The Pakistan cricket team is in shambles at the moment. In the ongoing ODI World Cup, Babar Azam-led Men in Green have lost three games in a row after winning their first two. Thus, the 1992 winners find themselves at the fifth position and have a herculean task to revamp their campaign. Ahead of their upcoming clash versus South Africa in the south Indian city of Chennai on Friday (Oct 27), former Pakistani spinner Danish Kaneria has made a big claim. Kaneria slammed the team's performance and alleged that Hasan Ali, who was drafted in the side after Naseem Shah's injury, is playing only due to friendships.&nbsp;

<h2>'The selections were based on friendships and personal relationships'</h2>

Speaking to Aaj Tak, Kaneria pointed out that Pakistan team’s World Cup selections were based on friendships and personal relationships.

He opined, "When the squad was announced, I was sure that this wasn't a well-balanced team. The selections were based on friendships and personal relationships. I knew that this team would struggle in the World Cup. They talk about everything but strategy. They needed to understand that the conditions in India will favor batting and spin. The selection was totally wrong."

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cwc-23-maxwell-makes-match-one-sided-when-his-bat-fires-ex-india-batter-on-aussie-stars-record-ton-651539">CWC '23: 'Maxwell makes match one-sided when his bat fires': Ex-India batter on Aussie star's record ton</a>

He said, "In Naseem Shah's absence, Pakistan are giving the new ball to Hasan Ali. Hasan Ali is only in the team because of friendships. Usama Mir plays for Multan Sultans, and Mushtaq Ahmed has good relations with Inzamam-ul-Haq. When a team is made for people's individual benefits and not for the country, you will only get such results."

Kaneria added, "When have two leg-spinners played together for Pakistan? When they played at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, where the boundary is very short, Shadab Khan was dropped and Usama Mir was brought in. Also, why they didn't pick Imad Wasim."

A lot of questions have been raised on Pakistan's team combination, fitness and fielding standards, slow batting and ordinary bowling overall.&nbsp;

Amid so much criticism, it will be interesting to see how Babar &amp; Co. respond on the field versus the Proteas, who have been on a roll in this World Cup. 
 
Temba Bavuma-led South Africa have played five games, winning four -- with a convincing margin -- and lost a solitary game to the Netherlands.&nbsp;

The Pakistan cricket team is in shambles at the moment. In the ongoing ODI World Cup, Babar Azam-led Men in Green have lost three games in a row after winning their first two.

The Pakistan cricket team is in shambles at the moment. In the ongoing ODI World Cup, Babar Azam-led Men in Green have lost three games in a row after winning their first two. Thus, the 1992 winners find themselves at the fifth position and have a herculean task to revamp their campaign. Ahead of their upcoming clash versus South Africa in the south Indian city of Chennai on Friday (Oct 27), former Pakistani spinner Danish Kaneria has made a big claim. Kaneria slammed the team's performance and alleged that Hasan Ali, who was drafted in the side after Naseem Shah's injury, is playing only due to friendships. 'The selections were based on friendships and personal relationships' Speaking to Aaj Tak, Kaneria pointed out that Pakistan team’s World Cup selections were based on friendships and personal relationships. He opined, "When the squad was announced, I was sure that this wasn't a well-balanced team. The selections were based on friendships and personal relationships. I knew that this team would struggle in the World Cup. They talk about everything but strategy. They needed to understand that the conditions in India will favor batting and spin. The selection was totally wrong." Also read: CWC '23: 'Maxwell makes match one-sided when his bat fires': Ex-India batter on Aussie star's record ton He said, "In Naseem Shah's absence, Pakistan are giving the new ball to Hasan Ali. Hasan Ali is only in the team because of friendships. Usama Mir plays for Multan Sultans, and Mushtaq Ahmed has good relations with Inzamam-ul-Haq. When a team is made for people's individual benefits and not for the country, you will only get such results." Kaneria added, "When have two leg-spinners played together for Pakistan? When they played at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, where the boundary is very short, Shadab Khan was dropped and Usama Mir was brought in. Also, why they didn't pick Imad Wasim." A lot of questions have been raised on Pakistan's team combination, fitness and fielding standards, slow batting and ordinary bowling overall. Amid so much criticism, it will be interesting to see how Babar & Co. respond on the field versus the Proteas, who have been on a roll in this World Cup. Temba Bavuma-led South Africa have played five games, winning four -- with a convincing margin -- and lost a solitary game to the Netherlands.

Former spinner Danish Kaneria claims THIS player is in Pakistan team because of FRIENDSHIPS

Shaheen Afridi, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Mohammed Rizwan are being discussed as potential candidates to replace Babar Azam as Pakistan captain after the national side returns home post the ODI World Cup. There have been a lot of questions on Babar's leadership in the ongoing ten-team tournament with three successive defeats, with the latest coming against Afghanistan in Chennai on Monday (Oct 23).&nbsp;

It is being said that the change in leadership role could take place soon as Pakistan's chances of making it to the semi-finals of the ongoing ODI World Cup look bleak at the moment. The Men in Green are scheduled to tour Australia soon after the World Cup and plans for the 2024 T20 World Cup will be in full swing post the mega event in India. Thus, a new captain can be appointed sooner than later.

<h2>What are Babar's chances of staying captain?</h2>

"Only if Pakistan can stage a miracle and win all their remaining matches to qualify for the semi-finals of this World Cup does Babar stand any chance of surviving as captain and even then he might be relegated to skipper in just the red ball format," one reliable source close to the developments said, as per PTI.

"It is over for Babar because he has been given unbridled power and authority as captain and more importantly he has always had players of his choice in the team. There has never been any attempt to reduce his authority and so he is now being held solely responsible for the Asia Cup and World Cup defeats," the source mentioned.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/heard-babar-azam-cried-mohammad-yousufs-big-claim-after-pakistans-odi-world-cup-loss-to-afghanistan-650920">'Heard Babar Azam cried...': Mohammad Yousuf's BIG claim after Pakistan's ODI World Cup loss to Afghanistan</a>

The source further revealed that despite advice from former captains such as Misbah-ul-Haq and Mohammed Hafeez to make some changes to the final World Cup squad, Babar got all the 18 players he wanted and was backed by PCB chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq.&nbsp;

"The PCB Chairman, Zaka Ashraf ignored the advice of Misbah and Hafeez and some other former players whom he consulted as Babar was adamant he didn't want changes in the team for the World Cup," the source said.

Misbah, former captain and coach, also confirmed on a television channel that he had asked Babar to include mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed in the World Cup squad. However, the current skipper only added him as a travelling reserve.

It is to be noted that lobbies for the possible candidates, including Sarfaraz, Shaheen, Rizwan and Shan Masood have already started their work to get their candidate selected. In a likely scenario, the PCB is contemplating different captains for the red and white-ball formats.

"Sarfaraz might win the nod to captain the Test and ODI sides again while Shaheen may get a chance to be the T20 captain," the source added. Sarfaraz is not part of the Babar-led ODI World Cup squad.

Babar was appointed T20I captain in late 2019 but became the all-format skipper by 2021.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Shaheen Afridi, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Mohammed Rizwan are being discussed as potential candidates to replace Babar Azam as Pakistan captain after the national side returns home post the ODI World Cup.

Shaheen Afridi, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Mohammed Rizwan are being discussed as potential candidates to replace Babar Azam as Pakistan captain after the national side returns home post the ODI World Cup. There have been a lot of questions on Babar's leadership in the ongoing ten-team tournament with three successive defeats, with the latest coming against Afghanistan in Chennai on Monday (Oct 23). It is being said that the change in leadership role could take place soon as Pakistan's chances of making it to the semi-finals of the ongoing ODI World Cup look bleak at the moment. The Men in Green are scheduled to tour Australia soon after the World Cup and plans for the 2024 T20 World Cup will be in full swing post the mega event in India. Thus, a new captain can be appointed sooner than later. What are Babar's chances of staying captain? "Only if Pakistan can stage a miracle and win all their remaining matches to qualify for the semi-finals of this World Cup does Babar stand any chance of surviving as captain and even then he might be relegated to skipper in just the red ball format," one reliable source close to the developments said, as per PTI. "It is over for Babar because he has been given unbridled power and authority as captain and more importantly he has always had players of his choice in the team. There has never been any attempt to reduce his authority and so he is now being held solely responsible for the Asia Cup and World Cup defeats," the source mentioned. Also read: 'Heard Babar Azam cried...': Mohammad Yousuf's BIG claim after Pakistan's ODI World Cup loss to Afghanistan The source further revealed that despite advice from former captains such as Misbah-ul-Haq and Mohammed Hafeez to make some changes to the final World Cup squad, Babar got all the 18 players he wanted and was backed by PCB chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq. "The PCB Chairman, Zaka Ashraf ignored the advice of Misbah and Hafeez and some other former players whom he consulted as Babar was adamant he didn't want changes in the team for the World Cup," the source said. Misbah, former captain and coach, also confirmed on a television channel that he had asked Babar to include mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed in the World Cup squad. However, the current skipper only added him as a travelling reserve. It is to be noted that lobbies for the possible candidates, including Sarfaraz, Shaheen, Rizwan and Shan Masood have already started their work to get their candidate selected. In a likely scenario, the PCB is contemplating different captains for the red and white-ball formats. "Sarfaraz might win the nod to captain the Test and ODI sides again while Shaheen may get a chance to be the T20 captain," the source added. Sarfaraz is not part of the Babar-led ODI World Cup squad. Babar was appointed T20I captain in late 2019 but became the all-format skipper by 2021. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Shaheen, Rizwan, Sarfaraz in line to replace Babar Azam as Pakistan captain post ODI WC: Report

Amid media reports of a rift inside the Pakistan dressing room after a sluggish start to the World Cup campaign, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday (Oct 23) released a statement, denying such speculations.&nbsp;

The statement was released at the same time when Pakistan started batting against Afghanistan in their crucial league phase encounter at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.&nbsp;

"The Pakistan Cricket Board strongly denies recent speculations about any internal discord in the national cricket team currently participating in the ICC World Cup 2023," read the statement.&nbsp;

"Contrary to rumours circulated by a certain section of the media, the PCB unequivocally assures that the team is cohesive and there is no evidence to support these unsubstantiated claims."

Some reports claimed that Pakistan captain Babar Azam and vice-captain Shadab Khan had a falling out after the latter was left out of the game against Australia. According to some Pakistani journalists, there had been alleged physical altercations between other teammates and that verbal blows were also exchanged, damping the team camaraderie.&nbsp;

"The PCB is disappointed by the dissemination of this false news and emphasises the importance of upholding journalistic ethics before spreading such allegations."

Pakistan started the World Cup in fine form, winning their opening two encounters. However, after losing the match against arch-rivals India in a rather crushing way, the team appeared jaded. The men-in-green did put up a fight against Australia but the challenging target of 368 proved too difficult for the Pakistani batters as the team suffered second&nbsp;consecutive defeat and slipped out of knockouts contention.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pak-vs-afg-head-to-head-world-cup-2023-pakistan-vs-afghanistan-date-venue-probable-playing-xi-649897">Also read |&nbsp;PAK vs AFG Head-to-head: World Cup 2023- Pakistan vs Afghanistan date, venue</a>

<h2>Pakistan off to a steady start</h2>

While off-field controversies threatened to derail the Pakistan World Cup campaign, the team shrugged them off and got to a steady start, batting first against Afghanistan.&nbsp;

Openers Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq played with a positive intent and passed the first powerplay unscathed. However, Imam departed in the 11th over with the scoreboard reading 56. Since then, Pakistan captain Babar Azam had joined Shafique and the duo had stitched a 50+ partnership already.&nbsp;

Playing XIs:&nbsp;

Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Usama Mir, Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf

Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, Noor Ahmad

(With inputs from agencies)

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Amid media reports of a rift inside the Pakistan dressing room after a sluggish start to the World Cup campaign, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday (Oct 23) released a statement, denying such speculations.

Amid media reports of a rift inside the Pakistan dressing room after a sluggish start to the World Cup campaign, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday (Oct 23) released a statement, denying such speculations. The statement was released at the same time when Pakistan started batting against Afghanistan in their crucial league phase encounter at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. "The Pakistan Cricket Board strongly denies recent speculations about any internal discord in the national cricket team currently participating in the ICC World Cup 2023," read the statement. "Contrary to rumours circulated by a certain section of the media, the PCB unequivocally assures that the team is cohesive and there is no evidence to support these unsubstantiated claims." Some reports claimed that Pakistan captain Babar Azam and vice-captain Shadab Khan had a falling out after the latter was left out of the game against Australia. According to some Pakistani journalists, there had been alleged physical altercations between other teammates and that verbal blows were also exchanged, damping the team camaraderie. "The PCB is disappointed by the dissemination of this false news and emphasises the importance of upholding journalistic ethics before spreading such allegations." Pakistan started the World Cup in fine form, winning their opening two encounters. However, after losing the match against arch-rivals India in a rather crushing way, the team appeared jaded. The men-in-green did put up a fight against Australia but the challenging target of 368 proved too difficult for the Pakistani batters as the team suffered second consecutive defeat and slipped out of knockouts contention. Also read | PAK vs AFG Head-to-head: World Cup 2023- Pakistan vs Afghanistan date, venue Pakistan off to a steady start While off-field controversies threatened to derail the Pakistan World Cup campaign, the team shrugged them off and got to a steady start, batting first against Afghanistan. Openers Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq played with a positive intent and passed the first powerplay unscathed. However, Imam departed in the 11th over with the scoreboard reading 56. Since then, Pakistan captain Babar Azam had joined Shafique and the duo had stitched a 50+ partnership already. Playing XIs: Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Usama Mir, Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, Noor Ahmad (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

World Cup 2023: Rift brewing in Pakistan dressing room? PCB releases a statement

Pakistan's Multan Sultans on Wednesday became the nation's first cricket team to hire a woman&nbsp;bowling&nbsp;coach, signing former Ireland fast bowler Catherine Dalton for next year.

