logo
Salman Ali Agha in line to become all-format captain

Salman Ali Agha in line to become all-format captain

The Print5 hours ago

A source in the board said that former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed and ex-pacer Sikander Bakht had been called to Lahore for a meeting.
Besides the change in captaincy, the board will also be announcing the formation of an 'observatory' committee after Eid holidays, a concept meant to keep a close watch on cricket developments including in the national team and forward recommendations to the board's chairman.
Karachi, Jun 8 (PTI) The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is expected to make some sweeping changes in its national team set-up with Salman Ali Agha in line to become all-format captain, replacing Shan Masood as the skipper of the Test side.
'The two were informed about the decision to form the observatory committee and offered positions on it,' the source said.
'Some other players will also be on this committee.' He said PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, after discussions with his close aides including new white ball head coach Mike Hesson, is also considering redefining the role of the national selection committee.
'Either there will be changes in the current selection committee which would continue to work with the Pakistan team management or a new selection set-up would be announced with prime focus on looking and finding talent from domestic and age group cricket,' the source said.
Naqvi, the source added, wanted to see things move forward with the right people in the right positions and with the coach and captain given powers to select the teams.
There is also a move to give more responsibility to Salman Ali Agha who is currently the national T20 captain and the board is contemplating replacing Shan Masood as the Test skipper when they announce the new head coach of the red ball format.
Pakistan's next Test assignment, which is their first in the ICC World Test Championship new cycle, will be a two-match home series against South Africa later this year.
Pakistan is slated to play just five Tests this calendar year. PTI Cor AH AH
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

‘Rohit Sharma's average would've dropped to 30s if he toured England': Virat Kohli in 'different league' verdict passed
‘Rohit Sharma's average would've dropped to 30s if he toured England': Virat Kohli in 'different league' verdict passed

Hindustan Times

time27 minutes ago

  • Hindustan Times

‘Rohit Sharma's average would've dropped to 30s if he toured England': Virat Kohli in 'different league' verdict passed

Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar urged fans and cricket pundits not to group Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli together when discussing their Test cricket performances. Manjrekar once again reiterated that there is no comparison between the two when it comes to the longest format of the game, saying Kohli is far ahead, considering his performances in the SENA countries. Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retired from Tests ahead of the England tour. As a result, the Shubman Gill-led side is without two of its most senior pros for the upcoming five-match series. Ahead of the first Test in Headingley, Gill was recently asked about the duo's absence and how the team will cope. Rohit called time on his Test career after playing 67 Tests, while Kohli represented India in 123 Tests. Rohit's average was a tad over 40, while Kohli's was 46.85. While Rohit registered 12 centuries in Tests, Virat Kohli bid adieu to the longest format after having smashed 30 tons. Rohit scored 4301 runs in 67 matches while Kohli amassed 9230 runs in 123 games. In a video shared on his Instagram account, Manjrekar said, "Right recently, Shubman Gill made a statement, India's new test captain about how he is now going to feel the pressure of the absence of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the England season, the Test series there. And it stirred up the bee in my bonnet, which has been there for a while. It's not so much about the statement, but the fact that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli tend to get clubbed together." Also Read: Rajat Patidar broke captain's tradition for Virat Kohli "We even have a term for them, RoKo. I can understand it in white-ball cricket; there's some comparison, and they're comparable players. Although there's an argument there as well, but that's for a later time. When it comes to red-ball cricket, there's absolutely no comparison between the two. And I will never ever put them in the same bracket. Just to give you some numbers, so you don't have to take my word for it." Manjrekar even argued that Rohit Sharma's average would have fallen if he hadn't retired and made the trip to the UK for the five-match series against England. He also stated that there is no debate between Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma considering the former's record in the SENA countries. "When it comes to SENA countries, the true test of a batter, Virat Kohli has got 12 hundreds. 30 Test 100s as well. Rohit Sharma in SENA countries, just the one against England at Oval 2021. He's played over 100 innings, just one hundred in SENA countries. And the average now is 40." "And I dare say, had he continued playing or had he gone to England, that average would have dropped in the 30s. I can't be absolutely sure, but that would be my educated guess. So, when it comes to Test cricket, please, red-ball cricket, Virat Kohli is in a different league when you compare him with Rohit Sharma. This comparison in red-ball cricket between Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli and putting them in the same bracket, I say, Roko, stop that." Both Rohit and Virat endured a horrid time in India's last two Test series against New Zealand and Australia. While Kohli scored a century in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy opener in Perth, Rohit failed to register a single half-century in the last six Tests he played.

