Tag: T20I

  • Islamabad Police appoints Haris Rauf as honorary Deputy Superintendent

    Islamabad Police appoints Haris Rauf as honorary Deputy Superintendent

    The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Police, commonly known as the Islamabad Police, have conferred the honorary title of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) upon the celebrated Pakistani fast bowler, Haris Rauf.

    The appointment was marked by a ceremony held by the ICT in Islamabad, during which Rauf was attired in police uniform and the title was bestowed upon him by the IG of the Islamabad Police, Dr Akbar Nasir Khan.

    Rauf expressed his enthusiasm at being appointed as the goodwill ambassador of the ICT Police on Twitter.

    Rauf has made significant contributions to the Pakistani cricket team by claiming 72 T20I wickets and 30 ODI wickets. Recently, he was also spotted at the Wagah Border with the PSL 8 Trophy, which he won with the Lahore Qalandars.

    It is noteworthy that this trend of police departments appointing Pakistani pacers as goodwill ambassadors seems to be gaining traction, as earlier this year, Naseem Shah was also conferred with the DSP rank and appointed as the Goodwill Ambassador of the Balochistan Police. The event was marked by a function held at the IG Balochistan Police Office in Quetta.

  • Naseem Shah tests positive for Covid-19

    Naseem Shah tests positive for Covid-19

    Before the crucial seven-match T20I series against England at home, fast bowler Naseem Shah has tested positive for COVID-19, according to Geo Super.

    The bowler is presently receiving treatment at a nearby hospital, and will not be available for the final two Twenty20 internationals against England.

    Shah was recently admitted to a hospital for treatment after experiencing a high fever, where his dengue test was also done, but it was later discovered that he has a chest infection, which has led to further problems.

    Yesterday, it was reported that the right-arm pacer was diagnosed with pneumonia, and he may miss the remainder of the ongoing series, while also casting doubts on his participation in the forthcoming tri-nation series in New Zealand and the T20 World Cup in Australia.

    “Naseem Shah’s participation in the upcoming matches and departure to New Zealand with the squad will be decided after seeing his medical reports,” a cricket board official said in a statement.

    The management decided that Naseem should recuperate ahead of the tri-nation series in New Zealand and the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia, therefore he has only participated in one of the four games.

    In the just-finished Asia Cup 2022 in the UAE, Naseem Shah made his T20I debut. There, he put up an amazing bowling performance, capturing seven wickets in five games with an economy rate of 7.66.

  • History of Pakistan vs India matches at Asia Cup

    History of Pakistan vs India matches at Asia Cup

    The cricket rivalry between Pakistan and India is known as the greatest rivalry in the world of cricket. Today, the two sides will meet once again at Asia Cup 2022.

    Pakistan and India have played 14 matches in Asia Cup since 1984. India won 8 out of the 14 matches played in total while Pakistan won five. One match ended without a result as it was rained out.

    Here is the list of Pakistan vs India matches in Asia Cup.

    1984:

    India beat Pakistan by 54 runs while Surinder Khanna was the Man of the Match; he scored 56 runs on 72 balls.

    1988:

    India once again beat Pakistan by 4 wickets. Pakistan scored 142 while India chased the target in 40.4 overs with 4 wickets in hand. Arshad Ayub was Man of the Match.

    1995:

    Pakistan broke its losing streak and defeated India by 97 runs. Aqib Javed was Man of the Match with his magical bowling spell with five wickets to his name.

    1997:

    Match was abandoned because of rain.

    2000:

    Pakistan maintained its wining streak and beat India by 44 runs. Mouhammad Yousuf became Man of the Match by scoring a century on 112 balls. Pakistan scored 295 for the loss of 7 while India managed to score 251 in chase.

    2004:

    Pakistan won the match by 59 runs. Shoaib Malik was Man of the Match. He scored 143 on 127 with 2 wickets.

    2008 Group Stage:

    India beat Pakistan by 6 wickets. Suresh Raina became Man of the Match by scoring 84 runs on 69 balls with 2 wickets to his name. Virender Sehwag also played an outstanding innings of 119 on 95 balls.

    2008 Super 4s:

    Pakistan won by 8 wickets with Younis Khan getting Player of the Match award. His outstanding knock of 123 on 117 helped Pakistan achieve a huge target of 308.

    2010:

    India beat Pakistan by 3 wickets with 1 ball remaining. India chased 267 while Gautam Gambhir became Man of the Match by scoring 83 on 97 balls.

