Tag: Babar Azam

  • Sarfaraz Ahmed celebrates son’s birthday with fellow cricketers

    Sarfaraz Ahmed celebrates son’s birthday with fellow cricketers

    Imagine being four years old and having some of Pakistan’s best cricket players celebrate your birthday?

    Sarfaraz Ahmed’s son Abdullah Sarfaraz got just that as Babar Azam, Hassan Ali, Yasir Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Muhammad Rizwan, Fawad Alam, Haris Rauf, Faheem Ashraf and Azhar Ali all came to celebrate his birthday at the Movenpick Hotel in Karachi.

    Sharing pictures from the celebrations, Ahmed thanked everyone for coming and making Abdullah’s day.

    The excited father also shared a video of the celebrations on social media.

    https://twitter.com/SarfarazA_54/status/1355597546828169217?s=20
  • Yasir Shah, Nauman Ali help Pakistan sail past South Africa in first Test

    Yasir Shah, Nauman Ali help Pakistan sail past South Africa in first Test

    Pakistan defeated South Africa by seven wickets on day four of the first Test match in Karachi on Friday, taking a 1-0 lead in the two-match series that marks the Proteas’ first tour to the country in almost 14 years.

    Fawad Alam hit the winning runs with a square cut to Keshav Maharaj for four to seal what has been a remarkable comeback for him to the Test unit as Pakistan easily chased the 88 runs set by South Africa for victory.

    Pakistan, needing 88 for victory, had reached 22 without loss at lunch with Abid Ali on 10 and Imran Butt on 12. But even as the openers departed after adding just a run after lunch, there seemed to be no panic as captain Babar Azam and veteran Azhar Ali coasted to within two runs of victory.

    Maharaj trapped Babar in front for 30, Azhar was 31 not out while Alam — who hit a fighting hundred in the first innings — hit the winning boundary.

    Earlier, debutant Nauman Ali took five wickets and fellow spinner Yasir Shah grabbed four to give Pakistan a solid opportunity to take lead in the series.

    Left-arm spinner Nauman took 5-35 while Yasir finished with 4-79 after South Africa resumed at 187-4 at the start of the day. Temba Bavuma was the last man out for 40.

    On Thursday, Yasir and Nauman grabbed three wickets in the space of ten runs to halt South Africa’s fightback on the third day of the first Test in Karachi.

    When it looked like South Africa would end the day at parity after wiping out Pakistan’s big 158-run first-innings lead, Yasir struck twice and Nauman once to leave the tourists on 187-4 at close.

    Earlier, Pakistan scored 378 to take a crucial lead over South Africa’s first innings total of 220.

    Read more – Fahad Mustafa says ignoring Fawad Alam for a decade was ‘a failure of our system’

    Meanwhile, the centurion, Alam got man of the match award for getting Pakistan out of trouble.

    The two-match Test series is South Africa’s first in Pakistan for 14 years. The second Test will be played in Rawalpindi from February 4.

    The hosts have won only one of their previous seven Tests against South Africa in Pakistan, with the visitors claiming two victories to go with four draws.

    Pakistan’s bowling coach congratulated the team for a win as well as Fawad for his outclass performance in his debut match at home ground. He also congratulated Yasir and Nauman for an incredible bowling and helping Pakistan beat the visitors.

  • Babar Azam opens up on his journey from ‘ball-picker’ to Test captain

    Star batsman Babar Azam has opened up and shared his journey from being a ‘ball-picker’ during a match between Pakistan and South Africa in 2007 to becoming the Test captain and leading the team against the Proteas on their first visit after fourteen years.

    In a video shared by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the 26-year-old recalled the time when he was a ball-picker in the Test match in 2007 between the Green Caps and the Proteas at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore which increased his passion for the game.

    “My cricket journey started back in 2007,” said Azam. “I had a passion for the game but I really wanted to see international stars play in front of me. At the time, South African team was here so I asked someone to help me become a ball picker. I used to go daily from Gulberg to Gaddafi Stadium.”

    Azam continued: “I used to enjoy picking up balls. I remember watching Inzamam-ul-Haq’s farewell innings where he got out before breaking the record of great Javed Miandad. I witnessed it live the way he went back to the dressing room and took his anger out.”

