Former Pakistan cricket captain Shoaib Malik has shared valuable insights with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) following the team’s failure to qualify for the World Cup semifinals. Malik shares the need for a broader pool of players in every cricket format, drawing inspiration from India’s approach to the game.

“In the World Cup, India covered all aspects—not just bowling, batting, and fielding. They faced injuries but had a backup plan. Looking ahead, it’s crucial to have a pool of players in every format. Players should receive equal chances so that they’re prepared when opportunities arise. While we go through rebuilding, we often don’t stick to our decisions and lack consistency in implementation,” Malik said on A Sports.

Misbah-ul-Haq, Malik’s former teammate and co-panelist, identified another problem—the team’s resistance to constructive criticism when performing well.

“After winning every series and delivering strong performances, we are not receptive to suggestions for improvement. This applies not just to players but the entire system,” Misbah said.

“We should identify areas for improvement, even when winning. Facing strong teams in top tournaments gives us a clearer picture. Those who bring up these issues often encounter resistance from the entire system,” he added.

Misbah also expressed concern about Pakistan’s spinners, whose vulnerabilities were exposed once the pacers struggled.

“When our pacers were doing well, they masked the weaknesses of our spinners. As a team management, it is essential to address areas that need improvement, particularly in high-pressure situations against top teams. Then again, NRR concerns will arise,” he said.

Wasim Akram and Moin Khan added their perspectives.

“There was a lack of planning and poor fitness, “Moin Khan said.

“There is no quick fix. The issue is that we’ll forget about it the moment the World Cup is over,” Wasim Akram added.

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After facing several setbacks in the 2023 World Cup, Babar Azam is reportedly going to step down as Pakistan’s white-ball captain. The team’s early exit from the Asia Cup final and their current struggle in the World Cup have raised questions about Babar’s leadership.

Facing criticism regarding his captaincy, Babar Azam defended himself ahead of a crucial match against England in Kolkata. He expressed frustration with pundits and suggested they share their opinions directly with him instead of discussing them on live television.

Pakistan’s World Cup journey has been disappointing, with four defeats in the opening half, including a surprising loss to Afghanistan. Despite wins against Bangladesh and New Zealand, their chances of making the semis with one game remaining appear highly unlikely.

Reports also surfaced about a possible rift in the dressing room, with the team allegedly divided, led by Shaheen Afridi. Babar Azam, however, maintained his focus on the game and urged critics to communicate with him privately.

While publicly defending his captaincy, a report from Geo Super indicates that Babar is likely to resign from leadership roles in ODIs and T20Is after the World Cup. He has sought guidance from former PCB chairman Ramiz Raja, engaging in a lengthy discussion with him before the England game.

Babar Azam may step down as Pakistan’s Test captain because other captains have struggled in Australia. Pakistan will tour Australia for three Tests in December. Babar will decide whether to step down after returning to Pakistan.

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The PCB has appointed Tauseef Ahmed as interim chief selector of the Pakistan men’s national cricket team. This decision comes in the midst of the ongoing ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in India. It follows the resignation of Inzamam ul Haq last week. Inzamam stepped down due to a conflict of interest related to his ownership of stock in a sports management firm that trains several current national players.

Ahmed’s immediate responsibility is to choose the Test team for Pakistan’s upcoming three-match series against Australia, commencing on December 14. The series will kick off in Perth, followed by matches in Melbourne and Sydney for the traditional Boxing Day and New Year’s Tests. A former cricketer who represented Pakistan between 1980 and 1993, Ahmed played 34 Test matches and 70 ODIs, securing a total of 148 wickets. His extensive experience in Australian conditions will be advantageous in team selection.

The PCB also appointed Wajahatullah Wasti as head of the junior selection committee. Wasti, who played six Test matches and fifteen ODIs between 1999 and 2000, accumulated 678 runs, including two centuries in red-ball cricket and one fifty in white-ball cricket.

As Pakistan faces defending champions England in their final group game, their chances of advancing to the semifinals hang in the balance. A victory in this crucial match could see them through, but a defeat would eliminate them from the competition.

Despite a promising start with two victories, the 1992 champions encountered a setback, losing four consecutive games. However, they staged a remarkable comeback, winning their last two matches. With eight points, Pakistan shares the fifth position in the ODI World Cup points standings with New Zealand and Afghanistan. They are ranked fourth and sixth, respectively.

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Amidst speculations of Mohammad Rizwan’s alleged role in Inzamam-ul-Haq’s conflict of interest case, the PCB has officially refuted the claims. The controversy arose as Rizwan was reported to be a director of a UK-based company, sharing ties with Inzamam and players’ agent Talha Rehmani.

Inzamam-ul-Haq’s resignation as the chief selector during the ongoing World Cup 2023 brought attention to his dual role as a company shareholder connected to a players’ agent. Questions emerged regarding the potential influence on player selection within the Pakistani cricket team.

