Before the two spells of rain interrupted play, Virat Kohli and K L Rahul were batting on 8 and 17 respectively after openers Rohit Sharma (56) and Shubman Gill (58) struck fine half-centuries.
Flamboyant all-rounder Shahid Afridi was, on Tuesday, named Pakistan's new Twenty20 captain until the 2016 World T20, and Misbah ul Haq retained Test and ODI skipper until the 2015 50-over World Cup.
Flamboyant allrounder and former captain, Shahid Afridi believes that Pakistan cricket think-tank has erred by having too many expectations from out of favor batsmen, Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal. "I don't know but it was wrong to expect them to be like Virat Kohli or Ab de Villiers and perform like them," Afridi said on Geo News channel on Monday. Shehzad and Umar considered to be two of the country's best young batting talent have been axed for the tour to England on disciplinary grounds and were not called for the training and skills camps set up by the cricket board. PCB Chairman, Shaharyar Khan made it clear that it was the decision of the new selection committee to sideline the two youngsters. Afridi said there was no doubt that Shehzad and Umar needed to work hard on their cricket and approach. "I also agree there should be no compromise on discipline. But I think it is best if we stop expecting too much from them and just let them be and let them play the way they do. With more experience I am sure they will be much better," he added.
Former Pakistan head coach Waqar Younis has claimed that his relationship with former skipper Shahid Afridi has been spoiled after his scathing report on the country's dismal performance in the recently-concluded World T20 was leaked. "I have been very clear that report was not for the media, but for the cricket board. Unfortunately, the report was leaked and my relationship with Afridi has been spoilt," Younis was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo. Waqar and Afridi's decision to step down from their respective position came days after their side's early exit from the T20 format's pinnacle event. Pakistan were crashed out of the prestigious tournament after suffering three successive defeats against arch-rivals India, New Zealand and Australia in the group stages. Talking about Afridi's drawbacks, the 44-year-old said that the main problem with the all-rounder was his inability to concentrate on a particular thing for long span of time. "Afridi's drawbacks as a captain are for everyone to see. He has got a temperament issue. He cannot sit for too long to highlight things, or absorb things and then go and implement them. I've said this in my report," said Younis.
Scathing in its criticism after Pakistan's loss to India in a World Twenty20 match, the media here came down heavily on national coach Waqar Younis and skipper Shahid Afridi for their "faulty gameplan" and team selection. In a low-scoring rain-curtailed 18-over-a-side showdown t the hallowed Eden Gardens last night, India first restricted Pakistan to 118 for five and then overhauled the target in 15.5 overs on a turning track. With a moisture-laden pitch on offer following rains, Pakistan went by their strength and included four seamers in the playing eleven, leaving out left-arm spinner Imad Wasim. But the plan backfired as, to the surprise of all and sundry, the wicket turned from the first over itself. In a sarcastic article, the 'Express Tribune' newspaper criticised the Pakistan team's tactics and questioned the logic behind including four seamers on a turning wicket.
Pakistan Twenty20 skipper Shahid Afridi does not seem to be in favour of tainted cricketer Salman Butt making a comeback to the national team. A source in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) told PTI that Butt, who completed a five-year ban for spot-fixing last September, was in contention for an immediate comeback to international cricket but Afridi showed his reluctance. "Butt met with chief selector Haroon Rasheed last night in Lahore. The situation is that members of the Pakistan team have also indicated they have no problems with Butt joining the team but Afridi is not in favour of his inclusion," the source said. The source also said that the selectors were considering opener Butt for the World T20 after the team's dismal batting performance in the Asia Cup in Bangladesh. "The selectors are desperate to find a solution to the opening problem in the Pakistan team and will also certainly recall experienced opener Ahmed Shehzad. Salman Butt is also under consideration," the source said.
Former chief coach, Waqar Younis has urged the cricket authorities to drop Umar Akmal from the Pakistan team and blamed Shahid Afridi for the side's run of T20 defeats against England, New Zealand and in the Asia Cup and World T20.
Zaman was devastated, realising that luck had abandoned him when he needed it most.
Grant Elliot's all-round performance eclipsed Shahid Afridi's 29-ball blitz to secure New Zealand a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Pakistan in the first One Day International in Wellington on Saturday.
