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Category: Sports

  • New Zealand back in Pakistan after cancelling tour in 2021 over security threats

    New Zealand back in Pakistan after cancelling tour in 2021 over security threats

    New Zealand’s cricket team arrived in Pakistan today (Thursday), a year after cancelling their previous tour over security threats.

    The Kiwis— led by veteran fast bowler Tim Southee are here to play two Tests and three One-Day Internationals (ODI). Upon reaching their hotel in Karachi, they were welcomed with Sindhi ajraks.

    New Zealand sparked deep frustration in Pakistan in September 2021 when they failed to show up at Rawalpindi Stadium and announced they were flying home due to threats.

    The visitors will rest today before starting training in Karachi on Friday. The first test match begins on December 26, while the second Test will be played in Multan from January 3, followed by the ODIs on January 10, 12 and 14 in Karachi.

    New Zealand last visited Pakistan to play test cricket in 2002 and last played an ODI series here in 2003.

    For the Test series, Pakistan announced a 16-man squad on Wednesday, with a recall for fast bowler Hasan Ali while Shaheen Shah Afridi will miss out on the series due ta a knee injury.

    The arrival of the Kiwis comes just days after England whitewashed Pakistan at home in a three-match Test series.

  • Ramiz Out: PM approves Najam Sethi’s appointment as chairman PCB

    Ramiz Out: PM approves Najam Sethi’s appointment as chairman PCB

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has approved Najam Sethi’s appointment as chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Geo News has reported.


    The official notification of the appointment will be issued later.

    Najam Sethi served in 2013 as head of PCB. However, he faced a legal battle with Chaudhry Muhammad Zaka Ashraf, another former chairperson of PCB. He later took up the position again in 2014 but Shahryar Khan replaced him and Sethi was given the charge of the executive committee.

    In 2017, he was appointed again as PCB chairperson but after one year he soon gave up his position in 2018.

    Najam Sethi was the person who launched the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in 2016 and was the president of PSL at that time.


    This is a developing story.

  • Pakistan ‘played good cricket’ despite England’s 3-0 win: Brendon McCullum

    Pakistan ‘played good cricket’ despite England’s 3-0 win: Brendon McCullum

    The last Test match of the historic series between Pakistan and England was won by the visiting team by eight wickets at the National Bank Cricket Arena in Karachi. This gave the visiting team a 3-0 series victory.

    For the first time ever, Pakistan was thoroughly defeated at home in a Test series. In addition, it is the first time in the previous 22 years that England has triumphed in a Test series against Pakistan.

    The Babar Azam-led team’s campaign for the 2021–23 ICC World Test Championship final, which is set to take place at Lord’s in the year 2023, has also come to an end as a result of the series loss.

    Pakistan has had trouble winning Test series this year because to its struggles in red-ball cricket. Earlier this year, they suffered a 0-1 home loss to Australia, while the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka ended in a draw.

    Regarding the third game, only the captain managed to get a half-century as Pakistan was bowled out for 304 runs in the first innings. In response, England lost early wickets but gained a 50-run lead thanks to their tailenders.

    Rehan Ahmad, a debutant leg-spinner, grabbed five wickets for 48 runs to help the home team collapse in the second innings and be dismissed for 215 runs.

    The team captained by Ben Stokes had a 170 run target to reach in two days, which they did with the loss of two wickets. Zak Crawley scored 41 runs off of 41 while Ben Duckett quickly scored 75 runs at a strike rate of over 100.

    England’s head coach Brendon McCullum said that Pakistan played well despite England’s 3-0 win against the home team, according to Geo Super.

    “I think Pakistan has actually played some really good cricket throughout the series. If we look at all three Test matches, I think there was some defining moments in each of those Tests. And, whilst we might have maybe dominated a little bit more throughout the series, I think, Pakistan certainly had their opportunities and played their part,” he said.

    “I look at it from a holistic point of view, I think the series has been a really watchable one for people around the around the world and Test cricket has always been like that. I take my hat off to Pakistan for the part that I’ve played in it and obviously to our boys for how we’ve played also,” McCullum added.

  • Did you know Argentina’s first World Cup victory in 1978 was inspired by Pakistan’s hockey team?

    Did you know Argentina’s first World Cup victory in 1978 was inspired by Pakistan’s hockey team?

