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  • ‘Unreal feeling,’ Azam Khan overjoyed at being selected for England, West Indies tour

    ‘Unreal feeling,’ Azam Khan overjoyed at being selected for England, West Indies tour

    Azam Khan is overjoyed at being selected for England and West Indies tour’s squad.

    “Unreal feeling right now. Literally overwhelmed! Representing your country is the ultimate goal of any professional athlete,” said Azam while expressing his happiness on his Twitter.

    Thanking his supporters and critics, the batsman said: “I want to thank both my supporters and critics for motivating me throughout my journey. Work hard and dream big. Pakistan zindabad.”

    https://twitter.com/MAzamKhan45/status/1400742994857369600?s=20

    Pakistan cricket selectors have recalled four experienced players and included uncapped Azam in the squad. The side will play three ODIs and as many T20Is in England from July 8-20, before taking on world champions West Indies in five T20Is that will be followed by two Tests.

    According to details, middle-order batsman Haris Sohail has been named in the ODI side, while Imad Wasim has returned to bolster the T20I side. Fast bowlers Mohammad Abbas and Naseem Shah have returned to the Test side.

    Yasir Shahā€™s inclusion is subject to fitness as the wrist spinner is yet to fully recover from the knee injury that sidelined him from the Zimbabwe Tests. The selectors have retained leg-spinner Zahid Mahmood along with left-arm spinner Nauman Ali and off-spinner Sajid Khan for the Jamaica Tests.

    Uncapped Saud Shakeel has also reclaimed his spot after missing South Africa ODIs due to an injury. Salman Ali Agha, who has lost his Test spot, has been called-up for ODIs.

    Fakhar Zaman has maintained his place in the original squad after being drafted as an additional player for Zimbabwe T20Is following a stellar performance in South Africa.

    Quetta Gladiatorsā€™ Azam Khan, the 22-year-old hard-hitting batsman, is the new face in the T20I squad.

    Squads

    ODIs: Babar Azam (captain) (Central Punjab), Shadab Khan (vice-captain) (Northern), Abdullah Shafique (Central Punjab), Faheem Ashraf (Central Punjab), Fakhar Zaman (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Haider Ali (Northern), Haris Rauf (Northern), Haris Sohail (Balochistan), Hasan Ali (Central Punjab), Imam-ul-Haq (Balochistan), Mohammad Hasnain (Sindh), Mohammad Nawaz (Northern), Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper) (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Salman Ali Agha (Southern Punjab), Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper) (Sindh), Saud Shakeel (Sindh), Shaheen Shah Afridi (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) and Usman Qadir (Central Punjab).

    T20Is: Babar Azam (captain) (Central Punjab), Shadab Khan (vice-captain) (Northern), Arshad Iqbal (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Azam Khan (Sindh), Faheem Ashraf (Central Punjab), Fakhar Zaman (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Haider Ali (Northern), Haris Rauf (Northern), Hasan Ali (Central Punjab), Imad Wasim (Northern), Mohammad Hafeez (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Mohammad Hasnain (Sindh), Mohammad Nawaz (Northern), Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper) (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Mohammad Wasim Jnr (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper) (Sindh), Shaheen Shah Afridi (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Sharjeel Khan (Sindh) and Usman Qadir (Central Punjab).

    Tests: Babar Azam (captain) (Central Punjab), Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper) (vice-captain) (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Abdullah Shafique (Central Punjab), Abid Ali (Central Punjab), Azhar Ali (Central Punjab), Faheem Ashraf (Central Punjab), Fawad Alam (Sindh), Haris Rauf (Northern), Hasan Ali (Central Punjab), Imran Butt (Balochistan), Mohammad Abbas (Southern Punjab), Mohammad Nawaz (Northern), Naseem Shah (Central Punjab), Nauman Ali (Northern), Sajid Khan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper) (Sindh), Saud Shakeel (Sindh), Shaheen Shah Afridi (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Shahnawaz Dahani (Sindh), Yasir Shah (Balochistan, subject to fitness) and Zahid Mahmood (Southern Punjab).

    Pakistan will be touring England from June 25 to July 20 and will be visiting West Indies from July 21 to August 25.

  • PSL set to resume on June 9, final on June 24

    PSL set to resume on June 9, final on June 24

    The sixth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) will resume from June 9, with the final match set to take place on June 24.

    The tournament will be played in Abu Dhabi, despite speculation in recent days that it was going to be moved to Sharjah. The compressed schedule means there will be as many as six double-headers, with the early games starting at 5pm Abu Dhabi time, and the evening matches at 8pm local time.

