Day: November 4, 2021

Former Pakistan fast bowler, Shoaib Akhtar, believes Pakistan are front-runners to win the 2021 T20 World Cup if they manage to keep their focus and keep on playing the way they have played throughout the tournament.

Shoaib said that Pakistan’s magnificent run in the tournament reminds him of the 1999 Cricket World Cup and warned the Pakistan team to not get complacent at any moment in the mega event. He further hoped that the Pakistan team does not have a bad day like the one they had in the 1999 Cricket World Cup final.

“This World Cup shouldn’t slip through our fingers. We don’t want a bad day, like in 1999. The way Pakistan are playing currently, and are cruising through games, reminds me of our 1999 ODI World Cup. So we don’t want any unlucky day which embarrasses us. So, let’s win it,” Shoaib stated.

Pakistan have started their tournament in immaculate fashion, winning their first four games of the tournament and becoming the first team to qualify for the semi-finals of the mega event. They had a similar run in the 1999 Cricket World Cup where they were the best side in sthe tournament until the final. Pakistan capitulated to 132 in the final against Australia and lost the match by 8 wickets.

Shoaib believes Pakistan has the best possible chance of lifting the T20 World Cup trophy as they have the perfect team for the conditions in the UAE. He said that the only team on par and capable of beating Pakistan is England who have had an impressive start to their T20 World Cup campaign as well.

Source: Pro Pakistani

Pakistan’s explosive middle-order batter, Asif Ali has been nominated for October’s player of the month award for his match-winning knocks in the 2021 T20 World Cup.

Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan and Namibia’s David Wiese are the other two players nominated for October’s accolade, with all three players enjoying fine starts to the tournament in UAE and Oman.

Asif Ali’s T20 World Cup fireworks in Pakistan’s lower order have earned him a nomination, with a blitz of 27* from 12 balls in a win over New Zealand followed up by an extraordinary performance against Afghanistan, hitting four sixes in the 19th over to seal an important third victory at the tournament.

Shakib Al Hasan was vital in Bangladesh’s negotiation of the first round, also playing three Super 12 matches before succumbing to an injury that ruled him out for the rest of the tournament. Across six T20Is, Shakib scored 131 runs at 21.83, though it was perhaps with the ball where the left-arm spinner was more lethal, taking 11 wickets at just 11.18, with an economy of a miserly 5.59.

Namibian all-rounder, David Wiese, rounds out this month’s nominees, after playing a pivotal role with both bat and ball in the Eagles’ progress to the T20 World Cup’s Super 12 stage. Scoring 162 runs at an average of 27, with a strike rate of 132.78, Wiese has made an immediate impact in Namibia’s middle order, with knocks of 66* and 28* against the Netherlands and Ireland crucial in his team’s historic run through the first round. With the ball, Wiese has taken seven wickets at an economy of 7.23, making a case as one of the tournament’s premier all-rounders.

Source: Pro Pakistani

India’s 66-run victory over Afghanistan in the 2021 T20 World Cup has sparked a debate in the cricketing fraternity as many fans believe that the outcome of the match was pre-determined. Fans took to social media to voice their opinion with ‘#fixed’ and ‘#WellPaidIndia’ becoming some of the top trends on the popular social media platform, Twitter.

One of the talking points on social media was the video of the toss. Many people have pointed out that Indian captain, Virat Kohli, told Afghanistan captain, Mohammad Nabi, to bowl first after the latter won the toss.

While it is clearly heard that there was a brief conversation between the two captains regarding the decision after the toss, many people believe it is Kohli who addressed Nabi and told him to bowl first.

It is actually Mohammad Nabi who told Kohli about his decision to bowl first after winning the toss. This is a common practice in cricket where the toss-winning captain tells the other captain about his decision before announcing it on the microphone.

By listening closely, it is clear that Nabi had informed Kholi that he “will bowl first” to which the Indian skipper replied “okay” and not the other way around.

There have been similar incidents in previous matches held in this particular T20 World Cup as well and this tradition has been in cricket for ages. Even during Pakistan’s encounter against Afghanistan, Babar had asked Nabi about his decision right after the toss.

Source: Pro Pakistani

FA delegation of Pakistan Soccer Futsal Federation led by Chairman Islamabad Soccer Futsal Association, Chaudhry Saleem Zia, visited Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry and held a meeting with Muhammad Shakeel Munir, President ICCI, to discuss the promotion of futsal.

Jamshaid Akhtar Sheikh, Senior Vice President, Muhammad Faheem Khan, Vice President ICCI, Baser Daud, former President, Ch. Muhammad Ali, Executive Member ICCI, Adnan Malik, Secretary General Pakistan Soccer Futsal Federation, Asia Aslam, President (Women’s Wing) Islamabad Soccer Futsal Association, Rana Tanveer Ahmed, President Islamabad Soccer Futsal Association and Moin ud Din, Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Soccer Futsal Association, were present in the meeting.

During the meeting, the delegation briefed the President ICCI Muhammad Shakeel Munir about the Pak-US Futsal series. They informed that the USA’s Futsal team would visit Pakistan from December 1 to 7, 2021 to play a three-match series, one each at Islamabad, Lahore, and Sargodha.

Speaking at the occasion, Shakeel Munir, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, assured the delegation of his full support to make the series successful. He appointed Muhammad Faheem Khan, Vice President, ICCI as Coordinator. He vowed that ICCI would continue to play its positive role in the promotion of sports activities.

Source: Pro Pakistani

Babar Azam’s father, Azeem Siddique, has requested the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to make immediate arrangements for the treatment of injured woman cricketer, Bisma Amjad. Siddique took to the popular social media platform, Instagram, to voice his concerns for the cricketer.

Siddique said that if other arrangements cannot be made then the PCB can pay for the treatment through Babar’s match-fee that he had received for Pakistan’s match against India in the 2021 T20 World Cup.

Siddique said, “[If] any individual who wears Pakistan’s star is helpless then the entire nation is helpless.” He requested PCB Chairman, Ramiz Raja, to take immediate action for the treatment of Bisma.

Last month, Bisma suffered a head injury during Pakistan’s practice session in Karachi and was shifted to a nearby hospital immediately. Bisma suffered from a concussion as the ball hit her head. According to reports, PCB refused to pay the medical bill of Rs. 54,000 which resulted in a lot of backlash on social media.

PCB revealed that they are looking after the well-being of Bisma but according to the rumor mill, the bill has still not been paid. It is also reported that Bisma’s condition has not improved and has been suffering for the past three days. Further details behind her health will be revealed after further scans.

Source: Pro Pakistani