Tag: T20 World Cup

  • T20 World Cup squad meets premier Imran Khan at PM House

    T20 World Cup squad meets premier Imran Khan at PM House

    The national squad for the T20 World Cup met premier Imran Khan at Prime Minister (PM) House.

    The meeting started with the introduction of the national cricket team. PM Khan also gave cricket tips to the players and shared his experience as a sportsman with the players.

    “The path to success is the path of truth and honesty, one way is of honour and the other is of wealth. You have to break the idol of wealth,” advised PM Khan.

    “You have to play for the team and your nation. The eyes of the nation are on you and we want to see you succeed,” said the premier.

    Prime Minister Imran with T20 World Cup squad

    PM Khan reaffirmed that the Pakistani cricket team is extremely talented and the whole world recognises the talent of Pakistan.

    “When you step on the field, play with confidence and a winning spirit, because a team which avoids defeats never really wins,” said PM Khan, adding, “Play aggressively, a team that plays with a defensive approach never wins.”

    The prime minister said, “Be a strong and hard-working team. The entire nation is banking on you.”

    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    ‘Before we got sacked, we decided to resign ourselves,’ reveals Waqar Younis
    
			
    ‘Before we got sacked, we decided to resign ourselves,’ reveals Waqar Younis
    
			
    Former Pakistan cricketer Waqar Younis opened up about his resignation as the bowling coach of the Pakistan cricket team.
    

    Just a month before the T20 World Cup in the UAE, Pakistan head coach Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis jointly resigned from their respective duties, which came as a big shock to the cricket fraternity.
    

    The former pacer appeared in ARY News’ show 11th Hour and revealed the reason of his and Misbah’s exit.
    

    

    


    

    

    

    Misbah cited the fatigue due to the Covid-19 bio-bubbles as the reason to step down and Waqar Younis followed him.
    

    Anchor Waseem Badami questioned if Ramiz Raja was the reason. Waqar said that if a new person comes, it’s natural that there will be some changes.
    

    Waqar Younis said that he had to resign with Misbah as they joined the team management together. The former Pakistan pacer also revealed that he had no role in selecting the team.
    

    “I had no justification to stay on when Misbah resigned. Before we got sacked, we decided to resign ourselves. I never had any role in selecting the team,” said Waqar Younis.
    

    Waqar has had an on and off relation with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). He has taken several roles with the board since 2006 as the bowling coach and twice he was appointed as the head coach.
    

    Waqar mentioned that he had groomed some of the young Pakistan bowlers in his latest stint with the national team.
    

    “Talent comes from the first-class and domestic cricket. We were the ones who mentored Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain and Naseem Shah over the past two years,” Waqar mentioned.
    

    PCB appointed Australia’s Matthew Hayden and South Africa’s Vernon Philander as consultant coaches of the Pakistan cricket team for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Virat Kohli to step down as T20 captain after T20 World Cup
    
			
    Virat Kohli to step down as T20 captain after T20 World Cup
    
			
    Indian captain Virat Kohli has announced he will step down as India’s T20 captain after the T20 World Cup. However, he will continue as Test and ODI captain.
    

    Kohli announced his decision on Twitter, saying he made it with his workload in mind as a three-format player, and that he has already spoken about it with BCCI president Sourav Ganguly, secretary Jay Shah, and the selectors. He said he arrived at his decision after “a lot of contemplation and discussions with my close people”, including India head coach Ravi Shastri and the white-ball vice-captain Rohit Sharma, who has already led India in 19 T20Is when Kohli had been rested.
    

    Though a formal announcement from the BCCI is awaited, Rohit is likely to take over from Kohli.
    

    “Understanding workload is a very important thing and considering my immense workload over the last 8-9 years playing all 3 formats and captaining regularly for last 5-6 years, I feel I need to give myself space to be fully ready to lead the Indian team in Test and ODI Cricket,” Kohli said. “I have given everything to the Team during my time as T20 Captain and I will continue to do so for the T20 Team as a batsman moving forward.”
    

    

    


    

    

    

    The development comes exactly eight days after Kohli sat with the selectors to finalise the India squad for the T20 World Cup, which will be played in the UAE in October-November.
    

