Tag: International Cricket Council

  • Indian journalists slam govt for not giving visas to Pakistani correspondents

    Indian journalists slam govt for not giving visas to Pakistani correspondents

    Senior Indian journalist Rajdeep Sardesai expressed disappointment on his government’s continuous delay in issuing visas for Pakistani journalists, stating that if Pakistan is playing the World Cup in India, visas cannot be denied to journalists.

    Rajdeep Sardesai asked why should journalists be politically demotivated. “We should adopt the attitude of good hosts,” he remarked, saying that he will expect the same from Islamabad in the future.

    Read More: World Cup 2023: Pakistani cricket presenter Zainab Abbas sent back from India due to safety concerns

    It should be noted that the head of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Zaka Ashraf, contacted Foreign Secretary Cyrus Sajjad Qazi in regards to the issuance of Indian visas to Pakistanis for the cricket World Cup.

    Here are some more reactions of Twitter users:

  • Fans react to Babar Azam being ‘ignored’ by ICC in World Cup promo

    Fans react to Babar Azam being ‘ignored’ by ICC in World Cup promo

    On July 20, the International Cricket Council (ICC) shared a promo for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. Cricket fans around the world have strongly reacted to Babar Azam, number one ODI batter, being ignored by the ICC in its recently released World Cup promo in which Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan also made an appearance.

    ICC tweeted: “History will be written and dreams will be realised at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. All it takes is just one day.”

    However, cricket fans were quick to point out an obvious omission by the ICC in its World Cup promo.

    The missing factor: Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam.

    Read more: Babar Azam and co ready to dominate in LPL: auction data released

    Fans called out the ICC for its ‘bias’, not including Babar Azam in the promo and also for making the content more about the Indian cricket team and less about the World Cup.

    Here are some tweets by fans who were not happy with the ICC:

  • ICC revenue model: Najam Sethi wants clarity before approval

    ICC revenue model: Najam Sethi wants clarity before approval

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials are not happy with International Cricket Council (ICC) new revenue distribution model in which the game’s biggest financial engine India will get most of the shares.

    ICC has proposed a new revenue-sharing model for the 2024-27 cycle to be voted on at its next board meeting in June.

    According to reports, in the revenue model, India would claim 38.5 per cent, while England and Australia would pocket 6.89pc and 6.25pc respectively. Pakistan stands to earn 5.75pc of the ICC’s projected earnings, primarily from its media rights sale.

    The 12 full members of the ICC would collectively get 88.81pc, while the rest would be distributed among its 96 associate members.
    “We are not happy with the figures shared with us. We are insisting that the ICC should tell us how these figures were arrived at,” Sethi told Reuters from London.

    “Come June, when the board is expected to approve the financial model, unless these details are provided to us, we are not going to approve it,” he stated.

    Disney Star shelled out $3 billion last year to acquire the 2024-27 media rights for the Indian market.

    Sethi said that we asked ICC to explain how the finance and commercial affairs committee headed by Indian cricket board secretary Jay Shah determined the share.

    This despite the fact that all nations will get more money and despite that PCB is not happy with the model, two other test playing nations are also unsatisfied with the biased model.

    The ICC, which considered factors such as the performance of a country’s men’s and women’s teams and their contribution to the ICC’s commercial revenue, was not immediately available to comment.

    “In principle, India should get more, there is no doubt about that but … how is this table being developed?” Sethi asked

    The proposed revenue split has become a major talking point in world cricket, which is already facing a rapidly altering landscape because of the Indian-driven rise of franchise-based leagues.

    Former England captain Mike Atherton, writing in The Times newspaper on Monday, criticised the “flawed” model, which he feared would only deepen the game’s existing inequality.

    “If that distribution comes to pass, then the strong will get stronger, the weak weaker (relatively) and international cricket will continue to become less competitive — which is in nobody’s long-term interest,” Atherton wrote.

  • Pakistan to face India tomorrow in Cricket Women’s World Cup

    Pakistan to face India tomorrow in Cricket Women’s World Cup

    Pakistan women’s cricket team will face their first match against arch-rival, India in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s World Cup. The match will take place at the picturesque Bay Oval, New Zealand on Sunday. The match will start at 6 a.m PST.

    The captain of the Pakistan Women’s Cricket team, Bismah Maroof is confident and optimistic about all her teammate’s performances.

    While talking with fast-bowler, Diana Baig, Bismah said, “We have been putting in the hard yards since our camp is in Karachi, and now is the time to deliver. The atmosphere of the team is very good. I am optimistic that we will do very well in the World Cup.”

    Bismah also shared her excitement for the first match against India in an interview.

    She said, “It is our first match of the tournament and we want to win it so we gain the momentum. In such tournaments, it is very important to start good and carry the moment, and, of course, that increases the significance of the first match. I am sure we will be able to meet expectations from us.”

