Pakistani right-arm fast bowler Haris Rauf has ended his 2020 with a bang, taking as many as 57 wickets and becomes leading wicket taker in the Twenty20 format.
No bowler has taken more wickets in T20 cricket this year than Haris Rauf
This year has been lucky for three pacers, which leads with Rauf taking 57 wickets in 35 innings. Shaheen Shah Afridi follows him with 52 wickets in hand, which he took in 37 innings and Mohammad Amir has also taken 42 wickets in 36 innings in the calendar year.
Among Pakistan players, only Wahab Riaz was able to grab 60 wickets in 2019 and Azhar Mahmood took 60 wickets in 2013 and have claimed more T20 wickets in a calendar year than Rauf.
Though the year has been very difficult due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Rauf has managed to show his class and skills. The 150 kilometres per hour speedster joined the National T20 side in January 2020.
The 27-year-old recently took three wickets in the three T20I matches against New Zealand. He has also taken second most wickets in T20I this year.
Most wickets in T20s: Haris Rauf (57) Most runs in T20s: Babar Azam (1242) Most runs in T20Is: M Hafeez (415) Second most wickets in T20Is: Haris Rauf (16) Second most wickets in T20s: Shaheen Afridi (52)
Not sure if we heard correctly, but looks like Fahad Mustafa just shaded Fawad Afzal Khan and Mahira Khan for going to Bollywood.
In a recent interview, the actor while talking about his stardom said: “Sab chalay gaye India or mein yahan reh gaya. Main superstar ban gaya. Koi tha hee nahi.”
“Ab sab Turkey jayen gay. Main yaheen hoon,” he continued. “Turkey eik din visa band karay ga sab kay. Uss kay baad hum reh jayen gay.”
“Believe in your audience. Believe in your people,” he added. “Apnay logon ko banao gay toh acha bhi lagay ga.”
Defending Nand and Jalan, Fahad said: “People are watching Nand and Jalan. If they weren’t watching the dramas then they won’t be talking about it.”
“I am proud of Balaa, Cheekh, Nand and Jalan. We can’t educate people with every drama but we do what we can. I try to attract people with unique titles of my dramas. That’s why my dramas have such titles. If Nand had another name, people might not watch it.”
He continued: “This is the age of social media and people are watching ‘pocket films’. To keep the audiences engaged for 26 to 30 episodes, we try to make content that creates curiosity and keep viewers hooked.”
Fahad then went on to say that people and critics should wait for a drama to end before passing their judgements and remarks.
“People are talking and criticising them [Jalan, Nand] because they are recent dramas. Being the producer of these two dramas, I own and like both of the dramas. Poor or rich, everyone is talking about them,” stated Fahad.
Concluding his remarks, the actor said: “I think this drama does not have any unethical content. If anyone didn’t like it, then they have mental issues.”
Senior PTI leader Senator Faisal Javed Khan has advised Fahad Mustafa to not view Diriliş: Ertuğrul as a threat but as an opportunity after Mustafa in a recent interview commented that the star of the Turkish show Engin Altan Düzyatan came to Pakistan, made money and left.
“Ertuğrul [Düzyatan] also came, posed with a lion, took money, and left, didn’t he?,” Fahad had said. “That’s all you guys were for him. For you, there is Humayun Saeed. It’s us. Admit it or not, we were here and we will be here in the future.”
In response to his remarks, Khan tweeted: “Engin Altan is one of the finest actors we have seen on TV and Diriliş: Ertuğrul brought him a huge fame across the world.”
“A lot to be learnt from such a great production and director’s meticulous attention to detail,” he added. “It is not a threat, it’s an opportunity.”
Engin Altan is one of the finest actors we have seen on TV and Dirilis Ertugrul brought him a huge fame across the world. A lot to be learnt from such a great production and director’s meticulous attention to detail. It is not a threat, it’s an opportunity. https://t.co/NfjiOQoJPK
Interestingly, in the same interview, Fahad had said that he is here to make money and entertain the masses not educate them while talking about why his production house chooses to make dramas like Jalanand Nand.
