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  • Babar, Rizwan lead Pakistan to record-breaking victory

    Babar, Rizwan lead Pakistan to record-breaking victory

    Pakistan has completed their highest successful T20I run-chase with 12 balls to spare, beating South Africa with nine wickets.

    A feast of batting is what we watched today with Pakistan taking a 2-1 lead in the series. All credit for this goes to the opening duo: Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan.

    Pakistan had never chased down a 200-plus target before this was only their second opportunity to do so and they’ve done it with two whole overs to spare. Babar has played an absolute blinder to lead the way, and Rizwan was the perfect foil, on a day when South African bowlers struggled for control in brilliant batting conditions. Babar and Rizwan put on 197, the fourth-highest T20I partnership overall, and the highest ever in a chase.

    South Africa scored 203 runs with the loss of only 5 wickets. Earlier, the pair of Janneman Malan and Aiden Markram, with the latter’s 31-ball 63 being his third successive T20I half-century. Markram bossed the show, with South Africa speeding along to 140 inside 13 overs.

    It is pertinent to mention here that Azam got to his first T20I hundred off just 49 balls, two days after he took 50 balls to score as many runs, smashing 15 boundaries and four sixes along the way.

    Talking to Ramiz Raja in the presentation ceremony, Babar said: “I had been waiting for this for a long time, I had planned for a long time, and today Allah has given me a chance to finish it. I stick to my strengths and play according to them, and the team’s requirements.”

    The batsman further shared: “Rizwan bhai also played outstanding innings. He was fasting (for Ramzan), and yet he batted and kept wickets, and was outstanding. We get a lot of confidence and belief looking at him.”

    “I also achieved a dream in one-day cricket today (No 1 ranking). I struggled hard, there was a lot of hard work that went into it. I keep trying to learn and add new things to my game, and I will keep trying to do the same,” said Babar, adding: “I think for our first six overs, we have to give credit to Malan and Markram for playing outstanding innings, until the 10-over mark, but the way we came back in the last five overs allowed us to restrict them to around 200.”

  • Babar Azam dethrones Virat Kohli to become number one ODI batsman

    Babar Azam dethrones Virat Kohli to become number one ODI batsman

    Babar Azam has dethroned the Captain of the Indian Cricket Team Virat Kohli to become the number one batsman in One-Day Internationals, becoming the fourth batsman from Pakistan to attain the number one position in the latest ICC rankings list update, released on Wednesday.

    The 26-year-old player of the match scored 94 off 82 balls in the last match of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League series against South Africa in Centurion which helped him gain 13 rating points to reach 865 points and he now leads the Indian captain by eight points.

    Babar, a star of the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cups in 2010 and 2012 has been playing ODIs since 2015 and had started the series against South Africa at 837 rating points but moved up to 858 (ahead of Kohli) after his score of 103 in the first match. He dropped to 852 by the time of the last weekly rankings update with a score of 32 in the second ODI.

    By ending Kohli’s 1,258 day-supremacy, Babar has emulated compatriots Zaheer Abbas (1983-84), Javed Miandad (1988-89), and Mohammad Yousuf (2003) as the number one ODI batsman. In Tests, Babar has attained a best of the fifth position and is currently ranked sixth while in T20Is he is third but has been number one in the past.

    Meanwhile, Fakhar Zaman is another Pakistan batsman to move up the ODI batting charts, gaining five slots to reach a career-best seventh position after his knock of 101. Shaheen Afridi (up four places to a career-best 11th place) and left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz (up 29 places to 96th) have progressed thanks to their three-wicket hauls in the match.

    Babar had earlier overtaken Rohit Sharma to get to the second spot.

    Reacting to the news, Azam, in a statement, said: “I feel privileged and honoured to have joined the company of stalwarts like Zaheer Abbas, Javed Miandad and Mohammad Yousuf, who will always be the shining stars of Pakistan cricket.”

    “This is another milestone in my career, which will now require even more hard work and absolute consistency with the bat in order for me to hold on to the ranking for an extended period of time, like Sir Vivian Richards from January 1984 to October 1988 and Virat Kohli for 1,258 days,” he continued.

