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Tag: Pakistan Cricket Team

  • Hassan Ali seals the deal for Pakistan

    Hassan Ali seals the deal for Pakistan

    With two five–fors, Hassan Ali has sealed the deal for Pakistan, beating South Africa by 95 runs in second Test and won the series 2-0.

    The first series as captain for Babar Azam in Test cricket starts with a win – credit to hundred from Muhammad Rizwan and 10 wicket haul by Hasan Ali made the difference in the Test match.

    Babar has also been added to the list of Pakistani captains who won their debut Test series.

    Read more – Babar Azam opens up on his journey from ‘ball-picker’ to Test captain

    Pakistan won its first series against Proteas since 2003 by 2-0 with a 95-run victory in the second Test on the fifth and final day.

    Set 370-run to win, the Proteas were bowled out for 274 with Pakistan medium pacer Hasan Ali taking 5-60 — his best match figures of 10-114.

    Opener Aiden Markram scored a fighting 108 and Temba Bavuma 61.

    They put on a 106-run stand for the fourth wicket but Hasan struck with the second new ball to end Markra’s resistance.

    The 2-0 win is only Pakistan’s second over South Africa in 12 Test series, having lost eight and drawn three. Pakistan won the first Test by seven wickets in Karachi. Pakistan’s only previous series win over South Africa was in a two-match series at home in 2003.

    The series against South Africa – who were touring Pakistan for the first time in 14 years – is the biggest hosted by the home side since a deadly 2009 militant attack on Sri Lanka’s squad in Lahore halted international tours.

    With the brilliant 10-for, Hassan Ali became man of the match. While with his maiden Test match ton, Rizwan was declared man of the series.

    Meanwhile, the Pakistan cricket team regained its place among top 5 Test teams of the world with a 2-0 series win against South Africa.

    Pakistan earned 8 rating points after beating Proteas in Karachi and Rawalpindi to jump to 5th position in the ICC Test Team Rankings.

    The hosts were at the 7th position in the charts before the start of series while South Africa was at 5th. With the help of star performers – Rizwan, Hassan, Faheem Ashraf and Shaheen Shah Afridi, Pakistan has gained this position.

    The two teams will now play three Twenty20 internationals on February 11, 13 and 14, all in Lahore.

    Following Pakistan’s win several celebrities, politicians and congratulated the team for the effort.

  • Fawad Alam hits 2nd Test 100 in lost NZ match

    Fawad Alam hits 2nd Test 100 in lost NZ match

    Fawad Alam’s heroic ton went in vain as the home team won the first Test by 101 runs in Tauranga’s Mount Maunganui stadium on Wednesday.

    Eleven years, five months and 16 days on from that other lifetime when he scored his first Test hundred, Fawad pulled Wagner behind square – that shot had served him well both in defence and attack – past a diving deep fielder to bring up a second Test hundred.

    The last one he scored was way back in 2009 when he hit 168 on Test debut against Sri Lanka while opening the innings. Since then Alam has played just six Tests having made a comeback in 2020.

    Babar Azam’s injury gave him another go and yet he proved to be an ace for the team.

    The Green Caps began the final day’s play at 71-3 in chase of 373-run target with Azhar Ali and Fawad batting at 34 and 21 respectively.

    He put on a 165-run partnership with captain Mohammad Rizwan who scored a gritty half-century as well. 380 balls faced by Alam and Rizwan during their partnership – the second-longest stand for Pakistan in Tests.

    The wicketkeeper-batsman’s dismissal sparked a collapse as he was trapped leg-before by Kyle Jamieson for 60 while Fawad, who hit 14 boundaries in his 102-run knock, was caught behind on the bowling of Neil Wagner.

    The tail-end pair of pacemen Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah provided resistance to salvage a draw but it wasn’t to be as the latter was caught and bowled by Santner for one with just four more overs to go.

    Here are some reactions by cricketing experts on Fawad’s resilient innings:

    https://twitter.com/DennisCricket_/status/1344128439100481536?s=08

    Later PCB released a video in this fawad talked about his patience and test performance…

    What do you think of Fawad’s innings? Let The Current know in the comments

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • South Africa to make historic Pakistan tour in January after 14 years

    South Africa to make historic Pakistan tour in January after 14 years

    South Africa will tour Pakistan next month for the first time in 14 years to play two tests and three Twenty20 Internationals, officials confirmed on Wednesday.

    The five-day matches will be staged in Karachi from January 26-30 and in Rawalpindi from February 4-8, T20 fixtures will be played in Lahore from 11th February to 14th of February.

    International cricket has returned to Pakistan in the past 15 months following a militant attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore in 2009 that killed six policemen and two civilians.

    “It’s pleasing to see so many countries making a return to Pakistan — a proud, cricket-loving nation,” South Africa’s director of cricket, Graeme Smith, said in a statement.

    “I would like to thank the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the hospitality and transparency they showed our security contingent when they travelled over there a few weeks ago,” he said.

    He added: “The report on their findings and recommendations gives us confidence as an organisation that all of our team’s security, playing and accommodation needs will be met, and that the wellbeing of the team will be the top priority.”

    The Cricket board of South Africa (CSA) also confirmed the tour on Twitter.

    Pakistan captain Babar Azam said that aside from the thrill of playing at home, the tour will also be a chance for his side to test their progress across the two formats.

    “I am delighted that South Africa have confirmed their tour to Pakistan and look forward to captaining my country for the first time in a home Test,” said Azam in a statement.