Earlier this month, Engin Altan came to Lahore for a short visit on the invitation of a private company. The actor toured Lahore on his visit and met with Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar.
In a press conference, Engin said that his trip was the first of many more visits to come. He even said that he would “love to work in a Pakistani drama or film, given the right opportunity”.
“If the script is good then why not,” the actor had said.
2020’s most controversial Pakistani drama, actually one of the most controversial dramas, Jalan came to a close Wednesday night after 31 painful episodes which had all the ingredients of an over-the-top soap opera. There was a love triangle, infidelity, abortion sprinkled with lots and lots of drama to draw all the haw hais and ensure that audiences are hooked.
SPOILERS AHEAD
As expected and predicted, Jalan ends with Nisha (Minal Khan) losing her wits and ending up in a sorry state with a disfigured face after getting involved in a car accident. On the other hand, Asfi (Emmad Irfani), who spent the final couple of episodes feeling desolate and depressed over everything that transpired died with what we assume was a heart attack – the makers never clarify how he died. Karma finally catches up with the ‘bad’ characters with the makers giving them the end they assumed would satisfy audiences.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t. The last episode was a bit of a drag with Asfi getting constant flashbacks of his life and relationship with Meenu. He seeks redemption by going to her grave and praying and giving away charity in her name – as if that was enough to cover up all the pain he caused her with his actions and callous behaviour. But as always our writers give the heroes an easier end compared to the female protagonist, who has to suffer every day for her sins. Even Kinza Apa (Nadya Hussain) in the end prayed that Asfi and Meenu would reunite in heaven.
Nisha, on the other hand, has a sudden bout of pagalpan in which she starts dragging and pushed Areej (Hajra Yamin) out of the house. In an attempt to protect herself, Areej locks herself up in her room till Ahmer (Fahad Sheikh) comes home and orders Nisha to her room. And Nisha obediently listens to him and goes upstairs to sleep. When she wakes up, she starts seeing Meenu (Areeba Habib) which causes her to lose her mind further and she eventually ends up crashing her car and burning her face. I’m no expert, but from whatever little knowledge I have, I am assuming that Nisha clearly had psychological issues and instead of getting her proper help, her family abandoned her and let her become a mess. They never really addressed the problem and in the end, packed up and left her alone.
Areej and Ahmer are the only ones who got a happy ending with a fulfilling marital life and a baby on the way. Though I have to add that I am still confused over how Ahmer suddenly had a change of heart for Areej. I’d also like to add here that in 31 episodes, never once did we get to see Areej’s family or brother who is married to Ahmer’s sister Humaira (Maira Khan). There were so many loopholes and missing pieces that you wonder if the writer dropped half the script on her way to the sets.
Jalan’s finale was as absurd as the rest of it and the makers only used sensationalism to build up the drama and hype. While the initial couple of episodes could have qualified as a guilt-watch for some, after Meenu died in a tragic and melodramatic manner, things went downhill. The direction and production were weak and the script even poorer. There was a lot of violence in the drama with Nisha being slapped right, left and centre. There was also a scene in which Asfi almost strangled Nisha to death. Such scenes are unwarranted, unnecessary and serve no purpose except to create furor.
The only highlight of the drama, for me was probably the performances. It was refreshing to see Minal play a strong and villainous character unlike the damsel in distress she usually plays and she and Emmad both gave good performances. The scenes in which they fought were actually pretty intense and credit for that goes to them and not to the writer or director.
Jalan has also given Pakistani television and new hero – Fahad Sheikh and a new hit pair – Fahad and Hajra. The two have good onscreen chemistry and it seems like audiences also enjoyed this pairing because their short film Naam Kya Rakha on See Prime gathered a million views within a week of being released.
I, for one, am glad that Jalan has ended and though it unfortunately did leave a mark, I hope that writers and producers will focus on intelligent scripts which along with entertaining audiences also give a positive message – like Sabaat for instance. However, given the success of the show, I have little hope.
