Tag: Cricket

  • ‘Will come back stronger’: Babar Azam’s note after unsuccessful PSL stint

    ‘Will come back stronger’: Babar Azam’s note after unsuccessful PSL stint

    Pakistan’s all-format captain Babar Azam, who was leading Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Karachi Kings for the first time, did not have a great season this year and Kings lost nine out of 10 matches in this year’s edition, making an unwanted record.

    After their last defeat by the hands of Quetta Gladiators, Babar took to Twitter and penned a note in which he pledged to “come back stronger”.

    “We did not hold up our end. Lots to reflect, learn & improve from this entire experience of #PSL7. In sha Allah, we will come back stronger. Also, quite grateful to all the fans for their immense support and belief,” he tweeted.

    Karachi Kings was not only the team to have the longest streak of defeats with eight consecutive losses in the tournament but it created another unwanted PSL record on Sunday after losing to Quetta Gladiators.

    The Gladiators thrashed Kings by 23 runs in match 28 of the PSL at the Gaddafi Stadium, after which the team was also eliminated from the race to the playoffs in the tournament, with only two points in 10 games.

  • James Faulkner leaves PSL prematurely, accuses PCB of not honouring agreed payments, PCB denies

    James Faulkner leaves PSL prematurely, accuses PCB of not honouring agreed payments, PCB denies

    Australian cricketer James Faulkner has left the Pakistan Super League (PSL) prematurely over a payment dispute, saying the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) hasn’t honoured the contractually agreed payments and has instead “continued to lie” to him.

    Faulkner, who has not played Quetta Gladiators’ last three games, was understood to have grown increasingly agitated over the matter. Faulkner had been negotiating with the PCB over the due payments, with things getting so heated on Friday that he threw his bat and helmet from the lobby floor balcony onto a chandelier after a discussion with a PCB official before leaving for the airport.

    Earlier today, he posted two tweets apologising to Pakistan cricket fans and calling his treatment at the hands of the PCB and the PSL “a disgrace”.

    “I apologise to the Pakistan cricket fans. But unfortunately, I’ve had to withdraw from the last 2 matches and leave the @thePSLt20 due to the @TheRealPCB not honouring my contractual agreement/payments. I’ve been here the whole duration and they have continued to lie to me. It hurts to leave as I wanted to help to get international cricket back in Pakistan as there is so much young talent and the fans are amazing. But the treatment I have received has been a disgrace from the @TheRealPCB and @thePSLt20. I’m sure you all understand my position.”

    The PCB issued a brief statement saying they had “regretfully taken note of Mr James Faulkner’s false and misleading accusations” and that the board would shortly release a detailed statement.

    Traditionally, the PCB has always dealt with making player payments initially before recovering the money from the franchises, which may explain why Faulkner’s primary grievance lies with the PCB rather than his franchise. Gladiators distanced themselves from the issue, telling ESPNcricinfo the Australian’s payment dispute was with the PCB.

    Faulkner played six PSL games this season, taking six wickets and scoring 49 runs.

  • Karachi Kings finally break their losing streak by beating Lahore

    Karachi Kings finally break their losing streak by beating Lahore

    On Friday, Karachi Kings finally broke their losing streak, beating Lahore Qalandars by 22 runs at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.

    After winning the toss, Karachi posted a total of 149 runs in 19.5 overs. Kings’ bowler Mir Hamza was the star of the day, as he took four key wickets of Lahore Qalandars to ensure points for his team.

    Karachi, which is already out of the tournament, had a face-saving with their win over Qalandars, who had 10 points in seven games and were looking for a place in the playoffs but now they have to win all its coming games.

    Defending champions Multan Sultans qualified for the February 23 Qualifier after they snatched 117 runs victory over Quetta Gladiators earlier in the day. Lahore Qalandars will now face Islamabad United in the 27th match of the league on Saturday.

