Babar Azam: “All selections, including Azam Khan, were made on merit. Questions arise after a defeat”
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Pakistan limited overs captain Babar Azam has insisted that wicketkeeper-batsman Azam Khan was picked on merit.
Yasir Arafat: “Mohammad Hafeez as a team director tried to improve [the] fitness standards of [the] Pakistan cricket team but he was wrongly criticised by ex-cricketers. I myself witnessed that [the] fitness standards of Pakistani Players looked below average”
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Ex-Pakistan cricketer Yasir Arafat has come to the defence of former team director Mohammad Hafeez, saying he was “wrongly criticised” after trying to improve the team’s fitness standards.
Babar Azam: “The thing about the Pakistan team is that there is pressure. I know that Usman has left so many things, so all of that would be in the back of his mind. But he has made every effort”
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Pakistan limited overs captain Babar Azam has defended new batting sensation Usman Khan, saying he is giving his full effort despite not having impressed at the international level so far.
Basit Ali: “Babar Azam has not learned captaincy and he does not want to. Why did he accept captaincy once again if he can’t improve?”
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Former Pakistan batsman Basit Ali has ripped into Babar Azam for not wanting to learn and improve as captain.
Ramiz Raja: “When [the] ball doesn’t swing and he bowls full, then Shaheen gets hit for runs. He needs to develop length deliveries and change of pace in his [armoury], especially when [the] pitch is not helping him”
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Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja said pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi “gets hit for runs” when the “ball doesn’t swing”.
Nasser Hussain: “If Pakistan is chasing 180, I’m sceptical due to their middle order vulnerabilities. For targets around 160, I think they can chase comfortably. Babar and Rizwan tend to play cautiously, causing them to fall behind in higher chases”
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Former England captain Nasser Hussain said Pakistan limited overs skipper Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan’s cautiousness when batting hurts the team in T20Is.
Basit Ali: “He should be the one batting through and not worry about the strike-rate. Pakistan’s middle order now have hard hitters but the base at the top must be great”
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Former Pakistan batsman Basit Ali has advised white-ball captain Babar Azam not to worry about his strike-rate in T20Is and instead focus on scoring runs regularly.
Naseem Shah: “You cannot ignore what people say on social media completely, that’s the truth but if someone talks good, take it and if someone talks [bad], then we ignore it”
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Pakistan fast bowler Naseem Shah said it is impossible for him to completely ignore what people say on social media.
Pakistan seamer Haris Rauf: “Making a comeback is not easy but if one has [delivered] performances in the past, it is not difficult for the team to select [him] again”
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Pakistan pace bowler Haris Rauf had no doubt he would be selected again after returning from the dislocated shoulder that kept him out of action for a few months.
Shahid Afridi: “I need Shadab to deliver with the ball. Whenever he has performed with the ball, Pakistan have won”
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Legendary Pakistan six-hitter Shahid Afridi believes if spinner Shadab Khan starts getting wickets again, the men in green will win matches.