Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Former players slam PCB for sacking Sarfaraz as captain

Pakistan's former stalwarts on Sunday lashed out at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for acting in haste in removing Sarfaraz Ahmed as captain in all three formats of the game.

Most of the former captains and players termed the removal of Sarfaraz on Friday as unjust. Not surprisingly, the head coach and chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq and bowling coach Waqar Younis were also targeted and blamed for engineering the ouster of Sarfaraz.


Sarafarz has been replaced as Test captain by Azhar Ali while Babar Azam will take over in T20s. A decision on the ODI captaincy will be finalised in due course.

The wicketkeeper-batsman is also unlikely to be part of the touring Pakistan T20 or Test squad to Australia later this month.

Batting great Javed Miandad said since Sarfaraz had gained considerable experience as a captain in the last two years, he should have been given time to regain his form instead of just sacking him.

"Azhar's appointment as Test captain is okay but if the Board wanted to appoint Babar as white-ball captain, they should have first groomed him as I fear the burden of T20 captaincy will affect his batting," Miandad said.

Former Test batsman and ex-head coach and chief selector Mohsin Khan said, "He (Sarfaraz) took Pakistan to number one in T20 cricket and he is a fighter. This is a decision taken in haste and it could also affect the career of Babar."

Former captain Rashid Latif minced no words in stating that the Board had erred by making Babar captain of the T20 side.

"He is a selfish player and we have seen this in international cricket and now in the national T20 championship. Sarfaraz is not a selfish captain and sacrificed his position many times for the team. He did not deserve this treatment," he said.

Former skipper Moin Khan said he was shocked at the way the Board had treated Sarfaraz.

"He (Sarfaraz) has shown himself to be a fine captain and yes he was struggling a bit for form but when a senior player is under pressure you have to encourage and back him, not dump him like this," Moin said.

He noted that Misbah and Waqar had never been fond of Sarfaraz and with them in charge, this sacking was expected.

Former Test pacer Aaqib Javed also criticised the Board for taking a strange decision.

"I don't know from where these decisions are coming but they make no sense at all to me. Sarfaraz should have been relieved as Test captain but the Board should have given him some time as captain of white-ball cricket."

Another former captain Ramiz Raja, however, felt that the Board had taken a brave decision to appoint Babar Azam as T20 captain and said people defending Sarfaraz should accept his poor form in recent months as skipper.

"We were struggling in Test cricket, we did not reach semifinals of the World Cup. We lost to a Sri Lankan 'B' team in T20 cricket and his own form is on a decline. I think the Board acted properly by investing in a young player in the white-ball formats. If Babar develops into a good leader he can also become Test captain," he said.

Former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar said Sarfaraz only had himself to blame for his ouster.

"I have been saying for a while now that he needs to be a brave captain and player. He has not been physically fit and he lacked leadership qualities," Akhtar said.

More For You

Street Fighter

Street Fighter is now in production

Vidyut Jammwal steps into 'Street Fighter' arena as Dhalsim to face Hollywood heavyweights in brutal 1993 tournament

Highlights:

  • The live-action Street Fighter film will release in October 2026 via Paramount Pictures
  • Indian star Vidyut Jammwal plays Dhalsim in the multicultural ensemble cast
  • The film is directed by Kitao Sakurai and shot for IMAX
  • Set in 1993, the story follows Ryu and Ken returning for a high-stakes World Warrior Tournament

The upcoming Street Fighter movie is gearing up for a worldwide release in October 2026 under Paramount Pictures, and the buzz around Vidyut Jammwal in Street Fighter is already hyping fans. Bringing together a diverse international line-up, this live-action adaptation aims to reintroduce the beloved gaming saga to a new generation while tapping into the nostalgia of its 1990s arcade roots.

Street Fighter Street Fighter is now in production Instagram/streetfightermovie

Keep ReadingShow less
'This Girl Can' calls out erasure of south Asian Muslim women from UK sport with bold new visibility drive

This Girl Can calls out erasure of south Asian Muslim women from UK sport

'This Girl Can' calls out erasure of south Asian Muslim women from UK sport with bold new visibility drive

Highlights:

  • New ‘We Like the Way You Move’ campaign launched by Sport England initiative This Girl Can.
  • Focus on improving representation of South Asian Muslim women in sport and physical activity.
  • Research highlights stark under-representation of women of colour in public sports imagery.
  • Campaign calls on providers to create inclusive, women-only and culturally sensitive spaces.

This Girl Can has unveiled a powerful new campaign spotlighting South Asian Muslim women in sport, aiming to redefine what being active looks like and tackle deep-rooted barriers. The We Like the Way You Move drive, launched by Sport England, uses strong visuals with community-driven storytelling to encourage participation and promote inclusivity. It comes alongside new data exposing how women of colour remain overlooked in public representations of physical activity.

This Girl Can calls out erasure of south Asian Muslim women from UK sport www.easterneye.biz

Keep ReadingShow less
iPadOS 26

Apple Intelligence adds features such as Live Translation and Image Playground

Getty Images

iPadOS 26 transforms the iPad into a laptop-style device

Highlights:

  • iPadOS 26 introduces Apple’s Liquid Glass design, the biggest aesthetic overhaul in a decade.
  • Windowing and multitasking bring MacBook-like usability to the iPad.
  • Productivity gains include a new Files app, Background Tasks and a Menu Bar.
  • Apple Intelligence adds features such as Live Translation and Image Playground.
  • Reviewers say the update makes the iPad more powerful, though with a learning curve.

Apple has released iPadOS 26, a free update for compatible tablets, and early reviews describe it as one of the most significant overhauls in the iPad’s history. With a striking new design language and laptop-style productivity tools, the software pushes the iPad closer than ever to being a true alternative to the MacBook.

Liquid Glass wins over critics

The most visible change is Apple’s new Liquid Glass aesthetic. First revealed at WWDC 2025, the design uses translucent layers and fluid animations to create the effect of glass surfaces shifting across the screen. Critics say it looks especially impressive on the iPad’s larger display, where the Control Centre, Lock Screen and Camera app now feel more modern and dynamic.

Keep ReadingShow less
Baffling cabinet reshuffle

Piyush Goyal with Jonathan Reynolds at Chequers during the signing of the UK–India Free Trade Agreement in July

Baffling cabinet reshuffle

IN SIR KEIR STARMER’S cabinet reshuffle last week, triggered by the resignation of Angela Rayner, the prime minister shifted Jonathan Reynolds from business and trade secretary and president of the board of trade after barely a year in the post to chief whip, making him responsible for the party.

The move doesn’t make much sense. At Chequers, the UK-India Free Trade Agreement was signed by Reynolds, and the Indian commerce and industry minister, Piyush Goyal. They had clearly established a friendly working relationship.

Keep ReadingShow less