As the race for World Cup 2023 semi-finalists takes shape, Pakistan will compete in a make-or-break match against New Zealand in Bangalore on Saturday before playing their last match against England.
However, weather forecasts show that Bangalore will receive rain on Saturday afternoon, with a 70 to 80 per cent chance of rain in the city from 2 pm onwards on Saturday.
If the match is washed out due to rain, both teams will get one point each, leaving the net run rate unaffected.
South Africa defeated New Zealand by a massive margin of 190 runs. Pakistani fans were praying for Africa’s win because Pakistan’s cricket team is now dependent on the wins and losses of other teams. South Africa’s win over New Zealand can help Pakistan to reach Semi-Finals
Pakistan fans are thanking South Africa and their captain Timba Bavuma. A storm of memes is seen on social media after Africa’s win over New Zealand.
In the 32nd match of the ICC World Cup, South Africa defeated New Zealand by a huge margin of 190 runs after a one-sided contest, paving the way to reach the semi-finals with their sixth win in the event.
Captain Tamba Bavuma and opening batsman Quinton de Kock started the innings on behalf of South Africa, but Bavuma could not give his team a big partnership in front of the Kiwis bowlers and got out for 24 off Boult.
After the first wicket fell on 38 runs, Quinton de Kock and Vander Dussen put on a brilliant batting partnership of 200 runs, both also scoring centuries. Vander Dussen scored 133 runs while de Kock was dismissed for 114 runs. David Miller played a brilliant innings of 53 runs off 30 balls. Henrik Klaasen scored 15 runs off seven balls and Markram remained unbeaten on six runs. South Africa scored 357 runs for four wickets in the allotted 50 overs.
For New Zealand, Tim Southee took two wickets while Trent Boult and James Neesham got one wicket each.
Chasing South Africa’s target of 358 runs, Kiwi batsmen could not stay on the wicket. South African bowlers bowled brilliantly, picking one wicket after another.
Glenn Phillips 60, Will Young 33, and Daryl Mitchell 24 were the standout batsmen. Chasing the target, the entire New Zealand team was bowled out for 167 runs in 35.3 overs.
On behalf of South Africa, Keshav Maharaj took four wickets while Marco Jansen took three, Coetzee two, and Rabada took one wicket.
South Africa’s win over New Zealand has helped the struggling Pakistan team to get a shot at reaching the semi-finals, but it is still a difficult journey for Babar XI.
The Palestinian flag was hoisted in the stadium during the match between Pakistan and Bangladesh on October 31 in the ongoing ICC ODI World Cup in India.
According to the Indian news website India TV, the police detained four people for waving the flag in the match played in Kolkata yesterday.
“Out of the persons detained from the Eden Gardens Stadium, two belong to Jharkhand and two are residents of Kolkata itself,” Indian police said, adding that two persons have been detained from Gate No. 6 while the other two persons have been detained from Block G1.
Kolkata police said, “A preliminary investigation has revealed that the four persons, who are in their 20s, were protesting against Israel.”
An Indian artist named Parish Maity painted Babar Azam’s picture during the match between Pakistan and Bangladesh played at Eden Garden in Kolkata yesterday.
Parish said. “He was invited by ICC (International Cricket Council) to capture four live matches in Kolkata and to capture the level of excitement in front of thousands of people.”
“I have painted nine more paintings of this World Cup at nine different venues. In this painting, I have tried to capture the whole match action on one canvas,” he said.
He painted Bangladesh’s Muhammadullah, Pakistan’s skipper Babar Azam and wicketkeeper-batsman Muhammad Rizwan. Babar Azam signed the canvas after it completed.
Here are some reactions on social media:
Lol India respect Babar Azam more than their Journalist and PCB
During Tuesday’s ICC ODI World Cup match between Pakistan and Bangladesh, Shaheen sent the ball to Taskin Ahmed, who was caught behind by wicketkeeper Muhammad Rizwan.
Shaheen Afridi thought that the ball was ‘caught behind’, meaning Rizwan caught the ball after it hit the bat and the batsman was out.
He appealed for an out verdict from the umpire but did not get it. Shaheen, along with captain Babar Azam, asked Rizwan whether a review should be taken or not.
Rizwan then turned and asked batsman Taskin Ahmad, “Is the ball on the pad or on the bat,” in response to which the Bangladeshi batsman replied, “On the pad.”
Rizwan turned to Babar and Shaheen and said “He is saying that the ball is on the pad.”
Commentators were forced to laugh Rizwan’s question.
The video of the hilarious interaction is going viral on social media.
Former Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi has lashed out at the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Zaka Ashraf, while talking in program Zor Ka Jor on Samaa TV.
Shahid Afridi criticized PCB management committee for mishandling cricket affairs amid the Men in Green’s below-par performance in the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023.
