Category: Sports

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  • PSL6 to reportedly restart from June 7

    PSL6 to reportedly restart from June 7

    The remaining matches of Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) sixth edition are likely to resume from June 7 in Abu Dhabi as per media reports.

    After several flight delays and logistical issues, PSL6 is finally restarting. The matches are to be played in Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi and the final is to be played on June 24.

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on May 27 that it would hold the remaining PSL matches in Abu Dhabi. Only two chartered flights took off on May 27 simultaneously from Lahore and Karachi, carrying 202 passengers, including players, officials, support staff, and other participants of the league as they had to go through a seven-day quarantine after reaching their hotels in Abu Dhabi.

    However, 25 passengers, including former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed, had to stay back in their hotels as they couldn’t get the visas on time.

    Later, five people, including fast bowler Mohammad Hasnain, left Karachi for Abu Dhabi on Sunday. However, Sarfaraz Ahmed and 10 other members from Lahore could not get clearance for the trip to Abu Dhabi on May 30. The former Pakistani skipper was scheduled to leave via a commercial flight on Sunday but was denied permission to take the flight.

    Finally, Sarfaraz and five other players landed in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

    An official announcement regarding the restarting date of the league is still awaited.

    The series witnessed a halt earlier this year after the Covid-19 bio-bubble was breached, and many positive cases emerged amongst the players and support staff members.

  • ‘Huge waves of anxiety,’ Naomi Osaka withdraws from French Open

    ‘Huge waves of anxiety,’ Naomi Osaka withdraws from French Open

    Japanese tennis ace Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from the French Open due to “huge waves of anxiety.”

    Osaka announced her withdrawal from Roland Garros a day after she was fined $15,000 by the French Open and warned that she could face expulsion from the tournament, following her decision not to speak with the press during the tournament.

    Osaka, 23, who won her first match against Patricia Maria Tig, was scheduled to face Ana Bogdan in the second round. She released a statement last Wednesday stating her intention to skip her media obligations during Roland Garros because of the affect of interacting with the press on her mental health.

    “This isn’t a situation I ever imagined or intended when I posted a few days ago,” Osaka wrote on social media, “I think now the best thing for the tournament, the other players and my well-being is that I withdraw so that everyone can get back to focusing on the tennis going on in Paris.”

    “I never wanted to be a distraction and I accept that my timing was not ideal and my message could have been clearer. More importantly, I would never trivialise mental health or use the term lightly.”

    In her original statement, Osaka said she expected to be fined. The French Tennis Federation (FFT) President Gilles Moretton, has stated that his organisation would penalise Osaka, after which she was fined $15,000.

    The organisation has not given an official response to the fine, despite Osaka’s statement, explaining her anxiety. Their heavy-handed approach to Osaka has been criticised as a disproportionate response by many, saying that Osaka should not be penalised for putting her mental health first. The attention Osaka received after her statement has been compounded by the announcement of her fine and possible default.

    In her withdrawal statement, the four-time grand slam champion said she has suffered from “long bouts of depression” since the 2018 US Open final. Osaka defeated Serena Williams then to win her first grand slam title in a controversial match that similarly led to significant attention and queries from the media.

    “Anyone that knows me knows I’m introverted, and anyone that has seen me at the tournaments will notice that I’m often wearing headphones as that helps dull my social anxiety,” Osaka wrote.

    Osaka explained in her statement, saying she suffers “huge waves of anxiety” before speaking with the media. “Here in Paris, I was already feeling vulnerable and anxious so I thought it was better to exercise self‑care and skip the press conferences. I announced it preemptively because I do feel like the rules are quite outdated in parts and I wanted to highlight that,” she wrote.

    “I’ll see you when I see you,” concluded Naomi.

    Osaka has received support from numerous public figures since her announcement.

  • Kohli rates Wasim Akram as the toughest bowler

    Kohli rates Wasim Akram as the toughest bowler

    Virat Kohli has rated Wasim Akram as the toughest bowler to face if they have played in the same era.

    Kohli conducted a question-answer session with his fans on Instagram where he answered several questions.

    Answering to a fan, Virat stated that a bowler from past who would have troubled him is the Swing ka Sultan Akram.

    From his diet to his routine during quarantine, Kohli answered a lot of interesting questions. When asked how his diet looks like, Kohli replied: “Lot of vegetables, some eggs, two cups of coffee, dal, quinoa, lots of spinach, love dosas (Indian dish) too,” adding, “But all in good quantities.”

    He also shared that he like lots of Indian food which is cooked simply, he sometimes eat Chinese too. Almonds, protein bar and fruits were also part of his list.

    When a fan asked him that how to deal with anxiety, stress and pressure in current situation (COVID-19 pandemic), Virat replied: “Be focused on things that are important and try to have belief in the greater good. Believe that something good can happen at anytime.”