    Faizan Lakhani, a sports journalist, took to Twitter and wrote: “Its official now: PSL6 remainders from 9th to 24th June in Abu Dhabi. 6 double headers to be played. Matches to start at 9pm PKT. Double headers to be played at 6pm and 11pm PKT.”

    Ramiz Raja also confirmed the news on Twitter, saying: “Finally dates are out for HBLPSL6 – 9th to 24th- probably 4 double-headers. A journey full of twists and turns comparable to James Bond whirling around in his Aston Martin!”

    “The remaining matches of HBL PSL 6 will be played in Abu Dhabi from June 9 to 24,” said the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) spokesperson.

    “Six double-headers will be played during the event, including qualifier and element one. The matches of the tournament will start at 8 pm UAE time (9 pm Pakistan time). The first match on the day of double-headers will start at 5 pm UAE time (6 pm Pakistan time). On the day of double-headers, the second match will start at 10 pm (11 pm Pakistan time). The full schedule of the remaining matches of the tournament will be released shortly,” added the spokesperson.

    First Match will be played between Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

    The series witnessed aĀ haltĀ earlier this year after the Covid-19 bio-bubble was breached, and many positive cases emerged amongst the players and support staff members.

  • Babar Azam makes history, sweeps Zimbabwe Test series

    Babar Azam makes history, sweeps Zimbabwe Test series

    Babar Azam has become the first Pakistan captain to win his first four Tests as skipper as they swept the series against Zimbabwe 2-0 in Harare Sports Club on Monday.

    Azam lauded his players after they completed a successful southern Africa tour with a second straight innings victory over Zimbabwe then looked ahead to his team’s planned tour of the West Indies in July.

    It took Pakistan five overs to take the remaining Zimbabwe wicket to seal a win by an innings and 147 runs on the fourth day of the second Test. With the win,Ā AzamĀ also became the first Pakistan captain to win his first four Tests as skipper.

    Shaheen Shah Afridi had Luke Jongwe caught behind for 37 to complete a five-wicket haul. He took five for 52.

    Speaking at the post-match presentation, Babar said his players had shown character and he was particularly pleased with the performance of the batsmen, especially man-of-the-match Abid Ali, who scored 215 not out in Pakistan’s only innings.

    Abid, with his unbeaten double ton, received the Player of the Match award.

    Hassan Ali bagged Player of the Series award, after taking 14 wickets at an average of just 8.92.

    “The partnership between Abid and Azhar Ali was crucial,” he said. Azhar scored 126 in a second-wicket stand of 236.

    “The confidence of our batsmen will be high and we have an important series in the West Indies coming up,” said Babar.

    Meanwhile, Azam has been declared Player of the Month by the International Cricket Council (ICC) following his stunning performance in the ODI series against South Africa.

    Pakistan is due to play three Tests and three T20 Internationals (T20Is) in the Caribbean.

  • PCB completes first phase of COVID-19 vaccination for players, support staff

    PCB completes first phase of COVID-19 vaccination for players, support staff

    The Pakistan Cricket BoardĀ has completed the first phase of it’s Ā COVID-19 vaccination drive in collaboration with Pakistan government’s National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC).

    During this phase, Pakistan’s leading cricketers across all three formats and support staff were vaccinated.

    TheĀ PCB is one of the first cricket boards in the world to introduce a robust vaccination programme to ensure the health and safety of it’s players and support staff in the ongoingĀ Covid-19 pandemic.

    In the first phase, 57 men players, 13 officials of the men’s team and 13 NHPC men and women coaches were vaccinated. A number of franchise players and support staff besidesĀ PCBĀ match officials involved in the February-March phase of the Pakistan Super League (three match referees, three umpires) were also vaccinated.

    Read more – PCB introduces parental support policy for cricketers

    The vaccination drive started on March 4 in Karachi and carried on for more than two months, before its conclusion on May 6 when eight players — part of Pakistan’s squad for the ongoing Test series against Zimbabwe — were given second doses in Harare.

    As per details, In the next phase, remaining domestic men cricketers, national women cricketers, age-group cricketers and support staff of the domestic, national women and age-group teams will be vaccinated. The second-phase is expected to commence shortly.

    PCBĀ Chief Operating Officer Salman Naseer said: “TheĀ PCBĀ has a duty of care towards its cricketers, especially in the ongoing pandemic, and keeping that in mind we requested the NCOC for vaccines during the Pakistan Super League 6. The vaccination drive started in Karachi and our first priority was to get the players and support staff involved in the tournament vaccinated.