The mutual respect shone through as they exchanged greetings and shared a warm hug on the field.
The inaugural edition of the T10 league will witness a celebrity match on the final day.
Trying to stay aloof from the scathing backlash that he has faced in the real and virtual worlds, following the World T20 loss to India on Saturday, Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has said that he is not bothered by the criticism as he knows what is best from the team.
With a packed four-month long cricketing schedule awaiting Pakistan, captain Younis Khan and his deputy Shahid Afridi have cleared their misunderstanding in a meeting in Karachi, sources said on Friday.
Babar Azam's decision to step down from Pakistan captaincy has evoked a mixed reaction from his teammates.
'Pakistan have a lot to think about. The captaincy needs to sharpen up a bit.'
Following Pakistan's forgettable World Cup in India, Babar Azam stepped down as skipper of the national team.
Shahid Afridi has stepped down as captain of the Pakistan T20 squad.
The central contracts stand-off between Pakistan Cricket Board and top national players ended on Wednesday.
Australia's cricketing DNA is constructed by meticulousness and Pakistan's by explosiveness.
Pakistan scored 182 runs and Tom Latham's side fell well short of their target despite a hat-trick from Matt Henry, with Haris Rauf claiming four wickets for 18 runs as New Zealand were dismissed for 94, with more than four overs remaining.
Team Director Mickey Arthur accepted that Pakistan's batters lacked aggression against India during their first defeat in three matches at the ICC World Cup.
Bowling has traditionally been Pakistan's strong suit but since that is unlikely to be the case in World Cup 2023.
Khan's spokesman Dr Shehbaz Gill said that the prime minister has just a slight fever and cough.
India's batters will have to counter a potent Pakistan bowling attack that can make an impact irrespective of the nature of the pitch.
Flamboyant all-rounder Shahid Afridi earned Pakistan a three-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the first Twenty20 international at Dubai stadium on Wednesday.
An injury-hit Pakistan will have the tough task of taming a high-spirited Sri Lanka when they lock horns in a virtual semi-final match in the Asia Cup 2023 match on Thursday.
Former Pakistani cricketer and politician Imran Khan refused to comment on a controversial report involving him and Pakistani batsman Umar Akmal while speaking to reporters after a meeting with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Some television news channels on Saturday showed Akmal urging Imran, when he dropped in to meet Pakistani players for a pep talk ahead of the crucial match against India, to put a word to captain Shahid Afridi to send him to bat in the top order. The incident caused uproar in Pakistan and some of the former players wanted the team management to bench Akmal for his behaviour.
Shadab was quizzed about Agarkar's remarks on how India will deal with their pace bowling attack...
Pakistani cricketers congratulated the World Cup-winning former captain for leading his party to power in the country's general elections.
Bangladesh trail by 224 runs and still needed 25 runs to avoid the follow-on at the end of Day 4.
Dressed in traditional finery, Muslims across India offered prayers at mosques and eidgahs on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr on Thursday, marking the end of the holy month of Ramzan.
With this win, Pakistan are now in the sixth spot with seven points, keeping their hopes alive of reaching the knock-out stage.
Pakistan have won their first two World Cup matches but the lack of depth in the bowling is a concern
Pakistan needs to win all its matches and expect Australia to falter in at least two of their remaining four games.
The selectors also named two newcomers in Rana Namid-ul Hasan and Ifthkar Rao, a tearaway young speedster.
World Cup-winning captain Imran Khan has been named mentor of Pakistan Super League franchise Peshawar Zalmi. The former pace ace, who is now chief of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, a political party, returns to cricket after a break of over two decades.
Rohit's men start overwhelming favourites but Shaheen, rain pose threat
Some of the top cricketers are contemplating terminating their central contracts with the Pakistan Cricket Board after some were refused NOCs to go and play in foreign T20 leagues.
Pakistan would be desperate to plug the gaping holes and hope their star players regain form when they open their World Cup campaign against a free spirited Netherlands in Hyderabad on Friday.
IMAGES from the ICC World Cup match played between Australia and Pakistan in Bengaluru, on Friday.
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