Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)

Babar Azam 4th Batter To Face More Than 400 Balls In 4th Innings Of A Test Match

Published on March 17, 2022

Babar Azam, leading the side from the front, helped Pakistan save the second Test against Australia in Karachi. After batting the entire day on Tuesday, the Pakistan skipper was finally dismissed in the final session of Day 5 as he missed out on a well-deserved double ton. He scored 196 off 425 balls before getting out to Nathan Lyon.

Babar Azam’s knock kept Pakistan alive in the contest after Australia set them the greatest fourth-innings chase in Test cricket history. Chasing 506, Babar Azam arrived in the middle when the hosts were batting at 21/2 in 22.2 overs. He then went on to add 228 runs for the third wicket with opener Abdullah Shafique. By the time he was dismissed Pakistan had reached 392/5 with a little period of play remaining in the day.

Abdullah Shafique broke into the Pakistan Test side despite very little first-class experience AFP/Getty Images

Babar Azam Became 4th Batter To Face Over 400 Balls(425) In 4th Innings Of A Test

Babar Azam’s superb effort saw him script a new feat and he now finds himself in the elite company of Sunil Gavaskar, Michael Atherton, and Herbert Sutcliffe. He became the fourth batter to face over 400 balls in the fourth innings of a Test. Michael Atherton tops the charts with 492 balls, followed by Herbert Sutcliffe (462), and Sunil Gavaskar (443).

Meanwhile, Pakistan produced a brilliant fightback after Australia dominated the first three days of the contest. The visitors, who opted to bat first, piled 566/9(declared) in their first innings and bundled out Pakistan for 148 to secure a commanding lead of 408 runs.

Mohammad Rizwan Too Scores An Unbeaten 104 To Deny Australia An Easy Win

The Aussies then quickly declared their second innings on 97/2, giving their bowlers two days to bundle the Pakistan line-up for the second time in the contest. However, a splendid show by Babar Azam and Abdullah Shafique, followed by another match-saving inning 104* by Mohammad Rizwan as Pakistan escaped with a draw. The hosts piled 443/7 in their second innings.

Pakistan's wicket-keeper batsman Mohammad Rizwan. Photo: Mohammad Rizwan's Twitter account — Pakistan’s wicket-keeper batsman Mohammad Rizwan. Photo: Mohammad Rizwan’s Twitter account

Pakistan finished their marathon second innings at 443 for 7 with Mohammad Rizwan unbeaten on 104. Needing 506 to pull off a record chase, Pakistan ended up losing 7 wickets but held their nerves to play out a riveting draw. The result was needed, especially given the backlash the PCB received after the dull stalemate in Rawalpindi.

Mohammad Rizwan’s 2nd Test century made him only the 2nd wicketkeeper batter from Pakistan to score a hundred in the fourth innings of a Test match. Previously, Moin Khan had achieved the feat in 1995. Overall, Mohammad Rizwan is the 7th to get there, along with Adam Gilchrist, Rishabh Pant, Matt Prior, Alan Knott and AB de Villiers.

Australia 556 for 9 Dec (Khawaja 160, Carey 93, Ashraf 2-55) and 97 for 2 Dec (Khawaja 44*, Labuschagne 44, Afridi 1-21) drew with Pakistan 148 (Babar 36, Starc 3-29) and 443 for 7 (Babar 196, Rizwan 104*, Lyon 4-112)

Mark Taylor Photo: © Twitter/Cricket Australia (Main Image)

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Mark Taylor Lashes Out At Ramiz Raja And Termed Rawalpindi And Karachi Pitches As ‘Roads’

Published on March 15, 2022

Mark Taylor has hit out at PCB chief Ramiz Raja for the nature of pitches that have been created in the Pakistan vs Australia Test series. After the Rawalpindi pitch attracted severe criticism, even the Karachi pitch has been branded as ‘road’ by many experts and former cricketers.

Pitches in Pakistan have been branded as ‘Roads’ since the commencement of the historic Test series against Australia. As criticism of the pitches prepared by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) gets thick and heavy, former Aussie skipper Mark Taylor has also joined the bandwagon in slamming the hosts’ board president Ramiz Raja.

