Tag: topsports

  • Formula One legend Niki Lauda passes away

    Formula One legend Niki Lauda passes away

    Legendary Formula One driver Niki Lauda passed away at the age of 70 on Tuesday. His death comes eight months after he underwent a lung transplant. If you’ve seen the 2013 blockbuster Rush, you probably know who Niki Lauda is but if you haven’t read on.

    Lauda was born as Andreas Nikolaus on February 22, 1949, in Vienna into an upper-middle-class family, who did not share his passion for cars. In 1968, without telling his parents, Lauda won his first race with a Mini Racer he had bought with his grandmother’s help.

    During his driving career, Lauda suffered horrific injuries on August 1, 1976 when his vehicle burst into flames on the Nuerburgring in Germany. He had severe burns to his face and hands and inhaled toxic fumes which severely damaged his lungs.

    Despite being given the last rites in hospital he made an almost miraculous recovery to race again just six weeks later still bandaged and in intense pain.

    He missed only two races that season but was unable to hold off the challenge of Britain’s James Hunt, who went on to claim his only world title. The rivalry between the two men was also portrayed in Rush.

    The next season, in 1977, Lauda went on to win his second Formula One world championship with Ferrari. He also went on to win a championship in 1984 with Mercedes. Lauda continued to be associated with F1 and was a non-executive chairman at Mercedes F1 since 2012.

    Apart from that, Lauda was also an airline entrepreneur. He bought and sold several airlines including Lauda Air and Niki.

  • Pakistan not taking any wickets ‘to avoid PM Imran’s wrath’, explains Ramiz Raja

    Pakistan not taking any wickets ‘to avoid PM Imran’s wrath’, explains Ramiz Raja

    Explaining why Pakistani bowlers have been unable to defend 300 plus totals in the last couple of games, commentator and former cricketer Ramiz Raja has made some funny post-match remarks.

    Instead of coming down hard on the team for losing the ODI series to England ahead of ICC World Cup 2019, the former skipper chose to be sarcastic.

    Taking to Twitter to reveal bits of conversation between Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and Pakistan team members, Ramiz shared how the former had called out some team members on “silly wicket-taking celebrations”.

    “Ever since being called out by PM Imran Khan on silly wicket-taking celebrations, this team it seems has decided to not take any wickets to not invite the wrath of the great man! Keeping trouble free, the Pak bowlers,” he tweeted jokingly and added a wink emoji at the end.

  • Shadab declared fit; to play World Cup

    Shadab declared fit; to play World Cup

    Leg-spinner Shadab Khan has been declared fit to play the forthcoming World Cup after latest test revealed zero viral load in his blood.

    According to a press release issued by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Khan will leave for London on May 16, where he will meet Dr Patrick Kennedy on May 17, before joining the national team in Briston on May 20.

    His appearance in warm-up matches against Afghanistan and Bangladesh, however, will be subjected to team management’s decision and his fitness.

    Shadab himself also shared the news on his Twitter account.

    Khan had earlier been ruled out of the ongoing One Day International (ODI) series against England due to illness. “Tests revealed a virus that will require treatment and rest for, at least, four weeks,” PCB had said in a statement.

  • Gautam Gambhir avoids Delhi sun, ‘uses look-alike to campaign for polls’

    Gautam Gambhir avoids Delhi sun, ‘uses look-alike to campaign for polls’

    Indian cricketer-turned-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, Gautam Gambhir, has once again made to headlines after he “used a duplicate to electioneer in his place” as he has a problem with Delhi’s summers heat.

    “Have heard about a stunt double in movies, a runner in cricket, but have seen a duplicate in campaign for the first time,” rival Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Delhi’s Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said in a tweet.

    Tweeting the pictures, the AAP leader also claimed that the alleged impersonator is a Congress worker and not the retired cricketer.

    Gambhir had also made headlines earlier this week after former Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi had slammed him, saying Gambhir is “someone who has no personality and has a lot of attitude”.

    “Some rivalries were personal, some professional. First the curious case of Gambhir. Oh, poor Gautam. He and his attitude problem. He has no personality. He who is barely a character in the great scheme of cricket. He who has no great records just a lot of attitude,” Afridi had said in his memoir “Game Changer”.

  • Ajax player’s on-field Iftar video goes viral

    Ajax player’s on-field Iftar video goes viral

    A video of Ajax football club player’s on-field Iftar from Wednesday has gone viral.

    In the video, defender Noussair Mazraoui can be seen breaking his fast while playing the Champions League semi-final against Tottenham.

    The Dutch-born Moroccan professional footballer was fasting for Ramzan and had to wait until the 24th minute of the game before refueling.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    Ajax lost to Tottenham 2-3 in an astonishing comeback for the north Londoners.

    Lucas Moura scored a dramatic last-minute winner to send Tottenham into the final for the first time in its history. The win being secured in Amsterdam — Ajax’s home — was termed as “the cherry on top” by Twitterati.

  • Waqar Younis was a ‘mediocre captain and terrible coach’, writes Afridi

    Waqar Younis was a ‘mediocre captain and terrible coach’, writes Afridi

    Former cricketing stalwart Shahid Afridi has noted that his colleague Waqar Younis was a “mediocre captain and terrible coach” who couldn’t hold the team together.

    “Waqar and I had a history, dating all the way back to his tiff with Wasim [Akram] over the captaincy crown. He was a mediocre captain but a terrible coach, always micromanaging and getting in the way, trying to tell the captain – me – what to do… It was a natural clash and it was bound to happen,” Afridi said in his memoir “Game Changer”, co-written with journalist Wajahat Saeed Khan.

    The former skipper also revealed some other never-shared-before details about his personal and cricketing life.

    AFRIDI’S REAL AGE:

    The former captain revealed that he was 19 years old when he
    debuted for Pakistan, however, his documented age was 16.

    “I was just nineteen, and not sixteen like they claim. I was
    born in 1975. So, yes, the authorities stated my age incorrectly.”

    2010 SPOT-FIXING
    SCANDAL:

    Regarding the 2010 spot-fixing scandal, Afridi revealed he
    already knew it was going to happen. Despite informing the Manager Yawar Saeed,
    no action was taken. Team management was either non-serious or worried and this
    prompted him to give up the captaincy.

    Salman Butt was appointed in his place.

    ABOUT JAVED MIANDAD:

    Boom Boom called Miandad a legend but a “small man”. He said
    that Miandad hated his batting style. After scoring a test century in India, he
    was asked to praise Miandad at the presentation ceremony, Afridi claims.

    Moreover, he wasn’t allowed to practice with the team ahead
    of the match in Chennai as Miandad wanted to field Asif Mujtaba.

    GAUTAM GAMBHIR:

    The book has also made its way to Indian press owing to certain comments regarding cricketers of the neighbouring country.

    Slamming former India opener Gautam Gambhir, Afridi termed him as someone who has no personality and has a lot of attitude.

    “Some rivalries were personal, some professional. First the curious case of Gambhir. Oh, poor Gautam. He and his attitude problem. He has no personality. He who is barely a character in the great scheme of cricket. He who has no great records just a lot of attitude,” Afridi said.