Category: Sports

  • Yograj Singh Slams Former Cricketers and Offers to Coach Pakistan Team

    Yograj Singh Slams Former Cricketers and Offers to Coach Pakistan Team

    Yograj Singh, the father of famous cricketer Yuvraj Singh, criticized former Pakistani cricketers for their harsh comments about the current Pakistan cricket team. This criticism came after the team failed to reach the next stage of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which is being held in Pakistan for the first time since 1996.

    Pakistan lost its initial matches against New Zealand and India and was eliminated from the tournament quickly. The team, led by Mohammad Rizwan, faced harsh words from many former players, including legends like Wasim Akram and Javed Miandad. Akram and others expressed disappointment in the players’ performance and even mocked their food choices during matches, specifically a large plate of bananas that was offered to the players.

    Yograj Singh responded strongly, saying that Akram and Shoaib Akhtar, another former star, should be embarrassed for criticizing the team without trying to help. He suggested that if they really cared, they should return to Pakistan and work with the players to make the team better.

    Yograj Singh also offered to coach the Pakistan team himself, saying he could help them become a winning team in just one year. He mentioned that building a strong team requires serious hard work and dedication. He believes that if Akram or other famous players really wanted to help improve the team, they would organize training camps instead of just earning money from commentary.

    Pakistan, the defending champions, will play their final match of the tournament against Bangladesh on February 27.

  • Wasim Akram Criticizes Pakistan Team’s Diet and Poor Bowling Performance

    Wasim Akram Criticizes Pakistan Team’s Diet and Poor Bowling Performance

    Legendary Pakistani cricketer Wasim Akram criticized the national team’s performances after their disappointing losses in the Champions Trophy. Pakistan was already out of the tournament after losing to New Zealand and India.

    After the game against India, the team needed Bangladesh to win against New Zealand to have any chance of moving forward. But Bangladesh lost, leaving the team’s hopes in tatters.

    Akram expressed his frustration, especially highlighting the team’s strange eating habits. During a drinks break, players were given a plate full of bananas. “Even monkeys wouldn’t eat that many bananas!” he exclaimed. He pointed out that if Imran Khan, the team’s former captain, had seen this, he would have been very upset.

    Akram also criticized the bowlers, saying their performance was the second worst in the tournament. In the last five matches, Pakistan’s bowlers took only 24 wickets, averaging 60 runs per wicket. This is worse than both Oman and the USA, which is not good for such a talented team.

    He urged the head of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to question the team’s selection choices, mentioning that players like Khusdil Shah and Salam Agha did not seem able to take wickets. Akram had been warning for weeks about the squad’s weaknesses, but the PCB chairman insisted they had chosen the best team.

  • Venkatesh Iyer Prepared to Captain KKR in IPL 2025

    Venkatesh Iyer Prepared to Captain KKR in IPL 2025

    IPL 2025

    New Delhi: Venkatesh Iyer, a player for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), has said he is ready to be the captain if he gets the chance in IPL 2025. Although he has never been a captain before, he believes being a leader is more important than just having a title.

    The KKR team hasn’t chosen a captain yet for this season, which starts with a match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Eden Gardens. Previous captain Shreyas Iyer led KKR to victory in IPL 2024 but has moved to Punjab Kings in a big auction.

    Venkatesh told ESPNcricinfo, “I am definitely ready. Captaincy is just a label. I think being a leader is what counts more.” He emphasized that a leader should set a good example both on the field and off it. He mentioned he is already doing this with his team in Madhya Pradesh, even though he is not the captain there.

    “I might not be the captain of the MP team, but my teammates respect my opinions. I believe everyone, no matter if they are new or experienced, or regardless of how much they earn, should be free to share their thoughts. It’s important to have an environment where everyone feels comfortable speaking up,” he added.

    Venkatesh joined KKR in 2021, was let go last year but was bought back for a large sum of ₹23.75 crore after a bidding competition with RCB. He has played 51 matches for KKR, scoring a total of 1,326 runs.

  • Pat Cummins on India’s Advantage in Champions Trophy: A Must-Read Insight

    Pat Cummins on India’s Advantage in Champions Trophy: A Must-Read Insight

    Pat Cummins, the captain of the Australian cricket team, thinks India has a big advantage during the Champions Trophy because they are playing all their matches in Dubai. Other teams have to travel to Pakistan for their games. India chose to play in Dubai instead of Pakistan because they were worried about safety. Cummins told ‘Yahoo Australia’ that while it’s good the tournament can still happen, India gets the benefit of playing in one place, making them stronger.

    So far, India has won both of their matches against Bangladesh and Pakistan, and they are already in the semifinal, which is also in Dubai on March 4. Meanwhile, their last match in the group stage will be against New Zealand, who have won their games in Pakistan against the home team and Bangladesh.

    Pat Cummins has been watching the games from home due to an ankle injury but is looking forward to joining the IPL next month. The break has allowed him to spend time with his new baby daughter. He mentioned that his ankle recovery is going well and he plans to start running and bowling again soon.