Mark Taylor slams PCB for not believing in Pakistan team PHOTO: AAP

Mark Taylor Reckons The Two Pitches At Rawalpindi And Karachi Were Roads

Although the PCB chief Ramiz Raja admitted that the Rawalpindi wicket was not a great advertisement for Test cricket but that also doesn’t mean that Pakistan should create pitches that help the visiting team more.

“Unfortunately, I think it shows where Pakistan cricket is at. They have got some very good cricketers at the moment, and I would love to see their establishment be a little more adventurous with what they’re telling them,” Taylor was quoted as saying.

Ramiz Raja Image courtesy of: ARY Sports — Ramiz Raja. Image courtesy: ARY Sports

What’s surprising Mark Taylor and many other experts of the game is the fact that Pakistan didn’t create pitches suiting pace bowlers more despite the fact that they themselves have some very good fast bowlers.

“Firstly, the two pitches we’ve had, at Rawalpindi and at Karachi, have been roads. They are hard, you can see there’s not much grass on them. Pakistan bowling is very good, they’ve got some very good quicks these days. It looks to me like they haven’t backed their side in general.”

Mark Taylor, who led Australia in the 1998 tour of Pakistan, opined that Pakistan has great cricketers in their ranks, but PCB has not backed their side due to fear of loss. Former Australian captain Mark Taylor has slammed Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for not providing an opportunity for an exciting Test series between Pakistan and Australia.

The cricket fraternity has been criticizing PCB for producing dead pitches in the first two Tests of the series at Rawalpindi and Karachi. There has been no assistance for the bowlers from the surface. Fans are bored of watching these games on lifeless pitches and a historic series has taken a negative impact.

Mark Taylor Expected A Bit Of Grass In Surfaces Of The First 2 Tests Which Would’ve Been Helpful For Pakistan Pacers

Ramiz Raja, issuing a statement amid the criticism the Rawalpindi pitch got, said that Pakistan didn’t want to gift the game in Australia’s lap. And hence, such wickets were created. Mark Taylor, responding to Ramiz Raja, said that the hosts don’t have to create green tops but a bit of grass would’ve been welcomed by their own seam bowlers.

“More or less they’re saying ‘don’t lose this series’. That is my worry. Just don’t lose. Pakistan pitches have never been minefields or green tops, but you would’ve expected a bit more grass with their quicks. And their batting is also very good. I would’ve loved to see good pitches put out for the first two (matches) and I think we would have had a very good series,” Taylor explained.

In the first match at Rawalpindi, over 1000 runs were scored with only 14 wickets falling and the second match at Karachi is more or less the same. After Australia scored 556 runs in the first innings of the Karachi Test, Pakistan were bundled out for just 148.

Mitchell Starc led the Australian pace attack with three wickets to put the visitors in the driving seat on day three of the second Test against Pakistan in Karachi. The lanky left-arm pacer used reverse swing to devastating effect, taking 3-29 as Pakistan were bundled out for a paltry 148 in reply to Australia’s mammoth first innings of 556-9 declared.

Captain Babar Azam and Abdullah Shafique thwarted Australia’s push for victory during the second session of day four, but Pakistan still faced an uphill battle to save the second Test. Needing to survive 172 overs, Pakistan were 104 for 2 at tea with Babar Azam 47 not out and Abdullah Shafique unbeaten on 44. They still require another 402 runs for a record victory but are focused on staving off defeat having already faced 48 overs.

Pakistan 148 and 104 for 2 (Shafique 44*, Babar 47*) need 402 more runs to beat Australia 556 for 9 dec and 97 for 2 dec

Controversial Pakistan batsman Salman Butt (File Photo | AFP)

Cricket/News

Salman Butt Reckons Rawalpindi Is A Result Oriented Pitch After 1st Test Ended In A Dull Draw

Published on March 10, 2022

Salman Butt, the former Pakistan captain didn’t mince his words as he criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board over the pitch in Rawalpindi. In a strong-worded criticism of the pitch conditions, Salman Butt said that Rawalpindi is a “result-oriented pitch.”

The first Test between Pakistan and Australia ended in a dull draw in Rawalpindi. Pakistan, batting first, declared their first innings on 476/4 before bowling the visitors out on 459. However, there wasn’t much time left in the game to induce a result after the Australian innings ended. The Pakistan openers, both of whom were unbeaten, batted the entire fifth day to ensure a draw.

