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  • ‘You named an IPL team not world XI’: Shoaib Akhtar slams ICC

    ‘You named an IPL team not world XI’: Shoaib Akhtar slams ICC

    Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has slammed the International Cricket Council (ICC) for not including a single Pakistan player in their T20I team of the decade, announced on Sunday.

    In a video posted to his YouTube channel, Akhtar criticised the parent body of cricket, terming their team of the decade an IPL XI instead of being a world cricket team.

    “They did not pick a single player from Pakistan in the team. We don’t need your (ICC) T20I Team of the Decade because you announced the IPL team, not a world cricket team,” Akhtar said in the video.

    The former speedster also cited the current T20I rankings indicating that Pakistan skipper Babar Azam should have been included in the T20I team of the decade.

    “I think ICC forgot that Pakistan is also a member of ICC and they also play T20I cricket. They did not pick Babar Azam, who is currently the number one batsman in the ICC T20I rankings.”

    Akhtar further openly criticised the working of ICC and claimed that the organisation is ruining the game for money.

    “ICC only thinks about money, sponsorships and TV rights. They introduced two new balls and three powerplays (in the ODI cricket). Where is Dennis Lillee, Jeff Thomson, big five of West Indies, Wasim (Akram) and Waqar (Younis)? Where are the world’s fastest bowlers and leg-spinners? They went away because ICC commercialised and materialised cricket so much and allowed ten leagues to earn more revenue,” Akhtar said.

    “They just want two World Cups in three years and leagues. ….There is a big difference between today’s cricket and in 70’s cricket. If there is no Sachin vs Shoaib then what’s the point of watching cricket? There is no big player than Babar Azam in T20I. He is a top-scorer for Pakistan and his averages show what he has done for the country, even in comparison with Virat Kohli. It is so embarrassing and I’m sure after this video they will think that they have to announce the World Team of the Decade, not the IPL team,” Sohaib concluded.

    Earlier in the day, ICC included Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, MS Dhoni, and Jasprit Bumrah in its T20I Team of the Decade. Dhoni has also been named as the skipper of the ICC’s T20I Team of the Decade.

    In the team, four players are from India, two are from Australia, two from West Indies, one from Sri Lanka, South Africa, andAfghanistan.

    Meanwhile, Pakistan cricket fans and analysts are enraged and questioning ICC for not including any Pakistani cricketer in the list. Here are some reactions:

  • Naked man interrupts Pakistan-NZ Test match

    Naked man interrupts Pakistan-NZ Test match

    A naked man invaded the field during the first Test match between Pakistan and New Zealand on Saturday.

    The security was a little late to react while the nude pitch invader ran into the field during the first day of the first Test match at the Bay Oval.

    Pakistan’s captain Mohammad Rizwan and New Zealand’s captain Kane Williamson looked on as the pitch invader ran onto the field and passed near them.

    This is not the first incident of its kind. 

    During the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 one-day match between England and New Zealand a bizarre incident in the 34th over caught everyone’s attention. A nude pitch invader took advantage of a break in play to run onto the field and interrupt proceedings. 

    With New Zealand struggling at 145 for six in the 34th over, a fan took to the field. The naked man, wearing just a green hat, managed to reach the middle of the pitch and get close up to New Zealand batsmen Tom Latham and Mitchell Santner before managing to avoid security. The man was eventually hauled away by seven men and then broke free before being tackled to the ground.

    Pakistan won the toss and elected to field first. While Black Caps have scored 222 runs for 3. Williamson is on 94 (not out), Nicholls scored 42 runs (not out), Taylor scored 70 runs. Shaheen took three wickets by giving 55 runs. Match will now resume tomorrow for the second day.

  • Islamabad United will be picking players without Misbah for PSL6

    Islamabad United will be picking players without Misbah for PSL6

    After four “wonderful” seasons, Misbah-ul-Haq and Islamabad United have parted ways. The PSL franchise will now have to select players without him.

