Pakistan’s hockey team management has changed during the ongoing tri-nation hockey series in China.
Olympian Zeeshan Ashraf became the head coach of the national team, and coach Sheikh Usman was made the team’s manager.
Usman had participated in the training camp as the head coach. However, change in management could not save the team from defeat.
China defeated Pakistan by 6-3 goals in the match. The tri-party tournament includes Pakistan, China and Japan.
Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) and Advisor to Prime Minister Rana Sanaullah says that Mohsin Naqvi should choose between the Interior Ministry or Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
In a special interview with ARY News, he said, “The positions of the Ministry of Interior and Chairman PCB are full-time jobs; it is up to him to decide which position he wants to hold.”
Expressing his helplessness, he said, “The bad condition of sports in Pakistan is because an influential person is sitting on every sports body against merit, and he is also not on merit. Whoever does not get a place, he comes to a good sports body with his strength. They are so strong that I can not take any stand.”
The Pakistan cricket team is struggling against a team like Bangladesh on their home ground. Many think that this is all because of Mohsin Naqvi, who doesn’t have the ability to run the cricket board.
In the T20 World Cup 2024, Pakistan faced an early exit from the group stage.
On the fourth day of the second Test match, Pakistan’s batting line failed miserably in the second innings, and the entire team was bowled out at 172 runs. Pakistan set a target of 185 runs, including a 12-run lead in the first innings.
Pakistan started the fourth day of the second Test in Rawalpindi with a lead of 21 runs, having lost two wickets.
Abdullah Shafiq scored three runs, Khurram Shahzad and Muhammad Ali both scored zero, Saim Ayub made 20 runs, Shan Masood added 28, and Babar Azam made 11 runs. Saud Shakeel scored 2, Muhammad Rizwan 43, Abrar Ahmed 2, and Salman Ali Agha finished with 47 runs.
On the third day of play, Pakistani bowlers were overshadowed, sending six players to the pavilion for a total of 26 runs but wicketkeeper-batsman Liton Das’s 138 and Mehdi Hasan’s 78 led the team to a total score of 262 runs.
These two batsmen put on a partnership of 165 runs for the seventh wicket. Khurram Shahzad took six wickets for Pakistan, while Mir Hamza and Salman Ali Agha took two each.
Former Indian Test cricketer Yuvraj Singh’s father, Yograj Singh, has publically called out Mahendra Singh Pansingh Dhoni, considered one of the country’s greatest captains, saying that he ruined his son’s career.
“I will never forgive MS Dhoni. He is a great cricketer, but I will never forgive what he did to my son. He should look at his face in the mirror. Everything is coming out now, and it can never be forgiven,” Yograj said.
“I have never done two things in my life: never forgiven someone who has done something wrong and never hugged, be it my family members or my kids. My son could have played for four or five more years; Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag have said there can be no other Yuvraj Singh,” the former cricketer said.
“India should give Bharat Ratna award to my son for playing with cancer”, he added.
Yuvraj Singh’s father, Yugraj Singh, has played one Test and six ODI matches for India.
Meanwhile, MS Dhoni retired in August 2020, but he is still active in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
In the ongoing second Test match in Rawalpindi, the Bangladesh team bowled out for 262 runs in the first innings, while Pakistan scored nine runs for the loss of 2 wickets.
At the end of the third day’s play of the second Test, Pakistan is in a commanding position with a lead of 22 runs over Bangladesh. Abdullah Shafiq 3 and Khurram Shehzad are out for zero, while opener Saim Ayub is at the crease scoring 6 runs.
Hasan Mehmood took two wickets for Bangladesh.
In the first inning, Pakistani scored 274 runs.
Pakistan’s team bowled out for 274 runs in the first Test against Bangladesh in the Rawalpindi Test.
The first day was washed out due to rain, on the second day, Bangladesh captain Najamul Hasan Shanto won the toss and decided to bowl first.
On behalf of Pakistan, Abdullah Shafiq and Saim Ayub opened the innings, but Tasikn Ahmed bowled Abdullah for zero in the first over.
After the dismissal of Abdullah Shafiq, Saim formed a joint partnership of 107 runs with captain Shan Masood, but Shan scored 57 runs and was dismissed by Mehdi Hasan Miraz. Mehdi Hasan also dismissed Saim on 58 runs.
Apart from this, Saud Shakeel scored 18, Babar Azam 31 runs, Muhammad Rizwan 29 runs, and Salman Ali Agha scored 15 runs.
Bangladesh has a 1-0 lead over Pakistan in the two-Test series.
It’s been weeks since javelin star Arshad Nadeem won a gold medal at Paris Olympics 2024, and Pakistanis are still not over it. He broke over a 100-year Olympic record with his historic 92.97 metre throw.
With dedication and hard work, Arshad aimed for the stars, and Indus Motor Company (IMC) supported his dream from 2023.
To recognise Arshad Nadeem’s extraordinary sports feat, which has earned him a name not just in Pakistan but around the world, IMC takes immense pride in being a part of his well-deserved celebration.