    “This journey has been long and tough but I feel blessed to be making my Test captaincy debut against the same team,” he shared further.

    It is pertinent to add here that Babar’s cousin Kamran Akmal was the first-choice wicketkeeper for Pakistan from 2007 to 2010.

    Later, sharing PCB’s video, Babar said: “This humble story is for our youth. May your dreams keep you awake and motivate you to run that extraordinary yard.”

    “You are enough. A thousand times enough,” he added.

    Babar will be leading the national team for the first time in the five-day format in the first Test against South Africa which will begin from Tuesday, January 26 at the National Stadium in Karachi.

  • Mohammad Amir will be available for Pakistan on one condition

    Mohammad Amir will be available for Pakistan on one condition

    Mohammad Amir has clarified that he will be available for Pakistan on one condition.

    In a tweet, the fast bowler wrote: “I would like to clarify that yes I will be available for Pakistan only once this management leaves. So please stop spreading fake news just to sell your story.”

    Widely regarded as one of the most destructive fast bowlers of the Green Army in the modern era, Amir had shocked the entire cricket fraternity when he opted to bid farewell to international cricket following his ouster from the Pakistani limited-overs squad for the New Zealand series last year. 

    Amir had already retired from the longest format before he quit international cricket alleging ‘mental torture’ by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). According to the latest developments, the out-of-favour Pakistani cricketer has volunteered to come out of retirement in order to play for the Azam-led side on the international circuit.

    Read more – PCB, cricketing greats among others react to Amir’s exit

    Meanwhile, according to the Pakistani journalists, the pacer will only make a comeback to play for the National team if Misbah-ul-Haq and Waqar Younis are removed from office. While Misbah is the current head coach of the Babar Azam-led side, Younis is the bowling chief.

    Earlier, Babar Azam had backed coach Misbah by defending the management’s decision to snub the pacer from the national squad. Azam had asserted that Amir’s performances were not up to the mark.

    Misbah and Waqar said that Amir’s recent performances have been really poor and he does not warrant a place in the squad. They did, however, say that Amir will be welcomed back into the team if he is able to perform better in the domestic circuit. However, Amir rubbished this statement as well, saying that they are portraying a different picture to take the blame off their backs.

    The 28-year-old speedster has played 36 Tests, 61 One Day International (ODIs), and as many as 50 T20Is for the Pakistani national team. Amir also plied his trade with Galle Gladiators in the inaugural Lanka Premier League (LPL).

  • VIDEO: Did woman who accused Babar Azam of harassment really drop charges?

    VIDEO: Did woman who accused Babar Azam of harassment really drop charges?

    A woman who had accused Pakistan cricket team skipper Babar Azam of sexual and financial abuse has allegedly signed an affidavit, saying that allegations levelled against Babar Azam were “baseless”, an undated video suggested on Friday.

    In the video, the woman — who claimed to be Azam’s ex-girlfriend — can be seen signing an affidavit. The lawyer representing Babar Azam to confirm that she didn’t know Babar Azam and that she accused him of sexual misconduct at the behest of “some friends”.

    But did that really happen?

    Well, some say the undated video is two years old and it was being shared at this time to influence the trial. A Facebook page of a journalist shared audio messages of the woman, wherein she said that the video was two-year old and was being used by Azam to “blackmail her”.

    She said she did reach a settlement with Babar Azam in 2018, but in return, Babar had promised to marry her. This video has also been submitted in the court by Babar Azam, but the judge raised questions on its admissibility, she added.

    On Thursday, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had also summoned Babar Azam.

    CASE AGAINST BABAR:

    In December 2020, police had given a clean chit to Babar in the harassment case. According to reports, Additional Sessions Judge Nauman Naeem had taken up the petition of Hamiza Mukhtar against the Pakistani skipper.

    The hearing had come after Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Director of Media and Communications Samiul Hassan said that the sexual violence allegations against skipper Babar were a personal matter and the board could not comment on it.

    According to Jang, the board’s spokesperson was responding to a question posed by the Urdu daily after a damning press conference by one Hamiza of Lahore, who claims to be Babar’s schoolfellow and neighbour.

