Author: ali.hassan

DUBAI: All-rounder Shadab Khan, who captained Pakistan’s fresh-look side in the recently-concluded T20I series against Afghanistan in Sharjah, received United Arab Emirates (UAE) Golden Visa on Tuesday.

Taking to Instagram, Shadab shared the news of receiving the UAE Golden Visa.

“Outside Pakistan, the most time I have spent is in the UAE. It always feels at home. Honored to have received the Golden Visa,” he wrote.

 

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A post shared by Shadab Khan (@shadab0800)

Shadab, who has been Pakistan’s T20I vice-captain for the last two years, took the leadership role in the absence of Babar Azam amid the recently-concluded T20I series against Afghanistan.

The all-rounder, however, failed to draw the desired results from the series as Pakistan lost with Afghanistan dominating the first two matches.

Pakistan, however, recovered from the first two defeats and came back roaring in the third and final fixture of the series as an all-round performance powered them to thump Afghanistan by 66 runs in avoid the whitewash.

Shadab played a pivotal role in his side’s consolation triumph as he played a crucial 28-run knock before following it up with magnificent bowling figures of 3/13.

With his second scalp, Shadab also became the first Pakistan bowler to take 100 wickets in Men’s T20Is while seasoned all-rounder Nida Dar was the first to achieve the landmark in Women’s T20Is.

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HUB: Lahore’s Taimoor Khawaja upset the prominent rally drivers to clinch a stunning victory in the 10th edition of the Hub Rally Cross on Sunday. 

Khawaja outclassed his rivals as he covered the 30-kilometre race in a record timing of 22 minutes 30 seconds in the prepared A category.

Defending Champion and Thar Rally winner, Sahibzada Sultan Muhammad Ali, lost to Taimoor by a margin of 50 seconds, finishing runner-up in 23 minutes and 20 seconds.

Meanwhile, Karachi-hailed Shiraz Qureshi claimed the third position with a timing of 23 minutes and 28 seconds.

Seasoned rally driver, Nadir Magsi, however, failed to complete the race as his four-wheeler broke down midway through the race.

In the women’s category, Dina Patel stormed past her competitors to win the rally in 27 minutes and 33 seconds, one minute and three seconds ahead of runner-up Afreen Shiraz.

Afreen reached the finish line in 28 minutes and 36 seconds while Anam Hamid stood third with a timing of 40 minutes and 32 seconds.

It is pertinent to mention here that a large number of offroad enthusiasts from nooks and corners of the country participated in the event. Around 80 drivers and 60 motorbike riders competed in the races held on a 30km track at Gaddani Cross.

Governor Sindh Kamran Tessori was the chief guest at the prize distribution ceremony.

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LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday, provided an update regarding the changes in the teams’ squads for the remaining matches of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season eight.

According to the details, the foreign players from South Africa and West Indies, who were partially available for the ongoing extravaganza, are set to leave for their respective national duties as the two teams take on each other in a three-match T20I series later this month.

Multan Sultans’ Akeal Hossein, Peshawar Zalmi’s Rovman Powell and Quetta Gladiators’ Odean Smith, will sign off from the league after tonight’s fixture between Sultans and Zalmi.

Islamabad United’s Rassie van der Dussen will depart today, while Sultans’ David Miller will sign off after his side’s last group fixture on Saturday.

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TOKYO: Two Pakistani athletes Hamid Butt and Salman Khan won the coveted Abbot Six Star medal at Tokyo Marathon on Sunday.  

According to the details, a total of 11 talented athletes from Pakistan, including Hamid and Salman, completed the Tokyo Marathon, demonstrating their remarkable endurance and dedication.

The two athletes were awarded Abbot Six Star medals for completing all six of the world’s major marathons, namely the Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City Marathons.

Rabia Naeem, Aisha Qamar, Fahd Mukhtar, Prem Kumar, Huma Rahman, Fawad Karim, Ayesha Akhtar, Hassan Tajdar and Sara Lodhi were the other athletes from the country who finished the marathon.

READ: Islamabad United edge Gladiators to qualify for PSL 8 playoffs

KARACHI: Governor of Sindh Muhammad Kamran Khan Tessori alongside Administrator Karachi Dr. Syed Saif-ur-Rahman formally inaugurated the Karachi Games 2023 after the opening ceremony at KMC Sports Complex on Friday.

According to the details, the participating teams march passed ahead of the commencement of the competition and saluted the Sindh Governor, who attended the ceremony as chief guest.

On this occasion, sports greats Jahangir Khan, Shoaib Muhammad Khan, Naseem Hameed and Olympian Hanif Khan lit the torch of Karachi Games 2023, with which the competitions of Karachi Games 2023 officially began.

According to the details, Karachi Games 2023 will take place from March 3 to 12 here in which more than 5000 athletes will participate in record 42 games.

Furthermore, female athletes will also participate in 27 games amid the competition.

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LAHORE: Bismah Maroof has resigned from Pakistan women’s cricket team’s captaincy to pave the way for a younger colleague to take up the role. 

Taking to Twitter, PCB’s management committee chairman Najam Sethi on Wednesday confirmed he accepted the resignation of the 31-year-old all-rounder.

“(S)he will continue to play for Pakistan and bring laurels for her country,” he added.

I have accepted resignation of @maroof_bismah Captain of Pakistan Women’s National Team. She wants to make way for a younger colleague. But happily she will continue to play for Pakistan and bring laurels for her country.

