England will host Zimbabwe in a men’s Test match for the first time in 22 years in May 2025.
The four-day Test will take place from May 28-31, with the venue for the one-off match to be confirmed at a later date.
Jimmy Anderson, England’s leading Test wicket-taker, made his debut the last time his country faced Zimbabwe in 2003.
“We are delighted to be able to host Zimbabwe for a men’s Test match for the first time in two decades,” ECB chief executive Richard Gould said on Tuesday.
“Zimbabwe has a proud cricket history and have produced world-class players and coaches who have enriched the game across the world.
“We are committed to developing a closer relationship with Zimbabwe Cricket and the announcement of this Test against our England men’s team is a step in that ambition.”
England have played three two-Test series against Zimbabwe, drawing in 1996 and winning in 2000 and 2003.
“The significance and magnitude of this tour cannot be over-emphasised,” Zimbabwe Cricket managing director Givemore Makoni said.
“The experience of playing a Test match against a top team like England is massive for the current generation of our players, coming at a time when our game as a whole is on an upward trajectory.”
Revitalised by captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendan McCullum, England have breathed new life into Test cricket over the last two years with their aggressive ‘Bazball’ game-plan.
England fought back from 2-0 down to draw the Ashes series with World Test champions Australia earlier this year.
“This summer’s Ashes series showcased all that is great about Test cricket and, while we must be mindful of the demands of world cricket’s schedule, we also want to help grow Test cricket and find opportunities to play more nations where we can,” Gould said.
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England to host Zimbabwe for Test in 2025
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Pakistan’s Muhammad Asif beats seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry
Pakistan’s Muhammad Asif has beaten seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry in in the qualifying round of British Open 2023.
Muhammad Asif, who got a two-year professional card for the WST( World Snooker Tour) in June 2022, tasted a major victory as he beat Hendry 4-2 in best of seven.The qualifying round match between Hendry and Asif started on a negative note for the Pakistani, as the seven-time world champion pulled ahead, courtesy of a brilliant break of 73.
Asif, however, was quick to react and pulled back the game in the next three frames to move within the victory.
Hendry then managed to pull one back, edging Asif by the score of 74-43 in the fifth frame.
With momentum in his favor, Asif kept his nerves, halting Stephen Hendry’s comeback by winning the match-defining frame.
Shoaib Arif, the founder of Pro Snooker PK, congratulated the nation on the historic feat for the country and termed it as “A gift on the independence day”
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PCB may take action against Shahnawaz Dahani for criticising selection committee: media reports
According to media reports, Shahnawaz Dahani may face serious setbacks from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for criticising the selection committee.
On social media platform X, formerly Twitter, Rashid Latif announced the lineup for the upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan, which did not have Dahani’s name in the list.Shanawaz Dahani replied: “Looks like Dahani is not a pacesetter for Pakistan.”
He also criticised journalists, saying: “Not a single journalist has asked Rashid Latif about me.”
Afterwards, Rashid Latif admitted his mistake and replied: “My mistake was Dahani, I will make another one.” Dahani then deleted all tweets.
However, the PCB is reportedly not happy with this public criticism and their legal department may take some decisions about Dahani in the future as per media reports.
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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.
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Pakistan beat China to register first win in Asian Hockey Champion trophy
Pakistan Hockey team have won their first match 2-1 against China in Asian Hockey Championship taking place in India.
In the first half, the Pakistani team played aggressively, with Shayan Ali scoring the first goal in the 19th minute, setting a match-winning lead for Pakistan. However, in the in the 33rd minute of the second half, China scored to make the lead equal on both sides. Pakistan’s Afraz then scored another goal in the 39th minute which was the match-winning goal for Pakistan.
Earlier, the Pakistani team had drawn their match with Japan by 3-3 and with Korea by 1-1. Pakistani team lost to Malaysia by 1-3.
Pakistan will play the highly anticipated match with India on 9 August. If the Pakistani team wins, they will have a solid chance to enter the semi-finals. Pakistan and India both won the Asian Champion trophy thrice.
All the teams will play five matches to try and make a place in the top 4 to reach the semi-finals. Final will be played on August 12. -
Pakistan Cricket Team confirms participation in ICC World Cup 2023 in India
The Pakistan Cricket Team has been granted the green light to travel to India for the upcoming International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup 2023, as announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Monday.
In a press release, MOFA underscored the significance of sportsmanship and the country’s passion for cricket, stating that Pakistan has always promoted the idea that politics should be kept separate from sports. “Regardless of our bilateral relations with India, we believe in upholding our international sports-related commitments,” the statement said.
However, the ministry also expressed deep concern about the safety and security of the team during their stay in India. These concerns have been duly communicated to both the ICC and Indian authorities. The MOFA stressed, “Pakistan, however, has deep concerns about the security of its Cricket Team. We have conveyed these concerns to the International Cricket Council and the Indian Authorities.”
The MOFA’s statement also recalled India’s refusal to send its cricket team to Pakistan for the Asia Cup. In contrast, Pakistan’s decision to participate in the World Cup in India exhibits a constructive and responsible approach, as emphasized by the ministry.
: PR NO. 1️⃣6️⃣7️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣3️⃣
Pakistan’s Participation in the Cricket World Cup.
⬇️ https://t.co/FCfR33W68I pic.twitter.com/tT5fvIRUxv
— Spokesperson MoFA (@ForeignOfficePk) August 6, 2023
This decision marks an important step in separating sports from political tensions, while prioritizing player safety and maintaining international sportsmanship standards. As preparations for the ICC World Cup 2023 continue, the world eagerly anticipates the performances of the participating teams.
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Arslan Ash wins EVO Tekken 7 Championship for 4th time
Pakistani Tekken master Arslan Ash has won the EVO Championship held in Las Vegas (USA) on Sunday. He has won the EVO title for the 4th time; twice in Japan, and twice in the USA. He is still undefeated in EVO Championship.
Arslan Ash also won the EVO Japan Combo breaker this year. His winning percentage with ZAFINA is 76% while with KUNIMITSU, it stands at 72%.
In the top 6, Arslan beat Ulsan where he was so close to a upset but at the last moment, he prevailed. Then he beat AO twice in finals and then in the grand finals by 3-0.
His last obstacle in this year is the Tekken World Tour. -
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.
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PCB will receive more than twice the revenue from ICC
The annual conference, board, and committee meetings of the ICC were held in Durban, South Africa, from July 10–13, 2023. At these meetings, the ICC Financial and Distribution Model 2024–27, Amendments to the ICC Sanctioning Regulations, and Modifications to the Over Rate Sanctions in Test Cricket, among other topics, were discussed. Pakistan was represented at these meetings by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) delegation.
The new ICC finance and distribution model offers a crucial chance for the game to grow and anticipates the largest-ever investment to go into global cricket.
In accordance with its constitutional right, the PCB has repeatedly asked for more information over the past few weeks at the ICC Meetings to better understand the justification for assigning weights to each of the criteria and determining the distributions.
The PCB believed that such a critical choice shouldn’t be made in a hurry in the lack of all pertinent facts, data, and formulas. Therefore, the PCB suggested that this matter be tabled until the next ICC meeting.
Therefore, the PCB was ranked among the top-four countries in this Model as a result of the performance of the Pakistan cricket team in men’s ICC events and in bilateral cricket, as well as the PCB’s own enormous fan following, which results in significant commercial value. As a result, compared to the previous cycle, the PCB will earn more than twice as much money.
This increased revenue can be helpful for Pakistan cricket, and it’s good news for the Pakistani fans as well as the whole nation.
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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.