    2012:

    India beat Pakistan by 6 wickets. Pakistan scored 329 while India managed to chase in 47.5 overs. Kohli got the Player of the Match award by scoring 183 on 148 balls.

    2014:

    Pakistan won by 1 wicket. This match took a lot of turns. In the final over, Pakistan needed 9 runs in the last over with 2 wickets in hand. Pakistan lost their ninth wicket on Ashwin’s first ball. On the next ball, Junaid khan took a single followed by two maximums by Afridi. Hafeez became Man of the Match with 75 runs and two wickets to his name.

    2016:

    India beat Pakistan by five wickets. This was the first T20I edition of Asia Cup. India defeated Pakistan with Kohli scoring 49 on 51 balls.

    2018 Group Stage:

    India won with eight wickets in hand. Pakistan scored 162 while India achieved that target in 29 overs.

    2018 Super 4s:

    India once again defeated Pakistan with a tremendous knock of Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma of 114 and 111 respectively.

  • VIDEO: Babar Azam meets Virat Kohli in Dubai ahead of Pak Vs India clash

    Team India landed in Dubai on August 23 and went straight to the nets to prepare for India’s match against Pakistan on August 28 (Sunday). Ahead of the much-anticipated match, players from both the teams met each other in Dubai.  The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shared a video in which Virat Kohli could be seen meeting Pakistan skipper Babar Azam.

    In the video, Hardik Pandya and Yuzvendra Chahal were also chatting with Muhammad Nabi.

    Babar Azam retained his top spot in the International Cricket Council (ICC) T20I rankings. He is at the top of the rankings with 818 points, whereas Kohli has been struggling of late.

    Comparisons between the two had started long back and gathers steam ahead of a match between the two rival sides.

    Read more: ‘This too shall pass’, Pakistani captain Babar Azam backs Virat Kohli to regain form

    Asia Cup is all set to start from August 27 and Pakistan will be playing its first match against India on August 28 in Dubai.

    Babar and Kohli’s video has drawn massive reaction of fans from both countries. Here are some tweets.

  • Team Pakistan, Sri Lanka set to play Test & ODIs during July series

    Team Pakistan, Sri Lanka set to play Test & ODIs during July series

    Pakistan cricket team is set to tour Sri Lanka for test and ODIs series which will begin from July to August this year. Pakistan will play two Tests and five One Day International (ODIs) matches against Sri Lanka. Pakistan recently successfully hosted Australia for a full series after 24 long years … 3 tests, three ODIs, and a T20.

    Both Cricket Boards will announce venues and dates for the matches after mutual consultation. Pakistan will prolong its tour in Sri Lanka for the T20 Asia Cup, which will end in September.

    Before touring Sri Lanka, the West Indies team is visiting Pakistan in the month of June to play three ODI matches with Pakistan.

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to remove covid restrictions and bio-secure bubble during the Pakistan-West Indies series as the infection rate has significantly dropped in the country.

    England is scheduled to tour Pakistan for seven T20I matches after the Pakistan-Sri Lanka series.

  • Cricket fans can now buy Pak-Aus match tickets online, priced between Rs. 500 – 4,000

    Ticket prices for the much anticipated one day matches between Pakistan, Australia have been revealed. The three-match one-day international and a T20I will be played at Gaddafi Stadium from 29 March to 5 April.

    Tickets for the three-match one-day international and T20I are now available for sale. Tickets are also available online at https://pcb.bookme.pk and as well as from the nearest M&P Courier outlets.

    Tickets for ODIs range from PKR 500 to PKR 3,000, while tickets for one-off T20Is have been priced from PKR 500 to PKR 4,000.

    These prices are in line with PCB’s commitment to make tickets affordable for Pakistan cricket fans.

    Payments can be made using Easypaisa/ Jazzcash/ creditcard/ Nift options, while https://pcb.bookme.pk/ helpline number is 03137786888. 

    At the time of entering the Gaddafi Stadium on match days, fans will have to show their Covid-19 immunisation certificates and valid CNICs.