— Najam Sethi (@najamsethi) February 28, 2023

Bimsah detached herself from the position after leading Pakistan in 27 out of 62 T20Is and 16 out of 34 ODI wins.

The left-handed batter has amassed 3,110 runs in the 50-over format, and 2,658 runs in the shorter version of the game. She also took 44 and 36 wickets respectively, with her right-arm leg break bowling in her 124 ODIs and 132 T20I appearances for the national team.

She made her international debut at the age of 15 and went on to represent Pakistan eight times at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cups- captaining the side in the last two editions.

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KARACHI: Karachi Kings are set to leave the home city on Monday to play their last four matches before the playoffs during the Rawalpindi-Lahore leg of the Pakistan Super League season 8. 

According to the details, the squad reached Jinnah International Airport in the afternoon and will fly out to Islamabad in a short while.

On Sunday, the Kings played their final home game of the season and sealed a dominant 66-run victory over Multan Sultans to make a solid comeback in the tournament.

Taking to Twitter, the Kings also shared pictures of a few players waiting for the flight.

Ready to 🛫#YehHaiKarachi | #KingsSquad | #HBLPSL8 pic.twitter.com/NL9cq0WTD9

— Karachi Kings (@KarachiKingsARY) February 27, 2023

It is pertinent to mention here that the 2020 PSL Champions Kings will play Babar Azam-led Peshawar Zalmi in their next encounter in Rawalpindi on March 1.

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KARACHI: The former champions of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Karachi Kings held a training session ahead of their second clash with table-toppers Multan Sultans in the ongoing eighth edition.

According to the details, all-squad members partook in the Kings’ training session, under the supervision of head coach Johan Botha.

Meanwhile, batting coach Ravi Bopara and assistant coach Michael Smith were also present in the Kings’ training session.

The details further suggest that the players engaged in rigorous drills and practised in the nets.

Back at the training ✊#YehHaiKarachi | #KingsSquad | #HBLPSL8 pic.twitter.com/tj2icc6Dtm

— Karachi Kings (@KarachiKingsARY) February 25, 2023

Kings’ ace pacer Mohammad Amir also joined the team’s training session after missing his side’s previous clash with the Sultans due to an injury.

On the other hand, table-toppers Sultans also held a practice session here at National Bank Cricket Arena as the two sides will lock horns tomorrow.

It is pertinent to mention that Sultans lead the PSL 8 standings with eight points in five matches, while the Kings are in fifth place with two points in as many matches.

READ: Azam Khan credits his father Moin Khan for dealing with criticism 

KARACHI: Islamabad United’s Azam Khan coined his father Moin Khan an inspiration for backing him despite all the odds following his match-winning knock against Quetta Gladiators in the 13th fixture of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season eight.

Azam stole the limelight with his astounding 97-run knock that fired the United to post a mammoth 220/6 against his former PSL franchise Gladiators.

The right-handed batter baton charged the Gladiators’ bowlers as he smashed them all over the park amid his magnificent knock that featured eight boundaries and nine gigantic sixes.

The young wicketkeeper batter has often been at the receiving end of criticism for his poor fitness despite his power-hitting abilities.

Meanwhile, following his match-winning knock, Azam praised his father Moin, the head coach of the Gladiators for backing him despite all the odds and making him mentally strong to face the criticism.

“When I met him [Moin] after the match, he praised my innings and asked me to continue performing,” Azam.

“My father is my biggest inspiration. He made me mentally so strong and always backed me to perform well despite all the odds. He already told me about the criticism and helped me fight against it. I hope I will keep on making him proud,” he added.

Azam then went on to highlight the importance of power-hitting and strike rate in T20s, stating that it is essential for a batter who plays down the order.

“Strike rate matters a lot in T20 cricket. It is my style of play and I really enjoy it,” said Azam.

“At the position where I bat, you get very limited time to set. In such a case, you have to be ready for hitting the ball hard,” he added.

It is pertinent to mention that Azam’s United closed in with table-toppers Multan Sultans following their back-to-back triumph in the ongoing extravaganza.

The two-time champions tightened their grip on the second spot with six points in four matches behind the Sultans, who lead the standings with eight points in five matches.

READ: ‘Disappointed’ Gul optimistic for Gladiators comeback

KARACHI: Quetta Gladiators’ bowling coach Umar Gul has expressed hope for his team’s comeback in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) season eight.

The Gladiators, who succumbed to their fourth defeat of the ongoing season following a crushing 63-run defeat against Islamabad United on Friday have sunk to the bottom of the points table with only two points in five matches.

The 2019 champions now need to win all their remaining five matches to make a case for themselves to make it to the playoffs.

Meanwhile, amid his side’s dismal campaign in the ongoing PSL 8, bowling coach Gul is still optimistic about his side’s comeback.

“We are too disappointed with this performance,” said Gul in the post-match press conference at National Bank Cricket Arena.

“I think we are still very much in the tournament. We still have a complete chance to make a comeback from here,” he added.

“We have told players that still five matches are left. If we play according to our strength, we will be in the tournament,” he maintained.

Gul then also praised wicketkeeper batter Azam Khan’s astounding 97-run knock against the Gladiators which lifted the United to post a mammoth 220/6 which eventually was too much for the Gladiators.

“Azam played really well and took the match away from us. We made mistakes in all departments. I know we could have done better,” said Gul.

It is pertinent to mention that the Gladiators next face defending champions Lahore Qalandars on March 2 at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.

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