Pakistan national team coach Misbah-ul-Haq and bowling coach Waqar Younis resigned from their positions with the national team on Monday due to citing bio-bubble fatigue The decision helps to raise the eyebrows, since there is only one month left for T20 World Cup. Misbah and Waqar had one year left on their contracts after being appointed in September 2019. Notably, on Monday Pakistan announced their squad for the T20 World Cup and home series against New Zealand and England. Misbah-ul-Haq and Waqar Younis reported their decisions to the PCB on Monday.Meanwhile, Pakistan has appointed former spinner Saqlain Mushtaq and former all-rounder Abdul Razzak as temporary coaches for New Zealand Series. The Black Caps team, currently in Bangladesh, will play 3 ODI and 5 T20I matches in September and October. The Pakistani team is scheduled to assemble for their training camp on September 8. The Pakistan Cricket Board has confirmed that the support staff for the T20 World Cup will be appointed in the near future.'Don't think I am in the right frame of mind for upcoming challenges'Misbah-ul-Haq, who had to be quarantined in the West Indies for an extended period after testing positive for Covid-19, admitted that the timing of his decision was not right but he had to take the call to spend time with his family. "The quarantine in Jamaica post the West Indies series provided me with an opportunity to reflect on the past 24 months as well as the schedule for international cricket ahead. Considering that I would have had to continue to spend considerable time away from my family and that too in a bio-secure environment, I have decided to step down from the role," Misbah said, as quoted by a PCB statement. "I understand that the timing may not be ideal, but I don't think I'm in the right frame of mind for the upcoming challenges and it makes sense for someone new to step in and take the side forward."Also Read- ICC T20 World Cup 2021 complete schedule: India to face Pakistan on October 24 Decided to step down together: Waqar YounisWaqar Younis said he decided to step down after Misbah communicated his decision to him. “After Misbah informed me of his decision and his future plans, it was easy for me to resign as we had walked into the roles together, we worked collectively as a pair and now also step down together. "Working with Pakistani bowlers, including young people, has been more satisfying because now they are started to show progress. Bio secure safe environments in the last 16 months have had their impact, something we have never seen during our playing days.". Misbah and Waqar step down from coaching rolesMore details https://t.co/PHRwRNazCH— PCB Media (@TheRealPCBMedia) September 6, 2021Pakistan announced its 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup on Monday. While Babar Azam named captain, Fakhar Zaman, Faheem Ashraf, and Sarfaraz Ahmed were notable omissions.Also Read- England vs India, 4th Test Day 1: Shardul Thakur breaks Ian Botham's record, hits fastest Test fifty in England
New Zealand's tour of Pakistan has been completely canceled due to safety concerns, just minutes before the toss for the first one-day international was going to take place in Rawalpindi on Friday.The New Zealand cricket team is reported to have refused to enter in the field and remain inside their hotel rooms after New Zealand security advisers advised them to do so. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said New Zealand Cricket informed it that “they had been alerted to some security alert and have unilaterally decided to postpone the series.Pakistan was scheduled to host New Zealand for a series of 3 internationals and 5 T20 internationals in Rawalpindi and Lahore from September 17 to October 3.According to an NZC release: "The side was to play Pakistan this evening in the first of three ODIs in Rawalpindi, before moving to Lahore for a five match T20 series.The BLACKCAPS are abandoning their tour of Pakistan following a New Zealand government security alert. Arrangements are now being made for the team’s departure. More information | https://t.co/Lkgg6mAsfu— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) September 17, 2021“However, following an escalation in the New Zealand Government threat levels for Pakistan, and advice from NZC security advisors on the ground, it has been decided the BLACKCAPS will not continue with the tour. Arrangements are now being made for the team's departure."Remind you, the New Zealand cricket team arrived in Pakistan on September 11 for a limited over series representing the country's first international kiwi series since 2003.Also Read- Misbah-ul-Haq, Waqar Younis resign as Pakistans head coach and bowling coach ahead of T20 World CupPCB WILLING TO CONTINUEThe Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed the developments and expressed their disappointment but also said that they are ready to proceed with the scheduled matches."Earlier today, the New Zealand cricket board informed us that they had been alerted to some security alert and have unilaterally decided to postpone the series. PCB and Govt of Pakistan made fool proof security arrangements for all visiting teams. We have assured the New Zealand cricket board of the same.“The Prime Minister spoke personally to the Prime Minister of New Zealand and informed her that we have one of the best Intelligence systems in the world and that no security threat of any kind exists for the visiting team. The security officials with the NZ team have been satisfied with security arrangements made by the Govt of Pakistan throughout their stay here.“PCB is willing to continue the scheduled matches. However, cricket lovers in Pakistan and world over will be disappointed by this last-minute withdrawal," the PCB statement said.Also Read- ICC T20 World Cup 2021 complete schedule: India to face Pakistan on October 24
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has to reduce its dependence on funding from the International Cricket Council (ICC) as much of cricket's global governing body gets its funding from India, said the board's chairman Ramiz Raja. Ramiz said that this effectively means that cricket in Pakistan is at the mercy of Indian businesses and any political pressure in India to stop this funding can spell disaster for the sport in the country. "The ICC is a politicised body divided between the Asian and Western blocs and 90 per cent of its revenues are generated from India. It is frightening," the PCB Chief said appearing before the Senate Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial affairs on Thursday in Islamabad. "In a way India's business houses are running Pakistan cricket and if tomorrow the Indian PM decides he will not allow any funding to Pakistan, this cricket board can collapse," he added, but did not elaborate on the specifics.Also Read- ICC T20 World Cup 2021 complete schedule: India to face Pakistan on October 24 The former Pakistan captain also said that the ICC has reduced into an "event management company" considering how New Zealand and England are pulling out of their tours of the country. New Zealand canceled their tour just minutes before the start of the first match citing a security threat and Ramiz said some good news could be in store regarding the series in a week's time. "What New Zealand did was unacceptable because till now they have not shared any information with us on what led them to abandon the series in Pakistan. But they are now trying to reschedule the series," said Ramiz. "The good thing is they are working on something which means they want to mend things with us," he said.Also Read- Virat Kohli becomes first Indian batsman to score 10,000 runs in T20 format
Pakistan skipper Babar Azam has now become the first-ever captain to notch up three half-centuries in a single T20 ICC World Cup.The prolific Pakistan captain is in red-hot form with the bat in the ongoing tournament. The right-handed batter scored a risk free 49-ball 70 against Namibia in Abu Dhabi. Unbeaten Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat against Namibia. The pair of Babar and Mohammed Rizwan put on 113 runs for the opening wicket. Babar scored a brisk 68 not out in Pakistan’s 10-wicket victory over arch-rival India. This victory was Pakistan's first win against India in the t20 worldcup, which dates back to 2007 when India won the inaugural tournament by beating Pakistan in the final. Pakistan won the 2009 edition. Babar scored a feisty 51 against Afghanistan, before Asif Ali smashed four sixes in an over to help pakistan cricket register a five-wicket win. Interestingly, the duo of Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam also became the first pair ever to aggregate 1,000 runs in a calendar year in T20 Internationals. The duo have also put on 4 century stands in 2021, most in a calendar year, including three 150 plus stands. Pakistan continued their team unchanged for the fourth consecutive game after defeating arch-rival India, New Zealand and Afghanistan in the Super 12 by successfully chasing. Captain Babar Azam said at the toss he wanted to test his bowlers ahead of the knockout stage, but warned his team “not to get complacent” against Namibia, which defeated Scotland.Also Read- Yuvraj Singh hints at comeback from retirement next year
