Tag: Cricket

  • Pat Cummins hopes ‘close to a full-strength’ squad to tour Pakistan

    Pat Cummins hopes ‘close to a full-strength’ squad to tour Pakistan

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

    According to the Australian Associated Press (AAP), Cummins is optimistic, while also acknowledging the pre-tour preparations made by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

    “I think we’ll get close to a full-strength squad. There is still a little bit of more work to do,” he said.

    “We have received a lot of information and it has been great. All the pre-tour security and biosecurity work has been done and it’s been fantastic,” he added.

    Australia’s red ball captain also revealed that the majority of the players are confident in the tour’s continuation, while the others are concerned about security. Cummins, on the other hand, is committed to back his teammates if anyone withdraws.

    “There are a couple of players still keen to get a bit more information but everyone is really pumped and feeling relatively comfortable,” he said.

    “If anyone doesn’t make the tour it is absolutely okay, we will back them for sure,” he added.

    Earlier, Australia’s pacer Josh Hazelwood had said that he will not be surprised if a few players will miss Pakistan tour.

    Meanwhile, it is worth mentioning that Australia’s historic tour to Pakistan comes after a gap of 24 years and is set to begin on March 3. The tour is comprised of three Test matches that will be contested in Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Lahore, followed by a three-match ODI series from March 29 to April 2. On April 5, a single T20I will be played to conclude the tour.

  • ‘Fixer’: Sarfaraz Ahmed takes a dig at Salman Butt

    ‘Fixer’: Sarfaraz Ahmed takes a dig at Salman Butt

    Former captain of Pakistan cricket team Sarfaraz Ahmed responded to former cricketer Salman Butt’s criticism by calling him a ‘fixer’.

    Following Quetta Gladiators’ defeat against Multan Sultans in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL), Butt heavily criticised Sarfaraz and his behaviour towards players. During the course of the game, the Gladiators’ skipper was seen lashing out at his bowlers in the crunch moments of the game.

    This didn’t go down well with Butt as he questioned Sarfaraz’s performance in the recent past. He even said that the wicket-keeper must focus on his performance and leave other players alone.

    Taking to Twitter, Sarfaraz said: “Pakistan ko on duty beachne wala fixer jub niyat pe bhashan dega phir to Allah he Hafiz hai. (If the one who sold Pakistan on duty is giving lectures, then only God can protect) #justsaying.”

    For the unversed, Butt, alongside Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir, was found guilty of spot-fixing during the Lord’s Test in 2010. Butt was leading Pakistan in the game and faced massive backlash for his disgraceful actions. The trio was subsequently banned and their career came to a standstill. While Amir did manage to make a comeback in 2016, Butt and Asif couldn’t do so.

  • Shahid Afridi recovers from Covid-19, announce Quetta Gladiators

    Shahid Afridi recovers from Covid-19, announce Quetta Gladiators

    Pakistan’s former captain Shahid Afridi has recovered from Covid-19, Quetta Gladiators’ manager Azam Khan announced on Monday.

    Khan said that Afridi will arrive at the team hotel tomorrow (Tuesday) where his rapid antigen test (RAT) will be conducted and if the test comes back negative, he will join the team in their match against Islamabad United on February 3.

    It is pertinent to mention here that Afridi’s PCR test returned negative on Sunday for the second time.

    Read More – Shahid Afridi to miss the first few matches of PSL 7 due to back injury

    A few days ago, Afridi had tested positive for the virus, after which he had to isolate himself following the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) Covid-19 protocols.

    On Saturday, the Gladiators had requested the technical committee to be given Hassan Khan as a replacement for Afridi, reported The News.

    As per the media outlet, Hassan will also be available for selection for Quetta’s game against Multan Sultans today (Monday).

    The report added, if Afridi cleared his rapid antigen test, he will join the team and Hassan would return to the bubble.

  • Pakistanis praise Will Smeed for outstanding knock in Quetta Gladiators’ PSL 7 opener

    Pakistanis praise Will Smeed for outstanding knock in Quetta Gladiators’ PSL 7 opener

    Pakistani netizens and cricket lovers went berserk on social media after Quetta Gladiators’ Will Smeed played an outstanding 97-run knock off just 62 balls against Peshawar Zalmi in the first match of his team. He hit 11 fours and four sixes in his prolific inning.