    The captain further said: “I have also previously topped the T20I rankings, but the ultimate ambition and goal is to lead the Test rankings, which are the real testament and reward to a batsman’s calibre, reputation and skills. I understand to achieve this objective, I will not only have to perform consistently but more importantly, against the top sides.”

    “I am looking forward to this challenge and remain confident I will be able to accomplish this target with the support of my teammates and coaching staff. But at this stage, I will savour the moment as it has come almost 18 months after I was first appointed the white-ball captain and that too at the back of my performances which helped Pakistan become the first Asian side to win two ODI series in South Africa,” added Azam.

  • PCB rejects Umar Akmal’s appeal of paying fine in installments

    PCB rejects Umar Akmal’s appeal of paying fine in installments

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has rejected cricketer Umar Akmal’s appeal of paying his fine in installments, ARY News has reported.

    The 30-year-old cricketer is bound to pay a fine of PKR4.25million, imposed on him by the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) on February 26. Umar told PCB that due to financial difficulties he can not pay the lump sum amount.

    The board, after reviewing his appeal and the evidence provided by him, rejected the application. The right-handed batsman will only be able to participate in the rehabilitation program under the PCB Anti-Corruption Code after he pays off the lump sum fine of PKR4.25million.

    Earlier, CAS reduced Umar’s 18-month ban to 12 months. Akmal was suspended from all forms of the game after PCB found him involved in suspicious activities before PSL 5.

    In an investigation, PCB found him guilty and imposed a three-year ban on him. After the cricketer appealed against PCB’s decision, ex-Supreme Court judge Justice (retd) Faqir Muhammad Khokhar, in his capacity as an independent adjudicator, heard his appeal and reduced Akmal’s ban to 1.5 years from 3 years.

    Akmal was unable to pay the fine imposed on him and appealed in CAS further. In reply, PCB also consulted with CAS for an increase in Akmal’s ban.

  • South Africa outclass Pakistan in second T20I

    South Africa outclassed Pakistan with six wickets in the second T20I, equalling the four-match series.

    After opting to bat first, Pakistan managed to score 140 for nine in their allotted 20 overs. Babar Azam top-scored with run-a-ball 50, hitting five fours. Mohammad Hafeez contributed 32 off 23, striking six boundaries. The pair knitted 58 runs for the third wicket.

    For South Africa, George Linde and Lizaad Williams picked three wickets apiece. Linde with his left-arm spin accounted for Mohammad Rizwan (naught), Hafeez and Sharjeel Khan (eight off 12, one six).

    The hosts chased down the target in the 14th over for the loss of four wickets. Aiden Markram top-scored with a 30-ball 54, smashing seven fours and three sixes. Wicketkeeper-batsman Heinrich Klaasen returned undefeated on 36 off 21 balls. His innings included four fours and a six.

    For the visitors, Usman Qadir was the most successful bowler with two wickets for 26 runs in three overs.

    In an after-match discussion, Babar said: “Early wickets which we lost cost us the game. We didn’t have partnerships. Credit to the South Africa bowlers. The aggression cost us the game. The players were not complacent. It was a new wicket and they bowled well. I have confidence in my team and we will do well in the next match.”

    The visitors have 48 hours to bounce back for the third match of this series, scheduled to take place on Wednesday.

  • Hajra Khan appeals to President Alvi, PM Khan to resolve PFF issues

    Hajra Khan appeals to President Alvi, PM Khan to resolve PFF issues

    Pakistan National Women Football Team captain Hajra Khan has urged President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan to resolve issues pertaining to the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF).

    In a video message, Khan said: “Today I speak in utmost sadness that the Pakistan Football Federation was suspended today for the second time in the last five years.”

    “I speak on behalf of all those football players, whose hard earned bread came from the sport. It came from representing Pakistan. We’ve worked hard, blood and sweat, to represent this country and we’ve taken it to the podium, we’ve won championships in the past,” said Khan.

    “Where do we go next? What is next for us? What sport do we switch to? Who do we rely on? Where do we express our love for the country, how do we do it,” she questioned.

