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  • Babar, Pakistani cricketers wish fans on New Year

    Babar, Pakistani cricketers wish fans on New Year

    Pakistan all-format captain Babar Azam and other Pakistani cricketers took to their social media to wish their fans on New Year.

    Taking to Twitter, Babar wrote: “Wishing you all a happy and prosperous #NewYear2022! May the new year be filled with lots of positives, joy and peace.”

    Other cricketers including Shadab Khan, Hassan Ali, Shoaib Malik, Imad Wasim, among others also took to their social media to wish their fans.

    Veteran cricketer Saqlain Mushtaq also wished his fans, hoping that this year brings “joy” and “happiness” in their lives.

    Earlier, Babar also reviewed Pakistan cricket team’s performance this whole year. The 27-year-old batter also shared that beating India in the T20 World Cup match was his favourite moment of the year.

  • Shahid Afridi has a message for people who do celebratory gunfire on New Year

    Shahid Afridi has a message for people who do celebratory gunfire on New Year

    Former Pakistan Cricket Team Captain Shahid Afridi has urged Pakistanis to refrain from celebratory gunfire on New Year’s.

    Afridi, who is also the Director Sports of Samaa News, gave this message to his fans on the channel.

    The aerial gunfire on New Year’s night is so prevalent that the state machinery has been overwhelmed.

    Karachi District South Senior Superintendent Police (SSP) Zubair Nazir is part of a police campaign against celebratory gunfire, which has already been declared illegal.

    “On the behalf of the Addtional IG Karachi and the South Police, I request all of you that please don’t celebrate the New Year in a way that leads to the loss of so many lives because of gunfire,” Afridi said in a video message.

    “Celebrate the New Year with love and by caring about each other,” he said.

    Veteran Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram also took to his social media to urge people to stop gun-firing on New Year.

    Celebratory gunfire has become a trend in Pakistan in the recent years. This has also become a reason of infinite deaths every year.

  • ‘Can’t explain that moment’: Babar opens up about T20 win against India

    ‘Can’t explain that moment’: Babar opens up about T20 win against India

    Pakistan’s all-format cricket team captain Babar Azam has opened up about how he felt beating arch-rival India in the T20 World Cup 2021.

    Azam hailed his side’s record win against India in the event. Pakistan successfully played to a 10-wicket win, ending their World Cup drought against the Men in Blue.

    Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi was the star of the show, taking three for 31 from his four overs. Despite a 57 from former Indian T20 captain Virat Kohli, the Indians were not able to notch up an intimidating total on the scoreboard.

    Chasing 152 for victory, skipper Babar (68) and his partner Mohammad Rizwan (79) steered the national team home with 13 deliveries to spare.

    “I can’t explain that moment. We were not thinking about the past record, trying to stay in the present. The way we started and finished had a different feel and buzz to it.. and the response from fans was amazing too. We hadn’t registered a win (against India) in the World Cups and Allah helped us change that. It was a team effort. We had belief. There was no overconfidence,” said Babar in a PCB Podcast episode on YouTube.

    The Men in Green reached the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup after topping Group B. However, their impressive journey came to an end with a defeat to eventual champions Australia in the semis. Babar described it as a heartbreaking moment for Pakistan.

    “We had put in the effort… we had dominated the World Cup. But unfortunately, we couldn’t win that match. We made mistakes as a team but we need to learn from it and deliver a better performance next time,” said Babar, who finishes with the year with 939 runs from 29 T20 Internationals.

    “Doesn’t matter how you start when you finish well. We finished the year on an outstanding note. We played some positive cricket throughout the year and tried to leave an impact. We’ve had different Man of the Match contenders for every match. Unfortunately, we bowed out of T20 World Cup but we did learn from that defeat. We have had discussions on the mistakes and will try to improve day by day.”

    “Talking about performances, Rizwan and Shaheen were brilliant. Hasan too. Youngsters like Abdullah, Wasim and Dhani have been impressive too. It’s a plus point for us and hopefully, we carry on the momentum. We had assigned roles to players and that led to better performances. I had the belief that we had match-winners in our team and the boys proved that. Thanks to the fans too and we hope to get a similar kind of support next year,” said the 27-year-old batter.

    Babar stands on top of the table of both white-ball formats. While Rizwan stands on third position in the ICC T20I Batting Rankings for the first time in his career.

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  • Rizwan, Shaheen nominated for Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for the ICC Player of the Year

    Rizwan, Shaheen nominated for Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for the ICC Player of the Year

    The International Cricket Council (ICC) has nominated two Pakistani cricketers, wicket-keeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan and pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi for the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for the ICC Player of the Year award. The nominees are selected for their match-winning knocks, sizzling spells, superhuman efforts and impeccable leadership in the cricket.