    In a tweet, the current Head Coach of the Pakistan Cricket Team, Misbah wrote: “Thank you IU for four wonderful seasons. Best of luck for PSL 6.”

    Similarly, Islamabad United also thanked him from their official Twitter account.

    “IU will not be renewing Misbah already expired head coach contract given his commitments with the national team,” read an official statement. “We thank him for his great contribution to ISLU. We wish him the very best of luck with the national team.”

    Owner of Islamabad United Ali Naqvi also thanked Misbah for his “immense contribution to the team” and wished him the best for his future endeavours.

    Two-time champions Islamabad United will make the first pick in the HBL Pakistan Super League 2021 Player Draft, according to the latest updates.

    Multan Sultans and HBL PSL 2020 finalists Lahore Qalandars will have the second and third pick, respectively.

    Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators, the champions of the 2017 and 2019 editions, will have the next two picks. Defending champions Karachi Kings will have the sixth pick. 

    The pick order for round one of the HBL PSL 2021 Player Draft was decided after a random draw in the presence of representatives of all six franchises at the PCB headquarters in Lahore.

    According to reports, the drafting for season 6 will be held in the second week of January with the matches starting from February 20. The board is yet to decide on the involvement of players in the draft. It is also expected that the draft may be held virtually due to the rising coronavirus cases.

  • Haris Rauf leads 2020 with most T20 wickets

    Haris Rauf leads 2020 with most T20 wickets

    Pakistani right-arm fast bowler Haris Rauf has ended his 2020 with a bang, taking as many as 57 wickets and becomes leading wicket taker in the Twenty20 format.

    This year has been lucky for three pacers, which leads with Rauf taking 57 wickets in 35 innings. Shaheen Shah Afridi follows him with 52 wickets in hand, which he took in 37 innings and Mohammad Amir has also taken 42 wickets in 36 innings in the calendar year.

    Among Pakistan players, only Wahab Riaz was able to grab 60 wickets in 2019 and Azhar Mahmood took 60 wickets in 2013 and have claimed more T20 wickets in a calendar year than Rauf.

    Though the year has been very difficult due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Rauf has managed to show his class and skills. The 150 kilometres per hour speedster joined the National T20 side in January 2020.

    The 27-year-old recently took three wickets in the three T20I matches against New Zealand. He has also taken second most wickets in T20I this year.

    To celebrate his big achievement, Haris shared a picture of himself and Afridi chilling in New Zealand.

  • NZvPAK: Muhammad Hafeez reinvents himself at 40

    NZvPAK: Muhammad Hafeez reinvents himself at 40

    After his career best performance in second T20I against New Zealand, Hafeez has achieved another milestone, reinventing himself at the age of 40.

    Hafeez who is fondly referred to as ‘Professor’ has achieved a milestone by equalling Shoaib Malik’s 2323 T20I runs for Pakistan. Showing his class, which comes with experience, Hafeez not coming slow at this age.

    Scoring 99 runs and not out in the second T20I against the black caps, Hafeez helped Pakistan win in the third and final match, achieving the most T20I runs scored by a player in the year 2020, that is 415 runs in total.

    Continuing his dream run in the shortest format, Hafeez pumped the New Zealand bowlers for three sixes and two fours in his valuable contribution of 41 runs.

    Hafeez’s departure was followed by Muhammad Rizwan stamping his authority on the proceedings and punishing the bowlers for their wayward lengths.

    Rizwan hit three delightful sixes, all off length deliveries, during his excellent innings and pierced the gaps with surgical precision to take his team closer to the finishing line and got out at 89 in the final over.

    Iftikhar Ahmed sealed the deal with an enormous six that touched the rooftop, stealing a win for Pakistan, beating the Kiwis with four wickets in hand.

    Hafeez took to Twitter and thanked Allah, “Alhamdu Lillah! Allah is the best planner.”