    Will Smeed’s spectacular score against Peshawar Zalmi was the second-highest individual score for the Quetta Gladiators on his Pakistan Super League (PSL) debut.

    He replaced fellow English cricketer James Vince for PSL 2022.

    Though the 20-year-old missed out on a well-deserved hundred, he won the hearts of fans, courtesy of the entertaining inning and bagged Player of the match award.

    The entire cricket fraternity and fans lauded the right-handed batter for his extraordinary knock, as he announced his arrival on the PSL stage in a grand style.

    https://twitter.com/Crickettalks91/status/1487098485316866049?t=H8hU8Ka7DnnqSO2NCx4Rlg&s=19

    Taking to Twitter, Smeed said that he loved his first experience of the PSL.

    Zalmi beat Gladiators by five wickets after stand-up captain Shoaib Malik and Hussain Talat led the team to victory.

    Quetta is set to take on Babar Azam’s Karachi Kings tonight (Saturday) at the National Stadium Karachi.

  • Anushka Sharma’s fans call out Shoaib Akhtar for his comments on Virat’s early marriage

    Former Pakistani cricketer, Shoaib Akhtar, recently commented on the marriage of former Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli with Bollywood actor Anushka Sharma in an interview with an Indian outlet. Anushka’s fans are calling out the former Pakistan speedster for his remarks.

    Shoaib Akhtar remarked that Virat Kohli should not have married now in his career so that he could perform at maximum level at his peak cricket career.

    He said, “I would have not even married if I were in his place. I had just scored runs and enjoyed cricket, these 10-12 years of cricket are different time and doesn’t come again, I am not saying getting married is wrong but If you are playing for India, you would have enjoyed the time a little.”

    Meanwhile, fans of Anushka Sharma have shown anger over his remarks on Virat’s early marriage. Many of them commented not to compare someone’s professional career with their personal life and commitments.

    Another user added, “Sachin had no problem being married and having children and making runs and records.”

    Akhtar further added that married life increases the responsibility of a professional cricket player.

    “There is pressure from the children, of the family. As the responsibility increases, so does the pressure. Cricketers have a short career span of 14-15 years in which you stay at the peak for five-six years. Those years of Virat have passed, now he has to struggle.”

  • PM Khan predicts winning team of PSL 7

    PM Khan predicts winning team of PSL 7

    Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan has met a delegation of Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Lahore Qalandars. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Qalandars Atif Rana met the PM with newly appointed Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi.

    During the meeting, PM Khan wished the franchise good luck and predicted that they can win this edition of PSL.

    Imran Khan said that the decision of making a young captain can be fruitful for the team. The youth has always made difference in changing the results.

    PM has said that the franchise has adapted a unique style among the other franchises. Finding the talent from grass-root level is the USP of Qalandars.

    On this occasion, the CEO Atif Rana informed the PM about the services of the franchise in the past while he also briefed him about the franchise’s future plans.

    PM Khan said that the contribution of this talent hunt in the Kamyab Nojawan Programme is admirable.

    Along with Atif and Shaheen, Director Cricket Operation Aqib Javed and Special Assistant to PM Usman Dar were also present at the meeting.

    The seventh edition of the league is set to begin from January 27, with the first match to be played between former champions Multan Sultans and Karachi Kings at National Stadium Karachi.

  • ‘No infrastructure’: Hafeez questions PM Khan over no focus on sports

    ‘No infrastructure’: Hafeez questions PM Khan over no focus on sports

    Former captain of Pakistan cricket team Mohammad Hafeez has some reservations with Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government over no clear sports policies for athletes in the country.

    Talking to Cricket Pakistan, the former cricketer said that it is a big question mark on “sportsman” Imran Khan that there are no special arrangments for sports in Pakistan by him.

    “Personally, I am disappointed with the current government,” Hafeez said.

