Pakistani Test cricketer Fawad Alam’s mother passed away in Karachi at the age of 63. She was seriously ill for a few months.
Fawad Alam said, “I felt very lonely after his mother left. We pray to Allah Almighty to raise the status of our mother, Ameen.”
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the details of Pakistan’s 2024-25 home/ international season, which includes hosting a tri-series against New Zealand and South Africa, an event the country will host after 21 years.
According to the press release from PCB, the season will prove to be quite busy for the national cricket team, with two Test matches against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi and Karachi from August 21 to September 3 this year.
In October of the same year, England’s cricket team will visit Pakistan to play three Test matches from October 7 to 28.
The West Indies team will come to Pakistan to play two Tests in January 2025 in Karachi and Multan.
In February 2025, the national team will play a tri-nation ODI series against South Africa and New Zealand from February 8 to 14 in Multan.
Australian power-hitting coach Shannon Young has said that Babar Azam gets less support and more criticism in Pakistan. “If a player like Babar Azam was in Australia, we would not criticize but support him.”
Talking to the media in Lahore, the power hitter called Babar a “world-class player”. He then went on to say, “The expectations of Pakistani people are also high. In Lahore, I expected to meet a captain. I met two captains, Azhar Ali and Babar Azam. Azhar Ali has created a wonderful academy.”
Young said that he had visited India many times with cricketers in the past. “I always wanted to come to Pakistan and now I am getting the opportunity. Australian cricketers love Pakistan; I am hopeful for a couple of cricket tours.”
He further said that power-hitting is moving towards coaching due to modern-day cricket and T20 cricket.
Yesterday, Babar Azam met him in Lahore, where he discussed his power-hitting.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is likely to terminate the central contracts of 210 domestic cricketers, Express has reported.
The contract proposal comes from the cricketers playing in all three formats at the Champions Cup. Five teams will be included in the event; each team will have 30 top cricketers, and the same 150 players will get contracts. Last year, 360 cricketers were signed.
Shahid Afridi, Younis Khan, Waqar Younis, Musbah-ul-Haq and other former cricketers will be mentors in the Champions Cup.
In the World Championship of Legends tournament, Pakistan champions defeated West Indies champions by 30 runs.
In the match played in Birmingham, Pakistan decided to bat first and scored 194 runs for 8 wickets in the allotted 20 overs.
Shoaib Malik scored 54 runs on behalf of Pakistan Champions, besides Sharjeel Khan scored 35 runs, Aamir Yameen scored 29 runs and Shahid Afridi scored 16 runs.
Chasing 195 runs, the team of West Indies champions scored 165 runs for 9 wickets. Dwayne Smith scored 65 and Jonathan Carter scored 34 runs.
On behalf of Pakistan Champions, Sohail Tanveer dismissed 4 players while Shahid Afridi took 3 wickets and Wahab Riaz took 2 wickets.
It should be noted that this is Pakistan’s second consecutive victory in the tournament, previously the Green Shirts defeated Australia.
Pakistan cricket captain Babar Azam has met Australia’s famous power-hitting coach Shannon Young at a local cricket club in Lahore.
The famous power hitter has come to Lahore on a private visit. Australia’s new opener Jake Fraser-McGurk, gives all the credit to Shannon Young for his power-hitting.
Young also coaches Maxwell and Marnus Labuschagne in power-hitting.
Babar Azam is often criticized for his strike rate.
Indian cricket team all-rounder Hardik Pandya has made history, becoming the number one all-rounder in the International Cricket Council (ICC) T20 rankings.
This is the first time an Indian all-rounder has occupied the number-one position in the T20 ranking.
He excelled with both bat and ball in the World Cup, scoring 144 runs and taking 11 wickets during the World Cup.
Hardik has played an important role in making his team the champion. The all-rounder also played an important role in the final match against South Africa, taking three wickets and Hardik also bowled the final over for India.
Earlier in the Indian Premier League (IPL), he faced criticism from Indian fans because IPL franchise Mumbai Indians made him captain, sacking Rohit Sharma.
An international sports organization has written an open letter to the government and people of Pakistan on corruption in the Pakistan Bodybuilding Federation (PBBF).
The letter, written by the president of international sports organization Datuk Paul Chua, draws attention to the major issue of corruption within the Pakistan Bodybuilding Federation.
Datuk Paul Chua wrote, “The performance of the ‘PBBF’ under the leadership of Sheikh Farooq Iqbal has declined; he was sacked due to corruption. He misused the government grant for personal gain. Sohail Anwar took over as the General Secretary of PBBF after Sheikh Farooq Iqbal. He worked tirelessly to revive the federation and produced medal-winning players, but it is sad to say that Sheikh Farooq Iqbal is getting government grants, and the government is not cooperating with Sohail Anwar.”
He wrote, “According to my knowledge, Sheikh Farooq Iqbal used his political connections to block the grant received by Sohail Anwar. I request the Pakistani government to investigate the corruption of Sheikh Farooq Iqbal and Sohail. Support Anwar; he has selflessly promoted bodybuilding in Pakistan.”
“The support of the government of Pakistan is very important for the talented players to participate in the upcoming international championships including the Asian International Championship in August and November. A Pakistani player Shahnawaz Khan has won the prestigious title of Mr. South Asia under the leadership of Sohail Anwar,” the President wrote in the letter.
The is the first time in the history of Pakistan that an international sports organization has written an open letter to the government of Pakistan, the people and the media.
The Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Mohsin Naqvi has revealed what steps the board is considering after the team’s stage 1 exit from the T20 World Cup last month.
Talking informally to the media in Lahore, Naqvi said, “People are asking for surgery.” The word is a reference to his own statement where he said massive surgery is required for the national team. “I never take any decision in anger, hasty decisions are often harmful. Head coach Gary Kirsten has submitted a report; in it he gave detailed information about the World Cup performance. Gary Kirsten and Azhar Mehmood have been called for a discussion.”
The PCB head then revealed that he is in touch with former cricketers, taking advice from them for improving cricket. “They, whose livelihood is not talking on various TV channels, will spot the real issues.”
He went on to reveal that a former cricketer has given a detailed report. “I will not make decisions after seeing social media posts. PCB is not running on social media posts. It doesn’t matter if you post against PCB or me.”
On improving the national team, he said, “While looking at things with patience, it is also a challenge to improve things within the PCB. The people inside the PCB show one thing, and the truth on the ground is something else.”
After the national team’s poor performance in the T20 World Cup, Mohsin Naqvi announced a major surgery in the team.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has sent the draft schedule of the Champions Trophy 2025, which will be held in Pakistan next year, to the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Indian media has claimed from ICC sources that, according to the draft, the Pakistan-India clash will be held on March 1 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
The Indian Cricket Board has not yet given consent to the PCB regarding the schedule of the matches.
Considering security issues, all India matches have been scheduled to be played in Lahore. New Zealand and Bangladesh have been placed in Group A along with Pakistan and India.
Australia, England, South Africa and Afghanistan have been placed in Group B, with all participating member nations of the Champions Trophy having assured the ICC of their support. The Indian Board will take its decision after consulting the Indian government.