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  • Video: It used to annoy me but now I enjoy it: Iftikhar Ahmed on being called ‘Chachu’

    Video: It used to annoy me but now I enjoy it: Iftikhar Ahmed on being called ‘Chachu’

    Ifitikhar Ahmed is Pakistan’s most reliable middle order batter, and the frequent target of a chant that fans have tailored just for him.

    The batsman was recently asked by a journalist what he felt when fans chant ‘chachu chachu’ (uncle) on the field.

    He answered the question in a very sweet manner, stating:

    “See, first I used to get annoyed when people chant chachu chachu about me but I am now enjoying it. It is not a bad thing, it is not an abusive chant, it is a good thing for me.

    When Shahid Afridi steps into the ground, the crowd immediately stands up and chants boom boom and now they chant chachu chachu, so I really enjoy it.”

    Iftikhar Ahmed also said that wherever he goes to play, the crowd supports him. “Be happy and let me be happy,” he added.
    Ifitkhar Ahmed scored a crucial fifty on the finisher of One-Day International (ODI) series against New Zealand, proving himself as a reliable middle order batter.

    Pakistan captain, Babar Azam, during the post-match press conference, also mentioned feeling embarrassed that Iftikhar is known as ‘Chahcha’ because of his jokes.

    However, despite this feeling, he is happy that people enjoy it.

    Babar also praised Iftikhar’s abilities and acknowledged that he has been playing great cricket for the past few months.

    “Sometimes, I feel embarrassed that due to me Iftikhar is now known as ‘Chacha’ but I am happy that people enjoy it. He gave some brilliant performances in T20 cricket and today he took the game deep alone but unfortunately, he didn’t get support from the other end.

    “That is why we gave him a chance in ODIs because he has been playing great cricket for the last five-six months and we were struggling on those numbers so we are getting a lot of help from Iftikhar and Salman Ali Agha,” Babar said.

  • Babar Azam opens up on teammates’ blunt and angry statements

    Babar Azam, the captain of the Pakistan cricket team, has cleared his stance on the comments and tweet made by his teammates, Mohammad Rizwan and Imam ul Haq, during the recently completed five-match ODI series between Pakistan and New Zealand, which has been won by the Pakistan 4-1.

    In the post-match press conference after the fifth ODI in Karachi, Babar shared his opinion on his teammates’ statements and clarified the team’s stance on the matter.

    Prior to the third One-Day against New Zealand, wicket keeper Muhammad Rizwan showed concerns on batting at number 5, stating, “Personally I am not happy with this position.

    I want to play at number 4, that is completely my wish I am not demanding neither I am imposing my wish on any anyone. I can perform better in the number 4 position that’s totally my thinking.” He concluded.

    The Pakistan captain, however, took a more measured approach to the situation and said that Rizwan shared his wish to bat up in the order but also emphasized that the players were well aware of the team’s requirements and priorities.

    “Rizwan said it’s my wish to play at four but we will have to keep the team’s requirement in mind and that’s how we will communicate with the players. This is a team where no player says I want to play at this specific number,” Babar said.

    “Everyone is playing for Pakistan and Rizwan has performed at both batting positions. Every player is striving for the team’s win and Rizwan is one of the best players…he has won us many games,” he added.

    On the other hand, Imam posted a cryptic tweet on Sunday morning, which garnered a lot of attention from fans, who thought that the opener is disappointed after being dropped in the fourth and fifth ODI match against the Kiwis.

    Babar said that the level of unity within the team was good and they have a culture of resolving any internal conflicts within the team itself, rather than taking them public.

    “I haven’t checked my mobile and don’t know what Imam has tweeted. There are no disgruntled players in our team and the unity is good. We try to resolve our matters within ourselves and not take them out,” Babar replied to a question about Imam’s aforementioned tweet.

    “We are like a family and our trust level is very good. I don’t think Imam’s tweet would be related to him being excluded from final two ODIs,” he added.