    Requesting the President and Prime Minister, Khan said: “Today I request the President of Pakistan Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan to take notice of the matter. There is still hope and we are expecting a response from you two. We expect the country to back us when we need them the most right now.”

    “It is a request, it might not be humble anymore, but it is a request. It is a need, it is a representation from all football players and again, it all relies on you,” she added.

    Reiterating her point, Khan in the caption said: “Players have all been affected roughly. Football as a sport has been ridiculed over time in Pakistan.”

    “Who’s answerable,” she questioned.

    Meanwhile, the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has said that they are “surprised” by the ban, expressing that the decision was taken in “haste.”

    PSB director-general Col (retd) Asif Zaman while talking to The News, said that Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) Dr Fehmida Mirza had requested patience during her press conference held a couple of days back.

    “We were not expecting such a hasty decision from the football’s governing body. It has shocked us as the game of football will be the ultimate sufferer after such a decision. The minister had assured her help for resolving the issue in the best interest of the game,” said Col Zaman, adding: “Though the government does not want any interference, for the sake of the game’s future we wanted an amicable settlement of the issue.”

    Zaman said he was expecting FIFA to carry out a detailed and thorough review of the prevailing situation.

    “We were taken by surprise by this hasty decision that I feel would serve no good to the future of the game. We were expecting a rational review of the situation by the game’s governing body before imposing a suspension on the PFF,” said the DG.

    The FIFA in a handout issued on Wednesday said the decision to suspend Pakistan was prompted by the recent takeover of the PFF’s Headquarters in Lahore by a group of protesters and an alleged decision by certain individuals to remove the FIFA-appointed Normalisation Committee of the PFF led by Haroon Malik and to hand over the leadership of the PFF to Syed Ashfaq Hussain Shah.

    When PFF president Ashfaq Shah was approached in Islamabad where he was nursing his minor surgery, he said he was disappointed by the decision like any other Pakistani.

    In 2009, Khan was selected in the Pakistan national team for the 2010 South Asian Games in Dhaka, Bangladesh. After Khan’s participation at this event, the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) selected her for a FIFA women’s football coaching course in Colombo, Sri Lanka. In December 2010, she played in the inaugural SAFF Women’s Championship, helping Pakistan reach the semi-final.

    21 year old Hajra Khan made history for Pakistani national women football team when she invited to top three German football clubs SGS Essen, FSV Gütersloh 2009 and VfL Sindelfingen to play, she spent three weeks there and played preseason trials. Being a Pakistani international footballer that opportunity was an important milestone in her career, she said.

    She was the first Pakistani women footballer to sign an international contract in 2014 with Sun Hotels & Resorts Football Club to play in the Maldives National Women’s league.

  • Afridi ‘sad to see’ South Africa release players for IPL amid Pakistan series

    Shahid Afridi has criticised Cricket South Africa (CSA) for releasing their players for the Indian Premier League (IPL) in the middle of the three-match ODI series against Pakistan.

    Following Pakistan’s 2-1 ODI series win over South Africa, the former all-rounder said: “Surprising to see CSA allowing players to travel for IPL in the middle of a series. It is sad to see T20 leagues influencing international cricket.”

    “Some rethinking needs to be done,” he added.

    South Africa, playing without several star players — including Quinton de Kock and Kagiso Rabada — showed great grit and determination but eventually suffered a 28-run loss in the third and final ODI. 

    Anrich Nortje, who was a serious threat to Pakistani batsmen, and David Miller also left to play IPL 2021 in India.

    Meanwhile, Afridi also congratulated Pakistan on their “fine series win”. He was particularly impressed with opener Fakhar Zaman who scored back-to-back centuries in the last two ODIs and played a key role in Pakistan’s win. Afridi also praised the batting of Pakistan skipper Babar Azam, who missed out on his century by just six runs in the third ODI, getting out to Andile Phehlukwayo on the last ball of their innings.

    “Congratulations to Pakistan on a fine series win. Great to see Fakhar follow his brilliant innings in Jo’Burg with another 100. Babar was once again all class, excellent bowling effort by all. A job well done,” said Afridi.

    The national side clinched the series 2-1 with a comfortable 28-run win at Centurion, becoming the first ever Asian team to win a bilateral series twice in South Africa.