Women have historically struggled to establish themselves in the sporting scene of deeply patriarchal and conservative&nbsp;Pakistan, a nation with a fanatical devotion to cricket.

"It's not lost on me the ground-breaking moment for a female fast-bowling&nbsp;coach to be working in a major men's T20 franchise," Dalton told cricket website ESPNcricinfo.

"I am really thrilled to be officially joining up with the franchise at the PSL."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/odi-world-cup-lucky-to-get-kohli-out-5-times-he-is-the-best-batter-says-shakib-ahead-of-ind-vs-ban-tie-648365">ODI World Cup: Lucky to get Kohli out 5 times, he is the best batter, says Shakib ahead of Ind vs Ban tie</a>

The 30-year-old Dalton played four one-day internationals and as many Twenty20 internationals between 2015 and 2016, before moving into coaching roles.

"Catherine has been part of our player development programme for almost five years now and she has worked with numerous first class and PSL players at our academy," Sultans owner Ali Tareen told AFP.

"I always knew Catherine would become a fast&nbsp;bowling&nbsp;coach at a high level. And I am so glad that her first opportunity came at the Sultans."

The Multan Sultans are one of six teams that compete in the&nbsp;Pakistan&nbsp;Super League, which was started in 2016.

The ninth edition of the PSL is scheduled to be played in January and February 2024.

&nbsp;

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Pakistan's Multan Sultans on Wednesday became the nation's first cricket team to hire a woman bowling coach, signing former Ireland fast bowler Catherine Dalton for next year.

Pakistan's Multan Sultans on Wednesday became the nation's first cricket team to hire a woman bowling coach, signing former Ireland fast bowler Catherine Dalton for next year. Women have historically struggled to establish themselves in the sporting scene of deeply patriarchal and conservative Pakistan, a nation with a fanatical devotion to cricket. "It's not lost on me the ground-breaking moment for a female fast-bowling coach to be working in a major men's T20 franchise," Dalton told cricket website ESPNcricinfo. "I am really thrilled to be officially joining up with the franchise at the PSL." ALSO READ | ODI World Cup: Lucky to get Kohli out 5 times, he is the best batter, says Shakib ahead of Ind vs Ban tie The 30-year-old Dalton played four one-day internationals and as many Twenty20 internationals between 2015 and 2016, before moving into coaching roles. "Catherine has been part of our player development programme for almost five years now and she has worked with numerous first class and PSL players at our academy," Sultans owner Ali Tareen told AFP. "I always knew Catherine would become a fast bowling coach at a high level. And I am so glad that her first opportunity came at the Sultans." The Multan Sultans are one of six teams that compete in the Pakistan Super League, which was started in 2016. The ninth edition of the PSL is scheduled to be played in January and February 2024. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

PSL side Multan Sultans sign Catherine Dalton as country's first woman bowling coach

Former Pakistan captain and veteran keeper-batter Rashid Latif bashed the current situation of Pakistan cricket and its board in the country. Following their loss to India for the record eighth time in World Cup history in Ahmedabad by seven wickets, Latif pointed fingers towards political vendetta and aggressive changes in the top brass as reasons behind the team’s yet another failure on the big stage.

“The continuous political interference is ruining Pakistan cricket,” Rashid Latif said, as quoted in The Indian Express.&nbsp;

“In the past twelve months, we have seen three different persons heading the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). We have seen Ramiz Raja, then Najam Sethi, and now Zaka Ashraf is at the helm. And not to forget, in the same timeline, we have had five selectors as well. Mohammad Wasim, Micky Arthur, Shahid Afridi, Haroon Rasheed, and now Inzamam-ul-Haq,” Latif added while talking about the reason behind the fall of Pakistan Cricket.&nbsp;

From being 155 for two at one stage to getting all out on 191 on a batting paradise at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Pakistan lost momentum and thus the match later on. For India, skipper Rohit Sharma led from the front, hitting a magnificent 86, including six sixes, helping India cross the line with relative ease.

Although Pakistan Captain Babar Azam completed his fifty and Muhammad Rizwan contributed with 49 in the middle overs, none of the batters could put pressure back on the Indian bowlers.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cwc-we-got-to-move-on-quickly-but-players-must-enjoy-the-win-first-trott-on-afgs-famous-win-over-england-647374">CWC: We got to move on quickly but players must enjoy the win first: Trott on AFG’s famous win over England</a>

“The selectors should also be blamed because there was no vision. Saud Shakeel, Abdullah Shafique and Hasan Ali were not in contention a year ago, and suddenly, they are in the ODI World Cup.

“Saud and Abdullah had never played a high-intensity game, and you cannot blame them. Fakhar Zaman was our main player for the past three years and all of a sudden, he was dropped. I agree that he was not in good form, but in my opinion, he should have batted at No 4 to face Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav,” Latif bashed the selection criteria.

<h2>Shaheen looked fatigued; Pakistan lacked mental toughness</h2>

The bowlers looked fatigued, starting with Shaheen, who is said to be carrying an injury. Besides him, Haris Rauf failed to terrorize batters with his steamy pace the way he does in the shortest format. And as per Rashid, with Indians being so good against the spin, they could have hit Shadab Khan with their eyes closed.

“I don’t know if Shaheen Afridi is injured, but he looked fatigued. Haris Rauf will have to learn how to hit the good lengths consistently. In the T20Is, the four-over spell can make you a superstar by firing all the cylinders in 24 balls. But in the ODIs and Test cricket, you need that mental toughness that was lacking in Ahmedabad,” the Pakistan veteran added.

“Shadab Khan’s spells against the minor teams are exceptional but when it comes to the top five side, he struggles. Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Jos Buttler, Glenn Maxwell, and David Miller face the likes of Kuldeep Yadav, Rashid Khan and Tabraiz Shamsi in the nets; they will pick Shadab with their eyes shut,” Rashid slammed Pakistan team’s vice-captain.&nbsp;

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Former Pakistan captain and veteran keeper-batter Rashid Latif bashed the current situation of Pakistan cricket and its board in the country. Following their loss to India for the record eighth time in World Cup history in Ahmedabad by seven wickets, Latif pointed fingers towards political vendetta and aggressive changes in the top brass as reasons behind the team’s yet another failure on the big stage.

Former Pakistan captain and veteran keeper-batter Rashid Latif bashed the current situation of Pakistan cricket and its board in the country. Following their loss to India for the record eighth time in World Cup history in Ahmedabad by seven wickets, Latif pointed fingers towards political vendetta and aggressive changes in the top brass as reasons behind the team’s yet another failure on the big stage. “The continuous political interference is ruining Pakistan cricket,” Rashid Latif said, as quoted in The Indian Express. “In the past twelve months, we have seen three different persons heading the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). We have seen Ramiz Raja, then Najam Sethi, and now Zaka Ashraf is at the helm. And not to forget, in the same timeline, we have had five selectors as well. Mohammad Wasim, Micky Arthur, Shahid Afridi, Haroon Rasheed, and now Inzamam-ul-Haq,” Latif added while talking about the reason behind the fall of Pakistan Cricket. From being 155 for two at one stage to getting all out on 191 on a batting paradise at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Pakistan lost momentum and thus the match later on. For India, skipper Rohit Sharma led from the front, hitting a magnificent 86, including six sixes, helping India cross the line with relative ease. Although Pakistan Captain Babar Azam completed his fifty and Muhammad Rizwan contributed with 49 in the middle overs, none of the batters could put pressure back on the Indian bowlers. ALSO READ: CWC: We got to move on quickly but players must enjoy the win first: Trott on AFG’s famous win over England “The selectors should also be blamed because there was no vision. Saud Shakeel, Abdullah Shafique and Hasan Ali were not in contention a year ago, and suddenly, they are in the ODI World Cup. “Saud and Abdullah had never played a high-intensity game, and you cannot blame them. Fakhar Zaman was our main player for the past three years and all of a sudden, he was dropped. I agree that he was not in good form, but in my opinion, he should have batted at No 4 to face Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav,” Latif bashed the selection criteria. Shaheen looked fatigued; Pakistan lacked mental toughness The bowlers looked fatigued, starting with Shaheen, who is said to be carrying an injury. Besides him, Haris Rauf failed to terrorize batters with his steamy pace the way he does in the shortest format. And as per Rashid, with Indians being so good against the spin, they could have hit Shadab Khan with their eyes closed. “I don’t know if Shaheen Afridi is injured, but he looked fatigued. Haris Rauf will have to learn how to hit the good lengths consistently. In the T20Is, the four-over spell can make you a superstar by firing all the cylinders in 24 balls. But in the ODIs and Test cricket, you need that mental toughness that was lacking in Ahmedabad,” the Pakistan veteran added. “Shadab Khan’s spells against the minor teams are exceptional but when it comes to the top five side, he struggles. Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Jos Buttler, Glenn Maxwell, and David Miller face the likes of Kuldeep Yadav, Rashid Khan and Tabraiz Shamsi in the nets; they will pick Shadab with their eyes shut,” Rashid slammed Pakistan team’s vice-captain. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Rashid Latif tears into Pakistan cricket setup, blames political vendetta, aggressive changes for poor show

Pakistan batter Mohammad Rizwan helped his team create history in the ODI World Cup 2023 after beating Sri Lanka by six wickets on October 10. The wicketkeeper braved some cramps during an unbeaten innings of 131 runs and said that 'it is speechless' to perform like this for the country.

“Whenever you perform for your country and the performance is like, it is speechless for you,” Rizwan said to Simon Doull for the ICC while speaking after his Player of the Match award.

“It was difficult because with a chase like that it’s always special. But the thing is for us, when we went into the dressing room after bowling, every player had belief that we were going to chase that. So that’s why the positive vibes were in the mind,” he further added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/world-cup-2023-you-cant-afford-former-australian-captain-ricky-ponting-warns-his-team-645182">'You can't afford...,' former Australian captain Ricky Ponting warns his team</a>

Rizwan also said that there were two turning points in the game, one of which came after Pakistan got Kusal Mendis out after the batter scored 77-ball 122.&nbsp;

"At that point we decided that 340-350, if we restrict them to there we’re going to bowl very well. You saw in the middle of our overs, when Hasan Ali comes on, Shaheen Shah Afridi comes on and Haris Rauf, they bowled very well and restricted them then.

“We really must give credit to Kusal and Sadeera (Samarawickrama – Sri Lanka’s other century maker on the day). They played very well, but we knew that the pitch was very good and if the target was 350 we could chase that," he said.

The next point, Rizwan mentioned, was his skipper and arguably Pakistan's best batter Babar Azam getting out.

“Unluckily they got Babar Azam, but this is a team game and at that time we decided to go with a deep partnership.

“Basically, a chase of 300-plus is always… it’s a good track, a supportive wicket for us. If we go deep and just turn the innings into a T20 innings towards the end, that’s what we decided,” said Rizwan.

Pakistan completed the record chase of 344/4 in 48.2 overs and apart from Rizwan, Abdullah Shafique also scored 113 runs.

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Pakistan batter Mohammad Rizwan helped his team create history in the ODI World Cup 2023 after beating Sri Lanka by six wickets on October 10. The wicketkeeper braved some cramps during an unbeaten innings of 131 runs and said that 'it is speechless' to perform like this for the country.

Pakistan batter Mohammad Rizwan helped his team create history in the ODI World Cup 2023 after beating Sri Lanka by six wickets on October 10. The wicketkeeper braved some cramps during an unbeaten innings of 131 runs and said that 'it is speechless' to perform like this for the country. “Whenever you perform for your country and the performance is like, it is speechless for you,” Rizwan said to Simon Doull for the ICC while speaking after his Player of the Match award. “It was difficult because with a chase like that it’s always special. But the thing is for us, when we went into the dressing room after bowling, every player had belief that we were going to chase that. So that’s why the positive vibes were in the mind,” he further added. Also Read: 'You can't afford...,' former Australian captain Ricky Ponting warns his team Rizwan also said that there were two turning points in the game, one of which came after Pakistan got Kusal Mendis out after the batter scored 77-ball 122. "At that point we decided that 340-350, if we restrict them to there we’re going to bowl very well. You saw in the middle of our overs, when Hasan Ali comes on, Shaheen Shah Afridi comes on and Haris Rauf, they bowled very well and restricted them then. “We really must give credit to Kusal and Sadeera (Samarawickrama – Sri Lanka’s other century maker on the day). They played very well, but we knew that the pitch was very good and if the target was 350 we could chase that," he said. The next point, Rizwan mentioned, was his skipper and arguably Pakistan's best batter Babar Azam getting out. “Unluckily they got Babar Azam, but this is a team game and at that time we decided to go with a deep partnership. “Basically, a chase of 300-plus is always… it’s a good track, a supportive wicket for us. If we go deep and just turn the innings into a T20 innings towards the end, that’s what we decided,” said Rizwan. Pakistan completed the record chase of 344/4 in 48.2 overs and apart from Rizwan, Abdullah Shafique also scored 113 runs. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

ODI World Cup 2023: Pak batter Mohammad Rizwan names 'two turning points' during record win vs Sri Lanka

Babar Azam-led Pakistan reached India on Thursday (Sep 28) ahead of the CWC 2023 edition, which gets underway on October 05 in Ahmedabad. The players received a warm reception on arrival and the video of the same was shared by the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) official handle on X, formerly Twitter.