    Virat also spilled a secret about Indian cricket team, saying: “We are actually a bunch of pranksters.”

    One of the fan was curious to know that what was the last thing Virat googled about. To which he replied: “Cristiano Ronaldo’s transfer.”

    Virat also shared that how do he keep himself motivated in a bad phase. “Do the routines right and persist with them regardless of the results.”

    A fan asked him to share a childhood photo of him, and the photo he shared was too cute.

    Kohli is currently in quarantine in Mumbai ahead of India’s tour to England where the team will play six Test matches, including the World Test Championship final against New Zealand, starting June 18.

  • Sarfaraz Ahmed shares list of must-watch Pakistani dramas

    Sarfaraz Ahmed shares list of must-watch Pakistani dramas

    Pakistani wicket-keeper batsman Sarfaraz Ahmed has shared a list of his favourite Pakistani dramas as he quarantines for Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) sixth edition.

    Read more – Wasim Akram is losing his mind as he quarantines for PSL6

    “Bhi Pakistani dramo ke be kiya baat hai bhi wah wah,” said Sarfaraz while sharing his list.

    The dramas which made it to his list include:

    Ishqiya featuring Feroze Khan and Hania Aamir, produced under Fahad Mustafa’s Big Bang Productions

    Raqs-e-Bismil featuring Sarah Khan, Imran Ashraf, Furqan Qureshi and Momin Saqib

    Fitrat featuring Saboor Aly, Ali Abbas and Zubab Rana

    Aulad featuring Marina Khan, Syed Mohammad Ahmed, Hassan Ahmed, Nabeel Zuberi and Sunita Marshall

    Nand featuring Aijaz Aslam, Shahroz Sabzwari, Minal Khan, Faiza Hassan, Javeria Saud and late Sumbul Shahid

    Khani featuring Sana Javed and Feroze Khan

    Qayamat featuring Ahsan Khan, Neelam Muneer, Shabbir Jaan and Saba Faisal

    Muje Khuda Pe Yaqeen Hai featuring Aagha Ali, Nimra Khan and Yashma Gill

    Jalan featuring Minal Khan, Fahad Sheikh, Nadia Hussain, Hajra Yamin and Emmad Irfani

    Sarfaraz also tagged the actors who were part of all the aforementioned dramas and appreciated their work in them.

    The Quetta Gladiators captain, along with other PSL6 players and coaching staff has to go through a seven-day quarantine period for the remaining matches, set to be played in Abu Dhabi in the first week of June.

  • Tiger Woods opens up about his ‘painful’ experience in rehab

    Tiger Woods opens up about his ‘painful’ experience in rehab

    Tiger Woods has opened up about his “painful” experience in rehab following a near-fatal car crash back in February.

    “This has been an entirely different animal,” Tiger told Golf Digest on May 27. “I understand more of the rehab processes because of my past injuries, but this was more painful than anything I have ever experienced.”

    According to details, one doctor who treated the 45-year-old athlete said that he suffered extensive injuries in his leg and foot, which required serious surgery.

    A crash report later revealed that Tiger was also “knocked unconscious, laceration to the lower front jaw, bruised right and left rib cage, fractured right tibia and fibula, possible right ankle injury.” He spent time in two different hospitals before returning to Florida to recover.

    “My physical therapy has been keeping me busy. I do my routines every day and am focused on my number one goal right now: walking on my own. Taking it one step at a time,” he explained, noting that the support from both friends and fans has been “incredible … I have had so much support from people both inside and outside of golf, which means so much to me and has helped tremendously.”

    Earlier in April, Tiger was spotted for the first time since the accident, rocking a leg brace and crutches as he returned to the golf course. He flashed a big smile as he posed next to his “rehab partner,” his dog Bugs. “My course is coming along faster than I am,” wrote Tiger. “But it’s nice to have a faithful rehab partner, man’s best friend.”

  • PSL 6 faces flight delays, logistical problems

    PSL 6 faces flight delays, logistical problems

    Sixth edition of Pakistan Super League is facing flight delays and logistical problems are being discussed by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) with the franchise owners.

    PSL contingent of 233 participants including players, support staff, broadcasting crew and PCB officials are still in Lahore and Karachi hotels after another delay in flight. The flight to Abu Dhabi has been delayed thrice in the last 36 hours which is brewing confusion, however, PCB has informed in the latest update that flights from Karachi and Lahore will leave at 5 pm today.

    The 25 PSL participants in Lahore and Karachi hotels haven’t got their visas and are still inside the bio-secure bubble.

