Category: Sports

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  • ‘Back in momentum’: Abid Ali thanks fans for ‘love’ and ‘support’

    ‘Back in momentum’: Abid Ali thanks fans for ‘love’ and ‘support’

    Pakistan’s Test opener Abid Ali has updated his fans about his health and thanked everyone for their love and support after the star cricketer’s heart procedures.

    Taking to Twitter, Abid said: “Alhumdulillah, get back in the momentum as per the doctor’s instructions.”

    The 34-year-old cricketer thanked his followers, saying: “A big thank you for immense love and support shown by my family, friends and followers.”

    The cricketer further said that he will recover soon and requested them to “keep praying”.

    Abid suffered from Acute Coronary Syndrome. While batting during the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy match, the cricketer complained of chest pain after which he was taken to the hospital. There he had angioplasty and stents were inserted. The stent was inserted for the second time last week.

    The doctors had advised him to rest for two months after which he would be re-examined.

  • Shoaib Akhtar, Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik to play Legends League

    Shoaib Akhtar, Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik to play Legends League

    Former Pakistan cricketers Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Shoaib Akhtar and many more will be part of Legends League, which will be played in January 2022 at the Al-Amerat Cricket Stadium in Oman.

    They will be representing the Asia Lions team, which also includes the likes of Sanath Jayasuriya, Muttiah Muralitharan, Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan.

    “Asia Lions our team from Asia. We find it most suited name with the lion-hearted players that feature in the team. Shoaib Akhtar running in to bowl and Jayasuriya cutting it over the square is what fans will now be most eagerly waiting for,” said Raman Raheja, CEO of Legends League Cricket in a press release.

    Ravi Shastri, commissioner of Legends League, is also excited for the event due to the presence of great players.

    “This is top quality exciting cricket in offer. The Lions of Asia from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan coming together in one team will definitely give the other two teams a run for their money. I tell you they are absolute champions and Afridi, Murali, Chaminda, Shoaib Malik all playing in one team, this will be a blast,” said Shastri.

    The other two teams in the event are India and Rest of the World but their squads have not been announced, yet.

    Asia Lions squad:

    Shoaib Akhtar, Shahid Afridi, Sanath Jayasuriya, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Azhar Mahmood, Upul Tharanga, Misbah-ul-Haq, Mohammed Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Mohammed Yousuf, Umar Gul, Younis Khan and Asghar Afghan.

  • Babar Azam, Pakistani cricketers celebrate Quaid’s 146th birthday

    Babar Azam, Pakistani cricketers celebrate Quaid’s 146th birthday

    The nation is celebrating 146th birthday of Father of the Nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah today (Saturday). Skipper of the national cricket team Babar Azam and other Pakistani cricketers also took to their social media accounts to pen heartfelt notes.

    “Visionary leader, ambassador of humanity, equality and tolerance. May all of us try to fulfill our obligations for our courageous country. Happy Birthday to our Quaid,” wrote Babar on Twitter.

    Taking to Twitter, former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi thanked Quaid for this nation saying: “Let’s celebrate our founding Father by taking an oath to make Pakistan great, happy & prosperous by ensuring the well being of the masses & the poor. Join me by doing your part in actualizing Quaid’s vision of unity & equality.”

    https://twitter.com/SAfridiOfficial/status/1474601970287665152?t=zDsR3IyEVUPe8MYEyfxP1Q&s=19

    Similarly, Shoaib Akhtar, Shoaib Malik, Imam-ul-Haq, Ahmad Shahzad and Wahab Riaz took to their respective social media accounts to write a few words to thank the Father of the Nation.

    Pakistani woman cricketer Sidra Amin also shared Quaid’s quote.

    Former cricketer and current Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ramiz Raja also thanked Quaid for this beautiful country.

    Prime Minister Imran Khan in his message on the occasion of birth anniversary of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, has emphasised upon the youth to adopt Quaid’s attributes of honesty, hard work, perseverance and dedication.

