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  • Pakistan will boycott Asia Cup if it’s deprived from hosting

    Pakistan will boycott Asia Cup if it’s deprived from hosting

    Pakistan has threatened to boycott Asia Cup 2023 if it is deprived of hosting duties.

    Dealing with an aggressive Indian campaign to put the tournament out of the host country’s reach, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has proposed to the Asian Cricket Council a hybrid model to ensure Indian team’s Participation.


    Under this proposed model, other teams would play their matches in Pakistan, while the Indiam team would play their matches in another country.
    The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) refused to play in UAE due to concerns about hot weather and instead suggested Sri Lanka as a potential host country.

    Meanwhile, Pakistan put forward Oman as an alternative option. England was also be considered as a possible venue, although it is in another continent. Talks are progressing rapidly and a final schedule is expected to be released within the next 4-5 days.

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) did not accept the suggestion of swapping the host country to another location. Taking a strong stance regarding the upcoming World Cup, PCB has insisted that if the Indian team does not participate in the Asia Cup, the Pakistan team will not travel to India for the World Cup.

    There have been discussions about potentially withdrawing Pakistan from hosting the Asia Cup and replacing it with Sri Lanka or Bangladesh, with the hope that in two years’ time, relations between India and Pakistan may have improved, and the Asia Cup could be held in Pakistan once again.
    However, in order to withdraw from hosting the Asia Cup and replacing it with Sri Lanka or Bangladesh, PCB officials strongly rejected the proposal and stated that if this were to be done, the event should be organized without Pakistan’s participation.

    Despite the potential financial loss, Pakistan emphasized the importance of taking care of the sentiments of their fans rather than the monetary aspect.

    Additionally, the country has already earned significant revenue from the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and would not agree to a complete shift of the Asia Cup to a neutral venue.

    During a meeting, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) expressed their understanding of India’s concerns but urged for a solution to be found as important events such as the World Cup and Champions Trophy are approaching.

  • Young Pakistani squad all set to give Afghanistan a tough time in T20 series

    Young Pakistani squad all set to give Afghanistan a tough time in T20 series

    Pakistan Skipper for Afghanistan series Shadab khan believes that his new-look and much younger team will give Afghanistan a tough time in the T20 series in Sharjah from today.


    PCB has decided to rest senior players and also a top run scrorer in recent domestic league. Shadab khan replaces Babar Azam. Some other players who have a tremendous PSL season but are resting for this series include senior Muhammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Haris Rauf.


    “It is a great honour for me to be leading Pakistan,” Shadab said on Thursday. “As a player, this is the highest you can go in your career.
    “I am very excited for the upcoming three T20Is. We have a brilliant mix of youth and experience, which makes us a well-balanced side, and we have what it takes to win this series.”


    Shadab previously led Pakistan in a three-match T20I series in New Zealand when Babar was injured, losing 2-1.

    Batters Saim Ayub, Pacer Zaman Khan and Ihsan Ullah are uncapped while Imad Wasim, Azam Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Abdullah Shafique recalls for the National team.


    Afghanistan have also recalled former skipper Mohammad Nabi after leaving him out of the three-match T20 series against the United Arab Emirates that they won 2-1 last month.

    Rashid Khan will lead Afghanistan side after Afghan tigers replace Muhammad Nabi.


    Shadab said Afghanistan was a dangerous side “and they have some good T20 players in their side but I am very confident with the players that I have in my squad”.

    Pakistan has beaten Afghanistan in all three previous T20Is — a one-off match in 2013 in Sharjah, T20 World Cup 2021 and Asia Cup last year.

    Pakistan agreed to play the series — the first bilateral between the two countries — in place of three one-day Intern­ationals that Afghanistan were supposed to play against Australia this month.

    Cricket Australia pulled out of that series following an announcement from Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban that it was banning university education for girls and not forming a women’s cricket team.

    Afghanistan Cricket Board chief executive Naseeb Khan hoped fans will enjoy a good series.

    “Both nations have passionate fans that support their teams with enthusiasm and pride,” said Naseeb. “As neighbours, we have a special bond and we hope to showcase not only our cricketing skills but also the spirit of friendship and sportsmanship.”

