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  • Fawad Chaudhry welcomes Australian team, recommends Lahore and Karachi’s desi food

    Fawad Chaudhry welcomes Australian team, recommends Lahore and Karachi’s desi food

    Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry has welcomed the Australian cricket team to Pakistan after they confirmed their tour to Pakistan for the first time in 24 years. Australia will play a full-fledged series in three Tests, three ODIs and a solitary T20I on their tour starting March 4.

    The minister also recommended the Australian team to try desi food in Lahore and Karachi.

    Taking to Twitter, he wrote: “Welcome to Pakistan a beautiful country of ours, May you enjoy your trip and do try Our very Desi food in Karachi and Lahore.”

    Rawalpindi will host the tour-opening first Test, swapping with Karachi, which will now host the second Test from March 12.

    The Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore will be the venue for the final Test.

    The schedule has been revised to ease logistical and operational challenges as well as to avoid Pakistan Day rehearsals, which usually commence in Islamabad in the second week of March.

    The two cricket boards have also agreed that the Australia Test side will complete their isolation in Australia, before arriving in Islamabad on February 27 on a chartered flight. After a one-day room isolation, they will hold training sessions at the Pindi Cricket Stadium.

    Australia’s white-ball players are expected to arrive in Lahore on March 24 following isolation in Australia. After a one-day isolation upon arrival, they will integrate with other members of the side and travel to Islamabad for the first ODI in Rawalpindi on March 29.

  • VIDEO: What was PM Khan looking at when he said ‘level hee aur hai’ at the Olympics?

    VIDEO: What was PM Khan looking at when he said ‘level hee aur hai’ at the Olympics?

    The Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan is attending the opening ceremony of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics at Bird’s Nest, Beijing along with federal ministers, Minister of Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan Shah Mahmood Qureshi and other diplomats on Friday.

    While talking to Fawad and watching the opening ceremony, Pm Khan commented on the stadium and said “is sab ka level hee or hai.” Check out the video:

    https://youtu.be/IjYz0hcbfn4

    We have collected the pictures of the PM Khan enjoying the ceremony. Have a look:

    Along with PM Khan, Chinese President Xi Jinping was due to meet more than 20 leaders as Beijing officially kicks off the event. Countries whose leaders are attending include Russia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Argentina and Ecuador. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus are also attending the opening ceremony.

  • PCB announces revised schedule of Australia’s tour to Pakistan

    PCB announces revised schedule of Australia’s tour to Pakistan

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the revised schedule of Australia’s tour to Pakistan. The tour will comprise of three Tests, three ODIs, and one T20I.

    The tour will now start and end in Rawalpindi with the opening Test to be played from March 4-8 and the four white-ball matches to be played from March 29 to April 5.

    The change in the first Test venue means that the second Test will be played in Karachi from March 12-16 and the third in Lahore from March 21-25.

    PCB Chief Executive Faisal Hasnain said: “We are pleased that the Cricket Australia Board has formally approved their side’s five-week tour itinerary and confirmed that their best available players will visit Pakistan for the first time in 24 years. We are really excited to host Pat Cummins and his players, and look forward to a competitive series that will comprise three Tests, three ODIs and a T20I.”

    “While Australia will arrive at the back of strong performances in their home series against England, our team has been playing excellent cricket resulting in our players sweeping the ICC Awards. This braces for a keenly contested series, something that the fans will thoroughly enjoy and remember for a long time,” he added.

    The schedule has been revised to ease logistical and operational challenges as well as to avoid Pakistan Day rehearsals, which usually commence in Islamabad in the second week of March.

    The two cricket boards have also agreed that the Australia Test side will complete their isolation in Australia, before arriving in Islamabad on February 27 on a chartered flight. After a one-day room isolation, they will hold training sessions at the Pindi Cricket Stadium.

    Australia’s white-ball players are expected to arrive in Lahore on March 24 following isolation in Australia. After a one-day isolation upon arrival, they will integrate with other members of the side and travel to Islamabad for the first ODI in Rawalpindi on March 29.

    The Tests will be part of the ICC World Test Championship, while the ODIs are linked to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League from which the top eight sides, including hosts India, will qualify directly for the 2023 50-over World Cup.

    Earlier, Australia’s Test team captain Pat Cummins had said that a near full-strength squad will tour Pakistan as only a few players have security concerns for the forthcoming tour.

    Revised schedule:

    Feb 27 – Arrival in Islamabad

    Mar 4-8 – 1st Test, Rawalpindi

    Mar 12-16 – 2nd Test, Karachi

    Mar 21-25 – 3rd Test, Lahore

    Mar 29 – 1st ODI, Rawalpindi

    Mar 31 – 2nd ODI, Rawalpindi

    April 2 – 3rd ODI, Rawalpindi

    Apr 5 – one-off T20I, Rawalpindi

    Apr 6 – Departure

  • Twitter praises Qasim Akram’s all-round performance in U19 CWC

    Twitter praises Qasim Akram’s all-round performance in U19 CWC

    Pakistani Twitter praises the Under-19 Pakistan cricket team captain Qasim Akram for the heroic all-round performance with the ball and the bat at the U19 Cricket World Cup as the 19-year-old became the first player in the 45-year history of Youth ODIs to hit a century and pick up a five-wicket haul in the same game.

