Tag: Cricket

  • Umar Akmal is off to the US for ‘personal meetings’, netizens say ‘don’t come back’

    Umar Akmal is off to the US for ‘personal meetings’, netizens say ‘don’t come back’

    Pakistani cricketer Umar Akmal shared a picture on social media where he said he was going to the United States (US) for some personal meetings.

    Akmal took his fans by surprise as he posted a picture on Twitter and said he was off to the US for some personal meetings and would have to stay there for some time if things worked out.

    Read More – Twitter reacts to Umar Akmal’s TikTok video with wife

    Reacting to his post, Twitterati asked him not to come back.

    “Please don’t come back @Umar96Akmal” wrote one of the users.

    “Don’t come back just be there,” wrote another user.

    Some of the users also speculated that Akmal was off to the US to play in the Major Cricket League (MCL).

    In July this year, Akmal had issued an apology for failing to report cases of spot-fixing in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

    Read More – Umar Akmal gets fans arrested over request for autograph

    “Seventeen months ago, I made a mistake which caused damage to my cricket and career. I learnt a lot during this time and due to that mistake Pakistan cricket’s reputation suffered badly. I ask for forgiveness from the PCB and from cricket fans around the world,” Akmal said in a video released by the PCB.

    Akmal admitted that the period had been “very difficult for him”.

  • ‘ECB announcement to visit Pakistan a welcome step forward’: Fawad

    ‘ECB announcement to visit Pakistan a welcome step forward’: Fawad

    Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry has said that the announcement by the English Cricket Board (ECB) to visit Pakistan next year is a welcome step.

    Taking to Twitter, Fawad said that he would like to thank stars of the cricketing world, diplomatic community, media and cricket lovers around the world for their support for Pakistan Cricket. Fawad Chaudhry has taken the opportunity to claim it a victory for the nation as he tweeted, “Yet again Pakistan has emerged as a strong and resilient nation.”

    Earlier today, after a prolonged silence, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has finally apologised for cancelling Pakistan’s scheduled tour.

    England had to play two T20Is at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on October 13 and 14.

    Read More – ‘Mujhe afsos hai, England’s tour not cancelled over security’: British High Commissioner

    ECB Chairman Ian Watmore, in his first public comments since the ECB pulled out its scheduled tour to Pakistan, offered an apology for last week’s late withdrawal.

    According to a sports journalist Alison Mitchell, Ian has said that the Board took advice on security and player welfare (British High Commissioner confirmed security advice hadn’t changed, despite NZ incident). “The board took the decision based on its own judgments & it didn’t go out to wider consultation.”

    She shared that he said: “We need to rebuild our relationship with Pakistan. This was not the right time, we will do whatever we can regarding Pakistan’s scheduled tour next year.”

    Watmore also confirmed that the decision was not made by the players and said no wider consultations were held. “The board took the decision based on its own judgments and it didn’t go out to wider consultation. Had we decided to go forward with the tour, we’d have had to put the proposals to TEPP (the body that represents England players) and the PCA, but it didn’t reach that point.”

  • PCB CEO Wasim Khan resigns: Report

    PCB CEO Wasim Khan resigns: Report

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Cheif Executive Officer (CEO) Wasim Khan has reportedly resigned from his post on Wednesday.

    As per a report by Geo News, Khan gave his resignation in a meeting with PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja a day earlier. It was also reported that PCB Board of Governors will review the situation in a meeting today (Wednesday).

    Khan was taken on board by former PCB Chairman Ehsan Mani in 2019 to run the affairs of the board on modern lines, on a three-year contract, which was set to expire in 2022.

    Khan’s resignation comes as newly appointed PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja called for a complete overhaul of the system. At his inaugural press conference, he had called for resetting Pakistan cricket’s compass and direction.

    It also comes after head coach Misbahul Haq and bowling coach Waqar Younis resigned from their posts with the 2021 T20 World Cup just around the corner

  • PCB receive food bill of Rs 27 lakh for security hired for New Zealand team

    PCB receive food bill of Rs 27 lakh for security hired for New Zealand team

    New Zealand’s much-awaited tour of Pakistan was called off in an unfortunate manner. Although the Kiwi team landed in Pakistan for three ODIs and five T20Is, they were called back without playing a single match. The New Zealand Cricket Board (NZC) cited security concerns behind the sudden cancellation of the tour.

    With the significance of this series being so high, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had made several preparations. However, they faced disappointment as the tour was called off. As per the latest development, PCB are set to endure huge financial losses due to the cancellation of the series. In fact, the cricket board is staring at a hefty amount just to pay the food bills of security officials hired for the Kiwi team.

