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  • ‘All looking really positive’ for Pak tour, says Australian Captain Pat Cummins

    ‘All looking really positive’ for Pak tour, says Australian Captain Pat Cummins

    Australian Test Captain Pat Cummins believes that the vast majority of Australia’s Test squad will travel to Pakistan but the skipper fully understands if any team-mates opt out of the tour.

    Cricket Australia is yet to announce players for a final decision regarding the three-format series in Pakistan, which is slated to begin on March 3 with a Test in Karachi.

    But selectors have started to thrash out plans for a busy couple of months, when Australia’s white-ball series against New Zealand and Sri Lanka will be quickly followed by the Pakistan tour then the Indian Premier League (IPL).

    Players and staff have been given a preliminary briefing about security measures in Pakistan before Australia’s first tour of the nation since 1998.

    “Still a bit to work through… but at this stage it’s all looking really positive,” Cummins said, adding, “the amount of work the PCB has put into it is fantastic.”

    “It’s shaping up as, I think just about everyone – if not all – will go. If some players need to make a choice, it’s absolutely fine that they won’t be there. Still got a bit of water to go under the bridge, a bit more info to gather and get around to everyone.”

    In February, Australia’s best players will likely be split into a white-ball squad at home and a Test touring party in Pakistan. Cummins is concerned about bubble fatigue, knowing freedoms for players will likely continue to be restricted because of Covid-19.

    “We’re two years in, so we’ve learned a lot,” he said. “But it also means probably some players are further along their tether. It’s unprecedented times, we just have to make sure we look after each other. Conversations are happening. The selectors have been great along with the coaching staff.”

    This series will be the first time Cummins will be leading the Test side since losing to India a year ago, while it is the first five-Test series during the Covid-19 era for the Australia.

    Cummins said he doubted whether the rivals would get through five Tests, especially after Travis Head contracted coronavirus.

    “And just about everyone I know in Sydney has Covid,” Cummins said. “We’ve been tested just about every day for the last 20 days. It’s just been fantastic that we’ve got through the series.”

    Earlier, Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) Chief Todd Greenberg had said that he assured the Australian players that “we’re in this together,” and if the players will tour Pakistan, he will go with them.

  • Pakistani cricketers send warm wishes to Kamran Akmal on birthday

    Pakistani cricketers send warm wishes to Kamran Akmal on birthday

    Former Pakistan wicket-keeper-batter Kamran Akmal is celebrating his birthday today and all Pakistani cricketers are sending him warm wishes on social media.

    The cricketer celebrated his birthday with his family. Posting the pictures on Twitter, Akmal wrote: “Late night birthday surprises are always amazing. Thank you my wife,kids and family for a wonderful birthday surprise!!”

    Several cricketers like Saeed Ajmal, Wahab Riaz, Fawad Alam, Hassan Ali, Ahmad Shahzad and others wished him on Twitter with sweet birthday wishes.

    His brother and batter Umar Akmal also wished his older brother on social media.

    Afghan cricketer Najib Zadran also wished him under his post.

    Akmal made his ODI and Test debuts during Pakistan’s tour of Zimbabwe in 2002 and the cricketer has taken more than 1400 catches behind the stumps and more than 250 stumps. This is the most by any Asian wicket-keeper.

    Kamran Akmal’s poor show in the Sydney Test led to suspicion and allegations of match fixing. In September 2010, the ICC sent an official notice to inform him that he is under investigation for fixing the Sydney Test. However, Kamran was absolved off all charges.

    Akmal also had reservations about his demotion in Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) seventh edition by his franchise Peshawar Zalmi and said that he is “humiliated” but the issues were resolved later and Zalmi cleared that he will “very much be a part” of the franchise, and that he will be playing for the team next season.

  • Former cricketer Aqib Javed opposes PSL anthem

    Former cricketer Aqib Javed opposes PSL anthem

    Former Pakistan Test cricketer Aqib Javed has said that every year a new anthem of Pakistan Super League (PSL) is unnecessary.

    “There is no need for an advertising campaign; it is just a plain waste of money. Nobody wants to see singers,” the former head coach said while speaking to Geo News.

    Javed said that money should not be wasted on songs, there is no star bigger than cricketers and fans want to see Shaheen Afridi and Babar Azam, not singers.

    “But now, fans come to watch Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and other cricketers in action. There’s no bigger star than the cricketers. People don’t come before the matches to see the singers,” he said.

    He further added that now there is no need for publicity campaign. Fans want to see cricketers in action and the song “Groove Mera” which is popular should be permanent.

    Speaking about his team’s anthems, he said the franchise had released several songs, but none of the songs were as famous as the first one.

    He said that the proposal of PCB chairman Ramiz Raja to hold a four-nation cricket series was good.

