Connect with us

Sports

‘Win against India damaged us a lot’: Mohammad Yousuf explains Pakistan cricket’s decline | Cricket News

Published

on

'Win against India damaged us a lot': Mohammad Yousuf explains Pakistan cricket's decline

NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan star cricketer Mohammad Yousuf has said the country’s current cricket crisis began after their famous 10-wicket win over India at the 2021 T20 World Cup in Dubai.Pakistan had never beaten India in a World Cup before that match. Babar Azam scored an unbeaten 68, while Mohammad Rizwan made 79 not out as Pakistan chased down 152 without losing a wicket. The win was celebrated as a historic moment for Pakistan cricket.However, Yousuf believes the victory also changed the mindset of the players and played a role in the team’s decline in the years that followed.

‘That match… damaged us a lot’

Yousuf said the players became too confident after beating India and failed to understand what they needed to do next.“That match which we won against India in 2021, that damaged us a lot. Because after that victory, players started to think that they had achieved something big. They couldn’t understand what they had to do next. When you are performing well, you should stay humble. If you behave with your collar raised, and get disrespectful, problems will arrive. And a lot of them have arrived in Pakistan cricket,” said Yousuf in a conversation on Samaa TV.Yousuf believes the problem was not only about Pakistan’s results. He feels the team’s attitude also changed after the famous win.

Players wanted to become captain

Yousuf also blamed the fight for captaincy for some of Pakistan’s problems.He said players became more interested in becoming the team’s captain instead of taking responsibility for their performances.“Everyone in the team was trying to become the captain of the Pakistan team. The consequences are still hurting Pakistan cricket. Look at all the cricket Pakistan has played in the last four-five years, from ODI World Cups, T20 World Cups to Asia Cups and Champions Trophy. There has been terrible cricket. The PCB has been supporting you throughout. So many coaches have come and gone, so many things have changed just to try and help the Pakistan team. But no player has stood up and taken responsibility. Eventually, PCB had to take a step that it did. I back what PCB did,” added Yousuf.

Advertisement

Pakistan in trouble in England

Yousuf’s comments have come at a difficult time for Pakistan cricket. The team suffered heavy defeats in the first two Tests against England. Pakistan lost the Headingley Test by an innings and 103 runs before suffering a 194-run defeat at Lord’s. The Pakistan Cricket Board then made major changes in the middle of the England tour.Seven players – Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Khurram Shahzad, Aamir Jamal and Muhammad Awais Jafar – were sent back to Pakistan with one Test still left in the series.The PCB also removed head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and assistant coach Umar Gul. Seven replacements were called up, including five uncapped players.The decision to make major changes in the middle of a Test series attracted a lot of attention. However, Yousuf said he had no problem with the PCB’s decision.When asked whether the board was right to take action with one Test still remaining, he said: “Yes, there is no issue with when PCB have taken action. The Pakistan team is ninth in the World Test Championship standings. They are ninth because there are only nine teams in the table. Pakistan ka naam kharab ho raha hai (Pakistan’s reputation is getting ruined). So when that’s happening, the board has to take some steps to improve.Yousuf also suggested that something may have happened inside the dressing room that led to the seven players being sent home.

‘It’s not just this one series’

Yousuf said Pakistan’s problems cannot be blamed only on the ongoing England series.He pointed to the team’s poor performances in major tournaments over the last few years.“I don’t see an issue with the PCB reaction. Because the team has been playing terrible cricket. It’s not just this one series against England. We played in the T20 World Cup final in 2022 and played in an Asia Cup final as well, but since those finals, just look at the performances coming out of this Pakistan team,” Yousuf said.Pakistan have struggled across formats in recent years. They were swept 2-0 by Bangladesh earlier this year, their second 0-2 series defeat against the same opposition after the 2024 home series.The team’s poor performances have raised questions over its leadership, selection and overall direction.But for Yousuf, the root of the problem goes back to that famous night in Dubai in 2021, when Pakistan finally beat India by 10 wickets in a World Cup match.