    “After the initial round of vaccination in Karachi, we focused on getting the remaining members of the men’s squad, who were not involved in PSL 6, vaccinated before the tours of South Africa and Zimbabwe.

    “We remain grateful to the NCOC for recognising the importance of vaccines for our players and prioritising them for national interest as both players and support staff are constantly traveling for domestic and international cricket commitments and carry infection risks especially once outside the bio-secure bubbles.

    “TheĀ PCBĀ is fully behind the government’s vaccination drive and once again urges people across Pakistan to get vaccinated in order to ensure the health and safety of their own selves and their families.

    “Our players — both men and women — andĀ PCBĀ management will continue to provide full support and backing to the NCOC vaccine awareness initiatives as they have done repeatedly since the outbreak of the pandemic last year.”

    Meanwhile, Pakistan Test Team, who is in Zimbabwe has elected to bat first against Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club in the second Test Match, after defeating the hosts 1-0 in the two-Test series.

  • PCB introduces parental support policy for cricketers

    The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced a parental support policy for cricketers under which, women cricketers are entitled to take up to 12 months of paidĀ maternity leaveĀ and will be guaranteed a contract extension for the following year. On the other hand male cricketers, who are expectant or new fathers, will also be entitled to up to 30 days of fully paid leave.

    According to a press release, the policy allows gives women cricketers “the option to transfer to a non-playing role until the commencement of their maternity leave leading up to the birth of their child.”

    Upon conclusion of the maternity leave, the player will be reintegrated into cricketing activities and provided adequate medical and physical support in respect to their post-childbirth rehabilitation.

    Similarly, if a woman player is required to travel for cricketing activities, the PCB will support the player by allowing her to travel with a support person of her choice to assist in caring for her infant child, with the travel and accommodation costs to be shared equally.

    Men players can take a fully paid leave within 56 days of the birth of their child.

    ā€œThe PCB has a duty of care towards its cricketers and at every turn, it has taken measures to support them. In this relation, it is appropriate that we have a player-friendly parental support policy so that our professional cricketers can feel fully supported during an important stage in their lives, without worrying about their careers,” said PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan in a statement.

    ā€œTo have this policy for our women cricketers was even more significant,” continued Khan. “Women play a pivotal role in the development of a society and our women cricketers have brought us laurels and recognition at the world stage.”

    ā€œNow that we have a maternity leave policy, I am hopeful that it will attract more women and girls to take up the sport as this will help them strike the crucial work-life balance,” he added.

    Former captain of Pakistani women cricket team Sana Mir appreciated the decision taken by the board and congratulated everyone involved.

  • Shoaib Malik blasts ‘unacquainted decision makers’ after humiliating defeat by Zimbabwe

    Shoaib Malik blasts ‘unacquainted decision makers’ after humiliating defeat by Zimbabwe

    Shoaib Malik has lambasted “unacquainted decision-makers” after a humiliating defeat by Zimbabwe in the second T20I at Harare Sports Club on Friday.

    Read more – PTI’s Faisal Javed rubbishes Mohammad Asif’s claims of meddling in playersā€™ selection process

    Pakistan’s struggles with the middle-order were laid bare in Harare as the team slumped to aĀ 19-run defeat, with Zimbabwe bowling them out for 99. Wobbles in the middle order have been a worry for much of Pakistan’s tours of South Africa and Zimbabwe, but the side had, by and large, escaped paying for it until now.

    Pakistan captainĀ Babar AzamĀ was sufficiently alarmed by Pakistan’s showing with the bat to warn solutions had to be found swiftly, with time running out before this year’s T20 World Cup.

    Taking to Twitter, Malik thrashed the management, saying: “Unacquainted decision makers need to take a step back; Babar and Chief Selector [Mohammad Wasim] need to call the shots. In my opinion, we need an international white-ball coach who understands cricket inside out and grooms our captain whilst giving clarity to our players for coming time.”

    The cricketer further said: “When your management relies on likes and dislikes especially when your cricket is just in surviving mode, then what else do expect as a nation?”

    “On top of that when you don’t let your captain take decisions this is bound to happen,” he added.

    In the post-match presentation ceremony, Azam said: “It’s a very painful performance. In South Africa, we had chased down 200; similarly here, we should have won this game comfortably. But unfortunately, we played poor cricket and continued to struggle in the middle order. Today, it was not just the middle order, but our batsmen right through couldn’t perform the way we expect them to. It was a collective collapse and we lost as a group. But credit to Zimbabwe who came back so strongly today.”

