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  • Actor Shaan angry over PSL ‘lockdowns’, makes special request to CM Buzdar

    Actor Shaan angry over PSL ‘lockdowns’, makes special request to CM Buzdar

    The seventh edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) is at full swing of the second leg of the tournament which is taking place at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.

    Actor Shaan Shahid took to his Twitter and has made a special request to Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ramiz Raja and Chief Minister of Punjab Usman Buzdar.

    “PSL indeed it is a great way to boost pakistans peaceful image but a special request to @iramizraja chairman Pcb why can’t the teams be accommodated in the Pcb academy right next to the stadium the whole city is on a lockdown a lot of people are suffering .@UsmanAKBuzdar,” he tweeted.

    Earlier on Wednesday, the Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Lahore, Additional IG Fayyaz Ahmad Dev visited Gaddafi Stadium and reviewed the security and traffic arrangements made by the Lahore Police for PSL matches.

    DIG Operations Dr Abid Khan, DC Lahore Umar Sher Chattha, SSP Administration Atif Nazir, SSP Operations Capt (retd) Mustansar Feroze, SSP Security Rashid Hydayat and PCB officials were also present on the occasion.

    The CCPO Lahore inspected security arrangements at different entrance and exit gates of the stadium and issued directions to the police officers to strengthen the arrangements.

    The Lahore leg of the tournament started from February 10. The playoffs and Final of the tournament will be played in Lahore at the Gaddafi Stadium. The Final match will be played on February 27.

    Earlier, it was also reported that the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan will also be watching the Final at the Gaddafi Stadium.

    In March 2021, it was reported that the Sports Board of Punjab (SBP) and PCB have agreed to build a five-star hotel at Nishtar Park Sports Complex, near Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. But no latest update on the project has been reported.

  • Wahab Riaz, Shoaib Malik, Haris celebrate after winning hat-trick in PSL

    Wahab Riaz, Shoaib Malik, Haris celebrate after winning hat-trick in PSL

    In the 24th match of Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2022, Peshawar Zalmi defeated Islamabad United by 10 runs. This was the third consecutive win for Wahab Riaz’s team. In this match, wicket-keeper-batter Mohammad Haris of Zalmi also scored a half-century in 18 balls.

    Haris smashed Islamabad’s bowling attack with a knock of 70 off 32 balls. In this exceptional innings, he completed his half-century in 18 balls, which is the joint-third fastest 50 in PSL history. After this, Yasir Khan (35) and Shoaib Malik (38) also made important contributions, taking Peshawar’s score to 200. Peshawar set a decent target of 207 runs for Islamabad to chase.

    Islamabad had a magnificent start by reaching 50 in the fourth over but opener batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz (46 off 19) got hitched by Salman Irshad. Then United wicketkeeper Azam Khan took the lead, who played an innings of 85 runs in 45 balls. But apart from him, no other batsman could do anything special. After holding the innings till the end, Azam Khan became the victim of Wahab Riaz on the first ball of the 19th over.

    From here the match changed and Zalmi’s return was made by Wahab, who took Azam’s wicket. Islamabad’s team scored 196 runs in 20 overs for the loss of 7 wickets and fell 10 runs behind the target. Fast bowler Salman Irshad took three and Riaz took two wickets. Talat and Cutting also got one wicket each.

    In this match, Wahab took his 100th wicket and became the first PSL bowler to reach the milestone.

    Taking to Twitter, he wrote: “Alhamdulilah for our 3rd consecutive win!”

    Praising Haris, he added: “Really happy with our brand of cricket and especially @iamharis63 has made a lot of difference with his batting.”

    He further added that he is looking forward to reach the play offs as well.

    Shoaib Malik also took to Twitter to congratulate Wahab and Haris.

    “Congratulations @PeshawarZalmi, truly a team effort today, great knock by youngster #Haris. Congratulations @WahabViki on your wickets century, keep going strong guys,” he wrote.

    Haris also took to his Twitter and wrote: “Hat-trick of wins for us. Alhamdulilah for another player of the match award.”

    Haris bagged Player of the Match award and its his second award in the three matches he played in PSL 7.

  • Babar Azam is the best player in the world, says Saqlain Mushtaq

    Babar Azam is the best player in the world, says Saqlain Mushtaq

    Head Coach of Pakistan cricket team Saqlain Mushtaq has said that Babar Azam is the best player in the world.

    The head coach of the national team said that when cricket started, it was his dream to play for Pakistan. He wanted to serve Pakistan even after retirement.

    While talking about Australia’s tour to Pakistan, he said that the arrival of the Australian cricket team in Pakistan is welcome, for which he is grateful to Australia and Government of Pakistan. Saqlain said the whole nation is looking forward to this tour.