    There is a lot to discuss and learn about the team that won the World Cup for the first time in 1978, Argentina, which has recently gained attention due to its amazing victory in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

    Argentina, under Daniel Passarella’s guidance, defeated the Netherlands in Buenos Aires to claim the fifth FIFA World Cup. Did you know, though, that Abdul Waheed Khan, the Pakistani hockey manager who was responsible for the team’s record-breaking victory in the same year, served as an inspiration to Argentina’s Cesar Menotti when he managed Argentina’s football team?

    The tale that propelled Argentina to win in 1978 was uncovered via “The Paperclip” Twitter thread. Argentina hosted the hockey World Cup in March of that year, followed by the FIFA World Cup of football in June. Under the direction of former gold medalist Waheed Khan, the Pakistani hockey team arrived in Buenos Aires and put on an outstanding display. “During their victorious campaign, the green shirts created many sublime records. Their total of 35 goals was a new highest for a single edition of the World Cup, while only conceding 4 goals along the way,” according to one of the tweets.

    Many people’s attention was drawn to Pakistan by their outstanding performance. Menotti, the disobedient Argentine football team coach, was one of them. He attended the hockey game two months prior to the football spectacle. Menotti not only watched the games, but he also went to their practises and training sessions to take notes because he appeared so fascinated by their game.

    Waheed, born in the Indian hamlet of Raipur in the Bhopal district, moved to Pakistan in 1949. He had a detailed discussion with Menotti which “mainly centred around Pakistan’s attacking strategy”.

    The thread further read, “They discussed the strategy of double attack i.e. if a move from the right side fails then make all the effort to immediately initiate a move from the left side on the assumption that most of the opponents’ defense had become concentrated on one side.”

    Later, on June 25, 1978, Argentina went on to win the FIFA World Cup for the first time defeating Holland in the finals. Menotti even sent Waheed a telegram acknowledging how Pakistan’s hockey team’s “ploy came in very handy to him and the winning squad.”

    Thus, it can be seen how one team’s outstanding performance might even motivate other games to adopt the strategies and revel in the spirit and unity of sports like never before. Definitely a tale to keep in mind!

  • Shaheen Shah to marry Shahid Afridi’s daughter in Feb next year: report

    Shaheen Shah to marry Shahid Afridi’s daughter in Feb next year: report

    Pakistan’s star pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi will tie the knot with his fiancé Ansha on February 3, 2023, Pro Pakistani has reported.


    Earlier, this year in July while answering a question about his engagement with Ansha, Afridi, the star bowler had said: “It was my wish and Alhumdulillah it is fulfilled now.”


    “I met her and will meet her soon. I found my heart and that’s enough for me,” remarked Shaheen Afridi while answering a question about getting engaged at an early age.


    The host further asked Afridi if his fiancé gets jealous of his female fan following, to which he replied, “I am not sure, maybe she feels something like that.”


    Shaheen and Ansha got engaged last year in March. Ansha is former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi’s daughter.

  • The significance behind the black cape Lionel Messi wore at the FIFA world cup ceremony

    The significance behind the black cape Lionel Messi wore at the FIFA world cup ceremony

    The most significant part of the FIFA world cup ceremony was when Messi had been invited to the stage to receive the trophy, the King of Qatar had given him a black cape to wear before he lifted up the world cup to celebrate with his team members.

    Since yesterday social media users, mostly people in the West, were mostly expressing disappointment about Messi’s pictures being ruined by a black cape and even saying that it had ruined a significant moment for the football player. Many Arab critics and journalists were quick to highlight the racism in the media coverage of the West, and its overt disregard for Eastern culture and tradition.

    https://twitter.com/tooba_tweets/status/1604839570843271168?s=20&t=BhJq5rzVxIrqyqoRk2HgWw

    As Eastern journalists and critics had shared, every time the FIFA world cup would take place in different countries, the winner would be crowned according to the traditions of the host. For instance in 2004 when the Olympics were hosted in Athens, the winners were crowned with an olive wreathe. But the negative coverage over Messi wearing the bisht is proof of how racism in the Western media will remain an unresolved issue

    The black cape that Messi had worn on the final ceremony is called the bisht and historically, it holds a lot of significance within Arabic culture. The bisht is worn by Arabian warriors after a victory. At the ceremony, when the King of Qatar had given Messi the cloak, it was giving someone the highest form of respect and signified him as the King of Football.

  • Lionel Messi’s World Cup win Instagram post crosses 45 million likes

    Lionel Messi’s World Cup win Instagram post crosses 45 million likes

    Lionel Messi finally received the World Cup trophy in what he declared to be his final game, regardless of the win.