  • Babar Azam all set to receive Sitara e Imtiaz on 23rd March

    Babar Azam all set to receive Sitara e Imtiaz on 23rd March

    Pakistan’s men cricket team captain and top run scorer in the PSL Season 8, Babar Azam, will be awarded the country’s third biggest civilian award Sitara-e-Imtiaz on March 23.

    Babar Azam will be the youngest player to get the coveted award. At just 28 years of age, Babar Azam is the top run scorer in the latest PSL edition with 519 runs and also Pakistan’s top run scorer.
    Previously, former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed held the record as the youngest person to be awarded the prestigious award.

    Sarfaraz, who led Pakistan to the Champions Trophy title in 2017, was given the award by then Sindh Governor Mohammad Zubair at the Governor House in Karachi in 2018.

    Last year on August 14, the government announced that it will be conferring Babar with the country’s third-highest civilian honour.

    The star batter will be taking a break from cricket to attend the ceremony, as he will not be participating in the series against Afghanistan, which is scheduled to start on March 24.

    Babar Azam is not the only cricketer to get Sitara-e-Imtiaz, as many more including former captains Misbah ul Haq, Shahid Afridi and Younis Khan have received the award.

    Mohammad Yousuf received the award in 2011, Saeed Ajmal in 2015, Inzamam ul Haq in 2005 and Javed Miandad in 1992.

  • Harbhajan Singh says if Imran Khan is not safe in Pakistan then Indian team shouldn’t travel there

    Harbhajan Singh says if Imran Khan is not safe in Pakistan then Indian team shouldn’t travel there

    Former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has voiced concerns over the Indian team travelling to Pakistan for the upcoming Asia Cup.

    Pakistan and India have locked horns over Asia Cup with Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) threatening Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) that they will not travel to the host country for Asia Cup amid security reasons.

    BCCI has proposed to Asian Cricket Council (ACC) to select a neutral venue for the tournament but PCB has stuck to its guns, stating that that they will also boycott travelling to India for the upcoming World Cup.

    Former off-spinner Harbhajan Singh expressed his views on the matter in a recent interview, where he cited the current political crisis in Pakistan as reason enough for India to not go.

    He was of the view that going to play in the neighboring country would not be safe for the Indian team, stating that the relationships between the two countries were not as good now as they were when both teams played a series last time.

    He also referred to former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s repeated assertions about threats to his life as proof enough that Pakistan was not safe.

    “I think India will not go to Pakistan and play the Asia Cup. Why is the situation not good? Something new is happening every day, even their former Prime Minister Imran Khan is not safe in Pakistan. In such a situation, why would the Indian team go to Pakistan and play in the Asia Cup,” he said.

    There is no clarity about the venue of the Asia Cup marquee tournament as yet.

  • Shaheen Afridi backs Shahid Afridi on clarification on fake tweet about Imran Khan

    Shaheen Afridi backs Shahid Afridi on clarification on fake tweet about Imran Khan

    Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has denied that a tweet associated with him, voicing his opinion on ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan’s possible arrest is genuine, releasing a video of his clarification.

    The superstar former all-rounder on Sunday issued a statement in which he categorically denied saying anything about Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan and said the quote that is going viral on social media is fake.

    Shahid Afridi was making fun of his former teammate Shoiab Akhtar’s injury in a video for the former fast bowler’s YouTube channel. “Plaster hee nahi utar raha iska”, Afridi supposedly said in jest to his former colleague.

    People mistakenly understood the comments to be directed at Imran Khan, who’s opponents have questioned why his leg injury plaster is not coming off, criticizing Shahid Afridi on social media.

    https://twitter.com/SAfridiOfficial/status/1637378958684553216?s=20

    “I am seeing since yesterday on social media that a statement on Imran Khan, attributed to me, is going viral. This is very disappointing; whoever is doing this is… it is just dirty politics,” Afridi said in the video.

    Stating that he does not want to get into politics, Afridi emphasized that if he had to say something, he would have said it myself.

    “You can check my social media accounts or any other place where I have spoken anything about Imran Khan. Please don’t make me a part of this dirty politics. I only believe in the people of Pakistan and want to work towards serving them. Thank you,” Afridi concluded.

