Current Final

Tag: Pakistani Cricketer

  • Mohammad Amir will be available for Pakistan on one condition

    Mohammad Amir will be available for Pakistan on one condition

    Mohammad Amir has clarified that he will be available for Pakistan on one condition.

    In a tweet, the fast bowler wrote: “I would like to clarify that yes I will be available for Pakistan only once this management leaves. So please stop spreading fake news just to sell your story.”

    Widely regarded as one of the most destructive fast bowlers of the Green Army in the modern era, Amir had shocked the entire cricket fraternity when he opted to bid farewell to international cricket following his ouster from the Pakistani limited-overs squad for the New Zealand series last year. 

    Amir had already retired from the longest format before he quit international cricket alleging ‘mental torture’ by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). According to the latest developments, the out-of-favour Pakistani cricketer has volunteered to come out of retirement in order to play for the Azam-led side on the international circuit.

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

    Meanwhile, according to the Pakistani journalists, the pacer will only make a comeback to play for the National team if Misbah-ul-Haq and Waqar Younis are removed from office. While Misbah is the current head coach of the Babar Azam-led side, Younis is the bowling chief.

    Earlier, Babar Azam had backed coach Misbah by defending the management’s decision to snub the pacer from the national squad. Azam had asserted that Amir’s performances were not up to the mark.

    Misbah and Waqar said that Amir’s recent performances have been really poor and he does not warrant a place in the squad. They did, however, say that Amir will be welcomed back into the team if he is able to perform better in the domestic circuit. However, Amir rubbished this statement as well, saying that they are portraying a different picture to take the blame off their backs.

    The 28-year-old speedster has played 36 Tests, 61 One Day International (ODIs), and as many as 50 T20Is for the Pakistani national team. Amir also plied his trade with Galle Gladiators in the inaugural Lanka Premier League (LPL).

  • IN PICTURES: South Africa cricket team arrives in Pakistan

    The South African cricket team has arrived in Pakistan to play two tests and three T20 international matches. It is the first tour by the cricket team since 2007. The South African team is led by Quinton de Kock.

    As per reports, the visiting side has cleared two COVID-19 tests before coming to Pakistan and will be tested again for COVID-19. Till then, the squad will remain in quarantine. However, they will be allowed to practice after testing negative for coronavirus.

    According to an official of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB): “The South African team will be training at the Karachi Gymkhana cricket ground from January 17-22 in a biosecure bubble before moving to National Stadium for a full-fledged training session.”

    Both sides will undergo another round of COVID-19 testing before the first test match.

    Meanwhile, the Pakistan cricket team will reach Karachi on January 19 and commence their practice session from January 21.

    Earlier on Friday, the board announced a 20-player squad for the Test series against South Africa (SA). As per details, the squad includes nine uncapped players.

    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.

  • VIDEO: Shoaib Akhtar thrashes Pakistani advertisements

    VIDEO: Shoaib Akhtar thrashes Pakistani advertisements

    Pakistani former cricketer, Shoaib Akhtar has thrashed Pakistan’s corporate advertisements in a live sports show.

    Insulting the advertisements shown on television, the pacer said: “[The] world’s pathetic advertisements are made in Pakistan.”

    “You can imagine the capacity of our elite class that their brains are filled with trash, filled with trash,” he expressed. “They have no creativity.”

    “There’s an ad of 4G and a guy is running very fast and jumps off a cliff and stands there. I thought it’s an advertisement of shoes but turns out it’s about a faster 4G connection,” he said.

    Akhtar continued: “In another one, two cricketers are dancing on a track about a girl welcoming her beloved. How silly is it to have two cricketers dance on this? A guest cricketer has come and the other one is receiving him and that track is being played.”

    “I think their brains have stopped working. This the corporate ads culture?,” he lamented.

    While the host tried to ask him about South Africa’s tour to Pakistan, Akhtar ignored and continued to share his thoughts on Pakistani adverts.

    “You have seen that world’s pathetic ads are being made here,” said Akhtar, before going on to share his experience of producing an advertisement for a car.

    “I was offered to work in a car advertisement,” said Akhtar. “I told them that I will produce the ad. If you like it, you can keep it. Otherwise, I don’t want you to make this advertisement.”

    He continued: “They agreed and we made the advertisement and they loved it. The ad got millions of views and when they showed me their original concept for the same ad, I said: ‘Shame on you for your pathetic concept’.”

    Akhtar is well-known for his aggression on and off the field, and this time, the legend didn’t shy away from slamming corporate organisations for their advertisements and the advertisement culture of Pakistan.

  • ‘Can’t imagine my life without your love’: Hassan Ali pens heartfelt note for wife

    Hassan Ali has expressed his love for wife Samiya in a heartfelt post on Instagram. The couple is expecting their first child together.

