Category: Sports

Former Bangladesh cricket team captain Shakib Al Hasan took a U-turn on his decision to return home.

The star batsman has decided not to go to Bangladesh citing security concerns, as there was a protest against him outside the Sher Bangla Stadium in Dhaka yesterday while South African and Bangladeshi cricket teams were practising inside.

Shakib said, “I was supposed to go back to Bangladesh, but now it seems that I will not be able to go. I made this decision for security reasons, and this is my personal security issue.”

He had to participate in the Test series against South Africa; his name was also included in the squad for the first Test against South Africa.

He had expressed his desire to play the last test match of his career at his home ground.

The first Test between South Africa and Bangladesh will start on October 21 in Mirpur.

Why are people protesting against him?

A murder case was filed against Bangladesh’s star cricket all-rounder and former Awami League Member of Parliament Shakib Al Hasan in Dhaka.

Bangladeshi media reports that authorities have charged him along with former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for the murder of an employee of a garment factory in Dhaka.

He also apologised to the people of Bangladesh for his silence during the protest against Hasian Wazid.

He wrote, “Assalamu Alaikum, respect to the love of every people in my country. Your prayers and love towards me have felicitated me today as this Shakib Al Hasan in the world court. In the beginning, I remember with respect for all the sacrificial students who were martyred and wounded in the student crowd led by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. Respect and condolences from the bottom of my heart to them and their families. Although nothing can be fulfilled, the sacrifice of a family lost loved one. The pain of losing a child or losing a brother is not worthy of anything.”
“My respect and sincere apologies to the place of feelings of you who have been hurt or hurt due to my absence of all presence during this crisis. If I were in your place, I would have been heartfelt like this. I was a Member of Parliament of Magura-1 seat for a very short time. To get involved with my politics was basically my birthplace, i.e. the opportunity for the development of the people of Magura. You know that in the context of Bangladesh, it is a bit difficult to play a direct role in the development of your area without any particular responsibility. And my desire to develop this area makes me interested in becoming a member of parliament,” he stated.

Shakib further wrote, “Anyway, at the end of the day, I am a Bangladesh cricketer. When I was wherever I was, I captured cricket from my heart. You guys have taken the way to earn the honour of the world’s best all-rounder by holding this cricket. Your love and support made me happy today, Shakib Al Hasan. When I bat for the country on the cricket field, you all bat with me. Shout out to the gallery; your support has motivated me to play better. The crowd in front of the tea shop on the day of the cricket match – gave me strength. If I win, you all win. If I lose, you all lost! You know, I’m going to play my last match very soon. From the beginning of my cricket career to becoming Shakib Al Hasan, you have driven this whole journey.”
Requesting his fans to support him on the home ground, he wrote, “You write this whole story of cricket! So, in my last match, in the last chapter of this story, I want you beside me. I want to take you all along and say goodbye. At the goodbyes, I want to put my hands in the hands of those people whose clap made me play well. At the goodbyes, I want to keep my eyes on the eyes of the people in my good game whose eyes are filled with joy. Again, at my bad game, whose eyes are cheating. I hope, not just hope – you all will be with me during this farewell. Everyone will stay together and draw the end of the story, who is the hero of the story – I am not, you.”

Last month, Shakib announced his retirement from Test cricket, but he has expressed his desire to play the last Test against South Africa at his home ground.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has updated a section pertaining to members of its selection committees on its official website.

Only five members are included in the selection committee, with the captain and head coach excluded from it.

Conversation with PCB official:

A PCB official, in conversation with The Current, also elaborated on the update.

“Before this, the captain and the head coach also used to be voting members of the selection committee,” they said.

Now, the official added, the head coach and captain will only give their suggestions, whereas only the members of the selection committee will have the final vote on who makes it to the team.

—

On the other hand, the women’s cricket team selection committee include both a captain and a coach.

The committee includes Aqib Javed, Aleem Dar, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali and Hasan Cheema, while PCB has also removed non-voting members.

Selectors will announce the team after consulting the coach and captain and will finalize the playing eleven.

Earlier, PCB decided to include Aleem Dar, Azhar Ali, and Aqib Javed in the National Selection Committee, while Hasan Cheema was added as data analyst.

Muhammad Yusuf’s resignation from the post:

Muhammad Yusuf resigned from the post of selector two weeks ago.