AB de Villiers shares tactical insight ahead of South Africa's maiden WTC final at Lord's
AB de Villiers shares tactical insight ahead of South Africa's maiden WTC final at Lord's

The Hindu

time3 hours ago

  • The Hindu

AB de Villiers shares tactical insight ahead of South Africa's maiden WTC final at Lord's

As South Africa prepares to play in their first-ever ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, former Proteas stalwart AB de Villiers gave valuable advice and tactical perspective ahead of the all-important clash against Australia. The final, scheduled to begin on June 11 at the iconic Lord's in London, marks a significant moment for South African cricket as they chase a maiden WTC title. While speaking to Star Sports around the historic venue, de Villiers emphasised the unique challenges posed by the conditions at Lord's, particularly the movement off the pitch and through the air that makes life difficult for batters. 'Lord's is a tricky ground to play on. You've got the ball moving around more than most grounds in the world for a longer period of time,' de Villiers said. 'You're never in, and that's probably my best advice to the batters, to sort of respect the bowlers, whether it's the first over or the 67th over. You're never in, so just respect the game,' he added. With Australia entering their second consecutive WTC final and South Africa making their first appearance, the stakes couldn't be higher. Australia, led by Pat Cummins, come in with the experience of having won the title in 2023, while the Proteas are looking to script a new chapter in their red-ball history. From a bowling standpoint, de Villiers stressed the importance of hitting fuller lengths to exploit the traditional Lord's assistance for seamers. 'Lord's, you generally want to be a bit fuller as a seam bowler and try and get the best out of the conditions,' he noted. 'There's always a bit of seam movement for the seam bowlers. So I would probably urge my bowlers to bowl full and straight for as long as possible,' he said. South Africa's pace attack, comprising the likes of Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen, and Lungi Ngidi, is expected to play a pivotal role in swinging the momentum their way. With the unpredictability that Lord's offers, control and discipline with the new ball could define the outcome of the match.

Abhimanyu, Rahul fifties extend India A's lead to 184 after Khaleel's four-for in unofficial Test
Abhimanyu, Rahul fifties extend India A's lead to 184 after Khaleel's four-for in unofficial Test

The Hindu

time4 hours ago

  • The Hindu

Abhimanyu, Rahul fifties extend India A's lead to 184 after Khaleel's four-for in unofficial Test

KL Rahul followed up his first-innings hundred with another half-century to prepare in earnest for the upcoming Test series, while Abhimanyu Easwaran pressed his case with an 80-run knock as India A stretched their overall lead to 184 in the second unofficial Test against England Lions here on Sunday. India A ended the third day's play at 163/4 after Rahul (51 off 64 balls) and Easwaran shared 88 runs for the second wicket. Earlier, left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed produced a penetrating spell of seam bowling to return figures of 4/70, as India A bowled out England Lions for 327 in the second session to secure a first-innings lead of 21 runs. In reply, India A once again lost Yashasvi Jaiswal (5) early, but Rahul picked up from where he left off in the first essay. His fluent knock was studded with nine boundaries. Eyeing a maiden Test call-up, Abhimanyu looked solid en route to his second fifty of the tour, which included nine hits to the fence. Abhimanyu, however, fell short of a century as he edged an outswinger from Chris Woakes (2/31) to second slip shortly after a bad light interruption. At stumps on the penultimate day, Dhruv Jurel (6) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (1) were at the crease. England's George Hill provided the early breakthrough with the left-handed Jaiswal getting out to a tentative poke to the keeper, his second straight low score after his 17 in the first innings. Rahul and Abhimanyu then steadied the innings with a confident stand. The skipper was particularly commanding with his drives and showed good judgement in leaving balls that climbed on length. Rahul, meanwhile, looked comfortable against both pace and spin and brought up his half-century in 61 balls. However, three balls after reaching his fifty, Rahul perished. Eddie Jack got one to rear up, forcing a top-edged pull from Rahul that was pouched at mid-on. Fresh from a double century in the first match, Karun Nair looked composed as he joined Abhimanyu but was dismissed by Woakes. Earlier, England Lions resumed at 192/3 but suffered a dramatic collapse in the morning session, losing four wickets for just 10 runs. Khaleel set the tone, removing skipper James Rew (10) and Hill (0) off successive deliveries to trigger the slide. He then dismissed Woakes (5) to reduce the Lions to 266/8 by lunch. After the break, Nitish Kumar Reddy ended Farhan Ahmed's dogged 87-ball stay for 24, making it 279/9. However, the last-wicket pair of Josh Tongue and 19-year-old Eddie Jack frustrated India A with a gritty 48-run stand, which dragged the hosts past the 300-run mark. Tongue remained unbeaten on 36 (61 balls), while Jack, in just his second first-class match, impressed with his composure under pressure, striking three boundaries and defending stoutly. India A tried everything to break the final stand, including taking the second new ball in the 81st over. Khaleel was brought back in search of a five-for, but it was Anshul Kamboj (2/56) who finally ended the resistance at the stroke of tea. Tushar Deshpande (2/62) also made his mark, accounting for Max Holden (7). Jordan Cox (45) had earlier batted fluently in the morning, adding useful runs with Rew before falling just short of a fifty to become Khaleel's first victim. Brief Scores: India A: 348 and 163/4 in 33 overs (KL Rahul 51, Abhimanyu Easwaran 80) vs England Lions 327 in 89 overs (Emilio Gay 71, Tom Haines 54, Jordan Cox 45, Josh Tongue 36 not out; Khaleel Ahmed 4/70, Anshul Kamboj 2/56, Tushar Deshpande 2/62).

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store