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Category: Sports

  • It’s a girl for Hassan Ali

    It’s a girl for Hassan Ali

    Pakistani cricketer Hassan Ali and wife Samiya Hassan have been blessed with a baby girl.

    The delighted father announced the news on social media, saying: “Allhumduillah! Allah has blessed us with the baby girl. Welcome to our family my princess.”

    “I wish this little angel [has] wonderful dreams and may the Almighty always be with her to fulfill her dreams on the walk of her life,” he added. The cricketer did not share the name or picture of his little one.

    Following the announcement, friends and colleagues of the cricketer congratulated the new parents on social media.

    Hassan’s Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Islamabad United also congratulated him and welcomed the “little angel” to the “IslU Family”.

    Hassan tied the knot with Samiyah, an Indian national, in August 2019 in Dubai. The reception only had about 30 close family members and friends in attendance.

    Last month Karachi Kings’ skipper Imad Wasim and Umar Gul also welcomed their baby girls. It was Imad’s first child whereas Umar was blessed with his third child.

  • Pakistan beat India in tri-nation blind cricket series final

    Pakistan beat India in tri-nation blind cricket series final

    The Pakistan Blind Cricket team outclassed India in all departments in the final to win by a handsome margin of 62 runs and lift the Triangular Blind Cricket Series title at Bashundhara Cricket Ground in Dhaka.

    It was after 15 long years that Pakistan managed to beat arch-rivals India in the final of a major cricket event. The last such occasion was the 2006 Blind Cricket World Cup Final where Pakistan had defeated India to clinch the mega event.

    The final on Sunday was played in a revised format, limited to 15 overs per side since the Bangladesh Government had announced to impose a very strict lockdown due to rising COVID0-19 cases. As a result, the organising committee hurriedly decided to hold the series on a single league system rather than on the original format of the double league. The rest of the league matches were curtailed to 10 overs.

    Indian Captain Ajay Reddy elected to field first after winning the toss in the final. Pakistan once again could not get off to a good start as they lost Rashid in the very first over for a duck.

    Captain Nisar Ali and Zafar Iqbal, however, then pot on a brilliant 96-run stand for the second wicket. Skipper Nisar played a crucial knock of 69 with seven boundaries while Zafar Iqbal scored a breezy 48 off 28 balls as Pakistan posted 174 for 3 in 15 overs. Captain Ajay Reddy grabbed two wickets.

    In reply, Pakistani bowlers never allowed the Indian batsmen to play freely and defended the target well by restricting the rivals to just 112 for 7 in 15 overs. Muhammad Shahzaib once again was the pick of the bowlers, taking 3 for 12 in 3 overs while Sajjad Nawaz bagged two wickets.

    Pakistan skipper Captain Nisar Ali won the Man of the Match.

    The team celebrated the victory with #pawrihoraihai style.

  • Twitter angry over de Kock’s ‘fake fielding trick’ in Fakhar Zaman’s run out controversy

    Fakhar Zaman, who played one of the best innings in the history of the 50-over game, fell to a cheeky run out trick initiated by South African wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock on the second one-day international of the three-match series.

    Just before getting ‘out’, the Pakistani batsman’s score was 193 and he was on his way to making a double-century when de Kock ‘tricked’ him into getting out. The incident has sparked outrage on social media and the ‘spirit of cricket’ has been summoned in the form of a Twitter debate.

    The moment arrived on the first ball of the last over when Zaman, batting on 192, hit the ball to long-off. Aiden Markram, who was stationed there, saw the batsmen going for a second run after a slight stutter and decided to have a go at Zaman’s end.

    Quinton appeared to suggest that the ball was going towards the non-striker end which prompted Zaman to slow down. By the time he realised the ball is coming his way, he was too late as Aiden’s throw hit the stumps directly, bringing his innings to an end.

    Pakistan eventually fell short of their target of 342 and lost the match by 17 runs. However, it is Zaman’s run out that has sparked a huge Twitter debate, with most netizens calling for Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC)’s Law 41.5.1 to be invoked.

    The law reads: “It is unfair for any fielder wilfully to attempt, by word or action, to distract, deceive or obstruct either batsman after the striker has received the ball.”

    Check out what other cricketers and experts have to say on the matter:

    https://twitter.com/SRutherford50/status/1378757675933122562?s=19
    https://twitter.com/SRutherford50/status/1378746158378594304?s=19
    https://twitter.com/sawerapasha/status/1378775399941947392?s=19

    However, Zaman, after the match, said the fault was his and not de Kock.

    “The fault was mine as I was too busy looking out for Haris Rauf at the other end as I felt he’d started off a little late from his crease, so I thought he was in trouble. The rest is up to the match referee, but I don’t think it’s Quinton’s fault,” he said.

