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Int'l Cricket Council
5 days ago
- Sport
- Int'l Cricket Council
Ponting urges India to start left-arm quick in England Tests
On the latest episode of The ICC Review, Ponting backed the 26-year-old's character, work ethic, and technical strengths that he felt will make Arshdeep a valuable asset for India on the crucial tour starting next month. 'I've had a good chance to get to know him really well. He's a great character to have around the team,' Ponting said of Arshdeep, who he coaches in the Indian Premier League at the Punjab Kings. 'He's a fun-loving guy. He's very laid-back around the group, which is great. Which is what we all like. 'As soon as the squad was announced the other day, the Test squad, the first thing I did in our team meeting was to make sure that I acknowledged that Arshdeep had been picked in front of everybody and just congratulated him in front of everybody. 'I think it's well deserved. I think he'll bowl well in England as well.' Having been a mainstay in India's T20I setup with 99 wickets across just 63 games, the left-arm seamer's maiden Test call-up also comes on the back of his exploits in red-ball domestic cricket as well, with 66 wickets coming across 21 first-class matches. 'I would actually have him in their Test team at the start. He's very skillful,' Ponting noted. 'I think the Dukes ball will help him in the UK as well. And I just think to have that point of difference, having a left-armer in your team, I think will be something that, if India don't do it then it'll be a bit of a surprise to me.' Arshdeep Singh wins Men's T20I Cricketer of the Year | ICC Awards 2024 India's Arshdeep Singh has taken out the Men's T20I Cricketer of the Year at the ICC Awards 2024. Ponting further iterated that the seamer's previous county experience will come in handy for India. During his County Championship spell with Kent last year, Arshdeep picked up 13 wickets in five Division 1 games, with his best bowling figures being 3/58. 'He's played county cricket and he knows the conditions there as well,' Ponting noted. 'Arshdeep is close to six-foot-four, so he's going to get decent we know in England the ball still swings when it is 30, 40 or 50 overs old. 'To have someone that's got that swing bowling ability and a left-armer I think is something that the Indian team should definitely look out for on that tour.' Arshdeep has been in sizzling form during the IPL this season, taking 18 wickets in the league phase to guide Ponting and Punjab to the top of the table. Punjab face off against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Qualifier 1 of the tournament at Mullanpur on Thursday with a spot in the title decider awaiting the winner. Incredible left-arm pacer shines for India | Every Wicket of Arshdeep Singh | T20WC 2024 This is their first time in the playoffs since 2014, in what is Ponting's first season as their coach. He said that his vision for change at the franchise came with three principles that he integrated across the franchise. 'The three keywords that I brought this year were being different, being daring and dynamic,' Ponting said. 'That's not just the playing group, that's through the whole organisation. The inclusion thing for me is always a big one. 'We've got not just about 25 players here. We've got over 100 people that are hopefully all on the same journey together. We're heading in the same direction and me making them feel a part of the journey is a bit of the reason why we're all here.' As the playoffs loom, Ponting remains focused but upbeat, aware that the job is not yet done but confident in the culture and leadership that have brought them this far. 'It's just the end of the qualifying rounds and the big stuff is yet to come, but so far cricket's been very, very good. It's been a fun time to be around the team. And I'm looking forward to what the next few weeks brings.' The ICC ReviewRicky PontingArshdeep SinghNews
Express Tribune
17-03-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
A Pakistan without Babar and Rizwan
PCB's mismanagement, uncertainty, and poor infrastructure threaten Pakistan cricket's future despite immense talent. It is early morning, I have just finished having Sehri. Pakistan is playing cricket in New Zealand. Batting first a typical collapse has started, nothing new for a Pakistani cricket fan. However, looking at the batting line up, my confidence is at its dimmest. For perhaps the first time in 40 years, television was turned off and I went back to sleep, unable to bear watching further. Later, I discovered Pakistan had been dismissed for a mere 91 runs, playing at a little over 4 runs an over. While New Zealand effortlessly chased the target, scoring nearly ten runs per over, losing just one wicket. Pakistan cricket has always been a factory of raw, unpolished talent. From the streets of Karachi to the mountains of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, cricket runs in the veins of the nation. Yet, despite a big talent pool, Pakistan continually falters internationally. The reason? A system designed not to groom talent, but to destroy it. The PCB has become synonymous with chaos and instability. Coaches change frequently, chairmen come and go based on political affiliations rather than cricketing expertise, and players are discarded at will. This revolving door of leadership has led to a culture of insecurity among players, preventing them from developing into world-class athletes. Let's look at the summary of ICC Awards of current Pakistan cricketers. Babar Azam: Multiple ODI Cricketer of the Year awards, T20I Cricketer of the Year, the ultimate Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy (only Pakistani ever to have won this). ODI Team of the Year four times and T20 team of the year multiple times. Test Team of the year. He is by far the most decorated Pakistani cricketer at the ICC awards ever. Mohammad Rizwan: T20I Cricketer of the Year and T20I Team of the Year Shaheen Afridi: Cricketer of the Year, Test Team of the Year, T20I Team of the Year Hasan Ali: Emerging Cricketer of the Year, ODI Team of the Year Fakhar Zaman: ODI Team of the Year Shadab Khan: T20I Team of the Year Imad Wasim: T20I Team of the Year Despite their proven capabilities and the promise they held for Pakistan's cricketing future, it's astonishing that what should have been the peak of their careers, none of these players currently enjoys a permanent place or genuine security within the national team's setup. Instead of being groomed into confident, assured players, athletes consistently face uncertainty about their roles, even amidst discussions around their potential to captain the side. This lack of stability and foresight not only undermines their confidence but