    Alongside Rizwan and Shaheen, England skipper Joe Root and Kiwi captain Kane Williamson are also included in the list.

    Shaheen had a memorable year, bagging 78 wickets in 36 internationals at an average of 22.20. He took 47 in Tests, 23 in T20Is and 8 in ODIs.

    He stunned the cricketing world with his impressive spells in the T20 World Cup in UAE. His 3/31 against India was the best spell of the competition which handed Pakistan their first win over India in the World Cup history.

    On the other hand, Mohammad Rizwan was the best among the batters in T20I and Tests. He scored 1915 runs in 44 internationals at an average of 56.32 with 2 centuries. He is the highest run-getter of the year while he also registered the record of scoring most runs in 2021.

    Rizwan also upped his game in Test cricket, scoring 455 runs in nine matches at an average of 45.50. Most importantly though, he was consistent throughout the year and played a variety of roles across all formats – be it getting Pakistan off to flying starts in the T20Is or stabilising things with the lower order in Test cricket.

    Aggregating a staggering 1326 runs in only 29 matches, Rizwan struck at an average of 73.66 and a strike rate of 134.89.

    Apart from his exploits with the bat, he was as solid as ever behind the stumps, bagging 56 dismissals.

  • Don’t go back on your commitment: Ben Cutting urges Aussies to tour Pakistan

    Don’t go back on your commitment: Ben Cutting urges Aussies to tour Pakistan

    Australian cricketer Ben Cutting has said that Aussies should not back out from a Pakistan tour and visit the country as there are no security issues.

    The 34-year-old stated that people in Pakistan are passionate about the game and hoped that Australia won’t go back on their commitment to tour the country.

    “I hope the Aussie boys get to tour there,” Cutting told AAP. “The locals would certainly love that . They’re just so passionate. They get massive crowds for games and if one of the best teams in the world, like Australia, are playing, they’d absolutely love it.”

    Cutting has regularly visited Pakistan, over the past few years, with stints in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and also being a part of the World XI side for the exhibition series in 2017.

    “Not once have I been worried about the security side of things,” he said. “The second visit [during PSL] I was more worried about Covid than anything else because that was kicking off.”

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has already announced the details of Australia’s first tour of Pakistan since 1998, which will take place in March and April 2022, and comprise three Tests, three ODIs and one T20I.

    The Tests will be held in Karachi (March 3-7), Rawalpindi (March 12-16) and Lahore (March 21-25), while Lahore will host the four white-ball matches from March 29 to April 5.

  • 2021: The year of records in Pakistani cricket

    2021: The year of records in Pakistani cricket

    The Pakistan cricket team is considered to be the most unpredictable team of all. The Men in Green have seen many ups and downs this year but the green shirts flourished with bright colours, making record breaking partnerships, personal and team records and many more. We have collected some major events that happened in cricket in Pakistan and how the year 2021 was for the Shaheens.

    Our champions reshaped the face of T20I Cricket in 2021. Have a look at their phenomenal performance.

    PSL 6 Winners

    Mohammad Rizwan, leading the Multan Sultans, won the sixth edition of Pakistan Super League (PSL) in 2021. Sultans beat Peshawar Zalmi by 47 runs in the final to win their maiden trophy of the tournament in June, 2021. Rizwan replaced Shan Masood as the captain of the team after he was traded from the PSL franchise Karachi Kings.

    Sultans started at the second leg of the PSL fifth on the points table, having lost four of their first five matches but led by their captain Rizwan, went on to win four of the next five to finish the league stage second. They then swatted the Islamabad United challenge in the first qualifier and lead themselves to the win in the final, a crowning glory in their magnificent UAE leg of the season.

    Pakistan beats India in T20WC

    Pakistan made history by beating arch-rival India for the first time in a T20 World Cup match in October. The green shirts’ 10-wicket win ended a decades-long defeat streak that began in 1992. Pakistan had lost all 12 of their previous World Cup matches against India.

    The two former champions clashed after more than two years in the 2021 T20 World Cup opening fixture at the Dubai International Stadium.

    Pakistani openers Azam (68) and Mohammad Rizwan (79) produced a batting masterclass to chase down the 152-run target without losing a wicket, and finishing the game in the 18th over.

    Rizwan and Babar partnership

    Babar and Rizwan made a formidable partnership for Pakistan at the top of the order. They scored a total of 6 century stands, which is the most by a batting pair in the history of T20Is. Out of these, 4 were in excess of 150 runs which is also the most for a batting pair in T20Is and came against the likes of England, India, South Africa, and West Indies.

    The duo was magnificent for Pakistan throughout the 2021 T20 World Cup. They were influential as Pakistan defeated arch-rivals India for the first time in World Cup history. The batting pair scored an unbeaten knock of 152 runs and registered the highest opening stand in T20 World Cup history.

