Terming Shaheen Shah Afridi ouster from captaincy and bringing back Babar Azam a hasty decision, former Pakistan Cricket Board chief Zaka Ashraf has criticised the composition of the national selection committee announced recently.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will hold crisis talks Monday after replaced captain Shaheen Shah Afridi reportedly denied he had made comments backing new skipper Babar Azam that were quoted in a PCB statement.

According to cricket website ESPNCricinfo, Shaheen was on the brink of making a statement to this effect

"Our joint aim is to make this team the best in the world," said Azam

Babar Azam was named Pakistan's white-ball skipper on Sunday, four and half months after the batter had stepped down as their all-format captain following their World Cup debacle in India.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi hinted at a change in leadership in T20Is ahead of the T20 World Cup in June. 

Australia have released details of their schedule for their upcoming home summer, which includes the visit of Pakistan for six white-ball contests and the eagerly awaited Test series against India.

Babar achieved the feat in 271 innings. Former India skipper Kohli reached 10k runs in 299 innings. West Indies icon Gayle unlocked the milestone in 285 innings while veteran Australian opener David Warner took 303 innings for 10,000 T20 runs

Rangpur Rider batter Babar Azam acknowledged the substandard nature of the wickets offered in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) and said that it needs improving to elevate the standard of the tournament.

Here are some pictures from the BPL action on January 30, 2024 in Sylhet.

Babar Azam struck 62 off 46 deliveries to anchor the innings while Azmatullah Omarzai's cameo 32 off 15 helped Rangpur to 183 for 8.After the match a team source said that it wasn't required he bats in this game and that was why Shakib did not come to bat. 

Babar Azam continued to shine bright in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) as the stylish batter struck his second fifty in three matches to help his side, the Rangpur Riders, register their second win of the tournament by beating Durdanto Dhaka by 79 runs at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

Rangpur Riders batter Babar Azam scored 46-ball 62 laced with five fours and a six to help his side to a 79-run win over Durdanto Dhaka in the Bangladesh Premier League on Saturday at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. 

Players like Babar provide the type of quality that franchises can bank upon.

The right-handed batter turned up for today's match after arriving in Dhaka on Monday night and rescued his side from a top-order wobble, with help from player-of-the-match Azmatullah Omarzai, in a low-scoring affair in Mirpur.

Babar did not get much time for acclimatisation or acquaintance as he turned up for Today's match against Sylhet Sixers.

Rashid becomes just the second player from England to hold the No.1 ranking for T20I bowlers after off-spinner Graeme Swann held the top spot back more than a decade ago.

“It’s a difficult decision but I feel it is the right time for this call,” Babar informed.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam was described as "depressed" and under pressure to save his job Sunday after the team crashed out of the Cricket World Cup, failing to make the semifinals for a second successive tournament.

The 1992 champions failed to make the semifinals of the show-piece event in India, finishing their campaign with their fifth defeat in nine matches.