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  • Babar Azam accused of allegedly ‘sexting’ teammate’s girlfriend

    Babar Azam accused of allegedly ‘sexting’ teammate’s girlfriend

    Pakistan star-cricketer Babar Azam has landed in a controversy as his alleged personal videos and photos went viral on social media.

    According to Fox Cricket, Azam is being accused of allegedly sexting a teammate’s girlfriend after videos and voice recordings went viral online.

    While the authenticity of the material remains unclear, it allegedly shows a topless Babar in intimate chats with a woman.

    One of the accusations is that Babar promised the woman that her boyfriend’s spot in Pakistan’s XI was safe if she kept sexting him.

    Aur isko Kohli banna hai…” Twitterati roast Babar Azam after his private videos, intimate chats allegedly surface online

    The accusation was first posted by verified Twitter account Dr Nimo Yadav, saying: “Babar Azam sexting with GF of another Pakistan cricketer and promising her that her bf won’t be out of the team if she keeps sexting with him is just.”

    Babar posted a happy snap while appearing to be on holiday in Sydney on Monday.

    “Doesn’t take too much to be happy,” he captioned the photo with the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the background.

    Pakistani cricket fans took to their social media and started supporting Babar Azam after the video and photos went viral on social media. The alleged viral video of Babar caused a stir among the netizens. Some of his fans claimed that this is a conspiracy against Babar to spoil his image while others said the video has been morphed and urged not to spread lies against the star batter.

    Babar has been trending on Twitter since under the hashtag #StayStrongBabarAzam.

  • PSL-like first women’s league to be held in September

    PSL-like first women’s league to be held in September

    The Women’s League will no longer be a part of the 2019 Pakistan Super League, according to the management committee of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which is chaired by Najam Sethi.


    The first Women’s Super League, which will be conducted as a distinct event from the PSL, has been scheduled for September this year by the PCB.
    There will be separate bids for each of the five franchise teams in the women’s league.


    World-class female cricketers have already expressed interest in taking part in the PCBs tournament.


    Earlier, In October Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had announced the launch of a women’s T20 league modelled along the lines of Pakistan Super League (PSL). The inaugural edition was expected to run alongside PSL 2023.

  • PCB appoints Shahid Afridi as chief selector for New Zealand series

    PCB appoints Shahid Afridi as chief selector for New Zealand series

    Former captain Shahid Afridi will head the new interim selection committee for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the latest change since the team was thrashed by England.

    Ramiz Raja was removed as head of the PCB on Thursday, and a 14-member management committee took over.

    Before selecting Afridi, the main committee, led by the former chairman Najam Sethi, also sacked chief selector Mohammad Wasim.

    According to the PCB, former players Abdul Razzaq and Rao Iftikhar were also nominated selectors. The changes follow Pakistan’s first-ever 3-0 home whitewash by England this month.

    Announcing Afridi’s appointment, PCB Management Committee chief Najam Sethi tweeted: “I welcome the interim Men’s National Selection Committee and have no doubts that, despite limited time, they will make brave and bold decisions that will help us produce a strong and competitive side in the series against New Zealand.”

    “I feel honoured to have been assigned this responsibility,” said Afridi, who retired from international cricket in 2017. “We need to get back to our winning ways and I have no doubts that through meritocratic and strategic selection decisions, we will help the national side to perform.”

    In a career marked by his hard-hitting batting, Afridi represented Pakistan in 27 Tests, 398 one-day matches, and 99 Twenty20 matches.

    A two-match Test series between Pakistan and New Zealand is underway, with the first game taking place in Karachi on Monday.

  • Shaheen, Hasan Ali out; PCB announces test squad for test series against England

    Shaheen, Hasan Ali out; PCB announces test squad for test series against England

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced an 18-player squad for December’s three ICC World Test Championship matches against England.


    There are four changes in the squad from Pakistan’s last Test assignment, which was in Sri Lanka. The four players who are not part of the side are Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hasan Ali, Fawad Alam and Yasir Shah.


    “I want to congratulate all the players who have been selected for the historic Test series against England. We have selected this 18-man squad keeping in mind the form of the players, the conditions and the opposition, ” said Chief Selector Muhammad Wasim.

    “This series has provided opportunities to Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr and Zahid Mehmood. Abrar has been on the radar since his debut first-class season in 2020-21. He is in outstanding form this season, so it makes sense to make him available for [captain] Babar Azam so he can use the confidence and talent of this youngster in the upcoming series,” he added.


    Here is the complete list of the squad:

    Babar Azam (c) (Central Punjab), Mohammad Rizwan (vc & wk) (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Abdullah Shafique (Central Punjab), Abrar Ahmed (Sindh), Azhar Ali (Central Punjab), Faheem Ashraf (Central Punjab), Haris Rauf (Northern), Imam-ul-Haq (Balochistan), Mohammad Ali (Central Punjab), Mohammad Nawaz (Northern), Mohammad Wasim Jnr (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Naseem Shah (Southern Punjab), Nauman Ali (Northern), Salman Ali Agha (Southern Punjab), Sarfaraz Ahmed (Sindh), Saud Shakeel (Sindh), Shan Masood (Balochistan) and Zahid Mehmood (Sindh).