Pakistan's Imam-ul-Haq (L) shakes hands with Australia's captain Pat Cummins after a draw in the first Test cricket match between Pakistan and Australia at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on March 8, 2022. | AFP — Pakistan’s Imam-ul-Haq (L) shakes hands with Australia’s captain Pat Cummins after a draw in the first Test cricket match between Pakistan and Australia at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on March 8, 2022. | AFP

Salman Butt Reckons 1st Test At Rawalpindi Was Treated Like A Practice Game

Throughout the course of the first Test at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, the condition of the pitch came under a significant scanner. Deemed a lifeless pitch by many fans and experts alike, the first Test saw only 14 wickets falling with Australia taking only four.

Many players including former Pakistan captains Inzamam-ul-Haq and Shahid Afridi have called for sporting pitches in the remaining two games of the series in Karachi and Lahore, and another former skipper Salman Butt has now joined the debate.

“Against South Africa, Hasan Ali performed brilliantly (five-wicket hauls in both innings) in Rawalpindi. Was that stadium somewhere else? So I don’t understand who is passing what information. Anyone who opens the stat will find out the truth,” said Butt on his official YouTube channel.

“Pindi is a result-oriented pitch. In first-class matches, people complain that matches end here in 2.5 days.”

Left-arm spinner Nauman Ali took a career-best 6-107 on the grassless pitch to give Pakistan a 17-run first-innings lead. Imam-ul-Haq followed his 157 in the first innings total of 476-4 declared with an unbeaten 111 in his first test since November 2019.

Further criticising the pitch, Salman Butt said that the people at the helm of cricket in Pakistan need to be braver.

“Please tell me what’s wrong with Pakistan pitches. Pitches aren’t bad, it’s the brains that are rotten. The people who are at the helm of cricketing affairs.. it’s their weakness in underestimating themselves that we cannot play. Imam is in the team since 2019. It’s 2022 now. You don’t have confidence in him?” said Butt.

“Apart from him, Abdullah Shafique is coming into the team after scoring runs against Bangladesh and the PSL. This game was treated as a practice game.”

Imam-ul-Haq’s opening partner, Abdullah Shafique, also prospered to record his maiden test hundred and was unbeaten on 136 when Pakistan finished the fifth and final day on 252-0 in its second innings, leading by 269 runs.

Salman Butt Insisted To Make Aggressive Pitches

The former Pakistan captain insisted that in the remaining two games, the pitches need to be more sporting.

“I think this is not the right approach. I read somewhere that commentators were requested to not talk about the pitch. I read this on Twitter. I hope that isn’t the case,” said Butt.

“You make spinning pitches. You make pitches that assist reverse swing. Make aggressive surfaces. On this surface, there was nothing for anyone.”

A combined total of 1,187 runs were scored for just 14 wickets over five days as the famed Australian pace trio of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood – with 674 Test wickets between them before this match – got just one more.

Pakistan 476 for 4 dec (Azhar 185, Imam 157, Shafique 44, Cummins 1-62, Lyon 1-161) and 252 for 0 (Shafique 136*, Imam 111*) drew with Australia 459 (Khawaja 97, Labuschagne 90, Smith 78, Nauman 6-107)

PSL 2022: Pakistan Cricket Board confirms, Pakistan Super League 7 (PSL 7) to be held in January-February window, venue not yet finalised.

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PCB Gives Nod For Women’s Pakistan Super League From Next Year

Published on March 3, 2022

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has given a green signal for a franchise league tournament for women cricketers, head of women’s wing Tania Malik announced on Wednesday.

PCB chairman Ramiz Raja has also approved the idea. It was supposed to begin this year but due to World Cup, there is no window left for them so they postponed it for next year. If it happens, Pakistan will be the first Asian country to host a franchise-based league for women players.

Pakistan Women's Cricket Team — Pakistan Women’s Cricket Team. Image Credits: Twitter

Men’s Pakistan Super League was originally launched in 2016 with initially 5 teams. Women’s tournament is likely to follow the same trend in their inaugural season.

In a press conference at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Tania Malik also hailed Pakistan’s women’s team’s performance in the two practice matches against New Zealand and Bangladesh. She said that the team combination is looking good and she expects them to qualify for the last four.

