Current Final

Tag: sports

  • Equal pay, new contracts, and room for improvement; what is happening in women’s cricket around the world?

    Pakistan

    It is the first time that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has given domestic contracts to 74 women cricketers. The period of the contracts is 11 months. 43 players are classified as emerging cricketers while 16 Under-19 cricketers. Thirteen of the players contracted have played international cricket. Among the many are Javeria Khan, Kainat Imtiaz, Anam Amin, Iram Javed and Gull Feroza who previously had central contracts.

    These cricketers will be paid the same monthly retainer. However, match and appearance fees, and travel and accommodation costs, will vary. ESPNcricinfo writes that “while the salaries are relatively modest, the fact that these contracts have been awarded at all will count as progress of some kind in Pakistan. In addition, the players will be offered a share in any prize money won”.

    A PCB press release stated that domestic contracts have been given to “individuals who have displayed remarkable performances across various cricketing platforms, including domestic cricket tournaments, emerging tournaments, U-19 domestic tournament, and the ICC U-19 Women’s World Cup,”.

    “I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the 74 women cricketers who have earned these contracts through their sheer talent and dedication,” PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf said. “Today marks a significant and joyous occasion for the Pakistan Cricket Board as we take a historic step towards uplifting women’s cricket in our nation.

    “This initiative isn’t just about signing contracts, it’s about investing in the dreams and aspirations of these extraordinary athletes. Our women cricketers have consistently showcased exceptional skills and dedication on the field, and it is high time we provide them with the platform they deserve.”

    West Indies

    In a recent conversation on Ladies Who Switch podcast, former West Indies cricket player Deandra Dottin alluded to the country’s cricket board, emphasizing the need to prioritize the players’ “respect and resources”. She has warned that negligence can have serious repercussions for Caribbean cricket.

    Dottin reflected on the issues she encountered during her time as a cricketer. She highlighted the negligence towards the needs of the players, “both in terms of resources and respect”, reports Sports Max. Dottin emphasized that the player will not be able to perform without required attention and a supportive space:

    “To be honest, there’s been a lot going on in the camp and so much I’ve been through, so many things that needed to be sorted out, and the players not getting the respect and basically the attention because there are things that needed to be done in order for players to actually perform to the best of their ability,” she said.

    Dottin announced her retirement from international cricket a year ago, claiming that the team environment was one of the reasons for her decision. She had a distinguished career of 14 years that includes the 2016 T20 World Cup title and the first century in Women’s T20 Internationals.

    Now, Dottin is among male and female cricketers working on franchise tournaments worldwide. She is associated with teams such as Manchester Originals, Adelaide Strikers, Trinbago Knight Riders, and Barmy Army.

    She believes that these leagues have more support to offer in comparison to the West Indies setup.

    “You will see a player come into West Indies Cricket and then you actually see they disappear… it’s basically like you’re getting what you want out of me and then you just throw me aside,” Dottin said.

    South Africa

    After New Zealand and India, Cricket South Africa (CSA) announces an equal international-match fee for their men and women’s players. This news came the same day as the announcement of a six-team professional domestic system for women.

    The past 18 months for the team were a great success as they reached the semi-finals of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in New Zealand in 2022 and then made it through to the final while hosting the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup this year.

    It was the first time a senior South African team reached the World Cup final. Prominent individuals from the fraternity congregated in Tshwane on Tuesday to make the two celebratory announcements.

    Teams in South African domestic competition can now contract up to 11 players instead of 6. They will also have full-time coaches and support staff.

    “We are thrilled to unveil the Professional Women’s Cricket League, an initiative that celebrates the remarkable achievements of our national women’s cricket team and paves the way for an even brighter future,” said Cricket South Africa CEO Pholetsi Moseki.
    “Professionalising the women’s domestic structure has been met with enthusiasm from fans, players, and sponsors alike.”

