Tag: #cricketer

  • Five glorious achievements of birthday boy Wasim Akram’s career

    Five glorious achievements of birthday boy Wasim Akram’s career

    Wasim Akram, popularly known as the Sultan of Swing, is a former Pakistan cricket team captain. Born on June 3, 1966, he is regarded as one of the best bowlers to have graced the sport. Today, on his birthday we would like to share five glorious moments of his life that his fans would love to rejoice.

    King Of Hat-tricks

    Akram has four hat-tricks at the highest level, two in Tests and two in One-Day Internationals (ODIs). His ODI hat-tricks came in 1989 and 1990, both at Sharjah. In 1999, he took two hat-tricks in back-to-back Tests against Sri Lanka and helped Pakistan win the Asian Test Championship.

    First Man To Take 500 ODI Wickets

    In 2003, Akram became the first man to take 500 ODI wickets. This record was later broken by Sri Lankan spin bowler, Muttiah Muralitharan.

    Most Successful Left Arm Bowler

    He is ranked amongst the most successful left arm bowlers of all time.

    Won 17 Man of the Match Awards In 104 Tests

    He has won 17 Man of the Match awards in Test cricket which is the joint-third highest number of awards.

    Wasim Akram leading wicket taker in 1992 World Cup and man of the match of 1992 World Cup Final

    First bowler to take 400 wickets in ODIs and Tests

    He is the first bowler in international cricket to take more than 400 wickets in both ODI and Tests.

    The cricketer-turned commentator has represented Pakistan beyond his bowling and batting abilities by having taken up commentary as well and these are not the only achievements he bagged.

    Former Pakistani speedster also got lucky in love when he tied the knot with Shaniera Thompson, who now is known as Shaniera Akram, on August 12, 2013.

    “Happy birthday to the love of my life. A man that proves age just really is a number”, Shaniera wrote on social media.

    She then took to her Instagram to write a lovely birthday love note to her husband, who is celebrating 55 years of success and health, along with an adorable photo of the two.

    The social media activist said: “Heroes come and go but legends are forever! You truly are an inspiration to not only our little family but to the world. You prove that age is only a number and that it’s possible to keep getting better with time. I feel you are younger than when we first met but wiser than ever before, and they are the ingredients to life we all strive for!”

    “I’m so proud of the person you were before we met and the man you have since become. A true trailblazer, a stand-alone asset to this world and a truly remarkable man in and out of the public eye. You make me want to be a better human and teach me that the real meaning of happiness is by living in the moment and making every bit of those moments count. I know we are not together today for your birthday but you have made it seem as though we have never even been apart for a minute,” added Shaniera.

    Extending further prayers to Akram, the Shaniera added: “I wish you a long life, a happy one, and the more we keep laughing the faster the time will go till we are back in each other’s arms. You’re are and always will be the best thing that has happened to me. I love you now and for always.”

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), his contemporaries and juniors have wished the former cricketer on his birthday. Here are a few wishes from the social media:

    https://twitter.com/mdk_gul/status/1400367308464439297?s=20

  • Bismah Maroof takes a break from cricket to welcome baby

    Bismah Maroof takes a break from cricket to welcome baby

    Captain of the Pakistan national women’s cricket team Bismah Maroof has announced that she is taking a break from cricket due to her pregnancy.

    “I am delighted to announce that I am entering a new chapter in my life as motherhood beckons,” wrote Maroof on Twitter. “I would like to wish the Pakistan women’s team the very best as I take an indefinite break from cricket.”

    “Request for prayers and support,” she added.

    Earlier, Maroof had also withdrawn from the tour to South Africa in January due to family reasons. Javeria Khan had led the team in her absence.

    Maroof had gotten married to her cousin Abrar Ahmed in November 2018. This is their first child.

  • PCB rejects Umar Akmal’s appeal of paying fine in installments

    PCB rejects Umar Akmal’s appeal of paying fine in installments

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has rejected cricketer Umar Akmal’s appeal of paying his fine in installments, ARY News has reported.

    The 30-year-old cricketer is bound to pay a fine of PKR4.25million, imposed on him by the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) on February 26. Umar told PCB that due to financial difficulties he can not pay the lump sum amount.

    The board, after reviewing his appeal and the evidence provided by him, rejected the application. The right-handed batsman will only be able to participate in the rehabilitation program under the PCB Anti-Corruption Code after he pays off the lump sum fine of PKR4.25million.

    Earlier, CAS reduced Umar’s 18-month ban to 12 months. Akmal was suspended from all forms of the game after PCB found him involved in suspicious activities before PSL 5.

