Virushka outing
Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma has joined her husband and Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli ahead of India's clash against Afghanistan on Saturday in the ongoing World Cup in England and Wales. The couple was spotted in London earlier this week with a Kohli fan page posting about the outing on social media. "Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma on the Old Bond Street in London today. I love Anushka's new haircut," the image was posted on Tuesday on Instagram. Anushka has been accompanying Virat in earlier tours and was seen cheering and supporting her husband and the team. She was also there with the team when India toured Australia and England last year. Earlier, the BCCI had not allowed the wives and family members to travel with the cricketers for the first 20 days of ongoing World Cup, which included India's much-anticipated clash against Pakistan. However, it seems the board has now changed its stance and is allowing the family members of the players to travel with the team.
Role of Inzy now?
Following Pakistan's dismal performance in the ongoing World Cup so far, the country's former skipper Intikhab Alam has questioned the presence of chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq in England and said it was the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) mistake to allow him to stay in England at its expense. "Once the selection committee has selected the team, the captain and coach take over to select the playing 11 and decide on the tour matters," Intikhab told the Dawn. "So what is the role of Inzamam-ul-Haq there and why has the PCB allowed him to go on official visit and interfere," he questioned. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board will carry out a "robust review and analysis" of the performances of the national team and its support staff, including head coach Mickey Arthur, in the past three years after the World Cup. The PCB Board of Governors which met in Lahore on Wednesday also agreed the team's performance in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 to date has been below expectation. Pakistan has won just one match in its five games in the World Cup so far. The PCB said in a statement that the Board of Governors had a discussion on the Pakistan team's recent performance across all formats.
Faith in team: PCB
Even as fans, critics and former players continue to lash out at the national team's performances in the ongoing World Cup, the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ehsan Mani has assured captain Sarfaraz Ahmed of the board's full support. A PCB spokesman confirmed that Mani had called up Sarfaraz on Tuesday and spoken to him about the team and remaining matches of the World Cup. "The Chairman assured Sarfaraz that the board and nation is behind the team and they should try to focus on the matches ahead and give their best," said the spokesperson. Mani apparently told Sarfaraz that the nation has faith in the team despite the defeats and wanted the players to bounce back strongly in remaining matches. A reliable source from the Government said that PM Imran Khan,is unhappy that despite his advice the team chose to field first against India.