Category: Sports

Get the latest sports news, opinion, analysis, player rankings, scores and updates.

  • Bismah Maroof to take her 10-month-old daughter to the Commonwealth Games

    Pakistan Women’s cricket team captain Bismah Maroof has been allowed by the Commonwealth Games (CWG) to take her daughter with her to the tournament.

    Earlier, the Commonwealth Games village said they will not accommodate Bismah’s infant daughter. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had asked the CWG Federation for two extra accreditations to accommodate Maroof’s mother and daughter in the village.

    “I want to thank the Commonwealth Games for accepting our request to accommodate our captain Bismah Maroof’s family at the Games village, which will allow her to focus on the task at hand without any worries about her young infant daughter,” PCB’s head of women’s cricket Tania Mallick said in a statement.

    Read more- ‘Where is the hate?’ Twitter reacts to Indian cricket team playing with Pakistan cricket captain’s baby

    Pakistan squad: Bismah Maroof (c), Aimen Anwar, Aliya Riaz, Anam Amin, Ayesha Naseem, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Gull Feroza (wk), Iram Javed, Kainat Imtiaz, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui (wk), Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sadia Iqbal and Tuba Hassan.

    The Commonwealth Games are scheduled to be held in Birmingham, England, from July 28 to August 8, 2022.

    Pakistan’s Schedule for Commonwealth Games:

    July 29 – v Barbados

    July 31 – v India

    August 03 – v Australia 

  • ICC Women’s cricket championship cycle to begin with Pakistan vs Sri Lanka match in Karachi

    ICC Women’s cricket championship cycle to begin with Pakistan vs Sri Lanka match in Karachi

    The first one day international between Pakistan and Sri Lanka will mark the beginning of the ICC Women’s Championship 2022-2025 cycle. The first match will be played tomorrow, June 1. The remaining two matches will also be also played in Karachi.

    In the championship, each team will play eight three-match series (four home and four away) over the next three years.

    Pakistan will play against South Africa, Ireland, Sri Lanka, West Indies in Pakistan, and will then play against England, New Zealand, Australia, Bangladesh on international grounds.

    “After a dominating performance in the T20Is against Sri Lanka, we are now focused on delivering our best in the ODI series which is a part of the ICC Women’s Championship. I am pleased that two more teams have been added to the new cycle of the championship,” said Pakistani captain Bismah Maroof.

    “This step from the ICC will help promote the women’s game in Bangladesh and Ireland besides providing them direct qualification opportunities,” she added.

    “Our aim, like the rest of the sides, would be to earn a direct spot in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025. In the qualification format, each and every series matters, hence our goal would be to start on a positive note by securing a series win against Sri Lanka while accumulating maximum points.”

    The teams also did a training session on May 30.

    Pakistan won all the three T20I matches against Sri Lanka.

  • Daren Sammy receives Sitara-i-Pakistan

    Daren Sammy receives Sitara-i-Pakistan

    Former Peshawar Zalmi and West Indian captain Daren Sammy received Sitara-i-Pakistan award from the government of Pakistan.

    “Such a proud moment,” Sammy tweeted and shared a picture receiving the award.

    Daren Sammy wrote on his Intagram: “Cricket took me all over the world enabling me to see and play in some amazing places. Pakistan is definitely one of these places. A place that always makes me feel at home. It’s such an honor to have received this prestigious award( Sitara-I-Pakistan) from the Government and people of Pakistan. Thank you.”

    Peshawar Zalmi’s owner, Javed Afridi, also took to Twitter to congratulate Sammy on receiving the prestigious award.

  • Shoaib Akhtar reveals he used to pull a truck to train as a fast bowler

    Shoaib Akhtar reveals he used to pull a truck to train as a fast bowler

    Pakistan’s former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has disclosed the training methods that helped him improve his bowling speed and eventually break the 160kmph barrier in the ICC World Cup 2003.

    In an chat with Sportskeeda, Rawalpindi Express said he started pulling light vehicles on the roads of Islamabad before moving on to pulling a truck for at least 4-5 miles.

