<p>Former Indian captain Kapil Dev isn't pleased with current skipper Rohit Sharma's fitness standards. Ahead of the third and penultimate Test between India and Australia, in Indore, in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2022/23, the 1983 World-Cup winning captain Kapil opined that while Rohit is a great captain and player, it is a shame that Hitman doesn't look fit on TV. Further, he cited Virat Kohli's fitness and urged Rohit to get in shape by taking inspiration from his teammate.</p>

<p>Speaking on an ABP show, Kapil said, "It is very important (to be fit). More so for a captain. It's a shame if you are not fit. Rohit needs to put some hard work on it. He is a great batter but when you talk about his fitness, he looks a bit overweight, at least on TV. Yes, it's different when you look at someone on TV and then in real life. But from whatever I see, Rohit is a great player and a great captain, but he needs to get fit," the former Indian captain further asserted.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/big-blow-to-india-harmanpreet-uncertain-pooja-vastrakar-ruled-out-of-t20-wc-semi-final-tie-vs-australia-565086">Big blow to India! Harmanpreet uncertain, Pooja Vastrakar ruled out of T20 WC semi-final tie vs Australia</a></strong></p>

<p>He added, "Look at Virat, whenever you see him, you say, 'that's some fitness!" This isn't the first time that Rohit has been slammed for his fitness. In the last few years, he has missed plenty of games across formats due to hamstring injury or other issues. However, Hitman hasn't spoken at length on this issue and is focused on taking India to the ICC World Test Championship final (WTC), to be held in early June at The Oval, London.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Rohit-led India currently have an unassailable 2-0 lead in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and will storm into the final with another win. So far, Rohit has been the leading run-scorer in the four-match Test series with 183 runs in three outings, including a majestic 120 in the series opener.</p>

<p>India take on Australia in the third and penultimate Test, in Indore, on March 01.</p>


Former Indian captain Kapil Dev isn't pleased with current skipper Rohit Sharma's fitness standards. Ahead of the third and penultimate Test between India and Australia, in Indore, in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2022/23, the 1983 World-Cup winning captain Kapil opined that while Rohit is a great captain and player, it is a shame that Hitman doesn't look fit on TV.

Former Indian captain Kapil Dev isn't pleased with current skipper Rohit Sharma's fitness standards. Ahead of the third and penultimate Test between India and Australia, in Indore, in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2022/23, the 1983 World-Cup winning captain Kapil opined that while Rohit is a great captain and player, it is a shame that Hitman doesn't look fit on TV. Further, he cited Virat Kohli's fitness and urged Rohit to get in shape by taking inspiration from his teammate. Speaking on an ABP show, Kapil said, "It is very important (to be fit). More so for a captain. It's a shame if you are not fit. Rohit needs to put some hard work on it. He is a great batter but when you talk about his fitness, he looks a bit overweight, at least on TV. Yes, it's different when you look at someone on TV and then in real life. But from whatever I see, Rohit is a great player and a great captain, but he needs to get fit," the former Indian captain further asserted. Also Read: Big blow to India! Harmanpreet uncertain, Pooja Vastrakar ruled out of T20 WC semi-final tie vs Australia He added, "Look at Virat, whenever you see him, you say, 'that's some fitness!" This isn't the first time that Rohit has been slammed for his fitness. In the last few years, he has missed plenty of games across formats due to hamstring injury or other issues. However, Hitman hasn't spoken at length on this issue and is focused on taking India to the ICC World Test Championship final (WTC), to be held in early June at The Oval, London. Rohit-led India currently have an unassailable 2-0 lead in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and will storm into the final with another win. So far, Rohit has been the leading run-scorer in the four-match Test series with 183 runs in three outings, including a majestic 120 in the series opener. India take on Australia in the third and penultimate Test, in Indore, on March 01.

BGT 2022/23: 'It's a shame if you are not fit' - Kapil Dev urges Rohit Sharma to get in shape

<p>Hours before India's much-awaited T20 World Cup semi-final clash versus defending champions Australia, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur remains an uncertain starter whereas pacer Pooja Vastrakar has been ruled out with Sneh Rana, one of the travelling reserves, named as her replacement. As per reports, in ESPNCricnifo, both Harmanpreet and Pooja had reported sick on Monday (February 20) and were in the hospital on Wednesday (February 22) before the speedster got ruled out whereas the skipper remains doubtful for the semi-final clash due to high fever.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It is a big headache for India ahead of the semi-final face-off versus unbeaten Australian line-up. If Harmanpreet misses out, they can include Harleen Deol as a like-for-like replacement whereas Sneh,&nbsp;left-arm seamer Anjali Sarvani and Radha Yadav can come in for Pooja. Harmanpreet has not been in form in the Women's T20 WC, scoring only 66 runs in four outings. In her last game, she only managed a 20-ball 13 versus Ireland in what was her 150th appearance in the format (most by any player in the history of the game).</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-they-wont-be-able-to-chopra-on-csks-captaincy-plans-after-ben-stokes-set-to-leave-early-565073">IPL 2023: 'They won't be able to...' - Chopra on CSK's captaincy plans after Ben Stokes set to leave early</a></strong></p>

<p>However, Harmanpreet's absence will surely dent India's chances against the mighty Australians. She struck a memorable 171* in the India-Australia 2017 ODI World Cup semi-final and has a knack for standing tall in crunch games. If she is ruled out, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana will take charge of the line-up and hope to lead India to a famous win over the Women in Yellow.&nbsp;</p>

<p>So far, India have won three and lost one game in the ongoing showpiece event in South Africa. They ended at the second spot in Pool B with Heather Knight-led England topping the group. The second semi-final will be held between England and South Africa on Friday evening (February 24) at Newlands, Cape Town (venue for both the SFs).</p>


Hours before India's much-awaited T20 World Cup semi-final clash versus defending champions Australia, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur remains an uncertain starter whereas pacer Pooja Vastrakar has been ruled out with Sneh Rana, one of the travelling reserves, named as her replacement.