    After his video clarification PSL 8 champion and the backbone of Pakistan’s pace attack, Shaheen Shah Afridi also tweeted to support his father-in-law.

    The speedster wrote, “I request you all to only think about Pakistan. We should not indulge ourselves into any act which divides us further. Hum Sab ko apni apni fields me positive reh ker Pakistan ka haq Ada kerna hoga. Pakistan Noor hai or Allah pak is Noor Ki Hamesha hifazat farmayain ge, Ameen.”

  • PSL fever over but game on hai; Get ready for Pakistan Vs Afghanistan

    PSL fever over but game on hai; Get ready for Pakistan Vs Afghanistan

    On Saturday night Lahore Qalandars held their nerves in a thriller to lift the PSL 8 trophy and become the first team of Pakistan Super League (PSL) to defend their title. A nail biting finish saw
    Multan Sultans almost snatching away the dreams of Lahore Qalandars fans.

    Qalandars won by just 1 run, in a match that swung with every ball bowled, capping a memorable PSL season. What’s next for cricketing fans? Well, game on hai. Get ready for Pakistan Vs Afghanistan T20 series.

    The three-match T20I series will be played in Sharjah, starting March 24. Pakistan will be led by the young all-rounder Shadab Khan after regular captain Babar Azam along with several big names like Muhammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi, have decided to take rest and sit out the series.

    Pakistan have named a new-look squad for the Afghanistan T20Is. Several big names have been rested including Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, and Shaheen Shah Afridi. Performances in the PSL has mattered in selection with Saim Ayub and Ihsanullah being given maiden call-ups while Imad Wasim and Faheem Ashraf have been recalled.

    “The Afghanistan series is the training ground to test our youngsters,” Najam Sethi, the PCB chief, said in a press interaction on March 13. “I am not worried about winning or losing to Afghanistan – if we find few talented youngsters, it will serve the purpose. The series is largely about blooding our new talent and developing them.”

    Top order
    Pakistan have four opening options to choose from – Shan Masood, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Haris, and Abdullah Shafique. Among them, Haris and Ayub were the most impressive in the PSL, with both scoring 180-plus runs at averages above 30 and strike rates above 180 as openers. Masood meanwhile scored 236 runs at an average of 26.22 and a strike rate of 124.87.

    Masood has been part of Pakistan’s T20 setup for a while now and has been playing the anchor role at No.3. With Babar and Rizwan not there, they would ideally want him to continue in his role and have Ayub and Haris open the innings. Shafique might have to wait his turn to get in the XI.

    Middle-order
    Iftikhar Ahmed should continue at his usual No.4 position, with Azam Khan slotting in as the wicketkeeper at No.5. Khan scored 282 runs in the PSL this year at a strike rate of 161.14, and would be looking to make an impact on his T20I comeback.

    All-rounders
    Shadab Khan will bat at No.6 and lead the spin attack. For No.7 and No.8, Pakistan will have three options to choose from – the incumbent Mohammad Nawaz, and two players making their comeback, Imad Wasim and Faheem Ashraf.

    While both Nawaz and Imad are similar commodities, bowling left-arm orthodox and batting left-handed, the generally low and slow Sharjah surface might force the Pakistan think-tank to pick both, with Ashraf sitting out. On the other hand, if they feel like the conditions on offer won’t be conducive to spin bowling, Ashraf will pip Imad with Nawaz retaining his spot.

    Bowlers
    For the last three slots, Pakistan have four pace bowlers to choose from – Ihsanullah, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, and Zaman Khan. Naseem and Wasim pick themselves as the regulars, while the young sensation Ihsanullah will in all probability make his international debut ahead of Zaman Khan, following his breakthrough PSL season.

    Pakistan likely XI for T20Is
    Mohammad Haris, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood, Iftikhar Ahmed, Azam Khan (wk), Shadab Khan (c), Imad Wasim, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Ihsanullah

  • Clash of the titans as Qalandars and Sultans clash in PSL final

    Clash of the titans as Qalandars and Sultans clash in PSL final

    On the final day of Pakistan Super League, (PSL) Season 8, the two best teams of the event, defending champions Lahore Qalandars and Multan Sultans, will clash for the title.