  • Usama Khan, Yumna Zaidi set to star together in sports film ‘Nayab’

    Usama Khan, Yumna Zaidi set to star together in sports film ‘Nayab’

    It is confirmed now that actor Usama Khan will star along side nation’s darling Yumna Zaidi in the sports film ‘Nayab’. This will be the first time the two will be co-starring together on the big screen.

    Yumna Zaidi set expectations high when in an interview with Independent Urdu, the actress revealed that her character Nayab is a girl from Karachi who dreams of becoming a cricketer, but is hesitant to follow her dreams, fearing patriarchal society backlash.

    “It’s a brilliant story and it is meaningful,” the ‘Tere Bin’ actress gushed. “The whole team is trying their best to execute it the way it should be. Now that we’ve chosen good content, we want to do justice with it so that the audience also enjoys it when they go to the cinema.”

    Speaking about how much she has been practicing to learn how to play cricket, admitting that she had never picked up a bat or ball before this shoot.

    “I believe that cricket is almost a craze in Pakistan but I don’t know why or how but I had never picked a bat or ball before this shoot. I have been practising a lot. From the initial ABCs of cricket to practice matches on the final pitch, it’s been a long process and I thoroughly enjoyed it.”

    But Yumna elaborated that she did her best to learn all she could about the sport in an effort to do justice to her character, to avoid stereotyping the role

    “When you’re trying to perfect an accent for a role, or representing a tribe in a drama, you have to work very hard to avoid stereotyping them. It’s the same with this role. All of my attention, my focus has been here. I want to do justice to this character, to this girl who worships cricket.”

    Yumna became uber-popular with her portrayal of Meerab in the drama ‘Tere Bin’. Her co-lead and real-life best friend Wahaj Ali has gone to greater heights with the Green Entertainment drama ’22 Qadam’. We are happy to witness the two consistently setting the bar higher, and reviving the sports genre that the Pakistani entertainment industry truly needed.

  • Pakistan women’s football team set to participate in six-nation tournament in Saudi Arabia next month

    Pakistan women’s football team set to participate in six-nation tournament in Saudi Arabia next month

    Pakistan’s women’s football team is set to participate in a six-nation tournament hosted by Saudi Arabia from September 18 to 30, as confirmed by the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF). The tournament will include teams from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Laos, Malaysia, and Bhutan. The PFF will soon announce a training camp to prepare the women’s squad for the upcoming event.

    The PFF released a statement mentioning that the Pakistan women’s football team will be part of the six-nation tournament taking place in Saudi Arabia from September 18 to 30.

    In January of this year, Pakistan traveled to Saudi Arabia for a four-nation tournament, competing against Comoros and Mauritius. The team achieved victory against Comoros but lost to Mauritius 2-1. They concluded the tournament on a strong note by drawing 1-1 against Saudi Arabia, which ultimately won the tournament.

    According to Arab News, one of the recent accomplishments of the Pakistani women’s football team was a significant 7-0 triumph over the Maldives in the South Asian Football Federation championship in September 2022. In April of the same year, Pakistan achieved an impressive 1-0 victory over Tajikistan in the qualifiers for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

    This win marked Pakistan’s first major tournament victory since resuming regular international football in September 2022, following a lengthy break. Previously, the team had secured victories mainly in friendly matches or exhibition tournaments such as the Four-Nation Cup in Saudi Arabia.

  • ‘PCB should delete the video and apologise,’ Wasim Akram shocked at cricket tribute video ‘minus the great Imran Khan’

    ‘PCB should delete the video and apologise,’ Wasim Akram shocked at cricket tribute video ‘minus the great Imran Khan’

    On Pakistan’s Independence Day, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) posted a video on X (formerly Twitter), paying tribute to Pakistan cricket over the years. “Making history isn’t just about one day, it’s about the legends we create and the tales we script…Pakistan Cricket Team – a legacy that echoes through time,” tweeted PCB with the video.

    https://twitter.com/TheRealPCB/status/1691091543350771712

    Interestingly, the video did not show former Pakistan cricket captain Imran Khan except for a short glimpse. You’d probably miss him if you blinked. Sports journalist Faizan Lakhani noticed this “bareek kaam”.