However, PCB chief Zaka Ashraf has made heads turn with a controversial statement. While interacting with the press, he spoke at length about PCB's recently-shared central contracts for Team Pakistan and ended up labelling India as an 'enemy country'.&nbsp;

In a video shared on X, Ashraf explained&nbsp;the reason for the landmark hike for players in the central contracts and stated,&nbsp;"You should keep in mind that when the players go to an enemy country or where the competition is being held, you should support them so that they can perform well."

The video has gone viral in no time with many schooling the PCB chief for his choice of words.&nbsp;

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Pakistan morale should be high as they r going to "DUSHMAN MULK" 
Says Zaka Ashraf chairman of Pakistan cricket Board <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRealPCBMedia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheRealPCBMedia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/vikrantgupta73?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@vikrantgupta73</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/rawatrahul9?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@rawatrahul9</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/manoj_dimri?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@manoj_dimri</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SushantNMehta?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SushantNMehta</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/zakaashraf81?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@zakaashraf81</a> <a href="https://t.co/t7y9cqdz5B">pic.twitter.com/t7y9cqdz5B</a>
— Kunal (@kunal11_23) <a href="https://twitter.com/kunal11_23/status/1707107682321309720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 27, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Talking about Team Pakistan, Babar &amp; Co. is set to play two warm-up games before the CWC 2023 edition. Their first warm-up game is on Friday evening (Sep 29) versus New Zealand at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad. They will then lock horns with Australia on October 03 at the same venue before their tournament opener on October 06, where they face the Netherlands on October 07 in Hyderabad. They remain in Hyderabad till their second game before travelling to Ahmedabad to face arch-rivals India on October 14.&nbsp;

Pakistan squad for World Cup: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam (capt), Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Usama Mir, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Hasan Ali

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Babar Azam-led Pakistan reached India on Thursday (Sep 28) ahead of the CWC 2023 edition, which gets underway on October 05 in Ahmedabad. The players received a warm reception on arrival and the video of the same was shared by the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) official handle on X, formerly Twitter.

Babar Azam-led Pakistan reached India on Thursday (Sep 28) ahead of the CWC 2023 edition, which gets underway on October 05 in Ahmedabad. The players received a warm reception on arrival and the video of the same was shared by the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) official handle on X, formerly Twitter. However, PCB chief Zaka Ashraf has made heads turn with a controversial statement. While interacting with the press, he spoke at length about PCB's recently-shared central contracts for Team Pakistan and ended up labelling India as an 'enemy country'. In a video shared on X, Ashraf explained the reason for the landmark hike for players in the central contracts and stated, "You should keep in mind that when the players go to an enemy country or where the competition is being held, you should support them so that they can perform well." The video has gone viral in no time with many schooling the PCB chief for his choice of words. Pakistan morale should be high as they r going to "DUSHMAN MULK" Says Zaka Ashraf chairman of Pakistan cricket Board @TheRealPCBMedia @vikrantgupta73 @rawatrahul9 @manoj_dimri @SushantNMehta @zakaashraf81 pic.twitter.com/t7y9cqdz5B — Kunal (@kunal11_23) September 27, 2023 × Also read: World Cup: Pakistan Team must weather Ahmedabad pressure, India better team on merit - Waqar Younis Talking about Team Pakistan, Babar & Co. is set to play two warm-up games before the CWC 2023 edition. Their first warm-up game is on Friday evening (Sep 29) versus New Zealand at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad. They will then lock horns with Australia on October 03 at the same venue before their tournament opener on October 06, where they face the Netherlands on October 07 in Hyderabad. They remain in Hyderabad till their second game before travelling to Ahmedabad to face arch-rivals India on October 14. Pakistan squad for World Cup: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam (capt), Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Usama Mir, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Hasan Ali WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

PCB chief Zaka Ashraf indirectly calls India 'enemy country' ahead of CWC '23, video goes viral - Watch

After all the drama surrounding the signing of the central contracts over the past three months, the Pakistan players and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have come to common ground as the new landmark deal is signed just before the start of the World Cup 2023.&nbsp;

As per the latest reports, the players have agreed to sign a first-of-its-kind deal, with PCB offering a hike, alongside providing them with a share in its revenue.

It has come after the players union ended their silent protest over the same, threatening to boycott endorsing the sponsored logos on their jerseys during the World Cup.

Since the board had not paid them any salary since the previous cycle ended on June 30, the players were also said to be upset with PCB functionalities. The players also denied participating in ICC-related media events (during the CWC) in their revert to the board over payment issues.

Meanwhile, in the new contract signed just ahead of the start of the World Cup, the PCB has offered a three-year deal – rather than the standard 12-month one, with a significant increase in their salaries, alongside the board providing them with a fixed share of revenue they receive from the ICC.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/full-strength-australia-on-song-hit-352-as-india-bowlers-suffer-wrath-in-rajkot-odi-640209">Full strength Australia on song, hit 352 as India bowlers suffer wrath in Rajkot ODI</a>

Since their previous contracts ended, Pakistan was involved in the Sri Lanka Tests, Afghanistan ODIs and Asia Cup 2023 and was playing without receiving any retainers or other financial compensation. Although Pakistan players were unlikely to appear in the World Cup without central contracts in their hands, captain Babar Azam didn’t mention anything regarding the same during his pre-departure conference on Tuesday.

The new central contract signing will see category A players receive PKR 4,500,000 (USD 15,590), more than four-fold than the previous year’s numbers. Also, the board had earlier offered category-A players to play in any one league outside of the PSL but agreed to allow all players under contract to play in two regardless of the category.

<h2>Share in revenue is a big plus</h2>

Outside of players receiving hikes, PCB offering them a fixed share of the revenue is the biggest talking point. After long negotiations, both parties agreed on the same ground of players receiving a 3 per cent share of the revenue amounting to around 1 million (the PCB is set to earn USD 34 million per year from next year as a share of ICC revenue).

The players will receive this share over and above their salaries.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Team arrived in Hyderabad on Wednesday morning and will New Zealand in their first warm-up tie on Friday, September 29.

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After all the drama surrounding the signing of the central contracts over the past three months, the Pakistan players and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have come to common ground as the new landmark deal is signed just before the start of the World Cup 2023.

After all the drama surrounding the signing of the central contracts over the past three months, the Pakistan players and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have come to common ground as the new landmark deal is signed just before the start of the World Cup 2023. As per the latest reports, the players have agreed to sign a first-of-its-kind deal, with PCB offering a hike, alongside providing them with a share in its revenue. It has come after the players union ended their silent protest over the same, threatening to boycott endorsing the sponsored logos on their jerseys during the World Cup. Since the board had not paid them any salary since the previous cycle ended on June 30, the players were also said to be upset with PCB functionalities. The players also denied participating in ICC-related media events (during the CWC) in their revert to the board over payment issues. Meanwhile, in the new contract signed just ahead of the start of the World Cup, the PCB has offered a three-year deal – rather than the standard 12-month one, with a significant increase in their salaries, alongside the board providing them with a fixed share of revenue they receive from the ICC. ALSO READ: Full strength Australia on song, hit 352 as India bowlers suffer wrath in Rajkot ODI Since their previous contracts ended, Pakistan was involved in the Sri Lanka Tests, Afghanistan ODIs and Asia Cup 2023 and was playing without receiving any retainers or other financial compensation. Although Pakistan players were unlikely to appear in the World Cup without central contracts in their hands, captain Babar Azam didn’t mention anything regarding the same during his pre-departure conference on Tuesday. The new central contract signing will see category A players receive PKR 4,500,000 (USD 15,590), more than four-fold than the previous year’s numbers. Also, the board had earlier offered category-A players to play in any one league outside of the PSL but agreed to allow all players under contract to play in two regardless of the category. Share in revenue is a big plus Outside of players receiving hikes, PCB offering them a fixed share of the revenue is the biggest talking point. After long negotiations, both parties agreed on the same ground of players receiving a 3 per cent share of the revenue amounting to around 1 million (the PCB is set to earn USD 34 million per year from next year as a share of ICC revenue). The players will receive this share over and above their salaries. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Team arrived in Hyderabad on Wednesday morning and will New Zealand in their first warm-up tie on Friday, September 29. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Pakistan players-PCB agree on landmark deal; new central contracts signed

Pakistan cricket team had hoped to travel to Dubai ahead of arriving in India for the ODI World Cup which starts next month on October 5. The plan took a hit as the External Affairs Ministry&nbsp;of India is yet to give clearance to the Pakistan team.&nbsp;

Speaking to WION, a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) spokesperson talked about that issue and said that they now plan to fly directly to Hyderabad on September 27. The new plan, however, is also subject to getting Indian visas.

“We had planned 2 days in Dubai on 25 and 26 before flying for Hyderabad. However, due to an Indian visa delay, we had to cancel our team bonding sessions in Dubai and now plan B is to fly directly on 27 to Hyderabad (via connecting flight from Dubai). But this again is subject to an Indian visa,” said the PCB spokesperson.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virender-sehwag-not-impressed-with-shubman-gill-despite-century-in-indore-odi-vs-australia-know-why-639304">Virender Sehwag not IMPRESSED with Shubman Gill despite century in Indore ODI vs Australia. Know Why</a>

The two countries have been at loggerheads with each other amid the political tensions. The same were visible during the recently concluded Asia Cup during which the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)&nbsp;decided to not play in Pakistan, the hosts of the regional tournament.

The Asia Cup was finally played with Sri Lanka as co-host and India playing all of their matches in the island country. India eventually won the tournament but Pakistan were not able to reach the final despite being ranked number one in the ICC ODI team rankings.

The Men in Green suffered another blow in the tournament when their premium pace bowler Naseem Shah got injured in the Super Four game against India. The PCB had earlier said that the injury isn't serious but the bowler has subsequently been ruled out of the quadrennial tournament.

Pakistan have named Hasan Ali as Naseem's replacement in the World Cup squad.

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Pakistan cricket team had hoped to travel to Dubai ahead of arriving in India for the ODI World Cup which starts next month on October 5. The plan took a hit as the External Affairs Ministry of India is yet to give clearance to the Pakistan team.

Pakistan cricket team had hoped to travel to Dubai ahead of arriving in India for the ODI World Cup which starts next month on October 5. The plan took a hit as the External Affairs Ministry of India is yet to give clearance to the Pakistan team. Speaking to WION, a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) spokesperson talked about that issue and said that they now plan to fly directly to Hyderabad on September 27. The new plan, however, is also subject to getting Indian visas. “We had planned 2 days in Dubai on 25 and 26 before flying for Hyderabad. However, due to an Indian visa delay, we had to cancel our team bonding sessions in Dubai and now plan B is to fly directly on 27 to Hyderabad (via connecting flight from Dubai). But this again is subject to an Indian visa,” said the PCB spokesperson. Also Read: Virender Sehwag not IMPRESSED with Shubman Gill despite century in Indore ODI vs Australia. Know Why The two countries have been at loggerheads with each other amid the political tensions. The same were visible during the recently concluded Asia Cup during which the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided to not play in Pakistan, the hosts of the regional tournament. The Asia Cup was finally played with Sri Lanka as co-host and India playing all of their matches in the island country. India eventually won the tournament but Pakistan were not able to reach the final despite being ranked number one in the ICC ODI team rankings. The Men in Green suffered another blow in the tournament when their premium pace bowler Naseem Shah got injured in the Super Four game against India. The PCB had earlier said that the injury isn't serious but the bowler has subsequently been ruled out of the quadrennial tournament. Pakistan have named Hasan Ali as Naseem's replacement in the World Cup squad. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Had to cancel Dubai trip before ODI World Cup due to Indian visa delay, says PCB

After much delay, Pakistan cricket team's visa issues have finally been sorted and they are now&nbsp;cleared to travel to&nbsp;India.

Earlier on Monday (September 25), the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) wrote to the International Cricket Council (ICC) raising 'serious concerns'&nbsp;over the delay in&nbsp;Babar Azam &amp; Co.'s&nbsp;travel to India for the upcoming ODI World Cup due to visa issues.

Later in the evening, the ICC confirmed&nbsp;that&nbsp;the Indian government approved the Pakistani team's visas for the mega event in the subcontinent.&nbsp;

It is to be noted that the visa clearance has come less than 48 hours before Pakistan's scheduled travel to India, via Dubai, in the early hours of September 27 (Wednesday).&nbsp;

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"Visas have been issued to Pakistan," an ICC spokesperson told news agency PTI.

There is yet no end to the drama as confusion remained in the Pakistan camp over the grant of visa.

"We have not got the call from Indian High Commission yet over visa clearance. Member of our team is stationed there," PCB spokesperon Umar Farooq informed the same&nbsp;agency.

As per a report in Cricbuzz, it is believed that&nbsp;a 10-day process was always in place, with as many as&nbsp;three ministries in India --&nbsp;including External Affairs and Home --&nbsp;involved in the matter of giving clearance to Pakistani visas.

The same procedure is in line&nbsp;for all applications from Pakistan and, hence, there was no specific delay (as reported by PCB).

