New Zealand aims to solidify their Group D lead with a victory against the United Arab Emirates in their T20 World Cup match, following a win against Afghanistan. The Kiwis will look for strong performances from Finn Allen and Rachin Ravindra, while the UAE seeks to gain experience against a top team.
Tournament co-hosts India will be out to defend their Twenty20 World Cup title. The 10th edition of the 20-overs global showpiece event will run from February 7 to March 8.
Hesson wants Babar Azam and Rizwan back in T20 set up
Pakistan captain Muhammad Rizwan and Babar Azam have been dropped from the T20 squad for the upcoming five-match series in New Zealand.
Pakistan selectors rule out T20 role for Babar, Rizwan and Afridi in near future
Babar Azam's public expression of his unhappiness at being asked to bat at number three in T20 Internationals indicates that all is not well
Mark Chapman scored 132 and Daryl Mitchell 76 in a 199-run partnership as New Zealand amassed 344 for 9 and went on to beat Pakistan by 73 runs in the first One-Day International at Napier on Saturday.
Babar Azam is set to return as Pakistan skipper for their home series against New Zealand, starting April 14.
A well-informed source close to Shaheen said that the bowler was upset that not even once the PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi or the national selectors have spoken to him about their future plans as far as the captaincy or appointment of coaches is concerned.
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.
Former Pakistan cricket director Muhammad Hafeez has claimed that ex-captain, Babar Azam and foreign coaches Mickey Arthur and Grant Bradburn had given team fitness lowest priority in the lead-up to the ODI World Cup in India.
Teammates have advised Babar Azam not to step down: PCB sources
Former Pakistan players tore into captain Babar Azam and other players for their poor performance in World Cup 2023.
According to sources aware of developments in the Board, a few players are contemplating if they should travel to New Zealand.
Pakistan's Shan Masood is likely to be retained captain for the upcoming home Test series against England, while Babar Azam is also assured of keeping his white-ball captaincy when the team flies to Australia and South Africa later this year.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has delayed the announcement of its World Cup squad until late May due to fitness and performance issues with some players.
The judge remarked that the allegations were disturbing and serious to warrant a full investigation.
Pakistani selectors on Thursday dropped leg-spinner Usama Mir for the T20 series in Ireland and England while recalling fast bowler Haris Rauf.
Amir, Imad recalled to Pakistan squad for NZ T20I series
The source added that team officials and selectors had discussed Afridi's case with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Zaka Ashraf.
Sarfaraz, Imad Wasim dropped from Pakistan white-ball squad vs Australia.
Fast bowler Mohammad Wasim also returned to the World Cup squad after recovering fully from a side strain he suffered during the Asia Cup.
Hasan Ali, who last played a Test against Sri Lanka in Galle in July, has picked up 77 wickets in 21 Tests.
India lost their T20 World Cup opener to Pakistan because their players were under pressure even before the toss, Pakistan's most capped player Inzamam-ul-Haq has said.
'Their domestic and international players are well-paid and they have built a strong pool of players,' says Mushtaq Muhammad, one of Pakistan's most successful captains.
Tainted fast bowler Mohammad Amir was named in Pakistan's squad for the upcoming Asia Cup and the Twenty20 World Cup even as seasoned opener Ahmed Shehzad and veteran bowler Umar Gul were shown the door.
Suspended from international cricket for an illegal bowling action, Pakistan's Saeed Ajmal on Friday returned to the national side.
Leg-spinner Yasir Shah marks his return to the national men's team as Pakistan on Wednesday announced an 18-member squad for next month's two-match Test series against Sri Lanka.
Batsmen from Papua New Guinea, Oman and UAE leap to find place in top-50
Pakistan have axed senior batsman Younis Khan for next month's One-day series against Australia in the United Arab Emirates as they announced their ODI and Twenty20 squads on Wednesday.
Pakistan's head coach Waqar Younis is confident that his new-look team would be able to break the jinx of not winning against India in major ICC events when they lock horns in the upcoming World T20, which begins right after the Asia Cup T20.
The 16-man squad includes batsmen Mark Stoneman and Dawid Malan and fast bowler Jake Ball, who have 11 Test caps between them, as well as three uncapped players in paceman Craig Overton, spinner Mason Crane and wicketkeeper Ben Foakes.
The 34-year-old replaced Iftikhar Ahmed, who managed only 44 runs in four innings in the recent tour of Australia where Pakistan lost both Tests.
England, who have won both the one-day and Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka, play a two-day practice match in Colombo before heading to Galle which hosts the first of the three Test matches from November 6.
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