also vividly illustrates the troubling state of Pakistan cricket. Mohammad Rizwan, Pakistan's best wicketkeeper-batsman and one of the finest in the world, has been a cornerstone of the team's batting lineup in the last few years. He is in super form with the bat and his consistency and reliability behind the stumps makes him indispensable to any team. Yet, inexplicably, PCB dropped him from the national squad, clearly masking their own administrative failures. Babar Azam, specifically, has faced significant criticism, often accusing him of not being a "match-winner," yet he holds an impressive 23 international Man of the Match awards across all formats. If a man of the match award does not signify a match winning performance, what does? Interestingly, Javed Miandad, widely celebrated as one of Pakistan's greatest-ever match-winners, also accumulated exactly 23 such awards, albeit in more games played than Babar. Negative public perception frequently overpowers objective reality and statistical evidence in Pakistan. Babar has indeed gone through a difficult patch in the last year or so, experiencing technical issues such as challenges in facing spin bowling, low strike rate, maybe problematic footwork? Who knows? Such difficulties are common even among the greatest players—Alastair Cook, Ricky Ponting and Sachin Tendulkar amongst countless others also experienced similar downturns. These players, however, had consistent coaching support from their national teams to address and rectify such issues. And they came back stronger than ever Who can Babar Azam turn to for support, considering how frequently PCB changes coaches and selectors? Is it Babar Azam's fault that he lacks stable guidance from the national coaching setup? Who does he speak to about his technical batting complications? Perhaps, his father. Who is to blame for this? The Pakistani public also significantly contributes to deteriorating player morale. Fans rapidly elevate young players to legendary status after a few outstanding performances, comparing them to greats like Virat Kohli, or Wasim Akram. However, as soon as these players face even minor setbacks, they quickly turn from heroes into villains, facing intense criticism and negativity. Some people call Babar and Rizwan the best things in Pakistan cricket and others accuse them of being the biggest problem in the country. Star performers like Misbah-ul-Haq, and Shahid Afridi have previously experienced this duality, where public opinion swings wildly between hero-worship and severe criticism or hate speech. The lack of respect for national heroes and a balanced, objective perspective deeply impacts player confidence and emotional well-being. PCB's neglect extends to medical and rehabilitation support. Promising fast bowlers like Ihsanullah have seen their careers compromised due to inadequate injury management. Shaheen Shah Afridi, had to privately fund his treatment due to PCB's failure to provide appropriate medical support. Naseem Shah also returned from injury without proper rehabilitation, gaining weight and losing fitness, highlighting the absence of professional nutritionists and trainers at PCB. Mohammad Hasnain provides an example of how proper management can transform a player's career. Hasnain sought private professional guidance and made a remarkable comeback, underscoring the critical necessity of structured management and support—something the PCB has failed to provide consistently. See how proper management transformed Mohammad Hasnain's career. PCB's poor financial management further exacerbates the problem. Millions of dollars have been spent by the current administration on hastily constructed stadiums lacking proper drainage and infrastructure, rather than investing in the players directly. The National Cricket Academy in Lahore, a cornerstone of player development, now lacks essential professional staff, including coaches, trainers, and medical personnel, due to administrative negligence and corruption. While PCB always had its shortcomings, this current leadership has emptied out the treasury like nobody before it. It is a top heavy, ad hoc joke that is not funny anymore. Where modern sports teams rely heavily on data analysis for all things related to cricket, PCB's reliance on data can only be described as ancient. The PCB's management of player participation in international leagues further illustrates its inefficiency. Pakistani cricketers contractually can play two international leagues annually. Players like Shaheen Afridi (Trent Rockets), Mohammad Rizwan (Southern Brave), and Shadab Khan (Trent Rockets) were picked in The Hundred two seasons ago, and franchises had structured their teams around these players. However, the PCB abruptly denied No Objection Certificates (NOCs) at the last minute, causing significant frustration, damaging international trust, and leading to franchises avoiding Pakistani players altogether. Forty-five Pakistani cricketers registered their names for The Hundred, in 2025. The result? Not a single one was selected. This shocking outcome marks perhaps the lowest point in the proud history of Pakistani cricket. The rejection is not just due to a lack of form or talent but also because international franchises no longer trust the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to handle players professionally. Pakistan should take heed from West Indies cricket, where prominent players like Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Dwayne Bravo, Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard, Evin Lewis, Sheldon Cottrell, Fabian Allen, Shimron Hetmyer, and Oshane Thomas prefer franchise leagues over national duties. Mismanagement by Cricket West Indies (CWI), including contract disputes and poor player welfare, pushed these players towards more lucrative and professionally stable leagues worldwide. If PCB continues on this destructive path, Pakistani players may also prefer league cricket, weakening the national side, similar to the West Indies' current struggles. Muhammad Amir and Imad Wasim have long retired from national duties. And now Azam Khan, Haris Rauf and Fakhar Zaman are extremely disgruntled with lack of contracts, or NOCs from the board. These are dangerous signs. In today's cricketing landscape, raw talent alone is no longer enough to secure victories. Success demands rigorous fitness programs, data analytics, professional nutrition plans, structured rehabilitation protocols, competent coaching staff, and stable, consistent administration. Modern cricket relies heavily on professional infrastructure and support systems. Until the PCB adopts holistic player development, responsible investment, and balanced fan engagement, Pakistan cricket will continue to decline. With, or without Babar and Rizwan.
