Author: Waqar Anwar

Haris Rauf expressed disappointment over Pakistan’s mistakes as they let yet another close match slip away. In the recent ODI against Australia, Pakistan faced a tough defeat, extending a troubling trend: Australia has now won 27 of the last 28 completed games against Pakistan at home, with this match ending with a comfortable victory for Australia by 99 balls. A Glimpse of Hope Amidst Australia’s Dominance Despite the loss, Pakistan showed moments of fight that caught everyone by surprise. Australia was cruising at 139 for 3 in the 20th over while chasing a modest target of 204 runs. However, things…

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has successfully tested a new AI tool to help eliminate harmful comments on social media directed at female players during the recent Women’s T20 World Cup in the UAE. This tool, called GoBubble, automatically identifies and removes abusive comments, as well as unwanted messages from bots promoting unrelated products. Key Findings from the Trial The Importance of Addressing Online Abuse Many female players face a lot of negative comments on social media, which can discourage young girls from playing cricket. Finn Bradshaw, the ICC’s Head of Digital, explained, “We want to inspire more women and…

Introduction Pitches that make batting a gamble can actually help the opposing team’s spinners. Let’s explore how India’s preference for turning tracks might not be as beneficial as they think. Indian Players and Pitches Indian cricketers often dislike discussing home pitches. They want to avoid negative labels like “dustbowls” or “rank turners.” However, they often want turning pitches for their matches, even as they claim they don’t control pitch preparation, which is sometimes hard to believe. During the 2023 ICC ODI World Cup, many pitches seemed to cater to India, showing that they may have influenced conditions to suit their…

The Incident Shakib made a significant impact for Surrey, claiming nine wickets in a tense match that, despite his contributions, ended in a 111-run loss for his team. His addition to Surrey’s squad was meant to fill the gap left by eight key players on England duty, including frontline spinners Will Jacks and Dan Lawrence. Shakib bowled over 63 overs during the match, but post-match, umpires Steve O’Shaughnessy and David Millns reported his action as suspect. What’s Next? The ECB has asked Shakib to undergo further tests, which are expected to take place in the coming weeks. Although he is…

Why Afghanistan Has the Edge Afghanistan comes off a historic ODI series win against South Africa, showcasing their strength. Sharjah is a familiar venue for them, and they’ll aim to exploit that advantage. Bangladesh, on the other hand, arrives in Sharjah on the back of disappointing results against South Africa at home, where they lost both Test matches decisively. This is also Bangladesh’s first ODI series in Sharjah since the 1995 Asia Cup, giving Afghanistan a distinct home advantage. Fresh Faces for Afghanistan Afghanistan has brought in Sediqullah Atal, an impressive young opener who excelled at the Emerging Asia Cup,…

Background of the Afro-Asia Cup The Afro-Asia Cup was previously held twice—in 2005 in South Africa and in 2007 in India. The tournament brought together some of the biggest stars from both continents. The 2005 edition saw legends like Inzamam-ul-Haq, Rahul Dravid, and Anil Kumble represent Asia, while the 2007 Asia XI included icons such as MS Dhoni, Sourav Ganguly, and Sachin Tendulkar. Asia XI won the 2007 series 3-0, while the 2005 series ended 1-1 due to a rained-out final game. With India and Pakistan currently only facing each other in ICC events due to political tensions, the Afro-Asia…

Salt’s Experience as Wicketkeeper Salt has limited experience keeping wicket for England, having done so in 13 out of his 59 matches across different formats. However, he feels it’s a role where he can make a strong impact. “I enjoy keeping. I feel like that’s where I offer the most to the side,” Salt shared during a recent interview in Barbados. In this ODI series against the West Indies, Salt was preferred as the wicketkeeper over Jordan Cox, while Cox will step in for Test keeper Jamie Smith in the upcoming New Zealand series. Buttler’s Return, But With a Twist…

Women’s Cricket Schedule Expands with Dedicated Tournaments The 2025-29 women’s cricket calendar is packed with exciting updates! The Women’s Premier League (WPL) will now run in January-February starting 2026, while the Hundred and WBBL get their own windows in August and November, respectively. This change allows fans to enjoy each tournament without overlaps, and it gives players a chance to focus on each event fully. ICC Women’s Championship Adds New Team The ICC Women’s Championship has expanded to 11 teams, with Zimbabwe joining for the first time. This addition allows for more competition and diversity in women’s cricket. Over this…

Why Babar Azam Was Given a Break After struggling in recent Test matches, Babar Azam was left out of the Pakistan squad for the last two Tests against England, which Pakistan won 2-1. This break comes after a prolonged period of low scores, with Babar failing to score a half-century in his last 18 Test innings since late 2022. Despite this, Masood has faith in Babar’s potential. “He’s one of the best batsmen in the world,” Masood said on the BBC’s Stumped radio program. “Sometimes, people need a break to recharge and come back even stronger.” Babar’s Immediate Future in…

Starc’s Sheffield Shield Performance Sets the Tone Mitchell Starc recently grabbed attention with an impressive seven-wicket haul in the Sheffield Shield at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). His pace and power left both New South Wales and Victoria teams talking, with Victoria’s head coach Chris Rogers, a former Test player, even jokingly reconsidering a comeback. Starc’s impressive form continued on Australia’s home summer debut as he dominated Pakistan’s batting lineup. He bowled with speed and precision, taking 3 for 33 from his 10 overs, including three maidens. The last time he bowled three maidens in an ODI at the MCG…