Day: May 11, 2024

Former Pakistan skipper Rashid Latif has expressed his concerns over the dressing room harmony as he feels that Shaheen Shah Afridi's removal as the captain of Pakistan was untimely and dealt in a wrong manner by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Ireland's victory by 5 wickets in the first T20 match against Pakistan at the Clontarf Cricket Stadium shocked the Men in Green as their bowling and fielding tumbled under pressure. Rashid Latif pointed out while speaking on his YouTube channel that the bowling of the national team has been struggling since the New Zealand series in January and that the removal of Shaheen as captain has played a pivotal part in its deteriorating state. 'Shaheen was removed wrongly from the captaincy and when Babar was reappointed, he showed his weakness. Whoever has handed him the captaincy will use him. The team would be from outside, players would be selected by somebody else and every other decision would be taken by someone else, nothing will change in Pakistan here.' Follow ing the 1st t20I between Ireland and Pakistan, Babar Azam stated in a post-match press conference that the team lost due to a lack of effort on the field and poor bowling. 'I think we lost due to the bowling and fielding. We didn't execute our plans and had some sloppy lapses in the field which cost us.' The Green Shirts will now face Ireland in the second T20I match of the three-match series on Sunday while the last match of the series will be held on May 14. Source: Pro Pakistani

In a captivating showdown at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, Japan emerged victorious in a tense battle against Pakistan, clinching the title in a thrilling penalty shootout. The match commenced with both teams displaying their prowess on the field, leading to an intense and closely contested encounter. Despite an early setback, Pakistan showcased their resilience with a commendable comeback in the third quarter, taking the lead 2-1 and setting the stage for a gripping finale. However, Japan showcased their determination, mounting a relentless pursuit of an equalizer. Their efforts paid off as they managed to level the score at 2-2, ensuring that the match remained deadlocked at the end of regular time. With neither team able to secure a decisive victory within the allotted time, the fate of the tournament was left to be decided by a nerve-wracking penalty shootout. In a display of skill and composure, Japan asserted their dominance, converting their penalties with clinical precision. As the shootout conclude d, Japan emerged triumphant with a commanding 4-1 victory, clinching the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup title. Despite the disappointment of defeat, Pakistan's spirited performance throughout the competition cannot be overlooked. Their journey to the final showcased their talent and tenacity, earning them admiration and respect on the international stage. Source: Pro Pakistani

Pakistan will lock horns with Japan in the 30th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup Final today. This will be the seventh time that the Green Shirts have qualified for the final with their last final appearance in 2011. The Men in Green topped their group in this edition's Azlan Shah Cup with 11 points where they bagged three victories and two draws against New Zealand and Japan. Roelant Oltmans' side can win the title for the fourth time in their history with the previous three titles coming in 1999, 2000, and 2003. After failing to qualify for the Olympics earlier this year, the Green Shirts have finally got on to positive note in 2024 while finally going on an unbeaten run to reach the final. Japan is ranked 16 in the World Hockey rankings while Pakistan is currently ranked 15th in the World rankings which means that both the teams are close in terms of quality on the field. Pakistan managed a draw against New Zealand to finish the group in the top two rankings to qualify for the grand finale that will be held tom orrow at the Ipoh Perak Stadium at 5:30 pm Pakistan time. Hockey in Pakistan needs hope and a victory in the final of the Azlan Shah Cup can provide that glimmer of hope to revive the sport in the country. Match Timings Match Date Time Venue Pakistan vs Japan Final 11 May 2024 5:30 pm (PST) Ipoh Perak Stadium, Malaysia Web and Mobile Live Streaming Platform Web Streaming Android App Begin.Watch LINK LINK TV Channels in Pakistan Geo Super PTV Sports Source: Pro Pakistani

Skipper Babar Azam has etched his name in the annals of T20I cricket, despite Pakistan's infamous defeat at the hands of minnows Ireland during the first T20I in Dublin on Friday. While Pakistan's cream of the crop for the upcoming T20 World Cup was busy losing to the lowly ranked Ireland in Dublin, Babar was making history leading the 'Shaheens' for the 77th time as T20I captain. Babar Azam now holds the world record for most appearances as captain in T20I for any country, surpassing former Aussie skipper Aaron Finch, who captained Australia in 76 T20Is. Country Captain T20Is Pakistan Babar Azam 77 Australia Aaron Finch 76 India MS Dhoni 72 England Eoin Morgan 72 New Zealand Kane Williamson 71 That's not all! Babar Azam achieved another milestone as he is just one victory away from becoming the most successful T20I captain, dethroning the record held by Brian Masaba from Uganda, who has 44 wins as captain. Babar is currently tied with the Ugandan legend with 44 wins as skipper. However, given the t eam he is playing with, a victory seems like a far-fetched dream at this point, even against a team like Ireland. Country Captain Wins Matches Uganda Brian Masaba 44 56 Pakistan Babar Azam 44 77 Afghanistan Asghar Afghan 42 52 England Eoin Morgan 42 72 Pakistan played Ireland for the first time in 15 years, and the ol' 'luck of the Irish' was in the air as batter Andy Balbirnie's heroics with the bat helped the hosts beat the visitors. It was Ireland's first win over Pakistan in the format, with the only time the teams met earlier during the World T20I in 2009. Source: Pro Pakistani