Author: shahzad.malik

The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Mohsin Naqvi met white-ball head coach Gary Kirsten, red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie, and assistant coach Azhar Mahmood on Tuesday.

Pakistan’s Director of International Cricket Usman Wahla was also present at the meeting, where the participants discussed making a comprehensive coaching plan for the national team.

Kirsten and Gillespie put forward their plans to improve the team’s performance in their respective formats, with a major emphasis on improving the fielding and fitness of the players along with batting and bowling.

Chairman PCB expressed his confidence in the coaches and gave them free-hand to make their decisions, ensuring complete support.

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The coaches and the chairman agreed on the fact that there is an abundance of talent in Pakistan, however, there is a need to make the right combinations to take the best out of each player’s ability.

Pakistan team’s next assignment is a two-match home Test series against Bangladesh, starting from August 21 in Rawalpindi. This series will be Pakistan’s first Test series under Gillespie.

Prior to that, Gillespie will travel to Darwin with the Pakistan Shaheens as the team’s head coach for their four-day games.

He will return to Pakistan after the second four-day match against Bangladesh ‘A’, which finishes on 29 July, to assume responsibilities as the national side’s head coach and commence preparations for Bangladesh series.

READ: James Anderson urges next generation to embrace Test cricket

KARACHI: Pakistan Whites are currently playing a 50-over practice match against Pakistan Greens at UBL Sports Complex.

Test cricketers Saud Shakeel and Umar Amin lead the Pakistan Whites and Pakistan Greens teams, comprising players from the pre-season training camp and Pakistan Shaheens’ squad.

Umar Amin opted to bat first in the first match, while the second match will be played tomorrow at the same venue.

It is worth noting that, the opening batter Imam-ul-Haq is not playing today’s match due to health problems.

The pre-season training camp is being attended by 25 cricketers, including 15 players, who are part of Pakistan Shaheens’ squad for the tour of Darwin.

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In Darwin, Pakistan Shaheens will play two four-day matches against Bangladesh ‘A’, two 50-over matches against Northern Territory and Bangladesh, and also participate in the nine-team Top End T20 Series.

Following are the players invited by the national selection committee for the pre-season fitness and fielding camp as well as the Pakistan Shaheen squad:

Players for pre-season fitness and fielding camp – Abdullah Shafique, Faisal Akram, Haseebullah, Hunain Shah, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Kashif Ali, Khurram Shahzad, Mehran Mumtaz, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Mubasir Khan, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Sameen Gul, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Shahnawaz Dahani, Tayyab Tahir, Umar Amin, Usman Qadir, Mohammad Ali and Zahid Mahmood.

Pakistan Shaheens squad

Haseebullah, Hunain Shah, Kamran Ghulam, Kashif Ali, Khurram Shahzad, Mehran Mumtaz, Mohammad Huraira, Mubasir Khan, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Shahnawaz Dahani, Tayyab Tahir, Umar Amin and Mohammad Ali.

Captain will be confirmed in due course

READ: PCB conducts fitness tests of players across Pakistan

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is conducting fitness tests, for the first time ever in 104 districts across the 16 regions in the country. Over 2,300 players are appearing in the ongoing countrywide fitness tests.

These tests are being conducted as per the Chairman PCB Mohsin Naqvi’s vision for incorporating a culture of fitness at the grassroots level.

In order to assemble the squads for the Regional Inter District Senior Tournament 2024-25, 23 players in each district have been shortlisted after the Challenge Cup that took place in April and May 2024.

These 23 players in each district are undergoing strenuous fitness and strength testing under the watchful eye of the respective district and regional coaches and trainers.

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The players after passing the fitness test will then be summoned for a 45-day camp in their respective districts leading to the Inter District Senior Tournament in September.

The players after passing the fitness test will then be summoned for a 45-day camp in their respective districts leading to the Inter District Senior Tournament in September.

“The PCB has decided to conduct fitness tests at the district level instead of the regional level starting from this domestic season,” said Abdullah Khurram Niazi, the director of Domestic Cricket Operations.

“This initiative will surely push the players to prioritise their fitness right from the start and the culture will then expand to other domestic competitions. With more fitter players participating in the tournaments, the quality of cricket will also increase.”

READ: Two players fined by PCB for Code of Conduct breach

LAHORE: Pakistan women cricketers Ayesha Amjad and Najiha Alvi have been fined by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday for breaching the Code of Conduct.

The above-mentioned players were part of the Women University’s (LCWU) team during the PCB Women’s Cricket University Tournament.