    Sharing a picture of the two, Hassan said: “A change is going to happen in our life but it’s incredible to see how a woman’s body goes through transformations during pregnancy.”

    Praising his wife, Ali wrote: “Your presence makes me a better person, can’t imagine my life without your love and support.”

    Hassan ended his post by using the hashtag ‘Soon to be 3’.

    In November last year, Samiya un-officially announced her pregnancy by posting a picture of herself cradling her belly.

    Hassan and Samiya tied the knot in an elaborate wedding in Dubai in August 2019. While Hassan hails from Gujranwala, Samiya is from Haryana, India. They reportedly met in 2018 through a close friend in Dubai.

  • Video of elderly lady who fails to recognise Shahid Afridi goes viral

    Video of elderly lady who fails to recognise Shahid Afridi goes viral

    There is no denying that Shahid Afridi is one of the most-recognised people in the word. The former captain of the Pakistan cricket team is well-known for his sixes on the field and charm off the field. However, social media is abuzz with a rare instance in which an old lady at the airport failed to recognise the cricket legend.

    In the video doing the rounds on social media, a woman is seen calling Afridi for a picture. 

    “Aray baita idhar aao. Yeh larkiyan keh rahi hain tum Shahid Afridi ho. Aik picture to lelo? [Hello son, please come here. These girls are saying you are Shahid Afridi. Please take a picture with us?]” the woman asked Afridi.

    Obliging to the request, Afridi went to the woman and took a picture with his fans. As the video made rounds on social media, netizens were seen praising the cricket legend for his humility and kind gesture.

    https://twitter.com/ItsMahah/status/1348937198918316033?s=20

    Read more – ‘Sorry Lala’: Haris Rauf apologises to Afridi for dismissing him

    Meanwhile, it is not clear where and when the video was shot.

  • ‘I rest my case to Allah’: Kamran Akmal shocked over PCB ignorance

    ‘I rest my case to Allah’: Kamran Akmal shocked over PCB ignorance

    Veteran wicket-keeper batsman Kamran Akmal is shocked and disappointed over ignorance by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

    Taking to Twitter, Akmal expressed his feelings and wrote: “Shocked and disappointed. As a senior and season[ed] player, I have not been treated well.”

    Akmal also requested PCB and Director Domestic Cricket Nadeem Khan to look into the matter.

    “Cricket is my passion and I want to play it but…I rest my case to My Allah,” he added.

    Later, while replying to Twitter users, the cricketer further expressed his disappointment over his non-selection.

    Kamran has been left out of Pakistan Cup, which started today in Karachi. He was also not included in the Quaid-e-Azam 2020 Trophy Final.

    The 38-year-old cricketer has represented Pakistan in 53 Tests, 157 ODIs and 58 T20Is. He represents Peshawar Zalmi in Pakistan Super League (PSL).

    Read more – Hero aise zaleel nahi hotay, says Kamran Akmal

    Meanwhile, Akmal has been keeping himself busy in the gym and with his YouTube channel. He has interviewed many cricketers on his channel, including Mohammad Amir and Imam-ul-Haq.

    Fellow cricketer, Mohammad Hafeez showed his support amd wished Kamran good luck for his future.

  • Sana Mir tests positive for coronavirus

    Former Pakistan women’s cricket team captain Sana Mir has announced that she has tested positive for COVID-19.

    In a tweet, Mir shared that she only has mild symptoms for now and has isolated herself.

    Meanwhile, ESPN Cricinfo has reported that Mir was part of the commentary panel for the final of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and after testing positive for coronavirus she was removed from the panel and is currently isolating at the Pearl Continental Hotel, Karachi.

    Her fellow commentators, including Bazid Khan, Tariq Saeed, Ali Younis, Sikandar Bakhat and presenter Sawera Pasha also underwent coronavirus tests. A decision to isolate them will be made after their results will come.

    As per the report, Sana started showing symptoms on the day three of the final of Quaid-e-Azam trophy which started on Friday.

    Read more – PTI’s Faisal Javed Khan rubbishes Mohammad Asif’s claims of interference in players’ selection process

    Sana, who announced retirement from international cricket in April 2020, is also celebrating her birthday today. The cricketer has played 226 international matches for Pakistan, including 137 as captain from 2009 to 2017.

    https://twitter.com/TheRealPCB/status/1346333135118757891
  • Pakistan cricket team visits families of Christchurch Mosque attack victims

    Pakistan cricket team visits families of Christchurch Mosque attack victims

    The Pakistan Cricket team, who will play its second and final game of the two-match Test series against New Zealand at Hagley Oval (Christchurch) on Sunday, took some time out from their busy practise schedule to pay a visit to the families of the victims of Christchurch Mosque attack.

    In a video shared by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the cricketers can be seen interacting with the families and spending time with them.

    Talking to the families of victims, batting coach Younis Khan said: “We can feel your pain and we are with you in your grief.”

