Sarfaraz backs Pak team after CT debacle
Ex-Captain Sarfaraz Ahmed poses with 2017 ICC Champions Trophy which Pakistan won in England. The former skipper has been named by ICC among the four ambassadors for CT 2025 commencing from Feb 19. PHOTO: AFP
Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has defended the national team after their disappointing performance in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Pakistan, the defending champions, had a tough tournament, losing to New Zealand and arch-rivals India. Their last group-stage match against Bangladesh was washed out without a ball being bowled. This result left Pakistan at the bottom of Group A with just one point.
Despite the poor showing, Sarfaraz, who led Pakistan to Champions Trophy glory in 2017, urged for fair and balanced criticism of the team.
"It is often said that the team didn't play well. Former cricketers, management, and coaches know that no team plays to lose," Sarfaraz said.
He also called for constructive discussions when analyzing performances.
"When criticizing players, it's important to maintain balance in the discussion. Those sitting on TV have also gone through those phases," he added.
Looking ahead, Sarfaraz expressed confidence in Pakistan's young squad for the upcoming white-ball tour of New Zealand. He acknowledged the challenges but urged fans to continue supporting the team.
"The Pakistan team for the New Zealand tour consists of young players. I hope the results will be in our favour, but the conditions in New Zealand have always been challenging," he said.
"I would like to tell the nation that you have always supported the team. I urge you to continue standing by the team. I hope the future will bring good things for Pakistan cricket," he concluded.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
9 hours ago
- Business Recorder
ICC releases new T20 rankings: no Pakistani cricketer in top 10
The Intentional Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday released its latest T20 cricket rankings, and once again, no Pakistani player has made it into the top 10 for either batting or bowling. Australia's Travis Head remains at the summit of the batting rankings. India's Abhishek Sharma holds onto the second spot, while countryman Tilak Varma climbs to third after a solid performance. Babar, Rizwan slip in ICC T20I rankings; Haris makes significant leap England's Phil Salt slips one place to fourth, with Jos Buttler rising to fifth, and Suryakumar Yadav dropping to sixth. Pakistan's top batters are Babar Azam, ranked 12th, and Mohammad Rizwan, at 13th. New Zealand's Jacob Duffy holds onto the No. 1 bowling position. England's Adil Rashid jumps two spots to second, and India's Varun Chakravarthy remains third. Pakistan, however, fails to feature in the top ten bowlers. Haris Rauf and Abbas Afridi both show slight improvement, ranking at 19th and 20th respectively. India's Hardik Pandya retains his position at the top of the all-rounder rankings.
Express Tribune
11 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Pakistani players retain positions in latest ICC T20I rankings
Pakistan's bowlers have made notable strides in the latest ICC T20I rankings, propelled by strong performances in recent international matches. Fast bowlers Haris Rauf and Abbas Afridi have both advanced in the rankings, now sharing the 18th position with 605 rating points. Shaheen Afridi, the left-arm pacer, has also risen, securing the 35th spot with 552 points. Pakistan's T20I vice-captain, Shadab Khan, moved up to 58th, alongside spinner Abrar Ahmed, who both earned 476 points. However, young bowlers Naseem Shah and Sufiyan Muqeem have seen a decline, falling to 92nd and 95th positions, with 407 and 406 points, respectively. No Pakistani bowler is currently in the top 10. New Zealand's Jacob Duffy tops the T20I bowling rankings, while England's Adil Rashid holds second place. India's Varun Chakaravarthy has dropped to third. In the T20I batting rankings, Pakistan's Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan remain in the 12th and 13th spots, respectively, while wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Haris holds firm at 30th. Babar is the top-ranked Pakistani batter in his position. Middle-order batter Hasan Nawaz has dropped to 46th, and Saim Ayub has fallen to 62nd. Pakistan's T20I captain (name omitted) has slipped two places to 76th, while Fakhar Zaman has fallen to 87th. Australia's Travis Head continues to dominate the batting rankings, with India's Abhishek Sharma in second. England's Phil Salt has slipped to fourth, as India's Tilak Varma rises to third.
Business Recorder
14 hours ago
- Business Recorder
South Africa bowl against Australia in WTC final
LONDON: South Africa captain Temba Bavuma won the toss and put Australia in to bat in the World Test Championship final at Lord's on Wednesday. The overcast conditions in London promised to help South Africa's quicks, with reigning champions Australia also boasting an impressive pace attack. Australia's Marnus Labuschagne will be thrust straight into the action after being promoted to open for the first time in his Test career. 'We'll have a bowl first,' said Bavuma at the toss. 'The surface looks a good one, with solid overhead conditions. Australia's Hazlewood returns for WTC final against South Africa 'I'm happy. It's too late now for anything else. We've selected the best team for the conditions.' 'It's (a) massive (occasion). I think all of us have some sort of allegiance to Lord's. It should be a spectacle of a game.' Australia captain Pat Cummins said his side were happy to bat first. 'There's a few clouds but that's not unusual for England,' he said. 'It's dry and might turn later in the match. 'I don't think there's any extra pressure (as defending champions). We've been here before and won it. This week is about enjoying it.' Both sides named their teams on Tuesday. All-rounder Beau Webster keeps his place at number six in the Australia team and the experienced Josh Hazlewood has been preferred to Scott Boland in the pace attack. South Africa named all-rounder Wiaan Mulder at number three and selected Lungi Ngidi ahead of Dane Paterson, even though his fellow paceman knows conditions at Lord's well after playing there for Middlesex this season. Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada is playing his first Test after serving a one-month ban for cocaine use earlier this year. South Africa are aiming to win their first major trophy since lifting the ICC Knockout, a forerunner of the Champions Trophy, in 1998. The top-ranked Australians, who beat India in the 2023 WTC final, have won multiple white-ball trophies. Teams Australia: Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (wkt), Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood South Africa: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Temba Bavuma (capt), Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (wkt), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi Umpires: Chris Gaffaney (NZL), Richard Illingworth (ENG) TV Umpire: Richard Kettleborough (ENG) Match Referee: Javagal Srinath (IND)
