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  • Shahid Afridi buys Mushfiqur Rahim’s bat auctioned for coronavirus relief

    Shahid Afridi buys Mushfiqur Rahim’s bat auctioned for coronavirus relief

    Shahid Afridi has contributed to Bangladesh’s COVID-19 relief efforts by buying a cricket bat put up on auction by Bangladeshi batsman Mushfiqur Rahim for $20,000.

    The bat had been used by Rahim during his maiden double hundred in Test cricket. Rahim had made this score in Bangladesh’s match against Sri Lanka in the Galle Test of 2013.

    Rahim made the announcement on social media and thanked Afridi for purchasing the bat and helping him raise money for his fellow countrymen.

    Afridi also shared the news and said that he and his foundation Shahid Afridi Foundation “believe that human suffering and empathy is beyond borders” and that he “hopes this small token will help build bigger bridges”.

    https://twitter.com/SAfridiOfficial/status/1261380200836878338?s=20

    In a video message shared by Rahim, Lala also appreciated Mushfiq for “doing wonderful work” for his people.

    “Only real heroes undertake such efforts. We’re all experiencing unprecedented times, in which we need each other. I’ll always remember the love I received from Bangladesh,” said Afridi. “Buying your cricket bat on behalf of the Pakistani people, I wish to become a part of your journey.”

    Cricketers and sportsmen around the world are auctioning their memorabilia to raise funds for coronavirus relief drives.

  • Fans spot ‘Virat Kohli’, ‘Usman Shinwari’ in Ertuğrul

    Fans spot ‘Virat Kohli’, ‘Usman Shinwari’ in Ertuğrul

    As Diriliş: Ertuğrul fever continues to grip Pakistanis, fans have now started pointing out how two of the show’s characters look a bit too much like two South Asian cricketing stars… and to be honest, the resemblance is truly uncanny!

    READ: Pakistanis lose it over ‘un-Islamic’ Instagram of ‘Diriliş: Ertuğrul’ star

    While many took to Twitter to point out how much a character from the show resembled Pakistan’s left-arm fast bowler Usman Shinwari…

    …another cricketing star, Mohammad Amir, cannot seem to help but wonder if Indian skipper Virat Kohli is also there in the series.

    While the Indian batsman is yet to respond, here’s what Twitterati are saying:

    Turkish historic drama series Diriliş: Ertuğrul has been trending ever since its first episode aired on PTV Home. Pakistanis are loving the drama series and it has become a sensation in the country to the point that PTV is now aiming to set a new record with the series.

    In an exclusive interview with The Current, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Faisal Javed Khan revealed that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had gifted the drama series to Pakistan as a goodwill gesture.

  • India’s Shami opens up about having suicidal thoughts before comeback

    India’s Shami opens up about having suicidal thoughts before comeback

    India fast bowler Mohammed Shami has revealed how he thought of committing suicide while struggling with personal problems before making a spectacular comeback to the national side.

    Shami battled weight issues, injury and a legal quarrel with his estranged wife before a stellar performance at the World Cup last year re-established the 29-year-old as a key player.

    With cricket and sports halted in the coronavirus lockdown, Shami opened up about his own and his family’s fears to teammate Rohit Sharma during an exchange on Instagram.

    “I think if my family had not supported me back then I would have lost my cricket. I thought of committing suicide three times during that period due to severe stress,” said Shami.

    “I was not thinking about cricket at all. We were living on the 24th floor. They were scared I might jump from the balcony.”

    With Virat Kohli

    Shami’s contract with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was withheld in 2018 because of allegations of domestic violence, only to be reinstated later.

    The bowler also struggled with injury that saw him spend nearly a year on the sidelines, leading to weight gain. He said his family and friends helped him bounce back.

    “My two or three friends used to stay with me for 24 hours (during my days of depression). My parents asked me to focus on cricket to recover from that phase and not think about anything else,” he said.

    “I started training then and sweated it out a lot at an academy in Dehradun.

    “Then my family explained that every problem has a solution no matter how big the problem. My brother supported me a lot.”

    A lean and hungry Shami made a strong comeback in the Indian team at the 50-over World Cup. He took 14 wickets in four games including a match-winning hat-trick.

    Shami has claimed 180 wickets in 49 Tests and 144 scalps in 77 one-day internationals since making his debut for India in 2013.

    Last year Shami led the pace pack in the absence of yorker king Jasprit Bumrah and claimed 13 wickets during India’s 3-0 home Test sweep of South Africa.

    Skipper Virat Kohli heaped praise on the fast bowler, saying, “he is someone who can change the complexion of the match totally when you don’t see it coming”.

  • On This Day: Javed Miandad breaks Indian hearts with last-ball sixer

    On This Day: Javed Miandad breaks Indian hearts with last-ball sixer

    It was on April 18, 1986, when former Pakistan batsman Javed Miandad struck a final-ball six to defeat India in the finals of the Austral-Asia Cup.

