Former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag has taken a swipe at Pakistan’s bowling attack, suggesting that he should have had an average of 200 against them. The remark came in response to Pakistan’s dwindling chances of making it to the semi-finals of the 2023 World Cup after New Zealand’s victory over Sri Lanka.

Pakistan’s hopes relied heavily on a Sri Lankan win, but the setback has made their task against England even more challenging. To secure a semi-final berth, Babar Azam’s team now needs to defeat England by at least 287 runs in their final group match.

Sehwag, known for his outspoken nature, had earlier stirred controversy with a ‘Pakistan Zindabhaag’ tweet, hinting at Pakistan’s premature exit from the tournament. This tweet sparked a heated exchange between fans from both sides of the border.

In response to a Pakistan fan claiming their bowlers troubled Sehwag, an Indian fan pointed out Sehwag’s impressive average of nearly 91 against Pakistan. Sehwag quoted this tweet and took a dig at Pakistan’s bowling attack.

“Nahi yaar, Wasim bhai ke retirement ke baad jaise yeh thhey, 200 ki avg honi chahiye tha inke saath. But jo bhi ho, tab bhi aur ab bhi Inke Mazzey lene mein maza aata hai.” Translated, he expressed that considering the quality of Pakistan’s bowling after Wasim Akram’s retirement, he should have had an average of 200 against them, but regardless, it is still enjoyable to play against them,” he wrote on X.

Sehwag’s comment adds to the speculation that an India-New Zealand semi-final is imminent, as many former cricketers have already accepted this likelihood. Meanwhile, Pakistan faces a tough challenge against England, and the cricketing world eagerly awaits the outcome of their final group match.

The post Sehwag takes aim at Pakistan’s bowling, says they should’ve averaged 200 appeared first on Crictoday.

Pakistan all-rounder Imad Wasim has suggested Babar Azam to step down gracefully after World Cup debacle in India.

The Men in Green failed to qualify for the semi-finals. Pakistan came to India with a lot of expectations and even won two games on the trot.

However, their downward spiral started after suffering a crushing defeat against India at the Narendra Modi Stadium. They lost three more matches against Australia, Afghanistan and South Africa.

Babar has been mediocre with the bat despite his exceptional track record in the fifty-over format.

“Babar Azam should step down gracefully from captaincy and set an example. It is not just about him but for other leaders as well. The results have to be considered,” he said.

The Men in Green will play the last contest of the World Cup campaign against England at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

The post “Babar Azam should step down gracefully and set an example”: Imad Wasim appeared first on Crictoday.

England will take on Pakistan in match number 44 of the World Cup 2023 at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Saturday, November 11. This will be the second match of the double-header. While England are in seventh position in the points table, with four points from eight games and a run rate of -0.885, Pakistan are fifth with eight points from eight matches and a run rate of +0.036.

England have been eliminated from the top four race, while Pakistan are also on the brink of elimination. The mathematical possibility that hasn’t seen the E-letter against Pakistan’s name is a Herculean task, to say the least. England’s main aim in their final league clash of the tournament will be to secure a victory and stay alive for the 2025 Champions Trophy qualification. Their hopes must have received a boost following their impressive 160-run win over Netherlands, coming up with a good all-round show.

As for Pakistan, skipper Babar Azam said at the pre-match press conference that they will try and push up their net run rate. If we look at things practically, though, if Pakistan score 300, they need to restrict England to 13 runs. Here are player battles to watch out for in the England-Pakistan clash.

Fakhar Zaman vs David Willey

Fakhar Zaman has lit up the 2023 World Cup following a late comeback after being dropped early in the tournament. Pakistan might be wondering if their fortunes would have been different had they backed Fakhar’s experience and talent. The 33-year-old went into the World Cup with poor form against his name and was axed from the playing XI after being dismissed for 12 against the Netherlands. Since making a comeback to the team, he has smashed 81 and 126 not out, looking in great hitting rhythm.

England’s left-arm pacer David Willey will be playing his last game for the nation, having announced his international retirement midway through the tournament. He will, obviously, be keen to sign off on a high. The all-rounder has done a decent job for England with the ball, claiming eight wickets in five matches. Willey claimed a three-for against India, two against Sri Lanka, and picked up 2/19 against Netherlands. Can he knock over Fakhar cheaply?

Dawid Malan vs Shaheen Afridi

Dawid Malan admitted in the pre-match press conference that the game against Pakistan could be the last international match for England. At 36, the seasoned left-hander is unsure what his future holds. Malan has had a decent World Cup for England without being outstanding. In eight innings, he has scored 373 runs at an average of 46.62 and a strike rate of 103.32. Malan has one hundred to his credit and has struck consecutive fifties in the last two matches. Can he make it a hat-trick of good scores?