    Singer turned actor, who seems to have good knowledge of cricket also thrashed CSA, saying: “T20 + [bags of money] > national pride. Sorry to say but @OfficialCSA has let the whole cricketing world down.”

  • England players slam Taslima Nasreen for Islamophobic tweet on Moeen Ali

    England players slam Taslima Nasreen for Islamophobic tweet on Moeen Ali

    England pacers Jofra Archer, Saqib Mahmood and Sam Billings have raised their voice and spoken in support of Moeen Ali after author Taslima Nasreen’s Islamophobic tweet.

    Taslima, in a now-deleted tweet, had said that the England all-rounder would have joined the militant Islamic State (IS) group had he not been playing cricket.

    “If Moeen Ali were not stuck with cricket, he would have gone to Syria to join ISIS,” Taslima had said.

    Jofra Archer did not take it lightly and wrote: “Are you okay? I don’t think you’re okay.”

    The Bangladeshi-Swedish author later tried to calm things down, claiming that her tweet on Moeen was “sarcastic”.

    “Haters know very well that my Moeen Ali tweet was sarcastic,” said Nasreen. “But they made that an issue to humiliate me because I try to secularise Muslim society and oppose Islamic fanaticism.”

    “One of the greatest tragedies of humankind is pro-women leftists support anti-women Islamists,” she added.

    However, Archer did not buy her defence and urged her to delete the tweet as it was neither funny nor sarcastic.

    “No one is laughing, not even yourself, the least you can do is delete the tweet,” said Archer.

    Sam Billings and Saqib Mahmood were also disgusted by the tweet.

    “Can’t believe this disgusting tweet. Disgusting individual,” said Saqib, while Sam asked his followers to report Taslima’s account.

    Domestic English cricketer Ben Duckett also extended his support to Ali, saying: “This is the problem with this app. People being able to say stuff like this. Disgusting. Things need to change, please report this account!”

    Nasreen’s tweet also sparked outrage on social media.

    Meanwhile, Moeen’s father Munir Ali also spoke about the hurt it has caused and how his son has broken stereotypes while following his heart and faith.

    Speaking about the tweet, Ali said: “I am hurt and shocked to read Taslima Nasreen’s vile remark against my son Moeen. In her “clarifying” tweet, where she described her original remark as sarcasm, she also says she stands against fundamentalism.”

    “If she looks into a mirror, she will know what she tweeted is what is fundamentalist – a vicious stereotype against a Muslim person, a clearly Islamophobic statement. Someone who doesn’t have self-respect and respect for others can only stoop to this level,” he continued.

    Munir further said: “Truth be told, I am really angry, but I know I would be playing into the hands of people like her if I let my rage get out of control. If I get to meet her someday, I will tell what I really think of her on her face.”

    “For now, I would ask her to pick a dictionary and see the meaning of sarcasm. It’s not what she thinks it is. It’s not spewing vile poisonous stuff against someone you don’t even know and then retracting it by saying it was sarcasm. Of all the people to pick on for her agenda, I can’t believe she has chosen my son. Everyone in the cricketing world knows the person he is. Let me reiterate for those who don’t,” he concluded.

    The matter had risen when Ali, Chennai Super King’s new recruit for Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021, had requested to remove the logo of a liquor brand from his jersey.

  • FIFA suspends Pakistan over ‘hostile takeover’ of PFF headquarters

    FIFA suspends Pakistan over ‘hostile takeover’ of PFF headquarters

    The Bureau of the FIFA Council has suspended the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) with immediate effect due to third-party interference, which constitutes a serious violation of the FIFA Statutes.

    According to a press release by FIFA, this situation was prompted by the recent hostile takeover of the PFF headquarters in Lahore by a group of protestors and an alleged decision by certain individuals to remove the FIFA-appointed normalisation committee of the PFF led by Haroon Malik and to hand over the leadership of the PFF to Syed Ashfaq Hussain Shah.

    FIFA issued a letter warning that, should the illegitimate occupation of the PFF headquarters not be lifted and the office bearers recognised by FIFA not be permitted free access to the building to carry out their mandate, the matter would be immediately submitted to the Bureau of the Council for decision.