However, Aalia Rasheed, the Director of Media and Communications for PCB, dismissed any concerns related to Mohammad Rizwan’s involvement. Rasheed clarified that Rizwan’s association with the UK-based company does not subject him to scrutiny.

“Rizwan isn’t part of this issue. Players have a short career, and it’s essential for them to invest their earnings for financial stability after they retire. If Inzamam wasn’t the chief selector, he wouldn’t have faced questions,” Aalia said.

Talha Rehmani, the players’ agent in question, represents some of Pakistan’s prominent cricketers. This list includes players like captain Babar Azam, Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi. The PCB’s stance aims to dispel any doubts surrounding Rizwan’s integrity amid the ongoing World Cup challenges faced by the Pakistan cricket team.

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In a thrilling turn of events, Pakistan revived their hopes for a spot in the 2023 World Cup semi-finals with a remarkable win over New Zealand. Fakhar Zaman’s explosive 126 off 71 balls propelled Pakistan to a formidable 200-1 in 25.3 overs. Pakistan secured a 21-run victory (DLS) in a rain-affected match in Bengaluru.

This crucial win places Pakistan on level points with both New Zealand and Afghanistan. Despite being tied, New Zealand maintains a lead over Babar Azam’s men in NRR. They boast a net run rate of +0.398 compared to Pakistan’s newly positive NRR of +0.036.

Heading into their final group stage clash against England on November 11, Pakistan faces a do-or-die situation. Their qualification for the semi-finals hinges on multiple factors, and we explore the possible scenarios.

1. Sri Lanka’s Role: Before Pakistan takes on England, they rely on Sri Lanka to perform well against New Zealand on November 9. If Sri Lanka triumphs and Pakistan secures a victory against England, they will accumulate 10 points, surpassing New Zealand by two.
2. Afghanistan’s Matches: The outcome of Afghanistan’s remaining two matches holds significance. If Australia or South Africa can defeat Afghanistan, preventing them from reaching 10 points, Pakistan’s position strengthens.
3. Net Run Rate Dynamics: In the complex scenario where Afghanistan wins both matches, Pakistan’s fate depends on Net Run Rate. Given New Zealand’s higher NRR, Pakistan would need to beat England by a significant margin—130 runs or more—if New Zealand’s victory margin is narrow, say by just 1 run.
4. Afghanistan’s Threat: Throughout these scenarios, Afghanistan remains a threat. Pakistan hopes for defeats for Afghanistan at the hands of Australia and South Africa to secure their semi-final spot.

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Former England captain Michael Vaughan has fired back at ex-Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez following Hafeez’s criticism of Vaughan mocking Pakistan cricket. The exchange unfolded on social media as tensions rose ahead of Pakistan’s clash with New Zealand on November 3 in the ongoing World Cup 2023.

Hafeez had initially slammed Vaughan for “peeping into others’ problems” after the Englishman commented on Pakistan’s poor bowling performance. Vaughan had tweeted, “Looks like Pakistan need the chairman of selectors back… All seam in a day game in Bangalore… !!!!!! #Bonkers #CWC2023 #Pakistan. What do you reckon @MHafeez22?”

In response, Hafeez advised Vaughan on a social media platform (‘X’) to focus on resolving internal issues instead of meddling in others’ problems. He posted, “Better stop peeping into other’s problems and sort out ur disputes first. We have sizeable insight about our issues and will surely resolve them @MichaelVaughan.”

Vaughan, undeterred, took to the same platform to playfully express concern about the calm in the Pakistan dressing room, joking that someone should either resign or leak a WhatsApp message. He stated, “I worry about Pakistan tomorrow. It’s been too calm this last couple of days. They need someone to resign today or leak a WhatsApp message.”

This exchange follows Vaughan’s previous criticism of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) when personal WhatsApp messages of Pakistan captain Babar Azam were exposed online.

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In a recent development, Pakistan cricket is embroiled in a new controversy as Zaka Ashraf, the chief of the PCB, faces accusations of “wrongdoings and unconstitutional decisions” as his tenure nears its end, according to a report by ESPNcricinfo.

Zulfiqar Malik, a management committee member of the PCB, has raised serious concerns against Zaka Ashraf and the management committee through email communication. The allegations not only stayed within internal discussions but also escalated, with a copy of the email being sent to the Prime Minister’s Office and the Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) Ministry of Pakistan.

Malik, in his email, explicitly pointed out instances of “wrongdoings and unconstitutional decisions” that have occurred over time without the necessary consultation or approval from most members of the PCB.

“I’ve observed clear wrongdoings and unconstitutional choices by the management. I want to document these to distance myself from the unconstitutional decisions and misconduct that occurred over time without consulting or getting approval from most members,” Malik stated in the email, as reported by ESPNcricinfo.

Highlighting specific examples, Malik emphasized that Zaka Ashraf, during his tenure, extended beyond day-to-day affairs and made several long-term decisions that contradicted the mandate given to the management committee.

