Tag: Pakistan Captain

  • Shadab Khan reveals his wedding date, Babar Azam’s number in a tell-all Q&A

    Shadab Khan reveals his wedding date, Babar Azam’s number in a tell-all Q&A

    Pakistan’s right-arm spinner Shadab Khan recently hosted a question and answer (Q&A) session on his Instagram. The prodigious turner of the ball answered to some interesting questions. From his wedding date to Pakistan’s all-format captain Babar Azam’s phone number, Shadab had hilarious responses to the questions.

    A fan asked the young cricketer that when is he getting married? Answering to the question, he said: “The question is good but I don’t have the answer.”

    One of the netizens asked Shadab to share his number. Not only his but the fan also asked for Babar Azam’s number as well.

    Replying to the fan, he said: “Bhai q nahe abhi bhajta houn. (Why not brother. Sending in a while.)”

    Another fan said: “Where does Babar Azam live?” He jokingly replied: “I am not completely sure about it but I think he lives in his home.”

    One of the fans asked that where does the 23-year-old cricketer live? He said that he lives in Rawalpindi. While another one asked for the exact location, Shadab sarcastically said: “Will be sending you the full address, it shall be easy for you.”

    One of the question was hilarious as it read: “Plz marry me bhai.” Shadab laughed at it and replying, he said: “Brothers and sisters can’t marry each other.”

    Another fan said: “Rishta dhoondein aap k liye. (Should we find a ‘rishta’ for you?).”

    While thanking his fans for the concern of his marriage, Shadab said: “I have realised that all of you are so much concerned about my marriage. Thank you for your interest.”

    One of the fans asked about his thoughts on Babar Azam’s maiden Test wicket and his bowling. He said that “Babar is trying to take our place (in the team) but he did really well.”

    Babar Azam took his maiden Test wicket on Wednesday as Pakistan clinched the two-match Test series against Bangladesh in Dhaka on the same day. Pakistan white-washed the hosts with an exquisite victory of 2-0.

    The Test team has flown back home and are set to play against West Indies in Karachi, starting from December 13.

  • VIDEO: Babar Azam’s maiden Test wicket, celebration

    VIDEO: Babar Azam’s maiden Test wicket, celebration

    Pakistan cricket team clinched the two-match Test series against Bangladesh in Dhaka on Wednesday despite the fact that two days were washed out due to rain. Sajid Khan’s outstanding 12 wicket-haul was the highlight of the match but Pakistan skipper Babar Azam’s maiden Test wicket was the cherry on the top.

    Azam in the second innings bowled two overs, took a wicket, and only conceded a run with an economy of 0.50.

    The captain picked up the wicket of Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who scored 14 off 70 balls.

    Miraz tried to sweep Babar’s delivery and missed the ball, which touched his pad as a result. Pakistani fielders appealed for LBW, but the on-field umpire declared it not out.

    However, Babar straight away went up for the review, which clearly showed the impact was in line, and the ball clearly hitting between the leg and middle stump, which forced the umpire to reverse his decision to out as the entire Pakistani team became ecstatic.

    The Pakistan team was all excited to see their skipper pick up his wicket, while Babar himself was all smiles.

    The wicket was an important one as well for Pakistan as Shakib al Hasan and Mehidy continued to defy Pakistan’s bowling and were looking in a position to deny the visitors a win.

    Pakistan whitewashed Bangladesh 2-0 in the Test series, breathing life into a rain-hit Test match that was otherwise headed for a certain draw.

    Pakistan team is headed home and all set to play the next series against West Indies on the home grounds.

  • Babar Azam is ‘confident’ ahead of Bangladesh Test series

    Babar Azam is ‘confident’ ahead of Bangladesh Test series

    Pakistan’s all-format captain Babar Azam is confident that they will be performing well in the Test Championship after playing against Bangladesh in the two-match Test series. He said that in a virtual press conference from Chittagong ahead of the first Test.

    The skipper was a bit worried about the unavailability of a batting coach with the side, saying that the Men in Green should have had one but the decision to appoint a batting coach rests with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

    Veteran Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden was appointed by the PCB as batting consultant for the T20 World Cup. He was hired after Misbah-ul-Haq and Waqar Younis stepped down from their coaching roles in September.

    Babar Azam spoke about the team’s performance, saying that he expected them to perform well in the series.

    “The batting line-up includes senior players who play spinners well. The players joining the Test squad were playing domestic cricket and we will benefit from this,” he stated.