    Azam refused to make excuses for the defeat. “The wicket was similar to the other day but it was suitable [for batters] and that is not an excuse anyway. As a professional, you adapt to every condition but I think we as openers didn’t give a good start from the top and then our middle order was struggling to step up. The World T20 is closing in and we have to sort this out as soon as possible. The next game we will come back and make a good combination.”

    Meanwhile, there has been no official reaction from the PCB to Malik’s tweets yet, but as the fallout from Pakistan’s defeat grows, there are signs a man who made his debut in 1999 may yet be relevant to them in 2021.

    Zimbabwe beat Pakistan for the first time in T20I cricket in their 16th attempt, registering their first T20I win at home since 2016. The three-match series is currently level at 1-1, with the final game being played on Sunday.

    While Pakistan former speedster Shoaib Akhtar said: “Vulnerability of middle order badly exposed. Batsmen couldn’t tackle slow wicket. Embarrasing defeat. Have to come back stronger in the 3rd match.”

    Earlier, former captain of the Pakistan cricket team Shahid Afridi had also raised the middle-order crisis in Pakistan Cricket Team.

    While congratulating the Pakistani team on winning the T20I against South Africa, he emphasised the need to work on middle-order performances.

    ā€œDespite the victory, we need to review the middle-order performances where we seem to be struggling for a long time,ā€ wrote the former all-rounder on Twitter.

    He also suggested that since it is the T20 World Cup year, the team should consider bringing Malik back.

  • PCB books 300-room hotel in Karachi for PSL6

    PCB books 300-room hotel in Karachi for PSL6

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has booked a complete hotel for the remaining matches of Pakistan Super League (PSL 6). The 300-room hotel will accommodate all six teams, officials and commentators.

    According to details, all rooms, halls, conference rooms and restaurants will be fully managed by the PCB. Hotels, transport, ground staff and broadcasters will remain inside the bubble under COVID-19 protocols.

    PCB has also settled a deal with a British company to maintain the bio-secure bubble for PSL. The Board has prepared the agreement documents and has sent them to a UK-Based company named Restrata.

    After seeing the companyā€™s performance in the PSL, talks will be held with the company for the countryā€™s next cricket season.

    The bio-bubble protocols of the competition will be decided by Restrata. It will be their responsibility to fully implement the protocols, monitor and manage the bio-secure and have a response and reaction to positive tests.

    The board will formally announce the companyā€™s deployment after they sign the agreement.

    It must be noted here that PSL 6 was postponed due to the COVID-19 outbreak in the bio-secure bubble. As many as six cricketers and a staff member had tested COVID-19 positive.

    PCB announced last week that the remaining matches of the competition will be held from June 1-20 at the National Stadium in Karachi. All participants will be required to observe a seven-day quarantine period, which will commence from May 22 in one hotel. Following three days of training sessions, HBL PSL 6 matches will resume on June 1 with the final scheduled for June 20.

  • Indian govt greenlights visa issuance for Pakistan team for T20 World Cup

    Indian govt greenlights visa issuance for Pakistan team for T20 World Cup

    The Government of India has approved the request to issue visas to the Pakistan cricket team and journalists for the upcoming International Cricket Council (ICC) T20 World Cup, scheduled to take place from October to November this year.

    According to details, although visas for the Pakistan cricket team have been sorted, it isn’t clear whether fans can travel across the border to watch the matches.

    The Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCIā€™s) apex council has been told by Board secretary Jay Shah following ā€œgovernment assurancesā€.

    Shah informed the council of the same in a video conference meeting held on Friday where it was also decided that the mega-event will be staged across nine venues with Ahmedabadā€™s Narendra Modi Stadium hosting the final.

    ā€œThe visa issue of Pakistan cricket team has been sorted. However, whether the fans can travel across the border to watch matches is still not clear,ā€ an Apex Council member told the Press Trust of India on conditions of anonymity.

    ā€œIt will be decided in due course of time. However, we had promised ICC that it will be sorted.”

    Pakistan and India have not played bilateral cricket for close to a decade now due to political tensions between the two countries.

    Pakistan has been demanding assurances from the ICC that visas will be granted to its players for the 16-team extravaganza, which will complete seven editions this year.

    It must be noted here that the qualifying round for the mega event will take place firstly with teams divided into two groups. Sri Lanka, Ireland, Papua New Guinea, and Oman are placed in Group A whereas Bangladesh, Holland, Namibia, and Scotland will compete in Group B.

    For the main event, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand, West Indies, and two qualifying teams are part of Group 1 whereas India, South Africa, Afghanistan, England, and two qualifying teams are placed in Group 2.

