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Tag: Shoaib Akhtar

  • 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.

  • ‘You named an IPL team not world XI’: Shoaib Akhtar slams ICC

    ‘You named an IPL team not world XI’: Shoaib Akhtar slams ICC

    Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has slammed the International Cricket Council (ICC) for not including a single Pakistan player in their T20I team of the decade, announced on Sunday.

    In a video posted to his YouTube channel, Akhtar criticised the parent body of cricket, terming their team of the decade an IPL XI instead of being a world cricket team.

    “They did not pick a single player from Pakistan in the team. We don’t need your (ICC) T20I Team of the Decade because you announced the IPL team, not a world cricket team,” Akhtar said in the video.

    The former speedster also cited the current T20I rankings indicating that Pakistan skipper Babar Azam should have been included in the T20I team of the decade.

    “I think ICC forgot that Pakistan is also a member of ICC and they also play T20I cricket. They did not pick Babar Azam, who is currently the number one batsman in the ICC T20I rankings.”

    Akhtar further openly criticised the working of ICC and claimed that the organisation is ruining the game for money.

    “ICC only thinks about money, sponsorships and TV rights. They introduced two new balls and three powerplays (in the ODI cricket). Where is Dennis Lillee, Jeff Thomson, big five of West Indies, Wasim (Akram) and Waqar (Younis)? Where are the world’s fastest bowlers and leg-spinners? They went away because ICC commercialised and materialised cricket so much and allowed ten leagues to earn more revenue,” Akhtar said.

    “They just want two World Cups in three years and leagues. ….There is a big difference between today’s cricket and in 70’s cricket. If there is no Sachin vs Shoaib then what’s the point of watching cricket? There is no big player than Babar Azam in T20I. He is a top-scorer for Pakistan and his averages show what he has done for the country, even in comparison with Virat Kohli. It is so embarrassing and I’m sure after this video they will think that they have to announce the World Team of the Decade, not the IPL team,” Sohaib concluded.

    Earlier in the day, ICC included Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, MS Dhoni, and Jasprit Bumrah in its T20I Team of the Decade. Dhoni has also been named as the skipper of the ICC’s T20I Team of the Decade.

    In the team, four players are from India, two are from Australia, two from West Indies, one from Sri Lanka, South Africa, andAfghanistan.

    Meanwhile, Pakistan cricket fans and analysts are enraged and questioning ICC for not including any Pakistani cricketer in the list. Here are some reactions:

  • ‘Mighty India crumbling down’: Akhtar trolls India on shameful defeat

    ‘Mighty India crumbling down’: Akhtar trolls India on shameful defeat

    Shoaib Akhtar has trolled the Indian cricket team after their shameful defeat by Australia in Adelaide Saturday.

    “I woke up and saw the score 369. I couldn’t believe it. Then I washed my eyes and saw the score 36/9. I couldn’t believe it either & went back to sleep,” wrote the former fast bowler on social media.

    Later in a video, the pacer said, “Embarrassing loss, embarrassing batting. World’s mightiest batting crumbling down.”

    “Humara bhi record torr dia inho ne, 36 all out. This is a disgraceful and terrible performance,” he continued. “It happens in cricket and this is what will happen to you. Bear it and bear the criticism.”

    “Mighty India crashing down, crumbling down,” he added.

    Akhtar didn’t stop there and posted another video on Twitter with a caption, saying, “This will not be forgotten easily. Must come back very strongly from here. Theek thaak phentii pari hai.”

    Similarly, Wasim Akram also expressed his shock over the score, commenting: “What a spell by the Australians. Pace matters.”

    Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Science and Technology, Fawad Chaudhry also trolled the team by tweeting the hashtag ‘Australian Surgical Strike’.

    Australia’s world-class pace attack dismissed India for their lowest ever Test score of 36-9 in second innings of the opening Test Match of the series and defeated them chasing the target of 90 runs with eight wickets in hand.