Stressed spelt backwards is desserts and nothing better than something sweet and delicious to make your day. Being a hard-core foodie with a very intense sweet-tooth, I love my desserts and pretty much spend all my money trying out new things. All through the year (and the pandemic), I have tried a vast variety of meetha from different home-based businesses and here are the ones I keep going back to.
Without a doubt the best chocolate chip cookies I have had in Lahore. They are crispy on the outside but gooey on the inside and melt the moment they hit your mouth. The light dusting of sea salt adds to the flavour and I guarantee you that you will not stop at one. Priced at Rs 180 (without tax), they are a steal given that they are pretty big in size too.
Look at that chocolate!
Chocolate Brownie Dessert Box by Deliciuex
There are often times when you feel like having something cool and sweet which is not ice-cream. Something that you can eat while watching your favourite season. Something that feeds the soul. In those situations, the Chocolate Brownie Box by Deliciuex is ideal for you. The dessert box, which includes layers of brownies, fudge and mousse topped with a layer of crunchy biscoff, is the stuff of dreams. You will not regret trying this.
P.s. Deliciuex does amazing Lotus Milk Cake also.
Frosti Ice-Cream
There is something very enjoyable about having cold ice-cream in the chilly weather. Frosti has one of the best gelatos the city has to offer and that too in a variety of flavours. Creamy, smooth and oh-so-delectable, Frosti is a must-try for those who love to spend their winters curled up in front of the television watching their favourite show.
Our picks – Salted Caramel, Oreo Crunch and Belgian Chocolate
Cheesecake (Lotus, New York) by The Sweet Rack
I was not a big fan of cheesecakes till I tried the New York Cheesecake by The Sweet Rack. While the cream is rich and absolutely delicious, it was the base that set it apart from other cheesecakes. It does not have your usual biscuit base – it has hints of walnuts and cinnamon which add so much flavour to the overall experience. Highly recommended. The Sweet Rack Lotus Cheesecake is also great and I am sure Lotus lovers will thoroughly enjoy it.
P.s. Their brownies are also divine.
Donuts by Big Fat Rolls
Honestly speaking, I am a Dunkin Donuts loyalist. I have tried multiple donuts from multiple places at multiple food festivals but nothing came close to Dunkin for me…till I discovered Big Fat Rolls. Their donuts are ah-mazing: airy, soft and melt-in-your-mouth kind. My picks from their collection have to be Cherub Classic and Cupid Chocolate.
Note – Before someone attacks me for not including Layers, please note that these picks are from home-based businesses only.
Turkish actor Engin Altan Düzyatan, who arrived in Lahore on Thursday for a short visit “at the invitation of a private business company”, seems to be having a great time in the city. He was spotted taking a tour of the historic Badshahi Masjid, visiting the grave of Allama Iqbal and even met Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar.
Engin was hosted by the CEO of Chaudhary Textiles, Kashif Zameer, who reportedly arranged the meeting between the Turkish actor and CM Buzdar at his residence. Engin has reportedly signed a contract worth Rs 17 crores with Chaudhary Textiles and will be their official brand ambassador.
The lead actor of #Ertugrul, Engin Altan Düzyatan @eadksk, called on Chief Minister Punjab @UsmanAKBuzdar in Lahore yesterday.
Chief Minister presented Chief Minister House Shield and traditional gifts to the respected guest. pic.twitter.com/ag5QuIq1hl
Kashif has also been sharing pictures of Engin’s trip on his social media account.
He also introduced the actor to his pet lion. Kashif, who earlier met Engin in Turkey, also framed the picture of their meeting and put it up on his wall along with other pictures of himself.
Meanwhile, addressing a press conference in Lahore on Friday, the star of Diriliş: Ertuğrul revealed that he had signed multiple new projects in Pakistan and that this visit was the first of many more to come.
He also expressed his desire to work in Pakistani dramas.
When asked if he would consider working in Pakistani dramas, Engin responded: “Why not! I would love to work in a Pakistani drama or film, given the right opportunity. If the script is good then why not.”
The actor also won hearts when he said a few words in Urdu.
As per details, Engin has concluded his trip and his on his way back to Turkey. Meanwhile, the hashtag ‘#ThankYouEnginAltan’ is trending on social media as fans thanked the actor for coming to the country and expressed their love for him.
