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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In the ongoing ODI World Cup, former Pakistan captains Wasim Akram and Shoaib Malik expressed their belief that Afghanistan has displayed superior cricket compared to Pakistan. Shoaib Malik, acknowledging Afghanistan’s impressive performance, stated that Afghanistan played better cricket than Pakistan.

“Afghanistan played better cricket. I believe that considering this World Cup alone, Afghanistan has played better cricket than us, “Shoaib Malik said A sports.

Wasim Akram concurs with Malik’s assessment, noting that the Afghan team appeared stronger. Akram suggests that the Pakistani players may have been fatigued due to continuous cricket.

“Afghans looked stronger. Maybe, our boys looked fatigued because they were playing cricket continuously. Afghanistan cricketers looked better than Pakistan, there is no doubt,” he said.

Looking ahead, Pakistan is set to play their last league match against England at Eden Gardens. To qualify for the semi-finals, the scenario for Babar Azam and his team is challenging.

If Pakistan bats first and scores 300, they must bowl England out for 13. Alternatively, if Pakistan bowls first and dismisses England for 50, they need to chase the target in around 2.3 overs. The upcoming match holds significant implications for Pakistan’s journey in the Cricket World Cup.

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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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In a recent press conference leading up to the Pakistan vs England match on November 11, Mickey Arthur, Pakistan’s head coach, expressed optimism about his team’s chances of reaching the semi-finals in the World Cup 2023. However, in a rather peculiar statement, he mentioned that Pakistan might need “a bit of divine help” to secure a spot in the final four.

Despite facing a rollercoaster performance at the World Cup, including losses to India, Australia, Afghanistan, and South Africa, Pakistan has shown signs of resurgence with consecutive victories against Bangladesh and New Zealand.

Addressing the crucial upcoming game against England, Arthur stated that Pakistan needs divine help.

“I’m unsure about our performance in this competition. I genuinely believe we’ll make it to the semi-finals, but we’ll have to wait and see. What’s certain is that our fate will be in our hands this Saturday. If we receive a bit of divine help, reaching the semi-finals is possible, but it’s important that we perform well. We had a perfect game once, I believe, and that was against Bangladesh,” he said.

Reflecting on Fakhar Zaman’s outstanding century against New Zealand, Arthur praised the opener for his exceptional contribution.

“Ever since Fakhar (Zaman) joined, he’s been truly remarkable. In campaigns like this, sometimes you need something to spark it, and Fakhar has certainly done that for us. We’re aware that he’s exceptional when he’s in good form. I’ve always been a strong supporter of Fakhar because I believe he has the ability to turn games around,” he concluded.

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As the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023 enters its crucial stage, India, South Africa, and Australia have already secured their spots in the semi-finals. The fourth spot remains up for grabs. New Zealand, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the Netherlands battle it out for a chance to face India in the first semi-final.

Team India stands at the top of the points table with an unbeaten record in all eight matches played. They have accumulated a total of 16 points. The Men in Blue are guaranteed to finish on top. South Africa and Australia would vie for the second and third positions.

If Pakistan secures the fourth spot, the first semi-final will take place at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. If New Zealand, Netherlands, or Afghanistan claim the position, the match will unfold at Wankhede Stadium on November 15.

Qualification Scenarios:

1. New Zealand:
   • A win against Sri Lanka on November 9, plus Pakistan and Afghanistan losses secures New Zealand’s spot. A rain-affected match could also work in their favor.
2. Pakistan:
   • A win against England on November 11, coupled with Sri Lanka beating New Zealand and South Africa overcoming Afghanistan, ensures Pakistan’s qualification. A slim chance exists if other contenders lose by a big margin.
3. Afghanistan:
   • Afghanistan needs a win against South Africa on November 10 and losses by New Zealand and Pakistan in their respective matches against Sri Lanka and England.
4. Netherlands:
   • To qualify, the Netherlands must secure significant victories against England and India, while New Zealand, Afghanistan, and Pakistan lose by large margins. Net run rate superiority is crucial.

The cricketing world eagerly anticipates the unfolding drama as teams battle for the coveted chance to face India in the first semi-final of the ODI World Cup 2023.

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Former Pakistan cricketers Abdul Razzaq and Sikandar Bakht have expressed their views on Pakistan captain Babar Azam’s batting technique, with both suggesting improvements and highlighting the team unity in the Indian cricket squad.

Razzaq, a former all-rounder, questioned Babar Azam’s classification as a world-class batsman.