“But this management committee, under Mr. Zaka Ashraf’s leadership, has gone beyond daily matters and made numerous long-term decisions that go against the mandate entrusted to this committee,” Malik added.

Malik outlined some of the contentious decisions, including the appointment of the former chief selector Inzamam ul Haq for three years on a substantial monthly salary, as well as other appointments of Directors, Consultants, and officials without proper consultation or approval from most members.

“The selection of Chief Selector (Inzamam ul Haq, who has since resigned) for a three-year term with a substantial monthly salary of ₹2.5 million, the appointment of multiple Directors, Consultants, officials, Scrutiny, and other Committees, approval of diverse projects and budget, significant expenses across various categories, engagement of legal counsels at excessive rates, and the removal or sidelining of key officials all fall within the realm of long-term decisions, violating the clear mandate of the management committee,” Malik added.

The PCB responded to these allegations by defending its decision-making process, asserting that it aligns every decision with the constitution and aims to ensure the day-to-day operations of the PCB continue without hindrance.

“All decisions are made in accordance with the constitution. Each decision is aimed at ensuring the uninterrupted day-to-day operations of the PCB,” stated PCB in its response.

Zulfiqar Malik sent the email on October 3, and a week later, the Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) Ministry requested a comprehensive report from the PCB on their operations, including updates on progress towards elections. However, as of now, the PCB has not provided the requested report.

Zaka Ashraf will conclude his four-month tenure as the head of the PCB administration on November 5.

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Pakistan skipper Babar Azam is making full use of his time in India, as the 29-year-old, who is set to get married after the ICC World Cup 2023, has bought sherwanis and jewellaries for his wedding.

It is reported that Babar visited the famous Sabyasachi store, where he bought a sherwani for INR 7 lakh. Further details of Babar’s wedding are not known to the public, but the 29-year-old will tie the knot in December. Babar also bought some jewellery from a renowned store.

New Zealand vs Pakistan Dream11 Team – VIDEO

Talking about Babar, he has not had an ideal campaign with the bat as he scored just two fifty-plus scores. He is also under the scanner over his leadership skills, and there are reports that he might resign from his post after the World Cup if Pakistan fail to reach the World Cup semi-finals,

The PCB chairman, Zaka Ashraf, recently made a WhatsApp chat with Babar Azam public for which he faced immense criticism.

Pakistan will face New Zealand on November 4 at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, and a defeat could see them crashing out of the tournament.

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Pakistan will face New Zealand on November 4 at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. It is a must-win game for both teams to strengthen their position to qualify for the semi-finals.

More than New Zealand, Pakistan are in dire need of a win, as a defeat tomorrow could end their World Cup campaign. The Men in Green ended their four-match losing streak against Bangladesh, when they beat The Tigers by seven wickets on October 31.

New Zealand vs Pakistan Dream11 Team- VIDEO

A lot occurred in the Pakistan Cricket Board before that game, as chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq resigned and chairman Zaka Ashraf made Whatsapp conversations with Babar Azam public.

In the latest events, former England captain, Michael Vaughan, has shared the success mantra for Pakistan and jonkingly tweeted that someone from the PCB must resign or leak a message for the Babar Azam-led side to win against New Zealand.

“I worry about Pakistan tomorrow .. it’s been too calm these last couple of days .. they need someone to resign today or leak a WhatsApp message.”

Recently, Pakistan’s team director, Micky Arthur, made it to the news as he remarked that the tight security in India has taken a toll on the players.

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In a recent controversy surrounding the leak of Babar Azam‘s private chat with a high-ranking PCB official, former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi has criticized PCB chief Zaka Ashraf. The news anchor, Waseem Badami, who displayed the private chat on TV, admitted to an error in decision-making and claimed that Ashraf instructed them to make the chat public.

Afridi, expressing his dissatisfaction with Ashraf’s actions, emphasized that Ashraf holds the position of the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board and should act accordingly.

“Zaka Ashraf isn’t just a club chairman, he’s the head of the Pakistan Cricket Board. He needs to pay attention to several things. It’s surprising that he’s reaching out to media owners, saying, ‘He is saying so and so about me.’ As the chairman, he should focus on his responsibilities, perform his job, and not give people the chance to talk about him,” Afridi said.

The former captain advised Ashraf to focus on his responsibilities, especially during the ongoing World Cup.

“The team is in the midst of the World Cup, and you keep making statement after statement. One moment it’s about Babar, the next it’s about someone else. Strengthen your position first. Focus on meeting the expectations we, as cricketers, have from you. Ignore what others are saying against you. By speaking so much, you are providing them with the opportunity. Concentrate on your own responsibilities,” he added.

Despite the off-field controversies, Pakistan managed to stay in the competition by defeating Bangladesh with a convincing seven-wicket victory at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata after facing four consecutive losses in the 2023 ODI World Cup.

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