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

Sports

Orioles place Luis Robert Jr. on 10-day injured list

Published

on

The recently acquired outfielder was placed on the 10-day injured list due to left hamstring discomfort, retroactive to Sept. 5, the Orioles announced on Sunday.

Robert Jr. joined Baltimore in late August after he was claimed off waivers from the New York Mets. The one-time all-star has made 11 at-bats through three games since joining the Orioles, slashing .182/.250/.545 with two hits, one home run and three RBIs.

For the season, Robert Jr. is slashing .221/.300/.407 with 45 hits, 11 homers and 26 RBIs through 204 at-bats.

The 29-year-old spent the first six seasons of his career with the Chicago White Sox before he was traded to the Mets ahead of the season.

Advertisement

Robert Jr.’s absence will come as a blow to the skidding Orioles, who are in the midst of a wild-card chase. Baltimore entered Sunday — having lost five consecutive outings — three games back of their AL East-rival Toronto Blue Jays for the final wild-card spot.

Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

Shawn Porter says he’ll return to the ring against retired Hall of Famer: “He can’t outbox me”

Published

on

Shawn Porter could be about to make an audacious return to the ring.

Porter is a two-time welterweight world champion, having first held the IBF title from 2013 to 2014, before a reign as WBC champion from 2018 to 2019.

He fought some of the biggest names at 147lbs over the years, including the likes of Errol Spence Jr, Adrien Broner, Paulie Malignaggi and Keith Thurman, before retiring following a stoppage loss to Terence Crawford in November 2021.

Advertisement

While it may be nearly five years since Porter last stepped into the ring, he has teased a potential bout with a Hall of Fame inductee, who hasn’t competed himself in over a decade.

Porter revealed the man in question whilst speaking to FightHype, saying that at some point he will get back into the ring against former two-weight world champion Tim Bradley.

“Honestly for me it’s up to that dude. If he want me to kick his ass, I’ll kick his ass. It’s the little man complex that we both have.”

“There is truly an amount of curiosity that [even though] I think we’re both past what would have happened [then], he says he will outbox me.”

“The bottom line is at some point we’ll get in the ring, we either decide on the weight class and put in the work and do it in front of everybody, or I just knock on his door and I say we do this real quick, I need you to know you can’t outbox me.”

Bradley held world honours at both 140lbs and 147lbs, notably taking part in a trilogy with Manny Pacquiao which included a controversial win for ‘Desert Storm’ back in 2012, while he also beat fighters such as Juan Manuel Marquez and Ruslan Provodnikov.

He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2023 and has now become a prominent analyst in the sport, with his playful rivalry with Porter coming after the pair began regularly working together, but whether that ever leads to a genuine fight between the two remains to be seen.

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

Jaja Santiago rues missed chance to win PVL title for Creamline

Published

on

PVL Invitational Conference Jaja Santiago Minowa Creamline vs PLDT

Jaja Santiago-Minowa and Creamline during a game against PLDT in the PVL Invitational Conference.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Jaja Santiago-Minowa felt a tinge of regret after missing the chance to win a championship for Creamline in her limited time in the PVL Invitational Conference.

Even Minowa’s huge addition wasn’t enough to lift Creamline in a 25-17, 23-25, 21-25, 25-23, 15-12 loss to PLDT that ended their title bid on Sunday night at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Article continues after this advertisement
Advertisement

READ: PVL: PLDT denies Creamline, sends Nxled to first-ever finals

Creamline’s loss was Nxled’s gain, as the Chameleons advanced to the final through the FIVB point-system tiebreak with 10 points, ahead of Creamline’s nine and PLDT’s eight.

“We were really aiming for the championship. I’m really sad and I feel bad that I wasn’t able to give that to them during the short time that I’ve been here,” said Minowa in Filipino after firing 25 points, highlighted by nine kill blocks.

“But I’m going to work harder on Tuesday, no matter what happens. At least, we can still fight for a podium finish.”

Advertisement
Article continues after this advertisement

Creamline missed the Invitational final for the second straight year after ending the preliminary round with back-to-back losses.

But the 6-foot-5 middle blocker still wants to finish strong and bring home the bronze against PLDT also on Tuesday.

