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Tag: Shoaib Akhtar

  • Danish Kaneria faced ‘discrimination’ for being a Hindu: Akhtar

    Former cricketing star Shoaib Akhtar has claimed that his teammate Danish Kaneria faced discrimination at the hands of a few Pakistani cricketers, who were reluctant to even eat with him because he is a Hindu.

    According to The News, Kaneria, who is only the second Hindu to play for Pakistan after his maternal uncle Anil Dalpat, took 261 wickets in 61 Tests at an average of 34.79, and also played 18 ODIs.

    Akhtar made the revelation during a show ‘Game on Hai‘ aired on PTV Sports, foreign media reported on Thursday. “In my career I fought with two three (in the team) when they started talking on regionalism. Things like ‘who is from Karachi, Punjab or Peshawar’, that used to infuriate.

    “So what if someone is a Hindu, he is doing well for the team. They used to say ‘sir ye yaaha se khaana kaise le raha ha‘ (how is he taking food from this place)?’” said the 44-year-old, who played 46 Tests and 163 ODIs. “The same Hindu won the Test for us against England. If he is taking a bagful of wickets for Pakistan, he should play. We could not have won the series without Kaneria’s effort. But not many gave him credit for that,” said Akhtar.

    When contacted, Kaneria supported Akhtar’s claims.

    “Shoaib has been a legend of the game. His words are also as blunt as his bowling. When I was playing I did not have the courage to speak on these matters but after Shoaib bhai’s comments, I do. He has always supported me and also Inzy bhai (Inzaman-ul-Haq), Mohammad Yusuf and Younis bhai (Younish bhai),” Kaneria told a news agency over phone from Karachi.

    “Those who did not support me, I will make their names public soon. Having said that, I feel fortunate and honoured that I got to play for Pakistan,” added Kaneria.

    Kaneria, now 39, was found guilty of spot-fixing alongside Mervyn Westfield while playing for Essex against Durham in 2009.

    The leg-spinner was found to have convinced Westfield to concede 12 runs during the one-day game. Westfield was handed a four-month prison sentence and ECB banned him for five years.

    Kaneria admitted to spot-fixing in 2018 after six years of denial.

  • Tom Cruise in ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ reminds Shoaib Akhtar of himself

    Tom Cruise’s superhit Top Gun is getting a sequel after 34 years and trailer of the film has set the hearts of fans racing. Among those who were excited about the film was Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar.

    The legendary cricketer took to Twitter to express his anticipation for the film, adding that the character reminded him of himself.

    Meanwhile, the action-packed trailer shows Cruise returning as a flight school instructor after 30 years of service.

    In the follow-up, Maverick shows a new class of fighter pilots how to duck, dip and dive in the sky. Scenic views, fancy jets, bomber jacks and aviator sunglasses are generously featured in the film.

    The original film was a huge commercial success, grossing $356 million worldwide from a $15 million budget.

    Top Gun: Maverick is expected to hit theaters on June 26, 2020.

    Watch the trailer here:

  • Fawad Alam will be part of Pakistan team against Sri Lanka, claims Shoaib Akhtar

    Pakistan legendary fast-bowler Shoaib Akhtar has claimed that batsman Fawad Alam will be included in the Test squad for home series against Sri Lanka. 

    Shoaib Akhtar broke the news on his YouTube channel on Sunday following Pakistan’s poor performance against Australia in Test series.

    The pacer said, “I’m giving you the breaking news here that Fawad Alam will be playing Test series against Sri Lanka”.

    Shoaib added: “He used to say that you should work so hard in silence that your success blows your trumpet. He [Fawad] has worked so hard his success is now screaming that ‘okay you do not play me for seven years? It’s fine. Now I will work so hard that I would make it impossible for you to ignore me’.”

    Watch Video:

    Fawad Alam, who last represented Pakistan cricket team in Test match way back in 2009, has scored 12000 runs at a stunning average of 56.57 in first-class cricket. He has scored 33 centuries as well.

