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Ultimate Dream Is To Become No 1 Test Batsman Says Babar Azam

Ultimate dream is to become No 1 Test batsman says Babar Azam

Pakistan skipper across formats, Babar Azam today became the fourth Pakistan batsman to top the ODI batting charts. Babar occupied the top spot early today after dethroning King Kohli from the top of the batting charts.

Virat Kohli occupied the numero-uno position in Test cricket for three years and it is a huge achievement for the young batsman to reach the landmark. Following his attainment of the numero uno status, Babar Azam stated that his ultimate dream is to be the number one batsman in Test cricket.

“I feel privileged and honoured to have joined the company of stalwarts like Zaheer Abbas, Javed Miandad and Mohammad Yousuf, who will always be the shining stars of Pakistan cricket.

This is another milestone in my career, which will now require even more hard work and absolute consistency with the bat in order for me to hold on to the ranking for an extended period of time, like Sir Vivian Richards from January 1984 to October 1988 and Virat Kohli for 1,258 days,” Azam was quoted as saying in an official PCB release.

“I have also previously topped the T20I rankings, but the ultimate ambition and goal is to lead the Test rankings, which are the real testament and reward to a batsman's calibre, reputation and skills. I understand to achieve this objective, I will not only have to perform consistently but more importantly, against the top sides,” he added.

Babar Azam was quite magnificent during the ODI series against South Africa. He started off the series with a splendid century which paved way for a nail-biting Pakistan victory. He didn’t score much in the second encounter but again played a match-winning role in the third encounter scoring a 82 balls 94. It helped him gain 13 rating points to 865 points and is now eight points clear of the charismatic Indian skipper.

Babar Azam ended Virat Kohli’s 1258 day domination at the top and joined an elusive list of Pakistan batsmen who have earlier occupied the No 1 spot in the ODI rankings. Zaheer Abbas (1983-84), Javed Miandad (1988-89) and Mohammad Yousuf (2003) are the other Pakistan batsman who has reached the feat. Babar Azam is currently the 5th ranked batsman in Tests besides being the 6th ranked batsman in T20I’s.

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IPL 2021: AB de Villiers needs to continue as a finisher feels Irfan Pathan

What a sensational start it proved to be for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the curtain-raiser of Vivo IPL 14 against the defending champions Mumbai Indians as they defeated them by two wickets in the final delivery of the match courtesy an AB de Villiers masterclass. It was a much-needed victory for a team who are on a mission trying to win their first-ever IPL trophy. Kohli and Co is all set to lock horns in the 6th match of the competition against the Sunrisers Hyderabad. While RCB started off with a nail-biting victory, SRH began their campaign on a losing note against the Kolkata Knight Riders. Ahead of the encounter, former Indian speedster Irfan Pathan has a piece of advice for Kohli and Co. He wants AB de Villiers to continue as a finisher with the likes of Washington Sundar and Glenn Maxwell coming up the order. Speaking to ESPN Cricinfo, Irfan Pathan said that Maxwell needs to spend as much time in the middle as possible and playing him above ABD will give him the luxury to play his natural game. Playing with freedom is a key factor for Maxwell and it will be interesting to see his role in the team going forward in the tournament. “AB de Villiers is such a player who can play in the top order, the middle order and also as a brilliant and consistent finisher. So, for that reason, RCB should play Maxwell higher up the batting order and hope that he plays fearlessly like in the first game,” Irfan Pathan said. “I would like to add another point that Washington Sundar should play in the top order consistently. Even after Devdutt Padikkal returns, play him at No. 3. We have been seeing RCB for so long and they always seem an Indian batsman short. So, if Washington Sundar even scores 20-25 runs consistently then the rest of the batting order is very dangerous and they'll get some firepower in the middle order,” he further added. There is no doubt about the fact that Maxwell is one of the most dangerous players going around. He is a phenomenal striker of the ball and has the ability to take any bowling attack to the cleaners on his day. Irfan Pathan feels that Maxwell’s presence in the middle order will be very crucial for RCB as it puts some undue pressure on the opposition. It will force the opposition captain to tinker with their strategy and employ the best bowlers at that juncture of the game. “When a player of Maxwell's calibre bats in the middle-order, he won't take too much time. He is a busy contender and that puts the opposition under pressure to bring their main bowlers and their planning gets completely changed. So, Maxwell playing at four is very crucial for RCB,” Pathan concluded.