“Ayesha Amjad and Najiha Alvi, team-mates at the Women University’s (LCWU), have been fined after being found guilty of breaching the Code of Conduct during the PCB Women’s Cricket University Tournament, which was held from 28 May to 3 June,” PCB said in a press release.

“After the dressing room incident involving the two players came to the attention of the PCB, a five-member committee comprising members of the organising committee was constituted that gave its findings after investigating the event and interviewing the players.”

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Notably, Najiha Alvi is part of Pakistan women’s squad for the upcoming ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup, scheduled to be played in Dambulla, Sri Lanka from 19 to 28 July.

Pakistan are placed in Group ‘A’ along with India, Nepal and UAE, while Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Thailand and Malaysia are in Group ‘B’. The top two teams from each group will play in the semi-finals on July 26.

Pakistan will take on India on the opening day of the tournament on 19 July, while their matches against Nepal and UAE will be on 21 and 23 July, respectively.

Pakistan squad for ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup

Nida Dar (c), Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Gull Feroza, Iram Javed, Muneeba Ali, Najiha Alvi, Nashra Sundhu, Omaima Sohail, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Syeda Aroob Shah, Tasmia Rubab and Tuba Hassan

READ: James Anderson urges next generation to embrace Test cricket

Pakistan’s white-ball head coach Gary Kirsten and assistant coach Azhar Mahmood have reached Lahore on Monday.

The two coaches will meet the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Mohsin Naqvi to analyze and discuss the various factors contributing to the team’s disappointing performance in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

Additionally, they will deliberate on strategies and future plans to steer the team in a more positive direction.

Along with Gary Kirsten and Azhar Mahmood, Pakistan’s red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie is also set to reach Lahore today.

Moreover, Mohsin Naqvi will also be meeting former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed and other former cricketers to discuss the ongoing issues of the national men’s cricket team.

It is pertinent to mention Naqvi recently shared that former players will make the decision regarding the future of white-ball captain Babar Azam.

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“No decision [on captaincy] has been taken so far related to Babar Azam,” said the PCB chief, adding that he is seeking advice from former cricketers on how to improve cricket in Pakistan.

“I’m only speaking to those former cricketers who are interested in the betterment of Pakistan cricket,” he added.

The Babar Azam-led Pakistan team were knocked out from the group stage of the T20 World Cup, majorly because of their upset defeat against the USA, followed by a gut-wrenching defeat against arch-rivals India.

The back-to-back defeats had put Pakistan on the verge of an early exit from the tournament while the abandonment of the crucial group-stage fixture between the USA and Ireland officially marked the end of their campaign in T20 World Cup 2024.

The Green Shirts’s next assignment is a two-match home Test series against Bangladesh and Sarfaraz Ahmed is expected to be part of the series.

READ: Pakistan beat England to reach World Championship of Legends semi-finals

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday, announced the details of men’s 2024-25 home international cricket season which features three Test series and the national team’s first ODI tri-series in 21 years in the lead-up to the eight-team ICC Champions Trophy 2025 on home turf.

In the curtain-raiser series of the 2024-25 home international season, Bangladesh will play two Tests in Rawalpindi (21-25 August) and Karachi (30 August-3 September).

The international season will culminate with the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final, proposed for 9 March.

In between, Pakistan will host England for three Tests in Multan (7-11 October), Karachi (15-19 October) and Rawalpindi (24-28 October), and the West Indies will visit for two Tests in Karachi (16-20 January) and Multan (24-28 January).

Additionally, Pakistan will host an ODI tri-series, featuring New Zealand and South Africa, scheduled in Multan from 8-14 February.

Bangladesh last played a Test in Pakistan in February 2020, while England swept the three-Test series in December 2022. The 2025 series will also mark the West Indies’ first Test tour to Pakistan since November 2006 when Brian Lara captained the side against Inzamam-ul-Haq men.

Pakistan last hosted the West Indies for a Test series in October 2016 in the United Arab Emirates.

Apart from the home international fixtures, the men’s team will tour Australia, Zimbabwe and South Africa from 4 November to 7 January, playing two Tests, nine ODIs and nine T20Is.

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In the period from August 2024 to March 2025, the Pakistan men’s cricket team will play nine Tests, nine T20Is and, at least, 14 ODIs. The number of ODIs may increase based on their performance in the ODI tri-series and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Alongside international cricket, the PCB will be involved in planning and delivering an expanded and more competitive PCB Domestic Cricket Season 2024-25, as well as women’s domestic and international cricket events and competitions. The HBL Pakistan Super League 2025 is also being planned for April/May 2025.

