Sports Bulletin on February 24: Shoaib Akhtar calls Babar Azam a fraud, CSK appoint new batting coach

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In today's sports bulletin (February 24), cricket, football, and the IPL 2025 auction dominate headlines. From Shoaib Akhtar's scathing remarks on Babar Azam to CSK's latest coaching appointment, there's plenty of action.

Meanwhile, Axar Patel reveals an interesting tactical approach that helped Virat Kohli reach his century, and Mohun Bagan clinches the ISL League Shield in dramatic fashion.

Champions Trophy 2025: Axar Patel Reveals Doing Run Calculations to Help Virat Kohli Reach Century

Axar Patel admitted to mentally calculating runs during India's match against Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, ensuring Virat Kohli had a chance to reach his century. Patel joined Kohli when India needed 19 runs to win, with Kohli batting on 86. As Shaheen Afridi bowled three wides, the situation became tricky, and the crowd wanted Kohli to retain strike. With just two runs needed, Rohit Sharma signaled for Kohli to finish in style. Instead of a six, Kohli struck a four to complete his hundred, showcasing his composure under pressure.

IPL 2025: CSK Appoints Sridharan Sriram as Assistant Bowling Coach

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have named former India cricketer Sridharan Sriram as their assistant bowling coach for IPL 2025. Sriram, who previously worked with Australia (2016-2022) and served as Bangladesh’s T20 consultant, will join CSK’s coaching setup alongside bowling consultant Eric Simmons. He replaces Dwayne Bravo, who has moved to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in a similar role. Sriram, a seasoned left-arm spinner and batsman, played eight ODIs for India between 2000 and 2004. CSK will kick off their IPL 2025 campaign against Mumbai Indians on March 23 in Chennai.

'Enough Is Enough': Pakistan Legends Slam Team Management After Another ICC Defeat

Pakistan’s humiliating six-wicket loss to India in the Champions Trophy 2025 has sparked outrage among former cricketers. Shoaib Akhtar, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, and Shoaib Malik heavily criticized the team’s management, with Akhtar stating, “People managing the team are brainless and clueless.” Akram urged PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi to take action, while Waqar Younis blamed poor discipline, particularly among bowlers. India now leads Pakistan 11-3 in ICC tournaments.

'Babar Azam Is a Fraud': Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Hafeez Slam Pakistan Star After India's Win

Pakistan’s six-wicket loss to India in the Champions Trophy 2025 has triggered harsh criticism from former cricketers. Shoaib Akhtar, on Game On Hai, called Babar Azam a “fraud,” stating, “We always compare Babar Azam to Virat Kohli... You have picked the wrong heroes. Your thought process is wrong.” Mohammad Hafeez also questioned Babar’s impact, saying, “Tell me one player-of-the-match performance against India. Babar Azam is not Inzamam-ul-Haq... He has never won a series in SENA countries.” Hafeez urged the PCB to “move on” from Babar and invest in fresh talent.

Axar Patel Wins 'Fielder of the Match' Medal After India's Victory Over Pakistan

Axar Patel's outstanding fielding performance in India's six-wicket win over Pakistan earned him the 'Fielder of the Match' medal, presented by Shikhar Dhawan. Axar played a crucial role by effecting two vital run-outs—Babar Azam and Haris Rauf—and taking a sharp catch to dismiss Saud Shakeel. Indian fielding coach T Dilip praised the team's efforts, stating, “A good fielding unit is like a Formula One pit crew… making split-second decisions.” Dhawan also lauded the bowling unit and Virat Kohli’s composed innings.

Sidhu Backs 'Kohinoor' Virat Kohli to Score 10-15 More Centuries

Former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu believes Virat Kohli will play for another two to three years, scoring “another 10 to 15 hundreds.” Speaking on JioHotstar after Kohli's match-winning century against Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy, Sidhu called him a “once-in-a-generation cricketer.” Highlighting Kohli’s resilience, Sidhu remarked, “Character is not made in crisis, it is exhibited.”

Kuldeep Yadav Confident of Improving With More Game Time

Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav believes his bowling will improve as he plays more matches in the ICC Champions Trophy. After recovering from a sports hernia surgery, he picked up three wickets in the death overs against Pakistan, narrowly missing a hat-trick. “I feel I am in better rhythm now. I will bowl even better as I play more,” Kuldeep said. He credited the NCA staff for his quick recovery and expressed confidence in his variations, especially in the final overs, where he has become India’s preferred spin option.

Champions Trophy 2025: Pakistan's Semifinal Hopes Hinge on Rain and Results

Pakistan faces a tough road to the Champions Trophy 2025 semifinals after back-to-back losses. Their fate depends on Bangladesh beating New Zealand today. If that happens, they must defeat Bangladesh and hope India overcomes New Zealand to force a three-way tie, where net run rate (NRR) will decide the qualifier. However, rain in Rawalpindi could derail Pakistan’s chances. Forecasts predict heavy showers on February 27, putting their match against Bangladesh in doubt. If washed out, Pakistan will share points and likely be eliminated. Meanwhile, Australia vs South Africa on February 25 also faces rain threats.

ISL 2024-25: Mohun Bagan Clinches Second Successive Shield with Petratos' Late Strike

Mohun Bagan Super Giant made history by winning their second consecutive ISL League Shield, edging Odisha FC 1-0 with a dramatic injury-time goal from Dimitrios Petratos at a packed Salt Lake Stadium. With 52 points from 22 matches, Mohun Bagan secured the top spot with two games to spare, guaranteeing a direct semifinal berth in the ISL Cup and qualification for the AFC Champions League Two.

Liverpool Move 11 Points Clear in Premier League After Beating Man City

Liverpool took a significant step toward the Premier League title with a 2-0 win over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, extending their lead at the top to 11 points. With Erling Haaland and Jack Grealish missing, City struggled as Mohamed Salah put Liverpool ahead before assisting Dominik Szoboszlai for the second in the 37th minute.

Real Madrid Beat Girona as La Liga Top Five All Win

Real Madrid stayed level on points with FC Barcelona at the top of La Liga after a 2-0 victory over Girona at the Santiago Bernabéu. Luka Modric opened the scoring with a stunning volley, while Vinícius Jr. sealed the win late on with an assist from Kylian Mbappé.