Tag: Babar Azam

MELBOURNE: Australia’s captain Pat Cummins revealed the game plan behind the ball he bowled to dismiss former Pakistan captain Babar Azam on the second day of the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Wednesday.

Pat Cummins dismissed Babar Azam with a back-of-a-length ball just outside off-stump, which swung inwards and rattled the stumps through Azam’s defence.

Cummins opened up about the tactics behind the ball which sent Babar Azam back to the pavilion during the post-match press conference.

“It’s a dream ball – that’s what you try and bowl most balls, but it’s rare that it comes off. Really happy with that one,” said Cummins.

“That wasn’t a deliberate ball to seam in. That’s 50-50, whether it’s going to seam in or out. I try and create a bit of an angle, and if I don’t know what it’s doing, hopefully, the batter doesn’t know either.”

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“Swing is a bit more predictable – the batter sees it a bit earlier and the margins are a bit smaller. I try and swing the odd one but it’s rare – most of the time, I’m trying to get a bit of seam off the wicket,” he concluded.

Babar Azam has been struggling on the Australian tour with scores of 21 and 14 during the Perth Test, which was followed by a score of 1 during the ongoing second Test.

While Pat Cummins led Australian bowling with the figures of 3-37 to reduce Pakistan to 194-6 at the stumps of the second day, after the hosts were bowled for 318 earlier in the day.

Pakistan will resume their innings on the third day with Mohammad Rizwan (29) and Aamir Jamal (2) on the crease, while Australia is leading by 124 runs.

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DUBAI: Former Pakistan captain and star batter Babar Azam on Wednesday, reclaimed the coveted top spot in the ICC Men’s ODI Batting Rankings, dethroning India’s batting prodigy Shubman Gill.

Gill, who ended Babar Azam’s more than two-year reign as the top-ranked ODI batter in November, has only played three ODIs since then.

His last ODI appearance, which came in the ICC World Cup 2023 final against Australia, was forgetful as he fell for a mere four.

Gill was then rested from India’s three-match away ODI series against South Africa, causing him to lose crucial rating points.

As a result, star Pakistan batter Babar Azam leapfrogged him in the rankings by achieving superior rating points (824), 14 clear of Shubman Gill.

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Gill is closely followed by his compatriot Virat Kohli, who holds the third spot in the ICC Men’s ODI Batting Rankings with 775 rating points.

Meanwhile, in T20Is, England’s leg-spinner Adil Rashid climbed two places to replace Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan from the summit and India’s Ravis Bishnoi, who slipped to third.

Rashid becomes only the second Englishman to hold the No.1 ranking for T20I bowlers after legendary off-spinner Graeme Swann held the top spot back more than a decade ago.

Suryakumar Yadav extended his lead at the top to a total of 100 rating points at the back of his brisk century in the third T20I against South Africa, while Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan (second) and South Africa’s Aiden Markram (third) his closest rivals.

The ICC Test Rankings also saw major shake-ups following Australia’s thumping 260-run victory over Pakistan in the Perth Test.

Australian opener Usman Khawaja jumped three places to claim the fourth spot, went past Babar Azam at third, and also moved within touching distance to top-ranked Kiwi Kane Williamson.

His teammates David Warner (up nine spots to 27th) and Mitchell Marsh (improves 12 places to equal 68th) also make some ground after impressive knocks against Pakistan.

Australian bowlers also got the reward of their magnificent performances against Pakistan in the first Test with Pat Cummins (up one place to third), Nathan Lyon (up three spots to fifth), Mitchell Starc (up two places to eighth) and Josh Hazlewood (up two spots to 10th) all making ground inside the Top 10 but India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin continues to hold sway at the top.

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Pakistan-born Riazat Ali Shah from Uganda national cricket team has expressed his desire to play against Babar Azam and Virat Kohli in the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

Uganda have recently booked their tickets for the T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and the USA after a top-two finish in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Region Qualifier.

Uganda’s allrounder Riazat Ali Shah, who hails from Gilgit, while talking to ARY News opened up about his wish to play against Azam and Kohli.

“It is an honour for me to play in the T20 World Cup for Uganda,” said Riazat Ali Shah.

“I wish that my team [Uganda] gets placed in the same group as India and Pakistan in T20 World Cup,” he added.

“I want to play against Babar Azam and Virat Kohli,” he concluded.

Upon being asked, Riazat Ali Shah shared which players are his ideals in batting and bowling.

“I like Wasim Akram in bowling and Kevin Pietersen in batting.”

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Notably, this will be the first-ever appearance of Uganda in an ICC World Cup event as they will become only the fifth African nation to feature in the T20 World Cup.

During the T20 World Cup Africa Region Qualifiers, Uganda overcame Tanzania in their opening game by a comfortable margin of eight wickets.