The nine Tests against Bangladesh, England, South Africa and the West Indies will be part of the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25. To date, Pakistan has played five Tests in two series against Sri Lanka and Australia, winning two and losing three.

This has placed them in fifth position on the points table with 22 points. India leads the table with 74 points after three series, followed by Australia (90 points from four series), New Zealand (36 points from three series), and Sri Lanka (24 points from two series).

With each of the top nine Test-playing nations scheduled to play six series (three home and three away) in the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle, strong performances in the upcoming four series could put Pakistan in contention for a place in the final, scheduled for Lord’s in June 2025.

Karachi, Multan and Rawalpindi will share the seven Tests and four ODIs between them. Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium is currently undergoing redesign and redevelopment work as part of preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, but is expected to be ready to stage most of the high-profile matches from 19 February to 9 March. The ICC will announce further details of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in due course.

SCHEDULE OF PAKISTAN’S HOME INTERNATIONAL MATCHES IN 2024-25:

Bangladesh in Pakistan (Two Tests)

21-25 Aug – First Test, Rawalpindi

30 Aug-3 Sep – Second Test, Karachi

England in Pakistan (Three Tests)

7-11 Oct – First Test, Multan

15-19 Oct – Second Test, Karachi

24-28 Oct – Third Test, Rawalpindi

West Indies in Pakistan (Two Tests)

16-20 Jan – First Test, Karachi

24-28 Jan – Second Test, Multan

New Zealand and South Africa in Pakistan (ODI tri-series)

8 Feb – Pakistan v New Zealand, Multan

10 Feb – New Zealand v South Africa, Multan

12 Feb – Pakistan v South Africa, Multan

14 Feb – Final, Multan

ICC Champions Trophy 2025 (Schedule to be announced by the ICC; participating teams are: Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan and South Africa)

19 Feb-Opening match

9 Mar – Final

SCHEDULE OF PAKISTAN’S AWAY INTERNATIONAL MATCHES IN 2024-25:

Pakistan to Australia (three ODIs, three T20Is)

4 Nov – First ODI, Melbourne

8 Nov – Second ODI, Adelaide

10 Nov – Third ODI, Perth

14 Nov – First T20I, Brisbane

16 Nov – Second T20I, Sydney

18 Nov – Third T20I, Hobart

Pakistan to Zimbabwe (three ODIs, three T20Is)

24 Nov – First ODI, Bulawayo

26 Nov – Second ODI, Bulawayo

28 Nov – Third ODI, Bulawayo

1 Dec – First T20I, Bulawayo

3 Dec – Second T20I, Bulawayo

5 Dec – Third T20I, Bulawayo

Pakistan to South Africa (Three T20Is, three ODIs and two Tests)

10 Dec – First T20I, Durban

13 Dec – Second T20I, Centurion

14 Dec – Third T20I, Johannesburg

17 Dec – First ODI, Paarl

19 Dec – Second ODI, Cape Town

22 Dec – Third ODI, Johannesburg

26-30 Dec – First Test, Centurion

3-7 Jan – Second Test, Cape Town

READ: ICC unveils nominees for Player of the Month awards for June

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman (PCB) Mohsin Naqvi on Thursday opened up about the future of the national team’s white-ball captain Babar Azam in his role.

Babar Azam has been under hot water following the national men’s team’s early exit from the recently concluded T20 World Cup 2024.

Naqvi, while talking to the media here, stated that there has been no decision to remove the captain yet. However, he is consulting with former cricketers and they will decide on Babar Azam’s future as captain.

“No decision has been taken so far related to Babar Azam,” said the PCB chief, adding that he is seeking advice from former cricketers on how to improve cricket in Pakistan.

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“I’m only speaking to those former cricketers who are interested in the betterment of Pakistan cricket,” he added.

The PCB chairman also shared that he called head coach Gary Kirsten and assistant coach Azhar Mahmood for a discussion on the Pakistan team’s performance in the mega-event.

It is pertinent to mention that the Babar Azam-led Pakistan team were knocked out from the group stage of the T20 World Cup, majorly because of their upset defeat against the USA, followed by a gut-wrenching defeat against arch-rivals India.

The back-to-back defeats had put Pakistan on the verge of an early exit from the tournament while the abandonment of the crucial group-stage fixture between the USA and Ireland officially marked the end of their campaign in T20 World Cup 2024.

READ: T20 World Cup champions India get heroes welcome upon returning home

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Sunday announced a 14-member squad under the leadership of Nida Dar for the ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup, which will be held in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, from 19 to 28 July.