    The Test series against Sri Lanka will begin on 11th December in Rawalpindi with the second match scheduled in Karachi from 19-23 December.

  • Celebs praise PM Khan for Kartapur opening

    Celebs praise PM Khan for Kartapur opening

    It was a historic day for Pakistan, India and their relations as the world witnessed the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor – an initiative that will allow 5,000 Indian Sikh pilgrims to visit the second holiest place for their community on a daily basis without a visa.

    The opening ceremony was performed on both sides of the border by Prime Minister Imran Khan on the Pakistan side and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Indian side.

    Like the rest of the country, Pakistani celebs including Mehwish Hayat, Wasim Akram, Mahira Khan and Humayun Saeed, took to social media to express their joy on this ‘corridor of peace’ and praised PM Khan and his government for taking this step and seeing this through.

    PM Khan’s cricket buddies Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar applauded him for this efforts.

    Read more: Aneel Mussarat didn’t get a selfie with Manmohan but guess who all he did get one with

    Armeena Khan and Mehwish also took this moment to compare the Kartarpur Corridor Project to the Ayodha Judgement that was announced earlier in the day.

    https://twitter.com/ArmeenaRK/status/1193062120067420160?s=20
  • Yuvraj Singh’s response to Shoaib Akhtar’s tweet will crack you up

    Yuvraj Singh’s response to Shoaib Akhtar’s tweet will crack you up

    Former Indian cricketing star Yuvraj Singh’s hilarious response to former Pakistani speedster Shoaib Akhtar’s tweet, wherein he had criticised England’s Jofra Archer, has gone viral over the internet.

    As per the details, Akhtar recently slammed Archer when the latter’s bouncer left Australian batsman Steve Smith rolling on the ground.

    He was seen sharing a laugh with English wicketkeeper Jos Buttler after Smith suffered a nasty blow to his head on day four of the 2nd Ashes Test at Lord’s on Sunday.

    Being a paceman himself, Akhtar criticised Archer over his reaction and tweeted:

    However, Akhtar’s reaction was met with a hilarious tweet by Yuvraj Singh, who wrote, “Yes you did! But your actual words were, hope you are alright mate cause there are a few more coming”.

    This isn’t the first time that the cricketing legends have passed wacky comments on each other’s tweets.

    In 2017, Akhtar had shared an inspirational quote by WWE icon and film star, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson:

    Reacting to the tweet, Singh had tweeted in Punjab:

    “Sounds good, but where are you headed for [some] welding job?”

  • VIDEO: Shoaib Akhtar slams ‘fat and unfit’ Sarfaraz after defeat to Windies

    A day after Pakistan faced a humiliating seven-wicket defeat to West Indies in their opening fixture of the 2019 ICC World Cup, Shoaib Akhtar has gone on to slam skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed for being “fat and unfit”.

    Pakistan were left red-faced on Friday when their batting order collapsed and the entire team went back to pavilion for just 105 runs. Windies, on the other hand, chased the target at the loss of three wickets.

    With the cricket team being severely criticised after the match, former cricketer Akhtar, who is no new to controversies, roasted Sarfaraz for his “lack of fitness” as the captain.

    “When Sarfaraz Ahmed came for the toss, his stomach was sticking out and his face was so fat,” he said.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    “He’s the first captain I’ve seen who is so unfit. He’s not able to move across and he’s struggling with wicket-keeping,” he added.

    “Speechless” was Akhtar’s first reaction as the result of the match came out.

    “Okay, the match is over. Recollecting my thoughts and emotions. We have to back these boys, they are representing our nation. They need our support throughout the World Cup,” he said in a subsequent tweet.

    Sarfaraz, during the post-match press conference, said he has full faith in the team and believes that the players will come back stronger after the disappointing result.

    The Greens will next take on hosts and hot favourites England on Monday.