Pakistan Test coach Jason Gillespie highlighted the importance of fitness in the team ahead of their two-match red-ball series against Bangladesh in August. In the recently concluded T20 World Cup 2024, Pakistan crashed out of the group stage and received massive backlash from former Pakistan cricketers and some sections of fans. Fielding and inconsistency were the two aspects of the Pakistan team that were heavily criticised. Apart from that, the fitness level of the players also turned out to be another point of backlash for the players.

Some sections of fans, along with former Pakistan cricketers including Wasim Akram, Kamran Akmal and many more stars, have been critical of the players’ fitness.

Gillespie is looking to improve the fitness level within the team and said, as quoted from Geo News, “In international cricket, you have to remain fit, there are no questions on that. In international cricket, everyone should know about the importance of fitness. It is the main component of a sportsman.”

After Babar Azam was reinstated as the white ball captain in place of Shaheen Afridi, Shan Masood is expected to lead the side in the two-match Test series.

Gillespie disclosed that he has had conversations with the Test skipper and will hold talks with the players about the brand of cricket that they want to play.

“I have talked to Shan Masood [Pakistan’s red-ball capain] one or two times, I’m hoping we will play positive cricket. I will [also] discuss with the players about what brand of cricket they want to play, the team will be selected while taking the opposition and conditions in mind,” he said.

“If a player is good for the team, he will definitely be selected. I’m in contact with Gary Kirsten [Pakistan’s white-ball coach] for players’ workload management,” he added.

The former Australian pacer asserted that his focus is on red-ball cricket and he has had conversations with previous coaches as he aims to improve the team.

“My focus is red-ball cricket. I will also travel to Australia and watch their players. I have talked with Jeff Lawson and Shaun Tait [Pakistan’s former bowling coach] on the Pakistan cricket team,” Gillespie said.

Pakistan’s Test series against Bangladesh will begin on August 21 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The second Test will be played on August 30 at National Stadium Karachi.

Pakistan World Cup winner Mushtaq Ahmed praised under-fire Pakistan captain Babar Azam, and stated that he requires contributions from the rest of the players. He went on to ask that more respect be shown towards Babar. Babar and the rest of the Pakistan team were heavily criticised by former players, experts and fans as Pakistan crashed out of the 2024 T20 World Cup after the group stage. However, Mushtaq Ahmed rushed to Babar’s defence, stating that he has increased his aggression.

“Babar’s intent has definitely changed in the past year. He has shown aggression in his batting. If a person can improve so much, I think that’s enough,” Mushtaq said to Cricket Pakistan.

“Other players also have a duty to score runs; they have a role to play too. If one person gives you a score, but the rest of our players don’t go on to score in the remaining 7-8 overs, then there’s a problem,” he added.

“This has been happening for 3-4 years. They (other players except Babar) only score when it doesn’t make a significant impact,” stated Mushtaq.

Babar was Pakistan’s top runscorer in the 2024 T20 World Cup, scoring 122 runs in four games, but at a strike rate of just 101.66. Mohammad Rizwan, who scored the second-most runs, had a strike rate of just 90.90.

Mushtaq called for people to respect Babar more, and not forget his contributions to Pakistan cricket.

“If we talk about Babar, there’s a reason why people respect him worldwide. He brings honour to Pakistan. I think sometimes people are very hard on him,” said Mushtaq.

Babar Azam currently ranks among ICC’s top 5 batsmen in all three formats; No. 1 in ODIs, No. 3 in Tests and No. 4 in T20Is.

Despite a rocky T20 World Cup campaign, Babar is expected to retain captaincy, with the ‘major surgery’ earlier promised by Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi reportedly unlikely.

File image of Babar Azam (right) and Shaheen Shah Afridi.© AFP

Pakistan failed to make the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup 2024.© X (Twitter)

Babar Azam and five other players have decided to spend their holidays in London.© AFP

Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Azam Khan has been on the receiving end of some criticism from fans and former players amid his poor show in the recently-concluded T20I series against England. Azam scored just 11 runs in the two matches that he played, while his glove-work was also questionable as he dropped a few easy catches. Ahead of the T20 World Cup, fans and former selectors have questioned his inclusion in the team. While Azam’s performances have not been upto the mark, the experts also suggested that the 25-year-old is out of shape to play at the highest level.