According to sources, a disagreement arose between Muhammad Yusuf and a coach over giving cricketers opportunities despite their poor performances. The coach had been against making changes and preferred to maintain the status quo, while Yusuf insisted on giving new players a chance.

The coach had emphasized the importance of consistent policies and avoiding haste, but Yusuf had been keen on including Kamran Ghulam, Zahid Mehmood, and Muhammad Ali in the squad for the series against England.

Yusuf himself cited personal reasons for resigning.

New Zealand and India are playing the first match of a three-match Test series in Bengaluru. The entire Indian team has been bowled out for just 46 runs in the first inning.

The Indian team won the toss and decided to bat, but Kiwi bowlers proved to be a nightmare.

Five players were dismissed for zero, including Virat Kohli, Sarfaraz Khan, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin, while Rishabh Pant was the top scorer for India with 20 runs.

This is India’s third-lowest score in Test cricket and also the lowest score by an Indian cricket team at home. Earlier, India’s lowest total was 36 against Australia.

New Zealand fast bowler Matt Henry dismissed five players.

SOCIAL MEDIA REACTIONS:

Indian fans were trolling Pakistan when England defeated Pakistan in the first Test in Multan. But this time, Pakistani fans took over the internet as India were bowled out for 46 runs.

A user wrote on X (Previously Twitter), ” India has improved from 36 to 46″.

Here are some other reactions.

Cricket Australia wrote, “Is ‘All Out 46’ the new ‘All Out 36’?

Pakistani left-arm spinner Sajid Khan has said that as English batting maestro Joe Root came to bat, he told the Britisher something personal.

“I said to him, ‘Youre my dream wicket,’” the spinner told the media at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Wednesday. ,”As soon as Joe Root came to bat, I told him I’ve played against your brother in England, but you are my dream wicket, so he started laughing. But that was my dream and most prized wicket today.”

Calling Root a “great cricketer”, Sajid said that he was happy to take the prized wicket. “Thank God that my performance was good in the second day’s game against England, will try to get England out early,” he remarked.

“In the beginning, I conceded runs, but I kept bowling in my way and got wickets”, he told members of the press.

In response to a question about missing a run-out while fielding, he said, “I was disappointed to miss a run-out, as I am a fielder, it should not have happened. Harry Brooke plays on the back foot, and I noted that. I bowled to him accordingly and dismissed him.”

He then went on to talk about his personal life: “I have been playing cricket from a young age; I work hard. I feel a passion when I play for Pakistan, I play for the star on the shirt. I played only in the final in the Champions Cup, then I went to play in the department. I kept myself fit and continued to practice even though I was not in the national team. I did not get a chance in the Bangladesh series, but now I have, and I have given my best. I will try to perform.”

Sajid Khan has taken seven wickets for 111 runs in the first innings of the second Test against England in Multan.

Pakistan has a 75-run lead in the second innings after the English team was bowled out for 291 runs.

Earlier, Pakistan scored 366 runs in the first innings.

The English cricket team has bowled out for 291 runs in the first innings of the 2nd Test match in Multan Cricket Stadium.

England started their incomplete first innings with 239 for 6, but at 248, Sajid Khan dismissed Brydon Carse for four runs and took his fifth wicket of the innings, while Sajid also bowled next man Matthew Potts on six runs.

Jack Leach scored 25, while Shoaib Bashir scored nine runs for England.

Sajid Khan took seven wickets for Pakistan

Pakistan inning:

In the first innings of the second Test match, the Pakistani team was all out by scoring 366 runs; the national team started its incomplete first innings at 259 runs for the loss of 5 wickets, then the wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan was out by scoring 41 runs for the gain of just five runs. Done. Agha Salman, 31, and Sajid Khan, two runs, proved to be guests.

Aamir Jamal and Nouman Ali formed a partnership of 49 runs for the 9th wicket, but Aamir got out after scoring 37 runs; later, Nouman Ali was caught by Jack Leach after scoring 32 runs.

On behalf of England, Jack Leach took four wickets, Brayden Carrs took three wickets, Matthew Potts took two wickets, and Shoaib Bashir took one wicket.

Day one of the second Test:

Abdullah Shafiq started the innings in the second Test match but failed again and returned to the pavilion with an individual score of just 7. Captain Shan Masood 3 and Saud Shakeel were guests for four runs.

Later, Saim and Kamran stabilized Pakistan’s score by establishing a partnership of 149 runs, but Saim scored 77 runs and lost his wicket.