Moreover, the complaint stating that&nbsp;Pakistan squad could not travel to Dubai holds no significance&nbsp;because there was always the need for biometric tests.
</section>

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cwc-2023-pakistan-announce-final-squad-for-marquee-event-in-india-naseem-shah-ruled-out-with-injury-concerns-638467">CWC 2023: Pakistan announce final squad for marquee event in India, Naseem Shah ruled out with injury concerns</a>

The Men in Green will play two warm-up games -- versus New Zealand on September 29 and against Australia on October 03 (both in Hyderabad) -- before&nbsp;their opening&nbsp;two&nbsp;CWC 2023 games in Hyderabad,&nbsp;against the Netherlands&nbsp;and Sri Lanka, respectively.&nbsp;

Pakistan will lock horns with arch-rivals India on October 14 in Ahmedabad.&nbsp;

Pakistan squad for World Cup: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam (capt), Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Usama Mir, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Hasan Ali

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After much delay, Pakistan cricket team's visa issues have finally been sorted and they are now cleared to travel to India. Earlier on Monday (September 25), the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) wrote to the International Cricket Council (ICC) raising 'serious concerns' over the delay in Babar Azam & Co.

After much delay, Pakistan cricket team's visa issues have finally been sorted and they are now cleared to travel to India. Earlier on Monday (September 25), the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) wrote to the International Cricket Council (ICC) raising 'serious concerns' over the delay in Babar Azam & Co.'s travel to India for the upcoming ODI World Cup due to visa issues. Later in the evening, the ICC confirmed that the Indian government approved the Pakistani team's visas for the mega event in the subcontinent. It is to be noted that the visa clearance has come less than 48 hours before Pakistan's scheduled travel to India, via Dubai, in the early hours of September 27 (Wednesday). "Visas have been issued to Pakistan," an ICC spokesperson told news agency PTI. There is yet no end to the drama as confusion remained in the Pakistan camp over the grant of visa. "We have not got the call from Indian High Commission yet over visa clearance. Member of our team is stationed there," PCB spokesperon Umar Farooq informed the same agency. As per a report in Cricbuzz, it is believed that a 10-day process was always in place, with as many as three ministries in India -- including External Affairs and Home -- involved in the matter of giving clearance to Pakistani visas. The same procedure is in line for all applications from Pakistan and, hence, there was no specific delay (as reported by PCB). Moreover, the complaint stating that Pakistan squad could not travel to Dubai holds no significance because there was always the need for biometric tests. Also read: CWC 2023: Pakistan announce final squad for marquee event in India, Naseem Shah ruled out with injury concerns The Men in Green will play two warm-up games -- versus New Zealand on September 29 and against Australia on October 03 (both in Hyderabad) -- before their opening two CWC 2023 games in Hyderabad, against the Netherlands and Sri Lanka, respectively. Pakistan will lock horns with arch-rivals India on October 14 in Ahmedabad. Pakistan squad for World Cup: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam (capt), Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Usama Mir, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Hasan Ali WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

CWC '23: After much delay, Pakistan visa issues sorted, team cleared to travel to India

The Pakistan Cricket is undergoing a rough time off the pitch. While the players have produced some stunning performances recently to put their country on top in white-ball cricket, issues outside the field have kept everyone discontent with PCB’s functionalities. The latest reports from Pakistan suggest the players are mulling over boycotting wearing jerseys with sponsored logos during the World Cup 2023 in their revert to ongoing tensions with the PCB over new contract signings.

Per a report in Cricket Pakistan, the Men in Green have not received any payments in terms of monthly retainers or match fees from the PCB for the past four months, upsetting the players, who until now were protesting silently against it.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wanindu-hasaranga-doubtful-for-world-cup-as-sri-lanka-remain-dicey-on-final-15-639160">Wanindu Hasaranga doubtful for World Cup as Sri Lanka remain dicey on final 15</a>

Though the players refrained from taking any action that could lead to added tension in the lead-up to the World Cup 2023, they have now come forward to contemplate the possibility of boycotting wearing jerseys with sponsor logos during the marquee event.

A Pakistani cricketer on the condition of staying anonymous, said they are even willing to play for free for the country but not ready to endorse sponsor logos on their jerseys affiliated with the board, on the account that their salaries are not paid on time.

<h2>Reputation at stake</h2>

The player also admitted the Pakistan Cricket Team may deny participating in ICC-related media events during the World Cup, putting the board’s and team’s reputation at stake.

"We are willing to represent Pakistan for free, but our question is why we should promote sponsors' logos that are affiliated with the board. Similarly, we may decline to participate in promotional activities and other events. During the World Cup, we won't engage in ICC's commercial promotions and activities either,” an unnamed Pakistan cricketer told Pakistan Cricket.&nbsp;

The sources close to the information revealed top players (across all formats) would receive an impressive monthly retainer fee of PKR 4.5 million; however, after taxes and deductions, they would only receive around PKR 2.2 to 2.3 million, something the players are negotiating over.

While the players are now said to be demanding a share of the revenue the PCB received from the ICC and sponsors, the Pakistan Cricket Board feel the contracts offered to the players are fair and that players’ agents are trying to influence their stance as things stand.

Meanwhile, Pakistan is set to fly to India for the World Cup 2023 in a couple of days, playing their first of the two warm-up games against New Zealand in Hyderabad on September 29.

Pakistan will open their account against the Netherlands on Friday, October 6, while the marquee clash against India will take place in Ahmedabad on Saturday, October 14.

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The Pakistan Cricket is undergoing a rough time off the pitch. While the players have produced some stunning performances recently to put their country on top in white-ball cricket, issues outside the field have kept everyone discontent with PCB’s functionalities.

The Pakistan Cricket is undergoing a rough time off the pitch. While the players have produced some stunning performances recently to put their country on top in white-ball cricket, issues outside the field have kept everyone discontent with PCB’s functionalities. The latest reports from Pakistan suggest the players are mulling over boycotting wearing jerseys with sponsored logos during the World Cup 2023 in their revert to ongoing tensions with the PCB over new contract signings. Per a report in Cricket Pakistan, the Men in Green have not received any payments in terms of monthly retainers or match fees from the PCB for the past four months, upsetting the players, who until now were protesting silently against it. ALSO READ: Wanindu Hasaranga doubtful for World Cup as Sri Lanka remain dicey on final 15 Though the players refrained from taking any action that could lead to added tension in the lead-up to the World Cup 2023, they have now come forward to contemplate the possibility of boycotting wearing jerseys with sponsor logos during the marquee event. A Pakistani cricketer on the condition of staying anonymous, said they are even willing to play for free for the country but not ready to endorse sponsor logos on their jerseys affiliated with the board, on the account that their salaries are not paid on time. Reputation at stake The player also admitted the Pakistan Cricket Team may deny participating in ICC-related media events during the World Cup, putting the board’s and team’s reputation at stake. "We are willing to represent Pakistan for free, but our question is why we should promote sponsors' logos that are affiliated with the board. Similarly, we may decline to participate in promotional activities and other events. During the World Cup, we won't engage in ICC's commercial promotions and activities either,” an unnamed Pakistan cricketer told Pakistan Cricket. The sources close to the information revealed top players (across all formats) would receive an impressive monthly retainer fee of PKR 4.5 million; however, after taxes and deductions, they would only receive around PKR 2.2 to 2.3 million, something the players are negotiating over. While the players are now said to be demanding a share of the revenue the PCB received from the ICC and sponsors, the Pakistan Cricket Board feel the contracts offered to the players are fair and that players’ agents are trying to influence their stance as things stand. Meanwhile, Pakistan is set to fly to India for the World Cup 2023 in a couple of days, playing their first of the two warm-up games against New Zealand in Hyderabad on September 29. Pakistan will open their account against the Netherlands on Friday, October 6, while the marquee clash against India will take place in Ahmedabad on Saturday, October 14. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'Willing to play for free but why promote sponsored logos...' - Pakistan players fume over contract row

Pakistan cricket team’s preparations for the ODI World Cup have taken another toll according to the latest report on Friday, September 22. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is yet to receive the green light from the External Affairs Ministry of India for visas as they were still left stranded on Friday. The latest developments put a spanner in their work to travel while they have already suffered a huge setback in Nassem Shah, who will miss the entire ODI World Cup in India.

<h2>Pakistan suffer setback</h2>

Pakistan were expected to travel to UAE on Monday and then have a two-day stay there before flying out to India. However, with delays in visas, they now plan to travel to Dubai on Wednesday before landing in India on Thursday. The 1992 ODI World Cup champions are due to play New Zealand in the warm-up match on Friday. According to reports, they remain the only team yet to receive visa clearance with the rest of the eight traveling teams cleared.

The tensions between the nations have been a big friction point for the nations to cross the border. The two nations have not played a bilateral series since 2012-13 when Pakistan won the ODI series 2-1. Pakistan have not been in India since the 2016 T20 World Cup, with recent encounters between India and Pakistan coming in multi-national tournaments.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-aus-odi-series-india-draw-first-blood-in-pre-world-cup-showdown-gill-shami-impress-638671">IND vs AUS ODI Series: India draw first blood in Pre-World Cup showdown; Gill, Shami shine</a>

Recently Pakistan’s football team traveled to India for the SAFF Championships in Bengaluru while their Hockey team crossed the Attari - Wagah border to play in the Asian Champions Trophy in Chennai. It is expected that the Pakistan cricket team will get the required documents cleared before Wednesday. They are expected to travel to India on Thursday with their warm-up game scheduled for Friday.

They will start their ODI World Cup campaign against qualifiers Netherlands on Friday, October 6. They will then take on Sri Lanka on Tuesday before facing India in the high-voltage clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Saturday, October 14.

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Pakistan cricket team’s preparations for the ODI World Cup have taken another toll according to the latest report on Friday, September 22. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is yet to receive the green light from the External Affairs Ministry of India for visas as they were still left stranded on Friday.

Pakistan cricket team’s preparations for the ODI World Cup have taken another toll according to the latest report on Friday, September 22. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is yet to receive the green light from the External Affairs Ministry of India for visas as they were still left stranded on Friday. The latest developments put a spanner in their work to travel while they have already suffered a huge setback in Nassem Shah, who will miss the entire ODI World Cup in India. Pakistan suffer setback Pakistan were expected to travel to UAE on Monday and then have a two-day stay there before flying out to India. However, with delays in visas, they now plan to travel to Dubai on Wednesday before landing in India on Thursday. The 1992 ODI World Cup champions are due to play New Zealand in the warm-up match on Friday. According to reports, they remain the only team yet to receive visa clearance with the rest of the eight traveling teams cleared. The tensions between the nations have been a big friction point for the nations to cross the border. The two nations have not played a bilateral series since 2012-13 when Pakistan won the ODI series 2-1. Pakistan have not been in India since the 2016 T20 World Cup, with recent encounters between India and Pakistan coming in multi-national tournaments. ALSO READ | IND vs AUS ODI Series: India draw first blood in Pre-World Cup showdown; Gill, Shami shine Recently Pakistan’s football team traveled to India for the SAFF Championships in Bengaluru while their Hockey team crossed the Attari - Wagah border to play in the Asian Champions Trophy in Chennai. It is expected that the Pakistan cricket team will get the required documents cleared before Wednesday. They are expected to travel to India on Thursday with their warm-up game scheduled for Friday. They will start their ODI World Cup campaign against qualifiers Netherlands on Friday, October 6. They will then take on Sri Lanka on Tuesday before facing India in the high-voltage clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Saturday, October 14. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Pakistan suffer another setback in World Cup preparations, to miss Dubai trip due to visas delay

On Friday (September 22), the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq announced the final squad for Babar Azam-led Men in Green for the upcoming ODI World Cup in India, which kicks off next month in early October. Contrary to reports suggesting Shadab Khan's omission, the white-ball vice-captain has retained his place despite an ordinary run in Asia Cup 2023. The one-time winners' squad comprises three travelling reserves whereas the likes of Hasan Ali, Abdullah Shafique, and leg spinner Usama Mir have been included, with young pacer Naseem Shah being ruled out with injury concerns.&nbsp;

Naseem suffered a shoulder injury during Pakistan's forgettable run in Asia Cup 2023. He was out of Pakistan's last Super Four game, versus Sri Lanka, and is now set to be out of action for a long period. Addressing the press, Inzamam said,&nbsp;"Naseem was injured, he was our main bowler and it was unfortunate. Hasnain has an ankle injury and is out injured and so is Ihsanullah."

On Hasan replacing Naseem, he opined, "If you see how Hasan Ali performed in the LPL, or other performances, he has performed better than most. He is an experienced bowler who has played big mega events for Pakistan and performed well in them. And when Naseem was ruled out, we needed someone who could bowl with the new ball. He bowls well with both old and new ball and is a team man. His presence lends energy to the team."

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Moreover, bowling all-rounder Faheem Ashraf has also failed to make the cut. The Men in Green have kept two pacers in their reserves in the form of Mohammad Haris and Zaman Khan along with legspinner Abrar Ahmed.

Before the final squad announcement, there was a major development from the PCB setup with former captain Mohammed Hafeez resigning from the board's&nbsp;technical committee ahead of CWC 2023. He wrote on X, formerly Twitter, "I decided to leave Pakistan cricket technical committee. I served as honorary member. I would like to thank Zaka Ashraf sb for giving me this opportunity. I m always available whenever Zaka Ashraf sb need my honest suggestions for Pakistan cricket. My best wishes for Pakistan cricket as always. Pakistan Zindabad".

Pakistan commence their campaign in CWC '23 on October 06 when they face the Netherlands in Hyderabad. They will lock horns with arch-rivals India on October 14 in Ahmedabad.&nbsp;

Pakistan squad for World Cup: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam (capt), Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Usama Mir, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Hasan Ali

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On Friday (September 22), the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq announced the final squad for Babar Azam-led Men in Green for the upcoming ODI World Cup in India, which kicks off next month in early October.