  • Pakistan Cricket Crisis: Sunil Gavaskar Calls for Urgent Changes

    Pakistan Cricket Crisis: Sunil Gavaskar Calls for Urgent Changes

    Pakistan’s cricket team is facing big changes after losing to India in the 2025 Champions Trophy, which looks like it will end their chance of advancing. Legendary Indian player Sunil Gavaskar expressed his surprise at how little backup players Pakistan has, despite the country’s ability to produce great talent.

    So far in the tournament they are hosting, Pakistan has lost two matches: one to New Zealand by 60 runs, and another to India by six wickets. Gavaskar mentioned that Pakistan’s current team might struggle against even a second-string Indian team. “A B team would be really tough to beat Pakistan in their current form,” he said.

    In the game against India, Pakistan batted first but could only score 241 runs and got all out in 49.4 overs. India chased down the score in just 42.3 overs, thanks to Virat Kohli’s remarkable unbeaten 100 runs. After New Zealand’s win over Bangladesh, it became clear that Pakistan would be eliminated in the first round of the Champions Trophy.

    Gavaskar pointed out that Pakistan’s batters lacked aggression. For example, Mohammad Rizwan hit a boundary on his first ball, but the team didn’t change their slow approach. He found it surprising that nothing seemed to go right for them.

    Their performance was further impacted by the absence of Fakhar Zaman, a key opener, who was replaced by Imam-ul-Haq, who managed to score only 10 runs. Gavaskar noted that it’s unusual for a country known for its cricket talent to lack good replacements. He mentioned how Pakistan used to have players with great instinct, even if they didn’t always follow traditional techniques.

    Gavaskar questioned why Pakistan is struggling to find talented players and said Pakistan cricket should learn from India’s success. India has produced many young stars thanks to the IPL, which helps players gain experience and eventually join the national team. Pakistan needs to think about how to rebuild its cricket talent.

  • Rohit Sharma: Fastest ODI Opener to 9,000 Runs!

    Rohit Sharma: Fastest ODI Opener to 9,000 Runs!

    During the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 match against Pakistan in Dubai, Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma made history. He became the fastest opening batter in One Day Internationals (ODIs) to reach 9,000 runs. Rohit, who is 37 years old, achieved this milestone when he scored his first run in the match.

    With this single run, Rohit joined an exclusive group of just six openers who have scored over 9,000 runs in ODIs, including legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Sanath Jayasuriya, and Chris Gayle. Rohit is now the fastest among them, achieving the 9,000-run mark in just 181 innings. Previously, Sachin Tendulkar held the record, reaching this milestone in 197 innings.

    In the match against Pakistan, Rohit scored 20 runs off 15 balls but was out when bowled by Shaheen Shah Afridi with a fast yorker.

    Rohit has more than 11,000 runs in ODIs, making him one of the best players ever. He reached this 11,000-run mark in 261 innings, the second-fastest after his teammate Virat Kohli. Rohit has broken records before, becoming the fastest opener to 8,000 runs in ODIs in 2023.

    Overall, Rohit has over 15,000 runs as an opener in all types of cricket, ranking him seventh on the all-time list. He has hit 44 centuries, just behind David Warner and Sachin Tendulkar.

    In this match against Pakistan, Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat first, scoring 241 runs. Kuldeep Yadav stood out for India, taking three wickets to help dismiss Pakistan.

  • Babar Azam’s Uncertain Status Ahead of Big Pakistan vs. India Clash

    Babar Azam’s Uncertain Status Ahead of Big Pakistan vs. India Clash

    Babar Azam, Pakistan’s star batsman, was not at training before their important Champions Trophy game against India on Sunday. This has led to worries about whether he will play in the match. Babar faced a lot of criticism after scoring only 64 runs off 90 balls in Pakistan’s last game, where they lost to New Zealand by 60 runs. His absence from practice raised questions about his health and if he would be selected for the game.

    However, Pakistan’s interim coach, Aaqib Javed, said there was no need to worry. He explained that Babar chose to take some rest.

    Mohsin Naqvi, the head of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), was at practice and made it clear he expects the team to win against India “at any cost.” He talked to captain Mohammad Rizwan, coach Aaqib Javed, and key players like Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf about the pressure to win. Naqvi seemed unhappy with some player selections and took time to speak with each player and coach.

    After practice, Naqvi told the media he believed Pakistan is ready for the game. He said, “It will be a great game. Our team is fully prepared, and I think they’re in good form. We support them no matter what.”

    Because of security issues, India decided not to travel to Pakistan, so their matches in the Champions Trophy are being played in Dubai instead. If India makes it to the final, that game will also be held in Dubai, even though Pakistan is the official host for the tournament.

    With Babar Azam’s status still unclear and strong expectations from the PCB chief, the upcoming match between Pakistan and India is set to be exciting on and off the field.