    He said we as a nation need to adopt these attributes to realize Quaid’s vision of a developed, progressive and tolerant Pakistan.

    The Prime Minister said Muhammad Ali Jinnah realised the importance of a separate homeland for Muslims of the subcontinent where all citizens could enjoy freedom of faith, occupation and equal opportunities.

  • Video: Waqar Younis grooves on Indian song with wife

    Video: Waqar Younis grooves on Indian song with wife

    Former Pakistan coach Waqar Younis’s video clip, where he can be seen dancing and enjoying his brother-in-law’s wedding, has gone viral on social media.

    The wedding event was held in Karachi on Thursday.

    The former Pakistani cricketer’s wife, Dr Faryal, can also be seen in the video, dancing her heart out at the function.

    The couple can be seen dancing in joy to the tune of a song in the middle of the dance floor as others look on.

    The former fast bowler graced the dance floor on popular Bollywood dance number ‘Dilli Wali Girlfriend’, which went viral on social media.

    Waqar’s brother-in-law got married in Karachi on Thursday.

    At the function, the former coach can be seen wearing a black sherwani.

    Earlier, a video of former Pakistan captain and ex-wicketkeeper Moin Khan shaking a leg on his son’s wedding with actor Ali Ansari was doing the rounds on social media.

    Veteran cricketer Wasim Akram and his wife Shaniera Akram swayed at the wedding.

  • ‘It will generate revenue’: Ravi Shastri calls for legalisation of sports betting in India

    ‘It will generate revenue’: Ravi Shastri calls for legalisation of sports betting in India

    Former Indian cricketer Ravi Shastri has said that he is all for legalising sports betting in India and it is time that the country catches up to an excellent way of generating revenue, which will only help the authorities to keep a control on it in official ways.

    Sports betting is illegal in India as of now. As per reports, in 2018, the Law Commission of India had recommended the legalisation of regulated betting and gambling activities in sports. It has also been said that the efforts of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are “ineffective and insufficient to tackle the menace of illegal and underground betting”.

    Titled as ‘Legal Framework: Gambling and Sports Betting Including in Cricket in India’, the report stated: “Incapability to enforce a complete ban has resulted in a rampant increase in illegal gambling, resulting in a boom in black-money generation and circulation. Since it is not possible to prevent these activities completely, effectively regulating them remains the only viable option.”

    The Law Commission also recommended classifying gambling into two categories, namely ‘proper gambling’ and ‘small gambling’.

    While in conversation with an Indian media outlet Indian Express, Ravi Shastri was asked whether he will be in favor of or against if sports betting was legalised in India. The former Indian team head coach said that he would be in favour of legalising betting on sports.

    He said that other countries were benefitting from it tax-wise and it would generate tremendous income for the government. He also asserted that the more the authorities tried to curb it or stop it, the more betting will rise through alternate channels, hence it was better to earn from it by legalising it in a proper way.

    “I think it will generate tremendous revenue for the government. Tax-wise, it’s the way of the world at the moment. The more you try to shut it down, the more it will be in your face through alternate channels. I think it’s extremely important that it should be legalised in a proper way and it’s a good platform for things to be done officially and properly,” Shastri stated.

    Meanwhile, he called the BCCI the most efficient cricket board in the world in the last 40 years and lauded the politicians for running the Indian cricket board and doing an excellent job in administering cricket in India.

  • ‘Enjoyed playing in Australia’: Shadab Khan is excited to be part of Sydney Sixers in BBL

    ‘Enjoyed playing in Australia’: Shadab Khan is excited to be part of Sydney Sixers in BBL

    Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan is excited to be a part of defending Big Bash League (BBL) champions Sydney Sixers. He said that he is hopeful to contribute to his team’s success.

    Taking to Twitter, Shadab wrote: “I have always enjoyed playing in Australia and the @BBL , these are different and tough conditions so you get to learn a lot. Really excited to be part of the @SixersBBL. Hopefully I can contribute to my team’s success.”