Pakistan beat New Zealand and Bangladesh in the warm-up games of the World Cup

“Our team combination is good, and hopefully, the team can progress in the final four,” Tania said.

She lauded Southern Punjab Cricket Association for taking the lead in promoting women’s cricket. PCB also will organize a T20 match between Southern Punjab and Sindh on March 4 as a part of celebrations of Women’s day.

“Since taking office, women’s cricket has been facing difficulties. Efforts are being made to take steps for the promotion of women’s cricket and women to come forward in every field,” she added.

Pakistan will start its World Cup campaign against arch-rivals India on March 6 at Mount Maunganui. Pakistan could never beat them in their ODI history as India got better of them on all 10 occasions.

In the entire Women’s World Cup history, they won just two games which were against Sri Lanka and West Indies in the 2009 edition. In the 2017 World Cup, they finished last in the table with 7 losses.

Also read Not Just For India, Virat Kohli Has Left A Legacy For World Cricket – Dinesh Karthik

Mohammad Nawaz will miss the Test series against Australia due to a foot injury. ICC

Cricket/News

Mohammad Nawaz Ruled Out Of Australia Test Series With Foot Injury

Published on February 24, 2022

Mohammad Nawaz, Pakistan’s all-rounder has been ruled out of the Australia series with a foot injury, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Wednesday. Australia will tour Pakistan for three Tests, three ODIs, and one T20I.

The PCB cricket selectors had earlier announced a 16-member Pakistan squad and five reserves for the three Tests against Australia on February 9.

Mohammad Nawaz Ruled Out Of Australia Test Series With A Foot Injury

In a media release on February 23, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) stated that Mohammad Nawaz has been ruled out of the series with a foot injury. He will not be replaced on the side. Apart from this, Naseem Shah and Sarfaraz Ahmed have now been added as travelling reserves. They will only be considered for selection if there is an injury.

“Mohammad Nawaz has been ruled out of the series with a foot injury. He will not be replaced in the side,” PCB said in a statement.

Naseem Shah and Sarfaraz Ahmed have been added as travelling reserves. They will only be considered for selection if there is an injury.

“Mohammad Haris has been added to the reserve players list. However, he, along with Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Abbas, and Yasir Shah have been advised to participate in the Pakistan Cup, which commences on 2 March. If required, they will be drafted into the side,” PCB said.

The 27-year-old all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz had been set to return to the Pakistan Test XI for the first time since his debut series against West Indies in 2016 but will have to wait a while longer for his fourth Test cap. Mohammad Haris, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Abbas, and Yasir Shah are also on the reserve list, but they all have been advised to participate in the Pakistan Cup, which commences on 2 March.

Australia To Tour Pakistan For The First Time In 24 Years

Meanwhile, Test players who attended a training camp in Karachi and those not involved in PSL 2022 playoffs will arrive in Islamabad on Wednesday. After observing three-day room isolation, they will hold a training session on Sunday. Also, Test players involved in the PSL 2022 playoffs will travel to Islamabad in a bubble on Monday and will participate in a training session on March 1.

The much-awaited Test series against Australia will commence on March 4 in Rawalpindi. This will be the first time an Aussie squad will visit Pakistan in 24 years. The first Test will be played in Rawalpindi from March 4.

The second Test match of the series will be played in Karachi from March 12-16 and the final third Test match will be hosted by Lahore from March 21-25.

Yasir Shah, who last played in the West Indies last year, has been struggling with fitness issues in recent months but according to reports, he has been bowling well in the training camp of the Test players. But the selectors have opted to keep uncapped leg-spinner Zahid Mahmood, off-spinner Sajid Khan, and southpaw Nauman Ali in the playing squad to face Australia.

Pakistan Squad: Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan (vice-captain), Abdullah Shafique, Azhar Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Fawad Alam, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, and Zahid Mahmood.

Travelling Reserves: Naseem Shah, Sarfaraz Ahmed.

Reserves: Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Abbas, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Haris.

Cricket/News

Michael Vaughan’s Big Praise For ‘Fewer Games’ Concept Of Pakistan Super League

Published on February 24, 2022February 24, 2022

Michael Vaughan, the former England captain and cricket pundit has lauded the Pakistan Super League (PSL) for having top-quality T20 players. Michael Vaughan in his tweet also mentioned the fact that PSL’s format leaves cricket fans “wanting a little bit more at the end” as it is shorter compared to other franchise leagues.

