Category: Sports

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to appoint separate captains for T20 and ODI formats. All-rounder Salman Ali Agha is expected to be named the ODI captain.

According to ARY, a selection committee and management meeting chaired by the PCB Chairman was held, where wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan was decided to be given the T20 captaincy.

Sources have indicated that the squad for the series against Australia and Zimbabwe will be announced tomorrow, and discussions are ongoing regarding the inclusion of Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Naseem Shah.

The meeting also covered central contracts and player selection for the Australia and Zimbabwe series, with suggestions given by the selection committee regarding the team and captain.

After the meeting chaired by PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, he met with cricketer Salman Agha. Later, he also summoned Mohammad Rizwan for a meeting, which was attended by the coaches as well. The PCB Chairman will announce the decisions in a press conference tomorrow afternoon.

Cristiano Ronaldo has reached out to his fans for help in finding the guy who was seen crying with joy at a recent Al-Nassr FC match.

The emotional moment it happened during the AFC Champions League game between Al-Nassr and Esteghlal on October 22, 2024. The fan, wearing Ronaldo’s jersey, went viral after being spotted in tears, leading Ronaldo to try and arrange a personal meeting with them. The touching video of the fan watching Ronaldo from the stands spread quickly online.

Ronaldo, known for his strong bond with his fans and appreciation for their support, expressed his wish to meet the fans and thank them personally. This is not the first time Ronaldo has used his platform to connect with a special admirer.

His social media post generated a huge response, with many users sharing the video and providing information to help locate the fan. Playing for Al-Nassr, Ronaldo showed gratitude for the support and is eager to meet the fans to show his appreciation.

New Zealand defeated India in the second Test to take a decisive lead of 2-0 in the three-match series.

In the match played in Pune, New Zealand defeated India by 113 runs.

Chasing New Zealand’s 359 runs on the third day of play, the Indian team was bowled out for 245 runs.

After 12 years, India has lost a Test series at home.

New Zealand scored 259 runs in the first innings, in response to which the Indian team was reduced to 156 runs, while New Zealand scored 255 runs in the second innings and gave India a target of 359 runs to win.

In the first Test played in Bengaluru, India was defeated by eight wickets; in the first innings of this test match, the Indian team was reduced to 46 runs.

Former Pakistani captain Mohammad Hafeez has congratulated the team on their victory in the Test series against England but has also posted a controversial message.

The former Test player congratulated the Pakistani team for winning a home series after more than three years. He wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “The impressive performances of Sajid Khan and Noman Ali played a crucial role in Pakistan’s victory over England in the home series after more than three years. More importantly, their performances have exposed many faces.”

After the first Test loss to England, Mohammad Hafeez had heavily criticized the national team, saying they were searching for a win on home ground.

However, following the series win, Hafeez wrote on social media, “Credit goes to the new selectors who took the responsibility of making tough decisions, well done.”

In another tweet, Mohammad Hafeez wrote, “Special note: Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Kamran Ghulam, and Shan Masood are all top performers at the domestic level.”

Pakistan defeated England 2-1 in the three-match Test series, winning the third Test by nine wickets.

Pakistan defeated England by nine wickets in the third Test in Rawalpindi, clinching the series by 2-1.

Shan Masood scored 23 runs, Abdullah Shafique 5, while Saim Ayub was dismissed for eight runs.

England’s second inning:

England have been bowled out for a mere 112 runs in the second innings, setting a 36-run target for Pakistan.

On the third day, England started their second innings at 24 for 3 with Joe Root on five and Harry Brook on 3. Noman Ali dismissed Harry Brook for 26 and then sent captain Ben Stokes back to the pavilion for just three runs.

England lost their sixth wicket at 75 runs, with Jamie Smith scoring just three runs before being dismissed by Sajid Khan. The seventh wicket fell at 85 runs, with Noman Ali sending Joe Root back after scoring 33. England’s ninth wicket fell at 106 runs, with Rehan Ahmed scoring dismissed by Sajid Khan.

Noman Ali took six, while Sajid Khan dismissed four players for Pakistan.

England scored 267 runs in their first innings against Pakistan, and in reply, Pakistan scored 344 runs, gaining a 77-run lead.

The three-match Test series is currently tied at one win each. In the first Test, England defeated Pakistan by an innings and 47 runs, while in the second Test, Pakistan won by 152 runs.

England have been bowled out for a mere 112 runs in the second innings, setting a 36-run target for Pakistan.

On the third day, England started their second innings at 24 for 3 with Joe Root on five and Harry Brook on 3. Noman Ali dismissed Harry Brook for 26 and then sent captain Ben Stokes back to the pavilion for just three runs.

England lost their sixth wicket at 75 runs, with Jamie Smith scoring just three runs before being dismissed by Sajid Khan. The seventh wicket fell at 85 runs, with Noman Ali sending Joe Root back after scoring 33. England’s ninth wicket fell at 106 runs, with Rehan Ahmed scoring dismissed by Sajid Khan.

Noman Ali took six, while Sajid Khan dismissed four players for Pakistan.