    Mushtaq said that they will form their own team keeping in view the Australian team, the home series is beneficial for the national side but Australia is the top team at the moment, they are planning for the series.

    In response to a question, the head coach said: “Captain Babar Azam is the best player in the world, he has given very good performances in the past also, Babar Azam plays every format and bowling well.”

    He said that if there are no good spinners now, then there will be in the future. “My thinking about spinners is very positive.” He also added that we will see which pitch will support us.

    Talking about Mohammad Yousuf, he added that he believes in his expertise, he is also working for high performance center. “We have to complete our preparations.”

    The Australian cricket team is scheduled to tour Pakistan in March and April 2022 to play three Tests, three One Day Internationals (ODIs), and one Twenty20 International (T20I) match.

  • Wasim Akram clarifies what he was saying to Babar Azam

    Wasim Akram clarifies what he was saying to Babar Azam

    After a huge amount of criticism on social media, former Pakistan pacer and Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Karachi Kings’ president Wasim Akram responded to the backlash and has clarified what exactly he was saying to captain Babar Azam in the match against Multan Sultans.

    Read More – ‘Aap log dil bura na kareyn’: Babar Azam’s father comes to son’s defence

    Taking to Twitter, Akram wrote: “Hello! Surprised to see reactions on my talking to Babar at the boundary last night. What I was saying was ‘why our bowlers are not bowling yorkers or slower ones offside off’. Nothing else.”

    He further added that Babar is a “wonderful boy” and has tried his best.

    Wasim Akram said that he asked Babar about what he will have for dinner.

    Earlier, a video of Wasim and Babar was doing the rounds on social media, in which the veteran cricketer can be seen talking harshly to the Pakistan skipper.

    Meanwhile, it is pertinent to mention here that Kings lost their eighth consecutive match by the hands of Multan Sultans at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on Wednesday.

  • Twitterati angry at Wasim Akram for shouting at Babar Azam in match against Multan

    Twitterati angry at Wasim Akram for shouting at Babar Azam in match against Multan

    A video clip from the Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) match between Karachi Kings and Multan Sultans is circulating on Twitter in which Wasim Akram can be seen going harsh on Babar Azam at the boundary line in the last over against Sultans where Karachi’s defeat was obvious.

    Twitter users were disappointed to see the all-format captain of Pakistan being treated like this by Akram. Angry social media users schooled the former cricketer for this behaviour.

    Former cricketer Rashid Latif took to Twitter and said: “Kaptaan ghabrana nahi hai! Our support with you. @babarazam258 hold your head high.”

    On Wednesday at the Gaddafi Stadium, Kings won the toss and opted to bat first. After the early loss of Babar, Sharjeel Khan and Joe Clarke added 72 runs for the second wicket. The team managed to set a decent total of 174 runs.

    But Multan’s skipper Mohammad Rizwan and Shan Masood’s partnership gave a strong start to the chase but by the time Shan (45 off 41) was dismissed by Mir Hamza in 15th over, the asking rate had climbed past 13 runs per over.

    Rizwan (76 off 56) upped the game after Shan’s departure with five fours in a space of seven balls. But the skipper departed on Jordan’s counterattack.

    It came down to 29 off the last 12 balls. Khushdil Shah played a series of sensational shots off Jordan as the experienced English bowler conceded 20 runs with Khushdil hitting two sixes and one four.

    The match was finished by a magnificent strike by Rilee Rossouw over mid-wicket off the third ball of the final over bowled by Umaid as Sultans finished the match with three balls to spare. Sultans ended-up scoring 71 runs off the last 27 balls.

    Rizwan grabbed Player of the Match award for his magnificent 76 runs.

    Meanwhile, it is pertinent to mention here that this is a new PSL record by Karachi Kings. They’ve lost nine consecutive matches in the league. Eight this year and one last year. This is the longest losing streak of any team in the PSL. The previous one was eight matches between two editions by Lahore Qalandars.

  • ‘It wasn’t good’: Sohail Tanvir regrets offensive behaviour during PZ vs QG match

    ‘It wasn’t good’: Sohail Tanvir regrets offensive behaviour during PZ vs QG match

    Quetta Gladiators’ left-arm pacer Sohail Tanvir has apologised for the offensive behaviour with Quetta’s batter Ben Cutting during the Peshawar Zalmi vs Quetta Gladiators in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) match at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on Tuesday.

    In a video message posted on Instagram, Tanvir said: “This could have been avoided and what happened was not good,” he said, addressing the heated encounter between the two players last night.

    Cutting punished Tanvir in the penultimate over as he smashed 27 runs by hitting four sixes, a single, and a double.

    And then, Cutting showed an offensive hand gesture to Tanvir. This led to an argument between the two. The on-field umpire intervened and dispersed them.

