According to the new rankings of the International Cricket Council (ICC), England’s Joe Root has become the number one Test batsman in the world.
After the first Test of the Ashes series, there has been a change in the ICC Test Player Rankings and England’s Joe Root has moved up five places to the first place in the rankings, replacing Australia’s Marnus Libuschen, with New Zealand’s Kane Williamson moving up two places to the second position and Marnus Libuschen to the third position.
In the Test batsmen’s ranking, Travis Head is at the fourth position after a step up, while Pakistan captain Babar Azam remains at the fifth position.
Similarly, Australia’s Steve Smith has dropped 4 places to sixth, Usman Khawaja has moved up 2 places to seventh and England’s Harry Brook has moved up to 13th place after 5 places.
India’s Ravichandran Ashwin remains at the top of the ICC Test bowlers rankings.
In the bowlers ranking, England’s James Anderson is second, Rabada has moved up one level to third, Pete Cummins has moved down one level to fourth, England’s Ollie Robinson and Australia’s Nathan Lyon have moved up one level to 5th and 6th respectively.
Former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar recently appeared on Hafiz Ahmed’s podcast where he opened up about whether he would get married for a second time.
The speedster rejected the idea of marrying again, saying that he would remain committed to his wife. The cricketer said that although Islam allows men to marry multiple times, it also encourages men to remain faithful and kind to their wives:
“You can get married four times, but I believe that once you’re attached to someone, they have left their home for you so you should leave your things for them as well. Be nice to her, kind to her. You should be an inspiring figure to her. You should have a strong character and shouldn’t pressurise her to do anything. I’m always straight forward and honest, I take care of my children and teach them the Quran.”
The cricketer, who tied the knot with Rubab Khan in 2014, talked about the arranged marriage his parents had set up for him, when they met his wife’s parents during Hajj:
“My mother had met my wife’s mother during the time they were completing Hajj, and during this visit she had taken a lot of care of my mother. When my parents came back, during that moment my mother introduced me to a girl and told me ‘This is your wife’, and I agreed to marry her.”
Akhtar said they had a simple nikkah ceremony, which wasn’t open to public, with just a few people from his family and from his wife’s family.
Akhtar went on to reveal that he is quite different from his conservative wife because of his liberal views, but he has never pressurised her to do anything that she doesn’t want to, including asking her to make media appearances:
“My family doesn’t like coming on tv. My wife is very conservative, even though I am very liberal, very open minded. I keep asking her to go out and eat something, and she refuses.”
Akhtar also added that he respects his wife’s preference which is why he doesn’t speak about their personal life during media appearances, to keep supporting her choice to remain a private figure.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has requested the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) to make changes to the schedule of the next edition of International League T20 (ILT20).
The second edition of ILT20 is currently scheduled to take place from January 13 to February 12 in 2024. Considering the clash of dates between ILT20 and Pakistan Super League (PSL), PCB requested ECB to give 10 days concession to accommodate Pakistan cricket team players.
In the previous edition of the ILT20, which took place from January 13 to February 12 earlier this year, Pakistan players were not allowed to participate despite attractive offers from the UAE-based league.
As reported by Cricket Pakistan last month, ILT20 organizers offered top players, including Shaheen Afridi, Babar Azam, and Mohammad Rizwan, substantial contracts, along with the opportunity to captain a team and sign a three-year contract.
However, the PCB did not grant permission to its players to participate in the league. Former -PCB Chairman, Ramiz Raja had even requested compensation from the Emirates in return for releasing the players.
In contrast, current PCB chief, Najam Sethi, has taken a more flexible approach towards the ILT20, emphasizing the importance of maintaining good relations with the UAE and suggesting that negotiations can be pursued based on the principle of ‘give and take.’ Hence, as reported by Cricket
Pakistan, national team players are likely to take part in the next edition of ILT20.
Last month, Cricket Pakistan also reported that there is a possibility of rearranging the home series against West Indies in 2024. PCB conveyed to the franchises during the recent PSL governing council meeting in Lahore that the mentioned series with West Indies might require rescheduling in order to accommodate PSL 9. The West Indies team is currently slated to come to Pakistan in February and March to play two Test matches and three T20I matches.