    This match still sends shivers down the spine of ardent cricket fans in both Pakistan and India. Miandad had smashed a six off the final ball of the match bowled by Chetan Sharma, reports said.

    The feat is remarkable as Pakistan needed four runs off the final ball to win the Austral-Asia Cup. Miandad did not succumb to pressure, giving the cricket fans a memory to cherish forever.

    Pakistan needed 246 runs to win the match, and the side found itself at 61/3. It was then that Miandad walked out to the middle and played a match-winning knock of 116 runs.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    In his innings, Miandad struck three fours and as many sixes.

    Batting first, India had got to a score of 245 as Kris Srikkanth made 75 runs while Sunil Gavaskar went on to register 94 runs from 134 balls.

    For Pakistan, Wasim Akram scalped three wickets.

    Miandad has often been involved in fierce battles with India. During the 1992 World Cup group stage game, Miandad ended up mocking the style of India’s wicket-keeper Kiran More.

    The Austral-Asia Cup has been played thrice, with Pakistan winning the tournament on all three occasions.

  • Ex-Indian cricketing star picks combined Pak-India XI of all time, names Imran Khan as captain

    Ex-Indian cricketing star picks combined Pak-India XI of all time, names Imran Khan as captain

    Commentator and former Indian cricketing star Aakash Chopra has picked his combined Pakistan-India XI of all-time, naming World Cup-winning former Pakistani skipper and now prime minister (PM), Imran Khan, as the captain.

    “I wanted to do a fun exercise today by selecting the combined all-time Test XI of Pakistan and India, although it was a very difficult task,” Chopra said in a video uploaded to Facebook. “One thing that we will all agree, before moving on, that the team will give more preference to Indian batsmen and Pakistani bowlers.”

    Chopra picked former cricketers Sunil Gavaskar and Virender Sehwag as the openers while selecting Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar at the third and fourth batting spots, respectively.

    “There is no doubt that Sunil Gavaskar will be one of the openers as his presence is absolutely mandatory,” he said. “I would partner him with Virender Sehwag because he scored two triple centuries in Test cricket which is quite an achievement,” Chopra said, adding that after including Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar, he would go for Inzamamul Haq and Javed Miandad for the fifth and sixth slots.

    “Although they are both playing out of position, but deserve a place in the XI,” he said regarding the Pakistani batting legends.

    “For the wicketkeeper spot I will pick MS Dhoni. Although we can consider Dravid as well but I don’t want to make a batsman playing at one-down to keep the wickets,” he added.

    Two World Cup-winning skippers come next as Kapil Dev and Imran Khan give this team a whole new dimension. They could bat, they could bowl and they could lead the team with absolute authority.

    “At number eight and nine, I will pick Kapil Dev and Imran Khan. Imran will also be the captain of my side,” the former Indian cricketer said.

    Fast-bowler Wasim Akram finds a place in the side and so does Anil Kumble. Chopra also stated leaving out Waqar Younis was a tough call and he was made the 12th man of the team.

    “It is 100 per cent certain that Wasim Akram will be part of this lineup and he slots in at number 10. With over 600 wickets, I will include leg-spinner Anil Kumble as the final player in my team. It is hard to keep Waqar Younis out of this XI but I will definitely include him as my 12th man,” he said.

  • Indian cricketers face intense backlash for backing Shahid Afridi’s coronavirus fund

    Indian cricketers Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh faced scathing criticism from triggered Indian social media users after they declared support for former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi’s foundation in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

    Afridi’s appeal for donations to help people affected by the deadly virus in Pakistan has had overwhelming support from leading cricketers.

    Harbhajan urged people to contribute in a video message, and called on other cricketers in the two countries to make similar appeals.

    https://twitter.com/harbhajan_singh/status/1244148978326765568?s=20

    “These are testing times, it’s time to look out for each other,” Yuvraj wrote on Twitter in a call for funds.

    https://twitter.com/YUVSTRONG12/status/1244873490303340544?s=20

    While Afridi thanked the two, Indian Twitter users reacted with fury at the support for a rival player who has been a vocal critic of India’s handling of the Kashmir dispute.

    “Do you have any sense?” wrote one Twitter user. “Lost respect” for Harbhajan Singh, added another. “Sorry guys you lost it.”

    Following the hate, Singh clarified that his intention was not to hurt anyone’s feelings and that he remains a true patriot and will always “bleed blue.” Singh’s note was retweeted by Harbhajan.

    https://twitter.com/YUVSTRONG12/status/1245295251385958400?s=20

    India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral cricket series since 2012-2013 and have seen a new peak in tensions over Kashmir, which has been at the centre of two wars between the neighbours since 1947.

    World Cup-winning batsman Yuvraj, who made a return from cancer before finally retiring last year, has also raised money to fight coronavirus through his ‘YouWeCan’ foundation.

    India, which has been under a 21-day lockdown since March 24, has so far confirmed more than 1,600 coronavirus cases and 38 deaths.

