Category: Sports

Former cricket captain Shahid Afridi has been surprised by Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq’s removal from the selection committee.

While talking to the media after the match against South Africa in the World Championship of Legends tournament, Afridi said, “Honestly, a move that was termed as a ‘surgery’ is beyond my understanding.”

Expressing his disappointment, Afridi continued to say, “No captain in the history of Pakistan got as many opportunities as Babar Azam, otherwise our tradition is that after poor form, the captain goes home first. I, Misbah, Younis led the Pakistani team but never got so many opportunities. Even after getting so much, Babar Azam could not prove himself.”

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed that former cricketers Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq have been removed from the selection committee.

Pakistan’s eSports scene is struggling, while other countries like India and Nepal have a massive audience. We need to work together to revive our eSports sector.

PUBG Mobile was banned in India in 2020, but the game makers made a new version called Battle Grounds Mobile India (BGMI) for the country because they have a vast audience. Their creators are consistent on social media platforms. I was watching a BGMI live streamer, Jonathan, in India on YouTube, who has more than six million subscribers, and his live stream crossed 136,000 viewers. Meanwhile, there is a maximum of seven to nine thousand live audiences on Pakistan PUBG mobile official channels.

Here are some initiatives that can help us to revive eSports in Pakistan.

1-Building Online Presence

We must encourage eSports players to build their online presence on platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook. This will help them gain recognition with a broader audience.

2-Supporting Local Events

We need to support our local tournaments and events to create hype. This will attract sponsors and investors and provide a platform for gamers to showcase their skills. In Pakistan, no one is ready to invest because we have a smaller audience. A few events have been organized in the last year, like Gamekey Arena, Gamer Galaxy eSports Festival, and now the Zong Manhunt series 2024.

3-Building a Strong Community

We must develop a strong community that promotes and celebrates our eSports players. We have some minor social media pages like esportsnetworkpk, Tysonesports, Esportsguypk, Instantesport, Gamingnewspk and Soomro, who are helping to promote our eSports.

4-Collaborating with Education

We must collaborate with schools and universities to create eSports programs and teams. This will help identify new talent for the future, and eSports is a significant source of income.

5-Ask the government to help with visa issues

Pakistani eSports players face visa issues in Malaysia, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Nepal. In the past, Pakistan’s Tekken star Arslan Ash missed a big event due to a visa issue, while Pakistan PUBG mobile teams i8 and 52 eSports didn’t go to Brazil despite qualifying for Pubg Mobile Global Open (PMGO).

Reviving Pakistani eSports requires a collective effort. We need to work together to create a supportive system that encourages creators and players, attracts investors, and celebrates talent.

In the first semi-final of the Euro Cup, Spain defeated France by two goals to one and qualified for the final. The semi-final was played in Munich, Germany.

France took the lead against Spain by scoring in the eighth minute of the match. Randal Kolo Muani scored a goal for France.

France’s lead against Spain didn’t last long. In the 21st minute of the match, 16-year-old Lamine Yamal of the Spanish team levelled the score at one.

Lamine Yamal became the youngest player to score a goal in the history of the Euro Cup. The previous youngest scorer in the European Championship was the Swiss player Johan Vonlanthen, who scored against France at 18 in the 2004 Euro Cup.

In the 21st minute, after the match was tied at one, Spain attacked again against France. In the 25th minute, Dani Olmo scored a wonderful goal to give the team the lead, which was maintained until the scheduled time of the match, and Spain qualified for the final.

The second team to reach the final will be decided after the second semi-final between England and Holland.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has removed Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq from the national cricket team selection committee.

According to Geo, after their retirement, Muhammad Yusuf and Asad Shafiq are members of the selection committee, and Bilal Afzal is also a member.

Sources say the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has lost faith in both for some time, but the PCB still has faith in Mohammad Yousuf and Asad Shafiq. Their involvement in the T20 World Cup squad selection was high, and these selectors favoured the same players who did not perform.

Four former cricketers, Wahab Riaz, Abdul Razzaq, Asad Shafiq, and Muhammad Yusuf, were included in the national cricket team’s selection committee. Wahab Riaz was also the team’s senior manager.

The PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi had an important meeting with the coaches of the Pakistan Cricket Team, Gary Kirsten, Jason Gillespie and Assistant Coach Azhar Mehmood.

Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir has been appointed as the head coach of the Indian team.

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Jay Shah announced the appointment, saying, “We welcome Gautam Gambhir as the head coach of the Indian cricket team. I am confident that Gautam Gambhir is an ideal person for Indian cricket. He has vast experience in cricket, and his vision for Team India is very clear.”

He said that the Indian Cricket Board will fully support Gautam Gambhir in his new journey.

Rahul Dravid’s coaching career with the Indian cricket team ended with the T20 World Cup win. He announced his resignation after the T20 World Cup.

Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC) will help promote blind cricket in Afghanistan.

Talking to Geo, PBCC chairman Syed Sultan Shah said, “Two Pakistani coaches will go to Afghanistan next month. The coaches will train 35 players and three coaches in Afghanistan, which has been given interim membership by the World Blind Council.”

The World Blind Cricket Council made the decision during yesterday’s executive committee meeting online, during which PBCC offered its services to promote the game in Afghanistan.

A case has been registered against India’s star batsman Virat Kohli’s liquor store.

According to Indian media, Bangalore police have registered an FIR against One8 Commune liquor bar and others for overtime.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Central says the bar was open until 1:30 a.m. when it is supposed to close by 1 a.m.

Police swung into action after receiving complaints of loud music playing in the area late at night.

Former Pakistan leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed has assumed coaching duties in England.

He arrived in England two days ago and began coaching yesterday. He has joined the England Under-19 coaching panel.

The former leg-spinner will also mentor young bowlers in the England team, leveraging his prior experience with the England cricket team.