Kamran Ghulam, who scored a century on debut, was the top scorer by playing an innings of 118 runs.

Pakistani senior journalist Azaz Syed has claimed that Pakistan and India might soon play a bilateral cricket series.

Taking to his X (Previously Twitter) account, Azaz wrote, “Breaking: #Pakistan #India agreed to the first talk on #cricket resumption. Details will be finalised later. For more details on my news, keep watching @geonews_urdu and #TalkShock on YouTube.”

The talks between foreign ministers of Pakistan and India on the occasion of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) conference started with cricket, Azaz reported for Geo News.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy is scheduled in Pakistan in February next year. Discussions have been started on this matter from both sides.

Last, Pakistan and India played the bilateral series in 2012-13. This series consisted of Two T20 and Three ODI matches played in India. The T20 series was drawn by 1-1, while Pakistan won the ODI series by 2-1.

Champion Trophy 2025 and India’s participation:

The Champion Trophy is scheduled for February of next year in Pakistan. All teams have confirmed their arrival, while India’s participation is yet to be confirmed.

In July, Indian media claimed that India would not visit Pakistan for the event, saying that some matches of the Champions Trophy would be held in the United Arab Emirates or Sri Lanka on a hybrid model.

However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) vice president Rajeev Shukla denied these claims, saying that the Indian government would make the final decision.

The Telegraph Report on Champion Trophy:

UK publication ‘The Telegraph’ has reported that the International Cricket Council (ICC) is considering different venues for India’s matches, including the final of the trophy. The final could be shifted from Lahore to Dubai. The final is scheduled to be played in Gadafi Stadium in Lahore on March 9, 2025.

Abu Dhabi and Sharjah are likely to host India’s matches if needed, The Telegraph has reported.

ICC chief executive’s statement about Champions Trophy:

On September 12, ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice confirmed now that there are no plans to move the Champions Trophy from Pakistan.

He said, “No team has hesitated to play in the tournament. All teams are committed to playing in Pakistan. Despite previous challenges, all participating teams are determined to play in Pakistan.”

The ICC Champions Trophy will host eight elite teams based on their performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup: India, Australia, New Zealand, England, South Africa, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan.

Pakistan is currently the defending champion of the Champions Trophy. The Pakistan cricket team, led by former captain Sarfraz Ahmed, won the Trophy in England in 2017, defeating India in the final.

England has scored 239 runs for the loss of six wickets in the first inning on the second day of the Multan Test.

The English team’s openers started aggressively against Pakistan, but Zach Crowley lost the wicket by scoring 27 runs on a total score of 73, while Ollie Pope was dismissed by scoring 29 runs. Joe Root scored 34, Ben Duckett 114 and Harry Brook was dismissed for zero.

For Pakistan, Sajid Khan took four wickets, and Noman Ali took one wicket.

Pakistan inning:

In the first innings of the second Test match, the Pakistani team was all out by scoring 366 runs; the national team started its incomplete first innings at 259 runs for the loss of 5 wickets, then the wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan was out by scoring 41 runs for the gain of just five runs. Done. Agha Salman, 31, and Sajid Khan, 2 runs, proved to be guests.

Aamir Jamal and Nouman Ali formed a partnership of 49 runs for the 9th wicket, but Aamir got out after scoring 37 runs; later, Nouman Ali was caught by Jack Leach after scoring 32 runs.

On behalf of England, Jack Leach took four wickets, Brayden Carrs took three wickets, Matthew Potts took two wickets, and Shoaib Bashir took one wicket.

Day one of the second Test:

Abdullah Shafiq started the innings in the second Test match but failed again and returned to the pavilion with an individual score of just 7. Captain Shan Masood 3 and Saud Shakeel were guests for four runs.

Later, Saim and Kamran stabilized Pakistan’s score by establishing a partnership of 149 runs, but Saim scored 77 runs and lost his wicket.

Kamran Ghulam, who scored a century on debut, was the top scorer by playing an innings of 118 runs.

New Update:

Pakistan eSports Federation has apologised for the earlier miscommunication regarding Pakistan’s representation at WEC 2024. The final decision between ASI8 and 52 Esports will be made after the PMGC 2024 draws tomorrow.

PESF stated, “We apologize for any misunderstanding caused byOur previous announcement. It was mistakenlyConveyed that 52 esports would be representing Pakistan at the wec 2024 in riyadh. We would like to Clarify that it has not yet been confirmed which team Will represent pakistan. We are awaiting the final pmgc 2024 draw results. Once those are released, we will be able to confirm Whether as18 or another team, potentially 52 esports Will be participating in the wec.”