Amid the ongoing criticism, Pakistan captain Babar Azam has defended the youngster, urging the fans to back him and the other players who have been selected for the T20 World Cup.

“When we don’t select a player, you ask us why we did not select him. And then, when we select him, you ask us why he was selected. We need to back the players who have been selected,” Babar said in a press conference.

In the fourth and final T20I at The Oval, Azam looked visibly dejected during one of the drink breaks, having dropped a few catches. However, Babar went up to him and consoled the youngster. His gesture has gone viral on social media.

The way he backs his Teammates Aik hi dil hain Kaptaana kitni Baar jetoge pic.twitter.com/OEnyWtACvm

— Muhammad Abubakar (@Abubakarfts213) May 31, 2024

Azam isn’t the only player who is going through a rough patch going into the T20 World Cup. Even captain Babar and star keeper-batter Mohmmad Rizwan have come under scrutiny for their batting strike-rate.

Pakistan would need a massive turnaround to get out of their T20 World Cup group.

They are placed in Group A alongside arch-rival India, Canada, USA and Ireland. The Men in Green will begin their campaign against the co-hosts USA on Thursday at the Grand Prairie Stadium, Texas.

They face USA in their tournament opener on June 6, followed by the high-octane clash against arch-rivals India on June 9.

Pakistan squad for T20 World Cup: Babar Azam (c), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan.

Pakistan’s former players are not expecting the team to do well in the T20 World Cup starting in the Americas from Saturday. Pakistan lost a T20I in Ireland and then suffered a 0-2 defeat in England this week, not the ideal result before a global event. Before that, they drew 2-2 at home with a New Zealand side that was missing many of its World Cup squad members. “They are not getting their combination right, which is their biggest problem,” former captain Rashid Latif said.

He feels Pakistan need to not only shuffle their batting but make more use of their spinners.

“Not only shuffle, but players need to be prepared to play at floating roles now in T20 cricket as per the match situation,” he added.

The legendary Javed Miandad is banking on the unpredictability factor.

“They are unpredictable and always seem to do well in these T20 World Cups. But yes, they need to definitely improve in some areas quickly because, with a 20-team event, you can’t afford to relax even in one game,” he said.

Pakistan’s white-ball captain Babar Azam said in his post-match conference at the Oval that although it was disappointing to lose the series to England, the World Cup will be a different challenge.

“We have capable (and) talented players, and we will come good in the World Cup,” he said.

Many cricket fans are not happy with the selection or performance of Azam Khan, who was dismissed cheaply at the Oval and dropped two catches.

Azam, who has followed in the footsteps of his father, Moin Khan, as a wicketkeeper-batter, has been trolled mercilessly on social media since Thursday.

But it is not just Azam who has been a disappointment. All-rounder Shadab Khan has also been struggling for runs, as has Iftikhar Ahmed, who has failed to make any impact while batting down the order.

The bowlers also have been having too many of -days, with pacer Naseem Shah going for 25 in an over in the power play at The Oval, while Mohammad Amir conceded 28 in two overs.

Some officials in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) are worried that if the team doesn’t reach the World Cup semi-finals, the fan base will take a big hit, which would not help the board in its preparations for the Champions Trophy next year.

“If the team does not perform well, it is no secret it has a big effect on the number of sponsors and broadcasters lining up to invest in Pakistan cricket,” an official said.

“I think Babar just needs to bat at number three, and they should make Saim (Ayub) or Fakhar (Zaman) open with Mohammad Rizwan,” suggested former player Basit Ali. PTI Corr AYG AH AH

Pakistan cricketer Azam Khan in action against England© AFP

Pakistan cricketer Azam Khan courted plenty of criticism on social media as a video of his using foreign currency notes to wipe off sweat went viral on social media. It isn’t often that the Pakistan cricket team and its players successfully manage to stay away from controversies and episodes like these explain exactly why. As Azam Khan wiped sweat off his forehead, Pakistan captain Babar Azam could be heard teasing him while recording the video. Fans on social media couldn’t digest the insensitive act by Pakistani cricketers.

In the video, Babar could be heard asking Azam, “Abba, kya hua hai? Garmi hai? (What happened? Is it hot?)”. Khan then says, “Bahot zyada garmi hai (it’s too hot)”, and then is seen wiping his sweat with British currency notes. Babar, among others, was heard laughing because of Azam’s act. The video has been branded ‘shameless’ by many on social media.