    “Of course, arriving at this decision took a lot of time,” Kohli said. “After a lot of contemplation and discussions with my close people, Ravi bhai and also Rohit, who have been an essential part of the leadership group, I’ve decided to step down as the T20 Captain after this T20 World Cup in Dubai in October.”
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    ‘Babar Azam firmly behind squad for T20 World Cup’: Wasim Khan
    
			
    ‘Babar Azam firmly behind squad for T20 World Cup’: Wasim Khan
    
			
    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Wasim Khan has brushed aside the notion that skipper Babar Azam is unhappy with the squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
    

    In a statement issued by the PCB, Wasim said that Babar is fully behind the direction of Pakistan cricket.
    

    

    


    

    

    

    “It has come to our notice that factually incorrect reports are circulating about the Pakistan national squad environment. The squad for the upcoming international assignments has been announced and our captain Babar Azam is fully behind the direction that is being taken,” said Wasim.
    

    “It is important that collectively we get firmly behind the squad so that they have the stability, backing and focus they need prior to going into the ICC T20 World Cup next month,” he added.
    

    Since the announcement of squad, multiple local media reports had claimed that Babar was unhappy with the team selected for the mega event and had even called Ramiz Raja to express his grievances.
    

    Read More – Misbah, Waqar resign from coaching positions ahead of T20 World Cup
    

    Wasim also opened up about the “healthy and positive meeting” between the Pakistan squad and Ramiz Raja, who is likely to be PCB’s next chairman.
    

    “On Tuesday afternoon, some of the players had a healthy and positive meeting with former Pakistan captain and member of the PCB Board of Governors, Ramiz Raja, in which there was a consensus on the brand of cricket that needs to be played in the upcoming series and beyond,” he concluded.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Babar Azam reportedly not happy with Pakistan’s T20 squad selection
    
			
    Babar Azam reportedly not happy with Pakistan’s T20 squad selection
    
			
    Pakistan captain Babar Azam is reportedly amongst the many who are disappointed with Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) squad selection for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
    

    Read More – Pakistan squad for New Zealand, England and ICC T20 World Cup announced
    

    According to Geo News, the skipper was not informed about the selection of the team for the mega-event.
    

    Moreover, it was revealed that he is reportedly not pleased with inclusion of Azam Khan and Sohaib Maqsood, who were added by the chief selector after discussion with PCB chairman-in-waiting Ramiz Raja.
    

    The power-hitter wanted to include Fakhar Zaman and Faheem Ashraf in the team, per the insiders, who added that Babar contacted Raja to discuss the selection but his suggestions fell on deaf ears.
    

    The report also revealed that the selection of the 15-man squad sent a message to Babar about directing his focus solely on playing rather than selection of the players.
    

    Babar isn’t the only one who is reportedly dismayed by the players selected for the World Cup. Former skipper Misbah-ul-Haq, who resigned on Monday as the head coach, also had doubts over the selection of Azam Khan.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Misbah, Waqar resign from coaching positions ahead of T20 World Cup
    
			
    Misbah, Waqar resign from coaching positions ahead of T20 World Cup
    
			
    Pakistan men’s national cricket team head coach Misbah-ul-Haq and bowling coach Waqar Younis have stepped down from their respective roles, announced the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday. 
    

    According to a press release issued by the PCB, the two coaches communicated their decisions to the PCB late Monday morning.
    

    

    


    

    

    

    With the New Zealand side due to arrive on September 11 for three ODI and five T20I series and the Pakistan side to assemble in Islamabad on September 8, the PCB has appointed Saqlain Mushtaq and Abdul Razzaq as interim coaches for the series, with the team management for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 to be appointed in due course.
    

    As per PCB’s press release, former captain Misbah said: “The quarantine in Jamaica post the West Indies series provided me with an opportunity to reflect on the past 24 months as well as the schedule for international cricket ahead. Considering that I would have had to continue to spend considerable time away from my family and that too in a bio-secure environment, I have decided to step down from the role.”
    

    “I understand that the timing may not be ideal but I don’t think I am in the right frame of mind for the upcoming challenges and it makes sense for someone fresh to step-in and take the side forward,” said Misbah. 
    

    “The past 24 months have been thoroughly enjoyable and I want to thank my team and the management for their support. I wish the Pakistan cricket team best of luck in the upcoming events and will continue to support them every time they will take the field to represent Pakistan.”
    

