Tag: PSL

  • Babar Azam is the best player of Pakistan but is afraid of getting out: Simon Doull

    Babar Azam is the best player of Pakistan but is afraid of getting out: Simon Doull

    Kiwi Commentator Simon Doull has landed in hot waters after his sharp criticism of Pakistan captain Babar Azam.

    Opening up about the one on one conversation he had with Babar Azam during the Pakistan super league match between Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United, Doull said in a video that he thinks Babar Azam is afraid of getting out and that is where he needs to work.


    “I told Babar that you are the best player in the country but you are afraid of getting out. At some point of your innigns you need to play aggressive cricket and that was kind of the gist of my whole chat with him,” Doull said in the clip.


    “Someone texted me yesterday that Quinton de Kock slows down his innings while close to 100, did they win? Yes it’s ok to slow down the innings when you have a solid start and you are chasing at the home conditions but it’s not a good approach when there is not a set target ahead of you and you slow down the innings just for your personal milestone,” he added.


    “That was the whole crux of the comment. At times it gets blown out of proportion.

    I’ll never ever hide behind anything that I say. I said it at the time, I stuck by it, and I have no issue that I said it,” Simon concluded.

    Babar was criticised by Doull for slowing down to complete his maiden PSL century during the match between Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators in PSL. Doull got a lot of flak from the star batsman’s fans.

  • Is Ihsan Ullah the next Shoaib Akhtar?

    Is Ihsan Ullah the next Shoaib Akhtar?

    Pakistan Super League (PSL) pick, right hand pacer Ihsan Ullah had a fabulous debut against Afghanistan in the three match T20 series held in United Arab Emirates. In the first match, at Sharjah cricket stadium, Ihsan Ullah picked two wickets in his debut over.


    Ihsan Ullah is the product of PSL franchise Multan Sultans and had a great tournament, becoming one of the leading wicket takers of the PSL 8th season. His recent domestic performance was enough to earn a pick for the Afghanistan series at Sharjah.


    Despite losing the first two matches, the men in green managed to prevent a whitewash. Pakistan team bowlers defended a total of 183 runs in the last T20I at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Monday.


    The only pacer who bowled magnificently in all the three matches and stood out was Ihsan ullah.


    During the 11th over of the third T20 the pacer left Najibullah’s chin bleeding with a sharp bouncer, preventing the player from continuing the match.

    Najibullah was stable but could not resume his innings.

    Soon, Ihsanullah’s delivery went viral as social media users began comparing the firey bowler with former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar, who was known for his aggressive bowling style.

    Netizens gushed over Ihsanullah, saying the young fast bowler reminded them of the Pakistani great fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar.


    See how netizens react on Ihsan ullah’s quick delivery.

  • ‘Hamara Maqsad pura hogaya’; Shadab Khan after Afghanistan series

    ‘Hamara Maqsad pura hogaya’; Shadab Khan after Afghanistan series

    Shadab Khan, skipper for the Afghanistan T20 series, has said that even though Pakistan lost, the team achieved its goal of getting experience under the belt of the younger lot of players.

    “The conditions are really tough and it is not easy to bat in such conditions but I am happy that youngsters learned a lot from this series and they are quick learners,” said the substitute captain.

    Shadab stressed that as captain his only demand from youngsters is that they should have never give up, adding that his team really impressed him in the third match.

    “The motive of this series was to prepare our bench strength and we have achieved this motive,” he said in a post-match press conference after Pakistan sealed a consolation win in the third T20I on Monday.
    “Unfortunately the young players could not perform as we expected from them but definitely this new talent will prove beneficial for Pakistan in the future.”

    Joined by Saim Ayub, who scored 49 from 40 to help Pakistan set a massive 183-run target, the Pakistan captain hailed youngsters for their outstanding fightback under pressure and for outclassing the opponents in the competition.


    “We’re happy that we prevailed in this match and answered the criticism happening against us in the media”
    Saim, however, disclosed that the captain and team management had given constant support to the youngsters throughout the series.
    “Obviously one undergoes a tremendous amount of pressure when he plays for his country for the first time,” said the 20-year-old.


    “But I am happy that finally, I was able to score some runs after failures in the first two matches” he added.

    The skipper, however, went on to suggest that the top performers of the series should be given a chance in the future as well.

    “We must continue to support these new players as they all are very highly talented,” he requested to the nation.

    It may be noted here that left-handed opener Saim Ayub’s sensible knock and a combined dominant effort by the bowlers led Pakistan to a 66-run victory in the third T20I and finished the series 2-1 against Afghanistan.

    The national team suffered consecutive defeats after the inexperienced batting lineup slumped to batting collapses in the first two T20Is.

  • Did skipper Babar Azam really perform Umrah this Ramadan?

    Did skipper Babar Azam really perform Umrah this Ramadan?

    Ace batsman and new recipient of one of the most important civilian awards, Babar Azam, is in the limelight again after a picture of him performing Umrah has gone viral.

    Netizens are claiming that the captain of the cricket team is performing umrah again this Ramadan.

    In the photo, the skipper can be seen wearing the Ahram at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca. After the picture surfaced online, fans congratulated Babar for performing another Umrah as the latter was in Saudi Arabia last Ramadan too.