    Ticket prices for 29 March, 31 March and 2 April ODIs

    Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis Enclosures – PKR3,000

    Fazal Mahmood, Imran Khan Enclosures – PKR2,000

    Rajas and Saeed Anwar Enclosures – PKR1,500

    Abdul Qadir, AH Kardar, Javed Miandad and Sarfraz Nawaz Enclosures – PKR1,000

    Hanif Mohammad, Imtiaz Ahmed, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Majid Khan, Nazars, Quaid, Saeed Ahmad, Zaheer Abbas Enclosures – PKR500

    Ticket prices for 5 April T20I

    Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis Enclosures – PKR4,000

    Fazal Mahmood, Imran Khan Enclosures – PKR3,000

    Rajas and Saeed Anwar Enclosures – PKR2,500

    Abdul Qadir, AH Kardar, Javed Miandad and Sarfraz Nawaz Enclosures – PKR1,000

    Hanif Mohammad, Imtiaz Ahmed, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Majid Khan, Nazars, Quaid, Saeed Ahmad, Zaheer Abbas Enclosures – PKR500

  • Babar, Rizwan, Shaheen have a message for fans after receiving ICC awards

    Babar, Rizwan, Shaheen have a message for fans after receiving ICC awards

    Pakistan cricket team captain Babar Azam, wicket-keeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan and pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi have a message for their fans after receiving ODI Cricketer of the Year, T20I Cricketer of the Year and ICC Player of the Year awards respectively. All three cricketers took to their social media to express their gratitude for achieving the feat.

    Read More – Babar Azam named ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year

    Taking to Twitter, Babar expressed his gratitude for being named ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year 2021.

    “I am thankful to Almighty, my family, friends, and fans who always push me to do better with all their love and trust,” he said in a tweet.

    This is the third mention of Babar Azam in the ICC Awards 2021. He was earlier announced as the captain of the T20 and ODI teams of the year by the ICC.

    Similarly Rizwan, after being declared the T20I Cricketer of the Year, took to Twitter to thank the Almighty.

    “Alhumdulillah. Bus Allah se hota hai. Allah k ghair se nahi hota,” he wrote.

    He further added: “I am grateful to everyone for their support and love. In sha Allah, the journey has just started. This award is dedicated to Pakistan and the beautiful people of Pakistan.”

    The player aggregated a staggering 1,326 runs in only 29 matches at an average of 73.66 and a strike-rate of 134.89 last year.

    Read More – ‘Sirf Allah se hota hai’: Mohammad Rizwan after scoring 2,000 record T20 runs in a year

    According to the International Cricket Council (ICC), Rizwan was “as solid as ever behind the stumps”, playing a key role in Pakistan’s run to the semi-final during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021, where he ended up as the third-highest run-scorer.

    Pakistan’s “tall boy” Afridi, as noted by ICC, also joined Babar and Rizwan in expressing his joy and gratitude by posting a tweet.

    “Almighty has been very kind to me. I’m extremely grateful for all the love sent my way,” he wrote.

    Afridi took 78 wickets in 36 internationals at an average of 22.20 with the best bowling figures of 6/51.

    The 21-year-old speedster was on fire throughout 2021, knocking some of the best batters over across all three formats of the game.

    He especially had a year to remember in Tests and T20Is, reaching his peak during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in UAE where he impressed one and all with his sheer speed and skills. His exceptional spell against India in the ICC T20 World Cup was the cherry on the top for the Pakistan cricket fans. He sent Indian openers KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma and former captain Virat Kohli to the pavillion in the clash with India. He conceded only 31 runs in his four overs.

  • Riz-wins T20I Player of the Year Award, Fatima Sana is Emerging Player of the Year

    Riz-wins T20I Player of the Year Award, Fatima Sana is Emerging Player of the Year

    Pakistan’s wicket-keeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan has been named the ICC men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year for 2021, while a young female cricketer of the Pakistan women’s cricket team Fatima Sana has been named ICC women’s Emerging Player of the Year.

    Rizwan, who also won the PCB’s Most Valuable Cricketer of the Year award recently following a stellar year, scored 1326 runs in 29 T20Is at an average of 73.66 and a strike rate of 134.89. He was also responsible for 22 dismissals behind the stumps in the format.

    At the Men’s T20 World Cup, where Pakistan lost in the semi-finals, Rizwan finished as the third-highest run-getter with 281 runs in six matches. In 2021, Rizwan also became the first batter to touch the 1000-run mark in a calendar year in T20Is, and the 2000-run mark in T20s.

    On the other hand, Pakistan’s Fatima Sana, a seam-bowling allrounder, was named ICC Women’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year. Sana, 20, claimed 24 wickets and scored 165 runs in 16 games across ODI and T20I cricket in 2021.

    https://twitter.com/PCBofficials/status/1485466852700700673?s=20

    Apart from playing West Indies at home, she also toured South Africa and the West Indies, and played the Women’s World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe. Her most eye-catching performance came in an ODI in Antigua in July, when she hit an unbeaten 28 off 19 and then took her maiden international five-wicket haul to help Pakistan to a win.