    Addressing the presser, the woman had claimed that the young cricketer tricked her into love and marriage.

    “When I asked him to marry me, he tortured me,” she said.

    Hamiza said that she had financially supported Babar when he was struggling with his career, adding that she spent millions of rupees on him.

    “When I called the PCB to lodge a complaint, they said that it was a personal matter,” she continued.

    During the proceedings in the sessions court, the counsel of the petitioner sought time to submit documents in the court and said that the entire case was based on medical reports.

    Azam’s counsel, Barrister Harris Azmat, while requesting the court to reject the petitioner’s plea, said that Azam was a national cricketer and hero, adding that Hamiza had started blackmailing the national cricket team captain in 2016 whereas the police had cleared him in an investigation.

    Police also submitted an investigation report in the court, as per which the national cricketer was found innocent and the woman was leveling baseless allegations.

    “The court should reject the petitioner’s plea,” he had said.

    Barrister Azmat said that Azam’s case was being covered by Indian media and the woman may have targeted the national cricketer once again at the behest of someone.

  • Babar Azam summoned by FIA over claims by ‘ex-girlfriend’

    Babar Azam summoned by FIA over claims by ‘ex-girlfriend’

    Cybercrime wing of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has summoned Pakistan cricket team skipper Babar Azam over sexual and financial abuse accusations by the woman who claims to be his ex-girlfriend. 

    Babar, 26, was summoned on Thursday but excused from visiting the officials due to some engagements.

    The star batsman requested the FIA to reschedule the summons, after which he has been asked to appear before the agency next week.

    On Wednesday, he started net practice at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) after missing out all the matches of Pakistan against New Zealand owing to thumb injury. Babar’s thumb was injured during net practice in Queens Town on December 12.

    Despite missing out on all the matches, Babar remained with the team in New Zealand.

    The New Zealand series was Babar’s first as Test captain and now he has to lead Pakistan in the home series against South Africa starting from January 26 with the first Test scheduled to be played in Karachi. The second Test is scheduled to be played in Rawalpindi from February 4 following which the two teams will play three T20Is in Lahore from February 11 to 14.

    CASE AGAINST BABAR:

    In December 2020, police had given a clean chit to Babar in the harassment case against him.

    According to reports, Additional Sessions Judge Nauman Naeem had taken up the petition of a woman, namely Hameeza Mukhtar, against the Pakistani skipper.

    The hearing had come after Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Director of Media and Communications Samiul Hassan said that the sexual violence allegations against skipper Babar were a personal matter and the board could not comment on it.

    According to Jang, the board’s spokesperson was responding to a question posed by the Urdu daily after a damning press conference by one Hamiza of Lahore, who claims to be Babar’s schoolfellow and neighbour.

    Addressing the presser, the woman had claimed that the young cricketer tricked her into love and marriage.

    “When I asked him to marry me, he tortured me,” she said.

    Hamiza said that she had financially supported Babar when he was struggling with his career, adding that she spent millions of rupees on him.

    “When I called the PCB to lodge a complaint, they said that it was a personal matter,” she continued.

    During the proceedings in the sessions court, the counsel of the petitioner sought time to submit documents in the court and said that the entire case was based on medical reports.

    Azam’s counsel, Barrister Harris Azmat, while requesting the court to reject the petitioner’s plea, said that Azam was a national cricketer and hero, adding that Hameeza had started blackmailing the national cricket team captain in 2016 whereas the police had cleared him in an investigation.

    Police also submitted an investigation report in the court, as per which the national cricketer was found innocent and the woman was leveling baseless allegations.

    “The court should reject the petitioner’s plea,” he had said.

    Barrister Azmat said that Azam’s case was being covered by Indian media and the woman may have targeted the national cricketer once again at the behest of someone.

  • PCB Awards 2020: Babar Azam, Fawad Alam win accolades

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday announced the winners of its awards for the year 2020. From Most Valuable Player of the Year award to Spirit of the Cricket award, PCB revealed the complete winners’ list on social media. The winners have been decided by an independent jury.