  • Modi influence: BJP leader Amit Shah forces son Jay Shah to exclude Pakistan from Asia Cup

    Modi influence: BJP leader Amit Shah forces son Jay Shah to exclude Pakistan from Asia Cup

    The controversy surrounding the upcoming Asia Cup has taken yet another bad turn as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders intervene into the stand-off between Pakistan and India.

    Sources are saying that Asia Cup will be canceled and India is planning instead to play a five- nation Asian cricket cup in India excluding Pakistan.

    Media speculations are rife that BJP leader Amit Shah has influenced his son Jay Shah, who is the president of Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and also the secretary of Board of control for cricket in India (BCCI), to exclude Pakistan from Asia Cup 2023.

    The same, as yet unconfirmed, reports have said that Amit Shah is also forcing his son not to send the Indian team to Pakistan. Reportedly, these decisions were debated overnight at the behest of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    Pakistan is likely to boycott World Cup 2023 if India axes Asia Cup 2023, with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Najam Sethi stating loud and clear that we will not back off from hosting the tournament as no team has security concerns. “We have hosted many international teams, so it’s clear that there is no security threats in Pakistan for Indian team.

    If India will not want to play their matches in Pakistan we will provide them hybrid model but it’s we who decide where Indian Team will play, not them, because we are the host,” he said.

    Asia Cup without Pakistan will not be the same because the revenue India and Pakistan matches produce is unmatchable.

  • ICC ODI rankings; Pakistan just two wins away from becoming Number 1

    ICC ODI rankings; Pakistan just two wins away from becoming Number 1

    Pakistan beat New Zealand in the third encounter of One-Day International ternational (ODI) series against New Zealand last night and is now aiming to win the next two thrillers on Friday and Sunday so that they can vault from third to first spot on the ICC ODI Team Rankings.

    Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam stitched together a ninth century-partnership, also breaking the famous record of Muhammad Yousuf and Younis Khan’s partnership as Pakistan defeated New Zealand by 26 runs to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series. At this time Pakistan is on number three in the rankings and just two wins away from the number one position.

    The two lads added 108 runs for the second wicket off 121 balls as Pakistan, put into bat, posted 287 for six on a slow surface. New Zealand capitulated after a solid and positive 83-run first wicket stand to be bowled out for 261 in 49.1 overs.

    With the series in their pocket 3-0 their first against New Zealand after 12 years Pakistan is super charge all eyes on Imam, Babar and Fakhar to take the team on the top of the ODI rankings now Pakistan have 3,133 points with 112 ratings in ODI rankings after the remaining Two wins they will white wash New Zealand first time and also make the history by becoming number 1 ODI team first time ever.

    Imam and Babar were dismissed in identical ways – both dragging Matt Henry and Adam Milne’s deliveries onto their stumps. Imam was the fourth batter dismissed after scoring a watchful 90 from 107 balls with seven fours and six, while Babar struck three fours and a six in his 62-ball 54.

    The two had joined hands after Fakhar Zaman, who earlier in the day was named as the number-two ranked ODI batter in the world, was back in the hut after scoring a 26-ball 19 with four fours.

    Mohammad Rizwan (32) and Salman Ali Agha (31) added 54 runs off 48 balls for the fifth wicket to give an impetus to the innings, which ended with a 10-ball 21 not out by Shadab Khan. The Pakistan vice-captain hit a four and two sixes, including a last-ball six.

    Pakistan scored 82 runs for the loss of two wickets in the last 10 overs, including 46 runs for two wickets in five overs.

    In their run-chase, New Zealand raced to 99 for one after 20 overs before Pakistan bowlers put the brakes on the scoring-rate, allowing New Zealand to score 92 runs in the next 20 overs. This meant the visitors needed 97 runs in the last 10 overs and despite fielding lapses. They managed only 70 runs to be dismissed for 261 in 49.1 overs.