    “No infrastructure has been set where sportsperson in our country can excel. This is a huge setback for me. I know our prime minister is a sportsman and if there is no focus on sports in his tenure, then this is a huge question mark,” Hafeez added.

    The 41-year-old cricketer further talked about Khan’s decison to shut down departmental cricket while he also praised the former head coach Misbah-ul-Haq and Test player Azhar Ali for raising the matter.

    “I am proud of them. They took a big step and sincerely raised concern for others. Pakistan is not yet a welfare state and departments were catering to many players, they were fulfilling financial needs. No alternative has been found yet either.”

    Meanwhile, Hafeez urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) not to call back players from franchise leagues as they receive huge contracts and calling them back damage their reputation.

    “Calling back players from leagues put a dent on a player’s portfolio. Recently, Pakistan players were called back from BBL. I want PCB to revisit this process. When players get NOC, he must play completely as his and Pakistan’s reputation is at stake.” Hafeez emphasised as he has been called back from leagues midway on many occasions in the recent past.

    Hafeez also lauded skipper Babar Azam for brilliantly leading the national team.

    The cricketer also cleared the air about his clashes with the board. “There was no rift with anyone but yes, I had some principle stances on which I don’t compromise. I stood tall against the things and raised my voice. People were unhappy with it and they took some decisions which were felt that my relationships were not on good terms with higher authorities.”

    Hafeez recently announced his retirement from cricket and said that he had planned to announce it after the 2020 World Cup but it got delayed due to Covid and then he announced it after playing the T20 World Cup in 2021.

    Hafeez said that he will happily serve Pakistan cricket in the future in any capacity but won’t run after money as a job-seeker in the cricket board.

    He concluded by hailing Shaheen Shah’s growth as a pacer and is looking forward to playing under him for Lahore Qalandars in the seventh edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), starting from January 27 at the National Stadium Karachi.

  • Moin Khan addresses Mohammad Hasnain’s ‘nice throw, mate’ bowling controversy

    Moin Khan addresses Mohammad Hasnain’s ‘nice throw, mate’ bowling controversy

    Former Captain of Pakistan Cricket Team and the Head Coach of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Quetta Gladiators Moin Khan has addressed Mohammad Hasnain’s bowling action controversy after his action was reported by the on-umpires of the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL).

    Hasnain will get his bowling action test done in Lahore today (Wednesday) to see whether his action comes within the permissible 15-degree limit.

    “Sometimes these things are done to bring players under pressure. He [Hasnain] has been playing all over the world for the past five to six years and no such thing was reported,” Moin Khan told Samaa TV.

    “Maybe, he tried to change his action to improve his bowling which resulted in this problem,” he added.

    “Otherwise, I think he is a very fair action bowler and I don’t think it will affect his participation for Quetta Gladiators in PSL this season.”

    The Hyderabad-born pacer’s action came under the radar on January 15 in the match against Sydney Sixers.

    Read More – VIDEO: Wow triple wicket maiden in Mohammad Hasnain’s first over in BBL

    During the first innings, he hurled a shape bumper that Moises Henriques found it hard to face and there was a heated exchange as Moises remarked ‘nice throw, mate’, implying his action to be illegal.

    The result of the bowling action test could take up to 14 days which means Hasnain’s availability for the first few matches of the PSL 7 is not going to be affected. Having said that, if his action comes out to be illegal then he would be suspended from bowling any further in any form of cricket until he fixes his action.

    The seventh edition of the PSL is set to begin from January 27 while the first match will be played between the defending champions Multan Sultans with former winners Karachi Kings.

    Taking to former Pakistan cricketer and bowling coach Waqar Younis said he did not find any issue with Hasnain’s bowling action when he was the coach of national team.

  • VIDEO: Haris Rauf celebrates wicket in BBL match by wiping hands, putting on mask

    VIDEO: Haris Rauf celebrates wicket in BBL match by wiping hands, putting on mask

    Pakistani pacer Haris Rauf is known for his quirky celebrations after he took Shahid Afridi’s wicket in Pakistan Super League (PSL). A video of the 28-year-old speedster is circulating on social media and burned the internet with his unique style of celebrating the wicket in Big Bash League (BBL).

