Tag: Pakistani Cricketer

  • Shoaib Malik reveals his two favourite things

    Shoaib Malik reveals his two favourite things

    Shoaib Malik has revealed that his two favourite things include spending time with son Izhaan and sunsets.

    Posting pictures of himself and Izhaan enjoying time together at the Desert Safari in Abu Dhabi, Malik wrote: “Sunsets and Izhaan have to be two of my favourite things in the world.”

    Malik’s wife Sania Mirza also shared some pictures of their vacation. Former fast bowler Azhar Mahmood and his family were also part of the Mirza-Malik’s trip.

    Read more – Sania Mirza is a ‘proud mumma’ after Izhaan Mirza Malik fluently recites his duas

    Looks like Izhaan had a great time playing in the sand.

    “I never knew playing in ‘matttiiii’ could be this much fun,” wrote Izhaan in the caption.

  • Islamabad United will be picking players without Misbah for PSL6

    Islamabad United will be picking players without Misbah for PSL6

    After four “wonderful” seasons, Misbah-ul-Haq and Islamabad United have parted ways. The PSL franchise will now have to select players without him.

    In a tweet, the current Head Coach of the Pakistan Cricket Team, Misbah wrote: “Thank you IU for four wonderful seasons. Best of luck for PSL 6.”

    Similarly, Islamabad United also thanked him from their official Twitter account.

    “IU will not be renewing Misbah already expired head coach contract given his commitments with the national team,” read an official statement. “We thank him for his great contribution to ISLU. We wish him the very best of luck with the national team.”

    Owner of Islamabad United Ali Naqvi also thanked Misbah for his “immense contribution to the team” and wished him the best for his future endeavours.

    Two-time champions Islamabad United will make the first pick in the HBL Pakistan Super League 2021 Player Draft, according to the latest updates.

    Multan Sultans and HBL PSL 2020 finalists Lahore Qalandars will have the second and third pick, respectively.

    Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators, the champions of the 2017 and 2019 editions, will have the next two picks. Defending champions Karachi Kings will have the sixth pick. 

    The pick order for round one of the HBL PSL 2021 Player Draft was decided after a random draw in the presence of representatives of all six franchises at the PCB headquarters in Lahore.

    According to reports, the drafting for season 6 will be held in the second week of January with the matches starting from February 20. The board is yet to decide on the involvement of players in the draft. It is also expected that the draft may be held virtually due to the rising coronavirus cases.

  • Haris Rauf leads 2020 with most T20 wickets

    Haris Rauf leads 2020 with most T20 wickets

    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.

    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.

    To celebrate his big achievement, Haris shared a picture of himself and Afridi chilling in New Zealand.

  • NZvPAK: Muhammad Hafeez reinvents himself at 40

    NZvPAK: Muhammad Hafeez reinvents himself at 40

    After his career best performance in second T20I against New Zealand, Hafeez has achieved another milestone, reinventing himself at the age of 40.

    Hafeez who is fondly referred to as ‘Professor’ has achieved a milestone by equalling Shoaib Malik’s 2323 T20I runs for Pakistan. Showing his class, which comes with experience, Hafeez not coming slow at this age.

    Scoring 99 runs and not out in the second T20I against the black caps, Hafeez helped Pakistan win in the third and final match, achieving the most T20I runs scored by a player in the year 2020, that is 415 runs in total.

    Continuing his dream run in the shortest format, Hafeez pumped the New Zealand bowlers for three sixes and two fours in his valuable contribution of 41 runs.

    Hafeez’s departure was followed by Muhammad Rizwan stamping his authority on the proceedings and punishing the bowlers for their wayward lengths.

    Rizwan hit three delightful sixes, all off length deliveries, during his excellent innings and pierced the gaps with surgical precision to take his team closer to the finishing line and got out at 89 in the final over.

    Iftikhar Ahmed sealed the deal with an enormous six that touched the rooftop, stealing a win for Pakistan, beating the Kiwis with four wickets in hand.