    “I’m not bothered about missing out on a score of 200. The only thing I am disappointed about is not winning the match. I would have been much happier had I scored less and we won the game,” added the cricketer.

    Read more – Why is the Pakistan cricket team so dramatic?

    MCC on Monday morning weighed in on the incident through two tweets.

    The first tweet stated MCC’s Law 41.5.1 while the second gave MCC’s stance on the incident.

    “The Law is clear, with the offence being an ATTEMPT to deceive, rather than the batsman actually being deceived.”

    It’s up to the umpires to decide if there was such an attempt. If so, then it’s Not out, 5 Penalty runs + the 2 they ran, and batsmen choose who faces next ball,” MCC said in the Tweet.

    Meanwhile, the Twitter also celebrated Zaman’s heroic knock.

  • Sharjeel’s return exposes fault-lines in PCB’s zero-tolerance policy against corruption

    Sharjeel’s return exposes fault-lines in PCB’s zero-tolerance policy against corruption

    For anyone who follows the sport, the most embarrassing sight is when a player from their team is caught in match-fixing. Having the opportunity to step on the field and serve your country at a national or international level is a massive privilege and fixing games in exchange for a few bucks is indicative of demeaning of that privilege. The menace of match-fixing has dealt many jolts to Pakistan cricket over the course of its history. Following the 2010 infamous Lord’s spot-fixing scandal, one of the lowest points in Pakistan cricket when it hit rock bottom, the Pakistan Cricket Board enacted a zero-tolerance policy against corruption. However, the return of disgraced opener Sharjeel Khan in the T20 squad for the tour of South Africa and Zimbabwe, has exposed fault-lines in that “zero tolerance” policy.

    The left-handed batsman, who was suspended for five years with two-and-a-half of them suspended, deliberately played two dot balls against Hasan Ali in the opening match of the 2017 edition of the PSL. Although the two dot balls Sharjeel played had negligible impact on result of the game as Brad Haddin propelled Islamabad United to a 7-wicket win over Peshawar Zalmi, the opener’s return has stirred up the debate whether match-fixers deserve a second chance after they have served punishment.

    While on one hand some argue that everyone deserves a second chance and imposing a life ban will deprive them of bread and butter, others taker the view that there is no acceptable justification of actions that bring discredit to the country and that PCB needs to throw a book at match-fixers to deter other players from fixing matches in the future. There is no doubt that Sharjeel, who scored 200 runs in five matches at an impressive strike rate of 170.9, has been in a very good nick of late and can fill the void of someone who can score at a quick pace on top of the order. However, his return to the side has some serious potential ramifications.

    When Amir returned to the team after serving his ban, it didn’t go down well with several players of the team who expressed displeasure over his selection and refused to train alongside him in the nets. Sharjeel’s return may have the same impact which in turn can create needless dissension within the team’s ranks. More than anything else, it would send a wrong message to those players who are endeavoring to serve their country with honesty that disgraced players are getting the nod ahead of them. No player in the team, irrespective of how many landmarks he has achieved in his career, transcends the team and should be severely punished if his actions bring discredit to the country and damage the integrity of the sport.

    Here’s some food for thought: If PCB’s anti-corruption policies which it enacted after the Lord’s spot-fixing setback were coherent enough, it would have wiped out corrupt players and deterred other players from rigging games in the future. However, this has not proved to be the case which reinforces the point that PCB’s anti-corruption policies need to be more stringent and effective.

    I am unaware of how much say a coach has in team selection but Misbah, who has been a constant critic of bringing disgraced players back into the fold, pivoting from asking a life ban on match-fixers to not voicing his disapproval at Sharjeel’s selection is mind-boggling. During his tenure as the captain, Misbah took over a downtrodden Test team sabotaged by the Lord’s spot-fixing scandal and catapulted it to the top of the rankings with his astute leadership. With him at the helm right now, this is PCB’s best chance to rethink their corruption policies and keep corrupt players at arm’s length from other members of the team. If not Misbah, then who? If not now, then when?

  • Why is the Pakistan cricket team so dramatic?

    Why is the Pakistan cricket team so dramatic?

    Pakistan may have won the match, beating South Africa with three wickets, but one thing is for sure: we don’t believe in an easy win.

    After such a painfully slow start, a crackling century by Babar Azam and all kinds of twists and turns, Pakistan’s win went right down to the very last ball.

    There were many dull parts of the game but it was the Babar century and the four-for from Nortje that lit the game up after Van Der Dussen gave South Africa something to defend with his maiden international century.

    There were clouds hovering in the chase for Pakistan but with a solid partnership between Babar and Imam ul Haq, it gave Pakistani side a better start despite Fakhar Zaman’s early fall of wicket. Sealing the deal for Pakistan, Faheem Ashraf hit a four to the covers and bagged the first win against Proteas in a three-match series.