    Pakistan posted a massive 365 for three, courtesy Qasim’s 80-ball 135, opener Haseebullah Khan’s 151-ball 136 and Muhammad Shehzad’s 69-ball 73.

    Coming in at number three, the captain shared a 229-run stand with Haseebullah after the 134-run opening stand was broken by Raveen de Silva.

    With his off-spin, Qasim (5 for 37) broke through the Sri Lanka line-up to leave them stumbling at 41 for 5 and they never recovered. Sri Lanka was eventually bowled out for 127 with number nine Vinuja Ranpul top-scoring with an unbeaten 53 off 58 balls.

    Qasim’s talent is well known in Pakistan circles. The teenager generated a lot of interest among not one but two champion teams at the PSL. Islamabad United had him on its wish list but in the end, he went to Karachi Kings, where he will be joining the senior national captain Babar Azam.

    Meanwhile, the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Twitterati are lauding the cricketer for his outstanding performance.

    https://twitter.com/imsaifpak/status/1489500180818898946?s=20&t=K7KWJDZL_YO7Wr9KswwzGA
  • Mohammad Hasnain’s bowling action declared illegal

    Mohammad Hasnain’s bowling action declared illegal

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has issued a statement on Mohammad Hasnain after a test conducted on his bowling action at the ICC’s accredited testing centre in Lahore on January 21 and the report reviewed and verified by Cricket Australia’s (CA) independent expert found his bowling action to be illegal.

    “The PCB today received a formal and detailed report from Cricket Australia on Mohammad Hasnain’s assessment test, which stated his elbow extension for his good length delivery, full-length delivery, slow bouncer and bouncer exceeded the 15-degree limits,” the statement read.

    “The PCB has discussed the report with its own bowling experts and is confident that the problem can be resolved. The PCB will now appoint a bowling consultant who will work with Mohammad Hasnain so that he can rectify his bowling action and be ready for a reassessment,” it added.

    “Mohammad Hasnain is an asset for Pakistan and one of the very few bowlers to consistently click 145kmp. As such, and keeping his future and Pakistan’s interest at the forefront, the PCB, on the recommendation of the HBL PSL 2022 Technical Committee, has decided he will not be allowed to continue to participate in the HBL Pakistan Super League.”

    The report further added: “Instead, he will use this time to work with the PCB-appointed bowling consultant to modify his bowling action so that he can apply for a reassessment and become eligible to return to international cricket as quickly as practically possible.”

    “As per the Illegal Bowling Action Regulations, until Mohammad Hasnain clears his reassessment, he will remain suspended from bowling in international cricket.”

    According to the ICC’s regulations on illegal bowling actions, the PCB can allow him to continue bowling in their domestic tournaments but it would seem unlikely. In 2016, the board prevented Mohammad Hafeez from bowling in the PSL after his action was found to be illegal.

    Hasnain had picked up three wickets in the PSL so far, while conceding runs at 8.44 runs per over for Quetta Gladiators.

  • Pat Cummins hopes ‘close to a full-strength’ squad to tour Pakistan

    Pat Cummins hopes ‘close to a full-strength’ squad to tour Pakistan

    Australia’s Test captain Pat Cummins is confident that a near full-strength squad will tour Pakistan as only a few players have security concerns for the forthcoming tour.

    According to the Australian Associated Press (AAP), Cummins is optimistic, while also acknowledging the pre-tour preparations made by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

    “I think we’ll get close to a full-strength squad. There is still a little bit of more work to do,” he said.

    “We have received a lot of information and it has been great. All the pre-tour security and biosecurity work has been done and it’s been fantastic,” he added.

    Australia’s red ball captain also revealed that the majority of the players are confident in the tour’s continuation, while the others are concerned about security. Cummins, on the other hand, is committed to back his teammates if anyone withdraws.

    “There are a couple of players still keen to get a bit more information but everyone is really pumped and feeling relatively comfortable,” he said.

    “If anyone doesn’t make the tour it is absolutely okay, we will back them for sure,” he added.

    Earlier, Australia’s pacer Josh Hazelwood had said that he will not be surprised if a few players will miss Pakistan tour.

    Meanwhile, it is worth mentioning that Australia’s historic tour to Pakistan comes after a gap of 24 years and is set to begin on March 3. The tour is comprised of three Test matches that will be contested in Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Lahore, followed by a three-match ODI series from March 29 to April 2. On April 5, a single T20I will be played to conclude the tour.


  • Erin Holland’s desi PSL looks go viral, other presenters slaying it too

    Erin Holland’s desi PSL looks go viral, other presenters slaying it too

    Pakistan Super League (PSL) is in limelight across the world after successful arrangements by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and government authorities.