    Bismah has made a comeback with this ICC tournament after she became a mother of a daughter, Fatima in December 2020. She is leading the cricket team for the first time in ICC ODI Worldcup.

  • Erin Holland’s desi PSL looks go viral, other presenters slaying it too

    Erin Holland’s desi PSL looks go viral, other presenters slaying it too

    Pakistan Super League (PSL) is in limelight across the world after successful arrangements by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and government authorities.

    Former England captain, Michael Vaughan also praised the quality of the PSL tournament. He said while comparing with the Indian Premier League (IPL), “Pakistan Super League is the 2nd best T20 Tournament in the World. It’s not far off the IPL either.”

    This year, PCB has hired International commenters along with Pakistani commentators including Bazid Khan, Waqar Younis, David Gower, Mike Haysman, Pommie Mbangwa, Sana Mir, Urooj Mumtaz, and many more.

    For presenters, Erin Holland, Zainab Abbas, and Sikandar Bakht have been hired by PCB.

    But it’s mostly Erin Holland’s desi looks that are being loved by fans.

    Erin Holland:

    Australian Model and TV host, Holland is a presenter in PSL 7. She is currently in the limelight for looking gorgeous in her desi looks. She is also the wife of Australian cricketer, Ben Cutting.

    Sana Mir

    A former captain of Pakistan’s women’s national team and commentator, Sana Mir looks professional yet attractive, in a simple tailored suit. She has opted for both western and eastern attire and killed both looks.

    Bazid Khan

    A former Pakistani cricketer and commentator, Bazid Khan has been actively doing commentary for many years in the International Cricket Council (ICC) tournaments. He has been spotted wearing traditional shalwar kameez with a waistcoat in recent PSL 7 matches. In our view, he looks stunning in the traditional dressing style.

    Urooj Mumtaz

    A former Pakistani cricketer and commentator, Urooj Mumtaz has been seen wearing elegant designs in the tournament which enhances her personality. She looks delightful in both eastern and western dresses.

  • Ramiz Raja to propose ICC four nation T20I ‘super series’ including Pakistan, India

    Ramiz Raja to propose ICC four nation T20I ‘super series’ including Pakistan, India

    Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ramiz Raja has said that he will be proposing to Internation theal Cricket Council (ICC) a four nation T20 International series which will include Pakistan with the ‘Big Three’ of cricket — India, Australia and England.

    Taking to Twitter, Ramiz wrote: “Hello fans. Will propose to the ICC a Four Nations T20i Super Series involving Pak Ind Aus Eng to be played every year, to be hosted on rotation basis by these four.”

    Chairman PCB said that this series can be played on a rotational basis by these four nations and profits can be shared on percentage basis.

    He further wrote: “A separate revenue model with profits to be shared on percentage basis with all ICC members, think we have a winner.”

    Pakistan and India faced each other in the group stage of the T20 World Cup in UAE, where the Babar Azam-led emerged victorious by 10 wickets. It was Pakistan’s first win against India in the ICC World Cups.

    Pakistan dominated the group stage and reached the semi-final without any hassle. However, the national side lost to the eventual champions Australia in the semi-final.

  • Twitter reacts after Shaheen ‘Test Player of the Year’ snub

    Twitter reacts after Shaheen ‘Test Player of the Year’ snub

    Pakistani Twitter has strongly reacted after Pakistani pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi has not been named among the nominees for ICC ‘Test Player of the Year’.

    India’s spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, England skipper Joe Root, New Zealand’s all-rounder Kylie Jamieson and Sri Lanka’s Test captain Dimuth Karunaratne have been nominated for the award on Tuesday.

    Shaheen was the second highest wicket-taker in Test cricket, during 2021, with 47 wickets in 9 matches at an average of 17.06.

    Interestingly, the ICC decided to include New Zealand’s pacer Kyle Jamieson, who had bagged fewer wickets than Shaheen, in the list. The right-armer bagged 27 wickets in five matches.

    Explaining their decision, the ICC said, in a statement, that “in New Zealand’s finest hour, as they celebrated their ICC World Test Championship victory, Jamieson was the player who made the difference”.

    “Away from the seam-friendly pitches of New Zealand and England, Jamieson also impressed on the flat decks in India, getting the ball to shape beautifully,” the statement added.

    However, Twitter users were not happy with ICC’s decision to pick Jamieson over Shaheen.

    https://twitter.com/EhtishamEjaz051/status/1476052082163601408?s=20

    Some of the netizens were even questioning Hassan Ali’s exclusion from the nominees as the star Pakistani speedster has grabbed 41 wickets in 8 matches at an average of 16.07 which include five, 5 wicket-hauls and one 10 wicket-hauls.

  • ‘ICC a politicised body, we need to reduce our dependence on it’: Ramiz Raja

    ‘ICC a politicised body, we need to reduce our dependence on it’: Ramiz Raja

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ramiz Raja has disclosed that 50 per cent of the board’s budget is based around the funds it gets from the International Cricket Council (ICC) whose “revenues are generated mainly from India”.

