Tag: Pakistan Super League

  • ‘Sorry Lala’: Haris Rauf apologises to Afridi for dismissing him

    ‘Sorry Lala’: Haris Rauf apologises to Afridi for dismissing him

    Power hitter, Shahid Khan Afridi got clean-bowled on a duck by Haris Rauf’s yorker in a Pakistan Super League (PSL) match between Lahore Qalandars and Multan Sultans. After dismissing the legend, Haris apologised to the senior player, the video of which went viral on social media.

    https://twitter.com/thePSLt20/status/1328038153790304256?s=20

    Afridi is nowhere close to the explosive big hitter he once was. There’s little need to get excited by him walking out to bat; he might once have been a trailblazer, but several around the world have mastered and bettered, the art. At 40, any exploits off Afridi’s bat are very much dying embers of a flame that once burned brightly, but Haris may just have snuffed them out in the eliminator match.

    In the 14th over when Afridi walked out to bat, Rauf bowled a yorker first up tailing into middle stump. Few might have kept it out, but Afridi was notably slow in getting his bat down, the ball, whistling through his legs and onto the base of middle stump.

    As Afridi began to walk off, Rauf clasped his hands together by way of apology. It was Rauf’s 50th T20 wicket this year and the 27-year-old is now the leading wicket-taker in T20 cricket this year (50 wickets from 31 games).

    Later, in field when asked by the commentator via spider cam that why did he do that, on which he said: “He is a senior player and I came to play with this intention that if I’ll take Shahid bhai’s wicket, I will do this style.”

    VIDEO: ‘Family Guy’ features Lahore Qalandars vs Karachi Kings joke in new episode

    Meanwhile, the biggest rivalry in PSL’s history is about to go down on Tuesday’s (November 17) match as both the teams [KK & LQ] will now get their first chance to snatch the trophy.

  • Here’s how the PSL players are keeping themselves entertained in their bubble

    Here’s how the PSL players are keeping themselves entertained in their bubble

    Cricket players who are in currently in Karachi for Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) remaining matches were seen spending their free time playing indoor games.

    With COVID-19 still a threat, players are required to stay in their bio-secure bubble in order to stay safe from the virus. This means that they are not allowed to leave the premises of hotel and stadium. All matches will also be behind closed doors.

    After practice sessions, the players were seen enjoying their free time playing snooker, indoor cricket, jenga and board games.

    Babar enjoying snooker
    Chadwick playing Table Tennis

    The official handle of Karachi Kings also shared a video in which Babar bowled to Wahab Riaz in the corridor while Imam ul Haq cheered for them.

    Meanwhile, the playoffs and final of the fifth edition of PSL will be played from November 14 to 17 in Karachi.

  • PSL 2020: Strict security arrangements in Karachi cause discomfort to citizens

    PSL 2020: Strict security arrangements in Karachi cause discomfort to citizens

    Strict security arrangements in place for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) playoff matches in Karachi, starting on November 14, have become a cause of discomfort for citizens of the metropolis.

    According to reports, a large area around the National Stadium Karachi (NSK) was cordoned off on Wednesday by security forces for the practice match between Peshawar Zalmi and Multan Sultans. A huge contingent of police and other law-enforcing agencies was deployed inside and outside the venue hindering the movement of residents in the surrounding areas.

    According to details, authorities have also blocked the road from Karsaz to the stadium for heavy traffic, and no public transport is allowed on that road. The entry points at the KDA scheme along the Karsaz Road have also been sealed with the help of heavy containers.

    People living in the surrounding areas have been restricted to their homes for the last three to four days causing them a lot of inconvenience. People argued that if there was no audience attending the matches, then why was the need for the areas to be sealed.

    The PSL playoffs were suspended on March 17 due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Initially, the play-offs were scheduled in Lahore but were shifted to Karachi due to weather issues.

    In the qualifier, on November 14 the table-toppers Multan Sultans will face second-placed Karachi Kings. In the first eliminator, former champions Peshawar Zalmi will lock horns with the third-placed Lahore Qalandars.

    The second eliminator will be held on November 15 between the losers of the qualifier and winners of the first eliminator. The final take place on November 17.

  • PSL5: Sania Mirza lands in Karachi to cheer on Shoaib Malik

    PSL5: Sania Mirza lands in Karachi to cheer on Shoaib Malik

    The fifth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), which was was suspended back in March due to the COVID-19 outbreak, is all set to resume on November 14.

    International players for the remaining matches have started to arrive in the country and it has emerged that Shoaib Malik’s wife Sania Mirza has also arrived in the country to cheer on her husband and his team Peshawar Zalmi.

    Meanwhile, Lahore Qalandar’s Australian cricketer Ben Dunk has also arrived in Karachi.