“It was definitely a tough loss. I think everyone gave their best, but we just came up short in the end. Maybe the short preparation for everything we’ve been facing also played a part. There are still a lot of things we need to improve as a team,” said Minowa.

Advertisement
Article continues after this advertisement

READ: Creamline reaps rewards of Jaja Santiago’s presence

“But like I said earlier, the fight isn’t over yet. We still have a game on Tuesday. It’s not the finals and it’s not for the gold, but we can change our mindset and treat it like a Finals game. If we win, we’ll still get a medal. It may not be gold, but a win is still a win. So we really need to work hard for Tuesday. It’s a must-win for us.”



Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Advertisement


Your subscription has been successful.

Despite the heartbreaking loss, Minowa praised PLDT star Savi Davison, who erupted for a new career-high 37 points in their first-ever duel.

“She jumps really high and attacks at a high point. She’s difficult to block because of how high she contacts the ball, and she also hangs in the air for a long time,” said Minowa, who is set to play in the League One Volleyball in the United States starting in January.

Advertisement

“It’s also difficult to defend her, especially when she gets a good set. But I’m really lucky that I got the chance to play against her. It’s a good challenge because there are a lot of talented players like Savi that we can face, and it’s a good learning experience for me.”

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Sports

5 feats Kimi Antonelli achieved by winning the F1 Italian GP

Published

on

Kimi Antonelli has managed to win the Italian Grand Prix against all odds after starting the race from P19 thanks to an engine penalty that dropped him toward the back of the grid. In doing so, the young Italian has achieved quite a few feats, so let’s take a look at some of them.

Antonelli managed to overtake Mercedes teammate George Russell in the very final stages of the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday, as he secured his seventh victory of the 2026 F1 season. In doing so, he has also extended his lead at the top of the drivers’ standings to 66 points over the Briton.

With his brilliant home victory, Kimi Antonelli has achieved some incredible feats, as the 20-year-old made history at Monza. So let’s take a look at what Antonelli achieved on Sunday.


5 feats Kimi Antonelli achieved with his Italian Grand Prix victory

Kimi Antonelli at the Italian Grand Prix - Source: GettyKimi Antonelli at the Italian Grand Prix - Source: Getty
Kimi Antonelli at the Italian Grand Prix – Source: Getty

Youngest ever Italian Grand Prix winner

Kimi Antonelli has become the youngest ever Italian Grand Prix winner, doing so just 12 days after his 20th birthday. Before him, this record was held by Sebastian Vettel, who won the race in 2008 to become the youngest ever F1 race winner at the time.

Third driver in F1 history to win from P19 or lower

Antonelli became only the third driver in F1 history to win a Grand Prix from P19 or lower on the grid. In fact, only John Watson, who won the 1983 Long Beach GP from P22, has won a race from further back than Antonelli.

The 20-year-old equaled Bill Vukovich’s record, who won the 1954 Indy 500 from P19 as well, when the iconic race was part of the F1 championship.

First Italian in 60 years to win the Italian Grand Prix

Kimi Antonelli became the first Italian driver to win the Italian Grand Prix in 60 years with his win on Sunday. The previous man from the country to win his home race was Ludovico Scarfiotti, who did so in 1966 driving for Ferrari.

Advertisement

Youngest driver to win seven F1 races

The victory at Monza was Antonelli’s seventh career win, making him the youngest ever F1 driver to get to that number. He is also the youngest driver ever to win seven races in a single season, and the Mercedes driver does not look to be in the mood to stop at that number this year.

Only the fourth Italian driver ever to win the Italian Grand Prix

Antonelli also joined an exclusive list with his win at Monza, becoming only the fourth Italian driver ever to win the Italian Grand Prix. This list includes Giuseppe Farina, who won the race in 1950 driving for Alfa Romeo, Alberto Ascari, who won in 1951 and 1952 with Ferrari, and as already mentioned, Ludovico Scarfiotti, who also won for Ferrari.

Interestingly, Antonelli is therefore the first Italian to win at Monza with a foreign team in Mercedes. He is also the first Italian to win the race in the 21st century.