    “Looking at the calendar of international cricket in 2021, I am pleased we are playing more against the sides which are ranked above us,” he said. “This is critical to not only our learning and development, but also an opportunity to improve our rankings across all formats.”

  • Wasim Akram urges authorities to look after players’ mental well-being

    Wasim Akram urges authorities to look after players’ mental well-being

    Wasim Akram on Tuesday emphasised on the mental well-being of cricketers going through tough isolation, calling authorities to ensure there are measures that can counter the implications of quarantine restrictions.

    Akram, while speaking to media outlets, maintained that it is never easy for an individual to spend two weeks in isolation, adding that such circumstances can have serious implications on one’s mental health.

    “It is imperative to look after players’ mental well-being in this scenario in order to keep them positive and motivated for the game. There’s a serious need to have a regular psychologist with teams when they travel to new environments,” said the legendary fast bowler.

    “I’m sure seniors like Waqar Younis and Misbah would have spoken to players in New Zealand to keep them motivated during isolation period,” added Akram.

    Calling for a uniform policy worldwide, the former cricketer said that it is never easy for anyone to move from one isolation to another.

    “I think ICC should talk to governments in this regard,” he shared.

    Green shirts were kept in strictly managed isolation in New Zealand for the last 14 days before the isolation period ended today (Tuesday). The team has been in a biosecure bubble since summer, playing back-to-back cricket.

    Akram also said that New Zealand team is in good form and Pakistan will have a tough time in the upcoming series.

    Akram’s remarks come after two England cricketers recently pulled out of Big Bash League in Australia complaining of biosecure bubble fatigue.

  • Eighth Pakistan player in New Zealand tests positive for corona

    Eighth Pakistan player in New Zealand tests positive for corona

    An eighth member of Pakistan’s cricket squad has tested positive for coronavirus as the team undergoes quarantine in Christchurch, New Zealand health authorities said Wednesday.

    The health department said there was one new confirmed case among the squad and a further two members were being investigated, adding to the seven who previously tested positive over the past week.

    The department said the team would not be allowed to train together until doctors were confident it would not lead to more coronavirus cases.

    Director-general of health Ashley Bloomfield issued the team with a “final warning” last week for flouting social distancing protocols at their hotel.

    No further breaches have been reported since.

    Two of the original six cases last week were subsequently found to be historical, meaning they were not infectious, while the other four were active. A seventh member of the squad tested positive on Saturday.

    The 53-member tour party, led by skipper Babar Azam, arrived in Christchurch on November 24 for two weeks of quarantine which is mandatory for all overseas arrivals in New Zealand.

    All tested negative before leaving Lahore for the five-match tour, which is scheduled to begin with a Twenty20 international in Auckland on December 18.

    New Zealand has largely eradicated community transmission of coronavirus recording just 1,704 cases and 25 deaths in a population of five million.

  • End of tour? Six Pakistan cricketers test positive for COVID-19 in New Zealand

    At least six members of the Pakistan Cricket Team — that is under managed insolation facility — have tested positive for coronavirus in Christchurch, confirmed the New Zealand Cricket and International Cricket Council.

    Two of the six results had been deemed “historical”, while four are dubbed as fresh cases. It is not clear at this stage if the six who tested positive are players, staff members, or others in the touring party. They will move into quarantine in the managed isolation facility.

    “All six squad members would be moved to the quarantine arm of the managed isolation facility, while the team’s exemption to train had been put on hold until investigations had been completed,” reports in foreign media stated.

    Pakistan, who arrived in New Zealand on Tuesday, were set to face the Black Caps in three T20s and two test matches, starting on December 20. However, the team was supposed to go under a two-week isolation period as a precautionary measure against coronavirus. According to the NZ cricket board, some of the Pakistan players also flouted the restrictions on their first day of managed isolation.

    “We will be having discussions with the tourists to assist them in understanding the requirements,” the board said.

    “While this is disappointing for the Pakistan squad, the testing outcomes and the actions taken show the Government system is working,” NZC said in a statement. It further added that the health and safety of the touring teams was of paramount importance.

    In September, the NZ sports minister had said that if a player “tests positive it would probably mean the end of the tour as games couldn’t be played”.

  • PAK v ZIM ODIs: Pakistani bowlers took fifers in each match

    PAK v ZIM ODIs: Pakistani bowlers took fifers in each match

    Three Pakistani bowlers have achieved the maiden five-wicket haul in the Pakistan vs Zimbabwe One Day International (ODIs) matches.

    In the first ODI, Shaheen Shah Afridi grabbed the fifer and returned with the figures of 5-49.

    During the second ODI, off-spinner Iftikhar Ahmed’s maiden five-wicket haul earned Pakistan a convincing six-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the second one-day international and 30-year-old Ahmed returned with 5-40.

    Meanwhile, Pakistani fast bowler Mohammad Hasnain had a day to remember on Tuesday during the Pakistan vs Zimbabwe third ODI in Rawalpindi.

    The 20-year-old picked up five wickets for just 26 runs in his 10-over spell, wreaking havoc to the opponent’s top order. He picked up three wickets in his opening spell, which he shared with Shaheen.

    Today’s game was the first of the series for Hasnain. He finished with figures of 10-3-26-5 as he became the third Pakistani bowler to claim a fifer in back-to-back matches of the ongoing series.

    Apart from the outclass performance by Hasnain, Pakistan lost the match in a Super over scoring only 2 runs on the loss of 2 wickets while Zimbabwe scored 5 runs of 3 balls, winning the match with 3 balls remaining.