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Tag: PCB

  • How was Babar Azam removed from captaincy?

    When was the proposal to remove Babar from the captaincy considered by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)? The inside story has been revealed by Abdul Majid Bhatti of Geo News.

    During the International Cricket Council (ICC) ODI World Cup held in India, Pakistan team performed poorly, while Babar Azam could not fulfill expectations.

    Abdul Majid Bhatti has written, “During the World Cup, the proposal was under consideration in the PCB circles that Babar Azam should step down from the leadership so that he could focus on his batting, but the final decision to remove him from the captaincy was not taken. PCB officials wanted to give him a break from captaincy due to his arbitrariness and defensive style.”

    At the time when Inzamam-ul-Haq was the chief selector, Babar Azam’s captaincy was under scrutiny, but after the departure of Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mickey Arthur and interim selectors Tauseef Ahmed, Wajahatullah Wasti and Wasim Haider considered a proposal to change the captain. However, Shan Masood was not among the names of replacements.

    Mickey Arthur and the national selectors formed a similar team to the Test team announced for the tour of Australia by Mohammad Hafeez, Wahab Riaz, and Shaan Masood. Haris Rauf was also included in this team but later withdrew from visiting Australia.

  • Former Attorney General Shah Khawar appointed Chief Election Commissioner of PCB

    Former Attorney General Shah Khawar appointed Chief Election Commissioner of PCB

    Former Attorney General and Supreme Court lawyer Shah Khawar Advocate has been appointed as the Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

    According to the announcement issued by the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination, Shah Khawar has been appointed Chief Election Commissioner of PCB for 3 months on a monthly salary of 10 lakh rupees.

    According to the announcement, Shah Khawar has been entrusted with the responsibility of conducting the PCB elections before 4th February 2024.

    It should be noted that the affairs of the Pakistan Cricket Board are currently being looked after by the Chairman of the Interim Management Committee, Zaka Ashraf, whose term was extended by caretaker Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar this month.

  • Inzamam-ul-Haq’s resignation accepted

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has accepted the resignation of former Chief Selector Inzamam-ul-Haq.

    In the past few weeks, the issue of Inzamam-ul-Haq being a shareholder in a company came to light, a matter, it was alleged, that clashed with his position within PCB. Inzamam resigned from the post of chief selector before the formation of a committee to probe the matter.

    The five-member committee will look into the team selection process and conflict of interest. However, Inzamam-ul-Haq’s resignation was not immediately accepted.

    Sources say that now PCB has accepted the resignation.

    In a TV program (Capital Talk) Inzamam-ul-Haq said that the allegations were made during the World Cup but the board is not calling for an inquiry now, nor is it contacting or responding to emails, nor is the board telling him what the inquiry is about. “Even I learned from the TV that the resignation was not accepted,” he remarked.

    PCB has now said that Inzamam-ul-Haq’s email was received yesterday, he will be given a definite reply. The statement confirmed that an investigation is being conducted for conflict of interest and Inzamam knows everything. He will be informed when all the investigations are completed and he will be called.

    PCB said that they did not accept Inzamam-ul-Haq’s resignation due to respect.

    PCB says that Inzamam-ul-Haq spoke against board rules in a TV program, after which, PCB accepted his resignation.

  • PCB forms committee to collect player’s agents’ details

    PCB forms committee to collect player’s agents’ details

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has formed a committee to collect the data of approved agents associated with the national cricket team players.

    The five-member committee regarding the PCB’s team selection process and conflict of interest, related sources say that this committee has started working today. After completing the investigation, the committee will submit its report and recommendations to Chairman Zaka Ashraf.

    The five-member committee formed by the PCB includes Colonel Khalid, Colonel Akhtar of the Anti-Corruption and Vigilance Unit, Director Media Alia Rashid, representatives of the Legal Department and Auditor Finance.

    This committee will not be able to ask any questions from the Pakistan cricket team’s players because they are currently playing the World Cup in India, and also not from Umar Kalsom who is now PCB’s media head manager and was recently replaced by Ahsan Iftikhar Nagi during the world cup.

    According to the sources, “Player’s agent’s records are available but the committee didn’t find which agent associated with which player”.

    It should be noted that a few days ago, the case of Inzamam-ul-Haq being a shareholder with a company named Yazoo International Ltd. came to light, however, Chief Selector Inzamam-ul-Haq resigned from the post of Chief Selector before the formation of the committee.