  • ‘We are in this together’: Australian cricket chief says if team tours Pak, ‘I will go with them’

    ‘We are in this together’: Australian cricket chief says if team tours Pak, ‘I will go with them’

    Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) Chief Todd Greenberg has told Australian cricketers that he will travel to Pakistan with them if the tour gets final approval but respects the wishes of “one or two” who might want to back out of the trip. If the team gets security clearance to travel, it will be Australia’s first tour to Pakistan since 1998.

    “I’ve made an assurance to the players that they won’t go alone. If they’re going to Pakistan, I’ll be going with them and I think that’s important. It’s an opportunity to show the players that we’re in this together,” Greenberg told Australian publication The Sydney Morning Herald (SMH).

    “The ACA accompanied Cricket Australia on a pre-tour of Pakistan late last year, and the reports were all very positive,” he further added.

    “But we’ll continue to take the advice of DFAT and other government organisations, as we need to be able to satisfy not just the players, but their families, that it’s safe to tour.” International teams have been reluctant to travel to Pakistan since the terrorist attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore in 2009.

    However, international players have competed in Pakistan Super League (PSL) and the West Indies also travelled to Pakistan in December 2021 for a Twenty20 series.

    Greenberg is aware that despite security assurances, a few cricketers might be unwilling to travel to Pakistan but he won’t force anyone.

    “There may be one or two players who won’t be comfortable despite the best advice we give, and that’s OK, we need to respect that.”

    CA chief executive Nick Hockley is also planning to travel to Pakistan for at least some part of the tour, while the interim chair Richard Freudenstein may visit for a period to meet with his counterpart Ramiz Raja, unless a new permanent chair is chosen by then, according to the report in the SMH.

    New Zealand and England had called off their tours to Pakistan ahead of the T20 World Cup last year, much to the disappointment of cricket fans in Pakistan.

    Chairman PCB Raja had earlier emphasised that cricketing nations need to back each other but said that “western bloc” was not helping the cause. He said he was expecting Australia to do the same what England and New Zealand did to them.

    It must be noted here that Pakistan will be hosting series with England twice in 2022. The Englishmen will visit Pakistan for seven-T20I series in September-October and they will return for a three-Test series starting in November, after the T20 World Cup in Australia.

    Pakistan and New Zealand Cricket Boards are also in constant talks to plan a series between the two nations.

    Meanwhile, the seventh edition of PSL is also set to kick start from January 27. International players from many cricketing nations will participate in the league.

  • Afghan cricketer Rashid Khan lights up BBL with a six-fer

    Afghan cricketer Rashid Khan lights up BBL with a six-fer

    Afghanistan’s leg-spinner Rashid Khan impressed his fans with his exceptional bowling on his last appearance for Adelaide Strikers in the ongoing season of the Big Bash League (BBL).

    Rashid claimed prolific figures of 6/17, his best-ever in T20 cricket, to help Strikers register a convincing 71-run victory against Brisbane Heat.

    The 23-year-old was also playing his 300th T20 match, which made his achievement even more memorable.

    Rashid has left the BBL early due to Afghanistan’s three-match ODI series against Netherlands in Qatar, which is set to start on January 21.

    Read More – Shaheen Afridi to lead Lahore Qalandars in PSL 7

    He will play for the Lahore Qalandars in the seventh edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), which is scheduled to begin on January 27. The Lahore fans will be hoping that Rashid can continue his good run of form in the PSL as well.

  • ‘Memorable flashbacks’: Shahid Afridi gets nostalgic at NCA Lahore

    ‘Memorable flashbacks’: Shahid Afridi gets nostalgic at NCA Lahore

    Former Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi is feeling nostalgic after a training session at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore.

    He shared that one returning to NCA after a long time evoked nostalgia and brought back many memories.

    The NCA has now been named the National High Performance Centre.

    The Pakistani all-rounder took to Twitter to say he has come to “visit NCA after a very long time” and that the visit has brought back so many “memorable flashbacks.”

    https://twitter.com/SAfridiOfficial/status/1481121808770285568?s=20

    NCA Lahore’s facilities, according to Afridi, are good and should be offered at other NCA training centres across the country.

    “I had my training session without authorisation, hope that’s ok?” Afridi asked, tagging the official Twitter account of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

    Afridi was Quetta Gladiators’ biggest pick during the players draft for Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2022, as the 2019 winners look to win the second title when PSL 7 rolls into action on January 27.

    Both Afridi and England’s batter James Vince left Multan Sultans to join Quetta Gladiators.