    Twitter was flooded with the congratulatory messages for both cricketers

    PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja congratulated Rizwan on a “well deserved achievement”. He lauded the cricketer, saying:

    “Your humility, attitude and hard work defines you,” and wished more laurels and success to him.

    Meanwhile, PCB’s official Twitter account also posted a congratulatory tweet for Rizwan.

    Srilankan cricketer Dimuth Karunarathna, Pakistani all-rounder Shadab Khan and many took to Twitter to congratulate Rizwan.

    Senator Faisal Javed Khan also congratulated “Pakistan’s star cricketer” on Twitter. He also congratuled Fatima in another tweet.

    Taking to Twitter, Rizwan said that the journey has just started.

    While Fatima said that she is honoured, humbled and overwhelmed.

  • Kohli ranks below Babar across all three cricket formats in ICC rankings

    Kohli ranks below Babar across all three cricket formats in ICC rankings

    Indian Test captain Virat Kohli has dropped below Pakistan Cricket Team Skipper Babar Azam in the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) batting rankings across all three formats of cricket Test, ODI, and T20I.

    Kohli was already below Babar in the ODI and T20I rankings, but after the latest rankings were released, the Indian batter slipped two positions and is now at the ninth spot, with 747 rating points.

    The ex-Indian ODI and T20I captain managed to score 53 runs in the Centurion Test against South Africa — averaging only 26.50.

    Kohli was two places above Babar, who gained a spot, and is now at the eighth spot, with 750 rating points in the Test category.

    The Indian batter, in the ODI rankings, is at second place, a spot below Babar, who is at the top of the list. The Pakistan batter has 873 rating points, while Kohli has 844.

    In the T20I rankings, Babar is sitting at the top spot, with 805 rating points, equalling Dawid Malan, while Kohli is not even in the top 10. The Indian batter is at the 11th spot, with 657 rating points.

  • Babar Azam celebrates Pakistan’s 20th T20I win in a year, clean sweep

    Babar Azam celebrates Pakistan’s 20th T20I win in a year, clean sweep

    Pakistan cricket team captain Babar Azam took to his social media to celebrate the 20th T20I win of the team in a calendar year. The 27-year-old batter was also happy for winning the three-match T20I series with a clean sweep against West Indies in Karachi on Thursday.

    Taking to Twitter, the skipper wrote: “One more in the collection, Alhumdulillah.”

    He also thanked Windies team for their tour despite difficult times of Covid-19. “Special mention to West Indies team for making this tour possible in difficult times. Our whole nation graciously thank you,” he wrote.

    Babar and Rizwan, after winning the 20th T20I in a year, shared their views about the national side. Babar credited Pakistan team for their successful run in T20Is in 2021. The captain also showered praise on his opening partner.

    Calling him a wonderful human being and speaking about the way Rizwan has improved his game, Babar said: “According to me, I’m privileged to have such a talented cricketer, a wonderful human being, someone who gels everyone together and someone who is looked up to by everyone.”

    “The way Rizwan improved his game, confidence levels and belief in himself is evident for everyone to see in the last one year. I’m happy that he is the leading T20I run-scorer in 2021,” he added.

    He credited the entire team for the success and noted: “The credit goes to the team and the players for their efforts, and believing in themselves. Communication and backing the players has been quite helpful for us. Every player in our dressing room is a match-winner.”

    Mohammad Rizwan finished 2021 as the leading run-scorer in T20Is with 1,326 runs in 29 matches at an average of nearly 74. He also became the first cricketer to score over 2,000 T20 runs (2,036 runs) in a calendar year.

    Rizwan and Babar powered Pakistan to their highest successful chase in T20I cricket as well as beating West Indies by seven wickets in the third T20I in Karachi. Babar contributed 79 off 53 balls, while Rizwan was the aggressor, hitting 87 off just 45 with the help of ten fours and three sixes.

    At the end, Asif Ali hit a flurry of boundaries to level the scores and sealing the deal for the national side, scoring 21* off just 7 balls.

    All-rounder Shadab Khan, pacer Haris Rauf and power hitter Asif also took to their social media to express their joy after winning the series with a clean sweep.

    Chairman PCB Ramiz Raja also lauded both the openers and team for the achievement.