    He said that this Test series is also important for Pakistan, adding that the team will try to keep up the winning momentum [from the T20 series].

    Babar Azam praised the Test team, saying that he was confident they will perform well in the Test Championship as “there are more matches at home grounds”.

    He said that the Bangladesh team is a dangerous side even in the absence of senior players. Azam said they cannot be taken lightly as conditions are difficult in Bangladesh.

    “It is not easy to play here. We have to focus and play with patience, we will also try to stay on the wicket.”

    The first Test of the two-match series between Pakistan and Bangladesh starts tomorrow, November 26, in Chittagong.

  • ‘We are on the right track’: Babar Azam after Pakistan whitewashed Bangladesh in T20I series

    ‘We are on the right track’: Babar Azam after Pakistan whitewashed Bangladesh in T20I series

    Pakistan cricket team captain Babar Azam has credited his side’s inspiring teamwork for their stunning clean sweep against hosts Bangladesh in the recently ended three-match T20I series.

    Discussing his team’s prolific performance after the final fixture, the superstar batter mentioned how every member of the Pakistan side is aware of their roles. The strategy has paid dividends for them in their recent assignments, according to the skipper.

    The 27-year-old feels that a form slump is part and parcel of the game. Babar added that he intends to take positives from the series, despite his own underwhelming outings. He also recognized contributions from the likes of Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman and Khushdil Shah and lauded them for stepping up.

    Babar also assured fans that the team is on the right track. Pakistan will now shift their focus to red-ball cricket when they lock horns against Bangladesh in a two-match Test series. Azam is keen to capitalise on the momentum they are carrying. He said: “The management and I have assigned specific roles for everyone and the players have been executing their plans nicely. Everyone expects me to do well. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen this time. I always try to perform in every game, but there are always ups and downs in cricket. This teaches you that it is important to remain positive all the time. We are on the right track and will look to carry the same momentum in Test matches as well.”

    “These were the things that we were missing,” said Babar who was delighted to see fans back in the stands. The star batter stated that his Pakistan side were overjoyed to see fans slowly returning to the stadiums. He also revealed that his players enjoyed seeing the fans cheer for them. Babar applauded the middle-order for firing with the bat alongside their improved fielding and believes those are the key takeaways from the series.

    “We enjoyed a lot. The way in which the fans showed their support in all three games, these were the things that we were missing. The fans are being allowed into the stadium as things are opening up slowly and it is a wonderful thing. I am very pleased with the team’s consistency. It’s good to see how players are taking responsibility,” he added.

    The right hand-batter recently surpassed veteran batter Mohammad Hafeez to become the leading run-scorer for Pakistan in T20Is. However, Azam had a quiet series with the bat, as he could only score 27 runs from his 3 appearances.

  • Babar Azam named captain of ICC’s Most Valuable Team of the Tournament

    Babar Azam named captain of ICC’s Most Valuable Team of the Tournament

    After leading Pakistan brilliantly in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021, Babar Azam was named the skipper of ICC’s Team of the Tournament for the mega event. The announcement was made by the International Cricket Council (ICC) Monday after Australia won its maiden T20 World Cup title.

    As per details, players from six teams have been named in the Official ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Upstox Most Valuable Team of the Tournament. It is for the first time that no Indian cricketer is included in the squad announced by the cricket governing body.

    Opening batter David Warner, leg-spinner Adam Zampa and seamer Josh Hazlewood all make the cut for Australia after helping steer their side to their first-ever T20 World Cup title.

    There are also spots for England ace Jos Buttler as wicketkeeper, Pakistan’s Babar Azam as captain, New Zealand left-armer Trent Boult and Sri Lanka star Wanindu Hasaranga – the tournament’s leading wicket-taker – in the line-up.

    Read More – ICC receives criticism for not naming Babar Azam T20 World Cup ‘Player of the Tournament’

    The side was pulled together by a selection panel featuring commentators, former international players and journalists Ian Bishop (Convener), Natalie Germanos, Shane Watson, Lawrence Booth – of Wisden, the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday – and Shahid Hashmi of Agence France Presse.

    Commenting on the team, Ian Bishop said: “As with any team selection there will be varying opinions, and robust discussion on the final composition of the squad. The panel respects that, and we encourage the strong debate that will ensue.”

    He said that this team was incredibly difficult to select over such a highly competitive tournament and the selections were based predominantly on the Super 12 onward to the final.