However, in the next game, a brilliant 4/17 from Namibian all-rounder David Wiese handed them a six-wicket defeat.

The African side made a comeback in grand style in the next game, defeating the Test-playing Zimbabwe by five wickets.

While skipper Sikandar Raza’s 48* starred for his side, Uganda’s bowling effort led by Dinesh Nakrani (3/14), restricted the Chevrons to 136/7.

During the chase, the Cricket Cranes were guided by Riazat Ali Shah (42) and Alpesh Ramjani (40). They won with five wickets to spare in a major cricketing upset.

Lifted by this effort, the side then overcame Nigeria with ease. They followed up with a 33-run win over Kenya, to have one foot into the T20 World Cup.

They ensured the same with a comfortable nine-wicket win over Rwanda. They rendered a top-notch bowling effort, which bowled out Rwanda for merely 65.

The target was then chased down by the ninth over mark.

READ: Brian Lara backs Shubman Gill to break his record of 400 in Test cricket

Australian batter Usman Khawaja heaped high praise on former Pakistan captain Babar Azam and termed him ‘the best batter in all three formats’ on par with Australia’s Steve Smith and India’s Virat Kohli.

In a recent interview, Usman Khawaja drew parallels between the upcoming clash of batting titans, Babar Azam and Steve Smith during the Test series between Pakistan and Australia.

“Babar Azam is one of the best batsmen in all three formats. Steve Smith is the greatest batsman of our era,” said Khawaja.

“When they both will be playing here in the Benaud-Qadir series, it would be exciting. Matching Babar with Smith is almost like matching Smith with Kohli.”

He commended Babar Azam’s ability to perform consistently both at home and overseas.

“One of the great things about Babar is he does not score only in Pakistan; he scores runs overseas as well. He has scored a hundred here in the past.”

Usman Khawaja also shared his thoughts on the last series played between Australia and Pakistan, highlighting the excellent spirit of cricket displayed during the Lahore Test encounter between Shaheen Shah Afridi and David Warner.

“The last series between Australia and Pakistan was an excellent series. It went very well on and off the field. Shaheen was bowling excellent in the Lahore test, and Warner was playing really well.”

“Even when Warner got out, he got pat on the shoulders with a smile on Shaheen’s face. It was the epitome of the spirit of cricket. That’s what Australians want; you play hard, and when the game is over, you are all good and mates off the field,” Khawaja remarked.

Expressing his admiration for the Pakistani team, Usman Khawaja praised their batting skills and the strength of their fast-bowling attack.

“Pakistan is one of the better teams in the world. They have good batting and always have great fast bowlers.”

“Looking at the past teams, I think this is the strongest Pakistan batting lineup coming over. Babar Azam is one of the best batsmen in the world. Imam ul Haq and Abdullah Shafique have scored a lot of runs. I am very excited about this challenge.”

Khawaja also acknowledged the challenge posed by Pakistan’s fast bowlers in Australian conditions.

“I think Shaheen Shah and Mitchell Starc, both are very fast bowlers, and both can bowl up to 145. We know Starc can swing the new ball. Shaheen has a very good wrist. He definitely swings the ball.”

“When it’s overcast in Australian conditions, if a fast bowler is swinging the ball, it makes our job as an opener a bit tough. This is what you rebel for, this is what you play for,” Khawaja concluded.

READ: Pakistan Test squad to reach Australia tomorrow

Australian spin bowler Todd Murphy expressed his excitement about bowling to former Pakistan captain Babar Azam as he gears up to face Pakistan in the upcoming cricketing summer, highlighting the formidable challenges that lie ahead.

“Bowling to Pakistan’s top order batters would be a challenge,” acknowledged Murphy, emphasizing the skill and prowess of Pakistan’s batsmen.

Speaking specifically about Pakistan’s captain, Murphy praised Babar Azam, stating, “Babar Azam is a very good player, and Pakistan’s top order boasts players with great class.”

“I am not sure if Babar Azam is playing against PM XI, but it would be exciting to bowl against him. It’s always great to get a chance to test yourself against a test-playing nation.”

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Answering to a question regarding Rickey Ponting’s recent statement about Pakistan’s bowling attack, Todd Murphy stated “Playing against Pakistan would be a huge challenge. Pakistan has a good bowling attack, and I don’t agree with the statement that they have a weak bowling attack.”

Highlighting the significance of the upcoming series, Murphy expressed that it is a great opportunity for him to start the cricketing summer.

“It’s always a great opportunity to play in front of family, friends, and fans. The atmosphere and support make it a special experience,” he added.

Acknowledging the strength of the Australian team’s opposition, Murphy noted, “Nathan Lyon is a top-class player.

He always provides a lot of wisdom, and playing alongside him is a great learning experience.”