    Former England captain, Michael Vaughan also praised the quality of the PSL tournament. He said while comparing with the Indian Premier League (IPL), “Pakistan Super League is the 2nd best T20 Tournament in the World. It’s not far off the IPL either.”

    This year, PCB has hired International commenters along with Pakistani commentators including Bazid Khan, Waqar Younis, David Gower, Mike Haysman, Pommie Mbangwa, Sana Mir, Urooj Mumtaz, and many more.

    For presenters, Erin Holland, Zainab Abbas, and Sikandar Bakht have been hired by PCB.

    But it’s mostly Erin Holland’s desi looks that are being loved by fans.

    Erin Holland:

    Australian Model and TV host, Holland is a presenter in PSL 7. She is currently in the limelight for looking gorgeous in her desi looks. She is also the wife of Australian cricketer, Ben Cutting.

    Sana Mir

    A former captain of Pakistan’s women’s national team and commentator, Sana Mir looks professional yet attractive, in a simple tailored suit. She has opted for both western and eastern attire and killed both looks.

    Bazid Khan

    A former Pakistani cricketer and commentator, Bazid Khan has been actively doing commentary for many years in the International Cricket Council (ICC) tournaments. He has been spotted wearing traditional shalwar kameez with a waistcoat in recent PSL 7 matches. In our view, he looks stunning in the traditional dressing style.

    Urooj Mumtaz

    A former Pakistani cricketer and commentator, Urooj Mumtaz has been seen wearing elegant designs in the tournament which enhances her personality. She looks delightful in both eastern and western dresses.

  • Sarfaraz Ahmed doesn’t want Shadab Khan to dismiss him in PSL encounter today, Shadab reacts

    Sarfaraz Ahmed doesn’t want Shadab Khan to dismiss him in PSL encounter today, Shadab reacts

    The communication manager of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ibrahim Badees has recently shared that Shadab Khan has never dismissed Sarfaraz Ahmed in the history of Pakistan Super League (PSL). The former captain does not want the all-rounder Khan to dismiss him in today’s clash between Quetta Gladiators and Islamabad United.

    Taking to Twitter, Badees wrote: “Shadab Khan has never dismissed Sarfaraz Ahmed in the history of HBL PSL. Can the leggie make it today?” Replying to the tweet, Sarfaraz said: “Same he rahne den plz In Shaa Allah. (Let it be the same please.)”

    While Shadab joking replied to Sarfaraz and said: “Kaptan Chalo Allah kary same he rahy laken hum match jeet jain. (Captain, I hope it remains the same but wish that we win today)”.

    Islamabad United currently finds itself at the number two position with one win in two matches. Despite losing the second game, they are confident of winning the third match on Thursday.

    Quetta Gladiators, too, is coming off a defeat at the hands of the Multan Sultans. They currently have one victory in two games and, thus, finds itself at number three on the table.

  • ‘Fixer’: Sarfaraz Ahmed takes a dig at Salman Butt

    ‘Fixer’: Sarfaraz Ahmed takes a dig at Salman Butt

    Former captain of Pakistan cricket team Sarfaraz Ahmed responded to former cricketer Salman Butt’s criticism by calling him a ‘fixer’.

    Following Quetta Gladiators’ defeat against Multan Sultans in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL), Butt heavily criticised Sarfaraz and his behaviour towards players. During the course of the game, the Gladiators’ skipper was seen lashing out at his bowlers in the crunch moments of the game.

    This didn’t go down well with Butt as he questioned Sarfaraz’s performance in the recent past. He even said that the wicket-keeper must focus on his performance and leave other players alone.

    Taking to Twitter, Sarfaraz said: “Pakistan ko on duty beachne wala fixer jub niyat pe bhashan dega phir to Allah he Hafiz hai. (If the one who sold Pakistan on duty is giving lectures, then only God can protect) #justsaying.”

    For the unversed, Butt, alongside Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir, was found guilty of spot-fixing during the Lord’s Test in 2010. Butt was leading Pakistan in the game and faced massive backlash for his disgraceful actions. The trio was subsequently banned and their career came to a standstill. While Amir did manage to make a comeback in 2016, Butt and Asif couldn’t do so.

  • PPP’s Kaira reveals why Imran Khan is no longer his favourite cricketer

    PPP’s Kaira reveals why Imran Khan is no longer his favourite cricketer

    Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Qamar Zaman Kaira has said that Imran Khan was his favorite cricketer but when Khan got involved in politics, Khan broke all his dreams.

    The PPP leader was invited to the Geo News programme ‘Jashan-e-Cricket’ with actor Eshal Fayyaz and talked about several things.

    Kaira added that the young cricketers are doing real good and that Babar Azam is leading the team really well. In his opinion, wicket-keeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan is a great batter as well and Shaheen Shah is doing really well.

    PPP leader Kaira further said that PPP needs to do a lot in Punjab.

    On another question about PPP’s stake in Lahore, he said that 25-30% of the people would think that Lahore’s government could belong to PPP.