    “I use to bowl 157 and 158kmph consistently but somehow I was unable to click 160kph. I started planning to train in order to cross the 160kmph barrier,” said Akhtar.

    “Initially, I tied up myself to a tyre and pulled it but the tyre was too light to build my muscles. Later, during nighttime in Islamabad, I tied myself to a small car and pulled it but this also turned out to be light training for my body.”

    Shoaib Akhtar said he intended to tie himself to a truck and pull it afterwards. This worked out since he began training and was able to pull a truck for nearly 5 kilometres.

    “I doubled my weight training for the sake of building muscles in the gym. This started changing my biomechanics,” he added.

    Shoaib Akhtar made the ICC World Cup bowling record with 161.3 kmph against England in 2003.

  • Cricket fraternity mourns the death of former Australian cricketer Andrew Symonds

    Cricket fraternity mourns the death of former Australian cricketer Andrew Symonds

    Former Australia cricketer Andrew Symonds died in a car crash in Queensland today (May 15) at the age of 46.

    “We are shocked and saddened by the loss of the loveable Queenslander, who has tragically passed away at the age of 46,” Cricket Australia announced his death in a poignant message.

    The all-rounder played 26 Tests, 198 One-Day internationals and 14 Twenty20s for Australia between 1998 and 2009.

    Cricketers expressed their shock and paid glowing tributes to Symonds.

    Former Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar said he was devastated to hear the news. “We shared a great relationship on & off the field.”

    Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting said, “If Roy shook your hand you had his word, that’s the sort of bloke he was and that’s why I always wanted him on my team.”

    Former Indian captain Sachin Tendulkar tweeted: “Not only was he a brilliant all-rounder, but also a live-wire on the field.”

    https://twitter.com/SAfridiOfficial/status/1525771814575677440

    Symonds’ death has shocked the cricketing world. His tragic demise follows the death of former Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne, who died at the age of 52 earlier this year in March.

  • ‘My mother always told me never ever sell your country,’ says Shoaib Akhtar

    ‘My mother always told me never ever sell your country,’ says Shoaib Akhtar

    The former Pakistani pacer, Shoaib Akhtar in an interview stated that his mother constantly counseled him to protect Pakistan’s pride.

    Akhtar also revealed that 12 of his fellow players had been engaged in match-fixing but he said nothing.

    “I can’t stand lying, so I’ve never fixed or even considered fixing a game,” he explained. “Match-fixing was a problem for 12 of my former teammates. I was aware, but I said nothing. ‘Never ever sell your nation,’ my mum used to say “cricketer-turned-YouTuber expressed his sentiments.

    Conversely, Akhtar, who is known for his strong words and anger, claimed that he have hit the umpires and batters with the bat at least 30-40 times.

    Shoaib Akhtar reflected on his background and said he had seen a lot of unfairness. He mentioned the 1999 World Cup, when Steve Waugh was plumb out but the umpire denied the appeal, provoking him to kick his leg and even scream at him.

  • Babar Azam proposes a 20 per cent raise in cricketers’ salaries

    Babar Azam proposes a 20 per cent raise in cricketers’ salaries

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) met with officials, including captain Babar Azam and head coach Saqlain Mushtaq, to review the specifics of the new central contracts.

    As the players’ current central contracts will be expiring on June 30, discussions on new central contracts have begun at PCB Headquarters.

    According to sources, Babar Azam and Saqlain Mushtaq have proposed a 20 per cent raise in salaries. They have also provided opinions on the cricketers’ potential and participation in future plans.

    The details for the next cricket season, including contract contracts, budgets, and player categories, were discussed at the conference. The increase in monthly compensation for centrally contracted players was also a topic of discussion.

    Read more: Shoaib Akhtar reveals he was his mother’s driver for 11 years, pays tribute

    The new contracts will be finalised soon by the PCB, but the official list of new central contracts will be issued on July 1st. Major changes are predicted in the new central contracts, according to reports, with numerous superstars losing their contracts.