    PCB has come under fire since posting the video.

    Former cricket captain and one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time, Wasim Akram, slammed PCB in a tweet.

    “After long flights and hours of transit before reaching Sri Lanka, I got the shock of my life when I watched PCB’s short clip on the history of Pakistan cricket minus the great Imran Khan… political differences apart but Imran Khan is an icon of world cricket and developed Pakistan into a strong unit in his time and gave us a pathway… PCB should delete the video and apologise,” tweeted Wasim Akram on X (former Twitter).

    Caretaker Sports Minister and former pacer Wahab Riaz also criticised the PCB in a press conference.

    “We can never forget the ’92 World Cup. We can never forget the captain. We have always idealised him [Khan] and Insha’Allah, I believe the young generation will also idealise their stars,” said Wahab Riaz.

    Imran Khan is considered to be one of the best and most iconic players in Pakistan’s cricket history. Khan played 88 Tests and 175 ODIs for Pakistan. Khan also led Pakistan to its first series victory in England in 1987 and under his captaincy, Pakistan won the 1992 World Cup.

    Former Captain Pakistan Women’s Cricket Urooj Mumtaz Khan took a dig at PCB and posted, “Imran Khan will go down in history as one of the greats of the global game!”

    Here are some other reactions from users on X (former Twitter):

  • Which male celebrity wants to marry Babar Azam?

    Which male celebrity wants to marry Babar Azam?

    Former Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, Rameez Raja’s effusive praise for Babar Azam during his commentary at the Lanka Premier League (LPL) has set the internet abuzz. Raja expressed his admiration for Babar Azam in a rather unique manner after the latter scored a century in a LPL match on Monday. Rameez Raja’s comment, “I want to marry Babar,” has gone viral on social media, garnering considerable attention and sparking discussions.

    Notably, Babar Azam delivered an exceptional century while representing the Colombo Strikers against the Galle Titans at the Paley Kale International Cricket Stadium. This outstanding achievement not only created a buzz within Pakistan but also captured the attention of cricket enthusiasts in Sri Lanka.

    In the match, the Galle Titans set a target of 189 runs for the Strikers. Babar Azam, partnering with Pathum Nissanka, opened the Strikers’ innings and together, they established an impressive 111-run partnership with the Sri Lankan batsman. Babar Azam’s stellar performance included 8 boundaries and 5 sixes, allowing him to reach a total score of 104 runs off just 59 balls.

    It is worth noting that Ramiz Raja resumed his role as a commentator during the recently concluded Test series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Raja had been absent from the commentary box since September 2021, following his election as the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for a three-year term.

  • Pakistan’s Hamza Khan wins World Junior Squash Championship in thrilling final

    Pakistan’s Hamza Khan wins World Junior Squash Championship in thrilling final

    In a nail-biting final at the World Junior Squash Championship, Pakistan’s rising star, Hamza Khan, secured a sensational victory against Egypt’s Mohamed Zakaria in Melbourne on Sunday.

    The epic battle witnessed Hamza’s remarkable tenacity as he staged a sensational comeback after losing the first game. The scoreboard read 10-12, 14-12, 11-3, and 11-6 in favor of Hamza, making him the first player from Pakistan to achieve this triumph since Jansher Khan’s victory 37 years ago.

    Throughout the tournament, Hamza’s skills shone brightly, conquering formidable opponents to reach the pinnacle of the event. His semi-final clash against French player Melvil Scianimanico left spectators in awe, as Hamza defied the odds to secure a thrilling win.

    With this historic triumph, Hamza Khan’s name is now etched in the illustrious history of the World Junior Squash Championship.

  • ’22 Qadam’ is the long awaited sports drama Pakistan truly needed

    ’22 Qadam’ is the long awaited sports drama Pakistan truly needed

    It’s no surprise that Pakistan is bursting with stories that desperately need to be told on the big screen, but our attention always falls back to the same old ‘saas bahu jhagray’. But this time, Green Entertainment is proving that good, diverse story telling is back in the game with a series of dramas released last week that have been receiving praise from audiences. Among them ’22 Qadam’ looks like a real game-changer because it is truly the first time that we’re getting a good sports drama, that too about women.