    Harry Brook and David Wiese with some gutsy batting kept Lahore Qalandars’ hopes intact till the 18th over. But Mir Hamza, who first broke the partnership taking the wicket of Brook and then, despite review from Wiese, trapped him leg before wicket. They provided some acceleration to Lahore’s score from 63 for five to 119 for six. Brook made 28 while Wiese piled up 31 in 23 balls. With that Qalandars now look to regroup in their next match to stay alive in the tournament.

    On Lahore’s side, Afghan bowler Rashid Khan and emerging pacer Zaman Khan took four wickets each, conceding 17 and 16 runs respectively.

    Hamza bagged Player of the Match award for an outstanding spell against the Qalandars.

  • VIDEO: Hassan Ali interrupts Erin Holland’s interview with Ben Cutting

    VIDEO: Hassan Ali interrupts Erin Holland’s interview with Ben Cutting

    Islamabad United bowler Hassan Ali is a character of his own and knows how to entertain. Recently the speedster interrupted a live interview of Peshawar Zalmi’s Ben Cutting by presenter Erin Holland.

    Holland was interviewing the Peshawar Zalmi’s player after the team defeated United in the 24th match of the Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) seventh edition when Hassan crashed in and asked: “Why do you always take interview of Ben Cutting?”

    At this, both burst out laughing at Hassan’s intervention. Cutting resumed the interview while Hassan Ali walked away.

    The video clip of this hilarious incident went viral on social media. Netizens couldn’t stop sharing the video on Internet with witty captions.

    https://twitter.com/taimoorze/status/1494383393211133962
  • ‘It wasn’t good’: Sohail Tanvir regrets offensive behaviour during PZ vs QG match

    ‘It wasn’t good’: Sohail Tanvir regrets offensive behaviour during PZ vs QG match

    Quetta Gladiators’ left-arm pacer Sohail Tanvir has apologised for the offensive behaviour with Quetta’s batter Ben Cutting during the Peshawar Zalmi vs Quetta Gladiators in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) match at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on Tuesday.

    In a video message posted on Instagram, Tanvir said: “This could have been avoided and what happened was not good,” he said, addressing the heated encounter between the two players last night.

    Cutting punished Tanvir in the penultimate over as he smashed 27 runs by hitting four sixes, a single, and a double.

    And then, Cutting showed an offensive hand gesture to Tanvir. This led to an argument between the two. The on-field umpire intervened and dispersed them.

    But right in the next over, Naseem Shah bowled and Cutting smashed it but Tanvir was the third man, so he took the catch. After taking his catch, Tanvir also used the obscene hand gesture (showing his middle finger).

    Shedding light on the history behind the aggression between the two players against each other, he said that this case has been going on since 2018.

    It is pertinent to mention here that during the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), Tanvir had shown a finger gesture to Cutting after taking his wicket.

    Tanvir, however, mentioned that he had apologised to Cutting back then.

    “Last night, Cutting hit two sixes and showed the finger gesture,” he said, adding that then the two exchanged heated words and then “I also showed him the finger.”

    Tanvir emphasised: “I repeat that this should not have happened, it could have been avoided.”

    Both the cricketers were fined for their wrongdoing and both accepted the offence imposed on them.

  • Quetta’s Jason Roy fined for breach of code of conduct

    Quetta’s Jason Roy fined for breach of code of conduct

    Quetta Gladiators’ batter Jason Roy has been fined five per cent of his match fee for a Level 1 breach of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Code of Conduct during his team’s eight-wicket defeat against Lahore Qalandars in the 20th match of PSL 7 at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on Sunday.

    Roy was found to have violated Article 2.21 of the PSL Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “conduct that brings the game into disrepute”, following his reaction after he was adjudged caught behind by Asif Yaqoob off Shaheen Shah Afridi.

    In the video, posted by PSL official Twitter account, he can be seen misbehaving with the umpire despite the fact that he had the option to challenge the umpire’s decision of giving him out.