Hours before India's much-awaited T20 World Cup semi-final clash versus defending champions Australia, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur remains an uncertain starter whereas pacer Pooja Vastrakar has been ruled out with Sneh Rana, one of the travelling reserves, named as her replacement. As per reports, in ESPNCricnifo, both Harmanpreet and Pooja had reported sick on Monday (February 20) and were in the hospital on Wednesday (February 22) before the speedster got ruled out whereas the skipper remains doubtful for the semi-final clash due to high fever. It is a big headache for India ahead of the semi-final face-off versus unbeaten Australian line-up. If Harmanpreet misses out, they can include Harleen Deol as a like-for-like replacement whereas Sneh, left-arm seamer Anjali Sarvani and Radha Yadav can come in for Pooja. Harmanpreet has not been in form in the Women's T20 WC, scoring only 66 runs in four outings. In her last game, she only managed a 20-ball 13 versus Ireland in what was her 150th appearance in the format (most by any player in the history of the game). Also Read: IPL 2023: 'They won't be able to...' - Chopra on CSK's captaincy plans after Ben Stokes set to leave early However, Harmanpreet's absence will surely dent India's chances against the mighty Australians. She struck a memorable 171* in the India-Australia 2017 ODI World Cup semi-final and has a knack for standing tall in crunch games. If she is ruled out, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana will take charge of the line-up and hope to lead India to a famous win over the Women in Yellow. So far, India have won three and lost one game in the ongoing showpiece event in South Africa. They ended at the second spot in Pool B with Heather Knight-led England topping the group. The second semi-final will be held between England and South Africa on Friday evening (February 24) at Newlands, Cape Town (venue for both the SFs).

Big blow to India! Harmanpreet uncertain, Pooja Vastrakar ruled out of T20 WC semi-final tie vs Australia

<p>On Wednesday (February 22), England Test captain Ben Stokes indicated that he will leave IPL 2023 early to prepare for the one-off Test versus Ireland and Ashes 2023, both on home soil. Addressing the press ahead of England's second and final Test versus hosts New Zealand, Stokes revealed that he is ready to skip the latter stage of the forthcoming IPL season, where he will represent the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for national duty. It is to be noted that the Ireland Test begins only four days after IPL 2023. Hence, his absence will be a massive blow for Dhoni &amp; Co. if they remain alive in the tournament till then.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Yes, I'll play," Stokes told the reporters for the Ireland Test. "I'll be making sure that I give myself enough time to get back and play that [Ireland] game," he added. After his statement, former Indian opener has questioned CSK's captaincy plans.&nbsp;Speaking on his YouTube channel, as quoted by Sportskeeda, Chopra reacted to Stokes' claims and opined that&nbsp;Dhoni would be unable to hand over the reins to the Englishman if he wishes to at any stage of this year's IPL.</p>

<p>Chopra told, "Some people were saying that the Chennai Super Kings gave so much money to Ben Stokes because they want to groom him for captaincy. If you want to groom him for captaincy and the heir apparent leaves in the last phase, even if Chennai have made up their mind, they will not be able to do the hand-holding."</p>

<p>"As they say pass on the baton - how will that happen because MS Dhoni will be captaining and halfway through if he says that he will give it to Stokes, he is not going to be available in the end. So that cannot happen.," he asserted.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/yuvraj-couldnt-absorb-pressure-and-play-with-his-partner-the-way-dhoni-did-claims-former-sl-cricketer-565017">Yuvraj couldn't absorb pressure and play with his partner the way Dhoni did, claims former SL cricketer</a></strong></p>

<p>The former Indian opener further added, "It will be interesting to see Chennai's plan - does he (Stokes) even feature in their captaincy scheme of things or whether either Moeen Ali or Ruturaj Gaikwad could be their next captain? We shall find out. This will be in everyone's mind that you have to be a little careful with the money you invest in England and Australian players in an Ashes year - how you distribute your resources because there are chances of them leaving."</p>

<p>CSK will play the tournament opener&nbsp;versus the defending champions Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT)&nbsp;on March 31 in Ahmedabad.</p>


On Wednesday (February 22), England Test captain Ben Stokes indicated that he will leave IPL 2023 early to prepare for the one-off Test versus Ireland and Ashes 2023, both on home soil.

On Wednesday (February 22), England Test captain Ben Stokes indicated that he will leave IPL 2023 early to prepare for the one-off Test versus Ireland and Ashes 2023, both on home soil. Addressing the press ahead of England's second and final Test versus hosts New Zealand, Stokes revealed that he is ready to skip the latter stage of the forthcoming IPL season, where he will represent the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for national duty. It is to be noted that the Ireland Test begins only four days after IPL 2023. Hence, his absence will be a massive blow for Dhoni & Co. if they remain alive in the tournament till then. "Yes, I'll play," Stokes told the reporters for the Ireland Test. "I'll be making sure that I give myself enough time to get back and play that [Ireland] game," he added. After his statement, former Indian opener has questioned CSK's captaincy plans. Speaking on his YouTube channel, as quoted by Sportskeeda, Chopra reacted to Stokes' claims and opined that Dhoni would be unable to hand over the reins to the Englishman if he wishes to at any stage of this year's IPL. Chopra told, "Some people were saying that the Chennai Super Kings gave so much money to Ben Stokes because they want to groom him for captaincy. If you want to groom him for captaincy and the heir apparent leaves in the last phase, even if Chennai have made up their mind, they will not be able to do the hand-holding." "As they say pass on the baton - how will that happen because MS Dhoni will be captaining and halfway through if he says that he will give it to Stokes, he is not going to be available in the end. So that cannot happen.," he asserted. Also Read: Yuvraj couldn't absorb pressure and play with his partner the way Dhoni did, claims former SL cricketer The former Indian opener further added, "It will be interesting to see Chennai's plan - does he (Stokes) even feature in their captaincy scheme of things or whether either Moeen Ali or Ruturaj Gaikwad could be their next captain? We shall find out. This will be in everyone's mind that you have to be a little careful with the money you invest in England and Australian players in an Ashes year - how you distribute your resources because there are chances of them leaving." CSK will play the tournament opener versus the defending champions Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT) on March 31 in Ahmedabad.

IPL 2023: 'They won't be able to...' - Chopra on CSK's captaincy plans after Ben Stokes set to leave early

<p>Yuvraj Singh represented India in 40 Tests, 304 ODIs and 58 T20Is. He is regarded as one of the greatest white-ball all-rounders in world cricket. He was India's hero during their title run in the 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup. However, former Sri Lanka player Russell Arnold has made a shocking claim about the ex-Indian cricketer. Arnold compared both Yuvraj and MS Dhoni -- two of India's greatest middle-order batters -- and feels the former wasn't good at absorbing pressure.</p>

<p>During a conversation with former Indian cricket WV Raman, Arnold made the glaring remark. While discussing Dhoni and Yuvraj, the Sri Lankan opined that Dhoni was more adept in playing both defensively and aggressively&nbsp;as per&nbsp;the situation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"He could play both roles, there are very few who could do that. Both roles meant that when he needed to absorb pressure, he could do it. That was my strength, but I could hit a boundary now and then but not consistently score 15 runs or more. You give me eight to 10 (runs to score in an over), and I'll back myself. But Dhoni would back himself with 15 or 20 on the board and hit those big sixes consistently," Arnold pointed out.</p>

