,” Raja said. “Whenever there is added pressure, we make more mistakes. As in today’s game, we made fumbles and dropped catches on the field. Similarly, our bowling was below par due to the added pressure.”

    “They started bowling half-trackers and shorter lengths on a straight pitch, which is nothing less than inviting batsmen to hit you all around the park,” he added.

    Meanwhile, Azam became the quickest to reach 14 ODI centuries milestone in just 81 innings. This also makes Azam the first-ever Pakistan skipper to score an ODI century against England in England.

    On the list of quickest to 14 ODI centuries, the 26-year-old is followed by Hashim Amla (84 innings), David Warner (98 innings), Virat Kohli (103 innings) and Quinton de Kock (104 innings).

  • Nine uncapped players included in England’s revised squad for Pakistan ODIs

    Nine uncapped players included in England’s revised squad for Pakistan ODIs

    England’s revised squad announced to play Pakistan in a three-match One-Day International (ODI) series after a Covid-19 outbreak led to the formation of a new playing eleven. Nine uncapped players have been included in England’s squad.

    Squad: Ben Stokes (c), Jake Ball, Danny Briggs, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Lewis Gregory, Tom Helm, Will Jacks, Dan Lawrence, Saqib Mahmood, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Matt Parkinson, David Payne, Phil Salt, John Simpson (wk), James Vince

    “It’s a great opportunity to play on the biggest stage, and for most of the players selected it’s not necessarily something they would have been expecting 24 hours ago,” managing director of England men’s cricket, Ashley Giles, said.

    “It’s an exciting group of players, with some young talent and some players who have impressed at a domestic level over a long period of time. We’re in unprecedented territory, in terms of replacing an entire squad and management team, and I’m very proud of how everyone has come together in order to get it done – both those within the ECB and from the county game.

    “Ben hasn’t captained our ODI side before so it’s a huge honour for him. We all wish him well and it’s a role I’m sure he’ll thrive in. I’d like to also put on record the thanks of the ECB to the PCB for their support and understanding during this time,” Giles added.

    Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday expressed satisfaction in a press release over the “assurances and guarantees” given by the England Cricket Board (ECB) over existing protocols in place for the Pakistan cricket team and support staff’s safety.

    The PCB responded to seven members of the England cricket team testing positive for coronavirus. Three players and four members of the support staff tested positive for the infection.

    “Pakistan Cricket Board has been in close contact with the England and Wales Cricket Board regarding concerns about the health and safety of its players since the news of Covid-19 outbreak in the England camp,” said the board in a statement.

    “The PCB is satisfied by the assurances and guarantees provided by the ECB on behalf of its medical panel,” said the PCB.

  • England tour of South Africa cancelled after coronavirus outbreak

    The ODI series between England and South Africa has been officially called off after issues around Covid-19 became too big to overcome.

    Official confirmation of the abandonment on medical grounds came today (Monday) after a series of postponements and cancellations over the last three days.

    A joint statement released by Cricket South Africa (CSA) and the England and Wales Cricket Board stated the decision was taken by the two boards “to ensure the mental and physical health and welfare of players from both teams.” Both boards will work together to reschedule the series, which is part of the ICC Cricket Men’s Super League.

    England will return home without having played any of-the-three scheduled one-day internationals. The decision to call off the tour followed apparent breaches of the bio-secure environment at the hotel in Cape Town where both teams are staying.

    A South African player tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday. Two hotel staff members then tested positive before two members of the England touring party returned what were described as “unconfirmed positive tests” on Sunday.

    The series was to have started in Cape Town on Friday but that match was cancelled an hour before the players were to take to the field after the South African player’s positive test. That match was re-scheduled and moved to Paarl on Sunday, but that match was cancelled following the positive results in the England camp.

    The teams played three Twenty20 internationals without any problems before the Covid-19 outbreak.

    “CSA and the ECB will now work together to determine when the three-match series, which forms part of the ICC Cricket Men’s Super League, can take place in the future,” CSA tweeted.

    CSA Acting CEO, Kugandrie Govender said: “The concern over the mental health impact of recent events on all involved is not one that we as CSA or the ECB take lightly and the decision to postpone the tour is the most responsible and reasonable course of action for us.”

  • England to tour Pakistan after 16 years

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed that the England cricket team will visit Pakistan for a short tour in October 2021.

    According to details, England’s men’s team will make their first visit to Pakistan in 16 years for a two-match T20 International series next October. The two games, to be held in Karachi on October 14 and 15, will be part of the 2021 T20 World Cup build-up.

    England will arrive in Karachi on October 12, and both the sides will depart for India on October 16 for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at the end of the series.

    Sharing his thoughts on the development, PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan said: “I am delighted to confirm that England will be touring Pakistan to play two T20Is in October 2021. This will be their first visit to Pakistan for 16 years and will open the door for both Test and white-ball tours in the 2022-23 season.”

    He added, “The ECB’s confirmation further endorses Pakistan as safe and secure. Importantly, this announcement speaks volumes for the relationship that we have with the ECB and I would like to thank the ECB for their strong will and desire to make this short tour a reality.”

    Meanwhile, Chief Executive of England Cricket Board Tom Harrison said that it is “a real pleasure” to announce the tour.

    “This will be the first time since 2005 that an England team has toured Pakistan and, as such, it represents a significant moment for both nations,” said Harrison.

    England last toured Pakistan in 2005 when they played three Tests and five One-Day Internationals. The subsequent series between the two sides in 2012 and 2015 were played in the United Arab Emirates.