    England’s cricketer accepted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed to be imposed by Roshan Mahanama and, as such, there was no need for a formal hearing.

    The charges were levelled by the on-field umpires Asif Yaqoob and Michael Gough, third umpire Rashid Riaz and fourth umpire Waleeed Yaqoob.

    All first-time offences of Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official warning and/or imposition of a fine of up to 25% of the applicable match fee.

    It was also reported that Roy had reported Shaheen’s bowling action but the reports were denied by the Quetta Gladiators.

  • ‘Cannot bear it anymore’: Shahid Afridi bids goodbye to PSL

    ‘Cannot bear it anymore’: Shahid Afridi bids goodbye to PSL

    Quetta Gladiators’ veteran Shahid Afridi has announced his exit from the remainder of the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2022, citing a back injury that has gone to an “intolerable” level.

    In a video message posted on his YouTube channel, Lala said he had been carrying his lower-back injury for more than 15 years, adding it was now causing unbearable pain to his entire body.

    “Goodbye to PSL. My body is in serious pain,” wrote Afridi in his tweet.

    https://twitter.com/SAfridiOfficial/status/1492780664940281857?t=Q4xSmvTQgjizDpWsFwYYSw&s=19

    “I cannot bear it anymore,” Afridi said.

    The star-allrounder thanked Gladiators’ owner Nadeem Omar for his all-out support to him.

    “I want to apologise to fans for not being able to play the entire PSL and sign off on a good note”.

    He hoped to undergo the rehabilitation process and expressed his desire to return to the Kashmir Premier League (KPL) and other T10 leagues in time to come.

    Afridi said his welfare foundation was his “second innings and the most important one” to him.

    He urged fans to pray for his health. “With the grace of God, I will appear in another league [soon],” said the former captain.

    In his last game against Islamabad United yesterday, Afridi bowled four overs and got two wickets for 27 runs. However, he was yet to bat when the team chased down the 205-run target with the loss of five wickets.

    He also had back issue in the same match. After he picked up Muhammad Akhlaq’s wicket, Afridi did his signature pose and leaned back, his back started hurting and it was evident as he applied pressure and bent forward to ease the pain.

    It is pertinent to mention here that this was the last PSL season for Afridi as he had announced it last year.

    Afridi last played international cricket more than five years ago, but continued to take part in the PSL ever since its inception. He led Zalmi in the first season and was part of the team that won the title the following year.

    Pakistan Cricket team’s front line pacer and Afridi’s son-in-law to-be Shaheen Shah Afridi took to Twitter and wrote: “Your presence will be missed in the PSL Lala @SAfridiOfficial. You are the pride of Pakistan for a reason. Get well soon. #HopeNotOut #Forever”

  • Shoaib Akhtar thinks Babar can’t break Tendulkar’s record but Kohli can

    Shoaib Akhtar thinks Babar can’t break Tendulkar’s record but Kohli can

    Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar has said that Pakistan skipper Babar Azam cannot break Sachin Tendulkar’s record, but India’s Virat Kohli can surpass Tendulkar’s record.

    Talking to Geo News in ‘Jashn-e-Cricket’, Akhtar said: “I don’t think Babar can break Tendulkar’s record. Only Kohli can break Tendulkar’s record.”

    “Babar will have to work hard to get ahead of Virat Kohli,” Shoaib added.

    The legendary right-arm quick predicted that Kohli would score more than 100 centuries before retirement.

    In One-Day Internationals, Kohli has completed 43 centuries and 64 half-centuries in 259 matches, while Babar has scored 14 centuries and 17 half-centuries in 83 matches.

    Read More – Shoaib Akhtar believes Shahid Afridi will ‘100 per cent step into politics’

    Earlier, Akhtar had also said that Kohli should not have married “too soon”.