    The PSL final will be played between Lahore Qalandars and Multan Sultans for the second consecutive year.

    The winner will be crowned champions for the second time, but the Qalandars could become the first team to successfully defend the title.

    Apart from the covered trophy, the champion team will get prize money of Rs12 crore while the runners-up will get Rs4 crore, 80 lacs.

    Tomorrow lahore Qalandars brilliantly chase the and knocked out Zalmi ruthlessly

    Zalmi give the the target of 172 Lahore Qalandars chase the Target and step in to the finals to clash the horns with Multan Sultans again.
    “May the best Team win”

  • Baarish nahin, rehmat for Lahoris; LQ will qualify for PSL final if rain washes out match

    Baarish nahin, rehmat for Lahoris; LQ will qualify for PSL final if rain washes out match

    A spell of rain that begun in the early hours of Friday morning in the provincial capital has come as a blessing for Lahore Qalandars after getting routed by Multan Sultans in the previous game. Qalandars were in hot water as they faced a do or die game to qualify for Pakistsn Super League (PSL) 8 final.

    The important playoff between Lahore Qalandars and Peshawar Zalmi will likely be affected if rain continues in Lahore. The home team will directly qualify for the PSL eighth edition finals if the match is washed out.

    The meteorological department has predicted rain again in the afternoon.

    Based on the latest updates, it seems that the match is expected to commence as scheduled, despite the ongoing rainfall.

    However, if there is a further downpour, it could exacerbate challenges for the ground crew. In such a scenario, the Lahore Qalandars may have an advantage over their opponents.
    After the league matches, Qalandars has 14 points on the points table while Peshawar Zalmi has 10 points, and this advantage is enough for them to qualify for the final of the PSL eight.

    On the other hand, all the tickets for the match between Lahore Qalandars and Peshawar Zalmi have been sold, but fans are eager to see the match between the teams of Shaheen and Babar.

  • Zalmi baazi le gaye, isloo ko bheja ghar, Peshawar Zalmi register 50th win in PSL

    Zalmi baazi le gaye, isloo ko bheja ghar, Peshawar Zalmi register 50th win in PSL

    Peshawar Zalmi registered their 50th win in HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL), defeating Islamabad United on Thursday night, becoming the first team to reach the milestone.

    Karachi Kings, holders of the record for most losses in PSL have lost in 50 out of 85 matches that they have played for all eight seasons.

    So far, Peshawar Zalmi have played 92 matches and won 50 of those. Out of the 50 victories, Zalmi had clear wins in 49 of those games while one was decided in a super over.

    According to Geo news, Peshawar Zalmi has a success rate of 54.39% in the PSL and is the only team that has reached the playoff stage of all eight editions of the marquee event.

    Last night, Zalmi knocked Islamabad United out of the tournament during the first eliminator of the eighth season of the PSL and lived to fight another day.

    Zalmi set a 184-run target for United in the match played at the Gaddafi stadium in Lahore.

    They will now take on Lahore Qalandars and fight for a spot in the final. The second eliminator will be played at the same venue today.

  • PSL 8 final rescheduled to Saturday as PCB anticipates rain in Lahore

    PSL 8 final rescheduled to Saturday as PCB anticipates rain in Lahore

    In light of the adverse weather forecasted for the next few days, the Pakistan Cricket Board has decided to move the HBL PSL 8 final from Sunday, March 19 to Saturday, March 18. The match will take place at the Gaddafi Stadium, with Sunday and Monday serving as backup days.

    According to Najam Sethi, Chair of PCB Management Committee, the HBL PSL 8 is a significant event for all the teams, who strive to make it to the final and win the Supernova Trophy. Cricket fans eagerly anticipate this momentous occasion as well.

    Given the available information about the bad weather forecast, it is a prudent and proactive decision to make use of the off-day and play the final on Saturday. This way, two reserve days will be available in case the match cannot be completed or played on Saturday, rather than the traditional one day.

    The PCB has consulted with the Play-off teams, who are in agreement with the decision to reschedule the final.

    Additionally, the cricket board assures fans that there will be no inconvenience caused by the change. Tickets purchased for Sunday’s match will remain valid for the rescheduled final on Saturday.