    Read more – Wasim Akram is losing his mind as he quarantines for PSL6

    There was an urgent meeting called earlier today between PCB and franchises owners. In the online meeting, the franchise stakeholders were informed about the delay of South Africa and India’s technical staff chartered flights and PCB reiterated its resolve to solve all impending issues, taking all concerned into confidence. The backup plan of moving matches to Sharjah was also reportedly brought up in the meeting.

    In a statement issued after the meeting, the PCB said the franchises were updated on the unanticipated delays in the grant of landing permissions for chartered flights from India and South Africa.

    “The PCB is exploring all possible solutions to overcome these hurdles,” the statement read, adding that flights from Karachi and Lahore will depart today as per schedule.

    Reportedly, the broadcast crew from India and South Africa was not given permission to land in Abu Dhabi and now the PCB will make alternative arrangements and officials from those countries which are not on the red list will be engaged for the league.

    “The visas of at least  four individuals are still awaited and they will depart for Abu Dhabi later.”

    The statement added that holding the remaining 20 PSL matches was proving difficult under the current circumstances.

    According to a report, another  meeting of the PCB and franchise owners will be held in the evening.

    This is the third time the players and officials’ departure for the UAE has been postponed.

    The flight was previously scheduled to leave for the UAE at 8:00 am on Wednesday, which was later rescheduled to Thursday, 3 pm.

    And now the players and officials present at the hotels in Karachi and Lahore will fly for the UAE at 5pm.

    Former Pakistan cricketer and commentator Ramiz Raja had said that they will leave for the airport at 3pm.

    “Lot of speculations regarding the PSL on TV news channels. Latest on PSL travel is that we are moving out from the hotel at 3pm to go to the airport. So all is good.”

    Meanwhile, players and other staff have checked out from the hotel in Karachi and have departed for the airport.

  • ICC trolled for showing Waqar Younis as Indian player

    ICC trolled for showing Waqar Younis as Indian player

    Netizens are trolling International Cricket Council (ICC) for a major blunder, showing Waqar Younis as Indian player in Hall of Fame graphics which celebrates the career of the former Pakistani pacer.

    The graphic arrives within five seconds of the video that shows a picture of Waqar in his follow through alongside a brief summary of his international career.

    Even though ICC changed the same after being called out, however, the fans were quick to react and criticise the Council’s media and social media team for the error.

    https://twitter.com/daniel86cricket/status/1396729364285378561?s=24
    https://twitter.com/kiran_aman567/status/1396737862851256322?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1396737862851256322%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.news18.com%2Fcricketnext%2Fnews%2Ficc-trolled-for-major-blunder-hall-of-fame-graphic-shows-waqar-younis-as-india-player-3770612.html

    https://twitter.com/kiran_aman567/status/1396737862851256322?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1396737862851256322%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.news18.com%2Fcricketnext%2Fnews%2Ficc-trolled-for-major-blunder-hall-of-fame-graphic-shows-waqar-younis-as-india-player-3770612.html
    https://twitter.com/kiran_aman567/status/1396744160821055489?s=19

    Former Pakistan captain Waqar was inducted into ICC Hall of Fame in 2013. Born in Vehari, he led Pakistan cricket team in 17 Tests and 62 ODIs.

    “It is a huge honour and privilege to be in the same category as icons like Hanif Mohammad, Imran Khan and Javed Miandad. I grew up hearing about their exploits and then ended up playing with the latter two, as well as with Wasim Akram,” Waqar had said after the announcement.

    “To be in the august company of some of the greatest players the game has ever seen is personally quite exciting for me. A big, heartfelt thanks from me to all the living members of the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame and those from the voting academy, who thought me worthy of this.”

    Meanwhile, Waqar also thanked the ICC on Twitter for honouring him.

  • Daren Sammy shares Shoaib Akhtar made me question myself ‘whether I wanted to play cricket again’

    Daren Sammy shares Shoaib Akhtar made me question myself ‘whether I wanted to play cricket again’

    West Indies cricket great Daren Sammy has shared that Shoaib Akhtar made him question himself on his debut that whether he wanted to play cricket again or not.

    Read more – Daren Sammy spotted enjoying ‘Pakistan’s beauty’ in Swat

    In an exclusive interview with The Current, Sammy shared many things about his experience with Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) franchise Peshawar Zalmi, Pakistan’s tour and hospitality, PSL memories and his debut.

    Talking about his first encounter with Akhtar, he said: “When I made my debut for the West Indies in the Champions Trophy, I remember Pakistan playing West Indies at the Rose Bowl in Hampshire and they were opening with Mohammad Sami, Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar.”

    “I saw Shoaib Akhtar bowling a bouncer to Brian Lara and hit him in the head. Brian Lara fell back probably almost unconscious. I was sitting and I was 19 years old next to Dwayne Bravo. I literally questioned whether I wanted to play cricket again. Shoaib Akhtar did that to me,” said Sammy.