    PCB also live streamed the award announcement on its official YouTube channel. The event was hosted by Zainab Abbas.

    Here is complete list of winners

    Most Valuable Cricketer of the Year – Babar Azam

    Period of consideration: (five Tests, three ODIs and 12 T20Is from 1 Jan 2020 to 31 Dec 2020)

    Test Cricketer of the Year – Mohammad Rizwan

    Period of consideration: (five Tests between 1 Jan 2020 and 31 Dec 2020)

    White-ball Cricketer of the Year – Babar Azam

    Period of consideration: (three ODIs and 12 T20Is from 1 Jan 2020 to 31 Dec 2020)

    Individual Performance of the Year – Fawad Alam

    Period of consideration: (20 international matches played between 1 Jan 2020 to 31 Dec 2020)

    Women’s Cricketer of the Year: Aliya Riaz

    Period of consideration: (1 Jan 2020 to 31 Dec 2020)

    Domestic Cricketer of the Year – Kamran Ghulam

    (Events under consideration HBL PSL 2020, National T20 Cup 2020 and first-class Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2020)

    Men’s Emerging International Cricketer of the Year – Naseem Shah

    (International debut after September 1, 2019)

    ‘Pakistan team visiting Bangladesh dressing room after their 2-0 win in the T20I series’ – Spirit of Cricket

    Period under consideration: (1 Jan 2020 to 31 Dec 2020)

    Men’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year – Rohail Nazir

    (Players born on or after August 1, 1999 who are yet to make international debut for Pakistan. Period under consideration September 1, 2019 to December 31, 2020)

    Women’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year – Fatima Sana

    (Players born on or after August 1, 1999. Period under consideration 1 Sep 2019 to 31 Dec 2020)

    Umpire of the Year – Asif Yaqoob

    Period under consideration: (1 Jan 2020 to 31 Dec 2020)

    Corporate Achievement of the Year – HBL PSL V

    (Period under consideration: January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020)

    According to a press release, the PCB Awards 2020 are recognition and appreciation of the players and match officials for their achievements, as well as their contributions and sacrifices, during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

    “All cricket in Pakistan was planned, executed and played under strict COVID-19 protocols. This meant Pakistan’s leading cricketers, player support personnel and match officials spent a large chunk of the year under tight restrictions, away from their families and friends,” added the statement.

    Winners will be presented specially designed trophies during the home series against South Africa, scheduled to take place later this month.

    Meanwhile, Shahid Afridi congratulated the winners and advised them “to build on this so that the country and the fans are proud of you in 2021 and beyond”.

  • ‘You named an IPL team not world XI’: Shoaib Akhtar slams ICC

    ‘You named an IPL team not world XI’: Shoaib Akhtar slams ICC

    Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has slammed the International Cricket Council (ICC) for not including a single Pakistan player in their T20I team of the decade, announced on Sunday.

    In a video posted to his YouTube channel, Akhtar criticised the parent body of cricket, terming their team of the decade an IPL XI instead of being a world cricket team.

    “They did not pick a single player from Pakistan in the team. We don’t need your (ICC) T20I Team of the Decade because you announced the IPL team, not a world cricket team,” Akhtar said in the video.

    The former speedster also cited the current T20I rankings indicating that Pakistan skipper Babar Azam should have been included in the T20I team of the decade.

    “I think ICC forgot that Pakistan is also a member of ICC and they also play T20I cricket. They did not pick Babar Azam, who is currently the number one batsman in the ICC T20I rankings.”

    Akhtar further openly criticised the working of ICC and claimed that the organisation is ruining the game for money.

    “ICC only thinks about money, sponsorships and TV rights. They introduced two new balls and three powerplays (in the ODI cricket). Where is Dennis Lillee, Jeff Thomson, big five of West Indies, Wasim (Akram) and Waqar (Younis)? Where are the world’s fastest bowlers and leg-spinners? They went away because ICC commercialised and materialised cricket so much and allowed ten leagues to earn more revenue,” Akhtar said.