    India started day three of the day-night Test on nine for one and with a 62-run lead, looking to build a competitive second innings total for Australia to chase. But their hopes were left in tatters after an exhibition of fast bowling by Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins.

    It was the last Australia will see of Virat Kohli batting this summer, with the captain missing the final three Tests to return home for the birth of his first child.

  • Shoaib Akhtar says women should be allowed to wear whatever they want

    Shoaib Akhtar says women should be allowed to wear whatever they want

    Pakistan former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has opened up about his spiritual side. While the cricketer, also referred to as the Rawalpindi Express is known for his aggression and hard talk, in an interview insisted on revealing another side of himself.

    Read more – Tom Cruise in ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ reminds Shoaib Akhtar of himself

    In the recent interview with Mira Sethi, Shoaib said, “In my life I have been taking lessons from Islamic scholars. I have read Islamic books for knowledge.”

    “Then the fantasy of life started again. From the age of 16 till 36, I left everything and lived my life. I saw the world,” he continued.

    He further said: “I’m not a scholar, but I’m very close to my religion. Our religion gives us freedom and advises us to give freedom to others too. Our forefathers were brilliant personalities as they were very close to our religion. I have even visited Karbala and it was a great experience.”

    Talking about women and their choice of clothing, he said, “If you can’t help women at least give them space. Whatever they wear, it is between them and their Allah. Who are you to say anything? [Tum mamay lagtay ho? Saray thanaydar ban kay aa jatay ho].”

    Talking about his wife, he said that she does the niqab and that it is her own decision.

    “I’ve never asked her to wear it,” shared Akhtar.

  • Shoaib Akhtar praises Indian artist for making amazing sketches of him

    Shoaib Akhtar recently praised an Indian artist for drawing a hyper-realistic ballpoint sketch of the former cricketer.

    Chitrakar, a freelance artist from New Delhi had posted his art on Instagram. The sketch shows two expressions of the fast bowler, one in black ink and the other in red.

    Taking to Twitter, the cricketer wrote, “I can’t thank you guys enough who make these illustrations by giving so much time & dedication.”

  • ‘Behave yourself’: Shoaib Akhtar slams NZ Cricket over tour threat

    ‘Behave yourself’: Shoaib Akhtar slams NZ Cricket over tour threat

    Pakistan cricket legend Shoaib Akhtar has hit out at New Zealand Cricket (NZC) for threatening to cancel Pakistan’s tour after six Pakistani players tested positive for COVID-19 at their managed isolation facility in Christchurch.

    Akhtar warned NZC to “behave” themselves for threatening to cancel the tour, accusing the New Zealand governing body of “treating the Pakistan team like a club team”.

    “New Zealand’s comment that if Pakistan team’s SOPs (standard operating procedures) are not in place then they will cancel the tour, is below the belt,” Akhtar said in a video on his YouTube channel.

    “I want to give a message to NZC that this is not a club team, it’s Pakistan national cricket team,” said the former cricketer. “We don’t need you. Our cricket has not finished.”

    Akhtar went on to say, “You will get money for broadcasting rights. So, you should be indebted to us that we decided to tour your country in such difficult times.”

    “You are talking about Pakistan — the greatest country on the planet — so behave yourself and stop giving such statements. Be careful next time. Pakistan team now needs to smash them in T20 series.”

    “The PCB should show some toughness,” he remarked.

    Akhtar also said, “If I was in their place, I would have given a statement saying that if NZC isn’t happy, we won’t play them and will bring our team back and we won’t play against you for five years.”

    Earlier, NZC was appraised that some members of the Pakistan team had violated protocols on the first day of managed isolation. The entire team was given a “final warning” by the government for breaching rules.

    New Zealand’s Ministry of Health stated that several team members had been seen on CCTV at the facility breaching managed isolation rules despite “clear, consistent and detailed communication of expected behaviors while in the facility”.

