Tag: Former Cricketer

  • ‘The light of my eyes’: Mohammad Yousaf shares heartfelt message for daughter

    Former cricketer Mohammad Yousaf has announced his daughter’s marriage on Twitter with a heartfelt message. Yousaf also shared a picture with his daughter.

    “My daughter, the day of your ‘rukhsati’ has arrived today,” writes Yousaf.

    He wrote, ”It was just yesterday when you were like a small little doll.” Yousaf also called his daughter the light of his eyes.

    He concluded the post with love and warm wishes to his daughter.

    Currently, Mohammad Yousaf has taken days off from his duty as batting coach to attend his daughter’s wedding.

    He will rejoin the Pakistani national team as a coach for a clash against Australia in the third Test match. It will begin in Lahore at Gaddafi Stadium on March 21.

  • ‘It shouldn’t have happened on TV,’ Afridi reacts to Haris Rauf slapping Kamran Ghulam

    ‘It shouldn’t have happened on TV,’ Afridi reacts to Haris Rauf slapping Kamran Ghulam

    Former Pakistan cricket team captain Shahid Afridi has addressed a recent incident that happened in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) match between Lahore Qalandars and Peshawar Zalmi on Monday at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

    PSL franchise Lahore Qalandars’ pacer Haris Rauf slapped his teammate Kamran Ghulam, who dropped a catch on his bowl to Zalmi batter Hazratullah Zazai.

    The veteran cricketer said that whenever he met Haris, he (Rauf) was the best. “Haris is a simple man and his bowling shows how aggressive he is,” Afridi said.

    He said: “Haris has not done a good thing and it should not have happened on TV. PSL is being watched all over the world.”

    The former captain further asserted that if certain things happen, then lessons should be learned from them and caution should be exercised in the future in “grooming academies”.

    He added that Haris will have to be very careful in the future as “his behaviour will not be tolerated in the future while the team management should have taken action on this move but it is wrong for the management to defend him.”

    In the same over, Fawad Ahmed caught Haris’ ball and Ghulam went towards Rauf for a hi-five and that was when Rauf slapped him in frustration. He, however, hugged him later.

    It was reported that Haris was given a warning by an on-field umpire and was not given any penalty for his behaviour during a match.

  • Shoaib Akhtar believes Shahid Afridi will ‘100 per cent step into politics’

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

    Former speedster Shoaib Akhtar has said that former all-rounder of Pakistan cricket team Shahid Afridi will follow the steps of Imran Khan and step into politics.

    Speaking on Geo News programme ‘Jashan-e-Cricket’, Akhtar, who has earlier said he would have a huge vote bank if he contests elections, stated his mother had prohibited him from entering into politics.

    While he said that he is 100 per cent sure that Afridi will step into politics following PM Khan.

    Talking about the Pakistan Super League (PSL), he said he will turn it into an even bigger brand than the Indian Premier League (IPL) if he becomes the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

    He also urged the Lahore Qalandars’ management to sell the franchise to him. “If I played PSL, I would opt to play for Lahore Qalandars.”

    The former cricketer advised PM Imran Khan and the government on some political issues recently, including focusing on fixing “the problems of old Pakistan” instead of focusing on Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari and on the Murree tragedy.

    The former pacer also predicted that the Qalandars, who are currently in a fine position, will get into a difficult situation in PSL seven’s Lahore leg.

  • ‘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.

  • Wasim Akram, Wahab Riaz, Haider Ali test positive for Covid ahead of PSL 7

    Wasim Akram, Wahab Riaz, Haider Ali test positive for Covid ahead of PSL 7

    Former cricketer and Karachi Kings’ President Wasim Akram and two Peshawar Zalmi’s players — Wahab Riaz and Haider Ali — tested positive for Covid-19 ahead of the seventh edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

    As per The News, Wasim Akram and the players of the PSL franchise have quarantined themselves after their test for the virus came back positive.

    It is a big blow for Zalmi as its two key players tested positive for the virus days before the start of the mega event.

    It is pertinent to mention here that the total toll of coronavirus positive players for the Zalmis has reached four as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday confirmed the franchise’s Kamran Akmal and Arshad Iqbal had tested positive for Covid-19 and were replaced by players from the reserves pool.

    The replacement, according to the PCB, will be temporary and the replaced players can re-integrate into the squad after completing isolation and receiving negative PCR results.

    On January 21, the PCB had confirmed that three cricketers and five members of the support staff from different franchises had contracted the virus.

    Earlier, 40 staff memebers of the hotel reserved for PSL 7 bio-secure bubble had tested positive for Covid-19.

    The seventh edition of the PSL is scheduled to kickoff at Karachi’s National Stadium from January 27. The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) had allowed 25 per cent crowd attendance for the Karachi-leg of the tournament after the surge in cases in the city. NCOC will make a decision closer to the time for the Lahore-leg matches scheduled to be played at the Gaddafi Stadium from February 10-27.

  • Saba, Mawra, Shoaib and other celebrities pen Merry Christmas wishes to fans who are celebrating

    Saba, Mawra, Shoaib and other celebrities pen Merry Christmas wishes to fans who are celebrating

    Prominent Pakistani celebrities took to their social media to wish ‘Merry Christmas’ to those who are celebrating this festive occasion.

    Qissa Meherbano Ka star, Mawra Hocane uploaded photos of a decorated Christmas tree and wished that we could be more respectful to all religions and celebrations around us because it gives a reason to smile.

    Actress and model, Sunita Marshal share her photo on her Instagram wishing happily Christmas while wearing a red party hat.

    Baaghi diva, Saba Qamar wished Quaid Day to the whole nation and Christmas those are celebrating on her Twitter.

