Tag: breaking news

  • 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.”

  • Sarah Khan hospitalised due to ill health

    Sarah Khan hospitalised due to ill health

    Sarah Khan has been hospitalised due to ill health. Confirming the news, Khan’s manager told The Current that the actor has contracted typhoid due to which she had to be admitted to the hospital.

    Sarah’s husband, Falak Shabbir was the first to share the news of his wife’s ill-health, posting a picture of Sarah actor lying on a hospital bed.

    “She is unwell,” Falak said in the caption.

    Several of Sarah’s colleagues including Imran Ashraf and Resham expressed their concern and wished her good health.

    Read more – Sarah Khan hits back at troll who criticised her over father’s death

    Sarah and Falak were recently spotted vacationing and enjoying some quality time with each other in Turkey.

    Wishing Sarah a speedy recovery.

  • 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.

  • ‘Govt working to introduce royalty payments for artists’

    The federal government is working to introduce a comprehensive bill to ensure that artists are given financial credit for their work, PTI Senator Faisal Javed Khan has announced.

    “Most countries around the world give royalties to artists every time a show, their work is re-run, a second time or more,” wrote Faisal on Twitter. “Sadly in Pakistan where many artists are already underpaid, there is no policy or law ensuring that artists be given financial credit for their work.”

    The Senator further said that it is “very critical to fill the gaps and bring proper framework via amendments in legislation to ensure that our producers [and] artists get their rights to royalties.”

    Khan added that he is in touch with all stakeholders and is looking to introduce a comprehensive bill to address the matter.

    Speaking exclusively to The Current on the matter, Senator Faisal said: “Royalty is very important and I am working on this bill to ensure our artists get their due right. I am hoping to get it passed soon without any further delays.”

    Asserting that the government is committed to addressing this issue, Senator Faisal said: “Actors, musicians, singers – all artists must be supported,” adding that they will soon be entitled to royalties.

    Responding to Senator Faisal’s announcement, several artists including Mikaal Zulfiqar, Ali Zafar, Ali Safina and Sakina Samo lauded the initiative and hoped that it would resolve artists’ concerns.

    https://twitter.com/SakinaSamo/status/1381551181483413504?s=20

    Ever since Naila Jaffery appealed to producers and the government to pay royalties to actors for the work and content that is re-run, the conversation around royalty payments for artists has gained momentum with several actors demanding it.

    “Why is it even a matter of discussion?” Siddiqui had questioned. “Artists rightfully deserve to be paid royalty.”

    “So many producers and channels rake in copious amount of money through reruns. It is only ethical to pay actors their due,” he added.

    “We as a community of artists, singers, actors, writers, producers, directors, composer, editors and so on, need to be recognised by our government as an industry,” asserted Ahmed Ali Butt had.

    Zulfiqar was the first one to demand payment for reruns and after Jaffery’s appeal, several artists including Yasir Hussain, Sabeeka Imam, Ayesha Omar and Mansha Pasha had demanded TV channels for royalties.

    Earlier in July 2020, the government had announced that it will be creating a film task force to promote the entertainment industry and resolve its issues. Members of the government including Senator Shibli Faraz had held a virtual meeting with artists and stakeholders involved and shared the government’s intentions. They also discussed issues being faced by the film industry and their proposed solutions. Among those present during the meeting included Humayun Saeed, Vasay Chaudhry, Ali Zafar, Fizza Ali Meerza and Nadeem Mandviwala.

    Chaudhry, while speaking to The Current, had said that Senator Shibli had shown a “keen interest in the issues of royalties when it was brought up by me.”

    “He told us that the issue of royalties of artistes is very close to his heart and he will make sure to do something about it,” shared Vasay.

  • Jawad Ahmad vs Rohail Hyatt: Here’s what happened

    After Prime Minister Imran Khan made some unwarranted comments on rape and the cited vulgarity as the reason behind rising rape cases, Rohail Hyatt stepped in to defend him, saying that the premier’s words had been taken out of context. The musician received a lot of flak for his comments. Among those who criticised him is Jawad Ahmad, who questioned Rohail’s logic behind the tweet.

    “Why are you talking stupid?” wrote the singer-turned-politician in response to Hyatt’s tweet. “Will you tell us which dresses are modest and which are not?”

    “Will you get into your child’s wardrobe and point out which dress once worn would keep her safe in the society?” questioned Ahmad.

    “What if a dress you choose is still disapproved by majority?” he asked further.

    Jawad also used the hashtag #DontJustifyRape to elaborate his stance.

    Replying to Jawad’s tweet, Rohail said: “Because I am stupid. Since you’re wise, you can say wise things.”

    “See there’s balance in the universe. Something to be appreciated perhaps?” he added.

    While one would have thought that the debate ended there, but that was, in fact, just the start. Check out their complete exchange below:

    Later, Hyatt added a humorous twist to the debate and said that Ahmad won the match.

    He also said that he “loves Jawad”.

    Meanwhile, Hyatt also shared why he supports PM Khan.

  • COVID outbreak forces PCB to postpone PSL6

    COVID outbreak forces PCB to postpone PSL6

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has postponed the sixth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) due to rising COVID-19 cases among players and officials involved in the tournament.

    As many as seven players and one support staff official have tested positive for the virus which led to question marks over PCB’s bio-secure bubble arrangements and reservations from foreign players. Quetta Gladiators’ Tom Banton and Islamabad United’s Fawad Ahmed and Lewis Gregory were among the players who tested positive.

    Following the increase in cases, international players were also given the option to leave for their home countries with Karachi Kings’ Dan Christian expected to be the first to leave today.

    PCB also issued a press release on social media which reads: “Following a meeting with the team owners and considering the health and wellbeing of all participants is paramount, the Pakistan Cricket Board has decided to postpone the HBL Pakistan Super League 6 with immediate effect. The decision was made after seven cases were reported in the competition, which had started on February 20.”

    “The PCB, as an immediate step, will focus on the safe and secure passage of all participants, and arrange repeat PCR tests, vaccines and isolation facilities to the six participating sides,” it added.

    PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan and Director – Commercial Babar Hamid will hold a media conference at the National Stadium in Karachi at 3pm today to provide further updates.

    Meanwhile, Hassan Ali, Shadab Khan, Ravi Bopara and Mohammad Hafeez expressed their disappointment over the latest developments.

    While, Faheem Ashraf took to Twitter and wrote: “O Muslims, despair is disbelief. Indeed, in every deed of Allah, there is good.”

    Later, in the press conference, Wasim said: “To make any bio-secure bubble successful, it needs partnership and sacrifice from everyone,” he said. “It is not about the blame game right now. There are a lot of emotions at the moment. Franchises have invested a lot of money and I know that there will be reactions from different sectors.

    “But as I said before, to make any bio-secure bubble, everyone needs to be on the same page, that’s how we managed to conduct a successful domestic season. I understand why they [franchise owners] are saying things like these but it is not about the blame game, its about Pakistan cricket and it’s welfare. It is not the time to fight right now. It is time to accept collective responsibility.”

    Wasim further said that his own proposal was to postpone the event for five days, continue testing but the franchises rejected the idea.

    “My own proposal was to postpone the tournament for five days and see where it goes,” he said. “But the franchises made it clear that the players are anxious and not in the mental state to continue with the tournament.”

    Wasim also reiterated that the SOP’s were shared with the franchises before the competition but no bio-secure bubble can be successful without self-policing.

    “The protocols were shared with the franchises on February 18,” he said. “We are not sure where or how the players contracted coronavirus. You cannot make any bio-secure bubble successful without self-policing.”