    In a statement, the ministry said that the team as a whole has been issued a final warning.

    The health ministry shared that the 53 members of the squad arrived in Christchurch on November 24 and were tested on day one, with the six cases coming as a result of the tests.

    All cases were being moved to quarantine rooms within the facility. Members of the team will be tested a minimum of four times while in managed isolation, the health ministry informed.

    While Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has not officially confirmed the names, journalists have shared their pictures which include former captain Sarfraz Ahmed, Abid Ali, Mohammad Abbas, Rohail Nazir, Danish Aziz and Naseem Shah.

    According to reports, the players are unhappy in quarantine, especially after the positive cases and the isolation feels like a prison sentence for them.

    Players weren’t able to condole with middle-order batsman Khushdil Shah, whose father passed away recently. The process was carried out through phone calls, instead.

    Pakistan is set to face the Black Caps in three T20 internationals and two tests, with the first match on December 18.

  • PCB’s legal advisor sues Shoaib Akhtar for defamation

    PCB’s legal advisor sues Shoaib Akhtar for defamation

    Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) legal advisor Tafazzul Rizvi has filed a Rs10 million defamation lawsuit against former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar for calling him “an inept person of the highest order,” “do takkay ka lawyer” along with other allegations.

    Akhtar, in a video posted to his YouTube channel, had strongly criticised the Board and its legal team, especially Rizvi, and had accused him of profiteering by creating protracted legal disputes between the Board and its players.

    Speaking on the matter, Rizvi said, “Shoaib Akhtar’s comments have affected my goodwill. He said false things about me on social media. His remarks were seen and heard abroad as well which is why I decided to take legal action against him.”

    The PCB advisor further said that he will take action against Akhtar outside of Pakistan and that he has also “submitted a criminal complaint to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) under the cybercrime act.”

    Akhtar, while discussing the three-year ban on Umar Akmal on his YouTube channel, had accused PCB and its legal team of giving cover to corrupt cricketers of their choice but “feeding other out-of-favours ones to the lions.” He said that this had enabled the menace of match-fixing.

    “The Board has given cover to, saved and rehabilitated match-fixers, which has developed this mindset that ‘Okay I will serve my six-month or two years ban but will be back again like Sharjeel Khan’,” Akhtar said in the video.

    Akhtar asserted that formal laws need to be put in place to curb corruption in the sport. He also suggested that the issue of match-fixing and the treatment of guilty cricketers should be taken out of the Board’s hands.

    “The PCB’s legal department is rotten to the core,” remarked Akhtar. “Tafazzul Rizvi, in particular, is one such individual. He has deep connections and has been with the board for 10-15 years. There has never been a case that he has not lost. What irked me the most was when he dragged Shahid Afridi through the courts.”

    Meanwhile, PCB has said that while they are not backing the legal notice as yet, they are disappointed with Akhtar’s disrespectful outburst.

    “The PCB is disappointed with Shoaib Akhtar’s poor choice of words while publically commenting about the PCB’s legal department and its legal advisor,” said the board in a press release. “The language used by Shoaib Akhtar was highly inappropriate and disrespectful, and cannot be condoned in any civilised society. The PCB’s legal advisor, Mr Taffazul Rizvi, in his own discretion, has initiated defamation and criminal proceedings against Shoaib Akhtar, while the PCB too reserves its rights.”

  • Shoaib Akhtar pokes fun at Saqlain Mushtaq after his daughter gives him a makeover

    Shoaib Akhtar pokes fun at Saqlain Mushtaq after his daughter gives him a makeover

    Legendary British-Pakistani cricketer Saqlain Mushtaq recently got a makeover from his young daughter and the proud dad was not afraid to post a video of himself showing off his daughter’s makeup skills.

    Saqlain’s daughter had not only used turquoise eyeshadow and pink lipstick on her dad but also made him into a redhead with a wig.