    Hafeez will now come back to Pakistan, while the national side will now face New Zealand in two Test Matches, starting December 26 under Rizwan’s captaincy.

  • ‘Mighty India crumbling down’: Akhtar trolls India on shameful defeat

    ‘Mighty India crumbling down’: Akhtar trolls India on shameful defeat

    Shoaib Akhtar has trolled the Indian cricket team after their shameful defeat by Australia in Adelaide Saturday.

    “I woke up and saw the score 369. I couldn’t believe it. Then I washed my eyes and saw the score 36/9. I couldn’t believe it either & went back to sleep,” wrote the former fast bowler on social media.

    Later in a video, the pacer said, “Embarrassing loss, embarrassing batting. World’s mightiest batting crumbling down.”

    “Humara bhi record torr dia inho ne, 36 all out. This is a disgraceful and terrible performance,” he continued. “It happens in cricket and this is what will happen to you. Bear it and bear the criticism.”

    “Mighty India crashing down, crumbling down,” he added.

    Akhtar didn’t stop there and posted another video on Twitter with a caption, saying, “This will not be forgotten easily. Must come back very strongly from here. Theek thaak phentii pari hai.”

    Similarly, Wasim Akram also expressed his shock over the score, commenting: “What a spell by the Australians. Pace matters.”

    Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Science and Technology, Fawad Chaudhry also trolled the team by tweeting the hashtag ‘Australian Surgical Strike’.

    Australia’s world-class pace attack dismissed India for their lowest ever Test score of 36-9 in second innings of the opening Test Match of the series and defeated them chasing the target of 90 runs with eight wickets in hand.

    India started day three of the day-night Test on nine for one and with a 62-run lead, looking to build a competitive second innings total for Australia to chase. But their hopes were left in tatters after an exhibition of fast bowling by Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins.

    It was the last Australia will see of Virat Kohli batting this summer, with the captain missing the final three Tests to return home for the birth of his first child.

  • Australia dismiss India for 36, their lowest ever Test score

    Australia dismiss India for 36, their lowest ever Test score

    Australia’s world-class pace attack dismissed India for their lowest ever Test score of 36 on Saturday, with the hosts needing 75 to win the opening Test in Adelaide at dinner after an incredible batting collapse.

    India started day three of the day-night Test on nine for one and with a 62-run lead, looking to build a competitive second innings total for Australia to chase.

    But their hopes were left in tatters after an exhibition of fast bowling by Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins.

    India’s previous Test low was 42 against England at Lord’s in 1974. Their 36 was the joint fourth lowest of all time with New Zealand’s 26 against England in 1955 at Auckland the worst ever.

    Their capitulation left Australia needing 90 to win, with Joe Burns and Matthew Wade knocking off 15 of them before the dinner break.

    Cummins wasted no time removing night watchman Jasprit Bumrah for two in the second over of the day, temping him to push at a slower ball that popped back up to him.

    That brought the stubborn Cheteshwar Pujara to the crease. He saw off an over from Cummins, but that was as good as it got for the veteran who fell without scoring.

    Cummins, the world’s number one Test bowler, sent down a delivery that had to be played and Pujara caught an edge that carried to Tim Paine behind the stumps.

    It left India on 15 for three, and it only got worse with opener Mayank Agarwal back in the pavilion five balls later for nine, again caught by Paine on Josh Hazlewood’s opening delivery.

    Hazlewood and Paine again combined to get rid of Ajinkya Rahane for naught then Cummins picked up the massive wicket of Virat Kohli.

    The superstar batsman had smacked Cummins for four but was gone the next ball after a review, caught by Cameron Green as he attempted a cover drive.

    It was the last Australia will see of Kohli batting this summer, with the captain missing the final three Tests to return home for the birth of his first child.

    At 19 for six, India were in real danger of making their lowest ever score and when Wriddhiman Saha chipped a Hazlewood delivery to Marnus Labuschagne and Ravi Ashwin was out next ball, it became more of a reality.

