Adil Rashid has moved up two places to claim the top spot in the T20I bowlers’ rankings, surpassing Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan and India’s Ravi Bishnoi. This makes him the second English player to hold this position after Graeme Swann more than a decade ago. Akeal Hosein and Tabraiz Shamsi also made notable moves in the top 10.

In the batting rankings, Suryakumar Yadav maintains a 100-point lead, with Mohammad Rizwan and Aiden Markram as his closest competitors. Markram has moved to third in the all-rounders’ rankings, trailing Shakib Al Hasan.

In ODIs, Babar Azam regains the No.1 batting spot from Shubman Gill. Ireland’s Harry Tector climbs to seventh in the rankings. Rassie van der Dussen and Heinrich Klaasen lose ground in the top 10.

The Test rankings see changes after Australia’s win over Pakistan, with Usman Khawaja moving to fourth in the batting rankings. Australian bowlers Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood make progress in the top 10. Ravichandran Ashwin maintains his position as the top-ranked Test bowler.

After a disappointing Cricket World Cup, the Pakistan cricket team made significant changes on Wednesday. Captain Babar Azam resigned, and Shan Masood became the Test captain, while Shaheen Afridi took over the T20I team. Pakistan lost five out of nine matches and did not qualify for the semifinals. Babar had a tough tournament, scoring 320 runs in 9 matches.

Former captain Shahid Afridi, who is also Shaheen Afridi’s father-in-law, shared his thoughts on the captaincy change. “I didn’t see the need for changing the captain so soon. The Prime Minister and I discussed cricket and captaincy. I suggested that Babar shouldn’t be replaced yet. For white-ball captaincy, I thought Mohammad Rizwan would be ideal. I’ve said this before. I spoke to the PCB chairman, recommending Babar for red-ball captaincy and Rizwan for ODIs and T20Is. It’s Mohammad Hafeez and the chairman’s decision,” Afridi said on SAMAA TV.

He clarified, “Regarding Shaheen becoming the T20 captain, I never wanted to influence such decisions due to my relation with him. I’ve never supported Shaheen for captaincy. I haven’t lobbied for him. I want to make it clear that I’ve never backed Shaheen for captaincy.”

Meanwhile, Babar Azam emotionally announced his decision on social media. “I vividly remember when PCB asked me to lead Pakistan in 2019. Over the past four years, I’ve experienced highs and lows but aimed to maintain Pakistan’s pride. Reaching number 1 in white-ball cricket was a collective effort. I’m stepping down as captain in all formats. It’s a difficult decision, but the right time for this call,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Shahid Afridi criticized Babar Azam’s captaincy, expressing disappointment in how the national cricket team performed poorly at the Cricket World Cup 2023. Pakistan lost five out of nine matches in the league stage and didn’t make it to the semi-finals, even suffering a defeat against Afghanistan. Afridi, a fan of Babar, had hoped for him to become one of the top captains globally after leading for about four years. However, he observed that Babar did not improve or demonstrate effective leadership during this time. Afridi emphasized the need for a captain to unite the team and involve multiple players in decision-making, pointing out that Babar fell short in this aspect. Following Pakistan’s disappointing campaign, Morne Morkel resigned as the team’s bowling coach.

With Pakistan’s Cricket World Cup journey hanging by a thread, Virender Sehwag’s playful banter adds to the pressure. As they gear up for a decisive showdown against England at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, the stakes are high. Pakistan’s route has become even more complex as a result of New Zealand’s recent success over Sri Lanka; in order to change their net run-rate dynamics, they must defeat England handily.

Whether batting first or bowling, the challenges for Pakistan seem formidable. A closer examination of the situations highlights the requirement for a significant cushion because of the difficult struggle they confront. From scoring big to chasing down targets with remarkable efficiency, every ball and run count in this critical encounter.

As tensions rise on the cricket field, Virender Sehwag adds a touch of humor to the situation with a farewell message on Instagram. Fondly mentioning the biryani and hospitality, Sehwag bids adieu to the Pakistan team, creating a lighthearted mome

Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam, has been struggling with his batting performance since the start of the 2023 Cricket World Cup in India. Despite some good starts, he has failed to score big runs in every game. Former Pakistan cricketer Ramiz Raja, now a cricket pundit, believes that Babar’s difficulties mainly occur when he faces spin bowlers at the beginning of his innings. Ramiz thinks that Babar appears less comfortable against spin compared to pace bowlers and suggests that this might be due to issues with his footwork, mental state, or a lack of variety in his shots since he doesn’t play the sweep shot.