<section>
<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-was-offered-captaincy-but-shoaib-akhtar-reveals-why-he-said-no-to-leading-pakistan-in-2002-564718">'I was offered captaincy but...': Shoaib Akhtar reveals why he said NO to leading Pakistan in 2002</a></strong></p>

<p>He added, "To be able to play both roles as expertly as he did, he is in a very different league. Not many players can play both those roles. You get players with flamboyance and come close to hitting those boundaries. Like Yuvraj Singh. But Yuvraj could not absorb the pressure when needed and play with his partner the way Dhoni did. Yuvraj had to be the boss to be extravagant and express himself. That was when he was at his best. But Dhoni was at his best at both ends of the line. He could be defensive and absorb pressure and throw those punches as well."</p>

<section>
<p>Yuvraj and Dhoni are regarded as two of the finest players, especially in limited overs. Both won India innumerable matches with their memorable partnerships and made the Men in Blue one of the strongest sides during their playing days.</p>

<p>It will be interesting to see if Yuvraj responds to Arnold's claims.</p>
</section>
</section>


Yuvraj Singh represented India in 40 Tests, 304 ODIs and 58 T20Is. He is regarded as one of the greatest white-ball all-rounders in world cricket. He was India's hero during their title run in the 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup.

Yuvraj Singh represented India in 40 Tests, 304 ODIs and 58 T20Is. He is regarded as one of the greatest white-ball all-rounders in world cricket. He was India's hero during their title run in the 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup. However, former Sri Lanka player Russell Arnold has made a shocking claim about the ex-Indian cricketer. Arnold compared both Yuvraj and MS Dhoni -- two of India's greatest middle-order batters -- and feels the former wasn't good at absorbing pressure. During a conversation with former Indian cricket WV Raman, Arnold made the glaring remark. While discussing Dhoni and Yuvraj, the Sri Lankan opined that Dhoni was more adept in playing both defensively and aggressively as per the situation. "He could play both roles, there are very few who could do that. Both roles meant that when he needed to absorb pressure, he could do it. That was my strength, but I could hit a boundary now and then but not consistently score 15 runs or more. You give me eight to 10 (runs to score in an over), and I'll back myself. But Dhoni would back himself with 15 or 20 on the board and hit those big sixes consistently," Arnold pointed out. Also Read: 'I was offered captaincy but...': Shoaib Akhtar reveals why he said NO to leading Pakistan in 2002 He added, "To be able to play both roles as expertly as he did, he is in a very different league. Not many players can play both those roles. You get players with flamboyance and come close to hitting those boundaries. Like Yuvraj Singh. But Yuvraj could not absorb the pressure when needed and play with his partner the way Dhoni did. Yuvraj had to be the boss to be extravagant and express himself. That was when he was at his best. But Dhoni was at his best at both ends of the line. He could be defensive and absorb pressure and throw those punches as well." Yuvraj and Dhoni are regarded as two of the finest players, especially in limited overs. Both won India innumerable matches with their memorable partnerships and made the Men in Blue one of the strongest sides during their playing days. It will be interesting to see if Yuvraj responds to Arnold's claims.

Yuvraj couldn't absorb pressure and play with his partner the way Dhoni did, claims former SL cricketer

<p>On Tuesday (February 21), Sania Mirza played her last competitive game as she called it quits from tennis and ended her glorious career. Playing in the women's doubles first-round of the Dubai Tennis Championship, along with Madison Keys, Sania and her American partner lost to Russian pair&nbsp;of Vernokia Kudermetova and Liudmila Samsonova in straight sets, 4-6, 0-6 to bow out with a loss. Sania remains an inspiration for many across the nation and in the entire tennis fraternity. Hence, reactions came in from all corners post her last game.&nbsp;</p>

<p>World number one Iga Swiatek also joined the bandwagon and reacted to Sania's retirement. After the Indian sensation's loss, the Polish star took to her official Twitter handle to 'thank' Sania for her overall contributions towards the game. She replied to a heartfelt video on Sania's career, shared by WTA's official account, and wrote:</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Thank you <a href="https://twitter.com/MirzaSania?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MirzaSania</a> 🙌🏼🤗 <a href="https://t.co/ZGTv5qGFqw">https://t.co/ZGTv5qGFqw</a></p>
— Iga Świątek (@iga_swiatek) <a href="https://twitter.com/iga_swiatek/status/1628110808906334221?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sania-mirza-ends-illustrious-career-with-first-round-defeat-in-dubai-tennis-championship-564450">Sania Mirza ends illustrious career with first-round defeat in Dubai Tennis Championship</a></strong></p>

<p>Mahesh Bhupathi -- with whom Sania won two of her three mixed-doubles title -- also penned a heartfelt note for Sania. He claimed that he was proud of the Indian star and wrote, "Welcome to retirement @MirzaSania you outdid yourself time and time again both on and off the court â€¦. Proud of you !!"</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Welcome to retirement <a href="https://twitter.com/MirzaSania?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MirzaSania</a> you outdid yourself time and time again both on and off the court …. Proud of you !! <a href="https://t.co/xNzIykOIqH">pic.twitter.com/xNzIykOIqH</a></p>
— Mahesh Bhupathi (@Maheshbhupathi) <a href="https://twitter.com/Maheshbhupathi/status/1628079637996740608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Prior to her final appearance, the 36-year-old Sania revealed that tennis is an important part of her life but not her entire life. She told PTI, "For me, tennis was always and is always going to be a very, very large and big and important part of my life, but it is not my entire life. And that is the mindset I went with, even as a young girl and as a professional athlete. The worst that can happen is that you can lose a tennis match and then come back and try again."</p>

<p>"So, the fear of losing was not there. And I think a lot of people become defensive because they have the fear of losing. They think 'oh if we push the ball or put the ball inside the court, maybe we won't lose'. But, in the long run, that doesn't work to become a top athlete," Sania added.</p>

<p>She ended her illustrious career with six Grand Slam titles, 43 career titles and was a former world number one in women's doubles and ex-world number 27 in the singles category.&nbsp;</p>


On Tuesday (February 21), Sania Mirza played her last competitive game as she called it quits from tennis and ended her glorious career. Playing in the women's doubles first-round of the Dubai Tennis Championship, along with Madison Keys, Sania and her American partner lost to Russian pair of Vernokia Kudermetova and Liudmila Samsonova in straight sets, 4-6, 0-6 to bow out with a loss.

