The first signs of discontent in the Pakistan team after its ouster from the World Twenty20 have surfaced with experienced allrounder Abdul Razzaq expressing his disappointment at being dropped from the semi-final that Pakistan lost against Sri Lanka.
A fiery fourth-wicket partnership of 83 runs between Abdul Razzaq and Rana Naved-ul Hassan, helped by butter-fingered World XI fielders, powered ICL Pakistan to a convincing six-wicket win in their do-or-die league match of the 20s World series in Ahmedabad on Wednesday night.
The exclusion of Pakistani cricketers from this year's Indian Premier League tournament was a premeditated plan, according to all rounder Abdul Razzaq.
Even as the cricketing world goes bonkers over Yusuf Pathan and Shane Watson's all-round abilities, former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram tips Abdul Razzaq to hog the limelight in the forthcoming World Cup.
Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq is jittery about obtaining an Indian visa to represent Leicestershire in next week's Champions League Twenty20 and has sought the English county's help in the matter.
Pakistan dropped experienced all-rounder Abdul Razzaq on Monday for the forthcoming One-Dayers in India, the first bilateral series between the neighbours since 2007. Fellow all-rounder Shahid Afridi, 32, was also omitted for the One-Dayers but retained his place in the Twenty20 squad.
Experienced duo Kamran Akmal and Abdul Razzaq missed out on central contracts on Saturday when the Pakistan Cricket Board announced a list of 21 players who will receive pay increases.
Melbourne Renegades named Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi as one of their two overseas recruits for Australia's revamped domestic Twenty20 league on Friday. The former Pakistan captain ignored more lucrative offers to join compatriot Abdul Razzaq, who was also named in the Renegades' 16-member squad, local media said.
In a major move, the selectors inducted a number of uncapped players in the squad for the West Indies tour, including wicketkeeper Mohammad Salman, batsman Usman Salahuddin, all-rounder Hammad Azam and fast bowler Aizaz Cheema.
Pakistan recalled veteran allrounders Abdul Razzaq and Shoaib Malik on Tuesday for the team's two Twenty20 internationals against South Africa in Dubai next week.
Seasoned all-rounder Abdul Razzaq on Saturday said his participation in the Champions League Twenty20 tournament in India as the first step towards Pakistani players eventually taking part in the Indian Premier League.
India's skipper dismissed talk that the Pakistanis gained a psychological advantage after drawing the first Test.
They have instead recalled batsman Misbah-ul-Haq, all rounder Yasir Arafat and included youngster Fawad Alam in the 15-member party.
'I hope to serve stories and characters to the best of my ability.'
Abdul Razzaq's all-round performance helped Pakistan hand Australia their first defeat of the ODI series.
Pakistan have included uncapped opener Sharjeel Khan in their squad for this month's Twenty20 internationals against Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, but senior players Shoaib Malik and Abdul Razzaq were left out.
India's schedule at the Olympics on Wednesday, Day 5 of competition.
P V Sindhu registered a straight games victory over Maldives' Fathimath Abdul Razzaq in the women's singles group stage match, in Paris, on Sunday.
Following his removal from the committee, Riaz took to X and wrote, 'There is a lot I can say but I don't want to be part of the blame games.'
A look at India's schedule at the Paris Olympics on Sunday, July 28, 2024:
Deccan Chargers denied signing Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq amid reports that the player has been roped in as a substitute.
The Pakistan Cricket Board lifted bans on batsman Mohammad Yousuf and all-rounder Abdul Razzaq on Friday following their resignations from the unauthorized Indian Cricket League. 'Their resignations have been accepted by the ICL and both players will now be available for Pakistan team selection,' the PCB said.
Pakistan's selectors have recalled Kamran Akmal, Abdul Razzaq and Imran Nazir for the Twenty20 series against Australia in the UAE in August, and September's ICC T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka. Mohammad Hafeez has also been retained captain of the T20 team till the end of the year in what is a major boost for the all-rounder.
Former Pakistani all-rounder Abdul Razzaq hit an unbeaten 78 and took three wickets to lead Hyderabad Heroes to a seven-run victory over Mumbai Champs in an ICL Twenty20 match in Hyderabad on Monday. Electing to bat, Heroes scored 176 for two and then restricted Champs to 169 for nine in their quota of 20 overs.
Pakistani selectors on Thursday dropped leg-spinner Usama Mir for the T20 series in Ireland and England while recalling fast bowler Haris Rauf.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reorganized its selection committee by doing away with the chairman's post and giving powers to the selectors to pick the captain and head coach of the national team.
Allrounder Abdul Razzaq and pace bowler Rana Naved have become the latest banned players to ask the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to reconsider allowing them to play for the national team, the board said on Tuesday.
Pakistan stalwarts Younis Khan and Abdul Razzaq have blamed head coach Waqar Younis for the recent slide in the performances of the national team in ODI and T20 cricket. Younis minced no words at a function in Karachi in blaming Waqar for spreading uncertainty in the team.
'The loveliest surprise at the Olympics was having Chiru Uncle and the whole family, including the sweetest Kaara, for my first match in Paris'.
Glimpses of Indian athletes in action at the 2024 Olympics on Sunday, July 28, 2024.
The all-rounder is expected to lead Pakistan in the fourth ODI against the West Indies in the absence of Inzamam-ul-Haq, Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf.
Yousuf, who had been attached with the Pakistan Cricket Board in different roles since last year, was part of a broad-based national selection committee that includes two former Test players, head coaches, captains and an analyst, among others.
The Indian ace has previously won a silver medal in the 2016 Rio Games and a bronze in the Tokyo edition.
Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu and HS Prannoy have been handed relatively easy groups for the Paris Games, which begin on July 26.
'I have been through a lot of auditions and the first thing we are told is that there will be intimate scenes and we have to be okay with it.' Luckily, there is no bold content in Commander Karan Saxena.'
Former Pakistan players tore into captain Babar Azam and other players for their poor performance in World Cup 2023.
In other India-related results, it was curtains for Ashmita Chaliha, who lost 17-21, 16-21 to Indonesia's world no. 7 Gregoria Mariska Tunjung in 35 minutes. Both teams had received a bye in their opening match.