  • Rising batsman Haider Ali wants people to call him Babar Azam, not Virat Kohli

    Rising batsman Haider Ali wants people to call him Babar Azam, not Virat Kohli

    Haider Ali, the young Pakistan batsman, is widely tipped to be the next big player in the squad. He impressed everyone in the Under 19 World Cup and was also a star in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). He has the talent to take the next step forward and the right-hander wants to keep improving his game so that people can talk about him in the same vein as Babar Azam.

    “A batsman can never become like his role models but can improve himself and develop shots as they play. I want to improve myself to the extent that people call me Babar Azam and not Kohli because Babar has good shots,” Haider said in a video on YouTube.

    However, he then went on to add that he wants to keep learning and imbibe the good qualities of Virat Kohli as well. “I cannot become Kohli but can develop shots like him through practice. I’m Haider Ali so I can only become Haider Ali,” he further added.

    “I met Babar Azam during the first-class tournament and he gave me tips regarding my batting. We also get to learn a lot from him in the National Cricket Academy in Lahore. He also supported me during PSL by boosting my confidence and advising me to keep scoring runs and leave the rest to Allah Almighty,” the young batsman added.

    Ali, who smacked four fours and the same number of sixes, also became the youngest batsman to score a half-century — which came off just 31 balls — in HBL PSL’s history aged just 19 years.

  • Trescothick broke Kevin Pietersen’s nose at a karaoke party in Lahore

    Former England opener Marcus Trescothick revealed one of his favourite off-field stories, which included Kevin Pietersen, karaoke and a party in Lahore!

    While speaking on the Barmy Army podcast, Trescothick recalled a particularly memorable night in Pakistan where they engaged in karaoke and the story ended with Kevin Pietersen getting his nose broken.

    “There was one night in Lahore of all places. After the 2005 (Ashes) series, so the end of 2005.”

    “We lost the second Test match and the series was over. Vodafone had organised a karaoke night for us in the hotel. It was just for the players and the staff but everyone was so annoyed and disappointed that only about eight of us turned up,” he said.

    Trescothick spoke about how tough it was to get drink in Pakistan and so when they finally got some, they could not control despite losing the series.

    “We had this massive room and a karaoke machine. You know how hard it is to get a drink in Pakistan, it’s nigh on impossible. We had all this beer, tequila and stuff that had rocked up from the high commission.

    “There were about eight of us there just messing around and it turned into one of the most entertaining karaoke nights I have ever heard. I think it was me, KP, Paul Nixon, Hoggard was there and Jim the guy from Vodafone,” he recalled.

    When asked who the best singer among them was, Trescothick replied he had no idea before revealing that he ended up headbutting Kevin Pietersen and the latter was left with a broken nose.

    “I can’t remember because we were absolute smashed to bits. I remember headbutting KP and I thought I’d broken his nose.

    “He had pinned me down on the floor and I just went ‘bang’ like that and nutted him one on the bridge of his nose. We were mucking about.

    “In the middle of Lahore, in this hotel where no one else knows and behind closed doors — it was the best karaoke singing you’ve ever heard. At the end of it all of us, all eight of us or whatever it was, got on stage and just sang to the empty room,” said Trescothick.

  • Hassan Ali’s wedding festivities continue in Pakistan

    Hassan Ali’s wedding festivities continue in Pakistan

    After a grand wedding in Dubai, Hassan Ali is now celebrating his wedding in his hometown, Gujranwala.

    Pictures from the wedding festivities are limited as Samiya shared only a few on her Insta-stories.

    The bride glowed in a cream outfit.

    Further details about the event have not been revealed.

    Meanwhile, Hassan is making sure that Samiya gets to see the most of Pakistan on her first trip to the country. Samiya hails from India. The two have been sharing pictures of themselves at all the popular tourist destinations in Islamabad and needless to say, the pictures are supercute.

    Faisal Mosque
    Monal
    Pakistan Monument

    In case you missed it, here are some pictures from their Dubai wedding.

  • Pacer Hasan Ali suffers rib injury after recovering from back injury

    Fast bowler Hasan Ali of Pakistan cricket team has been ruled out of the upcoming home Tests against Sri Lanka after a medical examination revealed multiple rib fractures, Geo News reported.

    According to the details, the 25-year-old’s CT [Computed Tomography] scans, the pacer had fractured three ribs on, leaving him unfit to play. Hasan has been recommended to rest for six weeks and will start a rehabilitation process at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) from Monday.

    The fast bowler, after passing fitness tests, had rejoined Central Punjab for their ninth round of Quaid-e-Azam Trophy fixture against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on November 22.

    However, prior to the match, Hasan Ali complained of pain on his left side for which he underwent precautionary scans in Karachi, revealing the fractures. For further confirmation, follow-up scans were carried out in Lahore which then confirmed his condition.

    Before his marriage, the pacer was undergoing rehab from a back injury which he sustained earlier this year.

    According to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), 25-year-old remains a part of Central Punjab’s squad but will feature for the side after making a full recovery.