“We hope for the best outcome and extend our best Wishes to both teams. Thank you for your patience, And we will provide updates as soon as we have Official confirmation. Best of luck to as18 and 52 Esports from all of us!”

Previous Update:

Pakistan eSports Federation (PESF) has replaced Pakistan PUBG Mobile team ASi8 with another team, 52 eSports, for the World eSports Championship (WEC) 2024 without any official confirmation.

As per the details, Team Asi8 topped the Pakistan as well as regional qualifiers for the WEC whereas 52 was in the 2nd spot. However, the federation decided to replace Asi8, prompting severe criticism from the gaming community, including the owner of the Asi8, Shehbaz Mengal.

Why did this happen?

Team Asi8 has qualified for the WEC and PUBG Mobile Global Championship (PMGC), and both events are scheduled for November of this year. PMGC will start from October 31 to December 8, while WEC is planned for November 11 to November 18.

A total of 48 teams around the world participated in the PMGC, and the event was divided into three groups (Group Yellow, Green and Red) with 16 teams in each. Group stage matches of PMGC will start from October 30 to November 16, but the dates for each group have yet to be announced.

The groups will be announced on Thursday, October 17.

How can Asi8 play both events (WEC and PMGC)?

If team i8 is placed in the yellow or green group in PMGC, their matches could end before November 11 (Before starting WEC), and they could easily participate in WEC.

PESF statement on WEC 2024:

PESF announced on October 15, “We regret to inform our community that team asi8, The champions of both our national qualifiers and the Regional qualifiers for week 2024, will not be able to represent Pakistan at the world esports Championship (we) in Riyadh this year. Asi8 is Facing a scheduling conflict due to its participation On page 2024, which overlaps with the week 2024 dates. As per the official rules, the second-place team from Our national qualifiers will step in to represent Pakistan. We are proud to announce that 52 esports Who secured the runner-up position will be taking Asi8’s place at WC 2024. We have full confidence in 52 esports, who have shown exceptional skill throughout the qualifiers. We Hope they continue to represent Pakistan’s talent on The global stage. Asi8’s achievements are highly appreciated, and we wish them success. We look forward To seeing both teams make us proud. Let’s support 52 esports as they carry our flag in Riyadh!”

Criticism of PESF:

Team Asi8 owner TRYNDA (Shehbaz Mengal) shared an Instagram story stating, “Regarding the IESF tournament, initially, PESF officials told us not to use the AS logo on our jerseys. If we wanted to use it, we’d have to get AS to sponsor PESF separately because it’s PESF’s slot, not i8’s. I discussed this with IESF, but they said it’s our federation’s decision.”

“I then requested permission. PESF officials stated that any sponsors would pay them to select a lineup representing our country, not i8. However, the prize leveraging my experience as a pool would be i8’s. We agreed to this. Later, they asked us to choose between PMGC and the World Cup due to scheduling conflicts. I requested confirmation of dates, but they didn’t know the exact dates. However, they responded that it was their slot, and I had no say in it. At least they should have waited for the PMGC draws or permitted us to create a lineup that can perform internationally. After all, sponsors pay PESF, and prize money goes to players; we don’t benefit but enhance our country’s reputation,” he further added.

Another eSports creator, TeenWolf, stated on Instagram, “Unprofessional, team ka slot ha apna slot banaya hua hai.”

What are the team stats, and which team should participate in WEC?

Team i8 has been one of the best teams in Pakistan in the last few years and has won many national events, including (PMCO 2021, PMPL Fall 2022, PMPL Sring 2023, PMPL Fall 2023) and PMCO South Asia. Asi8 has already participated in PMGC 2022 and 2023. In PMGC 2022, i8 made an unbelievable comeback of the event’s history in the last match of the survival stage.

On the other hand, 52 won PMPL Pakistan spring 2022 and qualified for the PMWI 2022, where they finished in the last spot.

We don’t have any issue with Team 52 as they will represent the Pakistani flag on the global stage in WEC, but PESF should have waited for the official announcement and dates of the PMGC group stage matches.

Also, the slot for WEC was won by team i8, so PESF should have asked the team asi8 owner if they wanted to withdraw from the WEC or permitted them to make another lineup under their tag.