Concern Beyond Cars is IMC’s social responsibility program which endeavours to create an inclusive society where no one’s dream fades by dawn.
And this year, to pay homage to the young Olympian, Indus Motor Company (IMC) has presented Arshad Nadeem with its premium Toyota Fortuner GRS, as a token to commemorate his monumental victory with a personalised registered number plate of ANO 9297 for his Fortuner GRS.
“I am thankful for Toyota for sponsoring me way before the Paris Olympics 2024 and provided constant support to me. My biggest sponsor is Toyota Pakistan and no matter how much I praise them, it won’t be enough for the support they gave me. I want to thank the team of Toyota Pakistan. Just like I made the name of Pakistan proud globally, it also gives me immense pride and happiness to see how Toyota is globally recognized as well,” Arshad Nadeem extended his gratitude.
IMCs Chief Executive, Ali Asghar Jamali expressed, “We’re thrilled to have Arshad Nadeem here amongst us and the entire IMC team has turned up to catch a glimpse of their Olympic hero. His gold Olympic win is big news for Pakistan and taken the country by storm. Every Pakistani is absolutely overjoyed and there’s every reason, as what Arshad has achieved is no small feat on all counts. Our conviction to provide opportunities to emerging sportsmen has been a pillar of strength for many who have done Pakistan proud.”
He further shared, “Our Toyota Fortuner is a pure testament of believing in local and entrusting it to make a mark on the global front, just like Arshad Nadeem did. The Toyota Fortuner is known for its cutting-edge technology, superior performance, and reliability. This is a fitting reward for an athlete who embodies determination, resilience, and excellence. We wish Arshad the very best for the future.”
From karate champion Saadi Abbas and table tennis para champion Zainab Barkat, mountaineer Asad Memon for summiting Mount Denali, boxing champion Shahir Afridi, and more – IMC has a long history of supporting rising stars of Pakistan.
Commonwealth Games bronze medalist Pakistani wrestler Ali Asad has been banned for four years for using prohibited drugs.
Pakistan won eight medals, including one gold, in the 2022 Commonwealth Games held in Birmingham. Ali defeated his Indian opponent in wrestling in 55 seconds to win the bronze medal in the 57 kg category.
Asad’s urine sample was taken on August 6, 2022. The International Testing Agency granted him an appeal and a B-sample test, but the wrestler has been banned for four years due to non-contact.
The four-year ban will begin from October 31, 2022, as the athlete has already been under provisional suspension since 2022.
The wrestler had remained adamant that he had not use any stimulants despite the positive dope result.
A video of Pakistan’s left-arm fast bowler Muhammad Amir predicting Shaheen Shah Afridi’s career trajectory all the way back in in 2021 is going viral on social media.
His predictions seems true today.
Shaheen was injured and out of Asia Cup 2022. He was also ruled out of a three-match ODI series ahead of the Asia Cup after suffering a knee injury during the first Test against Sri Lanka. Despite not being included in the squad, Shaheen left for the Netherlands tour, delaying his recovery in time for the Asia Cup.
The left-arm fast bowler is considered one of the most dangerous bowlers in world cricket, especially in the T20 format.
He is one of the permanent players of the Pakistan team. Former cricketers have been demanding that he be given rest to reduce his workload.
After being ruled out of the Asia Cup 2022, the team’s star fast bowler, Muhammad Amir, ‘s 2021 interview went viral, in which he specifically warned the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) management about Shaheen possibly getting injured.
He said, “India prepared their bowlers and used them to their best. Look at bowlers like Bumrah, Shami, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who are bowling at speeds of over 140 in domestic. Today, India has different teams, such as batsmen and bowlers, in different formats. They have prepared and included such players in the team according to their needs.”
“In Pakistan, a person wins the lottery and then he continues to play in all three formats. I am not against it, but you should have a rotation policy. Look at Cummins, Hazlewood, and Starc; you will never see them playing all the matches in all formats of the series. If someone plays Tests, he won’t play the first 2 ODIs; if he plays ODIs, he will rest in T20 format. Thus, they can play cricket for a long time,” he further added.
Amir said, “Shaheen is playing more and more. He is still young, but once he crosses 26 and continues to bowl in all three formats, you will surely take back my point that what I was saying was right.”
Pakistan is currently playing a Test series against Bangladesh, and Shaheen has not been included in the squad for the second Test match. Earlier in the first match, his average bowling speed was 127-130 Kilometers per hour (KPH).
The famous French footballer Kylian Mbappe’s X (formerly Twitter) account was hacked on Wednesday night. The hackers took control of the account and shared controversial posts.
The hackers posted posts for the liberation of Palestine, denouncing Israel, and also calling Cristiano Ronaldo better than Lionel Messi in a post on Mbappe’s account.
Later, the French footballer’s account was recovered and all controversial posts were deleted.
This is not the first time that Mbappe’s social media account was hacked. His X account was also hacked in 2019.