On Friday (September 22), the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq announced the final squad for Babar Azam-led Men in Green for the upcoming ODI World Cup in India, which kicks off next month in early October. Contrary to reports suggesting Shadab Khan's omission, the white-ball vice-captain has retained his place despite an ordinary run in Asia Cup 2023. The one-time winners' squad comprises three travelling reserves whereas the likes of Hasan Ali, Abdullah Shafique, and leg spinner Usama Mir have been included, with young pacer Naseem Shah being ruled out with injury concerns. Naseem suffered a shoulder injury during Pakistan's forgettable run in Asia Cup 2023. He was out of Pakistan's last Super Four game, versus Sri Lanka, and is now set to be out of action for a long period. Addressing the press, Inzamam said, "Naseem was injured, he was our main bowler and it was unfortunate. Hasnain has an ankle injury and is out injured and so is Ihsanullah." On Hasan replacing Naseem, he opined, "If you see how Hasan Ali performed in the LPL, or other performances, he has performed better than most. He is an experienced bowler who has played big mega events for Pakistan and performed well in them. And when Naseem was ruled out, we needed someone who could bowl with the new ball. He bowls well with both old and new ball and is a team man. His presence lends energy to the team." 🚨 Our squad for the ICC World Cup 2023 🚨#WeHaveWeWill | #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/pJjOOncm56 — Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) September 22, 2023 × Moreover, bowling all-rounder Faheem Ashraf has also failed to make the cut. The Men in Green have kept two pacers in their reserves in the form of Mohammad Haris and Zaman Khan along with legspinner Abrar Ahmed. Before the final squad announcement, there was a major development from the PCB setup with former captain Mohammed Hafeez resigning from the board's technical committee ahead of CWC 2023. He wrote on X, formerly Twitter, "I decided to leave Pakistan cricket technical committee. I served as honorary member. I would like to thank Zaka Ashraf sb for giving me this opportunity. I m always available whenever Zaka Ashraf sb need my honest suggestions for Pakistan cricket. My best wishes for Pakistan cricket as always. Pakistan Zindabad". Pakistan commence their campaign in CWC '23 on October 06 when they face the Netherlands in Hyderabad. They will lock horns with arch-rivals India on October 14 in Ahmedabad. Pakistan squad for World Cup: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam (capt), Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Usama Mir, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Hasan Ali WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

CWC 2023: Pakistan announce final squad for marquee event in India, Naseem Shah ruled out with injury concerns

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has released a medical update on pacer Naseem Shah’s injury that could potentially see him ruled out of the upcoming ODI World Cup in India. Naseem, who injured his shoulder during the India vs Pakistan Super Four clash has been touted to miss the ODI World Cup, but PCB will closely monitor the situation and is optimistic of&nbsp;his inclusion in the showpiece event. Naseem has been in fine form for the Men in Green in the last 12 months.

<h2>PCB release statement</h2>

“The Pakistan Cricket Board's medical team has been monitoring the status of Naseem Shah’s shoulder injury sustained during the Asia Cup 2023. Medical consultations with the experts are underway to provide the best possible care to Naseem,” PCB said in a statement.

“The PCB medical panel will decide on the fast bowler's return to cricket based on further assessments,” the statement added.

The injury came at the wrong time for the 1992 World champions who are seeking their first title in 31 years at next month’s World Cup. Naseem went missing in Pakistan’s final Super Four clash against Sri Lanka where they lost on the final ball to pave the way for the Lankans&nbsp;to play in the final on Sunday.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/explained-when-could-max-verstappen-clinch-2023-formula-one-championship-636571">Explained | When could Max Verstappen clinch 2023 Formula One Championship</a>

<h2>Injury a spanner for Pakistan's WC hopes</h2>

The miss will be a big spanner in the work for Pakistan as they saw Naseem as an integral part of the team. The official hosts had a tough outing in the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup as they suffered their biggest loss against India in the ODI format. Babar’s men were beaten by a record margin of 228 runs in the Super Four clash with a defeat against Sri Lanka ending their run in the tournament. Earlier their win against Nepal and Bangladesh came as little consolation.

Pakistan will open their ODI World Cup campaign against the Netherlands on Friday, October 6 before they get involved in the high-voltage clash against India on Saturday, October 14. They suffered a league stage exit in the 2019 campaign while they were eliminated in the quarterfinal in 2015. India beat Pakistan in the 2011 edition semifinal to move into the final.

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Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has released a medical update on pacer Naseem Shah’s injury that could potentially see him ruled out of the upcoming ODI World Cup in India.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has released a medical update on pacer Naseem Shah’s injury that could potentially see him ruled out of the upcoming ODI World Cup in India. Naseem, who injured his shoulder during the India vs Pakistan Super Four clash has been touted to miss the ODI World Cup, but PCB will closely monitor the situation and is optimistic of his inclusion in the showpiece event. Naseem has been in fine form for the Men in Green in the last 12 months. PCB release statement “The Pakistan Cricket Board's medical team has been monitoring the status of Naseem Shah’s shoulder injury sustained during the Asia Cup 2023. Medical consultations with the experts are underway to provide the best possible care to Naseem,” PCB said in a statement. “The PCB medical panel will decide on the fast bowler's return to cricket based on further assessments,” the statement added. The injury came at the wrong time for the 1992 World champions who are seeking their first title in 31 years at next month’s World Cup. Naseem went missing in Pakistan’s final Super Four clash against Sri Lanka where they lost on the final ball to pave the way for the Lankans to play in the final on Sunday. ALSO READ | Explained | When could Max Verstappen clinch 2023 Formula One Championship Injury a spanner for Pakistan's WC hopes The miss will be a big spanner in the work for Pakistan as they saw Naseem as an integral part of the team. The official hosts had a tough outing in the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup as they suffered their biggest loss against India in the ODI format. Babar’s men were beaten by a record margin of 228 runs in the Super Four clash with a defeat against Sri Lanka ending their run in the tournament. Earlier their win against Nepal and Bangladesh came as little consolation. Pakistan will open their ODI World Cup campaign against the Netherlands on Friday, October 6 before they get involved in the high-voltage clash against India on Saturday, October 14. They suffered a league stage exit in the 2019 campaign while they were eliminated in the quarterfinal in 2015. India beat Pakistan in the 2011 edition semifinal to move into the final. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

PCB release medical update on Naseem Shah's shoulder injury; optimistic over ODI World Cup inclusion

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam claimed the ICC Men's Player of the Month award for the third time, bagging the award for August 2023.

Babar who currently sits comfortably at the summit of the ODI rankings continued to impress with bat in the month of August.

His richness of form was reflected in his performances as he struck two fifties and a century. In Pakistan's ODI series against Afghanistan, Babar struck two fifties in the final two matches.

He brought up a 118-run stand with Imam-ul-Haq in the second ODI that laid the foundation for a thrilling last-over finale. Babar contributed 53 runs with the bat and was backed by Imam (91 runs) and the lower order.

Babar didn't stop there, he replicated his performance in the 3rd ODI with his exquisite knock of 60. His sublime batting skills were on display in the Asia Cup opener against Nepal. Babar's knock of 151 made him the first captain in the Asia Cup to score 150 or more than that.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asia-cup-rohit-sharma-becomes-sixth-indian-to-complete-10000-odi-runs-during-ind-sl-super-four-clash-635230">Asia Cup: Rohit Sharma becomes sixth Indian to complete 10,000 ODI runs during Ind-SL Super Four clash</a>

"I am delighted to be named ICC Player of the Month for August 2023. The past month has been extraordinary for my team and I have put some terrific performances. With the Asia Cup coming to Pakistan after such a long time, it was great to play in front of the passionate and cricket-loving crowds of Multan and Lahore. That I scored my second ODI score of 150-plus in front of my own people in Multan doubled the joy," Babar said as quoted from ICC.

"I am looking forward to making the most of the form as we head into an exciting phase of cricket with the backend of the Asia Cup nearing and the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup around the corner. My team and I are eager to bring joy and happiness to the millions of Pakistan fans," Babar added.

The versatile Pakistan skipper will be back in action in the Asia Cup Super Four against Sri Lanka on Thursday.

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Pakistan skipper Babar Azam claimed the ICC Men's Player of the Month award for the third time, bagging the award for August 2023. Babar who currently sits comfortably at the summit of the ODI rankings continued to impress with bat in the month of August.

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam claimed the ICC Men's Player of the Month award for the third time, bagging the award for August 2023. Babar who currently sits comfortably at the summit of the ODI rankings continued to impress with bat in the month of August. His richness of form was reflected in his performances as he struck two fifties and a century. In Pakistan's ODI series against Afghanistan, Babar struck two fifties in the final two matches. He brought up a 118-run stand with Imam-ul-Haq in the second ODI that laid the foundation for a thrilling last-over finale. Babar contributed 53 runs with the bat and was backed by Imam (91 runs) and the lower order. Babar didn't stop there, he replicated his performance in the 3rd ODI with his exquisite knock of 60. His sublime batting skills were on display in the Asia Cup opener against Nepal. Babar's knock of 151 made him the first captain in the Asia Cup to score 150 or more than that. ALSO READ | Asia Cup: Rohit Sharma becomes sixth Indian to complete 10,000 ODI runs during Ind-SL Super Four clash "I am delighted to be named ICC Player of the Month for August 2023. The past month has been extraordinary for my team and I have put some terrific performances. With the Asia Cup coming to Pakistan after such a long time, it was great to play in front of the passionate and cricket-loving crowds of Multan and Lahore. That I scored my second ODI score of 150-plus in front of my own people in Multan doubled the joy," Babar said as quoted from ICC. "I am looking forward to making the most of the form as we head into an exciting phase of cricket with the backend of the Asia Cup nearing and the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup around the corner. My team and I are eager to bring joy and happiness to the millions of Pakistan fans," Babar added. The versatile Pakistan skipper will be back in action in the Asia Cup Super Four against Sri Lanka on Thursday. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Pakistan's Babar Azam bags third ICC Men's Player of the Month award

Pakistan have announced their playing XI for the upcoming Super Four clash against India on Sunday, September 10 in Asia Cup. The side will be led by Babar Azam and has only one change from the side which had faced India in group stage. Pakistan pacers had taken all 10 wickets in the group stage match against India and hence Pakistan have just one main spinner in the XI for tomorrow's clash.

The Men In Green have included Faheem Ashraf in place of spinner Mohammad Nawaz for the match against India. Ashraf had also played Pakistan's first Super Four stage match against Bangladesh and had taken one wicket for 27 runs in seven overs. As for spinning options, Iftikhar Ahmed and Agha Salman are the two part-time options apart from specialist Shadab Khan.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/david-warner-goes-past-sachin-tendulkar-to-have-most-hundreds-across-formats-as-opener-634191">David Warner goes past Sachin Tendulkar to have most hundreds across formats as opener</a>

Have a look at the side here which was shared by the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) official social media handle on X:

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Our playing XI for the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PAKvIND?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PAKvIND</a> match 🇵🇰<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AsiaCup2023?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AsiaCup2023</a> <a href="https://t.co/K25PXbLnYe">pic.twitter.com/K25PXbLnYe</a>
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRealPCB/status/1700502834738036862?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The match, which is scheduled to be played in Colombo, is, however, under a cloud of bad weather and rain again could play spoilsport as it did during the group stage fixture. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC), to mitigate the risk of rain, has gone out of the way by adding a reserve day to the fixture in the mind of the tournament.

The decision although, has not made sense to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka's head coaches as well as former India fast bowler Venkatesh Prasad. The former India pacer even went on to call the step by ACC as 'absolute mockery.'

"Little surprised when I first heard, but at the same time we are not the organisers of the competition so not a lot we can do about that," said Sri Lanka coach Chris Silverwood.

"Yes, it's not ideal. We would love to have an extra day as well. Other than that, I don't have much comment on that because they have made a decision," said Bangladesh coach Hathurusingha.

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Pakistan have announced their playing XI for the upcoming Super Four clash against India on Sunday, September 10 in Asia Cup. The side will be led by Babar Azam and has only one change from the side which had faced India in group stage.

Pakistan have announced their playing XI for the upcoming Super Four clash against India on Sunday, September 10 in Asia Cup. The side will be led by Babar Azam and has only one change from the side which had faced India in group stage. Pakistan pacers had taken all 10 wickets in the group stage match against India and hence Pakistan have just one main spinner in the XI for tomorrow's clash. The Men In Green have included Faheem Ashraf in place of spinner Mohammad Nawaz for the match against India. Ashraf had also played Pakistan's first Super Four stage match against Bangladesh and had taken one wicket for 27 runs in seven overs. As for spinning options, Iftikhar Ahmed and Agha Salman are the two part-time options apart from specialist Shadab Khan. Also Read: David Warner goes past Sachin Tendulkar to have most hundreds across formats as opener Have a look at the side here which was shared by the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) official social media handle on X: Our playing XI for the #PAKvIND match 🇵🇰#AsiaCup2023 pic.twitter.com/K25PXbLnYe — Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) September 9, 2023 × The match, which is scheduled to be played in Colombo, is, however, under a cloud of bad weather and rain again could play spoilsport as it did during the group stage fixture. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC), to mitigate the risk of rain, has gone out of the way by adding a reserve day to the fixture in the mind of the tournament. The decision although, has not made sense to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka's head coaches as well as former India fast bowler Venkatesh Prasad. The former India pacer even went on to call the step by ACC as 'absolute mockery.' "Little surprised when I first heard, but at the same time we are not the organisers of the competition so not a lot we can do about that," said Sri Lanka coach Chris Silverwood. "Yes, it's not ideal. We would love to have an extra day as well. Other than that, I don't have much comment on that because they have made a decision," said Bangladesh coach Hathurusingha. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Asia Cup: Pakistan name Playing XI for Super Four match vs India, replaces THIS player from group stage clash

The Asia Cup 2023 edition is underway. The multi-nation competition&nbsp;finally started on August 30 in Multan, Pakistan with Babar Azam-led Men in Green thrashing Nepal by 238 runs. In the second game, in Sri Lanka, the home side beat Bangladesh by five wickets on Thursday (August 31). In the two games, as well as during India's team photo shoot, many observed that Pakistan's name was missing&nbsp;from the team jerseys.