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LAHORE: The Director of the Pakistan men’s cricket team Mohammad Hafeez has stated that former captain Babar Azam will flourish as a batter and perform at his best without the pressure of captaincy.

Mohammad Hafeez, who recently replaced Mickey Arthur as The Director of the Pakistan team, shared his views during a press conference ahead of Pakistan’s tour of Australia.

“Babar Azam’s services as a batter for Pakistan cannot be forgotten. However, not being captain will release pressure on him and help him flourish his game solely as a batter,” said Hafeez.

“Captaincy definitely adds pressure onto a cricketer. Babar Azam has already been making excellent contributions to Pakistan cricket, and I think he will further enhance his performance to help Pakistan achieve success,” he further added.

Hafeez also clarified that Babar Azam has a good relationship with other team-mates and newly appointed Test captain Shan Masood, which will help the team perform as a unit against Australia.

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He further opened up about his role as director of the national team.

“The role of the team director is to give the plan to the team. I want us to play modern-day cricket, which we have been lacking,” added Hafeez.

“The mindset of the team is clear, and we will try to bring better results together.”

Pakistan is scheduled to play a three-match Test series against Australia commencing from 14 December 2023 to 7 January 2024.

The team will depart from Lahore on 30 November and will kick off the Test series with the first Test in Perth from 14-18 December 2023.

Pakistan squad for the tour of Australia

Shan Masood (c), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Saud Shakeel and Shaheen Shah Afridi

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DUBAI: Star Indian batter Virat Kohli claimed the third position and is now in striking distance from top-ranked fellow Indian batter Shubman Gill and second-ranked Pakistani batter Babar Azam in the latest International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s ODI Batting Rankings.

Virat Kohli jumped one place to third, earning the reward for his record-breaking performance during the ICC World Cup 2023.

He scored 765 runs during the mega-event, setting the record for most runs in a single edition of the World Cup, a record previously held by Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar.

Kohli scored three centuries during the ICC World Cup 2023 and became the first batter to score 50 centuries in ODI cricket, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s 49 centuries.

The third-ranked Virat Kohli has closed the gap with top-ranked Shubman Gill to only 35 rating points with 791 rating points, while Gill has 826 rating points, holding on to a close lead over Babar Azam who has 824 rating points.

The top three batters in the ICC Men’s ODI Batting Rankings are followed by Indian captain Rohit Sharma, who also jumped one place to fourth with 769 ratings, owing to his scintillating during the ICC World Cup 2023.

Sharma scored 597 runs during the tournament at an average of 54.27 and ended as the second-leading run-scorer in the tournament only behind fellow-batter Virat Kohli.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were instrumental to India’s dominant performance during the ICC World Cup 2023, where they remained undefeated until the final, losing to champions Australia.

Quinton de Kock dropped two places to fifth as a result of Indian batters gaining a spot each. Meanwhile, New Zealand batter Daryl Mitchell jumped five spots to sixth with 752 rating points after scoring 552 runs at the ICC World Cup 2023.

Australia’s opening batter Travis Head jumped 28 places to reach the 15th position, courtesy of his brilliant performances during the mega-event.

Head scored 329 runs in six innings, including a century in the final against India after missing out on earlier games due to an injury.

South African spinner Keshav Maharaj held on to his position at the top of the ICC ODI Bowling rankings, while the Australian pace bowler Josh Hazlewood jumped four places to claim the second spot.

Indian pacers Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah remained firm in third and fourth positions respectively, however, their fellow Indian bowler Kuldeep Yadav dropped one spot to equal sixth position with Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan.

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A devoted fan gifted a specially crafted crown to former Pakistan captain and star batter Babar Azam, the image capturing the moment took the internet by storm.

Babar, who recently relinquished Pakistan’s captaincy from all three formats, continued to get unwavering support from his passionate fans.

The right-handed batter is one of the top batters in the world and is often compared with the likes of Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Joe Root and Kane Williamson.

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For his unreal consistency, he is also called “The King” by a large number of fans.

Meanwhile, in the latest turn of events, one of his fans presented him with a crown.

“A lucky fan got to meet Babar Azam and gave him a crown,” the user wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

https://twitter.com/Rnawaz31888/status/1726667402107392439

For the unversed, Babar Azam’s captaincy and his future in the role came under question following the national team’s below-par performance in the ICC World Cup 2023.

The team suffered five losses, the most in their World Cup history, including their first defeat against Afghanistan in ODIs and also their first against South Africa in World Cups this century.

Under the batter’s leadership, Pakistan failed to qualify for the semifinals as they finished fifth in the standings with eight points.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Management Committee chairman Zaka Ashraf then met the star batter at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium earlier this month to discuss the leadership options for the national men’s team.

Sources told ARY News that the PCB decided to retain Babar Azam as captain for the upcoming Test series against Australia scheduled to commence on December 14 next month.

