Tough days for King Babar? Pakistan skipper sledged in his own backyard! Know more

sanjeev

khelja|21-09-2024

Babar Azam's popularity in Pakistan cricket remains unmatched, but the current T20I captain faced some playful banter from former skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed during the Champions Cup 2024 match between Stallions and Dolphins at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad.
As Babar walked to the crease after winning the toss, Sarfaraz quipped, "No hurry, no hurry. Let Babar play 40 overs, and we will get the others out,"a comment picked up on the stump mic, as the crowd chanted his name. Babar responded by scoring a century, finishing with 104 runs off 100 balls, including seven fours and three sixes. Meanwhile, speculation grows regarding his captaincy future, with Mohammad Rizwan emerging as a frontrunner for the role. Former cricketer Basit Ali endorsed Rizwan's potential, stating, "He has shown it with his captaincy... If you don't make him captain now, it's a loss for Pakistan.” Pakistan announce revised schedule of England Test series  
  Meanwhile, Pakistan's cricket board on Friday announced a revised schedule for a series it will hold against England next month, ending weeks of uncertainty including reports it could be moved abroad. The first two Tests will be held back-to-back in Multan and the last in Rawalpindi, skipping Karachi where ongoing construction at the National Stadium has forced the Pakistan Cricket Board to tweak the schedule. "The series will start in Multan with the first Test from October 7-11 and the second Test -- originally scheduled for Karachi -- has been shifted to Multan, as the stadium in Karachi is undergoing (a) major facelift for next year's Champions Trophy," said a statement from the Pakistan Cricket Board. The second Test will start from October 15, while the third in Rawalpindi will be staged from October 24. The England men's cricket team will arrive in Multan on October 2 for their second tour of Pakistan in two years. The announcement ended weeks of frustrating wait by the England and Wales Cricket Board who were seeking clarity on the schedule. (With inputs from Agencies)