In the build-up leading to World Test Championship final between India and Australia, former left-hand test great Mathew Hyden opened up about the strength of both teams.
When asked about the advantage Australia might have over India, Hayden highlighted the importance of putting runs on the board, and in doing so, he praised the batting prowess of Steve Smith, Virat Kohli, and Babar Azam, whom he considers modern-day greats.
Hyden praised the techniques of Babar Azam, Virat Kohli and Steve Smith, describing them as “once in a lifetime and once in a generation cricketers,” indicating that their abilities and achievements set them apart from their peers.
Hayden also acknowledged the significance of Marnus Labuschagne and Pat Cummins in the Australian team. Labuschagne’s emergence as a reliable batsman and Cummins’ dual role as a captain and a potent fast bowler add further strength to the Australian lineup.
“In a big game, it is about runs on the board. Steve Smith is a maestro. When you think about the modern-day greats, Smith, Kohli, Babar Azam, these are once in a lifetime and once in a generation cricketers. So obviously in combination with Labuschagne, those two are extremely critical for Australian batting line-up. And then Pat Cummins as a captain and as a bowler as well,” Hayden said.
Smith, known for his unorthodox yet effective batting style, has been a key figure in Australia’s batting line-up for several years. His ability to consistently score runs and dominate opposition bowlers has earned him a reputation as one of the best batsmen of his generation.
Kohli, the former captain of the Indian cricket team, has been a dominant force in world cricket for over a decade. Known for his aggressive and passionate style of play, Kohli is regarded as one of the finest batsmen in contemporary cricket.
Babar, the captain of the Pakistan cricket team, has risen through the ranks to become one of the most exciting batsmen in international cricket. His elegant strokeplay, impeccable timing, and ability to play long innings make him a delight to watch. Babar’s impressive statistics and consistent performances have cemented his place among the top batsmen in the world.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni, also known as Mahi, is widely considered the coolest and the most successful captain Indian cricket team has ever produced. The superstar recently won the Indian Premiere League (IPL) 16th edition for the fifth time as the captain of Chennai Super Kings.
A die-hard fan of the ace cricketer has grabbed headlines for an incredible gesture.
Deepak, a resident of Tamnar in Raigarh district of Chhattisgarh, got Dhoni’s photo printed on both sides of his wedding card, as well as the number of his jersey.
The unique wedding invitation has now become the talk of the town.
Deepak, who considers Dhoni his ideal is also the captain of his village cricket team. He has said that he has won many matches for his team using the strategy employed by Dhoni as captain.
The yellow wedding card is going viral on social media, while Deepak has also invited MS Dhoni to his wedding.
International Cricket Council (ICC) Chairman Greg Barclay and CEO Geoff Aralldice have finished their tour of Pakistan, revealing why they were visiting the country Pakistan a very short period.
The two visited Lahore Cricket Academy, Lahore Museum, Badshahi Mosque, Minar-e-Pakistan and Shahi Qilla. They also toured Punjab Safe City office to examine the city’s security apparatus for cricket tours.
Chairman Greg Barclay said that he wants to visit every single member of ICC to examine cricket facilities in each country. He praised Pakistan on bilateral cricket arrangements. Barclay said that cricket facilities and related programs are praiseworthy.
Now that international cricket is back in Pakistan, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is successfully playing its role in bilateral cricket arrangements.
He expressed hope that he will see Pakistan’s men’s and women’s cricket at the next level.
The recent tour of ICC’s Chairman Greg Barclay is the first ever visit to Pakistan. The two ICC officials also sat down with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi at the board’s head quarter and talked about the betterment of cricket and commercialism in the sport.
Sami Zayn, a Canadian professional wrestler of Syrian descent, has performed Umrah today.
The wrestler, whose real name is Rami Sebei, shared pictures from inside the Holy Mosque in Mecca.
Sami Zayn, along with many WWE wrestlers, is on a tour to Saudia Arabia where the night of the champions event will be organized by local broadcasters.
