Category: Sports

Pakistan's left-arm spinning all-rounder, Zafar Gohar, almost gave a match-winning performance against Sussex in the English County Championship Division Two as he dominated play both with the bat and the ball in the two innings. Zafar scored consecutive half-centuries which lifted the lower-order batting while also contributing eight wickets with the ball. Batting first, Gloucestershire scored 417 where Zafar was the third highest run-getter with 60 runs. With the ball, his figures read 35-2-139-3 as he picked up crucial middle-order wickets. His side, Gloucestershire, scored a paltry 205 in the second innings which resulted in Sussex getting a meagre target of 144. Sussex chased the total down within 38 overs as they lost six wickets, five of which came through Zafar. The left-arm spinner's figures read 18.4-3-59-5 but they couldn't stop Sussex from attaining the maximum points. Zafar picked the wickets of the top three batters but Indian middle-order maestro, Chesteshwar Pujara, proved to be a solid rock for Sussex as the county chased the total courtesy of his 44*. Pakistan's red-ball captain, Shan Masood, is also captaining Division Two side, Yorkshire, while fast bowler Mir Hamza is representing Glamorgan. In the First Division, Champions Trophy winner Hasan Ali is representing Warwickshire who played against Hampshire, where fellow countryman Mohammad Abbas is playing. The match ended in a draw. Source: Pro Pakistani

In a potential breakthrough for cricket diplomacy, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has signaled the PCB's openness to bilateral series with India. Naqvi's statement comes with a condition: India's participation in the ICC Champions Trophy next year, hosted by Pakistan. This gesture hints at a thawing of relations between the two cricketing nations, which have seen limited bilateral cricketing ties due to political tensions. Furthermore, the prospect of the Pakistan-India Test series has garnered interest beyond the subcontinent. Cricket Australia and England have emerged as potential hosts for the iconic rivalry, signaling a global appetite for this high-stakes contest. The possibility of matches being played on neutral grounds highlights the cricketing world's eagerness to witness these titans clash. Additionally, Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma has voiced his enthusiasm for participating in such historic encounters. His endorsement adds weight to the growing momentum toward reviv ing the Pak-India cricketing rivalry, which has historically produced some of the most memorable moments in the sport. The last bilateral Test series between Pakistan and India took place in the 2007/08 season, highlighting the prolonged hiatus in red-ball cricket between the arch-rivals. Since then, cricket enthusiasts have longed for the revival of this intense rivalry in the purest format of the game. While Test cricket between the two nations has been dormant, limited-overs encounters have provided sporadic moments of excitement. The last bilateral limited-overs series occurred during the 2012/13 season, showcasing the enduring appeal and fervor surrounding Pak-India cricketing clashes. Source: Pro Pakistani

Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ramiz Raja criticized the Men in Green in the aftermath of their disappointing performance against New Zealand in the third T20I at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The cricketer-turned-commentator took to his YouTube channel to express his thoughts on Pakistan's inconsistent performance and his frustration was palpable as he dissected Pakistan's lackluster display. He pointed out the team's batting collapses, inconsistent bowling, and fielding lapses that cost them dearly in the match against New Zealand. Ramiz termed the New Zealand team as one level below the second string, pointing out that most of their main players are playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and didn't shy away from addressing specific players' who threw their wicket away after getting set on the crease, offering no substantial partnership that could help Pakistan cross a total of above 200. With the T20I World Cup looming in June, Ramiz expressed his concerns over the team's confidenc e and the combination of the team which seems unsettled before the mega-event as Pakistan team management has no idea regarding their best playing XI. While criticizing the team's inability to capitalize on home conditions, Ramiz admitted that he could not comprehend how Pakistan faltered abysmally in the third T20I after completely decimating the Kiwis in the second match. The five-match series is now poised for a thrilling finish as the series is tied at 1-1 after Mark Chapman's world-class inning of 87 runs off 42 balls in the third match. All eyes are now on the last two matches that are scheduled on April 25 and April 27 at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, as pressure mounts on Babar Azam to deliver as skipper before the T20 World Cup in the summer. Source: Pro Pakistani