    Two top teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals followed by the mega final, scheduled on November 15.

    The tournament is most likely to be played with COVID-19 protocols being enforced. The Decision regarding the crowd will be taken after monitoring the situation closer to the time.

  • Afridi wants PCB to review middle-order performances, suggests Shoaib Malik’s inclusion in T20Is

    Afridi wants PCB to review middle-order performances, suggests Shoaib Malik’s inclusion in T20Is

    Former captain of the Pakistan cricket team Shahid Afridi, while congratulating the Pakistani team on winning the T20I against South Africa, emphasised the need to work on middle-order performances.

    “Despite the victory, we need to review the middle-order performances where we seem to be struggling for a long time,” wrote the former all-rounder on Twitter.

    He also suggested that since it is the T20 World Cup year, the team should consider bringing Shoaib Malik back.

    On Friday, Pakistan defeated South Africa by three wickets in the last fixture of the four-match T20I series at the Supersport Park in Centurion and clinched the series 3-1.

    Pakistan, like South Africa, suffered a middle-order collapse as they went from 92-1 to 129-7.

    However, Mohammad Nawaz kept his cool in the end and was aided by some poor bowling by the hosts, allowing the tourists to cap the tour with a 3-1 T20I series win to go with the ODI triumph earlier this month.

    Pakistan will now depart for Zimbabwe on Saturday where they will play three T20Is on April 21, 23 and 25, followed by two Tests, which will be played from April 29 to May 3 and May 7-11.

    Malik went past 10,000 T20 career runs when he scored 74 in a domestic game in Rawalpindi in October 2020. He is the third batsman to have reached the landmark after Kieron Pollard (10,370 runs) and Chris Gayle (13,296 runs).

    The 39-year-old cricketer made his T20 debut in 2005 for Sialkot Stallions and has played 417 T20s in his career, scoring his 10,488 runs at an average of 37.06, with 64 half-centuries. He also has 151 wickets at 27.15, at an economy rate of 7.02.

    In his international career, Malik has played 116 T20Is, scoring 2,335 runs at an average of 31.13, with 8 half-centuries. He has 28 wickets at 23.53, at an economy rate of 7.08.

    MalikĀ became the third batsman to reachĀ 2000 runsĀ inĀ T20Ā Internationals after Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill. HeĀ reached the milestone during his 92ndĀ T20Ā innings against Zimbabwe in Harare. While Mohammad Hafeez became the second Pakistani player to reach 2000 run-mark, number ninth in total.

    The 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is scheduled to be played in October and November 2021 in India.

  • Babar, Rizwan lead Pakistan to record-breaking victory

    Babar, Rizwan lead Pakistan to record-breaking victory

    Pakistan has completed their highest successful T20I run-chase with 12 balls to spare, beating South Africa with nine wickets.

    A feast of batting is what we watched today with Pakistan taking a 2-1 lead in the series. All credit for this goes to the opening duo: Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan.

    Pakistan had never chased down a 200-plus target before this was only their second opportunity to do so and they’ve done it with two whole overs to spare. Babar has played an absolute blinder to lead the way, and Rizwan was the perfect foil, on a day when South African bowlers struggled for control in brilliant batting conditions. Babar and Rizwan put on 197, theĀ fourth-highest T20I partnership overall, and theĀ highest ever in a chase.

    South Africa scored 203 runs with the loss of only 5 wickets. Earlier, the pair ofĀ Janneman MalanĀ andĀ Aiden Markram, with the latter’s 31-ball 63 being his third successive T20I half-century. Markram bossed the show, with South Africa speeding along to 140 inside 13 overs.

    It is pertinent to mention here that Azam got to his first T20I hundred off just 49 balls, two days after he took 50 balls to score as many runs, smashing 15 boundaries and four sixes along the way.

    Talking to Ramiz Raja in the presentation ceremony, Babar said: “I had been waiting for this for a long time, I had planned for a long time, and today Allah has given me a chance to finish it. I stick to my strengths and play according to them, and the team’s requirements.”

    The batsman further shared: “Rizwan bhai also played outstanding innings. He was fasting (for Ramzan), and yet he batted and kept wickets, and was outstanding. We get a lot of confidence and belief looking at him.”

    “I also achieved a dream in one-day cricket today (No 1 ranking). I struggled hard, there was a lot of hard work that went into it. I keep trying to learn and add new things to my game, and I will keep trying to do the same,” said Babar, adding: “I think for our first six overs, we have to give credit to Malan and Markram for playing outstanding innings, until the 10-over mark, but the way we came back in the last five overs allowed us to restrict them to around 200.”