    A statement by the governing body confirmed that Bureau of the FIFA Council suspended the PFF with immediate effect due to third-party interference, which constitutes a serious violation of the FIFA Statutes.

    “This situation was prompted by the recent hostile takeover of the PFF headquarters in Lahore by a group of protestors and an alleged decision by certain individuals to remove the FIFA-appointed normalisation committee of the PFF led by Haroon Malik and to hand over the leadership of the PFF to Syed Ashfaq Hussain Shah,” it said.

    The group led by Ashfaq Shah stormed into PFF headquarters last month, forcing Haroon Malik and the NC to vacate the office and its control.

    FIFA had termed the takeover ‘illegal’ and issued an ultimatum that NC should be handed over the PFF control by March 31 otherwise Pakistan could face a suspension.

    The Ashfaq group had ignored the deadline and announced to continue its hold over PFF headquarters.

    As the situation remains unchanged, the Bureau of the Council has decided to suspend the PFF.

    This suspension will only be lifted once FIFA has received confirmation from the normalisation committee of the PFF that the PFF’s premises, accounts, administration and communication channels are again under its full control and it can continue to carry out its mandate without further hindrance.

    Earlier, the Provincial Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab, Rai Taimoor Khan Bhatti had addressed the issue and promised to play a pivotal role in resolving the issue with a “positive solution” but nothing has happened yet.

    Hajra Khan, who is voice raiser for the future of Pakistan Football and footballers, took to social media and wrote: “Embarrassed and ashamed.”

    Earlier, National Women’s Football Championship 2021 was cancelled after three of the semi-finalist teams had boycotted the tournament in protest.

    https://twitter.com/PakistanFF/status/1375874274817359874?s=19
  • Pakistan Test team’s record win on this day in 1988

    Pakistan Test team’s record win on this day in 1988

    On this day in 1988, Pakistan became the first visiting team to win a Test in the Caribbean in ten years. Pakistan won the Georgetown Test by nine wickets, under the leadership of [Prime Minister] Imran Khan.

    As per details, the Pakistan cricket team toured the West Indies from March to April 1988 and played a three-match Test series against the West Indies cricket team which was drawn 1–1.

    The First match was played from April 2 to 6 in Georgetown. Batting first in the first innings, Windies got all out on just 292 runs. Khan took seven wickets, sending more than half of the team to the pavilion. Later, Pakistan scored 435 runs with the help of Javed Miandad’s heroic ton, giving Pakistan a lead of 143 runs.

    Read more – Why is the Pakistan cricket team so dramatic?

    In the second innings, Windies only managed to get 172 runs due to Khan’s majestic four-for. Later, with the fall of only one wicket, Pakistan chased down the score in just 3.3 overs, breaking a ten-year record. Khan was declared Man of the Match for his 11-121.

    While Khan led the Pakistan side, the West Indies was led by Gordon Greenidge and legendary Sir Vivian Richards.

    The second Test match was drawn and West Indies beat Pakistan in the third match.

    Though the series may have been drawn at the end it was a huge record by a visiting team to win in the Caribbean in the 10-year history of Test matches at that time.

  • It’s a girl for Hassan Ali

    It’s a girl for Hassan Ali

    Pakistani cricketer Hassan Ali and wife Samiya Hassan have been blessed with a baby girl.

    The delighted father announced the news on social media, saying: “Allhumduillah! Allah has blessed us with the baby girl. Welcome to our family my princess.”

    “I wish this little angel [has] wonderful dreams and may the Almighty always be with her to fulfill her dreams on the walk of her life,” he added. The cricketer did not share the name or picture of his little one.

    Following the announcement, friends and colleagues of the cricketer congratulated the new parents on social media.

    Hassan’s Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Islamabad United also congratulated him and welcomed the “little angel” to the “IslU Family”.

    Hassan tied the knot with Samiyah, an Indian national, in August 2019 in Dubai. The reception only had about 30 close family members and friends in attendance.

    Last month Karachi Kings’ skipper Imad Wasim and Umar Gul also welcomed their baby girls. It was Imad’s first child whereas Umar was blessed with his third child.