    The team of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 (in batting order) is:

    David Warner (Australia) – 289 runs at 48.16

    Jos Buttler (wk) (England) – 269 runs at 89.66, five dismissals

    Babar Azam (Captain, Pakistan) – 303 runs at 60.60

    Charith Asalanka (Sri Lanka) – 231 runs at 46.20

    Aiden Markram (South Africa) – 162 runs at 54.00

    Moeen Ali (England) – 92 runs at strike rate of 131.42, seven wickets at 11

    Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka) – 16 wickets at 9.75

    Adam Zampa (Australia) – 13 wickets at 12.07

    Josh Hazlewood (Australia) – 11 wickets at 15.90

    Trent Boult (New Zealand) – 13 wickets at 13.30

    Anrich Nortje (South Africa) – nine wickets at 11.55

    Shaheen Afridi – seven wickets at 24.14

    Captaining the side at No 3 is Pakistan skipper Babar, who was the only batter to break the 300-run barrier throughout the duration of the competition.

    His 68 not out against arch-rivals India powered Pakistan to a memorable 10-wicket victory, while three further half-centuries in the Super 12 stages helped book his team’s slot in the semi-final against Australia.

  • ‘No one should point fingers, I back everyone’: Babar Azam talks to team after losing semi-final

    ‘No one should point fingers, I back everyone’: Babar Azam talks to team after losing semi-final

    Pakistan cricket team captain Babar Azam has given a pep-talk to the team in the dressing-room after they lost the semi-final to Australia in Dubai on Thursday. The young captain stressed it’s important to not point fingers at each other and that the entire team failed to play up to its potential in the heartbreaking loss on Thursday.

    Read More – Hayden lauds ‘warrior’ Rizwan, who was in hospital the night before Pak-Aus match

    Talking about unity in the team, Babar said: “Everybody is sad, everybody is feeling the pain. We need to figure out where we went wrong and where we have to improve. No one will tell us this, we all know this. But we have to learn from this.”

    “We have created a unit at the World Cup and this shouldn’t break. There should be no finger-pointing. We should not go into saying ‘he did this, he did this and all that’. We, as a team, did not play well. No one should point fingers at any other person.”

    “We lost, it’s okay but we have to learn from this. We will. In the times to come, we shouldn’t make the same mistakes,” added the captain.

    “I am telling you again, we shouldn’t let the unit break. We have worked hard to create this. One loss shouldn’t force anyone to leave this unit. As a captain, I am backing everyone. We have created a very good atmosphere in the dressing room, one that feels like family. Everyone has put in the effort. Every match, every player has taken up responsibility,” said Babar.

    “We will put in the effort, that is in our hands but the result is not. I know everyone is sad. But this will last for a short while. We will start thinking about where we went wrong and where we should have improved. Don’t get bogged down. Try lifting each other. Learn, there is a bit of sadness but we have to overcome that,” Babar concluded.

    Pakistan posted 176 runs for the loss of 4 wickets on the board in their quota of 20 overs, thanks to fifties from Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman. However, defending a total in Dubai proved difficult yet again as Pakistan paid the price for some ordinary effort with the ball and on the field.

    Australia will face New Zealand in the final of the T20 World Cup in Dubai on Sunday

  • Babar Azam becomes world’s no 1 batter after prolific performance in T20 World Cup

    Babar Azam becomes world’s no 1 batter after prolific performance in T20 World Cup

    Captain of Pakistan cricket team Babar Azam on Wednesday unseated England’s Dawid Malan to become the top-ranked T20I batter in the world according to the latest ICC Men’s T20I Player Rankings.

    Babar now sits on top of ICC’s T20I batsman rankings with 834 points and Milan is number 2 with 798 points.

    Two successive half-centuries in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 have helped the batter overtake Malan and grab the number 1 position.

    Babar, who scored 51 against Afghanistan and 70 against Namibia to lead the 2009 champions into the semifinals, is at the top for the sixth time in his career. The 27-year-old had first attained the top position on January 28, 2018. He is presently also ranked No 1 in ODIs.

    Babar’s tally of 834 rating points keeps him 36 points ahead of Dawid Malan but Babar’s career best remains 896 rating points that he achieved after scoring 65 against England at Cardiff on May 5, 2019. Malan had been at the top since November 29 last year.