    Now Geo News has said that the this is fake news and Babar Azam is not performing Umrah this year. He was resting, having skipped the Afghanistan three-match T20 series too Sources told Geo Super that Babar Azam is not in Saudi Arabia and currently he is at his home in Lahore.


    The right-handed batsman will be participating in a first-ever Ramadan Cricket Tournament in Lahore, starting tomorrow. Reliable sources said that the cricketer is planning to perform Umrah later this Ramadan.

    Meanwhile, on Monday evening Babar shared a video while playing golf in Lahore.


    The superstar is set to lead the Ghani Institute of Cricket (GIC) in a Ramadan tournament. His team will also feature Shadab Khan, Hussain Talat, Usama Mir, and Abbas Afridi.

  • Nation will understand the value of Babar-Rizwan after this series says Shadab Khan

    Nation will understand the value of Babar-Rizwan after this series says Shadab Khan

    Afghanistan thrashes Pakistan and leading the three match series by 2-0 by defeating Pakistan in the second T20 at Sharjah cricket ground. Rashid khan led Afghanistan cricket team exposed the young Pakistan cricket team’s weaknesses.

    Shahdab Khan the substitute captain for Afghan series while talking to media in post-match press conference says “Nation will now give more respect and honor yo our legends after this series.

    Whenever Babar Azam and Muhammad Rizwan not performing or even when they are performing the sword of strike rate is hanging on their head now when they are not with us in the team we have all seen the importance of Babar and Rizwan.”

    Shadab khan more said that nation and media was forcing to take youngster in the team who have just perform in one PSL edition and some ex-players forcing management to give rest to the senior players like Babar and Rizwan now they will know the value of our legends.

  • Another Record for Rizwan as he gets 500 runs in PSL season 8

    Another Record for Rizwan as he gets 500 runs in PSL season 8

    Call him the Hit Man, or the Little Master, wicket-keeper Muhammad Rizwan just keeps piling on the records. The batting maestro has reached another milestone by scoring 500 runs for the third time in Pakistan Super League (PSL).


    Rizwan first scored 500 runs in PSL 6, then repeated the fear with 546 runs in PSL 7. Now he has again scored the 500 runs in the ongoing edition of Pakistan’s largest league.

    The wicket-keeper is becoming a brand day by day as per the saying of furious Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar “He who can speak and play well together can become a brand.” And Rizwan can do both.

    Rizwan is the first player to score 500 runs three consecutive times in the Pakistan Super league (PSL).
    The Sultans captain, who was the opening batter in the game, hit 10 boundaries and four sixes, staying on the pitch throughout the game.

    Since his debut in PSL in 2016, Rizwan has played in 70 matches, accumulating 1,962 runs in 59 innings. He has hit one century (during the ongoing season) and 16 fifties.

    Rizwan also has 178 fours and 45 sixes to his name.

  • Is Shoaib Malik going to test his fate in acting?

    Former captain Shoaib Malik might be making his way to the big screen soon.

    Talking about his future plans while hosting a talk show with his wife, Indian tennis star Sania Mirza, Malik expressed an interest in pursuing a career in acting. The all-rounder has already made his acting debut with the Pakistani film “Saya-e-Khuda-e-Zuljalal” in 2016, in which he played the role of a Pakistani soldier. Malik has also appeared in TV commercials in Pakistan. However, it is not clear if he intends to pursue acting as a full-time career or if he will continue to focus on cricket.

    Malik made his acting debut with a guest appearance in Mahira Khan’s drama series “Baarwan Khiladi”.

    “I can’t say yes or no right now. If any good project is offered, I will think about it. Maybe I do some good acting,” he hinted when asked about pursuing a career in showbiz.

    While talkin about the controversy surrounding former seamer Shoaib Akhtar’s statement about national team skipper Babar Azam, Malik supported the former speedster.

    “I have known Shoaib Bhai for a very long time. He gives blunt statements but never tries to hurt anyone,” Malik said.

    He said that he believes that the “statement was taken wrongly” while it might have been said for “betterment”.

    However, he added that in his view, English language shouldn’t be the criteria to judge someone.

    Malik has also worked in the 2019 movie “Silsilay”, in which he played the lead role. Malik has also made special appearances in other Pakistani movies, including “Punjab Nahi Jaungi” and “Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2”.

  • Qalandars vs Gladiators; who will win today?

    Qalandars vs Gladiators; who will win today?

    Tournament favourites Lahore Qalandars will face a team in trouble on Thursday. Quetta Gladiators are at the bottom of the points table while Qalandars are right on top.

    Lahore Qalandars fans are excited to watch Lahore vs Quetta in their home ground, but they are likely relaxed too after their team performed extraordinarily well in their first 4 games.

    Last time Lahore palyed against Quetta at the National Stadium, Qalandars thrashed the Gladiators, winning the match by 63 runs. Now Quetta Gladiators are ready to take revenge.

    Experts say that there is a strong chance of Lahore Qalandars maintaining their winning streak, with a complete batting and bowling line up. Spinner Rashid Khan can change the game single handedly, Shaheen Afridi is famous for grabbing first over wickets and the king of seam, Haris Rauf.