While the former England cricketer did not name any other league, his comments come just a month before the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL), which from this season will be a 10-team affair as compared to the eight teams it had till last season.

Michael Vaughan Tweets That Pakistan Super League Is Shorter And Leaves A Little Bit More At The End

The addition of two new teams in IPL will definitely mean more matches. The post attracted a lot of traction from Indian and Pakistani cricket fans who indulged in some banter and debate.

Michael Vaughan has continued with his instigating tweets on social media, this time praising the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL 2022) T20 tournament and then singling out some aspects that other T20 leagues in the world do not possess.

“The Pakistan Super league has it spot on … High-quality players … Fewer games than other tournaments making it a few weeks shorter … It leaves you wanting a little bit more at the end … Other tournaments don’t … #Pakistan,” Michael Vaughan tweeted.

The Pakistan Super League (PSL) was founded in September 2015 and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had to host its initial season in 2016 in United Arab Emirates (UAE) as many foreign players refused to come and play in Pakistan due to security reasons. Eventually, the league was moved to Pakistan in later years and since then it has been hosted in-country.

PSL 2022 Match In Progress Photo Credit: (PSL)

The league is often compared to neighbouring India’s India Premier League (IPL), which predates the PSL by 8 years and there is a huge gap pertaining to the amount a player is paid, both regarding home players and foreign cricketers, who have sometimes preferred IPL over PSL when the two leagues clashed.

Defending champions Multan Sultans will take on Lahore Qalandars in the qualifier on Wednesday at Gaddafi stadium in Lahore, while Islamabad United will take on Peshawar Zalmi in the first Eliminator of the tournament.

IPL 2022 Will Be Held Durin March-May Window At 4 Venues In Mumbai And Pune

IPL 2022 tournament is going to be held during the March-April-May window this year and it will be played across four venues. It has been decided that the tournament will be played at four venues – Wankhede Stadium, Brabourne Stadium, DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai, and MCA International Stadium in Pune.

55 matches spread over three venues – Wankhede Stadium, Brabourne Stadium, and DY Patil Stadium – in Mumbai and 15 more matches in the MCA International Stadium in Pune is likely to be the distribution of the league games for IPL 2022

Cricket/News

Shahid Afridi Disappointed With James Faulkner’s Baseless Allegations Of Non-Payment As He Left PSL 2022 Midway

Published on February 20, 2022February 20, 2022

Shahid Afridi, former Pakistan all-rounder has said that he is disappointed with James Faulkner’s allegations against the Pakistan Cricket Board. James Faulker has left the Pakistan Super League midway due to a payment row.

James Faulkner’s exit from the Pakistan Super League (PSL) over the payment row remained the talking point on Saturday (February 19). Alleging non-payment by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), James Faulkner left the tournament midway and made the news public in the afternoon.

Australia's James Faulkner (Eranga Jayawardena/AP) — Australia’s James Faulkner (Eranga Jayawardena/AP)

James Faulkner Left PSL 2022 Midway Alleging PCB Not Honouring His Payments

He had some strong words for PCB and wrote that the board continued to lie to him during his stint. He has left the Pakistan Super League abruptly over a payment dispute, alleging that the PCB hasn’t honoured his contract and has instead “continued to lie” to him.

“1/2 I apologise to the Pakistan cricket fans. But unfortunately I’ve had to withdraw from the last 2 matches and leave the @thePSLt20 due to the @TheRealPCB not honouring my contractual agreement/payments. I’ve been here the whole duration and they have continued to lie to me,” he wrote on Twitter.

James Faulkner accused the PCB of not honouring the contractually agreed payments Pakistan Super League

“2/2 It hurts to leave as I wanted to help to get international cricket back in Pakistan as there is so much young talent and the fans are amazing. But the treatment I have received has been a disgrace from the @TheRealPCB and @thePSLt20 I’m sure you all understand my position.”

The PCB, in response, lambasted James Faulkner’s conduct as “reprehensible”, announcing the Australian pacer would be banned from future PSL drafts, and accused him of misbehaving with immigration authorities and letting his side down.