    Read More – ‘This is for you’: Babar Azam dedicates the win to Pakistani fans

    England’s performances in the tournament too reflect in the rankings, with both their openers Jos Buttler and Jason Roy moving up in the latest weekly update.

    Buttler has gained eight slots to reach a career-best ninth position after smashing his maiden T20I hundred against Sri Lanka while Roy is up five places to 14th.

    Meanwhile, Sri Lankan leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga has topped the bowling charts for the first time in his career after two successive three-wicket hauls against South Africa and England. He replaces South Africa’s Tabraiz Shamsi, who was at the top since April 10 this year.

    The top four bowlers in the rankings are all wrist spinners, with England’s Adil Rashid overtaking Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan to take third place with a career-best 730 rating points. A fast bowler who has made rapid rise is South Africa’s Anrich Nortje, who has gained 18 slots to reach the seventh position.

    At the top of the all-rounders’ table, Mohammad Nabi has caught up with Shakib Al Hasan on 271 rating points. Hasaranga is fourth in this list.

  • Pakistani cricketers wish Babar Azam on his birthday

    Pakistani cricketers wish Babar Azam on his birthday

    Pakistani cricketers and cricketing fraternity wished the captain of Pakistan cricket team, Babar Azam, on his birthday.

    Taking to Twitter, Safaraz wrote: “Happy birthday bobby. Celebrating another year of your life with health and happiness. I hope your birthday is a great occasion and I wish you all the very best! You’re a shining star ! Keep making Pakistan proud brother Be strong like your cover drive and on drive.”

    While pacers Hassan Ali and Haris Rauf — among others — wished the captain on social media.

    Born in Lahore and a first cousin of the Akmal brothers, Azam made his way up through age-group cricket. His journey began at an under-15 world championship in 2008 and he played two under-19 World Cups in 2010 and 2012, where he was Pakistan’s top run-scorer.

    He is currently in the 10th position in the list of highest run-getters in men’s T20 internationals, having scored 2,204 runs in 56 innings at an average of 46.89. While he is the number two Twenty20 batsman worldwide as of September 2021 with 819 points.

    Meanwhile, the Pakistan cricket team has left for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to participate in the T20 World Cup.

    Taking to Twitter, Babar wrote: “Off to UAE. Your support means more than anything. Stand by your team. Keep supporting. Keep praying. Keep believing. #PakistanZindabad.”

  • Babar Azam to reportedly marry cousin next year

    Babar Azam to reportedly marry cousin next year

    Pakistan cricket team captain Babar Azam will reportedly be marrying his cousin next year.

    Read more – VIDEO: Babar Azam trains in isolation

    As per details, it has been agreed between the families of Azam and his cousin that the two will get married next year.

    The skipper will be marrying his paternal uncle’s daughter.

    Interestingly, a day earlier, former Pakistan cricket captain Azhar Ali had advised Azam to tie the knot.

    Ali was hosting a question-answer session on Twitter.

    A fan asked Ali whether he had any advice for Babar to which he responded: “Shadi ker lay” (get married).

    Meanwhile, the skipper, who is recently in Abu Dhabi for the remaining matches of Pakistan super League’s (PSL) sixth edition, hasn’t officially announced the news yet.

  • VIDEO: Babar Azam trains in isolation

    VIDEO: Babar Azam trains in isolation

    Pakistan cricket team captain Babar Azam is seen training as he is in quarantine for remaining matches of Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) sixth edition in Abu Dhabi.

    “Training must go on,” wrote Babar while sharing the video on social media.

    The captain in the video can be seen doing dips, running, and other fitness-related exercises.

    Earlier, Imam ul Haq had posted a picture of a video conference of himself and other players, who are residing on the same floors of a hotel can’t meet each other for several days on end.

    Haq shared a screenshot of a video call in which the cricketer can be seen interacting with Wahab Riaz, Imad Wasim, Babar and Shoaib Malik.

    It seems as if the screenshot has been taken while the players were having a hearty laugh as everyone, from Azam to Malik, can be seen smiling in the picture.

    “So close, yet so far. Bio-secure bubble at its full flow. We’re all in close proximity. Some even on same floors but still not meeting.

    “Keeping ourselves entertained with video calls, so that we can all entertain you from the ground in a few days,” wrote Imam.

    Meanwhile, Sania Mirza commented on his post and said: “All that is fine but where are your clothes?”

    A few days ago, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had confirmed receiving all the necessary permissions to hold 20 remaining matches the PSL 6 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) under strict precautionary measures.