    Opener Tom Blundell struck 78-ball 65 with seven fours featured in three useful partnerships. After adding 83 runs for the first wicket with Will Young (33), he added 30 runs from 40 balls for the second wicket with Daryl Mitchell (21) and 14 runs for the third wicket in 21 balls with Tom Latham (45).

    Debutant Cole McConchie scored 64 not out (45 balls, six fours, two sixes) and put on 25 runs (34 balls) for the sixth wicket with Latham, 31 runs (21 balls) for the seventh wicket with Adam Milne, 19 runs (14 balls) for the eighth wicket with Henry Shipley and 12 runs (9 balls) for the ninth wicket with Ish Sodhi.

    For Pakistan, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Wasim Junior and Shaheen Shah Afridi took two wickets apiece.

    Match Highlights

    Pakistan won by 26 runs, 3rd ODI.

    Pakistan 287-6, 50 overs (Imam-ul-Haq 90, Babar Azam 54, Mohammad Rizwan 32, Salman Ali Agha 31, Shadab Khan 21 not out; Matt Henry 3-54)

    New Zealand 261 all-out, 49.1 overs (Tom Blundell 65, Cole McConchie 64 not out, Tom Latham 45, Will Young 33, Daryl Mitchell 21; Naseem Shah 2-42, Mohammad Wasim Junior 2-50, Shaheen Shah Afridi 2-53)

    Player of the match – Imam-ul-Haq (Pakistan)

  • Fact Check: Is Asia Cup getting delayed?

    Fact Check: Is Asia Cup getting delayed?

    There is no possibility of postponing the Asia Cup or shifting the tournament to a neutral venue, Asian Cricket Council (ACC) sources have confirmed to Dawn News, stating that it did not send any notification to the member countries.

    Pakistani media reports have claimed that if the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) does not agree to play the Asia Cup at a neutral venue, the tournament may be out of the hands of the country.

    Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah and the Chairman Asian Cricket Council (ACC) have stated that India will not travel to Pakistan for Asia Cup 2023. The tournament is scheduled to be hosted by Pakistan but BCCI continuously threatens PCB that they will not send their team to the host country and force the Cup to shifted to a neutral venue.

    Asia Cup 2023 is scheduled to be played in September but the final date has not been announced yet.

    PCB management committee has proposed a hybrid model in which Pakistan will play their matches in Pakistan but India will play their matches in Dubai. Najam Sethi had clarified that “We will decide where the Indian team will play their matches, not them. We have the right to decide and we will not back off from the hosting”

    The Indian cricket board is believed to want the entire tournament to be shifted to the UAE, as was done in 2018 and 2022 when India and Sri Lanka hosted the tournament.

    A member of the ACC board said on condition of anonymity that “messages have been exchanged but no discussion or proposal has been made to postpone the Asia Cup”.

    He further said that if the Asia Cup is canceled, the PCB will be informed first, but nothing has happened so far.

    According to him, the ACC will have to convene an executive board meeting to postpone or cancel the event.
    Sources further said that Chairman Jay Shah can call a meeting (virtual or physical) in 7 days, but so far there is no information about any such meeting.

    ACC sources said that to the best of their knowledge, the last official exchange of mail between the PCB, ACC and BCCI was an invitation to assure the Indian team of maximum security and best hospitality.

    He said that however, obviously, it is difficult for India to travel to Pakistan in the current sensitive political environment.

    Another issue is how much money the official broadcaster has promised on contracts, which include at least two guaranteed Pak-India matches and a bonus third match if both teams reach the final.

    “We should remember the media rights and the deal with Star Sports who have paid crores of rupees for at least two Pak-India matches in the Asia Cup,” he said.

    Sources are clear that if the board meeting of ACC will decide to cancel the tournament so it will not only effect the participation of Pakistan in World Cup 2023 but will be a dangerous thing for the bilateral relationships of Pakistan with other countries.