    In an investigation, PCB found him guilty and imposed a three-year ban on him. After the cricketer appealed against PCB’s decision, ex-Supreme Court judge Justice (retd) Faqir Muhammad Khokhar, in his capacity as an independent adjudicator, heard his appeal and reduced Akmal’s ban to 1.5 years from 3 years.

    Akmal was unable to pay the fine imposed on him and appealed in CAS further. In reply, PCB also consulted with CAS for an increase in Akmal’s ban.

  • Colleagues congratulate Umar Gul on arrival of second daughter

    Colleagues congratulate Umar Gul on arrival of second daughter

    After Imad Wasim and wife Sania Ashfaq welcomed a baby girl last week, cricketer Umar Gul and his wife have welcomed their little bundle of joy.

    The current bowling coach of Quetta Gladiators took to Twitter on Monday to announce that he has been blessed with his third child, a baby daughter.

    “Allah has blessed us with his rehmah again,” wrote the right-arm fast-medium bowler. “Baby Zainab is finally home and the baby and mama are both in good health.”

    Soon after Gul announced the news, friends and colleagues including Mohammad Hafeez, Fawad Alam, Fakhar Zaman, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Shadab Khan extended their wishes to the couple.

    Umar married a Dubai-based doctor in October 2010. Their first daughter, Rehab Umar, was born in May 2012. Following this, the duo also had a son.

    The cricketing star was appointed as Quetta Gladiators’ bowling coach for the sixth edition of the Pakistan Super League, which was postponed after a surge in Covid-19 cases.

  • Sarfaraz lashes out at television anchor for joking about his infamous yawn

    Sarfaraz lashes out at television anchor for joking about his infamous yawn

    Sarfaraz Ahmed has lashed out at Geo News anchor Muhammad Junaid for passing a joke on his infamous yawn.

    Responding to a video shared by senior sports journalist Faizan Lakhani, Junaid said: “Hahah Sarfaraz is awake after a deep sleep and yawning for a while,” referring to Sarfaraz’s infamous yawn during the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2019. In the video shared by Lakhani, three men can be seen singing “Iftikhar aur Iftikhar mujh ko zara tu aa kar mil.”

    “Junaid after seeing Sarfaraz Ahmed hitting four consecutive 6s,” Lakhani had captioned the video.

    Sarfaraz replied to Junaid’s tweet saying: “Mere bare me itna mat soucha karo tabiyat kharab jo jaye gee (Don’t think about me that much, you will get unwell).”

    “Tum jaise logo ke souch nazer aajate hai tum kis tarah souch te ho,” he added.

    The former captain of the Pakistan Cricket Team had smashed Islamabad United all-rounder Iftikhar Ahmed for four consecutive sixes in an over. All four sixes from the Quetta Gladiators skipper looked effortless as Sarfaraz didn’t even advance onto his front foot or leave his crease to hit Iftikhar out of the park.

    Meanwhile, Sarfaraz had earlier been in the news for his exchange with Mohammad Hafeez , when Hafeez called Mohammad Rizwan the number one wicketkeeper batsman in Pakistan in all formats of the game.

  • From Larkana to PSL6: All you need to know about Shahnawaz Dahani

    From Larkana to PSL6: All you need to know about Shahnawaz Dahani

    The Pakistan Super League (PSL) has become a platform for many aspiring and young cricketers to fast track their cricket journey. Shadab Khan, Hassan Ali and Haris Rauf are just some players who have become superstars and made it to the national team after performing in PSL.

    This year, the player who caught everyone’s attention is 22-year old fast bowler Shahnawaz Dahani – a young man from Larkana who has impressed everyone with his bowling skills and celebration style. Dahani was picked by Multan Sultans as an emerging player in the PSL6 draft and made his debut for Sultans during a game against Peshawar Zalmi. Since then, he has played three games and has taken two wickets in each of them.

    In an interview with Geo Super, the young cricketer opened up on his struggle, journey and future targets.

    Dahani is from a small village named Khuhawar Khan Dahani. Growing up, he used to play tape-ball cricket, barefooted, on an open and uneven field in his village.

    “I was passionate about bowling fast and was known in my village for my fast bowling, that’s why many there had named me 3G bowler – to relate the speed with the speed of the internet,” shared Dahani, adding that he knew nothing about professional cricket back then.

    Dahani said that he was invited to the U19 trials after some guests in his village witnessed him bowling with a tape ball.

    Recalling the moment, Dahani said when he was invited for the trials, he didn’t have any proper gear or shoes so he borrowed them from a friend and showed up to the trials. There he got selected to play inter-district U19 matches.

    Dahani, who has a B.Com Degree, said that his father wanted him to concentrate on his studies but his passion for the game pushed him to pursue it.

    “He [my father] is no more with us, but I am sure he would’ve been very proud today seeing me become the face of my village and bringing laurels” said Dahani.