On Tuesday (February 21), Sania Mirza played her last competitive game as she called it quits from tennis and ended her glorious career. Playing in the women's doubles first-round of the Dubai Tennis Championship, along with Madison Keys, Sania and her American partner lost to Russian pair of Vernokia Kudermetova and Liudmila Samsonova in straight sets, 4-6, 0-6 to bow out with a loss. Sania remains an inspiration for many across the nation and in the entire tennis fraternity. Hence, reactions came in from all corners post her last game. World number one Iga Swiatek also joined the bandwagon and reacted to Sania's retirement. After the Indian sensation's loss, the Polish star took to her official Twitter handle to 'thank' Sania for her overall contributions towards the game. She replied to a heartfelt video on Sania's career, shared by WTA's official account, and wrote: Thank you @MirzaSania 🙌🏼🤗 https://t.co/ZGTv5qGFqw — Iga Świątek (@iga_swiatek) February 21, 2023 × Also Read: Sania Mirza ends illustrious career with first-round defeat in Dubai Tennis Championship Mahesh Bhupathi -- with whom Sania won two of her three mixed-doubles title -- also penned a heartfelt note for Sania. He claimed that he was proud of the Indian star and wrote, "Welcome to retirement @MirzaSania you outdid yourself time and time again both on and off the court â€¦. Proud of you !!" Welcome to retirement @MirzaSania you outdid yourself time and time again both on and off the court …. Proud of you !! pic.twitter.com/xNzIykOIqH — Mahesh Bhupathi (@Maheshbhupathi) February 21, 2023 × Prior to her final appearance, the 36-year-old Sania revealed that tennis is an important part of her life but not her entire life. She told PTI, "For me, tennis was always and is always going to be a very, very large and big and important part of my life, but it is not my entire life. And that is the mindset I went with, even as a young girl and as a professional athlete. The worst that can happen is that you can lose a tennis match and then come back and try again." "So, the fear of losing was not there. And I think a lot of people become defensive because they have the fear of losing. They think 'oh if we push the ball or put the ball inside the court, maybe we won't lose'. But, in the long run, that doesn't work to become a top athlete," Sania added. She ended her illustrious career with six Grand Slam titles, 43 career titles and was a former world number one in women's doubles and ex-world number 27 in the singles category.

Sania Mirza retires: World No. 1 Iga Swiatek reacts after Indian tennis star hangs up her boots

<p>Qualifying LIV&nbsp;Golf&nbsp;members will be allowed to compete in the 151st edition of The Open this summer at Royal Liverpool, the R&amp;A announced on Tuesday. Some of the more notable LIV&nbsp;golfers exempt into the July 20-23 tournament include past Open champions Phil Mickelson, Henrik Stenson of Sweden, Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa and reigning winner Cameron Smith of Australia. Also available to participate are Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau -- who finished in the top at 10 at St. Andrews last year -- as well as former major winners Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed, among others.</p>

<p>"We have created an exciting schedule of events which takes in many regions around the world and provides the chance for&nbsp;golfers to earn a place in the Open at Royal Liverpool," said Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, executive director of champions at the R&amp;A. "We are grateful to our colleagues at the professional tours for their support and look forward to seeing who emerges from each event to book a sought-after place in the Championship this year."</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sania-mirza-ends-illustrious-career-with-first-round-defeat-in-dubai-tennis-championship-564450">Sania Mirza ends illustrious career with first-round defeat in Dubai Tennis Championship</a></strong></p>

<p>Tuesday's news is on par with what R&amp;A chief Martin Slumbers said in July. He said that banning LIV players was "not on our agenda." He doubled down on that message in October. "We'll go public in January/February with what we are going to do with regard to LIV&nbsp;golfers," Slumbers told&nbsp;Golf&nbsp;Digest. "But if you want a guide, go back to what I said in July. We're not banning anyone. We are not going to betray 150 years of history and have the Open not be open. The name says it all. And that's important. What we will do is ensure that there are appropriate pathways and ways to qualify. "I'm looking forward to seeing Cam Smith tee-up around 9:40 a.m. on the first day of the Open next year. The Open needs to set itself aside from what's going in terms of disagreements and make sure we stay true to our principle, which is to have the best players in the world competing."</p>


Qualifying LIV Golf members will be allowed to compete in the 151st edition of The Open this summer at Royal Liverpool, the R&A announced on Tuesday. Some of the more notable LIV golfers exempt into the July 20-23 tournament include past Open champions Phil Mickelson, Henrik Stenson of Sweden, Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa and reigning winner Cameron Smith of Australia.

Qualifying LIV Golf members will be allowed to compete in the 151st edition of The Open this summer at Royal Liverpool, the R&A announced on Tuesday. Some of the more notable LIV golfers exempt into the July 20-23 tournament include past Open champions Phil Mickelson, Henrik Stenson of Sweden, Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa and reigning winner Cameron Smith of Australia. Also available to participate are Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau -- who finished in the top at 10 at St. Andrews last year -- as well as former major winners Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed, among others. "We have created an exciting schedule of events which takes in many regions around the world and provides the chance for golfers to earn a place in the Open at Royal Liverpool," said Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, executive director of champions at the R&A. "We are grateful to our colleagues at the professional tours for their support and look forward to seeing who emerges from each event to book a sought-after place in the Championship this year." Also Read: Sania Mirza ends illustrious career with first-round defeat in Dubai Tennis Championship Tuesday's news is on par with what R&A chief Martin Slumbers said in July. He said that banning LIV players was "not on our agenda." He doubled down on that message in October. "We'll go public in January/February with what we are going to do with regard to LIV golfers," Slumbers told Golf Digest. "But if you want a guide, go back to what I said in July. We're not banning anyone. We are not going to betray 150 years of history and have the Open not be open. The name says it all. And that's important. What we will do is ensure that there are appropriate pathways and ways to qualify. "I'm looking forward to seeing Cam Smith tee-up around 9:40 a.m. on the first day of the Open next year. The Open needs to set itself aside from what's going in terms of disagreements and make sure we stay true to our principle, which is to have the best players in the world competing."

LIV Golf members allowed to compete in The Open

<p>Former Pakistan players often remain in the headlines for their staggering claims or severe criticism of the national side. Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar is also one of them who never shies away from expressing his views on various aspects of the gentlemen's game and once again made heads turn by criticising the current crop of players, especially captain Babar Azam, for their poor communication skills. Further, he went on to express his desire to become the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) chairman to serve Pakistan cricket.</p>

