The 3rd of September will be etched in memories of every cricket fanatic, especially if you are a lover of ‘under dog’ stories. The Bangladesh cricket team recorded a massive come-from-behind 6-wicket win over Pakistan to register their maiden Test series win over the Asian rivals. Moreover, this elongated Pakistan’s sorry record at home, with them now on a 10-match winless streak at home. Apart from this, Insidesport had a special chat with former Indian cricketer Pragyan Ojha, who had his say on Pakistan cricket. Babar Azam, and Virat Kohli were amongst the news as well like usual.
Ojha slams Pakistan cricket
Following Bangladesh’s victory over Pakistan, cricket expert Pragyan Ojha criticized the Pakistani team’s performance, calling them “amateurs” despite their potential. He pointed out that Pakistan had a chance to win but squandered it after Litton Das’ century. Ojha believes that Pakistan’s lack of proficiency is evident in their play, despite having talented players. Apart from this, Ojha even asserted that this resurgent Bangladesh team could pose a threat to India in their next assignment.
Bhajji’s advice to Virat Kohli
Following a poor run of form in his maiden Test series against the West Indies, Virat Kohli was doubting himself. Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh recalled an incident where he motivated Kohli to overcome his self-doubt. Harbhajan told Kohli that he would be “ashamed” if he didn’t reach 10,000 Test runs, dissecting his belief in Kohli’s ability.
Is Babar Azam stubborn?
Former Pakistan selector Mohammad Wasim revealed his difficulties working with Babar Azam as the white-ball captain. He described Azam as “very stubborn” and resistant to change. Wasim struggled to convince Azam to accept certain decisions, despite his efforts to explain the benefits. He admitted to going beyond his limits to get Azam on board with certain calls but found it challenging due to Azam’s reluctance to change.
WTC final dates in, IPL 2025 when?
The ICC has set June 11-15 as the dates for the 2025 World Test Championship Final at Lord’s. This makes the dates for IPL 2025 interesting as India players should get enough time to get accustomed to red-ball cricket after two months of jam-pack T20 cricket. The BCCI has previously stated a preference for a 15-day gap between the two events. Given the dates for the WTC Final, the IPL 2025 final could potentially be held on May 26, similar to last season.
BazBall in T20Is & ODIs now!
The England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has appointed Brendon McCullum as the all-format coach, effective January 2025. This follows the resignation of white-ball coach Matthew Mott. McCullum, who has successfully transformed England’s Test team, is expected to bring his innovative approach to the white-ball format. With three major ICC tournaments approaching, the ECB believes this is the right time to unify coaching under McCullum’s leadership. Till January 2025, Marcus Trescothick remains at the helm of ODIs and T20Is.
India 0 : Mauritius 0
India’s Intercontinental Cup campaign began with a frustrating 0-0 draw against Mauritius. Despite dominating possession and creating multiple chances, the Blue Tigers were unable to break through the Mauritian defense. The goalless result leaves India with work to do in their remaining matches against Syria. The Manolo Marquez era has certainly not started in a way that he hoped.