Shan Masood to continue as Pakistan Test captain, decision on Babar Azam put on hold
Babar Azam has resigned as Pakistan's white-ball cricket captain for a second time in 11 months, citing a need to lessen his workload and focus on improving his game.
Pakistan captain Babar Azam confirmed that Shan Masood fractured his finger during the first ICC World Test Championship match against the West Indies, contributing to Pakistan's 90-run defeat. The injury forced Masood to bat at No. 8, and Babar highlighted the team's top-order batting failures and lack of partnerships. West Indies' Justin Greaves was named Player of the Match for his five-wicket haul.
Jason Gillespie has backed Babar Azam to find his purple patch after his lean form continued in their ongoing series against Bangladesh.
Muhammad Yousuf branded Pakistan's coaches "poison for the game", blaming their lack of vision for neglected batting flaws that worsened over years and contributed to the team's decline.
Abdullah Shafique scored an unbeaten hundred and captain Babar Azam neared a century, forging a crucial 168-run partnership to put Pakistan in a commanding position against West Indies on Day 2 of the second Test.
Pakistan successfully chased down a target of 75 runs on Day 4 to level their two-Test series against West Indies 1-1, with captain Babar Azam sealing the victory with two sixes despite an injury scare.
Babar Azam returns to Pakistan's ODI squad for the Australia series, while Shaheen Shah Afridi will lead the side in the three-match contest beginning May 30.
Babar Azam has indicated he would consider accepting the Pakistan captaincy again if the opportunity arises, emphasising that his decisions are always driven by the best interests of Pakistan cricket. He is currently focused on the Pakistan Super League final.
Alisha was apprehensive of how the fellow Indians in the stands would react to her holding the Pakistan flag. However, the game was played in front of a sporting crowd with many among the 9000-odd spectators also cheering for the Netherlands squad.
Calls have grown for Babar to be removed from 50-over captaincy following the shocking eight-wicket loss to Afghanistan in Chennai.
Pakistan Skipper Babar Azam has come out in Virat Kohli's support after the latter's slump in form.
Babar's answer stumped the questioner and left everyone in splits.
Rohit Sharma closes in on Babar Azam at the top of the ODI rankings for batters
Babar Azam, whose cover drives have some similarities with Kohli, has enjoyed a conistent run in Tests since 2018 matching the likes of Kohli, Australia's run machine Steve Smith, New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson and England's Joe Root.
Babar Azam scripted history on Wednesday by achieving a milestone by becoming the first captain to score 150 in the Asia Cup tournament.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced significant changes to its T20 leadership, dropping Salman Ali Agha as captain and appointing Sahibzada Farhan. The board also named squads for upcoming T20 and ODI series against Sri Lanka and England, with Shaheen Shah Afridi retaining ODI captaincy.
Teammates have advised Babar Azam not to step down: PCB sources
Former England captain Nasser Hussain believes it's time the cricketing world changes the moniker 'Fab Four' to 'Fab Five' by including Pakistan's Babar Azam in the same league as Virat Kohli, Joe Root, Steve Smith and Kane Williamson.
Virat Kohli could line up beside Pakistan skipper Babar Azam in the same team next year
Babar Azam spoke about his team's mistakes in the final match
Pakistan's lower order staged a spirited late fightback, with debutant Razaullah smashing 81 and sharing a 121-run stand with Abbas to frustrate England before dismissal.
Babar Azam becomes fastest Asian batter to reach 10,000 international runs
Pakistan skipper Babar Azam hasn't yet thought about quitting captaincy despite his team's group-stage exit from the T20 World Cup.
Australia's star-studded bowling line-up showered praises on Pakistan's star batter Babar Azam, with a handful of them labelling the right-handed batter as a "class player".
The Pakistan Cricket Board it appears has lost faith in the ability of Shan Masood and Shaheen Shah Afridi to lead the national side and feels former skipper Babar Azam is the best choice to captain the side once again.
Overwhelmed with hospitality since arriving in India, Babar Azam is completely feeling "at home" in Hyderabad but didn't forget to add that Pakistan cricket fans have been missed amid their build-up for the World Cup.
Pakistan's axed players were summoned to attend a meeting with King Charles amid PCB fears over a low turnout.
The judge remarked that the allegations were disturbing and serious to warrant a full investigation.
PCB have hosting rights for the Asia Cup but the Asian Cricket Council headed by Jay Shah opted for the hybrid model where Sri Lanka became the co-hosts
Pakistan beat World XI by 20 runs to go 1-0 up in the three-match series, at Gaddafi stadium, in Lahore, on Tuesday.
"Off the field when we meet, we meet very warmly. We want to meet nicely. On the field, we play with intensity," stated the batter when asked about the camaraderie between the Pakistani and Indian players.
Pakistan's Test team head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed has acknowledged ongoing fitness issues within the squad, despite a recent training camp. A new conditioning camp is planned to address these concerns before the team's crucial tours to the Caribbean and England. New Test captain Babar Azam is focused on improving fitness and discipline for better performance in red-ball cricket.
In the four Tests played during the year, Babar scored 338 runs at an average of 67.6.
Pakistan coach Mike Hesson says Babar Azam's demotion and Shaheen Afridi's omission after India defeat were tactical moves ahead of T20 World Cup Super 8.
'There is no harm in sending young players to show the world that Pakistan cricket still has talent.'
Following Pakistan's forgettable World Cup in India, Babar Azam stepped down as skipper of the national team.
Pakistan were bowled out for 133 as England's bowlers tore through their batting lineup in the third Test at Edgbaston.
South African batter Quinton de Kock has reached a significant milestone in T20 cricket, scoring his 10th century and joining an elite group of players including Virat Kohli and David Warner. This achievement places him among the top century-getters in the format, further solidifying his status as a prolific T20 batter.