    Shadab will be playing the remainder of the season in a timely addition for the injury-hit Sixers, who have lost off-spinner Ben Manenti to a season-ending neck injury while Australia’s Steve O’Keefe is currently on the sidelines with a calf strain.

    He has returned to the BBL after a brief three-match stint with Brisbane Heat in the 2017-18 season.

    The 23-year-old cricketer impressed everyone with his performance at the recent T20 World Cup with nine wickets from six games, including 4 for 26 against the winners Australia in the semi-finals. Shadab, however, was wicket-less in his past two T20Is against West Indies earlier this month.

    As the lower-order batter, Shadab averages 18.33 with a strike rate of 136.81 from 64 T20Is and has also scored three half-centuries in his six-Test career.

    Shadab is the fifth Pakistani to sign in this season’s BBL and joins Melbourne Stars’ trio Haris Rauf, Syed Faridoun and Ahmad Daniyal, and Sydney Thunder’s Mohammad Hasnain.

  • Abid Ali undergoes second heart procedure, updates PCB

    Abid Ali undergoes second heart procedure, updates PCB

    Pakistan Test opener Abid Ali has been advised to rest for two months after angioplasty, confirmed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

    Abid suffered from Acute Coronary Syndrome. While batting during the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy match, the cricketer complained of chest pain after which he was taken to the hospital. There he had angioplasty and stents were inserted. The stent was inserted for the second time on Thursday.

    As per details, the doctors have advised him to rest for two months after which he would be re-examined.

    The PCB stated that its medical team is consulting cardiologists abroad. While the board also requested the people to give the player and his family some privacy.

    Taking to Twitter, PCB wrote: “Abid Ali on Thursday commenced his rehabilitation.”

    “As part of his rehabilitation process, he did light walking in the morning without showing any discomfort. He will continue his rehab in the hospital until he is discharged early next week.”

  • India beats Pakistan to win bronze in Asian Champions Trophy

    India beats Pakistan to win bronze in Asian Champions Trophy

    Indian men’s hockey team won the bronze medal at Asian Champions Trophy after beating Pakistan 4-3 in third-place play-off match.

    Earlier, India suffered defeat at the hands of Japan with a 3-5 scoreline in the semifinals the previous day after having topped the round-robin stages with an unbeaten record.

    In the other semifinal, South Korea beat Pakistan 6-5.

    India will be going home with the bronze medal.

    It was India’s second win over Pakistan in the tournament after having beaten the same opponents 3-1 in the round-robin stages.

    “It is disappointing for us because we scored more field goals,” said Pakistan captain Umar Bhutta after the semi-final match, referring to his side’s four field goals while the South Koreans only got one from open play.

    “We played a good match but the two goals we conceded from penalty corners hurt us,” he said.

  • Shaheen Afridi ranks Rizwan ‘best’ and Babar ‘second’ best captain

    Shaheen Afridi ranks Rizwan ‘best’ and Babar ‘second’ best captain

    Pakistan’s young fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi, who was recently appointed as the new captain of Lahore Qalandars, has revealed that he ranks Mohammad Rizwan as a better captain than Babar Azam.

    While attending a press conference where Shaheen was officially announced as the new captain of the Lahore Qalandars team, the left-arm pacer was asked about his opinion regarding Babar Azam’s captaincy.

    “Babar Azam is my favorite batsman and he is the number one batter as well. He has done fantastically well as a captain for the national team and we are reaching new heights under him,” responded Shaheen.

    Shaheen was then asked to reveal who he believes has been the best captain near him since he started playing.

    “I like [Mohammad] Rizwan’s personality. I started playing domestic competition with him from KPK’s side and I would rate him as the best. Since Babar has done a fantastic job with the national team, I will rank him second,” said the newly appointed captain of the Lahore Qalandars team.