    The former all-rounder further revealed that he told this story to Shoaib Akhtar himself a few days ago in Islamabad.

    “I met him four days ago in Islamabad and I gave him that story. He said ‘Brian clipped him for four on the first ball’ and I guess that was his response. It was a joy to watch the Rawalpindi Express coming down with his hair flying. Shoaib Akhtar with his pace. In the current day, even though I am not playing I would pad up easily against any bowler and try to hit them out of the park,” he said.

    Sammy further revealed that players touring Pakistan now ask about golf courses instead of questioning the security situation of the country.

    Peshawar’s coach stated that bringing the Pakistan Super League (PSL) to Pakistan was the first step that paved the way for cricket’s revival in the country.

    “I am not sure [when West Indies will visit Pakistan next], I have not checked the calendar. But I think we were about to a year before last year. I think now the teams are coming. I remember us taking a small step in the PSL two and getting to the finals in Lahore. I think that was a small step in the right direction,” Sammy said.

    Read more – VIDEO: Daren Sammy plays tape ball on the streets of Lahore

    He believed that the questions regarding security are slowly diminishing from players’ minds while visiting Pakistan.

    “Now Hashim Amla and I were having a conversation and I think Javed asks what the difference is between now and five years ago. I think the major difference coming to Pakistan now, four years ago players would be calling me and go ‘Darren, I am going over there [Pakistan], do you think we should go?’ When West Indies was coming the captain had to call me and go, ‘Man should I go on this tour?’. Now players asking where they can play golf and questions like can we go to dinner in these or these places. The quote-unquote threat of security, that is slowly diminishing from people’s minds and I think that is what we want,” he concluded.

    Talking about his favourite memory from the PSL, Sammy shared that his favourite memory was when they clinched the the cup in the second season of PSL.

    For more interesting revelations, watch the video here:

  • President Alvi calls for sports to be promoted across Pakistan

    President Alvi calls for sports to be promoted across Pakistan

    President Dr Arif Alvi has urged the need to promote mega sports events in the country to attract young talent and project Pakistan’s soft image in the world.

    President Alvi highlighted the importance of sports while talking to the management of the Kashmir Premier League (KPL), which called on him at the Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad on Friday.

    The president praised the upcoming league and said it would provide a quality platform to Kashmiri youth to display their cricket talent, besides promoting Kashmir’s beautiful landscapes and culture at a global level.

    Read more – President Alvi shares his list of 10 must-read books

    President Alvi assured the delegation that his office will extend all possible support for highlighting the event at national and international levels.

    Chairman Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir Affairs Shehryar Afridi, President KPL Arif Malik, CEO KPL Chaudhary Shahzad Akhtar, members of senior management of KPL, franchise owners and senior officials of the government were among those who attended the meeting.

  • Sania Mirza seeks help from Indian sports ministry for son’s UK visa

    Sania Mirza seeks help from Indian sports ministry for son’s UK visa

    Indian tennis star Sania Mirza has sought help from the Indian Sports Ministry after her son, Izhaan Mirza-Malik, was denied a visa by United Kingdom (UK) authorities. 

    Mirza, who will be playing a couple of tournaments in the coming days in the UK, has been facing a dilemma after her two-year-old son and his caretaker were denied a visa, owing to travel restrictions imposed by the UK on Indian nationals. 

    The tennis sensation is scheduled to compete in the Nottingham Open (from June 6), Birmingham Open (from June 14), the Eastbourne Open (from June 20) and the Wimbledon (from June 28).

    The sports ministry said it was approached by Mirza, who said she could not leave a two-year-old child behind to take part in a month-long tournament. 

    “Sania, who is a part of the Sports Ministry’s Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), approached the Ministry requesting help with the visa of her son and his caretaker. Sania stated that she cannot leave a two-year-old child behind as she travels for a month,” said the ministry in a statement. 

    The ministry said it dispatched a letter to the Ministry of External Affairs in India, asking it to take the matter up on an urgent basis with the UK authorities through the Indian embassy in London.

    Read more – Sania Mirza is a ‘proud mumma’ after Izhaan Mirza Malik fluently recites his duas

    “The request was immediately taken up by the Sports Ministry and a letter has already been sent to MEA requesting them to take up the matter in the UK through the Indian Embassy in London,” stated the Indian ministry. 

    Indian Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju expressed the hope that the UK will allow Mirza to travel with her child. 

    Rijiju, in a statement, said, “I have approved the request and Sports Ministry officials have initiated the process with the MEA. We are hopeful that the UK Government will see merit in this case and allow the child to travel with Sania.”