<p>In an interaction with Suno News, Akhtar said, "I want to become PCB chairman and produce superstars for Pakistan. I want to produce 50 superstars for my country, then increase the count to 100, 200 and eventually 2000. I owe a lot to Pakistan cricket, and it’s my wish to serve Pakistan. He further asserted, "The reason I want to become PCB Chairman is I owe a debt of gratitude to Pakistan cricket as I am a beneficary of this system &amp; country. I want to start by creating 12 superstars, then 50 more, then another 200 to 2000 kids who are also superstars as backups."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">"I want to become PCB chairman and produce superstars for Pakistan. I want to produce 50 superstars for my country, then increase the count to 100, 200 and eventually 2000. I owe a lot to Pakistan cricket and it's my wish to serve Pakistan," Shoaib Akhtar.</p>
— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) <a href="https://twitter.com/_FaridKhan/status/1627454686654607362?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Shoaib Akhtar "reason I want to become PCB Chairman is I owe a debt of gratitude to Pakistan cricket as I am a beneficary of this system &amp; country. I want to start by creating 12 superstars, then 50 more, then another 200 to 2000 kids who are also superstars as backups" <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a></p>
— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) <a href="https://twitter.com/SajSadiqCricket/status/1628078366833221633?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/babar-azam-hasnt-become-pakistans-biggest-brand-as-he-cant-speak-english-shoaib-akhtar-564252">Babar Azam hasn't become Pakistan's biggest brand as he can’t speak English: Shoaib Akhtar</a></strong></p>

<p>Ramiz Raja, the former Pakistan captain, was removed as the PCB chief in late 2022 and Najam Sethi succeeded him. At present, Sethi is heading Pakistan cricket but Akhtar is eager to take up the top post in the future to create more cricketing superstars in the country. During the same interaction, the former speedster slammed Babar &amp; Co. for their communication skills and stated that 'Babar hasn't become a big brand in Pakistan as he cannot speak English'.</p>

<p>Akhtar pointed out, "Abhi aap dekh le, koi character nahi team mein. Naa koi baat karne ka tarika. (You can see there's no character in the team, nor they know how to talk). How awkward it looks when they come to the presentation. Kitna mushkil hai English seekhna aur baat krna? (How difficult is it to learn and speak English?). Cricket is one job, and handling media is another. If you can’t speak, I am sorry, but you won’t be able to express yourself on TV. He added,&nbsp;"I want to openly say that Babar Azam should be the biggest brand in Pakistan, but why hasn't he become the biggest brand in Pakistan? Because he can’t speak. Is there any other cricketer who can speak well? Why do only I, Shahid Afridi, and Wasim Akram get all the advertisements? The reason is that we take it as a job."</p>


Former Pakistan players often remain in the headlines for their staggering claims or severe criticism of the national side. Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar is also one of them who never shies away from expressing his views on various aspects of the gentlemen's game and once again made heads turn by criticising the current crop of players, especially captain Babar Azam, for their poor communication skills.

Former Pakistan players often remain in the headlines for their staggering claims or severe criticism of the national side. Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar is also one of them who never shies away from expressing his views on various aspects of the gentlemen's game and once again made heads turn by criticising the current crop of players, especially captain Babar Azam, for their poor communication skills. Further, he went on to express his desire to become the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) chairman to serve Pakistan cricket. In an interaction with Suno News, Akhtar said, "I want to become PCB chairman and produce superstars for Pakistan. I want to produce 50 superstars for my country, then increase the count to 100, 200 and eventually 2000. I owe a lot to Pakistan cricket, and it’s my wish to serve Pakistan. He further asserted, "The reason I want to become PCB Chairman is I owe a debt of gratitude to Pakistan cricket as I am a beneficary of this system & country. I want to start by creating 12 superstars, then 50 more, then another 200 to 2000 kids who are also superstars as backups." "I want to become PCB chairman and produce superstars for Pakistan. I want to produce 50 superstars for my country, then increase the count to 100, 200 and eventually 2000. I owe a lot to Pakistan cricket and it's my wish to serve Pakistan," Shoaib Akhtar. — Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) February 19, 2023 × Shoaib Akhtar "reason I want to become PCB Chairman is I owe a debt of gratitude to Pakistan cricket as I am a beneficary of this system & country. I want to start by creating 12 superstars, then 50 more, then another 200 to 2000 kids who are also superstars as backups" #Cricket — Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) February 21, 2023 × Also Read: Babar Azam hasn't become Pakistan's biggest brand as he can’t speak English: Shoaib Akhtar Ramiz Raja, the former Pakistan captain, was removed as the PCB chief in late 2022 and Najam Sethi succeeded him. At present, Sethi is heading Pakistan cricket but Akhtar is eager to take up the top post in the future to create more cricketing superstars in the country. During the same interaction, the former speedster slammed Babar & Co. for their communication skills and stated that 'Babar hasn't become a big brand in Pakistan as he cannot speak English'. Akhtar pointed out, "Abhi aap dekh le, koi character nahi team mein. Naa koi baat karne ka tarika. (You can see there's no character in the team, nor they know how to talk). How awkward it looks when they come to the presentation. Kitna mushkil hai English seekhna aur baat krna? (How difficult is it to learn and speak English?). Cricket is one job, and handling media is another. If you can’t speak, I am sorry, but you won’t be able to express yourself on TV. He added, "I want to openly say that Babar Azam should be the biggest brand in Pakistan, but why hasn't he become the biggest brand in Pakistan? Because he can’t speak. Is there any other cricketer who can speak well? Why do only I, Shahid Afridi, and Wasim Akram get all the advertisements? The reason is that we take it as a job."

'Want to become PCB chairman and...': Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar wishes to take up top post

<p>KL Rahul's form has become a huge talking point in the Indian cricket fraternity. In the ongoing India-Australia Tests, Rohit Sharma &amp; Co. have dominated proceedings and have an unassailable 2-0 lead in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2022/23 but Rahul's low returns with the bat have made heads turn. In three outings in the India-Australia series, the right-hander only has 38 runs whereas his last 12 innings has seen him score only 198 runs. Thus, his place is under threat whereas BCCI sacked him as the vice-captain while announcing the squad for the last two Tests.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Amid severe criticism coming from all corners, Rahul has been slammed left, right and centre by former cricketer Venkatesh Prasad. Now, another ex-player Dodda Ganesh has joined the bandwagon and lashed out at the under-fire opener. He replied to a post shared from Prasad and wrote, "Rahul Dravid and the think tank has immense faith in KL Rahul’s abilities, so he is getting an extended run like Rohit got in ODIs. We all know KL is a special player. It’s high time he converted his potential into consistent scores. Let’s hope he comes good in the last 2 tests."</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/can-we-leave-kl-rahul-alone-harbhajan-singh-backs-under-fire-indian-opener-amid-severe-criticism-564582">'Can we leave KL Rahul alone?': Harbhajan Singh backs under-fire Indian opener amid severe criticism</a></strong></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Rahul Dravid and the think tank has immense faith in KL Rahul’s abilities, so he is getting an extended run like Rohit got in ODIs. We all know KL is a special player. It’s high time he converted his potential into consistent scores. Let’s hope he comes good in the last 2 tests. <a href="https://t.co/G5Pt7GSX2k">https://t.co/G5Pt7GSX2k</a></p>
— Dodda Ganesh | ದೊಡ್ಡ ಗಣೇಶ್ (@doddaganesha) <a href="https://twitter.com/doddaganesha/status/1627563511453974528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 20, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Time is running for Rahul who has been in woeful form in whites. He even lost his place in the T20I squad post India's 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final defeat at the hands of eventual champions England. The Rohit-Rahul Dravid-led team management have continued to back the 30-year-old amid his poor run of form. After the Delhi Test, head coach Dravid told Star Sports, "I&nbsp;think he (Rahul) needs to trust his processes. This is just a phase, he has been one of our most successful overseas openers. He’s got centuries in South Africa and England, we’ll continue to back him. I believe he has the quality and class to come out of this."</p>