    Babar and Rizwan’s opening partnerships were all the more impressive because of pressure situations. Out of their six century partnerships, three came while chasing a target. This also included 197 run stand against South Africa at Centurion.

    The duo also became the first batting pair in history to score more than 1,000 runs in a year. They scored 1,380 runs at an average of 57.50 in 25 innings while batting together.

    Rizwan T20 Runs

    Mohammad Rizwan rounded off a magnificent year in T20 cricket by becoming the first batter in the history of the format to cross 2,000 runs in a calendar year. The wicket-keeper batter scored 2,036 runs at an average of 56.55 and a strike rate of 132.03 in 45 innings he played in the year. Rizwan also became the highest run-scorer in T20Is in a calendar year as he became the first batter in history to cross 1,000 runs in T20Is. He scored 1,326 runs at an average of 73.66 and a strike rate of 134.89 in 26 innings.

    The star wicket-keeper batter was Pakistan’s most influential player in all formats this year. Rizwan won a total of 6 player-of-the-series awards in 2021, equaling the record of most player-of-the-series awards held by Sachin Tendulkar since 1998. Rizwan bagged 4 player-of-the-series awards in T20Is and 2 in red-ball cricket.

    Record 20 T20I wins in a year

    During the year, Pakistan played 29 matches in the shortest format and won 20 – the most by any team. They lost six while three ended with no result.

    The Men in Green played seven bilateral T20 series, and won six – against South Africa, Zimbabwe, West Indies and Bangladesh. They only lost to England.

    Pakistan also won all group matches in the T20 World Cup – against India, New Zealand, Afghanistan, Namibia and Scotland. They lost the semi-final against Australia in a thriller.

    Babar number 1 T20 and ODI player

    Babar Azam’s incredible 2021 has been capped off with a number1 T20I batting ranking.

    Combining in an opening partnership of 158 with Mohammad Rizwan against the West Indies in Karachi to set up a 3-0 series win, Babar’s 79 from just 53 balls propelled him back to the top, overtaking Aiden Markram and Dawid Malan. He now sits number1 in both the men’s T20I and ODI rankings going into the final days of the year.

    This was only the second time in history that a batter was ranked number one in both formats at the end of a year. Australian legend, Ricky Ponting, achieved the feat in 2005.

    Babar Nominated for ODI Player of the Year Award

    The Skipper of Pakistan is also nominated for the ODI Player of the Year award. He scored 405 runs in six matches in the outgoing year at an average of 67.50 with two centuries in the 50-over format.

    Alongside Azam, Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan, Ireland’s Paul Stirling and South Africa’s Janneman Malan have been named as contenders for the award.

    Rizwan Nominated for T20Player of the Year Award

    The star batter is also nominated for the T20I Player of the Year award for his exceptional performances with the bat.

    Alongside Rizwan, Jos Buttler, Wanindu Hasaranga and Mitchell Marsh are the four nominees for the Men’s T20 Cricketer of the Year Award.

    Two Consecutive Whitewash

    The Pakistan cricket team had a great two series against Bangladesh and West Indies. First the green shirts beat Bangladesh with a 2-0 clean sweep in Test matches and 3-0 whitewash in T20Is and the national team later triumphed a T20I series at home against West Indies.

    Meanwhile, led by the dynamic opening duo of Rizwan and Babar, Pakistan pulled off a record chase in the third and final T20 international to register a 3-0 series whitewash over the covid-hit West Indies team.

    Pakistan beats India in U19 Asia Cup

    Pakistan beat arch-rivals India by two wickets in a nail-biting match of the group stage of the Asian Cricket Council’s (ACC) Under-19s Asia Cup, with young stars Muhammad Shehzad and Zeeshan Zameer’s heroics leaving the Men In Blue surprised.

    Skipper Qasim Akram put India to bat after winning the toss and restricted the Men In Blue to 237 in the 50-over match at the ICC Academy Ground.

  • VIDEO: ‘Real Qalander’ Fakhar Zaman eating with ground staff wins hearts

    VIDEO: ‘Real Qalander’ Fakhar Zaman eating with ground staff wins hearts

    Video of Pakistani cricketer Fakhar Zaman, who represents the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa team, eating with the ground staff after the final match of Quaid-e-Azam Trophy is doing the rounds on internet and it has won the hearts of Pakistani social media.

    https://twitter.com/PCBofficials/status/1476480509412790275?s=20

    Zaman had lunch with the ground staff at the National Stadium in Karachi during the innings break on the last day of the final of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Cricket Tournament.

    Several fans took to Twitter and appreciated the cricketer for the humility and nice gesture, while some called Zaman a real Qalandar.

    https://twitter.com/ShaziyaaMehmood/status/1476211317371543553?s=20

    Zaman hit a quick-fire fifty, smashing 9 fours and a monstrous six in the 5-day match.