Outside of wrestling, Zayn is known for activism and humanitarian work. He has been involved in various social and political causes, including supporting Syrian refugees and advocating for Palestinian human rights.
Anchor Muhammad Junaid made the country proud when he became the first ever Pakistani journalist to participate in the Boston Marathon and the London Marathon, a feat he completed in a week.
In the Boston Marathon, held on April 17 in Eastern Massachusetts, Junaid completed the run in 3 hours, 36 min and 38 seconds. He participated along side other Pakistani-Americans like Salman Khan, Hamid Butt, Prem Kumar, Aamad Butt and Shariq Samad. Dr Salman & Hamid Butt are Abbott 6 Start Finishers.
Whereas in the London Marathon, which Junaid finished in 3 hours, 21 minutes and 38 seconds, he ran alongside others Pakistani or Pakistani origin marathons runners. Sadiq Shah, Faisal Shafi, Semeena Khan, Danish Raza, Prem Kumar, Farrukh Sadiq, Dr Jehanzeb Mughal, Danish Elahe, Imran Aleem & Ammar Mumtaz were also among them.
Saqid Shah, a Quetta born and currently a Karachi resident made history at the London Marathon by completing the race in 2 hours, 55 minutes and 20 seconds, becoming the fastest Pakistani runner in London Marathon. He appeared on the Geo News show ‘Geo Pakistan’, along with Muhammad Junaid.
The Current reached out to Junaid to chat about his recent accomplishments, and how running become one of his favorite hobbies, and the Geo News anchor gave us some interesting insights.
Q. You mentioned in your bio that you previously participated in the Boston Marathon. Is running your passion?
Junaid: I started more organised and focused running a few years ago and ran marathons in Karachi and Istanbul. Women and men of the running community realised that the number of Pakistanis in International marathons is very limited and we decided to train to run them. Every marathon has its own value but running Boston marathon can be any runner’s biggest dream. I collaborated with Pakistani Americans & partnered with South Asian Circle of Hopkinton through Hopkinton Board in Massachusetts to run Boston Marathon and open paths for more South Asians in future. It’s an achievement for South Asians in USA and Pakistanis here.
Q. Winning this race seems like an impossible task, so how did you train for this marathon? Especially considering that you’re a Karachi food lover.
Junaid: The goal is to finish the marathon in a good time, preferably faster than your previous time, for any marathon runner 70 KM per week is considered a standard mileage. Per week can vary for everyone, but yes you have got be careful with food. Protein is most important in that because it helps make and repair cells, which are critical for growth and development. So yes chicken, yogurt, milk, eggs, cheese, seafood, nut butters and then good carbs like wholegrain items, sweet potato, brown rice, and lots and lots of water, in my experience anyone involved in sports should avoid carbonated drinks because of the amount of processed sugar in them.
Q. You met politicians like MP Zarah Sultana who congratulated you for your prestigious win! How did that feel?
Junaid: For the Boston Marathon, Pakistani-American Shahid Ahmed Khan, who is currently a member of US President Joe Biden’s prestigious President’s Advisory Committee on the Arts (PACA), Irfan Nasrullah, and the President of South Asian Circle Ruta Upalekar and her team’s role was significant in helping me prepare for the marathon. From Pakistan, it was nearly impossible without support of Geo News. London Marathon was a collaboration for me with the Pakistani-British Journalist Saima Mohsin to raise funds for Scope, a UK charity working mainly for people with disabilities and facing cost of living crises. In that collaboration, we met British Pakistani MPs Naz Shah and Zarah Sultana, who are an inspiration for many and they assured us of their support to work in order to send more Pakistanis of all genders in world sports specially London Marathon.
Q. These initiatives are wonderful but sadly such things have not taken place in Pakistan. Should Pakistani politicians also start setting up running marathons, now that petrol prices are soaring and we’re looking for cheaper ways to travel?
Junaid: Pakistan does not have any international standard running events so far but Shoaib Nizami and other partners are working to organise Pakistan’s first internationally recognised marathon, Karachi Marathon, this year, which can help people here to get first hand experience of running an official marathon.