    While Waqar said: “After Misbah shared with me his decision and future plans, it was a straightforward one for me to resign as we had walked into the roles together, had worked collectively as a pair and now also step down together.”
    

    “Working with the Pakistan bowlers, including the youngsters, has been most satisfying as they have now started to show progress. Bio-secure environments in the past 16 months have had their impact, something we had never experienced during our playing days,” he added.
    

    “The next eight months will be busy and exciting for the Pakistan team and, like in the past, I will continue to back and cheer them. I want to thank each and every member of the Pakistan cricket team set-up as we stayed united in good and bad days, and hope there will be more brighter days ahead,” said Waqar.
    

    PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan said: “The PCB understands and respects Misbah’s decision. Cricket in this unprecedented bio-secure world has not been easy for anyone and Misbah has clearly taken into account the intense six months of non-stop cricket ahead. In the past 24 months, Misbah has given his very best to the team and we wish him well in his future endeavours”.
    

    “It has been an honourable decision by Waqar and we thank him sincerely for his immense work and commitment over the past two years and wish him the very best in the future,” said Khan.
    

    “Both Misbah and Waqar have given so much to Pakistan cricket over a long period of time and for that they deserve a huge amount of respect.”
    

    He further said: “Saqlain Mushtaq and Abdul Razzaq have been appointed as interim coaches for the New Zealand series. Saqlain is the Head of International Player Development at the National High Performance Centre, while Abdul Razzaq’s domestic side won three titles in the 2020-21 season.”
    

    “Both Saqlain and Razzaq are ready to step-up and are very much looking forward to making important contributions in their coaching roles against New Zealand,” he added.
    

    Misbah and Waqar were appointed in September 2019 and still had a year each left in their contracts.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Pakistan squad for New Zealand, England and ICC T20 World Cup announced
    
			
    Pakistan squad for New Zealand, England and ICC T20 World Cup announced
    
			
    Pakistan cricket selectors have named the 15-player squad for the upcoming Twenty20 Internationals (T20I) against New Zealand and England, and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021.
    

    

    


    

    

    

    The seven home T20Is in Lahore and Rawalpindi will be played from September 26 to October 14, while Pakistan will proceed to take on India in a battle of former champions in their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup opener in Dubai on October 24.
    

    Domestic performers Asif Ali and Khushdil Shah have been drafted into the side to provide more firepower in the middle-order.
    

    The 15-player squad includes five batters (Asif Ali, Babar Azam, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hafeez and Sohaib Maqsood), two wicketkeeper-batters (Azam Khan and Mohammad Rizwan), four all-rounders (Imad Wasim, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr and Shadab Khan) and four fast bowlers (Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Hasnain and Shaheen Shah Afridi).
    

    Travelling reserves are Fakhar Zaman, Shahnawaz Dahani and Usman Qadir.
    

    Announcing the squad at a presser, Chief Selector Muhammad Wasim said: “While selecting the squad, we have tried to cover all our bases by catering for the modern day brand of T20 cricket that will be required to perform impressively in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. This includes trusting the abilities, skills and experience of the players to perform in a high-pressure global tournament in conditions that are familiar to us, as well as looking at the teams we will play in Group-2 matches.”
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 schedule announced
    
			
    ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 schedule announced
    
			
    Oman will take on Papua New Guinea in the opening match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 at the Oman Cricket Academy Ground on October 17 while the Super 12 stage commences with a fixture between Australia and South Africa at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
    

    Read More – Pakistan, India placed in same group in T20 World Cup
    

    

    


    

    

    

    The complete schedule was announced on Tuesday by the International Cricket Council (ICC), which confirms the highly anticipated match between former champions India and Pakistan. It will take place on October 24 at the Dubai International Stadium while Ashes rivals England and Australia play at the same venue six days later.
    

    The final will be played in Dubai on November 14, with November 15 marked as a reserve day.
    

    This will be the first time in over two years India and Pakistan will play each other, the last meeting being at the 50-over World Cup in England in 2019.
    

    Earlier, T20 World Cup moved away from India due to Covid. The ICC has moved the Twenty20 World Cup from India to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman because of the pandemic. India will remain the host of the event scheduled from October 17 to November 14, the ICC said in a statement.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    ‘Stop giving lame excuses’: Shoaib Akhtar tells Captain Babar Azam
    
			
    ‘Stop giving lame excuses’: Shoaib Akhtar tells Captain Babar Azam
    
			
    Legendary Pakistan pace bowler Shoaib Akhtar has told the captain of the Pakistan cricket team, Babar Azam, to stop giving lame excuses.
    