    After the match, Zaman also took selfies with his fans.

    KP has won the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy cricket tournament title for the fifth time while successfully defending its title. The team has won five consecutive domestic tournaments in two years.

    Northern who were set a 384-run target on the final day, went down fighting as they were bowled out for 214 in their second innings with 18.4 overs left in the final session of the match.

  • Pakistan’s Rizwan nominated for ICC T20 cricketer of the year award

    Pakistan’s Rizwan nominated for ICC T20 cricketer of the year award

    The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday announced Mohammad Rizwan, Jos Buttler, Wanindu Hasaranga and Mitchell Marsh as the four nominees for the Men’s T20 Cricketer of the Year Award.

    Read More – Rizwan chasing number one Babar, succeeds to register name at third position in T20Is

    The ICC Awards 2021 will recognise the outstanding achievements and feats in cricket over the past year.

    Pakistan’s wicket-keeper-batter Rizwan ruled the roost in 2021 when it came to the shortest format of the game. Aggregating a staggering 1,326 runs in only 29 matches, Rizwan struck at an average of 73.66 and a strike rate of 134.89.

    Apart from his exploits with the bat, he was solid as ever behind the stumps, playing a key role in Pakistan’s run to the semis during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021, where he ended up as the third-highest run-scorer.

    Pakistan cricketer Fatima Sana among nominees for ICC Women’s ODI Player of the Year.

    During 2021, the 20-year-old took 20 wickets in 13 matches at an average of 24.90 with one five-wicket haul. She also scored 132 runs at an average of 14.66.

    Apart from Sana, South Africa’s Lizelle Lee, England’s Tammy Beaumont and West Indies’ Hayley Matthews are the other contenders in line to win the award.

    Earlier, Pakistani Twitterati expressed their disappointment with the ICC for not including Shaheen Shah Afridi in Test Player of the Year nominees.

    The winner of the award will be announced on January 23.

  • ‘The whole world is strange’, Shadab Khan follows strict protocols in BBL

    ‘The whole world is strange’, Shadab Khan follows strict protocols in BBL

    Pakistan all-rounder and vice-captain of the Pakistan cricket team Shadab Khan is all set to play his first Big Bash League (BBL) game for the Sydney sixers later today.

    However, the leg-spinner has been directed to follow special BBL protocols during the match. All international players are unable to join their clubs and teammates in a single dressing room until they spend one week in Australia.

    Shadab is going through rapid PCR tests on a regular basis to ensure he stays healthy and fit. Khan trained along at the SCG before the game and he will have to use a separate dressing room. Khan is also commanded to sit away from the players’ bench and not be a part of any on-field celebrations.

    “It is pretty strange but nowadays the whole world has strange things happening. I understand, everywhere is the same and hopefully, I will join the team soon,” said Shadab.

    Sixers are all set to take on Brisbane Heat and Shadab will play against his former teammates.

    “I’ve played against guys like Chris Lynn, Ben Duckett and Mujeeb Ur Rahman in international cricket. They have a very good team, and they play very good cricket. The Sixers are playing very good cricket as well – hopefully, it is a good game.” he added.

  • Twitter reacts after Shaheen ‘Test Player of the Year’ snub

    Twitter reacts after Shaheen ‘Test Player of the Year’ snub

    Pakistani Twitter has strongly reacted after Pakistani pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi has not been named among the nominees for ICC ‘Test Player of the Year’.

    India’s spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, England skipper Joe Root, New Zealand’s all-rounder Kylie Jamieson and Sri Lanka’s Test captain Dimuth Karunaratne have been nominated for the award on Tuesday.

    Shaheen was the second highest wicket-taker in Test cricket, during 2021, with 47 wickets in 9 matches at an average of 17.06.

    Interestingly, the ICC decided to include New Zealand’s pacer Kyle Jamieson, who had bagged fewer wickets than Shaheen, in the list. The right-armer bagged 27 wickets in five matches.

    Explaining their decision, the ICC said, in a statement, that “in New Zealand’s finest hour, as they celebrated their ICC World Test Championship victory, Jamieson was the player who made the difference”.

    “Away from the seam-friendly pitches of New Zealand and England, Jamieson also impressed on the flat decks in India, getting the ball to shape beautifully,” the statement added.

    However, Twitter users were not happy with ICC’s decision to pick Jamieson over Shaheen.

    https://twitter.com/EhtishamEjaz051/status/1476052082163601408?s=20

    Some of the netizens were even questioning Hassan Ali’s exclusion from the nominees as the star Pakistani speedster has grabbed 41 wickets in 8 matches at an average of 16.07 which include five, 5 wicket-hauls and one 10 wicket-hauls.