    The three Tests are part of the ICC World Test Championship and are scheduled to be played in Rawalpindi (1-5 December), Multan (9-13 December) and Karachi (17-21 December).

  • Gaddafi Stadium to turn pink for breast cancer awareness

    Gaddafi Stadium to turn pink for breast cancer awareness

    In order to raise awareness about breast cancer, the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore will be turned pink on November 16 during the third Twenty20 International between Pakistan and Ireland.


    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) took the decision as part of its social business responsibility.

    “Both team captains, players, match officials and commentators will wear pink ribbons over the course of the match and awareness messages will be displayed inside the stadium,” the PCB said in a press release.


    “The stumps will also be branded pink. The backdrop for the post-match ceremony will be coloured pink.


    “Entrance for matches is free for spectators with four enclosures – Imran Khan, Rajas’, Fazal Mahmood and Saeed Anwar – open to the public. The PCB also encourages fans to wear pink for the Wednesday’s fixture,” the statement said.

    Pink coloured shirts will also be distributed to spectators in various stands during the match, PCB said.

    Pakistan has one of the highest rates of breast cancer in Asia. According to Pink Ribbon, 109 women die of breast cancer every hour in the country. That takes the total tally of deaths from breast cancer to 40,000 annually while over 90,000 new cases are reported each year.

    In 2017, Faisal Mosque and the National Assembly in Islamabad were also lit up in pink in solidarity with breast cancer patients.

  • Former PCB medical chief criticises medical panel for putting Shaheen Afridi’s career at risk

    Former PCB medical chief criticises medical panel for putting Shaheen Afridi’s career at risk

    At the MCG, England defeated Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2022 final match, however Pakistan put up a good fight despite scoring a low score. They strongly desired that their top pacer Shaheen Afridi bowl his entire allotment, but this did not happen and it became a subject of debate after the final.

    Afridi was spotted in severe pain when he injured his knee while attempting a running catch to knock Harry Brook.

    Shaheen returned to bowl after the impact, but he was only able to produce one delivery, which was far from his best effort.

    The fast bowler entered the World Cup after undergoing an expedited recovery from a knee ligament injury he sustained in July. Experts in medicine say that if he experiences another fright during the final, his career, at the age of only 22, may be in jeopardy.

    “If the injury doesn’t result in more injuries, it would take Shaheen three to four months to recover,” former Pakistan Cricket Board chief medical officer Dr Sohail Salim told Dawn.

    “If the PCB’s medical board chooses to treat it through surgery, Shaheen will be out for six, seven months.”

    In any case, Shaheen’s expected absence from two major upcoming home Test series versus England and New Zealand, according to Sohail, raises concerns about the effectiveness of the PCB’s existing medical team.

    “An inquiry should be held to determine if the PCB medical panel went wrong in their approach to treat Shaheen’s injury,” said Sohail.

    Shaheen may become available again soon, however, Sarfraz Nawaz, a former fast bowler for Pakistan, regretted the PCB’s selection of the pacer for the World Cup team despite the fact that he had not had any match practise beforehand.

    “You have put him in directly in the high-profile World Cup without him playing any match since July,” Sarfraz told Dawn.

    “His fitness could have been better judged if he played a game before the World Cup and he shouldn’t have been selected without proving it.”

    Sarfraz believed the tri-series in New Zealand ahead of the T20 showpiece was a good chance to test Shaheen.

  • ‘Pakistan definitely out-bowled, out-batted and out-fielded New Zealand’: Former Indian captain Anil Kumble

    ‘Pakistan definitely out-bowled, out-batted and out-fielded New Zealand’: Former Indian captain Anil Kumble

    Anil Kumble, a former captain of India, said on ESPNcricinfo’s T20 Time Out show that Pakistan “definitely out-bowled New Zealand, they out-batted New Zealand, but most importantly, they out-fielded New Zealand, which is very, very rare.”

    Tom Moody, a former all-rounder for Australia, picked up a specific moment during New Zealand’s powerplay that was a reflection of Pakistan’s level of dedication on Wednesday.

    “The tone for me was set with one piece of fielding,” Moody said. “And it’s not the run-out. It’s before the run-out [of Devon Conway]. It was by Shadab [Khan], who was at mid-on, dived and stopped the ball from going for four.

    “Kane Williamson played a beautiful on-drive, a straight on-drive, and he [Shadab] saved two runs. And that to me set the tone for the way they were going to operate as a team. You talk about body language but you need moments like that to lift the unit and that’s the standard that he basically said ‘this is the standard we are going to set today.”

    New Zealand was limited to 38 for 2 on the powerplay as a result of Pakistan’s outstanding fielding in the circle. Shadab’s straight shot to run out Conway produced the second wicket. Pakistan eventually managed to restrict New Zealand to 152 for 8, winning with seven wickets and five balls remaining.