Ramiz also pointed out that whenever Babar has tried to be more aggressive, he has often ended up getting out, which affects his confidence. Ramiz’s advice to Babar is to work on grinding through these challenging phases, whether facing pace or spin, and aim to score a century to regain his confidence.

Despite these challenges, Pakistan’s recent victory over Bangladesh has kept their hopes alive for a semi-final spot in the 2023 Cricket World Cup. However, their prospects of making the top four will be determined by the outcomes of other matches.

At Eden Gardens, as Fakhar Zaman unleashed a barrage of sixes, the prevailing question was,

“When will Babar Azam come to bat?”

The fact that the opener was racking up runs and Pakistan were poised to break their World Cup 2023 losing streak didn’t deter the crowd. It didn’t matter that India wasn’t in the match, or that there was equal support for Bangladesh. Kolkata has opened its arms to Pakistan, providing the Men in Green with the support they longed for amidst a challenging World Cup campaign and turmoil within the PCB back home.

The DJ played ‘Dil Dil Pakistan’ in full throttle, ‘Pakistan jeetega’ chants echoed throughout the stadium, and each glimpse of Babar on the big screen ignited the crowd. Even fans donning India jerseys showed their support. After the match, when a smile finally returned to Babar’s face, the thunderous reaction was reminiscent of the adoration he receives in Karachi or Lahore. Eden Gardens was alive with over 35,000 fans in attendance even before sunset. People had gathered from nearby areas like Khidirpur, Park Circus, Mominpur, and Metiabruz to rally behind the Pakistan team.

Despite Kolkata’s connections with Bangladesh and a clash between the two neighboring countries shortly after the Durja Pujo festival, Pakistan emerged as the clear fan favorites. The decibel levels escalated when Shaheen took Mahmudullah’s wicket for the third time, when Fakhar and Abdullah Shafique both reached their fifties, when Babar stepped onto the field, and, ultimately, when the winning runs were scored. It brought back memories of the 2016 World T20, where a similar sight unfolded during a Pakistan-Bangladesh match.

‘We’ve been supporting the Pakistan team for a very long time. We know that when the Pakistan team goes down, it rises with the same speed.

“From now on, I’m hoping they will win the remaining two games and qualify for the top four,”

said a fan named Kazi Mohsin after Pakistan’s 7-wicket victory over Bangladesh.

Upon their arrival in Kolkata three days earlier, the Pakistan team was welcomed by a sea of people at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport. Haris and Shaheen chants filled the air as the players made their way out one by one. Yet the cheers for Babar were as loud as the ones Sourav Ganguly received during his playing days in the city. The players were inundated with selfie requests after their practice sessions, and their enthusiasm for this unique experience was evident.

This shared affection likely helped them relax. The players chose to skip dinner at the team hotel and opted for a taste of Kolkata’s renowned biryani, placing their order through Zomato on a Sunday evening. Pakistan’s dietary habits have faced criticism, including comments from notable figures like Wasim Akram. Adding to the disappointment was the recent revelation by former captain Rashid Latif, who publicly disclosed information about players going unpaid and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) seemingly neglecting Babar.

These revelations can be demoralizing, even for the most resilient individuals. However, it’s not the first time former players have had public outbursts; similar incidents occurred during the 2019 World Cup and in nearly every tournament or series where Pakistan fell short of expectations. Undoubtedly, this team has faced challenges, but the barrage of disparaging comments questioning their commitment and attitude seems unbecoming of those who once walked in their shoes.

Amidst the outrage, Kolkata’s hospitality was what Babar and his team sought from their fans and board. Instead, they encountered criticism, jeers, and turmoil within the board. The saga surrounding Babar’s leaked chat, the circumstances leading to it, and Inzamam-ul-Haq’s resignation as chief selector amidst an investigation and Pakistan’s four consecutive losses were the last things Pakistan needed after their semifinal hopes were dashed.

Eden Gardens has a rich history with Pakistan, witnessing memorable matches and controversies. From Shoaib Akhtar’s thunderbolts to infamous incidents like Tendulkar’s run-out, the ground has seen it all. If Hyderabad were Pakistan’s home ground in this World Cup, Kolkata would prove to be their home away from home.

Pakistan find themselves in a familiar situation, reminiscent of their 1992 World Cup glory, as they battle to secure a spot in the semi-finals. Babar Azam’s squad entered the 2023 World Cup with high hopes, boasting top-tier batsmen and a formidable pace attack. They kicked off with impressive victories against the Netherlands and Sri Lanka but then stumbled, suffering four consecutive defeats, an unprecedented streak for the Pakistani team in World Cup history. Now, the burning question on every fan’s mind is whether Pakistan can still clinch a semi-final spot.