    A four from Hanuma Vihari at least took India past New Zealand’s all-time low to spare them that embarrassment.

    But Vihari didn’t last much longer, caught by Paine with Hazlewood again doing the damage before Mohammed Shami was forced to retire hurt after a Cummins thunderbolt hit his right arm.

  • PCB, cricketing greats among others react to Amir’s exit

    PCB, cricketing greats among others react to Amir’s exit

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reacted to Pakistani paceman Mohammad Amir’s decision to retire from international cricket, saying it was the bowler’s personal decision.

    As per the details, Cricket Pakistan quoted a PCB representative as saying that Amir had been listening to news channels broadcasting news about how he would not be selected to play.

    “Mohammad Amir has not contacted the PCB in this regard. The fast-bowler is not a contracted player and therefore is not bound to discuss this decision with the cricket board. He is completely free to make his own decisions,” the spokesperson said.

    Meanwhile, following Amir’s announcement, reactions started pouring in from cricketing greats among others, including former skipper and selector Inzamamul Haq as well as Pakistan’s Ramiz Raja and Indian commentator Harsha Bhogle.

    Raja described Amir’s departure as an untimely exit of a potential superstar while highlighting this entire episode as a cautionary tale for upcoming youngsters.

    “Mohammad Amir retires. Sad untimely exit of a potential superstar! And a lesson for aspiring youth: Respect your talent and understand your responsibilities. Don’t mistake wealth for respect. Respect is earned by having a strong character and not by worldly glitzy sh*t!” Raja tweeted.

    Bhogle believed that the fast-bowlers career would be remembered for what could have been in the aftermath of the shocking decision.

    “I hope he is content. In cricketing terms he will be remembered for what might have been,” Bhogle tweeted.

    Former skipper Shahid Afridi said that both PCB and Amir were at fault.

    Speaking to Geo, the 45-year-old said that PCB and Amir could have handled the situation better. “Both the management and Amir are responsible. If the elders had not started this, the younger ones would not get a chance to speak,” he said.

    “Why are they communicating through media? They should sit in a room and talk it out,” he added.

    Afridi suggested that Amir should have been more patient while taking such a big decision. “Amir’s decision was also a bit harsh. There are challenges in life that every player faces. Strong and talented cricketers accept those challenges and make comeback with good performances,” he said.

    The former player added that Pakistan cricket needs Amir and that the player still has a lot to offer to the national team. “Pakistan cricket needs Amir. He still has T20 and ODI cricket left in him,” he said. “The pleasure in playing for Pakistan and representing your country is nowhere close to playing league cricket.”

    Afridi said that PCB’s prompt reaction to Amir’s retirement decision showed that they did not have the player in its future plan. “PCB should have discussed its plans with Amir, their immediate reaction showed that their future plan was to keep the player on the sidelines,” he said.

    Senior ruling party member and a close aide of Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, Senator Faisal Javed Khan, advised the cricket authorities to address the concerns of Amir, saying Pakistan “should not waste a talented player” like Amir.

    He suggested that both parties sit together to sort their differences, asking the cricketer to reconsider his decision to quit Test cricket.

    “No emotional decision please,” the senator added.

    Previously, the pacer had openly expressed his disappointment on social media after New Zealand tour snub besides taking digs at the head and bowling coaches in the recent past.

    “Right now I am leaving cricket. I am being mentally tortured. I don’t think, I will be able to handle this kind of torture because I have been tortured a lot from 2010 to 2015,” Amir said on Thursday.

    “My personal decision to leave Test cricket was taken in a wrong way. My retirement was attached to my desire of playing T20 leagues. I was wishing to invest everything in white-ball cricket for Pakistan. But every now and then someone or the other person came out with a statement. Our bowling coach came out and said, I ditched them, somebody says workload wasn’t properly handled,” he had added.

    mir made his debut for Pakistan in a T20I match against England in June 2009 and was part of the team which won the 2009 T20 World Cup.