Ayesha Zafar, Natalia Parvaiz, Rameen Shamim, Sadaf Shamas, Umm-e-Hani and Waheeda Akhtar, who were part of the 17-member squad that toured England last month, have been left out.

Instead, the selectors have recalled Iram Javed, Omaima Sohail, and Syeda Aroob Shah for the tournament. Iram Javed played the last of her 53 T20Is in October 2023 against Bangladesh at Chattogram, while Omaima Sohail last played against New Zealand in Queenstown in December 2023.

Syeda Aroob Shah has played seven T20Is so far, with the last one coming against South Africa in September 2023.

Tasmia Rubab, the 22-year-old left-arm fast bowler, is the only uncapped player in the side. She played for Pakistan A against West Indies A and Thailand in November 2023.

Representing Multan in the recently held National Women’s One-Day Tournament 2023-24, Tasmia scored 86 runs and took 12 wickets. She also took four wickets at an economy rate of 6.36 in the National Women T20 Tournament 2023-24.

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Meanwhile, a training camp of the Pakistan women’s national cricket team for the ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup will commence in Karachi from 5 July and will continue until the side’s departure on 16 July.

Head coach Muhammad Wasim will supervise the camp and will be supported by Abdur Rehman (spin bowling coach), Junaid Khan (assistant coach – bowling) and Hanif Malik (assistant coach – fielding).

Hina Munawar, Rabia Siddiq and Waleed Ahmed have already been confirmed as the team manager, physiotherapist and analyst, respectively.

Pakistan are placed in Group ‘A’ along with India, Nepal and UAE, while Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Thailand and Malaysia are in Group ‘B’. The top two teams from each group will play in the semi-finals on July 26.

Pakistan will take on India on the opening day of the tournament on 19 July, while their matches against Nepal and UAE will be on 21 and 23 July, respectively.

Pakistan squad for ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup

Nida Dar (c), Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Gull Feroza, Iram Javed, Muneeba Ali, Najiha Alvi, Nashra Sundhu, Omaima Sohail, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Syeda Aroob Shah, Tasmia Rubab and Tuba Hassan

READ: Ravindra Jadeja announces retirement from T20I cricket

Pakistan’s white-ball captain Babar Azam returned to Pakistan earlier this morning after a disastrous ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 campaign in the United States of America (USA).

He reached Lahore from New York after a brief layover in Dubai.

The star batter did not return to the country with the team after getting knocked out from the mega-event in order to spend time with his family in the USA.

He is expected to meet the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Mohsin Naqvi and discuss the reasons for the team’s dismal performance in the tournament.

It is worth mentioning here that Babar Azam has been under hot water following the national men’s team’s early exit from the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024.

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Pakistan had a disastrous start to their campaign as they suffered a shock loss against the co-host United States of America (USA) after a Super Over.

The 2009 champions then succumbed to a gut-wrenching defeat at the hands of arch-rivals India at a jam-packed Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on June 9.

The back-to-back defeats put Pakistan on the verge of an early exit and despite their victories over Canada and Ireland, they failed to reach the Super Eights stage.

READ: Rohit Sharma achieves major milestone in T20I cricket

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to make it a must for players to participate in domestic cricket for their selection in the national team.

The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore on Monday, PCB said in a press release.

The meeting occurred following Pakistan’s horror run at the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024. The Men in Green were eliminated from the marquee event in the group stage following two losses to the United States of America (USA) and India.

During the meeting, participants focused on strengthening domestic cricket in the country as Mohsin Naqvi gave principled approval to the plan aimed at promoting quality domestic cricket.

The PCB chairman announced a plan to organise domestic tournaments from the club level to the national level.

While directing PCB officials to groom domestic players, he emphasised the need for experienced coaches to train the new talent to enhance their skills.

“Performance, fitness, and merit will be the key criteria for advancing players,” Naqvi said.

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The Pakistan Cricket Board will hold tournaments for all three formats of the game to promote quality domestic cricket in the 2024-25 season.

In a move to improve the standard of coaching, the PCB will appoint a master coach to train domestic cricket coaches.

According to the PCB, the participants of the meeting agreed that the selection criteria for the national team will be based on performance and fitness showcased in the domestic events.

The meeting participants also reviewed the domestic cricket structures of various high-performing cricket nations.

Earlier this month, Naqvi had said the defeat against India was disappointing in every way and that the team needed a major surgery.

“It seemed that a minor surgery would suffice for the Pakistan cricket team, but after the extremely poor performance, it has become clear that the team needs major surgery,” the PCB chairman said during a press conference after Pakistan’s defeat to India on June 9.

READ: Michael Vaughan labels Afghanistan ‘second best Asian team’