    Their batting line up is also strong in term of hitting in power play, with powerful hitters Fakhar Zaman and Kamran Ghulam.

    Shaheen Afridi’s team heads into the fixture after thumping Islamabad United by 110 runs in their previous outing. Quetta Gladiators have managed to win just one match in the tournament so far, with their chances of qualifying for the knockout stages of the competition looking increasingly bleak with each passing game.

  • Kings vs Zalmi: stats you need to know

    Rawalpindi cricket ground will host its first match of HBL PSL 8 on Wednesday, between rivals Peshawar Zalmi and Karachi Kings. Both teams are currently placed at the bottom of the points table.

    Babar Azam, top run scorer for Zalmi and the captain of the team, was previously a core member of Karachi Kings and leading the team in the last season. But the team did not perform well under his captaincy and lost all the important matches of PSL 7.

    Mohammad Amir, Karachi Kings’ frontline pace bowler, has been overtly critical of Babar Azam in several live televsion shows and on micro-blogging site Twitter. Even Imad Wasim, skipper of Karachi Kings, took a dig at Azam’s batting and leadership skills without being too vocal.

    The verbal gymnastics before the start of this PSL season renders the match between KAR and PES all the more interesting.

    It is too early to gauge their current position in the table. Ideally, both teams would want to earn two crucial points to stabilise their standing. Historically, when it comes to their head-to-head in the last five meetings, Zalmi have enjoyed an upper hand while winning all five encounters between the two.

    The Imad Wasim-led Karachi Kings will aim to overcome their failures and try to obtain a result in their favour in the much-awaited clash.

    Experts says that Peshawar Zalmi will be the favourite of today’s match but Imad led Kings will also fight for  crucial points to strengthen their place.

    Playing XI for Peshawar Zalmi

    Mohammad Haris (wk), Babar Azam (c), Saim Ayub, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Rovman Powell, James Neesham, Dasun Shanaka, Wahab Riaz, Sufiyan Muqeem, Usman Qadir, Arshad Iqbal

    Playing XI Karachi Kings

    P Matthew Wade (wk), James Vince, Tayyab Tahir, Shoaib Malik, Imad Wasim (c), Ben Cutting, Irfan Khan, Aamer Yamin, Muhammad Musa, Tabraiz Shamsi, Akif Javedlaying XI for Karachi Kings

  • PSL 8: Lahore Qalandars destroy Islamabad United by 110 runs

    PSL 8: Lahore Qalandars destroy Islamabad United by 110 runs

    Lahore Qalandars continued their winning streak on Monday, thrashing Islamabad United in the 16th fixture of PSL 8 by 110 runs at the Gaddafi stadium Lahore.

    Choosing to bat first, Qalandars set a massive target of 201 runs with the help of a sensational knock by young player Abdullah Shafique. Islamabad United’s strong batting lineup was eviscerated by Qalandars’ bowling attack, knocking them out in just 13.5 overs by conceding only 90 runs and a thrilling bowling display from David Wiese and Sikandar Raza.


    United, on the other hand, were left to revisit their planning.
    Qalandars captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, who had the stumps flying against Peshawar Zalmi in his first over a day earlier, did not bowl another classic against United.
    In reply to the huge total, United could not establish a productive partnership after Gurbaz and Munro put up 56-2 in the powerplay.
    Zaman Khan gave Lahore a much-needed breakthrough after openers Colin Munro and Gurbaz (23) helped Islamabad make a good start.

    Zaman delivered a slow short bowl that was mistimed by Gurbaz and Fakhar Zaman took a blinder to send the Afghan batter back to the pavilion.

    Soon after Gurbaz’s departure, Shaheen introduced David Wiese, who got the better of Colin Munro, reducing Islamabad to 54-2.

    The left-handed batter scored 18 runs off 14 balls.

    In the next over, fiery pacer Haris Rauf struck as he sent Rassie van der Dussen (3) packing.

    Wiese delivered again as he sent Islamabad’s skipper Shadab Khan (4) back to the pavilion after a successful review.

    In a bid to shore up the run rate, Asif Ali went for a six but ended up getting caught by Haris off Rashid Khan.

    Wiese added to Islamabad’s miseries by trapping Azam Khan for an lbw. The wicket-keeper batter, who scored 96 runs against Quetta Gladiators in their previous match, was sent packing after he scored only four runs.

    The wizard Rashid claimed his second scalp of the evening by bowling out Tom Curran (10).

    For Lahore, Wiese claimed three wickets, while Rashid and Raza took two scalps each. Zaman and Haris secured a wicket each.

    Playing XI for both teams

    Lahore Qalandars: Fakhar Zaman, Tahir Baig, Abdullah Shafique, Sam Billings (wk), Hussain Talat, Sikandar Raza, David Wiese, Rashid Khan, Shaheen Afridi (c), Haris Rauf, Zaman Khan

    Islamabad United: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Colin Munro, Rassie van der Dussen, Shadab Khan (c), Azam Khan (wk), Asif Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Tom Curran, Abrar Ahmed, Zeeshan Zameer, Hasan Ali