    Kumble applauded Haris’ contribution to the match, which includes his 89 runs with a strike rate of 161.81 since joining the team to fill in for Fakhar Zaman.

    “Looking at him [Haris], he looks like a free spirit,” Kumble said. “He’s not bothered about getting his eye in or what if the first ball he gets out. That’s what you want in a T20 game.”

    New Zealand captain Kane Williamson said that “We were put under pressure early, they bowled really well and it was thanks to an unbelievable knock from Daryl Mitchell that we got some momentum back.

    Read more: ‘I think our team looks good, we might just win the final’: Imran Khan

    “At halfway, we thought it was a competitive total because we knew the pitch was a used surface, it was tough.

    “But it’s really disappointing to not make Pakistan work harder for those runs, they were absolutely outstanding today and credit has to go to them.”

    In the meantime, Shoaib Akhtar, a Pakistani fast bowler, was also overjoyed with Pakistan’s victory.

    Former South African allrounder Vernon Philander joined in congratulating Pakistan for making it into the final.

    Wasim Akram added his congratulations to those on the side of Pakistani team.

    Irfan Pathan, an Indian all-rounder, sent a message as well, praising the Pakistani team for overcoming a near-certain elimination from the competition to reach the final.

  • Fake Mr Bean sparks unexpected tussle between Pakistan-Zimbabwe fans ahead of T20 World Cup match

    Fake Mr Bean sparks unexpected tussle between Pakistan-Zimbabwe fans ahead of T20 World Cup match

    The fans of Pakistan and Zimbabwe teams are engaged in a heated Twitter debate as the two teams get ready for their important match in the 2022 T20 World Cup on Thursday (October 27) at the Optus Stadium in Perth.

    Many are surprised to learn that the controversy on both sides has nothing to do with cricket and is instead a result of a bogus Mr Bean. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) post on their pre-match training session received a response from a Zimbabwean supporter, which sparked debates on both sides.

    “As Zimbabweans we wont forgive you…you once gave us that Fraud Pak Bean instead of Mr Bean Rowan..we will settle the matter tomorrow just pray the rains will save you…#ZIMVSPAK,” a fan wrote on the micro-blogging site.

    Later, it was discovered that a Pakistani guy named Asif Muhammed had visited Zimbabwe in 2016 and resembled the famous role portrayed by Rowan Atkinson. According to reports, the person who performed at roadshows, went to a comedy event and participated in the Harare Agricultural Show.

    Speaking of the game, Pakistan will attempt to avenge their tragic last-ball loss to Team India in the opening encounter of the 2022 T20 World Cup on Sunday at the MCG. To keep their chances of making the semi-finals alive, the Men in Green are in desperate need of a victory.

    Despite the Proteas being on the verge of winning in Hobart on Monday, Zimbabwe’s match against South Africa ended in a draw, giving them an unexpected point to open their campaign.

  • PSL like women’s league announced by PCB

    PSL like women’s league announced by PCB

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the launch of a women’s T20 league modelled along the lines of Pakistan Super League (PSL). The inaugural edition is set to run alongside next year’s PSL. Twelve games will be played, all of them in Rawalpindi, with the final to take place on March 18, 2023, the day before the Pakistan Super League final. The league will comprise of four teams, with 18 players per side, including six foreign players.


    “I am delighted to announce the women’s league. This league will attract young women cricketers to this great sport and help our current players further enhance their skills when they will get to share dug-outs with the overseas players. The league will feature present and past trailblazers in women’s cricket in what promises to be an exciting 13-match event,” said chairman PCB Ramiz Raja.


    “To amplify the coverage and promotion of this initiative, some of the matches will precede the HBL Pakistan Super League 8 matches,” he said, adding that the event is aligned to the strategy of making Pakistan a stronger cricket playing nation across all formats and genders. “We are not only creating attractive brands to strengthen our cricket economy, but through this tournament are also providing career opportunities to our women cricketers. The more our women cricketers will participate in high-pressure events, the more they will learn,” he observed.


    Ramiz Raja also stressed that PCB is a strong proponent of empowering women. “By engaging our women, who form 49 per cent of the country’s population, we will enhance the economic and social prosperity of our country,” he concluded.

  • PM Shehbaz to take decision regarding changes in PCB soon

    PM Shehbaz to take decision regarding changes in PCB soon

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif says that he will take a decision regarding the changes in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after consultation, according to Geo Urdu.

    When asked about changes at the PCB during a press conference at the Prime Minister’s House, PM Shehbaz Sharif responded, “When our government took charge, Chairman PCB Ramiz Raja was new, thus we thought that he should be given a chance so that he may show his performance.”

    The Prime Minister said that five, or six months is not a long time, and we will take a decision on this issue after consultation.

    It should be noted that former Test cricketer Rameez Raja was elected unopposed as the chairman of PCB on September 13, 2021.

    After the change of government of Imran Khan, there were questions about the future of Rameez Raja, but later Rameez Raja appointed other officials to work.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIc-ifh0z1I&t=1s