Babar ne aba bol diya ab azam khan ko sab ne yehi bolna hai #BabarAzam #PAKvsENG pic.twitter.com/rHG5d0nTTy

— Urooj Jawed (@uroojjawed12) May 20, 2024

It wasn’t a pleasing sight for fans, seeing Azam Khan using currency notes in such a manner. Many users on social media even called him out for ‘mocking poor’. Here are some reactions:

Apart from a rare few in Pakistans sporting history, none have the charisma, impact and influence of any kind, nothing for a young kid to aspire about. The current lot is just hopeless. https://t.co/XS2gFBdCq6

— km (@chotaypayen) May 21, 2024

Pakistani, awam, like you are really a bunch of insensitive jerks. People are dying due to food shortage in Pakistan, and this guy, instead of donating money to them, is paying for interet wifi and expensive mobile while sitting under a roof and mocking poor people. https://t.co/rU1Thdfiai

— Awais Edits (@Inqalab22) May 20, 2024

That’s why we always keep saying basic education is a must, these people travel to the world but don’t learn the basic humane values.

Send them to school pls before you send them to an international platform https://t.co/1syAHjAktj

— Shoaib (@daryaaw) May 21, 2024

@wwasay @Rizzvi73 what is this behavior of Pakistani cricketers?

People in Pakistan are craving for daily needs of roti and cricketers are shamelessly posting such videos. https://t.co/298JYtJDON

— Deepak Sonar (@deepaksonar911) May 20, 2024

“That’s why we always keep saying basic education is a must, these people travel to the world but don’t learn the basic humane values. Send them to school pls before you send them to an international platform,” wrote a user on social media.

“People are dying due to food shortage in Pakistan, and this guy, instead of donating money to them, is paying for internet wifi and expensive mobile while sitting under a roof and mocking poor people,” another reaction read.

“Apart from a rare few in Pakistan’s sporting history, none have the charisma, impact and influence of any kind, nothing for a young kid to aspire about. The current lot is just hopeless,” a person said on X.

The Pakistan cricket team has reached England for a preparator T20I series ahead of the start of the T20 World Cup 2024. 

Rampur (Uttar Pradesh):

The Uttar Pradesh police on Saturday night shifted Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan and his son Abdullah Azam to different jails from Rampur.

Azam Khan, his wife Tanzeem Fatima, and his son Abdullah Azam, who were convicted by a court in Uttar Pradesh on October 18 in a fake birth certificate case, were awarded a seven-year jail term and a fine of Rs 15,000 to all three of them.

Before sitting inside the police car, Azam Khan was seen speaking to the media. He said, “Anything can happen to us; we can get encountered in between our journeys.”

#WATCH | “Hamara encounter bhi ho sakta hai…Kuch bhi ho sakta hai,” said Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan earlier today after he was brought out of Rampur Jail to be taken to Sitapur Jail in Uttar Pradesh. pic.twitter.com/f1irE1MTPL

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) October 22, 2023

Visuals showed, Abdullah Azam being taken in a police van amid heavy security. Tanzeem Fatima was not shifted to any different location, she Rampur is in jail.

Rampur’s Additional SP Sansar Singh has said that he (Azam Khan) has been shifted from jail due to security reasons.

If sources are to be believed, Azam Khan is being shifted to Hardoi Jail and Abdullah Azam to Sitapur Jail.

Speaking of the court’s judgment, former DGS (Crime) Arun Saxena said, “Abdullah Azam Khan had two birth certificates. Akash Saxena filed a FIR. After the probe, the charge sheet was filed. The court has given its judgment, and all three people were found guilty. On the conviction point, the court sentenced all three to a maximum of seven years’ imprisonment. Approximately a fine of Rs 15,000 has also been imposed.

“The former DGC further said that Azam Khan’s first birth certificate is of January 1, 1993, while the other birth certificate was made from Lucknow, where his birth date is September 30, 1990

On September 26, the Supreme Court referred to the District Judge, Muradabad, to address the question relating to the correct date of birth of the petitioner, Khan, and sent a finding to this Court for further consideration in the matter.

The court had noted that the correct date of birth relating to the petitioner is relevant for the ultimate consideration of the issues raised and to decide juvenility.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)