  • ‘I am here to play IPL not to take abuse from anyone’; Naveen opens up on verbal spat with Virat Kohli

    ‘I am here to play IPL not to take abuse from anyone’; Naveen opens up on verbal spat with Virat Kohli

    A match between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) did not end on a happy note after Virat Kohli sledged Afghan fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq in the 17th over.

    RCB registered a superb 18-run win against LSG on Monday night. However, what became the win was overshadowed by the brawl between RCB batter Virat Kohli, Lucknow mentor Gautam Gambhir and fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq.

    It seemed like a replay of 2013 when the latter was leading Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and involved in a heated exchange with a young Virat who was just 5 years old in the cricketing circle. A decade later, a similar picture was in front of everyone.

    Naveen-ul-Haq has now shared his thoughts with some of his teammates according to Indian Express. The Afghan pacer has reportedly said, “I am here to play in the IPL, not to take abuse from anyone.” The bowler said that as a player, he has dignity and nobody can abuse him like that.

    Haq and Kohli both shared cryptic Instagram stories after the incident in which the latter shared quotes while the former directly pointed towards Kohli and wrote:

    “You get what you deserve, that’s how it should be and that’s how it goes.”

    The incident was condemned by former players while all three were also heavily penalised.

  • Throwback: Asif Zardari threatened to replace Naseem Asharaf as chairman PCB, if ban on Shoaib Akhtar not lifted

    Throwback: Asif Zardari threatened to replace Naseem Asharaf as chairman PCB, if ban on Shoaib Akhtar not lifted

    An old interview of former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has surfacted on the internet in which he has claimed that former President Asif Zardari helped him to temporarily lift a five-year ban imposed on him by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

    Shoaib Akhtar praised Asif Zardari in the old interiew and recounted how, when he was banned for five years, his friend Faisal Butt took him to meet the former President. According to Akhtar, Zardari then called the Chairman of the Cricket Board, Naseem Ashraf, and said, “Shoaib is our child, he has to play in the IPL. You must lift the ban on him, or else we will install a new chairman.”

    Aakhtar was banned for five years in April 2008 by a disciplinary committee of the PCB for violating the players’ code of conduct. However, the ban was lifted temporarily in May 2008 so that Akhar could play in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

    During the same interview Akhtar stated that after being banned for two years, he called an influential person in Rawalpindi (a Federal Minister) who invited him to his house. However, instead of helping him, the minister did not let Akhtar enter the house and closed the gate.

  • Kabhi apnay personal milestone kay liye nahi khella: Babar Azam

    Kabhi apnay personal milestone kay liye nahi khella: Babar Azam

    Babar Azam became the fastest Pakistani batsman to reach 12000 runs in international cricket during the first One-Day International (ODI) against New Zealand on Thursday at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

    When asked about his achievement and how excited he was, Babar Azam humbly replied that he has never focused on individual milestones.

    “I have never focused on individual milestones. My focus has always been to deliver for the team and give such performances that win matches for my team. When you play with that goal, you achieve milestones along the way,” the skipper said.

    Stating that a player’s aim should always be to give impactful performances, Azam credited the milestones as, “byproducts of that mentality.”

    The captain of the team emphasized that he does not have any personal ambitions. “What I want is to strive for the country’s success. I have never focused on achieving one record or the other. These things come with performance. But my main aim has always been to win the matches and tournaments for the country and make my performance count,” he added.

    When asked about Fakhar Zaman’s compliments on his and Mohammad Rizwan’s accomplishments for Pakistan, Azam responded that Zaman’s words were indicative of genuine team camaraderie.

    “What Fakhar has said is a reflection of our team culture. We back and encourage each other. We spend time with each other a lot more than we do with our families and to become a well-bonded unit, it is important to stand by your teammates and enjoy each other’s success. We back each other in an effort to get the best results for the team and for the country,” he said.

    The second ODI between Pakistan and New Zealand will take place on Saturday at Pindi Cricket Stadium.