    In Melbourne Stars jersey, the right-arm fast bowler came up with a ‘Covid-safe’ celebration, where he gestured to sanitise his hands and put on a mask after taking the wicket of Kurtis Patterson.

    It all happened during the third over of the BBL contest between Perth Scorchers vs Melbourne Stars. Rauf bowled a delivery that was angling away outside off stump, tempting Patterson to go for a cover drive. But the batter nicked it to the keeper Joe Clarke, which was followed by Rauf’s hilarious celebration.

    Rauf acted to take out sanitiser from his pocket moments after the umpire raise his finger. The Pakistan seamer then pulled out a mask and wore it, leaving his teammates and even the commentators in splits.

    Rauf finished with figures of 2 for 38 in his four overs as Perth Scorchers scored 117 runs off the last 10 overs to take their total to 196/3.

    Earlier, Rauf impressed his fans after taking a brilliant catch in his second match for the Stars.

  • Most Valuable Cricketer: Mohammad Rizwan shines in PCB Awards

    Most Valuable Cricketer: Mohammad Rizwan shines in PCB Awards

    Pakistan wicket-keeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan had an exceptional year with the bat, behind the wicket as well in T20 cricket. The star cricketer bagged two awards in the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) annual awards. Rizwan has been given Most Valuable Cricketer Of The Year and T20 Cricketer Of The Year awards.

    There were a total of 10 categories identified with eight player’s categories and two special categories, including Spirit of Cricket and Umpire of the Year.

    Following is the complete list of winners in all categories announced by PCB in a press release issued after the online award ceremony:

    Impactful performance of the Year: Shaheen Shah Afridi

    Emerging Cricketer of the Year: Mohammad Wasim Jnr

    ODI Cricketer of the Year: Babar Azam

    Women’s Cricketer of the Year: Nida Dar

    Test Cricketer of the Year: Hassan Ali

    T20I Cricketer of the Year: Mohammad Rizwan

    Spirit of Cricket: Pakistan cricket team’s visit to the Namibia cricket team’s dressing room following their 45 runs victory to congratulate the Namibia side for qualifying for their maiden ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 and then progressing to the Super-12 Stage.

    Umpire of the Year: Asif Yaqoob

    Domestic Cricketer of the Year: Sahibzada Farhan

    Most Valuable Cricketer of the Year: Mohammad Rizwan

    The independent panel that selected the winners included Rashid Latif, Marina Iqbal (former international cricketers), Tariq Saeed (broadcaster), Mazher Arshad (statistician), Majid Bhatti, Mohammad Yaqoob, Mohi Shah, Rizwan Ali, Shahid Hashmi and Sohail Imran (journalists).

    Rizwan won the PCB’s Most Valuable Cricketer of the Year award following a stellar 2021 in which he scored 455 Test, 134 ODI and 1,326 T20I runs, besides accounting for 56 batsmen behind the wickets across all formats.

    For the Most Valuable Cricketer of the Year award, Rizwan beat the strong competitors like Babar Azam, Hassan Ali and Shaheen Shah Afridi, who also had an impressive and outstanding year, which is reflected through Pakistan’s overall performance in 2021.

    “I feel humbled and honoured to have been adjudged Pakistan’s Most Valuable Cricketer of 2021. This is the PCB’s most prestigious award and to be recognised for my contributions in the team’s superlative performances across all formats in 2021 in such a way gives me tremendous satisfaction and happiness,” Rizwan said.

    “I thought I had an exceptional year in the shortest format of the game when I was able to hit a century early in the year against South Africa and then carry that confidence and momentum for the rest of the year. I give a lot of credit to our bowlers who bowled their hearts out and didn’t let the pressure get onto the batters by maintaining sustained pressure on opponents throughout the year.”

    Speaking on the ocassion, Chairman PCB Ramiz Raja said: “PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja: “On behalf of the PCB, I want to congratulate each award winner. They deserve all the applause and accolades for their tremendous consistency across all formats in difficult times that inspired their sides to outstanding performances throughout 2021, which have been widely acknowledged by the Pakistan cricket fans.”