    In March 2019, a mass killer attacked two mosques in Christchurch. 51 people were killed and many were injured during the shooting. The killer was later sentenced to life imprisonment without parole.

  • 2020 Sports Roundup – Some losses, some gains

    2020 Sports Roundup – Some losses, some gains

    2020 has been a very strange year for sporting events around the globe due to the coronavirus pandemic. Stadiums, courts and all other sporting activities were suspended as people practised social distancing and stayed away from each other. The Olympics, scheduled to be held in Japan were also cancelled along with a plethora of other events and those which did take place happened behind closed doors in biosecure bubbles. Nonetheless, some major sporting events and incidents took place in Pakistan and here is a round-up of those.

    2020 Kabbadi World Cup – February 2020

    The 2020 Kabaddi World Cup was the seventh edition of the Kabaddi World Cup (Circle style), held from February 9 to February 16, 2020, with the Opening Ceremony on February 9, 2020, at the Punjab Stadium, Lahore.

    This was the first time the Kabaddi World Cup was held in Pakistan. All of the previous six circle-style kabaddi world cups have been hosted by India with the most recent event taking place in 2016. The tournament was eight-day long with matches in Lahore, Faisalabad, Kartarpur and Nankana Sahib.

    Other than India, teams from Iran, Canada, Australia, United States, Sierra Leone and Kenya also participated in the event.

    Pakistan emerged victorious from a close contest against India in the final of the Kabaddi World Cup in Lahore’s Punjab Stadium. The hosts won 43-41 to become Kabaddi world champions for the first time.

    2020 Pakistan Super League – February 2020

    The fifth edition of the Pakistan Super League started on February 20, 2020. This was the first time the league was held entirely in Pakistan. A total 34 matches were played in four venues: Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi and Multan.

    Days before the season was to conclude, the league was postponed over coronavirus fears.

    The playoffs and the final later took place in Karachi in November 2020 with Karachi Kings taking home the trophy for the first time. It was also the first time Lahore Qalandars made it to the final.

    Sami Aslam quits Pakistan cricket – December 2020

    On December 3, Pakistani test cricketer Sami Aslam announced that he is quitting Pakistan cricket and joining hands with USA Cricket. According to reports, Aslam struck a deal with USA Cricket that will see him spend two years and 10 months playing league cricket in the States and eventually represent the US.

    The Lahore-born cricketer was disgruntled after not being selected in the 35-member squad for the New Zealand tour despite his string of solid domestic performances in the previous campaigns.

    Mohammad Amir announces retirement – December 2020

    Perhaps the most shocking news from the year. Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir announced his retirement from international cricket on December 17 while he was in Sri Lanka, playing the Lanka Premier League (LPL).

    Speaking to journalist Shoaib Jatt, Amir said that he cannot continue playing for the country under the current management. Amir said that he will continue to play franchise cricket but has made up his mind not to carry on playing for Pakistan, adding that he has been “mentally tortured”.

    Amir had retired from Test cricket last year citing workload issues.

    Aaron Summers to play Pakistan domestic cricket

    Fast bowler Aaron Summers is set to make history by becoming the first Australian to take part in domestic cricket in Pakistan. The 24-year old will play for Southern Punjab in the 2021 One-Day Cup, which is scheduled to begin on January 8 and will run until the end of the month.

    The deal is understood to be in its final stages, with official confirmation from the PCB imminent. While Australia’s borders are currently closed to both departures and arrivals due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Summers has received a travel exemption from the Australian government, clearing the path for him to come to Pakistan.

    Summers reached Pakistan on December 28 and is currently in Lahore and has joined the Southern Punjab squad.

  • Azhar Ali thinks Fawad Alam is Pakistan’s Ertuğrul

    Azhar Ali thinks Fawad Alam is Pakistan’s Ertuğrul

    Pakistan former captain Azhar Ali has likened Karachi batsman Fawad Alam to Turkish legend Ertuğrul.

    Sharing a collage of Fawad’s century celebration and Ertuğrul Ghazi ready for battle in a still from the popular Turkish series Diriliş: Ertuğrul, Azhar said the batsman has a “heart of a lion.”

    “What a knock from Fawad Alam!,” said the former skipper. “A lot of courage and character and determination.”

    Thanking Azhar, Alam replied, “Jazaakallah bro.”

    Similarly Mohammad Hafeez also congratulated Alam on his achievement.

    Eleven years, five months and 16 days from the day 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.

    Read more – Fawad Alam gives another reminder to Misbah with his third century

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

    In a post-match video, Fawad credited Ali for the celebration.

    “During a four-day game, Azhar Ali and I had a discussion. He told me if I get a century, this is how I should celebrate it,” said Fawad. “Maybe God granted his wish. And I remembered what he had told me. So, this celebration was for him.”