England scored 267 runs in their first innings against Pakistan, and in reply, Pakistan scored 344 runs, gaining a 77-run lead.

The three-match Test series is currently tied at one win each. In the first Test, England defeated Pakistan by an innings and 47 runs, while in the second Test, Pakistan won by 152 runs.

Pakistan off-spinner Sajid Khan has revealed that he fooled England’s bowlers with false messages in Urdu.

Mostly, he confuses them with his spin angles and flighted deliveries. But on Friday, he used another tactic: speaking Urdu to confuse the English bowlers Shoaib Bashir and Rehan Ahmed, who understand the language.

After the fourth ball of the 86th over, Saud Shakeel turned the strike over to Sajid. They discussed their strategy loudly in Urdu, not caring if the stump mic picked it up. Sajid was supposed to play out the last two balls, but instead, he charged down the pitch and hit Shoaib Bashir over midwicket for a six.

Sajid later explained, saying, “We speak loudly in Urdu to deceive Rehan Ahmed and Shoaib Bashir, who understand the language. We wanted the bowlers to think we were only looking for a single, which made them bring the field up and fly the ball. Saud then told me to go for big shots.”

Sajid followed the plan, hitting two sixes and a boundary in the next over, scoring 19 runs off it. Even though Rehan kept him quieter later, Sajid still managed to clear the boundary comfortably. By this time, England’s bowling effort was falling apart, and Pakistan’s lead was growing.

Rehan acknowledged Sajid’s good batting but dismissed his claims of fooling them. He laughed, saying, “He didn’t fool me at all; he just said it for the media. I didn’t even hear him. I knew he was going to try and scoop me, but it didn’t really work. He batted well and hit some big shots, but he didn’t fool me or Bash.”

Sajid scored 48 runs in the second innings of the second Test, hitting 4 sixes and two boundaries.

Young English spinners Rehan Ahmed and Shoaib Bashir have expressed their heartfelt thanks to the England cricket team.

They also thanked the Pakistan cricket team for inviting them to a memorable cultural and spiritual experience by participating in Friday prayers during the current Test series.

In a gesture of friendship and respect, the Pakistan squad welcomed the two England players of Pakistani descent to join their prayer gathering, creating a unique bond between the two teams beyond the cricket field.

In an interview with BBC Sports, Rehan Ahmed thanked his team for allowing them to practice in Friday prayer. He mentioned, “We performed the Friday prayer with the Pakistan team. We went to their hotel, and Rizwan led the prayer. A week earlier, we went to the mosque. The England team rescheduled a meeting by two hours to ensure we could pray and then return.”

“As young cricketers joining the team, this has never been questioned. It’s something we appreciate greatly. The players understand us; McCullum, Stokes, and the management have always prioritized our prayers and whatever needs to be done first, then cricket comes later. We couldn’t ask for more. We are forever grateful for this”, he added.

Shoaib Bashir said, “This is an excellent gesture by the England team. We are allowed to practice individually, which is important. This is what brings out the best in us and gives us confidence going into games. People’s perspectives have changed now. After these events, there has been a positive development. Let’s hope it continues.”

Currently, Rehan and Shoaib are representing England in the third Test match in Rawalpindi.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) held a meeting in Dubai on October 21, where they discussed arrangements for Champions Trophy and team security. According to the details, no member country raised any question regarding the event.

Next year, Pakistan will host the prestigious Trophy. The Indian team, along with the board, has no valid reason to refuse participation. Teams from other countries are satisfied with the preparations.

Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar recently visited Pakistan and praised the hospitality, while the English team is also currently in Pakistan.

However, there is speculation that the Indian board might use government clearance as an excuse not to send the team, which is why the event’s schedule hasn’t been finalized yet. The Indian government has remained silent on the matter.

A meeting between Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officials was expected but was cut short due to political relations, preventing any discussion.

Previously, during the Asia Cup 2023, India tried to convince its close allies to withdraw from the tournament due to security concerns, resulting in the tournament being held under a hybrid model.

Jason Gillespie, the head coach of the national cricket team, had made a bold new claim for former skipper Babar Azam.

While giving an interview with foreign media, he said, “Babar Azam is the best player; bad times come to big players. He will return to form soon and win matches.

Talking about red ball captain Shan Masood, he said, “Shan was given the captaincy in Australia, which was a tough tour; his behaviour with the players is very good.”

“I knew that coaching in Pakistan would be challenging, but coaching here is different from past experiences. I am learning every day about adjusting to Pakistan cricket and trying to understand the environment of Pakistan cricket. When the coaching offer came, I was told that there are long-term plans for Pakistan”, he further added.

Earlier, the spinner of the national cricket team, Sajid Khan, told the plan made regarding the Rawalpindi test against England.

He said, “The credit for making the pitch goes to the selection committee. The ball spun in the first 30 overs in the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, but the England batters also played the wrong shots. I don’t have ‘Doosra’, so I tried to change the pace; the focus is on the first innings, and I am not thinking about the second innings.”

Sajid took six wickets in the first innings of the 2nd Test against England.

The English team was bowled out for 267 on the first day of the Pindi Test.