    South African players Dan Velas and Cameron Delport, England’s Ravi Bopara , Alex Hales and West Indies’ Chadwick Walton have also reached Karachi.

    Liam Livingstone has been replaced by Saqib Mahmood in the Peshawar Zalmi squad. The replacement has been made after Livingstone became unavailable following his selection in the England’s ODI squad for the South Africa tour.

    Peshawar Zalmi’s West Indies duo Darren Sammy and Carlos Brathwaite are expected to join their respective squad today.

    Multan Sultans’ all-rounder Mahmudullah has been ruled out of the HBL Pakistan Super League 2020 playoffs after the all-rounder tested positive for COVID-19 in the pre-departure test that was conducted in Bangladesh.

    It should be noted that the cricketers arriving in Karachi will have to undergo coronavirus tests while the matches of the event will be played on November 14, 15 and 17.

    Due to the bad weather conditions, matches from Lahore are relocated to Rawalpindi and Karachi.

  • VIDEO: ‘Family Guy’ features Lahore Qalandars vs Karachi Kings joke in new episode

    VIDEO: ‘Family Guy’ features Lahore Qalandars vs Karachi Kings joke in new episode

    With the fifth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) approaching, knockouts and the final of which had earlier been suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic, excitement surrounding the star-studded cricketing tournament is once again on the rise.

    As cricketing fans eagerly wait for the tournament to return in November, it has emerged that its fever has also made its way to mainstream American television.

    The Lahore-Karachi rivalry, which the PSL has taken to a new high with nail-biters between Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings, has been featured on the very popular animated series “Family Guy”.

    The 19th season opener of the sitcom started with a joke about PSL’s Lahore and Karachi, which came as a surprise for many Pakistani fans.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    Over the course of five years, the matches between Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings have attracted large crowds, and massive viewership as fans anticipate the same with bated breath.

    Lahore and Karachi are the two biggest cities of the country and are also known globally for nurturing Pakistani cricketers.

    The animated series, which has widely been acclaimed since its premiere nearly two decades ago, centers on the Griffins, a family consisting of parents Peter and Lois; their children, Meg, Chris, and Stewie; and their anthropomorphic pet dog, Brian.

    The show is set in the fictional city of Quahog, Rhode Island, and exhibits much of its surreal and dark humor in the form of metafictional cutaway gags that often criticise American culture.

  • PSL Player Alex Hales clarifies reports that he has coronavirus

    PSL Player Alex Hales clarifies reports that he has coronavirus

    After reports that Karachi King’s player Alex Hales was being tested for coronavirus, the English player has issued a statement clarifying that he has not been tested yet for the virus but is expected to be tested soon. He says that he left Pakistan healthy but woke up with a fever and a cough and has been in self isolation since then.

    READ MORE: CM Buzdar rubbishes reports of first COVID-19 death, says deceased tested negative

    Alex Hales’ statement

    The statement comes after rumours that Alex Hales had tested positive for coronavirus, which he addressed on Twitter. After journalist Ajmal Jami tweeted a Gulf News story that Hales had tested positive for coronavirus, Hales replied to Jami’s tweet, which Jami later deleted.

    https://twitter.com/AlexHales1/status/1239872849155940352
    Alex Hales responds to Jami

    After Hales’ tweet, Jami clarified his tweet on Gulf News’ story.

    RELATED: ALL CORONAVIRUS UPDATES

    Earlier, Ramiz Raja had confirmed that Hales was being tested for the virus but later clarified on twitter that Hales was in self quarantine.

    Ramiz Raja confirms that Hales is being tested for the virus

  • Karachi King’s Alex Hales being tested for coronavirus

    PSL’s Karachi King’s player Alex Hales is being tested for coronavirus, confirms Rameez Raja. He showed symptoms of the virus after he reached England and is currently in isolation. All the broadcasters and cricketer affiliated with the PSL will have to undergo coronavirus tests before heading home – whether that is in Pakistan or outside of it.

    The final matches of the PSL were postponed indefinitely amidst the coronavirus crisis.

    Raja confirms the news and also says that he and other members of the PSL are being tested for the virus. Earlier, Geo Reporter Arfa Feroz Zake had confirmed the news.

    The total cases of the coronavirus in Pakistan has hit 193.

  • PSL 5 postponed indefinitely

    After a foreign player, who had left last week displayed symptoms of the coronavirus, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has postponed the last few remaining matches of the fifth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

    Read more Karachi King’s Alex Hales being tested for coronavirus

    The knockout matches of PSL were scheduled to be played in Lahore today (Tuesday) – Peshawar Zalmi was scheduled to play against Multan Sultans in the afternoon while Lahore Qalandars was set to face Karachi Kings in the evening. However, the semi-finals and the final have been postponed indefinitely keeping in mind the prevailing situation.