Shahid Afridi Disappointed With James Faulkner’s Baseless Allegations

The turn of events has left Pakistan legend Shahid Afridi disappointed. The former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has backed the cricketing board. Shahid Afridi, whose PSL stint came to end due to back pain, has taken to Twitter and written that the players’ payments have never been delayed. Shahid Afridi took 47 wickets at an average of 26.51 in his PSL career, alongside compiling 459 runs at a strike rate of 150.8.

“Disappointed with @JamesFaulkner44 comments who reciprocated Pakistan’s hospitality&arrangements by levelling baseless allegations.We al have been treated with respect &never ever our payments have been delayed. No one should be allowed to taint cricket & the #HBLPSL brand,” Shahid Afridi has written.

Shahid Afridi played in 27 Tests, 398 ODIs and 99 T20Is for Pakistan.© AFP

PCB has also responded to James Faulkner’s allegations and released a detailed statement. As per PCB, the 70% fee was sent to Faulkner’s UK account in December 2021. In January 2022, his agent sent revised banking details of James Faulkner’s Australia account. As per PCB, the 70% fees had been deposited in James Faulkner’s UK account.

The board’s statement adds that the PCB officials engaged with the all-rounder but he refused to take part in matches for Quetta Gladiators. He also caused damage to the hotel’s property. As a result of his actions, James Faulkner has been banned from the T20 league PSL. He had 49 runs and 6 wickets in the season.

PCB also claimed that James Faulkner, before his departure, had caused deliberate damage to property at the hotel he was staying at and that the board had to pay for the damages. It stated that it also received reports and complaints from immigration authorities that James Faulkner’s behaviour at the airport was inappropriate and abusive.

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James Faulkner Leaves PSL After Accusing PCB For Not Honouring His Contract

Published on February 20, 2022February 20, 2022

Australia all-rounder James Faulkner has left Pakistan Super League abruptly after accusing Pakistan Cricket Board of not honouring his contractual agreement.

Faulkner who was representing Quetta Gladiators announced on Twitter that he won’t take any further part in the tournament as he left the bio-bubble and team hotel. However, PCB and Quetta Gladiators denied Faulkner’s claims and stated that the all-rounder will be banned from the tournament in the future.

“I apologise to the Pakistan cricket fans. But unfortunately I’ve had to withdraw from the last 2 matches and leave the @thePSLt20 due to the @TheRealPCB not honouring my contractual agreement/payments. I’ve been here the whole duration and they have continued to lie to me,” James Faulkner tweeted.

1/2
I apologise to the Pakistan cricket fans.
But unfortunately I’ve had to withdraw from the last 2 matches and leave the @thePSLt20 due to the @TheRealPCB not honouring my contractual agreement/payments.
I’ve been here the whole duration and they have continued to lie to me.

— James Faulkner (@JamesFaulkner44) February 19, 2022

“It hurts to leave as I wanted to help to get international cricket back in Pakistan as there is so much young talent and the fans are amazing. But the treatment I have received has been a disgrace from the @TheRealPCB and @thePSLt20 I’m sure you all understand my position.” he tweeted.

However PCB and Quetta Gladiators denied the claims and they further accused Faulkner of reprehensible and insulting behaviour and causing deliberate damage to hotel property and behaving inappropriately and abusively with immigration authorities at the airport. They released a statement to elaborate on the whole scenario.

“I’m sure you all understand my position”- James Faulkner

“In December 2021, James Faulkner’s agent confirmed the United Kingdom bank details to which his fee payments should be transferred. This was noted for action,” they said in a statement.

“In January 2022, for reasons best known to James Faulkner, his agent sent revised banking details of James Faulkner’s onshore account in Australia. However, the contracted 70 percent of James Faulkner’s fee payment was transferred to his offshore UK bank account. The receipt of this payment was acknowledged by James Faulkner,” the release added.

Accordingly, payments due to Mr Faulkner as per his contract are fully up to date. The remaining 30 per cent of his contractual payment only becomes due 40 days after the completion of the HBL Pakistan Super League 2022, which now remains a matter to be reviewed in line with his contract,” it further stated.

Also read You Can Ask Hardik Pandya Why He Is Not Playing Ranji Trophy – Chetan Sharma

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Mohammad Abbas And Yasir Shah Kept In Reserves For Australia Series

Published on February 10, 2022

Pakistan pacer Mohammad Abbas and leg-spinner Yasir Shah have been placed in the reserves list for the Australia series due to fitness and disciplinary issues. The 3-match Test series is set to start on March 4 at Rawalpindi.