Afridi believes that Ashraf should focus on his job rather than giving pointless statements.
“Zaka Ashraf is the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, not of a club. I’m surprised why is he calling owners of media houses about people who are talking against him,” Afridi said.
“For God’s sake, you are the chairman, just deliver results and do your job. People are only talking about you because you are giving them this opportunity. Zaka Ashraf Sahab, stick to what you are supposed to do. The team is playing a World Cup and you are giving one statement after the other. Sometimes it is about Babar and sometimes it is about someone else,” he added.
Social Media users took to X (formerly Twitter) and supported Shahid Afridi’s statement.
Senior Editor, ESPNCricinfo, Osman Samiuddin tweeted, “Don’t hold board elex, throw own team under bus, leak whatsapp messages from captain, live for junkets & photo ops, be in charge of absolute clown admin, get away with all of it.”
Don’t hold board elex, throw own team under bus, leak whatsapp messages from captain, live for junkets & photo ops, be in charge of absolute clown admin, get away with all of it.
Aspiring Cricket analyst Syed Ali Imran tweeted, “Media houses kay owners ko phone? Shahid Afridi hits back at Zaka Ashraf who most probably exerted pressure on him via Aleem Khan owner of SAMAA TV.”
Media houses kay owners ko phone?
Shahid Afridi hits back at Zaka Ashraf who most probably exerted pressure on him via Aleem Khan owner of SAMAA TV. pic.twitter.com/G0AkSblWuW
X user Maham Gillani tweeted, “A very clear message from Shahid Afridi to Zaka Ashraf. Lala is always behind Babar Azam. Off the field sixer from Boom Boom Afridi.”
Pakistan left arm pacer Shaheen Afridi become the Number one bowler in ODI (One Day International) rankings.
Shaheen Afridi is now on the first spot with 673 points, followed by Australia’s Josh Hazzelwood on second spot with 663 and India’s Muhammad Siraj on third spot with 656 points. Shaheen Afridi also became the fastest pacer to complete 100 wickets in ODI’s during the match with Bangladesh, a feet he achieved in 51 matches.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has formed a committee to collect the data of approved agents associated with the national cricket team players.
The five-member committee regarding the PCB’s team selection process and conflict of interest, related sources say that this committee has started working today. After completing the investigation, the committee will submit its report and recommendations to Chairman Zaka Ashraf.
The five-member committee formed by the PCB includes Colonel Khalid, Colonel Akhtar of the Anti-Corruption and Vigilance Unit, Director Media Alia Rashid, representatives of the Legal Department and Auditor Finance.
This committee will not be able to ask any questions from the Pakistan cricket team’s players because they are currently playing the World Cup in India, and also not from Umar Kalsom who is now PCB’s media head manager and was recently replaced by Ahsan Iftikhar Nagi during the world cup.
According to the sources, “Player’s agent’s records are available but the committee didn’t find which agent associated with which player”.
It should be noted that a few days ago, the case of Inzamam-ul-Haq being a shareholder with a company named Yazoo International Ltd. came to light, however, Chief Selector Inzamam-ul-Haq resigned from the post of Chief Selector before the formation of the committee.
Sports commentator Yahya Hussaini has claimed that before going to India to play in the World Cup, players had told Zaka Ashraf that they will neither participate in the World Cup nor any other ICC event.
In the Geo News program ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Saath’, the host asked Hussaini, “After the poor performance of the Pakistan team in the World Cup, the players and the board were being criticized. After Babar Azam’s chat leak, criticism turned towards Pakistan Cricket Board(PCB) and Chairman Zaka Ashraf, what is the matter that instead of waiting until the end of the World Cup or the return of the team these things are coming out?”
ذکاء اشرف کے بیانات اور انضمام الحق کا استعفیٰ۔ دیکھیئے ایک کے بعد ایک تنازعہ پر سکندر بخت،عبدالرزاق اور یحیٰ حسینی کا تجزیہ pic.twitter.com/ylVu20OsKT
In response, Yahya Hussaini said, “This is a very old story. When Zaka Ashraf became the head of the PCB committee, he was not allowed to work, and a petition was filed against him in the court. In short, this is what I would like to say, that before going to the World Cup, the players had told Zaka Ashraf that they will neither participate in the World Cup nor in any ICC event nor will they use the ICC logo”.
Senior journalist Yahya Hussaini has revealed that before the World Cup, former chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq took captain Babar Azam to the house of Chairman PCB Zaka Ashraf to resolve conflicts between the players and the Board.
“528 million rupees were retained under the PCB central contract and a three-year contract, which was never done before, and 220.3 million rupees in this contract were also added from ICC (International Cricket Council)”.