Junaid revealed that currently he is gearing up along side other Pakistani marathon runners to participate in the upcoming Berlin Marathon being held on September 24, where 50 runners from Pakistan are expected to participate.
Besides the fact that Pakistanis are underrepresented at these races, the number of women runners is even less but the running community is trying to change that. Last year, at London Marathon, Kaukab Sarwar and Hira Diwan ran in the race for TCF with the help of a friend of Pakistan, Mike Nithavrianakis. It is expected that a bigger number of women will be participating in Berlin Marathon this year. Hira Diwan, who is a British Pakistani, has run four world major marathons including New York & Chicago.
Asia Cup is scheduled to be held in September 2023 but the event remains mired in doubts with India trying to derail the tournament. Pakistan has the official rights of hosting Asia Cup but Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is not ready to send its cricket team to the host country.
The world has witnessed that many international teams have visited Pakistan to play matches.
A series with New Zealand was recently concluded, in which both teams played five T20I and five One-Day International (ODI) in the different cities of Pakistan but BCCI still has concerns.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Najam Sethi has presented a Hybrid Model in which India play their matches in Dubai, or more likely, in Sri Lanka.
However, the BCCI has expressed dissatisfaction with this proposal. Currently, Sethi is in Dubai, where he met with ICC officials on Tuesday.
He was scheduled to meet with Pankaj Khimji, Deputy President of the Asian Council, and cricket officials from the UAE to discuss the possibility of hosting India’s matches in the UAE under the ‘Hybrid Model.’
The PCB is concerned that if the Asia Cup is not held now, the same issue may arise during the hosting of the Champions Trophy in 2025 and the ICC may decide to relocate the event if India does not participate.
Therefore, under the proposed model, the Indian cricket team’s Champions Trophy matches will be held in Bangladesh. Currently, there is a tense stand-off between Pakistani and Indian officials, with India allegedly using its media to its advantage.
The BCCI has also collaborated with Sri Lanka, convincing them to play two additional matches, as they have been eager to host the Asia Cup for some time now. In response, Pakistan has reminded Afghanistan that they recently played additional matches in Sharjah, and they stand with the PCB on this matter.
While there are concerns about the heat in Dubai, efforts are being made to convince Bangladesh to cooperate, and they are reportedly willing to do so.
PCB officials have publicly stated that “we have earned a substantial amount of money due to the PSL, and therefore, the Asia Cup’s cancellation would not be a significant concern for them.”
In reality, the Pakistani authorities aim to avoid financial losses and prioritize preparations for the upcoming World Cup.
Several news reports regarding the Asia Cup were circulating in the Indian media yesterday. One report claimed that “the members have rejected the PCB’s ‘Hybrid Model’ and moved the event from Pakistan.”
However, an official representative from the PCB, who was in contact with an Indian Express representative, dismissed these reports as baseless and an attempt by the BCCI to increase pressure.
He stated that the ACC has not officially denied accepting the ‘Hybrid Model’ proposed by the PCB, and discussions are still ongoing. The official further added that unverified news from unnamed sources is not credible.
Naila Kiani has become the first Pakistani woman to summit Nepal’s Annapurna, the world’s 10th highest peak. The mountain climber made the record on Monday morning.
Kiani was also the first Pakistani woman to summit Broad Peak, which is the 12th highest mountain in the world. She has also climbed several other peaks, including Gasherbrum II, Gasherbrum I, and the mighty K2.
Arjun Vajpayee of India was part of the six-member team of mountaineers, besides the two Pakistanis.
Naila Kiani is also an advocate for women’s empowerment and gender equality in Pakistan. She has spoken out about the importance of women pursuing their dreams and breaking down gender barriers in traditionally male-dominated fields like mountaineering.
Her achievements have inspired many women in Pakistan to pursue their own passions and to challenge societal expectations. She will attempt to summit Mount Everest and Lhotse this season.
Naila Kiani is the first Pakistani woman to scale four peaks above 8,000 meters.