It is to be noted that&nbsp;Pakistan remain the original hosts despite nine out of 13 games being held in Sri Lanka. The 2023 edition is being held in a hybrid model -- for the first time in Asia Cup's history -- after India made it clear that they won't travel to Pakistan due to strained relations. Last year's edition was held in the UAE but Sri Lanka remained the original hosts and their name was mentioned in team jerseys (below the Asia Cup's logo). However, eyebrows have been raised with the same trend not being followed this year.

<h2>Former Pak cricketers slam ACC, PCB</h2>

Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif said, as quoted by Hindustan Times, "This is unacceptable and it is the Asian Cricket Council which must explain this oversight since the Asia Cup is their property."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/even-if-we-lose-to-india-former-pakistan-all-rounders-message-to-babar-co-ahead-of-asia-cup-face-off-631107">'Even if we lose to India': Former Pakistan all-rounder's message to Babar &amp; Co. ahead of Asia Cup face-off</a>

On the other hand, PCB tried to play down the situation by explaining that the Jay Shah-led ACC&nbsp;decided after the 2022 edition&nbsp;to strike off the host country's name from below&nbsp;the Asia Cup logo&nbsp;in future events. However, not many have accepted their statement.&nbsp;

Moreover, Mohsin Khan -- Pakistan's former batter -- also slammed ACC and stated, "Makes no sense at all. Then why has the ACC given the host country’s name on the logos for their Asian Emerging Nations Cup or their Asian under-16 event held in July in Malaysia."

The third game of the Asia Cup will take place on Saturday (September 02) in Kandy with India facing arch-rivals Pakistan. Rohit Sharma &amp; Co. will open their campaign and hope for a win over the No. 1 ranked ODI side.

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The Asia Cup 2023 edition is underway. The multi-nation competition finally started on August 30 in Multan, Pakistan with Babar Azam-led Men in Green thrashing Nepal by 238 runs.

The Asia Cup 2023 edition is underway. The multi-nation competition finally started on August 30 in Multan, Pakistan with Babar Azam-led Men in Green thrashing Nepal by 238 runs. In the second game, in Sri Lanka, the home side beat Bangladesh by five wickets on Thursday (August 31). In the two games, as well as during India's team photo shoot, many observed that Pakistan's name was missing from the team jerseys. It is to be noted that Pakistan remain the original hosts despite nine out of 13 games being held in Sri Lanka. The 2023 edition is being held in a hybrid model -- for the first time in Asia Cup's history -- after India made it clear that they won't travel to Pakistan due to strained relations. Last year's edition was held in the UAE but Sri Lanka remained the original hosts and their name was mentioned in team jerseys (below the Asia Cup's logo). However, eyebrows have been raised with the same trend not being followed this year. Former Pak cricketers slam ACC, PCB Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif said, as quoted by Hindustan Times, "This is unacceptable and it is the Asian Cricket Council which must explain this oversight since the Asia Cup is their property." Also read: 'Even if we lose to India': Former Pakistan all-rounder's message to Babar & Co. ahead of Asia Cup face-off On the other hand, PCB tried to play down the situation by explaining that the Jay Shah-led ACC decided after the 2022 edition to strike off the host country's name from below the Asia Cup logo in future events. However, not many have accepted their statement. Moreover, Mohsin Khan -- Pakistan's former batter -- also slammed ACC and stated, "Makes no sense at all. Then why has the ACC given the host country’s name on the logos for their Asian Emerging Nations Cup or their Asian under-16 event held in July in Malaysia." The third game of the Asia Cup will take place on Saturday (September 02) in Kandy with India facing arch-rivals Pakistan. Rohit Sharma & Co. will open their campaign and hope for a win over the No. 1 ranked ODI side. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Asia Cup: ACC, PCB blasted by ex-cricketers and fans after Pakistan's name goes missing from team jerseys

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has released a new promotional video for the upcoming ODI World Cup in India after they faced severe criticism on social media for excluding former skipper Imran Khan. The PCB on Thursday, August 17 released a new promotional video, contrary to the August 14 video, using former Prime Minister and World Cup-winning captain Imran Khan’s visuals. The PCB had earlier avoided using Imran’s visuals in the video published on Independence Day, due to the ongoing political turmoil in the nation.

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The PCB has launched a promotional campaign leading up to the CWC 2023. One of the videos was uploaded on 14th August 2023. Due to its length, the video was abridged and some important clips were missing. This has been rectified in the complete version of the video ⤵️ <a href="https://t.co/Rz2OBDyI9i">pic.twitter.com/Rz2OBDyI9i</a>
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRealPCB/status/1691886747721019507?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h2>PCB rectifies mistake</h2>

"The PCB has launched a promotional campaign leading up to the CWC 2023. One of the videos was uploaded on 14th August 2023. Due to its length, the video was abridged and some important clips were missing. This has been rectified in the complete version of the video," PCB captioned the video.

Imran, Pakistan’s only ODI World Cup-winning captain to date, is behind bars on corruption-related charges and was arrested last week. His political future is also in limbo after being banned from all elections-related activities for the next five years. This also means he won’t be able to contest the upcoming general elections in the nation.

However, fans on social media criticised the PCB’s decision not to use Imran’s iconic 1992 World Cup-winning moment during the video published on August 14. Due to the length of the video, some important clips were missing, explained PCB in its statement.

Former Pakistan speedster Wasim Akram also criticised the PCB for omitting Imran and fired with an angry reaction from his X handle (formerly Twitter).

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/us-open-2023-caroline-wozniacki-john-isner-handed-wildcards-venus-williams-to-make-record-24th-appearance-626186">US Open 2023: Caroline Wozniacki, John Isner handed wildcards; Venus Williams to make record 24th appearance</a>

<h2>Wasim Akram’s criticism of PCB</h2>

"After long flights and hours of transit before reaching Sri Lanka, I got the shock of my life when I watched PCB’s short clip on the history of Pakistan cricket minus the great Imran Khan. Political differences apart but Imran Khan is an icon of world cricket and developed Pakistan into a strong unit in his time and gave us a path PCB should delete the video and apologise," Akram wrote on X after arriving in Sri Lanka.

As things stand, the PCB has learned its lesson after fans' criticism as they rectified the mistake. On the field, Pakistan will look for a better World Cup campaign that gets underway on Friday, October 6 against the Netherlands. They will face India in the high-voltage clash on Saturday, October 14 at the Narendra Modi Stadium as they try to end their 31-year drought of ODI World Cup success.

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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has released a new promotional video for the upcoming ODI World Cup in India after they faced severe criticism on social media for excluding former skipper Imran Khan.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has released a new promotional video for the upcoming ODI World Cup in India after they faced severe criticism on social media for excluding former skipper Imran Khan. The PCB on Thursday, August 17 released a new promotional video, contrary to the August 14 video, using former Prime Minister and World Cup-winning captain Imran Khan’s visuals. The PCB had earlier avoided using Imran’s visuals in the video published on Independence Day, due to the ongoing political turmoil in the nation. The PCB has launched a promotional campaign leading up to the CWC 2023. One of the videos was uploaded on 14th August 2023. Due to its length, the video was abridged and some important clips were missing. This has been rectified in the complete version of the video ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/Rz2OBDyI9i — Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) August 16, 2023 × PCB rectifies mistake "The PCB has launched a promotional campaign leading up to the CWC 2023. One of the videos was uploaded on 14th August 2023. Due to its length, the video was abridged and some important clips were missing. This has been rectified in the complete version of the video," PCB captioned the video. Imran, Pakistan’s only ODI World Cup-winning captain to date, is behind bars on corruption-related charges and was arrested last week. His political future is also in limbo after being banned from all elections-related activities for the next five years. This also means he won’t be able to contest the upcoming general elections in the nation. However, fans on social media criticised the PCB’s decision not to use Imran’s iconic 1992 World Cup-winning moment during the video published on August 14. Due to the length of the video, some important clips were missing, explained PCB in its statement. Former Pakistan speedster Wasim Akram also criticised the PCB for omitting Imran and fired with an angry reaction from his X handle (formerly Twitter). ALSO READ | US Open 2023: Caroline Wozniacki, John Isner handed wildcards; Venus Williams to make record 24th appearance Wasim Akram’s criticism of PCB "After long flights and hours of transit before reaching Sri Lanka, I got the shock of my life when I watched PCB’s short clip on the history of Pakistan cricket minus the great Imran Khan. Political differences apart but Imran Khan is an icon of world cricket and developed Pakistan into a strong unit in his time and gave us a path PCB should delete the video and apologise," Akram wrote on X after arriving in Sri Lanka. As things stand, the PCB has learned its lesson after fans' criticism as they rectified the mistake. On the field, Pakistan will look for a better World Cup campaign that gets underway on Friday, October 6 against the Netherlands. They will face India in the high-voltage clash on Saturday, October 14 at the Narendra Modi Stadium as they try to end their 31-year drought of ODI World Cup success. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

PCB releases new promotional video featuring Imran Khan after social media backlash

Pakistan's swashbuckling batter Iftikhar Ahmed has been in the news for a while. A statement went viral recently, where the 32-year-old allegedly compared competing against India to playing with "street children". The remark went viral in no time on social media platforms and the Pakistan batter faced a lot of heat online. However, he has now responded to the statement and termed it fake. Iftikhar said that 'no professional cricketer will make such a statement' and slammed the fan who is at fault for "spreading hate".

<h2>'Please stop circulating false news, report this individual for spreading hate'</h2>

"I've been made aware of this statement which I've never made. In fact, no professional cricketer will make such a statement. Please stop circulating false news &amp; report this individual for spreading hate. @X @elonmusk please ban this account as people are misusing the blue tick," Iftikhar posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pcb-releases-new-promotional-video-including-imran-khan-after-social-media-backlash-626265">PCB releases new promotional video featuring Imran Khan after social media backlash</a>

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I’ve been made aware of this statement which I’ve never made. In fact, no professional cricketer will make such a statement. Please stop circulating false news &amp; report this individual for spreading hate.<a href="https://twitter.com/X?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@X</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@elonmusk</a> please ban this account as people are misusing the blue tick. <a href="https://t.co/dmgDEfM9jp">https://t.co/dmgDEfM9jp</a> <a href="https://t.co/fExqNRa9Zk">pic.twitter.com/fExqNRa9Zk</a>
— Iftikhar Ahmad (@IftiMania) <a href="https://twitter.com/IftiMania/status/1691844717451886704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2023</a></blockquote>
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At present, Iftikhar is gearing up for the forthcoming Asia Cup -- to be jointly hosted by Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

The continental tournament will kick off on August 30 with Pakistan hosting Nepal, whereas the Babar Azam-led Men in Green face arch-rivals Rohit Sharma-led India on September 02 in Pallekele. The two sides are expected to lock horns in the Super Four and can also meet in the summit clash, to be held on September 17 in Colombo.&nbsp;

Iftikhar, who is a popular name in his country due to his big-hitting skills, is part of a strong 17-man squad for the upcoming multi-nation event. He was recently seen in action in the ongoing Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2023 edition, where he represented the Colombo Strikers who failed to make it to the playoffs.

Pakistan squad for Asia Cup:&nbsp;Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Tayyab Tahir, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Haris, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi.

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Pakistan's swashbuckling batter Iftikhar Ahmed has been in the news for a while. A statement went viral recently, where the 32-year-old allegedly compared competing against India to playing with "street children".

Pakistan's swashbuckling batter Iftikhar Ahmed has been in the news for a while. A statement went viral recently, where the 32-year-old allegedly compared competing against India to playing with "street children". The remark went viral in no time on social media platforms and the Pakistan batter faced a lot of heat online. However, he has now responded to the statement and termed it fake. Iftikhar said that 'no professional cricketer will make such a statement' and slammed the fan who is at fault for "spreading hate". 'Please stop circulating false news, report this individual for spreading hate' "I've been made aware of this statement which I've never made. In fact, no professional cricketer will make such a statement. Please stop circulating false news & report this individual for spreading hate. @X @elonmusk please ban this account as people are misusing the blue tick," Iftikhar posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. Also read: PCB releases new promotional video featuring Imran Khan after social media backlash I’ve been made aware of this statement which I’ve never made. In fact, no professional cricketer will make such a statement. Please stop circulating false news & report this individual for spreading hate.@X @elonmusk please ban this account as people are misusing the blue tick. https://t.co/dmgDEfM9jp pic.twitter.com/fExqNRa9Zk — Iftikhar Ahmad (@IftiMania) August 16, 2023 × At present, Iftikhar is gearing up for the forthcoming Asia Cup -- to be jointly hosted by Sri Lanka and Pakistan. The continental tournament will kick off on August 30 with Pakistan hosting Nepal, whereas the Babar Azam-led Men in Green face arch-rivals Rohit Sharma-led India on September 02 in Pallekele. The two sides are expected to lock horns in the Super Four and can also meet in the summit clash, to be held on September 17 in Colombo. Iftikhar, who is a popular name in his country due to his big-hitting skills, is part of a strong 17-man squad for the upcoming multi-nation event. He was recently seen in action in the ongoing Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2023 edition, where he represented the Colombo Strikers who failed to make it to the playoffs. Pakistan squad for Asia Cup: Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Tayyab Tahir, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Haris, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Pakistan's Iftikhar Ahmed reacts to fake remark on Team India, lashes out at fan for 'spreading hate'

Former Pakistan speedster Wasim Akram slammed the national board on Wednesday, August 16 over a controversial video published on the occasion of Independence Day of the country. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) released a video highlighting the achievements of the nation in cricket, but much to the surprise avoided using Imran Khan’s visuals. Akram took strict note of the video and demanded an apology on the matter after Imran’s visuals were avoided being used.