However, sources claimed, Babar was not in favour of retaining captaincy for any one format and later announced to step down.

“Today, I am stepping down as the captain of Pakistan in all formats. It’s a difficult decision but I feel it is a right time for this call,” the right-handed batter said in a statement issued on X.

pic.twitter.com/8hZqS9JH0M

— Babar Azam (@babarazam258) November 15, 2023

 

“I vividly remember the moment when I received the call from PCB to lead Pakistan in 2019. Over the past four years, I’ve experienced many highs and lows on and off the field, but I wholeheartedly and passionately aimed to maintain Pakistan’s pride and respect in the cricket world,” he added.

“I will continue to represent Pakistan as a player in all three formats. I am here to support the new captain and the team with my experience and dedication,” he said, acknowledging PCB for “entrusting me with this significant responsibility,” Babar Azam concluded.

READ: “Babar Azam made the right decision,” says Kamran Akmal

KARACHI: Former cricketer Kamran Akmal backed Babar Azam’s decision to resign as Pakistan’s all-format captain on Friday during a private event at Rashid Latif Cricket Academy.

Kamran Akmal, while talking to the media praised Babar Azam for his decision, and also showed faith in the newly appointed Test captain Shan Masood.

“Babar has made a very good decision to quit captaincy in all formats,” said the former wicket-keeper.

“Shan Masood has the potential to lead Pakistan. We have a new captain, but the core players are the same, we should perform at our best.”

Upon being asked about getting a role in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), he clarified that the board has made no contact with him, however, he expressed his desire to work at the grassroot level and help develop players in age-group cricket.

“I haven’t been contact by the board [PCB]. Yes, I want to work for Pakistan, but do not want to be directly associated with the Pakistan team,” said the former wicketkeeper.

“I want to work at the grassroot level and with the age group cricket teams,” he added.

Kamran Akmal also shed light on the importance of domestic cricket and urged that the best performers in domestic cricket should be given the opportunity in the national team.

“I have been saying this for the last five or six years, that players should play more domestic cricket,” said Akmal.

“Earlier, a player used to be selected in the Pakistan team after playing two to three domestic seasons, but things have changed now.”

“Players who regularly perform in domestic cricket should be given maximum opportunities,” he further added.

Kamran Akmal has represented Pakistan in 53 Test, 58 T20I and 157 ODI matches, scoring over 6000 runs across three formats.

READ: “Together we will strive,” Mohammed Hafeez looks ahead to Team Director role

LAHORE: Top Pakistan batter Babar Azam has stepped down as all-format captain following the team’s dismal performance in the ongoing World Cup 2023, ARY News reported on Wednesday.

“Today, I am stepping down as the captain of Pakistan in all formats. It’s a difficult decision but I feel it is a right time for this call,” the right-handed batter said in a statement issued on X (Formerly Twitter).

pic.twitter.com/8hZqS9JH0M

— Babar Azam (@babarazam258) November 15, 2023

The development came shortly after the 29-year-old met Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Management Committee Chairman Zaka Ashraf at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.

Sources told ARY News that the PCB decided to retain Babar Azam as captain for the upcoming Test series against Australia scheduled to commence on December 14 next month.

The right-hand batter was apprised that the PCB would bring in a new captain for the white-ball format. The board has not yet decided upon who will replace Babar in the white-ball cricket, they added.

However, sources claimed, Babar was not in favour of retaining captaincy for any one format.

It is pertinent to mention here that the star batter was appointed white-ball captain in 2019 and as Test skipper in 2021.

Meanwhile, Babar Azam – in a statement – said that he will continue to represent Pakistan as a player in all three formats.

“I vividly remember the moment when I received the call from PCB to lead Pakistan in 2019. Over the past four years, I’ve experienced many highs and lows on and off the field, but I wholeheartedly and passionately aimed to maintain Pakistan’s pride and respect in the cricket world,” the right-handed batter said.

He pointed out that Pakistan cricket team reached the number 1 spot in the white-ball format due to “collective efforts of players, coaches, and management”.

Azam also expressed gratitude to passionate Pakistan cricket fans for their “unwavering support during this journey”.

“I will continue to represent Pakistan as a player in all three formats. I am here to support the new captain and the team with my experience and dedication,” he said, acknowledging PCB for “entrusting me with this significant responsibility”.

Babar Azam’s captaincy and his future in the role came under question following the national team’s below-par performance in the World Cup 2023.

The team suffered five losses, the most in their World Cup history, including their first defeat against Afghanistan in ODIs also their first against South Africa in World Cups this century.

Under the batter’s leadership, Pakistan failed to qualify for the semifinals as they finished fifth in the standings with eight points.

READ: Pakistan to play four-day match against PM’s XI ahead of Australia Tests