    Addressing a press conference alongside other PCB officials, CEO PCB Wasim Khan said that the decision was taken to ensure the safety of the players, match officials, commentators and ground staff. Though he did not name the player to maintain privacy, Khan said that players from all the teams, the broadcasters and everyone else associated with the tournament would be tested for the virus.

    At least 14 foreign players had decided to return to their own countries last week after the PCB gave them the option to leave amid the coronavirus pandemic.

    In an official statement, the board said, “The PCB, as part of its duty of care, has made arrangements for all the players and players support staff of the four semi-finalists, match officials, franchise owners and production crew to undergo precautionary tests and has strongly advised them to wait for the results prior to undertaking any travel.”

    “This is an unprecedented situation, which is evolving with each passing day. The PCB has closely monitored the situation and had taken precautionary measures including consultation with relevant authorities and temperature screening of players, officials and media on match and non-match days.”

    “The PCB believes it has made the right decisions in the lead up to the postponement of the tournament that included consulting the team owners, holding the matches behind closed doors, allowing the players the option to withdraw from the tournament, rescheduling of the matches and reducing the number of event days,” Khan added.

    While PCB has suspended its all domestic competitions and cricket activities, for now, the PCB chief asserted that the semi-final and final matches would be rescheduled before the next season of the PSL.

    Meanwhile is being reported that Alex Hales of Karachi Kings has shown symptoms of coronavirus and is currently undergoing tests.

  • ‘Shukriya Pakistan’: PSL’s foreign players leave early due to coronavirus outbreak

    ‘Shukriya Pakistan’: PSL’s foreign players leave early due to coronavirus outbreak

    With the World Health Organisation (WHO) declaring the coronavirus to be a pandemic, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday decided to cut short the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2020 and hold the final match of the tournament on March 18 instead of March 23. 29 confirmed cases of coronavirus have been reported in Pakistan, while two patients have completely recovered.

    According to a press release by the cricketing body, the playoff match has been replaced by the semi-finals, which will be held in Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on March 17; one at 2 pm and the second at 7 pm. The final will also take place at the Gaddafi Stadium at 7 pm on March 18.

    Read more – PCB allows foreign players to leave country amid coronavirus fears

    The PCB also allowed foreign players to leave if they wished to and a couple of the players cut short their trip and headed back to their home countries. Among those who left included Karachi Kings, Alex Hales, Multan Sultans Rilee Rossouw and James Vince; Peshawar Zalmi’s Tom Banton, Carlos Brathwaite, Liam Dawson, Lewis Gregory and Liam Livingstone; Quetta Gladiators Jason Roy and Tymal Mills; and Islamabad United’s Colin Munro, Dale Steyn, Dawid Malan and Luke Ronchi.

    As the foreign players headed back home, they took to social media to thank Pakistan and it’s people for their warmth and hospitality.

    https://twitter.com/AlexHales1/status/1238516816709914627?s=20

    https://twitter.com/daws128/status/1238575735121612800?s=20
    https://www.instagram.com/p/B9rQxI7H1ht/?igshid=1fegn51idpfxo

    Meanwhile, Lahore Qalandars’ Ben Dunk and Quetta Gladiators’ Shane Watson said that they had no qualms staying in Pakistan.

    Watson, while speaking to the media after the match, had said that if Pakistani players can play in Pakistan amid the coronavirus scare, then so can the foreign players.

  • Shaniera Akram loves being Pakistan’s bhabi

    Shaniera Akram, who has made quite a mark in Pakistan with her warm nature and social activism, recently took to Instagram to thank her fans for all the love they shower on her.

    Sharing a video of herself attending a recent match of the Karachi Kings’ at the National Stadium in Karachi in which some of the spectators were calling her ‘bhabhi‘, Akram wrote, “Love hearing you call my name and love being your bhabhi”.

    Shaniera also wrote that she felt blessed to be in Pakistan and thanked the crowd for the love.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B9qwSOvg8A9/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    “During PSL, it’s the crowd that really makes these games so fun that’s why it’s so sad to hear we can only watch from our TVs and phones but at times like this, it’s better to be safe than sorry,” she wrote. The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced that all remaining matches will take place behind closed doors due to the coronavirus outbreak.

    “PSL really rocked this year and will continue too even if we are not watching all together from the ground we will still be together in spirit!! Let the games continue, stay safe, keep clean and healthy, and hope we all still have heaps of fun supporting our teams,” she added.

    Even her personalized t-shirt had ‘bhabi‘ written on it.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B88RJcOAr-B/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link