  • Asian Games 2022 in China postponed due to Covid

    Asian Games 2022 in China postponed due to Covid

    This year’s Asian Games have been postponed for an indefinite period as China tries to stamp out a large resurgence in Covid infections in several parts of the country. The event was scheduled to be held in Hangzhou, China, from September 10-25, 2022.

    According to the official statement by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), the new dates will be agreed between the OCA, the Chinese Olympic Committee (COC) and the Hangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee (HAGOC) and will be announced in the near future.

    “HAGOC has been very well prepared to deliver the games on time despite global challenges. However, the above decision was taken by all the stakeholders after carefully considering the pandemic situation and the size of the games,” the statement further reads.

    However, last month the organisers of the games said that Hangzhou has completed constructing some 56 competition venues for the Asian Games and Asian Para Games.

    It is pertinent to mention that more than 11,000 athletes from 44 countries were to take part in the 19th Asian Games in September 2022.

    It has also been confirmed by the OCA that the 3rd Asian Youth Games 2021, originally scheduled to be held last year but was rescheduled for this year, are now officially cancelled.

    Most international sporting events in China have been postponed or cancelled since the start of the pandemic, with the notable exception of the Winter Olympics, which went ahead in Beijing under strict health controls in February.

  • Pakistan to host Cricket World Cup for veteran players in 2023

    Pakistan will host Cricket World Cup for veteran players in the next year 2023. The age limit for players to play in the tournament would be 40 and above.

    According to Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA), 12 teams will play in the tournament which will commence on September 23, 2023, at six venues in Karachi while the final match will be played on October 8.

    Fawad Ijaz Khan, Chairman PVCA told the media: “Pakistan will be joined in the World Cup by old rivals – India, Australia, England, New Zealand, West Indies, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Canada, USA, Zimbabwe, Wales, UAE, and Namibia.”

    He added, “It is going to be a major event and we will take all steps to make sure that we host it successfully.”

    “We have a number of leading cricketers who would be eligible to compete in the World Cup. We are hoping that top players like Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Akhtar, Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik, and Mohammad Hafeez will play for Pakistan. We are going to field a very strong team and will be the favorites to win the World Cup,” he further said.

    There is a new concept that will give an opportunity to former cricketers to play on the fields again while young audiences and players will also get another chance to see their seniors playing on the grounds.

    Every match will be of 45 overs and local TV channels will broadcast the matches of Pakistan including the semi-finals and finals live.

    The Veterans World Cup, aged above 50, was first launched in Australia in 2018. However, its second edition was canceled due to a covid pandemic.

  • PKR 1.5m needed: Snooker champion Ahsan Ramzan criticises govt’s attitude

    PKR 1.5m needed: Snooker champion Ahsan Ramzan criticises govt’s attitude

    Snooker Champion Ahsan Ramzan has expressed disappointment over the non-supportive behaviour of the government officials in a recent interview given to Geo News. He was the first youngest Pakistani who won the IBSF World Snooker Championship by defeating the Iranian player last month in Qatar.

    Ahsan is living in a room inside the club where he receives training in Lahore. He believes that support from the government departments will give more time to focus on sports.

    In a Geo News interview, he said, “I have not received any support from the government so far. However, the government has now changed which is why I’m hopeful that they will support me as they did with former champion Muhammad Asif in the past.”

    He further added, “I want a job from a department so that I can focus on snooker with a steady income,” he said. “If that doesn’t happen, I will be forced to start a business which will make it difficult for me to focus on the sport.”

    Ahsan Ramzan is considering participating in Asia-Oceania Q School if he did not receive any financial support from the Pakistan government. However, he appealed that he needs PKR 1.5 million as sponsorship to get enrolled in school.

    Asia-Oceania Q School 2022 will commence on June 1 in Bangkok, Thailand. The finalists who will earn a two-year card to the World Snooker Tour will play two tournaments. In total, four players will be awarded a place on the professional circuit for the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons.

    Interested players who are residing in Asia and Oceania can participate in the event with an entry fee of £400.