  • India vs Pakistan Champions Trophy 2025: Key Match Preview and Insights

    India vs Pakistan Champions Trophy 2025: Key Match Preview and Insights

    India and Pakistan have both had exciting matches in recent ICC tournaments. India won against Pakistan in the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2023 ODI World Cup. But back in 2017, Pakistan won the ICC Champions Trophy by beating India.

    This time, India is led by Rohit Sharma and they’ll be seen as the favorites because they know the Dubai conditions well. However, Pakistan can feel confident too, as the pitches in Dubai have been slow lately. This means their spinners might do well and it could make it hard for India to score runs in the middle overs.

    The match starts at 1 PM, and likely, dew won’t be a big issue, making the toss very important. Last year, Sri Lanka learned to set challenging targets, and they succeeded against India by using their spinners effectively. Pakistan will want to do something similar, but India has also learned from their past games.

    In their first match against Bangladesh, India wanted to bowl first but then realized it was tough to chase on a slowing pitch. Teams will remember this when they play in Dubai. Batters are expected to go for big shots early on, but it might get harder to score as the game continues.

    Form Guide
    – Pakistan: L L W L W (last five ODIs)
    – India: W W W W L

    Pitch Report
    The pitch in Dubai is expected to get slower, making it harder for batters later in the match. India has been practicing hard to face spin bowlers since they expect spin to play a big role. At the start, both batting and fast bowling will have an advantage, but as the match goes on, spinners will become more important.

    Last time, Bangladesh struggled on this pitch, getting bowled out for 228 runs. So, batting first might be a smart move for the team that wins the toss.

    Weather Report
    The weather will be hot, with temperatures around 33°C in the afternoon, dropping to 26°C at night. It should be mostly sunny and warm, with no rain expected, meaning the game will go on without interruptions.

    Match Details
    The India vs Pakistan Champions Trophy 2025 match will start at 2:30 PM IST on Saturday, February 23, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

    Where to Watch
    This exciting match will be live on the NiftyStat website, with real-time updates and detailed coverage. Fans can also watch it on Star Sports Network and Sports18 Network. Online streaming will be available on the JioCinema app and website.

  • Pakistan vs. India: Champions Trophy 2025 – Must-Win Clash in Dubai

    Pakistan vs. India: Champions Trophy 2025 – Must-Win Clash in Dubai

    Pakistan is ready to face India in a crucial Champions Trophy match on Sunday in Dubai. After losing their first game to New Zealand, Pakistan, led by Mohammad Rizwan, needs a win to stay in the tournament. Right now, they are at the bottom of Group A. Meanwhile, India started strong with a win against Bangladesh and is currently second in the group.

    Due to political issues, India is not playing in Pakistan, but all the matches are taking place in Dubai. Even though Pakistan is the host country, they are traveling to Dubai for this game, which some fans see as giving India a home advantage since India’s players have already played there.

    Aaqib Javed, the coach of Pakistan, disagrees with this view. He believes that his team has the edge because they have been playing in the UAE for years, especially in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). He said, “India doesn’t have any advantage. Our players know this ground well.”

    He also mentioned the excitement of a Pakistan-India match, saying that the crowd’s energy is incredible. Whether the players do well or make mistakes, the crowd will react strongly. He told the players to focus on the game and not worry about what the crowd thinks.

    Looking at the teams’ history, Pakistan has won 73 matches against India, while India has won 57. However, Pakistan has lost all six of their recent games against India since 2018. In the Champions Trophy history, they have faced each other five times, with Pakistan winning the last match in the 2017 final by 180 runs.

  • Rohit Sharma’s Future in Cricket: Is This His Last Tournament

    Rohit Sharma’s Future in Cricket: Is This His Last Tournament

    Rohit Sharma’s retirement rumors are back, as former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar thinks Rohit probably won’t play in the 2027 ODI World Cup. He shared this on the eve of India’s important game against Pakistan in the 2025 Champions Trophy, which is crucial for India’s chance to reach the semifinals.

    On an interview with ESPNCricinfo, Manjrekar said he doubts Rohit will be around for the 2027 World Cup, hinting that the Champions Trophy might be his last tournament. He believes Rohit should enjoy his game against Pakistan without thinking it’s a farewell, but rather focus on showcasing his skills.

    “I feel that if Rohit has decided he won’t continue, it’s unlikely that he will play in the 2027 World Cup. This could very well be the last tournament for him,” Manjrekar explained. He wants Rohit to play freely, tapping into his batting talent rather than treating it like a goodbye match.

    Rohit Sharma had a strong start in the Champions Trophy. In India’s first match against Bangladesh, he scored 41 runs off 36 balls, helping India win by six wickets. Before the match, he downplayed any worries about his form after he had an impressive century in a recent ODI series against England.

    “During the 2023 World Cup in India, fans really admired Rohit for being a selfless captain. He could have scored a hundred but chose to give the team a good start instead,” Manjrekar added.