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Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed star batter Babar Azam as the ODI and T20I captain months after removing him from the role. Babar had stepped down after Pakistan’s forgettable show at the 2023 ODI World Cup last year with Shan Masood taking over the Test captaincy while Shaheen Afridi handed over the reins of T20I side.

No decision was taken on ODI captaincy back then but after a meeting between Babar and PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, suspense over the leadership role has ended.

“Following unanimous recommendation from the PCB’s selection committee, Chairman PCB Mohsin Naqvi has appointed Babar Azam as white-ball (ODI and T20I) captain of the Pakistan men’s cricket team," PCB said on X (formerly Twitter).

PCB’s announcement means Test captaincy will stay with Shan.

Earlier, various media reports claimed that Babar would agree a return to captaincy only on the condition if he gets to lead across formats.

Moreover, it has been reported that Shaheen Afridi wasn’t kept in the loop when PCB was discussing about replacing him as the T20I captain.

“Shaheen is rightly upset as being the national T20 captain he expected that even if the board/selectors wanted to remove him they have the decency to also inform him for the reasons behind this and keep him in the loop about everything," a source was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

Shaheen reportedly was willing to step down from the role had PCB informed him about their plans.

The 23-year-old left-arm pacer was made the captain after his success with Lahore Qalandars as he captained them to two successive Pakistan Super League titles.

However, in his first assignment, Shaheen-led Pakistan suffered a 1-4 T20I series defeat against New Zealand and then in the recent PSL, Qalandars finished at the bottom of the points table.

Netherlands will host Ireland and Scotland in a T20 tri-series as part of the three teams' preparations for the T20 World Cup, which begins on June 2. The tri-series will take place in Amstelveen from May 18 to 24, with matches on all days other than May 21.

The all-European tri-series will follow a pure round-robin format, with no final, with each team meeting the others twice.

Tri-series fixtures

1. May 18 Netherlands vs Scotland
2. May 19 Netherlands vs Ireland
3. May 20 Ireland vs Scotland
4. May 22 Netherlands vs Scotland
5. May 23 Ireland vs Scotland
6. May 24 Netherlands vs Ireland

Ireland, who completed an all-format home series against Afghanistan earlier this month, have three home T20Is lined up against Pakistan in May before they travel to the Netherlands this tri-series. For Scotland and Netherlands, who have recently played 50-overs games in World Cup League 2, the tri-series is their last chance to tune up their T20I plans before they head to the West Indies and the USA for the World Cup.

"We are excited to host this Tri-Series as part of our preparation for the T20 World Cup played in America and the West Indies in June," Roland Lefebvre, high performance director at the KNCB (Royal Dutch Cricket Association), said. "Twenty teams will be competing in this year's event which makes this World Cup a truly global event, with more than a billion TV viewers worldwide. The Netherlands team will be aiming to emulate the success they had in Australia in 2022."

In the World Cup, Ireland have been drawn in Group A alongside Canada, India, Pakistan and USA; Scotland in Group B alongside Australia, England, Namibia and Oman; and Netherlands in Group D alongside Bangladesh, Nepal, South Africa and Sri Lanka.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday announced the schedule for Pakistan's tour of Ireland for a three-match T20I series. The matches, which are set for May 10, 12, and 14, will take place on Castle Avenue in Dublin.

The series is part of Pakistan's 12-match preparation for the T20 World Cup in the United States and the West Indies. Before Pakistan leaves for Ireland, New Zealand arrives in Pakistan in April to play five T20Is, the first of which is on April 18.

The final game will take place on April 27. Following that, Pakistan will embark on a four-T20I tour of England, which begins on May 22.

Pakistan's last visit to Ireland was during the hosts' inaugural Test match in 2018. That was also the last time the two teams clashed in a variety of formats.

Pakistan was set to play Ireland in two T20Is in Dublin in July 2020, however, they were postponed because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ireland, meanwhile, will enter the T20Is against Pakistan after losing the ODI and T20I series against Afghanistan in the UAE earlier this month, albeit they did earn a historic first Test win in Abu Dhabi to begin off the tour.

Pakistan and Ireland are building up to the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in June, and will meet each other on June 16 in the first Group Stage of the tournament.

Afghanistan mystery spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman has been ruled out of Kolkata Knight Riders' IPL 2024 campaign due to injury and will be replaced in the squad by his countryman, the 16-year-old Allah Ghazanfar.

Rajasthan Royals signed South Africa's left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj as a replacement for fast bowler Prasidh Krishna, who is currently recovering from surgery on his left proximal quadriceps tendon.

Ghazanfar, also a mystery spinner, made his international debut earlier this month during the ODI series against Ireland, though he went wicketless in the two matches he played. He was Afghanistan's second highest wicket-taker at the recently concluded Under-19 World Cup, taking eight wickets at an average of 16.75. Ghazanfar has played six List A matches and three T20s. He joins KKR for his base price of INR 20 lakhs.