In all honesty, Pakistan face an uphill struggle to turn their fortunes around, even if they secure wins against Bangladesh at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, New Zealand on November 4, or England on November 11 in their final group match. Even if they win all three remaining games, Pakistan can only accumulate a maximum of 10 points, a tally unlikely to secure a semi-final berth. Their fate hinges on how the remaining group stage matches unfold.

If Pakistan manages to win all three remaining games and amass 10 points, they must also rely on Australia, currently sitting fourth with eight points from six matches, to lose all three of their games against Afghanistan, England and Bangladesh. Pakistan would need Sri Lanka to lose at least two of their remaining three matches, against India, New Zealand, and Bangladesh. This would keep Australia on eight points and restrict Sri Lanka to no more than six. Another route to the semi-finals is if New Zealand stumbles significantly, as they also have eight points and cannot surpass ten if they lose two of their remaining three matches.

However, Afghanistan’s impressive victory over the 1996 champions in Pune has complicated Pakistan’s path even further. In addition to the scenarios mentioned, Pakistan desperately requires Afghanistan to lose two matches, against the Netherlands and South Africa, while defeating Australia by a margin that doesn’t surpass Pakistan’s net run rate. Therefore, Pakistan must not only win but also ensure that their margins of victory are substantial enough to maintain a positive net run rate by the end of the group stage.

Babar Azam’s Captaincy Under Scrutiny
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has hinted that captain Babar Azam’s leadership might be in jeopardy if the team fails in the ongoing World Cup. With three consecutive losses in five matches, Pakistan faces a must-win situation against South Africa.

PCB’s Stance on Babar Azam’s Captaincy
The PCB, in line with former cricketers, believes that both victories and defeats are part of the game. They stress that Babar Azam and Chief Selector Inzamam-ul-Haq were given freedom and support in forming the World Cup 2023 squad.

Potential Replacements and PCB’s Call for Support
There is growing speculation about potential replacements for Babar as captain, with Sarfaraz Ahmed, Muhammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi in the conversation. The PCB acknowledges fans’ sentiments and urges continued support for Babar and the team during the World Cup. They remain optimistic about Pakistan’s performance in the remaining matches.

In simple terms, the PCB is considering changing Babar Azam as captain if Pakistan doesn’t improve its World Cup performance, and they request ongoing support from fans.

Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam, is now only six rating points ahead in the ODI Batting Rankings. India’s Shubman Gill and other players in great form at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup are closing in on him. Despite scoring 157 runs in five innings during the ongoing World Cup, Babar’s rating has dropped by 829 points. His most recent performance was a strong 74 runs against Afghanistan in Chennai, even though his team lost.

On the other hand, Shubman Gill has scored 95 runs in just three matches for India, and he now has 823 rating points, thanks to his remarkable knock of 53 against Bangladesh in Pune. Gill isn’t the only player challenging Babar’s top ranking. South Africa’s opener, Quinton de Kock, is in third place in the ODI batting rankings after scoring three incredible centuries at the World Cup. His teammate Heinrich Klaasen has moved up to fourth place with a new career-high rating. Virat Kohli and David Warner share fifth place after delivering strong performances in India.

Daryl Mitchell, a reliable middle-order batter from New Zealand, has jumped 16 places to 13th overall with 268 runs from four innings at the World Cup. In the ODI bowler rankings, Australia’s Josh Hazlewood remains in the lead, but India’s Mohammed Siraj is a close second after taking six wickets in five World Cup matches. South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj is in third place with a new career-high rating after securing seven wickets at the tournament. Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi and Australia’s Adam Zampa also made significant progress in the top 10.

Bangladesh’s captain, Shakib Al Hasan, continues to lead the ODI rankings for all-rounders, while South Africa’s Marco Jansen has made a big leap, moving up 23 places to share 11th place with Scotland’s Michael Leask.

The Pakistan cricket team is currently not in the best mental state as they’ve lost their last two matches in the Cricket World Cup 2023. There were reports of conflicts within the team, and the Pakistan Cricket Board addressed these rumors on social media, denying any internal discord within the team. Some journalists on social media claimed there were fights within the team, with promises to reveal more details after the match against Afghanistan on Monday. However, the PCB’s official statement refuted these claims and assured that the team is unified, with no evidence to support the allegations. The PCB expressed disappointment over the spread of false news and emphasized the importance of upholding journalistic ethics. Pakistan had initially won their first two matches against Netherlands and Sri Lanka but faced losses against Australia and India.