    However, his career went downhill after he was found guilty of spot-fixing and was banned for five years. He made his international comeback in 2015 and went on to play an instrumental role in Pakistan’s Champions Trophy triumph in 2017.

  • Shadab to lead 15-member squad for first T20I against NZ

    The Pakistan Cricket Board on Thursday announced the 15-member squad that will play the first T20 against New Zealand on December 18 (Friday).

    As per details, the team includes Shadab (C), Abdullah Shafique, Faheem Ashraf, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Hussain Talat, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Wahab Riaz.

    Shadab will lead the side in absence of captain Babar Azam who has been ruled out of T20 series due to fractured thumb. The batsman had suffered the injury during a throw-down session, following which he was taken to a local hospital where X-rays confirmed the fracture. Babar will be unable to attend nets for, at least, 12 days, meaning he will not be available for the 18, 20 and 22 December T20Is to be played in Auckland, Hamilton and Napier, respectively.

    “His absence in the side will be surely felt,” said Shadab while announcing the squad.

    “However, it will provide an opportunity for new players to step up and showcase their talent,” he added.

    Shadab further said: “The team should be ready to show an aggressive performance like Babar.”

    Earlier, the squad took part in a full three-hour training session.

    The Pakistan cricket team had a rocky beginning in New Zealand with eight members of the squad testing positive for coronavirus as the team underwent quarantine in Christchurch.

    Pakistan and New Zealand will play three T20Is on December 18, 20 and 22 in Auckland, Hamilton and Napier, respectively. The Pakistan cricket team will also play two test matches against New Zealand on December 26 and January 3.

  • ‘I have been tortured’: Mohammad Amir announces retirement from international cricket

    ‘I have been tortured’: Mohammad Amir announces retirement from international cricket

    Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir has said that he is retiring from international cricket.

    Speaking to journalist Shoaib Jatt, Amir said that he will release a detailed statement sharing his reasons behind his retirement when he arrives back in Pakistan from Sri Lanka, where he has been playing for Galle Gladiators in the Lanka Premier League. However, he made it clear that he cannot continue playing under the current management which is why he made this announcement.

    “I have been tortured,” says Amir in the video.

    Amir, who had an impressive campaign for Galle Gladiators in Lanka Premier League, said he will be playing franchise cricket but has made up his mind not to carry on playing for Pakistan. Amir had retired from Test cricket last year citing workload issues.

    “No, I am not going away from cricket. If you have seen the way the atmosphere over here and the way I have been sidelined,” said an emotional Amir. “I got a wake-up call there when I was not selected in 35 boys. If I don’t get selected in the 35-member squad, then it is a wake-up call for me.”

    “I don’t think I can play cricket under this management. I think I should leave cricket this time. I am being tortured mentally,” he continued. “I don’t think I can tolerate any more torture now. I have seen a lot of torture from 2010 to 2015. I was away from the game and sentenced for my mistake.”

    Read more – Kyun Nikala?: ‘Misbah Saab he bataa saktay hain,’ says Mohammad Amir

    According to a press release issued by PCB, Pakistan Cricket Board chief executive Wasim Khan spoke with Amir this afternoon following reports that the fast bowler had announced his retirement from international cricket.

    The 29-year-old confirmed to the PCB chief executive that he has no desires or intensions of playing international cricket and as such, he should not be considered for future international matches.

    “This is a personal decision of Mohammad Amir, which the PCB respects, and as such, will not make any further comment on this matter at this stage,” stated the press release.

    Amir made his debut for Pakistan in a T20I match against England in June 2009 and was part of the team which won the 2009 T20 World Cup.

    However, his career went downhill after he was found guilty of spot-fixing and was banned for five years. He made his international comeback in 2015 and went on to play an instrumental role in Pakistan’s Champions Trophy triumph in 2017.