Maharaj, a South Africa veteran, has played 50 Tests, 44 ODIs and 27 T20Is, with a total of 237 wickets in international cricket. Additionally, he has played in T20 leagues around the world, including for Durban's Super Giants in the SA20, and Fortune Barishal in the BPL. Maharaj, who took 15 wickets from 13 matches in this year's SA20, had arrived in India earlier this month, training with the Lucknow Super Giants squad.

KKR, who opened their campaign with a four-run win against Sunrisers Hyderabad, face Royal Challengers Bengaluru next on Friday. Royals also began their season on a victorious note against Super Giants.

The Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) is investigating if Usman Khan's decision to declare his intention to play for Pakistan constitutes a breach of his contract with the UAE board.

ESPNcricinfo understands the ECB is conducting a review of the case to assess potential breaches of contract not just with the board itself, but also with white-ball leagues he has played in the UAE as a local player, including the ILT20 and the T10.

The decision of the review, which ECB sources told ESPNcricinfo will be finalised in the next fortnight, could carry significant ramifications for Usman. It is understood he could face a ban from league cricket in the UAE, thus depriving him of the most financially lucrative cricket he has played in his career thus far.

If a breach of contract is deemed to have occurred, it is also set to have consequences for the player's work permit, under which he has lived in the UAE to complete the residency requirement to be able to qualify to play international cricket for the UAE; he still has 14 months to go before he satisfies that criteria.

For his part, Usman believes he has not breached any contract, contesting that his contract includes an exit clause with a 30-day notice period. It is understood he is resigned to whatever sanction the ECB levies on him, and that the allure of playing for Pakistan when the PCB came calling after the PSL was too enticing to turn down.

Usman was asked by the PCB if he still wished to play for Pakistan, to which he responded in the affirmative. On Monday, he was named in the Pakistan camp that is currently training with the Pakistan military in a PCB initiative to boost player fitness. He linked up with the camp on Sunday evening, and ESPNcricinfo understands the PCB are looking to fast-track him into the Pakistan side ahead of a five-match T20I series against New Zealand next month.

In an interview with ESPNcricinfo on the eve of the PSL final - in which he was the second highest run-scorer - Usman appeared to downplay his chances of playing for Pakistan, talking up the ease of obtaining NOCs to play in leagues around the world as a UAE player, and the advantages of being considered a local player in the UAE's limited-overs leagues. But events have moved swiftly since then.

But given he hasn't yet played international cricket for either nation, a tug of war has broken out for a player who seems at the peak of his prowess at the moment. The ECB's decision to announce an immediate review has indicated they are unwilling to roll over and let what they view as their player be poached by the PCB from under their noses.

For Usman, the decision comes down to the attraction of playing the world's biggest tournaments - such as the T20 World Cup in June which he appears to be a shoo-in for with Pakistan - balanced against the lucrative nature of a freelance T20 specialist affiliated with the UAE. While he appears to have chosen the former over the latter for now, much may rest on the outcome of the ECB's review.

Chennai Super Kings moved up to the top spot in the IPL 2024 points table after registering their second win of the competition. Shivam Dube and the fast bowlers produced commendable performances as the five-time champions defeated Gujarat Titans by 63 runs. As a result, they have 4 points from 2 matches and the best Net Run Rate (NRR) among all the ten franchises. They were followed by Rajasthan Royals, Kolkata Knight Riders, Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. This was the first loss in two matches for GT who are currently in the sixth position with two points.

The fortress at Chepauk stood untouched as the Chennai Super Kings registered a comprehensive 63-run win over the Gujarat Titans on Monday in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024.

After flying high in the first inning with the bat, Deepak Chahar provided the ideal start by picking up two wickets in the powerplay, dismissing Wriddhiman Saha (21) and skipper Shubman Gill (8).

Despite stumbling twice, GT managed to put 43/2 on the board at the end of the powerplay.

In the middle phase, GT started to fall behind the asking rate, making the record chase of 207 at Chepauk an unchasable dream.

MS Dhoni showed his class with the gloves as he went airborne to take a diving catch and send Vijay Shankar back for 12.

Sai Sudharsan (37) got off to a positive start, but David Miller (21), Vijay Shankar (12) and Azmatullah Omarzai (11) struggled to stitch up meaningful partnerships.

Tushar Deshpande scalped two in the middle phase, while Daryl Mitchell and Matheesha Pathirana claimed a wicket each to ensure the pressure kept mounting on GT.

Mustafizur Rahman came in to remove Rahul Tewatia and Rashid Khan to further put a dent on GT's chase.

GT never threatened to chase down the target in the final six overs, as CSK inflicted GT's biggest defeat in terms of runs.

UAE's Pakistan-born top-order batter Usman Khan has been called up to Pakistan's training camp with the army in Kakul. In a clear sign of Pakistan's desire to lure him to play international cricket for the country of his birth, Usman was named alongside 28 other players for the camp, which runs from March 26 to April 8.