Turkish actor Engin Altan Düzyatan arrived in Lahore on Thursday for a short visit “at the invitation of a private business company”.
Addressing a press conference in Lahore on Friday, the star of Diriliş: Ertuğrul revealed that he had signed some new projects in Pakistan, adding that he was set to become the brand ambassador for a private textile company. He also said that this visit was the first of many more to come.
Talking about the popularity of series in Pakistan, the Turkish actor said it was a “great pleasure” for him that Prime Minister Imran Khan praised the drama series and recommended his countrymen to watch it.
“I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Imran Khan for praising Diriliş: Ertuğrul,” said Engin at the press conference. “It was a big drama series based on an Islamic story.”
Sharing details about how his visit is going, Engin said: “I know Pakistani people love me. I am also aware about the natural beauty of the country,” adding that he would love to visit the mountains the North.
He also said that he enjoyed tasting Pakistani food and that it was “very delicious, but much too spicy”.
When asked if he would consider working in Pakistani dramas, Engin responded: “Why not! I would love to work in a Pakistani drama or film, given the right opportunity. If the script is good then why not.”
Engin also showed off his Urdu vocabulary by saying “Shukriya” and “Lahore, Lahore Hai“.
Altan landed in Pakistan on Thursday upon the invitation of a business company Chaudhary Textiles with who he has reportedly signed a contract worth Rs 17 crores. Pictures of his visit have been going viral on social media.
Often described as the Turkish Game of Thrones, Diriliş: Ertuğrul is being aired on the recommendation of Prime Minister Imran Khan. Set in 13th century Anatolia and based on the struggle of Ertuğrul Gazi, father of Osman I – the founder of the Ottoman dynasty, Diriliş: Ertuğrul has been trending in the country ever since its first episode aired on the first of Ramzan.
In an exclusive interview with The Current, Senator Faisal Javed Khan had revealed that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had gifted the drama series to Pakistan as a goodwill gesture.
Earlier in September, Cavit Çetin Güner, who plays Dogan Alp the series also visited Pakistan and spent a few days in Islamabad.
To say that 2020 has been a rollercoaster would be an understatement. Though the coronavirus pandemic pretty much defined 2020, there were lots of other things that kept Pakistanis engaged throughout the year. Some that we might even have forgotten.
Lucky for us, Google released its annual ‘Year in Search‘ list on Wednesday, giving us a quick roundup of the year and reminding us of our obsessions which included Diriliş: Ertuğrul, Meray Paas Tum Ho, Money Heist, Sarah Khan and Falak Shabbir’s wedding and Pakistan vs England series besides of course corona.
Meanwhile, check out the complete lists here:
Top Search
Pakistan vs England
Coronavirus
Zimbabwe vs Pakistan
Google Classroom
US Election 2020
PSL 2020
India vs New Zealand
England vs Australia
England vs West Indies
Worldometers
People
Marvi Sarmad
Uzma Khan
Joe Biden
Alizeh Shah
Hareem Shah
Minahil Malik
Falak Shabir
Asim Azhar
Esra Bilgiç
Sarah Khan
Events/Occasions
US elections
Leap day
International women’s day
Australia fire
Gilgit Baltistan election 2020 result
Beirut blast
Motorway incident
Kabaddi world cup 2020
Under 19 world cup
Khabib vs Gaethje
Movies & TV
Ertuğrul
Mere Paas Tum Ho
Money Heist
Bigg Boss 14
Mirzapur Season 2
Deewangi
Mera Dil Mera Dushman
Kuruluş: Osman
Ehd-e-Wafa
Joker
Gadgets
Huawei Y9a
Infinix Note 7
Vivo V20
iPhone 12
Infinix Hot 9
OPPO F17 Pro
Vivo S1
Vivo Y20
Vivo Y51
Huawei Y6p
According to Google, these lists are based on search terms that had the highest spike this year as compared to the previous year (2019).