    While the match appeared to be a straightforward victory for Argentina over a fatigued France team for much of the final, Kylian Mbappé’s extraordinary brace at the start of the final 10 minutes of regulation time transformed the game into a nail-biting thriller that has been hailed as one of the greatest World Cup finals of all time.

    Messi himself scored twice, including a goal late in extra time that appeared to finally give Argentina the victory. But Mbappé scored from a penalty spot seconds later to seal his hat-trick and trigger a penalty shoot after the game finished 3-3. Argentina ultimately won the penalty shootout 4-2 thanks to goals from Messi and Mbappé, who are also Paris St. Germain colleagues on the club level.

    He next shared pictures of himself rejoicing with the trophy along with a heartfelt Instagram post in which he congratulated his teammates, family, and Argentina’s supporters.

    Although it could be his last World Cup game, he still plans to play for Argentina. “WORLD CHAMPIONS!!!!!!! I dreamed it so many times, I wanted it so much that I still haven’t fallen, I can’t believe it,” Messi said in Spanish.

    “Thank you very much to my family, to all who support me and also to all who believed in us. We demonstrate once again that Argentines when we fight together and united we are capable of achieving what we set out to do. The merit belongs to this group, which is above individualities, it is the strength of all fighting for the same dream that was also the dream of all Argentines… We did it!!! GO ARGENTINA!!!!! we are seeing each other very soon,” Messi wrote in his latest Instagram post.

    The latest post currently has more than 45 million likes, making it the most popular Instagram post from a sportsperson.

    A post featuring Messi also held the previous record, but it was posted by his great rival Cristiano Ronaldo. The picture appeared to show Ronaldo and Messi engaged in a game of chess.

  • Who is Haris Rauf reportedly marrying on December 26?

    Who is Haris Rauf reportedly marrying on December 26?

    Pakistani pacer Harif Rauf will tie the knot on December 26, GEO Super has reported.

    As per the details, he will get married to a former classmate. The wedding will take place in Islamabad.

    The news report says that the pacer has joined his family in the capital for the preparation of wedding festivities.

    In 2020, he played his first T20I against Bangladesh in Lahore. Haris made his Test debut at Rawalpindi during the ongoing home Test series against England.

    The wedding will cap off what has been a stellar year for the bowler as he claimed his first Test wicket on debut against England this year.
    In the 57 T20 international matches since making his international debut two years back, Haris has picked 72 wickets while in 15 ODIs, he has succeeded in claiming 29 wickets.

  • Argentina vs France: Pakistani Twitter wins the memes trophy

    Argentina vs France: Pakistani Twitter wins the memes trophy

    Celebrations erupted all over social media last night when after a tough final, Argentina lifted the 2022 FIFA world cup. For Pakistani Twitter Argentina’s win felt personal with Lionel Messi being one of the most popular players here. The maestro won the Golden Ball trophy for best player on Sunday night .

    Pakistani social media users responded with hilarious memes regarding last night’s epic match. Have a look at the reactions:

    Other Pakistani users responded with some hilarious memes regarding last night’s epic match. Have a look at the reactions:

    https://twitter.com/itsalwaysmaryam/status/1604518625087324160?s=20&t=ycnFAtc6D-2xeAcQzpE1KA

    https://twitter.com/Lanaalkadyy/status/1604520629620948993?s=20&t=ycnFAtc6D-2xeAcQzpE1KA
    https://twitter.com/imajokin/status/1604523257964949504?s=20&t=AQPb1Yr6GwlGn3HJt1di8g
  • ‘What a nail-biting economic situation of Pakistan under your government’: Pakistanis react to PM’s tweet congratulating Argentina

    ‘What a nail-biting economic situation of Pakistan under your government’: Pakistanis react to PM’s tweet congratulating Argentina

    Tweeting about the “nailbiting” final, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised Messi for his performance. The PM also added that the “upsets” by Saudi Arabia and Morocco are the highlights of the tournament for him.

    It is worth noting that Saudi Arabia defeated World Cup winner Argentina early in the tournament, and Morocco shocked everyone as they finished fourth, defeating the likes of Spain, Belgium, Portugal, and Canada in the tournament.

    Pakistan’s PM added, “Congratulations to Qatar for successfully holding the mega event…Upsets by Saudi Arabia and Morocco remain highlights of the tournament for me.”

    Following his post, a number of users began to say that he should focus on the situation of the country instead of enjoying sports. Some recommended that he concentrate on the economy, while others advised him to pay attention to what was happening in Bannu.