There is, however, no word yet from the PCB concerning Usman's inclusion, or any official change to his status as a UAE player. Over the past month, he played in the PSL as a registered overseas player, racking up the second-highest run tally in the tournament. Before the PSL, Usman also played in the ILT20, which is the UAE's own franchise T20 league, and the Abu Dhabi T10 just before that, both as a local player for the UAE.

And earlier this month, in an interview with ESPNcricinfo, Usman had appeared to downplay his chances of featuring for Pakistan in the near future, citing his determination to instead complete the residency period to qualify for the UAE. However, another 14 months still remain before he becomes eligible to represent UAE.

Usman had pointed to the uncertainty in Pakistan, as well as the ease of procuring no-objection certificates from the Emirates Cricket Board, as reasons to switch allegiances. But given he has not yet played for the UAE, Usman can still switch back to Pakistan without any waiting period. However, with the speed with which developments have taken place at the PCB's end, it seems almost certain that Usman will be included in Pakistan's squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand, with a firm eye on the T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA in June.

Imad, Amir and Rauf also part of the camp

Pakistan's training camp also marks the return of two players who recently reversed their decisions to retire, and declared ambitions to play for Pakistan anew. Imad Wasim, whose success in the PSL and whose track record in the CPL makes him an enticing prospect for Pakistan, came out of retirement over the weekend. He was followed by Mohammad Amir, who said he still dreamed about playing for Pakistan, and was thus making himself available.

Haris Rauf, who is currently recovering from a shoulder injury, is also included after his central contract was reinstated by the PCB.

Pakistan training camp members :

Aamer Jamal, Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Haseebullah, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Irfan Khan, Mehran Mumtaz, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usama Mir, Usman Khan, Zaman Khan. 

Mohammad Amir has made himself available for selection to Pakistan for the upcoming T20 World Cup that starts on June 1 in the USA and the West Indies. Amir's last match for Pakistan was a T20I against England in 2020, and he retired from international cricket in December that year, saying he felt mentally tortured.

"I still dream to play for Pakistan!" Amir, 31, said in a post on social media. "Life brings us to the points where at times we have to reconsider our decisions. There have been a few positive discussions between myself and the PCB where they respectfully made me feel that I was needed and can still play for Pakistan, and after discussing with family and well wishers I declare that I am available to be considered for upcoming T20 WC. I want do this for my country as it comes before my personal decisions. Donning the green jersey and serving my country has always been, and will continue to be, my greatest aspiration."

Amir most recently played the 2024 PSL, where he finished with 10 wickets in nine games with an economy of 8.41 for Quetta Gladiators. Amir's announcement comes a day after allrounder Imad Wasim reversed his retirement and also made himself available for selection for the T20 World Cup.

While Amir had an unremarkable PSL campaign, his performances in the CPL in recent seasons stand him in promising stead for a World Cup that will largely be held in the West Indies. He has taken 43 wickets at an average of 14.39 and an economy rate of just 6.50. With Shaheen not at full tilt since his injury return, Naseem only recently back from a lengthy layoff and Haris Rauf currently injured, Pakistan's pace bowling stocks are depleted, potentially giving Amir the opportunity to elbow his way in.

The decision also has ramifications for his county Derbyshire, whom he will not be linking up with when the season starts on April 5.New Zealand visit Pakistan for 5 T20Is from April 18-27, and Amir's decision to make himself available for international cricket means he will be in Pakistan during this period. In a post on social media, he thanked the county, as well as head coach Mickey Arthur, for "being understanding".

Pakistan allrounder Imad Wasim will be available for T20I selection once again after he withdrew his retirement from the format on Saturday.

In a statement on social media, Imad said he was delighted to declare his "availability for Pakistan cricket in T20I format leading up to ICC T20 World Cup 2024". He told ESPNcricinfo his availability does not extend beyond the T20 World Cup that begins on June 1 and that he does not expect to sign a central contract.

Imad last played for Pakistan over a year ago but speculation over his return had been mounting after the allrounder enjoyed a successful 2024 PSL season, culminating in a five-wicket haul in the final as his side Islamabad United won the title. Imad told ESPNcricinfo the PCB had asked him to reconsider his retirement earlier this week and said he did not have any conditions to play for Pakistan.

Imad's all-round ability and his record in the Caribbean Premier League makes him an attractive option for Pakistan in a year where the bulk of the T20 World Cup will be held in the West Indies. His CPL record over the years is stellar - 61 wickets at an average of 18.88 and economy rate of 6.20.

There is no word yet from the PCB on whether Imad's availability results in a change in his contractual status. While he is currently not believed to be interested in a central contract, signing one would tie him to the same NOC policy as other players, under which no player can participate in more than two T20 overseas leagues a year. As things stand, though, Imad's availability until a T20 World Cup where he looks like a selection certainty is an arrangement of convenience for all parties concerned.

Imad has played 66 T20Is for Pakistan so far, scoring 486 runs at a strike rate of 131.70 and taking 65 wickets with an economy of 6.26.