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[ad_1] Australian captain Pat Cummins said on Thursday that they are hoping to try different team combinations and players in the ODI series against India to prepare for the ICC World Cup 2023, starting next month. Pat Cummins said that he had fully recovered from a wrist injury and hoped to play all three one-day internationals against hosts India starting Friday. While Cummins returns, Australia still won’t have the services of pacer Mitchell Starc and all-rounder Glenn Maxwell for the first match in the northern Indian city of Mohali. “I am feeling pretty good, pretty much 100 percent, and hope to play tomorrow and play all the games,” Cummins told journalists. But the Australian pace spearhead said Starc, who is recovering from a groin injury, and Maxwell, from an ankle injury, won’t play “but will be available later in the series”. Most of Australia’s top players are also key members of different franchises in the Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament, and Cummins

[ad_1] Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has picked the teams he expects to make the semi-finals of the 2023 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup. Ganguly, who turned 51 on Saturday, named five teams that could be in contention for a semi-final spot at the World Cup in India later this year and remained hopeful about a clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan at Eden Gardens in one of the semi-finals. "It’s very hard to say [teams that could make the semi-final]," Ganguly said in an interview. "Australia, England, India. You can never underestimate New Zealand in these big matches. I will pick five, and include Pakistan also." "Pakistan better qualify so that we will have the India-Pakistan semi-final at the Eden Gardens." Eden Gardens is set to host the second semi-final of the World Cup on November 16 with Mumbai hosting the other. India play Pakistan on October 15 in the league stage, but the former skipper hoped that the teams would meet

[ad_1] Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi was in awe of Australia's Glenn Maxwell, who smashed the fastest-ever World Cup century against the Netherlands at New Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium. Boom Boom is expecting middle-order batter Iftikhar Ahmed to play the same way Maxwell did as he has those skills similar to Australian all-rounder. "What an innings by Glenn Maxwell today, its a showcase of top class power hitting, well deserved win for Australia," Afridi posted on X. "I expect Iftikhar Ahmad to play a similar role for our team, he definitely has the capability to do so and the pitches are curated for power hitting, we all need you to fire up now," he added. Remember, Glenn Maxwell showed no mercy to the Netherlands bowlers and hit them to all parts of the ground. He completed his ton in just 40 balls. The 35-year-old came to bat when the Aussies were 266-4 in 38 overs after they had just lost the wicket of Josh Inglis. Maxwell came in

[ad_1] Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik talked about the controversy surrounding skipper Babar Azam, saying that he should step down as the team's captain voluntarily. "Babar Azam is a great batter but we do injustice by putting his leadership qualities and batting ability on the same scale," Malik said while speaking on the private channel programme. His comments came amid mixed opinions regarding the 28-year-old batter's leadership qualities. Malik said that it was a culture in Pakistan to expect immediate results. The former skipper said that it used to be 20 to 25 years ago when one player would win the match with his individual performance but today it was not the same as four to five performing players are required in the team for success. The 41-year-old cricketer said that if he was in Babar's place, he would have distanced himself from the leadership role and concentrated on his batting. He then suggested those who were close to Babar advise hi

[ad_1] Pakistan’s Test captain Shan Masood has revealed the batting order for the upcoming three-match Test series against Australia, which will see him playing at number three. Shan Masood talked to the media after the trophy unveiling ceremony for the four-day match between Pakistan and Australian Prime Minister XI, which is set to start tomorrow. The newly appointed Pakistan’s Test skipper stated that Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique will continue to open the innings while Babar Azam will bat at number four. “We will continue with the same batting order from the last Test series. Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique are settled as opening batters for over a year,” said Shan Masood. “Babar Azam is our main batter and he has been playing at number four in Test cricket, so we will plan our batting around him.” Shan Masood further opened up about his position and the role of two wicketkeepers in the squad. “I played at number three since my comeback to the Test side, so I wi

[ad_1] Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan, naming Shadab Khan as the captain for the Sharjah tour. Ahead of the team's announcement, PCB chief Najam Sethi said that young players who had performed in the Pakistan Super League (PSL 2023) will be given the opportunity in the series and that he had taken the senior players Babar Azam, Muhammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Afrdid into confidence over the strategy. In a press statement issued separately, Najam Sethi congratulated Shadab Khan on his appointment as the Pakistan team captain for the series against Afghanistan. “Shadab Khan has been the Pakistan vice-captain in white-ball cricket for the past couple of years and it is logical that he takes over the side in the absence of Babar Azam for the short three-match T20I tour of Sharjah.” The PCB chief said that Mohammad Yousuf has been appointed as the interim head and batting coach for the short Sh

[ad_1] Pakistan women's captain Maria Khan, who raked in accolades for her performance in the four-nation cup in Saudi Arabia’s Al Khobar, now makes it to the Women's Premier League's Eastern Flames Football Club. The Women's Premier League's Eastern Flames FC club announced Khan’s inclusion as the seasoned footballer was roped in to strengthen the first women's team for the league. Maria Khan joins the ranks of Eastern Flames FC. The Club’s management contracted with the first foreign professional to support the ranks of the women’s first team in the women's premier league this season, a post in Arabic on Twitter, now X, said. Meanwhile, Pakistani footballers pinned hope that exposure to international clubs would boost more opportunities for Pakistani talent. She mentioned that it will create further opportunities for Pakistani athletes and their talent. Previously, Maria represented WAPDA at the national level. Only a few people know that Mari

[ad_1] Umar Gul, who recently served as Pakistan’s interim bowling coach for Afghanistan and New Zealand series, shared his observations and commended skipper Babar Azam's dominance and relentless pursuit of success for the Men in Green. In an exclusive interview with Cricket Pakistan, Gul stated that Babar's authority as a captain was evident through his exceptional performance in the recently-concluded New Zealand series. He also emphasized that a dominant captain leads with authority, and when the team's performance is great, it further solidifies their position. As Babar continues to lead the team, Gul believes he should maintain this dominance, as it holds him accountable for the team's success. "I have observed Babar Azam closely during the New Zealand series, and one thing is clear that he is a dominant force, relentlessly striving for the success of his team. When we looked at his performance against the Blackcaps as the skipper, it's eviden