“Fakhar Zaman is the number one batter. New Zealand batters praised him. Our captain lacks that class. Look at Rohit, he’s prepared to score 10 runs in the first over and 15 in the second. Our captain has a different playing style, but he should observe what Rohit is doing,” he said.

“World-class players are those who seize the game from the opposition. In our era, it was Matthew Hayden, Sanath Jayasuriya, Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting,” he added.

“‘We kept talking about the world’s number one batter. I want to ask whether it helps in getting good contracts. It seems like he tops in the class but fails in the matric exam,” former Pakistan pacer Sikandar Bakht said on Geo Super.

Razzaq also credited Rohit Sharma for India’s success, attributing it to their unity and confidence. He commended India for adapting to home conditions effectively, noting their strategic approach to batting and aggressive bowling tactics. Bakht agreed, acknowledging India’s strength in both batting and bowling, especially in home conditions.

While discussing the influence of home conditions, Razzaq praised India for capitalizing on their familiarity with the pitches.

“India is capitalizing on the home advantage. Their approach against South Africa in the initial ten overs provided them with an edge. From overs 11 to 30, they were content with scoring three to four runs per over. In the last 10 overs, they increased their intensity. Despite knowing that 250 would be sufficient on this pitch, they opted for an aggressive brand of cricket,” he added.

Bakht supported this perspective, referencing India’s performance in Sri Lanka and the Asia Cup final, where they bundled out Sri Lanka for 50. He emphasized the importance of a strong bowling unit and acknowledged India’s overall proficiency in both spin and pace.

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India secured their spot at the top of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 points table with a dominant victory over arch-rivals Pakistan at the packed Narendra Modi Stadium. The win marked India’s third consecutive victory in a streak of eight, ensuring their place in the semi-finals.

As India prepares for the next stage, there is a looming possibility of facing Pakistan again in the tournament. The semi-final matchups depend on the teams’ standings at the end of the league stage.

The semi-final contenders are now awaiting the outcome of the remaining matches. There are three conditions that could lead to an India vs Pakistan semi-final.

1. Net Run-rate Battle:

• New Zealand, Pakistan, and Afghanistan are tied at eight points each.
• New Zealand’s better Net Run Rate puts them in fourth place.
• If Pakistan beats England and New Zealand loses to Sri Lanka, Pakistan could advance with 10 points.
• Afghanistan’s performance matters—if they lose, NRR comes into play, and if they lose both, Pakistan qualifies.

2. Rain Dilemma:

• If New Zealand wins and Pakistan vs. England is rained out, Pakistan is out.
• If the opposite happens, Pakistan may advance with 10 points, depending on Afghanistan’s performance.

3. Australia’s Hurdle:

• Australia, with 10 points, needs a win in either of their two remaining matches (against Afghanistan or Bangladesh) to reach the semi-finals.
• If they lose both, their fate depends on other match outcomes and NRR if they stay at 10 points.

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Legendary Pakistan pacer, Wasim Akram recently surprised everyone with his rapping skills on a sports show. During a discussion on A Sports, the presenter asked Wasim Akram to rap, and he did not disappoint.

“Tu mere pas aa mai tere saath jaaoo; Tera abbu aayega teri ammi se poochega;tu mere ghar aa; aa ve jaa….”, Akram rapped exclusively much to the delight of the panelists on the show.

Watch here:

Wasim Akram’s rap song was an instant hit with fans, and it went viral on social media. Sultan of Swing indeed became the Sultan of Rap.

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 Babar Azam’s men would be hoping the results to go in their favour.

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Former India star player and the 2011 World Cup Player of the Tournament winner, Yuvraj Singh, named the 2017 Champions Trophy Pakistani side as one of the fittest sides in Men in Green’s cricket history.

Notably, Pakistan won the 2017 Champions Trophy after they beat India in the finals by 180 runs. Yuvraj, who was a part of the Indian side at that time remarked that it was the fittest Pakistani side he played against.

Australia vs Afghanistan Dream11 Team – VIDEO

Yuvraj, appearing on the Ranvir Allahbadia’s podcast, made these remarks. Sarfaraz Ahmed led the 2017 Champions Trophy Pakistani side, and it featured the likes of Shoaib Malik, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, and Babar Azam. Here is the video of Yuvraj making these remarks.

On the same podcast, Yuvraj made several shocking admissions. Singh stated that he and MS Dhoni are not close friends as they have different lifestyles. Meanwhile, he also stated that Harbhajan Singh advised MSD to let Joginder Sharma bowl the final over in the 2007 T20I World Cup, where India beat Pakistan to win the inaugural T20 World Cup.

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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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