    Showing off his look, Mushtaq in the video said, “She is a makeup artist. We are in quarantine. A couple of years back, she did my makeup and I put it up on Twitter and you guys really liked it. And today she forcefully said to me she wants to play with me again and she brought all my new get up and did my makeup and my new wig, my new get up. Are you happy? She is very happy and we all are very happy. Stay at home, stay safe, look beautiful and enjoy with your loved ones.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B-pt_bRH1S7/

    Most Twitter users lauded Saqlain for being a good sport.

    Meanwhile Shoaib Akhtar decided to poke fun at Mushtaq, as well as Wasim Akram who was also recently spotted sporting a wig.

    “Look what Quarantine has done to some people. Sigh,” joked Akhtar.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B-rGigVnLRi/

    However, our national bhabhi, Shaniera Akram was quick to hit back at Akhtar. Shaniera posted a funny picture of Akhtar, adding that this was taken before quarantine.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B-rkM80jR9Q/

    Earlier, Shaniera had also posted a video of Wasim getting his hair done by their daughter Aiyla.

    Are girl dads the best?

  • Shoaib Akhtar says Fakhar Zaman ‘does not have a brain’

    Shoaib Akhtar says Fakhar Zaman ‘does not have a brain’

    Former Pakistan paceman Shoaib Akhtar has slammed Fakhar Zaman for being “reckless and not putting his hand up while performing for his side in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL)”.

    Akhtar’s remarks came after Zaman, who is playing for Lahore Qalandars, struggled to hit any form in the competition. The left-hander had scored 76 runs in four games, with an average of 24.66 and a strike-rate of 125.42 in the first three matches with 74 runs.

    “The person who doesn’t have a brain is Fakhar Zaman. When you have one player [Chris Lynn] who is already playing fast, then Fakhar needs to understand that he can slow down a bit,” Akhtar said in a YouTube video as quoted by Cricket Pakistan.

    “Chris Lynn is not some Viv Richards. Lynn plays well where there is equal bounce like Australia. He is good aggressive player, but you need just one aggressive player like that.

    “Qalandars batting line-up is made up of similar kind of batsmen who just believes in senseless hitting. You can play aggressively and take chances in the powerplay, but in the next 14 overs you need to know how to anchor the innings, take quick singles and then finish well.”

    Shoaib Akhtar, who never minces his words, has been critical of Zaman earlier too. When Pakistan lost to India in the World Cup clash last year, he questioned his technique and the way Zaman reacted to pressure.

    Qalandars will tonight be playing two-time champions of the PSL, Islamabad United, for the second time in the ongoing tournament.

  • I have more money than he has hair: Shoaib Akhtar about India’s Sehwag

    I have more money than he has hair: Shoaib Akhtar about India’s Sehwag

    Former Pakistani bowling star Shoaib Akhtar has dismissed former Indian batsman Virender Sehwag’s claim that Rawalpindi Express showers praise on India because “it makes business”.

    An old video, showcasing Sehwag, had recently resurfaced and made waves on social media in which the former Indian sportsman says Akhtar praises cricket rivals as it would make him a quick buck, The News reported.

    Akhtar, while speaking to a private media outlet on Wednesday, explained that the video was taken out of proportion and sarcastically remarked that he had “more money than Sehwag had hair on his head”.

    “Sehwag is a great friend of mine. He spoke these words in a light-heartened way but people were quick to take things out of context,” he said. “I mean, I have more money than he has hair on his head.”

    Furthermore, Akhtar clarified that other big names in Pakistan cricket would share kind words for the neighbours and added that “jealous” people want to divide the two cricket nations.

    “I have fans across the world, not just in India. That’s why I have the fastest growing YouTube channel. It does not mean that I’m looking to make money if I compliment them. Ramiz Raja and Rashid Latif say good things about India as well.”

    “I do think that there is a factor of jealousy, I have been targeted time and time again we are already politically divided but now people want to divide cricket as well,” he said.