    There haven’t been good sports biopics made on Pakistani players, considering how impressive the list of icons is. There was the rare gem of a telefilm ‘Bhaag Amina Bhaag’ released in 2011, starring Amina Sheikh as female Pakistani athlete Naseem Hamid, who won a gold medal at the 11th South Asian Games in Bangladesh. Since then, a biopic on Shoaib Akhtar was in the works but the former cricket star announced that he was leaving the project. It’s disappointing how no attempt was made by our entertainment industry to explore the lives of sports stars, but it feels like ’22 Qadam’ is taking a step in the right direction. The story revolves around a woman’s passion for cricket, leading her to becoming a national player.

    Helmed by the powerful performances by Hareem Farooq and Wahaj Ali, ’22 Qadam is for all those who grew up loving the Bollywood film ‘Chak De! India’ and how it championed women in sports, a long neglected issue that remains pushed out of the spotlight because of patriarchal assumptions that women can’t play sports, and how underfunded this issue remains. The series focuses on a spirited, confident woman Fari who dreams of becoming a cricket player, and her luck turns around when she gets an opportunity to meet the famous cricket player Sana Mir, who makes a cameo in the second episode as a visitor in a girl’s college, and advises Fari to never give up on her dream. As Fari is climbing up the ladder to success, the series alternates with the story of Jimmy, a former cricket star who after an injury, was forced to give up on the game and take a back seat.

    “When we came up with this concept,” Farooq told The Current when the series was announced. “The thought behind it was that we need to empower women in the best way possible and there is no way better than projecting women in sports. Cricket, especially being the most loved sport in South-Asia.”

    She also stressed on the importance of such a drama that would not only be enjoyed by people, but also educate them about breaking stereotypes, calling ’22 Qadam’: ‘the voice of the unheard’.

    Since the two episodes went up on social media, clearly online audiences share our joy because the feedback has been nothing but positive.

  • Alcaraz beats Djokovic to claim first Wimbledon title in five-set final

    Alcaraz beats Djokovic to claim first Wimbledon title in five-set final

    In a thrilling five-set men’s final on Sunday, World No 1 Carlos Alcaraz defeated reigning champion Novak Djokovic to claim his first Wimbledon title.

    After nearly five hours on Centre Court, the Spaniard emerged victorious with a score of 1-6 7-6 (8-6) 6-1 3-6 6-4. Alcaraz tumbled to the court in celebration and volleyed a tennis ball into the crowd.

    At just 20 years old, Alcaraz becomes the third-youngest Wimbledon champion in the Open Era and adds a second major title to his record, having won the US Open last year. Despite facing the formidable challenge of an in-form Djokovic, widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players in history, Alcaraz fought back from a set down.

    As Djokovic’s attempted return failed to clear the net, a new Wimbledon champion was crowned, solidifying Alcaraz’s position as a leader among the sport’s next generation.

    In his on-court interview afterward, Alcaraz expressed his elation, stating, “Well, it’s a dream come true for me. For me, it’s incredible. As I said, it’s a dream come true to be able to play on this stage. It’s amazing for a 20-year-old boy. I didn’t expect to reach these kinds of situations so quickly.”

    Alcaraz also expressed pride in himself and his team for the hard work they put in every day, leading up to this momentous experience.

  • Ahmedabad will host India vs Pakistan World Cup match, ICC reveals schedule

    Ahmedabad will host India vs Pakistan World Cup match, ICC reveals schedule

    Ahmedabad is set to host the all-important India vs Pakistan World Cup, as International Cricket Council (ICC) has revealed the schedule for the mega event.

    The Cricket World Cup 2023 will be held in 10 venues across 46 days later this year.

    The World Cup kicks off on October 5 with a repeat of the 2019 Final as England take on New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

    Hosts India begin their campaign on October 8 against five-time World Cup winners Australia in Chennai.

