Author: shoaib.jatt

OREGON: Pakistan Javelin-thrower Arshad Nadeem has started training to compete in the forthcoming World Athletics Championship.

Arshad, who became the first Pakistan athlete to qualify for the global event, will officially start his world athletics championship campaign on July 31 as he will be participating in the qualifying round of javelin.

Following the global event, the athlete will then depart for Birmingham to partake in the upcoming Commonwealth Games 2022 and will join the Pakistan contingent there.

It is pertinent to mention here that Arshad will be competing in the tournament with a right-arm injury, sustained amid training under the supervision of an international coach in South Africa.

The international sports physio was working on the injury sustained by Arshad during his training and advised the latter to undergo surgery.

As a result, the 25-year-old will undergo surgery on his right arm in the United Kingdom (UK) following the conclusion of the Commonwealth Games.

READ: Abdullah’s ton powers Pakistan to dominate Sri Lanka on fourth day

GALLE: Pakistan’s fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi underwent Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) after he sustained a leg strain during the first Test against Sri Lanka, here on Tuesday. 

According to the details, the team management decided to take Shaheen for an MRI after he continued to experience pain despite receiving ice treatment.

The team management is currently awaiting the MRI reports before deciding whether or not to rest the star bowler for the next Test against Sri Lanka.

Shaheen was taken off the field as he suffered a leg strain while fielding during the third day of the ongoing first Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

The left-arm pacer bowled just seven during the second innings before he left the field following the discomfort. Meanwhile, he took four wickets in the first innings for Pakistan.

READ: ECP delegation set to visit National Stadium today for security review

KARACHI: Legendary Pakistan batter and current batting coach of the national team Mohammad Yousuf made a significant assertion about top-ranked white ball batter Babar Azam, claiming that the latter does not require much coaching.

Yousuf stated on ARY News’ show Bouncer (Eid Special) in response the host’s question about what he is coaching Babar these days, the batting coach asserted that the all-format Pakistan captain does not require much coaching since he is performing well.

“Babar doesn’t need to learn anything, in my opinion,” Yousuf told the host. “He is performing well and I always try to make sure not to disturb any player who is performing exceptionally well.”

The legendary batter then also heaped praises on left-handed opener Imam-ul-Haq and made the same assertion as he did about Babar.

“Same goes for Imam, as he too, is doing really well. But, I do tell him if there is any minor mistake in his approach. So yeah, I always try not to disturb those batters, who are performing well,” Yousuf claimed.

Yousuf then opined on the Green Shirts’ struggling middle-order, claiming that the players are working hard to overcome the adversity and will soon produce positive results.

“As you mentioned the middle-order, scoring quick singles are very essential for them. We held a camp and in one of the nets we were directing the players to play sweep shots,” Yousuf revealed.

“Because, as per my cricketing knowledge, when a batter plays a sweep shot to spinners. The bowler then will either bowl a full-length delivery or a rather short-of-length delivery. So, this variation in the pitching of the ball, allows the batter to score freely and the rotation of strike also gets easier,” he maintained.

It is pertinent to mention here that the national team has recently been suffering from a struggling middle-order as they displayed a dismal show in the recently-concluded home ODI series against West Indies.

READ: ‘I advised Virat Kohli to work on his front foot’ claims Mushtaq Ahmed 

KARACHI: Current Pakistan and former England spin bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed claimed that he advised the Indian top batter Virat Kohli to work on his footwork amid India’s tour to England.

Mushtaq, while speaking on ARY News’ show Bouncer (Eid Special) claimed that the former England spin bowling coach interacted with India’s top batter Kohli amid the ongoing tour of the subcontinent nation and advised the latter to work on his front foot movement.

“Once Virat was training in the gym and he himself came to me and asked how’s everything is going and after a brief conversation I told him a couple of things and he’s a very smart and a good listener,” Mushtaq revealed.

“So, I told Virat that the initial 10-15 runs you score, your front foot lands straight on the pitch and when you try to drive the ball and as your foot is not in the direction of the ball, it takes the outside nick even on a flat surface,” he added.

The legendary spinner then claimed that Virat acknowledged his point and started to shuffle across the pitch in the next games.

“After that, I noted that he began to shuffle across the pitch to get the ball in the middle but as you know when a batter shuffles especially when it is swinging, he lost track of where his off-stump was,” Mushtaq shared.

“He was carefully listening to all my points and acknowledged me, ‘That’s a very good point Mushi bhai and I would work on it’,” he maintained.

The former England coach then went on to reveal that he held a meeting with English cricket team management and made a policy to prevent Virat from scoring big and they agreed on the same.

“We made a policy for him [Kohli] during India’s white-ball tour and I told the English management that being an Asian coach, I think we should set a tight field for him for his first 15 runs. Let him hit the ball over mid-off, mid-on, or cover but he won’t be able to do so since he is afraid,” Mushtaq claimed.

“His confidence level gets boosted by getting a couple of quick singles, which he achieves by tapping the ball towards mid-off and mid-on in the early phase of his inning. So, I told them that we should take chances on him during his first 15 runs since there is a high chance that he would get out after playing a poor shot,” he concluded.

READ: Chandimal stars with century as Sri Lanka take lead on the third day

KARACHI: Pakistan Test player Ahmed Shehzad has disclosed that he was approached by former Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Najam Sethi in 2015 regarding the captaincy role that was set to be granted to him. 