    Meanwhile, Azam’s century puts him in a league of his own as the cricketer becomes the fastest batsman in the world to score 13 ODI centuries. It took the Pakistan captain only 76 innings to score 13 tons in the 50-over format.

    South Africa fought back through Nortje’s short balls and could have won it as well, had it not been for a no ball and free hit in the penultimate over. Always trust these two teams to make you bite your nails.

    Ramiz Raja, on commentary, saw the funny side to the happenings and reckoned why his team was so much in demand – they were entertainers through and through.

    Imam too saw the funny side. Speaking after the game, the cricketer said: “You know there’s this pandemic bringing everyone down these days and so we thought we’d entertain people a little.”

    Here are some reactions from experts, fans and notable people after a breathtaking win by Pakistan:

    https://twitter.com/Jadoon_hun/status/1378024435509248000?s=19
    https://twitter.com/oyee_khan/status/1378208940572442625?s=19
  • Wasim Akram sends best wishes to Sachin Tendulkar

    Wasim Akram sends best wishes to Sachin Tendulkar

    Former Captain of the Pakistan Cricket Team Wasim Akram has extended his best wishes to Sachin Tendulkar after he was hospitalised for COVID-19.

    “Even when you were 16, you battled [the] world’s best bowlers with guts and aplomb,” said Akram wishing his former rival well. “So I am sure you will hit Covid-19 for a SIX!”

    “Recover soon master! Would be great if you celebrate India’s World Cup 2011 anniversary with doctors and hospital staff…do send me a pic,” he added.

    Sachin shared that he was hospitalised on Friday, April 2 as a precautionary measure after being diagnosed with COVID-19. He had previously been isolating at home, but medical professionals advised him to get admitted into a hospital.

    Shahid Afrdi also wished Tendulkar a swift recovery, saying: “Wishing you a speedy recovery Legend . No doubt that you will make a strong recovery.May your hospital stay be short and your recovery even shorter!“

    Earlier, Pakistani speedster Shoaib Akhtar also posted a picture with Tendulkar and wished for his speedy recovery.

  • Mahira Khan, Yumna Zaidi urge authorities to support women footballers

    Mahira Khan, Yumna Zaidi urge authorities to support women footballers

    With the FIFA ban looming over the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), Mahira Khan and Yumna Zaidi have extended their support for Pakistan’s Women football team, requesting the authorities to resolve the women footballers’ issues.

    “Sports are essential to a society to remain healthy [and] provide us with the heroes we so desperately need to look up to and represent our country,” said Yumna, sharing her thoughts on the matter.

    Urging authorities to listen to the girl’s appeals, Yumna further said: “At present, the current Pakistan women’s football team seems to be going through a host of issues and I want to appeal to whoever is listening, please help them we need this.”

    “We need them to shine,” she asserted.

    Sharing a video of Hajra Khan on Instagram stories, Mahira wrote: “Respect the game!!! Respect the players!!”

    In a step that could be seen as players’ and teams’ vote of no confidence against Ashfaq Shah, the players of Karachi United and Highlanders Football Club have announced their decision to withdraw from the ongoing National Women Football Championship after the Ashfaq-led-group refused to hand over Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) offices back to the normalisation committee.

    While Ashfaq group’s act may lead Pakistan to a suspension from FIFA, both clubs say that they do not support the incidents that took place at PFF last weekend and have decided not to play under the Ashfaq-led setup in protest.

    Karachi United FC, which was scheduled to play against WAPDA Thursday morning in the semifinal, posted their decision on the club’s social media page, saying that given the prevailing circumstances and based on the decision of players, Karachi United has decided to withdraw its women’s team from the National Championship.

    The statement added that while the team had played its quarter final “under protest” and for purely football reasons, it had hoped that the matter would be resolved.

    “Since the FIFA deadline has passed and no corrective action has been taken, the team is left with no option but to withdraw from the competition,” the club said.

    “Being a football organisation, we feel that footballers and teams should never have to be put in such situations to make such choices as players and teams just want to play,” they added.

    Karachi United further appealed to the FIFA, AFC, NC and all stakeholders to urgently resolve this issue to avoid Pakistan from being suspended.

    Islamabad-based Highlanders football club said in the statement that following the recent development in PFF, it has decided not to participate in NWFC any further.

    “We do not support any act that brings football into disrepute because we believe that no individual is bigger than the game. However, the integrity of game should be maintained at all levels,” the club said in a statement.

    “We, the Highlanders club, believe that this is in best interest of Pakistan football,” the statement posted on club’s social media accounts said.

    Highlanders Women Football Club was playing its first national women championship and they proved themselves as one of the contenders to win the Trophy. They were scheduled to play against Masha United in the semi final on Thursday.