  • Fawad Chaudhry welcomes Australian team, recommends Lahore and Karachi’s desi food

    Fawad Chaudhry welcomes Australian team, recommends Lahore and Karachi’s desi food

    Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry has welcomed the Australian cricket team to Pakistan after they confirmed their tour to Pakistan for the first time in 24 years. Australia will play a full-fledged series in three Tests, three ODIs and a solitary T20I on their tour starting March 4.

    The minister also recommended the Australian team to try desi food in Lahore and Karachi.

    Taking to Twitter, he wrote: “Welcome to Pakistan a beautiful country of ours, May you enjoy your trip and do try Our very Desi food in Karachi and Lahore.”

    Rawalpindi will host the tour-opening first Test, swapping with Karachi, which will now host the second Test from March 12.

    The Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore will be the venue for the final Test.

    The schedule has been revised to ease logistical and operational challenges as well as to avoid Pakistan Day rehearsals, which usually commence in Islamabad in the second week of March.

    The two cricket boards have also agreed that the Australia Test side will complete their isolation in Australia, before arriving in Islamabad on February 27 on a chartered flight. After a one-day room isolation, they will hold training sessions at the Pindi Cricket Stadium.

    Australia’s white-ball players are expected to arrive in Lahore on March 24 following isolation in Australia. After a one-day isolation upon arrival, they will integrate with other members of the side and travel to Islamabad for the first ODI in Rawalpindi on March 29.

  • PCB announces revised schedule of Australia’s tour to Pakistan

    PCB announces revised schedule of Australia’s tour to Pakistan

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the revised schedule of Australia’s tour to Pakistan. The tour will comprise of three Tests, three ODIs, and one T20I.

    The tour will now start and end in Rawalpindi with the opening Test to be played from March 4-8 and the four white-ball matches to be played from March 29 to April 5.

    The change in the first Test venue means that the second Test will be played in Karachi from March 12-16 and the third in Lahore from March 21-25.

    PCB Chief Executive Faisal Hasnain said: “We are pleased that the Cricket Australia Board has formally approved their side’s five-week tour itinerary and confirmed that their best available players will visit Pakistan for the first time in 24 years. We are really excited to host Pat Cummins and his players, and look forward to a competitive series that will comprise three Tests, three ODIs and a T20I.”

    “While Australia will arrive at the back of strong performances in their home series against England, our team has been playing excellent cricket resulting in our players sweeping the ICC Awards. This braces for a keenly contested series, something that the fans will thoroughly enjoy and remember for a long time,” he added.

    The schedule has been revised to ease logistical and operational challenges as well as to avoid Pakistan Day rehearsals, which usually commence in Islamabad in the second week of March.

    The two cricket boards have also agreed that the Australia Test side will complete their isolation in Australia, before arriving in Islamabad on February 27 on a chartered flight. After a one-day room isolation, they will hold training sessions at the Pindi Cricket Stadium.

    Australia’s white-ball players are expected to arrive in Lahore on March 24 following isolation in Australia. After a one-day isolation upon arrival, they will integrate with other members of the side and travel to Islamabad for the first ODI in Rawalpindi on March 29.

    The Tests will be part of the ICC World Test Championship, while the ODIs are linked to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League from which the top eight sides, including hosts India, will qualify directly for the 2023 50-over World Cup.

    Earlier, Australia’s Test team captain Pat Cummins had said that a near full-strength squad will tour Pakistan as only a few players have security concerns for the forthcoming tour.

    Revised schedule:

    Feb 27 – Arrival in Islamabad

    Mar 4-8 – 1st Test, Rawalpindi

    Mar 12-16 – 2nd Test, Karachi

    Mar 21-25 – 3rd Test, Lahore

    Mar 29 – 1st ODI, Rawalpindi

    Mar 31 – 2nd ODI, Rawalpindi

    April 2 – 3rd ODI, Rawalpindi

    Apr 5 – one-off T20I, Rawalpindi

    Apr 6 – Departure