Watch: Babar Azam's Powerful Shot Strikes Pakistan Bowling Coach Saeed Ajmal. This Happens next

10.01.2024 - 14:13 sports.ndtv.com

Babar Azam is currently struggling with a lean patch. After a rather quiet ODI Cricket World Cup 2023, where he could not leave a big mark, Babar Azam resigned from the captaincy of the Pakistan cricket team.

Shan Massod took over the Test captaincy while Shaheen Afridi took over the T20I captaincy. After the Cricket World Cup, Pakistan's first assignment was a three-Test series against Australia which it lost 3-0.

Babar Azam did not have a good Tour in Australia too as he could go past the 40-mark only once in six innings. The Pakistan cricket team will next face New Zealand in a T20I series.

The preparation for it has already begun. In a video which has gone viral on social media, it can be seen that Babar Azam is having a go at the nets.

cricket Pakistan Cricket Team New Zealand Cricket Team watch Babar Azam Shaheen Shah Afridi Australia New Zealand India Pakistan

A furious former skipper and chairman of selectors Inzamam ul Haq squarely blamed Pakistan Cricket Board's outgoing top boss Zaka Ashraf for being responsible for country's disastrous ODI World Cup performance in India last year. Zaka, who was named head of an Interim Management Committee to run PCB affairs in July, announced at a meeting of the committee a few days back that he was resigning immediately as Chairman and as a member of the board.

"We Sorted Out": Shaheen Afridi's Big Update On Pakistan's T20 World Cup Squad

Pakistan skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi revealed that the Men in Green have sorted out 16 to 20 players for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 following the conclusion of the five-match series against New Zealand. Pakistan stood victorious in the final T20I against the Kiwis with a 42-run victory but were humbled throughout the series. Iftikhar Ahmed shone with his off-spin on a track that tended to fall on the slower side. After the game, Shaheen hailed the veteran spinner for his contribution and that the team has sorted out players for the World Cup which is slated to begin in June later this year.

"What Benefit Did You Get?": Pakistan Great Slams Disbanding Of Babar Azam-Mohammad Rizwan Pair

Slamming the move of breaking the worldwide famous opening pair of Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan following the team's loss in the T20I series against New Zealand, former Pakistan cricketer and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ramiz Raja asked the selectors what benefit they gained out of it. In the ongoing T20I series against Kiwis, Pakistan are trailing 3-0, with two games to go. In the series, Pakistan has been opening with new openers, Saim Ayub and Mohammed Rizwan, who have underperformed as a pair in this series so far.

New Zealand vs Pakistan Live Score, 4th T20I: New Zealand Off To Disastrous Start, Chasing 159

New Zealand vs Pakistan 4th T20I Live Updates: With their backs against the wall, Pakistan gear up for the private salvaging 4th T20I against New Zealand at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch. New Zealand's stand-in skipper Mitchell Santner won the toss and opted to field first. Mohammad Rizwan's unbeaten 90-run knock paved the way for Pakistan to post 158/5 on the board in 20 overs on a tricky wicket. (LIVE Scorecard)

"Black Day In Pakistan Cricket": Fans Fume After Series Defeat To New Zealand

Following a 45-run defeat in the third T20I of a five-match series against New Zealand, Pakistan have now gone seven games without a win in international cricket. Since the change in captaincy, following Babar Azam's decision to step down as skipper after the World Cup, Pakistan have lost six games under different captains. While Babar lost his last game in in charge against England during the World Cup, the team suffered a series sweep against Australia, with new Test captain Shan Masood at the helm.

Watch: Babar Azam Goes Up Against Azam Khan On Field, The Result Is...

Star batter Babar Azam on Sunday smashed his second half-century in as many games but Pakistan went down against New Zealand in the second T20I in Hamilton. Babar, who hit 57 in the series-opener in Auckland, smashed 66 off just 43 balls, but couldn't guide his team to a win at the Seddon Park as New Zealand took a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. Babar, who recently stepped down from captaincy across formats, however, enjoyed his time in the middle with the bat, smashing seven boundaries and two sixes.