<p>It will be interesting to see if Rahul retains his spot in the playing XI for the third and penultimate Test, which kicks off in Indore on March 01.</p>


KL Rahul's form has become a huge talking point in the Indian cricket fraternity. In the ongoing India-Australia Tests, Rohit Sharma & Co. have dominated proceedings and have an unassailable 2-0 lead in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2022/23 but Rahul's low returns with the bat have made heads turn.

KL Rahul's form has become a huge talking point in the Indian cricket fraternity. In the ongoing India-Australia Tests, Rohit Sharma & Co. have dominated proceedings and have an unassailable 2-0 lead in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2022/23 but Rahul's low returns with the bat have made heads turn. In three outings in the India-Australia series, the right-hander only has 38 runs whereas his last 12 innings has seen him score only 198 runs. Thus, his place is under threat whereas BCCI sacked him as the vice-captain while announcing the squad for the last two Tests. Amid severe criticism coming from all corners, Rahul has been slammed left, right and centre by former cricketer Venkatesh Prasad. Now, another ex-player Dodda Ganesh has joined the bandwagon and lashed out at the under-fire opener. He replied to a post shared from Prasad and wrote, "Rahul Dravid and the think tank has immense faith in KL Rahul’s abilities, so he is getting an extended run like Rohit got in ODIs. We all know KL is a special player. It’s high time he converted his potential into consistent scores. Let’s hope he comes good in the last 2 tests." Also Read: 'Can we leave KL Rahul alone?': Harbhajan Singh backs under-fire Indian opener amid severe criticism Rahul Dravid and the think tank has immense faith in KL Rahul’s abilities, so he is getting an extended run like Rohit got in ODIs. We all know KL is a special player. It’s high time he converted his potential into consistent scores. Let’s hope he comes good in the last 2 tests. https://t.co/G5Pt7GSX2k — Dodda Ganesh | ದೊಡ್ಡ ಗಣೇಶ್ (@doddaganesha) February 20, 2023 × Time is running for Rahul who has been in woeful form in whites. He even lost his place in the T20I squad post India's 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final defeat at the hands of eventual champions England. The Rohit-Rahul Dravid-led team management have continued to back the 30-year-old amid his poor run of form. After the Delhi Test, head coach Dravid told Star Sports, "I think he (Rahul) needs to trust his processes. This is just a phase, he has been one of our most successful overseas openers. He’s got centuries in South Africa and England, we’ll continue to back him. I believe he has the quality and class to come out of this." It will be interesting to see if Rahul retains his spot in the playing XI for the third and penultimate Test, which kicks off in Indore on March 01.

'High time he.....': After Venkatesh Prasad, another former cricketer slams under-fire KL Rahul

<p>Keiji Muto, also known as The Great Muta, recently played his retirement match where he took on top NJPQ Superstar Tetsuya Naito. While Muto went down in his final appearance, after Naito nailed him with his Destino finisher, the Japanese veteran bowed out on a high due to his memorable run. After his retirement match, the multi-time world champion received praise from all corners. William Regal, the famed former wrestler, also joined the bandwagon and reacted after Muta's final match.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Regal took to his official Twitter account to thank Muto for his contributions to the business. Regal, widely known as The Gentleman Villain, also shared a photo of a time Muta and he wrestled together at an event, in Japan. Here's what he wrote, "Thank you my old friend and foe."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">. ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/muto_keiji?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@muto_keiji</a>⁩ Thank you my old friend and foe. <a href="https://t.co/KzngJZQCzl">pic.twitter.com/KzngJZQCzl</a></p>
— William Regal (@RealKingRegal) <a href="https://twitter.com/RealKingRegal/status/1628081273657864196?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wwe-jey-uso-sends-out-a-message-to-roman-reigns-following-confrontation-with-him-at-elimination-chamber-564771">WWE: Jey Uso sends out a message to Roman Reigns following confrontation with him at Elimination Chamber</a></strong></p>

<p>It is to be noted that The Gentleman Villain stormed his way back to work for WWE after having an eventful run with AEW. Regal reportedly urged the AEW President Tony Khan for his release as he was willing to return to the WWE. Khan gave him the green signal as Regal made a return to the WWE at the end of 2022.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After being granted the permission, Regal lauded Khan and stated that he had a "lovely time" with All Elite Wrestling.</p>

<p>Talking about The Great Muta, he spoke to the press and revealed he came into the bout with an injury which pushed him on the back foot -- more than the age factor. "It’s been 39 years this year, and there have been tough times along the way. After all, I’ve been constantly injured, and this time, for the past month, I was really bothered by a separated hamstring. Fortunately, that’s all I had to do today. I worked really hard on the treatment and rehabilitation. I’m glad I was able to move more than I thought I could. Well, everyone has to deal with injuries. I’m really glad I was able to finish. Many wrestlers don’t get to have retirement matches like this, but I was really happy in my wrestling career," he said.</p>

<p>On whether he has regrets in his career, Muta said, "I have a lot of regrets (I’ve had throughout my career). I’m reflecting on what I could have done a little more, and I’m going down this road. Even though there is no next time. Maybe I don’t really feel like I’m retiring yet (laughs). There are so many little things that I should have done differently."</p>


Keiji Muto, also known as The Great Muta, recently played his retirement match where he took on top NJPQ Superstar Tetsuya Naito. While Muto went down in his final appearance, after Naito nailed him with his Destino finisher, the Japanese veteran bowed out on a high due to his memorable run.

