Tag: Pakistani Batter

  • Babar Azam is the best player in the world, says Saqlain Mushtaq

    Babar Azam is the best player in the world, says Saqlain Mushtaq

    Head Coach of Pakistan cricket team Saqlain Mushtaq has said that Babar Azam is the best player in the world.

    The head coach of the national team said that when cricket started, it was his dream to play for Pakistan. He wanted to serve Pakistan even after retirement.

    While talking about Australia’s tour to Pakistan, he said that the arrival of the Australian cricket team in Pakistan is welcome, for which he is grateful to Australia and Government of Pakistan. Saqlain said the whole nation is looking forward to this tour.

    Mushtaq said that they will form their own team keeping in view the Australian team, the home series is beneficial for the national side but Australia is the top team at the moment, they are planning for the series.

    In response to a question, the head coach said: “Captain Babar Azam is the best player in the world, he has given very good performances in the past also, Babar Azam plays every format and bowling well.”

    He said that if there are no good spinners now, then there will be in the future. “My thinking about spinners is very positive.” He also added that we will see which pitch will support us.

    Talking about Mohammad Yousuf, he added that he believes in his expertise, he is also working for high performance center. “We have to complete our preparations.”

    The Australian cricket team is scheduled to tour Pakistan in March and April 2022 to play three Tests, three One Day Internationals (ODIs), and one Twenty20 International (T20I) match.

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

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

    Several people have criticised the decision to award David Warner the ‘Player of the Tournament’ at the T20 World Cup, with Babar Azam, the competition’s leading run scorer, going unrewarded.

    Babar’s campaign ended at the hands of Australia at the semi-final stage, but he had already had a tournament to remember. An unbeaten half-century in Pakistan’s opener sealed a historic 10-wicket win against India.

    He added three more fifties, meaning he sits tied with Matthew Hayden and Virat Kohli for the most half-centuries at a T20 World Cup, while only Kohli and Tillakaratne Dilshan have scored more runs at a single edition.

    Warner was 14 runs short from Babar, and only managed three half-centuries, falling one run short of the landmark against Pakistan in the semis. But he maintained a significantly higher strike-rate of 146.70, more than 20 runs per 100 balls higher than the Pakistan opener, and arguably made his runs at more high-impact intervals.

    Former Pakistani speedster Shoaib Akhtar called the decision “unfair”.

    West Indies’ Sherfane Rutherford said he was “shocked” at the “tired decision”.

    https://twitter.com/SRutherford_50/status/1459945409254768645?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1459945409254768645%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwisden.com%2Fseries-stories%2Ft20-world-cup-2021%2Ftired-decision-icc-criticised-for-not-naming-babar-azam-as-t20-world-cup-player-of-the-tournament

    Leading run-scorers in Men’s T20 world cup 2021 are:

    Babar Azam: 303

    David Warner: 289

    Moahmmad Rizwan: 281

    Netizens were also unhappy that Kohli’s Player of the Tournament win in 2016 is an evidence that Babar should have been rewarded, as the Indian side was also knocked out in the semi-final, like Pakistan.

    https://twitter.com/RanaDanish92/status/1459954170958651393?s=20
    https://twitter.com/DennisCricket_/status/1460112407594868744?s=20
    https://twitter.com/michaelscottfc/status/1459943865042018304?s=20

    https://twitter.com/washimansari786/status/1459967110126333958?s=20

    Meanwhile, Australia made history on Sunday night by winning their first T20 World Cup when the Kangaroos trounced New Zealand by 8 wickets to win the final.

    Australian batter Mitchell Marsh was declared the Player of the Match for his unbeaten 77.

  • ‘Bought an old motorcycle with my first cheque’: Asif Ali’s old interview goes viral

    ‘Bought an old motorcycle with my first cheque’: Asif Ali’s old interview goes viral

    An old video clip of Pakistani hitter Asif Ali’s interview is circulating on social media in which he is sharing the story of his new Honda bike and his love for old bikes. Soon after the clip resurfaced, it was widely shared by people on social media.