  • Pakistan trounces New Zealand, scores 500th ODI win

    Pakistan trounces New Zealand, scores 500th ODI win

    Pakistan defeated New Zealand by five wickets on Thursday night at the Rawalpindi Pindi Cricket Stadium to register their 500th One-Day International (ODI) victory, becoming the third team in the world to achieve the feat.

    The landmark was achieved after the Green Shirts played 949 50-over matches.

    Pakistan has won 92 ODIs against Sri Lanka, 73 against India, 63 against West Indies, 57 against New Zealand, 54 against Zimbabwe, 34 against Australia, 32 against England, and 32 against Bangladesh.

    Apart from Pakistan, Australia has won 594 50-over matches in 978 fixtures, while India has secured victories in 539 matches in 1,029 fixtures.

    Pakistan was able to register its 500th win with the help of Fakhar Zaman’s blistering knock in the run chase.

    Needing 289 to win, the opening pair of Fakhar and Imam-ul-Haq provided a solid 124-run opening stand. Imam was soon dispatched after scoring his 15th ODI half-century.

    He was trapped leg-before by Ish Sodhi in the 22nd over for 60 after facing 65 balls, which included five fours and one six. After Imam’s departure, Captain Babar Azam and Fakhar got together to add 90 runs for the second wicket and during the course of the partnership player of the match Fakhar also scored his ninth ODI century in the 35th over.

    Babar, who was all set to score big tonight, missed out on his 25th half-century and got caught behind off the bowling of Adam Milne for 49 off 46 balls in the 36th over.

    The top ODI batter in the ICC rankings struck three fours and a six at a strike-rate of 106.52. Milne went on to pick Shan Masood (1, 12b) in the 38th over to put pressure back on the home side, as suddenly the required run-rate climbed to six runs an over with 12 overs remaining. But Fakhar and Rizwan struck five boundaries and a six between them in the next three overs to bring the required rate back to under-five an over.

    Right-arm fast Naseem Shah was the most economical bowler for the hosts, as he gave away only 29 runs off 10 overs and took two wickets – both on the final two balls of the innings.

    Match Highlights
    Pakistan beat New Zealand by five wickets

    New Zealand 288-7, 50 overs (Daryl Mitchell 113, Will Young 86; Naseem Shah 2-29, Shaheen Shah Afridi 2-63, Haris Rauf 2-65)

    Pakistan 291-5, 48.3 overs (Fakhar Zaman 117, Imam-ul-Haq 60, Babar Azam 49, Mohammad Rizwan 42 not out; Adam Milne 2-60)

    Player of the match – Fakhar Zaman (Pakistan)

  • Har maidan main Fateh; King Babar is just one win away from breaking T20I record

    Har maidan main Fateh; King Babar is just one win away from breaking T20I record

    Pakistan skipper Babar Azam is just one win away from breaking another record in T20 internationals.

    Babar will have the opportunity to write his name in history as the captain with the most number of wins when his side meets New Zealand in the fourth T20I at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday (today).

    Currently, Babar is the joint-holder of this record with Afghanistan’s Asghar Afghan and England’s Eoin Morgan after 42 wins. The 28-year-old has captained the Green Shirts in 69 T20 Internationals.

    Under his captaincy, Pakistan reached the semifinals of two successive T20 World Cups — 2021 and 2022 — and finished as runner-ups in the latter.

    During the second T20I against the Black Caps, Babar scored his third T20I century at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

    Babar is close to breaking the record of Indian cricketer Rohit Sharma, who currently tops the International Cricket Council (ICC) list with four centuries.

    He is the only Pakistan batter with more than one ton in the format. The hundred puts Babar close to the top of the list of batters with the most T20I tons.

    During the match, Babar managed to score a half-century on merely 36 balls and then slammed 51 runs off the next 22 deliveries, including 36 runs off the last three overs.

    Babar smashed James Neesham for two fours and a six in the last over, completing 100 runs off the final ball of the innings.