According to a source close to PCB, the national team’s physiotherapist, Cliffe Deacon, lodged a complaint with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja regarding the attitude of Mohammad Abbas.

Both Mohammad Abbas and Yasir Shah haven’t played a Test match since August last year

“Apparently Deacon, who has been with the Pakistan team for a while now, told Ramiz he was not happy with Abbas’s approach to his training and bowling in the nets,” the source said.

“The board then spoke to Abbas and he assured them that he would soon improve his pace and would also give full time to the fitness schedule and requirements of the team,” the source added.

It is understood that Abbas is not working hard enough on his fitness. That’s why his pace is going down. The selection meeting has taken that into consideration and didn’t pick him in the main squad however he was kept in the reserves. Abbas has played 25 Tests so far and picked 90 wickets with an average of 23.02. But he hasn’t played a test match since August last year.

Mohammad Abbas And Yasir Shah Kept In Reserves For Australia Series 1

The leg spinner Yasir Shah is also facing the same issue. Yasir also hasn’t played a test match since the West Indies tour last year.

“Yasir has also been struggling with his fitness and it has affected his bowling. As a result, both he and Abbas have been told to work extra hard on improving their fitness during training in Lahore for the Australia series,” the source said.

Notable that Yasir Shah was also booked in a case for allegedly aiding a 14-year old girl’s rape and harassing her. Since then the Pakistan Cricket board sidelined him.

However her relatives dropped Yasir Shah’s name from the complaint, the case is still pending in court.

The test series between Pakistan and Australia will begin on March 4 at Rawalpindi.

Also read Sunil Gavaskar Reckons Rishabh Pant Opening For India Would Be The Last Option After Southpaw Failed To Impress In The 2nd ODI Against West Indies

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Saqlain Mushtaq To Remain Pakistan’s Head Coach For Australia Series

Published on February 10, 2022

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has retained the services of Saqlain Mushtaq as Pakistan’s head coach for the series against Australia.

Earlier, according to a report in Daily Jang, the board has come out to the conclusion that there is not lot of time left to recruit a new coach, and since it’s big series in the context of the World Test Championship, the board doesn’t want to take any chances.

Recently, Mushtaq resigned from the position citing avoiding the travel.

Saqlain Mushtaq has been working with Pakistan since the T20 World Cup

The PCB published an advertisement for 5 various positions in the coaching setup for Pakistan but the process hasn’t been progressed further so it’s likely that PCB will persist with him as a safer option.

“Saqlain Mushtaq, who wanted to return to England, is now ready to continue working with the team.” the sources close to Saqlain Mushtaq revealed.

Notable that Australia is traveling to Pakistan for the first time in 24 years. The series consists of 3 Tests, 3 ODIs, and one T20I.

Saqlain Mushtaq was appointed Pakistan’s head coach right before the T20 World Cup when Misbah ul Haq resigned from the role. He was assisted by Australia’s Matthew Hayden and South Africa’s Vernon Philander who was appointed as batting and bowling consultant respectively. Pakistan did well under his coaching as they won all 5 group games in the World Cup before losing to Australia in the semifinal.

Then the team traveled to Bangladesh where the visitors clean-swept both T20I and Test series by 3-0 and 2-0 respectively. Then at home Pakistan beat West Indies by 3-0 in the T20I series.

Then it was understood that PCB was in favor of appointing a foreign coach so PCB published an advertisement for 5 positions in the coaching setup. Pakistan is set to host some high-profile series in the next two seasons. Apart from Australia, Pakistan will also host England and New Zealand in the next season. West Indies will also travel to play their postponed ODI series.

Also read Miyan, What You’ve Done In Australia Is Unbelievable – Mohammed Siraj Recalls Virat Kohli’s Unforgettable Words

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)

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James Faulkner Left PSL 2022 Midway Alleging PCB Not Honouring His Payments

Shahid Afridi Disappointed With James Faulkner’s Baseless Allegations

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“I’m sure you all understand my position”- James Faulkner

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Both Mohammad Abbas and Yasir Shah haven’t played a Test match since August last year

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Saqlain Mushtaq has been working with Pakistan since the T20 World Cup

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