    “They just want two World Cups in three years and leagues. ….There is a big difference between today’s cricket and in 70’s cricket. If there is no Sachin vs Shoaib then what’s the point of watching cricket? There is no big player than Babar Azam in T20I. He is a top-scorer for Pakistan and his averages show what he has done for the country, even in comparison with Virat Kohli. It is so embarrassing and I’m sure after this video they will think that they have to announce the World Team of the Decade, not the IPL team,” Sohaib concluded.

    Earlier in the day, ICC included Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, MS Dhoni, and Jasprit Bumrah in its T20I Team of the Decade. Dhoni has also been named as the skipper of the ICC’s T20I Team of the Decade.

    In the team, four players are from India, two are from Australia, two from West Indies, one from Sri Lanka, South Africa, andAfghanistan.

    Meanwhile, Pakistan cricket fans and analysts are enraged and questioning ICC for not including any Pakistani cricketer in the list. Here are some reactions:

  • Shadab to lead 15-member squad for first T20I against NZ

    The Pakistan Cricket Board on Thursday announced the 15-member squad that will play the first T20 against New Zealand on December 18 (Friday).

    As per details, the team includes Shadab (C), Abdullah Shafique, Faheem Ashraf, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Hussain Talat, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Wahab Riaz.

    Shadab will lead the side in absence of captain Babar Azam who has been ruled out of T20 series due to fractured thumb. The batsman had suffered the injury during a throw-down session, following which he was taken to a local hospital where X-rays confirmed the fracture. Babar will be unable to attend nets for, at least, 12 days, meaning he will not be available for the 18, 20 and 22 December T20Is to be played in Auckland, Hamilton and Napier, respectively.

    “His absence in the side will be surely felt,” said Shadab while announcing the squad.

    “However, it will provide an opportunity for new players to step up and showcase their talent,” he added.

    Shadab further said: “The team should be ready to show an aggressive performance like Babar.”

    Earlier, the squad took part in a full three-hour training session.

    The Pakistan cricket team had a rocky beginning in New Zealand with eight members of the squad testing positive for coronavirus as the team underwent quarantine in Christchurch.

    Pakistan and New Zealand will play three T20Is on December 18, 20 and 22 in Auckland, Hamilton and Napier, respectively. The Pakistan cricket team will also play two test matches against New Zealand on December 26 and January 3.

  • Babar Azam, Shan Masood named in Wisden’s Test Team of the Year

    Wisden, on Tuesday, unveiled its ‘Test Team of the Year’ for 2020 and the list which features the best performers in Test cricket between December 11, 2019, and December 11, 2020, included Shan Masood and Babar Azam.

    Shaan made it to the list with 419 runs in 6 matches at an average of 46.55 with a high score of 156 against England.

    “England began exceptionally before lunch on day one, and Masood rode it out. Then, even as the home bowlers erred, he couldn’t quite cash in. But on day two, as Pakistan slid to 176-5, he came into his own, slowly opening his shoulders as his batting partners dwindled. Having struggled against England previously – his 156 was more than he managed in four previous Tests against them combined – Masood’s should have been a match-winning knock, but Chris Woakes and Jos Buttler had other ideas,” said Wisden about Masood.

    Azam also made it to the list with 600 runs in 6 matches at an average of 100 with a high score of 143 against Bangladesh.

    Writing about Azam, Wisden said: “All told, that’s not a bad average. Babar Azam made sure the return of Test cricket was a joyous, triumphant one, and it was fitting that he, a player who had already inspired such hope in the country, should provide even more. That he’ll be disappointed with his exploits in England, despite averaging just under 50, shows how high his standards now are. The most important of Babar’s knocks in terms of the match situation. Having come in at 93-2, he breezed past a century in quick time, setting up a match-winning lead.”

    Read more – Only two Pakistanis nominated for ICC Awards of the Decade

    Meanwhile, check out the complete test team of the year below.

    Wisden’s Test Team of the Year 2020:

    1. Dom Sibley

    2. Shan Masood

    3. Kane Williamson (C)

    4. Marnus Labuschagne

    5. Babar Azam

    6. Ben Stokes

    7. Quinton de Kock (WK)

    8. Kyle Jamieson

    9. Stuart Broad

    10. Tim Southee

    11. Nathan Lyon