  • PCB throws Babar under the bus, urges support for team

    PCB throws Babar under the bus, urges support for team

    After the Pakistan cricket team lost three World Cup matches in a row, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to publicly support the team. However, in a surprise move, they threw captain Babar Azam under the proverbial bus.

    PCB released a press release on social media, urging fans to support the national team.

    In the press release issued by the PCB, it was stated, “The board understands the sentiments and feelings of the cricket fans on the three consecutive failures of the national team in the ICC World Cup 2023, however, on this occasion, the board administration hopes from the public and former cricketers that captain Babar Azam and the players should be encouraged in this hour of difficulty”.

    The PCB message said that the national team still has four matches to play in the World Cup, hopefully, the national team will forget the defeat and show a positive and good game in the upcoming matches.

    PCB said, “On the criticism of former cricketers and the media on the captain Babar Azam and the team management and changing them, the cricket board is of the opinion that winning and losing is part of the game.

    “Chairman PCB Management Committee Chaudhry Zaka Ashraf gave a complete free hand to Chief Selector Inzamam-ul-Haq and Captain Babar Azam in the World Cup squad and did not hinder them in making the team as per their wish. In the future, the board will make decisions in light of the performance of the World Cup 2023 in due course. Currently, the board is fully hopeful of the team’s good performance to hoist the green flag on the field in the ICC World Cup 2023.”

    Pakistan Cricket Board is facing huge criticism on social media, here are some reactions;

  • PCB dismisses objections over cricket team’s support for Palestine

    PCB dismisses objections over cricket team’s support for Palestine

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has dismissed objections over the national cricket team showing their solidarity for Palestine on social media.

    Pakistan cricket team is currently playing the ICC Cricket World Cup in India. On October 10, the national team’s wicketkeeper-batsman, Muhammad Rizwan, tweeted in support of Palestine, dedicating his performance in the win against Sri Lanka to the people of Gaza.

    After his tweet, many Indian fans and anchors raised objections and complained to the International Cricket Council (ICC) which dismissed the objections and replied, “This is outside of the field and not in our domain, only their Cricket Board can take any action”.

    Last night almost all of the national cricket team including Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan, Iftikhar Ahmad, Usama Mir, Umar Akmal, Asif Ali, Bilawal Bhatti, Muhammad Nawaz, Abid Ali, Kamran Akmal, Azhar Ali, Noman Ali, Amer Yamin, Wasim Junior, Sohail Tanveer, Muhammad Abbas, Faheem Ashraf, Sahibzada Farhan and others posted pictures of the Palestinian flags on their social media accounts.

    A storm of criticism was raised on social media by Indian fans, many of their cricket experts and anchors.

    According to sources, PCB has dismissed all objections, stating: “The team’s expression of solidarity was a personal decision.”

  • ‘When you have your crowd then you get the support’: Saud Shakeel

    ‘When you have your crowd then you get the support’: Saud Shakeel

    Pakistan paid a heavy price for being “under extra pressure” in their World Cup defeat by arch-rivals India, said batsman Saud Shakeel, who Wednesday lamented the absence of the team’s passionate supporters from the tournament.

    Pakistan were thrashed by seven wickets on Saturday at Ahmedabad’s 132,000-capacity stadium where there was only a handful of Pakistani supporters.

    Babar Azam’s team slumped from a solid 155-2 in the 30th over to be dismissed for a paltry 191.

    “I think we were under extra pressure so we tried to get out of that and wanted to play shots,” Shakeel told AFP on Wednesday.

    The smattering of Pakistani fans at the game were expatriates from the United Kingdon and United States.

    Supporters from across the border are effectively banned after a failure to gain visas.

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday lodged an official complaint with the world governing body over the visa delays which have also kept many members of the country’s media at home.

    The PCB also complained over what they described as the “inappropriate behaviour” of Indian fans towards the Pakistan squad at the Ahmedabad game.

    “When you have your crowd then you get the support. We did not get that and it was not in our hands,” added Shakeel.

    Despite an eighth loss in eight World Cup meetings with their arch-rivals, Pakistan are still well-placed in the tournament after wins over the Netherlands and Sri Lanka.

    Middle-order batsman Shakeel scored 68 against the Netherlands before making 31 in the game with Sri Lanka. He was out for just six against India.

    Next up for Pakistan is another high-profile duel, this time with five-time champions Australia in Bengaluru on Friday.

    “The mistakes we committed in the last game, we must overcome them. That match is gone. If we win against Australia then our position will get better,” added Shakeel.

    “Australia are always good in the World Cup. They are a very good side. We know our strong areas and we must play good cricket.”