Cricket fans are left scratching their heads after Shaheen Shah Afridi bestowed a rather lofty title upon his teammate, Mohammad Rizwan, dubbing him the 'Bradman of T20 cricket'. This declaration came just a day after Pakistan's humiliating defeat to New Zealand's second-string team in the ongoing T20I series. Shaheen took to Twitter to congratulate Rizwan on reaching the milestone of 3000 runs in T20I cricket, hailing him as Pakistan's 'Superman' and likening him to the legendary Australian cricketer, Sir Donald Bradman. However, the timing of Afridi's praise left many scratching their heads, considering Pakistan's dismal performance on the field just the day before. Netizens wasted no time in poking fun at Afridi's statement, flooding social media with a barrage of hilarious memes and sarcastic comments about 'Don Rizwan Bradman.' One fan couldn't help but question the sincerity of Afridi's post, asking if it was meant to be taken sarcastically. Another user humorously labelled Afridi's tweet for Rizwa n as 'Umbarrasing,' while some speculated that perhaps Afridi's praise was his way of subtly expressing frustration over losing his captaincy to Babar Azam. Amid the banter, cricket enthusiasts couldn't ignore the irony of Afridi's declaration, especially considering Rizwan's underwhelming performance in the recent match against New Zealand's makeshift team. Despite Pakistan's strong start with the bat, the team failed to put up a threatening score as Rizwan, presumably injured, played a sluggish knock. Meanwhile, New Zealand's Mark Chapman's explosive innings ultimately led the visitors to victory, handing Pakistan their first loss under Babar Azam's re-captaincy. Source: Pro Pakistani

Abbottabad and Rawalpindi will host 24 matches of the 50-over-a-side President's Cup, in which seven leading departments of the country will participate from 24 April to 12 May. Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL), the winner of the four-day first-class President's Trophy, will aim to conclude the 2023-24 season with another trophy. Apart from SNGPL, the other six teams participating in the tournament are Pakistan Television (PTV), State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), Khan Research Laboratories (KRL), Higher Education Commission (HEC), and Ghani Glass. The seven teams will compete in a single round-robin format, with the top four sides after 21 league matches qualifying for the semi-finals. While Shoaib Akhtar Stadium, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium and Abbottabad Cricket Stadium will be used for the league matches, venues of the three knock-out matches will be confirmed closer to the matches. Ahmed Shehzad will captain WAPDA, Usman Salahuddin will lead SBP, Roha il Nazir will lead KRL, Moeez Ghani will captain Ghani Glass, Mohammad Huraira will lead HEC, while Shamyl Hussain and Saud Shakeel will captain PTV and SNGPL, respectively. The tournament carries a total prize money of PKR 2.5 million, with the winning side receiving a cheque of PKR 1.5 million along with the trophy. Fixtures for Wednesday: SNGPL vs Ghani Glass, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium; PTV vs SBP, Abbottabad Cricket Stadium; KRL vs WAPDA, Shoaib Akhtar Stadium Fixtures for Friday: WAPDA vs Ghani Glass, Shoaib Akhtar Stadium; KRL vs PTV, Abbottabad Cricket Stadium; SBP vs HEC, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium Source: Pro Pakistani

In a concerning turn of events, the fan club of Pakistani white-ball cricket captain, Babar Azam, unleashed a wave of online harassment directed towards celebrity Nazish Jehangir. The controversy erupted following Nazish's candid remarks during a QandA session on her Instagram page, where she stated her hypothetical rejection of a marriage proposal from Azam. With over one million followers on Instagram, Nazish found herself inundated with abusive messages from Azam's devoted fan base, prompting her to set her profile to private to shield herself from the onslaught. This incident underscores the serious implications of online behavior and the impact of unchecked fanaticism in sports culture. While Babar's fans' passion for their cricket hero is understandable, the unwarranted response to the actor's comments is deeply troubling. It highlights the need for greater awareness and accountability in how fans engage with public figures, both online and offline. The episode serves as a sobering reminder of the potential harm caused by cyberbullying and the importance of fostering a culture of respect and civility in online interactions. As both Babar and Jehangir navigate the aftermath of this controversy, it is hoped that meaningful dialogue and reflection will lead to positive changes in how fans express their support for their favorite athletes without resorting to harassment or abuse. Source: Pro Pakistani