What are the three things you look for in a reality tv series? Drama, drama and more drama. Unfortunately, Netflix’s latest reality television series The Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives has everything to offer besides that. You have glitz, glam, a fancy holiday, discussions on plastic surgery and the cherry on top – lots, and I mean lots, of starry special appearances. But all this fails to add to the oomph factor and you end up watching the show only because of your love for Bollywood.
The Fab Lives of Bolly Wives (let’s just call it FLBW) centres around four Bollywood wives – Maheep Kapoor, wife of Sanjay Kapoor, Seema Khan, wife of Sohail Khan, Bhavana Pandey, wife of Chunkey Pandey, and Neelum Kothari, wife of Samir Soni. Maheep is the queen bee of the gang which has been together for 25 years. Mind you, this has been repeated a gazillion times in the entire show, lest we forget. Seema is the one with the wit and sarcasm, while Bhavana is the superstitious one. And Neelum, throughout the series is just worried about one thing: should she make a comeback to films.
While each woman has her own distinct personality and they are interesting to see in the first episode, the problem with the show is that there is just no drama. The girls are chill with one another and no one gets pissed at the other, except in one episode. Even then, their ‘showdown’ was just very dry. What is this relationship? Where is the spark? The fire? Twice Karan Johar had to come in and be the phoppo he is so that he can instigate them. Unfortunately, the fire never really lights – they really should have taken classes from our favourite Sima Taparia from Indian Matchmaking on how to say the most outrageous things and still not be hated for it. Most of the stuff we saw in the series was all that the paparazzi have already shown to us or they have posted on their Instagram feeds. Even their conversations were terribly safe as if they were scared to give viewers a sneak peek into who they are behind the facades. Just goes on to show that reality tv is not everyone’s piece of cake.
The two things I did find interesting was that one Maheep is a stalker. An actual stalker. She observes people through her binoculars and she apparently caught glimpses of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan’s wedding through her binoculars. And secondly, Seema and Sohail, despite being married don’t live in the same house. They live across the street from one another and are very happy with this arrangement.
Interestingly the show is called FLBW, but we barely get to see them as wives. We end up watching them as mothers mostly because my God they are obsessed with their kids. Even the series opens with Maheep fretting over her daughter Shanaya’s Le Bal debut.
The biggest takeaways from the show had NOTHING to do with the wives. For me, there were two major ones. SPOILERS AHEAD. One that Janhvi Kapoor got a wish from Kylie Jenner on her birthday and second which fascinated me the most – on their trips abroad, Shah Rukh Khan would be the one to babysit all the children when the wives would go party. In fact, my favourite episode from the season was the one which had SRK. Damn that man can charm even a cactus. His witty one-liners and dry humour had me smiling throughout the episode. Gauri Khan in an Instagram post has said that she will be gatecrashing the second season and I do hope that if there is a second season, I’d like to see more of Shah Rukh in it than anyone else.
The makers of the show tried to create a desi version of Keeping up with the Kardashians meets Sex and the City, but they somehow forgot to add the main ingredient – drama. In this review, I am not even going to recommend or not recommend the show. Because I know that if you’re a Bolly freak like myself, you will still sit and spend five hours watching the eight episodes. All I’m going to say is keep your expectations low.
The Cambridge Dictionary, produced by Cambridge University Press, is one of the world’s most well-known, trusted and credible English dictionary sources and they have added word Accha also Achha as an expression which, according to it, means “That’s good. Go ahead.”
The word in it is used for showing surprise or happiness. “I managed to buy it for half the price. Accha!“
Meanwhile, the Cambridge Dictionary has also declared Quarantine as its word of the year. According to the dictionary, quarantine was the third most-searched for word during the year, with maximum searches between March 18 and 24, when restrictions began to be imposed due to the pandemic.
We can officially announce that Cambridge Dictionary’s #WordoftheYear is…
Alongside quarantine, other coronavirus-related words, including pandemic and lockdown, ranked highly on Cambridge Dictionary’s most popular list for 2020.
We recently revealed our #WordoftheYear2020. In this video from #LearnEnglishwithCambridge, Greg takes us through how to use this word and others that defined the last 12 months.