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After long flights and hours of transit before reaching Sri Lanka, I got the shock of my life when I watched PCB’s short clip on the history of Pakistan cricket minus the great Imran Khan… political differences apart but Imran Khan is an icon of world cricket and developed…
— Wasim Akram (@wasimakramlive) <a href="https://twitter.com/wasimakramlive/status/1691729445634331048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h2>Akram slams PCB</h2>

"After long flights and hours of transit before reaching Sri Lanka, I got the shock of my life when I watched PCB's short clip on the history of Pakistan cricket minus the great Imran Khan… political differences apart but Imran Khan is an icon of world cricket and developed Pakistan into a strong unit in his time and gave us a pathway… PCB should delete the video and apologise," Akram wrote on his X (formerly known as Twitter) handle.

Imran, currently in jail has been convicted for corruption and then barred from politics for five years, preventing him from contesting a general election due late this year. Imran still remains the only captain to lead Pakistan to an ODI World Cup success, having won the prestigious honour in 1992 in Australia when his side got the better of England in the final.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rohit-sharma-needs-to-be-more-aggressive-kapil-dev-advises-indian-captain-cites-bazballs-example-626012">Rohit Sharma needs to be more aggressive: Kapil Dev advises Indian captain, cites Bazball's example</a>

However, recent political instability in the nation has seen his stocks go down big time, and has been on the radar of the opposition parties. Imran became the prime minister of Pakistan in 2018 but could not complete the term and was thrown out of power in April 2021.

On the other hand, Pakistan will try to end their 31-year drought for the ODI World Cup as Babar Azam and Co. prepare for the showpiece event in India. Pakistan will start their ODI World Cup campaign in India on Friday, October 6 against the Netherlands. They will also face India on Saturday, October 14 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in a high-voltage clash.

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Former Pakistan speedster Wasim Akram slammed the national board on Wednesday, August 16 over a controversial video published on the occasion of Independence Day of the country.

Former Pakistan speedster Wasim Akram slammed the national board on Wednesday, August 16 over a controversial video published on the occasion of Independence Day of the country. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) released a video highlighting the achievements of the nation in cricket, but much to the surprise avoided using Imran Khan’s visuals. Akram took strict note of the video and demanded an apology on the matter after Imran’s visuals were avoided being used. After long flights and hours of transit before reaching Sri Lanka, I got the shock of my life when I watched PCB’s short clip on the history of Pakistan cricket minus the great Imran Khan… political differences apart but Imran Khan is an icon of world cricket and developed… — Wasim Akram (@wasimakramlive) August 16, 2023 × Akram slams PCB "After long flights and hours of transit before reaching Sri Lanka, I got the shock of my life when I watched PCB's short clip on the history of Pakistan cricket minus the great Imran Khan… political differences apart but Imran Khan is an icon of world cricket and developed Pakistan into a strong unit in his time and gave us a pathway… PCB should delete the video and apologise," Akram wrote on his X (formerly known as Twitter) handle. Imran, currently in jail has been convicted for corruption and then barred from politics for five years, preventing him from contesting a general election due late this year. Imran still remains the only captain to lead Pakistan to an ODI World Cup success, having won the prestigious honour in 1992 in Australia when his side got the better of England in the final. ALSO READ | Rohit Sharma needs to be more aggressive: Kapil Dev advises Indian captain, cites Bazball's example However, recent political instability in the nation has seen his stocks go down big time, and has been on the radar of the opposition parties. Imran became the prime minister of Pakistan in 2018 but could not complete the term and was thrown out of power in April 2021. On the other hand, Pakistan will try to end their 31-year drought for the ODI World Cup as Babar Azam and Co. prepare for the showpiece event in India. Pakistan will start their ODI World Cup campaign in India on Friday, October 6 against the Netherlands. They will also face India on Saturday, October 14 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in a high-voltage clash. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Wasim Akram slams PCB for ignoring Imran Khan in promotional video, says 'they should apologise'

Wahab Riaz has announced&nbsp;international retirement ahead of Babar Azam-led Pakistan's Asia Cup 2023 campaign on Wednesday (August 16). Having played 27 Tests, 91 ODIs and 36 T20Is, Riaz ended with 83 scalps in Tests, 120 ODI wickets and 34 T20I breakthroughs in a career which spanned from 2008&nbsp;to date. He was also a handy hitter down the order. His last international match came in December&nbsp;2020.

Riaz wrote in a tweet, "Stepping off the international pitch". He added, "After an incredible journey, I've decided to retire from international cricket. Big thank you to PCB, my family, coaches, mentors, teammates, fans, and everyone who supported me."

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🏏 Stepping off the international pitch 
 
🌟 After an incredible journey, I've decided to retire from international cricket. Big thank you to PCB, my family, coaches, mentors, teammates, fans, and everyone who supported me. 🙏 
 
Exciting times ahead in the world of franchise…
— Wahab Riaz (@WahabViki) <a href="https://twitter.com/WahabViki/status/1691695647773348281?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2023</a></blockquote>
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It is to be noted that Riaz has&nbsp;been involved in politics in recent times. Early this year, he was&nbsp;named the caretaker sports minister of the Punjab province. He will continue to feature in franchise cricket despite hanging his boots at the highest level.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/should-nearly-fit-kl-rahul-be-a-part-of-indias-xi-in-asia-cup-2023-ravi-shastri-shares-his-take-625958">Should nearly-fit KL Rahul be a part of India's XI in Asia Cup 2023? Ravi Shastri shares his take</a>

In a press statement, Riaz opined, "I have been speaking about my retirement plans past two years, that 2023 is my target to retire from International cricket, and I feel comfortable now more than ever that I have served my country and National team to the best I could have."

"It has been an honor and a privilege to represent Pakistan on the international stage. As I bid farewell to this chapter, I am thrilled to embark on a new adventure in franchise cricket, where I hope to entertain and inspire audiences while competing against some of the best talents in the world," added the pacer.&nbsp;

Riaz is best known for his fiery spell during Pakistan's six-wicket defeat at the hands of eventual winners Australia in the quarter-finals&nbsp;of the 2015 ODI World Cup, in Adelaide. He even picked a memorable five-fer during the India-Pakistan semi-final of the 2011 edition. He was part of Pakistan's 2019 ODI WC squad, ending with 11 wickets.

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Wahab Riaz has announced international retirement ahead of Babar Azam-led Pakistan's Asia Cup 2023 campaign on Wednesday (August 16). Having played 27 Tests, 91 ODIs and 36 T20Is, Riaz ended with 83 scalps in Tests, 120 ODI wickets and 34 T20I breakthroughs in a career which spanned from 2008 to date.

Wahab Riaz has announced international retirement ahead of Babar Azam-led Pakistan's Asia Cup 2023 campaign on Wednesday (August 16). Having played 27 Tests, 91 ODIs and 36 T20Is, Riaz ended with 83 scalps in Tests, 120 ODI wickets and 34 T20I breakthroughs in a career which spanned from 2008 to date. He was also a handy hitter down the order. His last international match came in December 2020. Riaz wrote in a tweet, "Stepping off the international pitch". He added, "After an incredible journey, I've decided to retire from international cricket. Big thank you to PCB, my family, coaches, mentors, teammates, fans, and everyone who supported me." 🏏 Stepping off the international pitch 🌟 After an incredible journey, I've decided to retire from international cricket. Big thank you to PCB, my family, coaches, mentors, teammates, fans, and everyone who supported me. 🙏 Exciting times ahead in the world of franchise… — Wahab Riaz (@WahabViki) August 16, 2023 × It is to be noted that Riaz has been involved in politics in recent times. Early this year, he was named the caretaker sports minister of the Punjab province. He will continue to feature in franchise cricket despite hanging his boots at the highest level. Also read: Should nearly-fit KL Rahul be a part of India's XI in Asia Cup 2023? Ravi Shastri shares his take In a press statement, Riaz opined, "I have been speaking about my retirement plans past two years, that 2023 is my target to retire from International cricket, and I feel comfortable now more than ever that I have served my country and National team to the best I could have." "It has been an honor and a privilege to represent Pakistan on the international stage. As I bid farewell to this chapter, I am thrilled to embark on a new adventure in franchise cricket, where I hope to entertain and inspire audiences while competing against some of the best talents in the world," added the pacer. Riaz is best known for his fiery spell during Pakistan's six-wicket defeat at the hands of eventual winners Australia in the quarter-finals of the 2015 ODI World Cup, in Adelaide. He even picked a memorable five-fer during the India-Pakistan semi-final of the 2011 edition. He was part of Pakistan's 2019 ODI WC squad, ending with 11 wickets. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Pakistan left-arm pacer Wahab Riaz announces international retirement before Asia Cup

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) shared a video on Pakistan cricket on the country's 76th Independence Day on Monday (August 14).&nbsp;The two-minute 21-second clip traced back to Pakistan's international cricket debut in 1952 and captured some of their biggest moments, such as the&nbsp;historic ODI World Cup triumph in 1992 till the 2022 T20 World Cup where Babar Azam-led Men in Green reached the final.

However, the video has not been well-received by the Pakistan cricket fans. The short clip is facing a severe backlash as it did not involve Imran Khan, the national captain and former prime minister who led Pakistan to their first-ever mega title during the 1992 ODI World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

The caption of the video reads, "Making history isn't just about one day; it's about the legends we create and the tales we script. Pakistan Cricket Team – a legacy that echoes through time."

The viral clip comprised some big names from Pakistan cricket such as Javed Miandad, Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar, Waqar Younis, Shahid Afridi, and Babar.

It displayed some of their glorious moments in 1992 win, the 2009 T20 World Cup victory and&nbsp;2017 Champions Trophy win, where they trounced India in the summit clash. However, Imran -- a veteran of 88 Tests and 175 ODIs -- was nowhere to be found.&nbsp;

Here is the clip:

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Making history isn't just about one day, it's about the legends we create and the tales we script 💫 
 
🏆 Pakistan Cricket Team – a legacy that echoes through time 🌟<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BeyondJustOneDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BeyondJustOneDay</a> <a href="https://t.co/grC0YVC5Xi">pic.twitter.com/grC0YVC5Xi</a>
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRealPCB/status/1691091543350771712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 14, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asia-cup-2023-pakistan-have-the-edge-india-not-settled-at-the-moment-feels-former-spinner-danish-kaneria-625716">Asia Cup 2023: Pakistan have the edge, India not settled at the moment, feels former spinner Danish Kaneria</a>

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Shameless <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRealPCB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheRealPCB</a> who tried to minus Imran Khan from cricket <a href="https://t.co/hOOnyWt93J">pic.twitter.com/hOOnyWt93J</a>
— Shehr Bano Official (@OfficialShehr) <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficialShehr/status/1691151650998902784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 14, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Zaka Ashraf remembered displaying a photograph of Bhutto but could not recall the picture of Imran Khan, the iconic figure in Pakistan cricket and the hero of 92WC. The shameless system and those who support it, along with people who remain silent, also face a lamentable fate. <a href="https://t.co/GZYMtjjYXk">pic.twitter.com/GZYMtjjYXk</a>
— Ray (@freewordslinger) <a href="https://twitter.com/freewordslinger/status/1691134682195283982?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 14, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/ICC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ICC</a> Hall of Fame says, "One of the finest cricketers to emerge from Pakistan, Imran Khan!" 
Shame on <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRealPCB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheRealPCB</a> <a href="https://t.co/VxzOpoXcVC">pic.twitter.com/VxzOpoXcVC</a>
— Mehvish Ali (@GMehvishali) <a href="https://twitter.com/GMehvishali/status/1691152366978887680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 14, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Absolutely disgusting, new low each day! That ONE man who made it all worth it, PAKISTAN team is NOT complete without him. You can remove his pictures but CANNOT change the history! <a href="https://t.co/Pne5gJMOpw">pic.twitter.com/Pne5gJMOpw</a>
— SB_Blog (@Bukhari2204) <a href="https://twitter.com/Bukhari2204/status/1691146266766356545?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 14, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Bold of them to assume by not mentioning greatest captain this country ever had will damage his reputation, there's no Pakistan cricket without Imran Khan. <a href="https://t.co/8UYqTfGV5a">https://t.co/8UYqTfGV5a</a> <a href="https://t.co/43RSIEwS7X">pic.twitter.com/43RSIEwS7X</a>
— Haroon (@ThisHaroon) <a href="https://twitter.com/ThisHaroon/status/1691114889333387264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 14, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Just watched the video - how can you even think of celebrating the achievements of Pakistan cricket without any reference to Imran Khan. You can erase his brilliant achievements from a video, but never from the memories of cricket lovers all over the world <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a>
— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) <a href="https://twitter.com/SajSadiqCricket/status/1691345141850587136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Hi <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRealPCB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheRealPCB</a>, In case you don't remember, his name is Imran Khan, the legendary cricket captain who led Pakistan to victory in the 1992 World Cup. He was the driving force behind Pakistan becoming one of the best cricket teams. How could you forget him? <a href="https://t.co/Nib6psnTz7">pic.twitter.com/Nib6psnTz7</a>
— Anwar Lodhi (@AnwarLodhi) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnwarLodhi/status/1691274195928264704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Imran has been a huge name in Pakistan cricket. He remains one of the finest cricketers of all time. He ended with&nbsp;3,807 and&nbsp;3,709 Test and ODI runs, respectively, along with claiming a total of 544 international wickets (362 of them came in the purest format) during his sparkling international career (spanning from 1971-1994). He turned to politics and served as Pakistan's Prime Minister (the country's 22nd overall) from August 2018 to April 2022.&nbsp;