The England opener will be in for a challenge against Shaheen Afridi at the start of the innings. The Pakistan left-arm pacer has been one of the standout performers for the team in what has been a disappointing tournament overall. He has picked up 16 wickets in eight matches at an average of 25.56. Afridi claimed a five-for against Australia and three wickets each against South Africa and Bangladesh, respectively. However, he had a forgettable game against New Zealand, as he was pounded for 90 runs in his 10 overs. He will look to recover against England. Getting Malan early would be a good start.

Babar Azam vs Adil Rashid

Pakistan captain Babar Azam has been among the runs in the 2023 World Cup. But what has been disappointing is that he hasn’t been assertive enough, differentiating him from the likes of Quinton de Kock and Virat Kohli in the tournament. In eight innings, the right-handed batter has scored 282 runs at an average of 40.28 and a strike rate of 82.69. He has notched up four half-centuries but with a best of 74, which is too low as per his standards. Babar will be keen to sign off from the World Cup on a high. A big innings is around the corner?

England leg-spinner Adil Rashid has done a decent job for the team amid all the ruins. He has claimed 13 wickets in eight matches at an average of 27.54. The 35-year-old has gone wicketless in only one of the last five matches. He claimed 2/61 against South Africa, two wickets each against India and Australia, and a three-for against Netherlands. Rashid likes the challenge of bowling to big names. As such, he should enjoy the battle against the Pakistan skipper. It remains to be seen who comes out on top in the clash.

Ben Stokes vs Mohammad Wasim Jr

England’s talismanic all-rounder Ben Stokes is too good a player to miss out on performing in a World Cup. It may be a case of too little, too late, but it has come nonetheless. The star England cricketer, who missed the team’s initial matches due to injury, looked out of sorts on a comeback. He made five against South Africa, a labored 43 against Sri Lanka, and a clueless 0 against India. In the match versus Australia, he also took 90 balls for his 64. However, Stokes was assertive in his ton against the Netherlands.

Mohammad Wasim Jr has often been impressive when playing for Pakistan. The 2023 World Cup has been no different. In three matches, he has registered figures of 2/50, 3/31 and 3/60. The pacer likes accepting challenges. Bowling to Stokes will be one.

Mohammad Rizwan vs Chris Woakes

Mohammad Rizwan started the World Cup with a bang but has lost his way since then. Since his ton against Sri Lanka, he has registered scores of 49, 46, 8, 31, and 26 not out. There have been starts, but Pakistan are expecting much more from him. Can he sign off on a high?

Chris Woakes has impressed with the ball for England in recent games. He claimed two wickets against India and followed it up with a four-for against Australia. Woakes also chipped in with a scalp against the Netherlands. Can he dismiss Rizwan early and carry on his good form?

The post ENG vs PAK ICC World Cup 2023: 5 player battles to watch out for appeared first on Crictoday.

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.

The post Babar Azam likely to step down from Pakistan ODI and T20I captaincy after World Cup: Report appeared first on Crictoday.

Gautam Gambhir defended Babar Azam amid criticism following Pakistan’s failure in the ICC World Cup 2023. Former cricketers like Virender Sehwag and others are making fun of the Men in Green after New Zealand’s win over Sri Lanka almost ended Pakistan’s semi-final hopes.

However, Gambhir has spoken in favor of the under-fire skipper. He also slammed those attacking Babar after his press conference ahead of the last game against England.

Babar is still confident of Pakistan’s qualification for the knock-out stage of the tournament. He said his team will go for their goal to play in the semis.

His remarks again led to mocking on social media. “What else you accept from a captain? He has every right to back his team and believe in the qualifying chances. It was a good press conference and he showed his class as a captain. You can say whatever you want on social media but everything is possible in cricket,” Gautam Gambhir said on Star Sports.

Babar’s team will have to beat the Jos Buttler-led unit by 287 or more runs to surpass New Zealand’s net run-rate.

The post Gautam Gambhir comes to defence of Babar Azam, gives mouth-shutting reply to his critics appeared first on Crictoday.

Pakistan’s only realistic chance to qualify for the ICC World Cup 2023 semi-final is to beat England by 287 or more runs.

If the Jos Buttler-led team bat first, Pakistan will be eliminated even before coming out to bat. The reason is the scenarios attached to their hope.

The Men in Green must complete the chase in a few overs. Meanwhile, Babar Azam is still confident of his team’s big win and looks forward to the semis.