Keiji Muto, also known as The Great Muta, recently played his retirement match where he took on top NJPQ Superstar Tetsuya Naito. While Muto went down in his final appearance, after Naito nailed him with his Destino finisher, the Japanese veteran bowed out on a high due to his memorable run. After his retirement match, the multi-time world champion received praise from all corners. William Regal, the famed former wrestler, also joined the bandwagon and reacted after Muta's final match. Regal took to his official Twitter account to thank Muto for his contributions to the business. Regal, widely known as The Gentleman Villain, also shared a photo of a time Muta and he wrestled together at an event, in Japan. Here's what he wrote, "Thank you my old friend and foe." . ⁦@muto_keiji⁩ Thank you my old friend and foe. pic.twitter.com/KzngJZQCzl — William Regal (@RealKingRegal) February 21, 2023 × Also Read: WWE: Jey Uso sends out a message to Roman Reigns following confrontation with him at Elimination Chamber It is to be noted that The Gentleman Villain stormed his way back to work for WWE after having an eventful run with AEW. Regal reportedly urged the AEW President Tony Khan for his release as he was willing to return to the WWE. Khan gave him the green signal as Regal made a return to the WWE at the end of 2022. After being granted the permission, Regal lauded Khan and stated that he had a "lovely time" with All Elite Wrestling. Talking about The Great Muta, he spoke to the press and revealed he came into the bout with an injury which pushed him on the back foot -- more than the age factor. "It’s been 39 years this year, and there have been tough times along the way. After all, I’ve been constantly injured, and this time, for the past month, I was really bothered by a separated hamstring. Fortunately, that’s all I had to do today. I worked really hard on the treatment and rehabilitation. I’m glad I was able to move more than I thought I could. Well, everyone has to deal with injuries. I’m really glad I was able to finish. Many wrestlers don’t get to have retirement matches like this, but I was really happy in my wrestling career," he said. On whether he has regrets in his career, Muta said, "I have a lot of regrets (I’ve had throughout my career). I’m reflecting on what I could have done a little more, and I’m going down this road. Even though there is no next time. Maybe I don’t really feel like I’m retiring yet (laughs). There are so many little things that I should have done differently."

'Thank you my....' - William Regal reacts following wrestling legend Keiji Muto's retirement match

<p>Paris St Germain forward Neymar sustained ankle ligament damage in Sunday's 4-3 Ligue 1 win over Lille, the French club said late on Tuesday. Brazilian forward Neymar, who scored PSG's second goal in the 17th minute, was stretchered off the field in tears early in the second half after colliding with Lille's Benjamin Andre and rolling his right ankle.</p>

<p>"Additional tests today have confirmed that Neymar Jr has sprained his ankle, with some ligament damage. He will undergo further tests at the start of next week," PSG said in a statement, without saying how long Neymar would be out of action.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/hatayspor-sporting-director-found-dead-following-devastating-earthquakes-in-turkey-syria-564447">Hatayspor sporting director found dead following devastating earthquakes in Turkey, Syria</a></strong></p>

<p>PSG play away to Marseille on Sunday before hosting Nantes on March 4. They then travel to Bayern Munich for the March 8 second leg of a Champions League last-16 tie as PSG look to overturn a 1-0 deficit.</p>


Paris St Germain forward Neymar sustained ankle ligament damage in Sunday's 4-3 Ligue 1 win over Lille, the French club said late on Tuesday. Brazilian forward Neymar, who scored PSG's second goal in the 17th minute, was stretchered off the field in tears early in the second half after colliding with Lille's Benjamin Andre and rolling his right ankle.

Paris St Germain forward Neymar sustained ankle ligament damage in Sunday's 4-3 Ligue 1 win over Lille, the French club said late on Tuesday. Brazilian forward Neymar, who scored PSG's second goal in the 17th minute, was stretchered off the field in tears early in the second half after colliding with Lille's Benjamin Andre and rolling his right ankle. "Additional tests today have confirmed that Neymar Jr has sprained his ankle, with some ligament damage. He will undergo further tests at the start of next week," PSG said in a statement, without saying how long Neymar would be out of action. Also Read: Hatayspor sporting director found dead following devastating earthquakes in Turkey, Syria PSG play away to Marseille on Sunday before hosting Nantes on March 4. They then travel to Bayern Munich for the March 8 second leg of a Champions League last-16 tie as PSG look to overturn a 1-0 deficit.

PSG forward Neymar suffers ankle ligament damage, reveals club

<p>Safaraz Ahmed saw a huge downfall in his international career post the 2019 ODI World Cup, in England and Wales. After Pakistan failed to qualify for the semi-finals, they were whitewashed by a second-stringed Sri Lanka in a three-match T20I series at home later in the year; resulting in his sacking as the captain. Soon, he was left out of the squad across formats. He made a solid return to the Test line-up in late 2022 during New Zealand's two-match series versus hosts Pakistan. He ended with 86, 53, 78, 118 to return as the Player-of-the-Series.&nbsp;</p>

<p>At present, Sarfaraz is involved in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2023, where he is leading the Quetta Gladiators. Recently, the wicketkeeper-batter made an appearance on a TV show in Pakistan. During the show, the host asked him to choose who is the better captain between Babar Azam,&nbsp;Azhar Ali&nbsp;and him. To this, the right-hander shared an epic response. <strong>Here's what he said:</strong></p>

<p>"Sarfaraz Ahmed," while later adding, "Kisi ko naaraz karne se behtar hai ki apna he naam le lo (It’s better to take your own name rather than making anybody else angry)." <strong>Here's the video:</strong></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Sarfaraz Ahmed picks himself as the best Pakistan captain over Babar Azam and Azhar Ali 😅👏 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HBLPSL8?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HBLPSL8</a><a href="https://t.co/spUmkWozQk">pic.twitter.com/spUmkWozQk</a></p>
— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) <a href="https://twitter.com/_FaridKhan/status/1628274866586615808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-was-offered-captaincy-but-shoaib-akhtar-reveals-why-he-said-no-to-leading-pakistan-in-2002-564718">'I was offered captaincy but...': Shoaib Akhtar reveals why he said NO to leading Pakistan in 2002</a></strong></p>

<p>Under Sarfaraz, the Quetta Gladiators aren't in a good position in PSL 2023. After four games, they find themselves at the bottom with only a solitary win. The keeper-batter has had scores of 2, 5, 39 and 16*. His side will now lock horns with Islamabad United on February 24 (Friday) at the National Stadium, Karachi.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Speaking about captaincy, Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar recently made a big claim. In a recent interaction, Akhtar revealed that he was offered Pakistan captaincy in 2002 but passed on the opportunity.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I wasn't fit enough," Akhtar told Suno News HD. "I could play three matches out of five. I was offered captaincy in 2002, but then I would've played only 1.5–2 years (if I played all matches)," said Akhtar. "I supported my teammates, but the board was very unstable. There was mismanagement all over the board. Pakistan itself had faced mismanagement at that time," he added.</p>


Safaraz Ahmed saw a huge downfall in his international career post the 2019 ODI World Cup, in England and Wales. After Pakistan failed to qualify for the semi-finals, they were whitewashed by a second-stringed Sri Lanka in a three-match T20I series at home later in the year; resulting in his sacking as the captain.