    PCB announces Super League fixtures against England

    Meanwhile, the Pakistan cricket team will be touring England and Wales in July 2021. The tour will comprise three ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League ODIs and as many T20Is.

    As per the press release, the ODIs will be played in Cardiff, London (Lord’s) and Birmingham on July 8, 10 and 13 respectively while the T20Is will be held in Nottingham, Leeds and Manchester on July 16, 18 and 20 respectively.

    Read more – Are IPL’s Mumbai Indians the greatest domestic T20 side ever?

    England leads the points table of the qualification league for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 with 30 points from two three-ODI series. Pakistan shares the second spot with Australia on 20 points following a 2-1 series win over Zimbabwe, while Zimbabwe and Ireland are on 10 points each.

    The remaining eight sides in the 13-team competition are yet to play their opening fixtures in the Super League from which the seven top-ranked sides and World Cup hosts India will progress directly for the event proper to take place in October/November 2023.

    The ODI series against England will be one of Pakistan’s three away fixtures in 2021 with the other two being against South Africa (April 2021) and Afghanistan (September 2021). In addition to these away series, Pakistan will play two home Super League fixtures against New Zealand and the West Indies in October and December 2021, respectively.

    Pakistan is presently sixth in ODIs behind England, India, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, while Babar Azam’s side is ranked fourth behind Australia, England and India in T20Is. Pakistan sits seventh in Tests.

  • ‘I remember crying in the shower for hours’: Imam ul Haq opens up on nepotism accusations

    ‘I remember crying in the shower for hours’: Imam ul Haq opens up on nepotism accusations

    Imam-ul-Haq has opened up about the mental pressures that came with being accused of nepotism when he entered the national team. Imam, who is the nephew of legendary former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka in October 2017. His situation was worsened with the fact that Inzamam was also the chief selector for Pakistan at the time.

    Speaking to former India cricketer Deep Dasgupta on his ESPNCrincinfo chat show Cricketbaazi, Haq said: “When all of this started happening, I would have my meals all alone. It was my first tour and you know how it can get on the first tour. And whenever I would open my phone, there were people tagging me on social media posts or sending me stuff. I was very disheartened and couldn’t understand anything.”

    “I stopped talking to my family because I didn’t want to put them under any pressure that I’m facing problems,” he continued. “I switched off and handed both my mobile phones to my manager, and said, ‘I can’t take this, please take them off me.’”

    “I remember crying in the shower for hours that I haven’t even played yet. It’s very easy for young players to get surrounded by self-doubt. The only thing running constantly in my mind was that I haven’t even played [for the national team] yet, what if I play and don’t perform well? Then my career will be over. I wouldn’t step a foot out of my room, fearing people might trouble me outside, because there is a large Pakistan community in Dubai.”

    Read more – Ex-Indian cricketer recalls when ‘shy’ Imran Khan didn’t leave his hotel room to play Holi

    Imam played the third match of the series. “We were living in Dubai, and from there we had to travel to Abu Dhabi on the match-day, which is a two-hour drive. So we had to leave around 11 am-12 pm for the match and I got his (Arthur’s) message at around 9.30 am, which I still remember, ‘Immy, it’s your time, be ready and good luck,’” said Imam.

    “After that, I don’t remember anything. My mind was completely blank. I was hoping he hadn’t messaged me. He shouldn’t have. Because my confidence had hit the rock-bottom and I was feeling so low that I felt I won’t be able to perform in the match.

    “I was focusing less on the match and more on what would happen after. What if I couldn’t perform? My career will get badly affected and everyone will say they were right to criticise me. Because the media was only discussing my inclusion in the side.”

    Imam went on to score a century in that match, thus becoming the second Pakistani batsman to score a ton on debut.

    Meanwhile, the cricketer, who was hit on his left-hand during the practise match, has been declared fit to bat by the team doctor. He is part of Pakistan’s squad for the England series.

  • Mohammad Amir to join Pakistan squad in England

    Mohammad Amir to join Pakistan squad in England

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday said that fast bowler, Mohammad Amir, who had initially pulled out of England tour, will join the Pakistan squad following the birth of his second daughter last week.

    According to the board, the white-ball specialist and masseur Mohammad Imran underwent COVID-19 tests on Monday and they must register two negative results before they can join the squad in England.

    “If their first tests return negative, they will be moved to a bio-secure environment in Lahore where their second tests will be conducted on Wednesday, with the expected departures over the weekend,” the PCB said.

    Meanwhile, Shoaib Malik’s departure has been delayed until the second week of August after India extended the ban on international flights until July 31, which, in turn, has delayed a planned family reunion. The board had allowed Malik to meet with his family, including wife Sania Mirza and son Izhaan Mirza, before joining the team. The board added that when Malik joins the squad for the T20I series, which starts on August 28 in Manchester, the team management will release a player.

    On the other hand, all-rounder Khushdil Shah, who fractured his thumb, will miss the first test against England. Khushdil has been ruled out for up to three weeks after injuring his left thumb while batting during Saturday’s training session in Derby.

    Abid Ali also survived a scare after being struck on the helmet while fielding at forward short-leg during an intra-squad match on Sunday.

    “Abid is absolutely fine and will be available to resume training on Wednesday following Tuesday’s rest day,” team doctor Sohail Saleem said. “He underwent a precautionary CT scan which has also returned normal.”

    The three-test series begins in Manchester on August 5, with the last two matches scheduled in Southampton.

    Beginning on August 28, Pakistan will also play three Twenty20 Internationals against England with Manchester hosting all the matches.