    But right in the next over, Naseem Shah bowled and Cutting smashed it but Tanvir was the third man, so he took the catch. After taking his catch, Tanvir also used the obscene hand gesture (showing his middle finger).

    Shedding light on the history behind the aggression between the two players against each other, he said that this case has been going on since 2018.

    It is pertinent to mention here that during the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), Tanvir had shown a finger gesture to Cutting after taking his wicket.

    Tanvir, however, mentioned that he had apologised to Cutting back then.

    “Last night, Cutting hit two sixes and showed the finger gesture,” he said, adding that then the two exchanged heated words and then “I also showed him the finger.”

    Tanvir emphasised: “I repeat that this should not have happened, it could have been avoided.”

    Both the cricketers were fined for their wrongdoing and both accepted the offence imposed on them.

  • Naseem Shah disappointed after Quetta loses to Peshawar in PSL

    Naseem Shah disappointed after Quetta loses to Peshawar in PSL

    Quetta Gladiators’ young pacer Naseem Shah is disappointed after his side lost to Peshawar Zalmi during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) match at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on Tuesday.

    Shah impressed one and all with his bowling, bagging figures of 4/27. However, Gladiators fell short by 24 runs against Zalmi.

    “I think that a player enjoys his personal performance more when his team wins and the entire squad celebrates the win,” said Naseem in a video released by the Quetta Gladiators.

    “Since my childhood, I always feel weird even if I lose a game at home. I’m happy with my own performance but my team didn’t win which makes me sad,” he added.

    Shah also stated that Gladiators can qualify for the playoffs “if they win their last two games”.

    “We have good openers and middle-order. We just need one win to turn things around,” he added.

    It must be noted that Quetta’s last two matches in the round-robin stage are against Multan Sultans and Karachi Kings, respectively.

    Team Quetta is standing at fifth position at the points table with six points.

  • After showing each other the middle finger, Sohail Tanvir and Ben Cutting fined in PSL match

    After showing each other the middle finger, Sohail Tanvir and Ben Cutting fined in PSL match

    Quetta Gladiators’ pacer Sohail Tanvir and Peshawar Zalmi’s Ben Cutting have both been fined 15 per cent of their match fees for breaching a Level 1 offence of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Code of Conduct. They both indulged in a verbal spat during the PSL seven’s 22nd match on Tuesday.

    Both players were found to have violated Article 2.6 of the HBL PSL Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “using a gesture that is obscene, offensive or insulting during a PSL Match”.

    The incident involving Cutting happened in the penultimate over of Zalmi’s innings when the batter, after hitting the bowler for a third consecutive six, made inappropriate gestures using his fingers.

    Sohail made similar gestures after catching Cutting off Naseem Shah on the first ball of the final over.

    Both Cutting and Sohail pleaded guilty to the offences and accepted the sanctions proposed to be imposed by Ali Naqvi and, as such, there was no need for a formal hearing. The charges were levelled by on-field umpires Michael Gough and Rashid Riaz, third umpire Asif Yaqoob and fourth umpire Waleed Yaqoob.

    All first-time offences of Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official warning and/or imposition of a fine of up to 25 per cent of the applicable match fee.

    Earlier, Quetta’s Jason Roy and Karachi Kings’ Imad Wasim have also been fined for breaching PSL’s Code of Conduct.

  • Twitterati claim Islamabad United’s Alex Hales ditched PSL for IPL

    Twitterati claim Islamabad United’s Alex Hales ditched PSL for IPL

    Islamabad United’s opening batter Alex Hales early Tuesday opted out of the ongoing seventh edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), with fans claiming they know the “actual” reason behind it.

    The team’s management, confirming the news, said that the star batter has decided to withdraw due to personal reasons, but Twitterati think that there must be some other reason behind it.

    Soon after the news broke, Hales took to his Instagram story and confirmed that the Covid-19 bubbles had taken a toll on him, therefore, he could not continue.

    “To all the Islamabad and [PSL] fans, I am extremely sorry to have to leave the tournament early. Unfortunately the last four months away from home in Covid bubbles has taken a considerable toll on me,” he said.

    “I would like to thank everyone at Islamabad for understanding and respecting my position,” Hales said.

    However, Twitter did not seem to buy it, as they claimed the player had bagged an Indian Premier League (IPL) contract and was ditching it due to that.

    https://twitter.com/Shelby_Boyy/status/1493500209757831170?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1493500209757831170%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.geo.tv%2Flatest%2F399429-twitterati-claim-alex-hales-ditched-psl-for-ipl

    https://twitter.com/snicko__/status/1493559958398332932?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1493559958398332932%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.geo.tv%2Flatest%2F399429-twitterati-claim-alex-hales-ditched-psl-for-ipl

    Hales was bought by IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for INR 1.5 crore.