    In the interview, Asif said: “My name came in the list for Faisalabad team for the first time in Karachi tournament. We defeated Sialkot in the final. I was part of this team but I did not play.”

    Asif Ali said that he had received a cheque for Rs55,000 for winning the final and at that time his salary was Rs5,000. He said that he slept with the cheque in his pocket so that it would not get stolen.

    The national cricketer said that with this money he bought a motorcycle (125) worth Rs50,000. While his love for his old Yamaha was still there, which used to get stuck anywhere on the road. It was his grandfather’s bike that he used to ride.

    He further said: “I went to play the match and came back home after a few days, but my grandfather’s motorcycle was not there. The elder brother said that he sold it for Rs5,000.”

  • ‘Aik over main 25 bhi kar leinge’: Asif Ali to Shoaib Malik

    ‘Aik over main 25 bhi kar leinge’: Asif Ali to Shoaib Malik

    Asif Ali clinched the match for Pakistan, beating Afghanistan with five wickets.

    At the post-match ceremony Asif said: “The boundary was small from this end so I told Shoaib Malik that I’d go for it this over. Thank God we pulled it off.”

    He further said: “I look at the situation and what it demands and which bowler has overs remaining, and the field setting.”

    “I told Shoaib [Malik] that Naveen was bowling well, and from this end I could even score 25 in an over. So I planned for it,” he concluded.

    “The bowlers bowled brilliantly at the start, but I think we gave 10-15 runs too many away,” said Babar at the post-match ceremony.

    “We didn’t quite use the Powerplay as well as we hoped but Asif and Shoaib Malik at the death were brilliant. The way Asif has played many innings at the PSL, I was very confident he’d get us out of any trouble we find ourselves in,” he added.

    Babar also said: “I wanted to stay till the end but got out, unfortunately. So credit to Asif Ali.”

    Pakistan needed 24 runs in the last two overs. Hitting four sixes in the 19th over, Asif sealed the deal for Pakistan.

    Many notables, cricketers and Prime Minister Imran Khan took to Twitter to congratulate Pakistan and thank Asif for the win. Here are a few Tweets:

    https://twitter.com/76Shadabkhan/status/1454144930318852096?t=tOzd5GoPIMRudKDQzXldbA&s=19

    While former Chief Minister of Punjab Shehbaz Sharif wants to make a flyover in Asif Ali’s name.

    England’s all-rounder Ben Stokes took to Twitter and wrote: “Remember the name @AasifAli2018.”

    Meanwhile, the power hitter took to Twitter and wrote: “Aur koi hukam Pakistan? Shukriya @isbunited aur woh sub log jinho ne mere per belief rakha mere mushkil waqt mai. #PakistanZindabad.”

  • Pakistani cricketers wish Babar Azam on his birthday

    Pakistani cricketers wish Babar Azam on his birthday

    Pakistani cricketers and cricketing fraternity wished the captain of Pakistan cricket team, Babar Azam, on his birthday.

    Taking to Twitter, Safaraz wrote: “Happy birthday bobby. Celebrating another year of your life with health and happiness. I hope your birthday is a great occasion and I wish you all the very best! You’re a shining star ! Keep making Pakistan proud brother Be strong like your cover drive and on drive.”

    While pacers Hassan Ali and Haris Rauf — among others — wished the captain on social media.

    Born in Lahore and a first cousin of the Akmal brothers, Azam made his way up through age-group cricket. His journey began at an under-15 world championship in 2008 and he played two under-19 World Cups in 2010 and 2012, where he was Pakistan’s top run-scorer.

    He is currently in the 10th position in the list of highest run-getters in men’s T20 internationals, having scored 2,204 runs in 56 innings at an average of 46.89. While he is the number two Twenty20 batsman worldwide as of September 2021 with 819 points.

    Meanwhile, the Pakistan cricket team has left for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to participate in the T20 World Cup.

    Taking to Twitter, Babar wrote: “Off to UAE. Your support means more than anything. Stand by your team. Keep supporting. Keep praying. Keep believing. #PakistanZindabad.”