    A total of 10 teams will participate in the showcase event, the first eight having already qualified through the Cricket World Cup Super League. The final two spots will be determined at the end of the Qualifier tournament in Zimbabwe, which concludes on July 9.

    Each team plays the other nine in a round-robin format with the top four qualifying for the knockout stage and semi-finals.
    Key Fixtures

    The much-anticipated India-Pakistan clash is scheduled for Sunday, October 15 in Ahmedabad. Their last encounter in the 2019 World Cup was a high-scoring affair with India achieving a huge victory in Manchester.

    Pakistan will face Australia in Bengaluru on October 20, while England clash against South Africa the next day in Mumbai.
    The final group stage match will be England up against Pakistan in Kolkata on November 12.

    Knockout Stages

    The first semi-final will be held on Wednesday, November 15 in Mumbai, and the second semi-final will be held the following day in Kolkata. Both semi-finals will have a reserve day.

    The final will take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on November 19, with November 20 slated as the reserve day.

    All three knockout fixtures will be day-night affairs, with the matches beginning at 14:00 local time.

    Tournament Venues

    There will be a total of 10 venues – Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Dharamsala, Delhi, Chennai, Lucknow, Pune, Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Kolkata.

    Guwahati and Thiruvananthapuram, in addition to Hyderabad, will host the warm-up matches from 29th September to 3rd October.

    Pakistan’s World Cup schedule:

    Pakistan vs Qualifier, Oct 6, Hyderabad

    Pakistan vs Qualifier, Oct 12, Hyderabad

    Pakistan vs India, Oct 15, Ahmedabad

    Pakistan vs Australia, Oct 20, Bengaluru

    Pakistan vs Afghanistan, Oct 23, Chennai

    Pakistan vs South Africa, Oct 27, Chennai

    Pakistan vs Bangladesh, Oct 31, Kolkata

    Pakistan vs New Zealand, Nov 4, Bengaluru

    Pakistan vs England, Nov 12, Kolkata

  • Pakistani snooker player Beats Iranian opponent in U21 Asian Snooker Championship, reaches final

    Pakistani snooker player Beats Iranian opponent in U21 Asian Snooker Championship, reaches final

    Ahsan Ramzan, the youngest cueist of Pakistan, is dominating the U21 Asian Snooker Championship. According to reports, Ahsan won against Iran’s Tirdad Azadipour 4-2 to make his way into the final.

    Ahsan started the semifinal match on the high as he dominated Azadipour in the opening two frames with the scoreline of 76-8 and 102-1 respectively.

    Azadipour, a quick reactor, broke the lead by 2-1 only for Ahsan to restore the advantage in the fourth frame.
    The next two frames also followed the same pattern as Azadipour won the fifth frame to stay alive but Ahsan Ramzan won the sixth frame to seal his spot in the final.

    The semifinal win gives hope to the young seven-years-old Ahsan Ramzan to grab the Gold medal in the Final.

    In the early phase of the tournament, Ahsan contested two group matches against Iran’s Arshia Tehrani and Ali Lalegani and remained unbeaten to book his spot in the knockout stage.

    In his first group match, Ahsan Ramzan thumped Tehrani by the score of 3-0 in the Best of Five.

    The 17-year-old snooker player started his first match of the competition on a high as he outclassed Tehrani by the scores of 55-21 before putting on an even more dominant show in the second frame, sealing it by 93-15.

    The flying start filled Ahsan Ramzan with momentum and he moved within one frame to register his first victory.

    He managed to retain the momentum in the third frame as well and blew away Tehrani 3-0.

    In his next fixture against Iran’s Lalegani, Ahsan Ramzan got off to a contrasting start as the Iranian cueist scored a 66-point break to seal the first frame.

    With Lalegani securing an early 1-0 lead, Ahsan recollected himself and marked an astonishing comeback by sealing the next three frames with great precision and securing his second back-to-back victory in the tournament.

    Ahsan Ramzan continued his rich vein of form in the quarter-final as he defeated India’s Digvijay Kadyan 4-3.