    Hafeez took to Twitter and thanked Allah, “Alhamdu Lillah! Allah is the best planner.”

    Hafeez will now come back to Pakistan, while the national side will now face New Zealand in two Test Matches, starting December 26 under Rizwan’s captaincy.

  • ‘I have been tortured’: Mohammad Amir announces retirement from international cricket

    ‘I have been tortured’: Mohammad Amir announces retirement from international cricket

    Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir has said that he is retiring from international cricket.

    Speaking to journalist Shoaib Jatt, Amir said that he will release a detailed statement sharing his reasons behind his retirement when he arrives back in Pakistan from Sri Lanka, where he has been playing for Galle Gladiators in the Lanka Premier League. However, he made it clear that he cannot continue playing under the current management which is why he made this announcement.

    “I have been tortured,” says Amir in the video.

    Amir, who had an impressive campaign for Galle Gladiators in Lanka Premier League, said he will be playing franchise cricket but has made up his mind not to carry on playing for Pakistan. Amir had retired from Test cricket last year citing workload issues.

    “No, I am not going away from cricket. If you have seen the way the atmosphere over here and the way I have been sidelined,” said an emotional Amir. “I got a wake-up call there when I was not selected in 35 boys. If I don’t get selected in the 35-member squad, then it is a wake-up call for me.”

    “I don’t think I can play cricket under this management. I think I should leave cricket this time. I am being tortured mentally,” he continued. “I don’t think I can tolerate any more torture now. I have seen a lot of torture from 2010 to 2015. I was away from the game and sentenced for my mistake.”

    Read more – Kyun Nikala?: ‘Misbah Saab he bataa saktay hain,’ says Mohammad Amir

    According to a press release issued by PCB, Pakistan Cricket Board chief executive Wasim Khan spoke with Amir this afternoon following reports that the fast bowler had announced his retirement from international cricket.

    The 29-year-old confirmed to the PCB chief executive that he has no desires or intensions of playing international cricket and as such, he should not be considered for future international matches.

    “This is a personal decision of Mohammad Amir, which the PCB respects, and as such, will not make any further comment on this matter at this stage,” stated the press release.

    Amir made his debut for Pakistan in a T20I match against England in June 2009 and was part of the team which won the 2009 T20 World Cup.

    However, his career went downhill after he was found guilty of spot-fixing and was banned for five years. He made his international comeback in 2015 and went on to play an instrumental role in Pakistan’s Champions Trophy triumph in 2017.

  • Shoaib Akhtar says women should be allowed to wear whatever they want

    Shoaib Akhtar says women should be allowed to wear whatever they want

    Pakistan former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has opened up about his spiritual side. While the cricketer, also referred to as the Rawalpindi Express is known for his aggression and hard talk, in an interview insisted on revealing another side of himself.

    Read more – Tom Cruise in ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ reminds Shoaib Akhtar of himself

    In the recent interview with Mira Sethi, Shoaib said, “In my life I have been taking lessons from Islamic scholars. I have read Islamic books for knowledge.”

    “Then the fantasy of life started again. From the age of 16 till 36, I left everything and lived my life. I saw the world,” he continued.

    He further said: “I’m not a scholar, but I’m very close to my religion. Our religion gives us freedom and advises us to give freedom to others too. Our forefathers were brilliant personalities as they were very close to our religion. I have even visited Karbala and it was a great experience.”

    Talking about women and their choice of clothing, he said, “If you can’t help women at least give them space. Whatever they wear, it is between them and their Allah. Who are you to say anything? [Tum mamay lagtay ho? Saray thanaydar ban kay aa jatay ho].”

    Talking about his wife, he said that she does the niqab and that it is her own decision.

    “I’ve never asked her to wear it,” shared Akhtar.

  • Shoaib Akhtar praises Indian artist for making amazing sketches of him

    Shoaib Akhtar recently praised an Indian artist for drawing a hyper-realistic ballpoint sketch of the former cricketer.

    Chitrakar, a freelance artist from New Delhi had posted his art on Instagram. The sketch shows two expressions of the fast bowler, one in black ink and the other in red.