    Dahani said when he completed the U19 season, he didn’t know there was a rule called “overage”. He showed up for trials again only to be told that he’s not eligible and needs to compete with seniors now.

    “I had no idea what had just happened, but I didn’t give up and made myself realise that if I have to compete, I will have to beat everyone” said the aspiring cricketer.

    After playing grade 2 cricket, he made his first-class debut last season and got 27 wickets in 8 games. His performance during the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy impressed many which is why he was picked as an emerging player by Multan Sultans.

    Talking about his PSL journey and future goals, Dahani said: “I want to be among [the] best bowlers here. I know it’s a tough competition but I am giving my best.”

    “Everyone has their eyes on PSL and your performances here are noticed. It paves your way to [the] national team [and] you become a true star only when you’ve Pakistan’s star donned on your chest,” added the cricketer.

    “Sharing a dressing room with players like Shahid Afridi, Imran Tahir, Carlos Brathwaite is confidence-boosting for me. To be with them, celebrate with them and share a dressing room is increasing my courage as a cricketer,” he said.

    Recalling his humble beginnings the fast bowler shared that he was so passionate about cricket that he never missed any game on TV.

    “There was no facility, proper cable or anything so we made makeshift arrangements with friends to watch cricket matches. I had memorised stats and [the] action of all the bowlers then,” he said, adding that he aims to emulate bowlers like Shane Bond and Jofra Archer who are his role models.

  • Shahid Afridi turns 44

    Former Captain of the Pakistan cricket team Shahid Khan Afridi has turned 44 years old today.

    The all-rounder thanked his fans and wellwishers for their wishes, saying: “Thank you very much for all the lovely birthday wishes – 44 today! My family and my fans are my biggest assets. Really enjoying my stint with Multan and hope to produce match-winning performances for all MS fans.”

    Afridi debuted in an ODI tri-series tournament in Nairobi, Kenya and, most famously, hit a 37-ball hundred the first time he batted in international cricket. That record stood for over 17 years and was even more outrageous for the fact that it had been achieved by a 16-year-old. After that, he has been known for his blasting cricket and later he was named “Boom Boom”.

    Several notable personalities including Shoaib Malik, Alan Wilkins Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) wished Lala on his birthday.

    Meanwhile, get to know Lala up close in this exclusive interview with The Current.

  • Muhammad Hafeez’s daughter recreates ‘Pawri Horai Hai’

    Muhammad Hafeez’s daughter recreates ‘Pawri Horai Hai’

    Pakistani all-rounder Muhammad Hafeez’s daughter has recreated the ‘Pawri Horai hai’ meme and this is the cutest remake of the video you will see on the internet today.

    Hafeez took to Instagram to share the video with a caption: “Love u, Amal”. 

     The video shows Amal Hafeez sitting on a car as she dances on the rap song ‘Pawri Hori Hai’.

    The trend started after an influencer, Dananeer Mobeen, shared a video clip partying with her friends in front of a car. In the video, she was heard saying: “Yeh hamari car hai, yeh hum hain, aur yeh hamari pawri ho rai hai” (This is our car, this is us, and this is our party).

    Also Read: Mahira Khan, Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor join ‘Pawri Ho Rai Hai’ bandwagon

    Soon after the video went viral, ‘Pawri Ho Rai Hai’ became a major meme trend in Pakistan and also across the border. Many celebrities from Pakistan and India recreated the ‘Pawri Horai Hai’ meme.

  • Mrs Waqar Younis pens a sweet note for husband on 21st anniversary

    Mrs Waqar Younis pens a sweet note for husband on 21st anniversary

    Waqar Younis’ wife, Dr Faryal Waqar has penned a cheeky but heartfelt note for her husband on their 21st marriage anniversary.

    Read more – Shoaib Malik gets a cheeky birthday wish from Sania Mirza

    Sharing pictures of herself with Waqar on social media, Dr Faryal wrote: “Happy 21st anniversary. We spend so much time apart as we always seem to come second to your passion for work.”

    “I’m still hanging around because you make me proud of what you do and who you are. I wouldn’t have it any other way. So for all the sacrifices, good and bad times. For all the times to come,” she added.

    Replying to his wife’s note, Waqar wrote: “Bus kar pagli, ab rulaaye ge kya[?]”

    “Love you always. Thank you for all the sacrifices,” he added.

    Waqar married Dr Faryal, a Pakistani Australian, in February 2000. The couple has three children together: a son Azaan and daughters Mariam and Maira. Waqar’s family is based in Kellyville in Australia.

    Meanwhile, colleagues and friends including Sania Mirza, Umar Gul, Azhar Ali, Zainab Abbas, Aaliya Rasheed, Shoaib Jutt and Asif Khan wished the couple on their anniversary.