Int'l Cricket Council
18-02-2025
- Sport
- Int'l Cricket Council
Ponting predicts Bumrah replacement for India at Champions Trophy
ICC Hall of Famer Ricky Ponting has nominated Arshdeep Singh as the pacer that should receive the first opportunity to replace injured quick Jasprit Bumrah and partner Mohammed Shami with the new ball for India at the ICC Champions Trophy. India suffered a huge blow to their title chances when they lost Bumrah to a back injury earlier this month and the Asian side have little time to settle on their preferred line-up ahead of their tournament opener against Bangladesh in Dubai on February 20. Inexperienced seamer Harshit Rana performed admirably during India's recent ODI series at home against England, but Ponting believes Arshdeep has done enough in the past at T20I level to get first crack with the new ball. Arshdeep Singh 'grateful' after winning T20I Cricketer of the Year | ICC Awards 2024 "I would go with the left-armer and I'd go with Arshdeep (to replace Bumrah)," Ponting told host Sanjana Ganesan on the most recent episode of The ICC Review . "We know how good he's been in T20 cricket and if you think about the skill set, he probably provides a similar skill set to what Bumrah does with new ball and death overs and that's what India will miss. "That's taking nothing away from Harshit Rana because I think he has got a lot of talent and we know what he can do with the new ball, but I don't think his death skills are as good as what Arshdeep Singh's are. "And just that left-arm variation, someone that can bowl left-arm with a new ball and move the new ball. We know how important they are and crucial they can be, especially in big tournaments when you've got a lot of right-handers at the top. I would personally lean that way if I was India." Noting the positives for India from their recent outings against England, Ponting suggested the side have plenty of options in their 15-player squad. 'Harshit Rana's done more since he's come into the side. (Mohammed) Shami is fit too," Ponting noted. 'I think Hardik Pandya still has a big role to play on that side as well with the ball now to take a bit of the work away from what Bumrah can't do and make life a bit easier for Shami.' 'I think (Varun) Chakravarthy can have a huge impact on the tournament as well for India. 'He's probably pretty much through his career been pigeonholed as a T20 bowler only, but he's just with what he can do and his variations and his skill, I think he can have a huge impact on the Champions Trophy.' Further elaborating on India's selection conundrum, Ponting added, 'I think we all felt that they were going to be one of the main dangers anyway. Even with Bumrah not being there, I mean, yes, it's very hard to replace someone like that. But if any team can do it with the amount of talent that the Indians have got, it might be them.' Best of Shreyas Iyer at the World Cup | CWC23 As India breezed past England in the recently concluded ODI series, among the positives for the hosts was multiple batters getting in the groove. While Shubman Gill finished top-scorer and Shreyas Iyer was vital in the anchor role, senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were also among the runs. 'It's great to see Shreyas Iyer back in the team and playing well in the middle order. He was great," Ponting said. 'More importantly for India, (Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli) were back scoring runs and that's what they need going into big tournaments. Rohit, Virat, your experienced players, you need them to stand up in the big tournaments in the big moments. So, everything for India right now, with the exception of the loss of Bumrah, everything else looks in good order.' Ponting also believes the momentum of India's recent series win will help them going into the Champions Trophy. 'I mean, winning's a habit and to have that behind you, you can take some positives out of that," Ponting added. 'And that might sound a bit different than what I just said, because I said a loss doesn't have much of an impact, but when you're winning, that confidence can carry over.' ICC Champions Trophy, 2025 News The ICC Review