Apart from Imran, the likes of Mohammad Yousuf -- who still holds the record for the most runs in a calendar year in Tests --&nbsp;and former opener Saeed Anwar were also not part of the PCB video.&nbsp;

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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) shared a video on Pakistan cricket on the country's 76th Independence Day on Monday (August 14). The two-minute 21-second clip traced back to Pakistan's international cricket debut in 1952 and captured some of their biggest moments, such as the historic ODI World Cup triumph in 1992 till the 2022 T20 World Cup where Babar Azam-led Men in Green reached the final.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) shared a video on Pakistan cricket on the country's 76th Independence Day on Monday (August 14). The two-minute 21-second clip traced back to Pakistan's international cricket debut in 1952 and captured some of their biggest moments, such as the historic ODI World Cup triumph in 1992 till the 2022 T20 World Cup where Babar Azam-led Men in Green reached the final. However, the video has not been well-received by the Pakistan cricket fans. The short clip is facing a severe backlash as it did not involve Imran Khan, the national captain and former prime minister who led Pakistan to their first-ever mega title during the 1992 ODI World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. The caption of the video reads, "Making history isn't just about one day; it's about the legends we create and the tales we script. Pakistan Cricket Team – a legacy that echoes through time." The viral clip comprised some big names from Pakistan cricket such as Javed Miandad, Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar, Waqar Younis, Shahid Afridi, and Babar. It displayed some of their glorious moments in 1992 win, the 2009 T20 World Cup victory and 2017 Champions Trophy win, where they trounced India in the summit clash. However, Imran -- a veteran of 88 Tests and 175 ODIs -- was nowhere to be found. Here is the clip: Making history isn't just about one day, it's about the legends we create and the tales we script 💫 🏆 Pakistan Cricket Team – a legacy that echoes through time 🌟#BeyondJustOneDay pic.twitter.com/grC0YVC5Xi — Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) August 14, 2023 × Also read: Asia Cup 2023: Pakistan have the edge, India not settled at the moment, feels former spinner Danish Kaneria Here are some reactions from fans: Shameless @TheRealPCB who tried to minus Imran Khan from cricket pic.twitter.com/hOOnyWt93J — Shehr Bano Official (@OfficialShehr) August 14, 2023 × Zaka Ashraf remembered displaying a photograph of Bhutto but could not recall the picture of Imran Khan, the iconic figure in Pakistan cricket and the hero of 92WC. The shameless system and those who support it, along with people who remain silent, also face a lamentable fate. pic.twitter.com/GZYMtjjYXk — Ray (@freewordslinger) August 14, 2023 × @ICC Hall of Fame says, "One of the finest cricketers to emerge from Pakistan, Imran Khan!" Shame on @TheRealPCB pic.twitter.com/VxzOpoXcVC — Mehvish Ali (@GMehvishali) August 14, 2023 × Absolutely disgusting, new low each day! That ONE man who made it all worth it, PAKISTAN team is NOT complete without him. You can remove his pictures but CANNOT change the history! pic.twitter.com/Pne5gJMOpw — SB_Blog (@Bukhari2204) August 14, 2023 × Bold of them to assume by not mentioning greatest captain this country ever had will damage his reputation, there's no Pakistan cricket without Imran Khan. https://t.co/8UYqTfGV5a pic.twitter.com/43RSIEwS7X — Haroon (@ThisHaroon) August 14, 2023 × Just watched the video - how can you even think of celebrating the achievements of Pakistan cricket without any reference to Imran Khan. You can erase his brilliant achievements from a video, but never from the memories of cricket lovers all over the world #Cricket — Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) August 15, 2023 × Hi @TheRealPCB, In case you don't remember, his name is Imran Khan, the legendary cricket captain who led Pakistan to victory in the 1992 World Cup. He was the driving force behind Pakistan becoming one of the best cricket teams. How could you forget him? pic.twitter.com/Nib6psnTz7 — Anwar Lodhi (@AnwarLodhi) August 15, 2023 × Imran has been a huge name in Pakistan cricket. He remains one of the finest cricketers of all time. He ended with 3,807 and 3,709 Test and ODI runs, respectively, along with claiming a total of 544 international wickets (362 of them came in the purest format) during his sparkling international career (spanning from 1971-1994). He turned to politics and served as Pakistan's Prime Minister (the country's 22nd overall) from August 2018 to April 2022. Apart from Imran, the likes of Mohammad Yousuf -- who still holds the record for the most runs in a calendar year in Tests -- and former opener Saeed Anwar were also not part of the PCB video. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'Disgusting': Fans react after Imran Khan ousted from PCB's video on Pakistan cricket legends

Former skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq has been named Pakistan chief selector for a second term. Inzamam will fill the post which has been lying vacant since Haroon Rasheed quit from the post last month. Inzamam will now no longer be a part of Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) cricket technical committee, reported ESPNCricinfo.

Inzamam was appointed to the committee last week itself along with Mohammad Hafeez and Misbah-ul-haq as the third member and head of the committee.

The first task of the committee was to appoint a chief selector. The PCB, however, has said that Inzamam has been appointed by the PCB chief Zaka Ashraf rather than the committee doing it.

Inzamam, who was the chief selector from 2016 to 2019 as well, will be responsible for announcing the squads for upcoming three-ODI series against Sri Lanka and the Asia Cup. The squads for both tournaments would be announced by Inzamam in a press conference on August 10, reported ESPNCricinfo.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-wi-2nd-t20i-samson-and-his-fans-can-say-he-is-getting-to-bat-at-wrong-number-feels-aakash-chopra-623126">Ind vs WI, 2nd T20I: Samson and his fans can say he is getting to bat at wrong number, feels Aakash Chopra</a>

The former skipper was also the chief selector of the team during the last ICC ODI World Cup as well and will be selecting the squad for this edition as well. The ODI World Cup is scheduled to be played in India from October 5 to November 19.

As for his place in the technical committee, ESPNCricinfo reported citing the PCB that a replacement will be announced in the due course of time.&nbsp;

Inzamam, one of Pakistan's most prolific batsmen, was the member of 1992 World Cup-winning team under Imran Khan. As for his career numbers, Inzamam played 378 ODIs for Pakistan and scored 11,739 runs with 83 fifties and 10 centuries. In whites, he played 120 games, scoring 8,830 runs along with 46 fifties and 25 hundreds.

Inzamam captained Pakistan in both ODIs and Tests from 2001-02 to his retirement in 2007.

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Former skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq has been named Pakistan chief selector for a second term. Inzamam will fill the post which has been lying vacant since Haroon Rasheed quit from the post last month.

Former skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq has been named Pakistan chief selector for a second term. Inzamam will fill the post which has been lying vacant since Haroon Rasheed quit from the post last month. Inzamam will now no longer be a part of Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) cricket technical committee, reported ESPNCricinfo. Inzamam was appointed to the committee last week itself along with Mohammad Hafeez and Misbah-ul-haq as the third member and head of the committee. The first task of the committee was to appoint a chief selector. The PCB, however, has said that Inzamam has been appointed by the PCB chief Zaka Ashraf rather than the committee doing it. Inzamam, who was the chief selector from 2016 to 2019 as well, will be responsible for announcing the squads for upcoming three-ODI series against Sri Lanka and the Asia Cup. The squads for both tournaments would be announced by Inzamam in a press conference on August 10, reported ESPNCricinfo. Also Read: Ind vs WI, 2nd T20I: Samson and his fans can say he is getting to bat at wrong number, feels Aakash Chopra The former skipper was also the chief selector of the team during the last ICC ODI World Cup as well and will be selecting the squad for this edition as well. The ODI World Cup is scheduled to be played in India from October 5 to November 19. As for his place in the technical committee, ESPNCricinfo reported citing the PCB that a replacement will be announced in the due course of time. Inzamam, one of Pakistan's most prolific batsmen, was the member of 1992 World Cup-winning team under Imran Khan. As for his career numbers, Inzamam played 378 ODIs for Pakistan and scored 11,739 runs with 83 fifties and 10 centuries. In whites, he played 120 games, scoring 8,830 runs along with 46 fifties and 25 hundreds. Inzamam captained Pakistan in both ODIs and Tests from 2001-02 to his retirement in 2007. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Former Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq appointed new chief selector by PCB for second term

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Zaka Ashraf will be adviced by a high-profile committee consisting of former captains Misbah-ul-Haq, Inzamam-ul-Haq, and Mohammad Hafeez. The committee will be headed by Misbah as they will advice the PCB chairman on matters relating to cricketing affairs. The PCB chairman had earlier announced the committee that will help the chairman in administration and implementing policies relating to cricket.

<h2>Misbah-ul-Haq to lead CTC</h2>

“The CTC (Cricket Technical Committee) will provide recommendations on cricket-related matters, including, but not limited to the overall domestic structure, scheduling, playing conditions, the appointment of the national selection committees, the appointment of national team coaches, central and domestic contracts and plans for the development of umpires, referees and curators," a statement from the PCB said.

"The CTC will have the powers to invite additional cricket experts, and shall report to the head of the PCB Management Committee on a regular basis."

The CTC’s first job will be to decide the fate of the coaching staff as there are speculations of changes. CTC will have the power to recommend any necessary changes to the staff and has vowed to resolve the issue before the Asia Cup begins at the end of August. CTC will share the findings related&nbsp;to the coaching staff issue with the PCB chairman before a concrete decision is made.

According to ESPNcricinfo, the CTC will come to a conclusion relating to the coaching issue by the end of the week and will share the findings with Zaka Ashraf.

The Misbah-ul-Haq-led committee will also oversee the revamp of the domestic structure as they prepare for the upcoming Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ashes-2023-england-australia-docked-points-in-double-digits-for-slow-over-rate-621712">Ashes 2023: England, Australia docked points in double digits for slow over rate</a>

<h2>Pakistan’s ODI World Cup schedule</h2>

On the other hand, Pakistan will look for a better show in the ODI World Cup despite going through the turmoil of events in the administration of the board. Pakistan will kickstart their World Cup campaign against the Netherlands on Friday, October 6 while they will meet Sri Lanka in their next contest. However, with India and Pakistan contests now likely to be rescheduled, there are changes expected in the itinerary.

The scheduled match between India and Pakistan is now set to take place on Saturday, October 14 after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and International Cricket Council (ICC) agreed to changes. PCB also has reportedly given the green light to the change in schedule.

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Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Zaka Ashraf will be adviced by a high-profile committee consisting of former captains Misbah-ul-Haq, Inzamam-ul-Haq, and Mohammad Hafeez.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Zaka Ashraf will be adviced by a high-profile committee consisting of former captains Misbah-ul-Haq, Inzamam-ul-Haq, and Mohammad Hafeez. The committee will be headed by Misbah as they will advice the PCB chairman on matters relating to cricketing affairs. The PCB chairman had earlier announced the committee that will help the chairman in administration and implementing policies relating to cricket. Misbah-ul-Haq to lead CTC “The CTC (Cricket Technical Committee) will provide recommendations on cricket-related matters, including, but not limited to the overall domestic structure, scheduling, playing conditions, the appointment of the national selection committees, the appointment of national team coaches, central and domestic contracts and plans for the development of umpires, referees and curators," a statement from the PCB said. "The CTC will have the powers to invite additional cricket experts, and shall report to the head of the PCB Management Committee on a regular basis." The CTC’s first job will be to decide the fate of the coaching staff as there are speculations of changes. CTC will have the power to recommend any necessary changes to the staff and has vowed to resolve the issue before the Asia Cup begins at the end of August. CTC will share the findings related to the coaching staff issue with the PCB chairman before a concrete decision is made. According to ESPNcricinfo, the CTC will come to a conclusion relating to the coaching issue by the end of the week and will share the findings with Zaka Ashraf. The Misbah-ul-Haq-led committee will also oversee the revamp of the domestic structure as they prepare for the upcoming Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. ALSO READ | Ashes 2023: England, Australia docked points in double digits for slow over rate Pakistan’s ODI World Cup schedule On the other hand, Pakistan will look for a better show in the ODI World Cup despite going through the turmoil of events in the administration of the board. Pakistan will kickstart their World Cup campaign against the Netherlands on Friday, October 6 while they will meet Sri Lanka in their next contest. However, with India and Pakistan contests now likely to be rescheduled, there are changes expected in the itinerary. The scheduled match between India and Pakistan is now set to take place on Saturday, October 14 after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and International Cricket Council (ICC) agreed to changes. PCB also has reportedly given the green light to the change in schedule. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Former captains Misbah, Inzamam and Hafeez to advice Zaka Ashraf as part of PCB technical committee