Tag: England Tour

  • ‘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).

  • Ramiz Raja, Michael Vaughan hit out at Pakistan’s ‘pathetic’ performance after England loss

    Ramiz Raja, Michael Vaughan hit out at Pakistan’s ‘pathetic’ performance after England loss

    Former cricketers and commentators Ramiz Raja and Michael Vaughan hit out at the “pathetic” performance of Pakistan cricket team after losing to England by nine wickets in the first One-Day International (ODI) match on Thursday.

    Taking to Twitter, Raja wrote: “#PakvsEng a bit of a disaster this  getting a pasting from an England second XI, losing with 169 balls to spare. Pretty rubbish we were today!”

    In a tweet, Vaughan said, “Love watching Pakistan play Cricket. A team that can beat any team in the world on any given day but also lose to any team on any given day.”

    In another tweet, former England captain wrote: “For England, to rock up only yesterday as a team and perform like they did tells us so much about the culture of the white ball team, very, very impressive. For Pakistan they were PATHETIC. It’s the only way to describe a performance like that.”

    England’s makeshift ODI team put the Covid-19 issues that hit the previous squad behind them to bowl out Pakistan for 141 runs before cruising to a clinical nine-wicket win in the three-match series opener.

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

    Stand-in skipper Ben Stokes led an entirely fresh England XI, including five debutants, after a Covid-19 outbreak in the squad. All 16 players initially selected for Pakistan series had to self-isolate.

    Chasing 142 for a 1-0 lead in the series, England cruised home in 21.5 overs.

    Meanwhile, Pakistani cricketer Mohammad Hafeez tweeted: “Can any one please share the right streaming link to watch live #ENGvPAK ODI match? Regards.”

  • England ODI squad forced to self-isolate after seven positive Covid-19 cases

    England ODI squad forced to self-isolate after seven positive Covid-19 cases

    England’s white-ball squads have been forced to self-isolate two days before the start of their One-Day Internationals (ODI) series against Pakistan following seven positive Covid-19 tests among the team’s players and management.

    Taking to Twitter, senior sports journalist Faizan Lakhani also shared the news about the positive cases in the white-ball squads of the hosts.

    As per details, three players and four members of management have tested positive for Covid. “In collaboration with Public Health England, Public Health Wales and Bristol Local Health Authority, those impacted will now observe a period of self-isolation from July 4 following the UK Government’s protocol on quarantine,” an English Cricket Board (ECB) statement said.

    “The remaining members of the party have been deemed close contacts and will also isolate.”

    The ECB confirmed that the limited-overs series against Pakistan will go ahead as planned, with Ben Stokes due to return to international duty ahead of schedule and captain the squad.

    ECB’s chief executive Tom Harrison, said: ”We have been mindful that the emergence of the Delta variant, along with our move away from the stringent enforcement of biosecure environments, could increase the chances of an outbreak. We made a strategic choice to try to adapt protocols, in order to support the overall wellbeing of our players and management staff who have spent much of the last 14 months living in very restricted conditions.”

    “Overnight we have worked swiftly to identify a new squad, and we are grateful to Ben Stokes who will return to England duties to captain. We also recognise the impact this news will have on our first-class counties and their men’s playing squads and thank them, along with our partners Sky and Royal London, for their ongoing support in dealing with this pandemic.”

    A lot of players taking part in the ongoing County Championship have already been informed to report for national duty. They will be allowed to join the squad and the bio-secure bubble after negative Covid-19 Tests.

    The official announcement of the new squad is expected to be made at 3pm Pakistan Standard Time.

  • ‘This shouldn’t have happened’: Waqar Younis on Younis Khan’s resignation

    ‘This shouldn’t have happened’: Waqar Younis on Younis Khan’s resignation

    Pakistan men’s cricket team bowling coach Waqar Younis regretted on Monday that former captain Younis Khan had stepped down as the batting coach of the team just days before the England tour.

    Read More – Younis Khan’s shocking revelations

    Addressing a virtual presser from the United Kingdom (UK), where Pakistan will be playing three One-day Internationals (ODI) and as many Twenty20 International (T20I) against England, Waqar said, “It’s unfortunate [Younis Khan stepping down as the batting coach] at the stroke of [a] big tour. It has happened, but this shouldn’t have happened.”

    Last month, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had issued a statement announcing that the board and Younis had mutually agreed to part ways.
    Commenting on the development, PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan had said it was sad to lose an expert of Younis’ stature and experience.

    “Following a series of discussions, we both have reluctantly but mutually and amicably agreed that it was time to move in different directions.

    “I want to thank Younis for his contributions during his short stint as the men’s national cricket team’s batting coach and hope he will remain available to assist the PCB by sharing his vast knowledge with the emerging cricketers,” he had said.

    Commenting on the matter, Waqar said the PCB and Younis had both given explanations about their differences.

    The bowling coach added: “Younis was a great help… [and] his work ethic has always been good.”

    Waqar was also asked to share his views on reports of PCB chief executive Wasim Khan visiting fast bowler Mohammad Amir, who retired from international cricket last year.
    He said he was not aware of the development until the media reported it, adding that it was the PCB head’s prerogative whether to visit Amir or not.

    “But if Amir doesn’t want to play or take back his retirement … or impress the selectors, then it’s hard. You have to do the right things to play for your country,” remarked Waqar.