    Taking to Twitter, the cricketer wrote, “I can’t thank you guys enough who make these illustrations by giving so much time & dedication.”

  • ‘I’d pick Mohammad Amir in every white ball game I’d coach’: Mickey Arthur

    ‘I’d pick Mohammad Amir in every white ball game I’d coach’: Mickey Arthur

    Former Pakistan Cricket Team coach Mickey Arthur, in an interview, talked about Mohammad Amir’s skills and experience, saying: “I definitely think that Amir has got a future in middle of his career. I still think that he is one of the best white ball bowlers around at the moment.”

    Appreciating Amir’s courage, he said, “The one thing I do like about Aamir is when there is a tough situation he wants the ball he doesn’t shy away from the tough situations.”

    “His execution is good. He still has got enough pace. He is a wise, more experienced player,” said Arthur.

    Concluding his remarks, he said, ”I would have Amir in any white ball cricket team that I coach.”

    Read more – Kyun Nikala?: ‘Misbah Saab he bataa saktay hain,’ says Mohammad Amir

    In a response to Mickey’s remarks, Amir replied in a tweet, “Thanks coach I would love to play under your coaching anywhere in the world.”

    It is pertinent to add here that Amir was dropped from the 35-member squad, which is currently touring New Zealand. Pakistan head coach and chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq, explaining the decision said: “[Shoaib]Malik and Amir are not part of the white-ball matches as for this tour we have opted to invest, develop and focus on the promising and emerging players who are likely to be available to Pakistan for all formats.”

    John Michael “Mickey” Arthur was the coach of Pakistan Cricket Team from 2016 to 2019. He is the currently the Head Coach of the Sri Lanka national cricket team as of December 2019.

  • ‘To new beginnings’: Sami Aslam call it quits with Pakistan cricket

    Pakistani test cricketer Sami Aslam has called it quits with Pakistan cricket by joining hands with USA Cricket.

    The 24-year-old opener, on his social media account, announced that he is in United States for a new beginning.

    According to reports, Aslam has struck a deal with USA Cricket that will see him spend two years and 10 months playing league cricket in the States and eventually represent the US.

    Aslam, 24, recently decided to quit Pakistan’s domestic cricket in favour of moving to the US as he was distraught at being demoted to Balochistan’s Second XI for the National T20 Cup.

    The Lahore-born cricketer was disgruntled after not being selected in the 35-member squad for the New Zealand tour despite his string of solid domestic performances in the previous campaigns.

    He has played 13 Tests and scored 758 runs at an average of 31.58 with seven half-centuries to his name.

    The left-hander’s last appearance for Pakistan came in a Test match against Sri Lanka back in 2017.

  • Shahid Afridi leaves LPL midway due to a ‘personal emergency’

    Shahid Afridi leaves LPL midway due to a ‘personal emergency’

    Shahid Afridi, who joined the Galle Gladiators squad after he missed his flight, has left the Lanka Premier League (LPL) midway due to a “personal emergency”.

    In a tweet, the cricketer who his captaining his team Galle Gladiators, said that he has “a personal emergency to attend to back home”. He added that he will rejoin the team “immediately after the situation is handled”.

    The team management has said that owing to the quarantine rules, Afridi is unlikely to return. In his absence, Bhanuka Rajapaksa will lead the team, while Afridi’s replacement has not yet been decided.

    Gladiators, who have lost all three of their matches will be playing tonight (Thursday) against the unbeaten Jaffna Stallions.

    Meanwhile, Sri Lankan media have revealed that Afridi is going back to Karachi to tend to his nine-month-old daughter who is reportedly unwell and has been admitted to the hospital. They also said that Lala joined the squad late because of his daughter’s illness.

    “The same daughter is not well again and he will be leaving the hotel in Hambantota at around 7 pm for Colombo, where he will catch a flight for Karachi at 1 am,” a team source told the media.

    Former Cricketer Umar Gul also commented on Afridi’s tweet to inquire if all is well.