Hanuma Vihari looking forward to his time with Warwickshire in county cricket

Test specialist Hanuma Vihari is all set to begin his county stint with Warwickshire and he expressed his excitement at getting a chance to play in county cricket. Taking to his Instagram handle, Vihari shared a picture of himself with a caption “Looking forward to tomorrow”. Vihari was earlier signed by the county team but any official announcement wasn’t made as they were trying to make Vihari play a few more matches rather than just the three matches which he will surely play. Vihari had left for England more than a week earlier as he had to comply with the quarantine rules at place in England. Vihari who is an important member of the Test side hasn’t played any international cricket following his heroic effort at Sydney during the Test series Down-Under. Despite leading Andhra Pradesh in the Vijay-Hazare Trophy, Vihari was far from his best and managed to score just a solitary half-century and failed to make double-digits in five consecutive matches. "With a curtailed domestic season this time and Vihari being a part of the Test side, he needs match practice. All his other Test colleagues are part of IPL teams, including Cheteshwar (Pujara). Even if it's white-ball games, they will be fit and match-ready," the senior BCCI official was quoted as saying by the Sportstar after Vihari left for England. "However, we need to ensure that Vihari also gets game time before the England tour. It's not just one World Test Championship final, but the full-fledged five-Test series that follows. We need him ready," he added. Indian players playing county seasons is nothing new. Over the years, several Indian cricketers have plied their trade in County Cricket especially ahead of tours to England and the other SENA countries. Getting acclimatised to conditions in England is always important and this opportunity might help Vihari and India in the long run. Meanwhile, Warwickshire plays their first game against Nottinghamshire starting tomorrow at Trent Bridge in Nottingham.

IPL 2021 | Ricky Ponting likens Rishabh Pant's thinking to Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson

Former Australian world-cup winning captain Ricky Ponting has said that the Delhi Capitals stand-in captain Rishabh Pant is a lot similar to Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson in terms fo throught process. Ponting, who is coaching the Capitals in the IPL, said that having pant at the crease more or less gives certain of winning a game irrespective of situations. "Someone like him (Pant), you want him to get involved in the game as early as possible, and bat for as long as possible. The way he thinks, he is actually a bit like Virat or Kane. Now, if they are in at the end, you are going to win more often than not no matter how many runs are required," Ponting said cricket.com.au. Ponting also spoke at a length on Pant’s wicketkeeping and commenced him for being an energetic person behind the stumps who drives his side forward. "He is energetic and you can hear that from behind the stumps, he loves being in the contest and he is a winner," Ponting added. Earlier this year, Ponting likened Pant to Adam Gilchrist, who was arguably the best wicketkeeepr batsman in the history of the game on the basis of his match-winning perofmnaces with the bat. He reiterated that Gilchrist was obviously a better keeper than Pant, however he suggested that India’s gloveman is also on the rapid path of improvement. "Gilly's keeping is better than Rishabh's no doubt about that. The way I saw him keep on turning pitches in India, I thought he kept way better than I thought he could," Ponting asserted. Ponting outlined the need of improvement in his wicketkeeping and said if he does that, there is hardly any doubt that Pant would be India’s wikctekeeper batsman for the next decade. "If his keeping improves, with his batting, he could be India's keeper in Tests for next 10-12 years no doubt,” Ponting spoke highly of Pant. The Delhi Capitals have started off the IPL 2021 with a bang and Ponting would be hoping for more and more runs from Pant as the tournament gets deeper into the business end.

Umar Akmal requests PCB to accept his fine in instalment, board rejects proposal

Pakistan cricketer Umar Akmal who has been a part of several controversies in the past has asked to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to accept his fine in instalments. Akmal who was suspended would consider himself lucky after his tenure was reduced to 12 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) but he was levied with a fine of PKR 4.25 million. However, reports have emerged that due to an apparent financial crisis, Umar Akmal has requested the board to accept the fine in instalments. Umar Akmal was suspended at the start of 2020 after he failed to report multiple approaches of corruption. He was suspended for three months but it was later revised twice. Eventually, the reduced suspension period was down to 12 months provided he pays the fine within the due date. Reports in the Pakistan media suggests that Umar reached out to the PCB stating that he would only be able to clear the fine in instalments as his financial state isn’t that great. However, the board has rejected the proposal and the plan of action will be interesting to see in the near future. Any Pakistani cricketer who is found guilty under any corruption case, he/she has to undergo a rehabilitation process after serving the suspension. In Umar’s case, he was found guilty of violating article 2.4.4 of the PCB Anti-corruption code. Umar Akmal was subsequently banned from all forms of cricket and was additionally levied a fine of PKR 4.25 million. Umar Akmal has been out of the international radar for quite a long time now. He last featured for Pakistan in a T20I encounter against Zimbabwe back in 2019. It will be testing times for Umar now to clear his fines.