Sachin Tendulkar Joins Pakistani Legends at NCL, Promotes Cricket in the US

Sachin Tendulkar Joins Pakistani Legends at NCL, Promotes Cricket in the US

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar’s recent visit to the National Cricket League (NCL) in Dallas, USA, has sparked excitement among cricket enthusiasts. Tendulkar, a co-owner of the NCL, was joined by fellow Pakistani cricket icons Wasim Akram, Zaheer Abbas, and Moin Khan.

Akram shared a photo on social media, capturing the moment with the caption, “With 2 Asian greats @sachin_rt & #ZaheerAbbas and of course one of the best wicket-keepers from Pakistan #MoinKhan at NCL.”

The NCL, played in the T10 format, aims to promote cricket in the United States. Tendulkar’s involvement as a co-owner is a testament to his commitment to expanding the sport’s reach.

During his stay in the US, Tendulkar was honored at a Dallas Cowboys NFL game, where team owner Jerry Jones presented him with a custom No. 10 jersey. This gesture highlights the growing popularity of cricket in America.

Tendulkar’s presence at the NCL and his involvement in promoting cricket in the US are significant steps towards introducing the sport to new audiences. Through the NCL’s innovative format, he is working to make cricket more accessible and engaging for American fans.

The NCL’s T10 format, with its fast-paced and exciting gameplay, is particularly well-suited to attract new viewers. The league’s focus on entertainment and community engagement is also helping to build a strong foundation for cricket in the United States.

Tendulkar’s passion for cricket and his commitment to its growth are evident in his involvement with the NCL. His presence at the tournament and his collaboration with other cricket legends is a testament to his dedication to promoting the sport globally.

India's Champions Trophy Participation Uncertain Amidst Political Tensions

India’s Champions Trophy Participation Uncertain Amidst Political Tensions

India’s participation in the 2025 Champions Trophy remains uncertain as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has yet to confirm the team’s travel plans to Pakistan. The BCCI has repeatedly stated that the Indian team will only travel to Pakistan if the Central government grants permission.

Amidst the ongoing debate, former Pakistan cricketer Moin Khan has appealed to legendary Indian players like Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Kapil Dev, and Rahul Dravid to persuade the BCCI to send Team India for the Champions Trophy.

“Former India cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Kapil Dev, Rahul Dravid, etc., should tell their cricket board to keep politics away from cricket. Cricket should not be obstructed by political issues. The fans would love to see India and Pakistan play. It will not only benefit Pakistan, but overall cricket will be benefitted,” Moin said at an event.

However, Moin also emphasized that Pakistan should not send their team to India if India does not participate in the Champions Trophy. “India ought to honor their commitments with the ICC. And if they do not come, then Pakistan should reconsider their decision to participate in any future events slated to be held in India,” he added.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has proposed that the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will commence on February 19 and be held entirely in Pakistan, rejecting a hybrid model for India’s matches, as was the case with the Asia Cup 2023.

According to the PCB proposal, the ICC Champion’s Trophy 2025 will be scheduled from February 19 to March 9, 2025, with all matches taking place across three major cities: Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Lahore. Sources within the PCB indicate that International Cricket Council (ICC) officials who visited Pakistan to inspect the arrangements for the event have expressed satisfaction with the systems in place.

If the Champions Trophy does remain in Pakistan, it could be the first major international cricket tournament hosted solely by the nation.

Shaheen Afridi’s T20I Captaincy Removal Deemed “Unjust” by Moin Khan

The captaincy carousel in Pakistan cricket has been spinning rapidly in recent months, with Babar Azam relinquishing his leadership duties across formats after the 2023 ODI World Cup. Shaheen Afridi was initially appointed as T20I captain, while Shan Masood took over the reins in Test cricket. However, Pakistan’s disappointing 4-1 T20I series loss to New Zealand ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup prompted a swift change, with Babar being reinstated as white-ball captain.

Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Moin Khan, a member of the 1992 ODI World Cup-winning team, has expressed his disapproval of Shaheen’s removal as T20I captain, arguing that he should have been given more time.

“Shaheen Afridi has the ability to lead the team and is highly respected by the players,” Moin told Cricket Pakistan. “He is an excellent choice for captaincy in T20s. In white-ball cricket, I don’t see anyone else suitable for the role. Removing him from the captaincy was unjust. He is one of the best T20 players, and I’ve noticed his performance has slightly declined since he was removed from the captaincy. How can you expect good performance if you don’t give players confidence? They should be given some time as captain.”

Moin also weighed in on the possibility of Mohammad Rizwan replacing Babar as white-ball captain.

“A single captain can be appointed for all formats of cricket, but it’s crucial for any player to perform across all formats to achieve this,” Moin said. “Whoever becomes captain should have the responsibility for a long term. There is no doubt about Mohammad Rizwan’s abilities; any criticism against him might be due to his age. It’s also important to consider how long he can represent the team if given leadership. Mohammad Rizwan could be a great short-term captain, but you would need to groom a young cricketer to take over in the future. We often appoint captains but fail to prepare a suitable deputy.”

The captaincy debate in Pakistan cricket is likely to continue in the lead-up to the 2024 T20 World Cup, with the team seeking stability and success under a consistent leadership structure.

Azam Khan's Father Blames Ex-PCB Chief for Son's Exclusion from National Team

Azam Khan’s Father Blames Ex-PCB Chief for Son’s Exclusion from National Team

Azam Khan, the Pakistani batter, has been making waves in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) with his powerful shots and game-changing abilities. However, his career has been marred by concerns about his fitness levels, which have also contributed to his exclusion from the national team.

Moin Khan, Azam’s father and a former wicketkeeper-batter for Pakistan, has criticized Ramiz Raja, the ex-chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), for hindering his son’s progress. Moin believes that Raja’s decision to exclude Azam from the squad prior to the T20 World Cup in 2021 was a major setback.

“In the 2022 (2021) World Cup, Azam was also selected for the team, but Ramiz Raja dropped him. At that time, if the chief selector had made a wrong selection, he should have been removed, but they didn’t have the courage, and as a result, they demoralized a young player,” Moin told Cricket Pakistan.

Moin also expressed his disapproval regarding the choice to drop Azam from the squad after a single game. The promising wicketkeeper-batsman failed to score in the match against USA, which resulted in Pakistan’s unexpected loss.

“I watched the entire World Cup and the matches leading up to it, and it seemed like Azam was the number one choice for wicketkeeping and batting. Then suddenly, after just one match, the entire strategy was changed. Azam wasn’t given a chance to keep wickets after one match and was dropped after getting out on the very first ball,” he said.

However, Moin emphasized that Azam needs to become “physically and mentally” stronger to maintain his performance at the highest level.

“I’m not saying that all the blame lies with the team management and the captain; Azam has his own shortcomings too. He needs to make himself physically and mentally stronger, follow the fitness routines of other sportsmen. For the past month or so, I’ve noticed he’s been working hard to improve his fitness with his trainer Shehzar Mohammad, even taking him along to the Caribbean League,” said Moin.

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