    As per reports, the security agencies hired for the Blackcaps came at a huge cost. If that was not enough, PCB needs to spend around Rs 27 lakhs just to pay off the food bills of the officers who were in charge of security of the New Zealand team. If reports are to be believed, five SPs and over 500 SSPs (police officers) were deployed for the security of the Kiwis along with the Pakistan Army in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

    As per a report, each security personnel was served Biriyani twice a day, the cost of which came to approximately Rs 27 lakhs. Meanwhile, the tour was called off hours before the first ODI was to begin in Rawalpindi.

    “The side was to play Pakistan this evening in the first of three ODIs in Rawalpindi, before moving to Lahore for a five-match T20 series. However, following an escalation in the New Zealand Government threat levels for Pakistan, and advice from NZC security advisors on the ground, it has been decided the BLACKCAPS will not continue with the tour,” NZC said in the statement calling off the tour.

    Meanwhile, both Pakistan and New Zealand are currently gearing up for the high-voltage T20 World Cup. While the Men in Green have clinched the 2009 edition of the competition, the trophy is still elusive for the Kiwis.

  • Moeen Ali retires from Test cricket

    Moeen Ali retires from Test cricket

    English all-round cricketer Moeen Ali has announced his retirement from Test cricket.

    Discussing his decision, Moeen said: “I’m 34 now and I want to play for as long as I can and I just want to enjoy my cricket. Test cricket is amazing, when you’re having a good day it’s better than any other format by far, it’s more rewarding and you feel like you’ve really earnt it.”

    “I will miss just walking out there with the lads, playing against best in the world with that feeling of nerves but also from a bowling point of view, knowing with my best ball I could get anyone out. I’ve enjoyed Test Cricket but that intensity can be too much sometimes and I feel like I’ve done enough of it and I’m happy and content with how I’ve done.”

    Moeen had already informed captain Joe Root and head coach Chris Silverwood of his decision.

    The 34-year-old has scored 2,914 runs in 64 Tests at an average of 28.29 with five centuries and picked up 195 wickets with his off-spin bowling at an average of 36.66.

    Meanwhile, he will play both the formats other than Test and he remains a part of England’s plans for the upcoming T20 World Cup in the UAE and Oman.

  • Pakistan’s Zafar Gohar claims shocking wicket in county match

    Pakistan’s Zafar Gohar claims shocking wicket in county match

    Pakistani left-arm spinner, Zafar Gohar extended his outstanding run in the County Championship with a match-winning haul of 6-51 in Gloucestershire’s Division Two triumph against Durham in the season’s final game.

    Playing for Gloucestershire, Zafar claimed 17 wickets in his last three innings for his side after going wicketless in his sole Test appearance against New Zealand earlier this year.

    Gohar grabbed 11 wickets in Gloucestershire’s seven-wicket victory over Durham, securing the team’s second-place finish in Division Two.

    Gohar’s sixth and final wicket in the second innings surprised all who watched it. Liam Trevaskis of Durham cut a stroke off short leg, which hit Tom Lace’s knee and ballooned up towards James Bracey, who grabbed a simple catch.

    As seen in the video, the ball hit Tom in full severity, which raised concerns for his well-being. However, he was declared well in a tweet after the game was over.

  • MCC announces new gender-neutral cricket term ‘batter’ to replace ‘batsman’

    MCC announces new gender-neutral cricket term ‘batter’ to replace ‘batsman’

    International cricket laws have been amended to replace the term ‘batsman’ with the gender-neutral word ‘batter.’

    According to details, Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) — the sole authority on the laws of cricket since it was founded in 1787 — announced the amendment to the laws of the game on Wednesday.

    The MCC said the use of the terminology would “help reinforce cricket’s status as an inclusive game for all”.

    The profile of women’s cricket has rocketed in recent years, with England’s victory over India in the 2017 World Cup final taking place in front of a capacity crowd at Lord’s, which is owned by the MCC.

    A crowd of 86,174 saw Australia defeat India in the T20 World Cup final in Melbourne in 2020 and in August Lord’s broke the record for a domestic women’s match as more than 17,000 fans watched the final of the inaugural Hundred competition.

    “MCC believes in cricket being a game for all and this move recognises the changing landscape of the game in modern times,” said assistant secretary with responsibility for cricket and operations, Jamie Cox. “Use of the term ‘batter’ is a natural evolution in our shared cricketing language and the terminology has already been adopted by many of those involved in the sport.

    “It is the right time for this adjustment to be recognised formally and we are delighted, as the guardians of the laws, to announce these changes today,” added MCC.

  • ‘Decision of England board is cowardly, was made out of fear of the players and India’: British author

    ‘Decision of England board is cowardly, was made out of fear of the players and India’: British author

    British author and journalist Peter Oborne termed the decision of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) as cowardly, saying that the decision to cancel the tour of Pakistan was taken out of fear of English players and India.

    The author slammed the English board, saying the grounds on which the visit to Pakistan was canceled were a matter of “grave concern”.

    Peter said: “The England board’s decision to cancel the tour was cowardly and out of fear of the players and India, especially the IPL. The security arrangements in Pakistan were the same as those made for Prince William and Kate Middleton. The British High Commission in Pakistan was satisfied with the security arrangements.”

    While talking to Sky News, the author said: “Not for Pakistan’s cricket, this decision is a blow to the whole world. Pakistan team is one of the best teams in the world, England apparently did not make this decision on security grounds.”

    He also criticised “invisible” Chairman ECB Ian Watmore to come on television and defend this decision.

    “We are kicking one of our closest cricketing allies on teeth because of India,” he stated.

    Oborne said that there was no change in the English board’s security advice, adding that the press release did not mention security but the players’ stress.

    He further said that Pakistan came and played in the UK even in the dangerous time of Covid-19. Pakistan did good to Britain by coming in the pandemic.

    Earlier, veteran cricket journalist George Dobell had taken the ECB to the cleaners for cancelling its tour to Pakistan and had called it out on its “hypocrisy”.

  • New Zealand cricket chief open to rescheduling of abandoned Pakistan series

    New Zealand cricket chief open to rescheduling of abandoned Pakistan series

    New Zealand Cricket (NZC) Chief Executive David White on Monday expressed willingness to discuss the rescheduling of the Pakistan series the Black Caps abandoned last week, but said talks of touring the country again were premature considering the team’s schedule was already tight.

    The Black Caps devastated Pakistan’s cricket fraternity on September 17 after unilaterally quitting their visit minutes before the first ODI was to be played citing “security concerns”.

    In a new report, New Zealand media website Stuff quoted White, saying: “We’ve got a very close working relationship with Pakistan Cricket. We’d like to think that over the next few days, weeks and months that we’ll work through this to ensure that we play the content that we’ve missed out on and we continue our close working relationship.”

    “As we know they’re a very passionate cricketing nation and they’re obviously disappointed. We understand their disappointment,” he added.

    According to the report, the NZC chief was hopeful the matches would be rescheduled but was not sure about when as the Future Tours Programme was already “pretty tight”.

    Regarding compensating the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for lost revenue, White said the issue would be discussed in due course. He hoped that the decision to abandon the tour would not be held against NZC when the time came for Pakistan to tour New Zealand.

    He also said that it was too soon to comment on the prospect of the Black Caps touring Pakistan again anytime soon.

    “I think what’s important to point out is that for every tour we go on, whether it’s Pakistan or England or anywhere, that we go through a very thorough process covering security, etc. This was no exception. In fact, it was probably more in this case.”

    “I can’t answer that question at the moment, it’s too early. But we’ll assess every tour on its merits,” he said.

    On Friday, the New Zealand team had unilaterally postponed the series with Pakistan minutes before the first match was scheduled to start at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium — a move that had shocked fans and officials.

    According to the PCB, Pakistan had “foolproof security arrangements for all visiting teams” and had “assured NZC of the same”.

  • Shaniera Akram defends Pakistan, gets trolled

    Shaniera Akram defends Pakistan, gets trolled

    Shaniera Akram has defended Pakistan by saying that she feels safe in Pakistan than any other country.

    Taking to Twitter, she wrote: “There is no place in the world I feel more safe than in Pakistan.”

    Many thanked her for defending Pakistan, but she was also trolled for her tweet. Here are a few comments on her tweet, have a look:

    Meanwhile, the former cricketer and her husband Wasim Akram had tweeted, “I think the world underestimates how powerful our security forces are. Cricket is more than a sport to us and we will do everything in our power to prevent [it] being taken from us again.” He went on, “The world needs to give us a chance to prove that!”

    Read More – ‘NZ just killed Pakistan cricket’: Pak cricketers react after tour cancellation

    NZ Board called off the tour upon a security alert cited by their government and as soon as the news broke out, several foreign cricketers including West Indies cricketer Daren Sammy, Sri Lanka’s Angelo Perera, Grant Eliot and WI’s Sherfane Rutherford also voiced support for Pakistan after New Zealand’s pull out.