    Appearing before the Senate Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial affairs on Thursday in Islamabad, Ramiz said it was time for PCB to reduce its dependence on funding from the ICC and start tapping the local market.

    “ICC is a politicised body divided between the Asian and Western blocs and 90 per cent of its revenues are generated from India,” the PCB Chairman said.

    Ramiz said the ICC had become more of an event management company and PCB would have to make its voice heard if it does not want a repeat of the cancellation of confirmed series by New Zealand and England.

    What New Zealand did was unacceptable because till now they have not shared any information with us on what led them to abandon the series in Pakistan. But they are now trying to reschedule the series, he said.

    Ramiz hinted of some good news regarding the postponed New Zealand series in a week’s time.

    He indicated that the New Zealand cricket board was working on a new schedule to tour Pakistan.

    Read More – Ramiz Raja ‘erroneously’ tweets about ECB chairman’s resignation, deletes later

    Senator Raza Rabbani suggested that Pakistan should now not play against New Zealand and refuse any series but Ramiz pointed out that this would not be possible as Pakistan was part of the international cricket community.

    The good thing is that they are working on something, which means they want to amend things with us, he said.

    The New Zealand cricket team had arrived in Pakistan on September 11 for the first time in 18 years to play three ODIs and five Twenty20 Internationals but left on September 19 without playing any match after their government and security agencies advised them to return home citing “security concerns”.

    Ramiz, in a candid briefing to the senators, also made it clear that he would unveil his plans for Pakistan cricket and the board in a week or 10-days’ time while in four weeks’ time he would have his team ready.

    Read More – New Zealand cricket chief open to rescheduling of abandoned Pakistan series

    “To me, it is simple if the national team cannot do well and win matches, it means that everyone in the board from the tea man to the top official have failed in their duties,” he said.

  • ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 to be held in UAE, Oman

    ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 to be held in UAE, Oman

    ICC has officially announced that Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 is to be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman.

    The cricket governing body announced the news on their social media accounts.

    Earlier, it was reported that the T20 WC 2021 is set to begin from October 17 in the UAE, with the final for the 16-team tournament scheduled for November 14. The tournament will start days after the Indian Premier League (IPL) final, which is likely to be held on October 15.

    As per details, the venue for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 has been shifted to the UAE and Oman, with the tournament set to run from October 17 to November 14.

    The tournament was originally set to be staged in India, but had to be shifted given the deadly second wave of Covid-19 there.

    The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will remain the hosts of the event, which will now be held across four venues – Dubai International Stadium, the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, the Sharjah Stadium, and the Oman Cricket Academy Ground.

    The first round of the tournament, comprising eight qualifying teams, will now be split between Oman and the UAE. Four of these teams will then progress to the Super 12s round where they will join the eight automatic qualifiers.

    “The BCCI is looking forward to hosting the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 tournament in UAE and Oman,” said Saurav Ganguli in the official statement.

    The upcoming edition will be the first Men’s T20 World Cup played since 2016, when the West Indies beat England in the final in India.

    The eight teams competing in the preliminary stage are Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Ireland, Netherlands, Scotland, Namibia, Oman and Papua New Guinea, before the play-off stage and the Final on November 14.

  • Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman among ICC ‘Player of the Month’ nominees

    Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman among ICC ‘Player of the Month’ nominees

    The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday announced nominees for April’s ICC Player of the Month Awards. Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman are among the nominated players.

    ICC introduced the award to recognise the best performances from both male and female cricketers across all formats of international cricket.

    In the month of April, Pakistan captain Babar Azam became the number one ranked batsman in the ICC Men’s ODI Player Rankings, ending Indian Cricket Team’s captain Virat Kohli’s long reign at the top of the charts.

    Babar’s match-winning 82-ball 94 in the third ODI against South Africa helped him gain 13 rating points to reach a career-best 865 points. He also contributed 122 from 59 balls in Pakistan’s successful chase in the third match of a T20I series against the same opposition.

    His compatriot Fakhar Zaman also produced a stellar showing during the month, scoring two centuries in the ODI series victory over South Africa, including a magnificent 193 in the second match in Johannesburg. 

    Completing the men’s shortlist, Nepal’s Khushal Bhurtel was the leading run-scorer as his team won a tri-series also featuring the Netherlands and Malaysia. His significant contribution with the bat totalled 278 runs, including four half-centuries in five matches.

    Meanwhile, Australia’s Alyssa Healy, her team-mate Megan Schutt and New Zealand’s Leigh Kasperek made it to the Women’s Player of the Month nominees.

    Winners will be announced every second Monday of the month on the ICC’s digital channels. 

    Fans can vote for their favourite players, both male and female on given links by ICC or directly by going to ICC’s website.