“We can do what is required and will plan things accordingly. We will have to achieve our targets and have players who are capable of making it happen. If Fakhar Zaman stays till 20-30 overs, we can put up a big score. Mohammad Rizwan and others are also good enough. We will go for our target,” Babar Azam said in a press conference.

Babar roasted Wasim Akram, Shoaib Malik, and others for criticizing his team during their campaign.

The post “Pakistan will go out to achieve the semi-final qualification”: Babar Azam looking forward to beating England by 287 runs appeared first on Crictoday.

Pakistan have virtually crashed out of ICC World Cup 2023 after New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by a big margin. The Men in Green will face England tomorrow, where they need to win by 287 runs or chase the target in 2.5 overs, which is highly unlikely.

Pakistan made lives difficult for themselves as they lost four games in a trot in this campaign. Babar Azam has been under the scanner as several cricket pundits in Pakistan slammed him over his leadership skills. In the latest events, Babar has hit back at those critics and remarked that it is easy to advise on TV.

Australia vs Bangladesh Dream11 Team – VIDEO

“Everyone has their own point of view & own way of thinking. Everyone is saying something different. I should be like this, or like that. If someone has advice, everyone has my number. It’s easy to give advice on TV. If you want to give me advice, message me.” Here is the video of Babar’s press meet ahead of their last league stage match.

Babar also stated that Pakistan would do everything in their reach to qualify for the semi-finals. Notably, The Men in Green last qualified for the semi-finals in a World Cup in 2011.

The post “It is easy to give advice on TV”: Babar Azam hits out at former Pakistan players fo unnecessary criticism appeared first on Crictoday.

Babar Azam, who made it to the news after he bought Sherwani and jewellaries for his wedding after the ICC World Cup 2023, has again paid a visit to the south Calcutta mall ahead of the England match, where he bought seven saris.

Babar Azam, who was accompanied by his teammate and friend, Imam-ul-Haq, made a video call to his family in Pakistan, before finalising the saris. He made a lengthy video call to discuss the saris with them. Notably, the duo spent almost two hours exploring the South City Mall.

Australia vs Bangladesh Dream11 Team – VIDEO

The employee at the Soch store told The Telegraph that Azam was impressed with their collection but wanted the women in his family to give the final approval. As a result, he had a detailed discussion with them via WhatsApp video call.

Babar and Imam were accompanied by heavy security, including police and guards, which prevented fans from getting autographs or photos with the players. Police sources familiar with the protocol for the Pakistan contingent clarified that the players could not interact with fans due to safety protocols.

Interestingly, the mall authorities learned about the visit only 15 minutes before the players arrived. Earlier Babar bought a seven lakh Sabyasachi Sherwani and also some jewellaries. Talking about Pakistan, they have virtually crashed out of the tournament.

The post Babar Azam goes on a shopping spree in Kolkata after a long video call with family in Pakistan appeared first on Crictoday.

Michael Vaughan has uploaded different scenarios for Pakistan regarding their semi-final chances in the ICC World Cup 2023. He urged the fans to keep believing in their team.

For the record, Pakistan are almost out of the knock-out race after New Zealand’s win over Sri Lanka in Bengaluru.

Pakistan have a chance to finish their campaign with 10 points but their net run-rate is the concern.

They need a big win over England to overtake the Kiwis.

“Keep believing Pakistan .. You never know,” Michael Vaughan wrote.

Pakistan have won four games and lost as many in the ongoing tournament. India,. Australia, South and Afghanistan thumped the Babar Azam-led team, while the sub-continent team emerged victorious against the Netherlands, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and New Zealand.

The post “Keep believing Pakistan .. You never know”: Michael Vaughan on Men in Green’s semi-final chances appeared first on Crictoday.

Former India player Virender Sehwag has mocked Pakistan for their elimination from the ICC World Cup 2023

New Zealand’s five-wicket win over Sri Lanka ended all hopes for the Men in Green and Afghanistan.

Pakistan will have to beat England by 287 runs or chase the target in a span of few overs to go ahead of New Zealand’s net run-rate.

The task is impossible for a team which lost four successive games in the tournament. Babar Azam hasn’t done anything remarkable in the batting department, while Shaheen Afridi has been a big letdown as a bowler.

Fans and cricket experts were hoping for a semi-final between India and Pakistan at the Eden Gardens on November 15, but Kiwis have dashed all permutations.

Sehwag, who is known for his witty remarks, took to X to troll the neighbouring country.

“Pakistan Zindabhaag! Have a safe flight back home,” he wrote.

India will clash with New Zealand in the first semi-final, while South Africa and Australia are set to compete in the second knock-out.

The post “Pakistan Zindabhaag! Have a safe flight back home”: Virender Sehwag appeared first on Crictoday.