Safaraz Ahmed saw a huge downfall in his international career post the 2019 ODI World Cup, in England and Wales. After Pakistan failed to qualify for the semi-finals, they were whitewashed by a second-stringed Sri Lanka in a three-match T20I series at home later in the year; resulting in his sacking as the captain. Soon, he was left out of the squad across formats. He made a solid return to the Test line-up in late 2022 during New Zealand's two-match series versus hosts Pakistan. He ended with 86, 53, 78, 118 to return as the Player-of-the-Series. At present, Sarfaraz is involved in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2023, where he is leading the Quetta Gladiators. Recently, the wicketkeeper-batter made an appearance on a TV show in Pakistan. During the show, the host asked him to choose who is the better captain between Babar Azam, Azhar Ali and him. To this, the right-hander shared an epic response. Here's what he said: "Sarfaraz Ahmed," while later adding, "Kisi ko naaraz karne se behtar hai ki apna he naam le lo (It’s better to take your own name rather than making anybody else angry)." Here's the video: Sarfaraz Ahmed picks himself as the best Pakistan captain over Babar Azam and Azhar Ali 😅👏 #HBLPSL8pic.twitter.com/spUmkWozQk — Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) February 22, 2023 × Also Read: 'I was offered captaincy but...': Shoaib Akhtar reveals why he said NO to leading Pakistan in 2002 Under Sarfaraz, the Quetta Gladiators aren't in a good position in PSL 2023. After four games, they find themselves at the bottom with only a solitary win. The keeper-batter has had scores of 2, 5, 39 and 16*. His side will now lock horns with Islamabad United on February 24 (Friday) at the National Stadium, Karachi. Speaking about captaincy, Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar recently made a big claim. In a recent interaction, Akhtar revealed that he was offered Pakistan captaincy in 2002 but passed on the opportunity. "I wasn't fit enough," Akhtar told Suno News HD. "I could play three matches out of five. I was offered captaincy in 2002, but then I would've played only 1.5–2 years (if I played all matches)," said Akhtar. "I supported my teammates, but the board was very unstable. There was mismanagement all over the board. Pakistan itself had faced mismanagement at that time," he added.

WATCH: Babar Azam, Azhar Ali or you? Who is a better captain? Sarfaraz Ahmed gives hilarious response

<p>Shoaib Akhtar had a stellar run in international cricket. The pacer ended with as many as 444 scalps in a career than spanned for 14 years. He enjoyed a fierce rivalry with some big batters of his time, such as Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Brian Lara, Rahul Dravid, Gary Kirsten, etc., and gave many other batters sleepless nights with his raw pace and bounce. Akhtar's career was, however, marred with several controversies and injury concerns.</p>

<p>Since his retirement, the 47-year-old Akhtar remains active on social media platforms and never shies away from expressing his views on various aspects of the gentlemen's game. Recently, during an interaction, the former Pakistan speedster made a big claim, revealing that he was offered the national side's captaincy and declined. Here's what he said:</p>

<p>"I wasn't fit enough," Akhtar told Suno News HD. "I could play three matches out of five. I was offered captaincy in 2002, but then I would've played only 1.5–2 years (if I played all matches)," said Akhtar. "I supported my teammates, but the board was very unstable. There was mismanagement all over the board. Pakistan itself had faced mismanagement at that time," he added.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/want-to-become-pcb-chairman-and-rawalpindi-express-shoaib-akhtar-wishes-to-take-up-top-post-564599">'Want to become PCB chairman and...': Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar wishes to take up top post</a></strong></p>

<p>During Akhtar's illustrious career, he played under several captains such as Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Shahid Afridi, Inzamam-ul-Haq, etc. However, he never led the side.&nbsp;Overall, the pacer managed to represent Pakistan in 46 Tests, 163 ODIs, and 15 T20I matches. He claimed&nbsp;178, 247, and 19 wickets in Tests, ODIs and T20Is respectively.</p>

<p>While Akhtar didn't led Pakistan, in the same interview he revealed he wishes to become the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) chairman. "I want to become PCB chairman and produce superstars for Pakistan. I want to produce 50 superstars for my country, then increase the count to 100, 200 and eventually 2000. I owe a lot to Pakistan cricket, and it’s my wish to serve Pakistan," mentioned Akhtar.&nbsp;He further asserted, "The reason I want to become PCB Chairman is I owe a debt of gratitude to Pakistan cricket as I am a beneficary of this system &amp; country. I want to start by creating 12 superstars, then 50 more, then another 200 to 2000 kids who are also superstars as backups."</p>


Shoaib Akhtar had a stellar run in international cricket. The pacer ended with as many as 444 scalps in a career than spanned for 14 years. He enjoyed a fierce rivalry with some big batters of his time, such as Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Brian Lara, Rahul Dravid, Gary Kirsten, etc.

Shoaib Akhtar had a stellar run in international cricket. The pacer ended with as many as 444 scalps in a career than spanned for 14 years. He enjoyed a fierce rivalry with some big batters of his time, such as Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Brian Lara, Rahul Dravid, Gary Kirsten, etc., and gave many other batters sleepless nights with his raw pace and bounce. Akhtar's career was, however, marred with several controversies and injury concerns. Since his retirement, the 47-year-old Akhtar remains active on social media platforms and never shies away from expressing his views on various aspects of the gentlemen's game. Recently, during an interaction, the former Pakistan speedster made a big claim, revealing that he was offered the national side's captaincy and declined. Here's what he said: "I wasn't fit enough," Akhtar told Suno News HD. "I could play three matches out of five. I was offered captaincy in 2002, but then I would've played only 1.5–2 years (if I played all matches)," said Akhtar. "I supported my teammates, but the board was very unstable. There was mismanagement all over the board. Pakistan itself had faced mismanagement at that time," he added. Also Read: 'Want to become PCB chairman and...': Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar wishes to take up top post During Akhtar's illustrious career, he played under several captains such as Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Shahid Afridi, Inzamam-ul-Haq, etc. However, he never led the side. Overall, the pacer managed to represent Pakistan in 46 Tests, 163 ODIs, and 15 T20I matches. He claimed 178, 247, and 19 wickets in Tests, ODIs and T20Is respectively. While Akhtar didn't led Pakistan, in the same interview he revealed he wishes to become the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) chairman. "I want to become PCB chairman and produce superstars for Pakistan. I want to produce 50 superstars for my country, then increase the count to 100, 200 and eventually 2000. I owe a lot to Pakistan cricket, and it’s my wish to serve Pakistan," mentioned Akhtar. He further asserted, "The reason I want to become PCB Chairman is I owe a debt of gratitude to Pakistan cricket as I am a beneficary of this system & country. I want to start by creating 12 superstars, then 50 more, then another 200 to 2000 kids who are also superstars as backups."

'I was offered captaincy but...': Shoaib Akhtar reveals why he said NO to leading Pakistan in 2002

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