Ahmed, in his exclusive interview to Ary News show Bouncer, claimed that the former PCB Chairman met with him as the former made up his mind to hand down the captaincy of the national side to the latter after Misbah’s retirement.

“Najam Sethi held meetings with me before the 2015 World Cup in which he categorically stated that we think you are capable enough.. you speak well and you are performing brilliantly,” he said.

Ahmed claimed that Sethi told him that since the 2015 world cup would be the last tournament for Misbah, he was going to lead after the World Cup.

Speaking on the disciplinary report against the batter filed by former head coach Waqar Younis, Ahmed claimed that the report dented his career to a great extent and he was left with no other option but to be vocal about it.

“I have been completely cornered against the wall,” he said. “I don’t want to make headlines. But I want to tell those people that when you corner someone with the wall he is left with no other option,” said Ahmed without naming anyone.

He further revealed that he was haunted and had been judged to date because of the report while demanding it to be disclosed publicly.

“At least I should have a right to know what is contained in those reports so that I could present my defense accordingly,” he maintained. “Report should come out in public and my fans must know the reality,” he concluded.

READ: Powell, King help West Indies to blunt Bangladesh in second T20I

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly sidelined the regional coaches and national selectors Basit Ali and Faisal Iqbal from the forthcoming National U-19 Cup.

According to the details, Faisal and Basit have not been selected for the National Under-19 Cup, while the head coaches of the First and Second XI teams of all regions have been deployed in the event.

The two coaches first coached the first and second Playing XI of their respective regions last season and were assigned to do so in the upcoming edition.

It is pertinent to mention here that Basit and Faisal were serving as the head coach of Sindh and Balochistan respectively and were also part of the national selectors’ panel.

There were several complaints lodged against Sindh coach Basit and Balochistan coach Faisal in the past, according to sources. Faisal’s Assistant Coach Wasim Haider has refused to work with him.

READ: All-rounder Kaur propels India to seal T20I series victory over Sri Lanka 

NEW DELHI: Pakistani Cyclist Zahoor Ahmed has been injured and ruled out of the Asian Track Cycling Championship, following a crashing incident, here on Sunday.

Zahoor was ruled out of the Championship as he faced an injury after colliding with a Korean Cyclist during the competition.

It is pertinent to mention here that four Pakistani cyclists have been participating in the 41st Asian Track Cycling Championship, currently underway in New Delhi, India.

Apart from Zahoor Ahmed, three other cyclists, Mohsin Khan, Syed Aqib Shah and Muhammad Shareef are also participating in the event.

READ: ‘I don’t take it seriously’ Amir replies to Rohit’s ordinary bowler statement

KARACHI: Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir has called Rohit Sharma’s statement a personal opinion while claiming that he does not take it seriously for calling him an ordinary bowler before Champions Trophy 2017.

Amir, while speaking on ARY News’ show Bouncer (Champions Trophy Special), replied to Rohit Sharma, who called him a normal bowler, that he did not take the latter’s statement seriously and there was nothing to be felt bad about it.

“I don’t take Rohit Sharma’s statement serious,” claimed Amir. “Everyone has its own  opinion and it is impossible that everyone regards me as a world-class bowler.”

“There is nothing to be felt bad about it and as a professional, we should not take such things in a negative way. You cannot be everyone’s favourite,” he added.

Amir recalled his encounters with the Indian opener while claiming him a world-class batsman.

“No doubt he is a world-class batsman”, claimed Amir. ” I bowled well every time I have faced Rohit and he struggled while facing me, still I will call him a world-class player”, he concluded.

Indian batter Rohit Sharma called Amir a “normal bowler,” while saying the hype around him was unjustified when the Pakistan pacer was making a return, back in 2016.

It is pertinent to mention here that Amir dismissed the Indian opener Rohit on a duck in his magical first over and produced an overall incredible bowling performance in the Champions Trophy 2017 final against India as he returned with a bowling spell of 3-16.

READ: Sarfaraz-Amir partnership against Sri Lanka gave us momentum: Hafeez

LAHORE: A seven-member team of the Pakistan National Cycling Team headed by Syed Azhar Ali Shah, President of the Pakistan Cycling Federation, on Friday, left for New Delhi via Wagah Border to participate in the 41st Asian Track Cycling Championship.

After finally receiving their visas, the Pakistani contingent comprised of four cyclists and three support staff has left for India to participate in the continental event.

The team of four cyclists, headed by captain Mohsin Khan, also includes Syed Aqib Shah, Mohammad Shareef, and Mohammad Zahoor.

Secretary Pakistan Cycling Federation Moazzam Khan interacted with the media amid the departure of the national team and claimed that good results could have been expected from the team if the visas were issued on time.

It is pertinent to mention here that the international event will take place in India’s capital New Delhi from June 19 to 22.

READ: Pakistan climb to third in the latest ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings

KARACHI: Sindh Government has allocated Rs 4.6 Billion for the sports sector during the fiscal year 2022-2023 with Rs422.5 million set aside for the rebuilding of Abdul Sattar Edhi Hockey Stadium in the provincial Budget announced on Monday.

According to the details, the reconstruction project of the stadium in the first phase will receive the allocated funding during the next financial year.

Besides, the provincial government has also allocated Rs300 million for the sports activities in Sindh.

Meanwhile, Rs150 million have been earmarked for the Sindh Games while Rs100 million has been allocated for organizing Thar Jeep Rally.

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