    “We travelled from Islamabad to Karachi with a dream to do well on football field and to win the national women football championship. We are proud of Highlanders’ performance in the tournament and I believe that we made the statement that we wanted to,” the club said.

    Earlier, six footballers from different teams had announced to boycott the championship ahead of the quarter final matches.

    Later Masha United, which was one of the semi-finalists, “become the third team to withdraw from the ongoing National Women’s Football Championship which lost its official status after PFF NC was ousted. Only WAPDA left now and probably get declared champion”, announced FPDC on Twitter.

    Hajra Khan, Khadija Kazmi, Sarah Ali, Mashal Hussain, Maria Khan and Zahra Shah had issued a issued a joint statement on Tuesday, saying “the integrity of game is being challenged by politicised governance, adding that “we, too, are responsible for upholding the integrity of the game.”

    The Pakistani footballers say FIFA ban would destroy their careers.

    Meanwhile, the Provincial Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab, Rai Taimoor Khan Bhatti had addressed the issue, saying: “Pakistan Football Federation’s decision to play a role in the dispute, the parties are being contacted. The suspension of Pakistan’s membership by FIFA will bring the country into disrepute in the international arena. A positive solution to the conflict will come out soon.”

  • VIDEO: Younis Khan teaches Babar, squad fishing in South Africa

    VIDEO: Younis Khan teaches Babar, squad fishing in South Africa

    The Pakistan Cricket squad was spotted having a great time in a fun-filled fishing activity at the Centurion’s Irene Country Club in Pretoria, South Africa.

    Pakistan’s batting coach Younis Khan can be seen giving his fishing expertise to skipper Babar Azam and others in a video shared by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

    A South African native named Jack Jackie initially provided tips on how to catch fish from the pond which is part of the Pakistan team’s bio-secure bubble.

    On the other hand, Babar revealed that he usually enjoys his time with Younis and has also gone fishing two to three times in the past.

    Younis showed his brilliant fishing skills and caught a big catfish that weighs around 2 to 3 kgs. The team went on to celebrate and praises Khan for his expertise. He later released the fish back into the pond.

    Pakistan team reached South Africa on March 26 and had their first practice session yesterday at SuperSport Park in Centurion.

    Earlier, a 35-members squad, including 22 players and 13 officials had departed for South Africa after testing negative for COVID-19.

    In South Africa, Pakistan will play three ODIs from April 2-7, the matches will be counted in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League. After that, the team will play four T20Is against the Proteas from April 10-16.

  • Wasim Akram wants govt to ‘slap’ COVID-19 SOP violators

    Wasim Akram wants govt to ‘slap’ COVID-19 SOP violators

    Former captain of the Pakistan Cricket team Wasim Akram on Saturday called on authorities to give “two slaps” to people violating the coronavirus standard operating procedures (SOPs) as only then they would understand the problem.

    Sharing a video message on coronavirus, Akram, in his quintessential Urdu-Punjabi style, hoped that people from Pakistan and across the world will be in good health in these “testing times”.

    The cricketer turned commentator said that he had “read and seen” that coronavirus cases were rising in Punjab, especially in his city Lahore, Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

    “Please follow the SOPs. Why are you so stubborn?” Akram asked his followers.

    The former fast bowler said that there was also a “Plan B” in place for those not following the SOPs.

    Akram, then in Punjabi, explained that “Plan B” is to give all violators two slaps each as they would never understand in the normal manner. He sniped that the Pakistanis were just “legends”.

    The former fast bowler’s comments come as the country for a second day reported more than 4,000 cases. Most of these cases were from Punjab.

    According to data from the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), 4,468 people tested positive for COVID-19 on March 26 while 67 people succumbed to the virus.

    Pakistan is currently battling its third wave of the coronavirus due to a lethal UK strain that has entered the country.

  • Umar Akmal reportedly unable to pay fine in fixing case

    Umar Akmal has reportedly been unable to pay the fine imposed on him by the International Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) in a spot-fixing case last month, Jang has reported.

    According to the publication, the 30-year-old’s rehab program is pending due to non-payment of the fine.

    Last month, the CAS had reduced Akmal’s ban from 18 months to 12 months but had imposed a fine of Rs 4.25 million for his involvement in the corruption scandal.

    Akmal was suspended by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in February 2020 for not reporting fixing approaches made by corrupt elements.

    While Akmal had already served his one-year sentence on February 20, he is unable to start the rehabilitation program of PCB’s Security and Anti-Corruption Department due to the heavy monetary penalty.

    The batsman has, therefore, requested the board to allow him to pay the amount in installments.

    According to the publication, in response to Akmal’s requests, the PCB had demanded the batsman to provide proof of his inability to pay the lump sum fine.