    This comes after Pakistan was whitewashed 3-0 by England in the recent ODI series. Pakistan also lost the T20 series 2-1.
    

    “It is all lame excuses. There was nothing on the wicket like extraordinary bounce. A little seam movement is expected in England. If you can’t handle that seam, then what will you do?” Akhtar said PTV Sports as quoted by Cricket Pakistan.
    

    While in another interview with Sports Tak, Akhtar said: “Virat has what … 70 centuries in international cricket right. So in the next five years, he will get 30 more and I want him to get 120 centuries, or at least 110. See, with these many runs, who can be compared to him? The debate in itself is wrong. And Babar is now coming through. It’s really good that there is healthy competition.”
    

    “If Babar needs to beat Virat and surpass him, he will have to score more runs chasing and play the kind of innings Kohli has. There is no doubt that Babar Azam can probably be the greatest batsman of Pakistan, but it will take time. We will judge Kohli and Babar after 10 years where they stand,” Akhtar added.
    

    “I have a feeling Pakistan and India will play in the T20 World Cup final and India will lose to Pakistan. Conditions in UAE will favour both India and Pakistan,” said Akhtar while talking about the India-Pakistan face-off in the T20 World Cup.
    

    Azam was in fine form during the three ODIs as he accumulated 177 runs, which included a career-best 158, at an average of 59.
    

    As for the T20 series, he scored 118 runs in three matches, which included a top score of 85, at an average of 39.33 and a strike-rate of 151.28.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Pakistan, India placed in same group in T20 World Cup
    
			
    Pakistan, India placed in same group in T20 World Cup
    
			
    Pakistan and India will meet in the Super 12s stage of the 2021 men’s T20 World Cup, to be co-hosted by the UAE and Oman between October 17 and November 14. This will make it the first face-off between the two teams in more than two years; their last fixture was in the 2019 50-over World Cup.
    

    

    


    

    

    

    On Friday, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the make-up of the groups – both for the first round and for the Super 12s stage – for the big-ticket tournament, which will be the first multi-team, global event organised by the ICC since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic early last year. The final of the World Test Championship, featuring India and New Zealand, was hosted in Southampton last month.
    

    The ICC did not unveil the schedule for the 16-team tournament, which is expected to be finalised shortly.
    

    The first-round matches will be split between two groups, with the games to be played in the UAE and Oman. Group A has Sri Lanka, Ireland, Netherlands and Namibia, while Group B has Bangladesh, Scotland, Papua New Guinea and Oman. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the Super 12s, which will be played in the three UAE centres – Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah.
    

    Teams in the Super 12s have been pooled into two groups as well. India and Pakistan are in Group 2 alongside New Zealand, Afghanistan and two qualifiers – B1 and A2. Group 1 comprises defending champions West Indies along with England, Australia and South Africa and the other two qualifiers – A1 and B2. The groups, the ICC confirmed, were selected on the basis of the team rankings as of March 20, 2021.
    

    In the 2020 edition of the tournament, which was originally scheduled for Australia and was later postponed by the ICC because of the Covid-19 pandemic, India and Pakistan were in different groups because they were number one and number two in the ICC T20I rankings at the time of the deadline. That would have been the first time the two teams would not have contested in the group stage of a global tournament since the 2011 50-over World Cup.
    

    This time, India are second behind England, and ahead of New Zealand, followed by Pakistan, Australia, South Africa, Afghanistan and West Indies.
    

    “There are some great match-ups offered by the groups and it starts to bring the event to life for our fans as our first multi-team event since the onset of the global pandemic draws closer,” Geoff Allardice, the ICC’s acting chief executive, said in a statement on Friday. “Given the disruption caused by Covid-19, we selected the cutoff date as close as possible to the event to ensure we were able to include the maximum amount of cricket in the rankings which determine the groups. There is no doubt we will witness some highly competitive cricket when the event gets underway in just three months.”
    

    The tournament was earlier scheduled to be played in India, but owing to the uncertainty caused by the pandemic in the country, the BCCI decided to move it overseas, even though the Indian board continues to be official hosts for the event.