  • Virushka celebrate first birthday of daughter Vamika, host party in ‘bubble’

    Virushka celebrate first birthday of daughter Vamika, host party in ‘bubble’

    India’s most celebrated couple, Test team captain Virat Kohli and Bollywood actor Anushka Sharma have hosted the first birthday party of their daughter Vamika in South Africa in a bio-secure bubble.

    Taking to Instagram stories, sharing a picture with Virat from Vamika’s birthday celebration, Anushka wrote: “The sun was bright, the light beautiful, the table full, and just like that our little girl turned one.”

    Talking about the party and thanking those who made the day special, she added: “The evening was made extra special with the warmest people. And here I was worried about her first birthday being in a bubble! Thank you guys (you know who you are).”

    Anushka also shared a picture of herself, holding Vamika in her arms and captioned it, “My baby girl.”

    Virat and Anushka welcomed their bundle of joy on January 11 last year. The two have been fiercely protective of her privacy and have given strict instructions to the paparazzi from clicking or sharing her pictures.

    Read more – Anushka Sharma slams photographer for invading her privacy

    The family is in a bio bubble since Virat is playing for Team India in the ongoing Test series against the host nation, but Anushka confirmed that Vamika’s birthday was perfect in every manner.

  • Cricketer Yasir Shah declared innocent in rape case

    Cricketer Yasir Shah declared innocent in rape case

    Pakistan Test Cricketer Yasir Shah has been declared innocent and cleared from the rape case of a 14-year-old girl registered at Islamabad’s Shalimar police station after the complainent admitted that the cricketer’s name was wrongly added in the First Information Report (FIR).

    As per details, the victim said Shah’s name was added to the FIR due to a misstatement.

    The SHO Shalimar police station said that the cricketer has nothing to do with the assault case.

    In December last year, the Islamabad police registered a case against Yasir for his alleged involvement in aiding the rape and harassment of a 14-year-old girl. The complainant alleged that Yasir’s friend, Farhanuddin, raped her at gunpoint and also filmed an obscene video of her.

    “The national cricketer and his friend also threatened her to share the video on social media,” the FIR said.

    She claimed that Yasir also warned her of embroiling her in a case if she approached the police. The FIR further stated that Yasir also used his influence to coerce the minor to marry his friend, Farhan.

    Earlier on Monday, Shah’s friend escaped from the Islamabad’s district and sessions court after his pre-arrest bail application was rejected in the sexual assault case.

    Later, the cricketer issued the statement on his social media saying: “The truth has been prevailed. Alhamdulillah! The harassnment case against me has been dismissed with the support and prayers of my fans. family and PCB”

    He also stated that he dealt the case through the courts of law to expose the truth.

  • Ramiz Raja to propose ICC four nation T20I ‘super series’ including Pakistan, India

    Ramiz Raja to propose ICC four nation T20I ‘super series’ including Pakistan, India

    Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ramiz Raja has said that he will be proposing to Internation theal Cricket Council (ICC) a four nation T20 International series which will include Pakistan with the ‘Big Three’ of cricket — India, Australia and England.

    Taking to Twitter, Ramiz wrote: “Hello fans. Will propose to the ICC a Four Nations T20i Super Series involving Pak Ind Aus Eng to be played every year, to be hosted on rotation basis by these four.”

    Chairman PCB said that this series can be played on a rotational basis by these four nations and profits can be shared on percentage basis.

    He further wrote: “A separate revenue model with profits to be shared on percentage basis with all ICC members, think we have a winner.”

    Pakistan and India faced each other in the group stage of the T20 World Cup in UAE, where the Babar Azam-led emerged victorious by 10 wickets. It was Pakistan’s first win against India in the ICC World Cups.

    Pakistan dominated the group stage and reached the semi-final without any hassle. However, the national side lost to the eventual champions Australia in the semi-final.

  • Yasir Shah’s friend escapes court after bail dismissed in rape case

    Yasir Shah’s friend escapes court after bail dismissed in rape case

    Pakistani Test cricketer Yasir Shah’s friend escaped from the Islamabad’s district and sessions court after his pre-arrest bail application was rejected in a sexual assault case on Monday.

    Last month, Shah and his friend Farhanuddin were booked in a case pertaining to the alleged sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl.

    As per details, hearing on the bail plea was held today. Additional District and Sessions Judge Ata Rabbani after hearing the arguments rejected the pre-arrest bail plea of the accused.

    Subsequently, Farhanuddin fled from the court room while the police failed to arrest him.

    In the first information report (FIR) that has been registered, the girl stated that Yasir Shah’s friend Farhan had allegedly raped her at gunpoint and then filmed the act. Shah allegedly helped his friend to threaten the girl.

    Responding to the news, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ramiz Raja had said that they will deal with this case with zero tolerance policy.

    He also stated that they train and educate these players, they are in ambassadorial positions and should know with whom and where to socialise.