    Janaan actress, Hareem Farooq also wished the similar greetings

    Pakistani singer, Aima Baig took her picture with a bright Christmas tree and wished happy holidays to everyone

    Former Cricketer, Shoaib Akhtar also did not miss an opportunity to wish ‘Merry Christmas’ to all the people around the globe.

    Meray Paas Tum Ho fame actor, Adnan Siddiqui also penned down the beautiful prayers to the Christian community on his Twitter.

    Actress and model, Nadia Hussain, tweeted wishing happy holidays and Christmas to the Pakistani Christian community.

    Actress, Ushna Shah, tweeted greetings in a unique way. She wished Christmas in the traditional Spanish language which means Merry Christmas.

    Famous Pakistani actress and Video Jockey (VJ), Anoushey Ashraf shared an emotional message to the Christian community on her Instagram story while taking a photo with a Christmas tree that Jinnah would have wished them lots of happiness and a very best to a new year ahead.

  • Wasim Akram gets UAE ‘Golden Visa’

    Wasim Akram gets UAE ‘Golden Visa’

    Former captain of Pakistan cricket team and Sultan of swing Wasim Akram has been issued Golden Visa of Dubai.

    “It is an honour that the Dubai government has issued me a Golden Visa in recognition of my services to cricket,” the former captain said in a post on social media.

    Akram further wrote in his post that Dubai is undoubtedly one of the best business hubs in the world, a holiday destination and a city that connects the people of the world. He also said that he would like to spend more time in Dubai.

    It is pertinent to mention here that all-rounder of the national team Shoaib Malik and his wife and Indian tennis star Sania Mirza have also been issued golden visas by the Dubai government.

  • PTV withdraws claim against Shoaib Akhtar

    PTV withdraws claim against Shoaib Akhtar

    State-owned channel PTV withdrew its compensation claim from the civil court of Lahore registered against former cricketer Shoaib Akhtar after he and Anchor Dr Nauman Niaz settled their dispute.

    Read More – Shoaib Akhtar vs Nauman Niaz: Whose side is Twitter is on?

    During the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup series, Akhtar had a heated argument with PTV Sports Anchor Dr Nauman on live TV, where the latter misbehaved with the national star.

    Following the argument, Akhtar resigned from the live show. While the public supported the Rawalpindi Express, the state-owned channel sent him a recovery notice asking him to pay Rs100 million in damages and reimburse three months’ salary worth Rs3,333,000 for violating clauses of the contract.

    However, before the end of the month-long cricket series, a truce was reached between Akhtar and Niaz, after a meeting at the residence of Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry.

    According to lawyers of PTV, reconciliation has been reached with Akhtar.

    In an interview before the truce, Niaz said: “I apologised thousands of times over my conduct,” while Akhtar, in an interview said that he has forgiven the host.

    Read More – ‘Disappointed’: Shoaib Akhtar vows to fight lawsuit after receiving recovery notice from PTV

    In the reconciliation at Fawad’s residence, Nauman said: “Shoaibi (Shoaib Akhtar), I am extremely sorry for whatever happened on screen and it shouldn’t have happened and the reason behind it is that we have a friendship of 30 years and that shouldn’t go down.” Replying, Akhtar said: “Its okay. He should have said it long time ago.” Nauman added: “It’s never too late.”

  • Misbah speaks out against haters saying team doing better without him

    Misbah speaks out against haters saying team doing better without him

    Former Pakistan Captain and Coach Misbah-ul-Haq has blasted haters for saying that the Pakistan cricket team is performing better after he resigned as the head coach just before the T20 World Cup.

    Read More – Pakistan wins T20 series in Bangladesh

    Misbah, while talking to the media on Muslim Gymkhana’s annual match occasion said: “Well done to those who think that the team has started to perform better after my departure. I am also happy to see the Pakistan team winning.”

    “We all want Pakistan to perform better,” he added.

    About Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Hafeez’s future, he said: “The cricketers themselves can make a better decision regarding their future. They know better how long they can play for the national team and play their part in victories.”

    As Pakistan started their two-match test series against Bangladesh today, Misbah stated that Pakistan’s Test side is strong and can beat the Tigers at their home.

    “The team is performing well under Babar Azam’s captaincy, the credit goes to him. While Saqlain Mushtaq is managing the players really well,” Misbah added.

    To replace Misbah and bowling coach Waqar Younis, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) appointed Saqlain Mushtaq as interim head coach and Matthew Hayden and Vernon Philander as consultant coaches for the mega event.

  • ‘A little disgusting’: Shoaib Akhtar takes a dig at Australia’s celebration after T20 World Cup win

    ‘A little disgusting’: Shoaib Akhtar takes a dig at Australia’s celebration after T20 World Cup win

    Former cricketer turned analyst Shoaib Akhtar has expressed his displeasure with the way the Australian team celebrated after their T20 World Cup win.

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

    Akhtar took to his social media accounts to react to the viral video of Aussie stars Matthew Wade and Marcus Stoinis chugging beer from a shoe. The former cricketer reckoned it was a ‘disgusting way of celebrating’ their most recent accomplishment.

    He wrote: “A little disgusting way of celebrating no??”

    The Australian men’s cricket made history on Sunday, November 14, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium by clinching their maiden T20 World Cup title.

    The Aussie batters showcased exemplary batsmanship against a formidable Kiwi bowling attack to chase down a stiff total of 172 in the final clash.

    Mitchell Marsh starred with the bat for Australia with his unbeaten 77 and David Warner’s 53 off 38 balls helped the team down the Black Caps’ 173-run target. Marsh bagged Player of the Match award while Warner was awarded ‘Player of the Tournament’ award.

    The Rawalpindi Express was also present at the Dubai International Stadium to witness the final between the Aussies and Kiwis.