    “We had a good start to the tournament with two wins. We want to go match by match and not commit the mistakes we did against India.”

    On Wednesday, all the Pakistan players with the exception of Mohammad Haris trained in Bengaluru.

    Haris is still suffering from a fever which laid low many of the squad when they arrived from Ahmedabad.

    Star fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi and opener Abdullah Shafique were the worst hit but were present in the nets at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

  • PCB complains to ICC about inappropriate behavior by Indian crowd

    PCB complains to ICC about inappropriate behavior by Indian crowd

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has filed a complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) about the inappropriate behavior of the Indian crowd during the World Cup match between Pakistan and India in Ahmedabad.

    In the biggest match of the ICC Cricket World Cup on October 14, although India’s performance dominated Pakistan, giving the host country a seven wicket win, inappropriate behavior by the fans at the Ahmedabad Stadium drew criticism on social media.

    During the match, where Pakistani fans were not given visas among the crowd hundreds of thousands in the stadium, the inappropriate behavior of Indian fans towards the Pakistani players quickly became a lightening rod on social media.

    Indian fans were heard teasing Pakistan captain Babar Azam, while Rizwan was targeted on his way to the pavilion by fans shouting pro-Hindu slogans and using inappropriate words. Videos of the harassment also went viral.

    PCB has now complained to the ICC about inappropriate crowd behavior during the match between Pakistan and India in Ahmedabad.

    The PCB told the ICC that the Pakistani squad was inappropriately targeted during the match, protesting to the governing body about the delay in Indian visas of Pakistani journalists and fans.

  • Abdullah Shafiq ko hogya bukhaar

    Abdullah Shafiq ko hogya bukhaar

    Pakistan’s opening batsman Abdullah Shafique has contracted fever ahead of the national’s team match against Australia on October 20, team sources have told Geo News’s reporter Faizan Lakhani on Tuesday.

    As per team management, earlier Fakhar Zaman was suffering from knee pain, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Usama Mir were suffering from fever, however, all three have now recovered.

    Reports state that the team underwent comprehensive medical examinations as part of the COVID-19 and dengue fever protocol.

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday rejected media reports that claimed several players have contracted an infection.

    “Thankfully, there is no viral infection or disease,” a PCB spokesperson said after reports triggered speculations.

    The team also changed their training sessions multiple times lending credence to these reports.

    “Those who are in the stage of recovery remain under the team medical panel’s observation,” the spokesperson added.

    Meanwhile, the team also rescheduled a training session after cancelling it earlier today.

    Pakistan team will have a two-hour training session at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium today (Tuesday) from 6pm to 8pm in Bengaluru.

    Assuring concerned fans, sources stated to Lakhani, “There is no concern about the health of players.”

    “Some players got fever in the past few days, and most of them have fully recovered from it. Those who are in the stage of recovery remain under the team medical panel’s observation,” said the Pakistan team’s spokesman.

    Schedule of Pakistan’s remaining matches

    October 20 – vs Australia in Bengaluru

    October 23 – vs Afghanistan in Chennai

    October 27 – vs South Africa in Chennai

    October 31 – vs Bangladesh in Kolkata

    November 4 – vs New Zealand Bengaluru (Day match)

    November 11 – vs England in Kolkata

    Day matches will start at 10:00am Pakistan Standard Time (PST) while all other matches will be day-night fixtures starting at 01:30pm (PST).

    Pakistan squad for ICC World Cup 2023

    Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, M Wasim Jnr, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha.

    Travelling reserves: Mohammad Haris, Abrar Ahmed, Zaman Khan

  • Indian journalists slam govt for not giving visas to Pakistani correspondents

    Indian journalists slam govt for not giving visas to Pakistani correspondents

    Senior Indian journalist Rajdeep Sardesai expressed disappointment on his government’s continuous delay in issuing visas for Pakistani journalists, stating that if Pakistan is playing the World Cup in India, visas cannot be denied to journalists.

    Rajdeep Sardesai asked why should journalists be politically demotivated. “We should adopt the attitude of good hosts,” he remarked, saying that he will expect the same from Islamabad in the future.

    Read More: World Cup 2023: Pakistani cricket presenter Zainab Abbas sent back from India due to safety concerns

    It should be noted that the head of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Zaka Ashraf, contacted Foreign Secretary Cyrus Sajjad Qazi in regards to the issuance of Indian visas to Pakistanis for the cricket World Cup.

    Here are some more reactions of Twitter users: