Tag: #cricketer

  • Rashid Khan opens up about his availability for PSL final

    Rashid Khan opens up about his availability for PSL final

    Reports of Rashid Khan coming back to Pakistan and representing Lahore Qalandars in the final of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 7 were circulating on social media on Friday. The Afghan star player opened up about it and clarified that he would not be available due to “national duty”.

    Taking to Twitter, Rashid Khan wrote: ”It would’ve been great to be part of Lahore Qalandars and play alongside lads in the PSL T20 final.”

    “I won’t be able to make it for the finals due to National Duty which is always a first priority,” he added.

    He extended best wishes for Lahore Qalandars’ skipper Shaheen Afridi, Sameen Rana and the team.

    On February 20, the Qalandars’ right-arm spinner had left the PSL franchise to join his national squad for the ODI and T20I series against Bangladesh.

    He had received a befitting farewell from his teammates and from Qalandars’ skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi.

    It is pertinent to mention here that the defending champions Multan Sultans and Lahore Qalandars will lock horns on Sunday for the PSL title.

  • Multan Sultans’ key batter Tim David tests positive for Covid-19

    Multan Sultans’ key batter Tim David tests positive for Covid-19

    Multan Sultans’ key player Tim David has tested positive for Covid-19, reported Geo News.

    This can be a major blow to the Sultans who are leading the points table with 18 points in the seventh edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Tim has been a key player in the team as the Australian sensational six-hitting machine is leading the chart for most sixes in PSL 2022 so far. He has hit 20 sixes for Sultans.

    The 25-year-old had also smacked second joint-fastest 50 of PSL. He scored 50 in the 13th match of the tournament against Peshawar Zalmi.

    The report said that the player’s test returned positive during routine PCR testing. The team management, however, has neither confirmed nor denied the news.

    It is pertinent to mention here that it was reported that Peshawar Zalmi players Ben Cutting, Usman Qadir, and Sohail Khan had also tested positive for the virus on Tuesday.

    Multan is set to play Qualifier 1 with Lahore Qalandars today (Wednesday) at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. Whoever wins the match today will directly qualify for the Final, scheduled to be played on February 27 at the same venue.

  • ‘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”

  • Pakistani cricketers send warm wishes to Kamran Akmal on birthday

    Pakistani cricketers send warm wishes to Kamran Akmal on birthday

    Former Pakistan wicket-keeper-batter Kamran Akmal is celebrating his birthday today and all Pakistani cricketers are sending him warm wishes on social media.

    The cricketer celebrated his birthday with his family. Posting the pictures on Twitter, Akmal wrote: “Late night birthday surprises are always amazing. Thank you my wife,kids and family for a wonderful birthday surprise!!”

    Several cricketers like Saeed Ajmal, Wahab Riaz, Fawad Alam, Hassan Ali, Ahmad Shahzad and others wished him on Twitter with sweet birthday wishes.

    His brother and batter Umar Akmal also wished his older brother on social media.

    Afghan cricketer Najib Zadran also wished him under his post.

    Akmal made his ODI and Test debuts during Pakistan’s tour of Zimbabwe in 2002 and the cricketer has taken more than 1400 catches behind the stumps and more than 250 stumps. This is the most by any Asian wicket-keeper.

    Kamran Akmal’s poor show in the Sydney Test led to suspicion and allegations of match fixing. In September 2010, the ICC sent an official notice to inform him that he is under investigation for fixing the Sydney Test. However, Kamran was absolved off all charges.

    Akmal also had reservations about his demotion in Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) seventh edition by his franchise Peshawar Zalmi and said that he is “humiliated” but the issues were resolved later and Zalmi cleared that he will “very much be a part” of the franchise, and that he will be playing for the team next season.

  • Afghan cricketer Rashid Khan lights up BBL with a six-fer

    Afghan cricketer Rashid Khan lights up BBL with a six-fer

    Afghanistan’s leg-spinner Rashid Khan impressed his fans with his exceptional bowling on his last appearance for Adelaide Strikers in the ongoing season of the Big Bash League (BBL).

    Rashid claimed prolific figures of 6/17, his best-ever in T20 cricket, to help Strikers register a convincing 71-run victory against Brisbane Heat.

    The 23-year-old was also playing his 300th T20 match, which made his achievement even more memorable.

    Rashid has left the BBL early due to Afghanistan’s three-match ODI series against Netherlands in Qatar, which is set to start on January 21.

    Read More – Shaheen Afridi to lead Lahore Qalandars in PSL 7

    He will play for the Lahore Qalandars in the seventh edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), which is scheduled to begin on January 27. The Lahore fans will be hoping that Rashid can continue his good run of form in the PSL as well.

  • VIDEO: Babar Azam recalls the time when his cousins refused to lend him shoes

    VIDEO: Babar Azam recalls the time when his cousins refused to lend him shoes

    A video of Pakistan skipper Babar Azam is being widely shared on Twitter from an interview with former Pakistan Cricket team captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, in which he can be seen talking about his past and recalled an incident when he requested his cousins to lend him an extra pair of shoes and they refused to give them to him.

    While in conversation with Inzamam, Babar said that he used to play cricket in the streets and then he joined a cricket club. He said: “When you join a club, you need kits for that. Firstly, I used to borrow kits from fellow trainees but after a month I realised that I also need one. I told my papa that I need a kit but he said that he can not afford it. My mother got to know about this and told me she has saved some money. She gave me about 3500 rupees and I bought a bat worth rupees1500. That was the best moment for me.” Babar shared he still has that bat in his old house.

    He further shared: “When I was first selected for under 15, I asked my cousins if they have extra pair of shoes for me but they said ‘No, we don’t’. That is when I decided not to borrow anything and will do everything on my own from here.”

    He made his Test debut for Pakistan against the West Indies in Dubai on 13 October 2016 and scored 69 runs in his first innings. He was the first player to score a fifty on his Test debut through a day/night Test.

    In September 2019, before the home series against Sri Lanka, he was named as the vice-captain of Pakistan cricket team in both ODIs and T20Is, on the back of his consistent performances in these formats. In October 2019, he was named captain of the Pakistan cricket team in T20Is, ahead of a series with Australia.

    Recently, the all-format captain was also given the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) ODI Player of the Year award.

  • ‘Phupho ki beti?’: Twitter confused over picture of girl with Babar, buttoning up his coat

    ‘Phupho ki beti?’: Twitter confused over picture of girl with Babar, buttoning up his coat

    Pakistani Twitter is confused after two pictures of Pakistan Skipper Babar Azam with a girl, who is buttoning up his coat, starting circulating on the social media. Netizens are confused about who the girl is. Babar is currently single.

    Tweeple have writen some very cool assumptions about who the girl can be.

    https://twitter.com/kashafayy/status/1479331481847803906?s=20

    One user wrote that if she’s a stylist.

    The another one wrote: “I think ye Babar ki phopho ki beti hai. Jis se uski mangni honey wali thi. (I thinks she is Babar’s aunt’s daughter to whom he was getting engaged).”

    One of the user asked the girl to follow Covid-19 SOPs.

    https://twitter.com/MasomAriba/status/1479183826010136576?s=20

    Earlier, the 27-year-old cricketer was accused by a girl of sexual harassment but in a massive relief for Babar, the Pakistan cricket team captain was cleared of all allegations as the woman who had complained withdrew the allegations.

    It was also reported earlier that Babar had gotten engaged to his paternal cousin. The news was not officially confirmed but it was also reported that Azam will tie the knot next year, adding that the decision was taken after the two families agreed to the proposal.

  • Abid Ali undergoes second heart procedure, updates PCB

    Abid Ali undergoes second heart procedure, updates PCB

    Pakistan Test opener Abid Ali has been advised to rest for two months after angioplasty, confirmed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

    Abid suffered from Acute Coronary Syndrome. While batting during the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy match, the cricketer complained of chest pain after which he was taken to the hospital. There he had angioplasty and stents were inserted. The stent was inserted for the second time on Thursday.

    As per details, the doctors have advised him to rest for two months after which he would be re-examined.

    The PCB stated that its medical team is consulting cardiologists abroad. While the board also requested the people to give the player and his family some privacy.

    Taking to Twitter, PCB wrote: “Abid Ali on Thursday commenced his rehabilitation.”

    “As part of his rehabilitation process, he did light walking in the morning without showing any discomfort. He will continue his rehab in the hospital until he is discharged early next week.”

  • When is Babar Azam getting married and how much does he earn? Cricketer reveals all

    When is Babar Azam getting married and how much does he earn? Cricketer reveals all

    Pakistan men’s cricket team captain Babar Azam answered the most Googled questions about his life and career, including how much he earns and when he is getting married.

    Read More – ICC receives criticism for not naming Babar Azam T20 World Cup ‘Player of the Tournament’

    In a video shared by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the skipper can be seen candidly responding to the most asked questions about himself.

    Answering the first question, Babar said he lives in Lahore and cited its traditional food specialities as one of the city’s standout experiences. He also noted that the city had produced some legends of the game.

    To a query about his bat, Babar said he uses the Gray-Nicolls bat, adding that he plays with bats of different weights depending on the venue, pitch and condition.

    “I carry 6-7 bats with me. The more bats I carry, the more confused I get, but I use my best bats,” the skipper revealed.

    And how much does Babar Azam earn? The star batter said he would not answer the question.

    Answering another question about when he will get married, Babar said: “I don’t know. My family knows it, but for now my focus is on cricket.”

    About his cricket ideal, Babar said he admired former South Africa international AB de Villiers the most and had followed him from the start of his career. He was one of the best players of the world.

    Babar finished the T20 World Cup as the highest run-scorer (303). He is the current top-ranked T20I batsman in the world. He was also the only Pakistani player in the Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 team of the tournament named by the International Cricket Council (ICC), and was nominated as its captain.

    The 27-year-old is now the leading run-getter among Pakistani cricketers in the shortest format of the game.

    Babar stands top in the list with 2,515 runs from 69 matches and is followed by veteran Pakistan cricketers Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik, who have 2,514 and 2,423 runs from 119 and 124 matches respectively.

  • ‘That flame no longer burns’: AB de Villiers announces retirement from all forms of cricket

    ‘That flame no longer burns’: AB de Villiers announces retirement from all forms of cricket

    Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers took to social media to announce his retirement from all forms of cricket.

    AB de Villiers made the announcement on Friday, November 19, marking an end to an incredible career that spanned over a period of more than 18 years.

    “It has been an incredible journey, but I have decided to retire from all cricket,” ABD wrote on Twitter. “Ever since the back yard matches with my older brothers, I have played the game with pure enjoyment and unbridled enthusiasm. Now, at the age of 37, that flame no longer burns so brightly.

    “That’s the reality I must accept – and, even if it may seem sudden, that is why I am making this announcement today. I’ve had my time. Cricket has been exceptionally kind to me,” he wrote in another Tweet.

    Having made his international debut in 2004, AB de Villiers represented South Africa in 114 Tests, 228 ODIs and 78 T20Is. Across formats, he amassed 20,014 runs, averaging more than 50 in both Tests and ODIs. He retired from international cricket in May 2018.

    England’s batter Jos Buttler also extended his wishes for the veteran cricketer, saying that he used to “turn on the tv just to watch” him bat.